Ari --------------------------------------------------------------------- DARK ON THE OUTSIDE (insert disclaimers here) =====CHAPTER 17: OWEN VERSUS GREG===== "What do you want, Greg?" Not even five minutes in the door from a night out on the town and Owen and Amy were being harassed by Greg over the phone. Greg had met him one time, and already he developed a deep hatred for him...just because Owen is an American. "Is there something wrong with you, man?" "You're something wrong with me!" Greg shouted over the phone, causing Owen to wrench the phone from his ear. ~Gee, I didn't know your ex has such a bad attitude,~ he said, while the phone was away from his head. "Okay, why shouldn't I hang up on you right now?" "Why? WHY?! I'll tell you why. YOU are why. You make me SICk to my stomach, man! Americans are a disease to this planet! And you, sir, are a TESTAMENT to that statement!" "This is coming from somebody who's still irked about stupid mistakes made by both of our homelands more than fifty years ago." "SILENCE! It's MY turn to talk." "No, it's your turn to shut up! You wanna talk about diseases, let's talk about you, buddy. Maybe it's just me, but how could anyone just kick someone as lovely and attractive as Amy for...God knows what that is!" He let out a shudder. "Where *I* come from, we treat a lady with respect!" Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Amy smiling at him, tears starting to appear in her eyes. "Listen, I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with you. I'm gonna hang up now, because we have no other business with you, got it?" "Oh but perhaps, we do...." For a moment, Greg did not say a word. As Owen was about to hang up, he could make out another sound in the background. It sounded like crying...from a small child.... "What's that sound?" Owen asked, nervously. "What, you mean this sound?" From where Greg was - the back- room of a smoke-filled bar late that night - he held his cellular phone against the side of the head of a small girl, her pink hair in dismay, tears streaking down her face as she looked up at her captor in fear. She had bruises and some cuts all over her face and upper body. There were marks on her wrists where the hemp rope cut in. All she could do is cry, having trouble saying what she had to say. "What the-!" Owen shot forward with a shock. He felt part of him breaking up. "R...Reenie?" Amy heard what he said, and she put her face in her hands. Amy thought to herself. "O...Owen," Reenie sobbed. "Reenie? A-are you alright? Reenie, what has he done to you?" All he got were more sobs. "Reenie?" What he didn't know is that Greg had pulled the phone from her mouth, and started talking to Owen. "Now to business. I want a piece of your American arse. I know I'll get it, because if you don't show up at the back room of Fujin's tomorrow night at midnight, I will take this dear sweet child" he took Reenie's chin in his free hand "and do something that is to say...not very nice. Clear?" "Fuck you, Greg!" Owen shouted. "Do you think all Americans are morons? You don't know the rules of a fight. You're the challan- ger, therefore *I* say where we meet." "You're not gonna hang up on me, are you?" "Damn straight! Remember, just you and me; none of your cro- nies. And if little Reenie isn't in one piece when I see you again, as far as the fight's concerned, we got a little saying about things like that where I come from." "And what would that be?" "I got two words for ya:" he held the reciever out in front of him "SUCK IT!!!" Owen then slammed the phone on the reciever. Meanwhile, Greg forcefully pressed a button on his cellular phone. "What -hic- happened -sniff-?" Reenie asked of Greg. A pause. "He hung up." At Amy's house, Owen saw her distraught expression, and drew her into his embrace. "What are we gonna do Owen?" Amy asked, in shock. "Greg's coming after us, Reeine's been kidnapped, oh God...." Amy started to cry into Owen's shirt. "Shhhhhhhhh...." Owen said as he rubbed her back slowly. "It's gonna be alright. We'll figure out what to do." Then, the phone rang again. They looked at the caller ID, and when the screen displayed CHIBA, DARIEN followed by the number, he picked up the phone. "Is that you, Serena?" Lots of sobbing. "G-G-Greg just called here," Serena moaned. "H-he has Reenie." With that, Serena resumed crying. "Don't worry about a thing, Serena," Owen started. "We're wor- king on it. How's Darien taking it?" Darien took the phone from Serena. "Owen?" "Are you alright Darien?" "Kill that bastard." was all that Darien said. "NO WAY! I'm not gonna kill him, just knock some sense into him! Man, I don't wanna turn this into an international incident! Look, he is gonna call back anytime now, so I gotta hang up, okay?" A sigh. "Alright. Sorry about that, I'm just really worried, that's all." "It's cool man. See ya." With that, Owen hung up. "So, now all we have to do is wait," Amy said. "He'll be back," Owen said, looking at the tormented, blue- haired girl. "But what was that about where you say you meet?" "He wants to challange me to a fight; back home, NO ONE calls ME out and gets away in one piece! If we meet on his turf, naturally it's my ass. If we meet on my terms, at least I'll have a chance." At that, the phone rang. The caller ID flashed -UNAVAILABLE,- so Owen reached up for the phone. "Alright, it's like this you piece of shit - MOM?!" Amy and Owen looked at each other in shock. "HI!" Owen shouted nervously. Apparently, he forgot his mom also carries a cell phone, and that there was some time difference between New Jersey and Japan. "I didn't expect you to call me now ... Look, I'm sorry about what I said! ... BecausethisguyisharassingmyfriendsandIandIwasexpectinghimto- callusbackandIdidn'texpectyoutobecallingherenowanditiskindofabadtime- I'llcallyouback!" He put the phone back down, and looked at Amy in confusion. "Wh-what was that?" she asked. "My mom." The phone rang again. Without even looking at the ID, he picked it up and said "Who is it?" "Okay, let's hear it," Greg said on the other end of the phone. "It's like this," Owen started. "Friday. Midnight. Tokyo Harbor by the statue of Commodore Matthew Perry. And make sure Reenie is in pristine condition, or kiss the deal goodbye!" "That american sailor that exposed Japan to the rest of the world?" Greg asked. "I should've guessed." "Midnight on friday at Tokyo Harbor. Be there." FRIDAY AT MIDNIGHT TOKYO HARBOR Owen's signature silver Benz pulled into a nearby parking lot just outside the dock. As he, Amy, Serena, and Darien stepped out, no one could help but worry. The Greg they knew was a nice guy. He loved Amy with everything he had. Now with his new attitude, they didn't know what to expect. When Owen was questioned that he mihgt have a gun with him, he said "I can take him, no matter what." The four stepped out of the car. Dim street lights gave the area an eerie and uncomfortable aura. It was quiet. Definitely too quiet. When coming to the statue of Perry, they once again noticed no one was anywhere in sight. They glanced around, out to the sea, down one street, down the other, and at the old warehouse. Still nothing. "Alright Greg," Owen shouted. "Where are you?" Suddenly, they heard a faint cry of 'Help helllllp!' The voice may have sounded a little strained, but it didn't take long for them to tell who's voice it is. "REENIE!" All four of them charged into the old warehouse, and after swinging the doors over, Reenie was seen tied to a chair in a far corner. Serena immediately ran over there and hugged the small girl, both crying their eyes out. The other soon followed. Serena let her go, holding her at arm's length, and blue, tear- riddled eyes met pink, tear-riddled eyes. "It's alright hon," Serena said. "We're here now." "Where's Greg?" Owen asked as he and Darien untied Reenie. "I don't know," she said. "He just dumped me here and left. That was more than an hour ago." "Okay," Owen started as he got the last of Reenie's bonds free. "Serena, why don't you come with me and I'll take you two home, okay?" "Alright," she answered. "I'll stay here and watch over Amy," Darien said. They said one last goodbye, and Owen picked up Reenie and led Serena out of the warehouse. Darien and Amy followed a step behind. The only problem was that Greg had been watching over them from the shadows.... After dropping off Serena and Reenie, Owen's mind was racing. The only other place that Greg could possibly be was in town. Owen scoured all over town, every street corner, bar, you name it, he sought it out. Then, he gave up and returned to the harbor... ...which, when he got back, he saw Darien beaten up and laid out off to the side, and something even more horrifying. Amy had been forced to her knees by Chyna, who was kneeling on her calves, pinning her down. She was also pulling her arms back by the wrists. Amy's blouse had been torn off, her bra clinging to her breasts. While staring at this site, moritfied, he heard Darien call out to him. "Oh dear God," Owen said to himself. "I'm sorry Darien, for putting you through this. It's all my fault." "I tried..." Darien said. "There are a lot of them...be care- ful...Owen." He strained to look at him. "Please, don't blame your- self. It's not your fault." "Alright, just stay here and chill," Owen said. "I'll take care of him." He looked back at Greg again, and he overheard him say something - not exactly what, though - but then he saw him bend down, take her chin in his hand, and was about to kiss her. That did it. Owen ran over there as fast as he could, as fast as his legs could take him, and punched him so hard, Greg was sent into the base of the statue. Then he saw Chyna still restraining Amy, and delivered a side kick right on the point of her chin. She stumbled backward and fell down, out cold. Then, he kneeled down and hugged Amy. "Oh Amy...." "Owen..." she started, between sobs. "I-I'm so glad -sob- you -sniff- you're here." "It's alright," he said. After he noticed what she wasn't wea- ring, he pulled off his V-neck sweater vest and handed it to her. "Here put this on. Go and see if Darien's alright; I'll take care of Greg." He got up, and walked over to Greg, his look totally different from just a few seconds ago. "Alright Greg, I've HAD IT! MESSING WITH ME IS ONE THING, BUT NOW YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR!!!" He charged at Greg, and simply put, pounded him into oblivion. He just stood over him, en- raged, as Greg rolled over onto his back. "Okay, Okay," Greg wimpered. "I'm sorry, please don't hurt me! Please?" Owen took a step closer to him, and was treated to a low kick courtesy of Greg. When Owen was doubled over - and with his newfound courage - Greg retaliated, landing several good punches and kicks of his own. But the tables would turn once again. Furious at what Greg has done to someone as special as Amy, fed up fighting with him, kinda sore from the blows Greg landed, and just plain and simply couldn't be bothered anymore, Owen sought to finish this fight. When Greg charged at Owen again, he snapped his hands out at him, and clamped them tightly on his shoulder blades. Greg's screams of pain indicated he wasn't gonna do anything. He lifted the smaller man off his feet. And then, most unexpectedly, Owen started to talk to him. "Greg," Owen started. "What's wrong?" He made sure to talk loud enough so he could be heard by Amy. "Why are you doing this? Do you think I WANT to inflict physical punishment on you? Look, man, you had it all; a beautiful, brilliant young woman who loved you as you once loved her, that whenever you were feeling down, you knew she was still waiting for you, you had it all! And you just threw it all away for what? The She-Hulk?" He lowered him to eye level. "It hurts me, it hurts Amy, you may not feel the same way about her anymore, but she still loves you. Is it because of me? Is that it? Really, I am just a foreien exchange student; I will be back home in America in a few months. I have no in- tention of coming between you two. Who knows, maybe some day I may have called you friend." "Someday," Greg answered, "someone will come along, and wipe you, and the entire United States, off of the face of the planet! And as far as you two go, fuck you! FUCK BOTH OF YOU!!!" Owen then lifted Greg above his head, still holding him by the shoulders, and sent a current of white magic through his body, which made him glow for a mom- ent. He then ran forward, and - at the same time - stopped just before the edge of the dock, and let go of Greg. He hit the water, ten feet below, with a big splash. Owen didn't bother to look back to watch Greg resurface from the murky water. He went back over to Amy, who, as Owen intended, heard every word. "C'mon Amy, let's get outta here." The two helped Darien into Owen's car, and drove off. ANDERSON HOUSE LATER "Are you feeling alright?" "I guess so." Late that night, Owen and Amy were out on the back porch, leaning on the railing and looking out into the night sky. The moonlight reflected off the rippling pool water, making it shimmer. "I'm still a little bit sore, though, from what he did to me." She looked down at the pool with a sad look on her face. "Don't worry, the pain will go away...eventually." "But, you don't understand! I didn't have too many loves in my life; Greg was the only one I had. I told him everything, even...even that I was Sailor Mercury. Now, after tonight, I'm afraid he's gonna tell the whole world my secret!" "You're secret's safe with me. Remember when I made him glow?" She nodded. "That was a memory check spell. As of right now, he does- n't have a clue who Sailor Mercury is, or that the Sailor Scouts even exist." "Thanks. I really appreciate that." Then, she looked up and faced Owen. "What I want to know is, what were you telling Greg, just before you dumped him into the harbor?" "Well..." he explained, "I tried to win him back for you. He's only human, so you know he would make mistakes. I figured he would see the error of his ways. But more importantly, I wouldn't stand in your way of finding someone, just as long as he...or she, to a far greater extent...makes you happy." Something was being harbored deep inside of Amy, and both she and Owen could tell. She turned her head and looked at Owen again, and decided there was no better time to cast off her true feelings. "To be honest with you, I have found someone who makes me happy..." She put her hand on top of Owen's with a smile. "...you." She placed his hand onto her heart, and both smiled at feeling the beating of her heart. "I love you, Owen." He then drew her into her arms, smiled and said "And I love you too, Amy." The two then brought their lips to the others, and they shared a long, lingering kiss under the moonlight. =====TO BE CONTINUED=====