“Luka!” I jolted up, reaching for a sister who was long gone.
I breathed heavy for a few moments, trying to reorient myself.
Light.
Birdsong.
A familiar bastard’s face looking worried.
I wasn’t on Pluas.
I was on this new world I really needed to learn the name of.
I took another couple of deep breaths and Wukong’s words finally reached me.
“Yue?
Yue, are you okay?
Can you hear me?” “Yes, I can hear you, and no, I’m not okay.” My arm slowly went down, and I stared at the blank space where I could have sworn my sister just was.
“Did you have a nightmare?
You suddenly woke up screaming.” He was right beside my bedside, his voice grating just because it wasn’t the one I wanted to hear right now.
“Something like that.” I licked my dry lips.
“Water?” “Uh, here, I brought it in a little while ago.
Drink slowly.” He handed over a small cup, which I greedily sucked down.
I coughed after I finished it off.
“Whoa, I told you to drink it slowly.” Wukong rubbed my back until I finished coughing.
I was still naked, and he was touching my bare back, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
I didn’t even care my chest was exposed.
I couldn’t bring myself to care about anything.
I slumped back into bed after finishing my coughing fit.
The dreams were back.
Perhaps I should’ve seen this coming.
Lady Ethereal wasn’t around anymore to give me my medications.
I turned away from Wukong.
“I’m tired.
Please leave.” “Uh, that’s it?
Weren’t you going to try and kill me for the whole drug fiasco last night?” I didn’t respond.
“Hey, Yue.
I’m serious.
Are you okay?
Are you still under the effects of the drug?” “Wukong.” I spoke softly, still turned away.
“I’m fine.
Please leave.” I listened as he didn’t move for a couple of minutes.
When he finally spoke, his voice was thick with emotion.
“Fine.
But I’ll be back tomorrow.
We need to talk.” He stomped out the door, slamming it shut.
Knocking.
“Yue?
I’m back.
Are you in there?” I didn’t bother answering.
“I’m coming in.” Wukong pushed open the door and came inside.
I heard him take a few steps into the room before coming to my bedside.
“Yue, why are you still in bed?
It’s morning.” “I’m just tired.” “Well, I’m back because you said some things while you were drugged.
I thought I kidnapped you from your family, but you said they all died because of some ‘Chi Devourer.'” “They did.” “Well, then why didn’t you tell me!
The guilt was eating me alive you know.” “Then you don’t have to feel guilty.
I forgive you for kidnapping me.” Silence.
For a moment I thought he left.
Until he finally whispered.
“What?” “I’m tired.
Please leave.” Silence again.
Footsteps and the door closed.
The door opened.
“Yue, I’m back.
I have some medicine from an immortal here.
He said it would definitely cure you of whatever drug is in your system.” “I’m not drugged anymore.” “Yue, will you please just sit up and take it?” I sat up.
Wukong was standing beside my bed again, holding a cup of water and a small piece of paper with powdered medicine inside.
I took the paper and poured the medicine into my mouth.
Then I took the cup and washed it down with water.
I gave the cup and paper back to Wukong and turned back to face the wall in bed.
“Yue, I asked around the palace.
No one’s seen you eat in the past few days.
When’s the last time you ate something?” “At the banquet.” “That was three days ago!
Aren’t you hungry?” “No.” Silence again.
And a sigh.
“If I bring up some fruit, will you at least try to eat some?” “Wukong, I’m t—” “If you say you’re tired again, I swear I will drag you out of that bed down to the kitchen and force-feed you.” “…fine.
I’ll eat some fruit.” He walked back to the door and came back a few minutes later.
He set a small plate with a peach, a mango, and a banana on the bed.
I sat up and swallowed a couple of bites of each.
Once I couldn’t stomach any more, I set the fruit back down on the platter and laid back down.
“Let me guess.
You’re tired and you want me to leave.” I didn’t respond.
“I’ll be back tomorrow.
And I won’t take the same answer again.” He walked to the door and left.
Knocking.
And the door opened.
“I’m back Yue.
Anything new to say?” I didn’t respond.
“Oh, that’s it!” Wukong grabbed me and pressed me down onto the bed.
He hung over me, looking furious.
“I don’t know what your problem is, but you’re either going to tell me or I can have my way with you right fucking now.
So, fucking say something.” I didn’t bother fighting him, I just looked to the side, back at the wall.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.” “I don’t know!
Get angry with me!
Scream at me!
Hit me!
Fly off on your sword!
Do something besides just lay here!
Be Yue!” He got me to look at him, a small spark of anger in my chest the first emotion I’ve had in days.
“I am being Yue!
This is how I am.” He growled.
“No, it’s not.
The Yue I know is fiery, and determined, and compassionate, and she doesn’t take things lying down!” “Why?
Because you know me so well.
I’ve been here for what, a full week now?
And for most of that I’ve been doing exactly this.” “Well, I know you couldn’t have been like this before.
No one can live like this.” “I hate to break it to you, but before you kidnapped me, this is mostly what I did.
The only reason I even got out of bed the day you kidnapped me, was because Lady Ethereal kept bothering me about fulfilling my exercise requirement.
Why do you even care?
Do you feel guilty?
I already told you I forgive you so you can just leave already.” He growled again.
“Oh, I don’t feel guilty anymore, especially if this is what I kidnapped you from.
But if there’s one thing that pisses me off more than anything, it’s being ignored.
So congratulations, because you have officially pissed me off!” He let out of my limb, jumping off the bed.
I stubbornly turned away from him, but gasped when I felt his arms slide under me, pushing the blanket underneath.
He picked me up, blanket and all.
“What the—” He threw open the door and carried me out of my room.
“Where are you taking me?!” He tossed his head up, his voice growly as he yelled.
“The bath!
You look, and smell, terrible!” “Wukong, I’m warning you.
Put me down.” I felt his chi, just beneath his skin, I brought my chi closer to it, preparing.
“No, you—” I shot my chi forward into him, seizing his chi vow.
His muscles seized and a shriek ripped out of his mouth as I pressed his chi vow onto him.
He fell to his knees, but his arms didn’t drop me, just stiffening up.
It lasted about fifteen seconds.
I dropped it after that, but keeping my chi inside him in case he didn’t set me down.
He opened his eyes back up and stared at me.
“Was that you?” “I warned you.
Now take me back.” My eyes narrowed at him.
He gritted his teeth for a moment before taking a deep breath.
“No.” I hit him with his chi vow again.
He clenched his teeth so hard, I could almost hear cracking.
Yet despite the pain, he didn’t hold me harder.
He was still holding me gently.
I stopped at about thirty seconds.
He caught his breath, slightly shuddering.
This was just torture at this point.
This wasn’t why I made him take the chi vow.
I spoke softly, like my sister did when telling me goodbye.
“Just let me go.” He shook his head.
“No.” “Why?
If you’re doing this to fuck me, stop.
Just stop.
I won’t let you.
I’ll never let you.” He shook his head again.
“This isn’t about that.” “Is it really about me ignoring you?” He took a deep breath, and pulled one foot beneath him, “This is less painful.” “That is less painful?
Than what?” He wobbled a little, but he pushed himself up, standing again.
Still holding me.
“Watching you kill yourself.” Another deep, drawn in breath, and he started walking again.
Towards the royal bath.
My eyes never strayed from his face.
It was hard.
Determined.
“Why?
Wouldn’t it be a relief for you if I died?
You wouldn’t have to feel guilty anymore.
So just stop.” His eyes stayed focused on the goal of the bath.
“No.
I’m going to take care of you, even if I have to fight you every step of the way.
I promised you I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you, and I won’t.
Even if it’s yourself I have to protect you from.” I activated the vow again.
I would make him drop me.
He jerked to a stop, all his muscles clenching from the pain.
But his arms stayed around me, ever gentle, ever solid.
He gritted his teeth and stepped forward.
Then did it again.
Each step was a labor as he fought through the excruciating pain to carry me.
He was so determined.
I watched struggle with each step.
Finally, I couldn’t bear it any longer, and looked away.
I cut out the vow.
I refused to look at him while he paused and glanced at me.
I didn’t want to torture him.
I just wanted him to leave me alone.
He carried me into the royal bath, and trotted up to the side with me.
I snorted and glared at him.
“You honestly don’t expect me to get in do you?” His eyes glinted.
Oh no, this bastard wouldn’t— I shrieked as he tossed me in, blanket and all into the water.
I sputtered at the hot water, Flailing my arms around to stay upright.
Gah!
I glared at that bastard and he just smirked at me.
I should have let him suffer under the chi vow for a few more seconds.
Fine, two can play at this game.
I whipped the blanket off and threw it out of the water.
I tried to subtly watch for his reaction.
If he tried anything… Unfortunately, his eyes were just full of pity.
I turned around, and just sat in the bath, not moving, not looking at him and not saying anything.
“Oh, now you’re just asking for it.” He marched out of the baths.
Should I make a break for my room?
I thought about it but decided that would be giving him too much of a reaction.
I would sit here until I became a shriveled prune to make him stop.
He came back and slammed down a jar of water with a platter of fruit on top.
“You are going to eat and drink.” No, I wasn’t.
He growled.
I heard him moving around before he splashed into the water beside me.
Shit.
He also got undressed and jumped in the bath.
No, I don’t care.
He can do whatever the hell he wants.
He lifted up a cup that was on the platter and dunked it in the jar.
He brought it up and drank it.
Was he trying to tempt me by showing how good the water was or something?
He turned towards me with puffed out cheeks.
Fuck.
He wasn’t about to do what I think he was.
He sat beside me and grabbed my face and kissed me.
I activated the chi vow again, and considering the increased contact, it had to hurt even worse than before.
Despite that, he pushed the water into my mouth, and I was eventually forced to swallow.
Once he pushed all the water into my mouth and ensured I swallowed it, he finally backed off.
He took a couple of breaths.
And smiled.
“Now, despite how painful that was, I’m not opposed to doing that again.” Arrogant bastard.
Just how high was his fucking pain tolerance?
I jutted out my hand for the cup.
His smile grew even bigger as he dipped the cup back into the jar and gave me the water.
I drank it down in one gulp.
I slammed it on the ledge, but he picked it up and dunked it again.
He tried to hand it to me, but I ignored him.
He made to swallow it, and I angrily jutted my hand out again and he gave it to me.
We repeated this process another two times before he was satisfied.
He picked up a piece of fruit, rolling it between his fingers.
“Now, before we start this song and dance again, just know I will chew this piece of fruit and feed it to you like I did with the water.” I held my hand out and wordlessly accepted the fruit.
I chewed on it as he swam around me.
“I’m going to help wash you since it doesn’t seem like you have any interest in it.
So, consider yourself warned.” He hesitated, then took a deep breath.
Then grabbed my arm.
He froze for a moment, clearly expecting pain.
I didn’t activate the vow.
It wasn’t because I felt bad, no, I just wanted to make it a surprise.
If I used it too often, he’d just get used to it.
I ate the fruit he gave me, and he began to rub my fur, getting all the accumulated sweat and dirt off until it returned to its original silvery-blue color.
Once I was finished eating, he plopped another piece of fruit in the hand he just finished and moved on to my other arm.
And so, it went.
As soon as I finished a piece of fruit, he moved on and gave me another before starting again.
From my arms to my torso, to my legs, and my head.
He hesitated when it was time to clean my tail.
He gave me a glance before reaching for it.
I swung it away from him.
“No, I’ll get my tail.” He sighed in relief, moving to wash himself now.
As much as I hated to give him this, an unbudging part of me drew the line.
Tails were sensitive.
I swallowed my pride and washed my tail myself.
Once it was back to its original sheen, Wukong nodded.
“Good.
Now keep eating fruit while I get washed.
If I see you without fruit in your hand, I’ll feed you fruit myself.” I continued munching, occasionally grabbing another piece, trying to ignore Wukong.
Lunus it was hard though.
My eyes kept trailing back to him and traced his figure as he scrubbed himself like he did me.
Bad brain.
If Wukong saw me looking at him like that, he’d pounce on my weakness.
I ran out of fruit on the platter about the time he finished.
He looked at the empty platter and nodded approvingly.
Finally.
Bath time was over.
Wukong picked me up and set me at the edge of the bath.
“I’ll ask the monkeys to grab us some towels.
I’ll be back in just a moment.” I just wanted to be done.
I activated my chi and used my water moving trick to dry both of us instantly.
“There.
Will you take me back to my room now?” “Huh.” Wukong felt his fur before grinning again.
“That’s a neat trick.
And I’m not taking you back to your room.” My heart hammered in my chest.
“Then where are you taking me?” I swear to Lunus if he said his bedroom- “It’s only morning.
The day’s just getting started.
I figured we could go out for a ride around the island on Nimbus, and then play some games with the monkeys in the jungle.
You know, normal monkey things.” He summoned his little cloud, and it formed right in front of him.
“Just take me back to my room.” I looked away as he bent down and picked me up again.
“No.
I’m officially kidnapping you a second time as of right now.” He jerked as I jolted him with the vow, and gave me an annoyed glance.
“This isn’t going to change anything.
I won’t change.
I still want to die.
Nothing you can do will make me change my mind.” “Then, I guess I’ll keep this up for the rest of our lives.” He gritted his teeth as I activated the vow again.
But he set me down on the cloud, and then laid his staff in my lap.
Gah, he figured out the workaround.
The vow only worked it he was touching me.
I struggled against it, but I couldn’t move it.
Stupid fucking heavy staff.
“Sure you will.” I laid on my back, determined to not give him an inch as he floated us through the hallways.
I gave him one week before he gave up on me and moved on.