Dogs Days Are Over [ASIANS]

[firecracker]

Closing one eye as she wiped at his cheek, Jia Long wondered where she’d run into Phuong and how that had gone. The two had never really gotten along as far as he could remember. “Yong Soo is very attention grabbing. You said they’re trying to gather everyone up?” He wondered if they’d found Yao or…well there wasn’t a body so maybe Mei was still alive?

He blinked as she wagged her finger in his face, feeling warm that she seemed so concerned for him. “Aa, you sure you don’t want help? I don’t feel that bad.” The pounding in his head protested this, but he ignored it as he stood up with a questioning look. She was his guest, he really shouldn’t let her clean up after him, but then he’d grown up with her until the attack…

“The guest bedroom is where its always been, I just put new sheets on the bed.” He took Cat and stepped back, then turned when she didn’t call for him and made his way down the hall. Slipping into his bedroom, he glanced around it. If he went with her, he might see Yao and the others again.

But if he didn’t he would be here, all alone, wondering if anyone would ever come back to visit. He didn’t have to think to hard on it before he was digging out traveling clothes and his combat boots. They had a bit of the leather chewed by a dog at the top of the left boot, and they were terribly old according to the official who had given them to him, but he loved them and would never leave them behind.

Packing the hiking bag that usually used only when he went up to pay his respects every year was strangely nostalgic. Three sets of clothes, one of which were the fancy cheongsam and silk pants he’d been given the one time he’d gone to meet with the village elders. A pair of cloth house shoes and several sets of socks. He even made sure to pack a thin jacket in case it got cold.

Leaving his pack half full, Jia Long leaned against his wall and breathed deeply. His vision was dancing before his eyes with black spots making it difficult to see. The dizzy spell passed and he carried the bag into his workshop to begin tightly packing his equipment and materials. The were put into a smaller, separate pack and then settled on top of his clothes in the main pack.

He’d have to leave behind most of his fireworks and small explosives. They’d be to volatile to carry with him if he was going to be wandering the country. Some of the smaller, more useful things like smoke and flash bombs, signal flares, and even a few small fireworks were laid out to be tucked onto his person in the morning. He was starting to feel nauseous though, so he left the pack behind and went back to his room to lay down.

Cat jumped up on the bed with him, purring and curling up against his side. “I’ll be going away tomorrow Cat…” He closed his eyes and breathed through his mouth. He was so tired…

[mylex]

Nothing about the room had changed. That was the first thing she had noticed upon stepping into the small area. Everything was exactly in the place she remembered it to be as a little girl. Here were the covers she had crawled under when she was cold. All that was missing, Veata realized with a wistful smile, was a warm body to curl up against. Usually Yong Soo or Phuong; even Chati occasionally if she was feeling brave enough. As a child she had refused to sleep alone if she had to sleep anywhere other than her own bed. Some had found it cute and others found that it drove them insane.

Veata set her pack on the ground and pulled out a large, long shirt as well as a small brush. Silence pervaded her temporary quarters as she undressed herself to her panties and then pulled the loose shirt that fell past her thighs on. Nights in China was often brutally hot from what she could recall thus, her state of undress. On any normal night, especially during her stays on a ship, she didn’t even bother to change out of her day clothes. The Khmer female had learned the hard way that men one hadn’t grown up with couldn’t be completely trusted.

In front of the small vanity she ran the brush through her tangled locks of hair. Every time the object snagged she winced a little and yanked harder. It was hard to remember what it had been like to have this done for her. AS it was she could barely remember anything like that but a smooth, rhythmic pleasure. It had been one of those things Phuong had done to briber her closer; Veata certainly remembered that. What she couldn’t remember was a why. Why had Phuong wanted to take care of her so badly back then? …maybe for the same reasons that she felt the responsibility to look after Jia Long.

Reminded of Jia Long she abandoned the brush and slipped into his room. The young boy was already fast asleep but Cat leapt down from his bed to greet her with a soft mewl. Lips twitched up as she knelt down to scratch under his chin and whispered, “Good evening, Cat.” Veata raised a finger to her lips in a hushing motion. “We have to be quiet. Jia Long is sleeping.” His only response was to press closer t her hands. Cat was like an attention-starved child. “Would you like to come with us tomorrow? Perhaps find us a good deal, hm?” With a giggle she pressed her nose against his own before making her way over to Jia Long.

Under her weight the bed creaked only slightly but that didn’t stop Veata from tensing up. Only after she was sure he was still asleep did she reach around to pull the blanket up around him and tuck it in. Poor thing must have been so exhausted after this evening. Her surprise visit must have been stressful enough without his being sick! She’d have to buy him medicine tomorrow along with the fireworks.

With a sigh she stroked his hair for a few minutes before leaving a soft kiss on his forehead. “Take care, Jia Long.” Veata tucked the blankets in firmly one las time and then stood, returning to sleep herself in the guest bedroom of the home.

[firecracker]

Jia Long shifted, not wanting to wake up. The sun had other ideas though. Its merciless light staring him in the face. He wished it had just stayed on the other side of the world. Rolling over, he tried to fall asleep again. Counting sheep, breathing deeply, not even trying to clear his mind of thought worked.

Sighing, he threw the blanket off and stared blankly at the wall. There was something he should remember, but he couldn’t seem to think of it. He’d made dinner last night, gotten a headache, gone to bed. Cat was…somewhere he was sure and Veata-VEATA!

Brown eyes flickered to his pack, then to the door. He’d forgotten she was staying in his guest room. Cat was probably sleeping with her since she seemed to have a way with animals. Jia Long quickly got dressed and left his room, starting some breakfast in the kitchen.

He hadn’t been expecting company last night, but he knew this morning and made sure he had a large breakfast ready when she woke up. Half-way through cooking Cat wandered in and rubbed against his legs. Jia Long gave him some milk and continued cooking.

[mylex]

To wake with the sunrise was a habit that had carried on with Veata her whole life but it entailed afternoon naps. What wasn't routine was to wake with something furry and inclined to purring on her chest. In fact, the only reason that she hadn't woken up screaming was because if she had opened her mouth to scream she would have ended up choking on a hairball. Thankfully a cute mewl and one lap of his tongue to her nose reminded her that this was Cat. This was Jia Long's Cat! How on Earth did Cat get into her room? She had left him in the young male's quarters last night.

"Choum reap soo, Cat," Veata greeted with a small grin, tickling him under the chin. "Shouldn't you be taking care of Jia Long? I left you in there for a reason last night!" She leaned her head forward and rubbed the tip of her nose against the feline's playfully. Cat wiggled in protest but didn't leap away at the very least. He was so very cute! now if only she could get Jia Long to be more open and playful instead of neutral and closed-off. It wasn't healthy for him to not be more emotional! Smile every now and then would be nice too.

With a gentle push Veata moved Cat off of her chest. "Go make sure Jia Long is still sleeping! Big Sister is going to go for a walk in the mean time." Cat just gave an innocent blink and refused to move which made the female roll her eyes. Oh, she was positive that the little furball understood her; he was just playing naive to avoid having to actually do what she wanted. Well fine, let the rascal stay in here then. Veata just wouldn't share any treats with him later on. "You're so naughty!" She wagged a finger at him and just mewled as she pulled a more proper outfit on. "But you better be with Jia Long when I get back!"

Just an hour later Veata strolled back into the home with lax shoulders and an easy smile. She was surprised though to catch the scent of food and the sound of movements. Was Jia Long awake already? Oh, she was going ot skin Cat if he had gone to wake him up while she was gone! "Jia Long?" Veata peeked inot the kitchen with a blink of surprise. "You're awake already?" She came into the small room and stepped up behind him, one hand resting upon his shoulder as she peeked into his hands. "And you've started breakfast?...you would make such a cute housewife~!"

[firecracker]

The teen flushed, staring down at the miso he was preparing. “I’m a boy Veata…” And boys couldn’t be the wife. Yao had told him that enough times when Jia Long was a child declaring that he would marry his older brother. He’d endured much teasing for his admiration of the older boy. “But yes, I’ve started breakfast.” He moved aside so she could see what he was cooking easier.

Cat mewed up at him, rubbing against his legs and purring. Jia Long smiled down at the feline but didn’t pet him. He didn’t want to get any cat hair into the food he was making. “Were you outside?” He’d noticed that she was dressed and seemed much more awake than a person usually was when they just climbed out of bed.

Plus, she hadn’t come from the direction of her room and he was pretty sure he’d heard the front door.

“We should go to the market before it gets to hot and some of the vendors close for the day.” The teen quietly ladled some soup into a bowl for his guest, motioning for her to sit down after he’d handed it to her. “Theres rice, egg, and juice coming as well. No meat this morning though, I’m out.” Jia Long smiled shrugged apologetically.