Disclaimer: I do not own Saiunkoku no Monotagari.

A/N: My first Saiunkoku fanfic... so... R&R are welcomed! I'm planning to relate eahc chapter to some kind of dumpling each time... hey, I like metaphors XD but if I run out of dumplings (lol) or can't be bothered to research on dumplings then I might drop this... sooo reveiw and grant me the power to reserach about dumplings so I can continue to write this story!! XD Did I just rant about dumplings..!? Anyhoo, hope you like this XD

Shuurei is concerned about love... (as you do XD) so what has it got to do with dumplings!? (Lol)

One | Tang Yuan dumplings

Kou Shuurei was never one for love. Well, at least not that kind. She loved her father, she loved her mother, and she loved Seiran. She loved the children at the school, the citizens of her street whom she's known since childhood. But to love a man; to want to abandon all that was yours to be with a man… she could not understand. She had too many aspirations, too many dreams to fulfil.

Shuurei just finished shopping for tonight's dinner, and as she walked down the high street back home, she stopped by to have a chat with Mrs Lieu, owner of a rice stall. Shuurei looked at her ever growing stomach. "How many more months to go, Mrs Lieu?"

The plump woman smiled, "Less than three months, Shuurei-chan, darling has been so demanding, won't let me work at all!"

Shuurei smiled, they were a beautiful couple. And speak of the devil, Mrs Lieu's husband appeared. "Dear! Wh-wh-what are you doing out here!? The baby will get a cold! You're too weak! Your back will break from the weight! Sit down, sit down!" he said frantically, hooking his wife's arm and dragging her to the back of the store.

"Ha…" said Shuurei, waiting a bit before the owner surfaced. A burly man whose head was only centimetres from the top of the stall, he blushed and rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. "Now, how can I help you Shuurei-chan?"

She bowed, "I was just chatting to the Mrs, so next time perhaps…" she paused when she saw his dismal face. "Ah…" she thought. A baby needed a lot of supplies, and judging by the fact that this family had two more mouths to feed, she couldn't just walk away. She grinned, "Ah! I just remembered... I have guests tonight!" She saw Mr Lieu perk up; "Looks like I'm going to need more rice, a bag please."

Mr Lieu's laugh was a roar, and shaking Shuurei's hand vigorously, he waved her goodbye as she walked home with her shopping and a heavy bag of rice.

* * *

Shuurei got to the front entrance of her house. Old and decrepit it was, with soil and trees that had not bared fruits for eight years since the fight for the throne… but it was still home to the members of her loving and small family.

"Ojou-sama!" exclaimed Seiran as he rushed over to Shuurei. Beads of sweat covered her forehead as she had lugged a bag of rice all the way from the stall. He picked up the bag for her, and placed it on his shoulder.

Shuurei looked up; the lantern behind his head gave him a halo of white lining to his silver hair. "Seiran, I'm back!" she said cheerfully, stretching her back and already walking to the house.

Seiran looked at her worryingly. He did not question why she suddenly bought rice; when they had plenty at home. But he knew it was for a good reason. His ojou-sama was careful with accounting their home's budget. There was bound to be a rightful reason for this sudden purchase. "Ojou-sama," he started, "the master said the Han couple's son is getting married and would like you to prepare some food for their wedding… is that alright with you?"

"Jun-kun? Already? But he's only seventeen!"

"Young love, they call it? He said it was love at first sight and just couldn't wait any longer," Seiran thoughtfully smiled at Shuurei, who was unaware of his gaze. "I bless them well."

"Love at first sight… eh…" thought Shuurei out loud. She stopped, realising Seiran's curious stare on her back. "Well," she said, stuttering slightly, "I bless them well too!" then hurried into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

* * *

Shuurei walked down the corridors of the palace with a box of meat buns. It was mid afternoon and she thought she'd share them with a few people. She'd left some for Kō Kijin, and dropped some off on Kouyuu's and her 'uncles' desk and was now heading to Ran Shuei.

She was about to open the door when she heard a woman's voice, each word she spoke dripped with seduction.

"Heehh… so aren't you going to visit the red light district anymore?" there was a giggle, "Ra-an Shu-ei…?" each syllable was slow, whispered, and flirtatious.

Shuei laughed, his voice composed and even; usual for a man so experienced in women. "My dear, you know the emperor's demands are getting more extravagant lately…" the was a long pause to their conversation in which Shuurei was sure wasn't spent on work. Shuei continued, "Look, you knocked over my paperwork…"

"Be-caauuussee, there's no room on the table…" there was the sound of bangles hitting the table, "there… now there's room…"

"Dear, your boldness is admirable but please get off of me…" said Shuei, his voice still even.

Shuurei was getting red, her mind creating many illusions; she spun on her heels and headed out. However her escape was not as smooth as she imagined. Her long sleeve got caught on the door handle, and the meat bun box hit the side of the door with a thud. "Crap…" she thought. Skipping a bit, she headed off. In the distant of Shuei's room she heard him making a few excuses, and was soon hot on her trail.

"Shuurei-donno," he called calmly, no hint of surprise in his voice but a hint gratitude. "I thought it would be you, only you stop by around this time."

"Ah." said Shuurei bluntly and not even looking at him, "I didn't see you there, General Ran. Busy?" There was sarcasm in her voice.

Shuei laughed, this girl was amusing indeed. "Quite, Shuurei-donno. Work has been exceedingly hard this time of the year."

"Oh?" Shuurei turned a corridor, Shuei still following her. "Yes, General Ran, I'm sure it must be exceedingly painful for you."

Shuei's eyebrows arched, he then noticed the box Shuurei was carrying. "What a loving daughter Shoka-sama has, are you bringing him afternoon snacks?" His voice implied 'I want some too'.

"Loving…" said Shuurei, thinking out loud again. She thought about Jun-kun and the Lieu couple. "Love… was it?"

Shuei kept silent, and analysed her puzzling expression. A snort escaped him. "Something the matter, Shuurei-donno?"

Shuurei finally lowered down her barrier, and spoke quietly, "I was wondering… is all love the same? Sweet and easy…" her thoughts uncontrollably lead to Ryuuki.

The corner of Shuei's lips rose. "Ah, not necessarily."

Shuurei felt irritated by the amusement in General Ran's voice. Her emotional barrier went up again. "Oh."

"A fair maiden indeed." Thought Shuei. Though judging by Shuurei's temper right now, he would never say that out loud. There was something bugging this blooming general to be. "It can be sour, and hot, and simple and sweet."

Shuurei suddenly laughed, "You sound like you're describing food, General Ran." They were now at her father's library where he worked with the archives. As she slowly pushed open the door, the mid afternoon sunlight caught her eyes, and she paused as a breeze blew strands of hair into her eyes. She thought she saw an mirage. But before her, slumped over the table by the window sat Ryuuki. For a moment, the tranquility of the scene took her breath away. So unlike the childish Ryuuki or the Emperor Ryuuki she knew… here, he looked at peace.

The two backed out of the library, and closed the door. Shuurei felt like she understood now. Not all love was the same. Not all love was easy, or quick paced, or eventful. Like what General Ran said, it could simple and sweet. She smiled at him; a smile so dazzling it shocked him. Shuei was experienced with women, which he did not deny. Experienced with the odd ones, the ones that had more beneath the surface… those were women he had trouble with.

"General Ran…" whispered Shuurei.

"Yes, Shuurei-donno?"

She turned around, and handed him a plate of meat buns. "Await for my Tang Yuan tomorrow break." She bowed to him, and with that she carefully opened the library door and entered.

Slightly dumbstruck, Shuei headed back to his office; biting into the succulent and love filled meat buns made by Kou Shuurei; part of the odd women category. He wondered whether this would be the last meat bun he will ever have made by Shuurei. The sword from the Emperor by his side hung loosely on it's strap; as if it would break and fall any moment.

* * *

Shuurei quietly placed the box of meat buns in front of Ryuuki and sat opposite him. She saw him twitch his nose; "Wouldn't want our Emperor to catch a cold now, would we…" thought Shuurei as she closed the window in front of him.

For a few moments she enjoyed the peaceful and silent company, and sorted her thoughts of today. She was confused about love. She could work out the country's economy problems but love was an entirely different matter. She was confused; why did love seem so easy, so sweet to others? The end result was to be envied for. Like the Lieu couple and Jun-kun; of which she whole heartedly blessed them well. But inside she had almost cursed her self for falling for someone so… restricted. He wasn't hers. He was the countries. During the course of the day, Shuurei even convinced herself it was not love she felt for the Emperor, it was duty and responsibility. She watched Ryuuki; his breathing calm and in sync, his lashes long and hair so smooth she had to hold herself back from touching it. Her eyes wandered to his lips, and she immediately thought of the kiss he planted on her so many months ago; before the incident in the Sa province, before Jyuusan-hime appeared. Oh, how uneventful indeed. She'd never thought she'd miss those care free times when she was Ryuuki's concubine. She was too busy with work in the palace and the country to miss.

But, after talking with General Ran, her thoughts had changed. She let out a long deep sigh, then allowed herself a smile as she left a plate of meat buns by Ryuuki's side and headed towards the door. She had to go home and prepare ingredients for the Tang Yuan she was going to make. Sphere shaped dumplings served in a soup; the stuffing was full of sweet sesame, simple peanuts, and rich red bean paste.

As she walked down the corridor, a skip to her steps, she laughed at the irony of the metaphor behind the dumplings compared to her thought patterns of today. Indeed, sweet, simple and rich was their love.

A/N: Sorry, there probably won't be updates for this story anytime soon.. I have to dissappear off the face of this earth and hide under a rock whilst trying to decrease the growing mountain of work awaiting me... darn school. XD

But on the plus side; I'm planning the next chapter to be about Shuei x Shusui x Shoka :)