Sky Lanterns (China x Reader)

The night breeze gently enveloped you as the fireflies began to stir and illuminate the vast fields in front of you which looked like it could go on for miles. With a sigh, you turned your attention to what you were holding, a sky lantern. The white lantern had different words of encouragement you wrote yourself. The words were nothing special, they were just some phrases you might say when you are trying to cheer a friend up. You couldn't help but smile as you read the words filled with passion and hope.

A small noise casts your attention away from the lantern and directs it to the nearby woodlands behind you. You silently watched the woods hoping for the creature who made the sound to appear or continue on its way. There was nothing to worry about in these parts of the country since the locals say the only things that inhabit the area are herbivores and are quite harmless. You knew it was probably nothing but you couldn't help but think something was out to get you. With an uncomfortable chuckle, you return your gaze to the paper lantern and the fields in front of you. The fireflies made the field glow and shimmer while the lantern seemed to reflect the moonlight. It was like you were holding the moon itself with the stars scattered around you. The starless night sky made the moment look even more magical.

You hear a faint rustling behind you. Fearing the worst, you were about to turn around to see who or what it was but quickly relaxed as delicate arms wrapped around your waist, knowing who your captor was. "Yao, what are you doing here?" you ask as a smile begins to form on your face.

"I should be asking you that, aru." the Chinese man spun you around "Just what are you doing, aru?"

You carefully placed the sky lantern down on the grass before answering him.

"I wanted some fresh air" you lied but hoped he would buy it. Yao gave you an unamused look before pointing to the lantern you just set on the ground.

"So... what's that for, aru?" You mentally cursed yourself for telling such an obvious lie. Why would you bring a sky lantern on a 'casual' stroll for some fresh air? Before you could answer, he gently picked up the moonlit lantern.

"Keep trying... Never give up... Don't look back..." Yao murmured as he slowly turned your lantern in every direction, reading each and every word you put on it. He chuckled at the last phrase "If opportunity doesn't knock on your door, break the door and hunt it down?" You gave a half hearted glare before snatching the lantern and turning your back to the laughing country. "Honestly, just what are you going to do with that sky lantern, aru?"

You gave another sigh as the night breeze grew stronger "Don't laugh, okay?" you could feel your cheeks heat up as you thought of his reaction to the phrase on your lantern. He wouldn't laugh at the reason why you're doing this too, right?

"You know you can tell me anything, aru." Yao placed a hand on your shoulder reassuringly. You didn't have to turn around to tell he was smiling at you. "I will always be there for you, aru."

You gave a small nod before resting your gaze onto the firefly speckled fields "I had a hard time in my life. Nothing was going my way and I felt helpless. I began to fear what the future would bring and stayed in my own world. The only time I felt truly happy was when I was sleeping my troubles away. I thought it would have been better if I wasn't here in this world at all but, you came along. You showed me what it means to be truly happy. You taught me to embrace the future and hope for a better tomorrow. Yao, you stood by me whenever I needed you. Always smiling and encouraging me to keep going. I made new friends, got a new job, and a new start. This was all thanks to you."

You turned around to face the Chinese man

"Although the life I'm living now is something I look forward to everyday, every now and then, I feel uneasy about what I'm going through. I always fear the thought of going back to my past self. I know I could always turn to you or to any other friend for help but I also know I have to face this on my own to conquer it."

The night breeze stirs some of the fireflies around you "That's why I make a sky lantern every now and then." You reached into your pocket to fish out the lighter for the lantern, avoiding any kind of eye contact with Yao "I make my own sky lanterns and put my own words of encouragement on them. It's kind of my way to tell myself to keep fighting. "

You stared at the ground, clenching the lighter that was in your hands and braced yourself for the usual laughs and jokes you get when you tell other people about your lanterns but you heard nothing from Yao. The silence between the two of you made the atmosphere feel uncomfortable, you were about to make up an excuse to leave until a hand gently reached out and caressed your face. Shocked by his action, you look up.

Yao gave a reassuring smile and nodded in understanding before looking up into the sky "I think the time is right. Shall we do it, aru?" you glanced at the now fully lit night sky before nodding your own head.

You turned your attention back to Yao "I want to set this free in the middle of the field, will you walk with me?"

Yao grinned "Did you even have to ask, aru?"

Both of you began walking through the firefly fields. Each step you took disturbed thousands of fireflies making them fly into the air to look for another resting place. You moved closer to Yao as the fireflies zoomed passed you. You were enjoying the sight of the fireflies when all of a sudden, Yao grabbed your arm and picked up his pace making you pick up yours as well.

"We have to hurry, I can feel a strong breeze coming up, aru!"

You saw the world rush by you as Yao pushed his way through the blinding glow of the fireflies. You hugged the sky lantern in one arm to keep it safe while the other was grasped by Yao's death hold. You smiled and laughed to yourself. You never thought you would be running in a field of fireflies at night with a representation of a country.

Yao slowed his pace and took deep breaths before letting go of your arm "Do you think this spot will be okay, aru?" you took a step forward to take in the fields around you. There was nothing but the vast sea of glowing fireflies and grassy fields. Crickets and frogs could be heard in the distance while the grass rustled in the wind making it look like an ocean wave. Both of you were on top of a small hill that overlooked the fields around you with a breeze that grew stronger by the passing second.

"It's perfect" you whispered as you light the candle in the lantern and waited for the right moment to let it go. Yao hugged you from behind and rested his head on your shoulder. You would have blushed a thousand times over at the action but you were too caught up in the moment to care.

A sudden strong breeze pushed passed you and Yao making the fireflies once again, fly in a frenzy "Now!" you let go of the lantern and watched the breeze take the lantern away from from your hands. The Paper lantern gracefully floated into the star filled sky as the fireflies danced in the wind. Some of the fireflies in the air surrounded your small lantern and made a small trail behind it as if they were following it to it's destination. The breeze made the lantern sway in one direction to the other making the trail of fireflies repeat the action. It was like watching a comet and it's tail. Your eyes followed the trail of the lantern until it could no longer be distinguished from the stars above.

You let out a sigh of satisfaction as you take in your new surroundings. The breeze died down to a gentle wind that you could barely feel. Most of the fireflies were still in the air but were beginning to settle back down on the grass. The only sounds you could hear now were the buzzing of the fireflies, chirps from distant crickets, croaks from frogs, and the breath of Yao.

"Yao?" you turn your head to the side to look at him. His face was illuminated by the fireflies.

"What is it, aru?"

"I love you." you quickly turned your head the other way so he wouldn't see the blush that was slowly taking over your face. If you looked up at him now, you would have fainted.

Yao tightened his grip on you before you heard his voice whisper back "我也爱你" (I love you too)