Chapter 6

Discovery

by deDanaan



Rory had awakened with the dawn. He knew he had to react to his dream from the previous day, but he didn't know how. He showered, dressed and went to stand on the balcony and watch the sun rise. He came back inside to find Kieran shrugging into his coat and boots by the door.

"Going somewhere?" he asked the copper-haired man.

"On a stake-out." Keiran replied with a grin. Rory nodded. "There's a certain girl I've got to talk to. If I'm waiting there early enough, I shouldn't miss her."

"Let's hope so. Good Luck."

"Thanks." Kieran answered as he went out the door, pulling it shut behind himself.

"Maybe what I need is a walk." Rory told himself. "It'd clear my head, and maybe help me sort out what I saw in the Tarb Feis." He went and knocked at Fintan's door. "I'm going out, Fintan, and Kieran's already gone."

"Okay." came the muffled reply. "See ya later!" Rory shook his head and smiled, Fintan wasn't usually this bad at getting going in the morning. He stopped into the kitchen to grab an apple and polished it absently on his shirt as he fished his own jacket out of the closet. Hunkering down, he set the jacket on the floor and bit into the apple, holding it there in his teeth to free his hands up to tie his laces. When that was done he picked up the jacket and stood up, grabbing the apple with his free hand and finally finishing the bite. He patted himself down to make sure he had all the things people in this place seemingly needed and was reassured. As he left the building he stood for a moment testing the air then picked a direction and started walking.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

As Makoto stepped out of the building where she lived into the crisp clear fall morning, a now familiar longing twinged in her breast. She leaned against a wall and raised a hand to press against her heart. "Oh, God." she whispered to herself, willing the feeling to subside--half scared that this time it wouldn't. It had been successful in overriding all other thoughts in her head and it was getting stronger.

Her sleep had been a bit better last night, but her dreams had still been filled with fleeting images and impressions of the man from the restaurant the day before yesterday. The images had been disjointed, surreal, and she had been puzzling over them since she woke up. If this was what love did to you, she wanted no part of it. "I can't afford to have my mind wandering right now!" she scolded herself angrily. She looked at her watch and saw the time. "Let's get going! You'll be late." she chided herself into action. Lost in thought, she wasn't watching where she was going and slammed into something. She looked up, startled, an apology automatically forming on her lips in case it was a person and not a lamp post.

"Gomen nasai..." her mouth froze in shock. She found Kieran--the exchange student she was unable to get out of her mind--looking down on her with a half smile on his lips.

"Ohayo gozaimas!" he greeted cheerfully.

"Ohayo," she replied, flustered, blushing. She stepped back, uncomfortable with the way every inch of skin that had been in contact with him tingled. "Fancy seeing you again so soon." she said, attempting to strike up a conversation.

"Actually, I was kind of hanging around the end of your street hoping to see you again." he confessed softly, causing her heart to beat faster. He took a step towards her and grabbed her hand.

"Makoto." he whispered, as their eyes locked.

Makoto found herself tossed in a maelstrom of images and emotions and knew that Kieran was experiencing the exact same sensation. "What's happening to me?" she asked herself. Somehow they were exchanging memories with each other and it was so overwhelming it left her weak kneed.

He experienced her joy when she was gliding across ice on skates and she discovered his deep love of music. His heart broke as she shared her pain at the loss of her parents with him and she knew the hollowness that had resided in his heart from never knowing his father. She saw two women and two girls with the same molten copper hair as Kieran standing in a magnificent hall and knew they were his family, while he saw a litany of unrest and change which suddenly stopped as Makoto had found a place where she truly belonged now that her parents were gone. All at once they knew each other's strength and weaknesses, and Makoto felt herself stagger. Kieran reached out and caught her, and she let herself lean against him. After a minute she looked up into his face.

"What just happened?" she asked, dazed.

"Our souls touched." he answered with a small smile.

"Wow!...." she said softly. Suddenly she was aware of his arms around her, and every nerve in her body reacted. She straightened up, stepped back and looked appraisingly at him. "I feel like I should be embarrassed, but I'm not. I feel like I've known you forever." She coloured at her words and he raised a hand to her cheek.

"That's what happens when you bond." he told her matter-of-factly.

"Bond?" she asked, confused.

"My people believe that certain men and women are destined to be together. This is pre-ordained from the beginning of time. You and I are such a pair." he informed her.

"Huh?" she gave him a puzzled look and he smiled.

"Overwhelming, isn't it?" he inquired.

"I'll say!" she replied, a grin crossing her features to mask her bewilderment.

"We need to talk." he told her simply. "Can you spare some time for me?"

"Sure." she replied, knowing that she would pay in detention for not going to class, but this was too important--she needed to know. He gestured and she followed him, moving in the opposite direction from Juuban High.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Rei had risen early. She was determined to finish all her chores before classes began and ran out of the temple dressed in her robes, broom in hand. After what had happened last night, she knew that something was going to happen today--but she had no idea what it was--she wanted to think about it as she worked. She began to sweep the courtyard furiously.

She was still unable to figure out what had happened last night at Mako's place, and kept replaying the scene over and over in her head. "How was that possible?" she asked herself quietly. She was frustrated and that always got her upset. "Who are these people that they possess such things?" She thought about the scrolls and herbs, but they were repeatedly eclipsed by the stone and its amazing properties. "Where did they come from?" she puzzled.

Deimos and Phobos cawed from their perch on top of the Torii that was the gate to the temple and she shook herself out of her trance. She looked up at the ravens and was surprised to see a man standing with the birds perched on each of his forearms. She stood, transfixed, watching the scene unfold before her in disbelief. The only ones they ever came to was her. They avoided everyone else, but yet here they were perched on a total stranger. It almost seemed to her that the man was talking to them. He was dressed all in black, and coupled with his black hair and they way he was standing with his head cocked he seemed almost a raven himself. Rei shook her head at that. "Now you're imagining things." she scolded herself silently but she couldn't shake the thought.

Rory had been walking blindly. He looked up as he came to a long row of steps and his gaze travelled to the top. There, at the top of the hill, was a huge white arch. As he watched, two ravens came to perch on top of it and called out their hoarse greeting to him. He began to ascend the steps and when he reached the top he held out his arms to act as perches for the birds that were flying down to meet him. They stood in silent communion for a few minutes and then he suddenly turned his head in the direction of Rei and caught her staring at him. She flushed and looked away for a second before berating herself for her reaction. This was her temple, he was the stranger here. She brought her eyes back to look at him, a challenge dancing in her stare. He raised his brows and smiled disarmingly at her, but instead of its desired effect it only seemed to make her angrier. She stalked towards him, broom in hand, and the ravens bristled before settling down again as if they knew her exact mood.

"I think you better go to her, she seems jealous of your attention to me." she heard the man tell the bird on his right arm, and was surprised when the raven flew to her and landed on her shoulder. It pecked gently on her ear as if asking for forgiveness and she couldn't help but stroke his breast feathers. Her anger diffused and she stood slightly confused, wondering why she had been mad in the first place.

"Hello," the black clad man said, cocking his head in the way that made the image of a raven leap into her mind again. "I was passing by and saw your ravens. They're very friendly, I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to touch them, but I love birds."

"It's okay," Rei answered, reddening. "I'm sorry if I came on a bit strong, but it's just that I'm the only one they've ever gone to before and I got a bit territorial for a minute. You're actually the first person to ever call them friendly." she managed a small smile and looked up into his face. Her dark violet eyes widened as she met his bright golden stare. His eyes were magnificent, unlike any others she had seen before. "I'm Rei Hino, priestess of this temple." she told him with an awkward bow, due to Phobos being perched on her shoulder. He returned her bow but his was fluid, as if he did it all the time while carrying around large birds on his forearm.

"I'm Rory Mc Redmond." he answered, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "A visitor to your beautiful country."

"You're a tourist?" she asked, hoping that he wouldn't catch her studying him as he replied. He was tall, trim and handsome. His hair, tied back because of its length, was so black it shone with blue light.

"No, actually, I'm here researching my doctoral thesis." Her brows shot up. He didn't look like someone going after a Ph.D. "I'm chasing the golden thread that runs through all faiths, and Shinto is the one I'm currently studying." he told her with a smile. He thanked Kalpernus silently for the cover story and watched the expression change on the young priestess' face as she absorbed it.

"I was actually hoping to talk to some priests and priestesses." he gave her his most winsome smile. There was something about this place that reached out to him and he wanted to have the opportunity to figure out what it was. He realized he was holding his breath as he waited for her reply.

"I'm sure my grandfather would love to help." she told him.

"Grandfather?" he thought to himself.

Rei continued, "I've got to get to class, but I'm sure Grandfather will talk to you. This is his temple. Come, I'll introduce you to him." She shooed Phobos off her shoulder and, as he ascended to the top of the Torii in noisy protest, she turned and gestured for Rory to follow her. He raised his arm so that the raven perched there was eye to eye with him.

"I think you'd better join your friend, Deimos." he told it. It cawed in concurrence and took to wing, settling on top of the arch with Phobos. Rei froze--he had called the raven by name, and she hadn't told him either of their names. He looked up to see her frowning. "Is something the matter?"

"How did you know his name?" she asked suspiciously.

"He told me." he answered with a shrug as he gestured at the birds looking down on them from their lofty perch. The image of him as a raven flashed in her mind again and she shook her head, turning to lead him in search of her grandfather.

They found the old man in the courtyard practicing martial arts with his disciple, Yuuichiro.

Both men looked up as Rei approached them with the stranger. "Grandfather," Rei began, "this is Rory. He was wondering if you'd be willing to talk to him about the Shinto faith. He's writing a university paper and was hoping to talk to some priests and priestesses."

"What about you?" her grandfather asked her.

"I've got to get to class." she told him. "Otherwise I would stay and help him out." she handed her broom to Yuuichiro and excused herself to change for school. Rei's grandfather noticed the way the stranger's eyes followed his granddaughter and nodded to himself.

"So...Rory is it?" the old man asked. The young man nodded. "And where are you from?"

"Ireland, sir." Rory answered respectfully.

"Rei said you're writing a paper, is that so?" Rory nodded again and the old priest continued. "I guess I can answer some questions for you." He turned to enter into the temple and beckoned Rory to follow him. "Yuuichiro, you need to practice some more." he told his disciple by way of dismissal. Yuuichiro stood for a few minutes looking from the broom that Rei had handed him to the door through which everyone had disappeared. All of a sudden he came to life and shrugged, beginning to practice his moves and sweep the courtyard in a strange combination.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Ami came downstairs to find her mother had already left for work, a note propped on the table to tell her that lunch was made and waiting for her in the fridge. The table had been set for one, her mother having eaten without her, and she went about her solitary breakfast in her usual way-- nose stuck in a book, oblivious to everything else.

After she had finished and cleaned up, she opened the fridge to get her lunch and found two waiting for her. "Okaasan," Ami chided her absent parent "you've forgotten your lunch again." She smiled to herself then. This was actually a great excuse for her to visit the hospital before school started. She had gotten all the information she was going to about the two belts that were hidden in her dimensional pocket, and had been trying to think of an excuse to go visit her mother today so she could return them. She shrugged into her jacket and, arms full, she headed towards the hospital.

Fintan had tried to get back to sleep after Rory had wakened him to let him know they were gone, but it was no good. He tossed and turned grumpily, finally throwing back the covers and sitting up, bleary eyed.

"I can't get back to sleep." he complained to himself as he crossed his arms over his chest and rubbed his shoulders. He sat for a minute gathering his thoughts and then stood up and stretched exaggeratedly, grunting from the exertion. "May as well get myself together." his voice seemed to echo around the silent room.

Twenty minutes later he was standing outside the building wondering what he should do to pass the time until the others came back. "Maybe I should go and visit Connor and Lorcan." he said to himself. "Maybe I can get Connor to wake up today." he continued, a slow smile spreading from one side of his face to the other as he anticipated tormenting his brother again. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans and started off in the direction of the hospital. As he walked, it struck him that it was a route he was becoming too familiar with, whether by roof or roadway. When he got close to the hospital, he ducked into a deserted alleyway and cast the same illusory glamour he had used on himself and Agate Sadar the previous day. Confident in his disguise, he walked boldly through the front doors of the hospital.

Ami had waved to the desk clerk as she passed and held up her mother's lunch pack. The woman just nodded knowingly. Ami was a frequent visitor in the mornings, as Dr. Mizuno forgot her lunch on a semi-regular basis. She could eat in the hospital cafeteria if she wanted to, but found it too busy. She preferred a home-made lunch eaten in the quiet of the staff lounge. The clerk didn't blame the doctor--it was nice to get away from the hectic pace of the emergency ward.

After Ami had deposited her mother's lunch in the staff room, she made her way towards the wing where the two nameless strangers lay waiting. She looked down at her watch. Rounds in that area were just finishing so she would have some time to return the belts to their rightful owners undisturbed.

She stood outside the room where the men were and looked through the glass in the door to make sure the doctors were gone and its occupants asleep. Assured, she stepped softly inside, shutting the door gently behind her. Ami tiptoed closer to the beds to ensure both men were asleep and seeing their eyes closed she made her way over to the closet. She opened it slowly, careful not to make any noise, and took out the bag Usagi had had in her hands the other day. She set it on the floor and hunkered down beside it, rummaging in her dimensional pocket for the belts. Ami took one last, almost wistful look at the beautiful detailing on the buckles before stuffing them deep inside the bag.

Lorcan was not sleeping. He had been feigning unconsciousness from the time the doctors had come in to check on him a short while ago. He was now watching the visitor to his room through slitted eyes--eyes that told him the truth about who she was. "Well, well." he said to himself. "A repeat visit from Princess Mercury. I'm honoured."

Ami stood up when she was finished, looking around furtively to make sure no one was intruding on her. She was reassured again and went to stand in between the beds where the two strangers were lying, looking closely at each man as he lay unconscious. She found herself fascinated by their features--they were handsome and didn't look in the least bit threatening. As she was studying them she was tempted to shake them both awake but found the strength to stop herself before she did anything stupid. "What's wrong with me? That was something Usagi would do." She took her time and looked them over in a scientific manner, studying the myriad of monitors that were hooked up to the pair, looking for anything that constituted a clue to who they were and where they came from. The equipment wasn't giving up much information and Ami found herself shrugging. She glanced at her watch and frowned. She couldn't afford to stay any longer--if she left now she'd arrive at school just in time to avoid getting detention. Ami tore herself away from her analysis with a sigh and went to the door, pausing for a second to look back at the strangers.

Lorcan's eyes snapped open as soon as the door closed behind her. "What did she put back in the bag?" He had been unable to see as she had had her back to him. He sat up and swung his legs off the side of the bed, trying to gather enough energy to stand for the first time in days.

Fintan rounded the corner into the wing where his brother and friend were. He slammed into someone and stepped back, apologizing--surprised that it had happened. A young woman in a school uniform stood back, blushing and uttering her own apologies.

"Gomen nasai!" she exclaimed, not raising her eyes to meet his.

"Gomen." he replied, smiling as they began that awkward two-step as each tried to second guess the other's move. She looked up at him and their eyes met. A beautiful smile graced her lips as her amusement at the situation overcame her embarrassment.

"Sorry," they said in unison. He chuckled and gave a slight bow. She returned it and stepped carefully around him, continuing on her way. He watched her back as she walked off down the corridor, struck by the smile she had afforded him. After a minute he shook himself out of his reverie and walked to the door at the end of the corridor. "Where'd she come from?" he wondered to himself, pausing with his hand on the handle and looking at the other doors that led off the corridor. He looked into the room and was surprised to see Lorcan sitting on the bed. He opened the door, rushing in to his compatriot's side.

"Are you okay?" he asked urgently.

"I'm fine. We just had a visitor and I'm kind of excited about it." Lorcan ran his fingers through his hair and began to pluck at the electrodes and sensors that covered his body.

"Who?" Fintan asked, suddenly wondering about the girl he had run into outside in the corridor. "Who was here?"

"Princess Mercury. She thought I was unconscious and put something into the bag over there in that closet." he raised a hand and gestured lazily at a door set into the wall.

"What does she look like?" Fintan asked, eyes suddenly narrowing.

"She's got short dark hair and blue eyes. She was wearing some sort of a uniform, but it was her. My eyes see the truth." he looked up at Lapis Sadar, puzzled. Fintan was frowning.

"I think I just collided with her in the corridor." he told Lorcan, turning towards the door. "I'm going after her." Lorcan nodded, he had expected nothing less.

"Let me know what happens." he told Lapis Sadar before resuming the liberation of his body from the machines that sat around his bed.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Rei was muttering to herself the whole time she was getting ready for school. "How did he know the name of the raven?" she was unsure, and felt ridiculous for almost believing his explanation that the bird had told him. The image of him superimposed with that of a raven flashed in her mind again, causing her to shake her head. The crease on her forehead deepened as she went over the strange scene under the torii. When she was ready, she gathered up her books and threw them carelessly into her bag. She closed it, picked it up and left her room--going in search of her grandfather and the young man, wondering why she was interested in him instead of suspicious.

She found them sitting in the central courtyard of the temple, enjoying the small harmonious garden there. Her grandfather was telling the young man the history of the temple-- which stretched for many years into the past, well beyond the buildings that currently stood on the site. They looked up as Rei joined them. Rory was struck by how different she looked out of her priestly robes. She seemed harsher somehow, less forgiving. He got to his feet as she said her goodbyes and held out a hand.

"It was nice meeting you." he told her.

"Thank you. It was nice meeting you too." Rei took his hand and they looked each other in the eye as they shook hands awkwardly. She suddenly let go of him as if she'd been burned and managed to give her grandfather a small bow before running out of the garden with a strange look on her face.

"Young people today are so restless," he commented to Rory, "they have no patience." Rory nodded in agreement, but he wasn't really listening to the old man. He was wondering what had just happened. His whole body was tingling and he thought about what Kieran had told him about his own bonding experience. "Could it be?" he wondered silently.

Rei had charged out of the temple at full speed, almost knocking Yuuichiro over as she ran to the steps. She was still trying to figure out what was wrong with her when she reached the bottom of the hill and met up with a couple of girls who went to her school. She walked along with them in silence, but her mind was working overtime. "What just happened to me?" she pondered.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Ami had exited the hospital without further incident. As she passed by the reception desk she waved at the clerk. The woman waved back before getting back to work. Ami walked briskly, head down, her mind working overtime on the Senshi's latest problem.

Fintan charged out of the hospital and stood looking around for the familiar figure of the girl he had collided with. He saw her about one hundred yards away heading north. He ducked into an alleyway and dispelled the glamour. He didn't want to meet his prospective bond-mate while disguised. Could they even bond if he was cloaked in illusion? He didn't think so. He broke into a run to close the distance between them, and as he neared her he slowed to a brisk walk. He concentrated solely on her, excluding everything else from his conscious mind. What was she like? What could he say to introduce himself? Maybe the direct approach would be best. Would she understand and accept what he had to tell her? He really, really hoped so. Why couldn't they just bond by accident, like Kieran and Jupiter. He grabbed the collar of his t-shirt and pulled on it, suddenly feeling like he couldn't breathe, that he needed air. The closer he came to her, the more it seemed to affect him.

Ami was suddenly aware of someone walking very close behind her. She forgot the problem she had been mulling over and concentrated on whoever was following her. So far they hadn't made any threatening moves towards her, but she'd rather be safe than sorry given the events of the past few days. She picked up speed and rounded the next corner, stopping just out of sight and pressing herself close to the wall. The person who had been tailing her turned the corner and walked right past her, suddenly stopping as they realized she was no longer in front of them. He looked around for her, surprised to find her standing behind him expectantly, her arms folded in front of her. He grimaced and began to stammer out an explanation.

"Heh heh....Ohayo gozaimas....Hajimemashite!" He blushed a deep crimson to his ears and Ami couldn't help but smile. He seemed even more painfully shy than she was. She looked him up and down as she replied.

"Ohayo gozaimas." she gave him a slight bow and looked into his face. As their eyes met she had the feeling she knew him from somewhere--he seemed familiar somehow.

"Um... I was wondering if we could talk." he told her, breaking away from her serious blue gaze to look at the ground in front of him. "I know this'll sound stupid to you, but I've been wanting to meet you for some time." She cocked her head and smiled.

"That's a very old line, you know." she answered. He seemed stricken by her comment and she had to stifle a laugh that bubbled up inside her. He was very nervous, she could tell, and it seemed unfair to make him feel any more uncomfortable. She gave him a small smile of encouragement and it seemed to her that his spirits buoyed immediately. "If you'd like you can walk with me. I'm sorry that I can't stop and talk to you, but I've really got to get to school." She began to move in the direction of Juuban High and the man fell into step beside her, his head down and his hands crammed into the pockets of his blue jeans. They walked in awkward silence until Ami could take it no more.

"I'm Ami Mizuno." she said by way of introduction. "And you are?"

"I'm Fintan Gorman." he replied.

"That's not an Asian name." she commented. "Where are you from?"

"Ireland--I'm an exchange student pursuing a degree in Anthropology...specifically the Japanese culture." He was glad he had paid attention to Kalpernus. Thanks to his careful preparations he probably knew as much about the Japanese as the Japanese themselves. Ami's eyes lit up, her interest sparked. He must be a serious scholar to travel halfway around the world for his education.

"So you wanted to talk?" she prompted as they walked.

"Yes," he answered, "but I don't quite know where to begin."

"The start is as good a place as any, don't you think?" she told him. She'd never had a guy act so tongue-tied around her and found it charming.

"Okay." he fell silent.

"Well?" Ami stopped and turned to look at him.

"Would you believe me if I told you we were destined to be together?" he asked.

"Come now, you're feeding me another line, Gorman-san." she admonished, turning away from him and walking briskly in the direction of school, disappointed. He stood looking after her for a few moments before a look of determination settled on his face. He ran behind her and took her by the shoulders, turning her briskly to face him.

"Wait!" he looked imploringly into her eyes, trapping her in his lilac gaze. She raised her hands to take his hands off her shoulders and gasped as she was flooded with a strange tingling sensation. She saw that he had pulled up short too, shocked.

"Is he experiencing this too?" she wondered to herself as she was surrounded by thoughts that weren't her own. Overwhelmed by the sensation she let go, dropping his hands to his sides. She studied him, noting that his expression had changed from shock to rapture. "Are you okay, Gorman-san?" she asked softly. He snapped out of his trance.

"Huh?...Oh, wow! So that's how it feels." Ami frowned at his comment.

"How what feels?" she asked him suspiciously.

"Bonding." he answered, sotto voce.

"I think you were right. We need to talk." she thought about school--obviously she wouldn't get there today. Something weird had just happened and she really needed to know just what. "Let's go somewhere we can talk." she told him. He nodded, still busy revelling in the bonding experience, and followed her as she struck off in the opposite direction from the Juuban High.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Usagi met up with Minako at lunch. "Have you seen Ami or Makoto this morning at all, Mina-chan?" Usagi asked as she sat down beside her friend.

"No." Mina answered. "And I never even caught a glimpse of Rei on her way to school this morning like I usually do, either."

"Really?" Usagi seemed surprised. "I wonder what happened? I just made it to school in the nick of time this morning, so I never thought much about not seeing them. I do have some classes with them though, and neither were there."

"If it had've been something important, they would have called on the communicators, Usagi-chan. I guess we'll just have to wait until after school to find out. It wouldn't be in our best interest to skip out and look for them just because we're curious. Not that I'm not dying to or anything." Minako added the last remark with a grin.

"I suppose," Usagi answered a little reluctantly. She tucked into her lunch help her keep her mind off the question of where they were.