Title: Nocturne
Author: Imanewme
Genre: Narrative
Word count: 402
Rating: G
Warnings: None
AU/Canon: Cannon
Theme: Memories
Disclaimer: I do not own Saiunkoku Monogatari. It belongs to its creator, Sai Yukino. I make no profit nor seek to make profit.
Shuuri took out the ehru and sat in her father's garden. The autumn evening was cool and crisp; a gentle breeze teased the ends of her carefully tied hair. Looking up to the cherry tree she sighed. It was barren of leaves; the blossoms gone as winter approached Saiunkoku. Closing her eyes and envisioning the limbs filled with powder pink petals, Shuuri began to play.
Her practiced fingers moved across the strings of their own accord and the callused hand holding the bow took on a life of its own as the first notes of nightfall drifted on the chilling air. Her eyes glazed over and her most treasured memories unfolded under the darkening sky.
A soft smile played on her lips as the ehru's rich melody revealed her mother's gentle smile and doting ways to the evening stars. A tear slipped from Shuuri's eye as her mother's face faded, only to be replaced by a cold gravestone. 'Thank you mother,' she whispered. Pain and illness plagued her childhood until the day her mother died. Shuuri's body became strong that day, and she cherished the gift of health her mother bestowed on her upon her final breath.
Shuuri drew another sweet verse from the ehru as visions of her father's strong hands and smiling eyes danced on the edges of her soul. No matter how bad things got in the dark times, he was her biggest supporter, always encouraging her to keep optimistic and never belittling any of her lofty dreams and ideals. "I'm going to make it so no one has to be in so much pain ever again!" she cried to him often in those days. "I know you will," had always been his reply.
The bittersweet tune turned energetic and pronounced as the wind brought memories happy days in the garden with her father and Serian. "Spin me again, Serian!" she had laughed while Serian's strong hands spun her around. "Make me fly!" she would cry, "higher than the clouds over Saiunkoku!" Serian would laugh and nuzzle his nose on the crown of her head, "Anything for you, hime-san," he would answer, "anything for you."
In the shadows of the house Serian and Shoka basked in the sweet comfort of Shuuri's haunted melody. As the last note faded, Shuuri sat motionless until Serian put a callused hand on her shoulder.
"Come in from the cold, Shuuri."
"Of course, Serian."