Chapter 7

                                    

                                          
Harumi woke up to see that Lloyd was not sleeping on the bed. She looked at the clock. It read: 4:30. Harumi slapped her face, and groaned. She got up, and went out to the training room. And there Lloyd was, training like his life depended on it."Lloyd. We need to talk."She said."About what?"He asked, even though he knew the answer."You can't live like this! How about you take a break?"She asked."I need to be ready. For whatever the FSM throws at me."He replied."Well, let me at least take you to get something to eat. I'll pay."She said. Lloyd finally stopped training, and stared at her.
"Why?"He asked."I am trying to make up for...Well, everything."She said."The others won't like that."He said. Harumi frowned."Which is why I am up to it."He said."What? Why?"She asked."They all ate my candy from halloween."He replied. Harumi made a 'oh' sound, and then they both headed to the city.
"Where do you want to go?"She asked."How about Chen's Noodle House?"He asked. They then entered the noodle's house, and they were soon greeted by the owner. Skylor Chen."Hey-"Look Skylor, I just want to say that I am sorry, for everything. Can we maybe start over?"Asked Harumi. Skylor smiled."Sure, but you need to prove yourself. And I know what it feels like. But all you need is one person to believe in you, then you can do it. And I am pretty sure I know who believes in you."She said."We are getting there."Lloyd said."I think you are already there."She said. Lloyd rolled his eyes for some strange reason. Skylor then walked them over to their table. Skylor gave them their menus, and left them alone.
"I have to ask. Why?"She asked."Why what?"Lloyd questioned."All of it. You could have left me to die again or let me rot in a cell....But you didn't. And you gave me your bed...Why are you being nice to me?"She asked."I...I...I don't know. I guess because everyone deserves a second chance. What's important is that whoever is given that second chance, takes it. And proves to everyone that they are a different person for the better."He replied."And here's another reason: You remind me of...well, me. When I was a kid, I hated the ninjas because they were fighting my father. I was scared that if they hurt him, they would do it again, and again...Until...I was too little to realize that the ninjas aren't the bad guys. My dad was. I just loved him so much that I wanted to be just like him, and it crushed me that I had to fight him. Now, I could have run away, and be just like my father, but I didn't. Do you know why?"He asked her.
"Because you wanted to show everyone that you weren't your father. You were your own person."Harumi replied."Yes. All my life, everyone around me just thought that I was no better than my father. I had a chance to...to show I was more than that. And I took it. Now, some people think I didn't have a choice, but I did. And I chose the right path instead of wrong, unlike what I did before."He said."That's maybe the main reason I spared you. Because nobody believed that you could change-No-"None taken."She said.
"Like me. Nobody would have dreamed of me becoming a hero. But I did, and I am still am. And that's why I think..No, I believe that you can change. It's just like Sky said: All you need is one person to believe in you. And that person is me."He said."Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me, Lloyd. And I am sorry, I didn't know...Any of this."She said."What are friends for?"He asked. Harumi smiled. Skylor came back to hear their orders. And Lloyd ordered the most pricey item on the menu, while Harumi ordered the most cheap item. When Skylor was gone, Harumi gave him a 'Are you serious?' look. Lloyd smirked."Hope you brought a lot of money."He said."When we get back, you are so dead."She said."Like to see you try."He said."We will just see."She said. 
Their food arrived not even five minutes later."Thanks Sky. Hey, Harumi doesn't have much clothes, could you and her go shipping this week? It would be a really good chance for you guys to know each other."He said."I could never say no to shopping!"Exclaimed Skylor."How does Thursday sound?"Asked Harumi."Sounds good to me!"Said Skylor."I'll leave you two to enjoy your food."She said."Do you ever stop helping people?"Asked Harumi."Nope. Just who I am. Plus, it'll get you out of the house. I bet you haven't stepped foot out of that monastery other than today."He said. Harumi smiled again. She wasn't sure there was a time where she smiled more than today."Truce?"She asked."For now."He said. They both smiled. I could get lost in her eyes forever. He thought. Snapped out of it, Lloyd! She doesn't love you, and you can't trust her! Friends. Friends. Friends.
Harumi felt her heart jump out, while staring into his big, shining, green eyes. Harumi shook her head. Stop it. She told herself. Stop it. She repeated. You can't be in love with him. Friends. Friends. Friends.
After they finished their food, Harumi paid, and they left. They both walked home silently. Neither said a word to another. When they reached the top, Harumi asked:"Do you fully trust me?"Lloyd glanced at her shyly."I don't know. Do you trust me?"He asked."I don't know."She replied."Why and how did you come back?"He asked."How? Msytake helped me. Why? I told you already."She said."I don't believe that reason. Not yet."He said."Wise."She said. He nodded.
Harumi picked up a sword, Lloyd did the same."Spare."He said. She nodded. They both got ready, and......They attacked each other. After two hours, they rested. While panting, Harumi said:"I can see why you do this. It takes your mind off everything."Lloyd took a drink of water."Yeah, but I have to admit, it was nice to take a break from it. Thanks, Rumi."He said. They both froze. They both felt like Lloyd hadn't called her that in decades."Did you call me what I-"Yeah, I think I did."He said. They stared at each other for who knows how long, then the others woke up.