Xiao hung there suspended by black whisps. His dark hair covered his eyes as pain coursed through his body that he couldn't stop. He did not know how long he had been hanging there for. Yet he had started to come to terms with the bloodred light and black whisps would be the last thing he saw before he joined his fellow yaksha in death. Closing his golden eyes he quietly began saying his final goodbyes.
A peaceful clear sound of a flute cut through the hatred that had been eating at him, stopping his morbid thought. Xiao raised his head weakly glancing around unsure where the music could come from. The red around him shattered into teal and the black whisps melted away leaving his body in a free fall. That music... could it be... he thought as he fell hair and clothes flowed upwards silently.
Xiao's eyes snapped open, his mask disappearing in sparkling teal flakes. He was staring at the full moon and stars far above him. A gentle breeze ruffled his hair, he blinked feeling fingers. That wasn't a breeze that was a person and they were petting his hair. Looking back disturbing the fingers in his hair he saw the person looking down at him.
"Pushed yourself too far again didn't you Xiao..." Barbatos said gently.
Xiao blinked, tired mind slow to process who he was looking at. "Lord... Barbatos..."
"Shh, it's okay. Rest Xiao, everything is okay now." Barbatos said gently as he resumed his petting. Xiao couldn't keep his eyes open as he fell asleep to the petting of his hair, his head resting in Barbatos' lap.
