21. The Confession
"Hey. Hey you."
Darrell found himself in a pink bedroom with nothing in it but a bed. and a woman he never met before. She had on a pair of black jeans with a white shirt. She was around his height and had long pale green hair. The woman was lying on the bed in a sexy pose, calling him. He just stood there, staring at her with a blank expression on his face.
{Who.is she?}
The woman motioned a finger to tell him to come closer.
"Come here. I won't hurt you."
"Uh. who. are you?"
"Does that matter? It doesn't to me. I just want you."
Darrell's body stiffened at the woman's comment. He tried to back away slowly but his body wouldn't move.
"Come on. You know you want to."
"I. I can't. It's."
"My! Aren't you something? Trying to resist someone like me."
Darrell struggled to move his body, but it was frozen in its place. He stared at her. and was shocked to see bats come from under the bed and surround him.
"It won't get you anywhere." she said as she got off the bed and. somehow floated over to him. She stopped in front of him and put a hand on his cheek. The bats wrapped around Darrell and connected to the woman's body, creating her own pair of bat wings.
"You're frightened, aren't you?" she asked in a soothing tone. She was right. The horror could be seen clearly on his face. He was on the verge of screaming out loud before she put her hand on his mouth, silencing him.
"Now, now. no need to be afraid of me. I won't. do anything to you. that might harm you."
"I. This isn't right!" he finally yelled out. He tried to push her away, but he didn't have any room to move his arms. She grinned.
"I got you, Darrell," she said in a low tone. "You belong to me now. just like the others I've encountered."
"N. NOOOOOOO! Get AWAY from me!"
His aura surrounded him now and started to heat up, causing the woman to withdraw from grabbing him. She hissed a bit as her wings turned into several bats.
"I'll get you later. By the way. that Sakura girl. she isn't in love with you. She's too blind to see what you did for her and can do for her. See you. in the ring, Darrell."
Just like that, she vanished. and Darrell just stood there, contemplating on what the woman said. He didn't get a thing that just happened. and suddenly, he fainted.
----- -----
"Darrell! Get up!"
Darrell felt someone shaking him. He groaned in a low tone as he opened his eyes to see Sakura K. sitting on top of him. She stopped suddenly and eased her grip a bit.
"S. Sakura?" he said weakly. "What are.?"
"You were screaming in your sleep," she explained.
Darrell stared into her eyes, thinking about the dream that was freshly planted in his mind.
{Does she.?}
"What wrong with you all of a sudden?" Sakura asked. "You. are acting pretty strange."
Darrell put a hand over his head and sighed. "Sakura. if I told you. promise you won't laugh."
Sakura just nodded.
"I. I think I. I'm in love."
Sakura cut him off. "REALLY!?!? Wow! I didn't think that you thought that way about Ran. You just met her and."
Now Darrell cut Sakura off. "No, Sakura. It isn't Ran."
"Then who is it?"
Darrell started to blush a bit as he spoke. "It's. you."
Sakura immediately stared hard at her friend. "W. who?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"I knew I should have kept my mouth shut." he remarked while looking at the wall to his right. He closed his eyes and sighed. "I. guess your attention is on someone else."
"Just who do you think that is.?" Sakura asked.
Darrell looked at her with glazed eyes. "Come on! I saw the way you were looking at Ryu earlier. He. he."
He stopped and just like a little schoolgirl, he covered his mouth with a hand while blushing, his eyes wide. "I. don't believe it. I'm jealous of him. like a little kid."
"Whoa, Darrell!" Sakura yelled out. "Get a hold of yourself. You're turning into the sort of person that Kei would like."
"Uh."
"Listen. Ryu and I are. acquaintances. I can't really announce him as. that type of friend. since he's a man bent on finding the strongest of opponents. He's nice and all, but. well there was a time that the only thing that I used to do was think about Ryu. He sort of introduced me into the world of the Street Fight, even though he never gave me a lesson. He might be someone very special to me. but now I know that it would be too messy to get emotional with him. First of all, he's like 8 years older than me or something like that. Possibly he's even older than that. Do you really think I'd let people think that Ryu is a. well. you know."
Darrell nodded.
"Also, as much as I'd like to be with him every day. I rather not take him away from what makes him. Ryu. Otherwords, I don't want to keep him from Street Fighting. I really don't think he'd fit in. a normal job. But as far as you. saying that you love me."
Darrell tightened up, expecting the worst.
{Oh, no. here it comes.}
He was surprised to feel Sakura's hand on his chest.
"I. sort of have a confession to make. I've been keeping this from everyone, especially Kei and Hinata. and even my sister. I. sort of. well."
She blushed, just like Darrell. "You know. this version of you. is sort of your feminine side. and you know that I'm not necessarily the type to get extremely emotional, but. when I grabbed you earlier when you almost fell off the couch, I. felt sort of weird. It was like some of your dizziness rubbed off on me. I thought about it for a while, thinking about what that was. Just then, a flash of that weird dream we had came into my mind. I. really thought that I was in love with you, Darrell."
"So. you are saying. that you aren't in love with me then?"
Sakura stared at him for a second before saying, "Actually. it's the exact opposite. I. think that I am."
".in love." both said simultaneously. then gasped.
"Hey. we almost." they said again. then totally paused. It was like they knew what the other would say. Darrell sighed.
"I.. think we have some things to talk about. but I would appreciate it if you got off me."
----- -----
"You know. you sound a lot more mature than before, Sakura. I. used to be like that before. Well I guess the point is that being around you makes me feel. childish sometimes. I never get all lovey-dovey over anything before."
"Neither have I. I'm sort of a tomboy. You know that I'm not concerned about what other girls think is cool. That's why I'm only friends with Hinata, Natsu, Karin, and Kei."
"Why isn't my name on the list?"
Sakura K. turned and gave Darrell a friendly look.
"I don't think I can call you just a friend anymore. You and I. we're. well."
Darrell blushed. He knew what she was going to say, even though she didn't say it. He shook his head.
"Man, am I pathetic or what? It wasn't long before I met you that girls used to play with my emotions."
"I can't see why. You're a pretty nice guy to me."
"That was the problem. I was a bit too nice. Back home, you had to be some type of idiot or jock to get noticed. You can tell from the door that I'm not that type of person, so I was basically left by myself socially."
"Yeah. It's weird. I wasn't exactly popular at school myself, even though everyone knows that I street fight. To be honest. people were more worried about me than proud of me."
"Same here."
Both stared at each other for while after that part of the conversation. Neither knew that they had so much in common. and could understand where the other was coming from. Sakura continued the conversation.
"Like you said, I guess people have to see it from a fighter's point of view. While others find it dangerous and stupid, I find it fun and exciting. That's why I fight."
"Well. I use it as an anger reliever. Other people gave me SO many methods to relax myself in another ways. but I'm happier this way."
"You mean that there aren't times that you fight just to hurt someone? What about Akuma and Sho?"
Darrell shook his head. "I realized that it's not good to go into a fight bent on hurting someone. It messes with your focus and you lose more than you win. You know it. I know it now. I'm definitely thinking Ryu knows that. I guess I just got lucky."
"You're right about some things. but doesn't it seem weird that every time you and I get angry during a fight, we get stronger?"
Darrell nodded. "Yeah. I can't understand it myself."
"And we never exactly lost a match like that. Speaking of which, how did you do that healing move on me? You never did anything like that before."
Darrell had a blank expression on his face, but then something hit him. "It. just came in the moment. I thought about how I did that also. and I can't get my golden aura to reappear anymore. but I managed to perfect the healing technique. I'm the only person who can do it now."
"But I did it also." Sakura reminded him.
"I know. but I noticed that you could only do it because you had some of my power. Let me explain."
Sakura watched Darrell as he rolled out of his bed and stood beside it.
"Come over here, Sakura." he ordered. Sakura followed his request and stood right in front of Darrell. He breathed deeply, then said, "Do your Midare Zakura on me."
Sakura stared at him for a second, but knew what he was getting at. It makes no sense to heal someone that's at full health, so Darrell needed to get beat up somewhat. Without saying a word, Sakura charged in and just like the Tokyo Park so many months ago, laid out Darrell with her specialty move. When Darrell got up from the carpet, he said something else while holding his chest a bit. There was a small bruise where one of Sakura's kicks hit him at.
"Now. that should do it. Okay, Sakura. I want you to try to heal me. You remember how to do that, right?"
Sakura nodded and raised a hand toward Darrell's body. She focused as her blue aura appeared around her. A few seconds passed. and nothing happened.
"Huh?" Sakura gasped. "What's the hold-up? Why isn't my aura covering you like it did Ryu's?"
She looked to see Darrell's emotionless face.
"You'll see in a minute," he replied. "Forgive me. but I'll need to do the Raging Knuckle on you to get this to work."
"Really?" she asked curiously.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," he said, "and if you accept, I'll only do 12 punches instead of the normal 18. No Shakunetsuken included."
Sakura nodded in agreement and Darrell kept his word. After the 12th punch, Sakura reeled back, holding her stomach in pain.
"Geez, Darrell. I didn't know you hit so hard."
"I know you're lying," he responded flatly. "Okay, now try it."
Sakura took her hand off her stomach and raised it up to Darrell again as her aura showed up. Three seconds passed. and part of her aura shot around Darrell's body. He lifted his hand off his own chest and he small bruise Sakura left him disappeared.
"Okay, Sakura. let off the gas."
On cue Sakura stopped with a smile on her face.
"I think I get it now. Both of us have to be injured for the healing thing to work. Talk about ironic."
Darrell nodded. "Yep. That's basically it."
Sakura looked at Darrell with puzzled eyes. "If that is what needed to be done. then why didn't you just tell me?"
"Sorry. I couldn't resist. I wanted to make it seem complicated."
"You shouldn't go there." Sakura scolded. "Now." She lifted her hand up again. ". let's get back in shape. We have another match in two days and we need to be prepared."
"Yeah. let's do it. but let's go at the same time. It will be faster."
Sakura waited for Darrell to get into position then both teens focused their energy into their hands. The blue and orange auras appeared again. but for some odd reason, they shone bright. and instantly went into the other's body. Both gasped as the auras mixed. and changed color. to golden yellow. In a few seconds, both were at 100%, but the yellow didn't disappear.
"Uh. Darrell," Sakura said shakily. "How come your special aura is back?"
'I don't know. This. is weird."
Both continued to stare at each other as the solid gold aura brightened even more. A strong feeling of dizziness overcame them. then before either knew it, they passed out.
----- -----
"Sakura? Are we. back at that room again?"
"I guess. but why? Nothing is making sense."
Sakura found herself in a familiar white room along with Darrell. Everything was like the first dream; Sakura wearing her school fuku and Darrell wearing his street clothes. The golden aura was still surrounding them, and the dizziness was still in their system.
"I can see why you two are confused."
"Who. said that?" Darrell asked hesitantly at the female voice that just rang out.
"I did. To your right, Darrell."
Darrell instantly turned to his right to see a woman wearing a totally pink outfit with high heels. She had a long white scarf on her shoulders and her purple hair was curled in a similar fashion to Ran's.
"My name. is Rose," she introduced herself. "I'm here to assist you two in your problems and understandings. I'm sure you are familiar to this room, aren't you?"
Neither teen responded.
"This is where your spirits came to declare the love connection between the two of you..."
"How could you possibly know that.?" Sakura asked.
"Let's just say. I have my ways," Rose answered as a pink aura surrounded her body.
"So you are here to help clarify that dream?" Darrell asked eagerly.
"Yes. The dream you two had was basically a connection to your souls. That is how Darrell could summon the gold aura and pass it on to you, Sakura, through the healing technique he inherited. It is like a symbol of your love, so to speak. Sakura. Darrell deeply cares for you. He would do anything to maintain the survival of his family and friends. but with you, the connection is much deeper than friendship. Inside, you knew this and started to grow feelings for him, but you didn't know that it was that deep. so, with the help of your Satsu sister, your spirit connected with his and you confessed it to him first through the dream. With Darrell's history concerning female relationships. he needed a push from someone he really loved to get him to confess his love in real life. That is when your true feelings surfaced, Sakura. Do you understand that?"
Sakura stared at Rose. She couldn't have been more correct than that. "I get it."
"So I guess that settles the main issue." Darrell said. ".but what about this other dream I just had with that weird woman with the green hair and bats?"
"That was what that was about?" Sakura asked Darrell.
"Yes. You were pretty fortunate." Rose interpreted. "Her name was Morrigan Aensland, a succubus from the. Makai world."
"A. demon world?" Darrell reiterated.
"Correct. She sensed your strong spirit and decided to get it for herself, but when she saw the relationship with you and Sakura. she wanted to get you before that bond could grow."
"Too bad that didn't work," Darrell sighed. "Nothing is coming between Sakura and me. I'll make sure of it."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Huh? Why ask that? It is because of my relationship with Sakura that we became so strong."
"I know that. but in 10 days. the real test of your bond will arise."
"What do you mean by that?" Sakura asked while sitting down on the white carpet.
"Good thing you sat down for this one. This might come as a shock. considering the effort you put in to defeat him. but Akuma is very much still alive."
"WHAT?!?" both Sakura and Darrell yelled out loud.
"Not only that. but he has gotten considerably stronger in the last month. He's seeking revenge. I'm sorry."
"But that makes no sense!" Darrell yelled out while shaking his head. "I had to use all three levels of my Shakunetsu Burst power up to defeat him in that Shin Akuma form. Even Ryu put in all his vigor to defeat him with me. How could he be alive when nothing was left of him?"
"He teleported as soon as the Hadouken hit."
Darrell was overcome with shock and fell to his knees. "I KNEW that the match was sort of short. Now what? Even if both Sakuras, Hinata, and I fight him and try to heal. it takes some of Sakura and my energy for that to work."
"Don't worry. You have allies within the tournament."
"Like who?"
"Allow me to show you."
With that, Rose's aura grew and spread toward the wall behind her. The energy formed to the image of a familiar fighter that everyone saw.
"That's. Ryu." Sakura mentioned.
"Yes. He is definitely a strong fighter to have on your side," Rose said. "Take a look of these others right here."
As soon as Rose finished her sentence, the image of Ryu morphed into several different fighters.
"I never seen these fighters before," Sakura announced. "Who are they?"
Rose left that unanswered. "You have 10 days to prepare for the arrival of the true Shin Akuma. and two other threats."
"Like who?" Darrell demanded. "You mean that Akuma has some playmates?"
"Not exactly. but they all will be at the tournament finals waiting. That's all I can do here. If you need me. for anything. just call me in your dreams. or come look for me in Paris. Whichever suits you. Good luck, you two."
Rose vanished at the end of her sentence, leaving the two teenagers in awe at the predicament in front of them. In 10 days. the ultimate fighting test awaits them.
"I really hope the training that we went through was enough," Sakura said.
"I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get my chance to get rid of that nuisance once and for all. But. how in the world are we going to get out of here? There's no door this time."
"Yeah. that's a problem." Sakura said.
"Oh. sorry about that." Rose's voice rang out suddenly. "If you two want to exit this room and return to the real world. you'll need to. share a kiss with one another."
Instantly both teens blushed.
"Rose. That's not exactly a normal key to a door." Darrell muttered, but Rose was far out of hearing range.
"Well, that was unexpected." Sakura commented as she eyed Darrell. "So how about it, Darrell? Ready to get home?"
Darrell whirled around to face Sakura and stammered a tiny bit before catching his senses. "Yeah. let's go."
Sakura got up and walked up to Darrell, blushing a bit more. Darrell inhaled deeply then smiled. Sakura jumped into Darrell's arms, paused a bit, and pressed her lips against his. Darrell gasped within his head at the speed that Sakura used to get the kiss in and relaxed a bit. Their golden aura shone again. then both went out like a couple of lights.
----- -----
Sakura K. muttered under her breath as she woke up from her slumber. She was laying on the wool floor, still in her nightgown. She shook the cobwebs out of her head and looked up to see Darrell just waking up.
"10 days." she whispered to herself. The message Rose left her was still planted in her mind. "We have 10 days to get ready. I got to tell Ryu about this."
"But at the same time. we have to get the message through to the other fighters so that they don't think we're psycho," Darrell added. "Also, we have to fight in this tournament. We can use the fights as our practice grounds. I don't think we'll be able to hold back anymore."
"I know." Sakura got to her feet and looked towards the window to her left. The sun was up already, glaring down into the darkness in the bedroom. She sighed heavily before saying her next sentence.
"About our romance thing. do you think. we should tell the others about it? I mean. they'll find out sooner or later."
"Sakura. I think Hinata and Sakura S. already know by now."
Sakura looked at him with puzzled eyes. "What.?"
"There is something I forgot to mention about the new aura we have. I could sense them listening to us from the time I confessed to the time we shared auras. Besides."
Sakura watched Darrell get up and walk toward the door. He paused a bit. then put a hand on the handle and opened the door. On the other side were the bodies of Hinata and Sakura S., sleeping right at the door.
".they were eavesdropping ever since you woke me up," he finished, pouting a bit. "So even if the aura wasn't present, they would know. and I would know as soon as we had opened the door."
"What do you think they think about it?" she asked.
"Sakura. was that even a question?"
Sakura smiled at Darrell with a big smile. Deep down, she knew that the two of them might just accept it. It was love they were dealing with.
"Now then. you feel like getting something to eat?" Darrell asked. "I'm hungry."
"Yeah. Ran told me that the lobby has some really good food down there."
End of Chapter 21
"Hey. Hey you."
Darrell found himself in a pink bedroom with nothing in it but a bed. and a woman he never met before. She had on a pair of black jeans with a white shirt. She was around his height and had long pale green hair. The woman was lying on the bed in a sexy pose, calling him. He just stood there, staring at her with a blank expression on his face.
{Who.is she?}
The woman motioned a finger to tell him to come closer.
"Come here. I won't hurt you."
"Uh. who. are you?"
"Does that matter? It doesn't to me. I just want you."
Darrell's body stiffened at the woman's comment. He tried to back away slowly but his body wouldn't move.
"Come on. You know you want to."
"I. I can't. It's."
"My! Aren't you something? Trying to resist someone like me."
Darrell struggled to move his body, but it was frozen in its place. He stared at her. and was shocked to see bats come from under the bed and surround him.
"It won't get you anywhere." she said as she got off the bed and. somehow floated over to him. She stopped in front of him and put a hand on his cheek. The bats wrapped around Darrell and connected to the woman's body, creating her own pair of bat wings.
"You're frightened, aren't you?" she asked in a soothing tone. She was right. The horror could be seen clearly on his face. He was on the verge of screaming out loud before she put her hand on his mouth, silencing him.
"Now, now. no need to be afraid of me. I won't. do anything to you. that might harm you."
"I. This isn't right!" he finally yelled out. He tried to push her away, but he didn't have any room to move his arms. She grinned.
"I got you, Darrell," she said in a low tone. "You belong to me now. just like the others I've encountered."
"N. NOOOOOOO! Get AWAY from me!"
His aura surrounded him now and started to heat up, causing the woman to withdraw from grabbing him. She hissed a bit as her wings turned into several bats.
"I'll get you later. By the way. that Sakura girl. she isn't in love with you. She's too blind to see what you did for her and can do for her. See you. in the ring, Darrell."
Just like that, she vanished. and Darrell just stood there, contemplating on what the woman said. He didn't get a thing that just happened. and suddenly, he fainted.
----- -----
"Darrell! Get up!"
Darrell felt someone shaking him. He groaned in a low tone as he opened his eyes to see Sakura K. sitting on top of him. She stopped suddenly and eased her grip a bit.
"S. Sakura?" he said weakly. "What are.?"
"You were screaming in your sleep," she explained.
Darrell stared into her eyes, thinking about the dream that was freshly planted in his mind.
{Does she.?}
"What wrong with you all of a sudden?" Sakura asked. "You. are acting pretty strange."
Darrell put a hand over his head and sighed. "Sakura. if I told you. promise you won't laugh."
Sakura just nodded.
"I. I think I. I'm in love."
Sakura cut him off. "REALLY!?!? Wow! I didn't think that you thought that way about Ran. You just met her and."
Now Darrell cut Sakura off. "No, Sakura. It isn't Ran."
"Then who is it?"
Darrell started to blush a bit as he spoke. "It's. you."
Sakura immediately stared hard at her friend. "W. who?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"I knew I should have kept my mouth shut." he remarked while looking at the wall to his right. He closed his eyes and sighed. "I. guess your attention is on someone else."
"Just who do you think that is.?" Sakura asked.
Darrell looked at her with glazed eyes. "Come on! I saw the way you were looking at Ryu earlier. He. he."
He stopped and just like a little schoolgirl, he covered his mouth with a hand while blushing, his eyes wide. "I. don't believe it. I'm jealous of him. like a little kid."
"Whoa, Darrell!" Sakura yelled out. "Get a hold of yourself. You're turning into the sort of person that Kei would like."
"Uh."
"Listen. Ryu and I are. acquaintances. I can't really announce him as. that type of friend. since he's a man bent on finding the strongest of opponents. He's nice and all, but. well there was a time that the only thing that I used to do was think about Ryu. He sort of introduced me into the world of the Street Fight, even though he never gave me a lesson. He might be someone very special to me. but now I know that it would be too messy to get emotional with him. First of all, he's like 8 years older than me or something like that. Possibly he's even older than that. Do you really think I'd let people think that Ryu is a. well. you know."
Darrell nodded.
"Also, as much as I'd like to be with him every day. I rather not take him away from what makes him. Ryu. Otherwords, I don't want to keep him from Street Fighting. I really don't think he'd fit in. a normal job. But as far as you. saying that you love me."
Darrell tightened up, expecting the worst.
{Oh, no. here it comes.}
He was surprised to feel Sakura's hand on his chest.
"I. sort of have a confession to make. I've been keeping this from everyone, especially Kei and Hinata. and even my sister. I. sort of. well."
She blushed, just like Darrell. "You know. this version of you. is sort of your feminine side. and you know that I'm not necessarily the type to get extremely emotional, but. when I grabbed you earlier when you almost fell off the couch, I. felt sort of weird. It was like some of your dizziness rubbed off on me. I thought about it for a while, thinking about what that was. Just then, a flash of that weird dream we had came into my mind. I. really thought that I was in love with you, Darrell."
"So. you are saying. that you aren't in love with me then?"
Sakura stared at him for a second before saying, "Actually. it's the exact opposite. I. think that I am."
".in love." both said simultaneously. then gasped.
"Hey. we almost." they said again. then totally paused. It was like they knew what the other would say. Darrell sighed.
"I.. think we have some things to talk about. but I would appreciate it if you got off me."
----- -----
"You know. you sound a lot more mature than before, Sakura. I. used to be like that before. Well I guess the point is that being around you makes me feel. childish sometimes. I never get all lovey-dovey over anything before."
"Neither have I. I'm sort of a tomboy. You know that I'm not concerned about what other girls think is cool. That's why I'm only friends with Hinata, Natsu, Karin, and Kei."
"Why isn't my name on the list?"
Sakura K. turned and gave Darrell a friendly look.
"I don't think I can call you just a friend anymore. You and I. we're. well."
Darrell blushed. He knew what she was going to say, even though she didn't say it. He shook his head.
"Man, am I pathetic or what? It wasn't long before I met you that girls used to play with my emotions."
"I can't see why. You're a pretty nice guy to me."
"That was the problem. I was a bit too nice. Back home, you had to be some type of idiot or jock to get noticed. You can tell from the door that I'm not that type of person, so I was basically left by myself socially."
"Yeah. It's weird. I wasn't exactly popular at school myself, even though everyone knows that I street fight. To be honest. people were more worried about me than proud of me."
"Same here."
Both stared at each other for while after that part of the conversation. Neither knew that they had so much in common. and could understand where the other was coming from. Sakura continued the conversation.
"Like you said, I guess people have to see it from a fighter's point of view. While others find it dangerous and stupid, I find it fun and exciting. That's why I fight."
"Well. I use it as an anger reliever. Other people gave me SO many methods to relax myself in another ways. but I'm happier this way."
"You mean that there aren't times that you fight just to hurt someone? What about Akuma and Sho?"
Darrell shook his head. "I realized that it's not good to go into a fight bent on hurting someone. It messes with your focus and you lose more than you win. You know it. I know it now. I'm definitely thinking Ryu knows that. I guess I just got lucky."
"You're right about some things. but doesn't it seem weird that every time you and I get angry during a fight, we get stronger?"
Darrell nodded. "Yeah. I can't understand it myself."
"And we never exactly lost a match like that. Speaking of which, how did you do that healing move on me? You never did anything like that before."
Darrell had a blank expression on his face, but then something hit him. "It. just came in the moment. I thought about how I did that also. and I can't get my golden aura to reappear anymore. but I managed to perfect the healing technique. I'm the only person who can do it now."
"But I did it also." Sakura reminded him.
"I know. but I noticed that you could only do it because you had some of my power. Let me explain."
Sakura watched Darrell as he rolled out of his bed and stood beside it.
"Come over here, Sakura." he ordered. Sakura followed his request and stood right in front of Darrell. He breathed deeply, then said, "Do your Midare Zakura on me."
Sakura stared at him for a second, but knew what he was getting at. It makes no sense to heal someone that's at full health, so Darrell needed to get beat up somewhat. Without saying a word, Sakura charged in and just like the Tokyo Park so many months ago, laid out Darrell with her specialty move. When Darrell got up from the carpet, he said something else while holding his chest a bit. There was a small bruise where one of Sakura's kicks hit him at.
"Now. that should do it. Okay, Sakura. I want you to try to heal me. You remember how to do that, right?"
Sakura nodded and raised a hand toward Darrell's body. She focused as her blue aura appeared around her. A few seconds passed. and nothing happened.
"Huh?" Sakura gasped. "What's the hold-up? Why isn't my aura covering you like it did Ryu's?"
She looked to see Darrell's emotionless face.
"You'll see in a minute," he replied. "Forgive me. but I'll need to do the Raging Knuckle on you to get this to work."
"Really?" she asked curiously.
"You don't have to if you don't want to," he said, "and if you accept, I'll only do 12 punches instead of the normal 18. No Shakunetsuken included."
Sakura nodded in agreement and Darrell kept his word. After the 12th punch, Sakura reeled back, holding her stomach in pain.
"Geez, Darrell. I didn't know you hit so hard."
"I know you're lying," he responded flatly. "Okay, now try it."
Sakura took her hand off her stomach and raised it up to Darrell again as her aura showed up. Three seconds passed. and part of her aura shot around Darrell's body. He lifted his hand off his own chest and he small bruise Sakura left him disappeared.
"Okay, Sakura. let off the gas."
On cue Sakura stopped with a smile on her face.
"I think I get it now. Both of us have to be injured for the healing thing to work. Talk about ironic."
Darrell nodded. "Yep. That's basically it."
Sakura looked at Darrell with puzzled eyes. "If that is what needed to be done. then why didn't you just tell me?"
"Sorry. I couldn't resist. I wanted to make it seem complicated."
"You shouldn't go there." Sakura scolded. "Now." She lifted her hand up again. ". let's get back in shape. We have another match in two days and we need to be prepared."
"Yeah. let's do it. but let's go at the same time. It will be faster."
Sakura waited for Darrell to get into position then both teens focused their energy into their hands. The blue and orange auras appeared again. but for some odd reason, they shone bright. and instantly went into the other's body. Both gasped as the auras mixed. and changed color. to golden yellow. In a few seconds, both were at 100%, but the yellow didn't disappear.
"Uh. Darrell," Sakura said shakily. "How come your special aura is back?"
'I don't know. This. is weird."
Both continued to stare at each other as the solid gold aura brightened even more. A strong feeling of dizziness overcame them. then before either knew it, they passed out.
----- -----
"Sakura? Are we. back at that room again?"
"I guess. but why? Nothing is making sense."
Sakura found herself in a familiar white room along with Darrell. Everything was like the first dream; Sakura wearing her school fuku and Darrell wearing his street clothes. The golden aura was still surrounding them, and the dizziness was still in their system.
"I can see why you two are confused."
"Who. said that?" Darrell asked hesitantly at the female voice that just rang out.
"I did. To your right, Darrell."
Darrell instantly turned to his right to see a woman wearing a totally pink outfit with high heels. She had a long white scarf on her shoulders and her purple hair was curled in a similar fashion to Ran's.
"My name. is Rose," she introduced herself. "I'm here to assist you two in your problems and understandings. I'm sure you are familiar to this room, aren't you?"
Neither teen responded.
"This is where your spirits came to declare the love connection between the two of you..."
"How could you possibly know that.?" Sakura asked.
"Let's just say. I have my ways," Rose answered as a pink aura surrounded her body.
"So you are here to help clarify that dream?" Darrell asked eagerly.
"Yes. The dream you two had was basically a connection to your souls. That is how Darrell could summon the gold aura and pass it on to you, Sakura, through the healing technique he inherited. It is like a symbol of your love, so to speak. Sakura. Darrell deeply cares for you. He would do anything to maintain the survival of his family and friends. but with you, the connection is much deeper than friendship. Inside, you knew this and started to grow feelings for him, but you didn't know that it was that deep. so, with the help of your Satsu sister, your spirit connected with his and you confessed it to him first through the dream. With Darrell's history concerning female relationships. he needed a push from someone he really loved to get him to confess his love in real life. That is when your true feelings surfaced, Sakura. Do you understand that?"
Sakura stared at Rose. She couldn't have been more correct than that. "I get it."
"So I guess that settles the main issue." Darrell said. ".but what about this other dream I just had with that weird woman with the green hair and bats?"
"That was what that was about?" Sakura asked Darrell.
"Yes. You were pretty fortunate." Rose interpreted. "Her name was Morrigan Aensland, a succubus from the. Makai world."
"A. demon world?" Darrell reiterated.
"Correct. She sensed your strong spirit and decided to get it for herself, but when she saw the relationship with you and Sakura. she wanted to get you before that bond could grow."
"Too bad that didn't work," Darrell sighed. "Nothing is coming between Sakura and me. I'll make sure of it."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Huh? Why ask that? It is because of my relationship with Sakura that we became so strong."
"I know that. but in 10 days. the real test of your bond will arise."
"What do you mean by that?" Sakura asked while sitting down on the white carpet.
"Good thing you sat down for this one. This might come as a shock. considering the effort you put in to defeat him. but Akuma is very much still alive."
"WHAT?!?" both Sakura and Darrell yelled out loud.
"Not only that. but he has gotten considerably stronger in the last month. He's seeking revenge. I'm sorry."
"But that makes no sense!" Darrell yelled out while shaking his head. "I had to use all three levels of my Shakunetsu Burst power up to defeat him in that Shin Akuma form. Even Ryu put in all his vigor to defeat him with me. How could he be alive when nothing was left of him?"
"He teleported as soon as the Hadouken hit."
Darrell was overcome with shock and fell to his knees. "I KNEW that the match was sort of short. Now what? Even if both Sakuras, Hinata, and I fight him and try to heal. it takes some of Sakura and my energy for that to work."
"Don't worry. You have allies within the tournament."
"Like who?"
"Allow me to show you."
With that, Rose's aura grew and spread toward the wall behind her. The energy formed to the image of a familiar fighter that everyone saw.
"That's. Ryu." Sakura mentioned.
"Yes. He is definitely a strong fighter to have on your side," Rose said. "Take a look of these others right here."
As soon as Rose finished her sentence, the image of Ryu morphed into several different fighters.
"I never seen these fighters before," Sakura announced. "Who are they?"
Rose left that unanswered. "You have 10 days to prepare for the arrival of the true Shin Akuma. and two other threats."
"Like who?" Darrell demanded. "You mean that Akuma has some playmates?"
"Not exactly. but they all will be at the tournament finals waiting. That's all I can do here. If you need me. for anything. just call me in your dreams. or come look for me in Paris. Whichever suits you. Good luck, you two."
Rose vanished at the end of her sentence, leaving the two teenagers in awe at the predicament in front of them. In 10 days. the ultimate fighting test awaits them.
"I really hope the training that we went through was enough," Sakura said.
"I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get my chance to get rid of that nuisance once and for all. But. how in the world are we going to get out of here? There's no door this time."
"Yeah. that's a problem." Sakura said.
"Oh. sorry about that." Rose's voice rang out suddenly. "If you two want to exit this room and return to the real world. you'll need to. share a kiss with one another."
Instantly both teens blushed.
"Rose. That's not exactly a normal key to a door." Darrell muttered, but Rose was far out of hearing range.
"Well, that was unexpected." Sakura commented as she eyed Darrell. "So how about it, Darrell? Ready to get home?"
Darrell whirled around to face Sakura and stammered a tiny bit before catching his senses. "Yeah. let's go."
Sakura got up and walked up to Darrell, blushing a bit more. Darrell inhaled deeply then smiled. Sakura jumped into Darrell's arms, paused a bit, and pressed her lips against his. Darrell gasped within his head at the speed that Sakura used to get the kiss in and relaxed a bit. Their golden aura shone again. then both went out like a couple of lights.
----- -----
Sakura K. muttered under her breath as she woke up from her slumber. She was laying on the wool floor, still in her nightgown. She shook the cobwebs out of her head and looked up to see Darrell just waking up.
"10 days." she whispered to herself. The message Rose left her was still planted in her mind. "We have 10 days to get ready. I got to tell Ryu about this."
"But at the same time. we have to get the message through to the other fighters so that they don't think we're psycho," Darrell added. "Also, we have to fight in this tournament. We can use the fights as our practice grounds. I don't think we'll be able to hold back anymore."
"I know." Sakura got to her feet and looked towards the window to her left. The sun was up already, glaring down into the darkness in the bedroom. She sighed heavily before saying her next sentence.
"About our romance thing. do you think. we should tell the others about it? I mean. they'll find out sooner or later."
"Sakura. I think Hinata and Sakura S. already know by now."
Sakura looked at him with puzzled eyes. "What.?"
"There is something I forgot to mention about the new aura we have. I could sense them listening to us from the time I confessed to the time we shared auras. Besides."
Sakura watched Darrell get up and walk toward the door. He paused a bit. then put a hand on the handle and opened the door. On the other side were the bodies of Hinata and Sakura S., sleeping right at the door.
".they were eavesdropping ever since you woke me up," he finished, pouting a bit. "So even if the aura wasn't present, they would know. and I would know as soon as we had opened the door."
"What do you think they think about it?" she asked.
"Sakura. was that even a question?"
Sakura smiled at Darrell with a big smile. Deep down, she knew that the two of them might just accept it. It was love they were dealing with.
"Now then. you feel like getting something to eat?" Darrell asked. "I'm hungry."
"Yeah. Ran told me that the lobby has some really good food down there."
End of Chapter 21