Hey!

And No. Just read.

Kay let's move on. xD

-His Toll-

-Tigress' POV-

Celestial Phoenix. I've forgotten.

He pulls on my waist and looks deeper into my eyes. Almost like he was meeting me for the first time all over again. Yet this time, he actually had me. The fluttering inside me just wouldn't stop the moment I laid eyes on him. He's here. Do I even really care how? Was that something else I had to do? My arms built a barrier around him, and I kept him locked on me with my strength. He smiles and gently pushes my chin up towards him.

His uplifting smile then vanishes, making me curse the action. He releases my chin and untangles my arms from his body. After pushing my arms back by my side, he takes a step back. His eyes still shot through me. But he was serious now. I shook my head in doubt, in question.

"This… may not be a dream. But… I know what it is and it's not real either. So, I'm not just going to pull you to me like that. I'm not going to make you miss me. That's truly a selfish thing for me to do."

The doubt fills me to the top. I'm in full awareness now. Must be something so direly important to push away a missed bliss. My lip trembled, but I promised myself not to allow the stupid liquid to drip from my eyes again. I'm not going to say anything. He'll tell me anyways.

"Lay it on me, then." I croaked. My throat raspy and dry. "It's understood that you can't hold me without feeling guilty. I've already come to some harmful conclusions. If I state them, will you take responsibility or deny them truthfully?" I sounded a bit cold, but I ignored it. He drops his head slightly. But he made a conscious effort to hold my crippled gaze.

"I will." He called out and nodded. I took no time to blurt out my next words.

"The cliff. You could have pulled up." He is now too rocked with guilt to even look at me. "You could have tried but you decided not to and chose to release me." My words came strict and firm. He took what seemed like hours to answer. Then he nodded. "I take responsibility for that action, yes." His deep voice always soothed me. But the voice even uttering those words was making me boil under my fur.

"Figures. And you… you're dead. Aren't you?" If what I said didn't churn my stomach, I don't know what else will.

"Tigress-"

"You promised, now answer the damn question." My fists were balled. It must say a lot when your undead lover stands in front of you with thoughtful eyes and all you want to do is pummel him with your fists. He doesn't seem scared of me though. Only scared of the thought of crumpling my way of seeing him.

"Yes. I'm no longer alive. Which leads to the point… I can't be truly the Celestial Phoenix. Which… you must have unraveled as well…" He trails off. Attempting to change the subject. But he knew I wouldn't allow that to pass. "Yes. Yes I have."

We stood there in a killing silence. I wish I could just allow myself to get lost in his arms. But there were important things to be settled. Like always.

"Tigress… please. I know you have every right to be angry with me. But… I'm needed. I was needed, and that's why I left." I was still hooked with uncertainty. But I still listened.

"Why. By who. And how was death going to get you there." I felt as though I would explode. He sighed and stared down at something. Then slowly, he turned around.

He revealed the same black bird on his back, the one he held before he died. It tainted his fur permanently. This time, it was different. How come I did not notice this when he enveloped me in such a hug? It seemed to be vibrating, moving rapidly. This barely surprised me though, with what else was happening.

"I can't be the Celestial Phoenix… because I am dead. They now consider me the Frishoya Master. Though, I'm master of nothing, the way I see it." He turned back around. "Pretty much what it means is that, I was chosen , but I was departed before my title was given." I looked at me to see if I even bothered listening. "Pause. Who the hell are 'they'?" I asked. My voice was still sour." He laughed nervously.

"Uh, heh, yeah. It's like… well…"

"Spit it out."

He rubbed his arm. "Almost like hell… for right now." I looked around. What was he talking about?

"What do you mean?" I asked, getting annoyed. "Well… it's exactly like it sounds, Tigress. I'm practically in hell."

No. I refused to believe Nay Wan would be in hell. "You're lying."

"N-now calm down, I'm not in hell. I'm not tortured, Tigress, bear with me. The place I stay… is run by evil, practically. I'm just… I don't know." I stare at him. He's not making any sense. It's starting to piss me off.

"…Yeah… Not working for you, huh?" He says quietly. "I promise it will be explained later, Tigress. This isn't much easier for me than it is you, okay? I don't know how to explain how I'm… undead."

What do I say to that? I want to be mad at him. I want to be held by him as well. This has to be a dream. A nightmare. A screwed up nightmare. I want out. I began to breathe heavily.

"No. You're not alive. Leave me alone, and stay the hell away from me." I called out. His expression wasn't pained. But he seemed to pity me. I didn't need his pity.

"Tigress please, I don't have much time." I began to back away. "No. Go away."

"Tigress…" His voice broke. I turned, and began to run.

-Nay Wan's POV-

Damn. Damn. Damn.

I knew this wouldn't go well. But I had to try. I only have a minute left. She closed her eyes and ran away from me blindly. I couldn't stand this. I felt as though I would cry, but I couldn't.

Good thing I'm much faster than her.

I dropped on all fours and ran her way. I got ahead of her and came to a halt.

"STOP!" I shouted, but her eyes were still closed and she slammed into me, knocking us both to the ground. She picked her head up from my chest and looked at me painfully. I pushed myself up with my elbows and wrapped my arms around her once more, still on the grassy ground.

I held her tightly as she fought me. She looked at me in surprise. "Tigress! No!"

I shouted, she still continued to fight. She was tough, but it didn't even faze me ever since I've gotten this much bigger.

"I don't care if you fight me, Tigress! I only have a few things left to say to you!" She continued to fight me. My fur began to glow gold. My time here was ending. She noticed the strange light and held back a bit, but she squirmed.

"Always remember me! Always take care of yourself!" I held on tighter, tears came from her eyes and fell on my chest. I continued. "Do whatever it takes to make yourself happy! Do whatever it takes to keep him safe!" She paused from fighting me off so much. "Let me go!" She shouted at me and fought again. I felt myself slowly crumbling away. "Keep him safe… until he meets me… I can only imagine what he's going to do when he sees me… frankly I'm quite scared…" She grabbed onto my fur. She still pushed away. "And let someone else… love you…" She stopped fighting and stared into my eyes. But that was it for me. I wanted to kiss her. But I knew I couldn't. "Heh, bye beautiful." I said, and I vanished.

-Tigress' POV-

"And let someone else… love you…" He says quite breathlessly. I stop. I look at him. He seemed to be blowing away like ash. He shone brightly. I was too overwhelmed with pain to notice how much this should frighten me. "Heh, bye beautiful…" He says, holding my chin. But before I could say anything or object, he fades away. And what replaces him, was a group of small glowing balls. Were they fireflies? No. They were only golden orbs. I closed my eyes as they flew past me, brushing past my fur. I felt him around me. Felt him toughing my arms, my face.

Why.

Why did this have to happen.

And now I'm alone. Again.

Solitude. The worst thing and I was ruled by it once more.

I fell over, a pain appeared in my stomach and I took one last breath before falling unconscious.

"Tigress!"

Quiet. No more. Let me die.

"Tigress, damn it, get up!"

I felt a pounding in my chest, and air being shoved into my lungs.

"Why aren't you breathing!?"

Was someone trying to save me? From what? I'm fine.

"FUCK THIS!" The deep voice booms, and he slams the bottom of his fists down on my chest. It hurts, but I cough the air that was forced down my throat. I tasted something. Sweat. Hot breath with hints of apple in the taste. I felt a pair of lips against mine. I open my eyes but everything appears faint.
"W-what… stop…who…" I say. But my throat hurts.

"Tigress? Tigress!" I hear Dai Lin shout. He was leaning over me.

I lay here, breathing slowly. And I touch my stomach. The pain was slowly disappearing from chest.

Goodbye, Nay Wan.

Okay thanks for waiting. Sorry I'm so busy. Sorry I couldn't much of anything else in this chapter. I promise it won't be that way in the next way. I PROMISE. Alright, til' next time!