jikan_network | [Video; UN: laowen]

[ White hair. Beautiful white hair. But it's the face even before that voice that brings him to a stop as suddenly...he can breathe again.

He doesn't need to be told where his beloved is. He knows, instinctively. So what if his fox ears are perked eagerly and nine fluffy tails can be seen waving behind and around him!

It doesn't matter, even, that the introduction itself tells him his Lao Wen doesn't remember the last year and a half here in Nippon. Nothing matters except for the fact he's back. ]

Surprising you is far more fun, my Lao Wen. And I have a few more surprises to share with you...if you can find me.

[ He ends that with a bright grin. ]

[He had been right! Perking up immediately, Kexing ignores those strange features. They don't matter! This is his A-Xu and he has to find him. Now.]

Well this isn't fair! Everything is brand new to me. You could at least give me a hint?

[He is already on the move, pushing his way through a happy holiday crowd. Sometimes it helps to be tall...and striking. People move out of his way or stumble because they are staring too much.]

I think you're somewhere warm.

[ Of course he'd been right. Wen Kexing without Zhou Zishu is just wrong.

Zishu chuckles and takes a seat under some of his favorite trees in the Four Seasons Manor. He's kind enough to move the device a little further away to give his beloved a glimpse of his surroundings. ]

Somewhere familiar.

[ The grin fades, though more to something soft than anything hard. Soft, fond, but also commanding. ]

I need you with me, Lao Wen. Come find me. And I will show you just how warm I am.

[Dark eyes take in those surroundings, hungry for clues. He ends up leaping over another crowd and landing nimbly. The wind smells polluted here; he knows he needs to move outside of the city. His A-Xu...

Is that the Four Seasons Manor?]

How...? [He runs and leaps his way to the outskirts and then breathes deep. The scent of flowers guides him. Every cell in his body wants to obey that command...and he does.

Walking up to the edge of the Four Seasons Manor, he gazes in wonder. His stroll brings him to the trees that Zishu favors and he smiles helplessly.]

A-Xu, are you there?

[ He sees the moment his love recognizes just where he is, even if it should be impossible.

The constant ache that's plagued him since his soulmate vanished back home is blessedly gone. Oh, he'd been able to ignore it while with others, and had put on a good face to avoid worrying those he cares about.

But his Lao Wen is back. He beams when his love calls out for him, and stands, moving to simply wrap his arms tightly around his love with a long sigh. He buries his face against Kexing's neck and draws in a deep breath.

His tails announce his joy by waving around them. ]

[He is surprised immediately with an embrace! No teasing. No games. Kexing returns the hold and asks softly:]

What happened? [Something did. Something spooked his A-Xu and that won't be tolerated. His gaze fixes on those tails and he brushes his fingers over Zishu's ears. They're...real? He laughs, shocked, and curls himself around his soulmate. His arms are always ready to hold him.]

You're cute.

[ Not this time. And he knows his beloved understands something has changed, beyond the physical changes he exhibits. Zishu nuzzles his mate with a low hum as he enjoys the answering embrace.

The touch to his ears then his tails makes him chuckle and the fur on each shivers and wiggles happily under the attention. He lifts his head to nudge their noses together, gazing peacefully into Kexing's eyes. ]

You've been here before, Lao Wen. When I arrived over a year ago, you were right there with me. About a month ago, you vanished.