Hi All,

The first new chapter of 2022

I hope everyone's January has been peaceful and stress-free.

For now though, please enjoy and as always, feedback is appreciated but not expected.

xx

Chapter 9

Stanley sighed as he sat behind her desk. He'd had a full and long few days trying to quell some of the media storm surrounding his team. He had been managing the media fairly well, following the first report on Kai and Ray. However since they'd caught wind of Hilary's return, it had gained speed. Every attempt he'd made to control the growing storm, a new source had come forward with something to add to the story such as reporting she'd moved back to the dojo, she was re-joining the team,, her interest with Kai in the past and that she was currently reconnecting with the team successfully.

All in all, it was a fiasco and everyday there was another issue from Hilary's sudden return to address. He heard the door open and looked up to see Liana walk in, quietly shutting the door behind her with a small smile.

"You look like you've had a rough day and it's not even lunchtime," she stated.

"You could say that," Stanley sighed, "But your visit will certainly help lift me up for the rest of the day."

"Well I had hoped it might help," she quipped as she walked over and wrapped her arms around him from behind, "Is there anything I can do to help with the chaos?"

"Not at the moment dear," he smiled, "But I'll let you know if I do. How's your week been?"

"Oh I sorted things with Alyssa so she's been on eggshells around me since and I can't get more than a couple of hours of sleep," she answered, "But otherwise it was good."

"Are the techniques not working anymore?"

"They are. It's the dreams that are waking me up," she advised.

Before he could question her about the dreams, they heard a knock on the door. She let go of him and stood up straight, putting on her professional act as she usually did when they were with others.

"Come in," he called out.

He expected it to be an employee or his secretary, but he was pleasantly surprised to see a smiling Ryuu step into his office. It wasn't often Ryuu came to his office to visit without calling first or arranging a visit.

"Is now a bad time?" Ryuu asked with a smile.

"No, he needs to take a break anyway," Liana answered with a smile dropping the act.

"Since when do you speak for me?" Stanley asked amused.

"What? You do need a break," she stated, "And you're more amused than annoyed so you can't tell me off. Should I make tea?"

"Yes please dear," Stanley chuckled, "Take a seat Ryuu."

"New secretary?" Ryuu asked as both the men moved to sit on the sofa whilst Liana got a pot of tea ready for them.

"No, she's my grand-daughter & my right hand woman," Stanley answered.

"Really?" Ryuu asked dramatically, "Miss, you wouldn't by chance be interested in meeting my grandson would you?"

"I've already met your grandson Mr Granger," she giggled, "Though I'll give you points for trying."

"You can't blame an old man for trying to get his grandson to settle down with a woman who will keep him in line," Ryuu joked, "What's your name dear?"

"Liana," she answered as she set their tea down on the coffee table, "Kai mentioned you wanted to meet my cousin and I. We've been a little too busy to visit but it's nice to meet you at last."

"The pleasure is all mine dear. Those boys conveniently forgot to mention how beautiful you are," Ryuu said.

"Probably because I'm quite opinionated about certain things and a bit of a meddler," Liana joked.

"A bit? You single-handedly faced a mob just to get their faces caught on camera to create a list of people banned from the group's club for the team to have privacy," Stanley informed, "You my dear are a world class meddler."

"Well I did learn from the best," she quipped, "I'll leave you both to enjoy your visit. Call me if you need me."

"I will dear. Say hi to Alyssa for me."

She bent down and kissed his cheek before leaving the office quietly & shutting the door behind herself. Ryuu just chuckled.

"She's a character," Ryuu commented.

"She certainly is," Stanley agreed.

"I can see why the boys are so taken with her. Kai especially."

"Personally it's nice to see my girls letting people get close to them again," Stanley commented, "But enough about that, you usually arrange a visit or call ahead so I assume there's a reason for your visit other than a friendly catch up."

"Unfortunately yes," Ryuu sighed, "I'm guessing you've had more work to do since Hilary showed up."

"More than I thought I would if I'm honest. I'm afraid the boys will be the main news subject for quite a while which means I'm going to add interviews to the tour I planned to send them on," Stanley advised with a sigh, "How has it been having her back?"

"Difficult. They got used to life without her and have their way of doing things. She's acting like they can pick up where they left off before that tour," Ryuu stated, "Not to mention she's dodging answering their questions about her last 2 years & putting on a show of interest in their lives. Poor Kai is getting most of her focus though so he doesn't stay long now."

"Then he probably caught onto her from the moment she arrived & has been keeping an eye on her, knowing him."

"It seems that way but in the night, she's sneaking out and if she gets a call, she makes sure we can't listen in. That girl is up to something & using our boys in the process."

"Question is, what's her main goal?"

Kai sighed as he walked into the lobby. He was exhausted and was aiming to get some sleep before heading to the club for the night. When Liana had told him he had a few long days ahead of him, he thought she had been joking. Now he was wondering if she had told him that from her own experience if she had somehow known what was coming his way.

Despite the information getting to the news, the reunion wasn't going well at all. Hilary had stuck to him like glue whenever he was at the dojo. She suggested going on walks, going out for dinner, going back to his place, going away for the weekend. But it was only for the 2 of them of them so they could 'catch up privately'. He made it obvious he wasn't interested, however she kept on trying. She'd been fairly discreet about it around the others but she was starting to change her tactics.

Anytime he moved away from the group, whether to use the bathroom or make some drinks, she followed him and tried to get close to him. Stroking his arm, a hand on his back, trying to hold his hand. She was subtly trying to seduce him and the more he ignored her & was blunt about his lack of interest, the more she tried. Luckily the others had caught on where she was becoming less discreet and were helping him get away or going with him so he'd get a moment's peace.

The team as a whole was struggling though. After 2 years, they had routines and knew what worked, what didn't and where they needed to work together. Hilary, it seemed, had assumed they could just pick up where they'd left of and determined to make sure that happened. With a lack of thought and consideration, she acted like she had never left & that they were the same as they had been back then. It had only taken her a day to realise she'd have to fit in to their way of doing things now and that they had changed in the time she'd been gone. So she was playing heavily on Tyson's good nature to want everyone included and getting along. At least until she suggested announcing her official return to the world and touring to catch up with the other teams.

It had been then when Kai had seen how guarded the others were about her return. Tyson, Max and Daichi had looked at him and Ray before telling Hilary they would talk about it but they wouldn't be making any announcements any time soon. She'd been surprised and taken off guard by their decision not to instantly welcome her back into the fold & it had shown to all of them, that she'd expected them to welcome her back just because they missed her.

After that first attempt to rejoin the team, she tried getting to know every detail of the last 2 years. Tyson had indulged her and so had Max, but Kenny had opted to use his new project to keep himself out of Hilary's path and Daichi & Ray outright refused unless she was willing to do the same. Anytime she was asked about her 2 years, she turned it back on them even more, just saying she went to look for her mother and nothing more. Daichi had even moved in with him and Ray temporarily.

Compared to the polite and warm welcome she'd received, their patience was already wearing thin and giving her the hint that she'd overstayed her welcome. Tyson had even asked if she had her own place sorted yet, only for her to whine about how she'd hoped they'd all stay at the dojo so catching up would be easier. She got rebuked by Ryuu advising her they weren't children anymore and catching up worked both ways.

She'd swallowed her pride instead of arguing, and changed tactic asking about the girls in the news report. Little did she know, they were on ordered not to mention anything about Liana and Alyssa from Stanley and Ryuu, the first day she'd returned for the girls safety. So she got nothing but a subject change.

Kai had left shortly after while he had an opportunity, half praying they wouldn't give in to her suggestion to go clubbing. All in all, it had been a very long 3 days and he knew Hilary was getting desperate. He'd just reached the elevator when the security guard on duty caught up with him.

"Mr Hiwatari, a lady dropped off a package for you earlier today," the guard informed.

Confused, he followed the guard to the security room where he was handed a large rectangular package. It looked like it was probably a canvas and he was suddenly curious about what it was. With a quick thank you, he took the package and headed to the elevator. As soon as he was inside the apartment, he set it down on the coffee table and carefully pulled off the packaging.

He was stunned when he saw the canvas and the image on it. It was a painting of Dranzer and the best painting of a phoenix he had ever seen. The detail was extraordinary and it looked like Dranzer was shining out of the darkness. Then he noticed the quote 'From the ashes & darkness, Dranzer will forever rise'. And it seemed Dranzer was a fan of the painting judging by the joy he sensed through their connection.

He picked up the canvas with the intent to hang it somewhere in the lounge when he noticed something had fallen from behind it. Carefully placing the painting down, he investigated what it was and found an envelope. When he opened it he found a card and a photo. Inspecting the photo first, he found it was the group photo taken with Alyssa and Liana on their birthday. The card had a short message.

'Put my presents to use. Figured you'd need a pick me up after this week.'

He chuckled and pulled his phone out, calling Liana.

"Hey, guessing you finally got home?" she greeted happily.

"5 minutes ago," he answered, "Was you expecting me to call?"

"More like hoped you would once you opened the pick me up I left," she answered, "Has it helped?"

"More than you know," Kai stated, "When did you do this?"

"After I saw you the other night. I'm in the business of cheering people up today," she joked.

"Who else have you cheered up?"

"Stanley. He's been battling the news all week and losing," she stated, "Oh and Ryuu, he came to visit Stanley."

"So that's where he went. Did he realise who you was?"

"Not until I told him. He tried to set me up with Tyson before he asked who I was," Liana advised, "I didn't stay long after that. He seems lively though."

"He rarely acts his age."

"That's what makes him so friendly & easy to get along with. He knows how to have a good time," Liana giggled, "So do you like the painting?"

"It's incredible & likely to make Ray jealous."

"I'll save his for last then."

"You're doing one for each of us."

"I have a soft spot for a phoenix so I was doing yours already buy Kiyoko wants me to do one for all of you. She's half designed Kenny's for me already."

"You sure we can't make her our mascot?" he joked.

"No but you can kidnap her on occasion," she retorted, "Though speaking of kidnapping, you've only got 15 minutes to get changed."

"You're kidnapping me?"

"Yep. I'm on orders so hurry up or I'll have to tie you up like Ray."

She hung up before he could say anything else, which made him chuckle as he headed up to his room.

So that's it for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.

For anyone who's an Escaflowne Fan, please check out my story 'Return to Gaea'.

As always, any feedback is great feedback, but it's not expected.

Next Upload will be: 28th February.

See you next month xx