I'M ALIVE!!  And here is Ch. 11. Please enjoy.

Raye
_____________

Starlit Reflections

by Raye Johnsen
raye_j@yahoo.com

*****
Fushigi Yuugi is copyright Watase Yuu, Flower Comics,
Studio Perriot, Pioneer Entertainment and Viz
Communications.  This fanfic is for personal
entertainment only and not for profit in any way.  If
there was any, Tasuki would probably insist on a
donation to his next pub crawl.

Previous chapters may be found at
http://www.thejohnsens.com/sr.html .
*****

Chapter Eleven: Tea and Wisdom


	Waking up, Yui blinked.  This was not her bedroom. 
Her bedroom didn't have a swirling fresco in shades of
blue painted on the ceiling. 

	She drew in a deep breath as the events of the day
before tumbeld over her.  The strange blue light...
waking on the street... the street roughs... the
strange boy with the spinning balls....

	"Oh, you're awake."

	Yui sat up and immediately regretted it.  Her head
throbbed painfully, but she still managed to look at
the young woman who had been sitting beside the bed. 
She had long red hair tied in a braid over her
shoulder, and wore a black and white dress with gold,
blue and red embroidery.  Yui frowned at the row of
red pompoms that were sewn onto the dress, curving
over the woman's slender shoulders.  They seemed very
anachronistic for some reason.

	"Are you feeling better now?" the woman continued,
her clear grey eyes concentrated upon Yui.

	"Um... yes," Yui replied.  "I'm... um... where am I?"

	The young woman smiled, the expression lightening her
face.  Yui stared, amazed at how she suddely changed
from a very attractive woman to a breathtakingly
beautiful one.  "You're in the Temple of Seiryuu in
the city of Xi'entu."  The woman's lips quirked.  "And
I don't suppose that means very much to you either."

	Yui shook her head.  "Seiryuu... the boy who saved me
- he said I was Seiryuu's priestess.  But I'm not a
priestess - I'm not religious!  I don't even buy good
luck charms for exams!"

	"That's all right - neither are most of the people of
Koutou," the woman said reassuringly.  "It's all
right.  You have time, and you're safe now; you can
relax, and figure it all out for yourself."

	Yui put her hand to her head.  "Thank you," she said
faintly.

	"A headache?" the woman said sympathetically. 
"That's not surprising.  Why don't you go back to your
nap and sleep a little more?  We'll wake you for
dinner, and you'll probably have more questions then."

	Yui smiled at her.  "Thank you very much," she said
softly, and lay down again with her eyes shut.

	She was drifting off when she heard the door open,
and a young male voice say, "Elder sister Soi?"

	"It's all right to come in, Suboshi," she heard the
woman say.  "She's asleep."

	"She's all right?" the boy - Suboshi - asked.  "She's
not - hurt?"

	The woman - Soi - chuckled.  "No, you got there in
time.  But you were right.  She's definitely our
Priestess."

	Suboshi paused, and then spoke in a firm tone. 
"You've been here for hours.  I can watch her for a
little while."

	Yui could hear the smile in Soi's voice.  "It's not
very interesting, Suboshi.  She's a quiet sleeper. 
I've been using the time to catch up on my mending."

	"And how many pints have you offered to the needle
this time, Elder Sister?" Suboshi's voice was warm
with humour.

	"Hush, you.  I'm getting better with practice."

	"I'll take you at your word.  I need to practice,
myself."

	"Ahh...."

	But Yui didn't hear any more, for at this point she
fell asleep. 

*****

	".... My Lady?"

	Yui blinked, and absent-mindedly smiled as the blur
of colours above her resolved into the face of the boy
who'd saved her.  "Hmmm?"

	He blushed, and smiled shyly back at her.  "My Lady,
it's time for dinner."

	"Please don't call me that; my name is Yui," she said
absently, sitting up.

	"That's right, we never did introduce ourselves," Soi
said.  Yui turned her face to see where the woman now
sat in a chair between her bed and the door.  "I am
Haku Kaen, Seiryuu Shichiseishi Soi; and that young
man is Shunkaku, Seiryuu Shichiseishi Suboshi."

	"Suboshi... Soi... Soiboshi," Yui said thoughtfully. 
"Those are the names of two of the Moon Inns of the
Southern Quadrant."

	"Yes," Suboshi said,  "We are two of the Seven
Shichiseishi of Seiryuu, born to protect the Priestess
of Seiryuu until she summons Seiryuu... well, she has
to know!" he added in an aggrieved tone, responding to
Soi's frown.  "You know what Tomo's like - if he
thinks she doesn't know, who *knows* what he'll tell
her!"

	Yui frowned.  /This is exactly like what happened to
Miaka!/ she thought suddenly.  "I think that I need to
know more," she said slowly.  "Can you tell me more
over dinner?"

	"We all will," Soi said.  "You will be meeting the
other two Shichiseishi over dinner, and I'm sure that
there are things you will want to ask them."

*****

	Lau Rokou smiled at his guest over the tea cups.  She
dropped her eyes demurely, as befitted a young,
unmarried maiden.  The gleam in them before she
discreetly veiled them, however, reminded him that she
had quietly and efficiently engineered this almost
entirely private meeting.

	"Have I told you yet how happy I am to see you, Ren
Ying?"  he asked quietly.

	"You may say it again, if you wish," his fiancee
replied, with a mischievious smile and a glance at the
shop, where her maid exclaimed over the fine
materials.  "It will give me an excuse to reply, 'I
love you too, Rokou'."

	He pretended hurt.  "You need an excuse?"

	"Don't you know?  No girl can say it first.  We
aren't allowed."

	"That's silly," he said. 

	She lifted an eyebrow.  "I know, but I didn't make up
the rules.  I only play by them."

	Rokou blinked and cast a pointed glance at the rain
that forced Ren Ying and her maid to remain at the
shop, that young lady having 'forgotten' to order her
umbrella that morning.  "Yes, you do - when it suits
you to do so," he commented mildly.

	Ren Ying lifted her cup to her lips.  Having sipped
the honeysuckle-flavoured tea, she replied, equally
mildly, "I'm so glad our parents betrothed us.  An
intelligent husband is to be treasured."

	"And an intelligent wife is to be watched," he
bantered back.

	"So long as the view does not displease, I pray you
will watch as much as you care to," she returned.

	He laughed.  "I will, my lady," he promised.  "Oh, I
most certainly will."

	The door opened then, drawing their eyes to the door.
 A young man stood there, dressed in white and red
silks.  His brown boots were spotted with mud, and the
end of his long brown ponytail was wet from the rain. 
He paused, eyes widening as he took in Ren Ying and
her maid.

	Rokou rescued him.  "Lord Sai!  You didn't send word
that you were coming!  Please, sit down, and permit me
to introduce you to my fiancee, Zhao Ren Ying.  Ren
Ying," he added, turning to that lady, "this is Lord
Sai, Ryuuen's best friend."

	Ren Ying bent in a dignified bow.  "It is always an
honour to meet a member of the court," she replied. 
"But it is infinitely finer to meet one of Ryuuen's
friends."  Her eyes flickered between Hotohori's
strained face and pleading eyes, Rokou's concerned
expression, and the street.  "I would that we might
continue this conversation," she added, rising, "but I
see that the rain is clearing.  Thank you for your
kindness and hospitality at my unexpected arrival,
Rokou."

	"You cannot leave so soon, Ren Ying," Rokou
protested.  "You have barely arrived!"

	She smiled at this.  "I agree, but still, I cannot
stay," she answered, gesturing to her maid and
allowing the girl to settle her wrap about her
shoulders.  She bowed again to Hotohori.  "I am very
glad to meet you, and I will be honoured by our next
meeting."

	Both men watched as she left the shop.

	"Your fiancee is frighteningly sharp," Hotohori
finally said.  "I could almost think she recognised
me."

	"She did," Rokou replied.  

	"She *did*?"

	"She's one of Kourin's friends, and it's well-known
in our circle that the Emperor is Ryuuen's closest
friend."

	Hotohori's eyes narrowed.  "Her name is Houki."

	Rokou blinked sharply, and then smiled slowly.  "Ah. 
So now you know."

	Hotohori suddenly looked unsure.  "I came
because...."  His voice trailed off.

	Rokou took a clean teacup off the tray, neatly poured
tea into it, scattered in a few plum blossoms, and
handed it to Hotohori.

	"Thank you," Hotohori murmured, and took a sip. 
Setting down the cup, he finally said, "How do you
cope?"

	Rokou did not pretend to misunderstand.  "It does get
easier," he said thoughtfully.  "You just have to keep
remembering that there hasn't been any real change. 
Houki has always *been* Ryuuen.  The only thing that's
different is that now you know Houki is there, behind
Ryuuen."

	Hotohori took another sip, and then said, too-calmly,
"My advisors believe I am considering Chou Houki as a
candidate for my Empress."

	"Are you?" Rokou asked.

	"There would be problems.  By custom, a daughter of a
commoner cannot be any more than an Imperial Wife. 
But legally, I may declare any of my wives Empress. 
And it would be convenient," Hotohori said, watching
Rokou over the edge of the teacup.

	Rokou sipped pensively at his own cup.

	The silence stretched out between them.  Then,
Hotohori burst out, "You're determined not to make
this easy for me, aren't you?"

	Setting down his cup carefully, so it made no sound
against the saucer, Rokou stared at Hotohori.  "You
didn't come here to ask my opinion."

	"Yes, I did!" the young Emperor declared.  "I need to
know what you think of my courting your sister."

	"Do you intend to keep your promise?" Rokou demanded.

	"Of course."

	"Then you have answered your own question."

	Just then the door to the shop opened, and a bright
voice sang out, "Elder Brother!  How are you?  I...."

	Rokou and Hotohori turned to face Nuriko, who was
standing in the doorway, mouth open and arms akimbo. 
Behind her, the rain continued to fall, a steady flow
from heaven to earth.

	"Do come in and close the door," Rokou said mildly.

	Nuriko shut the door to the shop behind her, but
didn't come closer to the two men.  "You're here," she
said blankly.  "Why are you *here*?"

	"I felt like talking with Sir Lau," Hotohori replied
defensively.  "Why do you ask?"

	"I - I - never mind," she replied.  "May I have some
tea, Elder Brother?"

	"Indeed you may, Younger Sister," Rokou replied, then
paused and said, "I've been wanting to say that for
the longest time!"

	Nuriko giggled and replied, "I've been wanting to
*hear* it for the longest time!"

	Hotohori blinked and said, "But surely you've been
saying it to each other when you're alone?"

	Both siblings exchanged a look.  "There's the point,"
Rokou replied, a rueful note in his voice.  "'When
we're alone'.  You of all people must know how hard it
is for a person of wealth or birth to *be* alone,
without servants around."

	The Emperor closed his eyes, acknowledging the
respectfully-phrased rebuke.  "I had not realized that
you shared this - honour," he replied, a twist of his
lips giving the last word an entirely different
meaning.

	"I would not expect you to," Nuriko replied.  "I
didn't expect to interrupt a private conversation,
either," she continued ruefully.

	"It wasn't private," Hotohori assured her.  "Miss
Zhao was here for the first part of it-"

	"Ren Ying was *here*?" Nuriko pounced on this scrap
of information.  "How was she?  How did she get away
from the old dragon?  How are the wedding plans going?
 She's moving in here still?  So *that's* why you have
the good alabaster tea set out!"

	"She's fine, she told her duenna she was going
shopping this morning and then 'forgot' her umbrella,
the plans are still proceeding according to schedule,
we're still planning on living here, and I should
*hope* I would not serve my fiancee with *pottery*!"

	"You know Miss Zhao?" Hotohori asked.

	Nuriko grinned.  "She was the only one of Kourin's
friends who could pick when it was Kourin or when it
was me impersonating Kourin *every* time.  We usually
managed to fool everybody else.  Ren Ying has a very
twisted sense of humour, too.  If there was a third
person around who hadn't realized it was me, she'd
play along, but make comments that had two meanings -
one for our friend and one for me.  I'd be sitting
there suppressing laughter while *she* blinked
innocently at me and our friend was wondering why Miss
Kourin was suddenly so quiet."

	"That sounds like Ren Ying," Rokou said with a sigh. 
"I wonder if it's too late to run away?"

	"Oh, yes, far too late," Nuriko assured him blithely.
 "I'll have to be sure to tell Kourin you saw her."

	"I'm a little surprised that you're here," Hotohori
said to her.  "I didn't think that you'd leave the
Palace on a day like today."

	"Any more than you would, Lord Hoto-"

	"Lord *Sai*," Rokou interrupted.

	Both guests turned to look at him.  "I beg your
pardon?" Nuriko asked.

	"In this house, he is Lord Sai," Rokou said.  With a
smile, he continued, directing his words to Hotohori,
but including Nuriko. "There must be a place where you
are neither ruled by your rank nor dominated by your
destiny.  I volunteer this house.  Here you will be
Houki's friend, the Lord Sai, and nobody else."

	Nuriko grinned.  "Very well then, Lord Sai," she
said.  "I came down because, well, because I recently
learned that brothers are important.  Even annoying
know-it-all older brothers who insist on giving
unnecessary advice," she added, tossing a guileless
smile at ther older brother.

	"More of Lady Uruki's wisdom?" Hotohori asked.

	Nuriko had just taken a sip of tea, so she contented
herself with nodding.

	"Lady Uruki?" Rokou asked.  "I've never heard you
mention her before... who is she?"

	Nuriko's face fell.  She set her teacup down and
folded her hands in her lap.  "Princess Mei Ling of
Hokkan, Shichiseishi Lady Uruki of Genbu, *was* a
noblewoman who lived about two hundred years ago," she
told her hands.  "She wrote a diary during the
gathering of the Shichiseishi of Genbu and the
summoning of Genbu.  She was... very young, only
sixteen.  She... died in the performance of her
Shichiseishi duty.  I recently read her diary.  It
was... enlightening.  About a lot of things."

	"And she won't let *me* read it," Hotohori mourned
theatrically, in an attempt to break the mood.

	It worked.  Nuriko lifted her face - admittedly, only
so she could tilt her eyebrows at him, but still - and
gave him her famous 'You have *got* to be joking'
look.  "Lady Uruki wrote her diary for *me*," she
muttered mulishly.  "I've told you what was in it. 
You read the letter she wrote to me at the beginning. 
She asked me not to share the diary."

	Hotohori sighed.  "I know," he said, and turned to
Rokou.  "But it's still annoying!"

	"So I see," Rokou agreed.  Lowering his voice
conspiratorily, he said to Hotohori, "A good tactic is
to say 'All right,' and totally drop the subject.  She
can't resist telling you then."

	"Really?" Hotohori said interestedly.  "All right
then."

	"ELDER BROTHER!" Nuriko shouted, half exasperated and
half laughing.  "I'm *right here*!"

	Rokou blinked.  "Why, so you are," he said mildly. 
"How's the tea?"

	Hotohori burst out laughing.

*****

	Lord Yukino had many concerns.

	As the Prime Minister of Konan, he had to sort out
which concerns went where.  He had to administer the
large bureaucracy that ran much of the Empire, he had
to keep the noblemen of the Court in line, and he was
responsible for the upbringing and training of the
Emperor.

	The currently missing Emperor.

	As Lord Nuriko was also nowhere to be found, he had
little doubt that the two of them would return, sound
of body and flushed with the guilty pleasure of a
stolen afternoon.  He might even be able to use it to
nail the boy to that throne for the next couple of
days.

	It wasn't that he begrudged the Emperor the time off.
 Divine Lord Suzaku knew the boy worked for it.  It
wasn't that he disapproved of Lord Nuriko.  The boy
was more loyal and honourable than men born to the
highest levels of the Court.  And it wasn't that the
relationship was improper.  If anything, the way the
two of them acted around each other was too sweet for
words.

	It was just that they had slipped off for an
afternoon together, and there were no Imperial Wives
in the seraglio.  There weren't even any expectant
concubines.

	If the Emperor would just get one of the girls
pregnant, then he could have Lord Nuriko in his
bedchamber every night.  He, Yukino, would lock the
door behind them himself - if the boy would just make
sure there was an heir first.  

	That was why he was so interested in this Lady Houki.
 Apparently Lord Nuriko had two sisters, not one; Lady
Houki seemed to prefer to remain privately secluded,
and did not spend much time around the rest of the
harem.  Intelligent girl.  If the Emperor wedded and
bedded her, then the problem would be solved
completely.

	The problem lay in that little word 'if'.  Lord
Yukino was determined that it would become 'when', and
that 'when' would become 'soon'.  'Tomorrow' would be
good.

	A soft step on the verandah behind him warned him. 
He whirled to see the Emperor trying to walk quietly
past him to his private chambers.

	"My Lord Emperor."

	At that flat statement, Hotohori jumped and turned
around slowly.  "Lord Yukino.  I did not see you."

	Lord Yukino sighed.  "You were with Lord Nuriko,
weren't you."  It wasn't a question.

	"There wasn't any Court today."

	The advisor frowned.  "I had *hoped* to arrange for
you to take tea with the Lady Houki."  The Emperor
opened his mouth, but Yukino held up his hand.  "No -
Your Majesty, you must hear this.  *You have no heir.*
 You may take as many wives as you want.  You may love
as many or as few as you want.  You can take Lord
Nuriko to your bed every night.  Nobody will care -
*if* there's a prince in the royal nursery.  You don't
even have to marry the girl if you don't want to -
Lady Houki is already your concubine.  Just get her
pregnant, and you can marry the Priestess of Suzaku or
spend every night with Lord Nuriko if you want.  But
you need an heir."

	The Emperor's face was shuttered, entirely blank.  "I
have heard your words, Lord Yukino."  There was no
expression in the Emperor's voice.

	Lord Yukino sighed.  "That is all I ask, my Emperor."
 He stepped to the side and bowed.  The Emperor did
not look at his advisor, but instead swept past him to
his rooms.  His empty rooms.

	/You heard me, Your Majesty.  But did you *listen*?/
Yukino thought, as he watched the Emperor walk away.  

*****

Author's Notes:

	1. Soi is wearing the dress she wore in the manga
during the Jyousei Island sequence.

	2. Hands up, everyone who spotted the self-insertion.
	The name is a reconstruction of my own, via the
transliteration service available at
http://www.mandarintools.com/chinesename.html .  I
warn you, though - native speakers tell me that this
tool is not entirely accurate.  For an accurate and
appropriate interpretation of your name into jie, you
would be best served to ask a Chinese language teacher
or other native speaker. 

	3. It was a point of Chinese custom not to accept
food when visiting another's house, as it implied that
you were too poor to feed yourself.  At the same time,
it was most rude not to offer something to the guest. 
Tea appears to have historically been the acceptable
compromise.

	4. Flowers were often added to tea in mediaeval
China, for flavour.

	5. The reason why Rokou and Nuriko have different
family names is because, in this AU, they are
half-siblings.  For the full story, and details of the
promise Hotohori gave Rokou, please read 'An Autumn
Afternoon', which can be found at
http://www.thejohnsens.com/autumnafternoon.html .

=====
raye_j@yahoo.com
http://www.thejohnsens.com/index.html

"I am not stupid, I am not expendable, and I am not going."
   - Avon, 'Blake's Seven'

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