The next day was very busy at the Crockett household. Cath, Janet, Bunny,
Shirley and Rain were busy cooking for their friends that would be
arriving. Chibodee, Domon, Kaneda and Ashleigh were in the front yard
training each other.
Chibodee and Domon were going for a round. Neither one was particularly stronger than the other. They were just making sure they still had it. The challenge had been made after Cath kicked Chibodee out of the kitchen for distracting her. Ashleigh and Kaneda were sitting on the porch watching them; cheering them on and insulting each other.
" C'mon Daddy!! You aren't gonna let him beat you are ya?!" Ashleigh shouted.
" Shut up American! Get him 'tousan!! He's nothing to you!" Kaneda shouted.
" Who are you calling 'nothing' Cashew?! My dad's the best fighter in the world!!" She retorted.
" It's 'Kasshu' and you are nothing American!!" He said.
" Now you listen to me you little stick person-"
" Little Girl, come out in the yard and practice with me." Chibodee interjected.
" But I-"
" Yard! Practice! Now!" He said pointing to the ground next to him.
Ashleigh growled and stood up to go practice with Chibodee. Before she did, she kicked some dirt up in Kaneda's face. He growled and glared at her retreating form. Then he dismissed it and started to laugh at her.
" Kaneda?" Domon said.
He cringed at the sound of his father's voice. He looked at him. Domon was waiting for him to come and practice with him. He assumed from the way he was looking, it was going to be one of those 'Master Asia' lessons. Those usually involved a humiliating defeat and a lesson.
" Coming 'tousan." He said standing.
****************
A limo was on its way towards the Crockett household. It held the Jack of Diamonds and his parents. Maria-Louise sat next to his father, George, and on the other end of the seats was where he sat.
He was about as tall as his father. He had his mother's blond hair and his father's violet eyes. His build was that of someone who trained daily, but not to the point of bulging muscles. He was highly regarded as a charmer and sweet-talker; as was apparent by the red rose in his hand.
" Dartagnan, do try to get along with the Americans. Your father, well, we'll just have to muzzle him." Maria-Lousie said.
" Why do I get the muzzle? It was the American that started the fight last time!" George defended.
" That does not change the fact that it ended with both of you rolling around on the floor like barbarians." She said.
" Pas la mère d'inquiétude. I am sure the Americans are not as half as bad as father says." He said; his Alliance symbol glowing on his hand.
****************
Another car was on its way to the same house, but taking a different route. It held the Black Joker of the Alliance. His father was driving the rental car and his mother was sitting in the passenger's seat reading a magazine; her green hair blowing in the wind.
He was stretched out lazily in the back seat; bobbing his head to his CD player and watching the sights go by. His shot-cut brown hair blew in the wind. His sea-green eyes were closed as he listened to his music and waited to reach their destination.
" Tiron, remember, this maybe a trip but in three years these people will be your enemy." Natasha said.
" Da mother. I know the rules." He said.
" Do not fall for the Americans actions. He is, how do you say, a jerk at times." Argo said.
" I thought you said all Americans were that way mother?" He said putting his headphones around his neck.
" Not all Americans Tiron. Just Crocketts." She said.
" You are not giving them a chance. From what I have heard, these Americans are just in it for having fun." He said.
" Nevertheless, if you can get anything out of them about Gundam Fighting, then use it to your advantage." She said.
" Da mother." He said sliding his headphones back up.
****************
It wasn't late once they all reached Chibodee's house. The older Gundam pilots greeted each other in ways they had in the past. Argo and Domon were catching up on each other. Natasha and Rain were talking. Maria-Louise was helping Cath and the others in the kitchen. That left Chibodee and George alone and unsupervised.
" Bon jour Young Master!" Chibodee said.
" Bon jour l'idiot." George said.
" Why you snail-eating, Eiffel Tower up the as-"
" Chibodee!!" Cath chided.
******************
Outside the house, were the Neo-fighters of the Gundam tournament. Neo- Japan and Neo-America were still fuming over the practice they had because of each other. Neo-Russia and Neo-France were getting to know Kaneda and each other. Ashleigh refused to associate with them because they were where Kaneda was.
" Excuse me comrade Kaneda, but who is the young lady sitting on the porch?" Tiron asked.
" What young lady? Oh, the mutant on the porch? That's Neo-America." He said carelessly.
" Do not be so hasty monsieur Kaneda." Dartagnan said looking over towards the porch.
Both deserted him and went over to the porch. Ashleigh didn't notice them until Tiron cleared his throat.
" Bon jour manquer." Dartagnan said.
" Oh, hello." She said.
" I am Dartagnan of Neo-France. What name might the angels have given such a beautiful goddess?" He asked; taking her hand and kissing it.
" Um, Ashleigh. Ashleigh Crockett." She said blushing.
" Ignore him. I am Tiron Gulskii of Neo-Russia. My mother told me tat Crocketts were foolhardy fighters and not any challenge. But I fear your beauty will distract me from battle." He said sitting next to her.
Ashleigh didn't know what to say. She'd never had this much male attention focused on her. Dartagnan handed her a rose and sat on her other side.
" Please tell me you will be cheering for me in the Gundam Fights mon beau Ashleigh." Dartagnan said.
" Do not be stupid Neo-France, she is in the Gundam Fights." Tiron said.
" In that case, I forfeit now. I shall never be able to mar such a delicate and gorgeous divinity." He said.
" Oh please." Tiron said rolling his eyes.
Still standing in the yard was Kaneda. He was growling at all the attention they were giving Ashleigh. She wasn't so great or pretty. She was a mutant from America and she cheated to beat him. He didn't like her at all. Her cocky attitude, her tomboyishness, her sweet smile and cute victory dances.
" Argh!! Not me too. I gotta get away from that American and those stupid playboys trying to get a date. How desperate. Ugh. They all make me sick." Kaneda said clenching his fist and walking away.
Chibodee and Domon were going for a round. Neither one was particularly stronger than the other. They were just making sure they still had it. The challenge had been made after Cath kicked Chibodee out of the kitchen for distracting her. Ashleigh and Kaneda were sitting on the porch watching them; cheering them on and insulting each other.
" C'mon Daddy!! You aren't gonna let him beat you are ya?!" Ashleigh shouted.
" Shut up American! Get him 'tousan!! He's nothing to you!" Kaneda shouted.
" Who are you calling 'nothing' Cashew?! My dad's the best fighter in the world!!" She retorted.
" It's 'Kasshu' and you are nothing American!!" He said.
" Now you listen to me you little stick person-"
" Little Girl, come out in the yard and practice with me." Chibodee interjected.
" But I-"
" Yard! Practice! Now!" He said pointing to the ground next to him.
Ashleigh growled and stood up to go practice with Chibodee. Before she did, she kicked some dirt up in Kaneda's face. He growled and glared at her retreating form. Then he dismissed it and started to laugh at her.
" Kaneda?" Domon said.
He cringed at the sound of his father's voice. He looked at him. Domon was waiting for him to come and practice with him. He assumed from the way he was looking, it was going to be one of those 'Master Asia' lessons. Those usually involved a humiliating defeat and a lesson.
" Coming 'tousan." He said standing.
****************
A limo was on its way towards the Crockett household. It held the Jack of Diamonds and his parents. Maria-Louise sat next to his father, George, and on the other end of the seats was where he sat.
He was about as tall as his father. He had his mother's blond hair and his father's violet eyes. His build was that of someone who trained daily, but not to the point of bulging muscles. He was highly regarded as a charmer and sweet-talker; as was apparent by the red rose in his hand.
" Dartagnan, do try to get along with the Americans. Your father, well, we'll just have to muzzle him." Maria-Lousie said.
" Why do I get the muzzle? It was the American that started the fight last time!" George defended.
" That does not change the fact that it ended with both of you rolling around on the floor like barbarians." She said.
" Pas la mère d'inquiétude. I am sure the Americans are not as half as bad as father says." He said; his Alliance symbol glowing on his hand.
****************
Another car was on its way to the same house, but taking a different route. It held the Black Joker of the Alliance. His father was driving the rental car and his mother was sitting in the passenger's seat reading a magazine; her green hair blowing in the wind.
He was stretched out lazily in the back seat; bobbing his head to his CD player and watching the sights go by. His shot-cut brown hair blew in the wind. His sea-green eyes were closed as he listened to his music and waited to reach their destination.
" Tiron, remember, this maybe a trip but in three years these people will be your enemy." Natasha said.
" Da mother. I know the rules." He said.
" Do not fall for the Americans actions. He is, how do you say, a jerk at times." Argo said.
" I thought you said all Americans were that way mother?" He said putting his headphones around his neck.
" Not all Americans Tiron. Just Crocketts." She said.
" You are not giving them a chance. From what I have heard, these Americans are just in it for having fun." He said.
" Nevertheless, if you can get anything out of them about Gundam Fighting, then use it to your advantage." She said.
" Da mother." He said sliding his headphones back up.
****************
It wasn't late once they all reached Chibodee's house. The older Gundam pilots greeted each other in ways they had in the past. Argo and Domon were catching up on each other. Natasha and Rain were talking. Maria-Louise was helping Cath and the others in the kitchen. That left Chibodee and George alone and unsupervised.
" Bon jour Young Master!" Chibodee said.
" Bon jour l'idiot." George said.
" Why you snail-eating, Eiffel Tower up the as-"
" Chibodee!!" Cath chided.
******************
Outside the house, were the Neo-fighters of the Gundam tournament. Neo- Japan and Neo-America were still fuming over the practice they had because of each other. Neo-Russia and Neo-France were getting to know Kaneda and each other. Ashleigh refused to associate with them because they were where Kaneda was.
" Excuse me comrade Kaneda, but who is the young lady sitting on the porch?" Tiron asked.
" What young lady? Oh, the mutant on the porch? That's Neo-America." He said carelessly.
" Do not be so hasty monsieur Kaneda." Dartagnan said looking over towards the porch.
Both deserted him and went over to the porch. Ashleigh didn't notice them until Tiron cleared his throat.
" Bon jour manquer." Dartagnan said.
" Oh, hello." She said.
" I am Dartagnan of Neo-France. What name might the angels have given such a beautiful goddess?" He asked; taking her hand and kissing it.
" Um, Ashleigh. Ashleigh Crockett." She said blushing.
" Ignore him. I am Tiron Gulskii of Neo-Russia. My mother told me tat Crocketts were foolhardy fighters and not any challenge. But I fear your beauty will distract me from battle." He said sitting next to her.
Ashleigh didn't know what to say. She'd never had this much male attention focused on her. Dartagnan handed her a rose and sat on her other side.
" Please tell me you will be cheering for me in the Gundam Fights mon beau Ashleigh." Dartagnan said.
" Do not be stupid Neo-France, she is in the Gundam Fights." Tiron said.
" In that case, I forfeit now. I shall never be able to mar such a delicate and gorgeous divinity." He said.
" Oh please." Tiron said rolling his eyes.
Still standing in the yard was Kaneda. He was growling at all the attention they were giving Ashleigh. She wasn't so great or pretty. She was a mutant from America and she cheated to beat him. He didn't like her at all. Her cocky attitude, her tomboyishness, her sweet smile and cute victory dances.
" Argh!! Not me too. I gotta get away from that American and those stupid playboys trying to get a date. How desperate. Ugh. They all make me sick." Kaneda said clenching his fist and walking away.