Under the Oaks, Beside the Bayou

Lan Zhan's Decision

Lan Zhan walked along a celestial beach, bathing in the sun, and smelling the salt in the air. In the Heavenly Realm, it also smelled sweet. The Realm was nice, a good place to rest from the past life just discarded, but he was already feeling the urge to get on with the next life. He missed his Wei Ying terribly and found even these exalted surroundings unnatural, without his beloved by his side.

He had been reviewing the last lifetime, and it had been pleasant enough. Uneventful for once, but he needed to discuss his decision about the future. And whether it would dovetail with his soulmate's needs and not his alone. He heard a trilling voice behind him and turned.

The Childe of Eternal Passings came traipsing up behind him. This disarming god was the one who greeted all souls with good track records as they entered the hear-after to rest and plan their future lifetimes. He evaluated them and then sent them back on their searches for perfection. Lan Zhan and Wei Ying were among his favorite souls.

A nimbus of golden curls wafted in the sea breeze, and there was a smile on the cherubic lips. Lan Zhan had to smile back because the Childe was delightful, with a charm that could not be ignored. The Great Lord of Heaven had sent out the big guns this time, to deal with one of his most treasured but stubborn mortals.

However, Lan Zhan had a few ideas of his own and he intended to take them all by surprise this time. And in the heavenly Realm, that was a ballsy and sometimes risky thing to try.

"Ah Lan Zhan, it is such a joy when you rest here. You know, one day you will join us permanently." The Childe looked fully at the beautiful features, his 10,000-year-old eyes enjoying what he saw. Internally, the god sighed. There would be no chance with this one, his heart, body, and soul belonged to Wei Ying, another that Heaven was heavily recruiting. But that scamp needed a lot of work before an offer could be made.

"It is an honor that you wish me to join the ranks here, but I will only agree if both Wei Ying and I can come here together."

"There is no problem with that, that we can see. He is making good progress as well. He does not have your focus yet. Immensely talented. Extremely loyal and fearless, yet his impulsive nature is still hard for him to master. He will give up his very life for a cause, often to the detriment of those who love and support him."

"I have never minded those times."

"No. You have not. You are always there to help. Furthermore, you know that is something you must learn one day, that you cannot always rescue him."

"I am aware of that as well. Yet, I do not believe he has the skills yet to survive it alone."

The Childe looked into the topaz eyes. "Have you any ideas on what can be done this time, to give him the ability he will need?"

Lan Zhan nodded. "I have a few. I don't like them, though. "

He stood abruptly and stared into the glistening waves that stretched outward without end.

"I think he needs a good childhood. Wei Ying has never had a childhood without fear, and uncertainty. Even when picked up and taken home like a stray puppy, he was regulated to something less than a loved child. Always brought back with the same Jiangs and Madame Yu. Always abused, made second best. I think he needs a safe childhood, guidance without fear." He turned and looked at the Childe.

"I have always retained my memories to counteract that reoccurrence. We have always come together as soulmates, but also as lovers. It has always been what we wanted and our single-minded drive. And perhaps that has not always been healthy."

He reached for words that did not seem to want to escape, He forced them out. "But this time, I want him to know what a carefree life of a child can be like. I want him to know a child's happiness.

I think we cannot come back as lovers this time."

"You what!?" the Childe of Eternal Passings cried out, His eyes wide in astonishment. Then He saw the tears in Lan Zhan's eyes.

"I can see you have given this a great deal of thought. Are you certain? It is hurting you already. "

Lan Zhan turned away, not one to share his deeper feelings easily. "I caused him pain in our first life together as well. He always begins life not remembering. This time, I would ask he not remember us as mates at all. Have my Wei Ying know what being unencumbered, for once, is like."

The Childe sighed. " Lan Zhan, your own life was less than ideal during that time."

"There will be time for me to concentrate on that in another lifetime. This one I want to be dedicated to a happy childhood for him."

"Lan Zhan, this is supposed to be a talk about what you need to do for your own self-improvement. This decision, if we were to grant it, leaves you once again, relinquishing all for the needs of Wei Ying. This is you, to a T, however, it accomplishes nothing in propelling your own self-improvement. I am not sure that The Great Lord will agree to this suggestion."

Lan Zhan stood firmly, eyes darkening to gold, jaw set in determination. The breeze from the ocean stirred the white robes, and he looked a little godlike at that moment. The Childe of Eternal Passings smothered a smile. He reminded him of a young tiger, ready to defend his first bit of territory. He waited patiently for what would come next, and as ancient as he was, as many strange and bizarre requests He had over the years, this was the most unusual and touching he had heard.

"In this next lifetime, I wish to make certain his childhood is perfect. I want him to have all that he wants or needs to thrive.

I wish to be Wei Ying's father."