jychan: I don't own Saiunkoku Monogatari… Enough said.

23. A Protection

"Should I let Hidari and Himeko-sama meet up with each other?"

Ran Shuuei mused as he looked at the sky, which was clear and bright,

"-uuei! Shuuei! "

Senshi Hidari called unto the 4th son of the Ran Clan, who turned to her and gave his usual smile,

"Doushite Hidari?"

He asked as Hidari went near him and sat on the chair,

"Neh, Shuuei, I was calling you for quite sometime. You're not listening to me at all."

She grumbled as he chuckled at her,

"It's rude to laugh, you know. Anyways, I was wondering, do you have any problem?"

She asked as he stopped and looked at her,

"Why? What makes you think that I have a problem, Hidari?"

Shuuei asked as Hidari tilted her head to a side and replied,

"You're on with your poker face once again. Shuuei, I've lived with you for quite sometime already. And that sometime is enough for me to know whether you have a problem or not."

"I tell you, there's nothing wrong with me at all. I have no problems at all."

Hidari stopped, bit her lower lip, sighed and said,

"If you say so. But if you have any problems, then, don't hesitate to tell me. Even if I can't help you solve it, I can support you and tell you some words of encouragement."

Shuuei gave a faint smile and replied,

"Arigato, Hidari. Hearing you say those words assure me the best outcome."

"So, there really is a problem."

Shuuei stopped as he looked at Hidari,

"Huh?"

"When you said those words, it seems like there are problems, Shuuei. Shuuei, what's the problem? Please. Don't hide anything from me."

Hidari said as Shuuei smiled once again and said,

"There's nothing wrong. I tell you."

Hidari eyed on him as he sweatdropped,

"There's nothing I can do to you if you won't tell me. But when things are getting uneasier for you, just tell me the problem and I'll help to ease the problem."

Hidari said after she sighed at what he said,

"Of course, Hidari."

Moments passed and Shuuei left the manor to go somewhere else,

'I am pretty sure that Shuuei is hiding something from me. I have to follow him to figure it out.'

Hidari thought as she wrapped her face with a shawl and followed Shuuei, who was walking away,

'But then, he said that I should not go outside the Ran Manor.'

She hesitated as she closed her eyes,

'Scratch that. I am going to follow him. And if something happens to me, I can just shout and call for him. I am following him, anyways.'

She thought as she continued on following Shuuei, who slightly noticed that someone was following him. He looked at his back, just in time for Hidari to hide on a post. He eyed on his surroundings before continuing on walking on his way.

Hidari was panting at her position behind a post. That was close, she thought as she continued on trailing behind Shuuei, when she noticed that he stopped in front of a residence.

'A residence?'

She thought as she walked towards the front of the Residence,

'I wonder who owns this place...'

"Um, excuse me, do you have something to do with the owner of this place?"

A woman asked as Hidari turned around and asked,

"Ah iaa. But then, if you won't mind, do you know who owns this place?"

"I believe that this is Kou Shouka-san's house before he became the Head of the Kou Clan. Currently, Seiran and I are the ones living here."

"Is that so... I see..."

"I'm Shimo Furiko, by the way. What's your name?"

Flashback

"Hidari, I'll tell you this, you must not mention to anyone that you are Senshi Hidari. You can just use Chika for the meantime."

Shuuei said as Hidari asked,

"Why?"

"Just... because. You said that you don't want to be treated as royalty in the past."

Shuuei answered her question as she nodded,

End Of Flashback

"Chika. You can call me, Chika, Shimo-san."

Hidari said as the strong wind passed by, making her shawl falter away,

"Ah. My shawl."

Hidari said as she took her shawl that flew away, while the woman bit her lower lip,

"Hidari-hime?"

"Huh?"

Hidari turned to the woman who was in the verge of crying,

"Shimo-san?"

"Hidari-hime!"

'Furiko' called on the younger woman as she hugged Hidari,

"Huh?"

"It's me. Your Onee-sama. Himeko. It's me, Himeko!"

Himeko said as Hidari looked at Himeko and said,

"I'm sorry, but I don't recognize you."

"Himeko, let's go inside already. The shujou might be ar- Hidari-hime?"

Seiran recognized as he stopped on his tracks,

"Huh?"

Hidari turned to Seiran as she tilted her head,

"Who are you?"

"Seiran, Hidari-hime doesn't recognize at all!"

Himeko told Seiran, who looked at Hidari, who was still confused,

"Maa, maa, Seiran, Himeko-hime, Go inside already. We'll wait for the shujou out- Hidari?"

Shuuei went outside when he saw Hidari,

"Eh? Why is everyone outside? Ara, Himeko-nee, Seiran, Shuuei and... eh? Hidari?"

Shi Ryuuki asked as he arrived at the Kou Manor with his wife,

"Nani?"

The Saiunkoku Emperor's expression was priceless when Ran Shuuei explained everything to everybody, while the youngest Senshi Princess, who was puzzled by her surroundings, was at the other room with the Empress, formerly known as Kou Shuurei,

"Why? How could you not say a thing about it, Shuuei?"

Ryuuki asked as Shuuei replied,

"I thought that it was better if no one knew that Hidari-hime was found, because if somebody knew then she might be more endangered."

"But how could you, Shuuei?"

Shuuei remained quiet at this,

"Arigato, Ran-san."

Everyone turned to the older Princess,

"I appreciate it that you valued Hidari-hime's life more than anything. Especially with your clan promising its loyalty to Shinyen."

Shi Ryuuki went "Huh?" as they turned to Shuuei,

"Himeko-hime-sama, you don't have to worry. I have been disowned by my Clan, and so, my loyalties are full towards the Emperor."

Shuuei said as Himeko's expression became serious,

"Although I do not appreciate it that you haven't said a thing to Hidari-hime, concerning her situation and such."

"If I said a thing to her then she would be bombarding me with many questions that I cannot answer just by myself. There are things that I do not know that you or she alone, knows about."

"But how could you Shuuei? Not saying a thing to me..."

Ryuuki mumbled as he pouted,

"Maa, maa, shujou, I did what was best. Let's continue now, shall we?"

"I found out about the illegal doings of Yamamoto Kentaro's business shops around Saiunkoku. It seems there are more in Shinyen. Well, according to the letters of Koyuu."

Ryuuki said as he showed a letter from his sleeve while Himeko said,

"Let them continue, Ryuuki-ten'no. It's all going according to the plan I had thought of."

"What plan?"

Ryuuki asked as Himeko replied,

"I'll tell you sooner or later. But now is not the time yet."

"If you say so..."

"Shuuei! Where are you? Shuuei!"

A voice was heard as they turned around to see that the door opened,

"Shuuei. What's happening? Why do they know me? Is there something going on?"

Hidari asked as she went near the blue-haired lad,

"Hidari, it's tha-"

"Oh. There's nothing going on. Just the usual conversation between people. I'm sorry for mistaking you earlier. You just looked like my younger sister. How could I mistake the Princess of Shinyen for someone else."

Himeko said as Seiran looked at Himeko,

"Actually, Shuuei is a close subordinate of mine. If you do not recognize me, I'm Shi Ryuuki."

Ryuuki introduced himself as Hidari nodded,

"Pleased to meet you, Ryuuki-ten'no. I'm-"

"Iaaa. We were acquaintances in the past, if you do not remember."

Ryuuki interrupted and turned to Himeko for an approval, which was given,

"I'm Shi Seiran. An acquaintance with Shuuei-san and the shujou."

Seiran introduced himself as Hidari smiled and said,

"Is that so? I'm pleased to meet everyone again. Neh, Shuuei, I'll be going on first. I guess I still remember the way back to the Ran Manor."

"Iaaa. Don't. I'll be going back with you. You might get lost, I would not want that to happen."

"Don't worry. I'll be fine. I have a pretty good memory."

"Says the girl who didn't have amnesia. Just wait for me for a bit longer. I'll be finished in a couple of minutes."

"Ehem. Ehem."

Seiran coughed as the two of them looked at the others,

"Shuuei, you can go ahead. It was nice seeing you, Hidari-hime."

Ryuuki said as Hidari smiled and said,

"Likewise to everyone. Nice meeting to all, despite it being the second time, but still. Thank you very much. Ryuuki-ten'no,"

"Doushite Hidari-hime?"

"I hope you do take care of Shuuei. He tends to lie at times, although he does it so that no one would get worried of him."

Hidari said as Shuuei frowned,

"Oy. Hidari, what were you-"

"Maa, maa, come on, Shuuei. Let's go now."

Hidari interrupted as she dragged Shuuei,

"Utsurei shimasu."

The both of them said as they left the room while some murmurs were heard outside,

"Hidari, you put on your shawl."

"But why?"

"Just so. Come on."

"Hai. Hai. Chotto matte, Shuuei!"

Meanwhile the people inside chuckled at their small conversation,

"It seems they're going to end up with one another."

Shi Seiran said as he sighed while Ryuuki said,

"I can't believe it. My Aniue's brother-in-law is Shuuei. Good luck, Aniue."

"But I think, Hidari-hime is going to be in good hands with Ran-san. With the way that he treats her, I guess she's in good hands."

Himeko said as she perked up,

"Shoot."

Ryuuki realized what he called Seiran in front of Himeko,

"She already knows from the start."

Seiran said as Ryuuki sighed in relief with what his older brother said, meanwhile, Himeko giggled at Ryuuki's reaction,

"That was mean, Himeko-nee-sama."

"Maa, maa. I know. By the way, where's Kogo Shuurei?"

Himeko asked as the said Empress went inside and replied,

"I'm here. And itt seems I've seen the newest couple in Saiunkoku."

"Iaa. I don't think so."

"Huh?"

The others asked as they looked at Himeko,

"With the way they treat each other, they seem to have been a couple longer than that, although they've just been a couple eversince Hidari was found by Shuuei."

"But I kind of disapprove by how Shuu-"

"Nope. What the two don't know is that Hidari-hime has fallen for him during the last time we were in Saiunkoku."

"EH?"

Ryuuki asked as Seiran nodded and said,

"The two were obviously bickering like a couple already. That's enough said, I suppose."

"Ryuuki-ten'no, isn't it about time that you and Kogo Shuurei head back already? I suppose there would be many officials fretting where the Emperor and Empress are."

Himeko said as the two were reminded of their responsibilities,

"Ah yes."

"But then, Himeko-nee-sama, are you fine already? Just tell me when you need my help and I'll assure you of the greatest help I could give."

Ryuuki said as Himeko nodded and said,

"Of course, Ryuuki-ten'no. And before I forget,"

"Huh? Doushite?"

"It's not Himeko. It's Furiko. And this time, you're not allowed to call me Onee-sama anymore. I'm 21 years old."

"Eh?"

"Nn. I'm much younger than the shujou. So, I'm sorry shujou. But you have got to stop calling me Onee-sama."

"But then, I thought Onee-sama had the same age with Aniue."

"We're going already. You can wonder about that when we're at the Palace already. Excuse us first, Furiko-san, Seiran. Sayonara."

Shuurei said as she dragged Ryuuki along,

"Chotto matte! Shuurei! Shuurei!"

And off, they were, leaving Furiko and Seiran at the Kou Manor,

"And there goes another couple. Hmm... Neh, Seiran?"

Furiko turned to Seiran, who nodded,

"Ughh... I'm so tired. Do you still want to eat dinner?"

Furiko asked as Seiran replied,

"Maybe."

"What maybe? It's a yes or no question, Seiran."

"You might not want to cook already since you're tired and I'm not that hungry."

"Are you sure?"

Furiko asked as Seiran nodded,

"Well, I was planning to cook some Shinyen cuisines, if you won't mind. But seeing that-"

"I'm totally fine with eating. And waiting."

"That's great. Well then, I'll be at the kitchen."

Furiko said as Seiran asked,

"Are you sure that you're able to cook, Furiko?"

"It's rather a question for Himeko, you know. As Himeko, I was trained for bridal trainings and stuff, although I don't get it back then why I have to take cuisine lessons when I had cooks. But seeing now as Furiko, I guess it was useful."

Furiko replied as she leaned on the wall,

"It's a pleasure for the Empress of Shinyen to cook for me."

"Well, it is much of a pleasure for a Prince of Saiunkoku to try my cooking."

Furiko mused as she went out of the room and went inside the kitchen,

"Just wait, Seiran. You will be able to taste the best of Shinyen through my cooking."

She mumbled as she prepared the ingredients and layed them on the table while the said tester was at the outside, looking at the sakura tree which was given by Shi Ryuuki to his wife years ago. He smiled at this and went back when he heard some crashes at the kitchen.

jychan: Well, that was it. Sorry for not updating for a while? Quite busy with school and stuff... So many projects here and there... ughh.... Well, how are you people? I hope you were not killed while waiting for my update... Hehehe.... I hope you didn't get confused with the 'Furiko' and 'Himeko' thing...

WinglessDreams: I am absolutely sorry for which. I really, really tried my best here. And so far, this was the best that I could do. Well, if it's not good, I'll try my best next time!!!

silver starslin: Thank you! I'm quite thankful for the praise, although I still cannot call myself a writer since I'm still an amateur one. Nonetheless, I hope you did enjoy the story, so far.

Stelra Etnae: Yes. I hope the pairing's going to be good and fine. Yup. It's a legend. Koyuu's sense of direction is very legendary that even people in Shinyen knew about it. I'm thankful that you gave me a wonderful summary. Honestly, making summaries is not my thing. I can make a long story and whatsoever, but don't make me do summaries because they're really bad. Thank you very much and I hope you didn't mind that I used it.

z rox: Hehehe... Hmmm... More fluff moments? I'll try but I won't promise, especially because it seems I can see the end of Shinyen...But don't worry probably 10 chapters at the most... Thank you very much for appreciating my story which was the product of blood and tears... (wow!)

Golden Angel: I'm thankful that you liked my story. I'm going to keep on updating as long as I have the time! ^_^