Title: Firstborn Son
Author: Imanewme
Genre: Fluffy!Gen w/ a hint of comedic relief.
Word count: 495
Rating: T
Warnings: None
AU/Canon: AU (One Red Ribbon)
Theme: Delicate
A/N: Same timeframe as a href=".com/saiun_#cutid1
""Do You Remember?"/a
only from Ryuuki's POV.
Disclaimer: I do not own Saiunkoku Monogatari. It belongs to its creator, Sai Yukino. I just borrow the characters for entertainment. I make no profit from these stories.
Ten fingers. Ten toes. Two eyes. One nose.
Ryuuki examined the tiny bundle in his hands in stunned wonder. Juusanhime's gave him a son! Awestruck he gazed at exhausted empress resting fitfully just feet away. Her cheeks were flushed crimson. Sweat and tears stained her face.
"You were almost as stubborn as your sisters," he mused.
The tiny bundle squirmed and the emperor held his breath. Tiny lips parted in a gaping yawn then suckled lightly on a tiny fist. The child cried softly, but his feathery eyelashes did not part.
His heart raced as he took stock of the child's features. He had his nose. He definitely had his mother's ebony hair. Whose cheekbones were those? His father's? He tried but could not remember his father's face. Maybe Seiran would know.
The young father shuddered slightly thinking about the world he and Seien faced years ago. His heart swelled with new resolve. This child would not face the same hardships. There would be no fighting for the throne. He now had three girls and one boy. It was enough.
"Your majesty," Shusui interrupted his thoughts, "the baby needs to nurse. Please."
Reluctantly, he eased the child into the waiting servant's arms.
Shusui pushed pillows behind Juusanhime's back, bringing her to a sitting position. Exhaustion lined the younger woman's face, and she groaned softly at being shifted.
"No no, let me do it," Ryuuki rushed to her side and expertly arranged the cushions against his wife's sides to support her arms for holding their baby. "I remember how from the triplets," He explained to no one in particular.
"Thank you," the young mother breathed softly. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled weakly.
Ryuuki leaned in until their foreheads touched. "No," he whispered. "Thank you."
"Your majesty," the midwife cleared her throat.
Shusui smiled gently at the worried father. "Why don't you tell your guests the good news?"
"Guests?" Ryuuki looked puzzled. "We ordered strictest privacy!"
"It's Onnisan," Juusanhime answered quietly. "I told the servants he could stay. He's just outside. He wanted to be sure we were okay."
Smiling softly, he leaned down and gently kissed her tear stained cheek. "Of course we don't mind. We trust Shuuei."
The midwife cleared her throat again.
Tenderly he wiped the sweat from Juusanhime's brow and nodded at the impatient midwife.
"Ah, yes," he acknowledged. His son's strong cries made him forget the oppressive heat and his heart overflowed anew with joy and excitement. He wanted to shout the news to all of Saiunkoku, but he would start with Shuuei.
"It's a boy!" Ryuuki cried, rushing through the door, "Let's celebrate!"
He stifled a gasp. Shuuei was not alone.
He could hardly believe his eyes. His twin flowers were there for him, just like old times. It had been ages since the three of them sat down to a bottle of sake. The kamis were smiling on him tonight.
"Kouyuu! Shuuei! Can we have a hug, too?"