Colors: an AU from FangYan's perspective. A story told in snippets of colors.

Red

The color of his mother's blood would forever stain his memory. It was a sight made even more horrifying against the backdrop of the flames that engulfed his childhood home.

"Yan-er," she looked at him so seriously, even as the yblade of the sword flashed like fire against her neck, "Yan-er, take care of your sister."

"Mother," he had begged, but she had just laid a hand on his head and made him promise.

Later, when he had emptied of tears, he would remember the steadiness of her touch.

Orange

His sister was a being of laughter and light. FuChaDaRen, for all his sternness with his sons, was easily charmed by Xiao-Ci's bright eyes. FuJin, who had always wanted a daughter, also indulged the little girl probably more than was wise.

FangYan sighed when ErKang nudged him and subtly pointed with his head in the direction of the open window. He caught a glimpse of her wide grin before she disappeared again in a flash of orange. A quiet wave of disappointment swept through the younger AhGes just before JiShiFu looked up from his book.

"XiaoCi," he scolded her when she met them on the path after the lesson's conclusion.

"Yes?" She had perfected the look of innocence over the years.

"You know you're not supposed to wander about unaccompanied."

"I'm not."

He raised an eyebrow at her, but she was distracted with returning the greetings from the passing princes.

"I'm not," she insisted again when he cleared his throat meaningfully.

"Really?" ErKang sounded as unconvinced as FangYan felt.

"ZiWei's with me." She insisted.

FangYan looked around them pointedly.

"Well...she was…we were playing hide and seek and it was her turn to hide. I was merely seeking her."

"Right," he replied dryly even while ErKang chuckled.

"Don't encourage her," he warned his foster brother.

He turned back to his sister when she placed her hand into his and gave it a tug.

"Join us?"

Despite himself, he was not immune to her hopeful gaze.

Yellow

The emperor was stern of feature, but his eyes held unfathomable sadness as Fucha HuangHou was laid to rest.

FangYan saw as the emperor turned towards ZiWei GeGe and laid a hand on her head before father and daughter turned together towards the white draped casket. Despite the brightness of the sun, even the yellow of HuangShang's robes seemed dim.

Green

He had to admit that the parrot was a good birthday gift for XiaoCi. Girl and bird shared the same intelligent eyes and, if XiaoCi could choose, she would certainly grow wings and fly. As it was, she practiced her qinggong with such dedication that he was certain she was determined to defy the pull of gravity as much as she could in her earthly form. FuJin had been reluctant to allow XiaoCi to join her brothers in their martial lessons, but even she had to admit that the girl was much more focused with such an outlet for her energies.

The bird also brought other unexpected benefits as it became not an uncommon sight for XiaoCi to read out loud from her lessons to the bird.

Years later, when he saw the way 5-AhGe looked at his sister as her eyes tracked the flight of the speck of brilliant green, he would wonder if the bird was their ding qin wu.

Indigo

The bruise on XiaoCi's cheek was an alarming shade of indigo.

"I'm fine," she said before he could speak, "I won."

FuJin seemed torn between exasperation and worry as she applied medicine.

XiaoCi winced but otherwise sat still through FuJin's ministrations.

"What happened?" It wasn't the first time she had gathered bumps and bruises, but it still tore at his heartstrings.

She scowled, "6-AhGe said ZiWei was a kexin, cursed, and that whoever she was close to was sure to die. He told me that I would be next. Of course I had to punch him for that."

"XiaoCi…" FuJin's admonition, though, was half hearted at best, "6-AhGe is young, he's only repeating what he's overheard others say."

"She is his sister!" XiaoCi exclaimed, "how could anyone say such awful things to their own sister?"

Despite the situation, FangYan felt a burst of pride at what her words implied about her feelings towards her own brothers.

"Did you have to resort to violence?" He still asked.

"You didn't see how pale ZiWei turned," she replied, "if 6-AHGe has overheard such words, then ZiWei must have as well. And you know she has probably cried herself to sleep multiple nights!"

Thinking on the sensitive and tender hearted princess, FangYan could only agree.

"It's not her fault that her mother died giving birth to her. Any more that it's her fault that HuangHou NiangNiang died in childbirth as well."

"Still…" He knew she could tell though, that his protest was less than half hearted.

FuJin put aside the jar of ointment, "I still have to punish you."

"For standing up to bullies?" XiaoCi asked indignantly.

FuJin nodded solemnly, "you broke protocol...besides, attacking an AhGe can be punishable by death."

XiaoCi paled a little but still raised her chin stubbornly, "I won't apologize."

FuJin tapped her daughter on the forehead, making XiaoCi wrinkle her nose, "being so strong willed as a young lady will not always be to your benefit."

Blue

"I've got an idea."

He had learned to be highly apprehensive whenever XiaoCi uttered such words.

"About what?"

"How to help Qing-er."

"Oh?"

She nodded, "and the solution is you."

"What?"

"You saw Niang die."

He frowned at her, "XiaoCi…"

"I know you don't like to speak of it, even after all these years...you still have nightmares, I know you do."

"XiaoCi…"

"Qing-er has nightmares too," she hurriedly continued, "ZiWei told me. If anyone can help Qing-er feel less alone, it's you."

"XiaoCi, just because we share similar trauma…"

"Please?" She interrupted him again, "I can't stand to see anyone be so sad."

He always did have trouble refusing her when her heart was in the right place.

XiaoCi was right, he didn't like to recall the moment his childhood ended. The emperor himself had issued an edict praising the deeds of FangZhiHang in uncovering corruption. FangYan had taken the edict in hand and bowed properly. A small part of him, however, felt resentful that he and his sister had to pay the price. The piece of cloth could not bring his parents back. Such feelings were no doubt grounded in grief, still so fresh. Fucha DaRen, who has been quite adventurous in his youth and had, as a result, became sworn brothers with FangZhiHang, never treated FangYan as anything less than his own flesh and blood. And so, the resentment melted away over the years into understanding. Righteousness was a path walked by those who held ideology larger than themselves.

Still, he always wondered why his mother did not escape with her children.

Qing-GeGe also had a similar question.

"It was blue."

He was surprised that she spoke at all. It had been two weeks since XiaoCi first had him talk at Qing-GeGe, but she continued to hold herself as still as the stone bench on which they sat.

"Beg pardon?"

"The cloth was blue." She looked up at him then and his breath caught at the anguish within them. "They say she hung herself with a white cloth. But it wasn't white. It was blue."

"Oh."

"It was her favorite color," she added, "and AhMa had gifted her that length of cloth when he returned from the last campaign."

"I'm sorry," his words seemed so inadequate.

"It used to be my favorite color too."

They lapsed into silence once more before he suddenly stood and held out a hand.

"Well come on then."

"What?" Surprised flitted across her features, the first genuine expression he had seen from her.

"Let's go find you a new favorite color." He was surprised at his own impulsiveness, but he was XiaoCi's brother after all.

She looked at him for a long time and he was careful to keep steady beneath the weight of her gaze.

She held his hand just long enough for him to pull her to her feet. Still, he felt a new sense of responsibility.

Purple

"XiaoCi received another batch of letters today."

FangYan knew it wasn't a coincidence that ErKang held a sprig of purple flowers in hand as he made his remark.

"LaoFoYe's pilgrimage goes well then?"

"XiaoCi wouldn't give me too many details but from what I could gather, yes."

"They're as well protected as they can be, with guards you personally chose."

"I know."

"There's still a year left."

"I know," ErKang repeated even as he sighed.

Pink

The plum blossoms, peeking out from beneath the snow laden branches, were beautiful, but they paled in comparison to her.

FangYan found that he suddenly understood his foster brother's pining.

"You needn't pause on my account."

"Qing-GeGe," he greeted her.

"Qing-GeGe? You have become awfully formal in just a year and a half."

"GeGe has grown," he said by way of explanation.

"Hmmm. Have I?" Her gaze, though, remained as steady as ever.

"XiaoCi has as well," he side stepped her question. "She can now play the xiao passably well."

She chuckled, "such high praise, coming from you."

He couldn't help but smile back.

"Please, finish your song, it suits the scenery."

He did as she bid and took the opportunity to keep staring at her when she closed her eyes as she listened to his composition.

"Beautiful," she murmured at its conclusion.

"Yes."

They stared at each other for a moment before her gaze slid away again to the sight of the moonlit orchard.

"Words almost seem superfluous on a night such as this."

"But GeGe is learned and may find the proper ones."

She smiled, "and you are not lacking in wits, so must render your assistance."

He inclined his head for her to begin.

White

"They're back, they're back, they're back!"

He laughed at his sister's enthusiasm as she waved the sheet of paper in her hand like a banner. XiaoCi had acquired decorum and manners as befitting a member of the House of FuCha, but she was still XiaoCi.

"ErKang can be depended upon to keep to schedule."

She nodded even as she tugged on his hand, "let's go, let's go, let's go!"

"Where are we going?"

"To meet them of course! ErKang writes that they're within a few hours riding distance of the city, but won't fully arrive until tomorrow. With their entourage, they move much slower than we would on horseback."

"You have missed them."

She didn't even mind his teasing, "of course I have! Two years is a long time and letters can only do so much! Now stop being so popomama and let's go!"

"You don't really need me."

"Oh please, as though ENiang would let me go by myself!"

He hid a smile at her sense of responsibility.

"Come on, let's go!"

Grey

XiaoCi didn't like to cry. He waited a moment, umbrella overhead, as the rain blended with her tears. He wanted to give her a moment of privacy.

"Brother," he had never heard her voice so subdued.

"You'll catch cold," he admonished as gently as he could even as he made sure the umbrella covered her.

She nodded as she wrapped her arms about him and clung to him in a way that she hasn't done in many years.

"Come inside," he murmured, "before you actually do catch a cold."

He could feel her nod before letting him guide her towards her rooms.

He went to the kitchens while her maids fussed fussed about providing dry things for their young mistress.

He watched as she drank the hot ginger soup obediently.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She looked up at him with red rimmed eyes and shook her head.

"Alright." He pulled out his xiao instead.

In the silence that followed, she pulled her stool next to his and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm a fool for throwing away such glory for the family."

"XiaoCi…"

"There could have been another Fucha HuangHou, as beloved by her emperor as the previous one was."

"It would have indeed been a great honor." He agreed. It had been a decision she had agonized over, whether or not to take the Fucha name formally, when she had come of age. Then, as now, he wanted her to make her own decision.

She sighed after they lapsed into silence once more. "He should not ride off to battle with a broken heart...but I...I've never been very good at sharing."

He turned and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Brown

He and Qing-er married a year after ErKang and ZiWei did. Despite the temptation of planning a double wedding, LaoFoYe had not been so keen on losing both her wards at once.

XiaoCi was ecstatic to have her two best friends as sisters. Not everyone was as happy. At least ZiWei GeGe had been a ward of Fucha HuangHou...but for another of FuLun's sons, and an adopted one at that, to marry a GeGe…

Ensconced in a sea of red, however, FangYan had little attention to spare for the envy of other officials.

When he locked eyes with his bride, he rather thought that the rest of the world could be exploding and he wouldn't have cared.

"I did manage to find a new favorite color," she broke the silence after they were left alone.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"What is it?"

"Brown," she replied.

"Brown?"

"You had been wearing brown, the first time you offered me your hand."

He smiled at her, he was sure in a foolish manner, even as he held out his hand again, "I fear my memory is not as detailed."

She slipped her hand into his, "I trust you won't forget the colors of our garb for tonight."

He leaned closer to her and saw as her eyes widened. Still, she didn't pull away, "no, I won't so easily forget this time."

Black

Yongqi returned with much fanfare. His eyes sought the crowd for the one person he wanted to see the most but she wasn't there. With ZiWei and Qing-er both living at XueShiFu, she also had little reason to visit the palace anymore. And so, he decided to go to her.

She almost ran him over as she tried to get the kite to lift into the air. "I can't believe you've never flown a kite before, Qing-er!"

"Oof." She opened her mouth to apologize but then froze at seeing who it was.

"XiaoCi."

"Yong…" she gasped the start of his name before her brain caught up, "WangYe."

His lips twisted wryly at her recognition of his new title, "I'm still Yongqi, especially to you."

She fidgeted with the string of the kite.

FangYan coughed to announce his presence.

"FangYan, Qing-er, I hope you'll accept my belated congratulations," Yongqi nodded in their direction but still did not look away from XiaoCi.

Qing-er murmured her thanks even as XiaoCi declared, "I'm sure you and brother wish to discuss matters of state."

"No," she paused at the sound of his voice, her back turned towards them. "I wished to speak to you."

FangYan looked between them and opened his mouth to speak. He wasn't sure what he wanted to say exactly, but his instinct was to protect his sister. Qing-er's tug on his arm, however, made him pause. She shook her head at him and he reluctantly let her pull him away. He turned back once, and didn't know if he should be relieved that the distance between them was still preserved.

Later, XiaoCi showed him the scroll Yongqi had given her. FangYan unfurled it to to reveal an ink portrait, the black lines curling around one another to form her face.

"XiaoCi?"

"I accompanied him to battle, in a way"

"It's in remarkable condition."

She nodded, her eyes troubled, "despite being a prince, he's always been careful with his belongings."

Did she intend to imply that she belonged to him? He didn't know if he should ask.

She closed the scroll again with a snap of finality, "I'm glad he returned safely. And now, he has another sort of battlefield to conquer. He will become what he was always meant to be. As his friend, I will forever support him."

Silver

The strands of silver in YuFeiNiangNiang's hair glinted in the sunlight as she swept into XueShiFu. Despite the straightness of her posture, however, her expression belied her weariness as she asked for XiaoCi.

FangYan was not privy to their conversation; no one was. He could only watch as his sister walked steadily towards the waiting carriage.

He paced the courtyard, even Qing-er's presence did little good to soothe his anxiety.

When the setting sun colored the sky into a palette of pastels, a maid from RongQinWangFu came to fetch some belongings for XiaoCi. The note she brought was short, but was enough to loosen the tension in his shoulders.

Gold

The headdress was an intricate construction of gold and jewels. It sat innocuously on the red tray, waiting for its turn to complete the bride's ensemble.

"You look beautiful," FangYan told her.

XiaoCi smiled widely at him, "thank you, brother."

He just stared at her for a long time, trying to sort through his mixed emotions.

She stood and pressed a kiss to his cheek, "I am happy."

He nodded.

"You've always taught me to keep my promises. I told Yongqi that if he'd just live, I would marry him."

"He is not completely cured," he found his voice at last.

"And may never be," she sounded so calm at the prospect.

"He is a fortunate man."

"I know," she grinned cheekily, "and you can be sure I'll keep reminding him."

It was so like her to utter such a reply that he couldn't help but chuckle. Besides, the way Yongqi looked at the carriage when he arrived at XueShiFu to claim his bride made FangYan think that she would never have such a need. Still…

"Do take care of her?"

"I promise," Yongqi's earnestness emphasized his conviction.

"She may become your wife today, but she will always be my sister."

"Even without my illness, I would have chosen her if she'd have let me. What good is jiangshan to me without her at my side?"

Qing-er came to his side, watching with him as XiaoCi left XueShiFu. She waited until the sound of the parade grew faint before placing their joint hands on her abdomen, "would it help your sense of loss if I were to tell you that we may soon have a daughter for you to dote upon?"

"Qing-er?"

She smiled at him, "is that a yes?"

He picked her up and spun her in circles. She laughed even as she clung to his neck for balance. "FangYan!"

"It is a most definite yes!"