*Chomp* *Munch*
Taiyang prepared dinner for his kids. Oven baked chicken with some vegetables. It wasn't anything truly special. And there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Except for the fact that Yang was chowing through it like she hadn't eaten in days. But, considering that she had ran 10 miles before hand and almost was about to begin a workout routine she couldn't finish (since she was on an empty stomach), it was justified. But Taiyang and Ruby didn't know the details. So they were just watching Yang go through all her dinner like a savage wolf.
"So..Yang, you taking up working out again?" Taiyang was just watching his daughter chow through her chicken dinner.
"Mmmm hmmm!" Yang mumbled as she was eating through her chicken breast.
"You're not going to abandon it like you did all those other times?" Ruby added her opinion to the mix, taking a sip from her milk glass. Yang shook her head in response. Yang swallowed her mouthful of chicken and began to talk again.
"Yeah, I'm gonna keep doing that. I'm not going to give up on it this time. Why do you ask?" Yang asked around the dinner table with food in her mouth.
"Don't speak with your mouth open, young lady. And, well, it's just that the last time you got serious about that was...what, when you were 13? When you were hot-headed...you still are..." Taiyang began going off on his mental notes.
"Not denying it, to a degree." Yang shrugged her shoulders.
"But, is something going on? You having people giving you problems at school again? Am I going to have to come down and deal with the principal again?" Taiyang stared at his daughter seriously.
"No, nothing's going on. I'm just trying to get into some good habits for good now that I'm older and more mature." Yang responded.
*snirk* Ruby snickered at that comment. "More mature? Yeah, right." She muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Yang hissed at Ruby.
"Oh, nothing..." Ruby looked away from her sister who was staring daggers at her.
"Okay, as long as you're not lying to me about anything." Taiyang said as he clenched his fists on the table. Yang stared at her father with a serious expression, only for her eyes to change color to crimson red.
"I'm. Not. Lying. About. Anything." Yang gripped her knife hard. While Yang is lying at the current moment, she had to sell it. And, she does despise it when she is held accountable for lying when she didn't do anything. Which is why she does sometimes hate dealing with school officials when she gets into trouble.
"Drop the knife." Taiyang ordered, as he got in Yang's face a bit, giving a direct command.
Yang placed the knife on the table and just clenched her fist instead. She realized she went too far there. But she was in the heat of the moment.
"Alright, now that you don't have a weapon in your hand, I believe you." Taiyang nodded his head, backing off a bit and lowering his tone.
'Good.' Yang mentioned to herself.
"Now can we continue eating, please?" Taiyang requested of his daughters.
"Yeah." Ruby and Yang nodded as they looked back down at their plates.
The family ate in silence after that. Yang threatening her father cut the mood out of the group. Yang continued to chew through her chicken. She finished the first out of all of her family, put her dish and drink glass away in the dishwasher, and rushed back upstairs. Now that Yang had her stomach full, she could...hopefully get a workout going and work it off.
Yang closed her door, and opened all her windows. She needed some airflow. Yang stripped down, and put on a yellow sports bra and black gym shorts. Then, she got back on her workout regimen. She began back from 1, doing her push ups first. She lowered herself to the ground, then bringing herself back up. She did it again. And again. And again. The sun slowly disappeared. And following it came the moon.
Yang's mind was racing, thinking about how well this will work for her. Raven was doing a decent job? Maybe? Yang is still a little disappointed since she did lose two matches; the ONLY matches she's participated in. Yang lowered herself to the ground again. Her head began to drop sweat.
'So, Raven, ya think this will work? Cause I sure hope so. Lost two matches in a row. Not even sure if everything you're doing is working for me.' Yang thought to herself. She raised herself off the ground. She then moved on to her one handed pushups next. She pushes herself up once again, sweat drops dripping from her body. Her arms feeling a little sore already. This was her first true workout in who knows how long. At least outside of training.
'Why did you even help me? You were nothing but a bitch to me and my family for close to a decade. Why come back now? Your explanation at the bar was kinda...shitty. And c'mon, Raven. You're not a very good liar.'
Yang finished her one-handed pushups. They were slower due to her body already being tired. Yang sighed, and wiped some sweat from her brow. She then moved on to her sit ups. She lay on the ground, her upper body in a bit of an angle.
'What have I been doing wrong? I'm doing all of Raven's training. Why can't I win a fight?' Yang asked herself. She pushed her upper body up slowly. She groaned, her upper body, once again, feeling sore. 'It shouldn't be this hard... maybe it's just bad luck?' Yang raised her body up again. She groaned, her upper body coated with sweat and her skin color turning red. She exhaled a deep breath. Yang then lowered herself back down to the floor and continued. 'Am I just bad or...what?'
After going silent yet again for a bit, Yang finished her 200 sit ups. Yang breathed hard, wiping some sweat from her forehead with a towel she got from Raven and her gym.
She paused her workout and looked out the window of her room for a second and saw the broken moon up in the sky. She sighed, and stared at it's beauty.
She turned around, and tried to find anything she could use for a pull up bar. She then found a bar above her doorframe. She then jumped up slightly, and grabbed ahold of it.
'The rest of this workout is gonna suck...' Yang thought to herself as she began her 100 pull ups.
Over the thirty minutes, Yang intensely concentrated on her workout, completely forgetting that she didn't buy any jump rope to bring home. She just won't tell Raven. It's not like she'll know.
Yang finished her workout a little while later. She was exhausted. She nearly collapsed after she finished her workout. She almost wanted to just sleep right then and there, but she got some clothes and went to take a shower. She turned on the warm water and let it flow over her sweaty body. She put her hand on the wall, and just stood there. Deep in her thoughts. She needed some time to sort things out after thinking for a while.
Yang finished her shower a bit later than usual. She dried herself off, put on her clothes and brushed her teeth. She then walked out, her golden mane shining bright, and nearly collapsed on her bed.
-
Yang was at school about 12 hours later. After finishing up one of her classes, she walked out, and began to walk to her next one. While walking, she bumps into another girl, white hair, a single ponytail on the right side of her head, a white dress, or as the petty girl would call it, a "combat skirt." She also had on knee-high white boots.
"Watch where you're going!" The girl barked at Yang.
"Sorry!" Yang sighed, calling out to the girl. The white haired girl huffed, and simply walked away. She ignored Yang's call. 'Jeez, rude much.'
Yang and Raven met up after school again.
They did it for two weeks. And over those two weeks, nothing happened. Yang just trained, and trained, and trained.
But something seemed off to Yang. Over those two weeks, Raven had been easing up on Yang's training and her strictness. When Yang made a mistake, Yang instinctively emotionally primed herself for a scolding. But instead, Raven mostly shrugged it off, simply providing pointers. Raven's initial hardass persona faded. It made Yang...uneasy. Nevertheless, Yang still kept up her normal training regimen, and didn't slack off just because Raven was being easy on her more so than usual. But one thing really tipped her off.
One Week and four days later...
One day, after a workout, Yang was wrapping up at Raven's gym, when she noticed that Raven was being a lot more...different. Being softer as a person. Her evil-ish persona had vanished that day. She was being...nice. Standing ringside, Yang gained the courage to ask Raven something.
"Hey, Raven?" Yang slowly asked her mother.
"Yeah?" Raven turned to face Yang, looking a little concerned.
"Uh...A-are you okay? You've been rather nice to me recently, and...that's not like you." Yang slowly replied to her mother, her body feeling a little...weird while answering. She was in an awkward position. Raven avoided the question by not saying anything and no longer making eye contact with her daughter. She only exhaled.
'So something is up with her.' Yang silently pondered. She stroked her chin. Yang then slowly approached her. Raven backed up in response. Yang stopped as soon as Raven made a movement.
"What's up with you?" Yang stuttered, as she looked Raven in the eye.
"I..." Raven paused, looking like she was trying to think of what to say.
"Out with it."
"I want to get to know you, Yang." Raven answered. Yang looked dumbfounded, almost in an angry way.
"You want to *what?*" Yang replied back, clenching her fists together.
"I want to know you as a person. I want to see what kind of woman you grew up to-"
*SMACK*
Yang's hand collided with Raven's cheek. Some spit flew out of Raven's mouth at the impact. After the slap's sting faded away, Raven clutched her cheek. She and Yang began to hyperventilate. One was a little scared, and the other was pissed.
"You want to get to KNOW ME?! Well, I guess I could tell you, Raven, it's almost as if you're my mother! Wait...YOU AREN'T." Yang screamed into Raven's face, her eyes ablaze.
"W-Wait, hear me out-"
"NO! You don't get the chance! If you stayed and lived with us as a family, then you would've been able to see first hand what kind of girl I grew up to be!"
"Yang, please..."
"Don't "Yang, please" me! You abandoned me and my family when we had nothing! Summer died! Ruby was just born! Dad was in an emotional coma! And what do you do? Leave and never return for 13 FUCKING YEARS! And when you do come back, you act like the cocky bastard you are! Acting as if nothing had happened! You just shrugged off the past like it was nothing!"
Yang then balled a fist and punched Raven in the cheek. Raven staggered and leaned on the ropes, her eyes full of fear. Yang then charged at Raven, grabbing her neck and choking her. Raven grabbed her daughter's hand and tried to pull it off.
"You don't have the right to know me, Bitch." Yang coldly hissed, throwing Raven on the cold concrete floor, and storming outside, grabbing her stuff and slamming open the doors.
"Yang, wait!" Raven cried out, her arm extended to the door, but all that she was met with was a cold stare by her daughter at the exit. Yang then left. Raven heard the rev of Bumblebee and it slowly faded away.
"Yang..." Raven laid on the floor, her right hand over her neck.
She then started crying.
CRYING.
Raven's surroundings turned black. All she could hear was the sound of herself crying. Her eyes were filled with tears, her vision misty, And all she could think of was Yang.
She really did miss her.
Three Days Later...
Yang came home from school. Her body was now much more well toned. Yang had now gained a full on six-pack of abs below her chest. The actual abs may have been slightly noticeable, but it's better than her slender, non-muscular body before hand. Her arms were a lot more...defined, having some more muscle on them. They weren't just thin. They had some level of depth on them now. And if she hit you hard enough, even lightly, it would sting a little. Yang overall had been hard working over the past two weeks, honing her skills, building endurance a little bit, and becoming a better boxer.
Yang walked over to the mail that day to see that her next opponent was selected: A young girl by the name of Sarah. Yang tucked the slip of paper into her pocket, and picked up the rest of the mail.
Later that night, Yang and Raven met up at the same spot as before, right in front of the door to the underground arena. They walked down the stairs of the abandoned building. The two stepped into the changing room, right outside the arena. Yang changed into her fighting attire almost as quickly as she got into the room. She had Raven help with getting her gloves on, and her boots. Yang stood up, and began to shadowbox. Working in the pool was helping her out a lot.
The only greeting and exchange the two had was Yang giving Raven a simple "hmph." As Yang and Raven exited the changing room, they were greeted by what seemed like hundreds of rabid fans shouting out, commenting on how hot Yang was looking, and by extension, in the audience's eyes, the MILF Raven. The two didn't comment or make any reaction at all.
Yang entered the ring with Raven's help, only to see her opponent standing opposite of her; Sarah. A brunette, lightly toned body. Seemed slender enough, not much muscle packing her. Her main color was pink. Wearing a pink top, shorts, boots and gloves.
Yang and Sarah met at the center, staring each other down. Yang offered her gloves to the girl, and Sarah accepted. They were silent, creating a ring full of tension. The tension almost gave the two girls a big sense of weight.
Yang and Sarah stepped away from each other and in their corners. Raven handed Yang her mouthpiece, and Yang opened her mouth and placed it inside. She turned around and jumped up and down. Raven didn't say a word. Not after what happened.
Yang smiled, her top teeth being covered by the mouthpiece. Yang then pounded her gloves got into her stance. With her gloves extended, Yang awaited the bell.
*DING!*
Yang and Sarah both advanced, circling around the ring slowly. Yang was being smart this time, not going immediately in for a hit. Something she learned after Raven whupped her ass many times.
Sarah started off with a couple jabs to test Yang's guard. Yang blocked them with the palm of her glove. Yang easily was dealing with Sarah's attacks. She bobbed and weaved around Sarah's punches, quickly and efficiently working her new reflexes to their limits. Yang backed up, agile on her feet. Sarah advanced, her fists moving around a little bit. Possibly to fake out her opponent. Yang kept her guard up, her right hand closest to her face, practically placing it on there as a resting point.
Yang backed up yet again, hoping to have Sarah go in for a quick punch. Sarah stayed where she was. She wasn't falling into this trap. But not only was the audience getting a little disappointed, just having them stare at each other, but Yang was getting aggravated. Yang sighed and charged Sarah, and Raven herself sighed in disappointment at simply seeing Yang's feet get ready for a charge.
Yang charged for Sarah, going in for a volley of punches at Sarah's midsection. Sarah was taking the blows...somehow. Yang kept going, but she didn't realize that her face was wide open! Sarah let loose a wild right hook for Yang's cheek, saliva flying out of the blonde's mouth. Yang stood her ground, recovering her footing rather quickly. But Sarah followed up with yet another right hook, this one not as powerful, however. Yang's head stuttered yet again. She stumbled backwards, keeping her guard up as best she could. The audience crying out in pleasure, Sarah smiled and continued to advance. Yang wasn't going to let this girl just take her down like the others, however.
When Sarah advanced, Yang ducked low, and loaded back an uppercut for Sarah's stomach. The uppercut connected, and Yang's punch successfully stunned Sarah into stopping her advance and to Yang, it felt like her punch went through Sarah. It truly ripped through her midsection. Sarah gagged, stumbling backwards and the two circling in the center yet again.
'Come on, make your-' Yang thought to herself before being on the receiving end of a cross by Sarah yet again. Yang grunted, annoyed, now. Sarah wasn't truly reacting to ANYTHING Yang had done; even after that monstrous uppercut to Sarah's abdomen, Sarah's not giving Yang an opening. "Rrrrgh!" Yang growled as Sarah cockily smiled. Yang backed up, getting free of Sarah's punch, but something...different sprouted inside of her.
Her old rage came back.
Yang screamed out, her face facing the ceiling. Then, the old blazing light flew up into the sky.
Raven's eyes opened; Her expression stern. She wasn't happy with what Yang was doing.
When the light disappeared, Yang's eyes burned red yet again, her hair ablaze once again, It was just like thirteen years ago. And the various other times it had happened throughout her life...And now, Sarah would be the one to suffer her wrath.
Sarah was scared and confused. "What the hell? What are you?" She exclaimed, but she was only met with another icy cold glare by Yang. Yang advanced, and forgot all about defense. She wouldn't need it now. Yang threw a lightning fast uppercut for Sarah's chin, her head cracking upwards. Yang's teeth grinded against her mouthguard, and she felt happy that she got that out of her. Sarah somehow recovered after that, responding with a one-two pair of jabs. But Yang simply took them, feeling their impact,
And returning the favor.
Yang threw her own one-two set of jabs, except these punches' damages were multiplied by five. At least it felt like it to Sarah. Her head cracked back with each one, her body aching so quickly. Sarah stumbled back and leaned on the ropes. She tried to raise her guard, but failed to do so. Yang only growled like a savage animal, now throwing a volley of punches for Sarah's body and face. Damaging her with each one, she didn't stop until Sarah fell to her knees.
It took 10 seconds.
Ten whole seconds for Sarah to fall.
When she did, Yang stopped her rage filled punch volley and stepped away. The referee got between the two and looked at Sarah. She was out cold.
The referee threw her arms up into the air, calling the match. Several seconds later...
"The winner, is Yang Xiao Long!"
-
Yang didn't remember the fight. She only remembered the beginning and after, when she won. Yang was walking to the changing room with Raven, trying to recall the events that just happened. When the two entered, Yang sat herself down on the bench, and Raven simply stood, staring at Yang.
"What... happened-"
*SMACK*
Another smack filled the room, Yang's cheek stinging after the impact.
"I can't believe you used your semblance." Raven said, disappointed.
"Wha-why?" Yang flabbergastingly answered.
"Using your semblance is a get out of jail free card. I'm NOT counting that fight as a win." Raven responded coldly. She turned around and walked away slightly.
"A win is a win, right? Doesn't matter how you get it, a win is a win!" Yang responded with her own argument.
"A win by CHEATING is not a win at all. You want to succeed?! Put in the damn work!" Raven shouted back, her fists clenched and her hair covering her eyes.
"Wh..." Yang was about to say something but she stopped herself. It wouldn't make a difference.
"Raven, a few days ago-"
"Don't talk about that." Raven stopped her, Her body language unchanging. Yang silently sat, not saying anything.
"But...I'm..." Raven stuttered in her delivery.
"You what?" Yang perked her head up.
"I'm sorry." Raven sadly answered back. "I'm sorry that I left. I care, Yang. I really do. Can you forgive me?" Raven almost...pleaded her daughter.
"...No."
"..." Raven silently stood still, staring at the ground.
"No, I don't forgive you." Yang growled, standing up and beginning to leave. As she was about to, Raven snatched her arm and gripped it tight. And Yang was met with a crying mother's face.
"Please, daughter...please..." Raven pleaded once again.
Yang pulled away.
"No." Yang then walked out the door. Raven stood in silence once again, alone with no one to comfort her.
"I'm going to keep trying!" Raven cried out once last time before Yang disappeared up the stairs.
Yang, as she was leaving, thought one final thing to herself:
'At least not yet.'