Week Ten: Fen Shui

  How could he explain this to his brother? They couldn’t communicate through long distance. Well, they could with a cell phone but that’d be a hell of a phone bill if Xeq explained everything. So, he let the thought settle to the side. He couldn’t do anything but learn for now. He may even come back to learn more but Mioko helped him and he had to pay his regards somehow.

  Mioko explained that dragons here in the east represented luck. For the most part, what Xeq got out of Mioko’s lecture was that they were presented differently. Western dragons were looked upon as protective, strong, but feared while eastern dragons were associated with protecting riches which meant luck, wealth, power, wisdom, and strength. Shines, status, and all sorts of traditions were built to praise the dragons that lived in China. Mioko wasn’t sure himself how western dragons were praised or glorified so he asked Xeq.

  This took a moment to process before Xeq could fully understand how to answer the question. Shrines? Festivals held in their honor? Maybe in California in one of those race based towns that he heard existed but he didn’t know for sure. In Texas, where Xeq was from, he couldn’t think of a place that would hold a tradition. Maybe Dallas, San Antonio, or probably Houston but he had never gone to one or heard of one.

  “See?” Mioko said as he shook his head. “Here, the human hold festivals in our honor. They even ask for our wisdom and strength to get through their storms. Depending on who sees the offering first is the one responsible to help them because not all of us accept offering and not all of us are ‘named’ in Chinese history.”

  Xeq nodded in understand. “I have nothing to offer you, Mioko.” He started and paused for a moment. “But by any chance I have a hunch that you know how to fix this Hydra heart problem of mine. Could you maybe guide me in a direction?”

  Mioko smiled. “You say you tried to consume the Hydra’s heart in sake to save your brother?”

  Again, he nodded.

  “However, you also did it for your selfish reason to becoming more powerful?” Mioko added.

  Xeq’s face flushed. With a smirk he replied, making sure that he couldn’t sound aggravated in the process. “You can declare that….” He sighed. “Yes.”

  “You did it for your love one as well I supposed?” Mioko questioned.

  His eyebrow raised. Xeq didn’t remember telling Mioko about Zamer. “What makes you say that?”

  Mioko smiled. “My dearest Xeq, only one of her kind can be alive at a time. Would you think that she would stay quiet about you?”

  A smirk slipped up on Xeq’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Mioko shook his head this time. “Now, my dearest friend, you are lying to me.”

  Xeq laughed. “Okay. So I’m dating a Phoenix. I mean… The only Phoenix. So what? Please don’t tell me there’s an actual prophecy to that too.”

  “Feng Shui.” Mioko said with a grin.

  Xeq shook his head. “Yea. Hello to you too.” Xeq joked.

  “There are two types of Feng Shui. There is the good and the bad. Feng meaning wind and Shui meaning water. Together, they could mean good fortune or they could mean misfortune. Before your time, and probably your lover’s time, this science and art was created. At first, it was created to protect the knowledge of the Emperor and was known as Kan Yu. Kan Yu was used to make sure that there was success in the emperor’s land. It was a way for farmers to ensure that their crops weren’t to perish and their buildings would withstand from the cold winds of the north but then, in the same way society develops so did Kan Yu.

  It became the study of nature and in turn made ‘environment’. As the study matured its focus was redirected to Qi. Qi is energy or a flow. Through Qi, location and direction was now a clearer subject. After Qi, the five elements of wood, earth, water fire, and mental came about. Finally, when used in the proper location Feng Shui emerged. Through Feng Shui in which is used through Qi, balance to the environment can be restored or destroyed.”

  Xeq shook his head as he thought of Zamer. Shoot, the Chinese had an answer for everything huh? Feng. He thought to himself. The wind. She was Shui, or the water. That would explain the healing abilities. They had been together since high school. They had their fights but they came together. They restored balance.

  “The Feng Shui is also used to help bring Health, Prosperity, and Relationship. Also known as man, heaven, and earth. Through traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese Astrology, and Feng Shui, you get good health, prosperity, and a balanced relationship.

  A good example of where Feng Shui can improve relationships is through one’s home. In one’s home there may be Qi which can create a separated and lonely feeling. By using the five elements of the Feng Shui one can rectify this situation.

  In the time of the emperor Feng Shui was known to bring wealth and power. This can be seen more often in an office setting in which a finical benefit would occur.”

  The lost look on Xeq’s face made Mioko smile. At least the boy was understanding it all. “You were probably asking yourself how you got here, did you not?” Mioko finally interrupted Xeq’s in depth thinking.

  “What?” Xeq said in surprise to the snap out of his trance. “Oh…” He paused. “Yea. I was.”

  Mioko nodded and grinned. “You, my friend, are the wind.”

  Xeq smiled. “It lead me here?”

  “Your heart, “Mioki said while point. “You trueself” he said again pointing to the water fall, “You.” He stopped to look at Xeq directly. “You lead you here.”

  Xeq nodded. Course, Mioko had to make it all suspenseful. There were so many questions that Xeq wanted to ask but decided against it. It would all make sense in its time. All he hoped was that Vile would be able to take care of himself until Xeq got back and wouldn’t do something rational like go look for him. Then, there would be a problem. There would probably be a bad Fen Shui if Xeq wasn’t careful. He couldn’t stay here for long. For now, he stared at his reflection, his true self, and quietly thought, “What now?”