Serenay Moon
Special XVIII: Boku
©2002 Kitty Ocean  

 

With a great slam, Zach flew out of the woods towards the end of the cliff. He felt his aching muscles, telling him to get ready for another hit! This opponent was strong, stronger than he had ever faced... and he knew her name. The foot kicked hard against Zach and Zach lost his balance. Before he would actually fall, he felt someone grabbing his foot.

"What the..?" He asked her, looking into the multicoloured eyes. "Are you helping me?"

She smiled devilish. "Just wanted to be sure you would wait for me down there." Kitt grinned as she let him go. 

Zach screamed when he plunged down towards the river. When he looked up, he heard Kitt laughing. She then jumped after him, with an elegant dive.

 

Zach woke up, bathing in sweat. He felt his heart pounding in his chest. For a minute he looked around, seeing himself in his bed. "Only a dream..." He mumbled. "It's felt so real..." He looked aside, seeing Kitt asleep on a mattress. They arrived yesterday at his house.

 

Zach remembered his mom and dad standing in the doorway. 'Look honey!' she had said. 'There is Zach! Yoo-hoo! Zach!' Zach felt so embarrassed when he saw his mother waving.

 

Zach shook his head for a moment. "Why does this dream scare me so much?" He asked himself and then looked at Kitt. The girl in his dream looked like Kitt, but somehow he knew it wasn't her. Zach slowly bent over and gave Kitt a small kiss on her cheek. He didn't know why he was doing it. Zach lay down in his bed and turned around. "Only a dream..." He mumbled.

In the mean while, Kitt was awake and wondered herself. She touched her cheek with her fingers and noticed she wasn't able to sleep for a while any more.

 

The next morning, Zach and Kitt woke up early. "Ehm... Kitt?" Zach asked, "Did you notice anything last night?"

Kitt looked up. "No, not really. Why?" She asked.

"Nothing." Zach took his backpack. "Are you ready?"

Kitt put a towel in her backpack. "You need to ask me that?" She smiled.

Zach's mom stood in the doorway. "Good morning! Aren't we up early." She smiled.

"I know." Zach replied. "I promised Kitt I'd take her to the swimming pool today."

"Okay darling, just be careful." She smiled and waved at the doorway. "And don't go to the big pool without your...."

"Mom, I'm too old for those!" Zach yelled back. "I learned to swim 12 years ago!" Kitt grinned. "What?" Zach asked. "Mom is just overprotective because I almost drowned when I was 7 years old."

Kitt held up her hands, like she wanted to say: 'whatever spins your world'. Zach pulled her along while he growled and she grinned.

 

When they were almost inside, Zach looked around. "What are you looking for Zach?" Kitt asked.

"Nothing." Zach replied. "It's just been a while since I've been here. So many new faces." Suddenly he spotted someone. "It can't be..." He mumbled. He then wanted to walk away.

"Hey Zach!" Kitt pulled him back. "Where do you think you are going?"

Zach looked at Kitt, then back at the silhouette and then back at Kitt. "I forgot something!" He then lied. "Here is some money, just go in without me!" Zach pushed some coins into Kitt's hand. "I'll be right back!" He yelled while he ran away.

Kitt looked astounded at him. She then put the money in her pocket and followed Zach.

 

Zach ran through the streets and looked around. "I saw him!" He thought, "I knew I saw him!" Suddenly he spotted him again! "Boku!" He yelled. "Boku, wait!"

The brown skinned boy looked back who called his name. A smile then appeared on his face. "Well, how about that? Zach!"

"Boku!" Zach yelled and then tripped over a loose pebble from the road.

Boku walked at him and helped him up. "Still know how to make an entrance, right?" He grinned.

"It wasn't my fault." Zach cursed and got up. He dusted the dust off him.

The boys then looked at each other for a moment. Boku was the first to break the silence. "Has been a while, hasn't it?" He asked.

Zach nodded. "Yeah, how long has it been, a year?"

"A year and 2 months." Boku replied. "How have you been?"

Zach pointed at a bench. "Let's sit there, okay?"

Boku nodded and followed Zach. "So, anything important happened while I was away?" He asked.

Zach smiled. "I have been invited for the Moon Tournament!"

"You are kidding." Boku replied astounded. "The same tournament we have seen all the tapes from?"

Zach nodded proud. "Not only that, I won!"

Boku was now ready to fall of the bench. "You... you won?!" He exclaimed.

Zach smiled and nodded again. "How about you? I haven't seen you at the tournament, I expected you to be there, you are much stronger than I am!"

Boku looked at the floor and became silent. "Was it something I said?" Zach asked.

In the mean while, Kitt hid behind a pair of sunglasses and a newspaper and listened to the complete conversation. "Excuse me Miss." An old man asked. "Do you know the way to the Old Hazards Street?" He looked at a piece of paper.

Kitt got scared like hell and fled as fast as she could. Zach looked up for a moment. "She looked familiar." He mumbled, but then looked back at Boku. "Is there something wrong Boku?" He asked.

Boku looked up. "No, not really." He replied with a fake smile. "It's just that... after I moved for that expedition, I kinda broke my leg."

Zach remembered his last words he said when Boku left with his parents for an expedition: 'break a leg!' as a good luck-wish.

Boku continued. "If you were chosen and I not... then it probably means I will never get a chance. All because of a broken leg."

Zach tried to cheer his friend up. "Don't worry!" He smiled. "I was last to be chosen and I probably was chosen because of your broken leg. And I think they will grand you a second chance; this was not your fault!"

"You get chosen only once." Boku looked down again.

Zach folded his arms. "Darn, why doesn't Lady Kim have a cell phone?" He mumbled, remembering she was actually Nova Young, founder of the Serenay Moon- Moon Tournament.

"What?" Boku asked.

Zach sweated. "Nothing."

At that moment, a cute Girl Scout with pigtails slowly got closer. Kitt was satisfied with her new disguise and managed to get really close. "Look!" She suddenly heard, seeing a dozen Girl Scouts. "She's not one of us! She's trying to steal our customers! Get her!"

"Ack!" Kitt exclaimed and had to run away again; followed by angry Girl Scouts.

Boku looked around. "Quite busy today here."

All of a sudden, they heard a window break into shards. Zach and Boku stood up. "Oh darn, it's Shura again."

"Shura?" Zach asked. "I thought he left town."

"No, he's our personal village idiot." Boku smiled. "His gang doubled, so we'd better be careful."

Zach looked at the gang smashing their way through the streets. "Why doesn't anyone stop him?" Zach asked.

"All are afraid." Boku replied. "Even the police. His gang is enormous." Zach was ready to stop them. "No!" He yelled. "Don't be such a fool! Champion or not, they outnumber you!"

"Are we just going to let them trash the town?" Zach was insulted by his friend's cowardliness.

Suddenly, they heard the voice of Shura. "Hey guys, are you in for a swim?" His gang cheered and headed for the swimming pool.

Zach noticed it and became pale. "No!" He yelled. "Kitt!" He wanted to follow them, but Boku stopped him. "I don't care if you are in or not, but my friend is there!"

Boku nodded. "This town can use more guys like you. Okay, I'm in."

"Just like the old days?" Zach asked.

"Just like the old days." Boku confirmed.

Both ran towards the swimming pool when Kitt finally reached the bench. "Where are they going this time?" She huffed. Kitt then noticed the direction they were going. "Ack!" She screamed. "The swimming pool! I'm supposed to be there and wait for Zach!" As fast as her feet could carry her, she ran after Zach and Boku.

 

As predicted, Shura and his gang didn't have to pay any entrance fee in the swimming pool. Shura and his gang changed clothes; not for a nice calm swim, but to pick on all the people inside. Soon, little kids were separated from their beloved balls and older guys where pushed into the water. Some immature guys made little bombs in front of girls, making them all wet.

Zach and Boku silently reached the swimming pool in their swimming trunks also. "Great choice Boku." Zach complimented. "Now we'll blend in with the crowd."

Boku only sighed, wondering where his friend got his brains. "Let's try to find your friend." He suggested.

"Knowing Kitt, she'll be in the water." Zach looked around, seeing various swimming pools!

Boku laid a hand on his shoulder. "Of course!" He sarcastically mentioned. "We'll find her in no time at all!"

Zach and Boku walked through the building looking for Kitt, who just reached the place in her bathing suit.

 

Zach and Boku tried to be as invisible as possible, but soon Shura noticed them. "Hey, I know you guys! Freeze!" Zach and Boku obeyed, hoping they could leave this way as soon as possible. "Hey, aren't you that scrawny Zachy?" Shura asked. "Guys, look! Little Zachy is back!"

Zach bit on his lip, to keep himself calm. At that moment, a gang member lifted Zach and threw him in the pool. When Zach reached the surface, he saw everyone laughing. Shura laughed the loudest. "Long time no seen Zachy." Shura smiled. "I kinda missed stealing your lunch money."

Zach slowly began to boil and steam came from his entire body. He crawled out of the pool and punched Shura right in the face!

From that moment, a big fight was inevitable. Zach and Boku tried to keep the gang members away as long as they could, but were outnumbered. Kitt noticed it too! "I need to help them!" mumbled, but remembered something Zach had said. 'If a girl saves a boy in front of a strong guy, that boy is considered a weakling'. Kitt had to find a way without hurting Zach's pride!

Without Zach realising it, his hands started to glow. Within seconds, small fireballs escaped from his hands. The gang members screamed and let go of Zach. Zach lost his balance and fell back into the water. The fire created great steam, which filled the building.

"Thanks Zach." Kitt smiled, knowing this was what she needed.

The gang got confused and Zach managed to climb out of the pool. Now able to fight one on one, Zach managed to beat everyone who came across his path. Suddenly he wanted to punch someone, but noticed it was Boku!

"Nice trick." Boku complimented. "I never knew your powers grew this much."

Zach grinned. "This is actually a trick I learned from Kitt. Fire and water give steam, although I don't know how I made that fire." At that moment new gang members found their way to them.

On the other side of the misty cloud, Kitt tackled every gang member that wanted to attack Zach and Boku in the back. "Let's play nice, okay?" She smiled at them.

When the gang members noticed Kitt was in for a fight, they all dove at her. "Let's not get your feet wet." She smiled and released a water attack that made the floor very slippery. "Playing nice means one on one. Not 12 at one; that would be an unfair fight. I would win too easily."

Shura then finally found his way to Zach and Boku. "Well, well." He started. "Look who grew up. You fight well Zachy Boy, but are you strong enough to defeat me?"

"Within the blink of an eye." Zach dove at Shura and pinned him at the ground.

Shura was surprised, but kicked Zach away from him. "So much ego for such a small boy."

"Learned it from the best." Zach replied, but Shura punched him in the face. Zach answered that punch with a great bash of his own. Shura kicked him and when Zach lay on the floor, Shura hacked him on his back with both fists.

"Zach!" Boku exclaimed, but a hand stopped him.

Kitt looked into Boku's eyes. "This is his fight."

The mist cleared and Zach was still fighting with Shura. Zach smashed Shura with both fists and Shura slammed against the wall. Slowly, Shura crawled back up. "I'm not done yet Zachy." He said. "I'm stronger than you think."

"You are exhausted Shura." Zach stood ready for each move. "And your gang is washed up also!"

Shura saw his gang laying on the ground, moaning and sighing, and Boku and Kitt waving at him. "No! I cannot loose!" Shura ran at Zach, but Zach tackled him. "You will not defeat me Zachy!"

Zach looked into his eyes. "I'm feeling sorry for you." He suddenly said and walked away. "And the name is Zach."

 

Zach left the swimming pool, followed by Boku and Kitt. "Hey Zach, wait! I don't understand!" Kitt yelled. "You walked away from a fight?"

Zach smiled at her. "He's not worth my trouble. He couldn't accept his own defeat."

"And I accepted my defeat way before the fight started." Boku replied. "I've been such a coward."

Zach laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. "No, you were not." Zach comforted his friend. "I always thought that one day I would get even with Shura, for picking on me so long."

"But you walked away before you could." Kitt answered. "That's not like you Zach!"

Zach grinned. "I saw it in his eyes Kitt." He explained. "I got even with him the day I became better than him."

"When was that?" Kitt asked.

Zach looked at her. "The day I realised I had true friends."

Kitt blushed for a moment.

"Yup." Zach continued. "Thanks for being there Boku."

"Boku?" Kitt asked astounded.

Zach nodded. "Yeah, haven't I introduced him to you yet?" Kitt still gasped. "This is Boku, a friend from way back. He taught me how to fight. He's the best!"

"Not any more." Boku smiled.

All of a sudden, a bright girl voice called Boku's name. She threw herself into Boku's arms and with her Chinese coloured skin, she smiled at him. "Where were you?" She asked him.

Kitt and Zach looked questioning at Boku. Boku blushed. "Oh sorry, forgot to tell you. This is Meyru." He smiled. "She's my girlfriend. I met her when I broke my leg. She was the daughter of the nurse there."

"Oh." Zach only replied.

"Boku, we have to go!" Meyru giggled. "We are late for our appointment."

Boku smiled at Zach. "Sorry, you heard the lady, I've got to go. Was nice seeing you again Zach."

"Likewise." Zach replied and raised his thumb.

Both Kitt and Zach waved at Boku and Meyru. "Quite a couple." Kitt noticed.

"Yeah." Zach replied. "You know, I was wondering."

"About what?" Kitt asked.

Zach folded his arms. "Boku and I couldn't find you in the swimming pool, though you suddenly showed up. Where were you?"

Kitt sweated. "Oh, you know me, I was probably under water somewhere." Kitt answered. "I think I reached the surface when you slammed yourself into victory."

"Violence is not the way Kitt." Zach corrected her.

Kitt nodded. "True. But at least you won!"

"A small victory." Zach smiled. "Compared to the friend I got back."

"Philosopher." Kitt smiled and slammed him upside his head.


The end. 

<< Previous - Next >>