Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold
There are so many things I could say about what happened as we arrived in Nerima the next day by bus. But, there are really only a few words that could describe it well.
Things went, "Boom."
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's go back to this morning, around 6:30 in the morning when I woke up Mike for certain reasons that'll be explained shortly.
"Mike... Mike!" I whispered then sighed, "Mike, you fucker, wake up!" I decided whispering wasn't enough and settled for trying to bruise his ribs.
"Ouch!" Mike yelped. He looked up at me, "You ass, that hurt."
I smirked, "I know. Now hurry up and get dressed, I wanna work on the plans for Nerima."
"Yeah, yeah..."
It was about 8:39 when we decided our plans were pretty much done; we simply had to set everything else up. When I left the room we'd been working in I decided I needed a nice soak in the furo.
I was about to walk into the bathroom with my change of clothes when Sasha kinda blind-sided me.
"G'morning, Ryuu," She smiled. She'd caught me off guard, obviously, and had me pushed up against the wall.
"Morning, Sasha," I managed to smile back. It was awkward being on the defensive for once.
Her smile turned into a smirk momentarily before she kissed me...deeply. A minute later she broke the kiss and left me breathless leaning against the wall as she walked into the bathroom and put up the "occupied" sign.
I tried to even out my breathing as I slid down the wall and shook my head, "Damn that girl..." I ended up sitting there with my stuff sprawled out beside me until she left the bathroom.
She smiled sweetly at me; it was one of those I'm-so-sweet-and-innocent-I-can't-have-possibly-just-fucked-with-your-mind-minutes-ago smiles.
I pointed at her and tried to frown, "One of these days, I'm gonna marry you, woman...marry you good..." Obviously not one of my better threats.
She smirked, "I'm waiting, lover-boy."
I somehow managed to get in the bathroom, replace the "occupied" sign, and take an ice cold shower after she left.
That was probably the most memorable moment of the morning. Breakfast wasn't anything exciting; we ate breakfast, said our good-byes with promises to keep in touch, and parted ways. Sasha and Sam went with Jon back to the hotel. Xian went to go see if her Grandmother had arrived yet, I'd sent her tickets to the show. (Smirk) Wouldn't want my favorite mummy to miss one of the biggest moments of my life. I was, after all, closing a chapter of my life once and for all. Anyway, Nabiki and Kasumi headed back to the Tendo-ke and Mike and me went to set up our plans.
What are our plans? Pfft, like I'd tell you. You'll just have to keep reading and find out as they happen, ne?
Ryuu had just finished setting up half his plan with Mike and they'd split ways. He was currently on his way to Ucchan's but he was interrupted by a familiar battle cry. One he hadn't heard in over 4 years with a slight edit.
"Ryuu! Because of you, I've seen hell!"
Ryuu turned around and smirked evilly, "Hell? You don't have a clue what hell's like, Ryoga. You want to see hell? You want to meet my old buddy Satan? Then come on, give me your best shot."
Ryoga had hesitated at Ryuu's smirk, the smirk bringing him back to that time when he was tied above the fire on a spit slowly turning and roasting... he shook his head and narrowed his eyes at Ryuu. How dare that honor-less bastard mock me...
"Ryuu, prepare to die!"
Ryuu rolled his eyes, "Please, tell me something I haven't heard a million times before," He stepped off to the side as Ryoga charged at him. He continued sidestepping as Ryoga continually charged. Getting bored Ryuu yawned, "Let's try something new, shall we?" And in so saying stuck his foot out and tripped Ryoga.
Ryoga fell flat on his face and lied there for a second before growling and getting to his feet. He began throwing punches at Ryuu who, as before, dodged each punch. A particular punch of Ryoga's was aimed at Ryuu's head just as Ryuu stepped on a glass bottle carelessly placed in the middle of the street. As the bottle rolled forward under Ryuu's weight it sent him falling backwards, letting him dodge the strike in a situation that dimly reminds the authoress and her muses of Sailor Moon.
The bottle shot out from under Ryuu and smacked into that sensitive spot right below his knee making his legs involuntarily buckle and sent him to his knees. Ryuu sat on the ground and winced, "Damn that must've hurt..."
He blinked and decided not to dwell on it further as he stood and wiped his jeans of dirt. Ryoga stood again after several seconds and lunged at Ryuu again (You'd think the buffoon would learn after the first two times).
Ryuu sighed and caught the fist in his own, wincing slightly at the impact, "Listen Ryoga, you're not my equal anymore. Actually, you barely ever were. So cut the shit."
Ryoga was about to shout some obscenities common in their fights when an old woman cleansing her walkway splashed them with water.
Ryuu blinked and looked down at the small black piglet biting his pant leg and turned to the old lady. He looked at her for a moment before grabbing the little piglet, knocking him out, and walking away while shaking his head, "It's all a fucking conspiracy..."
He stared at the unconscious piglet in his hand before smiling evilly, "I'm suddenly in the mood for pork okinomiyaki."
Ryuu walked through the door to Ucchan's and smiled at the Ukyo, who was cleaning the grill. The morning rush was over so there were only a few people within the building.
Ukyo looked up and smiled at him, "Welcome to Ucchan's. What can I get you today?"
Ryuu smiled back, "Ah, how quickly a childhood friend is forgotten when he changes his hair," He chuckled as he sat down on a stool in front of the grill and tilted his head at Ukyo, "So, how've you been, Ucchan?" (Ryoga had been thrown into a sub-space pocket a minute before Ryuu came into the Ucchan's.)
Ukyo looked at Ryuu for a while trying to place the face with little success. Ryuu helped jump-start her memory, "How's the cross-dresser doing? Find any good dresses lately?"
Konatsu snorted as he walked out of the storage room in a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt and a white apron on, "I'm doing fine, 'fem-boy'. And for your information I've been clean for several months."
Ryuu turned to Konatsu, "Bet that's the longest you've ever gone. And it isn't 'fem-boy' anymore, considering I turn into a tiger now..."
Ryuu notice Ukyo staring at him, "What? Do I have something on my face?" He asked rubbing his face. Ukyo smiled and walked around the counter. She grabbed him into a large hug and tried not to cry into his shoulder, though she couldn't stop the tears falling from her eyes.
Ryuu's eyes softened as he wrapped his arms around his old best friend, "I missed you too, Ucchan."
"Kami, Ryuu, you have no idea how much I've missed you..."
He smiled softly, "I think I have a faint idea right now."
When Ukyo had her tears under control and she released Ryuu from the hug she sat on the stool next to his and they talked about what'd happened in their lives over the past 4 years. After two hours of catching up Ryuu's stomach growled.
Ukyo and Konatsu laughed at him while he chuckled. He retrieved Ryoga from sub-space and placed him on the counter, "Hey, think I can get a decent pork okinomiyaki with this piglet?"
Ukyo looked at the piglet and noticed the bandana around its neck, "Isn't that...?"
Ryuu nodded, "Yeah, can I have some okinomiyaki please?"
Ukyo moved to refuse but Konatsu beat her to it, "Sure, give me a few minutes to prepare mister porker."
"Konatsu!" Ukyo reprimanded.
Konatsu smiled cheekily, "Hey, you know me. I've never been one to turn down a chance to make Ryoga miserable... or dead." He mumbled under his breath. Only Ryuu caught the comment and he smirked in response as he watched Konatsu begin heating a pot of water and sharpening a butcher knife.
A couple minutes pass and Ukyo and Konatsu are joking around with Ryuu as the pot of water continues to heat up, Ryuu occasionally throwing in a comment about how best to sharpen the knife.
But alas, all good things must come to an end eventually. And so Ryuu's good time with old friends is ended by another old..."friend".
The bell rang, signaling the entrance of a customer and Ukyo turned to greet their new customer.
"Welcome to Uch-...oh, hello Akane."
Akane walked through the door, "Hi, Ukyo," She noticed Ryuu and snorted as she jerked a thumb at him, "Who's your friend?"
Ryuu's eyes narrowed but he didn't move to do anything. Ukyo narrowed her eyes as well but Akane didn't seem to notice. She did, however, notice Konatsu's hand clenched around a butcher knife that was very close to a strangely familiar piglet.
Akane squinted her eyes and moved closer, "Is that... it is! That's Pchan!" She exclaimed as she grabbed the piglet away from Konatsu's reach.
Ryuu heard Konatsu utter a faint, "damn it" and nodded in agreement. He really did want that pork okinomiyaki...
Konatsu muttered but went on to make a pork okinomiyaki with the pork they had pre-made for the batter. Ryuu took notice and nodded his thanks.
Akane held and cuddled Pchan to her chest, "Poor, Pchan," she turned to Ukyo, "How come Konatsu almost beheaded him? Didn't you notice the bandana around his neck?" She sighed, frustrated, and turned in time to see Ryuu mocking her behind her back.
She fumed, "How dare you!" Ryuu gave her a bored look and humphed, "I don't have to stand here and take this!" She exclaimed as she stormed out the door.
Ryuu snorted, "No, but you could certainly lie down for it… bitch."
Konatsu handed Ryuu his plate, "Serves the girl right."
"I'm not even done with her yet. I have plans. Small plans, but plans none the less. She won't be the same once I leave," Ryuu said between bites.
Konatsu moved to make a second okinomiyaki but Ryuu stopped, "Nah, don't bother, I'm not that hungry anymore. Stupid Akane ruined my appetite."
They talked a bit more, most of it mocking and insulting Akane, before Ryuu paid for his meal and said his good-byes, leaving the two with two tickets for his concert.
Ryuu came across the park while he was wandering around town. Sitting on one of the benches near the lake he marveled at the simplistic beauty of the park. Sakura trees surrounded the lake, giving it a sort of romantic feel.
After a couple minutes of just admiring the view and enjoying the peace, a flying panda flew into the lake and interrupted the peaceful view. Ryuu smirked as he watched the panda slowly make his way towards the edge of the lake. He knew exactly who the panda was, I mean, how many pandas wore glasses and walked around with a sake bottle?
Ryuu grabbed a thermos from sub-space and, after opening it, threw the contents at the panda. Where there was once a panda now stood a fat man with glasses who was balding and had a bottle of sake in his hand.
Genma, being the bastard he was walked forward, obviously not as drunk as he probably should've been, "Thank you, my boy. I should repay you for your kindness."
Ryuu introduced his fist to Genma's face when he tried to knock him out, and glared down at him, "Nice try, you old bastard. But I know all your tricks."
Genma stuttered up at the, to him, stranger, "H-how do you know?"
"You raised me you fat bastard. You tortured me for the sake of the art. 'It was for the good of the art' you said," He grabbed Genma by his collar and picked him up off the ground, "Guess what old man."
Genma simply gulped as Ryuu paused.
"The Wild Horse is back. And he's out for revenge."
The vicious beating that ensued is so gory and violent, that if I were to tell you the exact happenings that proceeded you would run screaming in horror away from your computer! So with that in mind, we'll simply say Genma got his ass kicked very viciously but a pissed off ex-son.
After beating Genma to within an inch of his life, and somehow keeping him conscious despite the pain, Ryuu splashed him with cold water and tied him up. He set up a portable grill and began sharpening a large butcher knife.
Ryuu set up a small stand for his recipe book and began thinking about what he wanted to make, "Hmm... Should I use panda rump, panda T-bone, or panda fillet mignone? T-bone sounds a bit painful to find...I think I'll use that."
Genma finally passed out from the pain and the fear that's suddenly gripped him. After he passed out, Ryuu waved away the illusion he'd created and placed a bracer on the panda's wrist. The bracer would lock Genma's form and eliminate the ability to use his ki.
He brought Genma over to the local Police station and handed the fat bastard over after demonstrating the curse a couple times, only removing the bracer once. After telling them everything Genma could do, and to never remove the bracer, he left.
Standing on the front steps of the building Ryuu took a deep breath and slowly released it, "Revenge is sweet."
Ryuu smiled widely and made his way back to hotel. He wanted to shower and change before the scheduled concert after all.
Meanwhile at the Tendo-ke we see Kasumi replacing Akane's shampoo and body wash with new, identical, bottles.
Nabiki walked passed the doorway, checking in on her sister. She stopped, blinked several dozen times and pinched her self before blinking hard one more time. Her mind, unable to comprehend such an action coming from Kasumi, shuts down.
Kasumi blinked and the smirk that'd been in place before slipped from her face, "Oh my. That must've hurt..." She said as she picks the fainted Nabiki up and places her on her bed, "I'm so glad Ryuu-kun suggested taking up a bit of martial arts again, it would've been hard to carry Nabiki otherwise," She idly says as she walks off to finish her chores.
They had everything set up, the only thing they were waiting for was the signal for them to come out and play. It was 5 minutes later that they got they were introduced.
As everyone walked out onto the stage Ryuu idly made note of who was there. Ukyo, Konatsu, Nabiki, Kasumi, Akane, Ryoga, Mom, Xian, Cologne, and whoa, Mousse came too.
Ryuu put on a big smile for the audience, "Hellooo, Nerima!" A huge cheer, "I wanna thank you all for coming to see us ahead of time. Since I'll probably forget later." He smiled sheepishly as the crowd laughed, "Well, enough delaying, here's the first song. It's for the woman I purposefully left behind a little more then 4 years ago. It's called Open Wounds." (Owned by Skillet not me.)
In the dark with the music on
Wishing I was somewhere else
Taking all your anger out on me, somebody help
I would rather rot alone
Then spend a minute with you
I'm gone, I'm gone
And you can't stop me from falling apart
'Cause my self-destruction is all your fault
How could you, how could you, how could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted to be was you?
How could you, how could you, how could you love me?
When all you ever gave me were open wounds?
Downstairs the enemy sleeps
Leaving the TV on
Watching all the dreams we had turn into static
Doesn't matter what I do
Nothing's gonna change
I'm never good enough
And you can't stop me from falling apart
'Cause my self-destruction is all your fault
How could you, how could you, how could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted to be was you?
How could you, how could you, how could you love me?
When all you ever gave me were open wounds?
Tell me why you broke me down and betrayed my trust in you
I'm not giving up, giving in when will this war end?
When will it end?
You can't stop me from falling apart
You can't stop me from falling apart
You can't stop me from falling apart
'Cause my self-destruction is all your fault
How could you, how could you, how could you hate me?
When all I ever wanted to be was you?
How could you, how could you, how could you love me?
When all you ever gave me were open wounds?
The music faded and Ryuu waited until the crowd calmed down a bit before speaking.
"Now, this next song is for all of the people I left behind. It's a bit out of style for us, but I have a feeling you'll all enjoy it anyway. This one is called Nobody's Listening." (Owned by Linkin Park, not me)
Kuoji, the guy they specifically asked for to help with the song, came out with his soundboard and then they began playing the song.
Coming at you
Coming at you
Coming at you
Yo, peep the style and the kids checking for it
The number one question is
How could you ignore it
We drop right back in the cut, over basement tracks
With raps that got you backing this up like
(Rewind that)
We're just rolling with the rhythm
Rise from the ashes of stylistic division
With these non-stop lyrics of life living
Not to be forgotten but still unforgiven
But in the meantime there are those who wanna talk this and that
So I supposed that it gets to a point
Where feelings got to get hurt
And get dirty with the people spreading the dirt, it goes
Tried to give you warning
But everyone ignores me
(Told you everything loud and clear)
But nobody's listening
Call to you so clearly
But you don't want to hear me
(Told you everything loud and clear)
But nobody's listening
I've got a heart full of pain, head full of stress
Hand full of anger, held in my chest
And everything left is a waste of time
I hate my rhymes
(But hate everyone else's more)
I'm riding on the back of this pressure
Guessing that it's better I can't keep myself together
Because all this stress gave me something to write on
And the pain gave me something I can set my sights on
You never forget the blood, sweat, and tears
The uphill struggle over years
The fear and the trash talking and the people it was to
And the people that started it just like you
Tried to give you warning
But everyone ignores me
(Told you everything loud and clear)
But nobody's listening
Call to you so clearly
But you don't want to hear me
(Told you everything loud and clear)
But nobody's listening
I've got a heart full of pain, head full of stress
Hand full of anger, held in my chest
Uphill struggles, blood, sweat, and tears
Nothing to gain, everything to fear
Heart full of pain, head full of stress
Hand full of anger, held in my chest
Uphill struggle, blood, sweat, and tears
Nothing to gain, everything to fear
Heart full of pain
Tried to give you warning
But everyone ignores me
(Told you everything loud and clear)
But nobody's listening
Call to you so clearly
But you don't want to hear me
(Told you everything loud and clear)
But nobody's listening
I've got a heart full of pain, head full of stress
(Nobody's listening)
Hand full of anger, held in my chest
(Nobody's listening)
Uphill struggle, blood, sweat, and tears
(Nobody's listening)
Nothing to gain, everything to fear
(Nobody's listening)
Coming at you
Coming at you
Coming at you
Coming at you from every side
The music faded quickly and Ryuu drank from a bottle of water that he'd placed in one of the many pockets in his cargo jeans. As he did this Sam talked to the audience.
"The last song we're going to play for you was written...wait, when was it written?" She asked the band.
"It was supposedly written a couple weeks after Ryuu's departure from his home town. That's what the date in his notebook suggests," Jon said.
"The notebook never lies!" Ryuu exclaimed.
"Tis true. Now, the song's called Feel it in Your Heart," Mike announced. (Owned by Cold, not me)
The music started up and Ryuu kinda bobbed his head to the music as he got into the mood of the song.
Can't run away from love
If you cannot feel
Everything falls apart
In a tragedy
I am so far away from gone
I just wanna be here
Everyone falls apart
In my symphony
Can you feel this in your heart?
Can you take it to your soul?
I don't want you to pretend
I don't wanna be alone
Feels like I'm torn apart
And I cannot bleed
Caught in the web we made
This just can't be real
I am so far away from gone
I just wanna be here
Everyone falls apart
In this tragedy
Can you feel this in your heart?
Can you take it to your soul?
I don't want you to pretend
I don't wanna be alone
Can you feel this in your heart?
Can you take it in your soul?
I don't want you to pretend
I don't wanna be alone
I don't wanna be alone
Everyday
I live through this
Inside
I've changed
Everyday
I don't wanna be alone
Can you feel this in your heart?
Can you take it to your soul?
I don't want you to pretend
I don't wanna be alone
Can you feel this in you heart?
Can you take it to your soul?
I don't want you to pretend
I don't wanna be alone
Inside
I changed
Everyday
I live through this
Inside
I've changed
Everyday
I live through this
Alone
I don't wanna be alone
I don't wanna be alone
As the music faded once more Ryuu bowed to the audience and quickly made his way off stage. There was no party or meeting after the concert since they had to pack and shower quickly to catch their plane.
On the plane back to Jersey everyone was doing their own thing. Mike somehow convinced Jon to play video games with him. Sam was napping. Sasha was drinking a cup of water while watching Mike and Jon. And Ryuu was staring out the window solemnly.
Sasha noticed Ryuu's attitude and walked over so she could sit his lap. She placed her cup in the cup holder and leaned into him, "What's wrong, handsome?"
Ryuu sighed and burrowed his face into the side of her neck, inhaling her scent deeply. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."
Sasha leaned forward and turned a bit so she could grab his face in both her hands, "The Ryuu I know doesn't brood about 'nothing'."
He sighed again, this time in resignation, while grabbing her waist and moving her back to her previous position. He wrapped his arms around her waist and they both stared out the window in silence for a few moments.
"Promise you'll never me alone."
"Ryuu, you know-"
"I know, but...please. Just promise me..."
Sasha turned in his lap again and looked him straight in the eyes with a serious face, "I swear that for as long as there's still breath in both our bodies, I'll never leave you alone," She smiled, "Besides, without me keeping your sorry ass behaved the earth would be in deep shit."
Ryuu laughed, grateful for the joke. He hugged her closer to him, "Good point."
Mike suddenly remembered something and pulled a small control from his pocket. On it was a shiny red button. He stared at the button evilly, " 'Let there be light!' the Kami proclaimed as he plugged the lamp in. And as the lamp sparked and short-circuited, his follower spoke," He presses the red shiny button and looks out the window, " 'Pretty fireworks.' "
Ryuu laughed as a small mushroom cloud appeared in the slowly disappearing Nerima, "Revenge is a dish best served cold."
The scene briefly moves to the Tendo-ke where we see Akane running around panicking with neon green hair and blue tinted skin. Suon is wailing about how his "baby girl" is diseased. Nabiki is silently convulsing in laughter while trying to take decent pictures to send to Ryuu. And Kasumi is calmly sipping her tea.
Over at the Kuno Mansion...
"Who dares terminate the honorable Kuno home?" A bunch of fireworks begin going off beneath Kuno's position, forcing him to dance around while trying to avoid being burnt.
Back on the plane Sasha is sitting comfortably in Ryuu's lap as they watch the fireworks coming from what was once the Kuno Mansion.
Ryuu leaned into Sasha's ear and, the only sign of nervousness was in his eyes, he asked, "Sasha Metsuretsu...will you marry me?"
Sasha's eyes widened as she turned her head towards him and was silent for a moment, "You're serious, aren't you?"
Ryuu nodded, "More serious then I've ever been."
Sasha nodded back and leaned into him while closing her eyes, "I'd love to marry you."
Ryuu kissed her neck while he slipped the ring on her finger. It had a single karat diamond in the middle and two rubies on both sides of it, "I love you."
"I love you too, Ryuu, more than you'll probably ever know."
Ryuu chuckled, "Probably."
A single passionate kiss later, both were sound asleep in the other's embrace and suddenly all was right in the world. Well, for now anyway.
To Be Continued...
A/N: Woot! It's done! (Does happy dance) Gods, this was slightly easier to write then the last chapter. Still hard though. And yes, the ending is a bit cliché, but you know what? It fits, so who cares? n.n
Now, all you have to do is review. Give me reviews. Reviews, reviews! (Hums) yee-ah!
Reviews welcome. Flames will be used fuel my flamethrowers so I can keep those damned lawyers away.
-Lov3the3vil