Sun Ritsu hoped that Ham Song would stop talking soon. He wasn't sure how much longer he could stay awake. What he was sure about was that Ham Song was not ready to forgive Bodhi.

"Pardon my choice of words, benevolent monkey, but I hate that drunk bastard."

Ritsu bit his lip. Maybe forgive had been too generous of an action for Ham Song in the near future.

The pig was also disappointed that after everything, Ritsu had "rewarded" the skeleton spirit. When Ritsu tried reminding Ham Song that the butcher only did what he did because of pressure from those detainers, Ham Song's response was, "Is that supposed to make me feel better? To the Lake with the butcher and that wretched monk!"

Before Ritsu could come to Bodhi's defense, a familiar presence appeared out of the cloudy darkness.

"Tell me how you really feel, pig."

Bodhi appeared wearing the same gray monastic robes, but this time, the top layer was peeled down and wrapped about their waist. Their undershirt was white, sleeveless and still a little damp from what Ritsu assumed was water from a nearby spring. The scent of rice wine still clung to Bodhi, but it was not nearly as pungent as before.

Ritsu got to his feet and told them, "The skeleton spirit was very grateful. He wanted me to make sure that you knew."

Bodhi scratched the back of their neck. "Really, it was nothing. You probably could have pummeled those clones into soup if you wanted. That's how pathetic they were."

Ritsu blinked slowly before letting out a bark of laughter. "Me? Are you kidding? I couldn't do anything like what you did. Not without any immortal peaches at least."

Ritsu noted that Bodhi and Ham Song shared similar reactions. They both tilted their heads to the side. Bodhi narrowed their eyes.

A new voice broke the silence.

"Immortal peaches infuse clones with strength and endurance. Not skill."

All three spirits jumped at Anari's sudden arrival.

How does she always do that? Sun Ritsu wondered as he suppressed a shiver.

Bodhi also rolled their shoulders in what appeared to be an effort to free themself of goosebumps. Then they said, "Legs is right, Sun Ritsu. You're already fairly learned in the art of wushu. You demonstrated that back at the noodle house. Otherwise your performance there would have never played out the way it had. Even with the Radiant State activated."

With all three of his companions' eyes on him, Ritsu was tempted to fidget. Instead, he fiddled with the ornamental staff dangling from his ear.

"I don't know any kung fu. I'm pretty sure no one taught–"

Bodhi moved, but it registered more like a flash. Gasps from Anari and Ham Song came from both sides, but Ritsu didn't realize why until he noticed a tight fist hovering just millimeters from the tip of his nose.

"See?" Bodhi relaxed their stance. "You didn't even flinch just now. Face it, Sun Ritsu. You know kung-fuck!!!"

A blur of pink crashed into Bodhi's side and sent them sprawling chaotically in the grass.

Ritsu gasped, "Ham Song!"

The pig moved defensively in front of Ritsu's ankles, ignoring his protests.

"No, benevolent monkey. I've had enough of this worm." Ham Song's voice became shrill as he addressed Bodhi. "You touch my friend again and I'll split your spine open next time, see?"

Anari had gone to help Bodhi to their feet, but they dodged the spider's offer and roared back at the pig, "I wasn't going to hurt him!"

Ritsu tried to intervene. "Ham Song, chill out."

The pig snorted in defiance. "My friend, when are you going to realize that this monk is no good? They were there at the noodle house! They could have done back then what they did just now and helped us against the trolls! But what were they doing instead? Probably getting drunk and helping no one but themself."

Bodhi finally scrambled to their feet, protectively cradling their side. "Ever the plucky one, aren't you, pig? Yes, you are correct. And just so we're clear on exactly the sort of worm I am, I was stealing booze from patrons that were too mystified by your misfortune."

Ham Song grunted in satisfaction. "See, monkey? Nothing but a selfish, slimy worm, this one."

Grinning madly, Bodhi added, "Sun Ritsu, it looks like you have everything you need to find your staff. I've got more than enough wine and Luck, so I'll be going now."

Ritsu nearly tripped over Ham Song as he chased after the monk. Bodhi was fast, but the monkey managed to catch up to them.

"Bodhi, wait. Wait!"

With what Ritsu could tell was the utmost reluctance, Bodhi stopped and wheeled around.

"Just let me go," they groaned. "I've created enough chaos for your little quest as it is."

There was a very painful sort of desperation that Bodhi could not hide even with that mad grin they wore. Ritsu knew that if he said the wrong thing, the monk would leave and never come back. He considered their reaction back when Anari had tried to help them off the ground.

Choosing his words carefully, the monkey said, "At least stay until the morning."

Bodhi's grinning mask slipped. "Why."

Ritsu glanced past Bodhi's shoulders at the mountain's peak. "So we can watch the sun rise together." Then he met their gaze and was pleased with the consideration, however small, taking place across their features.

"The giant will roll over and take the mountain with it, I imagine. The buildings will return. This whole valley will become concrete again."

Bodhi didn't appear impressed, but they didn't look like they wanted to run away anymore.

"What, were you a poet in a past life?"

The compliment felt more like a bite, which ironically, eased Ritsu's nerves.

The monkey shrugged. "I don't know."

Bodhi's freckles danced as they broke into soft laughter. After a beat, they said, "I'm going back to my barrel. Can't promise that I won't be too hung over to watch the dawn happen or whatever," they scratched the back of their neck, "but I'll stay."

Ritsu allowed himself a smile. He hoped it didn't come off too warm, lest he scare Bodhi off again. He only let it linger for a second before turning around and making his way back to Ham Song.

When Bodhi showed up at the spot where they left their barrel, Anari was waiting for them.

"I didn't want to accidentally spook you," the spider greeted as the monk came limping up the hill, "so I just decided to meet you here."

Bodhi plopped down on the lid of the barrel and eyed Anari warily. "I'm very tired, so tell me what it is you want, Legs."

Anari glanced below the monk's neckline. "I want you to lift up your shirt."

Bodhi chuckled. "Sorry, but that invitation has expired. I'm flattered though."

Anari came closer and knelt by the barrel. "You know I'm not here for that. Just lift your shirt up."

Bodhi hesitated, but eventually obeyed and tentatively pulled the hem of their undershirt up to their ribcage.

"Easy, Legs!" They hissed as Anari probed the bruised area with her fingers.

"The pig got you good," she said. "You're lucky he didn't gouge you with his tusk or crack a rib. Hold on while I get something to put on this."

The spider ignored the owlish look in Bodhi's eyes as she went to retrieve some first aid supplies from her paper space.

Clearly this monk isn't used to having their wounds tended to, Anari thought as she rummaged through her things. When she came back to apply the salve and bandage the area, Bodhi asked, "Do you share the same sentiment as our dear old, wise Ham Song?"

Not breaking her concentration, Anari replied, "What do you mean? Speak plainly."

Bodhi hissed against her firm touch before elaborating, "Do you think that I'm a worm?"

Anari paused to look up at them. Bodhi wasn't meeting her eyes, but she could tell that they had been watching her this whole time.

"I think," she began, "that you are very good at making people mistake you for a worm. And I'll admit that for a moment, you had me fooled too."

Bodhi finally made eye contact, looking a bit smug. Anari briefly admired their gray irises before returning to applying the first aid.

"But I saw you fly today and now I know you're more like a bird than a worm."

A shadow darkened over Bodhi's features as they leaned a little closer. "Stick around and you'll see me become all sorts of things. Tiger. Eagle. Snake... Dragon."

Anari pulled her gaze up Bodhi's folded but lean frame to find their tongue sneaking out to wet their lips.

Feeling bold, the spider said, "Based on what I saw today, I'm already impressed."

Bodhi didn't say anything, but the look in their hooded gaze suggested that they appreciated Anari's attention.

Then Anari placed her hand very gently over Bodhi's wrapped bruise. Suddenly the monk's heavy gaze morphed into something more vulnerable. They covered the back of Anari's hand with their own.

Bodhi swallowed before saying, "What the pig did... I don't want Sun Ritsu to know how much it hurts."

Not needing an explanation, Anari nodded once. "You can trust me. I won't tell."

Bodhi exhaled and smiled. "Now that I'm all patched up, would you care for a drink?"

Moments later, Anari and Bodhi were passing back and forth a shallow cup that Bodhi refilled periodically. The spirits sat side by side with the barrel wedged between them, creating a respectful barrier. The valley stretched down the slope, grass tilting to and fro with the direction of the nighttime breeze. Fireflies burned their candle prosthetics as they courted each other.

The two spirits enjoyed stretches of silence as well as light conversation. Bodhi had reached the end of recalling their fight against the monkey horde, they said, "Hopefully we'll be able to slip off this giant without attracting too much attention. Though I wouldn't be surprised if Next Dimension put a bounty on our heads. We did completely crash and ruin the feast sponsored in their name after all."

Anari set down her shallow cup. "What? Did you just say Next Dimension? As in Next Dimension, Inc?"

Bodhi, whose face was eclipsed in a permanent band of boozy blush, leaned over the lid of the barrel and grinned impishly. "Yeah, that's exactly who I meant. I have no idea who those big shots are, but if they want a piece of me, they'll have to catch me first." They winked.

Anari shook her head and shot to her feet, almost knocking over the barrel.

"Whoa, whoa," Bodhi sputtered, "where ya going, Legs?"

Anari barely heard the monk's question. Her mind was racing at the speed of light.

"Goodnight, Bodhi," she said without much thought. "Thanks for the drink."

Without waiting for a reply, Anari stole down into the valley until she came to a more secluded grassy knoll. Then she quickly set up her paper space and disappeared inside.