2 The Fallen Deity and The Ghost Child (2)

By the seventh day, they were well acquainted enough to throw snarky comments and complaints to each other. But it mostly was initiated by the deity. Well, forget it. They actually began the comments on the third day, but it was considered mild enough to pass as polite conversations. But now, both of them literally shouted at each other. Not because it's hard to get along with the other, it was totally a different reason.

Yuan Ji just liked arguing with anyone.

And YueChen was one of his victims.

There might be an error with the deity's powers. Clearly he was a God of Salt, or Pain, not Water God. With his traits and his weird hobby to rub salt over people's wounds, being a water deity was a little off. But thinking about it again, maybe he was promoted into his rank and title for an obvious reason that he owned a sea.

With his personality being like that, him having a friend might be questionable enough. Yet Yuan Ji was quite popular in the nine heavens. Then again, his pranks and teasing might play a part in this matter.

YueChen nagged him for stories. In exchange, Yuan Ji nagged him for...

"Why in the world are you so kind to everyone?" Yuan Ji frowned after he observed his host's daily life as usual.

"...."

"If they don't treat you that way, you don't have to do anything for them."

Whenever Yuan Ji rambled about his flaws and incapability, YueChen mostly stayed quiet, as he had no skills in arguing. He sealed his mouth shut, not intending to converse with the bored deity.

Maybe one good thing from Yuan Ji was his worry for others, even if he never admitted it. He taught others to appreciate and also hate, but in a twisted, indecipherable way. According to his principle, no one should be treated unjustly. If they treat you badly, you have the full right to do so to them.

While a certain Yang's principle was nearly the opposite of his. Treat everyone kindly, for no one deserves unfairness. And YueChen's naivety was the reason why they often disagree and quarrelled.

Lecturing was not effective, as both sides turned deaf ears to each other. And for fighting, it wasn't possible. Yuan Ji couldn't manifest himself, even for a split second. He also wasn't able to see YueChen's appearance, only darkness ahead him and his vision was limited to brief, foggy image of what his host currently did. Fighting fist to fist would be impossible, the two couldn't even see each other. Yet fighting was one of slightly better skill YueChen had. To him, fist always worked better than words in arguments.

Seven days observing, and he gathered enough information to end his self-proclaimed mission. What YueChen need for now wasn't a cure to his condition, but a real friend. The child was bullied in school, did terribly in most his classes, and was the loner of his year. On addition to it, he had plenty traumas and fears from years ago.

After seeing his vessel's pitiful life, Yuan Ji rubbed his temples, deciding to change course to help him, rather than investigate. Although it took at least a month until YueChen was affected.

Bit by bit, the advices worked and reduced the boy's suicidal thoughts. He learned to trust and not to trust, to rely upon others or did everything by himself, to love and to hate. All of it was thanks to Yuan Ji. All of it started on that night.

•

His days were tiring, racking his brain to find any clue, flipping through the remaining memories over and over again, staring at the remnants of his own self. Tiring and boring, he might truly lost his mind if he didn't do anything at all.

Yuan Ji was only a few minutes asleep, eyes closed and mind finally peaceful, before he was roughly woken up by a surge of thoughts, flooding into his place. It was already late at night, who dared to disturb his sleep?

That person was no other than YueChen, curled up and sobbing.

Yuan Ji listened to his whispers as he yawned sleepily and rubbed his dazed eyes.

"I'm not..." The teen's words were cut off by a series of hiccups.

Yuan Ji originally only wanted to listen to his sobs and murmurs, not having the intent to comfort the other, but the more he listened to the self-blaming cries, the more he couldn't bear it anymore. So, in a tone neither soft not harsh, he tried to comfort him.

It's not suppose to be like this. Yuan Ji was supposed to laugh and teased YueChen, the same way he treated others. He was supposed to make his host's blood boil, just like the others. He was supposed to give him an earful, rub salt on his old wounds, or something. He didn't need a stumbling block in his way, he didn't need a hindrance to his ascension. He wasn't supposed to comfort the other, whispering promising words to YueChen or to console the boy.

He couldn't help it.

No matter how he denied the facts, YueChen reminded him to his past—painful yet was also something that he wanted to stay in forever. YueChen was an extremely familiar soul to him, yet he couldn't pinpoint who he was.

If he could manifest, Yuan Ji would lightly pat his back. If he could, he would hold YueChen's face and kissed his forehead. If he could, he'd do anything for him. Too bad he couldn't. Too bad, the Great Water Deity of the Eastern Water couldn't help much.

All he could do was to promise a better life for the boy.

"Alright, calm down. Stop crying. Tell me what's wrong." The tone startled the boy. Apparently YueChen had been expecting harsh words, mockings, and the sorts.

"It's just..." another hiccup, "I think.." followed by another.

YueChen felt down because he had assumed that people never liked him, he himself wished for his own death.

So it was like that...

No wonder he cried, the glass-hearted little boy who cared too much actually fears rejection. The boy was brainwashed into thinking that he didn't worth anything by his surrounding.

"YueChen, listen carefully. You're a great person, the best one I've ever met. The moment I laid my eyes on you, I have not a single doubt that you worth more than you think. People have flaws, and I like you because of them. You laughed, smiled, and being so kind. I understand that you preferred being alone most of the time, and I won't force you to do anything you despise. If everyone turned their backs to you for the reason of imperfections, they don't deserve anything good at all. I'm grateful for having you. I'm sorry that I was being mean these few days."

Yang YueChen eventually calmed down, the tears ceased and a smile bloomed.

"Thank you, A-Ji."

•

"Chicken."

"Dimwit."

Everytime they bantered, there'd always be a laugh or a smile, or even a grin.

When they were together, it was as if there was nothing more important than each other.

Nothing and no one could separate them. Their encounter quickly bloomed into friendship as the time passed, the fleeting time was out of their grasp, but if one day they caught the time—the little dragonfly, Yuan Ji and YueChen would spent the rest of their life side by side.

"YueChen?"

Out of reflex, the surnamed Yang turned his head to the source of the voice, even though he knew clearly that it was Yuan Ji.

"Yeah?"

The first of the new month, the first day of September, was a memorable day.

Because when YueChen turned around, he came face to face with an unfamiliar face whose voice was dearly familiar to him.

Although it was only a blurry image, as thin as a layer of fog, he could recognize his features.

Long raven black hair tied into a ponytail, black eyes as deep and clear as a pool in the night, skin fair. He had an air of calm playfulness surrounding him, his grin emphasizing his personality.  Yuan Ji wore traditional robes, blue in color, as if underlining his nature.

While Yang YueChen looked a little more decent-looking, hair cut short with bangs covering his forehead. His eyes were dark, slightly dull. Yet somehow those black orbs reflected colors. Light freckles adorned his face.

Today was the first of September.

It was also a certain Water Deity's birthday.

•

"Tell me a story."

Yuan Ji glanced at the boy, who seemed to be highly ecstatic this day.

Just to annoy the child who had made him really impressed, Yuan Ji touched his chin and mulled over the plea. He stared at the boy for a long time until he saw that the latter became irritated.

The deity grinned at YueChen's response.

"Alright."

A beaming, hopeful smile.

"But later."