Title: Golden Dragon 14
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money.
AN: Thanks to luvinmike for beta-reading!
Wc: 2518

Golden Dragon 14:

Before Henry could do anything else, there was still a visit he needed to make.

As protocol demanded, he had informed the territory holder of his impending visit and the situation they were in.

Leyasu had been very gracious and had been the one to suggest the hotel they were staying in. Furthermore, to Henry's great relief, he promised his support and protection. Nonetheless, Henry hated owing the other vampire anything. His only comfort was the knowledge that Vicki would be safe as long as she didn't leave their room, but he didn't want to even imagine her meeting the older vampire.

After all this was Japan, and things simply were different here. The PI's headstrong attitude would not be appreciated nor tolerated.

Henry remembered the old samurai to be a person of utmost honor, but it had been quite a while since Henry had last seen the other vampire. People could change…

He knew that while in this town and especially in their room, Vicki would be safe. What he did not understand was the way the letter had been able to get inside, because he didn't believe Leyasu would have left it without an explanation. Was there more to it?

Henry had not driven for more than a few miles before four motorcycles surrounded the car he was driving. Their drivers had the other vampire's crest on their backs, which made Henry follow them without question.

He was directed to an enormous skyscraper well in sight of their hotel, but far enough away to be out of range of both vampires' senses.

Inside, Henry was shown to a hidden elevator that took him to the penthouse at a neck-breaking speed.

The room he entered upon disembarking was very impressive. Though sparing of furniture, it contained a simple sitting area on a raised platform overlooking the city through wide windows. However, the rest of the room appeared to originate right out of a Hollywood spy movie. Flat screen monitors showed a variety of close up shots from all over the city. From traffic camera feeds to satellite shots, everything was there and carefully monitored by a whole battalion of busy mortals.

Not unlike Henry did at home, the other vampire stood near the windows overlooking his city while he waited for his visitor to come closer.

"Welcome to my city!" he said, smoothly turning and taking an elegant, abrupt bow.

Henry mirrored him, bowing just a bit lower to show his respect, which made Leyasu slightly smile before he started to laugh and clapped Henry good naturedly on the shoulder.

"So, tell me what is so important about a mere mortal to be chasing after him?"

Immediately a warning rang in Henry's mind. Though not sure why, he decided not to share any more than was absolutely necessary.

"He is mine and was taken without my consent," he said emotionlessly.

"Ah, a matter of principle, I see." Then he indicated one of the screens that showed a still unconscious Vicki.

"And what about her? Yours too, I presume?"

"Of course. One mere mortal can not sustain my...appetites, as I am sure you well understand."

Hearing this, the other vampire winked at Henry.

"Indeed. After all, variety is earth's greatest gift. Now about that letter."

"So it wasn't from you," Henry stated, as if he had assumed as much.

"Certainly not."

One motion from his hand and another monitor showed a close up of the table where Henry and Vicki had found the letter. One moment the place was empty, the next a red glow, looking almost like a flame, illuminated the dark room. When it snuffed out, the letter was left in its place. Before Henry could ask any questions, though, the old samurai asked curiously:

"What does it say, if I may ask, that is?"

Henry simply hand the object in question over. After all, what was there to hide?

Reading it, Leyasu's cheerful face grew somber, but its content didn't seem to surprise him. It was more as if it proved something he had suspected.

And when he finally looked up, regret was clearly visible in his eyes.

"This is outside of my territory. I'm sorry, but I have no influence there."

Henry frowned a bit. From what he had seen, the area wasn't too far away from Tokyo. How could it not be inside the older vampire's territory?!

As if reading his mind, the Japanese continued:

"You see, the old ways are still very much alive in this country. Clans not only hold positions of power in enterprise, but over the land itself. So much that even our kind has to tread lightly around certain 'creatures'."

Leyasu clapped his hands twice and was joined by a beautiful Geisha in an obviously priceless kimono of the finest silk. In her hands, she held a very old looking scroll, which she immediately handed over to her master at whose feet she now knelt.

Taking it, he spoke softly and she vanished as quickly as she had appeared.

"This, my friend, is the translation of an old Japanese legend. I think it might shed light on a few things. I'm sorry I can't do more. However be assured that I will keep an eye on your female while you search for the male. That much I can do!"

Grateful, but relieved to be able to leave the much older vampire's presence, Henry once again bowed respectfully. But before he reached the elevator, he was addressed once more.

"Oh and Henry, remember that Asian concepts differ from similar ones of the Occident!"

Henry wasn't quite sure what to make of this remark, but he nodded in answer. Then something was tossed in his direction. Henry caught it and was surprised to see a ring with his own family crest on it. He looked up once again, puzzlement clearly showing on his face.

"I also travel, you know, and lineage is so important around here…"

Henry was speechless, so he simply bowed one last time. This time very deeply, as a sign of his great gratitude. Then he left to continue his search for Mike.

(On the other side of the world)

My dearest Mike,

If you read this, I most certainly am dead. It pains me to leave you behind, but I obviously couldn't avert it.

My love, please forgive me, but there are a few things I couldn't tell you before that are now essential for you to understand. I once told you that my family had very old-fashioned beliefs and that is true, though very understated.

Some of the things I will now tell you might be hard to grasp, but as much as they might seem the stuff out of a bad novel, they are true.

PLEASE, you have to trust me in this.

Remember those last weeks before I went to Japan? It was, apart from these last few months, the happiest time of my life and I never regretted our being together.

As it turned out, my heritage was somewhat threatened by our love, though I wouldn't have wanted it any other way!

Upon my arrival back in Japan, I was brought to our family estate to be, as it turned out, betrothed to a very distant cousin. You can imagine my fury! However, after some weird ceremony, the match didn't seem to bring the wished for result. Weeks passed and I was paraded around like the broodmare I felt I was, until eventually all the elders of the clan came together to hold council.

I was questioned and it was revealed that I had 'given myself' (ha!) to a stranger. Oh, the outrage! Well, after that it seemed as if they had lost interest in me, at least for a while. For a time all was well. I finished my education and was introduced to the family history, which turned out to be quite shocking, well at least in theory.

In reality, it was a horror story come true.

Long ago when the world was still quite young and reality and myth still went hand in hand, Asia was protected by four creatures symbolized by four celestial emblems, each guarding a direction on the compass.

In China, the four date back to at least the 2nd century BC. Each creature has a corresponding season, color, element, virtue, and other traits. Further, each corresponds to a quadrant in the sky.

In Japan, the symbolism of the four creatures appears to have merged with and been supplanted by the Shitenno (Four Heavenly Kings).

In any case, the four animals are much more prevalent in artwork in China than in Japan, but in Japan one can still find groupings of the four creatures, which are the four celestial animals: The Dragon for the East, the Bird for the South, the Tiger for the West, and the Tortoise for the North. Each animal has its own color: the Dragon is the Green of Spring, the Bird the Red of Fire, the Tiger of Autumn is the glittering White of Metal (of ploughshares or swords), and the Tortoise is Black, for Night or for Water.

I have never shown you our family crest but its color is red and it depicts a bird rising from the ashes.

I never gave much stock in superstition, but as I said my family believes in the old ways, which include that of the four signs and in particular of the one sign.

In Japan, the term "Suzaku" is translated as "Red Bird" or "Vermillion Chinese Phoenix."

In both Japan and China, the symbolism of the red bird seems nearly identical to or merged with that of the mythological Phoenix.

So you see which spirit my family worships.

At some point after my introduction to my family history, something must have happened. I don't know why, but a few months before I returned to Canada, my grandfather suddenly contacted me, pretending to have a desire to mend our bridges and wanting to know if I was still interested in returning to America.

You know I have always treasured family over everything and after my father's tragic death, I hoped to reconnect with my grandfather. It actually seemed as if he was interested in my life, and sooner rather than later I moved back to the estate.

For the first time since my father's death, I was happy again and felt safe and treasured. After a few weeks I began to trust my grandfather and told him about our love. He seemed interested and over time I came to trust him more, so I shared more with him about you and how even after all this time I still wished to reconnect.

He was so supportive that he even accompanied me here and, after meeting you that day in the Dojo, he gave me the necklace to give to you. He said it was an heirloom and would bring luck and happiness to the one who wore it.

What I had not known then was that in addition to the normal belief that the phoenix corresponds to summer, red, fire, and knowledge, it was also believed that, though normally the direst of enemies, a female phoenix is often paired with the dragon, for the two represent both conflict and wedded bliss; dragon (emperor) and phoenix (empress). Portrayed with radiant feathers and an enchanting song, the pairing only appears in times of good fortune. There was even a gate known as Suzakumon within the ancient Imperial Palace in Japan that showed such a pairing.

Another rumor tells of the offspring of the phoenix inheriting its power, though only manifesting it every second generation.

That in itself doesn't sound too bad and could all be taken as just legend, but then you told me about the murder in the asylum and the name seemed familiar. I started my own investigation. It was only yesterday that I figured out why.

That man was a former consultant of my father. He was rumored to possess a certain 'gift', clairvoyance to be exact, and his last prophecy told something of an offspring of the one breathing and the one dying in the fire to rise again. The child was heralded to become so powerful, it would subdue all other signs and live to conquer the world.

Until a few hours ago, this was all simply mythology for me, but after leaving the doctor's office just an hour ago, I am afraid and fear for the future.

The good news that I wanted to tell you was just confirmed by my doctor: I am pregnant. I am so happy, but it seems this small blessing must have been my downfall.

Just this morning I received mail from an anonymous sender. It contained a threat, along with a series of pictures of which one in particular caught my eye. It was a close up of an attractive Chinese man, and I was shocked to recognize the chain he wore around his neck, the one I gave to you. In addition to the photos, I found a newspaper clipping telling of the brutal murder of this man, along with another photo of his corpse, this time without the chain.

He turned out to be the head of the organization of that biker gang you just investigated.

I can't tell you if the mythical facts have any grain of truth to them, but I have been followed all morning. I've decided that it doesn't matter what I think, just that others believe it.

Apparently, they believe me to be the prophesized female phoenix. Or at least that is how I believe they interpret the letter, And since you wear the dragon lord's necklace, they somehow imagine our child will be this bringer of doom.

I hope I'm just being paranoid, but I wrote you this letter in case I'm really in the danger I believe I'm in.

I'll try to reach my grandfather's estate and hope for the best, but my gut tells me I recognized the threat too late.

Therefore, please do not despair should my fears prove true and, despite your heated temper, don't loose yourself in thoughts of vengeance. I never was a believer in an eye for an eye.

It pains me that we had so little time together, but it was worth every second. I only regret to not have been able to see our child being born.

I'll always love you,

KIM

P.S.: Please go to Vicki, and let her help you. Maybe even that young friend of hers you love to hate so very much can give you comfort. Don't be alone! I cannot bare the thought.

Staring in disbelief (and blurry-eyed) at the letter, both Coreen and Dr. Sagara were speechless.

The letter's content, especially in conjunction with recent events, was evidence of a heart-breaking tragedy. And though it explained a lot, it also raised almost as many questions as it answered.

They knew they were in for a long night and hoped Henry and Vicki had also been successful.

tbc