Past ordeals are bound to resurface and one must look back and face them; even if the task is unbearable, the potential to fight back is so much greater when loneliness is erased
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Under the Light
Chapter 25:
Laconic Clash
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The house was quiet save for the rocking of the wind outside. The soft breathing of Xiang sleeping was the only real sound that entered Mei's ears. She sat by his bed just like before when they fought off the two police officers. Only this time his injuries were far worse. Xiang had several broken bones and ribs and lost some blood too. When Mei found him collapsed, she almost panicked at the sight but stayed strong to take him back. Once they did get back home, immediate treatment needed to be given to Xiang. It had been almost two weeks since then and Xiang would have to stay in bed for at least another week before he should get out.
Mei tended to him during that entire time, not minding having to be his nurse or anything. She wanted to be there for him and this time she prayed that he wouldn't have to fight again. This time he might not have come back to her. Smoothing her hand through his hair, she smiled lightly. She was glad that at least he did come back. That was all that mattered.
She waited by his side until he day turned to night and the sun fell to make room for the moon. Xiang slowly opened his eyes to see Mei nodding off. Weakly, he reached out to brush her hair which made her snap up immediately. The silent communication of their eyes told her what to do. She smiled lightly, going on the other side of the bed and crawling in. She stayed on his side but didn't touch him, afraid that the mere contact would cause him pain.
He showed her differently, wrapping his arms around her gently and nuzzling into her touch. He wanted to show her that he was being strong and that he greatly appreciated and loved her presence. Mei smiled, caressing his back before falling asleep. He followed soon after, wanting to cherish every second he could have with her.
The snow covered wind blew in spirals across the city. Standing on top of the towering skyscraper was a lone individual. A black scarf concealed his face, revealing only the deep brown eyes that carried no emotion but a flare of purpose lasted in them. As he waited, the storm only continued to fall and a thin layer of frost rested on top of his shoulders and head. After a moment, the door to the roof opened and boots clacked against the ground until they came to a stop behind him.
He turned around slightly, staring at the face until he returned his attention back to the city. "What are you doing up here?" he asked.
Taking another step forward, the person revealed herself in the moonlight next to the other. Her dark skin glowed within the fresh light of the moon as her hair cascaded to her shoulder in a waterfall of softness. She moved slightly closer to the other, her creamy chocolate skin pressing against him in a small hug. Her dark eyes, unlike his, were full of warmth and caring but at the same time they held the strength of cold truth. Not afraid to do what she had to or say what she had to.
"Making sure you keep in line," she answered.
"Instead of watching me you should be tracking him down."
"You and I both know that you already did that. What are you waiting for?"
"I'm waiting for the right moment…"
"The moment is now. You're just putting it off."
"You're one to talk. You slack off a lot too when it comes to work."
"So? I get it done at some point. If you want to do this, you shouldn't waste anymore time."
"I guess you're right."
"Of course!" she exclaimed. "Now let's get going."
"You know this might not end well for us."
"The end is what you make of it," she smiled.
She couldn't see behind the scarf but looking at him in his eyes, she knew he was smiling, even if it was a small one. He got up from his seat and turned around from the edge of the roof and walked toward the door. "Jasmine, let's go." The girl got up as well and began to follow with a spring in her step. He sighed, "Love is as beautiful as it is miserable."
She laughed, "whatever you say, Sheng."
Xiang weakly walked around the house, wanting to get out of bed for once. As he roamed around the house, the sounds of the kitchen being used echoed with the sound of roaring fire and pans. When he went up to the third floor, he found Arthur researching something but Xiang didn't care much for whatever it was. When he returned back downstairs, something he hadn't heard in a long time resounded within his ears. The sound of a piano.
He walked as quietly as his legs would let him until he reached the corner of the hall. Peeking into the music room, he saw Mei sitting at the piano, her hands delicately touching the keys. She played a gentle melody as her hands crossed the piano. It wasn't complex or heart touching but it warmed him to hear it. The simple song brought a smile to her face as she play, relishing the music she was able to produce.
Xiang gently tapped the side of the doorway and she turned around to see him. "Xiang! You should be resting," she frowned.
He walked over to her and let out a sigh of relief when he sat down on the bench. "I felt like getting out. And I'm fine enough to move around. I know to take it easy."
"Xiang…"
"I'm fine, Mei. I'm not hurting myself and I think moving around will get my body used to my weight and motions again faster than laying in a bed, don't you think?"
"Okay… but if I see even the slightest bit of pain from you, you're going back to bed."
"As long as you come with me," he grinned. Mei blushed, turning her attention back to the piano as she murmured something incoherent. "Are you going to play something?"
She nodded. "Remember that piece I said I wanted to bring back from my room?"
"Yeah. Is this it?"
"Nope. I improved it."
Mei smiled lightly and took a deep breath before closing her eyes. Every so slowly; Mei began to press her fingers against the keys, playing and creating a steady melody that filled the room. The tranquil song steadied her nerves and Xiang's, keeping them both at peace while giving them something different. A new aspiring feeling began to shape and form but it was different from the love they already shared. It reassured him, wrapping him in a shroud of the beautiful symphony of notes that she created. The tune wrapped itself around his heart, warming it in a way he never felt before. It separated him from that sorrow and loneliness that still hid itself and slowly it began to disappear within that
The song came to a gradual end and Xiang found himself smiling softly as the final notes were played. "That was lovely."
Lifting her hands from the piano, she wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug. "I'm glad you liked it. I wrote and played it specifically for you." Xiang rested his head on hers, relaxing into her arms. "I've been working on it for so long… it's just when we came back that I knew how I wanted it to be."
"I can't be thankful enough for what you've done."
"You don't have to be. I love you, Xiang. I just wanted to show it more."
"You already do just by being here with my day by day. I love you too. And no matter what, I'm thankful to you—grateful that I have you to love and someone who cares."
"I'll always care about you, Xiang. You'll always have a place in my heart and soul."
Xiang quietly nuzzled into her hair, not wanting or needing to say anything. He wanted to enjoy this moment they created and hold her until he couldn't anymore. But if there was anything he could give to her, he would give her a more normal life. One where they didn't have to worry about people trying to capture or kill them but one where they could live peacefully and together. He didn't know how to give that to her at the moment but he would do it if the chance ever showed itself.
"Do you want to take a walk?" he asked.
"Are you sure you're strong enough?"
"You'll be with me so yes." Xiang struggled from a moment to get himself off the bench and onto his feet but once he did, he moved toward the garden where Mei followed swiftly. She stayed close by his side, ready to catch him if his strength were to fail him.
The two stepped outside as the cold embraced them and nipped at their warm skin. Mei moved closer to Xiang, intertwining her hand with his as they walked, sharing the warmth that they could. But within that small connection, it seemed as though that warmth spread throughout their entire body. They continued to walk forward until they stood in front of a bush of flowers. The sparkling frost of the snow lightly covered the plant. Xiang kneeled down and carefully brushed some of the snow off and the flower instantly snapped up, revealing the beauty of the red peony. He smiled lightly, picking the plant from its stop.
"Why did you do that?" she frowned. "It'll die faster now."
He stood up and placed it in her hair. "It would have wilted in this cold soon enough… I figured that it would want to spend its final moments with a beauty just like itself."
Mei flushed, averting her eyes from him. "How can you be a romantic even in such a situation…?"
"How can I not be? Nights like these are to be remembered. Especially with the one you love."
Mei smiled behind her reddening face and hugged him. "You're right."
A patch of snow fell from the rooftops and the two turned to see what it was. At first they thought their eyes were playing tricks on them. But the moment the moon shined on their home, they knew it wasn't. Two figures were standing on top, one standing straight up with crossed arms and the other kneeled down on one knee. Neither made any motion to move and Mei and Xiang were paralyzed at the sight.
The one to break the silence was the one with crossed arms. "Don't worry, Xiang. We'll make sure you remember this night for the rest of your life."
"Even if it ends tonight," the other added.
Xiang's eyes widened as he stared at the two. The one with crossed arms; his voice struck something deep within his memories unlike anything he felt before. His body shook as the nostalgia washed over him and from the fear of what he remembered. "I-It's not possible."
"You should know that nothing's impossible, Xiang."
Again the mention of his name felt like a deep blow to Xiang. Mei looked back to Xiang and to the strangers nervously. "Xiang? What's wrong? Who are they?"
"Y-you… Y-you died…"
"Who died, Xiang?" Mei demanded. The look in Xiang's eyes was something she never saw before. It was fear. But it was far different from anything she saw. She's seen his fear of losing her but this fear hit deeper than that.
"As you can see, I'm very much alive."
The voice was different than Xiang remembered but the resemblance was far too close to the original. It was possible that it changed as they aged. Xiang didn't know what to think of the situation however. "It can't be you… Whoever you are, you're just messing with me." Xiang had to believe that.
"Looks like you need to be shown proof."
Xiang shook his head and stood up straight and grabbed Mei's hand. "We need to get out of here, now."
Mei didn't need to ask as they ran deeper into the garden, zigzagging through the trees as the sound of a large drop was heard from behind. Xiang stopped at a spot next to a tree and put his hand through the opening in the tree and seemed to press something. Suddenly a loud siren was heard throughout the mansion and Mei flinched from the sound burst. When Xiang pulled his hand back, he had a gun within his grasps. He placed the weapon into his coat and continued to run with Mei.
"X-Xiang, where are we going?"
"We're moving around to the garage. We need to get in a car and leave before they catch us."
"What was that siren?"
"It alerted my staff to take action. The older ones would hide while the younger would prepare to fight if needs be. Also it'll warn Arthur and Yao."
Mei wanted to ask more but she had to keep herself from asking anymore until they were at least safe. As they ran, Mei noticed the fence surrounding the mansion and knew they were getting close to their destination. Soon enough, their target came into sight but before they could even get near it, the two from before leaped from one of the trees and blocked their way. Xiang cursed, coming to a halting stop.
"You're not going to get away from us," said the girl.
The male quickly snapped around, pulling out his sword as a metal wok came crashing down on him. Mei gasped as she realized Yao lunged toward them with his wok held out and trying to knock him out. The wok was still steaming with heat from his cooking. The male pushed Yao off and Arthur came around with two guns pointed out and began to fire at the two. The assailants took evasive action and dodged the shells.
"Hurry and get to safety!" Arthur shouted.
"What are you two doing? You can't fight against them," Xiang exclaimed.
"We're buying you time ~aru" Yao announced. "Hurry and get to safety."
As much as Xiang wanted to disagree and fight with them, he wasn't in a condition to fight or else he'd risk getting hurt even more. Mei tugged at his arm and he nodded. Grudgingly, he ran for the garage. The guy tried to follow but Yao began to attack him once more and he dodged the blow.
"Jasmine, make sure not to lose them. I'll take care of these two soon enough."
She nodded and ran after Xiang and Mei just as they got into the car. Arthur aimed to shoot her down but his gun was shot out of his hand in an instant. He clutched his hand and turned around to see the male holding a pistol toward him. "Don't even think about it… Arthur."
The Brit's eyes widened. "How do you know my name?"
"How could I forget it…" he murmured. The male charged them with his sword at his side and ready to kill if he needed to.
Arthur glanced over to Xiang and Mei and saw them finally pulling out and onto the streets. He returned his focus to the male charging them while at the same time hoping that the two could escape the girl. "Get ready, Yao."
"I know ~aru" he spoke.
Xiang stomped on the gas as the engine roared and took them further and further away from the mansion. He couldn't stop his hands from shaking as he held onto the wheel. He couldn't believe that they found him at his own home. Much less the possibility that it was him.
"Xiang," Mei said calmly. "You need to talk."
"Ask away…" he muttered.
"Do you know those two?"
"I… don't know. Maybe."
"Maybe?" she repeated.
"One of them seems familiar… but that can't be him. He died a long time ago."
"Are you sure? You seem… troubled by his appearance."
"I really don't know, Mei. My head is telling me that it can't be him, but something else is telling me that my head is wrong."
"Okay, let's say that it is him; then what?"
"Then we're in trouble."
"Why? I need to understand, Xiang."
Xiang took a deep breath and stared ahead. "If he's who I'm thinking he is… he's kind of like me. He was one of the hundred that were selected for the Organization's assassin development plan. All of us received intensive training… that is until something happened. The higher ups said the project was costing too much so they came up with an insidious plot."
Xiang lowered his voice now. "They made us slaughter each other until there was only one left…"
Mei covered her mouth, keeping herself from gasping. "I had no idea…"
"He was my friend, Mei… my first friend. He betrayed me and I killed him."
"You had no choice…"
"No," he interrupted. "I did. I could've just accepted my fate and died where he shot me but I didn't. I'm alive because I chose to kill him and live. I'm a monster… I had forgotten about what had happened for years… until the time you were kidnapped. I remembered then."
"You made the decision to live. There's nothing wrong with that… but the fact that you actually feel remorse means that you aren't a monster, Xiang. But if you let that guilt eat away at you, there will be nothing left of you."
He looked at her from the corner of his eyes, taking a deep breath. "You're right… I have to move forward."
"And we can find a better tomorrow," she smiled.
"Even with this sadness that I feel from the guilt?"
"If it's you, you can turn that sadness into gentleness one day."
Mei's words hit a chord within his memory and he felt his head ache from it. "W-where did you hear that from?"
"Huh? It's something Yao-ge used to tell me."
"Have you said that to anyone else?" he asked, his heart starting to beat faster.
"Um… it's not something you'd just say to anyone you know?" she giggled. "But I think I have told someone that a long time ago. I don't really remember but it was… a boy… he seemed so sad. Those words meant a lot to me so I told him. Hopefully they helped him."
Xiang smiled lightly, "more than you know…" he whispered.
"What was that?" she asked.
"Nothing," he answered. Mei wanted to ask again, her curiosity begging her but she saw the look on his face and pushed it aside. She didn't need to know if she could bring a smile like that to his face.
The two drove until they entered the city and that's when Xiang had to slow down but he stilled pushed the speed limit, wanting to make sure their assailants couldn't catch them. Being limited to a speed limit, his wish couldn't be granted. From the rear view mirror, he could see a motorcycle speeding towards them.
The high speed of the motorcycle rider caught the attention of a policeman on watch and his siren rang as he made chase. But the rider had no attention of stopping as she continued to follow Xiang and Mei. Xiang was careful on his sharp turns not to catch the attention of the police onto himself but the rider refused to slow down or leave them alone. The girl made even sharper turns than Xiang ever dared and because of it, she was gaining fast.
By the time they were off the highway, a mob of policemen were chasing after the girl as they tried to stop her. Despite having an entire force with them, the policemen couldn't catch the evasive girl. After a few minutes, the sirens started to roar through the city and the girl took out a gun, wanting to silence them. Turning around for only a moment, she shot at the wheels, hitting her target and blowing out the tires. The cars began to back up behind her as she escaped deeper into the city.
Xiang tried searching for a place to park, knowing that a motorcycle could slip through traffic more easily than he could. He spotted a space and quickly pulled into the lot before rushing out with Mei. Before he left the car completely, he went to his trunk and pulled out a sword along with another gun, giving it to Mei. She breathed in deeply, not wanting to use the weapon but knowing that she'd have to if the time came. The two ran toward one of the buildings, seeking to find refuge within the concrete space.
The two panted as they hid inside the parking complex. "Are we going to have to fight against her?" Mei asked.
"I think so… I'm not sure how we'll win in my condition."
"I'm a fighter too!"
Xiang shushed her, "I know but even then I don't have any information on her."
"And that's stopped you before?"
"No but—"
"No buts," she interjected. "Don't doubt yourself, Xiang."
He looked up and saw the distant illumination of the moon. "You're right… okay, let's plan."
Jasmine came screeching into the parking lot and jumping off her motorcycle. The girl stormed off toward the complex where he saw the two enter but she knew once she entered the building that it would be free reign for ambushes and traps. She had to expect that considering the assassin was injured. She didn't know much about the other girl however. She pouted when the information was withheld from her but she got over it. Surprises were more fun anyway.
Stepping into the concrete building, she began to look around, holding a gun close to her body and paying attention to even the smallest sound that echoed through the empty lot. Sadly, the only thing she could hear were the sound of her own footsteps as she crossed the area. As she continued to walk forward, a sudden crash made her spin around and aim her gun. As she stared at the nothingness, a rock made its way down to her, rolling against the pavement.
Raising an eyebrow, she snapped around just as someone leaped toward her. Jasmine jumped back in response, dodging the initial attack but it was only the first of the assault. Xiang revealed himself from the shadows and lunged at her with his sword forward. She tried to get in enough room to shoot at Xiang put he was far too close and deadly with the sword for her to take the risk.
As she backed up further, she ran into one of the many parked cars and found herself trapped. Xiang dashed off and used a thrust toward her. At the last second, Jasmine shifted her body to the side and the blade impaled the car behind her. As Xiang tried to pull the blade out, the girl elbowed him in the stomach and threw out an uppercut that knocked him back.
Xiang released his hold on the sword and Jasmine took the opportunity to steal the blade. The moment the blade left the car, the car's alarm went off, filling the silence with horrible and annoying honking. Jasmine leaped to slash at the defenseless Xiang and as he tried to dodge, his body cringed at the stress he was putting it through. That moment left him wide open and Jasmine took advantage of the opening and moved to cut him down.
A gun was fired and Jasmine reacted instinctively and jumped out of the way. Turning her head, she saw Mei with the gun pointed toward her and the fire didn't end as the bullets continued to follow. Jasmine ran across the lot as the shells crashed into the windows, increasing the sounds that exploded from the building. Trying to escape the bullets, the girl dived and rolled under the cars to take cover. As she rolled onto the other side of the vehicle, Xiang was in wait, standing on the hood of one of them with his own gun.
Jasmine's eyes widened in shock and Xiang began to pull the trigger. Before he could finish, the gun was quickly shot out of his hand and he jumped off the car and quickly returned to Mei's side. The both of them looked confused by what happened but they saw who shot at them. Standing on top of one of the ledges was the male from before, holding a smoking gun where Xiang was standing.
"I told you to follow, not to fight against them."
Jasmine stood up and ran over to him, taking his side but she didn't look apologetic in the least. "I thought I could handle them. And you came in time. How did you handle the two men?"
"So stubborn…" he murmured. "I knocked them out and came as soon as possible. You're lucky I came in time."
"Okay, I'm sorry…"
"It's fine now…" Jasmine smiled slightly and then quickly returned her focus to the matter at hand. "It seems even when injured that he's formidable."Xiang went over to retrieve his fallen sword, picking it up and raising the gleaming blade. Jasmine moved to fight but an arm moved in front of her, signaling her to stop. "I'll handle this. I want to see how much he's grown… or fallen."
Jasmine reluctantly stood back as he unsheathed his own sword. But truthfully she wanted to see this kind of fight.
The two males disappeared into a burst of speed as their swords met to clash. Immediately it was clear who was stronger as Xiang was pushed back. The Cantonese teen pulled back, panting and clutching his chest. The other continued his assault, swinging his blade and knocking Xiang further back. The assassin had to use all his strength to pull his sword back to his front to even block the attacks as the other knocked him around like it was nothing. The male's face was still covered and Xiang only had his eyes to read. All he saw was disappointment in his eyes.
With a strong swing, Xiang was knocked off balance and a quick kick to his chest knocked him into the air and into the ground. "Even injured you fought well… but your progress isn't what I expected it to be."
Xiang groaned as he tried to get to his feet. "W-who are you?"
"You should know that already."
"You're just an imposter. Show me your face."
"If you want to see my face you're going to have to rip this mask off with your own hands."
Standing up, Xiang tightened his fist and grip on his sword and prepared to fight once more. Xiang took the initiative and charged the other. His movements were completely different from before as his sword arced and slammed into the other and forced him to falter. In the flash of the moonlight, the other saw the darkened eyes of Xiang as he rushed forward and slammed his elbow into his stomach, sending him flying into the wall. He shook his head and regained his senses as he charged and exchanged blows with Xiang.
The two fought at a blinding speed, neither seeming to have any advantage over the other. Xiang did something unexpected as he grabbed onto the other's arm forcing him to mimic the bind. They began to struggle for dominance as they shoved back and forth until Xiang leaned back and slammed his skull into the other. Xiang quickly moved and slashes toward the male's face as he was disoriented but at the last moment, he leaned back and flipped out of range.
He slid across the ground, coming to a stop a few feet away. As he lifted his head, the scarf covering his face fell apart from the slash. Xiang's eyes grew wide as his body grew numb from the shock. "I-It can't be… Sheng…"
"Don't be so surprised, Xiang."
"You should be dead. I saw it myself."
"Things are always more than they appear. It's true you shot me that day and I would have died, but I didn't. You see… when you left, people were sent in to take away the corpses. What they didn't expect was that one was still alive."
"The report from then said everyone was killed except for me. How is it possible?" he questioned.
"It's all very simple. Greed and power. Did you know, Xiang? There's a reason why Arthur has been with you all this time. You see, out of the five that selected the children, only he was kept in the program because he was the one who found you. The rest were banned from the project. They played a game for that position with our lives you know."
Xiang tightened his fist, "You still haven't told me how you lived."
"Well if you want the short answer, I was rushed to be given medical aid. As to how I've lived up till now, those four that were banned from the project started their own and with me as the sole tool. I was kept under strict protocol and training. I was given a few missions in my time but they held even stricter conditions than your own. I was not allowed to be seen by anyone. My presence had to be unknown. As far as anyone else knew, I died that day you shot me."
"Why are you here now? Of all times."
"Like it matters… in one of my darkest moments, hope in the form of a flower showed itself."
Xiang raised an eyebrow in confusion. "So the Organization sent you."
"You are very wrong there. Much like you have, I've left the business. I made sure to destroy the four who raised me and any evidence to that project. But there's one last thing I had to do. I had to see what happened to you. And much like before, I have something that still needs to be done."
"Revenge…?"
He shook his head. "No. I need to see for myself how strong your bonds are. You've gotten stronger Xiang, despite being so injured. But you can't beat me."
Sheng raised his arm and pulled up his sleeves, revealing something wrapped around his wrist. Slowly, he unclipped the band and it fell to the ground with a sharp cling. He repeated the process with his other arm before going down to his ankles and removed more bands. "I've been wearing these the entire time. Weights."
Xiang eyed the fallen bands and quickly raised his blade, ready to defend himself if need be. He knew that he was fighting Sheng at his limit and they were both equally matched but that was with the handicap. The tide of battle would certainly change now.
In a blinding flash, Sheng slammed his sword down on Xiang. The Cantonese teen grinded his teeth together, desperately trying to push back but the force and speed were even greater apart from his. With a final shove, Xiang managed to push him away but he came straight back with just as much force as before. All Xiang could do was try parrying the slashes toward his body as he was driven back.
When his spine ran into the wall behind him, Xiang knew he was trapped. Before Sheng could make a fatal blow, gun shots were fired toward him. Sheng quickly changed his focus and dodged the bullets, stepping away from Xiang. The assassin took the chance and threw out a smoke bomb. He knew that fighting against both of them would be suicide and from the growing sound of sirens outside, the police were getting close. He ran over to Mei, taking her hand and leading her out of the complex. The moment they escaped the cloud of smoke, they ran to the car and drove away just as the police arrived. A wave of guilt hit Xiang as he looked at the shrinking scene as he drove away. But it was for the police force.
Sheng stared blankly to the outside as the smoke finally cleared. Jasmine waltzed over, coughing slightly from the fumes. "They escaped," she noted.
"He's grown… and he found it…"
"I'm glad you learned that," she smiled. "We have to get out."
"The bond still must be tested though. And I don't think we can escape in one piece. Do you hear how many cops are out there?"
"Maybe there's another way we can use…"
"No," he interrupted. "There isn't." He closed his eyes, "if we surrender, we can get out alive but we'll never be free again. And we'll be separated."
"I don't want that to happen…"
"Me neither. But… the only way for one of use to continue to live, the other has to be a sacrifice." Sheng turned to her, pulling her into a tight hug. "You've already done enough for me. I'll do it."
"But… what about that test?"
"I know it's selfish of me to ask but… I need you to do it."
"Sheng… You don't need to. I've done all this by my decision. To follow you, fight beside you… and to love you…"
He held her closer and more tenderly. "That's why I don't want you to do anymore than you already have. I am eternally grateful to you… and because I feel the same way… that I can't let you go."
Jasmine smiled slightly. "I'm glad that I could hear that from you… if that's the case… I'll do what I have to."
He whispered gently into her ear, "I love you… good—"
"I love you too," she interjected. "… And that's why I can't let you go."
Jasmine pulled him into a tender kiss which shocked Sheng. His widened eyes continued to last as she parted shortly, smiling. "J-Jasmine…" The girl gave a strong jab into his stomach and he began to fall to the ground, his eyes closing slowly. "N-No…"
"They only need one…" After Sheng passed out, the girl shifted his body behind some of the cars to hide him.
Reluctantly, she turned away, giving one last apologetic gaze before turning her attention to the police outside. Taking a deep breath, she walked steadily outside and the guards armed themselves, ready to shoot her. Tightening her fist, she knew she had to give enough time for Sheng to wake up which wouldn't be long with his physic but she needed to convince them all that she was the only threat. Which was more than enough.
The cops shouted at her to stop and put her hands up. She began to follow their orders, only to whip out her guns and begin to shoot. The men and women dived out of the way to avoid the shells but the ones that weren't in the line of fire returned the shots. Jasmine ran to the side, dodging the initial assault but she knew it wasn't going to last much longer.
Her time ran out as one of the bullets ripped through her shoulder. The barrage of lead continued to pass through her body, her entire being shaken with each strike. The assault came to a startling stop and her body began to fall back. Jasmine fell with a small smile as she stared into the night sky, her life flashing before her eyes in a wave. Her vision and strength started to fade as it was drained away. Her body crashed into the ground as she continued to stare before closing her eyes. Her final thoughts of the one she loved, hoping that he would find her again with his peace of mind and that smile she adored.
Xiang continued to drive towards the outskirts of the city and even further beyond it. He needed to get as far away from the city as possible for now. There was nowhere safe that he knew of but he had a small hideout that he never used but it was the only place they could go to now. When he arrived to a disclosed part of the forest, he parked the car so it was hidden behind the trees. He quickly got out of the vehicle and Mei followed swiftly and they went into the small cabin.
At first appearances, it wasn't much. The wooden abode looked like a gardening shed, unnoticeable to the naked eye. If they didn't know what they were looking for the cabin would have passed their sights altogether. The moment they entered the small hideout, Mei raised an eyebrow in curiosity. The place was as normal as can be. There was a desk at the corner of the room with a bookcase and to the other side of the room a couch rested. Mei glanced around; trying to find any sign of weapons or technology but it was all plain.
"Are we in the wrong place?" she asked.
Xiang seemed pleased with her response but he quickly changed his attention to the carpet. Mei watched curiously as Xiang rolled it up and revealed a small trapdoor. He motioned for her to follow and she was the first to go down the ladder. After a few seconds in the dark hole, her feet touched the ground and she stepped to the side to make room for Xiang. After he closed the trapdoor and locked it, he followed down and began to rummage for a switch. He found it soon enough and the entire place lit up.
The light revealed a storage of various weapons, supplies and things Mei never saw before. Xiang quickly moved over to one of the spaces, taking out a blade for Mei and heavier assault rifles. He then took out a second sword for himself, adding it to the one he already had. Mei knew that it was to try and level the playing field against Sheng. If he couldn't beat him at speed or strength, he had to use technique and skill.
"Xiang… are you sure about this?"
"We have to be ready to fight, Mei."
"But… he's your old friend right? It must be hard—"
"It won't be, Mei. He… was my friend. But that's changed and now he's out to kill us."
"Don't lie to me, Xiang. This isn't going to be easy for you if he brings up so many memories."
"He betrayed me!" he snapped. "What kind of friend would take your trust and crush it before your very eyes. He's no longer my friend, Mei. He threatened our lives. That's more than enough of a reason for me to take him out before he does it to us."
"Xiang listen to me right now. If you let your rage control your thoughts, you'll be charging blindly at him like a wild beast." She moved closer to him, placing a comforting hand on his. "If you do what you're planning to do, it'll just be repeating the past. You're older now and with more experience than all those years ago, use that experience."
Xiang stared down at her, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. "It's hard to let go of something like that…"
"You don't have to. You just have to control it and learn. If you do something like that again, you can't take it back."
"But Mei… we both know that he's going to try and kill us. I won't fight with anger but conflict can't be avoided."
Mei looked sadly into their hands. "I know… I'm glad that you'll be able to control yourself because I don't want you to lose yourself to anger."
"I'm sorry it has to come to this…" he said, holding her closely. "I just wish we could live together in peace… soon."
"When that day comes, it'll be one of the most joyous moments in my life," she smiled.
He kissed her forehead lightly and pulled back. "Let's hope we can live another day then."
The both of them made sure their new equipment was hooked tightly and easily accessible before climbing the ladder to the surface. Once they were inside the small cabin, Xiang hid the secret compartment and made it look as if they were never there in the first place. Now that their path was wiped clean, the two went outside and the cold of the night quickly kissed their warm skin.
"It took you two long enough." Xiang and Mei quickly turned their attention over toward their car and saw Sheng quietly sitting on top of the hood. "I knew I'd be a bit late… do you know what it's like to carry a lifeless body, Xiang? Probably not. It seems like a dream at first but reality is harsh and it's… expected. Aside from that, I was beginning to think you two would stay in there forever."
Xiang cursed under his breath as he reached for his gun. "How did you find us?"
"You didn't think I would plant a tracker when I arrived at the parking lot back then didn't you?"
The guy was prepared, Xiang would give him that much. "This ends today, Sheng."
"We'll see…"
Sheng leaped off from the car and came charging toward the two. Xiang dashed off and whipped out his twin swords and the enemy's blade came crashing against the other. The contact was short as they brushed past each other and continued to exchange swing for swing. Despite Xiang managing to block Sheng's swift moves, it wasn't enough to follow protect himself from the sheer force of each attack. As Xiang was shoved back, Sheng saw an opening and made a thrust toward his vitals. Before the tip even touched him, another sword came swinging down and Sheng turned to see Mei with a fierce expression as she forced the blade down.
Pulling back, Sheng managed to escape Mei's attack but from his side, Xiang came charging in and aiming to cut him down. Sheng was completely surprised at the duo's tag team strategy and it was working far too well as he was the one being cornered. He changed his tactics and started to focus solely on Mei. He knew that Xiang was formidable and that's why he aimed to take out the weakest link.
Initiating his plan, Sheng began to focus on Mei as he assaulted her with slashes. The girl could barely keep up with the fast pace attacks and Xiang tried to attack Sheng but his moves were thwarted as they were all dodged. He didn't want to be wasting energy deflecting Xiang's attacks so instead he simply dodged the attacks as he continued to bash at Mei. The girl was starting to feel the effects of the attacks as she slowed and her breathing became harder.
Sheng made a quick thrust toward the girl but something unexpected happened. Mei changed the direction of her blade and when they came in contacts, the hilts became locked as both of them tried gaining superiority over the other. In that moment, Xiang came in and hacked at Sheng. Before the steel touched him, Sheng released his blade and dodged the strike but it was all for nothing.
Where Xiang faltered, Mei came back and slashed Sheng across his body. Time seemed to slow down as a wave of crimson covered his vision. Even as he tried to retaliate, Xiang gave the final blow as he ran his blade through him chest. Xiang pulled the sword out of his body and watched as he collapsed to the ground as he coughed up blood.
"It's over…" he murmured. As Xiang stared down to see Sheng's face, he was surprised to see a small smile resting on it. At that moment, he remembered from those years ago, something he thought was just his imagination was revealed again. "Why…?"
Sheng looked weakly over to Xiang, "L-like I said all those years ago… the world is a cruel place. Y-you were still a kid… and in that kind of business… i-if you were to leave with your mind set back then, you wouldn't have survived long. I'm sorry Xiang… I did what I did so you could live on… I knew one day… that you'd fine your purpose. I could see that potential within you…"
"We all have it…" Xiang whispered. "It just depends on who you're connected to… you know that just as well as I do."
Sheng's eyes widened slightly and he closed them, chuckling slightly. "I guess you're right… go Xiang… live… I've been keeping someone waiting for longer than I should have…"
Xiang closed his eyes and went over to Mei. He gave her a quick hug before they started to go back to their car. "Farewell…" he murmured.
Smiling, Sheng's breathing became slower and slower. He believed he could rest easy now. His task complete, and with no regrets, he passed on. Knowing that his friend's journey was coming to an end so that he could begin a more peaceful one.
Disclaimer:I don't own Hetalia or the characters. Just the plot and story
A/n: Hey guys :D Another update has arrived and almost all loose ends of Xiang's life are tied up and resolved. Almost. Mei proves herself to be a capable partner to Xiang in all aspects here :) Okay will I really don't know what else to say besides thank you to my dear readers and reviewers for staying with this story for so long. Truly, thank you. Prepare yourselves for the final chapter on the next update and then maybe a little surprise afterwards if you can handle it ;) Until the next update, see you guys.