14 Understanding him. Understanding everything.

IT HAD been a month when Shina and Naru arrived at the camp of villagers. Since the storm didn't come back and the sun shone its brightest, the villagers chose to go back to their village.

Yu was still bedridden as his body was still not fully healed but he was in and out of consciousness. Still weak from what he had gone thru.

And Shina saw how the villagers mourn, cry, and grieved for the death of their loved ones. Burying the remains of what's left of the memory. Rejoice as Yu finally woke up from his slumber.

Shina still cannot understand why do mortals have to cry when they will be reincarnated and be reunited in due time. Why do they rejoice in even the smallest things?

"I heard you saved me," said of a baritone voice. Familiar but different. Strong but soft.

The first time Shina heard that voice was when it was shouting all his lungs out. Cold and angry. And it feels different than it was calm and warm.

"My brother was the one who saw you and carried you," Shina coldly answered. She didn't want to be alone with Yu. She didn't want to get too close to him. After all, she tried to kill him.

Yu chuckled as he sat down beside her. "Everyone told me that he did. Good thing he was taller than me. I can't imagine that he could carry me if he was as small as you."

Shina instantly looked at Yu who started laughing. Is this human mocking me? Is it a mistake that I left him alive?

"Sorry. Sorry," Yu held his palm up. Since his other arm was injured he can put his palm together. "I didn't mean it that way. I'm just thankful that you found me and be able to carry me. I can't imagine what would have happened if I was left out there."

{You'd probably die. Dead. Gone.} Shina wanted to answer but instead, she just looked away.

"And as repayment, I want to show you something. Come." Yu didn't wait for her answer. Instead, he just held her hands and gently guided her towards the forest.

Funny that he was her enemy but she didn't feel any threat to what he will do. Warmth. The hotness made her tingle all over.

Was she getting more human every day?

These feelings that she cannot understand yet she cannot push away. Wanted to understand but as time goes, more mystery just keeps coming up. Getting confused and angry towards these feelings but she still embraces them.

{This is not right. We should leave soon. Far away from these humans.}

Shina tried to pull her hand from Yu's grip but he didn't budge. Yu might have felt what she did that was why instead of holding her hands, he let it go and kneel his back facing her.

"Come on, hop on my back. It will be easier."

"But…" Shina was confused.

"Come one. It'll be sundown before we arrived if we continue this pace. If we piggyback, we will arrive just in time."

"But your arm. You are still recovering."

"Nah," Yu contest and to prove it, he removed the sling in his arms. "They are just overreacting. I can even carry a bag of rice now."

Shina shook her head. Yu looked at her like he was saying 'not you, too'. She thought she offended him but it was the opposite. Yu grinned widely as he stood up and come close to her.

"I'm sorry for doing this but…" Yu didn't continue what he was saying, he just held her arms and put them in his shoulder and with one swift move, she was in his back. "Hold on tight or you might fall. I cannot let my savior be injured. Okay?"

"Ha?" Shina squeak as Yu started to walk. She put her arms around his neck as she wraps her legs around his waist. "D-don't go too fast."

Yu laughed. "I'm not. My stride is just too wide." Yu laughed again. "And Shina, please loosen your arms, I may not have died from the battle but I might die from choking."

Shina didn't answer. She was more focused on what was happening. Yu was too close to her. The warmth inside her chest was new and feeling Yu's body heat was newer.

She could almost feel the blood flowing. His heart thumping. His breath mingling with the wind.

{And he has two hearts? Why there are two thumps that I'm hearing?}

Then she stopped thinking. It wasn't Yu. It was hers!

"Why…?"

"Huh?" Yu looked back. "You were saying something?"

"A-ah. No., Nothing." Shina replied immediately.

"Okay," Yu said as he chuckled. A few more steps before he stopped. "Well, here we are. My sanctuary."

And just like the other child in the village, every time they were showing something magnificent to them to Shina, they open their arms wide as if holding it in there.

Now, Yu was proudly showed her what he was calling sanctuary.

It was a waterfall with clear water. And they were standing on a low cliff near the body of water. The whole falls and the pool it made just below was can be seen in there. The trees were enough to shade the banks of the river as it flows down. As the shine shone in the water, the ripples were making a strobe of lights in the shadow of the forest. Glistening like a crystal.

It was clearly magical.

And hearing how Yu sees it, makes her see it in a more magical.

"Ah! You finally smiled," Yu clapped and winced at the same time.

Shina looked at Yu. "Are you alright? Does your arm hurt?"

"Yeah. I just forgot." Yu laughed and winced at the same time as he moved his wrist, arm, and shoulder.

"We should go back." Shina turned his back but Yu stopped her and made her sit by the pile of rocks near the cliff's edge.

"Let's stay here for a while. The village is too noisy." Yu's face wrinkled. "The kids, urgh, I just cannot stand them. Don't get me wrong. I love those kids, I just cannot take the nose this time."

Shina laughed again as she heard him rant. In the end, they both laughed as he became comical telling how the kids woke him up the other day. They were playing and accidentally jumped on him.

"Ah, those kids. I now know why my father was always spanking me. Those kids are not near enough on how naughty I am when I was a kid." Yu shooked his head. "Good thing they still don't know how to go here. If that happens, everything will be ruined. I won't be able to say my thanks to you if this part of the forest would be invaded."

"Yeah," Shina just agreed. She let a soft breeze of cool wind flow. Shina then looked at Yu but averted her eyes the moment it laid into Yu's eyes. He was looking at her.

{What is he doing? Why was he staring at me?} Shina swallowed hard as she was still processing what happened.

"You know, I should have been angry at you."

"What?" Shina's eyes flew back to Yu. "What are you saying?" {Did he found out?}

Panic started to cripple inside her. She was ready to flee. Ready to run. No--she cannot hurt him. She just cannot.

But it all died down when Yu started to speak again.

"You shouldn't have saved me. I should have died together with my friends." Then Yu sighed. Shadow of sadness was seen in his eyes. He then chuckled at smiled. "No, sorry. I know you just did what you thought was right. I'm just…guilty. Guilty that I'm alive and they aren't. That, someone, saved me and they weren't. I'm sorry I said that."

"Why?" Shina can't help but ask. This is what she cannot understand with mortals. Why did they have to feel that? Didn't they know that they would see each other again after reincarnation?

Yu looked at her with a confused look. "What why?"

"Why do you feel guilty?" Shina asked. "When they will be reincarnated the next lifetime?"

Then Yu smiled at her and lightly tapped her head. "Maybe because they won't be able to cherish this lifetime. Hirohito won't be able to see his son and daughters grow up. Nishi won't be able to tell Riri his feelings. Isei won't be able to see his mother again.

"These people, they won't be able to feel these feelings again. There is no guarantee that they would feel these feelings again." Yu continued. "You see, Shina, they didn't know that they would die before we said our goodbyes and climb that mountain. They didn't know that it'll be the last touch. The last embrace. The last kiss."

Yu then looked at her. And funny that Shina could almost feel his eyes to her lips. Shina tried not to be too conscious and obvious that she could really see him.

"Then do it the next lifetime." Shina cleared her throat.

Yu then smiled and shooked his head. "But what If we won't be able to see them the next lifetime?" Yu asked back before continuing. "Maybe that's why we always cherish what we have now. Maybe that's why we are so afraid of losing someone or dying. Because of the uncertainty of everything. And it may sound crazy but I don't complain about having a short life."

"Why? Surely having an immortal life is better, right? You'd be able to love that someone for the rest of eternity." Shina asked again.

Yu shook his head again and now sat beside her. their shoulder touched. Shina slightly distanced herself but still finding herself wanted to feel his warmth again.

"I don't have a problem in having an immortal life and loving that someone for all eternity but the consequence of having an immortal life makes you neglect something that might change everything. But if you only have a limited lifetime, you want to cherish everything. Even the smallest detail."

As Yu said that, Shina could feel his gaze drilling at her. She was not supposed to look at him. She was not supposed to know that he was starring at her. But like what he said, we must cherish every moment. And so, Shina let herself indulge in that feeling and looked at Yu.

His face was too close. His warmth was contagious.

Shina swallowed hard as she could hear the heartbeat in her ear and wondering if he was hearing it, too.

"Just like that," Yu whispered. "These small details about your wonderful eyes. A small detail that would surely change everything."

Shina didn't know what he was saying and just stared at his eyes. It was dark as the night sky and the ripples of the sunshine reflected in his eyes like the stars.

She understood now what he meant.

*****END OF CHAPTER****