Orchards. That was all Quan-Yin could see as through the hole in the fence as she tried to peek through after hearing the cry of a child. Her family was busy around the corner and for the moment she was free to explore. She looked back to the bench where she had been instructed to wait. Why did it suddenly seem so far? It was too many steps for her bound feet; she'd have to rest in the middle.

"Hey! Father told you to wait at the bench!"

She froze where she was as her ten-year-old brother strutted around the corner. "I'm telling!"

"You'll stay right there if you know what's good for you!" immediately after she said it she felt her stomach sink at what she knew was coming next. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. Her little brother's eyes grew wide and he raced back around the corner.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! She thought, trying desperately to choke back the fear that now engulfed her. Her little brother appeared around the corner again, this time with her father and pointing a finger at her. He looked angered and her fear grew.

"Quan-Yin," to her his voice was like thunder.

"Yes, Father?"

"Did you threaten Bai?"

She didn't answer, knowing that her answer didn't matter anyway.

"Child, I see that you have not yet learned your place. Never speak back to a man and never disobey one! Who do you think you are you ugly bitch?! No one will ever ask for you the way you look. That is why I must teach you to behave!" he backhanded her across the face. On her bound feet she couldn't keep much balance at all and let herself fall. Bai grinned feeling that justice was being served. How dare she speak to him like that!

Quan-Yin pressed a hand to her cheek, attempting to cut off the pain that radiated from there.

"Get up!" When she couldn't her father became even more angry and pulled her up, only to hit her and make her fall once again. This time, as she hit the ground, she could taste blood in her mouth.

"Bai, has she learned her lesson?"

Bai looked to his sobbing sister, still angry and giddy with his newfound power over her. He should do this more often! "No."

Quan-Yin's father grabbed her by her hair, making her let out a small yelp of pain as he pulled her to her feet.

Dave had come with John to a small garden party the Xiang-Fu's were hosting. He grinned as John attempted to flirt with Quan-Yin's older sister. Apparently Quan-Yin's father liked John and encouraged he and Mihn's little romance. He most likely aimed to profit from it somehow. That was when he heard the cry- the cry of someone in pain. Standing by the tall hedge that separated the garden from the yard he walked towards the gate. Glancing around he couldn't see anything but heard a peculiar smack. Recognizing the sound he quickly turned the corner, in shock of what he found. An empowering anger that he had never before given in to blinded his reasoning capabilities and took control of his body.

He stealthily approached just as Mr. Xiang-Fu attempted to shove his daughter onto the ground. He was more than surprised to watch her fall broken by Dave's arms as he seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Quan-Yin was just as surprised as her father when she caught a glimpse of her savior and found it to be Dave.

He held her shaking for in his arms. "Quan-Yin," he whispered, looking at her terror-stricken face then back to her father who was slowly backing away, unsure of his next move. He quickly turned back to the young girl in his arms, his eyes searching her face feeling helpless. "Are you all right?"

She could see the concern and intense emotion in his eyes, those brown eyes that she loved so much. At this moment, at this time she couldn't comprehend a reason to lie to him. Not anymore. She shook her head, no, her lower lip slowly beginning to quiver. Dave hardly noticed what he was doing as he carefully lay her down on the grass and turned to her father who was obviously recovering from his initial shock and preparing to act.

"How dare you," he hissed. "How dare you interfere in my teachings!"

"Teachings?!" Dave almost laughed incredulously. "You call beating a young girl nearly senseless teaching?!" Dave stood in pure anger, every muscle in his body tensing, willing him to tear the man before him limb from limb.

"I am surprised your father has not needed to discipline you in the same way," his voice was low and menacing. Bai was slowly moving towards his father, unsure of what to do.

"My father is a better man than you'll ever be," the young Italian- American tried to keep his enraged voice steady by clenching his teeth.

"You are in no position to lecture," he placed a hand on his son's shoulder as he stepped up to his father, "you foreign white trash." He smiled at Dave sinisterly, knowing fully well that Dave wanted to beat his head against the wall but that he wouldn't even touch him with Bai in the way.

Dave glared into Mr. Xiang-Fu's black eyes. "If I ever find out that you hurt her again I swear to God you'll pay dearly."

Quan-Yin's mother had entered and was now on the ground hugging her daughter. Dave turned his head to her and the two locked eyes as he walked out. "You take care of her." Mrs. Xiang-Fu hugger her daughter's head to her chest.

"Perhaps it is you who will pay dearly," Mr. Xiang-Fu whispered after Dave was out of earshot.