<Moneymaker> So that's what happened?  I see... that's really sad to hear :(  It really hurts to lose someone who you were close to, though I think I was able to get over it when it happened to me.  Is your brother okay?

'Beats me.  He looked like his cat went out to lunch.' Yun thought, remembering the long time he spent with Yang last night - Yang crying himself to sleep in Yun's arms.  Just like the old times.  Truthfully, Yun had no idea if Yang was all right or not.  But why tell near-complete strangers any more personal problems that were based on pure speculation?  So instead, Yun typed, "He'll be OK, thanks for asking.  What happened with you?"

<Moneymaker> Oh, that's good to hear.  What happened to me?  Well... it's nothing, really.  I just also recently lost someone, but that's okay.  My best friend is always telling me that sometimes you have to accept what happens in life.  Though that reminds me of another friend of mine.  You live in Hong Kong near Birds Street, right?

"Sure do - just a stone throw away." Yun typed.  "Your friend lives around these parts?"

<Moneymaker> She used to, I believe.  She used to talk about how her family managed a restaurant called Chinese Delicacies in Birds Street.  I was wondering how it's been doing since she left.

'"Chinese Delicacies", huh?  That name rings a bell.' Yun mused.  "Tell you what -" he said aloud as he typed, "me and my brother will check up on the place and get back to you 'bout it.  You'll be back at the usual time tonight?"

<Moneymaker> Yea.  I'm sorry I wasn't online last night.  I had some things I had to do.  But thanks so much for this ^^  I appreciate it.

"No prob.  See ya." Yun finished off, closing the chat window.

At that moment, Yang approached the doorway.  A towel was draped around his shoulders and sweat glistened on his skin.  He had just returned from a good few hours of morning training.  However, training by himself and no Yun naturally awoke Yang's worry censors.  Now, Yang was set on dragging Yun into training whether the elder brother was awake or not.  He reached his hand to open the doorknob when the door burst open, promptly followed by Yun grabbing Yang's wrist.

"Brother, what...?" Yang spoke.

"We gotta take care of some business." Yun replied.  "C'mon, we gotta get back before the sun goes down."

"What business?" the younger brother asked cautiously while thinking, 'What is big brother scheming this time?'  Yang had to be cautious - Yun could very well be making up another excuse to slack off on training.

The elder brother shrugged nonchalantly.  "You remember the restaurant Chinese Delicacies on Bird's Street?  My online friend asked me to check up on the place for her."

"...Wasn't Bird's Street...?"

"I'm not gonna let down a request from a pretty girl who lives halfway around the world." Yun continued as if Yang never said anything.  "'Sides..." he grinned with that look of I-know-something-you-don't.  "Now c'mon, Yang.  Training can wait but this can't."

'You don't even know if she's pretty.  'She' could be a middle-aged man with a perverted fetish for teenage Asian boys.' Yang thought as Yun dragged him out the door.

With Yun in the lead, the boys tore down the road with limitless energy.  Down the busy streets they ran, passing the grocery vendors and side street restaurants they've come to know.  The further they went, the less crowded the streets became.  What was once restaurant-beside-a-restaurant-beside-a-store was now tattered living quarters.

"You sure we're going the right way?" Yang asked skeptically.

"Sure I'm sure." Yun called back.  "Don't you remember?  There's a whole dump of restaurants 'round that area."

"But..."

Yun screeched to a halt.  "Here we are. ...What the..?" was all he could say once he surveyed the site.  He knew he hadn't been to Bird's Street in awhile but he was sure there were restaurants around here.  Instead, the twin dragons stood upon rows of desolate warehouses.  They walked down the street, Yun wondering what the hell was going on.  He looked at the street sign.  Yep, this was Bird's Street all right.  But what happened?

"Bird's Street was bulldozed." Yang said simply.

Yun snapped his fingers.  "Oh yeah, that's right.  I forgot... some illegal shit caused this place to close down and..." he trailed off.  "And this!  Yeah, that's too bad, I loved this place.  Great food, great people.  Damn, thinking of all this food's makin' me starved!" he laughed.

'That fake smile...' Yang thought.  'What's he hiding from?'

"Chinese Delicacies used to be 'round here somewhere.  Right... here!"

Yun walked upon what seemed to be yet another warehouse.  All the warehouses looked alike.  Yang looked up.  Memories of what lied here filled his mind.  'I remember this place too...'

"Hey, what's this?  Someone musta left it here." Yun commented, gesturing to a lone, yellow scarf caught in the doorway.  He then remembered about a mysterious stranger who came to the village not too long ago.  She was clad a yellow scarf very much like this one.  'The psychic lady.' Yun recalled.  Too bad he hadn't gotten her name.

"Who's there?  Who's that snooping around this area?  What sort of business do you have here?"

Yun looked up.  He recognized that voice and the face that went with it.  She was the owner of the former Chinese Delicacies.  However, his memory couldn't quite recall her name... only the nickname of which he and this woman's daughter remembered her by - Mumella.  Of course, Mumella wasn't her real name but it was much easier to remember her that way.

"Hey!  Long time no see!" Yun grinned, tipping his hat.

The woman looked at him quizzically, then at the spikey-haired young man behind him, then back to the cap-clad one.  A sudden memory jog recalled these twin boys.  "Yun dear, is that you?  It is you!  Oh my gosh, it's been so long, hasn't it?  I can't even remember the last time I've seen you... you were only as high as my hips.  And now look at you - you've grown into such a healthy young man!"  Her massive arms wrapped around Yun and she pressed the poor boy close.  Yun nearly choked as Mumella squeezed the oxygen out of his body.

"I'm glad... to see... you too... " - must avoid saying 'Mumella' to her face - "It's... been... awhile..." Yun pushed his face away to a reasonable breathing space.

"It most certainly has." Mumella continued.  "Have you been taking good care of my daughter?  How is Jen Ya?  Where has she been?  I hope she's all right.  Ever since the restaurant closed down, she vanished without a trace.  I finally tracked her down to the cult Third Eye, but before I could find her, the cult disbanded.  I heard rumors of an ex-Third Eye member falling braindead near my old restaurant, so I flew all the way here to see if she's here and all right.  But she's not here and now I don't know where else to look for her..."

Tears streamed down her face.  She clamped her hands to her face and weeped.  Yun held her gently, patting her back and allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder.  "I'm sorry.  I have no clue where she is either.  But we'll do our best to look for her.  I know she meant alot to you."

"T-thank you..." Mumella choked. "Oi vey... I don't know what to do anymore.  My baby girl..."

Yun pat her back some more.  Still holding her, he turned to his brother.  "Hey Yang, you remember Jen Ya?"

"Hm...?" Yang blinked, then nodded slightly.

"That's what I thought." Yun looked back at where the restaurant used to be.  "Lotsa good memories happened 'round here..."

"He's FINE, okay?  Geez!" Jen Ya snapped.  She hopped off the swingset and stormed back into the restaurant.

"That's the last I remember seein' of her." Yun scratched his head.  "What happened to her anyway?  She kinda vanished off the face of the earth after Bird's Street caved in."

Yang gave a look saying he didn't know either.

"I'm sorry to bring this upon you boys..." Mumella trailed off.  "I'm going to continue looking for her.  Thank you.  It's been nice seeing you again.  I hope that my daughter is safe and sound.  If you see her again, please tell me right away.  Here is my cell phone number.  Thank you again..."

Mumella walked off in the sunset.

"Birds Street was bulldozed 3 years ago.  'Chinese Delicacies' closed down just before then.  I forgot about it.  Sorry... Things change when you really don't expect 'em to."  If Yun was there talking in person, he would add a nonchalant shrug.  "So... your friend's name is Jen Ya? She's the girl who lived at the restaurant.  I knew her too..."

<Moneymaker> Figured it out, huh?  You knew her, too?  She was... an interesting person, to say the least.

'No kiddin'.  But she served the best free food in Hong Kong.'  Yun continued, "She vanished just after her restaurant did.  You know what she's up to these days?"

<Moneymaker> I'm not sure exactly whatever happened to her.  I sort of lost track of where she was and what she was doing.  I'm not sure if she was ever able to let go of her past, though.  It's too bad.  I suppose some people... just want to keep clinging on.

Yun scratched his head.  He didn't quite understand Moneymaker's crypticism.  He shrugged and took what she said literally.  "Hmm.......... that's too bad." was all he could reply with.

<Moneymaker> Thanks for everything.  Sorry to bother you about that.  Well, I should be getting off to bed.  Night ^^

** user Moneymaker has left the chat (T-t-t-that's all folks!) **