Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The sky had long ago darkened by the time Chou Yee got to the restaurant in Hong Chow. Turning her back a few times, she wanted to check if the strange man called Ah Hong had followed her. She rented a room in the motel/restaurant called Hung Chi Lau. She decided to have dinner and rest after to gain enough energy to find the king. As she sipped on her tea, a large shadow was cast over her table. Before she had a chance to turn, the figure sat down next to her “Hello!!” he greeted merrily.
She nearly spit her tea out, instead it traveled down her esophagus making her cough uncontrollably “You…how…” she sputtered while Ahron watched her with a grin.
“What? You need to speak in full sentences.” He mocked.
She smoothed her own chest as she turned to him with a reddened face “How did you get here?”
“By foot. Same way normal people do.” He said casually. Picking up his chopsticks, he prepared to eat when the waiter brought over her food.
She used her own chopsticks to stop him from getting the chicken “Sorry, I don’t eat with strangers.”
He smiled as he pushed on her chopsticks causing them to break in half. Chou Yee looked at them strangely “Must be an old pair.” He seemed to read her mind without effort.
“How did you know I was coming here?” she asked suspiciously, then it occurred to her “Right, I forgot your martial arts was greater than mine. But that doesn’t make any sense…” she pondered while he enjoyed her food “Hong Chow is so big, how would you know I was at this restaurant?” she asked the hungry male.
“It’s just a guess.” He said humbly.
“Who are you?” Chou Yee asked straightforwardly.
Ahron swallowed the food in his mouth before answering her “That is not important. But I hope you will keep your promise.”
“What promise?” she was playing dumb as she pulled out another pair of utensils and began eating.
“Oh come now, you can do much better than play innocent.” Ahron kidded “But I will remind you. Our bet was if I could figure out where you were going, you would allow me to follow you wherever you are going.”
Chou Yee rolled her eyes “I was only kidding!” she said with exasperation “You didn’t hear that part did you?”
Ahron smiled crookedly “No…I failed to hear that part.”
She paid for the food and turned to him “This dinner is free. But don’t follow me.” She warned. Getting up, she walked towards the stairs and before stepping up, she turned to make sure he was not following her. Instead he was cleaning off the plates with not so well table manners.
Easing her worries, she casually strolled down the hallway of rooms until she reached her rented room. A strange feeling washed over her as she turned and was inches away from Ahron’s face. Startled, she jumped back while he sputtered out laughing, “You are a bit paranoid today. Are you sure you’re alright?”
Clutching her heart, Chou Yee growled at him “Stop following me! And stop doing that!!”
“Doing what?” he asked with innocent puppy eyes.
“Popping out of nowhere!” she cried angrily.
“I didn’t.” he replied calmly.
Chou Yee’s face was scalding hot, she could feel it “Look, I don’t want any trouble and I certainly don’t want someone following me around like a puppy! Frankly, I hate animals.”
“So you hate yourself?” Ahron crossed his arms “Because humans are animals too.”
“You make absolutely no sense!” Chou Yee was fuming.
In the room to her left was the King and Ka Chan “What is going on?” the King asked when he heard all the commotion outside.
“I’m not sure, your highness. Let me check.” He got up and was prepared to yell at the people making all the ruckus. Ka Chan opened the door and opened his mouth when he recognized Chou Yee’s back. Silently closing the door, he gathered back to the King “Sir…it’s her!” he hissed.
The King looked up from his readings “What girl?”
“HER!!” Ka Chan whispered louder as he mimicked Chou Yee’s stance.
He got the King’s attention as he dropped his book and sat up from the edge of the bed “She found us.”
“Yes!” Ka Chan began to pace the floors “I knew the Empress would send her the second she realized you were gone. What are we going to do now?”
“Calm down.” The King stressed, “I know…we’ll leave in the middle of the night. Get the stuff ready.”
“Yes, your majesty.” He bowed with respect.
Chou Yee had had enough of the argument as she prepared to enter her room. Her head turned slowly as she noticed the ridiculous grin on Ahron’s face “What? You’re not possibly thinking that you can enter my room?”
He laughed “I wouldn’t dream of it. Actually, my room is right next to yours.”
“Unfortunately.” She replied shortly before slamming the door in his face.
“Feisty! No wonder you are still single!” he threw out before entering his room.
Around two in the morning, Ka Chan gently woke up the King “It’s time.”
He nodded tiredly “Let’s go.” The two stepped gently out of the room and closed the door quietly. They turned and took a few steps before recognizing Ahron “You…” the King pointed with a confused face.
“Where are you going?” Ahron asked as he blocked the back door exit.
“It is none of your business!” Ka Chan said haughtily.
Ahron crossed his arms as his head spun back towards Chou Yee’s room “You might want to lower your voice, before the female shark wakes up.” Ka Chan quickly covered his mouth with his hand “This is just a wild guess, but you two know that girl.”
The King nodded “Yes. But please, you must promise not to inform her of running into us.” Ahron shrugged carelessly “I will give you all the money you desire, but please keep this promise.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” Ahron chuckled softly as he pointed to the exit “Come on, I’ll take you two out of town.” He led them through the short cuts of Hong Chow as if he had been living there all his life, but in truth he has never seen the town. One of the many perks of being a God, Ahron though to himself. When they were safe behind the gates of the town, he turn to the King and Ka Chan “All safe now. You may go as you please.”
The King smiled gratefully “Thank you.” He pulled out a gold medallion from his pocket while Ka Chan widened his eyes “Please, keep this. If you ever need my help or are in short of coins, come see the General of Seung Yeung, he will treat you with the utmost respect.”
“This is worth money?” Ahron asked while examining the object in his hands.
“Idiot! That is—”
“Ka Chan!” the King barked to silence him. Ka Chan quickly retrieved his head “I must apologize for my servant, I do not teach him manners.”
“It is alright.” Ahron nodded politely “Good luck to you.” He waved as the two continued on their way.
At the crack of dawn, Chou Yee woke up and prepared to beat Ahron on the road. As she snuck out of her room, she heard the voice she had grown to hate “Morning!” she jumped from the greeting. Her head snapped towards the voice and noticed Ahron eating a bun while leaning on a pillar not too far from her.
“Don’t you sleep!!” she demanded angrily.
He laughed, “I’ve never seen a nose flare like that in ages.”
She touched her nose in defense “So?”
Ahron shrugged “Nothing. I just wanted to point that out. So, where are we going?”
“WE are going nowhere. Don’t follow me.” She warned with a threatening finger. She sprinted to the door while Ahron quickly followed her. Every few steps she would turn and grunt at him “Stop that!”
He brought his hands out to the sides “Do you own every road in this town?”
She felt defeated when letting out a sigh “Fine. You can follow me. But I have three rules.” He nodded with a smile “One, pretend like you don’t know me.”
“That’s easy.” He quipped “What else?”
“Two, stay at least three yards from my back.” She pointed at the distance where they were standing and he took a few steps back “Lastly, do not be meddlesome.”
“The last one is going beyond the call of duty, but I will manage.” He bowed politely while she scowled with dismay. Ahron smiled “Do you ever give your nose a break?”
“Don’t talk to me!” she spun on her heels and continued on her way.
“Fine…by the way…oh, I’m just talking to the air, but I ran into those two men you were looking for.” He said it casually that she almost thought nothing of it until it occurred to her.
Forgetting about her rules, she turned and stepped towards him as he began backing away with each one step she made “What’s the matter with you?” she grew restless.
“Rule number two, stay at least 3 feet from you. My, you have a short term memory.” He shook his head sadly.
Chou Yee was in no mood to play around “Never mind the nonsense!” she snapped, “Where did those men go?” Ahron tilted his head to the sky and crossed his arms nonchalantly “Well???” she demanded.
“I don’t want to break rule number three.” He replied.
Chou Yee’s patience was wearing thin as she retrieved her sword and pointed it to his neck “Tell me now. I have no problem slicing your neck open like a chicken.”
Ahron used his fingertips to move the cold metal from his neck “If you must know, they were running away from a madwoman. He offered me money so I helped them get away. But who knew such a distinguished looking gentleman would have run out of cash? He gave me this absurd looking thing…” Ahron pulled out the medallion “And said if I wanted cash to come see a General in Seung Yeung City.”
Chou Yee replaced her sword and she stepped closer and yanked the medallion out of his hand “It is him…” she whispered.
Unexpectedly, he whipped the piece out of her hand “I believe this is mine.” He placed it into his shirt pocket.
“Where did they say they were going?” she drilled “Did he mention anything about the royal family?” she was testing to see how much knew of the King’s identity. The guy could be a spy from the Chinese sent to finish him off so they can take over the ManChu’s world.
“I did not ask.” Ahron shrugged.
“Well, did he leave any clues?” Chou Yee was frustrated.
“No. But I know the direction they were heading to.” Ahron nodded firmly.
“What are you waiting for? Lead the way.” She pointed.
He let out a tired sigh “Make up your mind. First you want me to stay behind you, now you want me to lead. Women! What a nuisance they are.”
“Never mind the smart remarks. Move.” She pointed. He obliged without feeling as he led her out of the giant wooden gates.