It was night time and all was quite, well for now….
Sora crawled through the house. She hated being alone in the dark but the gang was out for the night.
"Well, I'm not completely left alone." Sora whispered.
/Got that right chick./ Romani suddenly said in the back of her head. Sora chuckled. She continued on her crawling adventure, picking up a few splinters.
/You know I can carry you to the bloody kitchen./ Romani stated. Sora laughed and shook her head.
"I'm a fricken stubborn donkey." Sora said. Romani sighed and then smirked as her ears picked up the sounds of returning people.
/Here are some people now master, that can put you in your place./ Romani said, smiling. Sora groaned and heaved herself upwards and collapsed on a bear hide chair. Romani smiled and placed a blanket over Sora's small body, already asleep. Romani disappeared as the lock opened on the front door.
"Fifteen bucks says Sora's in her own bed for once." Came Tala's voice.
"Taken." Came the soft voice of a slate haired boy. The lights flicked on and Tala sighed. Kai and Tari laughed.
"O screw it. I'm going to bed. Night Kai. Coming Tar?" Tala asked. Tari nodded and hugged her brother good night. Kai hugged her back and watched her walk up the stairs. He turned around and looked gently down at the black haired girl in his bear hide chair.
"O Sora, what am I going to do with you?" He asked quietly, taking the small frame of Sora in his arms. Sora murmured something and huddled closer to Kai's chest. Kai smiled and walked up the stairs. He started humming as he walked into his room and laid Sora down on his bed.
"Stars are shining, little fighter. Go to sleep o merry one. Gentle cradle of angel's light to rock you to sleep. Heaven is singing. Can't you hear their song? Moonlight dripping in water, fire's burning bright. Soft cradle of silky roses, to lay your head on." Kai sang softly.
/Never thought you were one to sing./ Romani said from the doorway. Kai looked up and smiled.
"Many surprises eh?" Kai asked. Romani chuckled and then silently vanished. Kai smiled wider and crawled into bed next to Sora. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek.
"Sweet dreams dear hunter." He whispered as sleep claimed him.
Sora's dream…
Sora walked forward facing the empty corridor. Eerie silence filled the room and she shivered in fear.
/You don't belong here little one./ Came a deep sinister voice. Sora spun around and came face to face with a huge monstrous creature. She stifled a scream when she realized it was a black jaguar.
/ You are not welcome here./ He said again.
"Please sir. Where am I?" Sora asked. The jaguar laughed.
/ You are in the Sugijima clan stronghold. Now I said it once, I'll say it again. You are not welcome!/ The jaguar rose and disappeared. Suddenly, a great roar was heard. Sora spun around and saw a monster charging at her, blood red eyes glaring at her.
She started to run only to trip. She turned and faced the oncoming thing. Suddenly, a horse was rearing in front of her.
/Run daughter!/ The horse cried. Sora froze.
"Father! No!" Sora screamed as the horse met the monster head on. A sickening crunch was heard.
"FATHER!" Sora screamed.
End dream…
Sora bolted upwards and looked around, panting. She was in Kai's room safe and sound. She wiped a hand across her forehead, the sweat beading heavily.
"Sora?" Kai murmured gently. Sora jumped when his hand touched her back.
"What's wrong?" He asked, sitting up. Sora took a deep breath and sighed.
"It was just a dream." Sora murmured quietly. Kai frowned.
"That was no dream Sora Getsuga. What's wrong?" He asked, a little too sharply. Sora flinched and moved away from Kai, pain showing in her eyes. Kai grimaced. Sora was sacred witless. He reached out a hand and gently placed it on Sora's cheek. Her breath hitched and she sobbed.
"Sora, love, it's me Kai." Kai whispered. Sora looked at him through watery eyes and she whimpered. Kai pulled her shivering body to his chest and cradled her in his arms.
"Love what's wrong?" Kai asked. Sora shivered.
"I saw my clan's home in Japan. I think I met the jaguar who took my father's life." She whispered. Kai's eyes widened slightly. Talking about the Sugijima clan in front of Sora was basically forbidden.
"What do you mean?" Kai asked. Sora laughed harshly.
"I lied to Boris. My clan is not all dead. My grandfather was exiled. My father was welcomed back into the clan till he married my mother. I was welcomed back after my father's exile, but I didn't want to be apart of the clan. My great grandfather separated the clan in two. I am part of the canine side. The other side all had feline bit beasts. So in a way I am the last canine clan member. The last spot of unclean in the record." Sora said.
"So basically you are the last of your clan." Kai murmured. Sora sighed and nodded.
"I don't want to be apart of that clan. That is not my family. I belong here where Rashid said I should be." Sora said, placing a hand on Kai's cheek. Kai grabbed her hand in his hand.
"This is where you belong. In my arms safe and sound. I won't let anything hurt you again." Kai said, his red eyes dull with the pain of past memories. Sora looked up at him and then placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Kai returned it and he laid Sora down.
"You need some sleep love." He whispered in her ear. Sora smiled and obeyed her lover. Kai watched his girl and placed a gentle hand on her cheek.
"Rest easy Sora. I highly doubt any of us will let another thing, living, or dead, hurt you." Kai whispered. He wrapped her in his arms and placed one of his legs across hers, completely encasing her in warmth. Sora smiled in her sleep and huddled closer to his chest. Kai fell asleep, his breathing moving strands of Sora's midnight black hair.
Next morning…
Kai woke up and found himself alone in his bed. He sat up and yawned. He got up and pulled on a t shirt and tightened his sweat strings. He opened the door and came face to face with Tari.
"Morning Tar. Who'd you sleep?" Kai asked.
"Great. How bout you Kai?" Tari asked. Kai smirked. After Sora's nightmare he fell asleep and he had kept growling in a protective manner. Tari on the other hand smiled and said sweetly.
"I thought I told you to keep it PG rated." Kai snorted.
"I did. Sora had a nightmare last night Tar." He said quietly. Tari looked up in surprise.
"TALA IVANOV! GET YOUR SORRY BEHIND BACK HERE NOW!" Came Sora's infuriated yell. Kai sighed and jogged down the stairs. Sora was standing in the door way dripping in water. Kai stifled his laughing fit. Sora turned around, her eyes were blood shot and starting to glow a devilish purple.
"Sora, calm down." Kai said gently. Sora growled in annoyance as the duo heard the red head's laughter. She stormed out of the house, still wet and Kai can hear his truck start up and drive away. Tala came in smirking. Kai smacked him in the head.
"Idiot! She had a bad night!" Kai snarled. Tala's smirk disappeared.
"I'm sorry Kai." Tala said quietly. Kai sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"It's ok Tal. I think she needs to blow some steam." Kai said gently to his friend. Tala looked worriedly between the doorway and Kai. Sora had become like a little sister to him, Romani's and Wolborg's fault no doubt, and he was worried about her frequently.
"She'll come back in a little bit guys." Tari said from behind them. Kai sighed and glowered darkly at the ceiling.
Five hours later…
"What were you telling me earlier Tari?" Kai asked sourly, jumping into Tala's red truck. Tari rolled her eyes and slammed the door. She waved goodbye and watched as her brother sped down the driveway. Kai sighed, running a hand through his thick hair. Sora was a person who did not forgive easily, that is unless you are Tari or Kai, and the stunt Tala pulled is going to make her mad for days on end. Kai sighed again and parked in front of Mr. Riot's house.
He got out and saw one of the open field corral fences were occupied by people, from at least the age of 10 to adults. All were wearing cowboy hats and spurs.
"Up next is Sora Getsuga riding Nikki!" Came the familiar baritone voice of Mr. Riot. Kai hopped onto an empty rail and watched in fascination as a young red headed man on a paint gelding flew around three barrels.
"Alistair's time was 13.85 seconds. A new time to beat. The last competitor of the day is up next." The boy came out of the gate on the blowing horse and smirked at the kid at the gate. Kai gasped. That was Sora. She had changed. She was wearing some work jeans, a pair of old worn out boots, a long sleeved white shirt, and a cowboy hat with stampede strings.
Kai faintly heard what Alistair told Sora.
"Better luck next time Getsuga. Blazer and I just left you in the dust." Alistair said. Sora looked at him impassively, and moved Nikki to stand next to the paint.
"Alistair," Sora said her voice as hard as flint. Kai flinched; he shouldn't be even near Sora when she was like this.
"You are inconceivably retarded, even for a bloody high bred Englishmen who thinks he is a cowboy. If I were you I'd shut up, move away from my horse, and get the bloody hell away from me." Sora said. Alistair snorted and heaved on the paint's reins. The gelding shuddered with pain and moved away from Nikki and Sora. Sora growled savagely and patted Nikki's neck in a reassuring way.
"Sora you're up lass." Came Mr. Riot's voice. Sora shuddered and opened the gate. She maneuvered Nikki through and trotted her forward. Kai watched in fascination. As Sora clapped her heels to Nikki's sides and they took off like a bird in flight. Around the first and second barrels in a flash, and nearing the third when Nikki stumbled. Sora gasped in surprise and brought Nikki's head up. Nikki squealed and moved forward still.
Kai was gripping the rail so hard that his knuckles turned white.
Nikki spun around the barrel, righting herself, and thundered home, through the gate and slowed to a stop.
"HOLY TOLIDO! FOLKS WE HAVE A RECORD UP HERE! 11. 97 SECONDS!" Came the voice of Mr. Riot. The crowd gasped. Sora panted, and patted Nikki's sweaty neck.
"Good girl Nik. Good girl." Sora whispered. Nikki bobbed her head in agreement and trotted over to the barn. Sora laughed and smiled. She dismounted, landing lightly on her feet. She loosened the back cinch of her saddle and checked Nikki's legs for damage. Nothing, they were cool and tight. She felt someone walk up behind her and she smirked.
"Hi Kai. Sorry for making you worry." She said, straitening up and looking into her boyfriend's eyes. Kai sighed and pulled Sora closer to him.
"Aye missy, what am I going to do with you?" He asked. Sora smiled.
"Love me, feed me, and never leave me." She stated simply. Kai laughed gently and held Sora in his arms tenderly.
"Sore we need to go home. Tala says he's really sorry." Kai said. Sora snorted.
"I've forgiven him Kai." She said. Kai smiled, pulled Sora closer and kissed her. Sora returned the kiss as they heard her name come over the speaker system.
"And in first place is Sora Getsuga on Nikki!" Sora smiled form her kiss and looked up at Mr. Riot, waving. Mr. Riot smiled and waved back.
Sky turned to Nikki and smiled again. She grabbed a hold of her reins and trotted her back to her stall. Nikki circled and fell asleep instantly. Sora yawned and stumbled back to Kai, her vision getting blurry. Kai saw this and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I think it's time for you to actually sleep love." Kai said , guiding Sora to the truck. Sora smiled sheepishly and climbed inside the cab. She curled up and fell asleep. Kai shook his head and hummed a lullaby.
30 mins later….
Kai laid Sora on their bed smiling gently.
"Sweet dreams love." Kai whispered, kissing Sora's forehead. Sora moved her head and murmured in her sleep. Kai walked out of the room and rammed into Tala.
"Is she ok?" Tala asked. Kai nodded and both men turned and walked down the stairs. Tari stirred slightly on the sofa, then passed out as Kai and Tala walked in. Kai smiled and placed a blanket over his sister. Soon after both boys were asleep, Kai in his chair and Tala next to Tari.
Next morning….
Sora woke up to strong arms locked around her waist. She turned to face the culprit and found him smirking a mere hair's breath away from her nose.
"Good morning." Kai whispered. Sora smiled and kissed Kai's forehead.
"Go back to sleep love." Sora whispered. Kai closed his eyes and was snoring again in seconds. Sora chuckled and carefully extracted herself from Kai's arms. She tiptoed down the stairs and scurried into the kitchen. She grabbed all that she needed and begun to make breakfast. She heard the mail come thru the slot and retrieved it.
There was a letter to Kai from Tyson, some bills, a business notice for Susumu and one other. It was a small thick envelope with her name on it. Curious she opened it and found a letter, printed in Japanese text with the seal of roaring tiger and a snarling Kai ken fighting, on it. It read:
Sora Getsuga,
We are grieved to inform you that your great grandfather, the honorable Norishiro Getsuga, has passed away. As clan tradition states, the eldest grandchild must be present at the funeral of the present clan leader. I send you my fondest best wishes cousin.
Your cousin,
Hirotetsu Yamakaji
P.S.
Please feel free to bring some friends. Grandfather wouldn't mind.
Sora let the paper fell to the ground and she stared blankly forward. Kai came walking in, the question he begun to ask dying on his lips as his eyes caught Sora's expression.
"Love? Are you ok? What's wrong?" Kai asked. Sora turned her blue eyes to him, tears running down unchecked.
"My great grandfather is dead." She whispered. Kai winced and pulled Sora into his arms.
"It's ok to cry love. Go ahead. I'm right here." Kai said quietly. Sora sobbed and Kai rocked her back and forth in his arms.
After a while, she sniffed and looked up at Kai.
"I'm sorry Kai." Sora whispered hoarsely. Kai kissed her forehead and caressed her cheek, wiping away her tears.
"Don't be sorry love. When is the funeral?" Kai asked. Sora shook her head.
"I didn't get that far in the letter." She whispered. Kai looked down and picked up the papers, reading carefully.
"The funeral is in a 5 days. All clan members must be present. The Deciding Ceremony will take place as well." Kai stated, looking confused at the last part.
Sora sighed heavily.
"The Deciding Ceremony is where the whole clan chooses the next clan leader. Canine or feline, young or old, male or female. They decide. People can challenge the chosen one for three days afterwards. If the chosen loses, the victor takes over permanently." Sora explained. Kai sighed.
"Do you have to go love?" He asked Sora nodded.
Kai frowned. He grabbed Sora's small hand in his much bigger one and whispered.
"I'm going with you love." Sora closed her eyes.
"Thank you Kai. I really don't want to see my family." Came Sora's agonized whisper. Kai held her closer and hummed a familiar lullaby in her ear.
Suddenly, both of them heard a very angry Tari scream.
"TALA IVANOV!" Tala ran past them and dove into the open dryer in the laundry room. Sora laughed, gave Kai a quick kiss on the lips and returned to her cinnamon rolls. Tari came storming into the rooms a heartbeat later.
"Where's Tala?" she asked. Without looking up from the cool white frosting she was decorating her cinnamon rolls with, Sora pointed to the laundry room with her butter knife. Tari smirked, sneaked into the room, and closed the door behind her.
BOOM!
CRASH!
CLANG!
SMASH!
Kai grimaced as the noise stopped. Sora smirked and called out.
"Breakfast time! Get your cinnamon rolls while they're hot!" Tala and Tari reappeared, Tari smirking and Tala nursing his arm. Sora laughed while she continued to dish out monstrous proportions of her cinnamon rolls and ice cold milk.
"What did you do this time Tala?" Kai asked. Tala smirked innocently.
"I woke Tari up." Tala stated, trying to look innocent. Key word: trying.
"You woke me up alright. Jerk." Tari muttered.
"Sorry Tar. I really am." Tala pleaded. Tari smiled and kisses Tala's forehead.
"Hmm, guys what do you say to going to Japan with me for a few weeks?" Sora asked suddenly.