Welcome to the 100,000+ behemoth of a work that has completely taken over my life for the past two weeks. I'm going to be straight with you all: This is a collaborative and unashamed self-insert fanfiction with the caveat that real-life things have been changed. Obviously. Since it's a work of fiction. And to protect privacy. As such, I'm not telling you what has been changed, so go ahead and try guessing, but you won't get any answers. My friend and I have written this entirely for fun and felt like sharing, so we hope you get as much enjoyment out of it as we have had writing it.

One other important warning: Mental illnesses and other triggering situations appear in this story (PTSD, anorexia, purging, self-harm, imprisonment, parental abuse, cult material). Neither I nor my co-author will accept flames, period. Show some respect for people who live with these things on a daily basis. As always, though, constructive criticism on the basis of the plot/style/etc is welcome.

Now, onward with the fun stuff! Cliches, fluff, action, and humor abound with only a dash of the absurd to add some spice. Let the Hilarity Ensue.

~ZeldaMoogle (and friend)

(P.S - Fanfic . net hates certain characters, so in the text conversation in this first scene, I've had to change the little lessthan3 hearts to indicated hearts. Bah humbug...)

(P.p.s - Rating dropped from M to T, but the above warnings still apply. A/N's before each chapter will provide additional warnings if necessary.)

UPDATE: We've been noticing a trend beginning to grow and would like to clarify a misconception: These characters are self-insert, NOT OC's. As a result, they are not up for adoption. While my coauthor and I are flattered there are those of you who want to use our characters, these characters are us and as a result are not for use by anyone but us. Obviously material belonging to the original creators is free to anyone (the Ronin, Warlords, Mia, White Blaze, etc.), but all other characters in this story are off limits. However, if you'd like to use our specific headcanons (autistic Rowen and Sage in particular), please feel free. Thank you.

UPDATE 2: FDD now has a rewrite! Find us over at [fanfiction url]/s/12213945, or click on my profile for the new-and-improved version. ^_^

From Dawn to Dusk

(And Everything in Between)

Chapter 1

I pulled my phone out of my bag after class, wiping the sweat off one hand and opening up Tessa's conversation with the other. She'd gotten to the computer some time while I'd been in self defence, and of course, more boy ramblings were the first thing on her mind at ungodly hours of the morning— it was barely past eight am in Japan.

A message full of kanji and a profound apology— she'd forgotten to switch her keyboard back to English, yet again—prefaced another gushing mini novel about Sage Date, the golden haired, violet eyed boy who was just a few months older than the both of us, filled out in a ramble that confirmed why she was not a poet but got the point across. He was cute and nice and supportive and everything her current boyfriend wasn't, leaving her torn between cheating, dumping him long distance, or passing up on Sage because she was taken.

When she really shouldn't be, I thought for probably the tenth time that week. She wasn't even talking to her boyfriend and he was still in her head, influencing nearly everything she did. Hopefully this prolonged period of no contact would get her to come to her senses.

'Dump your boyfriend long distance already,' I replied.

She popped up as typing almost immediately. 'But I can't! That'd be just… wrong. Breaking up over text.'

It was my sworn duty as her best friend and self appointed older sibling to get her safe. 'That's what you do to abusers, sis.'

'*siiiiiigh* I know I know but'

I snorted and shoved my sweaty clothes in my bag, pulling out a pear to sustain me for the half hour bus ride home. That was one part I disliked about having moved out: busing took an infinitely longer time, I didn't have my license nor could I afford a car, and I was soaking wet. This school didn't have showers and I didn't want to travel any farther than I had to— or go to a gym, for that matter.

'But nothing. I /know/ you can handle yourself physically, but with him convincing you to give in every time you stand up for yourself, text is the only way you /can/ break it off'

She was silent for a long while, long enough for me to catch the bus and settle down in my choice of empty seats. Nine thirty pm buses had their advantages for tired legs, even if being alone could get creepy. There were only three other people on the bus, and I could've sworn I recognized one of them.

'Sorry sis,' I said, hoping my tone was softer. 'But I hate how much he's hurting you'

'I know *heart* I just...'

'Need more time to think'

'Heh. yeah. Nooot that hunkasaurus is helping matters any D8'

'Actually he's helping plenty he's letting you know how you *should* be treated'

'*blushes* aw shucks, sis… Alright, how's this. I'll talk to the bf as soon as I get back and tell him it's off. I'm sure Sage… Well, I can get his number and stuff. Maybe it's not entirely a lost cause just cuz I come back.'

I rubbed the bridge of my nose in complete and utter exasperation. At least she was agreeing to break it off. 'Make sure your brother or someone is there to make sure he knows you mean business, okay?' I tried to lighten the mood a little more. 'Or I can come down and tell him to fuck off.'

'Heh. Will do… Maybe I can convince Sage to come back just for that. He'd totally do it, too, bushido warrior code and all. 8D' She sent a new message after, having read my second. 'LOL Thanks, sis *heart* ^^'

That got me to snort. 'Have I mentioned you're terrible yet this week?'

'Yep. You, too, sis *heart* ^_^'

I glanced up around me, putting my pear core in a plastic bag. 'In more depressing news, I think I know somebody on this bus… same guy again'

'Uhoh. Did you talk to the police, yet? That's seriously stalkerish.' She sent her next comment in another message. 'Maybe you need a Sage Date more than I do...'

'Nope. Not like they can do anything? I don't even know this guy's name, he has no relation to me, and I only see him on the bus. He doesn't even follow me'

'Hmm, guess you're right… Seriously, though, /be safe/. If you have to, beg the bus driver to walk you home. You have that little alarm chain you told me about?'

'Yep, right on my gym bag. And the buses do have safe stop at this time of night… but it has to be on the route, and my building isn't. But I'm in front of a ton of buildings, so I can just run if I notice him following me that far'

'Mfff… I still don't like it. =/ *snugs*' I was about to type something in, along the lines of yes, I know, how do you think I feel considering it's happening to me directly?—because my sense of humour turned jet black under stress—before she started typing again. 'Aw, crap. I gotta go, it's time for daily meditation and I promised Sage I wouldn't skip this time. Remember, if someone grabs you, kick the snot out of them, Rosey-style. Love ya, sis *hugsnugs*'

I laughed softly. 'Go flirt with your boyfriend ;P I'll be fine. Thanks *heart* Love you, too, sis'

':P *heartheartheart* *glompoofs*'

I shoved my phone back in my bag, nobody else up at this time of night to talk to. I just wanted to get home and have a shower, especially since fighting was a much different workout after a week of dance recital practice and two weeks of doing nothing. I probably should've taken a longer break between the activities, but with how antsy I was, not participating in something physical was absolutely detrimental. If I didn't have to go to work tomorrow, I'd probably take Ativan that night. There really wasn't quite anything like having one of three guys crop up on almost every single bus ride I took.

It was hard not to believe my parents had hired a private investigator to try and track me down. They'd already tried the cops. When I got a call from the detective on my cell and explained to him the situation— only spilling my side after he agreed it was completely confidential unless subpoenaed— he said he'd tell my parents there was nothing he could do because I was a legal adult and had chosen to leave their care completely willingly, adding an aside to me about my bravery for doing so. I'd even submitted my apartment to a search to make absolutely sure I hadn't been kidnapped, that I really did live alone with nobody to be dependent on. They were satisfied, the case was closed, and the cops refused to take on any other calls from my parents because it was just them being overbearing and everybody but them saw it.

More than once I wished I had the funds to hire some sort of attorney to go after them, especially my mother, but that was just a pipe dream. It didn't help every forensic show I ever watched told me that A- cops couldn't do anything until it got physical, and B- the determined would be criminals did what they wanted regardless of whatever piece of paper you had on them. The only way I could get them away was to put them behind bars, and they hadn't done anything worthy of that. Even if my friends all did believe I should charge them, I just showed them the track records of cases like mine in court with a flippant sigh.

Maybe that's the actual reason I'd taken up martial arts, but it's not like I was going to admit that to myself. It's not like I'd get the benefits immediately, anyway.

My stop came up and I rang the bell with a yawn. I got out through the front door to put some space between myself and that creep, thanking the bus driver and stepping out into the cool June air. I should have known by now to bring a coat for nights there was the potential it'd get near twenty. After sweltering hot classes and my clothes thoroughly soaked in sweat, I got cold even in this weather.

There was nobody in the bus stop and nobody on the street. Come this time of night, the buildings were half dark from the world going to bed, and not many people were nuts enough to walk at ten o'clock at night.

A car turned on its lights right before I hit the lamp post and bushes surrounding it, something that sent Dusk raising red flags. I didn't want to appear too cautious, but my other hand went near my alarm anyway as I picked up my pace.

Only to hear somebody directly behind me grab my arms and wrench them back, effectively cutting off that escape plan.

Before I could even think to scream, another came out from a different direction, brandishing a knife point to my throat. Everything about this said to be quiet, to do what they wanted, to get in the car now pulled up beside me on the curb.

They shoved me down to the floor, ripping my gym bag from my hands, before getting in and putting their feet on me as the car sped away— one heavy boot on the back of my neck, two to the backs of my legs. Able to snap bones in a heartbeat, with one on my neck enough to leave me paralyzed or dead. A blanket went over my body and their feet, hiding me. The whole event was over in maybe ten seconds, twenty if I was being generous.

"We're taking you back home," one of them said.

My blood ran cold. Every single one of my worst fears confirmed.

—/—

"Tessa-chan?"

I had to resist the urge to hastily slam my laptop closed when Sage Date announced his presence in my room, instead almost gingerly easing it shut. If he ever saw my long, rambling, and very embarrassing messages to Alexa, I wasn't sure what I would do—melt into a puddle of blushing skin at his feet, perhaps?

Oh, the curse of wearing my heart on my sleeve with nothing to do about it…

"Hai, Sage-senpai. I'm coming."

I mused about what my best friend had told me as I followed Sage into the greater halls of the Date mansion. If I were going to be honest with myself, she was right—Michael sucked. Looking back over how we got together, I wondered why I hadn't noticed his selfishness before. I'd been hooked by his good looks and apparent interest in my college fencing career, but by the time I actually listened to Alexa and started noticing things, I already doubted my own good sense.

There were still some things in which he had absolutely no control over me, however—and fencing was one of them. So when he'd voiced reservations and even something akin to hatred about my excitement to study abroad in Japan, I gleefully told him to his face what I thought of his "concerns".

We hadn't had any contact since.

Now Sage, on the other hand... I couldn't help eyeballing the broad, rippling shoulders that towered over me as I followed my host brother out into a well-kept Japanese garden. His every movement spoke of the same grace I'd seen him display on the dojo floor, every muscle controlled seemingly effortlessly. I'd have to be senseless not to realize how it turned me on (especially the traitorous heat-making cells in my cheeks—sometimes I wished my ghostly-pale skin would actually tan, then maybe it wouldn't be so obvious).

It made sparring the young man so incredibly distracting.

Ah, well, back to focusing… Or not. I mean, he was right in front of me.

"Maybe I do need to meditate more often," I muttered in English. (Not that I was sure it would help my cause—Sage had a nearly perfect command of that language, too, as did many well-educated Japanese.)

If he'd heard me, he didn't make any indication of it. Lucky for me—or maybe unlucky, I couldn't decide which—we came in sight of a gorgeous fountain, filled with karp and surrounded by sakura and hinoki. Every member of the Date family already ringed the intricate marble from which it was carved, kneeling on individual tatami mats as they awaited the youngest son and their gaijin guest. While the sun had been up for a few hours already (as I knew almost too specifically that Sage had, also), the clouds overhead helped to temper what was otherwise a humid and promisingly hot day.

While I enjoyed this time I was getting, the weather constantly reminded me of my own native Virginia, and an expected twinge of homesickness helped distract me from my boy problems.

Sage politely directed me to an open mat that had been left for me before settling onto his own a few feet to my right. A quick glance around the circle told me what I'd already suspected—Yayoi, Satsuki, Ojiisama, and Okaa- and Otousan sat stock still for another moment as Sage and I got settled. Then Ojiisama shifted to what had been explained to me as the lotus position, and everyone else followed. (Well, except me. I settled for a quarter-lotus, still attempting to find some amount of flexibility that I'd never ever had.)

By the end of the next hour, I learned the meaning of silence. And a few other things, but to be honest, it was quite a bit more boring than Sage had made it sound.

Tucking the rolled-up wooden mat beneath my kimono-robed arm, I hurried to follow after my host brother as the family trooped back indoors. "So, that's meditation," I began casually.

The secretive smile he flashed my way did nothing for my poor knees. Damn hormones, go back to high school. "Hai. It is how we focus our energy and rebalance the self before facing what is sure to be another difficult day of training."

"Mmhm." This one session didn't have me entirely convinced of that, but I was willing to let it slide for courtesy's sake. I'd been in-country a month, but was still finding my command of the language and not feeling prepared for any sort of esoteric argument yet. "Speaking of training—" I smiled shyly down at the ground, wiggling my hands within the wide sleeves of my robe. "—when are we starting my lessons on the nodachi?"

"We can start as soon as you change into your gi."

My eyes went wide, but in deference for the calm kendoka walking beside me, I managed to drop my excited whoop down to a huge grin and full-body wiggle. "Hai, sensei!"

With that sort of motivation—not to mention getting to be alone in a dojo with him in that ever-so-slightly open-necked uwagi that I loved seeing him wear—I was changed and kneeling in the middle of the small practice room in ten minutes flat. There was certainly something to be said for going to a military college; it taught tons of little time-saving rituals like how to dress and undress quickly. I almost wondered if that skill could be useful in another capacity, but managed to stave off those thoughts through sheer force of will.

Maybe meditation is useful, after all, I mused.

Sparring proved equally useful; the form wasn't very different from the katana or any other Japanese blade, for the most part, so I could concentrate on adjusting to the huge (wooden) nodachi's weight and size instead of my positioning. For once, Sage's deep baritone didn't send me into daydreams but fueled my thirst for knowledge, correcting minor errors in technique and encouraging more strength from blows against the padded mat he held.

When I felt like the lesson was coming close to done, I glanced down at my watch. A mere half-hour had passed! Are you kidding me? I already needed another shower, and while I was accustomed to Virginia (and now Japan) heat and humidity, I still dreaded the thought of more than two showers in a day. Even at school, I literally revolved my schedule around when to take a shower. Now here I stood in the middle of the private Date dojo with a ginormous wooden practice sword in two hands, covered in sweat, and it was barely past breakfast time.

"Alright, that's enough for the first lesson, Tessa-chan." I looked up to see the subtle twitch of his lips that I guessed meant amusement; sometimes it was really hard to tell, when it came from Sage. I swear the guy had the best poker face I'd ever seen, and I don't think he'd ever played a single hand. The nodachi was gently pulled from my hand without resistance. "Go towel off; I'd like to speak with you, if you don't object."

Not sure whether the sudden warmth in my face was from my practice exertions or the that's-getting-old crush, I did as he instructed. My heart was still pounding in my ears from the workout and sweat dripping down the neck of my gi when I settled on my knees across from him. At first he appeared as serene as ever—and then something in his violet eyes flashed uneasily.

"You've caught on very quickly since your arrival."

The unexpected but no less appreciated praise restarted the hot-cold cycle. My smile came out more shy than I think I'd ever felt it. "A-Arigato, senpai. Um… Is that why you offered to teach me?"

Sage's returning smile was kindly. "In a way, yes. You have much potential, and I am eager to see your first kendo match." Again with the compliments… Dangit, don't inflate my ego, Mr. Kendo Grand Champion! "But that's not precisely why I brought it up."

There he paused, not seeming sure how to continue. I told myself to wait patiently and tried not to shift too much, though my knees were starting to protest the enforced motionlessness. "To be honest, I'm rather curious—there have been few others I've met who caught on as quickly as you. I find you remind me of my own early days in kendo. Perhaps… Are you aware of anyone else similar to you?"

I blinked, caught totally off-guard. Naturally, I said the first thing that came to my thoughts. "Well, Alexa. The girl I talk to on Skype every week? We call each other sisters, though we're not related, because it's almost creepy how similar we are. She's taken to dance like a fish to water, not to mention a bunch of other things. Come to think of it, it's almost unnatural how quickly she picks up stuff..."

"A little like you with any kind of blade?" he pointed out, one eyebrow raised (the only one not hidden by blond bangs) and an amused smirk gracing those lips.

It took everything in me not to focus on that teasing gesture and how it made me squirm.

"Why'd you want to know?" I practically squeaked, reaching a hand back to pull my braid over my shoulder in a terrible nervous habit.

All amusement vanished. He seemed to debate with himself for a moment—lips pursed into a line—then slowly reached a hand into one pocket. When he withdrew it, a perfectly spherical, dark green crystal came with it. I stared, entranced by the way the slanting rays fell through the shoji and danced across the translucent mineral. A very familiar kanji—rei, meaning grace or courtesy—shimmered close to the surface.

It boggled my mind to consider how that had gotten there without any obvious mark to show for it.

"There is a legend passed down in the Date family," he began quietly, voice as fine as new velvet. "It speaks of an ancient power which takes the shape of a mystic yoroi. Over a thousand years ago it was created, and then lost to time—but never forgotten. Six years ago, however, it sensed the impending approach of evil, and sought out a wielder worthy of its strength and virtue, rei."

My lips parted into an O, awed by the connection I made in my mind. "This is that yoroi." My eyes went from the palm-sized sphere to his grave expression. "It chose you."

I almost could have laughed, were he not so serious and the proof staring me in the face. Granted, it could be an elaborate prank and with Sage's poker skills, I'd never know. But staring down into the little marble-sized crystal, somehow, I knew.

That was no ordinary piece of rock.

"Hai, soo da. Namae wa kourin desu."

"Halo," I murmured, hoping I got the rough English translation close enough to the original idea that he'd approve. Then I frowned, recalling what started this conversation. "But, uh, what does that have to do with me?" I got the impression this was a pretty huge deal—and to tell someone outside his family, let alone a gaijin?

"I've been called the greatest kendo prodigy of the twenty-first century. Ojiisama is exceptional, but there's no way his training alone could account for my steady rise through the kendo ranks. Reporters knowledgeable in the sport sometimes commented that I fought as if I'd been involved for thirty years instead of a mere ten. I have friends who have shown similar talents—and in each case those skills could be attributed to a yoroi like Kourin."

I blinked. "Wait, what? There are more of them?"

And then the final piece clicked together, and his motive suddenly made entirely too much sense.

"Oh my God," I blurted in English. My fingers felt like sticks as I fumbled for the leather braid necklace around my neck. When I withdrew the "pendant" at its end, I glanced back and forth between it and the Halo orb multiple times. "They're nearly identical!"

I'd had the darn thing for years. Dad had once made a comment shortly after it showed up out of nowhere in my room—I'd found it in a box of his old things—but when he asked where it came from, I'd felt compelled to lie and say a friend gave it to me. It never seemed to cross his mind again; but I always wore it. One time I tried to leave it behind for a week-long summer camp.

We had to turn around not five minutes from the house and go back for it.

I always felt protected with it around. The little half-sphere laid perfectly flat against my sternum, the charcoal-colored tint a shiny enigma that I now realized matched Halo's deep green patterning. Fueled by a desire at first to learn what its kanji meant, I'd since stepped beyond the one word to passionately embrace the entire language.

The thought made me snort. "This little thing is practically the reason I'm even here," I said in awe.

That secretive smirk was back. "They have their ways of making things happen when they want to," Sage affirmed. "If you have a yoroi orb, then your being here is certainly no mistake."

My nose wrinkled at that. Personally I thought God had brought me here—but then again, He used lots of different tools to see that His will eventually came about. Who's to say a mystical armor orb wasn't one of them? "Aaaalrighty then… So, how do I use it?" I twisted my face up staring at my orb, trying to see if there was something obvious I'd missed in the fifteen or so years I had it.

I pouted as he returned Halo to the pocket from which he'd taken it. "We'll work on that later. I suspect yours functions a bit differently than Halo, if you haven't been able to figure it out on your own by now." Even just the one violet eye turned directly on me was far more intense than I would admittedly give him credit for. I almost shrank back at it. "What I would like to know is how much more similar to you Alexa is than you think."

The way he worded that restored my courage. "You mean, Does she also have a yoroi orb?" I rephrased dryly, tucking the necklace back into my gi. "As far as I know, no." At his continued stare—'damn why does he have to be so intense all the time?'—I squirmed. "Well… I'm due to Skype her tomorrow night. I could ask her then."

His warm smile considerably lightened the dark pall that had settled around us. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to sit in on the conversation. Perhaps I could simply ask her myself, then." My eyes followed his movements as he fluidly rose to his feet, making the normally tall man absolutely mountainous. Pursuant to his good breeding, a hand reached out in an offer of assistance should I wish to join him.

I was all too happy to acquiesce.

—

I'd thought tomorrow night couldn't have come fast enough, but contrary to my perception, it certainly arrived on time.

Normally I about bounced out of my chair waiting for my computer to load Skype, but that was a little harder to do without thinking when Sage sat so closely on my left. He still allowed plenty of appropriate space between our shoulders, and the shoji to my room was shoved wide open, but to me it could have been all of a millimeter or less for how distracting it was.

Seriously, I was starting to grow tired of the walking hormonal bait, host brother or no.

(Actually that almost made it worse because I tended to think of him more as an actual brother and that would be incestuous. But there was a reason they called them host family, right? And then I still had my American boyfriend to dea—oh Hell I give up…)

I breathed a sigh of relief when my ancient computer finally produced the desired application. Humming contentedly, I slid the mouse over to my user nickname for Alexa. Smiling at the inside joke revolving around it, I clicked to open the dialogue box.

And frowned when I saw no new messages. The last one I'd sent her in regard to this very Skypeversation (as we termed them) stared mockingly at me. "Huh. That's weird…"

I swear it was as natural as breathing for him when Sage asked—mirroring my English—"What's wrong?"

Startled, I simply waved him off. "Nothing. She's usually a few minutes early and sends a message letting me know she's ready, but I guess she lost track of time today."

Then I checked the status icon—offline.

Ooookay something's fishy here…

Praying nothing compromising showed up, I popped open Chrome; the Facebook page I'd shut down last time flashed on my screen, a newsfeed full of English statuses and the little pop-up chat box that pinged with Alexa's parting shot from our convo on Thursday.

The latest activity it registered was the same as the timestamp from the last message.

I swallowed, feeling my heartbeat crescendo. "Thaaat's not right."

Sage watched curiously as I dug through my purse for my phone. "Is the connection not working?"

I shook my head vigorously, swiping at the screen and tapping in my password. "No, nothing like that. It's just...the last messages she sent were yesterday morning, Wednesday evening her time. She—" I swallowed again, mouth suddenly dry. "She rarely goes a day without sending me something."

It took all of two more keystrokes to see that she hadn't texted me, either. We'd made sure to get international texting and calling while I was abroad, "Just in case." Praying she had simply had a complete brain fart and forgotten every one of her social media habits, I hit her speed dial.

Agonizing seconds went by as the ringer intermittently sounded. Even Sage's unexpected hand on my shoulder couldn't garner a response from me, so intently was I praying that my friend answered.

The last concerns she'd expressed to me about her unknown stalker flashed behind my closed eyes.

My heart dropped to my stomach when the preprogrammed voicemail kicked in.

"N-No…"

"Tessa…?"

It took too much energy to drop the phone on my desk and look at him. He must've seen the tears brimming in my eyes, because his hand moved from the one shoulder to encircle my torso.

Under any other circumstance, I might've jumped for joy at the contact. Now, I merely buried my face in his button-down shirt and sobbed. "S-Something's hap-happened to her, I-I just know it," I hiccuped. "S-Someone was stalking her, they'd been at it for a month…"

His hand curled into a fist on the sleeve of my T-shirt. "I… I'm sorry, Tessa. I'd suspected, but… I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily."

I almost jumped back to be able to see his face, staring in disbelief. "What do you mean, you "suspected"? How—"

"During meditation yesterday," Sage explained. "Halo felt restless, so I traced it through what was bothering it to another armor I'd never encountered before. It was distressed and—scared, almost." His free hand raked through blond locks, and for maybe the third time ever I got to see his right eye. "I thought about saying something, but since we didn't know for sure she had an armor…"

My infant anger deflated in a deep, teary exhale; almost of its own accord, my hand clutched at his bicep, a gesture that sought comfort again. I kept thinking of how I'd imagined her text voice, sounding a little creeped out but not thinking it entirely out of the ordinary. The three perps had been following her since just before I'd left the States, and with me being at least one border away there was only so much I could do.

"I should've been more forceful," I said, thinking that it sounded a little like a confession. "I should've insisted she get a knife, or pepper spray, or something. But she's not aggressive like me, she'd never have felt comfortable carrying more than that little keychain alarm—"

Sage pulling me back into a hug cut off my ramble. "Tessa. Calm down. We'll find her. It'll be okay." I could feel him hesitate a moment, before saying, "I've told one of my friends the situation. He'll go find her, and if she's okay he'll let us know."

Confusion wanted me to pull out of his arms again, but I was too emotionally overwhelmed to do that. So instead I spoke into his neck. "What? How? It'll take at least thirty hours to fly over there and by then—"

"Tessa." He almost sounded amused by my questions. "His armor is called Tenku—" Strata, I mentally translated. "He can be in Canada in fifteen minutes. If something's happened, he'll let us know and start investigating while we arrange travel over there by more conventional means. We just need her address."

A stray sniffle aggravated my nose. The thought of someone being able to do that for me—for Alexa—helped unwind my tense limbs. It was a humbling realization, too. God really does know everything, I reminded myself.

I allowed a few more moments to master my emotions (and to remember I should be savoring this incredibly unexpected hug—score!) before wiggling back into my own chair. "Arigato, Sage," I mumbled, rubbing the remaining salt water from my eyes. And of course completely forgetting the proper honorific in my distraction.

Sage didn't seem to notice, however, merely smiling sympathetically at me. "If you need to talk, come find me. I'll tell you what Rowen finds as soon as I know; in the meantime, you might want to start packing."

Mkay so just in case any of the Japanese is confusing...! End of each chapter, as applicable, will have translation notes. Basically, whenever you see Japanese terms in an otherwise-English sentence (or at least the honorifics), for the most part it'll indicate the dialogue is in Japanese. It's...complicated, though, because later there will be mostly-English conversations with some Japanese terms because I figure that's what the guys are used to using.

Aaaanyway...! Translation:

-gaijin: foreign

-sakura, hinoki: two types of trees, a cherry and a cypress respectively.

-ojiisama/okaasan/otousan: grandfather/mother/father

-nodachi: basically a 6' long Japanese sword, pretty much the big brother of the katana

-kendoka: practitioner of kendo; kendoist

-uwagi: the specific term to refer to the top part of the kendo uniform; the lower part (basically pants) are hakama; the term "gi" specifically means "clothes" in Japanese

-shoji: paper-like sliding doors of a traditional Japanese house

-yoroi: armor. (You'll see this term interchanged with the English a lot in this story.)

-"Hai, soo da. Namae wa kourin desu." = "Yes, that's correct. Its name is Kourin."

EDIT: -mutters about technology as she finally fixes the lack of italics in the first chapter- -goes to check various and sundry other chaps for same issue- Mkay there. Now this should read like it's supposed to...