Description: After another 'odd' encounter with the eccentric and (in)famous Hurricane Hime in the SNF circuits, Marisol finds an even stranger turn of events when Himeko Kashiwagi comes looking for her after school. But what could her intentions be..?
Uh oh there are rumors.. Odd odd rumors buzzing around on Pacific campus right now! And is Marisol has any REAL friends, she may have heard about them. The impressive part is how fast these rumors having gotten around despite the 'school's over get out' bell has rung not even four seconds ago!
"Hey, did you hear about that weirdo in front of the school?"
"Oh yeah I totally did, she's been hanging around at the lockers, hasn't she? Marisol's was it?"
"Yeah, they say she's been there for the last two hours or something."
"B- But that.. That's so -weird-! Do you think she was sent by the government?"
"I heard she's her secret lover!"
"I heard she's her -mom-."
"............. Woah."
"Do you think we should tell her?"
"N- No way. Lets just tell everybody else instead."
Well needless to say the person they're talking about isn't a Pacific student. A dusky-skinned girl with short and black unkempt hair, clad in an orange turtleneck and skirt; but most importantly a bright pink flou- er labcoat, is sprawled out, her back pressed against a certain half-spaniards locker, by her side a notebook stroller and an open book resting on her head. If that weren't unusual enough, the spectacled girl seems to be utterly out cold, taking a nap as if she were resting in the comfort of her own home or something. Weird.. How weird!
Rumors: a staple to high school living. They're all fun and games until you're the center of them.
Then they're no fun anymore.
It didn't take long for the rumors of Pacific's own Marisol O'Connell to reach her. Like wildfire they spread furiously around the school, and by the time they'd reached the half-Spaniard she was told her mother's distant relative from the deepest dark corner of Antarctica had kayaked her way to Pacific High after years to betroth her to her mother's secret lover's illegitimate son.
Of COURSE Marisol was intrigued by these outlandish lies and rumors that flooded the school. So, after a bit of less-than polite inquiry to a few of the school's very own Gossip Girls, she was on her way down the main drag of Pacific's prestigious hallways, marching right for her locker with her books in hand. But the closer she gets the more she realizes that, yes. There IS someone there. But she looks a little familiar.
Pausing a few feet from the orange turtleneck-wearing girl, the redhead tips her head slowly to one side as she folds her arms over her chest. Is...is she sleeping? And she thinks that, maybe, she kind of recognizes the face as well. It's not every day you see a girl with Himeko's...eccentric choice of attire. She gives the girl a minute to wise up to Marisol's presence. But the longer she waits, the more impatient she becomes.
"Ah-HEM!!!"
Loudly, Marisol breaks the silence. Maybe that will wake the girl up?!
Oh yeah.. Standing there definatly isn't going to be enough to snap Himeko out of her dream, she's having an amazing one two, within it she's been standing atop a mountain, her hands drawn back while charging up for the World's Largest Gadouken. There are judges around her staring with wide eyes and wearing darkened goggles, completely astonished by this spectacle. 'This is it! This is it! Himeko Kashiwagi is about to break the WORLD RECORD!! What do you think of this, Mark??' 'AH-HEM!!' 'What?' 'AH-HEM!!'
Himeko suddenly jolts up with a start, her book falling off of her head and she pats her arms around completely aimlessly for a good four seconds or so, "Wh- Hu.. Wh.. Nnmmmuuh? What?" she blathers, taking a moment to draw in her surroundings, and then looks upward to the tough girl of the Pacific Resistance. The familiar look most certainly is well warrented, she does look familiar.. Very very familiar. "Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, I was waiting and I got tired so I thought I would take a nap," the dusky skin girl mumbles shyly, her cheeks turning a hot red.
Soon enough she's to her feet, picking up the book with one hand and uses her free hand to rub are her tired eyes. ".. I was reading this fascinating book, actually, but since I didn't get a lot of sleep last night I ended up like that.. But it's a wonderful one, have you ever read 'Through the Looking Glass'?"
Stirred from her prize-winning Gadouken dream, the only sight to greet poor groggy Himeko Kashiwagi is the indifferent look of Marisol O'Connell, standing right in front of her. With her textbooks hugged to her chest, she looks to be waiting for the girl to both wake up and possibly to move so she can get to her locker. Fortunately, the latter doesn't really seem to be a big concern for her.
Finally the dusky-skinned Taiyo girl regards Marisol, and the cordial and very un-Hurricane Hime-like replies earn her...well, a very strange look from the girl. This wasn't the education fiend she just fought, or the emo-ridden antihero from Dream Amusement Park. This girl is...
Normal!
"Er, don't worry about apologizing," Marisol offers with a shrugs of her shoulders and a faint and clearly uncertain smile. Is this a gimmick or ploy to get the girl's guard down...or is Himeko really a normal person?
"Can't say I have. I don't do a lot of recreational reading, I admit," she replies with a broader, more confident sort of grin. "But I gotta ask, what brings you out here? Er, did you transfer to Pacific High or somethin'?" She doubts, but she has to cover her bases!
Well.. As normal as a girl who takes naps in front of peoples lockers can get! Himeko seems to be pretty oblivious of Marisol's confusion, as she's too busy trying to remember why she's here in the first place; she must have been really out of it! "Oh! Oh, yes, I'm glad you asked that, lets see.. No, I'm most certainly not a transfer student though, I'm actually from Taiyo but.. I think it'd be a good idea not to let that get around. Now why I'm here, I actually have a note somewhere.."
Himeko pats around on her pink jacket, and upon reaching in one of her pockets, she draws out a reporters notebook; the ones you can hold easily in your palm and flip pages overhead it! "That is a shame though, it used to be required reading.. And Book Clubs seem to be declining in popularity as well.. Maybe someone should write a martial arts version of it, that sounds like a good idea. Ah let's see..."
........
Himeko's green eyes blink a few times, a few more times, and then she gasps, pointing a finger to Marisol, "Oh.. Oh! You're Marisol O'Connell, that's right, I came here because I wanted to speak to you! .. Er.. I mean, not because of anything weird.." the girls cheeks fire up again, she quickly shaking her head and hands, "It really isn't for anything weird I promise, I seem to have a bad habit of making people think I'm confessing to them, and erm.. It.. it's nothing like that, it really isn't." pause. "I mean I'm very flattered you think that way of me, b- but I'm interested in someone else..." and her gaze averts to the side guiltily.
Listening closely - and no doubt carefully - the redhead watches as Himeko explains herself and, perhaps most importantly, why she's on campus. The orange turtleneck made her guess that maybe she was from Gedo, but Himeko Kashiwagi certainly does not seem the typical Gedo student. Then again, neither does Stasya. Furrowing her brows a touch, the redhead appears thoughtful until the girl explains herself.
"Taiyo, huh?" she mulls aloud, a hand breaking from her textbooks to idly rub at her chin. "Well, I dunno if anyone really has a problem with Taiyo." Marisol doesn't - at least for now! So then, why the heck IS Himeko on campus, if she's not here for a transfer? Quietly, the half-Spaniard watches as she searches for her notes. She doesn't remember..?
"I think more people are interested in fighting here in Southtown, though I'm sure if you look hard enough you can find one or two book clubs...somewhere." Marisol grins, absently shrugging her shoulders - until the girl finds her notes. She listens closely once again...
And pointedly blinks as she's pointed out. Himeko forgot her name?? "Y-yeah, I'm Marisol. You wanted to speak, eh? Well." Here she is! How weird can it possibly be..?
And then Himeko elaborates. Slowly but surely the girl's tanned features slightly flush, lips pulling into a thin line as she just peers at the girl. She...crush...
"What??" A quick shake of Marisol's head follows, eyes pinching shut before she exhales and sags her shoulders. "Wait, wait. No way; sorry, I'm not THAT kind of girl," the half-Spaniard explains, shaking a hand dismissively. "B-besides, I'm too busy to be worrying about relationships!" She likes to fight; then there's the whole maybe saving herself for Shenwoo thing no one alive knows about. Marisol Woo has a nice ring to it.
"E-er, what did you come to talk about?"
"Oh you're too busy? That's too bad, you seem like a really nice girl. You know what I'd better jot that down.." Himeko says, glancing upward, and then reaching into her jacket to take out a pen. She writes down in it while talking out loud, "Find Marisol O'Connell. Note: Would make a wonderful wife."
She then looks up from it, "Oh there's definatly one in Taiyo.. I would know, I actually am part of it," Himeko is about to recommend she join, but decides against it. She also avoids talking about rivalries for now. "I wanted to say thank you for the match, and I wanted to apologize for teasing you so much in our fight last week.. I really hope there aren't any hard feelings. Mmn.. I'd better introduce myself come to think of it, I'm Himeko Kashiwagi.. I play Hurricane Hime on the fighting circuit." She offers a hand to shake..
After saying that, though, her gaze averts to the side again, and her own shoulders slump and her wrist goes limp, "Erm.. It's ok if you don't believe me though, no one does.. I've gotten rather used to it.. But I wanted to apologize anyway."
'Would make a wonderful wife' What?
Blinking once, the girl's tanned features blossom into a furious shade of red, eyes as wide as saucers as she regards Himeko with a mix of disbelief and shock. Shaking her head almost immediately after, the girl stammers lightly before she points a finger, wagging it toward the notes. "N-no that note, you should definitely get r-rid of it," she offers. Please Lord, let her forget something embarrassing like that.
Fortunately, she seems to move on, looking up from the note and carrying on the conversation. Exhaling lightly, the redhead's blush subsides entirely...until she thanks her and apologizes. And comes forward with confessions.
For a long moment, the half-Spaniard seems stunned. Honestly, truly stunned by her good sportsmanship. She didn't expect her to come back and apologize for the taunting. She didn't expect a 'thank you' for the fight. She's genuinely sincere, as far as the half-Spaniard can tell.
...and it brings a grin to the redhead's face.
"Don't thank me. I should be thanking you, honestly," she explains, shifting her weight and the books in her grasp. "Both times we've fought you've always been quite a handful for me. I dunno how you do it, but somehow you always manage to make me push myself a bit more than I go into the fight expecting." Shrugging lightly, her smile broadens a touch. "And hey, definitely don't worry 'bout the teasing. I should apologize for being kind of...well...m-mean." Briefly, Marisol's eyes avert to the side, eyeing the floor before she glances back up.
"Now that I know you 'play' Hurricane Hime I can understand where you're coming from." The offered hand is accepted and given a firm and polite shake before it retreats to her sides once more. The look that follows after, the girl's suddenly lax posture earns her a bemused look from the half-Spaniard.
"Uhm...why don't people believe you..?"
Himeko looks at her notebook, and considers Marisol's reccommendation for about.. Oh.. Two seconds or so. And then she smiles, "Oh, ok.." the student assures. Er.. Ok what?
She moves on.
"O- Oh wow, really? Well, the truth is I'm a brown brown martial artist, so I would like to think I'm pretty skilled. But even still I'm happy to hear I'm a good match. And that's ok, Hurricane Hime likes to make people mad, it's what she does. .. Though I admit sometimes I think it's really funny too.. Um, sorry.." During the handshake her reading glasses slide a bit down the bridge of her nose, and she pushes them back up.
"As for why people don't believe me.. I.. I.. Um.. Hmmmmnn.." the dusky-skinned student closes her eyes a moment in intense concentration. It's a good question, one she's been asking herself for a good long time. "I'm not sure, exactly.. But that's the way it's been ever since I started, so I just don't tell many people anymo-" Himeko steps a little more to the side to let Marisol get to her locker. "more. It's fine, though. Umm. I- I guess that's about all I wanted to say.."
The girl squints. What's okay..?
Shaking her head as Himeko moves on, the smile returns, Marisol's weight shifting from one foot to the other as she absently cradles her books. "Brown belt? Really? Wow, I'd thought you to be a black belt in your Sai-what's it's style." Pausing, her gray eyes fix on the ceiling, lips pursing lightly in thought. "Still, for as much trouble as I had against you...that's impressive for a brown belt, I'd say. So yeah, I'd say you're skilled."
With a confident grip Marisol shakes her hand, the redhead offering a light smirk. "Well, that's a pretty good tactic 'Hurricane Hime' has going for her. It's a distraction, I'll say. When I look back on the fight, I do admit it was pretty funny. How'd you get ALL of that set up in a warehouse, anyway?"
The step aside is noted, and in response the half-Spaniard girl steps in and swiftly turns the lock. Opening it, she idly tucks her books away before shutting it, all the while keeping her gaze on the bespectacled fighter. "Why don't you tell people?" she asks, sounding genuinely confused. "You're a good fighter. There's no reason to hide that fact, you know."
".. Oh, well, I'm not nearly as good as my master just yet.. I guess getting a black belt is really difficult, oh and it's Saikyo Ryu! Um.. Thank you.." Himeko's cheeks burn up yet again. She's probably one that doesn't get many compliments; that or doesn't take them very well! "Hmnn..."
Himeko then kneels by her roller, opening the bag resting on it and proceeds to shuffle through that, while Marisol puts her schoolthings away."Well at this point in time, it doesn't really matter now, I think.. Besides, if the kids who watch the show knew the truth, they'd be really disappointed, so.. I guess it works out just fine the way it is. So it's ok, maybe one day.. As for the factory, that was nothing because Mister Howard paid for all of it. I never really thought to ask why but maybe I should.." Himeko takes out a book, it's a hardcover, and a simple read book that has a title that doesn't look all that special actually.
"W- Well, um, here you can have this. I figure we might be kind of, erm, sort of rivals, even though I know you probably have your hands full as is. But it's only fair to give you a little edge, so here.." The book is titled 'How To Subdue the Saikyo-Ryu within You by Dan 'The Man' Hibiki'. Apparently it is a How-To book on the martial art. How generous! "I- It's a gesture of friendship, nothing more, ok?"
Her confession earns her a lopsided grin from the half-Spaniard, gray eyes giving her a quick sizing up before simply drawing shut. "Well, to be fair I'm not as good as my 'master' yet either, and nowhere near as great as my idol is," she admits honestly. "So we're in the same boat in that respect." She nods once.
"Oh, sorry. Saikyo Ryu, huh?" The style sounds awfully familiar, she secretly mulls. But when the dusky-skinned girl opens up a bit further the redhead stays quiet, allowing her to say her piece as she herself tucks her books away. Kids would be disappointed?
"Why do you say that?" she asks. "If anything, I'd think kids would better relate to a 'hero' they know is just as human as they are, however seemingly inhuman 'Hurricane Hime' may be." A light shrug follows, as the redhead turns properly to face the other fighter as she rifles through her bag. "In the end I guess it's up to you, huh? If you think keeping your identity a secret is best, then keep it up."
As for Howard Enterprises... "Hey, never look a gift horse in the mouth. I really liked the space part of the 'arena,'" she admits, offering the girl a lighthearted grin. "Floating around was pretty fun. Definitely a new experience for me. I--"
When a book is presented to the half-Spaniard, those gray eyes widen a slight bit, peering curiously at its cover. The title alone warrants a bit of confusion. A how-to on Saikyo-Ryu? Reaching out, Marisol accepts it, gingerly taking the red book in hand before peering a bit more intensely at the cover, then its back. But...
"Rivals?"
Blinking twice, she looks at the girl with a distant expression of confusion. "Er, I...wha...?" Stunned and lost for words, she just studies Himeko carefully. Friendly rivals, at that? Can it really hurt..?
"Okay then!" the girl suddenly blurts, clutching the book firmly in hand with a broad grin. "You got yourself a deal, then. Though, hrm...I really don't have much to give you...oh, I know." Turning to the locker, she hurriedly opens it and pulls a stray piece of paper out and a pen, scribbling on it before she turns to face Himeko, presenting the page. It's a series of numbers.
"Here's my phone number. Feel free to call any time you want to spar or do something rival-y or meet up in a Neo League match or whatever. Or if, you know, you get in trouble or somethin' and need help." Hey, it's the least she can do, right? Himeko is obviously a nice person under her Hurricane Hime costume!
Poor, confused Marisol.. And yet somehow again Himeko seems to be comletely oblivious to the different level of oddity she's laying upon the half-spaniard which might -almost- explain how she gets misunderstood so often in the first place! Alas, the troubles of a bookworm! The book itself doesn't look very special, but hey on the inner cover at least it's signed so how cool is that?? Very cool! e_e!
So after that, Himeko seems a bit puzzled by what's being written up, and when the number is given to her, it's her turn to look a little flabbergasted. Her lips move a bit with no words, then her eyes water up and tears spill down her cheeks. This is the fourth time in her life someone's given her a phone number! This.. This is just SO COOL!! Between sniffles, Himeko removes her glasses to wipe at her eyes with her sleeves, "I- I.. Um, sorry, I .. I guess it's allergy season again.. *sniffle* I- I'll take really good care of it, so don't worry, th- thank you very much.." Her eyes are still a bit blurry, but even that may not explain why she faces the locker and then bows to it, slamming her forehead agaist the thing in the process with a *Ker-WHAM* Ooh ho ho -ouch-.
Himeko staggers back a bit, puts on her glasses again and blinks. "... Oh. .. ... Ouch!!" She's rubbing her forehead then, and grasps her roller with her other hand, and after wincing gives Marisol another big smile and a more careful bow, "Ok w- well, I'll see you later then.." And so she turns around and heads toward the school doors, wiping at her eyes again. She's off!
Possibly to kayak.
Whoa. Just...whoa.
Handing over the number, there's a look of sheer surprise on Marisol's face, followed by a sudden flush of her cheeks. Paling, she nervously averts her eyes either direction, to see if anyone is bearing witness to the poor girl's sudden waterworks. Fortunately, for the most part, they seem to be alone in the after-school hours.
"E-er, s-sorry, I didn't mean--" Wait. "Oh, allergies?" Drawing her eyes shut, she gives a slight, knowing nod. Allergies, yes...then SLAM.
Immediately snapping her eyes open, the girl stares as poor Himeko recoils from the slam into the locker door, her expression a mix of 'are you okay' and 'whoa, how are you being so self-destructive in a matter of minutes.' But before she can ask, the girl recovers quickly and bows, taking her belongings and turning tail. Lifting a hand, she offers a wave as the girl exits the school. And when she's left alone...
She sighs.
"Another rival, huh?" It could be interesting, she wagers.
Log created on 21:10:39 09/03/2008 by Marisol, and last modified on 01:54:33 09/04/2008.