The Ninth Life of Min Yoon Gi

23.

Jimin had still heard nothing back from Yoon Gi. He had just up and left that morning after the accident. He didn't even leave a note. She would have been heartbroken except for the fact that she convinced herself that they didn't really know each other. How well can you know someone within a few days? She felt like there was a connection, like maybe they could build a relationship, but now she wasn't sure. Maybe she had imagined the whole thing.

The only bright part of her days now was that the black cat that used to hang around the back of her shop was not only back, but seemed to have taken a great interest in being near her. The first night he followed Jungkook into her apartment, he immediately made himself at home on her couch.

"Well, I guess I have a cat?"

He had slowly blinked his eyes at her, purring so loudly that she could hear him across the room.

Thankfully she was figuring out how to manage on her own. Jungkook was not only managing the shop, but had also offered to bring her food, which he had done the night the cat came back, before hurrying off to his night class.

"I don't have any cat food," she said over her shoulder to her house guest. "But I have chicken I can share with you tonight and tomorrow I can ask Jungkook to get you proper cat food."

The black cat jumped onto the counter, briefly startling her, before nudging her hand as she opened the container of take out.

"Do you like chicken?"

"Meow!"

"What about fish?"

"Meow!"

"Vegetables?"

The cat turned its head away.

"I'll take that as a no. What about milk?"

It didn't look at her.

"I guess that's also a no?"

"Meow!"

Jimin paused, frowning at the feline. "I swear it's like you're answering me."

"Meow."

She laughed to herself. "Geeze I must be lonely; I think I'm having a conversation with a cat!"

The cat raised its paw and tapped her arm as though it wanted to say: "There there, it's okay, I'm here."

*

Yoon Gi was relieved that Jimin was doing okay, despite still recovering from her injuries. Wherever she was, he tried to stay as close as possible, purring the whole time. Maybe it helped her heal, maybe it just made him feel like he was doing something. It didn't really matter to him, but they both seemed content with the arrangement.

Whenever Jimin needed her privacy, Yoon Gi would discreetly wander around the house, exploring the deep recesses and enjoying hiding amongst plants and furniture legs.

During one such exploration, he was caught off guard by his reflection in the glass cabinet door. He hadn't really seen himself in this form. As he turned his head from side to side, he thought he made a pretty handsome cat. His ears were symmetrically set on his head, his eyes were a bright green, his whiskers were long, his tail was a bit fluffy, and his paws were strong.

He was leaning closer to get a better look at his whiskers when he noticed what was on the shelf behind the glass: a tea set. It was that shadow celadon colored set that Ji Min had noticed before. Yoon Gi wanted a closer look. His heartbeat quickened at the thought of that cursed tea that started it all. He sat back to examine the cabinet doors, trying to see how they opened. It didn't appear to be locked, but just had a small handle about halfway up. He hoped it wasn't one of those with a latch that made it hard to pull open.

Taking the risk, he reared up on his hind legs and grasped the handle between his front paws, dancing backwards to try and pull it open. And it did; thank goodness he was a long cat. He poked his head inside, placing his paws on the shelf and sniffing at the pot, wondering how he would know if it was another fake or not. Something smelled oddly familiar about it. He was about to reach a paw into the pot when he heard Jimin coming out of the bathroom. He retreated from the cabinet, using his hip to push the door closed just as she walked into the room.

"What're you up to?" She asked him, having caught sight of him rubbing against the corner of the cabinet.

He meowed, ran over to her, and wound himself between her legs. She dutifully squatted and gave him scratches behind his ears. Yoon Gi didn't realize how good it felt to just have someone pet you like that. Cats really have it figured out, he thought.

"Well, if you'll be okay, I'm gonna go check on the shop."

He meowed. But you're still recovering aren't you? He bumped his butt against her bad leg, but she didn't even flinch. He watched her walk, without any issues, to the front entryway where she slipped on her shoes. He ran after her. It had only been a couple of days but her leg was already better? How?

"You can stay here. I won't be gone long. And maybe I can see about fish for dinner." She grabbed her purse and keys and opened the door to leave.

Purrfect, he thought. I can investigate that tea set further.

He sat down and watched Jimin close the door behind her and heard the lock click into place. He stretched and slinked his way back to the glass doors to examine the treasures within.

Okay... clearly that tea set is old and valuable, or else she wouldn't keep it in a cabinet like that. And since the legend was passed down through her family, couldn't that mean that the tea pot in question was also, perhaps unknowingly, passed down?

All of this made Yoon Gi really start to think he might be... could he? Could he be that lucky to meet the person who has in her possession the very thing that could bring his Ji Min back to life? After one failed attempt, Yoon Gi truly felt all hope was lost. So this time he would take things without expectation. Yes. No expectations means no chance at more heartbreak. He had convinced himself that bringing Ji Min back to life was the ultimate act of caring, even though some might call it the ultimate act of selfishness. Yoon Gi was willing to do anything to bring Ji Min back, now that they had reconnected.

So it's worth a shot.

Once more, Yoon Gi reared up onto his hind legs, grasped the handle between his front paws, and pulled the cabinet door open enough for him to squeeze inside. Sniffing hesitantly, he could smell several different herbal teas that had left traces within the celadon pot. He nosed his way deeper into the cabinet and he sniffed at the tea pot again with deeper inhalations. He could smell the faint yet familiar scent of the tea he had made from the resurrection plant layered beneath years of other teas, but he was certain he could smell it.

Would he have been able to smell it without his heightened feline senses? Probably not, and he was starting to think that waking up as a cat again might actually be the best thing that could have happened.

Now, how do I make the tea?