Disclaimer : I do not own Saiunkoku Monogatari. It belongs to Sai Yukino.

Rating : T for themes.

Genre : Humour

Warning : None. Yaoi in later chapters.

Pairing : Not yet. Will be Li Koyu/Ran Shuei in later chapters.

Summary : First meeting in the archives.

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Chapter 1 : "PACKAGE"

"General Ran!"

Shuei's train of thought was broken by Shoka's voice. He realised that he was already just outside the Archives.

"Are you coming to the Archives, General Ran? I'm sorry, but I have an errand to run. However, Assistant Secretary Li Koyu will be at the Archives till late afternoon."

Leaning against a bookcase and absorbed in a book was what must be Assistant Secretary Li Koyu. Shuei didn't want to startle the aqua-haired scholar.
I'll introduce myself when he looks up. Anyway, it's a good chance to study this mysterious genius-celibate.

Li Koyu.
The Walking Brain.
The youngest Top Scholar.
Honest to a fault.
Intolerant of anything that smacks of hypocrisy.
He who consistently turned down marriage proposals with "I don't like women".
Ah well, the poor guy has no chance to grow up straight, being brought up by the most notorious and highest ranking gay couple in the civil service!

The grapevine, however, was divided on the issue of Li Koyu's orientation, for he had also turned down every single proposition by male admirers.
A celibate lifestyle?
Shuei shuddered at the very idea.

Shuei observed the strong jawline with just a twitch of envy. That masculine jawline, coupled with the lush eyebrows, surprised Shuei.
What was I expecting? Someone more androgynous? Perhaps.

Notwithstanding the strangely large, almond-shaped eyes, Assistant Secretary Li Koyu was a good-looking man.
Yes, man. Definitely more man than woman. And yet ... what is it?

The Assistant Secretary pulled himself away from the bookcase, and straightened up. Shuei marvelled at the grace and fluidity in that simple motion.
THAT'S IT! That's what gives the impression of feminity, that fluidity.

Even when he was standing still, the scholar's gracefulness was apparent. Shuei took in the tall, lanky frame, the straight shoulders, slender waist, slim hips.
Impressive.

Still reading, the Walking Brain turned and walked away from Shuei.
Nice walk. Loose-limbed, athletic. Athletic scholar?
NO WAY! How can anyone walk into a bookcase?

Shuei wondered if all scholars were like this one. This one was at the moment clutching his nose and emitting muffled whimpers.
That nose is going to bleed.
Shuei predicted.

The scholar took his hand away from his nose, looked at it, and collapsed in a dead faint. Shuei stared in disbelief. Should he offer assistance, or stay out of sight to save the Assistant Secretary's face?
Ah, he's waking up. No, no, don't look at the blood! Good grief! He's fainted again!

Shuei set down the bowl of water and got into a kneeling position. He slid his left arm under the scholar's shoulders, lifted, and was surprised at how light he was. Shuei had decided that the best thing to do was to wipe away all traces of blood, to prevent furthur faintings. He dipped the edge of his sleeve into the bowl of water, then turned to wipe the scholar's face. In repose, the face looked younger and inexplicably vulnerable. Wiping the blood off, Shuei's fingers brushed against the scholar's lips. Surprised, Shuei paused.
As soft and tender as a woman's lips. And what better authority on women's lips than myself!
Shuei smiled wryly.

Shuei's eyes narrowed. Wait a minute. The grace, the surprising lightness, and now the lips. Could Assistant Secretary Li Koyu be a woman in disguise? That would explain the celibacy. Shuei scanned the chest with his eyes. No sign of womanly contours. However, he had known women with barely any contours at all.
No conclusion here.

Now obsessed with his hypothesis, Shuei stared at the unconscious form's crotch.
There. That's where the answer is.

Are you crazy?
Some part of Shuei's brain screamed.
How are you going to explain yourself if the Assistant Secretary wakes up to find your hand on his crotch?

Heart pounding, Shuei slid his hand beneath the front panel of the tunic, and felt about gingerly. Shuei's brows rose.
Impressive. And certainly no stuffed sock.
Shuei could feel the warmth through the silk underpants.

Feeling a little light-headed from the adrenalin rush, Shuei returned to his task. He wiped the blood-stained hand gently. Then he turned to rinse his no longer white sleeve in the bowl.

Koyu had awokened to the feel of cold water. Someone was gently wiping his palm with water. He opened his eyes and found himself cradled by a total stranger. Trying to understand the situation, Koyu kept still. He studied the man. Fine arched brows, long eyes, high cheekbones, aristocratic. Too fine, like a pure-bred horse. Nonetheless, very beautiful. And there was something in the man's manner that suggests he was well aware of that.

Koyu watched as the man's right hand worked to rinse off the blood from his sleeve. Strong, slender fingers. Callouses on fingers and palm. A swordsman's hand. And yet so gentle. Koyu's heart warmed to this kind unknown swordsman.

Shuei turned back to find himself scrutinized by intelligent pale grey eyes. He started, and flushed. Cursing himself, Shuei forced himself not to avert his gaze.
That would look too guilty.

Shuei started to sweat. He couldn't remember ever being this afraid. He tried to speak but couldn't find his voice.

Koyu observed the man flush.
Why does he look so guilty?

Koyu is known to have a penetrating and disconcerting gaze. He decided to use it on this hapless man. He looked long and deep into the dark eyes a foot from his own.
What a lovely warm voilet.

The long lashes, like the man's hair, is such a deep voilet as to appear almost black.
Truly, this man is beautiful.

Koyu's eyes sparkled with amusement as he witnessed the man's composure crumble. He could smell the man's sweat. The smell was somehow intimate. Taken aback by that last thought, Koyu decided to end the silence.

Mesmerized by the now terrifying grey eyes with dancing silver lights, Shuei felt suspended in time and space. How long had he been locked in that intense silver gaze? The grey eyes flickered, and Assistant Secretary Li spoke.

"So. What exactly did you do?"
The voice was so deep, it was almost a growl.

Shuei was quite certain that it was no point lying in the face of that penetrating gaze. He was prepared to come clean. But why did his interrogator have to phrase the question that way? Why couldn't he have said, "So. Did you do such-and-such?" That way Shuei could have gotten away with yes-no answers. Shuei balked at the idea of having to describe EXACTLY what he did.

"I. .. I touched you."

The grey eyes darkened.
"Touched me. Where?"

Shuei realized, with a sinking feeling, that the Assistant Secretary wasn't going to let him off easy.
Of course he must know "where"! I mean, if I had touched his ear or something, would this interrogation even be happening?
"Your, um, package."

Cold, contemptious eyes looked back at him. Shuei felt his face and ears burning. The grey eyes were now inches from his own. Shuei could feel his tormentor's warm breath on his cheek.

"I see. My 'package'. Euphemisms. I detest euphemisms."
The deep voice purred.

"You coward. If you can do it, why can't you say it?"
It was an almost inaudible whisper.

Shuei gasped. His eyes filled with tears. His own "package" was held in a vice-like grip.
How on earth?
Not just the lightning speed, but the firm grip through four layers of fabric!

"Say it. Call it by its given name."
The knuckles turned white. Shuei felt tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Genitals. I touched your genitals."
Shuei gasped.

Koyu withdrew his hand and listened to the sputtering explanation. He was not offended that his gender had been in question. And he was glad that the kind swordsman that cradled him turned out to be an idiot instead of a molester.

"Please. You have to believe me."
The voilet eyes were imploring. The lashes, still wet with tears, have darkened to black.

"I do."
Koyu smiled.

Shuei watched as the scholar gracefully unfolded himself and stood up. Shuei, however, continued to sit on the floor. He was still reeling from his ordeal.
There was a movement next to him. Shuei turned to see the scholar squatting next to him, looking at him with some concern.

"Can't you stand? Did I squeeze too hard?"

The things this fellow says!
Shuei shook his head, blushing.

"Has your leg gone numb?"

Shuei decided to go along with that.
"Um, ya, my right foot."

The scholar appeared to consider something. Then he gave an almost imperceptible shake of the head.
Whatever it was, he must have decided against it.
Shuei thought with a vague sense of relief.

"I'm Li Koyu, Assistant Secretary, Department of Personnel. After what we've been through, I guess you could just call me 'Koyu'."
The face was unsmiling, but the pale grey eyes twinkled.
"What's your name?"

"Ran Shuei, General of the Left Army."

"You are Ran Shuei? Oh good, that's alright then."

Before Shuei could ask what that was about, Koyu sat cross-legged in front of him, pulled Shuei's right foot towards himself, took off the boot, placed the stockinged foot in his lap, and proceeded to massage it. Too stunned to react, the only thought Shuei had was to be grateful that he had said "foot", and not "thigh".

"What did you mean by 'that's alright then'?"

"Huh? Oh, that. Because Ran Shuei is only a womanizer."

Shuei waited. Nothing more forthcoming.
"I'm sorry. Could you elaborate?"

"Ran Shuei is 100% heterosexual."

Exasperated, Shuei tried again.
"What do you mean?"

Koyu glanced up from Shuei's second toe to say impatiently.
"It means you would not misconstrue the motive behind what I am doing now, and end up propositioning me!"

Shuei bristled.
The conceit!

Studying Koyu's earnest face focussed on the task at hand, Shuei decided that more likely than not there is no conceit in this strange person.
"Do you receive propositions often?"

"ALL THE TIME!"
A look of irritation crossed Koyu's face.

"And I have no idea why! It's not like I go around acting coy or anything!"
The look darkened.
"I mean, it's only after lunch, and it's already three so far today! How am I supposed to do my work ... "

Watching Koyu ranting, Shuei confirmed his earlier observation. There was no conceit in Koyu. In fact, he does not appear to have any idea just how attractive he was.
Even a "100% heterosexual" like me can see why Koyu is constantly receiving propositions. Poor poor Koyu.
Shuei smiled.

"How does it feel?"

"It feels soooo good!"
Shuei gasped in mock ecstacy.

Koyu scowled at him and stopped massaging.
"I meant the foot. Can you stand?"

"Yes. Thank you."
Shuei said meekly.

"Good."
Koyu stood up.
"I'm going to make tea."
He walked towards the Archives' kitchenette.
"Oolong or green tea?"

"Oolong!"
Shuei shouted back. He smiled as he put on his boot. Shuei was expecting some (maybe more than some!) awkwardness after the "package" encounter. In some way that he cannot understand, Koyu's matter-of-fact foot massage had dissolved that. Picking himself off the floor, Shuei smiled again. He had never met anyone like Assistant Secretary Li Koyu. He was glad that he had made his way to the Archives after lunch.

[CHAPTER END]