Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own and I doubt that will change during the progressing story.
A kept promise
To see her again after so many days that Ling had stopped counting them long ago was liberation for his heart. She seemed to be fine and Ling's heart was dancing and singing in joy. She was back, back in her old life, back in her life of being his most trusted warrior, his most important friend – and his beloved girlfriend. He hugged her tightly as soon as Gluttony flew. "I told you that I would be back for you!" he said and it sounded like he complained. "You can't mess up my orders, Lan-Lan!"
She grinned at him and took off her mask. "I am no princess waiting in her tower for the day her prince comes to get her," she said. "A modern woman doesn't keep waiting this long."
"I am sorry," he said and bent down to kiss the top of her head. "I really am sorry for your suffering."
"I decided to follow you," she replied while she melted in his arms. "You didn't force me to follow you down this path. It was my own decision, Ling. You can't force me to do anything. Everything had been my choice. It started when I became your girlfriend … it got stronger when you left the decision about our first time to me … and it found its optimum when I cut off my arm. My decisions, Ling, my choices … I had the control about everything from the very beginning. And it was good that way."
"Yes, I know," he grinned. "It is one of my most valuable lessons: If you know nothing about something, leave the decision to someone who actually knows something about it."
"Well, with this lesson you will be a great emperor," she said and put her mask back on. "Well, let's track down the fat guy. I owe him still some punches for your bruised rips. I can't let him get away with that."
"Lan-Lan…" Ling held her back. "Promise me again that you will be back if something happens."
She smiled at him and nodded. "Whatever happens, I will come back to your side," she said and saluted before she bowed. "I won't leave you."
She never promised him that she would always stay at his side because she would never be able to keep this promise. But she had promised him that she would always come back for him. Sometimes it needed just one more moment for her to get up and go back to his side. Sometimes it took nearly three months. She hated it. When she wasn't at his side, she felt like blindfolded and easy to manipulate. She wouldn't stay at his side forever, but … she would always come back … because she promised it and the people from Xing always stayed true to their very word.
