"Come on, Leilah! The festival's beginning!" Yasuo wakes me up loudly. I can't make a noise, throwing my arm over my face and burying myself into the very comfy bed. The day after, and my voice still hasn't come back. "Yone's waiting for you!"
"Yasuo, as happy as we are to see you here, we need rest." Starshadow grumbles from nearby my head.
"The sun has risen! It's time to wake up!" Yasuo actually jumps on the bed. I curl away from him, wishing that Yasuo would calm himself down.
"Calm yourself, Yasuo. Did she sleep well?" Yone interrupts.
"Meh. She had a few hiccups in the night. Nothing she couldn't recover from." Starshadow informs them. I throw Starshadow a glare before trying to bury my head under the pillow.
Starshadow, I swear to the Celestials, I will end you if you keep talking. I threaten.
"And now she's telling me death threats. So, what I'm saying is absolutely true." Starshadow finishes. I roll my eyes and cuddle deeper into my blankets. It's been too long.
"Can you see what she dreams?" Yone asks.
"No, I won't invade her privacy like that, but all bets are off in reality. Last night, I woke up to her thrashing about. She bolted up clutching her throat and shying away. I wish Kusho was here, he could help." Starshadow sighs.
"Kusho?" Yasuo asks. Yone tenses at the doorway.
"Master Kusho of the Kinkou Order. They've been hunting the Golden Demon. They're basically ninjas. One of them got in the way of our travel and caught us. They took care of both of us for months. We said goodbye to them last night." Starshadow explains. I feel Starshadow smirk. "Two of them were boys a little bit older. One of them, Shen, took exceptional care of her. He helped bring her out of her self-made shell."
"Is he anything else to her?" Yone's jealous tone fills the room.
"Not that I know of, but there was another that made a pass at her."
Don't tease him! I bolt upright and attempt to catch the snake. Starshadow snickers as he disappears under the bed. I wish I could make a noise of frustration. Yasuo yelps as my sudden movement causes me to crash into him.
"And she's up!" Starshadow laughs. I glare at him. "Now, go spend time with Yone. Enjoy the festival. Nothing is super urgent for us to do anything. Go and be normal, as you so often claim you are!"
I will find a way to destroy you if I must.
You're so egotistical if you think you can. Starshadow replies in my head.
"I hate you." I cough harshly. Seems like my voice is coming back, but it still needs time to heal.
"Your voice! It's back!" Yasuo cheers while I struggle to breath. Yone is quick to come to my side and rub my back. The coughing eventually calms down and I take a large breath.
"It's coming back, it hasn't fully healed. She still needs time." Yone lightly scolds his brother.
"Yeah, but it's better than last night! I mean, she came back with a closing hole in her throat!" Yasuo protests and points his finger at Yone. "And you kissed her!"
"Yasuo…" Yone sounds a little tense. I wave my hands. My stomach turns a little bit.
"Can we please not start anything? I haven't been to an Ionian festival before." My voice echoes in their ears. Both Yone and Yasuo look impressed that I have the skill to do that, even if my back is covered in sweat from the effort. I blink, surprised with myself. I didn't think I would be able to do that. Then again, I didn't think I would lose my voice, so… yeah.
"Ionian festivals are the best! Besides, I'm sure that many people would want to thank you for your efforts to help with setting it up." Yasuo coaxes. I shoo him away. Yasuo laughs and grabs Starshadow.
"Where do you think you're taking me?" Starshadow demands.
"Well, I'm taking you outside. I heard there's more steamed buns somewhe-"
"Take me there!" Starshadow demands and coils himself around Yasuo's left shoulder. The two leave, bickering on which Ionian dessert is the best. I look at Yone and just laugh noiselessly. He joins in. We laugh until we can't anymore. Yone leans on me while we catch our breaths. I feel myself glow a bit.
"How are you really, Leilah?" Yone asks. I freeze and turn my head away. He grabs my chin and guides me back to face him. "I know about Bilgewater from Starshadow's view. I want to know yours. What happened to you? Starshadow was telling us what he heard. From when you were first captured to when you escaped." I shake my head, not wanting to burden him. "Please Leilah. Even after a year, I want to be your companion on your journey. Would you tell me?"
Normally, I would have never shown him. He's so sweet and kind and never faced such horror, but I also know that Yone can't go on my adventures thinking that everything is beautiful, if he still wants to. I sigh and wave my hand, casting illusions to show my point of view. Yone, once he realizes what I am showing him, wraps his arms around me. It comforts me to relive the worst days of my life. He watches as I save that little red-haired girl and pass out, to meeting the demon, searching for Starshadow, and having my eye get popped. Seeing my eye get punctured has Yone checking my face. I glow a little bit brighter at the attention he gives me. He breathes a sigh of relief before turning his attention back to the illusions. He actually pales and looks away when he sees my capture and the beginning of my torture.
"No more. No more Leilah." He whispers to me. I look at him bewildered.
"I thought-"
"I wanted to see, but I don't know how I can handle seeing you in pain like this." Yone explains. I finally notice that he's trembling and near tears over just the first night. I hold him close.
"You need to see this until the end. Then you can decide if you still wish to journey with me." I croak. Yone nods before glancing at the illusion. I finish showing him everything, from my eyes being cut out to Starshadow's genius illusions. He clutches me harder as he sees my body get worse, thinning and getting sick. He grips me so tightly when Starshadow escapes and we teleport out of that hell. I even show him what I remember from when I died. I show him my adventures in Navori. He narrows his eyes at the red-head boy, but he stays quiet. I show him all the training I did, and what happened when we caught the Golden Demon. It took less than fifteen minutes, but we both know that the weight of the world was placed on his shoulders. He pulls away from me and paces in front of the bed.
"This is what can happen?" Yone gestures to where I casted my magic.
"Sorta. From what I can tell, this isn't going to be the worst." I start to cough. It feels a little bit better, but it's still hard to speak.
"I can come with you. On your next teleport, I can-." Yone starts. I cover his mouth as quickly as I can.
"No. I'm traveling all the time! You belong in the monastery! That's your duty." I cough, but keep going. "You're needed there. You won't be able to protect me all the time, so I may get stranded! Not to mention you're mortal! You'll die someday, I may never. I'll have to watch you die someday. I'd rather not make it sooner."
"But-" Yone protests against my hand.
"I don't want you to come, Yone." I force myself to say. Tears are streaming down my face as I lie. I never realized how much I wanted Yone in my life until that moment, when Yone is prepared to sacrifice his own dreams for me, and here I am saying no. I want him by my side, but I want him safe. Even after a year, I still have such strong feelings for him. I guess that's what many people say about their first love. "I have to see people at their worse. I have to be there to offer help. And I won't always succeed. You can't save me from that. And I can't make you leave the temple." I explain. Starshadow bursts into the room.
"What is tak-" He freezes when he sees both of us with tears streaming down my face. Yone's is made of stone. "I'll go start the festival with Yasuo, ok?" He backs out just as quickly. Yone's clutching my hand tightly.
"Promise me this." Yone whispers. I look up at him. "Promise me that when I have finished training, I can come with you." He pleads.
"But Yasuo needs you. He looks up to you." I argue.
"He cares about you too. He's asked me everyday when you would be coming back. When I asked why, he said it was because you could put a smile on my face that no one else could, and Yasuo wants that for me. I even asked him if I could leave him on his own. He told me as long as I was with you, he'd know that I'm happy and he's ok with it." Yone protests. I look away.
"I'm a stranger to you, remember?" I speak harshly. Yone pulls away, confused. "You met me a little over a year and a half ago. I've been gone for most of them. You think you can care about someone in a little over seven months?" I spit out. I'm crying inside because I know that yes, I can care about someone in that short amount of time. I care about Yasuo, about Starshadow, even Yone.
"Don't lie, Leilah." Yone calls me out. I flinch. "You care about us. It doesn't matter how much time has passed. You care. Is it impossible for me to care about you in that same amount of time?"
"Can we talk about this later? I need time to think." I give in a little bit. Yone nods.
"Very well. We will talk about it later." Yone accepts. He pulls me up with him. "Do you need a moment to-" I cast an illusion on my face that clears up my tears. "How long can you hold that?" He asks.
"Illusions don't usually make me feel sick, so probably until my eyes are no longer puffy." I shrug.
"Let's go find them then." He holds my hand tightly as we walk outside. My eyes widen in amazement as I see how many people are in the festival. There's a few odd people with different clothes, but overall, there's children playing and people talking happily. "Where do you think they went?"
"Probably to all the food." I laugh. Yone smiles and walks down to where the most wonderful smells are. As we walk, some people recognize me as the girl that helped them with the banner. They come and thank me while also giving little gifts. I smile at every single one of them.
"Miss?" A child calls. I turn around and see a little girl standing behind me. I get on my knees to be around her height.
"Hello there. What's your name?"
"Ava." The girl stands still and shifts her feet shyly. She looks over her shoulder to see a woman gesturing her hand to her.
"Is there something you'd like to say to me?" I coax. The little girl glances up at me and thrusts out a little crown of pink flowers.
"Thank you for your help setting up the festival last night. And your magic show! It was fun to see. My mama said that we have to thank people for their good deeds, so… thank you." The girl still doesn't look at me. I smile and take her gift from her and set it on my head.
"How does it look?" I ask her. She looks up with a frown.
"It's crooked." She pouts. She reaches up and sets it straight. Before I can pull away, she tugs some of my hair through the band and braids it. I stay still, letting her play with my hair. A few minutes later, she pulls away. With a small nod of her head, she pulls away. I reach up and touch my hair. Most of it is still free. Some are looped around my new flower crown. It reaches to the back and ends in a braid tied into a knot. "Much better."
"Thank you, Ava."
"Now you look amazing! Are you a princess?" She asks sweetly.
"She certainly is." Yone stands behind me. Ava looks up with curious eyes. I glow a little bit.
"Yone." I protest under my breath. Ava bounces up and down happily.
"I helped a princess!" She crows. She runs back to her mother before I can stop her. I playfully glare at Yone. He keeps an innocent look on his face.
"What? I was just saying the truth." Yone smiles lightly. I roll my eyes. I open my mouth to argue.
"ATTENTION!" Someone yells in the middle of the crowd. Everyone looks up to the man on a horse standing in front of us. "The Golden Demon has been taken care of! There will be no more attacks from the Golden Demon!" The people all cheer happily and the entire atmosphere seems a little bit brighter. For the first time since Bilgewater, I feel truly relaxed. There's nothing hanging over me and I feel safe with Yone being by my side. Yone notices and scopes me into a hug.
"Well done, Leilah." He whispers in my ear. I grin and just enjoy the moment. Everyone is happy and enjoying themselves. Yone and I walk down to the food stands and spot Yasuo and Starshadow eating some buns.
"The red bean paste is the best!" Starshadow argues.
"No way! Sesame. It's sweet, it's wonderful! Red bean paste feels weird." Yasuo argues.
"Oh yes. The gritty feeling of sesame is better?" Starshadow asks sarcastically as he bites his bun. Yone and I just walk over to the two of them and listen, amused at their bickering. "The red bean paste is so smooth on the mouth."
"Perhaps you should try the vegetable one?" Yone suggests. Both of them turn to look at us in horror before realizing that Yone and I are here.
"Finally! I thought I was going to be an uncle by the time you would leave!" Yasuo declares loudly. A couple of people look over at us in shock. Yone is beet red, but it still doesn't compare to my glow. I'm pretty sure that Some people are blinded.
"Yasuo!" Yone chastises. "That was uncalled for!"
"What? Starshadow said it first!" Yasuo shifts the blame onto my bonded.
I mean, it's not unreasonable. I hear Starshadow grumble. I glare at my companion.
"Get your butt over here, Starshadow." I growl.
"Hey! Your voice! It's back!" Yasuo chirps. He puts down his sesame bun and gives me a hug. "You have to try some of this stuff." I look at Yone with an exasperated grin as Yasuo hands me another bun. "This stuff is way better than the ones in the temple!"
"Where did you get those flowers?" Starshadow asks.
"A little girl gave it to me. Called me a princess. Yone encouraged it." I glare at him slightly. Yone holds his hands up innocently.
"It was accurate."
"It suits you." Starshadow mutters. He slithers up to my shoulder and examines it. "She did a good job."
"I'm not a princess, Starshadow." I groan.
"Well, you look like one now." Yasuo points out. I glance around before pulling my hair free. It takes a few tries, but eventually I get it out.
"What was that for?" Starshadow protests. I pull out one of the flowers and place it in my left ear before untangling the others.
"It just isn't me. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful, but I'm not a princess. I'm just an ordinary person."
"With magic that can take us anywhere and can cast shields, illusions, and heals. Oh yes. You're ordinary." Starshadow deadpans.
"Ok, except for the magic, I'm ordinary." I claim before gesturing to a bunch of little girls and giving them my flowers. They squeal happily about the pretty magician that helped put up the festival gave them something. They run off. Yone wraps his arm around mine.
The rest of the day passes with laughter and joy. As the end of the day draws near, Yone guides our group to the top of a hill where a giant tree rests. He keeps his arm around me the whole time we walk. I hold a very round and sleepy Starshadow in my arms. Yasuo is slowing down as well, to where Yone also supports him on his other side. I lean my head on his shoulder. Today was just perfect.
The people in the festival have all heard of what I did to help them set up for the festival. Someone leaked that I helped banish the Golden Demon somehow and now everyone looks at me in awe. I feel weird as all the attention is on me. I curl into Yone as the villagers move out of our way to the top, like they are making a path for me. Like I deserved it somehow.
"So, the spirit blossom festival. What's so special about it?" I ask him, trying to ignore my discomfort at being the center of attention.
"The door to the spirit realm opens, and spirits of the past come back for a night to see everyone. They share their stories and watch the living. There's the Kanmei, they live peacefully. They don't try to hurt anyone. And there's the Akana. They are passionate about what they wanted when they lived, and that passion becomes an obsession when they die. The festival celebrates their lives. We remember the people of our past. Some say that we can meet the people we have lost." Yone explains.
"Are you hoping that you get to see your father?" I ask quietly. Yone shrugs.
"I never remembered meeting him. There's no one that I would want to say goodbye to." He leaves Yasuo with me as he goes to a vendor selling lanterns. He buys one with a small light glowing and brings it back to us. Yasuo is leaning against me, very sleepy now. I give him a light shake.
"Is it time for the lanterns to release?" He asks me with a yawn.
"Almost." Yone responds.
"What are the lanterns for?" I feel very out of place, not knowing much about a tradition in Ionia even if I've been here for months. Yone
"They're to honor the fallen. And to wish well on people." He holds the lantern out to me. I gently give Yasuo Starshadow. Starshadow shifts a little bit before settling down again. I take the lantern.
"So, when do we let it go?" I ask.
"Right now." Yone gently pushes my hand up. We both let go of the lantern and watch it join all the others in the sky. I gasp, staring at the site. It's absolutely beautiful. I bite my lip before looking at Yone.
"You know what would make this even better?" I whisper. Yone tilts his head. We both smile at each other. I'm pretty sure he knows what I want to do.
"How?" He takes the bait. I smile and wave my hand to the sky. The dark sky becomes bright with a pink and blue borealis, the glow of the lanterns become the borealis' sparkles. I hear all the people in the festival start to clap and chatter excitedly. Even Yasuo looks impressed. Yone stares at me the whole time though.
"What?"
"You're glowing too." He tells me. I look down and see that he's right. I'm glowing the same colors in the sky. I try to cover some of it but Yone stops me.
"Don't hide it. It's beautiful." Yone leans in for a kiss. I let him. He pulls away and looks up at the sky. "This… This is worth fighting for. Leilah… Please. Let me come with you. You are worth protecting." Yone pleads. I rest my head against his chest.
"I don't need you to come with me." I whisper.
"What do you need then?"
"Just you caring about me is enough. I don't want to pull you away from what matters the most to you."
"And what do you think matters the most to me?" Yone rumbles.
"Ionia. Your home. That's what matters the most to you. You told me last time." I whisper. Thankfully Yasuo and Starshadow are too busy enjoying the river in the sky to listen.
"And it is true, but you matter just as much to me as Ionia does." Yone kisses my head. I giggle.
"When did you get so affectionate?"
"I've been holding back my affections for over a year. Hush." Yone rumbles. I laugh, enjoying the feeling of being held. I sigh.
"Don't come with me. Not this time."
"Leilah-"
"The next time we see each other, you can choose to come with me. I think we both know that Yasuo still needs you." I offer.
"...If what you encounter in your life is anything, anything like Bilgewater, I need to train more. I have to be able to protect you." Yone murmurs. He sighs. "As much as I want to be by your side, I need more training. And you're right. Yasuo still needs to learn how to temper himself."
"I will see you again. I promise." I pull away and look up at him. He leans forward and gives me a kiss.
PDA you two! I yelp and glare at my snake. His head is turned. I swear he's smirking. If his scales weren't so dark…
"Starshadow being annoying?" Yone asks with amusement. I roll my eyes.
"When isn't he?" I rest my head against his chest and watch the sight with them. Yone plays with the tips of my hair. The moment, it's just perfect.
I wish this moment could last forever.
Finally, she gets a break. You guys were probs hoping that Yone would go with her. I felt like he was still concerned about his brother to leave. I feel, like Yasuo, Yone wouldn't leave Ionia or defending his home until he's sure that his brother is safe and he can truly protect Leilah. He sees what she went through, and it's actual hell to him. He knows he isn't ready. He's mature enough to understand that. If you guys have any questions about anything, leave a review! I'll get to you on Sunday. Be extraordinary!