v2.0 C8.3

So sorry about not posting this sooner.

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From the last post:

I turned back to face Erin. Innocent green eyes peered up at me.

“I was just picking some flowers.”

And now for C8.3:

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“Bye Kathy!” Cara called over her shoulder, walking towards a rowdy group of children who were all wearing pure white karategi, the karate uniform.

“Bye! Can you come home with us later?” Erin stared at me innocently, eyes wide and appealing.

“Erin,” Chris warned, frowning at her in disaproval.

I almost sighed. Why was it so hard to say no? “I’m afraid I can’t. Ma won’t be happy with that.” Please don’t cry.

“Oh.” Her face fell, and she bit her lip. “But…”

“Eree! We’re waiting for you!” Cara yelled impatiently.

“Okay, I’m coming! Bye!” Erin smiled sweetly, hugged my knee, and hurried over to Cara. She ran surprisingly fast for someone her size.

I sighed, loosening my muscles as we walked towards the corridor that led to the exit. Children were so hard to manage. I wondered how my parents had fared when we were young. We must have been quite a handful.

“You know, I’ve never seen them this happy,” Chris commented.

“Really?”

“Yes. They really adore you. Especially Erin.” He smiled slightly, glancing at me.

To my mortification, I blushed slightly. “She adores people.”

Chris began hesitantly, “Usually. Not…”

“Chris! There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you. You’re later than… Oh, hi, Katherine. I didn’t know you did karate as well.” Danvers was grinning as usual, his dark brown hair slightly ruffled. There was a black belt tied at his waist. Impressive.

“Hello, Danvers. I’m not here for karate, actually.” I was as surprised at his presence as he was at mine.

“No? Pity. I was hoping to spar with you.”

“Yeah. Me too.” Michel appeared beside Danvers, grinning. I’d never known that he was into karate either. But then again, I’d never really talked to him during AP art.

“Why would you want to do that?” Incredulity stained my voice.

He grinned, green eyes twinkling. “Your fame precedes you, you know? Anyway…” He turned to Chris, who was smiling slightly as well, and continued, “Coach Takeda wants to meet you.”

“Takeda? He’s back?”

Danvers nodded. “Yes. And I hear he’s teaching again. Only his old classes, though.”

Chris frowned momentarily. Then ecstasy lit up his face. He looked radiant. I’d never seen him so happy before.

“Um, I’d best get going, then.” I smiled tentatively, taking a step back. My goodbye died on my lips as I felt someone approaching my back. I was just turning when something hurtled past me and slammed into Chris. What the…

He staggered forwards. The man in white moved in a blur, attacking Chris relentlessly. I looked at Danvers and Michel in alarm. They merely smiled at me. What were they playing at?

Miraculously, Chris managed to block the oncoming punches. The speed and ferocity of the man’s attacks were amazing. Chris didn’t even have time to consider a counter-attack.

Suddenly, there was a lull in the fight. It almost seemed as if the man was goading Chris into launching his own attack. Instead, Chris jumped a few paces backwards, assuming a defensive stance.

My mind was still in a state of shock when the man began to relax, stretching like a cat. “You pass,” he said to Chris. “You may resume training this Sunday.”

Chris bowed, concealing a wide grin on his face.

“But your blocks have become weak, my pupil,” the middle-aged Japanese man warned.

I caught sight of Danvers smirking smugly. Apparently, the man did so too, for he turned to address him.

“And your blocks, Mr Danvers, are pathetic.”

Danvers stared at the ground glumly. “I will train harder, Mr Takeda.”

“Be sure that you do.”

Danvers bowed as well.

“Good.” Then he turned to me.”My apologies for not greeting you earlier. What is your name?”

“Katherine Brown, Mr Takeda.”

He blinked, looking at me, then the trio in rapid succession. “How are you related to my pupils, Ms Brown?”

I was slightly taken aback at the question. “We’re friends from school.”

He raised his eyebrows. His face was emotionless, but I sensed that he was highly amused. Then, shrugging, he asked, “Do you have an interest in Karate?”

I stared at the stocky Japanese. “Um, yes, I suppose so.”

“You suppose so?”

Then his right fist shot out at an alarming speed. I leaned backwards, trying to evade the punch. Instinctively, my right hand moved upwards to intercept his arm. It would have been of no use, though. His hand would have hit me really hard had he not stopped an inch from where my ribs had been.

“You’ve had training,” the instructor stated, surprise in his voice.

“No…” I frowned. “I’ve never done karate.”

Chris frowned at my answer. The middle-aged coach raised his eyebrows. “You should join us.”

Michel whistled. I gaped at the coach for a second. Then I blinked. He was really being serious.

I bowed hastily. “Gladly.”

Now for a tidbit from chapter 9:

…”Yes. I think I managed to collide into someone though. My father didn’t let me go snowboarding for the next six years.”…

- Anon

The person who said this should be fairly obvious.