Alright people!
So, I listened to your opinions about how Kim is being portrayed, and I was able to make her more independent while still keeping the romance plausible.
Here ya go!
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When we left off, Jack and Kim were heading to the dojo…
KIM POV
We arrived at the dojo. After we warmed up, the rest of the guys appeared. I attempted the double kick flip again. As I set my pose, I still had the feeling of Jack's hands on me, turning me in the right direction. I blushed at the memory.
If I'm going to remember that every time I do this move ….
Nevertheless, I executed it flawlessly just as Rudy came out from his office.
"Guys pay attention! In two months, we're hosting one of the newest tournaments created by the National Martial Arts League. It's called the Yin and Yang tournament. Like the Student-Sensei tournament, it's comprised of routines using your best karate moves. The unique thing is, each team is basically the best girl and best boy from each dojo. While doing moves in synchronization, you also need part of the routine to seem as like each person's moves complement the other, like yin and yang balancing the universe. You get what I'm saying?"
"Pretty much," Jack and I said.
"How many teams are competing?" I asked.
"There should be thirteen, overall"
" Well, we better prepare if we want twelve teams to get owned by us," Jack said, smiling at me.
"YEAH! Cuz' we're awesome," I said, pounding Jack's fist.
"Alright, Milton, Eddie, Jerry, you guys can take an early lunch, but be back in an hour and a half. Kim and Jack, let's go over some material to practice."
For the next half hour, we created a routine. Then practiced the routine individually.
"Alright, now let's put you two together. Remember to keep your distance and TRUST one another. That will make it perfect."
KIM POV
I can really see what Rudy meant by keeping distance and having trust. At one point, Jack takes my foot and launches me into a flip. At another, he does a tuck n' roll while I handspring right next to him. This may be one of our most challenging routines ever. At one of the last stages, I slip on a bow staff that was left too close to the mat. And of course as I fall, Jack trips and falls too. On me.
"Oof!"
" Ow!"
"Jack, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!"
Jack braced himself on his hands.
"No are you okay?!"
"I'm fine,"
"I'm fine, too" he said, looking around at the empty room. He was still REALLY close.
"Better than fine, actually," he whispered. Before I knew it, we were both slowly leaning in. And leaning in.
No one come in…. No one come in…
And.. .we heard the door open as Milton, Jerry, and Eddie walked in.
Why, just… why?
Jack scrambled off me and we stood up, hastily.
"That never happened," I mouthed to Jack.
"Agreed" he replied.
Rudy walked back from the bathroom.
Good thing he didn't see that….
"Alright, now Jack and Kim, go get lunch while I work with the rest of the guys." As we walked out, I saw a package by the door. I picked it up. It was addressed to ME. I looked at the return address. It was too watered out the read.
"Hey, someone sent me something," I said as I walking back into the dojo, Jack behind me. I set it down and opened it.
Huh?
I looked inside. I saw a tube filled with powder fizzing in a dish of water. Scrawled on the side of the box was :
Ce + H2O …. Enjoy
B
"Ce and H2O? What does that mean?" I asked. Everyone's head shot up as we realized…
Holy crap…..
"GET DOWN!"
I grabbed hold of Jack's arm as we dived for cover. A split second later… a huge explosion burst out of the box, sending glass shards and water everywhere. I shielded my face with my hands. After it cleared, I looked up. The box was totally destroyed. No one seemed hurt, though.
"Cesium and water. Makes a very, to use the colloquialism, bitchin' explosion. " said Milton. We cleaned up what was left of the glass.
"Who could have sent that to you?" Eddie asked.
"There was an initial B," I said, my voice full of spite. "It was Briggs." My voice caught in my throat for a second, just a second.
"You sure?" Jerry asked.
"Yeah, and like a geeky little science experiment is going to scare me! Oh, no offense, Milton," I said.
"None taken."
Just then my stomach growled.
"Hey, I haven't had lunch. Let's go" I said dragging Jack out the door.
"Are you sure you're okay? Cuz' we were almost blown up, and you've seemed to recover too quickly, " he asked when we were outside, a note of concern in his voice.
"Don't worry, Jack. After I told you about what happened to Cassie, I felt… stronger. Like, I'm not afraid of him anymore. I'm not going to hide in a corner. You kinda helped me conquer my fear by letting me admit it to you.
"Well, that's, awesome. As my grandpa once said, "Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it," Jack said, smiling. "But are you sure that's not just the bravado talking?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
"In that case, let's get something to get. I'm starving." We headed off to Circus Burger. We took a shortcut through one of the quieter areas.
Then, out of nowhere… five masked men appeared… and they didn't look like friendly…
This day just keeps getting better and better…
There it is! See how Jack kinda helped Kim become stronger. I want that to keep being the relationship they have in the show. Well, with a few cheek kisses and a couple of real ones. ….. Anyway. The Yin/Yang tournament and the NMAL was something I created.
Someone please post a link to putlocker for ASDML. I don't think it will be a major kick episode, but you never know. As always, spoilers are only good to gush about AFTER everyone knows about them, so….. NO SPOILERS. I've got a good feeling about the climax of this story….
Oh, and that's a real bravery quote.
Please review if you want next chap be end of next week!
P.S. Did I teach you something about the reactivity of cesium?