Xiang was lying down in the field outside of town, sorrow in her heart. As much as she hated it, thoughts of past training sessions with Tsu ran through her head. It made her want to cry, but she had run out of tears quite some time ago.
She remembered eagerly running to her training sessions after working in the fields. Sometimes she'd show up dirty, sweaty, and reeking of the fields because she'd go straight from the fields to Master Tsu. She'd stay for hours, even skipping meals sometimes, until he said he was tired and that it was time to go home.
She remembered the prideful smiles he would give her when she accomplished something. Nothing seemed to make him happier than when she successfully performed the Burst Fist for the first time. That, in turn, made her happy. She remembered jumping in his arms, cheering that she had done it. It had taken seven years, but she did it. She had made her instructor proud.
How she longed for those days again. Knowing what she knew now, though, those days were long gone. There could be no going back.
What made it worse is that she asked for this. She's the one who chased Tsu through the city. She's the one who demanded answers. The despair she was feeling was entirely her fault. She couldn't even bring herself to move. She was broken and it was her own doing.
"Why did I do it? Why did I chase him down? I should have let him run away. I wish I'd never seen him again. I wish...I'd never left home."
"Xiang!" a voice called out in the distance. It sounded like Chika. "Xiang! Where are you?" The voice kept calling out. Was it getting closer? She couldn't tell.
She struggled to sit up and saw a light bobbing up and down. The voice was coming from that direction.
"Xiang Wenling! Please answer!" At that point, she knew it was Chika. The voice got closer and closer, gradually giving her visual conformation. She was alone.
Xiang plopped back down. It didn't matter who it was anymore. Nothing could fix the hole in her heart. All she wanted to do was lie alone in the darkness of the field.
"Xiang Wenling!" Chika said. She ran over, knelt down, and sat her up. "Are you injured?"
"Go...away," Xiang said.
"No," Chika said. She embraced her. "I shall not leave. Not while my friend is in pain. I know you are hurting. Allow me to help."
She could feel Chika's warmth, the smoothness of her skin, and the beating of her heart. She had only known her for a few days. When had they gotten so close? "Why..."
"Because you are genuinely a good person," Chika answered. "There are so few people like you in this world, I always attach myself to them when I see them. I do not have many friends, but it is about the quality of those friends, not the number. I consider you to be in that select group, so please let me in."
Xiang returned her embrace. "Oh, Chika..."
"To think, mere hours ago we were having fun and enjoying our time together," Chika said. "Then that man showed up..."
"I should have let him leave," Xiang said. "If I had done so, I could've continued to remember him fondly. I could remember him as the man who taught me so many things. He could have remained that person who gave me so much happiness as a kid." Her eyes stung, but tears would not come out. "Now I'm sitting here as a shattered woman because I relied on him so much."
"We can pick up the pieces together," Chika said. "I shall stay with as long as I have to until you feel better. Now come. Let us get back to the inn. That man is no longer there."
She felt Chika trying to help her up. With shaky legs and assistance, Xiang worked her way to her feet and stood. Maybe she'd regret asking this later but she did it anyway. "Did he say where he was going?"
"No, but I believe I saw him going to a bar," Chika answered. "He truly seemed remorseful about the situation. As detestably as he behaved, I do not believe he is bad person. After all, he did not turn into that monster. He could have, but did not."
"I know," Xiang said. "This whole time, he was trying to protect me from that monster. Still, it's hard for me to believe he was the monster. My entire foundation was shaken when I came to that realization." She lifted up her fist and looked at it. "My entire foundation... I can never view him the same way again. It hurts."
Chika grabbed her hand and they headed toward the city. "I'll be here as long as you need me. I'll assist you in any way I can."
"What about your adventure?"
"I can always go on an adventure," Chika answered.
"But I don't want to be a burden-"
"Silence," Chika said. "I won't hear of it."
They walked until they got back into the city. After a bit more walking, Xiang just happened to look in an alley. There, she saw the sight of Master Tsu, passed out with a bottle of liquor in his hands. Just when she thought she had no more tears to shed...
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