THE CIRCLE CLOSES
CHAPTER 1
THE YEAR AFTER
Earth-251.
August 2, 2052.
"Be advised. Suspect was last seen at the Shinsei Bank. Suspect is considered armed and dangerous." said a voice over the police scanner.
In the dark of night, a 22 year old ram was limping as fast as he could, right hand clenching both a pistol and bloody claw marks on his left shoulder.
"HELP!" he screamed. "THEY'RE AFTER ME!"
However, there was no sound of acknowledgement that anyone was around. He stopped for a brief moment when he heard foot steps coming from behind him. Someone had chased him... Most likely the one that gave him his wounds.
"NO!" he cried out.
He then positioned his leg right. Despite the pain, he continued trying to actually run, holding his arm wound, eventually making it to a parking lot. He was a good distance away from the pursuer, whose identity was masked by the dark. The ram then made it to his car and got down on the ground, quickly, yet quietly getting underneath his car, a black 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. The ram held his mouth and forced himself to be quiet. Soon enough, the pursuer ran over to the car. The ram looked over, visibly terrified, despite seeing only black shoes and black pants. He noticed them walking around the car, as if he's being searched for. He then noticed the pursuer walking off. Before too long, he could no longer hear the pursuer and crawled back out from under the car. Out of breath, he dug around in his pocket for the keys, then unlocked the car door. He then quickly got in, sat in the seat, locked the door and started the car before noticing the rear view mirror. In it was a face he recognized: Louis Graywolf, a red deer in his early 50s, leader of the Hogo-sha-gumi... and someone he really wished he hadn't met. The sight of Louis made him terrified, frozen in place.
"Hello, Uragiri." said Louis and quickly put a wire around the ram's neck from the back seat, strangling him. The ram pulled at the wire, trying to break free, although Louis's grip was too tight. Soon enough... The ram was dead. Louis then got out of the car and straightened out his suit. The pursuer then walked over to the car, revealed to be Legoshi, a gray wolf in his early 50s, and Louis' husband. He had just answered his phone with his left hand. His claws and the tips of his fingers on his right hand were covered in blood.
"Relax." Legoshi said to the other person on the phone. "Everything will be alright. Try not to get yourself killed."
"What?" asked Louis.
Legoshi put a finger up that signaled "One moment.".
"We'll be there as soon as we can." said Legoshi. "I'll notify our parents and hers."
Louis looked a little concerned.
"I love you too." said Legoshi. "Stay safe. Goodbye." he said, then hung up the phone. "Looks like we're going to be uncles tonight."
Louis smiled.
Meanwhile, on a highway elsewhere, a Chevrolet Suburban is speeding, dodging and weaving through traffic, being seemingly chased by a Corvette police car, adding blue and red to the night's sky. In the Suburban, Tamiko was driving while Jane was in the passenger seat, pregnant and holding her belly, breathing in and out.
"Please don't kill us!" Jane cried.
"I promise!" said Tamiko. "Hold on baby! We're almost there!"
Jane started screaming.
Soon enough, they sped to a stop next to the door. Tamiko quickly got out at the same time as the police officer.
"Sorry about the speed officer!" Tamiko exclaimed. "Hogo-sha-gumi!" he said and showed his hand with the ring on it. "My girlfriend's in labor!" he said and quickly got her out of the car.
Later, after Jane was in her room and in a relaxed state sometime before the baby comes, Tamiko clicks the pen shut and tears a check from his checkbook and extends his hand toward the police officer.
"Look..." said the police officer. "The Hogo-sha-gumi helps keep Tokyo safe. It don't feel right taking that from you." he said and took a look at the name on the check. "Take care, Mr. Graywolf, and congratulations."
"Thank you, sir." said Tamiko.
A polar bear in a black suit walked out.
"Mr. Graywolf?" he asked.
"It's time?" asked Tamiko.
"Yes, sir." said the polar bear.
"Follow me and remain outside Jane's door." said Tamiko. "Thank you for arriving before me."
"You're welcome, sir." said the polar bear.
Some time after having walked up to Jane's room, Tamiko was holding her hand as the nurse was delivering.
"Alright, Jane." said the nurse. "Push."
Jane started screaming as she pushed.
"Breathe, baby." said Tamiko. "I'm here."
"Push, Jane!" said the nurse.
Jane breathed a little more before screaming as she pushed more.
"You're doing great, honey." said Tamiko. "Breathe."
Jane then breathed a little more, screaming as she pushed. Tamiko and Jane then heard a little cry.
"You're almost there!" said the nurse. "Push!"
Jane breathed before screaming one more time as she pushed.
"There we go..." said the nurse and smiled as she tried to calm the baby. "It's a girl! Congratulations!" she said, then walked over to Jane with the baby and handed her to Jane. Tam and Jane got tears in their eyes as they lie their eyes on their daughter for the first time. Jane wrapped her up and held her firmly.
"She's so beautiful." said Jane.
"You did a good job, honey." said Tamiko.
"WE did." Jane said, smiling.
"Hiii." Tamiko said to the baby softly. "I'm your daddy."
"Any thoughts on what to name her?" asked the nurse.
"Sakura." said Jane.
Later, Juno was in the room with them, standing by the bed and holding Sakura, admiring her, memories in full flood at the moment.
"I can't believe I'm a grandmother now." said Juno. "I still remember when you were this tiny."
Jane smiles.
"Well don't get too old on me, mother." she said.
Juno smiled at Jane.
"I'll try not to." said Juno.
Leano and Miyagi then walked in and stood by Juno. Leano smiled upon seeing Sakura.
"Aaaawww... Such a little sweetheart." said Leano.
"She is." said Juno.
"Mother?" asked Tamiko. "Is Louis and Legoshi here?"
"Yeah, they're outside talking to..." Leano said and turned to Juno. "I'm assuming your husband, until the room's less crowded."
"Yeah, it's probably him." said Juno.
"You wanna hold the baby?" Jane asked Leano.
"I'd love to, hun." said Leano.
Juno then carefully handed her Sakura.
"Hi there, sweetie." said Leano.
"I'll be back, sweetheart." Juno said to Jane.
"Alright." said Jane.
A short time later, Juno sat down to Legoshi's left. To Legoshi's right was Louis. Juno's husband was gone from the area by that point.
"So I guess we're sort of family now, aren't we?" asked Juno.
"Yeah, I think it's safe to assume that." said Legoshi and smiled.
"Life can sure be funny sometimes, can't it?" asked Juno. "I went from being in love with you to being the grandmother of your brother's child."
Louis smiled as Legoshi chuckled.
"All we're missing is Haru." said Juno.
"Have you seen her around lately?" asked Legoshi.
"Yeah, actually." said Juno. "I had lunch with her yesterday and we talked."
"How is she?" asked Louis.
"She's great." said Juno. "Her son is getting married next week."
"Man, aren't we getting old?" asked Louis and chuckled.
The three then laughed.
"How's life been treating you, Juno?" asked Louis.
"I've been pretty good." said Juno and turned to Legoshi. "Your brother's relationship with Jane's actually had a great effect on our family."
Louis and Legoshi smiled.
"How have you been?" asked Juno.
"Well... last year was stressful." said Louis. "We had to track down and... take care of a murder. I was so terrified we were going to lose our son."
"Course..." Legoshi began and held Louis' hand, locking his fingers in the spaces between Louis'. "He did have his wolfy to relieve SOME tension..."
Louis smiled.
"Ohhh you..." he said and kissed Legoshi.
"You seem very very happy now." said Juno.
"We are." said Legoshi with a smile. "We got married in 2022. Been pretty busy since, but somehow, we never lost sight of each other."