Jin Lu's eyes fluttered, the feeling of warmth and safety making her burrow into the slightly bumpy bed she was cuddled in. The smell of ozone was light in her nose when she took a deep breath, making her smile. She loved watching lightning storms. Hearing a light chuckle above her, she opened her eyes and let out a scream of fright.
Long Yin swatted Jin Lu's butt at the sound before descending to the road, disappointed when Jin Lu struggled out of his arms. He had been enjoying the feel of Jin Lu snuggling into his body as he flew through the sky.
"What happened? Where are we? What the hell?!" Jin Lu stumbled, almost falling onto the road.
The loss of comfort and security she had felt made her dizzy and disoriented. Looking around, she saw them within walking distance of a huge wrought iron gate standing between two white stone walls painted red by the setting sun. The effect was disturbing, making one think they were slick with blood.
"You fainted, Kuru city," Long Yin answered Jin Lu's questions patiently while grabbing Jin Lu's elbow to keep him from falling.
"Come." Long Yin half pulled, half dragged Jin Lu through the gate, two gold coins appearing and disappearing quickly from his hand.
Jin Lu was finally able to get her thoughts in order after they took a few steps inside the city.
"What was that?"
"What was what?"
"At the gate."
"Entrance fee."
Jin Lu's eyes widened, but then she relaxed. It made sense, she supposed. Governments had to make money somehow, and having to pay to get in had been a common practice in feudal times. Though she didn't appreciate being led around like an invalid, she let it slide, so she could look around Kuru City.
All the buildings looked brand new and elegant compared to the place she had woken up in. Though some were made of wood, it was polished and gleaming, same with the stone structures. The entrance area was a large half-circle with stables set up against the walls. Jin Lu saw giant birds with benches strapped to their backs, horses with wings and without waiting in open air stalls. She really wanted to go over and get a closer look, but Long Yin pulled her deeper into the city. Inns, hotels, and shops slipped by as they walked, Jin Lu trying to take everything in at once.
Long Yin finally stopped in front of an inn with a wrap-around balcony on the second and fourth floors. The door was painted deep purple, while the building was an eye-catching light blue. Potted flowers and shrubs were set in front of the full-length windows, to give the illusion of privacy for those inside.
When Long Yin pushed the door open, the air was filled with the smell of delicious food and the sound of light conversations. Though the talking quieted when they came in, it resumed once Long Yin stopped at the check-in counter.
"Welcome, Master, how can I help you?" The man behind the counter was rather round, and his face showed wrinkles from smiling for years.
He gave Jin Lu the feeling of a cheerful grandfather, making her smile softly behind Long Yin.
"One room and a meal," Long Yin said simply, erasing Jin Lu's smile.
"Two rooms," Jin Lu spoke, glaring at Long Yin.
The manager gave a look of surprise, not having seen the boy. He was shorter than the man by a head and dressed in rags. The manager glanced at the well-dressed man inquiringly.
"One room," Long Yin repeated, an amused smile tugging at his lips.
Jin Lu bristled, her hands curling into fists. Just as she was about to yell at Long Yin for his presumptuous attitude, Long Yin inconspicuously poked Jin Lu's arm. A jolt of electricity shot through her body, freezing her movements. Though the manager was frowning, he still gave Long Yin the key to the room, directing him to the third floor. Long Yin nodded and pulled Jin Lu's resistant body towards the stairs, actually lifting her a centemeter from the floor since she couldn't move her feet. Customers watched them, some with snickers, some questioning, but no one stopped them.
Long Yin opened the door to their room, pushing Jin Lu inside. After shutting the door, he picked Jin Lu up and threw him on the bed.
Umph!
Jin Lu sucked in the air she'd lost at the impact, her eyes shooting daggers as she watched Long Yin sit at the table in the room. It was much bigger than the one they had met in, with a screen separating a portion of the room and a closet set against the wall. A low bookshelf was next to the bed with a few worn tomes sitting inside, and the bedsheets smelled like the sun.
"What was that?" Jin Lu asked once her heart stopped racing, and she was able to reasonably breath normally.
"What was what?" Long Yin asked, enjoying the way Jin Lu's face darkened. A low growl came from the bed, making Long Yin's lips curl up until his teeth were showing.
"That… that weird electric current. What was that?" Jin Lu breathed through her nose, exhaling through her mouth to dispel her anger.
A mischievous light in Long Yin's eyes made Jin Lu weary as she watched him stand up and walk leisurely towards the bed. Jin Lu jumped back as fast as she could, but Long Yin was faster. He grabbed her ankle, the same one that he had bruised before, and an ark of electricity zipped up her back from the touch. She gasped and flopped onto her stomach, unable to move.
If looks could kill, Long Yin would be a pincushion right now.
"Like it? I can paralyze anyone with just a slight touch," Long Yin explained, sliding his fingers down her ankle to the top of her shoe. Long Yin slipped off her shoes after a moment before flipping her onto her back.
I'm not a fuckin' rag doll!
Jin Lu fumed silently as she watched Long Yin remove his outer robe, getting up to hang it in the closet. He kicked off his boots, setting them on the floor next to Jin Lu's.
Move, move, move dammit!
Jin Lu's body refused to follow orders as her eyes went round in fear. She could feel her Adam's apple bobbing when she swallowed. An odd experience, but not enough to distract her attention from Long Yin's face coming closer to her own.
Knock, knock.
Jin Lu let out a sigh of relief at the knock on the door. Long Yin chuckled and set up, walking to open the door. He whispered a few words to the person on the other side before closing it. The smell of meat buns and tea entered the room, making Jin Lu's mouth water. She hadn't eaten since morning, and she was hungry. She tracked the food tray like a hunter after prey.
Placing the tray on the table, Long Yin walked back to the bed, sliding a finger along the top of Jin Lu's foot. Jin Lu's body tingled, and she gasped, drawing her foot back. Long Yin chuckled and moved around to the side of the bed, sliding his arms under Jin Lu. Jin Lu hissed through her teeth as pins and needles zapped her nerve endings, the physical contact making it worse.
You're lucky I'm too hungry to stab you right now!
Jin Lu glared at Long Yin across the table, ripping and tearing into her food, ignoring Long Yin's consistently amused presence.
A series of raps came from the door again just as Jin Lu finished the last of her soup. The tingling in her body had diminished, the feeling of her stomach being full, and the mental and emotional over stimulation of the day made her drowsy. Though she heard multiple footsteps going in and out of the room, she didn't pay much attention to them. The dishes disappeared in front of her, and she let out a tired sigh, ready for bed.
"You will bathe, now," Long Yin instructed calmly.
"..."
Fucker say what?!
Jin Lu's eyes snapped open, falling out of her chair in shock. Her body moved before she had time to think, making a running leap for the window on the other side of the bed. The collar of her shirt was grabbed after her first scrambling step, pulling her into Long Yin's hard chest. The impact was enough to make her see stars.
"Stupid, boy. Bathe, or do you want me to do it for you?" Long Yin purred, his words vibrated through Jin Lu's back. Jin Lu's head was spinning as she shook it frantically. Long Yin moved away from her when he felt satisfied that Jin Lu wasn't going to run again, or fall in a heap on the floor.
"Be quick." Long Yin opened the door, shutting it firmly behind him. Jin Lu watched the door for a second before stripping quickly. Out of her clothes, she was able to see her new body clearly. Thin enough to count the ribs, but laced with muscle. Her stomach was flat with a small trail leading down to her flaxen member. Jin Lu wouldn't say that she was small, but she wasn't big either, at least compared to the men she had encountered in her previous life.
Jin Lu stepped around the screen to see a large wooden tub filled with steaming water waiting for her. Jin Lu let out a groan of pleasure at the feeling of warmth that traveled up her body. Though she wished she could sit back and relax, Jin Lu knew that Long Yin wouldn't be gone for long. She hurried through her washing, hissing and grumbling a few times when she hit a bruise or scrape.
Jin Lu finished washing her waist-length black hair and grabbed the drying cloth hanging from the separation screen. Looking at the travel-worn, threadbare clothes on the floor, Jin Lu felt a shiver of disgust. A thought made Jin Lu brighten, and she walked to the closet, taking down the robe Long Yin had hung up. The material was silky smooth, absorbing the leftover water from her body better than the drying cloth.
A wave of exhaustion hit Jin Lu as she finished tying the robe. Stumbling to the bed, Jin Lu fell onto the mattress just as the door to the room opened. Seeing the boy sprawled out on top of the blankets, Long Yin chuckled under his breath. Placing the clothes he had brought in on the table, Long Yin kept his steps light so as not to wake Jin Lu. Long Yin slid the blanket out from under the youth, tucking him in.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Long Yin couldn't help petting Jin Lu's long hair, a sense of tenderness surprising him.
An unexpected urge came over Long Yin and though he didn't need to sleep, he pulled back the covers and climbed in next to Jin Lu. Without waking him, Long Yin gathered the boy into his arms, peace settling over him as he closed his eyes. His only thought that he hadn't had never had this much fun before.
Long Yin smiled slyly, falling asleep to visions of what interesting amusements his new toy would bring him later.