[Saiunkoku Monogatari] Betrothal
Something I wrote for the fic exchange on saiunkoku_fic months ago. I'm just archiving it here. Some parts need editing, since humour really isn't one of my strengths.
Title: Betrothal
Pairing/Characters: Reishin, Kouyuu, Shuurei, Seiran, Shouka, Ryuuki, Shuuei
Rating: G
Summary: Reishin has an Idea. Chaos ensues.
Reishin absently tapped his closed fan against his chin as he strolled leisurely through one of the many palace walkways, oblivious to his surroundings. Kouyuu had seemed out of sorts - or more out of sorts than usual - when he had last spoken with his foster son. Not that he particularly cared about the Kouyuu’s problems, he hastily qualified in his mind. Far better that the boy stand on his own feet (even if walking on his own without getting lost was beyond him). No, Reishin was merely annoyed that the problem seemed to be distracting Kouyuu from his work, which simply would not do.
A satisfactory nod accompanied that explanation. Yes, the boy’s work was decidedly suffering (even though he had not had a chance to examine said work). After all, how could he have done any quality work when he disappeared from his desk at hours at a time? Here, Reishin conveniently ignored the fact that he himself was currently doing the same thing. It was the boy’s fault, anyway. How could he, the Senior Secretary of Civil Affairs, be expected to concentrate when a certain advisor to the Emperor did not have the good sense to stay in one place long enough for his foster father to find him and… inquire what fix the boy had gotten himself into this time?
Working himself into a foul mood, Reishin did not notice how all the other officials and servants in sight scrambled out of his way, unwilling to find out about the most recent person who had raised the ire of the formidable Kou-shousho.
A familiar shade of blue caused Reishin to pause momentarily. A decidedly disturbing smile crept onto his expression. Yes, the Ran boy would know.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Kouyuu nearly suffered a heart attack when the door to the room - the small, dusty, rarely used room in which he had hoped no one would find him - was thrust open brashly. As it was, his startled jump brought the haphazardly stacked pile of scrolls and books next to him crashing down.
“What are you doing here?” were his first words when he had recovered enough to form coherent words. The effect of his venomous glare was offset by his extremely undignified position on the floor.
Ran Shuuei simply gave one of his damnable smirks and reprimanded, “Now, is that how you should treat someone who goes out of their way to escort you back? You would probably be stuck here the entire night trying to find your way out of this building without me.”
Grumbling under his breath about generals who meddled entirely too much for their own good and how he would prefer to be stuck here than in his company, Kouyuu turned back to his work.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Reishin?” A very familiar voice intruded into his thoughts. It seemed that he had - unintentionally, of course - come across the palace archives in his wanderings. “Would you like to join me for tea?” Shouka called through the open door.
All else fled in the face of being addressed by his brother. “Ani-eu!” Throwing open his arms, Reishin rushed inside with sparkling eyes and a genuine smile. Seating himself at the small table across from Shouka, he asked eagerly, “Did Shuurei-chan brew this tea?”
“No, I am afraid that my own meagre skills will have to suffice.”
Though disappointed that he would not be able to taste the great tea making skills of his beloved niece, he soon brightened. “Since ani-eu brewed the tea, then I will surely enjoy it. How is Shuurei-chan?” Shuurei-chan…Reishin froze for a second and turned his face away, eyes widening as he was struck by an Idea. Briefly, he struggled with the notion of sharing his precious niece with anyone, before he realised that since she was marrying within the family, she would still live in the Kou household, where he would be able to see her often… So great was his preoccupation with his thoughts that he only caught the end of Shouka’s reply.
“…is a little relieved that Ryuuki seems to respect the boundaries she has set.”
Once again all smiles as he turned to face his brother and eager to share his recent genius, Reishin said, “Let’s betroth Shuurei-chan to Kouyuu!” Then my darling Shuurei-chan will not have to deal with that pesky Emperor anymore, and the boy can concentrate on his work without wasting time hiding from ridiculous marriage proposals. And of course his intentions were entirely altruistic and had nothing to do with keeping his niece to himself.
Shouka merely smiled gently. “If Shuurei agrees, then I would have no objection to it.”
If possible, Reishin’s smile grew ten times brighter. “Ani-eu is the best!” He rose in a flurry of robes. “I’ll see to the arrangements immediately.”
Stepping carefully through the open entrance, Seiran gazed after the rapidly retreating figure in some puzzlement. “Shouka-sama. Ojou-sama sent me with these for you.” He set the tray of manjuu buns carefully on the table next to the tea.
“Ah, thankyou Seiran. Please, feel free to take one. Tea?”
There was the briefest hesitation as his hand froze on a chosen manjuu. “Um…no, I am fine, Shouka-sama. If I might inquire, what were you and Reishin-sama discussing about ojou-sama?”
Pouring himself another cup of tea, Shouka replied absently, “Oh, just Shuurei’s betrothal to Kouyuu.”
Seiran promptly choked on the bite he had just taken.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ryuuki just happened to be crouched by the corner of the corridor clutching a bunch of roses and was not at all thinking about sneaking away to see Shuurei (and probably would have succeeded had he not been leaving a trail of rose petals) when Reishin unexpectedly wandered into that very hallway. Quickly scrambling to an upright position, Ryuuki tried to be dignified - or as dignified as one could look in crumpled robes and an expression reminiscent of a child caught sneaking extra sweets from the kitchens. As naturally as he could, Ryuuki tried to hide the roses behind his back. The decidedly smug expression on Reishin’s face - evident even with half of it covered by that ever-present fan of his - gave him a deeply unsettled feeling.
“Why, Your Majesty. What a surprise to see you here.”
“Indeed,” Ryuuki replied uncomfortably.
“You were not, by any chance, abandoning your work to visit Shuurei-chan, were you?”
Feeling caught in the game between a tiger and its prey - in which he was not the tiger, Ryuuki stumbled in his answer. “Uh…n-no, of course not.”
“But what a neglectful friend you are. I would have thought that surely you would have wanted to offer Shuurei-chan your congratulations personally.”
“Congratulations?” Confusion was evident in his voice.
“On her betrothal, of course!” announced Reishin with the air of a satisfied cat.
“Betrothal?” Ryuuki echoed weakly. He decided that people should not be allowed to smile that way.
“Yes, isn’t it wonderful, Your Majesty?”
“Wha-whe-who-” he spluttered, totally bewildered.
“There you are!” Kouyuu strode down the corridor, a murderous expression on his face. “Must you try to sneak away every time my back is turned, Your Majesty? You know that you have -” his harangue cut off abruptly when he caught sight of who Ryuuki had been speaking with. “Reishin-sama! I’m extremely sorry, but I must escort the Emperor back to his rooms.” Saying so, he started walking back, practically dragging Ryuuki along behind him.
“The answer to your question just appeared, Your Majesty,” Reishin called after him.
If Reishin had been the type to whistle, a merry tune would have passed his lips as he continued on his way.
If Kouyuu had looked back, he would have had very good reason to be afraid of the expression on Ryuuki’s face.
~*~*~*~*~*~
All afternoon, Shuurei had had officials coming up her and offering congratulations. She had been too busy to enquire what exactly they were congratulating her on, but now, having promised Seiran (who, once she thought about it, had also been acting very strangely) that she would indeed take a short break, she puzzled over the matter in her mind as she walked towards the gardens - and stopped short.
“Your Majesty, cease…this foolishness…right now!”
“Get back here!” Kouyuu barely managed to evade Ryuuki’s grasp, twisting around the trunk of a tree.
“Might I remind you that…your work…is still untouched? I do not know what…I have done to…merit this treatment…but I am sure we can…discuss it in a calm…rational…manner!” Kouyuu’s delivery would have been more effective had he not been out of breath.
Ryuuki just glared at him balefully. He needed to find out - His mood changed with lightning speed when he caught sight of the slight figure standing at the edge of the gardens.
“SHUUUUUUREEEIIIIII!” the force of his greeting almost knocked them both over as he threw his arms around her and hugged her close. “Tell me why you’re marrying him! Why are you abandoning me? Is it because I’m not responsible enough? I will work harder, really I will. Just don’t treat me in such a cruel way… Shuurei, why aren’t you answering me?” Ryuuki wailed.
Having finally managed to wriggle free a little, Shuurei gasped for air. “WHO CAN ANSWER YOU WHEN THEY’RE BEING SMOTHERED HALF TO DEATH?” she bit out.
Sheepishly, Ryuuki loosened his grasp, but did not let her go entirely.
“And just who am I supposed to be marrying?” She recalled the offers of congratulations…
Accusingly, Ryuuki point his finger at Kouyuu.
Shuurei and Kouyuu stared at him. The silence stretched. And stretched. And stretched. They glanced at each other. They turned back to Ryuuki.
“We’re WHAT?!”
~*~*~*~*~*~
“No, no, no, no, no! That simply will not do!” Waving his fan around for emphasis, Reishin dismissed the sample held out to him.
“But Kou-shousho, that is the tenth design that you have turned away in the past half hour.”
Looking disdainfully at the lowly being who dared to contradict him, Reishin remarked acidly, “And it just highlights how many times your incompetence has made itself known in the past half hour.” It was for his perfect niece, after all, so nothing less than perfect was acceptable.
Leaning back in his chair once they had scurried away to prepare another wedding design for him to look at, Reishin sighed and went back to happily contemplating the ceremony he was putting together.
It did not occur to him that he had yet to inform the two main individuals involved of his plans.
Title: Betrothal
Pairing/Characters: Reishin, Kouyuu, Shuurei, Seiran, Shouka, Ryuuki, Shuuei
Rating: G
Summary: Reishin has an Idea. Chaos ensues.
Reishin absently tapped his closed fan against his chin as he strolled leisurely through one of the many palace walkways, oblivious to his surroundings. Kouyuu had seemed out of sorts - or more out of sorts than usual - when he had last spoken with his foster son. Not that he particularly cared about the Kouyuu’s problems, he hastily qualified in his mind. Far better that the boy stand on his own feet (even if walking on his own without getting lost was beyond him). No, Reishin was merely annoyed that the problem seemed to be distracting Kouyuu from his work, which simply would not do.
A satisfactory nod accompanied that explanation. Yes, the boy’s work was decidedly suffering (even though he had not had a chance to examine said work). After all, how could he have done any quality work when he disappeared from his desk at hours at a time? Here, Reishin conveniently ignored the fact that he himself was currently doing the same thing. It was the boy’s fault, anyway. How could he, the Senior Secretary of Civil Affairs, be expected to concentrate when a certain advisor to the Emperor did not have the good sense to stay in one place long enough for his foster father to find him and… inquire what fix the boy had gotten himself into this time?
Working himself into a foul mood, Reishin did not notice how all the other officials and servants in sight scrambled out of his way, unwilling to find out about the most recent person who had raised the ire of the formidable Kou-shousho.
A familiar shade of blue caused Reishin to pause momentarily. A decidedly disturbing smile crept onto his expression. Yes, the Ran boy would know.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Kouyuu nearly suffered a heart attack when the door to the room - the small, dusty, rarely used room in which he had hoped no one would find him - was thrust open brashly. As it was, his startled jump brought the haphazardly stacked pile of scrolls and books next to him crashing down.
“What are you doing here?” were his first words when he had recovered enough to form coherent words. The effect of his venomous glare was offset by his extremely undignified position on the floor.
Ran Shuuei simply gave one of his damnable smirks and reprimanded, “Now, is that how you should treat someone who goes out of their way to escort you back? You would probably be stuck here the entire night trying to find your way out of this building without me.”
Grumbling under his breath about generals who meddled entirely too much for their own good and how he would prefer to be stuck here than in his company, Kouyuu turned back to his work.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Reishin?” A very familiar voice intruded into his thoughts. It seemed that he had - unintentionally, of course - come across the palace archives in his wanderings. “Would you like to join me for tea?” Shouka called through the open door.
All else fled in the face of being addressed by his brother. “Ani-eu!” Throwing open his arms, Reishin rushed inside with sparkling eyes and a genuine smile. Seating himself at the small table across from Shouka, he asked eagerly, “Did Shuurei-chan brew this tea?”
“No, I am afraid that my own meagre skills will have to suffice.”
Though disappointed that he would not be able to taste the great tea making skills of his beloved niece, he soon brightened. “Since ani-eu brewed the tea, then I will surely enjoy it. How is Shuurei-chan?” Shuurei-chan…Reishin froze for a second and turned his face away, eyes widening as he was struck by an Idea. Briefly, he struggled with the notion of sharing his precious niece with anyone, before he realised that since she was marrying within the family, she would still live in the Kou household, where he would be able to see her often… So great was his preoccupation with his thoughts that he only caught the end of Shouka’s reply.
“…is a little relieved that Ryuuki seems to respect the boundaries she has set.”
Once again all smiles as he turned to face his brother and eager to share his recent genius, Reishin said, “Let’s betroth Shuurei-chan to Kouyuu!” Then my darling Shuurei-chan will not have to deal with that pesky Emperor anymore, and the boy can concentrate on his work without wasting time hiding from ridiculous marriage proposals. And of course his intentions were entirely altruistic and had nothing to do with keeping his niece to himself.
Shouka merely smiled gently. “If Shuurei agrees, then I would have no objection to it.”
If possible, Reishin’s smile grew ten times brighter. “Ani-eu is the best!” He rose in a flurry of robes. “I’ll see to the arrangements immediately.”
Stepping carefully through the open entrance, Seiran gazed after the rapidly retreating figure in some puzzlement. “Shouka-sama. Ojou-sama sent me with these for you.” He set the tray of manjuu buns carefully on the table next to the tea.
“Ah, thankyou Seiran. Please, feel free to take one. Tea?”
There was the briefest hesitation as his hand froze on a chosen manjuu. “Um…no, I am fine, Shouka-sama. If I might inquire, what were you and Reishin-sama discussing about ojou-sama?”
Pouring himself another cup of tea, Shouka replied absently, “Oh, just Shuurei’s betrothal to Kouyuu.”
Seiran promptly choked on the bite he had just taken.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ryuuki just happened to be crouched by the corner of the corridor clutching a bunch of roses and was not at all thinking about sneaking away to see Shuurei (and probably would have succeeded had he not been leaving a trail of rose petals) when Reishin unexpectedly wandered into that very hallway. Quickly scrambling to an upright position, Ryuuki tried to be dignified - or as dignified as one could look in crumpled robes and an expression reminiscent of a child caught sneaking extra sweets from the kitchens. As naturally as he could, Ryuuki tried to hide the roses behind his back. The decidedly smug expression on Reishin’s face - evident even with half of it covered by that ever-present fan of his - gave him a deeply unsettled feeling.
“Why, Your Majesty. What a surprise to see you here.”
“Indeed,” Ryuuki replied uncomfortably.
“You were not, by any chance, abandoning your work to visit Shuurei-chan, were you?”
Feeling caught in the game between a tiger and its prey - in which he was not the tiger, Ryuuki stumbled in his answer. “Uh…n-no, of course not.”
“But what a neglectful friend you are. I would have thought that surely you would have wanted to offer Shuurei-chan your congratulations personally.”
“Congratulations?” Confusion was evident in his voice.
“On her betrothal, of course!” announced Reishin with the air of a satisfied cat.
“Betrothal?” Ryuuki echoed weakly. He decided that people should not be allowed to smile that way.
“Yes, isn’t it wonderful, Your Majesty?”
“Wha-whe-who-” he spluttered, totally bewildered.
“There you are!” Kouyuu strode down the corridor, a murderous expression on his face. “Must you try to sneak away every time my back is turned, Your Majesty? You know that you have -” his harangue cut off abruptly when he caught sight of who Ryuuki had been speaking with. “Reishin-sama! I’m extremely sorry, but I must escort the Emperor back to his rooms.” Saying so, he started walking back, practically dragging Ryuuki along behind him.
“The answer to your question just appeared, Your Majesty,” Reishin called after him.
If Reishin had been the type to whistle, a merry tune would have passed his lips as he continued on his way.
If Kouyuu had looked back, he would have had very good reason to be afraid of the expression on Ryuuki’s face.
~*~*~*~*~*~
All afternoon, Shuurei had had officials coming up her and offering congratulations. She had been too busy to enquire what exactly they were congratulating her on, but now, having promised Seiran (who, once she thought about it, had also been acting very strangely) that she would indeed take a short break, she puzzled over the matter in her mind as she walked towards the gardens - and stopped short.
“Your Majesty, cease…this foolishness…right now!”
“Get back here!” Kouyuu barely managed to evade Ryuuki’s grasp, twisting around the trunk of a tree.
“Might I remind you that…your work…is still untouched? I do not know what…I have done to…merit this treatment…but I am sure we can…discuss it in a calm…rational…manner!” Kouyuu’s delivery would have been more effective had he not been out of breath.
Ryuuki just glared at him balefully. He needed to find out - His mood changed with lightning speed when he caught sight of the slight figure standing at the edge of the gardens.
“SHUUUUUUREEEIIIIII!” the force of his greeting almost knocked them both over as he threw his arms around her and hugged her close. “Tell me why you’re marrying him! Why are you abandoning me? Is it because I’m not responsible enough? I will work harder, really I will. Just don’t treat me in such a cruel way… Shuurei, why aren’t you answering me?” Ryuuki wailed.
Having finally managed to wriggle free a little, Shuurei gasped for air. “WHO CAN ANSWER YOU WHEN THEY’RE BEING SMOTHERED HALF TO DEATH?” she bit out.
Sheepishly, Ryuuki loosened his grasp, but did not let her go entirely.
“And just who am I supposed to be marrying?” She recalled the offers of congratulations…
Accusingly, Ryuuki point his finger at Kouyuu.
Shuurei and Kouyuu stared at him. The silence stretched. And stretched. And stretched. They glanced at each other. They turned back to Ryuuki.
“We’re WHAT?!”
~*~*~*~*~*~
“No, no, no, no, no! That simply will not do!” Waving his fan around for emphasis, Reishin dismissed the sample held out to him.
“But Kou-shousho, that is the tenth design that you have turned away in the past half hour.”
Looking disdainfully at the lowly being who dared to contradict him, Reishin remarked acidly, “And it just highlights how many times your incompetence has made itself known in the past half hour.” It was for his perfect niece, after all, so nothing less than perfect was acceptable.
Leaning back in his chair once they had scurried away to prepare another wedding design for him to look at, Reishin sighed and went back to happily contemplating the ceremony he was putting together.
It did not occur to him that he had yet to inform the two main individuals involved of his plans.