Chapter 2
The next day all was calm and Bei-Mei, now dressed in more common clothing, was ready to explore.
Sarabi regarded her carefully and said, "Bei-Mei take Arriana and the girls. They can show you around easier and are extra protection for you and Katrina.
"So you caught wind of something you don't like?" Bei-Mei responded seriously.
"Morbius and I both have. I felt something was amiss when you arrived, and it has begun to seriously nag at my consciousness. Morbius has already begun to search the dock see if anyone noticed anything."
Bei-Mei's face fell. "I know we are safe under your protection Sarabi." Bei-Mei's head bowed. "Please don't take too long though."
Sarabi smiled sadly, "Have you lost so much confidence in me?"
Bei-Mei laughed haughtily, "Never crossed my mind."
Katrina came barreling down the stairs with a sleepy trio of girls behind her. "Hey mommy! I'm making breakfast."
All tension left Bei-Mei as her daughter ran up to her. So earnest and pure it calmed Bei-Mei and eased her worries.
"What do you want for breakfast mom?"
"Ooooh make your pancakes Katrina!" Momo pipped up.
"I was asking my mother not you." Katrina scowled placing a hand on her hip.
Bei-Mei laughed at her child and hugged her. "Pancakes sound wonderful. Oh is this Ichigo?" She glanced at a child she hadn't noticed coming down the stairs, the little girl was about Katrina age, well physically, was now clinging to Momo's leg.
"Oh yeah this is her! She isn't normally this shy." Katrina put an arm around her friend.
"Must not be a morning person then." Bei-Mei smiled at the red-haired girl. "I do not believe we were formally introduced. I am Bei-Mei, Tiger Queen of the East."
"I'm Ichigo Kenosawa. Momo is my sister."
"I see." Bei-Mei smiled, then glanced up at a sound from the stairs. A man in a doctor's uniform and black hair neatly gelled back was coming down the stairs.
Katrina followed her mother's gaze. "That is Doctor Kenosawa. He is Momo and Ichigo's dad."
"Doctor Kenosawa." Bei-Mei bowed.
"Ah you are Bei-Mei. A pleasure to finally be introduced properly." the doctor bowed in return.
"You have fine manners doctor, and your daughters are just as well behaved."
"Oh are they now." Kenosawa raised his brows at them. "They must have not woke up yet. They are truly demons in disguise."
Momo and Ichigo scowled at their father and he laughed care free. "As you can see."
Bei-Mei laughed as well and soon everyone, including the two girls were laughing. They all sat down as a family and ate the breakfast Katrina and her assistant, Ichigo, had prepared.
"Delicious as always girls. I am afraid I must be off though, patients don't cure themselves."
"Bye dad!" His daughters responded simultaneously.
"I believe it is time you girls showed me around town now." Bei-Mei smiled again. Then breezily walking away she talked over her shoulder. "Oh and Sarabi. Be a dear and clean up I don't want the house a pig sty."
Through gritted teeth Sarabi said, "Oh yes would want to sulley your hands."
"Heavens no why do you think I have servants. Oh and also Katrina's decorations set them up for her that would be lovely tah tah now." she waved a hand as she walked off.
Sarabi quickly cleaned and magically arranged the party supplies. "Now…" she walked to the yard and frowned, "Now...it is time to hunt."
On the other side of Tokyo Morbius was beginning to get frustrated. "Nothing! Dammit, no scent and, of fucking course, no one saw anything." He sat on the dock staring down into the ocean. He smelled the salt, the water, the birds, fish and people but nothing else. "Why can't I…" A huge grinned crossed his face, "Ah ha...that's what happened." Morbius stood up and looked into town and whistling an old war tune he strolled off.
"Mother don't you think this necklace is pretty." Katrina held a cute pearl necklace up for Bei-Mei to admire.
"Yes dear, it is lovely. Would you like it?"
Katrina's eyes lit up. "Can we get Ichigo one too?"
Bei-Mei chuckled, "Of course, dear, we can." With their purchases in hand they walked away. "Where should we go next?" Momo asked.
"I don't know about you guys but all this kid stuff is making me crave a beer." Arriana said strutted beside them.
"You always want a beer." Yuri laughed.
"That or sex." Momo nudged Yuri.
"Oh fuck off you two." Arriana feigned for offended, but failed miserably as she smiled.
They went from shop to shop their arms began carrying more bags. Pretty soon they stopped for ice cream in the park.
"So Bei-Mei what's with the lines on your forehead." Yuri asked.
Bei-Mei touched her forehead. Three red lines touched from her hairline to the bridge of her nose. "It is the royal symbol of my clan and the secret to our power."
"How's that looks like paint to me." Momo said.
Bei-Mei laughed sadly, "It isn't paint it is blood. My mother's blood. When tiger's try to seize power from another tiger it is always a fight to the death. Fortunately, we abolished the horrid tradition and made it to where we just had to fight a duel, the winner gets the mark of power and loser gets to continue living. Someday Katrina and I will have this battle, but not until she is ready will she earn the mark."
The group quietly ate their ice cream till Bei-Mei exclaimed, "You all are too dreary for me. Back to the car ladies, we have a party to attend. Momo, Yuri, Arriana the bags, please." Bei-Mei clapped her hands as she ordered everyone around.
Everyone gathered bags and entered the car.
"Today has been the best birthday ever!" Katrina smiled.
"Yes, I can say this birthday has been quite lovely so far. I am so happy it has been so wonderful for you. Nothing is too good for you Katrina now what do you say we take another trip around the mall." Bei-Mei smirked. "At your grandmother's expense, of course."
Katrina and the three others just laughed and rolled their eyes and like that they were off to the mall to get more presents.
Meanwhile Sarabi and Morbius were tracking down the culprits. Using their telepathic connection Sarabi and Morbius stayed in constant contact never failing to tell one another a clue or even scents they noticed.
"Mother I've picked up their stench again. It's faint, so they must be sticking to the waterways."
"Yes, I've noticed that as well. They used the various smells on the dock...that's why we couldn't catch it yesterday. Thought they'd sneak up on us." Sarabi grimaced as she ran through the woods.
"They were wrong if they thought they could surprise us." Sarabi could imagine the smile on Morbius's face right now. She sighed and thought only to herself "Such a blood lust." She stopped occasionally to sniff the air. The smell everywhere was horrid it stuck to her nose.
"Mother I think I'm catching up the smell is getting stronger."
"I know the smell here is rancid with fish. I suppose no surprise fish would have a grudge against cats. Plus that explains the fast pace in the water."
"Did they seriously think they could catch us off guard?" Morbius smirked
"It would seem so...hmm…" Sarabi stopped.
"What?" Morbius questioned her.
"This whole area smells of fish...yet I can smell something else too. Faintly of course...I am sure now they split into groups and someone accompanied them." Sarabi swirled in a circle. "There is a decent sized river here, with a large split one direction leads to the sea and the other channel leads towards town. The smell is everywhere, they had to split into groups here." Sarabi looked to the water. "Ah...seems I have some company."
Morbius's thoughts were filled with bloodlust as he thought. "Kill them all mother. I think I will check in on the girls."
Sarabi's was one filled with saddness. "Unfortunately, it seems I may have to do that."
She mentally disconnected from her son and spoke aloud to the calm water. "Alright, now you can come out now."
The water stood still, then it quaked and shifted then in dozens of fountain-like spouts demons armed to their gills burst from the depths of the river, chains from every angle to wrap Sarabi's body tightly in them.
"So you sniffed us out? Not surprising from the legendary Sarabi Silva." The most decorated demon stepped forth.
"Not just you but your friends as well." Sarabi grimaced.
The fish seemed stunned, then laughed and spoke in its watery voice. "So true are your tales. Nothing gets passed you but as you know we have a.."
"Group headed towards town? You thought you would confuse me by thinking I would smell you out and return home since I wouldn't dare allow my grandchild away with the tiger queen and no protection. Sadly, you are mistaken that they weren't protected."
"What?!" The demon's face contorted in fury.
"Your plan was over before it began. The poor plan it was."
The fish laughed again, it's watery tone almost gave it a wheezing sound. "We shall see Sarabi. We used to be great both in numbers and power. Our homes have been ravaged for too long first the cats, then others followed. Our numbers have dwindled and our power is weak after we kidnapped the royal family there will be no one to stop our rise to power! It is time for everyone to begin fearing us once again!"
"I truly feel your loss, but is there no chance I could call off this foolish attack and come to a more peaceful agreement? Attacking the Sun Goddess's protector and her family is not a wise idea." Sarabi was hoping her title would solve this peacefully, as it normally did.
The demons and their hidden friends were not shaken. "No! we shall take the queen and her daughter hostage and force their empire to it's knees in exchange for them."
Sarabi's head dropped. There was no way to avoid this.
"HAHAHA! The great Silva's head hangs? In defeat or compliance?" The fish's bravado was annoyingly strong.
"Don't be so sure of yourself." Sarabi's voice was hard as nails now. Her charming aura replaced by one of sorrow and anger.
The demons were clearly intimidated now. "Wha...what did you say? You are in chains...we have an army surrounding you! There is no way you can…"
With a simple shift of her body the chains were broken and her sword was at his throat. "Exactly. You only have chains, you have threatened my family and have only built a small army of poorly equipped soldiers, if you can call them that." Sarabi's face was one of pure fury.
"Wha...wait NO!"
"You should have researched more carefully."
The screams that followed echoed loud and clear throughout the forest.
"Mother I hear the screams. I am glad those filthy demons were dealt with."
Sarabi's thoughts seeped into Morbius "I shall clean up here."
"It's for the best." Morbius felt his mother's grief. She hated killing she truly, truly hated killing.
"I know...they dared to threaten a Silva, then they foolishly chose death. I just wish they had of heeded my offer and left peacefully."
"They were fools, who died like fools."
"Indeed. Hurry up they have a day's advance on us and they have some familiar friends. Bei- Mei and Katrina are not safe." Sarabi's thoughts were urgent.
"No need to tell me twice." Breaking off the connection Morbius used all his vampiric powers and sprinted towards town.