Bloody Roar III: Reunited by Chance, a Reflection of the Past
By Tiger5913
Chapter 23
Letting Tensions Run Free
A rare night out for relaxation
Occurs in the midst of all the events
The tension is lifted; temporarily resolved
Curiosity makes its appearance
At a supposedly casual act.
"I swear, you two act like a couple from the movies!"
At the remark, pink flushed the cheeks of the cat zoanthrope as she giggled and replied, "Aww, we're not, Chrysta…"
"Hehe, admit it; it's like Romeo and Juliet without the tragedy," her other best friend commented.
"Ke-ri!" she protested weakly.
"Hey, you and Kenji are really cute! That's all she's trying to say!" Chrysta defended, chucking giddily.
"Oh yeah? And what about you and Curt, Erika and Ryan, hmm?"
Laughing softly at her friends who had began to blush; the brown-haired teenager shook her head in slight exasperation. Loud music pounded in her ears, coupled with various colored lights flashing over the girls. Taking in a thin breath, Uriko caught a whiff of the musky air emitting from the other teenagers and coughed. As her body twisted and moved to the rhythmic beat of the fast-paced song, she grinned at her companions, trying to ignore the slight suffocating feeling that was building up inside her.
Starting to fan herself, Erika slowed to a stop and said a little breathlessly, "Man, can't believe it's been almost three hours already since we came here-!"
"Maybe we should take a break?" The ebony-haired female suggested.
"Yeah, I think that'd be a good idea," she inputted, wiping away the beads of sweat that glistened on her forehead from the flashing lights.
Nodding her agreement, the Kenpo student turned and started heading towards an empty booth of the Teen Zone, motioning for the two others behind her to follow. Plopping down on the cushy seat with a serene sigh, she felt her muscles instantly begin to relax, releasing the tension that had built. Her friends sat across the table from her, equal looks of relief on their flustered faces.
"Hey, when is your lover-boy gonna get here, anyway?" The youngest of the trio spoke up. "I want to see how he felt about that test before I take Curt out for his birthday!"
Uriko flushed a little at the reference. "Um, he should be finished by now… He went to the school at around noon, and it's currently almost six…"
Erika's eyes widened upon hearing that. "Whoa, it's almost six? Oh, I'm supposed to meet Ryan at that time!" Giving her accomplices an apologetic look, she quickly hugged Chrysta, then slid out of her seat and did the same to her other best friend. "See you later!" she called to them as she pushed her way through the crowd and trod out the doors.
"So, um…" the cat zoanthrope turned to her remaining companion with a small smile. "Do you have anything special planned for Curt tonight?"
At the mention, her dark-haired friend shifted a bit uncomfortably, staying silent as her gaze danced around elsewhere.
"…Chrysta?" Her expression turned a little concerned. "Is something wrong…?"
"Um… Uriko, I kind of have a question…" her voice was quiet and hesitant, as if she was uncertain.
She nodded. "Okay, I hope I'll be able to help you. Go ahead."
"Erm…" the sixteen-year-old seemed embarrassed as she said, "I've… gotten Curt a present… but…"
Uriko smiled and proclaimed reassuringly, "Don't worry, I bet he'll like whatever you get for him."
"Uh, yeah, I hope so…" Chrysta coughed. "But you see, the thing is, it's his eighteenth birthday, and…"
"And what…?"
"We-ell, I… I know you probably are just as baffled as I am about this subject…" her voice grew even softer. "But do you think that Curt would like a more… personal present…?"
"'Personal'?" her best friend questioned, frowning in mystification.
"…"
What does she mean by that…? The young woman tilted her head to the side slightly in curiosity; her eyebrow raised a notch when the realization dawned on her. "…Oh… Do… do you mean…"
Pink flushed the cheeks of the ebony-haired student. "Um… yeah… I mean, do you think…"
Her companion managed a weak smile. "I'm no… expert… or anything like that, you know…"
She nodded. "Yeah, I know, but I'd just like to, uh, hear your opinion… Like, what are your thoughts on this…?"
The Kenpo student's expression grew serious as she forged eye contact with her friend and lowered her tone, a solemn edge to her attitude as she said, "Well, first off, this is completely up to you and Curt… Don't be influenced, pressured, by anyone or anything like that, okay?"
Chrysta gave her a wry smile. "All right, I won't. Curt didn't pressure me; we've just talked about it before, and I was wondering when I should… make the move."
"It's good that you two have discussed it," the seventeen-year-old mused. "So if anything does happen, you both will probably be prepared…"
"I'm just pondering on the 'when' part… I mean, how do you know when is the time?"
Uriko's brows knotted together into a tighter frown. "Um, that's kinda hard to say… From what experience I've had, I think that you should wait until you feel that you're ready."
"Until I'm ready…" her best friend let out a dejected sigh. "I don't know if I would even be able to detect when I am-…" Suddenly, her head perked up, her eyes widened. "Wait, hold on a minute… Uriko, did you just say 'from what experience I've had'?"
"H-huh?" She looked slightly confused at first. …Oh, crap… Blushing fiercely, she rested her elbows on the table and leaned her forehead onto her hands, 'casually' covering her face.
"You… …have before?" The young student inquired with earnest surprise in her voice. "Seriously??"
Oh, lord; oh, lord… Turning a deeper shade of crimson, her mouth went dry and her eyes squeezed shut in embarrassment, unable to answer at the moment.
"Uriko…?"
"… …Y-yeah." The feline zoanthrope answered finally, barely audible. How could I let that slip out…?
The dark brown pupils of her friend widened even more as she murmured in amazement, "…Wow… W-who with? Kenji?"
"…" She let the sixteen-year-old answer that one on her own.
"That's… Wow…" was all she managed. "Were you two, erm…" she coughed a bit uneasily. "…Beforehand?"
"It was, um," her cheeks felt like they had been doused with flames. "The first time for the both of us…" Kenji's gonna kill me for telling this…
Chrysta sighed, her expression forlorn and her eyes appearing starry-gazed. "How sweet… You two are so in love…"
The Kenpo student couldn't help but smile. "Yeah… I do love him… That's why…" she trailed off, still feeling albeit flustered.
"I think that is so romantic!" Her younger friend exclaimed. "It's cute, really! I mean, there's no else better for you guys but each other!"
Hehe, that sounds so corny… but true… A small grin quirked at the corners of her mouth. "I think you're right…"
"You think what's right?" A voice chimed in, straining to be heard over the noise level of the room.
Chrysta turned immediately at the familiarity. "Curt!"
Her boyfriend smiled warmly. "Hey Chrysta, Uriko."
The seventeen-year-old smiled back a bit wryly. "Happy Birthday, Mr. Eighteenth. How does it feel to be one of the 'old-timers' now?"
He grinned and put on a fake mocking accent; "You darned kids just get more smart-mouthed every passin' second. Why, back in my day-"
"You used to be cool, and one of us!" The younger female exclaimed with a teasing giggle.
Curt pouted playfully, pretending to look hurt. "Sniff… you're so mean…"
She placed a hand on his arm. "Aww… don't worry, I still love ya!" While he was flushing at what she had said, Chrysta continued, "Hey Curt, we'd better get going if we don't want to be late for our reservation!"
The solo male in the trio nodded and slipped his hand into his girlfriend's. "Okay. See you later, Uriko."
"Have fun you two," the cat zoanthrope said to them. As her best friend let herself get pulled up from her seat by her boyfriend, she whispered into the sixteen-year-old's ear, "Remember, don't do anything unless you feel that you're ready… And please don't tell anyone about… you know…"
"I'll keep your secret to myself," she promised with an earnest smile. "Also, I think that Curt and I will wait a little while…"
Uriko nodded her support. "That's good, decide what best suits the both of you."
"Thanks for the advice; bye!" The dark-haired female gave her best friend a tight hug, and then the Kenpo student watched as the young couple disappeared into the crowd of teenagers on the dance floor.
Remaining at the table, a small smile formed over her mouth as she thought, Kenji and I were ready… I'm glad our experiences were wonderful. Who was the one that came up with all the first-time-is-horrible bullcrap anyway? It wasn't for us…
Letting out a soft sigh, the young woman stood up and slid out of her seat. Maybe he forgot to meet me here and went home already? Her neatly braided hair bounced against her back as she braced through the mingled dancing groups and released a brief of relief upon sighting the double doors that led out of the building. She pushed her way into the cool tranquility of the night, basking in the breezy feel on her sweat-dampened skin.
The mahogany-haired teenager smoothed a wrinkle out of the red upper portion of her matador outfit. Black Lycra shorts hugged her slender muscular thighs, the thin material a couple centimeters shy of reaching her knees. The firm soles of her matching charcoal-colored feet attire met the ground as she strolled down the sidewalk, heading in the direction of her fiancé's house.
The enticing glow of the moonbeams from above shone down upon her petite figure, reflecting light off of her long silky hair. Her arms dangled freely by her sides, casually swaying back and forth in beat with the smooth current of the wind. Chocolate brown irises danced around the different aspects of the surroundings, taking note of the shadowed objects that ducked and hid in the corners. A soft smile touched her carnation pink lips, silently welcoming the serenity of the setting.
As she inhaled a deep breath of the comforting night air, a feeling of relaxation filled her body, soothing her. Her bangs blew gently into her face, brushing over her eyes, but a contented sigh was her mere reaction. The cat zoanthrope took in the quiet sounds, glancing around the place, overlooking a swooshing noise that was ignored by her ears. She did not notice the presence that was nearby, or acknowledge the form that dropped before her until she felt something firm collide with her.
"Oh!" She exclaimed in a hushed tone, turning her face to meet the person that she had bumped into.
He grimaced slightly, then quickly recovered and gave her a small smile. "You know Riko, I was told to always look foreword when I walk…"
"Kenji! You're back!" Flashing him a joyous smile, the auburn-haired young woman slipped her arms around his neck, embracing him warmly. She retracted a little and glanced at him curiously; "How did it go? Did you just get here?"
"Yeah," her fiancé answered. "I honestly didn't think it would have taken that long. There were just questions after questions after questions…" He rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"When do you get your results?"
He grinned and brandished to her a folded up sheet of paper. "The same afternoon."
"Wow, really?" She glanced at her companion, trying to read his expression. "Hehe, not that I have to ask… But, you passed, huh?"
Kenji flushed and scratched the back of his head a bit awkwardly. "Uh huh… Ninety-seven percent…"
The Kenpo student smiled proudly. "I know you'd get some kind of high percentage like that with the level of your intellect. Hehe, I bet you probably inherited that from Master Lo-" she trailed off abruptly, wincing when she saw his facial features tighten at the reminder of their relation. "Er, I… Um, I mean…"
"…That's alright, Riko." The dark-haired ninja replied quietly. "It… I suppose it could be a possibility…"
Her lips curled into a frown. "S-Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It's no problem, don't worry," he cut her off gently, waving his hand in dismissal. A small shadow of a smile played about his lips as he said, "Come on, let's get going…"
Nodding her answer, Uriko stepped back and fell into step with her accomplice as he began to stride down the cemented sidewalk. Casting her a secret look, he timidly slipped his hand through hers and their fingers intertwined together casually, as if by default instinct. Grasping the warm comfort tightly, a smile replaced her former expression and a soft sigh escaped her lips.
"You know…" the mole zoanthrope started to say, breaking the silence, "Things have been rather peaceful around here lately…"
"Yes, they have," his fiancée agreed. "I think it's a nice change from before…"
"Hmm, I think so too," he told her, a thoughtful look coming over his face. "But still… there's a kind of a part inside me that feels disappointed. I guess that's my…fighting spirit…"
"Oh?" She gave him a sideways glance. "Ever after… what happened between us and Xion?"
His mood darkened and he subconsciously quickened his pace. "…Pathetically, yes. That part is still striving for action."
The young woman shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant as she assured him, "It's nothing to be ashamed of. I… kinda have the same feeling too…" She ducked her head bashfully at the admittance.
"… Hey Riko…"
"Mmmhmm?"
"There's something that I've kinda been wanting to ask you about…"
A bit mystified as well as curious, Uriko nodded. "Okay, shoot."
"How did you…" he paused and cleared his throat. "How did you get your woman beast form back that night… you know, the one that you saved us with when we were fighting against Xion…"
She didn't respond.
"…Uriko?"
"…I don't know, Kenji." The seventeen-year-old female sighed. "I really don't… I just somehow… um, unveiled it… While I was struggling to throw those rocks off of me, there was a voice in my mind that kept urging me to morph a second time…"
"…Really?" Her fiancé appeared slightly baffled. "Interesting…"
"I was confused of course," she continued. "But then, a mental picture of my second form showed up, and… and it turned out to be the woman form…"
He smirked. "You're really lucky, you know, to have the possession of two beast forms…"
"I-I guess…" Uriko scrunched up her face a little. "I mean, it'd be great to have back-up… but still, I don't really like the idea of using it for battling purposes."
"…I think I know how you feel," the blue-haired ninja said sincerely. "Sometimes, I'm afraid that all this fighting will stir up… a blood lust of a sort. Does that make any sense…?"
She nodded solemnly. "That's pretty much the instincts were driving through my mind when I was at Tylon… The hunger and lust to attack others, hurt my targets, even those that I cared about or loved…" her eyes squeezed shut at the painful memory.
"......" Sighing, Kenji shook his head and pulled her more closely to him. "…I hate them for that."
Lifting her head up slightly, she caught sight of a house that the couple was quickly approaching. "…We're here."
He turned in the way that she was looking at. "Oh… yeah."
"Well… good night," The cat zoanthrope smiled warmly, letting go of his hand with reluctance.
"I'll come over tomorrow, okay?" Her fiancé returned the smile.
"All right," she replied. "Just… not too early, or I might still be asleep…" she chuckled lightheartedly.
"If that's the case, then I'll wake you up, Sleeping Beauty, with a kiss…" He half-smirked and leaned toward her, gently brushing his lips against hers in a lingering kiss for demonstration. A contented look on her facial features, she waved leisurely, then turned around in a different direction and started for her own residence.
"Riko…" the remaining bystander murmured, hazy brown irises settled upon her slender curvy figure, watching until her form grew faint.
A slightly forlorn sigh coming from him, Kenji reached a hand into his pocket and pulled out a small key. Facing the door, he inserted it into the lock and twisted the knob, pushing the tall wooden frame inward. Stepping into the house, he was met with dim lighting, and the sight of his older brother standing in the living room, just hanging up the phone.
"Um… hey Yugo," the mole zoanthrope greeted, a curious expression on his face as he turned to shut the door.
His head snapping up, the brown-haired boxer quickly grabbed a jacket that was latched onto a hook hanging on the wall next to him. "Wait, Kenji. Leave it open; I have to step out and find Alice."
"She isn't back yet?" Huh… he seems kind of preoccupied…
"I wouldn't be leaving if she was," he answered dryly. "I guess she's working late tonight…"
"W-what's wrong?" the young ninja inquired, feeling a bit mystified. "Is something bothering you, brother?"
"You could say that…" Yugo answered, not offering further explanation as he proceeded out the door. Pausing momentarily, he looked back at his sibling and assured, "I won't be gone very long, don't worry." With that, he tugged the door closed behind him, leaving Kenji to listen to his retreating footsteps.
…Wonder what that was all about. The seventeen-year-old thought, his brows knitting together in a small frown as his eyes traveled to flicker upon the phone that was sitting in the cradle.
End Of Chapter 23