DISCLAIMER: The characters belong to Sai Yukino and Kairi Yura, Kadokawa Shoten, Madhouse Studios, etc., i.e., not me.
I'm just borrowing them for a while to spin a tale
Submitted to the Saiunkoku Fic LJ's Fic Battle

Prompt 55) Kouyuu centric. Something happens that reminds Kouyuu too much of his past, and Kouyuu being unable to deal with it. Either Kouyuu and Reishin/Kouyuu and Shuuei/Kouyuu and You Shuu gen if possible ^^
By firewolf
September 2008

Youshuu looked up as Li Kouyuu passed his desk with yet another stack of reports. Really, the boy had been most unexpected. Youshuu had been one of those who objected the most when Reishin Dono arranged to second his adopted son to the Department of Civil Affairs. He thought the move stank strongly of nepotism.

However, at the tender age of sixteen the boy graduated as the youngest candidate ever to be Jougen since the exams were set up, so it said much about his intelligence. And after that, per Official Ro's usual method of ingraining humility in the year's favourite candidates, Youshuu had watched the boy shining boots and cleaning lavatories with nary a complaint.

Furthermore, no one could really tell whether or not Reishin Dono meant to favour his son because the boy was an astoundingly industrious worker. Then people began to notice that the boy clearly worshipped his father and worked exhaustively because he did not want to 'disappoint' the man. In all honesty, it seemed to Youshuu now that it was more to the boy's detriment that he was working for his father.

"Youshuu! We have them now!"

Youshuu turned his attention to the entering officer from the Censorate, feeling in a way relieved to be distracted from his continued contemplation of the Department's newest member. "Kouki, I filter information for you on many cases. Which one are we talking about?"

"Only that band of slavers Reishin Dono has been hounding the Censorate about for the last decade." Kouki rolled his eyes as he strode in and placed a bull whip on his desk proudly. "We're really making inroads to end the slave trade—"

The sound of books crashing to the ground brought all eyes to the young man who had just emerged from behind some shelves, his eyes seemingly riveted to the instrument of punishment and torture on Youshuu's desk. Looking at the whip and back up at the pale and trembling boy, the two men were struck by the same epiphany as they regarded Reishin Dono's adopted son.

"Kouyuu?" Youshuu rose from his desk and moved swiftly to the boy's side. "Kouyuu, would you take a seat?"

The boy hardly reacted to Youshuu's gentle words. Instead his breathing started becoming more rapid and agonized, making the men realise he was beginning to hyperventilate. Kouki quickly seized the whip off Youshuu's desk and hid it within his sleeves while Youshuu took Kouyuu by the arms and firmly lead him to the side table.

"Get Reishin Dono immediately." Youshuu hissed urgently to Kouki while he tried to get the boy to slow his breathing.

"I will get Dr. You as well." Kouki rushed off, though not without stealing one last glance at Li Kouyuu.

With Kouki's exit, Youshuu stopped resisting the urge to take the younger man in his arms, and hugged him tight. It did not take long for Reishin Dono to appear and quickly whisk his adopted son away from Youshuu's office.

Left alone, Youshuu found his thoughts again occupied by the newest member of his department. This was a surprising revelation, and it really put into perspective a lot of Kouyuu's general nature. It explained the boy's obvious hero worship of Reishin Dono, since he was apparently the man who rescued and freed a child slave.

Youshuu frown as he thought about the Secretary of the Department of Civil Affairs. There was little doubt that the man was talented and had the ability to run the office. However, Kou Reishin had never showed any great dedication to the job or to the Emperor. It was an open secret in the court that he was only there because he followed his elder brother to Kiyou. And Youshuu didn't doubt that a time would eventually come when Kou Reishin would walk out on the Emperor and the Courts of Saiunkoku.

As for Li Kouyuu? Youshuu rather hoped that the talented young man would stay as he had a sense that Kouyuu would become a great official. But his past created a huge obstacle for Kouyuu if he was to ever rise in the Emperor's court. And Youshuu had to wonder if Kouyuu was capable of overcoming his blind devotion to his father to be able to stand up to him for the sake of the nation.

Only time would tell, and Youshuu decided that he would devote some of his energies to cultivating the young man in the hopes that Kouyuu would one day step out from beyond his father's shadow.

~owari~

Thanks for reading.
Cheers, firewolf

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