Note: Mwahahaha! I must be going nuts. Everytime I write, it gets more and more weird. But, thanks for all your lovely reviews. Hugs and kisses!
Chapter 3
"Move! Move!"
A tall patched-eye man, looked down at the cadets from the second floor of the building. He watched them as they fell one by one into the puddle, bruised themselves up, break arms and get knocked out.
He snickered. At this rate, no one will even survive a day in war. Why are kids these days such weaklings? Such people would only be distractions. Pulling out another cigarette, he continued watching. He suddenly focused on a small girl at the middle of the crucial three hours course. He studied her from head to toe. Determination. Her eyes are full of determinations. His attentions towards her were soon interrupted when he heard a faint knock on the door.
"Lirin, wait for me!" Goku called out. He was struggling to get loose from the chains on the ground. His face was wet and muddy. Damn! I've been doing this thing for the last two days! He tugged even harder but the chains seemed to be tied tightly around his legs. Pulling one last time, he finally managed to release himself. He forced himself up and continued running through the obstacles.
Suddenly he felt someone pushing him from behind. He looked back. "Lirin?"
"You have to hurry up," She snorted. "You've got five more laps left!"
"I'm exhausted! I can't take it anymore!" Goku whined as he slowed down. His legs are killing him. Suddenly a small water balloon flew over his head and burst with colored paint.
"No resting in the battle field!" The trainer shouted from behind. "Now, start moving!"
"Come on!" She tugged him.
Goku snarled back. He began increasing his speed. Finally, after three hours of solid torturing, all of them finished their course, panting and dried out. Lirin however, was still bobbing up and down the obstacles for no reason.
Goku, I've bought some hamburgers for you," Lirin said happily as she stacked up the food she bought from the lunchroom on the desk in the room. "Goku?" She turned around. Everything was silent. That's odd. Usually Goku would never turn down anything especially food. She moved to the bathroom door and knock softly at first. "Are you in there?"
Goku sat down quietly in the bathroom. I'm so bored. I don't even want to see her. Then he heard the door open and shut. Peace at last. He slowly opened the door and crept out. After getting dressed, he jumped to the bed. All he needed was some rest. A sleep maybe. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes.
Suddenly, he jerked up. This wasn't like him. He glanced at the hamburgers on the desk. "Lirin…" Goku sighed. He pictured Lirin pushing her way through the crowd just to get them both lunch. Was he that cruel? Why was he trying to avoid her in the first place? Lirin, he thought, testing the name in his mind. The only daughter of Gyumao, his supposed to be enemy. The only demon who bugs Sanzo and gets away with it, alive. A supremely care-free girl. What else? He rolled around on the bed, thinking hard.
"Chemistry, chemistry," Lirin chanted, walking slowly down the dark and gloomy hallway. All the classes and rooms were joined together with a long corridor. The laboratory was only a few blocks away from the east wing and it was usually noisy and crowded with cadets running around to their respective homerooms. Somehow today, everything seemed… quiet. Too quiet. She pushed her braided hair back and picked up her pace. I'm losing my mind, she told herself.
Lirin…."
She quickly looked back. There was no one behind her. She continued walking.
"Lirin.." a small voice called out her name again. This time, she ignored.
When she finally reached the Science block, she noticed that it was a little dark. The doors of other labs are all locked, except for the one at the end of the hallway. "Don't they have any class today. How come I don't know?" She scolded herself. "Oh well, since I'm here, I might as well check out the last lab."
Picking up her courage, Lirin fiddled with the knob and slowly pushed it open. It was oddly empty like the rest of the rooms. Her eyes slowly scanned the room for any traces of living creature.
"Lirin..." The voice called out again. Realizing that running away was useless, Lirin took a deep breath and turned around. A shadowy image of a human began to get into focus as he approached her.
"Sanzo-sama, have you seen Lirin?" Goku asked when he noticed that she didn't wait for him as usual after their third class. The monk just shook his head. "Did you fight with her?"
Goku looked down. It wasn't really a fight. It was just a misunderstanding. A minor problem. A small matter, which she couldn't possibly lose her temper to. He recalled that night after late class. Lirin had entered the room looking surprisingly happy. He had asked her what happened and she gladly showed the bouquet of red roses to him.
"Jealous?" Sanzo asked, quite interested. He pulled out another stick of cigarette and started puffing.
"No… maybe… yes…" Goku murmured. Why would I be jealous? She's not the only girl in this world!
Sanzo arranged his glasses, picked up his book and walked out of the class. "Denial kills, you know."
"Maybe," Goku answered back quietly. He followed Sanzo from behind. Maybe she hates me already for destroying her card and shouted at her in front of her friends. Then, he spotted her walking down the stairs towards the lunchroom. He called out to her but she ignored. She passed him silently.
"Oii, matte Lirin!"
"Don't bother," An arm rested on his shoulder. He pushed it away. Gojyo stood beside him with a spear in his left hand.
"Come on, you're going to be late." He pulled Goku's collar and dragged him to the training centre. "Girls are the last thing you should worry about."
Goku struggled hard to release himself from Gojyo's grip. Soon, he was back on his feet. "Uh… Gojyo, why are you here?"
"I'm broke," Gojyo grinned and moved closer to Goku. "That corrupt monk is so stingy," He whispered and grabbed the doorknob with his two hands. His face was pale.
"Are you alright?" Goku asked full of sympathy.
Gojyo grinned more. "The truth is, I have no idea what to teach."
"Seriously?"
"I'm only pro when it comes to woman." He looked around to make sure there is no one listening. "How about we have dinner together tonight and discuss more on girls?"
"Oii, don't pollute that boy's head with your insane ideas!" Sanzo suddenly interrupted from behind. A big fan landed on their heads, creating little bumps. "Get to your class, now!"
"Okay, okay," Gojyo laughed and pushed Sanzo aside. How did they get stuck with him in the first place, he wondered. He can just picture the monk losing his temper while teaching. Veins popping out on his forehead every the seconds, maybe.
~Roses are red, violets are blue…~
