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Chapter 17: Dancing With Fire

The walk back to the Fire Temple was a rather silent one. And, yes, Masou still had a firm hold on Keahi’s wrist and didn’t appear ready to relinquish it anytime soon.

“Hey,” Masou said suddenly as they walked along the long sandstone trail near the back entrance of the temple. “I can’t help but notice you seem to admirer Bharath quite a bit.”

Keahi gave a small smile at the mentioning of his friend. “Oh, well, Bharath is so good at everything,” he explained, giving a light one shoulder shrug. “Sometimes I feel inadequate around him.”

Keahi then paused and did a quick survey of the area, hoping that Bharath wasn’t around at the exact moment. He didn’t want Bharath to know he felt like that and turned back to Masou. “Don’t tell him I said that,” he asked quietly.

“You shouldn’t feel inadequate,” Masou said as he tugged him moving again. “Bharath is just like you; human. He wouldn’t like the thought of being placed on a pedestal, would he?”

“No, not at all,” Keahi answered with a shake of his head as the stepped inside the Fire Temple. “He’s quite humble.”

As they moved further into the temple, Keahi spotted Bharath at a distance, noting that he was seemingly performing some administrational duties, carrying a stack of folders and scrolls in his arms. They looked kinda heavy and Keahi was about to call out his name, ready to ask if he needed any help.

Suddenly, though, Masou lifted his hand and pressed a finger to his lips, signalling to Keahi to be quiet. Curious, Keahi did what he was indicated and watched as Masou let go of his wrist and snuck up behind Bharath with such stealth that Bharath had no idea he was being followed, too busy going about his tasks.

Then Masou did something that took Keahi totally by surprised, Bharath even more so. He suddenly launched himself at Bharath, practically jumping on the unsuspecting priest and wrapping his arms around him from behind. Bharath let out a cute but highly undignified ‘Wah!’ and threw the papers he was holding into the air before they crashed to the floor loudly.

“Gotcha!” Masou announced cheerfully as Bharath flailed about for a moment, his heart no doubt fluttering wildly in his chest from the surprise.

“M-mister Masou?!” Bharath spluttered loudly in a rather high-pitched voice and Keahi’s hand flew up to cover his mouth, hiding a laugh and a smile. He had never seen Bharath so frazzled before. He was usually so poised and dignified, untouchable in his class. But seeing him now, his hair messy, his cheeks covered in a blush, his eyes wide in shock; it made him seem more real.

Made him human.

It was rather funny, Keahi had to admit. And, surprisingly, he didn’t feel a sense of jealously like he had when Masou was first introduced to Bharath. Masou knew that Bharath was with Brendis, so wasn’t doing it to get close to him. He was simply doing it because he could and wanted to remind Keahi that Bharath was indeed human. And he didn’t want to be placed on a pedestal.

But what made it even funnier was the thought that Brendis would be so utterly mad if he happened across Masou and Bharath like they were.

Perhaps, though, it would be better that he didn’t. He was trying to beat the snot out of him as he was, imagine what he would try to do from possessiveness?

“I’m hungry,” Masou whined as he rested his chin on Bharath’s shoulder, slumping over his back in a comical manner.

Bharath had stopped flailing now and was simply frozen to the stop, still looking frazzled as he looked at Masou from the corner of his eye. “Ah…”

“Keahi tells me you can cook,” Masou carried on, either totally oblivious to Bharath’s discomfort or simply didn’t care. Somehow, Keahi thought it was the latter of the two.

“I have been domesticated, yes,” Bharath replied to answer, still not entirely sure what to make of the situation.

“Domesticated,” Masou repeated with a humorous snort. “That’s so cute.”

Bharath blushed crimson. “Oh, ah…”

“Masou,” Keahi called out, taking pity upon his friend’s embarrassment. “I think you should get off him now.”

Masou pouted, but did as he was told, easily removing his arms from around Bharath and taking a step back. He lifted his arms and folded them casually behind his head, totally unfazed by what he had just done while Bharath appeared to still be swimming in a state of frazzled bewilderment.

“I’m sorry, Bharath,” Keahi apologised to his gentle friend.

Bharath blinked, his hands flying up in order to smooth out his hair. “Master Keahi?”

“Only if it’s not too much trouble,” Keahi said with a shy smile. “We are kinda hungry.”

Immediately, Bharath returned to his gracious self, straightening his posture and smoothing out his priestly robes. “Oh, of course.”

“I really appreciate it,” Keahi said as he bent down to help Bharath pick up the papers that he dropped when Masou tackled him.

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The food was exquisite as it usually was, Bharath happily preparing food for not only Keahi, but Masou as well. Masou enjoyed the meal as well, announcing that it was officially the best thing he had ever tasted, which earned yet another blush from Bharath, who on the other hand seemed comically wary of Masou now. Fearful that he might be crash-tackled again, it seemed.

Of course, Keahi couldn’t guarantee that it wouldn’t happen again. Masou was so unpredictable at the best of times.

Bharath’s wariness only increased when Brendis appeared half way through the meal and the Fire Guard looked slightly annoyed to put it lightly. He immediately turned on Masou, telling him that he had no right to take advantage of Bharath like he was and who the hell he thought he was. Masou, however, was unfazed and simply shoved a bit of food into Brendis’ mouth, telling him that he’ll need a lot of food to keep that passionate personality up.

It was nearly war after that Bharath had to separate the two, giving Brendis this serious look that immediately quietened him down. Keahi didn’t really say or do too much as he was too busy trying to stop himself from laughing about loud. He also wondered if someone told him about the, ah, surprise attack Masou sprung on Bharath.

From the way Brendis was giving Masou the evil eye and sticking close to Bharath (he even discreetly took a hold of his hand under the table), Keahi hazard a guess that someone did. And as he and Masou left after having their fill, after thanking Bharath immensely, Keahi glanced over his shoulder to see Bharath trying to explain something to Brendis, his hands held in front of him in a pacifying manner. Brendis still looked annoyed, his eyebrow twitching. He didn’t know what happened after that, but he was pretty sure he could guess.

They were so cute together; Keahi was still amazed he didn’t see what was between them before. But then again, perhaps they were keeping their fondness for each other a secret? After all, some of the Fire Council believed that it would be best that a Fire Priest didn’t fall in love.

Their duty was to the Fire God, no one else.

He was currently outside, sitting on a slight grassy hill overlooking the ocean. Masou was with him, of course, lounging in the grass, looking up at the sky.

Suddenly, Masou sat up, spitting out the blade of grass he was chewing on. “It’s perfect!”

Keahi furrowed his brow in confusion. “What’s perfect?”

“The time,” Masou simply said as he stood up tall, stretching his arms over his head. “It’s time.”

“Time for what?”

Masou lowered his arms and grinned down at him, his hands moving to rest on his hips. “What do you think?”

A sense of dread made its way into the pit of Keahi’s stomach. “…You’re kidding?”

Fire Dancing…?

“Nup!” Masou said cheerfully before he leaned down and grabbed Keahi by the arm, swiftly and easily pulling him to his feet. He then took his hands in his and pulled him down near the shore line. “Come on, dance with me!”

Keahi stumbled along after Masou, holding onto his hands tightly so he wouldn’t fall. “I don’t know how.”

“It’s easy,” Masou said as they stumble onto the sandy beach and he let go of one of Keahi’s hands. Unexpectedly, he summoned his Spell Binding Circle. Quickly, flames encircled them both in a brilliant and warm barrier and Masou moved to take a hold of his hand once again, pulling him closer to him so they were nearly chest to chest.

Keahi blushed lightly at the closeness between them but made no attempt to move or break the contact.

“Watch the flames,” Masou instructed as he pushed forward and pressed his forehead tenderly against Keahi’s. “There is no rhythm, and yet they move so beautifully. We can do the same. Come, follow me.”

“Masou...” Keahi murmured, but all protest was lost when Masou suddenly pulled him into his arms and spun him around. Keahi tripped along after him and was pretty sure that he stood upon the other man’s feet a couple of times.

Soon, and much to his surprise, Keahi was able to find his feet and was following Masou through the dance. The taller man laughed as he led Keahi through another turn, lifting their joined hands over his head and allowing him to spin in an elegant manner.

“That’s it,” Masou said joyously. “Can you feel the passion, the sensuality that is the flames? Let yourself go and just feel.”

Keahi felt a smile slip across his lips and found himself loosening up and having fun for the first time in his life. He wasn’t concerned who might see him or what others would think if they should, he was enjoying the moment. It was…liberating.

“It’s so warm,” Keahi said as Masou pulled him into his arms again.

“Yes,” Masou agreed.

They continued to dance for a moment, Keahi allowing his eyes to close and simply enjoy the freedom of movement, Masou matching him and keeping up effortlessly. Keahi could feel Nootau Chatan gently touch his mind and knew that his Fire Beast was also appreciative of the freedom he was currently feeling.

If only he could stay like this for a bit longer.

“So, I’ve been thinking,” Masou broke the comfortable silence between them. “If the Fire Princess wasn’t around or you were somehow placed in a position that you could do whatever you want, what would you do?”

“Huh?” Keahi at first muttered as Masou guided him out of a turn. He was then silent for a few moments, thinking about that question carefully. Truthfully, he had never thought about what would happen if Flamenca was no longer the Fire Princess.

“Ah, well…I guess my main focus would be for the people of Fire Island,” Keahi finally said. “I understand that it’s not possible to give them everything they could want or need, but I do think it’s important that they are listened to. After all, the Fire Kingdom would not exist without them, right?”

“The Fire Kingdom is like a boat and the people the sea,” Masou said sagely. “They can either help you sail on or bring you down. They shouldn’t be underestimated.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Keahi agreed with a smile, happy that Masou seemed to understand. “It would be great if we could somehow get the people to voice their opinions, but…” his smiled quickly faded though. “But it’s not possible with the Fire Kingdom the way it is. Flamenca is so stubborn, she won’t listen to anyone. Her parents were never like that.”

“Still, it’s good to think about your people like you do,” Masou said optimistically.

“Yeah, not that there is anything I can do about it,” Keahi muttered under his breath.

At that point they had slowed in their dancing, Keahi resting one hand on Masou’s shoulder as his other was being held gently in Masou’s much larger hand, who had his other hand resting on the small of Keahi’s back. They continued to move, their bodies swaying to an unheard melody.

“You know,” Masou started in a serious and somewhat wise tone of voice. “Every thought that you think that is directed toward what you want for the future, yours or that of your people, is of great benefit to you. And every thought that you are thinking about your future you do not want is a disadvantage to you.”

Keahi frowned lightly. It sounded something like what Nootau Chatan had said to him earlier in the day. “I don’t quite understand.”

Masou shrugged and gave him a bright smile. “That’s just a fancy way of telling you to keep a positive outlook. There’s no point thinking about bad things that may not come true. And if they are to come true, what’s it going to achieve thinking about them? Nothing! It’s a waste of time.”

Keahi allowed a small laugh to pass his lips and nodded his head. “That’s true. But it’s easier said than done.”

“Anyway, let’s not think about that anymore,” Masou said as he pulled Keahi abruptly against his chest, lifting him up off the ground. “Let me see what you can do!”

“M-Masou!” Keahi’s laugh echoed easily over the crackling flames of the protective fires around them.

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