Fresh Embers of Love

Chapter 55

Fuzangloong watched his Stepmother leave the palace, carrying her imperial headdress in her arms. He felt stunned. Shocked. Elated.

He ran back to his room, which was in total disarray, the servants having left before they finished packing. He searched through the mess until he found it. The small wooden box containing the Baozhu. He opened the box with trembling hands.

"Thank you!" he told the Baozhu. "Whatever the price is, I will pay it! One day I will be Emperor. I can afford to pay any amount that you wish!"

He laughed loudly, gleeful that his Stepmother was losing the crown. The Baozhu was making good on his wishes. Soon his Mother would be Empress! Soon he would be married to Kun Ji!

He wondered how soon his Stepmother would return from the Empyrean Cloud Palace. She had been watching him like a hawk this whole time, and now he was suddenly left alone. He knew where he wanted to go. He knew who he most wanted to see.

He flew up and out of Zifangyun Palace, an invisible streak through the sky, and landed in the courtyard of Xuanji Palace. Servants roamed about, carrying different stacks and bundles of materials and tools to different places. They were oblivious to him, as he was still invisible. He decided to stay that way until he found Kun Ji.

He roamed about the palace, searching, finally locating her in his bedroom. She was sitting on an enormous block of white stone that had been mounted in the exact center of his room. She stroked the stone with her hand, studying the texture. She appeared to be alone in here.

"Kun Ji, what is this?" Fuzang asked her, releasing his spell of invisibility.

She jumped in surprise, too stunned to answer him. He came to sit down next to her. He too ran his hand over the stone, puzzling over the slightly gritty feel.

"What is this?" he asked again, genuinely curious.

She blinked at him, and then cleared her throat.

"This is a block of shiage-to, a type of waterstone quarried in the Mortal Realm. The people of Wo use it to hone steel" she informed him.

Fuzang looked at it again, realization dawning.

"Is this... a bed?" he asked hesitantly.

"The steel scales of your dragon form would tear up any fabrics" she answered. "This is the best material to care for your scales."

His felt a pang in his chest as his heart contracted. No one had ever thought about that before. No one had known, or cared, how uncomfortable it was for him, to have the material of his scales changed, and not knowing how to care for them.

"Kun Ji..." words failed him. No words that he could think of were strong enough to convey the depth of his feeling.

He held up his hand, slowly reaching for her. He didn't want to scare her again. She looked nervous, but she didn't move. He touched her cheek with careful fingers, soaking up the vision of her face.

Her cheeks flushed, the delicious pink highlighting the sharpness of her cheekbones. Her lips parted slightly. It was too tempting. He leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers. He held himself still, afraid to press his luck, just letting their lips touch lightly.

She stayed frozen, but at least she hadn't pulled away. Her lips then moved slightly against his, and he reciprocated, deepening the kiss, his heart beating faster in his chest.

"Kun Ji, where do you want thiiiiiiiis?" the voice of Itachi interrupted them.

Kun Ji pulled away from him, looking down at her hands, embarrassed. Fuzang turned his head, glaring at Itachi who stood at the door, holding a large box.

"You're not supposed to be here, Prince Fuzangloong" Itachi reproved him, his voice filled with enmity.

"It's MY Palace" Fuzang reminded him, his voice low and menacing.

Itachi tossed the box aside, and crossed his arms over his chest, his feet planted wide apart in a threatening stance. Kama appeared behind him, looking concerned.

"Fuzangloong!" Kama exclaimed sharply.

Fuzang took a deep breath, gaining control over himself, and then turned to Kun Ji.

"I have to leave now, I'm going to visit my sister" he told her. "I'm not sure how long I will be gone. I just wanted to say goodbye to you before I leave" he finished wistfully.

She nodded, still looking down. He turned to go, but stopped when he felt the pull against his robes. He looked down at Kun Ji's hand, which held his robe in her grasp, preventing him from leaving. His gaze traveled to her face, which was looking up at him.

"Goodbye" she whispered, her voice laden with melancholy, her eyes serious.

Fuzang knelt down at her feet, grabbing her hand in his and holding it to his cheek.

"I'll be back for you" he promised. "When I get back... will you marry me?" he asked earnestly.

She caught her breath. A dreamy expression took over her eyes. She nodded slowly.

Fuzang smiled at her. He wanted to kiss her, but didn't want to have her brothers as an audience. He settled for kissing her hand.

"Make sure you remodel one of these rooms for yourself" he told her, while raising himself off of the floor.

He left the room, walking through her brothers, ignoring their stunned expressions, and took off in flight from the courtyard, feeling very proud of himself. With any luck, he would get home before Stepmother. She may not even notice that he had been gone.