[Flashback Drabble] Plum Blossom Memories (Meixiang)

[Yayoi]

Found In A Graveyard

The soft patter of rain began to beat gently against the gravestones that littered the cemetery. A faint rumble of thunder in the distance as a storm began to roll in. Skies were darkened by clouds that were heavily pregnant with water, moments away from letting loose their heavy loads upon the world.

It was the soft drops of water hitting her face that awoke the young Jiang Shi. Brown eyes accompanied with equally brown her opened slowly. Her clothing was modest. Nothing more than a cloth sack if one were to get technical. Where she found herself she was unsure. It seemed she had been sleeping on a set of cold stone steps that lead up to a large cement building. A tomb? The word seemed familiar or at least the concept. But she was unsure how she knew that word.

She pushed herself up into a sitting position. Eyes bleary as she blinked them a few times. A wave of drowsiness washing over her. Where was she? Who was she? The skinny little ghoul had no answers for either of these questions. Of course, they were the first of many questions one would ask when awaking in a strange place.

In the distance she could see figures moving. Were they moving towards her or away? She could not make out in the dim light. Was it day time or night time?

A loud crackle of thunder accompanied by a bright flash of lightening filled the sky as rain began to fall heavily from the sky. The scareling cried, covering her ears and shutting her eyes tight as she huddled into a little ball. The rain was no longer gentle as the heavy storm began. She pushed herself closer to the tomb, trying her best to keep somewhat dry. But there was little she could do as the water whipped through the air from the wind that picked up.

Another round of thunder. More flashes of lightening. She couldn't take this world anymore! Sucking in a cry, she shot out from beneath the awning of the tomb into the rain. Bare feet squishing through mud and wet grass as she attempted to find some better shelter in this open graveyard but there was none. Without watching where she had been going she ran into something large and solid. A gentle grunt came. Peering up she could only see the dark figure or someone or something. A large hand reaching down for her. She cried out again and ran off in the opposite direction. What sounded like a call coming from the figure following behind her.

It felt like she had run for hours.

Her small feet were raw. The rain had died down but the thunder still rumbled in the sky. Before she knew it she had taken to hiding behind a rather large gravestone. Scared of this world. Scared of that thing she had run into. The ghoul curled up into a tiny ball and whimpered.

As the world grew darker she found herself exhausted. Tired from this brief existence already. In the distance lanterns danced through the darkness. Checking behind every grave stone until someone called out. By this time she had fallen asleep, unaware of the lanterns and their carriers. Two figures approached. One female with long white hair worn loose, the other tall with equally long hair tied back into a long braid. They looked at one another before the larger figure knelt to scoop up the small Jiang Shi into his arms. Bundling up her tiny body in a warm blanket before he jerked his head in the direction the group had come and they all began to trek back.

Heading back to where they had come.  

[Yayoi]

A New Home

An exhaustive sleep had left the little ghoul in bed for several days. The ones who had taken her in were worried whether or not she would wake. She was new to this world so her FEAR was weak. The compound doctor would come and check on her daily, reassuring the male and female that she was merely resting, building up her FEAR and to just give her time.

A few days passed and finally her eyes fluttered open. Her sight bleary. Her body felt heavy but beneath her was not damp cement but something soft and fluffy. It enveloped her small body keeping her warm. A pleasing scent filled the air, but she could not place exactly what it was.

The little ghoul finally sat up, leaning back against a very over sized and over stuffed pillow. It made her feel even smaller than usual. The room she was in was rather large as well. Lavish in it's decorations. Purple, pink, black and gold was everywhere. Wherever she was this was no cemetery. Pulling back the covers of the bed, she dangled her feet over the edge. Of course, she couldn't reach the ground it seemed so she slowly and carefully slid off the edge. Bare feet touching a warm wooden floor. She wiggled her toes for a moment, bracing herself on the bed. The ghoul still felt weak so she did not trust her legs just yet as she made her way along the side of the bed.

A quiet knock came from the door and her head turned quickly to watch it open. Fear and panic overwhelmed her as she ducked down just a bit, peeking over the edge of the bed and whatever it was coming through the door.

An elegant woman slowly made her way into the room, carrying a tray with one hand. She stopped inside the door when she locked eyes with the little ghoul. A look of shock on her face as they locked eyes but it was quickly replaced by a warm and gentle smile. Coming all the way into the room now, she closed the door behind her. Moving towards a small table and large sitting chair near the edge of the bed she settled the tray down before taking a seat.

"Its ok, you are safe here little one." Her outfit was as lavish and intricate looking as the room. White hair pulled back into a loose hairstyle. The same type of scroll upon her forehead that the little ghoul had, she noticed. "You must still be tired why don't you get back into bed. I have some tea and cakes, would you like some cakes? They are very delicious I made them myself." She waited patiently, motioning towards the bed with a slender hand. The ghoul hesitated but eventually was able to climb back into the bed, burying herself in the blanket. Allowing only half of her face to show.

The older lady laughed. A warm and charming laugh that brought a bit of ease to the ghoul who finally popped her head out from beneath the blanket. "Here." Taking one of the cakes from the tray, she settled it onto a delicate looking napkin. Placing it on the bed for the ghoul to take if she wished. Which she did, sniffing it before shoving the whole thing in her mouth. White powdered sugar clinging to her lips and cheeks. It caused the lady to laugh again before she reached over and dusted the little ghoul's face off.

"Do you know where you are, darling? Your name?" A mouth still full of cake, the ghoul shook her head slowly. She had no clue. She had just...existed. Memories of anything before then did not live in her mind. The lady sighed. "I see, then that means you are indeed new and not just lost. But that is good, it means we do not need to make a search." In her heart the lady was happy, over joyed. She had taken quite a shine to the little ghoul since they first found her and had hoped deep in her heart that she could keep her. With no family and memories of a family it was clear to her that this little ghoul was newly created from FEAR.

Pouring herself a cup of tea, the lady took a long sniff before sipping it lightly. "My name is Xiu He, but you may call me mother little one." Closing her eyes, she held the cup of tea close to her lips. "We shall call you Meixiang. This is your home now Meixiang, no more scary and dirty cemeteries."