A sly smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, the tip of her tongue idly running over a smooth fang as she kept her eyes closed, concentrating on her meditation that had been quite tranquil, until she was interrupted by the blunt voice of the Shadowblade. It was one she would recognize anywhere.
"For the same reason everybody else is. To protect Amirdrassil." Xinyi replied calmly, her response the only acknowledgement Daiyu would get.
"Is that your only reason? Do not think that I do not -"
"Know that I only do things to benefit myself?" It was now that she regarded the other pandaren, a head tilt and her brow raised, as if amused. "You are correct, of course. This does benefit me. It benefits us all, do you not agree? If the tree burns -"
Azeroth would perish. Daiyu frowned, crossing her arms. "Who do you ally yourself with then, to go about your business, to be covered."
Xinyi chuckled, patting the ground next to her - tiny specks of fertile soil sticking to her golden claws. "Please, Daiyu. Don't play games with me. I've seen you with the Blacktalon too."
Daiyu scoffed, yet didn't deny her invitation. There was a moment of silence as the two sat together, the mist swirling around them.
"Has it been hard?" Xinyi was the first to speak. She took Daiyu's silence as a prompt to continue - sideglancing her. Observing every little movement. "To pretend that you do not care."
"Has it been hard to pretend that you do?"
Xinyi let out an amused bark of laughter. "Oh, Daiyu, please. You wound me so! I happen to care a great deal, in fact. Not everyone can be so cold-hearted. So...." She pressed her lips together in thought, as a clawing sensation in the pit of her belly took hold. "Mmmh, no. That's not what it is, is it?"
An ear-twitch. She'd plucked at a string.
"You were always perfect at your role, little Shadowblade." A frown from the assassin. Patronizing. "Truly admirible, and I am being completely honest. You must keep everyone at arm's length, perhaps further, to carry your burdens. To dispose of other's for them, isn't that right?"
Daiyu's gaze remained on the ground - her walls she'd created for herself stood strong. But one tiny crack....it may not bring the entire thing down instantly, no. Daiyu had many years of practice, she would not fall for that. But a crack would spread over time...
"I know it hurts you. Every time they call you cruel. Every time they tell you that you are just a blade. A means to an end."
Just a tiny crack....
"Your twisted games will not work on me, Xinyi." Daiyu's gaze locked onto hers. Oh she was hard to read...but that was part of the fun. Her expression gave nothing away, nor did her tone. She spoke as if just stating a fact. Time would tell.
"See? Always perfect! Nothing can phase you. Not even me."
For a moment, Daiyu thought she could see a faint glow in Xinyi's eyes...hauntingly-familiar shadows seep from the corners of her mouth. Her mind focused, and the visions were gone.
"No. Not even you. Do not die, on the battlefield, Death-Blossom." She didn't want to linger any longer. Daiyu stood up, and bowed her head. "It would be embarassing for you."
Xinyi watched her go. Just a tiny crack..
@shadowbladedaiyu for mentions ))
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