A Night of Splendor (EDITED)

The pink sun that is dimly lit over the bruising colored ocean is slowly sinking downwards into the water. Anna always found that moment to be hauntingly beautiful.

With the protection of her sunglasses over her sad eyes, Anna watches the mesmerizing golden hour moment while sipping her beautifully oceanic glass of vin rouge red wine while she waits for the deluxe chicken alfredo pasta.

Sitting on the vast balcony of the five-star restaurant that looks out at the entire city of Nassau, Anna draws her attention away from the sun and down towards the skyline of the beautiful island city. The sound of music playing from a well crafted Victorian piano whispers thoughts of a serene shopping night in those elegant shopping malls. Anna lowly chuckles of the grand fantasy.

After staying in the tropical Bahamas for four days, Anna finds it a welcoming change of pace compared to the bustling city hot spots known for their lively nights. Events that equally bring splendor to Anna, but tranquility does have fine tastes from time to time.

Anna thinks back to the time she spent in Singapore more than twenty years ago. She remembers going into this enormous shopping mall on Orchard Road where she bought the best silk dresses on sale. One of those silk dresses is her favorite red and blue dresses that are both embedded with a colorful crane proudly displayed on the lower right corner of each dress.

Like Nassau, however, Anna welcomes the change in attire with her zebra themed clothes and black high heels that looks more like a fashionable jumpsuit with a fluffy fur collar that daringly travels down her smooth tummy and her belly button.

She turns away from the view, in a 180 turn, and to the outside balcony where the chattering of costumers fills the air. Anna sees two children running around the laughing and chasing each other in a game of tag. A smile curves across her rosy lips finding their innocence adorable. As they disappear past tables and behind the piano, Anna spots a server with a black vest and pure white pants, the uniform of the establishment. As he approaches Anna, he's a modest looking man, but young and handsome with a smooth olive skin complexion with a strong presence of gel in his blasted back gel hair.

Anna wrinkles her nose and frowns when she can smell the toxic scent of too much deodorant burning up her nostrils. The only smell to counter the man's chemical odor is her heavenly alfredo pasta.

"One Deluxe Chicken Alfredo?" He announces the meal to Anna. At least he's being professional and courteous.

The patient woman banishes her sunglasses from her eyes and stares at the waiter with her warm eyes.

"Yes." Anna's smooth voice replies. As she eyes, the meal set on the table for her, Anna's mouth begins to water of the creamy chicken noodle pasta that is hers. "Mmm... you know how to make a girl smile."

She can tell her words are making his cheeks grow into a deep rose color.

"Is there anything else you need, ma'am?"

Anna raises her glass that's nearly empty. "Another refill of vin rouge please?" She asks softly

The spellbound waiter eagerly nods and bolts away with her glass in his hand.

The younger Williams sibling chuckles at his boyish enthusiasm and thinking he's an interesting and cute man to chat up with, but unfortunately for him, Mr. Lee Chaolan beat him to that offer first.

Anna does not pick up her food thinking she'll give Lee a few more minutes before eating without him.

Earlier today, Anna had the privilege of meeting Lee after he was the perfect gentleman, and very handsome in his own unique way. Definitely someone worthy of a fierce volleyball competition and an extravagant dinner.

"Ahh! Excellent! I see my companion for the night has made herself comfortable."

Anna looks up to hear that familiar enriching smooth voice. She beams seeing Lee marching over to her with a high fashion black tux shinning from the setting sun's rays.

"My, hero." Anna coos.

As Lee is about to take his seat, Anna rises to stand and snakes her well-toned arms around Lee's neck and plants a light peck on his cheek. Lee's eyes went up and curve a small genuine grin. "You really are a very forward woman, Anna."

Anna retains her warm smile. "I have no reserve when it comes to expressing myself, Mr. Lee." Her eyes stare into Lee's for a few seconds with a familiar inquisitive gaze from earlier today but quickly takes her seat. "My... direct attitude won't be a problem, will it?"

Lee chuckles taking his seat across from Anna. "Not at all. It's a feeling I can get used to." Lee quips.

Anna nods, her grin shifting into something more teasing. "Good answer."

Lee is quick to decide on his meal: The Rose King Lobster with garlic knots and cheese fondue. With his menu offered to the same waiter, all Lee could be patient while Anna has her delicious meal taunting them both with it's steaming bittersweet smell.

"You know you're allowed to eat, right?"

Anna playfully scoffs. "Without the delicious Rose King Lobster? That would be rather rude, don't you think?"

Lee chuckles. "Well considering that I was the arrogant snob who kept a fine woman waiting very patiently, I believe I may have earned a bit of rude behavior."

His response made Anna giggle. "Yeeessss." She draws out her yes not losing her playfulness. "To keep a woman waiting half a minute late is a truly heinous behavior."

"Well..." Lee looks out to the bruising pink sky. "Any ideas on how I can make it up to you? The night has just begun."

Anna raises an eyebrow. "You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you, handsome?"

Lee chuckles and raises his hand. "Oh please! I'm not that much of a boar." He snorts still laughing at such a crude move. "No, I'm actually curious if you're still interested in any other nightly activities."

Seeing the truth in his words, Anna relaxes and her smile returns. "Weelll... there is this reef that's said to have an enchanting view. The water's supposed to loosen tense muscles. Schools of all sorts of aquatic sea life."

"Including sharks," Lee adds humorously, but there is a mild concern in his tone.

Anna, sensing his worry about the aquatic apex predators, offers her assurance. "That won't be a problem." She says softly. "No sharks, just the harmless ethereal beauty of a twilight sea."

Lee can feel his smile curve farther across his cheeks. He wasn't aware that Anna can be quite poetic with her attempts at persuasion.

"Fine." Lee gives his answer, feigning an annoyed tone. "Then consider my debt repaid in full."

"No problem, dear." Anna settles it. "Then wherever you want to do next."

"The Poseidon Theatre is supposed to have a promising show tonight. If you're interested." The silver-haired man suggested.

Anna let's out a surprised laugh. "Someone who appreciates the original arts. And here I thought people no longer have any interest in the finer things in life."

Lee closes his eyes and tilts his head down staying silent for a few seconds. Then he speaks. "People say that the world is getting smaller every time mankind makes incredible advancements. Like the internet or touch screen smartphones. But, the truth is the world is still very enormous."

Anna gazes at a subtle looking Lee intrigued by his way of thinking. "Oh really?"

Lee quietly chuckles. "With everything moving so fast, it's easy to overlook simple beauties that happen to be right in front of you."

Anna's eyes shot up in amazement. "Lee... wow! You certainly know how to impress a woman." Behind her playful tone lies genuine amazement.

Lee glances up to meet Anna's gaze. "I do my best."

Anna laughs snorting a little. Lee found her snorting adorable. "And a modest gentleman. Oh! I stumbled across a unicorn."

Lee snickers trying to hide his facial expression on how Anna mentions a unicorn, but he can't help but feel a mild heat in his cheeks.

"Awww! You're blushing!" Anna expels a low giggle and leans forward with her elbows on the table and her chin sitting on the palms of her hands. "So underneath your macho bravado exterior is a big teddy bear who adores mythical horses?"

Lee, gaining the confidence to counter Anna's accurate assumption, grins and leans back in his chair. "That's a pretty bold claim, Anna. I assume you have the evidence to back it?"

Anna tilts her head to the side and flashes a loving gaze. "A lady doesn't reveal her greatest tricks, Mr. Lee. But I'll tell you a secret." She arm slides across the table and gently grips Lee's black gloved hand. "When a man looks away with rosy cheeks, it's a sign of embarrassment." She murmurs, while adding kindly, "And that's absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about."

Lee becomes petrified from Anna's warm hold over his hand. Looking at the zebra clothed woman, he can feel her warm embraceable aura beaming around their vicinity. This woman, two decades younger than him, is definitely the most confident when it comes to making her moves.

"A flatterer, are you, Anna." Lee quips, shielding his touched feelings.

Anna hums softly in disagreement. "Not a flatterer. Like you said, just very forward."

Lee says nothing but smiles and nod with a grunt of acknowledgment. It wouldn't be a surprise that Anna is falling for him. Her attitude and body language show a woman who is clearly interested and looking for some form of intimate relationship. The thought crosses Lee's mind, and it would be a lie if he is not interested in accepting Anna's potential invitation.

However, Lee knows all too well how young woman Anna's age can confuse intimacy or some form of love with infatuation. They fantasize about their ideal lover that it's easy to block out all of the flaws men carry with them.

And with Lee, his flaws are numerous.

But that's not the only reason he's reluctant to tread down this path.

"The Rose King Lobster?" The waiter from before returns with Lee's meal with the hard red shell of the lobster shimmering a shine across the ribs up to its behemoth claws. "Here you go, Mr. Lee."

Lee gives the waiter a polite nod and offers him a small but rewarding tip before departing away from the duo.

"I think we're both free to eat now," Lee says.

Anna nods. "Indeed."

As they finally started to feast upon their meals, It does not take long for the duo to engage in several lovely conversations from traveling to succulent meals.

TK

Preparing to board the plane departing from the Bahama's, Nina impatiently waits in line the plane boarding gate slowly swallows up the long line of people.

It hasn't even been two days, and she's already deserting Anna on a vacation. She should feel guilty about abandoning her sister and is sort of waiting to feel some ping of remorse, but she feels none.

She couldn't feel anything towards Anna, but this vacation felt empty and without a proper purpose. Something that Nina seems to be yearning for.

People say that the earliest memories are formed when their blubbering toddlers with some significant memory such as walking or learning their first word. For Nina, it's waking up in a hospital bed with Anna by her side. She hazily remembers her sister's frisky attitude, her mild teasing, and being genuinely concern for her well being. But Nina felt no gratitude towards her or any feelings at all.

Is that normal? Or is she just incapable of feeling any emotions towards certain people?

She feels very pleased pulling that cruel move on hooking Anna's bikini, not because she hates Anna, but because she felt a small sense of amusement and satisfaction in the act. Although less than lukewarm, it's evidence that she's capable of bearing human emotions. To a small limit.

Still, she will not find answers laying about in the sun. She wants to know who she was before she lost her memory. She tries getting answers from Anna, and she's met with silence and a few sidetracking teasing comments.

If she can't find them here, she'll try somewhere else.

Nina finally enters the gate and it does not take long for her to take her place in first-class seating. One of the perks of being a Williams sister is having huge savings. She leans back looking out the small port window at the dark bruising purple sky. The sun is gone, but its influence of dim colors remain. Nina starts her eyelids growing heavy threatening to cover her ice blue eyes, but she vows not to doze off until this plane is in the air.

Nina feels a jolt of energy when she hears the sound of a pouted squeal coming from some noisy infant followed by the shushing of some nurturing mother, but it's short-lived. The blonde haired woman feels herself sinking into her seat.

It takes about fifteen minutes for the plane to finally to begin the painful slow path onto the runway before feeling the climatic speed boost and the gradual climb into the air. Nina can barely see the island with pockets of small bright orbs dotting the Bahamas.

Looking away from the window, Nina sighs and brings a hand to her head feeling another emotion that's little stronger than the last time. A pang of guilt.

TK

Lee and Anna have been keeping themselves busy in the relatively calm capital of Nassau. They gleefully departed from the Poseidon Theatre after enjoying a rather comical alternative to Shakespeare's original dark masterpiece, Macbeth. Now, they were on their way to the enchanting reef that Anna speaks so highly about.

"Doesn't it feel darker that the performance was more comedic?" Lee questions curiously.

"Hmmm... what's the old saying? Some people have a wicked sense of humor?" Anna whimsically answers. "Sooo... yes. It does feel more morbid than the original, does it?"

Lee grunts in agreement. "I see your point."

Anna glances up at Lee looking rather disturbed. Did that performance really bother him? Feeling his mild distressed state, Anna slides her hand up Lee's arm and caresses his arm. "You okay?" Her voice is soft and wispful.

Before Lee could answer, he's enveloped in a warm hug by the young brunette. He feels herself sinking into her feeling this embrace to be alien, yet welcoming. Like Anna's attitude. He can smell an intoxicating scent that is soothing to the senses.

"That performance didn't sit right with you. Didn't it." Her murmur expresses a gentle worry, one that would melt the most hardened constitution.

Lee grins and returns the favor by resting her hands on her shoulders. "I find it rather strange when fine pieces of work stray from the original drama."

Lee slightly pulls way, still having Anna's arms wrapped around him. She looks at him with an emphatic look. She's hard to read, but Lee feels like an open book.

"We shouldn't keep your reef waiting."

Anna cocks her head to the side. There is no change in her expression.

After a deep inquisitive gaze, she finally replies quietly. "Okay."

Suddenly Anna gracefully dances around Lee with the support of his arm until she springs in front of him gaining a healthy head start. "Don't keep me waiting, Lee!" She playfully calls out.

Lee smirks and picks up the pace to catch up with Anna.

TK

An exotic school of fish travels in a tight formation over the vibrant and colorful reefs teeming with all sorts of aquatic sea life. They pass through a natural gateway from the coral passing a small group of clownfish.

The school quickly disperses when a beautiful angular figure harmlessly swims pass them before reforming their group in no time at all. Anna effortlessly kicks her feet across in awe of the underwater kingdom that remains untouched by the activity of humans.

Anna ceases her movements, parrying under the water searching for Lee. She got lost admiring the reef's beauty that her focus on Lee was poor. Luckily she quickly finds him awkwardly and cautiously swimming around the walks of sea life scuttling around him.

Anna flashes a goofy grin seeing how silly he looks. She fluidly glides across the water to reach him and playfully teases him by swimming around him like she's a vicious great white shark. Thankfully, Lee did not panic and sprang to the surface and instead finds it just as amusing.

Feeling the need for air, the duo makes for the surface and pierces the rippling wall heads first. Lee gasps loudly for the needed air, while Anna silently inhales her breath. They both swim to the shoreline after their energy was well spent in the crisp cool water. Lee is the first to collapse onto the soft blanket of sand heaving in more deep breaths like someone who finally finished a grueling city marathon.

Anna presses herself against Lee and traces her index finger in small circles on Lee's well-toned chest. She hums softly and rests her head close to where his heart resides, and hears a rapid beat slowly but surely calming itself.

"Did you see any mermaids?" Anna impishly whispers.

"Just one." Lee replies between breaths.

"Hmm lucky you."

Both lay in the sand for awhile until Anne raises her head slightly and slowly climbs upwards to meet Lee's dripping face. Their eyes meet and genuine smiles are formed. Anna flutters her eyes close and slowly leans in to have her soft lips brush up against Lee's mouth. Their lips retain a soft touch until Anna starts giggling on her upper lip is being gently nibbled by Lee.

Anna daringly swings her leg over Lee and climbs on top of him dominating the kiss.

They soon break way, breathing lightly for needed air until Anna murmurs in his ear.

"My room's not far from here. Do you want to stay with me?"

Ultimate cliffhanger! Sorry guys! Don't worry you'll find out Lee's answer in the next chapter!

I want to point out that although this story will focus around Anna and Lee, other characters will be introduced with their own parts in the story given that this is the King of Iron Fist of Tournament.

Speaking of Anna and Lee, whaddya guys think of their little relationship so far?

More on the way! Thanks guys! Enjoy!