CH 2
"Ughhh ... Owww," Kaede whined as she woke up. Her back hurt, her head hurt and one leg felt twisted. She had to go the bathroom and as soon as she moved,her head was a pounding ache. Crawling to the edge of the bed, she held a hand on her aching head.
"Ooooww!" she complained as she tried to sit up, then flopped back in place. The light was so bright she had to cover her eyes.
The door opened a crack and Amanda stuck her head in. "The party girl awakens," she said with a grin.
Kaede frowned at her. "It's not funny," she grumbled. "I can barely move." The last thing she remembered was cuddling up with Kouta in a chair. "How did I get in bed?"
"Someone put you to bed last night. Can you stand up?"
Kaede braced herself and got to her feet. Her hurting leg gave out and she fell back on the bed. In trying to get some help from her Arms, she found they didn't come out. "What happened to me?" she whined.
"A bit too much to drink," Amanda said as she came in. She helped Kaede to her feet and let Kaede lean against her. "Come on, sunshine, we got a full day ahead of us."
Kaede groaned.
Limping out into the hall, leaning heavily on Amanda, Kaede heard Yuka's loud voice.
"Kouta! You should know better! WHAT did she do you you?"
"Yuka, not so loud, please?" Kouta begged.
Seeing Kaede, Yuka yelled, "What did you do to Kouta!"
Kouta covered his ears as he limped along. "Yuka, please not so loud."
"Will you shut up," Kaede added in a groan.
"I found him stumbling down the hall looking like SOMEONE beat him up!" Yuka stated loudly.
"I'm gonna kill that stupid girl," Kaede growled.
Seeing Kouta's knees were swollen, Amanda said, "Yuka, look at his knees, he can barely walk. Have some pity, help him downstairs and I'll make up something for him."
.
In the morning shuffle, as Kouta and Kaede nursed their wounds, Amanda got decent clothes for the girls and Duncan got their trip together. He also had the sense to bring a debit card especially for Amanda. Since Kaede had her clothes from home, Duncan was going to take her and Kouta to the doctor on his rounds. Inari was close enough to Kaede's size that there were a few things she could fit into. The skirts were a bit short, but for now, they would work. By some miracle, they had the same shoe size.
Before Duncan left, he made sure everyone knew to be at the Lenui Inn at five for dinner. Since Amanda was going on her shopping spree, he took on the task of supplies (including aspirin) and doctor visits. Yuka wanted badly to go to the doctor with them, but as Duncan and Amanda pointed out, if she ever wanted to change her clothes, she needed to go shopping.
His knees stiffening up, Kouta had to ride in the front seat with Duncan. Kouta winced in pain at every bump in the road on the way back to town.
Inari needed clothes also, so after Kaede and Kouta were taken care of (Kouta getting his knees wrapped up and some pain killer), Duncan let them rest in the car and bought some clothes for Inari. The thick wool sweater and the skirt in McLeod tartan looked great on her. A few outfits, a few lighter shirts a few pairs of knees socks, and good all around shoes and leather jacket completed the mini shopping trip.
After the grocery run, Duncan asked Kouta if he wanted rest while they went out, since he had to go back to put the groceries away. Kouta wanted to go. At least now he was walking semi-normal and Kaede had recovered from her morning 'ooches'.
.
Duncan pulled up at the Lenui Inn early. He made sure Inari and Kaede had their hats on before they got out of the car.
"I got it," Kouta said as he struggled out with Kaede hovering over him. They followed Duncan and Inari in, who were holding hands.
Duncan felt an immortal presence inside the Inn. Right, Kassandra was here. He ushered Inari in first and stepped in behind her. Inari looked a little frightened.
"So many humans," she whispered.
"It's all right, these are good people," Duncan assured her.
"Hey, McLeod!" Joe called, raising his arm in greeting. Many in the room turned to look.
The red headed waitress eyed him. "Ya might wanna be a bit more specific there, Joe," she said with a grin.
"What did they say?" Inari asked.
"It's English, I'll have to teach it to you," Duncan told her. See Rachel come over, Duncan beamed her a smile. "Hi Rachel."
"Hey Duncan," she said and gave him a quick hug. Smiling at Inari, she asked, "Is this Kaede?"
"This is Inari, she doesn't speak English," Duncan said, then moved and motioned behind him, "This is Kaede and her friend, Kouta."
"Welcome, Inari," Rachel said and gave her a quick hug. "Now, I wanna see Kaede."
"Hello, Rachel," Kaede said.
"Ya do speak English, lass," Rachel beamed and hugged her. "Welcome Kaede, and Kouta."
Kouta bowed. "Greetings Rachel-san." His English was heavily accented.
"Welcome, Kouta ... san? Is that right?"
"Yes."
"Over there by Joe are your tables," Rachel told them. "Duncan, I thought you have more coming?"
"They'll be here, probably still shopping."
In Japanese, Kaede said, "Oh, Inari, that's Kassandra over there. You have to meet her!"
Winding through the crowd, Inari held tight to Duncan. "These are your people?"
"That was long ago, I'm sure I'm still related to most of them."
"Mac? You got another daughter?" Joe asked, motioning to Inari.
"No, Joe, Inari just needs someone to watch out for her."
Kaede went around to Inari's other side to explain what they were talking about. She also noticed Kassandra shifting her gaze between Inrari and her.
"Kassandra there is a real witch! She knows all kinds of things, and she helped me become stronger," Kaede told Inari.
"For real?" Kouta asked, "She can do magic?'
"And she knows things about people just by looking at them," Kaede told him.
"Duncan," Kassandra asked as she eyed Iniari and Kaede. "Do they know?"
Joe looked at Kassandra as Duncan asked, "Know what?"
Kassandra slid up out of her seat and said, "Please explain to your girlfriend I need to put my hands on her head so she will understand."
"Your girlfriend?" Joe asked with a raised eyebrow as he focused on Duncan.
"She's thirty three, Joe. Inari is an adult."
"I'll tell her," Kaede offered, and shifted languages. "Inari, Kassandra has something to tell us, but she has to touch you. Don't worry, she's a good person."
"Kassandra won't hurt you," Duncan assured her.
Inair nodded. She waited, trusting Duncan and Kaede's words. She felt Kassandra move behind her, then felt two hands gently cup the sides of her head.
Inari, you want to know about the child you had?
Inair blinked. She hadn't heard anything with her ears, but with her mind. "Yes," she said immediately.
Your baby was taken from you. Taken away from where you were held to be put in her own cell. But that did not last. A kind woman took her away. Before the woman was caught, she hid your child so she would not be brought back into a steel cage. Your child was found and put in an orphanage.
"Where is it!" Inari cried. "What happened to my child?"
"She grew her first years in that orphanage. Ridiculed, abuse and alone. The butt of mean and cruel jokes. She was saved, however. Rescued from the hand of fate,by the child of the midwinter solstice.
Even though she wasn't looking at him, Iniari saw Duncan watching them.
The eternal warrior of good.
"Duncan? Duncan has my child?" Inari asked. She wanted to look at him, but she was frozen in place.
"He does. Your child, the child of the misummer solstice, she who wields the winds of death.
Again without looking at her, Inari saw Kaede. "Kaede! Kaede is my child?" she asked.
Indeed, she is. Blessed are those who endure torment, for they shall receive the crown of life. Congratulations, Inari, the crown of life is yours at last.
Kassandra slipped her hands away. Tears dripping down her cheeks, Inari turned to look at Kaede, who was watching her intently with a hopeful expression.
"Mother?" Kaede asked in a squeak.
Inari nodded weakly and cupped Kaede's chin. "My baby," she blubbered. They fell together in a hug and wept.
Duncan sat stunned. "Are you sure?" he asked Kassandra.
Kassandra nodded. "You made it possible, Highlander," she told him.
Looking confused, Joe asked, "Make what possible?"
Suddenly Inari rammed into Duncan, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you!" she cried out weeping on him.
Kaede hit him from behind " Thank you, Dad!"
Duncan clasped their arms. "You deserve to be together," he said. To Joe, he said, "Iniari is Kaede's mother."
"That's a hell of a coincidence," Joe said with a snort.
"No, it is the way it was meant to be," Kassandra stated.
"Having a lively time I see," Rachel said as she brought over a tray of ales.
"Rachel!" Kaede cried, popping up. "Inari is my mom! And Duncan is my Dad, and they really like each other. I've got a whole family!" she cried happily.
.
Yuka thought she knew English, but what the people here spoke, had to be some other language. Amanda seemed to flow right along, understanding everything, but Yuka only picked up one word out of five, if she was lucky. Mayu and Nana were completely lost, and although Shirakawa tried, she didn't understand much either.
After a trip to the bank so Shirakawa could exchange currency, they set out on in their shopping trip. Although Nana had her hat, she really liked the tartan caps with the 'puffball' on top, so she and Mayu got matching hats. They tried to get Yuka one, but Yuka wasn't in the mood for foolishness. Before they were done, Nana and Mayu were outfitted fully with identical tartan jackets, skirts, long white socks and sneakers. Yuka and Shurakawa got more conservative every day clothes.
Leaving another store, Amanda noticed one of her watchers sitting on a stone wall pretending to read the paper. She hooked Shirakawa's arm and towed her over to sit her down by the man.
"Gary, I've got a job for you." Amanda announced.
The young man looked up, pretending confusion. "Excuse me?" he asked nervously.
Amanda slid his sleeve down to show his watcher's tattoo. "Gary, you're a watcher right?" Amanda said with a sly grin. "Don't think I don't know. I got something for you."
Clapping a hand on Shirakawa's shoulder, Amanda said, "Here's a recruit for you. Her name is Shirakawa. See that missing arm? She needs to be someplace we're not. Kaede doesn't like her too much, and neither does Inari. I think Duncan will feel bad if they splatter her all over the place, so be a good boy find her something to do, would you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Gary said weakly. He was suppose to watch immortals, not talk to them!
"Talk to her, I'm sure she can tell you all about it," Amanda said with a wink. To Shirakawa, she barked, "Stay!"
.
Reeling from the strange experience, Gary looked at the oriental woman beside him as she watched Amanda leave. "Ahh, Miss?" he asked.
Firmly, in English, Shirakawa said, "I don' t know who you are but for the moment, Amanda told me to stay, so I am staying. I have discovered these are not people to trifle with."
"Amanda cut your arm of?"
"No, Kaede ripped it off," she stated.
"One of them hurt a human?"
"Kaede is a diclonius, it appears they work well with those who live very long lives."
Glancing down the street where Amanda led a pack of females into a store, Gary said, "Let's go up to my flat, we may have some things to discuss. May I carry those for you?"
Up in the flat, Shirakawa told him about her experiences. Gary listened and took plenty of notes.
.
Amanda and her crew arrived a little after five at the Leuni Inn to find tables set up in a row off to one side behind a railing. Yuka was the fastest to the tables to get a seat by Kouta before someone else took it. Mayu and Nana sat across from her, beside Joe. Amanda took the seat by Duncan across from Kassandra.
Seeing Rachel with busy with other customers, Joe let out a sigh as he held his empty mug.
"I'll get it Joe," Kaede offered. "Mom? Dad? Anyone else want one?"
Duncan eye the small space between the railing and the chair backs. "You sure?"
"I want one!" Nana cried.
"You're too young, you can't handle it," Kaede told her.
"Who was it that couldn't move this morning?" Amanda asked, which caused a few chuckles.
"We'll know better next time," Kaede assured her. She took the orders and jumped up onto the rail. Holding an invisible Arm up on the ceiling beam, she steadied herself as she walked along collecting mugs. Kaede didn't know she had everyone's attention until she jumped off the end with two fists full of mugs.
"Kaede McLeod!" Rachel admonished "Doan go doing things like that yer'll hurt yerself!"
Kaede blinked at her. "It's OK, cousin Rachel, I won't fall." She set the mugs on the counter. "I'll even take them back full!"
A man laughed. "That I gotta see!"
"Doan encourage her, Doogal!" Rachel warned.
"The lass just might be an acrobat! I'd like ta see that too! Who are ya, kid?" another man asked.
"Kaede McLeod, that'd my Dad, Duncan, over there and beside him's my Mom, Inari! That's my boyfriend, Kouta, but Yuka there STILL hangs onto him."
Laughter sounded through the room. Yuka's ears turned red.
Rachel rolled her eyes with a smirk as she went behind the bar. "Kaede, just take them to the end, and let them pass out their own brews."
"I'm just trying to be helpful," Kaede told her.
"An ye are, Lass. I jus doan want ya to break yer neck."
An older man came in, his hair short and frazzled. "Have any of ya seen? Last night, lights were on in the old Campbell castle!"
A groan passed through the room.
A cheery looking man raised his mug and said, ""Yeah! Now we got the ghosts of the Campbells coming after us!" which caused another round of laughter.
Duncan shook his head. He turned to explain before rumors got started. "We're living there, no ghosts," he explained.
"Yer playin with fire Lad!" the old man stated. "Ya do know there's witches up there!"
"So?" Kaede asked.
"Angus! Doan go spreadin fairy tails!" another man said with a groan.
"Ya doan believe, do ya lass?"Angus asked with an accusing finger. "Those witches will do evil work on ya!"
"No," Kaede countered as she glanced at Kassandra. "Some of my friends are witches."
"Yer don know what yer talkin about. Witches are evil!" Angus told her.
"Are not!"Kaede countered.
"Kaede!" Duncan snapped. "Don't fight with Angus, just bring the ales back."
"But Dad, did you hear what he said?" Kaede cried, motioning to Angus.
"Kaede, take these over to your table, and don't antagonize Angus," Rachel said.
Looking closely at Angus, Kaede saw more fear in his eyes than anything else. Right, he was afraid of anything he couldn't understand. Kaede bowed to Angus and announced, "Mr. Angus, I can assure you there's nothing to fear, for I, Kaede Mcleod, like my father Duncan, will not let any evil thing bother this peaceful town, or my family."
"Now what kin you, a skinny little lass do against witches and ghosts," Angus said with a snort.
Kaede frowned at him.
"Kaede," Duncan said in a warning.
"Ohh, Duncan, let her do just a little," Inari begged.
"Kaede, take the mugs back," Rachel coaxed.
Kaede nodded to Rachel. She would take the mugs back. She told the old man, "Angus, if anything dares try to hurt this place, they will suffer my Wind of Eternal Death!"
Snorts and a few chuckles passed through the room. Everything went quiet as the mugs lifted themselves off the bar and floated on the air ahead of Kaede and back to the table. All eyes stared at her.
Duncan face palmed. "I really wish you hadn't done that," he grumbled.
"It'll be OK Dad," Kaede assured him. She jumped up and rail-walked back to her chair. Turning to see Angus staring at her, she said, "I love this place, these people, just as my father does. We will let no harm come to you."
And so began the legend of the Witch of the Clan McLeod.
.
Castle life was good to Kaede. Duncan went and bought seed in the supplies so they could grown some food. Kouta was working on carpentry though it was Duncan put a door and lock on the whiskey cellar.
He didn't want any further hurt knees or injuries from drunken kids.
Kaede and Nana plowed up a half acre garden outside the walls. In finding jobs to do around the castle, Yuka took up the cleaning duties with Mayu. Strangely, after Inari had gotten a good grasp on working the kitchen and doing laundry, Amanda had a meeting in London.
After taking Amanda to the airport, Duncan stopped by the Leuni Inn with Kaede. They went in to find Rachel not looking well.
"Feelin under the weather?"Duncan asked Rachel as she sat at a table holding her head.
"Think I got a bug," Rachel agreed.
"Dad, I can stay and help," Kaede offered.
Rachel waved away her concern. "That's all right sweetie."
"No, really. I can get drinks, wipe tables, even simple cooking. It'll be things you don't have to do," Kaede insisted.
Rachel cast her a pained smile. "All right, but no more magic tricks, OK? It took a week for the talk of the last one to die down. For the next three days, people were comin it ta see the Witch of the Clan McLeod."
"No tricks, promise," Kaede assured her.
"Rachel, ya need some medicine?" Duncan asked.
"If ya wouldn't mind," Rachel admitted. "Stuff for the bug."
"Be back soon, Kaede, ya don mind stayin?"
"Course not, Dad. Rachel's feeling bad, I have to help her. Just tell Kouta I'll be home late."
Duncan nodded and went to get the medicine.
"Let me do that for ya," Kaede said and took the rag from Rachel's grasp. She didn't know where Rachel had left off, she she started in the corner and cleaned off every table.
Rachel watched her for a while, then said, "Thank ya, this is really helping me."
"Dad says we help family, right? It's only right I help you out," Kaede replied, then noticed the big sword hanging on a post. It was shiny and magnificent looking.
"That belongs to yer father," Rachel said. "The only time he picked it up in recent years was to kill a demon named Kanwolf, but doan go tellin that around."
"Really?" Kaede asked.
"Really. I don think anyone's suppose to know. Yer Dad's a great man."
"He is," Kaede agreed.
"So, how do you do those tricks?" Rachel asked.
"Dad says I'm special too," Kaede told her. Going over to sit down my Rachel, she said, "It's a long story, but Dad and his friends saved me. He gave me a home, and he's been doing his best for me and Mom. I owe him everything."
Rachel smiled at her. "I didn't see any wires, how'd you lift those mugs up like that?"
"You won't get mad at me?"
"No, dear, just curious."
"I have invisible Arms."
Rachel raised an eyebrow and asked, "Invisible arms?"
Kaede nodded. "I can grab things if they are close enough. Can I get you a drink?"
"Water."
Kaede looked at the bar and said, "I don't see any water."
"Behind the left side of the break in the bar. The sink is underneath, glasses are just above it."
"OK," Kaede said, and looked at the bar. "Gotta be careful," she mumbled. She frowned and her tongue poked out of her mouth as she concentrated.
Rachel then heard the tap run. She looked to see a glass of water raise above the bar and float over to her.
"Here ya are!" Kaede announced, and put the glass down on front of her.
"That's amazing. So ya have two long arms no one kin see?"
"Four. They are really strong, so I have to be careful with them," Kaede explained.
The door opened and Doogal came in with a friend. "See I told'ya Brian!"
"Hey boys, ale for Doogal, What'll ye have, Brian?" Rachel asked.
"Same."
"I'll get it," Kaede told them.
Kaede, bring me a pen and I'll show ya how to keep track," Rachel told her.
"An do that thing ya do too!" Doogal said eagerly.
"Sorry, I can't," Kaede explained.
"Aww come on lass! Brian came all the way from Inverness just ta see it!" Doogal complained.
"I said I wouldn't do that any more," Kaede replied.
"Lass!" Doogal begged.
Rachel hoisted herself up with a groan, "Giv'er a break Doogal. She got in trouble last time."
"She did levitate?" Brian asked.
"She did somethin," Doogal told him.
"I've heard about that, but never seen it," Brian said eagerly.
"Rachel, you don't have to get up." The words no more than left Kaede's mouth when Rachel stumbled and fell. "RACHEL!" Kaede cried.
Rachel never hit the floor. She hovered at an angle about a foot off the floor as Kaede raced around and her drop down to her, then Rachel settled into her lap.
"Wow!" Brian exclaimed.
"Rachel's sick!" Kaede snapped at him. "She's really hot, I could use some help here!"
"Yeah, OK, ahhh cold washcloth!" Brian said. Looking frantically around he found the washrag and snapped it up.
"Sink's behind me, rise it out good, I was wipin tables," Kaede instructed.
"Yeah,OK," Brian agreed. "Sorry I just... never seen that before!"
"Doogal, do you know where her room is?" Kaede asked.
"Naw, but ye kin put her on the bench fer now."
Duncan came in and took Rachel to bed. Kaede gave the men their ales and hovered by the door. She ran some water for her father, then looked at him expectantly when he came out.
Duncan put an arm around his daughter and said, "Rachel's sleeping. She is sick and worn out. She's got her medicine. Some time and rest will do wonders for her. Let me set you up. Sure you want to do this?"
"We have to take care of Rachel," Kaede replied.
"And we will," he assured her.
Duncan showed Kaede how to operate the till, and mark down what people ordered. He showed her the proper way to pour ale, and give whiskey shots. Going in back, he found the pre-frozen food packs to microwave. Once he was done he told her only serve the things she was comfortable with.
"I'll be back before the dinner rush with help, all right?" he told her.
"I got it, Dad, I'll be fine," Kaede said with more confidence that she felt.
.
Kaede made sure she stayed on top of things. She marked down everything she sold and once a few people found out she was there, many more showed up. A pack of tourists came in. It was tempting not to float their beers over to them, but she found a serving tray and used that.
One blond man eyeing her decided it would be fun to smack her ass. Kaede caught his hand with an Arm and spun around to glare at him as she lifted his hand over her head, which raised him partway out of his seat.
"How dare you," she said in a low growl.
"I didn't do nothin!" he cried as he gapped at her.
"This isn't your hand?" Kaede asked as she shook it.
The conversations died down as they watched the scene.
"You ... what are you doing to me!" the man demanded.
"Touch me again, and you won't have that arm any more," Kaede growled.
"Get off me, I didn't to anything!" the man yelled.
Kaede grew a wicked grin. "Me? I'm not doing anything. It must be your guilty conscience." She then sat him down, and made his arm bend to him slap himself in the face.
Whack
Whack
Whack
Whack
Whack
When she let him go, he tumbled out of his chair. "Too drunk to sit? Maybe you've had enough," she said firmly.
The blond man scrambled up and left, eyeing her fearfully. His friends quickly downed their beers and followed.
"Come again!" she called to them, which brought a round of laughter.
OK, so she had a little fun at work.
She wiped off the table to see Angus come in. "Hi, Angus, got a seat for ya. What'll it be?"
Angus looked around. "Where's Rachel?"
"She wasn't feeling well, I'm helping out for the day."
"An showin some tourist what happens when they try to grope 'er too!" Doogal said, which caused some chuckles.
.
Rachel woke up feeling horrible, but she was finally warm. At first she thought it was Sunday since she was in bed, then she heard laughter from downstairs. Getting up, she still felt cold so she wrapped a blanket around herself. Heading downstairs she found Duncan behind the bar.
"Rachel, how ya feelin?" he asked brightly.
"Bet-ter," she said as she noted Kaede by a table picking up mugs and snack plates. A girl by the break in the bar was the dark haired Mayu, washing mugs.
Inari came out from in back with some hot food. She handed it to Duncan, he looked at his sheet. "Kaede! Table three over there."
Kaede came over to the bar, set the used mugs down and scooped up the food to deliver it.
Doogal pointed at Rachel and said, "Ya see Angus, Kaede didn't turn Rachel into a toad!"
"More like a red-haired fox!" another man said, which caused some cheers and a brief smirk from Rachel.
Duncan looked at Rachel and pointed to a seat. "If yer gonna be down here, sit!"
"Yeah, we doan want ya fallin down again!" Doogal announced.
"Yeah, guys," Brian yelled, "Did I tell ya Rachel fell, but Kaede there caught 'er before she hit the floor, from behind the bar!"
Sure they wasn't wrestlin?" someone called, causing more laughter.
"Ya could make an event outta that!"
Silliness reigned as everyone had fun. The mood alone was enough up lift Rachel's spirits some.
A few guys packed in the corner lifted five stacked mugs. "Another round, Kaede!"
Two tables away, as close as she could get, Kaede asked "Five?"
"Yeah, we're thirsty!"
The mugs did a flip in the air as they sailed over and landed on the tray Kaede held. The tables cheered.
Rachel then noticed that lanes had been cleared on the floor for Kaede to walk through, packing a few tables tight together. Seeing the placement, Rachel asked, "Why are the tables like this?"
Doogal grabbed Rachel's arm and sat her down by him. "Duncan said sit. An the tables are like that so no one smacks Kaede's butt by accident. This tourist fella smacked her on purpose and fer a second, we thought she was gonna kill'm!"
"Kaede hit a customer?" Rachel asked, appalled.
"No Ma'am, not sure what she did, but he smacked himself in the face then lit outta here like the devil was on his tail!" Doogal said with a happy cackle.
"He left her a big tip by accident," Brian agreed.
Rachel tried to suppress a grin and failed.
"Kaede, Kaede!" A little boy cried as he ran up and hugged her knees, almost making her fall.
"Billy!" the boy's father barked. "Get back here and behave!"
"But I want Kaede to fly me!" Billy cried.
"Don't bother the lady, she's busy!"
Kaede squatted down. "Billy, will you behave?" she asked sternly.
Billy nodded. "Please fly me!" he begged.
"Tell you what, you go sit down and BE GOOD, then I'll fly you around later. I'm busy now."
"OK!" Billy said, beaming a smile, and ran back to his chair.
Duncan brought an ice water over to Rachel. "You OK here?" he asked.
Rachel nodded. "What happened to, no tricks?" she asked.
Duncan shrugged and said, "I think it got lost in the shuffle."
