Tsukiyomi woke up to old walls, no sign of Tadashi. Something was off. He got out of the bed he didn't recognize and walked into the next room to find his younger self and his mother.
"Mama, when is papa coming home? He's been gone for a long time!"
"H-He'll be back soon, I'm sure. Come help me cook."
That was a lie. His father had left. Left for good. Left his mother and him. Seeing how he was as a child with his mother was refreshing to him. Seeing himself so innocent and filled with joy. Something he had forgotten for a while. Just seeing the beautiful women in front of him made him sad, the one who was left to take care of him by herself, providing everything. She sold herself for him. She sold her life away to provide for him. Even through her sickness and pregnancy, up until her death.
The scenery changed around Tsuki. This time his younger self and his mother were on the bed. In his mothers arms was a baby.
"Minakami, you're a big brother now. This is Mei Lian. Do you know what her name means?"
His younger self was clueless. Her name means 'beautiful lotus'. But Tsukiyomi in that moment realized and remembered he did have a sister. A full-yokai. Purple horns, purple skin, the markings under her eyes, her colored hair, coming all from her father, their father.
The scene changed again. His mother was in the bed, his younger self and his sister standing by the bed crying. She was dying. His child self cried, his sister clueless and curious.
"It'll be alright, mama, you'll be okay."
"Minakami, I want to tell you something. When someone goes away for a while, don't cry, don't ever feel sad. Know that someone will always be with you. Rose will have their soul, they will be safe. I want you to be good to Mei Lian. this world doesn't and won't treat you two well. Do you remember the story? About our name?"
"Yes, Mama…"
"Never forget it! Tell it to your sister. You are my favorite son, I love you with all my heart. You will do the greatest things!"
Her last dying breath and the words she had said made Tsukiyomi's heart sink. Mei Lian didn't understand. Tsukiyomi wanted to talk to his mother. He couldn't speak though, his mouth felt it had been sewn shut. Then he woke up.
Tears streamed down his face. Tadashi laid right next to him.
"Tsuki, are you alright? What happened?" he asked, in his calm, collected, gentle voice. Tsukiyomi wiped his face, but hearing Tadashi call him by that name reassured him he was okay. He took a breath.
"I don't know what to call it, an episode, a vision, a dream? It was my mother, I guess it was a memory of her dying. Why would I have that memory?"
Tadashi hugged Tsukiyomi, holding him tightly. The two got up and changed, it seemed Tadashi had bought him new clothes once again. Outside of the inn there were three other people waiting for them, Kiri, Fukuro and Karasu. They were to set off to Wall Delphinuim just as Lazhu as said. There, they would retrieve the wall artifact and the Katanas.
"We are to do what Lazhu had said. I guess you guys will be traveling with Me and Tsuki now-"
Fukuro giggled, her slight lisps whistling as she laughed, "Since when did you start calling him that, Tadashi?"
Tadashi paused, looking nervous, his face slightly red. Tsukiyomi laughed a little as well.
"T-That doesn't matter right now. Anyway, after we reach Delphium, we can go to wall Nevilliotus."
Before they left the building, Tadashi had changed Tsukiyomi's bandages around his neck. Carefully, he unwrapped the bloodstained ones and replaced them with the clean ones.
"I just remembered. That memory I had, My mother was pregnant. and…I guess I had a sister. Her name is Mei Lian. I have a feeling she's somewhere in one of these walls. How could I forget about my sister and my mother?" Tadashi finished wrapping Tsukiyomi's neck.
"Well, that's one more thing we can look for!" Tadashi said, smiling at Tsuki. It was rare to see Tadashi smile in public. Tsukiyomi and Tadashi gather outside with the rest of the group. Fukuro seemed excited about something.
"It would be way quicker if you guys rode on my back in my full form. If we went there by boat it would take two days and regular traveling airships are slow and make too many stops!" Fukuro had a point and they all agreed it was a better idea than boat. Fukuro transformed into a big area. In her full owl form, she was a good eighteen feet tall compared to all of them. Tsukiyomi hesitated to get on her back though. He hated heights. Tadashi practically dragged Tsuki on and they very very shortly took off. Tsukiyomi didn't dare get close to the edge, gripping onto Tadashi.
"I deeply regret this…" Tsukiyomi muttered. They had flown over Whither, Tsuki couldn't see the hut which made him a bit disappointed. Fukuro flew smoothly but fast. They crossed Glorophina, over the palace and hills and fashionable and traditional streets. It was bigger than they thought, all of the walls were. Tsukiyomi perked up to try to see over the walls, to the outside, it was useless. The walls were too long and the air wasn't good. They finally reached wall Delphinium which was a good half of Whither. As they flew lower, the light turned dark. In Delphinium it was always night. Miles upon miles of lotus floated in the water around floating houses and huts, towers and small temples, markets and villages. A lantern-like palace was in the middle of the wall, lighting the darkness. It was like an arch, no walls, no doors, just an open palace. It was a place with fish-like people and creatures used to dark waters. They were headed towards the Silver Lotus palace.
Fukuro landed in the shallow water near a dock and let everybody off her back. Tsukiyomi was relieved to be back on the ground. The palace stood tall before them, it was like a stage with pillars protecting it. A beautiful man dressed in robes stood inside. He turned to the group and his face lit up as he ran down the steps of the palace.
"Just the group I was expecting, welcome!" He said, overly excited and joyful. He was a very good looking man with very lovely feminine features and his exposed chest showed his muscles. His hair was long and black and he wore jewels all over his body. He jingled as he hurried towards the group.
"You're the guardian of Rose, Minakami Tsukiyomi! My name is Meng Yao, leader of the Lotus Clan, defenders against the Chi clan! Miss Lazhu told me all about you all, it really is a pleasure to see you all here on the grounds of my home! Us yokai have to stick together, you know!"
Tsukiyomi was left speechless, not knowing what to say to Meng Yao. he had invited the group in his palace for a meal before they left. They all sat down on lotuses that were meant to be the seats at the table made of the same material of the stage. It was a long table. Trays and dishes of food lay out all across. Meng Yao said their special meal on the wall was Fleet Lotus Souffle. The dishes had many different fruits, fishes, and lotus seeds. Everyone ate gradually and the food was certainly delicious. Meng Yao left the table quickly and rushed back with an item covered with a cloth and what looked to be the wall artifact. He set the covered item down on the table and took off the cloth to reveal the very clean, very taken care of, emerald Rose katanas. He set the artifact, the Blue Lotus Charm of Delphinium beside it.
"They are rightfully yours, Tsukiyomi. I beg for you to protect them with your life. I wish you all luck on your journey. I will leave you to leave whenever. For now, I have my own important matters to attend to."
With that he left everyone to finish their meals and make their way across Moonrose on the back of Fukuro all the way to wall Nevilliotus. It would at least take them until night to reach the wall since it was on the other side of Moonrose.
The sun started to set as they flew off west towards the wall. Kiri sat on the afr edge of the saddle on Fukuro's back, her indigo hair flowing in the wind. Karasu was closest to Fukuro's owl head. Tsukiyomi heard Karasu speak softly to fukuro, something along the lines of, 'Careful of flying too high, you'll lose your energy. You can't hold this form forever'. Tsuki sighed, leaning himself against Tadashi since nobody was looking. They sat in the middle, away from the ledges. The wind blew in his face softly. The sky turned dark quickly as the moons began to rise over the Moonrose walls.
"Are you cold?" Tadashi asked in a quiet voice. He swiped away the hair caught on Tsukiyomi's lips.
"A bit, but I'll be okay." Tsuki's eyes fluttered as he nuzzled himself against Tadashi. The wind made him sleepy. But when the wind suddenly stopped and he opened his eyes, everything was dark. He was still flying. The saddle was gone and Fukuro's yokai form was a corpse. Bloodied with splotches and spots of flesh. Her guts were wrapped around her neck but she was still flying. Tsukiyomi stood on the corpse's back in the darkness around him, scared. Around him, the corpse had arrows and weapons in the skin of her. The feathers on her back began to sink and it was as if a puddle of black blood had formed under Tsukiyomi's feet. He looked down to see himself smiling back. The blood rose up and formed a figure, reflecting him. Tsukiyomi couldn't move away.
"What are you?" He screamed, his stuck, planted feet losing balance. He fell back, his feet still stuck in the puddle.
"Silly, silly! Don't be silly! I'm you!!" Their voice was Tsuki's but distorted and echoey.
"Minakami, can't you see?" we're the same person! We share the same corrupted body!"
"Y-You can't be me! I'm not corrupted, I can't fully show my Yokai form!"
"WE ARE THE SAME! Admit it, Mina, you can't hide that form forever! Once you show it, no one will like you, they will all be afraid. That's why we need each other! We need each other because I'm the only one who understands!"
The reflection dove into his fallen body and it seemed Tsuki was sinking into the corpse, drowning in rotten flesh and blood.
He sat up from the saddle, breathing in the air above. Tadashi had moved, a map in his hands. He looked over as Tsukiyomi.
"You're awake, perfect timing too. We're here."
Fukuro landed outside of the Nevilliotus palace. She transformed back once everyone got off, she looked exhausted. Tsukiyomi looked at the tall castle. He had a weird feeling in his stomach as well as the pendant around his neck was glowing red. Something was leading him here. He unconsciously led himself up the palace stairs into the castle. The group followed behind him. The doors of the palace were open for the public, yokai, humans and demons of all kinds were local here, a peaceful wall, as people call it. A wall made for everyone to live together.
Walking inside, around him were many murals, statues, paintings of the past. But one continuous painting caught his eye. It was of a young girl with light skin and ombre hair, horns with hoops and markings under her eyes. She looked familiar. There was also a statue that caught his eye. One of the Japanese moon god, Tsukiyomi. It seemed this one was worshiped most in the castle. The statues led them down a hall to two big rose gold doors. It was a study and a throne room, a library of ancient books. The doors were cracked open as Tsukiyomi heard a loud commotion form inside. He entered by himself quietly, but was paralyzed by the sight.
"Look, I have told you this already! I can't make the mistake again! They expect me, A CHILD, to run this whole wall by myself? I've done this alone for years now, I might as well have someone by my side to help me! I need this message sent to the governor and wall leader of Porsynthia and Falendgore! This in'st a hard thing! And tell them..that..I-" She stared at Tsukiyomi, the guard by her side taking his leave. Tsuki started back. It was her, she was the one in the painting.
"I know you.." Tsukiyomi muttered to himself.
"That's it? 'You know me'?!" She scoffed.
"Your Mei Lian, I'm your-"
Her eyes widened and she came closer to Tsuki. "You're…it can't be…you're not dead! Minakami!"
Her expression changed. "You son of a bitch! You left me! The second mother died, you left! You left me in that god damn alleyway and didn't come back! And now suddenly, fifteen years later, you decide to show up?!"
"I didn't leave-"
"Oh, don't give me that shit! Mom told you to stay with me, to protect me. You left! Just like dad, I never got to see him. You left just like him! Do you know how hard it is to know that the only family you had left had left you!? Where the hell did you go for half of your life, for fifteen years? What took you this long to come back!? Look at me now, Minakami! I'm a goddamn wall leader! Welcome to Nevilliotus!" She started to tear up. "There are so many hungry people in the streets, people die everyday! Do you know how hard it is to keep up with it all, how hard it is to keep people satisfied? I give so much! But I get nothing in return except to sit in a shiny chair, wear nice clothes, and live in a nice castle everyday for the past ten years. I was trained for this! I'm too young, I should have a long road ahead of me, not sending letters to other wall leaders. Why now? Why do you choose to come back now?" Silence sat between them besides Mei Lian wiping away her tears. Tsukiyomi sighed as he now remembered everything that had happened.
"I never meant to leave you. I never left you, Mei Lian, I was taken. I was held by a clan of horrible people who did horrible things to me, unimaginable things. It took me years to try and escape. I forgot everything," He unbuttoned his blouse a bit to show her his back, the brand and the scars, and the scar on his neck. Her expression changed. "I fled to Whither and stayed there. I found someone who wants to protect me now too, a group of them, and friends who help me. I found out who I really am and what I have to do. That's why I'm here, so you can help me save this world."
"I never would've known. I'm sorry, Minakami. I have underestimated you. I guess trust isn't my strongest skill. Well…it's not a skill…"
Tsukiyomi hugged her.
"Mei Lian, please come with me to the outside."
"I can't."
"Mei, please. Don't you dream? WHat about the walls? Outside? Don't you want to know?"
"I don't have time for dreaming, Minakami. I have a wall to take care of."
"Please Mei, I can't leave you again." Meil Lian pushed away. Her mood had changed again.
"Well, I can't leave my people without them knowing either."
"You don't have to act like you're chained to this place!"
"WELL I AM! I am, Minakami! And I wear these chains so that my people may live a life without knowing how it feels to have steel wrapped around their wrists and hanging from their bones. Not because of some preserved love for you. I will do questionable things so that the wellbeing of my people will never be called into question. I can't turn away from my kingdom, Mina."
Tsukiyomi sighed, nodding his head, and turned to leave. But Mei suddenly hollered back.
"But…what if I think about it. You're right, I don't want to leave you again, you found me finally and I don't want to be found again. You're the only family I have left. I know Rose put you up to this somehow. Please just give me a day, Minakami. One day."