Authors Note:
Hey friends! At last it's finally time to launch book 2 of Inu-Tarzan! I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as well as the rest of the second half of Inu-Tarzan! Please leave a review in the comment section if you have time. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new development!
-s-
Inu-Tarzan - Second Chance: The Missing Link
"Kagome child are you certain this is a good idea?" Professor Porter asked as they were escorted through the grand estate.
"Nope." Kagome answered honestly as she looked at the elaborate marble statue of a nearly naked male holding a javelin in the center of the grand entryway.
Everywhere they looked expensive furnishings, paintings, marble busts and gold embellishments decorated the mansion. It made them feel very insignificant and very, very underdressed. Having met Mr. D'Arnot in his expensive suit and being picked up in her luxury carriage they'd known he'd come from money. However, they would have never imagined he was the head of affairs for the Greystone estate itself and lived in such luxury every day.
"Why are we here again?" her grandpa whispered as they followed after the butler through another grand hallway towards the back gardens.
"If Inu-Tarzan's family was aboard that same ship Mr. Arnot might know who his extended family is." Kagome said as they walked onto a grand patio.
"All I'm saying is to be careful. We don't know who we are dealing with and you need to consider your daughter's safety in all of this." Professor Porter cautioned.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Kagome agreed just as the butler motioned for them to stop.
"Mr. D'Arnot, Lady Alice, your guests have arrived." The butler announced causing Mr. D'Arnot and the lady adorned in an extravagant purple satin dress and pearls to turn around and face them.
"AH! Thank you Rutherfurd. You may be excused." Mr. D'Arnot said as he motioned for them to come closer. "Do come join us. We just sat down for our afternoon tea."
"Thank you, you are too kind." Professor Porter and Kagome bowed politely as they took in the elderly lady before them sipping her tea.
She looked to be 90 years in age and was well poised in manners. Her snow white hair was pinned elegantly atop her head with pins and a feather broach tucked behind her ear. Her lips were painted a dark red and her face was lightly powdered. It was obvious by the expensive jewels that adorned her neck, ears and fingers that she was of noble rank.
"My Lady, may I introduce to you Professor Archimedes Q. Porter and his granddaughter Doctor Kagome Lee Ann Porter." Mr. D'Arnot said as they all sat down at the round patio table.
"Pleasure, I'm sure." Lady Alice hummed as she took in her humbly dressed guests with a quizzical gaze. "I see you've brought the jewel with you girl. Do you mind if I take a closer look?"
"Not at all! Take all the time you need." Kagome smiled as she unhooked the necklace from around her neck.
"It does look very similar to the lost jewel." Lady Alice agreed as she studied the pink stone in her wrinkled hand with an intense gaze. "It feels about the right weight as well. If you don't mind, could you please tell me how you acquired this my dear?"
"Of course Lady Alice." Kagome nodded as she graciously accepted her cup of tea from Mr. D'Arnot. "My grandpa and I traveled to the Congo nearly three years ago for a research expedition. While we were there I met my husband Inu-Tarzan."
"Inu-Tarzan?" Lady Alice asked with a quirked brow.
"Yes, he was born to the jungle." Professor Porter explained. "The Congo is relatively closed off to the world. We had no idea man even existed there until he found us. Having never met outsiders before we had to teach him our native tongue to communicate. Thankfully he picked it up relatively quickly and was able to introduce us to many new medicines and animals to study."
"Interesting." Mr. D'Arnot said as he rubbed his chin in thought. "What was his people like?."
"He was the only human there." Kagome said, making Mr. D'Arnot and Lady Alice look at her in confusion. "Once he learned to speak with us we learned he'd been raised by local wild dogs."
"Extraordinary." Lady Alice said as she watched Kagome open her bag to pull out a scrap of parchment.
"This is what my husband looked like." Kagome said as she unraveled a drawing of her mate without his beastly features.
"Impossible!" Mr. D'Arnot gasped as he and Lady Alice stared in shock at the drawing. "Surely he couldn't be?"
"Tell me girl, you say he was the only human there? Did he tell you how his family came to be there in the first place?" Lady Alice asked as her grip on the jewel tightened.
"He told me he'd never met his family. They were killed by panthers long before he was born." Kagome said, causing Lady Alice to cover her mouth with her palm as tears brimmed in her old eyes. "He did however take me to his family home. They'd built it high up in the treetops and he told me that his mother's name had been Izayoi."
"I-Izayoi?!" Mr. D'Arnot stammered as Lady Alice grabbed his arm for support.
"Yes, do you know this name?" Professor Porter asked.
"Yes, but before I answer that please continue on with your story." Mr. D'Arnot said.
"It was there in his tree house he gave me this as a wedding gift." Kagome smiled with misty eyes.
"I don't mean to pry but… how did your husband meet his end?" Lady Alice asked as she looked at Kagome desperately.
"We were married only for a few short weeks before he died." Kagome lied. She was growing nervous with how excited Mr. D'Arnot and Lady Alice were becoming. "We were ambushed by a rival clan of dogs. He did not survive his injuries."
"How tragic." Mr. D'Arnot frowned as he and Lady Alice sat back in their chairs in deep thought.
"Come, I wish to show you something." Lady Alice said as she slowly stood up from her seat with the assistance of Mr. D'Arnot. After grabbing her cane and using if for support she slowly led them back into the estate. As they followed her towards the study she motioned for them to take a seat in some chairs by the large fireplace. Once they were comfortable she stiffly walked over to a shelf in the corner and picked up a tiny black and white picture frame. "This here is the previous Earl and Lady Greystoke."
"Who's the child?" Professor Porter asked as they looked down at the tiny babe dressed in a white frilly dress.
"That... is Izayoi." Lady Alice said, making them gasp and clutch the photo a little tighter.
"This… this is Inu-Tarzan's… mother?" Kagome gasped as she looked over the familiar facial features the three figures had towards her husband. "but that would mean…"
"Yes, girl." Lady Alice said as she joined them on the couch. "I believe Inu-Tarzan was my great grandson. My son was Izayoi's father."
"Wow…" Kagome whispered as she stared down at the image in shock. "Then the jewel… it truly does belong to you."
"No, girl." Lady Alice smiled as she hooked the necklace back around Kagome's slender neck. "This jewel has been passed down for many generations from mother to daughter. I gave it to my son who then gave it to his wife Jane. Jane never took it off and I can only assume she gave it to Izayoi before she died or Izayoi found it later on. It is only right that my great grandson then passed it onto you. It is a shame the tradition will have to end seeing how you did not have time to give him children. I am the last of the Greystokes meaning the line has failed with his death."
"You truly wish for me to keep this?" Kagome asked as she nibbled on her lower lip.
She hated not telling the woman of her daughter Izayoi but she couldn't risk the old woman wanting to pass on her regal responsibilities onto her quarter-dog daughter. For little Izayoi's safety she needed to hold her tongue. If word got out of her being alive they'd be ruined.
"Absolutely." Lady Alice smiled as she patted Kagome on the cheek. "Now, enough about that. Tell me girl, what was it like being in the Congo? I had Mr. D'Arnot pick up one of your books. It sounded extraordinary."
"It was." Kagome smiled fondly. "I'd do anything to go back."
"What's holding you back child?" Mr. D'Arnot asked curiously.
"Our last endeavor took us nearly a decade to finalize. Had I not been sponsored by the university and various other financial partners we might have never gone in the first place." Professor Porter explained.
"I see." Mr. D'Arnot hummed in thought. "If you returned to the Congo what would you study?"
"Herbal and medicinal remedies." Kagome said. "Inu-Tarzan only showed us a brief glimpse of the medical properties there. If I could go back I'd expand the medical field in this area by testing and combining different plants, herbs and minerals together. From that we could better understand how they function and then apply them into medicines, vitamins and vaccines. While we were there we uncovered the cause for malaria and how to properly treat it. Just imagine what else we can uncover if we had the time and resources to do it."
"Sounds like a noble cause to me." Mr. D'Arnot said as he looked down at Lady Alice.
"Yes… a noble cause indeed." Lady Alice hummed in thought just as Rutherford walked into the study.
"I'm sorry to intrude my Lady but Lord Clayton's carriage has just arrived." Rutherford said as he bowed at the door.
"Thank you Rutherford. Please escort him to the blue parlor. I'll meet with him shortly." Lady Alice said as she stiffly stood up in her seat.
"Yes, my Lady." Rutherford said before leaving the room.
"I'm afraid our meeting will have to be cut short. It was lovely chatting and I enjoyed learning of my great grandson." Lady Alice apologized as they followed her towards the main entrance.
"It was a pleasure meeting you Lady Alice. I wish my husband could have delivered the message himself. Would you like to keep that drawing? I have many more at home." Kagome said, making Lady Alice smile.
"Yes, thank you." Lady Alice smiled making her wrinkled eyes shimmer. It touched her that this stranger would grant her with such a gift.
"Enjoy your day Professor and Doctor Porter. We'll be in touch again soon." Mr. D'Arnot said as he began to escort Lady Alice down the hallway.
"I look forward to it." Kagome said as they watched them leave.
"Well that was unexpected." Professor Porter said as he blew a puff of air from his chest.
"So my mate's last name was Greystoke." Kagome said as Rutherford opened the carriage door for them. "I never would have thought he'd have come from such lineage."
"It's a good thing he didn't come back with us." Professor Porter said just as the carriage lurched forward and began to slowly roll down the road. "He would have never survived in a world like that."
"Agreed." Kagome nodded as she looked out the tiny carriage window. "As wonderful as it would be to live in a home like that, we could have never been happy. Inu-Tarzan would have been miserable being stuck inside on top of trying to cope with the stressful responsibilities of being an Earl. He'd never be respected by the other lords and ladies of the court with his wild background. The lifestyle is an entirely different jungle. The political games and rules of society would suffocate him. He'd struggle to adapt to everyday life and end up going mad."
"Hm." Professor Porter nodded as rain began to pour outside the carriage. "Your daughter's identity needs to be protected more than ever."
"Why does it have to be this complicated?" Kagome sighed as the carriage turned down another lane. "Why did Mr. Hojo have to ruin everything?"
"Fate is a funny thing child." Professor Porter sighed as the rain continued to pour outside. "Only the gods know why things happen the way they do. All we can do is follow their guidance and pray they will show mercy upon us."
"Sounds like I've got a lot of praying to do then." Kagome groaned making her grandpa chuckle.
"I do not think it was a coincidence that brought you and Mr. D'Arnot together. I think it was fate drawing you to meet Lady Alice. Who knows what will come of this new development." Professor Porter said as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of their home. "Miracles happen everyday. Perhaps there is a chance she could link you back to InuTarzan?"
"Let's hope so grandpa." Kagome smiled just as Rutherford jumped down from his perch and opened the door for them to exit. "Thank you Rutherford for driving us home."
"It was a pleasure madam." Rutherford said as he climbed up on his perch. "Have a good day."
After waving him goodbye Kagome followed her grandpa into the house and began peeling off their wet cloaks and shoes.
"Mama! We're home!" Kagome shouted as she rang her hair of water.
"Go ahead and sit down at the table." Amelia called from the kitchen. "Supper's almost finished."
"Wonderful!" Professor Porter exclaimed as he took his spot at the head of the table. "I'm starved!"
"Grandpa. We just finished tea with Lady Alice and Mr. D'Arnot not two hours ago!" Kagome giggled as she picked up her daughter off of the floor. After giving her a big kiss on the cheek she put baby Izayoi in her high chair to eat.
"I wouldn't call light horderves and tea sufficient nourishment." Professor Porter grumped as Kagome's mother and her little brother Sota came to sit at the table. "Besides, with the amount of money that woman has and not having an heir to give it too you'd think she'd purchase bigger sandwiches."
"Father! Don't be so rude." Amelia gapped in shock making Sota and Kagome laugh.
"Don't tease him too hard mama." Kagome giggled as her grandpa grumbled to himself before taking a big bite of his dinner. "We did have quite the afternoon."
"What happened?" Sota asked as he tucked in his napkin into his shirt so not to get food on it.
"We found out that Inu-Tarzan is the heir to the Greystoke estate." Kagome said, causing Kagome's mother to drop her spoon.
"Wh-what?" Amelia gaped as Sota's eyes bulged.
"You mean Izayoi's rich? Cool!" Sota exclaimed causing everyone to cover his mouth to shut him up.
"Shhh…. damn it Sota!" Kagome hissed. "You want to blow her cover?"
"But she's related to royalty! Wouldn't her family protect her?" Sota asked, not understanding why Izayoi's identity needed to remain a secret.
"If they found out who she was, she might be taken away from us." Kagome said as she dipped her spoon into the mush of mashed peas to feed her daughter. "No one can ever learn of her heritage. Is that understood?"
"Yeah… I guess." Sota sighed in defeat.
"We must keep your niece safe." Professor Porter demanded as he stared his grandson down. "Her life depends on it. Promise me you'll never speak of this again to anyone."
"I promise grandpa." Sota said. "It's just that Izayoi being a Greystoke changes everything! If she became their heir we wouldn't struggle paying bills anymore."
"We are not selling her out for money Sota." Amelia scolded as she watched Kagome feed the mashed peas to her granddaughter. "We don't need their money to make us happy. We make due just fine."
"Nom, nom, nom." Izayoi raddled on as she rubbed some of the mashed peas into her grey hair.
"Oh my..." Amelia giggled as Izayoi slopped the peas all over her highchair tray. "What a mess you've made little one."
"Looks like it's bath time." Kagome sighed as she picked up her messy baby girl. "Night everyone."
"Night darling." Amelia said as her father and son watched Kagome go up the stairs.
After bathing Izayoi and rocking her to sleep in her arms Kagome tucked her baby girl into her crib for the night. Tired but not ready to sleep she pulled back the covers on her bed and turned to stare up at the ceiling. As she clutched the pink stone around her neck she couldn't help but wonder if she was making the right choice. Lady Alice looked so lost knowing her family line had come to an end. Had she hoped with the return of the stone that her long lost family might still be alive? She wasn't sure what Mr. D'Arnot was thinking by inviting them to come to the Greystoke estate. Regardless of his intentions, Lady Alice learned of what had happened to her lost loved ones and her and Inu-Tarzan's love story. That would have to be enough.
Although she lied about Inu-Tarzan's whereabouts, Kagome could tell knowing he'd lived and had fallen in love seemed to be enough for the old woman. Mr. D'Arnot mentioned that he'd be in touch with them again soon. It made her wonder what else the odd couple would want from them. She'd told them everything they needed to know, excluding her daughter's existence and the fact that Inu-Tarzan was still alive. It made her nervous for their next meeting. Knowing there was nothing she could do about that now she forced herself to close her eyes and drift off to sleep. Here she could lose herself in the comforting embrace of her mate's steady heart beat and dream of them swinging through the treetops.
[End of Chapter 1]
Author's Note:
In the Tarzan of the Apes book by: Edgar Rice Burroughs (don't claim rights), Tarzan's parents were named John and Alice Clayton. He was the Earl and Count of Greystoke. Alice's maiden name was Rutherford making her full name Alice Rutherford Clayton. In the story Jane returns to america to get married to William Clayton (Tarzan's cousin). While Tarzan is traveling to the Americas to stop the wedding Tarzan meets french naval officer Paul D'Arnot.
With all that being said, I wanted to carry on the Tarzan story and include bits and pieces of the original plot with the other Tarzan themes. That includes twisting these names into new characters. For example Alice Clayton (Tarzan's mother in the book) is now Alice Greystoke (his great grandmother.) Paul D'Arnot is not the officer but Alice Greystoke's lawyer and manager of the estate. I used the name Jane for Izayoi's mother and have kept Lord William Clayton as Inu-Tarzan's cousin.
I hope this helps to pull the stories together.
-TG1