Me: Okay before I get into this chapter, I want to talk to you about something.
Rika: What are you going to tell us that, that space between your ears is growing?
Me (Throwing, Rika, an annoyed glare): No, I'm going to tell you that the collage that your daddy and your partner are going is going be nameless.
Rika: Why that?
Me: Because I really don't know about many collages in Japan and the one I do know, I don't know were they are.
Rika (Angry): You have no sense of the world, space for brains!
Me (Getting slightly ticked): Listen, you royal pain in the backside, I was stuck in special Ed for half of my school life, so pardon me if I'm a little worldly challenged and besides, I'm an apple pie man, anyways.
Rika: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Me (Hopping mad): IT MEAN I KNOW LITTLE ABOUT OUR COUNTRIES, SO SIT DOWN AND LET ME GET ON WITH THIS CHAPTER!!!
Rika (Annoyed): Okay, okay. (And sits down)
Me: That's better.
Shadows of The Past:
Chapter ten: The Final Face in The Shadows
In the halls of the local collage other wise known as Shikon Collage, the year was already under way. Many students were heading from and to classes. Among the coward was someone who stood out among the rest. He was obviously new because he had a stuffed duffle bag over his right shoulder and a suitcase by his side. He was stretching his sandy blonde hair and his deep greens eyes were staring at a sheet of paper in his hand. He was lost and the directions on the sheet of paper weren't helping him either.
"Um excise me, can you help me?" the boy asked kindly, but the one he asked just stuck up her nose and walked away.
The next person he asked cut him off by "accidentally" bumping into him and then his friend repeated what he just saw and bumped the new boy's other side. Finally three big guys bumped the new boy from behind causing him to trip over his case and fall float on his face.
Maybe mom was right, maybe I'm just not meant for collage, the boy thought as he removed his legs from his case and got into a sitting position.
He reached for his paper, but a hand grabbed it before he could. Following the arm connected to the hand, the boy looked at the most beautiful face he had ever seen. The girl was about his age and had deep blue eyes in a soft face, surrounded by flowing blonde hair. The more the boy stared, the more he became ensnared in the girl's beauty and began blushing.
"Is this yours?" she asked, holding out the sheet out.
The boy's blushed deepened to a nice tomato red and he needed to look away to hide it from the pretty girl in front of him.
"Th-Thanks," the boy stammered nervously and with a trembling hand, reached out and grabbed the sheet.
He then stood up and was about to walk away when he tripped over the suitcase he forgotten about because he was so busy trying to keep his shyness from the beauty in front of him. He would have fallen float on his face again, if not for the blonde beauty catching him.
"Let me help you here," she said kindly as she helped him up.
As the girl helped the boy up, the boy blushed got deeper, if that's even possible.
"Thanks," the boy said nervously and looked away to hide his blush.
"No thanks are needed and by the way, I'm Rena Kamiya," Rena held out her hand in a friendly manner.
"Sho. Sho Nonaka," Sho said nervously and reached out with a trembling hand.
The two shared a brief shack and then Sho quickly pulled his hand away as his blush got even redder, if that was even possible.
I just touch a girl. I just touched a girl! Sho kept saying in his mind as he looked at the hand he shake hands with.
Rena during this whole thing was taking in Sho at the moment. There was nothing really special about the boy that the disguised fox could see. Thin body and slightly tanned skin. He wore kaki shorts and a creamed color, short-sleeved dress shirt. His sandy blonde hair was sort of spiked and has thin bangs lined up with his eyes. His deep green eyes had this look that would make one think about a lost puppy. Not a very impress guy by anyone standards.
So this is Rika's stepfather? Funny, I was expecting someone with a little more back bone then this, Rena thought, shacking her head slightly. Taking another looked at Sho, she noticed that he was looking at the sheet of paper in his hand in a confused manner and she had to resist the urge to shack her head again. This guy reminds me more of Takato then anything else.
"Hey, Sho, wants some help with that?" she asked kindly.
Sho looked up at Rena, slightly startled and then smiled a little nervously. "S-Sure. This was suppose to help me find the dorm I'm going be in, but I can't make head or tails out of this thing."
Rena took the paper from paper from Sho, and took one looked at it.
"Well for one thing, you'll looking at this upside down," she said with a kind smile.
"Oh," Sho said and hanged his head in embarrassment.
"Hey don't worry about it," Rena said reassuringly and patted him on the shoulder. Sho had to fight another blush that was coming from Rena touching him. She turned the sheet up right and looked at it. "Well you're in luck, Sho. It seems your dorm is the same one that my cousin lives in, see it has his name on it."
Making sure not to make direct eye contact with Rena, Sho looked at the name painted on the paper.
Matthew Smith. Huh, now where have I heard that name before? Sho asked himself.
"Come on, I'll take you there," Rena said kindly and want over to Sho's suitcase.
She bent down to pick up the case and Sho notice how her rear stood out, that and not to mention all the muscles that were bulging through her clothes. Sho found his blush returning ten fold and he needed to slip himself twice to insure he wouldn't get caught staring.
"Well come on," Rena said and began walking off in a boyish walk.
Even her walk seems to put a spell on me, Sho thought dreamy as he followed Rena in a trace-like walk.
(With Matt)
The shadow fighter was lying on his bed, deep in thought. On the table in the small room was a sheet of paper, telling about the new roommate that Matt was going to have, but that was the least on the fighter of the shadow's mind.
"How did she know who I was by just looking at me?" He wondered to himself out loud as he turned on his side and looked out his window
It has been nearly two weeks since Matt and Rumiko was reunited and were now happily dating, but Matt still has some lingering questions in the back of his mind, mainly about his encounter with the person that's goes by the name Seiko Makino.
(Flashback)
Matt could only whistle at the sight in front him," Boy, looking at this place makes me feel like I'm in one of those old samurai movies."
"Yeah, my grandfather brought this place when my mother was kid and it's has been in the family since then," Rumiko said shyly, looking at the old style Japence house.
"Well, I'll tell you this, wildcat, seeing this house, makes me feel poor," Matt, said in lighthearted humor.
Rumiko laughed at that, but that was quickly replaced when she started to wince in pain from irritating her wounds from all of her laughter.
"Oh, I so sorry, Rumiko, I didn't mean to hurt you," Matt quickly apologized in his sincerest voice.
Rumiko laughed lightly and said," You didn't do anything, Matt, and did I tell you, you're cute when you're worried."
"No, you haven't," Matt said, blushing lightly. "Did I ever tell you that you're beautiful even when you're hurt."
"No, you haven't, but did I tell you that you're even cuter when you blush?" Rumiko asked in a flirty manner.
"Ahem, I don't mean to break this up, but shouldn't we get those wounds treated before they become infected?" Rena intervened before the two lovebirds got any more interment.
Matt and Rumiko, looked at their clearly annoyed friend and their blush went from shyness to embarrassment.
"Right," both said timidly and walked towards the fence.
Rena opened the door and Matt stepped onto the grounds. Matt felt a small tangling sensation go down his spine and he looked towards Rena to see if she felt anything, but she looked fine, so he just shrugged it off. The trio entered the house and removed their shoes at the door.
"Mom! I'm home!" Rumiko called into the house.
"I'm in the kitchen, dear!" a soft voice replied.
The trio went into the kitchen via Rumiko's instructions and was meant by Rumiko's mother. She was about a woman just reaching her 40thes and just began to show sighs of her age. She had a few thin wrinkles on her face and her deep blonde hair just had the hint of gray hairs around it. She looked up from the book she was reading and gasped lightly when she saw her daughter.
"Rumiko, don't tell me you ran into Kai again?" the woman asked worryingly as she got up and looked over her daughter
Matt set Rumiko down by the table carefully as the model said in a low tone," Yeah, I ran into him, but I used that magic you gave me and it worked too."
"Well that's a relief," Rumiko's mother said with a sigh of relief.
"Well it turns out that the guy I used your magic on was just a clone created by Kai and he got the drop on him," Rumiko said, refusing to look her mother in the eye.
"Oh my," the worry returned to the model's mother's face and she covered her mouth.
"Don't worry, ma'am, I got there before Kai could do any real harm to your daughter," Matt said, coming to Rumiko's aid immediately.
"I thank you for my heart," Rumiko's mother turned to her quests and bowed in respect.
Matt and Rena returned the bow as Rumiko introduce her friends," Mom, these are the ones who looked after me during the time I was cursed. That's Matthew Smith and his cousin, Rena Kamiya."
"Oh, so you're the one by daughter had told me about," Rumiko's mother said kindly. "Then there's no way I can show my thanks to you."
"Eh, it nothing, beside, I got all the thanks I needed," Matt said, blushing lightly.
"Hmm," Rumiko's mother stared curiously at Matt and that stare made the boy a little uneasy.
"Umm, can I ask why are you looking at me like that?" the shadow fighter asked nervously.
"Nothing, I just thinking how cute you are," the middle aged woman said lightly, which caused Matt to blush a little.
"Mother!! Rumiko yelled, which was a bad move because she irritated her wounds, causing her to wince in pain.
"Umm don't you think, you should treat your daughter before she get any worse," Rena stated calmly.
"Oh you're right, I'm so sorry, Rumiko," Rumiko's mother apologized sincerely.
"It's alright, mother, I have taken a lot worse from Kai then this," Rumiko said lightly.
Matt gasped at that piece of info and quickly asked in a cracking voice," W-W-What did he do to you?"
"Well, I been taking self defense class since returning to normal, so he didn't do much. But he did break my legs and arms a few time and I did go blind for a week," Rumiko listed these things off like they were nothing, but for Matt, it was like having a hot tipped sword was going through his heart several times.
I should have been there; I should have kept her save, Matt shamefully thought as he hanged his head.
"You couldn't have done anything because it wasn't your time to meet up with my daughter," Seiko said so softly that only Matt could hear.
The shadow fighter looked at the woman, slightly surprised that she was able to read him so easy and wanted to say something, but decided against it at the time.
"Now, Rumiko, let get those wounds taken care of," Seiko said and her daughter nodded her agreement. The middle aged woman held out her hand and began chatting," Oh father of the heavens, hear my plea and lend me your healing heart!"
Seiko closed her hand for a belief second and she opened it, a golden orb had materialized in it. The golden glow of the orb reached around the entire room, sending it healing powers everywhere. Seiko lowed the orb to her daughter and it entered Rumiko's body. Rumiko's injuries glowed and instantly healed up. All the blood on the model was dissolved by the healing magic, leaving the former feline like had nothing to her at all.
"You always did have healing hands, mother," Rumiko said in a light joking tone and gave her mother a smile.
Seiko returned the smile and said lightly," Your welcome, dear," she then turned serious "Now if you and Rena would please leave, I'll like to have a talk with Matthew about something...in private."
"Umm, okay," Rena complied.
"Sure, I need to change, anyways," the two blondes lifted the kitchen, leaving Matt and Seiko in an uneasy silence.
"Tea?" the middle aged woman asked.
"Sure," Matt said simple and set at the table.
Seiko fixed the tea and pooled Matt a cup. For the next for moments, the two set there, silently sipping their tea. Finally after another minute, Seiko placed her cup on the table and looked at the shadow fighter seriously.
"Can I ask how you feel when you're around my daughter?" she asked kindly.
Matt looked up at the woman for a second, thinking her question over and then looked at his half drunken cup. "Well I really don't know how to put what I'm feeling into words. But when I first glaze into her blue orbs, I felt something inside my heart jump and when I held her close, it seems like nothing else in the world matter and when I was apart for those four long years, it felt like there was a hole growing in my heart, but that's hole vanished when I saw her tonight." Sighing slightly, he took long sip from his cup.
"That's how I felt when I meant my husband and that how my mother detailed how she felt when she meant my dad," Seiko said softly, lost in a distant memory. "I know you'll make a great husband for my daughter."
When Matt heard that, he spit out his tea and jumped to his feet, embarrassment written all over his face. He began backing up as he waved his hands frantically in front of him," WOW, WOW, WOW!! I'm not ready for that kind of stuff! I'm still just a TEENAGER!!" He backed up all the way to the wall and began frantically looking for a way out.
Seiko chuckled at the scene Matt was causing and said kindly," Calm down, shadow fighter, all I want you to do is teach my daughter in your arts."
"You did you just call me?" Matt asked slowly.
"I called you shadow fighter because isn't that what you are?" Seiko asked easily.
Matt nodded his head and said somewhat uneasy," Yes, I'm a shadow fighter, but I don't think I can teach Rumiko my style because she isn't of my blood."
Seiko chuckled at this and lifted her hand up. She chatted under her breath and an orb of wind materialized in her palm. She began sending the wind towards Matt and it felt nice on his sweaty brow.
"I wasn't born an elemental sorceress like my son, but I learned, just like I know my daughter can," Seiko said seriously, closing her hand and ceasing the wind.
Matt opened his mouth to talk, but was quickly interrupted by Seiko.
"Now I'm not expecting anything great, I just want you to train her so she would be able to fight Kai a little better and who knows she might surprised you."
Matt looked a little nervous from the stare he was getting and let out a heavy sigh. He knew he wasn't going to win this battle.
"Alright, you win and if it would help Rumiko, I would jumped off a cliff," Matt said in defeat.
(End of Flashback)
"Hey did she even know I was a shadow fighter in the first place?" Matt wondered to himself.
He turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. In these past two weeks, he had begun training Rumiko and he had to admit, she was a quick learner. But his biggest surprised came when she was able to do the shadow walking technique. Thinking back of all it, Matt was really happy when he saw Rumiko smile.
"This past two weeks has been nothing but bliss for me and I hope it never changes," Matt said to himself with a smile and then he had a knock at his door. "It's opened!"
Rena stepped into the room a second later followed by a boy with a lovesick expression all over his face. Matt jumped off of his bed and walked up to the boy.
"Hi, you must be Sho nonaka," Matt said friendly and held out his hand in greeting.
Sho snapped out of his daze and quickly shack hands," And you're Matthew Smith."
"Yeah that's me and let me help you with your bags," Matt said as he took the suitcase from Rena.
"This isn't much," Sho said to himself as he looked around the room.
There wasn't really much to the room. There were two beds to his right and a deck design so two could work at it at the same time. Next to the door was a dresser with a small TV on it.
"Hey it isn't much, but its grow on you after some time," Matt said lightly as he set the case on the empty bed opposite of his.
"So do you want a tour of the collage?" Rena asked kindly.
Sho nodded his head in that dazed way again, but before they could head out, there was a knock at the door. The three looked towards the door and Sho saw a woman, who in his options was better then Rena. This new girl also had blonde hair, but her eyes were lighter then Rena's. Though she was wearing causal clothes, but Sho still saw a goddess. Just looking at her, Sho completely forget about Rena and was only focus on the goddess in front of him.
"Hey Rumiko, what brings you here?" Matt asked really happy.
"Do I need a reason to see you?" Rumiko said in a fake pout.
Matt chuckled slightly as he walked over to Rumiko and said," No you don't, but I'm glad when you show up." Then they shared a quick greeting kiss.
When the two pulled apart, Rumiko giggled lightly and said," Oh, Matt, if you not carefully, you'll crush your new roommate's welcome gift."
Matt grinned and looked at the plate of brownie in his girlfriend's hands. He leaned down and inhaled a good whiff of the brownies. "They smell good."
Rumiko giggled at her boyfriend as she moved around him and walked up to the desk. She set the plate down on it and turned to Sho.
"Hi, I'm Rumiko Makino," Rumiko said cheerfully and held out her hand in a friendly greeting.
Sho was still in shock from seeing this goddess being kissed, but he quickly shook it off and gripped Rumiko's hand, taking it how soft it felt.
"I'm, Nonaka Sho, no I mean, I'm Nho Sonaka, No. What I what I mean is..."
"He's Sho Nonaka," Matt said lightly as he wrapped his arm around his new roommate. "And he seems to go weak at the knees when he's in the same room as a soon to be famous model."
Sho hanged his head as a shy and embarrassed blush spread from cheek to cheek. "Yeah, what he said."
"Ohh, don't let my boyfriend get to you, he's make it a habit of getting on people's nerves," Rumiko said playfully, batting her eyes at said boyfriend.
"I never done anything like that in my life," Matt said, joining in the game.
Sho's face fell as he watched these two engaged in light, playful humor. He knew right at that moment that Rumiko was already taken and he seriously doubted he could take Matt in a fight.
"Well, come on, let eat these brownies, so we can get to Sho around the place," Matt said lightly and dragged Sho playfully to where the plate of brownies lay.
Maybe I not meant for collage as I thought I was, Sho thought a little sadly as he took a brownie and began eating, watching as the three people around began talking, trying to get to know Sho better.
(That night)
Sho lay on his back, unable to get to sleep. His bed was lumpy and there was the fact that he was unable to get to sleep in a strange bed wasn't helping any bit either. He turned to the outside of his bed and saw his new roommate sleeping in almost peaceful bliss.
Geese, how can he sleep on these things? Sho wondered to himself as he watched his roommate sleep.
Turning around, so his back was facing the shadow fighter, Sho tried to get comfortable enough to get some sleep, but the bed was just to lumpy and with the uneasy feeling of the new room, he just couldn't sleep.
"Screw this, maybe a walk would help," Sho said to himself and got out of bed.
He put on the same clothes he wore early in the day and softly walked to the door. He opened it carefully and lifted the room just as carefully. He was unaware that someone had awoken when he felt Sho moving and had watched him without his knowing.
Sho decided to head down to the lobby and to get something to drink. During that time he was in deep thought about a few things.
Rumiko is clearly in love with Matt and the same goes for him. Hmm I wonder if Rena's single, Sho thought as he walked down the hallway.
He rounded the corner and was grabbed by someone. He was thrown against the wall and got a good look at his attacker. There were three of them, each a giant in they own way. The one holding him was bulky and about 6 feet and some inches tall. The one to his right was chucky and shorter then his friend. The final one was the shortest of them all and was the one with less muscle, but Sho got the feeling that he was the ringleader of these bullies. And it was also clear to Sho, that they played a spot of some sort because all them were shaved bold.
"You new around him?" the short one asked a cold voice.
Sho nodded his head quit timidly; he didn't trust his words at the moment.
"Well then listen," the short one said. "There are a few rules you need to follow if you don't want to go home, crying. Rule number one: my boyz and me run this place when night comes. Anyone who's found wondering around during our time needs to pay a price. Rule number two: no one is supposed to touch my soda machine. Anyone who tries to touch it found out the hard way why I'm the quarterback of the football team. And the final rule is no one and I mean no one gets in my way or else.
"Or else what?" Sho asked, gulping down his own spit.
"Trust me, you don't want to find out what I do to people who cross me," the short one said, grinning like the devil.
"Really? Well then tell me what you do to people who cross you?" a voice asked casually.
The bullies and Sho wiped their head to their right and saw Matt, standing at the edge of the corner of the opposite wall.
"Smith," the short one said calmly, but there was a touch of fear in the boy's stone colored eyes. "What do you want?"
"Eh, I just thought about getting myself a soda when I heard you giving my new roommate a lecture and I was curious as to what you do to those who cross you," Matt answered casually.
The two larger bullies looked between Sho and Matt twice in fear before sitting Sho down gently. Sho watched in confusion as the two larger bullies began slowly backing up, obviously afraid of the smaller boy, but why?
"One of these days, Smith, you're going to get what coming to you," the short boy said angrily and then motioned his boys to followed him.
Sho watched as the bullies lifted, the two larger ones making sure to stay clear of Matt's way as they walked by him.
The shadow fighter sighed and said," I really wish people like that would learn," he then turned to Sho with light smile. "So you want a drink on me before we head back."
"Sure," Sho said slowly.
Matt walked up to the machine and popped some money into it.
"Say what you want?" Matt asked.
"Umm, a coke would do," Sho, answered hesitantly
"Coming up!" Matt said and pressed a button.
Once he had both drinks, he tossed to Sho and he caught it was great accurateness. Matt ached an eyebrow at that, but shrugged it off for the time being. The two then walked up to their dorm with an uneasy silence in the air. When they returned to their dorm, Sho finally gathered enough courage to ask Matt something.
"Say, Matt, why where those three so afraid of you when they clearly had the edge?" Sho asked hesitantly.
Matt chuckled at that question and replied," Those three pulled the same stunt me on, but they didn't know what hit them and just between you and me, I was the reason they shaved their heads."
"Huh?" Sho looked up at Matt, clearly not understanding what he was being told.
Matt saw this and smiled lightly," C'mon, let have a seat and I'll tell you why they fear me so much."
Sho nodded, clearly still confused by all this. The two walked over to their beds and set their drinks on the nightstand. Matt jumped onto his bed and got into an Indian style sitting position, while Sho sat on the edge of his bed.
"Well to start things off, my family has their own style of fighting and I have been trained in that style since I was five," Matt said and Sho nodded, telling him to go on. "Well when those three cornered me, they give me the rundown, but they were surprised when I don't bow down at their feet. So of course that got them mad and they tried to "teach me a lesson" as they put it, but with one kick to the head, each were out and in need of a new hairdo."
Sho looked away from his new friend and began thinking. A smile appeared on his face as a mental image of Matt's story took shape in his head.
"So, Sho, on a lighter note, did you take any type of sports while you'll in school?" Matt asked friendly.
Sho looked up at the shadow fighter, the smile on his face disappearing. He hanged his head as bed memories began rushing back to him.
"Hey, Sho, are you okay?" Matt asked in concern when he sees he friend's behavior.
"Yeah I'm fine, just bad memories," Sho muttered solemnly.
"Well if you don't want to talk about, I wouldn't push you," Matt said lightly. "I mean I have my share of bad times too. So I'll give you a piece of advice. Don't keep those bad times locked up forever because they would get out sooner then you think."
Sho looked up at his friend for a moment as he thought over his words. After a minute, he sighed and hanged his head again.
"When I was just a kid, maybe about 12, that gang, the Thunder Splats moved into my neighborhood and took it over."
"I didn't know that?" Matt said, a hint of worry in his voice.
"No one did," Sho muttered. "Some say that the leader of the Thunder Splats had somehow gotten this hands onto a big wig of the city and was controlling him from the shadows."
"I remember hearing that when the gang was finally taken down," Matt said slowly.
"Yeah, but that's not the point I getting at," Sho said in a normal voice, looking up at Matt. Matt waited patiently for his friend to continue with his story. Sho hanged his head again as more bad memories of his childhood came back to him.
"For two years, my family and I lived in fear of those jerks, but it was my mother that was the most afraid. She was so terrified about it that, she made my sister and myself take self-defense classes."
"So if that's true then why didn't you take those guys by yourself?" Matt asked out of curiosity.
Sighing, Sho pulled up the sleeve of his cream-colored tee shirt and showed Matt a scar that run across his forearm.
"I got cocky and fought with a Thunder Splat when he bulled a friend from school and as you can, it didn't work out like I hope it would," Sighing, Sho pulled down his sleeve and grabbed his drink.
"Well it looks bad, but I don't see why that would take you from fighting?" Matt said looking at his friend in confusion.
Sho took a long sip from his soda before answering," After that point, I freeze when it comes to fighting. I owe a lot to whoever defeated the leader of the Thunder Splats."
"Hmm," Matt fell onto his bed and turned onto his back. "Yugi Thunder was one of the toughest opponent I have meant during my youth. He's found a way into my head and nearly won, but at the least moment I pulled myself together and beat him."
Sho could only stared at his roommate in complete shock. He pointed at his roommate with a trembling hand and stammered," Y-Y-You beat Thunder, but then that would be you're..."
"...Black lightening? Oh yeah," Matt said, grinning slightly and showing off his tattoo. "And trust me on this, this is the real deal."
Sho couldn't believe this at all. His roommate was also the person he thought he owed his life too. It was just too much for one person to take in, lucky Matt seemed to notice this and act on it.
"Hey man, don't worry about anything, I fought Thunder because I was mad at something I did, but it worked out in the end," Matt said casually.
"But still I want to thanks you in any way possible," Sho said in gratitude.
"Hey like I said before, think nothing of it," Matt said, waving his hand. "But if you want too, you can come with Rena, Rumiko and me when we trained tomorrow."
"Umm, sure," Sho said hesitantly.
"That's great," Matt said happily and looked at his clock. "Well we have an early day, so let turn in."
Sho nodded his agreement and the two finished off their drinks. They then throw them in the trashcan by the door and get into their beds. Matt immediately fell back to sleep, while Sho lay awake, thinking about a few things.
"Matthew Smith, black lightening. I feel like I owe you something that I may never pay back," the sandy blonde said to himself before rolling over and going to sleep.
(Next day...afternoon)
Rena sat in her last class of the day, bored out of her skull. It was advance mathematic class and the teacher was giving a lecture of how to solve a complex problem he had written on the broad. Rena had solved the problem in a matter of minutes, but for the others who were still working on it and didn't know how to solved it, got the lecture from the teacher.
And here I thought high school was boring, the disguised fox thought with a sigh and rested her head on her hand.
In the past weeks, since starting collage, the former digimon had changed her attire slightly. She still wears the same shoes, tied dyed jeans and matching vest, but now she wore a long sleeve short. The body of the shirt was white and still have the Japans symbol of time on it and the sleeve were purple. What must didn't see was the hood the shirt had. That because Rena had changed her hair slightly so the hood was hidden from view and it that hood that Rika spent most of her time in, either sleeping or watching Rena.
"If you can't solve this problem, then none of you devise to be in collage," the teacher said forcefully.
"And I thought people in my school were tough," Rika whispered into her humanoid partner's ear.
"Well this is collage," Rena whispered back.
"Is there anyone in the entire class that can solve this simple problem?" the teacher asked angrily.
"Haven't that guy ever heard about anger management?" Rika asked sarcastically.
Rena allowed a small smile to appear on her face as she turned her attention to the teacher. He seemed to be getting more edgy with each missing minute.
"Well, I'm waiting," the teacher said demandingly and began tipping his foot.
Somewhere in the back of the class, someone raised his or her hand and the teacher saw it.
"Yes you, come down and show these kids how to solve this problem!" the teacher exclaimed and pointed at the hand.
The person, who the hand belonged to, got up and shyly made his way to the front of the class. From her hiding spot, Rika looked at the boy with sandy blonde hair with a feeling that she knew him.
"Hey, Renamon, is that guy new?" Rika asked.
"Yeah, he just started the other day," Rena answered and then one of her small smiles appeared on her face. "Why, do he look familiar to you."
"Well he looks like someone I knew, but I can't really place the face," Rika answered in slight doubt.
"Well that's because he's Sho Nonaka, your stepfather," Rena told her cursed tamer.
Rika's larger violet colored eyes widened as she looked at the boy who would became her stepfather. Memories began rushing back to her at an alarming rate. Most were good and would have caused the flame colored fox to smile if that one terrible memory hadn't decided to rear it ugly head. As the cursed tamer watched as her so to be stepfather walked up to the board and began solving the problem, she just kept seeing the image of her stepfather's lifeless body being held by her crying mother and she could feel the tears swallowing up.
Rena sensed her cursed tamer's sadness and acted before anything could happen. She placed her hand in her hair and made it look like she was fixing it out of boredom when in reality she was comforting her friend.
"Hey, remember he saved you by his own choice," the disguised fox said, trying to reassured her cursed tamer.
Rika nodded and willed her tears away. She knew it was useless to cry over something, but she couldn't help it when she looks at the face of her future stepfather.
Sho had finished the complex problem in a matter of minutes, leaving the class slightly surprised. The teacher looked over the problem and slightly impressed that it was corrected.
"Well it's looks like someone among this sick sack of potatoes was actually paying attention," the teacher said cruelly, but before he could continue, the bell rang.
Glad that's over, Rena thought in relief as she gathered her things and made her to the exit, where Sho was waiting.
"Umm say Rena, I was just umm, wondering if," Sho felt really nervous and was having a hard time just chocking out his words.
"Don't worry about it," Rena said casually. "Matt already told me this morning."
"Oh, I see," Sho, said lowly and looked towards the ground.
Rena had to smile slightly as this boy's shyly and patted his shoulder reassuringly," Hey, like I said, don't worry about it. Now come on, we practice in the gym."
"Okay," Sho said with a sigh and followed Rena out of the room.
The two walked to the gym in silence. Sho wanted to start up a conversation, but he has a habit to say something wrong and that had resulted in some bad things happening, namely him getting a hand to his cheek.
"So, Sho, Matt's told me you lived in a neighborhood that was run by the Thunder Splat," Rena said lightly.
"Yeah and trust me it was no walk in the park," Sho muttered, turning his head so he didn't have to look Rena in the eye.
"Yeah, I might know what you went through and I wouldn't want you to get through any bad memories because of me," Rena said reassuringly.
"Thank you," Sho muttered and gave Rena a weak smile.
Rena returned that smile only much more softer and the two resumed their silent walking. After two minutes of walking, Sho was able to gather enough courage to talk to Rena.
"So Rena, mind telling me a little about black Lighting?" Sho asked slowly.
"Black lightening?" Rena thought that over for a second and it hit her who Sho was talking about. "Oh you mean Matt. Well he's a fun guy to be around by his does his moments."
"Do you think I could even be like him?" Sho asked embarrassingly.
"Hmm," Rena looked at Sho with a sense of understanding. She knew more then anyone else what it meant to try and began something and pains one must endure to reach such heights. "Well Matt had hard life, probably harder then the one you lived. In the end that helped shape the person, Matt is today. Oh look, we're here."
Sho was so engrossed into the conversation, that he didn't notice that they had arrived at the gym until Rena said something.
"Well let get change so we can join the action," Rena said, showing just a hint of eagerness in her voice.
"Well I don't really have a outfit to work out in," Sho admitted embarrassingly and looked towards the ground.
Rena smiled lightly and patted Sho on the back," Hey don't worry about it, I'm sure Matt will be more then happy to lore you some of his clothes. So how about you wait in the gym while I'm get change, I think Matt and Rumiko are already going at it."
Sho looked at Rena and nodded quickly. They then want their separate ways with Rena heading to the locker rooms to change and Sho stepping into the gym. The second he stepped into the large room, he heard the sounds of battle and fist a flying. Sho looked towards the area were a ring was set up for karate practice and saw something that he wouldn't have ever except in his lifetime.
Rumiko was locked in a fierce headlock by her boyfriend. This shocked Sho naturally, and was about to voice his concern when suddenly; Rumiko leaned forward and tossed Matt onto the mat. She then twisted herself around her boyfriend's arm and fall onto the mat, taking Matt's arm with it.
Sho winced at that little move. He knew from personal experience how painful that maneuver could be, but at the same time, was a little surprised to his hero struggling to break free from his opponent's hold. He watched in suspense for Matt's next move.
Matt was thinking of way to get out of this seemingly perfect move, while trying to ignore the pain shooting through his arm. He looked at his girlfriend with his eyes and were impressed that she was trying so hard to beat him, even though this was just a simple scarring match.
She put her mind to everything she tries and I know the reason for that too. But still I can't let her win this fight so easily, With that thought aside, he resumed his pondering of how to escape his girlfriend's clutches.
The shadow fighter came up with an escape plan about a minute later and he grinned foolish. He rolled onto his side just enough so he wouldn't injured himself and executed his plan. He carefully reached out his free hand and touched the section were the thigh meant the waist and began tickling his girlfriend. Rumiko tried to hold in the laughing fit that was coming, but when Matt picked up his monition, the model couldn't hold it in any longer. She break out into her fit and let go of Matt's hand. Matt instantly stopped his tickling assault on his girlfriend and jumped to his feet. He began stretching his arm to work out the tension as Rumiko got up herself, still giggling slightly.
"That's wasn't fair," she tried to say seriously, but a trace of playfully was in her voice.
"Oh and wigging your hair in my face so I would sneeze was playing fair?" Matt asked, throwing a playful grin Rumiko's way.
Rumiko put her hands on her hips in a threatening manner and said playfully," oh really, then you wouldn't mind if I do this..." She then tackled her boyfriend and began dashing out the same torment that he just gave her.
From the sidelines, Sho watched the entire thing in confusion. His shoulder were slumped and his arms hanging from his sides.
Okay, first they were in a deadlock and now they're just playing around, Sho thought in disbelief as he watched the two play around more.
"There's always do this, they fight serious for about 15 to 20 minutes and then they just play around," Rena said calmly from Sho's side, scaring the poor boy.
"AAAHHH!!" Sho cried out and fell onto his butt.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you like that," Rena apologized and offered her hand to Sho.
Sho hesitantly reached for Rena's hand and blush fiercely when his hand toughed Rena's. The disguised fox helped the boy up. They were too close for Sho comfort and he quick put his distance before them, which ended up with him falling on his ram again.
From her hiding place in Rena's hair, Rika watch her stepfather making a fool out of himself. But seeing all of this, just remained the cursed tamer of her secret love, waiting for her back in her own time.
Gogglehead, are you thinking about me right now as I'm thinking about you? Rika wondered.
In the ring, Matt and Rumiko had stopped they playing and were now watching Sho make a complete fool of himself.
"They make a cute couple, don't you think so, Matt?" Rumiko asked her boyfriend.
"Yeah, but Rena's heart has already taken and I think she's long for her heart's stealer," Matt said lightly and jumped out of the ring, leaving behind his confused girlfriend. "Yo, Sho! I'll let you use one of my spare workout suits and then we get fighting."
"Umm, sure. Lid the way," Sho said hesitantly and then the two walked out of the gym and into the changing rooms.
A minute later, the shadow fighter and his roommate were in the ring, preparing for their sparring match. Sho was dressed in a white and black training martial art uniform, while Matt was dressed in his normal workout attire, except his jacket was at the ringside. Rumiko, Rena, and Rika, still hidden, were all watching for the sidelines, eager to see what Sho had to offer.
Since he was still pretty limber from his workout with his girlfriend, Matt waited patiently for Sho to finish his warm up stretches. Once he was done, he got into a typical fighting stance, but everyone watching him, noticed the cold sweat running down his face and that he was trembling slightly.
"Hey man, don't be so tight. I mean this is a simple sparring match, right?" Matt said casually.
Sho gulped and stammered," R-R-Right."
Matt sighed and needed to resist the urged to shake his head. He still could remember when he was like his roommate, but at that time, he was just a boy about five or six year of age, so it was understandable at the time.
Matt sighed again and got into his family classic fighting stance. He then threw himself at Sho and threw a punch. The sandy blonde gasped and ducked the punch in fear. He then by reflects threw an uppercut. Matt bent his back to avoid the attack and then kicked Sho in the jaw lightly. Matt turned his kick into a back flip and got some distance from his opponent.
"That wasn't to bad, Sho. But if you weren't so afraid, you might have actually had hit me," Matt said complementally as he wiped his chain.
Sho got into a sitting position and rubbed his sore jaw. "I know, I know. But I just can't help myself. Anytime I fight, all I can think about is that moment when I was-"
"You know, Sho, my grandfather once said to me that we all have something we're afraid of, but it's only when we let that fear hold us back, then we're truly afraid...of ourselves," Matt said in a low and mysterious voice.
Sho looked up at his roommate and idol and for the first time, saw a person was truly behind him in many things. To him, Matt was nothing short of a god and him was nothing but a mortal.
Sighing, Sho hanged his head and asked solemnly," So what do you think of me."
"Hmm," Matt walked over to his roommate and offered his hand. Sho looked at the hand and then at Matt in confusion. "To tell you, the truth, Sho, I don't know what to think of you yet, but I do knew this. You have a fire in your eyes that is just begging to come out, so how about you get up and let get back to our spar."
Sho stared at Matt with the eyes of a lost puppy for a second before sighing and grabbing Matt's hand. The shadow fighter helped his roommate to his feet and gave him a reassuring smile. Sho returned that smile weakly and then the two roommates prepared to resumed their spar.
(Some time later)
Sho watched shock and awe as the two pure blonde fought against each other with blinding speed. Rumiko jumped behind her opponent, grabbing her arms in the process and twisted them behind her. Rena tried to break free of Rumiko's hold, but found the model's grab to be too strong. So she decided to try a move Matt had done on her many time in a similar satiations.
The disguised fox pushed off the ground and threw all of her weight onto her opponent. But unlike the times when Matt used this move on Rena, Rumiko was able to roll with it. She twisted herself around and it resulted in Rena taking Rumiko's weight instead of the other way around.
"OWWW, that had to sting," Matt said, closing his left eye.
"Say Matt, can I ask you something?" Sho asked hesitantly.
"Sure, buddy, what's on your mind?" Matt asked without turning his attention away from his female friends.
"Isn't Rumiko, an up and coming model?" Sho asked as he turned his eyes back to the fight.
"Uh huh," Matt said. "What about it?"
"Well I was just wondering why she's taking such a big risk with all of this fighting?" Sho asked as he watched Rena scored a directed uppercut to her opponent.
Matt looked at his roommate with a soft smile and patted him on the back, playfully as he said," Don't worry about it bud. I got this medical that has been in my family for years that works wonders and Rumiko's mother got such healing hands, you'll swear it was magic."
Sho looked at his friend/roommate a little disbelieving, but shrugged it off and said carelessly," If you say so."
Matt's smile turned into a grin and he looked back to ring. He then cried to the two blondes," Hey Rena! Rumiko! Let take a break and get something to eat."
When Matt asked his question, Rumiko had Rena's face pressed against the mat of the ring. The two instantly dropped they fight when the question was ask and Rumiko helped her friend to her feet. The two then jumped out of the ring and walked up to their males' companions.
"So, whose turn is it to get the snacks?" Rumiko asked lightly.
"Umm, I can do it?" Sho said meekly as he raised his hand slightly.
"You sure, buddy, I mean it would be no skin off my nose if I do it," Matt said casually.
"I'm sure of it," Sho said hesitantly. "So if you gave me the money, I would be more happy to do it."
The three experienced fighters exchanged questioning glazes, but soon nodded in approver and grabbed their training jackets. Sho began collecting the money as he also got what his friends wanted for a snake.
"I'll take a root beer and a candy bar."
"A cherry energy drink and a energy bar."
"Just a diet soda for me, thank you."
"So let me get this straight. Matt wants a root beer and candy bar. Rena wants a cherry energy drink and energy bar. And a diet soda for Rumiko."
The three nodded once and Sho returned the nod," Okay, so I'll be back in a flash." He then hurried out of the gym as his three friends began idol chitchat.
I don't belong with those guys, Sho thought sadly as he popped the money into the drink machine. They're all so much better then me in a lot of things and I'll probably slow them down. "Sigh" sometimes I wish I never was born.
Sho grabbed the drinks and then moved onto the candy machines. Luck apparently wasn't through the sandy blonde at the time because those bullies from last night choose that time to enter the lobby, looking for anyone to pick on. The leader of the group smiled when he spotted Sho at the candy machine and silently moved behind the boy.
Sho got all of his friend's snacks and turned around to leave, only to have his face meet with someone's stomach. He pulled his face from the stomach and looked at its owner. Sho's eyes widen in fear when he realized it was one of the bullies from last night. He quickly looked around and saw all of his exits blocked by the bully's friends and he dropped his stuff. He began backing up as the bullies began closing in on him and he backed himself into the candy machine.
"Hey, don't worry, boy, we just want to talk," the leader said lowly and grinned an evil grin.
(With the shadow fighter and his friends)
While the girls talked about nothing in practically, Matt kept casting his eyes on the door, expecting to see his roommate and new buddy to come with it at any time. But as time slowly stretch into five minutes, the shadow fighter starting to grow concern about Sho.
"Hey guys. Shouldn't Sho have been back by now?" Matt asked, interrupting his friends' girly talk.
The girls looked at him and began thinking. It was Rena who was the first to speak.
"You'll right, it didn't take that long for someone to get snacks," Rena said, showing concern on her face.
"Do, you think something happened to him?" Rumiko asked, worried for her new friend.
"Well, there's only one way to found out," Matt said, standing.
The shadow fighter's female companions got the drift and nodded their agreement. Rena and Rumiko got off the bench they were using for seats and lifted the gym. They walked to the lobby and came upon a shocking sight. Sho was in a fight against the leader of a group of bullies and the two larger ones were making sure, that the blonde didn't have a means of escape. Rena and Rumiko began slightly angry by this and were about to help when Matt held out his arms in front of his female friends, stopping them before they could do anything.
"Matt, what are you doing?" Rena exclaimed in a calm manner.
"Yes, shouldn't we help Sho?" Rumiko asked, getting worried that her new friend might get hurt.
"Listen, I'm all for helping, Sho, but I think we should let him fight his own battle," Matt replied calmly.
"What does that mean?" Rena asked, an edge working it way into her voice.
"You know what I'm saying, Rena. But if things get to heavy, we step in," Matt said seriously. "But I have a feeling Sho, might just surprised us."
"Huh?" the two blondes looked at their friend like he gone crazy or something and then at each other, hoping to find an answer. When that didn't work, they shrugged a little worryingly and turned back to the fight, hoping their friend would be all right.
Sho took a punch on the jaw, causing him to go trembling backwards into another bully. The bully pushed him back into the center of the circle where his leader was eagerly waiting.
"So, you're ready to throw in the towel?" the bully asked cockily.
"N-No," Sho stammered and took up his stance, but his entire body was trembling in fear.
"HA! HA! You actually think you can take the quarterback of the football team," the guy said coldly and grinned. "Then think again."
Then before Sho could blink, the quarterback had tackled him to the ground and was repeating beating his face. From the sidelines, Matt was holding his friends back from jumping in, but at the same time, restringing himself from also jumping in.
"Do...you...think...your...special, just because you in the same dorm as Smith? Well think again and let hope this remains you of your place!" the bully screamed as he continued to ruthless beating on Sho.
As Sho lay there, taking the beating, memories of his childhood kept playing in his head like bad movies. He remembered the time the Thunder Splats moved into his neighborhood and threatened his mother. He remembered when his mother argued with the gangsters and the end result was his mother taking a beat, leaving her with a terrible scar on her lift cheek. He remembered when a Thunder Splat scared him witless and caused him to lose the rent money for his apartment. But the most painful memory Sho had was the time when he fought against a Thunder Splat member and gotten a broken arm and a reminded for it too. All of the boy's anger that he kept pushed down finally came out and his eyes lost their focus.
"No more," he whispered.
"What was that punk?" the bully exclaimed.
"I said...NO MORE!!" Sho balled his hand into a fist and threw it at his opponent jaw.
The bully was thrown off of Sho, but kept his footing and rubbed his jaw in surprised. Sho got to his feet and looked at the bully with eyes that looked like they had the devil in them. With the shock of what just happened, settling, the bully grew mad at Sho.
"So, you think you all that!!" the bully screamed angrily and threw a punch.
Sho easily ducked the punch and threw his own punch. The fist meant with the bully's face and sent him flying into a wall, knocking him out instantly. The two other bullies were greatly surprised by this, but quickly got over it when they saw the shape of the leader and the tallest one lunged for Sho. Sho responded to this by quickly turning on his heels and throwing his fist into the tall one's gut. Sho pulled his fist free and took a step back as the bully sunk to his knees and held his stomach as he groan in pain. The chucky bully was somewhat smart and decided to hightail it before he ended up like his friends.
Matt whistle slightly as he and the girls walked up to Sho. "I have to say, buddy, you did a good job, but did you have to go so rough?" he asked lightly.
Sho snapped his head towards his friends and got ready to attack them. The three immediately came to a stop and tensed up at the look Sho was giving them.
"Umm, Matt, why is Sho looking at us?" Rumiko asked nervously.
"I'll have to say Sho's not with it at the moment and could be a danger to us all," Matt replied quit calmly.
"So how do we snapped Sho out of it?" Rena asked, a hint of nervousness working its way into her calm voice.
"Well, I only know one thing that might work," Matt said with a casual shrug of his shoulders.
Then without saying another word, he went into the belly of the beast, despite all the protest for his friends. The shadow fight calmly walked up to his friend and Sho threw a punch, aimed right at his friend's head. Matt easily dodged the punch and then tipped Sho on the head, causing the angered boy to lose his balance and fall. That snapped Sho back to reality and he looked up at Matt, lost.
"Matt?" Sho asked slowly. "What happened?"
The shadow fighter smiled as he helped the warily boy to his feet. "Well let just say, you take your first step in becoming the real you."
Sho warily looked at the two bullied and then at Matt," Did I do this?"
Matt nodded and said with a smile," Yeah, but don't worry about a thing, buddy. These guys would be fine with some time. So how about we collected our things and get back to the gym to practice a little more?"
The other just nodded and got their snacks. They lifted the lobby, unaware that someone was watching the group from the shadows with hateful eyes.
"Soon Smith. Very soon, you'll pay for what you done to me," the owner of the eyes said coldly as he slipped from the room silently.
(...)
Rika (Angry): I THOUGHT YOU SAID, YOU" WERE GOING TO LEAVE YOUR STUPID COLLAGE NAMELESS!
Me: Actually I said that, so I didn't have to deal with you yelling in my ear about how I was just being a stupid copycat.
Rika: WELL YOU ARE A COPYCAT!! YOU KNOW SHIKON COLLAGE HAS BEEN USED IN OTHER FANFICTION!!
Me: IT'S JUST A NAME AND SO IT HAS NO TRUE MEANING, OKAY?
Rika: Well I don't like it, but I'll have to go along with it.
Me: Okay.