Sarah was waiting downstairs, sitting upon one of the cushiony sofas close to the hall where the two would return from, reading a magazine. She'd never seen or heard of the woman that she had seen her brother speaking to before. She must be some really obscure family connection who had some important matter come up... They must have been talking about business or something, because she had looked really serious.
But something about her look had seemed rather strange. Sarah couldn't put her finger on what it was exactly, but there was this noticeable lack of warmth when she had exchanged greetings and words. That woman's facial expression hadn't even changed any...
And what was with her hair, anyway?
"Sarah?" said a voice from a distance away. Turning her head, she saw Jacky walking down the hall, the tan-skinned woman following a few steps behind him.
"Oh, hi!" she put down the magazine and ran up to her brother and his guest. She looked at them both, smiling. "You're done already."
Jacky smiled back and nodded. "Well, since you didn't really get to meet properly, I'd like to re-introduce our guest, Vanessa Lewis."
Sarah turned and smiled at Vanessa. "Hello again, Vanessa."
Vanessa stared back at the smiling young blonde. "Hello again to you too, Sarah. I'm pleased to meet you."
"Jacky said you were going to be staying with us?"
Jacky jumped in before Vanessa could say anything. "That's right. She's staying in our main guest room."
"Oh?" Sarah said to her brother. "Now I see. So THAT's why you wanted that room tidied up." She turned back to Vanessa. "So... what brings you here?"
"Business," Vanessa replied matter-of-factly.
"She has things she needs to take care of around here," Jacky added hastily. "She's a family friend, so we're letting her stay with us. However, we still don't know how long she's going to be here. It'll probably be a while."
Vanessa noted that Jacky seemed to be doing most of the talking for her. She didn't really mind it at the moment, though. After all, she hadn't thought of any excuses to the questions that were sure to be asked...
"That's cool. It'll be interesting having someone else in the house with us. It gets kind of dull in here sometimes, with mom and dad being away. Kind of short notice, though!" Sarah laughed.
Jacky continued to stand by Vanessa's side. "Yeah... but that couldn't be helped." He looked back at Vanessa for a moment. "Sarah, you'll try and help Vanessa feel more comfortable here, won't you?"
"Oh, of course!" She took Vanessa's hand in hers gently. "Vanessa, how about we start by showing you a few places around the house?"
"She's already seen this main hall and my office," Jacky pointed out, "so don't bother with those. Why don't you just show her a few of the main rooms?"
Sarah nodded back at her brother. "Will do. " She looked back up towards Vanessa and tugged her arm gently. "Well, then, let's get the tour started!" she said, smiling brightly.
"Alright. You lead the way, please."
The two began to walk out towards a passageway to the right side of the main room. Noticing that her brother wasn't tagging along, Sarah suddenly stopped and turned. "Jacky, aren't you coming with us?"
He shook his head. "No, I've got a bit of computer work I need to finish up. Besides, Vanessa's spent all afternoon with me. I think this would be a good opportunity for you two to get to know each other a little without your big, stupid brother hanging around." He smiled slyly.
Sarah laughed a little at his comment. "Well, OK, if you're going to be that way about it." She turned back to Vanessa. "Let's be going, then."
"If I don't see you again tonight, Vanessa," Jacky said as the two started off, "Goodnight and rest well."
"You too, Jacky," said Vanessa, following at Sarah's side. As the pair walked away, Jacky couldn't help but stare at her again. There was something about Vanessa that was absolutely intriguing to him, but he couldn't quite place a finger on what it was... her appearance was certainly striking, but it wasn't just that. Jacky wasn't that superficial a person... what could it be?
...
"And this," Sarah said, leading her into the two large interconnected rooms, "is our dining room and kitchen."
Vanessa was wide-eyed at the amazing setup they had. The kitchen looked like something out of an overly elaborate cooking television show - several stainless steel tables, sinks, ovens, and grills, huge windows with draped, green curtains hanging about the sides, a line of several refrigerators and freezers lined up against the opposite side of the wall, a rack hanging above filled with imported wines, and plenty of room to move around in. Through the other side of the room she could see a long, elegant dining hall, with two large, rectangular wooden tables stretched across the room's length.
Vanessa walked to the other end of the kitchen and peered through the door. The dining hall stretched out long, with giant, elegantly curtained windows lining its left side, and a series of decorative lights and artwork upon the right, surrounding a small door presumably leading off to other private dining quarters. The tables themselves were decorated with large statuettes and floral arrangements, all evenly spaced apart so as not to disrupt the mood they set.
Even after having seen the game room, collection hall, the massive courtyard and gardenia, the garage, the pool, and the indoor and outdoor gymnasium and sporting field, Vanessa couldn't help but be impressed at what she saw. Amazingly, she had dealt with people who were even more affluent than this in the past... but she had never witnessed their lifestyle so personally.
"Is this where you eat every night?" she asked, turning back around to face Sarah.
"Actually, no. That area is when we have guests over. For business, parties, and whatnot." She walked to Vanessa's side and pointed to the door in the right wall of the dining room. "See that door right there? It leads to a smaller dining area. It's a lot more casual there. We always eat in there instead."
"I see." She looked back through the kitchen again. "And you cook and store everything in here?"
"Well, we have someone who helps us prepare dinner sometimes, usually when our parents are around, so that's why we need such large space. And of course, when you're preparing dinner for an event in the dining hall..."
Sarah suddenly stopped, her face taken with an expression of realization. "Oh my god! ...Did Jacky get you anything to eat?"
Vanessa shook her head.
"Oh no, he must have been expecting me to prepare something! I didn't realize you were coming, though, so I didn't bother to get anything ready tonight... and it's late now, too... oh no, I'm so sorry, Vanessa! I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner!"
Vanessa was both flattered and a little bit nervous at this. "Sarah, it's OK. I realize that this was short notice. Please don't concern yourself with it."
"Well... I just can't let this go," Sarah said, with a guilty tinge in her eyes. "I'll make it up to you later tonight."
"I appreciate your generosity, Sarah, but you and your brother are already doing so much for me..." Vanessa did feel a bit uncomfortable with this situation, especially with the recently revealed knowledge that she would be sharing in their grandiose living quarters during her tenure. They were doing so much for her... but she was supposed to be the one helping them...
Sarah sighed. "I still feel bad about it. Let's just take a walk through the dining room, OK?"
Vanessa nodded in silent response. She again followed behind Sarah into the humongous chamber, marveling at its grandiose scale. The starlit night sky shone through the tall windows, as did the glowing halos of the lights outdoors, casting quite an ethereal mood. Even without any people inside, the place still seemed as if it was prepared for a gigantic party. The sound of their footsteps echoed throughout as they passed through. One could only imagine what sort of noise would come from a gathering that would fill the entire room...
"Say, Vanessa," Sarah said suddenly, breaking the silence, keeping up her pace. "Is there anything else you want to see tonight? It's starting to get a little bit late. I'd love to show you more but you've already seen most of the important stuff. Would you like to take a look at your room? I've got a few other things I'll need to get you, too."
"Well... No... not really," Vanessa replied. It was a question that was difficult to answer; after all, she didn't know of everything that the Bryant property had to offer. "But thank you for your consideration."
Sarah smiled back. As they came to the end of the dining hall, Sarah gently took hold of Vanessa's hand and led her along through and out the doorway. "Then, please allow me to show you to your new living quarters..."
...
The two were walking down a long hallway when Sarah suddenly stopped and turned to face one of the doors on her right side. Her hand grasped the knob as she looked towards Vanessa.
"Here," Sarah said, slowly opening the door, "is your guest room. " She gestured inside, and Vanessa walked in. "Please just take a look around. I need to get something, so I'll be back in just a sec." With that, Sarah exited, leaving Vanessa alone to take in her surroundings.
Her guest room was large, spacious, and impeccably clean and prepared. The hue of the walls was a calming sky-blue color, with a single shining streak of silver-gray wallpaper circling the room at its center. Across from Vanessa was a huge, stylish new dresser, with a notably long mirror to provide a full view of herself on her surroundings, and three small lamps along its top. On the room's right side was a closet that stretched almost the length of the entire wall. A neatly made queen-sized bed, prepared with fluffy, red pillows and multiple layers of soft-looking blankets lay near the room's left side, close to a massive window overlooking the courtyard below. A small table with a LCD clock upon it sat at the bedside, within arm's reach. Her luggage from earlier had been set on the floor by the entrance, but other than a small, green recliner and a brightly shining lamplight in the corner, the rest of the room was left open.
Vanessa slowly walked across from one side of the area to the other, carefully looking over it all. I never expected anything like this... she thought to herself. I don't think I've ever been able to call a room this large my own before...
"So, how is the room?"
Vanessa turned back to Sarah, who had just reappeared at the door. "Well..." she said, rather at a loss for words, "It's... really nice. I think it's almost too much for me."
Sarah laughed. "Oh, come on! You're a special guest. We want to make you as comfortable as possible while you're here. Speaking of which... I'll set up a bath for you."
"A... bath?" said Vanessa, surprised. Where had that come from?
"Well, you told me how cramped and tired your body was from the plane trip. A bath will be the perfect thing to loosen you up. You'll love it, trust me." She smiled brightly, holding up something she had brought into the room. It was white and fluffy... "Here's a bathrobe I brought for you," she said, handing it over to Vanessa.
Vanessa stared down at the garment, surprised by the suddenness of the whole situation. "It's OK with you to use this?" Vanessa inquired nervously, unfolding the fabric and holding it up against herself.
"Yeah, it's fine. Go ahead and keep it if you want. I'll go ahead and get things ready for you, then... why don't you change out of your clothes?"
Before Vanessa could answer, Sarah had already left the room. She looked down again at the robe Sarah had given her, bright and white as pure snow, its color contrasted sharply against that of her dark, tan skin, but shone with a similar highlight as her locks of hair. It seemed very nicely made... must have been pretty expensive. And they were just giving it to her! Even though she knew that the Bryants could easily afford such luxuries, she felt quite guilty accepting something as this from them, on top of everything else they were doing for her, though she was certainly grateful for their hospitality.
She removed her shirt and pants, throwing them into a pile towards the corner of the room, near the closet. The necklace that she had been wearing underneath with her father's dogtags attached was exposed, the metal pieces resting just above her chest. Carefully, she removed the precious pendant, and set it atop the small stand near the spacious bed where she would be sleeping. After removing the rest of her undergarments, Vanessa had slipped into the white robe that Sarah had bestowed to her.
She was surprised at how soft it felt against her. It was not like a typical, somewhat rough-textured bathrobe she had worn many times before. It felt almost like an animal fur. She stoked it a little, taking the fabric between her fingers and rubbing. The soft fibers tickled her hands just a little...
Vanessa picked up her clothing and opened the door to the hall outside. Sarah was standing there, smiling, as she stepped through the doorway.
"Well, do you like it?"
Vanessa nodded and looked down at her covering. "Yes, this is very nice. It's quite soft."
"Great! I'm glad it's to your favor. I'll show you where our bath is."
Sarah again lightly grabbed Vanessa's arm and lead her down the brightly lit hallway to a room towards the end. She took the handle of the large, white door and pushed it inwards. "I started the water and left you a few things to wash with. Feel free to mess around with the settings and figure out what you like," Sarah said, nudging her in. As Vanessa began to look around, Sarah peeked through a crack in the door. "Oh, and don't forget to lock the door behind you! Don't want anyone to walk in by accident..." Then, she vanished again.
Vanessa flipped the door lock on and puzzled for a brief moment. Settings? Just what sort of bath was this?
She looked around, amazed at how large and ornate the room was. The walls were tiled by a striking aquamarine pattern, with streaks of gold lining the top, bottom, and edges of the room. A gigantic sink and mirror stood across from the doorway, reflecting the image of Vanessa in her robed glory. There were several racks of towels and washcloths beside it, all freshly cleaned, folded, and lined up in neat little rows, and beyond that sat a whole shelf of various soaps, scents, shampoos, and other interesting bathing tools. Towards the back of the room sat a large, deep, beautiful porcelain-white tub, with multiple bronze-colored faucets and linings adorning its sides, Inside it was filled with a pool of rapidly bubbling water, jets of fluid streaming out from all sides, steam visibly wafting from its surface. It was some sort of combination bath and spa that she had only heard about until now...
Vanessa could also smell a deep, floral scent. She wasn't sure what it was initially - soap? Potpourri? Then she realized why the water was foaming over. Sarah must have put in some sweet-smelling bubble solution for her! How nice.
Rolling up the sleeve of her robe, she knelt down and grazed the water's surface with her hand. It was hot! Her first instinct was to immediately pull her arm back a bit, but she soon put it back in and gradually pushed it further and further down, growing used to the heat that lay within, feeling the water jets and bubbles brush against her skin. As Vanessa looked to the side of the tub, she found a small temperature control panel. She took the control knob between her fingers and nudged the temperature down a notch and saw the small, black LED display above it indicate her change of preference. Turning around and seeing the pool of bliss that lay before her, Vanessa removed her robe and threw it in the corner, then carefully climbed into the tub.
Vanessa shuddered a little from the temperature as she first began to descend into the warm water. Gradually, she lowered herself further, feeling the heat envelop her, until finally she lay with water and bubbles rising up to her neck. The heat was quite strong at first, but it soon began to seep through her skin and sink deep within her muscles, yielding an intense feeling of relaxation that was sorely needed. The waterstreams flowing from the side of the tub massaged her gently, giving comfort, while scent from the bubble bath drifted deep into her nostrils.
"Mmmmmmmm," she hummed to herself contentedly, her tensed sinews finally beginning to loosen up. She had never really been treated to such lavishness before. Sure, previous clients had given her limo rides and fancy dinners and whatnot, but she had never been invited to share personal household luxuries as a part of the family. The Bryants, though... they really were treating her like a guest. To the others she had worked for in the past, she was a mere bodyguard, a woman who was being paid to put herself at risk for their protection. She was a highly trained professional from one of the world's most renowned organizations... but yet, still just a bodyguard. She had never spoken much to them, never known much about them behind the personas they had presented to the public... but the two she had met, they seemed so different from everyone else. The way Jacky seemed so willing to talk about the most difficult time of his life to her, and the way he looked at her whenever they had spoken to each other... the way Sarah was so eager to assist her, and make her feel welcomed... it was like they really did want to get to know her, as opposed to just having her stand around and fend off would-be assailants. As nice as this felt, it also made Vanessa more than a little uncomfortable. She wasn't totally sure she wanted to share all the aspects of her life with people she barely even knew yet. Actually, she wasn't sure she wanted to share all the aspects of her life with ANYONE...
She wondered just what was going to be like staying with the siblings. Jacky had said he had anticipated her being there for a few months, until the tournament had finished and the danger had passed. That was quite a while! Vanessa wondered what sort of things she'd be doing with them. She would be working hard to try to protect them and to uncover just what J6 had planned, of course, but words Jacky had said to her stuck in her mind: "We want you to become part of the family for a while." What all did he mean by that...?
Vanessa began to think about the brother and sister pair. Her initial impressions of Jacky and Sarah were positive. They certainly had made her feel a bit uneasy at times, which was unusual for her personality type... probably because she wasn't used to her clients being so outgoing and generous. Jacky was quite friendly, and admittedly rather handsome. His love for Sarah was obvious, with the way he had almost lost control of his emotions several times during their conversation, and just the way he spoke to his sister when she was around. Sarah was very nice and appeared genuinely interested in becoming a friend to her, though she seemed just a little bit... lost, as if there was something there that she didn't quite understand fully. For some reason, she couldn't imagine the Sarah she had just seen as a cold-blooded killer...
Vanessa's mind shifted back to her surroundings as her eyes drifted towards a device sitting to her right. It looked like a showerhead of some sort, but it was situated very low, and pointed at only a slight angle downwards. Right next to it was a small faucet handle.
She moved towards the device and grabbed ahold of the handle. As she turned it, a large jet of hot water suddenly shot out of the nozzle, splashing the side of her face and taking her by surprise. A loud, startled yelp flew forth from her as she stumbled back a bit.
A knock at the door resounded. "Vanessa, are you OK in there?" came Sarah's voice from outside.
She must have heard me splashing around, Vanessa thought... "Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry, please."
"OK. Let me know if you have trouble."
She turned back to the device. Putting her hands at its base, she found that she was able to lift it out of its holster. It was attached to a hose, and could be moved around. It seemed to be intended for washing hair...
She lifted it out and over herself, and began to spray the warm water against the back of her head. It ran swiftly down the strands of her shining hair, causing them to clump together. She'd done enough relaxation for now. It was time to clean herself off...
"What are you up to, Sarah?" said Jacky, passing by her in the hall as she stood by the door.
"Oh... I'm just checking up on Vanessa, that's all."
"Um, she's a smart woman, sis, " he said in a sarcastic tone. "I think she can figure it out by herself."
"Hmmm... OK." Sarah turned to face her brother. "Is this the first time you've met her, too?"
"Yeah. She seems like an interesting woman."
Sarah nodded in agreement. "She hasn't been overly talkative, though. I don't think she's shy or anything... it's like she's angry or something."
"I haven't seen her smile since she got here. I don't think she's angry, though... I just think she's usually like that."
"Really?" Sarah put the tip of her thumb up to her lip and bit it as she fell into thought. "Hirm."
"What's up?"
"Well, I think she needs to loosen up a bit, then. Tomorrow I think we should do something fun with her."
"Like?"
"Er... actually, I can't come up with anything off the top of my head," Sarah replied hesitantly. "Why don't we ask tomorrow morning what she wants to do? We can find out what sort of stuff she enjoys. I think that we should show her around a little bit more, too. She mostly saw the big stuff tonight."
Jacky smiled back at Sarah. "Sounds like a plan to me."
"And we need to make up for not providing her with a decent meal tonight..." she said, giving her brother an angry eye.
"Uh... wait, why are you looking at me like that? You're the one who usually handles that stuff..."
"I would have handled it had I known she was actually coming. YOU didn't say anything."
"Duh... er..." Jacky was stuck. "Crap. I'm sorry." He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "So I guess we really need to make sure we make that up to her..."
"I'll something nice for dinner tomorrow. How does seafood sound?"
"Fine by me. Anything besides that planned?"
"Well, I was hoping to train a bit, too. Maybe you'd want to join me?"
"Hmmm... we'll see. "
"Alright. I'll go and get things all set up for her for the morning."
He walked over, put his hands on her shoulders, and gave his sister a quick, gentle kiss on her forehead. "You do that. Are you going to bed afterwards, then?"
"Yeah, it's getting kinda late."
"Agreed... I want to get to bed too, but I still have some work I want to take care of."
"Same here. I have something I need to prepare..." she started to walk off.
"Prepare? ...What are you preparing?"
"Nothing. Just something nice for our houseguest, since I didn't have a chance earlier." She continued to walk away into the distance. "I probably won't see you again tonight, so sleep well, OK?"
"I will. You too, Sarah."
Vanessa stood in front of the misty bathroom mirror, blowing her hair dry. As she finished her task, she shut off the hair dryer and ran a hand through her warm, freshly fluffed silver strands, relishing the feeling of heat against hr fingers. She wasn't quite sure of what time it was, her biological clock being thrown off a bit by the change that flying into a different time zone had incurred, but she had a suspicion that it was growing rather late. She picked up her used towels off the floor and set them inside a nearby clothes hamper. Tightening the belt of her robe, she opened the large bathroom door and stepped outside.
Looking into the hallway, she visually traced the route back to her guest room. It seemed like her hosts weren't around. They had probably retired for the evening.
As she walked back towards her bedroom, she came across a small mound lying in the middle of her pathway. There, sitting in front of the door, was a basket containing a jar of honey and a pile of warm, freshly baked bread. Kneeling down to examine it, Vanessa could see that alongside the pastries sat a small note written on shining, flowery, gold-trimmed stationery. She removed the note and began to read the large, smoothly flowing handwriting.
Vanessa,
Here's something that's a favorite of mine. Hopefully it will compensate a little for the lack of a real meal for you. I'll make sure you'll have a good breakfast tomorrow morning, too.
I'm off to sleep for tonight. Tomorrow, let's have some fun together, OK?
-Sarah
She carefully set the note back inside the basket and removed one of the rolls. Taking a bite, Vanessa was surprised by a unique, light yet rich flavor. This was obviously a special recipe she had never tasted before. Putting a small amount of honey on the pastries gave it a sweet, pleasant tang. She usually wasn't much for foods like this, but having never eaten this particular mix before, and it being a present from her host, she was more than happy to accept it. She took the basket into her room, then sat down on the bed and ate a few more pieces, careful not to get any crumbs on the sheets of where she would be resting tonight. After she had eaten her fill, she set the basket and the remainders upon the dresser.
She walked over to her pile of luggage, opened one of the larger cases, and sifted through the clothes within. Digging deep into the pile of fabrics, Vanessa found what she was looking for: a soft, blue satin nightrobe. Vanessa yanked it out and set it upon the bed, then begun to remove her bathrobe. She would worry about unpacking the rest into her new dresser and closet tomorrow. Besides, she had more of her belongings coming...
After putting her nightrobe on, Vanessa took her slightly moist white robe and hung it upon a small hook attached to the backside of the door. She carefully pulled back the first few layers of covers on her bed. The sheets consisted of several types of fabric: some soft and cottony, others smooth and silky, but they all seemed to be of a very high quality. Letting out a sigh of exhaustion, she climbed onto the bed and then pulled the sheets over her body.
As she closed her eyes, she said a short, silent prayer to herself, the one her father had taught her in the first few months they had spent together. It was a habit of hers, something to help clear her mind a bit before she drifted into sleep, and to remember what she held most dear...
Despite this, various thoughts and images from the day continued to circulate through her mind as Vanessa fell into slumber. It was not at all a difficult process that night: the bath had eased her stiffness considerably, but the weariness from the trip and the excitement of today still lingered. Her mind and body were more than ready for a good rest...
Jacky yawned as he finished typing the last of his emails. He had developed a particular dislike for this sort of work, but it had to be done. Correspondence was not fun at all recently... everything was either business matters or things related to the recent events. His most recent message of note came from one of his family's friends overseas. Apparently rumor in the area said that the tentative date for the next World Fighting Tournament had been set a little more than four months away.
The prospect of having to go and fight again bothered Jacky greatly. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy his martial arts training - he certainly had a talent for it, and had been sharpening his skills again recently in case they would prove to be needed. It was just that he was so weary of the constant struggles he and the family faced. Everything had seemed so perfect - he had his sister back, and he was on the track to making a spectacular comeback to the field of work he loved most. And now, it had all begun to fall apart, and he seemed almost helpless to stop it, unless took up the battle again. Plus, there was all the emotional baggage associated with the tournament and the events that had happened that were connected to it... if he had to fight in any other event it wouldn't be anywhere near as bad.
He hoped more than anything that somehow, everything would be resolved before he had to register to do battle in the Tournament again. Yet Jacky knew, deep down in his heart, that it was incredibly unlikely to happen. He had to be brave and resilient, and fight until the very last...
He remembered how lonely he felt during the time when Sarah was held by the Organization. Nothing could feel much lower than that... feeling as if all your hopes, dreams, and those you loved were snatched away from you. He never wanted himself or anyone else to ever have to suffer through such a terrible experience again...that was what he had fought for, and that was what he would continue to fight for - not just for himself, but for his family and friends as well.
And then, there was the matter of Vanessa.
The tan skin, the silver hair, and the green-hazel eyes... Vanessa had been in his thoughts all day. But even though they had spent a long time talking, he knew little more about her than before they had met. His attempts to spark conversation with her had been met with an unfamiliar resistance. Throughout their discussion, she had responded to his words and actions, and had been genuinely surprised at her being able to stay with them. But there was still something present, a hard, cold barrier preventing true interaction between him and her, something that stopped him from discovering her emotion and personality. Judging from what she had said before he came up here, Sarah had seemed to notice it, too...
He just couldn't stand it. Being the outgoing person that he was, not being able to truly talk to and understand another - especially one who was entrusted in safeguarding his sister - was absolutely distressing.
Yes, he had figured it out. That was the reason he was so fascinated with her. He so wanted to know more about her, and yet somehow she held herself back from him, either willingly or unwillingly - he couldn't tell.
A determination formed in his mind: whatever this blockade in communication was, he would work to destroy it, and break into the depths of Vanessa's persona.
The computer shut itself off as he stood up from the chair. He, too, was rather weary after the day's events, and looked forward to at least a semi-peaceful rest. Tomorrow he would figure out some way to discover just who the woman named Vanessa Lewis was at her heart...
-----------
Another installment in this story. I'm glad that at least a few other VF4 fans are enjoying my fics so far. With VF4 Evolution coming out soon, we're going to see two more characters enter the mix - and hopefully inspire more ideas for me to write about in VF fanfic (^_^)
Next part: Finally some real action! Jacky and Vanessa get into a sparring match to learn something about the skills of the other, and maybe learn a bit more about their own techniques as well! I'll hope I'll be up to the task of writing some action scenes worthy of the VF name.
But something about her look had seemed rather strange. Sarah couldn't put her finger on what it was exactly, but there was this noticeable lack of warmth when she had exchanged greetings and words. That woman's facial expression hadn't even changed any...
And what was with her hair, anyway?
"Sarah?" said a voice from a distance away. Turning her head, she saw Jacky walking down the hall, the tan-skinned woman following a few steps behind him.
"Oh, hi!" she put down the magazine and ran up to her brother and his guest. She looked at them both, smiling. "You're done already."
Jacky smiled back and nodded. "Well, since you didn't really get to meet properly, I'd like to re-introduce our guest, Vanessa Lewis."
Sarah turned and smiled at Vanessa. "Hello again, Vanessa."
Vanessa stared back at the smiling young blonde. "Hello again to you too, Sarah. I'm pleased to meet you."
"Jacky said you were going to be staying with us?"
Jacky jumped in before Vanessa could say anything. "That's right. She's staying in our main guest room."
"Oh?" Sarah said to her brother. "Now I see. So THAT's why you wanted that room tidied up." She turned back to Vanessa. "So... what brings you here?"
"Business," Vanessa replied matter-of-factly.
"She has things she needs to take care of around here," Jacky added hastily. "She's a family friend, so we're letting her stay with us. However, we still don't know how long she's going to be here. It'll probably be a while."
Vanessa noted that Jacky seemed to be doing most of the talking for her. She didn't really mind it at the moment, though. After all, she hadn't thought of any excuses to the questions that were sure to be asked...
"That's cool. It'll be interesting having someone else in the house with us. It gets kind of dull in here sometimes, with mom and dad being away. Kind of short notice, though!" Sarah laughed.
Jacky continued to stand by Vanessa's side. "Yeah... but that couldn't be helped." He looked back at Vanessa for a moment. "Sarah, you'll try and help Vanessa feel more comfortable here, won't you?"
"Oh, of course!" She took Vanessa's hand in hers gently. "Vanessa, how about we start by showing you a few places around the house?"
"She's already seen this main hall and my office," Jacky pointed out, "so don't bother with those. Why don't you just show her a few of the main rooms?"
Sarah nodded back at her brother. "Will do. " She looked back up towards Vanessa and tugged her arm gently. "Well, then, let's get the tour started!" she said, smiling brightly.
"Alright. You lead the way, please."
The two began to walk out towards a passageway to the right side of the main room. Noticing that her brother wasn't tagging along, Sarah suddenly stopped and turned. "Jacky, aren't you coming with us?"
He shook his head. "No, I've got a bit of computer work I need to finish up. Besides, Vanessa's spent all afternoon with me. I think this would be a good opportunity for you two to get to know each other a little without your big, stupid brother hanging around." He smiled slyly.
Sarah laughed a little at his comment. "Well, OK, if you're going to be that way about it." She turned back to Vanessa. "Let's be going, then."
"If I don't see you again tonight, Vanessa," Jacky said as the two started off, "Goodnight and rest well."
"You too, Jacky," said Vanessa, following at Sarah's side. As the pair walked away, Jacky couldn't help but stare at her again. There was something about Vanessa that was absolutely intriguing to him, but he couldn't quite place a finger on what it was... her appearance was certainly striking, but it wasn't just that. Jacky wasn't that superficial a person... what could it be?
...
"And this," Sarah said, leading her into the two large interconnected rooms, "is our dining room and kitchen."
Vanessa was wide-eyed at the amazing setup they had. The kitchen looked like something out of an overly elaborate cooking television show - several stainless steel tables, sinks, ovens, and grills, huge windows with draped, green curtains hanging about the sides, a line of several refrigerators and freezers lined up against the opposite side of the wall, a rack hanging above filled with imported wines, and plenty of room to move around in. Through the other side of the room she could see a long, elegant dining hall, with two large, rectangular wooden tables stretched across the room's length.
Vanessa walked to the other end of the kitchen and peered through the door. The dining hall stretched out long, with giant, elegantly curtained windows lining its left side, and a series of decorative lights and artwork upon the right, surrounding a small door presumably leading off to other private dining quarters. The tables themselves were decorated with large statuettes and floral arrangements, all evenly spaced apart so as not to disrupt the mood they set.
Even after having seen the game room, collection hall, the massive courtyard and gardenia, the garage, the pool, and the indoor and outdoor gymnasium and sporting field, Vanessa couldn't help but be impressed at what she saw. Amazingly, she had dealt with people who were even more affluent than this in the past... but she had never witnessed their lifestyle so personally.
"Is this where you eat every night?" she asked, turning back around to face Sarah.
"Actually, no. That area is when we have guests over. For business, parties, and whatnot." She walked to Vanessa's side and pointed to the door in the right wall of the dining room. "See that door right there? It leads to a smaller dining area. It's a lot more casual there. We always eat in there instead."
"I see." She looked back through the kitchen again. "And you cook and store everything in here?"
"Well, we have someone who helps us prepare dinner sometimes, usually when our parents are around, so that's why we need such large space. And of course, when you're preparing dinner for an event in the dining hall..."
Sarah suddenly stopped, her face taken with an expression of realization. "Oh my god! ...Did Jacky get you anything to eat?"
Vanessa shook her head.
"Oh no, he must have been expecting me to prepare something! I didn't realize you were coming, though, so I didn't bother to get anything ready tonight... and it's late now, too... oh no, I'm so sorry, Vanessa! I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner!"
Vanessa was both flattered and a little bit nervous at this. "Sarah, it's OK. I realize that this was short notice. Please don't concern yourself with it."
"Well... I just can't let this go," Sarah said, with a guilty tinge in her eyes. "I'll make it up to you later tonight."
"I appreciate your generosity, Sarah, but you and your brother are already doing so much for me..." Vanessa did feel a bit uncomfortable with this situation, especially with the recently revealed knowledge that she would be sharing in their grandiose living quarters during her tenure. They were doing so much for her... but she was supposed to be the one helping them...
Sarah sighed. "I still feel bad about it. Let's just take a walk through the dining room, OK?"
Vanessa nodded in silent response. She again followed behind Sarah into the humongous chamber, marveling at its grandiose scale. The starlit night sky shone through the tall windows, as did the glowing halos of the lights outdoors, casting quite an ethereal mood. Even without any people inside, the place still seemed as if it was prepared for a gigantic party. The sound of their footsteps echoed throughout as they passed through. One could only imagine what sort of noise would come from a gathering that would fill the entire room...
"Say, Vanessa," Sarah said suddenly, breaking the silence, keeping up her pace. "Is there anything else you want to see tonight? It's starting to get a little bit late. I'd love to show you more but you've already seen most of the important stuff. Would you like to take a look at your room? I've got a few other things I'll need to get you, too."
"Well... No... not really," Vanessa replied. It was a question that was difficult to answer; after all, she didn't know of everything that the Bryant property had to offer. "But thank you for your consideration."
Sarah smiled back. As they came to the end of the dining hall, Sarah gently took hold of Vanessa's hand and led her along through and out the doorway. "Then, please allow me to show you to your new living quarters..."
...
The two were walking down a long hallway when Sarah suddenly stopped and turned to face one of the doors on her right side. Her hand grasped the knob as she looked towards Vanessa.
"Here," Sarah said, slowly opening the door, "is your guest room. " She gestured inside, and Vanessa walked in. "Please just take a look around. I need to get something, so I'll be back in just a sec." With that, Sarah exited, leaving Vanessa alone to take in her surroundings.
Her guest room was large, spacious, and impeccably clean and prepared. The hue of the walls was a calming sky-blue color, with a single shining streak of silver-gray wallpaper circling the room at its center. Across from Vanessa was a huge, stylish new dresser, with a notably long mirror to provide a full view of herself on her surroundings, and three small lamps along its top. On the room's right side was a closet that stretched almost the length of the entire wall. A neatly made queen-sized bed, prepared with fluffy, red pillows and multiple layers of soft-looking blankets lay near the room's left side, close to a massive window overlooking the courtyard below. A small table with a LCD clock upon it sat at the bedside, within arm's reach. Her luggage from earlier had been set on the floor by the entrance, but other than a small, green recliner and a brightly shining lamplight in the corner, the rest of the room was left open.
Vanessa slowly walked across from one side of the area to the other, carefully looking over it all. I never expected anything like this... she thought to herself. I don't think I've ever been able to call a room this large my own before...
"So, how is the room?"
Vanessa turned back to Sarah, who had just reappeared at the door. "Well..." she said, rather at a loss for words, "It's... really nice. I think it's almost too much for me."
Sarah laughed. "Oh, come on! You're a special guest. We want to make you as comfortable as possible while you're here. Speaking of which... I'll set up a bath for you."
"A... bath?" said Vanessa, surprised. Where had that come from?
"Well, you told me how cramped and tired your body was from the plane trip. A bath will be the perfect thing to loosen you up. You'll love it, trust me." She smiled brightly, holding up something she had brought into the room. It was white and fluffy... "Here's a bathrobe I brought for you," she said, handing it over to Vanessa.
Vanessa stared down at the garment, surprised by the suddenness of the whole situation. "It's OK with you to use this?" Vanessa inquired nervously, unfolding the fabric and holding it up against herself.
"Yeah, it's fine. Go ahead and keep it if you want. I'll go ahead and get things ready for you, then... why don't you change out of your clothes?"
Before Vanessa could answer, Sarah had already left the room. She looked down again at the robe Sarah had given her, bright and white as pure snow, its color contrasted sharply against that of her dark, tan skin, but shone with a similar highlight as her locks of hair. It seemed very nicely made... must have been pretty expensive. And they were just giving it to her! Even though she knew that the Bryants could easily afford such luxuries, she felt quite guilty accepting something as this from them, on top of everything else they were doing for her, though she was certainly grateful for their hospitality.
She removed her shirt and pants, throwing them into a pile towards the corner of the room, near the closet. The necklace that she had been wearing underneath with her father's dogtags attached was exposed, the metal pieces resting just above her chest. Carefully, she removed the precious pendant, and set it atop the small stand near the spacious bed where she would be sleeping. After removing the rest of her undergarments, Vanessa had slipped into the white robe that Sarah had bestowed to her.
She was surprised at how soft it felt against her. It was not like a typical, somewhat rough-textured bathrobe she had worn many times before. It felt almost like an animal fur. She stoked it a little, taking the fabric between her fingers and rubbing. The soft fibers tickled her hands just a little...
Vanessa picked up her clothing and opened the door to the hall outside. Sarah was standing there, smiling, as she stepped through the doorway.
"Well, do you like it?"
Vanessa nodded and looked down at her covering. "Yes, this is very nice. It's quite soft."
"Great! I'm glad it's to your favor. I'll show you where our bath is."
Sarah again lightly grabbed Vanessa's arm and lead her down the brightly lit hallway to a room towards the end. She took the handle of the large, white door and pushed it inwards. "I started the water and left you a few things to wash with. Feel free to mess around with the settings and figure out what you like," Sarah said, nudging her in. As Vanessa began to look around, Sarah peeked through a crack in the door. "Oh, and don't forget to lock the door behind you! Don't want anyone to walk in by accident..." Then, she vanished again.
Vanessa flipped the door lock on and puzzled for a brief moment. Settings? Just what sort of bath was this?
She looked around, amazed at how large and ornate the room was. The walls were tiled by a striking aquamarine pattern, with streaks of gold lining the top, bottom, and edges of the room. A gigantic sink and mirror stood across from the doorway, reflecting the image of Vanessa in her robed glory. There were several racks of towels and washcloths beside it, all freshly cleaned, folded, and lined up in neat little rows, and beyond that sat a whole shelf of various soaps, scents, shampoos, and other interesting bathing tools. Towards the back of the room sat a large, deep, beautiful porcelain-white tub, with multiple bronze-colored faucets and linings adorning its sides, Inside it was filled with a pool of rapidly bubbling water, jets of fluid streaming out from all sides, steam visibly wafting from its surface. It was some sort of combination bath and spa that she had only heard about until now...
Vanessa could also smell a deep, floral scent. She wasn't sure what it was initially - soap? Potpourri? Then she realized why the water was foaming over. Sarah must have put in some sweet-smelling bubble solution for her! How nice.
Rolling up the sleeve of her robe, she knelt down and grazed the water's surface with her hand. It was hot! Her first instinct was to immediately pull her arm back a bit, but she soon put it back in and gradually pushed it further and further down, growing used to the heat that lay within, feeling the water jets and bubbles brush against her skin. As Vanessa looked to the side of the tub, she found a small temperature control panel. She took the control knob between her fingers and nudged the temperature down a notch and saw the small, black LED display above it indicate her change of preference. Turning around and seeing the pool of bliss that lay before her, Vanessa removed her robe and threw it in the corner, then carefully climbed into the tub.
Vanessa shuddered a little from the temperature as she first began to descend into the warm water. Gradually, she lowered herself further, feeling the heat envelop her, until finally she lay with water and bubbles rising up to her neck. The heat was quite strong at first, but it soon began to seep through her skin and sink deep within her muscles, yielding an intense feeling of relaxation that was sorely needed. The waterstreams flowing from the side of the tub massaged her gently, giving comfort, while scent from the bubble bath drifted deep into her nostrils.
"Mmmmmmmm," she hummed to herself contentedly, her tensed sinews finally beginning to loosen up. She had never really been treated to such lavishness before. Sure, previous clients had given her limo rides and fancy dinners and whatnot, but she had never been invited to share personal household luxuries as a part of the family. The Bryants, though... they really were treating her like a guest. To the others she had worked for in the past, she was a mere bodyguard, a woman who was being paid to put herself at risk for their protection. She was a highly trained professional from one of the world's most renowned organizations... but yet, still just a bodyguard. She had never spoken much to them, never known much about them behind the personas they had presented to the public... but the two she had met, they seemed so different from everyone else. The way Jacky seemed so willing to talk about the most difficult time of his life to her, and the way he looked at her whenever they had spoken to each other... the way Sarah was so eager to assist her, and make her feel welcomed... it was like they really did want to get to know her, as opposed to just having her stand around and fend off would-be assailants. As nice as this felt, it also made Vanessa more than a little uncomfortable. She wasn't totally sure she wanted to share all the aspects of her life with people she barely even knew yet. Actually, she wasn't sure she wanted to share all the aspects of her life with ANYONE...
She wondered just what was going to be like staying with the siblings. Jacky had said he had anticipated her being there for a few months, until the tournament had finished and the danger had passed. That was quite a while! Vanessa wondered what sort of things she'd be doing with them. She would be working hard to try to protect them and to uncover just what J6 had planned, of course, but words Jacky had said to her stuck in her mind: "We want you to become part of the family for a while." What all did he mean by that...?
Vanessa began to think about the brother and sister pair. Her initial impressions of Jacky and Sarah were positive. They certainly had made her feel a bit uneasy at times, which was unusual for her personality type... probably because she wasn't used to her clients being so outgoing and generous. Jacky was quite friendly, and admittedly rather handsome. His love for Sarah was obvious, with the way he had almost lost control of his emotions several times during their conversation, and just the way he spoke to his sister when she was around. Sarah was very nice and appeared genuinely interested in becoming a friend to her, though she seemed just a little bit... lost, as if there was something there that she didn't quite understand fully. For some reason, she couldn't imagine the Sarah she had just seen as a cold-blooded killer...
Vanessa's mind shifted back to her surroundings as her eyes drifted towards a device sitting to her right. It looked like a showerhead of some sort, but it was situated very low, and pointed at only a slight angle downwards. Right next to it was a small faucet handle.
She moved towards the device and grabbed ahold of the handle. As she turned it, a large jet of hot water suddenly shot out of the nozzle, splashing the side of her face and taking her by surprise. A loud, startled yelp flew forth from her as she stumbled back a bit.
A knock at the door resounded. "Vanessa, are you OK in there?" came Sarah's voice from outside.
She must have heard me splashing around, Vanessa thought... "Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry, please."
"OK. Let me know if you have trouble."
She turned back to the device. Putting her hands at its base, she found that she was able to lift it out of its holster. It was attached to a hose, and could be moved around. It seemed to be intended for washing hair...
She lifted it out and over herself, and began to spray the warm water against the back of her head. It ran swiftly down the strands of her shining hair, causing them to clump together. She'd done enough relaxation for now. It was time to clean herself off...
"What are you up to, Sarah?" said Jacky, passing by her in the hall as she stood by the door.
"Oh... I'm just checking up on Vanessa, that's all."
"Um, she's a smart woman, sis, " he said in a sarcastic tone. "I think she can figure it out by herself."
"Hmmm... OK." Sarah turned to face her brother. "Is this the first time you've met her, too?"
"Yeah. She seems like an interesting woman."
Sarah nodded in agreement. "She hasn't been overly talkative, though. I don't think she's shy or anything... it's like she's angry or something."
"I haven't seen her smile since she got here. I don't think she's angry, though... I just think she's usually like that."
"Really?" Sarah put the tip of her thumb up to her lip and bit it as she fell into thought. "Hirm."
"What's up?"
"Well, I think she needs to loosen up a bit, then. Tomorrow I think we should do something fun with her."
"Like?"
"Er... actually, I can't come up with anything off the top of my head," Sarah replied hesitantly. "Why don't we ask tomorrow morning what she wants to do? We can find out what sort of stuff she enjoys. I think that we should show her around a little bit more, too. She mostly saw the big stuff tonight."
Jacky smiled back at Sarah. "Sounds like a plan to me."
"And we need to make up for not providing her with a decent meal tonight..." she said, giving her brother an angry eye.
"Uh... wait, why are you looking at me like that? You're the one who usually handles that stuff..."
"I would have handled it had I known she was actually coming. YOU didn't say anything."
"Duh... er..." Jacky was stuck. "Crap. I'm sorry." He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "So I guess we really need to make sure we make that up to her..."
"I'll something nice for dinner tomorrow. How does seafood sound?"
"Fine by me. Anything besides that planned?"
"Well, I was hoping to train a bit, too. Maybe you'd want to join me?"
"Hmmm... we'll see. "
"Alright. I'll go and get things all set up for her for the morning."
He walked over, put his hands on her shoulders, and gave his sister a quick, gentle kiss on her forehead. "You do that. Are you going to bed afterwards, then?"
"Yeah, it's getting kinda late."
"Agreed... I want to get to bed too, but I still have some work I want to take care of."
"Same here. I have something I need to prepare..." she started to walk off.
"Prepare? ...What are you preparing?"
"Nothing. Just something nice for our houseguest, since I didn't have a chance earlier." She continued to walk away into the distance. "I probably won't see you again tonight, so sleep well, OK?"
"I will. You too, Sarah."
Vanessa stood in front of the misty bathroom mirror, blowing her hair dry. As she finished her task, she shut off the hair dryer and ran a hand through her warm, freshly fluffed silver strands, relishing the feeling of heat against hr fingers. She wasn't quite sure of what time it was, her biological clock being thrown off a bit by the change that flying into a different time zone had incurred, but she had a suspicion that it was growing rather late. She picked up her used towels off the floor and set them inside a nearby clothes hamper. Tightening the belt of her robe, she opened the large bathroom door and stepped outside.
Looking into the hallway, she visually traced the route back to her guest room. It seemed like her hosts weren't around. They had probably retired for the evening.
As she walked back towards her bedroom, she came across a small mound lying in the middle of her pathway. There, sitting in front of the door, was a basket containing a jar of honey and a pile of warm, freshly baked bread. Kneeling down to examine it, Vanessa could see that alongside the pastries sat a small note written on shining, flowery, gold-trimmed stationery. She removed the note and began to read the large, smoothly flowing handwriting.
Vanessa,
Here's something that's a favorite of mine. Hopefully it will compensate a little for the lack of a real meal for you. I'll make sure you'll have a good breakfast tomorrow morning, too.
I'm off to sleep for tonight. Tomorrow, let's have some fun together, OK?
-Sarah
She carefully set the note back inside the basket and removed one of the rolls. Taking a bite, Vanessa was surprised by a unique, light yet rich flavor. This was obviously a special recipe she had never tasted before. Putting a small amount of honey on the pastries gave it a sweet, pleasant tang. She usually wasn't much for foods like this, but having never eaten this particular mix before, and it being a present from her host, she was more than happy to accept it. She took the basket into her room, then sat down on the bed and ate a few more pieces, careful not to get any crumbs on the sheets of where she would be resting tonight. After she had eaten her fill, she set the basket and the remainders upon the dresser.
She walked over to her pile of luggage, opened one of the larger cases, and sifted through the clothes within. Digging deep into the pile of fabrics, Vanessa found what she was looking for: a soft, blue satin nightrobe. Vanessa yanked it out and set it upon the bed, then begun to remove her bathrobe. She would worry about unpacking the rest into her new dresser and closet tomorrow. Besides, she had more of her belongings coming...
After putting her nightrobe on, Vanessa took her slightly moist white robe and hung it upon a small hook attached to the backside of the door. She carefully pulled back the first few layers of covers on her bed. The sheets consisted of several types of fabric: some soft and cottony, others smooth and silky, but they all seemed to be of a very high quality. Letting out a sigh of exhaustion, she climbed onto the bed and then pulled the sheets over her body.
As she closed her eyes, she said a short, silent prayer to herself, the one her father had taught her in the first few months they had spent together. It was a habit of hers, something to help clear her mind a bit before she drifted into sleep, and to remember what she held most dear...
Despite this, various thoughts and images from the day continued to circulate through her mind as Vanessa fell into slumber. It was not at all a difficult process that night: the bath had eased her stiffness considerably, but the weariness from the trip and the excitement of today still lingered. Her mind and body were more than ready for a good rest...
Jacky yawned as he finished typing the last of his emails. He had developed a particular dislike for this sort of work, but it had to be done. Correspondence was not fun at all recently... everything was either business matters or things related to the recent events. His most recent message of note came from one of his family's friends overseas. Apparently rumor in the area said that the tentative date for the next World Fighting Tournament had been set a little more than four months away.
The prospect of having to go and fight again bothered Jacky greatly. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy his martial arts training - he certainly had a talent for it, and had been sharpening his skills again recently in case they would prove to be needed. It was just that he was so weary of the constant struggles he and the family faced. Everything had seemed so perfect - he had his sister back, and he was on the track to making a spectacular comeback to the field of work he loved most. And now, it had all begun to fall apart, and he seemed almost helpless to stop it, unless took up the battle again. Plus, there was all the emotional baggage associated with the tournament and the events that had happened that were connected to it... if he had to fight in any other event it wouldn't be anywhere near as bad.
He hoped more than anything that somehow, everything would be resolved before he had to register to do battle in the Tournament again. Yet Jacky knew, deep down in his heart, that it was incredibly unlikely to happen. He had to be brave and resilient, and fight until the very last...
He remembered how lonely he felt during the time when Sarah was held by the Organization. Nothing could feel much lower than that... feeling as if all your hopes, dreams, and those you loved were snatched away from you. He never wanted himself or anyone else to ever have to suffer through such a terrible experience again...that was what he had fought for, and that was what he would continue to fight for - not just for himself, but for his family and friends as well.
And then, there was the matter of Vanessa.
The tan skin, the silver hair, and the green-hazel eyes... Vanessa had been in his thoughts all day. But even though they had spent a long time talking, he knew little more about her than before they had met. His attempts to spark conversation with her had been met with an unfamiliar resistance. Throughout their discussion, she had responded to his words and actions, and had been genuinely surprised at her being able to stay with them. But there was still something present, a hard, cold barrier preventing true interaction between him and her, something that stopped him from discovering her emotion and personality. Judging from what she had said before he came up here, Sarah had seemed to notice it, too...
He just couldn't stand it. Being the outgoing person that he was, not being able to truly talk to and understand another - especially one who was entrusted in safeguarding his sister - was absolutely distressing.
Yes, he had figured it out. That was the reason he was so fascinated with her. He so wanted to know more about her, and yet somehow she held herself back from him, either willingly or unwillingly - he couldn't tell.
A determination formed in his mind: whatever this blockade in communication was, he would work to destroy it, and break into the depths of Vanessa's persona.
The computer shut itself off as he stood up from the chair. He, too, was rather weary after the day's events, and looked forward to at least a semi-peaceful rest. Tomorrow he would figure out some way to discover just who the woman named Vanessa Lewis was at her heart...
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Another installment in this story. I'm glad that at least a few other VF4 fans are enjoying my fics so far. With VF4 Evolution coming out soon, we're going to see two more characters enter the mix - and hopefully inspire more ideas for me to write about in VF fanfic (^_^)
Next part: Finally some real action! Jacky and Vanessa get into a sparring match to learn something about the skills of the other, and maybe learn a bit more about their own techniques as well! I'll hope I'll be up to the task of writing some action scenes worthy of the VF name.