Chapter 8: Melodrama Rama

The morning after history was made for Sarusuberi was indeed a beautiful sunrise. It seemed like Mother Nature watched the game along with the other spectators that night and decided to reward the campus with a marvelous painting of her morning glory. The orange sun glowed through Bobby's dorm room window and he woke up peacefully with a smile any person would appreciate. He looked over to his right and saw Kendra was just sitting up after stretching for a moment, looking right at the beautiful sunrise. Practically every move the albino woman made aroused Bobby into gaining a crush on her. Ibuki's idea of the exchange really did more than just bring the kunoichi and Tommy closer together. Kendra sensed him watching her again and turned around to face him with a smile.

"Morning, Bobby." She greeted sweetly. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, I did." Bobby replied. "Did you?"

"Of course. Your game was fantastic last night."

"Thanks. I'm still a little hungover from last night." Bobby made that statement true by holding his head in pain, due to a headache. "After Tommy and Ibuki's lil'… celebration… I joined the boys at the bar and just had a good ol' time!"

"That's good. Speaking of them, where are they?"

"I… don't know. Are they still in the locker room?"

"You tell me."

"…" Bobby didn't say a word as he quickly got dressed and headed for the locker room where Tommy and Ibuki were.

Meanwhile, in that very same locker room…

There were no windows in the room to indicate morning has risen, but the soft beeping from Tommy's water-proof stopwatch made the cue that morning came. Ibuki wasn't affected by the beeping, due to the fact that she was still sleeping. Tommy carefully inspected his watch on his wrist and saw that it was 6:45 am. He was still sitting on the bench with the kunoichi in his strong arms from last night and he just looked down at her with a very handsome smile while he gently stroked her smooth skin on her left cheek. Despite this sweet moment, he never let the fact that Sasha was currently on campus leave his brain. Sure, he was smiling on the outside, but he remained serious on the inside. He had no idea where Sasha was at this point, but when he encounters her, he'll be ready.

Ten minutes went by and he decided to gently wake up Ibuki by a gentle kiss on her forehead. She responded to the touch by the gentle giant's lips by slowly opening her eyes and looked right at him before she passionately kissed him on the mouth in return, gently massaging the linebacker's back in the process. A minute later, they slowly ended the kiss and just looked deeply into their eyes for about thirty seconds before Bobby busted in through the main door.

"Hey, Bobby." Tommy greeted smoothly. "What's up, man?"

"Hey, Tommy." Bobby replied. "You two slept in here the whole night?"

"Yeah. Somehow, we fell asleep while we were in a hug. I can tell ya this, though… Ibuki was still sleepin' when I woke up. I pounded her, Bobby."

"Of course, ya did. I saw it. Well… either that or she tired her own ass out for pleasurin' herself after you gave her some spankings."

"Yeah, that's the reason." Ibuki came in tiredly. "I went all over myself."

"Ah, figures. Ya know we got class in about an hour, right?"

"Yeah, we know." Tommy replied. "That gives us plenty of time to freshen up."

"Good 'cause…" Bobby paused as he took in a few deep sniffs. "…whew! Damn, man! Ya'll smell like a lethal combination of sweat, sex, anger, and shame."

"That hurt, man."

"Well, it's the truth! Please do take a shower… both of ya'll."

Five minutes later…

Tommy just showed Ibuki where the showers were and she smiled on the inside while she stayed observant on the outside. Tommy sensed her smile and guessed it right when he said to her with a strict version of his deep voice:

"Don't you be gettin' any nasty ideas now." This statement made Ibuki jump with shock.

"What?" She asked, looking up at him. "How did you…?"

"I knew what you were thinkin'. We just did it last night. Personally, I don't even have the energy to hold you at this point. I really need this shower, okay?"

"Okay." Ibuki was a little upset that her desire for more was discovered by the half-Korean linebacker, but she shrugged off her misery and just went with the flow as she went to an open shower stall in the very back of the long room, undressing herself on the way. Tommy watched her with a smile of humor as he got undressed himself before he headed into a shower right in front of him.

Fifteen minutes later…

Tommy was the first to get into the locker room in nothing but a towel around his waist as he headed for his locker and happened to pull out a spare casual outfit along with undergarments, socks, and shoes. He grabbed the pile of clean clothes before he headed into a changing station in the far right side of the room and started changing into them. Ibuki just got into the room seconds after he closed the door to his changing station and she was already dressed in her blue v-neck t-shirt and light blue jeans with white sneakers. She looked over at the pure white Komodo Dragon and her pet tanuki still sleeping next to the exit and smiled as she headed for her pet specifically before she gently picked him up and carefully cuddled his sleeping corpse against her chest. Seconds afterwards, she headed for a clean bench before she took a seat and patiently waited for her boyfriend to finish changing.

As she sat there, many thoughts of her encounter with Tommy rang through her head. There were plenty of "What if's" all over her brain.

What if he hadn't run into me?

What if he didn't like me?

What if his girlfriend were to be right behind him at the time of the first time encounter?

Those three questions were making her forget every other date she's had in the past before she met Tommy, especially with Govi the rapist. Speaking of Govi, she realized that she hasn't seen nor heard from him in a while since the day she got raped by the man. She shook her head to knock out the thought of meeting him again and said to Don:

"What the hell am I thinking?"

Tommy stepped out of his changing stall and Ibuki looked up at him with a smile she just pasted on to her face just seconds before. She was a little aroused by how he looked in his fresh new tank top, jeans, and boots ensemble, but Tommy still felt her internal struggle as he approached her while he snapped his fingers for Snow's cue to wake up and he did in a matter of a split second after hearing the snapping.

"Somethin' on your mind, baby?" Tommy asked as he took a seat next to the kunoichi.

"Yeah." Ibuki replied. "I was just thinking about Govi."

"That bastard who raped you?"

"Yeah, and don't get too defensive about it just yet. I just wanna make peace with him someday. That's all."

"Why?"

"Because…" Ibuki paused as she sighed with frustration, waking Don up. He just looked up at her with curiosity as the conversation continued. "…you wouldn't understand. I mean, sure… I told you the story about his crime of raping me, but I never got too deep into the story."

"You mean… there's more?"

"Yeah, but I can't discuss it with you right now. Two reasons: One, it's almost time for class and two, this is my business. If you truly love me, then you would only focus on Sasha when it comes to this matter at my hands. So, do you?"

"Of course, I do, Sexy-buki. I love you with all my heart."

"Then, let me handle this situation myself while you handle your bitch of an ex-girlfriend. Okay?"

"I got it. Take your time with it, a'ight? I don't want you to get hurt."

"What makes you think I'll get hurt? I'm a ninja, for Pete's sake!"

"I know, but what if… ya know… Govi gets too aggressive?"

"He's not…"

Tommy nodded in agreement with a smile before he gently gave his girl a soft kiss on the cheek before he headed out to class. Ibuki still sat there for a little while and when Tommy was out of earshot, she finished off by whispering:

"…at least, I hope not."

45 minutes later…

Tommy was really keeping his eyes open for Sasha as he walked towards his class with Snow by his side. Ibuki was in a separate class, taking an important exam. When he finally approached the door to his class, which was Physics, he took one more look both ways for Sasha before he took a firm hold of the doorknob, but before he could twist it open…

"Hey, Tommy!" Greeted a Southern female voice he knew all too well. He turned around and saw Sasha herself, dressed in her best as always and her long brown hair flowed in the breeze of the air conditioning. That never mesmerized the gentle giant, though. "Long time no see! How have ya been, baby?"

"Fine… until you showed up. How did you even find me?" Tommy replied with anger as he tried to open the door to his class, but Sasha stopped him by a hand as she spoke.

"I… uh… looked into a few sources. So… what's this I hear from Ibuki that you two are dating?"

"It's the truth. I announced my break-up with you before, but you never took it in like a real woman should." Tommy tried to get into class once again, but Sasha just wouldn't let him in. "Ugh! Besides, you cheated on me."

"With that Donovan guy?"

"Yeah."

"Naw, naw, baby. I ain't cheatin'. He's just a new friend of mine."

"You do know that you're the world's worst liar, right?"

"I'm tellin' you da truth, baby. I would never cheat on you!"

"Well, Ibuki told me one day that you were currently cheating on me as we spoke."

"You believe everythang that bitch says, do you?"

"I love her, Sasha! Enough said!" Tommy tried to get into class once more, but again… Sasha wasn't budging. "Can I get to class now? I'm gonna be late!"

"Naw, baby. You ain't goin' nowhere until you say you love me! Now say it… or you WILL be late."

"…" Tommy couldn't believe it. Once again, Sasha's famous manipulation tactics were soon to take over him and cause a new episode of the occasional heartache, but he promised Ibuki he would toughen up, if necessary… but he just couldn't hurt Sasha. He tried to maintain his anger as he tried to get into class again. Sasha, once again, intervened.

"You have to say you love me first. I don't hear it."

Tommy remained silent as he took in deep breaths and tried not to harm a woman, even if that woman cheated on him. He just stood there with his huge hand on the doorknob, which was held by Sasha's slender one as they just stood there for the next two minutes before Bobby showed up with Ryley next to him. Bobby was first to react to this as he quickened his speed and approached the two with an angry look on his face.

"Sasha?" Bobby yelled. "What the fuck are you doin' here?"

"I'm here to pay my respects to Tommy." Sasha replied smoothly.

"You're not even a student here! How did you get in?"

"Does that matter? Anyway, I'm waiting for Tommy to tell me he loves me, so you three fellas can get in class."

"WHAT? Tommy, are you gonna tell her? Because you'll be a complete idiot, if you do!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I don't love you and I don't care what you do." Tommy finally replied as he snatched his hand away from Sasha's. "I already told you. I hate you, I love Ibuki, and you cheated on me… and if you don't like it, then you can kiss my ass and go to Hell! Now, move your motherfuckin' ass out of our way!" Tommy gave Sasha a good shove out of his path before Bobby grabbed the doorknob and finally got it open with three minutes to spare before class started. Ryley and Bobby stepped inside first before Tommy made his way in, but not without giving his ex-girlfriend the coldest stare in history for a few seconds before he finally got into class and took his seat, slamming the door in her face on the way.

Meanwhile, in Algebra…

Ibuki was already done with her exam as well as ten more students and she just sat there, giving her pet tanuki gentle massages between his ears while he sat in her lap. Two people were on her mind: Govi and Sasha. On her thoughts with Govi, she figured that she could try to make peace with him and just let the past disappear, forgetting that dreadful event that took away her virginity. As for her thoughts on Sasha, it was pretty blank. After her encounter with Tommy's ex during the football game last night, she knew that the stubborn girl was going be hard-headed and she sensed that at a good time as she felt Sasha's presence outside her classroom door. She raised her hand at attention and her Professor pointed her out.

"Yes, Ibuki?" He said in a gruff voice.

"May I be excused?" Ibuki asked sweetly. The Professor didn't say a word as he motioned for her to be excused from class for a little while, leaving Don behind as she headed out the door. When she saw Sasha enter the ladies' restroom, she smiled in her head as she followed, keeping a serious look on her face.

When the kunoichi got inside, she looked all over for Sasha. She checked under all five stalls, but not one pair of feet was shown. She stood there with a confused look on her face before she was suddenly dragged into the biggest stall in the room and she realized that it was Sasha before she locked the door.

"Well, well, well…" Sasha started. "…if it isn't Ibuki the bitchy ninja."

"I should be saying that to you, you Southern whore!" Ibuki spat back, forcing Sasha's hand off her shoulder.

"You had to tell Tommy about my affair with Donovan, didn't you? How did you even know?"

"I'm a ninja, remember?"

"Grrr! Smart-ass! At any rate, I think I got Tommy to believe me this time. He gave me a cold stare, but I bet he's just playin'."

"You think he's just playing, but he's not, okay? What's it gonna take for you to realize that he doesn't love you?"

"It ain't gonna take nothin'… except a few words…"

"What? Words like 'I', 'Love', and 'You'?"

"Yeah. Those words."

"Well, those three words are never leaving Tommy's lips unless I'm in his face."

"Oh, really? You sound so confident."

"That's because I am… and, uh… oh! Didn't you hear? Tommy and I had sex after the game last night. What ya got to say now, bitch?"

"WHAT? How dare you?" Sasha had it up to here and, to show it, she gave Ibuki an extremely painful smack across her left cheek, leaving a red bruise on her face. Ibuki kept her head turned for a second before she slowly turned back to her… very slowly… with an extremely pissed off look on her cute face, making her brown eyes glisten in the lights of the restroom with horror written all over them. Sasha started to sweat nervously as she took a good look at her. "Uh, oh…"

"Did you just slap me?" Ibuki kept her angry look in check as she carefully pulled out three Kunai blades from her back pocket of her jeans. Sasha nervously shook her head as she tried to sneak out, keeping a close eye on the kunoichi and, when she was about two feet away from the main restroom door, she felt one kunai get stabbed into her neck and she fell to the floor with a scream of extreme pain. Ibuki still had on her civilian clothes as she prepared another kunai for an attack. Sasha slowly got up and pulled out the same weapon from her neck as she cringed with pain. "Touch me again. I dare you."

"Don't start cryin' because I smacked your ass. You slept with my Tommy behind my back!"

"So? He doesn't love you anymore. Now, do you wanna keep complaining and get another kunai as your prize or are you gonna get the hell off of this campus?"

"You can't tell me what to do! I own Tommy and you don't own nothin' from him! I don't care what you do!"

"Oh, ya don't?" Ibuki was about to prepare for another attack until…

"IBUKI!" A female Professor came in with anger. "What's going on here?"

"We have an intruder on our campus and she's standing right before you." Ibuki replied smoothly, quickly placing away her weapons without the Professor knowing. Sasha looked up at the tall woman at the entrance and chuckled with sweat all over her face.

"I see. What's your name? I'll have the Dean keep a close eye on you."

"Sasha Marshall." Sasha replied innocently. Ibuki watched this scene with her arms crossed and a confident smile. "But, I ain't no intruder. I'm just visitin'."

"Well, 'visitor', I don't see a name tag on you indicating that fact, so you must leave this campus immediately."

"Yes, ma'am." Sasha started to walk out the restroom, but she stopped for a moment as she looked back at the same Professor coming to Ibuki's aid.

"Oh, my goodness, Ibuki. You're bruised on the face. Did this woman do this to you?"

"Yeah." Ibuki replied. "She slapped me."

"Oh, you poor thing. Go ahead and gather your things and meet me at the medical wing, so we can tend to this bruise immediately."

"Sure thing, Mrs. Gregorson." Ibuki obeyed the elder as she shoved Sasha out of the way on her way back to the classroom. The Southern ex-girlfriend of Tommy kept her cold stare in tact as she headed out the campus and back to her hotel not too far from there.

Five minutes later, in the Medical Wing…

Ibuki was already sitting down in a soft chair next to the nurse while Don volunteered to hold an ice pack against her swollen red cheek. After about two minutes, Ibuki silently motioned for her tanuki to let go, so she could hold it herself, giving his paws a warming break. The nurse, who was a peaceful elderly woman in her mid-70s, got up from her seat behind the desk and carefully inspected Ibuki's face as she moved the ice pack.

"Oh, my!" The nurse exclaimed. "Looks as though Balrog came in and gave you a good beating… once."

"I wish." Ibuki muttered sarcastically. "It was actually a really hard smack on my face from this girl named Sasha."

"Sasha? She's not a student."

"I know. That's the whole idea. She's here not only to get me out of her way, but to try to ruin Tommy's reputation of being a good man."

"But, he is a good man… and a pretty attractive one at that. He's been here every once in a while for any sprained ankles, cuts, or bruises from football practice, but overall, he is one healthy young gentleman. Are you his girlfriend or something?"

"Yeah. I am officially his girl, but Sasha doesn't wanna take that hint for some reason."

"Hmmm… it seems like this Sasha person wants to really ruin your relationship, not Tommy's reputation."

"Uh… no! Do ya think? Ow!" Ibuki's cheek burned upon her exclaimation and quickly held the ice pack at the exact spot. "Damn it! She really hit me hard!"

"Such a violent woman she is. How did she even get in?"

"She didn't say."

"I asked her that very same question, baby." Tommy came in with Snow and his duffle bag, ready for practice. "She figured that didn't matter."

"Humph! Bitch!"

"Are you okay?" Tommy gently placed down his duffle bag as he approached his injured girlfriend and kneeled down to meet right at her face and Ibuki smiled slightly as she slowly removed her ice pack, so he could take a good look. "Holy shit, Ibuki-baby. Looks like Sasha gave you more than you could chew. She's usually not this violent, but I guess you pushed her buttons somehow. That's the only way she'll go all off on people."

"Yeeeah, I figured that. I… um… kinda told her about our little 'celebration' last night."

"You did?"

"I wanted something to get through her thick skull and that seemed to work perfectly, seeing her slap me as a result."

"No wonder. Somehow, I can't help feeling like that was the wrong thing to do."

"Yeah, well… beg pardon?" Ibuki did a double take on what Tommy just said and became both shocked and speechless as her boyfriend continued.

"I'm not saying you did the wrong thing, but it's just a feeling. I should've told her about it. Not you. It's no wonder she slapped you."

"…huh!"

"Don't take it personally now."

"Who said I was? I totally understand what you mean and I'll accept it, okay? Didn't I promise you that I'll accept anything you do from this moment on?"

"Yeah."

"Then, I'm keeping that promise until Sasha is gone both physically and mentally."

"Physically, though?"

"I know you want her dead for what she's been doing to you for these past few years."

"Oh, like you wanted Govi to die?"

"Please don't bring him up again."

"I'm still wondering why you're suddenly thinkin' about him… especially after he forced your viginity outta you."

"Tommy, please…"

"…" Tommy's mouth was opened after that statement, ready to continue his complaints, but he saw Ibuki's dreadful tears of fear leave her beautiful chocolate brown eyes and he gave her a loving hug instead. "I'm sorry, baby. I now realize that this is your business and I'll stay out of it, a'ight?"

"Thanks, Tommy. Do me a favor, then…"

"What is it?"

"Kick Sasha's ass for me."

Tommy chuckled at that statement as he tightened the embrace even more, giving Ibuki more of his love and respect he's had for her since they met.

Five hours later, in Tommy and Ibuki's dorm room…

Ibuki's swollen cheek was finally downsized and no more red was seen as she studied hard for another upcoming exam while Tommy did the same right next to her in bed. After about three more minutes of studying, Tommy's cell phone rang and he answered it quickly, seeing that it was his Mother.

"Hi, Mom." Tommy greeted playfully, making Ibuki giggle quietly beside him while she kept her focus on her notes.

"Hi, Tommy." Karthaji greeted on the other line. "How's my big boy doing today?"

"Great, thanks… well, for now."

"Uh, oh… what did Sasha do this time? Did she finally hit you?"

"Naw… but she slapped Ibuki."

"Oh, no! Is she okay?"

"She's completely healed now. The swelling took a little longer to deflate, but she's okay now."

"Whew, that's good. Wait a minute… how did she even find you and Ibuki?"

"Who knows? She wouldn't tell me… except a few sources led her here."

"I'll bet I know who gave her those sources."

"You do?"

"Of course, dear. Many of these inmates have been treating me with respect and never spoke a word to her… except one."

"Which is…?"

"This mysterious man named Govi."

"WHAT?"

"Tommy, what is it?" Ibuki came in with concern. Tommy silently shushed her as he continued his conversation with his Mother.

"Are you sure?"

"You know I would never lie to my own and only son." Karthaji replied. "Govi sure is weird. He's been shaven of his blonde hair and he's built plenty of muscle, just like you, since I've met him. He's been held in an insane persons section of this facility. I never figured out why… except every time I see him, he has this eerie grin on his face, like he's possessed or somewhere along those lines. Why do you ask if I'm sure? Do you know him?"

"Ibuki told me a story about him and her encounter with him. She was raped by him long before me and my team arrived on campus."

"OH, MY GOD! No wonder he's insane… and no wonder he gave Sasha the tip to Ibuki's whearabouts… and not to mention yours as well."

"Holy shit…"

"Tommy, what's wrong?" Ibuki continued to ask with concern. Tommy looked over at his girl and silently whispered with his shocked face still in check:

"Ibuki… Govi met my Mother."

"…" This left Ibuki speechless and shocked all at once for about two minutes before she suddenly forced her notebook off of her lap and rushed to the bathroom with a green face. Tommy watched her with concern before he finished up the conversation quickly.

"Mom, I gotta go. I have a feeling Ibuki's nerves are more sensitive than mine when it comes to a past people never want to remember." Tommy said in a serious tone of his deep voice.

"Okay, honey." Karthaji replied in a reassuring voice. "By the way, he never touched me."

"Good. Bye, Mom. I love you."

"I love you, too, sweetie. Please take care of Ibuki while you still can."

"I will." After that was stated, Tommy hung up the phone and rushed into the bathroom to check on his girl. Don and Snow saw this scene from where they lay, next to the dresser, and showed looks of concern before they eventually fell asleep.

To be continued…