"Come on, Houki, this way!"

She had the same amazed look on her face as when she first came to the harem. The imperial residence was certainly a lot roomier than the harem quarters, despite how comfy those already were. The guards who stood at either side of the stone courtyard all looked just as dazed as she looked bewildered, and each and every one of them was staring not at my just as attractive face—but at hers. "Houki," I growled a bit and tugged her along, "come on. Too much sun isn't good for you."

"I'm sorry. It's just so vast, I…"

"That's no way for a dignified member of the imperial harem to react to her future home, now is it? Act like you're at home! Be confident!" After all, there was a much greater likelihood that His Highness might catch a glimpse of her now! If only he were more aware of his surroundings, that is, but his self-awareness tends to blur the rest of his focus.

It was nice having her around and hearing her call me by something other than "Nuriko" or "Master Nuriko". If they were going to do that, couldn't they at least call me "Miss Nuriko"? So I happen to have been put in a male body, but everything else is female. I'm far more feminine than many of the other harem members could ever even hope to be, breasts or no breasts! Houki should consider herself lucky to have me for a role model.

"And? Did you attend a meeting this morning?"

"Meeting? Oh yes, that."

"What did His Majesty discuss with his officials?" she asked as I was brushing and arranging her hair.

"Oh… something about a budget? No, if that were the case Tamahome would have seemed more interested."

"You… you weren't actually there to listen, were you?"

"You could say I was just there to give them something nice to look at, should their eyes have needed a break from His Majesty's face. Hmm," I held her hair as it sagged next to her cheeks. "How did Miaka hold those up? Maybe it's because her hair is fluffier…"

"Did they even say anything about war with Kutou?"

"Well," I thought back. It's not as if I hadn't listened to any bit of it. "We just don't have any intelligence about Kutou to work with. Something has to be going on, though."

"It's likely they've thought to get intelligence about us first," she put a finger to her lips as she mused.

"Oh, are you a strategist?" I dropped her hair and play-tugged at her shoulders. "Don't tell me you were stringing me along that whole time we were in the harem together!"

"Stringing you along?" she acted appalled. "If I recall, it was you who used the same yakouju to string poor innocent girls along twice!"

"Innocent? You, my dear?" I jokingly gave her a jostle, but it was strong enough to toss her off the chair. With not an extra moment to react, I dived to shield her against the floor—barely. "Sorry—are you alright?"

Tangled in our hair, she peered over her shoulder through it and back at me with surprised eyes, and then a smile. "It's funny how routine these episodes are."

I didn't waste another second gently lifting her off of my chest so I could stand back and put my clothes back into array and tidy back up my hair. These episodes weren't necessarily routine with anyone else, I just happened to be more open with her and would let my strength run away with myself sometimes.

'Myself?'

Houki would have said that "Kourin" is not myself, but myself disappeared with her, perhaps. I'm fairly certain that who I am now is who I am now and not anyone else, but maybe Houki does bring out something in me from back then. I suppose I see her as a bit of a replacement after all, but it's been so long that I can't remember. Maybe I see her as another little sister.

Oh, but if it's another little sister I want, Miaka will be coming back soon enough. She can chit-chat your ear off if you give her chance, and she'll invite herself to be so close that she'll shake the clothes right off of you.

"Did she ever do that to you, Tama-kins?"

"She's just a 15-year-old girl, not a sex fiend!" he barked back.

"Oh? Then you're the sex fiend in the relationship?"

"You're the sex fiend around here if there is one!"

"Come on, tell big sissie all about it," I teased him. "You're attracted to her, aren't you? Whether or not you even like her can be an entirely different question."

"Big sister, my a—"

"Are you saying you'd prefer me as a lover again?"

"No! I mean… you're right. I mean… there were one or two times."

"Ohhh?" I scooted in closer, ready for juicy gossip and passionate confessions of love. "Such as?"

"Well, you know."

"…?"

"I got hard for her, I mean!"

"Uughh, that's gross, Tamahome!" I recoiled. "I didn't want to know that!"

"That's what you asked! And don't act so grossed out, it's not as if you don't have one yourself!"

"But that's still really gross! Really, lady-like ears such as my own do not need to be exposed to such things!"

"Whatever it is you're attracted to, you're still a man!"

My face felt hot and on the verge of tears. He didn't need to remind me of that! I was about to yell back at him (or punch him, I'm not sure which would have happened first), when a servant came and informed us that they were starting another meeting. Tamahome headed in first without a word, and I picked up my skirts and trotted up behind him. "Hey, don't leave Big Sissie behind!"

He pursed his lips and clenched his eyes shut. "That's what's gross here, Nuriko."

I didn't follow immediately behind him.

This meeting was even more insufferable than the first. Sad to say, I wasn't even in the mood to look directly at His Majesty, and every time he spoke, I felt a twinge in my stomach. Am I gross to him too? I know I'm just playing with myself, winding myself up about him. This whole being brethren warriors together is such a tease. I get to be closer, but it feels like I'm getting further and further away. But I can observe him none the less, and he seems lonely. He's calm on the outside, but the way he tenses when he hears bad news shows how fearful he is on behalf of his people. Nevertheless, he maintains his dignity so that people can put their confidence in him.

Now that is a special man.

"And the border guards still haven't noticed any activity?" he said gravely.

"No, any preemptive action they are taking is taking place beyond where we can see it."

"I understand," he closed his eyes in thought.

Ah! But Houki already thought of this! "Of course it's all away from where we can see it!"

Every person in the room turned to me with wide eyes. Disbelief that I had finally said anything, I suppose. Well, while I had their attention: "What we should do, if you don't mind my suggesting, is send spies."

The room immediately exploded into debate about resources, candidates, feasibility and risks, but for what I could understand it sounded more productive than they had been a few minutes beforehand. Nice thinking, Houki!

I'm so fortunate that His Majesty even made it a point to bring up to me later. In private.

"I'm astounded no one came up with that before," he admitted as he lounged and delicately put a kumquat in his mouth.

Though I'm not sure how it started, I was fanning him. "Maybe you all just needed a woman's sensibility the entire time."

"Haha! Quite the observation, Nuriko."

"I'm completely serious, Your Highness."

He seemed unsure how to respond to that politely, but continued smiling just as dashingly. "How so?"

"It wasn't even my idea in the first place. I can only be credited for delivering it."

"Then whose idea was it?"

That's right, show some interest! "A good friend of mine in the harem and I were discussing it, and she brought it up."

"That's good to know," he smiled more genuinely. Yes, Your Majesty, very good to know the merits of someone who has been waiting for you! Ask more about her! And he continued, "I'm glad they are able to form friendships there."

"Friendships…? Why would you be pleased about that? Could it be that you think they're lonely?"

"It keeps them out of trouble, I suppose."

Out of trouble? If there was any trouble, it was my business! "But Your Majesty, I'm a," I paused and felt it around on my tongue, "…a man. Are you comfortable knowing about close friendships they might have with me?"

"And would you do anything? Haha."

Well, would I? There was a time when I was afraid if I was drunk enough that I would! But this could mean two very good things: first, that he trusts me, and second, that he doesn't see me as a man. But it could also mean he thinks I'd be no good in the bedroom with anyone.

"Nuriko, are you alright? You're sulking… are you ill?"

"Oh, just a little tired is all," I flashed him a pretty smile.

"By all means, sit down," he motioned to the bed next to him. Could that have been a signal? My heart leaped so much that I tossed the fan behind me as I plopped down onto the bed next to him, causing the entire board it was fixed on to bounce him into the air and then crash back down onto it, leaving him much less composed than he had been a moment before, and surrounded by kumquats.

"Oh dear, Your Majesty! Are you alright?"

His expression obviously said that he was shaken, but he quickly put back on a suave look and pulled the hair out of his face. "Quite alright, thank you. I'm relieved you must still be feeling decently well."

Except that at that moment I would have liked to bury my face in my hands and cry in embarrassment.

"Oh my," I heard him say as his eyes trailed up to the ceiling. I looked over my shoulder and noticed the fan stuck in the ceiling, and a couple splinters still falling from it. Forget hiding, I just wanted to run away completely.

His Majesty still tried to think of something to say. "That's quite some power you have. We're quite fortunate to have you as one of the Suzaku warriors."

Empty flattery, all of it! He's afraid of me, isn't he? That's even worse than being indifferent! "I can't really do anything," I squeaked, my eyes racing and searching the floor for better words. "I can't even help a little caterpillar."

"A… caterpillar?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" I stood up at once with a giggle as my eyes rolled up to the ceiling searching for better words up there. "Hahaha! Well… that seems to be quite a lot of excitement for one night! I…"

Shoot. I felt it. I was starting to cry, wasn't I? How could someone with as much poise as me be so flustered? Because I'm in front of the one I love, isn't that it? I'm just like a little girl in love! Too embarrassed to stay any longer, I hid my forming tears in my sleeves and ran towards the door. "I should go for now!"

"Wait, Nuriko—"

I couldn't stand to see whatever expression of horror or pity or whatever he might have had. I tore open the door to head back down to the hall to safety of my own room, but immediately outside the door I found a pile of officials crouched against the wall. We exchanged a brief moment of gawking, which gave them a chance to observe how red my face was.

"I knew it!" one of them let out a cry of sorrow.

"At this rate there will never be an heir!"

Oh? So they did think I was his lover? Too bad for them to be so mistaken. I pursed my lips in anger stomped down the hall, the floorboards shaking with every step. Back at my room, I sniffled, and eventually wailed into my pillow.

His Majesty is afraid of me and Tamahome thinks I'm gross. I'm really tired of this whole Suzaku Warrior thing now.