Hey, guys, sorry this one took so long. Summer is over, which means college is going to once again suck out my soul and attention for a few months. I am going to try and reward myself from homework or dedicate a day on the weekends to writing. I can't promise anything, but I am hoping to have this done by Christmas! If anyone is also a college student struggling to make time to write for pleasure and has some advice, I would really like to hear it! And, as always, if you have any takes on the story you want to share, please review or message me!
This one's a little less plot related and more of some back story and character dialogue. I hope you all enjoy!
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Face Down
By: Sarah (xxxTDIAngelxxx)
Chapter Six: Hachi
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"So let me get this straight, Jack is a good guy now?" Kimiko asked slowly.
"Not exactly, but he is on the mend," Omi answered simply.
"So what, he's going through some kind of Xiaolin rehab?" Raimundo asked.
Omi rubbed his head. He was sitting cross legged on Clay's coffee table, facing his confused friends. Clay's fiance sat on the arm of the couch by her betrothed, seeming more confused than anyone. Jack leaned against the far wall, watching silently. Omi sighed, "I do not think Jack Spicer wants to be a Xiaolin monk, but he does not want to be a villain either. Master Fung agreed to let me train and discipline him a few months ago as part of my training to become a Master."
"But why would you want to train a snake like Spicer?" Clay added.
"Because it is the duty of the Xiaolin temple to help those who ask for it. Plus, things have been sort of quiet since you all left."
The monks fell silent. Leaving had impacted them all, but there was no argument that it affected Omi the most. They all left the temple to return to their old lives while Omi was left to sulk in the one they left behind.
"I'm going to get some water," Kimiko excused herself. She went into the kitchen and fetched some tap water from the sink. Her mouth was incredibly dry. Whether from the medication or the shock of seeing Omi and Jack, she couldn't tell. She felt someone enter the room, but continued starring out the window over the kitchen sink.
"Hey, Kimiko. I see time has done you justice."
Kimiko scoffed, "save it, Jack, I have a boyfriend."
"Right, of course. Last thing I want is for Raimundo to kick my ass."
At that she turned, "Raimundo isn't my boyfriend."
Jack rubbed his hands together, obviously uncomfortable. "Jeez, awkward. I just figured all the sexual tension between you two would have erupted by now."
Kimiko blinked, "Jack, there's no-"
"Right, gotcha. I'm going to be in the living room, I'll leave you to your denial." He turned to walk away, seeming satisfied to have riled the dragon of fire.
"Jack, wait-"
He stopped at the door frame, turning towards her. He looked so different, she thought. He was still the same pale shade, but he had grown taller and his face had lost most of its baby fat. She could tell he still had the same sense of humor, but had gained some maturity. She snapped herself out of her analysis. "What made you want to be one of the good guys?"
A grin spread across Jack's face as he winked at the Japanese girl. "You gotta go with the winning side."
X
Kimiko drug her feet to her room. Despite herself, she felt overwhelmingly exhausted. This usually happened whenever she doubled her dosage, but tonight she felt more tired than normal. Perhaps it was the day in general, and certainly her uncomfortable conversation with Jack Spicer didn't help. She entered her room, immediately undressing into her pajamas. She was about to jump on the freshly made bed when she noticed something sticking up from under the comforter. Hesitantly, she drew the covers back.
A single red rose lay atop her lavender sheets. It was in full bloom, the soft red petals placed delicately as to not disturb a single one. Kimiko picked it up tentatively, smelling the sweet aroma. Who would have given her a rose? Was it Raimundo? A soft smile graced her lips as she turned the rose over in her hand. When had he had time to buy this, let alone sneak it up to her room?
That's when she say the note, folded into a tiny square. She reached for the piece, carefully unwrapping it. She recognized the handwriting immediately.
My beautiful Kimiko,
I miss you desperately. I hope you are thinking of me as much as I am you, and not getting yourself into any trouble. I am always watching.
I love you,
Kenji
X
Kenji stumbled out of the club, unsteady on his feet. A tall brunette ran after him. She lifted his arm and placed it around her waist, snuggling close to him. "That club was awesome! Hey, my friend said there's a barn party going on outside of town, want to go?"
"I'd rather we just have our own party." He led her into the alley next to the club. It smelled damp and dirty, but he didn't care. The alcohol swam through his blood, making him daring. He pushed the brunette against the brick wall and began to kiss her forcibly. She moaned in response, wrapping her arms around his neck to draw him closer. She smelled like vanilla and cigarettes, and he craved the feel of her body pressed against his. He grabbed her by the hips and pulled her even closer.
Suddenly he felt every one of his nerves jolt. This wasn't right. The woman he was kissing, it wasn't her. She was too tall, too curvy, too bold. He opened his eyes to a mess of brown hair where there should have been black.
He had seen her before. In fact, he had seen her everyday for the past month. Amongst the faces that took the same 7:00 am train every morning, hers always jumped out at him. She was unbelievably gorgeous, even with her uniform on. The red button-up dress she wore was modest enough, but it would take a fool not to realize the form that lied beneath it. The short, black apron around her waist hugged her curves perfectly while pale, majestic legs shone beneath. Her hair was always in a high pony tail, but he long fascinated of it cascading down her back in a sea of onyx. Yes, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She seemed kind to strangers, always mumbling apologies and offering her seat to an elderly, but her eyes seemed sad and lonely.
He had watched her every morning, waiting for the right time to approach her. When he woke up that morning and headed to the same subway stop, he had no idea that the day had arrived.
When someone is use to having a routine, especially one as strict as Kenji's, it was easy to notice a notch in the normal. Normally, the line for the subway was fluid and efficient as people tapped their tickets and made their way to the train. Today, however, one of the lines was still. As Kenji approached, he could hear a young woman cursing as the machine repeatedly denied her payment.
"Not today, come on," she groaned as she continued tapping her card to no avail. People behind her cursed and abandoned her line. It was once the crowd thinned slightly that Kenji recognized her. Seeing his opportunity, he calmed his racing heart and approached her.
"Excuse me, miss, are you okay?"
Kimiko huffed, throwing her hands in the air. "My stupid card isn't working. I swear I thought I had enough money to last me the week."
"Here," he reached around her and tapped his card. The small doors in front of her opened. Kimiko hesitated, but walked through the doors before they closed. Kenji tapped his card again and rejoined her on the other side.
"Thank you so much. Do you take this train often? I get paid tonight, I can bring you the money in the morning." Kimiko found herself tripping on her words as they escaped her mouth in a flurry.
Kenji held up his hand with a smile. "It's not a problem, really. Anything for a beautiful woman." Kimiko blushed. She didn't even remember the last time she had been complimented. Sure there were the men at the bars she worked at night, but those were just catcalls. It had been a long time since someone complimented her with such sincerity. The man extended his hand to her. "My name is Kenji Hiromasa."
Kimiko accepted his hand. "I'm Kimiko Tohomiko."
Kenji pulled away abruptly. The brunette blinked in surprise, catching her breath from their once passionate kiss. "Baby, what's wrong?"
He blinked, not knowing how to respond. He couldn't shake her, no matter how bad he might want to. Here he was with a beautiful American woman, and all he could think about was her. "I'm sorry, I have to go." With that, he turned the opposite way and stomped down the street. He could hear the woman's protests behind him, but he paid her no mind as he continued his mindless walk down the lit street.
She was always doing this to him: showing up whenever he didn't want her to, making his life harder than it needed to be. He couldn't describe it. She was like a drug to him. Sometimes he thought about leaving her, but the idea of her being with another man sent a fire through his veins. She was his and always would be.
They had their moments, every couple did. Sometimes she would laugh, and he would swear she was the most beautiful girl in the world. Sometimes, however, she would do something purposefully to make him mad. He didn't want to hit her, but she wouldn't learn. Kenji had learned from his father that humans were not far different from dogs. They had to be trained, conditioned just like animals. Good behavior should be rewarded, and bad behavior should be punished.
He remembered the first time it had happened. He replayed that moment over and over again. Maybe if he had never taken that step, they would be different. They would be happier.
Kenji walked into the apartment around 8. It had been a rough day at work, but some of the guys offered to take him out for drinks after for his birthday. He could feel the shots coursing through his blood, making his skin feel warm. He hung his coat by the door and proceeded inside. On the dinner table were two plates, each contained a small cut of meat and a side of vegetables. Kimiko quickly emerged from the bedroom, her hair disheveled as if she had been in bed. She had on a light blue dress, that he guessed had once been unwrinkled.
"What the hell is all this?" Kenji demanded, gesturing around him.
Kimiko quickly spoke, her words tangled in her disorientation. "I know you said you wanted prime cut, but the cashier denied my card. They must have already taken the money out of my account for the bills. I'm sorry, I got what I could."
"And you? Look at you, you look like a disaster."
Kimiko wrapped her arms around herself self consciously. "You said you would be home hours ago. I just laid in bed for a second. I'm sorry."
Kenji chuckled humorously, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "So now this is my fault? All I wanted was to have a decent birthday. Is that too much to ask? It's one day, Kimiko. You can't make a little extra effort for one day?!"
Kimiko starred at him agape. "I did everything I could," she yelled back. "It's not my fault I have to spend all of my paycheck on the bills while you get to go out with your friends every-"
Her head whipped as she felt a painful sting run across her cheek. She cupped her face with her hand, tears forming in her eyes. She looked back at Kenji, his hand still raised from the slap. He grabbed her hair and yanked it fiercely until she could feel his breath on her face. The look in his eyes, it was like nothing she had ever seen before. "You will never talk to me like that again."
With that, he pushed her to the ground, retreating into the bedroom.
Kenji shook his head. No, he had made the right decision. If he hadn't established the rules, what would have kept her from leaving? As much as he hated to admit it, he needed her. Even being apart for a few days, he craved her. He didn't know what he would do if she ever decided to leave him.
No. She couldn't leave him.
Not ever.
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Not my best, but definitely far from my worst. kick my ass and make me write. I've been looking forward to the next chapter since drafting the idea of this story. Hope you all enjoyed!
Happy Writing!
Sarah~xTAx
