NEXUS PART 4

By: Melinda

11/27/05

Mel looked down at the 2 garments that lay before her on the bed. Moments earlier the Kyoji had brought them to her. They were lying there so perfectly, not one crease in them. Her fingers skimmed down the material, they were made out of silk and very soft. Something she wouldn't mind snuggling up against it. She furrowed her brow as she looked at them. There was NO way she was going to wear these. Melinda always hated to dress up and she wasn't about to start now. She sighed as she sat on the other side of the bed to wait for her friend, her blue eyes gazing over at the dresses. They resembled Japanese kimonos crossed with simple robes. They did tie around the front. One was a light blue color with white cherry blossom flowers imprinted on it, the other a soft purple with pink cherry blossom flowers. The dresses were pretty but Mel still was refusing to wear them. She turned her head when she heard the door to her room start to open. In walked her friend, Lea. Lea seemed a little different this time, but Mel wasn't sure what took place. "So those are our new outfits, sis?" Lea asked first as she walked back into the room.

"Yeah," Melinda replied, not really wanting to wear them. She sat there, waiting for her friend to change the conversation into what took place while she was gone, but it seemed to Melinda's luck that it wouldn't happen.

"So which one do you want, Mel?" Lea asked as she sat down on the bed, next to the dresses.

"Um, neither?" Melinda giggled some. "Dresses and Mel don't go great together."

"Aw, come on, sis. If you don't wear it…you won't get to go to the dinner tonight with that Tengu…" Lea replied in a teasingly manner.

Melinda felt the color pigments in her face start to change to red from her friend's remark, her eyes went wide and then she glared over at her friend in a defense.

About 2 hours later, Melinda was sitting on the bed in her new purple garment. She sighed as she sat there. She didn't like wearing dresses. She never felt any prettier in them than she did in normal clothes. Her eyes glanced over at her friend who was wearing her blue garment, and standing at the window. Both of their hair was pinned up by 2 jade sticks that Lea found. Amazingly despite how thick Mel's hair was, it was staying up. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Mel's heart begin to skip. She was so nervous on seeing him. Lea glanced over at her friend, see how petrified she was, and walked over to open the door, giggling some at her friend as she passed her. There at the door in the hallway, instead of Ve, was the Kyoji. He stood there hovering, thanks to the mask he wore, his expression never seem to change. "Forgive the interruption, but I am here to escort you down to the banquet."

Melinda's heart kind of sunk when she heard him talk. She got up from the bed and walked over towards where they were. "What happened to Ve-Sama?" She asked with disappointment.

"My apologies, he was caught up in a business affair and had me send for you. He will be waiting for you down in the Great Hall of the castle." His voice tone never changing to express any kind of regrets.

"Alright," Lea replied as she glanced over at her friend and then followed Kyoji as he floated down the hallway.

Moments later, Mel's and Lea's eyes widen as they entered the Great Hall of the castle. It appeared to be the largest room that both of them had ever seen! On the walls were murals that resembled Feudal Japan, and there rows upon rows of tables filled with plates of all kinds of food. At the tables sat numerous creatures, none of them looked human at all. Melinda's eyes went wide as she looked all at them. "Tell me I am dreaming, sis…" She said out loud to her friend. But her friend did not reply by the outstanding site.
"Ah, there you are. My apologies for not being able to escort you myself. I had important business matters that I had to attend to," Ve-Sama said as he approached them. Melinda looked over and then smiled at him shyly. She could see his bright green eyes looking at her. "Those garments that the Kyoji selected fit you well. Truly it is a great honor to have 2 beautiful females at our tournament this year." Mel's eyes went wide from his words and she could feel her face turning red once more. She stepped some in behind her friend to try to hide her face from the embarrassment. "Come, my father is waiting for us." He motioned for them to follow with his hand and he turned and began to walk down between the rows of long tables towards the head table.

"We get to sit up there?" Lea asked almost in shocked, seeing a large, luxurious table at the front where the Daimyo was sitting. There were servants all around that table ready to serve.

"Of course. You are our special guests this year and you deserve only the best." Ve-Sama replied as he approached the table.

The Daimyo smiled softly as his green eyes looked over at them. He stood up from the table. "Aw, it appears the guests of honor have arrived. Please, my friends, make yourselves comfortable. The servants will get whatever you acquire."

Melinda stood by her friend, shyly, unable to speak. She had never been treating this well and wasn't too sure on what to say or how to act. She felt so royal. Ve-Sama walked over to a chair at the table and held it out for her, gesturing for Melinda to sit down. Mel smiled at him and went over and sat down in the chair. He then went over to offer Lea a seat as well.

"Father, please excuse me for a moment. I need to ask the Kyoji if anymore guests are expected to arrive this evening." Ve-Sama said. Then he turned to give a smile to Mel before turning and walking down the hall towards the other end. Melinda couldn't help but to have her eyes follow his movement, she sighed softly to herself.

The Daimyo smiled as he looked over from Lea to Melinda. "I see that my son has taken a liking to you. I am glad to see it…," the Daimyo spoke softly. Melinda's eyes went wide and she was almost caught off guard from his words. She felt herself smiling back at him before turning red once more, not even looking up at her friend. "Please, my friends, go ahead and eat." The Daimyo motioned as the servants brought them a plate with steak in a sauce that resembled Teriyaki and a bowl of rice.

Moments later while they were eating, Ve-Sama came back over and sat down to join them. Melinda felt herself growing nervous once as he sat there with her and she felt herself taking smaller bites of food, making sure she didn't get anything on her dress.
"Gomen Nasi, Daimyo-sama, for the interruption," a soft voice spoke. Melinda looked up and saw a humanoid rabbit creature in a samurai like outfit. He was small around 5 feet if not smaller. She looked at him confused on who he was.

"Please it is alright, Usagi-san. What is the matter?" The Daimyo asked.

The young rabbit bowed and then approached the table this time closer towards Mel's friend. Confusedly, Melinda looked over at her friend and by her friend's face, it appeared that somehow she knew who he was. "Lea-san. I want to apologize for what took place earlier. It was rash and I hope I did not bring you any dishonor to the unfortunate event." Melinda blinked from his words and kept looking from the rabbit to her friend trying to figure out what was going on. Her friend sat there, unable to reply back, Melinda could tell that she was tense about something. "I will allow you to get back to your meal." Usagi bowed and then walked away from the table.

"I see that you have met, Usagi. He is a very honorable warrior. He is young but his swordsmanship is almost like a very experienced warrior. Usagi is a ronin, and I am very lucky to have him competing this year in the tournament," The Daimyo said after the rabbit left.

Melinda leaned in closer to whisper to her friend. "What was that about, sis?"

"Nothing," Lea whispered back. "I'll tell you later, Mel." Melinda could still tell that her friend was tense about something. "So if we are witnesses from Earth, Daimyo-sama, are there any competitors from our dimension?"

"You are witnesses from the 3rd Earth dimension and I believe we have just one this year. It is unfortunate that we just have one…but he is my great friend, Splinter-san. He is very wise and honorable. It is good to have him here. His master, Hamato Yoshi, was a champion of the Big Brawl many years ago. I have been hoping to ask Splinter-san if his sons would like to compete in the tournament if he deems it so."

Suddenly Melinda looked over and saw that Ve-Sama kind of looked uncomfortable with something. His jaw muscles were tight as if he was clenching his teeth. She wasn't too sure why…she looked away, trying not to stare, not wanting to bring attention to him.
Ve-Sama rose up from the table. "This is a beautiful night, father, perhaps, if I may, take Melinda on a walk around the courtyard?" Melinda' eyes went wide and then she looked nervously at her friend.

Melinda then saw the Daimyo looking over at her. "If she wishes, you may."

"Uh…sure," Melinda replied, very nervous. She took Ve-Sama's hand and he led her out of the castle. She was too nervous to even looking back at her friend at the table.

Melinda remained quiet as she walked with the young Tengu around the courtyard. She was nervous being alone with him and she wasn't too sure if she say anything. He seemed upset about something. Course, all her life, she had always wanted to know what was going on with people when they seemed down about something. "Is everything alright….?"

"Yes, of course," Ve-Sama replied quickly. "I thought it would do some good to get some fresh air."

"Oh, okay…" Melinda said and then grew quiet again. "You know…t-this place is very beautiful, Ve-Sama. It's so peaceful. Very different from where I come from."

"Are you happy being here?"

"Yeah…except wearing this dress…" Melinda replied jokingly as she giggled some.

"Do you not like it?" Ve-Sama asked as he stopped and looked at her.

"Oh I was just playing. Of course I do! I just not use to wearing something like this." Melinda giggled again, feeling embarrassed.

"You are very beautiful in it," Ve-Sama replied as he continued to walk once more.
"Aw, thank you." Mel giggled as she followed him. Suddenly she tripped some on the end of her robe and stumbled some. Ve-Sama caught her some to keep her from falling completely to the ground.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah I am a klutz…" Melinda replied softly, feeling so stupid for almost falling like that. "Sorry…"

Suddenly she felt his warm lips press against hers as he took her in for a kiss. Her eyes went wide by his sudden approach but allowed him to do so. She accepted his lips and pressed against them as well to return the kiss. Her heart was racing, something about him was strongly attracting her. Once he pulled away, she looked at him speechless, wondering what that was for.

"To cheer you up…" He smiled, Melinda couldn't help but to return the smile.
"My lord, a moment…" a deep growling voice said as a large figure approached them. He was wearing a cloak and she couldn't see his face…his hands were covered by the long sleeves of his cloak and the only thing she could see was his glowing eyes.
Ve-Sama turned to look at the figure. "What is it counselor?"

"I must speak with you….it is in regards to the tournament arrangements." The figure replied. Melinda stood there almost in fear…something about that figure was not right.
"Very well," Ve-Sama replied and then he looked over at her. "Melinda, I must speak with him. Will you be alright getting back to your room?"

"Yes…of course." Melinda replied. She bowed slightly to him and then walked away towards the castle once more leaving Ve-Sama with the strange figure, her mind clouded by the day's events.

The next day, Melinda and Lea had started their morning off with a trip down to the baths that Lea had found yesterday. It was so relaxing to both of them. Lea never did bring up what happened between her and that ronin rabbit and Melinda never said anything about what happened between her and the Tengu on their walk. The past day's events was bogging Melinda's mind and the relaxing warm sensation of the water was easing her.
Later on that morning after returning to their rooms from the baths, Melinda walked over to the window to look out into the courtyard. In the distance away from the castle were 2 figures. Her eyes went wide when she noticed that one of the figures was the Tengu. He was lying on the ground looking up helplessly at the other figure, which appeared to be some sort of giant turtle. Mel couldn't help but to let out a cry, "NO!" Without saying anything to her friend, she rushed out of the room and down the stairs out of the castle.
She ran as fast as she could, approaching the 2 figures. She noticed that the Tengu had been knocked down to the ground, his swords laid away from him and the creature in front of him appeared to be a humanoid turtle wearing a blue bandana, a belt, some sort of fighting gear. He was armed with 2 katanas, one still it its sheath and the other in his hand. Melinda grabbed the Tengu's sword and ran and put herself in between him and the turtle. Her blue eyes glaring at the stranger. Her hand clenched tightly on the sword as she held out towards him threatingly. "Get away from him, you freak…."

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