"No Rush" by Samuel C. Takara

© Samuel C. Takara, 2001

"Sakazaki, this is a wonderful day."

And it was. Perhaps New Mexico's ideal. The tempurature found itself hovering in the high 70's to low 80's, with a light breeze running through the air. Comfortable enough to be outside, hot enough to make a cold bottle of Coke an answer to prayer, and Terry Bogard's perfect day.

Ryo merely nodded. The day practically spoke for itself.

The desert had a quiet beauty to it, with the spring rains bringing forth colors he had never imagined possible in such a place. Quite different than South Town. Ryo could see why Terry bought a piece of property in the middle of nowhere now. A retreat from the cities, from the traveling, from the fighting. A safe haven for himself and his sanity.

Ryo caught himself as he began losing himself in the vast ocean of sky. Introspection has it's place, he thought. Just not right now.

He got up, dusting himself off. He didn't want to get his new jeans too dirty too quickly. They were comfortable, albeit not broken in yet. He wasn't used to jeans, being more accustomed to slacks, pants, and dogi bottoms. He adjusted his sunglasses and made his way to the picnic table by the house.

Terry was torn between admiring the day and tending to their lunch. There were several steaks arranged on the half-barrel grill in various stages of cooking, as well as a four ears of corn (well wrapped), shrimp, chicken, and a single potato. Each ear would probably be split in half, making enough for eight people. Maybe. Joe could usually eat enough for two people, and Mai didn't care for corn on the cob, henceforth the potato. Terry wasn't sure how picky Yuri was, but Robert's expensive tastes where well known. Hopefully the meal wouldn't be too mundane for his palette.

The pop of a soda can being opened caught Terry's attention as Ryo began walking from the cooler. He took a deep gulp, letting the carbonation burn down his throat. Ryo tossed a second can to Terry, and the two sat down.

"I'm glad you guys could make it down here. Thanks for coming."

"Our pleasure. Thank you for having us." Ryo thought a second, and added, "It is really quite beautiful here."

"I know, isn't it?" Terry smiled, leaning back. "I found it when I was still wandering around cross country."

"That was quite some time ago then."

"Yeah. Before me and the guys finally met up with Geese."

Both men grew silent for a moment. The infamous Geese Howard had touched both their families in his rise to power. The only difference being that Ryo's father, Takuma Sakazaki, survived Geese's assassination order. Jeff Bogard, Terry and Andys' father, did not.

The weather was wrong for brooding over old wounds, and Ryo chose to shift the subject slightly.

"So what have you been doing since then?"

Terry looked up to the sky, his eyes caught by a wandering cloud. "Not much, really. Same thing as you. I've been fighting in tournaments every so often so I'll have money, but other than that nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing. Right now I can't really stomach South Town. Too many memories." He took a quick sip and continued. "I guess I just need a break from that place."

Ryo stared out into the horizon. It would be another half hour or so before sunset. He watched a little as the rest of the group tried playing basketball at a half court Terry had made the past weekend. In typical fashion, it was boys versus girls; Andy, Robert, and Joe against Mai, Yuri, and Mary. He wasn't sure what the score was, but they looked like they were having fun. He didn't know much about Blue Mary. She seemed nice enough though, very good looking, and had been rumored (mostly by friends) to be Terry's girlfriend. Worth looking into, he figured.

"So how are you and Mary getting along?"

Terry laughed a little. "So, who're you asking for?"

"Nobody really. Maybe everybody. Who knows?" Ryo allowed himself a grin as Joe protested that his shot was a three pointer, not two. "I doubt a man of your integrity has anything to hide."

"She's been a good friend...Lord knows I've need someone with a clear head."

"And one with a pretty face at that."

"Yeah...well...she's been helping me sort through a lot of things, I guess."

"Such as?"

"The future, really. I never really thought about it before. All I could think about was getting Geese, getting revenge for him killing my dad. Well, that's all through now, and I haven't much planned anything else out."

"Andy had that same problem too, didn't he? I know Mai has him considering going back to school." Ryo lowered his voice a shade or two. "I never knew he dropped out in order to go to Japan."

"Don't worry about him hearing, we're all family here. You're right though. He saw the opportunity and off he went, never looking back. He's smart, so a GED will be no problem. I'm just wondering if he'll go for college or not."

"I'm sure he will do well at what ever he tries. But enough about him. You were saying about Mary...?"

Terry grinned and groaned. He knew Ryo was the definition of persistance, so he might as well answer the questions now and get them over with. Better him than Yuri, anyhow.

"We've been talking about what we really want in life...up until I met her, I really didn't know. She's shown me there's more to life than just the fighting and drama I was living up until then."

"And is it love?"

Both men turned red with embarrassment at the question. King had come up behind them during their conversation, and listed in on the whole time. Ryo was understandably staring at her in disbelief, and she would probably get lectured later on about her audacity in "asking personal questions" and "listening in on other people's conversations," but oh well. Ryo was a good man, but beat around the bush too much. She didn't feel like waiting half an hour for Ryo to get an answer to that question.

"I'm not sure." Terry thought aloud. He looked toward the basketball game. Mary made good on two foul shots, and given the expressions on the guys' faces, the girls were winning.

King let it him go with that.

Evening settled in peacefully, surrendering to night. The women had indeed prevailed against the men, twice, and Joe was unsociable until dinner was served.

"There is no way I'm going to win as long as my teammates are dating the other side!"

Of course, Andy, Mai, Robert and Yuri laughed at this. The women figured Joe was just upset because he was the only single guy playing, and he was just jealous. Andy and Robert both knew he was right, although they both agreed "He's got no idea" and wished he'd shut up before he got them both in trouble.

Everybody got together to eat at the table, and gradually began spreading out as the night went on. Joe did indeed eat enough for two people, and retired early, drowsy and slightly bloated. Mai nibbled at Andy's grilled corn until he gave up and cut the corn off the cobb for her. The potato found its way to Robert, who was quite satisfied with grilled steak and chicken, shrimp, and now baked potato. Yuri called him a pig, and liberated half the shrimp from his plate to hers. He protested fruitlessly (everybody knew he was a pushover for her, and was just making noise to appease his sense of machismo). Ryo sat by himself, surveying the moon lit desertscape. Halfway through his plate he brought out a small stereo from his truck and continued his meal with a small AM station playing lonely songs about romances come and romance gone.

Terry found himself staring at the blanket of stars above him, laying in a hammock suspended between the end of his trailer and a metal post his clothesline started on. The breeze was still light, carrying the scent of desert flowers in its wake. Wisps of dessert, Yuri's attempt at an apple pie, floated though the air, the burnt wafts making him smile. There's something to be said about a sincere attempt, no matter how botched it came out. Of course, he was sure it wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it was. He slid his hat over his eyes and listened as the crickets lulled him to sleep.

The coals in the grill gave off a scant dull glow as sounds of sleep wandered through the night. The moon was at its highest, offering a gentle luminence to the desert. The air was cool and the wind pleasent. Mary's body felt warm against him, although he didn't know when she joined him on the hammock. She had showered earlier, blonde locks of hair faintly smelling of shampoo, and was dressed in loose fitting clothes. They were covered by a light woven blanket he didn't remember being there before, and her face was tired yet serene.

Terry looked at her for a lingering moment, sighing to himself, allowing a bit of awe at the wonderous creature beside him to wander in his mind. Her expression was quiet, relaxed. The excitement of the day was not on it, nor the concerns of work, or anything else. It was as if all her pretenses were dropped and Mary's face bore that of her soul. Peaceful, safe, restful.

That idea took Terry back for a moment. I wonder what they see when I'm asleep, he thought.

Mary began to rouse from her sleep under Terry's watchful eyes. A deep breath filled her, and as she exhaled blue eyes greeted his.

"...it's too early to be up..."

He smiled lightly. "Sorry if I woke you up...go back to sleep..."

Mary rolled over on her side, stretching and mumbling as she did so.

"...I was talking with King earlier, y'know..."

That caught his attention. "What did she have to say?"

"Mostly questions." She began to wake more. "It was her and Ryo, actually."

Terry grimaced at what they may have asked. He wasn't ready to answer certain questions yet, and his stomach dropped in anticipation.

"They wanted to know about me and you, and what, if anything, was going on."

He stayed quiet.

"You've got good friends. They're pretty concerned about you...don't want to see you hurt." She yawned casually.

"So...what did you tell them?"

"I told them we're friends, and that nothing's really going on right now...that's all."

"I don't think they'd agree if they saw us together like this."

"Maybe...but we're not doing anything, are we? Besides, I didn't feel like being by myself."

Terry wasn't sure what to make of that. She looked up at him, examined his face, and smiled gently.

"No, nothing bad...I didn't mean anything bad by that." The concern left his face somewhat, and that made her glad. Terry never struck her as someone who took relationships lightly, and she felt this just confirmed that once more. "Besides, I'm not that kind of girl."

He laughed at that, and Mary was pleased she able to change his expression. He could be so serious sometimes.

"Ryo and I were talking earlier too."

"I know...I saw you two during the game." She shifted again, laying on her back. The desert stars were brighter than the city stars she was used to. "What did you guys talk about?"

"Same thing, sorta. We didn't get as far as you guys did, though. I guess I kinda shut up when King came in."

"She mentioned that."

"Did she tell you...?"

"That you weren't sure you loved me?...Yeah."

Terry and Mary looked up to the heavens as time passed around them. The sky was clear save for the occasional cloud making its way between horizons.

"I do love you...you do know that?"

She wrapped one arm around him, pulling herself closer to him. "Yes."

"But..."

"But you're not sure how?"

"Yeah." Terry let his hand rest upon the crown of Mary's head, stroking through her hair tiredly. "I mean, there has to be something between us, right?"

She poked him softly in the ribs. "You think?"

"So what are we then? Where are we?"

"We are about one hundred miles from civilization, in the middle of the night, and sharing a hammock with a very attractive member of the opposite sex."

"Very funny."

"I thought so." she laughed, yawning. "Seriously though...I guess we are more than friends. Maybe everyone else is right and we're just the last ones to know."

Terry was quiet for a moment as she laid her head on his chest. "So," He felt himself flush red for a moment. "Where do you want to be?"

It was Mary's turn to be silent. "I want..." She thought to herself. "I want to be right here, close to someone I like a lot, and hopefully will one day grow to love."

"Same here." A laugh went through Terry. " You realize we sound like two teenagers, don't you?"

"Funny, I thought you were always an old man..."

That stung Terry a little. Mary caught the offense too late, realizing what she said.

"I'm sorry." she said sleepily.

"It's okay. You're probably right anyhow. I wasted too much time on Geese...grew up too quickly..."

"I know...it's okay." She yawned again. "You lost some time...we can make up for lost time. No rush..."

"No rush." he echoed. Mary's yawning was contagious, as he felt himself starting to do the same. He watched as her eyes grew heavy again, and felt as her body pressed against his, resting. She's right, he thought. The crickets chirping began a new chorus, and the cool air was inviting for sleep. He smiled to himself, watching the desert's lullaby drift Mary off to sleep and woo him to follow.

"...no rush..."