[Fiction] Finding Outside

[z-Gu Saori]

(Continued from Taking Stock )

Most Westerns who saw the golden form twisting through the sky would have thought 'golden snake.' But to the people of the Orient, this was a symbol of their history and mythology.

The great golden dragon slowly dipped out of the sky, coming to rest on a building in downtown Toyko. Coiling around a tower, the creature seemed hesitant and uncertain. Or so it seemed to Kou, hovering a few city blocks away. "Kyojin, it's stopped on top of a building," she said into her communicator. "Can you reach the top?"

"Sure," the deep voice of her teammate came back. "Do you want me to do the approach?"

"Yes," Kou said, "I'll be right behind you. Or rather, right behind the target once you make contact."

"Roger that," Kyojin said, his tone and tempo changing as he began to move forward. Kou had to chuckle when she realized he'd taken the elevator to the roof instead of something flasher.

[z-Gu Saori]

Saori curled around the cell phone tower, her taloned feet clinging to the metal frame. Her horns bumped and scraped the antenna with each movement of her head, but Saori still found the position comforting. It was high in the air and she could swiftly take flight again if she felt the need.

The roof access door open, and Saori's head snapped around. A pleasant-looking, tall Japanese man dressed in a Nippontai uniform stepped onto the roof. Golden eyes the size of saucers blinked for a moment before Saori remembered that this was Kyojin. An agitated wheeze squeezed out of her muzzle as she realized at she was facing one Japan's national heroes.

To her surprise, he bowed to her, granting her great honor. "Tatsu-sama, thank you for visiting our city. Please, I humbly ask that you come down from the cell phone tower, as you are interferring with reception," Kyojin said, his tone extremely diffident.

"Please, don't use that tone," Saori said, then jerked her head in surprise when she heard her deep bass voice. "I mean, please, I am not worthy of such respect."

"You are the Tatsu," Kyojin said, still as respectful as before. "Even if you are a nova, you still have this honored shape. Therefore, you are worthy."

Saori realized that she had not moved; ducking her head carefully, she wound her way down the tower, arriving on the roof. "I am not, Kyojin-sama," she insisted softly, even as her voice shook the air between them. "My name is Gu Saori, of House Hideyoshi."

Kyojin smiled. "Hideyoshi Ryu is known to the Nippontai," he said. "Despite the difficulties your house has faced in the past, we have no argument with the Hideyoshi House. Now, may we assist you, Gu-sama?"

"I..." The shock of what she had seen was slowly wearing away, and she realized to her horror that she had left Grandfather alone in the house. "Timeslip... I left Grandfather alone!"

"Please, be calm, Gu-sama," another voice said from behind her, and Saori turned to see Kou hovered behind her. "You seem upset - please, can we help you?"

"I need to return home, and help my Grandfather, Kou-sama," Saori said.

"May we accompany you?" Kou asked politely, exchanging a quick glance with Kyojin. "We must speak with Long. It would be an honor to escort you there."

[z-Gu Saori]

It was strange, to carry someone on her back. Saori knew that it must be equally strange for Kyojin-kama; he had protested, but Saori had firmly insisted. It was no dishonor to her to carry one of the Nippontai on her back, and no dishonor to them to accept. And she could not let Kou-kama carry Kyojin-kama, not when she could do it.

She snaked winglessly through the air, following the familiar landmarks home. Gradually, she eased out of the sky, coming to rest in the family garden. Dipping her shoulder, she allowed Kyojin-sama to slid off her back. "Thank you, Gu-sama," he said, bowing low.

"You are welcome," Saori murmured and paused as she realized a problem. She was naked. "Excuse me, I need to prepare for your arrival. I am ashamed to ask you to wait for a moment in the garden. I am sorry."

"We did not arrange our visit ahead of time," Kou replied. "There is no dishonor; we will wait until you are prepared."

Saori nodded her great golden head and wiggled carefully into the house. She was fine until she came to the door to her room; then her doorway forced her to release her shape and duck in naked.

She dressed in record time, hurrying to Grandfather's room while she was still pulling on slippers. He was still asleep and Saori breathed a sigh of relief.

After that, it was a mad dash into the kitchen, where she put on water for tea. She prepared some quick snacks and hurried out to the table set up outside.

By the time she had gotten there, a third member of the team had joined them. Despite a recent hair cut, Saori easily recognized Miko. Glad that the tea pot was very large, Saori bowed low and said, "Honored guests, tea is prepared. If you will but allow me to retrive another cup, we can begin."

[Long]

"He's coming now." Miko's announcement was only seconds ahead of the blue rimmed warpgate that heralded the arrival of Saori's elder brother, Long and his adopted children.

He emerged from the portal, children in Tow, his face one of contemplation. He'd said goodbye to Timeslip only moments before, and taken their adopted children home. He could smell Saori in the house, silently he thanked God she was alright. Then it hit him who else was in the room. Without even looking at them he spoke spoke.

"Kou, Miko, Kyojin, welcome to my house." The names immediately were recognized by the children, who Long silenced with a glance. "Misato, Benkei, if you would please go to your rooms, there is a matter that must be discussed." His hard expression softened. Don't worry I promise you'll get to speak to Nippontai before they have to go." He looked over to Kou, who nodded and offered the children a reassuring smile. "I won't leave untill I say hello I promise." Kyojin and Miko likewise nodded and the children left silently with large smiles on their faces.

Long then turned to the three members of Nippontai. Miko in particular drew his gaze, to which she nodded once. Kou looked at him with a look that was respectful, resentful and fearful all at once. Kyojin's face reflected a sense of awe and beneath it fear. Long outclassed all three of them combined in terms of sheer power, and all four of them knew it.

"So, seeing how Miko is here, I take it you aren't here to try to arrest me. Good, I've had enough problems today." He takes his seat in one of the chairs.

"So exactly to what pleasure do I owe the visit, my freinds?"

[z-Gu Saori]

Saori came back into the room; Long was briefly surprised at her appearance. His sister normally took more care with her dress when guests were over. Her long, dark hair swung loose about her face, and her dress was a simple red garment unadorned by her usual accessories. It gave her a youthful appearance she didn't normally groom.

Saori smiled at the sight of Long, though the astute in the room recognized the flicker of apprehension in her eyes. "Brother, welcome home," she said, giving him a bow. "I was making tea for our guests." She set the tray that she had brought out down on the table and hurried to bring another cup.

For a while, the appropriate pleasantries were observed; tea and snacks were politely eaten while small talk was made. Eventually, Long gave Saori a meaningful glance, one that said, if you do not wish to participate in this conversation, you should leave.

Saori set her cup down with a finality that signalled the end of the meal; everyone else followed suit and stopped. "If you will excuse me, I must check on my grandfather," Saori said politely, starting to rise.

"Long-sama," Kyojin said suddenly, bowing slightly. "I have longed to see your house; may Saori-sama show me around?" Kou and Miko traded a slight, knowing smile that was not lost on Long as he considered Kyojin's request.

[Long]

Long nods, his mile showing off pearly white fangs. "Go ahead Kyojin, just be mindful of the children, chances are they are waiting for any of you to leave this room." His smile widens as Kyojin and Saori leave the room and then he turns back to Kou.

"Your wife isn't here."

"Of course not, she's smarter than that. Besides she doesn't want to bring Utopia down on the family. Would you like to see the recording of the events?"

"No, we've all seen it. That she's trying to protect your family is commendable, but now she's a fugitive. Team Tomorrow and the Project will never rest, she killed one of them. Pax himself will hunt her down."

Long's tail lashes about angrily as he fights to keep his rage down. Kou gestures with her hands in a claming manner. "Easy Ryu, we aren't here to fight."

"I know that Mayumi, but it doesn't make this any easier. My wife reacted under bad circumstances. She overreacted, and now a nova is dead. Because of that her life is totally ruined. A split-second choice and it ended." There's a touch of pain in his voice. The others present knew his past, knew some of what he'd done.

Miko rose from her chair and laid a hand on Long's massive shoulder. "Ryu, you know that your freinds will be there for you."

"I know Mari-chan, I know. This will be more difficult on the children than anyone else. They finally had a mother, and now she's been taken from them again."

The use of her name suprised Kou. She knew Miko had known Long for some time, but that they were close friends was new to her. "Ryu, I'll tell the others to give you some space, for the children."

Long looked up and nodded. "Thank you Mayumi."

[z-Gu Saori]

Saori slid the door shut on Grandfather's room, being as quiet as she could. He was still asleep; he did that a lot now, though she knew it brought him no rest. Despite her personal anguish, there was a perfect mask of polite hospitality as she turned to the patiently waiting Kyojin.

Moving gracefully away, she began to give a tour of the house. Before long, the children had ambushed them, enfusing the tour with their excitement and joy. Finally, the two adults were allowed to slow down in the gardens, walking slowly past the koi pond while the children ran ahead.

"Your brother has a beautiful house," Kyojin said, smiling down at the small woman next to him. He towered over her, yet he had seen how much larger she could get.

"He does," Saori replied, running her hands over the leaves of a maple tree. "It is even better than the old one."

"You should know that none of the novas wished your family to leave Japan," Kyojin told her, clasping his hands behind his back. He looked so strange in the middle of the garden, surrounded by traditional plants but dressed in the modern uniform of the Nippontai. "Indeed, we were saddened to hear that you had."

"Thank you," Saori said, smiling broadly. "I am glad to be home."

"You and I should have met before now," Kyojin said, tilting his head up to see the sky. "Do you ever get out, see the local nova-life?"

"No," Saori admitted shyly. "I have not seen much of Toyko."

"You should come out with some of the Nippontai," Kyojin grinned, his handsome face made more attractive by his warmth and sincerity. "We are going to Karaoke this weekend. Would you like to come with us?"

"I'm... I'm not Nippontai!" Saori gasped, her eyes wide. "Why would you want me there?"

"We have many people who are not Nippontai come," Kyojin answered. "If the Nippontai only socialized with themselves, we would soon be bored with our friends. So you will come?"

"Yes," Saori said relunctantly, uncertain. But at the same time, it sounded like a lot of fun. "Yes, I'll come."

"Good," Kyojin said, nodding with pleasure. "Good."