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Post By Anime Jason Thu Apr 20, 2006 at 08:14:43 pm EDT |
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Adventures In Parodyverse: Sense of Loss | |
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Adventures In Parodyverse - Sense Of Loss Note: This edition is inspired by recent tie-ins and UT#268 Samantha Featherstone heard a door close a short distance from her room. Odd, because besides the room she was assigned in the attic, she didn't know of any other occupied rooms up there. Her heart beating quickly, she carefully followed the sound, and the soft 'thump' that happened immediately after, to a room directly at the opposite end of the top stair landing. She saw that door before and just assumed it was either an empty room or storage. Apparently it was more than that. The door was partly ajar, and dim light poured into the hallway through the crack. Sam pushed on the door and peeked inside. Lounging on a large, thick purple velvet futon couch was a Chinese girl, the elementalist known as Liu Xi Xian. Someone Sam hadn't really talked to yet because Liu Xi had a habit of making herself scarce, even around the mansion. Even now, Liu Xi wore white earphones and was listening to music while she stared out the window at the city of Paradopolis. "They all visited you, didn't they?" Liu Xi asked dreamily in a soft accented voice, without looking up. "They had an...intervention?" Sam went from nervous and frightened to relaxed again with a quick exhale. "Yes, they did," she replied. "Though I don't believe it's called an 'intervention'." "My grammar is not so good," Liu Xi shrugged. "I only learned English two years ago." Sam nodded. "You don't speak too badly," she tried to give some encouragement. "Anyway, I was wondering why you didn't join them." That last part was spoken softly, as if she wasn't sure if it was any of her business. Liu Xi turned around and looked at Sam, finally removing her earphones. "I don't belong with them," she said plainly. "Why not?" Sam's question was genuine, not meant to question Liu Xi's motives. "It's...complicated," Liu Xi replied. "I...don't really fit in with the Juniors, and I'm not experienced enough for the Lair Legion." Samantha thought for a moment and then laughed. "Oh, no...I meant why didn't you come along when they visited me?" "Oh. I'm sorry, sometimes I misunderstand." Liu Xi smiled briefly too. "I didn't visit you because I didn't wish to disturb you." "But I offered an invitation to everyone," Sam pointed out. "I am confused sometimes, but I know the difference between a courtesy invitation and a genuine one." Liu Xi left Samantha with that deep thought before resuming her staring out the window. Sam moved further into the room. "What do you think about when you stare out the window?" "About what might have been," Liu Xi whispered, almost sounding melancholy. "I have been separated from my parents, from my brothers, for quite some time now." "Were they killed too?" Sam asked. "They are still alive for all I know," Liu Xi replied with a sigh. "They sold me." It was easy to note the surprised expression on Samantha's face. "My family had more children than allowed," Liu Xi explained patiently. "Male children are preferred. They had a choice to give me to public adoption or sell me to private adoption. I was sent to...this country and groomed to be someone's wife." "You're a mail-order bride?" Sam asked, sounding amused at first. But then she turned serious and became apologetic when Liu Xi seemed hurt by her comment. "I'm sorry, that was rude. Please don't be angry." Liu Xi turned to face her and smiled encouragingly. "I'm not angry with you," she promised. "Would you like to sit?" "Thank you." Samantha politely sat on the purple futon couch next to Liu Xi and folded her hands in her lap. She still felt bad about nearly insulting Liu Xi. "I feel sad that you've lost so much," Liu Xi told Samantha. "But you still have plenty who love you, and even more who have sworn to take care of you." "I know." Sam hung her head. She didn't particularly like being reminded of her predicament. "Since I arrived here I have depended on kindness," Liu Xi continued. "I have been considering how I could possibly repay it." "I'm not sure what you mean," Sam admitted. She waited for Liu Xi to clarify, knowing now that the Chinese girl was difficult to understand sometimes. "I know now that I can repay them by helping you," Liu Xi explained quietly. She added a slight smile along with, "If that is okay. You are located across the hall from my lounge, after all." Samantha couldn't help but laugh at that last part. "Quite honestly, I have more than enough help here, but thank you." Liu Xi nodded. "Even so. Don't be afraid to ask me. And you can borrow this room if you wish." "Really?" Sam turned her head, following the arc of windows in the room before coming to a stop at a telescope facing the city. "I have been meaning to try one of those," she said, nodding toward the telescope. Liu Xi turned sideways on the couch. "Since the day I got here I've known that I can't stay forever...that's why I haven't asked to join the Lair Legion." She shrugged and shook her head once. "I have no place here, I'm not a hero. I am just a girl trying to find a place in the world." She sighed as if she just unloaded a heavy burden. "When I leave someday it would be nice to know everything I did here means something to someone." Samantha sat with her mouth hanging open for a moment before she finally gathered the courage to speak again. She closed her mouth suddenly and gave Liu Xi a slightly amused look. "It's nice that you're not a hero. You're easier to talk to that way." Liu Xi giggled at that. She stood and brushed her hair behind one ear, and urged Samantha to follow her. "Come with me," she said, as she led the way to the closet. Confused, Samantha followed anyway. --- A light rain fell on a green field in a breathtaking valley, snow capped mountains far in the distance. The air had a light misty chill to it but the sun was warm. A small town was visible in the distance to one side of them, and a two-lane paved road snaked off to the horizon. Standing among the tall grass, Samantha looked around herself in amazement. "Is this real?" she asked. Liu Xi explained as she touched the grass around her. "It is where I was born." She pointed at the distant village. "Right there," she said. Sam looked at Liu Xi and listened, but she didn't say a word. "I haven't been here since the day I was sold," Liu Xi admitted sadly. "I had the ability...but not the courage. I felt I needed someone to share it with." She took in a lungful of air and looked around again. "It's amazing...so much is the same. So much is different." "This is how it will be for me...if I ever return home." Samantha whispered. It was part question and part realization. "No," Liu Xi replied quickly, her eyes still pools of sadness in spite of the courage in her voice. "Because you can't wait as long as I did." She took another breath as a gust of wind tossed her hair. "Fear has taken so much from both of us. It will probably take more as our lives go on. Sometimes we have to take a little back." "Granddad Mumphrey said something like that once," Samantha whispered. "And he has seen the world." Liu Xi looked at Sam, and at the same time the look was returned. "Yes, he has." Sam whispered, looking across at the mountain tops in the distance. "Will you help me to see the world?" "I'll certainly help you," Liu Xi replied. "But the journey has to be your own. It's in your blood, it's your...legacy." "Liu Xi?" Sam asked, just before the Chinese elementalist offered her a hand to escort her back to the mansion. "I was wrong. You are a hero...just a different kind." "Don't say that." Liu Xi gave her an amused smile. "People will expect things from me." Samantha giggled at that as the sunlight and the field disappeared and was replaced with Liu Xi's attic hideaway once again. "Was that real?" she asked again. "Very real," Liu Xi replied with a nod. "But only a small taste." She shrugged slightly. "I would have taken you to the village but you don't speak Chinese and they dislike foreigners." "Can you teach me that too?" Sam asked. Liu Xi was taken aback. "Chinese? I've...never taught anything before." "Granddad Mumphrey always says I should learn languages, but he never has the time to teach me." "I will ask him--" Liu Xi stifled a laugh but couldn't stop her smile. "--how...to teach." she finished. Samantha nodded. "Thank you for cheering me up quite a bit," she said as she prepared to finally leave. "I hope to see you around soon." Liu Xi nodded and returned to her place in the couch. "See you," was all she said. TO BE CONTINUED? -- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2006 by Jason Froikin, and may not be -- reprinted without permission. -- Yuki Shiro designed by Jason Froikin, based on designs by Masamune Shirow -- Liu Xi Xian and the Psychic Samurai are original design by Jason Froikin -- Lara Night is an original creation by Jason Froikin |
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