Story Title: Sweetest Dreams
Chapter: 03
Author: Moor (or 'beyondthemoor' from LJ)
Length: approx. 2700 words
Genre: General/Comedy/PWP
Rating: I'll say T
Fandom: Saiunkoku Monogatari
Summary: A sequel to "Manjuu Magic."Shuurei x Kijin, Shuurei x Ryuuki.
Disclaimer: I have no ownership of "Saiunkoku Monogatari".

AN: I hope you enjoy this sequel, thank you for reading!

There was a warm, comfortable breeze blowing through the room as Shuurei sat at the table with the Grand Guardians. The chamber itself was a bit spartan, but she found individual touches each advisor had added: the military neatness, the plethora of books, and the subtle choice of contrasting materials the furniture and structures were made of. The wealth of writing instruments and the order called to her, and she felt the wisdom of her hosts reflected in every aspect.

It immediately put her on her guard.

She offered the teapot to the man directly in front of her and to the left.

"Such beautiful weather today, isn't it? It looks like the storm was just the thing to push out the heatwave," she said pleasantly, pouring the proferred cup.

Sa Taiho smiled back, nodding. "Just the thing," he agreed.

"You must have been sweltering up here in the tower," she filled another cup, "what with the warm air and all. How did you cope?" This was code for, 'what have you been up to, you've been far too quiet.'

"Oh, we've seen plenty of heat spells in our time here at the palace," Sou Taifu nodded his thanks to her and brought the cup to his lips to blow softly on the steam that rose from the surface. "We've experienced all kinds of trials—that one was quite minor in comparison…"

Shuurei forced herself to maintain her smile in spite of the man's subtle jab at her being obviously inexperienced and unable to cope. She also didn't miss his cloaked barb about her refusing to provide an heir being but a 'minor trial'. She mentally prepared herself for the creeping barrage she knew they were preparing.

"Actually, we wanted to invite you up last week, but we knew you'd been quite busy overseeing some of the administration of the harem." Shou Taishi held out his cup to be filled before Shuurei had a chance to offer it to him.

So he's making his move first, she thought to herself. Stay alert.

"One of the cultural officials merely asked for my assistance, since he knew I had previous experience with entertaining before I moved into the palace," she explained the tete-a-tete meeting, though she was sure they already knew every piece of information discussed. She prayed the poor man who'd spoken with her hadn't been tortured by the Old Busybodies in order to get the details. "He was thinking of getting together some of the women to form a small concert for His Highness for an afternoon, and asked my opinion on several matters. It was a very pleasant, professional encounter."

"Yes, so he said, too. About 'filling a spare apartment in the harem with song', 'carrying his Highness on golden notes', 'relaxing every member of the court with a well-earned reward'--."

Shuurei smiled to herself as she remembered the excitement the discussion had evoked in her. She'd really been looking forward to working together with the other musicians to come up with something that would improve the palace morale following the explanation of the 'lack of heir' business… The serving women had been most upset. With her.

"Well, your 'pleasant, professional encounter' put a fair dent in the treasury," stated Sou Taifu bluntly.

"What?!" Her resulting shriek, aghast, nearly caused them all to drop their teacups. The poor consort looked wildly from one advisor to the next. This had to be some kind of cruel joke!

"He took each of your suggestions literally, to put it lightly," Shou Taishi said smugly. The young woman across from him started to pale at the implications.

"…filling an apartment with song…?" she asked, uncertainly. "We meant to play music to enliven everyone--."

"Oh, no. He purchased as many instruments – commissioned them from several artists and master instrument-makers, actually— as he could, along with enlisting composers to write fresh ballads to honour His Highness." Shou took a sip from his teacup and smiled behind the vessel as he swallowed, relishing the look of concern and anger on his guest's lovely face.

"That wasn't how I intended my advice to be used; I admit I am partly responsible, but I never authorized those purchases," she stated resolutely.

"You didn't have to – His Highness did as soon as he heard you were organizing a concert for him. Did you not know, High Consort Kou? He is very supportive of your endeavours…"

Ryuuu-kiiiiii….. she grit her teeth, still determined to smile through them.

"I'm sure this can be addressed and corrected, and I am willing to accept some of the," she swallowed, "excesses that have occurred."

Shou Taishi grinned.

"We'd never dream of putting you on the spot, Consort Kou," the old man settled his cup on the tabletop and steepled his long, elegant fingers. "However, this was a considerable error… I'm sure you understand."

Sou Taifu, listening with his eyes closed and arms crossed, nodded twice. "Mm-hmm."

Whether they were about to offer her a way out of the disgraceful, wasteful mess, or just try to blackmail her further, Shuurei wasn't sure – but she was certainly desperate to make sure it didn't get any further out of hand.

"Of course! I wouldn't dream of trying to push this under the table," where I'd like to kick something until it bleeds, she thought to herself. "Please tell me how I can help!" She would see this through and make sure it never happened again!

"Delighted! You have so much enthusiasm. It is wonderful to see in young people such as yourself," complimented Sa Taihou, pulling some paper and ink brushes out. He set aside two small piles of paper.

"You see, we've been keeping a running budget of your expenses since you arrived," Shou Taishi said, leaning forward on the table, fingers still steepled. "And we'd like to discuss them with you."

The change in the Guardians' direction startled her: from an accidental misinterpretation to her day-to-day running expenses? What were these old buzzards up to?

"I'm sorry? I had thought my stay was complimentary as part of my compensation for tutoring His Highness—."

"Yes, and you will still be paid, regardless of this incident; however let's go over some of those expenses, shall we?"

"Yes," she said after a moment, eyeing Shou Taishi warily.

Sou Taifu broke out an abacus.

"Excellent…"

That evening, Shuurei walked back to her rooms in a mild stupor… and with more than some temper.

What game were they playing? She wondered. Were they trying to make her feel guilty for residing at the palace without paying for her stay? They had to have known that reviewing such financial matters would make her feel inadequate, a burden. And she truly did feel like she was taking advantage of the entire palace staff, now that she realized how little they were paid, and some not paid at all – and there were a great many of them who served her specifically. How could she have been so blind?

Falling down into the garden beside her, the precipitation had started anew and seemed to reflect some of her dismal inner turmoil. She felt her shoulders and neck go tense, as if she now carried another burden. She had to pay some of that money back; even if it wasn't in her contract, and even though she technically wasn't the one on the hook for the advisor taking her literally and 'filling a room with music', she wanted to contribute.

A sigh escaped her pursed lips as she found herself at the end of the corridor to her palace residence; she entered her rooms. Shusui and Kourin had already prepared her apartment and left for the evening by the time she arrived, and Ryuuki was waiting for her in her bed.

The rain outside touched the roof with a constant patter, and she wondered vaguely if it could wash away some of her anxiety this time as opposed to adding to it, as it had done on her walk back from visiting the Terrible Trio.

"Shuurei?" asked her 'husband', noting her less-than-enthusiastic arrival.

"Ah, Your High--."

"Ryuuki."

"Would you like anything?" The rain beat down harder, and she raised her voice slightly in order to be heard. The smell of incense wafted in the air as she moved behind a screen – in the next room – to remove her robes and change into her nightdress.

"No, We're fine," he considered his words carefully. "Was your day eventful?"
Shuurei glared at part of the painted screen. 'Eventful'?

"It was quite enlightening, actually…"

A low grumble of thunder sounded in the distance. Shuurei felt the hair on the back of her arms stand up and paused while undoing part of her under-robe. She'd thought the warm air the night before had pushed the storm front out of their region; could it have just been waiting to break a bit later? She felt her fingers tense up and turn into useless nubs as another growl of thunder broke, closer this time. It was definitely getting closer, and picking up speed. Heart constricting in her chest, Shuurei felt the usual chill go down her spine as her panic bloomed.

"…-rei? Shuurei? Shuurei! Are you alright?"

Ryuuki's voice, now just on the other side of the screen, finally entered her muddled brain.

"Fine! Fine! Sorry, I'll be right there!"

"Are you sure?" he asked, now even more concerned. Shuurei didn't usually hide like this from him – not that he watched her change, but she'd normally just ask him (well, admittedly, order him) to wait in another room while she got ready for bed; but now he could see her shadow's silhouette on the wall, and she was huddled in a tiny bundle, her hands cover her head as if to protect it from a phantom blow.

He glanced away to give her more privacy, but his concern remained. In a lull between the thunder rolls, there was sound like she'd leapt to her feet.

"Coming!"

She rushed out a few moments later, hurrying to bed where she jumped in – and again, pulled the covers up over her head.

"You should really get to bed, Your Highness," she called from beneath the blankets, her voice muffled. "It looks like it'll be quite the storm. Better get some rest before the lightning—."

A massive boom shook the dwelling, and Shuurei shrieked for the second time that day. Her diminutive form took on the shape of a snail, her back obviously rounded over the legs she had tucked in under her and the blanket wrapped securely around every possible inch of herself. Had it not been for the violent trembling, the young emperor might have assumed she'd stuffed a bundle of laundry under the covers.

Ryuuki regarded his 'wife' as if she'd just gone off the deep end.

"Is it the storm that you don't like?" he asked cautiously, approaching their bed. He left the lamps lit as he settled down beside her. The lump made an affirmative movement from beneath the piles of plush material.

He smiled to himself. "Is this what you usually do?"

"Seiran usually helps, at home," her shaky voice mumbled.

The young man felt himself nod a bit, though she couldn't see him do so. Stifling the jealousy was easy and familiar by now; he was glad his brother had been of help to her before he himself had known her. "Ah… Would you like some company?" he asked, not very enthused at the notion of turning the lamps out quite yet, either.

The bundle didn't acknowledge his offer.

"We have storms like this every so often," he continued, and reached out a hand to gently rub her back – or where he assumed her back was, but he was sure of it as he felt her shaking diminish incrementally at his touch.

"Sometimes it feels like they're trying to break in, doesn't it?" (Ryuuki's interpersonal skill number 4: Attempting a joke to ease tension.)

She stiffened.

(Result: Backfire.)

"Ah! But they won't! We promise, they won't!" It was a moment or two before he went on again. "Has Seiran been able to help you while you've been here in the palace?"

"… no." Her voice held a note of sadness, and he continued the circular motions on her back.

"Have you had any problems from the storms since you've been here?"

From beneath the warm blankets, Shuurei held her breath.

"Shuurei?"

Ryuuki picked up a corner of the cover and slowly lifted it to peek underneath. A pair of wide eyes avoided his, and a flushed face turned away. His eyebrows knit; was she embarrassed about her fear? Had someone humiliated her? The latter notion immediately roused his protective feelings for her.

"Shuurei?" he asked again. "You know We don't like the dark—it's fine if you don't like the storm. We can hate them together!"

With her rumpled hair and reddened cheeks, she looked very cute, he admitted to himself somewhat guiltily. It would be wrong to take advantage of her vulnerable position. Very, very wrong.

However… His heart felt a mild flutter and he cheered slightly; now was his chance to comfort her! "Can We help?" he asked compassionately.

He raised the blanket slowly and wrapped it around her shoulders, preparing to pull her against him, rock her to sleep, and confess to her all the things he wanted to say. He still hadn't settled on the order, but the young man was sure the display of sympathy and connection would be plenty to win over her heart…

Shuurei felt her heart overflow at a different memory, though.

"TherewasonetimebeforeIstartedworkingherethatIendedupinKijin'sarmsbecausethestormscaredmesomuch," she said in a breath, before looking at him with her face red as a lobster.

His arms froze in the air with the edges of the blanket, an inch from her shoulders.

That's ok, We can have him dead by morning so he can't do it again, was Ryuuki's first thought. It was generously cheerful. Very dead.

He looked back at her, and could tell she was waiting for his reaction. He tried desperately to control his eyebrows from twitching.

She was brave, and didn't look away.

We're glad you had someone with you, was the next thought that floated through his mind. It was accompanied by a wave of relief, and bullied the first thought away from the Emperor's immediate attention. He settled his arms around her and pulled her close; she rested her head against his chest, trying to breathe normally in spite of her anxiety.

"Ah…" he couldn't think of anything to say. He didn't remember when he'd stopped rubbing her back, but he had. He started the motion again, and she nodded in thanks.

"It… helps when there's someone there," she added, still a bit mortified she had so little control over her fear. Her benefactor looked crestfallen, though he rallied some semblance of recovery for her benefit. He pulled back a moment and extended a hand to her.

"Then please accept Our offer of company through tonight, and for any other bad weather."

"Thank you," she murmured, relaxing slightly. It was a relief that at least she wouldn't have to hide from him and lock herself in a wardrobe during the next round of meteorological inclemency. She gripped his hand in acceptance.

Another crack of thunder rang out, and the room flared with the lightning.

Shuurei shrieked again. Instinctively, she threw herself against Ryuuki, burying her face in the folds of his robes at his chest.

Wimp! She screamed at herself. Such an emotionally-draining afternoon, and now this? She just wanted to pass out. She clutched his robes tighter as she heard another growl of thunder. Please let this storm finish soon!

Cheeks burning, Ryuuki's heart skipped; then he wondered at what point he'd adopted a wrestler for a consort, as his 'wife' tightened her grip on him.
"Erk, Shuurei…"

He finally settled on wrapping his arms around her, and pulling her closer to him. "Once the worst stops, we'll lie down, Ok?"

She nodded, not raising her head up.

He sighed, though not unhappily.

…And plotted a new project that would keep advisor Kijin so busy he wouldn't see the light of day for weeks.

AN: SnowKae has been very busy, so this chapter is unbeta-ed for now. We'll try and edit this one, and have a new chapter for you in January or February 2008! (All errors in this chapter are my own, sorry, so please R&R with concrit so I can clean it up!)
AN: Thank YOU for reading! (Please let us know what you think!)
AN: Still a test-fic. Originally posted December 22, 2007. Happy Holidays, everyone!