Reader prompts

Rabbit love -2

He was almost falling asleep on his book when he heard the slight footfalls on the grass. He got up and rubbed his eyes before turning around to look at the person walking towards him. 

"Hanguang Jun!"

His sleep disappeared in a matter of seconds after seeing his father. He got up enthusiastically and gave a low bow of respect to the older man. The older man kept a gentle hand over the top of his head.

"Have you been well Lan Yuan?"

"Yes, Hanguang Jun! I behaved as teacher Qiren asked me to!"

"Good." Saying this he sat with the child on the soft grass-covered ground and looked at the book that he was reading. The boy seemed to be reading poetry. It was a complicated set of sonnets with complicated grammar. He looked at the child sympathetically. No wonder he was falling asleep. 

"Who gave you this book?"

"Teacher Qiren."

"Why?"

"I kept asking him when you would be finishing meditating and he said that you would be happy to hear me read poetry once you are done! Do you want to hear Hanguang Jun?"

"Can you read it?"

"um...." The looked down sheepishly and linked his fingers together and fidgeted. He finally looked into Lan Zhan's eyes and pulled his lips into a thin line. 

"Not yet Hangunag Jun.... But I will soon."

"Shall I help?"

"Yes!!!!" Happiness struck the child's face like a flash of lightning. He enthusiastically opened the page he was struggling with and gave the book to Lan Zhan. The older man started reading it slowly and enunciated each of the words for the boy to understand. He started repeating it after Lan Zhan finished the line. 

They continued this for over an hour when Lan Zhan noticed the boy's attention slipping away. He stole glances at something before focussing on the book again. He tried reading a few more lines before stopping and asking the boy what was wrong.

"Lan Yuan, what have I told you about being distracted."

The child looked guilty and hung his head in shame.

"Lan Yuan... Look at me." He finally lifted his head as Lan Zhan continued. "What is distracting you?"

"The rabbits..... They have come out to play! May I please go play with them?"

He waited for the affirmative nod and took off running towards the rabbits. 

Lan Zhan sat there watching the child. He realised that the rabbits were scared of him. They ran away every time he came closer to them. He saw that Lan Yuan's energy was scaring the animals away as they tend to need a calm atmosphere to get closer to you. If Lan Zhan was honest with himself, the scene was adorable. Lan Yuan stumbled in his chubby legs and big pants, running around trying to catch the rabbits.

His eyes blurred at that scene and the loneliness began to creep in unwillingly. 

Not a day passed by when he did not think of the man that etched himself on his soul. Not a day passed by when he did not think of his smile, his laughter and his kind heart. Everywhere he found traces of him in the memories that he kept pressed in between pages. The bright scarlet tassel hung over his sleeping quarters. The rabbits and the music to keep him company.

He spent more time meditating and the rest of the time helping his brother with his duties that he realised that he had neglected the boy. 

Worry began creeping in. When he brought the boy with him to cloud recess, he had taken an oath to always be his family. To be his sense of support and comfort, and he had failed. 

He finally got up and walked over to the child running around in circles. 

He sat on his legs hinges and held out his palm for the rabbits. "Lan Yuan. Come. Sit. and be quiet."

The child crouched and waited by Lan Zhan's legs. One by one the rabbits began to accumulate near Lan Zhan waiting for their master to give them pets. He instructed Lan Yuan to sit and be still and slowly...very slowly got up and walked away. He stood at a distance and picked up a rabbit.

He began placing the rabbits in a circle around Lan Yuan. He kept doing this process until all he could see were Lan Yuan's eyes and he was immersed in a big cloud of rabbits. The child's glee could be seen in his excited eyes, yet he stayed still.

"Shh..." He signalled at Lan Yuan to stay still and be quiet. Making sure that the boy could breathe inside the rabbit mound, he walked over to a log and sat there.

A smile came unbridling. 

Unable to help himself around the child's happiness, his lips cracked the tiniest of smiles.

For a minute. 

Just for a minute.

He closed his eyes and imagined Wei Ying sitting with Lan Yuan and sharing the joy. Basking in the sun and the happiness that the child brought. He closed his eyes and remembered the first time Wei Ying had presented him with the rabbits. They were 15 and so away from the world's concerns. His smile wide and his eyes even wider. Wilder. 

Why did he not love him then?

Why did he not tell him then?

They could have spent many such summers together. They could've shared the world's weight together. Could've brought the clans together. He knew Wei Ying would have. He could have united the entire cultivation world, whilst Lan Zhan would've stood to support him till death took him away. They could've raised Lan Yuan together...

So many possibilities..... ruined...

He finally opened his eyes to see the child sitting and petting the rabbits. 

Looked like he had finally gained their trust. 

This boy would someday make a fine third master Lan. 

---------------------------------------------------------------The End.

Author's notes: 

To my dearest readers. I have realised that so many of you have your own scenarios that you wished had happened in this story. And I understand that...

Which is why I have chosen to keep this book open. Should I find any more fascinating ideas from you guys and the time to visualise them, then I will write them. I write for myself as well as for you :)

I have been binging on How to train your dragon recently which encouraged me to write this one up :D

Happy reading!