Syaoran

Chapter 7-Honda

The dude that came in the game shop that night was totally freaky, I mean, really freaky! It was a Thursday night, so, we were basically thinking, ' just a normal day slash night.' and then this dude comes in and freaks everyone out. Not my idea of a Thursday night, no way.

But as to what happened the day where Mokuba finished off, Jou and I took Mokuba and Syaoran to the arcades, since they set up a new game system. I can tell there's something seriously wrong with the Li kid, because he doesn't like those games. What kind of guy is he anyway? I mean, who could not like video games and arcades? That's just totally absurd!

But then again, the kid is weird, from the beginning to the end. First he has magical powers, ( thank Yami for making that clear,) then his friends all died because of twelve dudes that just whacked them somehow, ( Yugi didn't explain very well.) And then the dude comes lookin for him, ( I saw it myself), and then the kid tries to run away, ( Seto gave me a full account of that the following week.) So after the arcade, the kid decides to go to...the library?

What kind of weirdo would want to go to the library? That's just...retarded! The library is filled with books! No games, no TV, nothing but books! And you're not even allowed to talk there!

Okay, maybe whisper, but what fun would that be if you can't yell at Jou for his lamebrainess? And books, books are just...boring,

Enough of that, I guess. We went to the public library. Syaoran had a lot of fun, for whatever reason. He got quite a few books using my card, promising me again and again that he'll return them on time. As if I'd care, really. He got some weird books. The Dream of the Red Mansion? Wonder what that is. The Joy Luck Club? I saw that movie. It sucked. The Good Earth? What the heck is that?

Afterwards, we tried to talk-the only problem was neither Jou nor I could talk to Syaoran. It wasn't because he couldn't understand what we're talking about; it's because we can't understand him. I know it's retarded-I mean, c'mon! We're in high school! The kid's still in elementary school! But I guess we just have no life really, living in this dump, with no money to go anywhere else.

But the kid's rich, man! The Li clan had a piece of land to themselves! The thing was about the size of Taiwan!

Okay. I guess I'm exaggerating a little bit, because the truth is I really don't know how big Hong Kong is. I already have enough trouble with geometry-( sine cosine tangent and their wonderful brothers and sisters), and I have had just enough about all those literature books and all the socal studies we had to do. ' Cause seriously, you have to admit, school is-

Never mind.

Speaking of which, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, the kid. He's rich, I mean, Bill Gates rich. Seto Kaiba rich. In fact, I don't doubt that he's richer than Pegasus, Kaiba, and Gates combined.

Alright, he once was...and the richness was shared by a family anyhow. So actually-

And now all the wealth is gone.

Boo.



Let me explain how the Li clan is like. There is this land almost the size of Taiwan, and then there is a house for each immediate family ( ex. Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, but no grandmas, grandpas, aunts or uncles), and each house is only one story, so it covers quite a big piece of land. Every house was one of those temple style roofed houses that you see around Kyoto or something like that. There was a big gate towards Hong Kong-guarded, of course, by our famous lions that look like dragons, and the gate was made of...something. Anyways, far into there, the first house is actually Syaoran's, which sits along the middle and the fork splits. The houses are arranged in a circular fashion, and so there was a huge lake in the middle of it all with...everything. ( Mosquitoes, ewwww.) But the thought of it made me want to go-until-I mean, I...you know, it's not...exactly there anymore...

In the lake were tons of goldfish and I really mean tons. Seriously! Millions! The way the kid described them it's like when you have a gathering of sock eyed salmon waiting to lay their eggs, that's how many there are. And you can toss bread into the water and watch the fish fight over it. That's so darn cool! The water was so clear you can see the dirt on the bottom, and what clean dirt they are, because it's not exactly all dirt. There were soft vegetarian plants growing on the bottom, so if you swim there...

Never mind.

And then there's this forest surrounding the back of the area so that deer sometimes wander accidentally into the middle of the crowd. Mokuba wanted to see them until- you know, it's-not exactly...there anymore.

And the freaky part was Syaoran actually had the heart to tell us these things. I mean, if I were him I would just cry as I am telling, but he's just sharing them as if they were just something he read in a book. No emotion, no voice cracking, no sobs, no tears, no nothin.



I mean, come on! Even Kaiba would be crying right now. So what if he lost his fai-

Never mind.

So that time we took him back to Kaiba's place and the next day they went shopping for decent clothes for Syaoran with Mai and Anzu.



" Boy," Jou was saying as we went back to the arcade. " Kid's sure rich. Could have helped me with my sister with all the money he has..."
" Be quiet. Even if he did, he doesn't know you. Why would he lend you the money of all people?" I pointed out.
" Ah, that's not called for." Jou warned. I decided I was a little too awed with Syaoran's stories to cope with another playfight.

And Syaoran did call us very immature.

(^_^)

The next day we went over to Seto's. Syaoran, as I already told you, was out with Mai so he could wear somethin more practical than that costume of his. ( When Anzu and Mai came back they said something about Syaoran really really liking...green? And something about his addiction to chocolate...) Anyways, Seto was really screwed up, man. He was having really really bad headaches.

" Syaoran was like a god this morning," Seto mumbled as he rubbed his head. " I don't know how he does it. I woke up with this killer headache and I was sitting in my office. Syaoran was getting bored," ( Mai and Anzu were late), " And then I was complaining about my headache. He offered to help me. I didn't know what he was planning so I refused, but he insisted, saying it would hurt a little."
" A little!" Seto laughed this time. " It was like he was trying to drown out my headache with another source of pain! He was merciless, I tell you guys. I was sore for a few minutes, I thought he was trying to kill me. He slapped me on the back and went with Mai and Anzu, and you know what? After a few minutes, the headache was gone! But I guess the computer didn't help keep it that way." Seto glared at the back door of his office. He was having lunch with us.
" Really?" Jou blinked, intrigued. " Then maybe I should ask him to help me with my headaches."

Seto laughed at that. " It would't work, gomen Jou, but my headaches are from work and stress. Yours are from...banging your head on the wall."

This caused laughter among all of us, even Jou, because he wasn't really in the mood to act like a baka.

" You know, alcohol can also cause headaches. Do you drink?" I asked.
" Drink?" Kaiba blinked. " Oh...a little, I guess. Mostly with Russians." We laughed at that. " But seriously, I don't drink a lot. I don't mind stress really. I don't mind taking aspirin either. But sometimes when you're doing business, you have to be a little more sociable then you perhaps want. And then there are parties, sometimes I was invited and I have to go or offend them. Mokuba proves to be a way of escape but not much."
" Hai! But in any case, the guy is quite dependant."
" Too dependant. That's what Syaoran says. And he's right." Seto sighed.
" But I don't get it," Jou blinked. " Why'd you have to drink at parties?"
" Because others drink, numbskull." Seto laughed. " It's one of those rituals, sometimes you just have to do that to appear professional. You know how classical orchestras are like, hai? They always practice practice practice, and than comes tuning-three sessions, and then the conducter comes, wala, the symphony begins. I saw Swan Lake at the Bolshoi, but the way. It was mighty interesting. Of course, afterwards I had to drink one cup of vodka." Seto looked at the ceiling, as if for inspiration. " There was this one guy there that threw up. Poor man. But anyway, I do drink a little, so it's not one of those sips or things like that. But I don't smoke." He gave us a warning glare.

We laughed. Seto was becoming more and more open. Maybe because of Syaoran?

" Of course, all the attention was given to the artists." Seto attempted to bow while sitting, making it look very comical." They were really good. You can't perform in the Bolshoi unless it's perfect, that's why, and the Russians have the best artistic education. If Vienna is the Classical Music Performance Haven, then Russia is the Musical Education Haven." Seto laughed at his own awkward wording.

" Oh please!" Jou was laughing. " We have a Mozart Lover in our midst!"
" Hey, there's a reason why he's so famous." Seto pointed out. " I wonder, what would Anzu and Mai buy for Syaoran?"
" A nice black suit with a black silk tie?" I suggested.
" Oh c'mon!" Jou laughed.
" Really, that would be quite cute." Seto nodded at me, amused. " But I seriously doubt that. Mai and Anzu have a different taste for fashion. And doubtless Syaoran does too."
" Wonder why he ran away in such a hurry without packing anything." Jou muttered.
" He was terrified. The kids, they're not all killed." Seto answered. " There were some who survived. Tomoyo's mother, Sonomi, for example. And then there was Sakura's brother and father."
" She has a brother?" I asked.
" Hai." Seto nodded. " She does. Syaoran's just scared of them. And after all that happened I don't think Tomoeda would feel very homelike."
" Hai." We nodded. There was an uncomfortable silence.

" Well," Seto rose. ' It's time for me to get to my office. Mai and Anzu are going to drop Syaoran off at Ryou's place, if you want to see him."
" Alright." We nodded. " Ja!"