Chapter 4:  Fairy land

Xuan ran into the house and into the room he was staying at, locked the doors and sat in the corner. He was still crying, holding his head and even pulled out some of his hair out from the stress. 

He really didn’t know what to do. Hon was surely some demon, it was very possible that he might actually be the devil himself, but Xuan just refused to believe it. 

After he found out that Hon’s a demonic magic user, he got scared, but Hon was acting so friendly towards him, he even saved him. If he really was the devil, why would he care about some mortal human? 

He planned on luring him somewhere and then attack him, just to see his reaction. He never wanted to hurt him in the first place. 

But, when he picked up that katana, he felt as if something possessed him. He never felt this amount of power before and even though he just wanted to fake the attack, he still somehow managed to cut off Hon’s arm. His entire arm.

He panicked after that and the first thing he thought of was how to stop the bleeding. 

He remembered about the healing ofudas from his grandpa he always kept in his inner pockets. These healing ofudas weren‘t very effective against demons, but they could stop bleeding of a human. He always kept them close since so many accidents happened around him and it was much easier to stick it on a person’s forehead than going through the entire 14th century CPR process and risking getting himself locked up in a prison. 

And when he stuck that piece of paper on Hon’s face, it didn’t only stop the bleeding, but also reduced all of his powers, revealing his aura, which was hidden until now. 

Xuan’s grandparents were very close with cultivation and when he moved to them, they taught him how to keep his „third eye“ opened all the time. Although he wasn’t very good at it, there was no way he wouldn’t notice it. 

Until now, Hon’s aura seemed normal. White light, balanced and calm personality, with a bit of something small and insignificant that he couldn’t even remember what it was.

Looking at it now, it scared him. Not because it was scary, but because it stayed almost the same. The only difference was that it got... Bigger.

He thought about Hon’s question „Why are you keeping me alive?“ and cried even more than before. 

Why? Just why? He never wanted to kill him. He just wanted to know him better. He never wanted a revenge for his family. Even if he was the one of the greater demons, it was not probable that he would be an evil mastermind that sent those demons. 

He was still sad, but at least he wasn’t alone. He got someone to hold him, yet he acted like a total asshole. 

Until some hours ago, he thought that he was the reason everyone died, he blamed himself and only himself for ever being born. He kept on asking „Why me?“ even though he couldn’t allow himself to show it, but then someone came. Someone who showed him it was alright. He felt great, and yet, he still hurt this someone. 

He didn’t even want to think about what would he do if he actually killed Hon. He might’ve killed himself as well. He was glad that his only friend didn’t die, but he thought that he would lose him. That he would stay alone again. And he wasn’t in a state of mind to accept loneliness. 

After some time, he heard some footsteps from the hallway and then someone knocked on his doors. 

It was Hon, who climbed down the tree, picked up the bloody katana with his left hand and returned it into it‘s case. He slowly walked towards the house while holding what was left of his right arm, which he buried in front of the house, and came straight to Xuan’s room. 

„Xuan... Let me in...“ Hon said silently, standing in front of the doors. Xuan only cried out louder. 

Hon didn’t say another word, sighed and left. He went into the kitchen and sat behind the table. He tried to bandage his shoulder with the pocket towel and bandages he found in the shelf under the sink. It was tied pretty well considering it was done by someone with only one arm. 

He didn’t really care about the missing limb, he planned on leaving this body soon anyways. He wasn’t angry, he actually wanted to help Xuan even more after this. 

He warmed up some water on the stove and set up two tea cups he found on one of the shelves. He assumed that Rika probably left them there, since he recognized the pattern. They weren’t from this century. 

When the water was hot enough, he made a tea for both him and Xuan, put a jar of sugar cubes between the two seats and waited. 

As if he predicted it, right in that moment, Xuan’s doors opened and his white head looked out. He just wanted to make sure that Hon was alright, and when he saw him, he wanted to go inside again. 

„Wait.“ Hon said and Xuan stopped. He didn’t look at Hon, because he expected he would try to hurt him. He probably wouldn’t resist and accept anything at this point, thinking he deserves it. 

„Come sit here. I made you a tea.“ Hon said, calmly. 

Xuan just nodded, slowly turned around and watched the floor as he walked towards Hon. He hesitated a bit, but, eventually, sat down. 

„Please, add some sugar. It might be a little bitter.“ Hon said, adding two sugar cubes into his cup. He couldn’t drink tea without 2 sugar cubes for some reason. Maybe it was some kind of a habit from when he was alive. 

Xuan didn’t move this whole time and kept on looking away. He thought that this tea is poisoned, but planned to drink it anyways once it got a bit colder. „I’m sorry.“ He said again. 

Hon just smiled a bit, but didn’t respond. Only after a while, he asked:

„Do you think I sent those demons?“ 

Xuan looked at him, terrified. He never suspected Hon of this, he just... He didn’t know what to think. But it was only a common sense for Hon to think this first. 

„Of course not, I-“ He said, but, in the middle of the sentence, tears came back into his eyes, so he stopped himself and looked away again. 

Half of Hon’s face was covered with an ofuda and his right eye was too peaceful for someone who just lost an entire arm. 

„Xuan... I am already dead... I experienced much worse pain than this, it‘s alright.“ 

„It’s not! I didn’t want to- I’m sorry.“ He cried. 

Hon sipped from his tea and sighed. 

„I won’t be staying in this body for long. I won’t miss this arm and this paper is nothing. You panicked, but still tried to help. I appreciate it. Really.“ Hon said and he actually meant it. 

If he wanted to enter the demon realm soon, he had to abandon this body and get back into his original form of a demon anyways. 

But, Xuan still couldn’t forgive himself. He really didn’t want to do this and even though Hon said it’s alright, it really wasn’t. 

He also did some inappropriate things, as touching his body like that. It wouldn’t be alright with anyone else, and it was definitely not alright with someone who clearly refused physical contact and when that someone is the feared devil. 

„Xuan, I am not angry. D-Don’t blame yourself anymore.“ Hon said and sipped from his tea again. 

„I will never forgive myself.“ 

„You will, eventually. Tell me, w-what happened?“ Hon asked, his face still amazingly calm. 

„I just wanted to know who you are... I just wanted to threaten you and your weapon was just too strong and I- I-“ tears were falling down his face again. „I was afraid that you might want to hurt me...“ Now Xuan wanted to hurt himself instead. 

Hon understood his motives. So, he was wrong after all... This boy wasn’t like his past self. He wasn’t driven by revenge, but he just simply wanted to know his new friend better. It was also his fault for not telling him earlier, but he just couldn’t really predict his reactions. 

But he didn’t really care about this mistake anymore, and just wanted to protect Xuan, until he figures out what to do with him next. 

Hon stood up and slowly walked towards Xuan, who noticed it, and simply exposed his cheek, expecting Hon to hit him. Instead of that, Hon didn’t stop and gently embraced Xuan with his remaining left arm. Xuan didn’t understand. 

„I would a-also pat your head, but I can’t...“ Hon said awkwardly and giggled while Xuan just sat there, shocked. He just managed to severely hurt this guy, so, why was he hugging him? 

„Why- Why are you hugging me?“ Xuan asked but Hon didn’t answer and just hugged him even tighter. 

„I want to save you. I won’t leave you, don’t worry.“ He refused to let go of him. 

Xuan didn’t say anything, he just embraced Hon’s waist and hugged him back. Tears came into his eyes once again as he held onto Hon’s back so strongly that he was mildly hurting him, but Hon didn’t mind at all. 

It was probably that their auras were matching that Hon was able to willingly hug him. He didn’t mind at all. He didn’t realise it before, but all these years, he just wanted someone to hug him like this. 

They stayed like that, in a friendly and comforting hug, for a while, but, after some time, Xuan’s necklace came out from under his clothes and pressed against Hon’s chest, hurting him again. 

He quickly let go of Xuan without explaining why and tried to stay calm while Xuan didn’t mind and sat properly again. Hon knew that this necklace was becoming a problem, but he was leaving it for observation for now. Hopefully, it won’t hurt him badly. 

Hon sat back on the other side of the table and they both drank the tea in front of them without speaking. It wasn’t poisoned after all! 

They were both tired. Xuan was tired from all that crying and guilt, and Hon just lost his arm, so, of course he was tired from the blood loss. He hasn‘t felt tired in such a long time that experiencing it once again felt nice at some point. 

Although he was barely keeping himself up, he didn’t plan on going to sleep yet. He had to check something. 

If he wanted to return to the demon realm, he had to find out what changed there in 50 years. After all, it’s been such a long time and he was not keeping up with what was happening while he was gone. 

Was there, perhaps, any war? Or has the population increased? 

Since this house belonged to Rika, she probably left some material somewhere.

As Xuan lay in bed, Hon lighted a candle, sat behind the table in the same room, set his katana on the floor next to him and started looking through all the papers that he found in one of the drawers. 

Xuan kept on watching him this entire time, wondering about what he was doing. He hesitated a bit before asking: „Hon, what are you looking for?“ The tone in which he asked sounded nearly as if he just didn’t have a breakdown minutes ago. 

„There’s nothing to hide now, so... I might, a-as well, tell you.“ Hon said. „I am the seventh demon king, a-also known as the king of Violence, or Yumeno. I was gone for 50 years and obviously... I don’t know anything. I believe Rika must’ve left s-something here.“

„So you’re actually a demon king, huh? The devil...“ Hon just nodded, but Xuan continued: „Also, who is Rika? Is it that nice lady that owns this house? Where is she?“ 

„Oh, yeah. Her name’s Rika. She’s my assistant. I think she ruled over my circle for these past 50 years... Now she’s probably back in the demon realm to announce my return...“ Hon said, but after not getting any reaction from Xuan, he turned around. 

He saw Xuan completly stunned and shocked. But, why? He thought that he already knew about him being a demon? Does king’s status add that much? Did Rika shock him that much? Or, was it the fact that the famous demon king didn’t know a thing about his kingdom? Or... Maybe that was just another average human reaction.

„What is it?“ He asked. 

„Are you... Going back?“ Xuan whispered the last part. He was afraid he’ll stay alone again. Hon remembered that he just told him that he would never leave and now he was leaving. 

„I have to.“

„Will you leave me?“

„There aren’t many ways to take you with me since you aren‘t a ghost, demon nor a monster...“ 

Xuan was losing the light from his eyes.

„But.“ Hon continued. „I want to take you as my pet, i-if you want to go there, of course... If not...“ Hon said, sighed and turned back to look through some more papers. 

„Would being your pet be any bad?“ Xuan asked.

„Not really, but nobody would respect you, nor me. You could just stay here for a while and your dead version will come see me some day.“ Hon said, casually. Way too casually.

Xuan was silently looking at the floor, thinking. He soon broke the silence: „Then kill me. So I can go with you as a ghost.“

Hon was stunned. He thought this boy loved living, why did he suddenly want to die? He couldn’t do that, he didn‘t even think about that option. It was not an option he wanted to use at all. He sighed again and silently replied: „I won’t.“

„Then I’ll kill myself. So you won’t leave me.“ 

„Don’t do it. It’s not worth it.“

„I don’t have anyone else but you now... I want to stay by your side. Even if it means to die. I’ll figure out the rest in the afterlife.“ Xuan stood up and picked up Hon’s katana that was lying on the ground next to him. 

He pointed the blade towards his chest and wanted to stab himself. He was ready to leave his physical body for Hon. It was the least he could do for him, and he still couldn’t forgive himself for even thinking about hurting Hon. When he actually did hurt him, that was the moment he lost all fate in himself and didn’t want to live with this burden anymore. 

Of course, he wasn‘t realising that he would still feel the same even after his death... Maybe it was just an excuse to hurt himself over and over again. 

Before he actually stabbed himself, Hon stood in front of him and held the blade with his bare left hand. It was bleeding. 

„I said, don’t.“ Hon quietly whispered into his ear. The katana fell from Xuan’s hands and as he himself fell to the ground. Hon caught his arm mid-air. 

Xuan raised his head and looked Hon in the eyes, tears streaming down his face. 

Hon’s hand was bleeding and stained Xuan’s sleeve, which made Xuan feel even worse. Hon got hurt again because of him. Even if their auras blocked each other, Hon still got hurt multiple times, while nothing happened to Xuan. 

Hon’s bleeding immediately stopped thanks to the ofuda on his face, but the body was still scarred. Xuan backed up and sat on the bed, hugging his knees. 

Hon sighed. „I will find a way to stay with you, don’t worry. I won’t leave you.“ 

„I’m sorry.“ Xuan said. 

Hon was getting a little angry, because it seemed like Xuan wasn’t able to say anything else than „I’m sorry“ right now. 

He heard him say „I’m sorry“ a lot, and he didn’t like it anymore. He never liked it, especially not when it wasn’t that person’s fault. It was his fault at some point, he was the one who held the katana and who hurt him, but Hon was already so tired from hearing „I’m sorry“ that he just couldn’t blame anyone if it meant those „sorries“.

When he became a king, he got his first servant, Rika, who came voluntarily. She had a tough and calm personality ever since the beginning, so he barely heard her say sorry since she didn’t make many mistakes. 

Although, few years later, due to Rika’s recommendations, he employed a friend of hers, Moka, and this individual wasn’t as skilled at serving as her senior. While simply bringing a tea, or doing some other simple tasks, she usually managed to mess something up and either prepared the wrong kind of tea, used an unfitting tea cup or forgot about the sugar. 

Hon wasn‘t picky at all and didn’t really mind, but at the time Moka used to apologise a lot it was making both him and Rika go crazy. So, they estabilished one rule, no apologies inside of the Violence palace. 

Of course, there was the third individual from his castle, but that little prick didn’t work at all and only played his video games for whole days. Hon didn’t even remember why he had employed him, but before he could fire him, he left the realm. He suspected that he had no idea what „sorry“ or „thanks“ meant, or if he even caught on with the news about the new rule. 

Hon sat back behind the table and looked through the papers again, while remembering all of that. He even smiled uncounsciously.  

After not long time, he said happily „Gotcha.“ And took out a certain paper from the pile. 

He looked at the paper, then turned around to Xuan, and after a moment of hesitation, he said „Come here.“

Xuan’s eyes brightened and he quickly stood up and awkwardly walked towards Hon, making a big circle around his katana. He sat down on the chair on the left from Hon. 

„This should be the recapitulation of those past 50 years. I don’t think there’ll be a lot of stuff written here, but I also don’t think you’ll understand much, so just listen, okay?“ Hon turned to look at Xuan and smiled. Xuan treturned an awkward smile and nodded.

He started reading out: „Rika’s diary, day 11956: recap of past 50 years for his highness, Yumeno.“ He smiled. Of course Rika would start a letter with something like this. 

„Because his highness left for 50 years, he might be unaware of the current events happening in the demon realm. To start from the very beginning – when his highness left, everything fell into chaos. People wouldn’t listen to me nor Moka, they ignored our every word and kept on asking where their king is. We obviously noticed that his highness left because of his... Mental issues and insecurities... But, we couldn’t tell the people that their mighty king left because... He was feeling a little down...“ 

Hon stopped reading and looked at Xuan, who was awkwardly sitting next to him. He felt a little embarrassed, but Xuan didn’t care. 

When Xuan couldn‘t hear Hon reading anymore, although there was much more written there, he looked at him. When their eyes met Xuan noticed Hon’s worried face and suddenly pinched his cheek. 

„X-Xuan?“ Hon asked and Xuan just smiled without letting him go and looked back at the paper. 

„If you have trouble reading it, I can continue.“ Xuan said. Hon didn’t have trouble reading it, not at all, it was just that somehow he lived in the demon realm shorter than most demons there, yet, he had much more power. Despite that, he still decided to run away.

„It-it’s okay, I can- I can continue I-“ Hon panicked, since Xuan didn’t seem like wanting to let go of his cheek. What was he planning to do? Distract him and stab him again? Was this all just a play and the one on the tree was the real him? 

Hon wanted to reach for his katana before it was too late, when Xuan sighed, let go of his face and grabbed the paper with both hands. 

Hon wasn’t sure about what just happened and he kept on looking at Xuan, even while he was reading. 

He wasn’t as daring as this boy and he couldn’t even touch him now. He was still a little shocked, but listened closely to what Xuan read:

„So we invited the king of Heresy, Ethan, and he agreed to take care of Hon‘s circle. He was respected all over the demon realm, and for Hon he was like a brother, so he was the only option, if we didn’t want everything to fall. Ethan had been taking care of Hon‘s circle with mine and Moka’s help this whole time and now he’s getting ready for Hon’s return.“

Hon stopped him. „Why are you reading it like that?“ he asked with a serious tone. 

„Like what?“ Xuan lifted his head towards Hon again. 

„Why are you replacing „his highness“ with my name?“

„Am I not allowed to?“ 

„... Just go on.“ Hon sighed and Xuan turned his face back to continue reading. He didn’t understand what he was reading at all, but he somehow enjoyed it. 

„That would be all about Hon. Your circle was actually one of the few that managed to keep peace. The long awaited war between the king of Anger, Styx, and the king of Lust, Dante, had started not long ago. Other circles, thankfully, weren’t involved. Otherwise, it was surprisingly peaceful. The population in the circle of Violence slightly increased thanks to the quality of afterlife here. But, don’t worry, it’s been only a few hundreds.“ Xuan then stopped and looked at Hon.

„Are you really that powerful?“ 

„Of course I am...“ Hon replied, casually. 

„It just seems so unreal that someone like you...“

„Xuan... 50 years of isolation would change everyone. I wasn’t always... Like this.“

„...I can’t believe it.“

„You don’t have to believe me. I told you, I have changed. There i-is no use counting how much blood had flown through my hands...“ 

After Hon said this, Xuan started shaking a bit. Of course he was still afraid of Hon, but he still found it fascinating that a powerful demon king was showing an interest in a basic human like himself. Hon noticed this and remembered a thing from an old book that he once read. 

„And if someone feels uncomfortable around you, just pull them closer!“ was the line he remembered. It was a terrible idea, from a terrible book, but, for some reason, Hon had to remember this exact line. 

So, he did as the book said. He embraced Xuan around his shoulder and pulled him closer. Xuan started shaking even more and looked at Hon like a scaredy cat. 

Hon was confused by the look on his face, since he thought of it as of a brilliant idea. But Xuan just sighed and looked at the paper again. 

„W-Well, Hon is the one with haphephobia so if he doesn‘t mind...“ Xuan thought. 

„Continue.“ Hon said. 

Xuan nodded and continued reading: „This is all useful information, of course, but let me explain what happened just a few years ago. The incident that shook the realms. The Treachery king was annihilated, and, together with him, his entire kingdom fell. A lot of demons and other entities living there passed or fled, most of those that actually survived this double hell fled to Hon‘s circle. The old ruler, also known as Stroke, was replaced by the new one, who is known as „The Butcher“. This ruler is certainly very cruel, and I should not be saying this, but I personally suspect him of the forceful opening of a certain seal between demon and human realms. He might be the reason of Hon‘s... Latest case...“ 

He stopped reading and looked at Hon, who was already looking at him, waiting for his reaction. 

„Is this... Is this about...“ 

„It’s about you, yes.“

„Am i Just your... Latest case?“ he asked. 

„Of course you’re- you’re not only my latest case. But you must’ve realised by now that it was- it was me who killed those demons possessing your house. They’ve destroyed an entire village before they got to you.“

„I know...“ 

Xuan looked at the paper again and wanted to say something, starting with „I’m-„ but before he could finish his sentence, he was pulled even closer to Hon, who interrupted him: „Don’t say sorry anymore.“

Hon didn’t know why was he pulling Xuan closer to him, it just happened. He felt safe around him. Was this what friends usually do? The most he did with his previous friends were tea parties. 

Xuan’s eyes widened and he really had no idea what to do. He couldn‘t just push him away, he still blamed himself for hurting him, but Hon was also a demon king. Why couldn’t he just get rid of those trust issues as easily as he jumped into that river? But, Hon technically never lied to him, did he? Nahhhh... Feelings were too complicated for him.

„Thank you.“ He said, silently, and continued to read what was left:

„But, Hon shouldn‘t bother with this, it is just my personal interest. In any case, I recommend to not get very close to this demon monarch, if Hon ever meets them, he’ll understand. Otherwise, nothing much happened that would involve Hon directly.“

Xuan couldn’t even focus on what he was reading. He was too distracted by Hon’s big and warm hand squeezing his shoulder. Also, being this close to him, that felt... Strange. He probably shouldn’t feel like that...

„Ps.: I haven’t left any more documents about demon realm in this house, so you don’t have to worry about someone finding out. I hope to see you again soon, and I wish your highness and his little companion the best of luck on your way.“

Xuan finished, then he put the paper on the table and looked at Hon. 

„I don’t understand a thing written there.“ He said and Hon laughed out loud. 

„Then let me explain h-how it works. The demon realm is made out of 9 main k-kingdoms, or circles. They are all named after most basic human sins, that’s w-what we’re telling everyone, but it’s just named after places from the favourite book of the strongest ruler of Limbo. But, in which circle person lives after their death, is only th-their choice. It has nothing to do with whether they were „good“ or „bad“, everyone turns into a demon eventually.“

Hon noticed that Xuan was feeling somehow uncomfortable, always moving his hand and twitching his shoulder. He loosened his grip a bit.

„T-To be more precise, we’re not actual demons, just dead souls that somehow turned out to look like that a-and we reminded each other of demons. I rule over the seventh circle, Violence. From what is written here, I un-understood that the only thing directly including me were my... Friend Ethan and my two assistants taking care of my kingdom while I was gone. When I return, they will probably p-prepare some kind of a celebration for me, maybe a banquet or something. We’ll see.“ 

After his explanation, Xuan just nodded. He noticed that Hon noticed his nervousness, and after a moment of hesitation, just to prove that he isn’t nervous, he rested his head on Hon’s shoulder. He still didn’t understand, and Hon still didn‘t even tell him that everyone’s the same age, or, that age or time doesn’t work there. 

„... I’m really tired now...“ he said and closed his eyes. It was late and Xuan didn‘t eat anything for the dinner, but, of course, he wasn’t tired just because of that. 

Hon finally let go of his shoulders and helped him lay his upper body down on the table, since he wasn’t able to carry him to bed. Xuan was already sleeping.

He took a blanket and carefully put it over Xuan‘s small and frail body. Seeing Xuan sleeping like that, he got tired too. He totally forgot that he lost his arm today, and when he remembered, he silently giggled, careful enough to not wake his jinx up. 

He blew off the candle, sat on the chair next to Xuan, stared at his face for a while and took a lock of his hair to play with. He closed his eyes while playing with it and soon fell asleep too.