"I've another request for you, Kirihito," Xio said gently after a little silence .
Kirihito paused, his cheeks faintly red from the comfort of Xio's soothing gestures and sweet tone. His lips parted slightly, hair messy from restlessness. He tried not to get tense again—requests always made him feel like something was being taken from him, something fragile. He hoped it wasn't about his eyes again.
"Well... can you show me your ey—"
"No no no. I can't. I'll not. I can't fulfill that request, Black Gold Butterfly."
Kirihito interrupted with a stubborn, almost childlike voice, his protectiveness flaring again. Xio sighed, eyes briefly closing before opening with a calm gaze.
But then he blinked.
Kirihito had called him by the nickname—for the first time. Something about it felt... precious.
"Let me finish first, Kirihito," Xio continued softly. "I was saying, can you show me your eyes—"
"No."
"Ah, Kirihito... I was going to say that you don't have to show me. Not now. Only when you're comfortable and trust me. You have freedom here. But you can't go outside, as I said."
Kirihito hesitated, then nodded in a small voice, almost too soft, nearly tender.
"Fine... no outside. Show you... eyes later."
He purred sleepily, collapsing face-first onto the floor. Xio watched as he tried to squirm into a better position. Carefully, Xio placed the rabbit he held beside the other already nestled against Kirihito. Both bunnies burrowed into his hair and neck, drawing a drowsy hum from Kirihito.
"Don't... tickle... bunny... sleeping... sleepy... I'm..."
"Kirihito. I'm not done yet. And you're sleeping? Not on the floor, please."
Xio gently brushed the hair from his face, petting him with care. Kirihito smiled, still half-asleep. His fingers clutched Xio's palm and pressed his face against it, his breath hot and steady.
Xio watched him, stunned by the peace that had settled over the boy. It had been so long since he'd seen someone sleep like that...
"Whatever your soul eyes look like... whether they reveal your domain or not... don't show them to anyone. Even if you one day show them to me. Not everyone deserves your trust."
Kirihito nodded in his sleep, rubbing his face into Xio's hand. But who knows if he even heard him or just nodded while dreaming
"You shouldn't sleep here... this isn't the only room in the house," Xio murmured close to his ear.
But Kirihito didn't stir. First, his head rested on the floor, then on his own arm—until he discovered Xio's folded legs and moved to rest his head there, clutching Xio's hand tightly to keep it against his head. Xio's cheeks flushed with a strange warmth.
Then his mind drifted.
Back to when he was fourteen.
"Your tiny lap is still warm and more than enough for me, my Gray Bunny..."
Yuzai's voice was barely above a whisper, weak and sleepy, his head heavy in Xio's lap. He had changed since the day he arrived in Lanxie. Weaker. Quieter. His wounds no longer healed as they once did. He didn't play anymore. And the red glow in his eyes had dimmed.
Xio gently ran his fingers through Yuzai's thinning hair. Even that had begun to fall more than usual. Like grains in an hourglass.
He noticed a purple mark on Yuzai's neck—it hadn't healed yet. He touched it softly.
Yuzai winced.
"Yuzai-kun... you're hurt again," Xio said, his voice small.
Yuzai gently took Xio's hand and kissed his palm. "It's nothing, Xio. It'll heal. I'm a special-grade, remember?"
"You always say that... but this time it feels different," Xio said with suspicion.
Yuzai chuckled softly, brushing it off. "Just a deep wound, bunny. That's why it's slow to heal."
"But I've seen you recover from worse. How did Uncle hurt you like that? Do you have more?"
Xio tried to peek further under his robe, but Yuzai stopped him, taking both of his hands and gently holding them to his own eyes.
"Xio..."
"Y-Yes?"
"Will you keep a promise for me?"
Xio nodded quickly, already teary.
Back to the present.
Xio blinked away tears, forcing the memory aside. He carefully slid Kirihito's arm around his neck and one arm under his legs. Gently, he lifted the sleeping boy into his arms.
Kirihito purred and nuzzled into his neck.
Xio smiled faintly.
Not romantic. But deeply fond.
He carried him into another room, laid him down on a soft bed, and tucked him under a blanket. Kirihito shifted, unconsciously seeking warmth. Xio sat beside him, brushing his hair softly.
"You're like him... but like a mirror's shadow. He had white hair, and you have black. Still... the same, somehow."
After a moment, Xio stood and returned to the other room. The bunnies were still wandering. He picked them up, cradled them briefly, and placed them in their cage.
He moved to the kitchen and started preparing food—rice noodles two dragon fruits.
A smile tugged at his lips.
"Will he trust the hand that offers him this?"
He glanced outside the window. The garden beyond was full of white roses swaying gently.
As he cooked, he found himself softly humming a tune Yuzai once danced to:
"Hmm hm hm hmm ~ hm hmm Hmmm hmm hmm hmmm ~ hm hmm Hmhm ~ hm hm hmm hm hmm ~ Hm hmm"
Then the memory returned, again.
To the promise.
"Everything... you're my only bunny friend. I have no one like you..."
Xio's voice trembled, barely audible. A drop of blood fell from his bitten lip onto Yuzai's cheek.
Yuzai, still lying in his lap, smelled the blood, and his heart ached. He wanted to be strong. But he had to say something. So he twisted his words carefully...trying not to hurt him as much as he can..he smiled faintly and said
"Silly boy, don't cry. I'm fine... I'll be. But promise me something okay?"
Xio sniffled, nodded...waiting for him to say more .
"If you ever find me cold... unmoving... if my eyes are open but see nothing... maybe even red with something like water and salt... Close my eyes with your hands. Rest my head in your lap like now... It means I need you more than anything. That I can't leave without your warmth."
Xio's heart dropped , he felt like he forgot how to breath . The meaning hit him like thunder.
"Y-You're talking about d-dea—"
Yuzai quickly seated before xio could finish his wofkds . silenced him with a finger pressed to his bloody lips.
Tears poured from Xio's eyes, too many to hold back...he looked into Yuzai's eyes .
"Don't say you can't do it. You're the only blanket that still warms me... Even if it's tiny... I'm just a rabbit yokai."
"But you're a special-grade..."
"Even we have someone stronger. I'm weaker than many. Humans. Wolves. Snakes. Nature balances itself."
" h..how ? "
" I'm not..actually from top soul Gardens.. I'm the lowest class of spacial grade yokai type...and..we aren't stronger..we are like.. a step upper them normal ones..but lower then other topper one.."
Xio clung to him...his tiny face into his neck .
" b.. but Don't leave me , yuzai kun..I can't stay without you..."
Yuzai kissed his eye—a gesture of deep love mostly spacial grade shows .
"You'll have more. Maybe better than me."
Yuzai tried to make him understand . His voice gentle but weak.
"No one is better than you."
Yuzai nodded as no while cupping his face , explaining him again .
"Xio... no one is better. Perfection is just wet clay. Let it dry, and it crumbles. See beyond it. That's how we survive. Maybe... even live."
Yuzai removed a necklace—a silver chain with a ruby rabbit...
"This was my mother's. Her name was Yukon. It means faint soul. She gave me it when I was 5..which means.. 195 years old. Now it's yours...I was her ruby..and you're mine.."
Xio touched it, overwhelmed...it was really beautiful and the fact that it was yuzai's made it even more spacial.
"If I never get to take you home... if I fade... tell my parents not to wait. I was their only child."
Yuzai said like a soft prayer . Xio quickly answered and also nodded . Yuzai's words gave him a reason to get stronger , to keep fighting...even if it's just a try
"I'll... I'll keep your promise. All of them. I'll save you, too."
"Can I believe that? Truly?"
"Anything. Anything!"
Xio said desperately. Yuzai continued
"Then I'll tell you my soul garden's name. But you must promise—never tell a soul. Not one."
"I swear. From soul to soul."
Yuzai leaned close to his ear.
And whispered the name only they knew....