Present

There was a series of soft sounding footsteps on the red velvet carpet followed by an even softer pit pat. The hall was long and empty, lit up by a few red burning torches every now and then.

A refined gentlemen followed by an elegant black cat walked towards the large throne at the end of the hallway- it's presence was like a shining star sitting quietly on top of a pile of dead bodies. As the cat creeped closer to the seat, the hairs on it's body became pricked tall like spikes.

"Father, good evening." The man calmly spoke, one hand over his chest and made a low bow.

The shadow atop nodded, he was wearing a large red cloak embedded in jewels and gold. The slightest light did not reflect anything, he was like a black hole, swallowing everything.

"I have come to make a request from Father." The man spoke, pronouncing each word with caution. The figure gestured for him to continue as his heavy gaze landed on the pair of emerald green eyes.

"Does this lowly one have permission to borrow the Tears of Blue Cherry?" There was a long pause once he finished this sentence.

"No. You must ask Mother for permission." He emotionlessly answered, the voice loud in the empty hall.

"Then may this lowly one have permission to enter the Living World?"

The shadow considered this request and numbly replied, "Yes under the condition you bring three more souls to me."

The weight fell off the young man's shoulders, he kneeled onto the floor and payed his respects to Father before bringing the fat cat into his arms and left stiffly.

Tears of Blue Cherry... His thought echoed through the tall halls.

"Meow~"

❥ ❥ ❥

In the same large hall, the same shadowed figure sat atop the cold stone throne. This time, next to him stood a bright, glowing figure, it's presence making one feel light and dreamy- they were each other's polar opposites. The shadowed figure lifted his hands under the long red cloak and wrapped them around her thin waist.

Lan YuQin was kneeling on the floor, both hands cupped against the jade green cheeks laid on his lap, he couldn't manage a single tear, all the hatred and sadness formed a ball, squirming around inside looking for a way out.

"He was a good boy... Isn't that right, darling?" The woman gave a small kiss on the shadowed figure's cheeks, "Sadly it was his own greed that brought him down. You must know the Blue Cherry... such a treasure to be stolen. This-" She eyed the body below her, "Is the result."

Lan YuQin unconsciously reached for his cold earlobes, they were empty, no earring was present, much less it's piercing. His hands were trembling ferociously, a cold sweat developed at his forehead.

"Yes... He was too greedy." Lan YuQin shakily answered, his eyes never once leaving the man's peaceful face, his smooth and delicate face.

"Do you need more time with that corpse?" A cold and thunder-like voice boomed inside the hall. There was no response. The abyss-like figure stood up from the large stone throne and walked away with the angel like woman, leaving Lan YuQin alone in the room.

"Meow." A soft sound followed by a fat cat appeared by the side of the man.

It nudged its head against his cold, deathly transparent hands- but it did not receive a head pat back. The cat then stared at Lan YuQin, its emerald green eyes filled with hatred and displeasure.

It pushed against the man's side, wanting to flip him over. Lan YuQin noticed and helped the cat.

On the other side, there were large bruises, cuts and scratches all over. There was no blood but instead a large portion had disappeared, as if dissolved into the world, no longer solid. Lan YuQin dug his head into the man's back, he wanted to cry and weep, but nothing came out.

After a long, long time, Lan YuQin stood up, gently placed the corpse on the floor. He gripped tightly onto his clothing, so tight his knuckles turned green.

Lan YuQin noticed the cat was still on the ground, anxiously nudging it's owner to wake up from an eternal slumber.

Seeing such affection made Lan YuQin's heart turn upside down, he knelt down and picked up the cat as it struggled from his clutches, "Shh... It's revenge time."