Divinity

19

As it was almost spring, Kaili's snake was now getting a bit irritable because she is in her shedding phase. She forgot to explain that she sheds her skin twice a year once every spring and once every fall. At the moment as a snake she does not like to be touched that much. Xichen had made a tub of warm water for her to sit in to let her skin soak for a bit to make it easier to shed.

"A'Huan, I apologize for my attitude lately, I forgot to mention I get like this every time I shed," she said.

"It is alright sweetheart, I can understand that it is uncomfortable for you," Xichen said.

"Can you do something for me?" She asked.

"Of course," he said.

"It may sound weird but my eyes have clouded over and the skin is ready to come off. Can you remove it from my eyes please?" She asked kindly.

Xichen didn't find it strange in the least. As Kaili was in the warm tub of water, Xichen gently reached in and lightly rubbed the dead skin from her eyes.

(*If any of you have snakes or know of snake anatomy and such, you should know that is actually a thing. They shed skin over their eyes. It's strange but true. I am not a snake owner but I did some research on snakes just for this book. It becomes useful for sure*).

Kaili could now properly see as the dead skin was removed. She felt a little better as well. After twenty minutes of soaking, she gets out and dries off on the towel Xichen placed on the floor beside her. Doing so, allowed the dead snake skin peel off easily. She was now a freshly shedded snake and sensitive to the touch. She can only handle so much of someone's touch at the moment and it will be that way for a couple days. Xichen let Kaili come to him when she wanted to curl up around him. At the moment she was coiled in Xichen's lap and her head rested in part of her body.

Kaili moved and stood up stretching her body and turned her head to look at Xichen. Xichen had no idea what she was doing but she looked cute with whatever it was.

"Someone is coming," she said so she was alert and moved to her spot on the desk. Turns out it was San Lang, Xie Lian, and Wei Wuxian.

Seeing San Lang, Kaili decided to mess around a bit and hiss at him. San Lang was surprised by her actions, "what was that for?" He asked. She then lunged forward making a spitting sound, like she was angry and irritated, "woah, someone is in a mood."

"Kaili, are you alright?" Xichen asked confused.

Kaili looked at Xichen for a few seconds then shifted to her human form, "I am fine, I am just messing with him. I do that to him sometimes when I am a snake. Plus I just shedded, I have an excuse."

"Just shedded or not, you are so sassy," San Lang said, "spitting at me like that."

Kaili giggled then looked at the other two, "Hello A'Lian and Wuxian. How are you?"

"I am going fine," Xie Lian said.

"I am as well, Xie Lian and San Lang just wanted to drop me off at Cloud Recesses. They also wanted to meet Lan Zhan," Wuxian said.

"Oh," Kaili said and looked at Xichen, "what is Wangji doing anyway?"

"He has been teaching A'Yuan the guqin lately so at around this time they are busy with that," Xichen said, "they should be done in a couple hours. I can take you to them and they can continue lessons another day?"

"Could you?" Wuxian asked, as he was eager to see Wangji.

Kaili shifted to her snake form and coiled around Xichen to stay warm. Xichen put on his warm coat and the four men left the Hanshi and to where Wangji and A'Yuan were. The two were in a pavilion near the Jingshi. It was warm as they had a fire pit lit nearby.

"Wangji, A'Yuan, someone is hear to see you both," Xichen said.

Wangji stood up when his eyes landed on Wei Wuxian, "Xian-Gege?" A'Yuan asked.

Wuxian knelt and held out his arms, "hello my little Radish!" He said. A'Yuan went over and hugged him.

"Are you staying?" A'Yuan asked.

"If your A'Die and Uncle Xichen allow me, I would love to stay," Wuxian said, "I was once offered to come to Gusu and I declined. I thought at first it was to be punished but thinking back, it was to protect me, was it, Lan Zhan?"

"Mnn," Wangji nodded and stood in front of Wuxian, "want to love and protect you, Wei Ying."

Wuxian smiled and stood up and hugged him, "will your Shufu be okay with me here?"

"With two gods and a supreme ghost king, he will have a hard time to argue," Xie Lian said.

"Wuxian can stay as long as he likes, it can even be his home if he wants," Xichen said, "Shufu is aware that you are to come back someday and he has been preparing for it. He knows what you are and he wants to learn about that side of you. He is willing to work through things with you."

Wuxian nodded and looked at Wangji then back at Xichen, "I will have to talk to your Shufu, but can I have your blessing to court your brother, Zewu Jun?" He asked.

Xichen smiled, "you have my blessing, and I will get Shufu to accept you. Especially if he wants to get to know you properly."

"Lan Zhan, can I court you?" Wuxian asked.

"Mnn," Wangji nodded.

"Can I call you Baba?" A'Yuan asked Wuxian.

"You can," Wuxian said.

"Uncle Xichen, is Kaili with you?" A'Yuan asked.

"She is, she just shed so she is a bit sensitive to the touch," Xichen answered as Kaili stuck her head out of Xichen's coat.

A'Yuan giggled, "Kaili, I see you," he said.

Wuxian smiled as Kaili was basically playing peek-a-boo with him, as she moved her head back in Xichen's coat and popped out in a different spot.

"Sorry to interrupt your lessons," Wuxian said, "oh, Lan Zhan, these are the people who have been helping me, Xie Lian and San Lang."

Wangji bowed to them, "thank you for helping him and bringing him back to me."

"You're welcome, and we will be around as we want to help find those who framed him. We think it involves Jin Guangyao some how as he has been the most suspicious during the time of Wuxian's demise and with him trying to poison Xichen, we just need proof and to find out if he is working with anyone else," San Lang said, "Gege and I have people looking around for him. I gave my butterflies scoping around too."

"I did receive a letter about a new sect forming in Moling," Xichen said, "why don't we go inside and talk somewhere?"

"A'Die, I have class soon," A'Yuan said.

"You can go meet up with Jingyi and have dinner with him after class. Come home before curfew," Wangji said.

"Okay, love you and Baba," A'Yuan said and left.

Wuxian giggled, "he looks good, you are doing well raising him Lan Zhan," he said.

"You can now raise him with me," Wangji said. Wuxian giggled and took his hand as they all walked to the Hanshi to talk.