Imperial Guard – 005 Ethos of Solbrecht

Chapter 5 The Fall of Night

Author's note: Oof, I know it was a long wait. This chapter was very tough to write because of the sheer amount of ideas and details I just had to fit in and it's worth it! Enjoy, and have a taste!

Houn and Yukiko

"Houn, are you… I mean, are we sure about this? Isn't this a really fancy place?"

Yukiko had insisted on him being the one to pick a place to have dinner together. Not quite sure at first about his choice, knowing she would've been just as happy with having dinner at one of the beach clubs where the food was good and the atmosphere a bit more casual, he decided to go through with it and reserve a rug for two at Yu'loa Maweht.

Located on the top floor of one of Canarii-Ynearr's luxury apartment complexes, the restaurant was known for offering one of the most refined dining experiences in the city. With its private seating arrangements and sky terrace, live music evenings and exquisite staff, one often had the opportunity to meet Solbrecht's rich and famous who liked to show themselves here as well.

Its kitchen was the domain of a trio of renowned chefs, capable of creating dishes that would satisfy even the most well-developed palettes on the planet, made with the best ingredients sourced from select regions all over Solbrecht.

The only reason why he was able to sneak in a visit on such short notice, the restaurant having a waitlist a season long on average, were the limited number of seats available for same day reservation, plus the fact that the place owed him a favor for a previous reservation canceled on their part.

That Yukiko was a bit anxious he could understand. Just the fact that they were supposed to wait until the exact time of their reservation in the preceding lobby, to be guided to their rug by a member of the wait staff, made him feel a little on edge too. Having had dinner with his parents here before, he knew what to expect, more or less, for the ever-changing menu was always full of surprises.

The lobby looked like the living room in one of the homes of the wealthier portion of his people. The burgundy and forest green floor pillows were edged with gold trim and the navy blue rug in front of them was gold embroidered with the name of the restaurant and surrounded by spiraling Preidogian welcoming messages.

The walls and floor were made of a light marble-like stone, the light of the floor lamps scattered between the rugs diffused by their shades composed of strips of poetyo, which looked like they were draped around their light sources in a spherical shape. Houn's nostrils picked up a mild flowery scent coming from potted plants that lined the walls, as well as subtle tones of exquisitely-prepared food that made his mouth water.

The other guests sharing the lobby with them were guided to their seats group-by-group through the broad transparent sliding doors that offered a view of the dining room, which was set up to optimally host members of his species. The rugs and floor pillows were accompanied by the same type of floor lamps and spaced far enough apart to allow for comfortable passing.

Mere ticks had passed after the exact time of their appointment when a young Mantrinesse of Sogowan descent eyed them after passing through the double doors, a polite smile playing on her lips. Like her fellow waiters and waitresses, her attire was composed of poetyo of a couture-like quality in forest green color, the thick fabric looking very luxurious and fitting snugly around her shoulders, chest and bottom. A subtle flower arrangement was fitted to her left shoulder and her name tag was framed into a small leaf-shaped golden brooch on her left breast. Standing at an appropriate distance from the two of them she bowed politely, her smile widening to show a few more teeth as she gestured for them to come with her.

"Miss Miyamoto? Houn, son of Jeht? I'm Kiyala. Welcome to Yu'loa Maweht. I will be your waitress for this evening. Would you follow me please? We have your seats prepared for you."

She spoke the human tongue with only a light trace of an accent, similar to his own, and better than his own parents for that matter. Considering Yukiko's presence, her assumption that not many humans spoke more than a few words of Preidogian, Saerinian or any other Mantrin language was pretty much correct. They were meticulous about it, for he had noticed that one waiter, who received a family of Orkehts, even took the effort to switch to Cadaii.

Houn had already admitted it to her. Yukiko looked wonderful in her long red evening dress, her shiny black hair tied into two knots by glittering clasps with a floral design, with the rear part still flowing freely. She knew he didn't care much for it, but the subtle touch of makeup applied to her eyes and lips enhanced the fine features of her sweet round face. The first few ticks of standing in the front door opening of her apartment when he came to pick her up had rendered him speechless.

Leaping to his feet first, he straightened the top part of his outfit, which looked identical to the collared jacket of his Imperial Guard dress uniform except for the ivory color. The open front of the garment revealed a line of his lighter chest and his belly. It was complemented by pants in the same color and Yukiko had already told him that she loved it.

Where she walked on black high-heeled shoes, which gave him a really cramped feeling in his feet by looking at them, his own feet were stuck in brown leather sandals. Although many Mantrins walked around bare-footed just fine on the average day, they were among the few types of footwear on which they could move around in a reasonably comfortable way, and on Solbrecht they were popular in more formal settings, such as these. Although the restaurant's wait staff moved around on their bare feet, many of the Mantrin guests had arrived wearing similar footwear.

Lowering himself on his legs, he reached out with his hand to take hers, helping her to stand up from the floor pillow after she collected her little white purse. Her tall shoes did not make this any easier. Being a little too enthusiastic he pulled a bit too hard, causing her to fall over. Catching herself onto his broad chest, she laughed while holding on to him.

"Sorry. I-I don't know my own strength sometimes."

"I'm okay," she said, tapping both hands on his chest to make him feel more at ease.

Kiyala patiently waited for them near the entrance, her smile only widening further. Following her through the doors to the indoor dining area, they both had plenty of room to maneuver. He watched Yukiko's eyes sparkle as she halted for a few ticks to take in the view.

Inside the restaurant an air of tranquility reigned. The evening was young and many guests, most of them Mantrins and humans and the occasional members of other species, were either enjoying or in the process of receiving their first drinks, the cups and glasses placed on little side tables placed on their rugs. Kiyala continued to throw stealthy looks over her shoulder to keep them close behind her as she led them to the terrace where they were greeted by the last rays of Solbrecht's sun setting in the ocean, the sky a wonderful palette of pastel colors.

It had been another sweltering day, but the first thing he noticed was that the temperature outside wasn't noticeably different than in the air-conditioned indoor dining room. The slight occasional flicker in the air above the glass railing revealed the presence of an environmental containment field that surrounded the terrace, shielding the guests from the high summer temperatures and humidity while offering an undisturbed view.

A waiter stood near one of the pillows on opposite sides of their rug, which was located near the edge of the terrace on the oceanside. The rug would leave about a step of distance between them, which made for an intimate setting. Waiting for Yukiko to take her seat first, the male Fjetanha, whose skin tone was similar to Moa's, held her hand as she lowered her purse on a corner of the rug by its strap. He then proceeded to assist her as she lowered herself on the large forest green pillow in a cross-legged position, her modest weight and humble size leaving only a minor indent.

"Myrsya," she thanked him in his own language, upon which he smiled.

This was different in his case. Kiyala's hand was warm and her grip strong as she guided him on the way down to his rump, his legs crossing at the height of the ankles, his weight compressing the pillow's filling with an audible puff. After thanking her, he let go of her hand, upon which she took position on the restaurant-side of the rug and kneeled on a smaller pillow next to the side table.

"Here you'll have your menus," she said, continuing in her kind tone of voice. She gestured with both hands at the wooden plaquettes on which the different courses had been engraved, the menus leaning at an angle against the large folded cloth napkins standing in front of them on the rug. Among the questions asked during the reservation process, there was one about special dietary restrictions, which he knew Yukiko didn't have. The menu was therefore composed of no less than seven dishes which were identical for both of them. "Do you wish to make use of our accompanying drinks package?"

For this question he looked at Yukiko, who laughed shyly before answering.

"I'm not sure, Houn. Seven dishes is a lot. I'm not sure if I'm able to handle that."

Resting her hands on her thighs, Kiyala smiled.

"May I suggest the small package for a reduced price? You'll get smaller glasses, but you'll still be able to have a taste of our finest loiskaa and neyshawii amongst others."

"Shall we do that, Houn?"

"All right then," he answered.

"Excellent," Kiyala said, leaping back on her feet with surprising agility. "Please, enjoy the evening."

Leaving them surrounded by quiet conversations from the rugs around them, where couples and the occasional family enjoyed their intimate moments and gatherings, Houn continued to feel excited, unable to keep his long tail still for more than ten ticks at a time. That he had never brought her to a place like this almost made it feel like their very first date.

(Such a delightful piece. The aeolart was created by the writers of Lachrimae.) Adam Young - Country Hymn: youtube /watch?v=Ztc9TYFIMBI

Yukiko smiled every time he made eye contact, her gaze drifting between him and the imposing aeolart placed on a raised section of the polished wooden floor where a Mantrin musician, who appeared to be a mixture of two races, played subtle notes on the electronic piano-like instrument. With its two overlaying keyboards, it was reminiscent of the quarter tone version of the piano, but with all of the keys on the same plane, meaning there were no black keys. The keys were wider to accommodate larger Mantrin hands and unpolished, to prevent claws from slipping. It also had several knobs and pedals to alter the timbre of the notes. For the current piece he was accompanied by an Orkeht Mantrinesse, who sat cross-legged on a floor pillow with a joyt resting against her shoulder of which she plucked the strings with graceful elegance.

"I hope you're okay with sitting outside."

"It's a good choice. I love the view. And that music. So pretty."

Following her gaze to the other side, he let his eyes drift over the ocean, spotting the large whale-like bowahka in the distance as they came up for air. The remaining water sports enthusiasts closer to the beach as they skimmed the waves on jet skis or with small boats. The few swimmers that were still out to enjoy the warm water. The occasional bird plunging down to catch a meal.

Having picked up the menu, Yukiko studied it, lightly shaking her head as she let her eyes glide over the courses from top to bottom.

"I don't think I've ever eaten some of these things before. At least not in this way, but I'm sure it's going to be the best we've ever had."

"It looks wonderful. I'm sure you'll love it."

It did not take long for Kiyala to return with a round wooden tray. On top of it stood two pairs of glasses. Two spherical ones which were empty and two taller ones filled to a quarter with a cloudy orange drink, as well as a large carafe filled almost to the top with a clear liquid. The glasses were fitted with a wooden ring around the middle of their height to avoid fingerprints, which Kiyala used to place them on the small side table standing on their rug together with the carafe, with which she filled the empty glasses about halfway before she put it down on the table as well.

"Our water comes from the katayee springs behind the hills," Kiyala explained. "You're about to have a glass of neyshawii made from the best neyjees in the Ingaea province. Enjoy."

"Myrsya," they replied in unison as Kiyala took her leave with a slight bow and a flick of her ears.

As he took the spherical glass in hand, the wooden ring aiding in providing a good grip even for members of his species without fully retractable claws, Yukiko did the same, raising it in a silent toast before nipping from it. Dipping the tip of his beak into the glass, he touched the liquid to his tongue first, before tilting it further.

The drink's taste was warm and sweet, and at the same time refreshing, a perfect balance between the three. The spirit of southern Solbrecht in a glass and a signature product of the Oghuni Teh Neywa who had been fermenting the fruit for many generations.

"It tastes so good," Yukiko attempted to turn his thoughts into words.

"I bet some of my fellow crewmates are having this every day," he joked.

Yukiko laughed.

"Yeah, you told me about those girls aboard your ship. I wish I could meet them."

"They've become good friends with everyone. Would you like to come with me when they pick me up?"

"Sure." Putting her glass down she heaved a relaxed sigh. Looking around her at the waiters and waitresses who maneuvered between the rugs with incredible skill and fluid grace, her eyes glittered with admiration. Houn had to admit, with his species' large legs and long tails, it was challenging work. "Their poetyo looks so nice."

"It does. I really like your dress, it's beautiful."

"Thank you. I love your sheyrah. It makes you look really handsome when you're so dressed up."

Referring to the top part of his outfit, he brushed with the palms of his hands over both front parts of the jacket-like piece of clothing after putting his glass down and smiled.

"You do remember that my people care very little about such things?"

Yukiko laughed.

"Houn, it's a compliment. Take it as such. But now that you mention it, how come? Nearly all of you care so little about material things. Why is that?"

She had a valid question there. Not just on Solbrecht, but also out there on other worlds, many people of all species seemed obsessed with acquiring wealth and material possessions. There were of course exceptions, but it had always felt like some kind of universal constant to him. His people were more spiritual, with a deep connection to their world and an unrelenting instinct to protect it from harm. Materialism did not fit into this ethos.

"Because we just… don't," he answered with a shrug. "Inanimate objects have no soul and are therefore worth nothing. Unless there is an emotional connection, these things hold no value for us."

Yukiko smiled, taking a sip of water from the spherical glass.

"That's… that's beautiful actually. And quite true also." She smiled. "My people have come up with this saying. It's a bit funny, but not offensive, I assure you."

"Let's hear it."

"Okay. It goes like this. How do you recognize a wealthy Mantrin?"

Flattening one of his larger than average ears, he scratched at the bottom of his muzzle. His musing was interrupted by the return of Kiyala, a mysterious smile playing on her lips as she fluidly walked around him, which would be explained by the contents of the rectangular wooden plate in her left hand. They had a varied menu to enjoy, with small portions of different types of fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, combined to form his people's idea of haute cuisine.

Kneeling on the second waiter's pillow on the other side of their rug to avoid leaning over the table with the drinks, Kiyala lowered the plate, revealing the little pieces of edible art that made up their appetizer composed on top. Placing it on the rug with a flamboyant gesture, together with the two smaller square plates in her other hand, she tried to look at each of them as she explained what they were having.

"You're about to enjoy your first course. These are slices of freshly cut jawteh, a freshwater fish. They are topped with a light paste made with three different herbs, jixly, chesve and haali, and drizzled with a drop of neyjee juice. Blessings from Solbrecht."

With these words, Kiyala rose back on her feet and left with a slight bow. Houn chuckled at the amount of joy trying to show on Yukiko's face. It was like every bit of her tingled with delight.

"It looks so delicious, Houn."

Each taking their own plate in one hand, they loaded it with one of the sashimi-like slices. There were no utensils, as his people were accustomed to eating with just their hands. Food in restaurants and during more formal get-togethers was therefore always cut to size for easy consumption. They had also taken into account that he shared the rug with a human companion, the four slices placed on Yukiko's side of the plate being identical, aside from being smaller in size.

"Blessings from Solbrecht," he repeated after Kiyala and Yukiko herself, waiting for her to have the first taste.

The girl let out a soft groan of delight, chewing slowly with closed eyes, as if focusing all of her senses onto what was going on in her mouth.

"You like it?" he asked playfully.

"Hm-hmm," was her response, trapped in her own feeling of food-induced euphoria.

Following her example, he took the piece of fish between thumb- and index finger, opening his beak just enough to lower it onto his tongue, where it melted on contact. The flavor was wonderfully light and refreshing, with a touch of sweetness, the texture velvety and barely requiring any chewing. Fish was an important part of his Goureg race's natural diet, but he could count the number of times he had enjoyed it like this on one hand. Licking his lips after swallowing, he squeezed his thumb- and index finger into his napkin, awaiting Yukiko's response.

"It's so good," she whispered after clearing her mouth.

"Told ya." His curiosity stayed with him though and after their second piece he decided to ask her to satisfy it. "So, about that wealthy Mantrin."

"Oh yes. So what do you think?"

"I… I dunno actually. By how much money they have?"

Yukiko shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.

"You need to think out of the box a little."

"Box?"

"Guess again."

"Ehm, I-I really don't know. Because they own a house and a car?

"No. The answer is this: You recognize a wealthy Mantrin by how often they invite their family and friends over for dinner."

Pondering about that for a while he could only come to the conclusion that it wasn't even that far from the truth. His people considered very few things more important than family and friends. He figured he would explain it to her with an example of his own.

"I suppose you could say that. I'd rather do something like this with you than buy new clothes."

"That's so sweet of you to say," she laughed. "I would've blown my savings account if it could keep you here for a bit longer. Do you know how much I've missed you?"

Now he was certain he was blushing, if he hadn't been doing so the entire time. Even after the long periods of being away from home, with sporadic visits like this one in between, he was convinced Yukiko had never even considered breaking that special bond that they had.

"I've really missed you too."

They enjoyed the rest of their appetizer in silence, fully focused on experiencing the creations of a trio of talented food artists.

"So, how did you like it?" Kiyala asked upon her return.

"My people have this thing called heaven," Yukiko explained, finishing her last drop of neyshawii before putting the glass on the table for Kiyala to collect. "I think I just tasted a tiny piece of it."

"That's one way to put it," Kiyala laughed.

Collecting the empty plates, Kiyala replenished their water glasses and left with a light whip of her tail, shooting glances at the other rugs she was assigned to on her way to the kitchen. Houn noticed how Yukiko stared after her and continued to smile.

"She's cute."

"You really love my people, don't you?"

"Would I be here with you if I didn't?"

"You've got a point there," he answered with a chuckle.

Their next course was a twist on a very common and popular food in all layers of his people's society. Kiyala returned to their rug with undiminished enthusiasm and without breaking a sweat, despite her swift movements.

"Jerked simr spiced with black kuujja and nargaht. On the side fresh modyees and diced beijah with a light chesve dressing. Enjoy it with a glass of aged loiskaa, made of loi berries originating from the Cih'koju province high up north. Blessings from Solbrecht."

Few humans seemed to like the taste of jerked simr or other types of sun-dried meat, which was a staple food for the majority of communities all over Solbrecht. It's flavor was mild for young simr and more intense for the aged variety. This particular example was unlike that common staple food.

The strip of spiced meat unleashed a burst of flavor as soon as it came in contact with his tongue. The spices brought out the rich and nutty qualities of the meat, without the intense and sometimes bitter aftertaste, although there were quite a few who liked it like that. Yukiko, whose entire family had been very open to his people's culture, had taken a bite at the same time and had no trouble enjoying it.

"I've never eaten it like this," she said with her hand covering her mouth as she chewed. "It's amazing."

"This is not the normal variety, I can tell ya that," he replied, taking a sip of the aged loiskaa which was strong and warming, an elegant combination of sweet, sour and bitter.

The fruit and vegetables offered a powerful contrast. The modyees were the perfect color of red and near identical to each other in size and color, their flavor sweeter than usual. The refreshing qualities of the succulent beijah cubes were further enhanced by the chesve dressing and capable of rinsing the mouth from any flavors leftover by the meat.

After that they enjoyed a platter with a small assortment of shellfish, which not only sparked Yukiko's enthusiasm, but also satisfied his race's great affinity with seafood. The different sorts of mollusks and crustaceans were presented in their pre-opened shells for easy consumption and prepared in different ways, most of them uncooked and with only a hint of spices added.

The darkness of night continued to set in and by the time Kiyala served the main course the terrace was cozily lit by the tall bright flame of several torches. With the only cloud formations staying far away above the ocean, Solbrecht's two moons in tonight's clear night sky could've done the job by themselves.

"A returning favorite," Kiyala teased. "It's become our signature dish, and it's paired with our finest loiskaa. Roasted slices of churii and rehkaana with loi berry sauce. On the side, sautéed kushii mushrooms and a chutney of ah'kahre and jixly. Blessings from Solbrecht."

"This looks amazing," Yukiko whispered. "Hold on, I'm gonna take off my shoes if you don't mind."

"Go ahead. They're beautiful, but they look painful to wear."

He had already taken off his sandals earlier, wiggling his toes once more in freedom as Yukiko slipped out of her shoes, putting them next to her pillow on the floor.

"To tell you the truth, they are painful to wear after a while," she said with an amused glance in his direction. "It's just that they're so pretty."

Curling her own toes, she loosened her feet by rolling them around her ankles before sitting cross-legged like before. The strips of meat were arranged like fallen dominos for easy picking with just the hands, the diced mushrooms put in a series of bite-sized shallow wooden spoons with the perfect amount of chutney and seasoning. Like before, they moved portions to the smaller plates that accompanied each course before eating.

The wonderful smell of roasted and seasoned meat moved his saliva glands into overdrive, forcing him to swallow first before taking a bite. The meat was as juicy and tender as it could be, a thin crispy rim of fat covering one edge. The sauce, made with the best loi berries, enhanced the experience by adding another layer of sweet- and mildly sour on top.

The dish was like a perfectly synchronized orchestra, the different ingredients being the instruments, the flavors they brought forth the music, and his taste buds the audience. The different components acted in harmony, each of them clearly present and important by itself while being part of a greater whole.

"This is unbelievably delicious," Yukiko said after clearing her mouth. Once again she glowed with delight. Taking a sip of her loiskaa, she took a breath. "How're the mushrooms?"

"They're great. The meat is good too. I'm so glad you like it."

"I dunno what it is, Houn. It almost feels like the last time we celebrated Christmas together."

Of course he remembered. He loved that human tradition and considered it his favorite. The decorated trees and the presents. The food. The festivities around town. Enjoying it with Yukiko was the best part of it. She had shown him pictures of Christmas on Earth in the winter period and even though Canarii-Ynearr had never seen a flake of snow, the human inhabitants did their best to recreate the atmosphere using holographics and artificial alternatives.

"I hope I can drop by for the next celebration. I wouldn't wanna miss it."

"Oh please, do try. Christmas is just… not the same without you."

Laughing shyly, he picked up his own glass of loiskaa and took a sip. He had something in store for her and if he remembered correctly, the next Christmas was still far away. The evening felt so perfect. She hadn't stopped smiling since he came to pick her up. Yukiko was enjoying every single tick of them being together, so he couldn't do anything but the same.

By the time they had reached what humans called dessert, the moons were at their brightest, the stars glittering like diamonds in the infinite darkness of space. The musicians played their last piece. Some people still enjoyed the final moments of their evening while others had already thanked their waiters and waitresses before leaving them with generous tips.

Ice cream was a substance unknown to his people before humans brought the invention to Solbrecht. Having the benefit of its consumption being an excellent way to stay cool during the hottest season, it was quickly adopted, Solbrecht's enormous variety of fruits allowing for the creation of entirely new flavors.

Even traditional restaurants adopted it into the last course of their menus and it was due to that, that they were able to enjoy a chilled plate with fresh fruits combined with the finest ice cream in flavors like modyee, neyjee, yujaa and tiiri, which were as unknown to humans as ice cream itself to his people before their first contact.

"I really love ice cream," he said to Yukiko, scooping up another spoonful and combining it with a piece of tiiri.

It was the only utensil they had used during the entire evening, not counting the ones that were used as containers for parts of a number of courses.

"Like I didn't know that," she chuckled.

Heaving a mild sigh, she looked at the remaining guests around them and smiled. A human couple eyed them, the man smiling back at Yukiko after making eye contact. A family of Orkehts was in the process of leaving, the teenage children as well as their parents dressed in poetyo of similar quality to that of the restaurant's personnel, only the colors being different. After a round of thanks in Cadaii, the woman briefly touched beaks with their waitress as a sign of mutual respect.

"Let's just sit for a little while longer," Yukiko suggested, placing her empty plate on the rug. Shifting her position on the pillow she rubbed her lower legs with the palms of her hands. "Not sure what it is. I don't wanna leave yet."

"Are you cold?"

"No, just a little stiff from sitting like this."

They sat and chatted for a short while before Kiyala returned to their rug to collect the empty plates and glasses.

"Was everything according to your satisfaction?"

"We had a great evening," he answered for both of them. "Didn't we?"

Yukiko nodded.

"It couldn't have been more perfect. At least I don't see how."

Kiyala laughed.

"Forgive me. Can I just say that you two look really cute together?"

"Aww, that's so sweet of you to say," Yukiko answered.

"You're welcome. Is there anything more I can do for you? If you just want to sit for a little while longer, feel free to do so."

Looking at Yukiko, she shook her head.

"We're good. Myrsya."

"All right. One moment."

After getting the formalities out of the way, and Kiyala bowing deeply before leaving, they continued to enjoy each other's company for a little while longer before they decided it was time to go. After getting up, he lowered himself on his legs, waiting for the human girl to put her shoes back on and collect her purse, then reached out to her. Taking her tiny hand into his, he helped her up, being careful to temper the strength of his muscles this time.

She surprised him as she took his other hand by herself and held on to both as they moved closer to the balcony. As he stared into her eyes, trying to keep his height as close to hers as comfortably as he was able, he watched her smile, making his hearts beat faster.

(Watching Solbrecht's night sky, see if you can spot the bright dot of the Sol system somewhere.) Anno 2205 - Dear Distant Earth: youtube /-B6mvxanexc?t=46

"You have such beautiful eyes," she said, her voice close to a whisper.

The quiet conversations of the few people still on the terrace seemed to fade to the background, leaving nothing but the calming sound of the waves of the ocean hitting the beach down below. He had known her for what felt like his entire life. So many wonderful memories. So many new ones he wanted to create with her. Was this that perfect moment he had been waiting for?

"Thank you. You look…" struggling to find the right word in a moment of bliss he added, "lovely tonight."

She giggled. Bringing one of his hands to her mouth she placed a soft kiss on the back. While holding on to it, she suddenly looked up at the sky above, searching, like trying to spot a single dot in the sea of tiny lights.

"So far away," she whispered.

"What is?"

"The Earth, the birthplace of my people, is out there somewhere. I've never even seen it, but I still wonder sometimes… what it's like."

"Yukiko."

"Yes?"

"There is… There's something I need to ask of you."

For the first time that night she didn't know what to say or how to respond, making him fear he used the wrong tone of voice. Her people's customs regarding these matters were different from his. It had required some research and scraping together the confidence, but he was pretty sure about himself. He felt it.

Lowering himself to his middle leg segments on the wooden floor of the terrace, he placed his hands on his thighs while straightening his back, his long tail sweeping the floor with long strokes.

"We've known each other for such a long time. We've done so many wonderful things together. We've…" he flinched for a moment, "been through so much. And I would do anything to continue to spend time with you. Laugh with you. Have fun with you."

Her only response was a very slight nod as her mouth fell open. After letting go of his hands, her arms had fallen beside her body. It was as if he had put a spell on her, making her unable to move, mesmerized by his words.

"My people's words are faey wierg," he continued, reaching into the right pocket of his pants. "Your people say, I love you. I love you Yukiko and I…" Retrieving the small flocked box from the pocket of his pants, he let his large hands form a small bowl on his thighs before opening the lid, the tiny light embedded into it illuminated the contents. "…I want to ask you." He took a deep breath. "Do you want to be my mate?"

For a few ticks he wondered if his words had robbed her of her voice. She still didn't respond, nor did she move, just continued to stare deeply into his eyes. At the same time, he almost doubted himself, and therefore didn't dare to say anything either or even look the other way. In what felt like an eternity of nerve-wrecking silence, he didn't even care that people were staring. The only thing that mattered was that one word that would have to come out of the mouth of the human girl standing right in front of him.

Like some divine force broke the spell that had her frozen in place, she stepped toward him, barely giving him the time to close the little box he held in his lap and put it aside, before she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him the firmest hug he could imagine her giving. Feeling how she let go of a breath she had been holding for a long time at the same time that he did, his whole body shivered with relief, his tail dropping to the floor with an audible thump.

Every time he had his well-built arms wrapped around her, his enormous hand moving over her back with careful strokes, he was holding something so graceful, so delicate. More than once he had expressed his fear of hurting her by accident, even though that had never happened before and she had told him every time that he shouldn't worry about her so much.

He couldn't help it. Yukiko was so unlike any of the women of his own kind. If he were an Orkeht, the size difference would've been less staggering. He was not, however, but it had never gotten in the way.

"Yes," she whispered into his ear. "Yes, I want to be your mate. More than anything."

"I-I'm so happy," he panted.

"Houn, you're shaking all over."

"I-I know. I was so nervous."

"Owww."

She firmly rubbed his back, which finally made his shoulders feel like he could drop them. He continued to sit with her in his arms for a good two millicycles, catching the occasional stare from leaving guests. The only one who looked genuinely happy for them was Kiyala, watching from a polite distance with a fond look on her face.

When Yukiko finally let go, she cupped her small hands around his cheeks and placed a soft kiss on the rounded tip of his light tan beak. Counting himself fortunate that the sharper muzzle tip that his Goureg race was famous for was less prominent in his case, he rubbed the soft spot between his nostrils to her cheek, touching it with the very tip of his tongue. Yukiko giggled, cupping his cheeks once more to land a kiss between his ears after standing up.

"Faey wierg," she whispered.

He loved how much her efforts for correct pronunciation paid off.

It was close to the equivalent of midnight when his feet touched the tan-colored tiles of the boulevard's sidewalk once more. His and Yukiko's breathing deepened in the humid warmth of Solbrecht's summer nights, their lungs laboring in the damp air. The residual heat of the day hung over the planet's surface like a suffocating blanket.

"Phew, that environmental tech sure makes you forget about what Solbrecht's climate is like, until you go outside," Yukiko puffed.

"I have to admit, I didn't expect it to remain this warm either."

"Oh well, it's only a few blocks."

Their walks together had taught him to adjust his step size. This made his walk turn a little awkward, though her doing the same made for a good compromise as they strolled side-by-side over the boulevard. The sound of the ocean's waves was still audible above the sounds of late night entertainment and he couldn't help but pick up on the smell of more good food, despite having a satisfied stomach.

There were still quite a few people out, enjoying a late night walk in each other's company or with their pets, as well as those leaving the many restaurants and cafes that lined the boulevard on their right and the beach clubs down below on the other side.

They belonged to various species, Mantrins and humans dominating, the speech of some slurred by the amount of alcohol consumed as they tottered across the near empty road until being honked at by those still able to drive a car, or so he hoped. Despite the extensive autonomous driving abilities of most vehicles, one was still not permitted to drive while under the influence of alcohol and he doubted that some of the people he saw climb behind the wheel were still within tolerance levels.

Carving his way through by throwing himself in front of Yukiko made most people jump out of the way. Grunting in annoyance at the leering look some of them threw in Yukiko's direction, one penetrating look in combination with his sheer size made them rethink the course of action concocted by their drunk minds.

"Houn, wait up." Having moved past the busiest part, Yukiko leaned into the wall of a nearby restaurant to catch her breath. Checking their surroundings, he moved closer to her, placing his feet so his legs formed a kind of protective barrier around her. "It's okay," she chuckled. "It's the shoes. They sure won't make me move faster." She sighed, nodding in the direction they came from. "I'm glad you're with me. One of the more unpleasant effects of alcohol consumption."

Nodding in affirmation, his ears swiveled in the direction of indistinct yelling in Preidogian as well as English coming from the direction they were headed. His people were familiar with the effects of too much loiskaa and other drinks based on various fermented fruits long before humans came to Solbrecht. Punishment for drinking too much was automatically exacted the next morning and no excuse for not participating in the daily activities, so true misdemeanor used to be rare.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you."

Having caught her breath she smiled as she looked into his eyes.

"You're so sweet. I'm a little drowsy myself, but we're almost home." Taking her first steps with renewed determination, she halted again at the indistinct noises that became louder with every passing tick. "Geez, what is going on?"

Perking his ears, he tried to listen, becoming increasingly convinced that one or more people were screaming for help in different languages. After taking a few slow and careful steps in the direction of home, he placed his hand on Yukiko's shoulder, his touch freezing her on the spot. It was like she realized at the exact same time that something was very wrong. There wasn't just yelling that became louder and more distinct. His ears picked up the sound of breaking glass as well as that of heavy metal objects being tossed around.

"Yukiko, do you trust me?"

Giving her shoulder a light squeeze, he had her immediate attention. Or was it because of the overhead sound of sirens that reached their location. The heavy bang of what had to be an explosion that shook the ground under their feet. The faint flickering glow of fire reflected in the windows of the apartment building at the corner of the next junction.

"Yes."

"Then run!" Praising her in his thoughts for her quick response as she took off her shoes when the first people fleeing for whatever was coming flushed out of the next two side streets, she ran with them in her hand as fast as her small legs could carry her. Running ahead of her to clear the way, he repeatedly ran sideways, making jumping steps to make sure she could keep up, trying not to focus on the growing chaos behind her. "Don't look back!"

The only thing his mind could come up with in that single moment was the breakout of civil war. At least that was what it looked like. Mantrins dressed in the common tan-colored poetyo, some armed with tribal weapons such as longbows, clubs, spears and torches, others with nothing more than the brute strength of their muscular bodies, setting fires, destroying property and chasing after humans who tried to fight back with whatever weapons they could get their hands on.

"Yukiko, c'mon!"

"I am! I can't run with this stupid-"

Looking at the shoes in her hands with a brief look of disappointment on her face, she tossed them on the ground near the entrance of a restaurant where people began to spill out to see what was going on. Grabbing the edge of her red dress, she pulled in opposite directions to tear up the front. With her legs freed, she caught up with him after wrestling through the group of confused people that threatened to block her way, running on her bare feet.

"Run!" he repeated.

Knowing they were moving away from home and possible safety, Houn racked his brains in the panic and chaos that now erupted in full to find a safe place. People fled in all directions away from the rioting crowd. Straight ahead. Into buildings. To the beach. He watched people fall over each other and getting trampled. Getting hit by wheeled cars in which their owners tried to escape. Hiding was an option, with the added risk of being trapped. Running was an option as long as they weren't boxed in.

"Houn!"

He heard her voice, his ears perking. In a fraction of a tick he had lost sight of her. Rising on his legs, his concern blinding him for the approaching wave of violence, he spotted her. The panicking crowd threatened to swallow her as she called his name. With a loud roar he dashed toward the speck of bright red, scattering the crowd into revealing the young woman. Groaning through gritted teeth, she scrambled back on her feet, her right knee bleeding from where it made rough contact with the asphalt of the road.

"Can you still-" With the mob getting dangerously close, he shook the thought out of his head before finishing his sentence as he lowered himself on one knee. "Trust me," he urged as she stretched out his muscular arms.

By instinct she seemed to know what he was planning. Throwing herself over his shoulder, he held on to her with both arms as she hugged hers around his neck, making a spin as he rose back on his feet at the same time. The only thing he had on his mind was getting the both of them away from danger.

Impervious to anything else happening around him as his hearts were beating like they were trying to escape through his throat, he spotted one of the ramps that led down to the beach. Straight ahead a wall of people blocked their escape. In the middle of the deafening noise of screams, vehicles being upturned, weapons fired and the sirens of emergency response vehicles and law enforcement arriving in force, he made a decision.

Taking deep growling breaths, hurrying down the ramp with Yukiko still in his arms, in the midst of other citizens trying to get away from the life-threatening situation, he found an empty spot against the three-steps tall wall of the raised boulevard and huddled with his back against it into the fine sand of Canarii-Ynearr's beach. He was surrounded by the terrified faces of humans, Mantrins, and a few other species, some with their eyes squeezed shut as they sought safety in each other's company.

Letting herself slide into his lap, Yukiko buried her face into his chest as the sounds of chaos continued to wash overhead, dampened somewhat by the lack of reflective surfaces on the side of the ocean. He had heard the word Uhna'hir multiple times. Heard the words Wyr'Mo'Gwi being whispered around him. He even caught himself praying to all the Gods in the universe that it would end, for the sake of all the innocents who were once again caught in a situation beyond their control.

"I'll keep you safe," he whispered.

The sand was shaken by another explosion up above, the aggressive smell of acrid smoke dispersing Yukiko's flowery perfume from his nostrils, a few people around him screaming as smoldering pieces of debris rained down into the sand.

He did not know for how long he sat like that with a trembling Yukiko protected between his arms and legs, but his tail began to feel very uncomfortable from being bent between his back and the wall. He could smell the fear in the air, or maybe it was the sweat that moistened his armpits. He only knew that it took far too long for the noise to have died down to a level where he even dared to check up on the girl.

Her messy black hair as well as the ivory white sleeves of his sheyrah were covered with a fine layer of gray dust. Taking shallow breaths, she held onto his clothes as she lifted her head and looked at him with enlarged eyes.

"Are you all right?"

"I-I think I'm okay," she answered, looking around her to see where they had ended up.

All around them people were still hugging each other, checking up on each other, crying or just staring at nothing as they tried to get over the initial shock. The air buzzed with camera drones belonging to various news agencies as they tried to frame the situation so people could watch the next chapter in a series of brutal attacks from the safety of their homes.

He could not remember having witnessed an incident of this magnitude. Not from this close and not in Canarii-Ynearr. It had become very much evident how far the situation had escalated. According to Yukiko, the attacks had become more frequent, the severity increasing, and those who were still commonly known as Wyr'Mo'Gwi no longer hit government targets only. Innocent civilians now became victims in what rapidly became a war of attrition. Removing the human presence from Solbrecht was their goal and they seemed more and more willing to use any means necessary to accomplish it.

Yukiko shrieked at the cheerful ringtone of her phone when it began to vibrate inside her purse. Retrieving it with trembling hands as she continued to sit in his lap, she answered the video call.

"Mom!"

"Yukiko! Where are you? Are you all right? Is Houn there with you?"

Her mother's voice trembled and she sounded on the verge of breaking into tears.

"W-We're okay," she answered. "We were on the way home when we had to take shelter. Things have gone crazy here on the boulevard."

"Can you even get home?"

"We're close. I'll share our location. We don't know if it's safe."

"Is Houn there? Noyee wants to talk to him."

Yukiko nodded.

"Yes. He's here. He's all right."

Handing the phone over to him, Yukiko's mother breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him. The human woman was like an older version of her daughter, her youthful features carefully preserving the likeness. It was like looking at a future version of the girl sitting in his lap.

"I'm fine Mrs. Miyamoto."

"You know you can call me Yui, you big sweetheart. Thank Solbrecht you're both okay. I'll give you your ahmo."

He had always loved how her family had taken the time and effort to learn a few words of Preidogian and threw them into their English sentences while still being meticulous about pronunciation. Despite his species' entirely different features, his mother managed to create the exact same expression of concern on her beaked face, her ears flattened on the back of her head.

"Houn. Thank Solbrecht indeed. You'll get her and yourself home safe, do you hear me?"

"Don't worry. She's a tough one," he said in an attempt to lighten the mood, even though he could still feel the occasional tremble in his lap. "Things seemed to have calmed down a bit. We're gonna check if it's safe to go. We'll be home soon."

"Yes, be careful."

"We will. I promise."

Putting away her phone after he handed it back to her, she crawled out of his lap and got on her legs which were shaking like she stood on them for the first time in her life. Her torn red dress had wet stains on it and the muggy night only added to the difficulty in being able to breathe with all the tension still hanging fresh in the air. Following her example, he got up and brushed the sand off his pants.

"Sorry," she said with a dismayed look on her face, nodding at the red stains where her knee had bled on them.

He chuckled, which sounded more like an amused snort.

"Look at you. All of that and you're still worried about my clothes?"

His remark made a glimpse of a smile appear on her face. Both trying to assess the situation, they followed the first few people up the ramp leading back up to the boulevard. He felt how his breath caught in his throat when was able to look over the edge. Yukiko gasped as she covered her mouth when the light of the residual flames lit up her face, as well as those of the Mantrins and humans around them whose reactions were similar.

The boulevard was a sea of flashing red and blue. Establishments had been ransacked, with firefighters still in the process of putting out fires. Cars had been upturned and destroyed. Paramedics were giving onsite medical treatment, with several people being carried away and taken to the hospital. At one end of the boulevard the glow of fires and flashing lights were visible in the distance as law enforcement continued to chase the violent protesters. Smoke from the fires burned in his lungs, making him cough like several other people, the heat adding to the discomfort by making his clothes stick to his body.

"There's nothing we can do, is there?" Yukiko asked with a soft voice as they followed the crowd that escaped the scene, making sure not to get in the way of emergency personnel.

"Nothing more than they can. It seems everyone's being taken care of. Best we can do is go home and make sure we don't end up like them."

Agreeing with him in silence, they followed the most logical road home while avoiding the boulevard as people began to disperse to do the same. This took them into the streets leading into the city where the rioters had left a trail of destruction, with damaged cars and broken windows everywhere. With his sandals still on, he carried Yukiko parts of the way to avoid injury. The lights were on in many homes, with people standing in front of windows or on balconies, watching from above.

The brightness of the lampposts had turned up a notch during the emergency situation, making it easier for them to see if the road ahead was clear. Most of the city consisted of apartment buildings, making efficient use of space and allowing for more parks and greenery. Recognizing the fountain of the park that was close to their home, he perked his ears at the wailing sound of someone in agony.

"Someone's hurt!" Yukiko exclaimed, her voice flowing over with concern.

"Be careful," he warned as she walked out ahead of him in the direction of the sound.

It did not take long before he spotted the person in distress, recognizing a Mantrin in a kneeling position next to another body in the middle of the road. All of this was clearly visible and audible from a distance. What he did not expect was that the body on the ground was a human woman and that she and the Mantrin were people they knew all too well.

"Kemala!" Yukiko shrieked, speeding up her approach at the last moment.

With a ferocious growl, Tyru turned around on the spot in a rabid display of bared teeth and unsheathed claws. Yukiko, who had almost reached his position, recoiled with such force that her feet slipped and she fell on her behind in front of the towering Mantrin, frozen in fear. Tyru's blue t-shirt and beige shorts were ripped and stained with blood in various places. That in combination with the bleeding gashes as well as his swollen black eye made him look even more menacing as well as monstrous. Jumping ahead, ready to defend her with force if necessary, Houn put on his loudest voice.

"Tyru!"

The face of the male Sogowan gleamed with what he guessed were tears, which formed a peculiar combination with the anger that clouded every trace of what used to be one of the kindest Mantrins he knew. It began to fade as a tiny sparkle of recognition emerged from his eyes, his growling reduced to mere heavy breathing shortly thereafter.

"Tyru, it's us," Yukiko said with a trembling voice. "Houn and Yukiko. Don't you remember?" For a moment Tyru hesitated, lowering his arms as he retracted his claws. Like a switch had been flipped, he stepped back and turned around, collapsing back on the street next to Kemala's body as he let out a long wail. "No, no, no," Yukiko muttered as she gave the whimpering Tyru a wide berth, trying to get to Kemala's left side.

Trying to get to her from the other side, Houn felt his stomach turn. Her clothes were torn to shreds, the woman's mutilated body covered in the same bleeding gashes as her mate, which could only be the work of claws. What was even more revolting was the blood pooling between her bare legs, which sent a shiver down his spine. Whoever did this hadn't touched her face, her eyes closed, her mouth slightly agape.

"I can feel a pulse, but it's very weak," Yukiko panicked as she felt Kemala's wrist. "Tyru, did you call an ambulance?" Looking at Tyru's glazed eyes that did not indicate that he understood the question, Yukiko repeated it before drawing her own conclusion. "I don't think he did, Houn."

"I'll do it," he decided, tapping his wristcom and dialing emergency services. "Not sure if there's something we can or should do in the meantime."

"I don't think we should try to move her by ourselves. I'll call our parents. We must help Tyru. He's got no one else."

With the city in a state of disarray, the near constant sound of sirens echoing through the air, Houn considered it a small miracle that the ambulance arrived as fast as it did. That was a mere two millicycles after his- and Yukiko's parents arrived by hover car. Kemala's body was lifted onto a stretcher and hooked up to a variety of sensors, tubing and an oxygen mask placed over her face. Tyru continued to sit on his knees in the exact same spot in a near-catatonic state, his eyes moving from the puddle of blood on the street, which the forensic cleaners were about to take care of, to the ambulance, his ears being rustled by the air displacement of the vehicle's anti-gravity drive as it took to the sky.

A single police cruiser had arrived on what had been branded a crime scene, the two human officers beginning their round of questioning, starting with those who reported the crime and ending with Tyru himself who remained largely unresponsive.

"Sir, we would like to ask you a few questions. Can you give us any kind of description? Anything at all?"

They were obligated to ask, but everyone knew very well that when it came to the conservatives, these questions were irrelevant. Some of them might have been citizens once, but after exchanging their modern lives for traditional values, their records meant nothing. After the demonstration they would return to their homes in the woods, out of reach for the authorities.

"Sir?"

"Leave him alone. Can't you see what he's been through?" Yukiko intervened, detaching herself from her parents.

Walking a few steps toward the dazed Tyru on a pair of sneakers brought by her parents, the Mantrin's glazed eyes seemed to notice her, his jaw slacking as if he wanted to say something. The officers turned around to face her. If Houn had to define the look on the female officer's face, he would use the word compassionate.

"Ma'am, I understand very well, but we're obligated to follow procedure."

"I can vouch for him!"

"Yukiko!" her father warned her.

"No father," she called over her shoulder. Turning toward the police officer again with a pleading look on her face, her hands balled to fists, she took a breath. "Please. You know what the justice system is like. You know how they'll treat him just because he's a Mantrin."

Scratching her neck below her short blonde ponytail, the woman sighed, silencing her partner who was about to interject.

"How can you be certain?"

"Certain of what? He's her mate. I know them both very well. Just look at him. He would never do anything like what he's just witnessed." A moment of silence followed, in which the officers eyed him, Yukiko and their parents in indecision. He figured they did because there was a certain amount of truth to Yukiko's words. With Tyru not having uttered a single word and two people vouching for him, they did not have any grounds to arrest him on the spot either. "Please. Could you accompany us to the hospital? He needs to be with her."

Taking a deep breath, the woman nodded.

"All right."

The short flight to the hospital passed in near silence and in the already long and tumultuous night, Houn felt that his hearts still hadn't reached a calm and steady rhythm. With Yukiko's parents owning a vehicle suited for humans only, the logical choice was for Tyru to fly with him and his parents. Because the human girl did not want to leave his side, she sat in his lap, the occasional shiver coursing through her body, his arms wrapped around her like oversized seatbelts.

Tyru did not respond to any of the soothing words from Yukiko and his mother, aside from the occasional sniffle or whimper, silent tears continuing to drip on his bloodied t-shirt. In the meantime Yukiko rubbed one of his hands in her own, her brave efforts having little effect on the inconsolable Mantrin.

The hospital was an imposing building in the middle of the city, also being the hub of advanced medical care for several smaller towns around Canarii-Ynearr. Right now, the beds were filled up with the city's own inhabitants, Mantrins and humans who got caught in the continuing wave of violence. Having asked about Kemala's condition, and received the answer that the doctors were fighting for her life, Houn, Yukiko and Tyru plopped down on the plain black floor pillows, placed in a long line across the far wall of the crowded waiting room where the overall mood was depressing.

Most of the seats and pillows in the middle were taken by the family and loved ones of those whose fate was uncertain. People with milder injuries had to wait, with doctors and nurses walking around to offer some relief in the meantime with the help of tissue regenerators and painkillers. Their parents were forced to wait outside because of the limited room. Because they didn't want to leave Tyru alone and they were the closest thing he had to family, they had been allowed to accompany him.

With the sterile smell of cleaning agents and medicine in every breath he took, Houn watched patient after patient being rolled into the emergency ward through the transparent doors of the entrance. The two screens on both sides of the sliding doors displayed the images of the camera drones they saw earlier, a human news anchor delivering the context with a voice that trembled with emotion despite trying to sound neutral.

"The protesters have left a trail of destruction throughout the city, leaving many innocent people dead or injured in their wake. The police are doing the best they can to control the situation, urging everyone to stay in their homes and barricade doors and windows when possible. It seems that even Canarii-Ynearr will not be spared the violent efforts of Wyr'Mo'Gwi in their attempts to destabilize our society."

"T-They forced me to watch." It was the first whole sentence he heard from Tyru ever since they found him and Kemala. The Sogowan's ears looked like they had melted into the back of his head. His bottom jaw quivered during his attempts to speak, his bloodshot eyes continuing to leak tears. Snorting loudly, he wiped with the back of his hand at the string of mucus that hung from one of his nostrils. "They forced me to watch while they did it." With Yukiko in their midst, Houn watched her as she tried to comfort him by rubbing his back while calling his name. "I-I wanted to help her. Make it stop. I tried. They held me down. I… I wasn't strong enough."

"You did everything you could," Yukiko whispered.

He snorted again, all of a sudden looking straight ahead, at the images still being shown on the screens. Of injured people, burning cars and a ravaged city. His whole body shook as his hands balled themselves to fists, his teeth bared as he ground them together.

"She'll hate me," he whispered through clenched teeth. "My people did this to her." It rocketed to the volume of a shout, making several people turn their heads in their direction. "I hate them! I hate Wyr'Mo'Gwi!"

Despite his anger, Yukiko grabbed hold of his arm, which brought him back to a soft whimpering. They had been told to wait and for Tyru every passing tick had to feel like forever with his mate's fate in the hands of Solbrecht. They watched people come and go. Watched people break down into tears of sadness or relief as doctors brought them either the bad or the good news about their loved ones.

It took a while for someone to get to them, but eventually Tyru was offered a coolpack for his swollen eye as well as painkillers and a tissue regenerator. Houn shivered and Yukiko gasped after she helped the wounded Mantrin to remove the torn and bloodied t-shirt, which revealed the deep wounds inflicted by claws all over his upper body without any kind of particular pattern. Tyru did not even flinch or look at himself after swallowing the pills while Yukiko cleaned up the blood with a wet cloth and treated his injuries with the device, which demonstrated the ability to heal without leaving a trace. It was like his body had become impervious to physical pain, for what went on in his mind had to be much worse.

Houn had no idea how long they sat there. Tiredness was about to prevail over the dwindling adrenaline that coursed through his veins. The chrono on the wall above the entrance revealed that it was the middle of the night. Yawning widely when he saw another member of his species do the same, he noticed his eyelids began to feel heavy. Yukiko had fallen asleep with her arms wrapped around one of Tyru's. The other Mantrin didn't even seem aware of it. Having finally stopped crying, his eyes stared into nothingness. Or maybe he was too tired to continue, his head drooping lower and lower, just like Houn's own.

A male voice jolted him awake as the person calling Tyru's full name had to raise it with all three of them having fallen asleep during the wait. Disoriented and with a considerable cramp having taken hold of his muscles, he took a deep fatigued breath like everyone else as they tried to focus on what this person was trying to explain and having to repeat it multiple times, speaking slowly on purpose while they were still in the process of rebooting their brains.

"Do you understand what I'm saying? Your wife is going to be okay. She's stable for now, but we're keeping a close eye on her."

Tyru still didn't seem capable of understanding what was being said, even though he spoke near perfect English. The Mantrin lifted his head, his glazed eyes staring at the doctor's face as his mouth hung open.

"Sir? Your wife will be okay."

"Tyru," Yukiko said in a weary tone of voice. "Kemala's safe. She's going to be all right." When the positive news finally got through to them, Houn too felt a sense of relief, though it was nothing compared to what their friend went through. Taking deep breaths, interrupted by the occasional soft whimper, tears wetted his cheeks again as the emotions came back. Kneeling on her pillow, Yukiko wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. "Shhh, it's gonna be all right, Tyru."

The new day began to show the first glimpse of its arrival when they finally made it back to the apartment of his parents. It had taken them great effort to convince Tyru to leave Kemala's side, but with the hospital overflowing there was no way for him to comfortably spend the night over there. The police had still called him in for questioning the next day regarding the crime that had been committed. He was Kemala's mate and he had multiple people vouching for him, but the doctors had found traces of semen and were obligated to report it. Until Kemala was able to answer for herself, he would have to do it for her.

In the meantime, Houn agreed together with Yukiko and both sets of parents that Tyru should not be left alone. "I think he blames himself for what happened," she had said. "I'm afraid he might do something." She told him this after Tyru was given a moment in private to see his mate, if only from a distance and through a layer of Duraglass. Houn could do nothing but agree. With his home being more suited to host members of his kind, it was the logical choice for him and his parents to invite Tyru to stay, which they did without hesitation after he whispered it in their ears after leaving the hospital.

"I'll make some strong hesjwii for everyone," his mother decided

Adding the deed to the word, she dove into the apartment's open kitchen adjacent to the spacious living room and began taking cups and ingredients out of cabinets. Jeht gestured for the Miyamoto family to sit down, turning the spiraling wooden floor lamps up to a level that was gentle on the eyes. Yukiko's parents did while Yukiko herself remained close to Tyru's side the entire time. The glazed look in his eyes seemed to have become permanent, his responses limited to nodding and short answers, 'yes' and 'no' being the most common. As he looked at the smaller Mantrin, an unnerving thought crossed Houn's mind.

That could've been him standing there. It could've been Yukiko fighting for her life. They did run into a rioting group of protesters and had been that close to being injured, or even killed. With Tyru he was looking at the cruel evidence that he and the young woman that held Tyru's hand had chosen to walk the same difficult path. The proof of that glittered on the fourth finger of Yukiko's left hand. Shaking the thought out of his fatigued mind, he stepped closer to Tyru and used a calm tone of voice.

"Tyru?" The Sogowan Mantrin lifted his head ever so slightly, which was the only indication that he had what could be interpreted for his attention. "If you wanna take a shower, go ahead. Clean towels are in the lowest cabinet."

Tyru nodded, though his legs did not obey. Instead, he looked at Yukiko like he needed her approval.

"It's okay, Tyru," Yukiko tried to encourage him. Letting go of his hand, she gave his arm a light rub after which he took a wobbling step, his toe claws scratching over the tiled floor. "You'll feel better afterwards."

"I'll show you the way." After guiding him in the right direction, Houn turned on the light in the spare bedroom which looked ready to receive a guest and stepped aside to let Tyru have a look. The bed was sized to accommodate their kind and despite the room also being used as storage space, he was pretty sure a bed was all Tyru needed right now. The room smelled of clean sheets and thanks to his home's climate control system it was pleasantly cool. "Please stay with us. The bathroom's around the corner. Leave your dirty clothes on the floor. You can borrow some of mine. I'll leave them on the bed. They might be a little big, but at least they're clean."

Tyru's eyes gleamed with tears once more when he looked at him and snorted. Houn didn't need the words to know that he was grateful for everything they did for him. Giving the smaller Mantrin's shoulder a light squeeze, Tyru took a deep shuddering breath.

"Let us know if you need anything else."

After retrieving a simple shorts and t-shirt combo from his closet and laying it on the bed for Tyru to find, he waited beside the closed door of the bathroom before joining the conversation around the rug. The fruity smell of strong hesjwii entered his nostrils when the ruffling of clothes being removed and dropped on the floor made place for the splashing of water in the shower space. With his mother having brought the cups to the rug on a large wooden tray, he lowered himself on the last available pillow next to Yukiko, but not before grabbing an extra from a small pile near the transparent sliding door which led to the balcony in case Tyru returned.

"So far their actions have caused nothing but pain and grief," Yukiko's father expressed his opinion. He was a short man with the same black hair as his wife and daughter, with a stern face, but as he knew with a strong sense of righteousness. "Look at us. Look at our children. Why is it so hard to treat each other with the respect that everyone deserves?"

"They have some valid points," Noyee answered. "But that's no reason for what's happening here tonight. Have they no hearts? Look at what they're doing, even to their own kind." Turning her head in the direction where Tyru had disappeared, her ears as well as the corners of her light tan beak drooped down, her royal blue eyes glittering. Perking his own ears, Houn was pretty sure he heard the sound of crying through the rush of the falling water. "That poor boy. And what about his mate?"

"Eh, ahmo. He is a grown man."

"I know," his mother said, shrugging her broad shoulders. "He just doesn't look the part now does he? A bit like you."

"Hey now." Suppressing a chuckle to an amused snort, he gave her a quasi-indignant look, which lifted her mood as well as her ears. He sighed, scratching the bottom of one of his feet. "You're right though. I don't understand how anyone can be so cruel."

Not long thereafter he felt a small warm hand with a ringed finger rubbing his right thigh. Wrapping a careful arm around Yukiko, she put her cup back on the tray first before exchanging her pillow for that same thigh. Snuggling up to his chest under the watchful eyes of their parents, she managed to make the four of them smile at the same time.

"Boy or man, you were really brave tonight, Houn. They came pretty close."

"We are in your debt for saving our daughter's life," her father said, bowing reverently together with his wife.

"Myrsya," he thanked them, bowing in return. "That is not necessary. Yukiko has…" He paused and looked down into Yukiko's deep brown eyes as he failed to cobble up the words, finally getting that warm feeling back that he had lost so abruptly that night. Wrapping his arms protectively around her, he purred as he touched the soft part of his beak to her cheek. "She has given me something I cannot express in your language, so I'll do it in mine. Yukiko, syneht wier khi gahmo ot, tehir sherii gwi os."

"Until death separates you from me?"

"Something like that."

Yui gasped as she covered her mouth with one hand, though he did spot a glimpse of a smile. Her father nodded approvingly, while his own parents wished them health and happiness in Preidogian, after which Yukiko's parents followed with a Japanese saying.

They drunk their hesjwii in silence, trying to ignore the sporadic whine of sirens outside, the only other sounds of significance being the light rustle of the tails of the Mantrins as they swept the floor. Houn heard the water turn off about ten millicycles after it turned on, though most of their cups were empty by the time they heard the bathroom door opening. Tyru eyed them for a few ticks before he trudged to the spare bedroom, dragging his tail behind him, not even bothering to cover himself.

"I'll check up on him in a millicycle," Houn promised, after spotting the pitying look on his mother's face.

"Houn and I will go with him tomorrow," Yukiko said firmly. "They still want him in for questioning."

"Is he a suspect?" his father asked.

"No, I don't think they believe he did it either. I mean, they saw him cry his eyes out. It's just following stupid protocol."

"You must do that," her own father agreed. "We should go back home. We left our youngest daughter alone for a while now. Forgive us for leaving so soon."

"That's all right," Noyee said, rising back on her legs to let them out. "Please come back tomorrow, or any time you like."

"Myrsya. Arigatou gozaimasu."

After getting up, Yukiko threw herself against his chest for one last hug.

"We'll see each other tomorrow, okay?"

"Yes," he breathed, rubbing her back with long strokes. "Despite everything I hope you liked our moment together. I'm sorry it all had to end like this."

"We'll get another chance." After letting go, she gestured for him to bow down after which she placed an enduring kiss on top of his muzzle. In return he drew the tip of his tongue over her cheek, which made her giggle. "You're so sweet. Bye Houn. Take good care of Tyru."

"I'll go have a look. Tearhu." After waving his goodbye in the hallway he went straight to the guest bedroom. The door was left ajar and the lights were still on. He didn't want to intrude, but he also wanted to be a polite host and ask Tyru once more if there was anything he needed. The hesjwii was still warm and despite the coolpack Tyru had received for his eye back at the hospital it still looked pretty swollen. Using it again wouldn't hurt. "Tyru?"

His voice was barely above the level of a whisper, but there was no response. Gently ticking his claws on the door, he pushed it further open, his tensed shoulders dropping as he took a look inside. Tyru did seem to have noticed the clothes he brought for him, having moved them to the tiny wooden table on the left side of the bed. He hadn't even bothered to properly lie down, or maybe he no longer had the strength and energy to do so, having collapsed on top of the light blue cover on his belly, one leg still dangling over one edge.

Heaving a mild sigh, Houn retrieved a spare blanket from one of the cabinets, spreading it over the other Mantrin's nude body. Snoring softly, Tyru didn't even move, apart from a light snort and a twitch of his left ear.

"It'll be all right, Tyru," he whispered.

Another twitch of that same ear. Turning off the lights, he closed the door as gently as he could and walked back into the living room. Positioning himself in front of the sliding door of the balcony, he stared out over the nightly ocean into the distance where the light of the moons glittered on the water surface, taking a deep breath as he tried to restore some calm back into his body with every muscle still tingling.

A wonderful evening had ended with a brutal reminder of the turmoil that tormented Solbrecht's mixed society. It was a painful thought that so many people wanted to destroy what he and Yukiko had. What Tyru and Kemala had. All because they could not see any other way to resolve the differences between their people and others. Knowing there was little he could do to change that, but giving it thought nonetheless, he scratched at a tickle on his cheek, watching his claws glitter with moisture in the moonlight as he looked at them.