CAST:
Miyakaede: Kaede Rukawa (Miyaka)
Tamakira: Akira Sendoh (Tamahome)
Hotosashi: Hisashi Mitsui (Hotohori)
Nurikenji: Kenji Fujima (Nuriko)
Chirikoshino: Hiroaki Koshino (Chiriko)
Chichitoru: Toru Hanagata (Chichiru)
Mitsugami: Ryoji Ikegami (Mitsukake)
Taskuragi: Hanamichi Sakuragi (Tasuki)
Yohei Mito (Reader)
Tetsuo (Reader)
Makigo: Shinichi Maki (Nakago)
Kiyuita: Kiyota Nobunaga (Yui)
Soi-ichiro: Soichiro Jin (Soi)
Miyaboshi: Ryota Miyagi (Amiboshi)
Moroboshi: Dai Morohoshi (Suboshi)
Tomoichi: Hikoichi Aida (Tomo)
Rukawa couldn't take his eyes off the emperor, for the first time, he knew he could stare at Mitsui for as long as he wanted. No one there to suspect that he was gay, that he had this thing for Mitsui. Stupid as it seemed, he was hopelessly in love with the boy, not that he longed to tell him but to the least, he had always wanted to be near him.
"You will join us for dinner, my lady, and can I call you Miakaede?" to which Rukawa nodded as a sign of agreement, "And you Tamakira, follow me for I will speak to you and you'll be joining us for dinner as well." The emperor told them.
The maidens led Rukawa to the room where he would spend his time for long.
"My lady, this will be your room. And in this drawer, you will find what to wear," one of the maidens informed him. "But we have to clean you up first, now why don't you take that off." She continued pointing at Rukawa's clothes.
"I can manage."
The maidens insisted to help but they noticed Rukawa's cold stare, "Alright then, my lady, if you insist." The maiden said and they all left him.
After taking a bath, Rukawa opened the drawer. He was relieved to see that he didn't have to wear a dress like those of the maidens. He chose a blue and silver robe, which he thought, was comfortable to wear. He looked at himself in the mirror. This wouldn't make me look like a girl, I suppose those do'ahos would realize. He thought.
On the other hand, Hotosashi led Tamakira to an empty room.
"Tamakira, you served me well today." Hotosashi told him and Tamakira was overwhelmed by this compliment.
"Well, er, I just did what I should, I couldn't leave her helpless-" He was cut short by Hotosashi,
"You've proven to be my most loyal servant without realizing it, and for that you deserve a reward which will alter your fate 'til the end of our days, that I will announce later in the feast but for now I dismiss thee." He said.
Tamakira bowed low and took leave of the emperor.
At dinnertime, the emperor summoned Rukawa. The emperor asked him to sit on his left side as Tamakira sat beside him.
Moments later, a person arrived wearing green and silver satin, a veil covered the person's face, accompanied by a tall man. Rukawa couldn't mistake the tall man for someone else; it was Toru Hanagata of Shoyo team, and number two center of Kanagawa. He looked exactly the way he did back in Modern Kanagawa, only he wasn't wearing glasses. He looked very handsome indeed for a number of maidens standing nearby started giggling and blushing, he chose to ignore this though.
"Ah, here comes the Lady of Shoyokkaido and her steward, Chichitoru." The emperor said as the two approached them.
"My lord, we meet again. May I present, again, her highness the Lady Nurikenji." The steward Chichitoru said as Nurikenji held out her hand for the emperor to kiss. Hotosashi took her hand and kissed it, which made Rukawa clench his fist out of everyone's notice except for, again, Tamakira.
The Lady of Shoyokkaido sat on the emperor's right side, the steward beside her. She took off her veil, and it wasn't her at all, for it was he, Kenji Fujima, ace, coach, captain and manager of the Shoyo team. He looked very pretty indeed, no surprise there for he was really a pretty boy.
Rukawa couldn't believe his eyes, So I was right, he's gay just like-
"You are now gathered here to celebrate for the Shrine Maiden has been found, may I present you Lady Miakaede." Hotosashi told everyone, gesturing towards Rukawa as Nurikenji rose to her or rather his feet to give Rukawa a gentle kiss on the cheek and a warm embrace. Rukawa couldn't resist for it may displease the emperor. He didn't move an inch as Nurikenji bowed to kiss him.
"Why, my lord, you've found her," he told Hotosashi happily as he sat down and held the emperor's right hand with both of his but the emperor spoke,
"I'm afraid it is not I who found her, for it is Tamakira my servant who I now pronounce my steward." He smiled at Tamakira as Nurikenji did the same, but this smile he gave him was too sweet for Tamakira's blood. All the same Tamakira felt joy that he couldn't speak for a moment so the emperor asked him,
"Do you accept my offer, my lord?"
"With all my heart, your greatness, I will serve you 'til the sun fades from the universe." He answered merrily. Nurikenji was still smiling at him, his prettiness no one could resist. He looked very beautiful that for a moment Tamakira was mesmerized 'til he realized he should smile back at this.
"Very well then, let's begin the feast."
After the feast, Rukawa was so fed up with their animated chattering that he decided he should see the gardens, alone. But just when he was on a small bridge along the small pond Tamakira followed him. Rukawa, however, didn't even look at him.
"What are you doing here? Do you not want to linger with those noble people?
I mean, well, so do I." Tamakira asked merrily.
"Get lost."
"Do you blame me for bringing you here? Gee, I was only trying to help. I-I just like you, ok? I don't care if you don't but-but I wish you'll find joy here, with me." Tamakira said, he couldn't help grinning. His face reminded Rukawa of Sakuragi's hair, this made him scowl.
At this, Rukawa almost snorted but thought better of it, he just rolled his eyes irritably and turned to go but Tamakira held his wrist gently and softly.
"Look at me or at least listen."
Rukawa didn't want to hear anything more from him but he knew this had to stop so he listened for the sake of peace or shutting him up. He halted but still he didn't look forgetting how handsome the wide-mouthed boy was. Tamakira continued,
"You desire the love of the emperor," he said as lightly as possible, but for the first time in his life, he was serious. The color in his cheeks grew pale, how adorable were his features. At this words Rukawa looked directly at his eyes. But Tamakira went on, "You aim high, even for the lady who is destined to lead this nation. For this man is the fairest and the noblest that now walks the land. At 18, he's proven to be of the best rulers of Shohokuto. And he is betrothed to the lady Nurikenji, empress of Shoyokkaido, whose loveliness is the stars in the sky, together they are meant to be. I do not intend to hurt you but it is not fit for a non-royal to wed with such kin." He finished sadly still grasping Rukawa's hand.
"Let go." Came Rukawa's reply. Actually, he didn't get Tamakira's point because he was to fall asleep. All he knew was that Tamakira didn't want him to fall in love with the emperor.
TBC
A/N: If you review, we'll keep posting… Again we do not watch Fushigi Yuugi and we only base this from what we've heard from our sister.
^_^ ja and thanks for reading!