Spring Winds

I did it.

I took the first steps in telling her how I feel.

I never felt more happy and free!

But then I ran away.

Like some coward.

"Argh," rubbing my brow, I grumble at my cowardly act. "Only you can make me act so irrational, Zhu Na Ran."

Sitting under the darkened sky and serene moon above, I try to clear my mind of these unnecessary worries.

Which proved to be a more challenging task to do than I initially expected. How can I free myself of worries when Zhu Na Ran occupies all space within my mind?

"I wonder how long I've been in here," brushing back my hair, I look up to the 'sky' as if the starlight had all the answers. "I wonder what Zhu Na Ran is doing right now?"

Is she eating properly?

Is she practicing her cultivation and martial arts?

Is she misbehaving and causing Master trouble?

For at least a few seconds of her day, is she thinking about me?

"Ugh!" Groaning into my hands, I can only lament on how much of a fool I am! "I'm such an idiot!" Although Master told me it was okay to feel this way as it was natural, a small part of me couldn't help but think that this was wrong; that it was wrong for me to have such impure thoughts for my junior.

Ah, I wish Zhu Na Ran was here.

"....ah..."

Strange, even in my cultivation sea, I can hear her? But that's impossible.

It must be my wishful thinking, yes! My mind must be playing some cruel trick on me to test my focus or something like that.

"..Ahhh!…"

Huh, the sounds seem to become closer. Is it coming from above?

Looking up, nothing could have prepared me for what I was to witness.

"Oof!" Landing onto my lap was none other than my junior sister.

N.a.k.e.d.

What is she doing here! I didn't even feel the pain from her fall as I was still reeling in from shock at what just happened.

After a few seconds, Zhu Na Ran peeked open one of her eyes. "S-Senior Sister!" Another force soon overcame her shock as her face began to turn green. She rolled over a bit and started to gag.

I couldn't answer her back as I gaped at the sight in front of me.

"Ugh, I hate this," she groaned as she rolled back into her previous position, nestled on my lap.

In a daze, her eyes wandered around the area before landing into my back.

"Y-you, you're n.a.k.e.d!" I stuttered out dumbly as my face began to heat up. I couldn't think of any other words to say to her.

Zhu Na Ran's eyes slowly began to widen as she realized our position. "Ahhh, look away!" She quickly scurried off my lap and fell off the elevated platform. I don't think she noticed as she kept on moving away until she grabbed onto a few lotus leaves to shed her n.a.k.e.dness.

I quickly looked away after realizing my actions. How shameful! How could I dare stare at her like a fool while she was trying to regain her dignity?

"Here," I said as I threw her my outer robe. "Use this to cover yourself up." I peeked over to see if she caught it quickly before looking away again. Ahh, what is happening!

"Uh, thanks, Senior Sister," she called out. I didn't respond to her call and just continued to look away. I heard a bit of shuffling as she dressed and came closer.

"So…"

"How did you get here?" I asked straight to the point. Landing into someone else's cultivation sea isn't something that happens spontaneously.

Is it perhaps I wished to see her?

Did I unknowing invited her in here?

"Uh," Zhu Na Ran mumbled as she sat down next to me. She was so close I could feel her body heat next to me. "To be honest, I don't know myself."

"You don't know?" I turned to ask her. Well, I didn't expect Zhu Na Ran to know all the answers. However, for her to go through something like that is rather odd.

"Yeah. One minute, I was in a meditating in a pool, and then the next I was falling through darkness."

"Hmm," I hummed. "I haven't heard of anything like that before, but it's not outside the realm of possibility."

"Yeah, I figured," she shrugged.

She looked a bit dazed and a little sad for some reason. Placing a hand on her shoulder, I asked, "So, how are you feeling?"

"Huh?" Zhu Na Ran turned to ask. "What are you are talking about?"

"You're falling. How are you feeling?" I questioned. Falling for some unknown height might have been a frightening experience for her.

"Oh! I'm so sorry for landing on you!"

"It's fine; I didn't even feel anything."

"Really?" Her eyes narrowed down at my legs. "I mean, It was a pretty far fall, are you sure I didn't break your legs?" Zhu Na Ran reached out to touch the top of my thighs.

I quickly swatted her hands away. "They're fine!" I exclaimed hastily and shuffled to run around.

"Uh, okay. I'm sorry," Zhu Na Ran mumbled.

The two of us sat in silence for a while before she broke it. "So, um, where are we?"

"We're inside my cultivation sea."

"Cultivation sea?" She looked at me with a confused look. This girl, tsk. Couldn't she at least try and do the work I assigned her?

"Hah," I sighed out. "Didn't you study at all?"

"Haha, you know me best, Senior Sister," she replied. "I won't study unless I need to."

I turned to her and explained to her all that I knew about the cultivation sea. She asked a few questions, and I answered them to my best ability.

"Time flows slower here compared to outside. A month here is compared to a week outside. Any more questions?"

"Yes! How come when I last went into closed-door cultivation with you I didn't go through this 'cultivation sea' stuff. All I could feel was just how much my butt hurt from sitting."

"Well, had you tried to relax and empty your mind instead of moping around, then perhaps you would have seen your sea earlier."

"Hmph! It's not my fault that cultivating is boring! Even in a vast sea like here, all you do is sit and wait. Tsk, this is all Master's fault!"

"Master's fault?" I raised a brow at her rant. "What are you talking about?"

"Well," Zhu Na Ran scratched her hair. "Master forced me into closed-door cultivation for me to be ready for the Lunar New Year celebration and the Daoist Convention."

"Hmm," I nodded thoughtfully.

"Yeah! And can you believe he signed me up for the cultivation division! The cultivation division! He even locked me inside a cave, and I can't leave until I'm advanced enough to break out of his enchantment." Zhu Na Ran groaned exasperatedly. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

"Cultivate."

"No."

I rolled my eyes at my junior's blatant refusal. Look at my junior; Zhu Na Ran looks like a child having a tantrum with that pout of hers.

But, how could I resist that face?

"Well," I shrugged. "What do you want me to do?"

Zhu Na Ran crossed her arms and held her chin in a thoughtful position. Suddenly her eyes lit up, and she started to act excitable. "Senior Sister, you do know the fastest way to cultivate?"

"The fastest way," I said slowly. Does this girl even know what she's implying?

"Yes!" Zhu Na Ran nodded enthusiastically. "I want to advance as fast as possible," and she leaned forward to stare me right in the eye. Almost as if she were trying to find the answers there.

I felt a bit nervous that she was analyzing me so carefully, not to mention her lack of proper clothing. From my position, I could see her cleavage under the loose-fitting robes. And with her long hair undone and carelessly falling over her shoulders…

Gods help me.

"Well," I took in a deep breath to cool the flames that were growing within me. "There is one way."

"Really!" Zhu Na Ran's eyes lit up like the stars in the darkest of nights. "Tell me!"

"First, sit still."

"Okay," Zhu Na Ran adjusted her self so that she was sitting in an upright position.

"Now, lean a little bit closer to me."

"Alright," following my orders, Zhu Na Ran inclined a bit forward.

"Now, close your eyes."

Zhu Na Ran soundlessly nodded as she slid her eyes shut. Her eyelashes quivered like butterfly wings.

I reached out and touched the side of Zhu Na Ran's face. Her skin felt smooth as I tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ear. My hand continued to travel past her ear and slowly slid down the side of her neck, and eventually, I stopped at her shoulder.

I looked up to see if she had opened her eyes. However, they remained shut.

I leaned in to get a closer look at her face; she seemed a bit flushed as her breathing to hitch a bit as it caressed my face.

She wasn't the only one. My heart was pounding so fast that I was worried that she could hear it beat against my chest.

Taking in another deep breath, I leaned in.