Authors note: I am taking a bit of liberty as the Year of the Dragon ended in 1965, and didn't occur again to the mid seventies, yet I am having this story take place after Illya and Napoleon are both married, each with 2 children ( and takes place after The Dancing in the Dark Affair) Part of my AU saga series.

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"Bùyúkuài de xīnnián shìwù_The Un- Happy New Year Affair."

"Gōng Xǐ fā cái_wishing you the best of wealth," Illya Kuryakin said to the man at the counter as he picked up his order of Wonton Mein soup.

There was only place in Chinatown that made it the way the Russian liked it with fine lo mein noodles, wontons, lettuce, finely diced green onion and bits of pork in mild chicken stock. So whenever he was there, he made a bee-line to the small store-front restaurant to get an order in a take-out container.

This visit to Chinatown was not for an assignment, it served no purpose other than to take care of a sudden craving Illya had for the Wonton Mein, and convinced his partner to accompany him on his personal mission to obtain the coveted soup for lunch. They ate a full meal together, and the Wonton Mein was ordered to go.

Napoleon munched on a egg roll as his partner joined him by the door to the restaurant, watching the festivities outside on the street in celebration of the Chinese New Year.

It was the year of the dragon and a long effigy of a one paraded past, with a team of dancers hidden beneath it, performing the traditional wǔ lóng dance, mimicking the supposed movements of this river spirit in a sinuous, undulating manner, symbolising the historical role of dragons by demonstrating power and dignity. It rose up and down wildly, as if it were gliding effortlessly through the air. It was one of many in the long parade.

Dragons were believed to bring good luck, reflected in their qualities of great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and auspiciousness. The appearance of the brightly colored red and yellow and green creature was both frightening and bold but had a seemingly benevolent disposition, as the dancers made people smile while they made it move along,

The dancers were clothed in vivid uniform outfits, blending among the brilliant balloons, banners and lanterns in the long lines of participants and viewers of the lively parade. There were many dragons in this parade, along with the traditional Chinese wǔshī lion dancers, like the dragon dance, its performers mimicked a lion's movements wearing a stylized lion costume operated by only two people, unlike the dragon that needed many dancers supporting the dragon on poles. The lion dancers based their steps upon fundamental movements found in Chinese martial arts.

Firecrackers were exploding everywhere, chasing off any demons that could spoil the celebrations. Some say firecrackers were used to keep the dragon awake during the Chinese New Years celebrations because they are said to bring luck and prosperity to the community. Combined with the firecrackers, the accompanying loud music made for a raucous display and were more choreographed in their steps.

Children and young people walking or standing on the sidewalks carried red Lai-See envelopes containing money they had been given for the occasion of the New Year. Red symbolized good luck and was supposed to ward off evil spirits.

Illya opened up his container of soup and was just about to spoon a wonton into his mouth, reminding himself to bring a container home for his daughter, Lourdes Mary, as she loved it as well, when there was a loud explosion down the block.

"That was no firecracker." Napoleon said, tossing what was left of his egg roll into a nearby steel-mesh trash container. Illya looked at his untouched soup with regret, setting the container on the edge of a silver planter, offering it to a man standing beside him. " Xīnnián kuàilè_ happy new year, Xiǎngshòu_enjoy, " he said wistfully, then took off after his partner who was already running ahead on the crowded sidewalk.

They dashed to the corner then crossed, ducking under the undulating dragon as it paused in the middle of Mott Street.

Angry words were shouted from the dragon dancers as Solo slammed into one of them, knocking him into the ground, followed by the Russian making his apologies.

"Hěn bàoqiàn, hěn bàoqiàn... Jǐngchá yèwù._so sorry, so sorry...police business." He lied as helped the man up." Gōng Xǐ fā cái," he added before dashing off in search of Napoleon.

Illya stopped dead in his tracks as he reached the sidewalk turning in every direction, realizing his partner had completely disappeared from sight. He stepped behind a rack of postcards in front of a novelty store, pulling his communicator.

"Open Channel D- Napoleon? I cannot see you, where are you?"

There was no reply, only static.

Illya cursed again under his breath. He heard another loud explosion, and took off in that direction, thinking it was odd the crowds around him did not react to it as it was obviously much louder than the crackling fireworks being set off along the parade route.

Dodging in and out among the people on the sidewalk; his eyes darted in every direction looking for Solo and then he spotted him. He was standing on the next corner beside a beautiful dark haired Oriental woman. Illya watched as the two of them climbed into a waiting black car, taking off before he could reach it.

"Proklyatʹya_damnation!" He growled in Russian. "What are you doing now Napoleon?"

He pulled his communicator again, slipping out of sight to call headquarters.