Author's Note: I had to fight with Word to get this match written. But here it is, late but here it is. I have been sitting on this idea for a couple weeks now. I like how it turned out. I think there will be more encounters between Allison and Ju in the near future. We will have to see. I will have to come up with something for next week. For now, enjoy this match.
Match Eleven: Shopping Trip:
-Beijing, China-
-10:00 a.m.-
The plane touched in Beijing Capital International Airport. Foreigners and businessmen departed to their next destination. Allison blended in with the crowd. She could feel the golden warrior in this country. Her one clue was that he wasn't born yet. The airport had a good number of pregnant women waiting and travelling here. Plus, there would more in the city alone. She had to respect China for relaxing on the one-child policy thing.
Allison went through baggage claim with no problems.
"Reason for visit?" the lady at customs asked.
"Vacation," Allison said.
"How long do you plan to stay?" the other woman asked.
"The weekend," the nightcomer said. "I have access to my bank account." She handed over her passport and paperwork. The lady at customs read over everything before stamping all the places needed.
"Enjoy your stay here," she said.
"Thank you," Allison said. She collected up her things and walked away the counter. As she gathered up her luggage, the nightcomer kept her eyes on every pregnant woman walking by. She could even sense the babies conceived to mothers who didn't know they even existed yet. All Allison had to do was listen.
"What all do we need for dinner today?" Yao asked outside the house. Ju took a minute to think.
"Let's see… Beef, pork, cabbage, carrots, ginger roots, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, and lime," she said. But then, she looked confused. "Lime?"
"That's right," Yao said. His wife tilted her head.
"Why?" she asked. He smiled and put his arm around her shoulders.
"I just wanted to try something different tonight," Yao said.
"With lime?" Ju asked.
"Yes," he said. He saw the puzzled look on her face.
"Come on," Yao insisted. "You might like it. They might like it too." He pointed down to Little Bean. His wife put her hand on her stomach.
"You promise?" she asked.
"Yes," he insisted. Ju gave him a little smile.
"Alright," she said. Yao held her hand.
"Shall we go?" he asked.
"Yes," she said. The soon-to-be parents started out on their shopping trip.
When was the last she was in an outdoor market? It felt nice to be surrounded by people again. Ju thought that she was going to go crazy in that house.
"Thank you," she said. Yao looked over his shoulder.
"For what?" he asked.
"For giving me a chance to get out of the house," Ju said. "I thought I was going to end up rotting away on the couch." Her husband gave her a gentle smile.
"Happy that I could help," he said. Ju felt her cheeks turn bright red.
Allison wandered around the open market. The spices teased her nose. Reminded her of her time in East Asia in the seventies. It was a weird time then. Ah, but no time to get caught up in nostalgia. She had work to do. Allison took out her silver pendant heart necklace and held it out.
She could hear voices of the unborn around her. Allison didn't know exactly what she was looking for. She would know when she found it. Well while she was here, Allison could shop around for ingredients for spells. Chinese medicines could be useful after all.
Yao picked up a head of cabbage and examined. He smiled to his satisfaction.
"Should we get two or three heads?" he asked. Ju looked up with a confused look on her face.
"Hm?" she asked.
"Cabbage," her husband said. "How many heads do want—two or three?"
"Do we really need that many?" she asked.
"Sure," Yao said. "We should buy enough to cook for weeks." He noticed the look on her face. "Something wrong?" Ju looked up, frowning. She sighed before gathering up her thoughts together.
"I don't know what it is," she admitted. "But I keep having the following that someone is watching us." Yao gave her an odd look.
"Well of course," he said. "They have cameras in places like up there." Ju looked up at the CCTV cameras and shook her head.
"No, it's that," she said.
"What do you mean?" her husband asked. Ju rubbed her forehead.
"I don't know how to put this into words," she said. "I just don't know what is going on." Yao put his hand on her shoulder.
"I will go get you something to calm down," he said. "Come with me." Ju didn't know what to say as Yao dragged her along to another little shop on the strip.
Allison walked down the path of the shops. The herbal medicines made her nose burn. She would have to check them out later. Right now, the latest contender was calling to her. Allison held up her pendant. She saw little specks of light coming from the tea shop across the street.
"Hm, this is very interesting," she said to herself. So far, she had been seeing nothing. The specks looked rather cloudy through the pendant. Allison looked and saw Ju standing outside of the shop. She looked to be six months ago and so young. The nightcomer couldn't take her attention off of her for some reason. It was then she noticed Ju staring at her. Heh, might as well act now. Allison walked across the street to her.
"Hello," she greeted her, trying to sound polite. Ju gave her an odd look.
"Hi…" she said. The women didn't speak at first. The mother-to-be took a step back.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"October birth, huh?" Allison asked.
"I hope so," Ju said.
"Six months ago too."
"Yes…"
"Uh-huh." Allison leaned down to Ju's belly. The mother-to-be took another step back.
"Uh… excuse me, what are you doing?" she asked. The nightcomer looked up with a catlike grin.
"I see," she said. "You have a good breed."
"Huh?" Ju asked. Allison stood up, looking into her eyes.
"Your baby is really special," she added.
"Okay… Thank you, I guess…" Ju said. Allison quickly grabbed her by the hands.
"You don't seem to understand," she said. "Your child will be the warrior in the new world. He shall fight against the white warrior. He will bring the new world to the dying world! Your son will be our messiah!" By now, the mother-to-be started freaking out. Ju tried pull away from her grasp.
"Look lady, I don't know who you are!" she shouted. "What the hell are you talking about?! My child is not some savior in your delusion. I don't even know if it's going to be a boy or a girl! Get away from me!" Ju pushed her away as hard as she could. The nightcomer only stood there, smirking.
"I understand. You just don't see the truth yet. But you will in due time," was all she said. Ju was just about to take off running when the door behind her opened. Yao came up with boxes of tea.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"God, yes!" Ju shouted as she ran over to her husband. Yao gave her a confused look.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"No" his wife was quick to say. She pushed him along the way to the opposite direction.
"Whoa! What's going on? Slow down!" Yao shouted. Allison just stood there, smiling.
"We'll be in touch later," she said. The nightcomer waved as the couple hurried away faster. Allison turned and finished up her shopping.
