Feeling a faint bit of pressure against the top of his head had Zen slowly pulling himself out of his light doze. He took a few minutes to gather his thoughts, then waited another few seconds before sitting up and blinking open sleepy eyes.

"We are almost to our destination, my Zen," came his master's voice from beside him, drawing his attention to his right as his lips tilted upward into a tired smile.

He intended to simply nod to acknowledge the man's words, then start focusing on trying to figure out his new body, but those thoughts disappeared before he could even consider acting upon them.

Had master always looked so... beautiful?

He wasn't aware that he was being rude and openly staring until Qi reached forward to brush some of his bangs away from his face, then settle that hand against his cheek.

"You actually feel very warm, love."

The clearly-worried tone in his voice had Zen quickly reaching up with his own hand to gently grasp his master's.

"I feel well," he said quietly, surprising Qi for only a brief moment before his smile returned and he reached forward to tug him into a gentle side hug.

"I am glad. Your appearance has changed, too, but as long as you are well, I am more than happy," he said before releasing him.

Zen took a few moments to assess what exactly had changed about him besides gaining a voice. He noted his new black nails, but didn't really mind them. They could use a trim, but that was really it. He could feel that two of his upper teeth had extended a little bit as well, but that didn't really bother him, either.

"I think my favorite part has to be your hair," Qi said as Zen paused, having intended to reach up toward his mouth to touch one of his newly-lengthened teeth. Instead, he diverted his hand to his hair and tugged a few long lengths of it in front of himself.

Qi held up a hand next to his and allowed his spiritual energy to glow slightly, giving him plenty of light to notice the dark purple highlights settled within his normally-pure black hair. It seemed a bit odd, but he quickly shrugged off that change, as well. His master said that his hair was his favorite thing about his interesting new appearance, so he would gladly accept it.

Looking up as he let the strands fall from his hand, Zen was about to say something when their spider started ascending partially upward abruptly, making him redirect his attention and reach forward to make sure that his master didn't fall.

"I am quite fine, Zen. I could sense that we were getting close so it was no surprise that we are beginning to surface now," Qi said, though he didn't try to free himself from the little side-hug that he was being given.

In fact, he even lifted one hand to take hold of Zen's arm that reached across his front to hold onto his opposite shoulder.

"Sit with me for our last few moments of peace," he said with a warm smile that made Zen immediately settle back up against him. It was a bit of an odd position since he had still refused to release his master, but he easily tucked his own left leg beneath himself and his right one partially behind the other man. It might have looked a bit odd, but he didn't want to let go just yet.

Qi seemed to find their positions entertaining, though, because he gave out a quiet chuckle as he turned toward him and gently reached over with both his hands.

"Come here, my Zen," he said as he gently tugged him into his lap.

He settled against his master as a faint light began to make itself know far, far ahead. They would be at the surface in just a few short moments, and yet... his mind was completely and utterly distracted. As Qi stared straight ahead, clearly focusing on where they were going, Zen couldn't help but notice the feeling of the man's left hand firmly grasping his right hip. Nor could he keep his mind from straying every few seconds as his master's hair faintly brushed against his left ear. Qi was calmly looking over Zen's shoulder, completely unaware that he was making his heart beat painfully hard against his ribs.

He was afraid that the man would be able to hear how loud his heartbeat was as he moved to wrap his arms around him a little higher, because even he, himself, could hear it thrumming within his own ears.

"Master...?" he whispered as he felt his face warm up uncomfortably quickly.

When Qi looked down at him and smiled as he replied with a simple "hmm?" Zen couldn't help himself.

It only took the slightest tilt of his head, first backward, then slightly to the side and the tiniest bit upward.

He noticed that the kiss was different than any of their previous ones immediately. He not only liked it, instead of simply appreciating the attention from his master, but he wanted more of it. Since Qi was normally quite content to share his affections, Zen didn't hesitate to press their mouths together more firmly.

Is this what master has been feeling when he kisses me?

It was a wonder that he'd been able to hold back as much as he had. In fact, Zen found it impossible as he carefully disconnected their mouths so that he could turn to face his master as best he could on his knees, then lifted his hands to settle against either side of the beautiful man's face. Qi was looking up at him with curious intrigue as Zen licked his lips, then leaned down to seal their mouths together a second time.

This time he was more persistent, refusing to lean away since he wasn't being pushed or told to do so. It seemed like Qi appreciated what he was doing, but at the same time, he was struggling to keep up. He continued for a few moments more before relenting and settling back on his heels to regain his own breathing. It was hard not to lean right back in when he saw his master panting heavily as he raised his sleeve to try and cover the lower half of his face.

Master is blushing?

He wanted to lean back in to see better, because surely his master was not embarrassed by him finally returning his affections, but before he could they were suddenly bathed within the strong evening light of the moon as their spider finally breached the surface.

Zen immediately jumped to his feet and unsheathed his sword, and for good reason. He swung it forward just in time to block a scythe at the end of a chain! It had been aimed directly at his master's head, though that had been easy to predict as a target.

My hearing is better than it used to be, too. I could hear the chain rattling long before I needed to react.

He stumbled forward as the massive man on the other end of the weapon yanked it backward from ground level, trying to retrieve it in order to launch another attack, but Zen wasn't interested in giving it back. At least, not quite yet.

With a devilish smirk, he channeled his inner dark energy and allowed it to take the form of dark purple and black flames. The fire immediately scrambled overtop the length of the chain, forcing the man to drop it immediately or risk being incinerated alive.

Zen had ceased focusing on him once he'd dropped his damaged weapon, however, because his attention was stolen by the group of royal soldiers trying to surround them from all sides.

"My friend, can you run through them? I can prevent them from harming you," Qi said to their spider as he straightened to stand with his back to Zen's.

Zen nodded in acknowledgement of his master's plan as he shook the remaining fragments of chain from his blade. Their spider seemed hesitant, but the guards had already set up a blockade near the hole it had used to surface, so forward was its best option for survival, too.

As soon as they felt it begin to move Zen and Qi channeled their individual abilities together in a whirlwind of light magic. Qi created multiple miniature barriers, since shielding the entire massive tarantula wasn't sustainable in the long run. As each one was created, Zen grabbed them with his wind ability and began spinning them in a circle using his blade to guide them around the giant beast they rode upon. As the amount of energy shields grew, he was able to knock down all of the guards that had managed to get a handhold on their invisible spider to begin climbing up toward them, then focused his ability on creating an impregnable tornado of energy around them to prevent any others from being able to get close.

His skills were definitely not flawless, but Qi made up for any fractures in his barrier since he had finished creating the necessary amount of shields. He easily pushed any guards that managed to penetrate the tornado back out into the massive whirlwind with a simple jolt of spiritual energy.

"You are doing extraordinarily, love," he praised, making the corner of Zen's lips tilt up as he continued to focus, swinging his sword above his head in a even-paced, rhythmic circle.

He honestly wanted to send a stream of black fire into the massive gale, but he knew that his master would disapprove of the loss of life it would cause, even if it would make it much easier for themselves.

So instead, he continued as he was until he heard the sound of rushing water meet his ears.

"Master!" he yelled a second before a spear of water shot through his barrier.

Qi moved to block it, managing to do so a mere moment before it would have cut straight through Zen's chest. As his master settled beside him in a defensive stance, a person appeared through the wall of wind and light surrounding them. He looked quite similar to prince Yuen...

"Yuen Shui," Qi said as he changed his stance to one of offense.

Zen looked between the two as the floating man stopped about three yards away, hovering in the air on what appeared to be a spinning disk of water.

"Your highness, lord Qi," he said as he raised his arms, clasped his hands together, and gave a respectable bow from the waist.

Qi slowly lowered his sword in response, then returned the greeting with his weapon still firmly grasped within his hand. Zen simply watched and waited. He bowed to no one besides his master, but he appreciated that the man saw Qi as someone worthy of respect. He also couldn't change his stance much unless he wished to risk breaking the barrier they had set up together.

"Greetings to you, water lord Shui," Qi said as he straightened back up.

Zen felt their spider begin to slow as it started scaling the first set of palace walls, but his attention was more focused on keeping his abilities running while also keeping an eye on their new visitor. He was quite impressive right from the start, because even though they were moving, he was easily able to manipulate the water disk he stood on to keep it at the same distance from them the entire time.

"It is unfortunate that we have met today in such a manner, and I would like to be able to consider this situation a simple misunderstanding. if lord Qi would accept such well-meaning considerations and retreat from the palace grounds immediately, I will not lift my blade towards you."

Ah, I remember him now. He is Yuen Huang's older brother.

Their appearance was quite similar, but Shui was a bit taller and tended to braid the majority of his long hair instead of simply tie it back or leave it loose.

The man was a high ranking general in his father's army and was usually away, murdering men in a far-off battlefield. It was poor luck on their part that he had returned home at such a time. He hadn't seen him very often, possibly only a handful of times when Ashong had brought the man to their country as a gesture of peace, but Qi had only spoken very briefly with him on each occasion, and Zen had never cared to listen. He was always hyper focused on protecting his master during those uncomfortable visits.

"I apologize, but you know as well as I, that I cannot withdraw from this situation. I am no longer blind to the truth and I cannot stop what has already been set in motion by your father. He wishes me dead, and has for many years. If I return to my desecrated palace, what do you think will be waiting for me there?" Qi said, his voice growing louder as his words got more severe.

It was rare that his master was upset enough to outwardly show it, but hearing the volume of his voice rise so high that it was easily heard over the howling of his wind tornado was something Zen had never thought he'd ever see.

He could tell that Qi's words had a strong affect on Yuen Shui, too, because the man slowly lowered his blade for a moment before realizing his error and lifting it into an offensive position.

"Things would have been better off if you had remained oblivious, but I cannot argue that what awaits you back at your palace is nothing but death," the man said, then sighed as a fragile hint of sorrow found its way into his dark brown eyes. "I did not wish to be the one to end your life, as I hold nothing but respect for the former emperor's son, and one of the best healers known to history, but I cannot allow you to harm my father."

Qi took his own steadying breath as he crouched down slightly and lifted his weapon to rest upon his outstretched hand. As he got into position, Zen felt all of the man's spiritual shields return their energy to him. He would need it since his guard was still using most of his own focus and borrowed light energy to keep his deflecting tornado strong. He wouldn't be able to help him this time.

Zen strengthened his focus as he watched his master begin to channel his energy to form barriers around his vital points. He needed to make sure that no one else could break through his whirlwind barrier while the two fought, but he also wanted to be ready to try and help if he was truly needed.

"Take care of the barrier and watch your master make you proud," Qi said as Yuen Shui suddenly flew forward, his disk of water abruptly fracturing into thousands of tiny ice crystals as he descended down toward the spider's invisible back.

To most, the position he had put himself in would have been an easy chance to try an early counter-attack before he could land and get his footing, but Qi knew better. He set up one of his strongest barriers, because he knew that the little shards of ice would be the least of his worries... Zen knew, too. The man was feared on the battlefield for a reason, and while neither of them had actually seen him fight first hand, they had heard enough of the rumors.

He didn't just rain simple droplets of water and ice down upon his enemies. He rained hell itself down upon them, turning battlefields into rivers of blood.