Only just a dream

 "So it's you," the guard Fu put Qing on the spot as soon as she showed up with Cheng at Milo's.

Qing only frowned. She couldn't even look Fu in the eye. It frightened her and Cheng put his arm around her as if he'd protect her, somehow.

"Wait a minute," Cheng gave him the eye. "She didn't know this would even happen."

"What are you telling me!" Fu's voice was like thunder. "She has no control over herself?" He winced hard and pushed Cheng away from Qing as he had a good look at her. His rough right hand grabbed under her chin and he pulled her face practically up to his face. Qing struggled in his grasp. She squinted in disgust.

"You're just as I remembered," it was as if he wanted Qing to contact the girl he'd known as a youngster.

Qing winced. "I don't know anything," she wailed. "Why were  you even thinking of her?"

"I think of Mai all the time," Fu looked hurt that Qing would even mention it, as he pushed her away. "You think I'm having any fun being a slave to the morons?" His sizzling dark eyes seized her.

Fu told them the only reason he was there was to protect the master that Milo spoke so highly of.  "They always pressure him, expecting miracles. You don't know how many have tried to kill him." 

Fu began to pace as if he had no business even coming here. He needed to get back.

"Her name is Mai, you say?" Qing felt she really needed to put a name on the face. 

Fu nodded. "We met on the prairie. She grew up on the border but she was from the north. Her people are the wolf pack, but most of her life she spent  it with bandits and thieves." Fu was even lipped. "You wouldn't think that if you knew her. She was like a bright star. Her smile was cheerful. No matter what."

Qing nodded. Fu sighed as he geared up to leave. He put his hand on his sword as if he would dance his way back in a fight to the Beggar's Sect. "Don't come around anymore," he told them and swiftly left by the top of the roof.