"Hey, I heard that the teahouse down the street has these new employees and one of them is an expert at making tea!!! Wanna go and try?
"Sure! That boss serves horrid tea but if people are saying that it's good, it has to be!!!"
Ureshi turned to stare at the men who walk eagerly towards the direction of the abovementioned teahouse. She looked down and clutched her stomach as it let out a soft but audible growl. Feeling curious, and hungry, she followed the men.
Arriving at the teahouse, Ureshi approached an empty table and settled down, placing her belongings on a chair beside her.
"Good afternoon Miss, what would you like? A grinning, slightly plump and old man appeared beside her.
"A plate of buns please," She replied courteously.
"Would you like some tea with that?" He smiled kindly at her.
"What do you recommend?"
"Well, to me, you look like one who will appreciate green tea. It is calm and soothing yet extremely delightful at the same time," His smile widened.
Ureshi gave a small laugh which rang clearly like a wonderful melody, catching the eyes of many.
"Green tea it is then," She smiled.
After the man left, she took out her purse and peered into it. Realizing that she only has a few copper coins, she started planning about her escape. However, she only had a look of content as she took a small bite of her buns, accompanied with small sips of the tea.
Lady Luck was shining on Ureshi as throngs of people soon started flooding in. She took this opportunity to slip away, but not before placing 4 copper coins on the table, saving a copper coin for herself.
She quietly slipped out by the backdoor while no one was paying attention. As she walked out, she kept looking back to check if anyone had noticed her disappearance. When she felt it was safe, she breathed a sigh of relief and turned around and crashed into one of the workers- a handsome young lad with a scar around his right eye. He scowled at her," You haven't paid for your meal." She held her breath as he cornered her.
"I-I've paid…but I just don't have enough! I'm so sorry!" She held her bundle up to cover her face. He scared her. "
"Zuko, let her go," Ureshi recognized the voice; it belonged to the old man who had served her. "I believe she had no intention of cheating us. Besides, she did pay us 4 copper coins…"
Zuko took a step back, put his hands were placed on either side of Ureshi, preventing her from escaping. Before he could say anything else, she interrupted.
"I'm sorry for not paying the full amount but I can work to pay it off! I know how to cook and I don't mind washing the dishes or mopping the floor!"
"Aah, it would be nice to have an extra pair of hands to help out around here-"
"Uncle!" Zuko harshly cut him off.
His uncle held a hand up, "But it's not up to me to decide if you can work here, you should ask our boss. But I'm sure that he will hire you as it seems that there are more customers nowadays."
Zuko growled menacingly before storming off. Ureshi looked at the waiter and smiled. He replied with a gesture for her to follow him. She nodded and followed behind.
"Good afternoon boss, this lovely young lady here does not have enough money to pay us for her meal so she was wondering if she could work to pay off her bill," The man spoke to the boss who was busy doing his accounts.
The boss sighed, put down his brush and looked up, observing Ureshi from head to toe before looking back at the waiter, "Mushi, if I hire another worker, my profits will be less and so will your pay."
"But there are more customers now, and besides, this lady doesn't mind washing all the dishes. An extra pair of hands never hurt anyone."
"Hmm…" the boss tapped his chin and pondered for a while before speaking, "Fine, she can work here but I want her to serve tea instead. Lee!" The boy glanced up from what he was doing before approaching the counter. "I want you to wash the dishes from now onwards, pass your apron to-" The boss looked at Ureshi.
"Yu. My name's Yu," She replied.
"To Yu please," After finishing his sentence, he went back to the accounts. Zuko, or Lee, glared at her before passing the apron to her as he walked off to the back of the shop, muttering under his breath.
Oh man…
"Did I piss him off?" Ureshi asked Mushi worriedly.
"Oh don't worry," He grinned. "He's forever like that."
Another question lingered in her mind throughout the day.
Why did the boss call him Lee while his uncle called him Zuko?
She tried to ignore this question, but being a curious cat, it kept coming back to her like a haunting spirit.
Night soon fell and the shop was about to close. Ureshi carried her belongings and stood in front of the shop. Unsure where to go. Where was she going to sleep that night? She only had a copper coin left; no one in their right mind would rent her a room for only one copper coin.
Just then, Mushi and Lee or Zuko, exited the shop.
"Oh hello there Miss Yu, why are you standing here in the middle of nowhere?" Mushi asked her cheerfully.
"Oh, I'm not sure where to stay for the night quite frankly." She replied, glancing at Lee/Zuko only to see him glaring at her. She quickly glanced back at Mushi, slightly frightened by his fierce look.
"Oh well, we stay at this inn with these really spacious rooms and the rent is really cheap!" He exclaimed.
"Well, I don't have enough cash on me as you can see from what happened today…"She trailed off only to be cut off by Mushi.
"Well then, would you mind sharing a room with me and my nephew?"
"Err…" She glanced at Lee/Zuko who was practically boring his eyes into her. "I wouldn't want to impose," She laughed nervously, her palms started to produce more perspiration as she gripped on to her belongings tighter.
"Oh don't worry, I'm an old man and I ensure you, I won't let my nephew do anything improper to you," He winked. "Uncle!" He roared.
I fear worse.
"Erm…I really couldn't," She continued.
"Oh I insist! I guarantee you that you'll come to no harm. Zuko?" He looked at Lee/Zuko questioningly.
He said it again- 'Zuko'. Now Ureshi was getting confused about his name but in her moment of confusion, she was thrown back to reality by the shocking reply of Lee's/Zuko's "Fine," Before he walked away.
Mushi smiled as he followed behind, leaving Ureshi to stand stunned for a moment before catching up with them.
Those two were an odd pair she was getting involved with.
