Chapter22
When Lara woke up it was after 12. She was not surprised to find herself alone in bed. Had she really slept that long? But at least she didn't feel tired at all. Actually she felt quite good and prepared, even for the difficult task she had to fulfil tomorrow. She got out of bed and adjusted her pyjamas. Then she sneaked out into the hall. There was no one to be seen anywhere, the whole ship seemed quiet. She walked into the living room which was deserted. She didn't want to step outside in her pyjamas, so she went to her cabin. There she grabbed fresh clothes and went towards the bathroom to have a shower.
She came out thirty minutes later, a large towel wrapped around her head. Some strands of hair stuck out at the end, she never managed to keep them all in for long. She walked outside and towards the pool. There she met Kazuya. He was on the telephone, walking up and down by the pool. When he saw Lara, he waved hello. From the sound of it Lee was on the other end of the line and they were arguing. After a moment Kazuya hung up and slammed the phone onto the table. It bounced off. Lara reacted fast and caught it before it fell into the pool. "You should be more careful with these." she said grinning. "Yes, I know." he said annoyed. "Sorry, good morning, Lara" he said and kissed her on the cheek. "So what has Lee done this time?" Lara couldn't stop herself asking. "Oh, not Lee... my beloved father, the bastard... He complained again that I didn't come home this weekend. He terrorised Chaolan the whole time, asking him where I was, what I was doing... He should mind his own business. One day I will really kick his ..., maybe Saturday." "That's my fault. If it wasn't for me..." "Don't be silly. No matter what I do, he doesn't approve. He can go to hell!" He was quiet for a moment. "I have promised Chaolan to come home tonight. Heihachi has annoyed him the last few days and he can't take much more..." "Ok. I have to pick up a friend at the airport anyway." "A friend?" he asked curious. "Oh, just Bryce... He wanted to come as well when I told him I had so much fun." "So how do you define 'friend'?" "Are we a little jealous?" "I am never jealous!" "He is like a brother..." "He calls when he is in trouble, needs a lift home, needs money..." "Actually I call him, when I'm in trouble." she said grinning. "So he is older?" "I am a girl; I don't have to answer that question." "That's right, you don't." "Anyway. I guess it's ok when you drop me off at 7." "Ok." he replied. Then he grabbed the mobile phone Lara had placed back onto the table and his notebook. He turned back to Lara. "So what now? Are you hungry?" "A bit." she replied. "Then let's drive into town. I know a nice and quiet restaurant." "Sounds good. But maybe I should pack my bags, before we go."
And so they drove into town to have lunch. Afterwards they strolled through the city, till Kazuya dropped her of at her hotel around 7 o'clock. He accompanied her up to her room. "So when will I see you again?" she asked him. "My father will probably kill me and the month is coming to an end, so there is a lot of work to do, but I guess I can make it to dinner tomorrow evening. Is eight alright with you?" "Certainly." Lara said smiling. She opened the door. "Ok, then I will see you tomorrow." he said. She pulled him closer and kissed him. "See you then. Good luck with your father." she said and disappeared in her room.
When Lara woke up it was after 12. She was not surprised to find herself alone in bed. Had she really slept that long? But at least she didn't feel tired at all. Actually she felt quite good and prepared, even for the difficult task she had to fulfil tomorrow. She got out of bed and adjusted her pyjamas. Then she sneaked out into the hall. There was no one to be seen anywhere, the whole ship seemed quiet. She walked into the living room which was deserted. She didn't want to step outside in her pyjamas, so she went to her cabin. There she grabbed fresh clothes and went towards the bathroom to have a shower.
She came out thirty minutes later, a large towel wrapped around her head. Some strands of hair stuck out at the end, she never managed to keep them all in for long. She walked outside and towards the pool. There she met Kazuya. He was on the telephone, walking up and down by the pool. When he saw Lara, he waved hello. From the sound of it Lee was on the other end of the line and they were arguing. After a moment Kazuya hung up and slammed the phone onto the table. It bounced off. Lara reacted fast and caught it before it fell into the pool. "You should be more careful with these." she said grinning. "Yes, I know." he said annoyed. "Sorry, good morning, Lara" he said and kissed her on the cheek. "So what has Lee done this time?" Lara couldn't stop herself asking. "Oh, not Lee... my beloved father, the bastard... He complained again that I didn't come home this weekend. He terrorised Chaolan the whole time, asking him where I was, what I was doing... He should mind his own business. One day I will really kick his ..., maybe Saturday." "That's my fault. If it wasn't for me..." "Don't be silly. No matter what I do, he doesn't approve. He can go to hell!" He was quiet for a moment. "I have promised Chaolan to come home tonight. Heihachi has annoyed him the last few days and he can't take much more..." "Ok. I have to pick up a friend at the airport anyway." "A friend?" he asked curious. "Oh, just Bryce... He wanted to come as well when I told him I had so much fun." "So how do you define 'friend'?" "Are we a little jealous?" "I am never jealous!" "He is like a brother..." "He calls when he is in trouble, needs a lift home, needs money..." "Actually I call him, when I'm in trouble." she said grinning. "So he is older?" "I am a girl; I don't have to answer that question." "That's right, you don't." "Anyway. I guess it's ok when you drop me off at 7." "Ok." he replied. Then he grabbed the mobile phone Lara had placed back onto the table and his notebook. He turned back to Lara. "So what now? Are you hungry?" "A bit." she replied. "Then let's drive into town. I know a nice and quiet restaurant." "Sounds good. But maybe I should pack my bags, before we go."
And so they drove into town to have lunch. Afterwards they strolled through the city, till Kazuya dropped her of at her hotel around 7 o'clock. He accompanied her up to her room. "So when will I see you again?" she asked him. "My father will probably kill me and the month is coming to an end, so there is a lot of work to do, but I guess I can make it to dinner tomorrow evening. Is eight alright with you?" "Certainly." Lara said smiling. She opened the door. "Ok, then I will see you tomorrow." he said. She pulled him closer and kissed him. "See you then. Good luck with your father." she said and disappeared in her room.
