Dawn broke over the Hidden Lotus Temple. Rui paced outside Jin's room, waiting for the perfect moment when the monks would begin their morning routine.
She'd spent half the night planning this surprise.
"I'll make him breakfast," she declared to Kee Kee, who lounged on her shoulder.
"A proper mortal breakfast. Not that bland porridge they serve."
Kee Kee snorted. "You've never cooked anything in your entire immortal life."
"How hard can it be? I've watched the palace chefs for centuries." Rui flicked her wrist dismissively.
"Besides, I'm a quick learner."
The temple kitchen was empty when they entered, as the monks were at morning meditation.
Rui looked around the humble space with its clay pots, wooden utensils, and stone hearth.
"Where's the spirit-fire?" she muttered, poking at the cold hearth.
"Mortals use actual fire," Kee Kee explained. "Let me help—"
"Absolutely not." Rui pushed him away. "I'm doing this myself. Go guard the door or something."
Grumbling, Kee Kee perched near the doorway. He watched nervously as Rui gathered rice, vegetables, eggs, and dried herbs from a jar.
"Those might be medicine," Kee Kee warned.
"Possible, but they smell so good," Rui said, dumping the ingredients into a pot of water.
She finally lit a small fire after struggling with the flint and steel. But the flames were weak and barely warmed the pot.
"This is taking forever," she grumbled. She looked around, then whispered an incantation.
Her fingertips glowed with pink energy as she tapped the bottom of the pot.
"Just a little boost..."
The water boiled instantly, bubbled, and turned a deep, alarming purple. Smoke billowed upward, forming a face with glowing red eyes.
"Hello, little princess," the smoke rumbled. "How kind of you to summon me."
"I didn't summon anything!" Rui protested, backing away as the smoke creature grew larger.
"You used chaos magic in a sacred kitchen. That's an invitation," the smoke creature laughed.
The kitchen door slammed open. Jin stood there, prayer beads already glowing between his fingers.
"Rui! Get back!" He rushed forward, chanting a banishment spell.
"Oh, stop being so dramatic," Rui waved her hand dismissively at the smoke demon.
"I'm trying to cook breakfast here!"
The smoke demon blinked. "Wait, this isn't a battle?"
"No. Go bother someone else," Rui said firmly.
The smoke entity's fiery eyes widened in surprise. Its swirling form paused mid-expansion, then drooped like a deflating balloon.
"But... I was summoned properly," it protested, voice losing its menacing echo.
"Sorry to disappoint." Rui placed her hands on her hips.
It sighed, a puff of gray dissipating into the air.
"Fine. But you're missing out on some excellent demonic cooking tips."
The smoke demon swirled once more before dissolving completely, leaving only the faint smell of burnt spices and wounded pride behind.
Kee Kee hopped onto the counter, examining the purple sludge bubbling in the pot.
"This is why demons don't cook."
"We're creatures of destruction, not creation. Especially you."
A glob of half-cooked rice sailed through the air, hitting Kee Kee in the face.
He tumbled backward with an indignant squeak.
"That's for doubting me," Rui muttered.
Jin stepped carefully around a puddle of purple goo, his expression shifting from alarm to bewilderment.
"What exactly were you trying to do?" he asked, eyeing the chaos.
"I'm trying to make you breakfast."
"A proper one, not that tasteless gruel you monks eat." She gestured at the mess.
Jin's face softened, a flush creeping up his neck. "You... wanted to make me breakfast?"
"Don't look so shocked." Rui tossed a ladle into the sink with more force than necessary.
"I'm capable of gratitude."
"I'm not shocked by the gratitude." Jin grabbed a cloth and began wiping purple residue from the counter.
"Here, let me help clean this up before Elder Sun sees it and has another reason to banish you."
They worked in silence, Jin methodically scrubbing purple residue from the stone counters while Rui attempted to salvage what remained of her dignity.
With furious determination, she attacked a particularly stubborn stain on the ceiling, standing on tiptoe and muttering curses under her breath.
"I can't believe a smoke demon dared to manifest in my breakfast," she grumbled, flinging a rag into a bucket of water.
"In the Underworld, I'd have had it scrubbing pots for a century."
Jin tried to keep a straight face. "The temple's spiritual energy tends to react... strangely to certain influences."
Rui narrowed her eyes. "Are you calling me an influence?"
She turned sharply, hands on her hips—only to realize she had purple goo smeared down the front of her robes.
Her hair was sticking to her face, and a suspicious blob of egg yolk clung to her cheek like a badge of shame.
Jin's eyes widened as he took in her appearance. "You look like you fought the breakfast and lost."
"How observant of you," Rui said dryly.
Rui looked down—sticky goo on her sleeves, a clump of rice in her hair, egg yolk on her cheek.
"This is unacceptable. I need a bath."
"The monks use the washing area behind the—" said Jin
"I am not using communal bathing facilities," Rui interrupted with horror.
"I saw that creek we passed yesterday. The one with the little waterfall."
Jin's face flushed. "The waterfall? That's where the monks meditate."
"Perfect. No monk will be there now, and the water looked clean." Rui was already heading for the door.
"You're coming with me."
"What?" Jin nearly dropped the bucket he was holding.
"To stand guard. I don't want any curious temple boys getting an eyeful of royal demonic skin." Rui clarified, rolling her eyes.
"Well? Are you coming?" She paused at the doorway.
Jin looked torn between propriety and concern. "This is highly irregular."
"So was summoning a demon for breakfast. Today is full of surprises." Rui gestured impatiently.
The path to the creek led through tall willow trees, their branches creating a curtain of green. Jin walked ahead, avoiding eye contact. Rui grumbled about her ruined robes.
When they reached the creek, the water sparkled in the morning light, cascading gently over smooth stones into a clear pool surrounded by moss-covered rocks.
Jin turned his back immediately, facing the forest.
"I'll keep watch from here," he said, voice tight with forced formality.
"Such a gentleman," Rui teased, already unfastening the sash of her outer robe. The silk whispered as it fell to the ground, followed by her second layer.
Jin swallowed hard, focusing intently on a particularly uninteresting tree. The rustling of fabric continued behind him, then the soft splash of water.
Despite his better judgment, he glanced over his shoulder.
Rui had waded into the creek, water lapping at her waist. She'd kept her innermost layer of silk, now translucent where it clung to her skin.
Jin knew he should look away. Every teaching, every monastic rule demanded it.
Yet he stood transfixed.
Rui cupped water in her hands, letting it run down her neck. The morning light shimmered around her.
"See something interesting, monk?" Rui called, catching his gaze.
Jin's face burned. "I'm... ensuring your safety."
"Of course you are." She laughed, then grew unexpectedly quiet, her fingers trailing through the glowing water.
"Thank you, Jin."
"For what?"
"For always being there for me. Even when I'm..." she gestured at herself, water droplets scattering from her fingertips, "a complete disaster."
Jin stepped closer to the water's edge, prayer beads clutched tightly in his hand.
"You're not a disaster." His voice softened. "You're just... you."
Rui turned towards Jin, vulnerability replacing her usual mask of confidence.
Their eyes met as she moved toward him, water streaming down her skin, the glow of the creek making her appear almost ethereal.
"That's very kind of you, Jin," she whispered.
Jin's breath caught as she drew nearer. The distance between them seemed to shrink with each heartbeat.
Her eyes, bright with emotion, locked with his. Jin leaned forward, as if drawn by some invisible force.
"Oh, come on! Just kiss already, this is making my fur frizz!"
Kee Kee's shrill voice shattered the moment, echoing across the water.
The tiny demon stood on a rock at the creek's edge, tiny paws on his hips, looking thoroughly disgusted with their hesitation.
"If I wanted to watch awkward eye contact, I'd spy on the meditating monks."
Rui burst into laughter, throwing her head back. Sunlight danced on the water droplets.
"Always the romantic, aren't you?" she called to Kee Kee, who huffed and turned his back dramatically.
Jin's face blazed crimson. He spun away so quickly he nearly lost his footing on the mossy bank, mumbling something about "improper" and "meditation" under his breath.
"I'll... wait for you... over there," he stammered, pointing vaguely towards some trees before practically fleeing to a safe distance.
Rui emerged a few minutes later, robes clean but damp. She'd pinned her hair up, soft curls framing her face.
The walk back was quiet. Jin kept his distance, eyes on the path.
Rui stole glances at his profile, noting the lingering flush on his cheeks, the way his fingers fidgeted with his prayer beads.
As they neared the temple, Rui noticed something odd. Jin's prayer beads, which usually glowed soft blue, were pulsing red.
The crimson light slipped between his fingers like blood.
She opened her mouth to ask, but stopped when she saw his face.
He looked distant and troubled, as if wrestling with some internal storm.