Wuju

"Do you have a place to stay at Raon?"

"If not, Raon can stay with Tian and me until we can find something for him."

Raon looked at Jiu and nodded. Then he looked back at me, but he didn't look happy.

"That's okay, Jiu. Raon can stay with me."

"Are you sure? I know how you like to be alone out here."

"I'm sure, or I wouldn't say so."

That's when I saw a small smile on Raon's lips.

"Come in. I just got the fires started. I need to start a fire in Raon's room so he will be warm tonight."

Jiu just looked at me and smiled. I rolled my eyes at Jiu and looked at Raon. Raon was looking down, but I still could see the smile.

"This way, Raon, I'll show you your room."

Raon followed me to his room, which was next to mine downstairs.

"You don't stay upstairs?"

"No, this has been my room since I was a kid. So, I just keep the rooms upstairs clean and shut for now. I was always told the rooms upstairs were for married people and their children. So now that it's my turn to take over Ghost Farms, I'm trying to keep it like it's always been."

"Oh."

"You can settle in while I check on dinner and talk to Jiu before he leaves.

I will be back to start the fire in here. It's a bit tricky."

"Okay."

Raon

As I moved into the old room I once lived in, I looked over to the fireplace. I walked over and started the fire. I looked into the fire, and I lost track of time. I started to remember old times here.

"You didn't need me after all."

The voice sounded small and sad. It brought me back, and when I looked up, it was June. I fell back almost into the fire but was pulled away from the fire and up into some strong arms.

"Are you okay?"

I looked up again, and it was Wuju. I moved away from him.

"Yes, I was just startled. I'm okay. What did you just say?"

"Oh, I said, I see you got the fire started. You didn't need my help after all."

"Oh, yeah. I just wanted to help."

Wuju smiled, and his smile was like June's. My heart.

"Hungry, Raon? I make ghost stew."

"Yeah, What? What is ghost stew?"

"It's a family recipe. Great grandma June passed it down in the family. I was told she got it from her ghost lover. But he only became a ghost at a later time. My great-grandma married someone she wasn't in love at the end. Anyway. But I have added to the stew. Made it mine."

"Oh, okay."

We made it to the kitchen.

"Can you get some bowls? There in the..."

I realized what happened when Wuju stopped talking. I was already getting the bowls down when he tried to tell me where they were.

"Is this where everyone keeps them? I was guessing, and I was right."

Wuju looked at me for what seemed like a long time. Then he smiled and turned back to the stew without saying a word. I walked over to him.

"If I'm overstepping, please tell me."

Wuju looked at me and smiled. Then he picked up the stew pot and moved it to the table.

"I'm tired. You should eat, shower, and go rest. We need to get up early in the morning. I'm going to shower and go to bed. I'm not hungry. When you're done, you can put it back on the stove with the top on it."

"Okay."

Then Wuju left me alone in the kitchen. I need to be more careful what I do from now on.

+{TBC}