"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS AWAY FROM HIM!" The voice broke through to Tsukiyomi's ears. It was Tadashi, it had to be.
"YOU! You must be Tadashi! How the hell did you get in here?" Kibishi said, infuriated. Tadashi got closer, sword in his hands. The knife Kibishi held went right back to Tsukiyomi's throat.
"Stay back or I'll slit his throat!" Kibishi yelled. Tsuki thought to himself. 'Slit his…throat'? Kibishi wouldn't want to kill him. He wouldn't do it, would he? Tsuki was far too precious to him.
Tadashi charged at Kibishi anyway, slashing into Kibishi's shoulder, golden yokai blood landing on Tsukiyomi's skin. But he tasted blood. What blood? And then he realized it was his own. Like a key, sliding into a keyhole, the knife had slid its way through Tsukiyomi's neck. Not all the way though, not yet, but far enough you could hear the clicking sound, when it unlocks, it twisted and turned enough that you could hear the welcoming click. Tears fell from Tsukiyomi's face, he couldn't make a noise.
"You should've known what you had coming for you before coming after me, boy!" Kibishi yelled, taking the bloodied knife and slashing Tadashi's face with it, only a small nip as he dodged. He had tears in his eyes, not from pain though, but from watching the suffering of Tsukiyomi as he bled out onto the mattress he was detained to. Golden and red blood.
Kibishi ran at Tadashi and stabbed through his shoulder, then ran off. Tadashi, bleeding out, came to Tsukiyomi's side.
"Tadashi-"
"Don't speak, don't speak. You'll be okay, I'll get you out of here!"
Tadashi broke the chains with his sword and took Tsuki in his arms. He felt rescued. Finally, it felt like forever. The touch of Tadashi. His fingers felt for Tadashi's arms as he was picked up and carried. Tadashi ran, the movement swaying Tsukiyomi's limp arms, blood rushed down everywhere. Kibishi's voice echoed through the halls, yelling for guards. Tadashi made it back to Kiri, Karasu, and Fukuro and they ran out, being chased.
"We need to go quick! He's losing blood! Fukuro, transform already!" Kiri yelled. The voice sounded a bit familiar to Tsuki. His eyes flickered. Unbearable pain swarmed around his neck. It was getting hard to breathe. He coughed up blood, the voices around him yelling faintly as it felt like he was flying. Maybe not flying, maybe he was dreaming. Tadashi's voice broke through to him.
"It's going to be alright! We're almost out of darkai, you just have to stay awake! Stay awake, Tsukiyomi!"
Stay awake, stay awake, stay awake, stay awake, stay…His eyes fluttered shut. Tadashi's voice went faint.
"I'm sorry." He said,
He couldn't remember anything. He laid, just thinking, how was he alive? Tadashi, he remembered that Tadashi had saved him. But where was he now? Was he still in Darkai with Kibishi? No, he had to have gotten out. Was he brought back to Whither, or perhaps Clorina with Miss Lazhu? He tried to speak out but his voice seemed to be gone, his neck hurt too. His whole body ached. He was conscious, he knew he was. He opened his eyes slowly to a girl with hair of indigo, a wet cloth lifted in her hand. He saw her cloak and the patch sewed onto it. The Y/D corps logo. He realized it was the girl who had chased Tadashi and him through the dead side of Whither. He pushed his voice through and started screaming.
"GET AWAY!"
"No! Just relax, please! I'm not here to hurt you!" Kiri insisted calmly. The only thing Tsukiyomi managed to move was his arm, knocking the cloth away and trying to swing at Kiri. he thought she must have caught up to him to bring him to the corporation and kill him for being a half-yokai. Tadashi came through the door or the room. Tsukiyomi's flailing knocked over glasses on the nightstand next to the bed he laid in. The glass shattered all over the floor around Kiri.
"Tsukiyomi, please! She's on our side, calm down!"
"She's a hunter, probably a murderer, she probably killed at least a hundred demons and yokai! Why would you trust her! Get her away from me!"
Tadashi held Tsukiyomi's flailing arm in place, nodding to Kiri to leave. She left the cloth and warm water with a guilty face. Before she left she turned back to Tsukiyomi.
"You shouldn't judge someone just because of the life they live. You don't know me and I don't know you either. I understand you may not trust me because of my position but I have never hurt a soul. I promised myself that I would never kill. I was put in this place by a trusting friend and you should trust her instincts. Miss Lazhu knows what she's doing. My name is Kiri, just…give me and the others a chance…"
She left as Fukuro peaked her head in, Karasu standing behind her.
"You're awake! I knew we would meet again!"
Tadashi smiled as Fukuro and Karasu came in. Tsukiyomi was distracted. How was he still alive?
"Tsukiyomi, Everything will be fine. These are people we can trust. I'm sure more will join us in the meantime too. But right now you need rest. Your neck isn't healed yet." Tadashi said, ringing out the cloth. Tsukiyomi felt the bandage around his neck.
"How the hell am I not dead? That deep cut was enough to kill a person!"
"That's the thing." Fukuro giggled, "You're not a person, you're a half-yokai. Yokai have thick skin. Even though you were cut deep, the knife couldn't cut all the way. The farther you go in, the thicker our skin gets. It's a good thing us yokai are protected!"
Fukuro and Karasu left the room while Tadashi sat on the side of the bed with Tsukiyomi. He laid back down, trying to think.
"What happened?"
"After you disappeared in Zinnian, I traveled to Clorina to get Lazhu's help. She gave me the help of the three out there. She told me everything she knows, everything about you. Everything…you didn't tell me. You were kidnapped by Chi clan members. Haters of Rose. The brand on your shoulder is the symbol of the clan. I was told all the horrible things he did to you. Fukuro flew us over the wall, fighting off all obstacles just to find you. I was desperate, I admit. I think you saw everything that happened between our fights. I'm alright, my shoulder is healed. I just have a scar now on my face. Kiri bandaged and stitched you and everyone up. She tended to pour wounds. You've been unconscious for five days. Fukuro managed to steal the Darkai Artifact. I couldn't find your clothes, the ribbon, nor your katanas." A knock interrupted Tadashi, as the short, collected figure of Lazhu appeared in the doorway.
"I hate to eavesdrop, but I heard your conversation about your katanas. There are four royal Bloodmoon weapons hidden and kept in different walls. I only know of two. Wall Delphinium holds the chosen weapon of your past life. Meng Yao, a good friend of mine and leader of the wall, can give them to you. The three others are hidden. The moon sickle, the Bloodmoon Bow, and Royal Moonblade. The one in Delphinium is the emerald encrusted double Moon katanas. They can cut almost anything. Before I take my leave, I will give the wall artifact to you. The Clorina Hourglass. Now, I suggest that you all rest well before you get back to traveling."
She leaves the room, leaving the hourglass on the dresser next to the door. Tadashi smiles as he leaves to follow her out and see her off. Tsukiyomi shuts his eyes and rests his body, letting himself slump into the softness of the bed. All thoughts went away. He thought he was asleep. If he was, then why could he still see around him? He found himself sitting in a dark world. Nothing but black around him, dark water under him. A silhouette appeared in the distance. A large smile appeared on its face as it emerged.
"CURSED CHILD, BAD BLOODED BEAST!" the voice called out, it was distorted but it sounded like Tsukiyomi's own voice.
"CHILD OF HELL! CREMATED IN DARKNESS, CORRUPTED IN BLOOD" Tsukiyomi began to panic as the voice continued. It was like something was holding back his words. The voice split into many and spoke in a mocking and taunting tone.
"HIS MOTHER DIED! HIS FATHER LEFT! HIS SISTER VANISHED!" "SIGHT FOR THE SOREST OF EYES!" "UNCLEAN DEVILISH CHILD!" "MURDERER, UNGRATEFUL, UNCLEAN, YOU WILL KILL THEM ALL!"
It began to get louder and louder. He covered his ears hoping to block out the sound but it was like they were inside of his head. The chanting changed to 'They're too loud, they're too loud' over and over and over and over again in his head. Tsukiyomi opened his eyes to see the silhouette in front of him now. Everything seemed to go silent until the figure spoke.
"CHILD OF YOKAI. BORN FROM A CURSE. NAME OF A GOD. BORN NEITHER MAN NOR WOMEN, YET BOTH. SLENDER LIKE A WOMAN, FEATURES OF A MAN. MISTAKEN, UNWANTED, UNLOVED. MOTHER OF HUMAN WHO BORE YOU IN HER WOMB AS A BURDEN. FATHER OF YOKAI WHO LEFT BECAUSE OF YOUR EXISTENCE. YOUR SIBLING WHO YOU ABANDONED, YOU WILL BE ALONE FOREVER!"
Tears streamed from his face as he awoke to Tadashi.
"Tsukiyomi, are you alright? You were yelling for a good hour. You wouldn't wake up."
All he could do was cry as he was lifted into Tadashi's arms and brought into a hug. He scrunched Tadashi's clothing in his fists as his tears landed on Tadashi's shirt. Tadashi held him tight, as if to never let go, gently, and in a calming way, stroking Tsukiyomi's silky hair. Tsukiyomi looked up at Tadahsi's face, tears in his eyes. Tadashi wiped them away, reassuring him.
"It's alright. Whatever happened, it's okay now. I'm right here. And I'll always be here. I promise to never let you be taken from me. It was surely just a nightmare, nothing can hurt you here. There's nothing to be afraid of." he said, still holding Tsukiyomi in his arms tightly. It was childish really, but relieving to hear Tadashi's familiar voice. Tsukiyomi thought he was going mantic though.
"Those voices… I can always hear something in my head just…shouting, and shouting and shouting, they never stop. And they're always so loud. Everything hurts, everything is painful. It really really hurts, Tadashi. It's painful to hear and feel, to suffer all the taunting and laughing and torment that happens to me. I hate carrying the burden of everything, of Rose. It's painful to be different. I can't tell what's real and what's fake anymore, uif those voices and figures really do exist. I don't know where they come from, but they hurt me, make me forget! Tadashi, I don't want to forget anymore!!"
"You won't forget, whatever it is, this pain, it will go away. You won't forget!"
"Tadashi, you have to promise you will stay by my side. I know I denied it before but I want to stay with you! We can promise we'll protect each other!"
Tadashi lets go of Tsukiyomi slowly, laying him back down. He laid himself under the covers of the bed next to Tsuki. His golden eyes shimmered in the candle light that lit the room. He smiled.
"I promise. And I will stay here for as long as you want me to. I will never leave your side, until you tell me you don't need me, I won't go."
Tsukiyomi thought to himself. This perfect man gave him so much. He took Tsuki away from a wretched place. Everything seemed better when Tadashi was here. Tsukiyomi looked at the healing cut Kibishi had implanted on Tadashi's face. He hated it. Tadashi wiped the tears from Tsukiyomi's face. Rest is what he needed. Tsuki couldn't think of anything anymore, in that moment at least. What more could be done?
Tsukiyomi moved closer to Tadashi, as Tadashi wrapped his arms around him. The two closed their eyes. The room was quiet, but too quiet for Tsuki to fall asleep. He could only think. He felt safe. But he was beginning to feel something else too. Something he never believed he could feel ever again because of everything that had happened in his life.
Tsukiyomi moves even closer to Tadashi, feeling the heat and warmth of Tadashi's body. Nothing had crossed his mind about him being uncomfortable with this. Not even his hair being down, or his blouse missing, nothing seemed to matter. He felt safe, innocent. He liked this. It wasn't Kibishi. Tadashi made him feel safe, made him feel… a lot of things. Tsukiyomi felt his face get red. Golden eyes stared at him as Tadashi had opened them. Tsuki went pink.
"How are you? Y-Your neck, I mean."
"It feels better than it did earlier." Tsukiyomi said, carefully turning over to turn on the oil lamp on the nightstand. Tadashi noticed the mark on Tsukiyomi's back, along with many other scars.
"You're back, I didn't even notice this. What happened?"
Tsukiyomi's voice broke as he turned back over to reply. "A whip mark. From Kibishi…"
"What I've been told is that every scar has a story. Bare skin will get cuts, cuts will soon turn to scars, then those scars hold stories."
"Then all of mine tell bad stories."
"Tsukiyomi, I'm sure that's not all true. I guess you and I can share one story now that I have this," Tadashi points to the scar on his face and then to his shoulder. "You don't have to carry all of those burdens alone. I want to help you and carry them with you, throw them away, and lighten your weight."
Tsukiyomi smiled as Tadashi smiled back at him. His heart ached seeing Tadashi's smile. He had never seen him fully smile.
"Since you seem well enough to walk, we're in Clorina, staying in an inn. There's a hot bath house here. I can take you there, it's downstairs."
Tsukiyomi nodded as Tadashi got out from under the covers. Tsukiyomi stood up and attempted to get out of bed. His legs were a bit limp and trembled with each step but Tadashi had helped him. One hand in his, the other around Tsukiyomi's waist. Again, Tsukiyomi turned completely pink, turning his face away from Tadashi. It was a small walk to a small building outside of the inn. Entering the building, it was literally a palace of ponds. Lily pads and lotus flowers floated in the steamy and bubbly waters of each pool. Towels and buckets and soaps and jugs to fill laid on the edge of the pools.
Tadashi had helped Tsukiyomi undress into only his trousers. Tadashi then undressed himself as he then helped Tsuki into the water and slowly undid the bandage around his neck. Once the bandage was off, Tsukiyomi felt his neck carefully, his fingers touching each stitch.
"How many stitches do I have?"
"Kiri counted fifty-four."
They walked deeper into the water, the steam almost stinging Tsukiyomi's scars and wounds. He wrapped his arms around his chest, walking father into the water as it stung his wounds. But it was warm and calming. Tadashi waded closer.
"Why do you hide yourself?" he asked, in a calm and mellow tone, soothing Tasukiyomi's mind almost. But he thought about the question and sighed.
"This body, whatever it is, isn't mine. I'm a cursed image with a corrupted figure, physically ruined at birth. I do not blame my mother though. I know what I am but I'm just… not. I should be a man. But I feel some other part of me inside. It scares me just thinking that I, with this body, can bring children into this world. It frightens me. I wouldn't want to, not in a world like this, not in the life I live. I shouldn't be able to. I just…hate it so much." He felt Tadashi's hand grab his in the water and their fingers intertwined. Tsukiyomi didn't cry.
"I can't compare but I can only say I see you as yourself. I pity you. It shouldn't matter what you have or what you look like. You're perfect in your own way."
Rain began to fall slowly as the two dried off and left. On the way back to their room, Tadashi picked up two bowls of steamed rice and milk tea from the inn's empty kitchen. They both stumble into the room as the rain pitter-patters harder on the roof above them. Tadashi sets the food and tea on the small table infront of the bed and the two sit down to eat. Tsukiyomi ate fast, like he hadn't eaten in a while, which was exactly that. He quite liked the taste of plain rice, it was somehow comforting to him. Tadashi chuckled and gestured to slow down to Tsukiyomi. Tadashi liked seeing Tsukiyomi act normal again. He liked watching Tsuki, the way he acted, the way he saw the world, in a good way.
The two had finished and Tadashi made his way to the bed Tsukiyomi assumed they were sharing. It wouldn't have been the first time so he didn't mind. He got into the bed, being mindful of his injuries.
"Thank you for everything…really." Tsukiyomi said, smiling at Tadashi.
Before Tadashi could respond, a loud boom of thunder hit and lightning struck outside the inn window, scaring Tsukiyomi. It caused him to yelp and hide himself in Tadashi. He trembled on top of Tadashi but realized what he had done and started blushing.
"I-I'm sorry, I-"
Another boom of thunder struck, causing Tsuki to hide again. The position they were in wasn't on purpose. Tadashi laying under Tsukiyomi's trembling body. He put a hand on Tsuki's back.
"It's alright, Tsukiyomi…It's just a thunderstorm." Tsukiyomi didn't like loud sounds, unannounced loud sounds. He lifted his head and saw that Tadashi was staring, their eyes meeting. Tsukiyomi felt safe.
"Tadashi, what do you think of me?" Tsukiyomi asked, the words accidentally leaving his mouth. Tadashi looked red.
"I'm not sure..when I met you, you were stubborn and cold. You've come out of that shell of yours though. Sure, you're still that at times but you act differently around me. I've gotten to know you better, your actions, your likes and dislikes, the things that hurt you and that make you happy. You let me help you. I've learned who you really are. You're kind and caring and you're scared. I keep forgetting you're just a child, we both are, you act so grown up and independent. But…you're constantly on my mind, ever since I met you. I don't know why. But your eyes are my favorite, so blue it reminds me of the sky or the moons, something you don't see so clearly often. I love everything about you. You might not…but I do."
Tsukiyomi's heart sting and hurt and ache. He was falling for Tadashi, and his face certainly couldn't hide that. He looked away trying to hide his face in the candle light.
"Tsukiyomi?"
"Y-Yes?"
"Will you allow me to call you 'Tsuki'? Like Rose once did."
"Yes…" Golden was the only color Tsukiyomi could see. Their faces leaned together closer until their foreheads touched.
"Tsuki?"
"Yes?"
"Can I…Kiss…you?"
Before Tsukiyomi could even answer, his head leaned in to meet Tadashi's lips. His hand stroked the side of Tsukiyomi's face as they continued with the simple pecks. Tsukiyomi rolled over onto his back as Tadashi was pinned above him and they continued, Tadashi's body shielding Tsuki. Tadashi bit down on his lip, Tsukiyomi patted Tadashi's back for a breathing break.
"I apologize, I might have gotten ahead of myself." Tadashi said, face red and heart beating quickly.
"Tadashi, what is this? What are we going to do?"
"I'm not sure…but whatever this is, I don't think I can let go of how I feel about you."
"What if the others find out? They won't like it, will they?"
"We'll keep this secret."
Tsuki stared at Tadashi, his eyes fluttering tiredly. He had done it. He had yet fallen for another person. What was next? How far would this take him?
"Tadashi, promise me this will be nothing like-"
"You're past? I understand. I promise, I will never hurt you." Tadashi smiled as the candle went out. The rain and storm wasn't bothersome anymore in the arms of Tadashi. The quilt of the Clorina Inn bed was comforting too. Tadashi pecked Tsukiyomi's forehead and said, "Rest well."