The Mulan of Balhai Temple

[Taiylor Wallace]

When she fell, Khan jumped instantly to her side, into the water. With a smile, once he saw she wasn't hurt, he scooped her up and carried her out. He set her down where he'd been sitting, wrapping his still-dry sash around her once more. "Wait right here." He turned and he easily slid down the two ledges, returning minutes later with a bundle of loose branches and a handful of dry grass. He set it all before her, and in minutes, he had a blaze going that'd ward off the cold and help dry her clothes. Khan settled beside her once more, placing a hand over hers. "Now, did you get hurt at all?"

[kishiseta]

Fang Li was surprised as Master Khan moved so quickly, picking her up and wrapping her in his sash. "T-thank you..." she said as he went off. Her gaze lingered on his back, noticing his perfectly sculpted physique. The tattoos moved on his muscles sensuously with his graceful movements. She couldn't help but be hypnotized by him even as he got back, his hair swaying with every step he took. She shivered, partly by the cold, and partly by his beauty.

Her eyes blinked startled as he touched her hand and asked her. Her mouth was too dry to respond immediately. How could she be in the presence of such a beautiful creature? She swallowed and licked her lips before answering. "N-No. Maybe a little bruising on my seat, but nothing else..."

[Taiylor Wallace]

Khan noticed how she hesitated, and picked up her hand in both of his, "Then what is it?" Those dark Mongolian eyes were so peaceful, yet they hid an inferno of energy and life just beyond the surface. His hands, though calloused from work and training, were gentle as could be, and he always seemed to handle her as if she were fragile, thin glass or delicate silk. His entire being was a hard, calm, and beautiful exterior, with a soft, empathetic and peaceful core that was even more beautiful. He added softly, "You seem a bit dazed..."

[kishiseta]

"D-dazed?" Fang Li asked, blood rushing up to her head as both his hands held hers. She was quite ready to swoon then as she looked into his eyes. She didn't know how much more she could take of his proximity. Her mind didn't seem to register what she was saying anymore as her mouth moved on their own and her eyes focused on his face. "J-just cold...that's--that's all. I mean, my clothes are still wet. And the place is really beautiful like--" she stopped her mind slowly starting to work again. Was she really going to say beautiful like you? Oh gods! That would be so embarrassing! And what did her wet clothes have to do with anything? "I mean...I'm just...overwhelmed."

She couldn't have picked a worse time to make a fool of herself!

[Taiylor Wallace]

Khan looked rather puzzled, unaware of the mental turmoil she was in. "Is this all too much for you? We can return to Hanzhou if you aren't comfortable here. Or is it something I've done or said?" He was genuinely worried that he was doing something wrong.

[kishiseta]

"N-no! No, not at all. I love it here!" Fang Li said. Trying to salvage the situation. She could not believe she was having a crush on a monk. "And you're the perfect companion. Really. It's just...well..." she tried to think of something plausible and close to the truth but would not make the situation awkward. "It's my first time being alone with a man and I'm not quite sure how to act. I'm not even sure if I'm being a good companion for you. I am just a village girl, after all. Oh! I know, let's see what Miss Mei gave us for lunch. I'm starting to get famished."

She hid a shiver as her wet dress clung to her refusing to dry out as Master Khan's sash covered her. The cold seeped to her bones not knowing how to tell or whether she should let the monk know she needed to remove her wet clothing. Heaven knew she could not. Not alone with a man! It was against all rules of decency.

[Taiylor Wallace]

Khan nodded, letting it go. Miss Mei had packed several steamed dumplings for them, as well as a still-hot sealed jug full of tea and two small clay cups. Khan poured for both of them, which was actually odd for how simple a gesture it was. Normally, if a woman was at a meal, she poured for the men, never the other way around. Khan smiled to her, giving her a couple of the wrapped-up dumplings. He sat in content silence as he ate, but after a while, he asked softly, "Are you sure you're not too cold?" As much as she tried to hide it, he knew the fire just wasn't helping.

[kishiseta]

Fang Li was surprised as he set everything for them, forgetting to move herself. This was one of the reasons why she could not get married. Idiot! How could she have let Master Khan do all those things for her. It wasn't right. She apologized, but he didn't seem to mind. Rather, it seemed like he actually wanted and intended to do it all along. Which was strange. But then, he was both monk and Mongolian. Neither of which was a world she knew.

Her hands wrapped around the dumplings still a little warm and relished the heat it gave off. She took a bite and moaned at how good it was. Her mother made really good dumplings but Miss Mei's was extraordinary! She had to ask how she did it.

"I'm fine, don't..." she trailed off, unable to stop the tiny sneeze that came. "Don't worry about a thing. The dumplings are really good, aren't they? I have to ask Miss Mei how to make these!" she said trying to derail the topic.

[Taiylor Wallace]

Khan raised an eyebrow at her, seeing straight through her. "We'll head back after we've eaten and get you some dry clothes. I'd never forgive myself if you became ill on my watch... And please, don't think you have to be so proper around me."
.
As they finished, Khan packed everything away. But then he paused as a strong wind blew past, and he looked up to the sky. It began raining within the minute, and Khan sighed. "There's no safe way to get down in the rain... Damn." He drew Fang Li in close to shield her from the wind. "There's a cavern on the othe side of this part of the mountain that we can take cover in til the storm blows over." So, he led her around on a narrow path, to a wide cavern mouth, perfectly dry inside. He dropped the bzsket aside as they stepped in, and then drew her near again, taking her hand. "You're freezing..." With that, he settled against a wall and pulled her in close, encircling her in his arms to keep her warm. And warm he was. To her cold form, his skin was like a blazing hearth.

[kishiseta]

Fang Li followed Master Khan as he led them away from the storm. The rain was getting them drenched as they ran for cover. Her teeth were almost at chattering point when he held her close to him. The warmth he gave off was so soothing, she almost forgot herself. "M-Master Khan! I'm still wet! You'll get cold yourself," she protested, heat rising to her cheeks, forgetting that he had gotten wet from the rain himself. She mentally shook herself when she realized it, but didn't retract her words as she searched for other excuses for him not to hold her.

Not that she didn't want to. It just felt so...scandalous! It was no way for a proper village girl to act. But at the same time, she found it exciting and very much comforting curled around his arms, forcing her mind to fail to come up with any other excuse. Her quickened breath misted before her and she could see that although Master Khan was warm, he was not immune to the cold either. Whatever he was doing, he was inhumanly keeping up with the cold. Or maybe it was because Mongolia had a colder climate than China that he could withstand the cold even if it touched him.