Chapter Four: Honest Questions – Part One (JIN'S POV – Based on a Daniel Bedingfield song…I changed the song from what I'd initially had planned, because this song fist so much better. And, next chapter will also be based on this song, it's kinda a continuance thing. By the way, this is going to be a kind of short chapter, because it's 3:00am, and I'm tired as hell.)

I trusted someone again, and it felt great. Calleigh just had this comforting nature about her; it made me feel like I could tell her practically anything, and not be judged. And when I was around her, I felt like it took everything inside me not to tell her everything…all about my past horrors, the devil gene, my family's problems (many, many problems), just everything. Of course, she would have no idea what to say about it all. Even I myself didn't know at times. But she seemed truly interested in anything I said, which was really refreshing, considering I always had a lot to say, even though I was really careful who I said it to. You never know who you can trust, and who you can't. That's the main thing I hate about the world today. Your friends are only your friends when they want to be, and otherwise, you're dirt on their shoe.

But that night, as I put the ladder up to Calleigh's window, I felt more than trust take me over. I don't know what had come over me. I really hadn't felt like this before. My heart was tingling, and my lips wouldn't come out of a smile. Calleigh had been the first person I'd revealed my face to in months, and she hadn't turned away like I expected her to. Yes, there was something special about Calleigh Phoenix, and it was inevitable for me. At twenty-one, I think I was falling in love for the first time, as crazy as it sounded. She climbed through her window, and waved goodbye to me, as I took the ladder from the windowsill. I waved back at her, my lips still unable to form anything but a smile, and brought the ladder back to the other side of the house. I think I just had the best night of my life…I told myself, smiling. Not only that, but it was with the best girl I've ever met in my life…Kazama, you're a lucky guy…

~~

About two months had passed since I'd met Calleigh, and we had been training rigorously ever since. She was an ever better fighter and I'd thought…she was both strong and fast, unlike her father, who only had strength on his side. She pulled off so many moves that many people only thought existed in those cheesy kung-fu movies. No, I don't mean the 'a million flips in a row' move, I mean powerful kicks and punches, which could send someone flying. Believe me, I know…while training with the arm-guards, she kicked me a little too hard, and she sent me about three feet back away from her. I was surprised at first, but then grinned at her to reassure her that I was ok. She was definitely strong, that was a sure thing.

But on this particular day, I think she was having an off day. She had been practicing one move, an 'x marks the spot' as she calls it, where she raises and lowers her arms in an 'x' motion, and for the life of her, she couldn't get it right. She got angry, screamed an earsplitting scream and kicked the sandbag to her left so hard it burst open. Next thing I knew, she was sitting on the floor, throwing a conniption. My eyes were as wide as could be, and I was wondering if she was okay. She looked like she had just lost the biggest battle of her life. It was sad, really.

"Calleigh?" I approached her slowly, in fear of becoming a clone of the sandbag. "Are you ok?"

She glared up at me, as though she thought I should know the answer. "Yes, Jin…I'm fine, really I am…" she sarcastically stated. "Thank you for your concern, now if you'll excuse me, I will return to the move I've been trying all damn day to perfect. Very unsuccessfully, mind you!"

I took a step back and threw my hands up. "Sorry…you want a drink? I'm going in to get some water, and I thought maybe you'd like some?" I asked, before I turned to go inside. I knew how it felt to want to kill someone when I couldn't do a move right, so I shoved her attitude off my shoulder.

"No, thank you anyway…" she snapped, and went back to trying to perfect her move. She again failed, and stomped on the ground as hard as she could. "Ok, I give up…next move…" she sighed. "Ah, I know I can do this…sunset fan…" she leaned forward, and spun her hands in circles in a fan-like motion.

I sighed, as I turned the water tap on. I got a feeling in my gut that something bad was about to happen, and then turned around to look outside. Calleigh was collapsed on the ground in a heap, crying. I was afraid that something had happened to her, so I rushed out of the house and to her side, as quickly as I could. "Calleigh? Are you ok?" I asked, kneeling down beside her. "What happened?"

"I hate this damn move…I went back to trying to do the 'x marks the spot,' and I over-rotated it…" she cried. "Maybe I'm not worthy of fighting beside you…I mean, you're so-…"

I interrupted her. "You're a great fighter, Calleigh. Keep trying, and I bet you anything you'll get it right…" I told her, putting my hand on her shoulder. "Come on…let's practice with the arm guards…see if you can send me flying again…" I knew that after she knew I was ok, she found that sending me flying was fun. I reached over and grabbed the arm guards.

She smiled a little. "How can you have so much confidence in me? You've only seen me fight once, really…" she wiped her eyes, and stood up. "What if when I'm faced with a threatening person, I chicken out, and run off crying like a baby?"

I put the arm guards on, and went into blocking stance. "Why don't you practice some hakkyoku-ken?" I asked. "You need a little more practice at that than anything else, and don't take that the wrong way…"

"I didn't…and I think I will," she cracked her knuckles, then began to punch and kick. She was exceptional at her arts, and even if she had a couple imperfections, the fact that she was as good as she was amazed me. Her strength and agility were very much beyond anything I'd seen.

After a little while of practice, she took out her arm guards, and put them on. "Why don't you practice for a bit? I'm getting tired, and a tired hakkyoku-ken fighter is not good. You need to be on the ball, man…" she flashed me the smile that could melt me into a puddle on the ground.

I grinned a little, and took off my arm guards. "Why don't we just take a break? You need water…and I know you do, so don't lie," I stuck my tongue out at her.

"Fine," she stuck her tongue out at me, too. "Why don't we take a lunch break, and go hang out at the tree…" she suggested, her smile turning to a grin. "It may not be as pretty during the day, but it's still there…"

"That sounds like a plan…" I nodded in agreement. We had been spending a lot of time at the tree lately. It was like that was where we went to escape everything. I was beyond glad she had brought me there to begin with. We turned to go inside to get lunch, then go to the tree.

~~

Next Chapter: Honest Questions Part Two (Calleigh'S POV)

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Can you see the honest questions in my heart this hour?
I'm opening like a flower to the rain,
And do you know, the silent sorrows of a never ending journey through the pain?
Do you see a brighter day for me? Another day, a day?
Do you wonder what's in store for me? The cure for me, the way?
Oh, look down, and see the tears I've cried,
The lives I've lived, the deaths I've died.
You died them too, and all for me, you say:
"I will pour my water down upon a thirsty barren land,
And streams will flow from the dust of your bruised and broken soul.
You will grow, like the grass on the fertile plains of Asia,
By the streams of living water, you will grow, oh you will grow."
~~ 'Honest Questions' – Verse One – Written and sung by Daniel Bedingfield' ~~