I dunno what I think of this chapter. Still, I had fun writing it. I'd like to thank those who bother to read and those who left and will leave reviews and ideas. Thankies.

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Chapter 8: Mopping and Kite Fighting

Kazuya was silently mopping the blue-tiled floors of his mansion's spacious living room. He couldn't quite believe that he was enjoying this simple chore. Sometimes, he wonders what sort of brainwashing method his son, Jin, had devised which significantly altered his once awfully mixed up brain chemistry. Whatever it was, participating in Jin's rehabilitation program has successfully done wonders in improving his behavior and being. He was fortunate to have a loving son, he finally admitted. Despite the series of incredibly violent tantrums he'd throw whenever Jin attempted to offer him warmth, to help him redeem himself, to relieve him of the haunting ghost of a heartbreaking past, his son never considered giving up. He thought Jin would settle on sending him to an asylum where, he feared, he would come face to face again with the mad doctor who had once overpowered him to do a perfectly stupid bidding which he chooses not to reminisce ever again. Providentially, his son has not inherited the genes of heartlessness and narrow-mindedness. Kazuya was not mental, Jin had said charitably, only exceedingly disturbed. And he could be healed. A proof would be that he had voluntarily offered to give the mansion a cleaning. Jin happily accepted this offer. The observed improvement inspired a jubilant heart.

While he was mopping, he mouthed a quiet gratitude for the cloak of peace Jin had weaved. Also, very few people populated his opulent abode nowadays, and he was glad of it for it added to his tranquility. He'll mop in peace. Later he would be scrubbing the glass windows until they glitter like diamonds. Then he would be dusting the cobwebby shelves and furniture upstairs, maybe even giving the eight-legged freaks that spun those flimsy threads a squish in the process. He was proud to be an aid to the two old caretakers of the house. He wasn't capable of doing any other task at the moment. Managing a huge corporation would only wear him down again. And planning sinister plots was entirely deleted from his list. He smiled to himself. He'll never ever mimic the nefarious Count Olaf, the ambitious relative of three unfortunate orphans, who was capable of iniquitous deeds. Jin had also encouraged him to read a wide range of wonderful fiction books and that book whose author's pen name sounded fruity was among his favorites.

The ear-piercing chime of the doorbell disturbed his sentiments and he almost spilled the bucket of water with his surprise. This visitor must be absolutely eager to enter for a non-stop chime continued to resonate, threatening to incapacitate Kazuya's hearing ability. I haven't the foggiest our doorbell rings this loud. He rushed to open the huge front doors, remembering there was no sentry at the moment. A friendly face and a contrastingly bored face greeted him.

"HI SIR KAZ! IT'S PLEASANT TO SEE YOU ANSWER THE DOOR!" Xiaoyu boomed cheerfully, an incredibly huge, warm smile glowing on her face. Hwoarang gave him a lazy wave. "We're here to see –" Xiaoyu began to add. "- Jinny," Hwoarang finished for her.

Kazuya eyed them with amusement then finally said "Hello" with gaiety. "Jin has friends. That's nice to know," he told them as they entered the mansion. Hwoarang was eyeing him back in bemusement. He seriously expected Jin would never be able to bring good to this previously devil-possessed man. Something's fishy with Jin's old man, he thought.

"Hurray for sir Kazzy's good mood!" Xiaoyu clapped in mirth. She had immediately detected the hint of Jin's effective Kazuya-transforming strategy.

"Jin's in his office, second floor. His friends are always welcome in my dwelling. And thank you for the nickname," then he quietly closed the doors and strode away back to his mopping activity. Xiaoyu and Hwoarang's gaze followed his retreat. Their eyes almost popped in disbelief as Kazuya grabbed a mop and hunched his well-built figure to swab the tiled surface. It was a strange phenomenon.

"Miracles do happen I suppose. Mopping is a serious business, and he's not bad at it too," Xiaoyu giggled afterwards, pointing at the shiny clean areas of the floor Kazuya finished swabbing.

"Whatever," Hwoarang shrugged. Unable to stand the overwhelming sight, he urged Xiaoyu to make her way to Jin's quarters. "Dementedness might have left Kazzy alone but damn! drown me if I'm Jin's best friend," he commented as they ascended the beautifully designed marble staircase.

Xiaoyu shot him a glare which he found rather cute. "I couldn't fathom why you're here. It seems he doesn't like you too but wouldn't you two quit your stubbornness? Or shall concoct a sweet truce potion to add into your coffee?" she grumbled, placing both hands on her hips.

"I think we're destined to clash. Isn't that exciting?" he quipped. "I don't understand!" Xiaoyu's steps turned into stomps. Hwoarang chuckled then stopped as they approached the office door. Inside, they found Julia examining a fossil neatly laid on a table along with what seemed to be archeological tools. Jin was leisurely reading The Wind in the Willows while resting his back against an easy chair.

"Hey, it's you again guys, what's up?" Julia greeted.

"So it's you who arrived," Jin said, plopping the book closed on a nearby table. "I forgot he still existed," he added referring to Hwoarang.

"I'll continue to haunt your existence Jinny!" Hwoarang began to yell. Xiaoyu immediately swung a curtain she retrieved from a nearby window over his head to prevent him from declaring any expletive. While he was struggling to free himself from the curtain, Xiaoyu uttered a merry greeting to her two friends and strode over Julia's table. "What are you working at?"

"Jin found this fossil of a bizarre creature while gardening. I think it's a mammal but it isn't an artiodactyl. You see it's got four toes on its hind limbs and just two at the front. It's got a spiked tail and seven little horns on its head. Its body seems to be disproportioned too. Anomalous, really. I wonder if it's an authentic fossil, I'm investigating," Julia answered.

"Wow, good luck," then Xiaoyu turned to pat Jin on the back. "Mission accomplished, your dad's getting well, congratulations!"

"Yeah, it is most relieving. I reckon he'll frequently do some cleaning. He's been obsessive-compulsive recently. I can't suppose why. He'll erupt if he finds my office messy," Jin noted contentedly. "Anyway, I believe I haven't told you I'm a natural mind reader so I know you're going to tell me about my grandfather. I tell you, don't worry about him," he added tonelessly.

Xiaoyu was gobsmacked. "I knew you weren't normal Jin," she blurted. "His DNA's mutated so don't be surprised he's a complete freak," she heard Hwoarang grunt, finally free of the curtain.

"Nah, he dropped by a while ago. He looked awful but he wouldn't accept any help and fled somewhere out there. He was grumbling about things and you were included," Jin admitted.

"I think you should cast the same magic you did to Kazuya. It might work, that way you're all happy," Xiaoyu suggested.

"Whoa, gramps can superspeed…There's no damn way he could've arrived here first if he was limping like we saw him!" Hwoarang exploded.

"You needn't yell all the time!" Xiaoyu screeched directly at Hwoarang's right ear. "I should get this firebrand out of here to restore your peace," she told Jin. "But first, do you have anything yummy to munch there Jin?" she added after hearing her complaining stomach.

"Sure. You could get anything you like from the kitchens. We have a surplus of food. Off you go," Jin answered.

"Move, hothead!" she pushed the growling Hwoarang out of the door. "Bye Jules! Good luck on that thinggummy. It's nice to see you…I'll see you again!" she optimistically told the preoccupied girl.

"Hey wait, I haven't seen Panda," Julia observed.

"Oh, she decided to run home and help mom," Xiaoyu replied.

"Ok, bye. Tomorrow remember? I'll see you two."

Jin waved and returned to his book. As the door closed behind them, Xiaoyu declared "Now, to the kitchens!"

"I'm not eating anything from Jin's halls," Hwoarang stated firmly as they sauntered downstairs.

"Then don't. The goodies ought to be scrumptious," Xiaoyu tempted. "Oh well, don't worry, I'll find a way for you two to reconcile. Though I haven't got an inkling what silly dispute you two are in."

"Don't try Xiao. Your plans will fall apart I predict," he said as they reached the first floor.

Xiaoyu's retort was stopped by the sight of Kazuya scrubbing windowpanes. The two could hear him humming a low cheery tune in the silence of the halls. "I'd like to help you out there sir Kaz after I gobble something up," Xiaoyu said. "You're not serious are you!" hoped Hwoarang.

"Hmmm?" Kazuya paused looked at them. "This is tedious work. You could just fly the kites I made. That's more enjoyable," then he returned to washing.

"Kites? Yeah that's more fun. Hey Xiao, I challenge you to a kite fight! You too Kazzy, after you finish your chore." Hwoarang smirked and reminisced one of his favorite games back when he was a little kid.

"Kite fight? Hey I'm good at that! I always beat grandpa Jinrei and cut his kite flying into oblivion. I accept your challenge," the optimistic Xiaoyu agreed.

"Alright, so fill in your stomach now. I'm raring to thrash you," he arrogantly shooed Xiaoyu away to the kitchens. Then he looked back to Kazuya, "So what's it gonna be Kaz?"

"Hmmm… It does sound entertaining. I never flew a kite before. It may never fly but I'd like to try. And 'fight' still appeals to me," Kazuya's deep voice replied.

"Perfect," Hwoarang then hurried after Xiaoyu.

Rather than idle in free hours, Kazuya busies himself with new things Jin recommended him to give a try. Though he knew nothing about kites, he enjoyed crafting different designs he patterned from a craft book. This is junk was his first notion. However, Jin praised the very first kite he made. Soon afterwards, he was determined to fashion the best-looking kites. He found it queer that he was excited by the promised activity later. These thoughts swirled in the surface of his cerebrum as he tried to scrub the blood stain of a pesky mosquito he flattened on the windowpane. Contented with the now overly clean set of windows, the tiny voice 'Hang window-cleaning' continued to whisper in his ears. Then, he tucked away his rags and soaps and brushes and strolled off to fetch his kites.

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Another chapter of plain silliness. Oh well, do leave a review/criticism or ideas when you can. Yay, Thanks much:D