Disclaimer: I do not own Jade Empire or any place, thing, or character that is in the game or from any of the concepts. They all belong to the greatness that in BioWare. But Meilin, Huo, Heng, Kun, and Chang are all mine! BWHAHAHAHAHA . . . Okay I'm done.

This story follows after an OP ending with a romance between Wu the Lotus Blossom and OP Sky. Other than that, I have nothing more to say.

The Blossoms of the Lotus

Prologue

Finally, it was over.

Standing on the balcony of the room that Princess Lian the Heavenly Lily had allowed her to use until she wished to leave, Wu the Lotus Blossom gazed out to the Imperial City that stretched out before her eyes, finding it hard to believe that this was only a part of the world that she saved. All those people now could live far more pleasant lives than what they had been. And that brought a comfort to Wu's mind.

She didn't care if people said that helping out with no thought of rewards brought no such thing. To her, they were wrong. Harmony had a great reward, one that quenched desire far easier than gold or power could.

Besides, her helpfulness had brought about another reward. One that gave her a greater future to look forward to than she ever imagined before.

"Off in a daze again?"

The voice was a welcomed one and Wu quickly turned to see its owner, her face beaming gleefully. Standing at the door was Sky, smiling with that roguish smile as he leaned against the wall, still wearing that same light blue bandit attire. "I don't really have anything better to do at the moment. Well, until now, that is."

"The savior of the Jade Empire has nothing better to do? I find that hard to believe," Sky teased, walking up to Wu. "Just about as hard as I find it that you are actually wearing a dress. Again."

"I guess you are right about that," Wu smiled sheepishly, running her fingers through her long black hair, which she had taken down from the fancy bun that Lian's servants had adorned her with earlier today, and looking over her gown. It was soft purple, with pale pink trim and intricate designs, form-fitting but nowhere near as revealing as Lian's usual attire. "But is it that bad?"

His finger held her chin, lifting her head up gently to face him again, his smile having grown a little bit more impish. "I didn't say it was bad, just hard to believe. It doesn't suit you either, but it does look gorgeous on you."

Wu already knew it was coming before Sky even leaned forward and his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. She felt herself melt once their lips had met and an overwhelming joy over swept her again. But there was something wrong. Something different about this kiss. She felt . . . reluctance.

"Sky?" she whispered, pulling her lips from his. "What is it?"

His smile, she noticed, was faked this time, weak. "Wu, I wanted to tell you that I'm going to be leaving-"

"Leaving! Why? Where are you going?" Her voice began to tremble as a fear settled in. "It's not because of me, is it?"

That invoked a genuine laugh from Sky. He kissed her lips, lightly this time and caressed her cheek with his fingers. "Actually, in way, it is. But, tell me, you do remember why we met?"

"Because Gao the Greater was running the slaving operations that captured you daughter," Wu recalled, her voice betraying her confusion on the matter. Then it hit her. "You're not going after what's left, are you!"

"Wu, calm down," Sky soothed as calmly as possible, flashing a reassuring smile, yet a reluctance remained in his voice. "I have to. I can't stand to think that other children, men, and women are being enslaved. We've done what we could to help: taking down Gao, finishing off the Lotus Assassins, and taking care of some slaving operations that existed in the heart of the Empire. But it's not enough, for me. I have to know that it's been dealt away with, entirely."

"But why?" Wu pleaded, holding tightly to Sky's arms, not willing to allow him to leave. Not the promise of her future. "That could take months, years even!"

"I know, but . . . Wu, I have to ask you, have you ever thought of having a family?"

"Sky, isn't it a bit early for that?" Wu pointed out, even though she already understood what Sky was getting at. She just didn't want to admit his was right.

Sky's gaze simply turned serious.

Looking away, Wu sighed and answered, halfhearted. "I have." Then she turned back to him, her voice desperately pleading once again. "But why does that mean you have to go? Why don't I come?"

"And let you get your hands dirty in my line of work? Don't tempt me," Sky smiled, before turning stern again. "You have your reputation, as well as the Spirit Monk Order to take care of. And you've already told me that you, Dawn Star, Kang, and Wild Flower were going to travel to the Prosperous East, so you have your plans."

"But the idea was for you to come as well," Wu rebutted, despite the fact that she knew she was losing. There was no way she could change Sky's mind, not when he was so determined, especially when it came to their future together. "Then promise me you'll at least stop by or send me a message every so often."

There was a short hesitation that caught Wu's suspicion. But before she could question it, Sky replied, "If you're traveling, how am I supposed to do that?"

This time Wu's face went stern. "I know you have your friends. You'll find out."

Then, sensing a vague oddity about Sky, Wu heard his reply. "I promise."

But the suspicion that Wu held soon disappeared as she fell into another one of Sky's tantalizing kisses and then into blissful love until sleep came over her. When she woke up, no longer was Sky's strong presence at her side, and Wu knew that she would not see him until he felt his work was done. And once again she fell asleep, this time alone and in tears.