"Bi Han.", Kuai Liang looked up.

Taking a deep breath you let your eyes fall shut. Thoughts flooded your mind yet at the same time there was nothing left to be thought about.

You weren't ashamed of the question. Nor were you annoyed that Bi Han had listened to a part of the conversation.

With his hands clenched into fists he stood in the doorway. His eyes were as dark as sin. At the same time he seemed oddly calm.

As if he had made his peace with something.

Whatever it was, it kept his anger at bay. You weren't sure how to deal with that. On one hand it soothed your worries. On the other hand it hurt to see how quickly he had turned indifferent about you.

Tomas' head peaked over his shoulder. Confusion was written all over his face. He had been too far behind and just a split second too late to understand why the room was filled with silent tension.

As you got up from your seat, Bi Han's gaze followed you. Kuai Liang did as you did and rose from his seat as well. You bowed to the grandmaster with the respect he deserved.

"Liu Kang calls for us.", you didn't dare call him by his title in front of his brothers.

It would have made it too obvious that something wasn't the way it was supposed to be. The way it always had been.

After all these years it was hard to believe that your shared path came to an end. At least it felt that way. And all this just because of foul fate.

A shadow crossed the grandmaster's face as he hummed, did a gesture with his head and turned to leave immediately.

The weight of Kuai Liang's eyes rested on you. He senses something was off. But you had no interest in explaining yourself to him.

If things remained unclear he could always turn to his brother.

As you passed him, Tomas gifted you a look of worry. You answered it with a soft smile and patted his shoulder. How always kind he was, caring. Perhaps a little too innocent to be included into this mess.

But still, a brother remained a brother.

Wrapped in silence you followed Bi Han outside. He waited in front of the door, arms crossed in front of his chest. As you joined him, he signalled for Liang and Tomas to stay behind for a moment.

"A word.", his voice was almost as cold as the touch of his ice.

You eyed his expression. It was calm, or at least what you knew as calm. Only a faint shadow seemed to dim the intelligent shimmer of his brown eyes.

Taking a deep breath you nodded.

"By all means, lead the way.", you said. "But keep in mind, I feel like everything that needed to be said was already said. And everything that has been done had its impact."

He let out a soft scoff but turned towards the training ground anyways that was not far from the house. You followed, a feeling of confusion weighing down on your shoulders.

In the middle of the sandpit he came to a stand. A soft breeze chased through the open. Small clouds of dust twirled up.

With one hand you shielded your face.

"Speak your mind.", you said after a moment of silence.

He exhaled deeply. Small crystals of ice grew over his knuckles. He clenched his hands into fists and fog appeared.

Even though he didn't want to show it he battled with his emotions.

"Mûdān.", he looked over his shoulder and for a split second his eyes reeked of guilt. "I understand you made your choice. And I said I would respect it."

You frowned.

"You can't change your mind as you go, Bi Han.", sourly, you curled your lips. "Not about something that holds this much importance to me. Or you. And the rest of the clan."

He turned his face away again but you could see how his shoulders stiffened. As he exhaled again there was so much held back anger in it.

"Do not think I don't know what this means for the future of the Lin Kuei.", he snarled, teeth audibly clenched.

You frowned. Anger mixed with frustration once more. So many times before did you feel these feelings. But this time it was different.

Milder. No, not milder. Just more tried. You were tired of feeling all these feelings.

"You are grandmaster now. Speak your orders or overthrow old traditions. I don't care. But did you ever think that even without the pressure of duty or a grandmaster's wishes I'd feel the same?", you took a step towards him but hesitated to take a second.

He stood mere steps in front of you and yet it felt like he was so far away. Worlds away. Never to be reached again, you feared.

Slowly, very slowly he turned to face you for the first time. There was so much softness in the brown of his eyes.

"Just know, I never regretted a single moment with you.", he said with a kind of nostalgia in his words. "No choice I've made. I made them for you."

Everything he said seemed to be written in riddles. Nothing made sense yet was so simple to understand.

Again, you took a deep breath. All at once emotions washed over you, bit down your throat and tried to bleed you dry.

It was exhausting.

All you could do was understand.

"If fate wouldn't have cut us both I would have chosen you, Bi Han.", you said softly, raising a hand in an attempt to touch his face. "I would have always chosen you."

As Bi Han's eyebrows knitted together there was so much pain visible on his face. For the first time since you could remember you could clearly read the emotions he felt.

It broke your heart.

And he was broken.

"Fate.", he said, lost in thoughts while staring at your trembling (E/C) eyes. "Something we both don't believe in, do we?"

You chuckled softly.

"Not a bit.", you agreed. "But I will continue to try and cheat it."

"You won't succeed. Right now you bow to it. Be it your sense of responsibility or feelings. Father wrote your fate. And by doing so he ruined mine."

His words made you frown in confusion. But before you managed to ask what be meant he breathed a kiss to your fingers and walked away.

Once again you were left behind.