*still not working on YMFGP, i know* ^.^' i did work on it somewhat the other day, though! :D i reaaalllly need to get on that...
anyway, for those of you who don't know what im talking about, thins get a little risque in this chapter. ;D nothing too bad, but dont let your parents read over your shoulder, yeah?
only an epilouge after this, then it's done. :) i know this is random and an odd way to pair people together, but c'mon, dont tell me you've wondered how some people's relationships work out well? this is just one take on that matte.r, and no, i dont believe a woman dressed in Abarbic clothing with a Chineese dragon at her side are dictating my relationships. XD if they did, id imagine idve found my partner by now... .
anyway, hope you enjoy, and thanks for sticking through this with me.
"Xing is a lot like ancient China, you know," Azeala mused out loud as they landed in the main hall. "They've got an Emperor, and the way they run their governmental affairs is a lot like China used to be, back in the day."
Haku looked around with interest. "It reminds me of home," he said, sounding happy for the first time they had started this journey.
Azeala grinned at him. "Yeah, I figured you'd like it here," she said, looking around at the ornate pillars and bright colors that looked so much like Haku's home of ancient China. "But look, here comes the big man now."
Sure enough, Ling Yao himself was entering the hall, surrounded by guards on every side. None of them were Ran Fan, but Azeala was sure she was hiding in the rafters of the lofty building, or concealed at the base of a pillar. She would never leave her young-master-turned-Emperor too far behind.
"Wait a moment..." Haku was frowning. "According to the laws of Xing, Ling Yao won't be allowed to court a bodyguard. He'll be too busy passing on his lineage to the other clans."
Azeala snorted with giggles. "'Passing on his lineage,' you mean he's just a stud," she said, still snickering.
Haku rolled his eyes. "Please control yourself," he said, somewhat haughtily. "These are the honored traditions of places like Xing and my homeland. They are nothing to scoff at."
Azeala regained control of herself and grinned sheepishly at Haku. "Sorry," she said. "I just thought it was funny, the way you phrased it. 'Passing on his lineage'..." She chuckled again.
Haku huffed and rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to the Emperor, who had seated himself upon the throne.
Wih a wave of his hand, he dismissed the guards to outside the hall, and, the momet the doors closed, his countenance completely changed.
Ling sighed heavily and slumped in his seat. "Being Emperor is harder work than I imagined it would be," he said, throwing his legs over the side of the throne upon which he sat and settling himself more comfortably.
"Still," Ling continued to himself, "It is what I have wanted for my whole life, and I am proud to have attained such a position and bring honor to my clan. But then again, the work!" He groaned to himself and put his hands behind his head.
Azeala rolled her eyes and smiled fondly. "Ling's still the same as ever, though he puts on a noble face for the masses," she said, walking over to the throne and hoisting herself up to perch on the top of it, looking down on Ling in much the same way a bird of prey eyes its next meal.
"Alright, where's Ran Fan?" she asked, looking around for the personal guard. Haku whizzed around columns and checked in corners, but he couldn't seem to locate the masked woman.
Azeala paused for a moment, then stared up at the rafters curiously. Haku followed her gaze, and his eyes widened in realization.
"Ohh..." he said, flying up into the rafters of the enormous hall. A moment later, he returned triumphantly.
"Found her!" he called. Azeala chuckled and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Well done, Hak!" she said, beckoning the dragon to float back down to the top of the throne with her. "So, this is the plan..."
Much later that night, the Emperor of Xing found himself unable to sleep. He tossed and turned, but could not find his way into unconsciousness.
Finally, frustrated, Ling sat up and looked around cautiously. The guards were still awake, which he supposed was good for his safety, but bad for a restless Emperor who needed to take a walk by himself at two AM.
Stealthily, Ling rose from his bed and tiptoed to the back of the room. There was an emergency exit he could use to get out of the Imperial Quarters, and perhaps take a stroll through the gardens in the Noble's Quarters...
"Emperor Yao, may I ask where you are headed to?" Ran Fan asked, standing in front of him. She was standing directly in the way of the exit, and he'd be damned to say he saw her a moment ago.
"I can't sleep," Ling replied simply. He felt a twinge of regret, looking at his retainer, hidden behind that unmoving mask. If only they'd stayed in Amestris longer...
No. He shook himself mentally. These were not thoughts to be had by the Emperor of Xing. He had a country to run, he had to pass on his birthright. There was no use in thinking of times past, they were dead and gone. All that was left was the present, and the future they were working towards.
Azeala snorted from the rooftops. "Jeez, someone's determined to stop us," she said, peering down at the door to the garden, where no one had yet emerged. "His thoughts are absolutely positively against goign with his heart. He's gonna be a toughie."
"He is upholding his honor and duty as the Emperor of Xing," Haku said, looking down his snout at Azeala. "You lived in my homeland for a time, you know that's how things are run."
Azeala sighed and leaned back on the roof, staring up at the stars. They sparkled brilliantly in the sky like thousands of tiny dewdrops, their blazing points of light undiminished against the small lanterns placed around the garden. It was alltogether unlike Amestris, where very few stars could be seen amidst the bright lists and bustle of the city. Azeala found herself wanting to stay here longer, but they still had work to do.
Sitting up, Azeala let herself fall through the floor and float gently to the ground. Leaning close, she whispered into Ran Fan's ear.
"Go with him. Keep him safe."
Ran Fan blinked and shook her head slightly, frowning in confusion behind her mask. She could have sworn someone whispered into her ear just a moment ago, but there ws no one else in the room to do so.
Ling stared beseechingly at his personal bodyguard. "Please let me outside, Ran Fan," he pleaded, putting on his best puppydog eyes. "I'm not going to leave the gardens, I swear to you. You can even accompany me yourself, to make absolutely certain." He kicked himself for that dangerous line leaping out of his lips before he had the chance to keep it in check, but it was too late to take it back now.
Azeala raised her eyebrows and grinned. "Score one for Ling's heart," she said, chuckling. "It seems to gain control of his lips from time to time. That could be a good thing, later on."
Slowly, Ran Fan nodded. "Very well," she agreed. "I shall accompany you and make sure you don't wander off by yourself again."
Ling smiled at her sheepishly and walked out the garden door with her on his heels. "What can I say? I was in a hurry in Amestris," he said, referring to the moments where he frequently lost both of his bodyguards in his search for the Philosopher's Stone. He caught himself smiling fondly at the memories, and changed the subject.
"Ran Fan, I feel as though I am speaking to a statue. Could you please take off that mask?" he asked. Another stupid move, he realized too late. He really needed to start thinking about what he was saying before he said it.
Ran Fan paused, then nodded. "Yes, youn- er, Emperor Yao," she said, carefully undoing the ties that held the mask to her face.
As little as she really cared, Ran Fan was a beautiful woman nontheless. Her ebony-black hair was tied up in a bun to keep it out of her face, but a few strands had come loose and how hung around her face. Her eyes were dark as the corners of the night, and Ling continually found himself completely mesmerized by them, unable to fathom the depth contained within her lovely orbs.
Wow, that counded corny. Ling shook himself slightly and tore his gaze away from Ran Fan. He was simply out here because he couldn't sleep, he told himself. Ran Fan was simply here because she had a duty to uphold, the same as he.
It was all very simple.
Azeala snorted. "Yeah, right," she said.
Ling strolled around the garden quietly, Ran Fan trailing not far behind. Staring up at the moon, which was bright and full, he spoke, as if to himself.
"Life changes so easily. One moment, I am the twelfth Prince of Xing, running around madly in Amestris, attempting to locate the Philosopher's stone, and them suddemly I have done it, and I am Emperor of Xing. Some days, I miss my old life..."
Ran Fan's eyes widened. "E-Emperor Yao..." she began, but Ling cut her off.
"See, Ran Fan? Look at that! The very title by which I am called has been changed! One moment I am 'Young Master' and the next, it is "Emperor Yao'!" Ling turned to face his guard, eyes passionate. "All I ever really wanted you to do was call me Ling, dammit! I'm tired of all of this...this formality! This 'yes, Emperor Yao' and 'no, Emperor Yao' and 'anything else I can do for you, Emperor Yao' It's driving me mad!" Ling threw his hands up into the air in frustration.
Ran Fan stared at Ling, eyes wide. She didn't really know what to say. Ling had never acted so oddly before. It was puzzling to her, though she supposed the pressures of being Emperor must be more than she thought...
Suddenly, she began to wonder why Ling had wanted to go outside so desperately, and bring her along. Now, he was getting closer to her, and becoming frantic and flustered...
Her eyes widened again.
Ling reached out to her. "Ran Fan..."
Ran Fan jumped away, eyes narrowed. She pointed at Ling and declared, "You stay away from me, you rapist Emperor!"
Ling's jaw hit the floor. "What?"
Azeala's expression matched Ling's, and then she split into uncontrollable howls of laughter, doubled over into herself with the force of her humor.
Haku's snout twitched, but he managed to keep himself in check. Just barely.
Ling's left eyebrow twitched. "What made you draw that particular conclusion?" he asked, his voice strangely calm. Ran Fan instantly tensed.
"Because, you brought me out here alone, and you are getting flustered while moving closer to me. I've seen the way you have looked at me, so what other reason could you have for this?" she concluded, staring him down.
Ling stared at Ran Fan for a moment, opened his mouth to say something, closed it again, and reached forward to caress Ran Fan's face.
She stiffened and pulled away, and Ling made no move to stop her. A kind of sadness clouded his face as he watched her.
"The only sexual act I may have ever committed would be with my eyes," he said quietly. "And it is only because the woman I was looking at was one I desired deeply, and she apparently does not care for me in the same way."
Ling turned away, suddenly weary. "I shall respect that woman's desires, and never make any move toward her that she does not want. Good night, Ran Fan."
He had barely taken three steps when a hand on his arm stopped him. Ling turned, taken aback. Ran Fan took his hand and stared at their intertwined fingers.
"She does feel the same way," she said softly, looking up at him. "She just doesn't want to be taken advantage of."
Ling shook his head and pulled her closer to him. "Never," he breathed into her ear. "I will never do such a thing. I swear upon my life, and my duty to Xing as Emperor."
Ran Fan looked away and stepped back. "That's right," she mumured, as if to herself. "You are an Emperor. I am merely a guard. Xingese law dictates-"
Ling stopped her by placing a finger over her lips. "I make the laws in Xing," he whispered to her. "I can change whatever I wish. And I wish to take you as my wife."
Ran Fan gaped at him openly. "You cannot change the laws of Xing so easily!" she gasped. "These are traditions that have been in place for hundreds of years! No one shall wish to change them."
Ling grinned suddenly, his reckless side showing itself. "I do not care what no one wants to change," he said, leaning in and kissing her deeply.
Ran Fan gasped into the kiss, then closed her eyes. Her hands came up and around Ling's neck, and she leaned closer. Ling realized many things at that moment, the largest of them being that perhaps his feelings for Ran Fan ran even deeper than he imagined, but for now, he pushed everything else aside. All he wanted was her. She was his strength, his guidance when he didn't know where to turn. She was beautiful, she was strong, and he wanted her to be his.
His kisses deepened, the fierceness in them taking Ran Fan by surprise. Ling ran his hands down her sides and pulled her to him by the hips. Gasping, Ran Fan broke the kiss and stared at him with wide eyes.
"W-What are you doing?" she asked, shivering as Ling kissed her neck hungrily. Suddenly she was vulnerable, she was scared. It made him want her even more.
"I want you," he growled, biting her neck lightly. She gasped again, which brought him a feeling of satisfaction. He was getting to her, and he could tell she liked it, despite her confusion.
Ling kissed Ran Fan's jawbone, and paused to look her directly in the eyes. "I've never given myself away to anyone," he said. Ran Fan's eyes widened slightly.
"Neither have I," she whispered. Ling smiled, the hunger leaving his eyes for a moment. Then it was back, and he kissed her deeply, running his fingers through her silky black hair.
"If something should happen, and I cannot change things to how I want them to be, I want to have at least given myself to you first. No one else shall have that right," he said, his hands already sliding under her shirt, stroking down her back.
Ran Fan felt goosebumps rise wherever he touched, and she rested her head on Ling's shoulder, taking the opportunity to press her lips to his neck. He shivered and swore quietly, and Ran Fan found herself smirking slightly.
"Then as long as I shall live, none other than you shall taste my flesh," she vowed, meaning it. She wanted none other than Ling, she realized. And as much hardship and pain she knew it would cause, she was willing to make that committment.
Ling was momentarily overcome, and he stroked her face with one hand, staring into her eyes. "Do not make such a vow to one who cannot do the same," he whispered, his voice pained. Ran Fan rested her forehead against his, kissing him gently. "I have already made it, and I mean to keep it," she said firmly. "I shall have no other, even if it means waiting my entire life, and never being able to touch your flesh again."
Ling kissed her fiercely. "You will," he whispered with passion. Together they fell onto the soft grass, and Haku looked away politely, having felt he had seen far more than was his share.
Azeala was still watching, absentmindedly eating popcorn out of a bag. Haku draped his tail over her eyes.
"Come now, we came here to smooth the process, not watch porn," he said, flying into her field of vision.
Azeala shook herself slightly, but her eyes were still dreamy. "Love is such a powerful thing. If it were a drug, I'd be an addict," she said, smiling lazily.
Haku shook his head and nudged her with his tail. "Come on, you," he said, urging her into standing. "Let us leave these two alone. They have far gone beyond anything we need to help them with," he said.
Azeala nodded and smiled. Together they leapt up into the air, floating as if on a gust of wind.
As they rose higher and higher, Azeala sighed at the land spread before them. "I'm going to miss this place," she said.
Haku smiled at her fondly. "We'll come back someday," he said to her. "After all, this is a wide world. You never know who will need help next."
Azeala smiled slowly and nodded. "Yeah," she said. "You never know."
Together they floated so high that the country of Xing looked like a child's play city, filled with tiny figures of people, all sleeping soundly, unknowing of the magic that was unfolding in the Emperor's private garden.
Azeala could feel it click as the moment finally happened. It was a subtle shifting of the world in the right direction, unnoticable to most humans except when in the presence of the people who caused it. But to Haku and she, it felt like they were another step closer to the rightness that all humans strove for every day of their lives.
She sighed happily and clapped her hands together. A portal opened up before them, and within it, there was a leafy green forest.
"Let's go, Haku," she said, stepping inside. "We've got work to do."