—CHAPTER 14—
Jack stood in stunned silence as the black creature sprinted towards him, dragging its weapon along with it. The flaming sword made a jarring screech, leaving a trail of fire carved into the metal surface. Still in shock, he brought his own sword up to parry; the blade slid off, it's wielder swiveling to a stop as it passed him.
The black creature raised its arms, and an enormous explosion erupted behind it. Jack turned away from the blast, then looked up in horror at the monster. Its sharp, pitch black body; large, devilish horns protruding from its head; and flames were rising from its piercing, empty eyes.
The creature then brought the sword down at Jack, who sidestepped the attack, and the blocked the follow-up swing at his side. The creature's body stretched and contorted, relentlessly striking at Jack from every direction. It then attempted to sweep Jack's legs, stretching its own and spinning all the way around, but he "jumped good" over the deadly revolving kick.
Jack had just landed when the black creature went to thrust its sword down at him from above; he stepped back just in time, the burning sword impaling the ground right in front of him. Then the creature reared back and stabbed at him again. And again. And again. And again, and again, and again, until it was coming at Jack like a demonic jackhammer, finally causing a shockwave that launched him off the giant metal body they were fighting on. He landed hard and tumbled a few feet before stopping on his stomach. Brushing it off, he looked up to see the creature leap high into the air, about to bring its leg down on top of him. Jack pushed off the ground and avoided the attack, but was still blown away by the force of the kick; a tremendous impact which caused a cloud of dust and large crater in the earth below.
"That's my girl!" a familiar, unpleasant voice echoed nearby.
Jack finally got to his feet, only to feel the tremor heading in his direction. Sure enough, the black creature burst through the dust, already bringing down its weapon. But Jack managed to retaliate, bringing his sword across to intercept. The blades crossed, but the flaming sword shattered; Jack's sword kept going and sliced the creature's arm. The black skin burned as the blade cut through it, making a distinct tearing sound.
The creature's eyes then disappeared, and some of the black substance receded to reveal the true face of the monster. Ashi shrieked in pain, and backed away holding her wounded arm.
"Ashi?" she was still in there, there was still hope, "Ashi!" Jack called out to her. It was going to be okay, he could still save her.
"Jack…" Ashi turned to him, a look of terror on her face; she was helpless. The evil essence covering her had complete control, but it had waned for the moment. "Kill me, Jack," he looked shocked at the request, "Kill me, then destroy Aku!"
"Ashi!" he cried out. How could he… no, there had to be a way to save her. Everyone else Jack had ever loved was now a mere memory to him, and he wanted desperately to keep her from becoming one of them. Ashi inspired him to not give up on himself before, and he was not going to give up on her now.
Just then, the black substance started to retake the small window Ashi had left. "You have to do it, do it now! KILL M-" the window was closed, and the two piercing eyes grew back, ablaze once again.
The creature stood there, unarmed, and motionless; either through recognition of its position, or Ashi's final act of free will, it waited patiently for Jack to decide its fate.
Jack clenched his sword tightly, holding it out in front of him; his torn expression was quivering as he faced the moral dilemma standing in front of him. Ashi… maybe she was really gone… maybe he had no choice… all he could do now was…
But after the brief standoff, Jack fell to his knees, loosening his grip so that the sword rolled out of his hands and onto the ground. His head hung down, surrendering himself to the monster that was once the woman he loved, "I… can't."
The black creature, however, could. It reared back, prepared to strike him down, and with its sharp claws it lunged at Jack.
/
"Gah!"
Jack gasped as he quickly sat up from the bed; sweat was beading off his forehead as looked back and forth, reassessing his surroundings.
Ashi stirred, her sleep disrupted by Jack's rude awakening. "Jack? What's going on?" she asked groggily, rubbing her eye as she sat up as well, and noticed Jack's frazzled state, "Is everything okay?"
Jack turned to Ashi as though he were surprised she was there, but visibly relaxed upon seeing her. He sighed, "Yes, everything is okay…" trailing off as he pondered the validity of his statement. Ashi picked up on Jack's concern, touching his hand so that he would turn to see her knowing look.
"Really, it's nothing. It was just a bad dream," he told her, pulling the tired girl in for a reassuring hug; really though, it was for him.
Ashi conceded, kissing him under the chin, "Okay, well, I'm here if you want to talk about it," as she laid back down on her pillow and started drifting back to sleep.
"Yes… of course," Jack replied tentatively, as he followed suit.
But sleep did not come quite as easily for him as it did Ashi; the nightmare lingered in his mind all through the night, and into the following day. Even when he and Ashi went out to Da Samoorai's Pad, it still hung in the back of his mind.
That night was New Year's Eve, and Jack's favorite bar annually hosted a big event to close out the year. Food and drink specials were priced remarkably low, and all kinds of glittery, new year-themed party favors were doled out; noise makers, party hats, colored glasses, all set out on a long table next to a photo booth that party-goers could dress up and take pictures in.
It was getting close to midnight, and Jack and Ashi were stood amidst the crowd of people, holding glasses of champagne, and watching on the big screen as the famous crystalline ball was about to drop. Jack had never seen it live, but always thought that being there seemed like a real pain; you get to stand around in the cold, packed together with a bunch of strangers for hours, while loud music plays over the roar of the crowd. Didn't seem like his cup of tea.
Meanwhile, Ashi was much less focused on the New Year's celebration as she was on Jack's behavior. He'd been acting moody ever since last night, and she hated when he got like that; mostly because she knew something was bothering him, and he refused to tell her what.
Swirling her the champagne in her glass, Ashi spoke up over the noise, "Jack?" he pulled his blank gaze from the screen to look at her. "What's going on with you? You're quieter than usual, and you've been acting distant all day; is this because of that bad dream you had?" Ashi asked with apparent concern, and Jack looked uncertain as he took a sip of his champagne.
Ashi moved closer, "Please, whatever it is, get it off your chest. You can talk to me about anything."
Their eyes met for a moment, but he closed his and turned away. "Ashi," he began, turning back to her, "Does your Father know about us? About me?" he asked hesitantly, and her eyebrows raised; she knew exactly what was bothering him now.
Ashi sighed, "No, he doesn't; not yet, anyway. But I was told he'll be back in Burlington by the end of the year, so pretty soon. By then… he'll know," she looked away, sipping her own glass.
"I see…" Jack's tone was serious, "Ashi, by now you're obviously well aware of my… history with your Father. I want nothing to do with the man, but I know that if we are to be together, I will have to push past my ill feelings and be civil with him. I've done it before, back when I was still on the force, and I'm more than willing to do it again, for you," he smiled at her, which she reciprocated.
But Jack's smile fell right away, and he continued, "However, I can't say the same for him. Once AKu finds out about us, he'll start to see me as a threat once more; I fear that our relationship will put you in harm's way."
Ashi's smile turned down as well, taking into consideration what her boyfriend just said. Sure, Jack hated AKu, and the feeling was almost certainly mutual. But her Father didn't hate her, so why would he jeopardize her safety to get at Jack? Grudge or not, Ashi knew that "the great and powerful AKu" loved his daughters; especially now that their public image affected his.
"As…. scummy as my Dad can be, I don't think he'd go after you when I'm around. We're together all the time, I even moved in so he couldn't touch you. Believe me, Jack, I see where you're coming from; I've been worrying about this since we first started dating," Ashi joked, trying to lighten the mood.
But Jack wasn't convinced, "Truthfully, I don't think that will stop him. All your Father cares about is protecting his own interests, and our relationship most definitely conflicts with them. AKu does not love, he owns, and he does not like someone else touching his property. Do you really think he's going to just sit back and let his mortal enemy date one of his daughters?" he questioned.
Ashi furrowed her brow, "Jack, come on, he's my Father. He'll understand. Yes, he can be petty, and selfish, and cares a little too much about his image; but deep down, he loves just like any parent does."
"Well, from what I've heard, he hasn't been a very supportive parent. He's been controlling of you your whole life growing up, what makes you so certain he'll stop now?" Jack asked with scrutiny.
Ashi's tone became confrontational; "Because, if there's one thing I know about my Father, it's that one of the things he values is family. Last time I saw him, he gave this whole speech about how I need to watch my back, saying that his political opponents are going to try and use me and my sisters against him. Granted, that ties into his obsession with image, but why would he lie about the importance of family like that?"
"Because he's a liar, Ashi! He's deceitful, corrupt, spiteful; no wonder he's in politics, it's perfect for him. What he warned you about is probably exactly what he does!" Jack aggressively stated.
Ashi snapped back, "You know, I don't appreciate you talking about my Father like that! It was fine when you didn't know who he was, but now you need to respect that, like it or not, he's my family, and I love him!"
The countdown began:
"TEN!"
"NINE!"
"EIGHT!"
"SEVEN!"
"You think you're such and AKu expert, but you're clouded by your hate!" she asserted.
"SIX!"
"FIVE!"
"FOUR!"
Ashi looked him straight in the eyes, "I know my Father!"
"THREE!"
"TWO!"
"ONE!"
Jack looked at her intensely, "I'm beginning to think you don't."
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as the glittering globe finally hit the big number at the bottom, setting off dazzling pyrotechnics set to a modern rendition of "Auld Lang Syne". Everyone in the bar was swept up in the celebration, spinning noisemakers and blowing colorful their tiny, colorful horns with reckless abandon. Friends clinked their glasses, and couples met in their first kiss of the new year.
All except for one. Jack and Ashi stood in the middle of the raucous crowd, oblivious to the milestone transition that had just occurred. Instead, they were locked in an intense glare, having just experienced a different kind of milestone.
/
It was two days into the new year, and early in the day. The sky was patchy and grey, dampening the already frigid January air. AKu's Burlington headquarters loomed over the city, wearing the clouds above like a set of grim halos.
High up in office at the top of the tower, AKu's top assistant awaited in the penthouse office for his boss to return, expecting him any minute now. Scaramouche laid back in his chair across from the desk, lounging as he scatted away to pass the time.
Moments later, he heard the elevator dinged, signifying its arrival on the floor. The doors opened, and AKu wandered out of it with his phone to his ear, a grimace on his face. He yelled into his phone, "The whole reason the drug ring existed was so your officers would have something to chase all day instead of the projects I've been working on! But you let one of your officers go sniffing behind your back, and now not only is the drug ring no more, but those hippies or whatever got… I don't care what they are, I want to know how they got caught! ... A tip, you say? So, they were sloppy and someone ratted them out? Surprise, surprise! Who would've thought that a gaggle of filthy hippies couldn't pull off a successful heist, huh?... Of course, it was sarcasm, you idiot! I don't care what they are, they got caught trying to steal some crappy beer!" AKu complained, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
Scaramouche stood up, "AKu, babe! Have I got news for you…" but his boss didn't acknowledge him, too caught up in scolding whoever was on the other line. "And now I find out that the 'AKustic sounds' project got busted, too!? Again!? Isn't this why I kept it discreet this time!? What, could that sack of lard not handle working with children!? Best in the business my ass!" he hissed.
"Uh, boss, I think you should…" he was cut off again, "No more excuses! Now I want you to listen carefully… I've been at this for a looong time, and I've been extremely meticulous in planning my future. I made you police commissioner, so that my operations would have a friend on the opposite side of the law. The idea is that you would prevent them from being discovered by your officers, and they'd be able to go about their business safely, without me having to be here to supervise. The problem is, YOUR OFFICERS KEEP BUSTING MY OPERATIONS! No one on that payroll should be looking into ANY of the projects I have going in town. And if you don't find out who's been snooping around, you're going to be looking around for a new career!" AKu shouted, angrily hanging up the cell phone.
Dropping the phone on his desk, the mogul plopped himself down exhaustedly in his chair letting out a deep groan. There was a pause, and Scaramouche stood there awkwardly as his boss sat there slumped.
The assistant finally spoke up, "Umm… boss?"
But AKu only went off again, "I just don't understand! I give these people all the tools they need to run a discreet and successful operation, and still, I am repeatedly disappointed! I haven't had this much trouble since the Samurai was running around with a badge and a gun. Why did I even bother declawing the law enforcement agencies around here? I should be experiencing literally zero opposition at this point! I bet it's that bloated Irish guy, or whatever the hell he is," he started rubbing his temples.
Scaramouche sat back down in his seat, pulling out a manila envelope, "Well, it's funny you mention opposition, because what I have here is the answers to all of your burning questions, boss! And let me tell you, these are some spicy deets, babe!" he touted, sliding the envelope across the desk
"What's this?" AKu asked, lazily picking it up. He opened the slit to pull out a stack of large photographs, the first of which clearly depicted his most rebellious daughter, and he immediately remembered, "OH YEAH, I asked you to keep an eye on Ashi! Yeesh, it's been that long already?" he steadied himself in his seat, holding his forehead in disbelief.
Scaramouche shrugged, "What can I tell ya, time flies, babe. Any who, turn that frown upside down, because you are gonna flip when you see what your little girl's been up to!" he said as AKu set the photos out on his desk like playing cards.
With concentration, he scanned the photos across the table, taking note of the bearded man who was with her in a majority of the pictures. "So, she has a boyfriend, does she?" he mused.
Scaramouche grinned over the display of photos, "Oh, not just any boyfriend, boss… take a closer look," he pointed at the photo in AKu's hand.
Squinting hard, he tried to figure out what was so special about the scruffy fellow Ashi seems to have taken a shine to. "What, who? Is he one of those hipsters that was go- HOLY SHIT!" AKu jumped back in his seat.
"The Samuraiiii…" he growled, gripping the photo so hard, it crinkled in his hands.
"That's right, babe! The Samurai and Ashi have been canoodling since October, and they're basically inseparable nowadays. They live together, work together… sleep together," Scaramouche cast a naughty side glance at his boss, who reacted by clutching his face and groaning violently.
"It gets better! They were the ones who dismantled your operations. The drug ring; the hipster heist; the toddler takeover; all of them were foiled by the power couple. They go in, knock some heads, then the Samurai calls his cop comrade to come cuff the crooks! And let me tell you: I've seen them in action, and what a show, babe! They're so coordinated with each other, it's like their dancing all over people's faces! C'est magnifique!" Scaramouche made an "OK" gesture with each hand, as AKu's face got angrier with each passing second.
Then out of nowhere, his expression softened to that of realization, and then slowly warped into a menacing grin. AKu picked up a photo of Jack, gazing affectionately at Ashi as she spoke enthusiastically.
"You know what? This could actually work in our favor…" he looked up at Scaramouche, "Tell me everything you know about their relationship!"
/
Jack shifted the eggs around on his plate, barely focused on eating. Ashi sat adjacent to him at the kitchen table, not drawing her eyes away from her plate as she ate almost robotically.
Things had been a bit tense between them since their little tiff on New Year's, the following day littered with uncomfortable silences throughout. The more Jack thought about it, the more he felt he was to blame. It wasn't fair of him to rag on her Father like that, not matter the history between them. Like it or not, if he wanted to be with Ashi, he would have to learn to get along with AKu.
Unable to take the silence any longer, Jack let his fork drop against the plate as he turned to face his girlfriend. "Ashi, may I have a word?" he looked at her expectantly.
Without looking up, she responded dryly, "You don't need my permission, Jack."
"Look, I just want to apologize about the other night. You were right, it was rude of me to speak of your Father in such a way. Regardless of how I feel, he is family. In the future, I will do my best to keep my grievances to myself," he looked at her somberly, resting his left elbow on the table.
Ashi sighed, dropping her own fork and laying her arms down on the table, "No, Jack, it's okay. The truth is, I don't think I'll ever understand how you feel about him. All I know is that… I don't want that to affect us. I care about both of you."
"I know, and I care about you, too. I don't want this to come between us," Jack declared, moving closer to Ashi. They looked into each other's eyes, suddenly forgetting the previous tension. He picked up her hand, clutching it with both of his as he said, "Ashi, I…"
Suddenly, Ashi's cell phone went off, and they took a moment of silence for the mood that just died. She checked the caller ID, and her eyes went wide; "It's him," she said. Jack blankly stared back in response, "Are you going to pick up?" he finally replied.
Ashi accepted the call, hesitantly putting the phone to her ear. "… Hello?" she asked carefully, only to be deafened by her Father's aggressive greeting.
"ASHIII, DARLIIING! It's been far too long, dear!" Jack looked away with an uncomfortable expression, able to make out his mortal enemy's muffled voice.
"Hi, Dad," Ashi replied, deadpan. She stared blankly, listening to what her Father was saying. Jack could no longer make out what he was saying, but whatever it was prompted Ashi to pinch the bridge of her nose.
Finally, she snapped, "Knock it off already! I know you already know everything, because I caught your flamboyant lackey following me around! Just what the hell is that about, Dad; you really think you need to keep tabs on me like that?"
Ashi sat there on the phone, pouting while her Father responded, "So, what if I am?" she retorted. "Oh, yeah right. He's not going to go for it, you know that!" to which Jack looked at her, "… Ugh, fine… I'll ask him…" and Ashi lowered the phone to look apologetically at Jack.
"Listen, he, uh… he wants me to go see him at his office again… and he wants you to come along," she begrudgingly offered, expecting him to be taken aback.
Jack stared blankly for a moment, contemplating the offer. Finally, he smiled sheepishly, "Well then, what are we waiting for?" Jack declared, decisively standing up and holding his hand out, "Let's go see… Dad."
Ashi smiled, taking Jack's hand. Once they cleaned up their breakfast, the couple got dressed and headed out for AKu's office. When they arrived, Jack looked up at the imposing structure with hesitation.
He then felt Ashi's hand on his shoulder, and turned to see her concerned face; "You sure about this? You could wait here if you…" she offered, but Jack interjected, "No, no, it's okay. I'm just a little… guarded, is all."
"That's fair," Ashi admitted, hopping off the bike, "Now then, let's get this over with…" she said, looking up at the tower herself. She took Jack's hand, and they made their way across the plaza to the entrance of the building, the automatic doors parting as they approached.
Jack's eyes darted back and forth across the lavish lobby, taking note of the colorful characters that were present: A few shady business types in suits, looking at their phones through sunglasses; a ragged Mother with three young children, that clearly had too much energy; and a large man with a very unfriendly scowl on his face. Jack wondered what business they all had with AKu.
The duo reached the front desk, where the snidely receptionist greeted them. "We're here to see my Father," Ashi explained, and the man responded pleasantly, "Of course, Miss Kurasawa!" He noticed Jack standing there, "And you must be the…"
"Her boyfriend, yes. Jack," he interjected. The last thing Jack wanted was to make his identity known here of all places. The receptionist cleared his throat, "Yes, my apologies, Jack. Mr. Kurasawa is most enthusiastic to see you again!"
Jack forced a smile, "I'm sure he is…"
"Go right ahead, you two," the man gestured, and the two muscular security guards stepped aside to allow them access to the elevator. They both thanked him, and anxiously stepped into the lift, taking a deep breath as the doors closed behind them. Pressing the button for the top floor, Ashi's grip on Jack's hand tightened, reminding him that she was just as nervous about this as he was.
The elevator dinged as it came to a stop, and the doors opened. Jack and Ashi stepped out, side-by-side, walking up the red carpet, where Ashi's Father sat in his chair looking out the window. They both made eye contact with Scaramouche, who was standing off to the side of the desk; he grinned and waved at them, but they only scowled at him in return, both recognizing him as the spy that gave them away.
They stood there for a moment, and AKu swiveled his chair slowly to face them with a smile. "Sweet Ashi, it warms my heart that you have once again graced me with your presence! I've missed you dearly in these months I've been away, daughter!" he declared extravagantly.
"Well, I'm here now; but I'm sure all the gossip you've heard has helped to fill the void," Ashi remarked, casting another glare at Scaramouche, who pinched his collar and looked away nervously.
AKu then turned to Jack with a smug expression, "And you, old friend. I trust you've been taking good care of my little girl, yes?" he inquired with a raised eyebrow.
Jack's gaze intensified, "Why, yes. Better than she's been cared for in a long time…" Ashi snapped her head at him, picking up on the confrontational tone in his voice. AKu's brow raised at the remark, squinted at Jack for a moment, then suddenly broke into a hearty laugh. Jack and Ashi both looked at him in confusion.
"Right you are, Samurai! After all, Ashi's been looking after herself for quite some time now! Her Mother certainly never treated her properly—you've met her, I'm sure you know what I mean—and I've been traveling so often because of work, that I can't give her the proper attention!" AKu reclined in his chair, "Ashi, I know you're a mature, independent woman. But you must understand: Deep down, you will always be my little girl. I've always done what I thought was best for you—sending you to boarding school, getting you an honest job at your Mother's company—and asking my assistant to look out for you was no exception!" AKu declared with passion, sitting up and holding up his index finger.
Jack was skeptical throughout the entire monologue, familiar with his nemesis' silver tongue. But the persuasive prose had resonated with Ashi, who was recounting similar words spoken by Jack's Mother. Just as the woman admitted, Ashi's Father also had those maternal instincts—er, paternal—that compelled him to intrude on her personal life; his intentions were pure, so could she really be all that mad?
"That said," AKu continued, relaxing once again, "I am a man of traditional ideals. I believe that what a woman sometimes needs is the guiding hand of a caring gentleman—besides her Father, of course! But if I had known about this relationship of yours, I would have never intruded upon your privacy like this," he apologetically explained, closing his eyes and putting his hands over his heart.
AKu then opened his eyes and directed them at Jack, whose startled gaze turned into a careful squint. "I know that you and I have had quite the tumultuous relationship, and I admit that am… guilty of certain… transgressions," he trailed off, looking away slowly.
Ashi was listening intently to her Father's words, this meeting was completely subverting her expectations: She was expecting Jack and AKu to get into some sort of confrontation, both stubborn in their ideals. She expected to be chewed out for putting his political reputation in danger by sleeping with one of his opponents. She was expecting an ultimatum, likely on both ends.
But instead, Ashi was witnessing a civil discussion between her Father and Boyfriend, with the former having nothing but good things to say so far. And now, her Father was basically confessing to something!? This was so shocking to Ashi, she briefly wondered if she was still asleep.
Suddenly, an uncharacteristically genuine smile appeared on AKu's face, and both Jack and Ashi were taken by it. "But you, Samur… Jack. You have proven time and time again to be a worthy adversary; someone who is unwavering in his ambitions, who never gives up when the chips are down! We actually have a lot in common, Jack. But do you know what the most important thing we share is? It's that we both care about and want what is best for Ashi! That fact alone is proof to me that a friendship between us might not be so impossible after all," his eyes drifted to his daughter's as he finished his monologue, and the look in hers was that of a restored faith.
Unbeknownst to Ashi, Jack's gaze moved to her the same time as her Father's, as he wanted to gauge her reaction to the speech. Much to his dismay, she had bought it hook, line, and sinker. His nemesis had won over yet another innocent with his deception.
Or, that's what Jack would typically say to himself in this situation. But this was different, this wasn't just some random fool that AKu was trying to swindle. This was his daughter, his own flesh and blood (the thought of which still made Jack shudder a bit); even he wouldn't sink that low… would he? Either way, he was willing to give his foe the benefit of the doubt, at least for Ashi's sake.
"I must say, AKu, it is quite surprising to see you express such heartfelt sentiment. Though I suppose I should expect nothing less from a… supportive parent," Jack barely managed to choke the words out, then cleared his throat before continuing, "I am eager to put our history behind us, to be able to coexist peacefully with you; and more importantly, continue living with your daughter." He turned back to Ashi, resting his right hand on her leg.
Ashi gazed back affectionately at Jack for a moment, then broke the connection and shifted over to her Father, who grinned back at her. "I can't begin to tell you how happy it makes me that you two are finally starting to get along, this has been such a huge worry of mine for a while now. We've still got a long way, I know; but I know I can expect the best out of you two, the most important men in my life," Ashi professed joyfully, "Thank you so much. Both of you."
"Anything for you, Ashi. Right, Jack?" AKu looked expectantly at Jack, who answered back with a "Right" of his own.
"Right!"
"Right…"
Then they sort of stared blankly at each other for a moment, until AKu's face turned into a friendly grin; Jack's face strained as he forced a pathetic attempt at a similar smile.
With that resolved, AKu informed them that he would have to end the meeting there, as he had quite a few appointments that day he had to honor. Satisfied with the outcome, Ashi gave her Father a peck on the cheek and a big hug, thanking him again for his understanding. Jack shook his hand strictly out of politeness, but it was much easier to pull off now that he knew they were leaving. The couple stepped into the elevator, and as soon as the door closed, Ashi rushed to hug Jack just as tightly.
"Don't think I forgot about you. You're half the reason this all went so well," she cooed, half of her face digging into his chest.
Jack smiled, putting his arms around her as he responded, "It certainly wasn't easy, but nothing worth having is."
Ashi released her hold and stepped back to smirk at Jack, "Well, it looks like you were wrong about my Father; he is willing to put his personal conflicts aside for me. If I was the kind of person who enjoyed gloating, I could totally say 'I told you so' about this whole thing. But, you know, that would just be soo petty. I think I'll keep it to myself instead," she shrugged casually.
"My, aren't we modest? It sure is lucky you didn't bring it up again, or I'd look pretty silly right now," Jack remarked sarcastically, and they both laughed as the elevator opened at the ground floor.
Ashi spoke up again as they walked through the lobby, "But all joking aside, this is great! Aren't you happy that we don't have to worry about this anymore?" she asked enthusiastically, expecting Jack to share her feeling.
But Jack rubbed the back of his head as he looked away, "Well… I won't deny that this is a good thing, but…" he trailed off, uncertainty in his voice.
"But…?" Ashi raised an eyebrow.
Jack shook his head, "I'd like to think all our worries are over, but it all depends on him keeping his word, which…" he sighed, "Look, all I'm going to say is that we still need to be careful. Despite what he claims, he could be planning something behind our backs; we wouldn't know until it's too late."
The two of them passed through the front entrance, and headed through the plaza as Ashi reflected on Jack's words. Part of her really wanted to see her Father as a villain the same way Jack did; part of her wanted to run away with her boyfriend to a place beyond AKu's reach, and live out the rest of their days peacefully, together.
But the realistic part of Ashi won out, and she spoke sympathetically, "Jack, it's okay that you still don't trust AKu. I don't blame you for it; like I said, I haven't gone through what you have. But that's why I want you to trust me, instead. Maybe he exaggerated a bit about how supportive he was of our relationship, but my Father has always kept his word with me, and I'm confident that he will now."
They finally reached Jack's bike, and the two of them climbed aboard as Ashi continued, "I don't know what's in store for us, but we have my Father's blessing; things are looking up, Jack." Ashi leaned over Jack's shoulder to peck him on the cheek, causing him to blush.
"You know, I really hope you're right…" Jack remarked as he started the engine.
Meanwhile, AKu was looking down at the couple from his office window, holding his hands behind his back formally. "Well, well, well! What an adorable couple they make! How ironic that the two people that have caused me the most grief have found happiness in each other's company; poetic, I'd say! Isn't love grand?" he gushed as the motorcycle sped off.
Scaramouche looked surprised, sitting there with arms and legs crossed respectively. "Dang, babe, you're taking this better than I expected. Does this mean you're not gonna intervene?" he asked incredulously.
"Intervene? Me? Come ooon! What kind of Father would I be if I swooped in and tried to tell my grown-up little girl who she was allowed to date? Not the kind she would appreciate, that's what!" AKu declared, turning around swiftly to address his assistant. He wandered over to his desk, opening the top drawer as he continued, "No, my sweet innocent daughter would never expect me to try and sabotage them after that performance! Between the two of them, she actually believes that I'm perfectly okay with her dating the Samurai! Though, in a way, I am perfectly okay with her dating the Samurai, because it gives me the perfect ammunition to finally destroy him!"
AKu pulled the semi-crumpled photo of Jack and Ashi from the drawer mid conversation, examining it again as he spoke. "Ashi may be naïve, but the Samurai knows better than to trust me. I only have to pull a few strings, and then the Samurai's hatred of me will tear them apart!" he shouted, violently tearing the photo down the middle.
—END CHAPTER 14—
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