A conversation in the dark

The two of them walked down the corridor, seemingly unhindered by walking in the near pitch black darkness. Their steps made no sound in the silent apartment, as they walked through it like phantoms.

Finally, they ended up at the balcony. The glittering lights of the city lay sprawled beneath them.

The two of them, Ying with his tall lean figure and the boy with his short compact frame, stood siluetted against the city lights for a moment, neither of them making a sound.

After standing unmoving for a few moments, the boy finally broke the silence.

"What do you think you are doing?" the boy asked Ying in an controlled but obviously angry tone, turning his sharp gaze on Ying once more.

"What are you doing here? I thought you went back." Ying grumbled, avoiding the question.

"Keeping an eye on you, and trying and failing to keep you from doing anything stupid."

Ying stayed silent. A mixture of anger and guilt flashed in his eyes.

"Just what were you trying to accomplish with that little stunt?" the boy asked.

"I would think that was obvious," Ying replied tersely.

"You should leave that poor mortal girl alone."

"She is not just a poor mortal girl and you know it. She is your master. And she is m–"

"I have told you before that little girl is not Master! She is nothing more than a shadow," the boy replied sharply.

"You don't really believe that," Ying muttered. It wasn't a question.

"It is better for all involved if we believe it," the boy retorted, averting his gaze.

Silence settled between them for a few moments, before Ying spoke up again.

"I finally found her after all this time," he began, the emotion evident in his voice as he spoke. "Only to find her suffering so much. I was simply going to watch over her without interfering, but then..." His mind flashed back to the moment when the girl had pitifully cried out for help in that dark, abandoned alley. "I just couldn't stand by and watch her suffer."

"And how is what you're doing now helping her? It only risks attracting the attention of the Heavenly Palace."

Ying scoffed, and let out a short humourless laugh.

"So what?! They can't possibly hurt her or me more than they already are. I already have to watch her suffer like this. I just can't stand by idly and watch anymore."

"Master left me very clear instructions, above all else I must protect you. It is too dangerous for you to be here in your current condition. If you do not stop going near her, I'll will take you away by force."

"I'd like to see you try. I may be weakened now, but I can still beat a whelp like you into submission."

The two men glared at eachother, and the air around them turning suddenly thick and crackling with energy. A heavy pressure filled the space around them, as they faced off in a silent battle.

The boy was the first to give in, stumbling backwards and coughing violently.

"See?!" the boy snapped. "You are not being rational! It is too much of a risk for you to be here."

"I'm not leaving," Ying stated flatly, his hand cutting through the air in a dismissive motion.

"Fine!" the boy hissed. "But if you keep staying here, it will eventually create enough ripples, that the Celestial Palace will become aware. Once they realise what you are trying to do, they will certainly stop you."

"I'm taking a strictly passive role in her life. I'm not trying to influence her decisions or dictate what she should do. So I'm fairly confident that the Palace won't notice any disturbances in this realm."

"Sure," the boy said scathingly. "A strictly passive role? What about killing those men who were after her? What about healing every little blemish on her body? You know you should stay out of her life! But you just can't help yourself, can you? This is exactly why my master told you to trust her and wait! And why she made me swear to protect you. She knew you would not be able to keep yourself from interfering."

"Don't you talk about her to me!" Ying bellowed, unable to keep his emotions from erupting. "How do you know that she knew what she was doing when she made that promise? What if she can't come back? What if she is trapped forever?" The despair in his voice was heart-wrenching.

"Then all that is left of her is that girl!" Ying shouted, pointing to the floor where Emma slept. "Then the least I can do is protect her and give her the happiest life possible."

"Even if you want to protect her, it was not necessary for you to reveal yourself, you could have just protected her from the shadows. Your intentions are not truly to protect her."

Ying looked annoyed, but had no good reply to this comment.

"She's a mortal, not an idiot. You really think she is not suspicious of your ridiculous story about being her guardian spirit? About being 'cursed'" the boy scoffed.

Ying shifted uncomfortably, and looked away from the boy.

"Eventually she will see through you, and realised that you have hidden intentions," the boy continued.

"I don't have any hidden intentions..." Ying mumbled.

The boy threw him another sharp look. "Your real intentions is to try and awaken the soul fragment within her. That is what you care about. You don't really care about that girl."

Ying looked guilty.

"I had to try something. I just can't bare to be separated from her anymore!" Ying's voice was almost a sob.

"You know what His Highness said," the boy replied in a softer tone. "She must break free by her own power. Anything else, and it might backfire and damage her soul. You should just leave her and go back to the Celestial Realms. Master promised to return, and so she shall. Trust her."

Ying shook his head and sighed heavily.

"You are blinded by your unshakeable faith in your master. In many ways I admire you for it. However..."

He drew a deep shuddering breath, and glanced meaningfully at the boy.

"However, I suspect she did not truly know whether she would be able to return or not."

"Master said she would return! She told us to wait! Master would not lie!"

"Young one..." Ying sighed, his eyes flashing with sympathy. "I don't think she knew how to get back. She said that to protect us."

"N-no! Master keeps her promises! She... She wouldn't..." The boy was obviously distraught, his shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs.

"Listen..." Ying began, his tone calm and soothing. "Just now, I wasn't just trying to awaken the soul fragment, I also wanted to confirm a suspicion of mine. I felt something wrong with the fragment. There was a weird energy attached to it. Didn't you feel it too?"

"I... I'm not sure," the boy replied hesitantly.

"Well, I did. There is another... presence there. A trace of soul energy which does not belong there."

"How... how can that be?" the boy asked, perplexed.

"I have a feeling that something sinister is going on here. I want to remain here to try and figure it out. Will you stay and help me?"

The boy looked surprised at the request.

"You... want my help?" he asked, as if he didn't really believe what he had just heard.

"Don't make me repeat myself," Ying retorted. "I know we have never quite gotten along. But I have never doubted your devotion to you master. Therefore, I know I can trust you."

The boy scrutinised Ying for many seconds before replying. "I will stay and help. I should remain by your side anyway, to fulfil my promise to Master."

"Good."

Silence fell between them once more. But unlike before, where the air was thick with resentment and accusations, there now seemed to exist a certain respect and understanding between them.