Yuri had another strange dream.
She dread she was standing in a field full of bright, colorful flowers. Soone was hugging her – at first she thought it was her mom.
But then she noticed long, black claws wrapped around her body. She wanted to scream, but nothing ca out.
*
Yuri shot up from her futon, covered in cold sweat. Her breath ca in short, shaky bursts. She wanted to cry or scream, but no sound left her lips. She looked around – her brothers, Yan Mo, and Sayaka were all sleeping like rocks, not reacting at all to her sudden movent.
Yuri glanced around nervously... and then she saw it in the corner of the room.
A huge, woman-shaped monster, so big it had to bend in half under the ceiling. Its empty eye sockets, filled with flickering violet energy, were locked on her, following her every move.
Yuri felt her whole body start shaking. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Don’t be afraid of , my lady," the spirit said.
"H-huh?" Yuri whispered. "W-what... w-what are you?"
The spirit shifted, crawling toward her on all fours before sitting down in front of her.
"I am... your guardian."
"Don’t lie! You’re an evil spirit, right? What do you want from ? Please don’t hurt or my family!" Yuri burst into tears.
"No. I will protect them. I will protect you"
A shiver ran down Yuri’s spine. The creature’s gaze felt like it was piercing straight through her.
"That woman who scread in your dreams... she created . She hurt too. But your aunt set free. I’m here to protect you, because you’re my new lady, Yuri."
Yuri didn’t want to admit it, but there was sothing strangely calming about the spirit’s voice. Her crying quieted down, and she wiped her tears, though she still trembled.
"I’ll do anything you command, my lady," the spirit said softly. "I’ll protect you the best I can. You humans usually can’t stand being watched in their sleep, but that’s my job. You’ll have to get used to being here... unless you want otherwise. Tell anything, and I’ll follow it."
"It’s... nice to have soone else watching over ," Yuri said timidly. For so reason, she trusted this strange being – like she could feel its honest intentions. "But can you... maybe look less creepy? I-I’m scared of you. And do you... have a na?"
"Lánshuò," it answered, its body trembling faintly.
"Lánshuò..." Yuri repeated quietly. The creature shivered again. "P-please change how you look. I-I’m really terrified..."
"As you wish, my lady. But know that this is my true form, and when I must protect you, I’ll have to return to it to use my full power."
"I-I get it, but... seeing you like this at night is... a lot..."
"Ah... I almost forgot. You’re still a child, and children fear many things. Let follow what you want as best I can."
The being bowed deeply and then lted into the shadows.
Yuri waited as her shaking slowly faded. She looked around the room again.
Everyone was still asleep, completely unaware of anything. She wondered if that had sothing to do with Lánshuò’s presence.
After a mont, Yuri heard a soft rustling in the center of the room, like wind brushing through leaves.
Lánshuò appeared again – in a different form. She was about Haru’s height, with a similar figure. Yuri stared, surprised.
The spirit’s body was made of shadow. A long brown cloak with gold patterns rested over her shoulders, reaching the floor. Her face was hidden behind a simple paper mask with holes only for eyes and a nose. Her long, straight black hair stayed the sa, and she now wore a large straw hat.
Lánshuò bowed to Yuri.
"I hope this form doesn’t frighten you, my lady," she said, kneeling first, then lowering her head.
"N-no..." Yuri said, a little calr. "B-but why do you look like my mom now? You’re the sa height..."
"You’re very observant, my lady. Well... I can sense so of your instincts. I wanted to look like soone – or sothing – you subconsciously connect with safety."
"I-I get it..." Yuri said, glancing at the others again. "But... why can’t they hear us? Shouldn’t they wake up?"
Even though Lánshuò’s mask had no mouth, Yuri could sohow tell she was smiling underneath. She didn’t know how – she just knew.
"Because I want to talk with you," Lánshuò replied. "My power is strong enough that while we speak, I narrow reality down only to you. Only you will rember this conversation. For now, only you and your aunt Aya can see ... unless soone else has unusually keen sight."
She turned her head to the right – the direction of the building where Haru and Shion slept.
"Anyway, my lady," she said, looking back at Yuri, "I’m ready for your orders."
"W-why do you want to help ? It’s really nice, but... you must get sothing out of it too, right?"
"I told you already, my lady. My previous mistress imprisoned . You’re her only heir."
"H-her heir? That woman... the one who scread in my dreams?"
Lánshuò chuckled.
"Yes. Strange as it may sound. Besides... I was created to devour Fourth One’s gods. There are too many of them. My hunger urges to protect you, because by staying near you, I’ll feast to my heart’s content."
Yuri looked into the two glowing spheres of violet magical energy that acted as Lánshuò’s pupils. She was still a little scared... but she couldn’t sense any lie in them.
"O-okay. I-I’m gonna go back to sleep now..." Yuri murmured.
"Yes. You must rest well, my lady."
Yuri lay back down as if unsure if she’d be able to fall asleep again.
I don’t know how to explain it, but... with Lánshuò here, I feel calm. Like Mom is here... even though I was so scared of her at the beginning... – she thought, drifting toward sleep.
Monts later, she had fallen asleep – deep and peaceful.
Lánshuò sat by her futon, listening to the girl’s breathing.
Her breathing is steady. Calm. No signs of any illness, Lánshuò thought.
Once Yuri fell asleep, Lánshuò’s presence expanded into the full reality. Sayaka and Yuri’s brothers slept normally, but Yan Mo began moving uneasily in his sleep.
Lánshuò looked at him with interest. Yan Mo slept near the entrance, Sayaka near the back wall, and the children in the middle. Lánshuò sat in the center. That way they ford three solid points of protection.
Yan Mo suddenly sat up. Still half-asleep, he stared into space before covering his face with one hand.
The atmosphere here... it’s completely different. What did my lady do that I can suddenly feel... this terrifying power?
A power that could crush with a twitch of its little finger.
One of Yan Mo’s eyes glowed gold. He turned toward the children – then he saw her, sitting calmly by Yuri.
Their gazes t.
My lady... what did you sacrifice to grant Yuri such a powerful guardian? What did it cost you? Did you return safely?
She’s... looking after little Yuri.That’s the posture of a watchful guardian.
It was one of the few tis in Yan Mo’s life when a cold shiver ran down his spine.
But sothing’s wrong with her. I can’t explain it, but... sothing is off.
He didn’t look away from Lánshuò’s eyes, as if trying to learn sothing from her chaotic, magic-filled gaze.
Hah. Aya got them quite an alert bodyguard. Good for them.
What will you do, guardian? You know well the smartest choice is to ignore and take for what I am.
Another, stronger shiver ran down Yan Mo’s back.
She has good intentions toward them.
No... for so reason, she only has them toward Yuri. The fate of her brothers doesn’t matter to her, but her presence... it’s overwhelming. It’s like she fills almost the entire room, leaving us little space to breathe.
Yan Mo took a few deep breaths – as if he were short of air, but in reality he was just trying to calm himself.
Then he lay back down, turning away from Lánshuò, still feeling her gaze on his back.
Smart choice, guardian, Lánshuò thought, barely holding back a laugh.
*
For the first ti in days, Yuri slept so deeply it was hard to wake her up. Neither Sayaka nor Yan Mo managed, and not even her brothers’ shouting helped. She slept so peacefully that everyone started to worry.
Even when everyone was ready to leave the hot springs, Yuri kept sleeping. Haru tried to calm them – Yuri had gone through an especially rough ti.
When Haru entered her room, even though it was empty, he imdiately felt the overwhelming presence.
It was crushing, it felt like a giant stone gargoyle was sitting on his shoulders.
His eyes moved from sleeping Yuri to the figure sitting beside her.
Lánshuò exchanged a glance with him. She saw the warning in Haru’s eyes, saying, ’No matter what you are, if you harm my daughter, I will destroy you without hesitation.’
A hidden ssage that Lánshuò read without any mistake.
Lánshuò stood and bowed to him.
"I wouldn’t dare harm the one I serve, nor her wonderful mother," she said calmly.
What the hell is this monstrosity?? Is this because of Aya’s damn trip? I’m going to have to talk to her about this. Again, sothing was brought upon my poor Yuri without knowing...
Haru decided to focus on the everyday mont, ignored Lánshuò, and walked over to Yuri.
"Wake up, my little sleepybear," he said, shaking her shoulder gently.
Yuri slowly opened her eyes and turned toward him. When she saw him, her eyes lit up with happiness, and her face brightened with a wide smile.
"Mom!" Yuri hugged him tightly.
"You slept well, huh? Not that I bla you, Yuri. You’ve had a really tough ti - maybe even tougher than the rest of us. I’m glad those nightmares aren’t bothering you anymore."
"Yes! They’re gone," Yuri said happily, hugging him as tightly as she could. "I love you, Mom!"
"I love you too," Haru said tenderly, stroking her hair. "But we can’t stay here much longer. Co on, everyone’s waiting. Quick bath first, then you pick the clothes you want to wear today. Sounds good?"
"Yeees!" Yuri bead.
Haru hugged her closer. Again, he felt Lánshuò’s gaze. He glanced at her for a split second.
He found nothing but shared understanding in her eyes.
Her overwhelming presence fades when I’m near Yuri... but it surrounds us like an another barrier.
Once they finished hugging and Yuri got up – still a bit sleepy – Haru took her hand and led her out. Lánshuò followed closely, never letting them out of sight.
"The understanding you saw in my gaze wasn’t by chance, mother of my lady," Lánshuò whispered. Haru heard Lánshuò’s whisper, which took him by surprise. He glanced at Yuri uncertainly, but the cheerful girl didn’t seem to notice it at all. "You protect her like the sun," Lánshuò continued. "And I am the shadow that appears when your light warms her world."
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