A loud thud could be heard from behind the five of us, and we turned to see the two deputy gods from before. Nan Feng and Fuyao were both standing there, looking very annoyed at the men. I wouldn't blame them, all things considered. I turned to the men and felt my eyes glow blue. Thankfully, my brother didn't notice the glare I was giving them as I slid off my mask and gave them a sinister smile.
"Now, as my brother asked, did you see something? Anything?" I said, my teeth showing as I gave an unpleasant smile. The leading man seemed to shiver from my cold gaze. I knew how my glare could affect people. I never liked showing my brother this side of me, and I was glad he didn't see it at all, from back then to now. I can't use much power without reopening old scars that Xie Lian doesn't know about. So I can't use enough to do much, but I can use a little to change my eyes to give an icy touch like ice and give myself fangs to give these men a big enough scare to loosen their lips to spill everything to us. I didn't turn my features back until the men finished saying everything. The men chased the "Ghost groom" all the way out here, but I doubt it was the real one.
These men have no idea what they plan on doing, especially with a ghost that's taking women. The moonlight overhead showed hidden crevices around the temple.
"Who's there?" One of the men pointed out that the rustling could be heard behind the men. I turned my head to the little boy in my arms. He smothered his face in my shoulder, trembling. My hand rubbed circles on his back to help soothe him. Those men brought out a girl; it was the girl who helped me with Xie Lian's appearance. I think her name is Xio Ying.
"...Y-yurie...." A small dusty voice came from the little boy's mouth.
"Hm?" I hummed as I turned to him.
"Yurie Kanashi ki-Kiyoshi..." He said, and I felt my heart sink. The boy's full name has a sad and unsettling meaning. Silence, sadness, and never to rest. I looked at Xie Lian, and he locked eyes with me. He gave me a nod, so I left so he could get on with the investigation. I hurried, and I carried Kiyoshi away as fast as my body could let me. I hurried away from the group until I found a clear dusty spot where I could sit with the little boy and take a moment to rest and calm him down.
"I'm going to sing a song my brother sang to me," I told Kiyoshi, and his bony body tensed a little. He sat with me, and we stayed together against the temple's wall. "I sing it to myself when I'm scared."
"Is it a lullaby?" He asked, his voice trembling in a stutter. I nodded, my hair swaying before my eyes as I looked at him.
"Dancing Bears," I began to sing to him, holding him against me, and he cuddled into my chest. "Painted wings—things I almost remember. And a song someone sings, Once upon a December. Someone, hold me safe and warm."
"Horses prance through a silver storm. Figures dancing gracefully across my memory. Someone holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm. Figures dancing gracefully across my memory." The little boy relaxed almost completely. His little face nuzzling into my chest looked so gentle and scared, clinging to me for comfort. The environment remained dangerous, but I am worse than any ghost this area inhabits.
"Far away, long ago," The boy finally settled, and he struggled to stay awake. He clung to me, and clung to me, to stay close, and began to fall asleep. "Glowing dim as an ember, things my heart used to know, things it yearns to remember, and a song someone sings, Once upon a December."
As I finished the song, Kiyoshi was asleep in my chest. The moonlight outlined his sweet little face and scars across his body. I stood up, careful not to wake him, and I went back to the front of the temple's wall. The group was rushing out, and Kohana and Xie Lian were running out. Cradling the boy in my arms, I hurried to the others.