Meeting Him
***
By now, it was obvious to Pei what the furry thing was, or is. She could only stared at it wide-eyed. She took in a deep breath, and slowly, very slowly, tiptoed as quietly as possible over to the creature's side, and observe it to see if what she thought of it was right.
Before it would wake.
She slowly closed in on it.
And it suddenly opened its eyes.
Pei stopped dead in her tracks. Her jaw dropped and she froze in fear and terror as she saw the creature get up. She heard it moan in a low and grumbling tone as it rubbed its forehead. She was frightened even more, when it turned to her.
" Oh gosh, it's the abdominable, I mean, amodinable, I mean, abodinable, I mean, the scary snowman thing!!!! I mean, yeti!!!" she exclaimed as it stared at her. She fell to her knees when she saw it loom before her. She did the only thing she could.
" Oh please, don't eat me!!!!" she begged as she clasped her hands together and showed them to the yeti. " Don't eat me!!! I'm a broomstick!!!!" she added. " I can't believe I said that!" she added silently.
" Eat you!?!? I think not!!!!" the yeti sniffed insulted. Pei lowered her hands and stared at the yeti who was glaring at her in displeasure. " Did, you.just???" she muttered weakly. " Speak???" the yeti finished smiling. " Why yes madam. I did perform such an amazing feat. For I am capable of human speech." It said proudly.
" By the way." It said in a friendly tone. " My name is Ye-i. What is yours??" he asked politely. " Uh, Pei." Pei replied, stunned and shocked.
***
Mulan grasped the teacup tightly, in anxiety, and she took a deep breath. With that, she raised the cup to her lips, and drank its contents. She felt the warm and biter tea burn her tongue a bit. She placed it back on the table, on its saucer, and wiped away the tea from her lips. She looked into the cup, and saw the leftover tea at the bottom.
Taking the handle of the cup, she swirled the teacup clockwise a couple of times. And tipped it upside down unto the saucer. She watched the tea pour out. She bit her lower lip, and took a deeper breath than before as she raised the teacup back up to see the tea leaves.
She stared at the tealeaves that had just formed themselves into shapes. " A leaf." she mumbled looking at some leaves shaped like a leaf. She looked at the other two symbols. " A tree, and a wheel.." She then noted that the symbols were pointing away from the handle. The leaf symbols were then near the rim of the cup. Her fortune telling was done.
" How is the fortune dear???" Shang asked as he opened the door and entered the room. He was greeted by the smell of burning incense, and he breathed it in. Turning to his wife, he approached her and sat beside her. Mulan looked at him. " So, what do the leaves say, querent??" he asked resting his hand on her shoulder.
" Shang, it will happen far away, in the near future." She replied softly. " What will Mulan??" Shang asked in concern as he tightened his grip.
" In the near future, in a far away place, new life will begin.changes will happen, changes.for the better." Mulan said, turning back to her cup. " That's good," Shang said smiling at her. " I'm not yet done." She quipped. Shang listened.
" The fortunes will be good, new life, new hope, but.fortunes will change."
***
Ray shifted, uncomfortably in his position. He felt irritated. His back ached, and he felt something heavy on his chest. " Darn it, what is on me?!" he grumbled as he opened his eyes, and saw the familiar hair of a certain ex-pirate bodyguard with one eye, resting and snoring peacefully on his chest. " Oh, you idiot!!!!!!" he exclaimed as he whipped out a big paper fan out of nowhere, and whacked Kun very hard on the head.
" Aiyaahhh!!!" he wailed as he sprang right up, and massage his sore head. " What was that for Ray?!?!?" he asked, shedding some tears from pain. Ray was still huffing in soreness, and he returned the fan back to his bag. " You were on me!!!!! Sleeping like a rock!!" he exclaimed. Kun's eyes widened. " What would I be doing sleeping on you?!?!" Kun returned with equal agitation. " I don't know.." Ray mumbled, tapping his chin in thought.
He snapped his fingers. And he glared dirtily at Kun. " You have taken a liking to men!!!!" he said pointing an accusing finger at Kun. Kun glared daggers at him. " I did not!!!! I am straight!!!!!!!" he growled crossing his arms over his chest. " Uh huh.." Ray muttered still glaring. " alright smarty pants, I'll give you three good reasons why I'm not what you think!" Kun said. " One: I like girls, Two: I am a man, three:...uh...um.." he mumbled thinking quickly of a good answer. " Keep thinking genius." Ray said sarcastically.
Kun clenched his fists, and glared even harder at the smirking Ray. " Shut up, ya dumb blonde." He hissed. Ray gasped when he heard this. " Say that again!!!!!!!" he growled attempting to get up. He couldn't. As he stepped up, he winced in pain. " Oh fish sauce!!! My ankle!!!" he moaned as he sank back to the floor, and rubbed his boot.
Kun soon forgot their argument, and he rushed to Ray. " You okay??" he asked, concerned. Ray nodded. " It's just my dumb ankle." he replied still rubbing.
" Say, are they really like this??" came a deep and rumbling voice. " Oh yeah, but really, their like brothers." Pei replied as she came out of an entrance from within the cave. " Pei!!!" Kun exclaimed as he got up and ran to his friend. But he stopped when he saw the huge Ye-I behind her, grinning. He gasped. Ray gasped.
Ling Kai yawned as he stretched himself. He scratched his head and he turned around to see Ye-I standing near Pei. He screamed. " GAAHHH!!!!! It's the yeti!!!!!" he said, almost fainting.
Ray could only stare at Ye-I, as Kun unsheathed a dagger from his belt and pulled Pei back. " Get behind me!!!" he hissed. Ling Kai nodded, and scampered over to Kun's back, and used his vest to cover his face. " Not you!!!!" he growled hitting Ling Kai's head.
" Guys, guys, calm down, Ye-I is harmless." Pei said confidently as she walked back to the yeti. " Ye-I, who the heaven is Ye-I???" Ray asked, leaning and supporting himself against a rock. " Him." Pei said pointing to a waving yeti. " Pleasure to meet all of you." He said politely as he extended his hand in a shake.
Kun's jaw dropped, and he stared at it. " did you just..??" he inquired weakly. Pei nodded. " He can talk Kun!" she exclaimed grinning. Kun looked at the hand, and extended his own. " H-hi." he stammered not taking his eyes off Ye-I.
Ling Kai's eyes were wide with fascination as Ye-I turned to him. " Hello there lad." Ye-I said in the same manner as he spoke with Kun. " A talkin' monkey!!! Cool!!!!" Ling Kai whispered as he shook Ye-I's hand. Ye-I smiled at him, and turned to Ray. " Hello there." He greeted.
" Hi, whatever." Ray muttered as he winced in pain and slumped to the floor. " Ray!!!" Pei exclaimed running to his side. " You alright??" " Nah, stupid ankle, got sprained, hurts like heck." Ray mumbled. " I can get some herbs to help him." Ye-I piped up. " Really where??" Ling Kai asked, still staring like a kid at him.
Ye-I pointed to the large hole in the ice wall. " On the other side of this cave." He said as he walked over to the hole. " It's a long walk.so, one of you will have to carry the blonde girl." He added. " I am not a girl!" Ray hissed. Ye-I ignored him.
" So, which one of you will carry him??" he muttered looking at the three people. He thought for a while, then smiled when his eyes laid on Kun. " You!!" he said pointing to Kun. " Me!?!?!" he gasped. " HIM?!?!?!" Ray screeched.
***
" Don't worry, we're almost there!!!!" Ye-I called back to Kun and Ray, as they trudged behind. Kun nodded, and he struggled as he carried Ray in his arms. Ye-I turned to Pei, and he asked her: " Pei, how's everyone doing so far??" Pei looked at her companions.
Kun was grumbling as he carried a furious Ray. Ling Kai, being his usual goofy self, was teasing the both of them. " Aiyah!! Young love!!!!" he said swooning. Kun and Ray both threw dirty glares at a laughing Ling Kai. " Put a sock in it plum head!!!" Ray fumed.
" In their case, they're doing pretty fine." she replied with a sigh as she adjusted the strap of her bag.
Ye-I smiled.
Ray had his arms crossed over his chest as he endured Ling Kai's taunting and the fact that a pirate was carrying him. He let out an exasperated sigh, and endured it more. " Sheesh!!!" Kun gasped as he collapsed on the ground and sat on a smooth stone for a while. " Ray, you gotta lose some weight!! It's only been 20 minutes and I'm pooped!!! Wanna join a slimming program???" he asked. " Want some broken bones??" Ray hissed raising his fist.
" Aww!!!! Lovers' quarrel!!!" Ling Kai cooed laughing again. " How much more of this do we have to endure???" Ray moaned as he buried his face in his hands. " How much farther??" Kun called, looking at Ye-I far ahead. " We're near!!!" Ye-I replied. " Just keep going!!!!!" he added.
Kun sighed, and lifted Ray back up.
***
" We are here!!!!!!!" Ye-I sang as he waved his arms around happily.
The others ran catching up to him, and joined his side. All four of them raised their eyebrows as they stared at 'here', and turned to a smiling Ye- I.
" Uh, Ye-I?? You sure you ain't hallucinatin'???" Kun asked. Ye-I replied: " Why would I??
" Well, doi!! There's nothing here!!!" Pei cried as she pointed at an ice wall. " She's right ya know." Ling Kai agreed.
" Well, you'll just have to wait for further results." Ye-I replied, calmly, as he stepped up to the ice wall. All four stared at him, curiously.
Ye-I placed his hand on the ice wall, and he waved his hand around, as if, waving to someone.
" What is he doing??" Pei asked as she leaned over to Ray. He shrugged. " Beats me. Ask him." He whispered.
The group was thrown into shock when the ice slowly began to melt. Inch by inch, as Ye-I continued waving, the ice melted.
Minutes later, when the ice had thoroughly thawed, Ye-I stepped back to reveal to them a magnificent sight, the four gasped.
TBC
***
Notes: To any of you who are curious as to what Mulan was doing here, she was predicting the future. This method of future prediction is known as Tasseography. Back then in China, they thought that the symbols in bells could predict the future. And since upside down cups look like bells, they used the tealeaves to tell the future.
***
***
By now, it was obvious to Pei what the furry thing was, or is. She could only stared at it wide-eyed. She took in a deep breath, and slowly, very slowly, tiptoed as quietly as possible over to the creature's side, and observe it to see if what she thought of it was right.
Before it would wake.
She slowly closed in on it.
And it suddenly opened its eyes.
Pei stopped dead in her tracks. Her jaw dropped and she froze in fear and terror as she saw the creature get up. She heard it moan in a low and grumbling tone as it rubbed its forehead. She was frightened even more, when it turned to her.
" Oh gosh, it's the abdominable, I mean, amodinable, I mean, abodinable, I mean, the scary snowman thing!!!! I mean, yeti!!!" she exclaimed as it stared at her. She fell to her knees when she saw it loom before her. She did the only thing she could.
" Oh please, don't eat me!!!!" she begged as she clasped her hands together and showed them to the yeti. " Don't eat me!!! I'm a broomstick!!!!" she added. " I can't believe I said that!" she added silently.
" Eat you!?!? I think not!!!!" the yeti sniffed insulted. Pei lowered her hands and stared at the yeti who was glaring at her in displeasure. " Did, you.just???" she muttered weakly. " Speak???" the yeti finished smiling. " Why yes madam. I did perform such an amazing feat. For I am capable of human speech." It said proudly.
" By the way." It said in a friendly tone. " My name is Ye-i. What is yours??" he asked politely. " Uh, Pei." Pei replied, stunned and shocked.
***
Mulan grasped the teacup tightly, in anxiety, and she took a deep breath. With that, she raised the cup to her lips, and drank its contents. She felt the warm and biter tea burn her tongue a bit. She placed it back on the table, on its saucer, and wiped away the tea from her lips. She looked into the cup, and saw the leftover tea at the bottom.
Taking the handle of the cup, she swirled the teacup clockwise a couple of times. And tipped it upside down unto the saucer. She watched the tea pour out. She bit her lower lip, and took a deeper breath than before as she raised the teacup back up to see the tea leaves.
She stared at the tealeaves that had just formed themselves into shapes. " A leaf." she mumbled looking at some leaves shaped like a leaf. She looked at the other two symbols. " A tree, and a wheel.." She then noted that the symbols were pointing away from the handle. The leaf symbols were then near the rim of the cup. Her fortune telling was done.
" How is the fortune dear???" Shang asked as he opened the door and entered the room. He was greeted by the smell of burning incense, and he breathed it in. Turning to his wife, he approached her and sat beside her. Mulan looked at him. " So, what do the leaves say, querent??" he asked resting his hand on her shoulder.
" Shang, it will happen far away, in the near future." She replied softly. " What will Mulan??" Shang asked in concern as he tightened his grip.
" In the near future, in a far away place, new life will begin.changes will happen, changes.for the better." Mulan said, turning back to her cup. " That's good," Shang said smiling at her. " I'm not yet done." She quipped. Shang listened.
" The fortunes will be good, new life, new hope, but.fortunes will change."
***
Ray shifted, uncomfortably in his position. He felt irritated. His back ached, and he felt something heavy on his chest. " Darn it, what is on me?!" he grumbled as he opened his eyes, and saw the familiar hair of a certain ex-pirate bodyguard with one eye, resting and snoring peacefully on his chest. " Oh, you idiot!!!!!!" he exclaimed as he whipped out a big paper fan out of nowhere, and whacked Kun very hard on the head.
" Aiyaahhh!!!" he wailed as he sprang right up, and massage his sore head. " What was that for Ray?!?!?" he asked, shedding some tears from pain. Ray was still huffing in soreness, and he returned the fan back to his bag. " You were on me!!!!! Sleeping like a rock!!" he exclaimed. Kun's eyes widened. " What would I be doing sleeping on you?!?!" Kun returned with equal agitation. " I don't know.." Ray mumbled, tapping his chin in thought.
He snapped his fingers. And he glared dirtily at Kun. " You have taken a liking to men!!!!" he said pointing an accusing finger at Kun. Kun glared daggers at him. " I did not!!!! I am straight!!!!!!!" he growled crossing his arms over his chest. " Uh huh.." Ray muttered still glaring. " alright smarty pants, I'll give you three good reasons why I'm not what you think!" Kun said. " One: I like girls, Two: I am a man, three:...uh...um.." he mumbled thinking quickly of a good answer. " Keep thinking genius." Ray said sarcastically.
Kun clenched his fists, and glared even harder at the smirking Ray. " Shut up, ya dumb blonde." He hissed. Ray gasped when he heard this. " Say that again!!!!!!!" he growled attempting to get up. He couldn't. As he stepped up, he winced in pain. " Oh fish sauce!!! My ankle!!!" he moaned as he sank back to the floor, and rubbed his boot.
Kun soon forgot their argument, and he rushed to Ray. " You okay??" he asked, concerned. Ray nodded. " It's just my dumb ankle." he replied still rubbing.
" Say, are they really like this??" came a deep and rumbling voice. " Oh yeah, but really, their like brothers." Pei replied as she came out of an entrance from within the cave. " Pei!!!" Kun exclaimed as he got up and ran to his friend. But he stopped when he saw the huge Ye-I behind her, grinning. He gasped. Ray gasped.
Ling Kai yawned as he stretched himself. He scratched his head and he turned around to see Ye-I standing near Pei. He screamed. " GAAHHH!!!!! It's the yeti!!!!!" he said, almost fainting.
Ray could only stare at Ye-I, as Kun unsheathed a dagger from his belt and pulled Pei back. " Get behind me!!!" he hissed. Ling Kai nodded, and scampered over to Kun's back, and used his vest to cover his face. " Not you!!!!" he growled hitting Ling Kai's head.
" Guys, guys, calm down, Ye-I is harmless." Pei said confidently as she walked back to the yeti. " Ye-I, who the heaven is Ye-I???" Ray asked, leaning and supporting himself against a rock. " Him." Pei said pointing to a waving yeti. " Pleasure to meet all of you." He said politely as he extended his hand in a shake.
Kun's jaw dropped, and he stared at it. " did you just..??" he inquired weakly. Pei nodded. " He can talk Kun!" she exclaimed grinning. Kun looked at the hand, and extended his own. " H-hi." he stammered not taking his eyes off Ye-I.
Ling Kai's eyes were wide with fascination as Ye-I turned to him. " Hello there lad." Ye-I said in the same manner as he spoke with Kun. " A talkin' monkey!!! Cool!!!!" Ling Kai whispered as he shook Ye-I's hand. Ye-I smiled at him, and turned to Ray. " Hello there." He greeted.
" Hi, whatever." Ray muttered as he winced in pain and slumped to the floor. " Ray!!!" Pei exclaimed running to his side. " You alright??" " Nah, stupid ankle, got sprained, hurts like heck." Ray mumbled. " I can get some herbs to help him." Ye-I piped up. " Really where??" Ling Kai asked, still staring like a kid at him.
Ye-I pointed to the large hole in the ice wall. " On the other side of this cave." He said as he walked over to the hole. " It's a long walk.so, one of you will have to carry the blonde girl." He added. " I am not a girl!" Ray hissed. Ye-I ignored him.
" So, which one of you will carry him??" he muttered looking at the three people. He thought for a while, then smiled when his eyes laid on Kun. " You!!" he said pointing to Kun. " Me!?!?!" he gasped. " HIM?!?!?!" Ray screeched.
***
" Don't worry, we're almost there!!!!" Ye-I called back to Kun and Ray, as they trudged behind. Kun nodded, and he struggled as he carried Ray in his arms. Ye-I turned to Pei, and he asked her: " Pei, how's everyone doing so far??" Pei looked at her companions.
Kun was grumbling as he carried a furious Ray. Ling Kai, being his usual goofy self, was teasing the both of them. " Aiyah!! Young love!!!!" he said swooning. Kun and Ray both threw dirty glares at a laughing Ling Kai. " Put a sock in it plum head!!!" Ray fumed.
" In their case, they're doing pretty fine." she replied with a sigh as she adjusted the strap of her bag.
Ye-I smiled.
Ray had his arms crossed over his chest as he endured Ling Kai's taunting and the fact that a pirate was carrying him. He let out an exasperated sigh, and endured it more. " Sheesh!!!" Kun gasped as he collapsed on the ground and sat on a smooth stone for a while. " Ray, you gotta lose some weight!! It's only been 20 minutes and I'm pooped!!! Wanna join a slimming program???" he asked. " Want some broken bones??" Ray hissed raising his fist.
" Aww!!!! Lovers' quarrel!!!" Ling Kai cooed laughing again. " How much more of this do we have to endure???" Ray moaned as he buried his face in his hands. " How much farther??" Kun called, looking at Ye-I far ahead. " We're near!!!" Ye-I replied. " Just keep going!!!!!" he added.
Kun sighed, and lifted Ray back up.
***
" We are here!!!!!!!" Ye-I sang as he waved his arms around happily.
The others ran catching up to him, and joined his side. All four of them raised their eyebrows as they stared at 'here', and turned to a smiling Ye- I.
" Uh, Ye-I?? You sure you ain't hallucinatin'???" Kun asked. Ye-I replied: " Why would I??
" Well, doi!! There's nothing here!!!" Pei cried as she pointed at an ice wall. " She's right ya know." Ling Kai agreed.
" Well, you'll just have to wait for further results." Ye-I replied, calmly, as he stepped up to the ice wall. All four stared at him, curiously.
Ye-I placed his hand on the ice wall, and he waved his hand around, as if, waving to someone.
" What is he doing??" Pei asked as she leaned over to Ray. He shrugged. " Beats me. Ask him." He whispered.
The group was thrown into shock when the ice slowly began to melt. Inch by inch, as Ye-I continued waving, the ice melted.
Minutes later, when the ice had thoroughly thawed, Ye-I stepped back to reveal to them a magnificent sight, the four gasped.
TBC
***
Notes: To any of you who are curious as to what Mulan was doing here, she was predicting the future. This method of future prediction is known as Tasseography. Back then in China, they thought that the symbols in bells could predict the future. And since upside down cups look like bells, they used the tealeaves to tell the future.
***