Beach Day

Chapter 2: The Grudge Match Begins

***

Nina stalked through the pavilion of the nearby beach bar, and onto the veranda. She knew exactly who to look for, and exactly where to find him. And indeed, there was Eddy Gordo; lounging around in the most hideously brightly coloured boardies she’d ever seen. Sighing softly, she strolled up to him and stood beside him.

“I heard you have a mean spike in volleyball, Mr Gordo…”

Eddy blinked, and raised a brow at the blonde. “Hell yeah…you havin’ a game?”

Nina nodded, smirking. “Yes…I’m having a grudge match against my poofy sister…want to help me beat her ass into the sand?”

Eddy grinned, and sat up, setting his drink aside. “Sure as hell more fun than hanging around here!”

Christie looked up and pouted. “But what about me, Eddy? What am I gonna do when you’re gone?”

“You can be goal keep.”

Christie grinned. “Oh really? Thanks, Eddy!”

As Nina and Eddy headed off to find more team members, Nina glanced over at Eddy and smirked slyly. “Goal keep…good one…just wait until she finds out there aren’t any goals in volleyball…”

Eddy just nodded knowingly.

***

Kazuya felt a shadow cast itself over him. Suddenly, the sky didn’t seem an angry red from behind his eyelids, and his skin had stopped feeling like it was a hundred degrees. He slowly opened one eye – but what he saw was enough to not only make the other one fly open, but enough to make him bolt upright and stare in surprise too.

“Williams?!”

The blonde grinned. “Mishima!”

Jin opened both eyes, and watched the two in confusion.

Kazuya frowned slightly. “What do you want?”

Nina smiled almost seductively, and looked Kazuya’s body up and down as she sat down on a corner of the towel he was sitting on. “My, you look different from the Kazuya I remember at the fourth tournament…”

Kazuya’s expression didn’t change. “One word: G-Corporation.”

She couldn’t help but look him up and down again as he said that. No wonder he looked so young. No older than he did in the second tournament, she supposed. “Are you any good with ball sports?”

Both the Mishima boys arched a dark brow. Jin responded first. “Ball sports? Like volleyball and football?”

She nodded. “Yeah, just like beach volleyball.”

Jin glanced at Kazuya, almost as if asking permission, only to see him with one corner of his lips curled upward. “I know how to play…why do you ask?”

“Well, I’m looking for team members for a round of volleyball against Anna. She deserves an ass-kicking…”

Both the boys looked at each other, and grinned. “I’ll take any opportunity to make her break a nail…”

***

Dead ahead was a massive crater; ground zero.

To either side, no sign of life.

The massive hump in the centre of the land’s decimation obliterated most of the dry scenery from view.

…And behind it, sat Ling Xiaoyu with a bucket and spade.

Anna approached the sixteen-year-old chinese girl with her hands on her hips, and one brow raised.

“Hey kid, wanna game o’ volleyball?”

Xiaoyu didn’t look up, but continued to pile sand onto the sandcastle, which was by now the same height as her sitting down.

“Ey, did you hear me?”

She blinked, and glanced up, smiling innocently. “Oh, Miss Williams, I couldn’t understand you!” She sounded almost sickeningly enthusiastic, yet somehow rather cute in a very innocent way.

Anna rolled her eyes and rested her weight further onto one hip. “Well? Do you want to play a game of beach volleyball? You get to beat the crap out of my sister…”

Xiaoyu’s eyes brightened. “Is Jinny-chan gonna be there?”

“Who’s that?”

Xiaoyu looked as if Anna had just asked her if the sky is always blue. “Jinny-chan, silly! You know, Jin Kazama…”

“Oh, the Mishima brat…I dunno, I haven’t seen him here today…”

Xiaoyu pouted. Anna saw this, and grinned. “Aww, does someone have a kwushy-wushy on Jinny-winny?”

“No, I don’t have a crush on anyone!” Xiaoyu blurted, turning crimson across the cheeks. “I just wanted to know if he was gonna be there!”

Deciding not to get into another fight, Anna backed down. After all, this wasn’t Nina she was squabbling with. “Well, he might be.”

“Okay!” Xiaoyu acted as if nothing had happened before that, and bounced up happily, attaching herself to Anna’s arm. “When are we gonna play?”

***

Kazuya and Jin glanced at each other, and Eddy scratched the back of his head. She couldn’t be serious.

But she was. “Hwoarang!” Nina bellowed, her voice surprisingly clear over the rushing and crashing of the waves. The redhead heard her, and after a moment or so, he hopped off his surfboard and walked back to shore with it under one arm.

“Whaddyawant, blondie?”

Nina resisted the urge to slap him. If she did, she’d be passing up a valuable team member, who might even go with Anna. Then again, Anna only chooses pretty or nice people…Nina, on the other hand, had so far picked the most agile guys she could, since she figured they’d be better sportsmen than someone like Anna. “I was wondering if you’d like the chance to have a nice friendly game of volleyball…”

The Korean wrinkled his nose. “Volleyball? That’s for girls.”

Jin grinned. “Oh, so you’re scared I have a better serve than you, eh? Might as well go back to floating around on your little board like a penguin…”

Hwoarang’s eye twitched. “You’re on, Kazama…”

Eddy rolled his eyes, and stepped up to form a triangle with the other two. “Watch it, you’re both on the same team…we get to make Anna squeak and squeal about getting sand in her panties…”

“Oh…alright then…that sounds like more fun than beating Jin’s ass…”

“Oh sure, it’s more fun since you’ll never be able to do the latter…”

“Don’t be so sure, you little Japanese prick…”

Kazuya stepped in. “Watch what you say about Japanese!”

Hwoarang blinked. “Uh…who’re you?”

Kazuya pulled off his shades and glared. Since his eyes were visible now, Hwoarang recognised him immediately. “…oh…”

Nina stepped in between all of them. “Alright, you four…we need six players…who do you suggest as a sixth player?”

Everyone looked from one to another, then around the beach for someone else to recruit…then Kazuya smirked his trademark smirk.

***

She felt betrayed. Utterly, totally, completely betrayed.

By her best friend.

She couldn’t believe it…Eddy of all people had blown her off. But why?

She’d gone to the bar to get another drink, and bragged about being goal keep for the volleyball match to the tender. He’d laughed, and explained that she’d been tricked. Boy, was she furious.

Then she saw just who she was looking for.

“Hey, Anna!”

***

Lei Wulong was quite happy where he was, draped casually over a towel, soaking up the delicious summer sun. Since he was off duty for once, he was able to completely relax, without having to worry about catching criminals, doing investigations, or, in short, getting his hands dirty.

Then, a shadow engulfed his field of vision.

“Hey! You’re blocking my sun!”

All he saw was that annoying street punk grinning down at him. “What are you doing here?!”

Hwoarang grinned more, though at the same time, he was pondering Kazuya’s sanity in asking the stupid cop to play. “Wanna help up beat Anna’s ass?”

Lei raised a brow. “Anna Williams? As in Nina Williams’ sister?” Then he saw Nina standing off a little way, arms folded, obviously not approving of the situation. “Erm…I’m supposed to arrest her…”

Eddy rolled his eyes, grabbed Lei’s arm, and wrenched him to his feet. “Forget about it man, you’re off duty! This is fun and games and Anna-bashing!”

His face softened slightly, and he flicked his long hair back over his shoulders. “Anna-bashing? Doesn’t sound too bad…”

The two Mishima boys rolled their eyes and smirked at each other, Hwoarang scratched the back of his head and walked off, and the other three followed him, since he was heading towards the volleyball court.

“Oh, and by the way,” Nina began, “I’m the team leader…handcuffing the team leader is not allowed.”

Lei gave her a look. “Fine. I’ll let you off for today.”

***

Anna was doing well, so she believed. She had quite a team; Nina would never beat her at this one. So far, there were four women; and women are generally fantastic volleyball players. That, and all the men on the sidelines would stare at HER team, since they were all so much sexier than anyone else Nina could round up!

Julia, her first member, was down to Earth but still attractive…she was sure she had a good game too. After all, she looked like a beachy person. And Xiaoyu, so full of life and energy. She’d never miss the ball! And Christie…well, everyone will be watching Anna’s team very carefully with Christie in there. Then again, everyone will be watching her more than anyone else, would they not? After all, she was the sexiest creature on the planet.

Ah, but as for the last two players…who should she pick?

Her attention was momentarily drawn toward a large crowd of squealing bikini-clad women. Within seconds, she’d clawed her way to the front of the foray, and found herself staring at the chest of a well-muscled, well-tanned Asian man. She looked up, and her knees went weak.

“Lee!”

He looked down, and his eyes widened in surprise beneath his silver hair. “Anna?!”

Anna nodded, and hugged him so tight he thought his ribs might break. “Yes, it’s me, Lee sweetie! Long time no see!”

He sighed, smiled ever so slightly, and dragged her off. “What can I do you for?”

“Well, I was thinking, err…hey!” She pouted, but brushed the jibe off. “I was thinking, maybe you’d like to join me in a game of volleyball against my sister. It’ll be fun!”

Lee looked down at his stomach. “Well, I could use some exercise…”

She didn’t disagree. “Great! Now we only need one more team member…” Glancing back at her team, she noticed Julia’s thoughtful expression. The young girl pulled subconsciously at her bra strap, and smiled.

“Maybe my mom wants to play…”