White Tiger

Cantonese.
    Jade sat next to me and pulled the fabric books closer. There must have been at least twenty of them.
    ‘God, there are so many,’ I said, overwhelmed.
    ‘No, it’s easy,’ Jade said. She flipped one of the books open. ‘This is embossed, not embroidered. Longevity.’ She studied me. ‘Do you know what that is?’
    I shook my head, flipping through the pages of different-coloured silk, all embossed with stylised circular patterns.
    ‘Each pattern is a character for longevity.’ She pulled another book out and flipped it open. ‘Flower brocade.’ Another. ‘Dragons.’ She held the book up at the green dragon brocade. ‘I like this. I may have one made as well.’
    ‘Feel free to take a sample if you wish to make your own, Princess,’ Mr Li said as he passed behind us. ‘You know you do not require my services.’
    ‘Are you sure?’
    Mr Li stopped and gestured towards the rows of busy young women. ‘I have quite enough work as it is.’
    ‘Is the Dark Lord’s suit finished?’
    Mr Li’s face lit up. ‘Of course. I forgot. Let me fetch it for you.’ He chuckled. ‘Who would have thought of such a thing. The Dark Lord Xuan Wu himself requiring the services of a tailor. I must have a plaque made.’
    ‘You should see what he wears at home,’ I said, studying the silk in front of me.
    ‘He is the scruffiest Immortal on any plane,’ Jade said, and we giggled together.
    Mr Li tutted and raced away to fetch the suit.
    Jade turned to look at me. ‘We should choose a colour that suits your complexion first, and then you can select the design. You have beautiful white skin, Emma, what do you use to whiten it?’
    ‘Whiten it?’
    ‘You know, make it a lighter colour.’ She smiled and touched my arm. ‘Of course. I forgot. You’re European.’
    ‘You forgot for a moment that I’m not Chinese?’ She nodded, still smiling.
    I threw my arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick friendly squeeze, making her smile widen. ‘I am absolutely delighted. I’ll take it as a compliment. Now…’ I flipped through the book. ‘How about this white silk? It’s beautiful.’
    Jade’s face went strange.
    ‘Oh, of course, white is for funerals.’
    ‘Tai chi chuan uniform,’ Mr Li said as he charged past. ‘Suit coming.’
    ‘He is quite correct.’ Jade raised her voice. ‘And the suit had better hurry, we are nearly ready to choose.’ She lifted a book of silk and flipped it in front of me. ‘Dark blue suits you. Pink is lovely.’ She raised another book and opened it. ‘This.’
    I looked down. She held a sample of black silk with large golden chrysanthemums against me. ‘The gold flowers bring out the highlights in your hair.’
    ‘And the black brings up her pale complexion.’ Mr Li dropped a linen bag onto the table next to us. ‘Lord Xuan’s suit.’ He nodded at the book of silk. ‘Lord Xuan’s colour. His livery. Most fitting.’
    I hesitated.
    ‘Oh, black is for mourning in the West,’ Jade said, pulling the book away.
    ‘No, we wear it all the time anyway,’ I said. She put it against me again. ‘It really is perfect.’
    Mr Li turned and barked some orders in Cantonese, and a whole bolt of the black silk floated off the shelves towards me. I backed away; the bolt was easily big enough to crush me
    ‘Stay still, it won’t hurt you, I have it,’ Mr Li said. He guided the silk to wrap itself around me, then waved one hand. A mirror appeared, floating next to the work table. It had no frame; it was as if the air itself was suddenly reflective.
    ‘Look, Emma,’ Jade said, and I turned to see.
    They were right. The black silk suited me perfectly. The golden chrysanthemums shimmered against me, making my hair glow.
    But it was Xuan Wu’s…John’s colour. I realised then, there was nothing I wanted more in the world than to stand side by side with him, wearing the black silk. Both of us in black. And have him smile down at me.
    I wanted it so much it hurt.
    ‘I’ll have blue embroidered with small flowers, and pink embossed longevity,’ I said, pulling the black silk away. The silk unwrapped and floated from me.
    ‘You should take the black, it’s perfect,’ Mr Li said.
    ‘No. No black.’
    ‘Are you sure, Emma?’ Jade said, disappointed. I sat at the work table and opened the books I’d chosen. ‘This. And this. No black.’
    ‘The black is lovely on you,’ Jade said. ‘Maybe next time.’
    ‘Would you like a lift home, Emma?’ Jade said