Aftermath II

Yuliang still hadn't completely recovered yet, so he was expected to stay in the hospital for another few days for observation and rehabilitation. In Yuliang's opinion, that was because the Healing his body had been put through was terrible. So, he spent some time exhausting his Energy stores, getting his bones realigned and skin smoothed over, under Yukio's disapproving gaze.

"You shouldn't be doing this, brother. You're meant to be resting," Yukio grumbled from behind him while carefully running a comb through Yuliang's hair.

"Put it up in a ponytail, please," Yuliang said quietly when Yukio began to pull back his hair to separate it in preparation for Yuliang's customary braid.

The request made Yukio pause, but his brother tactfully did not ask about it.

It was still uncomfortable, but Yuliang bore it along with the pain in his heart from the emptiness he had been feeling for a while.

"What did they do with his body?" Yuliang asked quietly, knowing his brother would hear him, as he stared impassively at his palms, flexing his hands through the exercises prescribed to ensure the full range of motion had been retained.

Yukio cleared his throat, his voice going tight with emotion as a fresh layer of tears coated his eyes, "He... He wished for his body to be used as a Seedpod. They planted him in Parliament Hill Park. He's going to become a beautiful pine tree, Yuli."

Yuliang swallowed through the lump in his throat, his nails digging crescents into the palm of his hands.

"I see."

"We can visit once you're better if you'd like," Yukio offered, sniffling slightly.

Yuliang reached up to tighten his ponytail further. "No. It's fine."