Disclaimer: I don't own Saiunkoku Monogatari

Chapter 2

Ryuuki's point of view

Like every other evening he was sitting in front of his desk doing paper work. Now Ryuuki was the emperor that Shuurei wanted him to be, but it was already ten years since he saw her. Ten years without the one he loved with all his heart. Maybe he was an idiot that he still believed that even after ten years she'll come back to him one day. This is only thing that hasn't changed about him in all this time.

Ryuuki was no longer a cheerful person he used to be. He completely changed after Shuurei with Seiran disappeared. Even though he had Shuuei and Kouyuu without Shuurei he felt lonely. He didn't even know why she left him.
Because Shuurei left in the middle of the night no one noticed her leaving, but next morning when one of the maids found Shuurei missing from her he was in despair. First thing that came to his mind at the time was that she was kidnapped and soon people who abducted will ask for ransom. But there wasn't any signs of struggle and her clothes, the ones that she brought from her home, were missing. After saying to Shouka that Shuurei disappeared he didn't seem surprised like he knew long ago that this would happen. Ryuuki had no choice but to believe she left the palace on her own accord and that hurt him. The thought that Shuurei decided to leave him was very painful even now.

After Shuurei left he didn't marry any other girl, the thought that she should be replaced by other was beyond him.

Shoto's point of view

It wasn't easy for Shoto to lie to his parents. He usually told everything to them, but this was a secret he wasn't supposed to know. And it would be easier for him not to know.

"Shoto are you not feeling well? You look pale and daze of a lot lately, maybe we should stay at home and as father to come by when he'll be able to…" His mother voiced her opinion when they were packing.

" Mom don't worry it's nothing I'm just thinking about something a lot lately. That's all" Shoto responded with a smile. His mother always worried about him at every step and that made lying to her even more hard.

"It's a girl isn't it?" she asked again

"…." Shoto blushed. It was such an embarrassing question to hear from his mother.

"I knew it" Shuurei started laughing "So who is she? Do I know her?"
Shoto couldn't believe that his blush because of embarrassing question she mistaken as yes 'Well at least this way I can be in the daze the whole day and nor mother, nor father will find it strange'


They were finally in Kiyou city. The place was unbelievably amazing. Shoto had heard that his mother and father grew up here, but for him it was the very first time being in a city that's that big. After all his grandfather would always be the one who comes to visit. He turned around to se his mother's eyes and soon wished that he would've stayed eyeing the city. Her eyes were full of sadness even though her face wore a fake smile. Shoto could always tell what person was feeling. He knew a trick that was very simple that everyone knew, but never used. Face can put fake smiles, fake sadness any kind of mask person wanted to show others, but one's eyes never lies. Eyes are the window to one's soul hence you can see one's feelings' .The truth to finding out others feelings was that simple.


"Shoto would you like some tea?" His grandfather asked

"No, I'm not thirsty" Shoto knew better than drink tea his grandfather made. Mother said that even after ten years of living alone he still couldn't brew tea. It's already been few hours since his parent went shopping and they still haven't came back. Shoto was starting to get little worried. Then it hit him. 'It's perfect'. His grandfather was bound to know who his real father was and now was perfect opportunity to ask him.

"Grandpa, will you tell me the truth if I ask you a question?" Shoto asked silently with serious face.

"Of course . What is it that you want to ask" Shouka replied

"…" Shoto couldn't find words to ask so he just silently watched his grandpa

"You're not going to be silent like that after you mentioned it?"

"I heard when my mom was talking to dad and she mentioned things like my real father…" he was cut of by Shouka.

"…And you want to know who he is, right?" this time Shouka's face was serious. Shoto couldn't believe how his grandfather changed after mentioning it. Shoto couldn't trust his voice so he just nodded.

"Sorry were late the crowd didn't for almost an hour some street performers distracted a lot of people who were going by in the street so we were stuck there" Shuurei slamed the door open before Shouka could even say a word to Shoto.

"Now, now Shuurei it's alright. After all the performance was quite interesting and we saw the whole thing" Seiran came into the room carrying few bigger bags. "Shoto come and help me with these bags" Seiran asked him

"Okay dad I'm coming" Shoto responded

"I hope you didn't drink tea that your grandfather made, did you?" Seiran silently asked the boy with concerned face when he was sure no one else would hear.

"Dad you know I'm not that stupid…" boy said resisting the need to roll his eyes.