Xiao Fang had worn his heart on his sleeve for his entire life. It might've been a foolish thing to do, he saw no fault in it though. He believed goodness, righteousness, love, and all were enough to prevail over anything and everything wrong with the world. He was wrong. Wickedness, wrongness, hatred, and all were a much greater consumer. At least, it was in this Godforsaken life he called his own.

With eyes closed, Xiao Fang lay on his side in the bed with Wang Yi curled around his back, holding him close; one arm rested under the older man's head for solace, and the other wrapped around his flat stomach. It felt pleasing to be here with Yi. Just the two of them in silence, forgetting about the troubles they were currently facing.

Every time Yi explored Xiao Fang's bare chest, making smoothing circles with the pad of his thumb on Xiao Fang's pebbled nipples, or every time he inhaled Xiao Fang's stale scent before pressing a comforting kiss into the back of his hair; Xiao Fang's mind would blank out in absolute bliss.

How he wished they could stay this way forever. In a warm room very much like this one, and ignore all the bombs and horrifying screams and gunfire from the outside world.

It would be a much more fitting life to wake up with Yi in his arms every day to Chongqing's sunshine in their own home, with a cat or two. And after breakfast, he would go to work in the hospital. Obviously, Yi would work too. He could be a teacher since he liked children. Or if Yi wanted to lay low, a janitor might be just fine. A regular salesman would be good too. In the afternoon hours, after they were caked from the day's turmoil, they could meet each other up on the sidewalk and share sneaky touches before returning home together.

The thought of it all sounded nice, peaceful, and contented in Xiao Fang's hazy mind. It was all wishful thinking though because as much as it pained him to admit it, being a soldier; a commander in the army was a more fitting life for Yi. Yi might not marvel at the killing bit anymore, but it was in his blood and in his heart to protect his country and his people. Xiao Fang couldn't see him stopping anytime soon.

Xiao Fang sighed deeply, pressing his face into the bedding before twisting around to face his young lover.

Yi's big doe eyes searched his own; he looked so beautiful despite carrying the world on his shoulders like an aged-old man.

Xiao Fang knew if he asked his younger lover to run away with him tonight, in a heartbeat Yi would drop everything and leave. He couldn't do such a thing though. Yi was a young man with ambitions and a bright future ahead. An ordinary life, working a job where he would have to take orders instead of giving them would undoubtedly stifle his youthful soul. Besides, the war still wreaked havoc across China, and its cruelty would eventually catch up with them if they were to live together. People would look down upon them or shun them from communities for being deserters. They might even get outed for being lovers and dragged into the streets to greet death. Their lives would be ruined; Yi's life would be ruined and his dignity destroyed. That was the life Xiao Fang had to offer them. At least, in their current situation — that would be their life. So he would not ask Yi to run away with him; he would not steal the thrill from Yi's life for his own selfish desires.

It was why he decided to not tell Yi that he would leave alone before the night ended.

Gently, Yi parted the fringe falling into Xiao Fang's eyes, and questioned in the softest of voices, "What are you thinking about?"

Xiao Fang still lay on his younger lover's arm, probably to the point of numbness; not that Yi cared. "Nothing," he lied.

Yi stared at him for a long, dragged-out moment before his face morphed into something questioning. "You're lying," he seemed to settle on saying. "Tell me what's on your mind."

"I..." Xiao Fang sighed deeply before he relented with another white lie. "It's just there's a dead man in one of the rooms, and I'm worried about what's going to happen tomorrow."

Seemingly deep in thought, Yi looked at him with worrisome eyes.

Xiao Fang craved to ask Yi about what he might've been thinking about. Another part of him dreaded the answer he would receive because he knew whatever was bundled up in Yi's mind was uneasiness for them, their lives. So instead of asking, he sealed his mouth shut and waited.

Eventually, Yi pecked him on the forehead after a moment. "Leave the worrying to me," he said with a slight smile. "I'll take care of us both — okay?"

Take care of them both? There was nothing left to take care of; Xiao Fang wanted to argue. Gone was the past — along with those lovely memories. Now they had no future left... Even so, Yi; young and sometimes naive; didn't notice the signs of their impending future. He didn't notice the somberness in Xiao Fang's eyes, the clingy, neediness in his touches, the agony in his heartbeats. He didn't notice that this was the last time Xiao Fang would be pressed up into his arms... He didn't notice because he couldn't. He trusted Xiao Fang not to leave him — he trusted Xiao Fang with his heart and soul — his whole being.

"Okay," Xiao Fang relented with another defeated sigh.

When the minutes morphed into silence once more, Yi pulled him in impossibly closer, pressing their bodies together when Xiao Fang shivered lightly from the harsh nighttime breeze. With a puff of laughter, Xiao Fang pressed his face into Yi's strong chest where he felt safe and protected and homely — and everything in between.

From being a mean killing machine, filled with wrongness and pure hatred for everyone and everything, Yi turned out so lovely and redeemable. At least Xiao Fang believed so. It might've been pure blindness on his part; yet he didn't want to tarnish the light he saw in Yi. Yi was a perfect man in his eyes — there could be no other in this lifetime.

He looked up at Yi through his thick eyelashes. "What do you think about marriages?" he asked, hoping a casual topic might distract his wandering thoughts.

An odd question for a time like this; Yi lifted his left brow. "I never really thought about it," he answered honestly. "Mama and Papa's marriage wasn't the brightest. I don't have anything against marriages though. Why do you ask?"

"I've been thinking," Xiao Fang trailed a featherlight fingertip along Yi's sternum. "If only we can get married, I think that'd be great. I wish it was possible."

For a moment, Yi seemed to be reminiscing about the possibilities of marriage before a pleased vibration reverberated from his chest. "Then we can get to be husband and husband," he finished off happily. "Don't you want to be my husband someday?"

Xiao Fang laced his fingers through Yi's free hand. "Of course... And then we can hold hands and walk in the streets without a care in the world."

Yi stared at him with so much love, so much longing; Xiao Fang felt as though he might melt. "We can kiss too," Yi said, pecking Xiao Fang playfully on his soft lips two times.

Xiao Fang's eyes gleamed with the idea. "Yes-yes." He lifted himself up on his elbows, finally releasing Yi's tired arm from under his weight. Yi made a relief sound. "Wouldn't that be amazing? To live freely without being judged?"

"Yes... Yes, it would," Yi responded.

"Do you think that someday that might be possible?" Xiao Fang asked with a hopeful look in his eyes. If anyone should know about such things; he assumed Yi might. Yi lived his whole life consumed in politics — surely, he'd know.

Yi's shoulders went lax, and the dim light in his eyes immediately distinguished. "It's only wishful thinking," he whispered back.

"Yes," Xiao Fang chewed on his lower lip. "I suppose."

Suddenly, Xiao Fang no longer wanted to talk about that. Even if marriage between them could've been possible, he'd be leaving. Still, he had plenty of lingering questions he craved to ask.

"Yi?" he said in a hushed tone. "What are we going to do about your father?"

When Yi stiffened in his embrace, Xiao Fang feared he might've caused more dismay to his lover. He was about to open his mouth again; perhaps change the topic, or do something to distract Yi — anything, really. However, Yi wordlessly moved away from his side and got off the bed; taking all the warmth with him.

"We'll worry about him later," Yi said with a reassuring smile after he glanced over his shoulder, only to glimpse at a distress-looking Xiao Fang.

Yi continued walking away with featherlight footsteps over to the desk at the opposite end of the room before opening the bottom drawer. What was Yi looking for? Xiao Fang lifted a questionable eyebrow and watched on with curious eyes.

When Yi started rummaging through the draw, Xiao Fang lifted himself into a sitting position, eyeing his lover intently.

"I have something for you," Yi said after he returned to the bed, taking a seat next to Xiao Fang. There was sadness in his eyes, and his voice wavered too. Xiao Fang wanted to coax him; hold him tight in his arms and kiss all his problems away. When he was about to do just that, Yi stared down at his tightly clenched palm and sighed deeply. "I've been meaning to give it to you when this is all over," he said. "But I think now's a more fitting time."

Xiao Fang's eyes joined from where Yi looked at his closed palm. He didn't know what his lover was talking about; he knew Yi wanted to gift him something though. Although he never really expected anything from Yi. The younger man's gentle touches, his odd laughter, and his loving nature were enough to make Xiao Fang feel whole and happy, and contented.

"What is it?" he found himself asking.

Yi had gentle eyes on Xiao Fang the entire time before he opened his palm, revealing a broad, oldened, golden ring. The surface was flat and round with the letter W stamped on it. It looked expensive, or meaningful — it didn't look like it belonged on Xiao Fang's finger.

Xiao Fang craned his head to the side while his eyes were still glued on the not-so-shiny object. "A ring?" he questioned in shock.

"It's not just any ring," Yi said. "It has my family's crest. It's... Important. Only five of these were made to represent the Wang family. To show off our status. I usually only wear it on special occasions —"

Xiao Fang placed a palm on Yi's lap. "Yi," he interrupted. "You don't have to give this to me — really you don't."

Yi's eyes softened into somberness, and his shoulders went lax. "I want to," he added. "I want you to have it... It will protect you if you ever end up in danger. No one will hurt you if you show them this ring. You'll be considered one of the Wangs... I want you to wear it every day. Promise me — promise me you'll never take it off."

Yi's eyes; big and doe and caked with water, met Xiao Fang's eyes once more. Suddenly, something seemed off. Wrong. And although he couldn't place a finger on what it might've been, his heart hammered; he feared Yi knew about his plan to leave. He feared Yi knew he was going without a proper goodbye. Without a warm hug, or a tender kiss.

Oh, Yi must've thought of him as such a terrible human being.

And, oh; he was true, terrible.

Defeated, Xiao Fang stretched out his fingers. "I promise," he said.

He'd expected Yi to slip the ring onto his middle finger; it was the most acceptable thing to do. Yi had placed it onto his ring finger though; like married couples often do. It was a perfect fit. It baffled Xiao Fang tremendously though; made his eyes bulge out — made him speechless while he stared at the jewel.

In all his life, he'd never expected this.

Nevermore, it was a beautiful sight; and it warmed his heart in ways he could not express.

Yi brought the back of Xiao Fang's palm up to his face and kissed the ring on his finger all the while he locked eyes with his older lover; seemingly entranced. "I love you so much," he whispered against Xiao Fang's palm. "So much."

Xiao Fang rolled his eyes like a shy love-struck teenager before huffing out a burst of meaningless laughter, hoping it would hide the guilt he'd been trying to conceal.

"I love you too," he responded with the truth when his laughter died down. "Love you. Love you. Love you."

Silence echoed inside the room once more. Yi kept staring at his face with somber eyes; his face aged with wrinkles and dark circles. His smile had disappeared, and his shoulders were hunched over, too. It was a crushing sight; Xiao Fang's heart twisted, yet he had no words of comfort or reassurance. He knew he could not say goodbye with words — he would be dammed if he did; damned if he didn't.

What was he supposed to do?

"Yi?" His voice trembled when he tried to speak.

Yi squeezed out a tired smile. "Yea?"

Xiao Fang swallowed the knot in his throat; his eyes cast downward to the ring on his finger. "I —" he nearly choked on his words when a single tear slipped.

Yi placed a palm on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. "Xiao Fang?"

When Xiao Fang turned to look at his younger lover, Yi's eyes gleamed with unshed tears — and it was then and there; Xiao Fang knew with every fiber in his body; he knew; Yi knew he would be leaving. It left him breathless, empty at the realization.

At that moment, Xiao Fang did not expect to cry. The tears came unexpectedly, though. They dropped from his eyes like a maddening storm, trapping his voice in his throat.

Yi quickly grabbed him when he broke down: a hand at the back of Xiao Fang's head, guiding his face into the crock of Yi's neck. Yi hugged him, tight and aching while he draped his other hand over Xiao Fang's back, rubbing soothing circles while he cried as though he was mourning the loss of a loved one. And perhaps he was... He was leaving. Yi was as good as dead — he would become nothing but a distant memory in Xiao Fang's life.

Xiao Fang cried harder, ugly tears. He hiccupped and choked on spit and snob. He sobbed uncontrollably. A great tremor overtook his body — his voice cracked and wavered, too. And at that moment, he felt utterly and hopelessly... Lost. So he cried, and he cried, and he cried, hoping his bitter tears might wash away this unexplainable ache.

Seconds went by; minutes went by; the ache in his heart remained, but the tears were beginning to dry up.

"Everything's going to be alright," Yi assured, and this time Xiao Fang knew his younger lover wasn't talking about the dead soldier in the other room. "I'll be alright... You'll be alright."

Xiao Fang buried his face deeper into Yi's neck and violently shook his head against his lover's warm flesh. He wanted to say no — nothing was ever going to be alight again. And although time eventually healed broken hearts and open wounds, this — this what they had, this would never heal.

When Yi's body trembled, and the tears he tried so hard to keep at bay finally slipped, his fingers turned restless against Xiao Fang's flesh, digging into the pale skin of his back until it burned. And with full force, he hauled Xiao Fang up to his eye level and spoke in a breathless, broken tone, "Fang-ge — kiss me, baby," he said with tears on his face.

Xiao Fang did not need to be asked twice. He kissed with passion; with hopelessness, surrendering himself over to this man who showed him what love felt like; who touched him like one would touch a priceless jewel. And knowing he might never get to taste Yi's manly, calloused flesh again, he dug his nails into his older lover's back before he reached up into his hair, tugging lightly, kissing him deeper while filthy, hungry moans spilled from their mouths.

When Yi cupped the sides of his face; pressing their bodies up impossibly close, Xiao Fang let his worries slide away at the wet feeling of Yi's heated tongue, and his teeth, and spit as Yi kissed him with a maddening type of desperation. Yi breathed heavily, too. And he bit Xiao Fang's lips to the point of pain and redness.

Xiao Fang relished it all and kept it locked in his mind for future remembrance.

With eyes closed; Yi let his fingers explore the sides of Xiao Fang's face, down his neck — the curve muscles on his arms, and finally, he cupped Xiao Fang's clothed backside with a tight squeeze and smiled into the kiss when Xiao Fang gasped; his eyes flew open. And all Xiao Fang saw was... Blinding love.

Yi loved him; Yi loved him the way a devoted worshiper loved their God.

"Yi," Xiao Fang breathed out breathlessly while he stared into the somber shadow of his lover's eyes, and his heart burned at the sight. "Make love to me, baby... Touch me — make love to me."

Yi nodded slowly at first; then fast before he pecked Xiao Fang on the lips once more. "Anything," he whispered, rubbing the pad of his thumb along the reddish bruise he'd created on Xiao Fang's lover's lip. "I'll do anything for you — anything for you. My Fang-ge."

Xiao Fang wanted to scream in despair when Yi's palms reached his shoulders, lightly guiding him to lie down on the bed. When Yi got between his parted legs, he wanted to snatch Yi's heart out of his chest and mold it into his own so they would never truly be apart. And when beautiful, beautiful Yi leaned down, capturing his lips for another tender kiss while his fingers tugged on Xiao Fang's shorts to reveal his nakedness, Xiao Fang wished — oh how he wished, if he could travel back in time to the night they met. When the night was full of terror, Xiao Fang believed he was going to die. The night when they were enemies. When they despised each other. He wanted to relive all the memories — the good ones and the bad ones — he wanted to relish in them and appreciate them over again.

Soon after, they were naked; Xiao Fang lying on his back while Yi hovered above him between his legs. Even in darkness, the perfectly lined veins — the sculpted muscles on Yi's body, made him appear divine — in a godly sort of sense,

"Tell me everything you want tonight, Fang-ge, my baby," Yi said, leaning down to kiss Xiao Fang lightly on his forehead before their eyes met. For a passing moment, he couldn't help noticing a deeper sadness in Yi's eyes, like an open wound. Yet, he chose not to comment on it. "I'll give you whatever you want. Whatever you need," Yi concluded.

"I just want you," Xiao Fang answered, his voice coming out whispered and hoarse while he wrapped his arms around his lover's waist. "All of you. Just touch me like the first time."

"Mm," Yi hummed; it did not reach his eyes, though.

Yi was tender; more so than their first time.

The younger man's touches were as soft as cotton while he trailed kisses on Xiao Fang's chest, on his stomach; sucking bruises on every curve of his abs before he reached the older man's cock. He admired it with sparkles in his eyes for a good minute before he took the entirety of Xiao Fang's cock into his warm mouth.

Xiao Fang keened a whine as pleasing goosebumps raced down his back, making him shudder until his toes curled. He might've loved Yi with his entire being, but he was still very much a man with desires, lust, and cravings for the flesh. And oh —- by gods, he would miss this.

Yi's lips slick and swollen were wrapped around the head of Xiao Fang's cock; twirling his tongue against the tip before he went down, deeper, and deeper, sucking Xiao Fang while Xiao Fang; eyes half closed, gently brushed the younger man's hair out of his face.

It was a heavenly feeling — like their first night all over again; better, even.

Xiao Fang's heart raced; his breath hitched before seconds later his thoughts went blank, and he came into Yi's mouth, withering and quivering.

"Yi — that's it," he moaned unthinkingly.

Yi swallowed every drop of Xiao Fang's seed and stretched his tongue out to lap the ones spilled at the corners of his mouth before he crawled up, capturing one of Xiao Fang's nipples between his teeth, and tasting the pebbled bud until it burned red.

"Yi." Xiao Fang squeezed his eyes close and arched his back off the bed.

"You're so pretty when like this," Yi commented after he slipped an oil-coated finger into Xiao Fang's entrance, working him open. "Will you always be mine?"

Xiao Fang moaned through the second finger before nodding. "Always yours," he answered. I will wait for you, he wanted to add. No one will touch me, Yi — I'll wait for the day until I see you again. I will surely see you again. He did not say those words, though. He bit his tongue instead and pumped his own cock to hardness.

"I love you," Yi said, kissing Xiao Fang on the lips.

When Yi lined himself; his thick and throbbing cock against the older man's entrance and thrust in, slowly so Xiao Fang could taste the feeling of having his insides split open, Xiao Fang clamped down; his mouth went lax into a wordless gasp, and Yi groaned.

This was good — a marvelous feeling; Xiao Fang hoped to remember the feel of Yi's cock for years to come. If he live to see the future, he hoped to always carry the feelings of Yi's cock inside of him. He would sleep with no other man, he would touch himself, though. And he would think only of Yi — only of the young man who made his heart hammered in ways that might've seemed impossible to most; be it, men or women.

It felt as though their hearts were dancing together as one to soundless music, and Xiao Fang found himself falling in love with Yi all over again.

On a particularly deep thrust, Yi moaned and whispered into Xiao Fang's ear. "You always take me so well," he said, moving in and out, in and out; rounding his hips in circles to light up every nerve inside of Xiao Fang. "Always so perfect under me... My love, fate is cruel," Yi was babbling now — words Xiao Fang wished not to hear. "I wish to keep you here with me forever — I wish we could go to Chongqing, and live the life you want. I —"

"Enough Yi," Xiao Fang whispered.

Xiao Fang squeezed the cheeks of his young lover's backside after spreading his legs wider and pushed his hips upward so Yi's cock could bury deeper into him. And just like that, the words died out from Yi's mouth, and Xiao Fang felt pleased when it was replaced by the shaky breath Yi unexpectedly let out.

Soon, their breaths mixed as one when Yi cupped Xiao Fang's face; the heat on his palms burning into Xiao Fang's skin as he kissed him, stifling out every whimper and gasp Xiao Fang made from each of his young lover's powerful thrusts.

It felt as though Yi's only intention was to consume him: both his mouth and his insides.

It took Xiao Fang a moment to realize his lover had his eyes tightly sealed, though. There were tears forcing their way out from the corners no matter how tight Yi kept them close.

It pained Xiao Fang's heart dearly, so he thumbed it away.

"I love you Yi," he moaned, long, dragged-out.

"My sweet Xiao Fang," Yi bit out with flushed cheeks before he gripped Xiao Fang's hardened cock; already coated in his spent seed, and pumped it to match his own thrust.

The blinding pleasure coiled in Xiao Fang's stomach, and he so desperately wanted to forget about leaving his cherished lover. He could not stay, though — not at this time, not in this place.

When the tears from Yi's eyes eventually slipped, falling on Xiao Fang's chest; on his face, nearly burning like acid, tears slowly started to blur his own vision, knowing he was the cause of his young lover's sorrows. And like a coward, he closed his eyes, not wanting to watch Yi break down from above him.

Yi did not, though.

He did not cry ugly tears, his breath did not catch in his throat — he did not tremble, weak and pathetic. Instead, he fucked Xiao Fang harder at a more merciless pace while Xiao Fang withered and whine and puffed for air. Yi kissed him with wet lips on his neck, too, nibbling at his earlobes — biting and sucking everywhere his mouth touched. And all the tears he let slipped on Xiao Fang's face earlier, he lapped them up with his tongue.

Eventually, Xiao Fang could not hold on any longer. He gripped Yi tightly onto Yi's forearms and his body twitched frighteningly before his mouth went lax in an almost soundless moan as he released his spend into Yi's palm. Yi seemed very pleased by this, and seconds later, he too, sucked in a sharp breath, coming inside his older lover.

Caked in sweat, seconds later Yi joined Xiao Fang at the side of the bed.

Together, they lay there on their back side-by-side, staring up at the ceiling in silence. Xiao Fang could feel his lover's eyes on him, admiring him, taking in the sight of him — breathing in his scent. For a moment, Xiao Fang could not bring himself to look — he could not bear to see the painful hidden shadow in Yi's eyes.

"Fang-ge?" Yi spoke in the softest of tones, and then he entwined their fingers together. And finally, Xiao Fang turned to look at his lover. Yi smiled, like before; it didn't reach his eyes. "Everything's going to be alright," he whispered.

Perhaps, Xiao Fang wanted to say.

Instead, he stared at Yi's face — his perfect face, his soft eyes, his selfless soul.

Yi turned to lay on his side to face Xiao Fang; an arm cushioned his head. "What are you thinking about?" he asked.

Xiao Fang turned, too; mimicking Yi's arm placement. "You," he answered with a meaningless puff of laughter.

Yi smiled; it reached his eyes this time too.

Xiao Fang couldn't help being entranced by the sight.

Whatever he was feeling for Yi was more than love; love could never feel so passionately strong, so consuming, so at peace. He would miss hearing Yi's whispered voices in the mornings. Or the feel of his fingers combing through the waves of Yi's hair whenever the breeze blew by. Or the way the rays of the afternoon sun often gleamed in Yi's eyes. Or Yi's silly laughs, his teasing nature— he would them all. He only hoped Yi might one day find it in his heart to forgive him for what he was about to do.

"I love you," Xiao Fang said. "I never truly know what love felt like until you happened — and you were so mean to be in the beginning, you little bastard." Yi laughed at his comments, and Xiao Fang went on; "The time we've spent together... They were the best times of my life — I wouldn't trade it for the world."

Yi's eyes dropped to stare at the sheets. "Why are you telling me this now?" he asked.

"I just want you to know how much I love you," Xiao Fang replied, reaching an arm out to move away the overgrown hair from Yi's eyes. "You own my heart."

Yi inched closer, wrapping his arms over Xiao Fang for a gentle embrace. "You own my heart too," he said, pressing his face into Xiao Fang's chest, inhaling. "You will always own my heart. It belongs to you — all of me belongs to you."

Xiao Fang's heart spiked with pain. "I know, baby," he said, wrapping his arms around Yi. When Yi yawned, pressing his tired face deeper into Xiao Fang's chest, the young commander seemed so tiny inside Xiao Fang's arms; so fragile. Xiao Fang kissed him on top of his head before whispering into Yi's ear, "Sleep."

And Yi did in fact; sleep.

++++++++++

When Xiao Fang left, he went with a straight face; with the scent of Yi etched into his flesh and bones; with a gun that he stole, a bruised lip, an ache between his thighs, and nothing else.

It should've been a joyous moment — the feeling of freedom. It was the opposite for Xiao Fang, though. And the further he went — the further he raced through the shadows, reaching into the forest floors, in a fleeting moment, he couldn't help himself from looking back, from taking a glance over his shoulder, watching as the military base slowly disappeared from view.

He knew he shouldn't pry any longer. Yet, he foolishly hoped he might see his younger lover racing out. He had expected to see his younger lover with arms open wide, promising an eternity of peace and comfort — protection and everything in between. When Yi did not appear, Xiao Fang put on a brave face — the bravest amongst them all before carrying on his way once more.

This time his steps did not halter, nor quiver like before. His breath did not shudder, and his eyes did not burn either. He did, however, take a second glance over his shoulder. And it was then he thought to himself: if there was any kind of sadness that didn't allow one to cry, it would be the worse of its kind... Because Xiao Fang, despite being tormented with a sickening ache in his chest, knowing he might never see his younger lover again, could not bring himself to shed any more tears. It was a strange sort of relief... It was also the worst feeling of them all.

++++++++++

Back in the military base, awakening from sleep, Yi searched the sheets for his older lover. However, Xiao Fang's warmth was no more, and the sheets seemed to turn to ice beneath his touches. When his trembling fingers brushed against a crumbled piece of paper nestled in the space where his older lover should've been, he pried his eyes open. And although his heart skipped ten beats, he immediately calmed it back down and read:

Dear Commander Yi, forgive me... Perhaps one day we will see each other again. Not as enemies. Not as soldiers. Maybe as brothers or strangers, or lovers. As for now, goodbye, and take care. My heart shall always belong to you, my dear Yi. Keep it safe.

— Xiao Fang.

When done, a single tear fell from his eye as he pressed his shuddering lips for a simple kiss against the piece of paper where Xiao Fang's fingers once touched.

Words could not express it; his soul felt empty; his heart, too. Xiao Fang stole them both when he left. He promised he would stay, had he not? Such lies...Yet Yi could not fault him for it. He understood why Xiao Fang left — he understood enough to not keep any resentment or pent-up anger. And since all was said and done, perhaps one day, they would find their way back to each other. Until then: "Goodbye, Xiao Fang," he whispered into the empty room. "I wish you well, and I... I forgive you... I will always forgive you."

Until we meet again; goodbye for the present — The End.