Chapter 6

The Imperial City

The city blossomed under them; colour, festivals, markets, plays, and glowing golden statues. Wu threw open the door a hundred meters up, and the twinkling lights of the city and the wind of the descending Dragonfly made her hair fly and throw gold.

Sky had his head between his knees, he hated this thing and he felt so sick that he wanted to throw up.

The Dragonfly started to descend, Sky moaned. I'm going to throw up. He chanted. I'm going to throw up…

Wu small soft hand curled around his clammy sweated fingers. She whispered softly in his ear. Her lips making the skin they touch tingle. 'You'll feel better after a walk.'

The Dragonfly lurched to a landing and Wu cradled Sky's head into her neck to stop the rock from shaking him too much. Sky shot a look at Zu, who looked more annoyed then usual. Sky smiled…. Just a little.

Unbuckling his buckle swiftly, Sky sprinted down the platform to the ground. Getting on his hands and knees he kissed the ground feverishly.

'Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!'

Wu laughed as she gracefully swept off of the platform. 'Good look getting a women to kiss you today.'

Sky raised his head and a wicked smile spread across his face. He jumped up and growled 'No one but you!'. and he kissed her open mouthed on the cheek. Screaming she tried to push him off. But alas, he was to strong and playfully pretended to eat her cheek, scrapping his teeth gently against the red blush.

Dawn Star giggled as she tried to pull Sky off her friend. 'Let go!' She was overcome by giggles. ' You can't do this he-'

'Travellers!' A deep commanding voice blasted as two officers of the army strutted towards them. 'By the order of the Emperor, state your name and purpose for arriving at the Imperial Army!'

Wu and Sky had frozen in place. The two soldiers were obviously trying not to laugh as they saw Sky pressing his open mouth against Wu's cheek and Wu, totally forgetting Sky stared blankly at the soldiers.

Wu pushed Sky away with real force knocking him away from her. Dancing with unbelievable grace she curtsied and spoke in her bell like voice 'Oh course, My name is Wu the Lotus Blossom.' a blush spread across her face, 'And this is my husband Sky.' His face invented a new shade of red. Of course, she was full of honour. She would want to make what just happened as innocent as possible. 'And these are our friends. We are simple travellers.'

The first soldier shifted his weight. 'I don't know… The hair is put in a similar way, the purple armour… And there was nothing said about a husband. Its not enough to be sure, maybe-'

'Is their a problem, Captain?'

Sky's mouth dropped. As did everyone else's. Wu smirked expectantly. It was Princess Lian The Heavenly Lily.

'Princess!' The Men bowed and spoke to their feet. ' We were instructed to question anyone that even vaguely-'

He was cut off by the glare of The Princess. ' Captain, this women is here on a personal matter of mine that does not concern you. Now if you do not step aside I will transfer you to the Wall.'

The men bowed quickly and ran away mutter, planning no doubt. Sky watched them and suppressed a laugh. They were in for a nasty surprise if they ever put those planning forth.

The Princess batted her thick eyelashes at Wu and giggled girlishly. Wu laughed right back blushing a little. She handed her a note and skipped off with her maids, except for one.

' My lady would like to reward you for getting this far,' The maid said handing Wu a little blue stone. 'And she very much looks forward to her meeting with you.' The maid giggled quietly and added. 'She hasn't stopped talking about the women hero sweeping down on Tiens Landing! I have to say. I was not disappointed.' Bowing down to the Lotus Blossom she scurried out after the princess.

Sky was suddenly smacked in the face with a threat. The princess was known not to have anything to do with men. What if it was women she was interested in?

What if Wu liked women. Like the Princess? More importantly why did he care? About Zu? About the Princess?

He saw Wu take out a short knife and slice off a white ribbon from the cloth on the front of her armour.

'Hold still Sky.' And she tied his hair into a top knot. ' There. Now you're the Sky I know and love!'

She giggled and skipped off. Sky followed her, heart pounding. Sky heard Zu growls as Sky took after her.

'What's on your mind now Sky?' Wu asked as she opened the doors to the Imperial Arena.

Sky laughed 'two things actually.' He shook his head at the proof of this as they wandered upstairs.

'Tell me the least important first.' Wu giggled.

'Why aren't we going straight to the princess?'

Wu laughed dancing up the stairs. ' If I'm going to mess around with the city then I need some standing. I heard that there's a place open in the Arena. So I'm going to make myself go as high as possible before I talk to her.'

Sky smiled at her, she had strategy. 'These are some of the best fighters in the Empire. But you'd fair better then most of them.'

Wu spun around and winked at Sky. His heart stopped. 'What's your most important?' She whispered looking nervously at the creepy man staring at her.

Sky smiled. ' I'm taken a back to be back in the Imperial City. I was led here with my hunt for Gao. Actually this is where it all started.'

'With Gao dead I know my daughter can find as much peace as any other ghost right now… If we succeed then she finds peace.'

Feeling himself venting again Wu placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. He took it off his shoulder and squeezed her hand gently. ' Have you ever heard of the Eternal Companions?'

Wu blushed her delicate pink and whispered, 'I can't say that I have.'

He smiled, thinking about how when he was little his father, sitting Sky on his lap used to tell him the story of the two beautiful giants Kaki and Ailing the two giants from the sky. Saving the kingdoms around the enemies when they deemed them unable to support themselves.

With every word Wu smiled wider and Sky was unable to tell her about the part the these two loved each other more then the stars loved the moon.

She patted her hair gently. ' Do you think these Eternal Companions were real?' She whispered. Her bell voice rung out even though they were in the busiest tavern in the Empire.

Sky laughed feverishly. ' You know how tales get bigger as they go? I think they also absorb others too.'

Wu nodded and sat down beside him waving down a waitress ' Do you think we're just another version of this tale? Wine for my friend here.' She ordered he waitress and threw a chunk load of silver on the table. 'For the rest of the night.' She smiled and the waitress blushed and scurried away. She looked back at him, smiling widely with her full lips and her dark eyes glittering.

'Do I think we're another team like the Eternal Companions? Hmmm.' He smiled dashingly, that left women dazzled. It did not effect Wu in the least. ' No, we haven't yet wiped out an enemy kingdom,' He threw his elbow at her, which she neatly dodged. ' plus I'm a little shorter then 12 feet tall.'

She laughed as the waitress swayed over with his wine and winked at him, she was pretty. But beside Wu she was a blank canvas beside the most magnificent painting. Wu punched him gently in the shoulder and smiled a white toothy smile. ' So what's the point of this?'

'The point is,' He said thoughtful, inside he was terrified for what he was about to say. ' That when something was wrong, people believed someone was going to do something about it.' He took a smile sip of wine. ' Whether we win or loose we're that someone's right now. More importantly you're that someone. You're the reason we're all together.' He took a deep breath.

'But I want you to know I'm here for you. No matter what, I'll do whatever you need. Just ask.' Because I love you. He added mentally to himself, and to let stop you from falling would be my greatest accomplishment yet… ever.

She raised an eyebrow, 'And if I asked you just to be my friend?\

The world crashed down on Sky, he…. His shock was wordless '!'

He stared at her for a long moment. 'Well…' he started slowly. ' If that's you wish then-'

Wu covered his mouth with her hand, tears of laughter rolling down onto her top. ' You should have seen your face!' She laughed, reaching over she took him into her arms. 'Sky, you've been there for me when I needed you the most. Are you trying to get out of that?' Her voice was not joking it was soft and gentle and completely serious.

He hugged her back, some of the drunks hooting at them. 'No.' He whispered in her ear, using his softest voice. ' No change planned on my side.'

She kissed him on the cheek and took his hand. 'Let's go talk to this Qui guy I heard about.'

' You have the beauty to stun the crowd and the body to get the men completely imdisparibly aroused. I can look at you perfectly.'

Sky growled. ' Look any closer Qui and you'll get a closer look at my ability to fight, and didn't you mean "impossibly"?'

Qui rolled his eyes at him. 'Excuse my use of language then handsome sir. Not many can compete with my impeccable vocabulary.'

Sky opened his mouth to reply when Wu whispered ever so quietly ' Just mark him as an idiot and move on.'

She looked at Qui with serious eyes. ' Please excuse my husband, watching from the highest point of the fight, but he can never learn when to stick his foot in his mouth.'

Sky nodded, trying not to smile.

A fantasy escaped his forbidden thoughts again, this one very similar to the first fantasy he ever had about Wu, but a little different none the less.

This time she had Zu with her walking in. He makes a pass for her and she starts yelling at him telling him how much she hates him and never wants to see his old man face again. He gets hostile and Sky steps in.

'Leave her alone Zu!' His voice was powerful and manly, Zu shrunk in a little.

'She likes me.' Zu squeaks in a little girls voice.

Wu, clutching onto Sky's arms shrieks. ' I never liked you! I love Sky! Why don't you ever listen!'

Sky laughed as "Zu" fly his fist towards her, but Sky hit him first. Making his head ring like a bell. Making him lay on his back in the Heart of the Empire. Wu bringing Sky's face around cheers.

'My hero!' And leans up to kiss him.

'Sky!'

Sky jumped disorientated, Wu standing there was a small cut on the top of her eyebrow looked at him curiously. 'Sky that was my third fight and you didn't even blink, and I fought hard for your see in the stands! What in the name of the Water Dragon were you thinking about?'

Sky blinked at her incomprehensibly. Then a flicker came to him. ' If I'm going to be honest, and I think honesties the best policy here, then I can't tell you.' He laughed as she rolled her eyes and flicked towards Qui.

He grabbed her shoulder forcing her to look at him in the eyes. Her black eyes glistened and he stared at the women who at this moment, he openly thought himself in love with.

'You inspire the distracted moment, and who am I to fly in the face of decorum?'

Her eyes widened, and she slightly mouthed. ' I don't understand.'

Sky took her to the stairs of the creature pen where they were more or less alone. ' A women who is as skilled as she is beautiful is rare, but I've met that combination before. And when I learned of your honour and kindness I discovered I can't ever figure out how to deal with you. So I look like a flirting fool following you around.'

Wu giggled softy, 'I don' know, I don't mind a little flattery once and a while.'

Sky half smiled, heart pounding out of his chest. ' You see? Now your flirting with me, And I'm left here, stammering. So you leave me to dream about the possibilities someday, though.. I hope I'll rectify that situation. But anyway, you go, you win! And I'll meet you at the gates after you beat the Qualifying round.

He took a seat beside a courtesan and a betting loser who hoped loudly that Hapless Han would kick her ass. Sky laughed loudly taking a large bet on Wu, Hoping for the last laugh.

When the gong rang a seriously beaten man with cuts, bruises and black eyes.

Wu smiled and waved at him, and Hapless Han smiled back. Wu as Han kicked the air in a threatening way, threw her sword down on the ground and settled into the Legendary Strike pose.

'Hey there sweet thing, Come here often?' flirted the Courtesan. She rested her head on Sky's shoulder as he watched Wu slowly walk up to Hapless.

Qui, who was sitting in front of Sky looked back curiously and disgusted. Which caused Sky to remember the lie Wu told so he could get this seat.

Sky removed her from his shoulder. She smelled strongly of wine and sweat. 'No I only come here when my wife.' He point towards Wu, who had just kicked Han in the chest. 'fights.'

The Courtesan shot a nervous look at Wu as the bell went and Wu cheered along with her crowd. She quickly got up and left towards where she left towards the smashed Whirlwind at the bar. Sky smiled at the idea of what she might get from Whirlwind as he got up to wait for Wu outside the fighting gates.

'You were amazing Wu!' Sky shouted as people took her hand as she left with a beaming Hapless Han. Wu, catching the sight of him she smiled at him and as Qui raised an eyebrow. Wu rushed into Sky's arms and he spun she around on the spot, they played their parts well.

'You watched?' She whispered into his ear. He did not respond. He only beamed.

Slowly as the congratulations drifted away and the fans rushed to the tavern Qui came up to Wu.

'I knew you'd have a nevitable victory! Also, I wanted to let you know that a women who was all in black and veiled said she was still waiting to see you. And that you'd know where.'

Wu's face paled as she nodded. Her star drifted off into space as she stared at nothing. 'Silk Fox…'

Sky took her hand and smiled, 'Don't worry Wu, I'll protect you.'

Wu's dark deep wide eyes locked onto his. And she shook her head. ' Go get Dawn Star. I need her… talents.'

'But-'

'No! Sky go! I need her right now!' Wu snapped crossing her arms glaring. She was not angry in the way she was in Tein's Landing. This time it was more of a command.

Sky's face grew into a shade of red and stalked off into the street. Grumbling to himself about the fact that he was a able man who was ready to protect her, and how she would need to see spirits of the dead.

Stalking into came he took his place by the fire beside Whirlwind. And hissed through his teeth at Dawn Star ' The Tavern. She's waiting for you.'

Dawn Star nodded and rubbed Sky's shoulder. After a look of worry she ran off to find Wu. Zu, slowly and unsure came up.

'Sky.' Zu muttered as Sky stood up to face him.

Sky nodded.

'Thank you. For the staff I mean. I owe you for it. As well as my apologies. I have been unnecessarily cruel.' Zu set his jaw and forced out the his darkened hand. Sky, shocked by this outcome took it hesitantly.

'Don't Worry about it.' Sky muttered. He couldn't understand why Zu was doing this, as Zu forced out a smile before returning to his spot in the corner.

Wild Flower ran over and hugged Sky around the leg as well. ' Thanks for Lily, Sky.'

Sky smiled and ruffled her hair, her eyes went blue and Sky muttered. 'Hello, Chai Ka.'

The demon put a smile on Wild Flowers face, which in Tho Fan he announced ' It was a very nice thing for you to do. After all this hardship the small kindness made her journey much easier. You have my thanks as well.'

Sky smiled as Wild Flower blinked and rushed over to brush Lily's hair.

The sky began to darken when Sky heard Dawn Stars pants and running foot steps. Her face was terrified was when said. ' Silk Fox had a plan to get closer to Deaths Hand. She wanted information to get us to the Palace. Wu sent me away so they could discuss the details but I know the goal.'

Zu and Sky both stood up. 'What is it Dawn Star?' Zu asked, terror sounding in his voice. Dawn Star shook and tears welled up.

'Wu's going to join the Lotus Assassins.'

Both Sky and Zu yelled out loudly. It ringing above the sounds of the city on the other side of the launching pad.

Zu's was the sound of pure rage.

Sky's was the sounded of terror and fright.