Another day quietly passed, and i found myself standing all over again on this spot and he was always there in his unapproachable place.  The brush, flanked between his tapering fingers, danced smoothly above the rice paper¹.  His gaze was firm and unwavering.  There he sat on the verandah of his residence, just like the usual afternoon.  The corner of my lips twitched, tempted to bloom a smile and it did not take really while for my smile to widen by itself.  He abruptly stopped from his activity as if he just came into a realization, that his ink had been desiccated.  I knew the kind of ink he usually used, pine-soot which brought the scent of sandalwood and herbs.  From here i also saw the carving of his inkstone, made of the rock of Duan Zhou², engraved the two-toed dragon.  Without even me realizing, i took a step closer.  Little did i know, my closer was a farther.

The sky grumbled, with a rumble the thunder roared its glory.  First drip, second drip and then came another drip.  The drizzle turned out to be hating me, it kept pouring its loathing when i actually have not yet satisfied my yearning.  I don't remember how he got here.  But the moment we locked our gaze against each other, with a fluttering heart i knew, i was so in love.

Footnote:

¹ Rice paper or Shuan paper originated from Shuan Zhou and it is used for calligraphy.  The paper is made of different plant fibers other than rice.  In the nineteenth century when the Europeans wanted to get the trade secrets of Shuan Paper from China, they were misinformed it was made of rice. Hence, most people in the West have been calling it "rice paper" either as a misnomer or for convenience's sake.

²Duan Zhou inkstone is unanimously agreed to be the best and thus it is very expensive.  The inkstone with artistic carving can be as expensive as U.S. $10,000 or more.  It is said that in ancient times when people were digging stones in the rivers of Duan Zhou to make the inkstones, the workmen had to be while the governors were observing for any theft.