Bittersweet Orange Lilly
Disclaimer
I do not own any of the Saiunkoku Monogatari character's they belong to Sai Yukino. I also do not own any of the characters from Bleach they belong to Tite Kubo. I am only using them in this story as a fan.
Chapter 11
"Rem-dono." Nashiko whispered from the attic space when Rem returned to her room after dinner.
"Yes." Rem said looking up at the screen.
"I've found out who's been trying to poison the harem." Nashiko told her removing the screen.
"This quick?" Rem questioned helping Nashiko down.
"Yes and its Kourin. I watched her go into Jyuusan-hime-dono and Shuurie-dono's rooms after she retired for the night and she put these hairpins and comb in their jewelry boxes. The hairpins and comb tested positive for poison and it appears to be the same poisons used before." Nashiko told her.
"But where did she get the poison?" Rukia asked.
"Kourin just spent the entire day with Grand Master Sa Taiho. He probably supplied her with the poisons. Ill request an audience with the emperor and present him with what you found. Thank you so much Nashiko." Rem told Nashiko.
"I would actually like to go with you to meet with the emperor if I could." Nashiko told Rem and she agreed.
"I have no problem with you wanting to come along Nashiko-chan. Well the good news is that it won't be too much longer Nashiko-chan and you can sleep in an actual bed for once." Rem told Nashiko as she pulled herself back into the attic space.
"It's not that bad up here it's a little warm but it's not that bad." Nashiko told her replacing the screen.
The next morning before breakfast Rem sent a notice to the emperor requesting an audience with him but it wasn't until almost lunch time that Rem received a reply agreeing to the request as well as an invitation for them to have lunch with him.
"This is really happening quickly isn't it?" Rukia said as they walked.
"I told you it would go quick once Nashiko-chan got here." Rem asked her.
"But really in just a day the entire thing came undone that's incredible. You and Nashiko-chan are so good at what you do and I am excited and happy that you've been able to uncover who's behind the poisoning but I am also sad because I've really enjoyed the past few months and I don't want it to end." Rukia explained.
"It really can't be helped we were sent here to catch the people behind the poisoning not to stay here permanently. Though I think I am going to miss you and the others here as well. I guess in the end you'll end up going back to your family in Japan. " Rem said looking at Rukia who hugged her.
"Actually the emperor has asked me to stay as part of his concubine and I think I am going to. He also expressed that he would like you to stay as well. Will you stay here with me with all of us instead of leaving?" Rukia pleaded grabbing a hold of Rem's arm.
"I am sure the emperor will help you get into any department you want or do anything he can to help you." Nashiko added following them in the shadows.
"I was considering going back to Tokyo and back to Shimane dojo." Rem told her and Rukia.
"What is there for you that isn't here? Why do you want to go back? I mean I know that you are very close to the people at Shimane dojo but Tatsuya-sensei said that you have never really spend more than a few years in a single place so why go back there. Why not stay here with all of us?" Rukia asked her.
"I guess the only reason why I want to go back is because it is one of the only places that I stayed at for a long period of time. It's as close to a home as I have ever had. I do know that having me stay at the dojo gives Michiko-chan an extra mouth to feed and an extra person to house and I know that she doesn't need that but I kind of don't want to start over." Rem told Rukia honestly.
"Then don't go stay here. Please at least think about it please." Rukia pleaded as they reached the emperor's quarter's door and Rem knocked.
"Good afternoon Kouyuu-sensei." Rem said as she and Rukia bowed to him.
"Good afternoon Rukia-dono Rem-dono. Please follow me the emperor is just finishing working a proposal." Kouyuu said bowing.
"Good afternoon Kouyuu-sensei." Nashiko bowed once the door was closed.
"Good afternoon Nashiko-dono." Kouyuu said bowing to her.
Kouyuu led them through the emperor's quarters to the emperor's office where the emperor was sitting behind his desk working.
"Your majesty Rukia-dono, Rem-dono and Nashiko-dono have arrived." Kouyuu announced and Rukia, Rem and Nashiko bowed.
"Good afternoon Rukia-dono Rem-dono Nashiko-dono please come in." The emperor gestured to them.
"Good afternoon your majesty, Shuuei-sensei." Rukia, Rem and Nashiko said in unison bowing.
"Let us have lunch and then get down to business." The emperor said motioning for lunch to be served and everyone nodded.
"Now then what was it that you wish to discuss with us?" The emperor asked after they had eaten.
"We have determined who is behind the poisonings. After the screens where installed in the harem yesterday Nashiko-dono observed Kourin placing hairpins and a comb in Jyuusan-hime-dono and Shuurei-dono's room which all tested positive for traces of poison. It appeared to be the same poisons that were used before. It's only a hunch but Nashiko-dono and I both think that Grand Master Sa Taiho supplied her with the poison. Kourin did spend the entire day with him yesterday and as soon as Kourin return to the harem she retired to her room we think it's too much of a coincidence." Rem told them.
"If I may add something that I noticed when I took a look at the items Kourin poisoned. I am sure that Rem noticed this but maybe she over looked it. If Grand Master Sa Taiho is the poison specialist why would he not instruct Kourin on how to use the poisons properly? One of the poisons was used properly by dipping the chosen item into the poison but the other poison with the chucks of residue is strictly used for ingesting but instead it was used for dipping like the other. I really think that there is a second person besides Grand Master Sa Taiho involved in the poisoning. I think it would be in your best interest to maybe wait a few days before acting on this information your majesty. I will volunteer myself to follow and observe Kourin to look for more answers and hopefully the second person will be identified." Nashiko told the emperor bowing.
"Kourin and Grand Master Sa Taiho but why?" Shuuei questioned.
"This needs to be taken care of as soon as possible." The emperor told them.
"Your majesty I really think that maybe before you take action we should observe Kourin more. If we take action to quickly and there is someone else behind the poison we may lose sight of them. I can request for Ayumu-dono or one of the others to come and observe Grand Master Sa Taiho." Rem pleaded.
"We are uneasy about what you have told us but we will agree to give you three days to find your answers before we arrest Grand Master Sa Taiho." The emperor told them and Rem and Nashiko both nodded.
"Thank you your majesty then we will go and send for Ayumu-dono at once." Rem said bowing before she, Rukia, and Nashiko left.
"Do you really think that Grand Master Sa Taiho is behind this?" Shuuei asked.
"It is possible. He is our poison specialist he could have access to poisons from other countries. We are also aware that he thinks we are useless and that may be his motive for doing this." The emperor told him.
"But if his aim was to harm you why would he go after your concubine?" Kouyuu asked.
"We guess that if something happens to any of the girls in our concubine that their family will rebel and turn against us. Even though we only have three concubines two of which come from the two most powerful families in Saiunkoku providence. Their families could easy shut down all trading in the country if they wanted." The emperor said thinking about it more.
"That still doesn't answer why. There has to be a reason for doing this now not just to upset the concubine's families." Shuuei said looking at his majesty.
"We know we just told Rem-dono and Nashiko-dono three days but we would like to take care of this today. Shuuei-sensei we would like you to take some men and go confront and arrest Grand Master Sa Taiho." The emperor instructed Shuuei.
"Yes your majesty." Shuuei said standing and bowing before leaving.
"What about Kourin your majesty?" Kouyuu asked him.
"We will leave her in the harem to be watched by Nashiko-dono. Once word of Grand Master Sa Taiho's capture gets out Kourin may lead us to the second person if he exists." The emperor told Kouyuu and he nodded.
Once Rem and Rukia reach the harem Rem asked Hisashi to retrieved Ayumu form Tatsuya's shop as soon as possible. He was gone in an instant and Nashiko made her way back up to the attic space to watch Kourin.
"I had no idea that there were poisons that were for external and internal use. I just thought poison was poison." Rukia said looking up at Rem.
"Well you're partly right a poison is a poison and they all get absorbed into the body they differ in how they get absorbed into the body. External poisons get absorbed through your skin. The hairpins for example would come in contact with your skin and the poison would be transferred to your skin and then absorbed into your skin and bloodstream. While the other poison had the residue chunks which I couldn't crush using that shuriken but if it was ingested your stomach's acids would have been able to break it down and your body would have absorbed it that way. That's what Nashiko meant when she was talking about internal and external uses." Rem explained.
"I think I understand so if the poisons are used incorrectly they aren't as effective." Rukia said and Rem nodded.
"Yes and no. The poison can be dangerous regardless of how it is used it really depends on how strong it is and how long you let it set before it gets absorbed into your body. It may take a while for your skin to absorb the poison but having a sore or a cut will help introduce the poison to your blood stream faster helping it to take effect quicker. The same with your stomach it would depend on what you had eaten that day. If you ate very absorbent foods like rice or noodles it may take a while for your body to absorb the poison but if you consumed the poison on an empty stomach the poison would get absorbed into your bloodstream faster." Rem told her flipping though a book.
"Like with what happened when you ingested the poison and chemicals. The chemicals broke down the poison to the point of easy ingesting. I think I get it now." Rukia chimed in.
"Yes." Rem smiled looking up at Rukia.
"I don't mean to insult you but I know that you have come from a upper class family but didn't they teach you any of this?" Rem asked.
"You didn't insult me and no I was never told anything about poisons."Rukia told her.
"Do you even know if you were given a poison regiment to take?" Rem asked.
"I was given a bunch of tablets to take everyday when I was a kid. Would that of been a poison regiment?" Rukia questioned.
"It very well could have been." Rem said going back to flipping through the books again.
"You should stay and teach me all about poisons and everything else I don't understand." Rukia smiled getting an idea.
"I suppose I could be a teacher to the harem." Rem said looking at Rem.
"Then you'll stay?" Rukia asked getting all excited.
"I am still really deciding." Rem told her and Rukia seemed disappointed.
"Why tell me why?" Rukia demanded.
"Because I don't like royalty or the upper class and I don't want to be evolved with them anymore than I have to be." Rukia told her harshly. "I am sorry Rukia-dono I didn't mean it exactly like that." Rem said watching Rukia tear up.
"Why though?" Rukia asked wiping away a tear.
"Let's just say I had a difficult childhood that involved an upper class family, some neglect and eventually me being sold into slavery." Rem told her staring at the book.
"So you were from a high ranking family?" Rukia questioned Rem but she turned her head ignoring the question.
"His majesty has changed his mind he is sending the army to confront and arrest Grand Master Sa Taiho." Nashiko announced interrupting Rukia and Rem's conversation.
"He's what?" Rem asked looking at Nashiko.
"I just watched a handful of men running towards Grand Master Sa Taiho's quarters. I am going to go keep an eye on Kourin." Nashiko said disappearing again.
"What should we do?" Rukia asked Rem standing up.
"I don't know. I don't know if we should stay here and wait for Hisashi-sensei and Ayumu-dono or if we should go for a walk to see if anything suspicious is going on." Rem told her standing up as well.
"I guess we should stay here and wait. The most important person to watch is Kourin and Nashiko-chan is watching her." Rem said walking out onto the porch.
"I am sorry Rem-chan I didn't mean to pry and bring up bad memories." Rukia apologized making Rem tea.
"It's ok Rukia-chan you didn't know." Rem told her sitting down at the table leaving the sliding door open.
On the other side of the imperial palace grounds Shuuei was leading a small group of men into Grand Master Sa Taiho's quarters.
"Grand Master Sa Taiho you are under arrest for conspiring to murder." Shuuei announced as he and the others entered Grand Master Sa Taiho's private chambers.