Chapter 9: Once for Claudio and his Advances

At the hospital, Hunyo visits Margie as Josie cries for joy to see him. She also discovers the group who kidnapped and tortured was the group called DIRGE.

"So these guys are the same ones as they attacked Ibrahim. I never thought Lars and I would beat them out easily."

"Ibrahim is a former MILF soldier, am I right?" Margie asked him. "Why he is helping you, then?"

"He works in the PNP-SAF facility as a combat advisor. He also has a game character like you are now." Hunyo said in a serious tone of his voice.

"Really? He has a game character just like me?" Josie said cheerfully and Hunyo tells her.

"His game character is an Arabian. He and Lars got clashed in a fight once. But I realized that he was prone to violence. Ibrahim's former group mates are making a splinter group. I believe that the splinter group is now an deadly organization group."

"So you fought these guys, then..." Margie said and Hunyo replies.

"Positive, If you and your game partner are teaming up against them. That's what Jin and I teaming up to beat them."

"Oh gosh... I just left my shopping bags at Rhima's place, sob..." Josie cried while getting nervous as she walks in circles and Margie smiles.

"Don't tell me that you got a lot of shopping spree lately, Josie? Who taught you that?"

"My daughter Rhima just befriended Josie when she's with us. She got excited after she takes her to the mall." Hunyo said happily.

"Rhima is a very good person... She even let me play a guessing game too. She even take me to the mall for shopping and movies. She is also a fighter like me." Josie said smiling.

"I see... Your daughter can fight, Hunyo? But where is she now?" Margie said calmly and Hunyo tells her.

"I hate to bother both Rhima and Jin to get along. I even lend my hat to him."

Meanwhile, Jin and Rhima are walking uphill of Session Road which he becomes upset after hearing of what Hunyo had said last night he frowns by the time his father Kazuya has mentioned.

"You're still upset after what happened last night." Rhima said and Jin sadly tells her.

"It's because of my father, Rhima? I never thought your father would mentioned him in front of me."

"I cannot think of why my father is acting so strange..." Rhima said knowing of her father's actions. "Something bothers me when he was unconscious. He keeps saying that he almost ends up in a coma."

"Rhima... Don't tell me that your father is been after by the same woman in the roof access." Jin said worriedly while putting both hands on her shoulders. "She was trying to follow him all at the same time. She must be the one who let him down."

"He's trying to find her if anything means necessary. But, I never thought about he would be haunted by her after the explosive incident." Rhima said sadly and Jin becomes saddened by this and she noticed he wears her father's fedora hat. "The hat looks good on you, Jin."

"Really? He actually lend his hat to me just in case if Claudio would see me wearing this." Jin said while pointing out on his hat until Claudio arrives to see them.

"Well well... if isn't milady... You actually nailed me like the last time I saw you."

"Claudio...?" Rhima said and Claudio noticed Jin as he asks her.

"Who's with you? His physique appears to look like Jin."

"He's my father..." Rhima said pretending as Claudio becomes sorry he apologizes.

"Oh, I'm sorry that I hit you with my devastating ability. I could not expect that you're the person who saved Jin from my attack."

"So why are you here?" Rhima asked and Claudio tells her while flicking his black hair.

"I just wanted to have a romantic date with you..."

"A date?" Rhima nodded which angers Jin as he clenches his fists and she saw him getting angry. "Excuse me, I have some rendezvous with my father, don't worry about it."

"By the way, milady... Why is your father is wearing the same hoodie jacket that Jin wore?"

"He just borrowed it from him, sorry..." Rhima as she pushes Jin as both hide from him. Claudio smirks to see her as Krelian arrives to see his game partner.

"So Claudio... when did you have an idea to have a date with Rhima?"

"I did that date set up so that I want to know much about her and I can confront Jin." Claudio said in an gallant manner.

Rhima arrives and she finally decided to go on with the two of them.

"So, have you made up your mind?" Claudio asked and Rhima tells him.

"On one condition, I would know about you and your behavior and how come you and that guy from behind met each other?"

As Rhima goes to Claudio while Krelian watches them, Jin angrily clenches his fists after seeing Claudio takes Rhima for a date as he thought.

Damn you, Claudio... Are you actually want to steal Rhima from me...? Rhima is mine... and no one dares to touch her but me...

Jin also remembers what Rhima told him before she goes with Claudio as a flashback occurred.

Flashback:

"Rhima, are you serious? You're gonna date with him. I'm not gonna accept it..." Jin said raising his brow.

"Just relax, Jin... I know Claudio is looking for you. You got to pretend as my dad since you and my dad's head has the same size." Rhima said knowing of his appearance. "I'm starting to laugh at him by the time he thinks of you as my dad."

"Rhima... I can't let you do this. If you do that, you would break up with me...?" Jin said sadly towards her.

"I don't intend to do that, Jin... I'm doing this because Claudio is here for you." Rhima said knowing of his well being.

"You mean you're doing this for me." Jin said realizing of Rhima's plan.

"I hate if I see you get mad because I'm hanging out with another guy. I know Claudio's intentions... You have to pretend being mute and you will see how I retaliate his charade." Rhima said as she grins and Jin reluctantly agrees.

Flashback over:

Jin becomes upset and seeing clearly that Rhima would end up falling for him as he goes to stop Claudio.

At the Cafe of the Ruins, Claudio and Rhima are shown to eat together as Jin pretends as Hunyo while spying towards them.

"So Rhima... what's your connection with Jin. I saw you with him rowing the boat at the lagoon." Claudio asked.

"You're gonna asked me that same question, Claudio. Here's my answer, Jin and I usually were friends and we always hang out with each other."

"Oooh... I see it clearly... you and Jin are friends. To be honest, I was searching for him because he's a Devil Gene user." Claudio said calmly to her.

"It's not just about Jin, Claudio. There's another Devil Gene user like him but his father." Rhima said refers to him as Kazuya as Claudio tells her while touching her hand.

"Rhima, I just need to learn about you more. I've never seen you're an amazing woman."

Jin watches Claudio trying to make a romance towards Rhima while covering with a newspaper as he raises his brow as he thought.

Just you wait, Claudio...? If you intend to flirt her or make a romance towards her? You're gonna feel my wrath!

At SM City Baguio, Rhima and Claudio are having shopping while Jin still spying at them while posing as Hunyo. Rhima becomes impressed on Claudio when he takes on the dresses he chooses. Although, she was not impressed on him.

After that, both are watching the view of the city and Claudio feels the breeze of the night.

"I can feel the breeze every night. It seems that you can also feel it, right." Claudio said and Rhima ignores him. "What's the matter, milady... Aren't you happy?"

"I was happy... but..."

"But what?"

Jin continues to spying on them and he saw Rhima becomes upset while talking to Claudio.

Rhima... No...

"I like somebody else than you do, Claudio." Rhima admitted and Claudio becomes shocked while she rejects him.

"Ugh... So you indeed fall for another man? Sometimes, I am too reckless to make my plans go to waste. You like Jin more than I do, is that it?"

"Jin has a lot of experiences than you are, Claudio. He maybe have a Devil Gene inside of him. But he stills care about me." Rhima said calmly as she closes her eyes. "There's a lot of women are the fish of the sea. You can find someone which is right for you."

"Rhima, are you serious?" Claudio nodded as Rhima smiles but her expression changed to grin evilly as she taunts him.

"Claudio... You're pretty good to date with me. I know for sure your plans is to know me better so that you will gain control over me and to fight Jin fiercely."

"Huh? How did you-" Claudio said as Rhima heavily kicks him to his butt as he was knocked on the ground. Jin watches and seeing Claudio being hurt as he leaves in satisfactory.

"Sorry, Claudio... I know your deceptions once. I know sorcerers are strong using magic. If it's comes to a physical attack you're too weak. You know what, you're being weak-minded..." Rhima said coldly as she leaves as Claudio clutches his butt and knowing that he was rejected by her.

"Rhima... wait..."

After Rhima left, Claudio becomes upset after being rejected by Rhima and Krelian came to see him.

"So, Claudio... how's your date with her?"

"It was a good date... but she rejects me soon after. This is what I can't understand... How did she know of my plans?" Claudio said sadly while he clutches his butt.

"She must be very clever, Claudio... I think it's better if you find a nice woman than she is then." Krelian suggested and Claudio reluctantly agrees.

"She maybe right..."

Meanwhile, Rhima finally goes downhill after the mall closes and she saw Jin is leaning on the wall having his arm crossed knowing that he is spying on them while carrying Hunyo's fedora hat.

"Good riddance..."

"Jin... Did you spy on me?" Rhima wondered as Jin happily smirks as he wrapped his arms to her waist and he passionately kisses her to the lips and he hugs romantically knowing that she loves him.

"Thank you, Rhima... I really thought that you're gonna propose to him. I didn't expect that you beat him down just for me." Jin said thankfully in relief.

"I'm just rejecting his advances... I like you much more, Jin." Rhima smiled as Jin replies.

"I felt stupid to think you and Claudio are together. But I realized you're trying to deceive him to counteract his plans."

"Yeah... I hate if someone like him would deceive other people from his deceptions. But I love you more than anyone else." Rhima said smiling and Jin smiles and knowing that she loves him as he tells her.

"I like you even more, Rhima. Come on, let's get going..."

"Where?"

"There's a night market in front of the park. I'd love to hang out with you for a while." Jin said smiling towards her and Rhima agrees.

"Okay, Jin... I feel that you were hungry after you keep on spying on me." Rhima said as she walks away as Jin's stomach growls which he admitted.

"You were right, Now I'm starting to get hungry...Huh? Hey, Rhima, don't ever leave me behind!"

Jin then follows her to the night market as both are seen checking some things which turns out to be in second hand. Then, they eat at the restaurant for dinner. After that, they went back at the hotel to rest.

When Rhima is asleep, Jin knows he loves her dearly after she defends him from Claudio and his motives as he touches her hair gently. He finally cuddles her hair softly as he said to himself.

"Her hair is soft, Mmmm... No matter what happens, I'll always right by your side... I love you."

Jin finally falls asleep while getting close to her when she sleeps as the two sleep comfortably.

At Hunyo's room, He remembers the dream that he fights Kazumi after she nearly put him in a comatose state. She also tells him to find Kazuya as he decided to find him first before Kazumi as he thought.

Kazumi... I know you were out there to watch me. I already made up my mind... I'll find your son then it's your turn. I'm not gonna stop until I found you.

Trivia:

*The date between Claudio and Rhima is based on one of the episodes of Initial D: Fourth Stage.

*The background theme of the Radioserye, Mr. Romantiko has been played during the Cafe by the Ruins scene.

*Rhima tells Claudio about a lot of women are a fish in the sea so he can find a right girl for him after she rejects him a reference to my previous fic, Strangest Things 2: Time and Again as Kikay tells Rhima to find the right guy for her after she breaks up with Rei.

*The title of the chapter is based on both Strangest Things 2 and the unofficial fic, Strangest Things 3 titles "Once for Rhima and It's Rivalry Interlude" and "Once for Jin and his True Affections".