This is set many, many years before the series, around the time when Shihoudou was the leader of the Taishirou and the Former Crimson King was just the Crimson King. It's obviously before he went bat-shit insane.
Disclaimer: Samurai Deeper Kyo belongs to Akimine Kamijyo.
Shihoudou ran as fast as her legs could carry her. When she first realized that something had happened, something bad, she had jumped up, her bamboo hat falling from her head in her haste to rush to her lord's side. At the garden, she heard one of the other Taishirou's startled call of, "Shihoudou-nee-san!?"
She ignored them, straining herself to increase her speed. Dodging guards, servants and others, Shihoudou skidded to a halt a distance away from the garden, her sandles sliding across the tile as she stopped. Turning, she saw several men lying dead in their own blood. The Crimson King was sitting on the ground near them, his knees pulled to his chest. Though his white robes were immaculate, some arterial blood spray was splattered across his face, presumably from when he was forced to defend himself. She was startled to see that, beyond the blood, his face pale and that he seemed to be in some sort of shock.
"My lord!" She gasped and rushed to him, dropping to her knees beside him, ignorant of the blood that may stain her pants. "My lord, are you alright?"
After a few moments, the Crimson King's red eyes met hers. "Shihoudou... Why does this always happen?" He asked softly, turning away.
Confused, Shihoudou followed his gaze towards the corpses of the assassins. They were obviously Mibu in origin, since they bore the clan's crest – the yin and yang symbol. "Assassins attacking you?" She questioned, eyebrows furrowed. The Crimson King seemed to be attacked by assassins on a monthly basis, sent by power hungry nobles.
He shook his head. "Not just that..." He uttered softly and his face contorted in confused anguish. The Crimson King suddenly wrapped his arms around his knees and held them to his chest so tightly the muscles in his arms were strained.
Licking her lips, Shihoudou tentatively reached out and placed a hand gently on his shoulder. Though he had momentarily tensed in surprise, he quickly relaxed under the gentle pressure. "I don't know why people do what they do," she eventually said after several moments of contemplation, having found his train of thought. "I guess people just aren't happy."
The Crimson King sighed, leaning against her side, his long red hair brushing over her shoulder. "This world is so sad," he said softly, eyes filling with tears.
Filled with an empathic grief, she rested her head against his, seeking to comfort him. "It is, isn't it." After a moment or two, Shihoudou reached into her pocket and removed a small white cloth. Sitting up straight and turning, she held the cloth up to him. "You, um, you have blood..." She trailed off, pointing to her own face where, roughly, he had blood on his own.
He smiled weakly, glad that she changed the subject – he was beginning to feel desperate despair. "Could you please get it for me?"
She nodded, relieved to have something useful to do. Wetting the cloth with her tongue, she offered him an apologetic smile as she took his face into her left hand. She firmly cleared the blood from his skin, leaving behind a faint red tinge from where she scrubbed it clean, which faded before her eyes. "There," she said, offering him a smile, which he returned.
"Thank you, Shihoudou," the Crimson King said softly, smiling gently at her. "And not just for cleaning the blood."
Flushing slightly, Shihoudou quickly stood and threw her arms up to her sides. "No prob. What would you do without me?" She grinned, holding out her hand for him to stand.
He took it, allowing her to pull him to his feet. "I hope to never find out."
Okay, as far as I am concerned, this is canon – this pairing. I got a copy of volume 38 (the final version, with all the extra goodies!) and, when the Former Crimson King bit it, his last thoughts were of Shihoudou and he cried (both blood and normal tears. It's interesting because when Chinmei finally died, he thought of his wife and his blood!tears became normal!tears, too.) *AND* when he does die, Shihoudou senses it. Or I could be reading into it too much. Who knows.