Chapter 5: Dinner with a Side of Shocking News

It was cozy and warm inside the restaurant that the Lee brothers owned and worked at. The wafting aroma of Chinese food was very strong, and the tables were full of strange people. I was given the best table in the restaurant, and I was forced to wear a hat with a purple long sleeved button down shirt in order to hide my true identity from the public.

"Yang, tell me why the hell I have to wear these clothes?" I said, trying to whisper. "Seriously, I look ridiculous in these!"

"Illia, it's only until we get out of the restaurant… trust me, you'll learn to like wearing these sooner or later." Yang ran his fingers through his bangs again, amused at my disdain of my clothes.

"Okay, if you say so… just don't take any photos or I'll feel even sillier than I already do." I said to him, as I pulled my hat's lapel over my face.

"But Illia, you look really handsome in this outfit." Effie said, admiring my new threads. "Especially with the hat the way you've got it now."

"Well if you like it… I guess I'll like it too." I said, "But I still don't trust these punk kids."

"That's the spirit." Yang said, giving a stern look to Yun who was trying to hold back his laughter. "I'll be back in a few minutes with the food, so try not to let Yun get to you."

He then skated away to the kitchen, being careful not to collide with anything. Effie began to fall asleep, and so I wrapped my arms around her to keep her warm. Yun on the other hand was twitching his cap.

"So Illia… what brought you to the Third World Warrior Tournament anyway?" he asked out of curiosity.

"For your information Yun, I entered the tournament because I wanted to get my freedom back and get my revenge on Gill." I said tapping my fingers on the table.

"I get it, so this Gill was the one that made you a freak, right?"

"Exactly, but I don't want to talk about it…" I then took a sip of my soda.

"Why don't you?" Yun said, and sipped his tea.

"Because well… those memories are just too painful to remember…" I said, looking down slightly.

"But I'd like to know more about happened to- I mean the whole experiment thing."

"Well if I tell you, you better not laugh at me!" I said, "Or I'll give you another electromagnetic charge!"

"All right, geez." Yun said, easing back a little.

"Okay then here goes." I folded my hands together and looked down slightly. "Not very long ago, back when I was a normal boy, I left my village to search for a better life. As soon, as I got to the city… it was then when I encountered those Illuminati creeps and Gill…"

"Okay and what happened when you encountered Gill?"

"He came up to me, and promised me a better life, but only if I joined his organization. So, I did what he asked me and followed him somewhere… and that's… when… it happened…"

My eyes began overflowing with tears, prompting me to immediately pull out my silk purple handkerchief, which came with the shirt, and start dabbing my eyes.

"Don't say any more… it's very awful what they have done to you." Yun said with what little hidden sympathy he had.

"I know…" I said, "But the worst part about it is that I have to be this way for the rest of my life… that's why I'm going after Gill."

Suddenly, Yang appeared with 2 serving trays of our freshly cooked meal. I had ordered some almond breaded chicken, egg rolls, Chow Mein noodles, and sweet and sour chicken for me and Effie to share. Yun, on the other hand, ordered his favorite food, which looked kinda weird.

Yang sat down, and noticed me and Yun were finally getting along. He then said, "See Yun, if you don't act so cocky all the time, you'll be able to get along with others better."

"Shut up Yang, I was only interested in his story anyway." Yun said, with his mouth full of food.

"Speaking of story, I got you a newspaper to read Illia." Yang placed a newspaper down in front of me, while I was gently waking Effie up for our meal.

I ate a few bites of my noodles, and then read the newspaper. I didn't find anything interesting in particular, basically since I couldn't read Chinese or anything. But then I stumbled upon an article about a kidnapping that happened two days after I had escaped. For some reason, the victim shown in the picture looked familiar.

"Hey, that looks like my little brother Mikhail only… SWEET DESU! That is my little brother!" I said with a shocked expression, sending the Lee Brothers jumping out of their chairs, and causing Effie to be surprised.

"That's your brother? Let me see…" she peeked in the newspaper and saw the picture of my brother, as a human… and then she pointed at a girl that looked exactly like her.

"That's my sister right there." Effie showed me the picture, "Her name is Irina… she's very very nice, and you'll love to meet her. But I don't understand how she got kidnapped… unless maybe…"

"What?" The Lee Brothers said, "Tell us more!"

"Shut up you imbeciles! She's talking here!" I shouted and slammed my fist on the table. "Go on Effie."

"As I was thinking… maybe those Illuminati people kidnapped her and your brother, and forced them to join them." Effie said, in perfect theory.

"Those bastards are gonna pay for kidnapping our siblings!" I said, "I swear to it, they will!"

"They will indeed, especially for kidnapping my sister. Now let's go!"

We were about to leave the restaurant, when… "Wait for us!"

Yang and Yun came running after us, knocking over everything in sight. I simply did nothing, except to shake my head in embarrassment.

"You kids are just clumsy sometimes aren't ya?" I said and just slowly walked away with Effie, leaving them to try and catch up with us.

I had personally never thought that a fight for freedom would turn in to a fight to save my brother… but somehow it did. Yet, it gave me more motivation for facing tomorrow's opponent, wherever they may be, or how hard or easy fighting them might be… but somehow I knew, I had a long way to go.