No, both passed, leaving Xiao Wei alone. He hadn't wanted to be alone. He had actually been quite attracted to the wife of the one who stole his tail. He had wanted her love, but she had rebuked him and chosen to follow her husband into the afterlife.
Foxes can't fully understand humans. Love like that might be beyond poor Xiao Wei, though he longs for it.
He bares his teeth at the discomfort, but he is tame for Zhou Zishu. He isn't a beast who bites a helping hand. Tucking his nose under a paw, he closes his pale eyes and holds himself stiffly.
Then, mercifully, the job is done. His tail throbs, but Zishu will get to witness the speed at which Xiao Wei heals. It's even faster thanks to the energy he is given!
Lifting his head, he rubs his cheek against Zishu's chest, almost seeming to snuggle in.
Being alone can be a mixed blessing. This, Zishu understands intimately.
An intelligent fox! But it doesn't surprise him. Figuring even now the tail has been reattached it's sore, he adds just a bit of a massage around the base. He beams, seeing just how fast the fox heals - truly impressive!
The nuzzle has him chuckle and he can't quite resist rubbing behind those pretty ears as Xiao Wei seems to cuddle in against him.
A wish? He blinks in genuine surprise before shaking his head a little.
"I did not help you for any personal gain. I need nothing."
"You can ask anything of me. I won't give up even if it seems impossible." Xiao Wei is a very proud fox and now that he has his nine tails again, his white fur gleams like snow in the sun. But Zishu will discover quickly that he is warm and soft.
He also likes being rubbed~
"Needing and wanting are different." he tips his head back and stares at Zishu with piercing blue eyes.
Zishu continues to gently stroke those pretty ears since Xiao Wei doesn't seem to mind! He hums at the words, meeting that sharp gaze openly.
But then he lowers his gaze, giving it serious thought. "Does it matter, when I will only live another two years? I think not. My only want might simply be to end my days at my home, in peace. I can do that on my own."
"Do you want company?" Xiao Wei sits up on Zishu's lap and blinks peacefully, "I can see spirits if our hearts are connected. I can help you even if you pass."
Demons like him are truly one of a kind. He could probably even see to helping Zishu restore his home. A little nudge here and there and the flowers and trees would return in abundance.
He can't help the quiet chuckle and relaxes with his unusual new companion. Zishu continues the gentle petting and doesn't bother shying away when Xiao Wei tucks himself in under his chin.
"Yes. I will not allow you to starve." It bothers him that the gorgeous fox felt he had to ask, even though he also understands it.
He stretches out his front paws and gives a big yawn. Then he rests his head against Zishu's chest, listening to the even thrum of his heart. Oh this is a good one! Strong.
...has it loved before...?
"You're very kind!" Xiao Wei then gives a big sneeze. Uh oh, something made his nose itchy!
Zishu settles back against the tree he'd settled by to make himself a bit more comfortable a resting spot for Xiao Wei. Somehow, he doubts he'll be cold at night now, unless the fox decides this isn't as comfortable as believed.
He's loved many, and fiercely. Friends. Family. Home. And it's gotten him into trouble.
Then the fox sneezes! It's too cute! "Sleep if you can. Your body has been through trauma and needs the rest."
No, no, he is much too comfortable to leave. Xiao Wei curls in on himself after his sneeze and tucks his nose against his fur. He looks up at Zishu with bright blue eyes, eyes the color of the deepest, coldest ice.
"Don't try to stab me. I won't die; it will just hurt."
"I believe you." Xiao Wei is taking a chance because... He has to. He tried to get what he desires most from humans and they abandoned him in the end. This time, he has to do better.
His eyes close and his tails settle as he drifts off to sleep. In the morning, he rises early and shakes his fur, gently checking on Zishu by sniffing the man's cheek.
Zishu is too, frankly. A nine tailed fox has great power. And he's not defending himself against Xiao Wei.
True to his word, no harm comes to the fox while he sleeps, and Zishu has clearly settled into a meditative position by the time Xiao Wei wakes and sniffs at him. It pulls him awake, too, and he blinks, then offers a welcoming little smile as he studies how the fox moves.
Oddly enough...the nails hadn't woken him. "Good morning," he murmurs. "How does your tail feel?"
Just being near a nine-tailed fox will bring Zishu good luck. It is likely Xiao Wei's power that has subdued the effect of the nails, holding them suspended so they cause no further damage.
When he is greeted with a smile, Xiao Wei tries to copy Zishu, smiling in his fox form. He then glances back at his tails and waves them.
"Good! All healed." he itches behind his ear with his foot and then transforms back into a man, wrapping the robe Zishu had given him around him.
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chiming
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 12:35 am (UTC)From:Foxes can't fully understand humans. Love like that might be beyond poor Xiao Wei, though he longs for it.
He bares his teeth at the discomfort, but he is tame for Zhou Zishu. He isn't a beast who bites a helping hand. Tucking his nose under a paw, he closes his pale eyes and holds himself stiffly.
Then, mercifully, the job is done. His tail throbs, but Zishu will get to witness the speed at which Xiao Wei heals. It's even faster thanks to the energy he is given!
Lifting his head, he rubs his cheek against Zishu's chest, almost seeming to snuggle in.
"Thank you. What is your wish?"
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 02:25 am (UTC)From:An intelligent fox! But it doesn't surprise him. Figuring even now the tail has been reattached it's sore, he adds just a bit of a massage around the base. He beams, seeing just how fast the fox heals - truly impressive!
The nuzzle has him chuckle and he can't quite resist rubbing behind those pretty ears as Xiao Wei seems to cuddle in against him.
A wish? He blinks in genuine surprise before shaking his head a little.
"I did not help you for any personal gain. I need nothing."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 03:05 am (UTC)From:He also likes being rubbed~
"Needing and wanting are different." he tips his head back and stares at Zishu with piercing blue eyes.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 03:17 am (UTC)From:Zishu continues to gently stroke those pretty ears since Xiao Wei doesn't seem to mind! He hums at the words, meeting that sharp gaze openly.
But then he lowers his gaze, giving it serious thought. "Does it matter, when I will only live another two years? I think not. My only want might simply be to end my days at my home, in peace. I can do that on my own."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 03:22 am (UTC)From:Demons like him are truly one of a kind. He could probably even see to helping Zishu restore his home. A little nudge here and there and the flowers and trees would return in abundance.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 03:31 am (UTC)From:"I would like that," he admits. "I will make sure no human can harm you as long as I am able."
And the Four Seasons Manor will welcome them.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-13 08:29 am (UTC)From:"May I eat the hearts of creatures? That's my food."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-14 02:57 am (UTC)From:"Yes. I will not allow you to starve." It bothers him that the gorgeous fox felt he had to ask, even though he also understands it.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-14 09:50 am (UTC)From:...has it loved before...?
"You're very kind!" Xiao Wei then gives a big sneeze. Uh oh, something made his nose itchy!
no subject
Date: 2024-03-15 10:26 pm (UTC)From:He's loved many, and fiercely. Friends. Family. Home. And it's gotten him into trouble.
Then the fox sneezes! It's too cute! "Sleep if you can. Your body has been through trauma and needs the rest."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-15 10:34 pm (UTC)From:"Don't try to stab me. I won't die; it will just hurt."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-15 10:37 pm (UTC)From:"I made you a promise. It includes myself. No harm will come to you from humans as long as I am able to prevent it." Even at the cost of himself.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-15 10:41 pm (UTC)From:His eyes close and his tails settle as he drifts off to sleep. In the morning, he rises early and shakes his fur, gently checking on Zishu by sniffing the man's cheek.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-15 10:47 pm (UTC)From:True to his word, no harm comes to the fox while he sleeps, and Zishu has clearly settled into a meditative position by the time Xiao Wei wakes and sniffs at him. It pulls him awake, too, and he blinks, then offers a welcoming little smile as he studies how the fox moves.
Oddly enough...the nails hadn't woken him. "Good morning," he murmurs. "How does your tail feel?"
no subject
Date: 2024-03-15 10:53 pm (UTC)From:When he is greeted with a smile, Xiao Wei tries to copy Zishu, smiling in his fox form. He then glances back at his tails and waves them.
"Good! All healed." he itches behind his ear with his foot and then transforms back into a man, wrapping the robe Zishu had given him around him.
"You're traveling to your home, right?"