Dizzy disclaimer applies apples.

*****

"Shh! It's me!" a voice hissed in her ear."Eu-meh?" She stopped struggling as soon as she recognized the voice. Eu-meh's hand lifted from her mouth.

"Eu-meh! What are you doing here?""I came to warn you," the girl stepped back to sit at the edge of the bed, all the while keeping her gaze steadily on Yuen. "Yuen."

"Warn me? Of what?"

Eu-meh smiled, her lips in a thin line. "I've gone to them. Right after your mother fired me."

"Who 'them'?"

"Them." She tossed her long hair over her shoulder casually. "The people your ex-boyfriend's with."

For a moment, Yuen swore her heart stopped. She knew, as well as anyone, what "people" Eu-meh was referring to. "Y-you went to them?" She couldn't stop her voice from trembling. "Why?"

"Because," Eu-meh curled her lips in a sneer. "I've been working for them ever since they left the village. That's how long I've been swindling from your mother. And you never even knew! Some control you had."

Yuen blinked at the sudden aggressiveness in her friend. She had always known Eu-meh to be a passive sort of person, though there were times when she saw jealous rage glinting in the other's eyes. But she paid them no heed as the girl was seemingly in control of her wrath. Until now.

"And don't you start defending your mother." Eu-meh continued, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling. "That hag's too strict for her own good. I wonder why you haven't run away yet." Her light-colored eyes became thoughtful as she turned to Yuen. "Or, is that why you insisted on sticking with your ex-boyfriend so much? A personal rebellion of sorts?"

"So my mother isn't perfect," Yuen clenched her fists tight until they trembled. She wouldn't let anyone speak of her mother that way. It was true though, but to be so contemptuous about it, and from someone who betrayed them – her mother - by stealing her own hard-earned money! "That doesn't make you any more so."

Eu-meh rolled her eyes again. "It was one reason why I liked the idea of stealing from under her upturned nose." She shook her head. "But I'm not here to talk about that. As I said, I came to warn you."

"Of what?"

She gave Yuen a look, as though she expected Yuen to have known the answer or at least figured it out. "Of them! That's what."

"Who-"

"Haven't you figured it out yet?" Eu-meh half-rose from the bed in irritation. "They're going to attack the town in just a few days! A few days!"

"Nani!" Yuen gasped in surprise. "B-but why?"

"Simple. Where do you think they're spending all the money I stole for them?"

"To buy supplies?"

"Supplies for an all-out war."

"A war! W-why?"

Eu-meh shrugged, tossing her hair back over her shoulder as she settled back down on the bed. "Why don't you go and ask them? Or better yet, ask Xia."

"Nani?"

"He's been missing you. For a long time. Ever since he left, in fact."

Yuen tried to suppress the rising hope she felt. "H-he does?"

"Yeah." Eu-meh smiled wistfully. "When he left you behind, I thought I'd have a chance at him. So I could win against you. It's why I volunteered to give them the money they need." Her tone became disappointed. "But he never forgot about you. Never. Except when he's insane, of course."

"I…of course…demo…"

"Go on and see him. Their camp is just a mile or two away from here. Just keep walking straight into the forest. One of their scouts would see you coming and escort you." A smirk appeared on her face. "I'm sure Xia would love it very much, to see you again."

"Xia…" Yuen clutched at the parchment in her dress again. To see him again…after these years…

"I'd better get going." Eu-meh rose from the bed and turned towards the window beside the bed. "But don't forget. In a few days, you'd better be as far away from here as possible."

"Hai." Eu-meh's form dropped from the sill. Yuen stepped towards it and tried to penetrate the darkness outside the window for a glimpse of her. But she found none. Trusting that the other was capable enough to take care of herself, Yuen closed the shutters.

She hardly slept that night. The thought of seeing Xia again haunted her whenever she closed her eyes. And then the thought of the impending attack made her heart beat faster. She wondered countless times that night, trying to think of a reason why Xia and the others would want to attack the town. It seemed absurd, with the fact that they came from the town as well. If they attacked, they would be fighting – and killing – people they've known ever since childhood. Why?

No answer came to her. No amount of tossing and turning gave her one.

Yuen gave one final sigh got out of bed. She padded to her dresser and carefully, quietly, opened the mahogany doors. She pushed back the clothes hanging neatly on the single rack and pulled out the bulky pack she had hidden at the bottom.

The moon cast enough light through the window for her to make out the clothes in the pack: a corset to press tightly around her chest, a man's loose tunic and pants, a brown leather belt, and equally brown shoes. She dressed into these as quietly as she could, reminded of the time years ago when she had to disguise herself as a boy. Only then her mother was there to help her, as it was Wen's idea for Yuen to learn how to run an inn in a boy's school. The town had restricted that kind of education to the boys as they disapproved mixing boys and girls learning together and there weren't enough women to teach the girls about running an inn.

There was a white ribbon in the pile and she used it to tie her hair in a bun. She had met Xia in the school and they had spent as much time as they could watching butterflies together, even if Wen told her not to. But they had both loved each other. And the other townspeople didn't mind. Until that day.

When she was done, Yuen gave herself a final glance in a small mirror to make sure she didn't forget anything. The tunic fell straight to her waist, effectively hiding her curves. Her shoulder length hair no longer had its luster, tied as it was. And her face…

She straightened her back, letting an almost haughty expression fall on her face. And she was no longer Yuen but Zhe Yan, one of the sons of the rich Hua Jiang.

She slipped out of the window as quietly as she could, carefully scaling down the wall until she felt firm ground beneath her. The night was silent all around her, darkness shrouding everything. She could hardly see beyond the little lighting left by the buildings. But it'll have to be enough.

Her soft soled shoes made only light, slapping sounds as she jogged through the streets. She had lived in the town all her life; she had practically memorized the way outside. Even at night she could see glimpses of the landmarks she had chosen. Make a right at Cheng-san's house then pass Peng-san's restaurant.

She could see the tall archway of the town's entrance looming before her, a silent girder blocking out a portion of the night sky. She paused beneath the arch, glancing about this way and that to make sure no one saw her. Nothing moved in the night, the only sound the chirping the crickets made. Her winded lungs gotten used to the chill air; she ran again, past the entrance, past the short empty field cleared just beyond the gate, and into the forest that stood near the town.

The air was chillier under the trees with the day's sunlight blocked by the thick canopy of leaves. It was also much darker. She shivered when a breeze blew against her sweaty clothes. The darkness and silence felt oppressing. She didn't know if she was doing the right thing.

But she clenched her fist and walked deeper into the forest. Eu-meh had said to continue walking until one of them would see her. She wondered if that scout had seen her yet. Or did they actually send a scout as Eu-meh said? What if they had moved places tonight, now that her mother found out about Eu-meh. Would she even be able to meet Xia?

She shook her head and continued walking. This wasn't the time for doubts. Doubting only made her want to go back; to the town, the inn…her mother. And if what Eu-meh said about the impending attack was true…

Stop thinking about it! she scolded herself. There were too many questions, too many theories that haven't been proven. It might only be a misunderstanding, after all. There might not even be an attack. She could almost smile to herself.

But the sudden prickling at the back of her neck made all thoughts of smiling disappear. Youkai.

*****

A/N: Sorry if I seem to be stretching out the story. I do have an end in sight. But when I started writing out the parts, it just kept getting longer and longer… Gwah, I feel like this is turning into a fine mess.