Can Stray Cats and Dogs Also Gaze Up at a Flower on a High Peak?

After Sakiro left, Hu sat in his room, restless.

He stood up, took a couple of steps, then sat down again. A few seconds later, he stood up once more. He went back and forth like a beast trapped in a cage.

His mind was a mess.

Hu walked to the window and watched the sky grow brighter. Morning light fell on the bamboo leaves, giving them a golden sheen. It should have been a peaceful morning, but his heart felt as though a stone were weighing it down.

He suddenly thought of someone.

Renji Abarai.

That red-haired guy from the original story had clawed his way out of the lowest slums of Rukongai and fought his way up to Lieutenant. He loved Rukia, and had loved her since their days in Rukongai. But Rukia later became the adopted daughter of the Kuchiki Clan, a noble, a "flower on a high peak" far above him.

In one of his monologues, Renji said he was nothing more than a stray dog.

Back then, Hu hadn't really understood. He'd only thought the guy was putting himself down too much. Now he understood.

A stray dog could gaze up at a flower on a high peak, struggle to grow stronger, and fight his way to her side. But a stray dog could never change the fact that he was a stray dog. And a flower on a high peak would always remain a flower on a high peak.

Hu lowered his head and looked at his hands.

If Renji Abarai was a stray dog, then he was a stray cat.

A stray cat who had transmigrated from another world, with no past and no identity, whose very name had been given to him by Fon Shaoling. He lived in the Fon Clan's home, ate its food, learned the Kidō it taught, and was trained by its instructors. Everything he had came from the Fon Clan.

And what about Fon Shaoling?

She was the Fon Clan's treasured jewel, Princess Shaoling of Bamboo Creek Plain. She was Soi Fon's younger sister. Now, she had an endless stream of clan affairs to handle, one document after another, and scars that ordinary people could hardly understand.

She was a flower on a high peak.

And he was just a stray cat by the roadside.

Could a stray cat also long for a flower on a high peak?

Perhaps only someone like Renji could answer that question.

Hu suddenly wanted very much to meet Renji. He wanted to ask him, How did you make it through? How did you stand by her side and still keep a clear head? When you were rejected at that pure white tower, did it hurt?

Unfortunately, Renji wasn't here.

No one could give him an answer.

Just then, a gentle knock came from outside the door.

Knock, knock.

Hu's heart gave a sudden jolt.

"Ye Xing-kun?"

It was Fon Shaoling's voice.

Hu took a deep breath and tried to make himself look a little more normal. He went over and pulled the door open—

And was stunned by what he saw:

Fon Shaoling stood in the doorway.

She was wearing a kimono Hu had never seen before.

Unlike the refreshing light cyan or navy blue she usually wore, today she was dressed in a deep purple furisode, with golden butterflies embroidered on the cuffs and hem, gleaming splendidly in the morning light. A dark red obi was tied in an elaborate bow, making her waist look even more slender.

Instead of being simply tied up or left hanging loose as usual, her hair had been carefully arranged in an updo and adorned with several golden hairpins. Wisps of hair curled slightly over her forehead, falling between her brows.

Today, unusually, she wore heavy makeup.

Her eyeshadow was a light purple, her eyeliner swept slightly upward, and her lashes were long and curled. A thin layer of rouge colored her cheeks, and her lips were painted a vivid red, like ripe cherries.

Standing there in the morning light, she looked as though she had stepped out of a painting.

Hu stared, transfixed.

Seeing his reaction, Fon Shaoling slowly curved her lips into a smile. That expression alone was utterly enchanting.

"Aren't you going to let me in?"

Her voice was softer and more alluring than usual, too.

Only then did Hu come to his senses. He hurriedly stepped aside.

Fon Shaoling entered the room, her footsteps light, the hem of her kimono brushing softly across the floor. She looked around, then turned to face Hu.

"Why are you standing there? Sit down."

She sat down first. Not on a chair by the table, but on the edge of Hu's bed.

Hu's heart began to race.

He went over and sat beside her. The moment he sat down, a fragrant breeze drifted into his nose—it was the perfume Fon Shaoling was wearing today, sweet without being cloying, its fragrance just right.

Hu's face instantly turned red.

Fon Shaoling looked at him and gave a soft laugh.

"Ye Xing-kun."

"Y-yeah?"

"How long has it been since you came to Soul Society?"

Hu was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to ask that.

"Almost... almost a month, I think."

"A month." Fon Shaoling's gaze grew a little distant. "So much has happened this past month."

She began to talk, slowly.

She spoke of their first meeting, when Hu had sent the masked man flying with a punch in front of the carriage.

She spoke of that night in the courtyard, when Hu had stared blankly at his reflection in the water.

She spoke of the Naming Ceremony, and the more than two hours Hu had spent floating in the spiritual array.

She spoke of the Kidō Practice Room, and how Hu had wailed when he was buried in books.

She spoke of yesterday, when Hu had carried that Hollow back and wandered around the Fon Clan's grounds, only to be mistaken for a weirdo by the attendants on night patrol.

Fon Shaoling smiled as she spoke. Those smiles looked especially gentle in the morning light.

As Hu listened, he felt a warmth in his heart, too.

Following her words, he recalled how he had felt at the time and looked at the woman beside him.

As Fon Shaoling spoke, her eyes sparkled.

That light was bright and warm, as though there were stars in her eyes.

"Ye Xing-kun, you've worked very hard," she said softly. "I've seen your talent all along. You've grown so, so much this past month."

Hu's face turned red again.

"I, I just..."

"There's no need to be modest." Fon Shaoling interrupted him. "I'm proud of you."

As she said those words, the light in her eyes, her expression, the slight upward curve of her lips—

Hu felt as though his heart was about to leap out of his chest.

Then Fon Shaoling spoke.

"I heard... everything you said last night."

Hu's heart skipped a beat.

A faint blush spread across Fon Shaoling's cheeks, and the roots of her ears began to redden. Her gaze softened like melting syrup, clinging little by little to Hu's.

Hu looked into her eyes and went completely rigid.

He had a premonition.

The words he was about to hear might be words he had never heard in his life.

Fon Shaoling gently took Hu's hand in hers. He felt how soft and warm her hands were, and the slight tremble in them.

She placed his hand against her chest.

Through the gorgeous kimono, Hu could feel her heartbeat. It was fast and erratic, just like his.

"Ye Xing-kun." Her voice was as soft as a feather. "I've received your feelings."

Hu stopped breathing.

"I—"

Before he could finish, an image suddenly flashed through Hu's mind.

Sakiro stood at the door.

"Today, she may say things that are different from what she usually says, things that... may hurt you."

Hu's heart shuddered.

He raised his head and looked into Fon Shaoling's eyes.

The eyes that had been sparkling just moments ago had lost their light without him noticing when.

All that remained was a profound darkness.

Within that darkness, there was even a faint trace of madness.

Hu froze.

He suddenly realized something was wrong.

Fon Shaoling, the girl he loved, the Fon Shaoling he knew, the girl who wore a light cyan short jacket and stood in the morning light. Why is she standing before me like this? Why is that ever-serious Princess Shaoling acting like a courtesan? Every movement, every breath, seemed carefully choreographed.

They said people in love had a light in their eyes.

Then what about her, with nothing but darkness in her eyes? What exactly is her purpose in accepting me?

Hu slowly drew his hand back from her chest.

Fon Shaoling noticed the movement, and something strange flickered in her eyes. But she quickly concealed it, and her smile remained gentle.

"Ye Xing-kun, what's wrong?"

Hu said nothing. He only looked at her, at those eyes that had lost their light.

Fon Shaoling's smile stiffened for an instant. Then she lowered her eyes and sighed softly.

"Actually... there's something else I came to talk to you about today."

Hu's heart sank.

Here it comes.

"You should know about the Hollows in the prison." Fon Shaoling's voice grew somewhat subdued. "They have very important information."

Hu said nothing.

"You saw the tragedy at Sizhuzhai, too," she continued. "If we don't uncover the truth behind it soon, a tragedy like that will happen again."

Hu's fists slowly clenched.

"The proportion of the Plus inside those Hollows is already very low." Fon Shaoling raised her head and looked at him. "It's below the safety threshold for Jiku'a to perform the separation."

Hu's heart felt as though something had seized it in a crushing grip.

"Letting them depart as Pluses at the end, giving them some dignity..." Fon Shaoling's voice grew softer and softer. "That's the only thing we can do for them now."

Hu finally spoke.

"You want me to separate them? At a time like this?"

Fon Shaoling looked at him, a complicated emotion flickering in her eyes.

Then she smiled.

That smile was false, with none of its former radiance, like a mask.

"Ye Xing-kun, since you love me—"

She reached out and took Hu's hand again.

"Could you do this for me, then?"

Hu's hand trembled slightly in her palm.

"Separate them." Fon Shaoling's voice was as sweet as honey. "Let me get the information. Once all of this is done..."

She paused, her gaze growing even softer.

"I'll be a good girlfriend to you, too."

Those words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Hu's head.

He yanked his hand back, stood up, and took two steps backward.

Fon Shaoling froze.

She sat there with her hand still poised as though holding his, the smile frozen on her lips. Her eyes, so full of seduction a moment ago, were now filled with nothing but bewilderment.

Hu looked at her, his chest heaving.

"You..."

His voice was trembling.

"Do you know what you're saying?"

Fon Shaoling opened her mouth, but said nothing.

Hu took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. But the words came surging out like a tide, impossible to stop.

"My feelings for you aren't some bargaining chip!"

Hu pointed at her, his finger trembling.

"You're wearing clothes like that, wearing makeup like that, speaking in that tone—do you think I can't tell? Do you think I'm an idiot?!"

"You're using yourself to make a deal with me."

Those words came crashing down like a stone.

Fon Shaoling's body trembled slightly.

"You're using my feelings for you to make me help you do those things. Right now, you don't care at all whether those Hollows survive. All you care about is the elusive information they have, all you care about is whether you can find the truth you want!"

Hu's voice grew more and more agitated.

"Instructor Shakiro told me about your past this morning! I know you lost your friends, and I know you're in pain! But that's no reason for you to become like this!"

Fon Shaoling's eyes began to redden.

"You keep saying you want to give those Hollows dignity—but what about yourself? Is what you're doing now dignified?! What about the Fon Clan's honor?!"

Hu stepped forward and placed both hands on Fon Shaoling's shoulders.

Her shoulders were so slender, so small, trembling slightly beneath his palms.

"Shaoling." His voice finally softened, becoming a little hoarse. "Wake up. Would those two friends you lost want to see you descend into obsession and madness for their sake?"

Fon Shaoling froze.

"I know you're hurting." Hu looked at her, his eyes beginning to redden too. "Those things, those memories, the people you lost—I know they're weighing on you so heavily you can hardly breathe. But..."

He gripped her shoulders and shook her hard.

"But you can't do this! You can't let hatred turn you into someone else! You can't... you can't use me..."

His voice caught.

"I like you. I really do. Not because of what you can give me, or because you're a princess. It's because you're Shaoling, because you're good to me, because you... you're the first person who's ever made me feel like I could belong somewhere in this world."

Fon Shaoling's tears finally fell.

"But now... the way you are now..."

Hu couldn't go on.

He let go and stepped back, looking at the tear-streaked girl before him.

The room was utterly silent.

Only Fon Shaoling's soft sobs remained.

She kept her head lowered, her shoulders shaking. A few strands had come loose from her carefully arranged hair and hung beside her face.

Hu stood there, not knowing what to say.

A long time passed.

Fon Shaoling slowly raised her head.

Her makeup had run. Her eyeshadow was smudged, and her mascara had left black streaks where the tears washed it away. The lipstick on her lips was smeared and patchy too.

Her eyes were still clouded, but much clearer than before.

She looked at Hu, her gaze deeply conflicted—there was shame and anger, hurt, confusion...

"Do you know..."

Her voice was hoarse and thick with tears.

"Do you know how much resolve it took for me to dress up like this?"

Hu froze.

"You don't know anything..." Fon Shaoling's voice grew louder. "You only heard a little about what I went through in the past, and you think you understand me? You have no idea what I've lost, no idea what I... I..."

She couldn't go on.

She sprang to her feet, tore the hair ornament from her head, and hurled it to the floor.

The golden ornament rolled twice across the floor with a crisp clatter.

"You don't know anything, so don't you dare lecture me like that!"

She shouted at Hu, tears streaming down her face.

"I could never fall for someone like you!"

With that, she turned and ran.

The door was pulled open, then slammed shut.

The room fell quiet again.

Hu stood rooted to the spot.

He looked at the scattered hair ornaments on the floor, their gold glinting in the morning light.

He slowly bent down and picked one up.

It was a butterfly-shaped ornament, finely crafted, with tiny gems set into its wings. Now it was dusty and looked a little dull.

Hu held it tightly in his palm.

He felt an emptiness somewhere in his heart.

Outside the window, the sun shone brightly.

The bamboo leaves rustled as if nothing had happened.