Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Tomb Raider". Naffing.
Author's notes: Set after "Shadow of the Tomb Raider." As much fun as it would be to write an intimate scene with Unaratu, I think it'd be extremely out of character for her and I'm not doing an OOC series. So, we're going after that game. On to Sam!
"Finding an answer"
Alpha Raiding chapter seven
Lara reached out a hand toward Unuratu. The queen gave her an indulgent smile as the sun slowly set behind her head, casting her face in shadow. But her hand was warm, and she drew Lara closer with her other arm.
"Worry not, Lara, we are alone here," she said, her melodious tone raising the small hairs on Lara's neck. The coming evening had a chill, but Unuratu stepped into Lara's embrace and warmth exploded between them. Lara shifted hard and fast, and her lips captured the queen's, tasting, wanting, and they both fell to their knees, hands clutching at each other's clothing….
With a sudden sneeze, Lara woke, and her eyes darted quickly around. She was in her bedroom at Croft Manor, the covers half pushed off her aching body. A glance at her waist and Lara groaned. The amorous dream had caused her to shift, and her cock half poked out of her boxers, waiting for attention. Sitting up put a pang of pain through her, but Lara pushed to sit up against the headboard and shimmied out of her boxers without standing. She took herself in hand and stared at the beams of light cascading in streams on the wall around the curtains on the window. The few days she'd spent with Sofia after finding the Divine Source had been pleasurable. She'd set the Remnant woman up with a cell phone and she still texted her back.
Memories of the dream put a wry smile on Lara's face as she grunted, cresting toward a climax. Unuratu had been very beautiful, and if she'd come to her in that way, Lara didn't know if she could resist. But the queen had been regal, distant where it was needed, and Lara hadn't wanted to step on any cultural boundaries by approaching her. But she had noticed her beauty.
Unuratu's still face shifted into Sam's, her Asian features pitched in pleasure in her memory. Sam….. Lara grunted, coming hard, and reached for her boxers to sop up the mess. She staggered to her washroom, chucking her tank top off as she went and turned on the shower.
Sam was still here, but under lock and key at a psychiatric hospital. She needed to do something about her, and not go off on another adventure. She still felt somewhat guilty over her tryst with Sofia as it was.
Lara stepped into the shower, sighing as the hot water ran over her shaking body.
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Lara flipped through the pages of the large book in front of her. It was an older edition, and her father would have blanched at her writing notes in it, so a sheaf of notepaper scattered the desk, many tucked under the mammoth tome. Lara blinked, rubbing at her eyes with one hand, propping her head up with the other. Muscle memory and a blink later she could recall holding this posture during finals week. And Sam would come up behind her with a soft hug and kiss to the side of her head….
Another blink and she was back in her father's study. Lara glanced over at the artifacts of her past travels scattered along the shelves. The Atlas that had led to the Divine Source in Kietzch. Her climbing axes propped against the bookshelf. A Japanese half mask glowered from a shelf above. Sam had gone on that excursion and shame filled Lara's belly, making her feel half sick.
A knock at the door and Winston waited, propping a tray up. "Tea, Miss Croft?"
Lara forced a smile to her lips. "Lovely," she said, gesturing him in. A teacup and saucer were set before her with a tray of biscuits. Lara nibbled on one idly, going over artifacts in her mind.
"Japanese studies, Miss Croft?" Winston asked, noticing the book she was studying. Lara nodded.
"I'm starting to get an idea. Something about…" Ancient artifacts from Sam's family's homeland. It was a far stretch and Lara knew it. She sighed. "I dunno….figured it would jog something. Give me something to go on."
Winston's eyes half closed in respect. He knew it had to do with Sam considering her heritage. "Of course, Miss Croft. Holler if you need anything. I'll be with Cook in the kitchen."
Lara had employed a few more people to her staff, so the manor could at least function somewhat. Even if Cook made meals only for her, and for the servants, it was enough. She wondered idly what dinner would be tonight when a picture caught her attention. The beginning of Japan's mythos pointed heavily to three sacred objects. A sword; perhaps a katana? Amaterasu's mirror. Sam had told her stories about that one. A sacred jewel….what shape was it? The pictures all seemed to indicate a gem of some sort, small enough to hold in a person's hand. The pictures Lara sifted through in this mythology book showed a Japanese person holding the jewel aloft, triumphantly to the sky, rays of…something spreading forth from it. The gesture seemed primal, intended to slay whatever obstacle stood before the man. Lara's thoughts tumbled over as she stared down. What was this man repelling? What power did one of the three objects possess? The power to destroy?
Or perhaps the power to heal? Lara scrawled "sacred jewel" at the top of her notes and underlined it heavily three times for emphasis. She doodled a little katana beside it as well as a hand mirror.
"Sure, Dad had a few contacts in Japanese artifacts…." Lara went through a weathered address book. It was her father's, with several archeologists and doctors in the field. Who knew how many of these numbers were still active. Winston brought her in a freshly pressed sandwich from Cook for lunch as Lara juggled her cell against her shoulder, scribbling on a notepad with one hand as she made calls.
Two hours later, she had at least three sources to pinpoint on. Lara couldn't reach the first two. Sighing, she resolved to make her last call for the day.
"Hello?" A polished educated tone met her ear. Lara straightened in her chair.
"Good afternoon. I'm Lara Croft; are you perhaps Dr. Matsura?"
"Yes, I'm Matsura. A pleasure, Miss?..." he said, a question in his voice.
"Yes, Miss Croft," Lara added. A sigh on the line.
"Forgive me, but are you related to the late Lord Richard Croft?"
"Yes!" Lara stood up, looking out the window behind her dad's desk. "He was my father. I'm calling if you still had access to Japanese artifacts."
"I still consult occasionally for Oxford University. But what's this all about?"
"A personal project," Lara bit her lip. "Can we meet?"
"Sure. I have a day later this week if that's suitable…"
"It is," Lara said and wrote down his instructions on her note pad. After saying goodbye, Lara clicked off the cell and collapsed back into her chair. She slumped, arms dangling over the chair. A hint. A clue. Perhaps Dr. Matsura could help her pinpoint which Japanese artifact could…banish a soul from a living vessel.
Lara sat up and picked at her lunch. She ate at least half of the sandwich before Winston checked in on her. He nodded approvingly and took her tray.
Lara stood up and fired off a text to Jonah. He'd want to go with her.
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"When did he say he'd be here?" Jonah asked. He was rather dressed down in a t-shirt and jeans, his tattoos visible on his bare arms. Lara gave a nervous smile across the table at him. Dr. Matsura had asked to meet at his favorite restaurant in London, so here they were, on a day jaunt in the capitol.
"12:30. I know we're early, but I couldn't just wander around until it was time…"
Jonah folded his menu and tapped Lara gently on the arm with it. "He may have a clue. Then we can get Sam."
'Get Sam.' Easier said than done. Jonah hadn't seen the pure hatred living in Sam's brown eyes in those harrowing last days. To think Himiko's spirit had found its way into her was too crazy a thought. She tugged on the edge of her bangs with two fingers nervously.
"Let's hope it's as simple as that," Lara murmured. An older Japanese man made his way to the table, smiling. His eyes were lined with years of weariness, framed by large glasses. His dark hair was threaded with gray. He wore a simple black suit, but the cuffs of his sleeves were worn, Lara noticed. No matter, she was wearing a simple grey top and jeans, and her leather jacket was slung over the back of her chair. Appearances weren't everything to her now.
"Dr. Matsura?" Lara asked, standing to shake his offered hand. Matsura nodded, shook her hand hard.
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Croft! I've worked with your father on quite a few projects at Oxford," Matsura smiled widely.
"Pleasure, Doctor, I'm Jonah Maiava," Jonah said. He offered his hand and Matsura shook.
"A pleasure to meet you, Jonah," Matsura said. He took the third chair at the table, setting his bag on top of the tablecloth beside his place setting. Lara smiled. She remembered her father taking notes to the dinner table quite a few times. "May I extend my condolences for his death. I know it's been awhile for you, but I haven't seen you since…."
"Have we met before?" Lara asked curiously. It wasn't that she was trying to be rude, but with a very prominent family name, many people had come into her proximity over the years, ofttimes without leaving a trace of memory for her.
Fame wasn't all that conducive for personal relationships sometimes.
Matsura nodded. "Once, before he…" he went past the "he died" no doubt he was about to say and pressed on. "And again at his funeral… anyways, how have you been doing? I noted you graduated with a degree of archaeology as well!"
Lara laughed, shared a bemused look with Jonah. "I've had a few discoveries, nothing major…."
"Yamatai wasn't major?" Jonah mused beside her.
Matsura's eyes were huge behind his glasses. "I read that article…. I've started going through your findings and it's amazing. Of course, for my heritage, that was a huge find. I suppose for you it would be like finding Excalibur buried at Tintagel."
"Quite," Lara agreed. "We have found pottery pieces at Tintagel which would confirm Arthur's timeline…. It's all a matter of time I'd say."
"I liked the 80's film "Excalibur" over the Disney version of King Arthur," Jonah mused, reading the menu. Matsura looked at him curiously but nodded.
After ordering, Matsura opened his bag and pulled out a ledger. He opened it and pulled out a few photocopies of artifacts, offering the pages to Lara.
"The basis of early Japanese mythology is three Sacred Objects: the Sword, the Jewel, the Mirror. No doubt you've heard of the Mirror of Amaterasu, in restate in Tokyo. I have my doubts it is the real one, however…" Matsura flipped pages of an ancient katana and a handheld mirror, so ancient it didn't even have a handle. The third page he pointed at with a bent finger.
"The Sacred Jewel has many attributes, given to the first Emperor of Japan by Amaterasu. Many scholars talk all day about her Mirror, but the Jewel was not to be discounted. It was said to be able to heal the sick, of mental and physical ailments, as well as produce a healthy crop for the year. Many things it was said it could do, so no doubt a very powerful relic."
"What does it look like? Has it been found?" Lara asked. The photocopy looked like it could be just a rather large ruby of rough cut. Large for a ruby, but small enough to fit in a person's palm if held aloft. The artists rendition of an early emperor holding the jewel came back to Lara's mind. Matsura smiled.
"Oxford is studying a few relics from Tokyo this month, and a few jewels were included in the crate. Many scholars claimed they'd found the ancient Sacred Jewel, that it's under lock and key in Tokyo, but I have my doubts. If you would like to study these jewels, we can arrange for you to come and observe your own findings."
Lara exchanged a look with Jonah. "Heal the mind, and body," he said. Lara's mind was awhirl.
"I would love to. Could I come tomorrow?" she asked. The sooner the better!
Matsura nodded, as the waiter brought their plates of food. "Please, I'll leave my secretary's number for you, so you can both find me easily."
Lara took his offered card and pocketed it. "Thank you, Doctor. You've given me a lead at least…."
"Why the interest in Japanese relics? You never said," Matsura asked, scooping up a forkful of steaming pasta. Jonah grated cheese over his plate.
"Just… something to do with a friend. She asked," Lara offered lamely. Matsura nodded, taking the excuse.
"I hope this friend's questions are answered. And if you find the Sacred Jewel, please let us both publish the findings together," he laughed. Lara nodded.
"I will," she promised. Lara dug into her lunch with a healthier appetite. Jonah watched her eat, approvingly.
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"Well, glad you get a shot to take a crack at this," Jonah said. He was wearing a face mask, and wearing plastic gloves on his hands, same as Lara. The better to protect the relics with. Lara nodded, dusting one of the rough-cut jewels on the desk with a fine-haired brush.
Dr. Matsura had greeted them at Oxford and led them to the study rooms. With a cheery remark, he left Lara to her research and a small box of artifacts ranging from prehistoric Japan. Lara had a few photocopies from mythology books spread out as a hopeful reference point as she cleaned the jewel off carefully. A few she dismissed almost out of hand due to the shape. In the earliest depictions of the first Emperor of Japan, the Sacred Jewel was large enough to cover the palm of the hand. A few others, Lara set aside, not sure how to narrow down her decisions.
'Maybe a bird would fly into the room and sing a sacred song and tell me which is the one,' Lara thought somewhat sarcastically. Jonah raised his brows at her over his mask and she smiled even though he couldn't see it.
"Just think, one of these was at the beginning of Japan's stories," Jonah marveled. Lara nodded, setting another gem down, fingers tracing another.
"Emperor Jimmu, the first of the royal line, was said to be Amaterasu's great-grandson. That isn't too foreign a concept to many cultures, who claim a godly relation," Lara explained in her teaching tone. Jonah nodded. He gave an exclamation as one of the roughly cut gems cut into his fingertip.
"Is it bad?" Lara asked, pausing in her work. Jonah took a Kleenex from a box on an assistant's desk and wrapped the end of his finger.
"Not….very. Just stings," Jonah explained. Lara regarded the culprit, a bright red jewel resembling a ruby, but it could be another type. Lara's main strength was not in gemology. Lara put on a thicker set of work gloves, and carefully picked up the jewel. A glimmer from the middle caught the lamp light and Lara held it closer to her eyes. It seemed to dance and hold Lara's attention. Memories of Sam's laughter filled her mind's eye and Lara sighed.
"Okay, this one may be a contender," she said out loud. Jonah found a band aid in the assistant's desk drawer and applied it to his cut.
"Because it drew blood?" he joked. Lara regarded the jewel thoughtfully.
"No, not just because of that. It just…."
"Can we do a study to gauge its actual age? Might help narrow down this search," Jonah suggested.
Lara shrugged. "For some sacred relics, Japan doesn't want scientists to do age studies. May demystify the Shinto religion if facts state they're not as old as once thought."
"I can see that," Jonah said. "Still, it would help us."
"I suppose we should be glad Tokyo let Oxford have this box to look at and display for a time," Lara murmured. "I'm not certain, but I think I've narrowed down to these four…."
Jonah nodded as Lara spread the four jewels across the desktop with a gloved finger.
"Let's hope Dr. Matsura will be generous with these."
"Let's hope so," Lara sighed. Sam was counting on an improper borrowing of ancient relics.
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Lara tapped the desk, staring at her cell phone. She was back home, in her fathers, no, her study, and Jonah was cooking in the kitchen with her chef. Dr. Matsura had taken some convincing, but he'd allowed her to take the jewels for a few days. And only because he'd been her father's friend, he warned. Lara had thanked him profusely then she and Jonah had driven back to Croft Manor in a strange uplifting but nervous mood. Jonah could escape to do what he loved best, prepare a meal, but she had to convince another elder of her intentions.
The cell phone seemed to mock her though it was face down on the wood. Lara was going over every inevitable question she'd have to answer if she made this call. Every hard, every mean question. What did she do to Sam? How bad had Yamatai been, really? Why should she be allowed near Sam ever again?
But she had to. Sam was counting on her, somewhere inside. Wasn't she? Lara went over their memories together, at Oxford, sharing adjoining rooms she'd felt scandalous about, staying friends after graduation, their trips before the big push for Yamatai….and Himiko. Their coming together after being rescued, their days back home before….
Lara tugged on the edges of her bangs again. She couldn't escape the crushing guilt that was part of her ever since Sam had been taken away, grabbed and yanked out of her hands even. And she'd made the call for it. Lara sighed and put her head on her arm, staring at the corner of the offending cell phone.
"Just call. He'll probably just hang up," Lara muttered. She sat up, cleared her throat a few times, then tapped the button on the contact 'Nishimura seniors'. She held the cell to her ear, waiting. Her throat was so, so dry…. Maybe she could take a sip from her glass of water before anyone picked up…..
"Yes?" The clipped tone in her ear abruptly picked up and Lara swallowed hard. The lump in her throat was so large now.
"Hello, Mr. Nishimura… It's Lara," Lara said. A sniff over the line.
"I know. What do you want THIS time?"
That Lara had tried to call many times was no secret. She swallowed, staring at a relic on her shelf. "Thank you for picking up…. I want to ask to see Sam, if that's okay…"
"No."
"No?" Lara's heart rate spiked in panic.
"No, it's not okay. It will never be okay. Sam can't even speak to us anymore and she doesn't want to. What did you DO TO HER?"
The sudden outburst from Mr. Nishimura made Lara almost drop the cell phone. She sat up straighter in her chair, swallowing. "I didn't…. I wouldn't…"
"No, you care too much about her. If you did, you wouldn't have asked her to go with you. Isn't that right, Miss Croft?"
"I…I…" Lara's fingers flexed on top of her father's desk. The situation was rapidly spiraling out of control. "I could just say goodbye…and never bother you again."
A pause so long that Lara was certain she'd been hung up on. She held the phone away from her ear to glance at the menu; the call was still in progress. "Hello?"
"Yes," Mr. Nishimura finally said. "Yes, that would be for the best. You can see Sam and say goodbye."
End for now
End notes: Sorry, Sam's coming in the next chapter. I wanted to include the reunion here but felt you guys waited too long for an update. Enjoy! If you enjoyed, please drop a review and let me know.
Sincerely pen
10/30/2023
