A/N: It's been a while since I reared my butt in the DOA Fandom ever since I dc'ed Stories of The Tipsy Cherry Blossom. But I'm back with some good news for those who used to read that story. I plan on writing a brand spanking new DOA Story soon. King won't star however, the story will center on the protag of my SF Story, Yao Guai's Journey, Yao after he returns from the Amazon due to finishing his training with Oro and being granted the title of Sennin. I won't tell you much more besides that it will be small cooperation with Editor-san (alwaysdoubted). Besides editing my work as usual he'll involve himself in the story as well but I won't say how. Anyway to whet your appetites I as well as Editor-san will be writing some DOA Fluff and placing it in this story to sate the hunger for now. We're in the final stages of conception and there is one more thing that I have to do before we can officially begin but in the meantime here's what we have for you all. Enjoy!

I found the Mountain Temple Master Gen Fu told me about and reached a high enough point where moving further would be considered illegal. I turned around and sat for meditation. Ryu and I's battle with Bankotsubo was more intense than I could ever imagine. Thanks to some good folk like Muramasa and Momiji, my physical wounds and scars have healed again. Something that crazy riled me up mentally.

I've seen some crazy things, but fighting and being an accessory in the death of a Tengu while destroying the tree he used to merge part of Makai with the human world really took a mental toll on me. Taking my limiters off my wrists and ankles, I took a few deep breaths and closed my eyes to begin my meditation session.

The atmosphere around me slowly grew silent as my breathing became the only thing I could hear in tandem with my slowed heartbeat. It came to a crawl, and the monkeys moving around the area were silenced in my mind. Even the renewed gentle breeze started to feel numb as my mind began putting itself back together. My soul felt cleansed and free once more. With one final breath, I opened my eyes to see a surprising but welcoming sight as the birds that roosted on my person flew away.

"Lei Fang." I greeted my visitor before placing my limiters back on, starting with y ankles. "Interesting seeing you here."

"I wanted to call out, but you seemed really into it. You were like this when I found you an hour ago."

"I applaud your patience. What are you doing on top of the mountain?" I complimented while putting my wrist limiters on.

"I was looking for you. And then Master Gen Fu told me you went to the Monkey Temple. So I followed the path just like you did, so I could hopefully run into you. I wasn't expecting you to be at the top already. I was really fatigued when I got to the top."

"You never made the whole trip before?"

"Well, I ran up to be more accurate." Lei Fang flaunted her outfit. "I'm more surprised I didn't fall with my heels on."

"Wow, and I thought I was impressive." I stood up. "But do tell, Lei Fang. Why were you looking for me?"

"Remember the last time we saw each other and fought as you beat me bad? Remember what you told me as you helped me up?"

"Hmm." I recollected our last meeting where Lei Fang challenged me to a fight after dealing with an angry Bass. It wasn't our first battle as we sparred earlier when she learned that I beat Master Gen Fu in the most serious fight I ever partook in alone. He actually made me consider taking my limiters off. But I beat him barely with them on still.

"I told you to seek a new reason for improvement since your one-sided rivalry will only stagnate you," I recalled. "So, you found out your new motivation for improving?"

"Sure have! But before I tell you, can I ask you a question?" Lei Fang answered with a bright smile.

That made me smile in return. We both started walking down the mountain path together. "Shoot."

"You said your training to become a Sennin was the harshest regimen you ever partook. But you said you did it for a similar reason as me. What was that reason?"

"Well, I have a little sister that I adopted who was an amnesiac. She could defend herself but had no purpose, and I was still protective of her. I eventually accepted the geezer who gave me the title, knowing I would become much stronger to protect her. Especially now that she can't practice Martial Arts as much anymore due to being a training gymnast," I answered honestly.

"Wow, even back then, you were being extremely selfless."

"What is your new reason for improving yourself?"

"Uhm, there's someone who has been nothing but kind to me. He's done nothing but raise my spirits and is my inspiration for wanting to get stronger. So on top of my original motivation of self-improvement, I do it so he can see me as an equal. Both as a Martial Artist and... as a woman." Lei Fang shyly answered, a light blush appearing on her face.

"Oh, wow. That's a great answer, Lei Fang. Much better than your previous motivations of proving yourself an equal to someone who won't even pay attention. Do I know this man?" I jokingly asked.

I knew she was talking to me, but she's adorable when flustered, so I want to see her like this more. Lei Fang playfully pouted as her blush increased.

"Yeah, you do! You know him really well!" She answered angrily as we made it a quarter way down the mountain.

I playfully scratched my chin, pretending to think of a solid guess while choking on my laughter. "Yao! Don't play with me!"

"Whatever are you talking about, Lei Fang? I'm trying to think of the gentleman who can raise your spirits this well."

"We both know I'm talking about you!" Lei Fang nearly yelled as she huffed.

I winced before laughing heartily. We both stopped. "Sorry, Lei Fang. I had to prod you a little. I'm genuinely flattered you think of me that way. Though I don't think I'm not special enough to be looked at in that certain way."

Lei Fang looked genuinely offended, if not confused. "What? Everyone knew of my one-sided rivalry with Jann Lee, but you were the one who helped me get out of it."

"It was the right thing to do. Being a Good Samaritan, I don't think would be enough to warrant that kind of behavior."

"And you're ridiculously strong and well respected in the Martial Arts world."

"But so are you, Ms. Tai Chi Chuan Prodigy. You have nothing to prove to me." I countered.

She scoffed. "In your eyes, maybe."

"It sounds like you don't know how much of a catch you are, Lei Fang."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're strong, kind, passionate, and beautiful. Do I have to continue?" I complimented her multiple times, causing Lei Fang blush to return with a vengeance. "Most women would commit felonies to have a fraction of what you got. And instead of noticing this yourself, you spend too much of your time trying to prove yourself to people who either don't deserve it, like Jann Lee. Or people who already know your worth."

"Like you?" She said hopefully.

I smiled and pecked her cheek, which turned her face beet red. "Yes, Lei. Like me." I moved and hugged her from behind, resting my head on her shoulder. "I think you're a wonderful woman whose smile never fails to brighten someone's day, much like it has mine." I raised her arm and formed a fist with her hand. "Whose fists without fail or mercy silence all those who wish nothing but bad things upon her. Finally, whose natural beauty and knowledge of this turns every straight man's head whenever she enters a room."

Without seeing my face, Lei Fang took her palm and caressed it. "I do all of those things?"

"Of course. And you were so caught up in impressing Jann Lee and later myself that you never noticed." I turned her around, so we both looked each other in the eyes. "You are a remarkable and one-of-a-kind woman, Lei."

"But..."

"But what? What more could you possibly want?"

"But I want to be your woman, Yao!" She demanded, in the best way. "I do all of this to be a woman worthy of you. A woman of your kindness, a woman of your power. That is what motivates me now. The potential to have you cherish and treasure me is all the motivation I need."

"Lei... if you wanted that so bad, you could have just asked me. I would be more than happy to have our relationship become intimate. I wouldn't think that way of you if I didn't want something similar myself."

"But it would feel like I didn't earn it. Someone like you doing something as flat as asking me out or vice versa would just be the status quo. Or it would make me look like a trophy." She complained.

"Lei, you have to stop comparing yourself to me. It's not very fair. We're all imperfect. Finding someone to cherish and care for is the best way to cancel those out. Go ahead, Lei. Do it."

Lei Fang took her hands and intertwined them with mine, refusing to break eye contact with me. "Wuming Yao. Will you go out with me?"

I smiled once again. "Absolutely, Lei Fang."

I pulled her in for a hug, and her divine figure melds with mine as we share our first kiss as a couple. Lei Fang moaned as our tongues slowly danced before we separated.

"Wow," she said in awestruck. "That was amazing."

"And it's only the beginning for us," I said before wrapping my arm around hers. "Come on, let's get off this mountain."

"Okay."

A/N: How was that? I'll make sure to differentiate who wrote which scenes through the chapter titles. But the first three were written by me just so you know. Keep your eyes peeled since I'll be dropping these like clockwork in the coming days. See you all soon!

Listening to: Crime Pays (Alternate Intro) by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib (Alternate Intro by SAINT ANTOINE)