I hold a hand to my mouth, eyeing the golden scroll greedily. Finally, what I need has come! I hover over the unconscious gumiho to pick up the document, gasping when he moves. The scroll rolls off his neck to land on the dirt.
Then, suddenly the heartbroken spirit plants his face in the dirt once again. Another heavenly scroll has hit him on the head. I quickly gather the scrolls, deliberating whether I should leave the spirit where he had fallen. I do not have time to tame a vengeful fox spirit. "I am sorry, I should look at this before I help you."
"No," a cold hand grabs my ankle, sending me straight to the ground. The nine-tailed fox spirit had regained consciousness and now, he is pinning me beneath him. His claws swipe the air, attempting to grab the golden scrolls from my hands. His eyes are wide and red.
He bares his sharpened teeth before my eyes, "You said you don't know where she is. What is that in your hand, it is from the Heavens! You are communicating with them about her!"
"Wait, what, no? You cannot touch this!" I realize that we are now struggling to possess the celestial document and we both have good reason to throttle each other. "I know you loved her, but you cannot accuse me of associating with those gods! After seven thousand years, why would I suddenly conspire with them?"
"So what is this?" He used the moment to seize my possessions and he leapt back to Big Tiger's roof to unroll the scroll. His nose twitched when he narrowed his eyes as he read golden words. He stares at me with an open mouth, "You have been demoted? You, demoted to a mere messenger?"
I nod, scratching my neck nervously. I do not like speaking to him about this matter in the open. So far, it seems that all mortals have fallen victim to his powers. "Yes, that is also proof that the Heavens and I are now on different terms. I cannot possibly communicate with them about your goddess."
"Why have you been kicked down here? You must have done something terrible to lose all your positions. How pitiful you are." The male gumiho returned to his spot before me and thrust the gaudy scroll to my chest. He flashes a grin, mocking me with his creased eyes.
"You would not know, but I defended the Demon Lord of the North at his execution. I understand how you feel and I would like to help you find your goddess, however, I must complete these tasks before I can find my own lover." I see a flash of hurt streak through his eyes. I know I should have picked my words more cautiously.
"Look at the first task." He hid a smile with his hand. "What is your new name on Earth? You can't walk around calling yourself a goddess."
I glanced down at the scroll and my blood boils in my veins. I rolled up the scroll, pointing it at his chest. With wide eyes, I screamed. "I am to help you find the goddess? These gods are too much! The mortal emperor I have to help is Big Tiger? How is he an emperor, he's an emperor of bandits!"
"You should never question Heaven's decisions. I did not know a goddess would fall in love with a Demon and I am sorry I complained to you. Since we understand each other, we can both help each other find our Fated Ones?" He suggests sheepishly.
I know he is a cheeky fox and I must tread carefully whenever his kind offers an exchange. I narrow my eyes, clutching the scroll tightly until my hands numbed. I do not wish to help someone who had tried to rip my throat.
Also, he is a gumiho, a fox spirit! Everyone knows he and his people are hedonistic individuals. They only care for their needs, their wants. He knows how to manipulate mortals but he can keep dreaming of twisting my mind. I will not hold hands with him if it wasn't for this stupid list of tasks. The first task would take an eternity to finish.
"Besides, you will have to help me one day to finish these tasks. Demons who have found ways to survive death need centuries to recollect their souls and travel to Earth." He grins, knowing he is correct. He holds out his hands, "You feel his presence, but he is not whole. His spirit has exploded and it will take years until his body becomes solid again."
"You are right," I admit grudgingly. I know I needed to help this spirit sooner or later. If I do not, my tasks will never be finished -even if I have brought thousands of couples together. I tuck the scroll into my sleeve and walk past the spirit, "It is almost dawn. Meet me here every night so we can speak about the goddess."
"No," the spirit glided after me and for the first time, I was reminded he is a spirit. Mortals may see him, but only when he makes himself known to them. During the day, he is invisible to them and during the night, he is still unseen. "I will follow you until we find her. I also need to tell you one thing although you may not believe me."
"What? I would not have believed I would ever be demoted, but here I am on Earth." I continue towards Big Tiger's house to sit in his courtyard. I gaze at muddy walls decorated with strands of hay. "Human huts are so unpleasing to the eye."
The fox spirit takes his seat beside me, staring at the dark sky. "I know the mortals are hunting me, but I swear that I am not the entity stealing their children from them. I wanted to have my own children with her, I would never take away someone's joy to make myself more powerful."
"You are an odd fox, do you acknowledge that? Your kind is not as emotional as you and the females are definitely not loyal to their partners. Tell me, do you have any idea where she can be?" I did not know his lover had discovered a method to return after death. Did she use a forbidden spell or object?
"No, I do not know! I do not know where she could be after seven thousand years and I think I will lose my mind if I have to wait for another century." Desperate to find answers, he grips my shoulders and stares into my eyes. "I need to see her face at least once more. I need to know she did not die because of me."
"Why would she die for someone like you? She died suddenly which had nothing to do with you." I shake my head, wondering how lives can fade so easily. Mortals wish for immortality but we know celestial beings perish too. Death can be planned or it can strike like a snake.
North's death had been planned, but the spirit's wife's death came so suddenly. Both caused us pain, but I expected North would perish the moment he was caught. I had time to prepare and I barely grieved. On the other hand, the fox lost his lover on a joyous day and to this day, he does not know the reason.
He has been so scarred he resorted to blaming himself to give her sudden death meaning. He must have seen her body disintegrate in his hands, leaving behind a wedding dress when they would have been walking together to the bed. He is haunted by the ghost of their future.
"I am sorry, I will do my best to help you find her. As you are not a mortal, it will be difficult. Immortals do not have red strings attached to their Fated Ones so we will have to find her using clues." I do not have a plan to find his goddess, especially when I do not know if her spirit was destroyed.
"I know her spirit is still alive, I can feel her in here." He bows his head and points at his chest. Then, he lifts his head to stare at the sky. With fading arms, he reached up for the stars as one would pluck apples off a tree. "She must be out there and alone, waiting for me. I want to see her."
"I know you do." Then, we both fall silent as we watched the inky sky slowly become a canvas of yellows and pinks. Together, we looked at the bright streaks driving away darkness and for a split second, hope lights my heart.
I would like to meet my lovely sun one more time and the fox beside me also wished to see the sunshine once more. We want to feel warm embraces keeping the cold gales at bay. We want to see radiant faces full of happiness and love.
As a pair of heartbroken lovers, the fox and I watch the sun rising from the East.