Chapter 21 Jasper
Part 1
Another Vane, why didn't I think of that? I know that both Miss Sophia, Miss Rei, and potentially a Miss Charlotte too, came from this world. Who knows how many other people here have Vane's power.
I check google, Poppy said that the other woman alighted from the station before hers. It is all too possible that Kay could have tracked her down yesterday, while I was indulging myself teasing Poppy.
She touches my arm; I find it reassuring somehow. I turn to myself. "You stay here, Poppy wanted to show us Osaka castle and the waterfall in Minoo park. I'll find Kay and make sure that she is not a danger to anyone."
"To take on Kay, we need to be whole. Besides, Poppy can seal her magic away seamlessly now; unless we kiss her. Although if you insist, I was thinking of spending the day in a love hotel. I found the perfect one too, look."
Poppy peers over his shoulder. "I thought they are meant to have play stations, karaoke and a large spa bath, that review says it didn't even have clean sheets!"
We chuckle, she is so cute.
"What?"
Having shared a secret smile with myself, I answer her. "It's funny that you think you would care about those things, within a couple of minutes of us taking you there."
Poppy looks suspicious. "This rivalry thing of yours, is all put on, isn't it?"
Unable to keep the charade up any longer, we snicker. While she frowns disapprovingly at us.
I remove the jewel, I purchased yesterday, from my pocket. "Ready I ask myself?" We hold hands, the jewel begins to glow, and we fade as we transfer the excess life-force we received from Poppy into it. She looks concerned.
"There is no cause for alarm, all will be well."
Part 2
I stand alone holding the gem, which I discreetly replace in my pocket.
"You could have done that at any time couldn't you?"
I give Poppy a cheeky wink, designed to disarm the most cold-hearted of women. "Of course, but we were all having such fun, were we not."
As we near Tokyo, sitting on the bullet train together, I notice that Poppy has become despondent. I nudge her and put on my Sirius voice. "What's up, love."
"I booked us a trip up Fujisan next weekend…"
"Don't worry, our weekends together are my top priority." After going back to Saligia that is. "Consider it a date. I will be leaving soon though, so please consider our last two Saturdays after that to be my treat."
She puts on a smile, at odds with the sadness of her eyes. "I look forward to those Saturdays then."
My time with Poppy has just doubled, and yet my focus keeps returning to the fact that I have less than a month with her left… I gaze out of the window as rice fields and rural buildings flash past in the fore view and Fujisan drifts past in the distance. Transience has a beauty, which is why, I discovered on YouTube a few days back, the Japanese love their cherry blossom. It is a pity I will not be here next spring to share a picnic with Poppy, sitting in a park under heavily laden cherry tree boughs. I can imagine she would find it exciting watching the blossom forecast on the news, waiting for the prime time for our trip.
Having rashly promised her two dates, I need to look out for things equally entertaining. Later that is, I have a more pressing concern.
Part 3
We alight from the train and have a late lunch at the station. Before travelling on to Poppy's stop. I send a burst of magic into the pin, it glows immediately. Suspicious that I'd pointed it in the right direction straight away, I slowly move it through 360 degrees, the light flickers on and off. "How can there be so many people like you?"
"Well Tokyo is a densely populated place. If we were in more rural Japan, you'd have probably been lucky to pick up anyone. Is Kay as powerful as you?"
A pertinent question, of which I wish I knew the answer. "If she is, she would have to wait for her magic to replenish before using less to narrow the search the second time. Luckily, I don't have to wait." I check my phone, because I wish to prove to Poppy that I can fix her attention solely on myself, as her face showed scepticism before. I'd have preferred not to bother with the hotel, for extra emphasis, however, in getting here I've noticed how well lit the place is. There are no discreet pockets of shadows to be seen anywhere, in direct contrast to the presence of security cameras.
"What are you doing?" She peers over my shoulder. "No-way. You want my magic, which means I get to choose the love hotel."
I pass over my phone and watch her face as she intently flicks through possibilities. I'm going to check my history later and see if she searched for 'love hotel with clean sheets.' Ha ha.
Having chosen, she takes my hand. "This way."
As we enter our room, I'm surprised. It is tastefully decorated with a fusion of modern and traditional Japanese styles. From how secretive she was being over it; I was imagining some weird theme that Poppy hasn't felt comfortable with sharing with me, worst case scenario being fluffy toys. Obviously, I guessed the spotlessness correctly and it turns out that instead of toys, my lover has a lighting fetish. She is happily playing with a set of controls changing the rooms mood through warm and cozy, to bright and energizing, before returning to cozy but with a more intimate and romantic vibe.
Part 4
"Bath time. Have you ever been in a Jacuzzi before?" Poppy asks.
I would love to indulge her but, "We haven't time for a bath."
"Yes, we do. I was thinking on the way here, we'll get really confused with tracking Vane's with your method, unless we try it in the early morning. People move around significantly during the day and well into the evening, especially at a weekend. Also, I doubt the other women are in any danger. Kay will want to keep them sweet until the next full moon at least."
She's made some good points, so I allow myself to be led. A Jacuzzi, as it turns out, is a large bathtub that gives you a massage, one that is soothing rather than sexually stimulating. I'm beginning to feel a little suspicious, so run a finger down Poppy's arm.
She opens her eyes and smiles. "Do you like it?"
"I can give better massages," I say, with a wink that probably falls short of my usual salaciousness, as I'm far too relaxed.
"Hmm, is that true? Well, I saw some massage oil on that shelf. You can go first though, just lie down on the bed." She grabs the oil and waves it whilst grinning at me, even though she can tell that watching her exit the bath has put other ideas into my head. She plans to torment me, it's obvious. I will bide my time and get my revenge when appropriate…
I siphon off the excess magic she's given me, before I split in two again, and decide to confront her. "This is just a normal hotel, isn't it?"
She laughs, presses a switch, and a section of ceiling slides away. "Normal hotels don't have a mirror like that or toys like these." She opens a hidden wardrobe.
Part 5
Inside is a vending machine. It seems her preferences match closely with my least favourite theme after all.
She must have noticed my face fall, as she says. "We don't have to play with any of these, if you don't want to."
Not wanting to disappoint her, I decide to try and act enthusiastic. I need to maintain my skill in that field, so this will be good practice. When I see what is really on offer though, I burst out laughing.
"What's so funny."
"You said toys, I thought you meant like the yellow teddy."
She runs, what I can only describe as, a phallus shaped object over my arm. "No, these are completely different electrical beasties."
She is teasing me, so I retaliate. "Can I choose anything?"
"Yes, but I may be heading back home before you finish taking the plastic off, depending."
Having been closely observing every little thing about Poppy over the last month, I can make a good guess which of the things, out of those I recognise, I can and cannot unwrap. She seems open and honest, so I should stop expecting otherwise. Something about those qualities of hers, brings out the worse in me though, and I cannot resist... "Then I had better do my own thing." I float her over to the bed and wrap silk around her wrists." Cross, she immediately yanks her hands apart, then looks surprised at her easy freedom and the torn fabric.
I climb on top of her and move her hands back together with mine. "I want this, it's my turn. Although if you free yourself again, it will ruin the mood for me, and we'll have to stop. So do try and keep still."
She's frowning again. "But that will be practically impossible, this material is tissue paper thin."
I chuckle, "Serves you right, for ignoring how I was feeling after the jacuzzi."
"I wasn't ignoring, delayed gratification enhances pleasure."
She has the audacity to wink at me, looking all too pleased with herself, rightly so, and I find it extremely cute. However we're playing a game, so I say, "I agree one hundred percent," and give her my sweetest smile…
Chapter 22
Part 1
Back at the station, I check my pin again. Poppy has taken a screen shot of the area and draws lines, as accurately as she can, in the direction of the light. There are now only three possible directions. We move Northeast and try again, which gives us five cross over points. One is so far away though, that it can be dismissed, along with its partner…
Poppy gently touches my arm. "We need to be careful; I don't think Kay will be pleased to see either of us."
She thinks she's coming with me, wandering around this city at night? I suppose it is the safest in the world, still… "I'm taking you home." I can tell that she's about to argue, so I add. "I can disguise myself with magic, I can't do the same to you."
"But you didn't have any problem dressing me up using magic at the hotel. And I've seen you change people's hair…" Seeing me yet again at a loss for words she continues. "What you really mean, is that you don't feel able to protect me and concentrate on doing your job. You don't need to lie to me. Surely, we are beyond that now…. We could make a deal. I'll let you take me home, if you promise to teach me magic to defend myself against Kay."
It sounds a good deal; however, I am now worried that Kay's already found our apartment, what if she attacks Poppy while I'm on a wild frost lizard chase. Therefore I agree both to the magic lessons and Poppy accompanying me on the search.
A good thing too, finding the woman was not as easy as I'd ignorantly assumed and initially feared. Without Poppy's kisses it would no doubt take days.
Part 2
There was no one at the first spot, however at least it means she is free rather than a prisoner. Our next Vane works in a 7-Eleven store, which oddly, considering the name, is open for 24 hours a day. We are both hungry by now, so buy some snacks and order some fried chicken from the hot food counter.
While Poppy chats to the shop assistant, I browse the whiskeys on offer. Obviously, to keep up the pretence, I'll have to buy a couple to take home with us. I can hear Poppy tell the assistant that her friend Kay, said this was the best convenience store in this district. She wonders if perhaps the shop assistant remembers seeing her. The assistant says Poppy's friend must have visited the store during a different shift.
I'm concerned that Poppy has referred to Kay as her friend, it made the assistant relaxed and happy to chat, however I can see it being a danger if Kay finds this woman. So, when we locate the woman at the third spot, I insist we approach things my way. I knock sharply and loudly on the door and show the police badge, I've recreated from the memory that Poppy agreed to share with me. I assure the woman that there is no cause for alarm. We are merely here to follow up a report that the dangerous fugitive from the stabbing in the mall has been seen in the building.
"But, but, I thought it was all some English students playing a trick?"
I explain that it was a real event, that the students tastelessly edited with ice daggers. The woman is suitably worried; however, she says she hasn't seen Kay. I give her the number of my secret phone and ask her to call me, as soon as possible, if she does. I will try the same tactic with the other woman once she returns home.
Part 3
The weeks have raced by, I can hardly believe I am cooking the last meal I will ever share with Poppy. I'd taken her back to Osaka to see the things we'd missed on our first visit, then followed that up with a day seeing the autumn colours, in the forest surrounding the Meiji Jingu shrine. She'd seemed delighted with both, and said the shrine was one of her favourite places. However, it all seems inadequate somehow... I should have been able to make those weekends truly special for her, like our trip up Fujisan. I'd initially been concerned, as we were climbing just out of the season, and Poppy was being extremely fussy about the clothing we needed to take. However, she'd hired a guide and the weather was good, if freezing. Having stayed unofficially in a mountain hut, we'd climbed through the early hours arriving at the peak just in time to witness the sunrise. Standing there with our arms around each other is a memory I will treasure always…
I don't want to leave yet. Besides, I never managed to find Kay, despite both Milesse and I having spent many hours searching. To go now means breaking my promise to Yuki, my master must come first though. I will have to apologise…
My secret phone rings. I may be able to fulfil my promise after all.
"Hello Sirius, sweetheart. This is purely a curtesy call, as Poppy is upset that you might think that some other calamity has befallen her." In the background, I can hear crying, it sounds muffled, soft and scared.
"Where are you?" I demand.
She laughs, and gives the address of the last woman we found, "Of course, we'll be in Saligia before you can get here," she recites the address of our apartment, and there is a happiness to her voice as she adds, "is just too far away." The phone goes dead.
Part 4
I have no choice; I must make it in time. Surely having insisted that Kay phone me, Poppy is expecting a rescue. She will fight, she will hold on until I get there…
I kick open the front door. The house's owner is tied up in a chair. I race past her and quickly search her house. There is no sign of either Poppy or Kay. I untie the woman and question her. Between fresh sobs, she says Kay was here by herself and left hours ago. Feeling nauseous, I race home.
Poppy appears uneasy as I rush into our apartment. She is safe though, that is the main thing… or is it… my collection of antiques has vanished. Does she plan to keep me here, is she friends with Kay after all? Surely not, but if they wanted the same thing…
"Where are my antiques?"
Her face turns from unease into a shifting chaos of guilt, worry and an odd blankness.
I grab her arms and raise my voice to intimidate. "Tell me. You know I need them to return home."
When she speaks her voice is a mere whisper, "You had a knife wound to your gut. You were dying. My holding you was keeping you alive, that was all. How come you were fine by the morning?"
This is my chance to convince her to let me leave. "Obviously, I accessed significantly more of your magic than mere holding of hands could provide." I let go of her arms and she collapses onto the sofa. I retrieve the gemstone from my pocket. "The antiques don't really matter. I have worked hard at plan B."
"Worked? So, you are saying every moment with you that I treasured, every kiss you stole, every groan of ecstasy that escaped your lips, was all an act to enable you to return home?"
I don't lie, instead I let ice seep into my gaze. She stands up and strides towards the door, tears flowing down her cheeks. I try and stop her; however, she is using the magic I taught her against me.
Part 5
I have made a grave error of judgement. I am trapped within our flat, left to watch the full moon drifting over the rooftops. There was blood on the floor, that I've cleaned, and Kay's pin. What if something happens to Poppy wandering around, alone and upset at night. I hammer the wall with my fist in impotence.
When Poppy returns, she has no colour in her cheeks and her eyes are as grey as a cloudy winter sky.
"I am sorry…"
While I am considering my next words carefully, she walks to her wardrobe, brings out my old clothes and interrupts me. "These will act as a bridge. I have been practising conveyance magic. Wear them and try and visualise your room." I note that she hasn't accepted my apology, so be it. A cad will be easier to get over.
Although, she's already looking drained; this will be too much for her. I cannot allow that. "It is alright, we can try next month, when we have built up a better magic store."
"You are worried and wish to return to your master and his paramour quickly. Besides, there will be no extra magic." Her tone sounds dead.
She chants softly to herself, and I feel the barriers between the worlds thin. Not wanting to end up somewhere random, I focus on my room. I am now standing in a hazy mix of our bedrooms. I cannot do this; I cannot leave her. "Stop."
"No, I have this."
My body feels odd, strange. I'm sweating, my heart is racing and I'm feeling faint…. I do believe I am panicking. "Please stop, I love you…" I beg her. However she is beyond hearing, I feel the force of her magic, pushing me away. I leap forward and hug her tightly to myself. She collapses in my arms. My vision begins to tunnel, and I sink to my knees, worried about dropping her. I cannot pass out, will not, otherwise I won't be able to get her to hospi…