This is the sequel to the Perils of Willow. It takes place later in the same year at Halloween. Both of these stories are built on the tale of Kashi exalting as a Solar, which was written by a friend of mine. He is one of the gamers in my local role playing games group. Unlike Perils which was finished at the time of its upload, this narrative is storyboarded and plotted out, but not finished. Requests for greater detail on characters or events can thus be answered in the story narrative if they are submitted. I thank you all for giving it a read and welcome any comments.
Bree Madigan attracted attention as she walked through the police station. She didn't attract attention due to the folded up blanket she had tucked under her arm. Most officers at the precinct knew why she had that. She didn't attract attention because of her looks, although those often did attract attention. At five foot ten she was tall for a woman, and at a 145 pounds she was just a bit more toned and curvy than preferred in runway models. Most modeling agencies weren't looking for women who were alabaster pale, always wearing sunscreen to keep her pale skin from burning, and wore little makeup. Her molten copper red hair certainly drew the eye, however. She kept her hair worn long and loose and let it spill down her back. It stood out in stark contrast to her black leather jacket that she wore over a simple green tee shirt that brought emphasis to her emerald eyes while not clashing with her blue jeans. No, Bree attracted attention because most of the station had not seen her in half a year. Not since her dismissal from the force.
One voice called over the others. "Bree! How have you been?!"
Bree broke out in a smile as she regarded the older man. He was African American, and as such, they were a study in contrasts. He was as dark as she was pale. Reggie Williams might be pushing close to retirement but he'd shown Bree the ropes when she was still a young starry eyed rookie. That and he had once had been her father's partner.
"How you been Reggie?" Bree asked warmly as she embraced him into a warm, daughterly hug.
"Been? Hell same as ever! But the real question is how have YOU been Bree? What's this I hear about you bringing in a bounty? I thought you were going the PI route not acquisition?" Reggie asked as he pulled away from the embrace and raised his eyebrow at her.
"Girl's gotta eat Reg, so when work is slow I take some bounty work here and there. You know, the usual: 'get the ones the others can't find, bounties that take a detective to find.' This last one has a history of civil protest against anti nudity laws and a warrant out for his arrest, then I hear about a big pro nudity rally in San Fran. I knew he had friends up there... pretty easy to piece together just had to find him in the crowd." Bree explained.
A younger African American cop looked over at the pair. "Well, that explains it...you looked pretty weird walking in here with a naked guy wrapped in a blanket." He observed.
Reg broke out in one of his infectious grins. "Bree, this is my new partner. They got me breaking in another rookie! This is Steve Davis. Steve, this is Sean Madigan's daughter, and you'll never meet a finer detective on or off the force." He declared.
"I've heard a lot of people are still are cursing the desk jockeys for caving to politics." Steve said as he extended his hand and smiled.
"Well what are you gonna do? I knew what I was risking, but it was worth it. If there is one thing I don't like it's corruption on the force" Bree replied as she shook Steve's hand, modestly shrugging off the compliments.
"Yeah after what happened to your father I suppose not." Steve offered. There was a moment of tenseness in the air and Steve realised he likely had misstepped.
"Well this wasn't the first time Bree had to drag a naked guy about under a blanket, right Bree?" Reg offered as a change of subject.
"Wow! Yeah this brings back memories." She said, as she patted the blanket.
"She bought that blanket when she was on the force. We kept catching a local teen nude in public. I'll bet that Kimura kid's been caught running around naked more than all the protesters in San Fran combined." Reg joked.
"Oh God...likely so! He still is the record holder for this blanket!" Bree stated as she gleefully reminisced.
"Who is this now? Why was he naked?" Steve asked with a puzzled look.
"Oh you'll see him again...don't worry. We talked to him just before summer started. You know, about that drive by and triple homicide in Compton. He was the blond Japanese kid." Reg reminded his partner.
"That guy? I thought his hair was bleached, and I thought you said he wasn't the sort to get into trouble?" Steve asked puzzled
"Well not homicide trouble anyhow. He's more the 'shenanigans' sort. I'll bet he's balled half the female students in his own school and the closest three neighboring high schools." Reg shook his head with a sigh.
"Wait...Kashi got involved in a triple homicide?" Bree asked in amazement. "I know him! That kid never even got into a fight unless he was defending someone from a beatdown." She added.
"No no nothing like that! We just hoped he might have seen something. You see, there was a drive by the Friday after Memorial Day. No one saw anything, of course, well not anything relevant to our investigation. However, some guys did remember a blond headed oriental kid with a deep tan being there. Compton's not far from Inglewood. If you were a kid, school was just letting out and you've had a rough time of finals you're probably looking for something to help you chill out..." Reg began.
"Ahh! So he was scoring weed huh? I never caught him holding, but everyone knows he partakes." Bree answered with sudden understanding.
"Yeah well no luck. He didn't see anything. He hit the deck and threw himself atop a kid that was in the line of fire. Then got up and ran like hell back for home. I knew there was no way he was involved in gang warfare, but I thought he might have seen something of use and been man enough to talk." Reg lamented.
"Why are you so sure this guy wouldn't get involved with gangs? Didn't you say his dad was part of a gang?" Steve asked.
"Yeah when Kashi was about...oh...four I guess, his dad was put away for killing a cop for Diablo Lobos. Kashi has hated gangs for taking away his daddy ever since." Bree explained.
"Almost as much as he hates his dad for taking the fall for a crime he didn't commit." Reg added.
"Wait he took the fall? Did the DA know and still let him?" Steve asked
"Yeah, kid. I'm surprised you didn't put that part of the story together." Bree said just a bit abruptly.
"Oh... oh wow ummm... I'm sorry Bree. I didn't... I should have known..." Steve stammered.
"It's okay, but I know Jin "Jet" Kimura didn't stab my dad in the back." Bree said with firm conviction.
"Well, unfortunately, it's all water under the bridge. The DA gave Jin the deal and he's still away for manslaughter. Although, I believe his kid is better for it." Reg proclaimed.
"Kids. Plural. You're forgetting the girl." Bree admonished.
Reg looked nearly as embarrassed as Steve and he tried to turn around and busy himself with some of his paper work. The look on his face before he turned, however, was a dead giveaway.
"What... what aren't you telling me?" Bree asked cautiously.
"Well I don't have it firsthand now Bree, but, the word around the rumor mill is Jin doesn't claim the girl. Says his wife was screwing around behind his back." Reg said with an exceptionally careful tone.
"Banyan cheating on him? I doubt it. She loved him. She only divorced him because of the gangs, heck she'd already kicked him out for it." Bree scoffed.
"Hold it. Who is Banyan? I thought that Kashi kid's mother was the hot looking blue eyed blonde that made us coffee." Steve asked confused.
"It is." Both Bree and Reg said simultaneously.
Steve looked back and forth puzzled.
"Apparently her folks were hippie Buddhists or something. I don't judge" Bree explained.
Steve nodded his head in sudden understanding, but Bree noticed Reg was looking around as if desperately searching for some way to change the subject. Bree, having known him long enough, found it obvious when he was trying to avoid talking about a certain subject.
"Well anyhow the rookie's never had to deal with Kashi's tomfoolery. He's been real well behaved as of late. He started college on a full ride scholarship for his soccer skills. He even got him a smart girlfriend. You know, an uptown sort of girl. Little Reiko's cousin, Sayuri." Reg related.
"Well I'd have never believed it. Kashi with a girl that wasn't just a fling? Sayuri...I think I remember the girl a bit." Bree mused.
"Man I was there when that Reiko girl manifested. I'd never seen a Manifestation in person before, it was crazy. Seeing someone in a pillar of fire who's not burning up." Steve remembered
"Yeah...you know what's even odder? Seeing Reg try to avoid telling me something. Spill it, Reg! What are you holding back?" Bree asked with narrowed eyes.
Reg let out a long sigh and pondered the ceiling tiles. He knew Bree didn't just make detective because she was from a long line of cops. That didn't count for much here in LA. Her dad's kin were all from Chicago. Sean Madigan had been strongly Irish American: red haired, hot tempered and as pale as his daughter. He was freckled and about as Catholic as they come, but he'd married a much more eclectic Californian girl. His wife, while also Irish, was dancing on the edge of Neo Celtic Pagan. Reg also knew a few things about Sean Bree didn't. Things he swore never to talk about. He was going to have to be a careful in how he phrased his next sentence so that Bree would be satisfied without revealing so much she found more questions to ask.
"Well, Bree you know your dad, how he would get involved in his own musings about things. He'd play hunches and spend his own time pushing people to come forward about crimes or developing favors that he could call in for info when he was on a case. He knew Banyan didn't like Jin being in a gang. She hated his crowd and so he hoped to get her to talk to him about what she overheard. They got pretty close..." Reg began
"Yeah, well, that sounds like dad, I guess... OH NO! NO! That Bastard didn't... He thinks my dad... and Banyan!" Bree spluttered.
Reg raised his hands as if to say "Hey! Not my theory!"
"That doesn't even make any damn sense! Willow Kimura is Asian! I mean just look at her face! How the hell is a Nordic mother and Irish father supposed to make an Asian girl!?" Bree asked.
"The sister is the one with the red hair and green eyes?" Steve asked looking at Bree's complexion and Irises.
"Oh no, mister! Did you see her epicanthal folds? That girl is Asian, at least in part! I don't care what her hair and eyes say! One look at her brother proves there is something freaky going on in that families genetics!" Bree ranted.
"Calm down now, Bree. If Jet was the sharpest knife in the drawer, he wouldn't be in prison serving out a term for a voluntary manslaughter that he didn't commit, now would he? His idea doesn't have to make sense, it just has to make Jet feel better so he can say his wife left him for another man, not because he was a peice of shit that wouldn't stop doing dirty work for a gang." Reg said calmly.
Bree calmed down. Like her father, her temper flared easily, luckily enough it tended to fade as fast as it flared.
"I think if I ever see that son of a bitch I'm going to slap him for that." She mused darkly.
"So, you think the son is due to start some trouble? It's Halloween tonight, the time for shenanigans." Steve mused.
"Heh no. Not Kashi. At least not tonight. He loves candy too much. He may be in college, but he's really a giant kid at heart. He still trick or treats until no place will let him have so much as a mint." Reg stated firmly.
"Yeah if there is one thing you can count on Kashi will stay out of trouble on Halloween and Thanksgiving if there is candy or food at the center of a holiday it's got his name all over it." Bree mused still distracted still pondering the revelation about Jin Kimura's accusations
Inglewood
The Kimura house was a bustle of activity. However, for once Kashi was not at the center of said activity. Like a general looking over a battle plan, Kashi was holed up in his room, pouring over his large map of the area that he had on his wall. It was filled with pushpins criss crossed with string as well as small flags with facts scribbled on them. It looked more like Kashi was planning the invasion of Normandy rather than a Halloween trick or treating route.
The center of activity, tonight, was Willow. She was getting ready. For years she'd been Kashi's candy beard. Kashi had figured out when he was twelve that he was rapidly approaching the age where trick or treating earned him scathing looks, not delighted handfuls of sweet treats. Willow, however, was small for her age and looked like a doll. A fact Kashi often found creepy, but once a year it had its uses. She could score an unbelievable amount of candy and she liked showing off in a costume. However, the best part for Kashi was that she would only keep about one pumpkin bucket of candy for herself if that much. She was the perfect front for Kashi's candy gathering operation.
Kashi's phone chimed and he went over to check the device. The week before he'd finally obtained a new phone with the assistance of Sayuri, who was embarrassed to see Kashi using a phone that was lavender with pink stars painted on its side. He saw Sayuri's status: Going to pick up Kashi to trick or treat! He inwardly smiled, but then serious determination washed over him. He'd have to finish his last minute preparations quickly if he wanted to be ready when she arrived.
"Hey squirt! Sayuri will be here any minute! Go help her get her with her stuff!" Kashi yelled through the wall at his sister.
Not waiting for a reply, he started checking the web site Willow had created years ago: Candy Hunter. It was a place where tips on the trick or treating world were swapped. It looked like no major updates had been placed. Kashi fiddled with a few pieces on his map, then nodded. He was convinced he had the best route for maximum yield in the time allotted. Less time than normal, but if Sayuri wanted to go to a Halloween party so be it. Yes, it was proof positive for anyone who knew Kashi that the boy was besotted.
Willow had indeed heard Kashi's yell. She exited her room, careful of her costume. Sayuri had dropped it off almost week before. It consisted of a pair of almost knee high boots, green shorts, a pinkish tan leather sleeveless tunic, a pair of goggles worn about her neck and two gloves one that went to the elbow on her left and a shorter metal knuckled drivers glove that connected to a detached sleeve that ran almost to her shoulder. As she started down the stairs, her mother emerged from her room with a bungie cord in one hand and a box in the other.
Banyan was young and still very attractive. She had been only seventeen when she became pregnant with Kashi and married the father Jin Kimura who prefered to be called by his alias Jet. With her fair skin blue eyes and blond hair a lot of people thought she was nordic. That was not the case however ,Banyan seldom corrected them. If asked Banyan would reluctantly state her mother was Northern Italian and her father was German. Such was close to the length and breadth of what she was willing to say on her parents. Other than that they were gone and no longer a part of her life.
Banyan was also getting ready to go out, however, she was working. She volunteered to work most holidays so she could be allowed to be off on others. She used to request Halloween off, until Kashi became old enough to drive. She never worked Thanksgiving and was always was off either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. These were hard days to snag as she worked at a 24/7 diner and held a second job at a hotel which was booked every holiday.
"Hey sweetie! Strap that to the bike for me. Thanks!" Banyan directed as she rushed back into her room.
Willow sighed but carried the box downstairs. She privately wondered what supplies Carl, the diner owner, had her pick up on her way to work. The man was a slave driver. Willow much preferred Mr. Goya, the Hotel owner, out of her mom's bosses. Too often, in Willow's opinion, her mother gave up things for other people who never appreciated her sacrifices. Her brother Kashi being the worst offender.
Outside Willow stowed the box on Kashi's bike. Mom was taking the bike to work and Kashi would be taking the car so he could drive Willow, and most importantly to him, haul more candy. She saw Sayuri pulling around the corner and Willow smiled. Sayuri just had that effect on people. Of course, Willow also admired the positive effects she had on Kashi.
Sayuri had been someone Kashi wanted to know and date for a long time, at least two years, but she had avoided the infamous boy like the plague. They likely never would have gotten together if it hadn't been for a fluke of fate. When picking out his freshman classes at UCLA Kashi, already able to speak Japanese, decided to take introductory Japanese. This seemingly smart choice went horribly wrong. Despite Banyan and Willow looking over Kashi's work, the professor would gleefully take off for odd, seemingly random things. In desperation, Banyan made some calls and had a tutor hired, that tutor turned out to be Sayuri.
The problem with Kashi's Japanese, it turned out, was not that hard to fix. However, it was embarrassing. Banyan and Kashi had learned Japanese from Jet who spoke in the most debased, gutter slang Okinawan dialect of Japanese Sayuri or the professor had ever heard. Willow, having learned Japanese from her brother and mother, spoke the same style and all three wrote just as they spoke. Sayuri compared it to writing English papers in a transcribed backwoods, bumpkin country accent. Willow was particularly shamed by not having known this. Luckily, it was not like Kashi had to learn a whole new tongue, he just had to learn what was slang and what was appropriate. His grades had already raised dramatically.
Even more dramatic, however, was how Sayuri inspired Kashi to better himself. Once he got a chance to finally meet her and really talk to her, Kashi had stopped his constant stream of casual dates and hook ups. He had done a lot to try to distract himself from what he was missing, all the while continuing to try to be worthy of Sayuri's affections.
His efforts had paid off. Sayuri had gone with them to a Japanese restaurant a few times as well as a few museums, all under the cover of learning or tutoring. Now, however, her tutoring sessions had ended and she'd agreed to go on an honest to God date with Kashi, or at least half a date. The first half she'd be going with Kashi and Willow trick or treating, the second half they would be going to a party and Willow would be going home with her nominal friend Kimmy.
Sayuri's beemer parked in front of the house. Sayuri stepped out of the car. Sayuri Sato was a beautiful girl with Japanese facial features. Her hair by contrast was a medium brown that brought out the lighter tones in her jade-green eyes. She was like Kashi in that her father, who was an investor and had been born in Brentwood, was full blooded Japanese, while her mother had been an American woman. Unfortunately for Sayuri, she had lost her mother at an early age. Mrs. Sato had been assaulted and murdered by a mugger.
Although Sayuri missed her mother, she was not bitter. She was of a serious, but kind demeanor. She was fiercely intelligent and unfailingly polite. She knew many people in Inglewood due to her cousin Reiko attending the same school as Kashi. Willow had been looking forward to seeing her costume, but she was wearing a long coat over her outfit. She smiled at Willow.
"Great costume, Willow! You look just like Rikku from Final Fantasy X! Don't worry! I'll help you get your hair done up." Sayuri said excitedly.
"Here! Let me help you! I'll carry the box of hair and makeup supplies. And you can hang on to Kashi's costume...hey...how did you get that coat on over your costume? Wouldn't its sleeves get in the way? Doesn't Yuna have like, really long sleeves on her kimono?" Willow asked in a puzzled tone as she appraised Sayuri.
"Well... about that... you see there was an accident with my costume..." Sayuri began.
The front door opened abruptly and Banyan came rushing out. She was trying to hold onto her cell phone at the same time she was trying to put on her jacket.
"Hey! I was wondering if you'd get here before I had to head out." Banyan said as she slipped her cellphone into her jacket.
Sayuri smiled at Banyan as she handed the box of makeup and hair products to Willow.
"Glad to see you too! You sure you're okay with all of this? You know, Kashi and I still seeing each other?" She asked nervously.
"Are you kidding!? I think you are unbelievably good for him! I can't believe how serious he's acting! This is the first time that boy ever took a relationship seriously. I think he must really feel deeply about you." Banyan said as she smiled. She was glad for the change in Kashi's notorious horndog behavior.
Banyan looked past Sayuri across the street and waved. Sayuri turned to see who she was waving to. What she saw was an elderly African American woman walking slowly, but unaided, from the house across the street toward the row of townhouses that that contained Kashi and his family's home. Sayuri knew this had to be the oft spoken of Nana Johnson.
Edith Johnson was one year away from her eightieth birthday, but she refused, stubbornly, to use a cane, walker or motor chair. She owned the row of townhouses which contained the Kimura household, as well as a few others. However to Banyan, Kashi and Willow she was more than a landlady. Nana Johnson was family. In turn, Edith Johnson had adopted them and bore no bones about talking to them just as if Banyan was her natural born daughter. For Kashi and Willow she the only grandmother they had ever known.
"Bany! What is that this child has strapped to your bike?" Mrs. Johnson asked.
"Um...Carl said to bring some lard. They were running short at the diner." Banyan said looking slightly embarrassed.
"You tell Carl Martin he had better clock you in for running his errands! You let that man walk all over you! Not only will he work you to the bone, that man will cut down into the bone and suck out your marrow! If he gives you any flack you can tell him I said next time he needs lard to get it out of his own fat middle rather than troubling folk who aren't at work!" Mrs. Johnson declared.
Sayuri couldn't help but grin and Willow chimed in. "Nana is right as always, mom! Carl is a big user!" She chirped.
"Well I'm sure he'll pay me. Oh! Nana! Here is my camera!" Banyan fished a camera out of her jacket.
Mrs. Johnson peered at the camera. "This isn't so different from the one I have at the house." She looked down at Willow. "I can guess who helped you pick it out." She said.
"Yes, Willow sure knows her stuff when it comes to electronics." Banyan nodded as she turned to be sure everything was packed tightly on the motorcycle.
Sayuri looked over at the device in Mrs. Johnson's hands. "Camera? Are we going to take pictures then?" She asked nervously.
"Well of course! We take some every year, and I want even more since I won't be here to see your costumes!" Banyan replied.
With a blush Sayuri tried to think of something to say.
"Sayuri said there was some sort of accident with her costume, mom. Maybe she's worried about it." Willow explained.
"Oh no. I'm sure it's fine! Let's take a look Sayuri, I'm sure it's okay." Banyan offered consolingly.
Sayuri opened the coat she was wearing to display her costume. She revealed a backless top with only a string strap and a plunging V neckline that revealed an incredible amount of cleavage complete with a seeming superfluous pink knit hoodie. The top also left a small portion of her midriff bare before not quite meeting the very tight, hip hugging Daisy Duke style shorts with an odd, ruffled half skirt hugging her left hip.
Banyan and Mrs. Johnson both stood, looking somewhat stunned. Banyan was especially surprised that the normally demure Sayuri would wear such an outfit. While Mrs Johnson, on the other hand, shook her head at the audacity of the young.
"Well you see there was an accident...well...I don't think it was REALLY an accident. My cousin. Reiko, was helping me with the costumes because I already had some from going to cosplay conventions. It's kind of our hobby. I was going to be Yuna, Willow was going to be Rikku, Kashi was going to be Tidus, all from Final Fantasy X..." She began.
Sayuri looked at the pair of bewildered women for a moment before she added an explanation.
"It's a video game. Then, Reiko came over and I was showing her my costume. She was checking out the material when she suddenly ignited it with her Manifested powers! She said it wasn't on purpose, but she's finished her training at the Air Force Base! She isn't supposed to accidently catch things on fire anymore. She was always trying to get me to date Kashi, she always said he would be good for me. I think she burned my other costume on purpose, because, in her point of view, this one would be more fun. She also, on top of all that, made Kashi's costume different from what we agreed. It's also a lot more showy than I had planned and..." Sayuri explained in a very fast, rapid pace.
Banyan walked over and hugged the nervous, babbling girl. "You'll be fine and you have my permission to slap my son if he can't keep more than his eyes off you." Banyan offered, diffusing Sayuri's nervousness with a bit of humor.
Mrs. Johnson shook her head. "Well, at least you've got the good sense to blush. If that's what you have to wear that's what you have to wear. I swear, girls younger than Willow have been dressing like trash in outfits far worse than that for Halloween for years. I can't say I approve, though. It used to be that Halloween was for dressing like angels, ghosts, or Superman, not parading about half naked." The old lady observed.
"I'm so sorry! If I had time to work on another costume, I would, but..." Sayuri offered. She looked to be on the verge of tears.
"Now, now. It's nothing to get upset over! Hush, child! This old lady's bluster wasn't directed at you! Now when you see that...cousin...was it..? That one that ruined whatever other pretty costume you had set to wear? You tell her just those words and you tell her if she does such a thing again, she'll have Edith Johnson to answer to! You're part of the family now, you hear!" Mrs Johnson soothed as she patted Sayuri reassuringly on the hand.
Sayuri began to feel a bit less mortified. Banyan gave her a quick hug and then leapt up on the bike.
"Still, get a picture! We'll all laugh about this latter, I'm sure! Be safe everyone!" Banyan cried. She then cranked the motorcycle and zipped off like a rocket.
Mrs. Johnson turned to Willow "Child, if you ever drive a motorcycle like that, I'll turn you over my knee. I'm so glad that since your brother took it over, she only drives that thing once a year."
Willow nodded and started into the house, quickly followed by Sayuri and Mrs. Johnson. Kashi, who had finally emerged from his room, had been bounding down the stairs at just that moment. He scrambled to a halt as the door nearly opened in his face.
"Hey Sayuri! You ready?!" Kashi asked as he beamed at her. He was leaning around the front door that when opened blocked the view up the staircase to the second floor.
Sayuri beamed back at Kashi. "I'm ready, but you and Willow have to get dressed!"Sayuri said passing the garment bag to Kashi.
"Sayuri is going to do my hair while you get dressed." Willow chirped in.
Mrs. Johnson looked over. "You have your work cut out for you, girl. That child's hair is pretty, but straight as a board, fine as silk. If you want to change the color you can forget it! That red shines through like the Devil in the eyes of a rogue." She said.
"That's what Banyan was telling me, but I came prepared!" Sayuri stated defiantly as she started to dig into her box of goodies
Kashi looked left at Willow who was eagerly looking through the box and then to the right at Sayuri who was actively digging through it.
Mrs. Johnson looked at Kashi. "Aren't you the one who was in a hurry? You might want to get that costume on if you want to ever leave. Don't just stand there waiting for an invitation!" She urged.
With a sigh, Kashi took the costume upstairs and started to work out how to get it on while the women left in the house retreated into the kitchen to work on Willow's hair. With an impressive amount of high quality hairspray, yellow spray on color, and elbow grease from both women, WIllow's hair slowly began to take on the appearance of the character Rikku from Final Fantasy X.
Once she was done, Sayuri appraised her work. "Well, your hair looks good...although it's more like Rikku's hair from the sequel, but the costume is from the first game. That's okay, though. Due to Reiko's interference, we are not going to exactly match anyway. At least with game continuity. Besides, I wasn't about to have a twelve year old wear Rikku's X-2 costume. It's worse than mine. Which is why we never wore these to a convention. I was too embarrassed." Sayuri explained.
"What did she do to Kashi's costume, anyway? Didn't Tidus look exactly the same in his brief X-2 appearance?" Willow asked curiously.
As if to answer her question, Kashi came into the kitchen in his costume. "I think part of this is missing..." He said.
Kashi's costume consisted of a pair of boots, a tattered greyish-blue pair of shorts that came down to his knees, a pair of black gloves that had a series of red straps that criss-crossed his forearms complete with a well fashioned armguard and gauntlet that was made of plastic but cleverly disguised to appear as if it was made of metal on his left arm. To complete the costume, he also sported a large fiberglass model sword that was colored to look like it was made out of water. There was no top to the costume. Kashi's toned chest and abs were openly on display. The only thing he wore above the waist was a silver pendant that he had swapped in place of his coral shell necklace.
"I know that's not the costume I showed you... I planned for us all to be in Final Fantasy X costumes but the same character is in the game Dissidia Duodecim with a different outfit. The one you have on. So, of course, Reiko went for the less appropriate costume." Sayuri said shaking her head.
"And you trusted this woman to help you? Sad when family plays such tricks on their own in an hour of need." Mrs. Johnson lamented.
"Well...I wanted us to all have really good costumes! I usually make them myself. Like I said, it's my hobby! But, college has been so harsh this semester, particularly math! It was killing me until lately. When Reiko offered to make Kashi a costume and I already had one, that meant all I had to do was adjust Reiko's old costume down for Willow. It was a huge time saver!" Sayuri explained.
"Well, it's no skin off my nose. Let's go" Kashi said as he shrugged.
"Oh! That reminds me! We have to do your makeup!" Sayuri said as she started to dig in her box as a flabbergasted Kashi gaped at her like a fish.
"Wait a sec! No one said anything about ME wearing makeup! I'm not .. I don't... just NO!" Kashi declared in a flustered manner.
"Kashi is afraid of being seen as girly. He's a big jock, remember! Or is that a big jerk...?" Willow quipped.
"Kashi! This is part of your costume! Relax, it's not that much. We just have to make you look like you're an animated character." Sayuri offered.
Kashi shrank back from the brushes and bottle Sayuri brandished at him. He looked at her critically. A hurt look spread across her face as he stood there staring at her. He then, finally, after a long moment, let out a sigh. "Look...I just don't... well I didn't think... Oh...God...fine! If you think it's best." He said reluctantly.
Sayuri clapped her hands excitedly and gleefully sat Kashi down in one of the kitchen chairs. She launched into working on her boyfriend's face. Willow and Mrs Johnson shared a look. Both knew for her to reign in the normally intractable Kashi so easily, it meant he had it bad.
A diner not far away
Jesse changed the setting on the tablet so it displayed the street level GPS. He then handed it across the table to another man who appeared to be a forty something hipster.
"His route is programed into the street view. No trouble is expected. The brother plans to divert to a party. Our entrustee will be separating from him there when the party ends. She'll be going for a sleepover at the home of the girl in the attached dossier. Both will be retiring soon after as they have school in the morning." Jesse explained.
The other Virtual Adept glanced at the tablet then over at the Cowboy who sat across from him. "I think I can stay on top of this. Nothing ever happens on Halloween, Jesse. You know that." The hipster admonished.
Jesse shook his head. "Just keep a firm eye on them, alright. If there is any and I mean any sign of trouble call me." He ordered.
The other Virtual Adept nodded. "I know when to call for the cavalry, Cowboy. No worries. Get some shuteye partner." He replied in a cheesy, mocking accent.
Jesse rolled his eyes at the cheesy accent and stalked out of the cafe. He gave one last look at Willow's mother, Banyan. She was a good looking and hard working woman. After watching her house for twelve years and protecting her daughter, Jesse felt like he knew her. He felt a twinge of regret surge through him. It was very likely, in a couple months ,they would have to take her daughter from her. Hardening his heart, he walked on out. Sure, she'd still have a son, but the boy, in his opinion, had never appreciated all his mother sacrificed to try to give him a good life and keep him out of trouble.
Banyan for her part, was pouring more coffee to a young man in a back booth "Anything else, sir?" She asked smiling sweetly.
Jesse eyed the man she was serving. He was a large Hispanic in blue jeans and a brick red button up shirt. He had to admire his bolo tie. It appeared to be silver with a turquoise stone in the middle. His older model laptop was laughable, however. Jesse thought even less of his straw cowboy hat that rested next to him on the bench of the booth. As he turned away to leave he thought to himself. "City slicker. Any cowboy worth his salt would spring for a real felt Stetson."
The large Hispanic man smiled back at Banyan unknowing and unconcerned with the mages thoughts. "Your smile is worth more to this store then they know little lady. It talked me into it. A piece of your chocolate cake, please. I shouldn't but, hey, Halloween is a time for sweets right?" He said.
As Banyan nodded and drifted off to get the cake the man requested, he looked back down at his laptop. Which displayed a private chat room hosted on .
Keeper975: Anything new to report. Lucy?
LucyNDskies: Nothing yet, Keeper, still trailing them.
Seeker143: I don't like this this at all. The group I've been following has been asking far too many questions. They investigated the hideout the band we fought last time were using. They know about the sun bleached effect left behind after the battle. Then they were asking questions around Compton where the pavement had the same look. I think they are going after RisingSun.
Keeper975: I hate that handle and I hate you for making it up, Seeker. Now let's get to business. I've called some others who were not part of the first investigations. They are sending out a general standby alert to all hunters in the LA area, but until we are sure this kid is the San Diego bloodsucker's target we are not moving. If they've just come to hit the local blood junkies we wash our hands of it you got it?
LucyNDskies: Six years ago we'd be calling them with a warning. They might see this as a truce violation. Keeper, you sure you want to be responsible for letting what the Seven built crumble?
In the diner the man rolled his eyes. He liked Lucy but he was so tired of her nostalgia for a past that wasn't that great to start with. The days of the Gang of Seven were a chapter of history he thought was best forgotten.
Keeper975: Positive, and I will be very much upset if I hear you've done otherwise. Lucy those devils don't get any freebies from us. Just keep watch and keep reporting back in. Both of you! Lucy follow those leeches. We'll see if they link up with the spies and informants Seeker is trailing.
Seeker143: Right, if you say so. I hope we don't regret this.
