A/N: HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR ! I think it's fitting that I finish this chapter on this day. Let the Year of the Rooster begin ! As for this chapter. It is now the longest one I've ever written. It took FOREVER to finish (probably because it's longer than some stories I've published). Anyways I hope you enjoy it.
When Saras first opened his eyes he found that he was laying on a somewhat soft layer of blankets. He sat up, and felt pain shock his body entirely. He looked down at his middle, which was heavily bandaged. He looked around. He was in a small dark room, lit by only one candle. Getting up slowly he looked himself over. His fur was untidy, but that was hardly unusual. His jumper was lying in the corner of the room along with his cloack. He picked up both and put them on, before allowing his rice hat to dangle from his neck and cover his back. His feet were bare and the floor under them was cold and comfortless. He found his Talon Claws and put them on, used to the comfortable feeling of cold metal pressing against his fur. He tested and found that he could still move the metal talons by wriggling his toes. Good, everything was in order. He heard footsteps coming from outside, but found that it was too late to take everything off and pretend to go back to sleep. Then the door opened.
He was staring at what looked like pitch blackness with eyes and a brush, then the being brought up another candle and held it up. She wore a pair of black pants, a black shirt, black gloves and a mask that had a slit for her eyes and holes for her ears. Her eyes were light brown and looked into his with something Saras couldn't really place. She was a head taller than him, and Saras was sure that he had seen her once before.
The kit was rolled up in blankets, not crying, not wailing like a child should , instead he was silent. His mouth was shut, as were his eyes, screwed so tightly down that for a moment she thought he was dead. Then his eyes opened and they peered innocently around the room. They were light brown and full of sweetness. It was such a fitting last sight.
Ji Rou blinked at the younger and shorter fox that was staring up at her with young light brown eyes. There was something about the kit that was familiar. She had seen those eyes somewhere before.
Then they both came to the wrong conclusion.
"Hey, I remember you"! Came Saras' voice. "You were in the House of Tamod"!
The answer dawned upon the older fox. "I thought you looked familiar", she said. Before changing the subject. "I presume you want answers."
"Yes. Where, am I"? Was the first question Saras could think of.
"Follow me, the others are waiting".
She turned and Saras scampered off after her. Outside the solitary room the world was as black as before, but it had a distinct path and several other large buildings popping up out of the blackness.
"I presume you know your history quite well. Would the term 'Undercity' be familiar to you"?
"It's not supposed to exist". Came his voice.
She chuckled. "Neither are shapeshifters or Mongolian Death Worms. We live in a crazy world in case you didn't notice."
"I think I noticed when I learned to teleport". He joked, feeling somewhat comfortable despite being around someone he had never really spoken to.
"You remember Hong Ze and Naan, right ? They were also in the tournament."
"I think I'd recognize their faces better than their names", he said scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Who won the tournament in the end ? The three of us left early".
Saras felt a wall of icy cold memories ruin his day. Deciding that he couldn't be bothered to recount the whole tragic finale he opted for another answer. "Han Guan won, Badr Tamod couldn't accept the result and broke his arm doing something stupid, then we all just went our separate ways I guess. Do you mind telling me why I'm here"?
"Well, Hong Ze saved your ungrateful tail and then brought you down here. You therefore owe us. Don't worry, we won't be doing anything evil, we just need you to do something...else. I'll explain more once we're out okay ?"
Saras felt a sinking feeling in his gut. To think he had been happy a few sentences ago.
"What's taking her so long"? Hong Ze complained. "We've been waiting for hours"!
"Actually it's been four minutes, but she's taking her time, I'll give you that". Naan replied calmly.
Hong Ze paced in a circle, he didn't stop talking once while walking. "You know there's something familiar about him. Like I know him, but I don't. Isn't that a bit odd ? I mean how can I know someone I've never met before ?"
"But you have met him before", was Naan's calm reply.
"The tournament doesn't count. I never even fought him."
"Are you sure"?
At that moment Ji Rou strolled in, followed by Saras. "Sorry to keep you guys waiting. The two of us were catching up."
Saras knew Hong Ze from sight, it had been the elk who had saved him back in the alley. He turned to Naan. The figure had a pair of glowing yellow eyes, whereas the rest of his body was hidden under black and white bandages, a bandana and a rice hat. He remembered little of Naan, except that he had fought Lang in the Fourth Task, and had managed to stop the red panda from proceeding to the finals. If Lang had been there when the Thing burst in Han Guan wouldn't have died. Or maybe he would have. Fate is an ass after all.
"Hi guys", the shapeshifter said simply, feeling incredibly awkward.
"Hello, the name's Hong Ze by the way. Triad Operative, Leader of Cell Seventy Seven, devilishly handsome elk who saved your fluffy tail, pleased to meet you." The elk shook Saras by the paw, while Naan looked him over from behind.
"He gave himself all those names." The figure added. "I'm Naan."
"Hello"? Saras stretched out his paw towards him, but the figure ignored it.
Ji Rou pulled a lever and suddenly the whole floor underneath them began soaring upwards at remarkable speeds. He felt the wind push down on his form, as it rushed in the opposite way he was going. His ears were ringing, and he flattened his paws against them, Ji Rou, Naan and Hong Ze were all unaffected by the sudden motion. Suddenly the lift stopped and all four were sent into the air. Saras shapeshifted into a hummingbird and spread his wings, stopping his soar through the air and slowing down, before he started flapping at a normal pace. He hovered back towards the ground, and in a puff of green became a fox again. Naan landed on his left, Hong Ze on his right, and Ji Rou landed right in front of the door, which she opened.
"Now we can discuss the subject of repayment". She said simply.
"The Imperial City, the heart of china and the largest city in the known world. What a stupid place to get lost in", were Aang's first words as he, Juda and Daitui strolled into the metropolitan. It was a wonder how Juda had gotten in, seeing as she was after all meant to be an infamous thief and killer. But really in a city with over a thousand residents, it was easy to get in, and get lost in. Everywhere he looked Aang seemed to see a flicker of his brother, a bright red tail, or a dark green cloack, but every time he looked more closely it had just been a different fox, too old, too fat, too tall, too ugly. Somehow, despite the crowd of people, all Aang could see were foxes. He groaned inwardly when he remembered that his brother was a shapeshifter and could have literally walked past him over a hundred times in another form, and of course Aang wouldn't have noticed.
"So where to"? Came Juda's reply as she slithered next to the Bat Lord at a somewhat steady pace, pulling Aang out of his glum thoughts.
"You will go and find us a place to stay, me and Daitui will check out our first lead."
"And what is that"? Juda asked as she stopped, ready to turn and go obey orders.
"Classified." Was Aang's one word response as he walked on, without even turning back to look at the python.
Saras heard the tinkling of doorbells as he followed Hong Ze and Ji Rou into a clothes store, one that made the market square look small. Naan entered behind him, and the four walked towards a counter. Hong Ze strode up confidently towards it and began speaking in a language Saras vaguely recognized. Then he realized that it was Russian. The dealer was an antelope, clad in luxurious purple overalls, with a fine shirt of gold lace visible underneath it.
"What's he saying"? Saras whispered to Naan.
The figure replied without looking at him. "Your job. The dealer here is part of your payback. Your job is to infiltrate the Forbidden City"-
"Say what"?!
"Only for a short time. The Forbidden City is receiving a Japanese Lord's son by the name of Ishto. You're going to impersonate him, while we rob the real Lord Ishto".
"And why exactly are you trying to rob Lord Ishto"?
"To make up for getting side-tracked."
The dealer suddenly shook his head, and pounded a hoof against the counter.
Ji Rou stepped forwards, and began speaking in a very loud voice. "Oh my gosh ! No ! No, I cant handle this ! I'm going to have an MF"!
"An MF"? The dealer said in a thick russian accent.
"A mommy fit you son of a-"! Saras plunged his paws into his ears, trying to blot out the sound that threatened to rupture his eardrums. Unfortunately for him he failed to hear the rest of the words."My little Ishto is getting married to the Lady Mei Ling, I have just made a three week journey in two and four days, and now scum like you are refusing to do your job for him. No ! I can't believe this !"
"Madam, will you please calm down," the dealer pleaded.
"No ! I will not calm down"! She picked up a scroll and a piece of paper. "I'm going to write to your manager"!
"I don't think"-
"You're right ! I'll take this up with the Emperor"!
"Okay, okay fine. I will tailor for this Japanese scumbag, but it will come at a very heavy price"! The antelope rubbed two hooves together, indicating money.
"Consider it done"! Said Hong Ze, who shook appendages with the dealer.
"I will get to work immediately", the dealer promised. He was about to head out a door, but Naan grabbed him by the wrist.
"Me and my liege shall watch you work, just so that we know there is no trickery in play."
"Very well", the antelope said through gritted teeth.
Naan grabbed Saras by the wrist and pulled him into the back of the shop.
"I will warn you." The antelope said. "I work incredibly fast"!
"That is of no matter", Naan assured. Saras watched the dealer get to work. Then he noticed that Naan was no longer next to him. He noticed the bandaged figure behind a screen, his glowing golden eyes had three black wheels each, all three of whom were spinning around in a circle. The dealer was cutting fabric at incredible speeds, within five minutes the first robe had already been complete. Naan, however, was moving about as quickly as the dealer was, and had a robe ready a second after the antelope. He stuffed a robe into an empty sword sheath, and began getting to work on yet another piece. Saras' eyes darted from one to another. Two minutes later he was shaking his head and blinking. This was all too much to take in.
"There you go. Two robes, one shirt and a pairs of pants, along with a kimono. Now pay up"! The dealer said, with a massive grin on his face.
"No. This is of substandard quality. Come Ishto, we are leaving"! Naan grabbed Saras by the paw and pulled him out. The dealer looked like he was going to explode.
When outside, the pair joined up with Hong Ze and Ji Rou, before all four walked back to the old tower. When they had reached it, Saras decided to relieve his curiosity.
"How did you do that"? His voice conveyed amazement, wonder and admiration.
"Method acting", was Ji Rou's answer as she pulled on a dark blue robe over her black clothes, before pulling off her mask to reveal an extremely pretty face.
"A bit of bilanguability", was Hong Ze's reply as he put on a pair of bright red robes over his dirty brown ones.
"Sharingan. The Mirror Eyes Technique. I used it to copy the dealer's most minute movements, and therefore managed to replicate his work perfectly. As to how I got all the clothes to fit into this sheath, I don't even know how I did that." Was Naan's response as he pulled on a dark green kimono over his black and white bandages, and put the empty sheath on his back, and filling it with a false handle, giving the appearance that he was carrying an actual katana.
"Kid, these are for you". Hong Ze threw a pair of pants and a shirt.
Saras gave the elk the most deadpanned look ever. "They just had to be pink, didn't they"?
There was something that made Xueye's crimson fur tingle whenever he looked at the casket in front of him. It contained their target's blood and could be used to track down the fox. The cask was golden and cylindrical, with glass so that Xueye could see the fox's life blood lying there. The hemomancer's apprentice looked around the room. He had wished he had killed the albino bat, but of course their employer had had to stop him. He looked around the empty room. There was a large circular table, with several chairs of pure carved amethyst, with jade carvings etched onto them. The table itself was golden. Xueye blinked. He found his paw stretching towards the casket.
"You're just a weakling ! I'm only doing this for- Just go cry in a corner ! You useless pup !"
"Cut your wrists ! If you die, well then you were never meant to live anyways."
"That bat of yours is a shame to your craft and everything I taught you !...Keep it, it's just like you. A shame to your craft"!
"Shut up", Xueye said to noone in particular. The Hemomancer would know if he did this, but it was something he had to do. He had never feared the Hemomancer, only hated him.
"Turn your hatred for me into your weapon. Make everything you are into a weapon. Because noone cares about a weapon and noone cares about you"!
Xueye slipped open the cask, and let a single drop of blood fall into his mouse. He had to do this. Every inch of his body was compelling him to continue. The blood was still warm, and tasted bitter, but not unfamiliar.
"Can't catch me"! The kit raced into the back door of the house and slammed it shut behind him, giggling at his cleverness. Then another door open and in walked his father, tall, serious, gaunt, and unloving. A serious figure. His father turned towards him, with a look of disgust on his face.
"Still playing that stupid game"? The older fox sneered.
The kit put his paw in his mouth and began sucking.
Xueye gasped back into reality, his heart beating fast. He heard footsteps approaching, and threw the lid back on the casket, before placing the casket in the center of the table and sitting down. In walked the Hemomancer, who payed him no mind. Xueye put a claw in his mouth and began sucking. His heart was still beating quickly. The blood in that casket...it was familiar.
It was his.
"This is our first lead"? Was Daitui's question when he and Aang first stepped foot in the prayer hall.
The hall itself was beautiful in it's own way, but couldn't be fully appreciated by the common, mundane public. The floor of the main hall was prestene white marble, with the depiction of a single drop of red blood painted on it. Along the walls were tapestries of legends Aang had heard as a child, but had never remembered as being so gory. The pillars were shaped like twisting intestines, and directly opposite the front door stood an altar with a huge ruby which burned with fire. Around the ruby scented candles burnt along with incense. There were goblets of pure gold around the altar and the room as a whole, with a stone knife that looked almost blunt.
"Well, the people living in the Daisui's mansion were members of the Drops, so it would be nice to check out their main temple when looking for them. Now your turn to answer something. What are those goblets filled with and why"?
"The stone knife represents one's difficulty coming in line with faith, the giving of one's blood shows one's willingness to serve the Crimson Lord in full. Essentially it's a clever way to get blood donations."
"Yes very clever, when in doubt use the heaven's as an excuse and you'll never fail", Aang said in a sarcastic drawl.
"I agree there are better excuses." Came an old, choked up voice from behind them.
Daitui and Aang turned. "And you are"? The vulture asked.
"Chang Shuimian", the avian replied, bowing low. "High priest of the Drops and at your service".
"We don't require your service, but you could use some clothes", Aang replied, getting prickly fur all over his back just looking at the waterfowl.
Chang Shuimian was naked. He was a stork, or a crane. Old, with light and dark feathers of a grey colour. His beak was bright yellow as were his old long, legs. The bird's only attire was a crown of metal that added what looked like horn to his head and a staff he was using to limp with. "The young these days, so full of excitement, but so empty of manners."
"It's not only him", Daitui said next, his old black eyes telling him this bird was bad business. "I also think you could do with a towel." He pointed a wing at one of the golden goblets. "You might want to sell one of those and get yourself something more priestly than your microscopic"-
"I will not tolerate this"! Chang cut off the vulture, his face going purple.
"Dick. Microscopic dick." Aang finished.
"We'll show ourselves out", Daitui finished, bowing his head down to the elderly stork.
The pair stepped out of the temple, not noticing the people making a clear pathway right through the center of the street. Well, Aang didn't notice anyways.
"That creep ! Look at him, waltzing around everywhere butterball naked asking to get respect. Who does he think he is"?
"Aang, we have more pressing issues than Chang Shuimian."
On a palanquin being carried around in front of Aang's eyes sat Saras. The pink clothes could not hide the face and fur he knew so well. The kit was forcing himself to smile and wave at the crowd. Aang's face dropped. "Kanbu ?"
"I think we found our fox", Daitui added, somewhat unhelpfully.
But Aang wasn't listening to him. "Kanbu ! Kanbu !" The bat would have flapped into the air and gone right up to his little brother and hug him so hard he couldn't breathe, but the lack of space forced him to stay grounded. "Kanbu"! He pushed aside several people, who gave him dirty looks and muttered mutinously. "Kanbu"!
He had lost sight of the palanquin. He barged people left and right, and carved his passage through the crowd. But by the time he reached the main road the crowd had already broken up, and Aang was left standing there, Saras' palanquin already far out of sight. He had been so close. So close. Daitui joined him. "Should we follow him"?
"No. We head back to Juda." But Aang couldn't care about what he said. He was too busy in his own thoughts. He looked so happy...
Saras realized that he was in way over his head when the gates of the Forbidden City closed behind him. But at that point all he could do was be dragged around by the triads, hoping they knew what they were doing.
They were greeted by a small brown bunny in a purple robe with silver lacing and a massive grin on his face that made his whiskers (which were about as long as him) who's two front teeth stood out of his mouth. "Konichiwa"!
The bunny then began speaking in very quick, perfectly pronounced Japanese, none of which Saras even understood. However, Hong Ze was kind enough to fill him in. "You're going to have dinner with your bride and Lord La's son"-
"Bride ?! Who said anything about having a bride"!?
"You're pretending to be Lord Ishto, who is in this country for his marriage." Hong Ze replied.
"And you tell me this now"? Yes, he was in way over his head.
"Well, you're not really going to get married. You just need to stick around so that me and my colleagues can rob the real Ishto. All you have to do is kiss the girl, then swap back with Ishto and you've got no wife on your door, and our lord will be broke and married. It's a win win situation really"!
Saras blinked, but could argue no further as the excitable bunny threw open the door to a lavishly decorated room. "For the groom", he said in Chinese. Saras bowed and walked into the room, before closing the door behind him.
"Right. Now time to ditch the baggage." He opened the windows and hoped it would be easy enough to jump off onto solid ground but found a plunge. He gulped audibly. Shapeshifting was still an option, but there were guards lining the walls and it would be somewhat difficult to explain the presence of either a crane, hummingbird or a dragon. Then he blinked when he noticed the view of the Forbidden City. Then his jaw dropped.
It was like heaven on earth. He was in the Lower Palace, reserved for lesser lords and noble houses. It in itself was a magnificent building, with bright red pillars lined with round golden little cusps. The roof was bright red, with a large tower standing at either side of the palace. The tower was about as tall as the Tower of Sacred Flames in Gongmen City, and was of the same make. The Palace was half the height, but thicker. The roof itself was tilted so that at the very top a line of flat clay tiles lined it, with a signature oriental curve at the end of it. The Greater Palace was the same image, but to a slightly larger scale. It was beautiful. Around both palaces were little bits of garden, paved with nice, neat cobblestones, each one the exact same size and shape. There were little roundabouts with fountains in the center of them, clear water spouting out of the mouth of legends. He saw the Yellow Emperor, fat, cheerful, with water gushing from his mouth and curling mustachios. The Jinjiang River Goddesses seemed to be the water itself, as they leapt around the plaza.
He sighed, somewhat contended. This view was worth all the trouble of marriage.
Shan Qu entered the Imperial City. He stopped to lean against a hot wall and panted. His brow was streaked with sweat. He pulled himself up, clutching the letter tightly to his wings. Aang had neglected to read it, and had merely gone to the Imperial City. Of course Shan Qu had happened upon the letter, which in hindsight the Bat Lord really should have read. Shan Qu got up, and stumbled from the sudden feeling of weight on his legs. He had made a week's journey in three days, and the poor bat was well and truly exhausted. But of course he was too stubborn to give up. He took a step forwards and tripped, falling flat on his face, the letter he had guarded so carefully began rolling away from his grip, and unfolded itself at the feet of a small light grey rat, with a bright pink tail and a red sleeveless vest with matching pants.
"Huh. I swear I posted this a few days ago"! The rat said, cocking his head to the side before realization hit him.
Shan Qu got to his feet, stumbled and stood up. "What do you mean, you sent it"?
"Well the kit wrote it, I posted it. I'm guessing you're with the Bat Cave." Jixioa stooped and picked up the letter, folding it back into shape.
"Yeah, I'm looking for the kit." Was Shan Qu's reply as he snatched back the letter.
"He was with me, then I went and lost him. So we better get started." Jixiao said, turning on his heels and walking off.
"What do you mean, you lost him"!? Shan Qu asked at his heels.
"I could ask you the same question. Isn't your organization meant to be responsible for him"?
Shan Qu had no answer to that and decided to change the subject.
"How do you know about the Bat Cave"?
Saras wasn't as surprised to see Jiao'ao as Jiao'ao was to see him. The peacock's eyes practically popped out of his sockets, and his beak dropped so low it almost hit the floor. Well Saras remembered it like that anyways. He was told he was going to have lunch with his bride and Lord La's son. Jiao'ao of course had failed to mention his father's name. Typical. The Lady Mei Ling was less surprised and more angry to see him.
"Hi", Saras said nervously, trying and failing at a Japanese accent.
"You"! Jiao'ao gasped.
"Me"? Saras squeaked.
"Ishto"! Mei Ling growled.
Before the shapeshifter could even comprehend what was going on he received a bitch slap. Very funny fate, but a female fox is called a vixen, not a bitch. "What was that for"? Jiao'ao had every right to slap him. But he had done absolutely nothing to the Lady Mei Ling. Well... Saras hadn't.
"For being an obnoxious son of a bitch"! She aimed another slap, but this time he ducked.
"You're a Lady, you're not meant to swea-" This time she did hit him, right on the muzzle. Saras had been punched by many a stronger foe than the Lady Mei Ling. But it still kind of stung and made his nose feel numb.
"I will do what I want"! She snapped, before returning to her seat and sitting down.
Saras blinked, unsure of what to do, and staring at the larger vixen with mixed fear and confusion.
"Well sit down"! She snapped fanning herself elegantly, and Saras obeyed almost immediately. His instincts told him quite clearly that male dominance had been thrown out the window and that this was her territory. She was a few inches taller than him, and wider as well. Her back stood stock still, while he sat somewhat hunched.
Jiao'ao looked from one to the other with mixed disbelief. "Ishto, may I have a word"?
"Why not"? Between the vixen and Jiao'ao, Saras was more scared of the vixen.
They both got up and strolled out the room just as the brown bunny strolled in, holding three plates of soup all of which were much larger than him.
"Lady Mei Ling, why so glumly today"?
"Wei Wei, I'm not in the mood right now"!
The rabbit nodded, gulped, put the food down and walked quickly out the room. This was none of his business.
"What are you doing here"!? Jiao'ao hissed in a low whisper. They had now reached the gardens Saras had been admiring before.
"Getting abused by some man-woman with a belly the size of me ! I'm having the time of my life right here"! The shapeshifter hissed back in a whisper dripping with sarcasm. Saras noted how Jiao'ao winced when the fox insulted the vixen.
"Explain what you're doing pretending you're Ishto".
"Well, fate hates me, and will always put me in some kind of life-threatening situation."
"When the real Ishto gets here you're going to be in a lot of trouble. Mei Ling's dad will have your tail for a paint brush."
"Well so long as all he gets is my tail. What did Ishto even do to her"?
"He's rude, really rude. And he'll want more than your tail when you marry his daughter. Foxes mate for life you know ! He wouldn't want some commoner marrying his one and only daughter."
"Well I don't plan on 'mating' her or 'marrying' her. I just want to go home"!
Jiao'ao breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, good. As long as you get out of here before the real Ishto shows up, I won't ask."
Saras had noticed something. "Why does who she marries bother you so much"?
"Because she's my f-friend. Like my c-close friend. My b-best friend actually. She deserves something g-good".
"You like her don't you"? Saras said, with a great big teasing smile on his muzzle.
Jiao'ao stopped walking. "Why would you think that"?
"Well you winced when I called her a 'man-woman',which shows that you care about her. You stuttered whenever you called her your friend, which shows you think of her as more than that."
Jiao'ao turned to him. "Why are you here again"?
"Okay fine, I got a lucky guess." Saras admitted. Jiao'ao kicked him, and sent him flying into a fountain.
The fox landed on his tail, and was promptly drenched by the water gushing out of the Yellow Emperor's mouth. Saras pulled himself out, and found himself face to face with Jiao'ao. "Shifty. If you tell anyone"-
"I won't", Saras promised.
"Good". Jiao'ao picked Saras up by shoulders and put the fox down onto dry ground. Even though their was only a head difference in their height, Jiao'ao bent his knees so that he and Saras were staring each other right in the eye. "Now answer the question. Why. Are. You. Here ?"
Saras sighed. Jiao'ao was too persistent to lie to. "Basically I did something wrong and then my brother got angry at me. Then I realized he was lying about some really touchy matters. So we had a big fight, and then I ran away. Then something made me go even further. And I ended up bumping into you. And then I hitched along with you. I ended up here. Sent my brother a letter. I was waiting to be picked up, then someone came and nearly killed me, I was bleeding out when someone found me. Now I'm pretending to be Ishto to repay them for saving my life, so that I can go home. Happy ?"
Jiao'ao blinked. "I guess."
The two began walking back to the dining hall. "Please don't tell anyone."
"I won't." Then Jiao'ao began speaking. "I understand the importance of family Shifty. I wish I still had my brothers, but some things aren't meant to be".
"What do you mean"?
"When I was younger my older brothers took me on a tour of the province they were going to end up ruling. My oldest brother was killed on the spot to show my dad that this was serious. Then they starved my other brother to death. My dad butchered them in turn, but I was the only one left by that time. The only chick left. The runt of the litter, as your species would say."
Saras blinked. "I'm sorry Jiao'ao."
Jiao'ao nodded. "It's the past. I've moved on."
"It still stings, doesn't it"?
"Yup".
The awkward silence that followed only ended when they walked back into the dining hall. Mei Ling's eyes widened at Saras' dripping wet fur, and at the happy look on Jiao'ao's face. Lunch was a quiet affair. When Saras was done he bowed low before both of them and walked away to get dry. Mei Ling didn't even bother asking what had happened. Then she turned to Jiao'ao. "So, what exactly did you two talk about"?
"Er, stuff."
"Tell me"!
Xiao Xue lay on a cold, hard floor. He could hear the incessant drip of water. Drip, drip. His eyes were drooping, but the water kept him awake. Drip, drip. It wasn't the worst torture he had ever been through. But it was a cruel reminder. And they're both because of one stupid fox.
The flames licked the tip of his chest, not enough to ignite his wet chest fur, but enough to cause excruciating pain. That had been the start. The knives had kissed him in so many ways and in so many places, that he had lost count of all the scars he had received that day.
He was in deep thought. He could throw away his life for the sake of his organization...but was it worth it. He was one of the Bat Cave's best. He had experience, skill, cunning. But he had never been the best. No matter how good he became there was always someone throwing him into their shadow. When in his prime of youth Daitui had always been there, the Vulture of Shadows threw him behind him. Then Daitui began looking after the children, like Ban the Butcher before him, and for a brief moment Xiao Xue had been the Bat Cave's pride and joy. Then Saras had come along. No matter how good he got, the fox had the advantage of being a shapeshifter. How could anyone compete with that ? It was unfair. The fox's first mission had further dented Xiao Xue's pride and influence. He had been caught and subjected to the lesser known methods of torture. Everything he had done for the Bat Cave, and some kit was outshining him. Come to think of it...what had the Bat Cave ever done for him ?
He smiled despite himself. Well, his mental debate had been settled. Now the main question was...to what extent did he betray the Bat Cave ?
Jixiao watched as Shan Qu lay sleeping under the pile of blankets the rat had generously given him. Jixiao had been explaining how he had discovered the kit's sudden disappearance, when Shan Qu had went and dropped onto the couch, exhausted.
Jixiao sighed. If this was the future of the Bat Cave than it had a lot to worry about. This was the second operative that had come into the home of a stranger, unarmed, based purely on the fact that he was supposed to know about their organization. The rat watched as the sun fell below the horizon, and sighed again. The world was a beautiful place. But he felt nothing beautiful about the world he lived in.
It was really hard to quit when you were in. Half the Underworld knew him by sight, the other half by reputation. And sure he had been young and stupid once, but he had wised up. Both Shan Qu and Saras had a lot of wising up to do. And if they hoped to live a long happy-ish life like him, then they had better start doing it fast.
Aang stared into the candle as the flames flickered brightly. So many colours, so many surprises. The Bat Lord sighed. He had begged the guards at the Forbidden City to let him in. He had gone on his knees and folded his wings together. Tears had come streaming down his cheeks and Daitui had had to drag him away. He sneezed loudly into a tissue. Everything they had been through together. And still...his brother had ignored him. Their was a slight possibility that Saras hadn't heard him. But that was ridiculous. Foxes had decent enough hearing, and not many people were shouting at the time. But the ultimate sting was the fact that the kit had looked so happy. How could he have been happy, away from home, lost in the Imperial City. Aang was beginning to wish that he had opened Saras' letter. But he couldn't force himself to do it. It was just too...it had too many emotions connected to it. His brother had been angry, but had still bothered to write a letter, and mail it all the way from the Imperial City.
He doesn't need me anymore. Their entire bond had been built upon revenge, but their was a bond. Aang had always loved Saras, like any older brother should. He had looked out for him, done his best to keep him safe and out of danger. He had done his best to help him with any problems he had. They had played as children, under Daitui's tutelage they had sparred and Aang would always make up stories for them to both enjoy. They had eaten together, laughed together, mourned together. They had been together every step of the way. But Aang had loved him too much to tell him the truth. Saras was a runt. Unwanted by his family he had been cast aside to the Jit Kun. Of course he had wanted to tell him, but he couldn't imagine the pained look on Saras' face when he found out that his whole life so far had been a lie. He was not avenging his family, his family never loved him. He was avenging people who took him from his family, and gave him love. But Aang could not bring himself to tell Saras that his family had not wanted him. That the mother who gave birth to him...
He couldn't say it.
But of course all secrets had short legs. And of course, Saras had found out about everything. The Jit Kun took him from his family. He wasn't avenging his family. He had been deceived by the bat he called brother. He had found out everything. Except the one harsh fact he couldn't face. His real family never loved him.
Aang sneezed into the tissue again. Juda would think him weak. Daitui would say that he had to hide his emotions. But Aang didn't care anymore.
He cried like a little boy, one that had lost his brother, forever. Because of course, that was exactly what he felt like.
Footnote: And we're done. Never again. No, no, no. Not another goliath like this in a LOOOOOOOOONG time I assure you. It's too much pressure. XD
Anyways the plot moves forwards, and Saras has gone and stuck himself in way too deep, again.
Don't you just love it when that happens.
Okay, a lot to talk about here. I'm not entirely sure how accurate my description of the Forbidden City is. I based it off of this image, and basically Kung Fu Pandified it. In the end however I'm quite glad of how it and the Drops temple have been described. The Forbidden City won't really play a major role here in this story, but it will later on in the Stories of Saras, so I figured it would be nice to introduce it here.
Sharingan is basically stolen from Naruto. I just realized that Naan is more powerful here than how he was represented in House of Tamod, so we'll just say he wasn't using his full potential, shall we ? One thing that's bugging me a bit is that my characters tend to have these tiny personality changes with every story, that's something I'm trying to fix and improve upon.
Anyways, like I said before Happy New Year (the Chinese one, btw) and Update soon.