I need to upload a SaiMono icon (for my SaiMono fic updates). ^_^
Story Title: Sweetest Dreams
Chapter: 05
Author: Moor (or ‘beyondthemoor’ from LJ)
Length: approx. words
Genre: General/Comedy/PWP
Rating: I’ll say T
Fandom: Saiunkoku Monogatari
Summary:A sequel to “Manjuu Magic.” Shuurei x Kijin, Shuurei x Ryuuki.
Disclaimer: I have no ownership of “Saiunkoku Monogatari”.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER! I am making this story slight-AU in its timeline : In this story, Shuurei had her job at Kijin’s department prior to taking her position in the harem. (Please, go with it?)
AN: I hope you enjoy this sequel, thank you for reading!
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It was very early morning, and the emperor had left at dawn this morning to prepare for an early meeting. As soon as she'd heard him leave, she'd stealthily left her apartments and started phase one of her plan.
Her imperial finery was bundled together securely inside a large, ornate vase in one of the dozens of unused rooms in the palace; her hair was tied up securely in a bun under her head wrap; and she now sported comfortable, if slightly loose-fitting trousers under her tunic. Not a speck of make-up was left on her face. A quick glance in a reflective window bolstered her confidence.
Yosh! She mentally congratulated herself, and felt her arms thrum with determination.
'Kou Shuu' was back in action.
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Ko Kijin looked down at obviously-Consort-Kou-in-dress-up standing erectly in front of his desk.
“Yes, I remember, you were very helpful during the heatwave,” he held a book of the capital's municipal balances in his hand and went back to reading the values and making tallies in his head, pretending to ignore her presence.
“Thank you, I feel very fortunate to have left such a good impression,” she replied, and held her shoulders straight. She was about to make her move, and he had to admit he was curious as to why she would venture out of the harem incognito...
His new 'assignment' from his Highness, however, left him little time for chitchat, and admittedly suspicious.
“Is there something I can do for you?” he asked rather bluntly, and set the books down on his desk.
She nodded, her eyes bright and focused.
“Yes. I'd like a job,” her voice was just as blunt as his own had been, and she took a step forward in earnestness. “I'm capable and very good with figures. I learn quickly, and I'm very reliable. Please hire me.”
The notion that the Emperor may have tricked his Consort into spying on him briefly flitted through Kijin's mind, however he brushed it away - the young woman before him was clever enough to find work anywhere; it was only because she was a woman that she was limited. By the same token, however, while it was true she could work anywhere, it was also true she would only work for a straightforward superior. Kou Shuurei would never work for someone she didn't respect.
“We're fully-staffed right now for our usual workload,” he said as he considered her offer.
The young woman's face didn't falter. “Please give me a chance; I will do any work you have available,” she insisted, hands straight at her side.
Through the slits in his mask he took a good, long look at her. She wasn't doing this without reason. It was obvious she had an agenda of some sort - but equally obvious it was her own, and not related to him. He could tell by the way she met his eyes (or, rather, where she probably assumed his eyes were... the mask was a bit deceptive.)
And the Emperor just dropped that ridiculous audit in my lap, he reasoned, warming up to the idea of having an untainted apprentice / assistant to help him. One who'd be available any time he needed her...
“Any work?” his voice was even.
She nodded curtly. “Yes.”
“Will you be available for an extended project?”
She nodded again, decisively. “Yes, I am available whenever you need assistance, and am not afraid of hard work.”
He already knew that, but it was encouraging to hear her say it. Still, she was a woman and it would cause trouble among the others if she were to be found out.
He shook his head. “Unfortunately, as I said, we aren't looking for any new employees in this department right now. If you check with another area, you may find--”
“Please take me! I'll do my best!”
Her ill-fitting clothes trembled slightly with the force of her determination, and her hands had curled into hard little fists. Somewhere deep within Kijin stirred the memory of a young woman who'd been terrified of something and had stayed to work despite it - and ended up in his arms, her head buried in his chest, and those same little fists digging into his robes. She probably was one of the most capable young people he'd worked with...
Also, it would give him something to hold over Reishin.
Beneath his mask, Kijin smiled to himself as he came around to the idea.
It was his turn to nod slightly at her. “Then you will start immediately, and from now on you will report here directly to me. You will work here for one week. We will see after that if you will continue.”
Her eyes shone gold with elation and triumph. “Yes! Right away! Thank you.” She bowed low, and held her fist in her hand as a sign of gratitude.
“This way,” he led her towards the stack of records that he'd been organizing. “I'll explain what I need you to do...”
He had to stifle a sigh -or a laugh - when she nearly hopped to attention to follow him.
In the back of his mind, he wondered how best to break it to Reishin his beloved niece had thrown herself at him. Twice.
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Advisor Kijin had kept her at his side until lunch, then until supper, then past ten o'clock that night.
“Be here at 5am, before the others arrive,” he ordered as he locked the doors to the Treasury and Finance department and turned to leave.
She had barely been able to keep her eyes open, but had nodded and bowed in open gratitude once more for his generosity.
Shuurei watched him leave before turning back towards the harem to look for the room where she'd hidden her clothes, her head a jumble of newly learned facts and procedures, and her arms exhausted from carrying so many piles of heavy scrolls and books.
Please let him sleep in his own chambers tonight, she begged the spirits that be as she made her way back to her apartments.
(Bear in mind, these were the same spirits who'd thought it would be amusing to give the Emperor the ability to spontaneously ignite boiling water when he made his first attempts at cooking manjuu...)
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“Late!” he called accusingly as soon as she stepped through the door. “You're late! We were about to call the guards to go and find you!”
“By 'guards' you mean send Seiran?” she asked tiredly, though good-naturedly. She'd never admit it, but she'd become accustomed to his occasional tantrums - it was his way of showing he cared.
The handsome young man blushed a bit, but refused to back down. “He would know where to find you,” he gave in guise of explanation. It was true, of course.
“I'm just going to go get ready to sleep; I'll meet you in bed, your Highness.”
“Ryuuki!” he called after her as she stepped behind her screen.
“So noisy,” she mumbled, but smiled as she pulled on her sleeping robe. She hid the men's garments in her laundry basket and returned to curl into bed for the night. Her 'husband' had removed all elements she may have tried to use as a barrier between them. She sighed and lay down, defeated.
As she'd expected, Ryuuki settled his arm around her like a warm vice, just to make sure she stayed put.
She wasn't sure what to expect in the morning with Advisor Kijin, but she knew she had to get rid of Ryuuki before she snuck out again before dawn if she wanted to avoid an inquisition...
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AN: This is the rough draft for “SD”. I'll be fine-tuning it a bit later. Concrit welcome! :D
AN: Yes, I know, short and needs work (which is a more polite way of saying 'quick & dirty'), but I had to write SOMETHING! *was getting desperate* ^^;;;