Zhan takes Weredra's tiny frame in his arms and soothes her before cooing, "Child, look at me." The naughty theatrical creature looks into Zhan's eyes, and Zhan continues in a gentle voice, "We will not leave you, child. At least not till we have found your parents or your guardian."

It's a beautiful sight, Zhan smiling at Weredra... I am reminded of the beautiful orchids I had only seen in my father's paintings.

I can't help but smile at this pure, innocent sight. My heart starts racing. And unexpectedly, things down below stir.

Fuck!

Why now!?

Why can't it follow a schedule!?

Or at least give me a warning?

I turn away, trying to hide the cause of my shame and pretend to take care of my growing, I mean glowing, sword.

"YiJun, come." The cause of my present predicament calls.

'I fucking will!' I scream internally before answering while keeping my back turned away, "I am looking for threats."

"YiJun, please. I need you to come quickly." He says in a tone that sounds half desperate, half urgent.

I feel myself grow and come to a stark conclusion that not only his gorgeous body, but his smooth as silk and warm as quilt voice is my body's enemy too!

Awesome!

"Mn," I answer and think of my aunt's huge mounds smothering me. And hope that my hard situation will take care of itself quickly.

Lucky for me, it does. At least, aunt is good for something.

I walk back to Zhan and ask condescendingly, "What?" My handsome prince pulls me down next to him and turns Weredra's face to my side, "See this," He says, pointing at my sword, "He wields it very well." He smiles at the bewildered-looking Weredra and adds, "I will take care of you, and he will protect you. Isn't that right, YiJun?" He finishes and looking at me expectantly.

When I keep staring at Weredra, Zhan nudges me in my ribs, and I almost wince. Almost, but not quite cause I am a hero, and heroes don't wince. We swallow our pains and repress our emotions. We suppress it so much that we forget that they exist until one day when we lose our cool and explode. Well, at least that's what I have read in books.

So anyway, when Zhan attacks me with his deadly elbow, I purse my lips before answering curtly, "Mn."

He turns to Weredra once again, "See. You are safe with us." He reassures, putting her down.

Weredra nods, "I don't like him." The defenseless-looking creature cribs, pointing at me.

What the fuck!? I am amazing.

Zhan chuckles and shakes his head slowly, "He may not look the type, but trust me, he is reliable and kind. You know, he saved my life this morning."

"Really?" Weredra questions exaggeratedly. "He looks pretty dull and antisocial."

"Heyyyy!" I protest and earn another jab in my ribs. I look at Zhan with dude-that-fucking-hurt-stop-doing-that look, and he mouths a cute sorry.

I order my eyes to look away from his drop-dead gorgeous face, but they disobey me, like always. Zhan catches me staring and cocks his head to a side.

"There is something on your chin," Weredra lies.

"Oh." Zhan nods and starts rubbing his chin with the back of his sleeve. In the meanwhile, Weredra walks over to me and asks in a loud, clear voice, "Are you strong?"

"Mn."

"I think the king has my parents working in the mines." She blurts out and starts crying. "I think mom left me here to protect me. I remember now," Weredra adds, looking at the small pond, "She told me that there is a lever here somewhere that opens this cave. She told me to go to my grandmom's place, which is in Tucheng kingdom."

"You are a small girl. How were you planning on making such a long, dangerous journey alone!?" I wonder aloud, and this time, it is Weredra who nudges me.

I apologize to my bruised ribs and promise to take care of it when I hear Zhan answer on Weredra's behalf, "She is a little girl, YiJun. She must have felt so scared and alone. There may be gaps in her memory."

"That makes sense." I agree and let the topic drop.

"Why is your sword glowing?" Weredra asks, looking all curious and innocent.

The evil female! She obviously asked me this to put me in a sticky situation!

I smile confidently and lie breezily, "Aaa, this sword was a gift from my mother. She told me that it will always help and protect me."

"Where is she now?" Weredra asks, and I find Zhan turn and wait for my answer.

'I am sorry that my first confession to you is going to be a lie, love.' I apologize to him in my mind before answering, "She died. Both my parents died when I was very young." I side-eye Zhan and see a pained look cross his beautiful face. "I was raised by my uncle and aunt. I had a terrible childhood. Finally, I could escape from their clutches when I found this sword while cleaning the basement. As soon as I held it, I knew what I had to do."

At this point, I would like to remind you all that I am indeed smart. Since the first time I had laid eyes on Zhan and come to know that the man had lost his memories, I had started to form my own fake background story in my mind. After all, at one point, I would be put in a position where I would have to explain how and why I was where I was when I had found Zhan.

"So the sword told you what to do?" Weredra asks, her voice surprised and impressed.

"Mn."

"YiJun, the sword... " He starts, and I know what he is going to ask. And I do not want that. I let a crocodile tear slip past my eyes and wipe it gingerly. I look up and catch his eyes and part my lips a little before pursing them. I close my eyes, and a second tear rolls down my face.

"YiJun, I am sorry for your loss." My man-crush consoles and I nod without making eye contact.

Weredra clears her throat, "Thirsty." She whispers a moment later, and Zhan immediately starts looking around for a bowl of some sort.

I pull out the water sack from my pouch and hand it over to Zhan, "Use this." I instruct.

After we settle down for the night, Zhan asks, "What all can your sword do?"

I narrow my eyes and look at my crotch. Zhan's eyes follow my eyes, and a deep flush colors his cheeks.

Damn, I want to climb him like a tree.

"I was talking about your magical sword," He clarifies, and I can't help but chuckle.

"I was just teasing you, Zhan. Of course, I know what you meant." I reply casually. I had not yet decided what more I wanted to tell Zhan about the sword. At this point, I was just stalling him and buying time to make up more stuff.

I take a deep breath and stretch my body, "I am tired, Zhan. How about I tell you all about my sword," I pause and smirk, "and all that it can do tomorrow?"

He nods and turns his back towards me. And after admiring his back for a few minutes and making sure that he has fallen asleep, I walk up to Weredra, who we had decided to put up in a cozy corner of the cave.

Before turning in for the night, we had lit a fire inside the cave for light and warmth. Now, as the embers are dancing and swaying to the light breeze entering our shelter, I make my way towards the sleeping child. "Weredra, can I sleep next to you?" I request, and she obliges. Scooting over and making space for me next to her, she taps the space next to her. "So, what's on your mind." She asks casually, taking my hands into hers and blowing on them.

I look into her eyes and see something unexpected. They are warm and kind.

"You miss them, don't you?" She asks, letting go of my now warm hands.

I shake my head, "What are you talking about?" I enquire without looking at her.

"I know everything that there is to know about you, YiJun." She answers, cupping my face in her tiny palms. They are warm, just like her eyes. "I will make it up to you, YiJun." She adds as a single tear escapes her eyes and rolls down her cheek.

I feel my eyes grow heavy, and I feel warmth pulling me in its embrace. And the last thing I see is Weredra smiling down at me.

When I open my eyes, the cave is bathed in a warm sunlit glow. I look to my side and find myself alone in the make-shift bed. "Weredra..." I whisper, walking around the empty cave.

I try to recall the events of last night but realize that I remember nothing after my awkward sword chat with Zhan.

That reminds me, where is Zhan?

After making sure that I am alone, I step outside, only to find a very shirtless Zhan sitting on the branch of an apple tree that I am sure was not there the night before.

I clear my throat, and Zhan smiles at me, "Good morning, YiJun."

I avert my gaze from all that tempting naked skin and pretend to look for Weredra. "Where is Weredra?" I enquire.

"Here!" Weredra's excited voice floats over to me from behind the tree before she peeks and directs a bright smile my way, "Come and help us, please." She requests, and it somehow makes me happy.

I look between Zhan and Weredra and wonder if this is what it would feel like to have a family. I sigh and join in the fun.

We have apples for breakfast again, and I explain to Weredra what I was planning to do after going around the whole kingdom.

"Why do you want to do that?" Weredra asks after I have explained everything to her, including how I had met Zhan and how he had no recollection of who he was.

"My parents would have wanted me to do it, " I answer honestly, and Weredra cups my face. It feels familiar. But I am pretty sure that this is the first time Weredra has done that. Strangely, I like it.

"I think so too." Zhan concurs, and it fills me with happiness.

"What are we waiting for!? Let's go." Weredra gushes excitedly and stands up, dusting her bottom.

Zhan pulls her in his lap, "And who told you that you could come along, princess?" He asks affectionately, ruffling Weredra's silky smooth hair.

Weredra pouts adorably, and I realize that I am already getting used to her being around me. I am already beginning to forget her real visage. No, she is not making me forget. It's just that, like this, she is much more approachable and adorable. Why didn't I see it before? She is like a menacing sister I never had, yet, always craved for.

"YiJun, " Zhan calls, "What do you think? Should we let her accompany us?" He asks, winking at me.

My heart skips a few beats, and my naughty junior starts getting excited again.

Well, fuck!

{Word count: 1939}