Doorway
It was early one fall morning during the time of the Moon Festival. Chinatown was bustling with a bright array of patterns and the sounds of preparation were heard throughout streets. D prepared a nice breakfast with oddly named sweets as the finishing course. To people who weren't familiar with D one would ask themselves why there were two plates stead of just one. D had by now come to expect Taki's visits just as he was always expecting Leon and Chris's visits. Just as he expected he heard a knock at the door and the sounds of dog claws clicking on the cement outside. D opened the door and smiled at his expected guest. Taki and Ginger strolled into the pet shop. As usual, Ginger went to T-chan's side and they snuggled close. D sipped his tea and finally spoke.
"Taki, would you care to come to the moon festival with me tonight?" he asked gently setting his tea cup back on the mahogany table.
"Of course I would. When should I be here" she answered with a smile but trying not to overreact.
"Don't worry about that Miss. Taki. I'll get you. After all, it'll be too cold tonight to have you come out here" he answered softly making Taki's heart lift. Just then a loud knock was heard at the door. Everyone in the shop knew who it was immediately. D opened the door and politely greeted the detective and Chris. Taki looked around the shop and thought to herself.
"D, by any chance...do you have a quetzal?" she asked. D was a little hesitant about bringing it out with the detective around, but he decided he would do it for Taki. He went to the back room and carefully got the little bird out of its cage. He stepped back in to the main area with a small green bird resting on his hand. The bird was small and green but its magnificent tail was long and elegant with a splash of red, purple, and yellow feathers mixed with the green. Its tail was at least two feet long but maybe much longer. He passed it over to Taki. The small bird hopped off her hand and made itself comfortable in her lap. "What's her name?" Taki asked.
"Her name is Luz. It means light in Spanish doesn't it?" he asked hoping his Spanish was correct.
"Ah yes, Luz is perfect for her. After all, that's exactly the sort of things she stood for to the Aztecan people" Taki said. "They were worshipped and thought to poses powers of fire. Who knows, maybe this little girl does."
Leon stood up. "Wait a minute!" he said. "I've learned not to trust this nut-job-filled pet shop. Put that thing away before it sets the town on fire!"
"Oh please, I'm sure she couldn't do any of those things" Taki said rolling her eyes.
"Give me the stupid bird! I'll put it away for you if you don't want to!" Leon shouted. Ginger barked at the detective in protest and inched towards him. Leon pushed her away before she got closer. T-chan sprang at the detective for his arrogance towards Ginger and began to bite. Ginger once again stepped in to help T-chan. In the commotion the quetzal flew off of Taki's lap and began fluttering around the pet shop in the most frightened state. Leon, trying to get out of the grips of Ginger and T-chan backed up against the door and forced it open. Luz saw her opportunity and fled out the door and became lost in the city sky. "Great..." said Leon as the bird disappeared even further.
"Leon, why did you chase her away? I like Luz and she's never hurt me" said Chris.
"It's true, he's handled her before and she was so kind to him" said D.
"Well, Chris, do you want to help me find her? I don't trust these two looking for a bird like that on some crazy Chinese holiday" Leon said. Chris nodded in agreement. He wouldn't answer because he was still too upset to see Luz go. With that, the two were gone without a single good-bye except a wave from Chris.
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Later that evening, D arrived at Taki's house elegantly dressed as always. His flowing clothing was a solid black with a lucky red dragon snaking its way down. He rang the door bell and Taki emerged from her home. Taki wore and elegant dress with long sleeves. It was solid black with a pattern of dark blood red roses cascading down the sleeves. A dark velvet sash with fishnet covering secured the dress tightly to her waist. She wore stockings with small slits and her usual high boots. D couldn't help but smile as he had grown attached to Taki's way of dressing. He then held out his hand. Taki accepted it and stepped down from her doorway. Ginger poked her head out from behind the door and held it open. Taki looked back to see what was keeping her from closing the door. When she spied her dog she waved her back into the house but D stopped her.
"Actually, Miss. Taki, it's quite alright. She won't be a bother, I brought company for her" he said. With that D moved aside to reveal T-chan waiting at the bottom of the steps. Ginger didn't need an inviting gesture from Taki. She made it quite clear that she would be spending the night with T-chan by running down the steps to his side. Taki finally closed the door and the two couples headed down the street.
When they arrived at the area of the festival the city skies were lit with bright paper lanterns. The moon was perfect as always and the stars, though only few were visible, were gorgeous as well. The smells of the freshly prepared foods filled the night. D made his way to his favorite restaurant and opened the door for Taki. He whispered something to T-chan and a T-chan nodded in response. As Taki and D were entering Ginger and T-chan walked down the street. Taki and D spent about an hour at the restaurant. However, they couldn't leave without a colorful display of desserts as they both liked it.
Soon enough a parade started and Taki spied T-chan and Ginger walking down the street a few times. The two creatures acted sweeter towards each other that night than their masters had ever seen. But rarities were often seen during the Moon Festival. Mid-way through the parade D led Taki away and took her up the street. As they were walking they met up with Ginger and T-chan sitting on a street corner as if they were waiting for them. T-chan and Ginger followed Taki and D down the streets. They walked a long ways before they finally reached a high point. It was somewhat of a hill but the height made it feel like a mountain. At the top there was an amazing pagoda. D didn't let Taki turn around for some time. After they stepped into the pagoda he asked her to see the sights behind them. It was the most beautiful thing Taki had ever seen. The whole illuminating festival stretching for what seemed like miles was gleaming right before her.
"It's so beautiful D" said Taki as a breeze began to blow. She tried to make it look like she didn't notice the cold. D sat her down and spoke.
"I have something for you and it should prove to be useful tonight because you do seem to be getting cold" he said. He pulled out a box from underneath the seats they were in. He opened it and revealed the most beautiful blanket. It was made out of layers of silk and various other fabrics to make it warm. On it were golden stars and a wolf looking towards the sky. D wrapped it around her.
"Taki, I see now what you meant about family honor, but would you mind telling me more about..."he said not sure how to finish the sentence.
"My father was a Chinese god. He was the son of the dragons. My mother was a daughter of the Aztec gods. As the old ways faded the gods lost power like a faded memory. My family came to Earth to live without the stresses of the declining power. However, we still kept our powers it's just that there was no need for them at this point. We now only use them when Earth is in danger. The sun god has supreme power now" she explained.
"But why are you only an Aztecan goddess, and how did you get an identity here if you just appeared on this Earth?" D asked.
"I am not only an Aztecan goddess. I have many forms but my Aztecan form is my strongest because I am more attached to that culture. My last name, Lau means keeper of the dragon, and that's what my father was. We picked our name to stay true to us, as people. These celebrations never did that. It was always what we stood for, never who we were. That's why I think I'd be on earth now regardless of the power struggle" she said trying to hide her sadness. D pulled her closer. "Here I fell so much freer. I can do what I please as long as it abides by human law. As a full-time goddess I had to be careful who I loved because if the gods disapproved I'd be looked down upon, I couldn't feel hate or I'd be looked down upon. Almost everything I can do now would be looked down upon by the gods" she finished.
"Don't think about those things anymore, Miss. Taki. The fact is you're here now and now you can be free. And I'll be by your side to make sure of it" said D embracing her tighter. Fireworks illuminated the sky as Taki and D and Ginger and T-chan were holding each other. They cuddled for the longest time. Then, D lifted Taki's head. She wasn't sure of what was coming and she hoped for the best. D pulled hr close and they shared a wonderful kiss. Taki had never felt this way about anyone and it was getting more perfect by the minute. It seemed unbelievable, like a dream.
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About an hour later Taki and D arrived at the house. Taki looked back to see if Ginger and T-chan were close and she saw Ginger experiencing the same unexpected, perfect dream she had experienced back at the pagoda. She smiled because now she knew for sure her faithful companion was happy here as well. Taki called Ginger over to her. Ginger walked over to her friend without her usual stubborn hesitation.
"I had a wonderful time, D" Taki began. "This reminds me, I have something for you." Taki stepped into the house for a moment. When she returned she had a golden box wrapped in fine red and gold ribbon. "It's some Lips of Odalisque I bought from the best place I could find." D was surprised with this, and then he smiled.
"Thank you Taki. I don't remember the last time I had these" he said. Ginger snuck away from Taki as she and D were having their moment. She sat by T-chan then laid on him. He placed a caring hand on her head and stroked her soft black and brown-streaked hair. Taki and D embraced again and T-chan and Ginger did the same. The night finally concluded as Ginger and Taki walked back into the house after saying good-bye to their loves. Taki sat on the couch and thought for a while and she knew Ginger was thinking the same thing. She knew that the gods were smiling on her.
D arrived at the pet shop and Leon and Chris were waiting for him.
"Where were you D!?!" said Leon with the quetzal, Luz in hand.
"Taki and I went to the Moon Festival" he said simply as he took to the bird away from Leon.
"Really, did she invite you in?" asked the detective.
"No, detective. But, I may not have gotten through the doorway to her house but I'm certain I got through the doorway to her heart" he said closing the door behind him, silencing the city so he and T-chan could quietly enjoy visions of the beautiful night during the Moon Festival.
The End.
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ERH: Sorry about my spelling. Sometimes I don't read through my stories carefully enough. I hope you like this new chapter.
MagicalGirl: Thanks so much for your ideas. They really worked well with my story. If it weren't for you I wouldn't know how to conclude this story.
AlOoPiEnEwBiE: I'm glad you liked my Mexico chapter. I worked so hard on it. Hopefully you liked this one too.
Erik's Rose: I hope what Taki said in this chapter answered all your questions. Don't hesitate to ask because I have answers for everything I put in here. Hopefully you'll read my sequel to this story too.
Sweet 'n' Sassy: So glad you enjoyed the chapter. I already have a bunch of my ideas for my sequel. I can't wait to write it and I'm glad to hear you can't wait to read it.
WITCHCHICK 3.0: I love to add real life to my stories. I'm glad it shows. About Taki's goddess form, in Aztecan mythology goddesses had long toenails but not exceedingly long like claws. More like pointed tips. That's what Taki's look like.
Fan1: Thanks for the compliment. The father daughter race is only I dream I have. I'm not old enough to compete in my dad's league yet. I was 12 when I was in my first race and I have won some awards. I'm practicing so I can be as good as my dad, the three-time Nostalgia Eliminator champion. I got a long ways to go though. :D
Nobody-Special: I'm glad you liked my previous chapter. I'm glad you're happy about my sequel. I like to please my readers and I'm glad I've pleased you.
Ruleroftheanimeuniverse: Well, you haven't missed anything because of my long no-update period. Sorry about that. There's so much to do. But hopefully you'll forgive me and you enjoy this chapter.
Just a random reader: Sorry, about the fluff absence. I put a lot in this one though. Usually fluff in my stories doesn't come until the end. I'll be putting a little more of it into my sequel though.
Heaven sent me: Sorry I didn't update very soon. Hopefully the Ginger/T-chan action here is to your liking.
REBELia, the punk rocker: Yeah, my first chapters were a bunch of intro and stuff. I agree that there aren't enough Goths in stories. That's partially why I made Taki a Goth. I wanted to show that Goths could be good characters too. Hopefully, Taki is a good character. (Hopes) lol. Punk rock, eh? Do you like the Sex Pistols?
VAREKAI: I finally updated. I'm so glad you like it.
PrettySammi: You'll get a lot of Taki goddess action in my sequel. A lot of Aztecan stuff comes into play in it. I finally updated and I hope you like my chapter.
DragonPrincess: YEAH, GIRL POWER!! I'm sorry the update wasn't soon. I'm so glad you like it. Hopefully you aren't mad at me. Lol
Note to Everyone: I'm SO sorry I haven't updated in so long. I had school work, my friends' Quinceanera; my Quinceanera which was on October 16th, then came my birthday the next day and I did some stuff. Then I got a boyfriend and I've been doing stuff with him. Then more school work and I went to Knotts Berry Farms' Halloween Hautn last night with my boyfriend and my friend from 7pm to 2am. If you want to read up on how that went, which I think would be fun for everyone because it was pretty funny, just click on my website link in my profile, I wrote all about it. (grins). Well the sequel is coming soon so be ready. Tlaloc, the owner of the cats, has risen. Taki and Tlaloc have a bit of a dispute and he wants to let his reign be known. It's the worst timing too. The gods are regaining power, Tlaloc is at his peak and he isn't too happy. What exactly are the two fighting about? How does Tlaloc rise again? And what's with the strange party (you'll find out about this in about chapter two)? Please read. I love you guys! I'm so glad you like my story. I'll think of your reviews as a late birthday present and they'll be the best presents of all and I really mean that. Well, "From the Heart" is over, but you'll be seeing more from me in "What it is to Burn."