Chapter 9:
Connor placed his bags on one of the two beds in the room. He looked around and was impressed by the elegant ambience of the room. Maria sat down on a small sofa in the corner and crossed her legs looking outside the nearby window. Connor unzipped one of his bags and started pulling out some clothes and toiletry items, throwing them on the bed.
"Planning on staying long?" Maria mused.
Connor looked up at Maria. "I guess that depends on how helpful you are."
"What's with you Connor? I thought you'd be overjoyed to see that I was alright. I don't get it." Maria turned her head to look back out the window.
Connor's heart dropped. "Do you know why I decided to come here?"
"I was hoping it was to find me, but based on what I've found out I'm guessing you're here for some other reason." Maria retorted.
"Look at me Maria...This is not how I thought things would turn out. I thought we'd have the chance to spend time together after El Djem. When I found out Billy had you I thought about the possibility of not seeing you again. Then Billy found me and I had a tiny bit of leverage with him, I used it to get you back." Connor's posture sunk.
Maria stood up and walked over to Connor. She lifted his sinking head. "You're mom isn't in Japan."
Connor's eyes widened. "What?"
"She's here." Maria said reassuringly.
"What do you mean she's here?" Connor clarified.
Maria tilted her head. "She's in Kyiv."
"How do you know that?" Connor asked.
"Well...I've spent some time with her." Maria informed Connor.
Connor's mind raced at how Maria could've found his mom. "My mom works for the Kenshi..."
"No. She works for Billy." Maria stated.
"What?"
"She used to work for the Kenshi, but she's now working for Billy." Maria clarified.
"Brilliant!" Connor stood up.
"I guess you already know that Billy is working close with the Kenshi." Maria loved the boyish look Connor was wearing. "Takeo is a Kenshi master and he is here in Kyiv."
"I did know that, but you're really telling me my mom worked for the Kenshi and is now working for Billy?" Connor couldn't escape the idea that his mom was potentially in the same building as he was.
"She's very nice Connor." Maria confessed. "I've tried to spend as much time with her as I can."
Connor cleared the euphoria in his mind and slowly asked the dreading question that popped into his mind. "What kind of things is she doing for Billy?"
"She's not doing the things that Billy usually does with women." Maria suppressed the tears rushing to her eyes. "She's running a lot of the operations here and is doing a really good job from what I can tell. She's always on the phone or in meetings trying to iron out details."
"So are you with Billy most of the time?" Connor gently brought Maria into his arms.
"Yes." Maria looked down at the ground as if she were ashamed.
Connor carefully tightened his embrace. "Has he touched you?"
"Yes Connor. I had no choice." Maria released the tears she had been holding back. "It was the only way I had a chance to see you again."
Connor was overcome with the feeling of a gut wrenching loss, but continued to hold Maria tight. "I would have found you no matter where you were."
"When I found out your mom was working for Billy I knew I had to stay close to her at any cost...it was the only way I could guarantee seeing you again." Maria sobbed.
Connor slowly sat down on the bed allowing Maria to curl up next to him. Maria looked up at him. "What's next Connor?"
"Well you are my trainer for the tournament. I promised Billy I would fight if he gave you back to me." Connor stroked her hair.
"I don't want you to fight anymore." Maria's tears had gradually decreased.
"I don't have a choice." Connor envisioned taking Maria back to England and peacefully walking through the forests, but forced himself to focus on what he had to do in Kyiv. "I have to see this through. I also made a promise to Shuji."
Maria tearfully positioned herself upright. "The fighter from the El Djem tournament?"
"He found me on my way here. Andre thinks it ludicrous that I made the promise, but it might be the only real way for me to find peace." Connor felt relieved to tell someone his true feelings.
"What did you promise him?" Maria asked.
"I promised him I'd get Billy out of the way of the tournament and that I'd let Shuji win the tournament." Connor anticipated a sour response from Maria.
Maria didn't have much of an expression on her face. "Does that mean you'll stop fighting after this tournament?"
"I don't know what it means Maria." Connor sighed. "It's probably more likely that I'll end up going to Japan after this tournament to help Shuji."
Maria repositioned herself further away from Connor. "I don't want to stay on this roller coaster."
"I don't either... that's why I have to go to Japan." Connor explained.
Maria sighed. "I don't want you to leave again... I'll stay with you as long as I can."
"That's good because I don't want you leaving me either." Connor reached for her hand.
Maria leaned in towards Connor and kissed him on the cheek. Connor's heart leapt as he felt Maria's warm lips on his skin. He hugged her and she embraced him back.
"I'd like to take you out shopping and maybe we can get a bite to eat." Connor shyly invited.
"It kind of sounds like a date to me." Maria responded.
"It kind of is. We really haven't had a chance like this before."
Maria perked up. "It will be more than fun...it will be romantic."
Connor stood up and lifted Maria up from the bed in his arms. "You can't forget that I'm still in training. I need to stay focused."
"I'll keep you focused on me..." Maria gave him a peck on the cheek. "I am your trainer after all."
Connor blushed. Maria slowly caressed her hands around Connor's face. After several seconds Connor reluctantly set Maria on the floor. "I'm not ready for this yet Maria. If I'm really going to go through with this crazy plan...I need to prepare myself for it."
"I know you do...I just don't feel this way about anyone else." Maria looked saddened and defeated. "I want to be with you and I want you to want me."
"I do want you. I just can't give in right now." Connor admitted.
Maria perked up a little and smiled. Connor stood up and grabbed a light jacket from his bag along with a ball cap. He put them on and held out his hand for Maria to follow him out the door.
As they exited the room Connor didn't notice the guard assigned to Maria. He looked all over and couldn't see him. He gently led Maria to the elevator and when it arrived they entered it. Connor immediately turned away from the glass side of the elevator as to not draw attention to their attempted disappearance. By the time they reached the lobby Connor could sense they were being followed. Maria squeezed his hand to not look around and they left the posh hotel for the busy streets of Kyiv.
Staff Master 2 Page 10