Chapter 10 – Wrists
Asuka curled further into her slumber, the warmth surrounding her, bringing her comfort to a level she hadn't felt in a long time. The light was a dim gold, signifying the rising of the day's sun. She was oblivious to this as her dreams kept her in a calm state. Her smile was almost angelic. She wrapped her arm around her companion and pulled herself closer. Then the smell hit her. She awoke, and opened her eyes.
"MORRIS!" She wailed. Morris turned to her suddenly, his eyes full of shock. He observed her face quickly.
"What the hell are you doing in my bed?" Morris shouted rather angrily.
"Your bed? This is my…" Asuka suddenly stopped, experimentally smelt the duvet. "Morris, when did we get a double bed?" She looked around. The room was completely different to what their room usually looked like. Morris raised an eyebrow.
"This isn't our room." He murmured. Then he looked to his left. "Hi Julia." Asuka gulped, and turned. Julia and some unnamed, attractive young man sat in a corner, huddled together in fear and rage, with only a very thin blanket. Asuka sat bolt upright, looking for anything to explain. A shattered door and twelve empty beer bottles told her everything. Asuka's jaw slowly dropped. We didn't…
"Julia?" Asuka said. "What happened?" Julia's jaw dropped.
"Don't you remember anything?" Julia asked. "You both burst through the door, laughing and drinking and you kicked us out of our bed!" Her rage was tempered. "Sorry, but Asuka, what the hell caused you to drink so much?"
"I'm… I…" Asuka couldn't say anything. "We didn't… do it, did we?" Julia shook her head. Asuka sighed. Morris remained silent, as if waiting for something. "Julia, I'm…" She stopped. "Is that your boyfriend?" She asked. The reply was a nod. I was positive that she was a dyke. She was stunned at her own thoughts. Good god, I'm becoming Morris!
Julia shook her head. "Why don't we just pretend it never happened, ok?" Asuka nodded.
"That's sounds good." She tried to look for words. "Though I'm still so, so sorry. It's just that we've gone through a rough time and… I dunno, needed to… um… get it all out." The dead silence remained. She waved politely to Julia's friend, who looked terrified by these intruders. Morris coughed slightly.
"Well, now we're all on the same page…" He said without a hint of jest. "- I suggest we have a gangbang." Asuka's head fell into her hands instantly as Julia's face went red and her fists went white.
Her hair was incredibly messy. After the last encounter with Morris, she had to restyle her hair to cover where he had cut it. Where a proud head of pigtails once lay, now was a spiky tight shingle. She was outwardly fairly embarrassed by it, but inwardly she was glad. It showed the world that she had changed. She wasn't a child anymore, she thought.
Xiaoyu's fists hammered into the punching bag. She was alone in the small locker room. She trained here rather than the main gym, a pit of shouts and distractions. Here, a silent fight could be maintained constantly. She kept the pace of her punches fast and controlled. Her eyes burned with a roaring passion and anger. She heard a slight cough, and she turned her head.
"Hey, grandpa." She said, stopping her punches to address him. Jinrei sat down on the nearest bench to her.
"I've found out who your opponent is." He said, holding a slip of paper. "It's Asuka." Xiaoyu looked to the slip, which had some unimportant information and the names in big letters. She turned back to the bag.
"Fair enough." She said. "Looking forward to it. We've been planning a re-match for quite some time, so I guess that…"
"You don't hate her, do you?" Xiaoyu looked to Jinrei, shocked.
"Of course not!" She replied. "She can hang out with anyone she likes. It's Morris who's the problem!" She turned back, smashing the bag with a punch that burst it open. She looked at the sand dribble away. "I've beat him once, I'll do it again." Jinrei shook his head.
"Morris isn't a bad man." He said. "He's just… unrefined."
"He's a barbarian."
"You should have met his uncle Spike." He said. "Noblest man in the world, and yet was rude and blunt as a brick." Xiaoyu sat down besides him.
"You've been mentioning him a lot recently." She said. "You keep murmuring his name in your meditations. Just who was he?" Jinrei considered the answer.
"He was…" He thought again. He remembered what Jun had said. Her love was destroyed by him. Tricked by the liar. The thief." She turned back. "The murderer… "- an old friend of mine. Don't know where he is now, though." Xiaoyu nodded to herself.
"Ok." She murmured. She smiled at Jinrei, who smiled back.
"Just thought you'd want to know who you were fighting today." He said, and left. She turned her head back to the punch bag. She got onto her knees and began to sweep up the sand with her hands.
"A brush would work just as well." A very clumsy attempt at Japanese was sounded from behind her. She turned to see an Englishman reading an English/Japanese phrasebook in one hand, and a yoyo in the other. On this hand, there was a pink and blue band. He looked up to her, and back to the book, flicking through the pages frantically. "I have some… questions about you."
"Why did you say it?" Asuka said. Even after an hour, the subject hadn't settled. "Her boyfriend was in the room and you know how she feels about you." Morris shrugged his shoulders.
"I didn't know she had a boyfriend." He replied. "I thought she was more into woodland creatures." Asuka elbowed him hard, and observed the fighting ground. Or rather, the fighting arena, as there was no ground to speak of. Two buildings stood apart. The yellow sky and the white sun made all a golden colour, with the puddles from the previous rainfalls of yesterday glittering beautifully like pools of shimmering metal. Many white and black scaffoldings attempted to conjoin the two buildings. Morris huffed slightly.
"What?" Asuka asked, with very little patience. Morris scratched his head nervously.
"Sorry." He said slowly. Asuka rolled her eyes.
"Not going to cut it, and its Julia you have to…"
"I don't give a shit about her." He interrupted. "I've got a bad feeling." He looked around slowly. "Asuka… I've got something to admit. I'm a time traveller." Asuka raised her eyebrows. "I've been having weird flashbacks. Times around about twenty years back. I've been meeting Spike, and some other weird shit." Asuka looked for a joke or something. There wasn't one. She looked for Jinrei instinctively. She wasn't quite sure why, but she had started to stop trusting him.
"Those nightmares?" She asked. Morris shook his head.
"There about something else. Something related, I'm sure." He said. "It's about Wang Jinrei… he knew Johnny as a kid." Asuka blinked rapidly. She looked again.
"Are you sure?" Morris nodded. "Tell me, how'd you know?"
Morris sat at the doorpost for a short while. Spike and his apprentice were training in the front lawn of the small house, and he didn't want to interrupt. Not yet. Spike was aware that he was there, so Morris just scanned the house for curiosity's sake. It was a small place, only a temporary fixture. Comfortable, though. He had a look around the house, and found a whole load of diamonds. So, Morris thought, the diamond smuggling's nothing new. This must be the place he hid his stash.
"Hey!" Morris looked instinctively. That voice sounded so familiar. He saw Jinrei escorting a young boy, English, a sweet face and a cute Hawaiian shirt. Morris smiled at this, but he was more interested in the third person, a tall, raven haired woman so much like Asuka it wasn't even funny. He stared at her. Something about her chilled him. Why he couldn't place, but a lot of hatred was directed to him. She didn't look pleased to be here, and Spike returned the scorn.
"Kazama." He murmured angrily. "The fuck are you doing here?" His apprentice looked up, looking to the group. The young boy walked over.
"You two have business." Jinrei told them. He waved to the apprentice, who waved back. Spike looked to his apprentice too.
"Nature girl, keep out of trouble for at least five minutes." He smiled slightly, before rushing over to the woman and past her. She followed, as did Morris. They ran until they were out of ear shot. He looked to her. "So, how's the 3WC, Jun?" He asked. She stared harshly.
"Fine. How's the smuggling?" She almost spat this.
"Been better. Japan's not got as good a market as I was told. If it weren't for training her, then I'd be back home." The two remained silent for a short while. Morris looked to Spike.
"Who is she?" He asked Spike. "I recognise her from somewhere." Jun looked directly at Morris as if he appeared out of thin air, stunned and taken aback.
"Where did you come from?" She asked. She looked to Spike. "I knew you had a sister, but not a brother." Spike looked incredibly perplexed.
"You can…" Spike shook it off. "This is Morris. Morris…" He turned to Jun. "- this is a goody-two-shoes who likes animals too much and smells of cat piss." Morris rolled his eyes.
"I know someone like that." He said. "So, you alright?" Jun didn't say anything, just raising an eyebrow. "Right. So, I guess you want me to leave?" She nodded harshly.
"Just wait." Spike pulled him in close. "Please tell me Jun's dead where you come from."
"He said that?" Asuka interrupted. "The dick! And what about Jinrei?"
"I'll get to him, Asuka!" Morris hushed her. "And as a word of warning, I think he had good reason to ask." Asuka widened her eyes.
"Well, Jin's her son but…" She looked up to Morris. "You don't think she helped him?" Morris nodded. "But she died over five years ago…" Morris looked confused.
"Asuka." The two looked over to the other building. Xiaoyu stood there, her hair blowing silently, wearing a generic tracksuit and hoodie. Asuka waved to her. She looked to Morris.
"Tell me how Jinrei knows Johnny, quickly."
"That kid I mentioned. That's him. You've got a fight, so I'll tell you later." Morris murmured to her. Asuka nodded. She and Xiaoyu both leapt down to the nearest terrace, opposite the other. No words were uttered before the bell was rung. Even after, no movement or action was made. The two just stared the other down. The wind seemed to stop, the sun that once brought light now only strengthen the shadows in the alley. Then the two clashed.
It was Asuka who had leapt first. She had hoped to land on the terrace below and prepare an attack while Xiaoyu followed. However, Xiaoyu seemed to be fast as lightening, already there and ready. She punched Asuka off balance and watched as she hit the terrace shakily. She followed up with a punch downward, forcing Asuka off and down. Asuka fell shortly, hitting the platform underneath on her back.
"Dammit." She seethed, getting up quickly. Xiaoyu clambered down as Asuka steadied herself. The two were now aligned, and they began to exchange blows. Asuka felt no real attachment as she blocked and jabbed. Left right kick knee right right left double jab hook left, it all just blurred into monotony as she pondered Morris's story. For too long, it seemed. A nasty trip caught her off guard and she hit the floor.
"Wake up." Xiaoyu said. Asuka rolled away from the oncoming foot as it slammed down on the grating. She brought her fist crashing into Xiaoyu's chin and leapt to the other side. Morris looked down on her from above. She looked back.
"What?" She asked. Morris pointed behind her. Asuka sent her elbow back, smashing into Xiaoyu and rocketing her away. Xiaoyu landed on the railing painfully, rolling onto the other side slowly. Morris whistled.
"I have to admit, nothing upstairs but she's got a hell of a bum." He said. Asuka looked up to him angrily.
"Don't you have better things to do than compliment my opponent?" She asked.
"You also have a nice bum." He said. "And you're more interesting. And duck." Asuka hit the floor with her hands, letting Xiaoyu fly harmlessly by. A rising uppercut slammed and crawled across Xiaoyu's back, followed by a harsh throw that sent her back. "Nice one, Asuka." Morris added. "Not a problem, eh?" Then Xiaoyu roll-kicked Asuka. The wall behind her simply crumbled like sand as Asuka fell through. Morris winced.
"Damn." Asuka moaned, suddenly lurching forward with a sharp pull from Xiaoyu. A sharp punch ripped onto her cheek, followed by a kick away. Asuka drew a thin breath. Jesus, this is hard. When did Xiaoyu get this good? Then a low kick smashed Asuka onto the edge of the terrace, fingers only just gripping as she fell. She looked up to see Xiaoyu scratching her nose.
"It's odd." She said. "I couldn't land a hit on you last time." Her foot suddenly hammered down. Asuka screamed as her hand fell under the pressure, pulling away. Her left was without support, and started to slip. Xiaoyu smiled. "I'm not such a loser now, am I?" Morris rolled his eyes.
"Like she'd lose to a dullard like you." He murmured. Xiaoyu turned to him.
"What?" Then she realised her mistake as a hand pulled on her hair. "What is it with the hair?" She screamed as she fell back, fumbling desperately for balance. Her feet curled to catch herself on the edge of the terrace. She hung there, dazed. She then dropped carefully onto the terrace below. She saw Asuka above, catching her breath. "Alright." She panted, before grabbing the grating above her. She swung around, kicking a hole through and flipping into it. She threw her elbow back, just catching Asuka's cheek. Asuka seemed completely unaffected, kneeing Xiaoyu in the stomach. Xiaoyu winced, giving Asuka time to strike harder this time, face palming her before bringing her head onto the floor. The grating collapsed underneath Xiaoyu as she began to drop. The shadows hid her falling form from Asuka as she peered for a sign of any retaliation.
"Xiaoyu?" She asked.
"Great plan. Simply ask her where she is." Morris murmured.
"I thought you were on my side, Morris." Asuka didn't even look at him, noticing a glimmer of movement. "There you are." She bounded quickly to the other side, just avoiding Xiaoyu's leaping strike. The clattering and smashing of metal filled the air as the two prepared another onslaught. This time, Asuka waited. She knew Xiaoyu was on the ropes. She carefully wiped the blood from her mouth. Xiaoyu jumped after Asuka after a short while of deciding. Asuka thought she was more than ready, punching out just before Xiaoyu landed.
"Bad idea." Came Xiaoyu's response as her hand grabbed Asuka's and pulled it in. The two began to plummet. Xiaoyu rolled onto the surprised Asuka, and kicked off her, landing carefully on a terrace. "So, Morris?" She asked to the top. "Who's not a problem?"
"Who's a flat chested bint who should look behind her?" The reply came. Xiaoyu snorted, before thinking about what he said.
"Hi." Asuka said, with a well aimed knee sending Xiaoyu rocketing away. She followed the falling Xiaoyu, diving and over taking, before catching a bar and swinging onto it. She punched out, timing it perfectly. Xiaoyu smashed into the wall in front, and Asuka made fully sure with a flying kick before Xiaoyu fell. Xiaoyu landed shoddily on the terrace below, while Asuka landed perfectly on the handrail.
"Where did you…" Xiaoyu stopped to moan painfully. Asuka dropped down and plucked Xiaoyu up.
"I've fought here before." She said, before punching her away. "Sorry Xiao, but it's over." She punched Xiaoyu down. She expected Xiaoyu to either give up or keep fighting, but instead she just sat there. She seemed to be pondering something. Shit… Asuka thought. I've seen Morris like this when he's losing.
"Asuka, what you waiting for?" Morris asked. Asuka instead backed off, jumping several times to the next terrace up. She looked down to the friend, who seemed to be pondering. Asuka fought off the instinct to strike now when Xiaoyu was preoccupied. She knew that when someone's at their worst, they can suddenly turn.
Xiaoyu was indeed pondering. Xiao. Her fists clenched with hot anger. Xiao, did you write this love letter? Came Jin's voice. Xiao, leave me alone, I'm being moody. Xiaoyu closed her eyes and curled up. You? Enter the tournament? Leave it, Xiao, I don't think they'd allow schoolgirls.
"MY FUCKING NAME IS XIAOYU!" She suddenly shouted, looking up to a stunned Asuka. Morris gulped.
"Oh shit, she's going supernova!"
Xiaoyu seemed to grow, suddenly leaping from terrace to terrace with renewed energy. Asuka prepared for a strike and readied a block. Xiaoyu got to her terrace, her eyes now hardened with rage. Her fist blazed forward. Asuka prepared a cross block, two arm forming an X. However, when the fist collided, Asuka heard a crack, and screamed in pain. Then the next fist came, blowing her stomach away, then a barrage of damage unleashed itself on her. Kick kick punch left right left kick elbow right left left right hook all seemed the same hammer. Asuka was bashed, unable to react. She swung her fist once in defiance, just catching Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu backed off slowly, and saw Asuka glare back.
"I'm not giving up." Asuka spat some blood up with these words. "I'd rather lose." Xiaoyu didn't soften, but still smiled.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." She answered. The two charged to each other, their strikes lost in a blur, an almost dance-like battle. Asuka was determined to keep going, but will power was all she had. Xiaoyu was reinvigorated despite a harsh beating, and Asuka had already taken too much. Her knees simply embraced the floor, and her body didn't react as it fell. She laid there, stunned, her mind screaming for a last stand, her soul told her that she mustn't give way, but her limbs said no. She heard the referee count the numbers that meant her defeat, but couldn't move, no matter how she felt. A tear escaped her eye as she heard those words announcing her loss. Her world became black and back to reality.
"Hey, sugar tits, gedd'up." Morris said. Asuka was pulled to her feet, and she almost fell again. She just saw Xiaoyu, who didn't look better, balancing onto the handrail for all her might, as her own legs fell. Asuka smiled.
"Hey, Xiaoyu…" She murmured, and her friend came closer. "That was fucking ace." Xiaoyu simply nodded, smiling. A paramedic came over.
"Kazama Asuka, by tournament rules, you must report to the hospital." He said with authority. Asuka nodded. She looked to Morris, then to Xiaoyu.
"You two have something to say to each other." She said. "Catch up with me." She joined the paramedic, as she was caught in his arms, slumping forward. The two left, but Morris stopped Asuka just before she left.
"Be careful." He said. She nodded. When they had left, Xiaoyu and Morris looked angrily at one another. Xiaoyu sighed after a good five minutes.
"Look, Asuka and I have been in touch a lot recently." She said. She looked to the floor. "Sorry 'bout your mum and shit." She grumpily admitted.
"No prob." Morris murmured reluctantly. He glanced at her. "I like your hair." The two remained silent.
"Thanks."
"And your bum." Morris added. Xiaoyu looked to him angrily. Morris gave a standard 'yeah, I said it, bitch' look, until he saw something, and his heart leapt to his throat. He suddenly pulled her wrist towards him. "Where d'you get this?" Xiaoyu pulled her hand away angrily, only to have it snapped back. She looked into Morris's eyes, and saw something new. An anger, an anger that terrified her. "WHERE THE FUCK YOU GET IT!" He pleaded. She looked to her pink and blue band.
"Just some reporter. Knew my grandpa appare…" Morris smacked his hand across her mouth.
"Wait." He said, more to the world than anyone else. "What tournament rules?" Then he realised what the paramedic had on his own wrist.
"Morris, what are you babbling about…" Xiaoyu didn't finish, as she was suddenly vaulted down the buildings by the wrist, with Morris still holding on. The two landed on the alley floor, some ten storeys down. Xiaoyu moaned in pain, but Morris was completely fine. He looked down both paths, and saw an ambulance. And in the door stood a smiling gentleman in his early thirties. With a big cigar smoking in his lips, a yoyo spinning under his hand and a pink and blue band around his wrist.
"NO!" Morris shouted. Johnny sneered joyfully.
"Bye." Johnny said. "Or rather, Au revoir." And then the ambulance began to speed away. Morris bolted like a maniac but didn't reach as it sped off into an uncertain future. Xiaoyu stood up blearily.
"The fuck, Morris?" She said. "That hurt…" She saw the rigidness in Morris, and couldn't help being unnerved. "Morris?" Then she watched as he simply dropped to the floor unconscious.