Chapter 11: To Helen

Rest of their way wasn’t that long, but they had to go through the dried snapdragon field. 

Xuan wasn’t exactly scared, but the entire place had such a dark atmosphere of death and pain that it made him uncomfortable. 

As a result of this feeling, he held Hon’s hand the entire time. 

On the other hand, Hon was enjoying the view. He even wanted to pick some flowers up and bring them home, but then he noticed that Xuan’s getting uncomfortable and just sped up his steps instead. 

The field wasn’t that large, so they managed to leave the sigh of horror in just a few minutes. 

„Don’t take it as an insult, but... I really hate those flowers.“ Xuan said shortly after they left. 

„Why?“

„They are just... Creepy and uncomfortable to look at... I really can’t explain it, it’s just that those screaming faces and skulls don’t make me feel so good...“

„So you can’t see it...“

„See what?“ Xuan turned to Hon with confusion in his face. 

„There’s a m-magical scent flowing in the direction of the portal. Humans would understand it as s-some kind of purple-white light, which creates a very impressive image.“ 

„Ah, right, you mentioned that...“ Xuan remembered. Humans and monsters or something weren’t able to see magic... It was kinda sad.

They were walking the same path, but it was still such a different sight for both of them. 

They walked in a dead silence a bit longer and after a few turns on the forest path, a big rock suddenly appeared in front of them, blocking their way. 

It was much bigger than a normal rock and also much wider, so, Xuan assumed it might be an actual wall, or, even a mountain. 

The strange thing about this wall was that they weren’t able to see it before.

Average high objects are normally able to be seen from few kilometers away, and a wall this big would be noticed even from the snapdragon field. 

That was because it actually wasn’t a normal wall. 

It was the portal. Or, better said, it was just the portal‘s entry. 

The portal itself was sealed, because if they left a worm hole just opened between the two realms, it could have caused much trouble.  

If one really intends to unseal it, they must first break the protection seal, which was this exact wall. 

And to break this seal, Hon needed to get back into his original form. 

Before he could do that, Xuan noticed another strange thing about this seal. The thing it was sealed with wasn’t an ofuda paper, but it was a carved cross. 

Xuan had, obviously, no idea why a cross would be there and it really confused him. How can a carved cross serve as a seal? 

Because he was from the deep past, he had no idea other religions existed and he thought all his life that everyone believes in multiple gods. 

So, seeing a cross, a sign of something completely unknown for him, being used as an multidimensional portal seal, confused him a lot. 

„What’s that?“ Xuan pointed at the cross and turned his head to face Hon. 

„It’s a cross?“ Hon replied, confused by his question. And, just then, he realised that Xuan probably had no idea why was it used as a seal. 

„I know, but, why is it here?“

„It’s a symbol of another religion...“ Hon tried to explain it easily, but Xuan was still confused.

„What?“ Xuan asked.

„It’s a symbol of Christianity and various religions from all around t-the world and time and it’s a cross because some guy named Jesus apparently died on it.“ He explained.

„So, they worship the thing their god died on?“

„Basically.“

Xuan didn’t really get the principe of Christianity from this short explanation and it confused him even more. 

Hon noticed his confused little face and couldn’t help but smile. „It’s okay, I d-didn’t understand it either when I died.“

„Okay, so, it’s an object of worship. Why is it here then?“

„People basically use it to cast out demons. The co-constructor of this portal was probably Christian and believed that a cross is stronger than ofuda or anything else, so, they s-sealed it like that.“

„I see...“ Xuan started to understand it, but he wasn’t sure about it at all.

Without a proper explanation of an religion, how could one understand the whole principe of it? 

And Hon couldn’t be the one to explain this to him, because he didn’t believe in any god in the first place. Maybe he believed in some when he was alive, but what god would that be? 

And just when he died and met lots of different people with different beliefs, he assumed that either they are all right, or that none of them knows the truth. 

He just accepted the fact that a cross also works as a seal and Xuan had to do the same. 

Hon walked closer to the cross and ran his fingers down it. Xuan wasn’t able to see it, but the carvings shone with a red light. 

He sighed and turned to Xuan. 

„I’ll need you to remove the ofuda from my face.“

„But you’ll start bleeding again!“

„This body is long dead and I’m leaving it anyway. D-Don’t be scared, alright?“ Hon smiled at Xuan and held his hand. 

Xuan was a bit nervous, but he just nodded and lifted his free hand up. 

He touched the paper on Hon’s face and it started to slowly burn away without hurting Hon in the first place. He tried to not appear scared or anything, but he really couldn’t tell how he would react when he saw Hon’s human body lying dead on the ground. 

He somehow still couldn’t proceed with the fact that Hon is dead. And he just realised it! He really didn’t want that piece of paper to disappear. 

But he knew it had to, so he closed his eyes and fastened the process. 

He heard Hon’s silent sigh of pain and opened one of his eyes, just to see Hon’s right shoulder bleeding again, but his left hand was still holding him gently. 

Soon, that left hand of Hon fell down and, eventually, his whole body collapsed. 

Xuan didn‘t look at Hon’s face and he fell on his knees, together with the falling corpse. 

His hands were trembling and he just couldn’t look away, he looked like he might break down any moment. But, then, he looked at the face of the corpse. 

It wasn’t Hon’s face anymore. 

Hon’s face was small and round, almost like a woman’s, but still with more masculine features. He looked very young and lively, even with his always tired eyes and eyebags. 

This face was just old, very rough and generally ugly. It wasn’t Hon’s straight nose anymore, but a strangely curved one. The eye bags under the eyes were way too deep and the usually full and pink lips were almost yellow. Entire face actually looked like a dried apple. 

Xuan let out a silent „Huh?“ and heard another voice from above him. 

„Don’t look at that corpse anymore. I’m right here.“ 

Xuan looked up and saw Hon’s usual face staring at him. His eyes weren’t dark anymore but bright red, but it surely was Hon! 

Xuan stood up without observing the person anymore and swiftly tried to hug him. That didn’t work out and Xuan hugged the air and fell to the ground. 

„Yes... I don’t have a physical form right now, but when we’ll get to the demon realm, you’ll be able to touch me again. Don’t worry.“ Hon laughed a bit while Xuan stood up. 

„So this is my true form...“ Hon said, his voice sounding a little higher than usual. 

It also didn’t sound that nervous. He sounded very confident, but still very nice and gentle. 

It was still Hon’s voice but... Different. This was his usual voice that everyone bugged him about. 

„Although, I’m a bit surprised that you can see me already...“ Hon thought out loud.

„I shouldn’t be?“

„Well, you’re a human. Those usually can’t see the real forms of demons... You’d usually be able to see me in the demon realm though...“ He kept on thinking out loud. „I guess it’s because of your aura...“ 

Hon looked at Xuan again, seeing his aura clearly now, without having to open the third eye. It certainly wasn't the aura of an average human.

But he wasn’t the only one looking at the other.

Xuan looked at Hon from head to toes. He was definitely a bit taller, his whole outfit changed to something Xuan had never seen before, his hair were a bit longer, as he mentioned before, his eyes were bright red and the most stunning thing about this form were two big dark-red horns on the top of his head. And, of course, now he had two arms.

Other than that, he didn‘t change very much. And that made Xuan very happy.

Even though Hon pretty much explained what he looks like, Xuan was afraid that his true form would be either very scary or very ugly. 

This wasn’t ugly at all! 

Hon bent down and picked up his katana from the corpse. He put it in the case, that was already around his waist, and tried to move fingers on both of his hands and stretched a bit. 

„I am so not used to this body anymore... But I think I’m fluent now, am I not? It must’ve been just a defect on that body.“ Hon said and looked at Xuan, who was stunned by the way he spoke. 

He already liked his voice before, but this was just so beautiful and as gentle as an angel’s, he felt like he might be listening to it for years and not get tired. 

He thought that, maybe, he would start missing his awkward speech one day, but, so far, he enjoyed this kind of voice. 

„Xuan, are you okay?“ Hon asked and Xuan just silently nodded. He was so amazed by everything about Hon’s true form, he just couldn’t help it but stare at him without blinking. 

„I’ll break the seal now, so, come here.“ 

Xuan was still stunned and wasn’t planning on moving anywhere, but when Hon called for him, his legs moved by themselves. 

He didn’t know what was the method of transportation to the other realm, but he still came to Hon without caring. He just couldn’t get his eyes off of him and everything he could think about was Hon. 

His images flooded his mind and he totally ignored reality. He forgot that they were actually going to the afterlife. 

And then, he remembered and snapped back. Before he realised it, Hon was tightly embracing him with his left arm and held his right hand on the cross, whispering something with his eyes closed. He couldn’t feel the strength of the hug, but still felt something cold pressing against him. It felt as a gentle wind that was slowly squeezing him. 

Xuan followed Hon‘s right arm from the shoulder to the fingertips with his eyes and then he noticed Hon’s black nails. 

His mind went crazy again and he felt like he might faint any time at this point. 

Just then, he noticed the red light that flew out from behind his hand and which disappeared soon. 

Hon lifted his hand and now his fingers were shining red. He turned to Xuan, let go of him and with the hand he was embracing him he gently lifted his chin. 

Xuan was blushing at this point and slowly, but surely, got as red as Hon’s light. 

He really didn’t know what was Hon going to do, but then he just raised his other shining hand and pressed it against Xuan‘s forehead, drawing a cross there with his thumb. 

The red light on Xuan’s forehead suddenly changed into ashes and some of it fell on Xuan’s nose, making him sneeze. 

One of Hon‘s hands was still lifting Xuan’s chin and the other shining one fell down, resting on his shoulder. 

Hon‘s face got closer, Xuan quickly closed his eyes and... 

Their lips pressed in a tight, warm and deep kiss, their tongues chasing each other in their mouths, both of them slowly starting to lose breath... 

But that was only Xuan’s imagination. In reality, Hon just pressed his forehead against Xuan’s and soon backed off, leaving both of them with ashen crosses on both of their foreheads. 

„I’m hopeless.“ Xuan thought and slowly opened his eyes. Right after opening them he saw Hon’s face and he felt like he was even redder than the red light that just shone upon him. 

He knew he couldn’t really kiss him right now and that it would feel like making out with air, but he still couldn’t help his thoughts. 

He thought that Hon’s real form was really attractive and he just didn’t know if it was alright to think that, or if it was just generally weird to simp for a demon king.  

When Hon noticed that Xuan was still stunned and as red as a paprika, he just smiled and asked: „Am I that handsome?“

Xuan opened his mouth to say something, but he wasn’t able to say anything at all. He just quickly looked away, then back at Hon and then he faced the ground and nodded. 

Hon wasn’t expecting this kind of reaction and he just giggled. He was aware that he was a very handsome demon, but only because he was constantly reminded of it. 

He never cared about his looks and he wasn’t even taking proper care of his skin. It was always like this and he himself didn’t really understand how or why, but still couldn’t care less. 

Hon suddenly grabbed Xuan’s hand and slowly pressed the back of it against his face, gently patting his cheek with it and finally kissed it. 

Xuan couldn’t feel it, but from what he just saw, he had no idea what happened. 

Every time Hon lifted some part of his body it only felt like a strong pressure from the bottom. Like a very strong wind.

Hon did it mostly for fun and considered it a very laughable manner when he thought about it, but seeing Xuan slowly opening his mouth in confusion, his eyes wide and his face even more red, he quickly let go. 

„Um... Oh, yeah, uh, I can’t let go of you if we want to enter together, so, let’s just go.“ Hon said quickly and embraced Xuan again, lifted his other hand and pointed it on the cross. 

„What just...“ Xuan started but he couldn’t find a right way to ask. 

„Nothing. Let’s just go.“ Hon said as if he was rushing and the ground suddenly shook a bit. 

The wall opened, cutting the cross in four parts and a big cave appeared in front of them. 

They waited until all the small stones fell down and entered the cave, which’s entrance swiftly closed behind them. 

They walked through the big corridor, it’s walls weren’t pitch black, more of dark blue with some little white dots all around it that reminded Xuan of stars. 

Xuan couldn’t really feel it, but the entire place was filled with magic from both realms. 

This insane amount of power made Hon’s head a bit dizzy, but he stayed calm and continued forward, still embracing Xuan’s waist. 

Xuan couldn’t focus on the walls and the atmosphere at all, since all he saw every time he opened or closed his eyes was Hon, and he just had to look at him. 

In the darkness and the light from the artificial stars all around them, Hon was nearly transparent. For some reason, Xuan was slowly losing his breath at this sight. 

He never met anyone so handsome and attractive before, he just really wanted to be pressed against the wall and kiss until they both passed out... 

„What even am I thinking about?!“ He thought and his face got red again. 

He suddenly turned to Hon: „Can you slap me?“ 

„W-what? Why?“ Hon looked at him, really confused. Why would he just randomly ask him to slap him? Was he just so stunned by the beauty of the walls that he just couldn’t believe it’s real? 

„Wait, no, don’t slap me!“ Xuan changed his mind. If Hon actually slapped him, it might get even worse. 

He never fell in love before, so he didn’t know about his kinks at all! What if he likes that? What would he do after that? Could he even feel the slap? 

„I wouldn’t do it anyways...“ Hon sighed and blinked a few times. 

They finally got to the actual portal. 

They stood in front of a big rock, with another, much bigger cross carved into it.

Now there wasn’t only cross, but many ofudas and old, long burnt out candles all around the place.

It was probably brought here by the demons stuck in a human realm who couldn’t get back. They probably tried everything they could, but still couldn’t get through. 

„We’ll have to do the same as before.“ Hon said and Xuan, once again, just nodded. His face was still red, but his cheeks cooled down a bit. 

Hon’s arm never stopped embracing him, and his other arm lifted up again and touched the cross, red light flowing out again.

Soon, he turned around, lifted Xuan’s chin again, drew another cross on the exact same place and then they pressed their foreheads together once again. 

Xuan closed his eyes and tried to look less awkward. Feeling that Hon was finally parting, he calmed down, but soon panicked again, as he felt the same kind of wind touching his lips for a moment.

He quickly opened his eyes, hoping for the best, but Hon was already facing the big cross. 

He lifted his arm again and the cross, which was now shining red, broke apart and the rock opened. 

The ground shook again, but the earthquake was a bit stronger than before. The sigh from behind the portal wasn’t pretty nor fascinating. Just dark and foggy. 

Could that wind before only been his imagination? Xuan thought and touched his lips, while staring into the darkness behind the portal.

Hon suddenly moved and Xuan had to do the same as he was basically dragged in there. They entered the actual portal and the rock closed behind them. 

They just officially entered the demon realm. 

When they stepped out, their first steps landed into something wet. Probably a small pond or a lake, but they weren’t swimming at all. It was almost as if they were walking on the water surface. 

Hon let go of Xuan’s waist and just then he came back to his senses. 

He was in the demon realm! He was one of a very few humans who ever managed to do such a thing while alive!

He got so excited and quickly catched up with Hon, who walked a bit faster than before.

„I’ll be seeing him like that every day now... I can’t overreact again...“ Xuan thought as they walked deeper into the mist. 

Soon, they noticed a few silhouettes from behind the fog. 

„Stay behind me.“ Hon commanded and walked forward, slowing down a bit. 

He walked out of the fog with Xuan following him and when he saw who the people were there, he sighed. 

Right in front of him were two demons in their animal forms, a fox with red fur and a coyote with dark blue one, both of them very elegant and charming. 

Behind them were some other ghosts and demons, different kinds, various sizes and looks.

They made a path between them and they were all bowing down.

They were all bowing down to their king.