Koiji Chapter 3, a gargoyles fanfic

Koiji

(Love's Pathway)

A TGS-based story

Disclaimer: Gargoyles is the property of Disney and Buena Vista Television. Characters from the fanfics of Kimberly T. appear by permission. Roslin is the property of Kiwifluff, Mozu's #1 fan. All original characters and plot are the creative property of Christi Smith Hayden.

Part III

The formal presentation of the Tengu to the Ishimura council went off flawlessly but Kai's responses were chillingly polite. To his credit, Takakura took it all in stride. The young leader-to-be conducted himself well, making a great show of presenting one of Goro's finest tea sets in a handcrafted wooden box to Kai and the Ishimuran council of elders. He even brought up the incident with Hana before Kai had a chance to do it himself.

"Ah, the lovely Hana-san." Takakura laughed sheepishly. "I have witnesses who will attest to the sincerity of my apology but I'm afraid that my nose got in the way."

"Your… nose?" Kai asked, raising one brow ridge skeptically.

"In order to look her in the eye, I had to lower my nose like so," Takakura said, demostrating by dipping his long red nose and looking up at them. "To some females, it can look like I've dropped my pants. Older females titter, younger females blush, but I'm afraid that Hana found my nose too offensive for her sensitive tastes."

Yama leaned over Kai's shoulder. "He has a valid point, Kai-sama. I have had some experience with Hana in the classroom and she tends to have extreme reactions."

"Ah." Kai nodded and glanced back at Takakura. "I will overlook your youthful indigression this one time, because you are unaccustomed to our ways but from this moment on, you must be on your best behavior. If you wish to represent the Tengu at this gathering, there can be no more incidents like this."

Takakura bowed deeply, his nose nearly brushing the floor. "It will be as you say, Kai-sama. The honor of the Tengu clan is more important that any personal interests that I might have."

Privately, Kirin thought this to be an obsequeous statement but resisted the urge to raise his eyebrow. He was sitting behind and to the right of the young Tengu leader-to-be in the position of advisor, much in the same way that Yama was serving Kai.

Kai bowed graciously from the neck. "We will have a meeting of clans tomorrow evening. You and Kirin-san are invited to attend. We will be discussing free trade, educational exchanges, and similar topics."

Takakura flashed a nervous glance at Kirin, who nodded with a slight curl of his barbels. "We will look forward to it," he said confidently. "Thank you, Kai-sama."

They both bowed formally and rose together to leave. Representatives from all of the clans attending the Grand Miai were mingling around the edges of the room. Kirin murmured, "You did that well. I'll see you in the sojobo circle yet."

"Heh, not for a long, long time, sensei." Takakura glanced about the main meeting hall. "I think I'll stay here and observe for a while. Are you off to the schoolroom?"

Kirin was frozen in place. Ariana had just passed by the wide open doorway of the meeting hall, walking arm-and-arm with her brother Graeme. They paused -- Graeme had heard something and turned back for a moment – when Ariana saw him. She smiled and Kirin had taken a step towards her when Brooklyn appeared with a grey-green gargoyle with a bushy mane of brown hair. The stranger threw open his arms and Ariana hugged him gleefully as if she'd known him all her life.

Takakura put a hand on his arm. "Sensei?"

"Yes," Kirin said, unable to watch further. "I'll be in the rookery."

He left before he had to see anything else.

o o o O O O o o o

"Mawson!" Ariana released him and bounced back on her toes. "Happa said you were here!"

"We got in a couple of nights ago," Mawson replied. The burly gargoyle from Antarctica was dressed in his worn leathers and his brown mane was draped over his shoulders like a furry mantle. "I looked for you but I got stuck doing clan diplomacy. Luckily, I've finally wrangled some free time." He raised one brow ridge. "I hear you and Graeme are playing on opposite teams for the big game."

"Yeah, but it's all good – I finally get to play shortstop." She laughed and prodded his chest with one finger. "You'd better watch yourself – nothing's getting by me."

"Then I'll try to hit it far, far away from you."

Ariana cocked her head. "Speaking of things being hit, what happened to your teeth?" She pointed to his one protruding tusk. "Didn't you used to have a matched set?"

"I wish I could say I lost it to a leopard seal," Mawson said sheepishly, "but the fact is that I took a tumble and broke it off. It felt like someone driving a spike into my jaw until I limped into McMurdo Station and had a human doctor take care of it." He peeled a corner of his lip back so she could see the shortened tusk. "He put a steel cap on it for me and everything."

"They have a dentist working in Antarctica?"

"Well, no." He dropped his voice and leaned towards her. "He was a zoologist down from the States to study marine mammals. He'd done the same repair on a walrus at the Indianapolis Zoo."

"Sounds to me like your clan has made progress since you were in Manhattan," Brooklyn said. "How long did it take Cole to talk the elders into working with humans?"

"We got the majority to agree but there's still some stubborn holdouts in the far caverns." Mawson shrugged. "Arthur helped us make contact with the U.S. Marshals out of McMurdo and, after a bit of a rough go on both sides, we managed to come to terms. We established a camp between our caverns and the human settlements. During the summer, we post a wing out there and we do regular rotations."

"Still, that's a great start," Ariana commented. "Anything exciting happen?"

"Last season, we rescued a couple of survey teams out on the ice." Mawson rolled his blue eyes expressively. "It never fails – they tell the new crews not to go off range during the thaws but do they listen? No-o-o-o-o!" He snorted.

"Ari-chan!" Takakura strolled up. He wearing grey draped pants with a matching grey jacket with stylized black gingko leaves in a strip along the lapel. "How fortunate! I was hoping to wish you luck before the game. Tancho's looking forward to it – you'll be sure to keep my rookery brother out of trouble, neh?" He smiled expectantly at the others, not waiting for introductions. "I am Takakura of the Tengu clan, southwestern Japan," he said in English. "And you are?"

"I'm Mawson of New Camelot, Antarctica," the one-tusked gargoyle said without missing a beat. "Glad to meet you."

"This is my father Brooklyn," Ariana said, "and this is my brother Graeme."

"We've met," Graeme said with an off-hand wave.

"Ah, even I have heard of the most honorable Brooklyn-san!" Takakura bowed deeply. "I hope you will forgive me if I say that Ariana makes a most attractive mirror – there is no mistaking that she is your daughter."

"Thank you," Brooklyn said with a shadow of his usual smirk. "I'll agree with you there."

Ariana raised her brow ridges. "Tak?"

"Yes?"

"It's okay, you don't have to try so hard."

Takakura visibly deflated. "Thank Buddha! Being on my best behavior is so draining." He sighed dramatically. "That rude female reported me to Kai."

"Hana?"

Mawson blinked. "Skinny little grey minx, tight red dress?"

"You know her?"

"She was friendly enough until she found out I live in the coldest place on earth." Mawson gave a deep rolling laugh. "Personally, I think the frigid thing would feel right at home!"

"I threw her in a pond for being rude to Ariana and when I tried to apologize, she told me that my nose was obscene." Takakura snorted. "As if I'd never seen my own reflection, neh!"

"Silly bint doesn't know what she's missing."

"Too true!" Takakura gave Ariana an arch look. "You realize you've spoiled me for other females. I came here thinking they'd be like you and they all turned out to be complicated!" Even Brooklyn laughed at the joke.

"Okay," Graeme said stepping in between them, "I hate to interrupt all this but Mawson and I have a team practice and I'm pretty sure that Happa has one scheduled as well."

"My brother, the micro-manager," Ariana sighed as Graeme and Mawson left. "Will you be coming to watch, Tak?"

"Of course," Takakura answered. "Mozu and I have promised Tancho that we would. I'm not sure where Mozu is – that goat girl said something about feeding him breakfast – but Tancho went off with Toshi to practice. He's very excited about playing."

"And Kirin?" Ariana tried not to sound to eager. "I saw him with you earlier."

"Ah, that. Takamatsu authorized me to speak for the Tengu but he asked Kirin to sit in as my advisor." He shrugged. "It looks better to the other clans if I have a suitable elder to guide me." When Ariana's smile faltered, he continued in a brighter tone. "He knows about the game, Ari-chan. If he can, he'll come."

"Come along, Ari," Brooklyn said brusquely. "You don't want to be late to practice. Nice to meet you, Takakura." He didn't offer her his arm as he had done the previous evening; if anything, he was deliberately keeping her at a distance.

Ariana pretended not to notice but her father's indifference still hurt. "Will you be coming to the game?"

"I have to meet Sata," Brooklyn answered. "She wants me to socialize." He tugged at the Ishimuran style tunic he was wearing. "Do I look all right?"

Glancing over at her father, she scrutinized his wardrobe. Brooklyn was wearing a dark green sleeveless tunic with a wide band of jade green embroidery along the lapel. She walked around him and fixed the knot in the back of his sash. "Mom picked this out to match her outfit, didn't she?"

"Of course."

"I think you'll pass inspection." She gave him a little smirk. "Which group is trying to butter up Mom now?"

"The Koreans." Brooklyn rolled his eyes. "We don't know much about them. If it wasn't for Kai keeping contact with them and the Chinese, I doubt they'd be involved in this at all."

They walked a bit further without speaking.

"Dad?"

"Yeah?"

Ariana hadn't felt this awkward since Brooklyn had walked in on her after she'd finally developed breasts and her father had gotten undeniable proof that she wasn't a little girl anymore. He hadn't been able to look her in the eye for over a week.

"Do you think," she began carefully, "that you and Mom might be free later?"

"Maybe, if I can keep her away from tea parties." Brooklyn glanced at her and raised one brow ridge. "Why do you ask?"

"There's something that we need to talk about and I'd like to talk to you both at the same time."

Brooklyn stared at her with a hurt look in his eyes. He turned away.

"Dad?" Ariana called after him. "It's going to be okay."

He didn't look back.

o o o O O O o o o

Mizuumi was standing in the doorway of the kitchens with her head tilted to one side to make her twisted horn less obvious. "I already discussed this with Toshi," she said as she regarded Happa suspiciously. "I told him that we would make up bento boxes for your after game celebration. Please don't ask me to add anything more to it – I'll be scrimping on portions for dinner as it is!"

Behind her back, a young grey-skinned female with dark hair and a ridged fin running down the center of her head was going along the counter and putting various items in a basket. She looked up just once at Happa and nodded before slipping out a side door.

"You're right, of course," Happa said. "I just want everything to go smoothly tonight so I thought I'd double-check, that's all." He grinned sheepishly and ran a hand along the back of his head. "So sorry for troubling you."

"It's probably just nerves," Mizuumi agreed. "Good luck with your game. I know Kawa and Kenun are looking forward to it."

Happa thanked her and left the kitchens, strolling away until Mizuumi went back inside. He looked around and parted the shubberies along the walk, ducking through the branches. Generations of stone skin crunched beneath his feet as he stepped into a gravelled passageway between the buildings. As a hatchlings, Happa and his rookery mates had the run of these hidden places in the clan compound and even though he had outgrown them, they were still useful.

"Galena?" he called softly.

"Here!" Galena popped up from behind a stack of plastic bins. Unlike the rest of his rookery, Galena had been born halfway across the world in Mexico. She and her birth parents returned with Yama after his journeys and had been accepted into the Ishimura clan. Now many years later, she spoke Japanese and English as well as her native Spanish. This gift with languages had made her a perfect translator with so many visitors in the compound. Happa was lucky that she was able to find time to help him.

"Were you able to get everything?"

"Yes," she said, holding out a basket, "I smuggled out two bento boxes plus enough ingredients for you to make tea. I have all the utensils that you'll need out at the pavilion." She reached out and put her hand on Happa's forearm. "Everything will be ready for you, I promise."

"I just hope I don't make a horrible mess out of the tea ceremony." He looked at his wide hands. "I know I'm going to do something wrong – all those tools to keep track of and—"

Galena reached out and took his hands. "You," she said firmly, "are going to be fine. The last time we practiced, you did very well. Just take it slow and remember, the tea ceremony is a poem that you are performing just for her." She smiled shyly. "Think of it just that way."

Nodding slowly, Happa smiled back. "All right," he said breathlessly, "I'll do exactly as you say." He was so occupied with his plans that the wistful look in her eyes when unnoticed.

o o o O O O o o o

News of the substitute teacher raised the noise level in the classroom to an all-time high. Everyone was speculating on just who the new teacher would be and Keiko's shrill voice pierced the dull roar as she kept talking about their rookery mother's friend that she had met only the night before. They hardly noticed when the sliding door opened and closed.

Kirin strode in with an armload of odd items – newspaper, a bucket, a melon, and his sword case. He covered the teacher's desk with the newspaper and carefully positioned the melon in the exact center of it.

"Class, come to attention!" he barked out sharply.

A few hatchlings hurried to their places but most of the young gargoyles were still chattering amongst themselves. Raising a hairy eyebrow, Kirin placed his sword case on a neighboring stool and opened it leisurely. He eyed the class and clucked disapprovingly under his tongue.

"Everyone, take your places!" he commanded in a firm voice. "It is time to begin your lessons!"

Keiko and her friends quickly found their spots but a burst of rude laughter came from a group of boys in the corner. With a sudden roar, Kirin whipped his short sword out of the case and sliced the melon into eight equal pieces before the hatchlings could blink. Indeed, some of them had eyes as wide open as their mouths.

Wiping his wakizashi on a cloth, Kirin continued mildly, "You may address me as Master Kirin or as Sensei. I will be teaching this class while your regular teachers are participating in the Grand Miai." He gave a baleful stare at the boys that were tardy in taking their seats. "I trust I will not have a discipline problem in here. You see," he continued placing his short sword in the case, "that was my sword for small cutting jobs. This," he took out his tachi and slowly pulled back the sheath a few inches, "is what I use for dismembering bodies."

Several of the more boisterous boys swallowed hard.

"Now that we understand one another," Kirin continued mildly as he put his swords away in their case, "I will allow you to ask me three questions to begin class. Who would like to start?"

Glancing around at her rookery mates, little Keiko raised her hand. "Was your mother a dragon?" A nervous giggle traveled around the room. "Well, you look like one."

Kirin hid his smile behind the cabinet door as he put his sword case inside. "My parents were both gargoyles, as were yours. Next question?"

"Have you really dismembered a body?" This came from a chubby male in baggy striped shorts.

"Yes." Kirin locked the cabinet and returned to the desk.

"Why?"

"It made it easier to clean up the mess," Kirin answered bluntly as he put the melon into the bucket and the newspaper into the wastebasket. "Are there any other questions?"

"What kind of teacher carries a sword?" asked a skinny male hatchling with two-fingered hands. "None of our other teachers do, not even Kusa."

"Kusa…," Kirin said the name thoughtfully. The image of a shell pink female with short black hair came to mind; she had been in the dojo almost constantly when he had been training with Master Setsu. "Ah… she would be a martial arts instructor, neh?"

"She's the best fighter in the clan!"

"Well, I carry these swords because I am a weaponsmaster," Kirin said seriously. "Master Setsu started training me when I was a hatchling not much older than you. I know how to use many different kinds of weapons. If you will behave yourselves and do the assignments I give you, I may take you to the dojo and begin your sword training."

"Really?"

"All right!!"

"Settle down – it's time to start." He pulled down a map of Japan. "In my travels, I have gone from one side of Japan to the other. Let us begin our lesson tonight with geography…."

o o o O O O o o o

"What's wrong?" Midori asked as she sat down next to Ariana.

"Oh, I've been trying to find Kirin all night," Ariana said glumly. "I need to talk to him in the worst way but it's like everyone's giving me the runaround."

"Even his students?"

"Especially them!" Ariana snorted. "They've been hovering around me all night but it's weird – it's like they're running defense. Every time a guy gets near me, even if it just to say hello or something, Tak or Tancho or even Mozu just pop up and get in their face! When I ask them about Kirin, they just say, 'Oh, you know sensei, he's probably doing such-and-such, blah-blah-blah…'" She sighed. "I'm honestly tempted to haul off and deck them."

"I see…" Midori glanced around the courtyard and pursed her lips speculatively. Tancho was sitting a few yards away watching Toshi who was attempting to juggle three baseballs. "Let me try something, okay?"

Without another word, Midori got up and sashayed over to Tancho. Considering that she was wearing one of the shortest cheongsams that Ariana had ever seen – there were flashes of the matching pink satin briefs as her tail swished from side to side – Midori had the attention of most males by the time she'd gone a few steps. She barely glanced at Toshi but went directly to Tancho and parked herself in his lap, wiggling about until she was comfortable. Toshi dropped a baseball on his foot but was too busy staring with his mouth open to notice.

Tancho's eyes were as wide as his arched brows could go. "H- hello there…" he managed to get out. "And what did I do to deserve this honor?"

"Oh, no particular reason," Midori said in a low, teasing voice. "Can't I just be friendly?"

"I guess not."

Midori crossed her legs. "Oops," she said as she slid a little. "You better hold on to me. My bottom's a little slippery." Putting action to words, she took his left hand and put it on her thigh just above her knee. "There, that feels better… doesn't it?"

"Um, yes…?" Tancho's grey cheeks were turning pink. "It feels very nice."

Sighing dramatically so he could watch her chest expand, Midori idly ran a finger down his chest. "I wish I could feel better," she said, pouting just a little, "but I feel so badly for Ari-chan. She can't find Kirin-san anywhere. It's making her so very sad." She sniffed and snuggled in under Tancho's chin like she was a kitten. "It makes me want to cry!"

Meanwhile, Toshi had wandered over to join Ariana. "What is she up to?"

"I'm not sure," Ariana answered back, "but I think I should take notes."

Tancho became alarmed when Midori began to weep into his grey tunic. "Um, Mi-chan, we gave sensei our word. I can't tell Ariana where he is."

"But you could tell me…" Her eyes were wet and shining as she looked up at him hopefully. "Please? It would make me SO happy!" She lowered her lashes and dropped her voice. "I would be very, very grateful." Leaning in with each word, she was less than a finger width from kissing him.

A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Tancho's face. His lips moved but only Midori could hear what he was saying. She glanced over her shoulder and winked.

"Offhand," Toshi commented, "I think Mi-chan made him talk."

"Shouldn't you be jealous?" Ariana asked as they watched Midori whisper something back in Tancho's ear. She smiled and nuzzled his cheek.

"Of Midori or of Tancho?" Toshi chuckled. "It's okay – Mi-chan is sworn to the temple so nothing will come of this. She likes to flirt and I like to watch." He smiled and nudged Ariana with his elbow. "Who better to teach Tancho about females, neh?"

As they watched, Midori nuzzled Tancho's cheek and then slowly slid off of his lap. He had a dazed expression as she walked away. "Got it," Midori said smugly as she got closer. "Where do you suppose one might find a teacher, hmm?"

"Remember?" Toshi said, nudging Ariana with his elbow. "I took you there the night we played ball with the hatchlings."

"Of course!" Ariana smacked her hand against her forehead. "Why didn't I think of that?" She gave Midori a quick hug. "You wanna come with?"

"No, I promised to give Tancho a little reward." Midori flashed a naughty grin as she turned back towards him.

"Don't tire him out," Toshi called after her. "He's got to play ball later!"

o o o O O O o o o

The delegates from the Pukhan clan in Korea had taken over a pavilion that overlooked the harbor where their boat was moored. Both the Korean and Chinese gargoyles had refused the use of Xanacorp jets, preferring to make their way to Ishimura on their own. They had draped the pavilion with swatches of gold-trimmed scarlet fabrics, giving it the air of an exotic tent. A low table was placed in the center of the room with large cushions to sit on. Lady Dae was presiding over the intimate gathering, sitting at the table with Brooklyn and Sata while the other Korean gargoyles ringed the room. She was wearing a long-sleeved gold tunic with embroidered edging and a high-waisted pleated skirt of dark red that accented her bronze skin.

"This is sujeonggwa," Lady Dae said as she poured the red liquid into black lacquer ware cups. "It is a traditional Korean fruit punch that we serve for special occasions."

Sata took the cup offered to her and tasted it. "Interesting," she commented. "It's both hot and spicy, yet sweet at the same time. What is it made of?"

Dae nodded towards one of the other Korean females who answered, "It's made from dried persimmons, cinnamon and ginger."

"Ah, I have always enjoyed persimmons," Sata said with a gracious smile. "The American variety is too sweet for my tastes but the Asian varieties are deliciously tart."

Brooklyn's eyes widened slightly as he tasted his. "Well, this explains why Yong and Jin-ho didn't even blink at Broadway's four-alarm chili." He gave a half-laugh. "They never complained but I think they found our food bland."

"Our young warriors learned a great deal from your clan," Lady Dae said. "They had much to tell us about life in Manhattan. It is strange to think that you would ally yourselves so closely with humans."

"We think of it as a partnership," Sata said, "no different than the alliance that gargoyles and humans have had here in Ishimura for centuries."

"Ah, but Ishimura does not rely on humans exclusively for their livelihood," Dae countered. "They support their clan through fishing and farming and through various handicrafts. From what we have heard, you live at the beck and call of your human hosts. One wonders if you do not find it oppressive."

"We may have had a rocky start," Brooklyn said, narrowing his eyes at her implications, "but eventually Xanatos came to realize that we were equals. Now we work together to protect both Castle Wyvern and the city of Manhattan. It's all part of our protectorate."

"David Xanatos?" Her hawk's eyes sharpened. "Of Xanatos Enterprises, owner of the Xanacorp building in Sendai City?"

"Xanatos has his fingers in a lot of pies." He shrugged. "Success is his idea of immortality."

Sata picked up on the cautious tone in her mate's voice. "We must all strive to achieve our own forms of immortality, neh?" She laughed. "Mine came purely by accident when Brooklyn-san whisked me away and brought me here to the future."

"Ah, yes…. It must have been a difficult transition from the twelfth century, was it not?"

"Not so! We traveled quite a bit, and as they say, travel broadens the mind."

"This is quite so. Our journey here was also an adventure."

As Sata and Lady Dae exchanged small talk, Brooklyn was becoming uneasy. He had been in a bad mood to begin with but bits of the conversation were sticking out at him. Their adventures with the Phoenix Gate had become common knowledge among most gargoyle clans but even then, they were careful not to reveal all the facts. The thought that anyone outside of Ishimura would know what time period Sata originally came from stuck in his craw.

The floorboards vibrated. "There you are," Lady Dae said, turning halfway to greet the new arrival. "Come here and greet our guests."

A bronze male that was nearly as broad as he was tall entered and carefully lowered himself to the floor. "Brooklyn," he said as he bowed solemnly, "and Lady Sata – I am pleased to see you again." His skin had a greenish cast; by contrast, Lady Dae's bronze skin seemed almost brown. He was wearing a dark gray sleeveless tunic fastened with ornate knots along his right collar bone.

"I heard that you were here, Yong," Sata replied graciously. "I'm surprised that you're not at the baseball game with the others. As I recall, you enjoyed going to the Yankee games when you visited us in New York."

"Yes," Yong said with a faint smile, "that was a rare treat. Ariana was very kind to explain the finer nuances of American baseball."

"Both Ariana and Graeme are playing in tonight's game," Brooklyn said, dropping a hint. "They're playing on opposite sides this time so it should be an interesting game."

"Happa came by after our arrival and asked if I wanted to play," Yong said, "but my size makes it difficult. I will compete in wrestling during the martial arts tournament later this week."

"I believe," Lady Dae said as she looked at him from under lowered eyelids, "that the least you could do is support your friends. Ariana might be pleasantly surprised to see you there." She raised one brow ridge slightly and the air in the room grew chill.

Yong straightened up under her gaze. "That is an excellent idea, Lady Dae." He turned to Brooklyn. "Will you be going?"

In truth, Brooklyn was of two minds about attending the ball game. After his brief display of temper the previous night, he and Ariana had been walking on eggshells around each other. It didn't help at all that Ariana had asked to speak to him and Sata. Whatever it was that their daughter had to say to them, he was damned certain that he didn't want to hear it. Still, he reasoned, Ariana had given Mawson an enthusiastic greeting so why not stack the deck?

"Yes," Brooklyn said at last, "if you like, we can go there together."

"And you, Lady Sata?" Dae asked. "Will you be attending the game?"

"Regretfully, no," Sata replied politely. "Lady Sakaki is having a showing of the clan's kimono collection. Have you met her?"

"We have met before – Pukhan and Ishimura have kept in touch over the years."

"I've offered to lend her my wedding kimono." Sata glanced fondly at Brooklyn. "In all our journeys, that and my swords were the only things that I kept from my own time."

"Will you restore it to the Ishimura collection?" Dae asked with interest. "It originally belonged to Ishimura, did it not?"

Sata pursed her lips thoughtfully. "True, but I have always hoped that Ariana would wear it one day at her own wedding. I think that is why I've kept it with me all these years."

"I remember fondly the finery from my mating ceremony," Lady Dae said with a faint smile. "What an honor it must have been to be allowed to take it with you."

"It was hardly an honor," Brooklyn said, getting irritated with Dae's innuendos, "the Phoenix Gate crashed our wedding. She just happened to be wearing it at the time."

"Brooklyn-san!" Sata managed to sound polite but the steely glint in her eye told him otherwise. "It was an accident, but fortunately one that can be easily remedied." She turned back to Lady Dae. "You are more than welcome to come with me to the kimono showing and witness it."

"I only wish that I could," the Korean gargoyle said with a faint bow, "but unfortunately, I have other duties to attend to. My clan is preparing a proposal for the world council and we hope it will be received favorably." She lowered her eyelids and smiled like a cat with a mouthful of cream.

After the females observed a few more social niceties, Brooklyn was able to leave with Yong on foot while Sata took to her wings to head back to their quarters to retrieve her kimono. He barely had a chance to pass on Ariana's message; for some reason, Sata was short-tempered with him. Brooklyn merely sighed and commented to Yong, "Well, that's two females mad at me tonight. How are you doing?"

Yong shrugged with a barely noticeable motion of his head and shoulders. "I am to do what is expected of me. What else matters?" He kept walking down the slope of the hill like an automaton.

Brooklyn cocked a brow ridge at the broad-chested Korean gargoyle. Yong had been one of the more reserved guests at the Junior Leadership conference that Wyvern had hosted five years ago but even then he had showed a wry sense of humor once he came out of his shell. "Are you all right? We haven't heard much from you or anyone in Pukhan in a long time."

They were down at the bottom of the hill when Yong finally answered. "A great deal has happened in the past five years." He seemed reluctant to meet Brooklyn's eyes. "Our clan leader died – he was old, it was not unexpected – but when our second and his mate took over, things changed."

"I'm sorry to hear to that," Brooklyn answered. "Sometimes it's a tough transition when a new leader is chosen."

Looking back over his shoulder, Yong said quietly, "If only they were."

o o o O O O o o o

Ariana was furious by the time she reached the rookery courtyard. To think that she had been worried sick about Kirin when he'd been perfectly safe all along! The sound of children's voices led her past the velvety green lawn and around the corner to a small courtyard. Kirin was sitting in the middle of a circle of hatchlings that he was directing with imperious gestures of a closed fan. It seemed to be a teaching game involving math that required much clapping and giggling.

Some of her temper dissipated as Ariana leaned against a wall and watched him. She'd never really seen Kirin actually teaching; the Three had long since finished their studies by the time she'd arrived in the Tengu village. A tiny girl burst into tears when she couldn't solve her number problem just right. Kirin patiently went through the exercise with her until she solved it and was rewarded with an indulgent smile.

A blue-skinned rookery keeper appeared and called the class in to have a meal. Kirin took notice of Ariana at that point, looking away guiltily. He stood up and Ariana was pleasantly surprised to see that he was wearing a new tunic. She had honestly thought that he would have gone back to wearing the comfortable grey tunic that he'd worn among the Tengu. This new outfit was slate blue and cut in the Ishimura style with three-quarter length sleeves and thigh-length hip-panels, all decorated with a diamond pattern.

"No wonder I couldn't find you – I was looking for that ratty grey thing you always wear," Ariana said as she walked towards him.

"Sakaki expects her teachers to dress appropriately," he said dismissively. "This is one of my old tunics – she found it in wardrobe storage."

"Well, I suppose that's where you disappeared to last night." Ariana briefly considered how to proceed and then plowed straight ahead. "Tak and Tancho wouldn't tell me where you were tonight."

Kirin began to gather his teaching materials into a bin in an obvious ploy to avoid looking at her. "But you got it out of Mozu."

"No, Roslin snatched him away before I could ask. I had to find out from Midori."

"Midori?" Kirin made a face. "How did she--?"

"Never mind – long story." Ariana sighed. "What are you doing? I thought you came here to court me, not to let the Three do it for you. I haven't seen you since the movies and tonight you've been avoiding me."

"I thought it might be best if we were not together quite so much," he began in well-rehearsed tones. "Besides, Sakaki wanted to give her younger teachers the chance to mingle. I've missed teaching little ones. I started with the Three when they were much older."

"Kirin, cut the crap. What's REALLY going on?"

"Ari-chan, it is nothing, really--"

She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "Kir-rin….."

Kirin turned his back on her to put away the bin just inside the schoolroom. It was a delaying tactic if Ariana had ever seen one. Whatever it was, he was very unhappy about it. She decided to up the stakes.

"If you want to court me," she said quietly but firmly, "you won't play games with me. I want us to be honest with each other."

His head turned just slightly. "The truth can be very cruel."

"I can take it – can you?"

"I can't -- we agreed not to involve you."

Ariana made an exasperated noise. "Come on! If it's about me, then I'm in it! Spill, all ready!!"

"It is simply this -- I have agreed not to interfere if another male wishes to court you," Kirin said, unable to look at her. "Ari-chan, it is the honorable thing to do. You deserve a younger, more suitable male than an over-the-hill warrior like me."

"My father and Kai put you up to this." Her voice had a hard edge. "I saw the funny looks they were both giving you at the tea ceremony. I know there's something going on."

"Brooklyn confronted me while I was drinking with Kai." He sighed bitterly. "He was very angry, and rightly so. He felt I had deceived him and your mother by not voicing my intentions to court you. Kai came up with the compromise and I agreed to it to save face with your father."

"Oh, Dad…." Ariana could only imagine what had happened. Brooklyn was cool and level-headed most of the time but her uncles still talked about what a hothead he had been in his youth. If there was one thing that would set Brooklyn off, Ariana knew that a threat to his family would do it every time. "I wondered if he knew -- no wonder he's in such bad mood! He wouldn't even look at me tonight."

"I will not alienate you from your family, bishoujo. It is disrespectful."

"Kirin…" She tapped her foot impatiently. "What do YOU want?"

"It doesn't matter." He kicked a stone off into the grass. "What I want has never mattered here." He huffed loudly, finally working up the nerve to look at her. "I wanted to court you in the open but now I'm not even allowed that!" He held his arms stiffly at his sides, flexing and unflexing his hands into tight fists.

"Well, I don't know about you," Ariana said after a few moments, "but I need this." She went to him and deliberately tucked herself into his arms.

Kirin fought the urge – she could tell by the tightness in his chest –but it was only a moment or two before he relaxed and held her. "Bishoujo," he whispered into her hair. "I am so sorry – it was the only way they would let me be with you." He sighed deeply. "It was all I could do not to go to you earlier this evening. I wanted to but Kai was watching. If I break my word to him, my honor will mean nothing."

For a few minutes, Ariana was content to simply rest in his embrace, allowing her body to be still while her mind raced around in circles. In typical bushido fashion, Kirin had allowed the needs of others to supercede his own. She could understand why he did it – Sata had made sure that she and Graeme knew bushido inside and out – but that didn't change the unfairness of it all.

"Okay," she said finally, "so you agreed not to interfere – you didn't agree to quit, did you?"

Kirin gave a surprised-sounding huff. "No…," he said, "I am expected to look the other way when younger males pursue you. Nothing was said about anything else."

"That still means that you can court me. I suggest that you get on with it and to hell with what anyone else says."

"But your father—"

"—doesn't always know what's best for me." She turned her head to meet his eyes. "The female chooses and a male cannot influence her choice. That goes for fathers too."

He smiled self-consciously. "And hard-headed older males?"

She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Especially you."

"We will need to say something to Sata and Brooklyn about this. We've kept this from them far too long."

"Yes, we should," Ariana said as she pulled away, "but first, I've got to go play shortstop. Are you going to come and watch?"

"This would explain your strange outfit."

Ariana frowned – she was wearing black shorts and a white tank top with a red arm band. "Yeah, well," she began, "I know it's not very feminine–"

"On the contrary, you look beautiful in whatever you wear. Besides," he said, pointing to her right arm. "Tancho had one of those bands on earlier. It's for the game, neh?"

"Yeah, Happa was all for uniforms but Midori convinced him that we should just wear neutral colors and colored arm bands. The east team is wearing red and the west team is wearing blue." She tilted her head to the side and gave him her most winsome grin. "So, are you going to come or what?"

Kirin raised both eyebrows. "You're trying to manipulate me, wench."

"Is it working?"

"Hmmph." He nuzzled her brow ridges. "I'll see what I can do but I still have to give the class a martial arts lesson. They're nearly at an age to begin weapons training so Sakaki asked me to evaluate them."

"Hey, bring them along," Ariana said. "Kids love baseball."

"Perhaps I will."

o o o O O O o o o

On the western edge of the Ishimura compound, a newly harvested field had been converted to a regulation-sized baseball diamond. Both humans and gargoyles had watched in amusement as Happa and Toshi had organized work crews to re-plow and harrow the field to make a smooth infield and to sow the outfield with quick-growing barley. The fresh new shoots made a bright green carpet that they could play on now and harvest later. It was, as Kai observed, almost worth making baseball a regular part of the growing season.

To complete the effect, the ball players had erected a backstop of poles and leftover fencing and, on the other side of a low wall that already bordered the field, they had built two sections of bleachers from cinder blocks and lumber. Happa and Graeme had been there for nearly an hour, checking out the condition of the field and checking in their players. Graeme was already warming up his team – five from London and three from Antarctica. One of Lucy and Dodger's rookery brothers who resembled a spiked dragon was proving to be a good catcher with a strong arm.

"Who's that?" Toshi asked.

"His name's Musgrave," Happa answered back. "He bats cricket-style but he hits very hard grounders." He pointed out the others. "Prongs, the one that looks like a deer, is playing left field and Dorcas, the ginger-colored cat, is playing first base."

"I thought Dodger was doing that."

"So did he." Happa smirked. "She put him in his place."

"Oh, really?" Toshi laughed. "Speaking of pushy females, here comes Midori." He cupped his hands and shouted, "Well? Did he survive?"

Midori circled in, Tancho trailing behind her like a dog on an invisible leash. She landed and wrinkled her nose as she walked past Happa and Toshi to take her place in the stands. Tancho stumbled on his landing but didn't seem to mind. He had a ridiculously silly smile on his face.

Scowling, Happa asked, "Is he drunk?"

Toshi snickered. "Don't worry. He'll snap out of it." As other players began to arrive, he took advantage of the distraction and took a seat on the wall next to Tancho. "So?" he said in a low voice. "How was it?"

"Interesting," Tancho said thoughtfully. "Kissing Midori is like having dessert before dinner." He glanced at her over his shoulder. "Do all females taste sweet like that?"

"It's the lip gloss," Toshi said. "Strawberry."

"Mmmm." Tancho unconsciously licked his lips. "And so very soft – she makes a most pleasant armful." He raised one brow ridge. "I could get used to that."

Laughing, Toshi clapped the grey-skinned Tengu on the shoulder. "Come on, Tancho – let's impress Mi-chan with our amazing ball playing skills. Who knows? Maybe she'll have kisses for both of us!"

Happa exchanged a few words with a shorter russet-colored gargoyle with a wily expression and sent him and his companions off to warm up. "Li Kao brought two of his rookery brothers to play for us," he reported to Toshi. "That brings us up to eight – where's Ariana?" He looked around anxiously. "She missed practice. I haven't seen her today, have you?"

Toshi blinked mildly. "Well, yes… she and Midori were with Tancho and me earlier. She went on an errand but I'm sure she'll be here, Happa. You know how much she was looking forward it."

"You're sure?" Happa chewed on his lip. "She didn't say where she was going?"

Toshi and Tancho glanced at each other. "She didn't mention anything to us," Toshi said, his three-pronged brow ridge arched in an innocent curve. "You could ask Midori, I suppose, but she's busy socializing."

The three of them craned their necks to look back at Midori, who was chatting avidly to a number of young females, as well to Takakura and to Mozu, who had Roslin sitting practically in his lap. She saw them and waved without a pause in her conversation.

"No," Happa said slowly, "I don't think I could get in a word edgewise."

"Besides, if you're looking for Ari-chan," Tancho said as he gazed over Happa's head, "here she comes now."

They all looked up as Ariana skimmed over the backstop and came in for a landing along the first base line. She bounced up on her toes and trotted over. "Hey, guys… ready to kick some tail?"

"You look happy," Toshi observed. "Find what you were looking for?"

"Oh, yeah," she said as she tied her hair up in a ponytail with a red scrunchie. "No thanks to some people." She smacked Tancho with her tail.

"Hey!"

"So, scoped out the competition yet?" Ariana asked as she began to stretch out by linking her hands behind her back and lifting her arms up. "You'll have to watch out for Mawson. He taught baseball to his entire rookery and I understand he even got up a team to play against the humans at McMurdo Station. Leith and Ross are two of his best players – they specialize in double plays."

"Really?" Happa glanced sharply at the field. "How do you know this?"

"Please! You're not the only one that emails me!" Ariana laughed up at him. "Hey, is that Li Kao? Great – he brought Ox and Shen with him! Hey, how are you?" She was trotting away to greet the Chinese gargoyles on their team before she finished talking.

Happa trailed after her. "Ariana?"

Li Kao, the russet male with the foxy face, was accepting an enthusiastic hug and introducing his rookery brothers. "This is my friend from America! Isn't she lovely? Just wait until you see her in action – you won't believe it!"

"A thousand pardons," Happa said with a polite bow, "if I could please have a word with you, Ari-chan?" He led her away to a quiet spot away from the others.

"What?" Ariana asked. "If this is about playing shortstop, I've got it down cold." She grinned at him. "Don't worry – nothing's getting by me!"

"No, no… I have every confidence in you." Happa took a deep breath. "I was wondering if you'd like to join me for dinner afterwards."

"That's right," Ariana said absently as she scanned the gathering crowd, "we were all going to have a picnic on the beach. Toshi told me he had made special arrangements for it."

"Well, yes, but I had something a little more special in mind—"

Ariana's eyes lit up. "I'll be – DAD!!" She waved, turning back for a moment to say, "Happa, whatever you have planned is fine, really. Just a minute, okay? I want to make sure Dad has a good seat." She trotted over to the wall where Brooklyn and his wide bronze companion were waiting. "Yong! It's great to see you!"

"Ariana." Yong bowed somberly but broke into a smile when she gave him a quick hug. "I am looking forward to seeing you play."

"He was in the Pukhan pavilion," Brooklyn explained, "and I brought him along for company."

Glancing up at him through her bangs, Ariana said, "I wasn't sure you'd come."

"I hadn't decided," Brooklyn said with a non-commital shrug, "but Broadway will kill me if I don't give him a play-by-play of the game later." He laughed. "I'm not sure, but I think he and Lex have a bet on it."

"Oh? And who are you betting on?"

Brooklyn gave her a mock scowl. "Please – me, take sides between you and Graeme? I'd never hear the end of it." He smiled and Ariana smiled back. For a moment, they both seemed to working up the nerve to speak but then they were interrupted.

"Brooklyn-san!" Kai threaded his way through the growing crowd. "I see you've come to cheer on our ballplayers too!" He motioned for Happa to come nearer. "Are you ready?"

"We're just waiting for Yama," Happa answered. "He's offered to be umpire."

Kai looked back toward the main hall. "He's on his way -- I can see him from here. Have you chosen someone to throw out the first ball? That's traditional, yes?"

"Well," Happa glanced anxiously at Ariana, "I was wondering if Brooklyn-san would like to have that honor."

"Me?" Brooklyn's brow ridges went up to his horns.

"That's a great idea!" Ariana shot an admiring grin back at Happa who smiled back at her. "Why should Mom have all the fun? Say yes, Dad!"

"Well…," Brooklyn glanced at Kai, who nodded. "I suppose so. Why not? Sounds fun."

Yama landed next to the pitcher's mound and beckoned to the captains of the teams. After a brief conference, he motioned to Brooklyn to come out onto the field.

"Play Ball!"

o o o O O O o o o

Sata found Sakaki awash in a sea of beautiful chaos. The buttery yellow female had separated a section of the main hall with sliding panels and was putting antique kimonos on display from the clan's collection. She was assisted in this task by pink-skinned Sora who was wearing a dark blue yukuta with moonflowers winding all over it. Miya, a white-haired elder,was tying an elaborate obi on a younger grey-skinned female who was wearing a brightly-colored furisode with long sweeping sleevesSakaki straightened the folds of the kimono that she had just hung and was standing back to admire her work when she noticed the new arrival.

"Ah, Sata-sama!" Sakaki called out. "I'm so glad you're here! Sora and I have saved the best spot for you." She gestured towards a black lacquered wooden rack centered between four already hung robes. "You've met Miya and this is Hana – she has offered to model for us tonight."

"I am most grateful to have this moment to speak to you," Sata said as she came into the room, "because there is a serious matter that I wish to discuss."

Sakaki exchanged an anxious glance with both Sora and Miya; Hana had retreated to a polite distance. "Of course," she said, "I am at your service."

"I was just meeting with the Korean delegation," Sata said, "and our hostess made a comment that reminded me that I have been remiss in my obligations to Ishimura."

"Neh?"

"She said that it must have been an honor to be allowed to take my wedding kimono with me." Sata smiled ruefully. "The truth was that it was a complete accident. If the Phoenix Gate had not arrived just as our ceremony was concluding, I would have returned it to the clan for other brides to wear." She knelt in front of the rack and set the box in her arms on the floor. Opening it, she carefully lifted out the garment on top – a rich dark green brocade uchikake overkimono decorated with dancing cranes and sprays of gold and ivory chrysanthemums. Beneath it was an elegant shiro-maku, a snow white silk kimono with intricate embroidery of silvery cranes flying across moonlit clouds.

"O-o-o-oh!" Miya came forward. "I saw a drawing of this once in the clan scrolls when I was just a hatchling. The artist did not do it justice – this is exquisite! I never thought I would see a kimono from the Kamakura period. We had to sell so many of our older robes over the years, especially during the war, that we don't have anything like this in the clan collection."

"It's gorgeous!" Hana breathed, unable to resist the opening of the box. "You're so generous to be putting it on display!"

Sata shook her head. "On the contrary -- I have been far too selfish." She gazed at the kimono wistfully for a moment, her eyes focusing on faraway memories. Biting her lip, she thrust the uchikake at Sakaki. "This was never mine to keep. I've decided to return it to Ishimura – but with one condition." She smiled wanly. "I want the next female to wear it to be Ariana, for whenever she decides to take a mate. Can you promise me that, Sakaki-san?"

With her eyes as round as saucers, Sakaki bowed deeply and took the garment reverently from Sata's fingers. "Oh, most honored Ancestress," she said in a hushed voice, "in front of these witnesses, I swear that your conditions will be met." She smiled breathlessly. "Ariana will make a most beautiful bride."

"What is that Western saying?" Miya pursed her lips and tapped her cheek with one finger. "Ah, yes – 'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.'" She beamed at them. "This will be a lucky robe for a mating ceremony, neh? It is both old and new and borrowed and here –" she pointed to a stream of azure silk from which gold and pale green reeds were growing. "—here is the blue!"

"It certainly brought me luck for all those years that we spent traveling," Sata said fondly. She gathered the white bridal kimono from the box and carried it to the wooden rack. "I shall have to thank Lady Dae. If she hadn't made the comments that she did, I would have not had the strength to do this."

"Lady Dae?" Sakaki said as she brought over a small hand-held steamer to smooth away the wrinkles left from the folds. "Who is that?"

"She is the chief female delegate from Korea," Sata answered, occupied for a moment with evening the drape of the kimono on the stand. "I met her only last night, at Red Wind's tea party." The impact of Sakaki's words finally sank in and they made Sata pause in her task. "Do you mean that you do not know her? She said that she knew you."

Sakaki frowned. "That is odd," she said thoughtfully. "I've met most of the clan representatives that have arrived for the Grand Miai but I don't recall her. Still," she said as she resumed steaming, "the Koreans seldom bring females with them when they visit. It's entirely possible that she meant that she's heard of me, not that she's actually met me."

"I suppose that might be what she meant."

"In fact, when the Koreans came here in nineteen ninety-two," Sora said as she helped fit the sleeve of the ushikake over the kimono sleeve, "one of our females went back with them. It caused quite a fuss, as I recall, but I was still studying with my rookery. It was over and done almost before we took notice of it."

"Yes," Miya added as she moved around to the back to adjust the drape of the fabric, "but it was a timely solution to a most unfortunate situation. The female in question had been making trouble but the Korean second-in-command had taken a fancy to her." The white-haired elder gave a cautious look at Sakaki from behind the kimono. "It was for the best all around. I'm sure she made herself at home with the Koreans and has prospered there."

Sakaki made a little snort through her nose and said nothing.

"Ah." Sata could tell by the way Sakaki's lips had thinned that she had inadvertently treaded on a sensitive subject where the Ishimuran leader's mate was concerned. "I'm sure that's it," she said at last. "This other female must have told Lady Dae what to expect here so she would be familiar with Ishimura." She nodded firmly and changed the subject. "Now, how shall we display the obi? Is there a smaller stand or shall we drape it over the sleeve like so?"

o o o O O O o o o

It was in the middle of the fifth inning when Kirin and his class arrived like a duck leading a brood of ducklings. The teams were trading sides and so their arrival was unnoticed by the players on the field. Takakura, however, hopped down from his perch in the stands.

"Here, Sensei," he called cheerfully, "let the little ones sit up here, where they can see better." He nudged Mozu. "Come on, featherhead -- make some room!"

"All right," Mozu grumbled. "Don't get your nose out of joint." He unwound his arm from Roslin's grasp and hopped down. He paused and glanced up at the goat-headed gargoyle. Shifting his shoulders as if he'd made a decision, Mozu turned and held his arms up to her. He smiled shyly and his feathered crest rose expectantly.

A rosy blush came over Roslin's rounded cheeks. She leaned down and put her hands on Mozu's shoulders, letting him lift her down. It was a leap that she could have made easily but his gesture and her acceptance of it spoke volumes.

Takakura rolled his eyes. "This is getting ridiculous."

"Come on now," Midori said, getting into the act, "everyone bunch up and let the hatchlings have a seat." She got down and began to help Takakura rearrange the seating. "There we go, you boys sit up there and you girls—"

Kirin interrupted. "This bunch," he said, indicating five little females, "can sit on the wall. They'll get a better view that way and they won't block anyone's view."

"Oh, yes… that'll work," Midori said, wrinkling her nose as she smiled at them. "There's some advantages to being the shortest, neh?" The little gargoyle girls tittered back at her.

Lifting them up onto the wall, Kirin said, "Remember what I told you – if you do your parts like we practiced, the whole class will get a treat. All right?"

This made them giggle even harder.

o o o O O O o o o

Back in the dugout, Ariana was tugging on her batting gloves with a decided sulk on her face. She sighed and stared out at the field where Graeme was warming up on the pitching mound. "He's late," she said to no one in particular.

"Ari-chan," Tancho said in a low voice, "if he said he'll come, he will."

"He wasn't sure he could," she answered back. "He's got the kids to think about, after all."

Happa was on deck, warming up his swing. "Ariana!" he called out. "You're up next! Get ready!"

"Yeah, yeah," Ariana grumbled. It was just like old times; Happa had been very attentive to her at the beginning of the game but as it progressed, he became more and more obsessed with winning. Graeme had put together a tough team to beat. Even though baseball wasn't one of their sports, the Londoners were proving to be excellent fielders and what they lacked in bat skills, Mawson and his two rookery brothers more than made up for. She selected a bat and stepped into the batter's circle to make a few test swings.

There was sharp ping and the crowd cheered. Ariana looked up to see Happa round first and head to second. He made it there seconds before Ross, one of the Antarctic gargoyles, caught the ball. Happa looked her way and grinned, nodding towards home plate.

"Right," Ariana muttered as she waved back, "go be a good little ballplayer." She sighed and hoisted the bat onto her shoulder. Brushing the dust off the plates with her foot, she narrowed her eyes at Graeme and waited for the pitch.

o o o O O O o o o

"Uh-oh," Brooklyn said as he nudged Kai. "What's he doing here?"

Kai looked over the top of Brooklyn's head. "It's nothing to worry about," he said. "Sakaki told me of this. Kirin has classroom duty tonight." He pointed to the field. "Ah, look – Ariana is batting!"

o o o O O O o o o

"Now," Kirin said.

The hatchlings in Kirin's primary class all stood up and began to chant:

"Play-ing baseball by moon-light,

Hit-ting homers and no strikes,

She's the play-er that we all like

No-one swings a bat like Ari-chan!"

The little girls that were in front all stood up on the wall and struck Sailor Senshi poses while the other hatchlings pounded their noisemakers and cheered. Kirin smiled indulgently and glanced over to see how his surprise was being received. Ariana was standing at the plate with an ever-widening grin. She was so enthralled that the bat had nearly slipped out of her hand. Fortunately, the rest of the players seemed equally amused. Graeme, playing for the west, was slumped over with his hands on his knees, laughing on the pitcher's mound.

Only Happa, scowling on second base, had the presence of mind to yell, "Play ball!"

"All right now," Kirin said out of the corner of his mouth. "Everybody, remember what to do?" He lifted his hands and clapped twice. "ARI-CHAN!!" clap-clap

Like the willing conspirators that they were, the hatchlings all stood up and began to shout and to clap their hands. "ARI-CHAN!!" clap-clap "ARI-CHAN!!" clap-clap "ARI-CHAN!!" clap-clap "ARI-CHAN!!" clap-clap …

The sight of her pint-sized cheering section was so infectious that others in the crowd began chanting it too, most notably Midori who began urging everyone sitting around her to do the same. Still grinning, Ariana took a batting stance and gave her brother a steely gaze. Graeme glanced at the crowd and delivered a suspiciously easy fast ball. The bat pinged as Ariana connected and the ball soared high over left field. The hatchlings went wild and brandished the noisemakers that they brought along – empty plastic bottles that gave a satisfying hollow thump when bashed together with youthful enthusiasm.

Happa was delayed coming off second and was tagged out on third. Toshi scored a single but it took Tancho's triple to clear the bases. Kirin and the hatchlings cheered wildly as Ariana crossed home plate in triumph. Without prompting, Keiko and her fellow Senshi girls jumped back up and did the Sailor Moon-themed cheer all over again.

Grinning, Ariana trotted over to the wall. "That was SO cute!" she squealed to the hatchlings. "I love it! Thank you!" The little gargoyles all swarmed up, clamoring for attention. As far as they were concerned, she was their personal baseball idol and the rest of the players were just taking up space on the field.

"Sensei made it up!" piped Keiko. "Did you reeeeeeeeally like it?"

"I certainly did!" Putting her hands on her hips, she smirked at Kirin who standing behind the hatchlings. "And here I thought you didn't like Sailor Moon!"

Kirin shrugged. "I still don't," he said blandly. "But you like it and that's all that matters."

Keiko tugged on Ariana's hand. "Sensei likes you," she whispered gleefully and just loudly enough for everyone to hear her.

"Yeah, you think?" Ariana whispered back in the same conspiratorially tone.

"Uh-huh…"

Ariana smiled coyly and crooked her finger at him.

Kirin frowned but several small hands began to shove him to the front of the crowd. He rolled his eyes and gave in with a poor grace. "Well," he said, "I did the best I could with the resources I had available."

"You couldn't find any flowers and you would've eaten the chocolate." Her eyes were dancing. "I know you."

"So," he lowered his head towards hers and tried to act nonchalant about it, "then you liked it?"

"I loved it," she murmured back. "That was SO great!"

"I have to take them to the dojo for their lesson now." Kirin looked directly into her eyes. "May I see you later?"

"Ooooh, definitely." The way she put a soft growl into her words made Kirin's heart race.

Just then, Graeme managed to strike out the gargoyle at bat and the sides changed. Happa called out, "Ariana! Get out to center field!" He had a disgruntled look on his face.

"Go on," Kirin said. "Have a good game."

"All right." She grinned at the hatchlings. "Take it easy on your teacher, okay? I want him back in one piece!"

As if on cue, his entire class looked at him and went "Oooooooh…!!"

Kirin scowled at them. "Oh, fine!" he said. "I suppose I'll have to show you ungrateful whelps how to hold a sword now."

"YAAAAY!!" The little males led the charge away from the playing field, with quite a few of the females in their wake.

o o o O O O o o o

"Well, at least he's leaving," Brooklyn said with a poor grace. It was the first time that he had seen Ariana and Kirin together and he did not like what he had seen. He especially did not like the intimate way that Kirin had leaned towards her or the seductive smile that Brooklyn hadn't expected to see on his daughter's face. There was a terrifying moment when he thought they might kiss but luckily, they did not. Brooklyn didn't think his blood pressure could take it. "I thought he was supposed to stay away from her."

"Technically, Kirin was supposed to stay away when other males were courting her. The hatchlings are fond of baseball – they probably wanted to come to the game."

"Sounds to me like an opportunity."

"Perhaps." By the sour tone of Kai's voice, it seemed that the Ishimuran was thinking the same thing.

They watched Kirin and the hatchlings until they disappeared down the path. A sharp ping from the field drew their attention back to the game. Happa missed the line drive up the first base line but the fielder managed to pick it up.

Kai shook his head. "If nothing else, this should drive home what I've been telling Happa. Kirin isn't going to waste time with his courting."

"This Kirin," Yong asked suddenly, "he is also interested in Ariana?"

The young Korean had been so quiet that Brooklyn had almost forgotten that he was there. "So it seems," he admitted. "He followed her here from Osaka but I wouldn't worry about him if I were you."

Yong lifted his head and stared towards center field. "She's still smiling, you know."

"Yeah?" Brooklyn squinted at his daughter. She did seem to have a bounce in her step that had been missing earlier.

"I've been watching. She wasn't doing it before." Before Brooklyn could refute this, Yong added, "Some people think I'm stupid just because I'm big, but I learn a lot from just watching people. Ariana likes this Kirin and he likes her. There must be a link between them or else why would he travel so far to be with her?"

"You make a good observation, Yong-san," Kai said, "but I am afraid it is more complicated than that."

"I beg to disagree," Yong said, turning his head slightly. "Some things are very simple. It is how others perceive them when it becomes complicated."

Brooklyn ignored them both and focused on Ariana out at shortstop. She and Lucy, who had just made it to second base, were saying something to each other but their words were lost in the crowd noise. Ariana laughed and the moonlight danced over her features. It was the happiest that she had looked all night. He wondered if maybe Yong had something there; maybe he was making this much more complicated than it had to be.

o o o O O O o o o

The dojo was actually a raised platform several meters square bracketed on two sides by narrow buildings. It had been replaced several times in the long history of the Ishimura clan and the current version had been improved since Kirin had last used it. He dug his toes into the rubberized material covering the dojo floor and noted the firm yet yielding texture. It would, he suspected, be more forgiving than the wooden or stone floors that he had practiced in his youth.

Having sent the hatchlings to change into practice clothes, Kirin was braiding his hair as he waited. It was a tedious job but a necessary one and while he did it, he walked the narrow stone edge of the platform, balancing on his two-toed feet. He had already changed into a pair of off-white exercise pants and cinched them with a black sash, knowing full well that Sakaki would scold him as well as the hatchlings if any of them ruined their clothes.

Along one wall were built-in cabinets where they kept the wooden practice weapons; the clan's armory was kept locked safely away in the east tower. Kirin opened them up one after the other until he located the bundle of child-sized bamboo swords. He set them out and began sorting through the adult-sized wooden swords. He had a set of practice swords made to the exact weight and dimension of his steel ones but he had left those behind in the Tengu village. After some testing, he found a pair of teak katanas that suited him and he began testing their balance as he eased into the familiar movements of his sword routine.

"Your cutting techniquehas become more forceful," Setsu observed from somewhere behind Kirin. "You've switched from traditional iaidō to tameshigiri – why is that?"

"Survival demanded the necessity, master," Kirin said as he finished by returning his 'swords' to their imaginary sheathes in his belt. He turned and bowed to Setsu, who was surrounded by hatchlings. "Well?" he told his students. "Take your places on the mat, a wing's length apart, side-to-side and front-to-back." He clapped his hands. "Hurry now!"

"Do we get a sword?" the two-fingered boy asked, eyeing the bundle eagerly.

"If you are so eager to begin, Jiro," Kirin said with a lift of his eyebrows, "then you may lead the class in the beginner katas."

"Me?" The young gargoyle gulped.

"Do you know your martial arts?"

"Yes, but –"

"I'm sure you'll do an excellent job." Kirin looked over the hatchlings. "If everyone can show me that they know the basics, then we shall see about using swords." Directing Jiro to a spot to his left, he called out, "Everyone, ready? Begin – first form!"

While his volunteer assistant led the exercise, calling out the various forms one by one, Kirin circled the class. He made a note of the ones that were not as adept as the others and moved them into the row closest to Setsu, who was sitting on a stool and watching the proceedings. The old gargoyle was leaning forward, his eyes just as sharp and intense as they had been when Kirin had been his student. There was a longing in his gaze that Kirin understood all too well.

"Master Setsu," Kirin said as he adjusted a hatchling's stance, "these little ones could benefit from your guidance. If it is not too much of an imposition, I would value any advice you could give them."

"Yes, I can help out here and there." From his seat, Setsu gestured with his walking stick. "Widen your stance, boy! You must have balance if you want to swing a sword."

"Yes, that's right – thank you, sensei." Kirin said with a nod. He went back through the rows of hatchlings, gently correcting one or two with a few words and a firm hand. "That's enough," he said when he was satisfied. "I can see that Kusa has taught you well." He picked up the bundle of wooden swords and turned to his assistant. "Jiro, since you led the class in their exercises, you may pick the first sword."

Grinning, Jiro eagerly selected one. "Now," Kirin said, "holding it by the hilt, flip it up so we can see if it is the right length. It should come up at least to your ear." He demonstrated. "Do not put it IN your ear; real swords are sharp and you should treat these swords with exactly the same respect." When the hatchlings tittered, he commented, "If I don't give you back to Sakaki with two ears and all your fingers and toes, it will go very badly for all of us. Learning to use a sword is very serious business."

With young Jiro's help, the rest of the class was armed with swords and the lesson began in earnest.

o o o O O O o o o

"Great game!" Graeme said as he bowed to Happa. "Your team really made us work for the win."

"I am honored that you think so, Graeme-san," Happa said, returning a formal bow of his own, "but your victory was well-earned."

"Maybe we can schedule another game and you can have a chance to even the score."

"I will look forward to it."

Hiding his disappointment behind a courteous smile, Happa managed to get through the post-game ritual between the teams with a minimum of discomfort. The last three innings were a blur; all Happa could remember was missing one ball after the other. Toshi had finally made him switch with their rookery sister Taeko and exiled him to right field but while that helped their defense, they were unable to even up the score.

"Cheer up!" Toshi said as he clapped Happa on the shoulder. "We'll challenge them to volleyball at the beach and beat their tails off!"

"I am not in the mood," Happa answered back. "You go and have fun." He glanced off towards the faint glow of a pavilion on the other side of the wide sloping field. Galena had already begun the preparations. "I have other plans."

"Will do!" Toshi abandoned him for their other teammates. They were all looking forward to the beach party and several of them were already airborne, heading east to the sea.

Glancing around, Happa took a folded piece of paper from his belt. He had spent hours agonizing over his poetry before he finally had a set of verses that expressed all his feelings about Ariana as well as his hopes for their future together. At the appropriate time during the tea ceremony, he would recite them and he just knew that everything would fall into place.

"Hey, Mi-chan!" Ariana's voice brought Happa out of his reverie. She was trotting across the infield to the stands. "Can I borrow your mandarin top?"

"Can I wear your blue swimsuit with the flower on it?"

"Sure, no problem!"

"Ariana!" Happa caught up to her just as she met up with Midori. "Where are you going? I have dinner waiting for us."

"Sorry," Ariana said hastily. "I told Toshi not to bother, but I guess he didn't tell you." She grinned. "I've got a date with Kirin but maybe we'll stop by, okay?"

Happa's mouth fell open. "But," he stammered, "but everything is ready. I asked you to have dinner earlier, remember?"

"And I said whatever you and Toshi had planned was fine with me." Ariana rolled her eyes impatiently. "Look, I've got to change clothes and meet Kirin at the dojo. I'll see you guys later, all right?" She and Midori went off with a crowd of chattering females and left him standing there.

The blood drained from his face. Happa couldn't believe this was happening – all his careful planning and preparation had been wasted and for what? He had been so certain that Ariana would accept his offer to court her that he hadn't even contemplated that she might refuse him. The fact that she had turned him down for an itinerant teacher who was twice her age was intolerable.

"That cheer was so cute!" a female said in passing. "I would give anything to have a male to something like that for me!" Her companion giggled in agreement.

If only that kusojiji hadn't shown up – Happa was certain that he might have had a chance until then. Ariana had talked of nothing else but that insipid cheer and worse, no one else could either. Every time that she came to bat, someone would start it up all over again and every time Happa heard it, it made his blood boil.

Something had to be done.

His honor demanded nothing less.

o o o O O O o o o

"Lunge! Arm level with the shoulder, that's right!" Kirin demonstrated and nodded favorably to the few students that had managed to keep pace with him through the exercise. Several of the hatchlings, Keiko among them, were sitting on the sidelines with Setsu. The art of the sword was a difficult technique to master and it was best to weed out the less-coordinated candidates early. They would be encouraged to continue with their regular class exercises; some would improve with practice and others would be gently steered to different occupations.

Young Jiro was proving to have some natural aptitude for the sword. He had already mastered the correct grip so that Kirin could no longer flip his sword out of his hand with a casual flick of the wrist. This was the best part of teaching to Kirin, building a rapport with a student in much the same way that Setsu had done with him when he was a hatchling. It was the sweat plastering Jiro's hair to his forehead that brought the lesson to a halt.

"All right," Kirin said. "Return your swords to your belts!" He bowed to them and they returned it. "That will be all for your sword lesson for tonight."

"But, sensei…"

Kirin glanced over Jiro's head at Setsu. The old warrior was smiling, no doubt reliving a similar memory. "We will have other lessons, Jiro-kun," Kirin said gently. He prodded the boy's skinny arm. "It will take time to build muscle on your sword arm, you know."

"Like you, sensei?" The hero worship was already evident in his voice.

"Believe it or not," Setsu called, "when Master Kirin was your age, he had work hard to get into fighting shape."

"Why is that, Master Setsu?" Keiko asked.

Setsu gave a rasping cough of a laugh. "Because when he was your age, I didn't know whether to teach him swordplay or sumo!"

"Sensei? Fat?" Keiko's eyes twinkled with glee. "I don't believe it!" Her rookery mates expressed similar opinions.

"With all due respect, Master Setsu," Kirin said as he handed his wooden swords to Jiro, "comments about my weight were not amusing when I was younger and I find them less so now." He had kept his words cool and even but there was no mistaking the underlying tension behind them. His weight had been one of the reasons that he had difficulty pursuing a mate the first time around.

Setsu blinked and drew himself up defensively. "Vanity is detrimental to the heart of a warrior. Have you strayed so far from the path of bushido?"

Kirin was hard-pressed not to snap back; the old gargoyle had no idea how much Kirin disliked personal comments made in front of his class. Once the curtain was dropped, a teacher went from being kami in the classroom to being an ordinary person. Without respect of his students, how else could a teacher truly teach?

"My students know me as I am now," Kirin said at last. "I prefer the past to stay in the past."

Puffing up indignantly like a toad, Setsu was working up to a rebuttal when a roar split the night. The hatchlings' eyes grew wide and that was the only warning Kirin had as a large body collided with his and drove them both into the side of the building. Roof tiles clattered to the ground around them as Kirin got back onto his feet and swerved to face his opponent.

"You," Happa growled, "should have stayed in Osaka."

His eyes began to glow.

To be continued in Part IV of "Koiji"...