I WILL FIND YOU.

Chapter 96: Murder

"Kai... Kai... I'm sorry... Kai..."

Minda had been quietly whispering the same thing, in a fugue trance since he was brought into the carriage. His voice so soft Kai could barely hear him. As Kai leaned in closer he pressed a gentle kiss against Minda's pale face. Minda's body felt cold. Kai wrapped his arms around him, trying to warm him with his embrace.

"MinMin, it's okay." Kai whispered.

He wished he could say and do more but Minda wasn't in the right state of mind to understand anything. He needed to wait for the shock to pass before Minda would be able to hear his words and begin to recover. Kai carefully removed Minda's thick heavy armour. His body looked thinner to Kai despite only a couple of hours passing since he helped him get dressed.

"It won't be easy fattening him up while we're in the Deadlands." Kai thought as he proceeded to wrap Minda up in a thick blanket.

"I'm... I'm sorry... Kai..."

Minda continued to mutter as Kai placed him on the bed. His finger turning pale as he clutched Kai's armour as tightly as he could manage.

"It's okay my love. I'm fine and I'm not going anywhere. Just let me go for a second so I can take off my armour." Kai calmly asked as he gently tried to pry Minda's fingers from his armour. Despite his words Minda wouldn't let go. He only held on tighter. With no other choice Kai could only do his best to take off his armour while Minda held it.

Minda didn't notice what Kai was doing until he was left holding the armour without Kai in it. He was still in shock and couldn't think clearly. In a panic he desperately reached for Kai.

"Kai..."

"I'm here."

Kai pushed the armour out of the way and lay down next to Minda. The moment he did Minda instinctively crawled into his embrace. The familiar position helped soothe Minda's chaotic mind. Kai then put Minda's earplugs in his ears to separate him from the loud noise outside. Once he did Minda was finally able to close his eyes and rest.

...

"Kai, I know you're busy taking care of your little soulmate right now so I'll make this quick. We've finished our preparations and are ready to leave. Houtian will drive the carriage so you can continue to rest inside." General Lei said. His usual commanding and often ridiculing tone now filled with compassion after hearing about what happened to Minda at the cart.

"..."

Kai remained silent, but General Lei wasn't concerned by his lack of response. Instead, he signalled for Houtian to approach. Without hesitation, Houtian climbed into the driver's seat of the carriage, ready to go.

They started to move with a jolt. Kai who was silently holding Minda squeezed him tight to keep the carriage's movements from waking him.

...

Time passed slowly as Minda slept warm and safe in Kai's embrace. The occasional whimper that escaped Minda's pale lips as he struggled with nightmares weight down on Kai's heart. Every time he heard his cries Kai would tenderly stroke Minda's soft silvery gray hair to soothe him.

"Kai..." Minda quietly sobbed in his sleep.

"It's okay, I'm okay. We're okay." Kai comforted when he heard Minda muttering his name.

This simple exchange continued long after everyone stopped and set up camp for the night. It wasn't until dinner was ready that Kai debated waking Minda. After some though Kai gently pulled out the earplugs from Minda's ears.

"MinMin, wake up."

"Urgh..."

Minda looked adorable as he rubbed his face against Kai's chest in protest. The familiar way he grumbled gave Kai hope that maybe Minda felt better.