Neighbors in forbidden land

"Kneel down." Yimi, who was sitting by the fire and smoothing her wet light orange hair with her hands, gave me this order with her eyes closed.

The problem is that with my body, my legs just can't coordinate to kneel.

So I chose to lie on my stomach, gathered my wings on my back, and carefully wrapped my tail around me without hitting Yimi.

"There's no need to explain, you useless, perverted pervert and idiot Xiao Hei." Yimi said this sentence lightly while brushing the crystal water droplets from her hair.

I seem to be making mistakes all the time?

Then there was silence, which was a little different from the previous silence.

The sun had risen almost completely, casting a more intense light on the land than yesterday.

Yimi twisted her long hair into a long ponytail and put it on her body, then smoothed out her hair section by section, and then sent her hair to the fire to dry.

Under the double reflection of the sun's brilliance and the flames, her hair shone with a light orange halo.

"I really didn't expect...to take care of my own hair is such a troublesome thing, huh..." Yimi, who finally smoothed out the last strand of hair, sighed softly, and then waved her hand, The long light orange hair fanned out behind her back, hanging down to the ground like a river flowing down from a mountain peak.

The remaining drops of water on the hair glistened under the sunlight, and it felt like Yimi's whole body was emitting a different light.

Maybe this is "beautiful"?

Yimi is a princess after all.

"Stretch out your hand." Yimi said this out of nowhere.

"Xiao Hei, 'ah' what? I said to check if you have washed it clean."

I don't have hands to stretch out... But if I stretch out my claws, it's easy to expose, right?

Just when I was hesitating, Yimi waved her hand angrily and pointed forward: "Why? Don't you want to? Don't you have to let me tell you to strip...you are willing?"

I was naked... except for the ragged clothes that Yimi gave me and hung on my arm.

"Although I can't see it, Xiao Hei, you must only have the clothes I gave you, right? Anyway, your appearance is probably about the same, so hurry up and reach out, I want to check!"

I slowly raised my paw and placed it in front of Yimi.

"Have you stretched it out?"

Basically, it’s just a short distance in front of Yimi’s face. If I go forward, or Yimi goes a little further——

something will happen.

"Why... there is no smell? Did Xiao Hei wash it off or did you not reach out at all?" Yimi moved her nose and sniffed at the tip of my claws, then frowned slightly.

Even if it's just a claw...

"Really?"

I literally reached out.

As for stretching out your hand...

"How do I know you're not lying to me, Xiao Hei?"

cheat.

The moment the word comes out.

I have absolutely no idea how to answer.

"do not move."

And Yimi just slowly stretched out her hand forward, as if wanting to touch the tip of my claw.

this moment.

I have thought about whether to take the claws back.

Because if Yimi encounters it.

She will be hurt.

And my lies will shatter like those fragile plants.

How to do?

How to do?

How to do?

Just when Yimi's white and tender fingers were about to touch the tips of my claws, and I was about to put them down——

Yimi's hand stopped, just hanging there only about one centimeter away from the tip of my claw.

"Can't touch... right?"

It was only after hearing Yimi's words that I remembered the lie I said that everyone I met would die.

Although not far from the truth.

I nodded while answering.

"Then... there is no other way..."

While talking, Yimi lowered her arms as if she had lost her strength, and stared at the ground with her head down.

"Obviously mustered up the courage..."

Yimi's voice became very thin, and at this time, I couldn't understand Yimi's expression at all.

She has an expression on her face, but neither laughs "happy" for something nor cries "sadly" for something.

There are so many human expressions, so many that I don't know them at all, so many that I can't understand them at all.

"But I still don't have the courage..."

Human language is very complicated, so complicated that I can't understand it at all, so complicated that I can't understand it at all.

Yimi wants to muster up the courage... what to do?

"It doesn't matter." After a long silence, Yimi raised her head again, and the corner of her mouth curled into an inconspicuous arc.

"Little black."

"Bring those unpalatable meats."

Yimi's transformation was so fast that I couldn't comprehend it.

"You show me the way, let's go back to the beach."

"It's a rare opportunity... Although I can't see it, I want to hear the sound of the tide."

Yimi stood up slowly, patted the cloak and some dirt on her body.

"According to the book...we won't be able to catch up at noon, but the time in the wee hours will be enough, right?"

listen to the tide

————————————————————————————————————————

result……

"I'm so tired, I don't want to go..."

Just when we came to the edge of the high mountain where I usually keep my diary, which is where I hid here yesterday morning to watch the boat that brought Yimi over, walk a few steps around the mountain and you can see place of the sea.

Yimi didn't want to leave, and sat down on the spot to rest.

We are on the edge of the mountain, we say we are going around... even Yimi's steps are only a few steps.

Although there is still a long way to the beach...

"I'm a sick person, I just have a fever, Xiao Hei, you can't carry me on your back, I can't walk anymore!"

Yimi, who was sitting on the ground, kept waving her hands in protest at me.It was already dark, and although there was no strong wind tonight, the dense dark clouds covered the night sky that should have been extremely dark.There is almost no light on the entire land, and only the plants in the shadows can be vaguely seen standing quietly on the desolate land.

But... Maybe it is really affected by the "fever", Yimi's steps are smaller than yesterday, and the number of rests is more.

"Then why don't you go? Anyway, you don't have to go."

Yimi said this sentence very casually.

What is her expression now?

She was almost integrated into the night, only the light orange long hair that was incompatible with the night seemed to be emitting a little bit of light.

Next, she added heavily:

"I can't see it anyway."

"Xiao Hei." As a result, Yimi called my name directly, interrupting what I was going to say.

——Is it the sound of the tide...

"Little black."

"Little black."

"Little black."

"Little black."

"Little black..."

"Are you really there?"

After Yimi repeatedly called my name many times, she suddenly said such a sentence, which made me not know what to say for a while.

"I'm asking... Xiao Hei, are you really... here?"

What does it mean?

"where is it?"

"Is it behind me..." Yimi slightly turned her head back.

But after all, he didn't turn around, only the long light orange hair moved slightly.

"How do you prove to me that...you are behind me?"

"You have no way to prove it, right? Xiao Hei?"

Proof...

"Until now."

"I can't see what you look like."

Because Yimi, you can't see...

"I can't hear your voice, I'm talking about your voice, not the communication in your head."

I... can't speak...

"I can't even touch you."

"I can't even feel your breath or your movement."

My movements are always there.

It's just that I can't tell you that those earthquakes are all my footsteps.

Any action I make may expose myself.

my identity.

I am not human at all, in this identity.

Because when the time comes, you will definitely be afraid of me.

"I have doubted countless times...whether you exist, Xiao Hei."

"I really doubt that I, who was exiled here, have gone crazy, and Xiao Hei, you are just someone I dreamed up,"

Now Yimi just lowered her head, clenched her hands into fists, and kept talking.

"Because... because..."

Yimi's voice was intermittent.

"How, how could someone..."

Slowly it turned into a sob.

"Be so kind to me!"

Finally it exploded.

"Father is good! Mother is good! Sister! Azusa! Teacher! Those servants too! Ever since my eyes... ever since my eyes have become like this! Face me!"

"Everyone avoids me, even if I don't open my eyes! No one believes me, no one dares to stand in front of me, and no one wants to listen to me anymore! It's all gone!"

Yimi was trembling all over.

Unlike the previous trembling.

"Even if you were so kind to me before! What's the use of that! Now everyone is afraid of me! No one dares to approach me! No one wants to recognize me as a princess anymore! Because of my eyes, because of being Everyone I see will die!"

So... is that so?

some kind of magic...

That's why Yimi didn't open her eyes.

Not invisible.

Just dare not look.

Why do you keep me walking behind her.

Just scared.

Afraid of being careless.

I will die.

"So why are you so nice to me, Xiao Hei..."

I saw it.

"...Obviously...Obviously this is the first time we met..."

Even now under the boundless night.

"...But you will speak to me so...so softly..."

Even now under the dark night where all starlight is blocked.

"No matter... no matter how willful I am..."

I saw it too.

"Let me do whatever... I will do whatever..."

From Yimi's eyes I've never seen before.

"Won't be afraid of me... and won't lose my temper with me..."

From Yimi's hands covering her face.

"Even if it's... my teacher, those servants, Zi, my father, my mother, my sister..."

From Yimina's occasionally flushed cheeks.

"Facing my willfulness...my temper...I won't let my temper..."

slippery.

"Xiaohei...why...how did you make me believe..."

Those two lines.

"You are so kind to me..."

It is crystal clear even in the dark.

"I didn't imagine it... woo... ah..."

tears.

I understand.

I am stupid.

But I get it.

I took a step towards the other side of the mountain.

————————————————————————————————————————

Yes.

I should have realized it earlier.

Maybe black her.

doesn't exist at all.

I should have died long ago.

In this forbidden land.

I grew up in the castle for many years.

How could it be possible to survive in such a place?

Although it is such a dangerous place, there is no danger at all.

There are no monsters, not even the legendary disaster that once destroyed the world.

Only black.

Gentle little black.

Help me find something to eat, help me find something to drink.

Meet all my unreasonable demands.

how could it be possible.

There are only earthquakes here.

Am I actually dying?

Anyway, no one needs me anymore.

I dare not even poke out my eyes.

I can no longer even cast magic.

Only me with these eyes that have ruined everything is left.

Can't live anymore.

look.Xiao Hei's voice can't be heard anymore, can he?

The only thing that can be heard and felt is the vibration of the ground.

This is the truth, right?

"Woo... ah ah ah..."

but why……

Thinking of this...

I can't stop crying...

"Ugh... ah..."

Obviously he has given up the idea of ​​living.

He obviously planned to die just like that.

But I still remember it.

Blackie's voice.

"Little Hei...Little Hei..."

Or will involuntarily.

Want to call her name.

I want to hear that soft voice——

Obviously...it's fake...

But the heart will still be happy...

Hearing her call my name...

Still can't help but smile...

Sure enough, I'm already crazy...

For a moment.

I thought I heard wrong.

"Xiao Hei? What did you just... say?"

I put down my hand in surprise, and slowly raised my head, but still didn't dare to open my eyes.

Even, Xiao Hei told me so.

how is this possible……

That familiar voice in my head told me so.

"no!"

I hastily denied it.

It was still, so gentle, a girl's voice.

"Because...because..."

If there is a one in ten thousand possibility...

If you are really here...

Then when I open my eyes...

I definitely will--

"..."

If you talk in consciousness, it is indeed only limited by distance, not blocked by obstacles like sound.

In other words, the distance between me and Xiao Hei...is that close?

But with the mountain wall in the way, even my eyes won't—

"I... still can't..."

What if, what if...

Like those dead servants...

This time I-

Xiao Hei called my name softly.

Just this one sentence, the originally cold body seemed to feel warm.

"Then, then you must hide better!"

"Really, really?"

"Then I... just opened my eyes?"

I slowly raised my hand and rubbed my tear-filled eyes.

I must have been crying...

then.

slowly.

As if to check if there is Xiao Hei around.

Squinted.

For an instant.

Eyes are very uncomfortable.

Probably because of the darkness, but luckily it was also because of the darkness.

dizzy.

I received a lot of "darkness" in an instant, and my head was very dizzy.

The eyes are also very flowery.

However, there are things that must be confirmed first!

"Xiao Hei, Xiao Hei! Are you there?"

My heart almost jumped to my throat, and my whole body was trembling in cold sweat because of fear.

If, if because of me—

The gentle voice instantly crushed my tense body.

Great……

I don't really want to admit it...but it's really nice.

Xiao Hei is fine.

I try to open my eyes slowly.

Not much different from when eyes are closed.

The only difference is that I'm not very used to it... so my head is dizzy and my eyes are blurred...

He could only see the gray sky in the darkness, and the vague, motionless black shadows on the vast land.

so afraid.

Those are plants, right?

But it looks so scary in the dark.

"Little, little black?"

I still only have the answer in my head, but this has made me feel at ease a lot.

But I can't let her know that I'm scared...

I dare not turn my head casually, for fear that if I am not careful, these eyes will bring irreparable nightmares.

But I didn't realize until I opened my eyes.

This place is really... a forbidden place.

In addition to the desolation, even life is left in a silent, taboo place.

Nothing at all.

"Xiao Hei, where are you...?"

"Can I... turn around? Have you hid well!"

Hearing Xiao Hei's confident voice, I slowly and tremblingly turned around.

I saw a mountain that was almost vertical, with no top to be seen, a pitch-black mountain that pierced into the sky.

There are incomprehensible marks engraved on the mountain wall, but these are not important.

I noticed that I was indeed on the edge of the foot of the mountain.

Xiao Hei's words...is it on the other side...

Just take a few steps and go around this mountain to see——

No!

I put away such horrible thoughts in an instant.

No, absolutely not.

Your own curiosity doesn't just kill the cat.

It will also kill Xiao Hei.

So... I slowly walked towards the mountain wall like a towering city wall, and raised my hand to touch the mountain wall, the rough stone surface.

"Xiao Hei, are you... just opposite?"

Among us, there is only this small piece of the foot of the mountain.

Am I laughing?

Am I crying?

Just heard this sentence.

Am I relieved?

"What are you here...you still have no way to prove that you are here?"

How long has it been since I smiled and talked like this?

Has it been a long time?

"What way? I can't forgive you if you lie to me?"

Obviously there is still the salty taste of tears in his mouth.

right?

I slowly turned my head to look to the right.

Under the dark night sky, slowly stretched out from the edge of the mountain. It was much thicker than my body, and I didn't know how long it was... What is this?

It just felt like a huge stone pillar in the dark, all but broken, with only a basic support left, and the ends were almost broken.

"what is this?"

"Xiao Hei, can you... hold such a big... er... bone?"

This so-called bone is nearly ten meters long from the part I saw, right?Not to mention thicker than a human...

And what kind of bones are these?

"...It's really big..." It must be... a hundred catties...

As Xiao Hei said playfully, the huge black bone (for the time being) also moved up and down.

On the other end is Xiao Hei holding this bone...

"Stop." When I said that, the bone also stopped.

"Xiao Hei, what you say doesn't count, so go up?"

So the huge bone lifted up.

"Come down."

The huge bone seemed to move down again.

"Put it on the ground."

Huge bones fell to the ground.

And judging from this strength, someone is indeed holding it on the opposite side.

Really... someone.

"Little black..."

"Can I feel... this bone?"

After a brief silence.

So I walked slowly towards this bone on the ground.

Squat down, slowly reach out and touch the bone lightly.

There was roughness to the touch on the pitted surface, and I gently stroked the surface of this black bone.

It was as if he could meet Xiao Hei in this way.

Suddenly, the huge bone in front of me retracted, and my hand suddenly felt empty.

The next moment, it slowly came from the opposite side of the mountain.

This time, the bone pushed several shells from the ground.

Even in the dark night, you can still see the colorful and beautiful shells on the surface.

I haven't seen these things for a long time.

It should be said that I have not seen this world for a long time.

"What... something like this..."

I reached out tremblingly and picked up the shells.

Some seem to have been crushed by this bone, but its original appearance can still be seen.

Simple, rough.

"I've seen... I've seen more beautiful shells than this..."

I hold these shells in my hands.

"me……"

Why are my hands shaking?

Why is my body shaking?

Why are my eyes blurred?

I did not respond.

My throat seemed to be blocked by something, and I couldn't speak.

"Ah...ah..."

Why am I crying.

Unstoppable tears dripped onto the cloak he was wearing and onto the shell in his palm.

It dripped onto the black bone in front of me.

————————————————————————————————————————

eh eh eh eh eh?

Why are you crying again?

Am I doing it wrong again?

"I...I...it's okay...uh...just..."

Yimi's intermittent crying came from the opposite side of the mountain.

Are you okay...

Human emotions are really hard to understand.

Looking at the tip of the claw that was cut off by himself on his left claw.

But... since it's fine, that's fine.