Chapter 64

After a big shellfish dinner, Genji joined Piccolo outside.

"Ready?"

Genji nodded. Piccolo took Genji's arm and launched off into the air. Genji found himself trailing behind with a wind howling in his ears, beating in his face, and weaving wildly through his long hair. It was just like on the magic carpet, only there was nothing beneath him except the view of the deep, midnight blue ocean. Genji looked over his shoulder to see himself floating away from the island below.

This is great! And I get to learn how to do this? Awesome!

Ah, it feels good to be back in the air…

Piccolo took Genji to a very far off island and landed on the ground. The land was completely level and marshy, water sprung from the ground as Genji's feet took a step. There were sounds of swamp birds, frogs, and a beautiful melody of a nighting gale. There were a few trees to be seen, but Genji couldn't see their bases or roots from under the waterline. Some of the underbrush was submerged too.

**Piccolo-san, what is this place?**

"It has no official name, but the dragon gods call this 'Grim Reaper Isle.' There was an enormous battle here between Cell and the other androids, and because of it the island is sinking."

No kidding? This was where I absorbed Android 17? It sure does look different… Hey, walk around a little, Genji.

Genji took a few steps, looking around at the tiny island. Twilight was following the sunset, so Genji had little light to see by. He sometimes found himself stepping into puddles as deep as his knee.

"Don't go too far." Piccolo warned. "It's rather dangerous here. This island is infested with Mononoke crocodiles."

Genji blinked.

**Crocodile gods? Is there such thing?**

"No, but they are as big enough to be called gods. They can take down a fully-grown dragon, so watch your step. Now, let's begin the flying lesson."

Genji faced Piccolo and listened carefully.

"You can concentrate you ki, right?"

**Sure. I meditate once in a while. I can feel the energy in living things.**

"Okay, so this shouldn't be a problem. I want you to concentrate your ki and push it down. If you can't do that, then use the ki around you to push you up. Okay?"

Genji nodded, then bent his head and closed his eyes. Yes, he knew the basics of ki. Yamcha taught him and Aoi how to feel out other ki, but he spent a lot of time off the mountain, so lessons were brief.

Genji could feel the living energy stirring inside his body, and he slowly cleared his mind. His ki slowly increased and began to vibrate in his body. His hair and clothes began to ripple as though a wind was blowing around him.

He tried not to strain his mind, and he focused a majority of his ki to his feet. He felt a small lift…

…Then he suddenly lost it, and fell flat on his face in the muddy ground. Piccolo shook his head slightly.

"Don't concentrate your ki to your feet. Keep it centered and push."

Genji pushed himself up to a sit and spat a small frog out of his mouth.

"Ribbit!" the thing thanked as it hopped away.

"Now, let's try again." Piccolo suggested. "This time, keep your ki centered."

/|\

Marron, finally done with the computer, shut it down and stretched her arms. It was bedtime. She got up and looked around the guestroom. Genji's bow and arrows were lying next to the window and his fur shroud was lying on the bed, so she walked to it. She ran her hand through the fur, and was greeted by a coarse, almost rough feeling. It felt almost like an itchy sweater.

"There's no way this can be real…" Marron shook her head. She lifted up the shroud to look at the inside. "Leather? Oh, wait…cowhide, I think…aw, there's no tag! How am I supposed to know what it's made of?! And how does Genji clean it without instructions on the tag? Not with a washing machine, that's for sure…" Then, she spotted the mask, and she smiled at it. "Cool." Being curious, she slipped the mask over her face and let the shroud cover her head.

"Aaak! It's heavy!" she cried. Then, she looked at herself in a full body mirror, and smirked. "But, it's cool." She made a couple of poses before taking it off. "So, that's what they wear on Singing Mountain…"

Her mind drifted to Genji's handsome face, and she blushed as she put the shroud back on the bed. She stroked the faux fir as she thought of him.

Oh, Genji…so kind and gentle…I want to be in your arms again…

She swooned and leaned against the bed, sitting on the floor.

I want to look into you eyes…feel your hot breath on my cheeks…run my hands through your golden silk hair…

I know I've only known you for a day, but I never wanted a man as badly as I want you…

Oh Genji, my love…

Starry eyed, Marron sighed and stared at the ceiling. What she wouldn't give to have Genji with her now…

"Well, well, well…what have we here?"

Marron heard a rather gruff voice from the window. She looked and saw a huge eye staring back at her. She screamed and insistently curled into a ball. The gruff voice laughed at her.

"Don't be scared, sweetie. We're not after you."

" 'We're?' " Marron squeaked. "Who are you?"

Then, and even gruffier voice roared at the front of the house.

"OLD TURTLE HERMIT! COME OUT NOW!"

Marron turned to the guestroom door instinctively.

"Mommy!" she called out, crawling to the door. "Daddy! What's going on?!"

"Hey." The dragon at the window called to her. "Don't go nowhere, baby. What's that furry thing on that bed? It smells like a wolf."

Marron turned her head back to the eye at the window.

"It's a coat…"

"A wolf fur coat? Whose is it?"

"…" Marron bit her lip. She was losing her words. The size of dragon gods always made her nervous.

"Don't be scared, baby doll. No one's gonna hurt you. That fur coat doesn't belong to a Genji, does it?"

"Po!" another voice growled. "Quit flirting and get over here!" The eye turned away from the window and Marron could see the rest of its scaly head.

"Aw, but she's cute…"

"Any sign of Genji?"

"Just his coat…"

"Okay, I'll tell Don."

" 'Po?' " Marron blinked. " 'Don?' Oh no…"

"What's wrong now, sweetie?" Po asked Marron.

"You're one of the StormGod brothers, aren't you?!"