Even the most fearsome soul harbors a singular terror. Even Kirihito, who claimed ownership of his world with ruthless ease, now felt the sharp, sudden sting of fright. When one begins to truly treasure another, the mere feeling of potential loss stretches time, slow and deep.
Xio decided this was the perfect moment for a twist. His Shadow Owl, wise to its master's mischief, received a subtle, knowing wink and returned a conspiratorial blink. Then, without a word or sign, Xio simply let go.
He dropped backward into the vast, rushing air, his arms outstretched in surrender, a faint, mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"B-Butterfly is falling?! But Butterfly is still a caterpillar!" Kirihito gasped, caught completely off guard. Even the Dark Voice inside him hissed, slightly unnerved: Is he in his right mind??
Kirihito's breath hitched as the owl banked and dove in a tight, dizzying spiral toward Xio. The wind slashed at his face, pulling his long black hair backward. His crimson blindfold threatened to fly loose, but he managed to anchor it with a quick, desperate hand. As the space between them rapidly closed, the world seemed to hold its breath. The wind and the moment felt suspended.
"You're crueler than Wèi! Killing yourself before we even get to the town?!" Kirihito screamed, the innocence in his tone underscoring the raw panic. He thrust a hand out to grab Xio, his long hair locks spilling forward like a black waterfall.
Xio laughed, a clear, affectionate sound. He was merely playing, yet this simple, high-stakes game made his life feel more straightforward than it had been in years. It had been too long since he had played like this with anyone; before, it had always been Yuzai, from the first encounter to the last.
Then, Kirihito caught him.
His long, strong fingers wrapped tightly around Xio's wrist..no fingers . Xio looked up at the handsome, flustered face above him with a faint, bright smile. "You've caught me," he whispered.
Kirihito was speechless. It was too sudden, too bizarre, yet overwhelmingly beautiful. His mind began to glitch again, a wave of sensation that felt almost overwhelming.
The dark voice spoke, low and resonant:No use trying to remember what you've already given away."
Kirihito didn't understand the entity's cryptic words. He simply swallowed hard, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm, a confusing mix of flying excitement and something that felt distinctly like fear.
His Dark Mind mused: That boy is crazy, I have to say.
Kirihito heard the thought and agreed internally: Wèi agrees with it. But why is Wèi's heart pounding like that?
The Dark Side smoothly provided a plausible answer: Just our new little yokai body got a little shocked. Nothing more. It then added, with deliberate, confusing ambiguity: Unless you think it is.
What do you mean?! Wèi doesn't understand! Kirihito thought, engaging in a silent, furious conversation while gripping Xio's wrist. The voice did not respond.
The moment Kirihito caught him, the owl arrested its dive. Instead, it shot upwards with a powerful thrust of its shadow wings. Kirihito felt a whiplash of surprise, the third time he had been caught off guard in this single ride. He couldn't believe he was so easily unsettled.
Xio immediately secured his grip, his hand tightening carefully around Kirihito's upper back. "Hold on tight," he called out loudly over the wind. "We are much higher up now! We'll reach the town at any moment!"
Kirihito nodded quickly. Though he was generally fearless, flying high in the sky felt entirely different. He desired it fiercely but had never truly done it; he had yet to unlock the ability to sustain high-altitude flight himself.
He looked down, seeing their own shadows dancing across the thick white clouds, the cold, comforting air lightly dampening their skin.
After some time, Fukaki faded entirely, replaced by the sprawling, vibrant tapestry of a major city. Silver-white and crimson-red roofs and lanterns painted the whole town, which was teeming with the life of common humans and cultivators. This was Yǐngluò Chéng, the city located near the northern boundaries of the Yin Lan Clan's influence. Kirihito squinted, seeing tiny specks—children—running around the roads.
"Welcome to Yǐngluò Chéng, Wèi Yīlíng," Xio said with a warm smile, now standing behind Kirihito and holding his shoulder for stability.
Kirihito's excitement returned with a rush. "Wèi is finally in Yǐngluò town! Lots of insects here!"
The word 'insects' triggered a warning in Xio. "You will not kill any human—I mean, insects," he warned sternly. "You will stay with me and not dare to wander around. Alone." He leaned in, adding a pointed caution, "Especially not near the women, Kirihito. Your skin curls just by looking at them."
"Then male insect??" Kirihito asked innocently.
Xio's eyes widened in slight disbelief. What was this snake trying to suggest?
"Of course not! Only with me. Nobody else!" Xio finished with sudden possessiveness. He then froze and cleared his throat, realizing he had sounded overly controlling.
Kirihito rolled his covered eyes, pouting dramatically. "Wèi understands—" His words were cut off violently when the Shadow Owl suddenly dove, dropping sharply toward the landing zone.
"STOOOODD!!" His last syllable became a desperate, earsplitting shriek, confirming his deep-seated fear of falling.
Kirihito felt like a complete fool, about to tumble off again, but Xio steadied him immediately. His expression was one of dramatic horror, though not the deadly panic of his first encounter with the larger yokai, just deeply, childishly mortified.
His breathing came in short, fast gasps. When Xio pulled him up, the force of the movement caused Kirihito to crash into him, jostling Xio slightly.
Xio looked at him, realizing he had just discovered another curious duality: the snake loved the sky but feared the act of falling. He yelped as Kirihito, out of sheer, childish panic, bit his neck lightly again. As the owl continued its descent, Kirihito was practically underneath Xio, clinging to him like a koala.
Kirihito's Dark Side was quick to retort: Stop clinging to him. I feel like a bottom!
And Kirihito yelled back in his mind: Shut up! You can't understand Wèi! You're just something Wèi doesn't understand why exists!
His Dark Side gave a low growl, then spoke: You're a spoiled child! His hand is on your hips, too!
But Kirihito reasoned: When in the sky, Wèi Yīlíng might give a little escape to insects if it protects Wèi from falling! Wèi has no wings like birdie! Wèi's life is more important than hips!
You won't die if you fall, you fool! the voice said, thoroughly annoyed.
Wèi doesn't believe you! Kirihito shot back mentally.
"You're alright? You won't fall, I'm holding you," Xio murmured into his ear, his voice a faint hiss from the light bite.
He could feel Kirihito's heart beating against his chest, a rapid drum akin to last night's encounter, but this was a dramatically horrified, childish pulse—not a terrifying, life-or-death panic. It was unsettling yet undeniably intimate. It reminded him of the first time he rode Língxi's white dragon spirit when he was just a boy. He smiled unconsciously at the memory, wishing: I hope Uncle Líng is having a good time in the temple.
They finally landed in a secluded, grassy area, far from prying eyes. The Shadow Owl softly placed its feet on the earth. Its duty completed, it blinked once and flew away, returning to its master, Bái Rùxiān.
"Let's get down now. I'll show you lots of interesting things around," Xio said, sliding gracefully from the owl's wing. He then offered his hand gently to Kirihito with a warm smile.
In that instant, Kirihito remembered something embarrassing. His Dark Side immediately launched its verbal attack: Are you a princess to be offered a hand... by the prince?~ The voice chuckled deeply.
Kirihito's cheeks flushed crimson, his pretty ego stung again. He mumbled, "W-Wèi can come down by himself..."
But he forgot that his young body was still adjusting, prone to sudden stumbles. This was the moment for the next fall. His ankle gave way with a soft, sickening crack, which felt much worse than it was. His eyes widened in a silent, comical scream.
Xio's smile vanished, his eyes widening in recognition. "N—"
He didn't even have time to finish the syllable. Kirihito, trying to save himself, pitched forward, falling heavily right back onto him. Both of them yelped as they crashed to the ground. Xio's owl blinked lightly, surprised by the final, anticlimactic scene, before disappearing.
Xio saw stars as his head hit a low-hanging branch. "A-Ah, gods... Have you committed to breaking my own bones with yours?" Xio groaned, rubbing the back of his head, his voice pained.
"Hmph... ah... ee," Kirihito whined, slowly lifting his head from Xio's shoulder, brushing the long, elegant hair of Lan Suji from his face.
Then Xio realized their position. Kirihito was sprawled entirely on his lap, legs splayed, their faces inches apart. In the vibrant, new robe, with the red ribbon accenting his hair and eyes, Kirihito looked more dangerous, a beautiful, unexplainable threat. A shiver ran down Xio's spine.
"Move now! You're ruining my white robe! No one will believe I'm Lan Suji if I look like a mudstorm ran over me!" Xio hissed, thoroughly embarrassed, desperately trying to mask the sudden flutter of shyness.
Kirihito made a careless face, still rubbing his aching head and attempting to fix his long ponytail as he moved away. He murmured petulantly, "Talking to Wèi like that for that white robe... Wèi will tear it off so you can't reason with it."
Xio snapped his gaze onto him while dusting himself off. "You'll dare not!" he hissed.
"Wèi definitely will," Kirihito hissed softly back. They glared at each other—a snake and a fox on the brink of battle.
A moment of charged silence passed, then both sighed, already tired of the squabble. Xio cleared his throat and returned to the mission. "Let's move forward. We are a bit far from the main city gate, so follow me."
With that, he started walking, offering his hand to Kirihito—this time not as a gentle gesture, but as a firm guide. Kirihito immediately forgot their strange argument and eagerly followed.
"Wèi is finally going to the town after a long adventure!" Kirihito declared, his voice full of excitement once more.
"Yes, yes, you are," Xio agreed, his voice tender and fond as he pulled his cherished, unpredictable companion along the path towards the bright, bustling life of Yǐngluò Chéng.