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Exhausted, worn, drained, tired, and cold. These were the experiences that Xingqiu endured as he collapsed onto the layers of snow amidst such unforgiving blizzard. His flesh could no longer bare such constant frost. His knees were finally submitting after what had potentially been hours of endless wander.
Why did he agree to come skiing with his brother again? He wasn't even the sporty type - let alone one who enjoyed the 'great' outdoors. He could be resting at their father's private cabin, all warm by the fireplace, with a mug of hot steaming cocoa and, of course, a nice read in hand.
But no. He had to give in to his sibling's demand. He had to follow the latter so that he would cease in pestering him.
"It'll be good for your health", he says. "You can't always have a book stuck to your nose", he says. "You'll even develop some muscles", he says.
Well you can't have muscles when you're a literal rotting corpse!
He panted. Huffed. How long had he been frolicking this here mountains, he had not a clue. How long has it been since he managed to have gotten separated from his brother and his friends, he had not an idea either.
All that Xingqiu recognized right now was that he needed shelter. A place to crash until the storm recedes.
A sigh, the bluenette offered to the winds, and then, with all his (however little amounts of) might, the young bookworm tried his best to stand.
Now I'm REALLY regretting coming here.
He managed to get back onto two feet, nearly falling again if not for him consciously forcing his mind to focus. He had to survive. He had to live long enough until help arrives to rescue him. The publications for his next novel was due next week - and Xingqiu would curse himself if his legacy was fated to become as another author with an unfinished work.
As he grunted, shielding his eyes from the harsh snowflakes, Xingqiu darted his gaze forward. Attempting to sought anything that could be of any benefit for him. His sights adjusted despite the weather, yet all he could see were the usual tree-
-wait?
A figure seemed to be approaching his way. And by the looks of it - they seem to be human, hence he could scratch any wild animals off from the list.
Oh thank goodness, Xingqiu muttered in gratitude. He was saved! Whether they were a local, a ranger, or perhaps even a rescuer sent to find him, it didn't matter. His prayers were answered.
The young heir brightened as he tried to call for them. "Hey! Hey! Over here!"
The figure emerged, ushering closer.
"Hey! Could you please-"
His voice stopped, and he froze-but not because of the climate. No. For as the figure drew nearer, Xingqiu could now gain a better grasp in regards to their physiology.
He was a pale young man. His hair was light azule. His coat as white as the environment surrounding them. He moved with such elegance, such grace despite the winter howls. His face was almost unreadable-stoic. And his eyes. They were cold. Almost unfeeling. And they were staring right at him.
Understandably, Xingqiu flinched upon such sight, and he took a single step backward as the figure continued threading forward.
"D-don't come near!" he warned, not that it had any use. His pathetic display to stand his ground likely didn't aid in his cause either. He fell on his bottom, the snow breaking his fall. Still, he proceeded to flee, to evade. A useless attempt that was met with vain.
The stranger hunched once he came to his proximity. His right hand reaching to the former's cheek.
His touch. It was cold. And Xingqiu swore that frost was forming on his own skin right about now.
He was trembling. Quivering. His heart was racing, his breaths heaved.
"Wha…what are you?" Xingqiu asked with a shaky tone. However, the boy did not answer.
Around two exhales and three inhales and the youth murmured-
"M-monster…"
This appeared to have surprised the boy - the 'Snow Boy', but only for a brief second. He went closer to the former's ear and whispered, "Not a monster."
A chill surged into Xingqiu's spine. Even his voice was like ice. His breath like the insides of a hollowed glacier.
"What-what are you planning to do with me?"
Again, the boy stayed silent.
"What are you?"
*Silence*
Despite his instinctual urges to retreat and his current powerlessness, Xingqiu felt a twinge of annoyance growing from his strings due to the latter's ambiguity. With a breath, the teen braved his inquiry once more-
"What are you?" Xingqiu repeated, "What are you, if you're not a monster."
The Snow Boy stared at his eyes again, and away from the palm that he was trying to encapsulate in his frost.
"Yuki Onna."
"Y-Yuki Onna?" Xinqiu echoed. Baffled.
"Yuki Onna." And the Snow Boy nodded.
He'd read about the Yuki Onna ever since arriving here from China for his father's business trip. It was the whole reason for how he was out here at the middle of nowhere. Initially supposed to relax, yet now he'd come face-to-face with a creature he only thought existed within the pages of literature and and the musings of oral ghost tales.
"You're kidding right?"
*Shakes head*
That only prompted him to grow even more wary. Knowing well to what Yuki Onna are known to do with travelers that went astray.
"W-wait? So does that mean…" he gulped, hoping desperately that he was wrong (for once). "you're… you're planning on… eating me?"
*Nods*
Oh God. His breath hitched.
He tried to shove the latter's wrist. But this yokai proved too strong.
"Please." he could feel the waters, the tears beginning to well. "Please. I don't want to die."
The boy cast his gaze once more. Is that… pity?"
"Hungry." the Yuki 'Onna' responded. "Very hungry."
Hungry?
Now that he observed, he did seemed rather frail.
"So… your… hungry?"
*Nods*
"Yes." he paused. "I… haven't eaten in days."
"Days?"
"Yes. Since my tribe banished me."
"Banished?" The heir thought, pausing for a quick milisecond. "So… I take that… you're alone then?"
The boy returned to being aloof. Yet he didn't need to speak. Xingqiu already confirmed based on his reluctance to answer.
He wasn't sure what might have came over him, but soon one of his hands fished for something inside his coat. He was supposed to be saving this. However… now it seemed-
He shoved a piece of burger right into the boy's mouth.
-he needed it more than him.
For the first time, his actions appeared to have completely caught the creature off guard. His head jolting backwards as he released his hold from his face.
The frost seemed to have dissipated instantly.
"H-hey!"
He let go, and was knocked back. Causing for him to drop and sit in the snow as well.
"What… what is this?"
"A burger. You can have it if you want." Xingqiu smiled, though his caution hadn't fade. "I'm not really into greasy stuff anyway."
"A… burger?" he assessed the strange bundle. Flipping it around with his hand. He was glaring at it, as if it were the most exotic thing.
"Umm… yeah. You're supposed to… you know what, here."
He retrieved the sandwich again as he unwrapped it away from its paper covering. "Now, try it."
The Snow Boy sniffed at the odd delicacy. His mouth quickly salivating. He took a huge bite out of the meal, all while Xingqiu was still holding it for him.
"So? What dyu think?"
"Its… its delicious!" he snatched it out from the human's grasp. Devouring the beef, cheese, tomato, and lettuce that were squeezed between a sliced piece of bun.
Then Xingqiu stared at this Snow Boy. The way he was enjoying something so mundane. How cutely he was grinning whilst munching on it. He couldn't help it. He couldn't suppress his laughs from erupting.
The snow-haired boy raised a brow. "Why are you-"
"You!"
"What?"
Xingqiu wiped one of his eyes. "Yeah. Its just that… you look totally different now that you're eating the heck out of that burger instead of trying to kill me. I was so freakin scared, but now-you don't even look like the same monster."
"I'm not a monster."
"You're right. You're adorable."
"Shu-shut up."
"Oh? Is that blushing I see."
He tried to dart his sights away. Clearly bashful whilst the other giggled.
"I… I can still eat you, you know."
"Oh? Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you, great flustered (he emphasized) spirit of the forest. Please, punish me by nibbling on my arm. Ha. Ha."
The latter just groaned. Stealing another munch.
Xingqiu's guffaw eventually died down, a moment of quietude reigned between the two of them. He didn't notice it until now, but it seemed that the blizzard had long since passed.
"Huh? The storm's finally gone."
The Snow Boy concurred, assessing their surroundings as well.
"Yeah. The king must have finally found someone that can calm him."
"The king?" Xingqiu inquired, curious.
Whilst taking yet another bite, the boy nodded.
"The king of this mountains." he explained while he chewed. "His the leader of my tribe."
"The one you were banished from?"
"... y-yeah."
He finally finished his dish, but didn't know what to do with the wrapper. Xingqiu extended his palm, gesturing for him to give it. Nervously, the Snow Boy handed the disposal over to him.
"Thank you, by the way." the red in his face started to return as he hid his cheeks behind his knees. "I'm sorry I tried… eating you."
The heir grinned. "Water over the bridge (I guess). Besides, you just gave me an idea for my book."
"I did?"
"Mhm. 'And as the winter monster- I-I mean- elemental surrounded the chivalrous warrior, its touch causing frost to manifest throughout his armor. Slowly, he was being encapsulated into ice.' Not bad huh?"
Yet to his puzzlement, the yokai's face only reddened more.
"Uh… yeah… That's… that's not really how we usually hunt."
"Its not?"
He shook his head.
"No. We yuki onna are actually much more swift. To hunt our prey in the same manner as I did… it um… it kind of tends to leave room for escape, you know."
"Oh. But then, if that's the case, then how come-"
"I… I was never given the chance to learn how to hunt before being banished." he admitted this as if it were the most shame-inducing revelation. Deepening his face in to his knees. "My… my mom died before she could teach me how."
With that, Xingqiu's smile faded.
"Your mom… died?"
The other nodded.
"Live. Whatever you do. Live."
Xingqiu forced that memory out from his brain prior to turning back towards the yokai. "I'm sorry."
"Its fine." told the boy. "At least… at least now, she doesn't have to be constantly burdened with me."
"Hey, come on. Don't say that."
"But its true."
By now all of his blushes were gone, in its wake was grief, mourning. Xingqiu knew that face all too well.
"Since I was born, mom always had to deal with all the scrutiny and suspicions from the others. They thought it strange that she had me."
"Why would they find it strange? She sounds to be just a mother raising her son."
"Exactly." he craned towards him. "Do you have any idea how rare it is to be born a boy in my tribe? We literally only come every once in a blue moon and even then its customary to leave those like me out to fend for ourselves the moment after emerging out from the womb. But mom, she-she should have just-she should have just left me. At least then-then maybe-"
"But she didn't."
"No." the yokai sighed. "No. She didn't. That's why she had to live the rest of her days as an outcast. That's why I was the only male in our tribe. Me and-"
"The king."
He stopped. But confirmed what he was now piecing together in his head. "His… his highness doesn't like it when sons are born amongst us. He perceives my existence as a challenge."
"Why?" Xingqiu's temper was now beginning to boil. As someone who'd read so much books around heroism and the concept of justice, the mere thought of someone actively demanding the abandonment of any infants was simply - disgusting. "Why on Earth would he think-"
"I'm aware that it may seem alien to your people. But that's really just how its always been within our society. One male serves as both the ruler and the source for the tribe's future. Others are cast out to prevent said ruler from being challenged. That's just simply how its always been done."
Xingqiu was still clearly appalled, but he did managed to simmer as he sighed.
"So, what your saying is, yuki onna are kind of like… lions?"
"What's a lion?"
With that question, a small chortle came out from him. Of course he wouldn't know.
"Nothing." he giggled.
Silence once more enveloped the two of them. Evening had hitherto dawned. Most of the wild beasts were likely already fast in slumber. Aside from the occasional owls and whatever the hell was producing that high pitched screech - everything was mostly quiet. Peaceful.
A thousand stars shone from beyond the ether. The skies were beautiful. Xingqiu's eyes broadened upon such view of unfiltered stellar glimmers twinkling above head. His lips couldn't help but draw a beam.
"Wow…"
"Hmm? What are you staring at?"
He pointed towards the firmament.
"This is the first time I've seen so many. We don't get to see this much back in the city."
"The city, huh?" the Snow Boy placed a finger under his chin. Seemingly as if he were rummaging through memory lane in search of procuring where exactly he'd heard that term prior. A short period of time passed. A gentle breeze arrived, prompting nearby branches to sway.
A short while came, about a minute or 10, perhaps even an hour, and the chill of the night began to take its toll.
"Achoo!"
"Are you alright?" The Snow Boy inquired, concerned.
The son of the business man looked to his new friend, his quivers obvious.
"Y-yeah. Just a little frigid, that's all."
And from there Xingqiu could read that the eyes of the Snow Boy start to shift. Is that disappointment he sees? Sorrow mayhaps?
"There's a campsite not too far where we are right now." the boy relayed, and the boy with more complexion became stunned by his words. "Just journey straight ahead there." he pointed to a particular path behind them, "And you'll find the smoke coming out from their lodges."
He paused for a brief second, a deep sigh he did before resuming his gaze back right to him. "You won't miss it."
The young writer blinked for about a moment, processing the information. Excitement and gratitude filled his heart. And it was as if a heavy load was lifted from his spine. The mere knowledge of salvation elevated both his morale and his spirits. Yet, a part of him found difficulty in grasping the joy he was blessed with. How could he celebrate when his latest comrade had to resume into solitude.
That was when an idea struck.
Xingqiu slowly stood, now with beaming (cheeky) lips. Meanwhile as the yokai merely listened, but dared to not watch this strange-odd-yet intriguing human depart.
"Are you coming?"
The Snow Boy's neck nearly cracked the second he heard the latter. Prompting Xingqiu to chortle.
"Well? Are you coming or what?"
Befuddled. Confused. His companion then raised a brow, uncertain to what the other was attempting to imply.
"Huh?"
With one last quiet guffaw, a small-mischievous smirk graced through Xingqiu's face as he then knelt to once again position himself beside him. All whilst the yokai finally found his ability to speak once again.
"W-wait? Y-you don't mean-"
"I am."
"But-but… that's impossible. You're… and I'm…"
Shaking his head, the other kept his cool (pun intended).
"Look, by the way I see things right now is that you, my dear supernatural liege, have now been given with two options. Either you send yourself to frolic this mountains aimless and lonely once more, or…"
"H-hey! Hold on." his cheeks were burning- ironically- through his pale flesh again. "Who says anything about me being lonely."
Another chortle. The way he was still trying to feign bravado was adorable.
"I kind of just guessed." Xingqiu responded plainly.
"I-" clearly, the fantastical being in front of him was wishing to counter further, but ended up reluctantly conceding.
"So?"
The Snow Boy observed his environment. Never before had he peered upon this trees, this stones, this mountains so keenly. Harsh as it might seem, filled with so plenty of unpleasant memories as it might be, this place, it was still his home, his entire world. To be offered an opportunity to leave - it was scary.
Even if he was just being asked to.
But, he was right. There was no room for romanticizing. If he wanted to survive, the best bet he'd have is for him to gain a 'new tribe' to belong in.
He looked to his friend. An uncertain look he gave. "Are you sure that it'll be a good idea? What if they'll find out that I'm really a-"
"No they won't." Xingqiu cut him off, insisting. "I promise. No one will know your real identity." his right index finger, he placed over his lips, "It'll be our little secret." whilst winking.
The Snow Boy still was unsure. Unsure at whether he was willing to bet his life to the hands of this stranger he just met. The mere thought was sending shivers down his nerves. And his breaths grew heavy with each air he intakes.
"Fine." he finally said. His conclusion. His final verdict. And the way he delivered it wasn't so easy for him. He felt like he had gambled his final set of shiny stones. His faith placed upon his fate alone.
If his colleagues were nigh, he could tell that they would make of him as the subject of their amusement. They would call him a fool, and perhaps he was. But whether his trust in this odd individual was misplaced or not, no matter the case, he'll probably end up meeting with his ancestors anyway. At least here he had a window, or a sliver of a chance.
Also, though he could not find the proper vocabulary within his own tongue, he could still tell that there was something about this one human that he simply couldn't say no to. He wasn't sure why, he just knew. Call it en, call it a folly, but he just felt like someone he could trust. An indulgence that he hadn't committed to for a long time now.
Now, as he pushed away through his doubts, the Snow Boy then shared in with the latter's smile.
Xingqiu nodded, taking his hand. Oddly, his palm felt… warm?
"Is something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh. No. No. I was jus… My name is Xingqiu by the way."
"Shi-Shin Yuu?
"No." The boy chuckled. "Xingqiu. But its fine. We'll just have to work on that till you get it. We'll have plenty of time hanging out from now on after all."
"Oh. Alright."
"Now, might I inquire with your name, may chance?"
The latter blinked. Never had he pictured that such questions were ever to be cast at him.
"You… don't have a name, don't you."
Shaking his head, the Snow Boy replied stoic. "Yuki onna have no need for such."
"Oh. Well we can't have that if your gonna live with us. Say I know!" he snapped his fingers, and the poor Snow Boy had to flinch at his abrupt voice raising and sudden enthusiasm. "Why don't I name you after a character from my book!"
"Your book?"
"Yeah. Now let's see now…" snapping his fingers a second time, Xingqiu envisioned a light bulb beaming whilst hovering above his crown. "I got it. Snow powers, white robes, I think that I'll name you Chongyun. An exorcist that I've been refining."
"Your seriously naming a yokai after an exorcist?"
As if the irony flew over his skull, Xingqiu's grin widened.
"Right. Chongyun. I'll call you Chongyun."
He went to his feet again, beckoning 'Chongyun' to follow.
"Let's go home Chongyun."