It was definitely unexpected. Just after their hundredth run to the forest outside the Temple, he decided that it was time to take another step in exercising trust, even though he forgot to shave that day. Their adrenaline was still running when he took the mask off, catching her completely unawares.
Ahri stumbled a little as the sudden weight pushed her back a couple of steps. She exhaled a rush of air but kept her balance, and opted to sit the both of them down.
Despite knowing that, she’ll oblige. She pets the girl while she thought of an answer.
[ @fangkurokai ]
“Well I’ve been living with the Kinkou for so long now it’s hard to remember what it felt like when I was free.”
She pondered her words for a while before she decided to reiterate.
“When I had more freedom.”
“Behind these walls are safe, the Order treats me well, and I cherish the moments I’ve had with Shen - whether it’s the rough times of learning or the long nights we spent talking. I’m free to go about anywhere I wish here, so long as I don’t hinder the students’ training. It’s not often that i feel like this, however,
“Some days I do feel so trapped.”
Homesickness, Ahri had decided, doesn’t really apply to her anymore.
To her, home is wherever Shen is.
Yet still, the walls that hid the clan from outsiders seem to get taller everyday, imposing and constricting, and at that Ahri wished for the privileges of her former life.
“Shen tries his best, he took me into the forest every once in a while, let me run around to relieve the stress from my sense of confinement.” She laughed, suddenly remembering something. “Sometimes, he’d amuse me, he’d go jumping from tree to tree and dared me to catch him. He laughs a lot then, it was the most playful I’ve ever seen him be.”
Though after the thought left her, Ahri’s smile slipped off, “He only wishes for the best for me, but he needs to think about the best for the Kinkou as well.
‘Sadly, his best isn’t enough for me.”
“I miss traveling to my old place, the distances in which I could go, the smell of the dry air, and that particular patch of wild strawberry. The trees are taller there, the grasses thicker, and the mountains stand higher. I miss them, I miss them all. What’s more, I miss the freedom, no walls or buildings, just the open space where I don’t have to worry how to place every step I take.
“But I am, forbidden, to go there now.”
The place Ahri was fondly referring to is the woodland next to the old Order’s temple; the temple now belonging to the Order of Shadows.
“It’s dangerous, I know. More than ever before since I’ve aligned myself to Shen and the Kinkou. Yet…”
She shook her head, terrified of revealing what she’s done.
“Call me idiot, rash, weak perhaps, but I couldn’t help myself
“I disobeyed him.”
The words had a feeling of finality to it, as if whatever she's done she cannot undo, which left her feeling the true weight of her action, suddenly Ahri felt sick to her stomach. She is afraid of Shen’s reaction to this violation to their trust.
But she couldn’t, for the life of her, muster any regret.
For she recalled the feeling of nostalgia; the familiar winds on her face, the crisp night air, the same big trees, the rocky path she ran on a thousand times. This was her old home, and for a short time, she had felt like her old, fox self again.
It had felt great.
And when she visited that particular patch of wild strawberries, she encountered a stranger she knew well, one whose eyes are redder than the fruit he held and whose shadow is darker than the blackest nights. Zed stood there, moonlight shining his unmistakable armor - menacing and silent - between her and the last vestige of her past life.
She would never forget when the raspy metallic voice rang out, laughing, bemused.
“You’re the Eye’s little darling.”
Jeering, mocking, absolutely condescending.
Whether it's to her or to Shen she wasn't sure.
She would have replied, but surprise kept her from speaking. She would have fought, but caution kept her from conjuring. She would have ran, but fear kept her from moving. But the most dangerous of all, was her curiosity, who goaded her to stay. Because it had rewarded her with what she thought is friendship, and a few pieces of freshly picked strawberries.
That night, she had decided, that the Master of Shadows isn’t as awful as she was told.
//Just a few notes I feel is worth mentioning, this is all from Ahri’s point of view, so whether Zed’s motive for giving her the strawberries is purely out of kindness for his personal amusement or a darker intention is all up to the reader.
Also, from then on, Ahri sneaked out on moonlit nights to visit the strawberry patch, and therefore, spent some time with Zed. In her mind, they are friends.
“Don’t be ridiculous, we’re in a totally dedicated relationship you can kiss me any time you wish to.“ And they meant having the guts to kiss me, you dingus.
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