The moon, a semi-circular slice of light, and millions of stars illuminated the dark sky around the small stone house, their light especially clear without the pollution of city lamps. A sweet rustling sound filled the air as the night breeze moved through the surrounding trees and grass. The five Tanzanies sat around the firepit, enjoying their dinner.
"You have no idea how angry I was when that bastard pushed me on purpose," Abrafo grumbled, savagely biting a drumstick. "If I weren't thinking of you all, I would have knocked a few teeth off his gums."
U-ri pressed him. "You still haven't told us how you met Lady Kexin."
"I was walking around and saw a queue in front of a mansion, so I asked someone. He told me it was Lord He's birthday... This Lord He is Kexin's family." Abrafo bit the chicken in his hand furiously. "She walked up to me and humiliated me in front of everyone, calling me a beggar, and then suddenly changed her expression and wanted to know where we lived."
Hajime looked up, concerned. "You didn't tell her where we were, right?"
Abrafo giggled. "Like hell I will share our location with her! Do not worry, I hate her as much as you do."
Michio asked, "What did you tell her?"
Abrafo leaned forward conspiratorially. "I told her that Yul was seriously injured, had no food or medicine, and we were living in a mortuary temple outside the city."
U-ri coughed, having suddenly swallowed his food. He cleared his throat. "Did you really tell her this?"
"I deliberately gave the wrong location," Abrafo confirmed. "I did not want her here to disrupt our peace."
"So, that's why you ran away from her," Yul concluded.
"Yes, like I said, I do not want her to ruin our peace," Abrafo said, then looked at Yul, sitting next to Hajime. "Heh... but speaking of which, you met a beauty. It also seems that you two have something in common."
"We don't," Yul stated flatly.
"Even a blind person can tell that something special is going on between you and her," Abrafo argued. "If not, why would she quote such a romantic verse or even give you the winning prize?"
U-ri jumped in, looking pointedly at Hajime. "Giving someone a gift is often the beginning of a friendship. It doesn't mean anything romantic. Lady Lai quoted a love poem because it was part of the challenge to win a prize."
Michio supported U-ri. "U-ri is right. Even Hajime quoted a love poem and won two prizes. One was given to me. It doesn't mean that Hajime and I have anything special; it just means that Hajime regards me as a good friend."
Abrafo conceded only slightly. "Even if so, the way that lady looked at Yul was different from the way she looked at us."
U-ri decided to change the subject. "Stop badmouthing Lady Lai, remember she is our biggest buyer right now? So, let us talk about business."
Hajime asked, "Business? What kind of business?"
Yul explained, "Lady Lai wants two hundred flower-design hairpins within ten days. If completed on time, she will pay ten silver leaves per hairpin."
Michio was ecstatic. "Does this mean we can finally leave?"
Abrafo looked at Hajime. "Yes, but. Do you think your hair will grow fast enough to make two hundred hairpins by the deadline?"
"Well, it took me all night to get my hair back to its normal length," Hajime said, running a hand over his golden hair. "As you all can see, I am still golden in color."
"Then we don't have to worry about not having enough hair," U-ri said, relieved.
Hajime corrected him. "We do have a big issue."
Abrafo, Michio, and U-ri asked simultaneously, "What's the issue?"
"Yul and I can't make enough hairpins by the deadline, and I need every one of you to learn how to make hairpins," Hajime stated. "So, did Lady Lai tell you which design she wants?"
"The flower design," Yul confirmed.
Hajime felt relieved. "Thank God she chose the simplest design."
Michio smiled slyly. "It's time to shave your hair before bath."
By the time Hajime and Yul reached the creek, the other three were done bathing. Hajime dipped his toes into the water, and the cold sent shivers down his spine. "I would prefer bathing in a hot spring than cold stream water." He took off his clothes and slowly sat down as the chilly water rose to his chest.
"We have no choice now," Yul said, stripping and sitting a yard or two away.
Hajime looked at Yul. "Come closer and let me wash your hair. I've never noticed before that washing your hair can be such a challenge when your hair is as long as a woman's."
Yul did not hesitate and turned his back to Hajime. Hajime began carefully washing his long hair.
"When I was patrolling the city border with my father, we came across the city of Zans in the north," Yul recalled. "We happened to come upon this valley with many hot springs."
"Does this valley have a name?" Hajime asked.
"The locals call it Smoke Valley."
Hajime smiled, thinking the name was ugly, but he listened as Yul explained that in the mornings, the steam from the hot springs created a thick plume that looked exactly like smoke when viewed from the mountain top, making the name suitable. "In that case, it must be too hot to take a bath."
"Yes, the water is too hot," Yul confirmed, as Hajime began to scrub his back. "But the locals use bamboo as pipes to bring the hot water to the village. The morning scenery in Smoke Valley is very beautiful. If there is a chance in the future, I will take you there."
Hajime finished washing Yul's hair and stopped scrubbing his back. Yul's willingness to share his past made him smile, but he knew Yul's kindness was only friendship. He couldn't forget his true self was still waiting in another universe.
"All done," Hajime said. "I believe the scenery must be beautiful. Maybe then, you can take Lady Lai with you."
Yul looked at Hajime. "Why did you suddenly mention her?"
"I am not Abrafo. I am not teasing you. I am serious," Hajime said, meeting Yul's gaze. "Yul..."
Yul replied curtly, "What?" His annoyance at the suggestion was evident.
Hajime sighed. "Since there are only two of us here, let's talk." He took a deep breath. "The reason why I took the initiative to help Tangzang was because I made a deal with Avolokitasvara."
"What kind of deal?" Yul asked.
"If I help the King of Tangzang get the White Dragon Tail and prevent Tangzang from being destroyed, Avolokitasvara can grant me one wish," Hajime confessed. "When I walked into the palace that day, my intention was not to marry anyone. I was just teasing your King by making such a request. So, you don't have to abide by our marriage and lose the chance of finding someone you like." He looked sincerely at Yul. "You are free to love whoever you want. You do not have to be afraid to show your love to others, fearing that I will no longer help you get that White Dragon Tail."
Yul turned Hajime to face him, his expression intensely serious. "Like U-ri said, it's too late now. Even if you and I were still alive, we cannot 'unmarry' anymore. My parents recognize you as the eldest daughter-in-law of our family. The wedding ceremony has been done. You have kowtowed to the ancestors of the Bayarmmaa family, recognizing them as your own. This means that according to law and spiritual beliefs, you are the legal daughter-in-law of the Bayarmmaa family. Even if you die, your body will be buried in the Bayarmmaa family cemetery. When you are alive, you are a member of the Bayarmmaa family; when you are dead, your spirit will also be a member of the Bayarmmaa family."
"In that case, I will allow you to marry a second wife," Hajime countered.
Yul sighed. "Are you talking to me now because of what happened today?"
"I just want you to be with the person you love," Hajime pleaded. "You know, spending your life with someone you do not love always ends badly. My parents were no exception. My father decided to marry my mother because she was pregnant with me, but in the end, he did not love her enough. Then he had a relationship with his colleague and finally left my mother. I do not want you to be like my father."
Hajime's eyes filled with tears. "Do you know the meaning of two rotten trees leaning against each other?"
"No," Yul said softly.
Hajime's tears streamed down his cheeks. "It represents two people who don't love each other but are still together. There is no love, no affection, no attachment, but they refuse to be separated, just like two rotten trees leaning on each other and refusing to fall." He smiled through his tears. "If you live with someone you don't love, the days are too long. The night is too long if the one you do not love sleeps next to you. I hope you can love the person you want to love, so that a day feels like an hour, a month feels like a day, a year feels like a month, a lifetime with the one you love will feel like a year."
Yul gently wiped Hajime's tears away and placed a kiss on his forehead. "The story you told me in Skeleton Desert is different from the story you're telling me now," Yul said. "So, which of these two stories is the real you?"
"Both are real," Hajime answered simply.
Yul continued. "When I met Lady Lai, I admit that her appearance did make my heart flutter, but appreciating a person's beauty does not mean you have to fall in love with that person."
Hajime looked away. "This is not my first rejection. So, don't feel bad about your decision. I want true love, not pity love. I want to give my love to someone who also loves me to the same degree. Do you understand?"
Yul leaned forward, lowered his head, and kissed Hajime's lips. Just as Hajime was about to pull away, Yul firmly grabbed the back of Hajime's head, deepening the kiss.
Hajime was overwhelmed, his breathing becoming rapid. "Don't... Yul... don't... mmm... mmm... mmm..."
Yul continued to kiss him, realizing their sudden intimacy was a mutual reaction. He pulled Hajime into his arms and settled him onto his lap, kissing him with a fervent desperation.
Hajime realized from Yul's inexperience that he had never done this with another man before. Hajime reached out and took both his and Yul's members into his right hand, starting to move them in rhythm with the intensity of Yul's kissing.