Heredity

[Salinye]

I'd like to start out by thanking Valdar for such a wonderful experiment. I am thrilled to have gotten to research into the character that is Yui-chan. There are a couple of things I must tell you. When I asked Yui about her character, she sent me to a story called "Darkness Rising". She wrote it co authored with Zool and Peredhil.

 

While I am not bold enough to even begin to think that I could match the superb writing that was in that piece, this story is somewhat of a continuation of that. In order to fully understand my piece, you could read Darkness Rising by clicking here. Because Yui is timeless, I tried to write this story in a way that she could place this event anywhere along the timeline that she wishes.

 

Also, I wanted to copy and paste a small section of Yui's profile that I feel you must understand in order to fully understand my story.

 

**Copied portion below**

 

One story in particular from her past is important. The details aren't, but the result is that she has this strange 'darkshard' aspect of herself that's almost a separate personality but isn't. You may have noticed references in DR to 'Ebon'. Ebon is Yui's dark side, but given just a hint more individuality than yours or mine. She's always still Yui-chan, but while you or I can do uncharacteristic things when we're really angry, she can sort of slip into more of an uncharacteristic state of mind that is know as her Ebon Frost. (The name is from my early days of RPing, so please excuse its... cheesiness. ) Ebon's name describes her - dark, callous, ruthless, cold and uncaring. For the most part, after all this time, Yui-chan has complete control over Ebon's physical manifestations, but Ebon is often a 'little voice inside' that Yui has to deal with.

 

Ack. Confusing. Ask any questions you need.

 

Oh, and I guess it's worth mentioning, in case you haven't picked up on it, Yui's background culture has elements of the Japanese culture, which is why she tends to interject little bits of Japanese into her speech, bows politely, addresses people with the -san and -sama titles, etc. Her people aren't a 100% borrow from the Japanese, but there are some elements. Since a kingdom takes its shape from the Archmage it belongs to, her lands are much the same.

 

Powers:

You've seen Yui's shadowwalk, probably. That's an ability she gains from the incident that created Ebon, but it's been bound into the ebon cloak she wears. She cannot travel through the shadows unless she's wearing the cloak. (Which is a well-kept secret. No one knows it except Aegon.) She's also a master-level marksman with her bow.

 

Yui knows only Ascendant (holy/healing) and Verdant (nature) magic, and can be incredibly powerful, however she only uses her magic in the most dire of situations. She tends to devote all of her meager mana reserves to her country, so has very little left at any given time for spellcasting on the side.

 

On the rare occassion that Ebon manifests in a control position, she also gains a weak, natural cold manipulation ability. (Think Iceman of the X-men, if you know him. ) Oh, and when Ebon is 'in control', the indicator is that her eyes turn white-blue instead of their dull green. Too many aspects of Ebon are cheesey, but I'd rather continue to use a cheesey plot element that I designed years ago than be inconsistent with old stories. Silly me.

 

**End Copied Portion**

 

With that said, I hope you'll accept my humble attempts to add a story that uses Darkness Rising as a springboard. Enjoy!

Edited July 12, 2003 by Salinye

[Salinye]

Time is an interesting thing when you’re timeless. Yesterday is merely reflective while today could see youth turn grey and tomorrow could seem only moments away. With this in mind, I write a tale of yesterday….

 

The pained feminine cry rang through the grey stone corridors of a castle causing the cradled flames of the walled torches to flicker. The handmaiden Soi ran, her slippered feet barely making a sound as she rushed to the aid of her mistress with fresh linens in her arms. As she opened the heavy oak doors Yui-Temae let out another cry.

 

“Aaaaahhhh….”Tsuyoku nakutewa-naranai ... Watasi wa tsuyoku nakutewa-naranai.” (I must be strong...I must be strong...)

 

Aegon stood at her side, one hand caressing hers while dabbing at her forehead with a cool wet rag. “Tsuyoi da yo, watasi no koibito. Ganbatte suru”... (You are strong, my love. You're doing so good.) These terms of endearment and encouragement were softly murmured into the light of his life’s pale ear in constant loving streams.

 

The healer Nakarei looked up over the blanketed hump of Yui’s stomach, “It won’t be long now, Yui-sama.” Then with a soft smile she added, “I can see the head, you must have had a lot of heartburn because I suspect this baby will come with a full head of hair.” Yui smiled at the mention of the old wives tale, despite her intensifying pain.

 

“Ahh, so he’s the reason, is he. I’ll have to remember that.” Yui grimaced as she spoke the last of her good humored statement then closed her eyes concentrating once again on her breathing. Inhale….exhale….inhale….exhale….ride out the pain on the steady rhythm of my breath….

 

*****

Two hours later

 

“Push, Yui! You must keep pushing!” Nakarei said gently yet firmly to the exhausted mother to be. She could see the slimy black head of the child crowning and knew if she could just get a few more good pushes out of the mother that this baby would arrive. She also was concerned with the time. Yui had been pushing for two hours, and she was beginning to grow concerned for the health of both of them. Glancing up she met Aegon’s eyes giving him a look that told him of her concern.

 

Leaning down he caressed his love’s sweat drenched and pale face whispering to her. “He’s almost here, Yui, just a few more pushes. I know you can do it. “Ai ni chikara o uketoru” (Draw strength from our love.) The huntress took a few deep breaths as she felt the next contraction mounting in intensity. Leaning her head up while gripping Aegon’s hand she began to bare down with every ounce of energy left within her.

 

“Good! Very good, Yui-Sama!” Came the excited cry of Nakarei from behind her blanketed knees. The healer watched as the crinkled black mass slowly began surfacing until finally just when she thought Yui would have to stop for a break the huntress let out a cry, more from her extended test of endurance, then out of pain. With that cry came a shot of pain and a wave of relief as the face of her child was washed over with its first gush of air.

 

Yui dropped her head back onto the pillow panting heavily not even able to smile at the awed gasp coming from Aegon at her side who’s eyes were glued to the scene she could not see. “One more time Yui, and it’s done. Now, give me everything you’ve got, and in exchange I’ll lay your child in your arms.” Nakarei promised.

 

The thought of holding her child was just enough to give the huntress the strength she needed. Leaning up again, she closed her eyes gritting her teeth expecting the same long hard type of pushing she had been expected to endure over the last two hours. To her surprise and relief with one strong and painful push she bore the child’s shoulders, and before she could even take a breath her pain was gone and a beautiful pure cry filled the room.

 

“It’s a boy!” Nakarei called out while Soi clasped a hand in front of her mouth awed by the miracle of life she had just witnessed. Tears of unexplainable love streamed down Yui-Temae’s face as this slimy screaming tiny human was set upon her chest and covered in a blanket. Aegon still gripped her hand his eyes wide in wonder and awe. He merely stared at his companion and son unable to speak.

 

Yui pressed her cheek to the top of her son’s warm head, which was full of soft black hair, just as Nakarei had predicted. The moment her skin touched his, he stopped his wails calmed by the touch he knew intimately within his soul. The new mother closed her eyes as it occurred to her how amazing this child of theirs was. How with adults, even her beloved Aegon, the heart took time to fall in love. However, this love was different. This love was immediate, fierce, and all consuming. There was no need to fall in love with this child. From the moment he took his first breath the bond between mother and child was so strong that not even the demons from the deepest pits of Hell could sever it.

 

Opening her eyes she glanced up to Aegon. The look he was giving them said so much to her. The love he held for them was more than apparent. He would die for them, and more importantly, he lived for them. His silence was not only out of awed respect, but also out of the desire to allow the mother of his son to bond privately. “Isn’t he beautiful, Koibito?” (Sweetheart)

 

Aegon blinked, his eyes moist. Leaning down he kissed her forehead responding, “Of course he is, Yui. He’s your child isn’t he?”

 

****

Sometime later that evening, Nakarei was gathering the last of her medical equipment in preparation to leave. Walking over to the bed where Yui sat propped up by pillows she took her hand with the care of a healer. “Yui-Sama, you did wonderfully. What will you call him?”

 

Yui looked over to her son, sleeping peacefully in his blanket haven cradled within the arms of his father. “He’s to be called Graeson.” She responded not taking her eyes off the child.

 

Nakarei nodded. “That’s a beautiful name for a beautiful child.” Giving her hand a squeeze before letting it go she added, “I’ll check in on you sometime tomorrow morning.”

 

Aegon gently laid his son into his wife’s eager arms and stood to stop the healer before she left the room. Taking the older gentle woman by surprise he drew her into a warm embrace. “Thank you, Nakarei. Forever I am in your debt for taking such good care of my wife and son. We will honor your name in this home.” The healer smiled to him a bit embarrassed as he freed her from his embrace.

 

“It is my honor to serve such good people. Now, take good care of your family and I will see you tomorrow.” With that she left the room softly shutting the door behind her. When he turned back around, he found the adoring gaze of the mother of his child staring at him. They locked eyes for a moment lost in the love that was now increased. Yui was brought abruptly from her reverie by the small sweet cry from the now squirming child in her arms.

 

She looked down at him as he screwed his face up in a grimace in preparation for another howl. She couldn’t help but laugh at his determination even now, only a few hours old. As he let out another frustrated and hungry cry his little eyelids fluttered open revealing the solid whites of his eyes momentarily before closing again. The sight caused Yui’s smile to fade as her face drained of its color.

 

“Aegon.” She whispered calling him to her side. “His…his eyes. They were…..they looked like Ebon’s.” She spoke in a panicked strained whisper.

 

Aegon picked up his son from her arms and began gently bouncing him to silence his cries. As the child was comforted he relaxed and opened his eyes to look for a moment at his father. Aegon smiled kneeling next to the bed.

 

“Look, Yui. His eyes are green, just like yours.”

 

Yui looked into the adoring eyes of her son and blushed a bit. “Of course they are. I’m just so tired.” She replied, and it was true, she did feel exhausted. “I’m sorry.”

 

“Yui-Sama.” He replied touching her face lovingly. “Don’t apologize. I’ll give him to you to feed, then I’ll rock him so you can get some sleep, yes?”

 

Yui smiled at her husband. “Yes.” He’s so good to me. She thought as her son was laid into her arms once again. “He is perfect, isn’t he.”

 

************

The dream weaver sat before her Celestial loom a small smile gracing her features as she noticed a new pale blue strand weave itself into the intricate work. “Ahhh, we’ve been waiting for you, Graeson.” She said softly, longingly with the love of a mother.

 

She sat just watching her work for a while lost in her own thoughts and memories. The pale blue strand wove itself intricately with two other strands. However, a faint flash of black caught her eye jerking her abruptly back to curt observation. “What is this?” She mumbled to herself reaching down to lovingly touch the newest strand in her loom.

 

With two hands she gripped the strand tugging on it gently pulling the blue fabric just enough to reveal a black thin core within it. The Dream weaver dropped the strand and watched as it resumed its work. A slight crease soon etched into her forehead just above her brow as her eyes became laced with concern. “Well, this IS unexpected.” She sighed softly to herself. “He’s definitely his mother’s son.”

Edited July 14, 2003 by Salinye