The End of the Beginning [Jennah]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

The kite fields was not too far from Iskander's house. A fifteen minute walks wasn't that bad, and it was an even shorter bike ride from the lower middle class homes to the middle middle class and the primary school nearby. He remembered going here a lot as a kid, for the playground...and the kites. He still liked the kites.

When he was small, he was the stern-faced little kid that sat and watched the kites, until for one birthday, his eleventh, mother had bought him one in the shape of a falcon. He called it an eagle instead, after his old crest, and he flew it every good chance he got for years, until he was around fourteen, and the thing was too ragged to take anymore. It was still fun to go see the kites, though. It was a windy day, and the chill of fall was begging to hit the air, the feeling of winter coming soon as the leaves were about to change color. However, it was a nice Saturday all the same, and when he'd gone for a morning bike ride, he'd found many, many kites in the sky already.

Iskander watched from the parking lot the the elementary school he used to attend for a bit, looking just as stern but bigger than he had before. It used to scare people, that he was such a stern-faced kid; past life remnant, he supposed, but now it didn't seem quite as scary? Or maybe it did, so recently after the 9/11 anniversary. It made him wonder where his son of a bitch father was. Dead, he hoped. Dead was what he told most people who asked, since he was dead in Iskander's eyes. But he had told Jennah the truth. He owed it to her. She told him that she didn't know her biological family, after all.

Ah yes, Jennah. A young woman who was smart, skilled and nice to be around in general. His girlfriend. Iskander considered himself to be remarkably lucky, since in addition to all these things, she was a reincarnate. He really, really, really liked her. And if that Hayden kid bugged him or Jennah again, he'd get very mad. Dumb kid. He supposed he was overreacting a bit, but that was that. He didn't like people messing with him, his mother, of his girlfriend. Though granted, he hadn't had many girlfriends before. One or two. He was no typical teenage boy in that regard, though when he had sugar, he did an about-face and got a little bit hyperactive. It was strange to see Iskander hyperactive.

The black-haired boy pushed off and took off on his bike, racing along to the school. He never wore a helmet, even though he wove daringly along the streets. Maybe Jennah would like to see the town, and the kites. He didn't know if she'd like the kites as much as he did, but there was no harm in taking her to see them, probably. He reached the school grounds, zoomed in through the gates and locked his bike at the bike rack. The school parking lot had most of the teachers cars in them (they couldn't leave a bunch of kids unattended for the weekends, after all) and still sitting on his bike, pulled out his cell phone. Iskander was not one for entering the girls dorms, even in the time periods it was allowed. So instead, he called her. He could have called her from the kite fields, but she could balance on the handlebars of his bike or something and they could travel about that much quicker, right? He could show her some stuff around the small town...there wasn't a lot to see, but Riverdale wasn't one street, either. After receiving an answer to his call, he shut his phone and waited for Jennah to come.

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words| 675
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| >> I dun like this post.

[Jennah Raine Advani]

Jennah bit her lip as she folded her clothes and put them back in her suitcase. What she was doing was right. It had to be. She was going home to her family. Not Bhuvan and Latika. Her real family. Makoto and Lisa Xi. Yes, by some miracle, they'd found each other. And they wanted Jennah - or really, Ami as she was apparently named - to come back to them. They told her that giving her up was the worst mistake they'd ever made and they wanted their oldest daughter back. They said she had a spot in their home along with her little brother, Lee. This was right.

...But if it was so right, why did she spent the last fifteen minutes sobbing in the shower? Why did she let the warm water hit her in the face and mix with her tears? She stood in the shower until the hot water turned icy cold. Her dark eyes had aimlessly stared at the white shampoo suds going down the drain. Deep down, she knew why this wasn't right in her heart.

Iskander. Iskander Azizi. Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria. Her boyfriend.

He was smart, tall, handsome, strong, brave, protecting...it wouldn't be inaccurate to say that Jennah loved him. She always looked forward to his kisses. She adored his hugs. Hell, they didn't even have to touch. Exchanging a glance with him practically made her day, anyway. If she went away...she wouldn't have any of that anymore.

Jennah wasn't just moving off campus and down the road a bit. She wasn't even going to be fifteen minutes away. She was going to be states away. New York, to be exact. Her new home was in Manhattan. That was exciting, right? She was going to take a big bite out of the big apple. She was going to live in a city that pretty much never slept. Her new home was located in uptown Manhattan and she could just take a subway or a taxi and she'd be right in Times Square. She could go shopping every day if she wanted. That was a good life, wasn't it? That satisfied every teenage girl's simple dreams, didn't it? That's what Lisa and Makoto thought.

But they didn't know their daughter wasn't a normal teenager...or any type of person, really. She holding the spirit of Wang Cong'er; she was far more mature than other seventeen-year-old girls her age. Shopping meant little to nothing to her. She really didn't crave the hustle and bustle of the city. She enjoyed the quiet here in Riverdale, North Carolina. She liked her simple life of going to school, practicing in the gym, writing Latika and Bhuvan and then being with her boy friend. That's all she needed to be happy. It wasn't a hard request to fill...

But Bhuvan and Latika were encouraging her to go home. And she would listen to them. They said this was best. This was right.

...But in her heart, she knew it wasn't. However, what could she do but pack as she was doing now? Her files were already being transferred to her new high school in New York. She was technically no longer attending this high school. Sadly, she folded up another t-shirt and placed it in her suitcase. She wiped away a stray tear with the back of her hand, fighting to keep her breathing even and not breaking into sobs.

Her dark eyes scanned the room once more. All of Jennah's things were packed. She closed her suitcase right as her phone began to ring. She looked at the caller ID. "Iskander," She said sadly before picking up the phone. "Hello?" She said, forcing herself to speak normally and evenly. Having this feeling he was outside of her dorm right now, she looked out the window. Sure enough...there he was. Elegantly dissheveled black hair and all. She couldn't help but smile when she saw him down there with his bike, "I'll be down there soon."

She put her phone into the pocket of her black skinny jeans and put on her black boots and a black pea coat over her purple tank top. Before she left, she quickly put on a bit of eyeliner and lip gloss. Shoving her hands in her pockets, she made her way out and down the stairs. Once she got outside, the bitter wind slapped her in the face with it's coldness. Her hair was still a bit damp and it made her colder. Jennah looked at her boyfriend and forced a smile, "Hi..."

She went over to him and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips and she couldn't help but wonder how many kisses they had left to share.

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WORD COUNT: 797
LISTENING TO: i can't decide - there for tomorrow
COMMENTS: i didn't give you much to work with. sorry[/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

Life was pretty good for Iskander. At times, sort of scary. With the anniversary of 9/11, anti-Muslim protests had flared. it scared him, since he was so obviously Arab, and if anyone looked into it, half-Iraqi, with a Muslim background. He didn't pray often, but there was still that feeling that he could be in trouble. But the small town of Riverdale was safe, wasn't it? It wasn't like he couldn't take care of himself, anyways.

So, all in all, life was good. He was going to show his girlfriend the kites, and hopefully she'd like them. It was an understatement to say the young man liked Jennah. A major understatement. He'd fallen hard. He'd never been one to act on any old crush; and even in the past, when men of his status often took multiple wives or mistresses, he didn't. But Jennah was different. Vastly. Now true, they weren't as cuddly as other couples, but they didn't have to be. It wasn't like them to be that cuddly when people were around. Or his dog, who seemed to be a chaperone. And when a big great dane tackles you, you're rather forced to stop kissing your girlfriend. When he called her, she picked up the phone, and Iskander had to frown at the tone she had, it was totally normal, yes. Completely so. But yet...something seemed off about it. Something just didn't seem right, Iskander felt, as the cool fall air tousled up his hair. He put his phone back in his worn jeans pocket, and began to wait, shutting his eyes and resting his elbows on the handlebars.

He heard her coming, and opened his eyes, smiling at her, brown eyes lighting up some. Her hair was wet? Had she just gotten out of the shower? She smiled, but his eyebrows twitched, as though he was going to frown. Something seemed off about that smile, too. "Hello, Jennah." He said softly, before receiving a kiss. He kissed her back for a moment, decidedly not caring about a couple girls that were walking past some fifteen feet away. After the Hayden incident, he didn't mind as much. Although being called a terrorist had been mildly amusing. Oh, the ironies reincarnation caused. He pulled back after a second, and sat upright on his bike, smiling genuinely. Maybe she was just tired or something.

"You haven't seen much of town, so I figure that's I'd show you a place nearby my house. It's very beautiful this time of year. The elementary school has a playground and a field and everyone's out flying kites!" His soft tone became enthusiastic. "It's quite something to see. And the leaves are changing, I know some nice spots to see that, too. Very colorful, like a dancing flame. But the kites, it's something to watch." He reached over and took her hand, tilting his head to the side. "Do you want to come see them? You could balance on the handlebars of my bike or something, and we can go there." Hopefully she'd like that. He wanted to get rid if that odd tone in her voice. It wasn't quite there, but yet it was, and it worried him. It gave him a bad feeling, and he didn't want to have bad feelings. He'd had plenty of bed feelings before, and on a nice day like today, now was not a day for bad feelings...he hoped. Now was a day for spending time with his girlfriend, who he loved.

Oh, the ironies.

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words| 660
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| It's no problem. ^^

[Jennah Raine Advani]

She didn't mean to have the tone in her voice. Iskander was the last person she wanted to tell about her move. But it was hard to fake happiness when all her bags were packed in her room and she'd be leaving before the day was out. She wished her smile could be genuine for him...after all. This would be their last moment together for quite some time. But she couldn't force herself to hide her pain. She just couldn't. She would miss him terribly. She would miss the sound of his voice, they conversations they had, the way he held her and the way he kissed her.

She tried to cheer herself up by saying that a long distance relationship could work. After all, this was the twenty first century! Nowadays, people have e-mail accounts, instant messenger, Skype, Facebook...but she knew in her heart it just wasn't the same. The distance could put a strain on their relationship. It broke Jennah's heart to think about it, but their relationship would most likely wither and fade like a smothered rose...at least on his end. Jennah knew her love for him wouldn't die anytime soon, but if it was his wish to move on and forget her after she left, she would respect it. Chinese women were very used to having their own wishes ignored and secretly getting hurt...

Warriors like Wang Cong'er were no different.

She saw the temptation of a frown on his face and she knew her attempt at hiding her sadness failed epically. Still, she would not yet admit what was wrong. She could just lie and say she was tired. She was a bit tired after all. She hadn't slept much last night...

"Hello, Jennah." He said softly, before receiving a kiss. She closed her eyes, hoping her sadness didn't show in her kiss. She didn't want to hurt Iskander. This was killing her inside. She also didn't care about the girls passing by. Why should she? This would be her last kiss with Iskander for a long time if not forever. She put a little passion in the kiss to wordlessly say 'I love you'.

She wanted him to know that before she left, but she was far too shy to just say it.

She smiles back at him when he pulled away, her smile a tad more genuine. It really was nice to see him...no matter what.

"You haven't seen much of town," She hadn't. And she probably wouldn't see any more of it..."so I figure that's I'd show you a place nearby my house. It's very beautiful this time of year. The elementary school has a playground and a field and everyone's out flying kites!" His soft tone was so enthusiastic, it broke her heart. She gave him a smile, but she didn't know how sad of a smile it was. "It's quite something to see. And the leaves are changing, I know some nice spots to see that, too. Very colorful, like a dancing flame. But the kites, it's something to watch."

Ahh kites. A colorful pass time invented in China about 2,800 years ago. Of course Jennah had a fondness for kites. She was about to answer him, but all her words were lost when he took her hand. She looked down at their hands...her hand was so small and white in his tan one. She laced their fingers together with something similar to the trace of a smile on her face. He continued, "Do you want to come see them? You could balance on the handlebars of my bike or something, and we can go there."

She looked up at the boy she loved so much. Her dark eyes gazed into his and she dug down deep inside of her for some fragment of joy left inside to show in her eyes for him. She nodded and said softly, "I'd love to go see the kites with you, Iskander."

And though she was trying really hard to not sound depressed, that tone that was bothering him was still in her voice, laced their her words and dulling her smile. She hoped he'd ignore it as she did. She carefully climbed onto the handles of his bike and perched herself on it carefully. She gathered her damp hair and tossed it over her shoulder so her long black hair wouldn't get in his face as he peddled. She looks down at her knees, staying quiet. In her head, she was trying to piece together exactly what she was going to say to him when the time came to reveal the truth...

This wasn't going to be easy. She didn't want to do this. But the truth was inevitable. Iskander wasn't an idiot. He'd catch on. The truth was inevitable.

[/font][/center]

WORD COUNT: 803
LISTENING TO: boston -augustana
COMMENTS: yayyyy sadness[/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

There was something really bugging Jennah, and Iskander could feel it. In the way she kissed him, in everything. Her actions...there was something wrong. And he didn't think it was him, since if it was, she wouldn't have kissed him, let alone with a touch of passion. But something was bothering her, and she wasn't saying what it was. He was tempted to ask her when she pulled away, but he didn't want to yet. Nor would it make sense for him to ask right now when she didn't seem to want to tell. Her smile was a bit more genuine, but Iskander's dark brown eyes were somewhat troubled now.

Something was up, and that made the cool fall day cold. Still, he hung out for the chance of something better. The troubled look in his eyes went away as he talked about the kites, and he hoped that would make her happy. In a past life, it had been horses. He still loved horses - why, he could still list off the lineage of his favorite mare, but kites were an easier to access thing in Riverdale than purebred Arabian horses, all things said and done. "It'll be fun." He insisted to her, as he took her hand. He looked down as her fingers laced with his, and he gave her hand a squeeze. It was so small and light, but yet she could probably flip him off the bike and have him in a tangled heap in a matter of seconds. Small, but powerful. He respected that. He liked that. He hadn't found another girl like that since his past wife, and even then, she had not been a Jennah. Jennah was unique. And he wanted her to be happy.

The sultan reborn looked up again when Jennah spoke, noting some shard of happiness in her eyes, and he smiled. Her tone was still soft and sad, but maybe the kites would make her more cheery. He hoped so, anyways. She balanced herself on the handlebars and Iskander took off, heading down into Riverdale, which was about ten minutes from the school itself. He didn't peddle as daringly or quite as fast, since her weight would throw off the bike's center, but by no means did he go as slow as some lady he saw peddling along. He passed by the hair salon in Main Street his mother worked in and, and down into the residential area.

The kites of every shape and color were visible before Iskander came whizzing along into the elementary school parking lot, and out into the field, where he came to a halt under a tree, who's leaves were falling in the breeze. Somehow, it made him sad to see the leaves fall. Normally, he thought it quite pretty. But something about those leaves was foreboding right now. Something about those leaves told him that the trouble that was bothering Jennah was not going to go away. And he didn't know it, but just like the leaves fell, a whole bunch of problems were headed their way. He sat back a little on his bike, pointing out to the kites. "Aren't they something? You're from the birthplace of kites...but you have to admit, they're still kites something." He watched a man run by, trying to get a small kite in the air, while his young daughter, probably only five or six, held the string, more amused by watching her father run around than actually getting the kite up. Other kids playing in the playground, across the field. "In winter, this place is filled with snowmen and forts." He added, as another gust of wind blew, and the little girls kite finally took off and her father bent over, panting and trying to coach her at the same time.

A happy place.
Funny.

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words| 680
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| I dunno why I like ending his posts that way. But I do.

[Jennah Raine Advani]

Warmth was slipping away from the world. The sun had turned it's bright face away and now the leaves were changing. Autumn would fade to winter. The wind would become bitterly cold and then the snow would bury the world in white. Summer had run away and wouldn't be back for a very long time.

...not unlike Jennah.

Jennah kind of wished she had brought a scarf down with her. It was cold today...and her damp hair wasn't making the situation any better. She shivered as wind came by and chilled her to the bone. The cold air didn't help heal the emptiness inside of her...it only made it worse. It only made her hurt even more. She could tell in his eyes that he'd felt it in her kiss. Her pretty smile fell and died slowly like a leaf on one of the many trees around them. She looked down at her feet, hoping he wouldn't see her expression. The thought of leaving him...it made her want to cry.

She wouldn't be surprised if she cried again before the day was out. But she hoped he wouldn't be the one to catch her crying. Jennah was supposed to be tough. Little and beautiful, but strong and powerful. That's the Jennah she was supposed to be. But right now, all Jennah wanted to do was cling to Iskander and cry like a little girl. She did not want to say good bye. Not now and not ever. She'd only loved one man before...that was in her past life. She'd loved her husband more than life itself...and then he was killed. She lost him. Jennah was afraid she'd loose Iskander too if she left him for her family...

"It'll be fun." He insisted to her, as he took her hand.
She sighed, but smiles when he gave their hands a squeeze. She turned her gaze to his face. She gave him a beautiful smile and said, "I know."
Anything was fun when he was around.

A sharp pang rushed through her when she saw him smile. His handsome smile...he'd miss that smile. She smiled back at him, a hint of sadness about her expression. Then, she climbed on his bike and they were off. Jennah observed the small town silently with sad eyes. Why should she see Riverdale now? She was leaving it in a matter of hours. But she let him take the scenic route if it was what he so desired.

Her dark eyes took in the colorful shapes of the kites as they got closer. The ghost of a smile showed on her face as she looked at them. Those kites reminded her of home...China. She carefully got off his bike when he stopped under a tree. Leaves fell and danced down to the ground in shades of red, orange and gold. A red leaf landed on her hair as she looked at the kites, trying to make herself happy.

"Aren't they something?"

She turned around, a bit of black hair falling in front of her dark eyes. She looked at him as he sat back on his bike. "They're pretty," She admitted quietly and...well...rather lame-ly. But...those kites were nothing like the kites of home.

"You're from the birthplace of kites..." She grinned...almost bitterly. "but you have to admit, they're still kites something."

She nodded in agreement. "My kite as a child was cooler...They're very pretty, though..." She said, "The colors would make for an interesting portrait..."
And that's all she had to say about that. She did not really want to talk right now. She actually didn't want to be in public or looking at kites. She wanted to be in her boyfriend's arms. And she didn't want to leave. She knew she'd be safe in his arms...

...Wang Cong'er was afraid of this sudden change of environment and parents. She was petrified.

"In winter, this place is filled with snowmen and forts."

She wasn't looking at the father and his daughter. She really wasn't looking at anything in particular. She was just biting her lip and looking away. "Really?" She said, forcing herself to sound interested. "It must be beautiful. I'll....have to see it."

But she wouldn't. At least not yet.

The sadness wasn't leaving her voice, no matter show she tried to hide it. That frustrated her. She didn't want Iskander freaking out about her. She didn't deem herself worthy of such attention.

[/font][/center]

WORD COUNT: 751
LISTENING TO: this century
COMMENTS: i am so tired sorry this is poop [/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

Iskander could feel something wrong. The cool air had turned chilly. Something was wrong. He wanted to know what it was, since it was obviously to do with Jennah. She was miserable. And trying to hide it. That was making him miserable. It really was. He hadn't anticipated this. Had he done something? What was going wrong? Had something gone sour back at the circus? Questions popping into his head, one after another, and he couldn't really stem them now. Even that smile of hers. It was so pretty. He loved it. But something was so, so wrong.

But she didn't want to tell him, and he held out that maybe, maybe, she had just watched a sad movie. But that didn't seem like her. At all. In any way. Optimism could only go so far, but his bike could go to the fields. And Iskander tried. He really did, he sounded perfectly happy and optimistic as he reached the kite fields and pointed out the kites. But it wasn't working. He didn't say anything to her, as she tried to bring up conversation on his own attempts. A leaf landed on her shoulder and he reached over, brushing it away from her. "You're not being yourself." He stated simply, getting off his bike. It fell to the ground, but he just left it there. What, was anyone going to take it? He looked foreboding enough to be left alone if he wanted to be. But right now, he didn't want to look foreboding. He wanted to know why she was like this all of a sudden. Even if he just got some stupid reply. Or that she didn't want to talk about it. But if it didn't get resolved in even that way, he didn't know how he was going to enjoy the day. He didn't know how Jennah could think she was fooling him, either. He did not become a Sultan because he was dumb. Saladin would go so far as to say that she could best him in more than one aspect of combat - his style of fighting knights and Saracens was quite different and not so fluid as her own style -, but he could best her academically. He'd always been more inclined to the arts, in the past. Duty, however, did call. And he did what he had to; and in his spare time, he enjoyed what he wanted to. It was just that simple.

"Jennah..." He reached over, resting a hand on her shoulder as he moved so he could face her. "Something's wrong, I know it is. You can tell me, if you want to. It's fine, you know." Iskander's dark eyes were searching as he looked at her. "I don't want to talk about kites when something's eating you alive." That would be selfish. If something was bothering her, she had every right to say if it was, rather than just try to entertain him about kites, which she wasn't very impressed with to start with, by the sound of things. Then again, she was from the birthplace of kites. Everything else must seem something like an imitation? He didn't know, and right now, he had stopped caring about the kite fields. "Please."

He wanted to know what was bothering her, so maybe he could fix it. Little did he know it was out of his control, and would break his heart in two.

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words| 638
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| Nupe.

[Jennah Raine Advani]

She didn't honestly believe she was fooling him. Jennah knew that on the battle field, she was better than he but when it came to education, he surpassed her. That wasn't to say Jennah was an idiot. She was far from. She was an intelligent young lady, herself, but Iskander was wiser than she in most situations. He was good at reading people and she knew very well that she was an open book to Saladin right now. Well, an open book with a few pages torn out. Clearly, he had yet to figure out the origin of her depression. And it was tearing her up so much, she was tempted to just blurt out what was bothering her so.

She tried her best to play the role she had been raised to play when she was still Wang Cong'er: be silent. Humor your man. Ignore your own feelings. She gritted her teeth and obeyed her teachings, keeping her heartbreak to herself. She felt him brush the leaf off her shoulder as she sniffled back her tears and swallowed her pain. Being the perfect woman was harder than it seemed.

"You're not being yourself." He said behind her. She barely looked over her shoulder at him as she replied, "I'm not? I'm sorry...I'll try to...be more like me...the kites are beautiful, Iskander...it's a great day out..." Maybe she should crack a joke and make him forget her pain? Jennah looked over her shoulder at him and forced herself to give him a cute, but confused look as she said, "Tell me, what is 'coke'? And who is 'Dr. Pepper'?"

Her naive-ness towards carbonated products always seemed to amuse him greatly. At least it usually did...

"Jennah..."

...But today, she found his hand on her shoulder. She found herself gazing into his dark eyes as he tried to search her soul for the answers she was keeping locked inside. She shrunk back a bit, a tad intimidated by his presence.

"Something's wrong, I know it is. You can tell me, if you want to. It's fine, you know."

Her mouth hung open to say something, but all she did was whimper. Tears filled her dark eyes. She knew this would kill him. She didn't want to tell him for that reason...but he'd asked her to reveal her secrets. How could she deny him that now? Jennah looked down at her feet, biting her lip as a silent, clear tear slipped down her smooth cheek. She didn't mean to let the tear slip and show her weak side, but she couldn't help it. And she knew more tears were coming. However, she didn't mind so much that she was crying in front of Iskander. He'd seen all her other moods, after all.

"I don't want to talk about kites when something's eating you alive."

Her lips trembled and her dark, teary eyes looked into his. She was beginning to break. Her whole body began to tremble with suppressed tears as she sniffled and whimpered, "Iskander...oh, Iskander..." She choked back a sob, hanging her head once more. This wasn't going to be easy for her to say. She didn't want to say any of it. She didn't want this to happen to her. She didn't want this to happen to them.

"Please."

She looked away from him and gazed at the kites. They were so colorful and beautiful in the gray sky. She wondered where her colorful kite - her beacon of hope - sailed among her own gray skies. Because right now, it looked like it was going to rain. And when it rains, it pours.

Finally, she found her words. As more crystal tears slipped down her cheeks she took a deep breath. Her heart was already broken. Now it was his turn. Now he would understand why she had little to no interest in kites or anything else he may have had in mind. The wind ran his cold fingers through Jennah's drying hair, whipping it into her face. Closing her dark eyes, she finally confessed, speaking in hushed tones, "I have to leave, Saladin."

She paused for a moment before looking him right in the eye. There wasn't a trace of joy on her beautiful features as she said, "I found my parents. They live in Manhattan. They want me in the family now. I need to go be with them."

But her heart told her to stay in Iskander's arms forever. Her heart told her this all was wrong and she was meant to be with Iskander. Jennah believed it too, to an extent. Her parents — both of them — said leaving was right. Her parents were always right...

She loved him. She knew she did. But did he return the feelings? And...she was young. What did she honestly know about true love of the 21st century? Honestly. There....there would be others...

Who was she kidding? There's be no other Iskander Azizi in this world. Once she left this one, he'd be gone and that's the end of it. Why did her parents want her now!? They gave her up in the first place! But now they want her! Now they wanted to rip her from the comfortable life she lived. And all she could really do was obey.

Clear tears flowed from her eyes. Her cheeks wettened with her sadness. Her pretty lips were pressed into a frown as she mourned. And finally, Jennah didn't want to be a warrior anymore. She just couldn't. She couldn't bottle up the hurt. So, she did something she had always been ashamed to do. She began to cry. Her covered her face with her hands and her long black hair curtained her face as her shoulders heaved with powerful sobs.

"I don't want to go," She said from behind her hands and in between sobs, "I don't want to leave you."

She hated to sound so pathetic. She didn't mean to be like Bella Swan from Twilight. She didn't want to whine or come off as dependent.

She'd just fallen in love. And now she was familiar with heart break.

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WORD COUNT: 1027...wait....WHAT?
LISTENING TO: wake me up when september ends
COMMENTS: i didn't expect it to be that long xP [/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

Iskander wanted to know what was wrong here. He didn't like it, the state of not knowing a single thing. He wanted to know. Badly. He wanted to figure out what was hurting her, and maybe he could help. maybe he could do something about it, since this was hurting him, too. He knew she wouldn't get upset for nothing, after all. That was not her style. That was not either of their styles. But yet it was bleeding over to him...and it had to be something major. Which worried him more. He'd always been like this; maybe not quite so worried but just as concerned in his past life about the human condition.

Her attempts at a joke didn't even make him crack a smile. "Jennah." He said quite seriously, "Trying to be yourself isn't being yourself. If something is bothering you like this, it's no trivial thing...do you think I would think less of you?" He asked, having to factor in her past life. He'd "modernized" relatively well, considering he supposed he could have gone the other way and become an Islamic fanatic, but all of them were tied to their past. He, for example, tended to get ill rather violently. Confidence? He hoped so, dearly. And in her past, she was probably taught something about not betraying emotions.

She looked back at him, and for a moment their eyes met, and then she shrank back. What in the name of Muhammad, peace be upon him, was wrong with her? She normally was unafraid of meeting his eyes. She normally did not open her mouth only to whimper. And then start to cry. He had to admit, this mildly alarmed him. Something was seriously wrong to make a warrior like her cry. Was it wrong of him to hope that she was just much more...not so much emotional, but easily set off, that this wasn't as grave as it seemed? Had someone died? He tears turned into sobs as he reached out to brush a few away, as she gasped out his name. "Jennah, it's okay. It's okay..I'm here. I can do something..." His words were so silly. So silly and blind but he didn't know they were. he just wanted her to be okay at this point. The kites and the people had faded off into grey and streaks of color, distant sound. He was no longer concerned with any of that. It didn't matter. She looked away, and then looked back, and then she spoke.

"I have to leave, Saladin."

If the world had been a stained glass image, the sort seen in cathedrals (he'd been in some, once or twice over the course of both lives), it could have shattered. But not in an explosive sense. No, Saladin was not that sort. It would have cracked, and one by once, the pieces would fall. Not all together. One by one. And when they hit the ground, they would break into more pieces, which wouldn't explode. They'd just stay where they were. The picture would end up on the floor; maybe it was possible to see the image, but in a thousand little pieces. Their eyes met again, but it was almost like Iskander wasn't all there just now. Well, he was. Most certainly, he was. But the heartbreak was mixed with shock, which contributed to the distant effect.

He was about to ask why, why now, of all times, when she'd found her place; Riverdale was the place for any reincarnate, after all, it was where she was liked, where she was loved (not that he'd yet plucked up the guts to tell her; and now, now he couldn't!), where...where... "Tha-...I.." Saladin struck dumb. Finding her parents, her birth parents, was supposed to be a happy thing. But right now, he just wanted to curl up and hope she was playing a prank. But she wasn't. "Oh, Jennah, I..." A shiver and through him, and not from the cold wind.

She'd be...gone. Gone to the place that his own family had run from, gone from the birthplace of his father, gone from the man who tired to kill them. Gone from the city that never sleeps, where Jennah was one of, oh, he didn't know how many. But the one of the billions that had walked this earth - literally, given the fact both had lived before. "Jennah." He said it again, just because he could. Because he didn't know if he'd see her face-to-face every again after this day...two days? However long before she left? Did it even matter? He shut his eyes for a long, long moment, hiding the hurt he felt. They reopened when she began to sob.

He looked at her for a fraction of a second, then took a single step, and pulled her into a tight hug. He quivered for a moment, but his grip was strong. Not harsh strong, but a gentle sort of strong. A loving sort of strong, as she shut his eyes again. "I don't want you to leave." He said, his voice between the even, reassuring tone it typically was and something more agonized. The agonized, hurt bit, was a bit more prevalent. "I don't want you to go either....b-but this is your family...you...you should go see them...maybe if only for a bit..." But he doubted this, and that was clear from his tone. She was going to go away. He loved her. He didn't care people might say he was young. Goddamn, he knew what love was! He had shaped the world! His emblem, his eagle, was on the Egyptian coat of arms to this day!

And he was also the Saladin who could be moved to tears by a good reciting of the Qu'ran. Who loved to quote his favorite authors. Who bought a child slave back from its captors so its distraught mother could have it back again. If he wasn't also a military genius and legendary warrior, his legacy would have no doubt been different. And right now, his soft side was showing.


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words| 1100 ...holy crow. That's not gonna happen often. xP
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| This post has a lame ending, I think.

[Jennah Raine Advani]

"Jennah." He said quite seriously. She frowned more at her failed attempt to make him smile than his serious tone...but that's not to say his seriousness didn't bother her. Jennah was a warrior. A skilled warrior who had yet to meet a foe that could truly defeat her...yet this was a battle she had never been trained for. This was a battle she'd never planned or prepared to face. This was a battle in her head and heart. This was a battle with her emotions she had tried so long to suppress and ignore. But there was no ignoring this any longer. Iskander wouldn't let her. Obviously whatever was bothering her bothered him...

"Trying to be yourself isn't being yourself."

"At least I did try to humor you," She muttered with a shakey sigh. No one could say she didn't put effort into ignoring herself. She did at least try to behave like a proper lady ought to.

"If something is bothering you like this, it's no trivial thing...do you think I would think less of you?"

Jennah paused, a painful lump in her throat. She looked up at him hesitantly, her dark eyes fragile and vulnerable. Her bottom lip trembled before she hung her head again, her black hair curtaining her face, and asked him in the softest of voices...the voice of someone who's heart was broken and beyond all repair. "Would you, my sultan?" She asked, expecting and honest answer. "Would you think less of me?" Jennah was still trying to modernize herself. Her timidness needed a bit of work...or a lot of work...

She must have looked like a foolish crying girl in his eyes. She wasn't sure why she shrunk back, she just did! It made her look weak, which Jennah wasn't a fan of. And crying? She was so ashamed of herself for the tears, yet here they were! Slowly falling down her smooth, pretty cheeks. And she couldn't bring herself to make them stop. There was no stopping any of this.

"Jennah, it's okay. It's okay..I'm here. I can do something..." She'd give him credit for trying to comfort her, but it was useless. Jennah shook her head as she choked back sobs. He didn't get it (of course he didn't, though. She never told him). He couldn't do anything. He wouldn't be around for much longer. It wasn't okay. It was...it was...

"It's far from okay," She whispered, her voice trembling and her eye squeezing shut. "It won't be okay, Iskander. This is nothing we can-....it's not going to be okay. I wish it was, though. With all my heart I do. B-but...." She couldn't finish. She'd be repeating herself. The main point was saying things were going to be okay was the biggest lie she had heard all day if not all month.

She could see the effect this had on him. She heard him stutter. If Iskander's world was stain glass, hers was a rose...a rose that had too many thorns and had just wilted away it's last, dull, wrinkly petal. Things seemed colder now. Lifeless. Without beauty. Naked. There was nothing left for her. Both she and Iskander were dumb founded by the situation. Both warriors were ill-equipped for the toughest battle ever: saying goodbye.

He said her name over and over gain, which broke her heart. She avoided his eyes as she said, "My bus to New York leaves tonight...I guess it's good you came over when you did...so...we could properly say goodbye." Jennah didn't know if she would have called Iskander to say goodbye before she left. It wasn't that she wanted to abandon him or forget him...
She was bad at goodbyes.


She had only sobbed for a moment before his strong arms were around her, holding her firmly, yet...dare she say it, lovingly. Jennah buried her face in his chest, trying to force herself to get a grip. She cried into his chest for a bit, clinging to him just as he held on to her. Jennah whimpered his name again as she sniffled. She loved him so much. She knew it wasn't too late to tell him so...but it'd be torture. It'd be cruel to let someone know you love them right when you leave them. So, she'd keep her feelings to herself...as usual. She had this feeling by the way he spoke to her and held her, he loved her the same. But perhaps his problem was similar to hers. He didn't know exactly how to say it. She finally wrapped her arms around him in return, her face still in his chest as she died to quiet her sobs. She felt safe and warm in his arms. His arms fit perfectly around her just as she fit perfectly against his chest. It was like God, or Allah, or Brahma or Buddah or who ever was in charge of this world...it was like they had made Jennah and Iskander perfectly for each other. They fit perfectly together, emotionally and even physically. And the idea of that and knowing she was leaving all of that and would never find something like that again made a new wave of tears spill from Jennah's dark eyes.

If she wanted, Jennah could go to New York and find a new boyfriend. She was beautiful and capable. She could find a new boyfriend, settle for him and eventually marry him. Her belly would swell with children; she would probably have three or four. She'd love her children...she'd like her husband...and Jennah would stay faithful and grow old with him and she really wouldn't have much to complain about in life.
But Jennah didn't want that. Jennah didn't want to settle. She was in love with the boy — the man...the sultan — holding her right now. She didn't want anyone but him. She didn't want to leave him nor did she want to break up. But at that distance, breaking up seemed inevitable. And she doubted he'd venture to New York...he'd ran from the place. She would come down to Riverdale when she could...but it wouldn't be that simple. They could talk online and web cam, but it wouldn't be like cuddling and laying in his back year, looking at the stars.

Jennah didn't hate many things. She tried to be open minded and give everything and everyone a fair chance. But right now? She hated New York with a burning passion.

"I don't want you to leave." She could hear the pain in his voice even though it was somewhat masked. It broke her heart.

"I don't want you to go either....b-but this is your family...you...you should go see them...maybe if only for a bit..."

A few more tears leaked from her eyes as she said, "I-it won't be for a bit, Iskander. They want me to live with them...it's....it's a permanent relocation. Th-they want me in N-New York." And they didn't want her coming back to Riverdale often. They also didn't want Jennah to go to the circus and see her adoptive parents again. Jennah felt like she was being caged. New York City may be one of the biggest, most exciting places, but it was quickly turning into Jennah's personal hell-on-earth.

She looked up at her boyfriend, her dark hair shielding part of her face, "M-maybe I can get them to let me come visit, though?" She was trying her best to be hopeful. "Maybe during Christmas or Easter break I can come down for a day or two and see you again." Her voice quieted as she lost confidence and hope, "A-and I know you left New York for a reason...b-but maybe y-you could come visit me?"

For a moment, Jennah wanted to suggest something crazy. She wanted to suggest that they run away together so nothing like this could ever happen to them. However, she realized the idea was crazy and just plain illogical. There was no way for Jennah to avoid this...no cliff she could throw herself off of. Right now was when she had to toughen up and be a warrior. Right now she had to stiffen her lip and put on her war face and wear that face all the way to New York.

But right now, all this warrior could do was drop her weapons and be held.

"I'll write to you everyday," She said gently, "I-I'll call you on weekends...m-maybe I'll find a new type of confusing soda in New York so you can laugh at me again." Jennah didn't want to leave him with a broken heart. She wanted to see him smile...at least once before she left.

And she wanted one last kiss.

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WORD COUNT: 1481
LISTENING TO: nothing!
COMMENTS: so the first half of the post sucks because i was half-asleep when i wrote it. all the same, though...THIS POST IS A BEAST [/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

Well, so much for the kites. It was an out of place thought, and one that Iskander didn't care abut. It just popped into his head, like some cynical commentator had thrown it there. Well, yes, it was right. So much for the kites. But kites were just that. Kites. Not people. Kites had to humour the winds, and the people who flew them. Not people. "Jennah, humouring me is not trying to pretend nothing's wrong." Iskander's tone was dead serious. They both grew up (first lifetime wise, anyhow) in a society where women were far inferior. But you'd think for a lady warrior she'd have been a little less like this. He couldn't really speak for his own time, growing up on the other side of the gender-divide when it was, quite literally at times, a divide.

Jennah looked up at him, looking so fragile and venerable...he'd never seen her like that, and it worried him to see her as such. Whatever was bothering her may just have scared her, which was probably not an easy thing to do. Never once before had she had that look in her eyes...

She responded to his question with a question of her own, and he smiled, in a sort of comforting way. "No, I never would. You don't get like this for no reason, why on earth would I think less of you?" His words were soft, but he said it like it was obvious to him, at least. "Why would you worry about something like that?" He asked, not caring if she answered or not. He knew it was just how she was raised, just like it was perfectly natural (though unnerving to his mother) for him to play with knives when bored, or read philosophy when most boys would want to watch TV.

Iskander's look of worry only got worse when his attempts to comfort her seemed to go awry. "What do you mean it's not going to be okay?" He asked, reaching to her cheek and wiping some of the tears away. There had to be some way to make this okay. Hopefully. Hopefully some way other than time itself, which left scars more often than not.

But there was no way, he soon learned, as she told him she was leaving. There was no way to combat it. No Crusaders to fight, no prayers to give, no nothing. Nothing Saladin was equipped for. Maybe, if he had been a sultan, he could have stopped it. But as it was, this body was a teenage son of single mother who was an immigrant from a country that was at war with the one they lived in. He really could do nothing, and in the middle of Manhattan, he probably would seem a less-than-ideal boyfriend. But Iskander didn't care. He didn't care about it all unless Jennah cared about it. If this move was going to end things...then he'd be okay with that. Well, no, no, he wouldn't be okay with that. But he'd respect it. He'd respect it. but right now, he was crushed inside. Hurt...but what could he do? What could anyone do?

And she'd be leaving soon! No, he didn't want her to go! He'd see her to the bus stop. He didn't want to see her go, but since that was impossible in all but a literal sense, he'd make sure he saw her go in a literal sense. He wanted to be able to wave goodbye, at least. Then he could go home, and he'd..he'd...do what? Suddenly, he was drawing blanks on what to do, what he could do...anything... "Jennah." He said yet again, trying to come up with more words than that...but was it so bad to admit that was all he wanted to say right now? Aside from 'I love you', but he couldn't say that. "You're leaving...tonight? I'll see you to the bus. I-I will, I'll..." Everything else seemed so foolish right now. Going to see the kites seemed trivial and pointless, so...childish, even.

And he really did wish that it was the most important thing right now, that everything was fine. But it wasn't, and he couldn't believe that anymore, not even as he held her. It all seemed perfect when he held her, expect for the obvious fact she was sobbing into his chest. That served to remind him everything was still askew, no matter how much he loved to hold her. Everything was askew. He shook for a moment, just briefly as she moved her arms around him, forcing himself to stay in one piece, if only for her sake. The idea that people might be around - people who knew him as the stern dishwasher - didn't matter. Surprise, he wasn't so stern. And who cared, anyhow? His world right now was Jennah and their immediate area. Not some kid running around with a kite on their head (which was, if they'd cared to look, going on).

He tried to mask the pain in his voice, but when she said it was permanent, it just got that much harder to do. "Permanent." He echoed, the pain evident in that one word. Gone. Might as well have been the same thing, couldn't it have? She offered to visit, but already he was wondering if they'd let her. His family didn't have Christmas or Easter, but the school had breaks then...most did...they could visit, maybe, right? They'd have nothing to do; Jennah wasn't Christian - she questioned what the Christians did often enough for him to come to know that.

"O-Of course you c-could come. We don't have a guest room, but there's always the living room, or, or something...and I'l come to visit. No Westerner with a protest sign could keep me away from you." New York City was an unfriendly place for the reincarnation of Saladin. But he didn't care. If Jennah's family allowed him, he'd find himself some inn, and he'd come to see her for a few days. He'd take her for a walk around. Not the area he grew up in - that was poor and unsightly overall, but maybe past his old school, through central park, the restaurant he went to on his birthdays...if he could, he would, in a heartbeat.

Her next, gentle words made him smile sadly. "And I will, too." He promised, distancing himself just a little ways from her so he could properly see his face. Her joke...it didn't fall flat, but he couldn't bring himself to have more than just that sad smile on his face. "Maybe...maybe...oh Jennah." He sighed, gripping her close again, and shutting his eyes as he shook again. "It should be happy, finding your family again, but..."

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words| 1246
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| Beastly posts.

[Jennah Raine Advani]

"Jennah, humouring me is not trying to pretend nothing's wrong."

In his opinion, that is. Jennah figured she was being a good, submissive woman. She was doing the right thing by ignoring her pain. Jennah may have once been a young, Chinese female warrior, Wang Cong'er. She may have once moved along China, taking back villages and towns from the Qing Dynasty, but she did most of it along side her husband. She was inferior to him and the only reaosn (in her opinion) that she led was because no one would step up and take the job. Had someone wanted it though...had a man wanted it, Wang would have given up her leadership. She was a warrior...but in no way did that imply she forgot how to be a lady. Or...a lady by the standards she was raised by as a child.

"No, I never would. You don't get like this for no reason, why on earth would I think less of you?" She looked into his eyes as he spoke gently. As her dark eyes peered into his, she knew he wasn't lying. Iskander wasn't a liar. But she still couldn't help but have the vulnerable look about her. ...She would miss the way he spoke to her...


"Why would you worry about something like that?"

Jennah shrugged, her eyes falling down to her toes. She paused before she looked away from him, watching children fly their kites. "I don't know," She answered, gently, her dark eyes observing the hues of the kites in the gray sky. "I guess..." She said slowly...thoughtfully, "...I guess it is just how I was raised." She gave a humorless smile as she stared at the kites and not Iskander, "Some habits just don't die."

"What do you mean it's not going to be okay?"

She let him wipe away her tears, even though more just kept coming to take the place of what she had just cried. Jennah's lips trembled even more. He had so much hope that he could just fix everything for her. He couldn't. She knew that. He soon would. Unless he could get Allah to come down and intervene with some divine power, Jennah would be in New York, unpacking and moving into her new room this time tomorrow. She was going with a heavy heart. This was against all of her wishes and desires. What could she do, though, besides obey? Rebelling would only make things worse for her.

...So for the fist time ever, Jennah — Wang Cong'er — was truly being submissive. She bowed her head at Iskander's question and finally pushed his hand away gently. He couldn't fix this. He wouldn't always be there to wipe away her tears. Now was the time for her to learn how to stand on her own two feet again and support herself. But Jennah wasn't stupid. She knew that there would be an emptiness in her heart that wouldn't be filled, no matter how strong she acted. That was just one of the many, many troubles with falling in love.

"I m-mean it won't be okay," She answered. Her voice wasn't as strong and she wished it to be. "I mean there's nothing anyone can do to fix it."

That's what she meant. Did she need to be clearer?

No matter how great and strong of warriors they were, there was nothing they would do to fight this. No matter how brave and emotionless they could be, this was effecting both of them. Even warriors have feelings. Jennah was beginning to think warriors had the most feelings of all, they were just good at hiding it...because right now...she was feeling a lot.

"Jennah."

She frowned and wrapped her arms around herself for a bit of comfort. She looked down so she would not cry, though she was tempted to. She would try to be strong. If not for herself, for him. But hearing him say her name...it broke her heart. She knew she was breaking his. It was killing her.

"You're leaving...tonight? I'll see you to the bus. I-I will, I'll..."

She frowned a bit. "I know you will," Her voice dropped then. In a whisper she asked him, "Does that mean we're over?" She didn't want it to be over. Not one bit. Jennah loved Iskander. There was no denying the butterflies in her stomach or the smile he always brought to her face. She didn't care if he was Arab. She'd hold his hand and walk all over New York with him. She would keep in touch with him and one day, if he still wanted her, she'd come back. But if he didn't care for her enough for a long distance relationship, she would understand that too. It would hurt, but she'd get it. Long distance relationships were not easy...

...But Jennah truly believed they could make it work if they wanted to.

"Permanent."

She knew every word from her was another steel blade in his heart. And saying 'permanent" was like twisting the blade and pouring salt into his open wound. She nodded as she sobbed into his chest, clinging to him like she was drowning. In a way, she was. She was drowning in all this madness and she was clinging to him so he could save her from it all. But he couldn't. She was just dragging him down with her. "Iskander," She cried and sniffled, "Iskander..." She just kept saying his name as she cried. She would much rather fall from the tight rope and break all her bones than do what she had to. This wasn't fair. Not one bit.

"O-Of course you c-could come. We don't have a guest room, but there's always the living room, or, or something...and I'l come to visit. No Westerner with a protest sign could keep me away from you."

She smiled and she almost told him she loved him. But she kept it to herself. Her dark eyes told him for her. Her hand went to his and she laced their fingers together. Giving his hand a squeeze she said gently, "I'll be there at the picket lines waiting for you."
That was a promise. Not just pretty words. A promise. She feared nothing when she was with him. And if anyone tried to argue with her or hurt her for being with him...they'd have another thing coming to them. Jennah brought his hand to her lips and kisses it before pressing her cheek against his hand.

And finally he smiled. Jennah knew it wasn't the happiest of smiles, but it was better than nothing at all. She gave him a sad smile in return when he said, "And I will, too."

"I-I'm holding you to that," She said, smiling and fighting to keep her voice steady, "And if you ever forget, I'll come back and kick your ass. You know I can," She teased.

"Maybe...maybe...oh Jennah." She found herself close to his chest again. She clung to him, her face buried in his warm chest as her tears wet his shirt. She closed her eyes when he did, her head pressed against his chest. She could hear his heart beating beneath his breast. "Iskander," She whimpered, "Darling, I'll miss you so..."

"It should be happy, finding your family again, but..."


She nodded and said quietly, "I know." Jennah looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. She bit her lip to try to get it to stop quivering for a while as she said again, "I know. It's not. I wish to remain here. They....they didn't want me after all...and now they do?"

Now when she had something to love and live for?

[/font][/center]

WORD COUNT: 1295
LISTENING TO: When It's Time - Green Day
COMMENTS: click it reminds me of them[/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

Saladin had great respect for true warriors. In his time - his true time - there were many great warriors. He lived in a time that was but a legend now, a time where kings and sultans fought over their holy lands with nobility, where leper kings won battles, and that was a bit embarrassing for him, but he still respected a guy who couldn't get onto his horse without help and charged into the middle of battles while suffering from a disease that rendered muscle pretty well useless. The man had balls...metaphorically speaking, since those might have fallen off due to his disease. Most great warriors were long dead. He was long dead, and so was the girl in front of him. Physically speaking.

Speaking in terms of the soul, there was one great warrior in front of him. Maybe from some six hundred years after him, but still a warrior. One great warrior who seemed to have her world falling apart, not her body. And he would do anything to fix that, but there was just nothing he could do. Nothing. He could see it in the way she tried...humour? About her upbringing, in how she didn't look at him. And it hurt. Not anything she did, just the fact...well, it wasn't going to work.

Iskander would try anything, but there was, once again, nothing to try. He wiped away tears that were just replaced, again and again, as his question went unanswered. He let his hand fall when she pushed it away, and he fell silent again. "I m-mean it won't be okay, I mean there's nothing anyone can do to fix it." Of course he knew, he supposed, it had been clear...but he hadn't really wanted it to be. He just...he didn't know what he just wanted, he just kept saying her name. Because she was what he wanted, perhaps? Just for her not to go. But she had to go, didn't she? He didn't know. He'd never grown up in that sort of home. His father was dead to him. And so he was just with his mother...he didn't have a family he had never met, and then was being yanked away to; and he was glad of that.

And all that could be done was see her to the bus.

His stomach dropped about a mile at her next words. Did that mean they were over? "Nononono..." He said, barely a second after she'd finished speaking of such a thing. "No, Jennah..." That was the last thing he wanted. There was some way it had to work long distance, right? "Not...not unless you want it to be." Long distance wouldn't be easy, he didn't think. It would be a difficult thing, in it's way. He loved her, but time would pass, and time healed everything, whether or not it was supposed to be healed, and time left scars more often than it healed cleanly. But if she wanted it to be over, if she didn't want that...then that was that. He'd let it be, he supposed. He knew there wasn't another Jennah out there...but what could he do? Maybe, though...maybe it would work, despite that nasty word that was permanent. There was no worse a word just now, than that. No worse a word. And so he let Jennah cling to him and cry. Saladin cried at good reciting of the Qu'ran, and it was taking some power not to cry himself. All these tears, all this news...forget the kites, there was just nothing happy about this day. All they could do was make promises, which, for any and all intentions they had, maybe not come true.

He felt her fingers intertwine with his own, and he looked down, seeing the look in her eyes, which was matched by his own glance. And Iskander knew. Not as surely as if she had said it...and normally, he'd be happy. But that just hurt his head a bit more. Or a lot more. "I know you'll be there." He said quietly, as she kissed his hand. He stroked her cheek when she moved his hand to it. Sad smiles and tears and promises as numerous as the kites and people around them, though if they'd cared to notice, people had moved out of earshot to give them some privacy. Another sad smile came to Iskander face as she teased him. "Then maybe I won't, so you'd have to come back...nah. I'll write. I promise. Oh, Jennah..." He pulled her close again, shutting his eyes as she whimpered. He just didn't know what more to say about it. He couldn't find many more words, but he did find a response to her question.

"I don't know. I just don't know... Show them what a warrior you are." Not the best of responses, but something, at least. It was something. Slowly, grudgingly, he let her go. "Come, Wang Cong'er. Let's not waste the day we have. We know how to live, when we lived." His tone was sad, but Saladin also knew how to seize the day, just like the Leper King did. Did he let a terminal disease ruin his day? No, we went out and slaughtered an army of the best tactical mind to live for quite some time before and after that.

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Sunset. What a time for her bus to come. The end of the day, the beginning of the night. Iskander had helped her, with his trust bike and a wagon he had, get her bags to the bus depot, which hadn't changed since he'd come here with his mother, on nothing but a promise that life would be better. The bus arrived, as Iskander felt his heart beginning to crack all over again. She was leaving, and no one knew when she'd be back...gone. They'd go into the school database, and remove her from it. In RSOR, one of the leaders would write down her fate in the ledger they kept, another historical figure becoming history all over again...it was funny. So many of them were destined to be average joes this life around, just musings from another era.

"Jennah, wait!" Iskander left his bike at the rack (no one would take it, anyhow, it was purple and yellow and a little old, with a green wagon attached to it) and went towards her. The bus was still unloading the few people who actually came to Riverdale, probably to visit relatives or hang out at the golf club, and those who just saw this as another stop to grander places...like Manhattan. There was one thing he ought to do, that he hadn't really done. He waited for her to turn around, and in an oddly daring move (at least when it came to these things) he held her close and kissed her.

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words| 1255
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| Nah, he's not a knight in shining armour...he's a sultan on a purple bike.

[Jennah Raine Advani]

Everything Jennah stood on had crumbled and gave way beneath her. She was falling now. She was falling faster and faster, head first to a rocky bottom, not unlike how she had originally (and violently) passed away. She was a warrior and she would try to go down like one, but she felt like a useless sniffling, little girl. She felt awful for pushing his hand away, but she did it for herself. She did it to try to become more like the warrior she was supposed to be. She didn't want to insult him by rejecting his comfort. She adored having his comfort. But, this was not how a strong warrior behaved.

However, there was no denying the comfort she got when she heard he did not wish to end things with her.
"Nononono..." He said, barely a second after she'd finished speaking of such a thing. "No, Jennah..."
It wasn't enough comfort to make her smile. However, it was enough to make her quiet down for a moment. She bit her trembling lip. She may not see him, but she'd never lose him. At least not yet. Not as long as he still wanted her, as far away as she may be.

"Not...not unless you want it to be."

Jennah instantly shook her head no. "No, Iskander," She said, her black hair falling in front of her face. "No. I don't want that. That's the last thing I want. Saladin, I l-" She caught herself. Jennah hung her head again and hesitated, composing herself with a gentle sniff. Taking a shuddering breath she looked up at him again and said in a voice barely above a whisper, "No. It-...it's not over. I-...I couldn't be with another man without comparing him to you. Th-there isn't another one of you in this world...I couldn't replace you, Iskander. I never could." She didn't say 'I love you'...but that whole shpeal was pretty damn close, wasn't it?

She knew by the look in his eyes they felt the same. And Jennah knew that one day...hopefully one day soon, they would admit their love for one another. But until that day, Jennah was satisfied with that look in his eyes. She leaned into his touch as he said, "I know you'll be there."

She just kept returning his sad smile as they made promised to each other. Jennah silently promised herself that one day she would admit her love for the sultan in front of her right now. She couldn't help but give a sad laugh when he replied, "Then maybe I won't, so you'd have to come back..."

"I-...I'll bring my sword." She teased, fat tears rolling down her cheeks as she smiled softly, "I-I'll make you rue the day you were born...b-both days." She would do no such thing. She could never hurt her beloved. If her sword or any blade was drawn around him, it would only be to protect him. Jennah would give her life in a heart beat to protect him if the opportunity ever arose.

"nah. I'll write. I promise. Oh, Jennah..."

She buried her face in his chest in an attempt to muffle her whimpers. It wasn't exactly working, but she attempted. She clung to his shirt, her lips trembling. She committed to memory the feeling of his arms tight around her small body. The way he touched her hair. His scent. His eyes. His voice. The strength he could display yet be soft and gentle with her all the same. The way he loved her without expressing it verbally or all-too-physically. She finally lifted her head from his strong chest and looked up at him with teary dark eyes. "I-..." She started and hesitated, "I'm sorry...for crying." She looked down at her feet, "Out last moments together shouldn't be like this. Th-they should be happy.We should be laughing and smiling...not...sobbing like this. N-not like this..." She looked down at their laces fingers and whispered, "Not like this." She gave his hands a squeeze and looked back into his eyes. She took a deep breath in an attempt to stop her tears. She gave him a beautiful smile. It was a sad smile...but a beautiful smile. She wanted him to remember her as beautiful and smiling. Not as crying and pathetic.

"I don't know. I just don't know... Show them what a warrior you are."

"I will," She promised him. "I will. Th-they took me away from where I'm happy...they will know I am Wang Cong'er, a warrior not to be reckoned with. And they will push the extent of my mercy." She didn't mean to imply that she'd murder them...but she wouldn't be the most cheerful person in the world with them.

"Come, Wang Cong'er. Let's not waste the day we have. We know how to live, when we lived." His sad tone broke her heart but she nodded and took his hand once more.
"Yes, Saladin," Her tone was equally as sad as she nodded again, "We came down here to look at kites. Why are we standing here, then? Why are you letting me weep, so?" Still holding his hand, she took a few steps towards the people with their colorful kites, brightening the gray skies. A gentle wind came by, ruffing her black hair and making the kites dance in the wind. "Come," she said softly, "We'll look at the kites and I will tell you all about the kites I saw as a child in China." She tilted her head to the side, "Maybe we can grab a Coke before going back to my dorm? Or perhaps a Dr. Pepper?"

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Sunset used to be Jennah's favorite time. She used to sit on the roof of her dorm or on the back of an elephant (in her circus days, that is) and watch as the sun painted the sky with purples, pinks, oranges and blues before ducking down behind the horizon. And then she would watch the stars awaken and the moon turn her pale face upon the earth. Jennah would do her deepest thinking at sunset. She would fantasize at sunset about things she wanted in her life, however long it may be...

She wanted to be married at sunset. She wanted to dance with someone she loved at sunset. She wanted her first child to be conceived at sunset. She wanted her first child to be born at sunset. Jennah even wanted to die at sunset.

But the only thing she didn't want was to be getting on a bus to leave Riverdale at sunset. She had her carry on bag in hand...the driver had already taken her bigger bags and thrown them underneath. Her back was to the city. Her back was to Iskander. She didn't want to turn around because she knew if she did, she wouldn't leave. She frowned and kept her face forward, gripping the strap on her backpack tightly. She had to go...she had to disappear from this small town...she had to just become a ghost in everyone's minds...a memory barely recalled.

She patiently waited as people got off the bus and others shoved their way on. She didn't mind at all if she was the last one on the bus. She looked up at the big bus and took a deep breath, trying to ignore the quaking in her knees. Iskander told her to show them the warrior she was. She forced herself to stop that quivering and she stood tall. She was ready.

"Jennah, wait!"

No she wasn't. Jennah looked over her shoulder and saw Iskander coming towards her. She frowned. He wasn't making things any easier on her. She turned all the way around and said, "Iskander, this isn't easy...please don't make things-"

And then he brought her close and his lips met hers. Jennah was surprised at the sudden boldness, but she wasn't embarrassed and she wasn't about to pull away. She smiled in the kiss and kissed him back. She didn't care who saw. She didn't care if people talked about her. Jennah kissed her boyfriend lovingly and passionately, right in front of the bus. A few tears escaped her eyes as she kissed him, but she wasn't sobbing anymore. She wouldn't until he was out of sight at least. Jennah's arms slowly wrapped tightly around his neck and she stood on her toes so she could kiss him better. Her eyes were closed and her body was close to his. After a while she pulled away and looked up at him, love and heartbreak in her eyes. She wanted to say something but found no words. So she spoke to him in Arabic, a language they both understood (he better than her, obviously). Her dark eyes looked into his as she said in Arabic, "I will miss you with all of my heart, Saladin, and that heart will ache until I see you again. Nothing will keep us apart forever. Nothing." She ran her fingers along his cheek and through his black hair, "Write often."

She kissed him again before she pulled away, biting her lip. She knew if she looked back she wouldn't want to leave him...
And here she was, looking back. And it felt like her heart was being torn out and left on the pavement.

Everything Jennah stood on had crumbled and gave way beneath her. She was falling now. She was falling faster and faster, head first to a rocky bottom...and nothing could catch her.

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WORD COUNT: 1603. yes.
LISTENING TO: nothing!
COMMENTS: *hugs for iskander*[/font]