Yěhuā
A Xiān Kè Lái Extras Collection
By: Aviantei
[Shibuya Operation – Story Storm]
21. Aster (6)
I tap my umbrella against the toe of my shoe as I stand outside my parents' apartment door. I brought the thing because I knew Mom would fuss over me otherwise. Not that I used it. I bounce the umbrella between both feet as I try to work up the nerve to knock on the door.
I imagine Ren scolding me. That does the trick.
I rap my knuckles against the door. It's weird to think I once lived here. Mom opens the door, her smile working crow's feet against her eyes. "Hi, sweetie," she says, pulling me into a hug. I hug back, but not as tight. "Oh, honey, you're all wet. Let's get you inside and get some tea."
She tugs me in the door and pulls off my raincoat before I get a word in edgewise. Again, I wore it because she'd worry otherwise. The weather's warmed up, and even spring rain isn't that cold. Still, I let Mom corral me to the dining table. I can still see her as she heads into the kitchen and pours tea into pots, the kettle waiting on the stove.
I listen past the clatter of glassware, but there's nothing else. Dad isn't home. Well, she did promise.
Mom comes over with two steaming tea cups, the smell of mint sharp in the air. She watches to make sure I take a drink (she got the sugar just right, what a mom) before talking. "So, what's this big announcement you have? You were so secretive over the phone."
Her enthusiasm brightens my mood and the tea warms my chest up. "Phones can be so impersonal," I say. "You live close enough so I thought I should come see you to say it." Considering I won't be this close for much longer played a part, too.
"Well, you're here now." Mom leans forward, her glasses fogging from her own teacup. She blows the offending steam away. "I've been drowning in suspense, sweetie."
Nervousness takes root like a weed in my throat. I pluck it out with a cough. "I earned the opportunity to join a research project in Hainan."
Silence holds for a few moments while my mom processes those words.
"I'm going," I add, because my wording was unclear. Ren would've scolded me in a heartbeat for it. I keep up my smile and try not to think of what else I'll be leaving behind. "It's at a nature preserve and a really good opportunity and I want to go. So once I finish this semester, I'll be going to Hainan and I'll finish my degree there."
Mom looks like she doesn't know whether to burst for joy or for tears. I finish off my teacup as I wait, and she uses getting a refill as an excuse to compose her expression.
"That's fantastic, Cuì Jú," she settles on once she comes back to the table. Tears pool in her eyes, but she means every word she says. "Really, fantastic. I'm very proud of you."
"Thanks," I say, somewhat somber. Then I start talking about my classes and my friends and Ren before either of us get too depressed.
22. Lotus (15)
"Ren, are you okay? Can you hear me?"
Who is that? Mother? Jun? I can't tell. It's not Father. Father was yelling.
My head hurts.
"Ren, can you say something? If not it's okay. Just nod for me if you can."
I manage to tip my head before I almost fall over.
Whoever it is catches me. My ears are throbbing. I can make out a muffled voice—Grandfather?—but not the words. I'm picked up and hugged into a chest. I can smell Mother's perfume.
"We're gonna take you to a Doctor, Ren. Can you stay awake a little longer?"
I blink but the blurs of colors won't go away. My tongue is heavy, and my voice sounds like its coming from very far away.
"'S Father coming…?"
"No," Mother says, soft but firm. "No he's not."
23. Lotus (16)
"Whoa, it's so cold!"
"Snow tends to be like that."
Bai giggles and picks up another handful of snow, fingers going red from the cold. She wanted to look at some of the mountain plants, so I took her hiking. Bai's bright green hair and pastel clothes stick out against the gray rock. The sun shines down from the clear sky overhead, but it doesn't bring much warmth.
I tuck my hands into my pockets and watch as Bai tosses her load into the air. Snowflakes stick to her hair. Her laughter comes out in bursts of fog. "You're so lucky to grow up in a place like this. So much nature!"
I turn to the path ahead. We still have a ways until we reach the top. But I accounted for Bai sticking her nose into every plant, rock, and snow drift, so we started early. There's plenty of time to get to the top and back down for dinner. I'm checking the time when something splats against my back. Cold drips onto my neck.
She actually threw a snowball at me.
It's not surprising. I turn around to find Bai failing to conceal snickers behind her hand.
"I didn't think," she splutters, "I could hit you… snrk…!"
I seethe for a moment. Bai erupts into full out laughter, her voice echoing from the mountains. I'm glad we came by ourselves. The teasing I'll get from my sister over taking Bai out alone is better than the torture I'd get from my family realizing she can make me blush. That'd put our ancestors to shame.
Bai's too distracted by laughing her head off. I scoop up a handful of snow, compact it into a not-too-tight ball, and pitch it with perfect aim. The snow bursts at her shoulder. Bai shrieks before sniggering again and diving into the nearby snowdrift to form another ball. I step back to a more tactical position and start to form my own ammunition.
Our shouts scatter birds into the cold mountain air.
24. Lotus (17)
The far-away rumble of thunder wakes me up. I blink, blurry eyes trying to make sense of the shadows in my room. My stuffed tiger stares at me in the dark. A second boom of thunder pierces the air, this one closer to home. Lightning flashes through the curtains, splashing illumination across the floor. Rain batters the windows. Grandfather spent the last few days predicting flood courses for the nearby roads.
I slip out from under the covers, tiger in arm, and cross over to the window.
Some kids at school freak out when it's storming, but I don't. I love the sound of rain, even when it's heavy. There are noises louder, scarier, than thunder. And lightning…
I tug open the curtain to catch a bolt of lightning strike between two mountains. More lightning jumps between clouds in upside down arcs. The clouds flicker like dying streetlights. Holding my tiger between my elbows, I press both hands to the windowsill and lean as close to the glass as I can without smashing my face against it.
I trace lightning bolts for several minutes. Grandfather always talks about how important it is for us to stay in touch with nature, and this is the part of nature I want to stay in touch with.
A flash of lightning brighter than anything I've seen before tears through the sky, and the world is transported to daytime. I can see the mountains, the courtyard, the servants' quarters in perfect clarity. I feel like I could count the number of trees if I wanted to.
In a split second, the light flickers, resetting to darkness, but the impression of the estate sticks to my eyes.
I should go back to bed. The thunder won't keep me awake. Rain sounds like a lullaby. But I don't have school tomorrow.
I can stay up a little bit longer.
[Author's Notes]
A bit shorter few segments here, but we're moving right along!
Much thanks to Chronic Guardian again for digging up more time in that hectic schedule of his to drop off another review. Hopefully you're still enjoying what all comes out~.
21. Aster (6) - Mid Xiān Kè Lái Bai talks to her mom about going to Hainan.
22. Lotus (15) - One of the trickier pieces to handle. Considering the way the Tao family works in canon, it's no exaggeration to say that Yuan is pretty much an abusive prick during Ren's childhood. Making this work out in a non-Shaman AU is a little bit tougher, but it needed to be dealt with.
23. Lotus (16) - A bit more lighthearted touch of some more time with Ren and Bai during Christmas in Xiān Kè Lái. Snow shenanigans were bound to happen.
24. Lotus (17) - Younger Ren's fascination with lighting.
I don't have much else to say this go around, so we'll move right onto the [Shibuya Operation - Story Storm] recommendations. I'm reaching back a few years, but do consider taking a look at Hyoxjnn's X Days -Marked-. This story has been around since the original Story Storm, and is crawling it's way towards the Gaiden/Epilogue it deserves. A little encouragement can do wonders, so go check this sucker out and cheer X on as he tries to close the book on it. Because it'll be so worth it.
I'll see you all next week, so please look forward to it!
-Avi
[01.29.2018]