Yui's PoV

'you got any plans today?'

Great. Right the next morning, barely 7a.m. Daryl sent me an annoyie text.

'in fact I do. I hav classes, now if u'll excuse me'

I dropped my phone in my pocket before heading downstairs for a quick breakfast.

I made some instant waffles and found a small bottle of syrup in the kitchen.

When I just finished eating, Soryu came in while I was clearing my plates. The first thing he did was to check over his stuff.

"Are you going to eat breakfast?" I asked as I finished drying the dish. 

"No. Room service breakfast doesn't suit my taste." He didn't even glance up as he said.

"Why don't you make something, then?" after I asked I remembered that mom described dad as 'couldn't cook to save his life'. What did he do again? Peel the onion until it 'disappeared'?

"Can I... make you something?" I offered before he could answer.

"Do what you want." He replied quickly, rather distracted, and he looked over his papers.

Dad's favorite food was... eggs? Right. Then I'll make an omelette.

As the smell of omelettes start to fill the entire lounge, his head suddenly shot up. Does he find this smell familiar? Mom taught me how to make these.

When I placed the plate in front of him, he took the fork, and quickly snatched two bites. A look of disbelief crossed his features.

"My mom taught me how to make them." I say, dropping yet another hint.

"That's... nice...." He said distantly. He finished every last bite of it though he didn't say anything more.

"Anyways, I have meetings in the morning. If Mei Ling or Li Yan needs anything at all, you will assist them, understand?" he left an order right before he went out the door. I nodded back.

In the end nothing came to his mind, after all.

~~~

I shut down the laptop Mr. Ichinomiya lent me. I've finished the classes for today and the assignment that was due a week later.

"Yui?" as I just place the laptop on the bedside table, Li Yan poked her head in.

"Yes, Li Yan?" I be patient and ask her.

"Can we take a walk around the hotel? Maybe to... the casino?" she asked excitedly. "Mom's taking a nap, and I'm bored."

Hmm. It should be okay, it's inside the hotel.

"Sure." Even though I don't even know the place that well, I bring Li Yan down the hotel floors.

A twelve-year old like her sure has tons of energy. She ran across every single floor.

When the elevator door opens to the casino, I held onto her hand. Everywhere we look were the drunk or filthy rich.

"Ohhh!!" came a shout of victory and show off from the other side of the huge space.

It was very noisy indeed.

Suddenly, Li Yan ran free from my grip. I quickly look to the direction she was at, but the crowd completely drowned her 4'10 figure.

"Li Yan!" I called out before I break into a run to look for her. Think... think! Where would I go if I were twelve? ...Well, I would go to the gym or karate club... no! A normal, sunny twelve year old girl? 

You really can't expect someone with no actual experience to think like one.

My twelfth year was spent with fighting training, as well as the thirteenth, fourteenth and so on. Maybe mom thought I was going to inherit dad someday, she started sending me to pro fighting training very early. And since I actually liked it, I never had anything against it taking up all my play time.

Just as I couldn't find her anywhere, I suddenly hear a giggle. There, at the vending machine corner, she was scanning through the snacks. A sigh of relief left my lips.

I took one step towards her. Then, some person in all black—completely covering everything—snuck up behind her.... No! Soryu will be in trouble if anything happens to Li Yan!

I threw myself out, and slapped that person away, him not even able to touch her hair.

Li Yan turned back with an innocent expression, she batted her big eyes in plea as she asked, "Yui... do you have any coins?"

When I looked around again, that person was gone. Sneaky.

"Yes, what would you like?" I dug my pocket and insert coins into the machine.

Mei Ling or Soryu mustn't know anything about Li Yan almost getting attacked.

One would expect me to lecture the girl for running off on her own, but why would I? It's not like this is my daughter or anything. 

As I held open the lounge door, Mei Ling was sitting on the couch, chatting away with Baba and Ota. Li Yan ran up to her mother with a box of skittles in her hands.

"Really? You were at the casino? Thanks, Yui." Mei Ling smiled at me, "nothing happened, right?"

I just simply shook my head since I'm afraid my voice will give me away. I was still a bit panicky inside. That person in all black, he kinda reminded me of the thugs who chased me a couple of months ago.

As soon as the private suite door shut behind me, though, Soryu once again trapped me against the wall. "Who gave you permission to take Li Yan to the casino without any notice? What if something had happened to her? What if there was an attack and she got hurt?"

Uh-huh. Keep on worrying about a random girl and not your own flesh and blood. I thought bitterly, but kept my cover stone.

"Don't ever do that again, you hear?" he gave me a final warning before letting go.

At dinner, they were discussing their plans for tomorrow.

"We're going to the aquarium!" Li Yan says excitedly.

"Of course. I'll go with you." Soryu answered, then glanced at me, "you, too."

Fantastic.

~~~

I lie in my bed, having wasted another day. I have work tomorrow, so we better be finished by 8p.m. My shift starts later, but it goes until one in the morning since it's the weekend.

*vrrr* my phone vibrates, I peek at the notification center.

'sup'

Daryl again? Doesn't he have anything better to do?

'lying in bed. Tryin to sleep'

It's barely nine o clock... who am I kidding....

'maybe ur in bed, but I doubt ur trying 2 sleep ;)'

'ok so wat if im not?'

'what time do u usually sleep anyways?'

'depends. U no I sometimes get off @ midnight. Or sometimes im busy and just pull an all-niter'

'that's pretty bad'

He proceeds to annoy me, but I only find it half annoying, half fun. It's nice to talk once in a while. To someone who'll actually listen to you for whatever reasons. I find myself grinning at his responses. When I checked the time again, it was already eleven. I need to sleep if I wanna survive tomorrow.

'it's getting late, c u.'

The see you was completely out of farewell words, but I guess he took it seriously.

'sure, I'll c u @ the bar tmr ;)'

I left it at that, then passed out after a few more minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yeah...a bit short...

Ah well.

1220 words. Thnx for reading~!

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—Lillie

Edited: June 9, 2016