jychan: I don't own Saiunkoku Monogatari.

1. An Intruder

It was night time in the country of Saiunkoku and as expected, Seiran was standing on guard right outside of the Emperor's quarters. He was not going to fall asleep. He had to stay on guard for his younger brother's life. Of course, the part of him being the Emperor's older brother was not known, but it was good enough that he could stay close to his younger brother and protect him even if it would cost him his own life.

"Aniue!"

The Emperor of Saiunkoku called his brother as he woke up from his sleep, making the exiled prince rush in to his quarters. Had something happen? Did someone attack him without Seiran, knowing? Was he not feeling well? However, what alarmed him was how the Emperor had called him.

"Ah, Ryuuki-sama, how many times should I tell you not to call me Aniki here." He said as he sighed. "Is something wrong?"

"I'm sorry I just had a dream. Well, not really a dream, but more like a flashback of an old memory." The Emperor replied as he sheepishly smiled towards his older brother, who sighed and just patted him on his head.

"I see."

"So, what were you staring at outside?" Ryuuki asked his Aniki,

"Eh? Ah. I was simply observing the sakura trees." Seiran replied after he thought about it for a second,

"I see." Ryuuki said as he opened the window and stared at the sky, "Anyways, Aniue, do you still remember Himeko-hime and Hidari-hime?" Ryuuki asked as Seiran raised an eyebrow.

"Himeko-hime... Hidari hime..." Seiran mumbled the names as he tried to remember the people who carried the names, Himeko and Hidari, from his past as what Ryuuki implied. Of course, he remembered. He would never forget the former.

"They were here when I was crowned as Emperor of Saiunkoku." Ryuuki replied as he smirked at his brother.

"What are you trying to imply with that smirk?" Seiran asked his brother as he raised his eyebrow,

"Oh, Aniki, don't even try to deny the old feelings you felt for the current Empress of Shinyen." Ryuuki replied as he chuckled,

"Eh? So, Himeko-hime is now an Empress?" Seiran asked,

"So, you did have feelings for Himeko-hime." Ryuuki smirked as Seiran was surprised. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. No need to deny it Aniue. I caught you in act." Ryuuki added as Seiran closed his eyes and turned around.

"I'll just be outside if you need anything, Ryuuki-sama." Seiran said as he went outside,

"Good night, Aniue."

"Good night." Seiran replied as he closed the door,

The night ended and the sun has yet to rise again in Saiunkoku, wherein we are to see in the Palace Gardens, the Emperor, Shi Ryuuki and his wife, the former Kou Shuurei, having an afternoon snack together,

"Shuurei, are those manju beans?" The Emperor asked his wife who smiled and replied,

"Hai." Shuurei replied as she sighed and gave a manju bean to Ryuuki, who ate it.

"Oishi, as always, Shuurei." The Emperor praised the manjuu beans of his wife, who smiled at his comment,

WHISH WHISH

Shuurei and Ryuuki were alerted with the sounds coming from the bushes and Ryuuki's voice stormed out,

"Who's there?"

WHISH WHISH

The sounds from the bush continued and Ryuuki placed an arm before his wife, while being in a defensive stance, as well.

WHISH WHISH

Something came out of the bush, or rather, someone came out of the bush.

"Ryuuki-nii?"

The person called the Emperor, who was still in a defensive stance. She grinned as her eyes widened in glee. Her hair was recognisably blue, which seemed to blend in with the colour of her clothes. Her clothes, though, do not seem to be the type of clothes that were usually worn by the citizens of Saiunkoku. It had actually seemed foreign.

"Ryuuki-nii?" Shuurei widened her eyes, "Ryuuki, aren't you the youngest among your siblings?" Shuurei asked as Ryuuki gave a wondering look.

"I never knew I had a younger sister," Ryuuki replied as he widened his eyes.

"Eto, Ryuuki-nii, I'm not your biological sister, well, try to remember, blue hair, and some sort of deja vu, except it was Seien-nii, you were with and not, Shuurei-san." The girl replied as she smiled at Ryuuki, who was trying to figure out who the girl was.

"Come on, Ryuuki-nii, I was with Onee-sama when I went here a few years ago in your coronation as Emperor, but then you forgot us... Geesh..." The girl muttered as she rolled her eyes,

"Ah! Ah! Ah! I remember!" Ryuuki said as the girl's face brightened, "Shiyu-hime?" Ryuuki asked as the girl's jaw dropped,

"Seriously, we're not from that country. Another country, please. Near to some border of Saiunkoku..." The girl said as Shuurei stared at them, unable to decipher what she was going to do.

Ryuuki smirked, as if he knew the answer, and said, "...Empress Akio?" while the girl shook her head.

"I'm not an Empress."

"What's going on here, Ryuuki-sama? Shuurei-sama? Shall I bring this girl to the courts now?"

A voice stormed out as a certain person with silver hair went in.

"N-No way... S-Seien-nii?"

The girl recognized the real identity of Seiran as he looked at the girl.

"Blue hair? 'Seien-nii?' Then, this must be, Hidari-hime of Shinyen." Seiran said as he recognized the princess,

"Yes, yes Seien-nii, is that you?" Hidari asked as she went near the former,

"I-I suppose you're mistakened Hidari-hime. I am not Seien-sama. He is dead already. I am Shi Seiran," Seiran lied towards the Princess, who was surprised.

"I'm sorry then, Shi-san. I was rather thinking you were Seien-nii, due to the similarities you had. But please do forgive me for mistaking you as the late prince."

"No. It's fine, hime-sama." Seiran replied as he bowed before the Princess and then to the Emperor and his wife and said, "Excuse me." And off, he left the gardens.

"Eto, anou, Shuurei-san, I'm sorry for not introducing myself. Anyways, I'm Senshi Hidari, Princess of Shinyen." Hidari said as she smiled,

"Ah, Shi Shuurei, Empress Consort of Saiunkoku." Shuurei introduced herself as the both of them bowed at each other,

"Saa, Ryuuki, I shall leave you and Hidari-hime here in the gardens for a while. It seems you consumed the manjuu beans I made." Shuurei said as she gave a smile and left. She knew that the two had things to catch up with each other, especially with the seemingly close bond that they were supposed to share.

"Ryuuki-nii! It's been a long time since I saw you!" Hidari said as she smiled at her 'brother',

"Yes, I suppose that it has been, Hidari-hime." Ryuuki replied as he sat down,

"Neh, Ryuuki-nii, are you sure that guy earlier, you know, um, Shi Seiran isn't Seien-nii?" Hidari asked the Emperor, who was utterless from what the princess asked.

"O-Of course, Hidari-hime. Is there any problem?" Ryuuki asked as he sweatdropped,

"No. It's just that he really looked like Seien-nii and that it seems, I really have this feeling that he's Seien-nii. But that can't be possible since Seien-nii is dead, after all." Hidari said as she sighed in frustration.

"Why the sigh, Hidari-hime?" Ryuuki asked, concerned on the sad look on his 'younger sister's' face. Even though they weren't related by blood or even by law, he had grown to care for her already.

"Well, you see, my Onee-sama..." Hidari replied as she was cut by a voice.

"Hidari-hime, there you are. And I still had to look for you over all the countries nearby Shinyen just to look for you. Luckily, I heard a report that you are in Saiunkoku."

Hidari gulped and turned to see a woman with gray hair.

"O-Onee-sama!" Hidari recognized as she was utterless,

"Young lady, you are going back with me to Shinyen whether you like it or not!" The woman said as she glared at Hidari until she realised that they weren't alone. She turned to the other person and widened her eyes upon realization.

"Ah. Ryuuki-ten'no. I am Kogo Himeko of Shinyen." The woman introduced herself as Hidari kept her head low before the two Rulers. It was common courtesy.

"Ah, the former Himeko-hime, then." Ryuuki perked up as Himeko chuckled.

"But, it is fine if you still call me Himeko-nee, but only in private as there might be conflicts." Himeko said as she went near the Emperor of Saiunkoku and pinched his cheeks.

"Itaii!" Ryuuki complained as he massaged his cheeks.

"Still the same Ryuuki-sama I've known before." Himeko said as she chuckled.

"Itaii, Himeko-nee. It actually hurts." Ryuuki said as he looked at Himeko, "But, no need for the sama anymore. We are both equal in power." He added,

"Equal in power? You've got to be kidding me, Ryuuki-ten'no. Saiunkoku is far more bigger than Shinyen." Himeko said as she turned and sat down.

"But, Shinyen is in a more favorable condition compared to Saiunkoku." Ryuuki countered,

"Oh? Favorable condition, you say, Ryuuki-ten'no? I must say I came here for another reason, aside from bringing Hidari home." Himeko said as she frowned,

"Eh? What is it then, Kogo Himeko?" Ryuuki asked as his expression became serious,

"Hidari-hime, Ryuuki-ten'no and I are going to discuss something important. I suppose you know what to do." Himeko told Hidari without bothering to look at Hidari, who rolled her eyes.

"I was about to excuse myself. Well then, excuse me." Hidari said as she excused herself from the two, leaving the Garden.