Blue and Black Stemmed Rose (minkey)

Reunion of Lovers

A few months pass after the marriage between Minho and Kibum, and things have never been better for the two.  During the day they are seperated, for Minho it was work and Kibum wanders around as well as try to help as much as he can, however at night they spend as much as they want with each other before succumbing to slumber.  Kibum is happy with his new life.  However as he looks out of the balcony that connects to their room, he can't help but feel like something bad was happening.  Looking up at the dark sky he thought back to the day before when his husband was so swamped with work that Kibum had to pull him out of his study so he wouldn't overwork himself to exhaustion.  While in the room Kibum spotted the reports that were sprawled out on the desk.  A majority of them had deaths related to famine and freezing to death while others were accidents and such.  Thinking back on that now made him remember that he'd been gone for so long, 'What has my mother done in my absence?' was the question that kept appearing in his head.  Much so that it robbed him of sleep and was keeping him up.

Kibum was startled out of his thoughts when the familiar arms of his husband wrapped around his waist.  As soon as Kibum settled into the hold Minho asked, "What is troubling you, love?" The young god stayed silent which got Minho to continue, "I know something's wrong, if there wasn't you'd still be sleeping in our bed and not out here in the cold lost in your head.  So can you tell me what it is?" With a sigh Kibum relented.  Turning his head so he could face his husband Kibum explained, "I'm a bit homesick, and worried.  I've been gone for so long.  The reports I saw on your desk yesterday had me thinking, about how my mother is reacting to my sudden disappearance and me still being missing.  I worry about what she has done to the earth and the people on it." Minho had a look of understanding on his face.  Minho held his wife tighter as he said, "Your mother probably had one of her tantrums.  That batch of reports was just yesterday and I didn't get the same reports today.  So it proves that it is a one time thing, nothing that I haven't seen before." He then pressed a chaste kiss on Kibum's lips before adding, "Leave the worry be, it'll just be a past thing like any of the other tantrum aftermaths that I had to take care of.  For now though come back to bed, please?" Kibum couldn't resist it when Minho asked him so politely.  So he smiled softly, "Okay." They share another quick kiss before returning to the comfort of their sheets.

Laying awake Minho felt guilty about lying to Kibum.  He didn't fully lie to his wife but he didn't tell the complete truth either.  Lately, he had been seeing the pattern of deaths relating to freezing and starving to death, even today it didn't end.  After figuring out that it might be the work of his beloved's mother he decided not to tell Kibum about it.  If Minho had told him just now then the young god might blame himself for staying away and indirectly being responsible for so many deaths.  So to protect him from that Minho decided to lie.  He never wants Kibum to put himself down because of the actions of others.  Trying to keep the guilt down for tonight he held his love closer to him and fell asleep to the sweet scent of Kibum.

~~~~~

It's been five months since Kibum disappeared, three months since his mother started neglecting her duties and went into a depressed state while she was trying to find him.  Even as Taemin looked through the reflection of snow and dead trees in the all-seeing basin he couldn't help but feel sorry for the humans that have to suffer.  Sighing Taemin waved his hand over the water to dismiss the image, liquid in the the basin turning clear again.  He then walked over to sit near the hearth of the throne room, right across from Hestia.  The crimson clad goddess saw Taemin, "By what I see on your face, you didn't like what the basin showed you." The young god nodded.  He then asked the hearth goddess, "Was it always this bad when I went missing?" Hestia chuckled in response, "Yes, when you and your brother were younger one time you both just suddenly disappeared.  Your mother refused to do her duties until you were found.  That went on for a week until Artemis found you both playing around in a forest." Taemin laughed at that, "Really?" "Really." The goddess then added in a more serious but humored tone, "Although this one certainly takes the crown." Taemin nodded as he ran a hand through his hair.

As the room was silent Taemin couldn't help but remember the day his brother disappeared.  It was just so bizarre in so many ways.  Why would the earth react like that after a flower was picked?  It just didn't make any sense.  His thinking was interrupted when Hestia stated, "If you keep thinking any louder then everyone in all of Olympus will hear you." Taemin blushed in embarrassment and started rubbing the back of his neck, "Sorry, I just can't help but keep thinking back to when Kibum disappeared and how it happened." Scoffing Hestia replied, "Don't be, if one of my brothers disappeared like that then I'd never stop thinking about it." "Even with King Zeus?" She nodded vigorously, "Especially with Zeus.  He's the baby and is more aloof than Minho and Poseidon, of course I'd worry about him." He became confused at one of the names, "Minho?" Hestia clicked her tongue, "Right, I forgot that Demeter never told you about some of the gods' preferred names.  Minho is Hades." Taemin nodded in understanding.  Then Hestia changed the subject by saying, "You should go find your mother, try to convince her to stop this nonsense." Taemin shook his head, "She wouldn't listen to me." Hestia just laughed and shook her head at that.  She then leaned closer to Taemin's direction, "Taemin, I've known your mother since she became a goddess.  She is more stubborn than a mule and spoiled brat combined.  I happen to know that the only ones to break through that stubbornness happen to be you and Kibum.  He unfortunately inherits almost that same stubbornness so it's easy for him to break through to her, you though have a way that moves her so that she is forced to listen.  If anyone can get through to her thick head and change her mind it's you, Taemin.  Understand?" The young god was silent the entire time she was speaking.  When she finished he was convinced so he nodded, "I understand.  In fact I'll go down there right now and find her so I can convince her that what she is doing is selfish." Hestia smiled, "Go ahead then, I' m not stopping you." With that Taemin got up to leave the throne room and started to head down to earth.

As soon as he was settled on the ground he automatically started shivering at the cold wind blowing.  Pulling the white fur cloak tighter around himself he started walking through the snow covered ground, the search for his mother began.  He didn't know where she was but something in him told him that he'll find her soon so he went on with that feeling.  It was so cold and the wind blew hard, threatening to rip the cloak keeping him warm off.  As he kept going on he then heard a the wind whispering, "Taemin." It made his stop because the voice that was attached with it was one he never thought he'd hear again.

Looking around all he could see were dead trees and snow, nothing else.  Coming to the conclusion that he imagined the voice he went on.  Until he heard it again and this time when he looked up he saw movement by one of the tree trunks.  Heading over to that spot he felt a strange feeling crawling up his spine.  When he came over to the spot he got confused at seeing nothing there.  Then something tapped on his shoulder, causing him to turn around and face the person that did it.  Only to be shocked to his core at who it was.  Light brown hair, brown eyes, tan skin, and a smile that made everything better; this man Taemin never thought he'd see again because he died.  It was Jonghyun, right in front of him.  Neither said a word at that moment.  Taemin reached out to touch the other's face, wanting to know that this was really happening and not a fakement of his imagination.  When his palms and fingertips made contact with skin and not going through or disappearing was when the tears started streaming, "You're really here." Jonghyun gently grabbed the hands on his cheeks before replying, "I am." They then pulled each other into a tight hug.

It was Taemin the pulled back but kept his lover at arms length, "How is this even possible?" Jonghyun chuckled, "Let's just say that the king of the Underworld gave me the right to reincarnate to reunite with you." Taemin felt so happy.  His lover had returned from the land of the dead, it's everything he hoped for.  Hugging him again Taemin said, "Don't leave me again, please, I can't bare it if I lost you a second time." "I'm not going anywhere any time soon." At that Taemin was confused.  Until he sensed it, the aura of an immortal; surprised at this he exclaimed, "You're immortal, how?!" Jonghyun just grinned, "It's thanks to both Hades and Hecate herself.  Now we can be together forever like we planned." Taemin couldn't take it.  Too much was happening and it made him so happy he kissed his lover hard on the lips.  Returning the kiss just as passionately Jonghyun pulled his lover closer to him.  However he had to pull back to tell Taemin, "As much as I want to keep kissing you, I need to take you to someone so she can find your mother and explain everything." Confused Taemin asked, "What do you mean?" "It's better if I show you." Stepping back Jonghyun then took Taemin's hand adding, "That's, if you want to come with me." Taemin thought about it for a bit before nodding, "Alright, let's go." With that both lovers walked through the cold together.