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 V
Gargoyles and humans, both Ishimuran and visitor alike, gave Kirin a wide berth as he stormed through the compound. Bad news traveled fast. Ordinarily he would have gone to seek peace in the temple but he was all too aware of the eyes upon him . What he desperately needed was solitude and it wasn't until he felt the sand beneath his feet that he knew where he was going.
Grass had encroached on the path over the years. Kirin had only been a hatchling when he had began following his father's footsteps down to the sheltered cove where the fishermen beached the smaller boats and repaired their nets. They would laugh and call out to them, teasing his father that he had brought 'the apprentice' along. As a rule, gargoyles did not like being far from land and most were uncomfortable out on the open ocean. When a hatchling was found to enjoy swimming and showed no fear of the water, that youngster was introduced to the fishing fleet. Since a trait was sometimes passed down from parent to offspring, Kirin and his father were were allowed a certain leniency in the time they spent together.
Kirin would cheerfully do the tasks they set him from scrubbing out the chum buckets to untangling the nets just for the privilege of going out on the boats. Auntie Suna, one of the few females in the fishing fleet, always seemed to have a few extra sweets to share with him. When a strong current had carried him off and he had fought his way back to shore, everyone had praised him and Suna wrapped him up in her own haori to warm him. It had been a happy time from his rookery days and Kirin treasured it. If it hadn't been for his father's death during a storm at sea, Kirin could have been very happy working the boats. After that, he threw himself into his studies and no amount of persuasion could convince him to return.
Only a few wooden racks remained with the fraying remnants of long-abandoned nets fluttering like ghosts on the breeze. There were faint traces of boat keels in the sand where they had been beached but Kirin suspected that most of the boats had been moved to the new docks down the harbor. Even the shack where Suna kept supplies was gone with just a couple of pylons sticking up to show that it had ever been there at all. The scene reminded Kirin painfully of his own life; all of his good memories were gone and only the ugliness remained. An intense feeling of melancholy swept over him and abruptly Kirin strode into the surf. He dove into the oncoming waves as if the ocean could wash away his pain.
o o o O O O o o o
"When I get my hands on you, hmmph!" Ariana was hanging on to her temper by a thread. More than one well-meaning gargoyle had tried to prevent her from following Kirin and she was getting thoroughly fed up with it. To top it all off, Kirin was getting farther and farther ahead of her. She finally had to scale the side of a building and go airborne to pick up his trail. He led her out of the compound and down to one of the lesser used beaches. She remembered that Toshi kept a sailboat there but it was now mostly likely being anchored at the beach party. There was nothing there now but – Ariana squinted and swooped lower. A trail of two-toed prints were leading directly into the water.
"Kirin!"
Ariana soared up for a better view. The beach sloped sharply a few yards out to deeper water and by the way the waves were breaking, the currents could be quite strong. Kirin said that he was a good swimmer but – Ariana bit her lip. A flash of green was rising up through the water and without thinking, she folded up her wings and dropped like a rock towards it.
Too late she realized just how deceptively deep the water really was. She went down nearly a full wings length before she could turn herself and head for the surface. Spluttering, she called out, "Kirin! Kirin, where are you!?!" A wave went over her head and she floundered, feeling the current pulling her out to sea. "KIRIN!!!" She began paddling in a panic.
Something grabbed her ankle. She screamed and kicked out at it. This only earned her a beak full of water as her leg was pulled upwards which in turn, tipped her head under.
"Stop flailing about like that." Kirin pulled her towards him hand-over-hand until they were face-to-face. He had his wings spread out like two rafts to support their weight in the water. "What are you doing out here? Do you even know how to swim?"
"I can swim fine," Ariana snapped back, blinking the saltwater out of her eyes. "Okay, in a pool, where the water is not trying to drown me." She reached out and clamped her hands on both sides of his head. "What about you? Are you all right?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know about the fight! I--"
"You saw it?" He made a rueful face and wouldn't meet her eyes.
Ariana sighed. "No, Midori and Tancho wouldn't let me through the crowd. They both said it would have been a bad idea."
"Thank Buddha for that." Kirin glanced back out to sea. "We're beginning to drift. Let's get back to shore." He swung her around to his back as he folded his wings to keep her in place. "Hold on and take a deep breath."
Instead of fighting the waves, Kirin dove under them and he swam in a strong undulating fashion like a dolphin. With her arms around his neck, Ariana found the view both fascinating and frightening. A stream of terrified bubbles escaped her mouth as a shark slid past them like a silvery ghost. Schools of small fish swarmed around them as they went from the deeps to the shallows. Just as spots were beginning to dance before her eyes from lack of oxygen, Kirin's feet touched bottom and he stood up. Ariana slid off and promptly discovered that water that was chest high on him went up to her brow ridges. He scooped her into the crook of his arm before she went under a second time.
"Now, what are you doing out here?" He scowled. "That was really very stupid. You could have drowned."
Ariana pushed her bangs out of her face. "Well, you started it. Why did you walk into the ocean like that?" Kirin merely narrowed his eyes at her so she continued. "Hey, I really want to know."
Sighing, he moved them closer to the beach until she could finally stand on her own feet. "I do not know myself. After the fight, all I wanted was to get away from everyone and my feet took me here."
"Uh-huh." Ariana pulled off the white tank top that she had worn for the ballgame and daubed at some fresh cuts on his chest. "Looks like Happa got in a few good ones. You've got some bruising on your ribs too." She probed them gently. "There don't seem to be any broken ones though. That's good -- I was really worried about you."
"You... were?" Kirin pulled away. "Ariana, you don't know what I've done."
"Yes, I do -- you beat the crap out of Happa," she said bluntly, "and he looks like raw hamburger." Ariana regarded him with one brow raised. "I know that he started it, the big dummy, so he asked for it. But really," she sighed, "did you have to take it so far?"
Kirin had the temerity to look ashamed. "That was not my intention."
"Because I don't want anyone fighting over me. In fact," she poked him in the chest, "if anyone is gonna fight my fights, it's gonna be me!"
"That's not wh--"
"I don't know what either of you were thinking!" She threw up her hands. "I nearly got in a fight with Galena over this. Happa is SO stupid!"
"At least we can agree on that. Who is Galena?"
"One of Midori's rookery – she helped Happa set up a private tea ceremony for after the game. Even I can tell she likes him but does he notice? No-o-o-o..." Ariana rolled her eyes. "Instead he kept pestering me about dinner before the game. How was I to know that he meant something else?"
"Did you accept?"
"Not exactly." She sighed. "I thought he meant the picnic on the beach with everyone else so I said whatever he had arranged was fine with me. Do you think he thought that I meant yes?" She made a face as soon as the words crossed her lips. "Of course he did – I'm just as clueless as he is!"
"It would seem so," Kirin answered as he drew his braided hair across his right shoulder. "I think we both may owe Happa an apology." He began squeezing the water out of his hair. "I let him get to me."
"He brought up stuff that you'd hoped had been forgotten, huh?" She scrubbed her shirt in the water to rinse out the blood and wrung it out. The black sports bra and shorts she had on were close enough for beach wear so she left the shirt off. "Setsu said that you guys were trash-talking each other. It's not that hard to figure out what he might have said to you."
"Yes." Kirin kicked at the surf as they waded through it. "I can't imagine where Happa would have heard those old rumors. He would have been just a hatchling when I left and Sakaki is very careful to keep gossip out of the rookery."
Ariana thought about telling him Midori's suspicions but then thought better of it. Kirin certainly didn't need to be burdened with any more emotional baggage tonight.
Kirin sighed bitterly. "The worst of it is that now you may hear all kinds of things about me. The gossips will dig up all the old stories once news of the fight gets around. I never wanted you to be burdened with my past sins, bishoujo."
"It's okay." Ariana caught his hand between hers. "I won't listen."
He swallowed hard and when he spoke, his voice was hoarse with emotion. "I'm afraid that some of the things they will say about me will be very true. I was proud and arrogant in my youth and I often acted to benefit myself instead of the clan."
"So you were a self-centered jerk, so what?" She laughed. "You're still a jerk when you want to be – remember when you threw me in the mud, just to win a fight?"
He snorted. "That's not the same."
"And I still don't care." She reached up and tilted his head down. "You can't go back and change the past, Kirin... trust me, I know. All that you can do to ignore what everyone is saying and be who you are right now. That's who I want to be with. "
Kirin stared at her for a few moments and then slowly leaned over to nuzzle her brow. "You are incredibly stubborn."
"Lucky you."
"Indeed."
"C'mon," she said, tugging at his hand, "Salt water makes me feel all sticky." She nodded to a trail running up and over the dunes. "There's a public shower over at the beach. Let's go rinse off before we have to head back."
"Wait! You can't go up there like that!" He gestured at her black sports bra and shorts. "It's not seemly!"
"Oh, please!" Ariana laughed and led him up to the top of the dune. "Do you honestly think anyone would notice?"
It seemed as if most of the young gargoyles were gathered on the wide crescent of white sand that was Ishimura Beach. Most of them had stripped down to play volleyball or to splash about in the gentler waves. Quite a few of the young females were wearing shockingly less than Ariana. Some of them had flown out to a sailboat anchored just outside the reef. It was festively bedecked with colored lights in its rigging and the laughing voices of its occupants carried across the water. Others were helping themselves to picnic dinner of bento boxes along with freshly-caught seafood. Mozu was sitting by the fire pit and offering Roslin a grilled fish on a stick. They seemed to be conducting a language lesson between them, each of them taking turns pointing at objects and the other trying out the new word.
"It seems," Kirin finally said, "that I am the one that is overdressed, not you." He looked down at his loose pants ruefully.
Ariana smirked. "Told you."
"Perhaps I should go back. I won't be welcome--"
"Absolutely not." She tipped his muzzle down towards her. "This is the one place in Ishimura right now that you need to be. Everyone here came straight from the game so no one is going to point fingers or talk about you or even look at you funny." Cocking her head to the side, she smiled. "So stop worrying, honey, and let's go."
She got to arm's length before she was stopped in her tracks at the end of Kirin's arm. Looking back, she saw him staring at her with the oddest expression on his face as his ears turned a very rosy pink.
"C'mon, Kirin. The party doesn't come to us, we go to it." She made a face at him. "What?"
"You called me 'honey.'" He had his lips pressed together but the corners of his mouth were twitching up as if he were trying hard not to smile. Ariana gave a little internal squeal of glee. Unless she missed her guess, Kirin was actually blushing.
"Oh. That." She twisted a braid around a finger. "Um, is that all right? I mean, when you're dating, you're supposed to talk sweet each other. Graeme and Lucy do it all the time." She wrinkled her nose. "It can be a little annoying so if you don't want to--"
"No!" Kirin said abruptly but then moderated his tone. "I do want it – I liked it! Call me whatever you like."
"Anything?" She grinned evilly. "Sweetie? Snugglebear? Po-o-o-o-okie?"
"Don't be ridiculous." He scowled but his eyes were dancing. "Just be careful what you say around my students while I'm teaching. Once hatchlings pick something like that up, it's almost impossible to break them of the habit."
"Okay, but fair's fair. You have to talk sweet to me too."
"Wench."
"Nice try," she said as she took his hand, "but you can do better."
"Yes, dear."
She laughed and kept laughing as they made their way down the dune to the beach party.
o o o o O O O O o o o o
"Kai-sama! How is Happa?"
"Did the ronin kill him?
"What? Is he dead?"
Raising his hands for silence, Kai spoke to the crowd gathered around the infirmary. "Happa is fine," he began, "I have just left him and I assure you that his injuries looked far worse than they really are. Master Kado has treated Happa and has given him some medicine so I would appreciate it if you would please calm down and keep quiet so Happa can rest."
"He's... he's really all right?"
Kai smiled down at the grey-skinned female flexing her head fin worriedly. "A little bruised, Galena-san, and hopefully a little wiser. A day's rest will put him right, you'll see."
"Do you think," Galena bit her lip, "he might want something to eat? He missed dinner."
"I do not know, but you might ask Master Kado if he can have something. It's very considerate of you to offer." Kai smiled at her as she hurried past him. He stepped down onto the path and began to shoo bystanders away. "Master Kado will let you know when Happa can have visitors but for now, I sure you all have something else to attend to. Come back later!"
Taiju waited until the majority of the crowd had dispersed before coming up to Kai. He nodded pleasantly at the gargoyles walking by but his jaw was clenched.
"Have you found him?" Kai asked under his breath.
"Not yet," his second-in-command answered back. "He was seen going through the compound but everyone was coming to see what was happening and took no notice of him." Taiju snorted like a bull. "I have given orders that he is to be found and watched but not to confront him until you arrive."
"Good."
"There's something else." Taiju shifted his feet uncomfortably. "Setsu wants a word with you. He said he'd be waiting at the Zen garden."
"I spoke to him already at the dojo." Kai waved his hand dismissively. "He'll have to wait."
"Kai-sama, he was most insistent. He invoked his rights as elder counsel."
Kai cursed under his breath. As clan leader of Ishimura, his word was law but the elder council was in place not only as advisors but also as a safeguard to keep his power in check. There had been times in the past when the sage advice of the elders had saved the clan from the rash actions of an impetuous leader. He was impatient to confront Kirin but a summons from an elder could not be ignored.
"Very well," he said, "let's get this over with."
They found the old gargoyle sitting cross-legged on a cushion facing the swirled sands of the Zen garden adjacent to the temple grounds. His bo staff was laying directly in front of him in much the same manner as a samurai contemplating his swords. Setsu's eyes were shut as he said, "Ah, there you are, Kai-sama. I assume you've been to see young Happa?"
"Yes, Master Kado has patched him up but Happa has learned a bitter lesson tonight." Kai ground his teeth as he recalled the bloodied and bruised young gargoyle he had just left. "We have warriors out looking for Kirin now."
"I have a favor to ask, clan leader." Setsu's eyes were open now and looking directly at Kai. "I would like to be the one that speaks to Kirin about this incident. It would be inappropriate for you to involve yourself at this time."
Kai started to shake his head. "Absolutely not, I--"
"You are too close to this, Kai, you and Sakaki both, and you know why you can't take this personally." It was a very direct statement for the traditional older gargoyle and it sent Kai reeling. "Kirin was my student and he will not harm me, no matter how harshly I might speak to him."
Taiju cleared his throat. "Setsu-san has a point, Kai. I know you have a personal grievance against Kirin but it would look very bad if you and he come to blows, especially with so many guests around."
"You think I can't handle him?" Kai glared at his second. "I'll have you know I was a match for Kirin then and still am!"
"I meant no disrespect," Taiju stammered, "it's just--"
"The strength of a leader is only as good as the support of his lieutenants. Do not be angry with Taiju, Kai. He's only doing his duty." Setsu used his staff to rise to his feet. "I saw the fight. It's one thing to train in a dojo; it's quite another to use one's skill to survive. In doing so, Kirin has gone far beyond my teaching." He shook his head. "No, fighting is not the answer here. The clan knows of my past ties with Kirin so they will not think anything of it," Setsu said, "and visitors will view it as you letting the elder council handle a disciplinary matter."
A part of Kai bristled with anger but the leader in him could see the wisdom of it. He let his breath out in a loud huff. "Make no mistake – I will be having words with Kirin over this."
Setsu regarded him as calmly as he had when he had been teaching hatchlings so many years ago. "But later, when tempers are cool, neh?"
Yama came circling in from the east. "There you are," the grey gargoyle said by way of greeting. "Everything has settled down and the guests have gone on to other entertainments. I've rescheduled the meeting of clans for two a.m. to let the excitement die down."
"Good." Kai was glad that he'd chosen Yama to deal with the visiting clans and the business they would be conducting while the eligible young gargoyles mingled. His travels in the human world made Yama uniquely suited for the task. "I hope no one was disturbed by the fight."
"Actually, I think everyone was impressed by it. There's a lot of speculation going on about the tournament now and what kind of fighting styles will do well against our Ishimura bushido. I even heard some wagers being placed." Yama grinned ruefully. "Kirin and Happa may have done us a favor, fighting like that."
Kai growled under his breath.
"That reminds me," Yama continued, "I saw Kirin going across the dunes to the main beach."
"Are you sure?"
Yama snorted. "I only got a glimpse as he was going over the rise but no one else has horns like that."
"Was he alone?"
"He seemed to be talking to someone but I didn't see who." Yama shrugged. "Kusa and her apprentice were headed that way so I pointed him out to her." He nodded to Taiju. "I assumed that you might want someone to keep an eye on him."
"You assumed correctly." Kai sighed and sank down on a low stone wall. "Kirin gave me his word that he would allow younger males to court Ariana. I hoped that would prevent this sort of thing but it would seem I was wrong."
"Was that who he was talking about the other night?" Yama raised his brow ridges. "The daughter of the Ancestress?"
"Hai."
"Brooklyn must be out of his mind. I saw how much he doted on Ariana when I was in New York." Yama gave a short laugh. "It would have never been tolerated here but with only two hatchlings in their clan – I expect he's regretting it now."
"Ariana is a headstrong young female but I had hoped that Happa would be able to woo her." Kai shook his head. "If he had only made his intentions known sooner, perhaps she would have never gone looking for the Tengu. All these years, Kirin stayed away and yet somehow she made him follow her."
"She appears to be attracted to him as well," Setsu said. "She was more concerned with Kirin's welfare after the fight than with Happa's."
"Interesting." Yama drummed his fingers on his chin and smiled slyly.
Kai glared at him. "What are you so pleased about? There's nothing to be happy about! It's a terrible mess!"
"Look at it this way, Kai – whether she chooses Kirin or Happa, the blood of the Ancestress will still be coming back to Ishimura." He cocked his head at his leader. "Isn't that what you really wanted?"
It was a diplomatic solution, Kai admitted grudgingly to himself, but not the one he wanted. He scowled at the gargoyles waiting for his answer. "For now, I will agree to let Setsu speak to Kirin about tonight's incident." He glanced at both Yama and Taiju. "However, someone is to be assigned to follow him around. I don't expect Kirin to start any fights but it's clear that he will finish them with little concern for his opponents."
"A wise choice, Kai-sama," Setsu said with a low bow that both of the other males copied. "No one will fault you for being cautious."
"Perhaps," Kai said, looking away from them, "but I will not be satisfied until this situation is under control." He scowled towards the beach with such intensity that the others glanced at each other and wisely kept their opinions to themselves.
o o o o O O O O o o o o
Two weeks ago Ariana would have laughed out loud if anyone had suggested the scene taking place on the beach below her. Tancho and Takakura had swept through the crowd and snatched up both Kirin and Mozu to challenge Toshi and three of his rookery brothers in a volleyball match. The rules were much like human volleyball, except that wings must be caped, tails could only be used to retrieve low shots, and the ball was absolutely not to be struck with talons outstretched. Puncturing the ball with one's claws was an automatic forfeit. It was turning into a competitive game; she supposed that Kirin taught the Tengu Three because they moved like an well-practiced team. Takakura and Mozu had fast footwork and Tancho and Kirin provided solid defense.
Midori plopped down next to her friend on the top of the dune. "Ah, there you are, Ari-chan," she said. "I was beginning to wonder where you got off to. I thought for sure you'd be playing."
"Hmm?" Ariana blinked, suddenly aware of her presence. "Oh, no thanks, I'm fine here."
Wrinkling her nose, Midori asked, "Are you all right?"
"Oh, I..." Ariana stopped in mid-sentence and smiled breathlessly.
Kirin had just intercepted the ball and delivered a blistering drop shot over the net. He seemed be having the time of his life by the boyish grin on his face. The way his muscles glistened in the moonlight was... interesting.
"Ah," Midori said with a knowing smile, "you've changed sports."
"mmmmm-HMMMM!"
"Not to put a damper on things," Midori said, "but you should know that Happa will be spending the evening in the infirmary."
Ariana frowned "Is it bad?"
"Bad enough that he needed to be stitched up," the pale green gargoyle shrugged, "but Kado says he'll recover." She pointed discreetly to a pink gargoyle in a red tunic sitting a few dunes over. "Kusa and Taeko turned up about the same time that Tancho and I did. I'll bet my new blue beads that they're here to keep an eye on your boyfriend."
"They're both warrior class?" Ariana had sparred with Taeko in the preliminary matches and the sharp-featured female was very good. She fully expected to be matched with her at some point in the tournament. At the moment, Taeko was near the volleyball game, watching the match with two of her rookery sisters. She gave the odd glance towards Kuso so it seemed that Midori was correct. The two warriors were there for a reason.
Midori nodded. "Let's just hope news travels very slow tonight. I'd hate for anything else to happen." They watched the game in silence for a few minutes. "You know," she said, "this might be a good thing, Kirin out there playing like that."
Raising a brow ridge, Ariana asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well, look at him – he's having a great time and getting along with everyone. No one here is going to believe the gossip about him now."
"Gossip?"
"There's going to be a lot of fallout from that fight. Happa has always been a popular in our rookery so even though he didn't start the fight, everyone will think the worst of Kirin. Especially," Midori bit her lip, "with what I've already heard about him."
"Like what?"
"Ari-chan, I really don't think--"
Ariana gave her friend a direct look. "Look, he's already told me why his mate left him and why he left Ishimura. Can it be any worse than that?"
Midori turned a paler shade of green. "You know that? That--" she lowered her voice and leaned in "-- that he's impotent?"
"He's sterile, you mean." She made a rude noise. "I asked about that. He says all his equipment works."
"You're... sure?"
"Sure enough." Ariana's face was flaming at the memory of their swim at the hot springs. Nothing had happened but they had been close enough that, even as inexperienced as she was, Ariana could tell that Kirin's body had been more than ready to go to the next step. She waved her hand as if it didn't matter. "Anyway, he was diagnosed a long time time ago – we know a lot more about gargoyle biology and reproduction now. If he chooses to be re-examined, things might be different."
Midori narrowed her eyes slyly. "Oh, really?"
"Oh, shut up." Ariana didn't meet her gaze. "As for the gossip, I can guess – he said that his ex-mate spread a lot of lies about him right before he left Ishimura. I know that it's not going to be easy but I can handle it, Mi-chan." She smiled grimly. "I'm not going to let anyone spoil what Kirin and I have together. They don't know him the way I do and that's all that matters to me."
"Well...," Midori drawled out, "in that case, I'll do my best to back you up." She giggled as Tancho jumped up at the net. "Ta-kun says that he and his brothers are all behind Kirin in this too."
"Ta-kun, eh?"
"Don't look at me that way," Midori said, rolling her eyes. "Toshi and I have an understanding and besides, I'm still serving at the temple. Tancho is just really easy to talk to and fun to be with, that's all."
"Uh-huh."
Midori stood up and dusted herself off. "Come along, Ariana. The game's nearly over and they'll want something to eat."
"But the game --"
"You may know sports," Midori said with a wink, "but I know males. Time to learn from the master, Ari-chan."
o o o o O O O O O o o o o
"-- yes, I agree, but something light, nothing too spicy. Some of the medications we gave him could give him a sensitive stomach."
"I will see to it, Master. Shall I bring it to the room?"
"No, just take it around to the garden."
Faint voices pierced through the dull fog of Happa's dozing brain. He had drifted off with Sakaki holding his hand but his rookery mother was gone. He felt her absence more intensely than any of his other injuries. The room was empty save for the laminated cabinets and a couple of rolling carts with medical implements on them. The door slid open.
"Ah, you're awake," Master Kado said. He was followed by Kawa, the clan's junior healer. "It's time to get up and move about, young warrior. We need this room clear for other patients."
Happa stiffened. "Has he attacked someone else?"
"Kirin? Don't be ridiculous." The old healer scowled. "As I understand it, you were the only one attacking anyone tonight. No, it's time to move you out to the garden porch for the evening. Kawa has your futon all ready."
"Besides," Kawa said as he came around the exam bed, "you can receive your visitors in perfect comfort. Master is a little testy because you've drawn a crowd out front."
"Really?" The thought that he hadn't been forgotten brought a grin to Happa's face. "I thought everyone had gone to the beach."
"Don't let it go to your head," Master Kado snapped. "I don't like having to stitch up perfectly healthy bodies when I shouldn't have to. This clan has always expected better things from you. Kai and Sakaki have had a nasty shock seeing you like this and you will have to work hard to regain their good opinion of you."
Happa's mouth dropped open. The irascible old healer was well-known for his testy bedside manner but there had always been kindness behind his sharp tongue. Kawa seemed to have had a similar reaction because he said, "Master? Is something the matter? This isn't like you."
The dark blue gargoyle gave the room a long hard stare, turning full circle in his tracks before coming back to face them. "I remember another young warrior in this room," he said, "perhaps closer to Kawa's age but still young and foolish with thoughts of pursuing a mate. He trained long and hard to win her affections, facing each of the clan's top warriors in turn. He lay here in the room, badly concussed and bleeding and bruised," he raised a brow ridge, "not unlike yourself. The night that he passed the warrior trails, I sat with him until the sun rose."
Kawa made a face. "Where was the female, Master? Wasn't that her duty?"
"One would think so but she chose to sit in the place of honor that was rightfully his and enjoyed being the center of attention." He shook his head. "Heartless wench."
"What happened?" Happa asked as Kawa helped him up, wincing at the pull of his stitches. "Did he win his mate?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Master Kawa said, "but some stories do not have happy endings. That's what drove Kirin from Ishimura all those years ago."
"Kirin?" Happa was puzzled for a moment until he realized what Master Kado was saying. "You mean, he was the young warrior?"
Master Kado nodded. "His teachers gave Kirin to me as my scribe when I was sorting out the healer records. I had grown fond of him so I suppose that is what is upsetting me – I know all the old stories about Kirin are making the rounds." His nostrils flared and his eyes glowed faintly. "I lived through those days with him so I know the pain that those words are causing him."
Shaking his head, Happa said "Not again – I've had this lecture already. Say what you mean, Master, and be done with it."
"Kirin made a mistake then that you are in danger of making now," Master Kado said with a lift of his brows. "He chose his mate based purely on physical attraction and didn't heed his gargoyle nature. When one meets one's mate, there is no doubt. We are drawn to our prospective mate and it's a sensation that only gets stronger over time."
"So?"
"Ariana is a lovely female and I agree that she has much to offer a worthy male but is she here?"
Happa frowned. "N-no..."
"Exactly." Master Kado opened a cabinet. "Think about it."
"I... will try." In truth, the old gargoyle's words had left Happa too unsettled to think clearly at all. He allowed Kawa to help him stand up and to put on a plain robe; he was grateful for the assistance because even though they were tightly bandaged, his stitches pulled painfully with each movement. Master Kado went before them to open the doors and they managed to move out to the open room facing the garden. Happa was drenched with sweat and shaking as they began to lower him to the futon.
Galena was just coming up to the porch with a covered tray in her hands. "Ah, Happa-kun!" She beamed and the fin along the top of her head flared out like a fan. "I'm just in time, I see!" Putting the tray down, Galena came over to flick the light blanket out of the way and to fluff the cushions as Kawa helped Happa back down. When he hissed in discomfort, she gasped and drew back even as she reached out to help him..
"Not to worry," Master Kado said, "the local anesthetic is wearing off. He can have some more painkillers once he's got some food in his stomach," he motioned to the tray, "so come see me when he's finished eating, neh?" He exchanged a sly look with Kawa and the two healers turned to go back inside.
"Yes, master, I will!" Galena retrieved the tray and put in a low stand besides the futon. "Now," she said as she spread a napkin over his bandage-covered torso, "it seems a certain orange bird tipped off Mizuumi and she made this okayu especially for you." She uncovered a bowl of rice porridge with finely sliced green onion and slivers of pink ginger. "I also have some miso, barley tea, and a treat for after."
Happa wrinkled his nose. "I hate barley tea."
"Too bad, because Master Kado requested it," Galena said as she poured him a cup. "It's very good for restoring your blood." She dipped a ceramic spoon in the okayu and blew on it to cool it. "Here you go – open up."
Scowling, he took the spoon from her. "I am NOT a hatchling."
"I never said you were." Galena sat back on her heels and gave him a sad but gentle smile. "I was worried about you."She flicked her eyes away when he looked at her and stared down at the embroidery on her skirt.
The mouthful of okayu seemed to curdle in his mouth as Happa realized that it wasn't fair to take his temper out on her. He swallowed and said, "I'm sorry, Galena-chan, I don't mean to be cross with you. It's just that nothing went as planned tonight."
"So I gathered." She sniffed, shifting her gaze out into the garden. "I met Ariana in the females' changing room. She didn't realize that your invitation was for her alone. Midori says that the Manhattan clan is not as traditional as other clans."
"That is true," Happa said as he scooped up another mouthful. "She and Graeme are too close to be mates. I don't know if anyone would have explained the courtship rituals to them."
"I do not want to hate Ariana for this," Galena said, biting her lip. "She's always been nice to me and I've enjoyed speaking Spanish with her, even if she isn't completely fluent." Her fin rose up and down. "I nearly got in a fight with her."
"I'm glad you didn't. You would have lost."
"I know!"
"I wish I'd had your sense." Happa set the half-eaten bowl of rice porridge down on the tray. "I should have made a formal challenge instead of just attacking."
"Or better yet, not done it at all."
"Are you going to lecture me too?"
Galena shook her head and handed him the cup of tea. "I expect you've been scolded enough for one night. I like you better without bandages and bruises, that's all."
Grimacing at the taste of the barley tea, Happa switched to the miso soup. "I suppose everyone is talking."
"Just the usual gossips in the compound but most of our rookery is down at the beach." She shrugged, sending her dark hair sliding over her shoulders like black silk. "It doesn't matter, mi amigo, the guests thought it was a taste of the tournament to come and that it was an even match for the most part."
"But I lost."
"Everyone loses sometime." She reached out and lay her hand on his blanket-covered knee. "I didn't see the fight but I know you are one of the best fighters – you can even go the distance with Kai and Taiju! You still have the tournament to prove yourself so don't let it get to you."
Her dark eyes were shining so bright that Happa could see himself in them and now it was his turn to look away. After everything had happened tonight, he couldn't face Galena's honest profession of faith in him. It was almost too much and he concentrated on finishing the dinner set before him. He stacked the empty bowls on the tray.
"Now for the treat!" Galena put a shallow rectangular lacquered box on the tray. "Your favorite – mitarashi dango !"
His stomach both growled and sank at the sight of the grilled rice pastries on skewers, drizzled with a sweet and tangy soy sauce. "Oh, good," he said with forced enthusiasm, "dumplings."
o o o o O O O O o o o o
"This," Kirin said around a bite of roast fish, "was an excellent idea."
Ariana laughed as she roasted a marshmallow on a stick. "Told you so."
When they had headed down to the beach, every instinct in Kirin's body had been telling him to flee from such a large gathering of gargoyles but Ariana's hand in his had kept him firmly anchored. Instead of sly looks and whispers, he was greeted with smiles and laughter. The volleyball game had helped get rid of the remnants of the fight and he felt as carefree and happy as the young gargoyles around him.
The Three had gone off to watch Toshi's team play another game so he and Ariana had the pavilion by the fire pit all to themselves. Kirin leaned back against a post and enjoyed watching Ariana attempting to be domestic. She didn't seem to be particularly good at it – when they had come over after finishing their game, Midori had taken over the job of grilling the fish and Roslin was tossing the charred remains of the first batch in a trash bin. He wasn't quite sure what Ariana was doing with the items she had at hand but he was prepared to be a good sport about it no matter how badly incinerated the end product.
"Now this," Ariana said as she deftly sandwiched the toasted marshmallow between the graham crackers, "is called a S'more." The marshmallow oozed over her fingers. "It's messy but really, really good."
Raising one eyebrow, Kirin gingerly took her offering. There was the faint aroma of burnt sugar but as he bit into it, he was surprised by the warm gooey chocolate in the center. It was tempting to devour it as messily as possibly but he forced himself to eat neatly. Takakura had told him that they were expected at a meeting later and it wouldn't do to arrive with sticky white goo all over his face.
Ariana giggled. "You eat like my mother – all dainty little nibbles."
"Somehow," Kirin said as he ran his tongue around his teeth, "I don't believe Lady Sata has ever been worried about getting food in one's beard."
"I suppose that's true." She laughed and held up her hand, wiggling her marshmallow smeared fingers. "S'mores are a lot of fun to eat but boy, are they messy!"
"Ah." Acting on impulse, Kirin took her other hand and began to lick the marshmallow off her fingers. It was a bold move but since they were more or less alone, he decided to risk it. Part of him was very curious to see just what her reaction would be.
"Kirin?" There was a nervous quaver in her voice. "What are you doing?" Her toes curled and uncurled in the sand.
He kept his eyes on hers as he carefully took each digit into his mouth. "The marshmallow is very sweet," he said as he licked his lips, "but I prefer the red bits."
"Silly," she giggled. "That's me!"
"Exactly." He pulled her into his arms.
"Kirin!" she said, squirming slightly, "this is so unlike you!"
"Do you want me to stop?"
"....No." Her breath shuddered against his skin. "But your promise to Kai--"
"I'll take my chances." He nuzzled the side of her beak, working his way back to to her shapely ear.
"'Ello-'ello-'ello!" A grinning gargoyle with the face of a scruffy black dog called out in English. "What's all this then?"
It was fortunate that he and Ariana were so thoroughly entangled or else Kirin would have launched himself at the intruder in a heartbeat. A second look revealed that there were others approaching the pavilion and Kirin forced himself to calm down.
"None of your business, Dodger!" Ariana said. "What's up – oh!" She put a hand over her mouth. "We had a rehearsal, didn't we?"
"Actually, we had a full blown row," Dodger continued amiably. "Yer brother's in a snit over Beatrix wantin' t' change plays. He said you'd want your say so we tracked you down." He leered at Ariana and Kirin. "Looks like you was havin' a right proper snogfest, eh?"
Kirin growled.
"There, there," Ariana murmured in Japanese as she patted his arm. "Dodger and I are old friends. His mouth is always running faster than his brain." She gave Dodger a sharp look and continued in English, "You really don't want to go there. Kirin's had a hard night."
"Kirin, is it?" Dodger raised one furry eyebrow. "Th' one Graeme's been bitchin' about? Oh, this'll be good!" He turned and called out. "Hurry up, you lot!"
"Ari-chan?" Kirin asked. "If you had other obligations, why didn't you go? I would have kept until later."
"After the way they treated you? I couldn't just let you walk off like that," Ariana whispered back. "Some things are more important, you know?" She shrugged and gave him a little smile.
He smiled back and rubbed his brow ridge against hers. She responded in kind, leaning into him and he wished that her thespian friends had put off finding them for a little bit longer. As the London gargoyles came closer, Kirin realized that he had seen some of them the previous evening. They all resembled heraldic animals in one variety or another from a falcon-headed female to a spike-studded dragon. There was even a stocky badger-faced female with a book bag that looked like she'd stepped out of an illustration from a children's book.
"So, what's the problem?" Ariana called out. "I've already memorized Beatrice's lines."
"That script in your backpack?" Kirin said, remembering her first evening in the Tengu village. "'Much Ado About Nothing?'"
"You remembered?" Ariana gave a delighted smile.
"Naturally." He sat up straighter and raised one eyebrow as he said in English. "'What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living'"
She responded with a cool look of her own. "'Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence.'"
It was clear by the pleased look in her eyes that he had taken Ariana by surprise as they continued with Benedick's and Beatrice's duel of words from Act I of the play. Kirin had an English copy of The Riverside Shakespeare back in the schoolroom library and re-read that particular scene over and over while the rest of the Tengu were preparing to send them off on their journey to Ishimura. He had read the play so much that when he read Beatrice's lines, he heard them in Ariana's voice.
Kirin curled his lip as he delivered Benedick's final retort: "'I would my wings had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer. But keep your way, i' God's name; I have done.'" He waved his hand as if to flick her away like a fly.
Ariana's gaze hardened. "'You always end with a jade's trick: I know you of old.'" She held her scornful pose for several seconds before commenting, "You paraphrased that; it should have been 'my horse', not 'my wings.'"
"Can you imagine a horse big enough to carry me?" Kirin said. "No one would ever believe it." He had been so caught up in the moment that he forgot that they had an audience until someone spoke.
"You… did that from memory?" The badger-headed female looked up from her script with wide, round eyes. "And in English?" She glanced at Ariana. "Where did you find him?"
"Beatrix, this is Kirin," Ariana said by way of introduction. "I met him when I was visiting the Tengu near Osaka. He ran the lines with me for Act I while I was there." She reached over and patted his knee, leaving her hand there. "He's a regular bookworm."
Shrugging, Kirin said, "The Tengu elders asked me to translate the manuscript that Ariana had in her possession. It had been years since I'd read any Shakespeare. It was very enjoyable." He realized that several of the Londoners were looking at him speculatively. "What?"
"Dorcas?" Beatrix asked. "Do you suppose Winston's costume will fit him?"
Dorcas, the auburn-haired female with the ginger cat features, came forward. "Stand up," she said with an imperious tone that had Kirin rising before he realized it. From the snap in her voice, Kirin was willing to bet Dorcas was a potential rookery keeper. "Wings out, let's see what we've got."
"Oh, my…" Beatrix breathed and began to fan herself with the script.
"Neh?" Kirin scowled at the Londoners that were gawking at him. He knew he must look sweaty and unkempt but he didn't think that was any reason to stare. Crossing his arms, he blew out his barbels and tried not to lose his temper.
Twitching her whiskers, Dorcas winked at Ariana, who was trying hard not to giggle. "Well, well…, "she purred, "I'd skip rehearsals for him too."
"Hey!" Dodger snapped. "What do you mean by that?"
"Don't you two get started," Beatrix said to head off any spats. "Well, Dorcas – do you think you can work with this? The costume, I mean?"
"Possibly," she answered, mentally sizing Kirin up. "Winston's more barrel-chested but we can fix that easily with accessories. The pants will need to be altered."
"The pants?"
"Just look at him!" Dorcas spanned him with her hands, taking mental measurements. "He's at least a head and a half taller but not to worry – I'll put a V-shaped slit in the hems, add some trim, and let all that curly leg hair show through. Think how dramatic that will look!"
"Ooooh," the badger girl breathed, looking at him with large, liquid eyes. "That would be perfect!"
Kirin bristled. "What are you talking about?"
"Yes," Ariana asked, "what's going on? Bea?"
"Well, with Winston bowing out at the last minute," Beatrix explained, "we don't have anyone to play Benedick to your Beatrice. It's either find a substitute or switch to another play."
"Like what?"
"I suggested 'Twelfth Night' but Graeme threw a fit. Lucy's off calming him down now."
Ariana sighed. "I know what that's about – he's been working on a project for Xanatech ever since we got here. He doesn't want the distraction."
"It's not like he'd have th' hard part," Dodger said, putting his arm around Dorcas in a very obvious territorial display. Dorcas preened her whiskers to cover her amusement. "You'd be playin' Viola an' she's got most of th' lines."
"The other thing to consider," Beatrix continued, "is that if we switch plays, we've got to re-stage everything." She looked hopefully at Kirin. "However, after what I just heard, surely your friend could help us out. I'd be forever grateful."
"Absolutely not!" Kirin protested in Japanese. "Outside of the classroom, I haven't done anything like this in years! Besides, what would Kai think? He expects me to keep my distance from you!"
"Bea?" Ariana asked. "Can I borrow your script?"
The badger-headed Londoner blinked. "Yes, of course!" She handed over a sheath of papers.
Flipping through it, Ariana stopped and folded back a page. She handed it to Kirin and pointed at section of dialogue. "That's why you should do it."
Giving her a brief skeptical look, Kirin narrowed his eyes as he read the tiny script, occasionally moving his lips as he translated English words to Japanese. It was the last act of "Much Ado About Nothing" where Benedick and Beatrice were persuaded to profess their love for each other, including a scene-stealing kiss. He blinked, looked at Ariana, and looked back at the script again. "I would get to do this?" he asked in Japanese.
"Yes," she said, "in front of Kai and everybody and no one can object because it's in the play." An impish grin danced over her lips. "You would be courting me in public. It is what you said you wanted, isn't it?"
Kirin grinned back. "Very well," he said, switching back to English. "I'll do it."
To be continued in Part VI of "Koiji"....