Title : Blue Ribbon VII (New Growth)

Disclaimer : I don't own Saiunkoku Monogatari. It belongs to Sai Yukino.

Rating : T for theme only

Genre : Family

Warnings : Yaoi, mentions of

Pairing : Koyu/Shuei

Summary : Koyu and Shuei, in trying to become parents, end up having to deal with other issues in their relationship. Hana comes to Kyo with three gifts.

Notes : This was written in response to the LJ Saiun_Challenge prompt "New Growth".

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Koyu stared at the nervous young woman seated on the bed. Without turning to look at Shuei, Koyu asked,
"How old is she?"

Koyu's voice was quiet. Too quiet. But Shuei, in his excitement at having found the perfect candidate, failed to notice it.

"Just turned fourteen."

Koyu spun around to face Shuei.
"FOURTEEN!"

The tone was unmistakable this time. Shuei stared in bewilderment at the anger in Koyu's eyes.
"Koyu, fourteen's the standard acceptable marriageable age for girls . . ."

"I know that! But there's no way I'm going to have sex with a fourteen-year-old child!"

"You didn't state any preferences or non-preferences, Koyu, you said to leave it to me to make the arrangements. What age did you have in mind?"

"It's not just the age, Shuei! I imagined it would be a woman who's had her own children, not a virgin!"

At the sound of a sharp intake of breath, Koyu and Shuei stopped short.

"Rin, I'm sorry. I'll talk to you later. Koyu, we'll talk in the study."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Shuei closed the doors of the study.
"Koyu, I didn't choose her for her virginity or otherwise. I chose her because she's good looking, and also because she sounds intelligent, and feels like a nice person. I chose her for the qualities she would pass on to her child. Your child. Our child."

"That's what I don't understand, Shuei, why do you insist it has to be MY child in order for it to be OUR child? Why can't we just adopt?"

Shuei was stunned.
"What? But I'm doing this because of you! You said that you were looking forward to the pleasure of fathering children."

"When did I say that?"

"A couple of days after His Highness started lessons. We were waiting for him at the Archives. You distinctly said 'fathering', not 'being a father'. Don't you remember?"

"I don't remember. Maybe I did. That was before we got involved, and at that point in my life I would naturally assume that I would marry a woman and father children, right?"

"Right, that's the whole point, Koyu. By being involved with me, you lost that anticipated pleasure. I wanted to give that back to you."

"Oh Shuei! Why didn't you just say so? I don't feel the need to father children. I just want to bring up children. I agreed to it because I thought that was what you wanted. Can you pay Rin all that is due to her, but cancel the arrangement?"

Shuei looked hesitant, and at a loss.

Koyu put a hand against the wall to steady himself.
"Oh my god, Shuei, did you buy her?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean . . . "

Koyu stormed out of the study.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Shuei knocked on the room door. Rin opened the door, eyes wide and frightened.
"Rin, I'll settle things with Master Koyu. Go to sleep. And don't worry. Like I said to you before, even if Master Koyu doesn't want you, you can still stay."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Koyu tensed as Shuei walked into the bedroom.

"Koyu . . ."

"DON'T! I will not accept slaves, Shuei. One of the things I respect about Lord Kijin is that he doesn't own slaves."
Koyu's voice trembled.
"And I didn't think we would ever have to be engaged in an argument like this."

Shuei didn't respond immediately.
"So you would prefer that I sell her back to her dealer?"

"Yes! NO! Damn you, Shuei, for putting me in this situation."

"Koyu, a slave that is treated well is no worse off than a servant. My elder brothers have both servants and slaves in the manor, and they are treated equally well."

Koyu snorted.
"Equal? How can a human that is owned by another human ever feel equal?"

"They are equal in every way. The living conditions are the same. The amount of money they receive is the same, it's just that one is called salary, and the other allowance. More importantly, my brothers' slaves are well-treated and happy."

"So. Now slaves are happy. Way to go, Ran Shuei."

Shuei sucked in his breath. Koyu's words can be extremely cutting.
"Koyu, my brother bought your mother from the brothel owner. She's been a slave for sixteen years. And didn't you hear her tell me that she's so happy, she can hardly believe it?"

"That's different! My mother loves and is loved by your brother. She said he treats her preciously, hangs on her every word, and is tender and passionate in bed. Like YOU!"
Koyu glared at Shuei.

Shuei didn't know how to react. Koyu's words, tone and facial expression were totally at odds with one another. There were undertones and juxtapositions of ideas that Shuei couldn't even begin to grasp. He wasn't sure if they were still on the topic of slaves.
"Koyu, I . . . don't understand."

Koyu made a sound that could be a short bark of laughter.
"No, of course you don't. I'm not making much sense. I need a break."

Koyu closed the distance between them. He undid Shuei's obi.

"Koyu, what are you doing?"

"Undressing you."

"I know that! But, why?"

"The better to have sex with you."
Koyu deadpanned.

Shuei caught Koyu's hands just as his outer skirt fell to the ground.
"Wait! You want to take a break in the middle of a fight to have sex?"

"Uh-huh. You don't approve?"

". . . . ! ! ! !"

"I'll explain everything after sex. Deal?"

[Time lapse]

Rolling onto his side, Koyu slowly traced the scars on Shuei's torso with his fingers.
"Shuei, the fight was already over just now. But I wanted to have a serious talk with you, and as Lord Reishin says, men . . . "

". . . talk better after sex."
Shuei laughed.
"Alright, Koyu, I'm all primed. Shoot."

Koyu's pale grey eyes were serious and thoughtful.
"Shuei, what my mother said about your brother sounds a lot like you. You hang on every word I utter. No, more like pounce on it. Like that time when I mentioned, in passing, that I liked mushrooms. The next thing I knew, I was inundated with seventeen types of mushrooms, and we ate practically nothing but mushrooms for the next week."

Stroking Shuei gently to soften the impact of his words, Koyu continued.
"Your attentiveness scares me, Shuei. To the extent that I no longer dare to make casual remarks on anything. Unfortunately, you have very good long term memory! You retained what I said one month after we met, about fathering children, all these three years, and now we end up with a slave that I don't want."

Shuei looked stricken.
"Koyu, I'm sorry, I . . . mmmphh."

Koyu kissed Shuei, gently, tenderly.
"I love you, Shuei. And I know that's your way of showing that you love me. But you don't need to, uh, work so hard. Everything about you tells me that you love me."

At the question in the violet eyes, Koyu said.
"See, your body."

Smiling fondly, Koyu placed his hand over Shuei's cleanly-shaven pubic area.
"Here's the tattoo that says 'Property of Li Koyu'."

Koyu's face became serious. His hand brushed lightly across Shuei's abdomen, chest, and down his back.
"Here, here, here, here, here, and here, are the scars from your two months of hell. And yet, you snapped out of that self-destructive mode because I needed you."

Taking Shuei's face in his hands, Koyu went on.
"And here. Your eyes tell me that you love me. Shuei, you don't have to over-compensate for not being able to say the words 'I love you'. I already know the reason you can't utter those words. And the reason, in itself, shows me how much you love me."

Koyu paused, smiled, and gave the side of Shuei's head a light smack with the heel of his hand. Shuei laughed. That was Shuei's signature smack for when Koyu was ranting and needed to be stopped.
"You, we, got to get past this, Shuei. Our relationship needs to grow, especially as we intend to become parents. Deal?"

Shuei caught Koyu's hand, post-smack, and kissed it.
"Deal. I promise to grow up, Li Koyu."

He held on to Koyu's hand.
"Koyu, I decided to buy a slave because I wanted us to be part of the pregnancy. And in the event that we want more children, they can be true siblings. And also, I would feel better if I could repay their mother by looking after her material needs at least, for the rest of her life. I was totally prepared to give her her freedom later if she wishes. I know all that is not relevant now, but I just don't want you to think that I'm a monster."

Koyu cupped his other hand over Shuei's hand, sandwiching it, caressing it.
"I know you're not a monster, Shuei."

"Thank you!"
Shuei paused.
"Koyu, I promised Rin that she can stay."

"Alright, but on one condition."
Koyu grinned.


Rin looked around the large hall, nervous but excited. All these grand people, gathered here just for her! She brushed down, for the umpteenth time, her deep indigo dress. Koyu came up to her, for no apparent reason, smiled reassuringly, and left to speak to Reishin and Kijin. Rin scanned the room, looking for Shuei.

Shuei walked through the door, shoulder to shoulder with a man that resembled him. Rin was impressed with his elegantly coiffed hair. Rin greeted Shuei just as they approached her.

"Father Shuei!"

Shuei perceptibly glowed with pleasure. Hana noted it with immense amusement. He turned to Rin and said kindly,
"So you are Rin. You are very beautiful. I'm Shuei's elder brother."

"Oh! The triplets uncles! I'm honoured to meet you!"

Hana smiled warmly.
"Me too. My brothers apologize for not being able to come today. This is our gift to you."

Rin received the gift with both hands. It was a three-part ribbon. She had never seen anything like it. Two gold rings linked the three sections of indigo satin ribbons. It was beautiful, and very elegant. Just like the uncle who gave it to her.
"Thank you, Uncle Setsuna. It is gorgeous! Three linked ribbons from the three triplets uncles, yes?"

Hana nodded. He turned to Shuei.
"Your daughter's very bright, little brother. By the way, where's Father Koyu?"

As Hana approached them, Kijin glanced at Reishin in concern. Reishin sensed it, and smiled at him in silent acknowledgement of his support. The four men chatted for a while. Hana handed Koyu his mother's ring, for his daughter. Koyu excused himself immediately.

Hana shocked Reishin by embracing him.
"Thank you for loving my brother, Lord Reishin."

Reishin turned his head slightly, and deliberately placed his hand on his hair. Hana's eyes followed the action, and saw the blue ribbon wound around Reishin's ponytail.

Hana smiled, and released Reishin from his embrace.
"Lord Reishin, under Koyu's mother's care, the rose bush has grown beautifully. It was in full bloom just before I left for Kyo. Unfortunately the blooms will not survive the journey."
He produced a small package.
"She's dried the rose petals for you."

A slight commotion caused all three of them to look over at Rin. Koyu, in trying to restyle Rin's hair to accommodate the three-part ribbon, had caused her headpiece to topple off her head. Shuei, laughing, picked it off the floor, and held it in place while Koyu secured it with the long golden hairpins.

Hana smiled, Reishin half-smiled, Kijin did so too, behind his mask, at the domesticity of the scene, at the new extension to their families.

[The End]


Notes:

1) Reishin's advice, that men talk better after sex, was given to Koyu in chapter 4 of my fanfic Twin Irises. With that advice in mind, Koyu attempted to seduce Shuei. ^_^

2) Shuei's over-attentiveness to Koyu was hinted at very early on in their relationship, in chapter 5 of my fanfic Twin Irises. By that time, Koyu had already learnt the prudence of stopping himself from making casual comments.

3) The story behind the "Property of Li Koyu" tattoo was mentioned in my fanfic Unconventional Gifts.

4)The reason behind Shuei not being able to say "I love you" to Koyu was given in my fanfic The Melting Snow Party.