CH-1: AISHITERU SHUREI…BUT…

It's been one of those common days when Ryuki yawned over his daily late night studies and finally decided to call it a night. After all, an Emperor is also a human; and financial state dealing, problems on border encroachment, civil ministry's documents on recent problems, and drafts of regional affairs...blah! blah! blah!...No, this kind of work just can't be done with a sleepy head…Besides, it's only recently, hardly a few couple of months passed that he has married his precious long-time sweet-heart, Shurei .

He even bought a jewelry set to gift her…but today it's too late night…'later,' he reminded himself.

Surely every important personalities of Saiunkoku know about the Emperor's obsession with Shurei…even though most would think of it as obsession, and Ryuki is currently busy with lots of private difficulties and dilemmas; he knows full well that it's nothing short of pure, deep and intense love...and someday things will get back to normal, he sighed; He did work so hard to prove himself as worthy for Shurei, he became the kind of emperor advisor Sho wanted him to be just to protect Shurei from that un-identifiable poison, fought with his nobles to marry her and even hurt her by his cold warning that he would be marrying Jyuusan-hime…as if he can ever settle his attraction on any other woman…

'Any other woman, huh,' he wondered casually…and then, grinned childishly as his thoughts focused to a time when Shurei even considered him as being attracted to men!

'…a ma-man…,' he slightly shuddered, even as his feet took him unconsciously to Shurei's bedroom…

…a very strange recognition dawned in at the mere pondering of his fake homosexual fascination as it triggered a wholly un-related memory…

…. 'Its Atroquinine…,' the thought came in naturally, '…an extremely slow acting poison…takes 15 minutes after ingestion to do harm…affects the nerves…not lethal to those who has immunity to most commonly available poisons,' Ryuki muttered almost unconsciously all this as if in some trance contemplating about that time when Kourin poisoned her on advisor Sa's instigation …as if someone very lovably taught him those words so well that he has memorized…everything…

…someone who knows all about poisons…

…no…

…someone who knows all there is to know…

"Ryuki," Shurei exclaimed, "What happened to you…are you all right?"

Her voice showing slight panic as her husband and emperor of Saiunkoku opened the unlocked door wildly…his figure appearing as if he may end up in some kind of seizure, his body a bit bathed in cold sweat…slight panting showing how much filled he is with apprehension.

"I am all ok, Shurei…are you alright?" wondering a bit more to find the right words, he added, "I am so sorry…I couldn't even see you for the last whole week," though his voice sounded a bit hollow.

"I understand," she stated a bit sadly, "It's been my wish from the beginning that you become a good emperor…its just that now I can no more help you in it…even though I will always be by your side," she ended cheeringly…

"So, that's the real reason of such gloomy face!" Ryuki smiled teasingly and moved to hold her close to him…

After a bit of flinching, she finally relaxed and he rocked them slowly a bit, cooing softly,

"You know whatever amount of happiness I ever have…" he paused a bit to give his thoughts a bit of coherency…so many different emotions…love, care, admiration, fear, longing, premonition…all muddling his head but he can't afford to tell Shurei, NEVER,

"…they all are for you and brother Seien," he planted a gentle kiss on her fore-head, "Saiunkoku may belong to us…but I always would belong to you."

Shurei colored up a little, Ryuki is always so…open with his emotions.

Getting over her flushing, Shurei giggled at his use of the Royal plural…'No matter how mature he acts, it's all useless here…baka!'

…'so childish…even though he is an adult!'

The phrase ran manifold in her mind, as if a hundred different voices pronouncing the same lines over and over in her head…her mind freely conjuring up images of the last time she used almost…the same words…as if her mind doesn't have any restriction…

…those memories deserve to be forgotten…like those things should ever be remembered…

She tried with all her iron will and concentrated on the warmth of Ryuki's embrace…but it's a bit late for Ryuki has already felt her tense up…

"What's the matter?" he whispered, he is now fully relaxed and nuzzling the crook of her neck, holding her close near the bed and to his chest…

"N-nothing…just wandering…" she replied absent mindedly.

"Mmmm…wandering what?" he asked with a sensuous draw of his tongue from behind her ear to that sensitive spot on her throat…breathing warmly over it.

Shurei's breath hitched and her heart beat almost frantically for a moment or so before she relaxed again…with Ryuki everything is so easy…yet difficult,

"…just how changed you are these days…almost independent!" the sarcasm in her tone didn't go unnoticed as Ryuki released her from his hug holding her fixed by her shoulders… and stared at her intently claiming her gaze by his…and that's when she got to see him directly after more than a whole week…

…his expression is that of a mildly angered child, pouting…his hairs wild and uncaring, his robes, same too…even soiled at certain places…not at all looking like an emperor but much like a lost forlorn child

…and for the briefest of moments, her heart sank, as her mind formed some kind of anticipation.

She quickly pushed it aside, always the optimistic!

"Don't tell me you have been plucking roses for me, again?" She asked her voice stern…almost matronly.

"Ahh! You sound more like my mother than my wife," he taunted, always knowing how to annoy her.

"Since when do you use that type of 'Ahh' exclamation?"

Ryuki blushed as it hinted on a…more discreet memory but gave no reply…Shurei too forget about the subject as Ryuki hooked his finger under her chin to bring up her face…

He pressed his lips to hers, the lightest of touches…his lips trembling as if in uncertainty.

He slightly parted her lips…his tongue slowly entering inside her mouth to explore her. Shurei didn't protest, now she even encouraged the contact…

Her hands tightly fisted in his robes, clutching his chest…his hands leisurely descending down her throat to cup her petite breast…

Shurei hissed abruptly at the sudden sensation and broke off the kiss as a foreign hard body grounded onto her belly.

"Hard already…" Shurei eyed him.

Ryuki opened his eyes to show eyes blazed with lust, his tongue coming out to lick at the remnants of her essence from his lips…and then, seeing a very unsympathetic looking Shurei, he giggled like a teen…

"C'mon koi…it's been so long!" he almost panted.

"You have to be in court early…and do you possibly understand how late it is?"

"Umm," he lowered his head in disappointment…and Shurei almost blamed herself.

But it's not that she doesn't want it…but again she is afraid and wondering whether her fears are real or not…and decided for the time being it really didn't matter…

Shurei softly touched his hair…even though they are married, the word 'husband' sounds so foreign to her…

"I didn't mean to be so…rude, Ryuki."

Ryuki's eyes brightened up, "You want me, then?" he stated quite…shamelessly.

Shurei went red but nodded slightly…

…and the next moment, Ryuki was pulling at her kimono…kissing her throat, cheeks and eyes…and deeply kneading her breasts…

…with Shurei moaning his name and threading his fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp…and Ryuki periodically dry-humping her.

Both of them moved for a series of passionate open mouthed kisses…their tongues playing together a bit…when—

When that UNACEPTABLE thing happened…again…

…Ryuki envisioned that face of THAT unknown man…and a blinding flash; seductive as a Siren's call impeded him from touching her…he backed away furiously.

"What happened?" Shurei panicked…moments before 'her husband' was so happy…now he looked so distracted and…stunned…

"I think…we should call it a night," Ryuki composed himself, "I feel exhausted." He knew he is bad in giving lame excuses…

Shurei continued to stare as if he had explained nothing…

…moments after, Ryuki pulled her into a tight embrace…his face pressed to her chest.

Holding her there still, he sighed, "I love you…we will…"

And then, quickly turned away from her and saying, "I will be back in a minute," he left behind a very astounded Shurei.

His footsteps taking him as fast as they could as if his proximity to her will put her in mortal danger…

Or, as if…

He is going out to meet something or someone too hideous to be ever revealed to a wife by a husband.

Absent mindedly, he wondered,

'…That face…why does he always comes out when I am with Shurei?...

…who and what is he?...

…does he want to see me now?'…..

Another CLANDESTINE MEETING!

A/N: For those of you who are thinking to flame me for the teasing of this chap…do have a little bit of patience. The next chap will have the Ryuki/Shurei lemon…and how Sakujun played his part of the game with Shurei before he died. Lots of surprises await you and honestly, I believe this is how Ryuki/Shurei pairing would turn out to be (exclude the interference of Sakujun and his intricate plot of avenging any future husband of Shurei—quite possible to be performed by a man as complex as Sakujun…that is to come in the story).

All ideas, suggestions and everything are welcome…please review…R & R