1 Chapter 1- Life of a crayfish

In a surreal forest of Nevada there existed a crystal river that runs down the entire forest and into a small town called Rivera. The river was so clear that no other life form was able to survive in it.

Clearer the water more dangerous it is for the fishes. But contrary to this notion this river is the habitat of a legendary Koi demon Yukiya who has lived for almost 5000 years. Since she was soo powerful none of the other demons approached the river. Years of loneliness had wearied into her soul.

One uneventful morning a raven carrying a crayfish, took a break near the river banks.

Cawing and playing for a very long time it got bored and dropped the crayfish near this legendary river. While the little crayfish was twitching on the banks of the river, her undersides revealed that she was carrying eggs.

Most of her eggs seem to be destroyed by the raven's talon but only one golden egg survived.

Yukiya saw all this from her shallowly depths. She knew not to intervene in nature but something about that little egg was calling to her.

Yukiya took her human form and rose from the river. Squatting down she tried poking the crayfish to check if it's alive. Sadly the crayfish seems to have passed. She carefully removed the golden egg from the underside of its belly.

The egg had a holy halo around it shinning and shimmering in the morning sun light. "Little one do you fear me? If not, do you want to live with me. Eternal life is extremely boring. 2000 years ago the humans used to pray to me for good harvest but when they heard I have broken through immortality stage everyone eventually stopped coming. I would like some company now and then." picking it up in her finger tips Yukiya started mumbling.

The life inside the golden egg moved a little. Something in Yukiya's heart clicked in place. She gently lifted the egg to her face. That is how little crayfish was adopted by a lucky koi.

The koi placed the little egg in a small lotus leaf and fanned the egg gently with her fins everyday to keep the egg fertile.

Like that the koi was able to entertain her by taking care of the little crayfish egg. Weeks passed and the small egg finally showed traces of hatching. Yukiya became excided by the fact she going to have a new family member.

Four weeks of hard work was rewarded, little translucent crayfish was born on the morning of an auspicious day. Yukiya named this baby Xia Che. At first baby crayfish was afraid of the resonance from the lucky koi but as days pass he came to associate her as his guardian and his parent.

He was fed with microorganisms and had a happy play day with the koi fisy everyday.

"Xiao Xia I am gonna start the countdown now. Oneeee…. Twoooo… three…." A little Sapphire crayfish swam swiftly and hid itself underneath a little lotus leaf.

"Ready or not here I come" lucky koi swam slowly checking every pebble and under the lotus leaves.

"Where are you hidden now…" checking under a large lotus leaf it ended up being just air pockets.

"Find me ... find me hehehe" a small voice giggled from her left. Koi swam swiftly towards that direction.

Lifting a small lotus leaf she said "Found you darling" laughing the little crayfish swam from under the lotus leaf into the koi fishes fins.

Flicking her fin she tossed the little crayfish forward and said "let's go to class now, you know the rules right. We play for 10 minutes and cultivate for 5 hours."

"Mom but I don't want to cultivate" the little crayfish sulked. "Baby, life is so beautiful, to enjoy your life with me you have to learn to cultivate into your human form. Look over there" she pointed towards their left "There is a human settlement near the shores. Humans have so many interesting things like apple candy, duck blood soup. So many tasty things to experience."

"Really, really I heard from a blue bird that they even dress in strange outfits" the little crayfish jumped excited. "Yes there is also restaurants and story houses and so many interesting things" Yukiya said.

This way, the legendary koi coaxed the little crayfish to cultivate.

2000 years later

"Hey Yukiya, let's go to the village tomorrow. I heard its the moon festival and they have lots of tasty stuffy to eat" said a handsome young man in azure. His glistening eyes shining in the river's reflection. His hair dark as the night, falling casually to his waist. Fingers like jade; His feet fair like little soft pearl, sloshing the water under his feet.

"I am going to the village of Suikal by nightfall so I won't be able to accompany you" gently Yukiya said casually leaning against a rock. She was wearing her signature pink outfit with wide sleeves, her hair tied up in a simple braid laid gently behind her.

Demons are known to be extremely beautiful. This did not end up being a lie, the little crayfish and the koi fish looked as if they fell from heaven. Anyone who laid their site on them would be mesmerized on spot.

A peaceful day spent with the koi fish but little crayfish did not know that all of this is going to Change.