Also, exactly how does it being a ‘light novel’ define its direction? I’m not sure, because I’ve never considered any other Japanese novel, so I’m not sure of how they class and define ‘em.

Eh, from as I see it, it’s like even if she *did* like Ryuuki that way, and I think it is interpretable that she partially does, she still isn’t going to marry him. So it doesn’t really seem to be a question of whether she loves him that way or not, really, but a question of what kind of life she wants; so I tend to think that even if she did, she would still renounce it.

I just really don’t know what the author is going to do. A lot of it has to do with stuff that is so far really unclear in the plot. If it weren’t a light novel, I would think that it might end with Ryuuki/Jyuusan-hime, and Shuurei becoming a later Prime Minister of Ryuuki’s.

And Shuurei refusing to define her feelings for Ryuuki? I don’t know, from your summary, I actually accept her explanation, which I take it is basically telling Ryuuki, “I’m sorry, but we can still be friends!”

That’s a saaaad situation, but anyway, I think she defined it quite well. Basically, that her feelings regarding Ryuuki is more of a ‘little brother’.

All things considered, since Ryuuki obviously has a ‘surrogate mother/sister’ complex around Shuurei anyway, that really isn’t surprising. Doesn’t help that, you know, her first impression of you is that of a gay man which pretty much nips any romantic feelings on her part in the bud anyway.

Honestly, why do guys think that’s a good idea *rolls eyes*. And yes, I’ve come across a real life example of a situation like this, if you can believe that (thankfully, it didn’t happen to me, but a guy friend of mine, who is excessively girly but pretty much swears to be straight, tried this same stunt on a girl he likes. Idiot, absolute IDIOT.)

Honestly, I’ve read the novels, and they’re quite evasive. Read the volume eleven summary, the part where Shuurei refuses to define her feelings for Ryuuki. As I see it, she may like him that way, but she isn’t going to, for various reasons, try to get with him.

It depends what you consider homosexual overtones? If you want evidence to write yaoi fanfic, by all means, there is a lot: more than enough. A lot of the things Ryuuki and Shuuei say can definitely be taken in that light, and are in fact, easier to take in that light, to the point where Ryuuki remarks on it. But, actually, because they remark on it, and it’s kind of done knowingly, speaking personally, I read their relationship as almost brotherly (Shuuei at one point says that Ryuuki is more like his little brother than Ryuuren), or as a devoted lord-retainer relationship. (Just my personal interpretation.) So it’s really… yeah, I think the author is definitely making it intense to the point that you can have that kind of interpretation, though. (man, I really must work on vol 12)

Then again, Ryuuki obviously still holds a torch for Shuurei, and as for Shuurei…considering that I’d only be able to analyze her character if I could literally read the novel, I guess I can’t deduce anything on her relationship to Ryuuki at all, except that I thought in Vol. 12, she at least, was really quite distressed when she saw Ryuuki unconscious (presuming he was hurt/dead?).

Btw, I just saw a pretty funny scene in Episode 35 XD Regarding Ryuuki and Shuuei. The scene that is so absolute BI X3 Ryuuki ‘holding back’ and ‘controlling himself’ for Shuurei’s sake XDDDD

But honestly, is there any homosexual overtones between Shuuei and Ryuuki in the novel? Besides of course that he’s a close adviser and friend, but personally, I just think there’s unresolved tension. Well, not necessarily unresolved, but there IS tension IMO.

Ryuuki really does behave in a more attempting-to-please way than Sakujun though. However, later in the novels, the relationship between Shuurei and Ryuuki seems far more like normal friends.

Sakujun is probably quite mysterious as a character. I doubt he will come back. From what I’ve seen in the second series (anime), the Jyasenkyou cult’s leader’s name is Senya. Moreover, I think that Shuurei needed that wake up call but I still find it odd that she continuously treats Ryuuki as a child. There is no way she could have done so with Sakujun. It’s probably the familiarity which exists between Ryuuki and her which makes her treat him like that.

I think we’re supposed to think that Sakujun just does these bad things because… he’s a bored rich kid. Yeah. But, his character did develop Shuurei’s character, so I don’t think he’s a waste of space as a character. I haven’t read the short story in which he does feature more prominently, so I really am not sure what the author is going to do with him from now on. I seriously don’t think he’s going to become a serious contender for Shuurei’s hand.