Once Upon a Time
By: Mako-chan
Laughs hysterically I must be crazy to come up with this story when midterms are right around the corner. I must be crazier to come up with a totally OOC/AU story, but hey, they're always fun, right? Hope you read and like. If you don't shower me with flames, then I will, by all means write this to the very end. Feedback and constructive criticisms are welcome. ;)
Chapter One - Once there was a handsome prince"Uncle Wang, I'm home!" she yelled as she took off her shoes at the doorstep and stepped inside."He's not here," young Feilang hollered from the back of the house.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. That's Uncle Wang, alright, she thought as she expelled her breath. "Did he say anything about where he was going though?"
"Nope!" Wensha replied as he swept the cherry tree leaves, piling them up quite nicely on one side of the small and narrow yard.
"Yes he did!" Weiling chirped, hopping and skipping until she dove into the mountain of leaves his elder brother had painstakingly gathered. "Wee!"
"Weiling!"
"You can always sweep them again, can't you, Brother?"
Wensha groaned in disbelief. "Not again!"
"Let's settle that for later, okay? I need to know where Uncle Wang went. Weiling, where did he say he'd be going?"
The energetic little kid kicked and sent a bunch of leaves flying in the air. "He said that he was going out for a while, to buy salt."
"What time did he leave then?" the young woman asked.
"He left right after you did, Sister," Feilang answered as she hoisted fresh laundry.
"What?" she asked, her voice dark and almost ominous. "I have been in school all day. Don't you think it is taking him a little too long just to buy a pack of salt?"
"Must be magical salt!" Ruiyang exclaimed, doning a tattered cape and holding a twig, joining his brothers and sisters.
Wensha bopped the boy in the head. "Stupid," he muttered.
"Am not!" Ruiyang exclaimed, trying to get back at Wensha.
"Hey, hey! The two of you, this is not the time to fight. Uncle Wang's been missing since this morning. Now, you have to help me out here, alright?" the eldest started. "Did you notice anything strange about Uncle today?"
"He sure was jumpy about buying salt today," Feilang offered.
"He brought with him the money jar," Wensha and Ruiyang said.
"When I saw him he told me not to say anything to you because if I did then you will get angry then he will be in trouble then you will scold him even though he's half a century older than you," Weiling told her eldest sister without so much as a breath in between.
Hearing this, she wanted to faint -- no, get carried away in the Yangtze, to get sucked into the black hole, to jump off a gorge, to roll over the Great Wall. She gave a moan and started to fan herself. This is not going to be good, she thought. "Not again!"
"Jinrey my old friend! I see that you are racking up some fortune today aren't we?" Jihui greeted his long-time friend and gave him a pat on the back before sitting beside him. "Say, I have a handsome proposition for you," he started. "My biggest patron is here today. He's quite a good gambler, but from what I have seen so far, you can take him on. So what about it?" Then he prodded further, "He places big bets, Jinrey. Win just one and you can feed all of your nephews and nieces for two whole years, give them new clothes. Win three and I assure you you will be made for life!"
Having drunk and already quite tipsy, it didn't take long for old Wang Jinrey to say yes, especially when he heard the part about being able to provide his family a better life. They could eat whatever they wanted, they wouldn't have to beg for flour or rely on her eldest niece..."Yes! I will take this whoever he is on! Bring me to him! I'm betting all I've got!" He proclaimed and was led to his opponent's place.
Indeed, this customer was special. He played mahjong in one area of the gambling house that was entirely secluded, he had everything he needed there, waiters and waitresses were on standby in case he wanted a drink or something to eat, his bodyguards at bay. The table and chairs were made from oakwood and upholstered. Once he surveyed the place, Wang's sight landed on a young man seated on one of the furnishings, his legs stretched out and he seemed very relaxed -- even bored. He watched as this mysterious and foreign-looking man win game after game, the expression on his face unchanging, even as his fortune began to build a mountain right in front of him in one night.
"I win," the young man drawled as he gathered the last of his opponent's chips. "And I'd advice you to not even think of coming and try getting your money back. You might just end up betting your precious little restaurant."
"So young yet already dastardly. Just like your father and your grandfather. Have a nice day, Mister Kazama."
"Who's next?" he asked in a bored tone, and then went on to stifle a yawn.
Jihui came up to his youthful patron. "I have brought with me my friend here. He has been playing in my house for a very long time and surely you might find him a challenge...wait a moment please, Mister Kazama."
Wang watched as the owner talked to this 'Mister Kazama.' From the looks of it, he was Japanese, and sure as hell Jihui was struggling with having to talk to him in his own language. Before he can make anymore assessments and thoughts about the lad, Jihui motioned him to come and take his seat. "Time to win for the children, Jinrey."
"Excuse me, but which way is it to the mahjong house?" the young lady asked a passerby, hoping to get some answers as well as make it on time before her uncle could gamble more and end up selling their house -- about the only thing that they can say they owned.
"Oh, Mr. Jihui's? Just go straight then turn right. It should be easy to see."
"Thank you." She bowed deeply and ran as fast as she could.
Wang couldn't believe it. HE was winning. HE was actually winning. Not only that, but he has won two consecutive times. He had made already more than enough, but he was already intoxicated, and the Japanese man's increasing offers were enough to make him stay put in his chair. After the third round, he became cocky...that's when he started losing.
"Give it up old man."
"No. Not until I win back all what's mine."
"Really?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Very well then. But if you lose, then what have you got to offer to me?"
"Let's talk about that later, Lad. Don't be so sure that you will win this time."
"Made it! Mr. Jihui!" she called out. "Where is my uncle?" she demanded, her usually angelic voice all of a sudden sounded threatening.
"Easy, easy! He's there alright. If you want, I can take you to him. Come."
"You lose old man! And now I shall ask for payment."
"Young bastard!" Wang cursed in Chinese.
"Don't even think for a second that I don't understand a word you're saying," the Japanese man replied in perfect Mandarin.
"Uncle!"
Out of nowhere, a youthful girl appeared and went to Wang Jinrey's side. They were all taken by surprise.
"I told you never to come here ever again! Why?" she asked, hurt and worried. Then she looked up. On the opposite side of the table was a man she had never seen before. He looked no more than three years older than her, he was towering, with black spiked up hair, mesmerizing brown eyes and pouty lips. He looked exactly like what he was -- wealthy and powerful. The longer she looked at him, the more she felt like shrinking.
He cocked his head to the side. He took a good look at the plainly dressed girl beside the old drunken man. "And who might you be?" he asked, arching a brow.
"Who I am is none of your business," she icily replied.
He eyed her curiously, at the same time secretly studying her. He was not insulted by her words, in fact, it intrigued him. There stood in front of him a delightful spitfire. She was petite, with the largest brown orbs that seemed to be smouldering with defiance, her hair as black as night, cascading down her back and shoulders, framing her glowing face. What he liked most about her was her ruby lips. They seemed so soft to the touch, and for just a second, he wondered how it would feel against his. His thoughts were disrupted when Wang came thrashing his arms about and shouting curses.
"One more! One more round I say!"
"Uncle, stop it! You have had too much too drink. Come, we're going home now."
"No he isn't."
"What!"
"Neither are you, your house is mine."
The girl looked at her uncle. "What is he talking about?"
"Your uncle and I played a little bit of mahjong. He won, but I won everything he won," the Japanese man started, then held up a paper for her to see. "See this contract," he said, pointing to Wang Jinrey's signature, "it states here that should he bet more than what is left of him, and loses, I shall claim any property of his that he agrees to. And in this case, it's your house, am I not right, Mr. Wang?" he asked with a smirk.
"You're lying!" she shouted, then turned to Wang. "Is this true, Uncle?" The girl watched in disbelief as the old man could do nothing but nod his head.
"I am sorry. So sorry, child."
Feiling...Wensha, Ruiyang...Weiling...Zhesheng...what will happen to them if we lose our home, she desperately thought. She looked up suddenly, only to find her face merely inches away from the young gambler.
"Your uncle repeatedly mumbles about some children. Are you, by chance, worried about them?"
She could only look at him without flinching, trying not to relent to his mockery. She saw him huff a little, straightened up and turned his back on them. "Don't try to be stubborn, I know well enough of your predicament," he told her as a matter of factly. "I am willing to forget all about the note your uncle signed here, but you must give me something else in return." As he said this, he made his way again towards her. He motioned his bodyguards to take Wang outside.
"And what would that be?"
"You."
"What do you mean?"
"I want you to be my personal handmaid."
"Why you overbearing--!"
"Tsk, tsk. Would you rather have your poor old uncle and siblings starve and endure the cold winter outside a home? The decision is easy to make. All you need is to say 'yes' and I will see to it that your belongings or whatever it is that you have shipped as soon as possible, and that you will be on your way to Japan, with none other than me, tomorrow. So, what's it going to be?"
She nervously bit her lip. She thought of her brothers and sisters waiting for her and Uncle Wang to come back home. If she agrees, then she may never see them again. But if she rejects his offer...oh hell, pride wasn't going to feed them and put a roof over them. Bowing deeply, she knew that she was making the right choice. "From this day forth I am indebted to you. My services are available at your disposal, Master--"
"Jin. I am Kazama Jin, the owner of the biggest conglomerate in Japan, the Mishima Zaibatsu. Tomorrow I will have my bodyguards pick you up from your home. What is my handmaid's name?"
"Ling Xiaoyu, Master Jin."
"Shall I call you 'Xiaoyu' then? Best that you be off now. I shall see you in the morning."
