Peaceful Afternoon [China][Past!]

[phoenixash]

[Thread takes place in the past, before the attack on the Village]

The pond, her favorite place in all of the village. She was one of the few children left brave enough to go near it, the adults had imprinted fear of it in the younger ones. She wasn't afraid of being punished, because she had no parents in the village. She had never had parents, she was a drifter, living with assorted families in town, or just sleeping out under the stars. It wasn't so bad, she got along just fine without a real family, she had brothers and sisters aplenty.

She had Yong Soo, the mad not-so-little Korean who was so full of life, the one whose height earned him the title 'Big Brother' by her even though she was older. She looked up to him because they were kindred spirits, two bonded through their ability to coexist in a manner that was akin to siblings. Then there were the young ones, the little boy who loved firecrackers and fireworks so, the little girl who was fascinated with great cats. The little rich brat who always blamed her for everything, much as she hated the girl she also felt connected to her. Even Kiku, who she was sure Yong Soo and herself had given enough trouble already in their moments of grand immaturity.

This pond was her haven, she knew it like the back of her hand. No detail out of place ever. She remembered where everything was, from the fireworks that were hidden under one of the bushes, kept for special occasions of havok to be wrecked, to the places where the wooden weapons were stored for her spars with Yong Soo. This all remained untouched in her little paradise, a private place to be with only those she cared for. They were the only ones who ever ventured down to the pond, even the adults kept away as if knowing this was their place.

She lay back in the grass of the hill with a smile on her face. She had never felt more at peace than that moment, content with everything around here and everything that had happened up until that point. Life was good, and she was carefree for the time being. Nothing to worry about, and nothing to make life miserable. She wished only that it could go on like that forever.

[Wang Yao]

Yao sighed, grimacing slightly as he rubbed at his neck tenderly; his back and shoulders stiff from sitting cross-legged on his bamboo mat all day, studying. Setting down his calligraphy brush, and glancing out the window of his small, one-roomed hut, he decided that taking a long walk down to the village pond would give him a much needed break.

Stretching, and stepping outside, Yao breathed in the fragrant mountain air deeply; the scent of bamboo and orchids hitting his nose first. It had been a long time since he had stopped to just look around at all of the beauty in his wake, and he felt especially nostalgic (if not old), just thinking about it. All around the outskirts of the village, Yao could see lush green forest extending towards the sky; the tree-tops spreading their branches ever further towards heaven, causing the brunette to silently question their destination, and if they would ever make it.

Treading down a long, narrow dirt path, Yao's footsteps bounced up and down, as he playfully hummed to himself. While Yizhi Village had not been his original home, Yao still felt inexplicably connected the mountains and hills that surrounded him. It was the same sort of strange, tingling feeling he got whenever one of his siblings did something familiar ¡­ it nagged at the back of his head, but with time, was ignored.

Walking out into a large, open clearing Yao's eyes fell on someone he hadn't expected to see. "Xiao meimei," he said, delighted to have someone to talk to, as he approached his adopted sister, Phuong. "What you doing here, aru?"

[phoenixash]

That voice-

"Chim ýng!" The word, used as a loving nickname for her elder brother, slid excitedly from her lips. She was happy to see him here. Cheerfully she sat up, answering his question with a friendly smile "I was just out here to relax, it's so peaceful here...none of the sounds of the village. Besides, the grass is comfier to lay on than the dirt or stones of the village." In otherwords, she had slept out by the pond the night before instead of seeking shelter with one of her brothers, or someone in the village at the very least.

She knew that she was going to be scolded for her bad behavior, but she didn't mind. Yao made the most amusing speaches when he wanted to make a point, he was such a mother sometimes. Of course, she knew that the worry behind any of his long rants was genuine. He cared for her, along with the other children in the village. Even the ones like Kiku that he didn't seem to get along with all the time. Then again, everyone had their moments of not getting along with at least someone in the village.

That was how families were, and they were a family. That's what the men who had brought them here had told them anyways. They were a big family now, and they had to get along and be friends. It seemed so strange, so silly. She didn't know if she believed any of it, but she didn't care. Family, friends, enemies. What did it matter what they were. They were just kids, none of them mattered in the big picture, they were just names and faces on a planet of millions. They weren't any more special than anyone else. Right?

[Wang Yao]

Yao furrowed his eyebrows, his dark gaze drifting over Phuong’s dirt covered arms and legs. “Xiao meimei,” he said again, an edge of displeasure in his voice. “If you need a place to sleep, all you need is ask, aru.” He didn’t like thinking about his sister alone and in the dark. Despite their village being nestled high in Lingyan mountains, it still worried the overly-mother-like brunette, and Yao could feel his face reflecting his concern.

He walked over and bent down, resting his hands on his knees. “I no want you out here tonight, xiao meimei. Come to the village and I take care of you.” He looked at his younger sister with fixed interest, letting her know that he wasn’t going to drop the subject until she agreed. It was his duty as an older brother, after all, to take care of and protect his siblings, and he felt especially close to Phuong. “Plus,” he continued, hoping to convince her with a small bribe. “I make you too-too delicious dinner, aru. How that sound?” Yao beamed.

[phoenixash]

Phuong sighed, agreeing calmly with a nod. "Fine...fine. I won't sleep by the pond again.." She smirked at him. "But you better be making a really good dinner!" She teased of course, everything Yao made for her was delicious. She was always just thankful to have food, even if she felt like a burdon. "I'm glad that you take care of me Yao.."

She moved close to him, pulling him into a tight hug. She was thankful that she had someone around who cared for her. She needed to feel wanted, needed. Yong Soo and Yao always found ways to make the orphaned girl feel like she belonged. They were the family that she had needed, and they weren't going to go away anytime soon. She needed them, and she needed them to know that fact. Without them what would she be?

Nothing. A wild girl living in the woods who came by the village hoping to get some food and maybe shelter. She would be a nobody. An unwanted child just trying not to starve to death in the wilds of god knows where.