~"
The time seemed to stop as tears started spilling on the fox face... -No... Len... No... This can't be... Len...- he reached an hand toward the Prince, trembling
-I'm sorry... Wan... I think... There's no more hope for... Me... Ghh..!- he smiled before spitting blood out, onto his lover -I will... Use my sacrifice to help you... As my last act of love...-
-Len... No what are you... No!- as the fox man tried to untie the lose ropes, his little prince turned around hugging the Fox woman in one fraction of second... Passing over her heart with the blade...
-If I go... You will come with me...- he said before falling down, as the woman began screaming...
-You... You can't kill me mortal!-
-Len!- Wan finally broke free and rushed to break the woman's neck throwing away her body furious
-Len... Nonono... Len no... I... I'm sorry...- he began crying and took the Prince in his arms, mumbling random words and apologies as the Prince held his face smiling... With little forces left, trying to caress him
-No... I am sorry... I couldn't maintain our promise... We won't be together anymore... Wan... My Wan...
You are free now...- he became paler and slowly closed his eyes fainting, as death's claws began to wrap up his body wanting to snatch him away...
-No... There's... Still a way... Len... I... You have to live!-
The fox man took out the sword from his chest, placing gently down the body...
Many curious foxes started peeking behind trees, witnessing such a sad ending for the young couple...
-I'm sorry Len... I'm the one who won't be fulfilling their promise...!- he declared, cutting his wrist
-I hope this works... If not, then we'll sleep together forever- he placed his wirst over the soft pale lips...
One could say the Prince was just sleeping... His face was so serene knowing to have given freedom to his lover, He was diying thinking it was worth it...
Thinking that maybe their meeting was fated, for him to save him at the end...
-Your Highness... I... Will... Forever be... With you...- said Wan losing strength as the blood kept spilling out into the other's mouth...
In a last miserable act... Wan transferred all his powers and life span, in hope to save his lover or at least to die together not wanting to bear the pain of a life without him...
...
-Oh my gods...!- a pan fell from a woman's hands as she rushed to check the group of foxes approaching...
-This is a curse...! Hide the chickens my husband!- she backwalked observing the groupz yelping sadly and soon after she noticed a man...
-Wait... What's that...?- the foxes lowered him, before running away, leaving only one big unconscious fox beside him
-The... Prince?!- yelled the woman
...
He began moving in his sleep before slowly opening his eyes...
-What...? I'm... Alive...?- he tried to stand up with his whole body hurting at each movement
-Sh sh... You should stay down Your Highness... You were lucky enough to survive once... Let's not try a second time, shall we?-
-Who are you?!- he was now wide awake
-I'm just a Court Cooker... I mean no harm!- she stepped back
-Where are we...? What day is today...? Wait... Where's Wan?! Wan?! WAN?! Where are you?!- he kept calling his name but there was no answer so he began to tear up, grabbing tightly on the blanket...
-Where is my... Wan...?- hiccups shoock him
-Leave him some time alone... He seems to have lost someone...- whispered the husband to the cooker, and soon after they left leaving the door open
-Wan... Please... Where are you...?- His voice was broken and almost a high pitched whisper...
The sound of the door cracking as it got opened made him turn around and there was only a fox there... A big fox with sad, bicolored eyes...
-No...-
Realization hit him.
He couldn't take the pain anymore, he covered his mouth but it was too much to hold in as he began crying louder and louder...
Screaming almost, for the desperation
His whole body trembling and the sounds he made were heartbreaking...
The fox rushed to his side so the Prince hugged him close buring his face into the fur
-I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I... Wan...!-
The fox yelped... Was it crying too in his soul? Wan surely did...
He couldn't help him in any way as the crying didn't stop for hours... Days... Months...
The Prince had lost his will to live.
Why did it had to end like this of all the possibilities...?
His only fault was to have loved too much... And now forced to remember it forever...
"~
-XianLen...- I murmur, not noticing a small tear falling down my cheek... -How... How did you managed to...?-
-To smile again?- the Prince sniffles, holding tight his fox who is trying to comfort him -It was painful at the beginning... It still is.
It feels like that sword is still piercing my heart sometimes, for how painful love can be... But I had to get myself together.
He... He did this for me to live... I cannot let his prescious life go waste. Especially since now we are both unable to get old...- he pets Wan on his back
-I have to do it for him... I cannot go on by myself but everytime I look in his eyes... I see him.
Wan is still therez looking out for me and taking care of me... I cannot disappoint him.
So I just do it for him... It's all about him... Only he exists in my eyes.
Why can't I never stay more than one day at the Palace? It reminds me of how unfair life is...
How many people's dreams get crushed and love ends up broken... All based on how fortunate or unfortunate you were born...
Like us... I want such a world to be teared apart-
-I... Couldn't imagine...-
-It's fine... I can... Survive this alone...-
I reach foward hugging him closer with the fox between us
-I won't let you alone- I whisper right before letting them go, to give them some privacy.
He widen his eyes starting at me as I leave...
-Do you think... She will really make it? Is there really still hope in this world?- he asks holding his head
-Yes... She will- answer an harmonious voice, dancing in the air
-Then I'm happy- smiles the Prince closing his eyes -At least for now...
I have a new reason to look forward to the future-