six months prior...
"Good morning Vale, happy first day of summer to you all and what a beautiful day it is too. Lisa Lavender here and this is your daily weather news report. Temperatures are set to soar, making it one of the hottest days of the year. If you are out this afternoon remember the annual first round volleyball championships are due to start down at vale beach. If you're in attendance, make sure you take protection, as there is no telling what that scorching Yellow ball of fire will do today."
The glamorous figure shot out from underneath the swan road. Her youthful yellow hair yawned over the beautiful emerald ocean as water rippled in her wake. Yang Xiao Long wasn't one to hide from who she was: She was wearing a pearl white bikini which complimented her curves perfectly, silver polaroid shades entwined in her beaded necklace that she always wore and soft floral bangles on either wrist showcasing her femininity, lashing beauty from every angle. Slender, gorgeous and as hot as the sky– everywhere she went this girl walked on sunshine.
She hooded her eyes with her hand and smiled as she gazed over yonder at the beach and the stadium.
The beach was long and ran the length of a football pitch, soft sand end to end. It had a cove nearby and the water was always transparent and clear. She loved a swim before competing. It was the perfect way to cool her engines before going all out;
Gotta make it fair on the competition she thought.
She could faintly see a girl waving to her from the front side of the beach. She made her way through the water until making contact with the soft sand. As she made her way over the image got clearer and there stood a girl just under her height with mocha tinted skin. Sporting only a pale brown frilly bikini with designer brand, a soft beanie hat and black as night shades to boot – she really could give her a run for her money in the looks department too. The kind of girl that could convince you to take your clothes off and go dancing in the rain.
She let out a small wolf whistle as she peeped through her shades as the blonde pulled up alongside her.
"Yo yo, Coco!" Yang said giving her a small high five.
"Looking hot girl, way to keep that booty fresh."
Coco picked up a towel she brought and tossed it to her team partner.
"Here dry yourself off, we've got a game to play. You ready girl?"
"Let's go have some fun" replied the blonde, pummelling her fists together.
After the first round had finished both girls parked themselves inside the beach bar shack, mulling over their victory with a cool soda and a ginger iced coffee.
"You really pack a punch girl, those volleys and smashes of yours are amazing. You really did bring us the W today" marvelled Coco as she took a sip of her caffeinated beverage.
Yang winked as she began downing most of her can.
Coco suddenly remembered most of the match, Yang kept finding herself under verbal barrage from that girl on the Atlas team.
"That obnoxious girl with the orange pig tails certainly rubbed you the wrong way huh?" she asked.
Coco began to feel an intense heat crawl up against her skin lightly.
This felt odd because they were in the shade. She noticed Yang's eyes mellow out from blood red back to her ordinary lilac pools.
"Ugh...rubbed up isn't the word." mumbled Yang. "She soon felt the full force of my forehand winner though. Hah!"
Now a smirk racing across the blonde's face. Coco gave a faint laugh in response.
"Hot headed. Always good to have on a leash. Now I know I'm asking again but you really should consider joining the force"
Coco throwing caution to the wind.
"I've recently been promoted to Captain in narcotics, it'd be fun to bring some new talent in that I can keep an eye on. Whatcha think?"
"You always ask me this Coco, and I always say the same. You can't keep this girl on a leash..at least not until after dark anyway" giving a teasing wink.
"Shame." Coco slouched forward slightly.
"I've headed up an ongoing case and it's a real headache. There's been a new drug going round that's extreme and definitely not legal by Vale's standards. It goes by many names: 666, Demozine-N, Barbatol, Monstycine-R. Word on the street, however, is that it goes by the nickname Dust."
"Sounds worrying. How did you come by that info?"
"Oh I have a little informant who loves to please me when I ask"
Giving a little smirk, Coco glanced at Yang.
"That reminds me, I'm off to see her again later. There's a new strip club opened up at the far side of town- The Wilt & Blush. She should be on shift tonight."
"Your informant..works..there?" asked Yang.
"Yep. I pay her to dance and to tell me all she knows. Hasn't stopped me from wanting more though." giving a sly wink.
"Hah..you are meant to be the member of our justice system!" the blonde about to erupt into a giggling fit.
"Listen I may work to keep our streets clean and innocent but when it comes to having this girls needs fulfilled – guilty as charged."
she laughed.
"You should come along with me tonight, maybe bag you a little hottie on the side too."
Yang took her words in carefully. It had been a long time since she ever had anyone in her life. Only a few flings here or there, nothing serious. It was her own fault though. Couldn't really set her sights on anyone worthy of her preferences. Never truly found anyone worth opening up to. Despite Coco being an absolute flirt, she only saw her as a good pal, someone to kick back and shoot the shit with as she put it.
"I'll pass." she said mulling it over "I'm spending some time with my sis tonight anyway"
"Way to turn a girl down eh? Well if you change your mind, give me a shout. I'll be down there all evening most likely..unless I feel like an early night" giving another shameless wink and grin.
"You're terrible!" The blonde gave her another laugh and they both bumped fists as they got up from the table and went their separate ways.
Yang was back at the flat and excited beyond belief. The front room had soft black leather sofa and chairs that lay comfy and content, the kitchen had a modern black colour scheme with small lashings of yellow here and there, which really made it come alive. The clock striking eight meant she would be here anytime now. She went into her spare room and came walking back with the cardboard box, various materials heard jiggling around as it shook. Game night. She always looked forward to playing with Ruby: they'd play until they fell out with one another, made it up by buying the loser ice cream and then repeat the above – a very specific system.
While waiting she decided to set up the pieces of their remnant board game.
Ha she'll never beat me tonight, I'll be sure to pick Mistral for sure
Noticing that ten minutes had passed she sorted out the deck and placed all the units on the board. Placed all the dice ready to roll and started preparing the potato chips in a bowl in the middle of the table, their favourite flavour – BBQ chicken.
Her favourite flavour, soften her up so I can break her down!
Yang sat trying to relieve the tension in her shoulders. She looked up at the clock and saw a further fourty minutes had passed. Opening the fridge door she pulled out one of her beers and cracked it open and began to drink; the first of what probably would be many. Ruby had never been this late back before, at least not without a phone call.
She got out of her chair and walked up and down for a further five minutes, rubbing her neck profusely, trying to do anything to waver this feeling.
Why hasn't she called?!..where is she?
She took another aggressive swig of her beer, trying to force the worry back down her throat. Now over an hour of waiting. No Ruby.
What if somethin..no..
The blonde quickly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She'll be okay, just held up or something.
Before the strain got any worse for her, the phone at the side started buzzing. She raced to the docket and picked it up.
"Ruby, is that you?"
The relief hit Yang like a cool wave when she heard her sister's voice.
"Yangg! I'm sorry...I can't make it tonight" she said down the phone.
"It's cool sis. As long as you okay, where are you?"
"I'm great sis...really great. I met someone!"
It was hard for Yang to take Ruby's words at times, when Ruby says she met someone that could mean anything, the sweet innocent girl means well but is still young at heart.
"Oh? and you're telling me they were able to put up with you until now?"
"Shut up sis! I'm serious..she's so cool and smart. She seems to know everything! She's really quite beautiful..I think...I think I like her"
"Well does she have a name..and an address so I can send a my sincerest condolences card"
Yang's crooked chuckle making its way down the phone.
"grr..sis you'd actually really like her too. Her name is Weiss. We've been hanging out and talking, telling stories. She works as a behavioural psycholo..psycogol...a doctor!"
Yang couldn't bring herself to bring her hand to her face so she just let it slide.
"Sigh..so what are you doing for the rest of the evening Ruby?"
"We're going to see a flick, she suggested it. I'm sorry I know we had our game night.."
Yang was not upset in the slightest. Her little sister was growing up and dating is a big part of the evolution process. She felt happy knowing Ruby had found someone she hit it off with.
"It's cool Ruby you two have fun. Oh..and when it gets to the scary bit..make sure you put your arm round her."
"..Yang!"
"Haha I'm sorry, take care and I'll call you tomorrow to see how it goes, love you Ruby!"
"Love you too sis!" *beep*
Yang put the phone back into the docket and moved with a slow carefree walk back to her chair and sat down staring right the board game that was going to go unplayed.
My little sis finally becoming a young woman. I'm happy for her truly.
Thinking about Ruby made her happy inside but something felt off. She began stroking the back of her neck again as she noticed how quiet her apartment was. She must have spent a good five minutes in silence. She certainly didn't want to stay at home by herself this evening.
Screw it. If Ruby can find someone then so can I.
Yang went and picked up the phone once more and began calling out.
"Yo, Coco? It's me...I'll take you up on that offer after all.."