Chapter 7 - Pursuing The Truth
It was night when everybody was sleeping when Kula started having another nightmare
Kula saw herself awake inside the apartment destroyed, for her horror she saw the bodies of her family lying on the ground.
Kula starts walking slowy and sees the bodies of Seirah and K' on the ground too.
"(K'!)" - Kula runned towards K' and she tried to awaken him
"(K'! K'! Please wake up! Don't leave me! Please wake up!)" - Screamed Kula in tears as she was trying deperately to awaken K'
"(He is dead, Kula. And soon you will be too.)" - Said Matriarch entering scene
"(You monster! What did you do to my family, I'll tear you apart!)" - In that moment Kula gets up and runs to attack Matriarch
Matriarch grabed Kula easily and throwed her on the ground
"(Look at me while you died, Kula. Look. At. Me.)" - Said Matriarch before using the blades of her fingers to kill Kula
"ARGH!" - Kula awakened screaming in her bed. Totally scared as the nightmare looked so real
"I... I can't let that happen!" - Said Kula alone in her room
The next day
It was a sunny morning in South Town. Whip was already awaken reading the newspaper when she saw Kula coming out of her room walking towards the door
"Where to this early?" - Said Whip
"I'm just gonna take a walk to the city." - Kula
"Alone?" - Whip
"Yes, don't worry I'll be fine. I know how to take care of myself." - Kula
"Ok, then. But give me a call if you something weird happens." - Whip was kinda worried but didn't want to bother Kula
"Sure." - Kula
Kula walked down the streets of South Town, thinking about the current situation
"(Why do I keep seeing that woman everywhere? I never felt this scared before. I felt like she could appear out of nowhere.)" - Kula
"(And I just can't stop thinking. What I'm going to do if she appears again? If it wasn't for that burning piece of wood, we would be dead at this point.)" - Kula
"(I need to relax! ARGH! My head hurts.)" - Kula
In that moment Kula walked in front of a fancy restaurant and saw a couple eating together, wich catched her attention
"(How romantic! Those two look so cute together... How I wish those were K' and me.)" - Thought Kula imagining herself and K' in the places of the couple looking at the window of the restaurant
"((Sigh) If only he saw me the same way I look at him. He is such a headstrong idiot but I- I love him!)" - Kula
"(Sometimes I wonder what does he thinks about me? Knowing K' he probably only sees me as an annoying girl who is his friend... Do I really want to be that forever for him? Would changing my personality or look make him look at me differently?)" - Kula
In that moment Kula continued walking on the street, she was distracted thinking about her personal problems that didn't saw a small rock on the street and fell
"OUCH!" - Kula quickly got up
Kula found herself in a park where she sitted thinking about everything that had happen at the moment
"(Those nightmares are just the memories of my firsts missions for NESTS. I thought I had bury them forever but they have become more frequent every night, maybe is a signal. Could it be that someone I hurt in the past has returned to take vengeance for my past's actions? But who exactly?)" - Kula
"(I just want things to be normal again!)" - Kula
In that moment Kula saw in the distance two kids having an argument with a young blonde boy
"C'mon, give me back that, you idiot!" - Said the young blonde kid
"Or what, Rocky? Are you gonna tell your father? Oh wait you don't have one." - Said the kid who was annoying the blonde kid, having stealed his cap
"Actually, I do have a father but he trained me to defend myself against losers like you two." - In that moment the kid punches the bully who had stolen his cap sending him to the ground
"Dodge this, you little pest!" - The other taller kid was going to attack the boy in the back but in that moment Kula intervined grabing the taller kid by his arm
"WHAT? Who are you?!" - Said the taller kid
"Why don't you mess with someone of your size?!" - Said Kula throwing the tall kid to the ground easily
In that moment the tall kid got up again and tried to attack Kula
"Who do you think you are?!" - The tall kid tried to attack Kula but Kula easily dodged his attacks
Kula grabed the boy again and throwed him to the ground once more
"Strike 2!" - Said Kula throwing him to the ground
"So, tell me. Are you ready for a strike 3?" - Said Kula walking slowy to the tall kid
"Wait! We were just playing! We will never hurt someone like Rock." - Said the other boy going to where the tall kid was trying to calm Kula
"If you bother him again, I'll make sure you two regret it forever." - Kula was angry
"Yes. S... Sorry." - Said the two guys running out of the park
"I can't stand bullies!" - Kula
"Wow! You throwed him as nothing two times in a row, you need to tell me how to do that?" - Said the blonde boy impressed with Kula
"It was nothing!" - Kula
"No, seriously you were awesome!" - Said the blonde kid
"You're not to shabby either, you sure gave that guy a good punch." - Kula
"W.. What's your name?" - Asked Rock a little shy, he hadn't much confidence in talking with girls but he really wanted to know more about the strange girl
"My name is..." - In that moment Kula was going to said Miriam Valentine like the fake name she used in school but then she remembered how she didn't want to keep her real name in secret anymore
"Kula. Kula Diamond." - Said Kula smiling to the little boy
"(She is so pretty.)" - Thought Rock looking at Kula
"My name is Rock. Rock Howard." - Said the kid
"Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, Rock but I think I need to return back home." - Said Kula as she started walking home
"Wait! Wait!" - Said Rock running to where Kula was walking
"Yes. What it is?" - Kula stopped walking
"I... I...I was wondering if you would like to go with me to this cool place some streets ahead? Maybe we could go to buy some ice creams in the way. I invite them!" - Said Rock very nervous
"Ice cream?" - Kula
"Yes, do you like ice cream too?" - Rock
"Of course I love ice cream! C'mon, lets go." - Kula grabed Rock by the hand and the two walked to the ice cream shop
"So, tell me Rock? It is true that your father trained you to defend yourself?" - Asked Kula as she and Rock were eating ice cream on a table
"Well, I don't like to show off but yes. My father is a popular fighter in this town." - Rock
"Wow, and what's his name?" - Kula
"They call him Wild Wolf but most people know him better as Terry Bogard." - Said Rock
"Terry... Terry I think I have hear that name before." - Kula know she heared the name Terry Bogard before but she forgot where
"Well, you probably got to hear his name in the KoF tournaments. He has been the captain of his team with my uncle Andy and his buddy the Muay Thai champion Joe." - Rock
"Oh true, I saw them on TV once." - Said Kula lying, she did remember the fatal fury team but didn't wanted to mention her participation in the KOF tournaments to Rock
"Well, now you tell me where did you learn to fight? The way you moved when you dodged that's guy's attackx was just awesome." - Rock
"Is a large story but my sister Seirah trained me." - Kula lyed as she know telling her whole story would make Rock felt confused
"Wow, she must be so cool like you." - Rock
"Thanks for the ice cream, it was delicious!" - Said Kula finishing her ice cream
"No problem." - Rock
"Hey, didn't you tell me there was this cool place you wanted to go to?" - Kula
"Ah true. I don't know if you have ever go to this places before, is an arcade place some streets ahead." - Rock
"Arcade place? Yes, I know them. I went to one once with..." - In that moment a teared rolled out of Kula's eye, she remembered the time Amelia took her to an arcade place when she assisted to school
"Are you alright?" - Said Rock concerned about Kula's sudden silence and small tear
"Is nothing. Yes I went to one some weeks ago." - Kula
"Great! Then we should go now when the best games are available and there's not alot of people." - Rock and Kula went to the arcade place
Kula and Rock went to the arcade place and played some games together until the time to say goodbye came
"Wow, Kula. I didn't know you were pretty good in that game." - Said Rock
"Let's just say I got some practice with it." - Kula
"Oh well, look at the hour! I need to return to my home now." - Rock
"Sure, do you want to visit other places tomorrow?" - Kula
"Really? I mean sure, we can see each other tomorrow. What do you say we meet again in the park?" - Rock
"Same hour?" - Kula
"Same hour." - Rock
Kula walked back to her house. Entering the hotel and reuniting with Seirah who was waiting for her to come back alongside everyone else.
"Kula. You arrived just in time, I was going to go search for you. Where have you been?" - Whip
"I was with a new friend I made. He showed me some parts of the city." - Kula
"Friend? Well, that's ok. Listen I called you all because I wanted to talk to you about something." - Whip
"And what is it? Did Heidern finally discovered any information of that woman who wants us dead?" - Said Maxima
"No, but I think is time I confess something with you guys, something that me and Diana have we keep in secret for some time." - Whip
"What is it, Seirah?" - Kula
"Well, you see Kula. Remember the strange van and men that followed you to the park in kansas?" - Whip
"Yes. Their van was destroyed close to the street we lived in." - Kula
"Well... The thing is that-" - Whip
"What is it, Seirah? Do you and Diana know who these men are that followed Kula were?" - Foxy
"Are they another one of those NESTS Remants?" - K'
"... Kinda." - Whip
"The thing is that they... They are working for the government." - Said Whip making everyone surprised
"Wait, what?" - Foxy
"What's the context of this, Seirah?" - Foxy
"Back in 2003, after a report of the icidents with NESTS was made. The government, especially a certain group of politicians became interested in us." - Whip
"They requested information to me and Commander Heidern of K', Kula, Maxima, Diana and Foxy. Commander Heidern had suspicions about they sudden interest in us and gave them false identitys, names and information to protect us." - Whip
"Of course this pissed off that group of politicians who know the information Heidern gave them was fake. So a secret project was funded... NEO NESTS." - Whip
"NEO NESTS?" - K'
"The president knows about this?" - Foxy
"Yes, this guys created NEO NESTS with the excuse of being a project that would help people like us to control their power, help mental health and even giving them jobs. Also to collect information of the NESTS Renmants bases that have been operating in secret after the fall of NESTS." - Whip
"Or that was what they told to the president in order to get the approval of him. The intentions of this group of corrupt people are totally different." - Whip
"How so?" - K'
"They don't want to help anyone that worked for NESTS in the past, they want to use them to create their own weapons of war... Or "Super Soldiers" As they call it." - Whip
"During years they have been looking for us but thanks to the fake information Heidern gave them, we remained anonym... Until now." - Whip
"How do they got information about us? That's pretty simple, they partnered with a small NESTS Remnants base hidden in South Carolina who gave them our faces and information." - Whip
"So you and Diana know about it all this time?" - Maxima
"I had a good reason to hide it. I didn't want to make Kula worry about her safety, deep down I thought knowing this would affect her." - Diana
"I thought they would never manage to find us as long as we lay low but didn't count with them partnering with people from a NESTS remnants base." - Diana
"So, you're telling me this group of corrupt politicians want to capture us to create an army with our DNA?" - Kula
"Yes, all of that with official permission to arrest us." - Whip
"Seirah, do you think that woman, Matriarch is connected to them?" - Foxy
"I... Really don't know. I wish I could answer that question but it seens we have two enemies coming after us." - Whip
"We need to put more attention and be prepare if we see anything weird." - Said Whip as everyone went to sleep, it seens like K' and Maxima weren't happy to hear that.
The next day
Rock and Kula had reunited again, Kula asked Rock to give her a tour around other places of the city
Their first destination was the beach
"So what do you think of this place?" - Rock
"Is beautiful! The sea, the people surfing and warm sand. This is a good place to pass the time." - Kula
"You're right! I forgot how beautiful was this place, then again I used to spent alot of time here after my mother's dead." - Rock
"I'm sorry about it." - Said Kula to Rock as she understood her pain
"Don't worry about it, Kula. I'm fine." - Rock
"I understand your pain, I also loss someone who was very important to me... My friend Amelia." - Kula remembered her friend
"She loved the sea too, she once told me her parents married on a beach like this, that she wanted to marry one day the same way her parents married... On a beach." - Kula
"I really can't help but miss her alot." - Kula
Rock saw the sad expression of Kula and got up
"My father Terry, he always says, people never die as long as someone always remembers them." - Rock
In that moment Kula looked at Rock in the eyes, both smiled understanding that they had some things in common.
"There's other places that I want to show you, follow me." - Rock and Kula walked to other interesting place of South Town
Later that day
Kula returned home and went to search Whip in her room. She found her sitting in her room
"So how it was your day, Kula?" - Whip
"It was good, Rock took me to look at other interesting places of the city. Didn't know this city has a skater park and a fair." - Kula
"You have been espending alot of time with him, careful! K' might get jealous of you two." - Whip
"I doubt it." - Kula said in a sad tone
"Give him time, I'm sure he will answer to that question of you back in the plane." - Said Whip refering to Kula's question to K' on the plane
"You hear us?" - Said Kula surprised
"Kula, I was behind you two. Of course I heared it." - Whip
"And don't worry, he hasn't go out with that girl. I told you that type of girls are not his type." - Said Whip refering to the girl from Pao Pao Cafe
"I'm starting to doubt I'm the type of girl he wants either... Do you think I should change my look?" - Kula
"Nah! I'm sure you're special for him the way you are. I'm not the best when it comes to romance but I can tell you to not be in a hurry." - Whip
"You two are young, just give him some time." - Whip
"I want to think that's not the only reason why you came to see me, right?" - Whip
"No. I wanted to ask you this, I'm really afraid of that woman. I had another nightmare the other day." - Kula
"She had found us in this hotel..." - Kula
"And?" - Whip
"She killed us." - Kula
"(Sigh)... Look Kula, I know how do you felt. I'm also scared of her but in moments like this we can't be sad or depressed. We need to focus on survive and think of a contingency plan in case she does find us." - Whip´
"That's what I wanted to ask you. Seirah, could you... Train me?" - Asked Kula
"You want me to train you?" - Whip
"Yes. I felt I have became a bit rusty when it comes to fight." - Kula
"Sure, I can do that." - Whip replied with a smile
"Thanks, Seirah." - Kula
"We will start tomorrow." - Whip
The Next Day
Kula and Whip were in the rooftop of the hotel, both were prepared to train
"Are you sure you want this?" - Whip
"Trust me, Seirah. I'm prepared!" - Kula
"Then go ahead, try to attack me!" - Said Whip going into her fighting stance
Kula launched herself against Seirah with her move Ray Spin. Seirah easily dodged it and used her whip to trip Kula
"Ouch!" - Kula
"You weren't lying when you said you were rusty." - Whip
"I know. I know. I can make it better than that!" - Said Kula getting up and preparing to strike Whip
Both woman counter attacked each other for some minutes, until Whip easily managed to trip Kula once more
"Again. Get up! Matriarch would have already killed you if you were fighting her." - Whip
"(She's right. I can't be unprepared if I meet her again.)" - Thought Kula getting up again
Kula launched herself against Seirah again but this time she manage to dodge Seirah's attack and counter it with her move called Crow Bite. Seirah did managed to dodge Kula's crow bite by jumping and was prepared to attack Kula with a flying kick but in that moment Kula counter it with her technique called Diamond Edge
"ARRGH!" - Screamed Seirah as she was hit by the attack
"Ah... Ah... Not bad!" - Whip
"C'mon, let's go! I'm not tired yet." - Kula
"Don't get cocky." - Said Whip getting up
"(This is going to be some tough weeks.)" - Thought Whip about the idea of training Kula
Kula and Whip continued training during the next days. Kula's days were divided by espending the mornings with Rock and training in the afternoon with Whip
Two weeks later
Rock was in the same park he and Kula had been reuniting since that day they both meet. Kula arrived to see him
"Hi, Rock." - Kula
"H...Hey, Kula. You look good today, h...he...Here I brought this for you!" - Said Rock giving Kula a bouquet of flowers
"Wow, Rock. This are beaufiful!" - Kula accepted Rock's gift
"(If only K' was more like you, Rock.)" - Thought Kula, the only other time someone had give her a beautiful gift was during her birthday by Amelia
"Thanks, you're so sweet." - Said Kula giving a kiss in the cheek to Rock
"I also have something for you." - In that moment Kula gave Rock the golden necklace that Amelia had give to her back in her birthday. Just changing her name for Rock's
"Awesome, if it even has my name on it." - Rock
"I'm glad you like it, I took the time to modified it with your name now. Hopefully I didn't misspelled it." - Kula
"So, were are we going to visit now?" - Kula
"I was thinking we could visit the aquarium today but of course, let's go first for some ice cream." - Rock
"Sounds good to me." - Kula
Kula and Rock were walking calmly to the ice cream shop but in that moment Kula heared a voice.
"Where are you going, Miss Diamond?" - Said one of NEO NESTS's Agents accompanied by a large number of agents
"Who are they?" - Rock
"Bad people, Rock, I need you to run out of here. This is dangerous." - Said Kula in a calm tone to Rock
"I won't leave you with these people!" - Rock
"Rock, don't worry about me." - Kula
"But.." - Rock
"I'll be fine, now go!" - Said Kula now in a more angry tone
Rock understood that Kula didn't want to risk him after remembering what happened to her friend Amelia and runned out of the scene following Kula's advice
"Good, now that kid is gone. Why don't you come with us, Miss Diamond?" - Agent
"Or how would you like to be called better, Miriam, Sandy, Ursula or the best one Rebecca?" - Said the Agent refering to all the fake names Kula had used in different places
"You people don't scare me! I know what you want to with me and the my family. I won't let you use me as your guinea pig!" - Said Kula launching herself against the many Agents that were in the street
"Unfortunately, you're not the one who decides that." - Said one of the agents launching himself alongside others against Kula
Kula was giving the agents a hard time, being able to defeat some of them.
"Quick, don't let her escape this time." - Two of the agents grabed Kula by the arms to hold her
"No. I won't let you use me as against my will. Never again." - Kula managed to free herself
In that moment more agents launched against her
"I'm tired of this! That's it... I just need to aim a little bit." - Said one agent pulling out a strange pistol
The agent aimed at Kula while she was distracted fighting with the rest. He aimed at her left arm and shoot, managing to hit her
"AURG!" - Screamed Kula after being shot in the arm with a strange dart
"You like it? This paralyzer darts were created to fight against you NESTS freaks." - Said The Agent with a smile showing off the weapon
"(My arm! I can't moved it or felt it... It doesn't matter. I must escape of them.)" - Kula
"I can't let them capture me! I must escape. But how?!)" - Kula felt desperated
The Agents of NEO NESTS started walking slowy at Kula
"You're under arrest, Miss Diamond." - Said one of the agents aiming his gun
To Be Continued...