Reality As She Knows It

Chapter 5: The Enemy At Your Door

Dedicated to VG because she demanded to have another update :) She even made an acronym for this - RASKI. Sounds cool actually ;D

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            “Ayako, can you introduce Eiji to us? He's really hot.”

            “Yeah, he has a killer smile!”

            His smile is not the only thing that's 'killer' about him, Ayako mentally scoffed but outwardly, she simply smiled and said, “Sure.”

            “Ayako, what is this I hear that the new kid is bothering you? Do you want me to get rid of him for you?” Drake said, flexing his muscles.

            Drake was her classmate in Chemistry. He's American and not that smart but he was able to get in the university because of certain connections. Ayako heard that one of the higher ups of the university was his relative.

            Ayako was smirking in her mind but of course she didn't let that show. Instead she smiled again, sweetly this time. “That's nice of you Drake to want to protect me but Eiji is a friend.” And he'd flat out beat you in any fight.

            “He's her childhood sweetheart, moron!” Min Ji, one of the girls who always hang out with her, said.

            Ayako nearly choked on her milkshake. “Min Ji!” She nearly said 'What the hell are you yapping about?' but of course she caught herself in time. “He's a family friend, that's all. We were never involved with each other romantically.”

            “But I'm sure he likes you Ayako. I saw the way he looks at you. It's like you're someone really precious to him.”

            Ayako waved her questions off by a few well-placed words. She then stared out of the window and by some twisted coincidence, Eiji was there on the field, with whom she assumed to be his classmates.

            He was saying something and all of those around him raptly listened. He always had that kind of authority since they were young. He was a natural leader. If he wasn't a Yakuza member, he could probably win a seat in the government.

            As if noticing her stare, he looked up. Ayako was only in the 2nd floor and she was sitting near to the window so of course he saw her. He waved with that easy grin on his face.

            If I didn't grow up with him, I never would have believed he's a Yakuza member.

            Afternoon came and they were finally done with school for that day.

            “Man, I'm dead beat!” Ayako plopped into the couch as soon as she and Eiji got home, past 11pm since they both promised to watch movies with their schoolmates.

             She threw her coat on the table and kicked her shoes off. She leaned back, placed her feet on the table and began toying with a small knife she got from her pocket.

            Eiji started laughing so Ayako sent him a murderous look. “What?”

            “Nothing. It's just that I'm amazed at how quickly you peel off your 'perfect girl' image,” Eiji said, still not quite finished laughing.

            Ayako smirked. “It's just you. Why would I act like that?”

            “True. But aren't you tired, Aya?”

            Ayako gave him an odd look. “I told you I'm dead beat right now.”

            “No, not that. I meant aren't you tired of hiding who you really are?”

            “I have my reasons Eiji.”

            “Those reasons being?”

            “It's none of your business.”

            “That's not a reason, Aya.”

            “Ha-ha,” Aya muttered sarcastically before stalking up to her room. “Call me when you're not inclined to interrogate me and question my ways.”

            Eiji rubbed the back of his neck. Did I overdo it?

            A crash coming from the backyard caught his attention. It was a faint sound but there nonetheless. Ayako heard it the same time that he did.

            She stiffened.

            It was silent for a few seconds and then a soft padding of feet was heard. It was barely audible but due to the stillness and uncharacteristic quietness of the house, they were able to hear it clearly.

            “It's not some stray animal.” It was statement rather than a question.

            Eiji shrugged. “Might be burglars,” he said calmly but he was intensely praying that they were really just regular burglars, not some thugs sent by the gangs.

            He could take on his share of thugs but then he would have to explain things to Ayako, why they were being attacked by gangs and he promised Master Katsu that he would keep this a secret from her.

            Just then, the doorbell rang.

            Who could be ringing the doorbell at this strange hour? Eiji thought.

         “A burglar would ring the doorbell? Really?” Ayako said, incredulity and amusement in her voice.

            She grinned, one of her hands holding her own gun and the other poised on the set of daggers on her waist. “Let's get this show on the road.” There was excitement on her voice. Of course she was excited. It's been a while since she last kicked some ass, after all.

            He moved towards the door and then yanked it open.

            Ayako was about to shoot when she heard a startled, “Ayako?!”

            On the door was none other than Dong Min.

            “What are you doing here?!” Ayako exclaimed.

            “Ayako!” This time it was Eiji. He was issuing a warning.

            Sure enough, a tirade of bullets followed his words.

         Ayako managed to grab Dong Min and move out of the way in time. “You dumbass! Why did you pick this time, of all times, to pay a social visit?!” Ayako hissed, all poised forgotten as she crouched low, Dong Min beside her.

            On the other side, was Eiji. He was giving her signals she knew since they were young. She nodded and on a count of three, she and Eiji fired at whoever was their enemy.

            Grunts of pain were heard.

            They retreated behind the walls again.

            She gave signals of her own to Eiji. She clasped her hands together then pointed to the door with three fingers. It meant that she would fly her daggers and that Eiji should cover her.

            Eiji nodded and fired at the enemies again. She then threw her daggers. It hit the enemies. The firing from the other side stopped and Ayako impulsively went out of her hiding spot.

            “Ayako, no!” Dong Min yelled but it was too late.

             One of the enemies had already thrown Ayako's dagger towards her.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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