He felt warmth, the kind of warmth he never knew he longed for, the kind of warmth he unknowingly yearned for. Liuxing tightened his embrace, Kenji's head resting on his chest. He sobbed, the tears falling down. He could not help it but breakdown more, he was feeling as if in this moment, he cried, then his vulnerability will not be used to trap him, instead he would only be provided with warmth and comfort. He felt as if he could cry, as if he could feel safe in Liuxing's arm. He felt as if the world was finally calm, as if the weight on his chest was finally being lifted, as if he could stop feeling that weight if he was in Liuxing's arm. He felt as if everything was okay. He felt as if he would be okay, safe, and protected. Liuxing caressed Kenji's hair.
"It is okay….. it is okay. No one will hurt you anymore, your highness...….you are safe…..you are loved, you are not a disappointment, you are a blessing, a divine blessing….you are my divine blessing...." He gently cooed, "It is okay…..it is okay you can cry, your highness."
To Kenji, the water gushing down, seemed calmer, the chaos in his mind seemed like peace and he felt warm, safe, and okay. He felt Liuxing cards his hair aside and touch his neck, caress it gently and then he started feeling as if the world was spinning, his vision started getting blurry and then black.
"You will be working as one of the ministry bearers, handling all the paper work of merchants and trades. You will be elaborated about your work by your supervisor, meet him today itself. Your mother and sister, both of them are shifted to your personal quarters. They will not be concerned anymore."
"Thankyou." Xun Yu said.
"You can retreat." Liuxing ordered.
With calm steps Liuxing entered the chamber where Kenji was resting, he fainted and did not gain consciousness till now. Liuxing was worried, even though it was nothing fatal. He opened the door to the chamber quietly and peeked, Kenji was still lying down, the faint breeze entering the chambers from the balcony infront of his bed. Liuxing quietly stepped in and sat down on the floor beside the bed, where Kenji was lying down.
He softly placed his hand above Kenji's and started caressing it, he touched the ring on Kenji's finger, his weapon. He felt it against his finger. It was a hair ring. He placed Kenji's hand against his cheek and placed his face on the bed, resting his head, he closed his eyes.
After a while, a faint and soft murmur, "Liuxing?" Kenji woke up.
"Your highness….." Liuxing got up quickly, "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yes…" Kenji managed to stutter the response out. He was feeling embarrassed and shy.
Liuxing stared at him for a while and then smiled, "If you would like to rest today?"
"If that is okay with you….." Kenji said.
"Of course it is, your highness…." Liuxing, the left side of his lips forming into a downward curve, his smile brought a soft shade of rouge to his cheeks.
"I will take my leave then." Liuxing said and got up. Kenji finally turned his face toward Liuxing who had a soft smile on his lips. Kenji watched him depart away and then sighed, he took a deep breath. All of the moments, the vivid feeling of Liuxing's embrace, the warmth, the gentle voice and caress, everything was vividly etched into his mind. A soft smile appeared on Kenji's face as soon he remembered all of it. Then he brought himself back to seriousness.
"What is wrong with you? Get a hold of yourself…." Kenji mumbled to himself but he knew that he had never felt more safe than yesterday, in Liuxing's arms, in his embrace. He knew that he had never felt the chaos settle down into something calmer, it was the first and only time he felt it yesterday. He knew that even though Liuxing and Kenji were meant to be rivals, he had never felt more comfortable than in the presence of Liuxing., even comfortable to unveil his biggest pain and insecurity.
Kenji once again removed his veil, touching the scar, he felt it against his hand. He settled himself down on the corner of his bed, "Maybe….here I can stay however I want. Breathe however I want to breathe...but for how long? I have to return after all…..in the demonic realm, the time travels differently than in the heavenly realm. Three lights(day) in demonic realm makes up an hour in heavenly realm….. I have to return soon…I must not stay here for long…I have already stayed here for four lights(days)…." Kenji was talking to himself, when he noticed the sky get darker and the winds get a bit more colder.....he furrowed his eyebrows, got off his bed and walked towards the balcony. Suddenly, one star, two, three, four and countless. It was like a rain of shooting stars.
"Bolides….." Kenji mumbled. Others might have found the rain of shooting stars evil or not pleasant, as it became the symbolism of the demon Liuxing but to Kenji...Kenji never disliked it, even now he found it serene, beautiful, beguiling, a smile automatically appeared on his face. He loosened his hair to let it flow freely. The rain of shooting stars seemed harmless today, no fire, no malevolence…..just pure calmness. He never felt more calm and at peace than he was feeling yesterday in Liuxing's embrace and now….. "Strange….why did your presence become my calmness?….." Kenji mumbled as he thought about Liuxing.
"May I enter, my lord.." Kai knocked open the door.
"Yes, you may." Kenji answered and turned around.
"Xun Yu has been moved to the ministry quarters, he is working for the trade department. But my lord how will-"
Kenji showed his hand before he could even complete his sentence, "We will be discussing it after we reach home." Kenji said turning his back towards the balcony, "Let us depart tomorrow…." He said solemnly.