New Beginnings

chapter 4

"Why can't you be affectionate like that?" Ching asked Abyo as she watched Mika brush Dove's hair.

Ching, Pucca, Abyo and Garu had been watching the couple interact for a little over an hour now and while the girls found it absolutely endearing the way the couple was absolutely in love, the boys found themselves rolling their eyes and sighing, occasionally wanting to gag.

The doors of the Go-Rong burst open to reviel Tobe and... Just Tobe. That was strange. He usually traveled with his ninja gang.

Pucca blushed a little bit and looked away in embarrassment as Garu placed a ready hand on his sword.

Tobe strode over to the table the four friends were at. Garu's hand tightened on his sword in preperation of the fight he knew would come.

Pucca tried not to look at Tobe, but when he slammed his hands on the table, it demanded her attention.

She looked at him with fear in her eyes.

His own eyes held confusion and another emotion Pucca couldn't quite place.

Tobe cleared his throat before addressing Pucca.

"Pucca, I have a proposal for you." His voice steady.

Pucca swallowed but nodded to show she was listening.

Tobe produced two tickets from a pocket inside his outfit. "I have here, two tickets to see a movie. You can either take both tickets and take Ching or Garu with you, or you could leave one in my possession and let me take you. The choice is yours."

"Oh no, there is no way Pucca is taking something from the likes of you!" Garu said sourly, throwing a warning glance at Pucca who looked hesitant.

"And why not?" Pucca and Tobe asked in unison.

"Because Pucca is under my protection. For all I know, you could set up an ambush for her if she chooses to go with one of us, or you could kidnap her if she goes with you." Garu gritted his teeth, almost looking mad.

Pucca huffed and, just to spite Garu, plucked only one ticket out of Tobe's hand.

"Oh!" Tobe's voice broke a little as he looked at Pucca in surprise. He then looked triumphantly at Garu as said ninja looked at his friend who just so happened to be a girl in what looked to be betrayal. "See that, Garu? Pucca knows she can trust me. Not only you have changed in these past 5 years, Garu."

Tobe stood straight and faced Garu directly. "I have changed as well, and Pucca can see it. Too bad for you." With that, he left, leaving Garu stunned and upset.

Garu decided to take it out on Pucca, the closest person.

"Why did you take the ticket?" He demanded.

"Because I can take care of myself. I can beat Tobe if I want just like I can beat practically anyone else I put my mind to. Besides, you don't control me." Pucca stated.

Everyone in the Go-Rong stared at the scene that was playing out. Neither Garu nor Pucca seemed to notice.

"Well maybe I should control you." Garu stated.

Pucca slammed her hands on the table as she stood. "You said youself you never want to be my boyfriend. The only person, besides my uncles, I will ever listen to when they tell me to do something, is my boyfriend. So unless you have suddenly changed your mind and want to be my boyfriend, I suggest you shut up."

Garu stood, turned on his heel, and walked out of the Go-Rong, one arm resting heavily on his sword.

Before anyone could react, Pucca left the scene as well, fleeing up to her bedroom and stripping every poster of Garu off her walls.

She left the Garu plushies in tact since she made them by hand and was proud of them, and put them in the closet for safe storage. She took all her pictures of Garu by himself and put them in a drawer.

She eventually flopped onto her bed, ticket still in hand, and cried for a solid ten minutes, only stopping when there was a knock at her bedroom door.

She quickly cleaned herself up before opening the door to a very worried looking Ching.

"Can I come in?" Ching asked.

Pucca burst into tears again.