CHAPTER SEVEN
Kyo hadn't been in many fights. He didn't like fighting, but he didn't have much of a choice now. He'd have to defend himself. It wasn't going to be pretty, that much he could tell.
*~* My View *~*
It's funny what goes through your mind in the split seconds before situations like this. I remember when Cliff brought his fist back, I had thought He has a lot of scars, I wouldn't doubt he's fought a lot. This is going to hurt. And it did. I backed up into the bar, holding my nose. I only had a second or two to recover from the first punch before Cliff was heading toward me again. With the reflexes of a cat, I tripped over a chair just before he swung at me again. His punch missed by inches, and he was sent off balance. I got to my feet only to find Cliff dive at me. His shoulder hit me in the gut as he wrapped his arms around my midsection and brought me to the ground. That knocked the wind out me. He stepped off of me for a moment, reconsidered, and got back on top of me, ready to use both fists to pound my face in.
It was my flexibility, not my strength, that saved me here. He landed two punches when I was on the ground, but as he brought his left arm back for another, I lifted my leg up, bringing my knee near my face, and caught his arm with my ankle. He brought his other arm back, but I swept my leg to my left, hit him in the face, and knocked him off of me. Unfortunately, it only knocked him off, he wasn't the least bit hurt. I rolled back onto my feet and readied myself for his next moved. Again, he charged me. As he approached, I leapt into the air and brought both feet to his stomach. Though that move caused him to crumple to the floor, it also knocked me out. You see, since my feet we're at his gut, they weren't there to help me land. Instead, my head hit a chair behind me.
I woke up in a warm, comfy bed. It wasn't my own bed, however. My bed was sloppy and about as soft as decade old bread. I looked around from my resting spot, but didn't recognize the room. To my left was just a wall. To my right, behind the bed, there were two bookcases stuffed full of books. Past that were two leather sofas forming a little sitting area near the fireplace. I could see three people sitting on the sofas, and one standing in front of them.
"You think he'll be OK, Doctor?" Ann asked.
"Oh yes, he should be fine. His nose is broken, so that's going to be sore for quite some time. And he should have a pounding headache when he comes to. Other than that, he'll be just fine."
He was right. When he mentioned that headache is when I noticed it. It was like having roadwork done in my temples. With each heartbeat I could feel my head expand and contract again.
"So Doug, you were the only witness?" Harris, our local police officer was standing with a notepad, apparently interviewing whoever he could to find out what had happened. I could only imagine he was excited. It wasn't often he had much work. At most, he would get a report of a missing wrist watch.
"As far as I know, yes. I don't know if anyone was outside and saw them before they busted into the bar," Doug responded.
"When I left Kyo outside the inn I didn't see anyone around us," Ann said. She sounded really down.
"Well, let's start with you Doug. Tell me everything you heard. Start from the top." Harris was trying to sound as professional as possible.
"Well, I had gotten back from the Goddess festival. I had left early, 'cause Ann didn't seem to want me around while she was dancing with her date. So I was reading the newspaper from behind the bar. I saw Cliff walk in without Ann, which seemed kind of strange to me, but I figured he had left something. He goes straight to his room upstairs. 'Bout five minutes later he comes back downstairs and leaves. So this time Ann comes in alone. That was about a minute after Cliff left. She goes upstairs looking like something was bothering her. I figured it'd be best to leave her be for the moment. While I was reading the paper, I hear something hitting the door. The door'd open 'bout an inch er so, then close again. I didn't let it bother me though. I figured it was the wind er something. So then I hear someone yell something outside. I don't know if it was Kyo or Cliff, but next thing I know Kyo comes stumblin' into the bar holding his nose. Cliff came in after 'im and they had a little street fight right there."
Harris finished scribbled into his notebook and looked up. "So you don't know who initiated the fight?"
"No sir, but Kyo seemed got beat up pretty bad. Hardly threw a punch from what I saw."
"And did you attempt to stop the fight?"
This question seemed to take Doug by surprise. He seemed to think he was being accused of something. "Well it's not like I wanted them to fight. I was just so surprised at first that I didn't react. Then when I finally came to my senses, I headed over to the two to break 'em up. By the time I got there, they were both on the ground."
"How'd they both get on the ground?" Harris asked more out of personal interest than for the sake of the case.
"Kyo kicked Cliff when he came charging at him…"
"Cliff charged Kyo, and Kyo kicked Cliff?" Harris interrupted, still jotting down notes.
"Yeah, Kyo just jumped up and put both feet out. Then when he came down his head hit a chair, so he was out cold. And Cliff had had the wind knocked out of 'im."
So that's what happened. Up until then I hadn't understood why I was where I was.
Harris finished writing the notes and put his pen in his pocket. "Well, I have your side, Cliff's side, and I'll get Kyo's side once he comes to."
I took this opportunity to let them know I was awake. Turning my head toward them, I spoke. "That thick headed, brainless, crap punched me out of jealousy." Unfortunately speaking made the headache worse, so I sank back under the covers, cringing.
The group ran over. Ann stood back. She seemed to be unsure if she should hug me, or if that would just hurt me. Immediately, Harris started the questions.
"Kyo, do you think you could tell me everything that happened? I need to hear your view."
The doctor gently pushed Harris back. "Harris, Harris. Let him gather himself first. He just woke up." He turned to me. "I imagine your head hurts, eh Kyo?" I nodded. "Well take these."
The removed two pills from a jar and gave them to me. "Ann, could you get him some water from downstairs?"
Eventually when Ann returned with water, I took the pills. It didn't do much, but I imagine it helped in the long run. I told them what had happened, from dancing with Ann to talking to Cliff to getting the crud beaten out of me. Ann seemed upset when I mentioned telling Cliff that his chances of dating her were slipping. Not just upset at the fact that I had told Cliff, but she was probably uncomfortable having me tell everyone in the room. I wasn't thinking about what to tell and what not to, though. I just said exactly what happened. When my interview was done, everyone but Ann left the room.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Kyo. This is all my fault for not dancing with Cliff. I should have just been nicer to the guy. I didn't think he'd flip. Especially at you," Ann said, seemingly on the verge of tears.
"Calm down, Ann. It wasn't your fault. I should have just told that psycho I'd stay away from you. Besides, I'm OK."
"You're not OK! Your nose is broken!" She had a good point. Carefully she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a hug. "I can't believe he'd do that. I don't get it."
Suddenly my mind switched subjects. "Hey Ann, what time is it?"
"Going on 5:00." She said as she sat up from the hug. "Why?"
"Poor Galahad hasn't been fed yet…"
She laughed. "You're so weird, you know that? You were just in a fight, and instead of worrying about yourself, you're wondering who'll feed your dog." She paused. "That's kind of sweet when I think about it. Well, I'll go over to your house and get him some food. You rest."
Ann got up to leave the room. I sat up in the bed. "Wait, Ann. It's not like I have a disease. My nose isn't going to stop me from walking. I'll go."
"Fine, but you'll have to check with Elli and the Doctor. And I'll at least walk you home."