Before Autumn - Chapter two

Before Autumn

Pairing: England x China
Authors note: Written for the fantasy iggychu contest.
Rating: T (just to be safe)

Chapter two

"To die?" Arthur asked after a few moments of silence. Yao titled his head slightly. "Perhaps…" he glanced over at him. He was curious what the man would answer. This was a writer who was great with words, so expectations were high, you could say. "No, I am not." At least he didn't think he was. Dying seemed easy. It would just come at you and put you to silence. You didn't have to do anything yourself. It seemed peaceful as well.

Though the question caused him to think. He hadn't really thought of dying or what happens when you have died. He was a Christian, who liked to believe in heaven. He never really worried about where he would go after passing away. "But I am afraid of something else." Yao looked at him directly now. He waited for Arthur to go on. He had the time of the world after all.

"I am afraid I won't be remembered." He spoke softly. Arthur was awfully honest today. He never opened up so easily to strangers. He blamed the fact that this man was a doctor. "Then why don't you make people remember you?" Yao replied. "I am trying but I do not have the time of the world." The English man explained hopelessly.

A nod followed as reply. He understood him. He may not be human now, but he very well, remembered what it is like to be human. He had been human after all. They wanted to have lived for something and they wanted to leave something behind. Even though they all knew very few people would win this eternal glory.  You had to be pretty great to be remembered for centuries. It seemed Arthur was very aware of this.

Silence fell, just like raindrops that were falling from the sky right now. The raindrops that hit the windows of the hospital room, the sound they made, were soothing. It calmed people down, it made them at peace, it made them silent. Though silence was to be broken by the undead. "Would you like to live forever?" he asked.

The Briton blinked and looked slightly confused. "Perhaps… forever seems like enough time to write something of value, doesn't it?" he said with doubt in his voice. He wondered if he had given the right answer to this stranger. He didn't like to be wrong, especially not when with someone with authority around.

"Are your books not of any value then?"  Arthur's eyes flicked up. He didn't really expect someone to know of his books. He rarely met people who talked to him about his work. "Do you think they are?" Yao raised an eyebrow. "Only you can decided that, can't you? But I love your work, mr. Kirkland. Your work is different…..fascinating." he glanced out the window, watching the rain fall as he heard the mumbled 'thank you.'  

Again a moment of silence fell. Yao watched people wander aimlessly outside, looking for a shelter. He wasn't thinking of anything, while Arthur was lost in thought. Questions that were taunting him. How long would he really live? What can he do now that he was still alive? Wasn't there really a possibility to live another 23 years? Followed by questions about death and dying, the after life. Questions that no one could answer.

Silence was broken by a light peep. Yao merely title his head to glance at his beeper. "It is time for me to go, I am needed else where." He spoke. Arthur looked at him with longing eyes. It was if he was thinking he would die when Yao left. "If you need someone to talk to…I will be here tomorrow." He told the desperate man. "Y-you better." Arthur replied.

With that the mysterious surgeon left him. It was only then when he realized, he did not know who this man was. The room suddenly felt a lot colder. He was craving for company. Arthur Kirkland, a man who had preferred to be left alone his entire life, was now a lonely man. Only the letters of his fans, he kept re-reading were the things that kept him from falling in depression.