Pained

Chapter 5: Training Days

AN: Sorry if the last chapter was a little odd. It was brought on by caffeine and lack of sleep. Beware of seagulls in this chapter.

Rage put all the ingredients into the blender and started it up. Jin and Touya watched as the ice cream and milk become a light chocolate color and thick looking. She then pulled down 6 glasses and straws and filled each one up. “Here you two go, I have to take these to the others.” Rage said going through the door where the other members of Team Masho were. Gama was channel surfing while Bakken was scarfing down a whole bag of chips. They both looked up from the televison when she handed them each a glass containing something. “Thought you two could use a treat before going to bed. This is what we humans call a chocolate milkshake.” She said softly smiling as they took the glasses. “Where is Risho? I have a glass for him as well.” Rage asked looking around for the Masho team leader.

“He went to go set his alarm clock just before you came in.” Gama said slurping on the straw. Nodding Rage went over to the closed bedroom door and knocked. “Risho, it’s Rage. Are you decent?” She asked listening. “Yes, come in.” Came a muffled reply. Rage went into the dark room and shut the door behind her. It took her eyes a few minutes to adjust to the dimness of his room. “I made milkshakes, thought you would want one too.” Rage said placing the milkshake on the table. Risho was sitting in an easy chair looking out the picture window at the night sky. Rage felt an uneasy silence pass in between them and looked around to find something to talk about. She spotted his Shinobi robes hanging on the back of the door.

“Are those your Shinobi robes?” Rage asked seeing Risho look at her from his seat. “Yes, each of us as one. My symbol of the leader is the gold ring tied to the hood. Care to try them on?” He asked walking up behind her. “Might as well, the workmanship of the stitching is better than some designer clothing here.” She said examining the black silk robes. “It should because I take pride in my Shinobi code and dress, but I do not know about the others’ robes because they can be so crass with them at times.” Risho said helping Rage pull the main black robe over her body the helping with the hood. After he finished he backed up to look at her. “So how do I look?” She asked looking around. Risho snickered a bit at the size of the robes on her body. “I would say you need a smaller size robes for your feminine figure.” Rage snorted and pulled the hood off. “I know what you mean, I feel like I am wearing something made by Omar the tent maker.” Risho helped Rage out of the robes and bid her goodnight.

When she made her way back into the room she was staying in she saw Jin blowing bubbles in his milkshake while Touya was slurping the cold beverage. “Touya watch out you might get...” She didn’t get a chance to continue before he clutched his fore-head and groaned. “Brain freeze.” Rage said looking at the ice master. “Who would f thought, the ice master getting brain freeze!” Jin started laughing so hard his milkshake came out of his nose. “What goes around comes around.” Touya said disgusted at the chocolate stains on his friend’s clothes. “You two are a mess. Come on bed time.” Rage said cleaning up Jin’s mess off the table and fixing her spot on the sofa to sleep. The two fighters bid her goodnight while shutting the door. “Note to self, do not make anymore milkshakes.” She said to herself turning over and going to sleep.

The sound of birds chirping woke Rage up out of a dreamless sleep. She stretched her body and tested her shoulder. ‘A bit stiff but good enough to train with.’ She thought looking at the clock seeing it was 7:45am more than an hour until she was supposed to get up for training. She quietly peeked into Jin and Touya’s room and saw both of them passed out in their boxers. She went over to her bags and got out some clothes to wear and train in. She put on her grey and black Everlast sports bra, black spandex shorts, a grey tank top, socks, and tennis shoes. She went over to the phone and dialed the Toguro brothers’ room number. Ani answered the phone just after two rings. “Ani Toguro.” Was all he said. “Sorry to bother you Ani, it’s Rage. None of the members of Team Masho are up and I am famished. I remember what all of you said last night about having someone be with me at all times so do you want to get some breakfast?” Rage asked nervously. The guy still creeping her out a little.

“Sure, my brother has already left to scope out the arenas. I will be by shortly to take you to breakfast.” Ani said before hanging up. Rage hung up the phone and left a note for Team Masho on the table as she went to wait by the door. A few minutes passed until she peeked out and saw Ani walking down the hall wearing his usual blue long sleeve shirt and matching pants. She grabbed her key card and softly shut the door. “Good morning Miss Blackthorne. I trust you slept well?” Ani asked as he began walking towards the elevator next to Rage. “For the most part, I can’t wait until this mess with Pegasus is over. Something still bugs me though, how did he know where I was? When I left Industrial Illusions I practically fell off the face of the Earth, then how did he know I was going to be here at this hotel during these months? It just doesn’t add up.” Rage asked as Ani listened while they were in the elevator.

The elevator was just passing the second floor when it stopped and the lights went out. This made Rage move closer to the elder Toguro brother just as the elevator abruptly shot upward causing Rage and Ani to fall to the floor from the massive onslaught of G-Force. “Ha, ha, ha I don’t care what Mr. Pegasus does to me Rage, I’m going to kill you for burning my arm like that you little bitch. Give my regards to Sir Isaac Newton when you hit rock bottom.” Kemo’s voice laughed over the elevators’ call box speaker. “Ani.” Rage said extremely frightened as they neared the top floor of the hotel. The elder Toguro brother quickly expanded his clay like body and braced his limbs on all sides of the elevator. He then pulled Rage into his arms off the floor and incased her body in a cocoon with his suspended in the air. The elevator then plummeted not 2 seconds later with a velocity to rival the space shuttle. Ottotguroguro was waiting for the elevator in the lobby when he saw one coming down at a rapid rate and backed up from the doors just as it hit.

There was a massive explosion that knocked him backward into the solid concrete wall causing a dent that was more than two feet deep from his body. uickuickly regained his composure and pried the flaming doors open to find the familiar expanded body of his brother inside. “Ani are you all right?” Ottoto asked seeing his brothers’ face appear on the cocoon. “Yes, take Rage, I had to cover her for us to survive.” He said as he un-morphed his body when Ottoto took the very shaken up female out of the flaming elevator shaft. By now the security guards with fire extinguishers started getting the fire under control. Ani and Ottoto walked next to Rage who was heading for the restaurant still in shock. “That was close back there.” Ottoto said sitting down. That was all it took for the flood gates to open. “Oh Ani thank you, if it would have just been me in that elevator then Mr. Sakyo would have been making funeral arrangements right now.” Rage cried hugging the Toguro brother. Ani calmed the girl down enough after some coaxing for her to eat soon after.

By 8:35am the Toguro brothers had escorted Rage up the stairs to the doors of Team Masho. “Thank you two. I wish you guys luck today.” Rage said bidding her farewells to the brothers. “No problem.” Was all Ottoto said and Ani nodded climbing onto his shoulder. Rage shut the door and went and sat on the sofa. She was still pretty shaken about what had just occurred. Jin came out of the bedroom in his chipper mood a while later. Touya followed looking a bit groggy with his hair in a mess. Jin you couldn’t tell because his hair was always shaggy. They spied Rage on the sofa looking like she had seen a ghost. “Rage, what’s wrong?” Touya asked the wide-eyed female. “Do you realize that you would have to be burying me instead of training me right now if Ani Toguro had not been with me an hour ago?” She said her face stark white.

Touya and Jin were speechless for a moment. “What happened?” They both said in union. “Get the others in here, because I don’t want to tell this twice.” After she said that Jin rounded up the others while Touya got her a glass of water. Soon Risho who was clad in a pair of boxers and a tank top came in with a fully dressed Bakken and Gama. She told them of what had happened. “I heeded the warning all of you gave me last night and asked Ani if he would take me to breakfast. He agreed and I met him at the door to the room. We got into the elevator and proceeded down to the lobby, well on the second floor we stopped and the lights went out, which seemed rather odd. We didn’t get much time to think about it until we both were hurled to the floor as the elevator rapidly shot towards the top floor. Kemo’s voice came over the speaker and told me he didn’t care what Pegasus did to him and that he was going to kill me for burning his arm last night. Ani pulled me to him and molded his body to brace for impact as the elevator plummeted downward. If Ani hadn’t been there when the elevator hit the lobby floor and exploded I would have been dead.” Rage said as she started crying again.

“I suggest we get her out to the open arena and begin training now to get her mind off this incident.” Risho said glaring. “Jin, you and Touya have her training today. Gama, Bakken you two come with me. I am going to ask the assistance of Team’s Toguro and Uraotogi in finding these assholes.” Risho said walking out the door. Rage felt a little safer when she walked down the hall and to the stairs with Jin and Touya. They smelt the smoke just as they opened the door to the lobby. “Man, what a mess.” Jin said as they passed the elevators. “To give you an idea of how powerful the blast was, this outline that is two feet deep into the wall is Ottoto Toguro.” Rage said as Touya examined it. “Indeed, these are real masterminds that we are dealing with. Rage, if it would be all right with you I would like for you to move the sofa into our bedroom so if Kemo or Croquet tries anything we are right there.” Touya said as they proceeded outside.

Rage nodded and looked at Jin who took off into the air. “I’ll meet you two at the open arena.” He said flying off. Rage started laughing at his retreating form. “What’s so funny?” Touya asked as they started walking along the dirt paths. “Jin the Wind Master, is also the biggest air head I know.” She stated seeing the red-headed horned member of Team Masho acting like a goof ball with a flock of birds. “I have to agree with you.” Touya said sighing as the silence was ended with Jin shouting, “Gross those obnoxious gulls just shitted all over me favorite pair of pants!” This got both Rage and Touya to fall on the ground in peals of gut busting laughter.

They finally made it to the open arena and looked around. “Look at the size of this place. You could hold one hell of a monster truck rally here.” Touya ignored Rage’s comment and took his white toga shirt and fishnet chain mail armor off. “Rage we will begin with stretching and defensive maneuvers. After we get those down, then we will begin the offensive. Are you sure your shoulder is ok?” Touya asked beginning his stretching. “My shoulder is fine, I just hope my powers don’t go hre are again.” Rage said mimicking Touya on his stretches. Jin landed not to far from them holding his pants in his hand. “I’ll be back Touya, bird troubles with me pants.” He said as Rage noticed the boxers he was wearing. “I like the boxers. But Barney is kind of young for you.” She said trying to keep from laughing to death. “Jin while your in the room could you bring that two liter of soda back with you?” Touya asked the retreating Wind Master. “Ok, see ya later.” After Jin left a tua turned to Rage who finished her warm-ups.

About 3 in the afternoon Touya called it quits. “You did well Miss Blackthorne, 6 hours straight.” Touya said catching his breath. “6 hours? I thought it was 6 millennia.” Rage said panting. She had Jin go back to the hotel and purchase some Powerade from the gift shop after the soda was gone to keep her and Touya hydrated. Touya had a thick sheen of sweat over his chest and back from the tropical humidity in the air as he sat down on the concrete of the fighting circle. Rage did the same her garnet hair plastered to her neck and back while her sports bra dripped of sweat. “I am going to feel this in the morning.” She sighed looking at her leg from where a few of Touya’s Shards of Winter had hit her. “Tell me about it, my ass nearly got charred to a cinder.” He retorted looking at the amusement in Rage’s eyes rubbing his sore backside. “I guess that would be called a rump roast.” She snickered as he playfully pushed her arm and made her fall over.

“You have a good since of humor Rage.” Jin said from the sidelines. “Don’t get to cocky Jin, it is your turn tomorrow.” Touya said as an evil smirk crossed his face. “Betcha I won’t get my ass grilled.” Jin said sarcastically then dodging a few hundred Shards of Winter. While Touya was trying to hit the elusive Wind Master who flew off into the sky Rage tackled him from behind. “Naughty, naughty Touya. You should never turn your back to an opponent, even for a second.” Rage said as they rolled off the fighting ring and onto the grass. “Really now?” Touya retorted as he began wrestling her. They rolled and tumbled until Touya secured Rage to the ground with his legs and arms. “Do you surrender?” He asked playfully as Rage struggled to get up. “Never!” She said trying to bite his arm. Touya brought his face close to hers and said, “Now, now you’re not a vampire so no biting.” He smirked as she struggled harder. Rage tried to head butt him but when she brought her face closer to his their lips accidently locked.

This caused both parties to go wide eyed and blushes the color of Rage’s hair. Touya pulled away after a few tense seconds and stared at Rage who was panting with a somewhat glazed look to her eyes. “I am so sorry Rage I didn’t mean to do that.” Touya started to apologize but Rage shook her head. “No need, that felt wonderful Touya.” She wispered as the blush became more pronounced. “Well then.” Touya smirked and kissed her again, this time with more force. “Whoo hoo, ya two better get back to the hotel room.” Jin’s laughter caught the attention of the pair locked in the kiss. Jin had to do some major aerial maneuvers to dodge a bast of fire and Shards of Winter after Rage and Touya parted. “Rage if it isn’t too much of a bother I would like to escort you to a dance later that will be held in one of the many lounges?” Touya asked the red head.


“Sure, but I would like to get cleaned up and see if I can find something suitable to wear. My red dinner dress is wrinkled beyond repair.” Rage said as they began to make their way back towards the hotel with Jin in the air keeping a good distance away from them just in case they wanted some more target practice. “I am sure you will find something.” Touya said as they entered the hotel lobby and proceeded to the stairs.

Once they entered them itm it became apparent that the other members of Team Masho hadn’t yet returned. “Rage I am going to find Risho, I’ll be back shortly. Jin should be here soon unless he got sidetracked by the arcade again.” Touya said going out the door while Rage got her bathing supplies out of one of her bags. “Ok Touya, I am going to shower so I’ll stop smelling like something died.” Rage said to his back going into the room that he shared with Jin. She took off her sweat soaked clothing and put it in a bag for cleaning. She then climbed into the shower and began her cleaning ritual.

The running water covered the sound of the hotel room door opening and the muffled foot falls of someone entering the room. Rage had just finished her shower and was putting on her robe when she felt that something wasn’t right. Tying the sash, she proceeded into the dark room going toward the door when a voice made her run dead cold inside filled the room. “Greetings Miss Blackthorne, I do hope you missed me.” Pegasus said coming up behind her. “No, say away from me you madman!” Rage practically screamed as she was backed into the wall. “Now, now no need to get so flustered. I have come to claim what is rightfully mine. Now be a good girl and...” He never got to finish as Rage summoned up her Telekinetic power and sent Pegasus across the room to slam into the other wall. Seeing her ce sce she ran from the room into the other room of Team Masho and locked the door between the rooms and went right to the phone.

She quickly punched in the number of the Toguro brothers room and prayed that they would answer soon. The beating on the door only made it worse and when the voices of Kemo and Cet jet joined Pegasus’ Rage began panic. “Hello?” The voice Rage knew was the elder Toguro answered the line. “Ani, I need your help. Pegasus is here and is trying to break down the door to my room...” Ani listened to her panicked voice and in the background heard the door break and Rage scream.

AN: I know it is a cliffie, but what do you think should happen? Pegasus gets Rage? Touya and the others return? Ani and Team Toguro to the rescue? Read and review and tell me! The more good praise I get the faster I type!