The Mulan of Balhai Temple

[Taiylor Wallace]

"Shush," he told her simply. He wasn't taking arguments. He relaxed easily, watching the rain outside, listening to every drop. Eventually, his eyes closed, allowing his other senses to take over in the face of the storm. He was already so comfortable with her, thanks to her lack of judgement on his past, that he was content and thought nothing of how he held her.
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Eventually, she began to hear him humming again, some simple song she'd never heard before, different from earlier that morning. Though he was quiet, his voice was rich and low, like the lowesr strings of a mandolin or a guzheng. He was at perfect peace and enjoying her company.

[kishiseta]

When it was clear that Master Khan would have nothing of her protests, Fang Li settled onto him relishing in the warmth he gave. She listened to the steady beating of his heart against the backdrop of the rain, wrapping her arms around him. She snuggled closer, trying to get as much heat as she could, almost giving in to sleep when he started to hum. She heard the deep rumble in his chest before she heard it in the air. It was a soothing tune--as soothing as his voice, but she had never heard it before.

"Master Khan?" She looked up at him. "The tunes you hum are very nice, but I've never heard of them. What are they?"

[Taiylor Wallace]

"Old Mongolian lullabies my mother used to sing when I was just hardly more than a toddler," he answered softly. "She and her mother made them for my siblings and I, one special for each of us. This is mine. Mother called it 'The White Steppes of Ulanur'." He smiled to himself at the thought of the woman.

[kishiseta]

Fang Li looked at him in wonder. "Your mother is amazing. Can I hear the words? Would you teach the song to me?" His mother must have been an amazing woman to be able to do such a thing. She knew how difficult music was. Even playing a tune was difficult. What more creating one? They seem to have a long time for it anyway. "I want to sing it with you."

[Taiylor Wallace]

"Of course I'll teach you..." Khan smiled, and she could see she'd touched his heart with that.
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"On the White Steppes of Ulanur, there stands a place I love, oh so dear. There lies a path in black stone and green jade that leads me home to the grand fields of my birth. In Ulanur Clan, the warriors of the sun, there waits my kin and dear friends with open arms, and we gather every summer to praise our gods and share our tales and nights. I long to see again, the White Steppes of Ulanur, to ride with all whom I hold so dear. To kiss again my dear mother, and herd the flocks with father once again. On the White Steppes of Ulanur... There stands a place I love, oh so dear..." Khan's beautiful, deep voice trailed off with the final words, and he couldn't help the smile on his face, remembering home.

(I just totally came up with that on the spot... Can't stop singing it now.)

[kishiseta]

(Haha! I can imagine the tune )

"That's beautiful," Fang Li sighed feeling really sleepy. "I'd like to see Ulanur one day...Ride those horses..." She yawned and curled up against him. The rain pattered steadily outside, making her even more sleepy as the water dripped off their clothes to the ground, slowly drying despite the humid air. She had only ever felt safe in her parents' arms when they held her as a child. Now, Master Khan made her feel just as secure. The injury at her side still throbbed with the cold, but as soon as she pressed it against him, it dulled under his warmth.

[Taiylor Wallace]

Khan let his head rest back against the wall behind him. "Sleep... I'll wake you when the rain's gone," his voice was so gentle and low, and it echoed just barely through the cavern.

[kishiseta]

It was evening when the rains stopped and the wind had become only a gentle breeze. Fang Li was sleeping peacefully in Master Khan's warmth, having dreams of large expanses of plains and horses. She didn't know what it was or where she was, but she was having fun. Beside her, there was someone she knew, but she couldn't see his face. But she knew that she knew him and trusted him. And so, they galloped across the plain without a care in the world.

[Taiylor Wallace]

As dusk came over the land and the rain died away, Khan looked down at Fang Li, contemplating whether or not he should wake her, or let her sleep through the night. For the sake of her reputation, he decided they'd best get back before anyone got any ideas. "Miss Chan," he spoke softly, his voice as warm as his body. "Miss Chan, wake up. It's time to go..."

[kishiseta]

Fang Li moaned and opened her eyes and peeled herself off Maaster Khan. She looked at him and smiled. "I hope I wasn't such a nuisance," she yawned. "Just give me a few seconds to really wake up." She patted her cheeks and shook her head, then stretched back like a cat. She gave a huge breath then smiled. "I'm awake." She stood and felt for her wound. It wasn't so bad and it was nearly closed. She just had to take it easy for a little while longer. "I hope you had a good rest, Master Khan. Thank you so much for everything. For bringing me here. For helping me...If you have anything you need--anything at all!--that I can help with, please tell me.