BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

TUJIAOZUO

Lilac Syndrome: Chapter 18 (FINAL CHAPTER)
Monday, June 9, 2008

STORY COMPLETE The New Haven Series; Post BDM; M/I, S/K: River beings a new chapter in her life, and it's time to head home for the others.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2904    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

The departure of River was so unexpected and shaking, that for the most part there was hardly any socialization on Serenity.

Simon had taken it particularly hard. He missed his mei-mei dearly, and wouldn’t talk about it. However there was plenty of work to do, as Zoe was recovering but not awake and required monitoring, and there were supplies that needed to be inventoried. So with the help of Pike, he opened the crates, took down the contents, and applies them to a growing list of medications, vaccines, equipment and general supplies. They were going to be prepared for anything, from birth to death he could probably cure it all as he carefully took out small silver disks, precious as they were software upgrades for the infirmary’s equipment.

So many new supplies should have given him excitement, yet he felt as if a piece of his heart had left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Doc’s offly quiet.” Jayne took notice as he was shoving his maw with Sterling’s leftovers. Kaylee was at the table, pushing her food around in a bowl as she knew she needed to eat, but didn’t feel like it. Missing River, the crew’s schedules had become sporadic, with no sit down meals or talking to be had. Everyone dealt with it their own way.

“He’s got a lot on his mind.” Kaylee announced with a forlorn twinge in her voice. “River’s gone and they was best of friends, plus Zoe still needs docterin’ and he’s got new supplies and the there’s the town and all the folk he’s gotta treat when we get home.”

“That is if they ain’t all died.” He noted.

Kaylee fumed at Jayne, which startled him some because he had never seen her so angry. “You can’t say that. There’s people there that are still hangin’.”

“We don’t know that, fer all it could be is us touchin’ down on a ghost town, Lilac Syndrome coulda wiped them all out.”

“The optimism is awe inspiring.” Wren snorted sarcastically as she walked from the helm and into the galley. “You should write Get Well cards.” Opening the fridge, she pulled out a bottle of blue electrolyte replacement and twisted the cap off. Since River wasn’t there to fly, she had stepped in since her husband was below and helping prepare for the mass curing.

“I’m just sayin’ folks were kickin’ out after only a few days, been more than a few days, been over a week.” He slurped his noodles and grumbled at the same time.

“The town’ll be there.” Wren told Kaylee before sipping her hodgeberry flavored drink. “Don’t worry too much about it, we’ll be there in ten hours time.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Only ten more hours.”

Mal sighed the words as he sat on his bunk, Meilin snoozing on his chest. She was growing without a doubt, and all the growth meant extra naps as he did his best to relax with her. The lights were low, inviting sleep, and Inara had some kind of classical music on for background noise. Inara herself was taking a sponge bath in the middle of the floor, and Mal was doing his best to keep composure as water trickling down the groove of her back led to all sorts of inappropriate ideas.

“It’ll be good to be home.” She agreed, cleansing her shoulder. “I’m afraid I’ve had enough adventure for a long time, I yearn for some country living.”

“Never thought I’d hear that outta you.”

“Neither did I, but I’ve come to appreciate the simpler things in life. I don’t think I’d be terribly happy if we were like Virgil and his crew.”

Mal’s face was thoughtful as he recalled his talk with Genevieve and on the landing with East, and what he had witnessed. Gazing down at his daughter, he petted her fist. “Reckon I wouldn’t either, I was told by Vieve they’ve given up a lot ta get where they are.”

“I imagine so, especially her.”

“Huh?”

Inara further indulged. “I don’t know if you picked up on it or not, however she’s still in love with Virgil.” Turning, she kept an eye out for a reaction from Mal, but he supplied none. “He doesn’t have the capacity to love though, I’m afraid he gave that up, and because he did she’s had to give up her general capacity for affection as well. I think his entire crew has had to give up on mercy, that being the victim of being the best in the system.”

He bowed his head in understanding, and thought of his own wrong doings. The horse thieves came to mind, and compared to Badger’s demise, he feared he wasn’t all that different. Virgil had shown no mercy, and neither had he.

“Ni-shi bu-jian-de ta.”

The blue eyes looked up as Inara rose, draping a light tunic over herself, and went to sit on the bed with him. The brown eyes were understanding, but firm in their point.

“Mal, I know what your thinking, but you’re not him. You have the most amazing capacity for humanity, and you have a heart.” She pressed her palm onto his bare chest. “It may be a little…” She struggled for a proper description “roughed up, but it’s there.”

“ni ken-ding?” He muttered, skeptically.

“Yes, because I swear it melts every time Meilin looks up at you.” She rubbed his chest gently and kissed him.

Mal leaned in. “Ain’t the only one who makes it melt.” He uttered through the kiss, which grew in heat, till they were both breathing heavily and their muscles twitched with anticipation. Taking Meilin as he moved closer to Inara, he ducked out of their romance momentarily to reach down and set the baby in a basket next to the bed. Going back, he pressed his mouth flush to Inara’s and gathered her close as her hands found his neck.

“Quing niu-zai.” She breathed out, her smile impish.

“Hell I’ve been wantin’ to do this since you were in your red silks.” He rumbled, laying her down. Her hand roamed from his scalp, down to his neck, chest, abs and rested on the hem of his night pants. As they toyed the hem mercilessly, he groaned. “It’s been too damn long… ” He pushed the tunic up, then pulled it over her head and arms to leave her bare and inviting.

There was a knock on their hatch.

“Sonuva… Dammit!” Mal clenched his teeth and shut his eyes as Inara let go of his pants and stopped. “Wo bi sha sha-gua zai men he piao ta bang qi suo.”

She sighed in frustration, clearly unfulfilled and needing what had been promised. “I’ll help you.” Rolling out from under him, Inara got out of bed and put her nightwear back on as Mal fell flat on his back and tried to employ deep breathing to get his blood pressure to drop. “One minute!” She pulled up her hair, tied it back and went over to her basin, grabbing the sponge and dabbing her face and neck before tossing it to Mal. “You might want to cool off.”

Mal pressed the cool sponge to his neck. “I hate my crew.”

“Right now I do too.” Inara picked up the basket and set it on the edge of the bed, lifting her daughter out as her swain worked on getting in control. “Are you alright?”

“Sore and got nothin’ for it.” He sat up. “I’ll live though.”

“Come in!” Inara called, and the hatch opened and Simon came down.

Simon was holding a series of needles as well as swabs as he jumped past the last few rungs. Stopping, he saw Mal and Inara, looking flustered and bothered. Plus, there was a sponge on the bed next to the captain, which made his brow quirk. “Was… I interrupting anything?”

“No…” Mal exhaled. “We were just off ta bed. What do you gotta do with all those needles? Makea pincushion outta us?”

“No no,” He looked down at the hypos, shifting them around in his palm. “I just found the vaccine for Kaylee and Meilin, plus I found the series of shots Meilin needs already as well as the Lactivron Inara and I had talked about a few weeks back.” The doctor gazed back up “I was wondering if she would still like to go through with it?”

Mal, puzzled as he had never heard a peep of such a drug, looked to Inara. “Lacti-whatta?”

“It’s a synthetic hormone that brings on lactation in women.” Simon explained. “Allowing women who have adopted or had their child via surrogate to nurse.”

Malcolm was still fairly puzzled.

“You’re always joking about how she costs too much to feed.” She began. “But besides the fact that you wouldn’t have to buy expensive formula anymore, Meilin and I will get to bond further and she’ll be receiving better nutrition.”

“That’s true.” The doctor nodded his head. “Formula has come a long ways, but it still doesn’t replace breast milk like it should. Breast milk aids in brain development considerably, plus Meilin would be getting the antibodies from Inara’s immune system and that would help her stay healthy. It’s a good call, I’m glad Inara suggested it, she’s putting Meilin on a path to a good life.”

He nodded his head in understanding, as it sounded like the best thing to do for Meilin, however he couldn’t help but feel left out. As he watched his daughter, the way all ten toes curled, he thought how no longer would he be able to bottle feed and bond his own self. “Sounds good.”

“So, do you?” Simon asked.

“Of course.” Inara took a seat on the bed and passed Meilin over and Simon pulled the cap off of the needle and flicked it, pushing the plunger to rid of any air.

“Alright, I need to warn you of side effects.” He ripped open a swab and cleaned a spot on her arm. “The breast milk will come in about two to four days, until then you will feel mild to severe discomfort in your breasts, as well as exhaustion and the slight chance of dizziness and irritability. So Mal needs to be nice.”

“That ain’t funny.” The captain groused.

Simon managed to smirk, a rare expression since his sister’s departure. “However you can speed up the lactation process by allowing Meilin to suckle, her nursing will help stimulate milk production. A poke in three, two, one..” He pressed the needle in and injected the hormone, watching his patient flinch to the slight burning sensation. “And you’re done.” He capped the needle and held a cotton ball to her injection site, using some tape to hold it down. “It’s Meilin’s turn.”

“She’s not gonna be happy.” Mal groaned as he held his daughter and switched places with the mother.

Meilin, who had been asleep, roused and blinked a few times. Yawning fiercely, she settled against her father and watched her uncle. She didn’t understand why her father was holding her snug so she couldn’t move, nor why her mother leaned in to give her kisses. She liked the kisses.

“I know, I’m not going to be the favorite uncle after this for a long time either.” Simon responded as he prepped the first injection.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Miao De Qian Shan was located in Eastern Sihnon, afixed at the base of Mt. Long De Lian Yue, and beneath the backdrop of the Forbidden Mountains themselves. There were twelve distinct mountains, each one named after an animal of the zodiac and each a precarious looking formation that jutted up in sheer verticality and rounded at the top, doused in greenery that consisted of trees, tightly bundled bamboo and fronds. The land the temple was located on, was lush and misty with the dew of the morning, and the habitat did not change for a thousand miles, until civilization beat it back. Miao De Qian Shan was steeped in nature; tropical flowers of the rarest color bloomed all year round, eagles as gold as kings crowns with wingspans as large as men soared above, bluebirds were teal, tigers roared for deer outside the walls, monkeys laughed and stole trinkets, panthers cursed the monkeys, and pandas were notorious guests that lumbered past the gatekeepers to access greener shoots. The monks, gifted with the mind that heard beyond the ear, preferred to be close to the earth. A harmonious balance kept them grounded.

As the sun fought to filter through the heavy mist, six monks gathered at a landing pad of thick grass. They stood under a gnarled tree, their hands pressed together, their feet bare and their garments simple whilst their heads pointed up to the dim sky. Off to the side, by the east quarters a small camp of students were heard training on a lawn. They were all different sizes, ages and races, for the gift of clairvoyance transcended ethnicity and gender a they wore a simple uniform. Hairstyles varied, many had it short or shaved, but those that kept it long had it pulled back.

The monks that looked up were rewarded with the purr of a shuttle and the sight of it through the morning haze as it set down on the landing pad. Smiling, they went over to the vehicle as the door opened, and they bowed their heads as Emma stepped out. She bowed as well, and stepped to the side and gestured her pupils to follow. Fiyero followed her lead with the greeting and stood to the right of her.

River warily placed a foot on the plush grass.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sterling ripped open a panel on the starboard wall.

Virgil, standing in the aught-two as Genevieve was dropping the others off planet side via shuttle, stood there and studied the six crates. Six crates of medical goods, goods they had promised the Serenity crew, but goods they had kept. He smiled in a fiendish way, and glanced to Sterling. “Thank you for the sudden lapse of conscience.”

The cyborg shook his head. “Weren’t mine, Roxy’s actuwally, gave it tew me when Ih went ta give ‘er wit well wishes.” He sounded a touch guilty, but not horribly so, the same amount of guilt as someone that had stepped on a ladybug. Sterling was a good man, nonetheless still a brigand. “Figurred they ‘ad ‘nough, wouldn’t miss a few crates.”

“Girl’s as honest as a two headed snake.” East announced with approval.

“Well t’aint one ta employ swabs, Sir. Gotta ‘ave multiple talents ta ride wit a ol’ space dog like you.”

“Aye. Keep it tight in that spot, we’ll sell it after we get off leave and start another tour.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dark eyes roamed the new land, how it was made up of a hundred shades of green and air so saturated with cool moisture and the scent of foliage it was as if she was taking a drink of cool green tea. To the right was an enormous temple, three stories tall, the roof tiled and sloped, the pillars wooden and swirling depictions of spirit animals. The steps up to the temple and it's great moon doors at least a hundred strong and flanked by loyal shishi. Their granite mouths open and snarling. To the both sides of the temple ran long rectangular buildings, built the same yet more squat and with less granduer. Further to the left were stables, a lake, and four more small buildings linked by paths yet separated by training lawns were various levels of the order perfected their sacred art. The wall was lost was forest took up the rest of the grounds.

Boston ran out of the shuttle and leapt onto her arm. Curling his tail around her neck, he stared at the location wide eyed.

The monks smiled at the cat and at the equally wide eyed girl.

River Tam drew in a deep breath. The beauty was overwhelming, as was the new stage in her life.

Emma turned to her and projected to both of her students. 'Welcome to Miao De Qian Shan '

The two nodded their heads as the monks gestured them to follow. Fiyero and River lagged behind their instructor, paying attention to the silence. They both suspected Emma and the monks were speaking, just not physically, and it was a closed conversation at that. the pupils expected that though, as Emma had told them how many of the monks had taken the vow of physical silence. They needed not their throats as their minds were strong and capable, free of somatic limitations. Their feet padded across cobblestones, the path winding until it converged with the impressive stairs of the temple. The shishi snarling a dare to pass them, but the monkey perched atop one chattered an amiable greeting as he ate a fruit he had filched from the garden.

Boston chattered back at the monkey, hunching himself on River's shoulder.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meilin had screamed for four hours.

Mal and Inara had finally gotten to bed after getting her to sleep. Inara had already begun to feel sore, as well as tired and woozy, so she took sleep readily. Eventually, through the crying, sleeping and an early morning feeding, nearly ten hours had passed.

“Gooooood morning travelers, this is your pilot Wren Athenos-Hamir speaking.” Wren’s voice cut through their bunk, making them groan and stir to life. “We’re going to be touching down in Pryor in thirty minutes, the day is Thursday and the weather will be a balmy five degrees. So you may consider getting up, dressing and possibly eating a fabulous continental breakfast of toast, oatmeal and coffee in the galley before arrival. Thank you for your time and have a shiny morning.”

“I hate her.. cheery so early.” Mal growled as he heard Meilin grunt. Sitting up stiffly, he gather his daughter up as she let out a series of mighty yet adorable yawns. “Gracious Xiao Xiong-mao, gonna make me yawn.”

She whimpered and snuggled in, still remembering the pokes of the needles.

Mal was rubbing her back as Inara was slow to rouse. “You ok?” He gently touched her shoulder.

“No.” She grumbled miserably, half awake.

Inara was never one to complain, so he knew she had to feel horrible. Mal situated Meilin in his arms and carefully got out of bed. “Just stay put and rest, I’ll take care of her and get you some breakfast.”

“Thank you.” Inara sighed.

Mal set Meilin in her basket and grabbed his clothes. Putting them on quickly, he gathered her back up and climbed up their ladder. Not even bothering accosting Wren for her morning bulletin, coffee was the first order of the day as he trundled in. It was there he found the two doctors, sipping coffee and talking in voices that strained from lack of proper sleep. “I hate your wife.” Mal gruffly announced as he went to a cabinet and pulled out two mugs.

“I know.” Pike submitted a head nod. “Her truly evil streak is that she’s not only a morning person, but that she is an exceptionally spunky morning person.”

“How’s Inara?” Simon probed in a purely medical way.

“Very sore and very tired.” Mal clarified. “Never seen her so pained, reckon though some food will do her good.”

Meilin squawked as her father shifted her to one arm to finagle coffee, not liking the way she was being held.

Simon got up and shuffled over, taking her in his arms to free Mal. “Hey there.” He spoke softly, rubbing her back “What was the fussing about last night? Everyone could here you.”

“Her uncle Simon kept proddin’ her.” Mal poured himself a cup of black caffeine and took a long sip. “She felt she needed ta be rather outspoken about all of the horrid abuse. She’s starved, neglected, unloved, ready ta just whither away and someone had the gall ta make it even worse by sticking her.”

“Yes, well I’m a terrible person, torturing small children and all.” He watched as Meilin pouted, for she remembered the shots. “I hope it can be redeemed. I’m afraid I’m in need of come consolation, and you’re just about the right size Xiao Xiong-miao.” Simon had a soothing voice when he sweet talked to his niece, and she sighed and found comfort in his grasp. What he had said was true, he did feel depressed about the departure of his sister, and holding the little bundle was cathartic.

“You willin’ ta watch her while I tend ta ‘Nara?”

“Of course.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a long walk up the stairs that made the adolescents legs scream and their brows dampen, the moon doors opened and the cavernous inside of the temple flickered with the light of a hundred torches that smelt of oils and mints. Miao De Qian Shan was cloistered from any technological advancements with the exception of one coretex screen that was supposedly hidden behind a curtain in a small room. Everything else was earth-that-was ancient tools and ways, from the lighting to the handmade garments, to the horse and cart. River gawked in awe of the space she entered, for while it was a temple, it had no specific denomination. Their were vast carvings, stone and wood statues, tapestries all of animals and techniques and tales, laquered hand carved pillars in two long rows that ended at a gigantic stone dragon fighting a leopard, the beasts tangled and straining their claws and teeth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mal came back down the ladder with some breakfast.

He paused to find Inara, sliding into a kimono. While her underwear was on, her bra wasn’t, and it was obvious why for when she had tried it on, it was too small.

She tied the robe and looked at him gratefully. “Thank you.” Walking over, she took the food and pecked him on the cheek. “I didn’t take into account that everything suddenly feels snug and painful, I’m afraid I’ll be in robes for a few days.”

“No worries, you could pull offa potato sack.” He handed her a cup of tea. “Simon’s entertaining Meilin, he seemed ta need a new distraction, plus she cuddled him up and he looks better.”

“I’m surprised she’s forgiven him so soon.” Inara sipped her tea gratefully, as it revived her.

“That’s what makes babes so special, they’re too new to know about the time honored belief of holdin’ grudges.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'We have no one specific spiritual belief.' a voice came into their heads. 'While we are monks, we do not place stringent religious dogmas upon ourselves. Everyone has their own religious beliefs, and whatever they may be we are here to train our minds and bodies to be more ready for whatever they become in this life and how they will help us reach the next. Meditation is required, but it is up to you to meditate on your deity or on yourself. Through meditation you will become one with your body, mind and spirit, and you will find in yourselves how you will apply your talents in the universe. If you wish to stay and teach hear, so be it, if you wish to lead an inconspicuous life abroad, so be it, if you wish to do things that tread the line between good and evil,' the eyes of a gaunt monk with a braid of white hair slid to Emma's emotionless mien. 'so be it. You are welcome to return here whenever, as long as your intentions are true.'

River and Fiyero nodded their heads as the temple showed that it was peppered with temple cats and monkeys. The creatures basked in the firelight and watched the newcomers at the monks led them to a side door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“See you later Lambytoes.”

Zoe opened her eyes for the first time in days.

She found herself dazed and wheezing, the sights about her foggy and runny, like liberal watercolor. Eventually everything sharpened, and she saw an old face hovering nearby. Her lips moved to speak, yet no sound came out. The second time, however, a coarse utterance left her cracked lips. “Pike?”

The doctor turned around, his eyes lighting up. “There you are, so good of you to return to the land of the living.”

“Are… we on Serenity?” She wheezed, her eyes felt crusty from lack of use.

He nodded his head and jotted down her vitals. “That we are, I brought Wren with me too.”

“And the Captain didn’t shoot you?” She quizzed incredulously, as they had both promised Mal they’d be his ship hands when he was scraping a crew together for the first time. However they and everyone else had turned tail and gone to Virgil East when he invited them to his own brand new operation, short changing Mal.

“He pretty nearly took a bullet to Virgil, but apparently he likes us well enough to allow us to stay on board.” Walking to the com, he hit it. “Will all personalle please report to the infirmary, it seems we have a first mate that’s quite lucid.”

“Virgil was here?” She asked, confused.

“You missed out on it all.” He took a seat next to her on a stool. “Our crews pulled a job together, bonding and fuzzy moments ensued. There was also a crew swap. Wren and I came with your crew to help out with dispense meds on your home world, and your pilot River went with Virgil.”

Zoe stopped breathing for a moment as Wash’s final talk rang through her mind in vivid detail.

“She’s off to train with the monks…” As he noted her flabbergasted mien, Mal was the first to arrive.

“Look at you, all coherent.” He went over and loomed over her bed with a grateful smirk. “Good ta have ya back, missed my right hand, got inta trouble cause you weren’t there.” The captain pulled his face into a frown and pointed an accusing finger at her “Best not try something this ornery again, spin me out of sorts and leave me high and dry, you pull something of this sort again and it’ll be the brig for ya.”

Zoe put on a tired smile. “Won’t try it again, Sir.”

“Good, cause I run a tight ship, I got no need for keelin’ first mates.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Entering, they found it to be a changing room, screens partitioning areas off as a monk handed them each a set of clothes.

'Please go behind a screen and change. There you will find a basin of water and a bottle of oil. Please cleanse your bodies before putting these on, it is a symbolic ritual that all must go through, washing away the outside world and preparing oneself for the life of the temple.

Though the voice was kind, River looked to Emma for reassurance. Her stomach clenched in nervousness, for there was no going back, and like all young things she couldn't help but fear such a jarring change.

Emma bowed her head as a yes 'trust them.'

River tilted her chin up and went behind one screen, Fiyero behind another. Boston sat on the floor as she pulled her dress and combat boots off. Standing there, in the nude, she stooped next to the basin, took a sponge and started cleaning herself. Her eyes shut in thought, and through her mind she saw her family.

Oh how she missed them.

Thoughts, bits and pieces of memories with them swirled in her brain. Laughter, sorrow, everything condensed into itself as the sponge was dragged across her pale shoulders and across the nape of her neck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simon gripped a backpack stuffed to the brim with IV kits, drips and Zygramithol.

Zoe was fine, stable and enjoying a cup of oatmeal with Inara's help, her first solid food in days as Serenity’s ramp lowered to welcome in the blustery winter wind that sprayed snow in the doctor’s face. He was well dressed as anxious eyes scanned the town of Pryor. They had finally come back with the medicine, but the town, enveloped in the white of the season, refused to show life. There was a large collection of pine boxes towards the edge of town, a site that caught his throat as they were all neatly laid in rows on the ground for the ground was too iced to dig graves.

“This is it?” Pike, dressed for winter, asked as he too came up with a pack of supplies.

“Not a moment too soon I reckon.” Mal’s voice made them turn to see that he had his old service pack slung over his shoulder. Absorbing their curious faces, he shrugged. “Figure I can be of service, doesn’t take much to put a needle in a vein, hook it up to a hose and let the meds trickle down.”

“Very well.” As Simon led the way to the nearest building, he saw someone come out, eagerly racing towards them as they brought hope.

"Simon wait up!"

He turned and stared at Kaylee, running through the snow bundled up.

"I'm helpin' too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Opening her eyes, as the visions of her kin pained her with yearning to be back home pestering and loving them, her eyes absently moved to the screen.

It was there she saw Fiyero's silloette.

Nothing had happened between them since she had left her family to join him in training. They had become faster friends, and the tension had grown thick between the pair, but nothing had happened. Still, as she could make out the curve of his loin that followed up the ridge of his back, she felt a feeling that was now all too common towards him.

She couldn't possibly be thinking like that though.

River chided herself with such thoughts, for they were to train together and nothing more. Surely the monks were the celibate kind. She finished cleaning herself, and softened her skin with the oil before sliding on the clothes. After undergarments, there were deerskin colored trousers made of cotton that ended at her shins. Over those were the darker brown stockings that she bound light green leg bindings over, criss-crossing then from her heel to the top of the stockings before tying them off and slipping on black cloth shoes. Finally was a tunic as green as prairie grass with a mandarin collar and long sleeves and a sash that matched her ku pants.

Turning, she saw a long, worn mirror on the wall and took herself in.

River Tam, monk warrior of Miao De Qian Shan.

Boston chirped in approval.

-THE END-

-TO BE CONTINUED-

*** *** *** TRANSLATIONS/DEFINITIONS

mei-mei: sister

Ni-shi bu-jian-de ta: You're not like him

ni ken-ding?: You sure?

Quing niu-zai.: Easy cowboy.

Wo bi sha sha-gua zai men he piao ta bang qi suo.: I will kill the idiot at the door and float him out the air lock.

Long De Lian Yue: Dragon of the Lotus Moon

swabs: Pirate slag; good-for-nothings

shishi: stone lions, fu dogs

Xiao Xiong-mao: Little panda

-So this is the end of Lilac Syndrome. I want to thank everyone who read and everyone who wrote feedback. Feedback to an author are always little gems of wisdom and highly appreciated. It may be a while before the next post, it may be not, however I am working ardently on the next epic called Parents, Preachers, And Pistol Skinners, however there will be a short called Winter: Animals, before the debut of that.-

Thanks for reading, Ash

COMMENTS

Monday, June 9, 2008 6:42 AM

JANE0904


Oh, how could you do that to Mal and Inara? So close and yet so far! But good writing. Well done.

Monday, June 9, 2008 1:23 PM

AMDOBELL


I have really enjoyed this series but what a place to end it. Not fair! Hope you make it up to us when you get around to writing the sequel. Great work, Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 4:47 AM

PLATONIST


Absolutely love River's path, can't imagine a domesticated one for her at all... how boring that would be for such a unique character! and not how Joss would do it at all...nuff said.

Inara wanting to nurse (nuture) the baby and bond with her is the definition of her character, so that's spot on for me.

Overall, good characterization in a nicely developed plot, that is believable in this verse.

looking for more


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Post BDM: Oneshot; Mal & Zoe

Childlike Melodies
The New Haven Series; Post BDM: Set in the future, theme songs, lessons and lullabies fill the lives of parents.