Author's note: I've returned sorry to leave the story hanging for so long. I've revamped the story and hopefully made it much better.
Chapter 1:Two Weeks in Hawaii
"Xiayou, hurry up we're all waiting for you!" Hirano called down the hallway. I was standing at the vending machine going through my daily ordeal on deciding between iced tea or lemonade. For some reason I could never make up my mind right away and yet, I always ended up choosing lemonade.
"Coming!" I answered back while I inserted my coins. Once I grabbed my lemonade I picked up the back of snacks that I bring from home every day. I usually never have time to make a bentou for lunch so I have to settle for random treats in my house.
"Alright I'm back now," I said entering the class room satisfied with my choice of lemonade.
Hirano placed her hand on her hips and sighed at me, "Honestly Xiaoyu are you ever going to bring a normal bentou to school? It's not cute carrying around a bag of snacks everyday." Hirano has been a good friend of since we started high school. She was your typical school girl; she had medium length brown hair that fell just above her shoulder and flared out a little at the ends. She had a spunky and lively personality that drew in attention from everyone in the class.
"You know, between school and practice I just never have practice to do that type of stuff." She shook her head in disappointment at me and led me into the classroom where we sat with some of the other girls in our class. We laughed per usual and talked about the usual things music, movies, other girls…boys. "Look guys there she goes," one of the girls calls out. "It's Lili."
In unison we all stared at the tall, blonde haired beauty that entered the class room. Lili was the new transfer student from Europe. Although she's been here for a while she hardly ever speaks to anyone in the class.
"She's so rude," Asami stated. Asami was a busty girl with medium length brown hair. She dresses very flashy because she wore heavy make-up and expensive jewelry all the time. "The other day when I was in the bathroom, I asked if I could borrow her lotion she was using. She didn't even look at me, she just put the bottle in her bag and walked right out."
"That's kind of pretentious of her right, she probably thinks she's better than most of us because she's so rich," Keiko continued. Keiko was a little shorter than the rest of us. She had short black hair that was cut into an edgy bob.
I just rolled my eyes as I tried to tune out the girls talking about Lili. I hate when this happens, when all we do is sit around and talk about other people it's so… pointless. When our conversations go this direction I try to find any reason to excuse my self from the group, "I have to use the restroom," I explained standing up and walking away from the table. Instead of using the restroom I just roamed the halls for a little while trying to pass the time away so I don't have to return back to that conversation. Talking about other people we don't know is just a waste of energy in my eyes.
"You're going to have to pull up your grades." I heard voices from around the corner and slowed down my pace a little. "Do you hear me Kazama?" one of the teachers was reprimanding a student in the hallways.
"Yeah, I hear you."
It was a student being reprimanded by a teacher in the middle of the hallway. The teacher had a very gaudy appearance, he had silver hair and wore pretty expensive name brand dress shirts and pants. The student on the other hand, had the scariest face I had ever seen. His face was stuck in a permanent scowl and showed little to no change in emotion.
"You're going to have to pull up your grades otherwise you'll be dropped from the advanced classes. And I don't think you're grand father would be to happy about that."
The male student scoffed at the teacher, "I don't care, it's not like it matters anyway." I shouldn't be listening in on this it's none of my business anyway. The bell rang and I turned back around to return to the class room.
"Xiaoyu, I was worried about you, I thought you might have fell in the toilet or something," Hirano explained as I sat down behind her.
"No I just got a little distracted is all, you know me." Yup spacey, spacey I thought. My imagination took control of my mind as the teacher started to talk about postwar Japanese history. Lucky for me I had the perfect seat in the back, right next to the window. I admired the beautiful sunshine outside, it's frustrating that I have to waste precious energy sitting in class when I could be outside perfecting my form. Come on bell, hurry up and ring.
*Ring* finally freedom, I gather my books into my bag and stand up in my desk getting ready to leave. "Hey Xiaoyu, don't leave yet. We're discussing our plans for the group outing tomorrow," Hirano said trying to stop me from leaving.
"Ahh that's alright I'm not really up for another group date."
"C'mon Xiaoyu," Hirano was trying to plea to me. "We need an even number and you already said you weren't doing anything this weekend."
Hirano knows I hate these group outings. It always ends with the same result. The guys show everyone else attention while I'm kind of stuck being the third wheel. Last time Asami even tried to get me to kiss one of the guys whom I had no interest in. "These things are just never any fun for me. I'd have more fun just staying at home."
"Don't be like that Xiaoyu I'll be fun I promise. Asami got better guys this time I promise you won't be the odd person out."
I gave Hirano a questionable look.
"Besides I want you to come, don't leave me alone." Hirano continued to beg as she grabbed onto my hand.
"Alright, Alright, but you owe me."
"I'll make you your own personal bentou," she happily exclaimed while bringing me back towards Asami and Keiko.
My usual train commute home took me about 20 minutes; 10 minutes by train and then another 10 minutes walking. My house was moderately sized barely big enough for a small family and a pet. "Grandpa, I'm home!" I called as I walked through the door taking off my shoes before stepping inside. Since my parents died when I was very young, I've been living with my grand father for as long as I can remember. We moved to Japan from China a couple years ago because a family friend needed help running his Chinese martial arts dojo.
"Xiaoyu," My grandfather greeted me. "I just came back from the doctor, he said I'm in tip top shape." My grandfather was a short man with a long grey beard and mustache. He walked slowly and at first glance he looks feeble, but that man can take out a whole army if need be. When we're sparing together there are times when even I can't keep up with him.
"That's good, keep it up and you'll live long enough to see me turn grey." I walked past him to the back yard where I greeted my favorite furry friend. "Panda!" Panda looked up at me and stood up to give me a giant bear hug. "Hehe, oh I missed you to buddy." Panda set me back down and continued to eat her bamboo.I rescued Panda off the streets of Beijing when she was just a cub. Apparently she was held in captivity and experimented on. Some how she was able to escape but since I've found her she's been a part of my life.
"Xiaoyu do you mind running to the store real quick, we're out of juice and bread." my grandfather asked while I was still playing with Panda.
"I'll be right back Panda." I slipped back into my school loafers and head down to the corner store. I picked up my grandfather's favorite juice and bread and even a few snacks for my self. As I walked out the store I opened one of the melon bread snacks I purchased to enjoy on the walk home. As I was walking I saw that Kazama guy from school again but he was with a bunch of sketchy guys that were leading him down an alley way. I stopped and contemplated for a minute weather or not I should go and see if something is going on. I mean Kazama's a big guy he looks like he can handle himself, but even I know from personal experience size is not everything. After a few seconds of my internal back and forth I decided I should go check, if something were to happen to him I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for not trying to stop it.
I peaked my head out a little from around the corner to try and get a better look. There were four guys circling around Kazama. "This seems like a nice area where no one will interrupt us," I heard the first thug say. My heart sank a little as I prayed what happened next wouldn't happen.
"Yeah that way no one can hear you scream," the second thug explained while pulling out a knife. My body began moving instinctively as I stood in front of Kazama to protect him.
"Wh- what are you doing?" Kazama asked surprised by my sudden appearance.
"Keeping you from getting killed," I answered.
"Step aside girly or we'll take you out too," said the third thug.
"I'd like to see you try." The first thug charged at me and I dropped my bag. grabbed the guy and was able to shift his weight so that he moved past me. The one with the knife came next and I kicked the knife out of his hand. Then the third thug grabbed me from behind, while the second one picked up his knife and held it in front of me.
"Hold her still." The thug was soon knocked unconscious by Kazama. He tossed the guy to the side and stood in front of us smirking.
"Let her go and I won't hurt you." The guy tossed me to the side and charged at Kazama but he was punched so hard in the gut he fell over from pain. I looked up at him from the ground to see Kazama standing over me. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me off the ground and ran out of the alley way. We stopped at the park a few blocks down to catch our breath. "Are you crazy, you could've gotten yourself killed."
"Me you're- the one picking fights with random thugs- who knew you could fight anyway-" I was still hunched over my knee trying to catch my breath from running. "Shit I dropped my bag..."
I heard a bag shuffle in front of me, I looked up and Kazama handed me my bag of groceries that I thought were lost. "Thanks," I said before taking the bag out of his hand. He walked away from me leaving me in the park. "Hey wait- where are you going?"
"Don't follow me," he said without turning around to look at me. He just waved a gestured at me and kept walking down the street away from the park.
He could've at least said thanks.