…Frell to the disclaimer. You've got the point. All Flamers will answer to a talkin' ten foot sword called Judgment. Have a nice day.
Chapter 3 Stats: Revised (1x)
Chains of Memories
By Dragon of Courage
Lethargic Tranquility
Gali stared and stared. Tahu's here! But that means…
She shook her head and looked down at the packet. But it cannot be. Like the others he doesn't have the memory.
Tahu was again drifting back to sleep as the teacher finished her lecture for the day and retired to her computer. Gali glanced at him through her drooping blue bangs. Or the manner of the Toa of Fire, but then again Lewa over here is unlike Lewa Nuva.
So many questions had prevented her from finished her class work. She scribbled something in her notebook that was underneath the packet, and it slid towards the boy. The book tapped his elbows lightly and his lean columns that supported his head collapsed.
Thunk! Tahu's face fell smack onto the notebook. Gali had to stifle a giggle. This is interesting.
"Huh?" His slurry speech was slightly inaudible. Blinking, he sat up straight and looked at the curious words before him.
"Your name is Tahu?"
The boy in the hooded black sweater looked behind his back to see if the teacher noticed him. He turned around and whispered back at Gali.
"Hai, soo desu. Namae wa?"
Gali cocked an eye before replying, "Gali desu. Taitei nihongo dake hanashimasu ka?"
Tahu blinked and then chuckled lightly to himself. Somehow, his laugh was so familiar to the Tahu the girl once knew.
"Iie, I'm just doing it to make Wiener think I can speak Japanese, but I'm a white-washed first generation Japanese."
Gali automatically knew what he meant. Tahu never went to study Japanese in his entire life, despite having parents from Osaka.
"But then again, I went to Tokyo once to do kendo with my best friend, so I had hell with the language barrier." Tahu returned the notebook to Gali and laid his head on his arms.
"Why do you sleep?"
"Jet lag." The boy hid his shy eyes from Gali's view.
"You went somewhere?"
"I've got back from Hawaii," replied the muffled voice.
"You're the new kid?" Gali gasped. How come I didn't notice him in the art class?
"Yeah…letme tell ya this…" Tahu perked and got up as the bell rang. Gali stood up in unison with the other students in the class. She nearly gasped at his stature. His height was taller than most Asians in the room. It nearly made the girl insignificant.
"Zero period bites."
Gali walked alone down the halls. She was disturbed. She looked off the side of the building and saw the white clouds forming in the blue sky…
…Gali can barely open her eyes to see the familiar curves of the red Hau Nuva contrasting against the clear blue sky. Her breaths were short and painful. She realized that she needed more than help. She needed life.
"Tahu…" Her voice was nearly a cracked whisper. "It hurts."
The toa of fire hushed her with his withered hand. His pinkish eyes were sad and in pain, like Gali. She knew that the fire inside Tahu died.
"Tahu…help me..."
She gave a final gasp as Tahu looked away, muttering harshly, "I'm sorry."
…Then she remembered why she would try to forget Tahu. He was dead. He promised her that he'll protect the both of them, but he too failed his duty.
Gali walked vigorously to her locker. He doesn't deserve the mask of shielding.
She briskly entered her combination before opening her locker. Stuffing some books in, she stood up and a pair of hands covered her face. Bewildered, she grabbed the arms and removed them from her face. She turned around and stared straight into the dark eyes of an unknown stranger with red spiked hair.
"Peek-a-boo," His voice was deep and heart melting.
Gali shrieked, catching the boy by surprise. She stumbled backwards as the boy leaned against her locker door.
"I'm sorry, honey. Did I scare you?" he asked serenely.
"Oh, no," said Gali as she took a deep breath to calm her rapid heart down.
"I'm just not used to being surprised by someone I don't really know." The girl brushed stray hair from the sides of her face.
Then the male touched her face and said, "Hmm. The coma has been affect your mind, baby. Then again, I will tell you who I am. I am Tanui, your boyfriend."
"…!" Gali's eyes widened as Tanui's eyes trailed to her forehead. With a peck on the bewildered girl's forehead, he smiled strangely and walked off. My boyfriend…!
…The two toa sat on a jagged cliff near the rough, dark ocean. The sun cowardly hid behind the dark clouds for security, but glints of it showed through the moving tentacles of gray flowing billows. The swirl mass of foam lapped over the rocks beneath them. The once harmonic sea had beckoned them to its eternal dark depths.
They were quiet for a few moments. At last, Tahu, the toa of fire peered at his only friend.
"This is it, Gali."
Gali said nothing, fingering the dull edges of her axe. Painful thoughts ripped through her fragile mind, tainting her tranquility and happiness.
"It all comes down to two," she unhappily said, shivering from the fact that her element was against her.
"But, we can still do it, right?" His voice had a sense of uneasiness in it.
"We can still beat it."
Gali looked at him with eyes full of remorse and then got up. She turned and ran away…
Why must I trouble myself thinking about him!
She ran hard on the track. Her painful memories had blocked out her exhaustion as she ran the mile. The coach's face looked worried.
As she ran past her coach, he muttered, "Nine zero two."
She panted next to a girl, who was sweating profusely. The girl with dark hair with reddish highlights and light brown eyes muttered, "Damn, Gali, you're good after that coma you had."
Gali smiled. "It's really nothing."
It was something…But the toa doubted herself about this mission to seek out her friends. She found people with the same names, but they are unlike the friends she once knew. They're not even here! It was her conclusion. She must find them in a different method.
After they reported their time to the coach, the class returned to the locker rooms.
The girl smirked as she dressed. "The monthly Bionicle arena game is coming up. It's an open tournament to all Californians. If I can kick ass again, I might wind up at nationals."
Gali looked at her. "You are a fanatic of this toyline, Zara?"
"Fanatic? Bah! I'm obsessed. So far, I've won satellite tournaments and open ones, too. My room was filled with trophies and prizes. So, I gave up trying to clean my room." Zara sighed.
Gali giggled.
Zara looked at her. "So, how 'bout it? You can root for me at the tournament. You might get hooked, too."
"I'll think about it. I'll call you if I'm available."
"Alright, then. I'll try to reserve a seat for you."
As they finished dressing, the lunch bell rang. Zara slung her backpack around.
"Well, a healthy woman's gotta eat. See ya later!"
"Umm. Bye, Zara." Gali looked at the active girl who was bounding out the door. She shook her head, returning to the troubles she previously had. Like her boyfriend…
Lewa crouched in the corner inside the boy's bathroom. His hands shook in fear as the older boys towered over him. One of them in particular, wearing a short beard and having curly locks of hair, stepped up with menace in his dark brown eyes.
"Give me the lunch money."
Lewa shrank back further, shaking his head. He had to refuse, but he knows that refusal is always followed by a consequence. He closed his eyes, trying not to cry about the current position he had been placed in.
"Just leave me alone."
The boy sneered and said, "Do you want to see Mr. Swirly again?"
Sniggers echoed throughout the bathroom. Lewa glared at the boy, "No."
"Then give me the money."
"No."
Anger filled the larger boy's mind and he picked up the boys like a feather and slammed him hard against the wall. Lewa cried out in pain, squirming like a worm in a bird's beak.
"Must I repeat myself again? Give me the god damn money!"
"Hey dude!" A voice hollered as the creaking of the door was heard.
The boys turned around and saw a lean, tall boy with a remarkable hairstyle that looked like it was on fire. He was wearing a loose black T-shirt underneath his white unbuttoned one and a pair of tan cargo pants held up by a black belt with a silvery, familiar buckle. A black sweatshirt was tied loosely around his thin waist. His firm hands were on his hips, and his face showed a blithe expression.
Dropping Lewa, the large boy, despite the height difference, loomed over the new guy that had just entered the bathroom to wash his hands.
"Yeah?"
"I suggest that you should leave the poor dude alone. You wouldn't like it at all if he was you." The boy's innocent red eyes twinkled as he strode over to the faucet.
Offended, the elder boy stepped back, growling, "No one calls Mark weak!"
"Oh, mark my ass," the other smartly replied, calmly cleaning his hands. The cool tap water sent shivers down his back.
The other boys howled at the remark. Mark glared at them and they were silent.
"Are you threatening me?" he growled. The boy took his time, drying his hands with a paper towel.
"Well, to my perspective I'm not, but then to yours…" he turned his face towards the group of boys with a glint of mischief in his red eyes. There was something about his eyes that sent trepidation down the boys' throat. He smirked as if he was going to pull off something very daring.
"…I am."
Gali walked pass the classrooms where the department of technology resided. She sighed, playing with her long blue hair. I actually have a boyfriend.
Gali herself never knew what a boyfriend was until she probed further into her thoughts. She looked at one classroom in particular. Is it destiny that I should be with this 'Tanui'?
Then something in the classroom had caught her eye. Black hair, black glasses, and black coat filled Gali's mind with a memory. Onua?
She peeked in and saw Onua, a dark skinned boy with dark ear-length hair, busily sitting on the counter, poking at what seems to be a mechanical hand. Lewa sat next to him, covered with ointment that was being applied by Tahu.
"Oh, hi guys!" she waved.
Lewa looked up, wincing as Tahu accidentally dabbed a cut too hard. "Gali! Come on over!"
Gali took a glance at Tahu, who was listening quietly on his earphones. Onua looked up from his hard, delicate work and smiled, "Ah, Gali, it is nice to see a lovely lady like you up and walking."
"Umm…Thanks, Onua."
"No problem." He smiled serenely.
…Gali gasped, "Onua!"
The black armored body was lying still in the marshes of Le-Wahi. She dashed over to him with gentle tears flowing from her eyes. The back of his neck had a deep, visible cut. He died in a puddle of his own fluids.
The Toa paused behind her and watched in shock. It was the first death of a toa. They were helpless to prevent it…
Gali then adverted from Onua's gentle green eyes and looked at Lewa's wounds. "What happened to you?"
"Bully encounter."
Gali looked at him in concern. "Oh. Are you hurt badly?"
"I could have been hurt worse if it weren't for this guy." Lewa beamed, jabbing his thumb at Tahu, who also grinned sheeply in return.
"What happened?" Gali examined at the exotic blond haired boy with interest. He sat cross-legged on a stool with his black sweater around his waist. Every once in a while, he had to pull back his long hair that hung from the sides of his cheek, causing a slight wave in the fire. She dragged a tall metal stool and sat, facing the trio. Onua continued to fix the robotic hand.
"Mark went up to me and demanded for my money. I refused. I didn't like him," Lewa spat.
"And then?"
"He beat me up to a pulp and then threatened to flush me."
"Ohh…and he didn't?"
"Yeah, instead, he and his gang got flushed instead," Lewa replied, giggling like a young child. Onua chuckled to himself. Gali asked in disbelief.
"How?"
"Cuz Tahu came in and did karate moves on the gang. It was funny to see them all..." Lewa drew a swirl in the air.
"No way." Gali rubbed her head. Seriously, a sleepy guy like him can't pull off something like that. Maybe he can act like Tahu…
"Way. Let Tahu show-." A hand covered his mouth. Obviously, Tahu was listening into their conversation. His cheeks were turning pink. Gali was slightly surprised to see him look humble instead of proud.
Well, that killed my faith that my Tahu is here in the real world…then again, why must I still think of Tahu? He is not as important as the mission I am entrusted with.
No, Gali. You are worried what happened to him after you died…
"Umm…Lewa? I would really like it if you can keep it quiet on the subject."
"Eh?" Pohatu stared in disbelief inside the bathroom where Tahu previously went to wash his hands for lunch. Particularly, he looked at the toilets in the stalls with amusement. The groaning boys' heads were stuck inside the white bowls. The bodies flopped about like fish out of the water. Some were unlucky to have a partnering head inside through the toilet seats.
One of the men's buttocks had a sign taped to it. Pohatu took a glimpse at it.
"Loser."
The brown haired boy scratched his head, wondering what sort of nasty curse had been brought upon them.
"Hey, can you guys hear me?"
Groaning and loud curses could be heard outside the bathroom.
Good Charlotte
…My Japanese sucks. Review well.