Chapter One

I'll cross it though it blasts me.
-Shakespeare, Hamlet

San Mantego, Southwest California, USA

The San Mantego Public Library was quiet that evening, except for the faint beeping of the computer as the librarian checked books in and out for the impatient people waiting in line. The librarian was elderly, in her late seventies, and very proud for having maintained her position as head librarian for forty-two years. Being head librarian came with certain responsibilities - she had to be much stricter than her young coworkers, and make sure there was never any fiendish talking or disturbances on her watch. Frequent visitors were familiar with her severe glare through overly-large spectacles, and insistent "Shh!" for the benefit of those who actually went to the library to read. The 110 pound lady could be quite terrifying when she tried to be.

However, with the excitement of keeping the people in line happy, she missed the two high school girls huddled in the corner, whispering excitedly as they poured over books on Japanese culture. Both were slim and about the same age and height, but their appearances made them seem like strange companions.

The first girl had short, dark blond hair pulled back from flashing green eyes with sparkly hair clips. She was dressed rather neatly, with a plaid skirt and perfectly-fitted cotton blouse… a complete contrast to her friend, who in one word looked 'sloppy.' This girl had red hair in a ponytail that when down fell several inches past her shoulders, and pretty blue eyes. She was wearing a wrinkly Korn t-shirt and jeans that even a homeless person would have been ashamed to wear. As a final touch, her ears were triple pierced, and if asked to lift her shirt, she'd reveal a silver navel ring. But despite conflicting appearances, these girls were best friends.

"I can't believe you're going to do this!" the first girl chided. She glowered at her friend from behind pink sunglasses. The redhead ignored her and chewed on her lower lip as she flipped through the book in her lap, absorbed. She jumped when her friend pinched her shoulder.

"What?"

"I can't believe you're going to Japan for a whole year. You can't do this to me! Just think… no more Saturday night movies, no more mall hopping or listening to music together!" She broke off and frowned before adding, "Not that we ever agree on what to listen to. But anyway, have you really thought about it? Do you know what this means?" The red-haired girl tossed her ponytail over her shoulder and smiled at her friend's concern.

"Sure I do. There's no reason you can't do that stuff… just not with me."

Her friend, Melissa, sniffled and pushed her glasses up her nose. "You're crazy, Jen," she said expressively and sighed. "You'll be throwing yourself into the lion pit. I know you studied the language, but so what? You don't know anything about living there, the customs, nothing!"

"That's why we're reading these books, remember?"

"Still," Melissa rushed on, desperately trying to prove her point, "I… I'm going to miss you so much!" Jenny's eyes softened and she shut the book she'd been examining on Japanese table etiquette.

"I'll miss you, too, but I do have to go. I feel like if I don't get away from this town soon, I'll go crazy." She had said this so many times before that Melissa was no longer surprised by the fire that leapt into her friend's eyes, although a stranger might have been. Passion mixed with sadness, as well as an unwavering certainty that she was right, and not even Melissa could stop her.

But that didn't mean she wouldn't keep trying. "There's a ton of great American things you're going to miss," Melissa said, her voice low and taunting. "Think of the TV, the music, the… the internet!"

Jenny laughed. "They have those things in Japan! It's not like I'm going to Antarctica. Relax, Mel. I'm going, and I will love it. I wish you would believe that." Melissa sighed, not promising anything, and leaned against a bookcase in defeat. She decided to try one more time.

"You'll have to eat raw fish."

Jenny rolled her eyes and started stacking the scattered books back on the Foreign Culture shelf. "There's always rice."

Melissa opened her mouth, no doubt to give another argument, but her attention was stolen by a commotion at the front of the library. Several teenage boys, led by an especially large one, were pushing their way through the long line of weary-looking adults, who scattered, looking disgruntled. The head librarian was shaking her tiny fist at them, but they didn't seem to care and laughed like the bunch of asses they were.

"I'll tell you one thing I'm not going to miss," Jenny muttered darkly and glared at the biggest one, the two hundred and forty pound high school quarterback. "Dirk. Come on, Mel, let's get out of here before he sees us." But it was too late, for Brian Dirkson had already spotted them, and was heading their way with his buddies on his tail and a huge grin on his massive face.

"Oh great," Jenny said and ducked her head. "I don't suppose you have a sledgehammer on you?" Melissa gave her a smug look.

"What for? Your attitude is a better weapon than anything."

Jenny groaned and forced a smile. The one thing she was not going to do was let Dirk think he upset her. He was heading straight towards her, all muscles and teeth, and swung his arms like a Neanderthal. Jenny wondered what he was doing in the library. She very much doubted that he could read. And then, with a sick sensation in her middle, she realized that he had probably been seeking her out, for Dirk had only two real loves in life: 1. Playing football. 2. Aggravating Jenny.

"Hey, look, it's Jenny Thomas," Dirk said, stopping in front of her with wide eyes as if he'd only just noticed. He bared his teeth in what he must have thought was a charming smile. "And isn't she looking fine this evening?"

He paused and his smile grew wider at the guffaws from his friends. When Jenny stared back at him expressionlessly, he added, "You busy, honey? How 'bout a night out with the boys? Or for a special treat, just me. I've heard from many reliable sources that you want me." He grinned, his beady dark eyes flashing in triumph, and nudged one of his friends.

Jenny felt sick. Why did this always happen? Like she didn't have to deal with it enough during the school year, here he was pestering her on the off-season. Summer was supposed to be her time, away from it all.

"Go throw yourself in a turbine, Dirk," she told him, her high spirits completely evaporated. To think, only moments before she had been happy…

Dirk's groupies scowled at that, not at all pleased that their god had been insulted, but Dirk himself looked confused. Jenny couldn't decide if it was because he was puzzled by her rejection, or that she'd used a word he didn't know. He shuffled from foot to foot as she waited for him to think this over, and scrunched up his huge forehead in thought. A marvelous accomplishment for him.

"Was that a no?"

Jenny sighed and stood, reaching down a hand to help Melissa up as well. "I really don't have time for this, Dirk," she said and turned to leave, but as she tried to walk by, he grabbed her shoulder and pulled her towards him. Jenny winced as she caught a whiff of his stale breath, panting down at her.

"No, stay awhile."

"Let me go!"

"You see, I get this feeling we're not connected," Dirk told her, acting heartbroken for all he was worth. And where Brian Dirkson was concerned, that really wasn't much.

Jenny looked helplessly over his shoulder. Melissa was staring at her with wide, frightened eyes. Dirk's buddies were sneering, their eyes alight with excitement, and the people in line were ignoring them, back to their usual business. She wondered if they would come to her rescue if she screamed, but bitterly decided they wouldn't. Why should they care? As long as Dirk wasn't bothering them, they had no reason to get involved. And since Melissa was going to be absolutely no help, Jenny knew she had to get herself out of the situation.

"Connected?" Jenny looked up at him coldly, pretending that his antics to scare her had no effect. "My, what a big word you know. I suppose 'imbecile' was on this week's vocabulary list, too? And 'NO!'"

Dirk's face hardened, and for a wild moment she actually thought he was going to hit her, but then he pushed her away roughly, muttering, "Crazy bitch. Who needs you?"

He turned his back on her and looked around with obvious disgust. "Come on. Let's get out of here." And without so much as a backward glance, Brian Dirkson and his fan club left the library the same way they had come in, by parting the crowd like the Red Sea.

Once she was sure he was gone, Jenny let out a sigh of relief and leaned back against the bookshelf, her eyes shut. "Moron has left the building," she heard Melissa say bitterly. "Honestly, you'd think that guy was King Tut the way people let him walk all over them. At least you have the guts to stand up to him… Hey, Jen, you okay?"

Jenny opened her eyes and attempted a weak smile for Melissa's benefit. "Sure. It's nothing I'm not used to." She put a hand to her flushed cheeks and then with a sudden realization that the world was unfair, burst out, "Why me? Why is it always me? Can't they think of a better way to spend their afternoons?"

"Well, isn't it obvious?" Melissa asked, raising a light eyebrow in surprise. "He likes you."

"Likes me?" Jenny snorted and felt a wild urge to laugh, accompanied by an even darker flush to her cheeks. "Are you kidding. He hates me. They all do. I've been their red target ever since…" She broke off abruptly, frowning, but Melissa smiled and put an arm around her shoulders.

"Hey, don't worry about it," she said kindly. "Just concentrate on getting yourself ready for Saturday, okay? I'll be at the airport to see you off."

Jenny smiled then. "I know. Nothing is going to spoil my mood then, even if Dirk shows up to give me a goodbye kiss."

"There you go! This is the Jennifer Thomas I like to see. It would be kind of funny, though. Brian Dirkson, tears flowing down his cheeks because his greatest love is leaving him!" Melissa laughed until Jenny punched her half-heartedly in the arm. "Ow!"

"Come on, we should go, too." Chattering about this and that, the girls headed out to the small library parking lot.

"Want a ride?" Jenny asked as she unlocked her '94 Ford, and was rewarded with an amused laugh.

"I only live three blocks away. Summer has made me lazy, and I could use the exercise. Thanks, though."

Jenny shrugged and opened the car door. "Okay. See you later, Mel."

"Take care," Melissa muttered and pushed her colorful sunglasses up her nose again before stalking away. Wasting no time, Jenny started the car and pulled out onto the road. Chances were that Dirk and his not-so-little buddies were still polluting the area, and the last thing she wanted was another confrontation with them. At least if they advanced on her while she was driving, she had the advantage. Thinking of Dirk squashed on the road like a pancake was a pleasant thought, and she began to hum happily as she drove.

Jenny was on the main highway through a part of the desert when thoughts burst upon her, painfully loud. Although not normally of a nervous temperament, there was so much for her to worry about. Going to Japan, starting a new life, leaving everyone she loved behind and trying to fit into the new culture without doing something totally embarrassing. Maybe Melissa was right… maybe she was making a mistake…

With a sigh, she reached out and switched on the radio. She desperately needed the distraction. But unfortunately, the first song that blasted into the car was Cher's
"Believe." Jenny felt her lip curl with distaste. She hated that song, and for this reason, was able to blame all her following misfortunes on Cher. If Cher's song hadn't been so pitifully annoying, she would never have bothered to take her eyes off the road to change the station. And if she had been paying attention, she would have been able to swerve in time when a flash of gold darted out onto the road, but it was simply too late. Her face drained of color when she felt the car hit something:

THUMP.

Jenny slammed on her breaks, a stream of cuss words flying from her mouth. It had been an animal: she was sure of it. Jenny had never hit anything before, but she recognized the sick 'bump' of rubber running over flesh from the time her dad had hit a rabbit. She sat for a minute in stunned silence, and then, lip caught between her teeth, she pulled the car off the road and got out to survey the damage. She hoped that she had just hurt it a little, not sent it straight to the Grim Reaper, and crossed her fingers on both hands before running back the twenty-some feet to where the little victim lay.

At first glance, she didn't know what it was. On second, she had a crazy guess, but quickly pushed it aside. Surely the blood matting its coat and the unnatural angle at which it lay was concealing its true nature.

It couldn't be a miniature lion, for God's sake.

Jenny knelt beside it and sucked in her breath. A possibly dead little lion. No. She decided hastily that it was a strange-looking cat - lions didn't live in California, after all - and it was most certainly alive since she could see its rapid breathing and small red eyes darting around.

"Oh, you poor baby," she moaned and reached down. She couldn't leave it there. She would never forgive herself. Despite her somewhat tough exterior, Jenny had a soft spot for animals, especially oddballs of nature like this one. With a quick determined glance at the deserted road, she took off her Korn shirt, revealing a simple black tank top underneath, and gently lifted and wrapped the cat like a baby.

Faster than she knew she was capable of, Jenny drove towards Dr. Hobson's veterinary clinic. She had become well acquainted with Dr. Hobson over the years due to the surprising number of animal mishaps that had plagued her family. Such as the time her brother Benjamin "accidentally" fed the hamster invisible ink, or the time the family

goldfish had turned green. Whatever the case, Jenny had found herself on Dr. Hobson's doorstep more often than she would have liked.

Dr. Hobson was on lunch break, the perky secretary, Judith, informed her as she burst into the office, and suggested she sit down. Seeing no other immediate option, Jenny sat in one of the not-so-soft office chairs and waited. She peered down at the bundle in her arms with worry. She didn't think it looked so good, but then again, what did she know about cats that looked like little lions?

"I'm going to call you Cat," she whispered to it in clear lack of a more creative name, and also to eliminate future confusion. The red eyes blinked at her morosely and she sighed, wishing Dr. Hobson would hurry.

"The doctor will see you now!" the secretary called sweetly fifteen minutes later, and with a nod of thanks, Jenny stood and raced into the back hall. Her heart was beating uncomfortably. She felt almost as if Cat was her own suffering child.

Dr. Hobson beamed as she entered his office, his plump cheeks shiny and red. "Miss Jenny!" he cried pleasantly and folded his hands behind his back after giving her a quick once-over. "This is a wonderful surprise! What can I do for you?" The vet was in his sixties and had very little hair, but what was left of it stuck out from the sides of his head in a cross between a mad scientist and Andy Warhol. He had always made her uncomfortable, especially when his little eyes squinted and peered at her through his thick, black-framed glasses.

But he was her only hope.

"I… well, I hit this cat," Jenny admitted after taking a deep breath, and placed it gently on the table. "Can you help him… her… whatever?"

Dr. Hobson frowned down at it. "Strangest looking cat I've ever seen," he muttered.

Cat seemed to take offense to that.

Dr. Hobson suddenly became the perfect vet and started checking Cat over, muttering things like "internal bleeding" and "fracture" while Jenny looked on anxiously. Finally he looked up and smiled.

"He'll be fine. It is a him," he added. "I can patch him up for… this much." Dr. Hobson scribbled down a figure on a small pad of paper and handed it to her. Jenny paled as she looked.

"That much?" she whispered.

Dr. Hobson smiled. "That much."

"I… um…" Jenny choked, not sure what to do. The vet sensed her hesitation and glanced at Cat.

"He must a stray. Maybe it's best to have him put down rather than turn him over to a shelter once he's well."

That made her feel ill. "I'll pay, and I'll keep him," she told him hastily. "Who needs a college education anyway?"

Jenny was suddenly feeling very grumpy, but just the opposite, Dr. Hobson beamed like the North Star. "That's the spirit!" he said and Jenny stepped aside to let him get a closer look at the limp animal. "Poor guy. It looks like somebody had a sense of humor and shaved him, leaving this ridiculous thing." Dr. Hobson chuckled at the cat's lion-like mane, and reached for an electric shaver. "Must be mighty uncomfortable."

And then when he leaned over, positioning the razor above the cat's neck, the amazing thing happened. Cat opened his eyes and looked up at the vet, and as Jenny watched, a kind of glaze came over them, making the irises appear more silver than red. Abruptly, Dr. Hobson stilled, his eyes fixed on the animal.

"What is it?" Jenny asked, watching him with concern. Maybe he was having a stroke. He was kind of old. But he didn't move at the sound of her voice.

Cat stared at Dr. Hobson, and Dr. Hobson stared at Cat. All the while, Jenny stared at both of them, her head spinning in confusion. What was going on?

And then, suddenly, Cat's eyes shut and he leaned back against the table, breathing heavily for such a little guy. Jenny tore her eyes from the strange animal and looked at Dr. Hobson to see that a sort of shadow had crossed his face. "Right," he said crisply, as if continuing a conversation they'd been having, "I'll fix him, and call you in a few days to bring him home." He turned his back on her in a clear suggestion that she was to leave.

Jenny sighed. She could tell when she wasn't wanted. With a last pitying look at Cat, she left the room and headed down the hall. She said goodbye to Judith, and walked out the door, slightly mystified.

That had been really weird.

0 0 0

The first thing Jenny was greeted with as she entered her house was noise. This was not unusual. With two adults, five kids from the ages eight to eighteen and four animals living under the same roof, there was hardly any time for quiet meditation.

The moment she stepped into the kitchen, her ten year old brother, Benjamin, stepped up to her and frowned. "Do you smell that?" he asked seriously. Jenny threw her keys onto the kitchen table and sniffed.

"No. What?"

"Your face!" he yelled with juvenile cleverness and raced from the kitchen, nearly hyperventilating from his hysteric giggles. Jenny rolled her eyes and sat at the table. Brothers were a joy, especially younger ones. How would she ever survive without him in Japan? But she smiled at his retreating figure.

"Witty and charming," her mother said as she entered the kitchen, shaking her head. "It's a wonder he doesn't have a girlfriend."

Mrs. Thomas tugged on Jenny's ponytail once before turning to the stove and stirring whatever dinner surprise she was cooking. Unlike many teenagers, Jenny could honestly say that she had a good relationship with her parents. She never found it difficult to talk to them, no matter what the subject. And on their behalf, they never seemed to freak out when she dyed her hair a new color or got another piercing. Not in front of her.

Two screaming blurs raced into the kitchen and tore around the table a few times before exiting. Jenny stared after her little siblings with mild surprise, but Mrs. Thomas didn't even blink.

"Cory… Alaina… stop fighting and sit down," she called after them mildly and then gestured at the counter with her spatula. "Oh, Jen, sweetie. There's a letter for you."

Jenny got up from the table eagerly and grabbed the envelope. It was addressed to her, but with shaky, childish letters, suggesting that the author wasn't used to the western way of printing. She smiled, knowing exactly who it was from, and also that inside would contain a letter with neater Japanese characters more familiar to the writer.

She started to leave, but paused as an afterthought. "Hey mom, in a couple of days we're getting a new cat," she said, hoping she sounded confident, and eyed her mother warily.

Mrs. Thomas, however, seemed much more intent on stirring her masterpiece than listening. "That's fine, dear," she said, and Jenny turned to hide a smile. That had worked out well.

On the way up to her room, Jenny passed several of her paintings on the walls, including her favorite, a swirling mass of colors, symbols and shapes, which she had proudly dubbed, "Eden Paradox." Once in her room, she shut the door, blocking out sound of her sister Kristin's trumpet practice, and switched on the radio to a rock station for a more pleasant background. She flopped onto her bed, rolled onto her stomach and tore open the letter.

This letter was the third she'd received from her soon-to-be host family in Japan. The first had been an introduction, the second had covered remaining loose ends and this one seemed to be a simple well-wisher. Each family member had written a section: the mother wrote that she wanted Jenny to tell her what her favorite dishes were so she could practice them before her arrival (So much for dead fish, Mel, Jenny thought wryly upon reading this); the father wanted her parents to write so he could get to know them; the young son, Shingo, asked her to teach him about American sport teams when she arrived and the teenage daughter, Usagi, just raved about how much fun it would be to have a sister.

Listening to Kristin's out-of-tune trumpet and Alaina's far-away shrieks, Jenny thought Usagi was actually lucky for not having one.

She reread the letter, and as she did, noticed some rather glaring grammar mistakes in Usagi's section. Jenny's eyes widened and both her eyebrows rose. Japanese wasn't her native language, but she knew she could do better than that. Still, she decided to give the Japanese girl a little credit. Usagi must have been in a rush when she wrote it. She couldn't possibly be as dumb as she sounded.

Included with the letter was a photograph ("So you can find us as the airport," Mrs. Tsukino had written on the back) of the family. Jenny studied it with interest. A very nice-looking couple stood with arms around each other behind their children. The blond girl gave a sweet smile to whoever was taking her picture while her mischievous-looking brother gave her bunny ears.

With a yawn, Jenny tossed the picture and letter onto her desk and lay back on her bed, feeling very happy. It wasn't until her eyes shifted to the window and she saw the house next door that her spirits dimmed. Suddenly downhearted, she grabbed her stuffed iguana and hugged it to her chest. She told herself that it didn't matter anymore. Soon, she would be leaving San Mantego and all her ghostlike memories far behind.

Everything.

0 0 0

Later that week, Jenny was delighted to receive a call from Dr. Hobson, who told her that Cat was ready to be picked up. Soon after she hung up the phone she was in her car, on her way. When she arrived, she was happy to see her new pet, but also somewhat surprised. She had expected Cat to look… well, sick, but truthfully she had never seen a healthier-looking animal. Not a scratch on him. But Jenny wasn't the kind of girl to worry about details, so she quickly signed the necessary papers and handed over her hard-earned money. Dr. Hobson was still looking dazed, and perhaps this was why he had considerably lowered the price. Whatever the reason, she didn't argue. Her money was too precious to waste.

Cat was very social as she drove him home, so much that she had to yell at him to stop rubbing against her legs while she drove. The last thing she needed was another accident. She could just imagine arriving in Japan all broken and bloody… what a way to make a first impression.

"Pretty glad I saved your life, huh?" she asked Cat, remembering that just a few days prior, Cat was broken and bloody. He had been sitting on the passenger seat, contently licking his shining gold coat, but at the sound of her voice, he paused and looked at her, his red eyes staring at her in an eerie intelligent way. Jenny looked away uneasily and he resumed his task.

What a strange animal, she thought.

Cat was welcomed warmly into the Thomas household - a little too warmly, perhaps. She could tell by his flattened ears that he was a bit miffed when six pairs of hands reached for him at once upon entering. But she managed to grab him and dash up to her room before any permanent damage was done.

"Saved," she breathed as she shut the door behind her and watched Cat stalk away huffily. "Oh, don't look like that. You'll have to get used to them, you know. I'm going to Japan in a few days and won't be around to protect you." At that, Cat looked up and meowed in question.

Jenny stared at him and then laughed. "Yeah, right. You don't understand me at all, do you? How could you? You're a cat. God, why am I even bothering to explain?" Jenny shook her head with the enigma. Cat ignored her and quite deliberately licked his right paw. She sighed and her eyes drifted to his mane, now fuller and shinier than ever.

"You want me to cut that for you?" she asked, feeling foolish for doing so, and was shocked when Cat looked up and glared at her. "Okay, fine then," she muttered and sat down on the edge of her bed. "It gives you a unique look, anyway. I kinda like it."

Cat started sniffing around her bed and discovered her pile of suitcases in the corner. Only three… not much considering she was going to be gone for an entire year. "I pack light," she explained, still feeling as if she had to. "All I really need is my art stuff. Nothing else matters to me."

Cat jumped onto her lap and started purring. She laughed and scratched his ears.
"I can see myself getting attached to you," she mused and Cat closed his eyes in the ecstasy of a tummy rub. "You'll have to stay away from me this next week or I'll find myself missing you in Japan."

She kept on scratching him and added, almost dreamily, "Everything will be so different there, but I'll survive. I know I will."

Cat seemed to be agreeing with her.

Jenny yawned, sleepy from the long day. "Bedtime for me. You sleeping here, baby?" she asked Cat, who had already taken up a large portion of her pillow. "I'll take that as an affirmative," she murmured with another yawn and crawled under the covers without bothering to undress. Within minutes, she had faded into a sweet dream.

Cat, however, didn't sleep, and took to watching his mistress snore away instead. His strange red eyes blinked and his whiskers twitched in time with her breathing. He had no intention of sleeping. He waited until she was in such a deep state of sleep that not even sound could penetrate before softly padding over and nuzzling her ear.

Jenny was dreaming that she was in a sunlit field, stretched out on the grass with a picnic basket and a blanket beside her. Her white sundress gleamed in the sun, and not a single cloud dared dot the azure sky. She was waiting for someone… she always was..

Words floated down from the sky: "Leave aside all your worries, my princess. All shall end well. You have a greater destiny than you could possibly imagine, and you must be prepared for the road ahead. So sleep well, my beauty, and rest your mind, for there's no knowing when you'll be able to rest so easily again."

It was Cat, she thought hazily, the warm sunlight making her stupid. Cat was speaking to her. In the dream, Jenny only rolled over and stretched, and although she vaguely remembered the words in the morning, she took them to be nothing more than a part of her dream.

Cats can't talk, of course.

This is the only chapter with all original characters. I promise. :)