Chapter Two
"Ladies! The rugby team will have practice after school today! Make sure to have your cleats and your mouth guards!" the announcements ended after that, and Lightning softly snorted. It irritated her that the school constantly reminded people of things that they should already know. Once or twice is fine, but not every day since the first day of school. It had been three weeks already.
It was third period, Lightning's last period of the day. The English teacher was handing out books. It was something Lightning already read, even though it's a senior level book. She loved reading, and would spend as much time reading a good history book, or mystery novel. She wished that she could take a history class, but she already passed them with straight A's.
Fang looked at Lightning and tilted her head to the side. "You alright?" she could tell that Lightning was lost in thought. It wasn't hard for Fang to tell Lightning's emotions, there aren't very many. Lightning blinked as she came back to reality, "It's nothing" she watched as the teacher continued to pass out books.
Lightning and Fang weren't friends, but Lightning would indulge in a conversation or two with the dark haired woman. Fang almost got Lightning to laugh once when she woke up in class, and a piece of paper was stuck to her face. The bell finally rang and the two girls walked off to Lightning's lunch spot.
For some odd reason Lightning's preferred spot was now overrun by Vanille and Serah. It was under a tree behind the music building. Lightning liked it because they would play classical music, and it was away from the rowdy high school students. "Hi Lightning" Serah smiled at her sister. "FANG!" Vanille ran up and tackled Fang who laughed and hugged her younger sister. "Careful! You almost took out Lightning" Fang chuckled even more as Lightning rolled her eyes.
They both knew it would take a lot more than a petite young girl to take Lightning down. The four girls sat by the tree, when a tall dark figure appeared. "Sazh!" Serah jumped up and smiled brightly. Lightning stood as well and a happy look appeared on her face. "Breaking school rules I see, Mr. Katzroy" Lightning commented as the man chuckled.
"Oh come on! I'm actually here to see a teacher to get a letter of recommendation for a job" he pointed to the sticker that allowed him on campus. "Plus I thought you were going to be alone this year, so I had to swing by" he looked at the gang. "I see you have a girlfriend Light" he smirked at her. Lightning stood there stunned, "W- What? No!" she crossed her arms and suppressed a blush from rising on her face.
"I'm Oerba Yun Fang, and that's my sister Vanille. I guess you're a friend of Lightning's?" Fang held out a hand, and raised an eyebrow. "He's like a big brother for me, and Lightning's best friend" Serah smiled up at Sazh. He helped the Farron sisters when their parents died, giving them a place to live. He graduated a year before Lightning, and has a young son. Dajh, his son, was a bubbling young three year old. Sazh's girlfriend had him when they were both sixteen.
Sazh shook Fang's hand and smiled brightly at her. There was a look in his eyes, an almost knowing look. "Take care of Light" he commented softly. Stepping back he looked around, "I really wish I could talk longer, but I'm on a tight schedule" he smiled sadly and waved as he left the group. Fang looked at the man confused as he walked off, wondering why he told her that and not Serah. Shrugging it off, Fang sat against the tree and dozed off in no time.
Lightning looked at the other woman, wondering how she could fall asleep so easily. To leave yourself so vulnerable, and exposed to hidden dangers was a concept Lightning would never understand. Sitting in the shade, the light skinned woman open up her police study guide. She would be taking a test soon that would allow her to enter the police academy in the summer.
Serah and Vanille sat together talking about art, and then TV shows. "Oh look! It's Snow and Hope" the two boys walked up and sat with the group. "H…hey Vanille. Serah" Hope was a little timid around the gang. He wasn't sure how to act around the older crowd. "Relax Hope. You're fitting in fine" Fang yawned and sat up. 'Was she even asleep?' Lightning looked over the top of the book, and caught Fang's eyes.
Without any hesitated Fang sat next to Lightning and stared at her book, "I swear you've read that thing at least three times" she teased nudging Lightning. "Six times to be exact" she glanced at Fang almost smiling at her stunned expression. "Well then" Fang snatched the book and flipped to a random page. "If someone's speeding what do you do? A) Shoot out their tires. B) Turn on your sirens. Or C) Leave them alone" Fang looked up at Lightning.
"That's the easiest question in the book. B) Turn on your sirens, that way they know you're there and they pull over. Or they run, you call back up, and pursue them" she took the book back. "What? That's boring! I would shot out their tires and have them pay for the repair. That'll teach 'em not to speed anymore" she smirked, a devious look on her face. Snow nodding, "Exactly. Why give them a ticket, or a warning, they're just do it again. Give 'em a scare and put 'em in line" he high fived Fang. Lightning sighed and continued reading her book, while the group near her got louder.
With the ringing of the bell the group of friends said their goodbyes, and Lightning left only saying bye to Serah. Making her way to the locker rooms she changed and went to the rugby field. The coach was out there already, "Coach Terry, it's been a while" she went over and shook his hand. "Light, how ya been? I see you're still in shape, and here early" the coach's thick New Zealand accent always made Lightning feel better.
He would come early to help Lightning better herself as a rugby player. They would run together, practice talking together, and he would try and teach her how to kick. "Why don't you run around the field two times, while I set up the cones" she nodded and trotted off. She helped him prepare the field, while they talked about what had been going on in their lives.
It was finally time for practice and the veteran members showed up first. "TERRY!" the girls screamed and rushed up to their beloved coach. They greeted him and hugged him while Lightning stood there. "I didn't forget about you Flash" forwards captain, Yuka went over and shook Lightning's hand. "I was hoping you would" Lightning retorted as the other girl laughed. "I missed your dry humor" they chatted about what they were going to do with the team this year.
"Look! On the horizon! Rookies!" one of the girls pointed as a small group of girls appeared. "I'm no rookie. I'm just new to this school" Fang stood there, her hands on her hips a cocky smirk on her face. "Oh really? If you think you're so bad them enlighten me. What position do you play?" Yuka didn't like cockiness unless you could back it up. "Wing, or Flanker. Anywhere really, but I love those two" the stepped up to Yuka.
"Oh really? Well I'm the forwards captain. Let's see if you can out ruck me" the both walked away from the group. Yuka was eightman, and flanker so she was powerful, but not the strongest. Getting on their knees the girls leaned forward and locked shoulders. Slowly applying pressure the rose slightly off their knees, keeping their backs straight. "Push!" Terry called out and they battled each other. Yuka pushed hard and fast, putting Fang slightly off balance. But she quickly recovered and pushed Yuka back before she collapsed.
"Pure luck!" Yuka laughed as she rose. "You're good, Newbie, but let's see if you're faster than Flash" she pointed towards Lightning. "The name's Fang, and boy have I been waiting for this" she chuckled. Lightning secretly wanted to face the dark haired girl, but she merely shrugged, hiding her true feelings.
Standing at the try line they both crouched, ready to launch. "From try line to try line" Terry raised his arm. "Go!" they both stepped off at the same time. Lightning started off fast while Fang was too cocky to do that. "Well shit" she sped up and pushed herself to catch up with Lightning. Once Fang caught up they were stride for stride, neither one of them getting the lead. They passed the line together and Fang collapsed rolling onto her back. "My god! You're fast" she panted and sprawled out.
Lightning stood there with her hands on her hips, "If you hadn't gotten cocky and started off slower you would've beaten me" Lightning bluntly stated. "No way!" the girls cried out, "Lightning you're the best! No one can beat you!" After a couple comments they started chanting her team nickname, "Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash!" they jumped together and ended it with a giggle fest.
"They really like you" Fang stood up and went towards the coach who was calling everyone together. "Alright! Around the field once, and then line up for tackling practice. Not all the new girls know how to tackle" they groaned at the length of the run and were finally on their way.
Practice ended with the new girls covered in bumps and bruises. "Ow…" one girl whimpered as she poked a bruise. "It's your own personal trophy. It proves that you worked hard during practices, and games" Lightning showed the multitude of bruises and scares that covered her legs and back. "Not everyone's a badass like you Lightning" Fang commented, "I don't exactly bruise, but I work my butt off" she was covered in sweat.
Lightning looked the taller girl up and down before turning away and grabbing her stuff. Fang noticed the way Lightning looked at her and smirked. She had to admit that she loved seeing Lightning bruised and sweaty. "I'll see you tomorrow Lightning" Fang patted her back as Lightning flinched and walked off.
"Whoa…she didn't glare at you" Yuka stood behind Fang, her mouth open in awe. "Lightning never lets anyone touch her unless it's tackling practice or something. But never in a friendly manner" the other girls nodded in agreement. "I know that. I guess she's just gotten used to me doing it. Although she still flinches" Fang smirked, wondering why she would let Fang do that. "Well…it doesn't really matter. I'll see you ladies later!" she waved and rushed off to go get Vanille.
When Lightning got to her car she saw serah hugging Snow goodbye. "Hurry up Lightning. I have tons of homework to do" she smiled and beckoned her sister. Lightning unlocked the car and they both climbed in. Serah controlled the radio and found a song that she liked. "I love this song. It's such a me song" the song was Happy by Pharrell, she sang along almost dancing in her seat.
Serah was trying to ignore the letter she had gotten in her locker. It didn't really make sense to her. '…torture' was all that it said. It bothered her only slightly, but she knew that if anything happened Lightning would be there to protect her. As they rolled up to their house the sister found a car parked in the drive way. "Who could that be" Lightning mumbled softly, "Stay in the car." She got out after parking and went to the door. It was unlocked. She opened it and stepped in. "Light!" a young boy ran up and hugged Lightning's legs. "Dajh! Sazh, don't do that. I need a warning before you show up" she was only slightly upset by his actions. "I'm sorry Lightning, I just had a key, and wanted to surprise you" he smiled innocently.
The four of them sat at the couch and talked about what had been happening. Serah did most of the talking, while Lightning put in a few comments here and there. "Serah, why don't you take Dajh outside. He needs some fresh hair" she happily agreed and took the young boy outside. "What's wrong" Lightning's serious tone showed that she knew that he wanted to talk.
"Can't hide anything from you, now can I?" he chuckled softly scratching his head. Leaning back he sighed, the light humor leaving his body language. "I've…been receiving these letters" he pulled them out of his jacket. "They don't make sense" he placed them on the table. Lightning looked at them, each had a single word on them. Dajh. Will. Time. Little. Missing. Lightning nodded, "It's an incomplete message" she rearranged them. "Dajh. Missing. Little. Time. It seems to state that…Dajh will go missing, and you have only a short period of time" she looked over at him.
"What? Little time? Little time to do what? Missing? My son's with me every day, or with his mother. He's…not going to go missing. I won't let it happen" he looked astonished and angry. "He won't. I'll help you if you need me too Sazh" Lightning clenched her fists. She would do anything for her friend, and his son. They were her only family besides Serah. "Thank you Lightning. Well…we should be heading out. His mother gets worried if we're late for dinner" he chuckled softly getting up to leave.
Lightning stayed up long into the night, researching child kidnappers in the area. Most of them in the police records were caught, and the other ones hadn't been seen for decades. "He should be safe for now…but we can't take risks" she muttered under her breath before yawning. Glancing at the clock she saw that it was past one in the morning and winced. She didn't like staying up past eleven, it made her wake up sore after practice because she didn't get enough sleep. Laying in bed she tossed and turned for a few, worrying about Dajh.