Thoughts and Feelings

Xiao is at battle with his karmic debt every day, and can't bear to see Aether hurt. As they spend more time together, Aether has found comfort with the Yaksha.
How can Xiao and Aether convey their feelings and thoughts to each other, when one seems to shield himself away, so that the other may live?

A story based on the idea of Xiao's karmic debt weighing him down.