jychan: I don't own Saiunkoku Monogatari so no suing please….
17. A Letter For The Shujou
"Hidari-hime?"
Senshi Himeko called as she saw a girl with blue hair,
"Hidari!"
She continued to call as she went near the said girl,
"Eh? What's the problem?"
The girl asked while Himeko frowned upon the sight of the face of the girl,
"I'm sorry. I thought you were someone I knew. Excuse me..."
Himeko apologized as she closed her eyes,
"Hime-chan, what's the problem?"
Ensei asked as he went near Himeko, who was in the verge of crying,
"Ro-san. I really really miss Hidari-hime. I don't know what to do. I'm getting a bit paranoid already!"
Himeko cried on the chest of the ex-governor, who just patted her at the back, although they were getting strange looks from other people.
"Maa, maa, hime-chan. Don't cry anymore. People might think I was hurting you or something."
"Is that so, Ro-san? I'm sorry."
Himeko said as she wiped her tears and bowed,
"Iaa! Iaa! It's OK, hime-chan. You don't have to be sorry for it!"
Ensei said as he gave a grin at the ex-Empress.
"Ryuuren-dono, look! What do you think of this one?"
Chika asked as she showed a piece of cloth,
"I guess it doesn't suit you."
"But then, I like the color 'blue'. Like the color of my hair, neh?"
"It would look to plain if you wear something the same with the color of your hair."
Ryuuren insisted as Chika pouted,
"Now that I think about it, you're going to be my Soul Friend #3!"
Ryuuren said as Chika perked up and replied,
"Really? That's great! You, as well, Ryuuren-dono! But then, anyways, I'll get this one. It costs 1 silver coin, Ryuuren-dono."
Ryuuren sighed and gave Chika 5 silver coins,
"Eh? Why five silver coins? It's supposed to be one only."
Chika replied as Ryuuren said,
"Women have different kinds of needs. I'm sure that you know that yourself. So, go on now."
"Hai. Hai. Anyways, you know, earlier, Ryuuren-dono, I saw a woman. She was crying."
"Is that so?"
"Nnn. And it seems that guy with her was the one who caused it!"
Chika said with enthusiasm,
"You know, you sound like an old woman gossiping."
Ryuuren said as Chika hit him in the head,
"Ha. You will never get away after saying that."
Chika remarked as she left the youngest 'Ran' at the outside of the store,
"Ryuuren-san?"
Ryuuren turned to see To Eigetsu,
"Ah. Soul Friend #2! I'm glad to see you!"
"Nn! You, too Ryuuren-san. But then, why are you standing outside this store?"
Eigetsu asked as Ryuuren sighed and replied,
"My companion needs some clothes, since I saw her floating in the shore."
Eigetsu nodded at this and then, said,
"I see. I'll have to go first, Ryuuren-san. Bye."
And he left as Ryuuren said,
"Good bye, Soul Friend #2. Until we meet again."
He started on his flute when Chika appeared and said,
"Don't ever think about playing. And by the way, who was that?"
"Ah. My Soul Friend #2."
Ryuuren replied as Chika said,
"#2? Of course. Since I'm #3, there must be #2 and #1."
"There's even a Soul Friend #2.5, my Soul Friend #3."
Ryuuren replied as Chika sighed at the obliviousness of Ran Ryuuren,
"So, are you finished already?"
Ryuuren asked as Chika nodded and they started walking,
"By the way, Ryuuren-dono, what's your brother like?"
"Hmmm... My idiot number 4?"
Ryuuren asked as Chika sweatdropped and then, nodded,
"I'm not sure on how to describe him."
Ryuuren replied as Chika sighed and asked,
"How many days would it take us to get to your brother, then?"
"A month."
"A MONTH? Are you kidding me, Ryuuren-dono?"
"No. I'm not."
"And we're walking?"
"Nnn."
"Ugh... This is going to be so tiring."
Chika complained on the thought of the trip.
"Seiran, read what I just recieved."
Ryuuki said as his facial expression darkened,
"Shujou, you can tell me what happened."
Seiran replied as he looked at his younger brother,
"Judging from Shuuhei's appearance, he seems to know it already."
"Know what?"
Seiran asked as they looked at the Shogun of the Left Uringan Army,
"It has been reported that Hidari-hime jumped off the cliif and to the river, after she attempted to escape."
Ryuuki said as Shuuei sighed,
"A-Ara, Y-You should go on a break, Shuuhei! Is 1 week enough already?"
Ryuuki asked as Shuuei still sighed and afterwards, shook his head,
"Shujou, there's still one letter left. It seems it came from Eigetsu."
Seiran said as Ryuuki turned and took the letter,
Shujou,
This is To Eigetsu. I am with Ensei-san, Kourin-san and Shimo Furiko. I hope you do know who Shimo-san is. We are going to Kiyou and it seems we would arrive a couple of months later. If possible, we would like to take a route that would be most closest to Saiunkoku, but because we are with Shimo-san, we are unable to take the said route. We are going to pass by the route that would be passing by Kou Province, in short, we are going to take a detour. I hope you recieve this message.
-To Eigetsu-
"Shimo Furiko? Who's that?"
Ryuuki asked as Seiran tilted his head,
Flashback
"Himeko-hime, where are we supposed to go wearing these clothes?"
Seien asked as Himeko was dragging him,
"Listen, Seien-sama, we are going to explore the world outside the Palace. Don't you get bored here? I mean, I get bored back in Shinyen."
"I must admit that I do get bored."
"See? So, why not go outside? Come on, Seien-sama. We have to worry before someone notices that we left Hidari-hime and Ryuuki-sama there in the Gardens."
Himeko said as they were climbing a tree,
"But why in these clothes?"
"Listen, Seien-sama. If we get outside and wear our everyday clothes, we get attention too easily. And besides, we do not want to attract attention now, do we?"
Himeko said as they jumped off the wall,
"You seemed to be an expert with this, Himeko-hime."
"Of course. In Shinyen, I often sneak outside."
"Isn't that supposed to be a secret?"
"Well, I'm sure you won't tell anybody, neh, Seien-sama."
She said as she gave a grin while Seien sighed and nodded,
"Ara, a young girl with a young boy around here... Aren't you supposed to be too young to be a married couple? You don't seem to be siblings at all.'
A woman asked as the two blushed while Himeko replied,
"Iee. We aren't. Excuse us first."
The two left the woman and then, Himeko said,
"Eto, Seien-sama, when we're outside, please do address me with a different name. I'll also do the same with you... Hmmm... What about Sei... Seiki!"
"I prefer my own name, though."
"You can call me, Furiko. Shimo Furiko. Shimofuri and then, ko. Grey child. Kakkoi, neh!"
Himeko said as Seien sighed and replied,
"Do whatever you like, Himeko-hime. Or rather, Furiko-san."
"Maa, maa, you're such a killjoy Seiki-kun! Hahahaha..."
End of Flashback
"Shimo Furiko. I seem to know her. Shujou, Shimo Furiko-san is a person that I know. Please do let her go here in the Palace. And if possible, please do not reveal if she goes here in the Palace. Please just let a few people know about Shimo Furiko-san."
Seiran said as Ryuuki turned to him and nodded,
"Ah sure, Seiran. If it's you, then I do believe you."
Ryuuki said as Seiran nodded silently.
'Who would've thought that such incident would be a great help.'
He thought as he looked at the sky.
jychan: Well, that was it. I wonder what's going to happen next. -sigh- Luckily, I was able to get reviews! Yes, people! I've got reviews! So, glory to GOD!!!! YOSHI!!!
Stelra Etnae: I missed you!!! -hugs you back- I was beginning to think that you hated Shinyen already!! Huhuhhuhuhu!!! Oh? I got it mixed? Gomen neh! It's OK.. Lelouch's kinda handsome... So, I understand... I hope you did well with your exams... And yes, Yamamoto never wasted any time and immediately set off to Saiunkoku... And he's pretty bad for threatening Kaori!!! He's so bad!!! Ughh!!! And yes, *spoilers* Chika is Hidari... But she has amnesia... Now I wonder what will be Shuuhei's reaction once he sees her with Ryuuren!!! Oh? I got it mixed up? Gomen neh! i was kinda excited already and kinda forgot about it! gomen neh! Until then!!!
WinglessDreams: Another reviewer! It's been weeks since I've got a last review with Shinyen!!! And I am so glad that you liked it... I'll keep on updating Shinyen until it really ends.!!! Don't worry! 'Till then!!!