—why does my body remember what my mind forgot ? "
-- kyoren 🔥
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Kyoren woke with a jolt, his breath caught halfway in his throat. The morning light filtered dimly through the silk curtains of his chamber, but it couldn't erase the heat crawling over his skin.
His golden eyes were wide, frozen in disbelief as scattered memories of the previous night tangled in his mind like a haunting melody. Did that happen? Was Kirihito really about to... touch my chest? Lower? Kyoren swallowed tightly, his throat dry.
"Was that part real, or just some messed-up dream sewn into reality..." he muttered under his breath.
He shifted slightly, the soft white robe slipping over his shoulder, exposing his collarbone. It sent a shiver through him, especially as he realized his body was reacting in a way it hadn't in years. The small buds on his chest stiffened with sensitivity, and he instinctively clutched his robe tighter against them.
Then he froze again.
A strand of black hair lay draped over his wrist...not his of could..it's Kirihito's . But now he doesn't remembers when did he picked it up .
What the hell… Kyoren yanked his hand away as if it were on fire. He flinched in pain, a sharp throb spiking through his neck and arm. His fingers hovered over the side of his neck. It was tender, swollen. He remembered how Kirihito's foot...bone and nails sharp as blades...had smacked him right at the neck.
He remembered that he coughed up water then. Choked. Like he was about to die , a great humiliation to remember .
"That psycho nearly paralyzed me," he hissed to himself.
Just as he was reeling from the memory, a knock came.
A firm, royal rhythm.
Of course. Now he shows up.
Kyoren sighed, dragging himself out of bed. He ran fingers through his silver hair, messier than usual. If he stepped out like this, his father would unleash a storm of comments about appearances and discipline.
He fixed his robes quickly, double-layering the white silk and binding his hair into a short tie with a pin.
Opening the door, he was greeted by the tall figure of his father. Dressed in a light golden hanfu with a crimson sash, the elder king stood with composed dignity. A gold circlet rested over his brow, and layers of royal ribbons flowed near his temples—gold, black, and red pearls symbolizing his supremacy. His eyes, red like old blood, scanned Kyoren.
"Why are you late today?" he asked. "Yurei informed me you were injured. Is it true?"
Kyoren tensed. "...Yes."
"Thanks for showing up twenty-four hours late," he thought sarcastically. "Can't you see my damn neck is puffy and red?"
His father stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He approached Kyoren, gently taking his arm. The touch was rare. Kyoren blinked in surprise.
Wow. Look who remembered he has a son.
The older king sat him on the bed, eyes scanning the injury. He removed Kyoren's hairpin, letting the silver strands fall loose. Then, gripping the younger's hair tightly at the scalp, he tilted his neck.
Kyoren tensed hard. His father's fingers applied pressure.
"Ah !!" he gasped, teeth biting his lip, eyes screwed shut.
Venom leaked from the small punctures where Kirihito's nails had hit.
"You were attacked by a high-ranked curse yokai? At your ceremony?" his father asked.
"Y-Yes."
"And you didn't tell me until now? Why let it get to this point? These kinds of venomous strikes burn slowly through the skin."
Kyoren muttered, "You were... busy with your best friend."
The king narrowed his eyes.
"Stupid boy. Do I ever punish you for asking for help? You know your healing powers are sealed after that mistake. You can't recover yourself."
Kyoren looked away. He couldn't tell if his father was showing care or just annoyed that he'd have to work extra now.
"I'm talking to you, Kyoren. This isn't your academy where your silence goes unpunished because your father is king."
Kyoren hissed under his breath. "Alright, alright… I'm sorry. I was attacked by a high-ranked yokai who... who danced his way into hitting my neck with his feet."
The king blinked. "...He danced?"
Kyoren's face flushed red. "Yes. And he called himself a genderless yokai. Had snake tattoos coiling around both arms... with a red spider lily on top."
His father leaned back. "That... is strange. Never encountered such a type. But whatever that yokai was, it might return. Especially if he found you... entertaining."
Kyoren turned crimson. He remembered the closeness, the teasing. The whisper near his ear. He clenched his fists.
His father continued, " high ranked yokai are dangerous...but they're also unpredictable. More like animals than men. They think in instincts. If he's the kind to return for fun, he will. You're too easy to tease."
Kyoren groaned, sinking his face into his palm.
The king began the healing, placing his palm over the bruised area. A warm light spread into his skin, soft and soothing. Kyoren almost sighed.
For once, it feels like being held... he thought.
When the process ended, the pain dulled. Not gone, but bearable.
His father rose, walking to the door.
"Come downstairs for breakfast," he said without looking back.
"Yes, Father."
As the door shut, Kyoren began dressing. He glanced toward the mirror, trying to piece together last night.
Did Kirihito actually do anything beyond what he remembered?
He shook his head and wonders " what does my body remember..but my mind don't ?
Then he remembered his promise he did to Yurei about making him his right hand .
Kyoren called for a maid. She bowed respectfully.
"Send a high-ranked uniform to Yurei's chamber. And prepare a new suite for him."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Scene shift: Kirihito
In the sunlit forest, Kirihito twirled beneath the trees. His hood was up, but his laughter echoed with a wildness birds and other animals are charmed by his playful , deadly and innocent behaviour because they understands him well as themselves . He sings like he's a great singer without even practicing, randomly making great lyrics..but most of them were just lines for him.. he doesn't quite understands what he's singing.. he just knows those are coming in his mind..He sang softly:
"They call me ~demon of dance~
But devil aches ~at a fleeting glance~
You touched my soul~but never knew~
The science~ ble~eds in every hue~"
He tossed chunks of dragon fruit to the owl perched nearby.
"Eat up, birdie! I kept my promise!"
He spun again, licking juice from his lips, a sly grin forming.
"That's not the end, old king~" he whispered. "See you again... once I'm done playing with the spacial insects."
[ end of Chapter 07 ]