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Chapter 9: Start of a New Day

As the first morning rays entered his bedroom, the gentle streams of light filtering upon his bed, Keahi slowly opened his eyes and stretched, feeling refreshed and oddly restful, a feeling he hadn’t felt since his cousin became Fire Princess. He was reluctant to fall into a deep sleep in fear that she might try something while he was sleeping.

A little bit mistrustful, probably, but he wouldn’t put it passed her.

Sitting up in bed, he cast a quick glance around his room, hoping to estimate what the time could be. His bedroom held no glass windows or doors that lead to the outside as the weather on Fire Island was always warm and sunny, so there was no need for them. So from the cool morning breeze wafting through the windows, it told him it was still early morning.

Good, he didn’t like to sleep in for very long.

However, as he took a moment to remember if he had anything planned for the day, he felt a slight frown touch his features as flashes of images of his dreams. They were rather unusual last night. In all his years, well for as long as he could remember, he had never dreamt about the liquid streams of lava that will one day erupt from the volcano Obsidian. But it was peaceful, warm and reassuring even. The hot rivers of liquid lava flowed in a single path, guided toward the oceans by the cooled lava rock. In his dreams, it was night, only the light of the lava shone surprisingly like candlelight; gentle and comforting.

He didn’t know what to make of these dreams or if they were a sign from the Fire God. But a part of him thinks that it was perhaps of what had happened to him yesterday.

Yesterday’s events were certain...eventful, for a lack of a better word.

And as Keahi climbed out of bed to ready himself for the day, he can’t stop thinking about them. Or more specifically, about that rather unusual but handsome man called Masou. He felt somewhat familiar, and yet someone who felt powerful, his presence alone making you take notice.

But despite all that, he didn’t feel threatening.

He actually felt kinda...safe.

Being the Peace Keeper, Keahi didn’t give his trust or interest to just anyone and there were only a few people he could honestly say he felt safe with. Bharath and Brendis had been with him for as long as he can remember, so they earned his trust through small acts and just being there when he needed them.

But he felt that he could trust Masou.

Sure, the taller man had saved him from a potentially fatal encounter with a small group of bandits, but trust doesn’t come about from one event. It takes time to earn his trust, and he trusted this man to keep him safe. There was just something in his eyes, in his mere presence, that reassured Keahi that he could trust him.

It was a strange feeling; he had never felt anything quite as confusing before.

Keahi hadn’t told Bharath or Brendis about his incident with the bandits for he knew that they would only fuss over him while apologizing for not being there to help him. The looks of guilt he would receive for the next few days were not something he wanted to endure.

Besides, they weren’t able to do anything, so there was no point in mentioning it to his friends, was there?

Suddenly, Keahi heard a noise that sounded like a grunt. Startled, he spun around and looked toward his open balcony of his room. A sense of fear gripped at his heart when not a moment later an arm appeared, followed by another, two large hands grasping at the railing. And then, a mop of blue hair popped up and a wide, mischievous smile spread across a becoming all too familiar face.

“There you are!” An overly cheerful voice exclaimed before heaving his body up to crouch on the balcony railing, looking much like a playful kitten. “I’ve been looking for you!”

“Masou!” Keahi spluttered, an expression of blatant surprise adorning his features. “W-what are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to see you, obviously,” Masou replied, his grin never faltering as he let himself stand on the balcony, unfazed by the fact that Keahi’s bedroom was three floors from the ground.

How in the world did he climb up?

Suddenly, a heated blush spread across Keahi’s cheeks like a wildfire as he remembered a specific event from yesterday. After Masou had escorted him back to the Fire Temple, he wouldn’t leave until Keahi promised that they would spend the day together.

TODAY together.

“You were serious?” Keahi found himself mumbling in surprise. This man actually wanted to spend time with him?

“Why shouldn’t I be?” Masou simply asked, looking all too bright and bubbly. “Come on, I told you we were going to train together now.”

Then, without giving Keahi a chance to react, Masou grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him out of his room and through the many halls of the Fire Temple...without even a hint of fear of whether or not the other Fire Priests would approve of his presence.

“Let’s go!” Masou said cheerfully. “It’s a too nice of a day to spend time inside.”

“Can I least put my shoes on?” Keahi spluttered as he stumbled along behind the taller male, his shoes hanging loosely in his hands.

They were nearly through the main doors when a voice called out, calling Keahi’s name and causing Masou to stop suddenly, Keahi crashing into the back of him with a soft ‘oof!’

“Master Keahi?”

It was Bharath.

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