Violetgrass

Ashen Butterflies

Hu Tao and the rest returned almost four hours later. Chaoxing wondered if it had really been that long. Time seemed to have become distorted for her for a while.

"We're back!" said Hu Tao, waving as she entered. She looked drained, something Chaoxing didn't expect to see. Hu Tao almost always seemed to be filled with life.

"You should rest." Chaoxing waved her over to a chair, and she sat down. "Everyone alright?"

Xiao, who had entered with Lumine and Paimon, nodded wordlessly. Chaoxing noticed that his fingers were intertwined with Lumine's. How interesting.

"How are things here?" asked Lumine.

"Thirty people in the sickroom, and Baizhu is still with them," said Chaoxing. She glanced back at the door. "He wouldn't let me see anyone who'd died."

"They would've been taken to the Funeral Parlor," said Hu Tao, as a matter-of-factedly. "I have one more thing to do."

"Not yet," said Xiao. "You'll burn yourself too at this rate. Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is under quarantine, so there's no need to worry."

"I... don't think I've fully understood what's going on, but are things ending?" asked Chaoxing, looking at Lumine.

"Yep," she said quietly, looking down the stairs, where someone was crying. He had probably lost someone to the disease. "Everything will be alright soon."

The sickroom emptied in a few days, and the last of the dead were sent to the Funeral Parlor. Baizhu looked terrible.

"You need rest," said Chaoxing, taking his hand in hers.

"Not yet," said Baizhu with a shake of his head. His hand tightened in hers for a second, before he let go. "There's one last thing I need to oversee."

"If you collapse, I'm not carrying you back here," warned Hu Tao.

"Right." Chaoxing could've sworn she'd seen Baizhu rolling his eyes. She grabbed his arm gently, and together, they headed up to Yuijing Terrace. Xiao and Lumine stood together, Xiao with his fists held tightly at his side. Lumine rubbed a finger over his knuckles, and he relaxed immediately.

Zhongli arrived, surveying the scene serenely, with only a hint of sorrow behind his eyes. White blankets lined the entire terrace. Chaoxing looked over them, thinking they looked as though they were sleeping.

"Over to you, Director," said Zhongli.

"We usually burn bodies at an abandoned house nearby," said Changsheng softly. "But there are too many... so many."

Hu Tao raised her staff, fire dancing on its edge, and within seconds, the entire place was burning in a controlled flame. Ashen butterflies took to the sky, and Chaoxing stared at them in amazement, but Baizhu looked at them solemnly.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

Chaoxing thought it was her imagination. "We can't save everyone."

He probably thought that was his imagination too.

Hu Tao collapsed, but Zhongli caught her. He pressed a hand to her forehead, alarmed. "She's burning up."

"Pharmacy." Baizhu turned to walk away.

***

And that was how Hu Tao became Chaoxing's newest roommate. Chaoxing was used to seeing Qiqi every morning, but now Qiqi wasn't even around the pharmacy. She hoped the little zombie was okay.

"How long have you been here?" asked Hu Tao, a few days after her stay.

"Three weeks?" Chaoxing hooked another bead in the bracelet in her hands. "Hard to say. I lost track of time ages ago."

Baizhu walked in, a cup in hand.

"Ugh." Hu Tao accepted, and then downed it in one go. Chaoxing was glad she didn't need to take any more medication. The thought of the medicine alone was enough to deter her from any more self-poisoning attempts.

"Your fever is gone," said Baizhu, a hand on Hu Tao's forehead. "You can leave in the morning."

"Where's Qiqi?" Hu Tao looked around.

"Gone... to get some herbs," said an unamused Baizhu. "She'll be back after you leave."

Hu Tao made a noise of disappointment under her breath.

Chaoxing gave Baizhu a quick medical glance up and down. "Can we talk?"

He tilted his head, and Chaoxing walked outside, Baizhu following.

"What is it?" he asked, as Chaoxing leaned against the railing outside.

"You look terrible."

"Thanks."

"No, I mean... you need to rest. Can you leave the pharmacy to Gui, me and Qiqi for a day or two? You should sleep in the sick room."

"Are you sure you can handle it?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"No. But the three of us can."

"She's right, you know," hissed Changsheng. "While you've been taking your medicine properly, it's useless if you don't rest."

Baizhu rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. Chaoxing thought it was exasperation, but alarm bells were ringing in her head. Gui walked outside to find them the moment Baizhu started coughing. Blood spattered the floor.

"Ah... one of those days." Gui took Baizhu's arm and led him to a room that Chaoxing hadn't paid much attention to. It was dark, and a little dreary, but with a strange comfort to it. Baizhu lay on the bed, and then he pulled the screen, hiding himself from view. "I'd like to rest."

Gui nodded. "Of course." He gestured to Chaoxing, and she followed him out.

"What in the Archon's—"

"Baizhu has a chronic illness." Gui waved a hand. "It acts up every now and then."

"I'd heard about it, but I didn't know it was this bad." Chaoxing looked back at the closed door, behind where Baizhu and Changsheng were. They were probably in a lot of pain.

"Well, now you do," he said, not a trace of humor in his voice. "He'll be fine. Unfortunate that Qiqi is out at the moment."

"Oh?"

"When Baizhu is down, she usually takes care of him. He hates people seeing him in that state."

"Well... could I?"

Gui gave her a hard look. "He might hate being vulnerable in front of you. Especially in front of you." Chaoxing wondered what he meant by that, but this was no time for mysteries.

"Don't care."

"Alright. Man the reception for me while I make some soup for him."

"Yes, sir!"

Chaoxing packed medicine according to what the customer wanted, and was slightly surprised at how adept she'd gotten at it. Baizhu was a good teacher.

Gui walked over to her, a tray with soup and a spoon lying beside it. He seemed to be trying hard not to spill it, and Chaoxing wondered if Gui was the clumsy type. She relieved him of his burden.

"Take this to him."

"You're a good cook," said Chaoxing, looking at the soup. The smell was divine.

"Thanks," said Gui, ushering her away. He took her spot at the reception, and smiled at the old woman Chaoxing was just attending to.

Chaoxing headed back into the pharmacy, and knocked twice on Baizhu's door before she entered.

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