Yes, this is a multi chap night.


Shen groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, feeling cool, clean and dry surface under him, to realize moments later that he was lying in a neatly made bed, his soaked clothing gone from his body and replaced with one of his mothers beautiful, but oversized ones, and his feathers towel dried, seeing as how they were messy and fluffy. In a daze, Shen didn't seem to notice the Soothsayer in the room, kneeling on the floor in front of her bowl. The Soothsayer heard a groan of discomfort, and looked up, she was most definetely not happy.

"Shen", she said firmly, marching next to him on the bed, tearing the sheets down and grasping his right wing. She grabbed the robe sleeve and shoved it downward just enough to reveal the bandage she had placed.

"What is this?", in one swift move, she wrenched the bandage off and let it fall to the floor. Shen, wide awake now, looked at the Soothsayer and tried to look as if he'd never seen the wound before,

"I..I don't know..."

"Don't lie to me, Shen!", she yelled, which was rare for her, always being so kind and all. She squeezed the wing tighter, then loosened her grip.

"Where did you get this burn?", she demanded intimidatingly. The Soothsayer, of course, already knew where it came from, or rather who it came from. But, she wanted to see if Shen would tell her if she hadn't.

"...I...I..", after being silent a moment, Shen broke down in heavy tears, and eventually puddled and seeped into the blankets below him. The Soothsayer had wanted to make a point, originally, but seeing her chick in this stae make her heart turn to jello and she let go of him, instead pulling him to her and gently scratching his head reassuringly as he cried into her shoulder. Why did everything have to be so hard? He had lost his fathers love, if he ever had it in the first place. He had lost his only friend, whom he was sure would never want to speak to him again. And he had lost all of his self-respect. He was pitiful...no wonder his parents didn't love him...

After a few minutes, the Soothsayer shred him off of her and leaned down into her bowl, its liquid contents a foggy white, she pulled out a rag and silently applied it to the burn, to which Shen recoiled instantly, looking at her as if she'd slapped him, and it killed her.

"We have to clean it up, it's infected", she explained

"W-why didn't you clean while I was unconscious?", he asked through upset hiccups

"You still would have felt it, now come here", she said kindly, "It'll only take a minute. Then, we can wrap it back up and you can sleep."

The subject of more sleep sounded very good to Shens current fatigue, and he brought his right wing back over to her, holding his breath and biting down hard as he prepared himself for it. After many sharp cries and whimpers, Shen kicked himself as the Soothsayer gathered her supplies. How could he have left it unattended for so long? He just seemed to make everything worse, didn't he? His burn was wrapped in a crisp, clean bandage, and he had to say, it felt a lot better than before. The Soothsayer had wished him a good night, to which he returned. As soon as the Soothsayer had closed the door, she began walking furiously toward the throne room.


Xin was out onto the throne rooms balcony as he heard the door slam open and saw the Soothsayer make her way to him.

"Ah, Soothsayer, I presume that Shen is-"

"Not another word, my Lord", she hissed

Xins eyebrows raised at her tone,

"Is that really any way to greet your Lord, Soothsayer?"

"That's just it, Xin. You are not my Lord, for I do not live in Gongmen City."

"As long as you are here, I am."

The Soothsayer let her scowl show, before calming,

"I was looking Shen over this evening, checking for any wounds and such...", she began

"Yes, and?"

"I only found one", she looked at him with hate and disgust as Xin blew it off like it was nothing.

"Oh, that."

"Yes, that! Does your boy really mean that little to you, Xin?! You've been absent through his whole life, then you go and brand him at his third? Have you no shame or regret!?" she raged

"That boy needs to learn his place, Soothsayer. And, he has. For if I ever seat him beside me again, he will do as I say and nothing more."

"Where is all of this coming from, Xin? After all of your apologies and promises to make it up to him, you just let it go? How dare you."

"No, how dare you! How dare you interfere with my child, I hired you too look after him, not to get involved with his issues."

"It doesn't matter to me what I'm here for, I'm not obliged to love Shen, but I do anyway."

"And why is that, Soothsayer?"

"Because you never have.", she finished with a victorious tone.

Xin narrowed his eyes at the Soothsayer and sighed

"It doesn't matter what you say, anyway. I will raise my child as I please and I will treat my child as I please."

"Even if it kills him one day?"

Xin was silent a moment in thought

"Yes.", he finally said, "I have a Province to run, and I do not have time to run around in circles with the boy. The only reason he is even alive is because an heir is needed. I did not have a child because I wanted one, and I promise you, Soothsayer, if he was not my only heir, I would have drowned him."

The Soothersayer stood wide eyes and open mouthed at Xin. How could he have really meant all of this? His only child really meant nothing to him? She was about to reply when they both heard a sharp clank from the crack in the door, and the Soothsayer felt her heart rip in two when she saw none other than Shen in the way. His features contored in shock when she saw another figure step into the room. Lady Mei.


Okie Dokie, here it is. R&R makes meh heart happy! Hope you guys liked it:)