Koiji Chapter 9, 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 IX

Between one heartbeat and the next, Kirin found himself reliving an unwanted memory. He had volunteered to teach in the rookery so Sakaki could attend a ceremonial function in town with Kai. His mate had been furious – the only way she could have attended would have been with Kirin, who was entitled to do so as weapons master. Calmly, logically, Kirin had explained his reasons for declining the invitation and had gone off to the rookery in blissful ignorance. His mate, however, had chose to punish him by seeking her own amusements among the unmated males. He had found her there in the far pavilion, head cocked with a sly grin on her lips, displaying her lush, scantily-clad charms for all to see and taunting him to do something about it.

Kirin forced himself back into the present before he did something foolish. Taking a deep breath and forcing his pulse to slow, he took a moment to center himself so he could think clearly again. The others were focused on the trio on the stage and hadn't noticed his brief moment of panic. After another calming breath, he tried looking at the scene with less biased eyes.

Ariana had been wearing a casual outfit earlier but now she was wearing skin tight denim pants that hung low on her hips and a glittering backless top in an iridescent fabric that was fastened with jeweled ties. It fluttered with her every movement like a silk butterfly, giving glimpses of her smooth coral skin and accenting the slight curve of her breasts. She'd even put jewels in her hair like twinkling stars in a night sky. He might have enjoyed the sight if it hadn't been for the other males ogling her so openly. The burly one from the Antarctic clan wasn't even bothering to hide his interest and it was taking all of Kirin's self-control not to call challenge on him.

He focused on the play script instead and as it was, he would have missed the cue for his first line if Graeme hadn't elbowed him just as Musgrave said, "Her mother hath many times told me so."

Kirin only paused a moment before he said, "Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?"

"Signior Benedick, no," Musgrave said, chuckling like a jovial elder, "for then were you a child."

Prongs took a regal tone as he said in Don Pedro's voice, "You have it full, Benedick: we may guess by this what you are, being a man. Truly, the lady fathers herself. Be happy, lady; for you are like an honorable father."

Kirin snorted and said, "If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is."

At that moment, Ariana turned and tossed her hair back as she looked at him over her shoulder. "I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick: nobody marks you." She winked at him playfully and he felt a little of his irritation slip away. There was no guile in her look, merely amusement as she played the quick-witted and pert Beatrice.

"What, my dear Lady Disdain!" Kirin shot back with a curl of his lip, "Are you yet living?"

The rest of Benedict and Beatrice's biting banter followed as easily as it had the previous evening at the beach. As long as he kept his eyes on her face, Kirin could cope with all the rest. When Ariana went off stage with the others, Kirin managed his lines with Graham and Prongs well enough. It wasn't until they got up to the costume party scene and the players were all mingling, that Kirin's temper began to heat up again.

Mawson, the Antarctica gargoyle playing the villain Don John, sidled over to Ariana and said in a low teasing voice, "Your outfit reminds me of the night we went to that place in Manhattan. It was in an old building and there was live music playing. Where was that again?"

"Oh, yeah... the Rockaway." Ariana giggled and swatted him with her script. "I'm surprised you can remember it at all. Frank still talks about how many drinks you put away."

"Well worth it, I say." Mawson chuckled and grinned as he flicked his eyes over her as Beatrix cued the party goers to change positions and Ariana began to walk away.

It was all Kirin could do not to bare his teeth and growl. Mawson was wasting no time in making his interest known, unlike Happa's failed attempt. It didn't help that Ariana seemed to enjoy flouncing around in her sparkling halter and low slung pants. Even the way she carried herself was different; she walked with a hip-rolling sultry strut instead of her usual tomboyish gait. It reminded him too much of another female and another time.

Ariana wandered through the crowd towards Kirin and said Beatrice's next line. "Will you not tell me who told you so?" "No," Kirin said coldly, "you shall pardon me." Raising one brow ridge, Ariana continued gamely. "Nor will you not tell me who you are?"

"Not now," Kirin said, puffing out his barbels.

"That I was disdainful," Ariana said, crossing her arms and tossing her hair, "and that I had my good wit out of the 'Hundred Merry Tales:'-well, this was Signior Benedick that said so."

"What's he?"

"I am sure you know him well enough."

"Not I, believe me."

"Did he never make you laugh?"

"I pray you, what is he?"

"Why, he is the prince's jester," Ariana said with a grand roll of her eyes, "a very dull fool; only his gift is in devising impossible slanders: none but libertines delight in him; and the commendation is not in his wit, but in his villainy; for he both pleases men and angers them, and then they laugh at him and beat him. I am sure he is in the fleet: I would he had boarded me." She winked flirtatiously over the top of her script as she used it as a fan.

"When I know the gentleman," Kirin said, "I'll tell him what you say."

"Do, do: he'll but break a comparison or two on me; which, peradventure not marked or not laughed at, strikes him into melancholy; and then there's a partridge wing saved, for the fool will eat no supper that night." Dodger began to play a sprightly tune on a guitar and the others began to dance in a circular pattern. Ariana took his arm to lead him away. "We must follow the leaders."

"In every good thing."

They walked off to let the others take center stage and Kirin pulled his arm out of her grip. He glared across at Mawson causing mischief in his scene as Don John.

"Hey," Ariana said under her breath in Japanese, "what's wrong?" She smiled up at him. "Don't worry - you're doing fine." She followed his glance and grinned. "Mawson really is great at playing a baddie, isn't he? Who knew?"

"If you say so." Kirin looked at his script so he didn't have to look at her. He didn't like the admiration that Ariana seemed to have for his younger rival.

"Okay...," Ariana drawled out, consulting her own script, "you're back in... now!"

Somehow he managed to get through his lines with Claudio and Don Pedro, although both Graeme and Prongs raised a brow ridge for the tone of his delivery. His irritation at Ariana had transferred over to Benedick's irritation at Beatrice. As Graeme, Ariana, Lucy, and Musgrave re-entered the scene towards the end of his monologue, Kirin practically snarled his lines.

"Will your grace command me any service to the world's end? I will go on the slightest errand now to the Antipodes that you can devise to send me on; I will fetch you a tooth-picker now from the furthest inch of Asia, bring you the length of Prester John's foot, fetch you a hair off the great Chan's beard, do you any embassage to the Pigmies, rather than hold three words' conference with this harpy. You have no employment for me?

Prongs took a step back at Kirin's fierceness. "None, but to desire your good company." "O God, sir, here's a dish I love not: I cannot endure my Lady Tongue." Kirin snapped his wings around his shoulders and stomped off stage.

Ariana remained on stage with her group but she did give him an odd look over her shoulder. Taking a deep breath, Kirin tried to center himself. It was just a play, he told himself, nothing to get upset about.

"Gotta hand it to her," Mawson said softly, "Ari really lights up the stage." When Kirin didn't reply, he kept talking. "As I understand it, the London Clan has been puttin' on plays for generations. We do a similar thing in Antarctica with our clan chants and sing-song nights."

"Every clan has its traditions," Kirin said bluntly, not wanting to encourage further conversation. He scanned the script in his hand for his next scene. "If you will excuse me, I see Beatrix has changed some of my lines. I need to review this."

"No problem." Mawson grinned back at him. "I'll keep Ari company."

Puffing out his barbels, Kirin had finally had enough. "I suppose you think you're being clever, making all these offhand comments, ever so polite but just twisting your words to try to provoke me?"

"Well?" Mawson shot back, narrowing his eyes at Kirin. "Is it working?"

"Only a fool gets mad at a flea." Kirin tossed his head towards the shadowed trees behind the pavilion. "See the big male with the wide horns and the striped clothing?"

"So?"

"We fight and he throws both of us out of Ishimura. Ariana will be furious and mortified. No one wins." Kirin puffed his barbels out again. "I suggest you think about that."

"Afraid of a little competition, eh?" Mawson cast a calculating eye over him. "Happa's too civilized. Not me – Antarctica breeds a tougher fighter."

A deep growl began to start in Kirin's chest but fortunately for Mawson, Beatrix came over with Dodger. "Okay, the party scene begins to break up and …" she took Mawson by the elbow and turned him back to the stage, "... Scene two begins! Don John enters with Borrachio and...go!"

Ariana walked off stage with her group and then came over to Kirin. "It's going really well, don't you think?" she said as she folded the page over in her script. "You've got a couple of monologues in your next scene but Beatrix has edited them down." She laughed and tossed her head, making the jewels in her hair sparkle. "Since Shakespeare will be new to most of the audience, she figured it might be a good idea to tone it down a bit."

"That's good advice. You should take it."

"Yeah, no point putting everyone to sleep – say what?" Ariana cocked her head and raised a brow ridge at him. "What are you talking about?"

Kirin sighed. "Nothing. Let's just get through this, shall we?"

"Are you all right? Your delivery has been a little off but this is just a rehearsal after all."

"Not now, Ari-chan," he said brusquely, glancing at the stage. Mawson and Dodger were coming to the end of their scene. "Later."

"But-"

"Later."

"Okay, everyone for the garden scene, take your places!" Beatrix bustled over and pointed to an area just outside the pavilion to the right. "We'll take advantage of the existing greenery and just bring in some props here and there. Dodger?"

"Yeah, boss?"

"Can you rig some lighting up in that tree?"

The scruffy canine Londoner looked up at the tree in question. "Shouldn't be a problem. I got extras in the prop box."

"Good, good." Beatrix turned back to Kirin. "Okay, Benedict is going to be just behind this tree," she pointed to a space behind some flowering bushes and an ornamental pine, "so the audience sees him while the others pretend he's not there."

Kirin did as instructed, although given his size, it was poor cover at best. There was some snickering and he glanced over to see Mawson smirking back. At least Ariana wasn't with him; instead she was standing with white lioness Lucy and orange tabby Dorcas waiting to come on together in their group. She was pointing at something in the script but seemed upset. Her expression didn't even change when Midori brought over the dress she had been working on. Tancho had turned up at some point because he was helping to carry the elaborate garment. It had a full skirt with an embroidered bodice in colors that looked quite beautiful against Ariana's coral skin as Midori held it up to her shoulders. She gave a weak smile and nodded at whatever Midori was saying but it was clear her heart wasn't in it. Kirn frowned – he probably shouldn't have been cross with her.

"Kirin!" Beatrix snapped her fingers and he blinked, looking down at her. "If you could, it's traditional for Benedict to be doing something while the others are talking about him. Kenneth Branagh did a thing with a folding chair, that American version had him exercising, just something really for the audience to watch. Can you manage?"

"I'll think of something."

"The scene opens with Benedict reading a book so it's okay if you want to read off the script, okay?" Without waiting for his reply, Beatrix backed off and cried, "Action!"

Feigning an air of melancholy, Kirin launched into his modified opening lines. "I do wonder that one male, seeing how much another male is a fool when he dedicates his behaviors to love, will, after he hath laugh'd at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn by falling in love -" He let the ironic words flow as he read Benedict's part. It was as if Shakespeare knew exactly what kind of predicament Kirin had managed to get himself into and was mocking him from the distant past.

While Kirin continued with Benedict's description of his ideal mate, Dodger climbed up into a tree and with Graeme's assistance began to string some lights in the branches. They worked quietly but the slightest movement sent leaves and small twigs down on the garden below. A light breeze made some of the leaves drift past Kirin but he tried to ignore them. One drifted by the end of his muzzle and he twitched his catfish whiskers, fighting back a sneeze. Someone made a rude comment but Kirin ignored it and continued to the end of his monologue.

Pulling a throwing knife out of his leather gauntlet and flicking it in the same motion, Kirin nailed a falling leaf to the corner post of the pavilion. He glanced at Beatrix. She had a wide-eyed startled look on her face but nodded in approval. A group of males accompanied Prongs and Graeme into the scene, leaving Ariana and her group waiting in the wings. Kirin casually flipped another knife two inches below the first, making it look effortless. Mawson rolled his eyes but Tancho grinned over his armful of costume and nudged Ariana who gave a little laugh and grinned back.

Kirin breathed a sigh of relief. He could trust Tancho to lift her spirits and keep his competition away from Ariana long enough to get through this rehearsal.

"He's very good with those, isn't he?" Beatrix said. "Does he have enough control to keep them from hitting the audience?"

"Oh, sensei is much good. In winter we would put targets up in the schoolroom and practice for hours," Tancho said enthusiastically in English. "Those are his flat blades. You should see him throw shuriken around corners!"

"Shuriken? Do you mean ninja throwing stars?"

"Yes," Ariana said as they watched Kirin put a third blade below the second. "It's harder to line them up like that using flat blades." She paused thoughtfully. "Where is he getting those from anyway? I didn't see the first throw."

Tancho shrugged, making the fabric of the dress rustle. "I wasn't there when he dressed," he said in Japanese, "but most likely they were in his gauntlets. Sensei tends to stash weapons all over so they could be anywhere." He winked at her. "Don't be surprised if he insists on undressing himself. He's the only one that knows where the sharp bits are."

Ariana couldn't help smiling. "Really?"

"Hey, when that pushy fellow at the gate wanted to disarm us when we first got here, we were wondering if sensei would have to strip down naked to get in. Master Kirin might have been in his formal robes, but even those were fully loaded."

Laughing, Ariana watched as Kirin pretended to be surprised as he 'heard' the male cast set him up. He dropped the knife and acted as if he'd stabbed his foot. Before she could react, Tancho chuckled.

"Don't worry – he's chucked it into the ground between his toes. See how his hair parted on the top of his foot?"

"Here," Midori said, steering Tancho away by his elbow, "let's go hang this one back up. They're almost to the end of the scene."

Shifting her attention back to the play, Ariana waited as Graeme and Prongs led the other males away from the garden. Kirin launched into Benedict's monologue, much-shortened by Beatrix. He glanced at her as he described Benedict's idea of the perfect mate, smiling slightly as he ended up with:
"... Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humour? No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day! she's a fair female: I do spy some marks of love in her."

Lifting her beak, Ariana stalked towards Kirin and delivered Beatrice's line with full diva attitude. "Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner."

Kirin bowed. "Fair Beatrice, I thank you for your pains."

The rest of the scene flowed smoothly. For some reason, it was easier to talk to Kirin on stage that it had been just the two of them earlier. Ariana wasn't sure what was bothering him but she could tell that something was up. He had freely admitted that acting was not his thing but he was willing to do it. Ariana finished her lines, crossed the stage to the scene with Dorcas and Lucy where she pretended to overhear their gossip, and followed them off the stage.

Mawson was examining the throwing knives that Kirin had tossed into the corner post. He reached out to touch them only to have Tancho shoulder him aside.

"Ah, so sorry," Tancho said with a good-natured grin as he plucked the knives from the wood. "Master Kirin will want these back. He does love his toys."

"Uh-huh." Mawson crossed his arms. "But he lets you play with them."

Still smiling, Tancho merely said, "It is honor to serve Master Kirin." He flipped the blades through his fingers and made them disappear. "We Tengu take care of our own."

"Is that a threat?"

"Only if necessary."

The two males stared at each other. Ariana wasn't quite sure what was going on. Mawson's eyes were narrowed but Tancho merely smiled and shifted his stance. Finally, she cleared her throat. "Everything all right, guys?"

"Fine." Tancho turned his smile on her. "Midori needs to see you in wardrobe. Something about switching corsets with Lucy." He paused, wrinkling his brow. "What is corset? She not say."

Beatrix came up and interrupted. "That's a discussion for another time, I think. Ariana, to wardrobe. Mawson, your big scene is next. And you-" She looked up at the tall grey Tengu. "Who are you?"

"I'm Tancho. Midori said you need help with masks." He grinned and held out his hands, flexing them. "I make things. Very handy!"

"Ah! You go with Ariana. Dorcas will explain what she needs done."

Tancho gave a small bow and let Ariana lead the way. When they were well away from the others, Ariana said in Japanese, "Things were getting a little intense there with Mawson, don't you think?"

"You've been busy with the play," Tancho said, "but I've been watching. I know that you've known Mawson longer, but he doesn't act like a friend."

"What?" Ariana stopped in her tracks.

Shrugging, Tancho merely said, "I'm not as book-smart as Mozu or Tak, but I can read people. I can tell sensei is on edge, don't ask me why, and Mawson messing with his knives would have really set sensei off."

"Perhaps Kirin is just nervous," Ariana said. "He did say that acting isn't his thing. Maybe after we've had a few rehearsals, he'll calm down."

"Maybe..." Tancho sounded doubtful.

"There you are!" Midori pulled the sheet serving as a makeshift room divider to one side. The pavilion had a large central room for storage that the Londoners had taken over for wardrobe. At the moment, Dorcas and Midori were going through the costumes and hanging them on portable racks. "We just got through with Lucy," Midori said as she began to unlace a corset, "and she's too busty for her old corset."

Dorcas snorted and twitched her whiskers. "She's been eating her feelings. Graeme needs to start paying more attention to her or she'll turn into a big puffy furball."

"I'll have a word with him," Ariana said, rolling his eyes. "He spent the first week we were here hiding out in the Xanatech computer labs and now he's obsessed with a new research project."

"Good luck." Dorcas gave Tancho a long look over. "And who's this?"

"This is Tancho," Midori said brightly. "He's the artist I was telling you about. I thought he could help us fix Kirin's mask."

"I certainly hope so," Dorcas said as she opened a large trunk. She took out several fanciful masks in a myriad of colors and styles. "During the party scene, the prince's group enters in disguise. Since we have a lot of different face shapes, most of their masks are birds of prey with feathers and ribbons and stuff to hide any horns."

Laughing, Tancho said, "And then you have Master Kirin and his dragon snout."

"Too right," Dorcas said as she held out a mask with an eagle's face. "Could you make something similar to this that would fit his giant snozz?"

Taking it, Tancho examined it from all angles. "I can make something with a bamboo framework and heavy washi paper. It shouldn't take too long if I can speed up the drying in a low oven." He fingered the feathers and asked Dorcas in English, "Do you have any more of these?"

"Even better, I have a whole rag bag of leftover parts. Go crazy." Dorcas handed over a large drawstring bag. "Now, if we could track down Roslin, she could help with the sewing. She has a very neat hand."

"Do they have a drum here?" Tancho asked as he looked up from the mask. "There's a striker on the wall."

Midori opened a few doors. "Ah, here." She rolled a large drum out of a closet. "We don't use them as much as we used to but they're still useful out in the fields."

"I saw Roslin out with Mozu earlier. I'll go make a call." Tancho tucked the drum under one long arm and ambled out of the pavilion.

Dorcas slid the sheet back in place for privacy. Ariana held her arms up as Midori held the corset against her rib cage. "What's he going to-" The sudden boom of the drum answered her.

Midori laughed. "I remember when I was little, they taught us drum talk in music class. I guess the Tengu still use it." She began to lace the corset up.

"What's he saying?"

"Um..." Midori tied off the laces and came around to check her work. "He spelled out Mozu, something about coming here, and-" she laughed "- and to bring his gorgeous goat girl." She glanced at Dorcas and gestured towards Ariana. "What do you think? Will it work?"

Dorcas came up besides Midori and studied Ariana's outfit. They both tilted their heads at the same time and pursed their lips. Ariana started to laugh but couldn't get the breath with her torso constricted. "Wow," she said finally, "I see what Elizabeth Swan was complaining about now in that pirate movie. It is hard to breath in this thing."

"On the plus side, Ari-chan," Midori said, "it's doing amazing things for your figure."

"True," Dorcas said agreeably, "it doesn't really go with that halter you're wearing but it's giving you a tiny waist. I think this will work out really well."

From out in the pavilion, Beatrix called out, "All right, we'll take a short break here. There are some refreshments in the coolers. We'll resume in a half hour." There was a murmur of voices and the wooden floor vibrated with the approach of heavy feet.

"Time to get me out of this," Ariana said, turning away from the door.

Dorcas laughed. "What? You don't want lover boy to see you?"

Ariana shrugged, not sure of the uncertain feeling coming over her. Since her talk with Tancho, she couldn't help thinking of Kirin's odd behavior. She had caught him watching her with a haunted look in his eye that was both sad and painful. It made her wonder if it was something she had done but she couldn't think what could have caused his reaction.

Midori frowned and looked at her carefully. "Ari-chan? Is something wrong?"

"I'm not sure."

"You're not feeling sick again?" Midori began to undo the laces quickly. "Whatever you do, don't throw up in here."

"Eeew, no." Dorcas cleared the garments she had been working on out of the way. "Are you coming down with something?"

"I'm sure it's nothing," Midori said as she took the corset away and put it on the hanger with Ariana's costume. "You're fine now, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I skipped a meal and got a little woozy earlier," Ariana said as she adjusted the glittering halter. "I've had some protein bars and a Red Bull. I'm ready to go."

Dorcas and Midori frowned at each other. The orange tabby Londoner spoke first. "You know, I may not get along with you at times, yank, but I must say that eating that stuff is not good for you. Do you know what's in that?"

"Hey, I was in a hurry!" Ariana said. "I do this all time when I'm out on patrol!"

"Well, I'm going to make sure you eat something sensible," Midori said as she pulled the makeshift door aside. "Tancho brought up a food carrier up with sandwiches and picnic treats."

The other members of Beatrix's theatre group were already helping themselves to the snacks. Graeme was rooting around in the cooler. "I would kill for a Red Bull," he grumbled.

Dorcas and Midori looked at each other, looked at Ariana, and burst out laughing.

Lucy cocked one brow ridge up. "Private joke?"

"It's a twin thing," Ariana said, rolling her eyes. "How'd he do? I made him take the script to the lab with him."

"Okay," Lucy said, "but I'm still having to feed him his lines." The white lion-headed Londoner had been involved with Graeme since they had been childhood friends obsessed with a cartoon show over the internet. It had been a chance meeting in Ishimura fifteen years ago when Graeme and Lucy met in person and realized that they were both gargoyles. It had changed everything – their relationship led to trips to other clans and then those clans opening diplomatic ties with each other. One could say that it was the key to everything.

Graeme settled for a soda. "I'll have it all down by showtime. I'm just glad Beatrix edited out the grave scene and some of the more convoluted stuff." He took a drink. "And the singing."

Dodger grinned. "Trust me, biscuit, we are all grateful she cut the song. Why you can't sing like your sister is a mystery."

"Now, now," Ariana said playfully. "Graeme and I are only twins in that we were two eggs laid at the same time. You can't expect us to be identical in everything." She glanced around casually to see where Kirin had got off to and found him talking to Li Kao and the other two Chinese gargoyles. The surprising thing was that they seemed to be having their conversation in Chinese.

"Now that would be funny," Lucy said, breaking Ariana's concentration. "Imagine what it would have been like if you two were both the same gender." She laughed. "I think Graeme would make a lovely girl."

"Ha-ha." Graeme pretended to offended but his eyes were dancing. "Mother would be pleased but Dad would be pulling his hair out."

"What's all this then?" Dodger asked as he took a seat next to Dorcas. "Wot you doin' to Brooklyn, you naughty girl?"

Ariana rolled her eyes dramatically and shifted her hips to the side. "Oh, Dad had years to get used to Graeme and Lucy. I just kind of slapped him upside the head with Kirin." She gave a naughty giggle. "Honestly, we may have to slip him some Xanax or something before the Grand Miai is over."

The London gargoyles, who had more contact with the Manhattan clan, had a good laugh at this.

"It's a pity Dad stayed in London because he could sympathize with Brooklyn," Lucy said. "I'm sure he'll adjust in time. Maybe you should tap the brakes a bit, let him get used to the idea?"

"Naw," Dodger chimed in, "The Go Girl slow down? Never!"

"Well, she's slowing down now," Midori said firmly as she handed Ariana a wrapped sandwich and a drink. "Sit down over here and eat properly!"

"Gosh, you're bossy tonight," Ariana teased but did as asked and sat down with Midori. The sandwich was very tasty with layers of ginger pork and cabbage. "What is this?"

"Wanpuku sandwich," Midori said as she unwrapped her sandwich. "It's basically leftovers with lots of vegetables. See? Mine has teriyaki chicken, peppers, carrots, and cabbage."

Tancho wandered back into the pavilion with the drum. "I was in the kitchen when they were making them. I'll have so much to tell Kiyo when we go back home."

"That's right," Ariana said. "She did most of the cooking when I was there."

"Since we don't use bread, Kiyo makes these onigiri sandwiches. They're called onigirazu here – happy accident, neh?"

"Who's Kiyo?" Mawson asked as he helped himself to the sandwiches. "That your girl back home?" He made the question sound like he was merely making conversation but something in his tone pricked up Ariana's ears.

"No, Kiyo is my older sister or aunt, I think," Tancho said wistfully. "After Nagasaki, our rookeries got smaller. We have to find mates here – there's no one for us at home."

"That's rough," Mawson said.

"It is what it is."

"Well," Midori said as she crumpled up her sandwich wrapper, "it's lucky that you and your brothers are here. That's what the Grand Miai is all about."

"It has worked well for Mozu," Tancho said with a grin. He leaned out so he could look past the edge of the pavilion roof. Midori and Ariana followed suit and saw two gargoyles with feathered wings silhouetted against the moon.

"Is Tak jealous?" Ariana said.

Tancho smirked."You have no idea."

It had started with an act of simple courtesy. Beatrix had skipped to the scenes that Kirin had not rehearsed with the others earlier. Ariana had been called away for some costume issue so he was able to concentrate a bit better. He had intended to go find her when the three Chinese gargoyles had some questions and Beatrix seemed overwhelmed. Li Kao, the shortest of the three, spoke passable English but seemed frustrated with his translations.

"Pardon me," Kirin said in Mandarin. "May I be of assistance?"

Beatrix blinked. "You speak Chinese?"

"Ishimura has a fishing fleet so it's good to know how to talk to the neighbors. We teach Russian and Mandarin as electives here." Kirin shrugged. "I picked up a bit of Cantonese and Hokkien in living near Osaka."

"That is good to know!" Li Kao beamed. "Some of these lines are confusing to Ox and Shen. I'd like to make them simpler if possible."

"Dogberry and Verges speak in malapropisms. It was considered high comedy in Shakespeare's time," Beatrix said. "I suppose we could reinterpret the lines to suit the audience."

"Malapropisms?" Li Kao tilted his head like a curious fox.

"It's the mistaken use of a word in place of another word that sounds like it," Kirin said. "I've done it myself when speaking Chinese because it's a tonal language with many similar-sounding words. An example would be," he paused a moment, "mixing up the words 'houguo' and 'huoguo.'" All three Chinese gargoyles snickered.

"What's the joke?" Beatrix asked.

"One word means 'consequence' and the other means 'hot pot.'" Kirin grinned. "I did that when I was teaching Chinese to the Three and they all thought it was time for dinner."

Li Kao had a brief discussion with Ox and Shen. "All right," he said back in English, "I think I can sort out things out now. There's only a few places that may need fixing, if Kirin wouldn't mind helping me?"

"Not at all," Kirin said, bowing slightly. "It would be my honor."

"All right," Beatrix said. "Just let me see when you're done."

The changes that Li Kao wanted to make were relatively minor. They did a quick reading of the scene and Kirin thought the lines flowed more smoothly. Li Kao explained that in the Xanadu clan, they also performed plays in the classic Chinese style. Shakespeare was not so very different in comparison.

"I've always enjoyed plays from the audience," Kirin admitted. "This is the first time I've actually been in one."

"Really?" Li Kao said, fanning himself with his script. "You were a little nervous at the start but first rehearsals are always that way."

Kirin shrugged. "I didn't want Ariana to be disappointed. She had been looking forward to the play and they needed someone for the part."

"Ariana is a charming female," Li Kao said. "I've always thought so ever since I went to visit the Manhattan clan in 2010."

"You... went there?" Although he'd overheard Ariana and Happa talking about it, it hadn't really occurred to Kirin just how much other gargoyles had been traveling outside their clan territories. In his day, when a gargoyle went ronin, it was a scandal and one that still labeled him among his peers.

"Yes, their clan leader proposed holding a leadership conference for future leaders. They picked two young warriors from each clan." Li Kao gave a barking laugh. "It was well meant but the real reason was to introduce Ariana to compatible mates – Graeme and Lucy were already matched up. Manhattan is a clan with strong human support but they are a small clan. Any male pursuing her will have to move there."

Ox, a tall, broad-faced gargoyle with heavy curving horns, made a face. "That's very difficult. This was my first trip outside our clan territory and I still get terrible anxiety at times, especially when I wake to see nothing familiar."

"Travel broadens the mind," Li Kao said kindly. "I felt that way the first time but it gets easier. I met Yong and Jin ho and that led to us making better contact with the Korean clan. As I understand it, Mawson and Happa kept in touch with Ariana. It was a surprise to hear that you, Kirin, were courting her instead of them." He chuckled. "But then, that is so very her. She kept us all on our toes."

"So it seems." Kirin forced himself to make polite conversation but he couldn't help glancing towards the pavilion. Ariana was sitting with her friend, Midori, nibbling on a sandwich. She was still wearing the sequined halter top and jeans, but with her wings draped over her shoulders. Most of the others were occupied with snacks but Mawson was still leering at her, much to his annoyance. Tancho lumbered by with a large drum under his arm. Kirin had heard the drum message earlier – it had been directed to Mozu but he hadn't heard all of it. Tancho put the drum down and grabbing one of the pavilion posts for support, leaned back to look up into the sky. Midori and Ariana came to the edge of the porch and did the same. They were still there, watching Mozu and Roslin winging their way in as Kirin and the Chinese gargoyles walked up.

"Why did you call for Mozu?" Kirin said, startling them. He was standing outside the pavilion, putting Ariana almost at eye-level. "I heard the drum message."

"We wanted Roslin to help us with the costumes. She's quite good at sewing," Midori said. "Tancho knew she was with Mozu, that's all."

"Ah." Kirin glanced at Ariana, trying to work up something to say when she decided to help him out.

"Did you get a snack?" she said lightly, holding up her water bottle. "There's lots of drinks and sandwiches left."

"I had dinner with Tak and Tancho earlier," Kirin said, "but a drink would be welcome, thank you."

Handing him a bottle, Ariana said softly, "You're being awfully formal, don't you think?"

Kirin shrugged. "It seems appropriate."

Ariana reached out and brushed the wispy curls off his forehead. "I think this is the first time I've been tall enough to play with your hair. I'll have to stand on platforms more often." She let her fingers drift along his brow ridge and he couldn't help leaning into it. "Who did the braids?"

"All of the girls had a turn," Kirin said with a shrug. "They wanted to put in ribbons but I said no. Does it look awful?"

"It's a tidier bird's nest that you usually have but no, it's fine." She laughed gently. "There was a scene in a Disney movie about Rapunzel where three little girls braided her hair. You're lucky they didn't put flowers in it."

"That explains all the giggling." He glanced past her to see Mawson smirking at them. "Could we step away for a moment? We need to talk."

"Sure." Ariana hopped off the edge of the pavilion platform and began to walk up one of the gravel paths. This particular pavilion was located near the gently sloping fields of the farm district. There was just enough of a slope on two sides of the building to form a natural amphitheater for an audience to sit. She stretched her wings out and the slight breeze from them made the sequined fringe on her halter flutter. As distracting as that was, Kirin knew what he needed to say. "So... what do you think?" Ariana twirled. "Great outfit, huh?"

"Very pretty."

"Midori thought it might cheer me up." She gave an embarrassed laugh. "I felt so awful for throwing up earlier."

"I was worried about you," Kirin said, with a huff. "I kept thinking about it all during class and when I get here, there you are, dressed like that, with all these males ogling you-"

"Excuse me?" Ariana's brow ridges shot up her forehead. "Dressed like what, exactly?" She flared her wings and gestured to herself. "There's nothing wrong with this! It's a great summer outfit!"

"That may very well be so in New York but this is Ishimura and many eyes are watching." Kirin glared at her. "I have put up with that Mawson character all night. He has been watching you and making lewd comments all night, trying to start a fight with me."

"That's just how Mawson is, all wind and bluster," Ariana said. "He came to the youth leadership conference in Manhattan five years ago, so yeah, we know each other. It's no big deal!"

"I can't afford to lose my temper for a second. Kai and the elder council have made it very clear that if I get in another fight, the Three and I will be kicked out of Ishimura." His eyes glowed faintly. "I can't do that to them. I won't."

"Okay, I'll talk him into backing off."

"I don't want you talking to him at all." His eyes were beginning to burn.

"He's IN the play so that's going to be a little hard!"

"I will not have it!" He loomed over her. "It's bad enough that you're dressed like some dockside tramp, I will not have him leering at you like that!"

"WHAT!?" Ariana's screech could shatter glass. "What did you just call me?"

Attracted by the shouting, the rest of the cast had moved around the perimeter of the pavilion. Beatrice and Midori were horrified. Tancho and Mozu were exchanging worried looks. Mawson was grinning gleefully. Dodger was taking bets on who would was going to throw the first punch and Dorcas was trying to stop him. The rest were mesmerized by the spectacle.

"Are -" Lucy bit her lip, "Are they having a fight?"

"Be glad you don't know Japanese," Graeme said, making a face. "I'm not sure what he's going on about but he's definitely ticked off about something." He put his hand on the small of her back and began to steer her away. "C'mon, guys," he said to the others, "we need to give them some space."

"Naw, it's just getting good," Mawson said. "I want to see her knock him out."

Graeme narrowed his eyes. "Don't you start," he said. "I remember how you were in Manhattan. I would hope you learned something about females since then."

Mawson curled his lip for a rebuttal but found himself hesitating as Dodger, Lucy, and Midori all took up positions around Graeme. He let out his breath in a loud huff and threw up his hands. "Fine. I'll back off but if they break up, I'm going after her."

"If Ariana wants you to," Graeme said. "She says no, you back off. Got it?"

Midori growled softly under her breath.

Mawson flinched.

"It goes both ways, Ariana," Kirin snarled back. "I came back to Ishimura for you. I'm doing this play for you." He took a shaky breath. "I'm trying my best but what you do reflects on me too. You can't expect me to look away when you flaunt yourself like that."

"I can't believe this! Why are you saying these things? No one cares -"

"Yes, they do. Did you walk though the temple compound like that?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Did people start talking as soon as you passed?"

"Yeeeah..." Ariana's eyes grew glossy with scarlet flickers.

"If we are to have any kind of relationship, we both have to think before we act. I can't beat up everyone that leers at you and you need to not give them a reason to do so."

The heel of her hand caught him on the side of his jaw and staggered Kirin down on one knee. Wordlessly, Ariana screamed at him and launched herself into the sky.

Kirin worked his jaw into place and stalked off towards the road.

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