This story was lucky enough to receive fanart. Please go and check it out! [akaiakira(.)deviantart(.)com] Still, you should read the story first, so the picture won't spoil anything.

Introduction

"Okay, one last push!"

Screaming.

"It's done! You just received a healthy baby boy."

"Ran Fan! Did you hear that? A boy! Oh my God, a boy! Ran Fan, my dear, you did so great!"

She couldn't see anything.

"Where… Where is my baby?"

"It's right here. He is so beautiful. He looks like you."

Something warm was pressed against her chest.

She smiled exhausted.

"Welcome to the world, little one…"

The circle repeated itself, it seemed.

Screaming.

"That was difficult… I'm just so glad all three of you survived, my Lady."

"What is it this time?"

"In fact… There're two, my Lord."

"Gah…!"

She tensed.

Two?

"Do… Do you mean… Twins?"

"Yes, my Lady. Two wonderful girls."

"Is mommy alright?"

"Yes, she is. Go and welcome your sisters, Fuu."

Smiles and laughter.

They were all so happy.

She chuckled breathlessly.

"Give them to me…"

.

.

.

"Mother, can I go now?"

"Where to?"

"The training area. I want to ask Master Gen if he would show me that somersault he did yesterday."

"Alright then, but please come back soon. I wouldn't enjoy dragging you out of there by your ears."

"Mother, please! I'm right back. I promise." With these words the young boy made his escape.

"Mommy, we wanna go to!"

"Ming, darling, I thought you wanted me to show you the flower garden." Her mother smiled.

The little girl looked at her sister, obviously uncertain what to do now.

Li exclaimed: "But Brother is always allowed to go to the fighting grounds." She pouted. Her twin nodded and mirrored her expression. The two girls wore the exact same outfit: a light green dress that almost reached their ankles and an orange ribbon to hold back their long black hair. They were so adorable. Ran Fan knelt down to look her daughters in the eyes.

"Fuu is going to be a bodyguard. He has to train. You are still too young to join the fighting lessons." The woman stood up and wiped off the dirt on her knees.

The gardens were so big that the estate of the clan and the estate of the palace fitted in it both. They shared the ground and no one cared about that, especially now that Ling Yao was the emperor of Xing. Ran Fan sighed and half-smiled.

"Let's go, children. If we want to make it before nightfall we'll have to hurry."

The fields were in bloom. Colors greeted the females as they arrived at the area.

"Mommy, Mommy! Look!"

The twins ran toward the sea of blossoms. Li didn't hesitate to throw herself into the meadow nearest to them. She was still so small, she really could dive into the flowers. Ming started picking a couple of them and was busy binding a wreath. Ran Fan took the chance to rest a little. She sat down on the soft grass and started examining her automail arm. It worked fine but her joints began to squeal slightly. She had to get hold of some good oil to fix that. Her gaze wandered over the long garment she wore. Silk robes covered with a wonderful pattern. She remembered her unease when she first was forced to put such bright clothes on. Now she was used to it and she didn't mind anymore.

So ten years had really passed, hadn't they?

It was weird. She could recall the memories of her time in Amestris easily and every scene was so clear that it seemed all that happened just yesterday. Yet the past years with her family were blurred and the days swiftly followed by starless nights chased by, not bothering to stop. She stared into the sky as its blue shine faded away; becoming pale and lifeless. Her daughters were still playing in the fields and Ran Fan wondered where they took all the energy from. In the distance she could hear the screams of blades crashing against armor and the cries of the victorious boys. She closed her eyes and let the peace surround her, the melody of her laughing children filling her ears.

A dark presence developed, her senses tingled obscurely.

A shadow loomed up over her. Instinctively she drew her kunai, hidden beneath her dress, and was about to slit the newcomer's throat. Someone with such a fowl aura could just want harm and she wouldn't risk anything with the twins around. She just hoped they were far enough away to not see their mother kill. Before she could fully turn her body around to get the dagger near her opponent something hard struck her chest and made her lose her balance. Gasping she hit the ground. She neatly blocked her fall though and took advantage in the force with what they had kicked her to jump right up in the air. Ran Fan swirled her kunai around to get ready again and transformed her artificial limb, once proof of her uselessness, into a deadly weapon. She landed safely and with her usual elegancy she got into the fight again, cursing. Two men, covered in black clothes, faced her. Yet she couldn't see their faces for they were hidden by white masks, each one unique in their coloring. Ran Fan jerked to a stop as she realized what this meant. Those were the bodyguards of the Emperor! What did they do out here?

She forced herself to a relaxed posture.

None of them spoke. Neither did she. The three warriors just stared at each other waiting for the first to move.

"Stop it! Stop it, I said!"

"Master" all of them exclaimed. Two voices were deep and grave, expressing loyalty. The third one was female and utterly shocked. Ran Fan's whole body went numb as she became aware of what she almost had done. Her kunai fell to the floor.

Ling Yao, Emperor of the nation of Xing, stared down on her.

He smiled.

"Are you unhurt, Ran Fan?"

She nodded, wide-eyed.

"I…I… Master, I…" unable to finish the sentence she bowed as deep as she could. Her knees shook terribly.

"Please excuse the roughness of these two. They are as hot-blooded as you are." He snickered and offered her a hand.

She didn't touch him and raised her head still keeping her gaze down.

Ling turned around and waved the guards off.

One of them tried to protest: "Your Highness, I don't think you should stay behind unprotected."

"Oh, no worries. I'm well-guarded." He pointed at his former protector.

"But, master, this mere woman-"

"I expect you two to not interfere again this day. Go now."

After that the men vanished into the shadows, not arguing further.

The emperor sat down and patted the spot next to him, gesturing her to take a seat. Silently she obeyed and clenched her fists, resting on her thighs.

"Your royal Excellency, I apologize for my improper behavior and beg your forgiveness." She lowered her head. Ling stared at her as if she had slapped him rather than asked for excuse.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Ran Fan. I was the one who startled you. I think it proves a true warrior to never let your guard down. Not even if you're relaxing. By the way, it was a very lovely sight of you sitting there and enjoying the nature."

She didn't respond and started to pluck out some flowers just to tear them apart between her fingers.

"Listen, I'm very sorry I didn't get to see you before. There were just so many new duties and work I had to do. You wouldn't believe how awful it is to visit all these meetings and always someone wants a favor from you or asks for your permission to do or build something totally unnecessary. I mean how long has it been? Two years?" he shook his head.

Ran Fan couldn't suppress the sad smile that was developing on her face.

"It's been ten years, your Highness."

"What?" the man gasped. She could see his lips curl from the corner of her eye as he silently counted the years.

"You… You are right… I… I didn't notice." He stared down at his hands.

Of course. His body didn't age. He was immortal and time didn't matter anymore, he probably hadn't paid any attention at all.

"Your Highness sure had a lot of things on his mind. Don't blame yourself, Master."

"Could you please drop the title? Can't I just be Ling? At least for now that I've finally found you?"

"I fear this won't be possible, Master. I was trained too well by my grandfather." She grinned though the pain of that loss still hadn't vanished entirely.

Ling flinched as she mentioned his other bodyguard.

She glanced at him a worried look on her face.

"Where do you live now actually? Don't tell me you're staying at your old place. It was hell hole." Dark, narrow eyes settled on her. Ran Fan tensed.

So he didn't now, did he?

There was no way he could have.

She shook her head slightly.

"I live somewhere else now. Don't worry I'm fine."

"You… Ran Fan couldn't you just… come and live with me?" he whispered, almost desperately.

The woman straightened up abruptly.

Her first reaction was to decline, but then she asked: "What for, Master? You have guards who can protect you way better than I, you have servants who are all too eager to please, you have women who will grant your every wish. What purpose would my presence serve?"

"I see... If you were willing to come and stay with me you wouldn't ask such questions." He sighed. "But to tell the truth: I'm fed up with forced company. The guards do a good job, 'cause I'm not dead yet, still they are lifeless themselves; just puppets on my beck and call. The servants obey me without any complaints but sometimes I'd like someone to prove my decision wrong, someone to argue with me. My wives are… like dolls. They have cute faces and wear pretty dresses but they're spine- and brainless."

Ran Fan snorted to hide her laughter.

"That's why, Ran Fan. I want you by my side again, like back then we were just foolish children. I never had a happier time in my life."

The woman avoided looking at him now, trying to veil her wet eyes.

She could hear two voices slowly getting clearer as they approached her. She looked up and dried her tears with one of her long sleeves. The same moment footsteps got nearer from behind.

"I'm sorry, Master. It's impossible… I-"

"Mommy, Mommy!"

"Mother!"

Disclaimer: I don't own Ling Yao and Ran Fan. They're (c) Arakawa

Li, Ming, Fuu#2 (c) by me