NEXUS PART 3

By: Melinda

11/27/05

Lea watched Melinda interact with the Tengu in the doorway before he turned to leave. She was curious as she saw Mel color and smirked. Her friend rarely showed interest in members of the opposite sex. They had both over time had troubles with past relationships and tended to be overly cautious around boys, but maybe people in this other universe were different? Maybe they could be trusted a little more?

"Wow…" Melinda's voice was soft and Lea couldn't help but giggle. The taller girl turned at the sound he her friend's merriment and scolded her with her expression. "What's so funny?"

"You." Lea's answer was simply; she continued to smirk at Mel as her friend crossed the room to their beds. Lea witnessed Melinda roll her eyes at her. "You like him don't you?"

"No I don't!" Mel turned swiftly; coloring an even darker shade of red, disbelieving her associate would be so blatant. "He just very gentlemanly, I'm not used to that." Mel's tone was defensive.

"You can't fool me, you were nearly drooling over him!" Lea's giggle started to turn into laughter at the expression on her friends face.

"I was not!" Still Melinda protested. "I was just trying to show him that we are grateful for his and his father's hospitality." Flopping down to sit on her bed, Mel glared at Lea, pouting.

"Whatever Sis… I won't argue with you. I just know what I see." Chuckling lightly Lea crossed the room and pulled back the heavy drapes peering out the window at the grounds below. It seemed like a rather normal courtyard, she could see all manner of odd looking bringing milling about, a lot of them seemed to be heading in one direction. Some with wagons full of items and she had to wonder if maybe there was a market near by. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a sign that caused her face to light up.

ONSEN. Lea nearly squealed. "Sis they have hot springs here!" She suddenly felt very sweaty and dirty in the clothes she was wearing. "I want to go to the bathhouse!" Turning a smile spread across her face Lea saw that Melinda was not paying attention her. She pouted. "Melinda?"

Mel had a kind of dreamy look on her face, pausing in her thought her eyes rose at the sound of her name. "Sorry Lea, did you say something?"

It was now Lea's turn to roll her eyes. "Listen Mel, I know I am suppose to wait for this Kyoji guy, but could you possibly just get our clothes from him? I kind of want to get cleaned up, it been a long day. Unless do you want to go too?" Lea shut the drapes behind her, waiting to hear her friends reply.
Melinda shook her head. "I think I'll just wait here. I'm not really in the mood to explore yet, but your welcome to go Sis." She paused. "I just kind of have a lot of stuff I would like to think about."

Lea nodded. "That's fine, I shouldn't be too long, and I would just love to get clean." Lea crossed the room stopping in front of Mel. "You sure you'll be alright alone Sis?" She didn't want to leave her friend if she needed her for anything.

"Yeah I'll be fine, I just need a little time to clear my head." Melinda fell over backwards, laying and staring at the ceiling. Lea figured she would be kind and obey her friend's wishes and give her a little private time. As silently as she could Lea slipped from the room and out to the hallway.

Lea stopped as she entered the onsen and looked around her. It was fairly slow; the only person in sight was an older looking female creature at the counter. She was a soft brown color and sort of looked like a humanoid deer. Lea stepped forward feeling a little out of place she cleared her throat.
"Oh." The Hostess smiled. "You must be one of the honored guests, please come in you are welcome here." The deer creature rose and gestured for Lea to step out of the entrance doorway. Lea crossed the room still looking around her.

"Would it be alright if I cleaned myself then used the bath please?" She knew she sounded a little too timid, but she was afraid of unknowingly doing something wrong and offending someone. The Hostess just smiled at her.

"Of coarse child. Like I said you are an honored guest, you may do as you please." The deer woman bowed and gestured towards a room to the right. "If you enter here you will find the private ladies changing area and cleansing room. Then if you proceed through the large doors in the back and down the hallway to the right you find the private woman's bath. There are not many female visitors today so you should have it to yourself.

Lea returned the bow. "Thank you."

"You are very welcome, please enjoy your time here with us." The Hostess rose her expression so kind it set Lea's mind at ease. With one smaller bow she exited towards the changing room.

After washing herself thoroughly, including her hair Lea wrapped a towel around her body and proceeded back to the woman's bath. Pushing open the door she was hit by the soothing heat of the water. She glanced around slightly surprised. She was indeed the only person there. Walking a few steps and feeling fairly secure she dropped her towel and stepped into the water. The heat felt great against her nude skin, it melted away every ounce of stress that was upon her. She tied her hair up into a messy bun on top of her head before walking a few steps deeper into the bath and seating herself. Even the rock beneath her felt unusually warm. Lea honestly felt like she was in heaven.

Time passed, Lea sat, leaning back slightly against the outer rim of the bath, her eyes closed. She had moved a little farther back, finding a better place to sit. It was strange being in the huge room alone. She was determined to bring Melinda back here with her. She really thought her friend could also use the stress release.

Drowsily she turned her head when she thought she heard a noise and nearly leapt up when she heard a voice. "Gennosuke, I don't think we are suppose to be here." The person's tone was annoyed. "I wish you wouldn't have tried to start an argument with the group at the other bath." The speaker sighed and she could hear bodies rustling around. Standing now she crept closer to the entrance some bushes obscuring it from her view that were by the side of the pool.

"I don't see why WE should have to bath with such vagrants anyway. We are Samurai, we deserve a little more respect." The second voice was deeper. The speaker snorting at the end of the speech. Lea wasn't certain what to do; she could hear them wading into the water now.

"We are guests here Gen-chan, we cannot be acting so rude and bold all the…" The first speaker's speech fell short as he rounded the corner and came face to face with Lea. She was still standing, having been plotting an escape and there was no hiding the fact that unlike the two creatures walking towards her, she was not wearing a towel. The first speaker, a large, male humanoid rabbit's eye grew wide. He seemed unprepared for what to say. The second deeper voiced creature, Gennosuke, a large, humanoid rhino, nearly collided with him before too falling silent.

Lea screamed ducking back down into the water clutching her arms in front of her trying to hide her exposed body. "THIS IS THE WOMAN'S BATH YOU PERVERTS!" Her eyes squeezed shut tightly; she was half hoping the oddity of this event was just a dream.

"I… we are very sorry." It was the rabbits voice; she opened one eye a little and saw that both men now had their backs turned to her. "Please we are in the wrong, we beg your forgiveness and will not look while you take time to…cover yourself." She watched his ears twitch. Frowning she scrambling across the bath to her towel tossing it around herself quickly.

"We truly are sorry." She looked up to see the rabbit had turned so that only the side of his face was directed at her. She shifted, her eyes drifting over his toned, soft looking, fur covered body.

"That still doesn't explain WHY you are in the woman's bath." She pulled her covering tightly around herself.

Gennosuke snorted again. "This place has nothing labeled, how were we to know." He turned looking annoyed at her for putting up such a fuss. Lea frowned at him.

The rabbit stepped between them raising his hand to the rhino. "Gen-chan it's our fault, do not be rude." He turned, his full gaze falling onto Lea. She felt odd, mesmerized. "But as a warrior one can not help but admire the beauty that was presented today. Even if it was something I shouldn't have seen." Lea shivered slightly at his words, unable to piece together how to respond.

Gennosuke rolled his eyes. "Don't listen to Usagi girl. He likes to hear himself speak." The rabbit glared at his friend. Lea couldn't help but giggle; the dynamics between the two men was charming. She was still slightly embarrassed but felt dwelling on the matter wouldn't accomplish much. Still that didn't mean she wanted to stay and be reminded of it.

"I will remember that Gennosuke sir, as of right now, I think I will take my leave of you both." She bowed slightly and saw a frown cross the rabbit samurai's face.

"We have not offended you have we Miss? We can leave, please don't let our blunder interrupt your time here." Next to Usagi the rhino started to protest, once more glares were exchanged between them.

"No its alright, I have been soaking for too long anyway, I am here with a friend and she will be looking for me." Lea stepped back slightly. She still felt drawn in by the gaze of the man across from her. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. So powerful, yet gentle. He bowed slightly to her in return.

"May you at least grace me to know the name of the one I have obviously distressed this day?" Gennosuke had already started to walk away. Lea could tell he found the whole exchange between her and Usagi annoying.

"My name is Lea." Suddenly she felt shy. It was a feeling she wasn't completely used to.

"Are you here for the Battle Nexus Games Lea?" She simply nodded.

"I should be going Usagi, Sir, my friend will be looking for me." Once again she bowed feeling her face growing warmer.

"Please its just Usagi, there is no reason to be formal. I am but a mere ronin after all. Hopefully I will see you again Lea. I am competing in the games so I will be here for a bit longer." She could tell he was studying her. It almost unnerved her; she wondered what he could read from her poster and movements. "Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience Gen-chan and I have caused you."

Lea shrugged it off. "It was nice meeting you, even if it was under odd circumstances. I am certain I will see you again." Turning quickly on her heel Lea walked away through the water as briskly as she could. She didn't look back. A knot having formed in her stomach.

She dressed quickly stepping into the open air outside the onsen and sighed hard. She still wasn't completely sure what had just occurred to her. First she had bee horrified to be exposed to strange men, but the rabbit had been so charming. Then she chided herself. How could she find a creature that was obviously very not human and very much an animal, charming? It seemed like it should be wrong to her.

Yet still, something about his gaze. She wondered if that was what a true warrior looked like. Lea had studied Kung Fu for a while and loved martial arts and samurai films and always found herself slightly disappointed that there didn't seem to be any true swordsmen out there. Like one read about that used to exist. Meeting Usagi caused her to wonder if he was like the many noble retainers she had seen and read about. In a way even as different as he was he fascinated her.

She pushed her thought aside. Even with her words to him, Lea was fairly certain herself and Usagi would not meet again. There simply was so many men here it was a bit overwhelming. She didn't see how it was possible that she could just happen to run into one certain fighter again. If nothing else this would save her from explaining to Melinda what happened.

She neared the door to the room herself and her friends was sharing. She decided not to tell Melinda about her embarrassing episode knowing it would lead to far to much teasing. Also, she wasn't sure how to describe Usagi to her friend. So she thought it might just be easier to move on. Still there was something about his eyes that held her. She reached out and grasped the handle of her door lost in thought.

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