"You're leaving?"
Zhou Jian furrowed his brows as he stared at the Celestial before him. He doubted his ears for a moment when he heard the other.
Wang Tao nodded in confirmation. Zhou Jian frowned a bit before asking for more details.
"I have a few work and personal related things to do. I'd been putting it off but I can't any longer."
Wang Tao explained this and waited. He wasn't sure why but he seemed to have certain expectations for the man's reaction. Zhou Jian fidgeted a bit at the uncomfortable feeling in his heart.
"W-will you be gone long?"
"Yeah, I should be back a while after Chen Xiang enters the next world."
"So…" long?
Zhou Jian shut his mouth before he could finish. Holding back the urge to ask if the other would really come back, he berated himself.
It would simply be too cruel of him. If Wang Tao realizes that he could no longer stand seeing him and Chen Xiang together he shouldn't make him feel compelled to return. Wang Tao deserved better so it should be up to him.
"I understand. Have a good trip."
"...Thank you."
Wang Tao's mood dampened when he saw the lack of reaction. It didn't seem like the other minded. Ignoring it, he said his farewell to his friend.
As he turned to leave, Zhou Jian called for him to stop. Walking up to Wang Tao, he ran his hand through the others' hair a bit.
"I'll miss you."
A smile bloomed on the Celestial's face at this and he returned the words. Thinking it over, he wished the other luck with his lover, before he exited the room and vanished.
After unsealing his abilities, he hovered in the galaxy, his tails and ears now gone. Staring at world 057, he found himself wavering but still left moments later. His body zipped through the galaxies, heading towards his Empire.
_________
Peeking through the door, Chen Xiang listened to the tapping on the wooden desk. Zhou Jian leaned against it, his tails and ears drooped a bit, obviously not in a good mood. Smiling, Chen Xiang walked in and approached the man.
"Jian Ge, what's wrong?"
Hugging Zhou Jian, he stared up at him cutely. Looking down, Zhou Jian blinked before smiling lightly.
Assuring the other that he was okay, he gave him a deep kiss. Watching the blushing and out of breath boy, his eyes softened and he hugged the other tightly.
Chen Xiang stroked the other's back as his mind worked to figure out what was going on. Why'd he suddenly get so sullen? He's sure he had been acting quite well.
Maybe something happened with Wang Tao? Now that Chen Xiang thought about it, he hadn't seen Wang Tao for a while.
He had been keeping an eye on the other and had last seen him when the other disappeared out of thin air. Could the other have left? If so, isn't that good? Holding back a grin, Chen Xiang declared,
"Jiang Ge, whatever happens, just know that I'll never leave you."
"What's with the sudden declaration?"
"I just felt you needed to know right now."
Looking into the sparkling eyes, Zhou Jian's lip bent down a bit.
Blinking, he shook off a thought and smiled at his lover. Holding the other's hand, he kissed it gently and massaged it with his thumb.
"Thank you, my love."
His heart softened at the boy's blush before he pulled the other in for another kiss. Zhou Jian didn't want to doubt anymore, hoping that maybe he could stay in this fantasy forever. Even then, a thought at the back of his mind told him otherwise.
Something's wrong.
Something is missing.
What?
.
I-I don't know.
But I love him…
.
Yeah, I really love him.
So I can't give up.
Besides, we haven't even had a full life together.
.
So as long as I'm with him I'll be happy…
.
Right?
_______
A tall figure arrived at an encirclement of planets, floating in a star filled galaxy. All 7 planets, in their respective colors, housed one of the 7 Empires of this realm. This was a majestic sight visible in each of the realms existing, home to millions of Celestials.
The tall figure was surrounded by an aura that not even the sight could rival and his face was stone cold. Dressed in a dark gray hoodie, black pants and boots, the man headed towards the darkest planet of the 7.
Once his feet touched the planet's surface, the hooded man breathed in deeply. Dark clouds covered the sky as lightning flashed in them.
The lightening was quite peculiar, with its changing colors and its missing partner thunder, which only drummed during storms. The area was dark, but surprisingly everything was visible.
The moon was brighter than most moons and was the only natural light source, meaning that there was no sun. This Empire was part of an eternal night which was not seen as a curse to anyone and instead of days, there were brighter nights. Celestials walked or flew through the streets, each relaxing into a role for entertainment and order.
Celestials of all stages, toddlers to young adults, could be seen, each different from the rest. Skyscrapers, businesses, restaurants and schools could be spotted.
If one were from the modern or interstellar era, it would fool them into thinking that they were in their home planet, just at night and much more advanced.
The hooded figure walked through the streets, disguising himself from his subjects as he passed. He stopped once to buy a snack, the first time ever, and continued on his way.
Soon, he arrived at his palace and his slender hand pulled down his hood. The guard at the entrance hastily bowed and welcomed the man.
"Your Majesty, you have returned."
Seeing his Emperor nod, the Celestial quickly opened the gate. The Emperor thanked him and strolled through, passing many courtyards and workers.
Each greeted him with a bow and genuine smile, happy to see his return. The man walked passed after a curt greeting, his silver hair flowing behind him.
The palace was a nice mix of modern and ancient, giving off a unique feel. The Imperial palace was decorated with tapestries, paintings and dark purple lanterns near the ponds but the electronic tools used by the workers and the modern clothes reminded one of the era. There was no harem but there was a morning court, though not held as frequently as the morning court in Ancient China.
Shortly afterward, he arrived at his study and entered. Spotting his head eunuch, he called him over.
The eunuchs here were different as well as they don't cut off their manhood and weren't restricted to the palace. The name was simply because the Celestials couldn't be bothered to change it.
The man, named Lan Xi, smiled brightly at the sight of his Emperor.
"How was your stay, Your Majesty?"
"It was…nice and interesting."
Lan Xi's eyes widened in shock. He had expected the other to reply with a short and cold okay, if his Emperor had answered at all. But the softening of his face and his meaningful answer was unimaginable to the eunuch who'd observed the Emperor for years.
Doubt filled him and he began to put more importance on the other's unusually long stay away from the Empire.
"Would Your Majesty mind going into more detail for this old one?"
"...Mmm."
Suppressing his shock once again, Lan Xi quickly thought of various possibilities. As they flashed through his head, the next words of the frightening Celestial before him would cause the head eunuch to rethink every moment of his life.
"I fell in love."
"..."
Lan Xi's eyes bulged out of his sockets as he gaped at Wang Tao.
Stabilizing himself he asked the other, respectfully, to repeat but still heard the same words.
His Emperor was in love? The cold and emotionless man feared and respected by all Celestials?
Unsure of what to make of this, he asked the one question on his mind.
"With who?"
"...He...is not one that could return my affections."
"...Who would dare! Are they blind? Pardon me, Your Majesty but have you considered knocking them on the head?"
The eunuch was in disbelief and rage as he watched Wang Tao shake his head. How could one dare to turn down the mighty Celestial of Death?
He was afraid that his Emperor had fallen in love with an idiot. A blind or deaf man. Maybe even both.
Lan Xi looked up at the Celestial who had fallen silent, observing the bitter emotions in the silver eyes.
"It's not his fault...he's already in love."
The eunuch couldn't speak, not knowing what to say. He guessed that it makes sense now but still felt that the other was an idiot. He lamented that love worked in mysterious ways and couldn't be controlled.
Sighing, his heart filled with pity for Wang Tao who was in an unrequited love. He knew how painful that was.
[ His Majesty must've had a very interesting trip. He'd even fallen in love! I wonder what else he did...
From what I know, the Emperor didn't know anything love before he left...Maybe he's learned? ]
Lan Xi thought it over for a bit, before he decided to confirm. Eyes shining with curiosity, the eunuch questioned his Emperor.
"Your Majesty, how much do you know about love?"
"A bit."
"Mmm, how did you know you were in love?"
"Someone explained it."
"Oh…Well if there is anything you need to know just ask me. That is what I am here for."
"...Thank you…There is something."
His ears perked up and he encouraged the Emperor to question him. Wang Tao hesitated before asking something that had been bothering him.
"I…I feel this weird heat wherever he touches me. When it's greatest it's down…in my little junior. Is there a problem with me?"
The head eunuch averted his eyes, a bit uneasy at answering the question. It hadn't crossed his mind that the Emperor was that innocent and he had been expecting other questions.
Meeting the gaze of the Emperor, he cleared his throat and responded carefully.
"There is nothing wrong with you, Your Majesty. It is a normal reaction one has to someone they are sexually attracted to. You are in love with him so this is not a surprise."
"Sexual…attraction?"
"When you get attracted to one sexually, it normally leaves you craving for the other in a more physical way."
"Example?"
"Sex."
"Oh!...How is sex done?"
"..."
Lan Xi could no longer bear it. His Majesty was so innocent and he now was experiencing a similar crisis to Zhou Jian.
He just didn't want to dirty the other's mind but he was also reluctant to leave his Emperor wondering. But thinking of how the one his majesty loves wouldn't return the feelings, he didn't think it was worth it to tarnish Wang Tao's purity.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, I would prefer not to delve deeper."
"...I understand, It's not like I'll need to know anyway."
The Emperor had mumbled the latter part but of course the supernatural ears of Celestials picked up on it.
Lan Xi's pity grew and he sympathized with his depressed Emperor once he heard this and so he quickly brought up some work to distract the man.
[ By the way, is it just me or is the Emperor more talkative than before? ]