For my peace of mind, I am going to assume that Ken Takizawa is 20 years
old instead of 35. Because that's just gross!
Episode Nine
Kenny's Back
Rally stretched her arms as she walked into the kitchen. She took a sniff of the air and looked around. "What's for breakfast?"
"There's toast on the counter," May said without looking up from her magazine.
Rally headed over to the toast. "Awe, yuck! It's burnt!"
"Nobody said you had to eat it!" May hissed, feeling rather insulted.
Rally grabbed the bag of sliced bread and pulled out two slices. She stuffed them in the toaster then grabbed a cup for coffee. As she was pouring her coffee, Akira stepped out of his room and entered the kitchen. Rally quickly spun around, feeling rather embarrassed from last night, but ended up spilling coffee on her hand. "OUCH!"
"Are you okay?" Akira rushed over to Rally.
"I'm fine!" Rally somewhat hissed. She pulled her hand away from Akira.
Akira turned on the water at the sink. "You're burnt." He grabbed Rally's hand and stuck it under the faucet. "There." He pulled her hand out of the water.
May peered up from her magazine, looking at Akira and Rally. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Akira still holding onto Rally's hand.
"Better?" Akira softly said.
"Yes." Rally stared back.
"Good."
"Thanks."
"Ahem..." May cleared her throat
Rally pulled her hand away from Akira. "Yes, thank you."
"You're welcome."
The telephone rang. Rally headed out of the kitchen. "I'll take it in the living room. I bet it's Becky."
"Alright, Ral," May said, smiling. As soon as Rally left the room, May's smile turned into a frown. She produced her most evil stare to give to Akira at that moment.
Akira looked up from his glass of water. "What?"
"You know what!" May hissed.
"No, I don't know what!"
"She has a boyfriend! Leave her alone!"
"I'm not after Rally like that!" Akira snapped back.
"Please!" May exclaimed, trying to be quiet so Rally wouldn't hear. "You don't think I see it, do you?"
"See what?" Akira asked, defensively.
"You have a crush on her! You like her!"
"I do not!" Akira hissed forcefully
May hopped off her stool and circled around Akira. "Don't lie to me! I see the way you flirt with her! I see everything!"
"You're paranoid!"
Rally walked back into the kitchen holding the phone. "May, it's for you."
"Who is it?" May walked over to Rally and took the phone.
"You'll just have to see."
May ran into the living room and jumped onto the couch. "Hello?"
Akira sighed and leaned his stomach against the counter.
Rally sat down at the table and stared at the wood pattern not wanting to look up at Akira.
May screamed.
Akira jumped up off the counter. "What's wrong?"
"KENNY! OH MY GOSH, I LOVE YOU, BABY! OH, KENNY!"
Akira looked to Rally.
"May's boyfriend."
"Oh." Akira thought for a moment. "You mean she actually has one?"
"Yep."
"Strange world we live in." Akira picked up his glass of water and took a drink. He walked out of the kitchen and back into his room.
May walked into the kitchen giggling as she listened to Kenny talk. She sat down at the counter and giggled some more.
Rally rolled her eyes then grabbed her Guns and Ammo magazine from the middle of the table.
"Yeah, I know. I love you too. No, I love you more. No, I really do. No, I love you more. No, Kenny, I love you more..."
Rally groaned and stuck her face into her magazine.
"Hey, Ral?"
"What?" Rally moaned.
"Can we go somewhere in the afternoon?"
"Where?"
"O'Hare."
"O'Hare? What the heck for?"
May smiled. "Kenny's coming back! Can we? Please!"
Rally groaned. "I guess."
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" May said while walking out of the kitchen. "No, I love you more. No, I love you..."
Akira walked back out of his room. "Sounds like they're having a deep conversation."
"That's what they do every time he calls." Rally tossed her magazine down.
Akira walked over to the dishwater and opened it. He started loading up the dirty dishes. "So you're picking up this Kenny guy this afternoon?"
"Apparently so." Rally uttered, looking to the floor.
"What's wrong?"
Rally looked up at Akira. "Nothing."
"Why don't you talk much?"
"No reason." Rally looked away. "I'm just kinda tired, I guess."
"You don't have to be ashamed."
"Ashamed of what?" Rally nervously questioned.
"You know what I mean, Rally," Akira said, using his serious voice.
Rally looked away from him again. "Look, it's something I don't want to talk about, okay?"
"Fine."
May walked back into the kitchen with a stupid smile on her face. "Kenny's coming back," She chorused. "Kenny's coming back...Kenny's coming back..."
"Oh, get over it!" Rally groaned. "He hasn't even come to see you in a year!"
"Don't yell at me just because you have a severe relational problem!" May spat, deeply offended.
"I do not," Rally retorted.
"Do so! When have you ever been in love? You're bent, Rally! Face it!"
"I love my car..." Rally looked up at May. "...and my guns."
May rolled her eyes as she walked past Rally at the table. "That's why you're still a virgin," May whispered.
"Okay! Way too much information! I'm leaving!" Akira exclaimed and walked out of the house through the kitchen exit.
"May!" Rally hissed, burning red with embarrassment."
"He has really good hearing," May stated.
"How could you?" Rally got up and walked out of the kitchen.
"What?" May questioned. "It's true!"
May tapped her foot against the floor as she looked at her watch. "Come on! Hurry up, already!"
"That's not going to make him come any faster," Rally said as he leaned against a pillar. She then took a slip of her soda.
"Oh, shut up, Rally!" May hissed. She looked over at the entrance where Kenny would appear from and bounced up and down on her feet anxiously.
Rally bent over and picked up a small paper bag next to her feet. "May, just eat your happy meal!" She tossed the bag to May.
May caught the bag and reached in. She pulled out her box of chicken nuggets and started eating them. "Gosh, it's been eleven months, one weeks, and four days since I last saw him!"
"You've really got some issues, you know."
May's face turned sour. "Just because your love life sucks and mine does..."
Rally laughed. "I got all the love I need with my CZ-75."
May rolled her eyes. "And you say I have issues. I'm really surprised that Devin hasn't ran away yet."
"Oh, I really hope he does." Rally took another slip of her drink.
"Rally..." May moaned and shook her head.
"Hey, what's my favorite girl doing here?"
May spun around. "KENNY!" She took two giant leaps towards Kenny and jumped into his arms. "OH, KENNY! I MISSED YOU!" She firmly pressed her lips against Kenny's and sweetly kissed him. People stopped around them and looked at what seemed to be a very happy reunion.
Rally stared at Kenny and May. Even she couldn't deny the beauty captured in that single moment—that single kiss almost seemed to make all Heaven and earth pause. She blinked her eyes as she tried to grasp what she was seeing. A part of her wished that she could have something just as special and magical that those two seemed to share. She blinked again.
People started losing interest after a few minutes. However, it was quite fascinating to wonder how May or Kenny seemed to breathe without unlocking from each other. Rally sighed and looked down at her watch as she the minutes fly by.
"Ahem." Rally cleared her throat.
May broke away from Kenny and looked back at Rally. "Oh, sorry." May smiled. "We better get home now."
"Uh, good idea!" Rally started walking off.
May grabbed Kenny's left hand while he pulled his carry-on with his right. They followed a few yards behind Rally, taking their time and playing around.
"We're here!" May exclaimed as she burst through the front door. He tossed her purse to the side and turned around, locking Kenny's hands in hers. "Come on! Let's go sit on the porch!"
Akira stepped into the hallway. "You're back...late."
"Long story," Rally said.
Kenny stopped walking once he saw Akira. "Why is there a robber in your house?"
"Good question!" May exclaimed.
Rally rolled her eyes. "He's not a robber. He's living here."
Kenny scratched his head. "Your boyfriend?"
Rally blushed a fierce red. "Uh...no...I...uh..."
"No!" May said sharply. "She does have a boyfriend though. His name is Devin Park. He's a Police officer."
"Oh," Kenny said. "Good for you, Rally." Kenny looked over to Akira and extended his hand. "I'm Ken Takizawa. You can just all me Kenny like everyone else."
Akira took Kenny's hand. "Akira Shinagawa."
"Oh, you're Japanese too," Kenny said.
"Yeah, I am. Native born."
"Well, I'm not." Kenny looked to the floor and sighed. "So what's with the mask?"
"Ken!" Rally hissed.
"What?" Kenny shrugged his shoulders.
"Now I know where May gets her rudeness from!"
Akira shook his head and veered off into the kitchen towards his bedroom.
"Well, has anyone ever seen what he looks like?" Kenny asked.
"No," Rally and May both said.
"Are you in the least bit curious to know?"
May sighed. "Well, of course! What about you Rally?"
Rally shrugged her shoulders. "Well, sure I am. But he doesn't want us to see him so I guess we never will."
"Hmmm..." A large grin appeared on May's face.
May walked down the stairs wearing a red, Chinese-style dress with her blonde hair put up in chopsticks. She paused at the third step from the bottom to fix her hair.
Rally turned her head from the television and looked at May. "What are you all dressed up for?"
"Kenny and I are going out for dinner."
"Oh, how exciting," Rally apathetically said, turning back to the television.
"Get a life," May hissed.
Kenny tromped down the stairs while throwing on his jacket. He stopped right behind May and put his hands on her shoulders.
"We're not bringing anything back so you'll just have to fend for yourself," May said. "However, maybe I should since you can't cook."
"I really don't need the sarcasm."
"You started it." May giggled as Kenny kissed the back of her neck. "You're the one with all the smart comments..." May giggled again as Kenny kissed her over her ear.
Rally turned her head to look back at May then immediately turned back to the television after seeing, in her opinion, a gross display of human affection.
"Well, come on, Kenny..." May giggled as she grabbed Kenny's hand and led him out the front door.
Akira, who was sitting in the living room, put his book down and looked at Rally. "Did everything just get extremely quiet around here since May left?"
"You noticed it too?" Rally said.
"So what do you want to do tonight?"
Rally lied down on the couch from her sitting position. "To tell the truth, I really don't want to do anything tonight."
"Fine by me." Akira starting reading again.
Rally closed her eyes but opened them seconds later when the doorbell rang. "Geeze, I don't want company right now."
"Do you want me to get the door?"
"No." Rally got up from the couch. "I'll get it." Rally walked out of the living room and into the hallway. She headed to the front door and opened it. "Mrs. Davis?"
At the doorstep stood a young woman with a huge bag around her and a baby juggled in one arm. This woman happened to be Rally's next door neighbor. Quite often, May would baby-sit for the Davis' baby daughter, Katie. "Oh, Miss Vincent! I'm so glad you're home!"
"Uh...May's not home right now..." Rally uttered.
"Please, I need your help!" Mrs. Davis took off her large bag and put it around Rally's neck. "You see, we just got a call that Scott's mother is in the hospital. We need someone to watch Katie for a couple of hours."
"But, Jen...I...uh..."
"We need to get there as soon as possible," Jen Davis said, cutting Rally off. "Thank you so much for helping, Rally. You're a blessing." She passed off the sleeping baby. "Thank you!"
Rally awkwardly grabbed the baby as she was shoved into her arms. "But I..."
"Here's my cell phone number, the hospital's number, and Katie's doctor's number. She's been having some ear problems." She handed the paper to Rally. "Just give her these drops every four hours. I gave her some at three so she'll be good until seven. Okay?"
"But..."
"Thank you, Rally. You have no idea what this means to me," Jen said.
"But, I..." "I'll call you later." She kissed the baby's forehead. "Love you, Katie. Bye." She ran off towards her car in her driveway.
Rally kicked the door shut seeing that her hands were full. She turned around to see Akira standing in the middle of the hallway. He gazed over Rally to see her juggling a baby in one arm with medication, papers, and a huge bag full of baby stuff. The site looked very strange and awkward.
"You have a problem saying no, don't you?" Akira questioned.
Rally rolled her eyes. "Don't even start with me." She wiggled out of the strap on the bag and let it drop to the floor. She also dropped the medication and papers on the floor. She took a hold of Katie with both hands and stretched her arms out to look at the baby. Katie looked at Rally as Rally stared her down. After a few seconds, Katie threw her head back and started to cry. "Oh no! Turn it off! Turn if off!" Rally panicked. Akira walked up and took Katie from Rally's hands. "Here...it's like this." Akira held the little girl in his arms and slightly rocked her. After she calmed down, he lifted her up high and brought her back down. Rally looked up once she heard laughter from the baby. She stood in amazement for a few moments. "How...? How did you do that?" Akira looked over at her. "Kids are easy to please." He looked back to Katie and kept playing with her. "How are you so good with children?" "I had sisters once." Rally cast a strange look at Akira. "Had?" Akira didn't answer. He kept playing with the baby. Rally pondered for a few moments. She then shook her head, picked up the papers and medication, and walked into the kitchen. She put them down on the table and headed back to the living room where she found Akira sitting in the chair with Katie. She sat down on the love-seat and watched as Akira played with her. "Something wrong?" Akira asked, seeing Rally zoning out. Rally looked up at him. "No...nothing's wrong." "What are you thinking about?" "Nothing..." Akira stood up. He carried Katie over to Rally and dropped her off into Rally's arms. "Here, hold her." "But...I...uh..." "Just try it." Rally took Katie awkwardly into her arms. Feeling extremely strange, inadequate and uncomfortable, Rally tried to pass the baby back to Akira. "Just hold her." Rally clumsy cradled the baby into her arms and tried to be as delicate and caring as possible. As babies usually do, Katie started to moan, signaling that she was going to start crying. "What do I do?" Rally panicked. "Just rock her back and forth. She'll calm down." Rally did as Akira instructed and soon baby Katie was fast asleep. Rally looked up to Akira and almost cracked a smile. "I did it." "Yeah." Akira smirked, unseen by Rally because of the mask. Rally shifted the baby so the baby's head rested against her shoulder. "I can't believe it. I actually made her go to sleep." "What makes you say that?" Akira said down next to her. Rally sighed and looked down at Katie. "I've never been really good with children. I don't think it's really my thing." Akira thought for a moment. "I think you'd be a good mother." Rally looked up at Akira with shock in her eyes. "What?" "Nobody's ever said that to me before." Rally faked a smile. "In fact, I've been told never to breed or have contact with children at all." "Who would say such a terrible thing?" "My friends." Akira shook his head. "Love never fails. If you loved your child with all your heart, you'd never fail, Rally." Rally slightly blushed. "Well, I don't ever think I'd be in a position to have children anyway. I mean, I'm so busy with my career and everything..." "Would you want to?" "No..." Rally looked away from Akira as she lied. "...I haven't really put much thought into it." The truth was that she had put thought into it. Rally glanced back. "Well, what about you?" Rally asked, taking the focus off her. Akira shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I'd like to. But, I suppose I have to find a wife first and all that." "So how many little Akira's do you want running around?" "Oh, at least six to eight..." Akira laughed. "Maybe even ten." "Yeah, good luck finding a wife that'll do that for you." "Well, how many would you have?" "Three at the very maximum." "So, you have thought about this, haven't you?" Akira said, teasing. Rally looked at him blankly and blushed from embarrassment once she was caught. "Okay...maybe a little." "Rally?" "Okay...maybe a lot..." Rally admitted. "I've just..." "What?" "I've never told anyone that before." Akira slouched back into the couch. "If it's important, you shouldn't let everyone else make your decisions or make you feel a certain way. If you want it, Rally, then claim it. You deserve to be happy, and have the things that are important to you." "Well..." Rally sighed. "It's still a long ways off. I am only nineteen." "You're nineteen? I thought you were older." "Nope, nineteen." Rally paused for a moment. "How old are you?" "Twenty-two." "Oh, not too much older then."
Feeling a lot more comfortable, Rally laid on the living room floor with Katie as Katie crawled around on the floor and all over Rally. Katie put her hands on Rally's stomach and tried to crawl up on top of Rally. Rally laughed as the small hands tickled her. She gave Katie a boost and sat the baby down on her stomach. She pulled her knees up against Katie's back to make sure the baby wouldn't fall backwards. Akira looked up at the clock and saw that it was ten o'clock. "Would you mind if I went to bed? I'm really tired." "Yeah, go ahead. I'm fine." "Are you sure?" "Yeah, just go." Akira stood up and stretched. He yawned out loud. "Well, come and get me if you need anything." He walked into his room. Rally closed her eyes and yawned also. Before she opened her eyes, she felt something lightly thud against her chest. She opened them to find Katie's head resting on her chest. Katie decided to make Rally into her bed and started snuggling into Rally. Not being able to do much, Rally clapped so the lights would go off then wrapped her arms around the baby to keep her warm. She too closed her eyes trying to sleep.
May flipped on the living room lights. She looked down at Rally and Katie. "What the?" May questioned with shock. Kenny stepped into the room. "I didn't know Rally had a baby." "She doesn't. She doesn't know the first thing about babies." "She seems to be doing okay to me." May gave Kenny a dirty look. "Well, whose kid is it?" That's Scott and Jen's baby." "Huh?" "The neighbors." "So what's Rally doing?" "Must be baby-sitting." May walked over to Rally and put her foot on Rally's shoulder. She gently shook Rally with her foot. Rally fluttered her eyes open. She looked around then focused on May standing. "What's going on. What time is it?" "It's midnight. What are you doing with Katie?" Rally sat up very carefully in order not to wake Katie. "Jen came over needing someone to baby-sit. She kinda dumped Katie off on me." "Well, she must have been desperate." May bent over and took Katie from Rally's arms. She cuddled Katie into her arms so naturally and walked off.
Rally sighed and got up off the floor. She stretched then walked into the kitchen behind May. May looked down at the papers that Jen gave to Rally on the table. "She has an ear infection? Did you remember her medicine?" "Yes, I gave it to her at seven like Jen said to." "Well, I'll take care of her until Jen and Scott are back. You go to bed." "Yeah, okay." Rally walked up the stairs from the kitchen.
The door creaked open letting a little light from the kitchen into the room. It was very late at night. Jen came over to pick up Katie so now May was free to do what she planned since this afternoon. May stepped in and slowly closed the door behind her. Lightly tiptoeing, she got closer to Akira just until she was at the side of his bed. She waved her hand in front of his face a few times to make sure he was asleep.
"Now, we'll really see what's under this mutant cover-up." May reached down and gently placed her hands at Akira's throat. She grabbed a hold of the mask with her fingers and started gently lifting up.
Akira's left arm suddenly flung up and grabbed May's wrist. She screamed as she was startled by the surprise. She immediately bolted out of Akira's room. Akira jumped out of bed and went to the door.
Rally ran down the stairs with her gun in hand as May darted up the stairs. She stopped at the end of the stairs and saw Akira standing in his doorway.
"What happened?" Rally questioned, panting.
"She tried to take my mask," Akira said, sounding very hurt.
Rally put her gun to her side. "Akira, I'm really sorry. I'll make sure if never happens again. I promise."
Akira sighed.
"I'm really sorry. I know...I know your identity is very important to you. I know you must have a good reason for keeping your face hidden."
Akira nodded and stepped back into his room.
Rally turned around and charged up the stairs. "MARGARET MAY HOPKINS!"
May looked down from the top of the stairs at a furious, charging Rally. "Uh, Rally! AH!" May ran off towards her bedroom.
"MAY! GET BACK HERE!"
"RALLY!"
Episode Nine
Kenny's Back
Rally stretched her arms as she walked into the kitchen. She took a sniff of the air and looked around. "What's for breakfast?"
"There's toast on the counter," May said without looking up from her magazine.
Rally headed over to the toast. "Awe, yuck! It's burnt!"
"Nobody said you had to eat it!" May hissed, feeling rather insulted.
Rally grabbed the bag of sliced bread and pulled out two slices. She stuffed them in the toaster then grabbed a cup for coffee. As she was pouring her coffee, Akira stepped out of his room and entered the kitchen. Rally quickly spun around, feeling rather embarrassed from last night, but ended up spilling coffee on her hand. "OUCH!"
"Are you okay?" Akira rushed over to Rally.
"I'm fine!" Rally somewhat hissed. She pulled her hand away from Akira.
Akira turned on the water at the sink. "You're burnt." He grabbed Rally's hand and stuck it under the faucet. "There." He pulled her hand out of the water.
May peered up from her magazine, looking at Akira and Rally. Her eyes narrowed as she saw Akira still holding onto Rally's hand.
"Better?" Akira softly said.
"Yes." Rally stared back.
"Good."
"Thanks."
"Ahem..." May cleared her throat
Rally pulled her hand away from Akira. "Yes, thank you."
"You're welcome."
The telephone rang. Rally headed out of the kitchen. "I'll take it in the living room. I bet it's Becky."
"Alright, Ral," May said, smiling. As soon as Rally left the room, May's smile turned into a frown. She produced her most evil stare to give to Akira at that moment.
Akira looked up from his glass of water. "What?"
"You know what!" May hissed.
"No, I don't know what!"
"She has a boyfriend! Leave her alone!"
"I'm not after Rally like that!" Akira snapped back.
"Please!" May exclaimed, trying to be quiet so Rally wouldn't hear. "You don't think I see it, do you?"
"See what?" Akira asked, defensively.
"You have a crush on her! You like her!"
"I do not!" Akira hissed forcefully
May hopped off her stool and circled around Akira. "Don't lie to me! I see the way you flirt with her! I see everything!"
"You're paranoid!"
Rally walked back into the kitchen holding the phone. "May, it's for you."
"Who is it?" May walked over to Rally and took the phone.
"You'll just have to see."
May ran into the living room and jumped onto the couch. "Hello?"
Akira sighed and leaned his stomach against the counter.
Rally sat down at the table and stared at the wood pattern not wanting to look up at Akira.
May screamed.
Akira jumped up off the counter. "What's wrong?"
"KENNY! OH MY GOSH, I LOVE YOU, BABY! OH, KENNY!"
Akira looked to Rally.
"May's boyfriend."
"Oh." Akira thought for a moment. "You mean she actually has one?"
"Yep."
"Strange world we live in." Akira picked up his glass of water and took a drink. He walked out of the kitchen and back into his room.
May walked into the kitchen giggling as she listened to Kenny talk. She sat down at the counter and giggled some more.
Rally rolled her eyes then grabbed her Guns and Ammo magazine from the middle of the table.
"Yeah, I know. I love you too. No, I love you more. No, I really do. No, I love you more. No, Kenny, I love you more..."
Rally groaned and stuck her face into her magazine.
"Hey, Ral?"
"What?" Rally moaned.
"Can we go somewhere in the afternoon?"
"Where?"
"O'Hare."
"O'Hare? What the heck for?"
May smiled. "Kenny's coming back! Can we? Please!"
Rally groaned. "I guess."
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" May said while walking out of the kitchen. "No, I love you more. No, I love you..."
Akira walked back out of his room. "Sounds like they're having a deep conversation."
"That's what they do every time he calls." Rally tossed her magazine down.
Akira walked over to the dishwater and opened it. He started loading up the dirty dishes. "So you're picking up this Kenny guy this afternoon?"
"Apparently so." Rally uttered, looking to the floor.
"What's wrong?"
Rally looked up at Akira. "Nothing."
"Why don't you talk much?"
"No reason." Rally looked away. "I'm just kinda tired, I guess."
"You don't have to be ashamed."
"Ashamed of what?" Rally nervously questioned.
"You know what I mean, Rally," Akira said, using his serious voice.
Rally looked away from him again. "Look, it's something I don't want to talk about, okay?"
"Fine."
May walked back into the kitchen with a stupid smile on her face. "Kenny's coming back," She chorused. "Kenny's coming back...Kenny's coming back..."
"Oh, get over it!" Rally groaned. "He hasn't even come to see you in a year!"
"Don't yell at me just because you have a severe relational problem!" May spat, deeply offended.
"I do not," Rally retorted.
"Do so! When have you ever been in love? You're bent, Rally! Face it!"
"I love my car..." Rally looked up at May. "...and my guns."
May rolled her eyes as she walked past Rally at the table. "That's why you're still a virgin," May whispered.
"Okay! Way too much information! I'm leaving!" Akira exclaimed and walked out of the house through the kitchen exit.
"May!" Rally hissed, burning red with embarrassment."
"He has really good hearing," May stated.
"How could you?" Rally got up and walked out of the kitchen.
"What?" May questioned. "It's true!"
May tapped her foot against the floor as she looked at her watch. "Come on! Hurry up, already!"
"That's not going to make him come any faster," Rally said as he leaned against a pillar. She then took a slip of her soda.
"Oh, shut up, Rally!" May hissed. She looked over at the entrance where Kenny would appear from and bounced up and down on her feet anxiously.
Rally bent over and picked up a small paper bag next to her feet. "May, just eat your happy meal!" She tossed the bag to May.
May caught the bag and reached in. She pulled out her box of chicken nuggets and started eating them. "Gosh, it's been eleven months, one weeks, and four days since I last saw him!"
"You've really got some issues, you know."
May's face turned sour. "Just because your love life sucks and mine does..."
Rally laughed. "I got all the love I need with my CZ-75."
May rolled her eyes. "And you say I have issues. I'm really surprised that Devin hasn't ran away yet."
"Oh, I really hope he does." Rally took another slip of her drink.
"Rally..." May moaned and shook her head.
"Hey, what's my favorite girl doing here?"
May spun around. "KENNY!" She took two giant leaps towards Kenny and jumped into his arms. "OH, KENNY! I MISSED YOU!" She firmly pressed her lips against Kenny's and sweetly kissed him. People stopped around them and looked at what seemed to be a very happy reunion.
Rally stared at Kenny and May. Even she couldn't deny the beauty captured in that single moment—that single kiss almost seemed to make all Heaven and earth pause. She blinked her eyes as she tried to grasp what she was seeing. A part of her wished that she could have something just as special and magical that those two seemed to share. She blinked again.
People started losing interest after a few minutes. However, it was quite fascinating to wonder how May or Kenny seemed to breathe without unlocking from each other. Rally sighed and looked down at her watch as she the minutes fly by.
"Ahem." Rally cleared her throat.
May broke away from Kenny and looked back at Rally. "Oh, sorry." May smiled. "We better get home now."
"Uh, good idea!" Rally started walking off.
May grabbed Kenny's left hand while he pulled his carry-on with his right. They followed a few yards behind Rally, taking their time and playing around.
"We're here!" May exclaimed as she burst through the front door. He tossed her purse to the side and turned around, locking Kenny's hands in hers. "Come on! Let's go sit on the porch!"
Akira stepped into the hallway. "You're back...late."
"Long story," Rally said.
Kenny stopped walking once he saw Akira. "Why is there a robber in your house?"
"Good question!" May exclaimed.
Rally rolled her eyes. "He's not a robber. He's living here."
Kenny scratched his head. "Your boyfriend?"
Rally blushed a fierce red. "Uh...no...I...uh..."
"No!" May said sharply. "She does have a boyfriend though. His name is Devin Park. He's a Police officer."
"Oh," Kenny said. "Good for you, Rally." Kenny looked over to Akira and extended his hand. "I'm Ken Takizawa. You can just all me Kenny like everyone else."
Akira took Kenny's hand. "Akira Shinagawa."
"Oh, you're Japanese too," Kenny said.
"Yeah, I am. Native born."
"Well, I'm not." Kenny looked to the floor and sighed. "So what's with the mask?"
"Ken!" Rally hissed.
"What?" Kenny shrugged his shoulders.
"Now I know where May gets her rudeness from!"
Akira shook his head and veered off into the kitchen towards his bedroom.
"Well, has anyone ever seen what he looks like?" Kenny asked.
"No," Rally and May both said.
"Are you in the least bit curious to know?"
May sighed. "Well, of course! What about you Rally?"
Rally shrugged her shoulders. "Well, sure I am. But he doesn't want us to see him so I guess we never will."
"Hmmm..." A large grin appeared on May's face.
May walked down the stairs wearing a red, Chinese-style dress with her blonde hair put up in chopsticks. She paused at the third step from the bottom to fix her hair.
Rally turned her head from the television and looked at May. "What are you all dressed up for?"
"Kenny and I are going out for dinner."
"Oh, how exciting," Rally apathetically said, turning back to the television.
"Get a life," May hissed.
Kenny tromped down the stairs while throwing on his jacket. He stopped right behind May and put his hands on her shoulders.
"We're not bringing anything back so you'll just have to fend for yourself," May said. "However, maybe I should since you can't cook."
"I really don't need the sarcasm."
"You started it." May giggled as Kenny kissed the back of her neck. "You're the one with all the smart comments..." May giggled again as Kenny kissed her over her ear.
Rally turned her head to look back at May then immediately turned back to the television after seeing, in her opinion, a gross display of human affection.
"Well, come on, Kenny..." May giggled as she grabbed Kenny's hand and led him out the front door.
Akira, who was sitting in the living room, put his book down and looked at Rally. "Did everything just get extremely quiet around here since May left?"
"You noticed it too?" Rally said.
"So what do you want to do tonight?"
Rally lied down on the couch from her sitting position. "To tell the truth, I really don't want to do anything tonight."
"Fine by me." Akira starting reading again.
Rally closed her eyes but opened them seconds later when the doorbell rang. "Geeze, I don't want company right now."
"Do you want me to get the door?"
"No." Rally got up from the couch. "I'll get it." Rally walked out of the living room and into the hallway. She headed to the front door and opened it. "Mrs. Davis?"
At the doorstep stood a young woman with a huge bag around her and a baby juggled in one arm. This woman happened to be Rally's next door neighbor. Quite often, May would baby-sit for the Davis' baby daughter, Katie. "Oh, Miss Vincent! I'm so glad you're home!"
"Uh...May's not home right now..." Rally uttered.
"Please, I need your help!" Mrs. Davis took off her large bag and put it around Rally's neck. "You see, we just got a call that Scott's mother is in the hospital. We need someone to watch Katie for a couple of hours."
"But, Jen...I...uh..."
"We need to get there as soon as possible," Jen Davis said, cutting Rally off. "Thank you so much for helping, Rally. You're a blessing." She passed off the sleeping baby. "Thank you!"
Rally awkwardly grabbed the baby as she was shoved into her arms. "But I..."
"Here's my cell phone number, the hospital's number, and Katie's doctor's number. She's been having some ear problems." She handed the paper to Rally. "Just give her these drops every four hours. I gave her some at three so she'll be good until seven. Okay?"
"But..."
"Thank you, Rally. You have no idea what this means to me," Jen said.
"But, I..." "I'll call you later." She kissed the baby's forehead. "Love you, Katie. Bye." She ran off towards her car in her driveway.
Rally kicked the door shut seeing that her hands were full. She turned around to see Akira standing in the middle of the hallway. He gazed over Rally to see her juggling a baby in one arm with medication, papers, and a huge bag full of baby stuff. The site looked very strange and awkward.
"You have a problem saying no, don't you?" Akira questioned.
Rally rolled her eyes. "Don't even start with me." She wiggled out of the strap on the bag and let it drop to the floor. She also dropped the medication and papers on the floor. She took a hold of Katie with both hands and stretched her arms out to look at the baby. Katie looked at Rally as Rally stared her down. After a few seconds, Katie threw her head back and started to cry. "Oh no! Turn it off! Turn if off!" Rally panicked. Akira walked up and took Katie from Rally's hands. "Here...it's like this." Akira held the little girl in his arms and slightly rocked her. After she calmed down, he lifted her up high and brought her back down. Rally looked up once she heard laughter from the baby. She stood in amazement for a few moments. "How...? How did you do that?" Akira looked over at her. "Kids are easy to please." He looked back to Katie and kept playing with her. "How are you so good with children?" "I had sisters once." Rally cast a strange look at Akira. "Had?" Akira didn't answer. He kept playing with the baby. Rally pondered for a few moments. She then shook her head, picked up the papers and medication, and walked into the kitchen. She put them down on the table and headed back to the living room where she found Akira sitting in the chair with Katie. She sat down on the love-seat and watched as Akira played with her. "Something wrong?" Akira asked, seeing Rally zoning out. Rally looked up at him. "No...nothing's wrong." "What are you thinking about?" "Nothing..." Akira stood up. He carried Katie over to Rally and dropped her off into Rally's arms. "Here, hold her." "But...I...uh..." "Just try it." Rally took Katie awkwardly into her arms. Feeling extremely strange, inadequate and uncomfortable, Rally tried to pass the baby back to Akira. "Just hold her." Rally clumsy cradled the baby into her arms and tried to be as delicate and caring as possible. As babies usually do, Katie started to moan, signaling that she was going to start crying. "What do I do?" Rally panicked. "Just rock her back and forth. She'll calm down." Rally did as Akira instructed and soon baby Katie was fast asleep. Rally looked up to Akira and almost cracked a smile. "I did it." "Yeah." Akira smirked, unseen by Rally because of the mask. Rally shifted the baby so the baby's head rested against her shoulder. "I can't believe it. I actually made her go to sleep." "What makes you say that?" Akira said down next to her. Rally sighed and looked down at Katie. "I've never been really good with children. I don't think it's really my thing." Akira thought for a moment. "I think you'd be a good mother." Rally looked up at Akira with shock in her eyes. "What?" "Nobody's ever said that to me before." Rally faked a smile. "In fact, I've been told never to breed or have contact with children at all." "Who would say such a terrible thing?" "My friends." Akira shook his head. "Love never fails. If you loved your child with all your heart, you'd never fail, Rally." Rally slightly blushed. "Well, I don't ever think I'd be in a position to have children anyway. I mean, I'm so busy with my career and everything..." "Would you want to?" "No..." Rally looked away from Akira as she lied. "...I haven't really put much thought into it." The truth was that she had put thought into it. Rally glanced back. "Well, what about you?" Rally asked, taking the focus off her. Akira shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I'd like to. But, I suppose I have to find a wife first and all that." "So how many little Akira's do you want running around?" "Oh, at least six to eight..." Akira laughed. "Maybe even ten." "Yeah, good luck finding a wife that'll do that for you." "Well, how many would you have?" "Three at the very maximum." "So, you have thought about this, haven't you?" Akira said, teasing. Rally looked at him blankly and blushed from embarrassment once she was caught. "Okay...maybe a little." "Rally?" "Okay...maybe a lot..." Rally admitted. "I've just..." "What?" "I've never told anyone that before." Akira slouched back into the couch. "If it's important, you shouldn't let everyone else make your decisions or make you feel a certain way. If you want it, Rally, then claim it. You deserve to be happy, and have the things that are important to you." "Well..." Rally sighed. "It's still a long ways off. I am only nineteen." "You're nineteen? I thought you were older." "Nope, nineteen." Rally paused for a moment. "How old are you?" "Twenty-two." "Oh, not too much older then."
Feeling a lot more comfortable, Rally laid on the living room floor with Katie as Katie crawled around on the floor and all over Rally. Katie put her hands on Rally's stomach and tried to crawl up on top of Rally. Rally laughed as the small hands tickled her. She gave Katie a boost and sat the baby down on her stomach. She pulled her knees up against Katie's back to make sure the baby wouldn't fall backwards. Akira looked up at the clock and saw that it was ten o'clock. "Would you mind if I went to bed? I'm really tired." "Yeah, go ahead. I'm fine." "Are you sure?" "Yeah, just go." Akira stood up and stretched. He yawned out loud. "Well, come and get me if you need anything." He walked into his room. Rally closed her eyes and yawned also. Before she opened her eyes, she felt something lightly thud against her chest. She opened them to find Katie's head resting on her chest. Katie decided to make Rally into her bed and started snuggling into Rally. Not being able to do much, Rally clapped so the lights would go off then wrapped her arms around the baby to keep her warm. She too closed her eyes trying to sleep.
May flipped on the living room lights. She looked down at Rally and Katie. "What the?" May questioned with shock. Kenny stepped into the room. "I didn't know Rally had a baby." "She doesn't. She doesn't know the first thing about babies." "She seems to be doing okay to me." May gave Kenny a dirty look. "Well, whose kid is it?" That's Scott and Jen's baby." "Huh?" "The neighbors." "So what's Rally doing?" "Must be baby-sitting." May walked over to Rally and put her foot on Rally's shoulder. She gently shook Rally with her foot. Rally fluttered her eyes open. She looked around then focused on May standing. "What's going on. What time is it?" "It's midnight. What are you doing with Katie?" Rally sat up very carefully in order not to wake Katie. "Jen came over needing someone to baby-sit. She kinda dumped Katie off on me." "Well, she must have been desperate." May bent over and took Katie from Rally's arms. She cuddled Katie into her arms so naturally and walked off.
Rally sighed and got up off the floor. She stretched then walked into the kitchen behind May. May looked down at the papers that Jen gave to Rally on the table. "She has an ear infection? Did you remember her medicine?" "Yes, I gave it to her at seven like Jen said to." "Well, I'll take care of her until Jen and Scott are back. You go to bed." "Yeah, okay." Rally walked up the stairs from the kitchen.
The door creaked open letting a little light from the kitchen into the room. It was very late at night. Jen came over to pick up Katie so now May was free to do what she planned since this afternoon. May stepped in and slowly closed the door behind her. Lightly tiptoeing, she got closer to Akira just until she was at the side of his bed. She waved her hand in front of his face a few times to make sure he was asleep.
"Now, we'll really see what's under this mutant cover-up." May reached down and gently placed her hands at Akira's throat. She grabbed a hold of the mask with her fingers and started gently lifting up.
Akira's left arm suddenly flung up and grabbed May's wrist. She screamed as she was startled by the surprise. She immediately bolted out of Akira's room. Akira jumped out of bed and went to the door.
Rally ran down the stairs with her gun in hand as May darted up the stairs. She stopped at the end of the stairs and saw Akira standing in his doorway.
"What happened?" Rally questioned, panting.
"She tried to take my mask," Akira said, sounding very hurt.
Rally put her gun to her side. "Akira, I'm really sorry. I'll make sure if never happens again. I promise."
Akira sighed.
"I'm really sorry. I know...I know your identity is very important to you. I know you must have a good reason for keeping your face hidden."
Akira nodded and stepped back into his room.
Rally turned around and charged up the stairs. "MARGARET MAY HOPKINS!"
May looked down from the top of the stairs at a furious, charging Rally. "Uh, Rally! AH!" May ran off towards her bedroom.
"MAY! GET BACK HERE!"
"RALLY!"