[Week 62] [Word Count: 250+] [Theme: Oops]

Title: The importance of pulling out

Author: beyondthemoor

Genre: humour

Word Count: approx. 300 words

Rating: T for misleading sexual connotations...

Characters: Seiran, Ensei

AU/Cannon: Cannon

Theme: Oops

Disclaimer: I do not own SaiMono.

AN: This was originally posted to the saiun_challenge LJ comm…. and I became too busy to finish the rest. I'm crossing my fingers now to finish Part III by… um… the end of the summer. XD

The night was quiet as the two men shared a private drink.

One drinking decidedly more than the other.

Ensei looked over at his long-time friend and laid a consoling arm around his shoulders, raising his tankard in support.

"Come on, Seiran. I'm sure 'jou-chan will forgive you…. someday!"

His mocking laughter rather contradicted his compassion.

The morose man's bucket-covered head rose an inch or so from the tabletop where it had rested for the better part of that evening; Ensei reached over and gently lifted the lip of the bucket up to peer at Seiran's downcast – and rather gray – face.

"I really don't think she'll mind," assured the scarred-faced man as he held the silver-haired man's gaze, more seriously this time, and gave Seiran a quick squeeze of support. "It isn't the first time – and if you're as lucky as in the past, no one will know and there'll be no consequences to worry about, either."

Seiran's bleary, though still faintly murderous, look settled on his friend's face, but only for a moment before his head thudded back to the table with a slurred,

"… she said… didn't hear her… not this time… so dead…"

Then his shoulders slumped and his soft snores echoed from inside the pail.

Resting his head on his fist as he regarded the former prince, renowned for his selflessness towards his foster-family, Ensei smiled softly and thought over the situation.

"You never know," he said more to himself than the passed-out man beside him, "she may not mind as much as she says…"

Because hadn't 'jou-chan always said she wanted to keep things the way they were? To stay with her father, Seiran by her side?

Ah, right. Shouka-sama.

Ensei sobered slightly.

"But you know, if you really need to run, make sure you don't come anywhere near me. I'll support you from a distance, though, my friend!"

And he raised his cup again.