The Pieces of You

The Moonlight in Your Eyes

This chapter contains mature sexual content.

✦

All of tonight had passed in a blur and Zhou Zi Shu felt as though he had merely observed from afar. His nightmare earlier had clung onto him long after waking and the sensation of grasping fingers crawling on his skin had outstayed it's welcome. After seeing Wen Ke Xing sitting in front of him in the warm glow of the lanterns, he had momentarily thought to reach out, to gain solace away from prying eyes, but he had been brutally reminded that he was only a means to an end. Zi Shu had gone with Wen Ke Xing to see how far he would take him, to see how committed he was to playing games, and was sorely disappointed. Reality came rushing in quickly, a cold bucket of water on his lonely soul.

Zhou Zi Shu reigned in his anger and studied the floor for many long moments. The silence spread, running taut in the spacious room, and coiled around the two men like a snake closing in on its prey. To be tricked and lied to was the worst thing on this earth to Zi Shu. He had spent the better part of his younger years wrapped around someone's finger, and for what, to be twisted and molded into a vile human being. For that matter, he didn't even know if he could claim the title of a human being.

He had blood on his hands too.

"Wen Gongzi..." Ire flashed in his eyes, lined up in his throat in layers of a slow-burning fury, and burned in his ribcage. He threw a cloak of calm over his features, relying on both the cloth covering half of his face and years of practice hiding his true intentions. "...why are you hiding your true intentions?"

Wen Ke Xing shifted in front of him and Zi Shu finally raised his head. The male was standing there with a crooked smile while gently fanning himself. He was truly handsome and it left Zhou Zi Shu somewhat speechless at times, but right now he couldn't stand the self-important expression on the male's face.

"I'm not, Ah Xu. My intentions are true." Wen Ke Xing threw him a flirtatious look that simultaneously made his heart pound and stoked his anger further.

A snarl stung his throat, his tongue heavy with the need to yell or let loose a biting comment to rip and ravage flesh. But he swallowed it back and merely narrowed his eyes. Wen Ke Xing gazed back, an easy satisfaction coating his form and features.

Zhou Zi Shu covered the distance between and struck out. Within three breaths they had exchanged ten moves, each more fluid than the last.

Wen Ke Xing seemed far too happy as he blocked the blow aimed for his throat and returned with the same move. Zi Shu spun out of the way and Ke Xing followed, the hand still aimed for his neck. Zhou Zi Shu caught and held it there while staring the male down, calculating whether he wanted to continue with this fight.

"Ah Xu-" Ke Xing started, a flicker of desire in his eyes. It was incensing to know that this fight was fun for him while the thorns born of betrayal wrapped viciously around Zi Shu's lungs. He never got to find out what the male was going to say however because there was a light knock on the wooden frame of his door. The world bled back in around them, the sounds and sights etching into existence once again.

Zhou Zi Shu let go first, a wall of protection falling over his eyes to hide the emotion still swirling there. Wen Ke Xing made a disappointed noise but he straightened, his arm dropping to his side when Zi Shu let go, and he flicked his fan shut. Zhou Zi Shu sent him a warning glare and walked over to the door to open it.

He blinked twice, thinking he was imagining the sight beyond the barrier.

Outside the door was Cao Weining, Wen Ke Xing's servent, Gu Xiang, and Chengling who was being supported by Han Ying. The latter had a helpless expression on his face while Gu Xiang smiled and thrust a basket in front of her. "We heard you talking inside and thought you might be hungry." She shifted to the side, her shoulder pressing against Cao Weining's arm intimately as she did so, and beamed at the male behind him. "Master!"