I drove Tory to a diner, the rumble of the bike quieting as we pulled up under the dim glow of neon lights, the smell of coffee and grease hanging in the air like a simple comfort I knew we both needed. Hunger gnawed at my stomach, and even in silence, she carried the same emptiness in her eyes—an emptiness I wanted to fill, even if it was with something as small as a hot meal.
We walked into the café, the tinkle of the door echoing like a soft bell against the low hum of the few morning customers. I ordered a large plate for myself—pancakes, eggs, and bacon, the kind of food that anchored me to the physical world—and she ordered something light, a small sandwich, her trembling fingers fiddling with the menu as she avoided my gaze. We sat at a table by the window, the fogged glass reflecting her face, pale and lined with shadows I wanted to erase.
"Tory, is your brother okay too?" I asked, my voice soft but filled with a concern I couldn't hide, my eyes fixed on hers as I tried to reach the heart she guarded so dearly.
"…" She hesitated, her eyes lowered for a moment before looking at me, her voice almost a whisper. "Yes, he's home. Don't you remember? I left him there yesterday… I didn't want him to see his mother like this…"
"I see…" I murmured, the weight of those words falling on me like a stone, the echo of her pain reverberating in my chest. "Get him something to eat too…"
"…" She stared at me, her brown eyes shining with a mixture of surprise and gratitude, the tears she'd been holding back for days threatening to escape. "Clark… Thank you… For everything…"
"You don't have to thank me for anything, Tory," I said, my voice firm but filled with a tenderness I reserved for her, the wolf inside me stilled by the love I felt. "If I had known before all this… I would have put your mother in a hospital. To tell you the truth… The day I got back, remember? I went to your apartment. You were talking to that guy who collects the rent…"
"…" She fell silent, her eyes lowering as memories danced across her face, the weight of that day coming back like a wave. "I remember… I treated you so badly, and you only came to help me…" she murmured, her voice breaking as she stared at the floor, the blush rising to her cheeks like a shy flame.
"Don't worry about it," he said, his voice softening as he reached across the table, covering hers with a warm touch that seemed to erase the past. "You were angry, I get it… But know that I'll always be here for you, Tory. No matter what, when you need me, I'll always be here." Her eyes rose to mine, glistening with tears she hadn't shed, and we stayed like that for three eternal minutes, the world around us fading away as the silence between us said more than words ever could.
The waitress arrived, the clink of plates breaking the spell as she placed our food on the table, the warm smell filling the air. We ate in silence, the sound of silverware against ceramic a gentle rhythm that seemed to anchor us. I ordered another takeout for her brother, the foil catching the light as I paid the bill, and drove Tory home, the rumble of the motorcycle cutting through the cool morning air like a low wail.
"Clark, I'm going now…" she said, hesitating as she got off the bike, her eyes lowered for a moment before looking at me with an intensity that made my heart race.
I took off my helmet, the cool wind ruffling my hair as she approached, her lips meeting mine in a soft kiss, but filled with a longing that I could feel in every touch. "Bye…" she murmured against my mouth, the heat of her still lingering in the air as she pulled away. "If anything happens, call me."
"I know… Bye," she replied, her tone low but firm, an echo of the strength I knew she carried even under the weight of grief.
I put on my sunglasses, the helmet firmly on my head as I started the bike, the roar echoing in the quiet street. As I rode home, the wind blew against my face, my hair flying like a free dance, and I turned on the bike's radio, the sound cutting through the silence. A song began to play—"Set Me Free" by Avenged Sevenfold—a tune I had listened to a lot in my past life, released in 2008, each note bringing a wave of melancholy that I couldn't shake.
The more time passes, the more melancholy I become… I thought, the memories of my old home returning like soft ghosts—me playing with the neighborhood kids in my past life, my parents laughing on the porch, my grandparents telling stories, aunts and uncles filling the Sunday table with voices and warmth. Everything seemed simpler in childhood, a time when the weight of the world didn't exist. In two years in this life, I've achieved things that were impossible in my previous one—money, friendships, a woman expecting my child, two girls who love me, supernatural powers. All of this came with minimal effort in this world, as if I'd been blessed with a hand I didn't deserve. I don't remember fighting so hard to achieve this here… But with these blessings came a curse—the pain of loss, the emptiness Tory now carried, an echo of finitude that I couldn't erase.
Death is the end of everything, I thought, the wind cutting through my face like a cold blade. All the happiness, everything you've done, all the loves you've known, all the people you've helped, all the people you've faced, the memories… But the pain remains for those who survive. The pain of loss is… overwhelming. "I hope Tory can move on…" I murmured, the weight of helplessness burning inside me. If I'd known this was going to happen, I would have watched the whole series… But not even I can save someone from a disease. I wish I had that power, but I don't…
Two days passed, the sun shining brightly as I rode my motorcycle through the streets of Los Angeles, the roar of the engine echoing like a scream against the silence I was trying to erase. A movie flashed through my mind—"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," one of the best I'd ever seen in my past life. The story of a man born old, growing younger as time went by, watching the lives of those around him change while he went in the opposite direction, left a deep impression on me. The philosophies of that movie, the sense of melancholy and wonder it conveyed, shaped who I am—an echo of longing that I carried like a second skin.
Riiing, riiing, riiing.
"Sam?" I answered, the sound of her voice cutting through the wind like a ray of light I didn't know I needed.
"Honey, come to my house," she asked, her voice full of longing and warmth. "Everyone is here… I want you here too. I miss you, I haven't seen you in two days…"
"Okay, beautiful," I replied, a slight smile curving my lips as the weight on my chest eased. "I'll come over…"
"Thank you, love…" she said, her sweet tone echoing in my ear as she hung up.
I drove up to her house, the clear sky of a nine o'clock morning painting the streets golden, the cool air dancing against my skin as the roar of the motorcycle filled the silence. Riiing, riiing. "I'M COMING!" Anthony yelled, opening the door with a smile as he glared at me. "Clark, come on, everyone's back there…"
I walked inside, the sound of voices and laughter echoing as I followed Anthony into the backyard, where I saw Demitri and Eli perched high up, their eyes shining with excitement as they spoke.
"It's been a long journey, but we're finally on the same team," Eli said, his voice thick with pride as he gestured. "Is this our reward? It's the biggest challenge we've ever faced."
"The Sekai Taikai is the most prestigious karate tournament in the history of modern martial arts…" Demitri added, his tone filled with reverence as he explained, his eyes shining with a mixture of excitement and respect.
They continued, detailing the grandeur of the tournament, each word painting a picture I hadn't seen before—a world beyond the fourth season I'd watched in my past life. Interesting… I had no idea about that, I thought, fascination dancing through me as I listened. Then they got to the part everyone had been waiting for—the new name they'd come up with. "Mr. Miyagi's Fangs… HAHAHAHA!" The attempt failed miserably, the laughter echoing in a chorus of amusement as the name fell flat like a poorly told joke.
Minutes later, Sam saw me, her brown eyes shining with a joy that made my heart race. "CLARK!" she cried, running to me and jumping into my arms, the warmth of her against me like a home I hadn't known I'd lost.
"Hi, beautiful…" I murmured, her lips meeting mine in a kiss that erased the world around me, her taste like a balm for the wounds I carried.
Miguel watched, his face turning quickly as he clenched his fists, hatred dancing in his eyes like a flame he couldn't extinguish. His thoughts: Why are you with this guy, Samantha? He cheated on you and you still… His silence echoed like a scream I could feel but ignored, the heat of Sam against me stronger than any anger.
"It's only been a few days since we last saw each other, babe…" I said, my tone light as I stared at her, a crooked smile curving my lips. "Why are you so hot?"
Her face flushed, the red rising like a shy flame. "Hmph… So you didn't miss me? You idiot!" she retorted, her small fists hitting me in light blows that echoed against my chest. "Arrg… Your body feels like it's made of stone, that's unfair…"
I leaned close to her ear, my voice low as I whispered, "I have something else that's really hard and feels like rock too… Do you want to know what it is?" The playful tone danced across the words, the wolf inside me roaring in amusement as I teased her.
Her face turned as red as the sunset, her eyes wide as she stared at me. "YOU… PERVERT!" she yelled, her tone laced with embarrassed laughter as she gave me another light slap.
"HAHAHA…" I laughed loudly, the sound echoing as I pulled her closer, the warmth of her against me erasing the weight of the past few days. We continued talking about other things, the group around us training, the sound of their blows cutting through the air like a melody of determination. I watched Tory training, her eyes meeting mine every now and then, a glimmer of longing and strength dancing there like a flame I knew well. "Sam, I'm going to talk to Tory…" I said, my voice firm as I stared at her.
"!!!" Her eyes widened, shock flashing across her face for an instant. "Have you spoken to her before?"
"Yes… I told her that secret," I replied, my tone low, filled with a certainty that I knew she would understand.
"I see…" she murmured, her eyes softening as she nodded. "Okay…"
I walked over to Tory, the morning sun beating down on my skin as I approached, the sound of her punching the bag echoing like a drumbeat I could feel in my chest. "Hey, hottie, you okay?" I asked, my voice soft but thick with a concern I couldn't hide.
"Clark…" She paused, her brown eyes staring at me with a mixture of strength and fragility. "Yes, it's okay…"
"And your mother?" I asked, the weight of the question falling between us like a stone, the wolf inside me growling silently as I waited. "Did something happen?"
"No…" she replied, her voice breaking for a moment as she lowered her eyes. "She's still the same… Like that doctor said…"
"I see…" I murmured, the weight of helplessness burning inside me like a flame I couldn't put out. "Listen, these past few days, I've been practicing magic… I called a friend of mine from Louisiana. She gave me instructions on how I can completely take away my powers for about 24 hours… I'm thinking about participating in this tournament…"
"!!!! Seriously?" she exclaimed, her eyes wide, shock flashing across her face like lightning. "You can do this?"
"I don't know," I admitted, my tone thoughtful as I stared at her, the wolf inside me roaring in uncertainty. "I'm still studying magic. She sent me the photos via computer, but it's not easy. It's much more complicated than doing it to someone else… If I take away my powers, I don't know if I'll be able to get them back… I mean, my body rejects curse activations on me and the people I want to protect…"
"Wow…" she murmured, her eyes shining with a mixture of wonder and doubt. "I don't know anything about these things, Clark, but I hope you can do it… I want to see you in this tournament and I also want to see if you're strong enough for it."
"Remember that time we fought on the school rooftop?" I asked, a slight smile curving my lips as I stared at her, the memory dancing through me like a soft melody. "You kicked me really hard down there… That hurt for a whole week…"
She laughed, the sound echoing like a beam of light in the darkness that surrounded her, her eyes sparkling with an amusement I hadn't seen in days. "I do remember, you pervert… You got hard behind me… What, was I too much for your little truck?" she teased, her playful tone cutting through the weight between us as she gave me a light shove in the chest, the gesture filled with a longing I could feel with every touch.
"Hey…" I replied, my face flushing as I laughed, heat rising to my cheeks at the memory. "I was a kid back then… What I mean is, that day, I had no power at all, and I beat you… Sure, with difficulty, but I beat you."
"Humph," she huffed, her eyes narrowed as she stared at me, a mischievous smile curving her lips. "I let you win, you idiot. Did you really think you had a chance against me?"
"I want a rematch," he said, his voice firm but filled with a passion I couldn't hide, the wolf inside me roaring in approval. "No apologies this time. I'm going to train hard to get my powers back and for the tournament… I want to fight you. If I win, you'll be my girlfriend…"
"!!!! WHAT?" she exclaimed, her face flushing like the sunset as she stared at me, her eyes wide with shock and anger. "You already have a girlfriend, you stupid pervert! What are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter," I snapped, my tone sharp, a mocking smile curving my lips as I stared at her, defiance dancing between us like a flame. "Are you going to give up?"
"GRRR…" She glared at me, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and determination, the fire I loved in her shining brighter than ever. "Okay then, you pervert! You want it like this? Fine. If I win, I'm going to ask you for something, and you're going to have to do it…"
"What could it be?" I asked, my eyes fixed on hers, curiosity burning inside me like a flame I couldn't extinguish.
"You'll know when I ask…" she replied, her tone heavy with a promise I knew she would keep, her eyes shining with a confidence that challenged me. "Because I'm going to earn this."
"Let's see, then…" I said, my smile growing as I stared at her, the weight of the past and present dancing between us like a melody I didn't want to forget, love and longing intertwined in every word, every look, while the morning sun enveloped us like a promise of something new, something I still couldn't name.