The Colour Purple Chapter 18: No Need For Asking, No Need For Thinking, a king of fighters fanfic

The Colour Purple... The King of Fighters '95

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This (chapter) fanfiction was originally written circa: [XX.96] (Thank you)

"Which Character are you?"

If time is willing – then a BEAST can walk forever;

Because through [defiance], can man find [purpose];

Only in this, he can find a hope – the promise of [peace]

…and as wretched as this frigid heart is.

It can beat, only for you…

-05.18.05

Chapter 18: No Need For Asking, No Need For Thinking

Jazz music filtered through La Bijoux; acting as theme song, and fulfilling the promise to the numerous patrons- an escape from their normal lives. The paperwork and deadlines can wait for another time. As usual, part owner of the club, Duck King, and his now worn out and half drunk companion, Todo (wondering where in the world Heavy D is... in the ICU), were having the time of their lives to the left of the bar.

It wasn't that busy a night, luckily it was Thursday, luckily for Yuri. King didn't feel any extra work for La Bijoux tonight so she let the issue with Yuri slide. Robert, who was busy acting as bodyguard, and Maitre'D to fill in for Yuri assured King that Yuri just went to see her brother and would be back any moment.

A familiar face stepped into the club.

"DOHSHTA!? (How's it going?)" came a yelp from cheerful Joe Higashi, who was dressed in a collared shirt, Khaki pants, and a sweater slung over his shoulders. Of course, still sporting that spikey hairdo.

Robert sent a waving hand and jogged up to meet the customers. When he arrived to shake Higashi's hand, he also noticed two more figures behind. Mai Shiranui was literally dragging Andy Bogard into the club, and it was quite a picture to see Andy's dumbfounded, yet slightly irritated face as a cute Mai cradled his arm in hers. Robert let out a greeting to the lovely couple. Mai closed her eyes, smiled widely and wiggled her fingers.

"So when's the engagement?" Robert joked.

Andy, on the other hand, wiped his brow with his handkerchief and let out a forced smile. Andy was about to return the greeting but Mai pulled him eagerly to a table, insisting on one close to the jazz band.

Joe looked around, and over Robert's shoulder.

"Yuri-chan isn't here?" Joe asked.

"No, she'll be a bit late." Robert replied while he wiggled his hands under a large napkin like Maitre'Ds should.

"Sooh ne... (I see...)... King san wa?"

"Oh, she's behind the bar." Robert answered as he led Joe Higashi to the bar, as instructed many times by Mai. (To leave Andy and her alone for as long and as much as possible.)

Robert called one of the free waitresses to give Joe a small glass of iced water and apologized, as he had to get back to work. King made through her way and walked over to Joe from behind the bar, diligently wiping a champagne glass with her apron.

"Busy as always, Eh, King-san?" Joe began.

"Maa ne... (so - so)" King answered in a smile. "It's always like this you know.. So, what can I get you?"

"Anything you think is good..."

"I don't know..." King said tentatively. "Feeling like coffee?"

"Have one with me, you look tired," Joe laughed.

King went to the shelves behind her and got some dark bottles. She prepared two tall glasses filled with ice and mixed the cold coffee, liquor and topped it off with Irish Creme.

"I guess you'd be busy tomorrow..." Joe mumbled. "Why don't you come over to the diner this Saturday. Maybe before you open."

King sipped her drink and let two beers slide down the bar to keep the waiting customers satisfied. At the other end sat Makoto Udeshii and Abigail, with then done and nursing their drinks, King could take a break.

"Well..." Joe prodded.

"I don't know..." King answered slowly and indecisively.

"Come on, you've never been to my place, and here I am sitting at your bar almost every night."

"BAKA! (idiot)" King said jokingly. "You're just playing chaperone to those two lovebirds." King motioned with her eyes to Mai and Andy.

Andy was still on his first glass of champagne, while Mai had already downed three of some pinkish orange concoction. Andy seemed very worried, both at the number of drinks Mai can keep from her head and the fact that Mai was still cradling his arm, coming closer to him, her hands often massaging his shoulders.

"You'd better keep an eye on Andy." King teased.

"No, It's Mai I have to keep off Andy when we're done here." Joe replied.

It was only so far that she could maintain her stoic, empty poke face. King laughed so hard that she had to put her drink down and covered her face with her apron.

"That's it," Joe returned to the subject. "Saturday evening, I'll cook for you."

With that, Joe tapped his glass to King's and drank it down. King just grinned and drank her's too.

Yuri came into the bar already in her uniform. She breathed a low sigh as she saw no trace of anger in King's face as she entertained Joe. She saw too that Robert was hard at work filling in for her, so she sped off to relieve Robert. She was also glad that King was out of her seemingly depressed slump as of the days past.

...

Robert saw Yuri come in and a wave of relief swept through him. He greeted Yuri and looked King's way and told her that Yuri had arrived. King just nodded and excused herself from Joe to get back to work.

Yuri noticed something strange then, because Robert had been acting funny lately; too nice, Yuri noted. Now, away from a customer, King put up a depressed look, blankly staring at the champagne glass she was repeatedly wiping. Robert was trying to get some chit chat started with King, two tables away, but all he received were nods. King was visibly ignoring Robert. It was probably something Robert had done, what could that vile fiend've done this time. It was out of the norm though. The only time King would shut herself from Robert or sometimes Yuri was if she was angry at something, it didn't have to be them in particular, or if she ignored Robert blankly when she was drunk. There were no indications of either, there was neither the angry look or the joking indifferent visage. King was just gazing into the champagne glass in deep thought, probably a heavy cloud rested above her head.

Yuri couldn't begin to guess. She walked over to King casually with a thought on her mind as well. The letter addressed to King by her father she 'accidentally' half read probably held some clue.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Came a question with a double meaning; Yuri tried to piece the puzzle in her head mentally.

It took King a few moments to look up and realize that Yuri was addressing her.

"Uh, tell Robert you can take over his tables." King answered, and with that, ended any chance of a conversation. King went back to the champagne glass. Just like a child caught in one of her fathers formal dinners, bored and feeling out of place, she tried to plant her thoughts in the seemingly mindless thing she was doing. Whatever she was thinking of those past few days, she was trying to keep from her mind by keeping herself busy. Like a child caught in a formal dinner, out of place. The child had to keep herself occupied, fiddling with napkins, or playing with toothpicks, for it was better than staring blankly, outward, looking stupid, trying to comprehend ideas in an environment you couldn't understand and felt an outcast to.

Yuri shifted her gaze to Robert who had run out of things to say. He too was probably feeling shunned by the revolving world. He smiled, just like the kid could do when he couldn't answer any more questions or run out of 'grown up' things to say. Yuri could see through the smile because Robert's eyes couldn't hide it. An invisible barrier started to develop between the two. More than once since Yuri came in that night, did she think, or even, suspect, that Robert, knew more than she did, but just wasn't sure.

...

{There was no need for asking; No more need for further thinking} The girl thought to herself as her father played the businessman. The poor girl felt no higher than an accessory as she folded animals from her cloth napkin. She couldn't understand, and didn't know what else to do.

Just no need for asking; No need for thinking.

...

It was closing time once again, but unlike what the trio did, this time for the past week, King asked that she be left alone at the bar during closing. The familiar champagne glass was now filled with the yellowish fizz. What transpired in her mind was hers alone to keep. It would all be over by the end of the week. A week, or the end of dinner, it was the same.

It was okay, the father replied to his daughter. You just sit and we'll go home after I'm done with the dinner meeting.

King watched the many bubbles float up and pop. No answers here.

There were no answers- and she wondered what it would be like tomorrow, would she just continue to stare at those bubbles as they floated up with fervour but in the end would disappear…

…

"Meet me at the den."

...

"Meet me at the den," Yuri remembered Robert say when closing time neared. "I need to ask you something."

There were no lights, a customary thing during closing, it just didn't pass Yuri's mind to turn them on. Besides, it ruined the view. She was gazing at the crescent moon, and the studded night sky. Yuri had her hands in the other behind her back casually, the black leather couch was between her and the pale window. Maybe she was falling into the same state as King, she thought. Yuri had numerous things she was juggling in her mind. Her relationship with King and Robert had been shaky recently, almost unpredictable, but tonight, it clearly hinted that it would turn for the worst, for little words were exchanged between them. That was bad enough, she even had to deal with her brother and father who were blatantly against her desire to join the King of Fighters; (and not to mention the oafs like Brian Battler, filthy, unattractive, and without a clue.) For a moment, Math, Science and English held no importance. When the bar closed, the lights were shut, and the music ceased, the realties began to seep back in. There was a bluish light outside, from the neon La Bijoux sign. It flickered and died, no doubt Robert was closing and was on his way. When the sign flashed no more, it was like a 'closed' placard at the gates of Shang-rila. The world of escape had to end for another night. It didn't last forever.

For the first time, Yuri questioned the reason behind her continued stay in La Bijoux. It wasn't for the money, not for the show, even a secretarial job would present more prestige than being a waitress - a Maitre'D. It was for the ambiance La Bijoux furnished, moreover, the security, peace of mind, and friendship Robert and King provided. Now that this stood on shaky ground, her confidence faltering and her calm nature so easily stolen when closing came, Yuri wondered if she wanted to continue working here.

Robert came into the dark room, and Yuri noticed, that he was silent, didn't even say any words of greeting. He put his back up and closed the door behind him. She noticed as well when Robert subtlely locked the door.

{What'd you lock the door for!?} Yuri's mind blurted out, but she kept silent, calm, her heart telling her that there was no need to argue.

Yuri stood unmoving and just pushed her back as far back as possible until the leather couch kept her from going any further. Robert still kept silent and came closer. When Robert was only a foot away from Yuri, she panicked a bit and stepped back. The couch hit the back of her knees, making them bend. Yuri fell sitting on the couch and Robert dove limply, face first onto Yuri's collar. Instinctively, Yuri put her hands on Robert's shoulders which were on top of her now.

Yuri tried to maintain a degree of control: over her frantic mind, over the awkward situation. She told herself not to jump to any conclusions, but it was hard to do with all of Robert Garcia on her. She just gave in and trusted Robert. Yuri lifted her hands from Garcia's shoulders and wrapped them around his neck and hugged him.

{Itsumademo...Whatever happens will be}

Robert made no further, and just rested his forehead on Yuri's shoulder.

"I'm tired... tired of all of this..." he mumbled. "I need to ask you something..."

…

On earlier times, she would have never allowed Robert to get within eight feet from her, and now, her arms were wrapped comfortably around the back of his neck. Around the back of his cool, yet unmoving neck, as if she had waited an eternity for that moment- this moment… because women wait for that moment… just a moment- and what do weak [men] wait for?

…

"I'm tired... tired of all of this..." he mumbled. "I need to ask you something..."

The pieces of the puzzle weren't getting any clearer, but they talked anyway, whispered softly in the intoxicating darkness. Only the walls hear, they listen intently.

"Can you cover for me... tomorrow... and for King too?" Robert mumbled.

Yuri closed her eyes and smiled at her naiveness, on earlier occasions she would never even let Robert get within four, no, eight feet from her, and now, her arms were wrapped comfortably around the back of his warm yet resilient neck. {So, you're finally taking King out on a date, eh?} Yuri chuckled in congratulations inside.

Kore ga, shoujo to shonen no kankei – this is the relationship between a BOY and a GIRL.

She didn't want to get it go – if she let go, then she would plummet downwards to a world she never experienced before. "I don't know what to do, because I…"

My HEARTBEAT won't stop. As my favourite music plays on the radio.

On earlier times, she would never let Robert get within eight feet from her, and now, her arms were wrapped comfortably around his neck. Robert was not the same Robert Garcia she knew, but something inside Yuri made her worry. Robert had changed, and most probably because of an event that happened, or WILL happen. Yuri, too, knew that she had changed because of the altered environment. For some reason, she held tight, and didn't want to let go, fearing that the changes in them would change everything else around them. A small part of her didn't want Robert to go with King. She wanted everything to be the same as before, with the lecherous Robert, King's wishy washy likeness, and Yuri's own bossy, untrusting attitude.

Because… this was the greatest lie God trust upon his children. That we were destined to…

There's no need for asking; no further need for thinking.

...'lest you be dragged into a world of confusion you can never return from... soon, the business dinner will be over.