Fan Fiction ❯ Chronicles of Grinch the White ❯ ...And a Happy New Year! ( Chapter 1 )

Chronicles of Grinch the White

Chapter 1: …And a Happy New Year!

By Glaciours, and help from Electro

Sony does not belong to me but its respective owner, do not sue!

All characters belong to me!

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John smiled. It had been a good day so far at his bar, no fights, no drunks, no disturbances...he even got tipped! `Let's hope it continues this way...Let's hope the SHARKs to come in here right now.' He thought to himself. The SHARKs were a notorious local gang, known for their brutality, and mercilessness. He would hate to be one to get in a fight with one of their members.

"Hey John, who are they?" Asked on of his regulars...Bill his name was. John looked over at where John was looking at and froze. Three men had just come in through the door. One was short and looked hungry, maybe 5'2, wearing close fitting dark pants and long sleeve shirt. He had on high combat boots, as well as a sash, and wristbands. His hands were covered with what seemed to be thick leather gloves, and his face...The bottom half was covered in a cowl, the top was open, revealing a tanned complexion and slightly Asian features, ebony eyes, with fairly long black locks thrown back over his head. He had a look about him that John knew well, it meant that if someone even looked at him the wrong way, he would soon find himself in intensive care or 6 feet under.

The second man was slightly more visible. He was tall, about 6'8 with a plain built. He was wearing light, brown traveling boots, with matching pants and shirt. He was wearing a heavy cloak; its design was of strange eye-like symbols and lines. His face was triangular and his noise pointed...His hair, a dark blonde spike. He was `trying' to look grim, but that seemed to give him a comical look...John could tell, he was working in this bar since he was 4, and he had met many strange and scary characters. The third...now, there was something. He was wearing a long dark brown robe, its sleeves long, covering his hands completely. It had a high neck, and was wearing a large pointed hat with a drooping tip. He was so completely covered; you couldn't see a single feature on him.

"You think they may be new SHARK members? Bill asked, his voice slightly alarmed.

"I do not know, I've never seen them before...must be tourists." John said to his friend, while keeping a close eye on the new arrivals.

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Eli entered the bar slowly, carefully and quietly...he did not want to attract attention, even if it was New Years day and people were celebrating. Better safe than sorry… He had learnt that the hard way, but that would be a story for a different time.

"Nice place" Dino commented as he stepped into the bar, Grinch slightly behind him. "Wonder if they actually serve anything other than beer." He knew from personal experience that small local taverns did not have a large selection of beverages.

`Calm down, let me check' Grinch spoke into his mind, `Hmm, Bartender seems to be a good fellow, wait a second...fear...he's afraid we'll trash up his bar, careful gentlemen, if were not careful we might find ourselves in a predicament.'

"So, this old dog has learned a few new tricks huh? You seem to be quite adept at probing peoples minds...what have you been up to Grinch?" Eli asked as he slowly made his way towards the cautious barkeep.

`Ah, you do not need to speak verbally my friends, all you have to do is `think' what you want to say, and I'll hear you...just make sure to concentrate on me or each other when you do it, or `someone' might overhear...and we don't want that now do we?' The furry companion joked.

As they sat down at the bar, Dino decided to try, `HEY GUYS, CAN YOU HEAR ME?!?' The mental `shout' was enough to make the others wince slightly.

`Not so loud eh Dino? You want to burn out my brain? You know I'm not that good at psionics!' Scolded Eli as the barkeep approached them.

"Hello, welcome to the Rappa Nui Tavern, can I get you anything?" The barkeep inquired. "May I recommend the house brew, or maybe some of the imported whiskey?"

"Tea"

"Coffee"

`Uh, Eli, can you order for me, I can't really...talk.'

"Make that Tea and a Water"

"Will that be all?" The bartended proceeded, of course, he was following regulation...he didn't want any trouble in his bar.

"Yes, one straw too." The dark man added as an afterthought to his order.

As the bartender went off to make their drinks, Eli had a thought, `So Grinch, if were to get to know each other again, how `bout you start off?'

`Well, all right. After you left for Japan in '06, I began my own journey. Not a journey physically, but mentally. I began to explore myself, find out about my past and who I really was. I slept a lot, most of the time it was really sleep, but that was only because I was exhausting myself in meditation the rest of the time. Back then, I still was a dog...I was just using more of my brain...about the same amount as an `intelligent' human uses. So then one day, I was out for a walk, when I felt my first echo. It was prey, a rabbit...and it was big. So I started to hunt for it, trying to home in on that echo. I caught it, and that marked the turning point for me. After that, I began to physically change...my bone structure began to evolve, until I could stand upright. Then my fur began to change colour. First it became more sparse, then white, and finally it thickened again. And that...that was when the accident happened…' He trailed off, his head gently turning to the side, as if to avoid looking at them.

`Perhaps I should take it from here' pulled Dino, as they accepted their drinks, Grinch putting the straw in his. `After you left, I stayed for a while. While everyone else went away to college, university, or the workplace after graduation, I began to do research. I studied, studied...lost myself in the books in my basement, completely losing my grip on time. All I knew was that I had to finish the next chapter, read the next book, decipher the meaning of a prophecy. Until the day when I was jarred out of my cycle by your death Eli. Before you left, you told me not to believe anything I heard or was told about you, and that we would eventually meet again. I forgot that at that moment, when my stepfather came down the stairs and said that something happened. That week I went to see your house. In 4 days time after you died, the house somehow managed to burn down, all the occupants dying except the pet, which had run away, and seemed to be the cause of the fire.' He took a sip from his coffee, carefully watching for any trace of remorse or sadness in Eli's face. It remained an emotionless mask, that of a trained businessman and professional killer. So he continued, `that day, I left for Europe. I needed to get away, think about what I was really doing in life and what was the meaning of my existence...why was I reading, why was I living an everyday meaningless existence if I knew I had to do something...play my role. So I went to Europe, Egypt specifically. I visited the Valley of Kings, and that's when MY turning point occurred.'

`I was inside one of the pyramids, specifically the one,' he reached into his robe and pulled out an American dollar bill, `here. I was reading the hieroglyphics as part of an archeological review, when I heard a voice...HER voice. It was first a whisper, so I turned and looked around to see if anyone was talking. Seeing no one around me, I ignored it and kept reading. Then I heard it again, and somehow I understood what it said. She was telling to me to let go, let go of my physical aspect, my beliefs on life. To start anew with the sense of purpose I was searching for. So when I heard her say `Dino...wake up' something inside me snapped. And from there, it was downhill both ways.' As he finished, he realized his cup was empty, so he gave the counter a gentle tap, indicating he wanted a refill.

As Eli was listening, he was also thinking...'how can I put this in a gentle way...tell them what I've seen, heard... ... ... done. I don't think I should tell them just yet of the more serious matters, just a bit of what happened then, and maybe later, I'll fill them in on the rest.' As he heard Dino finish, he composed himself, and began. `When I left, I had a plan in mind. Go there, make sure it seems only like a vacation, and then kill myself. So when I got there, I began to go to karaoke bars, clubs, and all the while I was looking for a job. When I finally got one, it seemed I was a CEO at a company called SONY' Chuckle from his two friends, `and I had plenty of big business friends to play with. So one night, we went to a bar to sing and maybe get some entertainment. After getting them properly drunk, I offered to drive them all home. Being intoxicated, they all agreed. So as we began our journey back, I pulled onto the freeway leading away from the main city, I was in Kyoto by the way. So as I drove on the highway, I got a very sick idea. I gently began to slide to one side of the road, pretending as if I was losing control of the car. As one of my business partners reached out to help me, I smashed his head into the dashboard, then mine into the steering wheel, and bailed out of the car.'

`I had never had a bloody nose in my life, I tell you that. But there's a first time for everything right? I landed roughly in a log roll, and rolled until I lost all my momentum. I lay on the ground for a couple minutes, trying to regain my scattered wits, when I heard a loud explosion...perfect. So I got up, cleaned my nose, and began to walk away. I left he city completely, immersing myself in the wilds of Japan. I was looking for the perfect spot. After about a week, I finally found it. It was a small clearing, with an ancient tree, maybe 800 years old, in the middle. It was there that I began my training, giving up all my knowledge of civilization. After about 3 years, I decided I was ready to return to civilization at last. So I went back, back to the city, but this time, I went to Tokyo. It was there that I got a couple of fake ID's and began my new life. At first I got jobs anywhere I could. Factories, cleaners, maintenance, anywhere, until I finally had the funds to properly equip myself. I then began to work for serious, I went to local bars, and clubs, places where you wouldn't find you normal civilian, but where you would find your gang, or drug lord, mafia boss or criminal. There I offered my...services. I became one of the most reputable assassins in Japan, my work was flawless, no clues, no evidence, nothing to trace the death to my employer or me. So eventually, I came here. And that's my story.'

As he finished, he was on his second cup of tea and had noticed that one of his companions was not fully paying attention. `Grinch, anything wrong?' He asked, giving his leg a gentle tap with is boot.

`No, not really, except that about seven tough looking bastards just showed up and it looks like they know you.' Came the reply.

Eli turned...to see one of his former employers most trusted thugs staring daggers at him. `So, it has finally come to this. He didn't trust me, so he wants me gone...Typical Sogonako, his arrogance will be his demise.' He thought to himself as he directed his attention back to his drink.

John looked up just as his new customer did. `Oh no! The SHARKs are here! I hope they don't start anything, I just want to close up and go to bed!' he though to himself as he gently fidgeted, looking away nervously at Bill.

The thugs began advancing slowly. They had formed a v, with the toughest one in the center, his lackeys around him. As they approached the trio, the leader quietly pulled a switchblade out of his pocket. "So, Mordomako, we meet again. It seems you upset boss, so that makes you..." he trailed off, leaning forwards and pressing the switchblade up to the dark mans neck.

Eli's companions froze, he could feel their energies building, waiting for his signal to be released. `Relax, I can take care of it' he mentally whispered as he let out a small chuckle. "Sodondo, great to see you. How have you been? How is your wife doing?" He asked, pulling an easy tone. "I believe it makes me what? Do you think you can do anything to harm me? You obviously haven't seen me when I work." He said as he let his face fall into his emotionless mask once again.

"You fucker, you know how she's doing! You killed her!" Sodondo roared, putting more pressure on the knife. "Mordomako, bosses orders, your dead!" He all but yelled as he pulled the blade back, slicing the mans through. He let his eyes focus again, expecting to see him slumped over on the counter, but then he felt a horrible pain in his arm. He looked down to see a piece of bone, HIS bone sticking out of his arm. Mordomako was holding the broken forearm firmly, not moving. The thugs moved into action.

The first made a jump for him. Eli stuck his foot out behind him, leg straight, heel out towards the assailant. The man caught the kick straight in the gut, the force sending him to his knees. The next two pulled out large crude knives and charged. Letting go of the splintered arm, Eli jumped up, somersaulting over the attackers and breaking the neck of a third. Reaching his hands to alternate wrists, he pulled out a half dozen kunai and sent them flying at the two previous attackers. Then all hit the right between the thugs' eyes. The next man pulled out a 9mm handgun and aimed it at Eli's head. Faster than the human eye could follow, Eli had rushed him twisted the gun out of the hand and smashed the man on the temple with enough force to cause some serious damage. The last thug seemed unphased by his comrades' defeat. He was 8 feet tall, more even, and looked to be over 400 pounds. He began to move forwards, gaining speed, and let out an extremely loud war cry. Eli, seeing him as a potential threat, pulled out a single paper-thin knife from the sole of his boot and rolled between the charging giants feet. Coming up behind him, he took one step, then another up the attackers back and a third on the mans shoulder. Bringing the knife over his head, he sent it down around the head and plunged it into his through. As the giant gargled blood, he was sent to his knees and finally face forwards on the ground, dead.

"You bastard Mordomako, you think you can kill my men and just let me live? I swear I'll get revenge on you!" Sodondo yelled as he began to run towards the door.

"Don't bet on it, I always finish the job" whispered Eli as he sent the bloody knife hurling towards the running thug.

With a scream, the man collapsed in a heap on the ground, the bar eerily silent because of the 7 deaths they had all just witnessed. `Come-on guys, I think we should get up home before morning, I want to catch a few winks before you pester me with questions' With that thought, they all got up, and left he barkeep to clean up the mess.

Before they went out the door, Eli turned around and reached into Sodondo's pocket to pull out $500 American dollars. Throwing it at the barkeep, he said, "Sorry for the mess, keep the change" and walked out the door towards his awaiting companions.

John just stared at his back, and then the door as it closed. Snapping out of his trance, he yelled, "OK, bars closed, nobody saw nothing ok?" After hearing the murmured confirmations, he added, "Bill, mind helping me clean up?"

With a chuckle, Bill got up and went to the back room to fetch a mop, as the bar's occupants slowly filed out of the door.

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Ok, that's the first chapter, hope it will clear some things up, I will get the next chapter up soon, I hope, R&R plz, and check me out on fanfiction.net too,

www.fanfiction.net/~glaciours

Thnx!