Chapter 6

When Kachi awoke that morning sunlight flooded the small cabin. Below her, in the bottom bunk, she could hear Roku stirring. She peered through slit eyes at Mei's bed, and found it empty. Mei was an early riser, as opposed to Kachi, who rose late, and Roku, who rose even later.

"Are we in Olivine yet?" Kachi asked.

"Are you talking to me?" Roku half yawned, half groaned.

"Sure... why not?" yawned Kachi.

"I think we're moving... so nope, we're not there yet." Mei suddenly popped out of the adjoining bathroom.

"Good morning!" she said brightly. Roku jumped up suddenly.

"The bathroom is mine!" he exclaimed.

"No way!" Kachi flew down from the top bunk, just in time to have Roku slam the door in her face. "Roooooku!" whined Kachi, slumping up against the door.

"You snooze you loose!"

~~~

It had been the better part of an hour when Roku finally emerged from the bathroom. The hot steam enveloped the small cabin.

"Thanks for being so quick," said Kachi sarcastically. "I thought only girls took that long - really self conscious ones, at that!"

"Sorry, Kachi."

"Did you even leave any hot water for me?" Squeals from the bathroom later confirmed the answer to that; no.

~~~

It was nearly eleven before Kachi stumbled into the dining hall. Roku and Mei were just finishing up brunch. "We saved you a little," said Mei.

"You saved her a little. I wanted to eat it," said Roku.

"Gee thanks, Roku." Kachi sat down and ate the food. Mei handed her a flyer.

"Look! There's a ball tonight!" said Mei excitedly.

"A ball?" said Kachi, arching one eyebrow.

"A dance, a party. You know," said Mei with a laugh. "Its going to be so much fun!"

"I don't have anything to wear," said Kachi, looking for an excuse.

"You hardly seem the type of girl to miss a party because she didn't have anything to wear," said Roku.

"And you know oh so much about me," said Kachi.

"Sorry," said Roku with an apologetic smile.

"Whatever," said Kachi. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to be training all day. See you at dinner."

~~~

Kachi found plenty of trainers to fight on the ship, and she won every battle. She was by far the best trainer on the ship.

Dinner was early because of the ball. It was around five, and after training all day, Kachi looked exhausted. She was not up for a party. The other two tried to convince her it would be good for her, but she just yawned in response.

"Oh all right!" Mei said finally. "I guess there's no convincing you when you're like this."

"I guess there isn't," said Kachi with a weak smile.

"Stubbornness can be a good quality, just don't let it rule your life," said Mei. "You have to give in every now and then, every one does."

"Mei, lets take Kachi back up to our room so we can get ready and get down here for the party." Roku looked a little worried about Kachi - a normal fifteen year old girl should be thrilled to go to a party on the luxury cruise liner the SS Aqua. But Kachi wasn't normal... that attracted Roku to her, and also pushed him away...

Kachi lay in her bunk as Mei and Roku got ready. She wanted to go to the ball - but she couldn't have fun. Not - not - not yet. She just wasn't ready, not until she found her mom... not until she was the best trainer... She still had so much to do... there just wasn't time for little things like "fun". But wasn't training supposed to be fun? It used to be, but that was back when it just filled her idle hours, when it wasn't her life, when her mother's life didn't depend on her training skills...

"Have fun," she said to Mei and Roku as they walked out.

"You're sure you don't want to come?" asked Mei. Kachi nodded. "Alright then... bye..."

Was it Kachi's imagination, or as Roku walked out the door behind Meijin, did he look vaguely disappointed?

An hour or so later, Kachi could hear the music floating up from down below. She also heard talking, and laughed. People were having fun. Suddenly, she wished that she was having fun. She wanted to be with those people, she desperately wanted to be with those people... She hadn't had fun in ages... but it was too late now... she had nothing to wear and nothing to do with her dumb old brown hair... tears flooded Kachi's eyes... Mei was so pretty, and she was so ugly, and Mei had a fiancé, and Kachi was alone, and Kachi hadn't had fun or even been all that happy in ages, and Mei seemed to always be so happy... What's wrong with me? thought Kachi. And - and - and who's that coming up the stairs?

"Who's there?" called Kachi, a faint note of alarm reaching her voice. Surely most people would be at the party...

Mei walked into the room. "Just me," she smiled. Mei was so pretty. She wore her long green hair down, with a few tropical flowers tucked behind her ear. Her dress was pale green and her face glowed with happiness. "I forgot my purse!" A small purse accented her dress.

Mei's hand was on the doorknob when she turned back to Kachi. "Are you alright?" she asked. "Were you crying?"

"I wasn't crying," said Kachi. "But I want to come to the party with you, and I cant." Mei looked surprised, and pleased.

"Its going to be so much fun!" She grabbed Kachi's hand, ready to pull her down to the party.

"I don't have anything to wear," said Kachi, "That's why I can't go..."

"I have the perfect thing! It would go great with your pretty green eyes." She found a dress of green for Kachi. She did Kachi's hair up, and added just the littlest bit of makeup. The result was stunning - Kachi was far prettier than any one had realized!

Roku was surprised to see Kachi return with Mei, and he was even more surprised at how pretty she looked. In fact, his first thoughts were, "God, she's beautiful!"

"You look great!" he said with a genuine smile. The smile was returned, no one had ever said that Kachi looked great, especially not a boy (a cute one, at that! ^^).

"Thanks."

"Do you want to dance?" Kachi couldn't understand why Roku was asking her. Undoubtedly there were dozens of other girls who wanted to dance with the young eligible bachelor.

She was about to say no, but something changed her mind. Perhaps a little bit of fun would be alright - perhaps just a little wouldn't hurt. It wasn't as though she was betraying her mother - her mother would want her to have fun - take a little brake now and then -

"I'd love to." Roku smiled, and Kachi smiled back. Perhaps a bridge had been formed between these two battling strangers...

"ROKU, THAT'S MY FOOT."

... or perhaps not.