Xiao Lu was walking the streets that night, feeling the nice cool weather at night was always nice. He had a smile on his face as he did, wearing rather colorful clothing. They never matched, and were always weird to look at but hey, it was America; you're on the soil of the Land of the Free! He adjusted his glasses a bit as he walked, following the streetlamps nice glow. He had only just come to America today, and hoping that everything would be nice as he had heard. Well, it's what he hoped for, right? Well, things could have gone better. His flight over here was a little off with being surrounded by annoying people. The plane even had Turbulence once or twice over here, but it was fine. Sighing heavily, Xiao Lu walked calmly down the street. He was suppose to go see his Uncle at this time, and he was already late. Oh, which way is it? he thought, looking at a paper that his Uncle had given him before when he was back in Taiwan. Stopping under a streetlamp to read it, it was frustrating a little since only coming to the U.S. and having some trouble reading the English here. Deciding to take a detour route, he walked through an alley, since his Uncle said it was a fast route. That of course, was true, but it was also a dangerous one.

Only a minute of walking in was he soon being followed. 3 men behind him were following him. This was not a good sign the moment he saw them, they walked quicker. In a second's flash he was pinned against the wall of a nearby building. They started taking things from his pockets, everything he had. They would beat him by punching and kicking him and throwing him on the ground. Xiao Lu put his hands in front of him as it to surrender but they kept at it. Trying to fight them, he was pushed back down with a hand around his neck, feeling him constricting him. Holding him down and cutting him like he were some science experiment or a toy. But Xiao Lu still struggled, even managing to kick the guy off of him and try to get away. Scrambling to his feet and taking off, the guy who had been pushed off stood up, aiming carefully and threw his knife as if it were a Kunai, hitting Xiao Lu right in the back of the shoulder. The other two guys threw theirs as well. One got him in his left side, and the other made it in the back of his right leg. He went down instantly. Only then did they hear the sounds of Cop sirens did they run off. Xiao Lu was hidden well in the shadows, so it was hard to find him. Though, you would only be able to see a bloody hand in the glow of the streetlamp.

“Come on, let's get out of this place.” The words were a warm whisper spoken against her neck, breath warmly brushing against her skin. The hint of stubble scraped the arc of neck and shoulder slightly, the scent of aftershave clinging to warm, musky skin. Large hands held her hips, trying to nudge the young woman towards the exit to the bar. His name was... Clark? Clive? Colin? She couldn't quite remember, nor did she particularly care. He had offered her a drink, one that had been followed by a few more as the evening had progressed. What had started as a celebration amongst colleagues, had slowly turned into an average night out. She hadn't seen Mandy for a while either, nor Dave. The two graphic designers probably had disappeared already. They had never been one for the night-life.

“I guess I could go for some fresh air.” She murmured, soon stepping out into the cool night. The cold of night chased a shiver over her spine as it blew away the heat of the bar. Her spaghetti top was hardly any source of warmth. Colinclark noticed her shudder, a laugh escaping his lips. “I can warm you up, if you like.” He muttered, pressing the girl against the wall. A hand brushed over her shoulder, tugging at one of the straps. She pushed it away.

“Eh, I don't think so.” She warded him off, not really in the mood to get down and dirty in some random back alley. She had more class than that.

“Come on.” He persisted, lips moving to nip at her neck. Alex pulled away.

“I said no.” She spoke, pushing the man away. An annoyed grunt sounded from the man. “You playin' me?” He snarled, annoyed, obviously displeased at the turn of events. She, equally annoyed, crossed her arms. Though there had been a chance for the man before, his pushiness had ruined it now. Somewhere in the background, sirens wailed. She ignored it.

“Yea. You got me.” She coolly shot back, heeled foot planting itself firmly in the ground. He shook his head. “Fuckin' slut.” He spat, a hand running through his long hair. “Screw you.” He then added.

“You wish.” She shot at his retreating back, turning away herself. Her mood was ruined, her heels tapping the ground rapidly as she made her way to the side of the street. Her hand reached for her phone, letting out an annoyed snarl as the screen remained black. Holding in the button produced a quick screen shouting “low battery”, before cutting out again. Great. Now she had to walk all the way home.

At least it wasn't raining. That certainly was a blessing as she cut through the empty streets. There was something slightly unnerving about the barren roads, so few people around. The shadows darkly loomed from alleys and in deep doorways, a somewhat sinister sight. She picked up her speed slightly.

She was almost home when she decided to cut through the alley that connected her current location to the street that she lived, when she almost tripped over a figure in the shadow. Alex could only barely maintain her balance as she stumbled forward, eyes turning wide when she faced the cause behind her almost-tumble. A scream almost escaped her lips -almost.

A dead man!

Or...was he?

Her hand trembled as she lowered herself slightly, reaching for the man's arm. She jerked back as she touched him, as if the reality of his existence had been debatable up until that point. She shook her head, then forced herself to reach out again. Cautiously, she shook the man's arm slightly. “Hey.” She spoke, hoping for a response. “Hey!”

Xiao Lu had been lying there for a while now, the cold biting at his skin. He was breathing quietly as he lied there, trying to calm his body down from the frightful attack from earlier. The pain hurt a lot, but he wasn't going to fall for it's tricks, he wasn't going to play Death's game. The blood trickled down his skin, soaking under his clothes. He should have just stayed back in Taipei, where he wouldn't get jumped and practically be left here to die. Well, he thought he was going to die that is. Xiao Lu heard the sound of footsteps coming this way. I'm going to die, I know I am. Death is playing me hard right now... he thought. Knowing this much was enough to understand that his life would be difficult to haggle alone. Soon enough, he felt someone trip over him, to which he groaned a bit.

He could hear the person trying to speak to him, he could feel hands shaking his arm. He sucked in some air, a hiss escaped him from the pain in his shoulder. "Tíngzhǐ, qǐng..." he breathed, reaching out his other hand to rest them on the person, a woman by the sound of it. Slowly, Xiao Lu used what strength he had left, forcing himself to get up only on hands and knees. The knives in his shoulder and leg affected him greatly, and the one in his side only made it a bit worse. Breathing heavily, he slowly crawled on hands and knees, the blood on his hands leaving handprints as he made it into the lighter part of the alley. Soon enough, he could be seen.

With sweat and blood mingling together on his skin, he turned his head slowly to look at the person who had found him. Clearly she could see the damage. Blood soaked clothes, blood dripping and covering his hands. 3 knives impaled in his shoulder, side and leg as if someone had thrown them from behind. He was about to say something, opening his mouth to speak "Qǐng..." before falling over, passed out from the blood loss and the surprise attack.

The breath of air fleeting from the man's lips startled her a bit, words murmured she cold put no meaning to. She could barely even think to try and decipher what language it was, the girl more worried with the poor man's condition. He looked terrible. Terrible, but alive. He started to move.

Involuntary, she jolted back a slight bit, watching with wide-open eyes as the man struggled to get to his knees. Her voice was frozen in her throat, refusing to form words. Knives glistened in the poor light, jutting from his body like needles from a voodoo doll. By any frame of logic, he should not have been able to move. Yet, he did. The man, however, didn't get far. Within mere moments, he collapsed.

“Shit... shitshitshit.” Alex muttered to herself in slight panic,moving beside the man. This was not good, not good at all. The ammount of blood staining the pavement was truly worrisome- he'd be bleeding out soon if she didn't stop it. But, she had no clue what to do -remove the knifes? It might just make it even worse! Phoning the ambulance was no optionwith her dead battery. What if she ran back home and placed the call?

But what if he died in the meantime?

First aid demanded she'd not move the man. Shout for help. That was the first option. But would there even be anyone to help?

“HELP!” She shouted at the top of her voice, hoping someone would help her. “SOMEBODY? HELP!”

Her eyes turned to the man.She wasn't prepared for this. She didn't know what to do! She didn't know how to stop the bleeding! How would you put pressure on wounds where the blade was still in it?

The pain surely did weaken Xiao Lu, because he was in no condition to get up anymore. And the fact that nobody was around, made it worse. He was weak, yes, but for him to live, he had to rely on the only person here, which was the woman. Hearing her shout for help, made him think that it would be useless. "Qǐng..." he spoke weakly, turning his head to look at the woman. "Qǐng dài wǒ qù wǒ shūshu... Wǒ de shūshu..." he spoke to her. He was in a lot of pain, but if he could get the woman to take him to his Uncle, maybe his life could be saved. His Uncle worked for natural herbs and remedies. His business allowed those with pained muscles to go and relax. Like a massage parlour, but a old fashioned one.

Forcing himself to move his wounded arm, he reached into his pocket, pulling out the paper that had his Uncle's address written on it. He hissed in pain, the look of hurt on his face. Pulling the paper out, he forced his blood covered hand out to the woman, slipping the paper into her hand. "Wǒ de shūshu... My Uncle... Bao-Zhi.. Take me there..." he managed to say. "Take me to Uncle Bao-Zhi... Bùrán wǒ huì sǐ de.. Or I will die..." he was pleading now. He needed help. Nobody would be around at this time of day, only his Uncle would be able to help. Unless he is taken to Bao-Zhi, his Uncle, will he even have a chance at surviving.

He thrust a bit of paper at her, his hand shaking with the effort of handing that blood-stained note to her, pleading for her to take him to his uncle. Her own hand took hold of the note, shaking somewhat on its own accord as her eyes stared blindly at the information scribbled down upon it. The letters swum and danced all across the paper, refusing to stay still long enough for her to discern the words they spelled out. Even the number did not seem to be able to decide which it wanted to be. What kind of cruel joke was life playing upon her?

The one night her phone was dead, would be the one she found someone in need. Someone who spoke a language she did not understand, and passed her a note she could not read. Even at the least stressful of times, Alex was far from a confident reader. Now, her nerves made focussing the letters into order a hopeless affair.

Her eyes returned to the man, staring at him in horror. Oh god. She had to do something. She had to get the man to Bao-Zhi, who-ever that was and where-ever he lived. Perhaps he was a doctor of sorts? He'd better be, or Alex didn't know how the man would survive.

Still, even with the best of intentions and the strongest of will, it didn't change the fact she was looking at a full-grown man. There was no way in hell she could carry a man to the end of the alley, let alone where-ever the uncle lived. She could only hope the man could muster strength enough to stumble along beside her.

Offering him her shoulder, she spoke quietly. “I can't carry you.” She spoke. “I need you to walk with me. You can lean on me.”

She could only hope he was able to do so.

Xiao Lu looked up at the woman for a moment, trying to keep his eyes open. It would be hard for him to get up, he had little strength right now, but if he could get to his Uncle, Bao-Zhi, maybe he would have a chance at surviving. Slowly nodding his head, he forced himself onto his hands and knees like before. And like a Possessed Voodoo Doll, tried his best to stand with the knives penetrating his body. It hurt to move, it hurt to walk, and he didn't want the woman to have such a struggle with him. So he mustered up the strength he had to try and walk with her. He pointed to the paper he had given her, "Chénshuì de jù lóng" he spoke to her, breathing heavily as he tried to muster each step. "Sleeping Dragon... My Uncle's shop..." he spoke. "It is around the corner... I was suppose to go there. I.. I was cutting through here to get to my Uncle..."

He flinched a bit, stopped walking all together. Sucking in air between his teeth, he looked behind him at the knife in his leg. "Tiān nǎ, zhè shānghàile..." he spoke, then tried to continue walking with the woman. "My Uncle... Bao-Zhi.. Owns a Herbal & Remedies shop around corner... Qǐng.." he spoke. Qǐng meant Please in Chinese, and he said it a lot because he meant it.

Soon enough, they made it to the shop, a 2 story building with Chinese characters across it lit up with light in blue. Then, underneath that text was the English translation, 'Sleeping Dragon'. The 1st floor of the building was the shop, and the upper floor was actually where his Uncle lived. He lived in his Shop! Back in Taiwan, many people actually lived in their shops, and it seemed that Bao-Zhi kept that structure to his shop. A fairly middle-aged man who looked rather young like the years had been good to him, came out of the shop when he saw the woman and Xiao Lu. He hurried to open the door, surprised as seeing his Nephew covered in blood and looking like a Voodoo Doll. "Xiao Lu? What happened to you?" he spoke, going to help the woman move Xiao Lu over to sit down on a low table padded up for Massages. "Jumped..." Xiao Lu spoke quietly. "You are weak, boy.. You lost too much blood.. Those wounds will be infected if we don't remove them..." he sighed. "But we can't do that if you're bleeding all over like a wounded cow!" Bao-Zhi moved around the counter of his shop, where a large cabinet-shelf stood, jars full of strange spices and powders labeled in Chinese letters were organized on the shelves.

He took a couple of jars off the shelf and moved them over to set on a table near Xiao Lu. Bao-Zhi looked at the woman who had brought his nephew in and said, "Thank You for bringing him here... He would have died out there if you hadn't found him..." he spoke. "If you need anything, anything, just ask" he smiled warmly at her then moved to treat Xiao Lu. Bao-Zhi looked at the woman and then at Xiao Lu, helping the poor guy remove the blood drenched clothes by cutting them off, throwing them in a plastic bag. Taking the liberty to drape a large towel over his lap. "Alright, Xiao Lu, remember when I use to treat the people of their wounds? I'm gonna do that, alright?" Xiao Lu slowly nodded his head weakly. "I'll let you sleep so I can get these knives out.." From there, Bao-Zhi allowed Xiao Li to lie down on his stomach, and he opened a jar, taking out some brownish colored Herb spice.

Looking at the woman, Bao-Zhi said, "This is Yarrow, it is a Herb that prevents bleeding." Taking the herb powder, he sprinkled some of it over the cuts, gently applying some pressure around the wound. It took a little bit, but once that cleared some, he reached over to another jar, opening it, taking some Cattail herb powder and applying that into the wounds. "This will prevent the pain and numb it up.." he told Alex. After waiting for a bit for it to kick in, he started to work on taking the knives out, slowly and carefully. It was difficult to look at, but once all three knives were removed from his side, shoulder and leg, Bao-Zhi applied some Agrimonia eupatoria, which would constrict the tissue, and it would help heal the body.

When all the herbal remedies were done, Bao-Zhi decided to wrap up each wound with Ace Bandages to keep them in place. He then left upstairs for a moment and came back downstairs with a pair of basketball shorts and a white t-shirt. Setting those down on the counter, Bao-Zhi took the time to wash the blood off of Xiao Lu, and when that was done, dressed the poor boy, making sure to carefully move him over to a bed in the back of the shop. He had to lie him down on his stomach so the wounds wouldn't open back up and the herbs would take effect. Sighing, he stared at his nephew, then flicked off the lights in that room, moving off back into the shop area to wash his hands, and then pulling up a chair to talk to the woman.

Thank the heavens, the man spoke, offering that it was a shop called the Sleeping Dragon that he needed to go to. She knew that one. After all, it was only a few minutes walk from where she lived. She had never been inside, but she was aware of the building. Even without the name scribbled on the signs, it was easily recognisable as some sort of Asian shop. At least now she had an inkling of where to go.

And so, she started to make way to it, offering as much support to the man as she could muster. Their walk was an odd one, not quite unlike the staggering of two drunkards, swaying back and forth over the pavement. It was hard to keep a straight line when she was tottering on high heels, assisting a wounded man. But, they made it. It felt like a miracle.

A man came rushing out, worry in his eyes as he asked what had happened. He was quick to help Alex bring the younger man in, taking him to what seemed to be a massage table. There, they helped him up, before the man rushed to grab jars and cannisters filled with god-knew-what. Then, he thanked her, stating that she had saved the man's life, and if there was anything she needed, to ask. She was too overwhelmed to even think of anything. Right now, there were more important matters at hand. Like the wounded man before them.

“Is there... Is there anything I can do to help?” She offered awkwardly, not entirely sure if there was any good she could do. "Do you want me to phone an ambulance?"

Bao-Zhi looked at the woman, and gave her a small smile, shaking his head. "No, the herbs will work their magic in time. For now, all he needs is rest." he spoke, taking a seat. Looking over at the room that Xiao Lu was sleeping in now, Bao-Zhi turned his head back to look at the girl. "I'm Bao-Zhi, Xiao Lu's Uncle, or shūshu in Chinese as he often says. The boy is in America, he should speak English or nobody will understand him... But it's alright, as it was good that you at least managed to bring him here. And just in time as well. It appeared he lost a lot of blood on the way here due to those knives.." He sat there a moment, thinking, wondering something. "The knives appeared to be switchblades, a inch and a half long by the looks of them. I assume they are from the city's gang. They're always causing trouble, using wandering people in that alley as targets for their cruel uses. Poor souls.." he sighed.

He then got up from his seat, walking over behind the counter and taking out to glass cups, and pouring some already made tea into them and bringing them over. He handed one to Alex. "I'm suppose to be heading out of the country in a few days.." Bao-Zhi said, taking a sip of his tea. "Suppose to be visiting some family.. But, seeing Xiao Lu's condition, I'm unsure on whether to go or to stay here with him." He paused a moment, looking like he was stuck in his own thoughts. "Don't think the poor boy can take care of himself, coming here with no knowledge of anything, getting jumped and almost killed.. Reckless he is, but a good boy nonetheless..." he took another sip of the tea, setting it down on the table.

“Are you certain he'll be ok without a doctor?” Alex spoke, voice somewhat sceptical as Bao-Zhi stated that he'd be fine. The boy had lost a lot of blood. Surely no amount of herbs and good intentions was just miraculously going to cure that? Somehow, she struggled to believe.

Still, as the man offered her a cup of tea, she accepted it, though with slight hesitation. She wasn't quite settled by the man's reassurances, her faith in alternative medicine less-than-stellar. But, the man seemed pretty sure of his treatment. She took a sip of the tea, tasting the slightly bitter liquid. Alex had never been particularly fond of the brew. Cold drinks were more her style, occasionally supplemented by hot chocolates or some coffee monstrosity.

“He needs someone to look after him...” She spoke with a wavering to her voice, eyes once more cutting back to the man. Such wounds took time to heal. Required a lot of care and attention. The man being left behind alone simply wasn't an option, that much was clear. "Are you certain you don't want to take him to the hospital?" She once again asked.

Bao-Zhi took another sip of his tea, and set the cup back down on the table. "I am sure he will be fine without a doctor. Herbs and Remedies of the sorts, this shop helps the heal the body. You could say that I'm my own personal doctor, but one that doesn't use medicines of today." he said. "If the body relies on medicine, the immune system will grow weak. Herbs are a type of medicine, but a natural one that the human body doesn't have to rely on such as the higher tech medicine from hospitals. I believe that if the human body can learn to accept what is given and not expect it every time, it will fend for itself, and repair itself as it's own personal worker." He looked over his shoulder at the room where Xiao Lu was sleeping in. Turning his head back around, and rubbed the side of his neck. "You know how the human body can heal itself of almost any cut or wound? It's like that, but the herbs make the body work progressively faster. If the blood can clot faster, then it gives the body time to recover while it is resting. The extra herbs was to disinfect the wounds and numb them. Sure those will run out once the body doesn't need them anymore. Because it knows that it can't rely on herbs. Medicine of today, is a drug to the body. It's all human made drugs."

He sighed, looked at his cup of tea for a moment, then slowly lifted his dark brown eyes to look at Alex. "I understand what you mean, however, some things have to be dealt with differently. You see, when Xiao Lu was young, he was a clumsy boy who always hurt himself. Even till this day, he's a goofball. But he's a good boy too... Ever since he was little, he always got hurt, and we never took him to a doctor. He was always cared for by a family doctor within the family. Whether that's his grandfather, or me. And hospitals cost so much to put a patient in, even for a few days! We just don't have the money right now and I'd prefer that he goes through the treatment he's been given."

Bao-Zhi sure spoke wisely. But even so, he had to leave to visit family, and Xiao Lu did need someone to take care of him while he healed. How would that manage out? "Er... Miss.." Bao-Zhi started to speak, wondering if asking her would even be a good idea. "I appreciate the fact that you brought Xiao Lu here... I was wondering if.." he paused a moment. "I was wondering if you'd look after him while I'm gone...?" He looked at her now, as if their eyes alone were having their own conversation.