Chapter 209 - - Butterflies begin to circle Jin Li (1/2)

Looking at the slumped shoulders before him and so not used to seeing him so, Leon couldn't help but grasp Jin Li's sleeve in worry.  At school, Sun had always been an abundance of energy, often to the point of being exasperating, but it had almost always been a positive sort.  And now, that same quickly moving youth seemed drained, an air of gloom about his person.  Jin Li sighed as he saw the worry etched upon his lover's face and was of half a mind to kick Sun out of his funk and so he did.

”Ow!” Sun complained, rubbing his derrière and sending a glare behind him, though Jin Li's face of indifference made him question what he had just experienced.  In the rambling gardens in between palace courtyards, he didn't feel like he could be as uncouth as to ask Jin Li if he'd really just kicked him!  Mond paused beside his younger brother, a frown upon his face as he wondered what had happened.

Still, Jin Li's face revealed nothing and he even questioned Sun's reaction; ”Well?”  Sun pouted, but said nothing, however before he could turn away, the other suddenly continued to speak.  ”Just to remind you, you owe this one a sparring session.”

”What?” It was Sun's turn to frown.  Since when did it become his roommate who pushed for such?  Their usual trips to the arena were all instigated by himself!

”Was it not yourself that invited this one to travel a distance from one's humble abode, all that you could attempt to impress me with the size and architecture your family home?” Jin Li questioned offhandedly and Leon attempted to hide a smile behind his sleeve.  Mond saw this and found himself somewhat enlightened and he too began to relax.  Sun took another moment, before shedding the grey clouds about him like a cloak and replying;

”Wait until you see the training grounds, Jin Li!” He grinned, cheerfully.  ”Much better and well equipped than even the ones in the inner school!”

”We shall see,” Jin Li replied, the corners of his lips curling upwards a tad.

Just as his name suggested, the wintery gardens suddenly felt warm as a more familiar Sun reappeared before them.  ”Big brother, did I tell you that I made it into the inner school?” He asked, giddily of his brother.

”Indeed,” Mond smiled, before glancing back at Jin Li and nodding his thanks.  Sun continued to babble on about some nonsensical things that had happened at the institute recently, while Leon sighed with relief.

”You are too soft hearted,” Jin Li murmured close to his ear, which proceeded to turn red as the warmth of his breath brushed against the sensitive lobes.

They entered a slightly more subdued garden with leafless cherry trees scattered here and there and the path leading in several directions.  This section of the palace could be said to belong to the Second family's courtyard properties in its midst.  Mond indicated that his and his brothers homes were nearby, if one took the paths down past the two largest trees, while their father's rooms were just up ahead.  Further still, they would come to a wall where the women, their mother and father's lone concubine of the inner palace resided and where their sister's formally resided.  He need not tell them that they were not welcome there.

Mond was about to bid them good partings, when a voice called out to them; ”Well, well, if it isn't sixth brother Sun.  Hime had heard from Second Aunt that big brother Sun was due back soon.  Didn't think it would be today!”

”Oh that would have explained the prepared coach this morning,” another female voice of a higher tone said softly, though clearly with intent to make trouble.