Chapter 87 - Xiang and Yuzu

The next morning, Yuzu’s eyes opened painfully as she woke up to see the worried face of Xiang in front of her. He was gripping her shoulders and shaking her gently and calling her name.

Each breath she took was shallow and so faint that she felt like she was suffocating for lack of air.

“Yuzu, oh thank the Lord you woke up.” Xiang said. “Yuzu talk to me.”

Yuzu’s eyes were blurry as she looked at Xiang. She couldn’t even find the strength to respond to him, or even smile reassuringly. Her eyes closed as she only felt like she wanted to rest.

She had never felt this weak before in her entire life.

Her strength was rapidly fading. The world around her was slowly turning white. This wasn’t the rapid, violent tearing apart of her body that she had experienced in the white world. Rather, it felt like she was being washed away gently, a crumbling island of sand being swept away with the tide.

The golden tapestry of threads shimmered at the edge of her vision. At one point she caught sight of a white thread. It was faint and dull and incredibly thin. After a while Yuzu realized that it was her own thread, fraying away into nothing.

Xiang was talking to her, but his voice was barely registering in her mind. She heard something about a doctor, and about going somewhere. Xiang disappeared briefly and when he returned he helped her put on a coat and lifted her up on his back.

Even as he did this, Yuzu barely responded. Her arms were draped limply around Xiang’s shoulders as he supported her legs with his hands. His footsteps were heavy against the stairs as they descended. Suddenly it was bright as sunlight shone down on them. Though the sun was beaming brightly onto her she didn’t feel its warmth.

Time lost meaning as her thoughts slowed. She drifted in and out of consciousness. At times she was aware that she was about to die and felt anxious and afraid. At other times she was at peace, coming to acceptance with her approaching end. Sometimes she felt like she was falling, falling into a white world, and the sound of clashing chains holding back a heavy metal door echoed ominously far below her. Any time she was about to completely pass out she was jostled by Xiang, who was continuously talking to her even as they traveled through the streets.

The most she could respond with was a soft incoherent mumble.

His back felt solid and warm. She felt like she was light as a feather. She felt that if he let go of her she wouldn’t fall, but instead drift away with the wind. At times she’d smell his musty odor and her nose would wrinkle in disgust.

Eventually she realized that she was being laid down on a soft sofa. Above her a chandelier sparkled, looking like glimmering stars in her blurry vision.

I’m losing myself. Yuzu thought quietly, as she realized she was nearing death. Though she didn’t want to die, she couldn’t find the strength to resist. Throughout this entire time she could only come up with one way to save herself.

The ornate chest.

If she had the chest, then perhaps she could save herself, but it was located far out of her reach at the bottom of the white world.

She saw Xiang above her with an incredibly worried look on his face. She’d never seen this expression on him before. She wanted to mock him for looking so upset. She wanted him to stop looking so concerned about her. Rather than look worried she wanted him to yell at her and get mad at her for being so weak.

She wanted to smile to reassure him, even if it was just a little.

She couldn’t even find the strength to do that.

~

“Yuzu... Yuzu wake up! Please wake up!”

Xiang gently caressed his sister’s forehead with a trembling hand as he called out to her. Her eyes were closed, her expression was peaceful, as if she was merely sleeping. But no matter what he tried, she didn’t respond.

He was kneeling down on an exotic rug, gently shaking her limp body which was lying on a luxurious sofa. This was the main sitting room of Sansen Zhao’s manor.

Led by a maid, a worried looking Sansen Zhao rushed into the room. His eyebrows knit in concern when he saw the broad shouldered form of Xiang Xing leaning over his unconscious sister. Xiang’s face was red and flustered, his shoulders seemed smaller than usual.

“What happened?” Sansen asked.

“Yuzu.. She won’t wake up.” Xiang said, not meeting Sansen’s eyes. “I need a doctor.”

“Why not take her to a clinic-“

“I did!” Xiang yelled, “They all turned me away! The only one that didn’t had no idea what was wrong with her!”

Sansen frowned, standing next to Xiang. He was respectful of the young man’s independent nature as he asked, “What do you want me to do?”

“Six years ago when Yuzu had her first feinting spell, you had your doctor examine her.” Xiang said softly. “He said that Yuzu’s condition was stable, but that it would get worse over time.”

“I remember.” Sansen said, nodding.

“Over the years it’s gotten worse. Then, last night suddenly she was weaker than she’d ever been.” Xiang said, “And then this morning...”

He opened his mouth to speak, but his words caught in his throat. He could only clench his hands helplessly as he looked down at Yuzu. Her skin was pale, and her body barely moved when she breathed.

“I’ll call for Dr. Baolan, though I don’t know if he will come, given the current situation in the city.” Sansen said seriously. He turned to speak to his maid when Xiang reached over and grabbed him by his coat.

“Baolan is no good.” Xiang didn’t take his eyes off of Yuzu. “Get a better doctor!”

“He’s the best doctor that I know of.” Sansen said. “If not him, then I don’t know what you want.”

“What I want...?” Xiang suddenly exploded as he stood up, looming over Sansen. His face was flustered, the whites of his eyes were red and swollen. “You have money! You have connections! I want you to do better!”

“I’m not a miracle maker.” Sansen said calmly but firmly.

“Then find someone who is!” Xiang bellowed, “Yuzu’s dying Sansen! She’s dying! And you’re just standing here like it’s not your problem!”

A number of servants were rushing into the room at the ruckus, but Sansen calmly signaled for them to stay back.

“You owe me, Sansen!” He said, his voice a low growl. His entire body was trembling as his eyes bore deeply into Sansen’s. “You owe our family for what you and your group did to us! If she dies it’s your fault! If she d... I swear to Lord Noga I will kill you with my bare hands.”

“You know I care about Yuzu.” Sansen said softly. “I would do anything to help her. Her and Zwei and you.”

Xiang’s expression twisted into a grimace as he began pacing back and forth, shaking his head at Sansen’s words. Without warning he kicked the ornate dinette table next to the sofa. It screeched across the room a few feet and collapsed with a loud crack as a number of ceramic plates and decorations crashed against the floor.

“If you care about her then help her!” Xiang stumbled a bit as his foot hit the ground. It was throbbing from the kick but he ignored it. He fell to his knees, taking Yuzu’s hands into his own. They felt as cold as ice. “And if you can’t help us then leave us alone!”

Sansen didn’t respond, but watched the siblings quietly for a moment before signaling to his servants to leave the room. They closed the doors behind them as they left. Shortly after without saying a word, Sansen left as well.

A silence fell over the room as Xiang kneeled alone next to Yuzu with his head bowed. He didn’t move for a very long time.

Caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers, he took her hand and kissed it gently as a tear dropped down onto it.

“Don’t leave me, Yuzu.”