Jin Li looked at the youth before him, ignoring the beating of his heart in his own chest. It was definitely no illusion, those lips really were that soft and tasted just a little sweet... he buried that thought down and replaced it with a harsh notion of ridicule. Right now, Leon looked as dumb as the runt as he stared up at him... not at all cute... but still...
"What is it?" Jin Li sneered at the dazed youth, tilting his head arrogantly to one side. "Was my appreciation not sufficient enough for you? I suppose you require more."
"Yes?" Leon murmured, who still looked a little lost in the moment.
Well, if you insist, Jin Li's sneer turned a little wicked as he bent down to eat a little more tofu...
"Jin Li! How could you leave me... again!" Leon snapped from the spell woven over him by Jin Li's audacious behaviour and his own wishful thinking and quickly stepped away from Jin Li. The taller youth clicked his tongue in irritation, but sat lazily down upon the bed as if it mattered neither way for him. Sun, unaware of what he had interrupted, appeared in the doorway, continuing his tirade; "That man seems to think that a four day break is unnecessary! If it weren't for Teacher Corne wishing to take him out for a drink and a meal, I would still be swinging a sword about in the arena!"
"What m-man?" Leon asked, as he furiously began to scrub the dishes, hoping his face wasn't too red. What had just happened? Fortunately, Sun seemed too bothered with his own problems to be concerned with whatever had been occurring before he arrived.
"Sun attracted the attention of a new Teacher," Jin Li replied, with a slight smirk, unconsciously licking his own lips as his eyes caught sight of Leon's flushed face. "That Teacher took Sun on as his personal student."
"Oh, c-c-Congratulations...?" The questioning sound of the word came as Sun began to glare the moment he began to speak. Clearly Sun had issues too...
Sun stared at the alchemist for a moment and then asked; "I don't suppose you know of a recipe that might create a sleeping pill or draught?"
Leon couldn't remember reading of such in his diaries, but then he didn't know of the white warming potion until given the recipe by Pharmacist Clawse, so could only shake his head. Jin Li rolled his eyes and stated; "Don't you think a pill of such an effect created by an apprentice would overwhelm a man of Corvus' cultivation?"
"It could work," Sun pouted, before flopping down upon the floor. Leon remembered his manners, dried his hands and served fresh tea. His hands shook a little as he passed Jin Li his cup, but the other did not seem to notice, just taking the beverage as his due.
"What are you doing here, anyway?" Jin Li asked of Sun. And why did you deem it necessary to interrupt me, wasn't this Lord simply resolving this whole kissing matter once and for all? Surely once one had sated this curiosity, one would be able to stop dwelling upon it.
"Well, I was going to soak in a herbal bath, on Teacher Corvus's instruction," he replied. "And then I remembered about that weird, flower stuff of Leon's and that we hadn't tested whether it's better or worse that what we get at school and I figured you'd be here anyway, Jin Li, seeing as you disappeared so early this morning..."
"Weird flower stuff?" Jin Li questioned.
Leon considered all of Sun's words. "You m-m-mean the b-bath salts?"
"Hmm," Sun agreed.
"I c-can p-pack you some, if you l-like," Leon replied, before wondering what he had spare to store it in.
"No need," Jin Li interrupted whatever Sun had to say in the next breath. Both youths turned to him. "If he wishes to use it, he should just use it here! Unless you wish others to look down on you as you bathed in bath water better suited for women..."
Sun flinched, then chuckled loosely. Jin Li was right, the bath salts may be useful, but they had a perfumed scent that would definitely be favoured by girls. At least Chi Elixir had a more grassy smell, could be used by either gender. Jin Li was a good older brother to remind him. How foolish would he have looked if he had followed his thoughts through and used them in the communal baths?! It was difficult enough when comparing his smaller, slender frame with his lack of bulky muscles and refined chest to others. But at least no one ever dared comment about his thing!
"However," Jin Li suddenly added as he sipped his tea in a carelessly refined manner, "he can still get the water for his bath himself." Sun blinked, feeling as if he had missed part of the conversation (which he had as Leon was saying that he may need to get water from the lake first) before widening his eyes pitifully at Jin Li. Why was he being asked to do servants work, when Jin Li's servant was conveniently here? "The lake is that way," Jin Li pointed in its general direction. "And there is a barrel outside of the door."
Sun pouted as he rose to his feet and stormed out of the hut.
"Sh-shouldn't we h-help him?" Leon asked, thinking that a barrel full of water was too heavy for a boy such as Sun.
"Don't pity him," Jin Li sneered, with a touch of annoyance, "he carries greater loads daily. 'Tis Nothing for a secondary stage Martial Artist." He placed down his tea cup on to the table. "Now that the obstacle in the room has been removed..." Leon felt his wrist tugged before he fell back upon the bed and Jin Li's shadow fall over him.
He pressed his hands against Jin Li's chest, the image of what was beneath the cloth flashing across his mind. "W-w-w-w-what are you d-d-doing?" Leon whispered, his heart racing and butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He knew of his own feelings for Jin Li, but was confused by Jin Li's actions. He had kissed him again earlier and seemed to want to do this again for a third time, but why? What did he mean by it? Was this really just giving thanks?
"This Lord wishes to end what was started," Jin Li confirmed Leon's notions with dry sentiment, before removing the barrier that was his glasses. His thin lips then pressed once more upon Leon's, the tip of his tongue instinctively pressing forward to taste. Leon's lips parted with a slight sigh, welcoming in that appendage, which slid in after a moment's hesitation. Jin Li's tastebuds confirmed his notion that Leon's mouth tasted sweet and dived deeper to explore more thoroughly the depths, his mouth moving until it more comfortably dominated over the youth beneath him. They parted a minute or so later, slightly breathless. Jin Li inwardly preened as Leon's flushed face and large glazed eyes. That was much more satisfactory.
Leon blinked a couple of times before asking; "J-Jin Li, d-do you l-like m-m-me?"
Really sorry that this is so late today! I’ve been reading Chinese translation novels and totally lost track of time x
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 gratitude from this Lord," Jin Li replied, tartly. "No need to make such a deal over it." Without his glasses 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 glasses 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 a-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 blustering 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 hell of an argument, Sun thought to himself.
"Eh!" Sun then complained suddenly. "But what about my bath...?"
This chapter was difficult for me, not sure if I am happy with it at all! Also, fixed some mistakes in the last chapter that I forgot to deal with before posting it in a mad rush! Sorry that this chapter is late as well.
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