A/N: Wow, I really wish I had updated this earlier, since this chapter's been done for quite some time now. Life's been full of surprises though, and I stopped dedicating my time to this for a while. But soon it will be King's birthday, and we gotta be ready for the party, right?

Before I forget, I decided to change the position of the translation of phrases in other languages to right after said phrases, because, reading it on the app on my phone, I realized how annoying it is to be going up and down the whole chapter just to check the translation of a single word or sentence, so yeah. This way doesn't look as well organized, but it's less annoying. If you feel like it, I'd love to know what you readers think.

Anyway, here's hoping this "transitory" chapter (of things to come) is enjoyable in one way or another.

Have you ever heard of the chinese saying "with true friends, even water drunk together is sweet enough"?

~Intertwining Strings~

Chapter 2: Sweet Water

Coming back to the apartment after meeting up with everyone at the Illusion and planning a few things for King's surprise party on saturday, Shen opened and closed the door after him and Duo Lon entered. The place was not very big, but not that small either. It was also very well decorated, but somehow it didn't really feel like home for Shen and Duo Lon. Since they didn't want to change anything in it because they thought it was going to be a temporary stay, it was clear the place didn't belong to them, as it didn't reflect their personalities at all. Not only that, they had to sleep together on Nikaido's double bed because it was the only one, and bringing in another to the study room would be an unnecessary bother since they planned on moving out anyway. Sometimes one of them would sleep on the couch in the living room so it didn't feel as akward. But they didn't mind anything of it at all and were actually very thankful to their friend for his kindness.

Since it had been quite a tiring day, Duo Lon decided to take a shower before going to sleep. He went to the bathroom and unmade his braid, letting his long reddish brown hair go as he also took off his clothes. It could be a nuisance to make his braid again sometimes, but living his whole life with such a long hair caused it to become pretty much a daily ritual for him. It was quite amusing when someone would be willing to help him, though, which Shen was, sometimes, as he learned how to make a braid only to help Duo Lon. He remembered the time when he lived with Xiao Lon back in China and she used to brush his hair for him. The memory of his sister made him nostalgic and anxious to go to France to meet her again. Shen's suggestion had actually been a good one, and it made him glad to go with his friend.

When Duo Lon finished his shower, got dressed and dried his hair, he went to the living room where Shen watched TV, lying on the couch by the window, so he sat on the other one. They watched the news broadcast for a few minutes until Shen turned his head to face his friend.

"You want help with that?" He said when he saw Duo Lon with his hair down.

Before the young man could answer, the phone by the tv stand rang. Shen, being closer to it, picked it up, speaking in japanese.

As he talked to the person on the other side of the line, Duo Lon paid attention to the conversation to try and figure out who it was, while he took the tv's controller to turn down the volume. Since Shen let out a laugh as soon as the other person identified themselves, he figured it was someone he knew, and which, apparently, was really not expecting to be answered by Benimaru, since that was the apartment's line and not Shen's or Duo Lon's cellphone.

"Ah, yeah, we haven't found a place yet. No, it's because they're all too small..." Shen told the caller. "Yeah, he's right here, wanna talk to him?" It was strange that someone who knew both of them would call that line. Or, maybe, it was Benimaru himself, which made sense. "Ok. She's fine. There's gonna be a surprise party for her this weekend, on saturday. Yes, we're still planning it. Oh, that would be great." Shen continued to the person on the phone. "Yeah, alright. Tomorrow? Yeah man, it's your place after all. No, really."

Yeah, it surely was the blond model.

"Of course. You got the keys, right? Yeah, but we'll be here, anyway. Alright, man. See you."

"Who was it?" Duo Lon casually asked when Shen hang up.

"Nikaido. He said he wanted to come over, so when I told him we are planning the party for King he got pretty excited, and he remembered it's Yabuki's birthday too. He asked if it was alright to bring him as well, and I said it would be great. They're coming tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh, I figured it must have been him. Well, that's great. Benimaru's got a thing for parties, right?"

"Yeah, it's going to be nice to have him, and even Shingo, around. Kid's a figure. So, you want help with your braid?"

"Tadaimaa! (I'm home!)" Benimaru's voice echoed on the apartment as he entered.

Duo Lon then quickly went out of the study room to greet the blond on his arrival.

"Okaerinasai (welcome home), Benimaru-san!" The brunette said while they approached for a hug. "It's been a while. How are you? Where's Shingo-kun?"

"How many times, Duo-kun, do I have to say?" Benimaru kidded. "Call me Benimaru or Beni, onegai (please), we're close enough."

"Ok, then you can stop saying things like please and thank you.'We're close enough" Duo Lon played along. "If I have to act by your culture, act by mine, too."

"Haha, alright." Benimaru complied. "Shingo didn't come because, well" he said, dropping his bag on the floor, sitting on the couch and sighing. "Apparently he had to study for an exam which, coincidentally, Kyo's girlfriend has to do too, so... Kyo was going to come along, because I told him about King's party, then he wanted to bring Yuki too, but she has to study for this exam, so they'll all come together on saturday."

"Oh alright. But is... everyone going to stay here?" Duo Lon sat by his friend's side.

"No, we'll go back to Osaka right after the party. We don't want to be a bother for you guys."

"No way, Beni, it's your place." Duo Lon chuckled.

"No, no, no, right now, it is your place. But how are you guys doing? And where is Shen?"

"We're doing good. Shen is around, but I think he's off to King's soon."

"Is he going to spend the night there because of me? Because there's no need, we can make some space..." Beni let out a short laugh.

"My goodness" Shen came from the corridor. "That makes me think you want to sleep squeezed between us. Hell, I wasn't going to sleep at King's tonight, but I think I might."

Both Duo Lon and Benimaru couldn't contain their amusement and laughed at the same time. The blond knew about the Shanghai's God of War relationship with said bar owner, so the joke came in as a natural comment.

"Ok, you don't want anyone between you and Duo-kun, right?~ Hahahaha" Beni joked, a mocking smirk playing on his lips. "Don't worry, I am not like you guys..."

"WHAT?" Shen and Duo Lon exclaimed in unison.

"Hey, I don't judge, you guys can be open with me about it!"

"Nikaido, what are you-!"

"Shen, I'm just kidding!" Benimaru laughed even more this time. "But it does make me wonder, you could get another bed and put it in the study, there's enough space for that... Why don't you?" He questioned, a brow arched.

"I told you, Beni, we decided not to change anything here because we never intended to stay for long..." the brunette explained.

"Ugh, I told you so many times you could have it..."

"I don't want to be in debt with you" Shen said as he entered the bathroom.

"Please, don't say something like that!" The model exclaimed. "I would never consider it a debt! What's mine is yours, my friends, and I don't even come here so often. Besides, do you guys even got the money for an apartment?"

"Yes, don't worry." Duo Lon reassured.

"Through what income, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I'm still taking assassination jobs from time to time, and the payments are fair. It is more than enough for us both."

"Oh, Shen?" Beni called him. "How do you sleep next to this guy? I'd be scared..." Beni joked again, and Shen came back from the bathroom with a toothbrush in his mouth, shooting him a piercing look like he was going to jump on his neck.

"Beni..." Duo Lon laughed nervously.

"Hey, I ain't judging!" He raised his arms in a surrending gesture. "Okay, I'm just kidding. It's not like I haven't been this close to you or other Hizoku before, right?"

Duo Lon chuckled to himself. It amazed him how playfully the model could handle any kind of subject or situation. It was true, even though Benimaru didn't really know everything that involved being a Hizoku, he did understand what kind of people they were, or at least seemed to be, and had even met with Duo Lon's father in the past. The blond could come off, at first, as a womanizing goof who didn't know best than his own kicks, but he actually meant business when he fought and was very well aware when things were fishy, were it during KOF or not.

"So tell me..." the blond started. "Who is going to show up at this party?"

"From what we were planning yesterday night with Yuri Sakazaki, Garcia and Shiranui" Duo Lon replied "we figured it will be around twenty guests, including us. Shiranui confirmed for the Bogard brothers, as well as their friends, and Sakazaki said she will get in touch with Asamiya and see if she can call their little friends."

"Their little friends?" the other's interest got piqued. "Does it mean, their cute little girl friends?~"

Duo Lon shrugged, letting out a short laugh. He could see the blond's eyes sparkle in expectation. Benimaru was a ladies' man, and he surely enjoyed the company of a woman, but one could see his heart would also melt for young girls, so it clearly got him excited to think of seeing Athena's and Yuri's friends. Well, he was a young one himself.

"This will be a nice party..." He seemed to say to himself. "How about our French friends, Elisabeth and Ash? Where are they, by the way? Wouldn't they enjoy coming too?"

"They're in France" Duo Lon said. "Taking care of my sister. I could call them, but I don't think they'd come. It's quite a trip from there."

"Yeah... Why is your sister with them?"

"Ever since the end of last KOF, Xiao Lon was able to find me, and I wasn't really sure what to do. She's young, and I never wanted her to lead the assassin life of a Hizoku... I told her to quit many times. I wish she could study, do something better of her life... Since we didn't have where to go back to in China, and she didn't want to come to Japan because she finds japanese too difficult to learn, Elisabeth suggested that she stayed at least for a while there in France. English and French are the few languages she knows something of besides our dialect from Hebei and Mandarin. Elisabeth said she could be home-schooled in their mansion, and then get a proper education once she felt comfortable about it."

"Oh. That's quite a situation. But is she liking it there?"

"Yes. And she's doing very well. Ash helps her a lot. I just worry because she's such a shy girl. But me and Shen were planning to go visit them in a few weeks."

"No kidding? You guys are going to France? Perfect timing!" Benimaru said, excitedly. "My agency wants to take me on a trip for a photoshoot in Paris for a clothing line. I can take whoever I want with me, and I could bring you guys. What do you say?"

"That would actually be great" Duo Lon widened his eyes in anticipation. "Is it really ok? When is your trip scheduled to?"

"It is, don't worry, I've taken Kyo and Yuki with me other times. It is scheduled for april 19th, tuesday. The week after next week."

"And how long are you going to be there?"

"Pretty much as long as I want..." Nikaido said with a thoughtful expression. "The days I have to work on the shooting are only from wednesday to friday that week, then I can come back whenever I want. I could come back with you too. How long were you planning on staying there?"

"We haven't decided yet, and neither have we called Elisabeth, so it will depend on that. But I was thinking a week or even a month."

"Anyway, I'd love to stay there with you two as long as you are there. Is that alright with you guys?"

"Of course" Duo Lon smiled. Having a joyful company like Benimaru on that kind of trip would surely be great, and help him ease his mind off the recent matters. Of course having Shen around was more than enough most of the time, as his older friend was also very playful and could handle situations with the same kind of lightness, but having yet another well-spirited friend come along was not a bad idea. Duo Lon thought he really needed to let go. As much as being in the darkness was the curse of a Hizoku like him, he figured it would make his burden a little lighter if he would just let himself smile more often and be influenced by his good friends.

"Well, I guess I'll put this away" Benimaru got up and took his bag.

"And I'm going." Shen went out of the bathroom and took his keys from the glass center table. "I'll see if I will come back here at night or not, but either way, be at Illusion later on, you two."

"Got it." Said Benimaru as he walked to the corridor. "Ja ne (see ya)."

Duo Lon was not a party guy himself. Though he had been to numerous kinds of parties and events, they never felt enjoyable to him. Perhaps that was so because they always meant business, as most of his attendances to these places were merely as a better way to reach targets and complete assassination jobs. But this time, it was different. Now he walked down a street along with Benimaru to get to King's bar and there, along with the other fighters, plan what was needed to make her a surprise birthday party on next saturday.

"It's on april 8th, right? Isn't that friday?" the blond asked as they walked.

"Yes, but we have decided to make it on saturday because we thought it would make things easier. Some of us would not be able to be there on friday to decorate her bar. Not to mention surprise parties are better to happen either before or after the actual birthday, according to Yuri." Duo Lon replied as they were about to arrive.

"She has a point." Benimaru opened the door to the bar and they entered.

The place smelled of coffee and drinks in an interesting combination. It was a big but also comfortable looking space, filled with well arranged wooden tables and couches. The lighting was made of orange and pink colored lamps and chandeliers on the walls and ceiling. King stood behind the counter, probably mixing some kind of cocktail. She looked their way as Duo Lon and Benimaru stepped in, closing the door behind themselves, so she smiled and gestured for them to approach.

"Duo Lon! Nikaido-kun, long time no see!" She smiled brightly, her flaring blue eyes staring expectantly at them. "How've you been?"

"Hey, pretty kicks! I've been great, and my legs too. How about yours?"

"Why do you always have to make a comment about my legs and my kicking?" King's expression changed quickly from surprised to annoyed as she rolled up her eyes and gritted her teeth.

"Hahaha, don't be shy, King, we're good old friends! And don't mind me, I try my best not to flirt with a taken girl, as pretty as she might be!" Benimaru spoke that last sentence as softly as he could while still making his voice audible amidst the loud sounds of the bar.

"Wow, was that a flirt?" she said, still looking annoyed.

"Where is Shen?" Duo Lon asked.

"He's right there" King pointed to a crowded-looking table close to the wall. "You guys want to get something to drink, messieurs (gentlemen)?"

"Not right now. I'll get something later on." Said the model.

"Me neither." Said Duo Lon. "But we'll be back soon."

"Make yourselves at home, boys."

The two men then turned around and made their way to the table at which King said Shen was. All the chairs around it were filled, and there were also some people standing on their feet next to it. As they took a better look, Beni and Duo Lon could see they were Robert Garcia, the Sakazaki siblings, the Bogard brothers, Mai Shiranui, Blue Mary and, of course, Shen Woo.

"Bring in some chairs. I don't know why you guys are there standing on your feet." Andy spoke to his brother, as he saw the other two approaching.

"What is Nikaido doing here?" Mai seemed to protest, as Terry and Robert brought more chairs for them all to sit.

"Why, hello to you too, Ms. Yamato not so much Nadeshiko." Benimaru replied.

"Benimaru is just visiting us, so he took the opportunity to help with the party." Duo Lon said, calmly.

"Yes. And if you guys don't mind, I've taken the freedom to invite Kyo and his girlfriend Yuki, and also Shingo-kun, since it's his birthday as well, so they'll be here on saturday too."

"Cool, the more the merrier!" Terry said with a smile.

"Oh, that's great!" Yuri got so excited she stood up. "Ok! I declare today's 'party-planning-meeting' officially started! We just gotta be careful not to say anything about it when she approaches!"

"Sit down, you're making us look suspicious already, smarty!" Shen pulled Yuri back down into her chair by her arm. The gesture was gentle and held a shade of playfulness, instead of annoyance, but Duo Lon noticed the way Ryo shot a disapproving look at the two. One could say how bothered he was by the whole situation. Besides dating King, the woman pretty much everyone noticed Ryo liked, Shen suddenly got all frisky-friendly with his sister too.

"Anyway, what have we decided so far, again?" Said Robert. "Let's recall everything so Benimaru and Mary won't lose a thing, since it's their first time participating in the planning."

"Well, so far we only know who will probably be present, either at the party itself or to help with the decoration too" Mai started "and who will get what. So far I am responsible for getting the decorations, such as balloons, streamers, confetti, serpentine... The Sakazakis will bring the cake, Andy and Terry will take care of the lighting and sound, and Shen Woo and Duo Lon are going to handle the drinks and whatnot."

"Benimaru can help us with that. What do you say?" Shen asked him.

"Alright."

"So I can help Terry and Andy with their part." Said Blue Mary.

"Wait, what about me?" Robert stepped in, as everybody looked at him.

"You know what" Said Mai. "Our first problem remains. Who is going to get her out of the bar?"

"Saturday is one of the busiest days of the week..." Shen thought out loud. "We're gonna need a very authentic looking excuse not to let her in here at all."

"I can try something!" Yuri exclaimed.

"You can try what?" King showed up behind the youngest of the Sakazaki.

Everyone turned their faces to her, but quickly tried to act as natural as they could.

"Um... Training! Training Benimaru's moves! Right?"

"...Yeah!"

"Why do you look so nervous?" King had a brow arched as she put down drinks for Robert and Terry.

"It's just hot is all! Ahahaha" Yuri fanned herself with her hand, faking to be hot.

"Do you want me to bring you some water?" The French woman's eyes were slightly wide in confusion.

"No, don't worry! Hey, come on, King, I'll help you there!" Yuri got up and started pushing the other back to the counter.

Andy facepalmed lightly. "With Yuri acting like that, King will suspect it all in no time..."

"At least she took her away" Mai tried to be optimistic. "Ok, so what will be the plan to keep her out of here?"

Everybody remained silent, each of them trying to think of something. Duo Lon tried thinking of a few possibilities himself. Maybe they could fake up a tragedy somewhere far away. No, they wouldn't want to frighten her. Maybe they could fake it that there was going to be a party for Shingo in Osaka. No, that would create yet another problem because they would need an even better excuse to bring her back. Or maybe one of them could say they wanted to celebrate her birthday with her and take her somewhere else. That wouldn't make her suspicious.

"Someone can take her to celebrate her birthday." Duo Lon spoke up.

"No way, her celebration will be here already!" Mai protested.

"No, he's right." Andy said. "If some of us take her away from here to celebrate, she wouldn't imagine the others to be actually planning a celebration here."

"But wouldn't she want to come back too early?" Robert pondered aloud. "She may accept to go out to celebrate, but she surely would be rushing to come back because she opens Illusion earlier on saturdays."

"Well, how much earlier are we talking about?" Benimaru asked.

"About 5 pm, is the opening time on saturdays." Terry answered. "But Yuri has been helping King a lot with the bar, and so she has the keys, right? She could open it here for us, and so we could start decorating earlier as well, then. How about Mai and Yuri take her to the movies, or something? I bet she wouldn't suspect if it were you two."

"Right..." Mai agreed thoughtfully. "Okay. I guess that can be done. You guys take Yuri's keys while we take King to an outing. Robert, I'll get the decorations and leave it to you. You will be in charge of deciding how things will look. Don't disappoint me!"

"No problem! I'll make the best party decoration you will ever see."

"Don't get cocky" the brunette woman brushed him off. "Ryo, you and Yuri will see the cake and you can bring it in when you come to help decorate."

"Alright." Ryo agreed. "I'm thinking about getting more than one, since Nikaido-kun said Shingo-kun and the others are coming too. We will have more people around, and actually be celebrating two birthdays, right?"

"Oh, yeah! That's very thoughtful of you, Sakazaki." Mai smiled.

"Hai, arigatou ne (Yes, thank you)" Benimaru thanked.

"What time do we arrive here, then?" Mary asked.

"I'm thinking of taking King out at about 2 PM" Mai said "so you guys can come a little bit after that time. When Yuri comes back here one of you guys can already take her keys and be the one responsible for opening."

"Alright, then, it's settled." Robert smiled.

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