Well, here it is, the much anticipated next chapter of The Elite. I hope that you like it.
The Elite
Chapter 8
Sora was the first to walk into the room and gasped as she saw the enormity of it. Joe and Mimi followed behind her, arm in arm. They looked around the room in awe. The rest of the group was already gathered, waiting for them. Sora looked to see Kari, TK, Izzy and Matt all sitting at a huge table in the middle of the room. Gennai was seated at the head. Tai, whom she was choosing to ignore, was standing at a window to the side of the room and was turned, looking at her.
Gennai cleared his throat and asked them all to sit down. Sora started towards the chair next to Matt, and before she knew it Tai was there holding it out for her. Looking around and seeing there was no where else to sit she had no choice but to sit. She did not have to acknowledge his presence, though. She could not understand what he was doing, and it really confused her. He took the seat next to her and she glanced at Matt who was giving her an odd look. Deciding that she didn't want to know what the look meant she turned her attention to Gennai. She had once again gotten herself caught between a rock and a hard place and wasn't getting out.
Gennai watched the three and sighed. He would have to talk with those three if they were going to work together. He began his entourage, "Well as you can tell we have made your rooms to fit your personalities. The clothes also."
"Gennai," Izzy said. "Is there a reason our rooms were positioned where they are? Also, who else is on my floor - there are two other rooms."
Gennai could tell by the expressions on all of their faces that they were all wondering the same thing. "Well, on the bottom floor are Joe and Mimi, the next floor up is TK, Kari, and you Izzy."
Sora started to get a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she heard Gennai's words. He continued, "On the top floor are Tai, Sora, and Matt. You are placed here for a reason. Your traits all work the best together in those groupings. Now, onto business at hand. Each of you have a training schedule that you will be completing. As you expand your skills you will be grouped up with your floor."
Predictably it was Mimi who asked, "We have to exercise? Is that what the boys clothes in the wardrobe are for?"
"Precisely, Now your schedules are now in your rooms. Training starts in two hours at various locations around the ship. I expect full cooperation on your parts. You are dismissed, and good luck." With that said, he walked out of the room leaving the group to themselves.
"He does keep things short and to the point." Izzy commented to the group. Mimi and Joe started complaining to everyone about the physical work they would have to do. And Izzy tried to calm the two down. Kari and TK were talking in hushed tones to each other. The remaining three were sitting in silence.
Tai was looking at Sora who was doing her best to look at anyone but him and Matt. She was so beautiful. Maybe if he hadn't ignored her all those years and had realized that he had loved her, she would be with him now. He loved her so much and just looking at her took his breath away. She belonged to him, damn it, and only him. She just didn't understand that yet. He was still concerned for her. She, Kari, and Mimi all had no business being there training for battle. It was his job to protect them, he felt responsible for them all, for that matter. He had to keep this group safe.
Sora was lost in her own thoughts. 'I can't believe Gennai! Why did he put my room in-between Matt and Tai's?' Hadn't he realized they were all going through a situation, or had he done it just to promote a reaction? She loved both Matt and Tai, but she had been in love with Tai. Now she wasn't so sure. She had hoped to keep her distance from both of the guys until she could clear her head, but obviously she wasn't going to be able to do that. What was she going to do?
On the other side of her, Matt was deep in thought. 'I love Sora, but Tai is my best friend and he loves her. She is also in love with him. So, the only thing to do is to get them together. They are my best friends, after all, and our friendship is the glue that keeps this group ticking. I want whatever makes them happiest.' He sighed not really caring what anyone thought of him at that moment. Then his gaze flickered on Sora, 'My god, she is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.' He shook his head. 'They clearly belong together.' He looked at Sora and smile thinking, 'I love you Sora, and that's why you and Tai have to be together.'
Mimi's whining was what brought the three of them out of their thoughts. Tai shook his head and drew their attention to him. "Well guys," Tai said, "we only have two hours to explore and get ready. I suggest that we all go our own ways right now instead of sitting here worrying. This is happening, like it or not. Good luck to you all." He stood as did the others.
Sora was the only one left sitting. Joe and Mimi walked out the door and were followed by Tk and Kari. Tk was having to drag Kari out, because she wanted to stay and talk to Sora. But, Tk could tell that Sora wanted to talk to the guys, alone. He smiled and winked at Sora as they left. Izzy made his excuses and left after the four.
Matt was getting ready to walk out of the room when Sora spoke. "Matt, Tai. I have something to say to you." She stood as she talked. Tai was worried about what she was going to say, but elated that she was actually talking to him. Her voice turned his attention back to her. "The three of us have known each other for a long time. We've been best friends and I am not about to let you guys destroy that friendship." She turned to Tai, "Tai, regardless of what you think about me, I am your friend, as is Matt. We can't let anything come between that. This could be their biggest adventure that we face, ever. And if we are going to make it through, if we are going to lead this group and come out alive, then the tree of us are going to have to forget about any of the previous occurrences happening. Do I have your agreement on this matter?"
Matt nodded at her and she looked at Tai. He looked as if he was going to protest but she cut him off before he could, "Tai, I know you do not want to have anything to do with me for some reason. Get over it. After this is all over we can part ways. Gennai has it set up so that the three of us are going to have to get along. We are going to be in constant companionship of each other."
Tai looked at her. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but she wouldn't listen. So, he might as well go along with her, for the time being. "Okay, Sora. I agree."
Matt nodded, "I think you're right, Sora. This group relies on us three sticking together too much for us to be fighting amongst ourselves."
Sora nodded, "Good then." Then she smiled at them both. "I hope that you two won't have a problem keeping up with me when we meet to train."
Matt grinned back at her. He ruffled her hair just like he had done a million times when they were younger. "Oh no, I don't think there will be a problem with that at all. Right Tai?"
Tai looked at them and said, "Nope. No problem at all."
Sora grinned, "Well, I have to do some things and get ready for training. I will see you two tonight at dinner."
After she had left the room, Matt turned to his friend. "Why didn't you explain to her that you were sorry and that you loved her?"
" I know what I am doing, trust me."
Matt simply stared at his friend, "Whatever."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tk rolled on the ground like the instructor told him. He felt rather foolish, but he had to admit that this was a lot of fun. Sometimes society got really boring. The only reason he went to anything of the social class was because Kari was there.
He started to smile at the thought of her. Of course whenever he thought of her he got distracted and as she passed his mind he got hit by one of the swinging bags that the man was throwing at him.
"Owwww." He yelled out. The man yelled at him to concentrate more but his thoughts were still on Kari. He asked for a break and as he sat down and drank some water his thoughts focused on her. He loved Kari, he had always loved Kari. From as far back as he could remember. She was going to be his wife - she had already agreed to that. They just needed to tell everyone else.
He was worried for her, though. He didn't want her to be on this trip. It was too dangerous. But, he had lost that argument with her. After they had left the conference room he had voiced his concerns but she had stopped them with a kiss. She always had that power over him, to silence him with a kiss. But that was his Kari.
Actually, he was worried about the whole situation, in general. Normally if Tai, Sora, and his brother were united about something he would follow them into hell and back. But, this time he knew the there was not consensus between the three. They were letting their emotions get in the way of the problem at hand. He hated when the three of them fought.
He loved his brother, and he loved Tai as a brother. But, Sora held a special place in his heart. She was his best friend, other than Kari. When he was a child he had developed a crush on her, but had grown out of that, due to her sisterly conduct towards him. He had been sent to France to foster with a friend of his father's and had been scared out of his mind. But, Sora had been in France at the same time and they had spent many an hour together. She was the one who had encouraged him into realizing that he loved Kari.
Kari ..... his thoughts drifted back to her again. But it was at this time that his instructor was yelling at him to get up again. So, he had to push her to the back of his mind. Something had to be done about the other problem though. He knew they would eventually reunite, but when? The time was growing short.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tai drug himself into the dining room. It was finally time for dinner. He had just endured the most strenuous workout of his life. The trainer he had been assigned seemed to know all of his strengths and weaknesses and had attacked him in every way he knew that Tai wasn't used to. Tai had never hurt so bad in his life. For the first time ever he was glad to be done with his exercise of the day.
Glancing around the room he saw Izzy, Joe, Mimi, and Matt sitting at the table. They looked just as exhausted as he did. As he sat down he nodded in greeting to them all and he grinned at the pained expressions on all of their faces.
"I have never had to do so much activity in my life!" Mimi was saying. "He made me run around the room ten times! Can you imagine? I ....." she was cut off by Joe as he kissed her. The rest of the room sighed in relief as they didn't want to hear anymore of her complaining as they were all exhausted.
Tai knew that whatever Joe, Mimi, Izzy, or even Kari had been through was nothing in comparison to what he, Matt, TK, and Sora had been in. Sora may look and act the genteel lady but she had trained with him and Matt as children and knew how to fight. She couldn't carry a sword, but she had a dagger that she handled quite well. TK had told him that while in France the two often went into the woods and practiced their training. So he knew that she had probably been through some rigorous training today.
His thoughts drew to a halt as Tk and Sora came in with a very tired looking Kari between them. They helped her to sit down and then Sora went to her place between Matt and Tai. Tai grinned at her, "So Sora, did you have a good session?" He could tell that she was in as much, if not more pain, as the rest of them. But, he knew that Sora's pride wouldn't allow her to admit to that pain.
"I had a fabulous training session, Tai. In fact, I can't wait to go back!" She lifter her chin at him at this. This comment brought groans from around the table.
"You mean we have to do all of that again?" Mimi started to say, panic in her voice. Then Joe, once again took her in his arms and kissed her to get her to quiet down. As Tai rolled his eyes he heard Sora burst out laughing, and it was infectious. Soon the whole group was laughing. When the servers brought the food in, it was a united group of young, smiling people that greeted them.
The servers and Gennai smiled at the change in the group and soon the whole room was happy and lively with excitement. But, one person was not happy. One person in the room was thinking very different thoughts from the gleefullness of the rest. 'This group is unstoppable,' one server noted in his mind. 'Something has to be done to keep them from becoming even more so.' He would have to take care of this in his own way, soon.
A/N - There, this chapter is finally finished. Things are starting to heat up and maybe Sora will forgive Tai soon. This was basically just some thoughts and character development. I hope that you liked it. It took me three weeks to write because I have soon busy. Sorry. Well, hopefully things will come out soon. Who is this waiter and what are his plans?
The Elite
Chapter 8
Sora was the first to walk into the room and gasped as she saw the enormity of it. Joe and Mimi followed behind her, arm in arm. They looked around the room in awe. The rest of the group was already gathered, waiting for them. Sora looked to see Kari, TK, Izzy and Matt all sitting at a huge table in the middle of the room. Gennai was seated at the head. Tai, whom she was choosing to ignore, was standing at a window to the side of the room and was turned, looking at her.
Gennai cleared his throat and asked them all to sit down. Sora started towards the chair next to Matt, and before she knew it Tai was there holding it out for her. Looking around and seeing there was no where else to sit she had no choice but to sit. She did not have to acknowledge his presence, though. She could not understand what he was doing, and it really confused her. He took the seat next to her and she glanced at Matt who was giving her an odd look. Deciding that she didn't want to know what the look meant she turned her attention to Gennai. She had once again gotten herself caught between a rock and a hard place and wasn't getting out.
Gennai watched the three and sighed. He would have to talk with those three if they were going to work together. He began his entourage, "Well as you can tell we have made your rooms to fit your personalities. The clothes also."
"Gennai," Izzy said. "Is there a reason our rooms were positioned where they are? Also, who else is on my floor - there are two other rooms."
Gennai could tell by the expressions on all of their faces that they were all wondering the same thing. "Well, on the bottom floor are Joe and Mimi, the next floor up is TK, Kari, and you Izzy."
Sora started to get a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she heard Gennai's words. He continued, "On the top floor are Tai, Sora, and Matt. You are placed here for a reason. Your traits all work the best together in those groupings. Now, onto business at hand. Each of you have a training schedule that you will be completing. As you expand your skills you will be grouped up with your floor."
Predictably it was Mimi who asked, "We have to exercise? Is that what the boys clothes in the wardrobe are for?"
"Precisely, Now your schedules are now in your rooms. Training starts in two hours at various locations around the ship. I expect full cooperation on your parts. You are dismissed, and good luck." With that said, he walked out of the room leaving the group to themselves.
"He does keep things short and to the point." Izzy commented to the group. Mimi and Joe started complaining to everyone about the physical work they would have to do. And Izzy tried to calm the two down. Kari and TK were talking in hushed tones to each other. The remaining three were sitting in silence.
Tai was looking at Sora who was doing her best to look at anyone but him and Matt. She was so beautiful. Maybe if he hadn't ignored her all those years and had realized that he had loved her, she would be with him now. He loved her so much and just looking at her took his breath away. She belonged to him, damn it, and only him. She just didn't understand that yet. He was still concerned for her. She, Kari, and Mimi all had no business being there training for battle. It was his job to protect them, he felt responsible for them all, for that matter. He had to keep this group safe.
Sora was lost in her own thoughts. 'I can't believe Gennai! Why did he put my room in-between Matt and Tai's?' Hadn't he realized they were all going through a situation, or had he done it just to promote a reaction? She loved both Matt and Tai, but she had been in love with Tai. Now she wasn't so sure. She had hoped to keep her distance from both of the guys until she could clear her head, but obviously she wasn't going to be able to do that. What was she going to do?
On the other side of her, Matt was deep in thought. 'I love Sora, but Tai is my best friend and he loves her. She is also in love with him. So, the only thing to do is to get them together. They are my best friends, after all, and our friendship is the glue that keeps this group ticking. I want whatever makes them happiest.' He sighed not really caring what anyone thought of him at that moment. Then his gaze flickered on Sora, 'My god, she is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.' He shook his head. 'They clearly belong together.' He looked at Sora and smile thinking, 'I love you Sora, and that's why you and Tai have to be together.'
Mimi's whining was what brought the three of them out of their thoughts. Tai shook his head and drew their attention to him. "Well guys," Tai said, "we only have two hours to explore and get ready. I suggest that we all go our own ways right now instead of sitting here worrying. This is happening, like it or not. Good luck to you all." He stood as did the others.
Sora was the only one left sitting. Joe and Mimi walked out the door and were followed by Tk and Kari. Tk was having to drag Kari out, because she wanted to stay and talk to Sora. But, Tk could tell that Sora wanted to talk to the guys, alone. He smiled and winked at Sora as they left. Izzy made his excuses and left after the four.
Matt was getting ready to walk out of the room when Sora spoke. "Matt, Tai. I have something to say to you." She stood as she talked. Tai was worried about what she was going to say, but elated that she was actually talking to him. Her voice turned his attention back to her. "The three of us have known each other for a long time. We've been best friends and I am not about to let you guys destroy that friendship." She turned to Tai, "Tai, regardless of what you think about me, I am your friend, as is Matt. We can't let anything come between that. This could be their biggest adventure that we face, ever. And if we are going to make it through, if we are going to lead this group and come out alive, then the tree of us are going to have to forget about any of the previous occurrences happening. Do I have your agreement on this matter?"
Matt nodded at her and she looked at Tai. He looked as if he was going to protest but she cut him off before he could, "Tai, I know you do not want to have anything to do with me for some reason. Get over it. After this is all over we can part ways. Gennai has it set up so that the three of us are going to have to get along. We are going to be in constant companionship of each other."
Tai looked at her. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but she wouldn't listen. So, he might as well go along with her, for the time being. "Okay, Sora. I agree."
Matt nodded, "I think you're right, Sora. This group relies on us three sticking together too much for us to be fighting amongst ourselves."
Sora nodded, "Good then." Then she smiled at them both. "I hope that you two won't have a problem keeping up with me when we meet to train."
Matt grinned back at her. He ruffled her hair just like he had done a million times when they were younger. "Oh no, I don't think there will be a problem with that at all. Right Tai?"
Tai looked at them and said, "Nope. No problem at all."
Sora grinned, "Well, I have to do some things and get ready for training. I will see you two tonight at dinner."
After she had left the room, Matt turned to his friend. "Why didn't you explain to her that you were sorry and that you loved her?"
" I know what I am doing, trust me."
Matt simply stared at his friend, "Whatever."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tk rolled on the ground like the instructor told him. He felt rather foolish, but he had to admit that this was a lot of fun. Sometimes society got really boring. The only reason he went to anything of the social class was because Kari was there.
He started to smile at the thought of her. Of course whenever he thought of her he got distracted and as she passed his mind he got hit by one of the swinging bags that the man was throwing at him.
"Owwww." He yelled out. The man yelled at him to concentrate more but his thoughts were still on Kari. He asked for a break and as he sat down and drank some water his thoughts focused on her. He loved Kari, he had always loved Kari. From as far back as he could remember. She was going to be his wife - she had already agreed to that. They just needed to tell everyone else.
He was worried for her, though. He didn't want her to be on this trip. It was too dangerous. But, he had lost that argument with her. After they had left the conference room he had voiced his concerns but she had stopped them with a kiss. She always had that power over him, to silence him with a kiss. But that was his Kari.
Actually, he was worried about the whole situation, in general. Normally if Tai, Sora, and his brother were united about something he would follow them into hell and back. But, this time he knew the there was not consensus between the three. They were letting their emotions get in the way of the problem at hand. He hated when the three of them fought.
He loved his brother, and he loved Tai as a brother. But, Sora held a special place in his heart. She was his best friend, other than Kari. When he was a child he had developed a crush on her, but had grown out of that, due to her sisterly conduct towards him. He had been sent to France to foster with a friend of his father's and had been scared out of his mind. But, Sora had been in France at the same time and they had spent many an hour together. She was the one who had encouraged him into realizing that he loved Kari.
Kari ..... his thoughts drifted back to her again. But it was at this time that his instructor was yelling at him to get up again. So, he had to push her to the back of his mind. Something had to be done about the other problem though. He knew they would eventually reunite, but when? The time was growing short.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tai drug himself into the dining room. It was finally time for dinner. He had just endured the most strenuous workout of his life. The trainer he had been assigned seemed to know all of his strengths and weaknesses and had attacked him in every way he knew that Tai wasn't used to. Tai had never hurt so bad in his life. For the first time ever he was glad to be done with his exercise of the day.
Glancing around the room he saw Izzy, Joe, Mimi, and Matt sitting at the table. They looked just as exhausted as he did. As he sat down he nodded in greeting to them all and he grinned at the pained expressions on all of their faces.
"I have never had to do so much activity in my life!" Mimi was saying. "He made me run around the room ten times! Can you imagine? I ....." she was cut off by Joe as he kissed her. The rest of the room sighed in relief as they didn't want to hear anymore of her complaining as they were all exhausted.
Tai knew that whatever Joe, Mimi, Izzy, or even Kari had been through was nothing in comparison to what he, Matt, TK, and Sora had been in. Sora may look and act the genteel lady but she had trained with him and Matt as children and knew how to fight. She couldn't carry a sword, but she had a dagger that she handled quite well. TK had told him that while in France the two often went into the woods and practiced their training. So he knew that she had probably been through some rigorous training today.
His thoughts drew to a halt as Tk and Sora came in with a very tired looking Kari between them. They helped her to sit down and then Sora went to her place between Matt and Tai. Tai grinned at her, "So Sora, did you have a good session?" He could tell that she was in as much, if not more pain, as the rest of them. But, he knew that Sora's pride wouldn't allow her to admit to that pain.
"I had a fabulous training session, Tai. In fact, I can't wait to go back!" She lifter her chin at him at this. This comment brought groans from around the table.
"You mean we have to do all of that again?" Mimi started to say, panic in her voice. Then Joe, once again took her in his arms and kissed her to get her to quiet down. As Tai rolled his eyes he heard Sora burst out laughing, and it was infectious. Soon the whole group was laughing. When the servers brought the food in, it was a united group of young, smiling people that greeted them.
The servers and Gennai smiled at the change in the group and soon the whole room was happy and lively with excitement. But, one person was not happy. One person in the room was thinking very different thoughts from the gleefullness of the rest. 'This group is unstoppable,' one server noted in his mind. 'Something has to be done to keep them from becoming even more so.' He would have to take care of this in his own way, soon.
A/N - There, this chapter is finally finished. Things are starting to heat up and maybe Sora will forgive Tai soon. This was basically just some thoughts and character development. I hope that you liked it. It took me three weeks to write because I have soon busy. Sorry. Well, hopefully things will come out soon. Who is this waiter and what are his plans?
