Red Son pulled up in front of the noddle shop and saw that there was a line of customers out the door. He locked his car and went to find Mei. "Red Boy~" her voice blasted into his ears before he turned around and saw she was right behind him. He was stunned by how lantern light enhanced her beauty with an enchanted glow. She wore a lime green mock-neck with a gold trim, black ripped jeans, and her usual sneakers. "Ready to have some fun?"
Red Son lingered for a moment with blush dusting his cheeks. He snapped out of it and cleared his throat. "Yes, it will be quite enjoyable." He then took something out of his pocket, a small green jewelry box, and handed it to her.
"You brought me a gift? You didn't have to do that," she said before taking the box and opening it.
"I saw them in a store near here before I went home yesterday," he said before Mei took out a matching set of emerald dragon earrings. "Thought they would look good on you," he said with an awkward smile.
She then put them on each ear and threw her hair back. "What's the verdict, fashion judge?" she asked with a big smile.
"I was correct."
The dragon girl took out her phone and brought him in before taking a picture. "Thank you, Red Son. They look great," she said as studied the newly taken photo. She giggled for a moment before putting her phone away. She then took his hand and started pulling him as she started running towards the festival, not even noticing him blushing.
The fairgrounds were full of people, games, rides, food trucks and tents, and shop booths. Red Son looked almost overwhelmed. He took a deep breath and went in with Mei. "What would you like to do first? I was hoping to save the Ferris wheel for the end."
"So we can have a better view of the fireworks, right?" she said as she looked around in fascination.
He was stunned. "Yes, exactly. You know me better than I know myself sometimes," he smiled at her. He then led her over to the game area. "I know some or all might be rigged but the world can be very surprising," he explained.
"I love the bottle-knocking game, but how about the ring toss? This time I won't have to steal one from your dad," she said, lightly punching him on the shoulder before heading over to said booth.
He followed and looked to see what kind of prizes it offered. There was a red dragon plush that ignited his interest. 'That would be perfect for Mei to think of me,' he thought before ringing the bell.
"Well, well, well," a cockney voice came from behind the stand.
"If it isn't the red bull spawn and the child of the dragon family," another cockney accent said. Emerging from behind the stand were the gold and silver demons. "Long time no see, Fire Diaper," Yin said to Red Son.
The flame demon blushed with his hair sparking a bit. He could hear Mei chortling next to him. "Just because you two watched me when I was an infant does not mean you can call me that in public!" he growled at the two con artist demons, trying not to light the game on fire.
"We could tell your girlfriend some stories that she would love," Jin said with a cackle.
"She's just my friend, you fool," Red said another growl still blushing. He then took a few deep breaths before slapping down a dollar. "Three rings, now…" he asked rudely before looking at Mei. "Please." He was handed the gold, silver, and wisteria-colored rings. Focusing on the bottles for a moment, he quickly threw the gold one, only to have it ricochet off the rim and fell on the floor.
"That's one," Jin said before grabbing the failed ring.
"Two more chances," Yin added,
He tried again with the silver one and almost got it, until the bottle tip over a bit, making the ring fall to the ground.
Mei sighed. "You want me to try, Red Boy?"
"I got this!" he snapped at her, making her flinch. He then threw the wisteria ring in anger and missed entirely. With his eye twitching, he was about the walk away in frustration when Mei took his hand.
She was staring straight into his eyes. "Deep breaths and think of the sound of the wind, fire is only destructive if you let it be," she said to him calmly.
He did as told and felt more serine. 'Wait a minute,' he thought. He grinned happily. "You remembered that?"
She nodded. "It was the first thing you taught me during our fire training. I'll always remember that," she said before turning to the stand and slamming down a bill of her own. "Three rings, I'm playing for that red dragon." The demons gave her the rings and she quickly threw them in unison. The rings landed perfectly on three bottles. All three demons were stunned. "So, if it's not rigged, why are you two so shocked?" she said cheekily.
Yin and Jin sighed and gave her the dragon. "Take it and leave."
Red Son was amazed. He was about to tell her that he was trying to win that for her, but she handed it to him. "Thought you might like it. Plus, I saw you looking straight at it. Sorry for one-uping you," she added.
He realized something important at that moment. "I apologize for snapping at you, I think I'm turning into my father," he sighed. He hugged the plush tightly. He remembered when his father was possessed by Lady Bone Demon. Even though he wasn't himself, he felt devastated by the things his father said to him. "And not in a good way," he said while looking away in shame.
He then felt a gentle hand on his cheek, making him meet her eyes. "I mean this in the nicest possible way: you are not your dad. You can be evil, but you care so much about your family and I think that's good. It's something you and I have in common," she told him.
'Is this the moment? Should I go for it? Aw, the heck with it,' he thought before closing his eyes. He was about to kiss her. When he heard a rumbling sound. It was coming from Mei's stomach. He let out a laugh. "Let's get something to eat. I may not be my father, but you have an appetite," he said with a lingering giggle.
"Hey!" she shouted playfully.
They went over to the food trucks, leaving the gold and silver demons to their scam. Their accountant who behind the booth's tent. "You think they like each other?" she asked the two.
They just nodded together.