A Tale of Two Exchange Students; Part Six
*Four Days Later*
The sun had barely crested the horizon that morning but Ranma was up training already. Akane had woken up especially early to beat him out of the house, but her efforts were to no avail. ItÕd been days and there was no word from Garret. Ranma had recovered as quick as he normally does, and she had to find him... or... she couldnÕt... she couldnÕt make up her mind.
ÒGUYS SUCK!Ó she screamed, clenching her fingers into two tight fists. She fumed, and shook her head, regaining her composure. WHY Does this ALWAYS happen?! She asked herself. ÒIÕm such an Idiot.Ó she spoke aloud, and tightened the straps on her travel pack. She would find him no matter what.
Jamie rubbed her head in shock, staring at the items in front of her. She looked at the weapons, then at Shampoo, and back at the tray.
ÒSo, uh... what do you expect ME to do with these things?Ó She asked. She fondled the carvings on one piece of work, tracing the designs carved in the handle. They were beautifully crafted Chinese-style weaponry fit for a king. Four of the six tools on the table were daggers of different size. Two for throwing, and two longer blades that were identical. The other two were intricately carved pieces in fitted leather cases. She had yet to look at those.
ÒYou want train? You learn with these first!Ó Shampoo smiled in an almost sinister way. Jamie eyed the weapons again and shivered.
ÒHold on there girlie. THOSE are knives, I donÕt play that game. I donÕt like knives.Ó she stated. Shampoo glared at her.
ÒYou afraid?Ó she questioned, ÒYou want fight like Amazon, you use tools!Ó Shampoo recoiled and picked up the two throwing daggers. She looked at Jamie intently, and began to rotate the daggers between her fingers, first slowly and then with a little more pace. ÒLike... this.Ó She could hear them singing too her. The continuous hum of steel on air hypnotizing her.
Shampoo felt the dagger swerve out of control in her left hand. She released it abruptly, and it stuck hard in the floor just in front of the doorway. That was when Shampoo noticed her. Akane stood breathing lightly at the door of the Nekohanten. She glared at Shampoo, and an even colder gaze was returned.
ÒWhat you want?Ó Shampoo snorted out, annoyed. Jamie raised an eyebrow to the entire situation and decided itÕd be smarter to just stay out of the line of fire.
ÒShampoo, I donÕt have time for this right now.Ó Akane growled, and looked over at Jamie. She jumped up.
ÒUh her... uh... eh... hee hee!Ó Jamie smiled nervously. ÒI DIDN'T DO IT!Ó
Akane face faulted. ÒI need your help Jamie! Garret left and I havenÕt seen him since! Have you?Ó Jamie grinned.
Ò I see! Heh heh, are you guys lovers yet?Ó She smiled innocently at Akane. She face faulted again.
ÒThatÕs not important!Ó Akane retorted, ÒWill you help me find him?Ó She asked. Jamie could tell she was worried, especially by the look in her eyes. She nodded, and looked at Shampoo.
ÒIÕll be gone for a while, k? WeÕll finish this later.Ó
Shampoo shrugged, ÒIs no Ranma you looking for, I no care!Ó she laughed and went back to her waitressing. They left shortly after.
***
ÒCHIIIII-YAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!Ó *CRASSH!* Garret kneeled, sweat pouring down his bronzed face as he raised his hardened fist from the remains of two cinder blocks. He dusted the sandy debris off on his pants, and ran his fingers through his sandy blond hair. He was getting stronger although itÕd only been a few days. Sweat ran down his forehead. He wiped it off with the back of his arm, and walked over to the patio, flopping down on the stiff wooden planks. Garret sighed deeply, feeling his back flex in short spasms and then relax.
ÒNice break.Ó Rei smiled, surprised by the dust and shrapnel that remained. ÒImpressive.Ó
ÒEn? Oh, thanks Rei.Ó He smiled up at her. She kneeled and sat down beside him, admiring the deep blue of the sky for a moment. A seagull kawed in the distance and Garret chuckled as did Rei. They spoke at the same time.
ÒSounds like a goose being strangled by a gorilla.Ó They burst into laughter, and looked at each other, wondering how they could say something like that at the same time. Rei dipped her finger in the pail of cold water on her patio and flicked a little at him. Garret jumped in shock, feeling the icy droplets touch his skin, and glared playfully at her.
ÒWas that a challenge?Ó She grinned, and flung the bucket at him, drenching him with the cold fluid. Garret screamed like a girl, and ran through the yard like a chicken with itÕs head cut off. It was FREEZING!!!
ÒGYAAAAAA!!! YOU ARE DEAD!!!!Ó He called out, grabbing the hose and flying towards her. She put her arms up in a half defense, but it was no use. He drenched her in seconds and she fell laughing into his arms. Garret paused and looked down at her deep brown eyes.
ÒThis is...Ó She leaned towards him, as he did her, and he paused. Garret pulled away and let her go. He couldn'tÕ do it... it was too much like Akane, and he couldnÕt lose it again.
ÒI.. IÕm sorry.Ó he lowered his eyes, and walked away. Rei paused, wondering what went wrong. She yelled out in frustration.
ÒWHAT?!Ó
Garret turned and sighed, ÒItÕs not you... itÕs me. IÕm stupid. ItÕd never work. Akane...Ó Garret sat down on the patio again, and his head sunk in between his shoulders. Rei sat down next to him and they paused for a long time listening to only the wind.
ÒYou tell me when you are ready? Okay?Ó she placed her hand on his shoulder, searching to meet his gaze. There was nothing. She sighed, and turned away. ÒI guess IÕm just not good enough as this... Akane person, eh?Ó Rei bit her lip, and stood up. ÒI can.. I can take a hint.Ó she walked into her house, sliding the door shut. Garret perked his head up at the name. He pictured Akane... itÕd been four days and nobody had even questioned his whereabouts, at least to his own knowledge. She was probably with Ranma... Garret knew how Akane felt about Ranma, yet he still hoped sheÕd have some sort of change of heart. He smacked himself hard. THIS ISN'T THE MOVIES!!!!! he cried out in his thoughts.
ÒRei, wait.Ó Garret called out. Rei was toweling off from the shower, in her bath robe.
Òwhat?Ó she asked in a soft voice. Garret slowly came to his feet. he brushed a piece of stray hair from her face, and ran his fingers down her cheek. ReiÕs eyes grew wide. ÒI...Ó she began, but couldnÕt find words.
ÒJust... donÕt say anything...Ó Garret whispered, leaning in and gently brushing his lips against her own. They simultaneously felt chills run up and down their spines. Rei closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his head, kissing him deeper. Neither of them noticed as Akane and Jamie came to a stop just in front of their path.
ÒGarret?Ó Akane questioned, in shock. He pulled away swiftly, eyes as big as saucers. the ONE time in his life that he takes a risk, and heÕs caught in the act.
ÒA-akane!?Ó he squawked, looking at his sister (who was waving a sign that read ÒHE HAS GONE ALL THE WAY!! TOucHDOWN!!!Ó) and glaring. Rei blinked at the two strangers, and understood what was going on quickly.
ÒHi...Uh... IÕm Rei!Ó she smiled, and looked at Akane. Her eyes were lowered to the floor, as was Garrets. Jamie walked up to Rei and shook her hand.
ÒHey there! Nice to meet you, letÕs leave the Òfamily feudÓ over there alone for a moment, eh?Ó she whispered, and nudged Rei to walk with her. Rei looked over her shoulder at Garret and Akane, and tried to push thoughts out of her head. Unbelievable.
ÒGomen uh.. whatÕs your name, Rei? ItÕs just that those two.. had a bit of a problem. What a meetin eh?Ó Jamie laughed trying to soften the mood. Needless to say, Rei wasnÕt laughing.
ÒA...are they... you know, a couple?Ó Rei questioned quietly. Jamie smiled.
ÒNo. Well... I donÕt think they are. More like REALLY close friends. Do you want to hear the whole story?ÓJamie questioned. Rei looked over her shoulder and saw Akane and Garret, still in the same position.
ÒSure... it looks like I have a lot of time.Ó
***
Ranma finished eating at the table, now that it was evening, and stood up. He looked to his father, lacking the usual contempt in his eye, and then left the table. Soun motioned to open his mouth, and Ranma spit before he could speak.
ÒSHE CAN TAKE CARE OF HER DAMN SELF!Ó
Soun cried in KasumiÕs arms, and Ranma smacked himself repetitiously on the table. ÒWhy me!!?Ó Ranma trotted up the stairs to his room and pulled out his pre-packed travel gear. He knew the routine, it was like clockwork to him. Ranma paused for a moment, reflecting his thoughts onto Akane. The way her hair smelled, the depth of color in her eyes, the soft tone of her smooth skin... her voice... He knew how he felt, but to tell her was like suicide.
ÒBack in a few!Ó Ranma yelled and left the dojo.
***
All that could be heard in the forest was the sweet song of a sparrow, and leaves rustling. Akane set the pace for their walk, and swallowed hard, asking the first question.
ÒW-were you... hurt at all?Ó
ÒNot physically...Ó his words trailed. She bit her lower lip slightly.
ÒI... I didnÕt mean--Ó
ÒNo, itÕs my fault Akane.Ó Garret interuppted. ÒI shouldnÕt have interfered with your conversation... hell, I shouldnÕt have even come to Japan in the first place. I know how you feel about Ranma.Ó AkaneÕs head popped up in shock, and she looked over at him.
ÒI know you love --Ó
ÒDonÕt say it!Ó Akane cried out. ÒI... I donÕt LOVE him...Ó she looked away, fidgeting.
ÒAkane... don'tÕ lie to me. You arenÕt good at it.Ó he smiled at her, ÒI knew from the moment I saw his look and yours when we were fighting in the water. I... IÕm cool with it. Just... just a bit jealous, you know? He doesnÕt deserve someone as good as you... someone as beautiful.Ó he spoke softly. She was surprised at the power of his words.
ÒI... I don't know what to say...Ó she whispered, and they stopped walking. Garret hugged her, resting his chin on her head.
ÒTell him... Akane, just tell him.Ó he said, feeling his eyes tremble. She returned his hug, and smiled up at him.
ÒI... IÕll... IÕll try.Ó
ÒG-good...Ó he whispered, and kissed her forehead. It surprised her, but she relaxed. He knew how she felt, and hopefully he was the only one who noticed...
There was a foreign sound.
ÒHow sweet, two lovers in the forest. I could just fucking die.Ó an unseen voice mused. Garret knew the voice, he could smell the odor of his enemy. Jonah stepped out of his secluded cove, grinning. He picked at his teeth with the switch blade, and threw it into a tree trunk. ÒLong time no see...Ó he smiled evilly.
ÒWhat the hell do you want Jonah? Go away.Ó Garret lowered his voice angrily. He noticed the hideous scars across his face, and knew Jamies fireball had done plenty of damage to him.
ÒFeh. How trivial, like IÕd REALLY listen to that Garret. Ôgo awayÕÓ he laughed, ÒYouÕre such a pussy Garret. Do you REALLY think IÕd make it that easy?Ó Jonah charged at Garret and laid him out easily. Akane was surprised at how quickly he fell. Garret hopped to his feet, and wiped the blood from his lip.
ÒYOUR DEAD!!!Ó he cried, and plowed for Jonah, hitting him hard across the face twice, and roundhoused him to the floor. Garret went for a stomp on his chest, but Jonah rolled out of the way quickly, and jumped to his feet. They stood waiting for oneanothers attacks, and Jonah came at him again, a fury of punches and kicks landed to Garrets chest and face, sending him into a tree. Akane shrieked in horror, seeing the dent in the tree where Garret impacted. He staggered, his vision blurring. Jonah uppercuted Garret again, and sent him through the air and to a skidding stop in the dirt.
ÒSTOP IT!!!Ó Akane cried out. Garret perked up, hearing her cry and plowed into his stomach, then into a tree. He raised up and kneed Jonah hard in the chest, and twice in the face he kicked from toe to heel. Jonah spin kicked him into a rock, and waited for him to climb to his feet.
ÒI trained for years to beat you after what you had done to me you Bastard!!!!Ó Jonah cried out, ÒYou and your fucking sister, how dare you!Ó He grabbed Garrett and threw him to the floor as he rose. ÒYouÕre lower than pond scum you bastard! They put me in a ward because of you! I was hospitalized because of you! FUCK YOU GARET!Ó he shrieked, and brought a fist down on his back. Garret slumped in the dirt. he couldnÕt regain his composure... he tried again.
ÒJonah you whiner! How dare... how dare YOU! After the way you cheated in that fight, then played on my sister, and expect me to kiss YOUR feet. FUCK YOU!Ó Garret cried out, and struck him hard across the face. Jonah retaliated and hit him three times harder, sending him spinning in the dirt. Akane couldnÕt stand it anymore.
ÒSTOP IT!!!!Ó she grabbed Jonahs arm, and went to hit him, but he easily threw her to the floor. That was a big mistake. Jonah felt a slight breeze of motion, and felt the pain in his head immediately afterward. Ranma hovered above him, and picked him up, throwing him across the rocks and into the dirt. His eyes were lowered, and focused directly on Jonah.
ÒR-ranma?!Ó Akane shuddered in surprise. Garret looked up, grateful for the backup.
To be Continued!>