"I hate you, Beatrice." Ya Wenling grits through her teeth.
"Tell me something I don't know."
༻ ❍ ༺
XUAN JI DOESN'T WAKE UP.
It's been six months since the incident. Xuan Ji hasn't wake up, and Beatrice has disappeared. Ya Wenling has been searching for Beatrice. Xiu Y/n is still in a depressive state about Da Hong.
Yushi Huang, for the first time, doesn't know what to do.
So, here she stands, looking down at the casket Xuan Ji lays in. Well her body at least. Her soul was separated from her body a month ago by Xiu Y/n, and it dispersed immediately, which left Yushi Huang drowning herself in cheap wine from the north with Pei Ming.
A tear drops from Yushi Huang's cheek, and hits Xuan Ji's unmoving hand. Pei Ming silently turns away at that, giving the two some space as he reflects on his own emotions.
Pei Ming knew he hurt Xuan Ji all those years ago. And he felt bad for her, and he was shocked when he found out her soul hadn't dispersed after she figured things out with Yushi Huang. Considering that should've been the last of her resentment. He wondered why she still remained for a long time, until Y/n had told him when he heard the news about the incident.
"Because, when her scroll was supposed to be completed by Da Hong; he was dispersed. And since her soul was only hanging on by a thread: one touch from Death, or Beatrice, was all it took to shatter it."
He knew he didn't deserve to mourn Xuan Ji, but he still did. He was the one who served Yushi Huang wine, he was the one who hugged her tightly when she cried, he was the one who built Xuan Ji's casket, he was the one who was going to close it too. And he is not the only one who has tears falling down his face tonight.
Yushi Huang wipes her eyes for a moment, it doesn't do anything to ease her tears, but it helps her choke down a sob. She leans down to Xuan Ji, and presses a small, warm kiss to her lips. It was short, but it still held so much emotion behind it that they didn't have enough time to express when Xuan Ji was still there.
"I love you." Yushi Huang whispers before she leans back away from Xuan Ji.
Yushi Huang feels a warm hand on her shoulder, she looks back, and she certainly doesn't expect to see Beatrice.
She's wearing robes that resemble the ones Mei Farewell wore, not the exact copy, but close enough that even Yushi Huang can notice. She's also wearing a black veil, not a traditional one from these lands, Yushi Huang assumes it's a veil based off Eastern wedding-wear. Yushi Huang can still tell it's Beatrice from her dark aura as Death, which she seems to have somehow learnt to control better.
Beatrice places a red spider lily in Xuan Ji's folded hands just before she whispers something even Yushi Huang can just barley hear.
"I'm sorry."
Beatrice vanishes into thin air before Yushi Huang can say anything to her.
───༻ ❍ ༺───
"HOW DARE YOU WEAR THAT!" Ya Wenling roars, slamming Beatrice against the wall as she grips the collar of her robes with venom. Beatrice doesn't fight back, she just remains still. "WHY ARENT YOU FIGHTING BACK?!" She screams through tears.
Beatrice pauses for a moment, her hands hanging at her sides as she stares at Ya Wenling through her veil. She tries to remind herself that she hates this woman, but she can't bring herself to actually convince that point.
"I'm scared I'll hurt you. But it doesn't seem like you feel the same way." Beatrice says, her voice plain and lacking of any emotion. Ya Wenling goes silent for a few moments, unable to respond. So she proceeds with actions instead.
She drops Beatrice and glares down at her with angry tears in her eyes. Beatrice looks down at the ground, her tears hidden under her veil.
"I hate you, Beatrice." Ya Wenling grits through her teeth.
"Tell me something I don't know."
Ya Wenling whirls around and storms away, until Beatrice speaks up again.
"You know, I miss Mei too." Ya Wenling halts and turns to Beatrice with a death glare in her eyes, ready to retort until Beatrice silences her with words Ya Wenling could never expect from her.
"I've loved Mei too. I never made a move since she was my teacher, and she didn't feel the same way. But I still loved her." Ya Wenling is deemed speechless as Beatrice lifts her head from the ground.
"I'm allowed to miss her too. You fucking bitch." Beatrice tightens her fists and a cold breath of air whistles through the temple they're in. The air lifts her veil just enough to reveal her dark expression that's crowned by crystal-like tears. Beatrice curses and rips the veil off, frustration overtaking her as her aura strengthens.
Before Ya Wenling can respond, the temple doors open with a quiet creak. Both of the women inside lose their ability to breath as soon as their eyes land on the woman there.
"Quite the confession." Heng Mei muses, her arms crossed as she leans against the pillar of the temple. Ya Wenling falls to her knees at the sight of the face of her lover. Heng Mei raises an eyebrow at her before gazing over to Beatrice, taking in the situation.
"It's also quite shocking to me that you're both still fighting about my reincarnation, Mei Farewell I believe. I mean, it's a bit immature, isn't it?" Beatrice bites back a cold remark at Heng Mei's sarcastic tone. Ya Wenling glares at her ghostly figure with even more venom than she did with Beatrice.
Heng Mei is almost transparent, but the outline of her features is still prominent enough to be recognized.
"Who summoned you?!" Beatrice hisses, keeping her eyes locked on Heng Mei as the woman walks throughout the temple.
"You did, actually." Beatrice gawks at Heng Mei and Ya Wenling shoots Beatrice a dirty look. Beatrice returns the look just as quickly.
"Now before you go calling me a liar, know that this is not a very rare occurrence. When Death builds up enough resentful energy, they can accidentally break a rule or two. Xiu Y/n can tell you about that by the way—"
"—Now, I'm not going to be here for much longer, but I do want to say a few things before I leave." Heng Mei explains in a light voice, one Beatrice had barely ever heard from Mei Farewell.
Ya Wenling rolls her eyes and Heng Mei shoots her a glare before turning to Beatrice instead. She walks up to Beatrice and Beatrice falls still when Heng Mei pats her head.
"Number one: Beatrice, you aren't the reason Xuan Ji's soul dispersed, nor is anyone else in particular. Two: hiding away from everyone isn't gonna make things better, they aren't mad at you, they are just afraid you'll hurt yourself or others with your power." Heng Mei says as she strokes her hand over Beatrice's head, carding her fingers through the wavy auburn hair that was pulled out of its braid during the fight.
Heng Mei leans away before going over to Ya Wenling. Ya Wenling jerks back when Heng Mei kneels down in front of her, but it does nothing to pull Heng Mei's heavy gaze off her.
"Three: you don't hate her either." Heng Mei whispers, looking Ya Wenling in the eye as much as she possibly can. Ya Wenling's breath seems to snag on air at the words.
A whistle of wind blows through the temple once more before Heng Mei's figure vanishes into thin air.
Beatrice and Ya Wenling look at each other with wide eyes for what feels like hours.
Ya Wenling is the first to break eye contact, but for some reason she only gets closer when she does. Beatrice's breath hitches when Ya Wenling moves to kneel down in front of her as close as she does. Beatrice feels the back of her neck heat up when Ya Wenling reaches out to caress her cheek.
"Ya Wenling, what in hell's name are you-"
Oh.
The warm touch of Ya Wenling's lips cuts Beatrice off. Beatrice freezes, unable to kiss back or lean in (as much as she wants to).
Ya Wenling pulls back with tears dripping down her cheeks. And her breath hits Beatrice's lips when she speaks.
"Do you promise to never leave me?"
Ya Wenling has been left behind her whole existence. Left behind by her family when her father decided to get her wed off. Left behind when Xuan Ji murdered her. Left behind when Xuan Ji made all the brides travel to different temples of Ming Guang and rip them down, ultimately letting her escape. Left behind in her child form when Y/n ran away from Pei Ming as a swan and Pei Ming immediately left the village to start his search.
And then Mei left her behind. Not out of malicious intent, but it still hurt the worst out of every time she was left behind.
And now, she can't take anyone else leaving her behind. She was so scared when she couldn't find Beatrice for those six months. She can't take Beatrice actually leaving her. She just can't.
Beatrice purses her lips before she takes Ya Wenling's hand and folds their fingers together. A red string forms, tying on their middle fingers and connecting them.
"I promise."
The space closes between them once more, and this time Beatrice kisses back.
The red string connecting them flares as Beatrice wraps her arms around Ya Wenling's neck and pulls her closer.
I promise. Beatrice says in her mind as Ya Wenling's hands land on her waist.
───༻ ❍ ༺───
Y/n smiles at the vision the silver butterfly gives him of the two women before he brushes the butterfly away. It flutters off his fingers and sits on the window sill, watching Y/n closely. Xie Lian wraps his arms around Y/n from behind and kisses his ear, Y/n's cheeks heat up at the action.
"I haven't seen you smile in a while." Xie Lian whispers, his head falling on Y/n's shoulder. Y/n purses his lips.
He really didn't understand how Xie Lian or Hua Cheng could love him. As far as he knew; they only loved each other like this. Sometimes he wants to ask why, but he doesn't believe they'll be able to answer as well.
What he assumes is that Hua Cheng loved Da Hong for saving him from Juan Jiayi, not as much as Xie Lian, but enough to not be forgotten about. And Xie Lian loved Da Hong for doing that. But they both loved Y/n because he was the one who redeemed Da Hong, he was the one who got rid of Jun Wu once and for all. Y/n doesn't understand how that's enough, but that's okay with him.
For the past six months, he's been sitting at Da Ju's grave and talking with her. Telling her about all the great things about her brother, telling her about all the funny moments Y/n had with him.
It wasn't until Hua Cheng built Da Hong's grave and carved feathers into it that Y/n could leave the area. And for the past two days; he's been resting in the Puqi shrine while Xie Lian handles Life's job (against Y/n's wishes for him to not do that though).
A knock on the door makes Y/n slip out of Xie Lian's hold, and go back to playing with Ruoye, who has grown to like Y/n very much in the short time he's stayed at the Puqi shrine.
Y/n hears a quiet jingle of silver and turns to look at Hua Cheng, who holds his typical teenage form.
Hua Cheng has noticed that Y/n always turns around at the sound of his jewelry, so he always makes sure to wear his boots with chains whenever he goes to visit the Puqi shrine.
Hua Cheng looks back at him with something in his eyes that Y/n can't figure out.
"You look less dead than when I last saw you." Y/n smiles at the familiarity of those words. Thinking back to that memory.
"You look a lot more dead than when you first came across my territory."
"I PROBABLY DO THEN." Y/N RESPONDS, HOLDING OUT HIS ARM SO RUOYE CAN WRAP AROUND IT AND NUZZLE AGAINST HIS CHEEK AFFECTIONATELY.
YALL DONT KNOW HOW LONG IVE BEEN WAITING TO HAVE YA WENLING AND BEATRICE KISS 😤