The Black Fox & The White Tiger

Forgotten Black

As soon as the gears started moving and the machine was working, Minhyun found himself sitting in a white space by himself. His clothings were blindingly white too. He looked around with little effort, holding his hands together on his lap. The sound of footsteps echoed in the space and he turned to see him walking towards him. The Minhyun before him was in his regular black outfit. The one he had wore the day he was reunited with Baekho on a battlefield which was also the day they got torn apart. A bittersweet memory. He smiled and so did Minhyun.

"Are you going to forget me again?" The one in black asked.

"I don't seem to have a choice," he replied. The black Minhyun chuckled and sighed.

"I guess that's okay. After all, you'll only ever love one Baekho, right?"

"That's right. We will only ever love one Baekho." White Minhyun shut his eyes as the black version of him came even closer, lifting his hand to gently pat the other's head as he faded away. Minhyun opened his eyes, realising his white outfit had been stained black. "I won't forget you this time, Baekho. And I won't forget myself too."

Both Baekhos didn't know how long it would take for Minhyun to wake up but one watched with anticipation while the other watched with sadness. Baekho couldn't believe he was letting this happen but he barely had any more energy to keep trying to break free when there were already red marks forming around his skin where the cuffs cut into. He breathed in painfully, finding this agonising.

"That day when Minhyun died, I could have protected him. I could have done more, I told myself," black Baekho started talking to the other's surprise. "But just like that, the person I love was gone. The world I knew disappeared. Do you have any idea how painful that is?"

"I do... Trust me, please. I know," Baekho said tiredly.

"Then you should also know to what lengths I would go to get him back, right? Just like you." Baekho could see what the other was getting at.

"But... That's not fair to me and Minhyun. You're tearing us apart just so you can be with him when he's already mine."

"Life isn't fair. The queen could have just let us go too but she loved Minhyun. She didn't want him to belong to anyone else especially someone who couldn't even wield magic. That's why I wanted to run away with him. Far away... to a place where magic or strength didn't matter. Just love. Look where that brought me...."

"You can still stop now..."

"Like you said, I'm corrupted. I'm too far gone now. No one can save me except Minhyun." Baekho shook his head, not wanting the other believe his own words. He bit his lower lip and shut his eyes. "Don't worry. You'll die in his hands."

"Minhyun would never.... hurt me." As if responding to his name, Minhyun opened his eyes slowly. He seemed to be in a blurry state as he blinked and shifted his body. He turned his head a little to look at both Baekhos who looked at him with different emotions. Eagerness and pain. His eyes went from one to the other. Black Baekho smiled, a gentle one.

"How are you feeling?" He spoke in a gentle tone. Something Baekho had never heard from the other before despite him sounding exactly the same when Baekho speaks to Minhyun.

"Who...," Minhyun muttered. "Who... are you?" He moved his arm, noticing the cuffs around them and looked confused. "Why... am I like this?"

"It's okay. Take it slow." Baekho clenched his jaw. He didn't know if he should say something right now. He wanted to so badly but what if he only gets his heart broken by Minhyun being unable to recognize him. Black Baekho unlocked the cuffs, letting Minhyun free. The taller male rubbed his numb wrists.

"Where am...I?" Minhyun asked as he pushed himself off the chair. He staggered slightly but black Baekho quickly held onto him. Baekho gritted his teeth, wanting to yell at the other to get his hands off Minhyun but Minhyun's gaze fell on him and he stiffened. It couldn't be, right? He couldn't have really forgotten him, right? "Who is... that? Why is he.... like that?" Baekho gasped softly, his tears finding their way out from their ducts. He shook his head in denial. "Why... is he crying?"

"Minhyun.... Minhyun... I love you so much. Please... don't do this to me," Baekho sobbed.

"You don't have to care about him," black Baekho said, turning Minhyun's head to face him. Minhyun let him do it.

"And who... are you? Who am I? What's going on?"

"Calm down. Your name is Minhyun. Hwang Minhyun. And I'm Baekho, your lover."

"No! He's not. He's not your lover," Baekho wailed, struggling again. "Don't trust him!"

"My lover. Then who is he?" Minhyun pointed at Baekho.

"Your enemy."

"Even though you look the same?"

"Yes. He tried to tear us apart so I locked him up. Minhyun..." Minhyun glanced at Baekho who stopped struggling and just pleaded to him with his eyes. "We have to get rid of him."

"Get rid? You mean.... kill him?"

"Yes, Minhyun. We have to kill him." Black Baekho took a few steps away from Minhyun and as if commanding the air, a sword came flying to his hand. Baekho gasped. It was his sword. How did he? It was in the other room. Black Baekho walked back to Minhyun and placed it in his hands. "Kill him."

Minhyun looked at the other up and down before turning to Baekho who gulped. There was no way Minhyun would hurt him. He had to believe in the other, he wanted to believe yet Minhyun started taking short strides towards him. "You're my enemy... yet you shed tears for me?"

"I'm not... I swear, Minhyun. I'm not your enemy. I'm yours. I belong to you. I'm not against you," he sniffed, wishing there was some way to get through to the other. "I love you so much. Please don't forget me."

"Mine..."