The fabric of your flesh, pure as a wedding dress
Until I wrap myself inside your arms I cannot rest
-Howl, Florence + The Machine
Three months had seemed close enough, even favorable, giving Baam ample time to assimilate, to prepare. Now he was simply impatient. He didn't much care anymore how he was going to explain, how Lero-Ro would receive the news, or that it was too late, as he had first feared.
It had boiled down to something far less complicated – Rak would be pleased – but far more invasive. It had grown like roots underneath his skin: the desire to see Lero-Ro again and to continue what they started. The days dragged, the hours lingered. His friends gave him space, and really, there wasn't much more to discuss about it. They could only wait and see.
It was close: There were now a definite plan to meet, at a nearby city outside the Regular's Area. Hwaryun, to Baam's surprise, had declined this trip. He wasn't sure if she truly had other business, as she claimed, or if she only wanted to avoid Khun's questions, but she had left early this morning.
Baam was returning home from a walk alone that afternoon – anything to pass the time, he could barely focus – only to find a completely unexpected chaos.
"Don't be like that A.A.!" pleaded Shibisu, in deep conversation with Khun and Rak, who in a rare showing of unity, were both displeased. Still, Shibisu continued: "Are we, or aren't we best pals? Friends forever? What is up with this reception? We travelled a long way to say hi to you, you know…. because we're friends! Sometimes I wonder why I even bother, but I am a nice guy, and I was taught to be kind to miserable people like you."
This wasn't just a phone call; Shibisu and his team were standing in their living room: Shibisu sporting one of his signature track suits, Hatz solemn in his robes, Endorsi glamorous even in a casual shirt and skirt, and Anaak, in her traditional yellow that acted as both a message and warning to those her saw her, here comes danger. As shocking as it was to admit – even only to himself – under these circumstances Baam was not pleased to see them either. All the same, he plowed ahead.
"Hello, everyone. What brings you here?"
"Baam! Thank God! See, Baam knows how it's done, and really, was that so hard, just to say hello to us." Shibisu said, making a point to look at Khun and Rak with a hopeless look on his face, before returning his attention to Baam. "Hey, buddy, long time no see! I am doing great, just fantastic, or at least I was, until Khun and Rak saw me and acted like I was a cockroach. How are you doing?"
"You didn't tell them we were coming, did you? You told me they agreed to us coming." said Hatz.
Baam made his way into the room and stood next to Khun, who tilted his head up to the ceiling in frustration and callously remarked, "Bravo to the Swordsman, who finally managed to deduce something on his own."
Hatz gripped the hilt of his sword. "Though I have not prepared myself for battle, I assure you I have no issue with the two of us stepping out and finishing this once and for all. You do not have the combat skills to be a true challenge, but my honor will be satisfied, secure in the knowledge that I have rid the world of you. I'll even take your garish earring as a token of my victory."
"Oh spare me. Who cares if they didn't know we were coming? Let these two kill each other; the rest of us can have a good time." declared Endorsi.
"We just got here, you guys. We just got here! Do you really have to do this?" cried Shibisu. "Yes, I may have taken the liberty of inviting me and my team here without asking you, but, like Endorsi said, I knew we'd have a good time, and look, we aren't going to stay long, alright? Just a few days. Just a few days! To catch up, share a few stories, have a few laughs. Come on, what do you say?"
"We need to talk about it," replied Khun curtly, taking hold of Rak and Baam's shoulders and steering them away, turning back to add, in a mockingly polite tone, "If you'll excuse us." They left Shibisu and his team in their quarters and walked outside. After a respectable distance, Khun brought out his lighthouse.
"You can never be too sure, and I don't want to be overheard." Khun said after they were safely within its borders. "I'm sorry about this, Baam. I really had no idea they were coming. Hwaryun must have known about this, she just left, but why did she not say anything…?"
"Do you want me to send them away? I would have no problems doing so. In fact, I would enjoy it. On the other hand, Shibisu isn't a dumb as he looks. We're leaving tonight. If I send him away, he might follow us out of spite.
"This could possibly help you, Baam. Mr. Ro said Quant was coming along, but they might have other people in their party too. You know, it would be just like my irritating older brother to show up, and he seemed to be their supervisor in The Wing Tree. Now I'm sure of it, he is going to show up, with some purposefully bad excuse, just to see the look on my face. That bastard.
"But, think about it: the sheer number of people would provide an opportunity to speak to Mr. Ro alone without it being obvious that is what you want to do. A small group tends to stay together, large groups breaks up into smaller groups. What if Hwaryun didn't tell me about them coming, because she knew Rak and I would veto it, because she thought it was beneficial for them to come?"
"That is irritatingly complicated." said Rak, with a shake of his massive head. "And I don't like the idea of two blue turtles around. I am against it, Blue Turtle is for it. Where do you stand, Black Turtle?"
Baam sighed. This wasn't what he was expecting, but sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight. And now that the initial surprise was wearing off, he realized it had been awhile since they'd all seen each other. It would be quite a reunion. "I hope I don't regret this, but I agree with Khun. Let's invite them."
"How do you want to explain?" asked Khun.
"Tell them Mr. Ro was in the area and contacted me. That's what he said he would tell anyone, if asked."
"Okay. We know at least one person who will be happy about this." sighed Khun, as he took down the lighthouse and they walked back inside. Shibisu and Endorsi had made themselves comfortable in their absence, while Hatz and Anaak looked ready to leave at a moment's notice.
"Alright, you can come with us." Khun declared.
"Woohoo!" cried Shibisu in relief, then his expression fell. "Wait, come with? Where are you going?" asked Shibisu.
"To meet up with some people." Khun answered briefly.
"But we came to hang out with you guys!" Shibisu said in disappointment.
"Yeah, what people, Khun?" questioned Endorsi.
"My God, this is awesome. Just like old times. And look at this place! I mean, just look at this place. Party city, am I right?" chattered Shibisu excitedly as his and Baam's teams stood together outside the airport. Shibisu's reaction was not without merit, they had gotten a good look from the air: a port city with skyscrapers, amusement parks, stadiums, casinos all amidst dazzling lights. A rambunctious, anything goes kind of town. Even standing at the pick up area one could sense the electric charge of this place.
Baam wasn't sure who was coming to pick them up, and he held his breath as a car pulled up in front of them. He noticed Khun shift an infinitesimally small distance closer to him in a silent show of support, but as it turned out, Khun was the one in need of support, not him.
"Ah, it's my adorable little brother and his cute little friends! So good to see you again!" called Hachuling, after he rolled the window down.
Khun gripped the bridge of his nose and started muttering, mostly for his own benefit. "I knew it. I knew it."
"What's that, little brother? You're so happy to see me? I'm touched, I really am. Well, what are you waiting for? Hop on in."
"What are you doing here?" Khun asked.
"Picking you up, obviously."
"I mean, why you? Why isn't Mr. Ro here? Hell, I'd have even preferred Quant over you."
"Why do you have to make everything so difficult, Khun?" replied Endorsi, moving to open the passenger door. "He's helped us out before. What's the big deal?"
"Ah, he's just mad this guy outsmarted him once." answered Shibisi glibly, following her in, earning a glare from Khun.
"You should really let that go, little brother." said Hachuling with amusement in his eyes. "The past is the past; I am here now, graciously retrieving you from the airport, and this is the thanks I get? Don't you see? When Lero-Ro informed me a couple days ago you were in the area, I knew it was a sign! There are no coincidences. The fates want us to spend time together."
"Fine, fine. We're getting in, but I sincerely doubt you believe in fate."
"I could surprise you, if you only would take the chance to get to know me." replied Hachuling, with a mysterious smile. "Lero-Ro was kind enough to cook for you brats, so we'll head over to his place. I actually haven't seen them since we got here. Probably for the best – if we three had to spend another day cooped up, I'd have have killed Quant. So you see, your visit is really quite fortuitous."
The ride through the city was a blur. As was the walk through the underground parking lot. Only when the elevator doors closed and the lift started to rise did things come back into focus.
"I'm on the 33rd floor myself. That's my lucky number. See little brother, you're already learning so much about me!"
"Astonishing." was Khun's bland reply.
"I hope the Testing Mister roasted a pig for us. His pig roast is better than yours, Track Suit." Anaak said flatly to Shibisu.
"How many times do I have to say this? If you're not going to call me by my name, can't you call me 'Oh Great and Wise Leader?' And not sarcastically either. Really mean it… But you're totally right, Mr. Ro's pig roast was really good."
"Fish is better. This is a port! He must have cooked us fish!" called Rak.
Their ragtag group shuffled out of the elevator into a raucously colored hallway, and followed Hachuling until he stopped and knocked on one of the doors, only to have it opened immediately by Quant. "Yo, kids. How's it going? Ro heard you coming."
"Teacher!" Shibisu yelled happily.
"Hey Quant, lose all your money gambling yet?" asked Hachuling.
"Ha, ha. Real funny, jackass."
"Teacher, can we go out to the casino together later?"
"Sure, beats hanging out with this guy."
"Awesome!"
"Hello, Regulars! How are you?"
And there he was. Same dandelion colored hair. Same rake thin build. A little taller, with the twin face markings restored, wearing an apron covered in flour. And time stood still.