Masuka

Min followed the other man through the winding corridors of the palace. When they reached a room that Minho opened, upon his initial glance Min knew right away where they were. “This is another healers room…” He mumbled, suddenly feeling worried, like as if he was doing something wrong. He knew he wasn’t stealing, he had been given permission, but he also knew how upset he would be if someone else had gone rummaging through his things. “Are you sure this is alright?” Min asked hesitantly. He slowly and very carefully sifted through the various jars that were on a bookcase, being extra careful to not drop anything. When he found what he was looking for, he sighed with relief. “Oh good.” Min was able to find a smaller jar to take only a little bit, he didn’t want to take the entire jar after all. Turning back to Minho he smiled. “Thank you! Thank you so much…” his gaze was down on the jar in his hands that he clutched tightly. 

Minho felt that he was doing a good deed by helping out this other guy, but he still was curious what the plants were needed for. “You’re welcome. But if you don’t mind, since I did you a favor, what do you need them for?” Minho wasn’t about to play games so he asked the other male point blank. “I know you’re a healer obviously but someones life isn’t in danger is it?” If there was something serious going on he wanted to know. He was Prince Boram Park’s guardian after all and he needed to make sure the prince was safe. “I can walk you back to wherever you have to go. You shouldn’t go alone.” Minho knew there were threats of mists infiltrating this magical country and if there was going to be some sort of attack, he was going to be the first one on the battle fields. 

Natalia nodded with a smile. “Tomorrow sounds perfect.” It was a nice feeling of making friends with someone new, especially given that they were both into working out. As she entered the gym, she already began feeling refreshed. As she stepped onto one of the treadmills her mind drifted, unfocused, wondering what he was doing earlier in the day.

The Next Day

Yeongjae grinned big at her question. “Sure. Are you free tomorrow?” Although she was barking up the wrong tree, Yeongjae appreciated the flirtatious nature of the young woman. It always felt nice to be flirted with, it was in its own way a compliment. “I can meet you tomorrow afternoon, say 3 o clock? I have something going on earlier in the day.” Afternoon should be safe. That way it didn’t seem like a date or at least he hoped. 

Jun-pyo was surprised the stranger knew his status. “Have we met before?” As the other spoke of the lovely weather he nodded and looked around the different bushes in the gardens. “Yeah, I couldn’t stand that stuffy room anymore. I dont know if the meeting is still going on or not. I left it early.” Jun-pyo let a sigh escape his mouth as he shook his head in minor frustration. “The entire situation with the Mists is frustrating. The fact that we have to live here as prisoners is frustrating.” Clearly, he was not a fan of Aina, regardless of its beauty. He missed his home. 

Yeongjae laughed a little and shook his head. “No, I should be the one apologizing. I’m the one who ran in to you.” He noticed she was dressed in workout clothes, and obviously since she was walking into the gym he assumed she was going to work out there and not an employee of the gym. “You come to this gym often? I just moved to Aina recently and this place is like my second home now.” Offering her a sweet smile he held the door open for her. 

Minho was glad he finally knew who the guy he was speaking with was. “A healer? Ah. I see. That makes sense then...” He half spoke to himself out loud, realizing that must be why he was out so late in the garden. Minho hoped that everything was alright, the other guy didn’t really seem desperate so it didn’t seem like anyone was severely hurt or that their life was on the line. Though then again he did seem really upset about the loss of flower petals... “Is everyone okay? I mean, is this some kind of emergency?” Minho was a little concerned to take the things from the healer in his own palace, but he wanted to make it up to the guy. “Nice to meet you, Minjae. You can call me Minho. I’m Price Boram Park’s guardian.” The healer with the light pink hair seemed harmless enough to him, especially being a healer, since they weren’t trained in combat like he was. This is why Minho felt it was okay to tell Minjae his name and position. He didn’t feel like the other guy was a threat. They walked only about five minutes before reaching the palace. The healer’s room was a few corridors down from the entrance they came through. Once they got there, Minho simply opened the door. He didn’t expect anyone to be inside, and he was right, the room was empty. “Okay. Go ahead... just take what you need. and only what you need.” Averting his gaze as if to avoid watching Minjae commit a crime, he stood by the door, his voice firm. 

There was something about the warmth and kindness that emanated from the woman nearest him. When she spoke it sounded melodic and sweet. Jun-pyo was instantly drawn to her. “Please, don’t apologize. You’ve nothing to apologize for.” Other than being so beautiful... He smiled as he spoke to her, silencing his thoughts. “My day is better now.” Jun-pyo practically had to rip his gaze off her so that he wouldn’t appear creepy. “You must have been lost in thought...?” He had noticed how startled she was when he spoke to her initially and wondered what had been on her mind. 

Embarrassed that he nearly started crying, frustration started brewing inside. Who was this man? He was being so mean! What did it matter what he wanted the herbs and petals for!? Anger bubbled inside Min’s mind. “I said. This is a public garden!” Min’s voice was firmer this time, ire hinged to his words. After he had finished gathering what he could from the ground he stood up again with his basket. “I don’t owe you an explanation what I need them for!” He shouted. Min tried to focus on the anger he was feeling so that he could push back the sadness. No way was he really about to start crying in front of this man. “I can’t go to the store tomorrow. I need them for tonight! Why do you think I’m out here in the middle of the night if it could have waited until tomorrow?!” Min let out a sigh of frustration. He didn’t think he would be getting anywhere with this. Now that his petals were lost it would be hard to make the tea but he really didn’t feel like spending more time gathering more petals, especially not with this stranger lurking about. 

Minho was surprised by how angry the other man appeared to get. I mean after all, it wasn’t his fault his basket spilled. Minho was about to just ignore him and turn back around, but then he remembered him saying that this was not Prince Boram Park’s palace gardens. So now he felt a little bad for scaring the other guy. “Okay well if you just tell me what it was for maybe I could help you?” He sighed. Minho wanted to get back to mapping the lay of the land for Prince Boram Park’s palace grounds. He only offered to help because he felt bad the other guy had spilled the petals. “I think we have some herbs and such in Prince Boram Park’s palace. Just tell me what you need, okay? I can get some for you. I’m sure they wont mind.” He hoped the guy would just say yes so he could finish this task and move on about his business. 

When the stranger accused him of stealing, Min’s eyes widened. “What!? I-I wasn’t stealing!” He was actually quite intimidated by the other man, and he was so shaken up by the accusation that he nervously dropped his basket which held the petals and herbs. The herbs spilled out, as did the petals, which were now all strewn about the dusty pathway. He had been out here for the last hour and a half searching the plants with only the illumination of the moon to guide him, so it took much longer for him to find what he needed than it would have if it was light out. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. Min was easily frustrated and could fall apart rather quickly. He did his best to hold the tears back, though, he hated crying in front of other people. Min avoided looking at the other man as he got down on his knees to pick up the herbs. The petals were lost though, he would need to pick those again. Moonlight illuminated his figure, he was wearing sweatpants, a hoodie, and no shoes. This was typical of Min, he often walked around barefooted. “And also, y-you’re wrong… this isn’t Prince Boram Park’s garden… i-its a public garden…” His voice was quiet as he spoke, Min hated confrontations. 

Minho did not realize he was that intimidating to the other guy and felt bad, especially when he dropped the basket and its contents spilled. “What? What do you mean this is a public garden?!” Minho believed the other guy was telling the truth, he looked too soft to lie. But then again, if he was being honest why was he so easily startled? This did not make sense to Minho. Most men he knew would hold their ground in the face of a stranger. But then again, he was a guardian so it was natural for him to act this way. The other guy didn’t seem like he was a guardian. Minho watched the guy attempt to pick up everything he dropped. “What do you need those for anyways? It’s late. Just go to the store tomorrow.” 

Full Moon || open.

Min had been walking though the gardens to collect herbs and petals to make a special tea since he had been feeling ailments recently. He didn’t know if it was due to the stress of moving or if it was due to something he had eaten and maybe wasn’t used to the bacteria in Aina yet. Either way, he had run out of the things he needed and since it was late at night the shops were closed, but he knew the gardens had what he needed. Min was more of an herbal healer, he had special healing abilities but he also was fascinated with botany. When he heard the footsteps he didn’t think much of it seeing as how it was a public garden he was in. Min was being very quiet so he figured no one would even notice him. When he heard someone call out asking who’s there, a wave of anxiety washed over him. “H-hello…I-I’m just gathering some herbs…” Min stepped out into the beam of moonlight, praying it wasn’t one of the Mists.

Minho’s hand was on the sword that was at his side - he was always ready. The voice coming from the stranger sounded timid and meek. He realized the other man was not a threat. Minho relaxed his stance but he did not understand what this guy was doing on his turf. “You know you’re in Crown Prince Boram Park’s private garden, don’t you?” Minho still did not realize he was in a public garden. “Why are you stealing?” Minho was quick to assume. If he was going to be a royal guardian for the prince he was going to protect not only the prince but also everything that belonged to the prince.