I do not own Saiunkoku Monogatari.

It belongs to Yura Kairi.

Dedicated to Nishitamachi

pairing: Ryuu/Shuu, Kijin/Reishin, Kouyuu/Shuuei (?)

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Lessons In Love

Chapter 5 - Adventure Of Love

In the evening, right after supper, Ryuuki, now REALLY desperate, excused himself early to bed (on grounds of headache). Carefully pulling his hair back and up, Ryuuki found the pile of clothes he'd stolen from the laundry earlier that evening. And a little kit he'd stolen from Shusui's dresser right after dinner.

These make me look... weird... Ryuuki thought as he posed in the mirror. Really... girl's kimono are... odd... but anything for Shuurei!

With that, he snuck out his small complex, found the harem's kitchens and slipped out the servants' entrance.

His plan was working!

-

Shuurei's father was alone at the family mansion, fixing some books - while Reishin lounged about complaining about Kouyuu's slippery slide into unprofessional office behavior.

"And where is he now?" Reishin shook his head. "In the Red Light DISTRICT! With that Ran SHUUEI of all people! What is the world coming to?"

"Now, now..." Shouka sighed. "It's a party. Ensei, Seiran, Ryuuren AND Shuurei are there - I'm sure they will be FINE."

"That makes it EVEN WORSE!" wailed Reishin. "Am I the only one here who sees a HUGE PROBLEM with sending a spirited beauty into the Red Light district? Men like myself would be drawn to her like moths to a flame - like tigers circling their prey - AGGGHHH!!!! ANNNIIIUUUEEE!!! DO SOMETHING!"

While Reishin enjoyed a nice pouting fit on the sofa, Shouka sweatdropped.

"Men like yourself indeed..." He said dryly. "I'm sure Seiran will send them packing."

"And it's that damn Ran Shuuei's fault!" Reishin shook his fist. "I'd assassinate him myself if I didn't have to deal with his family..."

"Now, now," Shouka said peaceably. "They are all quite young. Sooner or later they will settle down."

"I'd prefer it to be sooner. Much sooner." Reishin waved his fan irritably. "But then... you are too nice, aniue - me... I'd - eh?"

Reishin blinked, then coughed to hide his momentary suprise. His face turned a light pink.

"Shouka - you ordered a girl for tonight?"

"Ehhh?" The librarian splotched some glue all over the front cover of 'Taxation Methods in the Green Province".

Shouka rushed to the window, sputtering, "It's a mistake. Reishin, what are you dreaming up now -"

He paused.

Reishin was right. (He considered himself quite infallible). There was indeed a woman of questionable origin in his courtyard. Tall. Stately. Puzzled -

That's it. Shouka thought with relief. She got the wrong house number -

"She's just got the wrong house num-" He paused.

Tall. Stately. Looking lost. AND VERY FAMILIAR.

"Isn't that...?" Reishin was supressing an evil laugh. "The horrible makeup gives him away. And here I thought you'd swung the other way..."

Shouka sweatdropped.

"What do we do?"

"We laugh."

"No. Seriously, Reishin..."

Ryuuki had caught sight of them and he ran awkwardly in his geta to the front door, where Shouka emerged shaking his head.

"SHHOOUUUKAAA!!" Ryuuki laughed. "Just the person I was looking for."

Yes, Reishin thought. Our country is doomed. Doomed. By an idiot... who can't even get in disguise properly. No. He probably knows its hideous and is just enjoying himself.

Reishin growled irritably as he prowled out of the house.

And this is the man going for Shuurei?

"We thought you were Shouka's girl for tonight," Reishin said, watching the Emperor carefully over his fan.

"Shouka has a girl?" Ryuuki blinked. "Really? Who is she? Do we know her? Hey! You thought we were Shouka's GIRL? Well... we think we look really good, don't you?"

The head of the Kou clan sighed at Ryuuki's blathering.

Well... I did ask for it...

Shouka was perplexed.

"So... why did you come around, Your Highness?"

Especially in those clothes...

"We came to see Shuurei before she left tomorrow."

"In girl's clothes?" Shouka wondered.

"It was the only way for us to get out tonight -"

Reishin tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"You mean to say," he lifted an eyebrow thoughtfully. "You've come without permission?"

"We don't need permission," Ryuuki pointed out haughtily. "We own this country."

His attempt at authority however was undercut by the his over the top makeup and pinky-purple kimono.

"Well. Fine..." Reishin turned away sharply. "Tell that to the men who - never mind... If I talk to him anymore, aniue, my brains will evaporate..."

"Where's Shuurei anyway?" Ryuuki ignored Reishin (which infuriated the clan head even more). He looked around as if expecting her to pop out of a bush or apparate into the courtyard.

"She's at a small party at Kouchou's and..."

Shouka trailed off, realizing with a heavy sense of doom, that Ryuuki was already a small cloud of smoke on the horizon.

-

"This is bad," Shouka sighed.

"Really?" Reishin chuckled evilly. "The idea of the idiot making a fool of himself in the Red Light district is funny... alright... a bad thing for the image of an Emperor. But it serves him right, don't you think, aniue?"

"Do you really think it would be good for His Highness to get hurt?"

"I guess not..." Reishin mused, unconvinced. "But... but with no Emperor, Shuurei is safe and maybe some work will be finally done -"

"Speaking of doing one's work -" Shouka started.

"But that's immaterial. I think this should teach him some responsiblity. A little rough housing won't hurt him -"

"If there was no Emperor, there'd be trouble. Especially with issues about succession... People will die in the uproar - it will be just like the previous war. All over again..."

Shouka's somber tone startled Reishin.

"He is what brought us to this peace. I don't want us to lose it again..."

Reishin blinked, then nodded.

"I'll send some of my men out for you, aniue-sama. They'll keep an eye on him just fine. And someone needs to tell the Elders about this..."

-

The naughty Emperor in question had found the Red Light district easily enough - and was slowly making his way down the crowded street. He was still amazed by the noise, the business - the many faces, clothing and the smells...

It was just like the last time - except Kouyuu and Shuuei were with him then.

Yes. That had been so fun and different!

And it still is. The palace sometimes is so empty and big and quiet... And around me, people are always told to be silent. I'm glad Kouyuu and Shuuei are familiar with me to say how they feel in the way they feel is right...

Still... I gotta be careful here... He chided himself. Finding Shuurei is the most important - I can't let myself be side-tracked... Where WAS that place again? All these houses look the same... Where was -

"OUFFF!"

Ryuuki banged hard into a very broad hairy chest. Rebounding, he found himself slipping - until a hand sturdily wrapped itself around his waist, holding him close.

"You need some help there, dear?"

Ryuuki's saviour was a rather drunk soldier out to have a fun night with the ladies. The alcoholic breath hitting Ryuuki square in the face nearly made him gag - and get drunk himself. Trying to pry himself out of his saviour turned captor's arms, Ryuuki smiled weakly.

"Uhh.. No. Not really..."

"C'mon! Let me get you a drink!"

"Drink?" Ryuuki tried to pull away again. "Oh, no. No drink needed here. We - ah... I - uh..."

"It's a man, Ukon," drawled a lazy voice humorously from a small dark porch.

'Ukon' whirled around.

"Eh?"

"A se-xy-ma-an..." A pause broken by a dry chuckle. "But you wouldn't know that - you're probably seeing everything in double about now... You could never hold your drink..."

"Sexy man?" Ukon stuttered, dropping Ryuuki like a ton of bricks.

"Se-sexy man?" blushed Ryuuki. "Oh... W-I don't know..."

Before he knew it, he was on the arm of his newest savior (once again turned captor). Slowly they walked down the road, talking about the weather and the roads - Ryuuki thinking furiously on how to politely disentangle himself from the man.

The 'man' in question was tall, gentile, polite - and more than slightly drunk.

Is everyone drunk in the Red Light district? wondered Ryuuki. Is it a prerequisite? Shuuei didn't say so last time...

"So what house do you belong to?" leered his newest escort. "I've not seen you around before."

Ryuuki blushed.

"W-Me? I - um... well... I've not done this before," he ended on a slightly truthful note.

"I can see that," laughed the very nice man.

"I was just on my way to this place belonging to 'Kouchou'... do you know it?" Ryuuki ended in a pitiful whisper, turning large, wide golden eyes up to his captor's face.

It worked like a charm, as always. Minutes later, he was at the front door, waving goodbye to a befuddled drunk, and fifteen minutes later, was arguing with the receptionist over his profession. The young man had carefully explained to Ryuuki that Kouchou's establishment didn't offer Ryuuki's style of entertainment - but perhaps the Huie building down the street could -

"No..." Ryuuki tried to explain for the tenth time. "I'm NOT looking for work... I'm looking for Kuchou... she's got long, purple hair."

"What is it?" A cool voice intervened, freezing the receptionist into silence and causing Ryuuki to look up.

It was Kouchou herself, looking suave and gentile in her newest outfit. Ryuuki, watching her walk down the stairs, couldn't help but blush.

"Ohhh... It's a young man. Are you lost?"
"Uhhh... n-n-nooo... I'm looking for Shuurei... Kou Shuurei."

Kouchou's eyes narrowed.

"Have I seen you before?"

Ryuuki's eyes slid sideways, suddenly aware of the bind he was in.

"Uhhh... I just wanted to talk to her."

"Well," Kouchou smiled. "There is no harm joining us. I think there are a couple of men in the group who swing both ways..."

Ryuuki's face reddened.

"Oh well... that..."

"Can you play? Or sing?"

"A little of both -"

"Hmmm... I guess you're new at this."

"Uh well... no. I'm not. I'm not new at anything - because I've not started anything -"

Ryuuki fell silent at the wave at her hand, and followed her disconsolantly, accepting an erhu reluctantly on the way up to the party room.

-

When Ryuuki entered the room, sure enough, there was Shuurei, sitting comfortably next to Seiran, Ensei, Ryuuren, Shuuei and Kouyuu. Kouchou found herself a seat and sat down, and waited expectantly as Ryuuki stared at the erhu thoughtfully.

He was trying to remember the few lessons he'd been given when he was a young teenager. Off and on, over the years, he'd picked it up and put it down again... and every so often, Shusui or one of the other harem ladies would come and give him a small recital...

And then there was Shuurei, who had played so well for him.

I could listen to her all day, he thought whimsically. But I'm sure she doesn't want to listen to me all night... This is going to be interesting... But I'll give it my best shot...

He raised himself from his bowed position determinedly - and looked up, staring Ensei squarely in the eye.

Seiran, Ensei and Kouyuu who had all been in the middle of taking a drink, spewed it out rather suddenly. Shuuei cracked up. Shuurei blinked.

The Emperor set the bow to the strings and drew it across blithely.

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" Shuuei clasped his ears. "Horrible! Horrible!"

"Who is that? Is that -" Shuurei blinked rather slowly, after setting down her (eighth) drink. "No way... I think I've drunk too much..."

"Ryuuki! Stop it! Now!" Seiran stumbled backwards, crashing into Kouyuu.

"Hmmmm..." Ryuuren nodded thoughtfully. "This is sheer genius." He raised his flute to his lips.

Kouchou fled the room.

Chaos erupted.

And the group found themselves ejected onto the streets.

"Our playing isn't good enough?" whimpered the Emperor mournfully.

"Nonsense, my new bosom friend!" Ryuuren said grandly. "I hope to play a duet with you sometime -"

"Hardly," Shuurei said shortly.

"SHUUUREEIII!!!!" Ryuuki ran forward to give her a quick kiss.

"Ryuuki..." she sighed, watching the others stagger off for more (and better) entertainment. "What are you doing here? And dressed like that..."

Despite the fact she was swaying - just a little bit, Shuurei's tongue didn't soften.

"You look like a streetwalker! It's amazing you weren't attacked on the way here! Well... the makeup probably put them off. Who put this idea into your head? Was it Shuuei!"

"It doesn't look so bad," Seiran pointed out calmly.

"Really?" Ryuuki looked pleased with himself.

"That's not something to be proud of you know" Shuurei gritted out. "But -"

But -

Even though you seem to relapse -

Even if you look like an idiot - forget about emperor -

Even though you ddi something dangerous, stupid and embarassing -

I should be angry -

But -

You came for me -

You did all this for me -

Just like those years ago, you changed yoruself for me, your dreams for me, the law for me...

Shuurei smiled softly.

Ryuuki tentatively smiled back.

"Let's go home, Ryuuki."

One more chapter to go!!!! I think...

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