The martial artist frowned as these words entered his ears. "What is this you say?" Wasn"t this just satisfying a curiosity? He could move on from this now and not let his imagination distract his daily rituals. Although, looking upon that flushed face with wide, watery eyes, all framed by a halo of black and white, he found that his throat was terribly dry and his "curiosity" stirring once more."D-do you l-like m-me?" These words tailed off into a murmur, a whisper of hope and a touch of discomfort in them.
"This was a show of grat.i.tude from this Lord," Jin Li replied, tartly. "No need to make such a deal over it." Without his gla.s.ses to shield his eyes, the hurt flashing within them was clear to see and Jin Li felt an ache within his chest. But before he could examine this strange feeling, he felt Leon begin to push him away. Of course, the alchemist"s weak limbs could do nothing to move him, should he not allow it, however, he had achieved his aims... hadn"t he?
Leon rolled off of the bed, grabbing his gla.s.ses as he went and began to gather up the tea cups and place them by the bowl of water he used to clean dishes. "D-don"t d-d-do that again," he said, his back still facing the other, causing an irritation to rise in that man as he watched Leon.
"You dare make demands of this Lord?" Jin Li said, his voice low with anger.
"Wouldn"t d-dare," Leon replied, but there was no submissive tone to his voice. It was simply resigned. "B-b-but k-k-kisses should b-be reserved f-for lovers and m-m-married p-people. If you t-t-truly w-want t-t-to Thank m-m-me, w-words are s-s-suff... enough." Jin Li clicked his tongue but said nothing in response. This insubordinate boy was not worthy of his kisses anyway. But it seemed Leon was not quite finished speaking back to him. "I th-think that after S-Sun h-h-has finished h-his b-b-bath, you should g-go b-back."
"I will not!" Jin Li took to his feet and yanked Leon"s arm in anger to turn him around, causing the other to cry out in pain and surprise. "This Lord has honoured you with my protection and care and even allowed you to serve this Lord and you wish to discard all of this? Over a kiss? It was not that good of one either!" Jin Li sneered and that ache returned in his chest as he witnessed the boy"s face fall completely.
"Hate you," Leon murmured, before slipping from his hold. He knew how the other was, the other was like a storm after all; descending suddenly, striking out with his words and actions, sometimes offering shelter at his heart, but otherwise bl.u.s.tering and cold. But did lightning not cause agony when it struck? Did the rain not pour water from the heavens to drown indiscriminately when it heavily fell? Leon felt weary and cold. "J-just d-do as you want. You always d-d-do anyhow."
*****
In the meantime, Sun was returning with a barrel of water obtained from the cold, clear depths of the lake. It was peaceful there, had been disturbed only by the boy"s grumbling, but even he could not deny that the tranquility setting would be a wonderful place to sit in meditation and cultivate. He had vaguely wondered if there were a secret depths to the lake, like a hidden treasure trove, or a spirit crystal, but dismissed his imaginings. If it really was a spiritual place, there would be a guardian beast by now and all he"d seen is fish and dragonflies. It was just a lake.
As he carried the barrel, which was about three quarters his height and weighed, now filled with water, much more than him, he noticed that there was a girl hovering outside Leon"s hut. Her cheeks were flushed pink and her brown curls had spilled slightly from her jade pin"s, teasing her pale neck. Sun immediately reddened as he recalled this person. He was pretty certain that when they met last, he was preparing for a bath then as well!
"Stupid man," she was muttering beneath her breath. "How could you be so mean to your shou!" Sun frowned at the unknown word and called out;
"What are you doing?"
Maimai jumped with surprise, not expecting there to be another person! Ah! It was the rival shou! She threw the other a wide smile, causing the youth"s face to redden more. She quickly ran to his side and whispered conspiringly; "I came to visit senior Leon, but there was an argument and it was a too awkward to appear!" And things had been going so well, she"d even born witness to a most interesting development and had to retreat to prevent the bleed threatening her small nose. But that hot and cold gong, such a difficult mountain for any little shou to conquer!
"An argument?" Why would Jin Li bother fighting with his servant? And for that matter, what servant dared defy his Master? But then, Jin Li had never really treated Leon like a servant, just used to speak of him as such... and he hadn"t done that in a while either...
Maimai nodded, a soft sigh escaping from her lips, just as her best friend walked unhappily out of his home. He paused, startled as he noticed both Sun and Maimai in his garden. Feeling his drooping figure was pitiful, she said aloud; "I came to see if there were any sugar biscuits left!"
"N-n-no," Leon admitted, turning his mind aside from just who had eaten them all! "B-B-but we c-could ask at the F-Food Hall."
A scowling Jin Li appeared behind him at that moment, his face as thunderous as the storm Leon had compared him to. He looked at Sun still carrying the barrel filled with water. "We are going back first," he commanded, coldly. Sun shared a glance with Maimai before noticing Leon"s defeated appearance. That must have been one h.e.l.l of an argument, Sun thought to himself.
"Eh!" Sun then complained suddenly. "But what about my bath...?"