Hi! LM will continue in a moment, but first, a short note on a few topics, I want no confusion for my readers, so I'm taking the time to explain a few things, there's also a little bit of fun for you guys too. Disclaimer-I don't own JCA, but I do own a conch horn (you know, those cool shell deals that they have at luaus?)
Okay, first of all, Hsi is the only half breed of the family. True, the others mothers are different types of monsters, but they're all demons. Rumiko-hime is Marl's only human wife. Thus, she is something that none of them, save Rei and possibly Lu, understand. All of them are extremely elitist and view Hsi as lower than their children (except for the two mentioned above). Humans are lower than demons in their mind, they are ruled over, not married, although this has happened before in "their" history. Another point, an Oni is a specific kind of japanese demon, though often translated as "demon" it is not really what the western mind considers a "demon".
Yet another point, if Tso Lan is the oldest, why does Tchang Zu boss all the others around? I would hate it if a younger sibling ordered me around!
Last thing before the fun-Why did Daolon Wong turn the Enforcers into Dark chi umm-things? I missed that episode GAHHHHH! And now Finn is no longer cool looking (No disco suit? What the #@$&?, at least Chow has a whooping pony tail ((~_*))) there better be a halfway decent explanation!
fun part, yay-you were waiting for this, weren't you (nod?) Okay. Chibi Hime presents
Lotus Moon- The unofficial soundtrack!
Songs to put you in the mood for this fic! Coolness! Remember, I don't own these either! I don't claim to, don't sue me. They get you in the groove for a few minutes of reading-Chibi Hime style!
1. Baby Mine (The Alison Krauss version-the most beautiful version of this song ever!)-Rumiko-hime's theme for Hsi
2. En Mi Corazon, Tu Viviras-(The Spanish version of Phil Collins' "You'll be in My Heart")-Just on here to add feeling- A song for Hsi from the main cast (i.e. Rumiko-hime, Tso, Bai, Rei)
3.The Journey of Man-An overall theme (from the Cirque Du Soleil Imax movie, the sung version, not the instrumental version)
4.Fly Me to the Moon-Obviously, Tso's theme.
5.Better Off Alone-by Alice Deejay (this song won't come into play for awhile, but its the theme for a character who Hsi saves from a Shadow khan)
6. Dies Irae from "requiem" by Mozart. Its the theme of the upcoming battle, turns out, there's a lot going on in the land to the West.
Okay- now on with ch. 8!
Chapter 8-A Whisper of the West
Hsi Wu is eight months old today, the days pass like hours, so fast, so wonderful. I wish they
could last forever. But every good thing, sadly, must end. So I will enjoy these peaceful days as
long as I can. Hsi pulls on my robe. He is quite mobile, now. He crawls faster than most toddlers
can walk. He has a bizarre manner of crawling on all fours, not truly crawling at all, more in the
manner of scampering, I believe.
"Tso, Tso Tso," he babbles, grinning madly and tugging harder at the hem of my robe.
I smile down at the little being and pick him up. He purrs and grabs at one of my mandibles. He
is a very inquisitive creature.His enormous eyes glow brightly.
"Hsi Wu?" Rumiko-hime's musical voice calls out to us.
We both turn to face her. She has recovered all her lost Chi energy and I believe gained a great
capacity for it. She lives for Hsi, I feel it. I feel her Chi energy wrapping around him. He doesn't
understand, I wonder if he even feels it.
"There you are. Are you bothering your elder brother, yet again?" she asks, smiling softly, her
face wearing an expression of serenity.
Hsi reaches for her, repeatedly opening and closing his hands.
"Oka-san," he squeals, attempting to wriggle out of my arms.
Rumiko-hime takes him and hugs him close to her.
"Hsi, my wonderful little darling. Have you been good?" she asks, her gorgeous brown eyes seem
to glow themselves.
Hsi blinks up at her and blows a spit bubble. I laugh.
"Tso Lan, did you just laugh?" Rumiko-hime asks.
"Yes, apparently, Hsi brings out unexpected things in everyone," I answer simply.
"He does, doesn't he?" Rumiko-hime looks deeply at Hsi who feels at her face with his taloned
hands.
"Mi'lady! Milady Rumiko!"
"Rumiko-hime!"
Two voices interrupt her. Two orange haired women with bright green markings about their
bodies slide the door open. Chi Guardians. Specifically, Rune and Toki, two of the three Chi
Guardians in charge of father's temple. I wonder what could be so important for them to leave
their post? Their olive skinned faces carry looks of panic and concern. Something prickles at
the back of my neck, I turn quickly to see if something is there, but alas, there is nothing.
Something is wrong. I feel it, I see it in the eyes of the Chi Guardians, their markings pulse with
the exorbinant amount of Chi, as do their fiery electric green eyes. The second, Rune, a deep
voiced woman clears her throat.
"Begging you pardon, Rumiko-hime, but Master Kung requests that you join him immediately in the
main court. It is a matter of utmost importance. I know that you treasure the time ou spend
with your son, but this is a very pressing matter,"
She casts a glance at me. I look away, her penetrating green eyes upset my own Chi.
Rumiko-hime hands Hsi back to me.
"Of course I will come. Tso, please watch Hsi for me," she sounds troubled.
The second chi Guardian nods, her younger companion, Toki nods as well. Rumiko-hime assumes
her regal stance and follows the two Chi Guardians to Father's main court. I watch them leave.
Hsi stares after her, perplexed. He reaches for her and whimpers.
"Shh, Hsi, be quiet. She'll be back soon," I tell him.
"Oka-san. OKKKKKKAAAAA-SAAAAAAAN," he shouts.
"For goodness sakes, Tso, can't you keep that little wretch quiet?"
Tchang Zu. I'd recognize his snobbish voice anywhere. Hsi Wu whimpers and buries his head in
my robe.
"What are you doing here, Tchang?" I demmand, I grow weary of his elitist attitude.
"On my way to see Father. There is a delegation from the West here to discuss some important
matters. What's the matter, second son? Were you excluded so you could babysit this little
abomination?"
"Leave,"
"Hit a nerve, did I, little brother?"
"Tchang!" his mother Xia calls for him.
"Coming, Mother," he shouts back. In a lowered tone he speaks to me:
"Better luck next time, you pale faced weakling. Good bye, Tso and , heh, little Hsi,"
He hisses Hsi's name in a snakelike manner. He gives me a shove, knocking Hsi and I against the
wall. Tchang makes some energy crackle between his fingers and ten heads quickly for the
waiting Xia.
"Tso,"
""Bai?"
"I'll watch Hsi. You go, see what is going on,"
"But Bai, I promised Rumiko-hime,"
"I'll take care of Hsi Wu. He likes me too. You go watch, you're better about analyzing formal
events than I am. Besides, I want to know what's wrong with the air,"
"The air?"
"Yes, Tso. Can't you feel it? It as if the air.....is dead,"
I reach out with my Chi, the air is static. Usually it flows with ever-changing fluctuations of
power. The shiver returns to my neck, something evil is in the land of the West, something that
is approaching. Something that makes the very Chi of the planet stop. Without another thought,
I hand Hsi to Bai and make my way toward the main court.
...........................
Upon arriving, I decide not to stand were I am visible, it would worry Rumiko-hime to see me
wihout Hsi. I quickly select a screen with a crane pianted on it as a hiding place.
"Tso Lan?"
Apparently, my hiding place is not good enough.
Wait, that voice, it's Teng Marzipan! The human Chi-Seer! One of only three in the world. Teng
works in father's temple, she commands our three Chi Guardians, although she herself is human.
My siblings show her respect because of her position and her power, I often wondered how she
viewed them. I am suddenly not so ashamed that a person has found my hiding place. No one can
hide from a Chi-Seer. The strange eye marking in the center of her forehead glow brightly, her
Chi-seer powers acivated. Teng must have seen my aura with that Chi eye of hers. She smiles
at me, regarding me with her violet eyes. She is clothed in dark maroon men's clothing and her
long, straight black hair runs past her waist.
"Teng?"
"You haven't visited us in a long while, Tso Lan," she says to me.
"I'm sorry Teng. I hve found myself busy, with Hsi and everyone else,"
"Ah yes, Rumiko-hime's son! She comes to the temple every day to pray for him. I look forward
to his presentation in four months. I should much like to meet your little brother,"
"Yes, Teng, What is this about?"
"There are rumors of dark forces rising in the land of the west. A delegation of Chi Guardians,
Chi Beasts and Western Demons have come to ask your father for guidance. One ofthem has
brought his daughter, Aku. I'd stay away from her if I were you. She's the one with the
chupacabra on the leash over there,"
"Thank You,"
"Well, I best be on m way, Tso. I will give away your hiding place. I must look very suspicious
talking to a screen. As if I did not already arouse suspicion," a clever smile graces her lips. She
fans herself with her folded fan and walks gracefully to her chair on the bottom step of the
stairs that lead to father's throne. Each of the upper steps is where one of father's wives sit,
for once, they are all accounted for. It is the first time since the wedding that I have seen them
all in the same room. I see Syra twisting a whisker, Xia strokes Father's arm reassuringly,
Mother looks around the rom nervously. Rumiko-hime sits tall and dignified, I can see her noble
blood evident in her behavior. Lu Song is pink cheeked as usual, I can see a rice wine bottle
sticking out of her sash. Po Kong left for Japantwo weeks ago, hoping to create a kingdom for
herself. Lu has been dealing with the stress the only way she knows how, drinking herself into a
foul-mouthed stupor. So far, I've learned three new words that should never be repeated, how to
entice my father into doing something "exciting", The various details about how I was born and
how stupid the old midwife was, how Syra Seo never shaves her ankles, and several lines about
Shendu, Dai Gui and Tchang Tzu that I honestly could live without. Mother told me once that Lu
Song makes everything interesting, I am begining to see truth in that.
My attention is suddenly drawn to the ceiling. A great Chi beast has flown through one of the
windows. It is a pale gold dragon with a flaming red mane and bright green eyes, a gold medallion
hangs around its scaly neck. It circles the room once, then lands beside two black Chi dragons
who are already present, one with red eyes, the other with fiery orange eyes. The red maned
dragon winks at Syra Seo and makes a seductive growling noise. Syra snorts contemptuously and
turns away. The pale gold dragon quickly flips her off with one of its talons. I am momentarily in
awe of these dragons, they posess no wings, yet fly through the air as if by magic. I shake my
head and turn my attention to the western Demon who steps into the center of the Yin-Yang floor
design. He bows before my father.
"My lord, Marl Kung. We of the Western lands thank you for your generous hospitality. We sense
that there is great evil at work in our lands. We wish to confrnt it so that it may not harm any
of our families. We beseech you to allow your honorable Chi-Seer to see if our greatest fears are
being realized. Is this the work of Dark Chi wizards?"
I notice the red maned dragon tenses.
"Teng," Father says.
Teng rises, the eye symbol on her head glows brightly as she searches for the answer. Her
violet eyes rise slowly to meet those of the western Demon, whose crimson eyes are wracked
with worry. A strange smile crosses her face, the entire room goes silent, the air grows dead.
"The Dark Chi wizards are gathering energy. Infecting Chi sources with darkness and polluting
entire shrines. Go home to the West. Stop them, or we shall all die, as the people of
Rumiko-hime's state died,"
A loud gasp arises from the assembled. Rumiko-hime's face is frigid and stern, this is not the
Rumiko-hime know. The Western Demon swears that he will and leaves immediately. He picks up
his daughter, an eerily pretty, but terrifying little girl and crries her out at once. The small
brown beast she has on a leash cries ot as it is pulled along behind them.
Teng has seated herself, the leader of the Chi Guardians of father's temple, Virgo, speaks to
her. Virgo brushes her own bright bangs out of her face and looks around the room. The red
maned dragon flies to Teng's side. They speak, but I do not know what they are saying.
I look back at Rumiko-hime who seems to be frozen, Mother fidgets, Lu takes a long drink from
her rice wine bottle and says very loudly:
"Oh shit! Now we're all F*#@ed! Those damned Dark Chi wizards won't rest until we're all dead!
Virgo! are you in shape. You're gonna need to be,"
Virgo looks irked by this drunken outburst.
"Rest assured, milady, We will not allow our temple to be contaminated,"
"Better not be," Lu mutters.
Rumiko-hime is sill stonefaced, mother approaches her and places a claw on her shoulder. I get
up and leave. I find myself running back to our bungalow, as if I was being chsed by a dark force.
For an odd reason, I paused before I opened the sliding door, as if I was expecting something
horrible. My hands began to sweat and I shivered. I threw the door open with such force that it
bounced back. Bai is seated on a cushion on the floor, Hsi is in her arms. Both are startled by
my sudden entrance. For a moment, I am afraid that Hsi will cry, but he does not. Bai can tell
that something is wrong.
"Tso, what is it?" she asks.
I can't answer.
"Tso, what's wrong?"
The words won't come, I can only stand there shaking.
"Tso, you're scaring me!"
Images begin to flood into my brain. I cannot fight them, they force their way ino my mind's
eye. The door to nowhere, cries of pain,fear, hate, the stench of death surrounds me. A little
red haired girl with green markings being choked by a figure that emerges from the shadows, her
mouth moves, "mama". Hsi sobs, an older Hsi. A lifeless, bloody Rumiko-hime is in his arms
Countless Chi Guardians are dismembered, their bodies shatter, sillouheted aginst the sky.
Others are not killed, only changed, shadows of what they once were. The red maned dragon is
tortured by a Dark Chi wizard who does horrible, unspeakable things to it.
"TSO! TSO! What is it?" I hear Bai scream.
But I can't answer, I fall to the ground, engulfed is glorious darkness
End Chapter 8
Whew! What an ending! Sorry for the wait, I hope you enjoyed it!
Okay, first of all, Hsi is the only half breed of the family. True, the others mothers are different types of monsters, but they're all demons. Rumiko-hime is Marl's only human wife. Thus, she is something that none of them, save Rei and possibly Lu, understand. All of them are extremely elitist and view Hsi as lower than their children (except for the two mentioned above). Humans are lower than demons in their mind, they are ruled over, not married, although this has happened before in "their" history. Another point, an Oni is a specific kind of japanese demon, though often translated as "demon" it is not really what the western mind considers a "demon".
Yet another point, if Tso Lan is the oldest, why does Tchang Zu boss all the others around? I would hate it if a younger sibling ordered me around!
Last thing before the fun-Why did Daolon Wong turn the Enforcers into Dark chi umm-things? I missed that episode GAHHHHH! And now Finn is no longer cool looking (No disco suit? What the #@$&?, at least Chow has a whooping pony tail ((~_*))) there better be a halfway decent explanation!
fun part, yay-you were waiting for this, weren't you (nod?) Okay. Chibi Hime presents
Lotus Moon- The unofficial soundtrack!
Songs to put you in the mood for this fic! Coolness! Remember, I don't own these either! I don't claim to, don't sue me. They get you in the groove for a few minutes of reading-Chibi Hime style!
1. Baby Mine (The Alison Krauss version-the most beautiful version of this song ever!)-Rumiko-hime's theme for Hsi
2. En Mi Corazon, Tu Viviras-(The Spanish version of Phil Collins' "You'll be in My Heart")-Just on here to add feeling- A song for Hsi from the main cast (i.e. Rumiko-hime, Tso, Bai, Rei)
3.The Journey of Man-An overall theme (from the Cirque Du Soleil Imax movie, the sung version, not the instrumental version)
4.Fly Me to the Moon-Obviously, Tso's theme.
5.Better Off Alone-by Alice Deejay (this song won't come into play for awhile, but its the theme for a character who Hsi saves from a Shadow khan)
6. Dies Irae from "requiem" by Mozart. Its the theme of the upcoming battle, turns out, there's a lot going on in the land to the West.
Okay- now on with ch. 8!
Chapter 8-A Whisper of the West
Hsi Wu is eight months old today, the days pass like hours, so fast, so wonderful. I wish they
could last forever. But every good thing, sadly, must end. So I will enjoy these peaceful days as
long as I can. Hsi pulls on my robe. He is quite mobile, now. He crawls faster than most toddlers
can walk. He has a bizarre manner of crawling on all fours, not truly crawling at all, more in the
manner of scampering, I believe.
"Tso, Tso Tso," he babbles, grinning madly and tugging harder at the hem of my robe.
I smile down at the little being and pick him up. He purrs and grabs at one of my mandibles. He
is a very inquisitive creature.His enormous eyes glow brightly.
"Hsi Wu?" Rumiko-hime's musical voice calls out to us.
We both turn to face her. She has recovered all her lost Chi energy and I believe gained a great
capacity for it. She lives for Hsi, I feel it. I feel her Chi energy wrapping around him. He doesn't
understand, I wonder if he even feels it.
"There you are. Are you bothering your elder brother, yet again?" she asks, smiling softly, her
face wearing an expression of serenity.
Hsi reaches for her, repeatedly opening and closing his hands.
"Oka-san," he squeals, attempting to wriggle out of my arms.
Rumiko-hime takes him and hugs him close to her.
"Hsi, my wonderful little darling. Have you been good?" she asks, her gorgeous brown eyes seem
to glow themselves.
Hsi blinks up at her and blows a spit bubble. I laugh.
"Tso Lan, did you just laugh?" Rumiko-hime asks.
"Yes, apparently, Hsi brings out unexpected things in everyone," I answer simply.
"He does, doesn't he?" Rumiko-hime looks deeply at Hsi who feels at her face with his taloned
hands.
"Mi'lady! Milady Rumiko!"
"Rumiko-hime!"
Two voices interrupt her. Two orange haired women with bright green markings about their
bodies slide the door open. Chi Guardians. Specifically, Rune and Toki, two of the three Chi
Guardians in charge of father's temple. I wonder what could be so important for them to leave
their post? Their olive skinned faces carry looks of panic and concern. Something prickles at
the back of my neck, I turn quickly to see if something is there, but alas, there is nothing.
Something is wrong. I feel it, I see it in the eyes of the Chi Guardians, their markings pulse with
the exorbinant amount of Chi, as do their fiery electric green eyes. The second, Rune, a deep
voiced woman clears her throat.
"Begging you pardon, Rumiko-hime, but Master Kung requests that you join him immediately in the
main court. It is a matter of utmost importance. I know that you treasure the time ou spend
with your son, but this is a very pressing matter,"
She casts a glance at me. I look away, her penetrating green eyes upset my own Chi.
Rumiko-hime hands Hsi back to me.
"Of course I will come. Tso, please watch Hsi for me," she sounds troubled.
The second chi Guardian nods, her younger companion, Toki nods as well. Rumiko-hime assumes
her regal stance and follows the two Chi Guardians to Father's main court. I watch them leave.
Hsi stares after her, perplexed. He reaches for her and whimpers.
"Shh, Hsi, be quiet. She'll be back soon," I tell him.
"Oka-san. OKKKKKKAAAAA-SAAAAAAAN," he shouts.
"For goodness sakes, Tso, can't you keep that little wretch quiet?"
Tchang Zu. I'd recognize his snobbish voice anywhere. Hsi Wu whimpers and buries his head in
my robe.
"What are you doing here, Tchang?" I demmand, I grow weary of his elitist attitude.
"On my way to see Father. There is a delegation from the West here to discuss some important
matters. What's the matter, second son? Were you excluded so you could babysit this little
abomination?"
"Leave,"
"Hit a nerve, did I, little brother?"
"Tchang!" his mother Xia calls for him.
"Coming, Mother," he shouts back. In a lowered tone he speaks to me:
"Better luck next time, you pale faced weakling. Good bye, Tso and , heh, little Hsi,"
He hisses Hsi's name in a snakelike manner. He gives me a shove, knocking Hsi and I against the
wall. Tchang makes some energy crackle between his fingers and ten heads quickly for the
waiting Xia.
"Tso,"
""Bai?"
"I'll watch Hsi. You go, see what is going on,"
"But Bai, I promised Rumiko-hime,"
"I'll take care of Hsi Wu. He likes me too. You go watch, you're better about analyzing formal
events than I am. Besides, I want to know what's wrong with the air,"
"The air?"
"Yes, Tso. Can't you feel it? It as if the air.....is dead,"
I reach out with my Chi, the air is static. Usually it flows with ever-changing fluctuations of
power. The shiver returns to my neck, something evil is in the land of the West, something that
is approaching. Something that makes the very Chi of the planet stop. Without another thought,
I hand Hsi to Bai and make my way toward the main court.
...........................
Upon arriving, I decide not to stand were I am visible, it would worry Rumiko-hime to see me
wihout Hsi. I quickly select a screen with a crane pianted on it as a hiding place.
"Tso Lan?"
Apparently, my hiding place is not good enough.
Wait, that voice, it's Teng Marzipan! The human Chi-Seer! One of only three in the world. Teng
works in father's temple, she commands our three Chi Guardians, although she herself is human.
My siblings show her respect because of her position and her power, I often wondered how she
viewed them. I am suddenly not so ashamed that a person has found my hiding place. No one can
hide from a Chi-Seer. The strange eye marking in the center of her forehead glow brightly, her
Chi-seer powers acivated. Teng must have seen my aura with that Chi eye of hers. She smiles
at me, regarding me with her violet eyes. She is clothed in dark maroon men's clothing and her
long, straight black hair runs past her waist.
"Teng?"
"You haven't visited us in a long while, Tso Lan," she says to me.
"I'm sorry Teng. I hve found myself busy, with Hsi and everyone else,"
"Ah yes, Rumiko-hime's son! She comes to the temple every day to pray for him. I look forward
to his presentation in four months. I should much like to meet your little brother,"
"Yes, Teng, What is this about?"
"There are rumors of dark forces rising in the land of the west. A delegation of Chi Guardians,
Chi Beasts and Western Demons have come to ask your father for guidance. One ofthem has
brought his daughter, Aku. I'd stay away from her if I were you. She's the one with the
chupacabra on the leash over there,"
"Thank You,"
"Well, I best be on m way, Tso. I will give away your hiding place. I must look very suspicious
talking to a screen. As if I did not already arouse suspicion," a clever smile graces her lips. She
fans herself with her folded fan and walks gracefully to her chair on the bottom step of the
stairs that lead to father's throne. Each of the upper steps is where one of father's wives sit,
for once, they are all accounted for. It is the first time since the wedding that I have seen them
all in the same room. I see Syra twisting a whisker, Xia strokes Father's arm reassuringly,
Mother looks around the rom nervously. Rumiko-hime sits tall and dignified, I can see her noble
blood evident in her behavior. Lu Song is pink cheeked as usual, I can see a rice wine bottle
sticking out of her sash. Po Kong left for Japantwo weeks ago, hoping to create a kingdom for
herself. Lu has been dealing with the stress the only way she knows how, drinking herself into a
foul-mouthed stupor. So far, I've learned three new words that should never be repeated, how to
entice my father into doing something "exciting", The various details about how I was born and
how stupid the old midwife was, how Syra Seo never shaves her ankles, and several lines about
Shendu, Dai Gui and Tchang Tzu that I honestly could live without. Mother told me once that Lu
Song makes everything interesting, I am begining to see truth in that.
My attention is suddenly drawn to the ceiling. A great Chi beast has flown through one of the
windows. It is a pale gold dragon with a flaming red mane and bright green eyes, a gold medallion
hangs around its scaly neck. It circles the room once, then lands beside two black Chi dragons
who are already present, one with red eyes, the other with fiery orange eyes. The red maned
dragon winks at Syra Seo and makes a seductive growling noise. Syra snorts contemptuously and
turns away. The pale gold dragon quickly flips her off with one of its talons. I am momentarily in
awe of these dragons, they posess no wings, yet fly through the air as if by magic. I shake my
head and turn my attention to the western Demon who steps into the center of the Yin-Yang floor
design. He bows before my father.
"My lord, Marl Kung. We of the Western lands thank you for your generous hospitality. We sense
that there is great evil at work in our lands. We wish to confrnt it so that it may not harm any
of our families. We beseech you to allow your honorable Chi-Seer to see if our greatest fears are
being realized. Is this the work of Dark Chi wizards?"
I notice the red maned dragon tenses.
"Teng," Father says.
Teng rises, the eye symbol on her head glows brightly as she searches for the answer. Her
violet eyes rise slowly to meet those of the western Demon, whose crimson eyes are wracked
with worry. A strange smile crosses her face, the entire room goes silent, the air grows dead.
"The Dark Chi wizards are gathering energy. Infecting Chi sources with darkness and polluting
entire shrines. Go home to the West. Stop them, or we shall all die, as the people of
Rumiko-hime's state died,"
A loud gasp arises from the assembled. Rumiko-hime's face is frigid and stern, this is not the
Rumiko-hime know. The Western Demon swears that he will and leaves immediately. He picks up
his daughter, an eerily pretty, but terrifying little girl and crries her out at once. The small
brown beast she has on a leash cries ot as it is pulled along behind them.
Teng has seated herself, the leader of the Chi Guardians of father's temple, Virgo, speaks to
her. Virgo brushes her own bright bangs out of her face and looks around the room. The red
maned dragon flies to Teng's side. They speak, but I do not know what they are saying.
I look back at Rumiko-hime who seems to be frozen, Mother fidgets, Lu takes a long drink from
her rice wine bottle and says very loudly:
"Oh shit! Now we're all F*#@ed! Those damned Dark Chi wizards won't rest until we're all dead!
Virgo! are you in shape. You're gonna need to be,"
Virgo looks irked by this drunken outburst.
"Rest assured, milady, We will not allow our temple to be contaminated,"
"Better not be," Lu mutters.
Rumiko-hime is sill stonefaced, mother approaches her and places a claw on her shoulder. I get
up and leave. I find myself running back to our bungalow, as if I was being chsed by a dark force.
For an odd reason, I paused before I opened the sliding door, as if I was expecting something
horrible. My hands began to sweat and I shivered. I threw the door open with such force that it
bounced back. Bai is seated on a cushion on the floor, Hsi is in her arms. Both are startled by
my sudden entrance. For a moment, I am afraid that Hsi will cry, but he does not. Bai can tell
that something is wrong.
"Tso, what is it?" she asks.
I can't answer.
"Tso, what's wrong?"
The words won't come, I can only stand there shaking.
"Tso, you're scaring me!"
Images begin to flood into my brain. I cannot fight them, they force their way ino my mind's
eye. The door to nowhere, cries of pain,fear, hate, the stench of death surrounds me. A little
red haired girl with green markings being choked by a figure that emerges from the shadows, her
mouth moves, "mama". Hsi sobs, an older Hsi. A lifeless, bloody Rumiko-hime is in his arms
Countless Chi Guardians are dismembered, their bodies shatter, sillouheted aginst the sky.
Others are not killed, only changed, shadows of what they once were. The red maned dragon is
tortured by a Dark Chi wizard who does horrible, unspeakable things to it.
"TSO! TSO! What is it?" I hear Bai scream.
But I can't answer, I fall to the ground, engulfed is glorious darkness
End Chapter 8
Whew! What an ending! Sorry for the wait, I hope you enjoyed it!