“No.”

  Wukong flinched at my deadpan tone. “Yue, I know you’re worried, but I can handle it.”

  “That’s exactly what you said back before you were captured by heaven.”

  He winced as he recalled our fight. “I swear it’s different this time Yue. I survived them cooking us in that pot. I can survive a little stomach acid.”

  “That doesn’t make it okay! What so it’s fine for you to get eaten? What if the bear manages to digest you? What if something else goes wrong? I’m just supposed to stand aside and let you go through with this?!”

  Wukong gave a slight growl. “I know I’ve made some mistakes, but I won’t die that easily. You know that! This is the best plan we have to take down the bear.”

  “No, it’s not our best plan. You just think that because it’s your plan. I’m sure if we thought about it, we could come up with something else. Why do you insist on throwing yourself into danger every chance you get!?”

  “I don’t see you offering any other alternatives! And it’s a good plan! Maybe you should have a little more faith in me!”

  “Maybe I would if every time I put my faith in you, you came through, and didn’t leave me for ten years!”

  We were standing face to face, breathing heavy from our argument. Everyone else was awkwardly shifting as far away from us as possible, taking turns looking between us, eyes wide.

  Guanyin was the exception. She sat serene as ever, in the chair at the desk.

  “Yue, that was a long time ago! You already know how sorry I am about that! Don’t use it to try and guilt me into not going through with this now!”

  “Why shouldn’t I?! Throwing yourself into a situation with no idea what you’re doing! It’s basically the same! You haven’t changed at all!”

  “What!? The reason we’re even here in the first place is because I’ve changed! All of this, this entire plan is because I’m trying to be better. For you!”

  “Don’t you dare tell me you’re going to do it for me, because you’re not. Not when I’m standing right here, telling you I don’t want you to do this!”

  “What, you think I want to be eaten by a bear?”

  “I think you want to get revenge on him for running from you!”

  Wukong scoffed. “ Oh yeah, because getting eaten is clearly how I want to teach him a lesson. Sometimes Yue, you’re just impossible!”

  “I’m the impossible one?! Try talking to yourself for once. Some days, I regret ever marrying you!”

  Hurt. All over Wukong’s face. What did I just say? I put my hand over my mouth. I went too far. Way too far.

  I turned my back to him, and pushed through the door.

  “Yue!” Wukong called out, and reached for me, but I was already gone. I was scared I’d say something even worse in anger.

  I summoned Lonely Moon, and burst through the nearest window, flying off into the night.

  I turned my invisibility on, and flew off over the valley. I didn’t stop for a while. Long enough for my tears to finally overcome my willpower.

  When that happened, I stopped and cried. That was the worst fight Wukong and I have ever had. We fought before, but I felt like this time I finally said everything I wanted about his reckless nature. And some things I didn’t mean. Regretting marrying him?

  Never. Never in a million years. A billion. Ever. Even when he frustrated me, or even now, when we fight. He meant the world to me. He was my family. I loved him.

  I committed a sin. I’ve fought with my family and said things in anger. Lunus, help me. I didn’t mean what I said. Please help me make things right between us. Calm my mind, so I don’t get angry again. Please, ask him to remember our feelings for each other and forgive me.

  I looked up at the moon. It wasn’t Lunus, but it was the best I could do as I prayed.

  Once I finished, I kept looking up at the moon. I hoped Lunus would receive my prayers, even if I was a different universe altogether.

  Just remember. The bonds we make can’t be severed by death or by distance. Only we can sever our bonds. Whether in a rash moment, or over time when we fail to remember what’s important in life. But broken bonds can always be mended, as long as both people will it.

  I have to fix things with Wukong. I have to apologize for what I said. Then we can try to talk about it calmly.

  I took a deep breath. And dropped my invisibility.

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  I looked around. Sure enough, there was a little cloud, zipping all over the valley. Even though he could find me in an instant using the bracelet, he would wait until I was ready to be found.

  “Wukong!” I cried out to him and his little cloud paused then started racing towards me.

  “Yue!” He almost crashed into me, and whisked me off Lonely Moon. He pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry Yue. I know you have good reasons to worry about me, and I’m not dependable. We can come up with something else.”

  “No, Wukong, I’m sorry. I said something horrible and hurt you. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I’ve never regretted marrying you. Not once.”

  “Of course I forgive you Yue. You’ve forgiven me for so much more than just a few hurtful words. Even now. I shouldn’t have argued with you about the plan. If you don’t like it, I won’t go through with it.”

  I sniffed. “No. You know how scared I am of losing you. I’m not always rational when it comes to your safety. We can talk about it. Without yelling or arguing with each other.”

  “You do? But it’s really okay.”

  I shook my head. “No. We can’t argue every time you come up with a dangerous plan. We both knew this journey was going to be perilous when we started out. And you’re a warrior. Danger is a part of your life. And I know it always will be. I need to talk to you about it, rather than just shutting down and shutting you out. Maybe if I had done that back before you got captured, we could have won the war with heaven. I keep telling you you can’t handle things, even though I know how strong you are. I know that’s my trauma talking. There needs to be a balance. You can’t just give into me every time I don’t want you to put yourself in danger. We need to talk about it.”

  Wukong let out a breath, and set me back down on the cloud. “Okay Yue. Let’s talk then. I know you don’t like the plan because I get eaten by the bear. What about that don’t you like?”

  “Everything. I know you’re the only one who can use the transformation magic to turn into the pill. But couldn’t you just fight him once you’re inside? Why do you have to let him eat you?”

  “As much as I’d like to say I’m confident in being able to beat him, I’m not. He’s a master at retreating. If there’s another door like that inside the mountain, we’re screwed. Or worse, if he gets out, and manages to lock us in the mountain with the doors. I refuse to be trapped like that ever again. The only way he can’t run is if I’m somewhere he can’t escape from. Inside himself.”

  Fuck. Those were some good arguments. “Okay, but what if something goes wrong? What if his stomach acid is too much for you to handle?”

  “Yue, I’ve survived much stronger acid than stomach acid. It’s one of the ways the celestials tried to kill me when I was trapped in heaven. I know I can handle it.”

  Fuck. That was also a good argument. “But what if something does? What if you get trapped in his stomach?”

  “Guanyin will be right there. She has a few tricks that would be able to help me. I can just shout for her help if I need it.”

  Fuck. I curled my hands into fists. I felt my eyes watering, and I looked down, at our feet. “How would you feel if it was me who had to take the risk? If I was the one who had to go into the belly of the beast?”

  Wukong was silent. I looked back up, and saw he had a very serious expression. He was working his jaw, deep in thought.

  “I would hate it. I would hate it with every fiber of my being. But… I’d let you. Because it’s important. Because it’s something only you can do. Because if you didn’t…” He brought his hand up and caressed my face. “You wouldn’t be Yue.”

  Damn it. I gave up trying to to contain my tears. I lunged forward and hugged him, fiercely. He hugged me back, gentle. He patted my back, and smoothed the fur on the back of my head.

  I didn’t want to let him go. But I knew I had to. If not today, then tomorrow, or next week, or sometime after we get home. He was just too wild to try and contain. He was always going to take risks.

  I just had to make sure he didn’t take stupid, pointless ones. That we had a viable plan, and a backup in case things went wrong. But I couldn’t protect him from everything. I had to let go.

  He wasn’t Dad. Or Luvouse. Or Luka. He’d come back to me. It was okay to let go. This wasn’t my old world, where death was only a breath away.

  Slowly, I loosened my grip. First one hand, then the other. And my arms. Finally, I pulled back.

  Wukong’s eyes were shining. “Thank you Yue. I know it must be hard. But nothing in the world could ever stop me from coming back to you. Not even death itself.”

  I sniffed and smeared my hands over my eyes and nose. “You better. If you don’t, I’ll just come and find you to drag you back. So if you don’t want to get in trouble with me, you better come back.”

  “Always.” He dipped down to kiss me. “I love you Yue.”

  “I love you too.” I stood on tiptoe and returned his kiss.

  Once we broke apart. I rubbed my face again. “I probably look like a mess right now.”

  “No, you’re beautiful.”

  “And you’re biased.” I groaned. “And we fought in front of everyone too. Lunus, I’m so embarrassed.”

  “It’s fine Yue. We can tell them we made up when we go back.”

  “The point went right over your head. I’m embarrassed because we fought in front of them. And they even heard me say something so horrible to you. How can I even face them again?”

  “You were just worried about me Yue. I’m sure they’ll understand.”

  “I just didn’t want them to see me like that. Angry and yelling. What if they think I’m a bad person now?”

  “That’s ridiculous. You’re one of the best people I know. And they know you better than that. You’re always helping out around camp and making us food. So we had a lovers’ quarrel? They know better than to think you’re a bad person just because of that. Plus, you were only arguing because you love me so much. Clearly, you’re a good person.”

  I groaned. “You’re making me feel even more embarrassed. Let’s just head back before I get too ashamed to face them.”

  “Not yet. Let’s just stay up here a little longer. I want to be alone together. Just for a little while.”

  I sniffed and dried the last of my tears. “Okay. Just for a little while.”

  We sat down, and Wukong turned Nimbus so we could admire the moon.

  I cuddled up next to him, and he pulled an arm around me. He tilted his head, resting it on top of mine.

  “I love you Yue. More than I’ll ever be able to express.”

  “I love you too Wukong. I love you all the way to Lunus and back.”

  “But Lunus is back in your old world?”

  I smiled. “That’s how much I love you. All the way across this universe and my own. So much, I don’t even mind that I was trapped in the in-between, because that meant I got to meet you.”

  “Oh, Yue. You know I can’t compete with you when it comes to sweet words. Um, I can go kill something for you and bring it back as a trophy. Would that help show how much I love you?”

  I giggled and shook my head. “You don’t have to say anything Wukong. Just stay here with me. As long as I can moongaze with you, I’m happy.”

  “Well, in that case, maybe this will do.” He started purring. I loved the rough sound and how it practically vibrated the entire cloud.

  I snuggled closer and started purring too. We stayed like that for a while, just purring and cuddling while staring at the moon.

  I wished this moment could last forever.