Lovely Blossoms

The days seemed to meld together for Fen Hua. Everyday there were small changes in scenery, but it was all the same in the end. They were slaves being carted to who knows where and there was nothing they could do about it. On the way a big slovenly man had pulled up next to the carriage. He was interested in Gui Ren and Fei Ling. Fen Hua could hear them negotiating the costs. The man apparently didn't have enough money to satisfy the drivers. Jun Jie was sold instead. He was yanked off the cart and little less then dragged away. Despite her dislike for him she felt sad for him. His life would be miserable from now on. His new owner didn't seem to give a whip about his health.

Fen Hua turned to Mei Xiu. She had been running a fever for the last day and a half. She was trying her best to hide it from the slavers, afraid they might decide to dump her somewhere like they had Jun Jie. Fen Hua helped her sit up, allowing her to lean against her shoulder.

"You shouldn't get so close to her," Yang Jie said. She pushed herself into the farthest corner of the cart trying to avoid Mei Xiu at all costs. "I won't get sick because you are too stupid to stay away from her. Do you think you are immune? If you get it too that doubles are chances of getting sick."

"Shut your mouth," Gui Rend snapped. "Another word out of you and I'll squash your head like a melon." Yang Jie snapped her mouth shut. Her hands trembling at the thought.

Fen Hua looked at her with sympathy. It was not hidden to any of them what happened every time they stopped to eat and rest. Uncle would lead her away. She came back in tears the first few times, but after a while she seemed to have given up, her eyes loosing their light a feeling of emptiness encasing them.

"I won't come near you, Yang Jie," Fen Hua promised.

"Don't worry about her," Gui Ren growled. "The little whore should learn to keep her mouth shut."

"Smack!" Mei Xiu had reached out her hand and slapped Gui Ren across the face. "How can you be so cruel?" She asked him, a slew of coughs followed after. Gui Ren pushed her towards his back, she pressed into it muffling the sounds of her cough.

"I'm sorry Xiu'er," he said in a apologetic voice. "I'm just worried about you."

"I know Gui Ren, I know." She patted his back and forced herself back towards the bars of the cage. "I'll be better soon." a

Fen Hua put her hand to Mei Xui's forehead. She was worried about her, there was a good chance she wasn't going to get better. If they were somewhere clean with good food, blankets, water, anything really better then this she would have a better shot. Fen Hua sighed in frustration. How easy this would be to handle with a little Tylenol. Mei Xui looked up at her hearing the sigh. She worried she was being a bother and began to pull away from her.

Fen Hua grabbed her and forced her back on her shoulder. "Stay here. It will be warmer between me and Gui Ren."

Mei Xui looked up at her with thankful apologetic eyes.

"Just try to get some rest."

It wasn't long until she was asleep.

"The first time I saw her she was an ugly skinny brat," Gui Ren said staring down at Mei Xui. "We were both born into the same household as slaves. And now we are both being sold off as slaves from that same household." He clenched his fists together, a look of anger penetrating his yes. "If I was just stronger, or smarter. If I had been born into a better family she wouldn't have to suffer like this."

"You love her?" Fen Hua asked only now realizing it.

"It doesn't matter. To her I'm a brother. And I'm OK with that. As long as she can find any sort of happiness I'm OK with that."

Fei Ling glanced at the oversized man as he spoke.. He was big enough to make his way in this world. A soldier or a fighter, anything that needed brute strength. Even as a slave if you can prove yourself to the army you can get your freedom. He had to have stayed because of her.

He shifted his eyes to Fen Hua, that uncomfortable aching in his c.h.e.s.t. This is why it was stupid to have any interest in her. He didn't have time for sympathy or concern and certainly couldn't give up on his mission for her.

Fen Hua noticed Fei Ling looking at her and turned to him. He locked eyes with her for a moment before turning away. She puzzled over it for a moment finally deciding he was warning her to stay away from him as Yang Jie had done earlier. She shook her head and turned away. Such callousness, but then again that's what was needed in a place like this if you wanted to survive.

Two days later Mei Xiu passed away. Gui Ren held onto her lifeless body for an entire day before the slavers discovered she was dead. The larger slaver hit him over the head with the b.u.t.t of his knife.

"I'll cut her in pieces if you don't let her go," He said coldly.

Gui Ren's eyes were filled with hate. His fingers gripped Mei Xiu tighter a sob breaking out of him.

Fen Hua didn't know what to do. She had never seen a grown man cry as he was now. These were the most heart wrenching sobs she had ever heard as if his very life was draining away from him.

"You wont touch her," he snapped. "I'll kill any one of you who try to touch her."

Fen Hua stood up. She was short enough that she could stand in the cage only having to slightly hunch down. She stood next to Gui Ren and looked down at Mei Xiu.

"She's beautiful," she said quietly.

Gui Ren nodded, "Always has been. Even when she was ugly and scrawny she was the most beautiful think I'd ever seen." He wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I don't know what I'm going to do without her." He looked at Fen Hua with desperation as if she had the answer. She didn't have one. She could only lean over him and allow him to cry against her c.h.e.s.t as he slowly began to release Mei Xiu's body.

Fen Hua took a deep breath and lifted her head turning towards the big slaver, then to the smaller one. "Let us bury her here, he will let go of her if you allow her a proper burial."

The two slavers stared at the scene before them, though they were not good men they did have a heart. Seeing him crying as he was they were reminded of losses in their own lives and felt a tinge of pity for him.