Shuurei opened the flap of her carriage and looked out slightly. She saw the fast moving road and the walled-in city ahead of her. She sighed. It was finally the time to return to the capital and talk with the emperor, Ryuuki.
A painful feeling welded up in her heart. She gingerly touched her chest and as she did she let the flap down. She remembered her last visit to the capital city from a year ago. The warm but painful memories of Ryuuki's and her last encounter re-entered her mind:
She was walking through the garden. She was alone and had grown dark. Being September, she felt a wave of cold air blow pass her, which had sent a chill through her bones. She shivered harshly and had almost sneezed but didn't. "It's been awhile, hasn't it?" She thought and had placed her hands on her arms to rub them.
Suddenly two giant arms, which were dressed in a purple nightgown, hugged her. She jumped a bit and then realized whom they belonged too. "Ryuuki," she sighed, "don't scare me like that."
He whispered into her ear, "My little Bara-hime, (means-Rose Princess) I missed you so much."
"I-I missed you too." She choked. For some strange reason she felt a pain in her heart as if someone had squeezed it to death. "What is this pain? Why do I only feel it with him?" She thought as he turned her around and looked into her eyes. She wouldn't look into his eyes.
"Shuurei, what's wrong? Why wouldn't you look at me?" He asked as he caressed the back of her head with his hand.
"If I do, I will feel like someone stole my heart away and crushed it." She mumbled. Ryuuki could only laugh at her comment. She pouted, "Ryuuki? How can you laugh? I'm serious!" He stopped and looked with his golden-brown eyes into her hazel ones. He kissed her forehead and said, "What do you think makes you feel like that?"
"I don't know, Ryuuki." She replied. "It only happens when I see you…"
"I feel the same way, Shuurei." He told her and kissed her neck this time. Chills flowed down her spine and it wasn't from the cold wind that blew against them. He looked back up into her eyes again. "I feel that same heartache and I know why I have it." He leaded his head down next to her ear and whispered, "It's because I love you, Shuurei Kou."
She shuddered at his words. "What could this mean?" She wondered. "Does it mean I love him? No, that can't be it! Can it? Every time I saw Sa-san I would think of Ryuuki…maybe I do love him? I love Ryuuki? I love Ryuuki…"
He leaded his face toward hers and kissed her passionately. Her cold lips melted into his slightly warm ones. He felt her lips press back, which was a surprise to him because she never returned his kisses, and she became limp in his arms. He pulled back his head to breath and to let her breath. "Ryuuki…" she started after had caught her breathe, "I think I understand now." She giggled slightly, "Why didn't I see it before?" She looked into his golden-brown eyes with her hazel ones. "Ryuuki, I think I love you."
This was news to him. Wonderful news. A smile appeared across his lips as he picked her up by the waist and swung her around. She gasped at first but then started to laugh as he swung her.
After a few rounds of spinning he left her fall into his chest as he clasped his hands and arms around her. She laid her chin on his shoulder and her head against his. She then wrapped her arms around him once more.
Shuurei snapped back from her memories when Seiran spoke to her. "Shuurei-sama, we're here."
"I see. Thank you." She looked at him with a smile of happiness. She was finally going to see Ryuuki again.
The carriage stopped in front of the palace grates. Seiran opened the door and hopped out. He turned around and gave his hand so that his mistress could lean on it. She did and gracefully came out of the carriage. After she got out the other Brown Providence's governor, Eigetsu came out.
They walked up to the gates and the guards opened them. All three of them walked into the palace's courtyards. Shuurei was happy that she was in them again, even though she didn't like the idea of being pampered day in and out, she still liked it because Ryuuki was here.
A female servant guided them to each of their rooms. She guided Shuurei to her room last and said that her room was closest to the emperor by his request. Shuurei smiled at the thought of the overjoyed emperor when he would see her. After the servant told her that she left.
Shuurei sighed. She leaned and looked out over the railing on the walkway next to her room. "I'm finally home. Well at the capital anyway."
"Welcome back." A male voice said as he wrapped his arms around her. She looked up startled to see the overjoyed emperor himself. "Ryuuki," she sighed, "I told you not to scare me anymore."
He changed the subject to her comment earlier, "I would like it if you thought that this was your home too." She nodded and looked back over the railing. "I really missed this place. Its different from the Brown Providence."
"Someday you won't have to go back there. You can just stay here forever with me." He whispered into her ear. "Soon." She chuckled. "Ryuuki, I think you have to go to the palace room now."
"You're right, but I wish this time you were wrong." He sighed, "Now I have to leave you." She smiled. Then she pushed and shooed him away and down the walkway. She stared at her love with a smile as he walked away with a depressing posture. She reached her arms up and stretched them over her head. "Now I must get ready for the meeting."
Time quickly passed and now it was time for the meeting with the emperor and the governors of the Brown Providence. Shuurei and Eigetsu, who were followed by Seiran, were lead to the main palace room.
"Your Majesty! The two governors of the Brown Providence!" A royal announcer proclaimed as they walked into the room. They came before the emperor and bowed respectfully. The emperor gave a slight nod and they began to report their work.
Eigetsu spoke first, "Your Highness, We would like to report that our plan of rebuilding the economy of the Brown Providence was a success and if our plan keeps going as it was planned, it will prosper."
"We see." The emperor nodded. "Miss Kou, is there anything you would like to add?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I would like to request my reassignment from this project," she looked up into his eyes, "and maybe a roll here in the palace."
He understood fully what she meant and nodded. "Miss Kou we acknowledge your statement and it will be looked farther into. Do you have a request as to who would take your place?"
She bowed her head and said, "Yes, I like to request my friend, Seiran." The whole room gasped and Seiran, who was kneeling and bowing behind her, looked up at her. He was amazed that she would request him. The emperor nodded and dismissed the meeting.
Shuurei walked through the long walkway with Eigetsu and Seiran following her. "Shuurei, why did you resign from governor with me?" Eigetsu asked and as followed shortly after by Seiran's question. "Shuurei-sama, why me?"
She abruptly stopped and turned to them. "Eigetsu, I believe that you don't need me anymore. You are smart enough with out my help. And Seiran," she turned to him, "I trust you to look after Eigetsu. Ensei will also be at your side"
The question had been bothering Eigetsu for some time and so, he spit it out, "But what will you do Shuurei?"
Shuurei looked at the young teen with a happy but yet sad face, "You will find out soon, both of you." She then continued to walk down the walkway and to her room.
Both men sighed and stared at her as she walked away. From there they went to their rooms because now the sun had just started to set.
Instead of going to her room as she had made to look like she went straight to the garden. She walked passed the trees were she first met Ryuuki. They were filled with cheery blossoms but now the leaves had changed colors and they started to fall off. She giggled when she remember his face when he by accident had broken off a branch of the tree.
She continued to walk through the garden. She stopped by the river there and sat down next to it. She casually dipped her hand into it and watched the sunset. She wished Ryuuki was there to enjoy it with her but he was probably off doing some paperwork. Which she didn't mind him doing, it was for the sake of the people, his people. She sighed and took her hand out of the cold river and whipped it on her dress.
The sun had almost disappeared behind the horizon when she felt a strong cold wind blow against her. She shivered and sneezed. A male voice came from behind her as a blanket dropped over her, "You never learn do you? You're going to catch a cold like that."