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"It's Morning" Yun and Yang Lee. A long time ago, when they were too young to have conscious memories, their parents had separated. Their father had disappeared and was never heard from again. Their mother died shortly after. Since then, the twin brothers had come to live with their grandparents, or rather their grandmother. Their grandfather was rarely home but when he was there, he taught the boys various styles of Kung Fu. The boys practiced every day and became quite skilled. Using their skills, they fight off bullies and protect their village. Of course, they didn't neglect helping their grandmother at her grocery among growing up as normal boys should. Most people judge that the trendy twins live in some comfortable home in the main city. Well, that's partially the truth. They live in a small town not too far from the docks. Their home was upstairs from their grocery. And now that the sun began to peek from the corner, it was time to start their daily routine. 7:30 AM A week had passed since the last tournament. The living quarters was quiet except for a few random creaks and Yun's snoring. A small white kitten by the name of Tsuchin instinctively walked to her pet's room as she knew it was time for him to wake up. She pushed her way through the door. With her feline delicacy, she hopped onto the bed and tenderly rubbed her nose on her pet's. Her pet muttered a few incoherent words and blinked his eyes open. "Tsuchin... good morning." Yang smiled, petting Tsuchin on the head. She responded with a happy meow. Being the responsible man of the house, Yang was always the first to awaken. True Yun was considered the elder twin, but his responsibilities lie in dealing with people. Yang had no intention of dealing with people. He hated being in the spotlight. Taking care of the family suited him fine. The other family members wake up hours after him so Yang took this time to get washed up, prepare breakfast, and collect his thoughts. From his organized drawers he produced his clothes for today. Nothing flashy or bold as what Yun would wear. His taste was more conservative. As he exited the room, he noticed a bag of medicine along with a note taped to the door. "Yang. Got the medicine. Ran into trouble along the way but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. -Yun" the note read. Or what Yang managed to read from Yun's scrawly handwriting. 'He must have gotten it while I was asleep.' Yang thought. He placed the note back on the door, making a mental note to pick up the medicine before he goes to make breakfast. Clothes in hand, Yang went to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He stripped off his pajamas and entered the shower, turning on the water to the temperature her preferred. The water beat down on his bare skin, refreshing his body and mind. Thoughts of last night's battle filled his head. 'People like me... have nothing to lose. We fight because we... don't have anything... left in life. You're still young... Don't waste your life down here. Live your life... to the fullest...' Sparticus had said. Yang looked up. His wet bangs fell over half his face. 'Are we really throwing our lives away?' Yun and Yang waited anxiously outside the closed double doors. Nearly an hour had passed since Grandmother Lee had been rushed to the emergency ward after she had collapsed from a sudden illness. Yun paced the floor, grumbling illegitimate noises and occasionally kicking the wall or a random object. Yang sat quietly, arms folded and deep in thought. However, Yun's constant shuffling was beginning to get on his nerves. "Grandmother isn't going to get better by your grumbling." Yang teasingly pointed out. "Damn... damn damn damn." Yun growled, too wrapped up in his anger to listen to his brother. "Why can't the doctors hurry up? I'm gonna lose my mind here!" The doors to the emergency ward slowly creaked open. The doctor entered. His head was bowed, his face grim. Yun sprang to attention. Yang rose as well in a calmer, more controlled fashion. In nervousness, Yun grabbed the doctor by the shoulders and shook him wildly. "Doctor! How is grandma? Is she okay? Tell me!!" Yang was about to reach out and grab Yun, but the doctor beat him to it. Gently, the doctor placed his hands on Yun's forearms and lowered his arms. The doctor adjusted his glasses. Light from above glinted on the lens, obscuring his eyes. "I'm sorry, boys. Your grandmother has come down with a rare disease. Although the disease is not contagious, it is fatal." Silence fell in the room. Yang looked to the side, trying to hide his sadness. Yun's anger grew. He clenched his fist. "Damn, no way... Is there any way to cure her?! There has to!" Yun cried. "Well, yes, there is a cure." the doctor replied. "However, the medicine can only be bought from a herbalist in the slum area of Hong Kong. The herbs necessary are extremely expensive and must be bought in regular doses. I'm afraid the money from your grocery just isn't enough." "That's where you're wrong!" Yun shot back. "There's gotta be a way to get the money. If not, I'll find a way. And when I do, you can tell that herbalist that Yun Lee will be waiting on his doorstep." Yang turned off the water. He exited the shower and dried himself off, then got dressed. On his body which was well muscled like his brother's, he preferred to cover himself generously, partially because he was conservative by nature, partially because of his brother. The way Yang saw things, if he exposed any part of his body, he'd be stared at the same way Yun was. 'Why do the people bother to be so friendly to me anyway?' Yang wondered. 'They're acting as if I'm Yun. Although we share the same face and body, we don't share the same minds. I'm not Yun. Not at all...' Cat scratching behind the door snapped Yang away from his morbid thoughts. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Tsuchin." Yang called. The door closed. 8:14 AM Breakfast simmered merrily. With Yun incapable of cooking without breaking something or blowing something up, Yang was left with cooking by default. Yang was preparing his grandmother's medicine while half watching his cat eat. Once again, his brooding mind wandered. "I understand how you feel, but think about it. What will grandmother say when she finds out? And grandfather?" Yang chided. "Honesly, big brother, I'm not saying your idea is a bad one, but I'm also worried about what will happen to you." "Sorry, Yang. My mind's already made up. The weekly underground tournaments give the winner piles of cash, enough to save grandmother if not more. Official tournaments are too infrequent and give too much spotlight. As much as I like people calling my name, grandmother doesn't need to worry about us. She has enough worries already." Yun grabbed Yang's shoulders. "C'mon, help me out here." Yang looked to the side. He knew he was going to regret his decision. "Whatever you say... However, I think only one of us should enter at a time." "What the hell...?" "Think about it." Yang continued. "If both of us enter simultaneously, we'll end up having to fight each other for the prize money. Should we refuse to fight each other, we may be thrown out and our motives known. And should we do fight, most likely it will be to the death. One of us will be injured and grandmother doesn't need any worries like that either." There were more reasons why Yang was hesitant to fight Yun. But he held his tongue. Now was not the time to push any more insecurities onto the issue. Yun let go of Yang's shoulders. "...You're right. Then I'll enter myself. Don't you worry. I'll take care of things." He turned to leave. "Just one more thing." Yang called. "What happens if grandmother or grandfather find out? What then?" Yun turned around and grinned. "They won't." On cue, just as Yang awakened into reality, breakfast was ready. He had finished preparing the medicine as well. The omelets, bread, and cabbage (for variety) were placed in plates on the table. Yang prepared a meal, plus the medicine, on a tray and went to his grandmother's room. 8:30 AM Yang knocked on the door, quietly so that he doesn't startle his grandmother. "Come in." beckoned a weak voice. She was already awake and was expecting his arrival. Carrying the tray in one hand, he entered the room. Grandmother Lee remained still as she barely had the strength to help herself up. Yang set the tray by the bed and sat in a kneeling position. "Good morning, grandmother." "Good morning, Yang." she greeted. "I am glad to see you." By her command, Yang gently raised his grandmother to an upright position. He placed the tray by her lap. Carefully, he assisted her trembling hand as she ate. Afterwards, she took the medicine. She looked up and noticed Yang's somber face. "What's wrong, child?" "Nothing..." Yang muttered. Grandmother was sick enough as she is. She didn't need any more burdens, especially his selfish own. Grandmother Lee raised a shaky hand and stroked Yang's face. "You should smile more, Yang. Be happy." Yang closed his eyes. He couldn't bring himself to force a smile. That would be too fake. He knew she expected him to have a carefree smile just like Yun, but his heart was too heavy for such a thing. "I have to go, grandmother. Yun will be awakening soon." "Someone has to keep that boy out of trouble." Grandmother Lee chuckled. A laugh takes much energy, and Grandmother Lee accidentally hurt herself. She choked. Yang braced her and ever so gently patted her on the back. He lowered her back on the bed. She closed her eyes, smiling. Heaving a breath, Yang went back downstairs. 9:15 AM Yang sat at the kitchen table. His patience was slowly decreasing - something a feat in itself. Yun had not awoken yet. He usually wakes up around 9. Yang became slightly concerned but shrugged, thinking that since Yun stayed up late to get the medicine, he would get up a bit later. Yun had better hurry though, the grocery opens at 10 sharp. Any later and the customers lined up at the door would get angry. Finally, he decided to go to his room. He did a few stretching exercises, the occasional shadow boxing... Tsuchin would randomly come and give Yang her support. Yang laughed, no matter how lonely he got, Tsuchin was always there to cheer him up. Yun would do the same too when he's around. 'C'mon, Yang. Cheer up! SMILE!' Yun would say. 'Him too...he tells me to smile too...' Yang thought. He effortlessly pushed his legs into the splits, making Tsuchin cringe. 9:45 AM At this rate, Yang had might as well devised a new technique. Yun STILL hasn't awoken yet and Yang was beginning to worry. '...Maybe a few minutes longer. Big brother doesn't sleep in that often.' 9:55 AM Yang decided to wake Yun up. |