Shining

“See? You have nothing to be so enraged about. My wife, after all, in exchange of her heists and despotic reign, had died shamefully.”

           “ W-what…? “ 

           It was clear that he knew. He touched her cheek with his hand just to kind of get her attention. He didn’t know about Irish culture but in Chinese culture, it’s kind of the same. Most people won’t remarry unless they believe that they have to and Qing’s wife died when birthing their only child. As of now, Qing walks the Earth for an eternity… Not being able to move on. 

          “C’mon, you, an elder? I think I’m older than you. Besides, I’m the same as you. I’m a widower. I just think Kiyoko needs a mother in her life but I’m not trying to force you! Of course not! It’s up to you! You can hate me for all I care, I just want Kiyoko to experienced what it’s like to have a mother so she doesn’t end up like me…” 

           Right now, his child is currently 15 years old and living with her grandparents on their mother’s side.

             “QING! STOP!”

THIS WAS NOT RIGHT! SHE COULDN’T HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS CORRECTLY AT ALL! NOW HE WAS ASKING FOR HER TO MOTHER HIS CHILD? THAT WAS- THIS WAS- ALL OF THIS! ALL OF IT WAS IDIOTIC!

Sure they enjoyed each others company and kept things light but.. They didn’t know one another! Qing didn’t know about the war she was bound to just as she did not know what scaled fates he possessed. It was all.. Sightseeing or food, or just time together in carelessness of life. Forgetting the world while hand picking aspects of it to experience.

This friendship was anything but normal, which is probably what lead her to be stricken with silence. A gap in shock of it all. It had been common for people to flock in attention to one beside a King but right now, they weren’t kin to the relationship between that of a Queen to her people. Just that of two flowers blowing in the breeze taking in the same sun. On the same ground with no intentions other than to do just that.

“ What? I can’t love you? “ 

           Of course he loved her even if she didn’t love him back.            He’d always be the one who would say such strange things            but what did she expect, she’s talking to Qing. He’s usually            so optimistic and loving. He brought her close by using his            arm to pull her inwards towards him. 

“ Lottie, I loooooooove you sooo much~! You’re just so beautiful and amazing~! I looove you~! “ 

             "Y-YOU CANT! I’M-"

              Saying she was married wasn’t a very accurate anymore was it?... Ack.. but to say widow was equally as terrible.. Considering Irish tradition even now didn’t stray too far from the custom of one possessing a single partner in their lifetime, it wouldn’t be that weird to blurt. Although.. Both of them already had.. Died. So.. Did that apply anymore? Come to think of it.. She knew nothing when it came to Chinese culture and its matrimony practices.. What if this was normal? OH IT DIDN’T MATTER! WHY DID SHE EVEN WASTE TIME ON IT?!

“I see. So this is what it’s all about. Does it offend you? Does it leave a sour taste to your mouth knowing that my dear wife Medb, as tyrannical and power hungry as she is, remained glorified and loyally worshiped by her own men and her kingdom? That even now as we speak, her reputation still continues to precede her? While your King’s reign… what? Ended without a doubt and went unappreciated. If it pains you so much, maybe your King shouldn’t have died, eh? You say Medb threw tantrums. The way I see it, it is you who is being a child about this.”

   ‘ Gee. You sure have a way with words, don’t you? ‘

   ‘ I’m a harsh individual but it doesn’t mean I lack a soul. ‘

   ‘ I loved my children and raised them much like any other mother. I just trained them to be warriors, legends in their own right. ‘

   ‘ Is that really somethin’ you wanna get into? ‘

Soon had been reading his phone carelessly.  His slow service made the message load at a snails pace. He didn’t get the chance to read it, phone falling out of hand as a brute smashed into him. “Hey..you’ve got some nerve-” His words cut off as his eyes fell on a cute girl in front of him.

Suddenly, his posture straightened, and he rubbed the back of his obsidian mane nervously. “My fault..I wasn’t paying any attention.” He bent down, and retrieved his phone.

             “Are you sure? I don’t think I’ve ever rammed into someone as hard as I have you.. Takes two tango I guess eheh..”

             Shaking off the abrupt clash of worlds with a mild laugh the situation didn’t feel any less tense. What was the common courtesy thing to do in this time again? Offer some form of compensation right?

   ‘ —No. It doesn’t. ‘

“I… I see. I know I can’t exactly do anything to stop it but if it does happen… I’ll be waiting for you to return. I don’t care if it happens, I just care about your return.” 

           It would be the same as last time, he would only get to enjoy            the simple things. These simple things should be accounted for            though. He pressed his lips against her cheek, just a tiny kiss            for comfort. For Qing, it was always the here and now. He didn’t            like thinking about the future. He was immortal though, he wasn’t            a son of a dragon for nothing. 

“Besides, I’m sure next time won’t be for a long while, right? We can enjoy having each other around for now. I’ll keep loving you no matter what!”

              "Yes of course, just.. Don’t wait too long. Trust me when I say doing something like that will be the death of you.”

               Given her own life prior had lead to quite a dragged on death from estranged emotions and indeterminate fates the reality of her choices were much more apparent in this second life. Oh Qing.. You poor boy. Even deluding the fact she had returned as a sign it would last-- WAIT WHAT WAS THAT LAST PART? Surely she’d heard it from children or those considered family. But a guy? Sure they had spent time together. and.. oh no.. Was she that kind of woman? Impossible! Leading someone on was impossible! She’d never!

        "L-LOVE?!

                          She hadn’t even realized someone was right around the corner before slamming right into them. Considering her perceptive nature was now suspect, it took quite a bit before Séarlait finally worked up an apology.

“Welcome back.”

For a moment it was as though nothing had changed. As if he had returned victorious with Lugh and the others. Ah, if only he had! She had ever been there for him. His constant companion and source of no small comfort. Would that he had done more by her. He had much time for endless introspection, after all.

There was much to say. Much to talk about. But so much of it was lost in those simple moments of reunion. A lovers reunion? No, sadly. A reunion of unrequited feelings. As ever, there was no saying whether or not Nuada realized it. Regardless, her embrace was a welcome breath of familiar air.

“Pity that our meeting must in such…unfortunate circumstances.” His tone was an attempt to remain light. But the reality was not lost on him. As fine as the embrace was, all would inevitably end in violence.

              “I wouldn’t think of it like that. I’d be honored to watched the majesty of your fighting once more. Those worthy of your blade will agree. I’m sure of it.” Inevitably, he would kill her too. That was accepted from the start. Who else could make the final chapter of her existence as glorious? So long as this name carried on victorious, nothing else mattered.

              “Something so breathtakingly priceless is adequate for this situation. Rejoice in it, mourning is for the dead!”

               Back in the day such a statement might cause for cheering over spilled mead and a grand feast. Now... They were all dead already weren’t they? Making even less to be sad over! That’s right! Puffing our her chest with a huff, his hand was taken into her own. Time to rid her King of these silly feelings of pity! He was alive! He needed to conquer just as before!

“That may be so. Then again, why do you care? It was her land and she was given the right to rule. She led men in ‘petty’ wars as you call them, but most of the time Connacht was rewarded. It was due to her that we thrived. Men would go to war by her order and they would be grateful. They will show their gratitude either by giving us victory or dying with honor. We all possess selfishness. She only happens to be more honest and less pretentious about it.”