A/N: Next Chapter will be fast, expect it. ;)


CHAPTER IX

Asuka


Looking at the shambles left of what Lili's room was, made me realize the gravity of the attack we just survived from. The walls were down to shreds with barely nothing standing. The bed blasted on the wet floor along with the trash of cushions and cotton.

The muddy puddle would be shallow enough to cross without reaching above my boots but I chose to avoid stepping on it. I cross the end of the room, jumping from wood plank to metal scrape. The cabinet by the last standing column was parting downwards. I assume it's because of the weight of Lili's bag. It was soaking wet and almost close to the puddle, the only reason it still wasn't drenched in it was because its strap held loosely on a sturdy nail.

It was big and bulky and white, though it looks more like brown now after getting splattered by muddy water. I took it and immediately felt the weight of water. I held it far from me, letting the excess water drip its content. I jump back to the front of my room and leave the bag at the side of my door.

My room was another problem. The floor was wet, the bed was damp, the TV was on the floor, miraculously its screen wasn't broken, though I don't think it'll be working from now on. My own duffel bag was thrown to the edge of my bed, some of my clothes coming out and lodging by the zippers. I let a sigh escape my mouth. I took my bag, which was wet under and placed it above the cabinet at my left column. I took my boots off and crashed on my mattress. The dampness of the sheets welcomed me with a shrill of cold and somewhat, comfortable softness.

I hollered my body straight and rested my head on my pillows. Gazing up at the ceiling, I'm pretty sure that the footsteps above are coming from Leo's room. The footsteps were light, but it was fidgety, almost as if someone was running. I sighed again. How sweet, now they're going to share a room.

Without a reason to, my thoughts suddenly flashback to something Leo said awhile back up the deck.

"Asuka is definitely out of the equation."

I felt my eyebrows furrow, as if it moved all on its own before I could command it to.

What did she even mean by that? Out of the Equation? Like I'm seriously not even a considerable choice? For what reason? Because Lili likes me? Duh, it's not like something will happen if we share the same room. Besides, why does she care about that, I thought she was all in the Asuka-and-Lili-be-together-club with Xiaoyu and Alisa and some other crazy folks.

Screech.

The sound disturbed me, I stared up at the ceiling again. Another similar sound came, and another. They're getting into bed now. That was the only logical reason for the screeching. I can hear it too when I move too much at this mattress.

Screech. Screech. Screech.

What the heck! Can't they stop moving? Someone wants to sleep here! – I yelled in my thoughts, my eyes looking evil at the ceiling. My teeth pressed hard together.

Another flashback comes to my mind, now it was something Zafina mentioned.

"No, the bed is too cramp to let two people sleep. I can't imagine how I'll manage it."

Too cramp? I stretch my arms on the bed, it overhang greatly. It is small enough for only one person. I guess they're having a hard time to right themselves in. Yeah, no kidding, those two with their titan heights and big body, the only way they'd at least fit in is if they spoon each other…

An image of Lili being hugged, tight by Leo from behind came into imagination. It was an unwelcome picture that brought a stirring at my stomach and a painful tightening at my chest. It felt like stepping on crap.

I wriggled my head. Nope, that was nothing. I was just simply curious to know how they'd fit in bed…Yeah, I could picture the same thing for Paul and Forrest. And I did, I saw Forrest getting squished to the end of the bed by Paul, and he wouldn't complain. That picture brought me a sheepish grin, and a playful feeling.

Screech.

The first image went back, and the feelings turned upside down again. My eyes dilate and I rapidly roll to my front and take my pillow, putting it above my head. No one cares the hell how they sleep!

It's just a freaking screech, I can sleep through it. And I wish I did.

*Sour Grape*

It was well after breakfast when I was woken by continuous knocks at my door. At first, all I could see was black, then I rolled around and found my eyes searing with the sunlight hitting me direct in face. The knocks go on, and I growl as I stand up, looking at the window above my bed, I swear I'll cover that with something tonight.

I open my door, and momentarily get confused. "Why are you here?" I ask groggily.

"Good morning to you too." Lili greeted me with a dry smile. She eyed my room, then she winded her head to my right. "I knew you'd have it here," She crouched down and pulled her bag that I placed on the side of the door. She opened it and fanned the odor that came out. "Just the sign I was looking for." She dug inside the bag and took out a brown elongated wallet with the symbol of Dolce and Gabbana in a gold-like shimmering placard.

"Thank you for getting this, though my wallet and my credit cards are the only things I can salvage anymore, I still appreciate the effort." She kicked her bag down with her feet which I noticed were in yellow slippers. My eyes travel up course, and I realized that Lili was dressed in a pair of red shorts and a baggy gray sweatshirt.

"Your clothes…" I started.

"They smell like dirt now, I can easily buy new ones."

"No...I mean.." I point to what she was wearing.

She looks down at herself. "Oh, they're Leo's. Don't worry, I put your clothes aside. I plan to take them to the laundry shop when we reach Venice by the afternoon."

I should be paying attention to what she was saying but my ears seem to have hinged by the first sentence. So, she was wearing Leo's clothes now. The unsettling feeling from the disturbing image I had last night crept back into me. I was nowhere close to comprehending the next things she said, nor thinking of a reply.

Seconds later, I received a light finger snap in front of me.

"Is something wrong? You look like you're in a lot of pain." Lili slightly tilted her head to one side and focused her deep blue eyes on me.

"..No, why would I be? I'm not injured anywhere." I hectically came up. I don't like the added swirly feelings of having her focus on me like that.

"You had an awful expression just now. A face that looked like someone took your candy." She gave a little laugh at the end, surely thinking this as amusing.

I felt my chest tighten even more. This was not funny at all. My eyebrows valley down and without intending to, I yelled at her. "Get lost if you're done with me."

Her cool, relaxed stature became rigid, and her easy going expression faded into a straight mouthed, eyes blank face. "No, I'm not done with you yet," She placed her hand on her hip and pointed at me with one finger. "I don't know what you're problem is Asuka Kazama, but I'm not available to be your fuse-out. I'm going down at Venice later, and you will come with me if you want that outburst of yours to be set aside."

I swallowed, realizing I've been holding a breath since I said my words. "Sorry, I get grumpy when…I'm sleep deprived." Sleep deprive? Ugh, lame excuse ever Asuka.

"That must be the reason why you look so golem right now. Very well, go back to sleep, we won't arrive until late afternoon. I will wait for you in the Pier." With that, Lili left and I felt another hold out breath come clear off my throat.

I kicked her bag too and closed the door again. I went back to my bed and did as I was told. Mercifully, I did get to sleep.

The next time that I woke up, I felt calmer and more at ease. I thought it was because of the sleep but I soon noticed that the constant swaying of the ship wasn't present anymore. I stood to my feet, open my door and run out. We were now parked at a Ship Bay. Trucks were lining up down the pier, the name Caltagirone plastered on its body. The tanks of oil were being trolleyed down by the service crew, and far out into the center of the pier, I could make out the distinct figure of Lili, still wearing what she had this morning.

Oh, shoot! I gasp beneath my breath. I run back down my room, change into a casual blue denim shorts, a white tank top and a pair of black slippers. I run down the stairs provided for the service crew carrying boxes. When I reached the cement land of the pier, I noticed the big anchorage of title at the bay. Stazione Marittima Terminal Crociere di Venezia, it read.

"Mi scusi, signora" I moved aside to let a man wheel a trolley of craters.

The Stazione was bustling with people, foreigners invaded the area. Ships, of all sizes, and color were parked side by side to my back. There were kiosks of food, and street toys around the area. Bubbles floated in the air, and colorful balloons were being blown by clown-looking fellas who would then shape them into animals. I was faintly taking in all of this while I passage the throng on my way to Lili.

Lili sighed when she saw me come up to her. "Glad to know you chose me over sleeping all day." She said, giving me a brown fabric bag.

I wanted to say otherwise but I know she was somewhat saying the truth. So I figure I'd just focus on the thing she gave to me. I opened the bag and saw my clothes stuffed in.

"Let's go Asuka, we only have four hours to get everything done." She started to walk out of the pier gates. I followed her in wind speed and rapidly walked by her side.

"Everything?" I asked.

Lili looked at me and gave an airy laugh. "Surely you don't assume we are only here for laundry," we got out of the gates and reach a narrow road with brick houses aligned together in front. The houses were rich in colors of red, green and yellow, with windows that were larger than normal and made from wood. Most houses had vines of plants growing on the walls, while the road was paved in rectangular bronze stones.
"We are in Venice, Asuka Kazama, regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world." She said as if that makes sense to me.

"Yeah, it's a privilege to be here…" that sounded more like a question than a statement really.

Lili's look on me heated, and I felt a churn on my stomach. Her eyes zeroed in on me, like I was the only thing she can look at. Then she took a breath and let it out.

"We go to laundry then you come back." She said, breaking the silence.

I blink once before I reply, "Uh, what about you?"

She shrugged. "There's lot to do in Venice." What kind of answer is that woman?

Well before I can get to bombard her with more questions, she was on again in walking off, leaving me to run after her. The walk was awkward, she was walking ahead of me, hardly taking in my presence, and I tried to copy her. I roamed my eyes on the surrounding and found Venice as a mostly empty place. Aside from tourist foreigners, there were hardly anyone in the alleys and not one of the houses seemed to give the vibe of home. There were many times in the walk when I second guess if people really lived on those multi-leveled fancy households. For all I know, maybe they were just simply built to create attraction…

"Asuka" I felt a hand on my arm, I looked at my right and found Lili holding a red gate open.

"Sorry, I was busy looking at the buildings." I point my free hand on the structures surrounding us.

"Stunning isn't it?" She said with a warm, nostalgic viewing smile.

I felt a smile tug on my own mouth as I took in her features. Long blonde hair, with completely childish straight bangs that touched her high eyebrows and cerulean eyes under long, curly eyelashes. It was stunning. So stunning I can't help but not take it in. "I can't believe I never noticed it before."

"The real thing is always more splendid than all the pictures you can look at." I took my hand to my mouth. Heck! I just said that out loud!

Lili looked questioning at my action. I take my hand back to my side. "I…ah…it's nothing, why are you even holding that gate?" I tapered my eyes on the red iron fence she kept her hand on.

"This is the Laundromat, come inside." She glided me with her into a yellow plastered-wall building. We enter into a white tiled space acting as the lobby to another door that led to the washing area. Lili went to the front desk made of tall dark wood and talked with a bespectacled man with a long face wearing a white polo.

I couldn't catch their conversation because they were speaking in pure Italian. It's annoying how those rustic words form so perfectly in that blonde's tongue, and how wrong it sounded coming from the old guy.
Lili took out her credit card, the man swiped it on the counter and gave it back with the paper receipts.

Another man, this one looked younger and skinny, came up to me and pointed at the fabric bag I was holding. He said something in Italian which made me look at Lili for help.

"He will take care of the laundry for you Asuka, just give him the bag." And I did. The guy gave me a polite smile and gestured for the cushioned sofa set by the window adjacent to the front desk.

Some minutes later, I was scanning through an Italian magazine, sitting at the end of the sofa with Lili sitting one space away from me. We sat in compatible silence, each having a magazine up their noses. I guess I don't need to say that I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with the Italian words printed classically in front of me. The pictures helped, but it doesn't take a minute to stare at it and get bored. All you see are expensive wardrobe collections, perfumes, make-ups, some drops of jewelry and then there's pages of tourist-must-reads. The historical places looked cool enough to try and visit, like the Coliseum in Rome, but we're in Venice, so yeah, that's quickly out of the question. I kept on flipping the pages, finding something to be interested on, then I saw a tourist section with Venezia printed on top. I stopped at the page and looked at the photo of a couple, dress in a black tuxedo and gown, sitting on a boat that was gliding through a river between buildings and below bridges. The river ran for miles to the end of the street, and rowing a long wooden paddle at the edge was a lumpy man, mouth open wide as if he was singing at the top of his lungs.

"Oh yeah, Gondola's are what Venice is famous for."

"One of the reasons this city is just so romantic." Lili said with a passionate voice and eyes twinkling at me.

What? I said that out loud again? What is my mouth becoming to?

Act normal Asuka, come on and smile. I stretch my lips, and I know how crooked my smile must look like right now. Lili doesn't seem to notice it though, she went into a daydream faze, looking straight and grinning like crazy. It was a dreamy, hopeful look, lovesick even. Her mouth curled into a wide smile and like clockwork I smiled too. Her mouth moved open, and I could feel myself get excited to hear what she would say. In such a paradise expression, I was expecting a wild, sweet, romantic revelation, but instead, she says -a little too wistful "Leo…"

My smiled disappears and any mutual bliss I felt in synch with her came with it. "Leo?" I asked, a little annoyed that the question sounded so uptight and croaked from my throat.

The inquisition exits Lili from her paradise thoughts. She locks eye contact with me. I saw her open her mouth, ready to say something, it was just my luck that the laundry guy chose that time to appear and give my clothes back in a white linen bag.

Lili exchanged Italian courteousness with him and the front desk guy. We then went out of the shop and now we were back outside the brilliant, absurdly thin roads of Venice. Birds were flying above the roofs of the buildings, white, black, and some multicolored, they headed to the East of our direction –the sea.

"What about Leo?" I turned to Lili, who was looking far beyond the street.

She gave me a curious look. Oh no woman, I'm the one with a lot of questions here, you don't get to give me that look.

She opens her mouth, closes it again and then shakes her head. "It's nothing. You should go back to the Bay now. I still have something to do." She gives me a glance to the street we passed earlier.

I looked over it by my shoulder. It was just a straight path and two left swings from there to the bay, there was no way to get lost at all. "I'm not sure I can go back alone," Yet why did I said that?

Lili dismisses that fact and simply tells me directions in the fastest, easiest-to-remember-way she can.

"It's just going to be that way." She finishes, pointing her hand forward. She looks at me, and I don't really know what kind of face I gave her because she placed her hand on her temple and started to rub on it softly. "It can be a trifle to walk around here and not know where to head." She said, sounding awfully worried. She gives me a contemplating look, a long contemplating look. "Leo said…" she started and then lagged.

"Said what?" I took her stare back, encouraging her to continue.

Her eyes sway away from mine. "That it would be fun if I ask you to go for a ride in a Gondola."

I felt a heavy relaxation rest on my body. I actually sighed and slumped my shoulders, feeling so free from the stiff feeling I've been having since I woke up.

"So, it is either you walk back alone, or join me some more and walk back together. Still; I don't really believe you can get lost like you say so." Lili chimed.

"Is Gondola and Laundry everything?" Lili takes a moment to catch my reference.

"A bit of clothes shopping too. You do remember I've discarded my clothes?" I nod. "I would love to have my daily afternoon tea, but Italians have no fancy for tea, except when they are sick." I nod again, not sure what to say about that. "We can maybe have Gelato's." Lili gave me childlike smile. I could only give her a fake understanding smile. I don't know how she did it, but she sort of read my reaction. She smiled more and gave me a chastising chuckle. "It's just Ice cream, Kazama."

"Yeah, I knew that one." I lied and made a beeline to walk in front of her. "Let's put the Gel…Ice cream first, and then we can eat it while in the Gondola, and I'll accompany you to the shopping district. Sounds good?"

Lili gave me a warm, appreciative smile. She always did smile, but not like this. It's the first smile of its kind that I've seen her wear. This didn't carry things like confidence, or her rickety nature of being overbearing, no, I just honestly felt her happy. And I felt happy too.

"I'm glad that you're so eager about it, but we can't have you sporting that bestial expression." And there she goes, taking away my happiness.

"What?"

Lili's smile turned back to that princess smile again, flipped her hair and started walking further up the road. "I'm just saying that if I didn't know any better, I'd assume by the way you looked that you are actually excited about going on a date with me." She turned her head above her shoulder and winked at me.

I don't need a mirror to know that I'm starting a blush, and I try my best to hide it, no, act like it's not really spreading more than just at my face.

So, what? I really am excited about this. More excited than any other date I've been to, I won't deny that much. But I'm not telling her that, of course. It's not like it matters. It's just Italy and Venice giving off this criminal amount of romantic-ness with its sceneries and music.

*Sour Grape*

The streets of Venice were hardly filled with people. A few times in the walk, we met fellow tourists, clicking their camera in every angle. Then there were cyclers in tall wheeled bikes, having big straw hats accompanied with low humming. The natives of the place were distinguishable by their caramel skin, tall heights like Lili and golden brown hair. Most women had long, muscular faces which made them look a lot slender and sexy like. Many of them were beautiful, really beautiful, and I know I'm not the only one who thinks so. Lili still had the road before me, she was glancing a little from side to side, seemingly catching the pretty faces we cross now and then. I had the urge to ask her what she was looking at, but I controlled myself not to do so.

It was a long walk, with many turns from street to street. The small paths, and the particular similarity between designs of the buildings made it confusing to remember just where and when to go. Seeing how Lili navigates us both with ease, and hardly a thought where to turn, I'm well aware she's used to this place.

"Do you usually come here?" I ask, catching up beside her.

"Yes. More so before, when I was younger." She answered, looking far off in thought.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. I'd freak if you tell me you're not always here and know every way like a humanoid map."

Lili chuckled. "What if I only had a good sense of direction?"

"Nah, I don't think you'd be blessed with that kind of talent." To my surprise I got a slap from Lili at my arm.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I don't know why I even try to be with you."

"Because you love me." After hearing what I said, I rapidly slapped my mouth. Shit! I said that out loud again!

Lili snorts. "Way to rub salt on my wound, Asuka Kazama." She sings-song.

I cringe at her reaction. I didn't really mean to say that to rub it in her face or something. Now the walk was unbearable with all the tension thick in the air.

"We're here." Lili announces after we cross two more streets.

I look in front of us and saw a slim two door retail store. The doors were made of yellow glasses covered in wrought iron. A man with a green apron opened the door for us. Lili entered first.

Inside, there were only three tables for two at the right wall and the left was made up of the Cashier and refrigerated display case of Ice cream flavors. It was a really small, rectangular store with red walls, white ceiling and wooden furniture.

Out of thirty-five flavors, you can only order a maximum of three per cup. Lili chose Gianduja which is chocolate and hazelnut, and Fragola which is Strawberry. I had a hard time choosing what I wanted, and Lili was still a bit distant with me so I couldn't ask her what all the Italian flavors meant. I only found out her flavors when we were out in the street.

"So, uh…what flavor is mine?" I point at the red paper cup in my hand, filled with white ice cream and yellow raisins. It's called Malaga, and I have no idea what that means.

Lili's looks at the cup then she switches to me and lifts one eyebrow. "You don't know what you chose?"

I shrug my shoulders, trying to act cool about it although I feel totally embarrass. "I thought it be cool to try some weird sounding flavor." I laugh. Lili gave me another eyebrow lift.

"It's rum raisin." She says seriously.

"Oh" I lift the plastic spoon to my mouth and savor the flavor of the frozen delight. Ah, no. I mean, frozen yuck! I take away the spoon from my mouth and put my tongue out.

"Ackk, alcohol." I sighed. I tried swallowing my first scoop, making my throat feel icy and hot at the same time. Whatever kind of rum they put in here, it is definitely a strong kind.

"I know you paid for this in all, but…God, Lili, please, don't let me finish this." Lili gave me a side glance. She was considering her answer. I need to convince her more. "Look, I thought it'd be a nice, yummy flavor because of the fudgy looking gold raisins."

Lili stops walking and puts out her left hand. "Give me your cup."

I hand her the cup immediately, before she gets the chance to change her mind. She then hands me her cup. I look up at her, and she only smiles. She takes the spoon I just used and took in a big scoop of the rum raisin. It takes her four big scoops to finish the whole cup. She throws it in the public garbage bin and tilts her head at me.

"Better finish that before it melts."

"We can share" I take the cup close to her. "I'm sorry, you must have been disgusted of that flavor." I flinch when I remember how it tasted like. I can't even put to words the kind of appreciation I felt with her eating all that devil cream without one bit of complain!

"No." She pushed the cup back to my chest. "I've had enough Ice cream for the day. Let's just get a ride to the shopping district."

*Sour Grape*

The most celebrated, romantic Gondola ride didn't really turn out to be all it promised. Well, aside from the fact that Lili took a private ride for only the two of us, she didn't talk at all for the whole ride. The Gondolier wasn't allowed to sing too, because Lili told him –neglecting to let me know- that her head hurt. Anyways, without anything else to do, I finished my –her- ice cream and threw it in the trash can inside the Gondola.

When we arrived at the other side of the Grand Canal, I made an effort to ask her about how she feels.

"Are you ok? I can still let you borrow my clothes if you're not up for shopping anymore." She was about to give me an answer when I started talking again. "Just so, you know…you won't have to borrow anything from Leo again." I blink in surprise. Did I just actually say that?

It felt strange for me to say that, but Lili doesn't seem to see anything wrong with it. She dismisses whatever reason behind my last sentence. "Tempting, but no, thank you." She then gives me a solemn look. "The rum did some nerve ache on me, but I'm never too sick to be down for shopping."

"Oh yeah? Cool." I smiled. Lili suddenly started to laugh, it was a gentle laugh that caught me off guard and made me want to laugh with her. But logic comes first. "Ok, I give up, what's so funny?" I raise my hands up in surrender.

To be Continued...


Romak 1997: Yeah, of course, your info matters! Thank you for that again :) Sorry about the inhuman action in your sea borders, it really is sad to know that a lot of people have ruined lives because of real evils in the world. Thank you for appreciating the action, and yes, they do have more control over their devils here since this is a bit of AU, and yes, it will continue up to the rest of the story. Haha, yeah, the silliness of that fact makes it more entertaining to think about, kind of like all the kinds of silliness that happens in Tekken Canon xD. Thank you always, I will keep it up!

Mhuki: Thanks, and sorry for the mistakes, man I really need to edit these things better. And yeah, I did make a mistake with that thunder thingy, but I fixed it now ^^ thanks for the point out. It is sweet :) Haha, some things happen for a reason ;)

Sneeringflame: Whew! glad to hear that! Jun will come out here soon, so I'm just referencing her for now :D haha, well, again, some things happen for a reason ;)

AsukaEnergetic1: Yeah, sorry about that, and this too! she is confused, and she sure does have a big jerky confused heart xD haha, I'd laugh to see this bombarded with emoji's! and yes, more is here.

Nutellaholic: Wow thanks! I'm happy to hear that I'm doing a good job with the princess. Haha, that's what a bunch of pirates will get if they try to infiltrate a ship protected by Tekken, and lead by Kazuya xD Asuka should get scared sometimes too! you're wait is over? xD no, there's still so much to happen... Well, everyone has the right to have the stage :D and Thank you, I hope this gives your wait some worth :D

DaMastah101: Thank you, I'm doing well now :) Haha, yup, pretty much sums up the whole chap! haha, randomness is more exciting than being expected xD