Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74 {Part 1}

~Chapter 116: I Missed Being Carefree With You~

Surprisingly, after the news of what Julian had done, reached Henry; Henry refused to give Julian access back into the manor. It was something that Jiu hadn't particularly expected of the young lord. Not just that, but recently, Henry had seemed to become much sweeter to his younger sister. He spent time with her when he could, and treated her as if they had been close since young. It was unnatural, but Jiu felt himself trusting Henry more and more as days went by. Leora slept upstairs in her old room at night, and during the day, would be accompanied by at least one person in her tuberculosis room. She'd become slightly paranoid of Julian returning, and always seemed nervous to leave the patio open where he could return. Christmas had been quickly approaching, and with it, Jiu's worry on how long the girl would last seemed to flood his constantly worried mind.

It was the morning of December the twenty third; Jiu made his way to Leora's tuberculosis room downstairs, to find her sat with Soren; as he spent time with her, he'd made up a fun tongue-twister game for her to play with him to occupy her time.
"I deeply, madly, sweetly care for you," Leora hummed.
Soren chuckled," Then; I deeply, madly, sweetly, honourably care for you."
"I deeply, madly, sweetly, honourably...openly care for you!"
Soren bit his lip, trying to remember it all," I deeply, madly, sweetly... honourable, openly, adoringly care for you."
Jiu couldn't help but smile slightly sadly at the game. Soren was a good 'acting-father' for Leora; he would always do small things like this for her, it made the bad in the manor seemingly disappear.
Leora hummed, it was getting trickier to remember them all," I deeply, madly...sweetly, honourably, openly...adoringly...reverently care for you!"
Soren furrowed his eyebrows in concentration," I deeply, madly...sweetly... openly, adoringly, recently care for you-"
"Honourably!" Leora gasped, slapping his arm playfully," Honourably! You forgot honourably, despite it being one of your own!"
Soren whined, sorely.
"So you're a fraud!?" Leora declared, playfully.
He laughed, slapping her gently across the head, making her giggle.
"Honourably," She teased.

Soren glanced behind him, noticing Jiu at the doorway.
"Ah, look who's here," Soren sighed, stretching with a smile," My babysitting shift is over, it seems. Good luck with her, she's in a foul mood."
"I'm very much not!" Leora gasped, watching as the tutor slunk away with an amused laugh.
Jiu chuckled, making his way over to the bed and sitting down, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear," I suppose that's up for debate, dear."
Leora puffed her cheeks, but giggled ultimately, knowing he was simply teasing. She turned to look at the window, with a shine in her eyes like a child's.
"Have you seen, Jiu? It snowed rather heavily last night, didn't it?" Leora spoke, eagerly.
Jiu sighed with a fond smile," And I presume that's your way of saying: 'Dearest, please, I know I should rest, but I truly want to go out and play in all that snow'."
"Can we really?" Leora's eyes shone, clasping his hands as she beamed," Oh, we must Jiu! Please? Only for a bit!"
Jiu laughed, relenting. He stood up and fetched their coats and shoes, and returned so they both could change into them. They walked out from the patio, hand in hand, into the garden that they'd seen through all seasons.

Jiu could remember when he'd first arrived in spring; when the wild flowers had bloomed so gorgeously across the lush lawn. Now, he could hardly see the poor things; covered in the thick bounds of snow that filled the garden with a childish wonder. Even the river, which had been through so much, was blanketed under a thin sheet of ice. It felt odd to him, that he'd been away from the Underworld and with Leora for so long. He didn't regret it though, not once. He couldn't help but smile slightly as she eagerly spoke to him as they walked; her warm, living breath evident in the cold air, and her cheeks rosy from the blood flowing through her living body. The ghost smiled to himself and squeezed her hand, comfortingly, as they walked through the heavy mounds of snow.
"Have you noticed, Jiu?" Leora beamed," Henry's been ever so kind to me, it's like he's a new person."
Jiu smiled sadly, sad that this was the only time Henry had been kind to her; perhaps his kindness now was more like cruelty, showing Leora the relationship they could have had," Perhaps there are such things as Christmas miracles."
"It reminds me of when we were young," Leora hummed, her eyes shining," He could be the nicest boy ever some days, you know?"

Jiu found that hard to imagine.
"And I presume you were the same as ever?" Jiu chuckled, leaning close to press a teasing kiss to her cheek," Much too stubborn for your own good."
"Why you!" Leora giggled.
She spun around, her fingers digging into his waist as she tickled him, mercilessly. Jiu cried out in shock, trying to squirm away. When he squirmed free, he bolted; Leora squealed, chasing after him. They ran through the snow, laughing and playing with one another. Jiu slipped, and fell crashing into the snow; laughing, amused and unhurt. Leora pounced down on top of him, giggling hysterically. Jiu pinned her to the ground, chuckling fondly as they lay like that, out of breath, for a moment; before he leaned down and pecked her lips. Leora giggled, looking up at him, fondly.
"I missed being carefree with you," Jiu murmured, nuzzling her neck.
Leora's gaze softened; her hands finding her way to is hair and playing with it, lost in thought.
"I'm sorry, this illness must have taken so much out of you; being constantly worried for me..." Leora murmured, glancing at the manor as she lay in the snow.
Jiu shook his head, committing her scent to memory with each inhale," No, don't be. I love you, this is nothing."

"I feel like I've been doing the cruellest tango of leading you on," Leora frowned," Promising you I'll live when I... don't know that for myself. Not just that, but..."
She recoiled slightly, recalling her grandmother's words at the Yule Party.
"...I never did finish that art, did I? I've been holding you hostage here, much like my family has to me..."
Jiu pulled away, looking into her eyes with a sudden intensity and seriousness.
"Firstly," He began," You promised me you'll live, so you're going to live. You're getting better. I refuse for this illness to take you. No matter what I have to do."
Leora's gaze softened.
"Secondly," The ghost smiled," If this is holding me hostage, then it's the best game of hostage I've ever experienced. Right now, I could care less about going back."
Leora glanced away," What if...I did die?"
"You won't," Jiu stated with a sigh," But... hypothetically, if you did; I'd just have to find you in the Underworld, wouldn't I? It may take a while, it is a much bigger place than this manor, but...I wouldn't stop till I find you. I promise you that, Leora."
Leora hugged him tightly, burying her face in his neck.
"Your face is cold from the snow," Jiu chuckled," Let's go back inside."