That next day had been frantic. Yin had been talking and planning with the villages higher-ups the entire day. He finally got out of the last conversation and walked swiftly over to the tree on the hill. That was where he and Kya had met, almost seven years ago, two years before the sickness spread throughout the village. Their parents had sent them there to get some fruit from the tree, but Yin fell asleep under it. Kya had poked him awake, and their friendship began.
Now, almost seven years after that, Yin was sitting under that very tree. It had grown significantly, and even more pomegranates had begun to grow. Kya notices that he is sitting under it, looking into the sunset. She decides to walk over and join her friend. "Hey, what's up?" Kya asks. "Oh, hi." Yin replies. "I… I was just thinking about, you know-" "Yeah, I do." Kya interjects. "It's gonna be okay. Me and Aiguo talked. We're coming with you." Yin sits up, as if he was startled. "You can't." he says. "It's pretty much a death wish. I don't want you two to get caught up in it." She interjects, firmly but respectfully. "I know that's what you want, Yin. But it's not what is right." she says, a look on her face that Yin knows well. Kya is a smart girl. She knows her stuff and can read people like books. And Yin knows that. "You aren't taking no for an answer, are you?" Yin asks. "Nope." she says, a slightly joking yet determined tone in her voice. "Okay." he replies. "Also, Aiguo's tagging along." she says. "He is?" "Yeah. He said you, and I quote, "Need someone to watch your back, he'd get himself killed for sure." Yin rolls his eyes. "Yeah, that tracks." Yin says. "Mind if I sit down?" Kya asks. Yin nods, patting the cool grass beside him.
She sits down next to him, tapping his shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?" she asks. "Honestly?" Yin replies. Kya nods her head. "No. I'm not. I'm scared; I really don't know what to do." he says. She looks at him, shifting to face him. "I can't imagine how stressful this is for you." she says. "But we'll be with you the whole way." He looks at her. "Thank you."
The two sat there for a while in silence. Yin nods off eventually. The sun was setting over the gate, the light getting blurred by the clouds. Kya looks over at his face, the setting sun's light shining on him, his long hair framing his face in an easygoing manner.
"Life's gonna be so different after this." Kya mumbles to herself. "Without you it's gonna feel so quiet." She gently elbows him in the side, playfully. "Huh?" he muttered. "Did I fall asleep again?" Kya laughs to herself. "Yeah. You did. It's fine. It's getting dark, we should probably head back." she says. "Already?" Yin says, half asleep. She smiles. Yin falls asleep again, his head falling onto her shoulder. "I guess we can stay out here a bit longer." she says. The two nod off together, Kya letting her head rest on top of his. She takes a deep breath, smiling. "Night, Yin." she whispers, her tone softer than usual.