Once Upon a Time
By: Mako-chan
Wow. We're almost at the finish line. Are you excited? I am. Very. After this I can go back to working on the other pieces that need their much deserved updates! Plus, T5 is just how many months away! Have you seen the cg renders of Jin, that guy is HOT!!! One hell of a beef, I should say!
NO. NO. NO. I do not own a time machine! :P
Chapter 8 - He was truly a kind prince
Standing by the enormous window overlooking the gardens, Xiaoyu watched with a sigh as the last of the autumn leaves fell to the earth. A breeze blew briefly, creating a picture of red and yellow. "Winter's coming soon. I wonder how everybody's doing," she quietly remarked. For the past few weeks, she had an insatiable desire to see her brothers and sisters. Every night she would look at their picture, recall the days they have spent from the first to the last. She loved her life in the Mishima mansion, she loved Jin most of all, but she knew in her heart life was never complete without her family. Xiaoyu felt that she had to see her uncle and siblings...but there was no way to do so. Ever since she confessed to him, Jin never let her lift as much as a finger. She was not one to break contracts and no matter what happened, she would never take advantage of his affections. I love Jin. And a deal is still a deal, Xiaoyu thought nobly. But all the while she had been mindlessly scribbling each and every one of her siblings' name on the fogged window.
"Xiaoyu? Xiaoyu, where are you? There's something I'd like--" Jin was distracted by the sight of Xiaoyu. There she was, idly standing, her eyes faraway and deep in thought. He felt a slight tugging at his heart. Guiltily and almost painfully, Jin stared at the names so familiar to him. They were the ones Xiaoyu lived for. They were the reason Xiaoyu readily gave up herself to him. And he selfishly, eagerly took her away from them. With the answer right in front of him, the one he always ignored and denied, he knew he couldn't give her the happiness she wanted. Silently, Jin spun his heel and made a retreat. He too, needed time to think.
After taking a sip of her soup, Xiaoyu mindlessly placed her elbow on the dinner table with her chin resting on it. She knew it was not a gracious action, but she just wasn't aware of it.
Jin just watched as she sauntered off to her own little universe again.
The clank of plate and silverware jolted her back to her senses. It was only then that she realized how rude she was to him. Quickly, she pulled her arm to her lap and uttered a word of apology. "I'm so sorry. That was really disrespectful of me."
"Don't worry. It's just me. Is there something on your mind? Something bothering you?"
"Um, not really," she replied, trying her best to hide hesistation in her voice. She was a bad liar.
Jin thought so too.
"I'm not feeling well lately. I'm sorry."
"Have you been running a temperature?" he asked with genuine concern.
She waved her hands in dismissal. "No, no not at all. This happens quite a lot. I'm sorry, I should have cleared that up for you."
Jin didn't know whether to leave her be or scold her. He knew Xiaoyu was lying but she just wouldn't tell. And how many times have she apologized to him? Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he had no choice to leave her listless at the dining table. "Tell me the whole truth when you've decided to stop filling my head with lies," he told in an even tone then shut the door behind him.
Her head snapped suddenly, as if she were pulled out of catharsis. Jin knew there was something wrong, so he wanted to help. And she was spitting on his face.
