jychan: I don't own Saiunkoku Monogatari so no suing please….
5. A Deal
"...Now that was it. Lastly, before all of you leave the room."
Ryuuki's voice stormed out the room as they were having a daily discussion with the other ministers,
"There is someone who wants to speak something in front of all of us here."
He added as the ministers turned their full attention on the Emperor of Saiunkoku,
"Do come in now."
Outside, Himeko was still fretting on how she should speak in front, nonetheless, when she heard Ryuuki's signal for her to enter, she straightened her composure and reverted her expression to 'stoic and serious' and went inside the court room with grace and perfection flowing with her as she was walking inside, which made some ministers murmur,
"This is Kogo Himeko of Shinyen."
Ryuuki presented the Empress of Shinyen before the ministers where some widened their eyes after the small introduction made by Ryuuki,
"I have a request to Saiunkoku which is why I have my presence here before you in this court."
Himeko said as she waited for the minister's reaction to what she said before them,
"It seems some of the criminals of Shinyen have crossed the borders and have went inside the territories of Saiunkoku, which is why I would like to request to the country of Saiunkoku to please catch these criminals as they might be causing trouble to your country in the near future,"
Himeko said as she paused,
"And if possible, if Saiunkoku's soldiers are able to catch these criminals of ours, then, we will be the one who will give their proper sanctions as they are also of our responsibilty. Another factor on which why I would like Saiunkoku to catch the criminals that have crossed the borders, is because if any of our soldiers would be able to go in your country, it might cause a huge dispute and trespassing, concerning to border issues."
Himeko added as the ministers were nodding to what she said,
'So, this is the Kogo that has nurtured and raised up Shinyen to what is it today, in spite of the less of time. Sou ka. Great job, Himeko-nee.'
Ryuuki said as he faintly smiled,
"I suppose we should agree and approve of Kogo Himeko's request as she has gone all the way from Shinyen to ask us with this."
"But then, won't it be a hassle to the soldiers?"
"Like what Kogo Himeko said, these criminals might even cause trouble to Saiunkoku."
"So, it is approved, then?"
Himeko asked,
"Hai. It is."
Ryuuki said as he smiled at Himeko, who sighed in relief,
"Arigato gozaimashta."
Meanwhile...
"Ughh!!! I'm utterly bored!"
Hidari grumbled as she frowned,
"Eto, Senshi-hime, I suppose we should go to the Archives."
Seiran suggested to the Princess, who thought about it for a while and replied,
"Nice idea, Shi-san! Thank goodness, Ryuuki-nii sent you with me!"
"Ah. I guess."
Seiran sweatdropped,
"And oh, by the way, you don't have to call me, Senshi-hime. You know, Shi-san, there are two Senshi-hime-sama-tachi in Shinyen. So, Hidari-hime is fine."
Hidari said as she followed Seiran,
"Eh? Two?"
Seiran asked as his eyes narrowed while thinking,
'From what Kogo Himeko told me in the past, they were only two in the family.'
"Hai. We have a half-sister."
Hidari informed Seiran, who nodded,
"Kaori-nee-sama's good, but she's too strict! Much more strict than Himeko-nee-sama!"
Hidari added with an exaggerated expression on her face, while Seiran sweatdropped on Hidari's actions,
"Sou ka desu."
"Neh, Shi-san,"
"Doushite ka, Hidari-hime-sama?"
"How old are you?"
"Me?"
"Hai."
"I'm 23 years old."
"Sou ka..."
"Doushite ka, Hidari-hime-sama?"
"Iee.., Betsuni..."
Hidari replied as she sighed,
"But what was the sigh for?"
"Oh? The sigh? None, really."
"If you say so. But I can tell that you're lying Hidari-hime-sama."
"I really can't hide it from you then."
"Hiding what?"
"You see, I've been looking for some eligible bachelors for my Onee-sama, but there's none, and I thought I've seen one, but nope. You're too young."
"Me?"
"Hai. I thought that you'd do. Well, you're really like Seien-nii, like you're good-looking, nice, friendly, approachable, intelligent, good fighter and etc... Although, there are some differences, of course. Like, he's dead, you're alive, he's supposedly 28 years old, you're 23 years old. Geesh..."
Hidari muttered as she rolled her eyes while Seiran sweatdropped with what Hidari muttered,
'Hidari-hime's matching never really disappeared since she was young...'
"So, I guess this is the Archives, neh, Shi-san?"
Hidari asked him as he just nodded while the both of them went inside,
"Danna-sama,"
"Kou-san!"
The two of them called for Shouka as they looked for him inside the Archives,
"Ah. Seiran, Senshi-hime, it's nice to see you here once again."
Shouka said as he greeted the two,
"Ah, Seiran, Senshi-hime."
Koyuu and Shuei acknowledged the two as Seiran nodded,
"I guess you were looking for me all day in Saiunkoku, Senshi-hime, but nonetheless, you found me here in the Archives."
"Urusai onegaishimasu, Ran-san." Hidari said as she sat down on the chair, "Ah, by the way, Kou-san, is there any new scrolls?" Hidari asked as she turned to Shouka,
"Hai, Senshi-hime. You might want to check them. They're over there." Shouka pointed to a direction,
"Senshi-hime, you might want me to go with you or you might fall down again." Shuuei said as Hidari rolled her eyes and stood up,
"Iiya da yo." Hidari replied as she went to the direction where Shouka pointed,
"So, Seiran, why were you with Senshi-hime earlier?" Shuuei asked Seiran, who was sitting down,
"Ah, I was assigned by Ryuuki-shujou to be her guide around as she might get lost."
Seiran replied as Shuuei sighed and remarked,
"You're one lucky guy, Seiran."
"Eh? Why Ran-shogun?"
"You get to spend your day with Senshi-hime, while I'm just stuck here because Ryuuki-sama assigned me here with paperwork with him." Shuuei pointed Koyuu who flinched with what Shuuei said,
"Eh? So, Ran-shogun has a crush on Hidari-hime, then?"
Seiran asked as he chuckled,
"But I don't stand a chance against you, Seiran. She prefers you more than me. You can even call her by her first name." Shuuei said as he looked at Hidari's direction,
"But then, she tried to match me up with Kogo Himeko even before when I was still Seien."
Seiran replied much to Shuuei's joy,
"Seriously Seiran?"
"Hai."
"So, do I stand a chance?"
"Eto-"
"Achoo!"
Seiran was cut by Hidari's sneezing while she went near them as she brought some scrolls while sneezing,
"Seriously, I'm not good with the dust around here. I kept on sneezing and sneezing over there. It's either because of the dust or someone's talking about me."
She muttered as she placed the scrolls on the table while the others sweatdropped,
"You can read these scrolls, Senshi-hime?"
Shuuei asked as Hidari nodded,
"Hai. Thank Kami, my sneezing stopped. Must be the dust over there."
She replied as she opened one scroll,
'Hidari-hime's love for literature and scrolls never changed also...' Seiran thought as he looked at the Princess of Shinyen as one scroll dropped and she followed it,
"I've got a condition for you, Seiran. I won't tell Senshi-hime that you are, in fact, the supposed-to-be-late Seien, but just help me to get through with her."
Shuuei said as Seiran sighed,
"She won't believe you at all and you don't have to do that. But then, if you won't hurt her and promise that Hidari-hime would be your last then, I would be willingly and voluntarily ready to help you with Hidari-hime. Although I'm not sure already as the last time I've seen her was before I was exiled."
Seiran replied as Shuuei nodded,
"Sure! Sure! I promise within the name of Saiunkoku that I would never hurt Senshi Hidari nor even womanize after I have her. And she would be my last."
Shuuei promised as Seiran sighed and replied,
"If you hurt her, I'm sure it's not only me who will be threatening your life but also her 'Ryuuki-nii'."
Shuuei nodded on what Seiran told him,
"Wah. I really must have some colds because even if I went there, I still even sneezed. Or tell me, where you talking about me?" Hidari asked as she narrowed her eyes,
"No! Not at all."
Well, again, luckily, I've got a review! And also a pm...
Stelra Etnae: I've already went to the site that you said... It's good. And oh, I've replaced already the last chapter... hehehe... Thanks for telling me...
unknown player: No, SeiranXHimeko moments for today... Time goes so slow in Saiunkoku, neh??? I guess that would happen when Seiran runs after Himeko... But that's exactly what's happening between Hidari and Shuuei. Hehehe...