Alpha Interactions
"How do you expect to protect my little girl with such pathetic skills?" Hiko barked at the boy sweating on the floor. They'd been training for the last four hours. And while he had to admit that Kenshin was a prodigy, he was sure to disparage the boy at every turn so that he didn't become over-confident. "Get up. Come at me again."
"Yes, master," the sixteen-year-old said, pushing his tired frame up off the floor yet again. By now he knew better than to argue with his legal guardian. The only soft spot he had in his heart was for his little half-dragon daughter. And Hiko was also convinced that Kenshin was going to marry her one day. Kenshin smirked evilly as he forced his tired muscles to cooperate with him. Little did the old man know that he had his own plans for romance. Kenshin was in love with the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu shinhondai. Agatha was like a sister to him and he'd already zinged with Kaoru back in fifth grade. He could still feel the way that first look had scorched through him the first time he looked at her. Yes, Kaoru-chan would be his once he worked up the nerve to tell her how he felt. The leader of the Japanese Dragon Council would be denied this time. He executed the move Hiko was trying to teach him properly at last, and the man released him from his training for the day. Kenshin didn't hesitate to run away to work on his studies. He didn't want to fall behind with midterms coming up.
The thirty-second master of the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu watched him go, secretly pleased with his progress. Though he would never admit it; his little girl would need the boy's protection in time. His training was incomplete but well-begun. He wiped the sweat from his naked chest, a chest that many of the women in the country would have killed to see, and went to call the African American he'd promised his little princess he'd talk to. Tyr had served as a faithful companion to his daughter over the years, respectful and loyal. But the boy may have outlived his usefulness. It was about time for his baka deshi to admit his feelings for the girl and begin his lifelong mission of protecting her. He'd raised the two children to be close. Kenshin was well aware of his wishes. Everything was working out according to plan thus far. With this pleasant thought in mind, he called her childhood playmate.
"Hello."
"Hello, Tyr. My daughter was wondering if you were planning to visit this summer or if you would be too busy with college preparations. I'd understand if you-"
"I'll be there. I didn't plan to disappoint my lady."
Something about that statement didn't sit well with him, but he let it slide for now. "We'll expect you in the summer then."
"I wouldn't miss it, sir," the dragon said, hanging up. Hiko disconnected the call as well, wondering what the boy had in store for his little girl this summer. His arrival always heralded a lot of changes in the girl's life. He was grateful for her distraction during those three months out of the year, but he didn't want the boy getting ideas above his station. His little one was too good for him. Besides, she was already as good as engaged to his baka deshi. His phone rang as he was thinking about these things. The CEO answered and spent the rest of the afternoon dealing with the aftermath of his merger proposal. Soon the American was forgotten completely as he focused his considerable skills on his business.
… …
"Do you really think he likes me?" Kaoru asked in a dreamy voice as she painted her nails. The three were relaxing in their room after a deeply relaxing day of soaking in the hot springs. They'd rented a movie to serve as background noise, called room service, and were now engaging in the age-old tradition of girl talk.
"Of course he does," Misao repeated, eating another macaroon. "The way he looks at you when you're not looking - all possessive and dark - just proves that he wants you. You should go for it!"
"I agree whole-fartedly," Aggie jumped into the conversation from her place reading a horror novel. "My brother and you make such a cute couple. I say you skip the whole 'waiting for him to notice you' thing and get straight to it. This is the twenty-first century after all."
"Really? You wouldn't be mad?" she asked in a quiet tone. Everyone knew that the girl's father wanted his heir to marry her.
"Why would I be mad? My big brother deserves the best and you're the best for him. You're smart, you're talented, and you're the third-ranking member of the kendo team. There's no reason not to date him. You two are going to have the most adorable babies someday!" Both of the dragons were staring at the girl in awe. "What? I'm not allowed to think about my future nieces and nephews?"
"Well… Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Misao interjected. "Kaoru hasn't even told him how she feels yet; no use planning the wedding yet." Aggie had a sudden image of walking down the aisle. She felt a legion of butterflies had taken flight in her chest and stomach as she looked at her destination and saw her best friend standing there in a sharp, black-on-black three-piece suit. It was devastatingly handsome on him, everything was.
"What were you just thinking about?" Misao asked with a sly smile, having noticed her ducking her head with a blush.
"N-nothing," Aggie blushed. "What about you, Mi-chan? How are things progressing on the 'Aoshi-sama' front?" The energetic girl squealed, forgetting all about everything once her Aoshi-sama was mentioned. She launched into an enthusiastic run down of how handsome the twenty-one year old was, how strong and brave he was, how-
"Misao, slow down!" Aggie laughed. "No one can understand you when you talk so fast!"
The girl giggled and stood up from the floor, heading for the forgotten tub of butter popcorn on the table. "I will win my Aoshi-sama one day. He'll notice me and then we'll be together forever!" She grabbed a pillow off the floor from their earlier pillow fight and giggled into it. Aoshi-sama had been her goal since she was four years old. She just knew that he felt the same way about her under that icy exterior.
"Aggie, if you're not crushing on your brother, then who are you crushing on?"
"Um… No one," the girl said. "You know, just because we're girls, doesn't mean that we have to be attracted to anyone."
The energetic girl looked her over carefully for so long that she started to feel embarrassed, then grinned. "Bullshit," she practically sang. "You have a thing for that pen pal of yours. Admit it!"
"Tyr," she said dreamily before shaking her head. "Even if I did, he's way too much man for me to handle. He'd never want a fatty like me…" The girl sighed, no longer interested in her novel. Kaoru and Misao exchanged concerned looks and came to kneel on either side of the chair she was sitting on.
"Honey, you're not fat," Kaoru said.
"I used to be. When he met me-"
"When he met you, you were seven years old. And even then, you weren't fat. I would remember if you were. Besides, it's been eight years since you met! You certainly aren't fat now."
"But my mother was," she whispered in a miserable tone. "The fat gene runs in my family. Why would he want it in his?"
"If he's so shallow and petty, then he doesn't deserve you," Misao told her solemnly. "Agatha, you are a wonderful person! You are compassionate to those that need it and passionate about your life. You work hard to please your family and even though your circle of friends is small, it's solid. You and Kaoru are constantly switching between the third and second ranked members of the kendo team. You have a lot to offer any guy you want to be with."
"Ryu and Shiro don't seem to think so," she pouted.
"Forget them. Those two are major jerks and they've been dedicated to your misery since they met you," Kaoru spat out, thinking about the two school bullies. She never paid much attention to the pair as they were only human and Aggie was always so good at standing up to them. It had never occurred to her that the American may have been taking their cruel jabs at her ethnicity to heart.
"They're right about some things, though. I'm never going to have a shot at romance as long as Poppi's keeping me here. I'm too different. I need to get back to America where I belong and find someone like me to date. Tyr would never be interested, but there may be someone in that country that is." The two dragons looked at each other again. Neither girl had any idea that these were the thoughts that plagued their friend all this time. Master Hiko would have to be told.
"Well, you're a little too young to be running off to America right now," Kaoru giggled. "You should just-"
"You're right, of course," Aggie said, marking her place in her book and putting it down. "I would have to be at least eighteen so that my greedy family can't get a hold of me."
"I don't understand," Misao said.
"My parents and I were always the black sheep of the family growing up," the girl explained. "Neither side of the family wanted anything to do with us; I have no idea why. When my parents died though, it came to light that they'd managed to save up a million dollars for me in their will. Between that and the life insurance payout, I'll have the funds to settle down comfortably in America when the time comes. But when my aunts and uncles found out about my inheritance, they all suddenly wanted me so that they could spend it. Poppi saved me from all that. He took me away from them and is raising me where I don't have to experience their avarice. And I'm very grateful for that, but I don't intend to spend the rest of my life alone or being sought after as a trophy by staying here."
"Oh my gosh, that's horrible!" Misao broke into her dark thoughts. "No wonder you never talk about them."
"They're family only in name. Did you know that my Aunt Carol tried to convince me to move back to Philly when I first got here? Not so that we could be together, but so that she could take trips to Europe while I was in school! And not a one of them has bothered to contact me since they figured out that they couldn't get a hold of my money. I might as well not exist as far as they're concerned!"
"Agatha…" Misao said, dabbing at some escaped moisture on her face. The girl scrubbed at the tears angrily.
"I'm sorry. I had no idea that this still affected me."
"There's nothing wrong with being upset about people who are supposed to love you, treating you like crap. Have you ever talked to your Poppi about this?"
"Poppi knows. That's the only reason he brought me to this thrice-damned country in the first place. He was my daddy's best friend and he wanted to protect me. This was the best of bad options. I'm pretty sure that growing up in such isolation wasn't in my mother's plans for me."
"You're not in isolation," Misao exclaimed suddenly. "You have plenty of friends who-"
"No, I have admirers," Aggie said with a cynical twist to her lips. "You and Kaoru are my only friends. I have people who are grateful for the glory I help uphold for us being the best kendo team in the region. If I were to quit the team or lose, all that gratitude would turn to scorn. I don't have friends, I have fans. And not even real friends! How much is Poppi paying the two of you to stand by me, huh?"
"Paying me? What are you talking about?" Misao asked in complete confusion.
"Yes, your Poppi offered me money to be your friend, but I never took it," Kaoru said in earnest. "The first time I met you, I knew that we were going to be close friends. Kami-sama, Aggie, is that what you've been thinking all this time? That my loyalty is for sale? What kind of person do you think I am?" Aggie had the decency to look embarrassed and ashamed. Kaoru lifted her chin so that she could look deep into her eyes. She wanted the little heiress to see the sincerity in her gaze. "I am your real friend, Agatha Davis. I never fooled you. I never tried to take advantage of you. The only thing I am guilty of is getting extra aggressive with you on the mats because I thought you were after Kenshin like I was."
"Ew," Aggie said. "He's my big brother! This isn't some disgusting hentai. Why would I lust after my own brother?"
"Because technically, he's not your brother," Kaoru said in frustration. "Technically, he's an orphan that Seijiro-sama adopted to inherit his sword style. You two aren't related at all!"
"I already told you, Kenshin is my big brother! We were raised to be close siblings and nothing about him calls to my heart like that when it comes to him. I would never marry a sibling; that's just gross!"
"You're sure?" the girl said, a tiny bloom of hope in her chest for the first time ever. Hiko-sama had made it clear for years that the red-haired heir to his fighting style and business was destined to wed his daughter.
"Of course I'm sure," Aggie reassured her friend in confusion. "Why would I lie about this? You and my big brother are made for each other, I'm sure of it. I oof-" Misao jumped out of the way when the chair went over sideways from the force of Kaoru's hug. Both girls were giggling happily by now.
"Hey, I thought you were giving up on trying to flatten me? This chair is heavy," the heiress exclaimed. Kaoru released her and between the two stubborn girls, they managed to lift the heavy armchair back upright.
"How come I was never offered money to be your friend?" the ninja mock lamented. The two kendo students laughed at her.
"Probably because it never would have worked. You're too honest a soul to pretend," Kaoru said. Misao hug-attacked her friend for the compliment and the armchair went toppling over again. Giggling like psychopaths, the girls somehow managed to get the chair upright again. Aggie grabbed her book off the floor and they promptly abandoned the chair for the bed and another movie.
"Aggie, have you really thought I was just pretending to be your friend all this time?"
"No… I thought you both were," Aggie said flippantly. She got a pillow to the face for her trouble, initiating the second pillow fight of the night. All three were breathless and giggling by the time it was over.
"So… What do you guys want to do tomorrow? There's that festival happening in the village."
"I don't know about tomorrow," Aggie yawned. "But I know that it's the middle of the night and if I want to be awake enough to do anything, I need to sleep STAT."
"Agreed," Misao said, already snuggling under the covers. "We can discuss tomorrow in the morning. Night night, Minna."
"Night, y'all," the American said tiredly in English. She curled herself around the pillow she'd been attacking the others with and promptly went to sleep. Kaoru was slower to drop off. Imagine her carrying around the burden of knowing that her only friends were on her father's payroll! That must have been awful. Agatha was right about one thing; she didn't have a lot of friends. She was just too different from everyone in the school with her smooth, dark skin and wide facial features. She also didn't think much like an Asian, which made it hard for people to relate to her. She spent most of her time alone, writing Kami-sama knows what in her little notebooks and keeping her own counsel on everything. She rarely answered questions in class, but her marks in school identified her as highly intelligent. If she was in her home country, Kaoru was sure that she'd have plenty of friends and likely a couple of boyfriends under her belt. It must be a very lonely life she led.
Resolving to be an even better friend to her so that she wouldn't miss her home country so much, the kenjutsu princess drifted off to sleep while watching Moana on the TV.
Can you imagine being trapped alone in a foreign country with your only friends being on your rich father's payroll? That sounds so heartbreakingly lonely. Anyway, I'm glad they got that cleared up. I wonder what else Little Agatha is misinterpreting or misunderstanding? Stay tuned to find out! :D
