Under the Moon - A SCANDAL Vampire Fanfiction.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

“I’m starving! Can’t they serve the food already!” Hideto whined.

“Oh quit your whining can’t you be a little more patient” Haruna said. Brothers will always been a pain in the ass.

Her mum was off with the woman gossip on another table. The restaurant was filled with echoing chatter and laughter. Behind the restaurant stage was the massive Chinese character for double happiness in gold; a family friend’s daughter was getting married. And so Haruna’s parents felt obligated to go. Besides, there was free food.

The MC tried to get the crowd jolly by cracking a few pulled a few skits. Then there singing and Chinese romantic oldies playing loudly in the background, which the MC would burst into song with, singing along badly as possible just to make the guest laugh.  

Every now and then a family friend “aunty or uncle” would come pass and say hello. Asking how they were and how much Haruna and her brother had grown. A few said Haruna had blossomed into a beautiful young lady but Haruna didn’t take them seriously. Dad just sat at the table bored as they were. He didn’t understand the fast chatter of the Hokkien or any Chinese dialect, mum and her friends spoke.

“Actually I’m hungry as well.” Dad said out of the blue. He continued to scroll his phone. “Missed lunch today.” Then some phrase in his Japanese dialect, which Haruna didn’t quite catch.

“Better be good…” Hideto grumbled.

Dad laughed and continued with his phone scrolling. Haruna was bored out of her brains, her phone ran out of charge and it was too noisy to concentrate on the novel she bought along. 

The waiters began serving food, squeezing through the tight seating; typical of Chinese restaurants. The scent of various dishes whiffed through the banquet hall making Haruna and Hideto’s stomach growl.

Dishes were placed on the round sharing try one by one. The other aunties and uncles on the same table beckoned them to start eating.

Mum finally returned to her seat and dug into the various servings of pork, chick, fish and seafood and an array of delicate vegetable decorations. Not to mention the big bowls of clear soup on each table.

The restaurant was filled with the noise of chopsticks and ceramic soup spoons clanked against small ceramic bowls. The chatter and noise didn’t die down.

The MC spoke again. “And now we welcome the Australian Yau Kung Mun Martial Arts Association to perform the lion dance for us! Everyone please give them a warm welcome!” The crowd cheered and clapped, even whistled.

Haruna’s heart leapt. She loved watching the lion dance ever since she was a little kid but she never had the chance to learn it. When she asked, mum would say it was a boy’s thing and she’d hurt herself. Typical Chinese mum…

The sound of drumming, cymbals clashing and the gong sounded from the far end of the restaurant space, accompanying the lions’ movements. Slowly the red, yellow and white lions began to file through the entrance and through the crowd of tables. People of all ages craned their necks to see the lions.

The lion dance was performed as a blessing for celebrations in the Chinese tradition. Blessed or not it was always a joyous to watch. Parents would let their kids stroke the lion’s faux fur, even the adults did themselves. Some moved their heads away when the lion would come over to greet their table; scared that their heads would get gobbled up.

 The three lions converged on empty dance floor to perform their usual routine of honouring couple. Lifting their heads up high, shaking them as they walked around in a continuous circle and cleaned each other. Then jumping up and standing on their two hind legs, turning around to exhibit this acrobatic feat to the audience. And various other acrobatic feats. Garnering applause and cheers from the audience.