jychan: I don't own Saiunkoku Monogatari… Enough said.
20. A Smile
Himeko and her companions have finally arrived to Kiyou at dawn, therefore, there were less guards in guard, especially with what Ryuuki had ordered to clear the pathway from the Province of Kou,
"Himeko-hime, this was where we are supposed to meet with someone that the shujou would send so that he could meet with us."
Ensei said as Himeko raised an eyebrow,
"Shujou? What do you mean?"
"The Empress is a friend of ours, Himeko-hime-sama."
Eigetsu answered as Himeko nodded,
"Is that so? Then, that's great. We can easily make an entrance to the Palace, then."
Himeko said as she stood up from the carriage and went outside when she felt someone's hand on her mouth,
"Mmmph! Mmpph!!! Mmmppph!!"
She tried to shout, although luckily, she was released a few moments later,
"Himeko-hime?"
She was dumbfounded on the person that she saw,
"S-S-Sei-"
"Seiran! So, you're the one that the shujou sent to get us?"
Ensei cut Himeko as he went near his friend,
"Ensei. I can see that you're here. So, where is Eigetsu and Kourin?"
"Ah, they're here."
Ensei replied as Seiran nodded,
"Well then, shall we proceed to the Palace?"
He asked as the two nodded at what he said.
"How sure can I be if he really is... I mean... um... But then, what if he really does know me? What if he's telling the truth? I mean, it seemed like he really knew me... But then, why is he hiding me? What's going on? I don't understand at all."
Hidari murmured as she was lying down on her bed,
"But then, he seemed to be really telling the truth. Ugghhh! I don't get it at all. Me? A Princess? I mean, that's not possible. But then, Ryuuren-dono did say that my clothes weren't the same from what he often saw with women from Saiunkoku. That might be possible."
She added as she shifted her pace,
"Hidari-hime, are you still awake?"
She heard someone call,
"Ah hai. Apparently, I am."
She replied as the door opened to reveal a smiling Shuuei,
"Hmmm... It's quite good that you're still awake, perhaps we could do some things together..."
He said as Hidari blushed,
"To-Together? Wha-What do you mean, Sh-Sh-Shuuei? I mean, I-I don't get it."
She said as Shuuei smirked and thought,
'I should tease her a little. A little won't hurt at all.'
"You know, the things that we did before."
He said as he got near,
"Cho-Chotto matte kudasai! I-I mean, I-I'm not that ready for that yet. We-We might have done it before, but I-I don't... I mean, I still have to adjust. OK? I mean, I lost and memories and such and I don't want to..."
She continued on blabbering as Shuuei was almost laughing at her expression,
"Joudan desu. I thought I should tease you a bit."
Shuuei said as he bursted laughing while Hidari stopped her blabber and replied,
"A joke? Did you know how I felt with what you said, Shuuei? I mean, I was not that ready for that yet. And I mean, I don't care if I did it before with you but please!"
Shuuei stopped laughing and just looked at her,
"What?"
She asked as he thought about earlier's events,
"They have decided to put their trust and loyalty on Shinyen."
Ran Ryuuren said as Ran Shuuei's eyes widened,
"What? What the... But then, the shujou's loyalty with the current Shinyen is null. He is supporting Senshi Himeko-sama and Hidari-hime!"
"I was told that if I ever saw any of the princesses, I would tell them."
"Ryuuren, how da-"
"But then, I never met any other girl aside from Chika."
Ryuuren added as Shuuei smiled and replied,
"I have been disowned by the Ran Clan, so I have nothing to do with what they say anymore. I have cut all my ties with the Ran Clan because I wanted to have my full loyalty to the Emperor."
"Is that so? I know that it was pretty bothersome to have come here and tell you that especially when I know what you were going to answer. Plus, you took away my supposed-to-be bride."
Ryuuren said as Shuuei smirked and said,
"It's your problem already, not mine. Although perhaps you might be able to find another woman. Take it from me."
"Hai. You and your womanizing skills, Aniue."
Shuuei rolled his eyes upon what Ryuuren remarked.
"They have decided to put their trust and loyalty on Shinyen."
Ran Ryuuren said as Ran Shuuei's eyes widened,
"What? What the... But then, the shujou's loyalty with the current Shinyen is null. He is supporting Senshi Himeko-sama and Hidari-hime!"
"I was told that if I ever saw any of the princesses, I would tell them."
"Ryuuren, how da-"
"But then, I never met any other girl aside from Chika."
Ryuuren added as Shuuei smiled and replied,
"I have been disowned by the Ran Clan, so I have nothing to do with what they say anymore. I have cut all my ties with the Ran Clan because I wanted to have my full loyalty to the Emperor."
"Is that so? I know that it was pretty bothersome to have come here and tell you that especially when I know what you were going to answer. Plus, you took away my supposed-to-be bride."
Ryuuren said as Shuuei smirked and said,
"It's your problem already, not mine. Although perhaps you might be able to find another woman. Take it from me."
"Hai. You and your womanizing skills, Aniue."
Shuuei rolled his eyes upon what Ryuuren remarked.
"-uuei? Shuuei?"
Hidari called upon the day-dreaming Shuuei as he snapped out of it,
"Ah yes. I see that you're comfortable with calling me by my first name already. I didn't know that you'd be able to adjust to it fast."
Shuuei grinned at the end of his sentence as Hidari blushed and turned around,
"Urusai onegaishimasu. I mean, you told me that before I often called you by your first name, so I guess, that was fine."
She murmured at the last part as Shuuei just gave a faint smile at Hidari, remembering what happened before.
Flashback
"Ah!"
"Senshi-hime?" Shuuei rushed to the princess' whereabouts,
"Ah, daijoubou! Daijoubou! Just me and being very clumsy... Hehehe..." She chuckled as she was covered by dust while lying down on the floor,
"Matakun..."
"Scared you, Ran-san?"
"Nonetheless, please do stand up." Shuuei said as he offered a hand to the fallen princess, who took it and stood up,
"Luckily, you didn't deny being clumsy, though." Shuuei teased the princess, who glared at him,
"Urusai onegaishimasu."
"Saa, saa, Senshi-hime, you don't have to speak formally when all you say is urusai." Shuuei added 'gas to fire',
"Whatever Ran-san. Whatever. Please don't disturb me." Hidari said as she turned away and went to another shelf.
End Of Flashback
"-uuei! What's the problem? You keep on spacing out? What? Are you sleepy already? You should go already, then."
Hidari said as Shuuei nodded and said,
"I suppose it is late. So, you still don't want to do it?"
"NO! I don't want to."
Hidari replied as she rolled her eyes,
"Seriously, show me a smile before I leave your quarters, Hidari-hime."
Shuuei requested as Hidari looked at it and sighed,
"I don't want to."
"Well then, I'm going to stay here."
"Eh? What do you mean? You go back to wherever you stay!"
"Well, I do stay here. This is the Ran Residence in Kiyou."
Shuuei said as Hidari was dumbfounded,
"How could I forget..."
"So, I can stay here."
Shuuei decided as he took a space on the bed,
"Seriously... So troublesome. But remember, I am not going to do it with you."
Hidari said as she took the free space and turned around the opposite side,
"Of course. I would not force a woman to do it with me. What kind of a person would I be?"
He said as he smirked,
"Neh, Shuuei,"
Hidari turned around to face him,
"Hm?"
He asked as he looked at her,
"Arigato."
She said as she gave a smile,
"Nn. Don't mention it."
He replied as Hidari closed her eyes and was able to sleep while he stood up from the bed and left Hidari's quarters,
"A smile, it is."
jychan: Well, that was it. ShuueiXHidari fluffiness!!! Fufufufufu... Anyways, SeiranXHimeko would be next chaptie so stay tuned!!! Although I do think I get side-tracked with ShuueiXHidari sometimes....
Stelra Etnae: Well, you know what Shuuei is... ufufufufufu.. The news that Ryuuren brought is revealed earlier!!! Sorry for not updating soon! Classes started already, so I'll be updating once a week!!! So, sorry!!! Himeko has arrived! She has arrived!!! And Seiran will bring them to the Palace! Fufufufufu!!! KaoriXKoyuu? I'm not so sure... I'll try but I won't promise!!! Because of certain circumstances, it might not be possible.. But I'll just try... TRY.. Oh? You have a friend? Probably we're the same... fufufufufu-ehem! ehem! Damnit this asthma of mine!!!
silver: Cute? Thanks!!! I guess Himeko doesn't miss anything for sure... Fufufuffu....
z rox: Oh? Thanks! Thank you very much! I hope you don't mind the typo and grammar errors!!! I'll try to have the romance with them... Hmmm... I think I'm getting side-tracked with the original pairing which was HimekoXSeiran... -sigh- I'll try updating the soonest I can update!!!