Over The Years

As If It's Your Last

| Lay/Baekhyun | G | 1.5k | Angst, Paranormal Activity |

Summary: 

Yixing waits patiently every year for the Hungry Ghost Festival - the time when barriers between life and death are at its thinnest and the time where Baekhyun comes back to him.

Written for EXO MONSTERFEST 2017

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The fire crackled in the tin barrel, spitting black smoke and bits of charred paper into the atmosphere. The scent of incense was thick in the air and Yixing could feel the heat sear against his hand. He tossed another stack of hell money into the barrel, ash flying into the air as the paper struck the bottom of the barrel.

A soft breeze whipped through his hair, sending the smoke blowing into his face. Yixing blinked away the tears stinging his eyes. He stepped away from the barrel to pick up the lotus-shaped plates he had brought down with him.

The plates were made of hard plastic and had gold foiled designs in their middles. Kneeling by the drain, he meticulously arranged the steamed buns with lotus paste and mandarins onto the plates, setting them carefully in a straight line along the drain.

Another two steamed cakes were set by the plates and he was stabbing joss sticks into the dirt, the faint glow of his match lighting up. Red wax dripped onto his fingers and he bit back a curse as he set the two red candles into a pool of their own wax, the cooling material solidifying quickly.

Pressing his hands together, he murmured a prayer beneath his breath, bowing before the lit joss sticks as they gave off perfumed smoke.

The flames of the candles wavered ever so slightly when he lifted his head, and a soft smile graced his features.

"Hello, love." He whispered and shivered when something brushed against his ear.

"Shall we go?"

The medium stepped back, turning away to walk down the mostly empty street. He could already hear the raucous music coming from the giant tent set up at the block of flats furthest from his home.

The lights were bright and hurt his eyes as he walked into the tent, the celebrations already in full swing.

Yixing selected a seat closer the back, feeling something swish against his ear, before turning his head to look at the row of seats directly in front of the stage, cordoned off with red tape.

If he closed his eyes, he could almost visualise people seated in the red chairs, watching the singer performing on stage.

"Evening, Yixing ge." Yixing smiled faintly, nodding at the younger man who slid into the seat beside him.

"Hello, Zitao." He greeted. Like him, Zitao's eyes turned immediately to the front of seemingly empty seats.

"Do you think...he's here tonight?" The younger's voice was tinged with hope as he fidgeted with his hands.

Yixing's lashes fluttered as he nodded quietly, staring straight ahead, at the red row of empty seats.

There was a sudden breeze, ruffling Zitao's hair and the younger man spooked, eyes widening in shock.

"I believe Yifan wanted to say hi."

Yixing's smile was sad as he reached over to pat his friend's hand gently.

Zitao's eyes glittered and he leant back in his seat, fingers curling around Yixing's hand tightly.

They watched the rest of the performances in silence, disturbed only by brief snatches of wind sweeping through their hair.