Akari

We were walking back to the bus after the last few minutes of drying the water off of Cheng. I walked up to Ms. Po to speak with her.

"Ms. Po? If the one you love falls into the water and it splashes you, does it affect you in any way?"

She nodded, "That means that he or she has done something that will affect you, the severity depending on how big the splash was."

My face turned grim as I remembered Cheng splash a good amount of water onto me halfway through.

I got onto the bus and Liang called me over to the back. I took the towel and hung it over my shoulders.

Once, when Cheng fell in, he pulled me down with him.

"You know," Cheng said trying to lighten the mood, "you look hot with wet hair."

I slowly turned my head towards him, glaring.

He put his hands up and whispered to Liang and Song to move over so he can get closer to my seat, but I was ready.

"Dre, can I sit next to you?"

Dre shrugged and moved over a seat as I slid next to him, causing Cheng to burn with anger. I ignored him the entire ride back.

...

"Akari!" I turned and saw my cousin, Mei Ying, walking towards me.

"Hey," I said as I continued to walk home, but she followed me.

She's my best friend, really, she knows me too well, "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fi-" Suddenly, there was a yell in anger. I turned my head and saw Dre running away from someone; Cheng.

For some reason, he and his friends were wet, again.

"I gotta go, Mei Ying, but I'll see you later! Can you take my bag home for me? I might be late coming home!" I dropped my bag and ran after them.

"Okay!" was all she said when she shrugged, picked up my bag, and made her way to my house.

I ran until I was met at a dead-end, all the boys were far ahead while I was stuck at a fence.

"I've gone too far to stop here." I started to climb as fast as I could and when I finally made it over, I was off again.

There was a gate that seemed to be clawed at with a wire that I ran past as well. I ran through it.

Now I know Dre is in trouble.

I ran past toppled crates and broken glass jars and bottles with their contents now wasted on the street. I finally caught up to them in an abandoned lot, where they were already beating him up.

"You're fast," Cheng said spitefully, "but not fast enough." Then, to my discontent, Cheng used his fist and flung it into Dre's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.

I gasped softly, not audible enough for them to hear though. I was frozen, I couldn't do anything.

I was as helpless as Dre in this situation.

I had the skill to stop them, but I just couldn't.

Dre was soon on the ground clutching his stomach from the pain. Song tried to hold Cheng back, knowing he'd had enough, but Cheng pulled away and approached him once more.

When Mr. Han suddenly appeared, stopping his hand in place, "Hui jia."Return home.

Cheng looked at him in pain and anger as he was pushed back into his friends. He got back up quickly and approached Mr. Han to kick him in the face.

I glared, "Nǐ kělián." You're pitiful.

He turned his head towards me in shock, "Akari."

I walked over to them slowly as some of the others backed away, "Wèishéme?"

He didn't answer me, so I looked down at Dre, "Are you okay?"

He shook his head and whined painfully. My eyes clenched with hate. I could've done something, but I didn't.

"Biéguǎn tā." Leave him alone.

Cheng challenged me, "Háishì shénme?" Or what?

I glared at him as two of his friends came towards Mr. Han, but I stood in front of him, "Rules are rules. If you attack, I can defend."

They hesitated for a moment, but no longer. One of them flew a punch to my face, but I grabbed his fist and directed it at the other one's face.

There was a fight, but it didn't last too long: Mr. Han and me versus them. We won of course.

Mr. Han carried Dre to his house while I stayed behind to watch them all collect themselves. I walked over to Cheng, who was still on the ground.

"In case you haven't noticed yet, Cheng," I said as I looked him in the eyes, "we're through."

Next Day

I was walking to the dojo, down the usual path, when I saw the gang. When I looked at Cheng, his eyes were practically looking into my soul.

I didn't look that way again until we got to the door of the dojo.

Cheng was waiting for me at the door while the others went inside, "Akari."

I tried to go inside quickly, but his arm shot out in front of me, blocking the entrance, "What?"

Cheng just looked at me, "I'm sorry."

I laughed spitefully, "No you're not. If you were sorry, you wouldn't have done it in the first place." I looked at his profile, finding that the bruise Mr. Han gave him was already visible.

"Akari, I don't want to lose you."

I scoffed as I moved his hand away forcefully, "Too late."

When I walked in, I got 'looks' from the gang, but they quickly turned away once I made eye contact. I changed into my robes and sat in my usual seat.

Next to Cheng.

We did our usual warm-ups and I used more force this time, enhancing my fighting skill.

"Akari, Liang, to the mat," Master Li had said. Everyone sat down except for me and Liang.

We went to the center and bowed, "Fight!"

I got into my ready stance when Liang charged at me. I quickly cartwheeled out of the way, but before he could fully turn towards me, I roundhouse kicked him in the face.

Once he was down, I straddled him and raised my fist, noticing two figures at the door, "Why did you stop?" Master Li asked.

I didn't answer, "Finish him!"

I brought my fist down and punched him in his upper back, causing him to have a sharp, audible pain.

I got off of him just in time to lock eyes with Dre. I went back to my place next to Cheng and I noticed he wasn't focused on Master Li.

He was focused on our guests.