Chapter 76 - Leave Me Alone

The man in bed laughed and then coughed for a moment. Catching his breath again, he closed his eyes and sighed.

"I do want to stay… Will it hurt?"

"I… do not know. This would be a first for me."

"…"

"I've only thought about it, Ah Shui. I don't know anyone who has done it," Ying Yue looked down from where he sat and twiddled his thumbs, "If I don't succeed, Ah Shui, your soul… it would tear and…"

Sheng Shui reached out and placed his hand on top of Ying Yue's hands and smiled at him.

"I trust you, Ah Yue. Do it now before he comes back."

He searched the seam master's face before nodding. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands over the other blonde's body and exhaled. Concentration filled his face as he focused on the feel of the man's soul. He called to it, felt around it, before tugging.

He heard a grunt from the man and did his best to go slow as he could. It felt as if there was something holding the seam master's soul back, but he didn't give up. Sending in his own energy through his palms, he wrapped around his friend like a protection and pulled. The rush of Sheng Shui's golden soul ran against him like a hug and he took in a deep breath.

Opening his eyes, he had to blink multiple times for clarity. He pressed his hands against his chest and let out a breath.

He did it. Sheng Shui is now within him.

"I knew you would ascend…" he whispered and stood only to stumbled. Reaching for the wall, he placed a hand on his head and clenched his eyes. Once his body stilled, he shook off the thumping in his head and went to open the door.

"Please tell Wang Li… Sheng Shui has passed."

The servant at the door rushed away and he slid down the wall. Closing his golden eyes, he heard the shuffling of clothes and footsteps. He looked to see Wang Li shaking and crying out at the man on the bed. Pushing himself up, he saw a few in the room turn to him as he stood up.

"Ah Li," he whispered and touched his king's shoulder, but the man shook him off. He tried again, but a growl escaped the raven haired male.

"Leave me alone!"

His golden eyes widened and he backed away from his lover who was still clinging onto the dead man. Ying Yue fisted his hands and rushed out of the room, the palace, out of the village. Tears flowed freely down his eyes and he wiped at them. He wanted to go to his home on the hills where his brothers were. He wanted to feel the comfort of his master's embrace. He did not want to feel this sadness.

He stared out into the lake and saw the shimmering of the water. He closed his eyes and hesitated in leaving Wang Li alone like he asked, but his promise held him back. Turning away, he went to Sheng Shui's shop and tucked himself in the back where the man slept.

Wang Li was pulled away from the dead body of his friend into warm arms of his aunt. He held onto the female for a while, before calming down.

"We will clean his body, nephew. Let him burn down the river with lotuses to return to the Heavens."

He nodded and watched as the body of the seam master lose it's last blood. He looked around and noticed his lover was not there.

"Ah Yue?" He questioned aloud and looked tiredly at his aunt.

"He left you alone."

"Why?"

His aunt shook her head and went to order the servants what and where to go. He turned to Chu and Hien to ask where the platinum blonde had gone. He saw them look at one another before the blue haired female looked at him with pity.

"Ah Li, you yelled at him when he tried to help you. We don't know where he went."

'What?!' Wang Li rushed out of the room and looked around the courtyard, his room, the hot spring, and then Ying Yue's room. He laid down on the unused bed and stared blankly at the wall before him.

His silver eyes showed a sliver of red.

==

Ying Yue stared at the box that Sheng Shui had requested him to bring back to Wang Li. He had not seen the man for a couple nights and he sighed. Holding the box in his hands, he proceeded to leave with the gift. Leaving the shop in the early morning air, the blonde noticed a silver butterfly perched on the entrance curtain.

It flew up and around him, leaving sparkles of glitter before landing at his shoulder.

"Ah Yue, come home."

His golden eyes widened before a soft smile curled at his lips. Walking to the palace, he saw Wang Li at the entrance staring off with no focal point. He walked toward his lover and felt the cold breeze flew by like the coming of a storm.

Wang Li slid his silver eyes to him and his king's face went hard.

"Ah Li," he said softly and looked down at the present wrapped in red.

"You left me."

"You asked me to."

"I did not mean it!"

"You did."

"Ah Yue!"

Ying Yue felt the back of his head pulled forward and his lover's lips drank him fully. When the Ghost King pulled back, he could feel the bruising on his lips.

"You belong to me, Ying Yue. Must I remind you?"

"Yes," he replied but quickly caught himself, "I mean…"

"I will go crazy if you leave me again, Ah Yue."

His king ran his thumb across his cheek gently and stared at him as if he was a ghost sent to haunt him. Wrapping his fingers around his lover's wrist, Ying Yue sighed.

"Don't tell me to leave."

"Forgive me… I didn't know it was you. I wouldn't have said that."

The blonde ran his fingers down the Ghost King's face to his jawline. Pulling away, he pushed the box toward the raven haired man.

"This is a gift from Ah Shui. He wanted me to give it to you."

Wang Li held it in his arms and glanced at it before looking into his golden eyes. His silver eyes looked at him forlornly like lovers at the midst of goodbye. Ying Yue offered a smile and glanced at the gift.

"Did you sleep well, Ah Li?"

"You know I didn't."

"Mm, neither did I."

Wang Li suddenly dropped the gift and reached for him to hold him tightly. His own arms circled around the man in red and found comfort in those arms once more. His lover cupped the back of his neck, emitting a shiver from him.

"I've missed you, Ah Yue."

Letting out a soft laugh, he felt his king pulled his head back.

"Is it humorous?"

"Don't be upset, Ah Li," Ying Yue grinned, "I'm just happy you've missed me too."

Silver eyes relaxed and softened. Lips pressed against his gently and he sighed into the kiss. When they pulled away, Ying Yue picked up the red covered gift.

"Ah Shui would be upset to see how you treated his gift for you, Ah Li."

"You are correct."

Wang Li took the red box back and kissed his cheek. Wrapping his hand around his lover's, they walked into the palace and Ying Yue was brought to a small shrine near the wall of the library. Plum blossoms scattered around the small shrine where a painting of the seam master was centered. Ying Yue couldn't help how nicely painted it was and accurate. From the dimples to the brightness of topaz eyes, no one could mistaken it for another.

Wang Li looked at his love to see him observing the small shrine. Smiling, he lifted the platinum blonde's hand up to press his lips on the knuckles. Golden eyes crinkled at the end pleased by his display of affection and he looked back at the shrine.

"As a memory for him. Ah Yue, we will send him off tonight under the moon at the river. Will you join me?"

"Yes," Ying Yue leaned into him and looked nervously as the blonde chewed his bottom lip, "I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

He looked at the man in red and tightened his hold on his lover's hand. Pulling him away and to the king's room, he shuffled his feet. He saw Wang Li placed the red box gently onto the table and walked toward him with furrowed brows.

"Ah Yue, are you sick? I cannot lose you too," the Ghost King said it with such sternness that he felt his heart jumped. Whether it was from fear or astonishment, he wasn't too sure.

"No, I'm not sick but… Ah Li… Ah Shui… I… I have his soul."