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“Mama! Please repeat the story!”
‘Again? Fufu, Mamo-chan really loves this story, doesn’t he?’
“It’s amazing! A Golden Orchid! I want to see it!”
‘Mamoru-kun really loves plants, doesn’t he?’
“Yes! I want to find a golden orchid when I grow up!”
‘Ufufu, if it’s Mamo-chan, I’m sure he’s capable of doing it.’
“Ugh… this is bad… this is really bad.” Mamoru laughed pathetically as he clutched his arm, using the trees as a support, he attempted walking. However, with the pain of the wound and his thirst and hunger combined, his body gave up and he sat under the tree.
He looked up and luckily, he could see the moonlight even with the dense leaves covering the sky. With this, he doesn’t have to spend the moment in complete darkness. Mamoru winced at the stinging pain on his left arm. He’s in deep trouble. It wasn’t that he intended this to happen (who would) but the moment he heard from the locals at the town that the legendary Golden Orchid was seen in this forest, before he knew it, he had packed up and went to find it.
Mamoru’s luck ran out and he found himself being chased by vicious forest animals, injuring him and making him drop his food supplies. Resulting in his situation as of the moment.
“Hungry…”
He clutched his shirt and patted his pockets, attempting to find anything he had left. Although, all he could find is the flute his parents left behind. He laughed weakly.
“I could… try to play my hunger away… ugh… though my wound is not doing any better…”
Still, he lifted the flute up to his face and began playing. Mamoru could feel his consciousness fading, but he continued playing. The hooting of owls, the screeching of crickets, the howling of wolves accompanying his music–though his body is in so much pain, somehow, he was in a trance.
Mamoru closed his eyes.
It wasn’t so bad, was it?
He could hear something move near him, thinking it was probably an animal waiting to attack him. Out of instinct, he opened his eyes, though he can’t move his legs anymore.
Mamoru expected a bear, or a deer.
What he saw was a beautiful figure with blonde hair—so beautiful and enchanting that it took Mamoru’s breath away. He reached a hand out and touched the being’s cheek. It was cold, smooth, and soft.
“S-so beautiful…” Mamoru said weakly, before strength disappeared from his body and he lost consciousness.
Splash
“Fuwah?!” Mamoru jolted awake upon feeling something cold hit his face. He looked around and saw the figure he saw last night. A chill spread down his spine and he recognized this feeling, it wasn’t hard to figure it out.
The being before him is a Gokuzoku.
A beautiful one, for starters.
No, a bewitchingly beautiful one.
Maybe enchanting is a better description.
“Are you alright?” The higher demon asked. Mamoru blinked and upon realizing that his face was wet with water, the feeling of thirst overwhelmed his throat and he desperately reached out to the closest water source he could find. Using his hands to form a cup, he gulped down the river’s water down to his throat.
Though maybe he was too agitated and some water ended up on his lungs.
“AGH–GUUUHH!!!” He coughed violently.
The Gokuzoku quickly rushed to his side, holding him by the shoulder. “Are you ok?”
“Urgh… yeah, well for now.” Mamoru laughed. “Ah… though… I can feel my hunger catch up to me… and urk… my wound too…”
“Hunger… I’ll get you some fruits.” The Gokuzoku stood up before Mamoru could reply, dashing so fast it’s almost like he teleported. Mamoru blinked. He then flinched at the pain on his arm. Better take care of it while waiting for the higher demon then.
Mamoru took off his shirt in order to access the injury, he began cleaning off the wound and putting herbs on it, which was luckily around the riverside. He bit a sleeve then used all his strength to tear the sleeve off from the shirt, using the torn fabric as a bandage to his wound.
“Here… I hope this is enough.”
He looked behind him and his jaw fell at the number of fruits carried by the higher demon. The amount is enough to last him a week. The Gokuzoku casually placed the fruits in front of him. Mamoru stared at the pile, then at the Gokuzoku, then back at the fruits. Somehow, he felt like a pet. He awkwardly picked up an apple, washing it in the river and taking a bite. The sweet and fleshy fruit overwhelmed his mouth, and he ended up eating some more. The Gokuzoku watched as Mamoru hungrily consumed all the fruits, sighing in relief after.
“Uhm… thank you… for saving my life.” Mamoru awkwardly said, wiping the remains of food from his hands.
“No problem.” The higher demon smiled at him. He is seriously so beautiful. Mamoru doesn’t know how many times he thought of that, but he couldn’t help it. “I do wonder what you were doing here in the deeper part of the forest at night. Demon attacks are higher at these parts too.”
“Ah.” Mamoru awkwardly laughed. “I was a bit drunk when I heard a story I am fond of. Before I knew it, I came here hastily and got attacked by a bunch of animals.”
The Gokuzoku blinked. “You weren’t attacked by demons?”
“No, I can defend myself from them. I didn’t want to harm the animals for trespassing on their territory though.”
“I see… that’s why I could smell blood from you.” The higher demon mumbled, too soft for Mamoru to hear.
“Oh! But thank you for saving me! Uhm, I forgot to introduce myself but I’m Mamoru! Fujimura Mamoru!” Mamoru, remembering his manners, bowed to his savior.
“... Kouki.”
“Huh?”
“My name is Eto Kouki.” Kouki smiled. “You’re really something else. This is the first time a human asked for my name.”
“Kouki… Your name is as beautiful as you.” Mamoru complimented. “May I call you Kou-kun?”
“Sure… I’m a bit taken aback; you aren’t afraid of me?”
“Afraid… I can feel your overwhelming presence, for sure! Ah, but I don’t mind. Besides, you’re so beautifu– I–I mean! Why would I be afraid of my savior?”
“Hmmm…” Kouki didn’t reply, but he seemed happy with Mamoru’s response. He then reached something within his shirt and handed it to Mamoru.
“I believe this is yours?”
Mamoru looked at Kouki’s hand and saw his flute.
“Ah! My flute!” He held it and sighed in relief. “Thank you! I don’t know what I’d do if I lost this! It’s one of the last things my parents left to me!”
“Is it that valuable for humans?” Kouki asked curiously.
“Well, for me it is! My parents passed away when I was young, so I really value the objects I have left in their memory.”
Kouki nodded. “Then, you must treasure it a lot for a beautiful sound to come out of it when you use it.”
“Sound…? Ah, you mean my music?”
“Music…? So that’s what it is called?”
“Uhm, yeah! Do you want to hear an example of it?”
Kouki’s eyes sparkled—almost literally, since his eyes glowed more which Mamoru didn’t even think was possible. His eagerness was a bit too obvious that it’s like he’s radiating a ray of light from his body. Mamoru felt like he was being purified by the holy light.
“Of course!”
He clapped his hands together and went near Mamoru, albeit, literally in front of him with almost no space between them. He was enchantingly beautiful, and Mamoru was very overwhelmed that it’s bad for his heart which has been beating a bit too fast for it to be normal.
Still, he made a promise to play. Mamoru took a deep breath and began playing. Minding the sounds available within their surroundings, he played a song to harmonize with it. Lost in the music, he closed his eyes while playing.
With his eyes closed, he doesn’t see Kouki smiling fondly at him, something within him is certain about something. He glanced at the arm exposed due to the torn sleeve, the part where it is wrapped with cloth. The scent is alluring as well. Kouki could feel it, the feeling that only Gokuzokus knew. To think that after a thousand years of living, he finally found it.
He’s finally here, accompanied with a melody that Kouki could listen to forever.
He could stay like this with Mamoru for eternity.
Unfortunately, the song came to an end. Mamoru opened his eyes and saw Kouki sitting even closer to him. With their eyes making contact, he couldn’t help but blush profusely as he tried to distance himself.
“Ehm… Uhm, what do you think?”
“ Beautiful. ” Kouki praised.
“Ah, thank… thank you.” Mamoru said, still flustered from earlier.
“Ufufu… it’s so beautiful… I don’t know much about music, but it’s as if you are telling a story about a legend.”
“So you noticed?!” Mamoru asked, excited that someone finally noticed. “This was one of my first songs! I loved the story my parents used to tell me about the Golden Orchid, so when I learned how to play instruments, I composed this song! I got to play it with my parents too so it’s really important to me! Ah, it had lyrics too, but I can’t play the flute while singing, ah, next time maybe I can bring a stringed instruments instea–”
Mamoru paused when he realized that he was talking too much. “Erk, sorry, I was rambling.”
“No, no, no. It’s fine.” Kouki reassured him. “I could listen to Mamoru all day.”
“I-I see.” The Gokuzoku seemed to shine when he said that that Mamoru’s face felt hot.
“But you were talking about the Golden Orchid?”
“Ah, y-yeah. You see, aside from music, I like learning about plants as well. My parents used to tell me about the Golden Orchid, and well, I’ve been traveling around the continent in search of it. People say that it’s just a myth, but something tells me that it really exists.”
“It does exist, I have seen it myself a few times.” Kouki said.
“Really?! W-where can I find it?!”
“You can find it anywhere, though, the owners usually would keep it as a memory.”
Mamoru’s excitement went down upon hearing it. “I see…”
“Don’t feel down,” Kouki patted his shoulder. “You can also grow it yourself.”
“E-E-EH?! THAT’S POSSIBLE?!”
“Of course.” Kouki said. “The Golden Orchid, in the first place, doesn’t grow like actual plants. It’s like us Gokuzokus, it spawns when a perfect balance of Yin and Yang occurs within an area, that energy then blooms, like a flower. That’s how the Golden Orchid is grown.”
Mamoru nodded in delight at the story. Saying he’s pleased is an understatement, as he’s so happy that his childhood story has expanded. Something about the story that his parents, humans, had told him became complete with Kouki, a higher demon fills him with so much glee.
“That’s wonderful! No wonder this flower is a legend!” Mamoru clapped his hands excitedly. “Ah! But how do I grow it myself?”
“Hmmm… it’s… complicated.” Kouki said.
“I’m willing to try!”
“I can see your determination, but it’s not exactly something you can force to happen. Although maybe you… and me , can make it happen.”
“H-huh?”
“Yin and yang.” Kouki began to explain. “A Jinzoku and a Gokuzoku, do you see a pattern here?”
“Does that mean a connection between us?”
“You’re getting close.”
Mamoru stared at him. Why did he feel like Kouki is intentionally hiding the information from him? Is it something sensitive that a Gokuzoku can’t just share casually? Mamoru thought of what to do.
“Then…”
“Ah, hold on, Mamoru.” Kouki interrupted. “I can feel the sunrise getting closer, I have to lead you out of the forest before it.”
“Oh…” Mamoru can’t help but feel disappointed that the time they’re spending together gets cut short. He followed Kouki quietly, as if the higher demon was thinking of something. Meanwhile, the Golden Orchid remained in his mind.
He really, really, wants to see the flower.
“We’re here.” Kouki said. “Just go down from this hill then you’ll find the human settlement.”
“Ah… thanks.”
Mamoru stared down at the town, he knew that he should start walking but before he knew it, he faced Kouki one more time. Kouki seemed to have the same hesitance as him, but attempted to disguise it and spoke.
“Mamoru, your music is truly wonderful. I’ll treasure that experience for eternity.”
Music.
For a moment, Mamoru briefly thanked a friend from his childhood for teaching him how to play instruments.
“Kou-kun, do you… I mean, would you like to hear me play some more, with different instruments?”
“ Yes. I would love to.”
Mamoru smiled; he can’t pass this opportunity now. “Then, may I come back here again? I… I want to dedicate a song to you… I haven’t written it now, but I’m sure the more I get to know you, the song will become clearer in my heart. I want to show you more of my music so please–”
“Yes! Come back, please come back!” Kouki answered immediately and held Mamoru’s hands.
“O-oh, then… it’s a promise!” Mamoru held up a pinky and motioned Kouki to do the same, Kouki stared at the hand and followed, though confused about what it was for. Mamoru linked their pinky fingers together and pressed his forehead against the higher demon’s.
“This is how some humans make their promise… it doesn’t have any particular consequences if broken, so to fulfill it is by the honesty and sincerity behind it. And…”
“I promise you, Kou-kun, one day, I’ll write a song dedicated to you.”
Kouki nodded. Mamoru smiled and released their hands. He slowly walked away from Kouki, waving his hands as he bid his goodbyes.
“See you later, Kou-kun!”
Kouki waved back, smiling gently. “See you later, Mamoru.”
He doesn’t know if Mamoru felt it as well, the connection between them. From music, to stories, to legends, a lot happened within the span of one night, but Kouki is sure about something.
Mamoru might actually see a Golden Orchid bloom.