Chapter One Hundred And Twenty Three - How to say thank you...

He didn't expect it and yet he did expect it; the moment Jin Li turned up in his dusty courtyard.

Leon was picking out the weeds that had begun to grow on the hard ground, while thinking a few flagstones might be nice out here when the man suddenly appeared before him.  He stood, as tall and regal looking as usual wearing those silks with the koi embroidery that Leon had first seen him in, though they were looking a little more worn and frayed now.  But this failed to detract from his aura.  His long, silky black hair partially cloaked his back as the wind gently breezed past, separating the strands as it did so.  The scarlet red jade in holding the upper part of his hair in place was a vivid contrast.  Leon felt his heart skip a beat then sped up.

Swallowing to moisten his throat, he voiced a slightly cracked greeting; "G-good morning."

Jin Li nodded his head in response and what followed was an awkward pause.  The matter that had occurred almost a ten day ago was not quite resolved between them.  After Leon had carefully brushed and helped pin his midnight hair upon his head, blushing all the while; Jin Li had voiced in his usual way a 'well, I guess it will do' before bidding his good evening and leaving for the martial arts school.

However, seeing Jin Li standing there, gripping his sword handle until his knuckles had turned white, Leon decided to break the silence.  "W-What is wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," Jin Li automatically denied, before adding; "This lord simply has a request to make of you.  Let me be clear that it is nothing important though."

"Alright," Leon said, wiping the dust from his robes and approaching the man, who remained standing beside the hut.  "Would you l-like a c-cup of t-tea?"

"En," Jin Li agreed and followed him inside.  The silence stretched onward as the kettle was boiled and tea brewed.  Sugar biscuits were placed upon the table.  They had been a little extra something given to him by Mino's mother (along with other food supplies) after he had eaten at the Food Hall the other day, although a few had been swiped by Maimai.  The girl had been seated with him, chatting away happily about this and that, when the treat had been offered.  Maimai had asked for nothing, not even as they walked back to their respective dwellings, merely had stolen a couple from his basket before laughing and closing her door leaving him to frown and shake his head.  He would have shared with her, as she was his friend, if she had only asked!

By the time the tea had been brewed, only one biscuit remained, the rest were consigned to that Lord's stomach.

Tea poured, Leon asked him what it was he needed.  Jin Li looked just a little in thought as he pondered on his words before eventually saying; "My talisman was lost, make this lord a replacement!"

Leon tilted his head, his eyes flickering to the sword tassel that now was alone on the handle of the blade.  Without questioning the phrasing of the words, Leon reached for his knife and a reasonable solid piece of wood and let his hands begin to shape it.  He was happy enough that Jin Li requested he carve another.  This meant he had liked it, right?  "H-how was it l-lost?" He asked as the koi began to take shape.  It was slightly more curved than the original, as if it was slipping through water more fluidly and its fins and tail were a little more flamboyant.

"A runty little beast stole away with it," Jin Li grumbled as he sat at the small table, his elbow upon it as he watched Leon carve.  Leon felt that that was not much of an answer, but the men lapsed into silence as Leon poured more attention upon the carving, gently detailing its scales, gills and eyes before slowly bringing more life to its delicate tail and fins.  Jin Li unknowingly began to smile, contentedly. It seemed that the alchemists carving skills had improved a little more.  This koi was more attractive than the last and was not just detailed upon one side, unlike the other.  The strange symbol was also formed of it's scales this time, instead of simply carved into flat wood.

"What does that symbol mean?" Jin Li asked this time, causing Leon to realise that he had added the symbol without thought. In fact, he had added two, one on each side.

"Oh," Leon looked at both. "St-strength and f-f-fortitude." He had carved 'good fortune' last time and Jin Li had still lost it! He couldn't help but smile over that thought. "H-here." He offered the finished koi to the man, who happily attached it to the handle of his blade.

Leon's stomach began to rumble and he quickly came to realise that a few hours had passed since he began. Jin Li had finished the remaining biscuits and tea, though his own was stone cold within his cup. He had a little bread and meat remaining from yesterday, so he formed a couple of simple sandwiches before cutting some vegetables to boil into a soup.

"Staying f-f-for lunch?" Leon asked as he placed the sandwiches upon the table and took one to take the edge off of his hunger.

"You owe this Lord for making him wait so long," Jin Li stated, before devouring one of the remaining ones. They ate quietly, but neither sat still for long as Leon finished preparing the soup and Jin Li fidgeted uncomfortably after watching Leon lick his lips after tasting the soup. He couldn't help recall how those lips felt pressed against his own... he inwardly cursed.  He had thought that he'd managed to resolve those strange thoughts this week and now realised that he had failed.  What to do...

Once they had finished eating, Leon then began to clear the dishes, placing them onto his workspace next to his largest bowl, which he filled with soap and water.

Jin Li stood up a moment later, a slightly wicked glint in his eyes. "Come here," he demanded of Leon, who innocently did as instructed, moving closer until he stood, looking up at the man, curiously. Jin Li moved swiftly covering Leon's lips with his own before Leon could even wonder at what he wanted of him. Jin Li stepped back a moment later, satisfied yet somewhat unsatisfied at the same time. "This is how you expressed your thanks to me that time, so I will do the same," he declared of his actions.

Leon blinked a few times, gaping a little like the koi fish dangling from the sword.