Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun had risen, a new honmoon had appeared, and now the sun set again, but Celine barely noticed it. She still kneeled in front of the tree, exactly like Rumi had left her.

Her phone buzzed without a ringtone in her pocket, like it had done the whole day, but it was ignored until it went quiet.

Before Rumi appeared, she had been cleaning the grave where her surviving sister in voice and arms and she had laid part of her heart to rest so many years ago. From where she kneeled, she could see at the words engraved in the stone.

Ryu Mi-yeong-ui myo

Grave of Ryu Mi-yeong

Protect what is left of her in the world, she had sworn to herself….such big words. With so much goodwill, she set to the task only to ultimately fail.

She had not protected anyone. Only herself.

Rumi, kneeling, holding her sword in her hand, asking her to end it, flashed it in her mind, and for a moment her breath hitched, her eyes welling up. Then she was back in control, face almost neutral.

Yeah, Mi-yeong would be very proud of that.

‘Why couldn’t you love me?’

‘I do.’

‘All of me!’

The memory stung, and Celine folded a little more into herself, Rumi’s voice echoing in her head, her eyes full of tears and anger, one so different from the other.

‘This is why we have to hide it. Our faults and fears must never be seen! It’s the only way to protect the honmoon.’

The words of her teachers had now become hers as well.

Once she had convinced herself that protecting the honmoon, was her way of protecting Rumi.

Protecting, more like fixing. You had thought you could fix her!

‘Why couldn’t you love me?’

That girl had always asked the important questions, even as a kid. But now the answer scared Celine.

She sat still, so many thoughts spiralling in her head. She tried to calm them, had tried so for the last hours, but to no avail.  

Her phone buzzed again, and this time she took it out of her pocket and looked at the screen. It showed a picture of a young woman, her hair put up into two buns on top of her head, clad in a white long-sleeved crop top. The picture was at least 30 years old, but it was still one of Celine's favourites.

She looked at it for a few more seconds before it went quiet yet again.

And then, just like that, something settled, a clearness, a plan.

Silently, she stood up, wincing as the blood returned to her dead limbs, turning away from the tree and the graves, her movements steadier with each step.

She had made a choice, and now it was time to act.

Once made up her mind, Celine was never one to dawdle. For better or worse.

Her phone lit up again. This time, she took the call.

'Celine? Finally! Are you alright? How are Rumi and the others? The honmoon was gone and then back again?! What is going on?'

'Poppy,’ Celine said, a little surprised how easily she fell into her sure, commanding tone. Old habits die hard.

'Everybody is fine. But I need you to come here.'

There was silence for a moment, then a sigh, caught between annoyance and resignation.

'I am on my way already. Halfway there, in fact. I can be in your office in two hours. And I am right in the assumption that you will not tell me anything more until I arrive.'

'You are correct,' Celine answered.

Another pause, another sigh.

'Ok, I will be there,' came the short answer, and before Celine could say anything else, Poppy had hung up.

Celine did not care. The conversation they both were going to have would not improve the mood of the other, and it was better to talk about this in person.

She put her phone away, walking straight out of the graveyard and towards her car. But as soon as she sat behind the wheel, her phone, which she had thrown on the passenger’s seat, buzzed again.

And again, and again.

She picked it up only to see the same picture on all the media outlets she had subscribed to. Rumi, flanked by Mira and Zoey, all three dressed in white, and Rumi’s demon patterns, now almost white instead of the purple she had seen before, for all the world to see.

Celine could only stare, not sure how to process this, before concluding that it may have complicated things, but did not change her plans in the slightest.

Her phone buzzed yet again, Poppy’s picture back on the screen.

She straightened her shoulders and picked up the phone. Poppy’s voice was quiet, almost calm, and Celine knew that was when she was the angriest.

'Celine, why does Rumi have patterns?'

Rumi tried to sleep.

Unsuccessfully.

She laid on her right, trying to relax, only for Jinu’s face to appear as she closed her eyes.

She turned from her right side on her back, her blanket rustling as she moved, trying to settle in, closing her eyes, using one of the breathing exercises she had learned from….Celine.

Rumi’s eyes shot open again.

Yeah, that would not be working as well, thanks very much.

With a deep sigh turned to her left and looked at the only thing that still made sense. Two things really.

Her bandmates were fast asleep, both facing her.

After all that had happened in the last 24 hours, Rumi had been unable to stand the thought of spending the night alone.

So, after beating Giw-ma, selling the final battle as a big reunion concert for huntr/x, and many gruelling hours of smiling for the camera, Bobby finally could take control over the situation again and send them home. And there, Rumi had quietly asked if the other two could stay with her for the night.

She had felt almost shy, like she had no right to ask, after lying for so long, but the way Mira and Zoey had looked at her melted her insecurities.

They had washed off the grind from battle, one after another. Zoey, the last to take a shower and change into her sleeping clothes, had, in a somewhat pale imitation of her usual high energy, let herself fall very ungracefully onto the bed, right in the middle.

Rumi and Mira had already lain in bed, with Mira nodding off, before Zoey made the mattress shake and bounce so all three of them lost their balance and fell closer together.

It had made Rumi laugh a little, and as she watched Mira ruffling Zoey's hair affectionately, she could not help the smile on her face, no matter the circumstances.

Now Zoey still lay in the middle on her right side, her face resting on her left hand, legs tucked in, reminding Rumi of a cat curling up in the sun. Her right arm was somewhat awkwardly stretched behind her, though.

Rumi lifted her head a little to have a better look.

Mira’s left hand was close to Zoey’s, and Rumi wondered if they had held hands while falling asleep or if both had reached for each other at one point during the night without her noticing.

Mira’s other arm was folded under her head, her jaw slack, as she breathed a bit louder and deeper than usual, a sure sign of how tired she was.

Gently, Rumi reached over Zoey, readjusting Mira’s blanket, which had slipped down a little. As she leaned back, she found Zoey looking at her, eyes surprisingly sharp for someone who had supposedly been asleep for hours.

'Hey,' Rumi said, lying back down, meeting Zoe’s gaze.

'Hey,' was the answer.

They kept looking at each other, the air thick between them with unsaid things, but where to start?

Behind them, Mira became somewhat conscious. She moved closer to Zoey, hugging her from behind.

'Tomorrow,' was all Mira said, her voice hoarse from sleep.

Zoey smiled fondly as she pulled Mira’s arm over her like a blanket, and then, to Rumi’s mild surprise and immense joy, she reached for her.

Without much thinking, she let herself be pulled in, loving how Zoey wrapped her arms around her, and as Zoey tugged her head under her chin, it was the best feeling. Another hand lazily stroked over her hair, startling Rumi a little, before she realised that Mira had inched closer, their forehead almost touching now.

Zoey reached for Mira’s arm that was draped over her, pulling it over Rumi as well, so Mira had to scoot even closer to Zoey, pressing the smaller woman against Rumi’s chest.

A content sigh escaped the two as they settled in this new position, and seeing them like that, tugged at something in Rumi’s heart. It felt safe, familiar, like home.

Despite being so entangled, it was immensely soothing to hold and be held like that.

Sleep was finally close.

She felt how her body turned heavy.

Yes, after everything, tomorrow sounded perfect. 

Celine sat in her office chair, leaning back, her right arm propped up on the armrest, her chin resting on her hand, her gaze turned inwards, not really seeing her surroundings.

As soon as she had arrived, she had made three calls.

First was Bobby. The girl’s manager picked up after the first ring, even though it was way past midnight, listening eagerly to her briefing on how to handle the new…look Rumi was presenting. A Tattoo this big would sure make some waves, but could be sold well if done right.

Then she advised him to position some extra security around the girls' Apartment building, maybe even someone who could keep an eye on the balconies. After such a high-profile reunion concert, some eager fans might overstep a boundary.

But she found that the small man had already arranged such precautions.  

She had always liked Bobby.

Second was to her doorman. She told him to let the visitor who would arrive in about an hour, right through.

The burly young man had not worked long for her and was too young to recognise Poppy.

Fleetingly, she remembered reading his birthdate as she skimmed over his resume before she had hired him. 2003. Four years after they had lost Mi-yeong and the sunlight sisters had continued as a duo for a short time, throwing in some solo projects as well, all to stabilize the honmoon long enough until the next generation was ready.

Unbelievable that people born in 2003 could work for her now.

Gods, she was old!

For the third call, she had been lucky that she still reached someone; it was way past official office hours after all.

As she took out a business card from the drawer, dialling the number on it, she fully expected to leave a voice message and be called back the next day. Celine had been surprised when a woman had picked up the phone. She sounded young, but very professional and friendly.

At Celine’s question, why there still was someone at the office, she promptly answered, 'Many of our clients have very demanding work schedules or require the utmost level of confidentiality. With appointments late at night, we meet those needs. Would you be interested in one of those?'

'No, in the morning is sufficient enough,' she answered, and just like that, she had an appointment for the next morning.

Being a celebrity had its benefits 

Now she was bone tired. In the last 24 hours, she had barely slept and eaten very little.

But that did not matter.

What mattered was that she had put her plan into action. Now she only had to sort out the details.

Speaking of which…

Her intercom came to life, and as she pressed the button without looking, the voice of her doorman announced that her guest had arrived and was on her way up.

She thanked him, cutting the connection, stood up, and walked to what looked like normal panelling. Her back hurt from sitting so long without moving, but she ignored the dull ache as she reached up and pressed down.

A door to a hidden cupboard sprang open.

Out of it she took two shot glasses.

Unlike everything else she owned, they were ugly as sin, adorned with flowers that were supposed to look like cherry blossoms, but had more the charm of a bootlegged Hello Kitty design.

The petals even had the wrong color.

One glass had blue flowers, the other a yellow ones.

Absolute blasphemy and still, she would have fought Giwa-ma for these things.

Going down on her knees, she quickly found the hidden handle, pulled, and revealed a fridge. It was full of drinks she would never touch, but the girls raided them regularly when they came to her office.

Now, between all the grape juice and soda pops stood a small green bottle with a red cap and a white label with black writing.

She had bought the Soju on her way to the office in a Korea Seven, after she had made a quick stop at her house, to change into a blouse and simple black pants.

The cashier, in his eager helpfulness falling over himself, had annoyed her so much she had almost lost her temper, imagining for a split second to punch his throat and leave with the bottle.

But she being in this shop alone would probably make headlines she did not care for, so she figured decking someone would not make her look any better.

Being a celebrity had its downsides.

Standing up, she closed the door of the fridge, and just as she was putting down the bottle and glasses on the table, the elevator door, which opened right into her office, swung open and in strode Poppy, former maknae of the sunlight sisters.

She looked angry as she walked towards Celine without a hello.

Small wonder.

Celine had made her come here without saying anything, no matter how much the other had insisted.

This was no conversation one should have over the phone.

Everything in Poppy’s body language told Celine that she was in for it.

But then Poppy saw the glasses and the bottle of Soju.

She stopped dead in her tracks, the big creoles in her ears, dangling a little with the sudden halt, the light slightly catching in them, eyes glued to the glass with the yellow cherry blossom flowers.

Then she looked at Celine, who met her gaze openly.

“Fuck Celine, really?”

Celine, purposefully and with all the careful precision she had handled every task in her life, took the bottle, turned it on its head, holding it with one hand and taped the bottom on the side with her flat hand a few times, before turning it around again, holding it in one outstretched hand towards Poppy.

Then she flicked the bottle from 3 o’clock up to 12 o’clock, down to 6 o’clock, and back up to 12 O’clock in a quick jerking motion.

A swirl could be seen inside the bottle, a perfect tornado.

Before it calmed, Celine grabbed the red cap, twisting her hands in a very elaborate motion, opening the bottle, and holding it in one hand. With the other hand Celine made a peace sign, hitting the bottle’s neck with some ‘Scissor action’, as a very drunk Mi-yeong had called it, whenever Celine had opened a new bottle on this one night they had secretly bought a few bottles, defying their master’s rules yet again and making a much younger Poppy laugh so much she had tears in her eyes.   

The older Poppy looked like she had a similar memory going through her head. As she raised her shot glass with both hands, there was a slight gleam of her old mischievousness shining through, the anger she had entered the room with gone for the moment and replaced by something Celine could not read completely.

As the older one, Celine used one hand to pour Poppy’s drink.

The younger woman placed the glass back on the table with utmost care before taking the bottle from Celine, waiting until the older woman held her glass leisurely up in one hand. With a little bow, that was more jest than respect, Poppy purred Celine’s drink, both hands remaining on the bottle.

Celine waited until Poppy had put the bottle away, picking up her shot glass with both hands again.

In sync, they drowned their drinks in one go, Celine with one hand, remaining where she was while taking her shot, and Poppy, turning away from her, keeping two hands on her glass.

With a slight clinking sound, both placed their glass back on the table at the same time.

All of that had been performed like it was one swift motion. It was like dancing between them. Even with something mundane like sharing a drink, even after all that time apart, they worked perfectly together.

It had felt good, like old times, but there was a small sting in Celine’s heart, somewhat dulled by the years, but still there.

One dancer was missing.

Again, Poppy seemed to think the same. She leaned against the table, arms crossed over her chest, looking at the shot glasses.

'I can’t believe you have kept these,' she said, more to herself than Celine.

Unsure of how to answer, Celine took a moment to look at her former bandmate.

It had been a while since she had seen her this close, face to face.

Of course, Poppy had gotten older, but no grey had touched her hair so far.

She still wore it in two buns, her curls proudly on display. She only lost the headbands with the pom-poms.

Her face carried small signs of time, some wrinkles here and there, but just like Celine, she was still in pristine shape.

Every movement Poppy made told the older woman that she could jump right into battle, without a second thought, just as dangerous and lethal as she had been the last time they had fought together.

The silence grew longer, and just as Celine wanted to say something, Poppy’s gaze shifted to her.

It was like being under a microscope, and Celine held the stare, trying not to blink.

Then the younger woman sighed, breaking the gaze, and sitting down more comfortably on the desk.

'Ok, let’s start with the obvious. Why does Rumi have patterns? And why could you not tell me on the damn phone?'

Celine sat down on the desk as well, the shot glasses and the Soju between them.

Better rip the band-aid off quickly.

'Rumi’s father was a demon,' said Celine, keeping a close eye on Poppy.

Poppy made a sound like she had been hit. It was painful to watch how she slowly understood what Celine had told her. She could see all the emotions on Poppy’s face, the same she had felt so long ago on the day Rumi’s marks had appeared for the first time.

A cocktail of hurt feelings, fear, and anger that was almost too strong to swallow.

‘Yeah, that explains why you could not tell me on the damn phone,’ the younger woman said, swaying for a moment, and Celin reached for her shoulder to steady her, and to her surprise, Poppy let it happen.

'But I held her when she was born, there were no marks, nothing. Are you sure it’s not a possession?' Poppy asked after a moment, and Celine could sympathize with the attempt to find another solution.

'I am sure. She never showed any signs of the usual symptoms. It’s just how… Rumi is,' Celine said.

This simple admission had cost her all her strength.

She had so much work to do.

'And,' Celine added, 'I found proof.'

'What proof? Where?'

'I read Mi-yeong’s lyrics.'

‘In her lyrics? Wha…I can’t remember that we sang ‘Oh I love to fuck demons’ at any point in our career!' Poppy said, sounding more confused than angry.

Celine winced slightly at the wording. She knew it was just Poppy’s way of dealing with things, but she disliked even the hint of any negative inclination concerning Mi-yeong.

‘It was not in a song. It was in one of her notebooks. You remember how she started to sing on the balcony? At night. She must have sent some messages this way.’

Poppy looked at her in utter disbelief.

‘So, you are telling me that Mi-yeong wrote some secret messages into her lyrics, got onto the balcony, and sang morse code for her demon lover into the night? Celine, you sound insane.’

‘When you know what you must look for, it’s unmissable. Times, dates, places. And how else do you explain Rumi’s marks?’

Poppy struggled for an answer.

'But when did you – wait…oh gods, was it consensual?' Poppy asked further, looking terrified, and Celine could understand where the thought came from.

There had been cases passed down from former generations of hunters, in which women and men had fallen for seduction, lured into a place where no help would come, and then, what had once been an eager lover was left soulless on the ground.

‘It was not like that. She still had her soul and remember how happy she was, Poppy,’ Celine said, looking at her former bandmate, chest tight as she spoke, ‘She must have loved him.”

‘Ok…’ was all Poppy said, partly relieved that Mi-yeong had not been hurt that way, and partly angry because her friend and fellow hunter had fallen for a demon, the things there were supposed to kill without question.

That was what they had been taught, and yet only one thing rang through her mind, repeatedly.

Her face went dangerously pale as she thought about it, breathing slowly to calm herself.

Celine took Poppy’s shot glass, filled it, and gave it to her, and Poppy threw tradition out the window and drank with one hand, not bothering to face away from Celine this time.

Then the younger woman sank into herself, the hand that held the glass pressed to her forehead, her eyes squinted together, like she was in pain and… holding back tears?

Celine had not expected this. She had thought that Poppy would be fuming, maybe even trashing the office a bit before turning her anger against her.

She had always been a hot head, straight to the point, often calling out truths you did not want to hear.

It seems that she had not lost the latter of these traits over the years.

‘She didn’t trust us,’ she said quietly.

Of course, Celine had that thought by herself many times, but hearing this simple truth spoken out loud, hurt in a way, she had now words for.

And what could she say?

What was there to say?

‘I know.’

Suddenly, Poppy lifted her head, looking at her again, squaring her shoulders, bracing herself like Celine was about to deal a punch, just like she always had done when they had been sparing.

‘How long did you know?’

There it was, the moment Celine had been dreading. It was close to the feeling she had when Rumi had kneeled before her, sword in hand.

Only now she would deliver the killing blow.

‘Rumi was six when the patterns appeared.’

The silence that followed was deafening.

‘Six… that was 19 years ago.’

Celine had no better answer than, I know.’

'For 19 years, you told me nothing, you kept Rumi from me. Is that why you pushed me away? Just cut me from your life?!’ 

Here she paused, suddenly dangerously calm, before saying, ‘You didn’t trust me,’

It was no question, but she looked at Celine like she wanted an answer.

Celine could not give her one.

This time Poppy did not fight her tears, letting them fall freely as she allowed herself to sink from the table to the ground, not able to keep herself upright.

Instinctively, Celine reached for her again, steadying the other woman with a hand on her shoulder, and Poppy grabbed her hand like it was a lifeline.

Then she flinched away from it, like she just realized what she was doing, looking at Celine with so much anger that it stung, before pushing Celine, not enough to hurt, only to get some space between them.

But almost at the same moment, she reached for her again, grabbing her blouse, not able to decide between pulling her in or pushing her away, whispering ‘Why did you do that’ repeatedly, crying through it all.

Without thinking, Celine wrapped her arms around Poppy, holding her close, feeling how the younger woman wrapped her arms around her, her nails digging painfully through her clothes into her back before she delivered a killing blow of her own, in a broken, small voice.

‘You were all I had, and you left me behind.’

‘Why couldn’t you love me!’

 Celine only held Poppy tighter, who in turn clung to her closer as she completely unraveled, her heaving sobs almost drowning Celine’s voice.

‘I am sorry.’ Celine said, the corner of her eyes burning with tears.

She did not allow them to fall.

It was hard to tell how long they sat there, but eventually Poppy’s tears subsided.

Celine felt the younger woman move back and gently let her go.

Now both leaned with their backs against the table, sitting on the ground, staring straight ahead, both trying to regain some of their strength.

Emotional turmoil had always drained Celine more than any physical strain.

As she turned her head towards Poppy, she wondered if she looked just as tired as her.

And yet there was still so much to say; it felt daunting to even think about it.

Again, it was like Poppy read her mind.

‘What now?’  she asked, voice hoarse from crying, turning her head to look back at Celine.

There was so much between them.

Years of lies and dishonesty, but also a deep love only a hunter could feel for her comrade, a connection that was hard to break, and even though Celine had tried her best to cut ties, it had not fully worked.

It was too much to put into words just yet, so Celine chose the simpler option.

‘Want some more?’ she asked, tiredly pointing her head at the Soju and the glasses.

Poppy let out a very tired laugh, some more tears running down her face, but she quickly wiped them away.

‘Why not,’ she said, watching Celine as she reached up, grabbing the bottle and glasses, before sitting down again, pouring each of them a drink, both retaking their former places, leaning against the table, eyes ahead.

They drank for a while, in silence, but funny enough, not an uncomfortable one.

After her third drink, Poppy spoke again.

‘Ok, that actually helped.’

‘The crying or the drinking?’

‘Both, I think.’ Poppy said, holding her glass out, allowing Celine to pour her another one.

‘Thanks,’ Poppy said, but not drinking right away.

She looked at her glass, her thumb caressing over the yellow petals.

'You still have hers?' she asked without looking up.

Celine shot Poppy a short look before standing, walking back to the cupboard, and taking out a third shot glass. It was the only one with the correct color for the cherry blossoms.

It did nothing to make it prettier.

Celine sat back down, placing the glass between them. Poppy had already switched her still full glass with the bottle, holding it in both hands again.

With great care, she filled the pink-patterned glass before emptying the last of the Soju in Celine’s blue one.

Both women held their glasses with two hands, holding them towards the filled pink one, before facing away from it, downing their drinks in one go.

Both leaned back against the desk, glasses still in hand, Poppy’s eyes glued to hers, while Celine looked at the ceiling.

‘I miss her,’ Poppy said quietly, placing her shot glass carefully next to the full one.

Celine shut her eyes for a second, fighting against new tears, swallowing hard before she said.

‘Me too.’

She placed her glass next to the other two.

They were quiet for a moment, each busy with their thoughts.

Poppy was the one to break the silence again.

‘Ok, listen. I know there is still so much we need to go through, and I want the whole truth -,’

‘And you will get it. I will tell you everything.’ Celine interrupted, trying to convey how much she meant it, with every word.

‘Good, I will hold you to that. But not tonight. I am drunk and tired. I just want to crash somewhere.’

‘You can sleep here. I have a couch in the next room. Or I can call my driver. He can bring you to my house.’

‘Na, I take the couch, but what about you? Are you not driving home? Don’t tell me you are going to work like it’s a normal tuesday.”

‘No, I have an appointment in about –, ‘Celine looked at the clock in her office,’ - an hour. I change and then I am off.’

Poppy grunted in disbelief.

‘What kind of appointment is that early?’

Celine stood up, picking the card she had left on the table, passing it to Poppy, before daftly picking up all three glasses from the ground.

The older woman left Poppy to read the card, opening a door with her elbow, walking into a room that could be called a very small apartment.

Complete with a bathroom, a kitchenette, a wardrobe, and a sleeping couch.

She placed the glasses in the sink to wash them later, before unbuttoning her blouse, and picking a fresh one out of her wardrobe.

After brushing her teeth for good measure, she walked back into her office, only to find Poppy still staring at the card, frowning slightly.

‘So, that kind of appointment.’

‘Yes,’ Celine answered, unsure of what was coming next.

Poppy eyed her for a moment

‘What exactly are you going to say? You can hardly tell the truth.’

‘I don’t know. I make something up. Like, I am angry that she is bi or something like that.’ Celine answered.

‘You? Being angry that someone is gay?’  Poppy said, raising an eyebrow, smiling at her sardonically.

‘As I said, I will think of something on the fly,” she said, slightly smiling, before adding, ‘There are sheets and bedding in the wardrobe. If you need anything, my secretary comes in at eight. I will be back around nine, I think. Then we go and check on the girls. They should be awake by then. I need to talk to Rumi.'

‘Ok, but you are sure they are fine now?’

‘Yes, they have each other and –‘

‘Aww, that is kinda cute of you.’

‘- and I ensured more security was posted around the penthouse.’ Celine finished her sentence.

‘Of course you did.’ Poppy said with a sigh.

Celine pressed the button of the elevator door. It opened immediately, and she stepped in, pressing the button for the garage level.

For a moment, she saw Poppy, still sitting on the ground, waving her off with the business card in hand.

‘See you at nine!’ the younger woman said, then the elevator door closed.

Chapter Text

A very soft clicking sound woke Rumi with a small jolt.

There were quiet footsteps in the hallway that sounded like Zoey’s. She had probably checked on Rumi, and one look to her left told her that Mira was also up and about. It smelled wonderfully after Zoey’s pancakes.

One of the very few cooking skills she had picked up in America.

She could faintly hear her bandmates' voices and the clitter clatter of preparing a meal. The combined sounds had something comforting to them, almost making Rumi drift back to sleep.

But now was ‘Tomorrow’ and she wanted to get everything between them out of the way.

Yawning and stretching, Rumi stood up, quietly going to the bathroom to fix up her hair quickly and brushing her teeth, not bothering to change out of her sleeping clothes just jet.

Then she walked through the hallway, but at the kitchen entrance, she stopped.

Zoey stood at the stove, frying pan before her, spatula in hand, and a bowl full of pancake dough with a ladle in it, to her left. To her right stood a plate, already laden with a few finished pancakes. A little further, Mira leaned sideways against the kitchen surface, looking at Zoey.

Neither had noticed her. Which was weird enough.

Normally, they were very aware of their surroundings.

They seemed to be in the middle of a conversation, but Mira’s expression was unlike anything Rumi had ever seen.

It made her take a few steps back, peeking into the kitchen from the relatively safety of the dark halfway.

What was going on?

‘You sure you are fine?’ Mira’s voice barely reached Rumi’s ear,’ The stuff Gwi-ma made me think…it was brutal.’

Zoey’s shoulder went up slightly as she answered, her voice sombre,’ I am not sure if I can talk about it right now.’

That was surprisingly honest. No, ‘I am fine’ carried as a shield in front of her.

‘That’s ok. I just wanted to say that I am here if you want to talk.’ Mira said.

At that, Zoey looked up, a grateful little smile on her face, which made Rumi's heart squeeze even from her place at the sidelines. She wondered how Mira was still standing, being the direct recipient.

‘Thank you, Mira,’

It was like Mira grew a little at that.

‘Sure,’

They remained like that for a moment longer, looking at each other, and it looked like Mira wanted to say more, but before she could gather her courage, something smelled slightly burned.

‘Ups,’ Zoey said easily, turning her attention back to the pan, saving the poor pancake, and but it to its brethren on the plate.

For the moment, the sizzling went quiet.

‘What I said, after Rumi ran away...’ Mira said, steeling herself for something, her gaze suddenly very soft, but also weirdly determined.

Rumi’s eyes widened a little. What had they talked about after she had run off to find Jinu, she wondered.

Zoey did not seem to notice the change in mood as she ladled some pancake dough into the frying pan, and the sizzle rang loudly through the kitchen again.  

Rumi wondered how Zoey could not notice. Mira’s gaze looked like it could burn your skin.

‘I didn’t mean it.’ Mira said, speaking over the sizzling.

‘Oh, I know. It was Gwi-ma’s influence.’ Zoey said in this light tone, which she always used when she was trying to hide what she felt.

She turned the pancake somewhat ungracefully with the spatula.

The sizzling intensified.

Rumi was pretty sure that was not all Mira wanted to say, and she used all her stealth to scoot just the tiniest bit closer.

Hyper-focused on her two friends, she did not notice the blue glow appearing behind her, a pair of red eyes rising in the dark hallway, staring wide-eyed and unblinking.

‘I just wanted to say, ‘Mira started again, but a little irritated that she had to speak so loudly and that Zoey was not listening.

Gently but firmly, she grabbed Zoey’s hand, which held the frying pan, and moved it slightly further along the stove, away from the heat.

The sizzling subsided, but Mira did not let go of Zoey’s hand, having her full attention now.

‘I just wanted to say that I really, really want there to be a we.’ Mira said, looking down at Zoey, eyes steady, mouth set in a determined line, emphasizing her words by gently stroking Zoey’s hand with her thumb once.

Rumi almost gasped. Did Mira just do what Rumi thought she did? She knew the two had been close in a way she had not been a part of, but that close?

Barley breathing, she leaned forward even further, all her focus now on Zoey, waiting for her answer.

Behind Rumi, the red eyes crept closer.

Zoey seemed surprised, looking up at Mira, then down to their joined hands.

Rumi wanted to scream.

For a split second, it looked like Mira was going to suffer a rebuff, but then Rumi saw a small blush on Zoey’s cheeks.

‘Me too,’ she said, quietly yet clearly.

Rumi looked at Mira, who seemed stunned by the answer, but only for a second. The tips of her eyes turned the slightest shade of red, and an honest smile spread on her face.

‘Yeah?’ she asked, her voice light and a little breathless.

‘Yeah,’ Zoey confirmed, almost shy.

‘Sick,’ Mira said, a smirk on her face, eyes still soft.

That made Zoey laugh, and Mira seemed immensely proud of herself.

Looking at them now was like looking at the sun.

Rumi almost had to avert her eyes.

That was certainly a revelation she had just witnessed, but not an unwelcome one. Far from it. Rumi all but wanted to throw her hands up in victory, high-five Mira for her bravery, and hug Zoey, but there was also something else, she could not really call by name yet.

She pushed it briskly aside. Now she would quietly go back to her room and give them about an hour.

Carefully, she turned around and found her vision completely blocked by a pair of giant red eyes.

She could not help herself. She flinched, falling on her back right into the kitchen.

Derpy followed in all his glory.

‘Rumi!’ Mira and Zoey called out.

Many things happened at once.

As Mira and Zoey summoned their weapons, one of them pushed the bowl with the pancake dough to the ground, spilling its contents on the floor. It rolled past Rumi in Derpy’s direction. In a flash, Mira was in front of Rumi, shielding her, while Zoey lifted three of her Shin-kals, going for the kill.

‘Wait!’ Rumi yelled, but Zoey had already stopped dead in her tracks, arm frozen in mid-throw, eyes full of mild confusion over the sight before her.

The huge, red-eyed Demon-Tiger did nothing to attack or even defend himself. It slowly turned its gaze towards the bowl that had rolled against its paw, staining its fur with pancake dough.

Then it lifted the dirty paw closer to its face and one eye after the other focused on the unfamiliar sight before them.

Slowly, he leaned a little closer, his nose twitching. With a slight grunt, and quicker than any movement he had made so far, he stuck his tongue out, licking his paw, eating the dough, looking happy in a very Derpy way.

Zoey instantly melted.

‘Aww, look at you! Are you liking my pancakes?’ she said, letting her daggers disappear, carefully scooting closer like she did not want to spook him, hand outstretched.

‘Zoey! Don’t!’ Mira said sharply.

‘Relax, I don’t think he is dangerous. You are not dangerous, are you? Look at you!' Zoey cooed, getting closer to patting the demon.

Mira reached for her bandmate to pull her back, but before she could do much, something small flew past her ear, a gust of wind moving her hair, and a tiny thing landed impudently on Mira’s Gok-do, right on the dull side of the blade.

A bird, a magpie to be precise, in very unusual attire and with three of its six eyes focused on Mira, was certainly something that could make even the most experienced hunter pause for a moment.

She took in the bird before her, unblinking, brows high.

All was quiet for a second, except for Zoey’s gushing over the demon tiger.

Without taking her eyes off the magpie, she leaned towards Rumi.

‘Is this bird wearing a tiny hat?’

Poppy woke peacefully, yet unsure for a second where she was.

Then all came back to her, and she immediately knew she would regret the Soju as soon as she tried to stand.

Just another regret added to the pile, she figured.

But as long as she lay still on her back, one arm folded under her head, the other resting on her stomach, she felt fine.

So, she remained still, eyes half closed, allowing her mind to wander.

Memories of her youth floated to the surface. Sometimes just mere flashes of a moment, other times crystal clear sequences on repeat.

Poppy, as a twelve-year-old, almost thirteen, a scrawny orphan, with an attitude but little self-esteem, and freshly chosen as the last member of the next trio, taking the offered hand of a fourteen-year-old Mi-yeong with a small bow of her own. The taller girl was all smiles, genuinely kind, and it had eased Poppy’s anxiety of meeting her new comrades a lot.

Especially with the intimidating figure of Celine right next to Mi-yeong.

Even at sixteen, she already had this annoying air of authority around her. Towering over them both, Celine’s face had betrayed nothing of what she thought as she looked at that tiny kid, who was supposed to be her fellow hunter.

She just greeted her with a small bow before saying, ‘You should tie these shoes better. Sabeom-nim Soa-ah does not appreciate tardiness.’

Poppy’s temper had flared up at that, feeling attacked even though she would later learn the hard way that Celine had just tried to warn her, may it be in a very inept way.

‘Oh yeah! Maybe sabeom-nim Soa-ha and you should get those huge sticks out of your asses!’ she had answered, her voice dripping with insolence.

Barley Mi-yeong managed to cover her laugh with a fake cough, her eyes shining with good-natured glee as she looked at Celine, her smile quickly hidden behind her hand.

Celine, obviously in utter disbelief of being talked to like that, had turned to her, and one look at her face had been too much for Mi-yeong.

She had laughed so hard she had doubled over, tears in her eyes.

To Poppy’s surprise, Celine had not retaliated. She didn’t even look angry. She just rolled her eyes at Mi-yeong, crossed her arms over her chest, while eyeing Poppy with a ghost of a smile on her lips.

Growing together as bandmates and performers had been easy.

Not only was Poppy gifted with a voice that could be blood-pumping or soft like a breeze, but she was also an energetic and precise dancer, with a stage presence many only got after years of experience, if ever.

Her wild energy worked well with Mi-yeong’s almost gliding beauty, which pleasantly tugged at Poppy’s heartstrings whenever she watched her dance or listened to her voice.

But funny enough, Poppy liked her rapping the most, a skill she would later learn from her.

Mi-yeong’s lyrics always had a way of hitting just the right spot.

Celine, of course, had been the crown jewel, not one idol, but the idol.

She had so much of, just everything.

The looks, the presence, and by the gods, that voice!

When Celine sang, it was like she cast a spell, making you feel exactly what and when she wanted you to.

Any lesser lead than Celine would have overshadowed her bandmates, but she was the center that held all together, letting them shine, all of them glowing even brighter in the progress.

There was, and there is no better way to say it, something special between them.

Poppy immediately felt it, the first time they raised their voices together, all three of them did.

Something had just clicked, like a puzzle had been solved, none of them had any idea they needed the solution for in the first place and Poppy was pretty sure she could feel the honmoon humming with new energy, even though she could not see it yet.

Catching up on hunter training, on the other hand, had been hell.

It was here were the differences to her fellow hunters were not as easily bridged with attitude and talent.

She was the youngest, the smallest, and had never in any way enjoyed the benefits of fighting training, while Mi-yeong already had two years of grueling drill under her belt, and possessed a ferocity with her chain knife, that had scared Poppy the first time they had spared, even though the older girl had gone very easy on her.

And Celine, of course, had been on a completely other level.

She clocked in on 5 years of training, was fast and agile, but also strong in a way Poppy and Mi-yeong could only dream of, even later when all three had grown into adulthood.

She could not only summon one weapon from the honmoon, but four!

It was expected for a hunter to master more than one weapon, to be an efficient teacher for the next generation, but having the ability to call multiple honmoon weapons?

An absolute nonpareil!

‘The hunter of a century,’ Soa-ah would always say, and to Poppy’s surprise, Celine did not seem to care for the praise.

‘I hate when she acts like I alone will turn the honmoon golden,’ Celine had once said as she sat on the ground, legs outstretched, leaning back on her hands, brows furred disapprovingly.

Celine had spoken up after a training session in Poppy’s fifth month, a few weeks before her 13^th birthday, in which Soa-ah had shown how little she cared for tardiness.

Poppy’s shoes had been an utter mess, soles lost, laces ripped, and it had little use trying to explain to an old hag that, between school, training, dancing, and singing lessons, she had no time to buy new ones and no parents that could do it for her.

The three teenagers had to run extra laps and repeat their fighting forms to exhaustion until Soa-ha had been appeased, leaving them for a short break before their next lesson.

Poppy, lying on her back, still panting heavily, looked at the sharp outline of Celine’s profile, suddenly feeling guilty.

As the oldest, she always got the most pressure from their teachers, even when she was not at fault, and now she had added more weight onto those shoulders.

Poppy rolled to her side, facing the two, while she tried to occupy as little space as possible.

‘I am sorry,’ she said, eyes dangerously close to welling up.

Surprised, Celine turned to her, eyebrows raised.

‘For what?’

‘Yeah, for what?’ Mi-yeong chimed in, lying on her back as well, next to Poppy,’ it’s not your fault that Soa-ah is such a bit-‘

‘Mi-ya,’ Celine warned, but with a slight smile on her lips.

‘- bountiful source of good teachings.’ Mi-yeong finished, lifting her head from the ground to give Celine the most unconvincing innocent look in history, before winking at Poppy and letting her head fall back to the ground again.

Celine rolled her eyes at her friend, ripping out some grass to sprinkle her face with it, making Mi-yeong giggle while she tried to feebly defend herself.

For once, their antics had failed to better Poppy’s mood.

‘No, I am sorry that I suck so much,’ she had said, chest tight.

It was not just about the shoes anymore. She was really, really bad at most stuff a hunter should be good at, holding them all back in the process.

At that, Celine had turned fully to her, while Mi-yeong lifted her head from the ground once more.

Both older girls shared one look before facing Poppy again, eyes so full of understanding that she almost ugly cried then and there.

‘Poppy,’ Celine spoke gently,’ Cut yourself some slack. You are doing amazing.’

At that, Poppy snorted in disbelief, curling in on herself a bit tighter together.

‘No, really,’ Celine said as she reached over to gently squeeze Poppy’s shoulder, who averted her eyes.

‘How do you think I spend my first months here?’ Celine asked.

Poppy just shrugged, afraid that speaking would break the iron grip she had on her tears.

‘On my ass. Or my face. Depending on how I tripped over myself,’ Celine answered her own question.

At that, Poppy had to fight back a laugh, looking back up at Celine, some tears escaping.

‘Really?’

‘Yeah, really,’ Celine smiled at her, leaning back on her hands, now that Poppy was looking at her again,’ I had the benefit of having no witness back then, but believe me, it was exactly like what you are going through now. Or Mi-ya when she stared.’

‘Are you kidding? I was worse,’ Mi-yeong said, sighing dramatically, before continuing,’ And this whole ordeal just now? I would have cried if I was in your place!’

‘You did cry when you were in her place,’ Celine said simply.

Here Mi-yeong lifted her head again, her voice full of righteous indignation.

‘I did no-,’ here she had stopped herself, like she had just remembered something.

‘Oh, actually I did…sorry, my bad,’ she said, letting her head drop to the ground again.

‘See,’ Celine said to Poppy as she stood up, offering Poppy a hand with an easy smile,’ we all struggled. We still do. You’ll catch up and more.’

Poppy met Celine’s gaze, a little smile of her own tugging at her lips, and something warm settled in her chest as she took the offered hand.  

Meanwhile Mi-yeong had lifted her head again, looking up at them, clearly fighting a mad laughing fit, eyes sparkling.

Poppy and Celine shared one look before turning their gaze back down to Mi-yeong.

‘You good?’ Celine asked, slightly confused.

‘Catch up..,’ Mi-yoeong choked out, almost losing the battle against her laughter.

‘Oh no.’ Celine said, suddenly looking mildly terrified.

‘Ketchup…’ Mi-yeong had repeated, pronunciation slightly off.

‘Please, don’t,’ the oldest of the trio had said, almost pleading with her friend.

Poppy, not understanding a thing, had looked back and forth between a giggling Mi-yeong and a Celine, who looked uncharacteristic comical, shoulders slumped, face caught between desperation, disappointment, and something utterly painful.

Mi-yeong had looked at Celine, her eyes bright, an almost mad glint in them as she whispered, ‘Mayonnaise…’

Poppy blinked, processing what Mi-yeong had said. Next to her, Celine rubbed her forehead, like she was developing a headache.  

‘Mu…mustard,’ Mi-yeong continued between giggles, and for whatever reason, that got Poppy.

She couldn’t help it.

‘Gochujang,’ she added.

‘No, not you too!’ Celine groaned, looking up at the sky like she hoped for a spontaneous lightning strike to end her suffering.

Mi-yeong turned her gaze to Poppy in surprise, looking at her, like she was seeing her for the first time.

‘Doenjang,’ Mi-yeong tested further, looking expectant at Poppy.

‘Ganjang,’ Poppy answered without missing a beat.

‘The three jangs, ’ they finished in unison, both laughing like mad about their stupid joke about sauces, if you could even call it that.

But it had lifted Poppy’s mood even further, and later she suspected that this had been Mi-yeong’s plan all along.

‘Well, after tired comes stupid,’ Celine had said to no one in particular, after the two had calmed a little, offering Mi-yeong a hand as well.

‘Correction! After tired comes hungry’ Mi-yeong said, weakly holding her hand up, without grabbing Celine’s hand.

Rolling her eyes, Celine took Mi-yeong’s hand, pulling her up with one swift motion, but instead of remaining on her feet, Mi-yeong used the momentum and let herself fall over gracefully towards Celine, fully trusting the older girl would catch her, which she did.

Now she hung in Celine’s arms like she had just fainted, speaking rather dramatically,’ I need something to eat, or I might fade away.’

‘You are ridiculous,’ Celine said fondly, giving Mi-yeong a little push so she finally stood upright.

‘Ridiculously smart? Yes, I agree,’ she said with a wink for them both, before quickly climbing the huge tree, vanishing for a second. The leaves barely rustled as she jumped back down, holding a small collection of snacks in her arms.

The forbidden stuff.

Their masters, Soa-ha first and foremost, had put them on a strict diet.

‘Indulgence is the beginning of the end,’ she would say repeatedly, and the only thing she had managed to achieve, was that the three started to challenge each other to find the best way to hide food and eat it without anyone noticing.

‘You are ridiculously smart.’ Poppy said, mouth already full.

All three laughed.

One aspect of hunter training had come easily to Poppy, though.

She picked up the connection to the honmoon quicker than her bandmates had been able to.

Three months after her birthday, she managed not only to finally see the magical shield but also to summon her weapon for the first time on the same day.

Hana, the master in charge of the honmoon training, was the only one Poppy ever called sabeom-nim and meant it. She had been in her late 40s, always wore green, and was way more lenient than the other two.

Poppy still remembered her soft voice, guiding her through the meditation, Celine and Mi-yeong at her side, all sitting on the ground.

‘You must be at peace. Easy, like the wind in the trees. Think of something that makes you feel content, save. Just like when you crafted your norigae. The honmoon is pure emotion solidified. Only with an open, honest heart can you connect to it.’

Poppy had closed her eyes, the magpie and female mandarin duck ornament clinking softly together as she held her norgiae a little tighter in her hand.

The feeling grounded her; the memories she had crafted it with easily played like a movie through her mind.

She thought of the room she now owned, in the house that belonged to the hunters for many generations. It served as a headquarters close to the training grounds and graveyard of all that had come before them.

It was not a big room, but all hers.

The first she could decorate like she wanted and did not have to share with anyone, if she did not want to.

She felt a smile bloom on her face as she thought of her new shoes, a gift from Celine and Mi-yeong, which she had found at the end of her bed on the morning of her 13^th birthday.

She thought of how the two had greeted her after she had laced the new pair with reference and joined them for their shared walk to school.

‘Looking sharp!’ Mi-yeong had said, a big grin on her face.

‘They suit you,’ Celine agreed, eyes shining.

All three of them at singing and dancing lessons, in perfect harmony, easily working together.

She thought of the way Mi-yeong would sometimes crash into her room, without knocking, calling for Celine like a maniac, because she had ‘THE BEST IDEA FOR A SONG EVER!’, before shoving the notebook in Poppy’s face so she could read the lyrics she had just thought of.

Or the much more peaceful moments when all three bunkered up in Celine’s room, the oldest allowing the younger girls to occupy her bed, while she sat on the ground, leaning against the bed frame, listening to music or reading, or both.

Mi-yeong would listen intently to some tape over her headphones, rewinding again and again to get to the right part, scribbling furiously, filling page after page.

Poppy would mostly draw in a sketchbook Mi-yeong had gifted her, or read a book that Celine had lent her, or do her homework, with the occasional help from Celine.  

She thought of how Mi-yeong and she would crack jokes while doing the dishes until they had tears in their eyes.

Her heart felt already full to the brim, as she pictured the way Celine would share her brand new in-ear headphones with her whenever she had found a song she thought Poppy might like.

And suddenly, it was there, the connection every hunter needed, flowing from her through the norigae, to the honmoon and back again.

She opened her eyes, and she saw the honmoon, beautiful, powerful, a shield to protect the people that could not do it themselves, its light reflecting in her eyes as she reached for it.

The honmoon met her halfway, something hot but not burning, touching her hand.

Instinctively, she did the easy flick of the wrist, Hana had shown her a few days ago, and like it was the most natural thing, two fans appeared in Poppy’s hands.

They were still a bit big for her, but as soon as she held them, she knew she would grow into them.

Poppy marveled at their beauty. Both were glowing in a bright pink, one with a razor-sharp edge, the other with some actual flames flickering at its fighting end, that did not burn Human skin but was deadly for demons.

‘Would you look at that,’ Hana said, completely surprised, a proud smile forming on her face.

‘Well done, Poppy,’ she said, while Mi-yeong threw her arms over her shoulder and Celine nodded approvingly, giving Poppy a look that clearly said, ‘See? You are doing amazing’.

Proudly, Poppy held up her fans so Hana could have a better look.

‘Most unusual,’ Hana had mumbled.

‘Good unusual or bad unusual?’ Poppy asked.

‘Oh, nothing bad, for sure. It’s just that the mudang fans are rare weapons. If I remember correctly, with you, there have only been three hunters that were chosen by them. But you are in luck,’ Hana had said, smiling friendly,’ I happen to be very good with these. I’ll teach you all I know.’

Poppy had beamed at that. More lessons with sabeom-nim Hana were always a reason to be happy.

From this point on, fighting training went more easily, but not without its problems.

In sparing matches, Poppy started to improve greatly, soon giving Mi-yeong a run for her money, her chain knife lashing out like an angry snake, while Poppy dodged and weaved through her attacks, getting in close to strike.

She would never forget the day, she finally managed to break through Celine's defence for a split moment, leaving a small cut on her cheek, surprising them both, before the older girl let her Shin-kals vanish with a smile, calling her Gok-do, forcing Poppy to adapt to a new fighting style.

But in actual battle, hunter against demon, Poppy found her biggest challenge.

She had been petrified the first time she saw her natural enemy. Frozen to the spot, she had been unable to do anything but stare, as a huge sword-swinging nightmare dashed towards her.

If not for Celine, who blocked the deadly strike, and Mi-yeong, who delivered the killing blow with a swing to the throat, Poppy’s life would have ended that day.

Shame was a weak word for what she felt after her failure.

She had let her comrades down, disappointed her teachers, and worst of all, failed herself.

She had felt small, weak, and utterly useless, burrowing herself in her room, her mood so low that even Soa-ha had not the heart to scold her.

Or maybe she had been glad that the weakest link did not waste her time anymore.

Celine and Mi-yeong had kept their distance, and that had hurt more than she dared to admit. Sometimes she could hear them talk in Mi-yeong’s room, which was not far from her own, and at the muffled sound of their voices, she had shut her eyes tightly, hot tears running down her face.

But then, one night, when all was quiet, a soft knock on her window had woken Poppy.

There they were. Mi-yeong waved, gesturing to her to open the window. Celine stood behind her, back towards Mi-yeong, keeping watch.

Of course, she had followed them, and of course, she had found the idea of proving herself with an unsupervised demon hunt a very good idea.

It was a dump plan that almost killed them all.

Later, Mi-yeong confessed that they just wanted to hunt a few of the ‘faceless guys’, but in the end, they were the hunted.

Small wonder.

Three inexperienced trainees must have looked like a dream come true for the fire-breathing monstrosity that came thundering through honmoon like a juggernaut.

It was a mix of Celine’s raw strength, Mi-yeong’s bravery, Poppy’s agility, and sheer dumb luck that saved them.

And that song.

Her comrades had written Poppy a song while meeting in Mi-yeong’s room. It was quick, pushing, but also warm, easy for Poppy to join in, with a rap section that cut through the air like Mi-yeong’s chain knife.

New.

Bold

Perfect.

But the demon had been very strong, and they were very green, and soon they had been cornered, Celine using her Gok-do to block the fire, Mi-yeong and Poppy crouching behind her, the oldest struggling greatly under the force of the attack.

The younger girls kept singing, hoping it would help Celine, but it was clear that their leader was reaching her limits.

Fear had threatened to overwhelm Poppy once more, but then Mi-yeong had put a hand on her shoulder, pointing to the side. A small opening in the wall of fire, a shimmer of a chance, and Poppy understood immediately, nodding, bracing herself, singing as loudly as she could.

Mi-yeong scooted closer to Celine, pointing to what she had shown Poppy. With great effort, Celine managed to look, understanding promptly what her plan was.

‘Go!’ she choked out, before doing her best to sing along with Poppy.

Mi-yeong did not hesitate. She rushed in, leaving the shield Celine provided, flying through the small gap, chain knife at the ready, striking as soon as she passed through the wall of fire.

Her weapon spun around the demon’s leg, and with all her weight, Mi-yeong pulled, the muscles in her arm contracting, teeth grinding down as the sharp edges of her weapon, surrounded by a sizzling energy, cut deep into flesh.

The demon screamed in pure agony, stopping its attack, as it turned towards Mi-yeong, already drawing breath for its next strike.

As soon as the fire stopped, Celine let the Gok-do vanish, turning to Poppy, bending low, folding her hands closely together.

Poppy was already running the short distance towards Celine, putting one foot in her folded hands, pushing herself as strongly upwards as she could, while the older girl mobilised all her remaining strength, boosting Poppy up high with a yell.

Cutting through the air, Poppy summoned her fans, sharp edge slicing, flames burning thick skin.

The demon never knew what had ended its life.

Poppy, unable to catch herself, landed hard on the ground. She remained there, completely winded for a moment.

Celine had stumbled over, falling on her knees beside her.

Poppy gave her a very tired thump up, and the immense relief on the older girl’s face made Poppy feel special in a way.

Looked after, cared for.

Mi-yeong’s worried face hovering over her multiplied that feeling.

She loved them, Poppy had realised suddenly, eyes widening a little.

The youngest of the trio remained on the ground, a little overwhelmed.

It had been a while since she had felt that much for anyone.

After she had made sure both her comrades were fine, Mi-yeong was the first to break the silence.

‘We did it?’ she asked, and Poppy could not believe the answer was -

‘YES! We did it! We are the best! Whhhohooo!’ Mi-yeong hollered, dancing around them, throwing her arms up in the air.

‘We almost died,’ Celine said to no one in particular, as realization kicked in, her voice unusually shaky as she and Poppy watched Mi-yeong’s silly victory dance.

‘Yeah,’ Poppy agreed, but couldn’t help the smile on her face.

The next day, Poppy returned to training and Soa-ha, in one of her rare kind moments, just laid a hand on Poppy’s shoulder, gently squeezing it, eyes weirdly soft, before she returned to their usual drill.

If any of their teachers knew something about their nightly solo run, they never mentioned it.

Day by day, they became stronger, faster, more deadly, more vibrant performers, but they also grew even closer together, and soon Poppy knew more about these two than she had ever known about her parents.

Mi-yeong would share her troubles freely.

Whenever she came back from one of the very rare visits to her parents’ house, Poppy and Celine would wait for her in Celine’s room.

Mi-yeong would say nothing at first, just curling up on the bed, holding on to Poppy, who hugged her tight, both girls resting their heads on Celine’s leg. The oldest would let them lie a while, gently remove the plain clips in Mi-yeong’s hair, losing the braid, before telling them to sit up.

Poppy would grab the brush she always had close by on one of those days, attentively brushing Mi-yeong’s hair out. It was a task that always took a while. Even at fifteen, Mi-yeong had the most beautiful, thick hair.

It was here that she would slowly start talking.

Sometimes she would cry, sometimes get angry while she told them what had happened on that specific dinner.

It was always the same song, just with different lyrics. Some parents never seemed to change their tune.

‘They are always fighting…’

‘Would it kill them to say well done in a while?’

‘They always say I am wasting my potential.’

‘Let them,’ Celine would always answer, letting a handful of colourful hair bands and clips fall onto the bed, almost all adorned with a bright pink, yellow, or blue flower,’ What do they know. Soon you're old enough and you don’t have to see them if you do not want to.’

Gently, Celine would start to re-braid Miyeong’s hair in the style she loved so. A single braid, almost long enough to cover her whole back, the flowers now skillfully woven into it. Poppy had always found the braid bright, beautiful, just like its wearer.

‘Can’t wait!’ Mi-yeong said, her spirits back up at that point, filling the room with easy chatter while a bright smile would cross her face from time to time.

Poppy never fully believed that smile.

Celine, on the other hand, tended not to share much after her visits at home, but over time, Poppy learned that Celine came from a chaebol family.

Filthy rich with immense influence, and cold to the bone.

The oldest would not speak after returning to them, but she would seek Poppy and Mi-yeong out, no matter what they were doing, and it felt like Celine was stuck somewhere far away, alone and freezing, unable to find a way back and not knowing how to ask for help.

So, they let her stick around, silent and stoic, and with every joke Mi-yeong made and every witty comeback Poppy thought of, they pulled her a bit closer, back into their circle, their warmth thawing her stiff face and easing the tightness in her shoulders, until she was their Celine again.

Still serious, still annoyingly uptight sometimes, her softness mostly well-hidden, but her steady, calm way of caring back again in the thousand little things she did so discreetly, you only noticed that you were at the receiving end of them, when they were gone.

Poppy, with no family left she could visit, always remained at the house.

Which was not a bad thing.

She had loved that building.

According to their teachers, it had started out as a small hanok, one of many humble huts, the first hunters had scattered around the country, to make sure that, no matter where the hunt would take them, they would have a place to rest in relative comfort. But over time, many of these hanoks had been destroyed or deemed useless, until only this one had remained.

Every generation of hunters had added something, built more rooms, or installed waterpipes, and with the growing funds they had at their disposal, it now had all the comforts one could ask for and more.

It was the most at home she had felt, after her parents had died.

Especially with Celine or Mi-yeong around.

One of them would always stay with her. At first, Poppy had not thought about it much, but later she realized that they must have arranged their schedules, so she was never left alone.

That realization had touched her, making her chest ache, and just like that, from one moment to the next, she wanted to share that final part of herself with them.

And so, shortly after Poppy’s fourteenth birthday, when all three of them were in Celine's room again, Poppy would close the sketch book briskly, before tapping Mi-yeong’s shoulder, who pushed her headphones around her neck, walkman still running, looking at her expectantly.

Celine, slightly startled from Poppy’s sudden movement, watched them from her usual spot on the ground, a mildly curious expression on her face, book still open.

‘I want to talk about my parents.’

The book was closed and lay to the side, the Walkman turned off, and the headphones tossed across the bed, as both older girls turned all their attention on her, listening as she told them everything.

About the car accident, mundane but no less terrible, her move to the orphanage, and her hard time getting used to the new surroundings. About the parade of potential parents, she didn’t even want to talk to, closed by Soa-ha, a stiff smile on her face, she looked down at her, gaze measuring but not unfriendly, as she made Poppy an offer that would change her life.

Mi-yeong and Celine had only listened at first, giving Poppy space to let it all out, but after she had finished, they would ask questions about her parents.

‘What was your umma like?’ Celine asked softly.

‘Very smart. You could ask her almost anything, and she would know something about it or know where to look for the answer. But also a bit chaotic, I guess. You could always tell when she used the kitchen instead of appa.’

‘Did she cook a lot?’ Mi-yeong asked, wondering how it was to live with a constantly dirty kitchen.

‘Pffff, no, she could not cook anything if her life depended on it. My appa mostly did that.’

‘Really? How modern.’ Celine said approvingly.

‘I guess,’ Poppy said, a smile on her face,’ But in our case, it was more a question of survival. Umma was so bad she would have burned us alive before she managed to boil water.’

All three laughed at that.

That had been a first for Poppy. Doing anything else than crying when she spoke about her parents had been unthinkable just a year ago.

‘What about your appa?’ Mi-yeong asked, as she lay on her stomach, her head resting on her crossed arms, listening intently with a faraway look in her eyes, like Poppy was telling her a fairytale.

‘He was very patient. He needed to be with my umma.’

Another laugh from all three.

‘And he was very handy. Could cook, could build stuff, good gardener. He was very reliable. I could count on him, no matter what.’ Poppy told them, looking inward as she remembered.

‘He was a bit stricter than umma, but he always meant well. And umma always undermined his “punishments” anyway to be honest…with love of course.’

Again, all three laughed.

‘They sound like they were fun,’ Mi-yeong said, smiling at Poppy.

‘Like they were good people,’ Celine added.

‘They were,’ Poppy said with a watery smile, blinking her tears away, as something bittersweet flooded her chest.

After opening up about her parents, Poppy decided to never keep secrets from Mi-yeong or Celine again.

So, one day after school, as she realised that not only the way the cute guy in art class threw his hair back made her heart beat a little faster, but also the open smile of the new girl in math class turned her cheeks red, she all but pushed the two older girls into Celine’s room, setting them on their usual places while she stood before them, pausing just for a moment, before frankly stating,’ I like girls too.’

She waited for a response, but Celine and Mi-yeong looked at her, surprise written all over their faces.

The silence stretched.

‘Is this a problem?’ Poppy had asked, voice suddenly very small, her stomach in knots.

Mi-yeong was quickly on her feet, hugging her, speaking softly,’ No. Never!’

For a moment, she pressed her forehead to Poppy’s; the youngest had finally caught up in height. Then she let go of her a little, her arms still around her shoulder, as she turned to the oldest of the trio,’ Right, Celine?’

Celine stood as well. Her hug was warm, genuine, one of the real ones she rarely gave, and Poppy could not help but lean in a little closer.

‘Of course, it is no problem,’ Celine said, before gently moving back from the hug, looking at Poppy.

Suddenly, there was something in her eyes that the youngest could not place. Something sad, guarded.

When she spoke again, her voice was different, too. Stricter and a little hollow.

‘But don’t let anybody know. Sabeom-nim Soa-ha wants us to be…well, as many future fans as possible should feel we are available to them. Keep it hidden.’

Poppy’s chest contracted painfully, as a weird mix of sadness, hurt, and pity filled her chest.

Mi-yeong quickly intervened, her arm around Poppy’s shoulders again.

‘But you never have to hide from us. Never,’ she spoke urgently, before expectantly looking back at Celine.

And Celine met that gaze, guard up, façade perfect and unreadable, and suddenly Poppy understood why the oldest knew what Soa-ha had to say about that particular subject.

Then Celine looked back at Poppy, and everything about her softened visibly. It was a relief to see.

‘Never,’ she confirmed, and Poppy could tell she meant it.

After that talk, Poppy wondered how she could have ever missed that Celine and she…played on the same team, so to speak. At least part-time.

Poppy still liked guys, no doubt about it, but Celine seemed utterly disinterested when it came to romance and boys. She was friends with some, casually talking with classmates about their test results, but whenever one would cross that line that separated platonic from more, she would pull back.

Friendly but decisive.

But soon Poppy became an expert in spotting which girl had caught Celine’s interest.

It was painfully discreet, and yet, when you knew what you had to look out for, blatantly obvious. There was something in the way she would turn her full body to them, not just turn her head, or easily talk over her shoulder like she did with guys or girls that were just friends. Her eyes would casually wander over their faces, remaining the fraction of a second longer on features that seemed to catch her fancy, like the curve of an eyebrow or a beauty mark on a cheek.

But she never acted on it, even later, when Poppy had turned seventeen and the sunlight sisters took off.

Or maybe Celine had been good at hiding, the Poppy in the present thought.

Just like Mi-yeong in the end.

What had gone wrong? Where had they stumbled and allowed themselves to get separated like that? That Mi-yeong had deemed it necessary to hide her love and go through her pregnancy without anyone knowing, probably in constant fear of being discovered?

How could she have been so blind?

Unwanted memories of the last time Poppy had seen Mi-yeong suddenly cut through her like a knife.

Her friend, cold, pale, unmoving, as she brushed her hair out, just like she had done so many times before. Her hands had trembled so much, it had been hard to hold the brush sometimes. Celine, taking over, hands steady as she braided Mi-yeong's hair in the way she had loved so, decorating the braid with her favorite flowers. Her last service to her friend.

In the next room, where Hana was playing with her, they could hear little Rumi practicing her newfound skill. Laughing.

With a jolt, Poppy moved into a sitting position on the couch, immediately regretting the Soju.

Tired, she looked at her phone.

Almost 8 o’clock. She had barely slept four hours, and the secretary would arrive soon.

Poppy decided to at least try to make herself presentable and then ask nicely for some coffee. She doubted she could eat much if she wanted to.

With a sigh, she stood, ignoring the growing headache, and walked into the small bathroom, decidedly not looking at the three shot glasses in the sink.

Enough welling in memories for one day.

She found some packaged toothbrushes, picked one at random. Afterwards, she attempted to fix up her hair. The result was satisfactory, she decided as she checked herself in the mirror.

Then she dressed in jeans and jacket from the night before. The small bag she had packed hastily as she saw the honmoon dissolve was still in her car down in the basement garage. On the way out of the bathroom, she grabbed her creoles. With ease, she put one of them on, as she walked to the elevator door to grab her bag from her car and change into some fresh clothes.

Then she heard it.

Something small moving, the slightest rustle as someone, or something crept in the shadows.

She knew that sound, knew that feeling of being watched, had heard and felt it many times in her life when some of her foes had decided on a sneakier approach, instead of trying to overwhelm with brute force.

Somewhere in this office was a demon.

Poppy stopped, fumbling with her second creole a bit longer than she would normally need to.

All the while her senses were focused on finding the intruder…, it was close, she could tell….there to her left!

With a move that was second nature she called her weapon, opening the one fan that wielded fire to blind her foe, her right hand already going for the deadly strike, the keen edge of her second fan and her creoles both gleaming golden in the bright light.

‘Please don’t kill me!’ the demon spoke, its voice high with fear, raising its clawed hands to shield itself.

Poppy froze, blinking, her creoles moving with her sudden halt.                                                                         

Never, in all her time as a hunter, had any demon spoken to her like this. Sure, some had transformed into humans, trying to deceive her, but never had any of them begged for their lives once the game was up. They always fought to the last.

Still blinking, rather dumbfounded, Poppy let her fans sink a little, taking in the creature before her.

It was smaller than the demons she knew, barely reaching her hip while standing on its two feet. Its face reminded Poppy of a lion statue, but more colorful.

Blue, white, and red assembled to an overall picture of, and Poppy had no better word for it, cuteness.

That its head seemed too big for its body, enhanced this image even more.

As nothing happened, the demon slowly opened its eyes, letting its hands sink to show that it was no threat.

The silence between them grew. Poppy’s eyebrows rose even higher, while the demon seemed happy that he was not dead yet.

‘Why…why are you not attacking me?’ Poppy asked.

The demon blinked, once, twice, before saying, ‘Why should I?’

The silence grew even louder.

Poppy could not believe what she was hearing. A demon asking why it should attack her, a hunter.

But before she could do much more than stare at this small, silly-looking creature, the elevator door opened, making both hunter and demon jump a little.

In came Celine, followed by two women, Poppy did not recognize.

One was hurt and the other supported her. Both looked like they had the worst time behind them. Celine, on the other hand, looked sharp, like always, when amid a battle.

‘Please don’t kill me!’ the demon now said to Celine, returning to the same position it had as he had begged Poppy for its life.

Celine, one Shin-kal already raised to deliver a quick blow, stopped dead in her tracks just like Poppy had, but recovered quicker than her.

‘Never mind, we need to go. Do you have your keys? My car crashed.’

‘What? What is going on, Celine? Who are these two?’ Poppy asked, but then the shy light of early day got blocked out. Turning, Poppy saw dozens of Dalgyal Gwishins crawling over the windows, until suddenly they went still,

Synchronius, many eyeless sockets turned to the five inside.

Then one slowly drew its upper body back, before smashing it back against the glass in full force, making the window shake.

Its brethren followed its example.

‘Please do not kill me!’ The small, colourful demon begged a third time, holding his hands towards the windows close to him.

The hurt woman whimpered in fear, and the one who held her readjusted her grip, bracing herself.

Celine pressed a button without looking, opening the elevator right away, ushering the two women inside before following.

Poppy hesitated for a second before grabbing the small demon by the neck, pulling it along into the elevator.

Just as the door was closing, the glass gave way. The Dalgyal Gwishins flooded the office like a locust swarm, leaving complete chaos in its wake. Limps were everywhere, and a disgusting crawling sound was in the air as they fell over each other.

The small demon and the two women whimpered and backed up as far as they could.

Cold-blooded Celine and Poppy did not move, knowing the demons would be too slow.

The door closed just in time; the elevator was going down.

The gentle, mindless music playing in the background was a joke no one laughed at.

‘I hate these faceless fuckers!’ Poppy said.

Everyone in the elevator agreed.

Chapter Text

As Poppy had slowly woken up, brewing in old memories, Celine entered a very tastefully furnished anteroom and was greeted by a young woman, probably a bit older than Rumi.

She had black hair, bangs, and an elegant bun at the back of her head. Brown eyes shone intelligently behind a pair of green glasses.

There was something about her reminded Celine of Mira.

Both slim and tall, both with an effortless elegance as they moved, both with an intense aura around them.

‘Welcome, Celine-nim, I hope you found you way her without trouble?’ She spoke while bowing and Celine recognised the voice immediately.

Now she had a face to the voice she had made the appointment with.

‘It was no trouble,’ Celine answered, bowing lightly.

‘I am glad to hear that. Please follow me.’ The young woman spoke, leading Celine into a hallway and opened the first door on the left. They entered a room, that Celine would describe as calming, if she was allowed only one word.

Soft colours, big windows, blinds closed for the moment, many plants and two very comfortable looking armchairs facing each other, a small table between them.

‘Please sit,’ the young woman said, pointing to the right armchair.’ Dr. Baek will be with you in a minute. Can I get you something to drink?’

‘Water would be wonderful.’ Celine said, sitting down.

‘With sparkle?’

‘No, still.’

‘Of course,’ the young woman said, smiling friendly before leaving the room.

Celine watched her go, checking her movements, her behaviour, the way she talked.

No demon.

Human.

Save.

The young woman returned, placing a glass of water on the table, before reassuring Celine a second time that the doctor would be there soon. But before she left, there was the slightest hesitation, like she wanted to say something else.

But she seemed to decide against it, smiling again, and left the room, leaving Celine to her thoughts.

Here she sat now, in a very comfortable armchair, chest tight and a little scared of her bravado.

But there was no turning back.

There never really was.

So, she took a deep breath and tried to think of something she could say. The complete truth was out of the question.

For now, anyway.

Maybe she should go with the homophobe angle, even though that would feel very unnatural.

Maybe she should have thought about it more.

And maybe drinking before coming here was not a good idea either.

She was such an idiot.

With a sigh she grabbed the glass and drowning half of it, hoping it would work against the growing headache.

Then the door opened and Dr. Baek stepped in, ending all mulling.

Of course, Celine knew her. She was famous among the famous and still no one on would recognize her on the street.

She was smaller than Celine, was around the same age, her shoulder-long hair already completely grey, a round, open face and brown eyes and an air of kindness around her.

Perfec for her job.

Celine stood, so she could return the bow of the other woman.

Both sat down again, the smile never leaving Dr. Baek’s face.

Not too wide, no patterns shimmering under her skin as she leaned back into the chair, no yellow gleam in her eyes.

No demon.

Human.

Save.

Celine allowed herself to relax a little as well.

‘Celine-nim, it’s an honour to have you. What is the reason for your visit?’ Dr.Baek said, her voice deep for a woman.

Soothing.

Celine looked down at her hands, thinking of what to say, how to start, without giving too much away.

Almost impossible she realized.

So, she chose honesty like she should have done before.

‘I don’t know where to start,’ she spoke, suddenly overwhelmed by all the overlapping thoughts in her head.

‘Well, you already did.’ Dr.Baek said, smiling.

Celine looked up, not understanding.

‘You came here.’ Dr.Baek said easily.

As the doctor continued, Celine felt the tension in her shoulders lessen even more.

‘You don’t have to tell me your whole life story if you don’t want to. We are just getting to know each other, so I can get an idea of the problem and if I can help you. And you can see if I am the right fit for you.’

Celine nodded, looking down at her hands again. She was still trying to pick one of the many loose ends she needed to address, slowly getting irritated at herself.

Why was this so hard?

‘If you cannot put a finger on the exact reason why you are here yet, maybe you can describe it. Are there any hurdles in your daily life? Do you have trouble interacting with people per example?’ Dr.Baek’s voice asked gently, an anchor against her spiralling.

Celine looked up at that, the tight feeling in her chest intensifying.

Dr.Baek gave her space to find her words.

But before could say anything, she heard it. Something moving in the hallway, the slightest sound of dry skin scraping over carpet. Sharpley, she turned to the door, already bracing herself for the inevitable.

‘Is everything alright?’ Dr.Baek asked, but Celine was already on her feet, halfway at the door.

Suddenly, everything outside the room seemed crowded, a glass shattered, and the young woman who had welcomed Celine screamed.

‘Nari!?’ Dr.Baek called out, getting up too.

In the next second, the door flew open, and Nari fell into the room, a good dozen dalgyal gwishins right behind her, ripping at her skin with blunt nails, dragging her back into the hallway.

Celine quickly grabbed her outstretched hand, pulling her with one swift motion out of the demon pile and into the room behind her, right towards Dr.Baek, who immediately bent down to look after her assistant.

The Dalgyal Gwishins, now angry their prey had been taken from them, turned their focus to Celine, who in turn felt rage rise like bile in her throat.

The last hours she had lived through had been among of the hardest of her life. The honmoon destroyed, Rumi, sword in hand, Poppy breaking down because of her, and now she could not have her first freaking therapy session in peace!

She threw three of her shin-kals, hitting three demons right in the head, before pushing the rest back into the hallway, her onslaught so fierce that even with the numbers against her, the demons stood no chance.

With one shin-kal in each hand, she dealt out death, and soon there was only one Dalgyal Gwishin left, who tried to flee back into the therapy room. But as soon as the demon had reached the open door, it was hit by a flowerpot.

Both hunter and demon stopped dead in their tracks, and if the Dalgyal Gwishin had eyes, it would have blinked in confusion. The demon raised its hands to protect itself as another flowerpot followed, and another.

Celine was almost upon the distracted foe, as she had to jump back.

As small and delicate as she might look, Dr.Baek seemed to be made of sturdier stuff than expected. With surprising strength, she lifted the armchair over her head.

‘Leave my employee alone!!!’ Dr.Baek yelled before throwing her chair with all her might, hitting the demon right in the face. Celine freed it from his misery before entering the room.

Quickly, she checked her surroundings, and one look out of the window told her that more Dalgyal Gwishins were on their way up, climbing the façade, trying to reach the windows.

‘We need to get to my car,’ Celine said calmly, bending down to the assistant, who was still on the ground, holding her arm where a demon had clawed into her. She also could see a huge cut on her leg, making it clear that this woman was not walking anywhere on her own.

‘Can you help her? I need my hands free to cover you.’ Celine asked Dr.Baek, who nodded.

‘Come, my dear,’ she gently said to Nira, laying one arm around her shoulders, while holding her around the waist with the other, and pulling her up. The young woman whimpered in pain but remained upright.

Both women followed Celine.

Suddenly, a short walk of a few minutes turned into a gruelling ordeal, where Celine had to fight the advancing demons to protect her slower companions. But eventually they made it, the doctor helping Nari in the backseat before following.

Celine sat behind the wheel, and as they drove, demons were hot on their heels. Too many to fight them alone this time. She needed help.

Poppy came immediately to mind; the office was only a short drive away.

Doing a sharp turn, she drove back to her office, but some of the demons had managed to jump on her car, clawing at it, ripping it apart, bit by bit.

The two women in the back had to bend down to avoid grasping hands.

They barely made it to the parking garage of her office, her car ironically giving up as they reached its usual parking slot. Celine jumped out, clearing a path, finally reaching the elevator up to her office.

The way up was quiet, Celine on guard, the other two visibly tired.

As they arrived, she saw Poppy, fans drawn, looking at a small demon that almost looked…cute?

‘Please don’t kill me!’ the demon said to Celine, claws raised to defend itself.

Celine, one Shin-kal already raised to deliver a quick blow, stopped dead in her tracks. A demon, not trying to trick her or lure her in, but begging for its life?

She had no clue what to do with that, so she pushed the problem aside to solve later.

‘Never mind, we need to go. Do you have your keys? My car crashed.’

‘What? What is going on, Celine? Why are these two with you?’

Before she could answer, the Dalgyal Gwishin were back, drowning out the early light of the day.

‘Please do not kill me!’ the small demon said again, now to the lurking dalgyal gwishin.

Celine quickly made the two women return to the elevator, Poppy lagging a bit behind. The older woman did not question it, as she grabbed the small demon by the neck, shoving it inside as well.

The time for questions was later.

The Dalgyal Gwishin broke through the windows, crashing into her office, destroying it completely, and she hoped they would not get into the small kitchen in the next room, where the shot glasses still waited in the sink.

Nothing she could do about that now.

Celine grinded her teeth, jaw clenching as she watched the demons fall over each other in their hurry to get to them.

Poppy remained at her side, as the other two women and the small demon stepped back as far as the elevator would let them, but the door was already closed, and the elevator was going down.

Celine barely registered the silly background music, ire pulsing through her, the headache now at full force.

Gosh, she always had -

‘I hate these faceless fuckers!’ Poppy said.

Celine could not agree more with her.

As the elevator reached the parking garage, some dalgyal dwishin were waiting for them already, more gathering from the shadows.

Celine stepped outside, Poppy next to her, looking at the foe that considered them sightless, probing for the best way to attack, now that they had lost the advantage of surprise.

Checking behind her, she saw how the small demon was offering to help Dr.Baek carry Nari. The doctor had recoiled at first, in fear that her assistant would get hurt even more, but Nari, dangerously pale, had gladly accepted the extra support, no matter where it came from.

‘Don’t worry, I got her,’ the demon spoke, and his face had been so full of genuine concern as it steadied Nari with surprisingly strong claws, that it did not only calm Dr.Baek but also made Celine forgot for a second in what danger they were in.

To see a full-blown demon, no matter how small it might be, care in such a way for a human, was utterly mind-boggling.

Luckily, Poppy had not been so easily distracted. She pressed a button on her keys, and with a beeping sound that was comically out of place, the car unlocked.

The sound triggered something in the Dalgyal Gwishin, and all tensed like they were one creature, ready to strike.

‘Get in.’ Poppy said to the three behind them, and Dr.Baek and the demon hurried to get Nari inside, and as they moved, the dalgyal gwishin launched forward all at once, like a wave hellbent on drowning them.

Without thinking, Celine called her Gok-do, breaking the wave like a dam, felling many demons at once with wide strikes, while blocking the way to the car.

Poppy used the space she created well, jumping out from the cover Celine provided, striking with her left first, a gust of wind adorned with flames, burning the enemy before finishing the surviving demons off, one by one, with a sharp strike from her right.

Even in the middle of this intensive clash, Celine couldn’t help but think about how much she had missed witnessing Poppy in action.

From all the fighting styles she had seen, learned, and taught, Poppy’s looked most like dance. 

Granted, a dance that burned her enemies’ skin and cut deeply into demon flesh, but still a dance, in which the slightly metallic rattling of her fans opening and closing was like a beat they both followed.

Or, in Celine's case, trying to keep up.

She knew that she was anything but, and yet in comparison to Poppy’s light and precise movements, she felt slow, almost oafish, as she broke the defences of her opponents, dealing heavy blows that would leave them open to Poppy’s strikes, while she, in turn, trusted Celine to block the attacks she would have normally had to dodge while fighting alone.

Demon after demon fell, and yet it seemed like their overall number barely shrank at all.

Poppey seemed to have the same thought as her again.

‘How many are there?’ she asked, while lowering the number by two.

‘No clue,’ Celine said, before throwing the car a quick side glance.

Her anger vanished immediately as she saw the young assistant’s face through the window in the back seat.

It was even paler than before, and even though she was still conscious, she seemed to breathe heavily, her eyes fluttering, sweat on her forehead, her head lulling slightly from side to side.

‘And we have no time to find out. We need to get them out of here.’ She spoke, gesturing lightly with her head towards the car.

One look told Poppy all she needed to know.

They doubled their efforts, swinging, striking, their long-lost rhythm almost as good as it had been 25 years ago, as Mi-yeong’s pregnancy and later her death had forced them to relearn so much.

Perfect.

Almost.

Not quite there yet.

But good enough for now.

As its crescendo, Celine saw the honmoon reach out, and without any hesitation, she let the staff end of her Gok-do touch the ground, and a burst of energy annihilated all demons in its radius.

There were still a good number left, but Celine and Poppy ignored them for now. Quickly, they entered the car, Poppy behind the wheel, Celine taking the passenger's seat.

‘Hold on tight, everyone, it’s going to be a bumpy ride,’ Poppy said, starting the car, driving way too fast out of the garage, the remaining demons hot on their trail.

Celine turned in her seat to check on Nari.

Surprisingly, she looked a little better.

The doctor and the demon had not been idle.

The small creature was just checking if the makeshift tourniquet, namely the belt of the doctor, was tight enough on the woman’s leg.

At Nari’s left side still lay the rest of one of Poppy’s t-shirts. The demon must have cut it with its claws, improvising some bandages for the young woman’s arm.

Before Celine could ask her how she was feeling, the loud thud of something heavy landing on the roof of the car, followed by another, and another until it sounded like hail.

The car got slower thanks to the extra weight, and a grabbing hand broke through the window of the passenger seat, going for Celine, who was in an awkward position to defend herself.

But she did not have to.

The small demon already shot forward, burying its teeth deep into the arm of the dalgyal gwishin, its cute face suddenly feral, eyes burning.

It only let go as the other demon retreated. Then it leaned back again, giving Celine a determined nod, supporting Nari again.

Celine could only stare back at it.

A sharp click from her right made her turn.

Poppy had put the seatbelt on.

‘Buckle up,’ she said, voice calm.

Celine quickly reached in the back to help Dr.Baek put the seatbelt on for Nari. The demon, too small to use its own, was tugged in by the assistant, placed on her lap, and held tight with the good arm like a very strange plushie, the seatbelt now over its lap.

Celine quickly turned back around, her and Dr.Baek’s seatbelts clicking in short succession.

As Poppy changed gears and pushed the gas pedal as far as it would go, all occupants were pushed back into their seats.

Celine had a horrible flashback of another time Poppy sat behind the wheel.

It had been shortly after Poppy had managed to get her licence, and after that hell ride, Celine had highly suspected that the only reason Poppy had passed was that the examiner had been a fan.

She still remembered Mi-yeong’s pale face in the back seat, while she, in the passenger’s seat, had desperately pushed a brake that was not there.

Celine looked to Poppy, and the younger woman shot her a short look before turning her eyes back on the road, smiling slightly.

Celine sighed and grabbed the safety bar, hoping that Poppy’s driving skills had improved over the years.

But she did not have to worry.

As they had reached the highest speed, the extra weight of the demons on the roof would allow them, Poppy hit the brakes.

Seatbelts tightened, knocking the air out of them all, Nari groaning in pain, but it had the desired effect.

The dalgyal gwishin on top could not hold themselves. All tumbled down, landing on the empty street.

Then she drove in reserve, turned left on the main street.

Here was a little traffic, and Celin’s heart sank. How could they protect all these people? How could they keep the masquerade up if the demons would now flood the street?

Funnily enough, they did not. They stopped in the dark, shying away from the brighter lights of the main street.

But they did not stop following them.

In the side mirror, Celine could see how a few opened a sewer cover, all vanishing into the ground, their goal clear.

‘They are in the ground,’ Celine said to Poppy.

An annoyed sigh, a click with the tongue, and Celine just knew Poppy was rolling her eyes.

‘I hate when they do that. You never know when they jump back up. What now?’

Celine thought for a moment.

‘To my house. There I have the herbs she will need, and we can fight them better there,’ she said, pointing with her head to the back, where Nari was looked after by the doctor and the demon.

Then she looked in the glove compartment, knowing she would find what she needed. A first aid kit, complete with some disinfection, medical gloves, a needle and thread, and some fentanyl.

The standard for every hunter.

Celine took it, loosened her seatbelt, and climbed in the back.

‘Here,’ she said gently to Nari, giving her two of the pills, before turning to Poppy.

‘Do you have something to-.' she started, only to find a bottle of water right in front of her.

Taking it out of Poppy’s turned hand, she gave it to Nari.

‘Take them. I need to look at your leg,’ she said, her voice automatically switching into the low, calm tone that she had always used when Rumi had hurt herself as a kid, or later when one of the girls got wounded while training or their first hunting attempts.

Nari took a shaky breath while Celine disinfected her hands and put on a pair of gloves. She felt the young woman’s gaze before she looked up to meet it.

The resemblance to Mira hit her hard.

With a tight chest, she remembered how the redhead had tried to act brave, while clearly in pain from a long cut on her upper arm, which had bled quite dramatically, clinging to Celine’s every word as if every syllable had been a lifeline.

How old had Mira been back then?

It was a while before she found Zoey.

Sixteen? No, seventeen.

‘Don’t worry,’ she heard herself speak the same words she had back then,’ I am an expert.’

‘Really?’ Nari said, echoing Mira from years ago, looking doubtful and a little scared, probably wondering how and where an Ex-Kpop Idol had gotten practice in stitching wounds.

Then she seemed to remember what had happened since Celine had entered her anteroom and decided that this was not the strangest part of it.

With a sigh, the young woman swallowed the pills with some water.

Leaning back into the seat, the assistant closed her eyes before saying,’ This was one hell of a first week.’

Poppy snorted, shooting Celine a look through the rearview mirror, nodding ever so slightly.

‘You'd better ask for a raise!’ Poppy said, keeping the conversation going.

‘Granted, whatever you want.’ Dr. Baek said flatly, making Nari laugh.

‘Thank you, by the way,’ she said to the doctor,’ My last Boss would have pushed me down as a distraction. And you fought a monster with flowerpots and a chair.’

‘You did?’ Poppy asked, looking at them through the rearview mirror again before focusing back on the road.

‘She did.’ Celine confirmed.

Poppy shook her head in admiration.

‘And you are a therapist, right?’

Dr. Baek nodded.

‘Do they teach that at uni? I might switch careers.’ Poppy said with a twinkle in her eyes.

‘If they do, I must have missed that class. I must be a natural.’ Dr. Baek said sardonically.

Nari laughed again, before sucking in the air sharply through her teeth.

‘Ah, shit! Laughing too much hurts.’ She said, breathing slowly against the pain.

Alarmed, Celine told Dr.Beak to help lift Nari’s turtleneck, revealing a gigantic bruise at her ribcage that already started to change colours.

‘Tell when it hurts or if you have any trouble breathing.’ Celine said, as she gently palpated the bruise, applying pressure and watching Nari’s reaction.

‘Yeah, that hurts!’ the young woman choked out, tears shooting into her eyes,’ but breathing is fine. Just a little tight when I breathe too deeply.’

‘That’s good. You probably have a bruised rib, but nothing broken. Unpleasant but not immediately dangerous,’ Celine explained as a great wave of relief washed through her.

‘Yeah, I am so lucky.’ Nari said, as she leaned back into her seat, closing her eyes, resting.

As Celine went back to look after the wound on the leg, she could not help but be impressed by these two.

They had taken all that had happened remarkably well, especially regarding the life-changing aspect of it all.

Both the doctor and the assistant had proven to be resilient and level-headed.

Something new to consider for the vague plan she had thought of under the tree.

Poppy seemed to share the newfound respect Celine harboured for the two women.

‘Hunter material, both of you. You sing by any chance?’

‘Not good, ‘the doctor said, ‘I sound like a frog.’

‘I am stuck between a crow and a stepped-on cat, even without a bruised rip,’ Nari said, smiling as the doctor and Poppy laughed, before wincing as Celine gently cleaned the wound.

‘So, hunters. That’s what you are?’ Nari asked, slowly easing into the sting of the disinfection.

‘Yes,’ Poppy answered,’ Demon hunters to be precise.’

‘And you need to be a singer for that?’ the assistant asked further.

‘Short answer: yes. How about I give you two the long one over a drink? Believe me, it will change your worldview.’ Poppy said friendly.

‘A drink sounds very good right now.’ Dr. Baek said, while Nari nodded in agreement.

There was silence for a moment, in which Celine could finally take a closer look at the wound after she removed the blood.

She almost sighed with relief.

Deep, but not deep enough to hurt the arteries.

Simple stitches would do. She gently loosened the belt of the doctor and was pleased to see that the bleeding had stopped.

‘Demons,’ Dr.Baek said, like she had never heard the word or knew its true meaning, picking up the conversation.

Discreetly, Celine prepared the needle and medical thread, disinfecting both.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see that the small demon, who sat in the foot space below her, watched her intently. Celine chose to ignore it for now and concentrated on her task.

‘Yes,’ Poppy said, while Celine carefully pricked the skin around the wound with the needle. Nari barely flinched while she listened closely.

The sedation set in. Unhurried, she began to work, Nari barely registering more than slight discomfort, as her attention was on Poppy.

‘These faceless guys. These are dalgyal gwishin. You might have heard of them in old folktales. The Egg ghost. They love to follow hikers in the mountains and kill them there. They are persistent and can find their target over long distances.’

Dr.Baek turned to Poppy.

‘They are still following us?’ she asked, turning pale, but laying a hand on Nari’s shoulder as if to calm her.

‘Most likely,’ Poppy said,’ That’s why we can’t bring you to a hospital, now that they have focused in on you. They would find and kill you there.’ she explained.

Celine slightly tensed at Poppy’s bluntness, seeing how something terrified sneaked into the young woman’s eyes.

Poppy must have noticed too, because she quickly added, ‘But don’t worry. We protect you.’

Celine wavered at that, just a little, immediately forgiving Poppy for overly honest words.

We, not I.

She felt like she did not even deserve that much of an inclusion in Poppy’s life after everything, but she re-focused on her task.

Almost done.

Now she just had to cut the threat.

Just as she wanted to reach for the scissors, she heard it.

The slight pumping of the disinfection spray.

She turned and saw how the small demon, disinfected its claws, clearly copying Celine from before. Then it reached out, obviously to cut the thread with its sharp claw.

‘Wait!’ Celine said.

The demon froze, looking at her.

Nari and Dr.Baek turned to the demon as well. Poppy shot another look through the rewire mirror, before looking back on the road, body taught like a spring.

‘You must wait thirty seconds for the disinfection to work. Don’t touch anything.’ Celine heard herself say.

The demon’s eyes went wide with understanding.

So, it held still, holding its claws up in the air, razor-sharp focus in its eyes, moving its mouth silently.

Celine let out a breath she was not aware she was holding, as she realised with utter disbelief, that it was counting.

It was quiet in the car, as all, minus Poppy, watched the demon as it counted down the seconds

‘Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty!’ it said, smiling before reaching over, cutting the thread, nodding to Celine again.

Celine looked at it for a second longer, then she gave herself a little push, disinfecting the stitched-up wound again, before taking the remnants of Poppy’s cut-up shirt to bandage the leg as good as possible.

Not perfect, but it would do for now.

‘Thank you,’ Nari said, looking at the demon,’ For now and before.’

‘You are welcome,’ the demon said simply, smiling.

‘And thank you to you too,’ Nari said to Celine, sitting up quite suddenly, her movements a little sluggish now, sounding slightly drowsy.

The meds really started to kick in.

‘Of course,’ Celine said, a smile tugging at her lips as she gently pushed the young woman back into her seat.

Nari blinked in rapid succession, like she wondered why she was lying down again, before looking at her the same way she had in the office, when she had not dared to say what had been on her mind.

‘I am a huuugggee fan,’ she said, drawing out the words,’ Can I get an autograph?’

Dr.Baek laughed.

The demon tilted its head, looking deep in thought, blinking.

Poppy snorted again, shaking her head, smiling.

‘You'd better sign everything she wants after this is over.’

Celine allowed herself a tired smile.

‘So, they were Jinu’s pets?’ Zoey asked as she threw Derpy another piece of her pancakes.

This time it landed on his nose.

Cross-eyeing his target, his tongue shot out, inhaling the piece of pancake, chewing happily, before slowly turning back to Zoey, tilting his head, clearly begging for more.

Rumi could see how Zoey melted. Not the overly expressive way, she would reserve for turtle plushies or clothes she liked, but the soft, gentle way, where her eyes would turn warm, smile subtle, yet genuine, the moment you could tell she truly started to care for someone.

‘Yeah, something like that,’ Rumi said, smiling as she mused on whether Derpy needed a cat toilette and how big it needed to be, if they were going to keep him.

The thought almost made her laugh. Then she watched how Derpy stole Zoey’s heart even more, as he moved closer to the table, peeking over it, eyes like two red moons at the rim of the table while reaching with one paw for the pancakes Zoey had left, dead set on the goal ahead.

Zoey reached for Derpy’s face, stroking it, before giving him the rest of her pancakes.

Cut the if, Rumi thought to herself, eyes softening.

Derpy was staying.

Rumi looked over at Mira, who had been very quiet.

She was looking at Sussie.

The magpie was looking back at her.

None of them blinked as they regarded each other.

‘Nice hat.’ Mira said approvingly.

The magpie answered with a small trilling sound.

Then both looked away at the same time, Mira leaning back in her chair, pushing her plate over to Zoey so she could feed Derpy her last pancake as well, while Sussie landed on the tiger’s head, preening its feathers, both demon bird and hunter acting like nothing had happened at all.

This time, Rumi could not help but laugh lightly.

It looked like Sussie was staying as well.

They were quiet for a moment.

It was not an uncomfortable silence, but it felt a little heavy with all the things that needed to be said.

As Rumi was still trying to figure out where to start, it was Mira who made the first move.

‘I am sorry about your boyfriend.’ She said, voice low and soft.

‘Me too.’ Zoey added gently.

Rumi looked up, her gaze first on Mira, then on Zoey.

Both looked so full of understanding that Rumi had trouble not tearing up.

From all the things they could have rightfully thrown at her, they chose this. Instead of being angry or disappointed, they showed her sympathy for her loss.

She didn’t deserve them

Her throat felt a little tight as she tried to speak.

‘Thank you. It was complicated with him, but he-‘

I am sorry -

‘- did not deserve-‘

-about your-

‘-to end like –‘

Boyfriend!!???

Rumi left her sentence unfinished, as Mira’s words sank in.

‘You think he was my boyfriend?’ Rumi asked suddenly, looking back and forth between the two, a hot blush forming on her cheeks.

Mira and Zoey shot each other a look, smiling before turning back to Rumi.

‘Duh,’ was all Mira said.

‘I mean, secretly working together, a hunter and a demon, planning to beat Gwi-ma once and for all, so you could free him. Sounds pretty romantic to me…’  Zoey added, while Mira nodded along.

‘He was not my boyfriend.’ Rumi answered, not sure how to feel, and if what she said was even the truth.

Both her bandmates raised their eyebrows lightly, shooting each other a look out of the corner of their eyes.

‘Sorry.’ Mira said quickly,’ I did not mean to assume. I just thought, with him saving you, that you two were…’ she trailed off, not sure how to end her sentence.

‘That you two were a little…more.’ Zoey helped her out.

Rumi blinked, thinking about the last days. It did sound romantic.

They had been more in many ways.

And now he was dead, leaving her with his sacrifice.

And his betrayal.

Teaching two demons to impersonate Mira and Zoey perfectly, using their own song against her and revealing her patterns to them and the whole world.

She still could hear the words the demons had whispered to her on stage, using her friend's faces and voices.

We see who you are.

You’re a demon.

A mistake.

You always have been.

Since the day you were born.

He probably told them exactly what to say to break her.

Rumi’s chest became tight again, her eyes welling up, thoughts spiralling, as memories of the last hours began to flash in her mind.

Jinu dying, Celine’s hand hovering over her cheek, the doppelgangers ripping off her jacket, Mira and Zoey raising their weapons against her.

It was just so much.

‘Hey,’ Zoey’s hand gripped hers, deliberately stroking over her patterns there, grounding her.

‘What’s going on in there?’ she said, tipping Rumi’s forehead, her own voice thick with emotions.

‘Look, I know-,’ Mira joined in, taking Rumi’s other hand,’ – that bottling everything up worked so well for us in the past, but maybe we should try something else.’

Rumi took a shuddering breath, a watery smile on her lips.

‘Nahhh,’ she tried joking, her voice hiccupping at the end, running the attempt, but Zoey and Mira laughed lightly, giving her space to sort herself.

And then, Rumi told them everything.

How Jinu found out about her patterns, their nightly meetings, and the plan Rumi proposed.

As she told them what exactly their Doppelgangers had said to her while performing ‘take down’ at the idol awards, Zoey let go of her hand, side hugging her, her forehead pressed to her temple.

‘You are not a mistake,’ Zoey said with conviction.

Mira joined them, leaning into Rumi’s other side.

‘Not back then, not now, not ever,’ she said, her voice struggling as she added,’ And I should have been a better friend. I am sorry.’

‘Me too!’ Zoey added, suddenly sounding like she had a bad cold.

Tears sprang unbidden to Rumi’s eyes, but she did stop them as heavy sobs shook her whole body. Her friends did not fare much better.

How could they even say this, after all the lies she had told them?

How could they just forgive her like it was easy?

She could not tell for how long they cried like this, holding each other, but at one point Derpy had lain down behind them, so that all three could lean against him as the flood of tears slowly subsided.

His fur was wonderfully soft, his body like a big cushion, his presence warm and grounding.

Sussie, still perched on Derpy’s head, had its beak under its wing and was slumbering peacefully.

Rumi let out a long sigh, wiping her face with the sleeves of her shirt, feeling calmer.

After a good cry, she could always think more clearly.

Yes, Jinu had betrayed her, but his shame had been great, the control Gwi-ma had over him through that shame, even greater.

It was no excuse, but a reason, and without him, she would not be here right now.

And she had kinda liked him.

A lot if she was honest, and he probably had been on the best way to becoming her boyfriend.

Gods, she just wished she could talk to him again.

But, like her mother's death had taught her, there was nothing to gain by wanting something impossible, so Rumi pushed that thought aside for now.

There was one thing she could do tough.

‘I am sorry too,’ she said quietly,’ For lying about my patterns. I should have known that you would understand.’

‘I won’t lie, and say it did not hurt, that you did not trust us enough to tell us,’ Mira said, whipping her eyes,’ but we certainly should have reacted better.’

‘One hundred percent!’ Zoey said, reaching carefully for Rumi’s hand again, stopping before taking it.

‘Can I?’

Rumi wanted to make a joke, something along the lines of 'why ask now,' but the words died on her lips.

The way Zoey was looking at her made this moment important somehow, and Rumi did not want to ruin it by saying something stupid.

So, she just nodded.

Almost reverently, the maknae held Rumi’s hand with her left while the fingers of her right ghosted over the patterns there.

She made a silent ‘Oh’ with her mouth before looking back at Rumi.

‘They do feel slightly cooler than the rest of your skin.’

Surprised, Rumi looked at her arm like the patterns formed the words ‘cold patterns’.

‘Really?’ she asked, touching the patterns as well.

‘Yeah, yesterday in bed they felt a little warm, but now they are cool. They also changed colours.’ Zoey said, thinking.

That was true. They had changed from purple to an almost luminescent white.

‘Can you tell when they change?’ Zoey asked, her fingertips still ghosting over the patterns of her hands and arms like she could coax an answer out of them

‘Not really.’ Rumi said, realising how little she knew about this important aspect of herself, as she instinctively relaxed into Zoey’s touch. It was nice that this part of their relationship had not changed, despite this huge revelation.

Zoey always gave physical contact so freely, without hesitation or second thoughts, that Rumi had not realised how much she enjoyed it until she was close to losing it.

A movement next to her made Rumi turn.

Mira was looking at their joined hands so intently that she did not even notice that Rumi had turned to her.

Slightly guilty, Rumi realized they kinda had kind of left her out of this conversation.

It was not like she had forgotten about her; she just had been very distracted by Zoey’s fingertips.

But as Rumi wanted to say something to include her, Mira’s expression made her stop.

For a second, she thought that Mira might be jealous, remembering the conversation she had overheard earlier this morning.

But Mira did not look jealous at all.

She looked a little surprised if anything, her mouth slightly open, and there was this tiniest hint of red on the tips of her ears.

Rumi’s skin started to prickel.

‘Are you ok?’ Zoey’s voice floated past her, but Rumi kept her eyes on Mira, who jolted a little as she was spoken to.

‘Yeah, I am good. I was just wondering, how long you've had these patterns,’ she said to Rumi,’ I saw photos of you as a kid, like the one with Celine. And you wore short sleeves. No patterns.’

Even though Mira was a great actress, this was such a blatant lie that even Rumi’s people-reading skills were enough to detect it.

But the mention of Celine’s name made her suddenly realize that she had told them nothing about the fact that Celine had known of her part-demon status all along.

Or what had happened at the tree before she returned to fight Gwi-ma.

For a second, she pondered if she should tell them, then she remembered what good it had done to keep secrets from them.

Gently, she fastened the hold on Zoey’s hand, taking Mira’s in her other one, looking between them.

‘I have to tell you something else.’

As Poppy stopped the car in front of the house, she could not help but be a little joyful to see it again, despite the circumstances.

She had spent some of her happiest times there.

And some of her darkest.

Just like Celine, she mused.

Poppy wondered if for her the good had outweighed the bad, so that she chose to stay and raise Rumi here, close to her mother.

Or if it had all been just her damn sense of duty.

But in true Celine fashion, she did not waste time on nostalgic mulling.

Quickly she got out of the car, opening the back door, easily taking Nari into her arms, who was in a very unfitting good mood, thanks to the painkillers she had taken earlier, and carried her the short distance to the house.

The doctor and the demon close on her heels.

Poppy followed, already seeing the dark shades of the demons moving in through the small forest she knew intimately.

She entered the house and closed the door, barricading it with anything she could find.

As she joined the others in the living room, she found Nari on the couch, high as a kite and blissfully unaware of the danger she was in. The small demon and the doctor were helping Celine barricade as many windows and doors as they could.

‘Leave these two open.’ Celine said, pointing at two windows, before easily flipping a huge wooden table over, pushing its legs against the wall. She ordered the doctor and the demon to hide behind the table before collecting Nari from the couch, entrusting the others with her safety.

Poppy did not need to ask what Celine was up to.

The Dalgyal Gwishin would come in at one point, no matter what. Better steer them to a convenient point.

They were done just in time.

Poppy could hear the familiar crawling, the shuffle of bodies scrabbling over each other, then a nerve-racking silence.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Poppy saw how Celine summoned her Shin-kals, her weapon of choice in close quarters.

Taking a deep breath, Poppy felt the calm wash over her; she had gained it with long practice and experience. The nerves that once had been her downfall, now perfectly in control.

With Celine by her side, it was even easier to get into the right headspace.

It was like a concert playing in the far distance, the music too far away to hit, but the slightest echo was enough to make her blood pump faster.

She could almost hear it!

And suddenly she could feel the old beat she had loved so.

She did not question it. Did not let it go.

How could she now that she had it back?

It was bold.

Old and new at the same time.

Almost perfect.

With an easy flick of her wrist, she called her fans, opening and closing them twice with a sharp rattle, setting an easy rhythm even a child could clap along.

‘Easy to learn but hard to master is always best.’

She could almost hear Soa-ha say it.

One of the few good things she had learned from this woman.

It was like this sound had been the prelude of the fight to come.

All at once, the dalgyal gwishin threw themselves against the barricades, breaking through the openings they had left, their attack terrifying and disgusting all at once.

Poppy just followed the beat she had set.

At one point, fighting had become like that for her.

One step after the other.

What else could you do?

Just go one step after the other, quick, but not rushed.

Delighted, she felt how Celine followed her, perfectly in rhythm, despite their different fighting styles.

Even now, greatly outnumbered and with three non-fighters to protect, she could not help but appreciate seeing Celine in battle again.

The years had done nothing to reduce her strength, and it was still a sight to see when Celine would sometimes forget all technique and just grab a demon that made the mistake of coming too close and roughly throw it back into its brethren or against a wall or even out of a window.

Then she would switch into deadly accuracy again, from perfect, like her little outburst had never happened.

While sparring against her, Poppy had always felt small, like a wasp that had to fight a tiger and could only hope to get in a few stings before it was inevitably crushed between a huge paw.

But battling alongside her was exhilarating.

Back then and now.

So, Poppy enjoyed herself quite a lot, as she shot forward, dealing out fire and death, before retreating, leaving it to Celine to block the retaliation.

But it turned out that the clash in the parking garage had been just a warm-up for the dalgyal gwishin.

Breaking through other barriers by sheer force, it was becoming difficult to protect the other three.

And there was just no end to them.

How was this even possible?

The whole way here, she had not seen a single weak spot, not a single tear in the magical barrier.

What was up with this new honmoon?

A dalgyal gwishin leaped at her, disrupting her thoughts.

As she struck it down, she felt another one grab her from behind, reaching for her throat. But before she could do anything, Poppy saw a colourful flash, and the dalgyal dwishin let her go long enough so she could kill it.

‘I can help!’

Poppy turned around and saw the small demon.

She looked it up and down. Yes, it had sharp teeth, but his limbs were like twigs.

Well, if it wanted to throw its life away, she was not the boss of it.

‘You're funereal,’ she said, before turning to her next foe.

‘No!!’ it yelled,’ I can help!’

It turned to Celine.

‘You! Give me something to eat.’

That made Poppy almost lose her rhythm.

Celine looked similarly surprised.

‘What?!’ she said, while she struggled with a demon, and as second and third came and tried to overwhelm her, she finally lost her temper.

With brute force, she punched one of them in the face, threw another that had tried to cling to her back into the one that stood before her.

She called her sain-geom and attacked without mercy or hesitation. Poppy joined her and together they managed to drive them back, the honmoon boosting their onslaught, forcing the demons to regroup.

A short moment to catch their breath, but not to flee.

Poppy could hear them on the roof, could see through the smashed-in windows how some crawled over the grounds towards them.

‘Shit!’ Poppy said through her teeth, breathing heavily.

‘Celine, we need to get them out of here.’

The older woman looked at her, then at the doctor and her assistant.

‘If you want to help,’ she said to the demon,’ then help them to get away.’ Celine said calmly, before looking at Poppy, asking an impossible question.

She did not need to say it out loud; Poppy knew what the duty of a hunter was.

Her fighting spirit rose, her blood boiling.

She be damned if she let a demon get an innocent soul under her watch, as the centuries-old motto sprang into her mind.

We are Hunters, voices strong

Slaying demons with our song

Yes, that was exactly who she was and what she would do.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her fans.

She would sell her skin at a high price.

‘Are you even listening to me? Just give me one of these damn persimmons over there and no one must sacrifice themselves!’ it said, clearly agitated.

‘Sorry, we do not make deals with demons.’ Poppy said easily, turning her back to it.

Celine was at her side, sword ready.

Poppy only wished they could have talked more.

Maybe even give her a good slap in the face for all the stupid shit she had pulled.

Or that she could have seen Rumi one more time.

‘Excuse me?! I am no demon!’

The demon, or whatever it supposedly was, sounded so insulted it was almost comical.

Both Poppy and Celine turned around, looking at it.

It even had its claws pressed against its small hips.

The younger woman raised a doubtful eyebrow.

‘I am a house spirit!’ It said in utter disbelief, like it was crazy anyone could doubt that, ‘A ghost, if that suits you better. But a demon? Like one of these egg heads? Never in my 600 years have I been so insul-‘then it stopped itself,’ what am I doing! You, just give me the fruit, and all is going to be fine! We have no time.’ it spoke to Celine.

It was right.

The dalgyal gwishin were advancing again, coming close.

Still, Celine did not move.

‘Why do I have to give it to you?’ Celine asked, suspecting a trick.

’You are head of this house,’ it said, like it explained anything.

It was no question either. Somehow, it knew the terms of ownership.

‘Look, I can explain everything you want later, but we want the same thing. I want to live and save them. But I am not strong enough now. Even if you both sacrifice yourself, they still die. Give me the fruit and I can help!’ it pleaded, looking desperate, folding its claws together.

‘Please, let me help!’

It had tears in its eyes.

Actual tears.

That seemed to tip the scales in the spirit's favor.

Grabbing the persimmon fruit, she threw it to the demon or spirit, or whatever it was, and it ate it with two large bites.

‘Contract accepted,’ it said after swallowing, and what happened next was something Poppy would never forget.

Its eyes glossed over in a silver gleam, then it grew taller, its limbs filling out with strong, lean muscles, its head finally not too big for its body anymore.

It stopped growing as it was about Celine's height, looking more like a lion statue than before, its colours gleaming with new energy.

The dalgyal gwishin that were close enough shrank back in fear, like roaches fleeing from the light.

‘Sorry guys,’ it spoke, its voice much deeper now, the smile that revealed its sharp teeth not endearing anymore, but threatening.

‘This is my turf now.’

Then it was upon them, wrestling them down, ripping with its teeth, slashing with its claws, each movement sending a small energy wave, that killed more Dalgyal Gwishins than just the one it had aimed for.

After it was done with the foes in the house, it vanished in a puff of grey smoke.

Poppy could hear it hunting on the grounds like a feral wolf.

‘Oh my…’ Dr. Baek

‘Wiiii, we live.’ Nari said, now halfway into a drug-induced sleep.

Celine was quickly at their sides, checking on both, reassuring them that all was fine.

Poppy just stood there, catching her breath, glad she still had the time to slap Celine in the face after all.

That thought made her laugh lightly, until with another poof of grey smoke the spirit appeared again.

For a second, it stood looming over her, eyes still shining silver, then it shrank down to a less intimidating size, now reaching Poppy’s shoulder.

‘I report, none of the dalgyal gwishin made it out alive,’ it said brightly towards Celine, like a soldier talking to their officer.

There was a moment of silence.

‘Thank you,’ Celine said, sounding doubtful if that was the right thing to say.

Poppy almost burst out laughing at Celine’s confused look.

If it was not an appropriate thing to say, the spirit did not show it. It only smiled before turning its attention to the doctor and her assistant.

‘Are you alright?’ it asked, genuine concern in its voice.

Dr.Baek, who allowed a now sleeping Nari to rest against her shoulder, looked up at the demon in disbelief. Poppy did not blame her.

Mere moments ago, it had been a killing machine, and now it checked up on them like a mother hen would on her chicks.

But the doctor quickly caught herself.

‘We are fine. Just tired,’ she said, friendly.

‘Oh, of course! I make a bed ready for you.’ It spoke, vanishing in a cloud of smoke, only to reappear in the next second.

‘And you have a visitor.’ It said to Celine, vanishing again.

Just as the little could fizzled away, there was a soft knock at the still barricaded door.

Poppy caught Celine’s look, following her to the door, helping her to move the furniture aside.

Bracing herself, Poppy watched as Celine reached for the door, opening it.

Outside stood a woman in her 70s, hair completely white, posture unbent by age and her eyes still with the same warm twinkle Poppy had loved so.

She still loved to wear the color green.

Poppy took in a sharp breath, tears gathering in the corner of her eyes.

‘Hana,’ she said, surprised how young her voice sounded.

For a moment, Hana looked almost shocked to see her here, but then she smiled widely, her hands reaching for her.

‘Hello, Poppy.’

Chapter Text

Mira leaned against Derpy, while Rumi sat between Zoey and her.

She could not believe that mere moments ago, she had an absolutely insane awakening, as she saw how Zoey and Rumi had held hands.

Why oh, why had she not realized sooner that not only Zoey had sneaked into her heart, pushing all platonic feelings aside that might have been there, and replacing them with something Mira was pretty damn sure was love?

It was not even the first time she saw them touch each other like that. Zoey gave out hugs and cuddles like candy, freely and without thinking.

So why now?

Why not sooner?

Other hunters had tigers and turtle ornaments on their norigae, and she had them, for god’s sake.

A tiny Rumi and Zoey.

Who was she kidding? It had always been them!

She had felt so stupid.

And a little greedy too.

And then Rumi looked at her, and she felt caught, suddenly not ready anymore. Instead of being honest and brave, she distracted them with a question she did not want an answer to.

She had thought that a little more time would be good, especially since she had sprung her feelings onto Zoey spontaneously, and she had no clue how the maknae would feel about Rumi joining them. Or if that was even an option at all.

So, she had tamed herself, even though her heart had screamed at her to make a knee fall to both right then and there.

But now, instead of the pleasant fluttery feeling in her chest, her ears were ringing like Rumi had been screaming at them for the last twenty minutes, even though she had almost whispered at some points of her story.

And yet Mira had heard everything, every syllable burned into her soul, the whole story boiling down to two main baselines.

Celine had lied.

Rumi had wanted to die.

Mira barely heard how Zoey softly spoke to Rumi, saying just the right things, like she always seemed able to.

‘I am so glad you told us, Rumi,’ she said, gently brushing a stray tear from Rumi’s cheek with her thumb, and the lead smiled shakily.

‘I am glad too,’ she answered, as more tears started to spill.

‘You sure?’ Zoey asked half-teasing, half-concerned, but so gentle, like this was easy.

How could Zoey stay so calm?!

How could she keep it together so well after hearing what had happened under the zelkova tree?

Celine had lied!

Rumi had wanted to die!

‘Yeah,’ Rumi said breathily,’ I just am relieved that you guys… don’t freak out.’

Here, Rumi crunched up her face lightly, like she was unhappy with the words.

It was fair to think that ‘not freaking out’ sounded a little weak when your friend was grateful that you did not completely lose yourself, after she confessed that she had been downright suicidal a few hours ago, but it was even fairer to say that Mira could not freak out, even if she wanted to at that moment.

Zoey managed to be the calm one Rumi needed now, while Mira was absolutely frozen in shock, still holding Rumi’s hand, a gesture that was obviously misread as silent support, because Rumi turned to her now, a tiny, thankful smile on her face, before turning back to Zoey.

That small acknowledgement was all it took, and something like a dam broke in Mira’s head.

All at once, Mira’s mind was flooded with pictures of Rumi, a stream of moments in time that pulled her under for a second.

Rumi, at sixteen, and Mira, still fifteen, both greeting each other at Celine’s house, slightly awkward but unwilling to let it show.

A few months later, Rumi showing her the room that would be hers for the next five years, her smile genuinely happy that Mira was staying.

Rumi, sitting with her as she crafted her norigae, the first of many, with great care. Mira had chosen a deer and a camellia blossom ornament among countless options; the only ones that had dimly sparked something in her, even though she was not sure if it would be enough. She had made a snarky remark about it. Nothing she could recall now, but Rumi’s ungraded laugh had stuck with her until today.

The two of them were sparring, Rumi already a master with her sain-geom, while Mira struggled to keep up, but was steadily getting stronger, faster, braver.

Them celebrating Seollal, Chuseok, or Christmas together whenever she could manage not to go back home for the holidays, making traditions they would later invite Zoey to.

Rumi, next to her, a reassuring presence with a sword in hand, making Mira slightly less terrified as Celine showed her a demon for the first time. 

Unwanted Celine’s face kept coming back to her mind.

Celine, standing before her fifteen-year-old self, talking to her like she was a normal person, not a time bomb about to go off. One of the few grown-ups ever to do that.

Her calm smile as she convinced Mira’s parents that the K-pop business was something their daughter would excel at.

Celine’s hand on her shoulder as she reassured her that all was fine, even though she still failed to connect to the honmoon after almost two years of training.

The easy acknowledgement of Mira’s successes, Celine would freely give. Something that seemed impossible for her parents, no matter what she did, and something she craved at first when she moved into Celine’s house, and later got used to, taking comfort from it, feeling seen.

This woman had been her mentor, had taught her just as much, if not more than her own mother, had changed her life for the better in many aspects, and yet all the good feelings were overshadowed by one simple truth.

Rumi had wanted to die because Celine had lied!

Anger rose like bile in Mira’s throat.

But then, a light squeeze called her back in to here and now.

Rumi held her hand a little tighter while still facing Zoey as she asked another good question, and Mira looked at the back of her head.

And just like that, all anger was dampened, not completely gone, but easier to control.

This was not about her.

This right here was about Rumi, and making sure that she was alright and safe.

She would deal with Celine later.

Mira held Rumi’s hand a little tighter as well, and she could see how her leader's shoulders loosened a bit.

But suddenly the ringtone of Rumi’s phone cut through the air. Slightly surprised, she took it out of the front pocket of her hoodie, and for a second, Mira could see the picture on the screen. It was Kiho, Celine’s secretary and personal assistant. The young man had smiled as Rumi had taken the picture, making a peace sign with his left hand, his thick brown hair falling a little into his eyes, his white teeth showing in a handsome smile.

Rumi picked up without hesitation. It was a video call, and the Kiho that appeared on screen now could not look more different from the one in the picture.

He looked pale and very worried.

‘Kiho,’ Rumi asked,’ Is everything alright?’

‘I don’t know, Rumi. I hope it is.’

All three shot each other a worried look before Kiho continued.

‘I came into work a little late, but Celine-nim was not here and I found the office looking like this-‘

He turned the camera around and showed what was once a pristine office and lay now in absolute shambles. But the extent of the destruction and the blunt scratch marks could only mean one thing.

Demon attack. Most likely dalgyal gwishin and a whole lot of them at that.

Mira felt her teammates sharpen next to her, all other problems forgotten for a moment as a familiar threat showed its ugly head.

Kiho’s face appeared again.

‘I tried to call her, but she is not picking up. I know she does not like to have the police here, but I feel like I need to call them- Kiho rambled on.

First step – damage control, shoot through Mira’s head.

‘It’s ok, Kiho, we talked to Celine this morning. She had a …quite eccentric band as guests. You know, maybe new singers for the label. Looks like they lost it a bit.’ Mira quickly made up.

‘She never told me about this….’ Kiho mumbled, but already looking a bit relieved, that Celine had been seen this morning.

He had been working for Celine for quite a while, and he knew how strange famous people could be.

Second step – keeping human bystanders as safe as possible.

‘You should take a home office day, Kiho.’ Rumi continued,’ Celine was quite tired after all this. She told me she would not be going into the office today anyway. I mean, you can arrange everything from home.’

‘Oh…I don’t know…you sure?’

‘Yeah, I am sure. If I remember correctly, Celine said something like that. Maybe she forgot to send you a message. You know what? I go home and check on her.’

At that, he locked, immensely relieved.

‘Yes, that would be great…could you ask her to contact me when you see her?’

‘Of course. Have a good way home!’

Rumi did not even wait for Kiho to respond before she hung up.

‘You think he is in danger?’ Mira asked her lead.

She did not want the young man to get hurt. He was only a little older than her and had always been kind to them.

‘No, he would be already dead if any demon were still there.’ Rumi said, already dialling Celine’s number.

No one picked up.

She dialled again.

Same result.

While she tried to call Celine a third time, she stood, turning towards her and Zoey, Derpy raising its head at the sudden movement.

‘I need to check on her,’ she said, and as this call was unanswered as well, she put her phone away.

Mira turned to Zoey, and the small nod from her was all the confirmation she needed.

‘You sure? If you don’t want to see her right now, Zoey and I can check for you.’ she told Rumi.

‘I am sure.’ Rumi said, after thinking for a moment,’ I know it’s complicated right now, but I need to make sure she is alright.’

Mira held her gaze for a moment.

‘Ok, let’s go,’ Mira said, already standing, walking to the quite large keyboard in the hallway where all their car keys were proudly on display.

Naturally, she picked the fastest option they had, only to turn around to see Derpy trying to make Zoey carry him.

With Sussie still on his head, he stood on his hind legs, placing all his weight on Zoey, who struggled quite a lot to keep standing.

‘Aww, I think he wants to come along. He really likes you, Zoey.’ Rumi said, switching between endearment and mild annoyance.

‘Help..’ Zoey choked out, before going down in Derpy's fluffy on slaught.

‘Could you follow us through your blue portal thing?’ Rumi tried to offer a solution, but Derpy only slowly blinked at her once before turning his gaze back to Zoey, purring.

Sussie sighed loudly, rolling his eyes, looking upwards.

Rumi turned to Mira, shrugging her shoulders apolitically.

‘I tried.’

Mira groaned, looking a lot like Sussie for a second, before hanging the keys for the fast option back, picking the one next to it.

‘Never mind. We take the big one!’ Mira said, before going over to Zoey, easily throwing Derpy’s front legs over her shoulders, wearing him like a cape, and dragging him to the elevator.

Mira felt eyes on her, and she looked up. She saw the magpie looking at her, slightly impressed.

The redhead could not help but wink.

Opening the door, she stepped in, looking back at Zoey and Rumi.

‘What are you waiting for! Come on!’

Both her bandmates quickly joined her in the elevator, going down to the garage.

Arriving there, Mira readjusted Derpy over her shoulders before walking straight to the limousine.

‘Are you sure we should use this one? It’s such an eyecatcher.’ Rumi asked.

‘It’s the only one big enough for him, Mira said, her voice strained as she pushed the tiger inside, Zoey following.

Rumi only shrugged, getting in the car as well, while Mira took the driver’s seat.

Putting on her seatbelt, Mira opened the window to the back with a bottom press.

‘Celine’s house first?’ she asked Rumi.

Her leader nodded.

The magpie came flying from the back, sitting on the headrest of the passenger’s seat, trilling once before watching closely what Mira was doing.

The redhead was only glad that all windows were opaque as she started the car, driving out of the garage towards Celine’s house.

In the commotion, no one noticed that the elevator was called back up.

Two figures stood in the huntrix tower, waiting for the elevator to arrive. Both were tall, thin, and lean.

Their backs were straight, their shoulders set determinedly, like they were on a mission.

Both moved in perfect sync as the elevator doors opened.

The slightly clicking sound of the cane, one of them had to lean on, rang unusually loud through the air.

The one without the cane pressed the button to go upwards to the penthouse.

Celine could only watch as Poppy hugged their old teacher close. Both Women had tears in their eyes as they parted.

‘Look at you.’ Hana spoke, voice thick with emotions as she gently wiped the tears from Poppy’s face.

Poppy smiled, absolutely overjoyed.

Celine only felt tired.

She had not slept in almost two days, had barely eaten, drunk way too much alcohol, had faced great physical and emotional strain, and there was so much to do still.

Hana’s appearance would most likely add to that ever-growing list.

‘Hana, why are you here?’ Celine asked.

She knew it sounded rude, but she was running on fumes and had little time left to act, if anything Hana told her would call for immediate action.

Poppy shot her glance, concerned instead of angry.

Another thing from her old bandmate Celine felt undeserving of, but she kept her focus on her former teacher.

If Hana was insulted by her harsh words, she did not show it.

‘Soa-ha and Ahn have seen the news. They are on their way to her.’ she said.

Something ice cold dropped into Celine’s stomach.

‘I had no way of contacting her directly, and you would not answer your phone. So, I came here. I am sorry I could not stop them.’ Hana continued, but Celine was not listening anymore, grabbing the back pockets of her pants, only to feel the small hit of panic as she did not find her phone there.

Looking wildly around for it in the mess that was once her tidy home, she barely noticed that the spirit appeared next to her with a small puff.

Behind her, she could hear Hana make a little jump, probably already calling for her weapon, but Poppy quickly stepped in, quietly talking to the old woman.

Celine felt immense gratitude that she did not have to stop what she was doing and explain why a spirit vanished and reappeared willy-nilly in her home.

‘Looking for this?’ the spirit asked, holding her phone in its claws.

Celine looked at the spirit, letting out a small sigh before taking it.

‘I charged it for you,’ the spirit said, smiling, saying the word ‘charged’ as if it was not familiar with it.

‘Thanks,’ Celine said slowly, regarding the creature, wondering how it knew how to charge anything.

The spirit had been immensely helpful already. Cleaning away the traces of battle, it had quickly improvised a makeshift fix for the windows, so Nari and Dr.Beak had the most comfort possible while they rested.

‘You are welcome,’ the spirit said, before it went to great Hana, who made an admirable effort to look not completely shocked.

For a second, Celine watched how Poppy appeased their former teacher, before unlocking her phone and checking her missed calls.

Her vision was slightly blurry, probably from exhaustion. Squinting a little so she could read the names on her screen, and among Kiho’s and Hana’s names, she could see that Rumi had called her six times.

But just as she wanted to call her back, the spirit perked up, like it had heard something.

‘Excuse me for a moment,’ it said to Hana, smiling friendly, vanishing with a puff, only to reappear seconds later next to Celine.

‘You have more visitors!’ it announced chipperly,’ Three women in a big….ah, how do you call the carriages that move without horses?’

‘Cars,’ Celine said.

‘Yes, a car. Thank you! They come in a big car. But they bring two guardians along …. Do you allow them to stay?’

‘Guardians?’

‘Guardian spirits, to be precise.’

Celine blinked. Three women with two spirits could only be the girls. It looked like she was not the only one with a story to tell.

‘Yes, they may stay,’ Celine said, concluding that if the girls were bringing them, they should be safe enough.

‘Sure thing,’ the spirit said, smiling brightly at her.

An idea came to Celine.

‘Can you always tell when someone enters my property?’

‘Yes! No matter if demon, human, or spirit. I know right away if someone is on your land. Even though I must admit, you are testing the limits of my abilities. You are one wealthy woman!’ it said, looking impressed.

‘So, you can tell what is happening on all properties I own?’

The demon nodded, smiling brightly.

‘Could you locate someone for me?’

‘Who?’ it asked.

‘Two women, around her age,’ Celine said, gesturing towards Hana, who still listened intently to Poppy,’ Both tall, thin. One would need a cane to walk. Most likely, they are in the huntr/x tower now. Could you confirm that for me?’ Celine asked.

‘No problem!’ the spirit said, delighted he could help, already vanishing in a puff of smoke, before she could say more.

‘Wait! Come…come back!’ Celine called out, stumbling a little.

How should she call it? Just ‘you’ for the rest of their arrangement? Did spirits even have names?

But it must have heard her anyway, even without addressing it correctly. With a puff, it came back, looking at her questioningly.

She regarded the creature that had saved Dr.Baek’s, Nari’s, Poppy’s, and her life, and she only hesitated for a moment before she made a choice, she would not have even considered days ago.

‘What is your name?’

The spirit looked surprised, standing up a little straighter, focusing on Celine as if it tried to read her.

Suddenly, the moment felt heavy, like this was important in a way Celine was not fully comprehending.

‘My name is Tae-moon,’ it...he said, his eyes open and unguarded as he spoke,’ And you are Celine?’

She nodded.

‘Don’t let them see you, Tae-moon. They are old, but they can be dangerous.’ Celine warned him, breaking the silence,’ Tell me if they are still at the tower, then come back. Don’t engage.’

‘Yes… Celine,’ he spoke, the small pause before her name weirdly charged.

Then he vanished in a puff of smoke.

Further away, at the edge of the small woods that surrounded her house, Celine could faintly hear the engine of a car.

Tae-moon appeared on the roof of the office where he had met the hunters. He needed a moment to orientate himself, and he figured that he would find a quiet corner somewhere up here, where he could concentrate on the subtle waves his power sent back to him. And if all failed, he still could search by sight for the huntrix tower.

Having a home normally meant that his world became quite small, but his new contract partner was indeed a wealthy woman.

Sitting up here, he overlooked the city he had known once and could see and feel the many houses and land that belonged to her, his power spread widely and a little thin if he was honest. Many people walked in and out of her land, passing through, making waves in the net he had spun.

When he had been back at the house, where he had fought the demons, it had been much quieter, easier to ignore and concentrate.

But now, much closer to the buzz, he was almost overwhelmed by the sheer mass of it all.

A first for Tae-moon.

As he tried to find the needed calm to search for his target, he could not help but think about this strange day. The new honmoon simply opened for him, letting him pass through, some egg heads using their chance, following him. Many more still on the other side waiting for him, him running as fast as he could, the demons hot on his trail, before something distracted them, and he could escape, even if only for a short moment. Then, meeting not one but two hunters, even accepting a contract from one of them, fighting and winning against the demons. And then,…Celine had asked for his name and had offered hers in return.

A human.

A hunter no less.

Another first for Tae-moon.

That was a lot for one day, even for a spirit.

But he had accepted a task, and so he got back to it, taking a deep breath, centring himself.

‘Mmmhh, I can’t overlook all at once…maybe one after the other,’ he mumbled to himself, blocking out as much of the hubbub as he could, trying to focus on only one house at a time.

He wondered if he had to go back and ask for more precise directions, but then he saw it in his head, shimmering silver. The huge building with huntri/x  written on it.

Two people were inside.

He vanished, and seconds later, he appeared in a pretty room, on a comfy bed.

He noticed briefly how neatly it was made, smiled at the teddy, which was carefully placed on the pillow, and a picture that had been stuck on the side of the headboard. It showed a young woman in a dancing motion. She wore a long braid adorned with flowers, smiling brightly.

Then he heard light footsteps coming closer, accompanied by a soft clang every time a cane hit the ground.

He made himself small, melting into the shadows, invisible to most eyes.

Hoping that his hiding attempt, fuelled by the energy his contract gave him, was enough to fool a hunter this time, he kept still, not daring to breathe, as the door opened.

In came an old woman, her shoulder-long hair completely white and neatly brushed back, wearing simple, but elegant clothing that looked foreign to Tae-moon. A little bit like the clothes Celine and the other humans he had met so far had worn, but not quite. She leaned heavily on her cane as she looked around, her dark eyes passing over Tae-moon, hiding in the shadows without seeing him. She looked past the teddy bear and then stopped at the picture of the young woman.

She was frozen for a second, then slowly, almost reluctantly, she walked over the headboard and tacked the picture, looking at it for a long moment.

Tae-moon watched her carefully, not missing how her shoulders slumped lightly, how her eyes glossed over with something sad, the slight tremble of her lips before she pressed them together until they turned white.

With a slight sigh, she carefully laid the picture on the nightstand before turning, leaving the room with the door wide open.

‘Ahn!’ she called, and the second woman he was supposed to find appeared out of another room. She was a little taller than the one with the cane, hair white as well, but still long and thick enough to be braided elegantly. Her face was long, her posture almost regal, reminding Tae-moon of the way Celine carried herself.

’She is not here.’ The woman with the cane said, letting out a sigh.

There was a pause, only a few seconds, before she started to move towards the exit.

‘I think it’s time we pay Celine a visit.’

The woman named Ahn nodded silently, following the other out of sight, away from the spirit and out of the tower.

Tae-moon peeked out of the shadows to see if the coast was clear before vanishing, going back to the house in the woods to tell Celine what he had seen.

Rumi felt oddly calm as she walked the familiar path through the woods that surrounded the house she had grown up in.

They had to ditch the car at the beginning of the tree line. A limousine was truly not a vehicle to go off-road with. So, they walked up the hill, Mira with her long legs soon taking the lead, waiting from time to time for Zoey and her to catch up. Whenever she turned around to wait, Zoey and she had to stifle a giggle, though.

Sussie sat now on Mira’s head, wearing the same impassive expression.

There was something angry in her step, Rumi noticed. She suspected that Mira had quite a lot to say to Celine.

Derpy steadily walked next to Zoey, the maknae absentmindedly letting her hand brush through this thick fur from time to time.

They reached even ground again, the small forest now getting lighter, and here Rumi took the lead, Mira falling back, whispering something to Zoey.

Rumi smiled, walking a bit faster to give them a little more privacy, thinking of the conversation she had overheard this morning. As soon as she could, she would give them more space, but now she was just immensely grateful to have them at her side.

The house came into view, and she could see Celine’s figure from a distance, already waiting for her. Next to the great relief to see her alive, Rumi remembered how she would dawdle behind Celine as a kid, unwilling to go inside and subsequently to bed, or just daydreaming in general.

Celine would always wait there, watching her, reminding her half-heartedly that it was time to go, while she smiled like she remembered a joke Rumi did not get.

But then came the memory of their last meeting, and with every step closer, she was painfully aware of the patterns on her face and hands that Celine must be able to see from where she stood.

Withstanding the sudden urge to cover up, Rumi kept going, soon standing in front of Celine.

Rumi thought that she had never seen her so tired. And now, up close, she noticed that her childhood home had suffered quite a lot. Broken windows, the small, neatly kept garden close bye in disarray.

But before Rumi could ask what exactly had happened, she noticed how Celine was looking at her.

Straight into her eyes, even now with her patterns on full display.

She made a clear effort not to let her gaze wander to the patterns, Rumi could tell, but she was looking at her.

Open and searching.

It was not what Rumi had expected at all.

‘Rumi,’ Celine spoke softly, clearly wanting to say more, but seemed unable to.

In turn, Rumi wanted to speak as well but found herself in the same predicament. How do you talk to each other after what happened under that tree just a few steps away?

After everything that had been before that?

She had just wanted to make sure that Celine was alive, but she had not thought further than that, and now she found herself at the beginning of something she was not ready for.

But before they could say anything, a puff of grey smoke right next to Celine made Rumi jump slightly.

Calling her soul-powered sain-geom was a reflex; Mira and Zoey rushing to her side, their weapons ready, was second nature and in an instant, they were ready for battle.

But their “opponent” did not even have the decency to look threatened by them.

‘Celine, both were in the tower. They searched for a while, I think, but now they are on their way here,’ the demon reported.

‘Thank you,’ Celine said, holding up a hand to the three, telling them silently to lower their weapons.

‘Sure thing. Can I do anything else?’

‘Not right now, thank you.’

‘If you need anything, I am fixing the roof!’ the demon said, smiling, his delightfully bright colours gleaming before he vanished, only to reappear on the roof, craftily working to fix a hole left by a dalgyal gwishin.

Rumi still stood glued to the spot, her sword lowered but still there, Zoey and Mira next to her, mirroring her, and all three stared at Celine.

Out of all the things Rumi had thought she would find here, this had not been on her list.

A demon had talked to Celine.

Called her by name like it was the most normal thing in the world.

She even thanked him.

No wonder Celine had not even flinched at Sussie, still perched on Mira’s head, and Derpy being distracted by a thrown-over flower pot close by.

‘What….how?’ Rumi started, but before she could continue,  she heard someone call.

‘Celine!? Was this spirit guy back? Has –‘

A strangely familiar voice called out of the house, becoming louder as the person approached them, only to abruptly stop.

A woman had stepped out of the house, her creoles gleaming in the sun.

She was smaller than Rumi remembered, or maybe she had just gotten taller.

But otherwise, she looked almost the same as Rumi remembered her.

‘Poppy,’ Rumi heard herself say, staring back at the woman, whose eyes were glued to her face.

‘Hey there, kiddo.’ Poppy greeted her, her voice suddenly sounding like she had a bad cold, breaking a little at the end.

Rumi was already moving, making Poppy lose her balance slightly, as she crashed into the older woman, holding her tight, tears in her eyes.

She noticed Poppy’s slight hesitance to wrap her arms around her, heard how her breath faltered a little, and felt the instinctive twitch in her body to call her weapon being quickly smothered. Rumi, again, was suddenly very aware of her patterns. Poppy had never seen them, she remembered; maybe it was a bit much to take in all at once.

She wanted to pull back, but then Poppy’s arms closed around her, gentle and warm, just like Rumi remembered.

Poppy had always given the best hugs.

For a moment, they held each other, then Poppy pulled back, and Rumi noticed how her hands slid down her upper arms, gentle, caring, but also careful not to touch past the border of her hoodie that covered her skin.

That felt like rejection, but Poppy’s eyes were so full of fondness and curiosity that the bitter sting was soothed immediately. She let her gaze wander all over Rumi’s face, her hands, tracing the lines of her patterns by sight, before looking into Rumi’s eyes again.

‘I would say that you look like your mother, but that would be a lie,’ the older woman said, the pale ghost of her teasing grin on her face.

Rumi blinked, taken aback for a moment, before letting out a sound that was half laugh, half sob.

Leave it to Poppy to make an equivocal joke about the fact that Rumi had indeed not inherited much from her mother in the looks department and her patterns, the first thing she saw them.

It was nice to laugh about them for a change, Rumi thought.

Whipping her eyes, a watery smile on her lips, she looked at the older woman.

Poppy’s eyes softened, all good-natured teasing gone.

‘You do have her smile, though,’ she said quietly.

This made Rumi cry in earnest again, hugging Poppy close, and this time, Rumi felt no hesitation in the arms that wrapped around her.

Celine had it not on her list to bear witness to two teary reunions today. Dimly, she felt how joy and guilt fought for dominance in her, but she was so tired that it became harder to feel anything at all.

With a soft sigh, she turned away from the two, facing Mira and Zoey, who looked a bit lost as they watched Rumi hug the former maknae of the sunlight sisters.

‘You two must have so many questions,’ she said softly, a fresh wave of guilt hitting her.

‘You bet we have,’ Mira grumbled, her eyes burning with anger and something Celine could not quite place yet, but she did not miss the glance Mira threw in Rumi’s direction, before looking at Celine again.

They held each other’s gaze for a second, and just as Celine thought Mira would start yelling, she took a deep breath.

‘Who was in our penthouse?’ Mira asked, the effort it took to control her anger noticeable in her voice,’ Are they looking for Rumi?

Zoey tensed visibly, her eyes glued to Celine as she waited for an answer.

‘Yes,’ Celine said,’ Two of my old masters…. are even more old-fashioned when it comes to having patterns.’

‘Your old masters? The hunters before you? They must be ancient. Can they be that dangerous?’ Mira said.

‘They are hunters,’ Celine said, like it explained everything,’ I am probably able to beat them, but I would rather not do that or have them hunt Rumi down. I am hoping for a peaceful solution still. For that, it would be good to keep Rumi out of sight and save.’

Here, Celine made a short pause, gathering herself before continuing.

‘I have no right to ask anything of you. But could you do that for me? Keep her safe?’

Another pause in which both stared at her.  

Then Mira nodded, her jaw tight as she walked past Celine towards Poppy and Rumi.

Zoey did not follow her right away. Her shoulders were stiff, her hands folded tightly together in front of her, as she regarded Celine.

‘I answer every question you might have later, I promise.’ Celine said to Zoey.

The youngest of her students nodded before she followed Mira, the disappointment in her gaze, harder to bear than the redhead’s anger.

Celine watched as she joined the others, and saw how Rumi let go of Poppy, introducing her to Mira and Zoey, the two younger women bowing deeply to the person that should have been their teacher from the very beginning.

Maybe now they could catch up on that, Celine thought.

Hana joined them, carefully stepping closer to Rumi.

‘I doubt that you remember me. You were so small,’ she said, a soft smile on her face.

‘Not really….but you do look familiar,’ Rumi said slowly, her eyes looking inwards, like she was trying to remember something.

‘Ah, looks like I left an impression then after all. I am Hana, child,’ the old woman spoke, bowing lightly.

As Rumi answered with a bow of her own, it looked like the light of the sun made the patterns on her face gleam a little brighter, and instinctively, Hana flinched back a little, one hand flying to her chest, like she needed to calm herself.

Suddenly unsure, Rumi wanted to take a step back, but Hana stopped her by raising her hand.

‘You must forgive me. I am very old and very set in my ways, despite my best attempts not to be. I am not used to look at someone so uniquely beautiful as you.' Hana spoke gallantly, her voice honest and gentle as she looked at Rumi,' But I am a fast learner.'

Rumi smiled a little, not really knowing what to make of Hana yet, but seemingly intrigued by her nonetheless.

Celine, still standing a bit away from them, just watched as three generations of hunters stood together.

Another piece of her not-so-vague-anymore plan clicked into place.

Suddenly, Tae-moon on the roof perked up, looking in the same direction Rumi and the others had come from, before vanishing.

He did not stay away for long, materialising right next to Celine after just a moment.

‘They are here. On foot. Should I stop them? I can if I need to.’ Tae-moon spoke, his bright colours blistering with energy as he grew in size and strength to emphasise his point.

‘No, I meet them halfway,’ Celine said, and Tae-moon nodded, shrinking again.

‘I am close by, if you need me.’ And with that, he vanished again to follow discreetly.

Celine turned to the group.

All eyes were on her now.

‘Rumi,’ she said gently,’ please, stay here with the others.’

‘What? No. What is going on, Celine?’ Rumi asked, already moving towards her, but Mira grabbed her arm, stopping her.

Celine used the chance and turned around, not catching the exact words of what Mira said to Rumi urgently. Hana spoke as well, and then Celine heard Poppy’s voice, and that probably did the trick.

Rumi did not follow her.

But she did not even manage to reach the end of the garden before Poppy joined her, catching up in an easy jog.

For a moment, they walked side by side silently.

A little further back, Celine could hear another pair of steps following a bit slower. She turned slightly to see Hana, straggling after them, like she was on a nice walk, and it had been pure coincidence that they had been heading in the same direction.

Celine could feel Poppy watching her out of the corner of her eye.

‘Not sending me back?’ she asked, a slight challenge in her voice.

‘I know a fruitless battle when I see one.’ Celine asked, turning back around, smiling lightly.

‘Well, you wanted to talk to Soa-ha alone, so...’ Poppy said, making a gesture with her hands, like she was weighing the options if Celine really knew what fruitless even meant.

Celine could not stop the short, breathy laugh escaping her.

‘Thank you for coming with me,’ she said simply, meaning every word.

It was nice not to face her problems alone for a change.

Next to her, she felt how Poppy looked at her, surprise written all over her face, as she let her arms sink again.

‘You’re welcome.’ She answered after a moment.

They kept on walking in comfortable silence.

A cloud moved over the sun, throwing shade over them for a few fleeting seconds, and when it was gone, Celine stood face to face with her old masters, much closer to the house than she would have liked.

Soa-ha stood as tall and straight as the cane she had to lean on would allow her. She was older, yes, the years had left clear marks on her, but she still carried the intimidating air around her that had once made her foes, and many times, her students, tremble before her.

Like most times, Ahn was at her side, silent, waiting, steady.

One look was enough to tell Celine that Ahn was still a formidable enemy, despite her age, and she really hoped that she could get out of this without a fight.

She was so tired already.

But now was not the time to show weakness, so Celine pulled herself to her full height, bracing herself for what was to come.

‘Soa-ha,’ Celine greeted her former teacher with a small bow.

‘Where is she, Celine?’ Soa-ha asked, skipping all pleasantries, completely ignoring Poppy’s presence, her voice like a knife but calm, and her razor-sharp focus on Celine only.

‘I am sorry, but I don’t think it’s wise that you two meet. At least for now.’ Celine answered, holding Soa-ha’s stare while trying not to blink.

‘Oh, I see how it is,’ Soa-ha said, glaring at her, the hand that held her cain grabbing a bit tighter until her knuckles turned white.

Tension was already high, and Celine could feel Poppy straightening up next to her, drawing in a subtle breath to calm her nerves.

Then, like she had stumbled out of a completely different timeline, Hana finally caught up to them.

‘Oh my, my lovely unnies. How nice to see you,’ she said, her bright smile absolutely inappropriate for the situation at hand,’ Looks like you have forgotten me in your haste to visit Rumi. But I thought that maybe seeing my old student was a good idea. And look, Poppy is here too. Have you said hello already?’

Hana looked expectantly at Soa-ha, gesturing with her head to their youngest student, and Celine had a hard time stifling a smile as she saw how her oldest master struggled with her temper, but was already bending to the wish of the maknae of her trio.

Soa-ha’s sharp stare turned to Poppy, who remained calm, the tiniest hint of a smile on her lips.

‘Poppy,’ Soa-ha said in the stiffest greeting Celine had ever witnessed.

‘Sup, Soa-ha,’ Poppy greeted back, voice full of casual insolence, her grin widening.

Celine took in a small breath, not sure if the blatant disrespect had been the best move, but then she saw the slightest hint of mirth in Ahn’s eyes, and she remembered a certain fondness the quiet woman had harboured for the sassy teenager Poppy had once been.

Smart, Celine thought. Having Ahn on their side could be the key to solving this mess without violence. Celine had not missed the new hairstyle Ahn wore. White hair in a thick braid, hauntingly familiar.

Soa-ha closed her eyes at Poppy’s words, took several slow breaths to calm herself, before opening them again, her attention back on Celine, ignoring the other two completely.

‘How does the girl have patterns, Celine? Was she possessed?'

There was something hesitant in Soa-ha’s voice, like she did know the answer to her own question, but hoped Celine would tell her another truth that was easier to handle.

Celine did not give her any false solace.

‘Mi-yeong chose a demon as her.... partner. Rumi is the result of that union.’

It hurt to see how this strong woman broke completely, as all her fears were confirmed. And yet, with her iron will and unwavering discipline, she held the fractured pieces together, a wild rage gleaming behind her eyes.

‘Where is she, Celine? I will not ask again.’ There was a clear threat in her voice, and Celine knew the time for games was up

‘You are not allowed to see her. I will not repeat myself.’ she said lowly, gathering her remaining strength for a last fight.

‘Oh, is that so?’ Soa-ha said, grinding her teeth.

‘Yes.’ Celine said simply, not leaving her old master out of her sight. Next to her, she could feel how Poppy assessed Ahn, shifting her weight discreetly to attack faster if necessary.

‘Unnie,’ Hana spoke softly, almost pleadingly.

Ahn turned her head slightly to Soa-ha as well, mirroring Hana's expression.

Soa-ha shot Hana a short look before quickly turning away, but giving a small nod, like she had agreed to something that floated unspoken between the three old women.

With a soft sigh, she faced Celine again. She swallowed hard, her shoulders sinking a little.

‘What are you trying to protect, Celine? She is a demon’ Soa-ha said, voice still fired up by anger, but its edges already dipped into something that sounded defeated, sad.

‘I am protecting Mi-yeong’s child.’ Celine said

‘Your feelings for her and the girl make you soft. You can’t let her be the leader of the current generation!’

‘I do not let her be anything, Soa-ha. She is the leader. The honmoon has chosen her as a child. It did not care about the pattern back then, like it does not care for them now.’

Soa-ha, Ahn, and Hana completely froze, and all eyes of her former masters were now on Celine.

Hana seemed deep in thought, probably retracing the years and wondering when exactly Rumi’s patterns had appeared.

Ahn blinked once before taking a deep breath, her face unusually pale.

Understanding dawned terribly on Soa-ha’s face as she fully grasped what had happened.

‘She had the patterns as a child…you knew… when you started training her…’ Soa-ha spoke.

It was no question.

‘You knew what she was, and you still made her a hunter. Teaching a demon our sacred ways...’ Soa-ha continued, her mouth remaining slightly open as she looked at Celine like she saw her for the first time.

Celine only held the disbelieving stare thrown at her before nodding lightly.

It was like Soa-ha had completely deflated, all fight leaving her for the moment.

‘Then you willingly threw 400 years of tradition and sacrifice into the gutter.’ She said, sounding utterly defeated.

There was another pause in which Celine regarded her old master, while something lit up in her chest, something loud and more than a little scary, but true nonetheless.

‘I wish I had,’ Celine whispered, a little surprised at her own words.

‘What?’ Soa-ha said, like she could not believe her ears.

‘I wish I had,’ Celine repeated louder, now sure of her words, ‘but I did not. I still tried to mold her into something she wasn’t, tried to fix something that needed anything but fixing. I should have listened more. I should have loved her better, but I could not. I still can’t…not yet…but things are going to change.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Just look at us, Soa-ha. Just think about Mi-yeong. She hid her pregnancy as long as she could, and then she never said anything about the father. She was dead scared that any one of us could find out the truth.’

‘Mi-yeong should have known better. Our faults and fears must never be seen!’ Soa-ha repeated the oath like a mantra, hundreds of years old and useless, clinging to it like it was a lifeline.

‘She was alone, Soa-ha,’ Celine said quietly,’ alone and scared. Like..like I was, when Rumi came to me one day and showed me the patterns on her arm.’

The realisation had Celine like a truck, as she looked at Soa-ha.

‘I was so scared to tell you, any of you, so I hid it, hoping to fix it before anyone noticed it. And I hurt Rumi and many others so much, all because our fears and faults must never be seen.’

Another long pause, in which Celine had to gather the feeble rest of her strength. Her exhaustion had reached a critical level, and she started to wonder if she would make it back to the house.

‘I do not make you responsible for my choices. They are mine alone,' Celine said,' But we can’t go on like this, or we just repeat this circle over and over again. I do not know the details yet, but things will change. With or without you, that is up to you.’ Celine said, verbally outstretching her hand, hoping Soa-ha would be brave enough to take it. By what she was trying to do, Celine would need all the help she could get.

Soa-ha stared at her, looking tired, empty, leaning heavily on her cane. With one last look for Hana, she turned around, and seeing her walk away made Celine’s chest contract surprisingly painful.

'Unnie,' Hana almost whispered.

To Celine, it sounded like a plea, a question, and a gentle goodbye all at once.

When Soa-ha had heard her, she did not show it.

Like Celine, the old woman was never one to dawdle once she had decided on what to do.

‘Come, Ahn. We are done here.’ Soa-ha said, the soft thud of her cane on the grass getting quieter and quieter with each step.

‘Ahn-ya,’ Hana spoke, a little louder, and Ahn stopped mid-turn, looking at her for a long moment, eyes clouded over.

Then Ahn turned away, following Soa-ha.

Soon, both were out of sight.

Thick clouds covered the sun again, and Celine wondered if it would rain later and if Tae-moon had been able to fix the roof already.

‘Well, looks like I need a place to stay,’ Hana said easily, trying to sound like she had not just broken up with her former bandmates.

She turned to Celine.

‘My old room happens to be free by any chance?’ she asked, a tired half smile on her face as she walked past Celine, back towards the house.

Celine watched her go.

‘I am sure we can arrange something,’ she spoke to Hana, who could not hear her anymore.

She turned to follow her old master, her pace slow, her steps a little unsure, and Poppy remained at her side, probably to catch her if she passed out, Celine mused.

After a few moments of quiet, Poppy spoke.

‘You could have warned me, back then.’

‘Warned you?’ Celine asked, her brows furrowing as she tried to guess what Poppy was talking about.

‘You knew that Rumi was coming. The spirit told you, right? Took me by surprise quite a bit.’

Celine froze so suddenly that Poppy passed her by a few steps before noticing she had stopped walking. She turned around to look at Celine.

‘I am sorry,’ Celine said honestly,’ I am used to deciding and doing things on my own. That's why I did not consider you.’

Poppy just stared back at her, expression unreadable, before nodding.

‘Ok, apology accepted,’ she said, waiting for Celine to catch up, before continuing,’ certainly something we need to work on, if we want your little plan to work.’

Celine stopped dead in her tracks again.

‘What?’

‘Well, we need to work on your communication skills for once, and you need to consider me and the others in your decisions, or else we have stuff like this happening all the damn ti–‘ Poppy started, but Celine interrupted her.

‘No, that’s not what I meant. You are staying?’

‘Yeah,’ Poppy said, like it was the most normal thing in the world,’ oh, and I want my old room back.’

Gently, she grabbed Celine around the arm, a gesture so familiar it made her chest feel tight again, and dragged her along.

Celine had not expected this at all. She briefly had thought about how to get Poppy on board and had already prepared to grovel for her help, but now she just agreed to support her in this endeavour.

Another kindness she did not deserve.

‘But before we gonna do anything else, you are going to rest. You are of no use for anything if you collapse.’ Poppy said resolutely, and Celine just followed, allowing her former bandmate to take charge.

When they arrived at the house. Poppy all but pushed Celine in the direction of her room.

‘You, bed, now.’ She said sternly,’ I take care of the girls.’

And with that, she left Celine in the hallway, while entering the living area, closing the door behind her.

Celine could hear Rumi’s voice asking something and Poppy’s answer, but she could not make out any specific words. Relieved she was done with talking for the day, she let hr body walk the familiar way to her room, but just as she wanted to go upstairs, she saw something move out of the corner of her eye.

Instinctively moving to defend herself, she almost called her shin-kals, but then she saw that it was Dr.Baek standing in the hallway, coming out of Mira’s old room.

The other woman looked surprised for a second, but then smiled sheepishly.

‘I am so sorry, I did not mean to sneak up on you.’ She said, bowing lightly.

Celine bowed as well.

‘No, I am sorry. I must have woken you up,’ she said, pointing to the door.

‘Oh no, I was just checking on Nari. She was sleeping a little uneasily. But Tae-moon had some herbs, and that helped her. I was just going back to my room.’

Celine blinked, remembering that the doctor had stayed in Zoey's old room, briefly noticing how the other woman had called the spirit by name, before chiding herself for forgetting the herbs for Nari, and wondered where Tae-moon had learned about them.

‘I should thank Tae-moon then.’

‘I already did. Profoundly. He is really a…nice guy.’ Dr.Baek finished, laughing lightly about how ‘nice guy’ was not really cutting it for a spirit.

‘True,’ Celine said, surprised that she believed he was nice, before continuing with a small bow, ‘I am glad Nari is feeling better. But I must excuse myself.’

‘Of course,’ Dr.Baek said, smiling,’ You must be exhausted. Please feel free to contact me as soon as you have the time.’

‘For what?’ she asked, not understanding.

‘For a new appointment.’ Dr.Baek said, her smile widening.

‘You still want to work with me?’ Celine asked, dimly surprised.

‘To be honest, now more than ever,’ Dr.Baek said frankly,’ Don’t get me wrong, I also really want to help you, but I am dying to know more about this whole Kpop-demon-hunter-thing. It is fascinating.’

Celine just stared at her for five whole seconds before biting down on a laugh.

‘I will get in touch then.’ Celine said, bowing.

‘Please do,’ Dr.Baek said, bowing back, before leaving Celine in the hallway, entering Zoey’s former room, and closing the door.

Now alone, Celine walked up the stairs, finally reaching her room.

She barely managed to pull off her shoes and pants before she let herself fall on her bed.

Weakly, she pulled at the blanket, not really caring if it was covering her at all.

All problems had to wait till later.

Her body felt heavy, and her mind was completely spent as she welcomed sleep with open arms.

Chapter Text

Repeatedly, Rumi tapped her finger on the table in perfect sync with the slight clunk from outside, where Derpy still tried his hardest to make the flowerpot stand like it should.

Letting out the air through her nose in a long, angry sigh, Rumi tried to relax, but she was in a foul mood, had all but ignored Mira’s and Zoey’s attempts to appease her, and now there was a somewhat charged silence in the room that was very untypical for them.

Even Sussie, still perched on Mira’s head, sleeping peacefully, did nothing to lighten her up.

Rumi just hated it when Celine did this. Leaving her in the dark, telling her only the details she deemed necessary, not caring at all how it made her feel small and stupid.

Another angry sigh escaped her; the tipping of her fingers getting louder in the quiet room.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see how Mira and Zoey shared a look before acting like they were patiently waiting for whatever was to come.

Why exactly did she listen to them again? She should just have followed Celine and see what was going on if their old masters, and then…. then what?

Talk with Celine? Alone?

Suddenly her fingers froze, and Rumi wished for time to stand still, and she could forever sit at this living room table, slightly irritated and impatiently waiting.

She was not ready for that conversation if she was honest, even though a big part of her really wanted to have it.

Alright, maybe she could steer around the big, ugly elephant in the room and ask about Celine’s old masters and what they wanted first?

Mira’s vague ‘They are not a fan of your patterns’ had not been very helpful.

Or maybe she just should –

Suddenly, she heard the front door open, interrupting her thoughts.

‘You, bed, now. I take care of the girls.’ Rumi could hear Poppy speak, and then the door to the living area opened, and Poppy appeared, stopping dead in her tracks, the door closing behind her with a soft click.

Their eyes locked.

‘Poppy,’ Rumi said, repeating her greeting from earlier..

‘Hey Kiddo,’ Poppy said softly, remaining standing at the door like she was unsure if she was allowed to come closer.

The tension was so thick you could almost cut it, and it came a little surprisingly after their quite joyful reunion.

She was still happy that Poppy was here, but there were also so many unspoken things between them, and with the first high emotions gone, Rumi realized, that Celine was not the only one she needed a long overdue conversation with.

Rumi kept looking at Poppy for a moment longer before turning to Mira and Zoey, suddenly very aware of how the two let their eyes dart between them.

‘Could you leave u-‘

‘YES!’ Zoey said a little too loudly, making Mira flinch slightly, waking Sussie, who let out a shocked trill.

‘I mean, yes,’ she almost whispered now as she jumped to her feet, pulling Mira up with her,’ No problem. We help Derpy with the flowers.’

And she dragged Mira all but off to the veranda, closing the door behind them.

‘Are they always like this?’ Poppy asked as she looked after them, smiling slightly.

Rumi stopped for a second, thinking.

‘Actually, yes,’

Both laughed lightly, ignoring the tension between them for a second.

They did not speak, both women were careful regarding each other.

Poppy remained standing at the door, and Rumi figured it would be weird to speak with each other across the room.

She patted the place next to her, silently asking a question.

With a sigh, the older woman gave herself a little push, moving from the door frame and sitting next to her, leaning her arms on the table, clearly trying to find the right words.

‘So, Celine went to bed?’ Rumi asked, mostly to break the silence.

‘Yeah,’ Poppy said.

‘Thought so. She looked like shit,’ Rumi said, a little relieved that the talk with her mentor was postponed for the near future.

Poppy looked at her, eyes wide, before laughing.

‘Where did you get that foul mouth from?’

She was not scolding Rumi; in fact, she sounded a little impressed.

‘Mira is quite blunt. I guess it rubes off at one point,’ Rumi said with a tiny smile, her eyes looking in the direction of the garden, where both of her bandmates had run off to.

‘And I guess, it’s some remnant from your influence too,’ she continued, voice very soft, her eyes slowly looking up, meeting Poppy’s gaze again.

Unlike with Hana, Rumi had very clear memories of a younger Poppy, smiling at her, cracking jokes that where not appropriate for a child, encouraging her to test herself and catching her when she fell.

For the first six years of her life, this woman had been a pretty constant part of her childhood. Not to the extent Celine had been, but she still remembered how happy she was whenever Poppy would walk up to the house, bouncing up and down on her feet, unable to contain her excitement.

But then, shortly after her patterns showed and not long before her seventh birthday, Poppy’s visits fizzled out and then just stopped.

Too afraid that her patterns had been the reason for Poppy's absence, she had not really dared to ask too many questions, and Celine had never told her any specific reason.

Time to find out, Rumi thought, taking a deep breath.

‘Why did you stop visiting?’ she asked, swallowing hard.

She thought of the way Poppy had hesitated to hug her at first, how her hands had remained carefully on the covered parts of her arm.

‘Was it because of me?’ she continued

‘No,’ Poppy hurried to answer,’ not because of you, never because of you!’

Her voice was full of conviction as she spoke. Then she straightened her back and stretched her hand out towards Rumi in a silent offer.

Carefully, Rumi took it, and without hesitation, Poppy’s hand closed around hers, not wavering this time, even though it clearly took her some effort since she made direct contact with Rumi’s patterns.

It felt soft, warm, familiar, even though the last time Poppy had held her hand like that, it had been small enough to be completely engulfed.

‘Then why?’ Rumi asked, a little scared and curious at the same time

‘Look, I will not defend Celine and tell you that she had nothing to do with me not coming over anymore, because she did, but this is something between us and should not be your problem…It was never the main reason I stayed away, if I am honest. Believe me, I had no trouble telling Celine when she was full of shit,’ she said, looking down at their joined hands.

'Where did you get that foul mouth from?' Rumi could not help but joke, and Poppy looked at her, a little surprised but smiling softly. Then her expression got sombre again, her eyes shifting back to their hands.

‘If I…I just could not …ok, listen, what I am telling you now has nothing to do with you, you hear me? Nothing. It’s all on me, ok?’ Poppy spoke, her gaze so intense that Rumi just nodded, not daring to interrupt her.

‘That I stayed away was never because I did not love you. The day you were born was the scariest of my life, but then your unna passed you to me for the first time, and I swear, I never fell so hard so quickly,’ Poppy said, her eyes already glistening dangerously.

The hold on Rumi’s hand tightened softly.

‘You were smiling so much, even when you were little. And later, you had this smart look in your eyes, where you could tell that you were trying to understand what was going on around you. But then…your mother died, and even though you remained the same…I did not.’ Poppy said, placing her free hand on her chest.

‘After we buried your mother, I could not look at you without crying. You started to learn all these new things, and all I could think was how unfair it was that I was here, seeing you grow, and Mi-ya….’ Poppy could not finish the sentence; a few tears ran down her cheeks.

 ‘It took me almost a year to be able to hold you again without completely losing it…I could not help it. It was like my body did not obey me anymore…but with time, it got a little better, even though it never really stopped hurting. And then, something changed. I know now what it was,’ Poppy spoke, her thumb tracing over the patterns,’ Up till that point, Celine had been very understanding and supportive. She helped where she could, encouraged me to take a break when I needed it, even helped me to move into my own apartment for a while…but suddenly she was anything but. She distanced herself very vehemently. I was hurt, sure…. but mostly...;’

Poppy paused, taking a deep, shaky breath, more tears running down her face.

‘But mostly I was relieved, because it gave me an excuse to not see you anymore and put the blame on someone else. I missed you, of course, and there was a little bit of bad conscience that I was not there for you, but overall, it felt easier to avoid you. It took me years and a good therapist to realize that. But then it was already too late to reach out to you again …,’ Poppy spoke, still holding on to Rumi’s hand firmly, but gently.

A long pause followed, and Rumi could see how the older woman struggled with something she could not say out loud, but then she looked at her again.

‘I am sorry, Rumi. I wish I had done better for you.’ Poppy said, not looking away.

There was so much in those eyes, so much regret, pain, but also the old love Rumi remembered, and that had her greet the older woman so enthusiastically as she saw her earlier.

And hearing her apology eased something in Rumi too, making the pain less jagged, smaller in a way, leaving more room for the warmth that had always been between them.

‘It’s not too late.’ Rumi spoke softly.

‘What?’

‘Reaching out to me. It’s not too late….I would love to see you more often.’ Rumi said, almost shyly but truthfully.

Poppy took in the air quickly, her breath hiccupping a little, as she nodded, still crying.

‘I would like that,’

‘And maybe you can start again with telling Celine when she is full of shit.’ Rumi said, offering a joke and a smile.

The older woman laughed as she whipped her face with her free hand.

‘Oh, you bet I will.’

Hana had walked right past the house she had spent a big part of her life in. She needed some time alone, after she had said goodbye to Soa-ha and Ahn, and talking with a probably very agitated Rumi, who deserved her clearest of mindsets, was something she was just not ready for now. Her step was even and steady, despite the hill she had to climb.

It was a familiar path, she had walked many times, and little had changed around here. So, as her mind had little to do, and began to wander as she walked. Of course, her thoughts circled back to Soa-ha, who all but ignored her in the end, and Ahn, who had seen her pain and had turned away anyway, both breaking her heart like only they could. But her suffering was not important.

For once, she had done the right thing; she was sure of it, and when it meant to part ways with them both for a while or even for the rest of her life, it was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

Finally, she reached the top of the hill. Without breaking her stride, she continued towards the stairs that led down, past the resting places of those that had come before her and towards the zekora tree. Short before reaching the tree, Hana turned right, walking along the neatly kept graves, stopping in front of three that stood closer together than some of the others. She bowed deeply before the three stones, she had engraved herself so many years ago.

‘I hope you forgive me, but today I must talk to someone else. I won’t be a stranger anymore, I promise.’ she whispered, remaining bent low for a long moment before raising again, walking only a few steps further, to the newest addition to the graveyard.

With a small sigh, she kneeled in front of it.

Clouds were still chasing across the sky, but finally the wind managed to push a quite big cloud away from the sun, drenching Hana in sudden warmth, despite the wind that tugged at her clothes and hair. The gentle rustling of the leaves of the great tree and the dance of the colourful ribbons in its branches calmed her as she looked at the gravestone.

‘Hello, my dear,’ Hana spoke with a smile, reading the words engraved in the stone. It was her handywork as well, and she hoped it would be her last.

Ryu Mi-yeong-ui myo

She still remembered how sore her neck had been after bending over for so long, how her fingers had cramped up at the unfamiliar strain she had put them under.

‘I must say, you do have a wonderful resting place, child. Well, I guess we all will, don’t we…’ Hana said to the stone, wondering who would engrave hers once the time came.

Soa-ha or Ahn? Not the highest chance anymore. She was younger than they were and would probably outlive them. Soa-ha’s health had declined over the last years. Not greatly, but steadily enough to be worrying. And now, after Hana had chosen her side, Soa-ha was definitely not above holding a grudge, and Ahn tended to put up to long with Soa-ha’s moods.

Poppy? Maybe. There was certainly enough affection between them for the youngest of her pupils to feel compelled to do this last service for her, even after the years they had not seen each other face to face, and only the occasional postcard had told her where in the world the young woman had travelled next. They had always been close, right from the start, and the time apart had not changed that.

Loving Poppy had come so naturally to her, like breathing, even despite the insolence she showed at times.

Or maybe even more for it, Hana mused with a small smile, reminiscing fondly about how that girl had always been all heart.

Then she thought of Poppy’s shaking hands and ragged breathing as she had fled the room where Mi-yeong had lain, her light snuffed out, and her hair only half done. Or the way Poppy could barely even look at Rumi, after they buried Mi-yeong.

A big heart could be an easy target, too.

Celine’s sure hands, as she braided Mi-yeong’s hair for the last time, and the way she would tend to Rumi’s every need, no matter the hour or her own condition, was in sharp contrast to Poppy’s understandable inability to do what needed to be done.

The oldest of her pupils never had trouble with that.

Always dutiful, always disciplined, even when she was younger.

Why should giving Hana her last rest among the other hunters be an exception to this rule?

Hana let her eyes wander over the neatly kept graves around her, saw how flawless the grass on Mi-yeong’s hill was cut, and she felt respect, even a little admiration for Celine’s unwavering commitment.

But no fondness, Hana realized as a fresh wave of guilt hit her.

No love, not like she had loved Mi-yeong and, to an even greater extent, Poppy.

She remembered the day Celine had come to live with them like it was yesterday. Eleven years old, tall for her age and already beautiful, but also quiet, closed off, her pretty face a perfect mask of non-committal politeness, never really betraying what she was thinking. It had been hard to connect with her, and even though Hana had tried, it had been a struggle with, what she felt like, was little success.

But if Celine noticed her inner battle, she never let it show.

Then, three years later, they finally found Mi-yeong, and interacting with her had been completely different. It had been easy from the start to like this sweet girl, who could be sly as a fox and curse like an old sailor. At the beginning, Hana had been afraid that Celine, fourteen years old at that time, would intimidate Mi-yeong. The oldest had grown quite confident in the past three years and had already turned into an outstanding fighter, with a strong connection to the honmoon, which granted her the ludicrous number of four weapons to call upon at any time she wanted.

But Celine had been kind and welcoming, revealing a completely new side of her that could be loud, brash, even a little cocky at times when she thought she was alone with Mi-yeong. She helped her new bandmate where she could, and soon both were inseparable, spending their free time together, and never had Hana heard Celine laugh so much.

Then Poppy came and she had fitted right in between the other two and instead of overshadowing her weaker bandmates, Celine looked out for them like a big sister would, while pushing them in training, so the younger two soon caught up in terms of fighting ability.

She had been a good leader, and Hana had felt more than a little guilty for assuming that Celine would just suppress Mi-yeong and Poppy. Even today, she did not know why she had always expected bad things of her oldest pupil back in the day, even though she had never given her any reason to.

No wonder she did not trust you enough to tell you about Rumi’s patterns, Hana mused.

Just like Mi-yeong when she became pregnant.

Hana closed her eyes, thinking of the woman she had been 25 years ago, when Mi-yeong struggled with her little secret, then 19 years ago, when Celine repeated that dance and shut them all out, hiding Rumi and her patterns.

What would she have done if she had known?

A terrifying question if there ever was one, and after a moment, she came to the sad but true conclusion that both of her pupils had been right not to tell her.

Taking a deep breath, Hana opened her eyes, looking at the gravestone, a tiny smile that did not reach her eyes automatically appearing on her face.

‘Oh Mi-yeong, I wish I could tell you that I took good care of everything, but I am sure you already know that this would be a lie…’ she continued, her smile faltering, as she thought of all the missed chances, of all the time she could have done better, but didn't know how to and though never even tried.

And suddenly all pretended easiness was gone, as the old sadness made its way upwards, raw and jagged, almost forcing the tears out of her.

‘I am sorry,’ she choked out, the woman in the grave not the only one she addressed that could not hear her, before pressing one hand on her mouth, like she tried to keep the pain from escaping.

Three children had been entrusted to her by fate, and she had failed all of them.

She could not love Celine like she had deserved it, had been unable to be a safe space for Mi-yeong, so she would tell her about Rumi’s father, and she had not been supportive enough of Poppy, who had struggled so greatly after Mi-yeong’s death, that she all but fled the country at one point.

But no more excuses. She would learn to do better.

One of her children was gone, but two were still here, and she would be damned if she would not use the last of her years to make up for her mistakes and maybe help the new generation learn from her greatest failures.

Celine was right. If 400 years of tradition were the breeding ground for this mess, then to hell with it!

‘I hope you don’t mind,’ Hana spoke softly to the grave, her breath hitching in her throat,’ That I come and see you more often from now on. I think we have a lot to talk about.’

The gravestone remained silent, indifferent to the tears the old woman spilled on the ground. It took a while before she was able to stop crying, and even longer before Hana felt steady enough to stand up again. The sun was setting as her lone figure silently walked back to the house, her stride never faltering.

After fleeing the house so Rumi could talk in peace with Poppy, Zoey smiled down at Derpy from the spot on the veranda as she closed the door behind her. The huge tiger was a welcome distraction from… everything if Zoey was honest. The last few days had been something for sure.

But even beating Gwi-ma and creating a new honmoon, paled in comparison to what almost could have happened.

Thinking about it alone made Zoey’s blood run cold.

She almost lost them.

She could have lost Mira in Gwi-ma’s flames or in the battle that flowed.

She could have lost Rumi in that last fight, too, if it weren’t for Jinu.

And even before that, she could have lost her under that tree.

The life of a hunter was always dangerous, which was nothing new to Zoey, but this time it had been such a close call.

What would it feel like if parts of her soul were ripped right out of her, she wondered, doubting that she could survive it.

How had Celine managed so long without either of her trio?

But thinking of Celine hurt too. Zoey had looked up to that woman, had been thankful for everything she had taught her, and now this.

She was angry at her and felt pity for her at the same time.

A very confusing mix for sure, and instead of unraveling that, it was so much easier to watch Derpy for a while, as he still tried to make the flowerpot stand, all his attention on the task at paw. With a gentle laugh, Zoey let Mira’s arm go and left her side as she walked from the veranda into the garden, kneeling so she was on the same level as Derpy’s head.

Slowly, the big paw stopped moving, and huge red eyes turned to her.

‘Come on. You can do it!’ Zoey said encouragingly,’ Just give it a bigger push.’

The huge red eyes blinked once, then slowly he turned his head back to the flowerpot. His paw moved forward with new concentration and with little more force than before, he flipped the flowerpot upwards.

The pot spun in a crooked circle, dangerously swinging from one side to the other.

But it did not fall over, not yet anyway.

Zoey felt herself lean forward in anticipation, mouth slightly open like she was watching a basketball dance dangerously around the ring after a badly aimed throw.

For a short moment, it looked like the pot would finally be standing like it should, but no such luck, with one last wobbly spin, it fell back to the ground with its usual clang.

Behind her, Zoey heard a disappointed groan. As she turned, she saw Mira with Sussie still sitting on top of her head, both looking disappointed but sympathetic, like they had just watched their favorite player miss a shot. Smiling slightly at them, Zoey turned around, only to see Derpy standing there, his paw still raised as he looked down on the flowerpot. His almost success seemed to have diminished his usual unbreakable drive to keep trying. He blinked once, twice, before sinking a little bit into himself, looking crestfallen in a way that tugged at Zoey’s heart.

She looked at the flowerpot and then at Derpy’s huge paws, and an idea came to her.

‘Maybe try it like this,’ she spoke, taking the paw in her hand and leading it towards the pot, but instead of placing the paw on the bottom, Zoey gently placed it on the upper rim of the pot, guiding it. And then, with a little push, the flowerpot swayed a little from side to side, but then it finally stood upright.

There was silence for a moment, all looking at the flowerpot, before Derpy leaned down, his head now on the same level as the flowers. He looked at them for a long moment, like he could not believe he had finally done it.

Then he raised his head, turning towards Zoey, blinking at her once and then headbutting her, throwing her off balance, cuddling her so hard that she lost her balance, purring while he was at it.

Then he left Zoey lying on the ground, walking over to the next thrown-over flowerpot, trying the new trick he had learned. Zoey watched him, saw how he failed sometimes or fell into his old habits, but overall, he was way more successful than before, and she broke out into a big smile.

‘You are a good teacher,’ Mira spoke, and Zoey could hear the grin in her voice even before she turned towards her. She saw that Mira had outstretched a hand and Zoey took it, allowing Mira to pull her up in one swift motion.

‘I know,’ Zoey said simply,’ I’ll be the next generation's favourite.’

‘Yeah, you will.’ Mira said, not with one of her usually sarcastic jokes, but with a fond smile that made Zoey’s cheeks turn warm.

‘How do you think it’s going in there?’ Zoey asked, partly to hide her embarrassment and partly because she really wondered about it.

Mira shrugged.

‘Dunno, but probably with lots of crying.’ Mira said, turning a little to look back at the house.

‘Yeah, probably,’ Zoey said with a sigh,’ gosh, all this heavy stuff is really getting to me!’

‘Saaammme! Mira said, turning back to her,’ Like, can’t it just be easy for once?’

‘Gosh, so true. All I want is some time on the couch and finally show you my 1000, two-second turtle videos!’

‘1000? Wasn’t it like 700?’ Mira asked, one eyebrow raised and smirking.

‘That was ages ago. And it's only 1000 because I had so little time to look for more.’ Zoey kept up their banter, but was secretly feeling flattered that Mira remembered the exact number.

The taller woman laughed lightly at her answer, shaking her head, but then she gave Zoey a quick once-over, trying to read her.

‘Are you ok?’ she asked, with her small, knowing smile.

Zoey smiled back, making a so-so gesture with her hand.

‘Same,’ Mira said with a small huff,’ Want to talk about it?’

This simple question made something very warm spread in Zoey’s chest as she shook her head again.

‘You want to talk about it?’ Zoey asked, hoping the taller woman would decline that offer, because talking was suddenly the last thing on her mind.

Mira’s words from this morning were echoing in her head.

‘I really, really want there to be a we.’

Zoey wondered if Mira would ever understand what these words had done to her. They had completely tumbled her world over, making her realize something she had not thought possible.

Just a few days ago, loving two people at the same time had felt a little excessive to Zoey. She was totally cool when other people did that, but she never had predicted it could happen to her, too.

Falling in love with Rumi had been such a cliché. The maknae and her leader, a title for a Kdrama if Zoey had ever heard one, but she could not help it. Maybe it had been the almost disbelieving smile whenever Zoey had showed her affection or included her, like Rumi could not believe that she had made another friend besides Mira, or the slightly sad tint in her eyes, when Rumi thought nobody looked at her, or her laugh, or just the fact she really was everyone’s type, whatever it was something about Rumi had just pulled her in from the beginning.

Mira, on the other hand, had felt…. safer, for the lack of a better word, despite her intimidating good looks, that Zoey certainly did notice. The redhead had been so much more approachable in many ways that Rumi just wasn’t.

Now Zoey knew why going to the bathhouse or sharing a dressing room was such a big no-no with Rumi, but back then, it had put a certain amount of distance between them, which never was an issue with her other unnie.

And now Mira had just crashed in from the sidelines, being all brave and laying her feelings bare for Zoey to decide what she wanted to do with them. She wondered when exactly she had started to care for Mira the same way she did for Rumi.

‘No, not now,’ came Mira’s answer, interrupting Zoey’s thoughts.

Suddenly, Mira looked very tired, and Zoey decided that if they did not talk about their situation, they at least could do something that would make this mess feel…much more bearable.

‘Good,’ Zoey answered, folding her arms behind her back and taking a step towards the other woman, now standing very close to Mira. Almost instantly, the whole air around them bristled with the sudden tension at Zoey’s unspoken offer.

All the other woman needed to do was lean down a little.

Slightly impatient, Zoey wondered if she should get on her toes and close the distance herself, because Mira, for whatever reason, was not moving, but the way she towered over her, eyes burning, cheeks ever so slightly flushed, did… things for Zoey, and it had a certain appeal to keep the moment going just a little bit longer.

It also gave her the time to marvel at her fellow hunter for a few moments more.

Her face card was criminal, Zoey thought, as she allowed her eyes to roam over the elegant curve of Mira’s eyebrows, the beautiful line of her jaw, the enticing swell of her lips. She could not stop her tongue from shooting out a little. An involuntary attempt to moisten her lips.

Mira actually perked up at that, taking in a small breath, eyes caught by the movement.

Gosh, hot and cute. That woman really had all things going for her.

There was just one tiny detail that did not work in Mira’s favor.

‘GAAAGH!’

That Sussie had still been perched on Mira’s head was something Zoey could have worked with, because the other woman was just so drop-dead gorgeous. But the extremely loud squawk the magpie let out destroyed any game Mira certainly had in an instant, and Zoey had to press her hands on her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

‘Ugh, really? You have actual wings, and you are the worst wingman ever.’ Mira complained, but with no real bite behind her words,’ Go and bug the tiger for a while.’

Sussie only trilled, a smug smile on his beak, before he flew towards Derpy, landing on his head and watching him work on the next flowerpot.

Zoey, after taming her mad laughing fit, smiled at the two before turning back to Mira, who was still watching Derpy and Sussie, but quickly turned her attention back to Zoey as she cleared her throat.

There was mild surprise on Mira’s face for a second, like she had not expected Zoey to repeat her offer after the disruption, but then her eyes turned soft again. Smoothly, she pulled Zoey in, without hesitation this time, holding her around her waist, while Zoey placed her hands on either side of Mira’s face, pulling her down and bringing their lips together before anything else could disrupt them again.

And then there was only kissing Mira for a while.

Kissing Mira under the sky over the place they had met for the first time.

Kissing Mira, again and again, only stopping to change the angle and go deeper.

Kissing Mira and ignoring the need to breathe.

Kissing Mira, who was beautiful.

Kissing Mira, only that, for a while.

Mira had lost track of how often she had kissed Zoey and did not care.

She was dimly aware that anyone could walk across them any moment, and she did not care.

All she cared about was that they kept going, just like this, and that she could add as many kisses to the unknown number as Zoey would allow her to.

But at one point, Mira felt how Zoey somewhat unwillingly pulled back. With great effort, Mira leaned back as well, but let her arms remain wrapped around Zoey’s waist, holding her close.

‘I have to tell you something else,’ Zoey whispered, looking at her with a somewhat guilty expression on her face.

Mira swallowed hard. She had no clue how to react to this, but it was a comfort that the hands of her bandmate remained on her face, her thumbs gently stroking her cheeks.

‘What?’ Mira said quietly, but she could not ban the fear completely out of her voice. She looked intently into Zoey’s eyes, trying to read her, but for a short moment, she averted her eyes, and it looked like she was gathering her courage.

Waiting for Zoey to say something was the worst kind of anticipation. Worse than her nerves flaring at their first show together, worse than waiting to fight her first demon.

‘It’s Rumi,’ Zoey began, looking back to the house, and Mira was taken aback to say the least.

What in the world did Rumi have to do with anything that was happening between them right now? That made no sense, only if…oh, wait!

No…way...

NO FUCKING WAY!!

Mira could not help but get a little hopeful as she renewed her efforts in reading Zoey’s silent cues, but why else would she bring Rumi up after they just kissed each other into oblivion?

Something of her thought process must have shown on her face, because Zoey stopped for a second, eyes narrowing at her.

‘Wait….’ Zoey said slowly, staring at Mira like she was truly seeing her for the first time,’ You too?’

‘Zoey,’ Mira spoke urgently but softly, so her voice would not carry back to the house,’ You must say it out loud, ok. Leave no room for interpretation. What is it with Rumi?’

Her maknae looked at her, mouth slightly open, obviously needing a moment to sort herself. Mira gave her space, trying to tame her impatience.

‘I like her, as I like you.’ Zoey said, still staring at her in total disbelief.

‘Really?’ Mira breathed out, unable to believe what she was hearing.

‘Yes!’

‘And not in a platonic way?’ Mira inquired again, wanting to make absolutely sure.

‘No, not platonic at all. I want to kiss her and make her happy.’ Zoey confirmed.

There was a short pause in which Mira stared wide-eyed down at Zoey.

‘Me too,’ she confessed.

Zoey stared back at her, hands still on Mira’s face, the meaning of what they had just shared sinking in.

‘How are you real?’ the younger woman said after a while, now turning Mira’s head and squishing her face a little, like she wanted to confirm its existence.

Mira snorted, letting go of Zoey’s waist and gently laying her hands over Zoey’s, stopping her from further probing her face.

‘Don’t,’ Mira said, not able to hide her smile, while allowing Zoey to gently stroke her face again.

For a moment, Mira floated on a total high. How did she get so lucky? Zoey liked her back, and she wanted Rumi, too. But then came a somewhat somber thought that dampened her joy a tad.

‘What do we do now?’ Zoey said, voicing Mira’s thought, and the smaller woman let her hands sink away from Mira’s face.

Many options rushed through Mira’s mind. Just telling her right now seemed a bit much, not after she reunited with Poppy and had this looming shadow in the form of Celine hovering over her.

But before she could sort her thoughts, she felt a presence coming closer. Sharply, she turned around, summoning her gok-do, raising her other arm to shield Zoey, if necessary, who already had a shin-kal in both hands.

‘Oh, that won’t be necessary,’ came a voice from a different direction, then one both hunters were looking at.

Mira and Zoey turned quickly to the right, weapons raised, suddenly standing face to face with Hana.

Hana smiled at the determined faces of the two young women, who quickly changed their expression to mild shock, before letting her eyes glide over their weapons.

The tall one, Mira, if Hana remembered correctly, hurried to let her gok-do vanish, and behind her she saw how Zoey did the same with the shin-kals.

‘Sorry,’ both hurried to say, bowing before their demon hunter sunbae, as one should. Hana was pleased to see that Celine had taught them the proper respect for one’s elders.

‘I hope I have not scared you?’ Hana asked, her voice friendly, respectfully ignoring their slightly swollen lips.

‘No, not at all,’ Zoey hurried to say.

Young people were always the same, Hana thought, amused.

How often had she heard how Celine, Mi-yeong, or Poppy sneaked off to a secret date?

Countless times.

How often had she done so herself back in the day?

An almost scandalous number, she reminisced fondly.

Even more fondly, she remembered Soa-ha’s longing looks and Ahn’s jealousy whenever she would head out. It had been so much fun to play this game for a while before they had finally been brave enough to make a move. Then she remembered how both turned away from her today, leaving her behind, and she had to fight to keep her smile even and stop new tears from springing forth.

Heartbreak, she thought bitterly, never changed, no matter how old you get.

With a slight internal push, Hana put those thoughts aside and focused on the young people before her, regarding them closely.

They both looked tired, and even though she had many questions for them, she also could not help but wonder when they last ate or drank something.

‘You two must be hungry. It’s quite late, and if I remember correctly, young people can always eat.’

Both looked slightly surprised at her before one of these young stomachs let out a loud rumble like it had only waited for its cue.

Mira blushed deeply, while Zoey hid her laugh behind her hand, eyes full of sympathy.

‘Don’t laugh,’ Mira said in a deadpan voice, shielding her eyes with her hand, cheeks still red.

‘To her defense, we only had some pancakes this morning.’ Zoey explained to Hana.

Hana felt fondness bloom in her chest. The honmoon, as always, had chosen well.

‘Oh, we can’t have that. Why don’t we go inside and see if something in the kitchen has survived? Whatever comes next, it's always better to face it with a full stomach,’ she said, friendly, and as she turned to the house, she could hear Poppy’s laugh mixing with Rumi’s voice.

‘Ah, that sounds heartening, doesn’t it?’ she said, her smile now reaching her eyes as she gestured with her head for the two women to follow, before leading the way.

Rumi had to use all her self-control not to just throw her chopstick behind her shoulder and use her hands to shovel as much food into her mouth as possible. The japchae was just so good, and she was so hungry, but for once, she had not just Mira and Zoey for company and had to at least try to show some table manners.

The fact that this masterpiece of a dish had been cooked in one single pot over a fire was absolutely mind-boggling to Rumi.

When Hana had come back in with Mira and Zoey in tow, there had suddenly the smoke coming from the kitchen, and as they rushed to check what was going on, they found Tae-moon halfway in the process of making a fire in the electric oven. Only Poppy’s quick intervention had prevented further harm to the house.

‘What the hell are you doing?! Are you crazy?’ she had said quite angrily, while smothering the, luckily still small, flames with her jacket.

The former maknae of the sunlight sisters had been fuming, but Tae-moon had apologized so profoundly and looked so shocked over the fact that he had almost set the house on fire that she could not stay angry at him, even though her jacket had been ruined.

The oven was destroyed, of course, but Zoey, taking pity on the very crestfallen Tae-moon, suggested making a fire outside and improvising something there.

Rumi had to give it to him; Tae-moon could improvise!

And it had been kinda cute to see how Zoey and he hit it off right away. He listened intently as Zoey explained to him how an oven worked these days, asking questions and letting her play food tester.

Rumi watched them, and suddenly something tender warmed her chest. Before she could wonder much about it, she felt eyes on her and as she turned to her side, she saw Mira looking at her, making a face that clearly said, ‘That’s Zoey for you’ and Rumi could not help her smile.

‘See,’ Zoey had said to them both, after they had all sat back down at the table in the living area with enough food to feed five more people and the fire carefully extinguished by Poppy,’ Some demons are nice after all.’

‘Spirit, my friend. I am a spirit.’ Tae-moon gently corrected her,’ But I did stumble over the occasional civil demon the last 400 years I spent in the demon realm.’

Rumi perked up at that, an idea hitting her.

‘You don’t happen to run across one that had a kid with a human?’

She had tried to sound casual, but, of course, the mood changed immediately.

Mira and Zoey shot her a look, sympathy and slight worry in their eyes.

Hana was suddenly even harder to read, her face almost neutral, her eyes looked like she saw something far away that no one else could see.

Poppy took in a sharp breath, like she was chiding herself that she had not asked Tae-moon about Rumi’s father right away, before turning her eyes to the spirit, waiting for him to answer.

‘I am sorry, but no.’ Tae-moon spoke, his eyes filling with pity as he looked at Rumi.

‘Really? 400 years, and you heard nothing?’

‘Sadly, yes,’ he admitted solemnly.

‘Pfft, great. My patterns really were the best-kept secret ever.’ Rumi said, suddenly feeling bitter.

‘Luckily so!’ Tae-moon said with conviction, and Rumi looked at him sharply.

‘What do you mean by that?’ she asked, suddenly feeling defensive. Next to her, she felt how Mira and Zoey’s shoulders stiffened, both glaring at the spirit.

‘It would have been dangerous for you to show your patterns this openly when you were younger and not strong enough to defend yourself. Many demons and spirits would not care about what you are, sure. Some would be even intrigued by you, like me,’ he said, eying her for a second, smiling,’ but many would have been…well, insulted by your existence, to be blunt. There is just no nice way to put it. Hate for something you do not know or understand is not exclusive to humans. But now, things have changed.’

‘They have?’ Rumi asked, looking at the curious creature.

‘Yes, you are big and strong now,’ he said, changing his size to his fighting form, letting his colours shine brightly, a ripple going through the rough fur on his neck, his voice deeper like thunder,’ with your friends you even could beat Gwi-ma himself and now-’

‘Shhh, not so loud. Some people are sleeping,’ Poppy said, a finger raised sharply to her lips.

Tae-moon stopped in his tracks, looking very sheepish as he bowed to Poppy in apology, scratching the back of his head as he shrank back into Zoey’s height.

Poppy rolled her eyes at the spirit, making Hana next to her giggle lightly.

‘- and now,’ he whispered to Rumi,’ you have my protection too.’

‘Your protection?’ Rumi asked, looking at the spirit, surprised at his declaration.

‘Yes. You are Celine’s, and as long as our contract is in place, I guard those who are part of her family and live on her land. It’s my duty to protect all of you!’ he said easily.

Rumi was a little taken aback at ‘You are Celine’s’

Was she?

Probably? Maybe? It was extremely uncomfortable to think about that at the moment; that was for sure.

‘How can you tell who is family? I mean, do just get a magical pedigree projected in your head, or how does it work?’ Poppy took over the conversation, and for a short moment, she met Rumi’s eyes, smiling understandingly.

‘No,’ Tae-moon chuckled,’ I found pictures of Rumi as a kid when I cleaned earlier.’

‘Oh,’ Poppy said, blinking slightly surprised at the very unmagical explanation; ‘well, I am certainly thankful for your help. You are useful in a pinch.’

 The spirit puffed out is now a narrow chest at Poppy’s words, looking quite pleased with the verdict of his former battle companion.

‘As long as you don’t set the house on fire,’ Poppy deadpanned.

‘Oh shame, shame, shame,’ Tae-moon repeated over and over again. The colours around his face got brighter as he sank into himself, hiding his face behind his claws, the perfect picture of comical embarrassment

Hana laughed, her joy reaching her eyes.

Zoey tried to hide her giggle, clearly not wanting to embarrass Tae-moon further, but she failed spectacularly.

‘Nice one,’ Mira said, nodding approvingly at Poppy, making the older woman smile and tilt her head slightly in acknowledgment of the compliment.

‘So,’ Hana said after whipping her face,’ you truly did it then? Beating Gwi-ma I mean.’

The older hunters looked at the three expectantly.

Rumi turned to her bandmates, Mira at her right, Zoey at her left, the echo of ‘what it sounds like’ resounding between their hearts, and she nodded.

Poppy let out a long breath, and Rumi saw pride, but also a deep, painful longing in them, the same look that crossed Celine’s face ever since Rumi could remember, and for a moment, she thought the older woman would start to cry again.

But then she smiled.

‘Aren’t you three something,’ she mumbled more to herself.

Gently, Hana laid a hand on Poppy’s shoulder.

‘Maybe we all should go to bed,’ the old woman said softly, her eyes full of sympathy.

Poppy turned to her, raising an eyebrow.

‘They beat Gwi-ma and you want to go to bed?’

‘Well,’ Hana started, blinking slightly, taken aback,’ it is late…’

‘Ok, I know you are wise sabeom-nim and everything, but this is ridiculous. They killed our worst enemy, and we are having at least one victory drink before this night is over!’ Poppy said resolutely, standing up, her creoles swinging as she walked into the kitchen,’ Where is the Soju?!’

After finishing the one bottle of wine with the others, the only bit of alcohol in the whole house, Poppy had retreated to her old residence, kindly cleaned up by Tae-moon. Now she lay down in her old bed in the room she had spent a big part of her childhood in. She turned on her side, looking out the window like she had done countless times before, and for a split second, she saw Mi-yeong, her grin on her face as she knocked on the window, collecting her for a forbidden solo hunt.

Seeing Rumi, Mira, and Zoey shining in their victory had woken a longing, she had been able to dull somewhat with traveling and constant new impressions. But now it was back in full force, an old wound ripped open, bleeding, and Poppy’s heart, her whole soul, screamed for that lost part that lay buried not far away.

The banal finality of death was crashing over her once again, like it did from time to time.

She missed Mi-yeong.

And there was nothing that could soothe this desperate ache.

She missed her smile and the spark in her eyes when she made a joke.

And there was no way to ever see it again.

She missed her laugh.

And there was nothing she could do to ever be the reason for that sound again.

Poppy lay there, allowing the waves of pain and longing to wash over her, knowing from bitter experience that there was nothing to gain in fighting them.

She let herself drown in her old room, in her old bed, while missing her friend.

Hana was almost asleep. A true achievement since neither Soa-ha nor Ahn were with her. She always had trouble sleeping without either of the two, but just as she was finally drifting off, her phone pinged quite loudly. Angry at herself for not turning it off, she reached for it with a sigh, now wide awake again.

She turned on the screen, shutting her eyes tightly at the brightness of it for a second. As her eyes adjusted, she tiredly unlocked the phone, finding that she had received one single message.

‘I am sorry. I’ll talk to her.’

Hana’s eyes softened, her heart aching pleasantly this time as she tipped her reply.

‘Thank you.’

Then she laid her phone back on the nightstand, allowing herself the small hope to spark in her chest that all would work out eventually.

If anyone could change Soa-ha’s mind, it was Ahn after all.

She had always been so good with words.

As quiet as a shadow, Tae-moon checked upon the house one last time, looking for things he could work on without too much noise, but found nothing. All work had to wait till the morning, so he would not be waking anyone, and he decided to rest for a while. With quite poof he teleported to the roof of the house, lying down on his back, his arms folded under his head, and looking up at the stars.

He had always loved the stars in the human realm, and out here, a little further away from the city lights, he could see them in all their beauty.

Naturally, the tiger and the magpie spirit joined him, all three huddling together, the tiger allowing Tae-moon to lean against him, while the magpie made himself comfortable on the thick fur on his head.

Silently, they had a small conversation, all three looking up at the sky.

'I am sorry for your loss. I understand why you miss him so.' Tae-moon voiced his sympathy, knowing what it meant to be a guardian spirit, a born protector, and to lose one's charge. 

Letting out a small sigh, he closed his eyes, leaning against the tiger, ready for a small nap under the stars he loved so.

Before he drifted off, he let all the new names he had learned wander through his head.

‘Celine, Poppy, Hana, Nari, Dr.Baek, Rumi, Mira, Zoey..’

He smiled fondly at Zoey’s name, already liking this one a lot.

It was funny, he thought, that he had lived decades with humans, learning their names, but never were so many humans alive who knew his name. As a house spirit, he usually worked at night, unseen and unheard, but always on watch.

Sitting with humans and talking, sharing a meal, was yet another first for Tae-moon.

With a deep yawn, he stretched out comfortably, feeling how his body relaxed.

‘Celine, Poppy, Nari, Dr.Baek, Hana, Rumi, Mira, Zoey…Celine, Poppy, Nari, Dr.Baek, Hana, Rumi, Mira, Zoey….Celine, Poppy…’

His breath depended as his mind went quiet.

Mira and Zoey lay in Rumi’s old childhood bed on their backs, both already in some old t-shirts of their leader, Celine had kept tucked neatly away. With Poppy and Hana reclaiming their old residence and their own rooms still occupied, as Tae-moon had not helpfully clarified, the spirit had done his best to make them as comfortable as possible.

Rumi was still in the bathroom down the hall.

Faintly, they could hear her brushing her teeth, humming some tuneless melody.

Both started at the ceiling, brows furred.

Mira pulled at the rims of the slightly too short t-shirt that had a huge panda bear on it.

Zoey just lay there, her shirt with the train that had a rainbow coming out of its chimney, looking a bit more like a night gown on her shorter frame.

Finally giving up with her fruitless attempts to make her short shirt longer by pulling at it, Mira let her hands fall to her side, letting out her breath through her nose in a frustrated huff.

‘We are the worst,’ she said, voice low.

‘We so are! We didn’t even ask who the hell is sleeping in our rooms! We just went - Rumi’s bed? Sign me up!’ Zoey whisper-yelled while she gestured agitatedly at the ceiling with each word, before letting her arms fall again.

‘Maybe I could sleep on the ground,’ Mira mused, already eying the wooden panels.

‘No,’ Zoey said, pulling herself up on her elbow,’ you can’t do that all of a sudden after we were literally a huntr/x cuddle pile last night. You break her heart. Platonically.’

‘But,’ Mira started, picking at her nails, an old habit Zoey had thought was long gone,’ that was before I knew that I like her. It feels wrong now. I don’t want to use my friendship perks like that…’

Zoey felt her heart melt.

‘Gosh, you are so cute.’

‘Pfft, yeah right,’ Mira said, and yet the tips of her ears turned slightly red as she reached for Zoey’s hand, smiling softly as the younger woman intertwined their fingers.

‘Ok, look. If we act all distant and strange now, she will not understand it,’ Zoey said gently, reaching with her free hand to move some of Mira’s hair from her face,’ And she needs us now, as friends.’

For a second, Mira still looked unsure, then a determined streak appeared on her face.

‘Ok, we can do this. For Rumi,’ she said.

‘Yes, for Rumi! We be totally platonic!’ Zoey said, making a finger gun at Mira, who rolled her eyes, chuckling lightly.

Then she looked at Zoey, eyes warm and an almost cocky smile on her face.

‘You know, I could go for a good night kiss.’

‘Oh really, who is it gonna give it to you?’ Zoey teased, resting her head on her folded arm, looking back at Mira, waiting, wanting.

Mira grinned as she turned on her side, moving towards Zoey, closing the distance, and kissing her deeply without losing any time.

They only parted as they heard how Rumi came out of the bathroom, her feet tapping through the hallway.

Both nodded at each other before moving further away from each other, leaving room for Rumi in the middle.

Looking extremely tired, Rumi waddled in, letting herself fall face-first on the bed right between them.

‘Ughhh, I am really glad there was no Soju. The wine was worse enough.’ came her slightly muffled voice.

Mira and Zoey looked at each other over Rumi, Zoey biting her lip not to laugh, Mira shaking her head.

‘Your glass was not even half full,’ she reasoned. They had to share one bottle among five people after all.

‘I am not used to drinking,’ Rumi said, turning on her back.

‘Clearly,’ Mira said dryly, one eyebrow raised as she took in Rumi’s slightly red cheeks, and the way she blinked a little drowsily at the ceiling.

‘How are you feeling?’ Zoey asked, already in full supportive friend mode.

‘You know what?’ Rumi suddenly said, ‘No!’

‘What?’ Zoey asked, slightly taken aback.

‘We do not talk about me again. How are you two feeling?’

Both blinked at her, surprised and not knowing what to say.

‘This must be hard on you, too. So, how are you doing?’ Rumi repeated her question after the silence stretched longer between them.

Both blinked at her again.

Rumi looked back and forth between them, letting out the air in a long sigh.

Then she did something that made the whole crush thing very hard to hide. Opening her arms wide, she gestured with her hands for them to come closer.

Neither Mira nor Zoey moved, only looking at her with wide eyes.

‘Come here!’ Rumi said, repeating the gesture with her hands, and after shooting each other a short look, they slowly moved closer to Rumi.

And then their leader laid her arms around them, holding them close, Mira on her right, Zoey on her left.

There was a silence in which Rumi had no clue what she was doing to her two bandmates as both leaned into her, shooting each other another short look, before quickly looking away again, both flushing deeply.

‘I just…I want you to know that I got you, too. And no more secrets. I promise,’ she declared, and even though neither Mira nor Zoey doubted the honesty in her words, it was still delivered a little over the top so that, despite everything, they could not help but snigger slightly.

‘Are you really that drunk?’ Mira asked dryly, and Zoey had to press a hand on her mouth, her shoulders shaking.

‘No!’ came the too quick answer,’ well, maybe a little...’

‘I swear, half a glass,’ Mira mumbled, rolling her eyes, while Zoey gave up her fight and allowed her laugh to be heard.

‘Me being a teeny tiny bit drunk is beside the point,’ Rumi said, and they could hear the smile in her voice.

‘I am just so grateful to have you. And I almost lost that. I just don’t want to waste the time we have together.’ She continued, voice more somber, the sadness in Celine's and Poppy's eyes haunted her for a second. 

She tightened her grip around them, and Mira and Zoey leaned closer as well, something deep settling between them, as they held each other.

As Mira felt that she drifted off, she wanted to move, but Rumi tightened her grip even further.

‘Where are you going, Mira?’ Zoey asked, already half asleep,’ Fleeing from the huntr/x cuddle pile?’

Rumi chuckled at the word.

'Huntr/x cuddle pile?' she asked, amusement in her slurry voice.

'My invention. No stealing,' Zoey said, her last words transforming into a light snore.

‘I just didn’t want to cut Rumi’s blood circulation in her arm.’ Mira mumbled, not really putting up a fight as she settled back in.

‘It's ok,’ Rumi said drowsily, sinking deeper into the mattress, her breath evening out.

’You guys are worth it.’