Mingmei ch.12

By Shadowkeyu

The single candle burned low in the dark, silent hallway. His companions slept their loud snoring seeping down from above into the cells. With a longing sigh he turned back and paced to the only occupied cell in the long room. Upon reaching the solid wood door he peered into the blackness. The girl inside was curled into a ball on top of the hard, straw mattress, her even breathing coming in a steady rhythm. With another deep sigh, he turned away and continued to pace.

Genrou tossed in his bed, his light blanket twisted around his legs holding them uncomfortably still. He mumbled in his customary deep Kansai voice as he spoke the words from his dream.

"Tauski. Help me." He turned around trying to see through the fog binding him in solitude. The voice, distant and unnerving, he knew he must find its owner. It sounded once more, like a faint echo. "Tauski." A fuzzy, darkly outlined shape appeared in the mist, then turned and moved away.

"Miaka?" He followed her shadow trying to catch up to her.

"Tauski, save me." The plea wash faint filled with fear. In his desperation he started moving faster trying to get to her fading figure.

"Miaka!"

He reached for her shoulder and turned her toward him. Miaka, her features young from the time they first met, looked up at him her eyes filled with fear, pleading for him to help. Suddenly she changed and instead he was looking into terrorized jade eyes. They glazed white, still holding desperate fear, and with incredible, bruising strength she latched onto his arms. Her anguished voice rose in volume and pitch. "Save me!"

Genrou awoke with a start, his breathing heavy and his skin shinning from sweat. Adrenaline still pumped in reaction to her terror, which had manifested itself in his mind. Wide-eyed he stared straight ahead seeing only the tormented jade eyes. Why do I dream of her? Suzaku, tell me why. He could not shake off the feeling of guilt. Somehow she was reaching out for help and he could not give any. My responsibility lies with Kouji, not with the criminal. She is nothing; she can mean nothing to me. With a frustrated noise he lay back on the bed squeezing his eyes shut attempting to block out the emotions even as a tear ran from beneath his dark eye lashes.

Mingmei slept fitfully, tossing and turning, her hair tangling and knotting around her head. She whimpered softly and her brows drew together in obvious distress. Then she quieted and a slight hint of a smile appeared.

Only the small sound of her bare feat running on the solid wood beams of the walk around were heard in the silent night as she moved swiftly and directly towards her destination. Tears ran rapidly down her face and small sobs escaped the trembling mouth. Finally she came to a stop and without hesitation slid the door open and continued inside. Within the room large elegant furniture towered over her producing sinister shadows and silks draped from the high bed enveloping him in the darkness. There slept someone in the soft, welcoming layer of feather blankets invisible to her eyes and present in her mind. He awoke suddenly at the extra weight that fell half on him and the bed. At first he was confused by the sobbing mass that had woken him from his deep sleep. Comprehension came swiftly and he pulled the little girl tightly into his embrace, rocking gently and whispering sweet nothing words of kindness. Once she had quieted he lay back with her still in his warm embrace; asking no questions and waiting to hear the familiar nightmare that came to her once the lights were out. "I was so scared, I felt it was real."

"Don't worry, I'll protect you. Now and always." With that promise and a last caress of her hair he closed his eyes and fell once more into a deep sleep.

"Keep them closed, it's just a bit further"

"What is it?" she giggled in delight.

"You'll see. Ok, open your eyes." She did so and stood entranced as she looked with awed eyes on the beautiful creature before her. Kong leaned down resting his hands on her delicate shoulders.

"Do you like him; papa let me have him, the strongest offspring yet to come from his prized mare." She turned around and looked at him with a smile and her wide eyes filled with excitement as he bent and whispered in her ear, "I want you to have him." A large hug was a her silent thanks and he held her to his strong chest a long time before she was distracted once again by the friendly stallion. Turning away suddenly to pet his soft nose, Ming missed the tender look bestowed upon her by Kong.

She sat on a large, smooth rock; face turned to the heavens, watching as the clouds wandered slowly over head towards the west. A shadow crossed her, blocking the rich sun and she turned to see Kong's smiling face … "Well boys, this is something you don't find everyday, image a beautiful girl like that sitting all alone in the middle of bandit territory."… Kong swung his blade making contact with a hairy arm. A scream of rage tore from the victim… A dagger was shoved into his left lung. His mouth opened to scream but nothing came out and he fell to his knees as the blood soaked his back. Forming with his mouth 'I love you' before he fell and the world went black. Ming was screaming, she didn't know she was, but the sound tore through the land. The ground rushed at her and she was helpless to stop her downward plummet. Over and over she screamed, her voice becoming more hysterical. "Shut up girl, shut up." Ripping fabric, the chilled air touching her bare skin. She looked toward the bright sun, praying that it was not happening, and continuing to struggle against their crushing grip on her limbs. A fist came from out of the muddled dark shapes and struck her across the jaw. A gleaming dagger appeared from no where and the cold metal rested upon her neck. "Listen well, you tramp, if you don't stop giving us so much trouble I'm going cut you." The threat was spit in her face. Dizzy and weak from the blow her mind had tuned out all else and she fought on. A searing fire came from her neck and warm liquid ran down from the wound. Stillness claimed her with the shock and in that moment they took from her what they desired, one by one, over and over, their path slicked by the blood that enveloped her body, a blanket of red streaming from her neck onto her chest. "Kong, Kong", she screeched to the heavens. Then the sun was blocked and she was being swallowed in the darkness.

"Kong." Mingmei startled awake with his name on her lips. It seemed impossible to get air into her rasping lung. Her body shook uncontrollably as visions from her dream assaulted her mind. Over and over she watched him fall, watched the life drain out of him; saw those lifeless eyes starring at her as they took her. No. No. Go away. Go away. Leave me alone. She rocked back and forth her hands covering her face as she desperately attempted to banish the images. Mingmei could not. They kept replaying. All the defenses built so long ago where cracking. She was losing control. Mingmei looked up at the cell as if she were just seeing it for the first time. "It's this place!" I can't, I can't think here. It's bringing it all back. I have to get out of here. I have to leave. And with that she leaned back against the wall, willing her mind to action, formulating a desperate plan. She sat there starring at the wall until the sky lightened to rose bringing to life another day. But the light did not reach her; it had not been able to reach her ever since that day.