Chapter 69

"EH?!" Mila let out in shock at what she just heard. "There isn't a tournament at all?"

"'fraid not." Tina said and they saw Mila becoming crestfallen. They had waited until they were in the air before explaining to her what the whole Zack Island thing was all about. It was better that it was being told now instead of when she was already on the island.

"So it's just a scam?"

"I wouldn't call it scam per se" Leifang said and tried to think of the right words. "I mean how else would a goof like him be able to get us girls onto his island without saying there's a martial arts tournament? It's our Achilles' heel so to speak."

"Look at it this way," Tina said and patted the girl on the shoulder. "You get a free vacation and Zack Island is actually a pretty sweet place. He pulled the same stunt the last time and I still went there, really no one's so stupid to fall for that trick twice in a row."

Hitomi cleared her throat. "Yeah, who would be that stupid?" she asked and laughed nervously as Leifang threw her a look that pretty much said "You've been busted!"

"But I'm not really prepared for an actual vacation." Mila said and looked awkwardly at her hands. "Don't even have a swimsuit with me."

"Pfft," Tina waved it off like it was nothing. "You can buy yourself one on the island. He thought of that at least."

"And we can have a little sparring match later." Hitomi offered to the girl, who turned her gaze towards her and presented her with a smile.

"Really? That would be awesome!"

"Don't forget that we're here to relax." Leifang told Hitomi and the younger girl shrugged.

"A little training helps to unwind. Besides it's only the first day, we have two weeks ahead of us." she turned to Tina. "So how's the campaign preparations going, 'Governor Armstrong'?"

Tina had to laugh at that one. "They are goin' well, all things considered, though it's still a bit until the elections next year. But I'm confident. If Schwarzenegger can become governor then this should be a piece of cake for me."

The blonde turned to the girl beside her. "Wanna be my campaign aide?"

"Who? Me?" Mila pointed at herself and blinked in confusion.

"Yeah, you."

"I-I really wouldn't know what to do."

"Don't worry. I'll teach you. Just think about it." After saying that she turned back to Hitomi. "I like what you did with your hair by the way."

Hitomi's hand went to the back of her head and touched her ponytail. "Yeah, I've been told by someone," she eyed Leifang out of the corner of her eyes, who gave her a little smile in turn. "That it looks good that way."

"It suits you. Shows off your neck quite nicely."

"Thanks." Hitomi said and stifled a yawn. "Sorry girls, but I'm gonna take a nap."

After saying that she aligned her seat so that she was able to lie down and turned to face away from them. The other two girls gave Leifang a questioning look, to which she only replied "She didn't get much sleep on the way."

Mila and Tina let out a collective "Aaah." in realization and went to busy themselves with something, Mila taking out her MP3-Player and Tina inspecting the counter. Since there wasn't anything to talk about right now the Chinese pulled the novel that she was currently reading out of her handbag and continued reading from where she left off.

She smiled when was sure that the German had fallen asleep and gently patted her head.

Silly Hitomi.

A grunt passed her lips as the sun hit her directly in the face, and Hitomi instantly put on her shades as the group of girls headed down the accommodation ladder. Her neck felt quite stiff as well after Leifang woke her up about five minutes ago.

"Welcome to Zack Island." Tina said to Mila and made a gesture like a tourist guide would. "Sunny weather, clear sea and swimsuits. Lackin' in cute guys though."

"What a shame," Hitomi said and wiggled her eyebrows at Leifang, making her giggle. "Some eye-candy would've been great."

"Wow..." Mila said and spotted something in the distance. "Holy crap, is that a Ferris Wheel?"

"Yep." came the collective affirmation of the other three.

As they walked away from the small pier Leifang got closer to her and whispered. "Talking about cute guys in front of me, are you trying to make me jealous Miss Buchfink?"

"Maybe a little." Hitomi grinned.

"Not working." Leifang singsonged before putting a little more space between them and watching as Tina explained her everything there was to know about Zack Island.

"You say that now, but I bet if I was surrounded by guys your eyes would turn green." Hitomi said and Leifang just stuck out her tongue, to which she just wiggled her brows once more.

"So everyone gets their own suite?" Mila asked Tina.

"That's right. There are three types located a various places on the island. First there's the Gemstone Suites, those are located on 25 Zack Avenue. Yeah I know." Tina commented when she saw the look Mila was giving her and the other two girls suppressed their laughter. "Those are pretty much the largest rooms here. Have a double bed and just scream 'luxury' all over. Usually not really my thing but I think I'll spend the next two weeks there, last week has been stressful and I could use all the extra service there. But nevermind that."

"Then there are the Seabreeze Cottages, those you can find over there," she pointed to what Leifang and Hitomi knew was Niki Beach, named after Zack's girlfriend. "On the pier at the 473 Niki Beach Road. Very nice places. A whole cottage just for you and a terrace that lets you jump directly into the water."

"And last are the Moonlight Reef rooms, those are located along 79 Gold Street which is in that direction by the way." Tina pointed into said direction. "That's as much as I know though, haven't stayed there yet."

While Tina didn't the couple behind them had. The rooms had been lovely. A little small, but they had a great view overlooking the ocean and the blue interior scheme, aquarium and ceiling fan just made you feel comfortable and at ease.

Unfortunately this time they would have to skip out on them, since they would take a room together and the Moonlight Reef rooms weren't large enough for two people, let alone have beds that would fit two people at once.

But I can live with that Leifang thought and looked at Hitomi, hoping that she wasn't blushing over some of the ideas that formed in her mind right now, mostly about them taking creative advantage of a spacious suite.

"Well then," Tina patted Mila on the shoulder and pointed in the direction of the Gemstone Suites. "How about we get you settled in and then buy you a few swimsuits?"

Before Mila could really respond she was already dragged off and the only thing the couple could make out was: "Tina w-wait!"

Hitomi and Leifang looked at one another and burst into a giggle-fit that turned into full fledged laughter. The German grabbed her sides and Leifang leaned on her shoulder in fear that she might fall over. It took them a little bit to finally calm down and they were sure that they earned a few looks from people that passed them.

"Typical Tina?" Hitomi asked.

"Very much."

"My my, you two seem to be having fun." a familiar french accented voice made them turn around and there stood Helena Douglas herself, dressed in a very elegant looking yellow swimsuit that showed off her cleavage in ways that Hitomi liked quite a bit and she found herself obviously eyeing her up and down for a second before noticing what she did and averted her gaze up to her face, noticing the nice golden necklace that she wore as well.

"Helena!" Hitomi greeted her, and was glad that the other woman didn't seem to have noticed that she was just ogling her. Luckily Leifang didn't notice either. "When did you arrive?"

"Yesterday." she looked to the side and the couple followed to where she was looking and spotted the Freedom Survivor, her own personal ship. Hitomi had some fond memories of it, as she once worked on it as a waitress during the third tournament and it was also the place where she met Leifang for the first time. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw that her girlfriend seemed to be going down memory lane as well from the look on her face.

"So Zack invited you too?" Leifang asked as she turned her gaze back to the blonde.

"More or less." Helena nodded and crossed her arms under her chest, in that elegance that just seemed natural to her, smiling as she did so. "Zack asked me in person, after he had sent the invitations, so I couldn't tell him 'Don't use the same ploy as the last two times'. Though I did manage to convince him that we should invite a few of our DOATEC employees." she shook her head. "Obviously only women. Couldn't convince him otherwise there."

"Aah, so that's why the plane was fuller than usual," Hitomi looked at the group of women passing them and watched as they waved towards Helena in greeting. "And here I thought Niki might have whacked him a few too many times on the head this time around."

"I always wonder what she thinks of all this anyway." Leifang shook her head.

Helena chuckled. "Well maybe she just sees it as it is. He's actually a very nice guy and all he does is invite us on a vacation and I think everyone can use that from time to time."

As she said it her eyes met a familiar person and lighted up. The couple spotted the person as well. It was Kokoro, coming from the pier where the Freedom Survivor was docked at. The Japanese girl carried her suitcase in her hand and inspected the little note in her left hand. Feeling that she was being watched she looked up and directly at the three ladies. Opening her lips to say something she didn't notice that her suitcase popped open and spilled all her belongings on the ground before it was too late.

"Oh." she looked at the clothes on the ground.

"Wait, let me help!" Hitomi placed her own suitcase on the ground, jogged over to the girl and helped her put everything back. Leifang and Helena watched them.

"Hitomi is a helpful as ever." Helena noted, amused by what she saw.

"That's Hitomi for you. The nicest person I know." Leifang said with a tone in her voice that Helena immediately noticed, but couldn't place, so she didn't comment upon it. All the while Hitomi was chatting with Kokoro.

"The lock wasn't properly closed, happened to me once too." Hitomi said.

"Thank you." Kokoro said gratefully and smiled slightly as they stored her belongings back into the suitcase. Hitomi closed it up tightly and handed it to her.

"No thanks needed." she said and they walked back to the other two. They walked a little bit and talked about this and that until they parted ways.

"So," Hitomi turned towards Leifang. "Any particular wishes as to where we want to stay?"

Leifang tapped her chin and shook her head. "Doesn't really matter as long as we're together."

"How about Seabreeze then?" Hitomi leaned closer and whispered. "A nice cottage just for the two of us and a romantic view out towards the sea."

After saying that she placed a short kiss on her girlfriend's earlobe, eliciting a pleasant sound from her.

"Well if you put it that way, how could I possibly refuse?"

"It's agreed then." Hitomi said with a grin and they walked towards Niki Beach Road. She grimaced as the stiffness of her neck bothered her once more. Finally having enough of it she placed her right hand under her chin and started to slowly twist her head.

The very audible crack that followed made Leifang flinch and look towards Hitomi who was now slowly twisting her head in the other direction. She closed her eyes involuntary as the next cracking sound followed and a shudder ran through her whole body.

"Could you stop that?!" Leifang asked and cracked one eye open.

"Hmm?" Hitomi stopped mid-twist. "What?"

"'What' she asks. That." Leifang copied the twisting motion.

"Don't be a baby. Sleeping in that chair wasn't that comfortable and I got to get those undisciplined vertebrae back in line." she told her and finished that one last twist before letting go of her chin and checking if everything was back in order by moving her head a little. "Alrighty then."

"Ugh. Can we go and get settled in now?"

"Sure thing, sweetie." Hitomi said and walked with her to the Seabreeze Cottages, ready to finally get their vacation started for real.

How crazy are you?
I sure wish the weather over here would be so great. But nooooooooooo. Well, nevermind.
Be prepared, this vacation is gonna be a few chapters long.

Until next week.

P.S: Just to avoid any questions, no this won't feature Marie Rose.