Chapter 15
Wu the Lotus Blossom
"We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are."
Wu the Lotus Blossom:
'Gasp!'
Wu sat up straight her hair flying in her face as dawn rose.
She stared at her hands, confused as they shook. Wu was memorized by them.
How broken could she truly see herself as? Would she hurt her friends today? Hurt Sky?
The things that Master Li aid in her dream rang in her ears, and ever syllable pained her like a mortal wound. She knew that her friends had to die for her to start her journey with motivation of the pain.
But was it truly necessary to solidify her fears? Or was the Glorious Strategist loosing his touch because he was truly threatened?
One of Wu's hands traveled to Sky's side of the bed. He should wake up and get ready. They would be here soon.
Instead she gripped something that felt like her clothing.
She looked over; indeed her clothing was folded on his side of the bed. His things were all packed and every little relic of his presence was gone.
For a moment Wu doubted it ever existed.
Had she actually died? Gone to the Underworld and fought back for Sky? And then he told her he loved her and she had given herself to him? Soul, mind, and body…
Wu leaned back onto her pillow. Yes. And she was truly at Dirge, alone after what had, at the time seemed what like the most magical time of her life, and now she was nothing better then a courtesan.
She curled in on herself, tears of sorrow and guilt running across her beautiful face. The sadness of The Closed Fist closed on her heart.
Sky of the Green Plains:
'There's nothing that you can offer me.' Sky glared up at the dead like mask on the odd mans face. It was the only thing he could do; he was tied up by his wrists and on his knees.
How sickening that he finally belonged to Wu and he disgraced her by being weak and letting his guard down to get caught. He had been so thrilled by the prospect that he really would have a future with Wu that he allowed himself to be sneaked up on.
The Man spoke; Death's Hand and it sent million's of chills down Sky's spine. 'Sky, even if what I'm offering was your daughter and wife? Surely you might consider them.' He pulled out a red gem that glowed like the morning sun.
Pinmei and Tiger Lily appeared in front of them; completely see through. A see through Sky standing handsomely at their side smiling and kissing Tiger Lily and Pinmei on the cheeks; but also looking at Sky tensely, as if commanding him to pick this life. Did Death's Hand consider Sky seeing himself beside his old family a weakness? Days ago it might have been, but Sky of the Green Plains had died the moment he rescued those slaves in the Pirate Camp. The moment Wu opened her mouth; he had closed his eyes and drifted away with a smile. His eyes had opened, and he had lived again; finally.
Also, wouldn't Death's Hand just kill him to give him back his family? There was no way Sky would take anything the "man" would offer him.
But Death's Hand did not really need to know that.
Sky threw himself onto the ground at Death's Hands feet, weeping tearlessly. 'Please! I'll do anything! Just give me my Lily and Pinmei back!'
He felt the change in Death's Hand mood; it had the aura of victory. 'Excellent.'
Wu the Lotus Blossom:
Wu's face was blank as she descended from the temple of her Great Mistress, as if she was passive of the events that were about to conspire. Was she truly? Or was this truly stills the pain of being nothing more then a permanent courtesan to Sky?
Wu blinked pushing her eyebrows together. Speaking of Sky…
'Sky left a few hours ago!' Hou answered her puzzled look nervously; anyone could tell from his facial expression he was terrified for the on coming war. Or perhaps it was Sky's sudden disappearance that had him flustered, which Wu could not tell.
'There he is!' Dawn Star pointed with a grin.
Sky came into view, and despite herself Wu's heart warmed as he looked at you with agonized and loving eyes. She was terribly angry with him.
Then why did her legs still move towards him?
'Are you alright?'
Sky smiled her favourite small smile, making her heart beat and un-rhythmic pattern again. 'Sure.' He grinned wider. 'As soon as the bleed stops I'll be as good as new!'
His smile faltered, 'I tried to see how many they had in there army before you awoken Wu.' His eyes were pleading, as if trying to explain.
'Wu, there are more then we originally thought. There are thousand's of Assassins and Golem's too. We didn't bury them all; there were a lot more, including Siege Golems.'
Kang laughed in a devilish form. 'Oh… I've heard about those! They're able to crush walls and throw an ox… well pretty darn far!' He grinned in an excited way.
Everyone stared at him, silence thick as butter in the air. They were all boggled by his apparent enthusiasm by the things designed to brutally murder them.
'We can't allow them to get to Dirge!' Wu exclaimed fearfully. This was her home; in its ruined state she would loose the little piece she had left if they marched into it.
'Your right,' Sky said loudly, he looked at Kang. 'We need to destroy the bridge.'
Kang's eyes lit up like a child with a new toy, he smirked and ran off shouting that what Sky had asked for was set in place. Sky nodded as Kang the Mad ran out of sight.
Dawn Star and Silk Fox looked at each other for a short moment, and then took off at full speed to catch up to the dangerous man.
That Mad old Fool. Wu thought indulgently.
Sky tapped Wu on the shoulder. 'Wu, if I stay by your side I'll be a burden you can't afford. The one's that make it to the temple should be small enough for me to handle, I should protect there.'
Of course he wouldn't want to fight beside her.
Wu nodded coldly. 'I'll keep them off you.'
Alarms sounded, and a roar followed a big blast. Flyer ran overhead; Sky limped off towards the Temple. Wu knew what was happening and she looked at Hou and Whirlwind at her side. 'It's starting.'
Sky of the Green Plains:
Sky shifted the last exploding casket, feeling horrible. He couldn't understand Wu's facial expressions; why did you look at him so… coldly?
'Ring the bell when the doors are locked, I want no one to disturb Wu and I' these words still frightened him. But now that he knew Wu's training was flawless, he should not worry.
But he did; of course he did.
'Sky of the Green Plains, come here.' The voice was unfamiliar, but Sky thought he knew who called his name.
He turned to see a beautiful blue women standing before him.
'Are you the Water Dragon?' Sky asked nervously; she was a god, he did not want to disgrace her.
Sky assumed she could sense that, because she smiled and waved him forward. He rushed over to her, and cow towed low.
The water Dragon laughed 'Do not bow Sky of the Green Plains. I have come here to warn you.'
Sky stood up straight, as if to talk to her normally. The idea of talking to a god casually! Absurd!
'Wu has embraced the darkness in her heart. I do not know why, but I suspect it was faulted by you or me, for no one but us have been fully allowed in her soul.'
Ah, Sky understood. Of course, it was because she woke up along after their night of passion.
Sky's guilt went into spiral mode; Wu must have felt like a courtesan with a blade.
The Water Dragon nodded, as if she heard his thoughts; maybe she could. She moved to look at her fountain. 'Wu is my last hope. All of our last hope, but you knew that didn't your Sky of the Green Plains?'
Sky nodded feeling awkward. 'I wouldn't have taken the "necessary beating" to get back if I didn't know she would need Death's Hand here.' He turned his mind off, trying not to remember the painful beating that Sky took from the Lotus Assassins.
The Water Dragon again, looking at her status's dragon face. 'I sent you to her you know.' She looked at his shocked and angry facial expression out of the corner of her eye. 'No I did not kill your daughter and wife. But you were alone and unhappy; and Wu would be a few years later. I saw if I led you two together you'd make each other happy again and you would become the stone in the storm for Wu. So I made GAO look over the Pirates Lair and also forced Kang's crash so Wu would come to get the Dragonfly. You two needed each other, and both tragedies made each of you made for the other.'
Sky stared at the blue women, flabbergasted. He knew this, but to know that their love was approved by the stars.
It was so comforting.
The Dragon turned to him and held out her hand scaled and clawed, he took it feeling the odd texture.
He saw how things would be after all this was finished. Wu would be the main adviser of the Empress and the Imperial Army leader for years. But then she would become with child; and become a true Spirit monk at Dirge. He would be with her; ruling The Guild and living at Dirge with Wu and their children.
'If Wu chooses right, she must choose herself. We can not choose for her.'
So this was still in the air was it?
'What can we do to help her?' Sky asked desperately. He craved for his future, the one where he promised himself he'd make Wu his wife.
The Water Dragon smiled and touched the rope that rung the bell. 'Pull this when I leave, lock Wu in with Death's Hand. This is where her choices begin.'
She walked to the balcony watching Whirlwind slaughter every foe in sight with a grimace. 'Pity the world if Wu fail's Sky of the Green Plains. She's the Last Spirit Monk. But truly, it may be you that decide for her wither she fails or successes.'
The Dragon faded and Sky limped over to the rope, pulling with all his strength to give the signal, he looked at Death's Hands flyer coming closer. 'Forgive me Wu…' He breathed as he heard Wu's graceful footsteps. He limped over to the main door hiding behind it. Wu ran in, looking panicky.
'Sky, are you all right?'
He slammed the door behind her looking it. Then limped over to her and kissed her strongly. 'I'm so sorry I left you this morning, I love you! And you have to trust me on what I'm, doing now.' Tears fell down his face, terrified tears.
Wu gripped the top of Sky's shoulder's 'Sky! What have you done!' Her face was horrified.
'Hold on! You'll like what I have to say! … I hope.' He glanced at the flyer that was almost here. She looked at saw what he saw. She saw a flyer with Death's Hands marking on it flying towards the temple balcony.
She staggered back from him her face paling. 'You betrayed me.' Her shocked face mixed with tears that fell from her widened eyes.
'No Please! Wu listen to me!' Wu drew her blade pointing it at him, the tears still falling.
'Explain. Right Now Sky.' Her face frozen as ice, she threatened to kill him wither no wavering in her eyes.