Chapter 8: Some Things Never Change

Ed had collapsed onto the grass; Double D was the first was to tend to his friend followed by Eddy and then Nazz. May stood there shocked for a few moments even the football team began to form around the unconscious boy.

With watered eyes she briskly made her way to Ed but was stopped when she saw Eddy giving her a death glare "YOU!" he yelled while stomping towards her "this is all your fault!" he declared as an intimidated May began to back off slowly.

Eddy stopped in his tracks as seemingly out of nowhere Double D appeared between them with his arms spread apart as if to protect May. "Get out of my way Double D!" he shouted.

Double D didn't move "no, not until you tell me what you were planning on doing to May." His voice was deep and he glared intently at Eddy.

"I was planning on making her pay for what she did to Ed." He pointed to Ed who was being carried off by the coach and captain.

Nazz, Kevin and a few more players were watching Double D's and Eddy's argument. They saw that the boys were arguing with each other with Double D apparently defending May from Eddy.

"Eddy you and I both know that May's actions were not intended to cause any harm to him."

"Since when!?" Eddy shot back angrily "since when did she and her sisters ever did anything to us that didn't make our lives miserable!? Answer that Double D!"

He didn't have an answer and found himself holding Eddy back as he looked like he was out for blood.

"[Eddy you and I both know that when he was in his meditative state something went wrong and memories from the crash crowded his mind!]" Double D reasoned in mandarin.

May and everyone didn't understand what he said but they saw Eddy back off in disbelief.

"Bullshit" he stated

"[Remember Sifu told us that something like this might happen sooner or later, it was just unfortunate that it happened when he saw May.]"

"But he-"Eddy stopped and looked around having realized they were being watched and why his friend chose to relay his reply in Mandarin [But the way he was acting, it was like everything in Tian Shan didn't happen]"

"[I know, it seemed that the memories he kept in check were momentarily scrambled, resulting in a mental breakdown thus making Ed regress into his former self with all the memories from the crash and after gone]"

"[What the hell's going to happen to him? Is he going to be like that from now on?]" Eddy asked worriedly, his anger completely gone

"[No, if what Sifu has told me is correct then Ed will be in a coma like state as he will try and rearrange his psyche.]" The tension in Double D faded as he reassured his friend.

Eddy sighed in relief and Double D placed a hand on his shoulder "He's going to be alright Eddy."

Nazz had now walked over and Edd moved out of the way so that Nazz could calm her shaken friend. Eddy walked off with Edd close by but were interrupted by a sheepish voice

"D-Double D, is Ed going to be alright?" May asked approaching him with her hands held at her chest, her eyes hopeful.

Before he could respond Eddy bumped past him and stood directly in front her with a finger pointed at her face and a scowl he screamed "stay the hell away from him, Kanker!" The last word spoken was said with venomous disgust. Eddy then walked off

"Hey what's wrong with you dude it's not like she did anything wrong!" Nazz's shout fell on deaf ears.

Kevin gave Eddy a glare and he attempted a grab at his shoulders "Hey dork-"he was cut off has his own hand smacked him in the face.

"Don't fucking touch me" Eddy spat without stopping once and left Kevin holding his face, pained and confused. Everyone else cut Eddy a path, not out of fear but sympathy.

Double D watched his friend walk off and sighed before turning his attention to May and Nazz. "To answer your question May, yes Ed will recover from his, ahem, breakdown." Double D tried to reassure.

Hearing the word breakdown caused May to fall to her knees "a-a breakdown?" tears started to well up in her eyes and she covered her eyes "it's all my fault!" she was now outright crying.

"No I assure you, your encounter with him was not necessarily the cause of this." Double D reassured.

"Then what happened to him Double D?" asked Nazz worriedly.

Double D scratched the side of his face while looking around "I cannot say" he began to which Nazz gave him a frown "this is neither the time nor the place to discuss this." Double D's face was deathly serious now and to be honest Nazz was frightened somewhat as she never saw that expression on his face. He noticed this and softened his expression "I will say this though, there are bigger things at work here and I will explain in due time, say tomorrow in the library during lunch period?"

May stopped sobbing and looked up while Nazz nodded.

"Alright then I will see you ladies tomorrow." With that he walked off.

Ed was admitted to a hospital in a coma like state and the news of him making the football team was forgotten by his family who were too worried for his well being to care. Eddy and Double D were also with him in the hospital room, thus giving Double D time to carefully explain what happened to him.

"That's unbelievable!" Sarah yelled "You telling me that idiot is suddenly normal?"

Double D frowned at her insult "actually Sarah it is entirely possible. In Buddhism meditation was used as a way to calm one's mind and help seek enlightenment. After 5 years of this Ed has successfully reached a similar state and is able to freely control his thoughts and keep himself in check."

"Is that the reason why he didn't come back all this time?" Jill asked while stroking Ed's hair.

Double D nodded "yes that may have been one of the reasons; however I cannot speak for him. We all had different reasons for not returning and I fear it is not my place to make assumptions and give you one."

"The hell you do Eddward!" Jack snapped at him causing Edd to jump back a bit. "He's my son and he finally came home after all these years only to be in a coma after a few days!"

"I'm sorry but your questions can only be answered by Ed himself." He stated while looking at his unconscious friend.

"But-"

"You heard him" Eddy began cutting Jack off "you're going to have to wait until your son wakes up because he wouldn't want us to answer in his stead anyway." Eddy was now in beside Double D with his hands in his pocket. "Besides, you guys have a lot more to talk about than what happened today." And before anyone could say anything Eddy walked through the door.

Double D did a slight bow before following. Catching up to him Double D couldn't help but notice his friends aggressive behavior today I mean Eddy is an angry guy but after lunch he seemed even more on edge than usual.

"Alright sockhead what'd you want to say?" Eddy asked catching him off guard. Edd soon calmed down and appeared to be pondering something. "Well spit it out already, I ain't got all day."

"Yes well, I've noticed that you seemed peeved for some reason, did something happen to you during lunch period Eddy?"

Eddy groaned just remembering "yeah something did happen."

Double D turned his attention to him

"Guess who was spying on me while I using the punching bag." Eddy turned his face to Double D.

He looked down at his friend's face which showed some anxiety and then while thinking came to a realization "you mean."

"Yep" Eddy put his arms behind his neck "Lee fucking Kanker." His voice showed his distaste.

As much as Double D was annoyed with friends swear he found himself sighing.

"What's up with you?"

"Oh nothing Eddy it's just that Marie Kanker visited me during lunch period."

"Seriously!?" Eddy was surprised by this news but then a thought came to mind. "Is that why you looked like the library closed early after lunch?" He quipped

Double D rolled his eyes but smiled at his friend's joke "well sufficed to say Marie asked some questions that managed to dredge up some unwanted memories." Edd's smile faltered somewhat.

"Tch, you and me both" he then turned to the room they just left and pointed his thumb in its direction "and I guess Ed too huh?"

Double D couldn't help but chuckle at Eddy's comment.

"What's so funny Einstein?" He said annoyed.

"It's actually quite amusing Eddy"

Eddy raised his eyebrow "what do you mean?"

"I mean" he turned his attention to Eddy "after all that we've been through, the training, the knowledge and experience to become stronger, we still don't have a solid defense against those three sisters."

Then it hit Eddy, he was right, he handled Kevin like he was a boy. Yet Lee could ask him one question and he lost his composure. The realization made him smack his forehead in exasperation.

"Freaking Kankers man" He said tiredly but had a smile on his face.

"It looks like we have much to learn don't we Eddy?"

Eddy looked at him annoyed but turned to a grin "whatever you say sockhead."

Despite the terrible day they had, the rest of the walk home was quite pleasant albeit silent. Both Double D and Eddy saw their mishap today as one of the many challenges that their sensei would often give them. But instead of it being some hard physical exertion it was surviving suburban life and teenage drama.

As they entered the cul-de-sac Double D remembered about the task he was given prior to all the drama and reached into his messenger bag to pull out a flyer.

"Here you are Eddy." He said proudly while handing him the flyer.

He examined the contents on the flyer "ok, what am I looking at here sockhead?" He asked while looking the flyer in his hand.

"That my good friend is the club that I have chosen for you" He stated proudly

Eddy looked at him like he just escaped from a mental asylum then at the flyer. "This is what you came up with from the time I asked you to give me a club I'd actually want to join."

The flyer said Young Entrepreneur's club and Eddy was quite puzzled why his friend in his right mind would think he had an interest in business.

"Are you serious?" Eddy waved the flyer in front of him.

"Quite so I'm afraid." Double D had his face straight, eyes closed and a smile.

"Well you can forget it sockhead."

"Now Eddy, don't be like that. Think of all the creative 'scams' you have thought up when we were younger."

"Yeah sockhead 'scams' that's all they were, just stupid kids stuff and most of em didn't even work."

"Perhaps, but if you recall Eddy they all failed because of unfortunate circumstances or because of your own short sightedness."

Thinking back Eddy has never been one to second guess any decision he made once he it was made, he didn't take any precautions to make sure that his ideas bore fruition. Back then in the name of making money he simply didn't have the patience to listen to his friend to make sure his great idea would be capable of actually working before forcing said friend to proceed or ignore him completely.

The fact is that he really did have some great ideas and even though he was reluctant to make another scam after the last one 5 years ago that caused everyone in the cul-de-sac to hate them, if this club could actually train him in the ways of starting a business to make money in a legit way that would be great.

After thinking it over he responded with a nonchalant "Eh, sure what the hell, might as well check it out at least." His tone was indifferent.

"I have the utmost confidence that you would be able to create a business that could make it Eddy, you just need the proper guidance." Double D commented as they separate to their respective homes.

"Yeah, yeah whatever sockhead." He said as he waved him off.

Eddy didn't go through the front door; he instead went around the back to his own room which he keeps locked. If only to avoid his parents, he still didn't forgive them for discarding his belongings, he hardly talked to them and every time he saw them especially his father the first thing to come to his mind was to knock his face off. This wasn't going to be a permanent state of mind but goddamn it, not even a full year and they sell everything he owned, just thinking about it made him angry.

After a hot shower he proceeded to do his homework, that's right Eddy is doing his homework. His sensei had made it a point to get rid of his laziness towards things that didn't involve money through painful sometimes inhumane means that will not be spoken. Eddy shuddered just remembering that hellish training, never the less he is forever grateful to his sensei for it after all now he could actually not take shit from the teachers or get detention.

Better yet he could rub it in the faces of anyone who would doubt his academic skills, especially the teachers who always look down on him because he would sleep in class. Not that he particularly had an interest in what they were saying after all he has to listen to them for the sake of passing. No the plain simple fact was that they were really very boring I mean c'mon it's an hour class and they can't even spice it up even a little.

Now his Sensei, he was a teacher and hands down the greatest in Eddy's life, he had to be if he thought Eddy Physics and he ended up actually paying attention and learning stuff. And it' not because he could kick his ass in a fight either, oh no his Sensei as too smart for that and knew that fear could only work for so long, no Eddy had to want to learn and what better motivator than learning bad ass techniques.

And that's where the spicing comes, see Eddy's sensei would use the carrot and stick approach in the beginning, if Eddy did not learn anything he would get back breaking hard labor disguised as chores around the temple. If he did learn something then his Sensei would teach him how to do moves straight out of his favorite kungfu movies.

That's right and it went on like this for several months until it became natural for Eddy to just automatically be astute in a learning environment if he so chooses. With his perpetual laziness washed away due to his training and tolerance for studying as an after effect of his Sensei's teachings, Eddy can now keep up academically with the best of them.

Meanwhile at The Trailer Park

May was the last one to reach home, opening the door she found Lee watching TV and Marie nowhere in sight, 'she's probably out clubbing again' May thought as that was almost always the case.

"What took ya so long?" Lee questioned harshly not taking her eyes off the tube.

"I had practice" May replied dryly.

Lee noted the tone and sighed before turning the TV off. "Something happen at practice May."

Just remembering what happened was enough for tears to form in her eyes. She turned to Lee's surprised expression. Lee walked over to embrace her younger sister and console her and thus a shaken May explained everything that happened during tryout including Ed's mental breakdown, Eddy's threat and Double D's assurance that an explanation will be given tomorrow.

Lee was at a loss for words as her sister continued to sob next to her. They had made it to the couch sometime ago. Lee scratched the top of her head and looked up in deep thought usually if her sister did something that caused someone pain she would just reassure her that it wasn't her fault and if someone remotely threatened them she would promise to deal with them personally.

But then she began to think about her encounter with Eddy, the look he gave her that actually caused her to feel something that she has never felt towards another person in a long time, fear. Lee shook her head and leaned forward and placed a hand on May's shoulder, May turned to look at Lee

"Would ya stop bawling already?" She stated loudly. May was taken aback by her words. "Double Dweeb already said it ain't your fault that the big idiot went crazy and fell on his face."

May sniffled before wiping the last of her tears away and gave a weak smile.

Lee grinned "now stop worrying about your stupid boyfriend" her grin turned to a frown as her voice got louder "and HURRY UP WITH DINNER!" She yelled.

May scowled at her as the door opened revealing Marie entering the trailer "DON'T CALL MY BIG ED STUPID, LEE!" She yelled before stomping off only to stop in front of Marie who was a bit stunned at her outburst and was giving her an incredulous look with a raised eyebrow.

May eyed her up and down with mild interest before yelling "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT JUNKIE!" May bumped Marie's shoulder going upstairs.

Marie went to yell something along the lines of 'fuck you May' but didn't bother, instead letting out a tired sigh. "What the hell's her problem?" she asked Lee who turned the TV on.

Lee shrugged "something happened to Ed and she's all emotional about it." Lee replied, not once taking her eyes off the TV. "What about you? It's just 6 o' clock, you ain't due for another five hours and I don't smell pot smoke or booze. You making a pit stop before going out again?"

Marie frowned and made her way to the kitchen "what, I can't take a fucking break from all that crap without getting grilled?" She spat while opening the refrigerator.

Lee took note of her words and much like May sounded off so she put two and two together and a grin drew across her face. Lee turned to see her sister with beer in hand headed for the stairs

"You met Double D today didn't you?" Lee spoke brazenly.

Marie stopped in her tracks for a few moments before turning her head to the side so she could see Lee's face from the corner of her eye "yeah, what about it?" she answered, her tone neutral.

Lee's grin grew wider "how'd that work out for ya?" Her elbow was on the couch allowing her cheek to rest on her fist.

Marie faced forward and continued her walk upstairs "NONAYA BEES WAX!" she yelled from upstairs, the sound of a door slamming could also be heard shortly afterwards. Lee chuckled to herself before turning her attention to the TV.

Marie locked the door behind her and threw her bag to the side before plopping down on her bed. She put her hands over her face and groaned loudly before spreading them across the bed to get a view of the ceiling. Marie felt weird, she couldn't put her finger on it but something was off after her meeting with Double D, his words kept echoing through her mind like a ripple in water.

After her meeting, she naturally snuck out the school to enjoy another day of debauchery but it wasn't there anymore. Her drive that is, it was like the excitement was….gone, smoking weed seemed boring, doing drugs was uncomfortable, alcohol was bitter and even having a sleazy one night stand with some random schmuck was disgusting, in fact she actually knocked the guy out when he took off her shirt.

"All because of him" She whispered to no one in particular.

Another thing that was eating at her was his words 'I..have seen things that caused me to have nightmares for months' she remembered the way how he trembled; there was no way that he could be acting. She sat up looking at her mirror, she has to know, and she needs to know just what happened to him 5 years ago. She can't explain it but she needs answers and if she has to go to school to get them then fine.

With a new resolve Marie grinned and went to use her bathroom, because tomorrow is going to be the start of something different.

To Be Continued…

Author's Notes: Good News my devoted readers I have finished editing my finished chapters of two new fanfiction I have written. Why is this so important you ask? Weeeell I once told one of you I think it was HappyPanda that when I finished typing the first chapter of said new works I would release two chapters of Return Of The Eds and so I will.

Not at the same time though, I like to let the anticipation stew before I release it so on Sunday I will release the next chapter which will contain a memory from the crash.

For anyone who is a fan of the anime Akame Ga Kill or Devil May Cry and RWBY you may check out the first chapters of my two new Fanfiction, although you will have to wait because I will probably post it the same time I post this chapter and there is a waiting period.

Anyway that is all I wanted to say, peace out!