Song of the Spring Moon Waning (9 page)

The moon slowly moved across the sky, and at the gate, the guard was changed, but Wen Yu barely noticed. In fact, he only rose from his intellectual haze when Liu Yi set a cup of tea down on the desk next to him.

"How is it going?"

"Well." Wen Yu handed Liu Yi his notes, picking up the cup of tea. "I think I understand the sentence structure now, and some of the words. See, these characters must represent actions." He pointed to a character on the page.

"You've gotten so far." Liu Yi knelt next to him on the mat, reading over Wen Yu's notes, while Wen Yu stretched and drank his tea.

"Not far enough to actually have any sort of idea of what they say." Wen Yu set his cup aside. "But I hope to get further before the moon sets." He took the notes back from Liu Yi and turned his attention to the poems once more.

He expected Liu Yi to leave him as Liu Yi always had once Wen Yu started working. Instead, he scooted around on the mat so that he was sitting with his back braced against Wen Yu's.

"Thank you," he said after a long moment of silence, and Wen Yu looked up.

"What for?"

"For doing this, for working so hard on this. For taking it so seriously."

Wen Yu just shrugged.

"I've been sick my whole life," Liu Yi said, and Wen Yu blinked at the sudden change of topic. "I've seen dozens of doctors. In fact, one of the reasons my parents brought me here and paid for the operation for me to become a eunuch was so I could see the best doctors. None of them have been able to tell me what is wrong; there are medicines I can take which ease the symptoms, but nothing cures me. It occurred to me some time ago that my illness follows the cycle of the moon. When the moon is full, I am at my strongest. As it wanes, my health becomes progressively worse, and during the times when the moon is absent from the sky altogether, I am most often not able to leave my bed."

Wen Yu turned to look over his shoulder, watching Liu Yi. Liu Yi gazed up at the sky where the moon hung, slowly waning, although it would be a while yet before it went dark.

"When I was given these poems, I thought there must be a connection. It can be no other way; they are of the moon, and my illness is connected to the moon, so one must hold the key to the other. If they were translated, I might learn what it is that afflicts me and how to cure it."

Wen Yu sat and reflected on this as Liu Yi leaned back against him and watched the moon. "And what if it doesn't?" he asked finally. "What if they're just poems?"

"Then at least I'll know."

"Would you keep on searching?"

Liu Yi rolled to the side to face Wen Yu. "Of course," he said. "Even if the poems are not the answer to what this illness is, I will continue to look for one." Liu Yi stood, brushing off his robes. "I'll leave you to work, but know that I am thankful." Bending gracefully at the waist, Liu Yi kissed Wen Yu on the lips, a gentle, chaste kiss, before straightening and heading for his rooms.

Wen Yu watched him go until he'd disappeared back into the building, then turned back to his desk.

By the time the sky had begun to gray, Wen Yu could feel exhaustion making his limbs heavy, and the corners of his eyes prickled painfully. He stood and went to find Liu Yi to help him carry the desk and papers back inside. Wen Yu was too tired to talk much as they moved the desk, and he repacked the books of poems back into their box.

"How is your progress?" Liu Yi asked, and Wen Yu gave him a small smile.

"I'll be back tonight." He hesitated for a moment and then dropped a soft kiss onto Liu Yi's cheek.

"You can stay here," Liu Yi said. "Sleep, and I'll make you breakfast for when you wake."

"I need to study." But Wen Yu knew he was too tired to get any work done.

"Come." Liu Yi took him firmly by the hand and led him through the main room to the doorway at the back.

Beyond the door was a small bedroom that contained a few chests for Liu Yi's clothing and a table with combs, hairpins, jewelry, and a polished silver mirror on it. The bed took up most of the room, a heavy wooden thing. It looked more like an alcove then a bed, surrounded by three heavily carved wooden walls with the ceiling made out of a silk canopy. Set into the two side walls were circular cutouts in place of a headboard and footboard, almost like small windows. The one open side of the bed was facing out into the room, and Wen Yu could see it was made up with a silk comforter and pillows.

The bed did look tempting, Wen Yu had to admit. It had been a long time since he'd slept in an actual bed, although the one at his parents' home was not nearly so large. Liu Yi did seem to have many soft-looking pillows too.

"Sleep a little." Liu Yi let go of Wen Yu, smiling at him. "This way, you don't have to bother walking all the way across the city, and I'll have food ready when you wake up. Or would you prefer if I slept with you?"

The idea of Liu Yi curled against him as he slept made Wen Yu feel warm all over, and he looked away. "I really shouldn't stay."

"Please." Liu Yu closed the distance between them, hands framing Wen Yi's face. "Rest a little, at least."

He kissed Wen Yu on the lips and then turned, ducking out of the room. Wen Yi looked from the bed to the doorway and weighed his options. It would be a long trek back to his rooms, and that prospect was becoming less and less appealing by the minute. Finally making up his mind, Wen Yu pulled his robe over his head and, after folding it over one of the chests, climbed into the bed. The silk blankets felt wonderful against his skin, and the pillows were just as soft as they had looked. Wen Yu was asleep as soon as his eyes closed.

He woke to the smell of something delicious and saw Liu Yi lying curled on the bed next to him. Liu Yi was still fully clothed, now in a fresh pair of robes, and lying on top of the blankets, but his hair was down around his shoulders again. He must have sensed Wen Yu watching, because he opened his eyes and smiled.

"Hello."

Stifling a yawn, Wen Yu smiled back. "Hello. How long did I sleep?"

"Almost all day."

When Wen Yu made to roll off the bed, Liu Yi held out a hand, pushing him back down. "You seemed like you needed it, so I thought it best to let you sleep."

"But all day? I shouldn't have intruded that long."

Liu Yi rolled, pushing Wen Yu back against the bed, and straddled his waist. Bending, he kissed him on the lips. The kiss was hard with nothing chaste about it. When Wen Yu made a startled noise, Liu Yi took the opportunity to pry Wen Yu's mouth open and thoroughly explore it with his tongue. Wen Yu's hands settled on Liu Yi's waist, and his eyes fell shut as he let his own tongue press into Liu Yi's mouth in return. They broke apart to breathe only when Wen Yu was on the verge of becoming lightheaded.

"Having you in my bed will never be an imposition." The tip of Liu Yi's tongue darted out to wet, pink lips, his hair falling across his face, and Wen Yu ached with the need to sink his fingers into it and taste Liu Yi's lips again.

There was nothing to stop him from doing either, so he let himself reach up. Liu Yi's hair was soft against his hands, and Liu Yi bent easily into the kiss, lips fitting against Wen Yu's own. When they pulled apart this time, Liu Yi shifted on the bed to pull off his long gray robes. They pooled around him on top of the silk coverlet. Liu Yi was naked underneath his robes, and Wen Yu wondered if he had been planning to seduce him all along. The idea of it made his cheeks heat even as a buzz of pleasure started deep in his belly, spreading down.

Liu Yi's skin was pale under the cloth, his chest slim and soft without the tight muscles of the boys in Wen Yu's village. He ran his hands up Liu Yi's chest, marveling at how soft his skin was, and Liu Yi shivered under his touch. Liu Yi's nipples were small and dark against his pale skin. Wen Yu's eyes flicked between the tantalizing nubs and the pale curve of hip and thigh. He leaned forward to kiss down Liu Yi's chest, pulling him closer, one hand settling on the small of his back just above the swell of his buttocks. Liu Yi's hand fluttered above him, moving from his head to his shoulders, his touch light as Wen Yu tasted the skin of his chest, making a path of kisses over to one tight nipple. He kissed over it, and when Liu Yi sighed above him, murmuring a noise of pleasure, he let his tongue flick out to touch the skin there and suck it into his mouth. Above him, Liu Yu took in a sharp breath, arching into the touch, and Wen Yu drew away, bending over to take the other in his mouth as well.

"Tell me what you want." He sat back and looked up at Liu Yi, hand encircling his slim waist. "Show me how to touch you."

Liu Yi's hand went to cover his where it rested on Liu Yi's hip, tangling their fingers together, and he slid their joined hands between his thighs. He guided Wen Yu's hand past puckered, scarred skin to press against the fragile ridge right between his legs behind where his balls had once been. "Here. Press here hard and rub." Wen Yu did so, and Liu Yi ground down against his hand. "Yes, like that."

Wen Yu stroked across the skin there, keeping his touch firm, making small circles with his fingertips, and Liu Yi leaned against him, kissing the side of his neck and his face. Liu Yi's breathing was ragged now, his fingers pulling at the ties that secured Wen Yu's own hair, causing it to fall around his face. Liu Yi sank his fingers into it, hips rocking and undulating against Wen Yu's hand, pushing into his touch.

Growing bolder, Wen Yu pressed further back, his free hand sliding down from Liu Yi's waist to grip one firm cheek of his ass. The thumb of the hand between Liu Yi's legs brushed against his small puckered hole, and Liu Yi's whole body tensed and then relaxed into the touch.

"Do you want to pierce me there?" Liu Yi's hand encircled Wen Yu's face, and he kissed Wen Yu on the lips, small, light kisses that turned deep and hungry. "Do you want to be inside of me?"

"Yes." Wen Yu had never considered such a thing except as vague passing fantasies that sometimes occupied the space between sleeping and waking. He wanted it now, though, very much. "Yes."

Liu Yi's pressed his fingers to Wen Yu's lips as he knelt across Wen Yu's lap, robes still tangled around his feet and lower legs. "Then we will do that, but not now; there are things I will need to fetch first. For now, touch me." When Wen Yu hesitated, Liu Yi smiled. "You can touch me anywhere, I'm not shy."

Wen Yu pulled him close again, mouth going to the soft skin of Liu Yi's chest. He traced the shape of the rounded muscles and the dips between them with his lips, kissing across first one and then the other of Liu Yi's nipples again. He loved the texture of them, the way they tightened against his lips, making the skin around them feel taught. Above him, Liu Yi carded his fingers though Wen Yu's hair, touching his face, neck, and shoulders.

Wen Yu kissed down Liu Yi's chest, across the small curve of his stomach to the crease of hip and thigh. Liu Yi stiffened as his tongue darted out to taste the skin there, which was faintly salty with sweat. Wen Yu rose up to kneel on the bed, pushing Liu Yi back to lie flat. He spared only a brief thought for his own chest and how it must look, now bared to Liu Yi's gaze. It was not completely flat, as Liu Yi's was, but softer; he was not usually self-conscious about it, but in bed with Liu Yi, Wen Yu could not help but wonder if he had expected or wanted something different. He tried to concentrate instead on Liu Yi's body, spread out for him. He kissed down the curve of Liu Yi's left thigh, feeling the way his muscles tensed as he fought against the urge to close his legs. Liu Yi had said he could touch him anywhere, but Wen Yu sensed his shyness when it came to the scarred skin between his legs. So he kept going, kissing downwards, following the contours and the curves of Liu Yi's leg with lips and tongue.

Pushing himself up on his elbows, Liu Yi watched his progress. When Wen Yu kissed him at the curve on the back of his knee, Liu Yi let out a noise between a gasp and a giggle, falling backwards on the bed and covering his mouth with his hands. Wen Yu smiled against the damp skin and licked the spot with the flat of his tongue, making Liu Yi twist and let out that breathy noise again.

"Stop." Liu Yi was smiling, though, when he took his hands away. "It feels so strange."

"Good?" Wen Yu sat up, cocking his head to one side.

"It's not bad."

"Are you sure you want me to stop?"

Liu Yi gasped and let his head fall back. "No, don't stop."

Wen Yu let out a small, happy hum at the sounds Liu Yi was making. The moans and small gasps coming from Liu Yi caused a pleasurable ache between his thighs. He took Liu Yi's leg in his hands again, fingers tracing the shape of his calf and circling around one delicate ankle. Liu Yi's feet were small, pale and soft in the way of someone who had worn good shoes for most of their life. Wen Yu kissed along the top arch, and Liu Yi gasped, sitting up all the way and staring down at Wen Yu.

"Wen Yu."

"Should I stop now?" Wen Yu asked, hands cradling Liu Yi's foot, lips hovering over where ankle met the top of the foot.

"I …" Liu Yi shook his head, still watching Wen Yu, expression serious. Wen Yu's fingers massaged the sole of the foot, from heel to toe and back up, while his mouth traced the top, leaving light kisses along the curve. He made his way back up to the ankle again, kissing him there.

"It feels good." Liu Yi had fallen against the bed again, back arched, hands covering his face. "Why does it feel so good?"