After The Rain (Yen Wang, Open)

[Sun Qing Liang]

After the Rain


After fainting in the middle of a field, plagued with tall grass; Liang awoke. She couldn't find the energy to pull herself up so she quit and laid there looking at the stars. She knew she was dieing, but there were so many reasons she could think of. Depression was only one of those reasons. A week had passed from the time she felt the first sign of her illness. Blood was coursing through her throat when she coughed, now it was fainting all of a sudden. She knew her time would come soon enough. Tears rolled down her pale face. The pain was just too much to bare anymore.

Water trickled over her face, her tears soon to be camouflaged by the rain. Her heart was breaking and the heavens were acknowledging it. Lightning cracked through the skies and thunder began to engulf her ears. It was painful to say the least, but she needed to save her energy to be able to breath. She watched the rain fall onto the dry soil and nourish the ground once more. " Shield my pain, my suffering. Shroud my existence in a dark veil and give my soul the peace it deserves." She said with all the energy she could muster upon herself. She could almost feel death's presence strike it's cruel stare upon her weakened form. A strong urge to cough emerged from her mouth and blood spewed out into the air. " Let my....soul escape....to heaven. Please just give me some peace." She cried out. The life was leaving her more rapid than she had expected, but she was still alive and feeling every painful breath.

She forced her eyes shut hoping the lights will leave her pupils. The pain was too much for her to deal with, but the more she tried to pray for the end;the more the pain had worsened. The images of Mi and ShangXiang plagued her mind. Her emotions were ravaging her body as she started to feel nothing. It wasn't death's embrace, but the conflicting emotions she felt left her with nothing. "Let my existence be forgotten like it should have been. The earth shall hide the evidence, and the shadows will hide the truth." She said. She never thought she would speak those words, but now anything was possible. She could sit here for hours, maybe days to be tortured and ridiculed by death's gruesome voice. She energy quickly left her and she fainted once more, in hopes that it would be the last. Alone to be forgotten in the waves of ancient ruin.

[shinsayaken]

Ly'rea ran through the tall grass as rain started to fall. If she didn't hurry her clothes would be drenched. Her bow weighed heavily and bounced painfully with each step she took. Small as it was, it really was too large for her to use easily. As the grass go wetter she tripped and fell face first into the mud, her bow flying from her hands.

She scrambled to her feet and started casting around for her lost weapon. When she had located it she slung it over her shoulders before turning to head back to her room. Then she noticed something else in the grass. A body. Horrified, she stuck her hand to her mouth and nibbled on her nails. What was she to do? She thought she should dig a grave for the person but she had nothing to dig with. Maybe whoever it was was just sleeping? She hadn't gotten close enough to tell for sure it was a corpse, so she should go check on it.

"H...hello?" She cautiously inched her way towards the body, shaking all the way. "Are you alright?" She crouched down next to the person. She didn't want to touch a dead person it was creepy. But she didn't want to leave without knowing for sure if the woman was dead. Slowly she grabbed her bow and poked the stranger's cheek a couple times.

[Yen Wang (Burai)]

Yen Wang was on his way home, it suddenly began to pour. He went to Jian Ye, the land of cowards. He was off looking for a gift, but sadly he didn’t find any that would suit his needs. He decided to take a short cut through some fields and grasslands. Yen Wang causally walked through the grassland, he enjoyed the rain. Off in the distance he saw what appeared to be a little girl and a corpse.

He was curious if such a small child killed a person. He or she would be a value asset to his army. Or his own personal guard. No one would suspect a child to be so dangerous. Yen Wang run toward the two figures; his run was more of a leisurely trot. He didn’t feel like putting forth much effort.

[Sun Qing Liang]

Unconscious because of the pain, Liang appeared to be dead. Her heart was dying while her spirit was dwindling. Her life was in ruins right before heaven's door, but something had been keeping her earthbound. She could still feel the pain and feel the rain fall on her body. " I don't stand a ghost of a chance, to get back to my so-called life." She thought while enduring the painful embrace that induced her heart. She felt something stab at her and added to her pain. She had no choice but to let out the pain and she moaned out in misery. Her condition was getting worse with every second that passed, which seemed like years to her.

She gathered the strength to open her eyes and tears poured out. She looked towards the source of the stab and saw a small child, a girl. She felt like laughing, but it was like the pain was better at hiding the simple signs of happiness than her. " You should go home before you do see a dead body at your age." She said in a pained voice. She used up all her energy to give the girl that warning. She knew what it was like to see death's embrace at such a young age. Liang's life wasn't something to be proud of, but she kept fighting the pain. She remembered a poem she had written while it was raining like this.

"Are you crying or is it the rain
Falling down to wash away your tears
Are your crying or is it your pain
I see glistening in your eyes
say you want me to be near
Want those tears to disappear"

She had been wronged again and again by men who had seemed to love her, but only wanted her family's riches, or just wanted the amenities of having a wife. Liang wanted something real, something that she could hold onto whenever she was sad or stressed. Someone to tell her she was worth the world to them. She looked up and ignored the fact that something was approaching them. If it was an animal or predator Liang would fight the pain and protect the girl until she got away, then lay down the die.

[shinsayaken]

The woman was still alive! Ly'rea wasn't sure how to react. She had to help her. Take her town? No, she was too heavy for a child to carry. Could she get up on her own? Unlikely. What to do, what to do? Ly'rea began pacing rapidly for a moment. I'll go get help! Turning, she sprinted off and nearly ran straight into someone. "Help! You've got to help! She's hurt!" Ly'rea's eyes finally made it to the man's face, and she froze.

[Yen Wang (Burai)]

The girl began to scream for help. Her screams startled Yen Wang ran began to churn his legs faster; his trot became a full out sprint. His hair bounced around effortless as he ran. He groaned as he felt his hair began to move. His hair would appear messy and unkempt. though he could pull off the look. he always wanted to look his best.

the girl met him half way. He recognized the girl, Rasa's concubine"Ly'rea was it?" He said looking at the girl. "Whats the matter? You get separated from your hero Rasa!?" He laughed as he made his comment, if Rasa were here he would reply with something witty. Yen Wang knelt down in front of her, "I will take care of everything, rest assured. Just lead the way."

[Sun Qing Liang]

(OOC: Skip my turn)

[shinsayaken]

Hesitating a bit while she thought about if she could trust Yen Wang, Ly'rea danced from one foot to the other. Then she spun around and sprinted off towards the injured stranger. "This way," she called hoping he would follow. She nervously hovered around the girl trying to decide what to do.

[Yen Wang (Burai)]

Yen Wang rubbed his temples as he watched Ly'rea prance about. "Argh...This is going to be interesting." Yen Wang casually walked after Ly'rea. He was trying to figure out what had her in such a fuss. "If she butchered the figure, why would she ask for help? Perhaps she wants to make the body disappear?" Yen Wang didn't feel like picking up after other peoples messes. But, Ly'rea was close to his subordinate Rasa.

Yen Wang arrived at the body and groaned, "Out of all the bodys that have to be found by Ly'rea. She finds the 'Nagging Shrew,' how ... fortunate.." He sighed again, "Fate seems to have a sense of humor, or a chip on its shoulder."

[Sun Qing Liang]

Liang's reasons for fighting began to wither away to nothing. Her chances weren't getting any better as the rain drops hit her cold flesh. She saw the girl come back with a familiar man. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. His cruel words pierced through her ears. She looked at the moon as it made her eyes shine as bright as the sun. She used some of her hoarded energy to place her hand on her chest and could feel her heartbeats flutter. The life was being taken away from her as the one she talked so highly of cursed her corpse.

Tears poured out of her eyes. Her body was becoming numb, her heart was breaking, she knew every single thing happening to her made it obvious that she was going to die tonight. " Kill me, let me die, do w-whatever....I'm already there. I don't have the w-will to "nag" anymore..." She said with the abundance of her energy. Her eyes wouldn't close, but she could feel Death's presence circling around her, or maybe it was just him. Without moving her head Liang looked at the girl. " I'm sorry....y-you have to see my life fly away like t-this..." She turned on her side away from the two and let the last wave of tears descend from her jaded eyes.

[shinsayaken]

(OOC I'll skip this one)

[Yen Wang (Burai)]

Yen Wang looked down at her, and felt strange. He wasn’t comfortable with this feeling. Sehe was weak to give up. A candle that lost its flame; weakness was meant to be destroyed. Yen Wang slowly brought his left hand to his right forearm. He pulled metal part of his glove down, while simultaneously extended his fingers. He made sure the glove was snug around his fingers. As his fingers, a memory of Burai entered his thoughts.

He closed his eyes and watched the memory play beneath his eyelids. Burai found a wounded woman in a bed of flowers. He knelt down, secured her and patched up her wounds. Burai took the woman back to his home and laid her in his bed, where he watched her till he fell asleep. The memory ended there. Yen Wang opened his eyes and sighed. “I see...” Yen Wang thought about his predecessor’s actions. “Why am I cursed..Beautiful woman haunt me even in this form.” He was starting to be more aware of his weakness, but perhaps accepting it would give him greater strength?

He slowly crouched down beside her; he leanded forward and slowly brought his right hand under her neck. And Yen Wang brought his other hand under her lower thigh. “I’m glad you are so eager to let me have my way.” He slowly stood up with her in his arms. “Look.. See that star in the sky, that continues to shine through the clouds and rain.” He paused hoping she would take notice. “That is your star, if you give up that star will fade and wont return tomorrow night to brighten the night sky…”

Yen Wang looked down at her and groaned, “If you need a purpose. Nag me until your hearts content.” His pride wouldn’t allow him to admit he liked having Liang around. She was the second woman he met after his awakening. “If you refuse I will grant you your final and give you what you so desperately seek.”

[Sun Qing Liang]

Liang looked in the direction Yen had pointed and saw a star among others. Her jaded eyes opened wide as she saw it's brightness. She turned her head and looked into Yen's eyes. She didn't see the man he was on the outside. He heart warmed and she felt more at peace even in this time of struggle. She never saw this side of him and she never wanted him to let go of her, but Mi's words still ran through her head. So many insults, assumptions, Liang didn't know what to think. Whether to get mad or curious was a decision she knew only her heart would make.

She turned back and looked at the star. Its light shined in Liang's eyes and she prayed. She wasn't a religious person, but she felt like she didn't have any other choice. She prayed for the strength to fight this illness. She closed her eyes and whispered those words. She looked at Yen and smiled. " No more nagging, I have my purpose." She said. Her heart told her to ignore all his rude behavior, but she saw right through his shell. The one sincere moment was all she needed to prove that Yen Wang wasn't a name to describe him.

She tried to hold back the urges to show Yen everything. Her love, her obsession everything. She felt that this wasn't the right time, she wanted to hear his answer when he wasn't so....beside himself. This was the real person Liang had fallen in love with, but to admit something so pure as affection in a state of so much pride would show that love was strong enough. She placed her hand on his shoulder as a pain in her head coursed through her brain. "Not again." She grunted. She tried to persevere through the pain without clenching his shoulder to tightly. "I'm sorry..." She said in a pained voice.

[shinsayaken]

Ly'rea watched her husband's lord care for the woman. She had been scared that he would simply ignore the stranger, or maybe kill her, but they seemed to have some sort of history with each other. Good, maybe there's some hope after all. She wasn't sure whom she meant there was hope for. The woman clutched at Yen Wang's shoulder. She remembered a darker time in her life and quickly followed where that road went, shoving aside everything that wasn't important. She wasn't a doctor but she had at least been taught simple remedies and first aid. She examined the patient as best as she could given that she couldn't touch her, nor could she see properly because Yen Wang carried the woman high, and she was still a child's height.

"She doesn't seem to be wounded, but I can't tell with clothes on. She might have been bitten by a snake. If you see any fang marks start sucking poison out from the wound. It probably won't make a difference, but at the very least it won't make it worse. She also needs a soft dry bed to lay in as soon as possible." Ly'rea did not want to be giving this man orders. He would kill her if he took offense to it. And he took offense to almost everything. "Get her to the inn as fast as you can, but don't shake her too much. That will make things worse. When you get there get those clothes off her. We don't need wet clothes making things worse, and we need to be able to examine for any injury that might be hidden under them. We'll also need a bowl of warm water, cloth, and tea. Make sure the doctor is sent for as well."

Ly'rea didn't care if Yen Wang took offense to being ordered around or not. The man was arrogant, prideful, vain, and stubborn as an ox, but the one thing he was not was foolish. Surely he would understand the importance of haste at this point in time, right? If he took offense she could apologize later. Besides if anything happened to her Rasa wouldn't accept it. She thought. Rasa. Honestly she didn't know what he would think if Yen Wang killed her. Sometimes he seemed to care, other times he ignored her. No, those thoughts could be explored another time. Right now there was work to be done.

[Yen Wang (Burai)]

Yen Wang held Liang in his arms firmly. He was prepared to end her life if she made that horrid decision to end her suffering. She made her choice; to his surprise she found her purpose. Yen Wang wasn’t one to pry in other affairs. She chose strength, and that is the only thing that mattered to him. His eyes shifted downward to catch a glimpse of her smiling at him. He quickly looked up at the sky, and avoided eye contact with Liang; she gripped his shoulder with immense force. He looked down at her and saw her struggling. “Tch, I am surprised you chose to battle this illness. When you are victorious I will welcome you into Konton-Kaze…” He took a deepbreath, “Noticed I said when you are victorious. Failure isn’t an option!”

The sound of someone nagging entered his ears. The sound brought an agonizing pain through his head. He turned around at stared at Ly’rea, who was silent up till now. A vein bulged on the side of his forehead, and began to pulsate. “One nagging shrew for another…the heavens torment me."Yen Wang was beginning to get annoyed by the girls orders. Who was she to tell him what to do? Wasn’t she the one that begged for his assistance? Wasn’t she all in a panic? These questions fluttered throughout his mind..

“Ly’rea I will say this once…listen closely.” Yen Wang took a moment to calm himself, “You are in the presence of the god of death. I am the Lord of rasa, don’t forget your place! This is as kind as I will say it. I will not risk upsetting my officers over something trivial.“ He casually took three steps forward. “I will not associate myself with the land of cowards. I recommend you carry her back to Jian Dong, if you feel so strongly.” Yen Wang turned away from her and began walking, “If not mind your tongue. She told me to do what I wish, you should follow her example.”

Yen Wang loosen his grip on Liang and readjusted her,, so he could rest against him. “I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t feel comfortable with me sucking on her, or touching her body thoroughly.” As he finished his last statement he looked down at her and grinned. “Though I could think of a person…who would,” he muttered.

Yen Wang was aware of the Liangs condition, but he wouldn’t allow anyone talk to him in such a way. Orders coming from someone’s concubine, such an crime to go unpunished. Ly’rea was lucky to walk away. Yen Wang had an urge to show her how just how merciful he was being.