Chapter 5
Terry was sitting down on a park bench looking out at the water of the small lake in its center and the trees surrounding it. He heard quiet steps on the concrete behind him but chose to ignore it. A shadow fell on him from his left and a woman's voice said: "Mind if I join you?" Terry sat there and said: "Free country, go ahead." The owner of the voice sitting down proved to be Maki. This time though, she was dressed in ordinary shoes, blue jeans and a pink shirt. Setting her purse on her lap she sat there a moment before speaking: "Penny for your thoughts?"
Terryleaned back against the bench and looked over to Maki. She wore her hair the same way as last they met, with just a touch of make-up to accentuate her natural beauty. He said: "Good to see you up and about again. What's it been? Six months or so?" Come for a rematch then?" Maki smiled and said: "Thanks, yes and no. In that order." Terry clarified: "What can I do for you then if not a rematch?"
She said: "I came to tell you that my teacher and best friend, Guy Takeda, has come to challenge you. I tried to tell him I lost fair and square and that I started the fight without your permission but he wouldn't be dissuaded." Terry sat there and "hhhmmmmmed" to himself a moment. Maki said nothing for about five minutes before saying: "So. What will you do?" Terry said: "Ask him to leave me alone." She shook her head and said: "That won't work with Guy. Even though he's a modern day man with a wife, he is decidedly an 'old school' Japanese man in his views of bushido and honor. He won't back down until you accept the challenge or seppuku."
Terry looked up and at Maki in unconcealed shock: "Seppuku? You have got to be joking. This is the 21st century, not the 16th, and this is America, not Japan. He can take his seppuku and put that where the sun doesn't shine." Maki smiled again and Terry thought "Damn she sure does have a pretty smile." The thought came unbidden and was squelched just as quickly. She said: "I thought you might say that but it's what Guy is. I just thought you should know."
Maki stood up and started to walk away, when she suddenly changed her step and came back over to where Terry sat and said: "Would you like to go get some coffee or something?" Caught by total surprise, he blurted out: "Sure." As Terry stood up he berated himself mentally: "You idiot Terry, you stupid, stupid idiot. Now you've gone and done it. Damn. Well nothing for it, you said sure and now you have to follow through."
They sat down at a local diner that Terry was familiar with and spoke of their backgrounds a little. Their training in their respective styles and some of their experiences. Terry was amazed to hear that Maki was one of the fighters who helped Mike Haggar to finally crush the Mad Gear gang. Terry had passed through Metro City a few times in his travels. The fights there had been pretty good, a little fierce at times, but pretty good just the same. Terry had intended to be very vague in speaking of his travels, but without intending to, ended up telling Maki everything from his quest to be the best and avenge his father, his first entry in a King of Fighters tournament, Lily, defeating Geese Howard, then Krauser, Sulia and finally Laocorn Goddamus.
When Terry realized what he had done he began to apologize profusely. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to dump all that junk on you. I'm sorry, I'd better go." He got up to leave and paid the check. When Maki caught up with him outside, she grabbed his hand and said: "Don't be sorry. I'm glad you felt you could trust me with that. I can already see that being able to talk to somebody has helped. If you ever want to talk again, look me up sometime in Metro City. Guy and I run a ninjitsu school there. Speaking of Guy, what do you plan on doing about him?" Terry shrugged and said: "I guess I'll have to accept his challenge. If for no other reason than that he will hopefully leave me alone and go back to his own students. They need their teacher."
Maki said: "I'll set it up then in a neutral place. Okay?" Terry said: "That would be great Maki, thank you." With no thought about it Terry leaned in and gave Maki a peck on the cheek and left a suddenly confused ninja girl standing there.