Koiji
(Love's Pathway)
A TGS-based story
By C.S. Hayden © 2006
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 IV
The first few moments after impact were a blur. Kirin was dimly aware of Setsu calling the hatchlings to him and he was grateful that the old gargoyle was there to keep them safe. His presence freed Kirin to focus on the matter at hand – the angry young gargoyle attacking him. Happa had struck with no warning and Kirin was at a loss as to the reason why.
"What is the meaning of this?" Kirin demanded. "I have done nothing to you."
"Nothing?" Happa snarled. "I had it all planned out – weeks of planning – and you ruined it!" He lunged at Kirin with talons spread.
"Sensei!" The sound of the hatchlings' shrieks washed over Kirin like a bucket of cold water. If this had been an ordinary duel, he wouldn't waste time in beating Happa senseless but with his students present – Kirin had to be careful.
"Class – obey Setsu!" Kirin deliberately let Happa's momentum take the fight away from the hatchlings. "Master, get them out of here!"
"Stop talking and fight!"
"Why?" Kirin asked as he blocked Happa's punch and continued to back away towards the center of the dojo floor. "What is your grievance with me?"
"You know very well," Happa growled. "Kusojiji!!"
It wasn't the first time that Kirin had been accused of being a 'dirty old man' and it was unlikely to be the last but it told him more than enough about Happa and his feelings towards Ariana. If so – Kirin smiled as he let a punch graze his cheek – there was an easy way to find out.
"I remember you," Kirin taunted, "you were that chubby hatchling that kept getting into trouble in the rookery. I spanked you then and I can still do it now!" It was a half-truth; he and Sakaki had an understanding in those days that if a hatchling did not respond to her gentle discipline, the offender was given to Kirin. The threat alone generally did the trick.
Happa's eyes blazed and he came at Kirin, like a charging rhino.
It was a big mistake. Setsu had not been exaggerating -- Kirin had been a wrestler in his youth and sumo was a popular sport among the Tengu. He let Happa come in close and then pivoted at the last moment, jamming his elbow between the younger gargoyle's wings as he went by and covering his move from view behind his outspread wing.
Unfortunately, Happa knew this dirty trick. He lunged forward just enough to dodge the elbow strike and used his weight to knock the older warrior to the ground. Kirin rolled to his feet, comically knuckling along the ground like a monkey, inciting nervous giggles from the watching youngsters. Happa pressed his attack and Kirin countered languidly, reeling from side to side like he was deep into his sake cups.
"Master?" Kirin said as he passed by his old teacher. "The hatchlings can leave any time." Happa's fist whiffed by his head and blew a stray lock of hair across his face. "Now would be good!"
"Interesting technique," Setsu said as if he was merely continuing the conversation. "What do you call it?"
"Drunken Tengu." Kirin rolled back with Happa's return punch, mirroring the younger male's movements and spinning away out of his reach. "It's a side effect from drinking their rice wine all those years."
"I don't care what you call it," Happa bellowed, "fight me, damn you!"
"I'd rather not," Kirin said as he maneuvered back into the center of the ring. "Your okaachan would never forgive me if I left so much as a scratch on her precious dumpling." He was pleased to have remembered that little tidbit. Sakaki used to sneak treats to Happa whenever she thought no one was looking.
"Ooooooo….," said the hatchlings in unison.
"Did you hear what sensei called Happa?" Jiro called out. "Dumpling!" The rookery burst into nervous giggles at his boldness and soon the chorus began. "Dump-ling, dump-ling, Happa's a dump-ling!"
Happa's normal yellow-green complexion turned tomato red. Kirin decided to push his advantage.
"It's one thing to spar in the practice ring but it's quite another to face a real warrior." Kirin reached out and caught the edge of Happa's tunic, tugging it loose from his sash. "I'll bet you've never bloodied your claws in your life."
"Shut up! I am of Ishimura! Your words have no meaning!" The punches he sent in between sentences said otherwise. Kirin blocked them with an ease that served to infuriate Happa further.
"Setsu!!" A plump blue-skinned female with red hair had pushed her way through the growing crowd. "These hatchlings have no business seeing this – why are they still here?" Not waiting for an answer, she began shooing the young gargoyles before her. "Come along now – straight back to the rookery and no arguments!"
"Aw, but Sugi-san…"
"We want to watch!"
"Not one more word," Sugi said with a sharp edge to her voice, "or it's plain rice and cold tea for the lot of you!" There were some sullen faces and some barely-audible grumbling but the hatchlings went without any further argument.
The combatants barely took note of their departure but Setsu called out, "All right, you can stop dancing around now. Finish it!"
o o o O O O o o o
"I was so surprised!" Midori said as they entered the females changing room. "I would have never imagined Kirin doing something like that."
Ariana giggled. "Yeah, he acts formal but underneath it all, he's really a fun guy."
"Will you join us down at the beach? Toshi talked Mizuumi into making bento boxes and someone is sure to bring some fresh fish to grill over the fires."
"Kirin might like that. Did I tell you how he caught some trout in the--" Ariana stopped in her tracks. "Hey! What's wrong?"
There was a grey female huddled on the end of a bench with her arms wrapped around her knees. A pleated fin was flattened along her head and her face was shrouded by her long dark hair. Her shoulders shook in misery.
"Galena?" Midori knelt in front of her. "Are you all right? What happened?"
"It's nothing," Galena said, wiping her cheeks on her ruffled sleeve. "I'll be fine. I--" She blinked and focused on Ariana. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be with Happa now!" Her voice took on a panicked edge.
"Oh, the ball game's over if that's what you mean." Ariana opened one of the cabinets and began browsing through the clothes. "He kept pestering me about dinner but I'm sure I'll see him at the beach later."
"No, that's not it at all!!" Galena jumped up and crossed the room. "I helped him set everything up! You are supposed to be up at the pavilion near the plum grove having a private dinner with him!" She took a ragged breath. "I even helped him practice the tea ceremony!"
Staring at her, Ariana felt her beak drop open. There was only one reason she could think of for a male to do a tea ceremony for a female.
Midori looked just as shocked. "A courtship proposal?"
"Happa?" Ariana found her voice again. "But – but he's never said anything to me about that!"
"Are you sure?"
"Well, Dad was hinting around about it, but that's just Dad talking!" She threw up her hands. "Why didn't Happa just say something?"
"Why should he have to say anything?" Galena said hotly. "Madre dios! Were you blind? You said that you never get to play shortstop so Happa arranged it so you could. You took off for a week without a word. Happa was besides his self with worry! More than once, he had to be restrained from flying off after you!" She snorted. "And when you get back, he was one of the first to greet you but do you notice? No! You had to sulk like a hatchling!"
"Now just a minute --!"
Midori intervened. "Galena, that's not fair. Ariana was exhausted when she got back, I know this firsthand. If she was unhappy, it certainly had nothing to do with Happa. Besides, he didn't come see her for nearly two nights. Whose fault was that?"
Her lips twisted into a frown. "Well," Galena said, "No one's, I suppose. Everyone felt that she needed to recover from the trip after she went to pieces and Brooklyn had to carry her away." She shrugged. "You weren't acting like yourself."
"What a mess." Ariana plopped down on a bench and ran her fingers back through her hair, pulling out her pony tail. "I don't know what to do, Mi-chan." She held her hands out as she spoke. "On one hand, Kirin's the first guy that's ever treated me like a real female. I know exactly where I stand with him and I like that. On the other hand," she gestured, "Happa has known me a lot longer. I should probably give him a chance but there's never been any chemistry between us."
"Chemistry?" Galena bit her lip. "You don't… like him?"
"I like him fine… as a friend." Ariana sighed. "I don't know where he got the notion that I might like him as something more." Ariana looked up in time to see Galena and Midori exchanged a glance and her friend give a minute shake of the head. "What?"
"It's complicated, Ari-chan, and I'm not sure I'm qualified to explain it."
"Oh, come on!"
Nervously, Midori twisted her hands together as she spoke. "You are the daughter of the Ancestress."
"So what?"
"Ever since Sata first returned to Ishimura, our clan has prospered. Many of us see her as kami – you'd be surprised how often her name comes up in the temple." Midori flicked her eyes at Galena, who looked like she might burst into tears again at any moment. "I don't know if it's true but I would not be surprised if my rookery brother has been told to pursue you. It would be a very advantageous match… for both our clans."
"You have GOT to be kidding me." Her stomach turned sour. "You mean this is a political thing?"
Midori held out her hands helplessly. "All I know is what I've heard."
"Great," Ariana muttered. "Just freaking great." She slumped against a locker. "I feel like I'm living in a soap opera."
One of the other Ishimura females careened into the room. "You have got to see this!" she said breathlessly. "Happa is fighting one of the newcomers!"
"Who?"
"That ronin teacher!"
Ariana pushed past them to the door.
o o o O O O o o o
"Oh, I'll finish--" The back of Kirin's hand smashed the words out of Happa's mouth.
"Class is now in session," Kirin said, grimacing as he curled his barbels back like a snarling dragon. He immediately went into tiger stance, lunging at his opponent with outspread talons. "Try to pay attention, dumpling." His claws shredded the front of Happa's tunic. "I'll try to keep it simple."
"Shut up!" Happa dodged and caught Kirin around the waist, trying to bulldoze him into the ground. "Stop calling me that! I'm not a hatchling anymore – I'm a full warrior!"
Driving his knee up into Happa's gut, Kirin broke his hold. "Strange way to show it – a true warrior would have met me as an equal, not by ambush." He was thoroughly warmed up now and his movements flowed effortlessly from one form to the other. After years of practice, Kirin was entering that Zen-like state where he and his opponent seemed to move in slow-motion, leaving his mind free to concentrate on other things.. "This is about Ariana, isn't it? You saw us together and it displeased you."
"She is none of your concern, kusojiji!" Happa's nostrils flared. "You stay away from her!"
"Whether I stay or go," Kirin said as he pushed his advantage, "is for her to decide, not you." He slipped through Happa's defensives and delivered a flurry of punches, some which the younger gargoyle deflected and some that sent Happa rocking back on his heels. "Ariana deserves a strong mate, someone who is her match in every way. Can you say that?"
"Can you?" His taunts had finally pushed Happa over the edge and his eyes turned to flinty slivers of black ice. "I know all about you, ronin. You turned your back on the clan ages ago."
"Then you know very little," Kirin said, keeping his voice quiet and level. He found this new turn in the conversation unsettling. "I had my own reasons for leaving and I had my own reasons for coming back."
"Exactly!" Happa caught Kirin by the hair and pulled him into a wrestling hold with his arm around Kirin's neck. "All your life, you thought of yourself first. The clan, your mate, your students – everyone else was less important than your own pride." He fought Kirin's attempt to break the hold and they both swung around, causing a commotion as the onlookers had to back away. "You couldn't stand someone else claiming the daughter of the Ancestress, could you? She is the ultimate honor, is she not?"
Hearing the poisonous words of his ex-mate after so many years brought the world to lurching stop. They were lies, all lies, but like all good lies, they had a tiny kernel of truth. There had been a time when Kirin had indeed been full of his own self-worth and proud of it. He missed his younger self, the Kirin that had had so much promise before everything had gone so wrong. "You speak of things you know nothing about," he snarled, ashamed to have his past sins thrown in his face. "Those things have nothing to do with Ariana – leave her out of this!"
Somehow Happa missed the warning in the tone of Kirin's voice completely. "No, Ariana is exactly what this is about!" he said, pounding his point home with his fists. "I've been her friend for years and I'm not about to let some dishonored ronin claim her!" He landed a lucky punch that sent Kirin staggering back. "Go back to the Tengu where you belong!
"I am of Ishimura! I have every right to be here!"
"No more," Happa retorted, "if ever at all. You know what everyone says of you? Being a teacher wasn't good enough – you had to become a weaponsmaster as well and when Kai was chosen leader, you couldn't bear it!!"
"Nonsense, Kai was better suited for the job and I was happy for him." Kirin danced out of his reach to catch his breath and to control his temper. He was on the edge now, dangerously close to letting his darker nature out. Once word had gotten around that he had returned, he had caught more than a few people glancing his way and talking behind their hands. He had hated that then and he hated it even more now. "I don't know who has been telling these stories but surely they could come up with better lies."
"It's not a lie if everyone knows it." Happa narrowed his eyes and smiled in a nasty way. "You couldn't even keep your own mate satisfied – Ariana will never want a warrior with a dull blade."
There was a deafening roar in Kirin's ears. "Tell me, dumpling," he spat out, "how would you know? Have you even been with a female? Held her warm and naked in your arms?" He caught first one hand and then the other and pulled Happa in close, face to face where they could speak without being overheard. "It's no wonder that Ariana found my arms much more inviting than yours."
"I don't believe you."
"If you were courting her, she did not know it. She was free to choose and she chose me."
Happa's eyes flared. "No."
"Yes." Kirin smirked. "Soon I will take Ariana on her first flight and you will have to stay on the ground, listening to our lovemaking on the wind and knowing that you will never, ever have her."
With a primeval scream, Happa broke the hold and Kirin let the motion carry him in a cartwheeling flip across the fighting ring. He coiled his feet under him on landing and met Happa with a spinning roundhouse kick to the midsection, leaving two bleeding slashes in his yellow-green skin.
"You think you're the equal of me, do you?" A cold, dark rage swept over Kirin. "Hatchling, you have no idea who you're dealing with." His body was already in motion before the words had left his lips.
o o o O O O o o o
"Ariana! Midori!" Tancho called out to them as they raced through the compound. When they didn't stop, he and Takakura began to run along side them. "What's wrong?"
"Kirin's fighting Happa!"
"What?" Takakura exchanged a startled look with Tancho. "That's not good. Sensei's been on edge since we got here. His temper is probably hanging by a thread."
They came around the corner to find a crowd gathered around the dojo. Tancho put on a burst of speed and loped ahead, using his long legs to his advantage. He stopped short of the crowd, turned and cradled his fingers.
"Come on, Tak! You've got to stop sensei before it's too late!"
"Me? Why me?"
"You know perfectly well why," Tancho said, drawing his arched brows down in a uncharacteristic scowl. "Now go!"
Swearing under his breath, Takakura bounded up and let Tancho toss him high in the air. Popping open his feathered wings, he sailed over the crowd. Ariana started to follow but crashed into Tancho instead.
"Hey! Toss me too – I need to get in there!"
Tancho shook his head. "I'm sorry, Ari-chan, but you are the last thing Master Kirin needs right now."
"But--" A raucous scream made them all jump and Ariana started to plow into the crowd. Midori blocked her way and Tancho pulled her back against him.
"He's right," Midori said as she put her hands on Ariana's shoulders, pinning her between them. "If they are truly fighting over you, it would only make the fight more violent." When Ariana started to protest, Midori shook her head. "Ari-chan, I've seen more challenge fights than you – trust me, it happens. I know it goes against your nature, but you must stay out of it."
Ariana bit her lip. "But Happa is no where near Kirin's level – I should know, I've fought both. I don't want Kirin to hurt him."
"Don't worry," Tancho said with an easy smile as he peered over her shoulder. "Tak will take care of it, you'll see."
"But Tak's a lightweight! How can he--?
"There's more to my rookery brother than you think," Tancho said. "Tak can talk a monkey out of a tree. If anyone can smooth things over, he can."
"And if he can't?"
"Then he'll come flying past any minute now."
o o o O O O o o o
Shadows streaked across the dojo floor but Kirin barely noticed. All of his attention was riveted on his prey. An opponent implied an equal but Happa was no longer that. He was swaying now, barely able to keep on his feet. His clothes were tattered rags and his bruised yellow-green hide was criss-crossed with claw marks. Blood mingled with sweat trickled down his body and the sight of it aroused the primitive side of Kirin's nature. He growled, a savage sound so deep in the bass range that it was less heard than felt. The white-rimmed terror in Happa's eyes only excited Kirin more.
A whirlwind of raven's wings dropped from the sky, whipping between them and forcing both combatants apart. Snarling, Kirin lurched forward only to be met with a one-two punch in a familiar combination of wings and fists working as one. He stumbled back a few paces to clear his vision and found himself looking into the face of his own student.
"Master Kirin!" Takakura extended his right hand out towards his former teacher. "Stop this! By the blood of my ancestors, I command you to stop!"
Kirin glowered and his fish-whiskered lip curled up in a growl.
Takakura swallowed hard but did not back down, keeping his eyes on Kirin's. "Sensei," he said switching to the Osakan dialect, "please calm yourself. I know this is not you – you do not want to kill him, no matter what foolish thing he may have done."
Kirin slid one foot forward.
"Master Kirin, remember the oath you swore to Takamatsu!"
"T-the oath?" Kirin's voice sounded strange in his ears, like he was hearing it coming from far away.
"Yes, you swore to obey and serve me as you once swore to serve Takamatsu and the Tengu. Will you go back on your word and dishonor your blade?"
The roar in his ears began to diminished as Kirin began to recall the private ceremony just before they left for Tokyo. It had been just the three of them – Takamatsu the elderly leader of the Tengu, Takakura, and himself. Takamatsu's hand trembled as he sliced Takakura's palm and then Kirin's. He could still hear the words echoing in his head....
"By the blood of Takakage, founder of our clan and first lord of the Tengu, I bind thee to the service of my successor. Guard him with your life and defend him with your sword. Serve him as you have served me and all our clan." He sprinkled the wounds with powdered gargoyle skin and then brought their hands together. "Let this serve as a sign -- our bond with you is written in stone."
There was still a faint mark in the palm of Takakura's hand. A cold shiver went up Kirin's spine and he shuddered, thinking of how close he'd come to breaking that vow.
Slowly lowering his hand, Takakura said, "Sensei? Is that you? Have you come back to yourself?"
Kirin bowed slowly and Takakura returned it. They stood staring at each other until three sharp raps rang out.
Setsu, using a bo staff to lean on, came out into the ring to stand besides Takakura. "I call this fight over!," he called out. "Fighters, go to your corners!"
Behind him, Happa dropped to his knees before toppling over on his side. A pumpkin-colored male with a beak shoved his way out of the crowd and began tending to him.
"Kawa?" Setsu said. "How it is?"
"Messy," Kawa said as he dug through the pockets of his tunic, taking out packets of medicines and rolled up gauze. "Someone go fetch the stretcher from the infirmary! I'll need some volunteers to help carry him too."
Shaking his head as if he was waking from a dream, Kirin put a hand on Takakura's shoulder. "Arigato, Tak-sama," he said. "I don't know what came over me."
"Take a deep breath and try to compose yourself," Takakura said in Osaka-ben. "Ariana is on the other side of that crowd and you do not want her to see you like this."
"Ariana!" Happa struggled to sit up only to have Kawa push him back down. "This is not over, kusojiji! It's not over!!"
"Shut up and lie still, you idiot," Kawa said as he pressed a cloth on Happa's stomach. "A centimeter deeper and he would have pierced your abdominal wall. I have no desire to see your guts on the floor, do you?" He glanced up. "What's keeping that stretcher? I want to carry him flat."
Leaning on his staff, Setsu turned back towards Kirin with his brows furrowed. "It was an impressive fight, but I'm must say that I'm disappointed. It's not like you, Kirin, to be so savage with a lesser warrior."
"My apologies, master," Kirin said as he bowed, "for not living up to your expectations."
A muscular pink female in a sleeveless red tunic came into the ring. "Master Setsu! I came as soon as I heard. Do you need assistance?"
Without taking his eyes from Kirin, Setsu gestured to the side. "Help Kawa get Happa out of here, will you, Kusa? There's too much of a crowd." As she bustled away shouting orders, Setsu stepped closer to Kirin. "You'd better hope you didn't hurt him too badly."
"I did not start it, master, only finished it."
"The Kirin I knew would have won without ever putting a scratch on him." Setsu scowled. "What happened to you?"
A cold look came into Kirin's eyes. "The world happened to me." He turned on his heel and stalked away. The crowd parted and stared after him with shocked and curious eyes.
o o o O O O o o o
Setsu frowned as he watched Kirin walking away. Kusa joined him and said, "Happa was lucky, Master Setsu. Kawa says he's going to need some stitching but he'll survive."
"Happa wasn't lucky," Setsu said after a long pause. "He was stupid to attack Kirin in the first place."
"Why do you say that?" Kusa asked. "I was just a hatchling when Kirin left the clan – I barely remember him."
"Kirin would have been my successor, had he not gone ronin."
"He's that good?" She pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Perhaps I should challenge him."
"I would rather that you did not," Setsu said. "Your specialty is unarmed combat but Kirin is no longer just a weaponsmaster – he IS a weapon." He frowned and deep lines creased his face into a grim mask. "You have never killed and he has."
Her eyes widened. "How do you know?"
"There was a moment," Setsu said, "when something else looked out from his eyes." He shuddered. "Kirin fought his demon back but the gods help us if it ever gets out."
o o o O O O o o o
The frantic buzz of the crowd changed to a hush as if the spectators had all taken a collective breath. Three sharp raps rang out and everyone began talking again. Two young males came out and began heading for a nearby building.
"Hey!" Midori called. "What happened?"
"No time," one of them called back. "Kawa needs a stretcher!"
Midori's grip slipped and Ariana plowed into the crowd. Most of the gargoyles gathered were turning away from the fight now that it was over so she felt like a salmon swimming upstream. She pushed her way out and stumbled on the rubberized surface of the fighting ring. Kawa, the junior healer, was busy tending to Happa. He was unconscious, lying in the tatters of his tunic which gave her a good look at the damage. She'd seen that pattern of cuts before but she couldn't think of where. Ariana started to ask a question but realized by the intense focus on Kawa's face as he worked on Happa's wounds that she would only be in the way.
Setsu was in the center of the ring with Kusa, their current martial arts teacher and they were both talking seriously with Takakura. Ariana caught part of their conversation as she came closer.
"--I understand that you called Kirin to remember his oath," Setsu was saying, "but what was the business with your hand?"
"Oh, that." Takakura held his right hand out. "Before we left, my clan leader had us swear a blood oath, in case anything happens either here or there." He grinned sheepishly. "Our leadership follows the bloodline of Takakage, the first Tengu so I'm next in line."
"But your leader is still alive, neh?"
The smile left Takakura's lips. "Takamatsu-sama has been poor health for some time. He made Master Kirin pledge his sword to my service and to promise to bring me back home safely. I merely reminded him." He shrugged. "Sensei can be scary when he loses his temper but he never forgets his duty to the clan."
"Tak!" Ariana took advantage of the lull in the conversation. "Where is Kirin? What happened to him? Is he all right?"
"Ari-chan, sensei is fine," Takakura said, "but you should really give him some space." He glanced at Setsu briefly. "He often goes off by himself at times like this, to meditate and center himself."
"But--"
Kusa nodded. "It's an important part of our bushido training, as I'm sure Sata-sama has taught you. Kirin will be back when he's ready."
"I don't think so," Ariana said, shaking her head. "Did any of you get a good look at Happa? The pattern of the cuts?"
Takakura blinked and raised his brows. "No, but then I was occupied with sensei not killing me. Why?"
"She means he used a sword technique on him." Setsu sighed and leaned heavily on his staff. "The corpse-cutting stroke. I should know, I taught it to him. That is what I meant, Kusa, when I said Kirin had become a weapon."
"What?" Kusa was appalled. "But to use it like that, against the living? How can this be?"
"I'm not sure but it was not unheard of back in the shogunate era when more of us were fighting warriors." Setsu glanced up at Takakura. "Has he been like this before?"
"Well, not this bad." The long-nosed Tengu frowned. "When he first came to us, Master Kirin kept to himself a lot. It was like he was afraid of getting involved with us. He never said but I overheard O-tama telling Takamatsu that Kirin had left his clan under bad circumstances." He frowned. "It was very difficult for sensei to come back here – he always said that he never would. I don't know what the problem was but..."
"He and Happa were exchanging insults," Setsu said thoughtfully. "My hearing is not so good so I didn't catch all of them. It's possible that Happa pushed him too far."
It all suddenly made sense to Ariana. There was more to this fight than just her. "In that case, this is no time for Kirin to be alone. I'm not going to let him do that any more." She sniffed the air and stalked off, following Kirin's scent.
Behind her, Takakura gave a rueful laugh. "You see how alike they are? "
Setsu said something she didn't quite hear but it didn't matter. Ariana remembered how uneasy Kirin had been earlier in the rookery. He had made a promise to Kai not to interfere if some other male took an interest in her. She wasn't sure how this fight had started but there was no doubt that it was over her. If Kirin was forced to leave – she fought back a rising wave of panic. She had to find him first before he did anything stupid.
o o o O O O o o o
Kirin stuck his head through the open window. "Sakaki! You're needed in the infirmary!"
The gruff sound of his voice drew Sakaki away from the delicate needlework that she was showing to her guests. "Kirin? What's wrong?" she asked but when she looked for him, he was already gone.
"One of the hatchlings must have had an accident," Miya said. "You go ahead – I'll take over here."
Bowing to her guests, Sakaki made her apologies and left the room, hurrying towards the clan infirmary. She spied Kai in the small crowd outside the door and called out to him. "Kai! is it?"
The Ishimuran leader swept his arm out to make room for her. "Let Sakaki through," he commanded. "She should see Happa first."
"Happa?" Sakaki looked up at her mate in alarm. "What happened?"
Before Kai could answer, Master Kado came out. "There you are," he said as he dried his hands meticulously on a towel. "We've got him tidied up now. You two can go in but don't agitate him or he'll ruin all our fine stitching."
Sakaki clutched Kai's arm as they followed the dark blue gargoyle inside. "How badly was he injured?"
"Mostly superficial cuts but we did have stitch up the larger gashes. We cleaned the wounds out thoroughly so there shouldn't be much scarring." Kado ushered them down the hall to an inner room. "If anything, I hope it teaches him not to pick fights that he can't win." He shook his silver head. "Why do young males have to be hot-tempered?"
The infirmary was one of the few places in the compound that had been upgraded with human technology. They had modified an exam table to accommodate a patient with wings and a tail. Livid bruises stood out on Happa's yellow-green hide but it was the bloodstained bandage that drew Kai and Sakaki's attention.
"Oh…," Sakaki drew a shaky breath, "he will be all right, won't he, Kado?" She reached up and stroked Happa's dark hair back from his smooth brow. "Poor Happa-kun, what's happened to you?" His skin was cool and clammy to the touch and she pulled the blanket up under his chin.
"He'll be fine," Kado answered, "once the drugs wear off. He was unconscious when he came in but we gave him a local anesthetic and some painkillers. After the beating he took, he'll need them. I don't want him to exert himself for the rest of the night. " He crossed the room. "If you need anything, I'll be down the hall." He went out and slid the door shut behind him.
Kai stood besides Sakaki and gently stroked her brow ridge as she took Happa's hand. "I was just passing the dojo when they brought him out," he said quietly. "How did you hear about it?"
"Kirin told me to come here," Sakaki said. "He didn't say why."
"That's surprising," Kai said with a harsh edge to his voice, "considering that he did this."
"What!?!" She was louder than she needed to be and Happa stirred on the exam table.
"Sa-kaasan?" Happa said weakly as if he were still a tiny hatchling. "W-what are you doing here?" He blinked and looked around, staring at the walls and ceiling. "Where am I?"
Kai leaned over Sakaki. "You were taken to the infirmary," he said. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"I was fighting Kirin at the dojo," Happa said after a few moments. "I was angry – I had everything planned to ask Ariana after the game and then he showed up." His nostrils flared. "After the hatchlings did that stupid cheer, Ariana wouldn't stop talking about it. I asked her to come eat with me – I had a dinner for two waiting for us – but she cut me off before I could finish asking and said that she had plans, with HIM!"
"I can see where that might upset you," Sakaki said, "but it is her right to choose. You've known the rules of courtship since you and your rookery were very small."
"I'd spent a week getting everything arranged," Happa continued. "I was SO angry! Toshi tried to talk me into going down to the beach with the others but Ariana said she was going to the dojo to meet Kirin and all I could think of was going there to confront him."
Kai and Sakaki exchanged a glance and winced. "Not a very smart move," Kai said, shaking his head, "not with your temper. You should have given yourself time to cool off."
"I still don't understand," Sakaki said. "Even with his skills, Kirin isn't known to strike without provocation. Why would he do this to you?"
"I don't know," Happa said crossly. "All I know is that when I saw him there, drilling his students, smiling and joking around, I snapped. It was like he was laughing at my misfortune!" He snatched his hand out of Sakaki's grasp. "Even after I tackled him and we began to fight, he was mocking me! Drunken Tengu style – bah! Filthy kusojiji – stealing what is rightfully mine!"
"Let me get this straight," Sakaki said, her expression going from concern to stern, "you attacked Kirin in FRONT of his class? While he was giving a lesson?"
Happa blinked. "Yes, but—"
"But nothing!" Her eyes flashed. "I thought I taught you better respect!"
"He did the same to me!"
"Did he come out on the field and disrupt your game?"
"No, but I'd been planning it for weeks and -- "
"It does not matter what you planned," Sakaki said hotly. "Kirin respected your ballgame and stayed in the stands. If Ariana preferred his grand gesture to your plans, it was not worth attacking him."
Happa turned to Kai. "Please make her see reason," he pleaded. "I was courting Ariana and Kirin interfered! I was in the right to confront him!"
Kai sighed bitterly. "Setsu says otherwise. When he heard that Kirin was teaching in the dojo, he went there to watch. He saw everything. According to him, you started the fight and Kirin had tried to let you save face. You should have never challenged him." He shook his head. "If anything, you have probably helped Kirin."
"What?"
"Who do you think that Ariana will prefer? You just attacked a male that just made an obvious bid for her affections. You may have planned an elaborate surprise but planning is not enough, Happa." Kai gave the younger gargoyle a direct look. "How is Ariana to know you are interested if you do not act?"
"How was I to know he would follow her here?"
"Why did you wait so long? If you had made your intentions known from the start, she might have been content to stay here instead of going off on an adventure."
"I—" Happa wrinkled his brow and looked away. "I was upset with her. Everyone was talking about the way she beat so many of us in the preliminary trials. I knew it was only because she's practiced all her life but I was afraid – I was afraid that if I acted interested in her, everyone would gossip about me too."
Sakaki and Kai exchanged a look of mutual exasperation. "And perhaps," Sakaki said, "if you had supported Ariana, your rookery mates would have had better things to talk about." She took his hand between hers again. "Sometimes it is very hard to be the one to set an example but sometimes it is what one must do."
"As for the gossip," Kai said, "you should be used to it by now." He put his arm around Sakaki. "It is up to you whether you listen to it or not."
"It's too late," Happa said, turning his head to look at the wall. "He claims that she has already made her choice."
"I do not believe so," Sakaki said. "I have been with Sata most of the evening and she has said nothing of that to me." She smiled. "Did you know that Sata-sama has given her wedding kimono back to the clan?"
Kai raised his brows impressively. "The one she was wearing when she and Brooklyn disappeared in the twelfth century?"
"The very same and she did so with the request that Ariana to be the first bride to wear it. So you see," she squeezed Happa's hand, "Sata would be the first to know such a thing."
"I think Kirin said things to make you angry," Kai said. "A warrior who can't keep a cool head is easily defeated. Next time you will know better, neh?" He brushed his fingers across her smooth brow. "You stay with Happa until Kado says he can leave the infirmary. I'm sure that Taiju will have broken up the crowd but I'll need to smooth things over."
"Be careful," Sakaki said, glancing up at her mate.
"Not to worry." Kai smiled back at her but his eyes were flinty. "Kirin has to deal with me now."
To be continued in Part V of "Koiji"....