(Italics) – Actions
Italics – Thoughts
Rin & Sess: (stare at the study)
Rin: (whispers) How long has she been in there?
Sess: I believe she's been in there for three days now. (pauses) Doing what? I haven't a clue.
Rin: (blinks) Well, don't you think we should check on her? (looks up at him for approval)
Sess: (looks down at her) …
Rin: I'll take your pause as an unspoken yes.
Sess: (blinks and nods)
(They enter the study to see the puppy slumped over her desk.)
Sess&Rin: (gasp) Jade!
Sess: (pulls her upright) Look what you've done now, pup! You know you can't pull all-nighters for more than two days! Wake up, fool! (realizes she isn't sleeping) Jade…?
Rin: (stares at the screen, reads:…) "Do to the content of this installment of A World Apart, I shall deliver this disclaimer myself. Forgive me for hiding this from you, Sesshoumaru and Little Rin. I, Jade the Inujin, do not own the rights to the story Inuyasha. I simply write a side tale that adds a twist to some of the less seen characters. Please, enjoy the chapter, and thank you for reading."
Sess: (gapes at the screen) Jade… what in Hell's name?
Ch38: For Every Time There Is a Season
Ms. Carden
My name is Samson Tremmel. You don't know who I am, but I have heard a great deal about you. I am a private investigator in Pensacola, Florida. I have been searching for you for the past five years, and I only regret that I must deliver such tragic news in this first letter to you.
Your oldest brother, Joseph Carden, hired me to track down you and your brother, Emmanuel. I found Emmanuel a little over two years ago, and he has been living with Joseph since then. However, I regret that your ancestral fate has fallen on your household again. Your brothers have been killed.
It took every connection I have and more to find you at last, Jade. I have arranged for you and a companion to fly down to Kissimmee for the funeral of your brothers. Come if you wish. There is someone that is very anxious to meet you there. Again, I am truly sorry to be so blunt and forward with this news, but unfortunately, there isn't much time left. Also, I wish to discuss a very important subject with you in person.
Please consider this decision carefully. I send my deepest condolences for your loss. Joseph was a dear friend of mine, but I could never know the pain you must feel at this moment.
Sincerely,
Samson G. Trammel
Susan gaped at what she just read aloud to the living room inhabitants. She was almost afraid to look up, but her blonde head lifted subconsciously. As her vision focused, she saw Mark and May sitting silently in shock. Mitchel was staring down at the letter in her hands from beside her. Miss Gimlee bowed her head, murmuring to herself in prayer. The prince had risen from his seat as if an evil spirit were sealed within the paper. His mouth was open, but no words could form on his tongue. The other random children and teenagers in the room gaped, some were even crying silently. Finally, her blue eyes fell on Jade, the one meant to hear this message.
Jade sat where she had five minutes earlier. She hadn't moved an inch. Her gloved hands were still in her lap, resting on her knees. Sitting with perfect posture, the seventeen year old stared. Her once sparkling, brown eyes now stared blankly at the girl across from her. Without blinking, Jade spoke with a calm voice.
"Is that all, Sue?" Breaking the gaze, Susan glanced back at the letter. Wiping a tear from her eye, she sniffed before replying.
"Just some stuff about how to get your plane tickets… nothing more."
The tomboy glanced down at the carpet. Completely still, the eyes of those around her watched intently to see what she would do. The eyes bothered her; all those gazes falling on her felt like lasers. She stood up casually, the solemn look never leaving her visage. She walked away from everyone, pausing at the front door. Pushing the door open, she exited the house.
No one went after her. They knew she wasn't being cold. She didn't want to see their faces. Sadness and pity were things Jade Carden hated to see pointed at her.
With the closing of the door, Sesshoumaru went to Jade's bedroom. Mitchel, Susan, Mark, and May followed him quickly. The dog stood with his back to the door, staring out the window. The children glanced out as well. There was the teen aged girl, lounging in her favorite tree. She wasn't crying; she was just staring at the sky. They all watched her for the hour or so that she lay up there; until, she jumped down.
The young woman reentered through the kitchen, finding Miss Gimlee at the stove. She was starting dinner. The older woman turned when she heard Jade's boots clunk against the tile floor. She looked up, waiting for the teen to speak.
"Miss G… Miss Gimlee," Jade said quietly, "I want to go to the funeral." Miss Gimlee nodded. Stepping away from the stove, she approached the numb-looking, young woman and embraced her, gingerly. Slowly, Jade's arms wrapped about her foster mother. They stood there in silence. After dinner, the guardian remained at the table to speak with Jade and her closer friends.
"Jade," she said in a motherly voice, "this Mr. Tremmel said you could take a friend with you to Florida. I know it's your decision, but I suggest you go with someone as well. That way you won't be alone among strangers." Jade stared at the place her plate had been, another hard question for her to make. Squeezing her fists, the stabbing sensation in her palms numbed before she answered.
"I'll decide that later. I don't know yet…"
"Alright," Miss Gimlee said. This was a lot for the teenager to think about. She would let her decide when she was ready.
In the time after the small counsel broke up, everyone was talking about who Jade might pick to go with her. Would she take Susan? They were best friends, like sisters almost. Could she want to take Mitchel? He would be a strong arm to cry on at the funeral. One of the twins would be handy if someone was trying to pick on her. All these seemed to be likely candidates, but deep down, they all knew who should go with her; they just knew it was impossible.
It was around nine-thirty that night that Susan dragged Jade up to the computer room. Locking the door behind them, the two sat on the pulled out futon, holding pillows. Susan lay on her stomach while Jade curled her knees up to her chin.
"So," the flower child said, raising an eyebrow, "why are you so hesitant to choose?"
"I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings…"
"This is about your feelings, Jade." Susan corrected her. "You should take the person that you know can best support you. I think we both know who fits that description." Jade sighed heavily, a small headache pounded in the back of her mind.
"Yeah," the teen replied, "but Sesshoumaru can't fly on a plane with me. He doesn't even exist in this time."
"We have a solution!" The two girls glared at the locked door. The twins were eavesdropping, again. Jade stood up and unlocked the door, opening it to stare at them in annoyance. They grinned, evilly.
"He needs…" May said with a twinkle in her eye.
"… A fake ID." Mark winked wickedly.
"And how, pray tell," Susan called from her perch, "are we going to make him a fake identification card?"
"Easy!" May waved a hand at Susan's ignorance.
"We know how to make a passport," Mark answered with pride.
"We learned from an espionage web site!" The two made a 'thumbs up' in perfect reflection of each other. Susan gaped in shock at their true nature. It always surprised her, just when she thought they were normal. Jade could only imagined what great criminals they would make in ten years. "So go ask him," they said, looking straight into her eyes.
The tomboy paused a moment. Did she really have a right to ask him? She slowly made her way back to her room, deep in thought. Everything blurred around her. In her absent minded state, she even bumped into her own doorjamb. Blinking in surprise, she started wondering what to say to him. Walking to the closet, the teen came up with many fancy things to say, but as she pushed open the Door, they all faded away. There he stood, in the meadow, silhouetted in the sunset.
"Would you come with me?"
Her face was struck with awe at the shimmer of his hair in the colored light. His gleaming, golden eyes trapped hers as he turned to approach her. His steps seemed to take ages to the teenager. He truly looked like a prince, walking toward his Cinderella. When he stopped a foot away from her, they stood, staring at one another, in silence. Finally, he replied.
"Yes."
Friday afternoon, Miss Gimlee was praying in her bedroom.
"Lord," she said, kneeling beside her bed like a child, "I ask your forgiveness for being untruthful. I lied to help a child… But, I don't regret it. After all, it's not their fault that they have a… long-distance relationship. They need all the help they can get!" She nodded in self-justification. Standing, she didn't even say 'amen' to close the prayer.
"There you are, Prince Sess," Mark announced, triumphantly, "your very own passport!" The dog stared at the small book. Jade took it, translating that it was why they had flashed the light in his face a few days before. He nodded in understanding.
Parking was insane at the airport that afternoon so getting the tickets was the easiest part of the day, since they didn't check in any luggage. The hardest part came when they reached the borderline, where only passengers could continue on. Jade looked back at the friends that had come. Mitchel had an arm around a sniffling Susan. Mark and May were staring up at her like little, lost puppies. Miss Gimlee finally broke the stillness with an embrace.
"See you when you get back," the foster mother said, looking up at the six-foot-one teenager. The twins rushed for her legs, clinging.
"Be safe!" Even the prince felt a grin at the sight. Jade tried to keep her balance, swaying backward. A hand found each flailing arm, steadying her.
"We'll miss you," Susan whispered. She hugged Jade's arm, hiding tears.
"Enjoy Florida," Mitchel grinned, "without us." This put a smile on Jade's lips. Her friends were getting sappier than she was.
"What's with all the angst?" The seventeen-year-old flashed her pearly whites to everyone. "I'll be back Monday, and remember, Miss G already promised you could skip school to come get me!" Winking, the mood brightened like the sparkles in her brown eyes. The two groups waved farewell as Jade joined Sesshoumaru in their long walk down to the belly of the metal bird.
They boarded the 747 and their worst nightmare occurred. The hum of the engine buzzed in their sensitive ears. A baby's cry pierced Sesshoumaru's left eardrum from across the narrow aisle. Their legs felt cramped in the limited space in front of them. A child sitting in the seat in front of the prince had turned around in his seat to poke the moon on his forehead. The man sitting beside Jade was a horrible flirt. The flight attendants kept staring at the dog with red faces, even the two male ones. Finally, the plane started to move. Jade put a hand on Sesshoumaru's, getting his attention.
"I'm sorry," she said in his ear. "I didn't know planes were this bad. I'm suffering right along with you, so you aren't alone." He looked at her, and his eyes sent his thanks. However, the moment vanished when they squeezed each other's hand at take off.
Orlando International Airport was surprisingly busy for late winter. A young man stood near the luggage claim. He wasn't like the others, bustling around with bags. He was waiting for someone. He was about five-foot-eleven, Caucasian, dirty-blonde hair with green eyes. He was wearing a white T-shirt under a brown, leather jacket, loose-fitting blue jeans, and true Texas cowboy boots. He had a sign in his left hand that he held at chest level: Tremmel.
Enter Samson Tremmel, private detective. His sharp eyes glanced over the many faces of the travelers. There were so many different people with different stories. He thought about which one of those faces might belong to Jade Carden. Joseph Carden had once said she had a presence about her, Emmanuel had quickly corrected him, saying she just stood out in a crowd. He smiled sadly at the memory. It was hard to believe they were gone.
An attractive woman approached him. She looked lost and confused. Looking at him, her eyes glanced at his sign and back at him. Calling to someone behind her, a tall, strange man walked toward them. She addressed Samson at last.
"You must be looking for me," she said with a tomboyish smirk. "You must be Mr. Tremmel. I'm Jade Carden." She extended her right hand to shake his.
Samson shook her hand, but he couldn't help gaping up at her. She was over six feet tall! Joseph had been five-nine at twenty-two. Emmanuel hadn't been kidding about the 'standing out' quality. His eyes drifted to her companion. That was a man, right? He was wearing all white, accenting his platinum locks, which were pulled back in a pony tail. His facial tattoos were fascinating, but his golden eyes sent a chill of awe over him. The magic of contact lens was amazing these days.
"You're Jade Marie Carden?" Jade twitched at her middle name, nodding. "Sorry, I guess I was looking for someone younger-looking. I thought you were at least twenty. I'm Samson Tremmel." He grinned to break the icy tension in the air. "My car's in the lot. Hope it won't be too cramped for you both. Did you check any bags though?"
"Nope." Jade motioned for her companion to follow. "The sooner we leave the better. This place is killing our ears." Samson blinked in confusion at the statement, but he led the way to his baby, a black '98 Nissan Sentra.
"Another steel beast?" Sesshoumaru whispered to Jade. He had never really liked cars, and now, planes joined the ranks of his unfavorable forms of future transportation. "Give me a dragon any day."
"I'm sure he doesn't drive fast like me,' Jade assured the prince, "and he's probably faster than Miss G." The old lady was such a slug that Sesshoumaru had tried to jump out of the van to transform.
"Excuse me?" Samson asked after popping his trunk. He had heard the young woman's voice and was unsure of who she had addressed. "Sorry, were you talking to me?" Jade looked back at the man, caught off guard by his question.
"Oh no," she huffed a nervous laugh. "Sorry, I didn't introduce you two. This is my good friend, Sess. He's Japanese, so I was telling him who you were."
"Japanese, huh?" Samson marveled at the young person. "You speak Japanese as well as Spanish and English? You're just full of surprises." Shoving some junk into the far back of his trunk, he looked up again. "You can put your bags back here."
"Thanks." Jade put their duffle bags in the free space, closing it. The three then climbed into the car and proceeded out of the parking lot.
"So how was your flight?" Samson hated using cliché phrases, but he loathed silence more, especially when he was in the company of friends or family.
"Noisy." Jade visibly cringed at the memories, "Considering that was out first flight, we're just glad it's over, for now." Samson grinned at the declaration. She had Joseph's wit with Emmanuel's humor. It made him wonder what her signature trait was.
"Well, it couldn't have been all that bad. After all, at least, you weren't going coast to coast." Jade translated.
"He didn't have little cretins poking his face for over half an hour, did he?" Sesshoumaru groaned. Jade snorted as she tried not to laugh at the memory. That boy had rambled on and on about the crescent as only a child could. It was a pleasant remembrance, for her at least.
"What's so funny?" The detective glanced in his rear view mirror at his passengers. "I'm like a kid; it drives me crazy whenever people talk in other languages around me. What did he say?" Jade smiled, trying to look in the mirror.
"He was reflecting on his traumatic experience with this kid on the plane. Anyways, you mentioned someone wanted to meet me here. I'm only here for two more days, so how will we meet up with them around the service and all?"
"Oh, you'll see them," Samson replied with a wink and a smile. "I'm taking you there now, so just be patient for the time being. They wanted to make it a surprise. How's school?" Jade grinned that he had brought up that topic.
"How do you say you have honor role with an attendance record that leaves you SOL?" Sesshoumaru crocked an eyebrow at her nervous laughter. Her aura was fluctuating like a wind buffed flame. "I'm a senior," she finally said, silencing the awkward giggling.
"You have a bad case of senioritis, huh?" The detective grinned as he thought about his high school days. "Your brother and I had it bad senior year. God, that brings back memories. That was… what? Five years ago? It feels like it was an eternity!"
"You knew my brother?" Jade almost jumped up to the front seat.
"We went to high school together," Samson replied. "I met him our sophomore year. He saved my butt, actually. That was the day we became friends, and I met Maria and Mona as well." He laughed at the memory, not realizing a few tears in his eyes.
"He still had Maria and Mona? Dad gave those to him when we were kids! Did Manny still have the Rattler?"
Sesshoumaru watched her face brighten at the conversation. He had no clue what she was saying, but it was the first, real smile he had seen since they had returned from Rin's beach party.
"We're here," the man announced, turning onto a street.
"Where? This looks like where we used to live before Dad died." Jade gaped at the resemblance. It was an apartment residence. Kids were either playing in the street or hanging around on the sidewalk.
"Jade," Sesshoumaru said bluntly, "I thought you told me your culture did not accept nudity."
"It doesn't," she replied, coming back down to Earth.
"Then please explain to me why these humans wear so little. It's a wonder why they even bothered to put on any cloth at all…" He pointed to the girls, walking down the street in tube tops and mini shorts.
"It's called raunch culture," Jade explained. "It's where women, and even girls, believe they have to show men as much of their bodies to get a boyfriend, or a mate. It's a form of attraction." The dog stared at her, thinking about how ridiculous humans were. The teen patted him on the back, "Welcome to Florida, my friend."
Samson parked in front of one of the complexes. Each building was two stories with four apartments. Reaching next to his leg, the detective opened the trunk.
"Time to unload, kids! This is where you'll be staying." Jade refrained from translating the 'kids' line, but she relayed that they were staying in this place with a hint of surprise. The dog's nose went crazy the second the car doors opened. The teen explained the Hispanic cooking was loaded with spices.
"It smells of an herb shed," he coughed slightly. Jade snickered. She'd grown up with the smell of peppers and cinnamon, so it was more of a welcoming scent. Patting him on the back, she smiled sweetly.
"Poor puppy."
"Go on ahead and knock on the first door to your left." After grabbing their bags, the two walked up to the complex. The first door on the left had flowers, in bouquets and pots, littered before it. Samson picked up the ones blocking the path. "Knock," he said, "they're waiting on the other side."
Jade did so. Instantly, the door swung open. There stood a petite, lightly-tanned woman. A bright smile spread across her face. She rushed Jade with a hug.
"You must be Jade! I'm so happy to finally meet you!" Jade blinked in surprise with Sesshoumaru holding her up. It was after she returned to her senses that the teen realized the woman had a belly to her. She was very pregnant!
"Jade," Samson appeared to pull the woman off Jade's waist, "this is Mina Carden."
"Carden…?" Jade gaped in shock.
"She's Joseph's widow," Samson answered her questioning face with a smile.
"Oh God," Mina gasped in embarrassment, "I'm so sorry! You've had a long day. Come in, please." Her sweet voice sounded like a song bird. Turning to call inside the noisy apartment, she said, "Jason, come put their bags in the closet, please!"
"Coming, Mina," came a male voice over the many other voices. A Caucasian, young guy entered the room. He was about Samson's height, but he had thicker arms. He was definitely a heavy labor kind of person. "Thanks, I needed an excuse to get out of there. This must be Joe-Joe's little sister. Not so little, huh?" Mina smiled, trying not to laugh.
"This is Jason Bowles. He worked with Joe at the car shop."
"Joe-Joe was always good with tools," Jason added, "probably all that training with his blades. I'll take care of these for you." He took the bags and went off.
"How are you, Mina?" Samson asked, putting the new flowers in the corner with the others.
"The same I was yesterday, Sam," Mina said with that sweet smile. "I'm still pregnant." Samson laughed as did Jade. The two newcomers were feeling slightly out of place. Mina seemed to sense this. She grabbed their hands. A sudden feeling struck her in her stomach. She shrugged it off.
"The family is in the kitchen," she said in a loud whisper. "They're from your mom's side, Rose. Brace yourself."
As they entered the kitchen, eyes turned to Jade. A strange silence fell. Mina introduced the teen, and all Hell broke loose. If Sesshoumaru had been confused before, he was completely lost now. Spanish rattled loud and fast in the medium sized kitchen, killing the visitors' ears. Mina looked upset as she yelled back in the foreign tongue. Samson sighed in annoyance, leaving to fetch Jason.
"What's happening?" Sesshoumaru asked Jade. He caught sight of her blank face. It made him regret ever asking.
"They're saying that I couldn't be Rose's daughter. No child of Rose would look like me." The dog had to clench his jaw in a flush of anger. Once again, she was hit in the face with rejection from her own flesh and blood. Her mother's wrath lived on.
The two men returned. The mechanic immediately started a heated spiel of Spanish. Based on body language alone, he was telling them to knock it off. Mina turned to him, saying something in a calm voice. Jade finally opened her mouth and spoke a single sentence in Spanish. Translation: Don't even bother.
The room fell silent once more. She had just proved she was Hispanic, so the argument died for the time being. One of the younger women turned to Jade's fair companion. The other women picked up a conversation and started walking around the prince. Mina bit her lip as she watched them touch him as if he was a mannequin.
"Jade," the dog glanced between her and the women, "what in all the hells are they doing?" He stiffened at their hands' touch, only making his muscles flex and heightening their awe.
"Puerto Ricans are very touchy people. If they like something, they want to touch it." Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes as his imagination ran amuck.
Dinner went on without any further incident, other than Sesshoumaru's admirers continued attention. The family left pretty much in a pack, and Jason left sometime after them. This left Jade, Mina, Samson, and Sesshoumaru at the table. They were finishing off the plantains from dinner.
"I can't believe how much I've missed fried plantains," Jade said with tears in her eyes. "None of my foster homes ever made them. Mina, you have made years of wrongs right tonight!"
"Well, you can have all the plantains you want while you're here," the soon-to-be-mother replied with her beautiful smile. Jade knew that was what her brother had fallen in-love with first; that smile killed negative energy in a heartbeat. It reminded Jade and Sesshoumaru of Rin's smile.
"I think I'll call it a night," Samson sighed, standing from his chair. "I'll be back tomorrow to pick you all up for the funeral." He kissed Mina on the forehead. "Sleep well, guys. Keyword: Sleep. Night!"
"Bye, Sam!" Mina called after him. With the click of the front door, the three of them were left alone with the random sound of tribal drums, coming from the neighbors upstairs. "So," she said softly, "I'm sure you want to hear about them. Joe-Joe and Manny, I mean. Ask away."
"What were they like?" Jade looked at Mina with a longing gaze. The sparkles must have been visible even to the human woman, for she gaped a moment at the teen before rising. She walked into the living room and picked up a frame from the coffee table.
"They were boys." She smiled, handing Jade a picture of the two brothers. They were grinning like idiots at a theme park. "Joe was more mature and down-to-earth, I guess you could say. Manny was a wild child. He wore spikes and chains, and I can still remember how he would spend over an hour spiking his hair in the morning." A laugh escaped her at the memory.
"Manny changed… a lot," Jade said quietly. She paused to relay everything to the prince. Running her thumb over the faces, she continued, "Manny was pretty timid when we were together, but when he had his Rattler, he pushed all fear out, it was just him and his chain. Wow… he really grew up…"
"What of your other brother?" Sesshoumaru asked after he got a translation.
"Joe-Joe didn't change a bit," she smiled, staring at his same, old grin. "He was a natural born leader. He spoke up for me with Mom, and he promised no matter what that he would always take care of us. When they separated us, he hugged Manny and I, promising he would bring us together again…" The male didn't need a translation to know what she'd said. He put his hand on hers, remaining silent. It was all he could do.
Mina blinked at the action. She started to wonder who this strange man was. Why had Jade brought him? Where could they have met?
"Jade," Mina blinked innocently for a pause, "who is this guy? You two seem very… friendly."
"Jade," Sesshoumaru asked, "what did she say?"
"She asked who you were. What should I say?" The two blinked at each other. They hadn't thought of an alternate excuse for the dog, so they were at a loss for words. The soon-to-be mother looked between them. Putting two and two together, Mina smiled.
"You make a lovely couple."
"We?" Jade blushed at the thought. The idea of her dating Sesshoumaru was too great to even dream of. Words were lost to her as she slumped a bit in her seat. The dog got the message and backed away.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Mina exclaimed, "You aren't that far yet?" The two groaned in embarrassment as Mina giggled.
Finally, Mina said they should head to bed. Jason had already set out pillows and blankets in the living room. Jade just moved the coffee table for Sesshoumaru to sleep on the floor, knowing full well he would hate the couch. After bidding goodnight, Jade and Sesshoumaru prepared for bed.
With the lights out, the two comrades laid in their blankets in silence. After half an hour passed, the dog heard Jade roll over on the couch. Another five minutes, she rolled over again. After a third turn over, Sesshoumaru knew something was up. Leaning on his elbow, he looked up on the seat.
"Jade," he called softly, "what's the matter? I can hear you tossing about up there."
"I can't sleep," she muttered. Sighing, the prince rose from the floor and looked down on the couch.
"Sit up." The teen honored his request without a fight, and he sat down beside her. "'When a person cannot find rest, something troubles their spirit.' My uncle, Masaru, told me that when I had trouble sleeping after my father's death. Perhaps you are upset by your brothers' deaths more than you realized…"
"Don't be so mushy, puppy-boy," Jade scoffed, clearly fronting. "I'm still tense over Mina's comment tonight. That's all." Leaning on his shoulder, she huffed for the added effect. "But that too…"
The dog had known Jade long enough to know what her sarcasm really meant. He glanced at her, asleep on his shoulder. Smiling, he draped his tail over them. Her face looked tired, and it brought something to his attention. Not once since the reading of the letter had Jade shed one tear. Why? Was it not a part of grieving? He let it go for the time being as sleep claimed him as well.
Something was poking the lord in the left shoulder. The dog stirred, and he opened his golden irises to daylight, glaring with discontent. Samson was staring down on him, and he was saying something.
"Shame on you two," he said with a grin. "Sleeping on Mina's couch together is scandalous." Shaking a finger at the dog, he laughed and walked away. It was all lost on Sesshoumaru.
He looked down and saw what Samson had been shaking his finger at. Jade had slumped to his lap, facing the opposite wall thankfully. He had to work up the effort to wake her; since she looked so beautiful, sleeping in his lap.
Needless to say, Jade almost jumped off the couch, falling on the floor. Mina called from the kitchen that breakfast was ready. The teen remained in a crouch, on the defensive, as she stared at the dog. Their eyes locked for a moment. Sesshoumaru's emotionless expression always looked so handsome in the morning. The still silence between them broke as the lord muttered.
"Why do I feel needles in my legs?"
"Who wants avena?" Mina called cheerfully to the sleepyheads. "I didn't have the heart to wake you earlier because you looked so cute!" She flashed them an instant photo of them sleeping. Jade went red with mortification as the old dog asked what kind of spell she'd used to capture them like that.
At the table, Sesshoumaru inquired what they were consuming.
"It's called avena," Jade explained to him. "It's a Puerto Rican version of a dish called oatmeal. We just add cinnamon and other spices to ours. Try it. I promise it's not horrible." She smiled, taking a spoonful to her lips. "I loved it the way my grandma made it when I was a kid. Gosh, I haven't had avena in years!"
Tasting a smaller sample, the prince gaped at the spice on his tongue. The flavor had a hint of the spice Susan had used around Christmas in that drink. In this food, it tasted as if he'd never tried it before though.
"It's truly delicious," he told Jade to say.
"Welcome to western food, puppy breath!" Jade laughed at him as he requested seconds.
After breakfast, Mina retreated to her bedroom to change. While she was gone, Samson went outside for a 'smoke break'. This gave Jade and Sesshoumaru time to dress. With all the smoke, Jade knew they might as well just shower when they got home.
"They'll be burning incense at the funeral too," she thought. "I hope our noses are up for that…" She cringed, remembering Mass as a kid. She then slipped on a black pants suit Miss Gimlee had bought her that past week.
"Jade," the teen looked back at the dog, "would you mind tying this around my neck?" The seventeen year old sighed, realizing that Mitchel hadn't tied the neck tie beforehand. Draping the tie around the lord's neck, she was thankful she'd learned how to knot one.
As the two dealt with the tie in the living room, Mina exited her room. She was smiling, ready to start conversation. She froze suddenly. Her brown eyes gaped at the two. Jade's back was to her, but her friend was visible from his left side. The empty, flat, dress shirt sleeve grabbed her attention. His golden eyes glanced up at her, fell to his arm, and back at the widow.
"What's wrong, Sesshoumaru?"
"She looks frightened," he replied, nodding behind the teen. Jade looked back to see Mina. The woman held shock in her eyes. She felt no fear from the woman though, only shock.
"What…" Mina's voice cracked. The sudden feeling in her stomach had hit her again. Was her reaction affecting the baby? Swallowing the lump in her throat, she tried her question again. "What happened? It looks like it must have been painful… I'm sorry for staring!" She turned to go into the kitchen.
"Mina!" Jade called to her sister-in-law, "It's alright. He's used to people staring now. It was an accident, a long time ago. He's fine, but he's actually concerned about you right now." The tiny woman looked back. The smile on the teen's face made her shame fade. She looked up to the regal man in her living room, smiling that reassuring smile.
Samson opened the front door to see Sesshoumaru pulling on a white, dress jacket. The other male looked back at him, placidly. The detective smirked a grin before making a double-take at Jade. She looked older than he was in that suit. She'd pulled her long, brown hair into a bun. It gave the impression of a grown, gorgeous woman. Next to her companion, Samson thought they looked like a married couple.
"Wow, Joe," he marveled to himself. "I wish you could see how beautiful she turned out…" "Who's ready to go?"
"Who isn't, Sam?" Mina walked up to him. She wrapped her arm around his. "Don't want to be late! The boys would never forgive us."
When Samson's Sentra pulled into the church parking lot, Mina's eyes fell on all the cars. So many people had come for the Carden funeral. Samson reasoned that most were probably news viewers that had wanted to mourn the brothers. Their murderers hadn't been caught yet, so the story was still on the news, even after the donations of strangers for the funeral cost had come through.
"Or," Mina added, "they could be some of Joe-Joe's customers. He always left an impression on the people around him. He fixed a lot of cars." She smiled sadly at her own joke.
The service was in a cathedral-style church. A priest spoke a prepared speech on the Cardens. Friends and family said some words and good-byes, including Mina. Jade didn't even bother telling Sesshoumaru what they were saying. She wasn't even paying much attention. Her cold, blank gaze was fixed on the two coffins that were raised to waist level, center stage. Nothing else there mattered. They were who she had come to see. Not a priest, not friends, and certainly not her family that 'loved' her oh so much, she'd come to see Joseph and Emmanuel.
Though he couldn't understand anything being said, Sesshoumaru didn't glance about the sanctuary to pass the time. He was watching the young woman beside him. She had been growing more and more distant since Susan had read Samson's letter. Now, she seemed so far that she couldn't even see him.
"She's acting the same was she did after Takashita returned," the prince mused to himself. "I don't sense any fading of spirit, yet she does seem tense. What's wrong?" As he pondered, the funeral came and went.
"Mina," Samson said once people started out of the sanctuary, "after I say my good-byes, I'll leave you, Jade, and Sess alone." He smiled, squeezing her hand gently.
"Thanks. You're a great friend, Sam." He kissed her hand and stood. She turned to the teenager to her left. Her face looked numb. It was the first time Mina saw the girl her husband had told her about…
("Jade was our porcelain doll, babe. She could hold out through anything, but she'd crack if you dropped her. Always the trooper, if Dad said punch, she'd throw her hardest. Still, she had a heart made of glass. Mom knew Jade couldn't hurt a fly, and she'd never pull a punch on her own mother. She just wanted to be loved. That's why I have to find her, Mina. She's broken, but she cares too much to protect what's left…")
Mina looked at Jade's visage. It looked so aged that she had to remind herself the girl was only seventeen. Broken wasn't an exaggeration. She had the look of a soldier at his friend's funeral after a war they'd fought in together. Her eyes were heavy, lips were a perfect line, and her gaze was fixed.
"Poor baby," the soon-to-be mother thought, "she's lost so much more than I…" She squeezed the other's hand. Jade looked down at her. The smile carried a thousand words of comfort that melted some of the ice in her stare. "Let's go say good-bye."
The three walked up the aisle. As the polished, wooden coffins grew closer, the burning incense intensified. The translucent smoke swirled about the coffins. Sesshoumaru decided to keep his distance to save his already flared nose, waiting next to the fourth pew. Mina and Jade stopped before the beds of the dead. Leaning forward, the widow kissed each.
"Watch over us from heaven," she smiled sadly, sniffling back tears, "…boys." She turned to the younger woman. Taking her hands, she whispered softly. "I'll let you be with them. Sam and I will wait in the entryway."
Sesshoumaru watched her walk back down the aisle. She paused next to him for a moment, but she just smiled and continued away from him. He looked after her for a while, curious about why she'd looked at him. Blinking the questions away, he looked back at Jade. She was standing between the two coffins. Her posture was straight and stiff. Her back was to him, but he felt he should see her face.
"Jade," he said in an almost whisper, "turn around." She remained silent and still. Forsaking his nostrils, the dog walked up behind the young person. He could see now that she was trembling. Sighing heavily, he took the maiden's right hand in his. Softly, he spoke in her ear. "You can cry, Jade. Don't let your pride hold you back from your grief."
"I can't."
"Why? All you're doing is holding it in. It will eventually manifest itself, and you'll be force to release it. Please, don't hurt yourself more…"
"No," she said flatly. "You don't understand. If I cry, I'll be admitting that they died. If I let one tear fall, that means I'm really alone. I'll have to face the fact that I am the last of my family left, and they're coming for me next…"
"You are far from alone," the prince said, squeezing her hand gently. "Rin is waiting for us back home with Kaze. Sogi and Jaken are probably arguing over when we will return. Takashita… recognizes your worth to us as a whole, and she even says you are a valuable member of the party. I am here as well, and I always want to be at your side."
"I'm sorry." Sesshoumaru frowned in confusion. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I make you unhappy. I'm sorry."
"Jade?" The lord turned her around. Her eyes were unfocused and glazed, staring into an abyss he couldn't see. "Jade, look at me. You haven't done anything. You didn't do anything. Jade? Jade!"
"I'm sorry…"
(Staring down at the trembling child, Rose Carden seethed with drunken anger. A seven year old Jade gaped up with tears streaming down from her pure, brown, eyes from the floor. She was on all fours on the bed, looking behind her. Her shirt was ripped all over her back. Blood trickled down from her small, trembling lip. Every time, Rose hated looking at those eyes, so full of innocence yet so full of guilt, it made her sick. Every time, Jade took hit after hit and not once would she fight back. All she would say was sorry.
"Sorry isn't good enough! You damned freak, you think you can just sorry away your face, your fangs, your nails? Sorry doesn't cut it! Shut up! Just shut the hell up!" Jade flinched as the hair dryer cord snapped on her shoulder. Another stream of tears fell from her closed eye, but she didn't cry out.
"I'm sorry, Mommy… I'm sorry…"
"Shut up! Stop playing innocent, you monster!"
"Mom, stop! You're hurting her!" A twelve-year-old Joseph ran into the room, grabbing the cord. "Mom, stop! Can't you see she's crying? She's bleeding, Mom! Stop…"
"Shut up, Joseph! You're just like your father… You talk too much!" The drunkard glared down at her oldest.
"Mom, please," Emmanuel whimpered, standing in front of Jade, "Dad might get mad at you when he gets home. You'll hit each other again if he does, so please, just stop." Tears of fear fell down the nine-year-old's cheeks. He was brave, the real kind that stand up to their fears.
"Manny!" Rose screamed, "Move it or lose it!"
Joe-Joe yanked the dryer out her limp grasp. The mother cried out with frustration, stumbling around her room. She pushed over chairs, shoved everything off her dresser, and ripped the sheets off the bed. The oldest pulled his sister close, stroking her hair.
"I'm sorry," Jade wept, confused, frightened, and hurt.
"Everything will be alright," he whispered to her over the racket. "Everything will be alright…")
"…Jade. Everything will be alright." Jade snapped out of her memories at Sesshoumaru's voice. She gasped in shock. He was holding her head to his chest and stroking her hair the same way her brother had. Without realizing it, tears flowed uncontrollably from her gaping eyes. Clutching his jacket, she broke down, falling against him.
He almost smiled, but his heart ached for her. She'd made a valid point. She was alone. Her brothers weren't looking for her anymore. Everything she had hoped for her future was gone, shattered to pieces. He closed his eyes and pulled her closer with his tail.
"Wow, she really grew up, Bro, and I mean 'up'…"
"Are you going to ever let that go?"
"Fine, you win. It's old. That's the one though, right? The one the Master told us about?"
"Yes, that's him. The moon on his forehead is clear enough."
"And I thought Jade stood out in a crowd! Ha!"
Golden eyes opened. The dog knew he'd heard voices, but they were the only people in the room, right? He looked up, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. On top of each coffin sat a male. One put a finger to his lips. He was sitting with his legs crossed loosely on the left coffin. His shoulder length hair fell freely in a dark brown color. He was obviously mature and intelligent. His sharp brown irises locked the prince's, ceasing any outcry in his throat. He was Joseph from the picture he'd seen last night.
"Uh, Joe-Joe," the other spoke up, "you didn't tell me the girly man could see us." This young man held much more youth in him. Letting his legs dangle from the right coffin, he leaned forward, staring at the prince. His dark brown hair was spiked upward, glistening from grease. The many piercings in his ears proved he wasn't much older than Jade. Within a youthful gleam in his brown eyes, he held experience and spunk, and they somehow mixed rather well, at least for him. This was Emmanuel from the same picture.
"Yeah, Manny," the older replied, "he can hear us too." Manny cringed. "Forgive him, your majesty; he seems to have forgotten his manners in Death." A smile of sarcasm spread across his face.
"Have not! I've always been like this!"
"Dream on, Mr. I-used-to-sleep-with-a-security-blanket."
"Wait… If he can see us, then we can talk to Jade…"
"No, Manny," Joe-Joe stopped him before he could get his hopes up. "Only he can see the spirits of the Dead. Jade can't even see our Light in this form. Be grateful you were able to see everyone one last time before we go." Manny silenced, clenching his fist in a similar manner to Jade.
"We wanted to see the one the Master said would take care of our baby sister," Joe-Joe explained, addressing Sesshoumaru again. "He said you were strong and caring, and I see now that she trusts you more than anyone. Please, take care of her for us." He jumped down from the coffin lid. "The torch of her happiness is now in your hand. She's strong too, but she needs someone stronger to protect what she can't."
"Yeah," Manny added, jumping down to join his brother, "and don't ever make her cry unless she needs to, or I'll fight my way back and strangle you myself!" He shook a fist at the dog.
"Sesshoumaru," Jade gasped between tears, "I wish I could tell them… I could tell them that I won't let… let these guys kill me. I'll bash in their skulls and take back the Carden's honor! I will!" She broke into a crying scream, and a flash of Light suddenly appeared on the stage.
"She opened a portal in that form?" Joe-Joe marveled. Manny was too busy gaping in confusion to comment. With a smile, Joe-Joe said, "I always knew you'd be something special, Jade. Let's go, Manny."
"Yeah, Bro," Manny smiled up at his big brother, letting his confusion go. "Oh, Prince," he called before passing, "the Master says he's proud of you and keep walking toward the Light." With a wave, the two walked into the Light and vanished.
"They must have been pacified by our presence, like the trapped souls of that temple." Looking down at Jade, he thought about what they'd told him. "I don't need to be told to protect you. Why do people always try to state the obvious to me? But still, this Master is more involved than I thought. It's as if he knows me… personally…"
"Let's go," Jade said, wiping tears from her eyes and face.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah," she pushed him back, gently, "Samson and Mina are waiting." As they left the coffins behind them, the two walked in silence. It wasn't until midway down the aisle that Jade said in a small voice that the cathedral walls couldn't amplify. "Thanks for coming, Sesshoumaru. I'm glad you were here." He smiled.
After the crowds finished giving their condolences, the four returned to Samson's car. The drive was quiet, for about ten minutes. Samson gave Mina a look that made her drop her eyes. The backseat passengers felt their auras' awkward wavering. They had something on their minds, and based on aura alone, it wasn't a pleasant message they wanted to relay. Jade wished reading minds had been one of her powers for the first time. Samson pulled over on the side of the road.
"This probably isn't the best time," the detective said, grimly, "but I don't think we'll be alone like this again before you leave. With your mother's family here, they won't give Mina's apartment a moments rest for the next week."
"This is about the 'thing' you wanted to talk to me about, isn't it?" Jade spoke in a monotone voice. Crying as hard as she just had always taken a lot out of her, maybe because she didn't do it often. The man in the front seat nodded, turning off the engine. The car was silent for a moment as Samson gathered his words.
"There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to be frank," he stated, turning sideways in his seat. "You have to move, Jade. The Condors are hot on your trail. As fast as I found you, I'm surprised they hadn't gotten to you first. For your own safety, you need to leave Indiana."
"No." Everyone stared at her quick response. "No more moving," the seventeen year old replied. "I'm too tired to be on the move again."
"Jade," Samson said with a bit more urgency, "you can't make a decision like that without thinking. Do I need to remind you about what these people have done to your family?" Jade looked away, staring out the window.
"Go ahead. Refresh my memory, or maybe I'll save you the breathing," she spoke with extreme sarcasm. "The Condor gang has now offed three generations of the Carden family. My grandparents were the only victims of a street long drive-by shooting when I was around six. My father was brutally beaten and shot, execution style, a week after I turned twelve. My mother was pushed off her cell mate's bunk not long after that. Now at the ripe, old age of seventeen, my big brothers have been murdered in cold blood. Does that about cover it?" She turned her head back to give the man her icy gaze.
"I don't need a reminder, Mr. Tremmel. I know perfectly well what these men have done to my family because I've been forced to survive and live to suffer through it. Unfortunately, I'm the last one left, since Mina was obviously spared. They probably didn't know she was pregnant."
"So what are you going to do about it, Jade?" Samson asked her, a bit frustrated. "Please tell me you don't plan to sit and wait for them! What do you think you can do against these murderers?"
"I have my fists!"
She cut in right after him. A passionate fire burned in her brown eyes, seeing it silenced the young man before her. Sesshoumaru clued in at that moment. She was a wild spirit that would never truly submit to anyone. He felt his face grow warm in awe. Those eyes could swoon him into hysteria; he loved that passion she possessed, and he longed for the day at she would hold that passion for him.
"Yes," she continued once the rage subsided, "I'll wait for them to come to me, but they'll never know what hit them. I am Jared Carden's daughter, and I won't run from a fight; I'd rather go down fighting than hiding! There's no honor in it… only cowardice."
"Then you want to die alone?" Samson questioned.
Jade blinked at his question. Alone? She was alone now. Joe-Joe and Manny were gone. She had no allies against the Condors. Her gaze floated to her left. A pair of golden irises stared back at her. Alone? She wasn't alone. He wouldn't leave her to this by herself. A gentle smile grew upon her lips at the thought. She squeezed the dog's hand.
"I won't be alone ever again."
Samson's mind faded from the car. He recalled a conversation, not long before the brothers' death, about the female sitting in his back seat…
("What's so special about your kid sister?"
"What isn't, Sam?" Manny shrugged as if something was wrong with the guy. "She's smart for one. Dad gave us each a specialty, but Jade wanted to learn them all. Know why? She wanted to be able to fight anyone. She used to spar with Joe-Joe and me with just her fists! She beat Mona and Maria with gloves, Sam!"
"It wasn't just that," Joe-Joe added with a little less enthusiasm. "She had these natural skills that even I couldn't figure out. She was born to fight. She's naturally strong, physically and mentally. I always knew she was the strongest of our family, but she was something more than us. Something better…
"She knew when to fight and when to just stay quiet. Mom may have come out looking the victor, but Jade was all the more because of her forgiveness. That's her weak point. She has a heart for people, even if they hate her. She'd watch someone shoot her if she cared about them enough. She needs someone to protect her heart, since she doesn't know how. That's why we have to find her, Samson. She can't live alone…")
"I'll never get it." Mina looked up at the man beside her. "I give up. I'll never understand the Cardens." Straightening in his seat, Samson leaned his head against the headrest. "They aren't like anyone I've ever met or investigated. The only way I can ever come close to seeing their true natures is a lost race. Maybe it was something Joe's granddad picked up in Japan. That honor they live by is amazing and frightening at the same time. I can't put my finger on it…"
"Samurai." His eyes glanced in the rear view mirror. There he saw sparkling brown eyes hovering over an angelic smile. It left him breathless. "The Cardens are a family of warriors, possessed by spirits of samurai. They just cannot help it." Sesshoumaru smiled at the word.
Samson finally started the car again, and once again, the four were on their way back to Mina's. No one really noticed on the drive as Mina stroked her belly. Her eyes were wide. There was that feeling again. What was it? Upon reaching her apartment, the mother-to-be was a bit light headed. Not noticing the curb, she stumbled forward. A sudden grasp stopped her.
"Daijobudesuka? (Are you alright?)" She looked up to see the silver gleam against the Sun. The golden eyes held concern, yet there was the strange feeling stronger than ever. What was this man? He lacked an arm. His eyes were naturally gold. He looked young and aged at the same time, and he was unlike anything she's ever seen in her life. Samson appeared at her side to help her inside. She could tell they were all worried, but her mind was so full of questions.
"Mina? Mina? Are you okay?" Jade's face came into focus as the widow looked up at her questions. She nodded in response. "You had us worried, chica. What happened back there?"
Mina looked about. She was back in her room. The small bedroom she had shared with Joseph. The memories tried to resurface, but she knew it wouldn't bring back the man she loved. She'd cried all her tears already, so there was no point in digging up the past when she was carrying the future in her womb.
"Jade," she said calmly, looking back at the teen, "can I ask you something?"
"I'll have an answer for you, one way or another, so ask away."
"Sess, your friend," Mina looked into the other's eyes, "he's special, isn't he?"
"He's not retarded, if that's what you mean." Jade felt a grin at the dodge. It was pathetic, and she knew it.
"No, I mean, he is a special kind of person." Mina looked to her swollen belly. "Whenever he's near me, the baby starts to stir. It's like my baby is trying to reach him or something. It always felt strange to me. In the car, it was really intense." Her eyes drifted back to Jade. "He is, isn't he?"
Jade didn't know what to say. Sesshoumaru was probably known for scaring babies, not making them want to touch him! The Fearful Prince wasn't even a kid-lover; he'd even taken a while to warm up to Rin, she's heard. Perhaps it was something to do with his Light. It had been strengthened since she'd first noticed it. She sighed heavily. Mina was sharp; Joe-Joe wouldn't marry anyone else, and she wouldn't believe anything but the truth.
"I think I can trust her… She is a Carden after all." Standing from her left knee, the teenager glanced at the closed door. Mina stared at her, waiting. "There's no easy way to say this for me," Jade said, swallowing nerves, "so I just have to show you. Samson might flip a good one, so please try not to attract his attention…" The thought of Samson's logic trying to compute Star Children made her own head ache.
"I promise." With that said, Jade took off her dress jacket and shirt. Backing away from the soon-to-be mother, she knelt at the foot of the bed. Taking a deep breath, she gripped the sheets, releasing her wings.
Mina gaped at the large, white limbs. They moved! The left one was limp, but the other flexed in and outward. Jade's gasping caught her attention. She'd been so moved in awe that she'd nearly missed the teen's agonizing face. Her pain was clear as Day from Night, and Mina's motherly instincts kicked into gear. She knelt beside her sister-in-law, embracing her.
"You poor angel," Mina whispered into Jade's ear. "Joe was right. He said you were an angel, strong yet gentle at heart. These wings were a burden to you even then, weren't they?"
The young person didn't know how to react. Her left wing throbbed now from its own weight. That mixed with her feelings from the service brought her to a state of stunned confusion. Mina was a wonderful woman. Grasping the other's arm, Jade took in the affection. She had needed a female's touch to ease her suffering when this pain was released, a mother's touch. She found that she liked it. A smile broke on her face. The storm was finally breaking, and the Sun shone through the form of a petite, Puerto Rican widow.
"Mina, I'm from the stars," Jade said after the brief silence. "I used to be alone for a long time. Then, I met Sess… Sesshoumaru. He's a prince, and he's like me, only a lot stronger. He does give off a presence, and children are innocent enough to feel that. I believe that's what's happening with the baby. They don't see his intimidating appearance. They just feel his presence, and they want to be near it."
"Sounds interesting," Mina smiled down at the winged woman. "I'm sure there's much more, but I wouldn't get it, right? He seems like a wonderful person. A prince is the best way to describe him. I'm glad you found each other." Jade blinked. She'd taken it like she was tripping off grass.
"Oh, by the way," Jade added with a hint of annoyance, "please don't tell anyone about this. It's my biggest secret and greatest weapon against the Condors. So, can we keep this in this room?"
"Pinky promise!" Mina held up her smallest finger to seal the deal. Jade grinned, linking fingers.
It was mid afternoon when Jade and Mina rejoined the family. Again, the girls were harassing the dog as he tried to avoid them to no avail. Jade shooed them away in time to see the video playing in the living room. It was a tape of her mother, Rose Carden, dancing in a bar.
Sesshoumaru made the leap of recognition instantly. The flow of movement was the same as Jade had been on the beach around the fire. Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by an older woman, yelling something at Jade. The teen went into her numb face again. Voices roared, people shook fists, and auras flared. He couldn't take the noise anymore. Grabbing Jade's hand, they escaped quickly through the front door.
"Humans are exceedingly annoying," he growled slightly. "What were they going on about this time?" Jade's head hung in shame. It must have been another comment on her mother. "Jade," he said in a quiet voice, "you shouldn't worry over…"
"She told me to dance!" There was a silence. The dog was obviously confused. "She said any daughter of Rose should be able to dance just as well as Rose. She told me to dance…"
"What are you so upset over then?" Sesshoumaru asked her.
"I'm not my mother!" She shot him a tearful glare. "I'm not the graceful woman she was once. I'm tall, strong, and boyish. I fight with combat boots. I don't dance barefoot!"
"Then take off your shoes…"
"What?"
"Take off your shoes and dance, Jade." Golden eyes locked her line of sight. Reaching behind her head, the prince pulled her hair out of the tight bun, releasing her long, dark locks. She gaped up at him. "Dance with the wind. I didn't know your mother, but I'm sure she danced for herself, not for others. Dance for yourself; it's like fighting, only artistically attractive."
He took her hand in his and made her twirl about. The neighbors began to play their drums again. With Sesshoumaru's movement and the steady rhythm, Jade began to feel her feet itching to move. The dress suit and shoes were light compared to her normal attire. The swishing sound of her hair was hypnotic to her ears. As Sesshoumaru released her hand, she spun off like a top! Her slip on shoes didn't last long against her spinning. Kicking upward, one shoe flew away, and the other was lost to a roundhouse kick. Barefoot, she was free and lost to the world.
Sesshoumaru watched her leap and spin; her hair flowing about her like ribbons. She was smiling. Her eyes were alive. She was the Jade he knew, a Jade this world rarely saw. His attention shifted at the sound of gasps. They had left the door open, so people were walking out to watch. Not just the family, the neighbors had begun to watch. They were staring in awe.
"That's right," the lord smirked at them. "This is my Jade, the one you rejected, and you can't have her." Finally, the drums ceased, and Jade jumped backward, soaring gracefully. Eyes gaped. Time seemed to slow. If anyone had noticed, her eyes began to gleam. Landing on her feet, like a cat, she stood and looked back at him. She held the look in her eyes she had at the bonfire. She was rejuvenated. Not a care weighed upon her heart. Her confidence glowed radiantly. She looked absolutely beautiful.
"Rose…" An older woman gasped. The prince turned to look at her. Tears fell from her aged, brown eyes. "My Rose…" She walked up to the young woman, arms wide open. The two embraced. "I see my beautiful Rose in you. You are my granddaughter!"
Mina raised her hands; that beautiful smile spread across her lips. She began to clap. Jason followed suit, nudging Samson from his shock. Sesshoumaru glance about as applause rose from the family and neighbors. Jade looked up, gaping in surprise.
"They approve." She stared at the lord before her. He stood looking at her with soft eyes. If he had a left hand, he would have been clapping as well. "When you act for yourself and your desires, you show a strong person that no one can ignore. You may be taller than your mother was, but that doesn't make you any less of the woman she was. That is being true to yourself, and that is where true strength lies." He smirked, "Or so my father once told me."
"Why did I ever think differently? My father told me that every day." Gazing into his golden eyes, she smiled. "I'll always fight for Rin… and you."
That night, the teen plopped down on the couch. Her eyes closed. A sigh escaped her mouth. Just to check, Sesshoumaru leaned on his elbow to see her present state. She was fast asleep with a smile on her face. The dog grinned, rolling over to invite sleep as well.
The next day went on without any issue. The family was exceedingly kind to Jade and Sesshoumaru. Gossip spread about Japanese blood entering the family line, but Jade wouldn't tell Sesshoumaru a word of it from embarrassment. Jason took them to the mechanic shop, where Joe-Joe had worked and Manny enjoyed hanging around. They ate lunch at Manny's favorite restaurant, which was the only thing he would tame his spiked hair for. They visited the place where Joe-Joe had proposed, which made Mina and Jade grin with happiness. By the end of the day, Jade felt sorry to have to get on the plane.
"Thank you for everything, Mina." Jade hugged her sister-in-law tightly.
"That's what sisters are for," Mina replied. Releasing each other, they both smiled.
"I hope you have a girl."
"Why, Jade?" Mina blinked in confusion.
"The Carden family is dead," Jade answered, much to Samson's surprise. "It's time to start anew." She paused briefly, "After all of this is over, I promise to come see you and the baby. I trust Samson to take care of you, and Jason probably will too."
"Well," Mina smiled, slipping into Spanish, "I look forward to your next visit, and may your first be a boy!" The bright smile spread from ear to ear. Jade crocked an eyebrow. What had that meant?
The two males shook hands; their only form of communication that weekend. Mina glanced at them, bringing this to Jade's attention. It wasn't the gesture they were looking at. The noble-looking dog was what the widow had wanted to point out.
"Start anew yourself," Mina replied in Spanish. "I hope you can begin a new family with your prince." She winked, making Jade grin at the dream.
"We'll see, Mina," the teen said in English. "We'll see."
Once again, the teen and dog sat in a noisy cabin with crying babies, pest-like children, and flirtatious men. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep. This was a remedy learned from their last flight. Jade smiled as a little girl stared at him from across the row. She must have noticed Jade looking at her, and a blush flushed upon her pale face.
"He's special," the child said, looking at the teen, "isn't he?"
"He's Japanese," Jade replied, nodding her head. The little girl smiled at the information. She turned to the woman beside her, calling her 'Mommy', to tell her the breaking news.
As the plane began to taxi to the air strip, the young woman stared out the window beside her. She reflected on Samson's statement on the Condors. It was hard to believe he'd been the friend of a Carden and expected her to run.
"No," Jade thought, "I'll wait for them. When they find me, I'll crush them. They won't know what hit them. I'll destroy them for what they've done!" Her eyes trailed to her left. Sesshoumaru was sleeping well. He deserved peace on this flight. It dawned on her that she had promised to stay with Rin and him. Was she really willing to sacrifice her life for this revenge?
"Can I give up my life for my family's honor?" The plane picked up speed, preparing to take off. Her left hand grabbed his limp, right one. It wasn't the fear of leaving the ground this time around. As his head turned toward her, she picked up his hand in both of her own. The plane took to the skies as she brought it to her cheek. Nestling the back of his hand, she thought, "Have I already given you my life, Sesshoumaru of Light…?"
This chapter is dedicated in loving memory of Lydia Anne Linaweaver (1931-2005) and Molly (1993-2007). To the best grandmother in the world and the best of man's best friends, may you both rest on peace…
Author's Notes: Well, there we have it. Ch38 is here. Sorry this took so long, guys. A lot happened this past month: Thanksgiving was the first anniversary of my friend's death and my favorite dog died. It was long too, so that didn't help either. I actually had to cut a lot out of this installment. I put in most of the important stuff though. I want you all to know that I sat down for five hours straight and typed this! That's love! Hope this chapter fills the bill for my absence and the last chapter's rush. Thank you my faithful few who have stuck through with me since I started college and had to put my writing on the back burner. I'll be working on Ch39 over the Winter Break, so look forward to it guys. This next one's full of my wicked twists! See you then!
Rin: (swallows a lump in her throat) Father… you know that type of speech. No conjunctions… Fancy vocabulary…
Sess: (stares down at the puppy) Yes, that and her present condition points to our angel…
Rin: (blinks at the dog) Does that mean…? Father?
Sess: (pulls the puppy girl close to him) You're so close, Jade. So close to us, and yet, so far from my grasp…