the Sword Master and the Lotus (For Passionate Shadow)

[Lorie]

He woke with the sun. Slowly, laying a hand flat on the ground, the creature some called Lotus and some called Jun pushed himself off of the mattress. A flood of black silk hair hung in his face as the young man tried to navigate his body into a sitting position. Pulling hair from his vision, after getting to his feet, Jun struggled to wrap a robe around his thin body and decided in a foggy haze that the bedding could be put away once he’d had some tea.

Mornings were hard to start for Jun. Without his master it felt near impossible to wake. Were it not for his duty to keep the home the fair faced youth would have stayed asleep, and had on several occasions, but today his master was returning and a messy home would be unacceptable.

Once the tea was brewed Jun felt more aware and his heart raced with glee from the approaching home coming. Sitting with the screens open in not but a red robe he watched idly as the morning sun peeked threw the distant trees and sipped fresh tea. A faint breeze went threw the opened home and played with wispy strands of Jun’s fine hair as the boy lazily imagined his day. Those imaginings turned into the youth remembering how he had come to be here, a Chinese boy on the shores of Japan.

It all fell into focus easily, the bittersweet journey into the arms of the man he now serves. Life, it seemed, started with the empire assaulting his family home. There he was told that his parents were traitors, that may have been true but he chose to think of them as the artist he’d always known them to be, and would be executed. He then watched as his father, a talented and dedicated calligrapher, and his mother, a beautiful musician, parish under a blaze of arrows. The head of that army then informed him that he would be spared because he was a small child of less then seven. That, Jun found, was a lie for not three full years later he was placed on a boat with one soldier. Luck had been with the Lotus, as the soldier called him, that the man hadn’t the heart to kill him as ordered...

Taking a sip from his tea Jun realized it had gone cold and he had wasted near an hour reliving the past.

[Passionate Shadow]

And yet it was many hours till Kyoko would return. The tall male sighed softly to himself as he unloaded the docs, seated atop his large black and white war horse. He moved his bright silvery blue eyes towards the end path of town. His mind set on getting home. The elder wore his long inky black, and dark smoke colored hair pulled back from the side and the rest mostly down with a small decorative pony tail or twisted bun. His dark bangs frame a pale, yet delicate looking face. He kept his cool gaze set on a point as if he could see his home in the distance. Onwards Kyoko went, further and faster with each stride once out of the small town’s hustle and bustle. With in the hour he saw his home coming up in the distance. The dusk sun light had brought up swarms of fire flies. He slowed over the small bridge and dismounted on the other side before leading his horse off to stables. He untaked and fed the large animal before heading inside. He stepped out of his heavy shoes and removed a larger of two swords. He swallowed a bit not seeing the younger about as the first thing when he entered and called out. “Jun~!” His voice was thick and heavy with a sensual touch to it. He’d been worrying over the smaller since the day he left.

However, Kyoko had returned with something small that followed him about in a shy manner. It kept hidden from sight as well. Kyoko glanced back at the tiny being and offered a smile, which only made it shrink back a bit more and cling to his side. Kyoko hadn't the idea on how Jun would react to this smaller creature he had brought back and he knew the smaller was scarred about being on the long journey and the new land. "It's okay..." he called softly before glancing back up and around. "Jun! Are you about?!" he called happily.

[Lorie]

Time had been slipping from Jun the entire day long, little moments of day dreaming pushed him off task, so he was not fully prepared when he heard the voice of his master, Kyoko, calling him. Still in nothing but a robe with his hair tied the slender boy rushed to meet the taller man. Skidding to a graceless stop an arms length away from the commanding presence Jun dropped to his knees bowing his delicate head and clutching artistic hands in his lap, “I was in the back lord.” he told truthfully. At the time he’d been readying to clean the works sweat from his form and make himself presentable, an act that he did not accomplish thanks to his wandering mind.

Wishing his hair had not been bound as it was Jun could not help to blush with frustration at how haggardly put together he was. Upon Master Kyoko’s leave the Lotus was determined that when his master returned he would show him how grown he’d become and tell him of his heart. It seemed so futile at that instant though, to his own eyes Jun looked like a lazy child that had spent the whole while ignoring his duties and hygiene. He hadn’t even prepared food for this returning hero!

[Passionate Shadow]

Kyoko smiled as he saw the younger appear and gracefully throw himself in to a traditional, and respectful bow. He smirked shaking his head slight noting the slight messy out look Jun was displaying and held back a small laugh at the younger. He had found it slight cute. “Jun…I have something I would like to show you…” Kyoko trailed softly, as he glanced at the smaller male through a dark veil of bangs. “Stand up.” He permitted the small delicate black haired boy as he moved and pulled an even smaller being in front of himself. No longer could the child hide as Kyoso put him on display. The small boy blushed darkly over lightly sun kissed, tan skin. He tuned away only glancing up at Jun with one half hidden chocolate colored orb. The small boy seemed to have a mess of dark brow and auburn colored hair that showered his small shoulders. The child was dressed in light Hakamas, and a dark heavy top. Kyokosighed trying to pry the smaller away to push him in to Jun’s display. “Jun… This is Aki… Aki…this is Jun.” he said softly. “Jun’s…nice don’t worry.” He said trying to the the small and rather thing child to look at Jun with a bit less fear.

[Lorie]

As directed Jun stood one pail thigh peeking from the red material as he did so. When Kyoko pulled the child out into view the Chinese Lotus’ heart fell, though his disappointment was not allowed to reach his porcelain face. Instead the fragile looking youth kneed once again so he could meet the child’s eyes, “welcome to Master Kyoko’s home Aki.” he said warmly with a smile before standing again and meeting eyes with his master.

Oh how he wanted to scream and lash out at that man, that horrible man that he loved so, as he watched with growing envy as THAT child, Aki, clung to him. Still Jun stood with his hands neatly folded in front of him and a respect filled expression on his face. “Is a good omen then that I had not prepared a meal yet,” he started, “there would not have been enough for all had I.” he added with a little bitterness edging into his soft voice, “But I shall do so now, if my master does consent, for I am sure your long journey has left both of you starved.” Jun finished with a bow. Then he waited for Kyoko’s word so he may take leave of their presence.

[Passionate Shadow]

Kyosuke watched Jun carefully and picked up a few small notes and saw what he belived to be small signs of...jealousy? Kyosuke blinked his slim blue eyes at the inky haired boy holding back a small smile. He kept watch as he announced dinner had not been made yet. with a curt nod he held up a hand pausing Jun. "That won't be necessary... I would like to make a good dinner-I'll enjoy cooking it. It would be very relaxing for me if you could keep this little one company Jun." He partly asked giving the younger, sweet, and petite boy a chance to object if he really insisted on not watching the boy. On a good not he had hoped to try and get Aki to stop clinging so closely and have Jun be nice enough to help calm the smaller enough in to feeling welcomed.

The small umber haired boy sharnk back as jun suddenly fell to a kneeling position once more. He nodded softly still clutching close to Kyoko for safety. A small soft voice spoke up "D-domo..." he trailed lightly fidgeting in place as he watched Jun with wide , dark orbs.

[Lorie]

Watching his masters eyes Jun nodded affirmatively, “Of cause sir.” he breathed of Kyoko’s request then smiled down at Aki and extended a delicate hand. “I had planed to wash.” he started in a warm gentile voice, “perhaps you would like to join little master? A nice soak in a warm tub would surely help relieve some of the stiffness of travail.” after asking Jun waited for the young boy to either take his hand or reject him. Not longer, at least for the time being, frustrated over this surprise. Jun could hardly blame Aki for his master’s inordinately generous heart.

[Passionate Shadow]

Aki nodded softly. “I-If that’s what you would like to do.” He nodded softly taking a small step to Jun’s side glancing back as Kyoko headed off. He gave a nervous look before looking up to jun as if seeking some sort of directions or orders.
Kyoko got right to work with cooking. He knew exactly what he wanted to make.

“I-I’ll go with you…” Aki said gently softly still playing with his sleeves.

[Lorie]

With a gentile hand on Aki’s back Jun lead the small child to the bathing room. Once there he handed him a pail and with a kind voice told him, “You’ll need to wash and rise way the dirt of travail before soaking.” then assuming the boy was old enough to disrobe on his own Jun worked his long hair free of the binds he’d placed it in.

Ooc: sorry about the long wait and short post. I haven't been on my computer much in the last while. Real life's been keeping me busy.