Consequential Actions
Chapter 4
I bet you thought this was NEVER coming. But it
is! In fact, it's HERE! MWA!
Wait a second...evilness is the other fic. My bad! Anyways, the update for Now
That's Just Silly! should be quite soon. I am working on it. But in the
meantime, here's this fic. There's more Japanese terms in this one. R&R!
~*~*~*~
The sun was setting behind Penelope's property,
and the eldest Tracy brother sighed.
Was change supposed to be this offsetting?
He never imagined Alan to be getting *married* so young. That was a surprise,
but a good one; the engaged pair was the talk of the island on a dull day, and
to be completely honest, Scott hadn't seen his littlest brother so happy in a
long time.
And as for John...
Now that worried him.
It wasn't that he didn't like seeing his little brother so happy, not that at
all. But there were certain things that John should be taking into account that
he simply WASN'T.
Such as Kumiko herself. There was no way someone as unstable as her could enter
into a relationship.
And from the look in John's eyes, that was what he wanted. Not a romp for the
night, but a genuine...
A genuine what?
A genuine girlfriend?
A genuine lover?
Or maybe...
He shook his head to clear the image. Now that was out of the question.
He sighed again. The future was still undecided; nothing was foreordained.
So he just had to wait and see. He'd keep his own counsel for now; after all,
what else could he do? Rag on John until he gave up?
Never.
He walked off the deck with a calmness that belied the turmoil inside him.
He hated waiting.
But it was what he had to do.
~*~*~*~
I'm sorry you're not here with me, Miko-chan.
Oh no. Don't make me listen. Kami, don't make
me!
You know I love you...but I can't make it....Yes you can! Try for me,
Kamu-kun, Onegai!!
Don't forget about us...or that romantic dream of yours. You're young; you'll
make it come true. But not without you! Kamui!
Hey, don't cry. You know I hate it when you cry. I'm not going to stop loving
you. And I won't stop loving you! Please, don't go...
You've got your whole life ahead of you. Don't forget it. Don't forget us. But
don't forget about you...Because you're the one I love best.
"KAMUI!" Black fingernails gripped the silky sheets, and the young woman's
eyes closed tightly.
Why wouldn't he leave her be?
"Damn it..." She murmured, disregarding any common sense and lighting a cig
then and there. When the cigarette was snuffed, the scent remained in the sheets
around her, comforting her. Kamui had always smelled like smoke. Smoke and
sandalwood.
It was at that particular moment she wondered what *John* smelled like.
Her grip on the sheets tightened. She didn't want to think about him--about how
he smiled, or about how he never took her moods quite seriously enough. Or about
the way that curl settled...
That was it.
She slid out of bed, sneering as she swept her hair up. She always did for her
exercises. She pulled herself out of her oversized Transformers t-shirt and slid
on a long sleeved shirt and her hakama, taking a thin narrow box
downstairs. Sliding into a large room--one nearly devoid of any furniture, she
opened the box.
The gleaming bamboo shinai stared back at her, and she smiled, picking it
up by the handle and swinging it carefully. She placed it back in its place
gently before opening the curtains of the room, letting the late moonlight in.
The sun would be rising soon.
But just then, she wanted to stay in the nighttime.
Picking up the sword again, she began the kata-- rehearsed steps that always
made her feel...less detached. More like the wind.
She shook her head. If this had been a sparring match, it would have ended
already.
With a sigh, she continued on as the night faded out. The dance went on--the
feet and the blade worked in unison.
Cutting away at her thoughts and her feelings until all she felt was bare.
~*~*~*~
A hot mug of coffee, and the New York Stock
Exchange.
Was there anything more blissful?
In the eyes of Clara Daidouji--Nothing!
She whistled loudly, sipping at her milk-tainted beverage. Just the right amount
made it perfect! Absolutely NOTHING could spoil this morning!
Tracy Inc. Up 3 points.
She crumpled up the paper.
That just did.
However, her scowl was wiped away as she heard her daughter dash down the
stairs.
"Morning Mom!" She exclaimed happily, giving her mother a hug and kiss on the
cheek. Her good moods were always infectious, and despite her rival's success,
Clara felt herself smile back at her daughter.
"Morning Lena. What are your plans for today?" She bit her lip, and counted
those same plans out on the fingers of her right hand.
"Well, I've got to prepare for that gig," The word gig made her frown a bit, but
with a slight sigh, she continued.
"Anyways, I've got to prepare for that, maybe do a bit of shopping, phone a
friend, and then get out there. Regular Saturday. You know." She smiled
reassuringly, and one was offered lightly back as Selene got herself some coffee
of her own.
"You?" The older woman sighed.
"There's a problem in Marketing, so I've got a meeting for most of the day.
Honestly. Human Resources needs some work, with the people THEY'VE been hiring."
Her daughter offered a reassuring smile.
"Well, I hope things go well for you." The smile was returned.
"I hope so too."
And for the younger one, they would. She always had the attitude, and so days
usually left a better imprint on her mind.
As for Clara, the only day that was truly imprinted in that moment was the one
she met those boys.
Sort of.
They didn't recognize her any one human. She was just a nemesis to them.
Just like they were to her.
It was a shame she only met four of them. Apparently one was in the washroom at
the time. What was his name...Something odd, she remembered. Oh well. She
thought about her daughter's carefree attitude for a moment before smiling
brightly herself.
After all, when in Rome...
~*~*~*~
Breakfast in the stately home of Penelope
Creighton-Ward weren't quite as amiable. Tin-Tin and Alan were making breakfast
together for everyone--an act that thoroughly sickened our Kumiko. When they all
sat down to eat the feast, she raised an eyebrow at the elaborate platter of
hams and bacon. She looked up at Alan coolly.
"Was this touched by that...contraption of yours?" He immediately bristled.
"If you mean my fiancée, I'll have you know it was!" She
smirked as she leaned back in her chair.
"Whatcha going to do, blondyboy? Slap a ring on my finger?" His eyes were
flashing, and he looked ready to do something he might regret later on. Virgil
flashed him a Look, causing her smirk to turn the slightest bit smug.
That was when he shot her a Look too. She sighed, taking a couple slices of ham
either way. This was nothing like breakfast at home. Eggs on rice...She
smiled at the thought. Otou-san always made the eggs just right...
She shook her head sharply as she took a tiny bite of ham. It was then that the
patriarch Tracy began an easy conversation with his sons. How they slept, what
their day looked like...It made her feel thoroughly homesick.
Even when she had no home to go back to.
She took a deep swig of orange juice, shutting her eyes tightly. Was it so long
ago that SHE had someone to say she was going out to, so long ago to say she was
going on a walk, that she wouldn't stay out too long? No, it couldn't have
been...She remembered it so well....John looked up from his plate with worry in
his eyes, but she just didn't want to deal with him just then. She took a deep
breath after swallowing, but the citrus still stung her mouth.
"Penelope-san, may I please be excused?" This seemed to put the Lady out of
sorts.
"If you must, Kumiko." She nodded and made it out of there fast without looking
back.
Or seeing the look on John's face...
~*~*~*~
There was nothing like vintage to Selene.
The feel of rifling through actual vinyl records was something special to
her. Something old, like reading an old tome.
Except she span them, she thought with a grin. The store had good
selection--getting in some of the double zero era tracks in with some of the
new. Plus, the people there were really nice. And cool. Enviably cool.
Sometimes Selene wished she had the guts to dye her hair green.
But then, there was something about being a blonde that was just too good to
give up. Gentlemen preferred blondes, after all.
The thought put a wry grin on her face. That was pure nonsense. But something
had to be said for being a natural blonde. Not a dishwater one--a pure, true
blonde. It was an element of confidence to be one.
And nothing, NOTHING attracted men like confidence.
She made her purchase and made her way through the streets of London, thinking
that over.
Confidence was good. But then, some men liked the damsel in distress type. On
the other hand, didn't you have to be confidently in distress? After all, if you
were just blubbering, you'd never be able to wave your handkerchief out the
window and get the prince's attention. She nodded to herself.
But then, princes weren't the heroes anymore.
If you wanted heroes, all you needed to do was look to a headline--International
Rescue.
She wondered what they were actually like. Did they do what they did for glory?
For necessity?
They came and they left. No time for questions, no desire for fame...
And yet they got it. Heaps of it.
She was so busy inside her head that her eyes weren't on what was in front of
her.
And that didn't work.
Her records spilled out of the bag, and cursed under her breath.
"Oh, God, I'm so sorry," The voice apologized sincerely, and she felt eyes on
her.
"No, it's fine. My fault entirely, actually." She replied, getting her things
together until the other hand--she recognized it to be a masculine one-- stopped
her.
"Allow me." The smile in his voice made her look up--and what she saw made her
heart race.
A warm smile. A strong jaw, and rich brown hair.
And the deepest mahogany eyes that she had ever seen...
~*~*~*~
And now, for an update to the glossary!
Onegai-Please!
Hakama--A long, pleated skirt worn in kendo
Shinai--bamboo sword used in practice
Kata-routine steps gone through to develop discipline, physical form and grace.
Often performed.
That's all for now, folks!
