With Bai Tsa en route back to the carribean to continue with her

movie, the rest of the demons returned home. After a hastey trip

to the bathroom of course, as the spell supressing it had worn

off the instant their feet touched dry land.

Drago was silent the entire drive home to the cannery. Jamie

didn't know what to say. He had tried so hard to make sure

Bai Tsa got her chi back, only to have That acursed Daolan

Wong appear out of nowhere in a magic bubble with Joe. And of

course once Tchang Zu found out about this, he'd immediatly

blame it on Drago. Of that Jamie was certain Drago was convinced.

It was almost dawn when they pulled up in front of the cannery.

The lights were on, of course. Tchang Zu had waited up for them.

He was sitting on the couch. Not watching TV as one might have

guessed, he seemed to be playing Majong against himself. He

glanced up the moment they entered the room, having been too

immersed in his game to notice the door opening and closing.

"Well?"

Drago looked at him for a long moment before slinking off to his

room, shutting the door with a click.

Tchang Zu 'hmmd'

"I see..."

Shendu sighed, "Daolan Wong interfered at the last second and

took the Chi Orb while Drago was fighting Chan."

"I don't recall asking you what happened" Tchang Zu said as his

youngest sibling took a seat on the other side of the Majong board,

moving one of the pieces.

"I know. But I'll not have you accusing my son of failure," Shendu

said, "He is upset enough with himself as it is."

"Concered about your offsprings self-esteem are we?"

"Merely his attitude. He never did take defeat well. He's likely to

be bitter for days about this and I don't want you making it worse."

There was a heatedness under their seemingly calm tones that

made Jamie nervous as everyone else retired to bed.

000000ooooo000000

Scratcher lay curled up in the chair with Monzarella, sleeping.

Jamie didn't want to disturb them, so she made herself busy

cleaning the kitchen. Tchang Zu was use to being served, so

making food by himself always resulted in a mess.

As she scrubbed, she watched the demonic siblings play their

game.

"What makes you think I'd antagonize him?"

"Because you are ALWAYS pointing out his short-comings. You

seem to delight in it."

"I'm only pointing out his flaws so that he may better himself."

"And how exactly is calling him a worthless half-blood suppose

to encourage him to better himself?"

Tchang Zu snorted, "There nothing that can be done there...Of

course if you believe those demon slayers, half-bloods like him

are stronger than purebloods like us anyway, so what's to change?"

His tone was mocking of course, he didn't believe this for a second.

Shendu just moved another piece.

"If you think you will convince me to regret that my son is half

human you are fialing miserably. Katherine was dear to me."

"She was a mortal" Tchang Zu said, "You knew it wouldn't last...

I warned you making that choice would only hurt you."

That caught Jamie's attention.

Shendu moved another piece, "You did" he affirmed with a nod.

"You should have listened to me."

"Perhaps."

"And yet you went through with it anyway."

"I was in love. I had to."

Tchang Zu shook his head, sighing. Jamie didn't recognize the

look that appeared on his face. He looked...weary...

And not from staying up all night.

"Why did you do it, Shendu? Nothing came of it but pain, just as

I told you it would."

"Drago came of it."

To this, Tchang Zu had no response.

The tiles clicked as Shendu moved his last piece, "I win."

"For now, little brother..."

"We shall see."

Jamie couldn't tell if they were talking about the game, or their

conversation.

Maybe it was both.


Hey guys, was gonna wait till my new lap top came to update,

but that's not gonna be for another 2 weeks, and I didn't wanna

punish you guys like that, so heres the next chapter kind of

early, so enjoy!

My next chapter may not be posted or a while, cuz I'm trying to

work on another story that needs updating. so be patient, I'll

update whenever I find the time!

-MMFG