Hi! Thanks for all the great reviews! I admit, when I first started this four-shot, I thought all four point of views were going to be easy, especially when it's A.U., but now, in Ryuuki's point of view, it's hard to think of a scene that will make Ryuuki realize that Shuurei and Seiran are meant to be. Anyways, hopefully this exceeds your expectations! Oh, and if you should want to know, one little part from this chapter is from the manga I think..but I'm actually not sure.., so I hope you don't mind.
disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS OR SETTINGS OR THINGS FROM SAIUNKOKU MONOGATARI! THEY ALL BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.
I have loved Shuurei from the moment I had met her when we were in the garden. I loved her for her mothering ways, her naive personality, and her ambitious nature. But I also realized that I wasn't the only one who loved her. Seien, or rather, now, 14 years later, known as Seiran, also loves Shuurei. I realized after many events and situations I have witnessed, that he also loves Shuurei, but not the Shuurei that I know. He loved Shuurei for her fear of thunder, her hatred of being poor, her obsession with always making manjuu buns, and worrying for others before herself. He loves her for everything she is, and everything that she can be. Although, yes, I agree, Shuurei is also being persued for marriage in all directions (Sa Sakujun, who apparently, is still alive and is in Kiyou, near my Shuurei, Ran Ryuuren, Ri Kouyuu, Riku Seiga and surprisingly, going against his brother, and no matter how I look at it, don't understand why, but Ran Setsuna specifically either Tsuki or Hana is also in the race for Shuurei) One time, was my first time to see Seiran and Shuurei, after Shuurei begging and pleading with Seiran to let her drink wine, drunk. Although I have seen my anuie drunk, I never expected that when he got really drunk that he'll say things the normal Shi Seiran wouldn't say...
"You know what, Shuurei?" asked Seiran, taking another swig off of his bottle.
Shuurei, beside me, quickly reached over to grab his bottle, but was too slow before Seiran turned away.
"What?" Asked Shuurei, this time standing up, and making her way over to Seiran, again, attempting to take away Seiran's bottle of wine, but unfortunately, didn't succeed.
"You know, I think Seiran's getting quite drunk...And I know, from observation, that no matter how perfect a man is, when he's quite drunk enough, he might say or do things he'll later regret..Especially if we have a lady present." Said Shuuei, who was sitting beside Seiran.
"You remember Ko Yuukaku, that boy from the Ko clan, two years ago that gave you a marriage proposal, and you were going to accept his proposal, and just when you were about to, Yuukaku quickly excused himself from Kiyou? That was all my doing. I pelted him with bamboo shoots, and threatened him, that he will not be able to live to produce a heir to the Ko clan, if he was to marry you." Said Seiran drunkenly.
"I didn't say I was going to marry that Ko Yuukaku though, Seiran! I only expressed how handsome and nice boy he was..but I didn't mean that I will accept his proposal!" Exclaimed Shuurei, looking at Seiran, increduously.
"And you know what else?"
"What, Seiran? The fact that my Seiran that I know has been pelting bamboo shoots at boys that dared made a move on me, is already surprising, what else can you tell me that will be shock-" Began Shuurei, before she was cut off by Seiran,
"I love you."
I froze.
Kouyuu, beside Seiran, froze.
Shuuei froze.
And Shuurei suddenly froze.
"You what?!" Suddenly all four of us around Seiran shouted.
"I love Kou Shuurei," Said Seiran.
"He's drunk..he's obviously drunk. He wouldn't love me that way." Said Shuurei quietly, and then jumping to see the chance that Seiran was preoccupied, and took his bottle, so she can drink from it.
"And you know what else I have to say? Ryuuki, how about you say it. Who am I, really?" Said Seiran.
I looked at Seiran, and our eyes met. In his eyes, I can see that deep down, he's not drunk, but just wanted to say things that the ordinary Seiran wouldn't say.
"He- He's actually my anuie. He's Shi Seien." I said quietly.
Shuurei, taking a swig, since she and Seiran was sharing the wine bottle together, spit out the wine she was drinking.
"What?! Is that why father had your name to be 'Shi Seiran' instead of any other name?" Exclaimed Shuurei.
"Your father was always one of the smartest." Said Seiran, looking at Shuurei.
"Shuurei, I think I should escort you back. Who knows what the dark Seiran will do to you in a dark alley way, when he's drunk."Said Kouyuu, taking Shuurei's hand, and Seiran's arm.
"No! I will. Kouyuu, you have no sense of direction, and we know it, and I don't think Shuurei would enjoy walking around Kiyou trying to find her house, because of your sense of direction. I will take the liberty have taking Shuurei and Seiran back to the Kou house." Said Shuuei, quickly standing up.
And that was the night that Seiran had 'mistakenly' revealed that he was Seien and was in love with Shuurei, although, because of how Shuurei had seen Seiran so drunk, Shuurei didn't believe that he was in love with her. It broke my heart to see that Shuurei was actually in love with Seiran too.
"So do you two think the counterfeit silk are coming from the Sa province?" Asked Shuurei, taking another bite of the manjuu bun that she was sharing with Seiran, while Seiran and I are walking beside her.
"Well, it could be possible. Like the salt problem, earlier last month. It might have to do with how they're transported, ojou-sama." Said Seiran.
"Seiran! How many times do I have to say to call me by my given name, not by my title!" exclaimed Shuurei, suddenly stopping, and turning to Seiran.
"I'm sorry, ojou-sam- I mean, Shuurei." Said Seiran, looking at the angry 17-year-old girl.
"That reminds We. We think Shuurei and Seiran should marry." Said I, without thinking, of how it sounds.
Suddenly both Seiran and Shuurei froze, and looked at each other before looking at me, and the both looked back at each other, and exchanged glances, as if they were silently talking to each other.
I realized what I said came out, and quickly tried to fix it,
"I- We mean...Seiran, anuie, is growing more of a legible age to get married,at twenty-five, and Shuurei, as she is already seventeen,is already a legible age, so We urge you two to quickly accept suitors, or rather Seiran find a wife.Ri Kouyuu, Ran Ryurren, Sa Sakujun, Ran Setsuna, Riku Seiga, and even We, Shi Ryuuki, are pledging for your hand, Shuurei. Perhaps it is time to accept one of us." I said.
Shuurei and Seiran looked at each other.
"Ryuuki, I am aware that I am more than of an eligible age to marry, but I'm sure Shuurei and I are quite comfortable living together in the Kou mansion."Said Seiran, referring to the fact that it was only he and Shuurei living in the Kou household, since Kou Shoka was back at the Kou province sorting out things.
"You two should marry soon. We're afraid that Shuurei may be in danger. Sa Sakujun is alive and well, and he's pretty well determined to have Shuurei as his wife." I said, putting both of my arms around Shuurei, protectively.
"I won't let him get her." Said Seiran darkly.
"Oh yes you will, Shi Seiran." Said a voice behind them.
I watched as Shuurei, recognizing the voice, slowly turning around.
Both Seiran and I, underneath our clothes, holding our swords just in case and turned around.
We turned around to see the person we all didn't want to see.
Sa Sakujun.
Shuurei gasped, and ran to Sakujun before either Seiran and I stopped her.
Sakujun and Shuurei embraced.
I looked over to my older brother to see him, with his sword already out, gripping the sword, so hard that his knuckles were turning white.
"Sakujun..I thought you were dead." Said Shuurei, looking up at the 29-year-old man.
"Thanks to your Seiran, I wasn't dead. He took the poison, not I."Answered Sakujun.
Suddenly, before my eyes, Seiran was charging at Sakujun.
Sakujun, taking out his sword, and pushing Shuurei gently to the side, stood ready for Seiran.
Both the men circled each other, before charging at each other.
I observed the two silently.
While Seiran was only skilled in offensively attacking, and wasn't as great defending himself, Sakujun was more skilled with defending himself than attacking, so the two were evenly disadvantaged and advantaged.
A few minutes of attempting to attack wach other, Seiran and Sakujun both landed on the ground.
Shuurei, who was hugging me fiercly, quickly looked between Seiran and Sakujun, before she quickly ran to Seiran, who was lying on the floor, breathing heavily.
"Seiran..Seiran..speak to me! Don't try to make me think I'm going to lose you with such a minor injuiry." Said Shuurei, kneeling down, and putting his head onto her lap, to look for any injuiries.
She saw what Sa Sakujun had done to Seiran.
Near Seiran's heart, was a large gash through his clothes, to see a large gash bleeding heavily.
Quickly thinking, Shuurei, took off her outer dress, and ripped half of it, and took off Seiran's upper shirt, and wrapped the cloth around Seiran's wound.
She then quickly, holding the other half of her dress, she rushed over to Sakujun.
I watched Shuurei, amazed.
Although Sakujun was the one that caused Seiran's injuiry, and I could see Shuurei being angry at Sakujun, she rushed over to him, to try to heal his injuiries.
This just really shows one side of Shuurei that I love about her.
That day showed me something, when Seiran had attacked Sakujun.
Shuurei had loved Seiran, and Seiran had truely loved Shuurei, enough to put his life for her.
I should back down.
I know I should finally get something that I wanted, like getting Shuurei, since my whole childhood was surrounded by abuse and neglect, but Seien's life was also like mine. His mother hated him, his brothers hated him, and he was often abused when he was younger. But maybe Seiran also deserved getting something he wanted. Like Shuurei.
So that concludes for Ryuuki's point of view! I hope you enjoyed this one! Please R&R, and yes..Next is Shuurei. So yeah, we're half way through this story!
Seiran & Shuurei forever!
- Riela
