Chapter 2: Heart to Heart

"How are you, Seiran?" she asked.

"Still feeling bad, Ojou," Seiran said in between coughs.

Shuurei pulled up her sleeves and began attending to him. She gave him medicine and water, and rendered sponge bath on him. When he took off his upper garment, Shuurei saw that Seiran had grown muscular. His chest was broad and smooth, and his arms were strong. She couldn't hide her blush and embarrassment that Seiran could look so desirable despite their sibling-like relationship and their age gap.

"Are you all right, Ojou?" he asked.

Shuurei lied and said she was fine, and opened the windows to avoid her embarrassment. After that, she sat down on his bed and let Seiran lie on her lap.

"Would you tell me why you went away?" she asked.

Seiran sighed and told her everything.

"It all started during the months when Sa province was relatively peaceful. I was once hanging out at one brothel all by myself to randomly check the security of each part of the province when I encountered a group of vagabonds gambling near the brothel inn. They were meeting to themselves and planning to cure as many sick people as possible, and that they were willing to apply as the doctors in this province. Of course, I presumed that these men were just swindlers just trying to make good money out of people and trying to hide their true intensions. And so, I singled out one of those men whose face I can familiarize. And soon enough, I spied on them for months until I met them again at the brothel as they were drinking wine. I disguised myself and told them I had heard from them that they wanted to be physicians and that I want to join them. The rascals accepted me that easily without any skepticism. I went with them all around, and I saw their own brand of medical expertise. As expected, these guys manipulated the populace so that the latter can avail of their services and pay the former with a handsome amount of money. All the while, I had been behind your shadow still, and not once had I deserted you as believed by the emperor. It is because, in one occasion, I heard from them that once they get to be physicians, they will have to get rid of you and steal the provincial funds. That is simply their only objective. There's nothing political to it and they are simply fancying the money of the province."

Shuurei was disturbed at the news. No wonder Seiran had been missing for months. He had been protecting her in disguise. So, Seiran continued his story.

"And so, the rascals continued their business. They were mentioning about plotting against you a lot of times, and yours truly kept silently still. I knew every single one of them. I had learned that they were to apply as physicians and kill you at night. And on the night before the plot, I silently told Ensei about it."

"Ensei?" Shuurei asked. She had no idea Ensei had been working silently with Seiran behind their back.

"Yes. When I familiarized one of them, even before I entered the group, I already told Ensei about it. He was glad that I was still doing my job for you, and that he was very willing to help. That is why, many hours before they did the first part of their plot, I gave him a warning signal, and he sent secret troops to arrest them. I pretended to fight with the soldiers as planned, and played dead in front of everyone. Even the soldiers pretended to taunt me so as not to arouse suspicion from the rascals. All of them were arrested and placed under maximum security. The news did not leak at all, thanks to Ensei's great ingenuity. I told him that I need to go away for a while so as not to anger any family members of the rascals who might recognize me beyond disguise. I know no one knew or even familiarized me when we did our healing sessions, but I was really willing to go away from you to think things over."

"Seiran…" Shuurei said.

"After that incident, I gave it a thought that all the while I had been behind your back all the time, trying to protect you. But then you had protected me and even wanted me to go out, explore the world and as well as myself. That is one mistake I had done—I didn't ask for your permission to leave."

Shuurei stroke his forehead and kissed it.

"Don't be guilty, Seiran. Ensei had done a job well done, and so have you. I am glad you were able to explain your side. Ryuuki was about to arrest you for leaving your post. I interceded on your behalf, and he had grown kinder with his ultimatum. Well done, Seiran. I am so proud of you."

She kissed his forehead again and encouraged him to get up and sit down. Seiran stroke her hair and looked at her lovingly.

"My, my, Ojou, you are already very grown up," he sighed. He still remembered her as a little girl crying and being comforted by him acting as elder brother. "Someday, you will grow up, mature more, and eventually get married."

Shuurei looked at him with a sad look. Is he really planning to give her to someone else? She began to feel very ambivalent by now. The moment was broken when Shuuei announced their return. Shuurei excused herself and went out of the room and into the kitchen where she cooked dinner.