The Actions That Follow Chapter 7

	—CHAPTER 7—

	They were surrounded.
Ashi and Jack stood braced, their weapons held firmly. Ashi’s clothes had been chewed up, so Jack gave her his robe (he insisted it was a Gi) to shield her naked body. The creature had disassembled itself, and the many leeches reassembled into many different unique shapes, each one just as willing to devour the two.
	Suddenly, Ashi noticed Jack’s foot behind her, feeling around for the circular device that was supposed to destroy the creature, although neither of them could activate it. However, this was not the time to mess around with it; “What are you doing?” she whispered to him. “It’s the only way, I have to try”, he asserted.
	Suddenly, the many leeches screeched at them, preparing to strike; Jack shouted, “Cover me for as long as you can!” and went to fidget with the device. That left Ashi to deal with the creature; armed with a dual-sided lance and a large riot shield. The smaller leech creatures came at her, and she swiftly reacted by twirling the lance and shredding the many leeches, while also blocking an attack from another cluster of them.
	Ashi was doing fine keeping the leeches off herself and Jack, until the creature reassembled its largest self and threw its entire mass of leeches at the shield. Just as it was about to give, Jack finally managed to activate the device, but they had already been engulfed in the flood of leeches. They could only bring their heads above the slithering mass to cry out to each other as the device began the “sequence”, and suddenly a burst of electricity was emitted from it.
	The leeches all stopped, feeling the effects of the electrocution, but so were Ashi and Jack. They shrieked in pain as each and every one of the many leeches burst into green goo as the device did its job. Eventually, all of them were reduced to steaming blue debris, and the green goo that now coated the two of them had browned, losing its acidic potency.
	Ashi and Jack stood there, panting heavily after their close call. They looked at each other, and without a word, they rushed to each other and met in a passionate kiss, not caring about the gross residue they were covered in.

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	Ashi awoke to rays of sunlight pouring in the window, which lightly kissed her face.
	She sat up in her bed and touched her lips, savoring the sensation she felt in her dream. They were so close to actually kissing last night, and she was clearly feeling snuffed after their unfortunate interruption. Sighing, she got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up. On the bright side, she had plans with Jack that day. Maybe they would pick up where they left off…
	Her train of thought was interrupted when her phone beeped; she got a text from Jack! He had told her to text him first, afraid he would accidentally sleep in like he usually did on his days off, but it looked like he was just as excited about their next meeting as she was.
	Jack asked her when he should leave to get her, and Ashi told him to come in about half an hour. She quickly jumped in the shower, washing in record time, followed by brushing her hair into her signature look, then applying a careful amount of makeup. After brushing her teeth, she picked out her outfit for the day; a beige cardigan over a black V-neck tee, with faded skinny jeans and open-toed shoes.
	Ashi had just finished getting dressed when Jack texted her regarding his arrival. She quickly straightened herself out in the mirror, and everything seemed to be in order; she grabbed her purse and ran out the door.
	She saw him once again post up against his bike, awaiting her to walk down the stoop towards him. They moved to greet each other, both of them going for a kiss and chickening out, settling for an awkward hug. Disregarding that faux-pas, they headed out for a particular coffee shop downtown.
	The pair arrived in about ten minutes, and they both ordered an egg sandwich and a coffee. When Jack went to reach for his wallet, Ashi intercepted his hand, and shook her head once he looked at her. Relenting, Jack grabbed their food that was place in front of him on the counter, and they took a seat at one of the two-person tables outside of the establishment.
	The coffee shop, “Brewshido”, had been picked out by Jack last night; he had noticed it during their cruising and remarked that he liked the name. Ashi suggested they should try the place, and Jack tentatively added that he had off tomorrow.
	At the end of the night, when Jack dropped Ashi off at her apartment, she asked if they were still on for Brewshido tomorrow. Jack confirmed, telling her he would call her when he woke up; Jack set an alarm for the first time in a while, for eight AM. He got up, showered, dressed, with still a half hour to spare. He decided to meditate for those thirty minutes, that way his mind would be clear and he wouldn’t make a fool of himself in front of Ashi. But as he sat there with his eyes closed, he fell asleep; his lotus crumpled and he fell face first onto his apartment’s carpeted floor, waking himself up. He put his forehead in his head upon realizing what happened.
	Despite the rough start to the morning, he finally managed to meet up with Ashi, and now they were both enjoying a lovely breakfast.
Brewshido sat on the intersection between two intersecting streets; it had no doors, only an opening into the building through which patrons could pass. Two boys in their early twenties worked the counter; both of them were slim but toned with tan skin and bald heads. Jack wondered if they also trained Shaolin, but didn’t bring it up. The entire establishment was designed to look like traditional Japanese architecture.
	As Jack and Ashi sat, enjoying their meals and the nice weather, Jack scrolled through the drink menu. At the bottom of the page was a selection of different teas; Jack mused out loud, “They have a tea menu, I should start drinking tea again,” and Ashi gave a curious look. “You drink tea? Isn’t that just like coffee with less caffeine?” she asked, and Jack looked almost insulted at her question. “What? No, that’s not real tea. I’m talking about traditional Japanese tea made, called Matcha. It’s right here on the menu.” Jack pointed to the beverage listed on the menu. “Although, it is never the same without Sado”, he added, and she asked, “What’s Sado?” Before Jack could answer, however, a petite old man emerged from the building towards their table.
	He spoke in a gentle voice, “Sado is the traditional Japanese tea ceremony in which Matcha is typically served. It is a careful and specific ritual, where balance is key.” Jack looked surprised at the old man, then at Ashi with a shrug, “Yes, that’s it.” The old man turned to Jack, “I see you are familiar with the proper way to enjoy Matcha.”
	Jack smiled, “Yes, my Uncle showed me the technique during our travels. Although, it’s been quite a long time since I performed it.” “Well, would you like to?” the old man asked, and Jack looked at him with wide eyes. He turned to Ashi, as if he were looking for confirmation, which she gave him in a smile, then nodded at the old man.
	He asked them their names, and after they answered, he gave them his; “My name is Monk”, he said, and Jack and Ashi both gave him a skeptical look. After a brief pause, “Monk”, started laughing; that’s not my real name, of course. People just find it easier to call me that.” Ashi chimed in, “And you’re okay with that?”
	“Well, sure. After all, it is quite the fitting nickname, wouldn’t you say?” Monk had a point, as a tiny wrinkled man with puffy eyes and a bald head, he did fit the bill pretty well. Jack and Ashi both admitted how accurate the nomenclature.
	Monk then gestured inside, “Now then, come this way”; he walked behind the counter, said something to one of the boys working, then led them to a back room of the shop. Through a sliding canvas door, they stepped onto a genken, overlooking tatami mat floors. Jack marveled at the authenticity of it all. He and Monk removed their shoes and stepped up onto the higher level, then Ashi got the hint and followed suit.
	Sitting there in the middle of the room were all of the tools needed to complete the ceremony; a purple cloth known as a fukusa, a tea caddy, two bowls, a tea scoop, a tea whisk, and a large kettle with a wooden ladle, which one of the boys from the counter just came in and filled with boiling water. Monk led Ashi to a spot in front of the equipment to observe, showing her how to sit on the floor properly; Ashi didn’t even know there was a proper way to do that. “You may begin whenever you are ready,” he said, and Jack began.
	He moved to the floor, sitting on his heels in the traditional fashion. First, picking up the wooden ladle, he placed it down in front of the kettle, then bowing ceremoniously. He then picked up the tea scoop and whisk, removing them from atop the tea container and carefully placing them next to it. Next, he grabbed the fukusa and held it aloft, meticulously folded it twice, and wiped the rim of the tea container. Then he wiped the tea scoop, running it between the fold of the fukusa, and placing it on top of the bowl once again. Jack then picked up the ladle, while removing the lid from the kettle; he took a ladleful of hot water and poured it into the bowl, the picked up the tea whisk and swished it in the hot water. After holding it up as part of the ritual, he placed the whisk down and poured the water back into the kettle. Then, picking up the tea scoop, Jack scooped tea out of the container into the bowl; he then poured another ladleful of water into the bowl, mixed the tea with the whisk, and he was done.
	Jack placed the bowl in front of Monk, who picked it up and started sipping. After he was done, he lowered the bowl, slowly opening his eyes, looked at Jack and said, “This is terrible.” Jack sounded surprised when he said, “Really?” and Monk nodded.
	Ashi finally spoke up, “Is it really that bad?” so Monk handed her the bowl and she tasted the tea. She tried to praise the drink, but her look of disgust said it all; “It’s uh…it’s got an interesting flavor to it. It’s a little bitter, but hey, that just gives it a... maturity! Yeah, that’s it! It’s really… you know, it’s… it’s bad. I’m sorry, Jack, but this is bad,” she rambled with a guilty look.
	Monk stood up, walking over to the disappointed Jack. “As I mentioned, an integral ingredient of the tea ceremony is balance, something you seem to be sorely lacking. My friend, it is clear that you are very troubled.” Ashi looked at Jack sadly, already aware of his depressive state. Suddenly her phone started to ring, drawing the attention of the others in the room. She apologized and took the call outside, silently groaning when she saw the caller ID.
	Stepping outside the shop, she spoke with faux enthusiasm, “Hello, Dad!”
	“Sweetheart! Your favorite Father is in town, and he was wondering if his favorite daughter would be willing to take a ride over to his office,” AKu spoke with extra emphasis on the second “favorite”; “We have important matters to discuss, so please get over here at your earliest convenience.” Ashi was about to object, but AKu had said what he needed to say. “Thank you, darling. See you soon!” and with that, he hung up.
	This was great, Ashi thought sarcastically. Now she had to bail on Jack to go have an undoubtedly painful discussion with her Father about who knows what. Speaking of Jack, he had just come up to her as she got off the phone. “Who was that?” he inquired out of nowhere, startling her, and himself by extension. She dismissed his look of concern, “I’m fine, that was my Dad…he’s in town, and he wants me to meet him at his office. Like now,” he said with apparent displeasure.
	“Where is his office?” asked Jack, “I’ll give you a ride.” Suddenly, she remembered the problem she kept pushing to the back of her mind, and realized it was now two-fold. Not only did Jack not know about her Father, AKu, but her Father had no idea she was even seeing somebody, not to mention his mortal enemy. Ashi wasn’t sure how she would eventually tell each of them about the other, as both confessions would have undesirable outcomes; she didn’t know which one would be worse.
	She quickly tried to think of an excuse to decline Jack’s offer, but hard-pressed to find one, she finally relented. Noticing how reluctant she was, Jack spoke up; “I know you don’t really want to see your Father, but you seem particularly unwilling to let me drive you there? Do you think your Father will take issue with me?” he asked innocently.
	What an understatement that was, but she rolled with it. “Well… yeah, you could say that. I’ve never had a guy around him before, and I don’t know how he’d react. If you were to give me a ride, I’d prefer that it was a quick drop-off, if you don’t mind.”
	“Oh, of course! We’ve only been, er… ‘together’ for a couple days, after all. I don’t feel like I have any right to meet your parents yet.” Jack assured her, and she smiled. Okay, maybe she would be able to hold off telling him for a while. But her Father…
	They left Brewshido on Jack’s motorcycle, headed towards the hill section where AKu’s office was located. AKu’s buildings always had a specific style; black with sharp protrusions on the sides, similar to AKu’s own hairstyle, giving them a somewhat sinister feel. The Burlington AKu building was the largest structure in the city, with AKu’s office being on its own floor at the very top.
	Once they arrived, Ashi dismounted the bike before it completely stopped; she quickly kissed Jack on the cheek and ran into the building, shouting “ThanksyourthebestIllcallyoulater!” as she rushed in. Jack was left speechless, barely muttering a “bye” as he weakly waved goodbye.
	Ashi went to the front desk, where a snidely man sat at attention; he immediately knew who she was, and told her that AKu was expecting her. She boarded the elevator, taking it all the way to the top of the building, where her Father awaited.
	AKu’s office was wide with a tall ceiling, and the entire back wall behind his desk was a glass window, overlooking the whole city. The elevator dinged, and the doors opened to allow Ashi to enter the office; she walked down the gaudy red and orange carpet towards her Father’s desk where he watched her approach.
	He stood up and greeted her with his usual exuberance; “Ashiiii! My little girl, come give your Father a hug!” She forced a smile as best she could, and met him in a “loving” embrace that lasted far too long. After he released her, she took a seat across from his desk.
	He sat back down, and got into a relaxed position with his legs crossed and fingers interlocked. “Now, I asked you to be here today to discuss a matter of great importance. As you may already know, I’ve spent the last year or so cultivating a foundation on which to craft my political persona. On this venture, I have encountered wild success; I have seduced both the elephant and the donkey with my unfathomable charisma.” AKu stood up, and started staring out the large window, “But the time for diplomacy has come to an end, it is time to go on the political offensive!” He held his arms out wide as he said that, and waited for a reaction. After about five seconds, he turned his head to see Ashi sitting there, unfazed; “So… why am I here?” she asked, sounding bored.
	AKu started working his way around his desk towards Ashi, speaking so sweetly to the point it was patronizing. “My dear, every good politician must be aware of all the factors in one’s life that can be used against them, and one of the biggest weaknesses that they will exploit is family!”
	“Family?” Ashi questioned, wondering how such a thing could be a weakness. AKu, was right next to her now. “Yes, child. You see, while it is mostly the politicians own actions that define them, the actions of a close relative can also be profoundly impactful on their reputation. If a politician has a bad relationship with their spouse or child, that bad relationship will be exploited as a sign that that politician cannot maintain personal ties. Alternatively, the family members themselves can be exploited as well. Political opponents have little trouble tracking down a politician’s family, and even a naturally affable man like has opponents.” He clutched his fist in front of her face, as she leaned away from this intrusion. “You must be vigilant, Ashi! They will do everything in their power to deceive you; you’re such a sensitive girl, and you can be sure they will appeal to your emotions, try to turn you against your Father!”
	Ashi was fed up with his monologue, “Dad, can you just get to the point already? So, what, people are out to get me? What else is new? I already do everything I can to distance myself from your dealings!” AKu shook his head, “But that’s exactly it! Now that I’m a runner in the political rat race, we’ll be exposed to all kinds of vermin. The best defense you can have as the daughter of a political figure is to have a reputation of your own, and the first step to that is a better, more public relationship with your Father”, he explained, putting his hands on her shoulders from behind.
	Ashi froze; she stared blankly at the window as she spoke, “P-Public?” AKu bellowed proudly, pulling Ashi from her seat and holding her as though they were posing for a photo. “YES, my dear! From now on, the basis of my political platform is the love and adoration of my seven beautiful children. Just like your old man, your name and face will be known all over the country, perhaps the world! The Daughters of AKu will become the biggest trending topic on all social media platform! You’ll have a reality show by the end of the year!” As much as she hated everything else her Father mentioned, the only thought racing through her head upon hearing what he had in store was Jack finding out about AKu. She didn’t speak, but she pushed away from her Father’s embrace.
	AKu pleaded; “But we can’t have all that if you don’t meet me half way, Ashi. I just don’t to understand, ever since you were eight I’ve given you everything you ever wanted. You lived like a princess, and now I’m giving you the opportunity to actually be one!” Ashi snapped at him, “You don’t know what I wanted, and you ESPECIALLY don’t know what I want now. I don’t care about being a princess, I just want to be! Why can’t that be enough?”
	There was a long pause between the two of them. AKu stared at Ashi, eventually sighing; “There, you see? This is EXACTLY what I’m talking about. You get so worked up over such trivial matters, and you’re always so miserable! None of your sisters are ever like this; they all seem perfectly happy with their situation, and they welcome our future prosperity! I think you’d be much happier if you just accept your place in society! It worked for your sisters, and while I’m no statistician, it seems correlative to me!”
	Ashi stared at him in disbelief, this wasn’t getting through with him at all. Calmly, she grabbed her purse that was hanging on the chair, and started towards the elevator. As she called the elevator, her Father called out to her; “Ashi,” she turned to look at him, “check’s in the mail” he quipped with a wink. She scowled at him, “Thanks, Dad.”
	At that moment the elevator arrived, and Ashi stepped through the open doors. She turned forward as she waited for the doors to close, and she made eye contact with her Father; “Anything for you, sweetheart…” he exaggerated.
	As the elevator doors closed, AKu’s smile flipped around, and he pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. “UUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH… Why is this one so DIFFICULT!?” he shouted, grabbing his hair.
	Meanwhile, inside the elevator, Ashi finally exhaled.

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	Jack wasn’t thinking about why he was here in the first place, but he was well aware of what was going on around him.
	His bike was parked across the street, on a side street facing the building. It was daytime, but it still reminded him of when he would sit outside AKu’s facilities and wait for an opening. Then he would sneak in, and foil whatever nefarious scheme AKu’s associates were cooking up.
	Right now, he was in full stake out mode, waiting for something to happen that would give him something he could work with. He looked up at the highest point of the building, AKu’s own office. He was in there. If Jack could just get to the elevator, he could right it all the way up there, and he could confront AKu. He could put an end to all of it…
	No, he would never make it, Jack thought to himself. He wasn’t as sharp as he used to be in terms of his martial arts skills, having fallen into disuse for a while now. There was likely heavy security on the way to the elevator, wherever it was. Jack could tell from the layout of the building that there must only be one elevator, and even if he could get to it, no way would he get the time needed to actually call it before getting caught. It would be an exercise in futility.
	He sat like this, watching people go in and out of AKu’s building, resting his chin on his arms that were crossed on top of the bike’s handlebars. His past choices continued to haunt him; quitting the force, no longer sending money to his parents, and those poor goats he…. Jack let out a deep sigh as it all buzzed around in his head. His feelings of hopelessness were starting to creep back into his mind, when suddenly his phone rang.
	It was Ashi. Right, THAT’S why he was here. And it had only been about fifteen minutes, shockingly enough; Jack felt like it had been longer. But she said that she was done talking to her Father, and was wondering if he wanted to meet up again, citing that she could take a taxi to his place.
	“That won’t be necessary,” he smiled as he saw her walk out of the building, and finally moved from his brooding position. He added, “I’m right across the street,” and her eyes scanned beyond the lot to find him, waving her down. They caught eyes and smiled at each other, as she crossed the street towards him.
	Ashi raised an eyebrow at him, “Were you waiting for me this whole time?” she said coyly. Jack chuckled slightly uncomfortably, that was technically true. Although he initially stuck around for her, his attention soon shifted to AKu’s business, looking for something he could exploit against the vile mogul.
	He rubbed the back of his head, “W-Well, truthfully I didn’t know how long you would take. But at the same time, I myself have nowhere else to be. I planned to wait out here for at least another ten minutes or so, but I’m glad I didn’t have to.” She beamed at him, and then asked playfully, “Well now that that’s settled, you never answered my question: Do you want to do something?” Jack didn’t respond, instead he started up his bike, made space behind him, and gestured for her to get on, which she eagerly accepted. And they drove off.
	Back in downtown now, they found a lot near the hub of the area, where they parked Jack’s bike. They spent the day walking around on foot, seeing sights, browsing stores, and enjoying each other’s company. Most of the time, they simply wandered around holding hands, sharing a casual conversation; other times, they would fool around like children, playing hide-and-seek within a crowded store, chasing each other around like children. Other people’s stares did little to dissuade their mischief, they were too caught up in each other.
	Later in the afternoon, they ate at a quaint little restaurant they found. Ashi volunteered to cover the bill, but Jack confessed that he hated not paying for anything they had bought recently, so they compromised and paid for each other’s meals.
	After that, Jack and Ashi ended up in Battery Park. The first thing they did was buy duck feed from a woman who was selling handfuls at a booth in the shade, as Ashi wanted to feed the ducks that were hanging around the shoreline; they sat by the water and Jack watched her as she cheerfully doled out the food to the animals crowding around in indulgence.
	Once the feed was gone, they laid out on the grass and talked; Jack told Ashi stories of his police days, and she listened attentively. She was hysterical as he told her about the time his clothes were stolen, and he had to sneak around the city in different outfits to find the thief.
	Finally, they sat on a bench with a perfect view of the setting sun; dusk was almost upon them, and it was going to be another clear night. Battery Park was apparently renowned for having “one of the finest sunsets in the world”, or so Jack had heard.
	Sitting there with Jack’s arm around her, lost in thought. This moment was perfect, but it was too familiar.
	It reminded her of the only other time she really felt at peace with another person. Back when her Father first came into her life, and she moved into his California home, where they sat on the balcony against a similar sunset. That was one of the happiest moments of her life, but it was short-lived once her Dad started to show his true colors. From then on, she hardly ever saw him, and the times that she did were spent vying for his approval, which to this day she hasn’t acquired.
	Now she was here with someone else. Once just a boy whom she despised for his perceived superiority, Jack was now a man that she admired for his chivalrous behavior. Ashi felt comfortable when she was around him, like she could actually open up and be herself. He may have been a little sullen now and then, but she didn’t care. She knew about his troubled past, something that she herself could relate to. Both of them had lost their way, but at least they found each other.
	Now she had a dilemma: The two most prominent men in her life were mortal enemies, both unaware of their connection through her. At some point, she was going to have to choose between them. So far, Jack was winning the internal debate, having only come back into her life a few days ago, already making her happier than her Father has in years. But she remembered how her Father was planning on making her identity public, which included her status as a “daughter of AKu”. How would Jack feel about that? Ashi worried she was going to lose him because of it.
	Jack himself snapped her out of her thoughts; “Ashi, are you alright? You seem troubled.” He noticed her contemplative expression, and he noticed his concern. She stared straight at him without a word, and his concern turned into slight confusion. “Uh, Ashi?” he asked again, and she answered the question by pressing her lips against his.
	She’d made her choice, and she was going to do whatever it took to make it work.

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	It was now much later in the evening; the sun had set hours ago, and the many lights illuminating the city outshined the ones up above. All of it was visible from the top of the tower that was AKu’s building, where he sat in his office overlooking the entire city.
	AKu sat in his luxurious leather chair, slumped against the back of the seat in frustration. The elevator dinged, signaling the arrival of his top assistant Scaramouche, who entered the office carrying a large plastic bag.
	He held up the bag and spoke flamboyantly, “AKu, babe, you would not BELIEVE the traffic coming down Willard Street. I swear, it’s like the President’s in town.” Scaramouche placed the bag on the desk in front of his boss, “Oh wait, he already is! AHOHOHOHOHOHOHO.”
	AKu groaned, pulling out cartons of Chinese food from the bag; “Please, Scaramouche, no flattery tonight. I just want to eat already,” he whined, opening up and digging into the lo mein.
	Scaramouche grabbed the carton of general tso’s chicken, sitting on the desk; “Aw come on, babe, you love it when I talk you up like that. What’s on your mind, AKu vavoo?” He started eating as AKu swiveled his chair towards the window, and sighed; “It’s my daughter, she’s so unreceptive to everything I try to do for her.” He threw his arms up in frustration, “I don’t get it! Once I found out about my illegitimate offspring, I did everything I could to nurture their dependence, to mold them into my entourage of perfect, obedient daughters! And I succeeded, I now have six daughters who I can easily package and ship out as the new face of my political and economic empire! But Ashi… she doesn’t want any of it; It’s like she doesn’t even care about being rich and famous! Isn’t that every child’s dream? But noooo, all she cares about is being ‘independent’,” he spoke in a mocking tone, and made air quotes with his fingers.
	AKu took a bite of the lo mein before concluding his rant, his mouth still full of food. “Kids these days, you try to do what’s best for them, then they bite the hand that feeds! Talk about ungrateful…”
	Scaramouche shook his head, “No see, you’re going about this all wrong, boss! You treat Ashi like she’s still a child, but she’s a grown woman now; and let me tell you, they are NOT receptive to being patronized like that.” He put his food down, allowing him to gesture freely as he spoke, “You gotta schmooze her, babe. Remember, you didn’t meet her until she was eight, this girl must have MAJOR abandonment issues. Plus, you said her Mother is a stone-cold shrew, and there’s a good chance some’a that rubbed off on Ashi. But you gotta work with that, boss! Talk to her, get to know her better; you had a good start with that balcony thing you told me about, but you dropped the ball once you stopped paying attention to her. Clearly this girl isn’t taken in by wealth and fame, you have to find out what’s important to her. Ask yourself this, babe: What makes Ashi tick?”
	AKu stood up and looked out the window, lording over the city while pondering his assistant’s advice. “Hmmm, you have a good point. Perhaps I’ve been going about this all wrong. Ashi is not a delicate flower that crumples at the slightest prod; she is a towering oak tree, solid and formidable just like her old man! But just like a tree, the only way to really understand her is to cut her down and count the rings!”
	Scaramouche cringed slightly, “Geez, don’t you think that allegory’s a little…I don’t know, barbaric?” AKu waved his hand, “Regardless, my point stands. If I’m going to develop a proper relationship with her, I’ll need a second opinion,” he then turned to Scaramouche, “That’s where you come in! I’m leaving Vermont tomorrow morning, and in that time, I need you to stick around here and keep an eye on Ashi. Tell me EVERYTHING you can about her; what she does, who she sees, anything of interest you can get. Can you do that?”
	Scaramouche shrugged “Well yeah, but I still don’t see what the tree thing has to do with-”
	“Forget that! Will you do this for me?”
	“You got it, babe! From now on I’ll be your eyes and ears, and what handsome feature they are!” He mused as he ogled his reflection in the window.
	“Excellent!” AKu cheered, as he imitated his assistant’s behavior.

									—END CHAPTER 7—

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