The Princess, the Prince, and the Thug

Mexarican Devil666

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Hello fans! This is a Jin/Ling/Hwoarang triangle fic. I hope you like it and if you don't like any of these parings then don't read past this introduction, because this is quite a romance. No flames are allowed! For they will be used to roast Anna and Michelle! Also, I don't know much about Chinese custom, so if someone could help me out on that, I would be most grateful.

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CHAPTER ONE: Living a lie

Ling sat in her bed, looking out at the star scattered sky. She closed her eyes, wishing she were one of them, just in the sky with no responsibilities and no crazy grandfather. Her grandfather Wong was the Emporer of China, he wasn't the most considerate of other's feelings. He made Ling practice calligraphy until her hands ached with pain and she was always made to wear very heavy and uncomfortable make up. Ling rubbed her face with her hand that still shot with pain. Her skin was raw and dry from scrubbing off all the awful make up! The sun would soon be rising soon, and her sham of a life would commence yet again. Ling groaned as she rose from her silk bed, she knew the routine. Get up, get dressed, eat a very small breakfast, go to cooking and calligraphy lessons, then put on her counterfeit visage for dinner. The cold floor made Ling wish she could just go back to sleep, but she knew it was out of the question.

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"Good Morning Princess Ling! I am ready to dress you." Said the spiteful maid Julia. Ling frowned at the obvious fakeness of Julia's voice.

"That wont be necessary, Julia. I can do it my self!" Exclaimed Ling taking the pink kimono. Julia was slightly taken aback by her highnesses bluntness, but she had no choice but to comply.

"As you wish Princess." Julia spat mockingly, frowning as Ling struggled with the garment. It was hard to believe how a girl such as Ling, could be royalty and she but a maid. When Ling finally managed to get on the kimono Julia felt most useless.

"That will be all Julia." Said Ling, concealing her devious smile behind her long sleeve. Julia shot Ling a dirty look before turning heel and heading back to her quarters. Still smiling, Ling brought her self to the dining table and sat waiting for her morning tea. 'A young woman should never have more than tea and rice at the start of the day, that way, a young lady will learn restraint.' Wong had said to her many times. She always detested that rule, in the mornings was when she was most hungry. Soon the cook brought Ling her meal. The cook was Ling's only human friend.

"Good Morning Miharu!" Said Ling reaching for her tea. But the cook held it above Ling's reach.

"A young lady should always wait to be served. You know that Ling- chan!" Said Miharu teasingly.

"You're starting to sound like grandfather!" Responded Ling as her tea was placed in front of her. Ling moaned in disappointment when she didn't smell honey.

"Oh No! You forgot the honey!" Cried Ling. Miharu just shook her head, causing her wine colored bangs to fall onto her face.

"I was ordered to no longer put honey in your tea from Emporer Wong," Miharu then looked around to make sure no one was around. "But don't worry! I put some candy I made in your dresser, so don't worry about the bitterness of the tea." She proceeded to whisper, winking at her buddy.

"Thank you!" Said Ling choking down her unpleasant tasting tea. After her breakfast, Ling headed out to her lessons. Just as she reached the door, someone grabbed her arm from behind. She jumped in surprise.

"Calm Down Ling, it's just me!" Said a masculine voice from behind her.

"Lei, don't scare me like that!" She cried, tearing her arm away from her uncle.

"You know I'm suppose to accompany you when you go into town, you know better." Said Lei rolling his eyes, tying his sword and hilt to his highly armored waist.

"Uncle, no one wants me! So why can't you just leave me be? I can take care of myself." Stated Ling, stomping her foot.

"You are much to naive to understand." Said Lei linking his arm in hers and starting to walk. Ling wasn't expecting this, so she stumbled the first few steps, causing low-pitched chuckles to escape from Lei. Ling pouted for a wile after that until they came to her calligraphy, taught by someone that Ling didn't bother to remember. She sat though the class, wishing she was somewhere else.

/Whats the point of this anyway? I don't want to be here, this stuff isn't going to help me! It's not fair! I should be allowed to shop with Miharu with out Lei looking after me like a bloodthirsty hound! I can't take this much longer! I swear, if I have to do one more drill on the symbols for 'love' and 'wealth' I will go insane!/

"Alright princess Ling, we only have one last drill, or the word 'love'." Said the female teacher in the front of the room. That was it! The straw that broke the cat's back!

"I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!!!" Shouted Ling, shooting up from her desk. Her teacher looked at her in shock, with her mouth wide open.

"Young ladies should not speak out to their elders! They should be seen and not heard!" Hissed the woman. Ling was also tired of this 'young ladies...' crap too! She Jumped over her desk and rushed out the door. She heard Lei and the teacher call for her, but she dared not stop. Her heart was racing along with her feet! She felt people stare at her as she passed them, but she was too busy running away from Lei to care. She pushed though crowds, some of whom gasped at her presents, but should couldn't stop, and she didn't know why. /I just can't do this anymore! I can't play this part any longer! This lie I've been forced to live.........I just........./ Ling then collapsed to her knees in an alley, gasping for breath. She looked through blurring eyes at the stone wall in front of her, her last thought........./I just can't take the lie./

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Ok, so there it was, Ling and some other characters may have been a bit OOC, but this just how its written, I'll try to get them more in character next chapter. But there can't be a next chapter if you don't review!!! So, please, R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!