Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The girls walked into their penthouse, Mira and Zoey lively chatting about their victory earlier that evening while Rumi dragged her feet behind them. After they defeated Gwi-Ma and restored the Honmoon, an immediate cover-up story was needed. It was the last thing Rumi wanted to do after watching him die, but she quickly invented a story anyways. A flakey boy-band and high-tech special effects, with a minor miscommunication to explain the Huntrix 'breakup'. Crude, but sufficient for their fans and the rest of the world. With the Idol Awards over and the Saja Boys gone, the girls officially started their hiatus and made their way home, but Rumi ceased being present after the final speech to the fans. She had hardly noticed when the trio made it into the penthouse, too preoccupied with guilt and sadness. Her friends' voices blurred into background noise when they walked through the front room and into the den. As she slowly lowered herself into a plush chair, listening to her friends excited speeches, her mind was enveloped with thoughts of him. She had been carrying the added weight of a second soul, Jinu's soul, for hours. Moving her hands across her torso, her skin felt no different, but the pressure of him settled snugly inside her ribcage, feeling almost as if his soul was forcefully making space for itself. Yet it also comforted her, knowing that Jinu wasn't fully gone. Deeply entrenched in her own thoughts, Rumi did not notice Mira and Zoey calling her name until they practically shouted it.
"Rumi!" Zoey yelled, waving her hands and arms erratically beside Mira on the couch.
Now snatched from her thoughts, Rumi looked up to find two concerned friends leaning on the very edge of the couch across from her, almost falling off of the thing. "Yeah, what is it?" She asked, her voice low and saddened.
"What is with you? We just restored the Honmoon and killed Gwi-Ma. We should be celebrating, not moping around and getting absorbed by a chair." Mira deadpanned and narrowed her eyes, practically putting Rumi on trial. When Rumi's silence stretched across the air, her voice softened. "Seriously, what's wrong?" Mira and Zoey were genuinely concerned now, worry etched into their expressions.
"He sacrificed himself for me." Blunt was the only way those words could be delivered, but confusion clouded her friend's faces.
"What do you mean? Who sacrificed themselves?" Zoey's question rolled quickly off of her tongue.
"Jinu." Rumi let his name hang in the air, swirling around the now tense atmosphere.
Mira's eyes narrowed again. "Jinu, the demon who practically planned our downfall, sacrificed himself? For a hunter? You aren't making any sense, Rumi."
She stared down at her hands, her eyes examining the patterns she had lived with her entire life. Rumi paused, searching for a way to tell her friends something that would change their whole world view. But just as she began to speak, Rumi heard a familiar buzzing emanating from the front room. The trio turned to find two rather odd creatures, demon creatures, ascending from underneath their floor. Mira and Zoey launched off of the couch and entered into a defensive position facing the odd pair, their weapons materialized and pointed at their presumed enemies.
Rumi scolded them with a look, "They're harmless, girls."
"They're demons Rumi! Look at the set of jaws on that big one!" Zoey shouted, but she couldn't hide the noticeable restraint that tensed every muscle in her body. She was doing her best to fend off the urge to run up and hug the giant ball of fur in front of her.
Of course, the 'big one' she referred to was Jinu's tiger, which stared curiously at her. He was cocking his head in that cat-like manner, with no way to be sure that both of his pupils were looking at the same person. His sidekick, perched on the top of his head, seemed uninterested in the situation as a whole. Rumi rolled her eyes and casually walked up to them, affectionately stroking the soft fur and feathers of her two companions. "They were Jinu's.... pets." She couldn't think of a better word.
"Pets?! You can't be serious, Rumi. Demons don't have pets! Demons can't feel anything for humans, much less for an animal!" Mira's words cut deeper than she had intended.
"I'm a demon too, in case you've forgotten." Rumi's voice was quiet and understated, but they still recoiled from her words. The excitement from restoring the Honmoon and defeating Gwi-Ma had caused them to log that fact in the back of their minds, hiding it where they didn't have to think about it. But now, Rumi confronted them with no distractions, and she couldn't help but think that they regretted allowing her back in when she saw their expresionss.
Geubsa, as Rumi called him, rubbed his puffy cheeks up against Rumi's leg. He looked up at her, opening his mouth slightly to reveal the bracelet hanging on his fang. She smiled and took it from him, her chest warming at the thought that Jinu had kept it. Slipping it onto her wrist, she looked back to her friends, determination evident in her eyes. With a deep breath, she pushed her negative thoughts aside and prepared for a long discussion
"I guess I have a lot of explaining to do," she paused, watching her friend's nervous shifting and uncomfortable stance. "Please. All I ask is that you let me share my story. And if you still view me, and demons, the same way, I will leave Huntrix for good." She pleaded, begging for one more chance to remedy her lies. Geubsa mewled in agreement, trying to win them over. Mira and Zoey looked at Rumi hesitantly, and then to the two 'pets.' After a small staring match with Geubsa, they sheathed their weapons and returned to their spot on the couch, convinced for the moment that the mysterious demon animal wasn't a threat. Rumi sank back into her chair while Geubsa padded over to Zoey, plopping down at her feet. An eerie, rumbling growl started in his throat, something that was supposed to resemble a purring noise, Rumi guessed. A giddy laugh escaped Zoey's lips as she started petting him, but when Mira cleared her throat, waiting for Rumi's explanation, Zoey snapped her attention back to the conversation. With a deep breath, Rumi started telling them everything. The words tumbled out of her faster than she could keep up as every secret spilled into the air; how her mother had a child with a demon, the fight when Jinu helped her keep her secret, and their 'dates' in the city. She almost lost her composure when talking about Jinu's sacrifice, needing to pause for a moment after fearing that tears might prematurely end her speech. But she soldiered on, and told them how Gwi-Ma forced the demons into servitude, leveraging their shame and their souls against them. How the demons had no choice when under Gwi-Ma's control. Mira and Zoey allowed her to speak, not interrupting once and trying their best to keep neutral expressions. Rumi hadn't realized how heavy the burden was, keeping all of this from them. When she finished, a long pause settled between the trio.

"So, you're half demon, and only because your dad was one? And we treated you like a monster." Zoey stared at Rumi, tears threatening to fall as her voice cracked. Mira had started petting Geubsa, laser focused on him, unable to look Rumi in the eyes. Guilt and regret began to eat away at their expressions, but Rumi stepped forward and took each of their hands, squeezing in between them on the couch.
"I don't blame you for your reactions, I mean I had lied to you both for years." A sad smile formed on her lips, "Celine ingrained in me that if I could just seal the Honmoon, then my patterns would be gone and I would be fixed. It was all I ever wanted." She paused, squeezing both of their hands. "But she also convinced me that I needed to keep it secret from you. And I hate that I ever listened to her advice."
Just then, Mira and Zoey pulled her in for a fierce hug. "I am so sorry you were made to feel broken. I will always regret the way we treated you, not giving you a chance to explain." Zoey hummed in agreement with Mira's words, unable to speak at the moment, and they embraced for a few more long seconds before pulling apart.
Tentatively, Rumi ventured into testy waters. "And, you believe me about the other demons, too? About Jinu?"
Their brows pinched together, faces firm with reassurance. "Of course we do." Zoey gave her unwavering answer, supported by Mira.
"But, I still don't understand how Jinu gave you his soul. Before twenty minutes ago, I didn't even know demons had souls to give away." Mira wondered aloud.
Rumi shook her head, "I don't understand either. But I feel it, behind my ribs. An extra weight." She paused, remembering what Jinu told her before he died. "He told me that I restored his soul, and his last action was giving it to me. And I have no idea what to do with it."
The girls sat in their confusion for only a short while before Zoey spoke. "I think we need to have a long talk with Celine."
Mira and Rumi nodded in agreement. With all the tenseness in the air, the tiger at their feet rose to face them, lightening the serious atmosphere around the girls. Sussie flew off of his head and onto Mira's shoulder to her surprise, but not displeasure. Geubsa nuzzled each of them before climbing on the couch, selecting Rumi as the most comfortable cushion to sit on.
"Geubsa what are you doing!" Rumi strained to speak with a fat demon tiger crushing her. He simply responded with a satisfied growl. "Sussie, are you going to help at all?!" She grumbled, the infuriating bird pretending not to hear her. Rumi's exasperation grew when she heard Mira and Zoey laughing hysterically on either side of her.
"You should see your face right now, Rumi!" Zoey giggled as she quickly snapped a picture of the giant tiger trying his damndest to be a lap dog. Then, unable to pretend any longer, Rumi joined in their laughter. She finally had her best friends back, and a mystery to solve.

Chapter Text

Rumi.

A whisper in the dark, floating on the wind whistling past her ears. She spun around, standing on the same stone path she walked with Jinu.

Rumi.

The whisper grew louder, and she knew it was him. The wind that carried his voice gained a rich hue of purple and blue, streaming down the path away from her. Rumi’s feet burned with the urge to chase it, but when she moved to run she was stuck in place.

Rumi.

The colors carried his voice away now, the sound of her name on his lips growing more distant. With each attempt to free herself from her frozen stance, Rumi’s muscles began to weaken. She called out for him, a desperate attempt to convince him to come back to her. But the cruel wind just took her voice away with his, her words able to follow him where she could not.

“Rumi!”

Mira’s voice rang in her ears now, jolting her awake. Rumi shot up from her bed, sweating and panting. Disoriented, she looked around and found herself in her bedroom, gone from the empty stone path. Light filtered in from the Seoul skyline and illuminated Mira and Zoey sitting on either side of her bed, their features clouded with worry. She squinted her eyes at the strange blue light that was reflecting off of them. Realizing it wasn’t from the city, she looked down and saw that her patterns were glowing.
“Rumi, are you okay?” Zoey asked, her voice soft but incredibly tense.
Rumi took a few more deep breaths, and her patterns began to dim. “I’m fine. Just a weird dream.”
“You were screaming Jinu’s name, Rumi.” Mira spoke with deep worry laced into her tone. Geubsa and Sussie, who were sleeping at the foot of her bed, observed the scene and murmured their concern through soft chirps and mews.
Rumi closed her eyes and sighed, bringing her hands up to cover her face before running them through her hair. “I was standing in the same place we met for one of our dates, and I could hear him calling to me.” She rested her forehead in her hands, clutching her hairline. “It felt so real.” Her voice cracked as she tried to stifle a sob. Mira and Zoey immediately drew her in a tight hug, trying their best to comfort their friend.
“I didn’t realize how much it would hurt. How much I would miss him.” Rumi didn’t try to quiet her tears any more with her friends there to comfort her. Mira and Zoey hugged her tight, pulled her hair back from her face, and waited until she had cried her eyes dry. Though Rumi wasn’t sure that was possible. She felt like there would never be enough tears to smother her sadness, wash away her pain, or drown out her unspoken feelings. But eventually, her sobs slowed from a raging river to a small trickle, until they stopped altogether. The girls released their hug, Zoey and Mira still regarding Rumi with sympathetic eyes.
Zoey reached up to tuck a stray hair behind Rumi’s ear. “I didn’t know Jinu, but I do know that he cared about you. That he loved you enough to give you his soul.” Zoey paused and pressed her pointer finger into Rumi’s ribs. “And in some way, he lives on. In you.”
Rumi smiled, wiping her cheeks as a light laugh fell from her lips. “No wonder you’re our lyricist. Your way with words rivals Shakespeare.”
“Damn right it does.” Mira joined in, smiling. Geubsa, feeling left out, climbed onto the bed where the girls were sitting and licked what was left of the salty tears from Rumi’s face. His small act of devotion had the girls laughing in no time, Rumi grumbling about his drool while Sussie chirped a laugh from his perch on Mira’s shoulder.
In an attempt to draw Rumi’s mind elsewhere, Zoey tentatively ventured into a topic she had been considering for a while.
“So, speaking of Geubsa and Sussie, I guess they’re staying with us now?” A small question radiating with hope.
“Of course they’re staying.” Mira cut in before Rumi could answer. A wicked grin stretched Rumi’s lips from ear to ear.
“I see they’ve grown on you. Especially Sussie.” Her expression was a mix of satisfaction and teasing.
Mira cleared her throat and reached up to scratch under Sussie’s beak. “Maybe.”
Zoey and Rumi laughed again. Rumi looked down at the tiger sprawled out on her bed and rubbed his cheek. “I was planning to take them in. Without Jinu, they don’t have anywhere to stay.” Geubsa blinked slowly, one eyelid closing before the other, and then returned Rumi’s affection by pressing into her hand.
Zoey giggled profusely, “Well I think they’re amazing. We needed some extra life in this old skyscraper anyway.” She leaned down and hugged Geubsa tightly, unable to resist the urge any longer. Before the girls could settle into the comfortable companionship, a shining blue light illuminated a small section of the Honmoon in front of them. The girls groaned in unison, their moods immediately dampened.
“Celine always calls for a meeting before we even have the chance, and every time it’s so early. It’s like she has a sixth sense, but would it kill her to wait a few hours? I mean it’s four in the morning!” Mira grumbled, flopping back on the bed and sending Sussie flying. Zoey buried her face into Geubsa’s fur to muffle her frustrated protest while Rumi just sat on the bed, half dreading half awaiting the conversation.
She took a deep breath before reaching out and pouring energy into the blue and purple lines, sending her affirmative response through the Honmoon. “It’s time to get some answers, girls.”

~~~

The trio dressed comfortably for the minor two-hour road trip. Last year, once the girls got settled into the world tour, Celine relocated from Seoul to Hahoe Village to rest and observe from afar. There, on the outskirts of town near the forest, stood a house that served the very first hunters during the Joseon dynasty. The building and surrounding grounds had been passed down from hunter to hunter, and provided a home base for them until the world urbanized. The girls had trained there, and returning after four years brought on a nostalgic and surreal atmosphere.
“Do you remember when Rumi almost broke that sacred hunter relic when she was learning to summon her weapon?” Mira eyed Rumi in the rearview mirror, and found a particularly incredulous hunter glaring at her.
Zoey laughed and turned around to look at Rumi too. “Definitely. It was the highlight of that month!”
Rumi shot forward and leaned on the center console in between the two front seats. “You two promised to never bring that up again!”
“What can we say, we’re reminiscing.” Mira turned slightly, still focusing on the road but able to waggle her eyebrows at Rumi.
Rumi responded with a coy grin and a memory of her own, “If I remember correctly, you were the one who sliced Celine’s favorite curtains in half when you tried wielding your woldo for the first time.”
Mira cut her eyes at Rumi, her voice low with mock gravity. “That was a low blow.”
“Tell that to the curtains.” Zoey jumped in, and the girls dissolved into laughter. After a few more stories and laughs, the village finally came into view with the sunrise. Mira drove the familiar path to the house, the girls’ anticipation growing with every minute. Pulling into the gravel drive, they noticed the front door was ajar.
“Something’s wrong.” Rumi spoke first, fear rising in her chest. They exited the car and drew their weapons, slowly approaching the front door. Mira pushed it fully open with the tip of her blade, but before they could take more than two steps inside, a rope shot out in front of their feet and swiped them to the floor. The girls fell with surprised shouts, scrambling to a standing position only to find that they pointed their weapons at a middle-aged woman holding a rope dart. A glowing rope dart. One that disappeared from the woman’s hands in a haze of blue light. This mysterious lady was dressed in a tailored pantsuit, with her graying hair pulled into a frizzy bun. Her appearance was definitely at odds with the lackadaisy stance she took.
A dissatisfied, nearly casual expression rested on the woman’s sharp features as she spoke. “I can smell Celine’s training from miles away,” she sighed.
Utterly perplexed at the figure standing before them, Rumi was the only one of the trio who could form words. “Who are you?” She demanded.
“A former member of the Sunlight Sisters.” The girls spun around to find Celine at the end of the front hallway, answering Rumi’s question. Their weapons instinctively disappeared, sensing no threat. Or at least one that wasn’t worthy of their blades... yet. Celine marched forward, closing the distance between her and her former band member. “I left you alone for five minutes, Hana. You couldn’t help yourself, could you?”
Hana chuckled, “I just wanted to meet them. After all, you’ve kept me from them, from Rumi, for twenty-two years. God forbid I call one meeting with them.”
Dumbfounded by this new hunter, Zoey interrupts. “Wait, it was you who used the Honmoon to call us here?”
Hana turned and nodded. “Yes dear.” She paused, looking her up and down, actively sizing her up. “And what is your name?”
Zoey turned to look at her bewildered friends before answering. “I’m Zoey, and this is Mira,” she gestured to her right, “And I’m guessing you know Rumi.”
A bittersweet smile fell on her face. “Yes. I know Rumi.” She stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on Rumi’s cheek. “You look so much like your mom.” Rumi could only look up at her with awe and unanswered questions swirling in her eyes. But then, Hana glanced down and saw the patterns. Rumi felt the sudden urge to cover them, one that had been conditioned into her. But instead of disgust or hatred, Rumi found that Hana’s expression reflected a deep sadness.
“Or at least I would have known her better, had I been allowed to stay all those years ago.”
Celine scoffed and waved her hand dismissively, stepping directly beside Rumi who retreated backwards to her friends. “You chose to leave, Hana.”
“Did I?” Came her sharp reply. “Or did someone’s actions force my hand?”
Celine exhaled an exasperated breath. “Listen to yourself! You haven’t even been here a day and you can’t help but bring up the past.”
A deep scowl twisted Hana’s features, “And you still talk as if the past means nothing.”
The two women stood rigid, locked in a standoff.
Mira, practiced in the art of mediation, stepped forward and cleared her throat. “Maybe we should sit and speak over tea? We haven’t even made it past the front hallway.” She gestured at the open door to their left.
After a long pause, Hana delivered a particularly chilly reply. “Tea sounds lovely.”

Chapter Text

Thirty minutes of tense silence passed as the group of hunters, former and current, sat in the den. The girls grouped together on the couch, while Hana and Celine sat on opposite chairs as far away from each other as possible. The bitterness radiating off of the two former hunters only served to make Rumi more wary of Celine, given that their last meeting could have ended in Rumi’s death. The distance between Celine and Hana puzzled the trio immensely, as they were what remained of Huntrix’s predecessors. If they were once as close as Huntrix is, Rumi wondered what could have possibly caused this rift and hostility. As she considered theories, Hana’s voice cut through the deafening silence.
“Well, this has been a lively meeting so far.”
Mira snorted, and Zoey elbowed her in response.
Rumi cleared her throat in her friends’ direction before turning to Hana. “I’m not exactly sure what you want from us, Hana.” She spoke awkwardly, unsure about how to handle the new hunter. Not even sure she could trust her.
Hana shrugged, “I felt the Honmoon collapse, and knew something had gone terribly wrong. But, before I could get here, you girls restored it.” A warm and proud smile punctuated her last words, eliciting the same expression from the girls. She continued, “Now, I suppose I just wanted a chance to see you again, and to meet the new generation.” She gestured to Zoey and Mira. “Though, I thought that maybe you girls would have some questions for me.” Her brows lifted in expectation, but not in a demanding way.
“Well you’ve met them, and they have no questions. Now this discussion is over.” Celine interrupted, her voice hard as stone and dripping with impatience.
“Not exactly,” The women looked to Rumi as she paused and set her cup down. “We were going to call for a meeting with Celine anyway. Turns out we do have a couple questions, and I guess two experienced hunters is better than one.” She looked at Mira and Zoey for support before broaching the subject of demons, and with a deep breath she pushed on. “We need to talk. About demons, and how they operate.”
Celine scoffed in reply while Hana went silent and sipped from her cup.
“What about demons? We know everything there is to know.” Celine pushed back into her chair, crossing her arms after she spat her response.
Mira peered into the rich brown liquid in her cup, speaking without looking up. “Things happened that go against what we were taught. Rumi’s very existence, and the things she has experienced,” she paused, gathering the courage to look into her mentor’s eyes. “You need to listen to her, Celine.”
Zoey nodded in agreement and squeezed Rumi’s shoulder, encouraging her to keep going. Rumi looked at Celine, really looked, for the first time since she kneeled before her and asked for release. Since she begged the woman who raised her to put her down like a dog. It felt like it had been years, that it was just a distant memory from the past. But it had happened less than two days ago, under the tree on this very estate. Much like she did then, Celine squirmed under Rumi’s gaze.
Watching her mother figure agonize in her presence was jarring, but Rumi powered through the unpleasant feeling rising in her throat. She needed to know if she had been lied to her whole life, or if Celine was simply ignorant of the truth.
“I came to know a demon on a more... personal level.” That was putting it mildly, seeing as how she currently housed his soul. After Rumi’s ‘confession’, the two hunters in front of her shared an ominous glance. Hana seemed anchored in her thoughts, while a feeling of pure panic washed over Celine. Curious about their reactions, Rumi narrowed her eyes and observed them carefully as she continued. “He told me about a demon’s life, how Gwi-Ma controls them with shame. They aren’t soulless, and they aren’t entirely evil.” A death-like pallor spread across Celine’s face, as if she was reliving a war. At her reaction, Rumi’s expression hardened and her eyes burned with a newfound fire. “Did you know?”
Her mouth opened and closed, searching for a response. Not once could Celine look Rumi in the eye, and so her answer was unspoken, but understood.
“You are not entirely wrong, child.” Hana responded before Celine gathered her words, drawing the girls’ attention. “But you are missing some very important details about their way of life.”
Celine launched out of the chair to face Hana, her hands forming fists at her side. With wild eyes and an angered expression, she practically screamed at her, “Don’t you dare start with your nonsense, Hana! Demons are demons, and they will always need to be destroyed.” Celine had repeated that rhetoric countless times, but this was the first instance where Rumi heard doubt flicker in her tone.
Hana slammed her cup on the table, rising to meet Celine eye to eye. “You just don’t listen, do you? You never listened, not even when Miyeong begged you to! And you still won’t, even when the three girls you trained for years stand before you, repeating the same truth!” Hana took a moment to breathe, betrayal and anger reverberating in her every word. “You seem to have forgotten what happened to Miyeong because of your stubbornness and pride.”
Celine recoiled from her words, stunned into silence. Rumi’s eyes went wide, her mouth slightly agape. Mira and Zoey tensed beside her, wishing they would be swallowed up by the ground. Rumi looked to Celine with confusion and a prayer in her eyes.
“What does this have to do with my mother?” Celine’s hands cupped her mouth, tears on the verge of falling from her eyes. Rumi’s face twisted in disbelief, “Is she talking about her death?”
Without looking away from Celine, Hana replied. “Her death, and her life. I have stayed away, stayed quiet, for years because of you Celine, and I think it has been long enough.” She ruffled in her coat pocket, drawing out a small card and holding it up to Celine, communicating a clear message. “This is your story to tell, Ceel. It’s between you and Rumi. But if you won’t tell her, I will.” Hana walked over to where Rumi sat and knelt in front of her. Her voice was gentle, a calming force in the developing storm. “Whenever you need me, tabby cat, call me. I have some of the answers you seek.” She handed Rumi a plain white card with a phone number on it. Rumi was still lost, her mind thrumming with questions after Hana’s speech. She watched mindlessly as Hana stalked out of the house, and then she turned to face Celine with tears streaming down her face. Without Hana’s presence, the room sank into the same tense and thick emptiness that plagued them before. Celine didn’t dare move a muscle as Rumi stared at her. She remembered those conversations with Celine years ago, when she desperately wanted to know about her parents, and where she came from.

No, Rumi, she didn’t love him. He took advantage of her.

He stole her, trapped her.

She didn’t choose him.

You are different. You aren’t like him.

You can be fixed.

Celine’s words, forever burned into her mind. Those memories that Rumi did her best to forget came crashing back. The card in her hands began to wrinkle as her fists clenched in anger, her emotion swelling as each minute ticked by.
With a shuddering breath, Rumi finally addressed the stranger in front of her. “Growing up, whenever I asked you about my mom, you answered me. You told me stories about her, about the Sunlight Sisters. But the one story you refused to tell me was how she died.”
Tears started to fall from Celine’s cheeks now and a sob shook her shoulders, “Please Rumi, let’s just calm down and I’ll explain everything, Hana was mistaken—”
“NO.” Rumi stood, her voice deepening and her patterns glowing. “You tell me what happened to her, Celine! No more lies.” Rumi’s eye flashed to gold as she pleaded for the truth.
Her mentor shrank into herself, sinking back into the chair and cradling her head in her hands.

“It was an accident.”

~~~

November, 2002

Miyeong had hidden her pregnancy from everyone, except of course her husband. At least, they were married in her eyes, even though they lacked a certificate. To keep her best friends in the dark, she continued to perform with them, managing to do so for five months after discovering her condition. It was pure luck that she hadn’t begun to show earlier. But eventually, she saw that her bump was growing little by little. Not noticeable to most, but Miyeong knew the time had come. The Honmoon was vibrant and thriving, not gold yet but still the strongest it had ever been. So, she announced to Celine and Hana that it was time for a well deserved break after their last show. ‘My parents want to spend time with me, it’ll be a four month holiday’ she told them.
They readily agreed, both being exhausted after a long tour. Celine and Hana traveled a lot, visiting Europe and the States, while Miyeong relished the time she had with Sejo. Now, their daughter had arrived, and it was time to tell her fellow hunters the truth.

The couple was relaxing in the sitting room of their house when Miyeong called her friends. “I have something to tell you both when you land.” She gazed at Rumi while speaking into the phone.
“Ooh, someone’s got a juicy secret?” Hana’s voice squeaked over the line. Miyeong heard Celine’s airy laugh in the background.
“You could say that...” Her voice trailed off as she looked to meet Sejo’s eyes. He smiled at her encouragingly, taking her breath away like always as he lounged in the chair next to her.
“Why can’t you tell us over the phone?” Celine popped in, the same old edge of suspicion peeking through her tone.
“It isn’t exactly something I can convey over a phone call.” Rumi cooed quietly in her lap, nearly fulfilling Celine’s wish. “Just hurry home so I can tell you.”
The girls groaned loud enough that Sejo could hear them, making Miyeong pull the phone away from her ear with a small laugh. “Fine, we’ll be waiting on bated breath.” Hana said, a dramatic flourish in her tone.
“I’ll be here.” Miyeong replied with a smile, hanging up and returning all her focus to her family. She looked down at Rumi, a guilty, sad expression overtaking her features.
Sejo’s brows furrowed. “They will understand, Miyeong. Once you explain, once you show them like I showed you.”
She looked at him, her eyes a strange mix of hope and guilt. “What if they don’t?” She paused, tears starting to well in her eyes. “Our mentor was killed by a demon right in front of Celine.” Miyeong’s voice cracked. “I don’t know if she will ever open her mind to this, to the truth. Even Hana might not accept us.”
Sejo moved from his chair and knelt in front of Miyeong, taking her hand. “Once they see us, see Rumi, it will be different in their minds. And then we can defeat Gwi-ma, together.” He took Rumi into his arms, and drew his wife in for a tight embrace.

After Hana and Celine set the phone down, they got back to packing.
“I wonder what Miyeong wants to tell us.” Hana considered aloud while folding her tops.
“I’m not sure.” Celine’s eyes narrowed in concentration, tossing a pair of pants into her suitcase. “But I think it has something to do with our break.”
Hana looked at her, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Celine sighed. “Miyeong has always been a workaholic. But a month before our hiatus, I noticed her slowing down a lot. It wasn’t like her at all.”
“Isn’t that why she suggested a break? She had been working really hard, we all were.”
“When has Ryu Miyeong ever asked for a break?” Celine looked at her friend, a frown tugging at her lips.
Hana shrugged, “I don’t know, but whatever it is, she’s going to tell us. And we will be there for her.”
Celine’s frown loosened a bit, comforted by Hana’s words. They would be home soon, so Celine set aside her worries.

Sure enough, their plane touched down in Seoul a few hours later. Hana and Celine practically ran through the airport, eager to see their best friend again. Miyeong waited for them at the baggage claim, nervously rocking Rumi in her arms. She had told Sejo to wait for his introduction as Rumi’s would be hard enough, even without showing them her patterns. She looked around, searching for her friends when she heard two excited squeals. Miyeong turned to find Celine and Hana waving frantically and rushing toward her, struggling with their suitcases and neck pillows.
“Miyeong!” They both shouted, and all three girls wore huge, stupid grins. She stood still and allowed them to come to her.
They moved to hug her, but Miyeong cautioned them. “Be careful, you wouldn’t want to crush her.”
Hana and Celine stood close to their friend, very confused having not noticed Rumi. Miyeong pulled the swaddle back to reveal her sleeping face.
Hana’s jaw dropped as her eyes flew open. “Is that a baby?” She asked, awe and wonder in her voice.
Miyeong smiled nervously. “Surprise.”
Hana stepped forward to get a better view of the baby girl, grinning like a fool.
“Now we know why you needed a break so bad!”
Behind them, Celine stayed rooted to the ground, an unreadable expression on her face.
“So this was your big secret?” She asked.
Miyeong and Hana turned to their friend. Miyeong’s jaw tensed and her brows pinched together as she spoke, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you both. I just didn’t know how...” She looked to her friend, pleading for forgiveness. Hana had already chosen, standing by her side and laying a supportive hand on her shoulder. It seemed like hours passed before Celine stepped forward and looked at her friend’s child.
“What’s her name?”
Miyeong beamed with happiness. “Rumi.”

The next two weeks flew by, full of laughter and new memories. Miyeong was taking things slow, waiting for the right time to reveal Rumi’s patterns. Hana and Celine loved the baby girl after she flashed them a smile, and their affection only deepened from there. But a strange feeling took up residence in Celine’s gut. It started when they asked about Rumi’s father, and Miyeong gave them non-committal answers. ‘You might meet him one day’ and ‘He’s a very busy guy’ were her favorites. The feeling worsened when Miyeong would take Rumi away to change her, nervously shuffling her to a different room in a paranoid manner. Celine noticed Miyeong’s hypervigilance about Rumi’s clothing, and how the baby’s arms remained covered at all times. Slowly, Hana started realizing these things too, and the girls grew more wary of Miyeong’s behavior.
As they sat on a plush rug in the main room of the girls’ home, playing with Rumi, these suspicions clawed at Celine’s mind. Miyeong was perched in a chair, working on a song for their next album. The phone rang in the kitchen, and Miyeong perked up.
“I’ll get it, you guys keep playing.” She smiled warmly at her friends and daughter before moving into the other room. Celine watched her, making sure she was out of sight before unbuttoning Rumi’s onesie.
Hana looked alarmed and grabbed Celine’s hand to stop her. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Don’t tell me you aren’t curious. That you haven’t noticed how Miyeong always covers her up.” Hana’s grip faltered a little, recognizing the truth in her words. “I just want to know what’s wrong, Hana. I want to be there for Miyeong if something is the matter with Rumi.” Celine looked earnestly at her friend, who released her grip altogether.
Rumi giggled as Celine resumed unbuttoning, and when the top of the onesie was pushed down, their souls twisted in shock and horror. Hana’s hands covered her mouth, her eyes glistening with tears, and Celine’s face was struck with disbelief. Demon patterns covered Rumi’s chest and arms, the violet streaks reaching just past her shoulders and below her neck. The child was none the wiser about the crackling atmosphere her skin had created, continuing to giggle as Celine’s shaky hands brushed against her markings. Celine grew more horrified when the reality of what her friend had done with a demon hit her.
“It was just Lynn, she wanted to know when our next song was—” Miyeong stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the scene before her. Rumi, sprawled on the floor, her demon skin uncovered by the two women closest to her. Celine slowly turned to face her.
“Miyeong. What is this?”
Her lips quivered as shaky words fell from her mouth, “Please, Celine, let me explain.”
She stood in one fluid motion, facing her friend with disgust. It only took one moment to shatter years of friendship and trust. But Hana shot up from the floor, cradling Rumi in her arms, and stood in the middle of the two opposed forces.
“Celine, we will let her explain.” Whatever horror that Rumi’s marks brought about in Hana was amplified tenfold by the disgust and fury she witnessed in Celine’s response. Though, she wasn’t entirely surprised, given Minji’s death just two years prior. Rumi began whimpering, letting out a soft cry.
“She is a demon, Hana. Miyeong has betrayed us and everything we stand for!” Her voice shattered, tears welling in her eyes.
“No, Celine. I refuse to believe that.” She stepped forward, placing a hand on Celine’s shoulder. “Let her speak for herself.”
Celine looked between her two friends, anguish evident in her face. Hesitantly, she acquiesced and nodded at her friend. “You have five minutes, Miyeong.”

The conversation that followed was erratic. Celine and Miyeong sat on two chairs opposite each other, while Hana occupied the couch in the middle as an unofficial mediator. Rumi had calmed down in her mother’s arms and slept while Miyeong desperately tried to explain.
“I met Sejo when I went on a solo patrol, about a year ago.” Her words were shaky at first, but gained confidence as she continued. “He followed me that night, curious about me after I had done something that interested him.” A small laugh escaped her lips at the memory. “Of course, when he revealed himself, I attacked him as I was taught. But the jackass kept trying to talk to me, interrupting my attempts to kill him.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes, chuckling softly again while she spoke.
“So you went against four hundred years of teachings, because a demon talked to you? Have you forgotten what happened to Minji?” She sneered.
“Let her finish, Celine.” Hana barked, shooting a glare her way..
Miyeong shakily continued, “Eventually, his words piqued my interest. We argued at first, but he showed me what demons go through, their condition. He taught me that we were wrong, that they experience emotion just like we do.”
Celine scoffed, her dry laugh piercing the air before she responded, “How sweet. Demons, creatures of hell and Gwi-Ma’s underlings, feel emotions. You were tricked, Miyeong!”
She looked up, flames in her eyes. “They do experience emotion, Celine. It’s how Gwi-Ma controls them.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! They are soulless creatures whose only object in life is to steal the souls of others!”
“That’s a lie! Just look at Rumi!” Miyeong bellowed, her face pleading with her friend. Rumi started to wake with the commotion, threatening to cry.
“Enough, girls!” Hana interjected. She turned to Celine, “If you can’t let her finish, then this conversation is useless. I’m warning you, Celine.” A dangerous edge carried on her tone. Celine threw her hands up in sarcastic defeat, leaning back into the chair.
Miyeong took another deep breath, rocking Rumi back to sleep. “Gwi-Ma will leverage a person’s emotion so that they sell their soul, and once the deal is made he uses their shame to control them.” She looked deep into her friend’s eyes, speaking slowly and purposefully, “I have seen it, Celine. What it does to Sejo when Gwi-Ma calls him and forces him back to the demon realm.”
At this, Celine’s eyes flashed with interest, but she remained silent. Miyeong stopped speaking, allowing the girls to absorb her words.
After a long pause, she swallowed hard and soldiered on. “I want you both to meet him.”
Both heads snapped in her direction, Celine incredulous and Hana curious.
“You’re out of your goddamn mind, Miyeong,” came Celine’s cutting response.
“Wait, Celine.” Hana turned to her, “Consider it. We can make our own judgments based on what we see.”
“Now you are the one who’s crazy, Hana! She has just been manipulated by one of Gwi-Ma’s hounds!”
“We have everything to lose, Celine! Our entire friendship and career as hunters hinges on this.” Hana retorted, her lip curling in frustration. “If Miyeong is telling the truth, we need to see it for ourselves. It will change everything.”
Celine stopped to think. She stared blankly at Hana and Miyeong, who were begging her with their eyes. Miyeong had been tainted by Sejo, and she was bringing Hana along with her. Generations of hunters that came before her screamed in her mind, telling her to end this idiocy. Celine’s whole being rejected Miyeong’s words, remembering all that the demons had done to this world. Who they had taken from her. She made a choice, and faced Miyeong as Judas faced his God, nodding her head in agreement.
“I will meet him.”
Miyeong’s lips curved into a soft smile, and Hana sighed a breath of relief. Miyeong rose from her chair, grabbing a jacket and swaddling Rumi in an extra layer.
“We need to be on the ground, he can hear me better that way.” Celine and Hana followed her silently, grabbing coats of their own. The ride down the elevator was quiet, and Celine tensed as they strayed farther from their home in the skies. Once they were out of the building, Miyeong led them to a small and deserted park. She approached a tree that stood tall near a bench, and started vocalizing a hauntingly romantic melody. When the Honmoon illuminated their surroundings, Miyeong reached into it, continuing her song while she disrupted its surface. Celine narrowed her eyes as the Honmoon flashed red, and before she could react Sejo stood before them.
Miyeong smiled and embraced him. Celine recoiled in disgust, backing away from the sight. If anything, watching this unfold strengthened her resolve. Hana stepped forward to introduce herself, but before anyone could speak a blue light gleamed behind their backs. Hana and Miyeong whipped around, shock painted on their faces.
“Step away from him, Miyeong.” Her bow was steady, locked on its target.
“Celine, stop—”
“Stay out of this Hana! I am trying to save her!” Celine shouted. Hana looked at her friend in disbelief, placing a steadying hand on Miyeong’s shoulder.
“You said that you would listen to him, that you would try to understand!” Miyeong cried, and her daughter began to do the same.
Celine looked at Miyeong, standing beside him, tears welling in her eyes. “I am doing this for your own good, Miyeong.” Then, she finally locked eyes with the demon. “You stole her from me. From us.”
Sejo remained calm, his voice soft as he spoke to her, “No, Celine. I showed her the truth about my kind. I shared my life with her because I love her, and because I want to defeat Gwi-Ma as you do.”
Somehow, Celine managed to pull the bowstring even tighter. “Demon’s aren’t capable of love. You could never feel for her as I do. As Hana does.”
Miyeong and Hana stood by, helpless and only able to watch the conversation unfold. In that state, Celine would loose an arrow if she so much as glimpsed another weapon.
Sejo stepped in front of his family, his posture casual and relaxed. “If you will allow me, I can prove to you that I love her. That what I have told her about demons is true.”
He took another step forward, but Celine tensed further and screamed, “Stay back!”
He paused, holding his hands out beside him in surrender. “Please, lower your bow, before you do anything you regret.”
A look of pure hatred and clarity washed over her features, certainty settling into her expression. “I will never regret killing a demon.”
Miyeong saw Celine’s nostrils flare as she took a deep breath, like she always did before she released an arrow.
“No!” Miyeong wailed, reacting without thinking as she wrapped her free arm around Sejo, turning so that her back faced Celine. She stumbled when she lurched toward him, unable to push Sejo as she intended.

The arrow had speared through both of them before Celine registered what had happened.

It pierced Miyeong’s back, exiting through her chest and into Sejo, barely sparing their daughter from death. Sejo looked down at his wife, pain tracing the lines of his face. He had only a few seconds to look into her eyes one last time, holding his hand against her cheek before he disintegrated. His body was carried off by the wind in a flurry of red ash while Rumi wailed. Miyeong stumbled as she turned to face her friends, both of them frozen in place. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she was gasping, unable to speak or breathe. They both rushed to Miyeong’s side as she fell to the ground with a sickening thud. Hana took off her jacket, frantically using it to cover the gaping hole in Miyeong’s chest. She looked to her friend, terrified and grasping at her arm.
“It’s ok, Miyeong. You’re ok, you’re gonna be fine, I promise.” Sobs racked Hana’s words. She turned to Celine, “What do we do!” She cried out, but Celine remained locked in a harrowing trance, watching the consequences of her betrayal bleed out onto the grass. Celine’s hands shook as she reached out to touch her friend, silent tears flowing down her face. Hana turned back to Miyeong and heard her choke on her own blood, watching as it dripped down her mouth and flowed onto Rumi’s blanket.
With intense effort, Miyeong looked to Hana and then Celine before sputtering her words, “Pro-protect h-her.” The last iota of her strength was spent squeezing her daughter one last time.
The meaning behind her simple request was evident. Hana’s hands gently held Miyeong’s head, smearing blood everywhere as her sobs mingled with Rumi’s. A few moments later the gurgling stopped, and Hana watched as the life drained from her best friend’s eyes.
“No. No, no, no, no!” Hana screamed as she gently shook and tapped her face. When Miyeong laid there unresponsive, Hana slumped backwards, the suffocating reality of what had happened settling over her.
As if she sensed her mother’s final breath, Rumi released a blood-curdling scream that shook the Honmoon itself, a blanket of red radiating away from them. This drew Celine from her haze, her breathing rapid and interrupted by sobs. She shook Miyeong’s shoulders aimlessly, taking her body into her lap when she refused to wake.
“Please, please Miyeong! I’m so sorry, please!” Her pleading dissolved into incomprehensible wails, while Hana sat silent beside her. An hour passed, maybe two, before Celine and Rumi quieted. She cradled Miyeong’s body, Rumi still swaddled against her corpse. The grief and sheer guilt gnawed at her as she sat on the blood-soaked ground, the cold November air sending a chill through her bones.
Hana finally found the courage to speak, her voice hollow and devoid of all feeling. “Celine. She’s gone, we have to do something.”
Yes. Miyeong was gone, and Celine had taken her life. Hana reached for her shoulder, but she was lost to the world. Celine’s spirit had vacated her eyes, leaving behind empty husks. And in that moment, Hana realized that nothing mattered. They could just sit with their friend, one last time, before they ‘did something’ about it, before their duty as hunters had to prevail. One more moment of peace before the end of it all. So, Hana crawled closer to Celine, taking Rumi into her arms. She held Miyeong’s cold hand and leaned against Celine, savoring the last few moments of their friendship, no matter how bitter the taste.

~~~

Deep black streaks were smeared across the white card stock. The odd mixture of salty tears and printer ink painted Rumi’s fingers as it did the card itself. Hana’s number was still readable, but barely. Rumi had focused on that card when Celine spoke, forcing the words down her throat as if they were glass. She had thought of many scenarios, but Celine killing her mother wasn’t one of them.
The elder hunter had stopped speaking a few minutes ago, and now she sat and studied the floor. Rumi dragged her eyes away from the card to look at her before she spoke.
“Get out,” her voice flowed calmer than she expected.
Celine finally met Rumi's eyes, sorrow and pain etched into her own. “Rumi, I—”
“Did I stutter?” Rumi’s scathing words cut into Celine, and she felt as if she was being torn limb from limb. Blue light accentuated Rumi’s stony expression when she drew her sword, standing and pointing it at her.
Confusion found its way into Celine’s expression when she saw the weapon. “Rumi, your sword, it’s changed.”
“That is no longer your concern.” She bit out, Mira and Zoey rising next to her with resolute frowns. “Leave now Celine, before I force you. You are no longer welcome here.”
Something died inside of Celine when she heard those words, spoken by the baby she had raised. She slowly stood from her chair, gathering what was left of her dignity as she sulked to the front door. With one last tearful look at Rumi over her shoulder, Celine stepped out of her life. As soon as Rumi heard her car speed off, she collapsed into her friend's arms, a raging storm of sobs and wails. But between their soft words and murmurs, she heard his voice again. Comforting her, reminding her of his presence even in her darkest moment.

I’m here, Rumi. I’m so sorry.

Chapter Text

Rumi’s soft footsteps mingled with the creaking wood as she padded around the old hanok, moonlight engulfing her path through the den. Celine had left only a few hours ago, but her confession and absence tore at Rumi’s heart, robbing her of sleep. After tossing and turning in bed, she began aimlessly wandering until she found herself standing in a familiar hallway, with hunter relics dating back as early as four hundred years lining its walls. From faded jeogoris and beautiful neuls to a nurse’s uniform worn during the Korean War, each generation had given something to this place. The Sunlight Sisters’ world tour outfits were the latest, and an empty spot sat next to them, waiting for Huntrix to add their own belongings. She gently touched each one she passed, hoping to find answers in the possessions of her predecessors.
Endless thoughts of her mother, father, and mentor plagued her waking moments. Rumi started drifting into the ‘what-ifs,’ craving just one chance to see her parents and experience what should have been. These notions followed her as she gazed at the reminders of former hunters.
When Rumi came to the end of the hall, she stopped in front of the oldest relic they owned. A perfectly preserved hanbok from the very first hunter, its blue and purple silks dulled slightly after a few centuries of life. She stood there, staring at it, willing the cloth to answer her questions.
Had they known then that demons were forced into servitude? Or, were they all ignorant to the nuanced situation, merely trying to protect the world? Rumi wasn’t sure how long she stared at it, her mind turning itself over and over, trying to find solace.
Her quiet contemplation brought on a slow moving headache, the dull sensation creeping from her temples to the base of her skull. She groaned, rubbing her head and stumbling backwards. The affliction worsened quickly, and the intense escalation in pain drew a wince from Rumi. Flashes and bursts of images pulsed in her vision, and a sharp ringing pierced her ears. She cried out as countless sights flickered in front of her; richly decorated rooms, dirty streets, exquisite hanboks, and finely dressed women were the only glimpses she could properly make sense of. This onslaught of different visions slowed, eventually focusing on one particular scene. Rumi tried to blink away the image, but it kept flashing in front of her, replacing her view of the hunter’s hanbok with a woman wearing a similar garment. Her headache magnified, feeling like a thunderclap inside her skull. Falling to her knees, she screwed her eyes shut trying to block it out, but it was of no use. When Rumi opened her eyes, the ringing had been replaced by a soft melody, and a middle aged woman stood in front of her. Rumi looked up at her, finding a tired but warm smile with crows feet framing her eyes.
Her brown hanbok was frayed and covered in dirt, old and worn down from years of abuse to the cloth. Rumi tried to look around, but found that she was not in control of her body. When her eyes trailed downward without permission, she saw herself sitting in the dirt while a man’s hands played a bipa. Rumi realized it wasn’t her body at all as she watched the familiar fingers deftly strum their instrument. His hands stopped playing moments later, and when the body Rumi inhabited looked up, she saw the woman clapping proudly. Her vision followed excited giggles to her side, where she saw a young girl grinning widely. The girl’s laughter was quickly drowned out as the shrill ringing returned, and the strange vision started flickering again. More images flashed in Rumi’s eyes, replacing the domestic scene. Everything suddenly stopped and she was transported back to the hanok, kneeling in front of the ancient hunter’s gown. Rumi doubled over, her hands supporting her upper body as she crouched on the floor. She almost didn’t hear Mira and Zoey over her galloping heart and rapid breathing.
“Rumi! Rumi, are you okay?” Zoey frantically asked while Mira sat her up and propped her against the wall. Rumi opened her eyes and saw two blurry figures kneeling in front of her, waiting for her to respond. She blinked slowly, rubbing her eyes until her vision returned to normal.
“I’m fine,” Rumi mumbled, raking her hands through her undone hair.
“No, you’re obviously not fine. We heard you all the way from our rooms.” Mira quipped, wearing a stiff frown. “What happened?”
She groaned again, rubbing the base of her skull and cracking her neck. “I’m not entirely sure. I saw something, a memory.”
Mira and Zoey glanced at each other, eyes wide with worry and confusion. They slowly helped Rumi to her feet, leading her to the kitchen. After each of the girls retrieved a glass of water, they sat quietly at the dining table. Rumi only added to their concern when she explained the strange vision and images she saw.
She tapped her fingers on the table while Mira and Zoey sat unnervingly still, waiting for a better explanation.
“What could have possibly caused that?” Zoey murmured, looking up from underneath furrowed brows. Both girls surveyed Rumi cautiously, and the way she avoided their eyes told them that she had an idea.
Rumi stopped her incessant tapping, tilting the glass so that she stared into the water. Her reflection rippled on the surface, golden eyes watching her. His golden eyes, only visible in a mirror image. But, they were gone in an instant, her reflection quickly returning to normal brown irises.
When the unsettling feeling from her vision died down, Rumi understood quickly that it had been Jinu’s memory. The bipa, woman, and young girl were clearly the same from Jinu’s story. It was the only logical explanation, especially given that his soul was currently bound behind her ribcage.
Rumi was reluctant to share this fact with her friends, not wanting to worry them. But when she finally looked at them, she only found support and determination in their faces.
With a deep breath, Rumi began explaining the same way Jinu had. “I had a single possession to my name. An old bipa.” She swirled the water in her glass before taking another drink, then slid the glass away from her. The girls stared at her, eyes squinting in confusion.
So, she continued. “That was one of the first things Jinu told me when he shared small pieces of his life as a human. His life before he made a deal with Gwi-Ma.” She looked at her hands, and then her friends. “His most prized, and only possession, was a bipa. Jinu was busking the streets with it when he first heard Gwi-Ma’s call.”
Mira and Zoey gaped at her, the strange visions clicking into place in their minds. “You think you saw Jinu’s memory?” Zoey proposed, her tone bordering on incredulous.
Rumi smiled, “I don’t think, I know. Those were his hands, of that I’m sure. The woman and the girl must have been his family that he told me about.”
Choosing to leave the matter of Jinu’s relatives untouched, Mira thought for a moment before responding, “Well, what should we do about it?”
“I don’t know if I want to do anything about it.” She mumbled, looking at Mira with sad eyes. Rumi couldn’t suppress her extreme anxiety about this new... development, and whether or not she would be safe. But a part of her ached to see more.
Mira sighed, deep and understanding. “That might be what you want, Rumi. But I know that you know we have to fix this. What happens if you have an ‘episode’ in the middle of a show? The street? What if they get worse? We don’t exactly know about the consequences of keeping someone else’s soul in your body.” She pleaded with her friend, begging her to see sense.
Rumi already saw it, though. As much as she wished for more time with him, for more answers, she knew that it would mean destroying herself in the process. “I know.” Her defeated response echoed quietly.
Zoey looked apologetic, reaching across the counter to squeeze her hand. “It’s been a rough couple of days, I think it can wait. We should just take a breather before we do anything, maybe go to a bathhouse?” A shy smile crept onto Zoey’s lips while Rumi breathed a light chuckle.
“That sounds like a plan.” Rumi responded, a yawn catching up to her words.
Mira arched an eyebrow, “But first, I think we all can use some sleep.”
The girls drew each other in for a tight hug before trudging back to their beds, backs hunched over from exhaustion. Rumi gently fell into the soft mattress, wrapping the covers around her tightly and imagining it was a warm embrace. When sleep finally did claim her, a dream prevented it from being restful.
This time, Rumi stood in an aquarium, the same one that she had visited with Celine as a child. She squinted, looking at her hands and spinning around to take in the strange new environment.

This time, Rumi was aware that she was dreaming.

Although, it seemed different than a dream. She felt like she was awake, like everything was real. Dazed, she cautiously explored her surroundings. The room was incredibly bare, with plain grey carpet and paint, and only one large tank spanning the entire front wall. Common sense told her that this was wrong, that aquariums don’t have rooms like this one. No information panels, doors, guests, or even a stocked tank.
A hazy blue glow engulfed her figure as she stood and gazed at the total lack of wildlife in the enclosure, excepting one small fish. It was all alone with nothing but water and sand; a sole animal swimming in depths that felt endless, yet so obviously had limits.
Rumi recognized the fish immediately, as it was the only thing she remembered from her visit there as a child. A blue-striped angelfish, with gleaming orange scales that emphasized its lightning blue stripes. As a child she obsessed over it, looking at pictures on nature websites and admiring its stripes. Stripes that were praised and appreciated by anyone who laid eyes on it.
She placed her hand to the glass, stepping so close that her breath left a blurry fog on the surface. As Rumi watched the creature swim around aimlessly, other animals started to appear out of thin air. A few schools of fish, a shark, and even an eel, followed closely by rocks, plants, and beautiful ocean decorations. Even the room started to change, gaining doors and more tanks, with animal species cards nailed to walls. The drastic change stunned her, until she heard his voice.
“I wanted to take you here, for one of our rendezvous. Scouted it out and everything, too.”
Rumi whipped around to find Jinu standing mere feet from her, dressed in the clothes he wore the night before the Idol Awards. The same way she had chosen to picture him in her mind when she closed her eyes.
For the first few moments, her brain didn’t register his presence. She stood, gaping like a fish out of water. Rumi had imagined this moment a million times, imagined what she would do if he ever stood in front of her again. Hug him tightly, whisper her apologies, or maybe even give him a kiss. But when her mind caught up to her eyes, what she actually felt contradicted all of her daydreams.

Anger.

It consumed her entire being. She had chosen to forgive him for his betrayal, chosen to march towards him during the final battle, hoping that he would choose her too. And he did, but only by sacrificing himself. It was the single most selfless thing anyone had done for her, and she hated him for it.
The rage she felt toward his death came barreling into her, reminding her of the hole he left behind. It was worse than his betrayal at the Idol Awards.
Without thinking, Rumi’s feet started rushing toward him, a loathsome expression twisting her features. When she reached him, her fist connected with his face before either one of them spoke another word. A confused Jinu stumbled a little, bringing his hand up to his jaw where a bruise would have formed. Rumi continued her assault, raining her fists down on his chest. Her blows became weaker as she started crying and choking on her words.
“How could you! How could you leave me! Why did you have to die?” She screamed and sobbed, and Jinu now understood her rage. He grabbed her wrists, holding her hands to his chest with one arm while the other encircled her waist as she collapsed into him.
They embraced for a long few moments, Rumi’s head tucked against his chest, before she asked him again. “Why?” Her voice came out in a hoarse whisper, nearly absorbed by the soft fabric of his hoodie.
“You needed my soul and the extra power it held to defeat Gwi-Ma. It was the only way.” He nuzzled into her unbraided hair, breathing in deeply before he spoke again. “But for some reason, I’m still here. Or at least, my soul is. Sort of.”
Rumi pulled back to look at him, confused but no longer crying. “What do you mean?”
He sighed, grabbing her hand and guiding them back to the large tank. When they saw their reflections, Rumi looked normal, as she did outside of this anomalous reality; faded, multicolored patterns and no hint of gold in her eyes. Jinu’s reflection, however, was that of his demon form. Full patterns on display and molten eyes, his skin a pale purple hue.
Jinu turned to face her again, taking both of her hands in his. “I expected my soul to be used up, expended by you.” He paused to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, “I was pretty sure that what you had said, about your patterns and mine disappearing after sealing the Honmoon, was wrong. And I know from experience demons don’t last long on the human side, away from Gwi-Ma.” He looked away as his face contorted, struck by the memory of what happened when demons strayed too far from Gwi-Ma’s control. Rumi squeezed his hand, nodding and encouraging him to continue.
Jinu took a deep breath, “So, I gave you my soul, assuming that you would consume it like any other demon, and it would give you the extra power you needed. Instead, it seems you’ve given it a place to stay.”
They both laughed a little, and stared at each other like they were seeing one another for the first time. Rumi was the one who broke eye contact, still somewhat shy in front of him. His eyes remained focused on her as she returned her gaze to the angelfish, who continued to swim in graceful patterns.
While Rumi admired her fish, she remembered his words a few moments earlier. “You wanted to take me here?” She asked with an arched brow, cutting her eyes in his direction while the angel fish swooped particularly close to the glass.
He let out a low chuckle. “Yep. A little odd, I guess, but I thought it would’ve been a nice place to meet.”
Rumi finally worked up the courage to fully meet his eyes, which had never strayed from her face. A rosy shade of crimson spread across her nose and cheeks, so she made an attempt at humor to combat the oddly charged atmosphere. “Not that I’m one to complain, but how come I can see you now, in this place, and even hear you when I’m not asleep?”
Jinu smiled and sighed, tactfully ignoring her rattled state. “I don’t know. This has never really happened before. Demons feed on souls, they don’t keep them. I think it’s because you’re only half-demon, but that’s still just a guess. And I don’t even know where to begin on how I’m still... present, so to speak.”
She nodded solemnly, the gears in her mind turning again. Rumi brought his hand up, gazing at it and softly caressing his palm before interlocking their fingers.
“I want to find these answers, I need to find them. With your help.” She looked at him earnestly, his soft expression melting away her fears.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the room change again, losing its detail. She spun around, still holding his hand, and watched the multitude of fish and sea flora disappear. Her angelfish swam alone yet again.
“I’m afraid we’re out of time tonight.” His voice was only a whisper now. Rumi turned to where Jinu was standing, panicked. He was gone, her hand still outstretched but holding onto nothing.
She rushed forward, reaching for him and yelling his name, her words echoing in the bare room.
A sickening feeling, like plummeting off of a cliff, overwhelmed her senses. Now, instead of the aquarium, Rumi was sitting up in her bed, sweating and panting. Her arms were still reaching forward, grasping at a ghost that wasn’t there. She blinked, bringing her hands back in and holding them at her chest. Sunlight glinted through the curtains, bathing the room in a golden glow, and she realized her ‘dream’ had occupied the entirety of the time she slept. As if by instinct, she reached for the bracelet at her wrist, rubbing the surface of the knots for comfort. The dream— if it can even be called that —started to haunt her thoughts now. Is her ’predicament’ getting worse, now that she can see, talk to, and physically touch Jinu?

More importantly, was that really Jinu, or is she just going insane?

With a groan she buried her face in her hands, her mind tired from all the work it's been doing. Thankfully, Zoey’s cheery voice interrupted her thoughts, and reminded her she wasn’t alone.
“Rumi! Hurry up and get ready, sleepyhead! I wanna get to the bathhouse as soon as possible.” Rumi laughed despite her troublesome thoughts, allowing some of those worries to fall away as she followed her friends’ voices to the kitchen. They were chatting by the stove, cooking eggs and sausages when she walked in. Rumi saw a hair tie on the counter, and grabbed it to throw her long, difficult hair in a ponytail.
“Smells good.” She said, padding over to watch Zoey cook. The girls chatted while preparing their food, continuing to do so when they sat down to eat. Rumi surveyed the battleground before her, wondering how she should tell them about her dream.
She rolled a sausage around on her plate, eyes cast downward as she spoke. “So, I had another ‘dream’ last night.”
All eating and chatter ceased, with forks mid-air as they turned to look at Rumi.
“And?” Mira asked, cautious.
Rumi met her eyes, “I saw him, actually saw him. Hugged him too, and we talked.”
You could hear a pin drop.
“Well, did anything else happen? Anymore headaches or pain?” Mira continued, as Zoey’s mouth still remained stuffed with eggs.
“Nope. I thought it was only for a few minutes, but when I woke up it was morning.”
Zoey gulped down her eggs. “So, I guess it’s fine then?” She squeaked.
“I don’t know, but I don’t really care either. It was amazing, seeing him again. I got to... address my grief and my anger.” The girls giggled, knowing exactly what that meant for Jinu’s face. Making light of the somewhat serious situation made things easier for Rumi, and sharing with Mira and Zoey started to be easier too.
The girls steered their conversation toward other avenues for the rest of breakfast, and after, they shuffled on comfortable clothes and prepared to go to the bathhouse in Hahoe. Apparently, Zoey had done exhaustive research on the few houses near the hunters’ hanok, and excitedly shot off a dozen positive Yelp reviews while the girls drove.
They arrived a few minutes later, immediately gravitating to the welcoming warmth that awaited them inside.
Two hours passed by in silence and relaxation, their stress and tight muscles melting away into the steaming water. Strangely enough, Rumi didn’t feel exposed, even with her patterns on full display. She felt at home with her friends, her family.
Their sanctuary was cut short, though, by a chaotic ripple in the Honmoon. The various colors of the threads lit up in front of them in sporadic bursts, and all three girls shot up out of the water, looking at each other in confusion.
“Could it be Celine?” Mira asked.
Rumi reached out to touch the disturbance. Something about it was... odd. It felt messy, unpracticed. “No. This isn’t Celine.”
“Hana then?” Zoey chimed in.
Rumi shook her head, “I don’t think so. When she called us last time, it was a steady, clear flow of energy into the Honmoon.”
Nearly as soon as she said those words, the threads opened up, and a scroll fell from the tear before the disturbance was gone.
Luckily, Mira’s incredible reaction time prevented it from plummeting into the water. She had gotten a little water on it from her hand, but other than that it was saved.
The girls looked at each other, bewildered. They all lost any ability to speak, still incredibly confused about whatever that was.
After initially snatching it from the air, Mira took care to only hold the wooden ends, turning it this way and that to examine it.
She scoffed, “A scroll? What, did an emperor from a historical drama need to send a message and get the time period wrong?”
“Just hurry up and open it!” Zoey urged, a little too excited.
As Mira carefully unrolled it, Rumi and Zoey crowded either side of her, watching in anticipation.

A short pause ensued, followed by Rumi’s frustrated voice. “What the hell does that mean?!”