Yooo, so instead of working on my other stories, I watched FMA:B for the second time in a long time and here I am with a Ling Yao x OC story. This'll only be 10 chapters, according to a Lunaescence challenge exploring 'the ten stages of love' - challenger: Ninja-chan (my lunaescence account name being Kyuun). There may be a sequel but only if this is well-received.

I hope you readers enjoy!

First Sight (9)

Life and death are opposite ends of one spectrum but both are found everywhere-

To be born into a high-ranking clan was a blessing.

So, likewise, to be born into a low-ranking clan could be considered a curse.

But how could you tell the difference when you were young and have never before seen the other side with the greener grass?

Lien Li adored her mother.

There were things she noticed that always seemed a little bit off, like the long sleeves and the bruised wrists or the smiles and the tired eyes – but despite that, she loved her very much. Her father, she'd never really known except that he wasn't there in the morning and afternoon but there in the very late night.

And what could a kid do but love, after all? To love and want it back in return. She knew what but not why and it wasn't her place to know why. So when her mother pulled her aside to tell her in simple words, 'You'll be staying here for a while', she didn't question her mother's intentions. Curiousity was dangerous and parents knew all, so she'd always be safe as long as they were there.

Besides, 'Ling Yao'. The name rang a bell and it wasn't a bad sounding bell either.

It went rather quickly: there was the horse ride all the way to a large house connected to all these other little houses, the burning sweetness of her mother's hand grasping hers almost desperately for whatever reason it did seem desperate, and then she was led to a room.

Her mother hugged her, and smiled that small private smile and exited. Then there were voices and a short time for Lien's typical almond eyes to travel around the room and then-

The first thing she noticed about him was his eyes.

They were either closed or very thin or maybe both. Maybe the same almond shape as hers, that is, if he opened his eyes in the first place. She couldn't tell.

"Are you the prince?" she asked then, because he was dressed in garbs she hadn't seen before. Bright and intricate and caressing the floor in a saggy heap because of the boy's sitting form.

A stagnant silent passed and he was either ignoring her or asleep. The former didn't make sense but the idea of it hurt. The little girl pursed her lips, eyebrows furrowing very lightly. Using her left hand, she swiped a few strands of hair out of her eye and diverted her attention to the bamboo slides. The silhouettes of her mother and Ling's mother stood and wavered. Hushed voices illegible and muffled.

Lien's eyes flickered slowly back to the prince's after an eternity, unaware of whether she should be feeling uncomfortable because of his status or tired because the sun had long since went down and the birds were starting to murmur and begin their daily routine.

She shifted uncomfortably, fingering the hem of her plain cotton dress.

Could he even see her? He hadn't even acknowledged her presence and maybe she really should've felt more uncomfortable because he was a prince.

Or maybe her former ideas were right: he was sleeping.

She straightened and furrowed her brows at the boy. He was still. The possibility of him being asleep was very high and she wanted to check if her observation was true.

For a moment, she sat with her legs folded beneath her in a typical polite manner, a meter away from the boy.

And then she was in front of him, peering curiously at the slender lines that were his eyes.

That was when his lips stretched in an unexpected smile.

She pulled herself away with a jolt, falling backwards as a crimson blush rushed to her face – successfully overcoming her inquisitive expression, and when her mouth opened to spew an apology, the twelfth prince lifted an equally slender finger to his lips.

Her first order, whether or not either of them really knew it was.

She averted her eyes and allowed a tiny nod.

His smile widened as if he could read her thoughts but moments later when Lien glanced up for the second time, her lips parted because his eyes were open and trained on the bamboo doors in front of him. Only, his amused expression was swept away and his face seemed almost calculating.

The feeling that seized her reminded her of her mother and all the other adults. He didn't seem like he was her age, like her mother said. No, he seemed like one of the adults. Knowing.

Intimidating, almost.

Her eyes trailed over his face and she began to feel apprehensive. She didn't feel good and where was her mother? The atmosphere took a severe steer towards a direction she didn't like but she didn't understand why she didn't like it.

Abruptly, the smooth shhhaa of bamboo against bamboo met her ears and in front of her appeared a tall lady with painted red lips parted in a kind smile.

"Lien," she murmured in a beautiful tone, "you're going to be staying with us now. Is that alright?"

Sluggishly, Lien nodded. 'Do whatever they tell you to do, alright Lien?'

After all, what could a kid do?

And yet… as the prince's mother continued, her eyes couldn't move from the bamboo doors when a sudden realization occurred in her mind. She didn't know how long she stared but her mind had long since formed the question in her mind.

Ah.

Her mother wasn't coming back, was she?

.:.

"Are you sure you don't want to say goodbye to your daughter?"

"…I'm sure."

"But-"

"This is for the best. Just… please, take care of Lien."

"…you know I will. But in return, take care of yourself."

"…"

"…you will, won't you?"

"Please… tell Lien that I'm sorry."

"Feng-"

"I'll try."

"…when the Li clan is safer, you'll come back."

"…this is for the best."

"Are you sure-"

"I'm sure. This is my problem. I don't want to trouble you more than I already have."

"You-"

"I have to go. I have to get back by sunrise."

"…right."

"I- I can't thank you enough-"

Laughter. "You know you don't need to Feng… but be well. Take that as an order, not a friend's request."

.:.

Feng Li's hands clutched at her stomach as the rented carriage rolled away from the main Yao estate, breathing shallow.

Coarse minutes passed before she settled the queasy feeling in her stomach – pregnancy wasn't fun and maybe it'd have been a good idea to let the official 'Mistress Yao' know, but that would've worried her more: how fortunate it was for Feng's best friend to be chosen as one of the wives of the Emperor… personal taste was the deciding factor and one of her distant sisters was chosen out of the Li clan to bear an heir - she may've been a daughter of the chief of the Li clan but she was one of many.

But as they said, blood of the covenant was thicker than the water of the womb.

"T-tell me about yourself," Feng began despite her raspy voice, eyes clear with the intention of getting distracted from the sickness laying deep in her gut.

The carriage driver spared her a glance through a small square cut from the wooden planks holding the carriage together, his shoulder-length hair wiping across his cheek as he turned his head back to the dawn-lit road. Her question was barely heard over heavy footsteps of his horse but he indulged the lady with a little smile that she couldn't see.

"Well, Lady Li… my name is Huo, of the Song clan."

"Lady is an exaggerated title for the state my clan is in right now," she sighed, closing her eyes. "Call me Feng."

She'd enjoy his company while it lasted, for her husband's would later condemn her for the rest of the years she had left to live or her unborn child's.

Nevertheless… Huo.

Her palm came to rest at her slightly swollen stomach.

...Huo was a nice name.

-and so are beginning and endings, because an ending is just a promise for a new beginning.