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

24. A Proposal for a New Ran Clan Member

It was another day in Shinyen but once again, Li Koyuu, who was appointed by Shi Ryuuki, Emperor of Saiunkoku, to go to Shinyen to be able to represent Saiunkoku and also, spy on the said nation, was lost around Shinyen's palace, while he was about to go to the Assembly.

"Li Koyuu-dono, I assume?"

He turned around to see the Prime Minister, Yamamoto Kentaro, with a grin on his face,

"Can I ask what you're doing around here when there would be an Assembly?"

Koyuu asked as the Prime Minister replied,

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same question, as well, Li-dono? But oh well, I assumed that you might get lost with the new surroundings here in Shinyen. So, shouldn't we get going?"

Li Koyuu thought about it for a moment, but nonetheless, nodded and he resumed on walking,

"Li-dono, what do you think of the Empress?"

Shinyen's Prime Minister asked as the Saiunkoku Representative stopped and turned to the old man,

"I don't think that there's something wrong, Yamamoto-dono. But I don't think that it's quite good for Shinyen to have women rule over."

He replied with a smirk as Koyuu raised an eyebrow,

"Well, I don't think that having a woman rule over a country would be a problem as long as the person is doing a fine job, wherein I know that Kogo Kaori-sama is doing so."

He replied as Yamamoto fumed in anger,

'One day. One day. I swear, one day. You will definitely perish because of what you said, Li Koyuu.'

Yamamoto cursed inwardly as Koyuu continued on walking, unaware of the Prime Minister's thoughts about him.

Meanwhile in Saiunkoku...

Himeko or should I say, Furiko was walking around the Kou Residence when she saw a cherry blossom tree, which was in full-bloom,

"That was the shujou's gift to the Empress in the past. That is before they got married with one another."

She turned around to see Seiran,

"Seiran. What are you doing here?"

Seiran sighed as he went near her,

"Why? You don't want me to be early?"

He asked as Furiko shook her head,

"Well, probably... I'm not sure..."

Seiran frowned on what the woman said as the said woman laughed at the expression of the other guy,

"Maa, maa, don't get sad, Seiran. Of course, I'm glad to see you here."

Furiko said as Seiran hugged her from the back,

"So, since I see that you like seeing me, then I suppose we should head back to our room then?"

He whispered to her ears as Furiko sighed and shook her head,

"Nope. We aren't going to bed yet. You, yes, you, Shi Seiran, formerly known as Shi Seien, you have got to taste the food that I prepared. No excuses. You have to eat it."

Furiko said as Seiran almost widened his eyes,

"I-Is t-that so? W-Well then, let's p-proceed."

He stuttered as Furiko gave a mad frown,

"You don't have to force yourself, you know."

She said as she glared at him,

"I'm not forcing myself at all. In fact, I would rather want to taste it myself."

He replied as Furiko shook her head,

"Forget it. I won't let you eat it. Especially if you're being forced, just because it's me."

She replied as she went inside, leaving a gaping Seiran at the outside,

"Women... They will always be a mystery to men like me..."

Seiran muttered as he went inside, seeing that Furiko just prepared utensils just for one, albeit the food prepared was for two people.

"So, you're going to finish all of that?"

He asked as Furiko didn't mimic any sound,

"Furiko."

"..."

"Himeko."

"..."

Seiran sighed and went near Furiko, took away the chopsticks and bowl from her hand,

"Seiran!"

But, instead of replying something to her, he ate the food on the bowl that Furiko was eating earlier and finally said,

"Gochisou-sama..."

Furiko didn't make a sound as Seiran said,

"The reason why I didn't want to eat your food was because I was afraid that I might get sick. I don't want to be sick around you especially at this time when your life is in danger. So, no. I cannot afford to be late."

"So, you didn't trust me?"

"Huh?"

"You said that you didn't want to get poisoned. Were you like saying that I'm going to poison you?"

Furiko asked as she glared at him much more

"No! Not like that! I mean, I was just careful, OK?"

"But still! I mean, it was a total insult."

Furiko grumbled as Seiran went near her and hugged her,

"Don't grumble now, OK? I was wrong... It was good... OK? Much better than ojou-sama's cooking."

Seiran said as Furiko nodded and said,

"It seems I have already much evidence on how to clean up Hidari's and Himeko's name in Shinyen."

"What do you mean?"

"I went out and saw Yamamoto Kentaro's illegal business in Saiunkoku. I assume that the headquarters would be in Shinyen since he's there. I'd want Li-san to confirm it, though. So, I assume that everything would be finished in less than 6 months."

Furiko said as Seiran frowned for a second, but gave a smile,

"Is that so? That's great then."

Furiko noticed the frown for a moment, but nonetheless, she didn't bother to ask why.

"But, how about the Ran Clan? How can we let them stop their support on Yamamoto Kentaro?"

Seiran asked as Furiko gave a smile,

"I thought about that and did what was needed to do that. Hopefully, Ran-san would not hesitate, though."

Meanwhile...

"Ran-san? What are you doing here in my room?"

Hidari asked as she turned around when the door opened, while Shuuei gave a smile,

"Eto, Hidari, I wanted to ask you this."

He said as he remembered the day's earlier events,

Flashback

"Ran-san,"

"Ara, Shimo-san. What can I do for you?"

Shuuei asked as he went near the older woman,

"I would like to ask a favor from you or rather, it concerns Chikka."

He perked up upon the mention of the other name of his lover,

"Chikka, eh?"

"Hai. Actually, I'm not sure, but please do marry her as soon as possible."

Furiko said as she looked at Shuuei with a serious face,

"What do you mean?"

"It's for her own good. So, please do understand, Ran-san. And I'm sure that there's no problem with it. Please do think about it, because I don't want any of my plans from being postponed. It's for her own good."

Furiko said as Shuuei nodded at what the former Empress said,

End Of Flashback,

"Neh, Hidari."

"Hm?"

"Would you like to be part of the Ran Clan already?"

jychan: Well, that was it! Sorry for not updating for a while! I hate school! so busy with gazillions of projects! ARGH!

silver starslin: actually, i'm rather honored for you giving my 50th review! I'm glad that u found it very funny... i hope i did well this time!

Stelra Etnae: Hahaha... I know.... I'm actually worried that some people won't like the pairings... but I'm glad that you did! Yah, the Kou Residence is rather prone to things falling down.. LOL.... I'm thankful though that you understand how hard my schoolwork is... I hate it! ARGH!

z rox: Yah! Actually, Himeko and Seiran have this peculiar relationship with one another.... How do I describe it... IT's too hard!!! But they're quite similar with lovers, but they just don't make it announced or rather, be known or be titled... I wonder how the Kou Residence remained to be good, despite the accidents that happened there... LOL! I hope you'll like this chapter!