Love Through Time
By HalKJAkiko
Genre: Yaoi, AU (first three chapters), drama, romance, sap
Pairing: going to be major RuHanaRu
Status: on-going 2/9
A/N: This chapter is about how Feng and Xue Ke met with flashbacks... sorry for not having any Slamdunk characters yet... but you can figure out who is who, ne? I mean, it's like duh! It's so obvious, I practically gave it away since the first chapter!
/.../ thoughts
Chapter II: Just Like We're Destined to Meet (I)
------------------Flashback---------------------
"Princess Xue Ke..." two worried maids ran up to an elegant young girl on the street.
"What did you say?" the young girl questioned in a dangerous tone as her piercing blue eyes narrowed.
"Erm... I meant Missy..." the two maids gulped and quickly changed their addressing.
"That's right! Now if you forget again, you know the punishment," the Princess, now dubbed as Missy, gave them a mischievous grin. "Okay, now we have to find a tavern to stay for the night."
"For the n..night? But what if the King... I mean, what if Master found out?" the maids squeaked timidly.
"Do you know how long it took me to get out here after being cooped up for 16 years? Three whole months of planning! And now you are asking me to go back after only a day? If I go back, I might never get out again without another fight with Father. Now, shut up and tag along. If you are afraid of punishment, go back on your own. I'm not going yet." With that, Xue Ke tossed her long raven straight hair over her shoulder and entered the tavern. The maids could only follow with quickened strides.
Once inside, the three girls sat down and Xue Ke ordered some food and wine.
"Wi...wine? But..." one of the maids started.
"ZiYan, XiangYu, you two are very noisy. Just shut up and enjoy whatever we cannot back at home." Xue Ke's death glare was more efficient than her words.
As the girls waited for their orders to be served, they looked around the tavern as if it was some fascinating place for all the hustle and bustle of the events were new to them.
"Hey, pretty babes! Nice figure and face, huh?" a muscular man with disgusting yellow teeth grinned at them, behind him, another two just as ugly and sickening men stood. The man who spoke, obviously the leader, reached out a rough hand and tried to touch Xue Ke's face.
"Filthy commoner! Don't touch me," she drew away as her two maids tried to get away from the other two guys' wondering hands. Their reactions and answer seemed to tickle these ruthless guys as they burst out laughing.
"Now, now... we have a tough girl here, haven't we?" the leader asked in a mocking tone. "Come on, chicks. Don't be shy. Play with us for one night and I bet you'll ask for more. Haha..." he and his two followers advanced on the three girls and each grabbed one of their arms.
"Hey! Let go of me, you filthy scumbag!" Xue Ke shouted as she stood up, trying to shake those vice-like grips off her arm.
They were still struggling, and the men were laughing in a treacherous tone, when a sheathed sword appeared from behind the men to strike them on their wrists in lightning speed and force.
"Let go," a calm and cool voice came from the person holding the sword.
"Huh?" the men whirled around to face the young, tall, well-built boy who had the strangest hair – a crimson tresses of flame. He looked quite young, might be the same age as Xue Ke, with boyish features. As he eyed the men, his wide chocolate brown eyes flashed.
"I said let go."
"Who are you, little puny boy? Don't mess with me. Do you know whose territory you are on? Mine! So if you don't want to end up being the food of my dogs, scram!" the leader threatened.
"Who you are is not my business. All I want is for you to let go of the ladies," the boy said without the slightest change of his stoic expression. "Before I'm forced to make you."
"Ha! Bu zhi si huo de jia huo ('one who does not know death' in a negative way). I'll see what you can do," the leader motioned to his followers for them to beat the red-haired boy. They let go off the two maids' arms and lunged forward to the boy.
The boy, in his long black coat, did not move a single muscle. But just before the two tugs reach him, they suddenly howled and was leaping away, clenching their right hands. Everyone in the tavern was watching the scene now. Each of the two tugs had a chopstick sticking out of their palms and their hands were bleeding profusely. Xue Ke's eyes widen with surprise as the boy had not moved at all, or rather he did not make any move that was visible to their eyes. And yet, he had indeed hurt the tugs. She was deeply impressed with the boy's skills for she had never seen anyone with such quick speed, except for her favourite cousin, Yun-biao-ge.
/Hm... this boy is really good at martial arts, I wonder who would be better? Yun-biao-ge or him? And what is his name? He is indeed an interesting character, especially his attitude and of course his hair. Hm... I think I'll call him Red./ Xue Ke thought as she watched the boy easily defeated the muscular leader.
"Missy... Missy, are you alright?" ZiYan waved one hand in front of Xue Ke's face as her mistress seemed to have zoned out.
"Huh? Of course I'm alright. How can I not be? I am not as weak as you think I am," Missy rolled her eyes and waved a hand to dismiss her maids. She turned around and saw Red exiting the tavern.
"Hey, wait! Wait for me, Red," she called out and the boy stopped in his track.
He turned around and saw the girl he had helped just now. She had long silky raven hair, pale features and fox-liked blue eyes. And all of her could be summarized into two words: beauty and grace. Raising an eyebrow, he titled his head to one side and gave the girl a blank look before saying, "Red?"
"Erm... heehee... sorry, I don't know your name so I decided to call you Red according your hair colour. Sorry, please don't be offended," Xue Ke gave a shrug and grinned sheepishly. "By the way, thank you so much for helping us. And I am so honoured to meet such a great swordsman like you! I think you'll probably be able to be on par with Yun-biao-ge! So, what's you name?"
"You're welcome. I am just doing what I should do," the boy answered, still without any expression, and continued his walk away.
"Hey! You have not tell me your name! By the way, I'm Xue Ke!"
He stopped and paused for a while, as if thinking of something, "My name is Feng."
"Ohh... Feng. What a wonderful name to suit you, you indeed move like the wind, with speed and gentleness. I mean, that's what I concluded from the skills you displayed just now. So pleased to meet you."
----------------- End of Flashback------------
Xue Ke turned around in Feng's embrace, staring into those warm chocolate brown eyes.
"That was how we meet, isn't it?" she whispered, almost inaudibly.
"Yes, that's how. And I guess it was love at first sight although I tried to deny it at first. But you kept on pestering me and blabbering beside me, and before I knew it, I have fallen too deep to withdraw from my love for you."
"Do you regret knowing me? I mean if we have not meet, then perhaps you don't have to go through all these and still be your swordsman roaming the world."
"I'll regret if I have not known you. You have brought life back to me, you brought me light when I was sunken in the darkest pool. Meeting you is the most beautiful accident that happened to me and I'll never regret it, ever."
"Feng..." Xue Ke was deeply touched by her lover's word. This was probably the rare few moments when he actually spoke of his feelings for her in such a way. And she loved it. She loved everything about the boy, even his cold exterior which was a total opposite of his hair, but she loved his heart most of all for he was the kindest and sweetest person (in his own special way) she had ever known. Xue Ke leaned forward in Feng's arms and gave him a light feathery kiss on the lips before laying her head against his broad chest, allowing the regular and strong heartbeats of the boy she loved to comfort her.
-Knock knock-
"Xue-er... it's time, he has to go now before someone leaks the information to your Father," Queen Ling's voice traveled from behind the closed doors of the room.
"It's an hour already? Time passes fast, doesn't it? I don't want to part with you, Feng..."
"I don't want to part too..." Feng answered in a strangled voice and pulled Xue Ke into a tighter embrace. He reached out and cupped Xue Ke's pale cheeks, gently wiping away the tears that had leaked from her beautiful blue eyes. Staring into those sparkling eyes filled with pain, he felt as if the whole world was against them and he wanted to chase all those sadness away. He pressed his lips against her pale ones. The kiss deepened as they kissed as if it was the end of the world. Reluctantly, they parted for air.
"Xue-er! Open up now!" Queen Ling's voice was now edgy. "Or I'll order the guards to tear it down."
"I have to go..."
"Yes, you have to go now..."
"Before I go, I need to give you this... it is my family heirloom," Feng paused at the door and hang a silver-chained necklace with a star sapphire pendant. "This sapphire has always reminded me of your eyes... keep this and know that I'll never love another, you have both my heart and my soul." With that, he opened the door and stepped out, once again, away from Xue Ke.
Xue Ke clutched the necklace tight in her hand as she sank back into the chair. The chamber felt unreasonably cold and she shivered. She had no idea when she would be able to meet Feng again, or maybe this was the last time ever. Her heart ached so much that she thought she heard the crack of her own heartbreak or maybe it belonged to Feng's. Her brain asked her to cry out, and let all the pain flow, but somehow, this time, her tear ducts failed her. She had done so much crying that she was sure no tears would spring from her eyes again.
Fin. 15/07/04
A/N: Hey, do review, okay? Thank you for reading anyway! Really, thanks a lot!!