The Crow & The Sparrow

Chapter Eight: Why Are You Back?

"You left before the start of 7th grade...- Why are you back?" Kele questioned, "You were in 9th grade. I was always gonna be behind you, given I'm younger than you. By two years." Roxy recalled.

"What does age have to do with it? You were and are smarter than you let on." Ke marked, "A lot, I didn't want to be late. I did school elsewhere. I took up martial arts. I missed you girls so I came back." her friend smiled.

"Roxanne. Come on, what is the real reason?" Tai pleaded, "I wanted to see you before you turn eighteen. To make the last handful of years of freedom memorable." Anne caved.

"Why before eighteen?" Confusion hit Taima, "Well, that is something your mother has to tell you. I thought she would have by now... Doesn't matter, what does is that I'm here." Roxy stated off.

"Why don't we go and fix you two up?" Rox cooed, "After that can we go to that old hotdog place that we girls always went to?" she moved to aid the pair to their feet.

"Yes, please. Let's go." Kele agreed and scooped up half his body, "Up you go lad." Roxy liffed the other.

"Eric can you stand on your own?" Tai questions as they make it out of the ally, "Barely... Just hard to balance. I'll manage, don't worry." rain coats all three as they move.

"Don't say that, let me feel..." Anne slid hand up his shirt, "Damn boy. They cracked two ribs, I don't think you'll manage. Come and take our wrists." two stolen ribs beneath the skin stick out.

"No need to fuse over me,- I weigh a lot. For you two to try and carry half dead weight- would be too hard. Just- keep hold on my forearms, I can walk mostly." Eric gasped upon the touch of her warm hand on the tender wound.

"Kele, are you alright... Take my shirt and wrap it around your hips. You are shaking." The trio paused as Rox helped take off the muddy white bottom down, "Am I?" Ke noted after she took the shirt.

"Holy crap Kele-" Anne held her friends cold tan hands, "Your are quaking-. Like a leaf..." she whispered.

"I'm fine, just cold." The teen dismissed and wrapped her hips, "Kele-" her friend tried to start.

"I said I'm fine. Let's go, it's late and the hospital is a good bit away." The trio continued on their way down the empty streets.

"What is your name oh rescuer of both me and my friend Kele." The singer tried to lighten the dark mood that hung over all of them and the fact Kele was in denial about what just happened.

"Roxanne. Roxanne Naomi Rex. My good friends can call me whatever they like." Anne grinned at the singer as they got even closer to the destination.

Struggling to hold the artist up, they stumbled all the way. Water sloshed around as their feet hit the flooded sidewalk. Even for being about a hundred and maybe eighty pounds, he couldn't assist much. Making him near dead weight for the two girls who were both were around one fifty to one sixty each, to hold up. Draven was built fairly strong and muscle weighs more than fat.

The sun began to set as the group made it to the hospital, the nurses quickly took the singer off the girls. Taking him into the back for medical care. The lights that lined the ceiling flickered, adding an eerie feeling. Wasting no time and getting out of the building, Kele felt a dangerous aura coming and grabbed her friend's wrist tightly.

Dragging Roxy out of sight with her, Tai watched from behind a nearby shop. The gang had returned seconds after their escape. Growling in disgust, she turned back to face Anne. Who was very confused on why they ran off so fast. Without any words, the Sparrow lead the way back to the house. 

Both snuck in the back door to not get attention from Shura, Vincent or her father. Crawling up the stairs, they made it to the safety of Taima's room. After she locked the door, the teen slide down to the floor. Beginning to sob uncontrollably. Roxy came to realize what the gang had done just before she arrived...

"Stareye..." A old name that was once said as children echoed through the teen's heart, "Look at me my best friend." tears just poured out of both her golden irises.

"I can't- I can't!" Kele recoiled at even the slightest gesture of her friend since five, as she reached out with coco colored hands.

"Yes you can, just breath." The hands gripped her best friend's tightly, "Focus on one feeling. Joy, anger, even sadness just something. Don't go off into the void. Once you do, there is no returning without a fight." as she attempted to calm the panicked breathing.

"Please- Don't even touch me. I can't- please don't!" The girl yanked and struggled against Anne's grip to get away as she wiggled away from the door.

"You can." Rox reassured her as they remained connected, "Just hold onto my hands, let me help you." the fearful tears froze as the Sparrow's breath normalized.

"Teach me..." The girl croaked lightly, "Teach you what?" clearing her throat right after.

"Martial arts. I want to defend myself." The teen's golden eyes stared back into Rex's whiskey ones, "Will you help me Scorpion?" the anger taking over instead of pain.

"Of course, I will do my best to teach you." They nodded in agreement, the trembling of her body stopped finally.

I trust Scorpion with my life and now owe it to her. Growing up with our backs pressed together. Anyone who sought to disturbed the peace would face us. Just us three girls versus the crap world that was laid before us. This time I refuse to be a bystander in my own story, I need to know how to fight not just with words but with my body as well.

If you want to learn how to hunt girls, best know we travel in packs. Her and Rox stood up in unison and she released the friend's hands. Moving over to the dresser and she picked out a pair of pale blue boot cut jeans. She went up to the following drawers, picking out a green long sleeve knitted pine green sweater, matching nude underwear and bra, and mixed color flannel scarf. It had black, red, a pinch of yellow, and dark green. 

 Tai laid the outfit neatly down atop the dresser before she pulled out a baby blue towel off the shelf. Going off to the bathroom to wash the trauma of the day down the drain. Untying the shirt from her waist and undressing fully, she switched on the light. Street mud and grim all over and tangled into her otherwise gorgeous locks. Ke's eyes turn down to grab the old green and brown hairbrush from the counter.

Taking out the ponytails, brushing the knots out of the long fawn hair. The teen entered the shower, washing over part of her body twice. Letting the steamy water boil the contaminants of the nasty water and filth from the street off. Shampooing the remaining grime out of her long wavy ashy blonde mane. The runoff that fell to the shower pan was a murky brown...

Switching the knob off. Kele rang out her now clean, mid back length hair before stepping out. Tightly wrapping then twisting the towel up and around the locks. Before sliding into the night robe that hung from the hook on the back of door. Both eyes caught the teen on the mirror and forced a pause. Dark purple and pink under eyes and warm tan...

The girl blinked away the painful thoughts and returned to the bedroom. Rox struggled to undo her own hair but froze upon laying eyes on Sparrow. Turned from a yellow duck covered in oil to a vibrant Passer. The gaze was short lived, Anne switched her eyes onto the braid that was unraveling. A small giggle came from her throat and she strode over to sit beside Anne.

"Need help with that?" Ke asked sweetly, "Yes, please." earning an endearing laugh from her.

"Just because I can break a man's neck, doesn't mean I can do hair." Roxy huffed lightly in fake offence, "It took me years to master the art of braiding, like how long it took you to train to be dangerous." as Tai's slender tan fingers combed through her thick dark brown hair.

Undoing the work that had been done, the teen split the hair into five parts and carefully crossed strands over one another till the braid was finished. Tying the end with a black elastic, the warrior ran her own rich moca fingertips over the styled hair. Smiling happily towards Sparrow, thanking her for the help. Changing into a baggy night shirt, the two laid down for the night. Finally able to relax after such a long and rough day.