Thanks to Indy Faye, who introduced me to adamas and solved a dilemma I've been puzzling over for weeks.
"Turn left, Doc. 'Kay, now go straight for two blocks and take a right."
"Alright."
Danji was driving a nondescript, dark green van in which all nine people and White Blaze were traveling through Tokyo. Rip was directing Danji to a location where they'd meet a group of five other vans and six drivers. There, they would break up into pairs—Ryo would be traveling with White Blaze—Danji and Mia would go alone—and go to their homes to get things and explain to families. Then, they'd all meet at a private airport, which the drivers had been given directions to get to.
Sage was ignoring the conversations going on around him. He was thinking—something not uncommon in his case—but a matter he took seriously nonetheless. Several things were on his mind, Zee's story of her past for one. Then there was the little event with Dice and Danji. What could be up with Dice that put Danji into that slight panic? Sage wanted some answers. He just had to figure out how to get them.
Finally they reached a small auto shop. Rip told Danji to park in back and everyone piled out. The five other vans, similar to the one the group arrived in, were waiting there. Five men came forward and spoke with Rip. When she returned to the others, she told them to break up into their pairs and pick a van.
Mia got back in the van they'd come in, taking shotgun, while one of the six drivers got behind the wheel. They left immediately, Mia directing the driver towards her home just outside of Tokyo. The other five drivers each took the wheel of a van. Rip and Cye got in one van together, leaving five minutes after Mia's departure, headed for Cye's family homestead overlooking the Hagi Sea. Five minutes after that, Kento and Dice paired up and left for Kento's family restaurant/home in Chinatown, Yokohama. Dice had already told Danji what she needed from the apartment they shared in the heart of Tokyo, and five minutes after she'd left with her soul-brother, Danji's driver started out for the apartment complex. Ryo and White Blaze's driver looked a little uncertain when he saw Blaze but their van departed five minutes after Danji's, headed for Ryo's mountain cabin. Finally, 25 minutes after they'd arrived there, Sage and Zee set off for Sage's family home on the outskirts of Sendai.
Dice followed Kento up to a back entrance to a large two-story Chinese restaurant: the Fuan family's restaurant. The Fuans lived on the second floor and Kento had told her how to get to his room and where most things were so that she could grab some of his stuff for him while he talked to his mother. While the driver waited outside, the two found themselves swept up in the bustle of the kitchen.
Over the din, Kento said to Dice, "You go on up. I gotta find Mama, first. Don't get lost. Don't let anyone push you around. And if anybody asks, Shuu sent ya. 'Kay?"
"Sure. Don't worry," she assured him. "See you in a while, bro." She set to shoving her way—politely—through the crowd towards a staircase.
Kento threw himself in the general direction of a stove at the back his mother used most often. He finally came up behind a busily cooking woman and tapped her on the shoulder.
"What now, Mei Ryu?" she said in rapid Chinese without turning around. "I'm busy and I don't have time for your questions right now. Maybe in a little while. Go back upstairs."
Kento laughed and retorted, "Since when have I been asking questions? And I didn't know I answered to my brother's name."
The woman spun around and wrapped her arms around him. "Shuu! Where've you been? Your father and I have been so worried! We didn't know where you were or anything and the news people have been calling day and night looking for you. All that business at the hospital and everything and…you have a lot of explaining to do."
"I know, Mama. Can we go talk someplace a little less crowded?"
"Of course. Come, let's go upstairs." With that his mother set to shoving her way across the packed kitchen towards the stairs, her son in tow. She led him up to her office and practically pushed him into a chair. Sitting down across from him, she ordered firmly, "Talk."
"Whoa. Hey, Mama, how 'bout being a bit more hospitable. I'm sorry that I didn't call but we were afraid someone would be listening. Uh, about down in the kitchen…has Mei Ryu been bothering you again?"
"Oh, yes. He saw the news report and wanted to know if you were in a trouble. Rinfi's just worried and wondered if it was possible that you needed help. Yun was a bit upset. He thought you were hurt and that's why you were at the hospital. And poor Chun Fa has been bawling her eyes out. She thought you weren't ever coming back."
"Aw, geez. I'll go talk to 'em in a second. What about Grandfather? How's he been taking all this?"
"Well, he seems to think nothing's wrong. He was positive that you were fine and would come back soon. Guess he was right. I swear, sometimes he seems to know something about you that the rest of us don't. Oh, and Uncle Chen has called several times. He seems to think you're in trouble because you've been hanging with the wrong crowd. Of course, I told him that I knew your friends and they're definitely not 'the wrong crowd,' " she said. "Speaking of which, where are they? They were involved in this whole business too. Are they all right? How is Rowen? He didn't get sick again, did he? I hope that's not why you were at the hospital. How's Cye? He's such a sweet young man and I doubt his mother would take it well if anything happened to him."
"Oh, yeah. Thanks to a friend, the others are all going home…for a while anyway. Which brings me to something else. Uh, Mama, I have to go somewhere for a while."
"What do you mean? Where?"
"Mama, I have to go to Australia for a little while. There's some business I need to take care of there and—"
"Australia!" his mother shrieked. "Why in the name of the gods do you want to go to Australia?!"
"Mama, calm down. See, I've, uh, got this friend—"
She held up her hand, halting him. "Hold it right there," she started angrily. "Shuu Rei Fuan, I've been very patient. But, for the past three years, you've kept something from me. I do not appreciate my eldest son keeping secrets from me. Now, if I don't know everything about my family, how do I maintain order? I think it's time you told me your secret, Shuu. Now!"
Kento shifted uneasily in his seat. He knew better than to argue with his mother but this wasn't just any secret. "Umm, Mama, why don't you call Papa in? He's gonna want to hear this, too."
His mother glared at him for a few moments. "Alright. Shuu, you are seventeen years old. I should think that I could trust you to be responsible and honest, especially with your own parents."
"I know, Mama. I'm sorry."
"I know that. You just wait a moment while I get your father." She stood and left the room. He could hear her calling out in the hall, "Chan Run, come here! Shuu's back and we need to talk!"
Here goes, Kento thought to himself. The secret's finally coming out. I just hope that when I tell them about the armor and everything they don't disown me or something. Then he spoke aloud to himself, "Kento, you've finally bitten off more than you can chew."…
"Well that went well, didn't it?"
"Uh, yeah. But, I, umm…I'm afraid Ryo'll kill me when he finds out I kinda had to tell them about the armor and the Ronin Warriors and the elementals and everything.
"I'm sure he'll understand. Don't worry."
"So, what did you think of my family?"
"They're very nice people. I felt like they were actually my family. I like them a lot. Your little brothers and sisters remind me of my siblings. I miss them a lot."
"Hey, why don't ya tell me 'bout 'em? We've got plenty of time. Right, Mizuno?"
"Yes, sir," the driver replied curtly. Listening to his passengers talking as he drove them to the private airport, he thought, I better be getting paid really well for this. These people can't be completely sane.
When the driver pulled up to Ryo's cabin, the boy and tiger jumped out and it only took Ryo ten minutes to grab his stuff. He found the cellular phone he'd bought a year ago and used it to call his grandmother as the driver started back down the mountain. He rolled his eyes a couple times and plugged his free ear, turning away from the inquisitive eyes of the driver looking at him in the rearview mirror with an exasperated smile. The man could hear him whisper, "Grandma, please, not so loud. The others, they—"
But the driver also heard Ryo cut off by a shout on the other end of the line, "THE OTHERS?! RYO SANADA, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE OTHERS! YOU HAD BEST COME DOWN HERE, RIGHT NOW, YOUNG MAN! I WILL NOT TOLERATE SUCH BEHAVIOR!"
Ryo clamped his hand down over the earpiece. Once the shouting had faded away, he said in a rush, "Grandma, I'm very sorry but I have to go and you aren't stopping me. You know good and well that I will do as I wish with or without your approval. Don't worry; I've got Blaze with me. I love you. Bye!" and hung up without allowing time for an answer.
"Well," he said in reply to the questioning face turned towards him, "that went well. Umm, so…how long till we get there?"
Danji took the elevator to the fourth floor and walked down the corridor to the apartment door labeled D12. "Home sweet home," he muttered as he turned the key in the lock.
A quick rush about the apartment and he had everything shoved in a pair of duffel bags. Before leaving, he went to stand before the fireplace. The mantelpiece was decorated with a dozen framed photographs.
There was one in the center was of him and Dice covered in mud, standing in a garden. At the time, Dice had been fifteen and he'd been 23. Dice had convinced him to come down to the garden she kept in the courtyard of the apartment complex—she'd made a deal with the manager: she made the courtyard look wonderful with her gardening and the manager didn't have to pay her, just buy the seeds, plants, and tools. Somehow, they got into a mud fight and a neighbor had taken their picture.
Four of the pictures were of Dice's family. One showed her parents, Suki and David; one was of her sister Sharra—who was two years younger than Dice—one showed the triplets, Tabitha, Jukiah, and Cameron—two boys and a girl—all five years younger than Dice. The fourth was a group photo of all the Salems together, all seven smiling happily.
Another photograph was of Dice on her sixteenth birthday. Danji had snuck up on her while she was taking a nap in the garden, lying amidst a patch of bright orange flowers. With the orange flowers surrounding her, accentuating that lock of her hair, she looked almost ethereal.
Then there was a picture Dice had taken of him, also napping. He'd had a really long day—three surgeries, five minority accidents, and a birthing. He'd decided to sit down for a while in the doctors' lounge and he'd fallen asleep on accident and fallen on the floor. Dice had offered to take care of a toddler for someone for some reason and brought the child to the doctors' lounge with her for a coffee break. The little boy had decided to take a nap and went to sleep lying facedown on Danji's back with his little hands about the man's neck. Dice had taken a picture of the slumbering pair that turned out very well. A copy of the photo had been used for publicity for the hospital in a commercial and a newspaper article, showing how good the people there were with patients and children.
There was a photo of Danji at age eighteen, driving a car for the first time, his father, Akira Kajtim, sitting next to him, taken by his mother from the back seat. His father had gotten him to start sticking his tongue out at people and the two of them had a lot of fun teasing the people they passed.
One photo showed Akira sitting on the roof of the old family home, reading his newspaper up there because Danji was seven at the time and wouldn't leave him alone when he tried to read his morning paper. Another one depicted his mother, Mari, a week before she and Akira died in a plane crash. She was hanging upside-down from the tire swing that had hung from a tree in the front yard. There was another photo of Danji with his parents, arm-in-arm, smiling at the camera.
The last photograph was Danji's favorite, bordered in an expensive gold frame. It was of him and his sister dancing in the middle of a crowd on the street. His sister, Dania.
His twin.
He and Dania had been inseparable. They did everything together. Then Dania vanished. She had been supposed to meet Danji at a fast-food joint on their nineteenth birthday and their mother watched her leave, walking down the street in the direction of the restaurant, which was only three blocks away. But she never showed up. The police never found a trace of her. She was just gone.
Tears were welling up in Danji's eyes. He picked up the photograph and placed it reverently in the duffel bag. Then he gathered up the rest of the pictures. For some reason, he thought he'd better take them with him.
A few minutes later, sitting in the back seat of the van while the driver maneuvered through the streets towards the private airport, Danji held the picture of him and Dania and let a few stray tears fall. "Oh, Dani, where'd you go?" he whispered. "Where? Why'd you leave me? I miss you so much, sis. I miss you."
Sayoko was waiting for them when they arrived. Cye got out of the van and Rip followed. The driver stayed behind to wait. Cye walked up to the veranda and exchanged hugs with his sister. "Hey, Say, how're things?"
"Oh, fine. Who's your friend? Or should I say girlfriend?" Sayoko added conspiratorially.
"She's not my girlfriend! She's just a friend."
"Oh, so now I'm just a friend, eh?" Rip glared at him.
"No! I'm sorry, Rip. You know what I meant."
Rip shook her head and smiled. "You're too gullible, bro. I was just kidding."
"Well—well…don't do that."
"Excuse me but I think you've forgotten your manners, Cye," Sayoko hinted.
"Oh! Sayoko, this is Marina Kahanamoku."
"Call me Rip."
"Rip, this is my sister, Sayoko."
"Call me Say. Why don't you two come inside?" Sayoko turned and went into the house. Cye followed, though Rip came along rather uncertainly. She still wasn't used to this whole trust thing.
Sayoko led them to the kitchen and served up tea. At first she and Cye were content with exchanging small talk but eventually they ran out of things to say.
"How's Mum?" Cye asked.
"She's doing okay. I managed to prevent her from seeing the reports. Cye, give it to me straight. What happened? I know it has to do with that friend of yours, the Sanada boy. Him and that animal, the tiger. Why were you at a hospital? And when did she come into the picture?"
"Say! Be nice." Feeling a burst of fury with his empathy, Cye cast a glance at Rip, who appeared to be fighting an urge to jump up and kill his sister. "Look, Sayoko, can we go somewhere else?"
"Fine. I'll be waiting for you in the kiln house. Mum's out there." Sayoko stood and turned sharply, stomping out of the kitchen through the French doors.
Cye felt Rip trying to calm herself but her enragement was quickly turning into a grudge. "Rip, I'm sorry—"
"Don't apologize. You're not the one actin' all high and mighty," she began, setting out for one of her world-famous tirades. "Look, bro, I don't like people—as you may have figured out by now. I came here tellin' myself I should like your family cuz in a way they're mine, too. But, frankly, I don't think I like your sister. Just who does she think she is? Why do ya let her push you around like that? If I didn't know better, I'd say she was p…uh…"
"She's what, Rip?"
"Cye, how old is she?"
"Around 24. Why?"
"Is she married?"
"Yeah. She and Shizuko Ryuusuke got married three months ago. Rip, why are you asking such ridiculous questions?"
"Uh…Cye…brace yourself."
"Why?"
"I think you're going to be an uncle."
Blink…"WHAT!!!"
"Well, think about it. She's got the mood swings, the timing's right, and she had a look about her, especially in her eyes. One of my friends back home belongs to the kahuna's family. Her mom's a midwife and I've seen her working enough to know that look."
Cye stood up and stared out the French doors but sat down again. "Oh, man. Say? Pregnant? Rip, if you're right, then I'm a monkey's un—"
"Don't say it! Go talk to her or something. If I'm right and she is you-know-what then I'll forgive her. Otherwise, she's gonna learn not to mess with me."
"Alright. But, even if you're wrong, you have to understand, she's actually really nice and you'd probably like her anyway."
Rip scowled. With a grimace, she said, "Fine. I'll give 'er another try."
"Thanks." Cye left Rip grumbling in the kitchen and crossed the yard to the building that housed the kilns and finished pottery. When he came in, his sister was carrying a fountain piece, decorated with colorful koi carvings, across the room. She looked up when he came in and got into such a hurry to put the fountain piece down, she almost dropped it.
"Oh, Cye! Look, about what happened in the kitchen—I'm sorry, little fish. I don't know what came over me!"
"Umm, that's okay, Say," he replied uncomfortably. 'I have to admit, Rip is right about the mood swings.' "I know you didn't mean anything by it. So, where's Mum?"
"She's in the back. Come on. I haven't told her you're here yet so it'll be a surprise…Oh, Mum, there's someone here to see you!"
"One moment! I need to wash my hands first. Who is it? Another representative from that Italian company?" At that moment, she walked through one of the doors, not yet looking up. She was a bit preoccupied with drying her hands on the clay-splattered apron she wore and walked right into Cye. "Oh, excuse me, sir! I didn't mean to—" She looked up and gasped. Then she practically leapt at her son.
Cye staggered back, laughing. Setting his mother down—she'd basically jumped into his arms—he kissed her cheek and hugged her. "I missed you, too, Mum."
"Shin, I'm so happy you're home. I wasn't expecting you." She glanced at her watch. "Oh, my! I'll have to set an extra place at the table."
"Actually, Mum, I won't be able to stay for supper."
"Why not?"
"I'll explain in a moment. There are some things we need to discuss. Tell you what, why don't you go on to the house. I need to talk to Sayoko. Oh, and I brought a friend with me. Just tell her you're my mother and I'll be there in a bit."
"Alright. You two don't stay out here long." With that, his mother left the kiln house.
"Uh, what did you want to talk to me about, Cye?" Sayoko also had a slight British accent, but hers wasn't as prominent as her brother's.
"About in the kitchen."
"Oh, right. I really am sorry. I hope I didn't make a bad impression with your friend."
"Don't worry about that. Look, what I wanted to talk to you about is…well it's, uh…I mean, um…see, Rip had this crazy idea…"
"Just spit it out."
"Are you pregnant?"
Sayoko stared at her little brother for a moment. "Excuse me?"
"I'm sorry," he started. "I didn't think Rip was right anyway but I just had to make sure and—"
"No, no! It's okay. I can't believe I hadn't thought of this…Cye, I could kiss you! I've been having morning sickness for the past week but I hadn't thought…oh, I've always wanted a baby. I'll have to make sure and then I've got to call Ryuusuke and oh, this is wonderful. And I can't wait to tell Mum! She's been wanting a grandchild…" Sayoko was already walking up to the house, her face aglow with joy. Cye stood there for a moment, staring.
Finally, he recovered and ran up the hill after his sister. He still had to get packed and explain everything to his mother and sister. And get Rip out of there. She probably was having a panic attack from being left to deal with people for so long. He'd really have to work on her trust problem…
By the time they left, Cye was ready to drop dead from trying not to laugh at Rip's nervous glances at his sister or from running around the house doing quick chores for his mother between packing. Rip, on the other hand, looked to be ready to drop dead from exhaustion. She ran herself out trying to be polite, civil, and avoid Sayoko, fearing another mood swing. Once she was in the van, Rip said to Cye, "Wake me when we get wherever we're going." A second later, she was fast asleep on the back seat.
Mia smiled up at her family mansion. This was home… She'd only been away from the Manor for two days and she'd missed it so much she'd thought she would go crazy. With a grin, she ran up the little hill from the drive, bounded onto the veranda and through the front door.
"I'm home!" she yelled to the old house.
It only took her ten or so minutes to collect everything on the list she and the guys had made the night before. Then, she walked about the house, locking windows and the four main doors of the house and checking up on various things. She set her laptop and a pocket-sized box full of floppy disks containing information left to her by her grandfather before his death during the war with Talpa around three years ago by the door. While the driver carried out the duffel bag she'd stuffed with clothes, Ryo's backpack, which she'd filled with stuff White Blaze would need, and her computer stuff, Mia dialed a known-by-heart number on her phone.
"Hi, Yule. How're things?"…
…Mia sat back in the van, content and satisfied. She'd told Yuli as much as she could in ten minutes, explained that he shouldn't talk to anyone about herself and the Ronins, and told him not to call the Manor or anything. After hanging up, she set the house's security system, locked up, and was now on her way to the proverbial airport.
Having checked up on her home did wonders for her mental state. Now, she could think about other things…like Danji. At twenty years old, she had a full-time job, a steady financial status, and a secure home. In her opinion, she was completely ready for a long-term relationship. And Danji fit her requirements to the letter. In summary, what she had to say about it was, "It's about time!"
"Ready?"
"I suppose."
"You suppose?"
"Yes. I cannot be sure of my readiness for this encounter. It is not an area in which one can predict possible outcomes very accurately so I may not be positive of my feelings towards it."
"Okay, so in other words you're not really looking forward to it."
"Correct."
Sage and Zee were standing next to the van, looking up the drive at Sage's family home. Zee had insisted that she could walk without assistance and hardly leaned on the van at all. She was definitely as stubborn—perhaps even as proud—as her soul-brother. Her bell-adorned headband had been left in the van; and in the hopes of preventing its movement, she had braided her hair and woven it with a blue ribbon. Rip had reluctantly lent her a pair of khaki slacks and a t-shirt so she wouldn't look odd in her toga. Rip had resentfully commented that, "It's not gonna make that big a difference anyway. She still looks weird." That had earned the water elemental a scolding from Cye, laughter from Ryo, and the beginnings of a disliking from Zee.
"However," Zee continued, "we will never know how I will—what was the phrase you used? —'get along with' your family, unless we go up to your house." And with that, she started towards the front door. Sage shook his head as he followed her.
"Zee, take it easy, will you? You need to give those legs of yours a chance to recover."
"Yes, I know. Still, there is no time for relaxation, if we are to gather all the elementals quickly."
"Stubborn and proud. No wonder you and Rowen are kindred souls."
Zee laughed a little at this. As Sage joined her at the door, she cocked an eyebrow at him expectantly.
"Okay," Sage said, "here goes." He opened the door and stepped inside. "Hello? Anybody home?" he shouted. He whispered over his shoulder, "Don't forget to take off your shoes, Zee."
"I already did."
"Sage?" a feminine voice rang out. "Is that you?" Suddenly, a blonde girl looking to be about 14 or 15 skidded around a corner in socked feet, bumping into the wall. She ran at Sage and embraced him jubilantly. "Oh, Sage! You're home! I saw the news and I thought maybe something really bad was going to happen or something and—oooh, everyone was so worried about you!"
"Hello to you too, Satsuki!" he laughed.
Satsuki finally noticed Zee. She looked confused, then surprised, then curious. "Sage, where are your manners? Grandfather would be most displeased," she stated in a sarcastic voice.
"Oh!" he said. "Satsuki, this is a friend of mine, Zephyr."
"Zephyr who?"
Sage looked startled and a little panicked. "Ummm…Hashiba! She's Rowen's sister."
"Rowen's? But Rowen's an only child. He doesn't have a sister!"
Sage thought fast. "His dad adopted her last month."
"Really? Well, it's nice to meet ya, Zephyr!" Satsuki grabbed Zee's hand and shook it vigorously.
"You may call me Zee. Most people I know refer to me by that nickname." Zee smiled genuinely at the younger girl.
"Okay. Zee it is then. Well, I can see one thing similar between you and Rowen."
"Which would be?"
"The hair. It's different from the everyday stuff. Rowen's is blue and it's really cool. Yours is silver and it's beautiful. Did you dye it or were you born that way?"
Luckily Sage had already run over this question with Zee. "Hey," she said, "isn't a girl allowed to have at least a few secrets?"
Satsuki scowled. "That's pretty much what Rowen always says." Then, she imitated Rowen's voice and accent, " 'Isn't a fella allowed to keep a girl wonderin'?' he says. What's the big deal? I mean, I just wanna know!"
Sage broke in. "Hey, Suki, where is everybody anyway?"
"Oh, right! Lessee, Yayoi's in Sendai, Dad's at the station, and Mom's in the dojo with Grandfather. But, why—hey, where are you going?"
Sage was walking up the stairs, Zee not far behind. "Come on, Satsuki. I need to tell you something," he called without looking back. His younger sister looked up quizzically and followed.
In Sage's room, the three of them sat down. Zee sighed—Sage believed from relief that she was off her feet—and Sage took a deep breath. "Suki, I'm not staying."
"Why? You staying with someone else?"
"No…I'm going to Australia—"
"Oh, boy," Satsuki muttered. "This isn't gonna make Mom and Dad too happy. I don't wanna even think about Grandfather."
Sage ignored her. "I'll explain when I get back but I'm going to need your help."
Satsuki smirked. "With what?" she sang in a saccharine sweet voice.
Sage handed her a piece of paper. "I have to talk to Mom," he grimaced. "While I'm at it, could you help Zee pack these things for me? And find some of Yayoi's clothes for her? She doesn't have any with her and we don't have time to go to Rowen's apartment in Osaka to get what she's got there," he lied.
Satsuki grinned. "Okay. But I'm gonna need something in return."
Sage sighed. "Like what?"
"How about permission to play all your CDs for two weeks and use your practice no-datchi until you get back? Oh, and a souvenir from Australia."
"Fine, deal. Now hurry up. Zee and I have to be gone in 15 minutes." Without waiting for the two girls to say anything, he left the room.
Satsuki turned to Zee. "You heard the fella," she said in a mocking voice. "Let's get to work."
Later, with only a minute to spare, Sage and Zee left the Date house, with a duffel bag and a backpack. In addition, Sage had earned himself a headache talking to his mother, and Zee had one from trying to talk like a modern teenager. Both of them wanted nothing more than to simply sit back and relax. As the van drove down the road, Zee looked at Sage. "I have analyzed my personal impressions of your family and have come to a conclusion of my opinion towards them."
"And?"
"I cannot make an opinion of your father nor your older sister, Yayoi, as I have not met them yet. However, I believe your sister, Satsuki, is a loving young person, who admires you and aspires to following in your footsteps and, though she does not make it clear, wishes to impress you and your friends. She is also an independent spirit, a trait which will make her a 'ground-breaker' in your terms."
Sage smiled. "Okay. Go on."
"Your mother is an original, strong woman, who deserves the respect and love your family bestows upon her. She is kind, nurturing, and wishes only the best for her children. A hard worker, she has and will continue to make a fine living through her works."
"That makes perfect sense. What else?"
"In the case of your grandfather…I must admit that I am greatly impressed with him."
"Huh?" Sage was shocked. Usually, people thought his grandfather to be eccentric and overly strict. From the sound of it, Zee was complementing him.
"He is loyal to what he believes and what he lived his former years knowing. Such loyalty is admirable. I have a recollection of his time and I distinctly remember that it was one that hosted a fine generation. His strength and determination are equal to that of the greatest men I have observed. He is an excellent teacher and is just as loving and caring beneath his stern exterior as your mother. On a non-personal level…he knows."
Shocked? Ha! Shocked didn't even begin to describe it. Sage now thought he'd heard it all. Now, what was this about Grandfather knowing what? "What are you talking about?"
"He knows of your armor. He has been aware of Korin since his early years. When you came into possession of it, he was not surprised in the least. As a matter of fact, I believe he had been planning on your inheriting it. He is most proud of your success in both average life and war. He is very intelligent. You do not give him credit. Perhaps you should learn more respect and recognition towards your elders."
"…ah…"
Zee smiled as she closed her eyes. That should give Sage sufficient matter to think over. A melody floated though her mind. Now where did that come from? I do not recall hearing this harmony before. A voice accompanied the tune, singing like it was second nature to its owner.
Whatever happened to the old days?
Do you remember the old ways?
When everything was sweet and simple
No longer lives a smile or a dimple
The memories all have died
There's nowhere left to hide
And demons are knocking at your door
Don't take a step to move ahead
Don't move a heel to run away
Let all your agonies flow in season
Make no excuses to escape their treason
The memories now arise
There's nowhere you may hide
And demons are coming through your door
Behold the product of adoration
Uphold the hope for explanation
Try not to fall from heights of splendor
Let ice run through your veins in flurried terror
The memories now return
The witch: they wish to burn
And demons have claimed the final four
Zephyr tried not to listen to the song but it wouldn't allow itself to be silenced. Finally, as a last resort, she told herself to sleep. No sense in worrying Sage over a voice singing in her head. I most likely simply heard the song during my wonderings on the wind, she told herself as she drifted off.
"Please, let this be the right thing."
"Shoq, what are you doing? It's just 3 a.m."
"Go back to sleep, Fey. I'm just running an errand."
"Okay."
With her friend already sleeping again, Shoquia looked back at her hastily hidden Seeing Square with a mentally-exhausted yawn. Now that it was done, she didn't know what had possessed her to do it. Helping a subconscious-intermental message across involuntary boundaries. Why had she gotten up to do this all of a sudden? Really, she had no idea. She could only hope it had been the correct action in the line of her self-appointed duty.
"Shoooq—" called Fey.
"Alright, alright. I'm going to bed."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. I just need to rest a bit and maybe do some meditating."
"Okay, go ahead. I'll keep watch for a while."
"Thank you."
"Excuse me, Mizuno, but what time is it?" Dice asked the driver.
"A quarter past twelve, miss."
Dice bit her lower lip. She remembered what she'd told Danji yesterday: Around four in the afternoon. I think it'll be somewhere downtown. "How long will it take to get to the airport?"
"About an hour."
Kento looked puzzled. "Hey, Dice, is something wrong?"
She ignored him. "Mizuno, could you please drive a little faster?"
The sumantra guards stood at attention. Lumen had just passed by and was now doing something in the cell of the most recently arrived prisoner. The human's cell door had been left open and was still so. The guards dared not move or speak while Lumen was in the vicinity, for fear of making a mistake. One guard was doing his best to ignore what was going on, since he could hear and see it all. It might be considered eavesdropping, a mistake he couldn't afford to make.
"So, you're awake, eh?" Lumen questioned the human.
The blue-haired boy snarled, "Yeah. Wish I wasn't though. Don't like lookin' at yer ugly face much."
"Shut up. Do you have any idea how much I will enjoy watching Xyrelyc dispense of you? Creatures such as you have no right to exist. Once my Lord has destroyed the wind elemental through you, he will have all of your disgusting race exterminated."
"That's what you think."
"Watch it, creature. I don't know how you managed to regain your strength again, but I will take pleasure in beating it out of you. Xyrelyc wouldn't like it if I brought you to him without a scratch on you."
"Why? Is he afraid I'll kill 'im unless I'm half-dead? What a coward."
"Coward? Creature, I don't think you understand. Xyrelyc fears nothing. He is fear. He is almighty and your existence, that of your solar system, is in his hands to do with as he wishes. He has conquered all he has come upon. Galaxies have fallen before him. He snuffs out the life of worlds so that they fall into his plan to make the universe perfect, pure."
"Pure? Perfect? Yeah, right! Ya can't just come in here and start killin' people. We don't go that easy. Against us, ya don't stand a chance!"
"Brave words for one with nothing to protect you. Do you forget?" Lumen smirked and leaned forward until his mouth was next to the human's ear. "I took your armor. You're powerless against me! I've won, you've lost."
With a scream of rage, the human swung his head to the side and hit the side of Lumen's face. "YOU'LL NEVER WIN!!! Not as long as I'm around!"
Lumen traced his jaw, feeling the painful area where the human had hit him, with raised eyebrows. It would bruise but it wouldn't hurt for long. The human was straining against his chains. "Well," Lumen laughed. "You won't be around much longer anyway. Really, you should simply resign yourself to die. There's nothing you can do to stop it, pathetic creature." With a swift motion, he thrust his fist into the human's stomach, slamming it upward into the ribcage to knock the breath out of the sorry creature. "Humans!" he scoffed. "Stupid creatures; never do learn."
A guard suddenly called for Lumen. Lumen sighed and said, "Just when I was having fun, too. Oh, well, I can beat the lesson into you later. Duty calls! Must go!" He walked away to see why he'd been called.
He didn't see what the human was doing as he left. The human had his head raised defiantly. "Evil maniacs," he smirked. "Never do learn. Guess I'll just hafta teach 'em."
Dais had seen the conversation between Strata and Lumen. He had also seen what had happened 15 minutes before Lumen had shown up. Strata had suddenly awoken and become very stiff, almost as if he'd turned to stone. When he loosened up again, he'd been almost completely recovered except for his legs. Yet even his legs seemed to be somewhat better, just not by much. Then, when the Ronin had used his head to strike at Lumen, Dais had decided that he should distract the strange being from Strata for a while.
When a guard marched by, Dais shot his hand through the bars in the door and grabbed the throat of the black-uniformed guard. Pulling the guard up against the door, Dais whispered, "Give me your keys right now, or I'll rip out your throat." To dispel any doubts the guard might have of his sincerity, Dais got a painful grip on the cords of the guard's neck.
Gasping for air, the guard tried to shout for help, found he couldn't, and tried to claw the hand away from his throat. When he couldn't do that either, he finally just yanked the keys hanging from his belt off and handed them to Dais.
"Thank you," Dais whispered. Then, he stabbed a key into the guard's throat. As the guard fell to the floor, clutching at his blood-gushing throat, another guard finally noted what was going on and shouted out for Lumen.
Dais pulled his arm back into the cell and moved to the back of the tiny compartment. He armored up all the way and got his mace in hand. As the door swung open and guards spilled in, Dais charged forward, swinging the spiky metal club back and forth. When he'd made it through, he slammed the cell door closed behind him, and it locked automatically, trapping several guards inside. A small group of guards tried to grab him, but he smashed his mace into one's head, another's chest, a third's back, and a fourth's stomach. No more guards were in the corridor but there most likely would be soon. Now, for Lumen.
"Looking for me?"
Dais turned around quickly. Lumen lunged at him, and Dais had to duck fast to avoid him. Spinning around again, Dais saw strange jet-black spikes extending from Lumen's elbows and wrists. They hadn't been there before, but now that they were, Dais didn't want to find out what they could do.
"Listen up, you demon," Dais growled. "I have several things I wanna repay you for and I'm not in the mood to be denied. So you better prepare to DIE!!!" He rushed Lumen, mace raised above his head. But right before he would've been impaled upon Lumen's spikes, he simply vanished.
"Where are you?" roared Lumen.
"Where do you think?" Dais's voice came from all directions, echoing off the stonework.
Lumen laughed. "Your illusions won't work anymore, human. This fortress was built from adamas, the impenetrable stone. No magic or mystics can work here. The only reason your illusions have worked so far is due to the air, and they still will only work for a few moments before you are revealed. So, why don't you show yourself already? Spare yourself some trouble. Now, where are you?"
"I'm right here," came the mocking whisper. Even as Lumen started to whirl around, Dais's mace crashed into the back of his skull.
As Lumen sank to his knees, he laughed once more. "You just don't get it. You can't win. My lord, Xyrelyc, is invincible. Your puny world has met its master."
"Would you shut up?!" Dais screamed and smashed his mace into Lumen's face. Stepping over the dead creature, the Warlord muttered, "Never did like that voice."
Then came an impatient call, "Yoo-hoo! Spidey! Real nice show. By the way, I'd kinda like to join ya out there but well, y'know, I'm kinda, oh…locked up!"
The Warlord turned toward the Ronin's cell. "Right! Keys," he patted himself, "here somewhere."
"They're in yer left hand, web-head!"
"Oh…right." Dais shrugged and ran to Strata's cell, not really wanting to take the time to meet up with any more weird sentient beings. "Did I ever tell you that your accent is kinda intimidating?"
Author's Notes:
1) The song Zee heard belongs to a friend of mine, Scream. She's available at
screamsong@hotmail.com. Depending on how you treat her,
she writes requests.
2) Many, many thanks to those who've reviewed or - in a rather rare case - taken the time to do me
the great honor of sending actual email. Please, keep it up. I have C8 in formatting right now. Do you still
want it?
3) Facts of Life: "Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep
after." Anne Morrow Lindbergh—meaning: duh, communicate, people!