chapter 14: Awkward Moments

After Nobubaki finally stopped and rested, giving in to Takumi's advice, Li Ming sighed with relief. She turned to him, her expression firm. "Smart decision," she said, speaking to the maid in Mandarin, her tone commanding "Take them to the guest room". "But because of the stunt you pulled in Las Vegas, you can't be reckless anymore. You've stirred the wrong pot, and the heat is on you now. You'll stay here tonight to lay low." Li ming said to the group.

The maid bowed deeply, responding in Mandarin, and gestured for the group to follow her.

The corridors were a blend of elegance and tradition, with wooden beams, intricate carvings, and soft lantern light casting a serene glow. The group was led to a set of rooms, each decorated in a traditional Chinese style—ornate patterns on the walls, lacquered furniture, and a faint aroma of incense in the air.

"You may clean up and rest here," the maid said softly in Mandarin, bowing once more before departing.

Nobubaki entered his room and found traditional Chinese clothes folded neatly on the bed—a long, flowing tunic and loose trousers. After cleaning up, he changed into them, adjusting the sash around his waist awkwardly, unfamiliar with the attire.

Stepping out onto the veranda, he sat at the edge, gazing out at the peaceful courtyard. The koi fish in the pond swam in lazy circles, and the occasional maid passed by silently, carrying trays or bundles of laundry. It was a stark contrast to the chaos he had left behind in Las Vegas, but even in this tranquil setting, Nobubaki's thoughts refused to settle.

Just as he began to lose himself in the scenery, he felt a sharp tug on his sleeve. Startled, he looked down to see Li Ming's children, Lin and Mei, staring up at him with wide, curious eyes.

Lin spoke rapidly in Mandarin, his small hands gesturing toward the garden. Mei, younger and more playful, giggled and tugged on Nobubaki's arm, trying to pull him to his feet.

"Uh… I don't understand," Nobubaki said awkwardly, glancing between the two. Lin repeated himself, more insistently this time, while Mei continued to pull on his clothes, her excitement evident.

"Guys, I don't speak Mandarin," Nobubaki said, raising his hands helplessly. The children ignored him, determined to drag him toward the garden.

Just as he stood, unsure of what else to do, a sharp voice cut through the moment. "Enough," Zhen said in Mandarin, stepping out from the shadows of the veranda. His tone was calm but commanding, and the children froze instantly.

Lin and Mei pouted but reluctantly let go of Nobubaki's sleeve. Without another word, they scampered off, casting glances over their shoulders as they went.

Zhen approached Nobubaki, his expression unreadable. "You shouldn't let them drag you around," he said, his voice low and measured. He glanced toward the other side of the courtyard, where Takumi was leaning against a pillar, seemingly lost in thought. "And you should stay away from him too."

Nobubaki frowned, unsure of where this was coming from. "Why?"

Zhen's gaze sharpened. "Takumi burns everything he touches. If you stay close to him, you'll get burned too." Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, his footsteps silent on the wooden floor.

Before Nobubaki could process the warning, Li Ming's voice rang out from across the courtyard. She leaned on her crutches, her sharp gaze landing on him. She spoke in Mandarin, her tone firm but not unkind.

Lin and Mei, who had reappeared a short distance away, reluctantly retreated at their mother's command.

"She told them to stop bothering you," Takumi said, suddenly appearing beside Nobubaki with a smirk.

"Yeah, I figured," Nobubaki replied, brushing off his sleeve.

Li Ming switched to Japanese, addressing Nobubaki directly. "They're curious about you," she explained. "Don't mind them. They don't often meet strangers."

"It's fine," Nobubaki replied, adjusting the sash on his tunic. "They're… energetic."

Li Ming smiled faintly. "Energetic is an understatement. Come, dinner will be ready soon. You'll need your strength for whatever trouble finds you next."

As Nobubaki followed her back inside, he couldn't help but feel the weight of her words. Trouble always seemed to find him, no matter where he went.

The dining table was set in a grand, traditional style, with an assortment of dishes carefully prepared and placed on the table. Nobubaki sat among them, slightly stiff in his traditional Chinese attire, still adjusting to the sudden shift in atmosphere. The food was delicious, yet he found himself more curious about his hosts than the meal.

As they ate, Nobubaki broke the silence. "So, how come your Japanese is so good?"

Li Ming, who had been quietly serving her children, paused and glanced at him. She replied in Mandarin to Zhen, who nodded before turning to Nobubaki. "We spent a lot of time in Japan," he said.

Li Ming switched to Japanese, her tone calm and explanatory. "It's simple, really. We have the same goal as you—bringing down the corrupt. Spending time in Japan was necessary for that, so it's no surprise our language improved along the way."

Her words made Nobubaki pause. It was the first time he truly realized just how deeply Takumi had embedded himself with these people.

Zhen suddenly leaned forward, breaking the moment. "How's the old man doing?" he asked, his voice dry, but there was a flicker of something playful in his tone.

Takumi smirked and leaned back in his chair. "Still kicking."

This prompted a round of chuckles from everyone at the table except Nobubaki. What followed was a string of unkind but oddly comedic remarks about this mysterious "old man."

"He's probably off complaining about the modern world again," Zhen said, shaking his head.

"Or giving someone a speech about how 'back in his day' things were better," Li Ming added, a rare grin breaking through her otherwise composed demeanor.

"He could lecture a wall and expect it to change its shape," Alexei said, laughing.

Nobubaki furrowed his brows, finally speaking up. "Who… who's this old man you're all talking about?"

Takumi raised a brow, his grin widening. "Atomion."

"Atomion?" Nobubaki repeated. His sworn enemy he began to frown slowly.

"You really don't know?" Takumi asked, feigning surprise. "He's 167 years old."

Nobubaki froze, staring at him. "That's not possible. He looks like… what? Mid-thirties at most?"

Takumi laughed, shaking his head. "You'd think that, wouldn't you? But I promise, you're wrong. The guy's lived through more centuries than you can count."

Nobubaki was still skeptical, but the certainty in Takumi's voice made him uneasy. Whoever this Atomion was, he clearly wasn't normal.

Before Nobubaki could question further, Li Ming's expression shifted to something more serious. She looked at Takumi, her sharp gaze narrowing. "Why are you here, Takumi? Why did you come back? And why now, after everything you did?"

The room fell quiet for a moment, the weight of her question pressing down on everyone.

Takumi's smirk faded, and he straightened in his chair. "They're on the rise again," he said simply, his voice low. "It's time to fight."

Li Ming scoffed, setting her chopsticks down. "No," she said firmly. "We've done our part. Zhen and I have a peaceful life now, and we're parents. We're not getting dragged back into this."

Takumi leaned forward, his voice growing sharper. "You think they'll let you stay peaceful? You think you can hide forever?"

"I think you're wrong if you think you can waltz back into our lives and make demands after what you did," Zhen cut in, his tone laced with anger.

Takumi turned his attention to him, the tension between them crackling. "I did what I had to do to keep us alive. You're just bitter because you don't want to face the truth."

"You call betrayal survival?" Zhen shot back, his voice rising.

The argument escalated quickly, the two men hurling unkind words at each other while Li Ming tried to intervene, her Mandarin flying as she ordered the maids to escort the children out of earshot.

"Enough!" Li Ming finally snapped,slamming her hand on the table. She glared at both men. "The children don't understand Japanese ,but they're not deaf to tension. Mind your language or leave."

The room fell into an awkward silence, the air thick with unresolved tension. Zhen and Takumi exchanged glares, but neither spoke again.

Everyone returned to their meals, the clinking of chopsticks against bowls the only sound in the room. Nobubaki kept his head down, silently chewing and wondering what kind of mess he'd stepped into.

An awkward silence fell over the group as they continued their meal, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Elara spoke up. "Li Ming," she began, her voice gentle yet firm, "I understand your desire for peace. But if their plans succeed, think of the future for your children. We may not have a choice but to return to that life."

Alexei nodded in agreement. "Elara's right. We can't ignore the bigger picture."

Li Ming sighed deeply. "I understand. Tomorrow, I will give you my answer. For tonight, rest."

With that, they left for their rooms .