The weeks - and even months - following our first ‘date’ went by exceedingly fast.

Avuri and I were both pushing as hard as we could for advancement in our Cultivation, and doing so as quickly as we could manage. We were making fantastic strides toward the Sky Realm, and felt as though we would both be able to break through at our current pace within a few months.

It may not have been as fast as we would have liked, given what may be happening out in the Dying Lands, but we were quite literally doing everything we could reasonably do to speed up the process - and our speed was remarkable, no matter how much we wished we could push harder.

The rather massive downside to all of this was that Avuri and I hadn’t really done anything remotely considered a ‘date’ since our night in the City. Every waking moment was spent either training or with Cierra. That’s not to say we weren’t spending all that time apart, though. In fact, Avuri and I were spending more time than ever before together. It just wasn’t in any sort of romantic way.

If anything, in a show of our penchant for doing things entirely out of order, Avuri and I were acting more like family, or perhaps very close roommates, than anything else. We did almost everything together, often citing that it would help our affinity for each other while Cultivating - which was true. The more time we spent together, the easier the initial bond became to create during Cultivation, and our deepening bond seemed to even strengthen our Cultivation speed.

But the simple truth was that we just wanted to spend time together. We thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company, and were both becoming very attached.

Cierra had even taken to calling Avuri ‘Mom’ after a short time, as she had also grown very attached to the woman. However, as calling us both ‘Mom’ started getting confusing fast, it was altered to ‘Momri’, adding on Cierra’s old nickname for Avuri to differentiate between us.

All of this added to the air of family that hung around us, which led to Vale and Talya teasing us about being a married couple. We both put up a token effort to deny it, but I imagine it bothered us less than we let on. It certainly didn’t bother me much.

But despite basically functioning as a family unit, Avuri and I made some effort to essentially remain platonic roommates in most ways.

Together, the night after our date, Avuri and I had decided that we would continue to resist any physical urges due to Cultivation. With so little time to actually progress our potential budding relationship, we felt that physical connection would be better saved until we were ‘sober’, so to speak.

We joked more than once about continuing to act out of order, but we both felt like the connection formed by Dual Cultivation was too overwhelming to jump into before affirming our more natural connection.

All of the deep emotional connections and feelings that came up during Cultivation were incredibly strong and intense, but they often also felt ephemeral and sometimes even fake. Or at least induced, rather than natural. With those strong feelings often fading after we stopped Cultivating, it felt wrong to both of us to start our relationship there. Even if they did, potentially, affect what we felt at other times, whether directly or indirectly.

So, we decided it would be best to try to keep Cultivation related matters and feelings separate from everything else. And with no real time to devote to ourselves, our potential relationship remained in that sort of limbo.

For a little more than two months.

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It was solidly into summer now. Avuri and I had both reached the peak of the Earth Realm and were actively pushing the boundary of the Sky Realm. Our more relaxed Cultivation sessions had turned more strenuous as we had to actively strain to gather more Qi passed a certain threshold.

It was exhausting.

Avuri and I were both sprawled out on the floor near the kitchen while Talya was finishing up dinner. Cierra was crouched next to me, poking my side tentatively.

“You okay, Mom?” She asked, before looking over at Avuri. “You both look dead.”

Avuri and I both chuckled. She was right, we looked terrible. The added stresses of Cultivation left us drained. We had bags under our eyes and looked like we had been run ragged, covered in sweat.

“We’re alright.” Avuri said, laughter apparent in her voice. “But don’t cuddle us; you’ll regret it. We’re pretty gross right now.”

“Ew.” Cierra said as she scuttled away from me.

“Yeah, don’t touch them, Cici.” Talya said idly, as she washed the rice. “You’re already washed up for dinner and don’t need their grime ruining that.”

Cierra slowly inched away from Avuri and I as we both put on devilish grins and started making grabby hands toward her.

We slowly made our way to our feet as Cierra looked on, ready to run.

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“We’re gonna get you…” I droned, stretching my arms out toward her, continuing to make grabby hands. Avuri followed my lead, beginning to stumble toward Cierra theatrically.

The little girl backed away before turning and bolting down the stairs. Avuri and I took off after her, playfully giving chase. We kept just enough distance to make the chase fun as we hurtled down the stairs. When we hit the ground floor, Avuri and I glanced at one another briefly before darting in different directions. Together, we herded Cierra toward the door and out into the evening air.

Shortly thereafter, Avuri darted forward and scooped her up off her feet, spinning her around. “Haha! Gotcha!” She shouted, before smothering Cierra in a hug.

“Eww, stop!” Cierra cried, laughing as Avuri rubbed her face against Cierra’s, artfully sharing her sweat.

I stopped to laugh as we turned and headed toward the bathhouse. “Looks like you’re gonna have to join us to get cleaned up again, Cici.” I said with a grin.

“All according to plan.” Avuri said, positioning Cierra in her arms so the girl was propped up against her hip. Then she turned to me seriously, looking at me over Cierra’s head. “The real question is - should we be nice, or should I throw her into the water, clothing and all?”

When Cierra’s head snapped up to Look at Avuri’s face, the woman showed her a devious, toothy grin. “No! These clothes are new! Aunt Talya will kill me!” The girl wailed, and struggled feebly against Avuri’s grip.

“Hmm…” I intoned, considering what to do. “I don’t think she’d kill you.” I eyed Avuri. “Just some extra chores, and maybe an extra chef duty for a night or two?”

“Punishment seems fair. And I think it’d be worth it.” Avuri nodded.

Cierra shook her head. “Uh-uh. I don’t want to.” She stopped struggling as we reached the bathhouse and entered. Avuri and I walked straight through the changing area and toward the bath.

“I think if you add in the collateral damage, you’re probably looking at a week as the main dinner chef, Avuri. And probably a stint as potato peeler.”

“Nah, I think you’ll end up getting that job.” She said with a grin. “You’re just so good at it.”

I narrowed my eyes at Avuri as we walked around the stone pool, to the deeper end where we could stand comfortably in the water.

“I don’t wanna do that!” Cierra yelled.

Avuri and I laughed, as I stepped up to the pair of them. I pet Cierra lightly on the head, and she turned to look at me, her big blue eyes pleading.

“Oh, don’t worry, Cici. All that extra work? It’s not for you. It’ll be for us.”

And with that, I grabbed the shoulder of Avuri’s robes and swept her leg, throwing her and Cierra into the water - fully clothed. Without missing a beat, I jumped in after them.

Avuri came up quickly enough, making sure to get Cierra’s face clear of the water quickly. The girl knew how to swim, so it wouldn’t have been all that dangerous for her either way, but we were still a little cautious.

Cierra’s face was scrunched up as she wiped water from her eyes, and swept her hair back. She eyed me carefully, then Avuri. “So…I won’t get in trouble for this? You will?” She asked, tentatively.

I used both hands to push my own hair back. With it cut to its normal chin length, it was stubborn and really liked getting in my eyes. “Yup. No reason for Talya to get mad at you for us throwing you in the water.”

There was a moment where Avuri and I watched Cierra mull this over before she apparently came to the conclusion that she was, indeed, not in trouble.

She immediately turned around in Avuri’s arms and started splashing her. “Then I’m gonna get you back for this!” She yelled triumphantly, as she continued to splash water into Avuri’s face.

The woman made a show of letting Cierra go as she stumbled backward away from the girl’s onslaught, covering her face and sputtering through the assault. “Gah! Stop! Stop! You got me!” She yelled, laughing.

If she wanted to, Avuri could easily use her Qi to manipulate the water away from her, but made no such moves.

After appreciating the scene for a moment with a big smile, I joined in the fun, splashing Cierra. “How dare you strike my partner!” I bellowed, “I’ll return your insult one hundred fold!”

Cierra laughed as she was hit by a huge wave of water, and she made her escape toward the shallow side and the steps.

“You’ll never escape!” I said, giving chase.

“No! Emery, it’s not worth it!” Avuri called, floating on her back. “Let her go. She’s already killed me - I couldn’t bear it if she got you too…” She trailed off, playing up the part of a weak, dying woman.

I quickly spun and waded through the water toward her. “No! You can’t die on me, Avuri! Hold on!” I said dramatically, as I supported her body under the water with my arms. “Stay with me!”

Cierra had made it to the stairs, and was watching us as she began to strip off her drenched robes. Avuri continued the show. “It’s too late for me. Let me go, Emery. It’s okay…” She reached up to stroke my cheek gently with one hand before she fell limp in my arms.

“Avuri? No!” I wailed. Then I snapped my head to Cierra. “You! I’ll have my revenge, Master Cici! You’ve not seen the last of me, you monster!”

The girl stuck out her tongue at me and blew a raspberry at me before running the few steps to wash herself off again with soap.

“Well, I guess she got away.” I said with a chuckle.

Avuri looked up at me from her dramatic position in my arms. “How cruel of her to kill me and just leave.” She pouted.

“I’ll avenge you one day.”

“My hero.” She said, rolling her eyes.

I looked down at Avuri in my arms for a heartbeat, registering the sass in her voice and expression.

Then, with no remorse, I used my entire body to dunk her.