Seven year old Yang was in the park. He was all by himself. The local kids wanted nothing to do with him - they never liked him much. That suited Yang fine. He didn't trust those other kids anyway. The only person he trusts is his brother. But right now he isn't here, he went to run an errand for someone. Big brother Yun promised to return really soon. Yang hoped so, he trusts Yun more than anyone else in the world. So all alone, waiting for his brother to come, Yang built himself a sand castle. He was so absorbed in his thoughts, he didn't quite notice the small gang surrounding him.

"Aw, would you look at that. It's Yun's little brother." a taunting voice sneered. "He's all alone with nobody to protect him. Little orphan Yun's brother with only a big sibling to take care of him. But he ain't here and the little baby's all by himself. Just a helpless little baby for us to take candy from. What are you going to do?"

Yang looked up with eyes of an irritated cat. "Go away." he said softly.

The bullies only laughed. What a futile gesture from a little runt! To them, Yang stood and raised his guard. Not a full Mantis Stance - he didn't want to reveal his style fully. He only wanted to show that he could handle himself. One of the bullies took to that gesture and grabbed Yang's small wrist. The hand was immediately knocked away followed by an arm twist. The young boy spun around and reverse elbowed the older bully in between the ribs, the swept him off his feet. Yang took some steps back as his pursuer fell.

"Oohhh... so the little kitty thinks he can play." said the first taunter, presumably the leader. "Ain't that rich. Let's show him what the big boys are made of."

Yang stepped back slightly some more. A foot embedded into his sand castle but he didn't care. He only had two thoughts on his mind - how to get rid of them and why were they fighting him? None mattered soon enough, however, as he found himself bound by his limbs. The leader came upon Yang and grinned widely, stroking the younger boy's face. Yang glared back. What would Yun do in this situation...? Big brother...

"You there! Get your hands off of my little brother!"

When the leader turned around, he was smacked in the gut by a dashing punch, augmented by the the speed of a skateboard. Yun high kicked the leader in the groin, then leapt up and struck the older one's neck with a knifehand chop. The young dragon landed gracefully on his skateboard and propped it up by his heel. "Anyone else want to get beaten up?"

The remaining bullies ran away in fear. Yang was dropped on his sand castle. He dusted himself off with help from Yun, then threw his arms around his big brother. "Big brother..."

Yun wrapped his arms around Yang. "S'alright, Yang. You don't have to worry about a thing. I'm gonna protect you from the bullies always."

Enfolded in Yun's arms, Yang's self-served muffles were audiable only as whimpers. "I want to be just like you, big brother. You can beat up the bullies. I can fight too. You don't have to protect me anymore. Right...? I'm as good a fighter as you...I can help myself..."

Yang's voice faded. The memory began to follow.

"...right?"

Yang opened his eyes. What a strange dream. He wasn't sure of the setting. Was it a past memory he had forgotten? Or just symbolizing his repressed feelings? To him it felt like that dream happened just the other day. Many emotions began to surface, emotions he thought he had forgotten. Sadness, resentment, feeling second best... Yang closed his eyes and tried to swallow those emotions. They weren't needed. It was useless.

Useless as...himself...

He gestured to stand but found he could not. His limbs were bound to four opposite ends, and he found he was on a large bed. So his dream of being bound had connections to the real world after all. Who had taken him and what did they want? And where was Yun, did they take him too? Yang struggled to get free but his bonds were too tough. Once again, he was reminded of his weakness. He wondered if Yun was able to free himself in this situation.

"I'm sure your brother would. He's quite a clever fellow." chuckled a sultry voice.

With his bangs seemingly covering his eyes, Yang glared towards the door. Succubus leaned across the doorframe in an interesting position. Her red hair spilled across her body. Walking with hips swaying, she came upon Yang, crawling her way upwards so her face glided up his body and met with him. "My, your aura is dark like the night, soft and wet, and nurturing - that of yin. Yet you are named after yang. While your brother, named after yin, shines as brightly as the sun, radiating the positive energy of yang. How intriguing."

Yang simply looked back passively. Succubus chuckled some more. "At a loss for words? You're such a cute kitten..." She stroked Yang's face the way she would a small kitten. He bit his lip. It felt good - ticklish even, but at the same time he was frightened. Someone was beginning to invade his territory, him being such a private person and all. He only reserved himself for a select few. And yet, she was coming on him! Yang struggled to get free, but was only met by more chuckles.

"Sweet, silly kitten. Your brother won't be here to save you. And you can't even help yourself. You're so helpless without your brother."

'That's not true. I can help myself. I don't know what you're talking about.'

Succubus ably read Yang's thoughts. She raised a finger to his lips, silencing him. "Sshh..." she whispered, feeling the yield of the moist, tender flesh. "Little kittens should meow softly." She roamed her free hand under Yang's shirt, into his territory. His privacy. He flinched. An evil grin spread across her lips. She took advantage of his weakness. And as much as he didn't want to show, he was scared. He clenched his teeth, shuddering slightly. Succubus leaned over to Yang's ear.

"Shudder and cry. You're helpless." she whispered.

Yang narrowed his eyes. This lady was getting on his nerves. He pulled on his bonds. "I'm not helpless." he stated flatly. He didn't want to show he was giving in to her. But her hands were crawling inside, touching him, invading him. Roaming around his chest, teasing his nipples. He wanted to stop her, but he couldn't. He couldn't break free, no matter how hard he struggled.

I can help myself!

She pulled his shirt open. His body - his privacy - was exposed to her. Her tongue bathed his stomach. She was invading him. And there was nothing he could to about it.

"I...."

A lone tear shed down his cheek. He closed his eyes, hoping this nightmare will end.

Succubus smiled. He will now soon be sleeping in a bath of his repressed emotions. She stroked him some more, purring - he was an attractive young man after all. Some of her men approached by the doorway.

"Boss. Your preparations are ready."

She nodded. "Excellent. Proceed immediately."

Slowly, reluctantly even, she peeled herself off of his generous body. She gave him one last wink and blew a kiss. "Good night. Sleep tight, my helpless little kitten."

Something snapped. That something told Yang to open his eyes, and he did. Admist the darkness and floorless grounds which he stood, he felt as if he was awake. Deep down, he felt an uneasy presence. Something about this atmosphere didn't seem natural. He narrowed his eyes. "Why are you showing this to me?" he demanded in his soft tone.

"What ruckus are ya raisin' now, bro'?" asked a familiar voice. Yang whirled around. Into the view came the familiar appearance of his beloved brother, Yun.

The younger twin dragon looked down. "Brother... I..."

Yun stroked his brother's cheek. His lips came dangerously close to Yang's, causing him to shudder, and then brushed to the younger brother's ear. "Prove your worth to me. Show me what you've got."

The older brother walked away. As he left, seemingly following the Storming White Dragon but approaching Yang was Makoto. She was not in the battered condition she was in the tournament. Rather, she was in peak condition and ready to fight. She let that be known as she pushed herself into her fighting stance. "CHOBU DA!!" she declared. (Chobu da = Fight!)

Before Yang had time to even set up his guard, Makoto slammed into him with a quick but powerful Hayate - "CHESTO!" and another - "CHESTO!" Yang flipped back to get his distance but was met by another Hayate. He had misjudged her range and was paying the price. Was this a dream? It hurt. He felt the pain as if he was awake. Staggering to his feet - she had hit hin harder than he calculated - he realized this was a true fight. His brother was watching him. He had to fight! He had to prove himself to Yun!

He didn't realize his pent-up emotions were getting to him.

Yang launched a Zesho Hohou, hoping to catch her off guard. But it was his guard that was cut off. He was met by the rude awakening of a ducking, rising uppercut straight into her Karakusa grab. He wrenched his hands on hers, trying to pull away, but found she was stronger. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pull away. He wasn't fast enough... he wasn't strong enough... he wasn't good enough...

And to the side, he saw Yun shake his head in disgust. At him. He looked in shame at him. Those normally cheerful eyes now clearly said, "You are a disgrace."

The second the Karakusa was out of range, she was met by the powerful fist of Yun's Zesho Hohou. As she was falling, Yun quickly crouched into a jabbing hand strike, twice, and followed by that rolling shoulder bash he just mastered. Makoto flew into the air and Yun reached for her with a waiting arm - a You-Hou, that is. The Rindokan Karate fighter soar into the air with a *ping*. Yun cracked his knuckles and grinned.

"My new move - Tetsu Zanko - is too sweet. Sorry if my You-Hou broke your jaw, good lookin'!" he called. He then turned to Yang with a condescending glare. "Don't be like me. You'll never reach me. In fact, don't even fight anymore. You're pathetic."

Pathetic...

Pathetic...

Yang fell to his knees. Yun made no return to the gesture, instead, walking to his millions of fans and flaunting himself. The younger twin dragon wanted to cry. It was bad enough grandfather, his opponents, himself...thought he was a disgrace. He said so. Yun said so. The one he respected the most. As Yun and his fans seemed to disappear, Yang hugged his knees, sulked, then - when realizing he was alone - cried.

Pathetic...

Pathetic...

It was the sound of birds chirping. What kind of birds? They weren't the breed that flocked to his window every morning. There was grass all around. He wasn't on his bed, he realized. Yang awoke to find himself in an unfamiliar setting. He was in the middle of a lush forest. In the clearing was a deep, long valley. No people appeared to be around. Not even Yun.

Pathetic!

Memories of that dream flooded before Yang. He wiped some tears from his face. It was only a dream but it felt so real. His heart was heavy as he thought of his brother. True, Yun was always the stronger of the two. But he showed genuine kindness towards him. Yun would never say such a thing. Would he?

"I believe that had you been fresher, you would have won... a fact which your opponent may have cause to regret." had said grandfather. One of the people Yang shamed. And deep in the back of his mind, he realized that if Yun was there, the older brother would have won the fight.

Useless...useless...

Shaking his head from morbid thoughts - not too good to bask in depression when one is lost, Yang took a good look at the terrain. He recognised nothing. Only one realization.

He was in Hong Kong no longer.