"The Moon Shines On Death..."

Uncertain

"Are you sure you did not kiss me?"

"Why would I!" Sidapa turned his back abruptly, shy and suddenly conscious.

"I probably just dreamt it then." Bulan answered as he nibbled on some sweet potato.

"Try this. I made it for you. It's boiled cocoa, with some nectar to sweeten it. Here." Sidapa handed Bulan a coconut husk with hot brown liquid in it.

"I like it! It's delicious. Thank you." Bulan exclaimed, smiling at the new flavor rolling on his tongue.

"You look different. You're taller. Older. Not as weak as the last time I saw you. You're just as troublesome and annoying, but there's a certain difference here and there." Sidapa was watching Bulan closely.

"Is it a good thing, or a bad thing? Do you not like what you see?" Bulan asked with a smirk.

"I will always like you, whatever you turn out to be." Sidapa turned, pretending to peel more potatoes, clearly embarrassed.

"I dreamt we did more than kiss. While cocooned, I dreamt we made love Sidapa. Did I dream all that? Or did you take advantage of me while I slept lastnight." Bulan teased the god of death.

"I do not need to take advantage of you. You'd willingly submit. It is quite obvious you desire me." Sidapa haughtily replied.

Bulan choked on the sweet potato in his mouth, earning a laugh to escape Sidapa's throat. Not to be outwitted Bulan came up with a question.

"Sidapa, what am I to you?"

"I don't understand." Sidapa was uncomfortable in his present state of sitting too close to the moon god.

"What are we to each other?" Bulan simplified his query.

"We are... friends." Sidapa whispered, his tone sad.

"Friends?" Bulan repeated.

"Friends." Sidapa offered another peeled potato to the moon god. Bulan shook his head, turning down the offering.

"Don't you want it?"

"I am full. I think it's time I took my place with Haliya. I'll see you tomorrow." Bulan stood up, clearly irritable.

"Wait. Kaptan said you should stay away from the sky until he tells you otherwise." Sidapa stood, and gently held Bulan's arm to stop him from leaving.

"Then allow me to visit my grandfather and thank him for finding a way to bring me back to life... with your help of course."

Sidapa let go of Bulan's arm, and looked down at his feet uncomfortable. Without so much as a goodbye, Bulan vanished in a blinding white light, as the god of death felt his heart break.

"Stupid old fool! Why couldn't you just confess what you truly feel?"

Sidapa started pacing back and forth. "Why didn't I tell him that I love him? How could a young brat make me lose my composure? I must be losing my touch!" Sidapa threw the basket of potatoes to the ground, and started stomping on them in anger.

In the shadows Asuang softly giggled, and observed the childish antics of Sidapa.

"So death is in love? Hmmm. This should be interesting! Let's see how much he loves the moon once I find someone else to steal him away."

Asuang stealthily made his way through the shrubs, and out of the shadows that engulfed the domain of the death god.

He was choosing in his mind who among the other gods he would trick into stealing the moon away from Sidapa.

And before he was completely out of Mt. Madjaas... he already had an answer.