If Only

Eighteen

Zhang is walking through the park with his dog, Matatabi. The two run through the park playing and enjoying the fresh breeze. Matatabi retrieves the stick Zhang threw across the grass and brings it back to him wagging his two long blue tails.

"Good boy, Matatabi. Ready?" Zhang asks preparing to throw it again. Matatabi gets down into a stance in anticipation. Zhang smiles and throws the stick. "Go get it boy."

Out of enjoyment and pleasure of seeing his dogs excitement, Zhang never pays attention to where he threw the stick. The stick hits a guy right in the back of the head.

"Ow. Stupid prick. Watch what you're doing you bastard!!!" the guy yells.

Zhang looks up and sees the guy with the stick in his hand and Matatabi growling ferociously at him. He runs over and what catches his attention is the position his dog is in. Matatabi is standing in front of someone, seemingly, protecting them from the guy.

Zhang look over and realizes that its a girl. And not just any girl. A girl with shoulder length pink hair and purple eyes. Shes looking at the guy with a hint of fear and down at Matatabi with a hint of shock. Her eyes make there way over to the dark haired owner of the feisty blue dog and locks eyes with the last person she'd expect to see in a park with a dog.

"Zhang?"

/10 minutes earlier/

Reina had been somewhat bored all that morning, so she decided to go to the Sannin Park. Ezra and Keiri were doing some landscaping with her father, Riku and Jai. Amari went to go see her dad while he was in town. Later, Amari had her usual therapy session with Shouyu.

She chuckled to herself about the last time Amari had to check on Shouyu.

It was week after he came home from the hospital after the fight with Jin and Ireno. She went with Amari over to Shouyu's and the first person they see is Shouyu's father, Liam. The older man answered the door with a gentle smile that made both of the girls go Ezra mode and ogle over him a bit.

Yuri entered the room where they were waiting for Shouyu and immediately engulfed Amari in a hug. She giggled at the older ladys action and Reina had to bite back a laugh as Liam attempted to pry Yuri off of the girl. "BUT SHE'S JUST SO FREAKING ADORABLE!!!" Yuri screams out with heart shaped eyes.

The two girl giggle realizing where Riku gets his sense of humor and outgoing nature from.

Shouyu entered the room in a tank top and was drenched in sweat. Amari turned to greet him and instantly went starstruck. Reina followed her eyes and saw Shouyu and noticed how his perfectly toned muscled glistened from the sweat. But what really got her was when Riku, Jai and...Zhang walked in with him. All the guys were sweaty but Zhang was the only one shirtless.

Reina's cheeks begin to heat up as she thought of the memory. As she was lost in her thoughts, a guy walked up to the bench she was sitting at and tried to talk to her.

"Um...earth to bubble gum!!!" the guy shouted somewhat making Reina jump in surprise. "There. Now that I have your attention." the guy begins to speak but she cuts him off. "I'm not interested."

She hurriedly stands and tries to walk away but the guy grabs her arm. "Hey! Im not done talking to you." he yells squeezing her arm. Reina winces at the pain and reaches back to slap him across the face.

Before her hand and make its journey to the guys face...*SMACK*...a stick hits him right in the back of the headhard. The guy turns around and picks the stick up off the ground.

"Ow. Stupid prick. Watch what you're doing you bastard!!!" the guy yells.

Reina feels something furry touch her legs. She looks down and sees a medium sized, blue two tailed dog growling furiously at the guy. 'Why does this dog look so familiar? Better yet. Why is this dog protecting me?' The dog barks and the guy lets go off her arm causing her to fall to the ground.

A loud thump is heard and Reina rubs her now sore butt. The dog really gets pissed at this. His growl increases and he lowers his stance ready to pounce on the guy. Reina then notices someone else run up. She looks up and locks eyes with a very familiar raven haired young man.

"Zhang?@ she asks quietly.

Zhang looks from her back to the guy. His facial expression goes from worried to a very COLD glare. In a low monotone voice, he commands his dog, "Matatabi...get him."

The dog pounces on the guy and begins to bite him pretty much everywhere. The guy screams in agony and pain. Zhang holds his hand out to Reina not taking his eyes off the guy.

She takes his hand and stands up. She then looks down and her and Zhang wince at a few of Matatabi's attacks on the poor guy. "Thats gonna leave a scar." she says. He responds with a nod, "Definitely."

After about five more minutes, Reina calls for Matatabi who turns towards her and tackles her in a friendly way and showers her in dog kisses. She giggles at the love shown from the dog. "Aww. My little hero." she says patting his head while he rests in her lap.

"Hmph." Zhang says looking off with his arms folded.

She looks up at him. "Hey Zhang."

He looks down at her with his usual expression.

"Thank you." she says looking him directly in the eyes with a smile.

To her surprise, Zhang smiles back at her. "No problem. Come on." he says lifting her back off the ground. "Come on Matatabi. Race you to the car." Matatabi jumps up and takes a stance. Zhang does the same.

Reina counts down. "On your mark. Get set. And..GO!!!" The Nakamura and the two tailed dog take off in a friendly sprint to the car. They both make it at the same time.

"I win." Zhang says at his dog. Matatabi barks back disagreeing. "What do you mean you won? I got here first." he responds. His dog barks again. "A tie? No way. I won." Zhang says again this time face-to-face with the dog. Matatabi growls and barks again.

He sighs. "Fine. You win...this time." The dog jumps around in joy while wagging his tails. Reina walks up giggling at the two. "Thats enough you two." she says in a mock motherly tone. Zhang and Matatabi look at her with an annoyed expression.

They get into the car and he takes her to the restaurant the he usually goes to with Matatabi.

"Whats the name of this place? I've never been here before." she asks looking around admiring the restaurant. Zhang still has his eyes glued to the menu. "Jinchuriki's. Its a restaurant made for pets and pet owners. They have food items for us and our pets. he says to her."

"Oh wow. Do you come here often?" she asks looking down at the menu in front of her.

"Me, Riku and Shouyu usually come with Matatabi and Sora. Jai usually tags along as well. We're regulars." he explains plainly.

Reina teases. "So is that why youre hiding your face?" She begins to laugh. He sighs deeply and his cheeks heat up in embarassment, "Unfortunately...yes."

"Well, I think I found some more entertainment today." she teases and calls over a waitress. Zhang looks at her from over his menu. Reina. "You really dont want to do that." he says coolly. She leans forward, "And why not?"

"May I take your orders?" the waitress asks and then immediately goes into fan girl mode when Zhang lowers his menu. "Mr Nakamura! So, nice to see you and Matatabi again. And whom may I ask is this pretty young lady?"

Zhang looks at Reina and smirks. Her eyes widen and she whispers, 'You wouldn't dare.'

Zhang looks at the waitress and says proudly, "This is my girlfriend, Reina Novani."