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 6 - Goodbyes Can Be Beginnings

When they reached the porch of the rundwon Kou mansion (leaving Seiran in charge of the rest of the party), Shuurei heaved a sigh of relief. The Emperor was back to safety! Not that Ryuuki was concerned about his safety...

Really, Shuurei's eyebrow twitched. It wouldn't do him any harm to worry about these things once in awhile.

Shouka also heaved a sigh of relief.

They're safe, he thought.

And listening to Shuurei's ungaurded scorn (and laughter) - and Ryuuki's smile -

Ryuuki's hand on the teen's back.

Shouka couldn't help but smile.

Let the future remain ever bright for those two, he prayed.

No doubt he'd like to stay a bit longer - I think tea is in order...

"Father!" Shuurei called. "I'm back home! Ryuuki - GET inside! What are people going to think? I suppose you want to stay for tea?"
"Yes! Yes!" The giddy Emperor nodded eagerly. "I miss Shuurei's tea - and her manjuu buns -"

"I don't recall mentioning manjuu buns... but..."

The young girl sighed.

"Sit here and wait. I'll see if I can find anything. Don't. Move."

"Yes, yes!"

-

Twenty minutes later, the two were seated on the porch, watching the moon rise over the bare branches of the garden, filtering through the blossoms of the cherry and plum trees. It was beautiful.

But not as beautiful as Shuurei, Ryuuki thought fondly, watching the girl's lively face change with enthusiasm as she talked about the newest education reforms in Brown Province.

"Shuurei -"

The girl looked up from her cup of tea.

"I - got something for you..."
"Eh?"

Shuurei blinked and gasped as she looked down -

There in his hands lay a white kerchief, lavishly embroidered with red roses.

"Roses..."

-

"THAT MAN!" growled Reishin. "Is... Is... I'm going to KILL HIM!"

"Now, now," Shouka said with a smile.

"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT? Look! The demon has grabbed her hand!"

"If she doesn't like it, she'll say so," Shouka tried to pull hsi brother away from the window. Reishin had himself firmly plastered to it however.

"Reishin."

At the sound of the mild reproof in his older brother's voice, Reishin flew to his brother's side.

"I'm sorry, aniue - but -"

"We must trust -"

"I can't trust him! He's probably seducing her as we speak!"

"Not on the front porch," Shouka pointed out sensibly. "Besides, we should trust Shuurei to know what is best for he. Don't you think? Come - let's have some tea! Shuurei made me a pot - and I know how much you enjoy her tea... I wonder what she puts in it..."

-

Roses...

The first fairy tale I ever heard, Ryuuki thought whimsically. And she is my Barahime...

-

Roses...

Red roses...

Passionate love... with thorns and all... Ryuuki - what you do for me -

-

"Ryuuki," Shuurei said softly. "This won't change my mind - but maybe -" She leaned forward to give him a kiss on the cheek. "But you know... so far no man has ever made me deviate from my path - but maybe - one day -"

You're the only one, Ryuuki...

"One day, you will -"

Ryuuki leaned forward in turn - his hand cupped her cheek as he moved in for a long, careful kiss. As his tongue gently and expertly moved along her lips, she opened her mouth under his - and they shared the taste of sakura blossom tea. As his tongue slid past hers to explore her mouth, causing a tingle to move from her toes up to rest in her belly...

As her hand tightened on his shoulder - both understood -

However far apart we are - we are always here - this place stands here for us...

He will always be here -

She will find the path to me.

OWARI

Epilogue:

"What is it?" Seiran asked as Shuurei fingered a red-rose handkerchief.

"Nothing..." She said, voice wobbly.

"What is that?" he asked gently, deciding not to remark upon her tears.

"A gift."

Seiran blinked, then smiled softly.

"Ah. The infamous handkerchief the Emperor worked so hard on?"

A pause.

Her fingers tightened around the cloth.

"He did it himself?"

"Ah... Apparently so," Seiran sweatdropped at the memory of Kouyuu's drunken (yet firey) complaints and Shuuei's insinuations.

"I see... I - I - I... I'm sorry, Seiran - I'll stop now... soon... I'm such a baby after all - to - to -"

"You can cry as much as you want, Lady Shuurei," Seiran said.

"It's just... I'm going to miss him - the idiot! Why does he have to make me feel this way?"

She cried harder.

-

That night, both of them went to sleep with their handkerchiefs - closer in heart than ever.