Li caught his breath, his heart growing tight in his chest. To see Ash again, after all this time, was all he truly wanted. And Ardlac, his new lover, who Li knew he loved in a way so similar to how he loved Ash that it frightened him, was offering him the gift of seeing the love from his past once more.

"I would," he murmured, nodding.

Ardlac gently took his hand. "Before I allow him in, remember what I told you when I saw Seith. Death changes a soul. He is still the same man you knew and loved, but death gives a soul new knowledge and allows them to understand things we can only imagine in life. He will be slightly different than he was when he lived in this mortal realm with you."

Li squeezed his hand. "I understand."

Ardlac nodded and took his hand away. A moment later, Ash stood before them, looking whole and unblemished by the fatal wound that had stolen away his life. Li felt tears prickle in his eyes as Ash smiled at him, then stepped close to kiss his forehead.

"I'm sorry you found me as you did," he said, his voice somehow flatter than when he had been living. He stroked Li's hair soothingly. "I'm sorry Catanere's cruelty ensnared you in her plot to take my estate, and I'm sorry that it put you here." His gaze turned to Ardlac and he smiled again. "I am glad you found someone here to be a trusted friend and companion until we may come together once more. Of course, even then I will not steal you away from each other if you wish to remain intimate. The heart and soul can love many, I've come to see."

Li smiled, recognizing the similarity to what Seith had already told them. "Thank you. I do love you, still."

"I know," Ash replied gently. "If the magistrates allow it, I will speak before them when you return to Mahlon. I cannot lie to them and I know precisely what was done to end my mortal life, and by whom. I would greatly like to see Catanere brought to justice for what she did not you, not to me. She must suffer for the pain she has caused you. I had wanted to end it with her to protect you from her, were she to discover us. When I told her I had drafted the papers of separation, she already knew it was because I was intimate with you. As careful as we had always been, she had discovered us. She would not lose the wealth of the estate and be sent back to her father. That was why she did what she did, killing my mortal body and falsely implicating you. I wish, still, that I could have prevented it. I have remained close to you as often as I could since then, but was unable to comfort you, of course. I was hopeful you and your friend here would be able to comfort each other. When I followed you here I met Seith, who is often here with Ardlac. We have both wanted nothing but happiness for you both, and we're thankful that you may find some now."

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Though the tone of Ash's voice was different, as was his choice of words, Li still felt the same peace and comfort he always had when he'd spoken to Ash in life. As Ardlac had told him, death had altered Ash somewhat, but he was still the Ash Li had fallen in love with.

"Thank you," he murmured. "I love you, Ash, and I will do what I can to avenge your death when I can return to Mahlon. It's a comfort to know you're close by." He had a slightly uncomfortable thought about being watched when he was making love with Ardlac but tried to push it aside.

"I can't visit often this way," Ash continued, pausing to kiss Li's forehead again, "and I grow tired now. Know that I am with you as often as I can be, which is quite often, and know that I will forever love you and await our eventual reunion."

"I will," Li replied. "Goodbye."

When he was gone, Ardlac turned and pulled Li into a fierce embrace, one that Li immediately returned. They held each other for a long time, crying and comforting each other, before finally parting to dry their eyes and kiss softly.

"Thank you," Li said quietly.

Ardlac cupped Li's face and kissed his forehead. "Thank you. Thank you for loving me despite how terrible I was to you. Thank you for sharing your love with Seith. Thank you for allowing me to love you."

Li simply held him and smiled. "Of course. Thank you for all the same."

They continued holding each other for a long moment, then Ardlac kissed him softly and pulled away, taking a deep breath. "I'll need to speak to Hayel soon," he said, almost to himself. "Then Captain Mond." He remained seated on the bunk, however.

Li, hoping to lighten the mood somewhat, asked, "Should I be concerned about certain ghosts being here while you and I are involved in more intimate activities?"

Ardlac chuckled. "You shouldn't be concerned, and they certainly will be present and likely already have been. Not always. Souls in the Spirit Realm still enjoy sex, though of course the dead can't reproduce. I know from interactions with others that old lovers do often linger around living partners who have other lovers, including during otherwise private activities. They often find pleasure in it themselves from watching."

Li stared at him. "You aren't serious."

Ardlac laughed outright. "I am, but I suppose I shouldn't have told you. I perhaps also shouldn't tell you that, the case being that they have both been here with us, that Ash and Seith are also likely enjoying each other's company immensely."

Though that particular thought was strange, Li didn't find it concerning. If he could find new love in Ardlac, it would be terrible of him to not want Ash to find the same simply because he was dead.

"I suppose there had best be room for all four of us in the Spirit Realm," Li finally replied.

"Of course," Ardlac assured him. "And don't worry about wanted to hide under the blanket now. They've both seen both of us naked now and they've seen the things we enjoy doing together. To cover ourselves now would be rude and rather foolish."

Li sighed, knowing that he was blushing. In truth, he would do anything to please Ash even now. "Very well. I suppose I won't hide from them if we must be their entertainment."

Ardlac chuckled again. "I'm sure they will be quite happy with that," he said before kissing Li once more, this time with undeniable passion.