Chapter 302
Three days had passed.
Ayeka Mizuno grinned as she swung her wooden sword into position for her fighting stance.
Patterson sighed and took up his own stance. The crowd of students and teachers watched intently.
"So how much of a chance has she got?" Seiya asked.
"Well..we're not sure," Lita said. "But she's gone farther then anyone else has with him."
"I guess she's got to be skilled then," Raye said.
"Ehh..so what..there's no better fighter on this planet then da man," Rick said.
"You ready?" Ayeka asked.
Patterson nodded.
Ayeka grinned and lunged forward swinging her sword from her thrusting stance. Patterson blocked and spun around backpedaling into a defensive position. Ayeka spun,the grin continued to be on her face as she charged forward. Patterson knocked her away again, she cartwheeled away and then came up jumping. She bounced off a table and went with a drop kick.
"Oo..she's made it anything goes.." Lita said.
"Well..that may be the way to do it," Mina said.
Patterson slid under her kick and spun.
Ayeka turned.
"You're better then they say," Ayeka said. "All right..let's play rough."
Patterson took a defensive stance. Ayeka stood in her traditional thrust position and shot forward with amazing speed. Patterson leapt over her. She spun and met his own attack. The two began swinging quickly blocking each other's moves adeptly on both sides. The crowd watched in awe of the two as they kept going.
Seven minutes later the two slid apart facing each other again.
The crowd let out a sigh as the tension slipped away again.
Ayeka began to laugh surprising everyone.
"Is she getting high off this or something?" Mike wondered aloud.
"So..you having fun yet?" Ayeka shouted at the battle ready Patterson.
"Fun? I don't fight for fun," Patterson said.
"Oh come on.." Ayeka said. "You must enjoy this, or else you wouldn't be as good as you are."
"I disagree," Patterson said.
"Yeah! You don't become an expert martial artist because you enjoy it!" Raye said.
"That's right. Discipline means separating yourself from emotion with your skill," Rick said.
"Ah..I see.." Ayeka said. "Well..that maybe how you learned it. However, emotion can add to skill. Can't you see that with him? You see..emotion can hurt or harm you. Too much of any emotion can distract you, cause you not to think as you should. But just the right amount used effectively can make you an even better fighter."
"She's right," Lita said. "I've been studying that art. If you can control say anger into a weapon, you can double, maybe triple your true strength."
Ayeka nodded.
"Exactly," she said. "And..that's what I do. Only by gaining some modicum of satisfaction from my fights, it allows me greater endurance."
"Are you going to keep fighting or not?" Seiya asked.
Ayeka's grin disappeared. She flew forward. Everyone dived out of the way as she stopped feet away from Seiya. A first held inches away from Seiya's face.
"You were saying..." she said.
"Uh..nothing," Seiya said.
With all attention drawn from him Patterson grinned at the state of affairs and then resumed his customary scowling.
"That's all for today," Ayeka said.
The group all moaned.
"Nothing gets settled yet again," Melvin muttered.
"Looks like we came back at a good time ey?" Mike said.
"Great fun," Steve said.
Later that day.
"Well..Hotaru you wished to see me?" General Patterson said. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you might do all of us a favor," Hotaru said.
"All of us?"
"The scouts in general."
"Ah..what kind of favor."
"Find all the information you can on Ayeka Mizuno."
"Ayeka Mizuno? Why?" Patterson asked.
"I do not trust her."
"Hotaru..what leads you not to trust her."
"I have powers that allow me to sense things...you know this. It is warning me about her."
"I see.." General Patterson said. "You're afraid she has something do with the evil forces?"
"That is what I fear."
"Well..I'm not sure you're right about this. However, I'll look into it."
"Thank you," Hotaru said and got up to leave.
She walked out.
Patterson sighed. I was hoping this wouldn't come up. He
thought.
As Hotaru walked down the hallway. She was having thoughts of her own.
What is he hiding? She thought to herself. It is obvious it
was something. I wonder. Maybe there is more to this then I
suspected. I will have to wait and see what he finds. If he finds
anything. And even then I will not know whether to trust his
information or not. Interesting. What have I uncovered?
"Have you managed to write anything yet?" Michiru asked.
"No with the battle and all, I've been distracted and with the guys in town I was just sort of observing them. Seeing what's been going on," Greg said.
"I see..well it can be hard to start sometimes," Michiru said.
"Are you sure this is what I should be doing?" Greg asked.
"Greg..it's not a matter of what I think. What do you think?"
"It sounds good. I just don't know."
"Greg you not knowing is the whole problem," Michiru said. "You have to experiment."
"I guess," Greg said.
"I can see this is going to take some more work," Michiru said. "I guess I'll have to enlightening you again."
"Oh..sorry."
Michiru smiled.
"Yes..we've got a lot of work to do I see," she said. "But it's worth it."
"Why.." Greg said. "Why's it worth anything?"
"I don't know exactly why...but I'm sure it will become apparent soon enough," Michiru said.
"Oh..okay.." Greg said. "I..wish I wasn't like this..so cautious..I mean..I..feel strange."
Michiru nodded.
"Yes I know..it can be tough sometimes, finding out where you fit. Afraid to stick your neck out. I don't blame you. I mean the world can be troublesome sometimes."
Greg nodded.
"But still, I think I'm going overboard a bit," Greg said.
"It's good that you recognize that," Michiru said. "Don't worry, I'll crack you out of your shell."
"Uh..thanks.." Greg said.
And heading down a sidewalk blocks away.
"So..then I said to him.." Mike began.
"Just let it go," Steve said.
"Ehh..fine..so where we going anyway?"
"Lita's house. I wanna see how's she doing," Steve said.
"Good idea," Mike said. "Checking up on the ex is good."
"Don't refer to her that way," Steve said.
"All right..all right..." Mike said. "You stopped being fun the minute we got this recording deal."
"That's not true," Steve said. "I stopped being fun the minute I met you."
"Touche," Mike said.
"Mike..just what is your problem?"
"Birth defect is what we're investigating right now.." Mike said.
Steve sighed.
The two headed to Lita's house and knocked on the door. There was no answer.
"She could just be meditating or something," Steve said. "I'll check her window, see if she's home."
"Good idea," Mike said. "Check on the ex's window."
"What did I say about that?"
"I don't remember," Mike said.
"Can't you be somewhere else?"
"It's within the realm of possibility."
"What's that?" Steve said in surprise.
"No idea," Mike said.
"Listen.."
The two crept along the side of the house.
"Singing.." Steve said.
"Blast it..singing," Mike said dramatically. "So what do we do?"
Steve glanced at him.
"Final warning," he said.
"You're much too violent you know," Mike said.
"Best way to deal with jokers like you," Steve said.
"That singing, it's coming from up there."
"That's Lita's room."
"Well is it Lita?"
"I don't know," Steve said. "It sounds like her. But she's never sung before."
"Did you even get to know her when you started dating?" Mike asked.
"I knew a lot about her," Steve snapped.
"Obviously not enough," Mike said.
Steve hit him.
"My punches' force will increase exponentionally," Steve said.
"EX---ponentioally?" Mike said.
Steve punched him again.
"Yeah..that was out of line," Mike said.
"What are you two doing down there?" Lita asked sticking her head out the window.
"Uh..I was beating Mike is that okay?" Steve asked.
Mike just gave a thumbs up in the direction of the window.
"Well as long as you don't make that much noise sure," Lita said.
"Well..you really can't have one without the other," Steve said.
"He's right," Mike said.
"You two better come inside," Lita said. "Before you embarrass yourselves."
"Your advice comes years too late," Mike said.
"So you think you've got what it takes ey Tenno?" The manager of Team 0ZX said looking over Haruka.
"I like to think so," Haruka said dressed in a racing outfit and holding a helmet in one hand.
"All right,but I don't let anyone race on my team until they've beaten the shadow racer.."
"The what?" Haruka asked in surprise.
A figure dressed in a black outfit and wearing a dark helmet emerged.
Haruka sighed. This is not promising at all.
"HAHHAHHAHAHAH!" the shadow racer laughed. "You must defeat me!"
"All right whatever," Haruka muttered.
"Hah!" the shadow racer said and hopped on to a jet black bike and sped out onto the race track.
"Well..go after him," the manager said. "We'll start the race now."
Haruka sighed.
"What's the deal with him?" she asked.
"Birth defect we think," The manager replied.
"Oh...poor man," Haruka said.
Meanwhile at Tokyo General Hospital
"So this is what you do? Wait on people?" Taiki asked.
"Well..I do more than that," Amy said. "This is all part of sensitivity training. I also follow doctors around and get an inside look at the way things work around a hospital."
"But still..doctors don't bring food to people," Taiki said.
"That doesn't mean they can't," Amy said approaching the next room. It was guarded by a couple of men in suits.
"What's this all about?" Taiki asked.
"Prime Minister Coral's leg is acting up again," Amy said. "You'll have to wait out here."
The guards looked at Amy's ID badge and then let her in.
"I know you from somewhere," Prime Minister Coral said.
"Uh..I'm Amy Anderson Prime Minister," Amy said.
"Oh yes, Patterson's sister and the top scoring student in the entire country. It's a shame what you've gone through," Coral said.
"Yes..well.." Amy said. "I go through a lot. Here's lunch."
"Oh..wonderful," Coral said. "I have a stinking leg injury and I get waited on hand and foot."
"Sorry," Amy said.
"Yes well I suppose it's nice that they do it," Coral said. "Still I hate hospitals. I've got work to do."
"We'll try and get you out as soon as we can," Amy said.
"Yeah, I know," Coral said. "So what has you working here?"
"It's a pre-med program," Amy said. "I'm learning about the work."
"By bringing me food?"
"Well..there's more to it then that," Amy said. "I.uh needed to see if I'm up to it."
"Seems to me you're capable of anything," Coral said.
"Yes...maybe.." Amy said. "But..I really have to get going, the other patients."
"Don't let me keep you," Coral said.
Amy headed out the door.
"So you're with the three lights huh?" One of the bodyguards asked.
"Yes," Taiki said.
"My daughter likes you," the bodyguard said.
"Oh."
"I don't," the bodyguard finished.
"I get that a lot," Taiki said.
Amy walked out and they headed down the hall.
"I appreciate you coming to visit Taiki, but don't you have practicing to do?" Amy asked.
"Well.once you've sung a song for the seventieth time it becomes a little innate. Besides there's more to life then idol singing," Taiki said.
"That's true," Amy said. "But I'd hate to think I was in any way hurting your performance."
"Not a chance," Taiki said. "If anything you help it."
Their eyes met and they stared at each other for a good minute.
"I really have to keep working," Amy said.
"Oh...sorry," Taiki said. And they kept moving.
Haruka kept her concentration as her motor bike raced around a turn. The shadow racer was ahead of her laughing like a maniac. Probably because he was one. She thought.
She sped up and carefully maneuvered around a turn. The shadow racer was getting closer. She hit the accelerator and felt the force of the speed on her. Her eyes narrowed. She shot past the shadow racer and around another turn.
"Hah! It's going to take more than that to beat the Shadow Racer!" he shouted.
Haruka grimaced in annoyance and kept speeding up concentrating on the race track more then on the racer.
Four laps to go. She thought.
The shadow racer was gaining on her though. They shot around the oval racetrack for another lap.
Three laps. She thought and looked at her mirror.
He's getting closer. She thought and hit the gas. She wobbled as she shot around a corner, but recovered. The Shadow Racer moved to slide by her on the inside of the track, but she kept racing hoping to keep him at bay. They shot around the course again.
Two laps left.
They were beside each other. The shadow racer started laughing some more and inching up towards her. Haruka glanced at him quickly and tried to get ahead. Shadow Racer kept up with her and inched closer. They bumped. Each wobbled away from each other.
"You idiot!" Haruka shouted.
"Hah! I am the Shadow Racer!" her opponent shouted.
The two kept going around the racetrack. They passed the finish line. One more lap.
Shadow Racer took the inside hoping to cut below her. Haruka sped up and hoped her skill would pick up. The darkly clad racer moved up towards her again.
"You fool!" she shouted and kicked him away. He skidded into the infield, the bike slid to a stop and hit a tire barrier. Haruka grinned and raced towards the finish line.
Elsewhere, several hundred feet offshore in Tokyo bay, was constructed a cathedral. One that had been worked on for years, and now had a highway connected to it.
"Well they've cleaned this place up," Michiru said sitting on rock looking back at the city.
"Yeah.." Greg said. "Hard to believe we fought a massive battle out here."
"Actually..this makes all the sense in the world," Michiru said. "It is a spooky place isn't it?"
Greg looked at it.
"Yeah.." Greg said. "And why build a church out here anyway?"
"You've got me. I mean..there is some beauty to the idea. Artistic merit sure..but..still..I don't know. I like to see myself as open minded, but this is baffling," Michiru said.
"I don't know what they're thinking," Greg said. "You know I guess it's good to have a church like this which can dominate the scenery around it..you know that's what it supposed to do, to symbolize a higher power. But...I never saw religion as needing to be aloof this much."
"Really?" Michiru asked.
"Right, take Raye's temple. It does it's job well It has steps, amidst natural setting. Its made from the earth itself. What has been provided...and I respect it more."
"I guess it's a matter of values," Michiru said. "See this is why I want to help you out. You say things that are worth hearing."
"Oh..well..I guess it just comes out," Greg said.
"You're inhibited by a lack of confidence that's all," Michiru said. "We get rid of that, and then we'll be in good shape."
"I hope so," Greg said. "I really do want to do something with my life. It's just been hard to think of what to do. I do a lot of thinking, not much talking."
"There's nothing wrong with that," Michiru said. "A lot of people spend too much time talking and not enough thinking, but you..we just need to moderate you a little."
"Michiru, why are you so interested in this though? I mean..I could understand you wanting to help. I appreciate it. But..you seem overly anxious.."
"I don't know," Michiru said. "I think you're right. I just couldn't tell you why. Maybe I'm just looking for someone to talk to, I don't know. You see Haruka and I...we get along very well..we've had too. But we have our differences. She's always been a little too masculine you know....no that's not what I mean.....I don't believe that each gender has different roles. I'm not like that. But..I believe you are given certain natural gifts, and you have to start with those. And then go from there."
"I see.." Greg said. "I see what you're saying, I think.."
"It can be hard to define my true feelings about it. At least to put them into words, because it's hard to say what I mean."
"I understand though."
"You really do?"
"Yeah, I can't put it into words either..but..I know..it's not that Haruka shouldn't..be doing what she does..or anything like that it's just she should..well I don't even know how to put it..without sounding wrong in some way," Greg said.
Michiru grinned.
"I figured you'd understand," Michiru said. "Still..we should go. We've both got homework to do."
"Yeah," Greg said. "Can't forget that."
"Ah..Haruka I'm surprised.." the manager of team 0ZX said. "No one's ever just kicked him before."
"You never said I couldn't," Haruka said.
"That's right, and I don't mind," the manager replied. "The shadow racer is insane. You must counter that insanity with ingenuity. Which you did. Welcome aboard."
"Uh..will he be around...during the competition?"
"Yeah, but he behaves," her new boss replied.
"Oh..I see.."
"Yeah..don't worry," the manager said.
"I think I will, just to be on the safe side," Haruka said unsurely.
"If you like."
"So Lita was that you singing there?" Steve asked.
"Well..yeah...I guess it was," Lita said.
"It was pretty good."
"You're just saying that."
"No I'm not," Steve said. "I'm impressed. I didn't know you could sing that well."
"It's just for fun I guess. I mean I don't take lessons or anything."
"I've got an idea," Mike said.
"What kind of idea," Steve said.
"No..never mind..it can wait," Mike said. "I'm off."
He headed out the door and hurried down the street.
"Strange," Lita said. "But how are you doing? We haven't talked much lately."
"Yeah well..I've been kinda busy," Steve said.
"You're doing well on the charts."
"Still number two though," Steve said.
"The three lights are pretty powerful," Lita said.
"I know, how's Seiya?" Steve asked.
"He's doing okay. He says he missed me."
"He would," Steve said snidely.
"Now don't get all aggressive. He's not here."
"That's good, so how have you been?" Steve asked.
"Aside from the battles, I've been okay," Lita said.
"That's good to hear," Steve said. "I know we're just friends, but I worry."
"I appreciate that. But I'm really doing fine considering all that's happened. I've even managed to get my grades up."
"Well that's a plus," Steve said.
"So when's your next concert?"
"Tomorrow," Steve said.
"The three lights have one two nights from now."
"Yeah well you see the record company's been trying to split us up so we never appear on the same night," Steve said. "It's something about wanting to make a profit everyday or something."
"Yeah I guess so," Lita said. "Sounds interesting."
"It isn't," Steve muttered.
"Gala do we have a plan yet?" Metalite asked.
"Patience Metalite," Gala said. "I'm not going to rush into this. We must plan carefully."
"Yes, well, you're too slow."
"I'd watch your mouth."
"You need me just as much as I need you."
"Perhaps," Gala said. "But..if you continue your behavior I may be forced to deal with you anyway."
"I just want to end this battle."
"Then come up with your own plan."
"I have," Metalite said.
"Oh really? Let's hear it then."
"Glad you asked," Metalite said.