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The next day arrived, and with it came the anticipation. Everything that I normally did during the day, all the things that had once seemed so interesting were suddenly empty and boring. I walked to the library, picked out the book I'd been reading the day before, and sat down at a large oak table. I read the words on the page, but they seemed hollow and useless. As I thought about Raajin, and how he would be waiting for me after sunset, I didn't want to read anymore. I couldn't concentrate!

Ages passed in those few hours of the day. The sun crept lazily across the sky, in no hurry to get to get to its destination. People came and left, and eventually I decided to go home, since I wasn't getting much work done. All the while I kept seeing his face, his large, powerful body, and the bulge in his black leather pants.

-- they have no sky in the kel forest. myth is that the canopy presses at the boundary of everything, that in the beginning there was only a single plant, the entire universe -- or maybe the 'stone' in the ground. and that as the trees grew, they pushed the boundary of void away, to make room for the kel.

Finally sunset arrived. Orange light lit up the sky, and anticipation sang its nervous little song in my heart. I wore a simple brown shirt, a pair of short pants, and my small sandals.

I stepped out into the early evening air and smiled as I felt how warm it was. I followed the path he had described to me. A dirt road led away from the city and it wound through some trees. It was a lightly forested area. Ahead of me the trees became sparser, and a great lake stretched out for a great distance.

That is where I found Raajin-- standing on the grassy shore of the lake with his back to me. He was in some sort of fighting stance. His knees were bent, fists held up before him.

I leaned against a tall tree and watched him, opting not to disturb him. In one quick, fluid motion, he rise up and kicked three times-- once above his head, then at eye level, then lower, around his waist. He stepped forward, cut into the air with his hands, then spun around in a rapid circle, kicking twice more. I was fascinated, and confused. Was he pretending to fight some invisible enemy? The way he moved his hands and feet was flowing and smooth, and it all seemed very calculated and natural.

Finally he came to a stop, bringing his feet together with his back to me. I wanted to say something to let him know I was there, but I was afraid I might startle him.

And suddenly he spoke, "This is a practice technique my people use for perfecting form and movement."

I jumped. I didn't know he'd seen me. He turned around and tilted his head, looking at me. "You're earlier than I expected," he said.

He wore a dark vest on his upper body. It clung tightly to him, accentuating the V shape of his large frame. His round shoulders, as well as his powerful arms were left exposed. A silken red belt was tied around his waist, holding up his pants. They were dark and wispy, probably also made of silk. They were loose on him, rippling in the breeze. They widened slightly just below his calves, ballooning slightly, and tied tight just above each strong, square ankle.

"I know I'm early," I said. "I wanted to make sure I had plenty time to get here, in case I got lost."

He smiled. "If you had gotten lost, I would have found you." Before I had a chance to respond to that, he turned toward the shore.

"How do you like the lake?" he asked.

I looked out on the rippling waters struck by their elegance and beauty. In the forest where I spent my early life, I had seen many streams, but never such a huge body of water. The sheer size of it alone was breathtaking.

"It's amazing," I said softly. A great forest surrounded the lake on all sides, though the trees seemed denser on the opposite side.

I stepped forward, standing on the shore next to Raajin. There was some quiet time between us then, almost half a minute, while we gazed out at the beautiful landscape.

"Peaceful, isn't it?" Raajin said finally, breaking the lull.

"Very," I replied. "I've never seen anything like it."

"It certainly has a thoughtful atmosphere. I find it very spiritual," he said. He looked at me.

He continued, "The water is surprisingly warm today."

I gazed up at him. His black hair was mostly pulled back, but a few strands fell down over his right eye. "Oh," I said. "Have you been swimming today?"

He smiled. "Not yet, but I am considering it. Would you like to?"

The idea was promising. When I was a boy I used to wade around in some of the deeper streams, but as the years progressed I grew too large to really swim in them.

"I'd love to," I told him, nodding. Memories flooded back from my youth, of splashing around in the cool rushing waters, and walking around naked afterward as I dried off.

I blinked once. Surely Raajin didn't intend to swim in his clothes. I hadn't anticipated seeing him naked! Among my people, nudity is natural and somewhat casual-- we were very comfortable with our bodies.

But as I learned about the Raakh society, I found that they're much more private about such things. Raajin was almost a complete stranger to me, and he was so big!

"I... I'm not sure if I should," I blurted out.

He paused. "Why?" he asked, perplexed.

"Well, it's just... I don't want to get my clothes wet. I mean, among my people, we're not very modest about your bodies, but..." I stumbled along, trying to find the right words.

Raajin grinned. It was an odd grin, a cocky sort of expression I hadn't seen on him before. "Neither am I," he said. With that, he unbuttoned the front of his vest, and pulled it open. He lowered his arms and let the leather piece fall to the ground. He turned to me, naked from the waist up. "Is this going to be a problem?"

I shook my head slowly, trying not to stare. His orange fur faded to milky white down the front of his body. His chest was broad and full, so thick with muscle that his pink nipples pointed at a downward angle. His stomach was a set of six hard, furry rocks. His navel was small, and below it a thin, darker trail of fur ran down his abdomen, disappearing into his pants. He was beautiful, to say the least. My first instinct was to run my hands over him and feel all those intricate, sculpted curves, or just once to feel him wrap his arms around me, enveloping me in the warmth of his strong musculature.

Distractedly I unfastened my cloak and pulled off my leather shirt. I hoped he wouldn't be too disappointed that I was so small in comparison. The warm air touched my slim, boyish body.

Raajin began to untie his red belt. Soon he pulled the knot apart, and let his loose, silky pants fall around his ankles.

My heart began to pound. The white fur from his chest ran all the way down between his legs, spilling over the insides of his thick, powerful thighs. The gentle crease that separated his thigh and stomach ran down, pointing... downy white fur framed his thick member. Six inches of soft, pink manhood rested lightly on two furry testes roughly the size and color of large eggs. They were nestled warmly under the shaft. His member was still soft, and yet, as it had appeared the day before, it was nearly as thick as my wrist.

I was vaguely aware that I had dropped my own pants and stepped out of my sandals.

"Ahh," Raajin said. "I see why your people aren't modest." I looked up at him sheepishly, realizing I was naked in front of him. He looked me over from head to foot. "Are all the Kel as attractive as you?"

I felt heat rush to my face. I tore my gaze from his maleness, and looked up into his eyes. "I... guess I'm fairly average," I said. I also felt a dull throb in my own loins-- my exposed manhood was beginning to thicken. I didn't want to get an erection in front of him; that would be embarrassing, and it might offend him.

Besides all of that, Raajin seemed very mature. Things such as nudity and the condition of the body were minor details to him. It was naive and silly to assume that his casual physical nature indicated some sexual desire for me. What would he think if I couldn't handle that?

"So, are you ready to get wet?" he asked.

I smiled, feeling some relief. The sky was beginning to darken, and in the water nothing would be visible. Forcing myself not to glance down, I said, "Sure."

The next few seconds were a blur. Raajin leaned down toward me. He slid one arm behind my legs, sweeping me off of my feet, while his other curled around my back. He lifted me off of the ground as if I weighted nothing, and he tossed me into the air over the lake.

The thrill of flying lasted for about two seconds before I hit the water. With a great splash I fell, backside first, into the cool waters of the lake, completely immersed. My surprise was so great that I panicked and flailed wildly, until my head broke the surface and I gasped for air.

"R-- Raajin?!" I cried. I looked up at him, and saw he was laughing. He was holding his stomach, which tensed beautifully, as his shoulders shook. The sound of his hearty baritone laughter echoed across the lake.

"I'm sorry," he said, slowly getting control of himself. "I've always wanted to do that."

The water wasn't quite over my head, so I just stood there. Gradually a smile tugged at the corner of my mouth, and then I started to giggle a little.

Then, without warning, he dove into the water. He stretched out arms out before him and his body parted the surface beside me with a smoothness that belied his sharply defined curves. The dark water swallowed him up, and as the small splash rippled the waters, he disappeared. For all his sinew and strength, he could be agile, almost serpentine in his movements.

Gradually I recalled how to tread water. It had been years since I'd done it, but it wasn't terribly hard. Slowly I swam out into deeper water, wondering where he had gone.

I pondered my situation with amazement. Raajin was so dark at times, and I could almost see the killer behind his eyes. When that side of him vanished, however, he became friendly, and playful. The more I got to know him, the more he surprised me.

Suddenly a whispered voice came from behind me.

"Hello."

I couldn't jump, but I was startled. I whirled around in the water. Raajin was treading water before me. Only his head was above the surface, and even in the slowly darkening light I could see the amazing depth of his brown eyes. His fur was wet and sleek, and all of his hair was pulled back.

"How did you break the surface so quietly?" I asked.

"Practice," he told me. "The first rule of staying alive is to be aware of your surroundings. The second is to make sure that no one else is."

That certainly made sense to me. It was very profound. "You are such a fascinating person," I said softly. We spoke in hushed tones, although I didn't know why.

He smiled. "I didn't write the words. I only follow them." He cocked his head and paused. Lowering his voice, speaking in a more solemn tone, he said, "This is my whole life, Lessan. The way of the Dark Claw. It's all that I am. Don't forget that."

I grasped a bit of insight about his personality. He seemed to be telling me that his first priority was his profession, his calling. He loved his life as a warrior more than anything, and I would have to respect that.

I struggled to keep my arms and legs moving. I'd forgotten how tiring swimming could be, and I hadn't gotten much exercise over the past several weeks.

"You do seem very devoted," I said. I sank beneath the surface, and water rushed into my mouth. I quickly kicked my legs faster, despite the burning of my slim muscles. I coughed a little.

Raajin looked concerned. "Are you having trouble?" he asked suddenly.

Just then I sank beneath the waters again. I was overwhelmed, and I wasn't strong enough to keep afloat. I felt Raajin's warm, strong hands slip under my arms. He lifted me up, until my head was above the surface once again.

"I'm sorry," I said, looking down. "I'm not very strong."

The feel of his hands on my body was very pleasant and reassuring, but I was embarrassed that I couldn't keep up with him.

He smiled. "It's alright. Hold on to my shoulders. I can keep us afloat."

I smiled back. I never passed up an opportunity to touch him. Tentatively at first, I reached for his broad shoulders in the water. We moved closer together so I could more comfortably grip him. Beneath my hands his muscles felt firm and warm, tensing as his arms moved to keep us up.

I looked more closely at his face. His eyes were so passionate and full of life that they almost seemed dangerous.

"Thank you," I said, once I felt secure.

He nodded. "Not at all, my friend. I'm used to being in over my head."

We talked for a while then. He told me about being a warrior, and how it felt to live for his profession. Everything he did and felt was influenced by his choice to train himself and follow his goals. He believed that everything around him, above and below, had energy to it. His life was all about experiencing that energy, or 'dancing with the universe' as he put it. It was far more spiritual than I had expected him to be.

Every sentence he uttered was like a gem to me. I watched the way his lips moved, and I kept eye contact as much as I could. He seemed to have no trouble staring into my eyes constantly, the intensity of his gaze boring into me. I tried to reciprocate, but the force of his stare-- even his kind, concerned look, was too strong for me to handle for too long.

Still, he spoke and I listened. I asked a few questions, and he answered easily.

As time passed I became increasingly aware of the closeness of our bodies. I held onto his strong shoulders, and my legs frequently brushed against his. He never seemed to tire, even as the minutes drew on.

"So," I asked him, half-smiling. "Do you always throw your friends into the lake?"

He grinned. "Actually you're the first. It's not everyday that I meet a Kel, and I couldn't resist," he said.

I nodded. There was a span of about a minute then, during which we just stared into each other's eyes without words. It came naturally; we just looked at one another, without feeling obligated to speak. It was a very pure, intimate moment for me. It was the first time I had the strength to meet his gaze for that long.

He broke the silence. "I think we'd better get to solid ground before I run out of energy and we both drown," he said softly.

"I understand," I replied.

He glanced over my shoulder. "Behind you is the other side of the lake. That's where I live. Can you swim that far?"

The sky had grown dark while we spoke, and I could scarcely see the trees in the black of night. "I... think so," I told him.

He slipped back from me, and with a quick smile, he dove beneath the surface. He was only just under the water, so I could see his rippling orange figure rushing away.

I had recovered my strength, so I wasn't worried. I watched him fondly for a moment, and then I followed him. The cool water engulfed me as I slipped beneath the surface again.

I swam forward blindly, with my eyes closed. It was exhilarating to propel forward in the water without looking ahead, plunging into the unknown. A terrific sense of freedom surrounded me, to simply enjoy the rush of forward motion without caution of the future.

It occurred to me that Raajin and I were doing very much the same thing.

Finally my outstretched hands met with pebbles and sand, and my knees rested on the ground. I knelt and broke the surface, gasping in air. I shook the dripping water from my face.

Raajin stood on the shore, looking down at me. Now, seeing him naked was potent; I still had the image of his incredible body in my mind. Seeing him *wet* and naked, however, was quite another matter.

His fur was held sleek, close to his body. I had never seen his muscles so defined before. I could see every line and curve. Rivulets of water streamed down his body, glistening in the fresh moonlight. A drop of water beaded on his right nipple and fell silently from it.

I was about to stand, when I suddenly felt the familiar heaviness between my legs. One again my body was very aroused. Even in the cool water my manhood stood out, rigid before me, beneath the surface. I was glad Raajin couldn't see it.

He smiled down at me. "Come on, let's dry off. I'll show you my home," he said.

Uh oh.

"I... I don't think I should just yet," I managed. I was caught!

He peered down closer at me. He looked concerned. "Why? Are you all right?"

I swallowed hard. I knew it was probably silly to worry. As casual as he was about his body, he likely wouldn't care at all. "Yes," I said. "I umm... I am very much all right."

For moment confusion danced across his face, and then it dawned on him. He shook his head and smirked. "Don't be afraid," he said. "If it's... what I think it is, you won't offend me."

He held out his hand and nodded once, encouragingly. "Come on."

There was such sureness in his voice, such calm certainty that told me I was worried about nothing.

So I slid my hand into his and climbed out of the lake. Water ran from my arms and down my body. It trickled down my heavy maleness and dripped from the red tip. I planted my feet in the grass and stood, facing him.

He looked down at me, letting his eyes trail all over my body. I felt exposed and vulnerable. There was a strange tingling in the pit of my stomach. All of this seemed to further my arousal.

"Yes," he said softly. "That's what I thought." He stared down at my throbbing pink shaft for a moment and then looked back up into my eyes. "You see? We're both men. You don't need to hide it."

His voice was very soft, almost sensual, and suddenly very different from a few moments ago. "And you shouldn't try to hide it. You... have nothing to be ashamed of."

Slowly my gaze fell down between his legs. His member was large, and it rested against his thigh, half-hard. It was beautiful-- dark pink, its smooth, slick surface glistening slightly. The nervous tingling in my gut became stronger as I looked up at him intensely. "Neither do you," I murmured.

We stood there for a moment, staring at one another wordlessly. It was similar to our silence in the water, but there was a different pretext to it. Either he was realizing my attraction to him, or his own to me.

"You're shivering," he murmured softly.

I noticed I was trembling a little-- the air had cooled down since we first swam in the water. The sight of Raajin had become more important to me, pushing thoughts of the cold to the back of my mind.

"It is chilly out here," I said.

"If you dry off, you'll warm up," he said. With that he stepped toward me. He rubbed his big hand up and down my back, effectively brushing away the excess water. "Let's walk through the forest a bit. It's less windy. I was hoping you could tell me more about your people."

I smiled, and a warm sense of pride ran through me. He really wanted to know about me. "I'd love to," I said.

He turned toward the forest, and we began walking. The trees were denser on this side of the lake. A very light, nearly indistinguishable path wound through the woods.

As I walked alongside Raajin, it didn't seem to matter that we were naked. My member was hot and filled with blood, but I no longer wanted to hide it. He had looked at it, and in a way he'd complimented me. So I walked next to him, letting my stiff shaft point out, enjoying the mildly erotic sensation of exposure.

My eyes were trained on him as well. He wasn't as aroused as I was, but his rod was still thick and firm, swaying, pendulous above his furry spheres.

"So, after living your life in a forest, you must feel comfortable here," he said, his eyes cast forward, scanning the ground ahead.

"Actually, the Kel forest, especially Arrillon, is much more lush and alive than this one," I told him. Although it was nighttime and consequently hard to see the beauty of the plant life, it couldn't compare to my home.

Then he asked, "Do you ever feel homesick?"

I sighed. Although the forest we traveled through was dissimilar to my home, I felt a kinship with my surroundings, and yes, it stung my heart that I was so far from my friends and family.

"Sometimes," I replied. "Your country here is very beautiful, but--"

He stopped walking.

I stopped abruptly and looked up at him. Had I said something wrong?

He gazed down at me. In the darkness I could see little more than a tall, striped shadow.

"It isn't my country," he said softly. "We have that much in common. When I was a boy, younger than you, my father and I used to travel all over the northern countries. I never lived in one place for longer than a year."

"Oh," I said. "I didn't mean to--"

"Listen," he cut in. He spoke firmly, but with gentleness. "After he... after my father died, I settled down a few miles from here, with the Dark Claw. Even now I travel constantly."

He rested a hand on my shoulder. "I'm telling you this for a reason. I want you to remember that I know what it's like to leave your home, and to be in a strange place surrounded by people you don't know."

I was speechless. Instead of trying to reply with words, I took his hand from my shoulder, and slipped mine into it. My heart swelled with some warm, overwhelming affection. He understood me. I didn't think any of the Raakh would ever relate to me, but Raajin did.

He didn't pull his hand away. As I held it, he gently squeezed mine. "Come on, we're almost there," he murmured.

We began walking again, hand in hand. I could smell the grass, the trees and the fresh, crisp air. Soothing winds caressed the trees, and they rustled softly together, a sound that used to lull me to sleep as a child. Looking up, my eyes made out a dance in the leaves; the moonlight from above shined down through the canopy, creating fascinating little designs of darkness and light.

We spoke for a while about the Kel, and what it was like to live by ourselves, isolated from outside contact for generations. During the walk, we entwined our fingers, a feeling that sent shivers down my spine.

"It must have been wonderful," he said, "to be totally oblivious to everything outside your world, of all the distractions of advanced society."

I shrugged. "I don't know. To us it felt natural. Until we met your race, we didn't feel like we were missing anything, or that we had any special blessing. It was just our way of life."

"All in the eyes of the beholder," he said quietly, almost wistfully.

We didn't speak for a while; we just plodded along, climbing over the underbrush and ducking for low branches. Our bodies dried off completely from the cool air. Occasionally I felt his tail brush my bare ankle. I looked down as we walked. His large feet stepped firmly on the ground, but with a delicate manner than emphasized his cautious, ever-watchful nature.

We came to a large grassy clearing, and he stopped walking. Slowly he slipped his hand away from mine, and my fingers felt chilly, what I can only call lonely, with his.

Raajin knelt down in the grass and stretched out languidly on his back. He stretched out his powerful legs and placed his hands behind his head.

I knelt in the grass beside him, taking the time to look over his beautiful physique. He looked almost completely different lying down. His stomach was more flat, and different muscles were tensed.

Looking at me, his eyes were kind, and his smile was welcoming. "It's such a tranquil night," he said softly.

I understood what was happening. There was a lull in our activities. We were both tired from walking and swimming, and it felt natural to simply lie down and relax together. I laid down on my side, propping my head up, facing him.

"Yes," I replied. "It's very calm."

While he gazed upward, I looked over his nude body. I had to control myself not to become aroused again, but I wasn't as worried about it.

He sighed deeply, and a long, placid silence followed. Raajin mainly looked up at the stars, and I mainly looked over at him. For a long time I didn't think he noticed.

Then, cutting cleanly into the quiet, he asked me curiously, "Why are you staring at me?" It didn't sound like an accusation. He didn't even look away from the sky. It was simple curiosity.

Again, he'd caught me. "I... don't know," he stammered. "I guess... I'm still getting used to your size. You're so much larger than I am. Even while we were walking, I noticed how much larger your feet are."

He looked down curiously at his feet, flexing his strong toes.

"Perhaps," he said. Looking at me, he grinned. "Let's see."

He rolled onto his side, facing me. Slowly he edged closer. He placed one hand on my chest, and gently pressed me down, onto my back.

A surge of nervousness rushed through me. He slid closer until his body was almost touching mine. I watched him lift his foot and rest it over mine.

"It is larger," he said softly. His feet, like the rest of him, were strong and attractive. They were covered in orange and black fur on top, and the undersides of his toes, the soles and heels were pink, bare of fur. He had five toes, as I did, and they were long and well formed. He rubbed the sole of his foot over the top of mine, and over my ankle as well.

The subtle intimacy of it, that he was deliberately caressing me, excited me. He lay so close to me, and what I wanted most was to cuddle up against him, into the warmth of his arms.

"I guess it makes sense, since you're so much taller than I am," I said. "I would have thought bigger feet would make it more difficult for you to run fast," I said softly.

"No," he replied. "Actually it helps me. The sole of my foot is broad, and it gives me more surface area to push from the ground, as well as to strike a blow to my enemy."

I swallowed hard. My manhood was thickening slowly, and beginning to rise gradually. "I see," I said. "I think mine are meant more for climbing. That's what my people did best."

"They look that way," he said. He smiled and curled his big, strong toes over mine, gripping them gently and tugging on them. It felt warm, and under the circumstances, unmistakably sexual. Each tug sent a mild shiver through my body, and the warmth of his breath on my ear made me nearly melt.

My arousal was becoming more obvious, and I didn't want him to see it. I slowly rolled onto my stomach and looked at him, trying to look casual.

"Thank you for telling me so much about your people," he said, gazing calmly at me. I looked down between his legs, and noticed that his maleness had swelled and firmed visibly. He was making no attempt to hide it. It lay, long and pulsing slightly, on his thigh.

"You're welcome," I replied, a bit quiet. "Your experiences as a warrior are fascinating, too."

He nodded. I was becoming increasingly aware of his openness about his arousal. I tried not to glance down at it, but I did anyway.

"Any time you have a question," he said. "Ask me." He stared intently at me, deliberately. He gave no sign that he knew I was glancing at his member. He was almost expectant, as if waiting for me to react to it somehow.

My first instinct was to reach out and touch it. I had the strangest feeling that if I did, he would have let me. But did I dare?

"And, likewise," I replied absently. Then, with a shiver that ran down my spine, I very slowly rolled onto my side, facing him. My furry balls shifted and lay nestled between my legs. My hard shaft stood straight out in the cool night air. I glanced briefly down to him again, and this time when I looked back at his face and our eyes met, he looked down at mine.

"I really have enjoyed tonight," he said. There was so much tension between us!

"So have I," I replied.

Suddenly he sighed, but there was an unexpected frustration in his eyes. "I wish it could last all night, but... I have a visitor coming later."

My heart sank. I thought he wanted me to stay. I thought the little unspoken game we were playing meant he wanted more. All at once I felt very unsure of myself. Had I imagined all the tension between us?

"Oh," I said simply.

"I'm sorry, Lessan. I only planned for us to have a few hours together; I promised a friend I'd meet him for a sparring match tonight," he said.

I sat up, and turned to look at him. I felt a little better, knowing that he was sparring. At least he didn't have another intimate get-together planned. Of course, I wondered about that as well. Had we really had an intimate moment, or was it all in my head?

I managed a wan smile and said, "That's all right. I'm glad we got together at all tonight." That was certainly true enough.

He sat up as well, and slowly got to his feet. I followed him.

"Thank you for understanding," he said. "I hadn't expected things to go so well. If I'd known, I'd have given us more time."

I stood, naked before him, gazing up into his eyes. "Things did go well, didn't they?" I asked. It wasn't a rhetorical question; I really wanted to know!

He smiled at me, and placed a hand on my shoulder. His eyes were half-lidded.

"Yes, I think they did," he said softly. He slid his hand slowly over my shoulder, and up to the side of my face. He leaned toward me slightly. "And if I'm not mistaken, we both..." He let his voice trail off, and he looked away abruptly.

"It really is getting late," he murmured.

I was startled. I wanted him to finish his sentence, but I also didn't want to press the point. He had been about to say something, but he caught himself.

"Do you want me to walk you back to your things?" he continued. He caressed the side of my neck with his thumb. It sent shivers though me.

I shook my head. "I can find my way, if you'd rather stay here," I said.

"Will I see you again?" he asked.

"I hope so," I said simply. His hand left my shoulder, and I began to walk away.

"Good evening, Lessan," he said. "May your memories of tonight bring you happiness." He was smiling warmly at me. I recognized that as one of his people's expressions.

I smiled back, and made my way back into the forest. Somewhere in the back of my mind, it occurred to me that his clothes were on the other side of the lake, and if he had another visitor, he would most likely be meeting him naked, but that was in the background.

It was none of my business, and I was already too elated with the feeling of having been with him. My heart ached with his presence. The air was charged with clarity, and everything I saw-- the shadows of evening, and heard-- the rustling of leaves, and the cool breeze around me, all seemed to have a distinct flavor. I had gotten a small glimpse of Raajin, and he fascinated me. Not just fascinated. He seemed to beckon to me.

I made my way out of the forest, to the shore of the lake. There I paused for a moment.

The sky stretched on forever overhead, disappearing into the woods as far as I could see. The water's smooth surface reflected the moon and the stars. Their reflections rippled slightly, but otherwise the illusion was perfect.

Curiously, I looked at the moon in the sky, and then down at its twin on the lake. I knew that the mirror image wasn't real, but if I gazed at it, if I tried very hard, I could convince myself for a brief moment that it was.

I suppose there are some things in life that only seem real when the beholder makes himself believe in them. Regardless of how much I insisted to myself that the lake moon was real, it was still only a reflection, empty and flat, as intangible as the eerie light it cast back at me.

It was the same, I believed, with my attraction for Raajin. I knew he was full of passion and wildness, and if I looked at him the right way, I could almost convince myself that he was attracted to me. In the end, however, it seemed to be just a delusion as empty as the moon on the lake.

I replayed the evening and thought of all these things as I made my way back to my clothes. Even amidst all these thoughts, I never thought to ask him with whom he would be sparring.

* * *