Forms & Shadows, Ch. 10
Ten chapters! That's kind of a cool benchmark! It's been awhile since I've added to this fic and, well... I have about 6k words of fantasy. I feel like I owe you guys an apology. I just can't help myself. 😅😙
This has some unexplored characters in it and picks up after this chapter. What can I say? Lots of exposition followed by lots of tkls (underarm and tummy focus 😳🤫)!
Chapter 10: Beginnings
It was at least a three day journey back to the Royal City. The morning after the battle, it was decided that Am Lin could travel ahead with a few guards and deliver the news to Prince Wenshu- a powerful spirit had arrived in their realm! The Grand Duke was able to round up some horses and local soldiers to form a small entourage. They needed to travel at a slower pace due to the nature of certain injuries. It had taken some time but Long Fei finally convinced Xian, the strange spirit, to make the journey to meet the prince.
She seemed to despise almost every mortal she met. As far as anyone could tell, Xian was a vengeful spirit. She took pleasure in harassing the soldiers, threatening them if they came too close. Morale was made worse due to the fact that they were making the trek home with their wounded champion. It was unheard of that anyone could ever beat the Golden Sage in battle. Not only did Xian beat them, she had robbed them of one of their spirit forms. The weather matched the sullen mood of their party, as each morning they were met with grey skies and humidity that weighed down their spirits.
Long Fei tried to make the best of a difficult situation. In all his years, he never dreamed he would meet an actual spirit! To the best of his knowledge, it had been centuries since a mortal had encountered one. Although she was angry and short-tempered, the old duke could tell there was something more to her story. Her appearance didn’t seem to match the tremendous power she could wield. She insisted on dressing in shabby fishing clothes several sizes too large for her slight body. Dark freckles splashed across her pale face and her large grey eyes often shone with a sense of wonder when she wasn’t enraged.
Although she claimed to hate and distrust all mortals, the spirit had instantly bonded with Am Lin, allowing the healer to clean her wounds. Xian had never taken mortal form before and seemed to have no awareness about the limits of her body. She couldn’t tell when she needed to rest after walking for miles. She had no concept about rehydrating or eating to restore her energy. It was clear she needed guidance.
After some hesitation, she slowly began to warm up to Long Fei. The spirit found something comforting about the old duke. He was quiet and didn’t react to her angry remarks. She soon found herself walking beside Long Fei, secretly glad to have someone to talk with. The duke was very curious to learn about the spirit world and listened quietly as Xian explained how she was once the High General for the Spirit King’s army.
The ancient king was a magnificent Dragon spirit who ruled as long as any spirit could remember. He was a good king, known for his wisdom and strength. So universally beloved was the king, he even held the honor of mating with the Goddess herself. Eventually, the Gaia Leopard gave birth to their beautiful daughter, a Dragon Leopard named Shouyun.
Years later, the Spirit King received news that the Goddess had given birth once more, this time to a daughter named Xian. She was a strange looking leopard, whose father belonged to another realm. The Spirit King loved the Gaia Leopard so much, he adopted Xian and raised the two sisters together in his magnificent court. Shouyun grew into a lovely leopard with dark red markings, who would one day rule the spirit realm as their queen. Xian was a much smaller than her sister but a fierce warrior. She learned to master all of the spirit forms and rose in the ranks, finally becoming the High General of the king’s army.
It had been a happy life until the Destroyer, a demon frog, fell in love with Xian’s sister. Shouyun was offended and refused to marry the demon. In a jealous rage, the Destroyer slipped into the castle and killed Shouyun and the Spirit King. His forces overcame the king’s army and a horrible war raged through the spirit realm. Xian bitterly explained that her army would have defeated the demon if not for the interference of a mortal.
A monk from ancient times betrayed the spirits, casting a dark enchantment over the realm, turning Xian and her soldiers into stone. One by one, the demon and his legions smashed them all to bits and laid siege to the kingdom. Xian had only survived thanks to the work of silkworms, who wove her into a protective net, hiding her from view. The Destroyer took his war into the mortal realm, where he was finally defeated and banished. Xian remained frozen as a statue for centuries, as the jungle slowly reclaimed the ruins of the spirit kingdom. It was only recently, when someone from the mortal realm released the demon from his prison that the spell was broken. Xian was now finally free to seek vengeance on the one who betrayed her king and murdered her only sister.
Long Fei asked questions sparingly, letting the spirit do most of the talking. He shared his favorite tea blend with her as she fed him her story in bits and pieces. It was clear to the elderly duke that Xian was lost and lonely. Although she was immensely powerful, coming to this realm had left her extremely vulnerable. She was clueless about what it meant to have a mortal body. Long Fei gently would explain the benefits of eating small meals throughout the day instead of wolfing down giant portions. He convinced her she needed to sleep just like everyone else around her.
Xian soon became the Grand Duke’s shadow. She liked his brick-red dragon wings, which reminded her a tiny bit of her former king. As the soldiers set up camp for the last night of their journey, she spied the duke’s tent several yards off the dirt path. The spirit hissed at any soldiers who tried to approach her and made her way over to the duke’s campfire, sidling up as he sat to warm some dumplings over the flames.
The duke considered the sullen spirit who liked to sit unusually close to him. She didn’t seem to have any understanding of personal boundaries. “Are you hungry? I have enough to share.”
Xian shrugged, “I don’t know. This body always feel upset about something. Maybe its hungry.”
“Spirits eat when they are hungry, don’t they?”
Xian threw some leaves into the fire with a moody huff. “Spirits eat because we like food. Unlike mortals, we do not get weak and wither away if we don’t eat.”
“I see. Well, it is late and tomorrow is another long day of walking. You should probably eat.”
Quick as a flash, the spirit snatched the cooked dumplings from the pot. Xian yelped as the hot food burned her fingers. Long Fei shook his head, “You need to wait a moment before eating it. And you should use your chopsticks.”
Xian pouted. She was not good at using utensils. The spirit stabbed a dumpling with a single chopstick and blew on it. When it stopped steaming, she popped the food into her mouth and closed her large eyes as her body welcomed its savory warmth. She offered the duke a rare smile. “Thank you, Grandfather Dragon.”
The duke could tell she was warming up to him and decided now was the time to broach a subject he had avoided. “Have you noticed how the Golden Sage is doing today?”
The smile quickly left Xian’s face. “No.”
“They are not doing so well. I am worried for their health.”
The spirit’s eyes drifted across the dark field to Ji’s tent. In fact, she had noticed several soldiers helping them set up their tent and bringing them food. She grumbled at the thought, “I am not concerned.”
Long Fei poured them both a cup of tea, “You should be. Your actions damaged them.”
Xian clasped her cup and inhaled the spicy aroma. “I like the way you make your tea. It’s always very strong.”
“Don’t change the subject. You should try to help them recover.”
The spirit frowned at her reflection in her tea, “They are a monk! It was a monk who betrayed my people, who turned us all to stone!”
Long Fei gently touched her arm. “Yes, but it was not this monk.”
“He holds the mantle of the Golden Sage! It was his very ancestor who cast the spell!”
“But that was centuries ago, Xian. You know that mortals don’t live that long.”
Xian pulled her arm away, “The Golden Sage is reincarnated! That’s the only reason they have access to all the primary forms. It’s an ancient loophole! Besides, it was the Goddess who acted through me. Your champion has been judged. It’s up to them to make peace with my mother.”
Long Fei considered this news. “They will probably need your help, if they are to make an appeal to your mother.”
The spirit’s voice lowered to a hateful growl, “I will never help a monk!”
The duke handed the stubborn spirit more dumplings. “They would help you, if you needed it.”
Xian snorted at the idea, “He attacked me! He called me a demon!”
“You know that was a mistake. Don’t you think you should talk to them before casting your own judgment?”
The duke knew he could only say so much before doing harm to their new friendship. Having said his piece, Long Fei stood up and patted the spirit’s head softly and entered his tent for the night. Xian clasped her knees in front of the fire and stared angrily at the monk’s tent in the distance.
—----------------------------------
Ji sat on a pile of furs, trying to mediate. Their tent was softly lit by a small lantern which cast cozy shadows on the fabric walls. It was hard for the monk to concentrate. They felt a wave of dizziness every time their trance deepened. This was concerning… they had always been able to count on meditation when they needed solace.
He decided it might be best to find peace through sleep. The last few nights were marked with hours of insomnia coupled with disturbing dreams. Thankfully, they were almost to the Royal City. If nothing else, he knew that Am Lin would help him. Despite their past difficulties, she was always willing to heal anyone in need.
Just as Ji was about to blow out his lantern, they heard a strange scraping sound outside their tent. Opening the flap, the monk peered out into the night. Convinced it was only the wind, they came back in to find the spirit sitting on the furs, scowling at him with contempt.
“You don’t look that sick to me!” She folded her arms and looked almost disappointed that Ji wasn’t in terrible pain.
After the battle, the following days had been a blur for the monk. Before she left, Am Lin tried her best to soothe his energy but even the healer didn’t completely understand the nature of his injury. Apart from some bruises, his body was in good health. Still, deep within his psyche, the monk had suffered a deep loss.
Ji could feel the intensity of the spirit’s eyes. The tent was only meant for one person. She perched on his makeshift bed in arm’s reach, staring daggers at the monk. He calmly met her gaze, “Why do you hate me, spirit?”
“You will address me as High General, monk!” Xian spat out the response.
“Our realm hasn’t been visited by a spirit in centuries. I’m sorry I mistook you as a demon. I hope I did not harm you, High General.”
Xian was taken aback by the respect in their voice. She had always understood that the Golden Sage was a horrible being, someone evil and twisted, who plotted with the Destroyer and decimated her life. Across from her sat someone who was as intimidating as a pear tree. The monk was larger than she was but she couldn’t sense anything threatening about them. She decided it must be a trick and snarled, “No mortal could harm me… not even one as treacherous as you!”
Ji was completely lost. He had lived a humble life before it was confirmed he was the next incarnation of the Golden Sage. After that, he was trained and groomed to become an emissary of peace. Despite the ongoing wars across the realm, Ji was universally revered and welcomed with open arms. “I don’t understand. What have I done to displease you?”
The spirit narrowed her eyes, hissing out her words. “You hold the mantle of the Golden Sage. Centuries ago, they conspired with the demon who laid waste to my realm.”
Ji was stunned, “I have never heard of this before today.”
“Just because you have never heard it, doesn’t make it less true!” Xian’s eyes blazed with emotion, daring the monk to challenge her accusation.
It was a hard thing to hear and Ji’s initial reaction was to dismiss it entirely. By all accounts, the Golden Sage was known throughout history as a noble and virtuous character. Still, here sat a spirit who could summon the Goddess herself, accusing them of a terrible crime from centuries past. There must be some truth to it.
Ji bowed deeply, “If what you say is true, I’ll do everything I can to make amends.”
Xian wasn’t expecting that. The monk’s response took all the venom out of her mood. She relaxed a bit, unsure of what to say next. “The old dragon says you are still wounded from our battle.”
The monk looked up, surprised at the shift in her tone. “The old dragon? Oh, you mean the Grand Duke! Yes, I’m not entirely sure what happened to me after you landed that final blow.”
“You… I mean, the Golden Sage has been judged by the Goddess. Until you reconcile your past deeds with my people, you will no longer have access to your ancestral form.”
Ji grasped his chest, finally understanding the depth of his loss. “Turtle form! It’s been taken from me?”
“Not just you. All future incarnations of your spirit.” Xian said plainly.
The monk had to sit with this news for a moment. They were from the Turtle nation. That form was an integral part of their identity. “The Goddess took it from me?”
“That’s right.”
Ji bowed once more, “Above all, my sacred duty is to serve Her. I will do whatever I can to make things right.”
Nothing about this realm was simple! This monk wasn’t behaving at all like she assumed. Why didn’t he yell at her or try to start another battle? Xian folded her arms in frustration, “You are not at all what I expected.”
“I’m not?”
He was not. Instead of being horrible, Ji was perfectly calm and polite. She always imagined a twisted figure, with sharp features and a deranged grin. Instead, here sat a large brown man with dark curls tied up in a neat bun. His body was round and pleasant, with intricate tattoos that laced up his arms. Xian found herself feeling more curious than hateful towards the monk. “I want to see who you really are.”
Ji raised his eyebrows, “What do you mean?”
Xian grabbed his thick arm and pulled him over to the furs. “Inside. Will you let me look inside your form?”
The monk was confused until he remembered how Am Lin worked with her patients. “Oh, my energy! Is that what you mean? Yes, you can look at my energy.”
The spirit was suddenly very close to Ji, practically knocking the monk onto his back. She peered deep into his form and was shocked. Never before had she seen energy flowing so perfectly. His chi was completely balanced and shone brightly as it cycled through his chakras. The only imbalance was where his Turtle form was blocked, deep within his being. She could tell it was hurting him.
Xian did a quick scan of her own energy. Inside, her body was a mess! The energy was scattered and uneven, frantically racing throughout her form. “Bah! Nothing makes sense in this stupid realm!”
“What’s wrong??” Ji pulled back from the moody spirit, who was practically on top of him.
Xian growled, “I am a High General, master of all forms! It does not make sense why I don’t have mastery over my chi in this mortal body!”
Ji paused, choosing their words carefully. “I have been a mortal my whole life. I have had a lot more time to practice working with this body. Watch this…”
The monk opened the glass to their lantern and held their hand above the candle. Ji was unaffected as the flames licked their palm. After a minute, they pulled their hand back and allowed the spirit to inspect it.
Xian was astonished. “There are no burns on your skin!”
Ji nodded, “I can redirect the heat from my hand. It’s all done within. It’s one of the first skills I learned at the monastery.”
The spirit scoffed, “If a monk can do that, then so can I! Let me see your candle!”
Ji firmly grabbed Xian’s wrist. “No, you can’t just plunge your hand into fire. You will get hurt.”
Xian was momentarily stunned. There was something touching about how protective Ji became. She realized they were still holding her arm and she yanked it back, “Grandfather Dragon said you would help me if I asked!”
“Of course I will help you learn, but not like that. We will need to think of something that isn’t so dangerous.”
As a general rule, Xian did not like being told what to do. Letting a mortal give her orders was unacceptable. Her temper started to rise, “You will teach me something now!”
Ji wasn’t sure what to say. They had no idea how to teach a spirit to use a mortal body. “Tell me more about your experience being in our realm. Has anything happened that made you feel weak or incapacitated?”
Xian grumbled at the idea. She wasn’t interested in revisiting anything she experienced in the past two days. Just about everything felt unfamiliar and disorienting. She paused as one memory surfaced. “One thing did happen. The healer helped me after our battle. When she tended to my wounds, she gave me a bath… and her touch made me act very strangely.”
Ji raised an eyebrow, “In what way?”
“When she stroked my skin, my limbs would jerk. I could not stop laughing.”
Ji was surprised at the idea. It was hard to imagine the angry spirit laughing. “It sounds like you’re ticklish. Most people are.”
Xian wasn’t sure why the monk looked amused and continued explaining. “It did not harm me but I could not control myself. Would that be suitable to practice?”
The monk couldn’t believe what she was suggesting, “You want me to tickle you?”
Xian nodded and moved closer, “You can teach me how to control my energy, so I do not laugh.”
Ji was unconvinced but knew it was their obligation to help the spirit. “I will try, but it’s not something I can teach in one night. You have a brand new body… it’s probably very sensitive to touch.”
The spirit growled impatiently, “You said you would help me!”
“Okay, okay… just let me know when you need a break. Many people can find this to be quite overwhelming.”
“Pfft!” Xian waved her hand dismissively at the monk’s last comment. “What do I do?”
Ji sat up straight. “Come sit here, next to me.”
Xian was instantly by their side, her grey eyes wide with curiosity. “Now what?”
Ji had large hands, especially compared to the petite spirit. They gently wrapped their arm around Xian’s waist, resting their fingers on her sides. “Close your eyes. Can you sense how your energy is flowing?”
The spirit gazed at the monk’s dark hand before closing her eyes. “Yes… my energy is wild.”
Ji concentrated, “Breathe deeply. You are in a safe space. Can you let your energy find peace?”
Xian slowed her breath, feeling herself unwind. After a few minutes, she sensed stillness inside. “Now my energy feels calm.”
“Good. If I were to pick you up, could you keep your chi flowing calmly?”
Xian focused her thoughts. “Yes. I would stay calm.”
“Would you stay calm if I threw you in the air?”
“Yes. I would stay calm.”
“Good. Would you stay calm if I tickled your ribs?”
Yes. I would staAAAAAAYAHHHHAAAAHAAA!!!” Xian shouted with laughter as her energy rushed uncontrollably throughout her body. She grasped the monk’s large hand as she twisted in his grip.
Ji stopped, realizing how susceptible she was. “Are you okay? This might not be the best way to practice these skills.”
Xian gasped for breath, angry at the sympathy she heard in the monk’s voice. “I am fine! I did not tell you to stop! I can do this… I am calm!!”
Ji sighed at her stubbornness. “I have never heard of anyone mastering their chi in this manner.”
“Do it!!”
The monk shook their head and resumed pressing gently into the spirit’s ribs. Once again, Xian fell to pieces, cackling loudly as his thick fingers wiggled into her sides. Concentration was out of the question as maddening sensations flooded her mind. She tried to wrestle herself away from his teasing fingers, rolling onto her back. Ji simply followed her movements, gently scrabbling his fingers over her tummy.
Xian shrieked and curled up into a defensive ball, “NOHOOHOOOO…!!!”
Ji paused again, peering down at the bedraggled spirit. “I don’t think you’re getting what you want from this experiment.”
Xian could feel her energy pulsing from the new sensations. She peered up at the monk to scan their energy. Like before, it flowed between their chakras peacefully, a testament to their years of training. It was hard not to marvel at how perfectly balanced it was. She pointed accusingly at them, “You promised to teach me! You are doing this on purpose!”
Ji was getting tired of her insults, “I am not! This was your idea… it’s not my fault you’re so ticklish.”
Xian felt her ears grow hot as a foreign blush crept onto her face. “It’s this body! You said most people are… this way.”
The monk couldn’t help but notice Xian was avoiding a certain word. “You mean ticklish? Yes, most people are. I am.”
The spirit felt her blush vanish as intense curiosity surged through her mind. “That’s it! I can do it to you and observe your energy!”
Xian was in no mood to wait for an answer. She pounced on him, knocking the monk onto his back and perched on his broad stomach. Ji hesitated, trying to find the right words to explain. “Woah, wait! It’s not so simple. After years of training, my body has changed. It’s almost impossible for me to lose control of my chi… unless I try.”
Xian brought her face very close to his. For once, her angry eyes were bright with excitement. “Will you try?”
Ji had never seen such eyes before, otherworldly grey which seemed to swirl like the heavens above. “Okay, I will try. It’s just a little… different. I’ll have to talk you through it so my energy starts to release. Are you certain you want to do this with me?”
The spirit nodded emphatically so the monk sat up slightly to remove his tunic. Xian marvelled at the intricate black tattoos that latticed up their brawny arms and spanned their torso. “I like your pattern.”
Ji couldn’t believe they had earned a compliment, “Thank you. They’re traditional tattoos from my home island.”
Xian didn’t respond but continued to stare as Ji set his top aside and laid back down. The monk tried to quiet his mind of any self-conscious feelings while folding his arms behind his head. “Okay, I know I’m ticklish under my arms. Let’s start there.”
Xian nodded, “What should I do?”
The monk stared up at the top of their tent with just the faintest hint of anticipation creeping into their mind. They took a deep breath to steady their nerves. “Use your fingers, and start wiggling them against my skin.”
Xian hovered over the monk, tracing the intricate tattoos down their dark brown arms to the hollows of their armpits, “Do I tickle you here, where you are furry?”
Ji was surprised the abrasive spirit had such a gentle touch. “Yes, right under my arms.”
Xian wiggled her fingers fast into the soft mounds of black curls. She peered inwards at the monk’s chi, which continued to flow peacefully throughout his body, unbothered by her actions. She stopped, “It’s not working.”
Ji knew they would have to be more vulnerable to give the spirit what she wanted. He felt an unfamiliar shyness creep into his mind at that realization. Ji shook the thought away. It was important that he earned her trust. The monk locked eyes with Xian, “Don’t move your fingers so wildly. Pretend you are plucking strings on an instrument. Be a little more firm and rhythmic.”
Xian held his gaze for a moment, noticing how the eye contact shifted the dynamic. She followed his advice and bade her fingers to move with more control. The motion became a sequence repeated with subtle variations- pointer, middle, ring and pinky, stroking intentionally, working their way through the downy hair to the sensitive skin. She was pleased to see his chi starting to vibrate slightly, “What do I do next?”
Ji fought the urge to control his reaction. It would have been very easy to reassert himself, to marshal his concentration and remain calm. But this was the only thing the spirit had asked of him. He needed to let go of the reins. Closing his eyes, his voice quivered slightly, “A-haa… you can tickle me harder. E-especially in the center of m-my armpits.”
Xian could see that their energy fluxed when they described how she should touch them. It was a nervous flutter that sparkled brightly at the sound of his suggestion. She wanted to see more of that. Her hands continued to prowl the monk’s armpits, “Look at me and say that again.”
For the first time in years, Ji felt a nervous sweat break across their brow. He met her eyes. “Y-you should t-t-tickle me… haha, harder!”
Xian’s ear pricked up when the tiniest giggle finally bubbled up from the monk’s throat. Having spent her entire existence as a large mystical leopard, she felt uneasy inhabiting such a petite mortal form. Straddling the husky monk who was almost twice her size was a surreal experience. But he seemed committed to helping her. She wondered to what extent.
She stared deeply into his dark brown eyes, pleased to find his restraint fading away. Her fingers trailed firmly down the edge of his underarms and landed deep within the hollows. Banding together into soft claws, her hands dug firmly into the tender muscles. Her fingers flexed inwards in quick pulses, pulling startled gasps and scattered giggles from the stocky monk. “Is it working? You are grinning a lot more! You can stay still much better than I can. Wait, don’t look off to the sides. I like watching your eyes. Are you trying to clench your mouth shut? That’s not fair! How do I make you laugh louder?”
Every instinct in Ji wanted them to curl up, to break their gaze and return to a familiar place of balance. His nerves were lighting up, self-control was slipping further away from his grasp. It went against his years of training but he was the Golden Sage. It was their sacred duty to serve the spirits. They forced themself to meet her steely gaze, gulping at their own suggestion. “T-t-tickle me… f-faster!”
Ten pale fingers scrambled up, down and around the unprotected hollows. Loud, unbridled laughter boomed from the monk who rarely, if ever, was touched. Dutifully, he kept his arms behind his head. They never broke eye contact and Xian could make out the faintest glint of desperation. There was something about seeing him so wild and roaring with laughter. He was almost handsome.
The spirit shocked herself with that thought and brought herself back to the task at hand. “Now, see if you can quiet your energy and block out what you’re feeling.”
Ji tried to concentrate but his mind was ablaze from overstimulation. Her fingers were relentless, doing exactly what he had suggested. They had given her the keys to their own undoing. “HAAAHAAHAAHA, I CAHAAANNT STOHOOOOP… LAAAHAAAUGHING!!!”
Xian frowned, “You need to control your chi so I can observe and learn. Try harder!”
In frustration, the spirit started tickling harder. Up and down, faster and faster over the unprotected underarms. Ji finally broke eye contact, squeezing his eyes shut as he bellowed with laughter. Xian had to fight to maintain her balance as the monk howled and arched his back. As she steadied herself, she noticed how different his energy appeared. Instead of flowing peacefully in a steady light it was frenzied, cycling through a rainbow of colors and coursing madly through his chakras.
She finally paused, noticing something peculiar. “Your chi… it’s drawing a map.”
Ji gasped, squinting through their tears. He looked where the spirit was pointing but lacked her ability to read energy. “I… hahaa, d-don’t understand.”
“It’s collecting itself here.” Xian gave a stiff poke to the broad side of the monk’s round tummy.
Ji was surprised at the jolt that surged through their body. It was disorienting to feel so powerless over their reactions. “M-maybe we should stop for n-now?”
“But your energy is dancing inside of you! You should see the way it is shimmering… I think it wants me to continue.”
The monk felt like they were teetering on the edge of a cliff. Could that be true? Was their mind racing from exhilaration or fear? The spirit was staring at him with large, expectant eyes. If anything, they could tell she wanted to explore further. Ji tried to steady his voice, realizing how much they wanted to please her. “Alright, I-I can take a b-bit more.”
Xian slid down slightly so she had access to his broad tummy. It was so round and inviting, she was half-tempted to nuzzle its warmth. The spirit ignored that impulse and studied the excited energy, “Tell me what to do.”
Oh no! This was the hardest part. Ji felt his heart pound from anticipation. The monk closed his eyes, determined not to give in to nerves. “Okay, um… you d-don’t have to press so hard. M-my stomach is really sensiTIIIIIVE!!!”
The spirit jumped the gun and started trailing her fingers slowly over the firm skin. She was instantly rewarded with a cascade of giggles, higher pitched than the loud guffawing from before. “You sound different! And you are already looking away… why is that? Don’t you want to see what I’m doing?”
“NOOHOOOHOO!! AHHHEEHEEHEE… THIS IS… HAHAHA, WORSE!!”
“Why is that? I’m being more gentle. Your belly is so round. There is so much to tickle! Look how happy your energy is to be free… it follows my fingertips!”
It took everything Ji had not to roll over and curl up into a ball. “OKAAHAAAHAAY… HEEHEEHEE, PLEEEHEEEASSE!”
“Please? What does that mean? Your energy is very pleased. And your belly shakes so much! I have never met a creature like you before. Are all mortals this fun to tickle? Look! Your energy is collecting underneath, where your belly meets your hips! That’s an even more ticklish spot, isn’t it?”
Ji could no longer think straight, “YEEEEEHEEEESS!!”
Xian moved her hands to the lowest part of his abdomen, gently wiggling her finger into the dense flesh. “You need to tell me what to do.”
“P-P-LEEHEEASEEE…. D-DON’T MAHAAAKE ME SAAAHAAAY IT!!”
The spirit couldn’t take her eyes off the sparkling chi as she continued stroking. Her voice took on a sing-song quality. “Tell me how to tickle your tummy. Tell me, tell me, tell me.”
For the first time in years, panic crept in Ji’s mind. Their inner monologue pleaded with him: don't say it, don’t say it, don’t say it. Their brain shattered as the confession spilled from their mouth, “AHHHHAAHA, G-G-GRIP IT AND… (please no)... STAAHAART SQUEEEEEZING!!”
Xian placed her hands on the underside of the large belly and ruthlessly started squeezing. It took everything Ji had not to buck the impish spirit off of his lap. His voice cracked as frantic laughter erupted from his throat. He felt his arms come down instinctively as he buried his face, trying to dampen the sounds of his hysteria.
The spirit frowned, “Don’t do that! I like hearing your sounds. Let me see your face… you look so happy! Your energy loves it too! I think it was tired of being so constrained inside of you. It’s too bad you can’t see it… it’s so pretty! Should I move my hands faster?”
Ji pulled their hands down but crossed them defensively over their heaving chest. Tiny, pale hands sped up their assault, goosing his ticklish stomach, fingers eliciting wave after wave of desperate laughter. Ji felt tears slide down their cheeks as they struggled to form words, “NOOHOOO MOHOOORE!!! AHHHAAHAHAHA…. PLEEHEEASEEEE!!!”
Xian studied the monk’s energy. “Are you certain? Your chi is so alive right now! It’s even making patterns around your navel and back down… want to see?”
She traces her nails to the top of his quaking stomach and cascaded her fingertips, following the downward curve, finally jiggling them into the most sensitive area of his lower abdomen. Ji fluctuated wildly between helpless snickers, frenzied giggles and whooping laughter when she hit his weak spots. “I’M CERRRTAAAIN… HAHAAHAA!! I CAHAAAAN’T TAHAAKKEE IT!!!”
Xian obliged. She noticed how malleable the energy had become. It sparkled at her, ready to be reincorporated into the monk’s being. She could still sense the psychic wound present within Ji. Xian felt unfamiliar sympathy creep into her heart as she made slow movements above his body with her hands, redirecting the chi, soothing his aching soul.
Ji kept their eyes closed. Their skin tingled and small giggles still escaped his lips. The monk felt a strange mixture of exhaustion, giddiness and euphoria. They basked in the heady afterglow until curiosity got the better of them. “W-what are you doing to me?”
Xian continued to expertly maneuver the compliant energy. “You helped me today. I will return the favor.”
The spirit said nothing further as she worked into the night, rebalancing his chi. Ji laid still, content to watch her in the soft glow of the lantern. For the first time since their battle, the monk felt whole. Somehow, the absence of their form felt like a new beginning instead of a loss. With that acknowledgement, their sense of peace returned and Ji slowly drifted off to sleep.