Ming Ran and Cang Mu stared at the door in front of them. It was a simple door they would have seen almost anywhere in their past life. They looked at each other, then back again at the door. It was a simple, white door, with a cheap, fake brass doorknob. There were four elongated rectangles that stretched side-by-side, one on top of the other carved into the cheap wood. If they were honest, it was a little disheartening to see such a door in this life. Their last life had been a vague black and white that seemed to smear together day by day. This life was filled with no such uniform. It was a day that changed its color and style with every rise and fall of the moon and sun. Ming Ran reached out and jiggled the door knob. It was locked.
"It's really strange to see this kind of door here of all places." Cang Mu muttered. Ming Ran nodded.
It's strange. When I first was born in this life, I wanted nothing more than to see this kind of door again. He started, signing slowly- half his mind caught in a thought. All the doors here were much more intricate and usually slid open rather than swung. In a land that was very much Chinese in likeness, it had some strangely Japanese-styled buildings. The clothes were a mix of several countries as well. Though the world still was very much similar to ancient China. Cang Mu watched Ming Ran's hands as they slowed. Finally, his face set in determination- one that Cang Mu had not yet seen cross his face- and he finished his thought: …but now the thought of going back again seems much more stifling. Maybe I had forgotten what I had left behind.
Cang Mu thought back to Ming Ran's inner demons- the horrible dream that they shared, and nodded. He didn't say anything. He no longer needed to. The little ghost that had haunted his apartment was here. Right here with him again. I need to keep him safe this time around. He thought. Ming Ran glanced at him and smiled.
…
Khan Qing stood tall atop the giant serpent she had bested. The ceiling was coming down around her. She felt a strong arm wrap around her waist and pull her along. Ming Cheng vaulted across the falling rocks, Gong June and Wen Quinn following close behind. Wen Quinn carried Fa Lin in his arms as she looked on with a vague unease. This was as close to an expression that didn't resemble a carnal desire for violence and a promise of murder that Khan Qing had seen since they had all reincarnated in this land. Khan Qing wondered if she would have been able to see this had she not forged her own path and taken the snake's life? Why had she done that? She usually took orders from others, and messed them up. Wen Quinn was endlessly finding fault with her. This time she had made her own path.
"Ah, right. I heard a voice." She murmured.
…
"Do they know?" Ming Ran watched him. Cang Mu was a simple man in many aspects of his life. One just needed to know how exactly his mind differed from the rest. Ming Ran shook his head.
I know, but they haven't figured it out. Ming Cheng had come close once, but he second guessed himself and never again did he bring it up.
"Well, to be fair, the Chief never really gave him the chance. Neither had I once you were reunited." Cang Mu said.
I am different now. I don't need to cling onto the past shadows of a self that no longer exists. I am me. That is all that I have ever been.
"Well said, however, I don't quite understand how that connects to your 'siblings'."
They still don't understand who I am. I don't want to complicate things.
Cang Mu looked away and allowed the topic to slid away. Suddenly, there was a great quaking in the cavern around them. The walls fell away and allowed a light to slip through. They saw a giant serpent rise up from a lake of lava and attack…
Khan Qing! Ming Ran exclaimed, though his voice did not carry any sound, nor did his hands think to sign his obvious distress. His fist curled up and hit hard against the surface. He saw it all. He saw Wen Quinn berate Khan Qing again, he saw Khan Qing freeze.
Once Khan Qing had been a girl named Lucy Snow. Elle had called her Lulu. She was an avid fan of boy's love, and often times would point to random flocks of guys on the campus and have stories for each of them. Elle would listen quietly. Lulu was a girl who easily shrank into a shell; she was also a girl who could become friendly with anyone quickly if they showed her just a bit of kindness. Her relationship with Billy had always been precarious. Lulu would always fall short in some way, and Billy would always respond by yelling at her. Elle had tried to smooth things over no shortage of times. Eventually, as Lulu had always seemed fine with the relationship, Elle began to drop it.
Regret. I regret this. Khan Qing, I wish you would just do what you think is right for once. No one can tell you what path to follow or what is right or wrong. That's up to you.
Khan Qing straightened up and looked right at Ming Ran through the marble rock that showed them what was happening to her. Suddenly, Khan Qing dove forward and rushed the beast. She brought it down and smiled as for once, she felt free. Uninhibited by the expectations that had crushed her all her life.
Ming Ran looked back and smiled softly down the corridor before turning to the otherworldly door once more. Cang Mu watched as the group made it to safety. He sighed in relief. It wouldn't do for these players to fall here. He heard a faint click. Ming Ran had used the key they found inside the tree and unlocked the door.
Let's go. He signed. Cang Mu grinned and walked through the door to their next destination.
…