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"I wouldn't stand so close to that ledge if I were you." The voice was peppy, full of a joy that Mu Tianchi himself had long since lost. He didn't turn around.
"Of course," the other person continued, "There can be many reasons for a person to be standing on the furthest point of a cliff staring down at the water. So who am I to judge?"
Mu Tianchi could still feel them staring at his back, and when he turned to glare at them, he was met with two dark brown eyes that practically radiated warmth.
The stranger smiled and sat down on the grass on the firmer part of the cliff. "I'm not gonna ask for your life story. We've never met before and that would be far too strange. But if you're here for business other than getting a magnificant view of the sunset, then I'll invite you to my table and we can spin a yarn if you like."
Despite himself, Mu Tianchi moved to where the other man was sitting and gestured to his throat. Surprisingly, the man only continued to smile, "That's fine, I know a little bit of sign language, and I'm more than willing to wait for you to write it out if you prefer."
They sat together for a long while, Mu Tianchi learned that the man's name was Li Yu and he was only in the area for a brief time but wanted to learn everything about the area that he could. For his part, Mu Tianchi revealed that he was the fifth child of nine and that his brothers tended to ignore him on account of him being born mute.
When they finally parted ways, it was to Mu Tianchi promising that he'd show Li Yu around the city the next day.
It was only when he was at home, preparing for bed that he realized. It had been overcast all day. There was no chance of seeing the sunset.
The two of them spent the next week practically attached at the hip. If it wasn't Mu Tianchi showing Li Yu around, it was Li Yu begging him to try a new type of dish that he'd never even heard of before.
It took surprisingly little for Mu Tianchi to realize he'd somehow fallen in love with this complete stranger. The fact that Li Yu would be leaving before the month was out was reason enough for Mu Tianchi to keep his feelings to himself.
That didn't mean it didn't hurt though.
It was the last day Li Yu was scheduled to be in town and he'd wanted to do nothing but sit on the edge of the cliff where they'd first met.
Mu Tianchi was holding Li Yu's hand like it was his last tether to sanity, and maybe it was.
Li Yu sighed and fell back against the ground, "I wish we never had to stop hanging out! You're so much fun!"
Mu Tianchi highly doubted that but didn't feel like arguing the point. He stared at Li Yu's pouting face for a long moment, before pulling out a piece of paper he'd had in his pocket all day.
You could stay.
Li Yu stared at the paper for so long that Mu Tianchi was afraid it would burst into flames. Then, much to his distress, Li Yu's eyes started to water.
Mu Tianchi didn't know what to do with his hands and ended up only awkwardly patting Li Yu on the back. Li Yu all but launched himself at Mu Tianchi to insist on a hug. Glad to finally have an idea of what to do to help, Mu Tianchi pulled him into a soul crushing hug.
Finally, Li Yu's tears dried and he was able to explain. "It's not that I don't want to stay. It's that I can't." He looked sheepish for a moment, "Technically, I wasn't even supposed to stay this long."
Mu Tianchi didn't know what to feel at the admision that Li Yu had already pushed what he was allowed to stay with him longer. He pulled out his phone and quickly typed, 'We could always find a way to stay in contact.'
Li Yu smiled and shook his head, "Where I have to go doesn't exactly get great reception. It wouldn't be fair to you."
'I could go with you.' Mu Tianchi hadn't meant to type it, hadn't even really meant to think it, but the words were there and Li Yu had already read them.
Li Yu sat there thinking, and for a moment, Mu Tianchi was terrified that he'd say that none of it had meant anything.
Then Li Yu spoke, "...Why don't I show you where I'm going before you try and talk me into taking you with me."
It was the most hesitant Mu Tianchi had ever heard him. And he knew without a doubt that there was no where Li Yu could go that he wouldn't want to follow.
Li Yu led him down to the beach. It was getting dark and progressively overcast, so the entire place was deserted.
Then to Mu Tianchi's surprise, Li Yu started stripping. Heat flooded his cheeks as he tried not to look, while also not wanting to take his eyes off of him. Li Yu laughed, "I don't mind if you look, Mu Tianchi. It's not like we don't have the same equipment." He took a deep breath and continued, "Besides, it'd be a pain to take it off in a minute."
At Mu Tianchi's confused look, Li Yu walked into the water and then suddenly vanished. Mu Tianchi rushed forward, hoping to catch a glimpse of where he'd gone, but there was nothing. He sank to his knees, completely oblivious to the sea water now soaking his pants. It was only when a tail fin quite literally slapped him across the face, gently, that he looked up and saw Li Yu.
Li Yu had completely transformed. His tail was a mix of gold, orange, and white, with scales dotting his arms, chest, and forehead. His auburn hair had all but doubled in length, and had strings of what looked to be pearls woven in. His skin, that had already been pale, now it looked as if he'd been carved directly from a piece of jade.
He was the single most beautiful person Mu Tianchi had ever seen.
He was also starting to look incredibly self-conscious.