jychan: And I am the ever slacker. I wholeheartedly apologize to you guys for slacking off. T_T *blocks the tomatoes and grins* Now, I will be posting up the next chapter for Shinyen! (Finally!) I don't own Saiunkoku Monogatari nor its characters. :)

26. A Ransom For The Princess

The door opened towards Ran Hidari's room as it revealed a vexed Ran Shuuei, sitting on the chair beside a bed. The guest, being Hidari's older sister, the former Empress, Senshi Himeko or rather known now as Shimo Furiko, was wearing a very anxious face as she looked all around the room for her youngest sister. Tears started to form at her eyes as she wiped it with the sleeve of her dress. She collected herself for a moment and went near the husband of her younger sister,

"Ran-san, she's..."

"I deeply apologize for loosening my guard and letting Hidari get kidnapped. I wished that I didn't go to the Palace that time."

Shuuei said as Furiko patted his grieving brother-in-law as Furiko wore an expressionless face while Ryuuki, who was standing at the side, said, "This is definitely a doing of Yamamoto Kentaro."

"If so, then how was his minions able to get away with the strict surveillance here at the Ran Residence here in Kiyou?" Seiran, who was standing beside Furiko, asked as Shuuei frowned at this and replied,

"If there's a will, there's a way."

Ryuuki frowned and grumbled, "That person will definitely pay for this! But, wait. How will we know what they want from us? Surely, they would need something from us." as Shuuei stood up and declared, "I'm willing to give them anything they want: Access, Connections or something that I might give just for Hidari."

"Ran-san..."

Furiko mumbled as she bit her lower lip while she heard a sigh from the back.

"As much as possible, I am sure that Yamamoto Kentaro would stay silent about this. Especially since Hidari is already part of the Ran Family." Seiran said as the others nodded as Furiko frowned as she replied, "But we aren't sure of her safety. She might still be in danger."

The room's atmosphere was heavy with a sad feeling, floating all over the room as Shuuei commented, "Since it's Hidari, she would just be fine. That girl has the tendency to do things that would enable her survival. After all, that was the girl who I fell for."

Furiko chuckled on what Shuuei said about her younger sister, which was true after the recent events on what happened on her youngest sister. After a few minutes, Ryuuki took his leave after Shuuei, Seiran and Furiko shooed him after they learned that the Emperor simply escaped from his duties for his 'younger sister'. As soon as Ryuuki was out of sight from the Ran Residence, Furiko wore a very serious look on her face and began, "We will have a talk with Yamamoto Kentaro. We shall find out what he wants and perhaps, consider his actions."

"But, wait. Shimo-san, if Hidari knew about your decision, she would definitely say no towards what your decision is." Shuuei said upon learning what his sister-in-law had decided while Seiran agreed on Shuuei's protest against the decision of the former Empress of Shinyen. The former Empress simply sighed and said, "I don't know what to do. Hidari means everything for me. She's the only person whom I had sworn to protect on Otou-sama's and Okaa-sama's grave. And as much as possible, I wouldn't want to break it."

"Furiko..."

"That's why, I am already serious about this. I have thought about this after I learned from a messenger that Hidari has been kidnapped. Please send this to Li Koyuu-san. He will give this to Yamamoto Kentaro." Furiko said as she took a letter from her sleeve while she handed this to Shuuei, who sighed and took the letter.

"Now I know why you let the shujou take his leave first. Since it's you who said so, I will be sending this letter to Koyuu. I know that you know what's best for this situation."

"Eh? Chot-" Seiran tried to protest as Furiko blocked him with her right arm as Seiran stopped as he noticed tears strolling down the face of Furiko, who simply said, "Please. Seiran. This time, I know what I am doing. Please."

Seiran sighed and nodded as he said, "You know what to do, Furiko. I will trust your decision this time." while Furiko simply nodded as she wiped her tears with her right sleeve.

Meanwhile in Shinyen...

"I knew that they will not fail me. After all, they support me. That is why they have kidnapped that youngest lass of the Senshi Clan. Hah! That wrench might have thought that she would be able to get away with her younger sister. But no. Definitely no. I will have her surrender towards me and I will have the younger sister be killed!"

Yamamoto Kentaro said as he poured more wine in his cup, while he laughed to his heart's content. Unluckily for him, Senshi Kaori, current Empress of Shinyen, was able to overhear what the Prime Minister had said. She bit her lower lip as she eventually tried to run away when she bumped into someone.

"Kogo Kaori-sama, what are you doing here?" Yamamoto Kentaro asked as Kaori widened her eyes upon the sight of the old man, whose plans she overheard earlier. She bit her lower lip as the old man added, "Were you here earlier? Did you hear something earlier?"

"Kogo Kaori-sama, there you are." Li Koyuu said as he saw Yamamoto Kentaro with Kaori, who smiled in relief upon seeing the Saiunkoku delegate to Shinyen. Koyuu went near Kaori as he said, "Kogo Kaori-sama, I heard that you were looking all-over the palace for me. Was there something that you needed?"

"Ah. About that. There is. Excuse me, Yamamoto-dono, there is something that I and Li-dono will have to discuss on Saiunkoku and Shinyen's affairs." Kaori said as the old man raised an eyebrow and asked, "Would you mind if I join you?"

"Ah. About that. I suppose Yamamoto-dono might be busy. So, it's fine if you don't. Well then, we shall be taking our leave first." Kaori said as Kaori and Koyuu left Yamamoto Kentaro, who had one thing in mind:

'That woman and Li-dono have always been seen together. This is bad.'

Meanwhile, Kaori, who sighed in relief as soon as they lost sight of the Shinyen Prime Minister, thanked Li Koyuu, "Li-dono, I would like to thank you for your help earlier. If not, I would have been fried in my own oil."

"No need to thank me. But, what were you doing earlier?"

"Li-dono, you have to help me send a letter to Ryuuki-ten'no. Please. It's about Hidari-hime being kidnapped."

Koyuu widened his eyes upon what Kaori said and asked,

"By who?"

"By the Ran Clan."

jychan: And I would be apologizing again for slacking off. I will be updating my Bleach Fanfiction tomorrow. So, sorry once again! And another cliffhanger. So, yeah. I am so evil. :D *blocks off the tomatoes*

Stelra Etnae: Yep. Expect for nieces and nephews in the near future. xD And yes, 9 more chapters and Shinyen will be over... T_T

iRawrTera: Thank you! Hehe. I already updated the story! After a couple of months! Hehehe... xD