Things are complicated

As Lina looked at her face, trying to remind herself of her identity, Shen glanced at her expectantly. Even though she was weak and pale, and needed time to recuperate, she was still devastatingly stunning. Her hair had been growing out and her bangs were longer, so that they fell way past her eyes. She seemed so dainty and so quiet, his heart hurt for her. How could he have let her get so badly wounded?

All Lina remembered when she saw her face, was a flash of an older woman who looked similar, saying something, but she couldn't make out what it was. She turned towards Shen, studying his face trying to remember. She looked at their matching wedding bands.

"Do we have wedding pictures or certificates?" she asked him as she looked around the plain, yet tasteful room. The walls had no frames hanging and was decorated impersonally. Shouldn't this be a home full of their memories and life together? Yet it felt so distant.

"Lina...this isn't home. We are at one of the properties outside the capital. It's for you to be safe while we get to the bottom of whoever did this to you while you recuperate." he said quietly.

"Right...someone did this to me. Why...what kind of trouble am I in?" she said to herself

Shen looked at her miserably. "This is my fault, sweetheart. This is my responsibility. I'm sorry you were hurt because of me. I won't ever forgive myself. I will spend the rest of my life keeping you safe."

"Wait...why? What's happening! I want to go home!" she said, feeling agitated, wanting to go to a familiar place. Even though she said she wanted to go 'home', she couldn't picture it.

"I want to see photographs, our wedding pictures, our life, our family. I don't want to be clueless and confused" Lina's voice got higher as she felt her stomach contracting and a wave of nausea taking over.

Shen could see she was in pain and instinctively threw his arms around her. His warmth brought back a familiar feeling. His scent was calming too. She felt her stomach unclench. She looked up at him, her hair framing her lost face with big, moist eyes begging herself to remember.

Shen couldn't hold back any longer, he bent down and covered her lips with his own. A surge of electricity ran down Lina's back, her gut wanted it -- to enjoy this feeling that she seemed to have missed, but her head sent her warning signals. She lay her hands on his firm chest, her eyes wide open and pushed him back with as much force as her weak body could muster. Her instincts were sending her distinct signals that as much as her body wanted this man, he was forbidden. The hairs at the back of her neck were raised as goosebumps covered her arms.

There was a flash of hurt in Shen's eyes once again as he turned his face away from her. He steeled himself as he said, "I'm sorry. I just missed you. Let's head back to the capital. You will need to get a complete body check up as well as an MRI."

"Oh...okay..." said Lina, as she looked down at her hands, not knowing what to do with them.

"Don't worry my angel, you are being treated by the best doctor in the capital. He will make sure we get your memory back." said Shen as he gathered her hands in his and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

********************

~later that evening~

The recuperations villa was a big, sanitorium-like building with big rooms and windows and a lot of light. There was little, but beautiful art on the walls and comfortable furniture. As she stepped out of the room, wrapped in a big, warm shawl Shen had given her, she gasped.

There were at least thirty men dressed in black, armed to their teeth with cold, murderous demeanours covering the area and the exits. As they saw Shen and Lina come out, they straightened up even more and greeted their master and mistress.

A tall, rugged man with a scar above his left eye walked up to Shen and said, "Master, Madam Moshi -- the car is ready. It has been made suitable for madam's transport and rest."

Shen nodded and waved the man away.

'Moshi...why does that sound so familiar? I must be madam Moshi...so my husband is these people's master.' Lina thought to herself.

As she walked slowly with Shen supporting her frame, he glanced at her small and lost face. He sighed as he pet her head.

"I won't lie, Lina. Things are complicated. But I hope you will trust me."

Lina looked up at him. Her instincts were sending her alarm bells. But she couldn't help but nod at his kind, loving face.