Toons of Theresa

((this takes place before "Kori's: A Gala Opening (Open RP - Internall)" ))

“You've got to dance like nobody's watching and love like it's never going to hurt.” - Unknown

Nix enters the Practice Room; leaving the lights off and sits silently in the center. For many minutes, he focuses on his breathing; taking slow deep breaths while he lets his mind become still. Then suddenly he opens his eyes to reveal two red-hot burning circles that light the room. Words come from his mouth but they are not his... “From ashes to ashes there is one. From time to time, there is one. There is no speed, just the fire flux, from here to eternity I live always.” A massive light flashes and Nix is gone.

Waking with a start Gale sits up clutching her chest. Her heart beating wildly and for a moment she is disoriented, then seeing Nathan asleep, she kisses him before getting up our of the bed. Something is wrong she can feel it. It was like she felt him and then ...something else... she slips on the kimono robe and heads out to where she last felt him... the practice room.

Entering she shakes her head wondering, was it only a dream? But if it was then why does her gut feel like something is wrong? Finally, she turns to leave then stops sniffing the air as the faint sent of something burnt catches her attention. Moving slowly back into the room she sniffs the air slowly making her way to where, unknown to her, Nix was last sitting.

A massive flash of light erupts in Practice Room and Nix drops to the floor with a loud grunt. Gale is thrown back, her eyes blinded, and she recovers coming up from a roll and adopting a defensive stance.

“Aw shit that was... weird. Picking himself up, he falls and rolls on his back not having the strength even sit up. “Ok, I'll stay here a bit.” Hearing his voice she calls out his name while blinking and trying to see. “Nix?” He turns his head hearing her, “Babe? You here?”

Moving slowly forward, using her other senses to ‘feel’ out the room, “Yeah, I can't see clearly right now...what the fuck?” Grinning his body starts to shine slightly, “How’s this, see me now?”

“Well I can see bigger bright spot now.” She moves forward a few steps and her foot finally makes contact. Dropping to her knees next to him, her hands begin to move gently, yet purposefully, over his body feeling for injuries and feeling a bit guilty at enjoying the feel of his sweating body.

He lays there still breathing hard and smiling up to her, enjoying the feel of her hands as she moves them blindly over him. So much so he has to swallow to ask, “What are you doing up?”

“I felt something wrong and then came in here where I thought I ‘felt’ you but you weren't here and then bang, bright light, me blinded and wondering where the fuck were you.” Sitting back not finding any injuries she rubs at her eyes and blinks them open and shut a few times still trying to see. “Damn, its like when a flash goes off in your eyes times twenty.”

“Aw shit, sorry.” Now feeling concerned, he finds the strength to sit up. “I tried something, was kinda weird.” His hands gently take her face and he looks at her eyes, “I'm sorry, you gonna be ok?”

Her face leans into his touch, “Yeah it is coming back slowly.” Her left hand comes up and covers his right still on her face. “Ok, now where were you, what were you trying and why did it wake me up feeling something terrible had happened?”

He touches the feather hanging from her ear, “Oh sorry, I keep forgetting we’re connected...” smiling to her, “…in many ways.” Lying back down on his back, he tries to put into words the experience. “I think I travelled to, hum... many places actually, was pretty hardcore.”

Smiling to him, her sight now better as he is an identifiable blob now, “Ok, to that I have to say... ER?” and she makes a face at him. “So what were you trying to do?”

His hands rub at his temples as he explains. “Well, I tried travelling, but without flying, really fast... like teleporting… kinda.”

“I see.” Her words ironic as she is still blinking trying to focus, “Did it work and more importantly... are you ok?”

He answers with a smile as he looks up at her. “I'm fine... I think. I'm actually exhausted.” He laughs, “I don't think I travelled exactly as I was expecting to. I think I... nah, never mind.”

“No tell me Baka, otherwise I will worry... then I will get upset...” and smiles down to where she is pretty sure his face is and grins, “…then I will hurt you.”

“Ok but your not going to believe me.” looking at the ceiling, “I think I went to the future.” and he looks at her from the corner of his eyes to see if she believes him.

“OK... now let me get this straight.” and she starts ticking off on her fingers as she speaks. “You say you went to the future. And you are not sure I will believe you.” then she points to her nose, “Me... who has a goddamn twenty-five-year-old son here from the future. You’re right... I don't believe you... Baka!” and punctuates by giving him a shove.

He laughs and rolls a little, smiling stupidly, “Oh ya... forgot about Ninja Nate. I mean, I didn't see much besides the city all changed, I think. Then I was back here but...” his mind wanders as he recollects, “Damn, there was a lot of flying cars and that's it.”

“Flying cars… like the Jetsons?” Looking up at her and then laughs, “Oh god, I'm spent.”

“Well don't be too spent... you have a date tomorrow night, remember?”

“With who, is she hot?” he teases and she knows he is. “Chance-papa's restaurant and no she is a hag... Baka Boy.”

“Chance, right! Talking to your mom was cool. I'm hoping Chance is gonna be cool too... with us I mean.”

“Should be if you don't go all baka while we are there, but he said he wanted to talk to you about our... intimacies.”

“Inta - what?” and Gale sighed exasperated, “Sex, baka. I think he wants to lay down some ground rules”

Still feeling playful he winks at her and she can see him doing so. “What sex? As far as I know we kissed, probed, edged but didn't actually... you know.” Her hand comes down and slaps his stomach, “OOF! I wonder if I could take you next time?” he asks laughing while thinking about his future trip for a second then winks at her.

Outside the doors she listens and pulls back her red hair behind an ear as her keen hearing takes in the conversation taking place between a young woman and young man; there voices overlapping at times and… recognizable. She smiles as her eyes narrow.

"Virginity is a bubble in the froth of life - one prick and it's gone" - Unknown

“There's rules? I mean, I understand caution and I love you so much I ain't never gonna do something stupid but what kind of rules?” he asks clearly curious about these rules and their possible consequences.

“Like, I think you should talk with him... and I know we have not... but Nix we have to be responsible. That is why I want to do like the doc said and wait till the pill kicks in and…” she leans over him and smiles, “I love you too Nix.”

“I got rubbers... I mean, we can do pill and rubbers! I mean, that's damn safe right...” his words tumbling out in teenage hormonal thinking then his face melts when she says she loves him and he smiles, “Love you more!”

Not taking the bait of his who-loves-who-more challenge, she continues seriously. “but we have to be adult about this too. Believe me as much as it scares me I…” and now a blush comes to her face and her eyes look down, “want you.”

Outside the door, hands are put together and fingers begin to weave as she concentrates a moment and then she becomes distracted in thought as she feels the ring on her finger.

“Oh, you have no idea how much I want you sweetie... no idea at all.” He smiles wickedly but his body is just to tired to move much, “Like a wolf wants a rabbit... a very dangerous rabbit.” He grins up at her wolfishly.

She sits back on her heels, hand come up, palm forward with fingers splayed as she tries to make him understand. “Ok... this is like going to be my first time!” her hands moving as she speaks, “Could you like be a little more romantic and not equate it with hunting and killing cute animals!”

He laughs then slowly stops seeing she is serious about this, “Hum ok then... hum... like the sun, melting the ice... slow, beautiful and hot... better?”

It isn’t better, her hands fall to her lap, and her voice softens as she tries to explain. “Look Nix, I know to you guys this is like a big score, a badge of honor and bragging rights but for us girls it is… like... very serious. I mean we are only virgins once and the first should not only be special... it should be... I don't know... special.”

Looking up at him, her eyes now able to see him clearly, as clearly as she can with her glasses, she tries to get it through to him how important this is to her. “I mean think about it, I want you to be my first, to be that special someone. So could you maybe tone down the jokes about it... I am already jittery and... well… embarrassed as is.”

“Ok... pressure... I will, I have I mean...” he now tumbles his words, “It's not gonna be random in the back of a car if that's what you're worried about.” ‘although frankly’, he begins to think, ‘if she was willing...’ then berates himself, ‘bad James, bad!’

“I am serious Nix! I don't want our first time to be one I regret, do you?

“Ok, ok... sorry, no I don't it's just, god, you think I ain't nervous too...? What happens if I don't make it special, do you realize how much that scares me, but…” and his confidence making an appearance again making him cocky, “It's going to be a night you'll never forget!” then smiles as he mulls around a few ideas, romantic ones, this time.

She rolls her eyes and sighs, wondering if all boys are this dense and well… stupid. “I know... so could you at least TRY... and have a little more romance?” Her eyes look at him lying there and soften as she see that stupid grin he wears, the way he has his hands behind his head as if life was just… fun and smiles as once more she places her hands on either side of his head and leans over him.

“The thing is.... I love you... you're my Baka boy. I know I blew the shit out of your trust but believe me I don't want secrets between us... I want you to trust me... as I know I can trust you.”

“Fine, fine... call me Mr. Romance from now on,” he lifts a hand and places it on her cheek, “anything for you my lovely bird.” then winks.

Call you Mr. Baka Boy, more like.” She giggles.

“I do trust you Gale... I understand you more these days... I trust you to do what's right in your heart and I'll never ask for more... and no, Mr. Romance... Baka Girl!” laughing back up at her.

Outside she smiles hearing the two, feeling pride in her daughter’s words and knowing they will be all right. She then looks to her ring, their banter and words resonating in her heart at her own feelings of doubt, uncertainty and yet a wonderful excitement and hope. She thinks of him as she whispers to herself, “Itsumo aishiteru (I will always love you)” then turns and walks without a sound down the hallway, leaving two small objects on the ground just outside of the training room doors.

“We do seem to bicker and bicker. Sometimes I feel we're like an old married couple, who think occasionally of murdering each other -- but never of divorce.” - Denis MacShane

“Baka Girl? I thought I was... never mind.” Trying to quickly change the subject, “Ok Mr. Romance, then promise me no more experimenting with powers when I am not around ok?”

“Ouch, I mean, it's actually safer if you aren't around... You thought what?”

“Nothing, never mind.” not wanting to remind him of the "other" nickname he gave her. “And as for safer… I don't give a crap. Would you want ME playing with cosmic powers and experimenting with them on my own?”

“No… but you can't so...” he sticks his tongue out, then smiles up to her reassuringly. “I need to learn what I can do Babe. Not knowing is like, not knowing myself. It’s weird... whatever is part of me, I need to know and understand it. Marcus says your worst enemy is yourself and to conquer any enemies, you must know them. So well, I plan to know 'me'. Well, that's the plan anyways.”

“I get that... I do... but if something happened to you…” she bits her bottom lip wondering, ‘can't he see I would like die.’ “and that is all well and fine... and pretty much true, but…”

“Nothings going to happen to me sweetie,” he takes one of her hands in his, “your my sun, what ever happens, I'm coming back to you... BUT?”

She smiles as he takes her hand, “…But, it is not so much about knowing your limits as it is knowing yourself, really knowing. I am still working on that one... but as Kori-mama said to know your self is to know all things.”

His hand touching her and the way he is looking at her makes her feel all warm and she leans down closer over him. “Sun? More like your ‘my’ sun and I am the moon. I am inconsistent after all.” giggling at her reference to Shakespeare.
The moon and the sun? That's a bit tragic sweetie... circling each other forever but never touching,” as he plays with her fingers, touching every one of them, feeling them in his hands, “Whatever we are, I want us to be 'it' forever.”

‘Wow!’ she thinks and wonders at the way he can go from goofball to so… dreamy so fast. She loves when he does, but then she loves the goofball too. “That is one way to look at it but you're a phoenix, right? A sun bird and I am a nightingale, a bird of the night. Besides, what is more forever than the sun and moon?” and grins at her own logic.

“Now can you walk?” she asks leaning back and figuring he needs to eat. “No…” grinning as the goof comes back, “you'll have to carry me... or leave me here... oooh, I'm such a miserable waste.” He laughs as he begins to be all ‘dramatic’, “Leave me babe, leave me, I'll hold them off! Just remember... I… love... you!” then fake dies.

She slaps his chest and sits back, “Well then if you are dead... I guess Shadow can take me to dad's restaurant.” and crosses her arms across her chest and pouts her chin up and to the side, knowing that she just ‘got him’ as he bolts up straight.

“Shadow! Over my dead body! I'll roast his heart in the time it takes him to roll his squinty eyes that emo reject!”

“Men only have two faults...What they do, and what they say!” – Unknown

“To be happy with a man you must understand him a lot and love him a little. To be happy with a woman you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.” - Helen Rowland

Laughing even harder now, “HAH! I knew that would raise you back form the dead! And like I would even consider that loser... pul-eez. Now how about I make you a sandwich ok?”

“Not funny.” he retorts. “If you saw your face you would think it was.” she laughs and then seeing he is really half hurt and half angry, “Come on, I will make you a Dagwood special, ok?” she offers as she stands, reclosing her robe and unconsciously giving him a small flash of curved flesh.

“Samish? Ok...” and his face relaxes some, “But Laurence... c'mon... I don't like that guy. He's worst then Markey.” Then he grins catching a glimpse as Gale readjusts her robe.

“Really? I think Markey would be cute if he was not drunk off his ass all the time.” she teases as she walks backwards to the door facign Nix, “Lawrence is a sociopathic tool but Markey… hmm” and touches her chin with a finger as if considering.

Nix freezes for a second, then smiles as he slowly gets up. “Your evil... in so many good ways... and I'll roast Markey too if you ever tell me you think he's cute again.” He tries his best glare at her as he says so.

“Promise? OHMYGOSH Markey is SOOOOO CUTE!” Gale laughs and then turns opening the door, nearly steps on something just outside the door. “What the…?” Two pink origami paper cranes folded neatly outside of the door, facing each other as if in an embrace. “Oh... my... gosh… NIX! Nix come quick!”

With his typical, “Huh?” and walks over slowly, “What is it?”

“Look!” pointing to the origami while turning five shades of red and looking frantically up and down the hallway while a litany of ‘ohmygoshes’ stream forth.

“Oh my gosh what, paper?” he asks not understanding what the hell is going on, “I have seen paper before sweetie.” Then pokes his head out in the hallway as well looking though not sure what he is supposed to be looking for.

“No baka... origami cranes!” and she looks up at him as he is leaning over her. The blank look on his face exasperates her more, “Koir-mama you baka!”

“Little birds of paper, yes...huh? Your mom?” Still not getting what the ‘big deal is’.

“She made these two cranes and has them facing each other. Do you know what that means?” she nearly wails.

“That... we can suck face no problem...?” he fires back still a bit edgy becasue of exhaustion and Gale saying Markey was cute.

“NO you baka... it means she was here and probably heard everything we talked about!” Seeing he still is in the land of ‘huh’, “We were discussing our…” then stops, looks both ways and lowers her voice, “sex life... in front of my mom!”

“Oh, that. Now she knows you wanna suck face with Markey too?”

Her eyes narrow as she turns to face him fully, “Ok fine, go ahead and joke, just remember this baka. Kori-mama carries a really big sword…”

He knows that look and steps back interrupting, “Well, truthfully I'm happy then. You should be able to ask your mom about this stuff and YES, she as a big sword but she made paper birds so I think I'm safe... for now.”

Continuing to talk in spite of what he just said, “…and when most sword masters practice cutting bamboo… Kori-mama cut boulders.”

“Boulders huh... ok, stop trying to scare me with your mom… its working. But still, I mean all I have is Bubbles to talk too and she's got weird advice.”

“Ok rule one... never ask Sis for any advice concerning our sex life, ever!” remembering the advice Bubbles gave her on such topics as Dutch ovens, Backdoor burning and even more things that were probably banned in almost every part of the world.

“Who am I suppose to ask then? Marcus? Monty? I don't know! Last time I used my PC to learn stuff you went ballistic!” He exclaims and then knows that was a bad idea the second it left his mouth.

At the mention of the PC fiasco, she stops and for the longest moment glares at Nix, leaving him wondering how the hell she can do that, glare like that and make his testicles want to run for cover. Yet, at the same time, there was something exciting and adorable about it.

“Good...” finally stopping and throwing her hands up in exasperation, “Just great! Now every time I look at her and she looks at me I’m going to think about her and what she is thinking about my thoughts on giving up my virginity.”

“Bubbles?”

“NO KORI-MAMA YOU ASS!” then rubs her eyes, “And yes, ask Marcus or hell Chance-papa for that matter. Anyone but Bubbles… OH and NEVER ask Gray!

“I need a shower.” He states and starts walking pass her. “Your moms cool and no, I'm not asking the old man... guh!” meaning Marcus and realizing that old man sounded a lot like dad said that way. “Chance? He's like 20'something... he got a lot of action before your mom…” then kicks himself, ‘nice idiot, great way of putting it.’

Gale kneels and picks up the two cranes... then stops blinking her eyes, “Excuse me! Did you just say something about my parents?”

“Er… my head is not on straight, forget it, shower! Going now!” ‘oh god.

Gale stands slowly and watches him run, fuming a bit, “ooooooooh.... baka!” Then sets out a long breath as she looks at the two origami cranes in her hand, imagining her mother standing here, listening... ‘Did this mean she approved... was it just her way to let her know she overheard?’

Nix, safely now in the showers, talks to him self, ‘Stupid, stupid, STUPID! I'm such an idiot! ‘He got a lot of action...’ bleh! Such an idiot!” Then he leans his forehead against the tile as the water pours on him knowing he was going to have to talk to someone, and soon. Turning off the shower, he sits on the small stool, begins washing himself and not realizing he is bathing in the Japanese way, like Gale showed him, while his mind is preoccupied in thought.. After washing, he puts his hair up in a Japanese warrior tuck and moves to the bath, heating the water to almost a boil before slowly sinking his body.

Submerging under the water, he yells in frustration but only bubbles make it to the surface. It would have to be Marcus, couldn't really talk to Chance about sleeping with his 'almost' daughter. ‘Jeez... why me!’

“What a day, eh, Milhouse? The sun is out, birds are singing, bees are trying to have sex with them - as is my understanding...” - Bart Simpson

Standing with the two pink, origami cranes, Gale remembers another time with origami cranes. The day Kori-mama came, before either knew they were mother and daughter, after her return from Japan the first time. Escaped from Japan was more correct and it was Kori-mama that got her safely out, well her and Betty. That day she gave Gale a box, filled with a thousand paper cranes stringed together.

She sits, leaning against the door frame and looks at both the cranes. ‘God, what a day that was.’ her mind mulls. For all the trouble she caused, all the trouble Kori-mama went through for her when she thought Gale was just a troubled kid… Her eyes start to burn as they tear up, remembering another day at the Japanese consulate and Kori-mama coming to tell her she was her daughter.

The news was wonderful and terrible at the same time... she gained the mother she always dreamed of... but also found out she was tainted. The child of a rape... and left wondering, who the evil man that did this that she was was half of? There was still so much to know about Kori-mama, about her biological other half and about herself.

Carefully, she takes the two cranes to Nathan’s room, where she has been staying, and places them on the dresser in the same position she found them. Looking at the two birds her curiosity is greater than her fear... she needs to know what Kori-mama thinks, plainly. “I swear between her, Tiph and Meri... I mean can any of them NOT give an answer that DOESN’T sound like Yoda talking?” he sighs as she begins to walk out the room.

The bath over, he cleans up after him with a heat wave that makes the bathroom sparkle and heads back to his room covered by a towel and seen by Gale, who steps quickly back into the room. Peeking out, she watches him, admiring his lean muscles, the color of his skin and grins remembering the cute butt he has.

Deep in thought he opens the door to his room and before being inside, removes the towel exposing his behind then half closes the door, throws the towel on the bed, and heads to the drawers. Gale blushes, bites her bottom lip and turns herself so that she is back in the room and leaning against the wall. ‘ohmygosh’ her mind rolling around scenarios about her and Nix naked and... ‘and what? I still have no idea what I am supposed to do! ’

Rolling her eyes, she then heads out in search of Kori-mama; knowing it is time for ‘the talk’.

“Love is a lot like dancing - you just surrender to the music.” - Unknown

The hauntingly sweet sound of a shinobue (bamboo flute) can be faintly heard from down the hallway and Gale stops and listens with a smile. Then she remembers ‘why’ she is seeking out her mother and continues to the room her mother has been staying in since returning from some big mission with other members of Forgotten.

Gale begins to knock and the door opens as it was not closed completely, as if its occupant were waiting for a visitor. Gale peeks in to the sight and sounds of a familiar dance as Kori moves quietly, arms outstretched, turning and shifting her feet gracefully, practicing Bon-Odori, wearing a simple white kimono, the sound of a shinobue playing in the background, it's haunting notes floating in the air like the ghosts of ancestors past.

Her eyes are closed in concentration, a look of peace on her face and Gale stands there transfixed watching her mother. Watching how every step she takes; every motion is measured and taken with care, slowly and smoothly.

Gale is in awe admiring her grace, beauty... demeanor... and wondering if she will ever... then looks at her self and drops the thought as she knows will never be so just watches, respectfully waiting on her to finish. A tear falls as this wonder of being so lucky to have such a mother overcomes her.

Then song comes to an end and she stops and, peaking back over her shoulder, smiles at her daughter. Gale bows in greeting, “Konnnichi wa Kori-mama, forgive me I did not mean to interrupt.” Kori turns with a raised eyebrow and smiles even more before bowing then approaching her daughter and embracing her. Gale returns the hug tightly, nuzzling her face into her mother and drawing deeply of her scent.

“I… I found your cranes.” she begins nervously, So... er... how much did you over hear?”

Kori smells coconut and the stink of cigarettes in her hair and pulls back so she can touch Gale’s nose. “I heard enough to know that you are in love.” The talk about her smoking could wait for now.

“Meaning you heard all of it.” she sighs. “Ok then, I need to ask you some thing.”

“You know that we celebrate Obon on the island next month?” changing the subject a moment as she lights a candle. “You should practice with me.”

Gale nods respectfully, knowing better than to change the subject back as it would be disrespectful, the hearing her about practicing dancing exclaims, “Me?”

“In honoring one's ancestors, the dance is an important part of the celebration. The more you know and the better you understand the dance, the more you honor your ancestors.”

“Do that… dance?” She still stammers in disbelief, “I don't know how to dance like that. I mean the dancers at the club Betty lives above showed me how to dance...but never like that.”

Kori smiles and takes Gale's hands, positioning her into the first stages of the dance. “It takes commitment…” she whispers, “and practice.” and begins to move with Gale slowly. “Hai... if it is your wish I shall learn.”

Kori slowly lifts her arms with Gale's and turns, still whispering, “…and an understanding of yourself.” Gale closes her eyes and savors the moment... just her and her mother... moving as one as she relaxes under her mother’s guidance. Kori slowly completes the turn and lowers Gale’s arms, “…all the while concentrating on the joy and kindness you bring, as it is both a remembrance and a gift.” completing the move and now facing Gale. “

“I shall do my best to learn and remember, although I will need a copy of that music... I don't think I can practice that to the Ramones.” she grins.

Kori smiles at her daughter’s precociousness, “Then you are ready to make your own dance.” She then points to a long white box on the bed, wrapped in a red silk cord as Gale once more tries to bring up the subject she originally came here for, “Domo, Kori-mama... speaking of... er... dancing... sort of…” then look at the box and back at Kori with a quizzical look.

“Watashi?” Gale asks pointing her own nose and Kori nods with a smile, “It's for you.” Gale moves to the bed and gives her another look before opening it. Seeing her mother smiling removes the silk cord from the gift. Inside a beautiful kimono with a vision of a nightingale on the back, silk and smooth, with scents of lavender within. Under the kimono is a set of long strands of multicolored cranes, 998 in all.

Gale chokes seeing the kimono...and then even more seeing the cranes... meaning more to her than the kimono because of the time and effort into each one. Kori walks up behind Gale and wraps her arms around her, “Give yourself time to know the dance… and when you are ready… the one you dance with will love you more for waiting.”

Gale reaches up, takes hold of her mother’s arms, and leans her head over against one. “But how does one learn to dance if one is not taught?”

“Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.” - Dave Barry

“Each dance is unique, each movement is special and personal it's the reason that you have to take your time to know yourself and how your body reacts to each movement.”

“But Kori-mama... I don't know any dance... I mean dancing with a partner... what do you do?” Kori smiles, touching her cheek softly and strokes it gently with the back of her hand and fingers. “And what about the first time you dance with another? I mean… I heard… there is like... you know... pain, is that true?”

Leaning down she places a gently kiss on Gale’s forehead as she answers, “You and your partner must communicate and move intuitively; respect each other, know each other. There is nothing to fear Akemi.”

Leaning back against her mother, she moves her fingers to hers, softly touching them and the intertwining with them. “Ok... but is it true... that it hurts the first time you dance?” her fingers starting to move with Kori's and interweaving into the position of Rin.

“It is different.” She answer as her fingers interweaves with Gales. “Different how?” and Kori looks at Gale with soft eyes, “Surprisingly expected.” she answers as their fingers move to from Pyo.

“What does that mean Kori-mama and am I... lacking?” her voice unsteady as their fingers move and form To.

It is like the wind, you know it is there, you feel it and expect it, yet it can change in direction and intensity at any given moment… surprisingly expected.” Then move her fingers so they form Zai, fingers outspread, palms out with their index fingers and thumbs touching.

“Lacking? No… learning.”

“No... I mean... physically.”

“Do you feel you are?”

“Well, I mean I saw Nix playing this game on his computer, a real hentai game and all the girls had big... you know… breasts. I mean look at you, you have nice ones and then look at me, and I am fifteen and only THIS big?” She laments and Kori chuckles, “Young men are…” raises an eyebrow as she thinks of the right word, “…more eager.”

“Eager?” Gale mutters, “Horney as hell if you ask me...oops... goman nasai Kori-mama.”

Kori moves and turns Gale then kneels while brushing the hair from Gale’s face, “It isn't the women on the screen that he loves. Men and women are different… all special, all unique in their own ways.”

“Yeah but it seems like all the guys like er... you know big and that game, Kori-mama... I don't think I could do half of what I saw and the other half I am not sure I WANT to !

“When you are ready, and only you will know this, then do what you are comfortable doing, and if he truly loves you, he will respect you for it.”

But Kori-mama, I think he was… er... you know…” she lowers her voice, “masturbating while he played it.” Kori can’t help but grin as she surprises a laugh, “and don't grin, its embarrassing! What if he loves me but really does not find me desirable or worse what if I am terrible at... dancing.”

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be” - Lao Tzu

Her voice is soft, reassuring as she speaks. It is soothing and warm and Gale finds it almost hypnotic as her mother’s voice only seems to make her feel better as she speaks. “Sexuality is nothing new, Akemi. Both in men and women and those that are truly blessed find love and share it with each other.”

“Like you and Chance-papa?” smiling up to her and suppressing a giggle, “do you two… dance a lot?”

“We love each other very much and are comfortable with each other, accepting each other, strengths and faults.”

“So does that mean yes?”

Ignoring the question Kori continues, “And how often we dance is between Chance and I.” and the taps Gale’s nose and grins.

“Ok” Gale giggles, grinning back as Kori pulls her into an embrace. “We leave for the island on the14th of August, the eve of the waning moon.” Gale’s head nuzzles into her mother's breast as Kori holds her. “Hai, you will have to teach me how to dance then. I mean dance dance not... you know.” and closes her eyes feeling like a total tool, or Nix, for just saying that as Kori giggles and promise she will.

Then Kori drops the bomb on her, “You will be dancing with me, you know, during Obon.”

“What, with you? Not by myself? Ohmygosh, talk about pressure. Can’t I do something simpler…say like kick Mount Fuji into the ocean?” Visions of her mother dancing perfectly while she stumbled along, stepping and tripping on her kimono, turning the wrong way and falling on her face danced through her mind.

Seeing her daughter’s fears, Kori smiles and nods, “Mother and daughter, the last of the Arasaka clan but don't worry it's meant to be fun.”

“Soka, I will do my best to learn.” She smiles back to her mother even though bey this time in her mind she is seeing pies being tossed at her while she stumbles through the dance.

Coming up to Gale and cradling Gale’s cheek in the palm of her, she looks into her face and explains, “The residents and my staff on the island all have ancestors they will be honoring as well. I give them the week to honor their ancestors every year, sooooo what it means is we will be doing chores like everyone else.”

Gale giggles looking up, “Oh like that is different for me, doing chores.” Then she remembers that this is a castle Kori-mama is talking about, a BIG castle. “WAIT… does that mean clean the WHOLE Castle?” and her mind starts a mantra of ‘please say no, please say no.’

Chuckling at her daughter’s question, “Don't worry about that, it just means everyone is equal, we help each other. We clean the gravesites of our loved ones as we do our own lives; refresh and reflect on times past.”

“I used to have a problem with the whole equal thing… god I was so prejudice. Then Nathan came into my life and he taught me how stupid I was, and that we are all equal. Wasn’t easy getting past all of that ‘crap’ old sensei put in my head but with Nathan, I finally did.”

“And for that I am proud of my daughter.” Kori was proud, she remembered how Gale had such a warped opinion about the Chinese and Koreans and other races. Even hating her self as at the time, believing she was just a gaijen and not knowing she was, in fact, Japanese. She had over come so much, taken responsibility for her actions and even risking her life, and more, to help save her friend Alex.

“Proud? Of me?” Gale asks while she points at her nose. Kori nods and answers with a single word, “Always.”

Feeling a mixture of happiness that her mother is; there is also an uneasy feeling of what that might mean. “Does mean... you want me to walk the path of... a hero?” her voice sounding hesitant and even already disappointed. “If it is... I will do it.”

Sitting on the bed so she can look eye-to-eye with her daughter, “Walk the path that your heart leads you Akemi, that’s all that one can ask of you. My wish of you is to be happy.” and her eyes lead Gale’s to the box full of cranes while she smiles.

“Honto?” she asks, happy that she does not have walk that path that seemed to only bring pain to her and those she loved and that she could pursue her music. She embraces her mother, holding tight to her. “When I was growing up....” she smirks, “listen to me fifteen and talking like I am and old lady of thirty.” Kori raises an eyebrow at that as Gale continues. “I never had someone that didn’t want something of me, from me or used me… until you.”

Kori holds tight to her daughter, a daughter that has changed her life as well, opened her up to a new life, a new perspective and outlook and new possibilities. “And when I was growing up I thought I could never have someone like you.”

Giggling at the thought of what her mother would have envisioned, “Oh, I am so sure of that! I am sure you saw a proper daughter and all…” Kori starts to poke and tickle her, Oh really?” Laughing and squirming in her mother’s tickle assault, “Yes one that was all manners and polite and proper and didn’t have piercings!” the last words said in a shrill shriek of laughter.

Stopping her tickling so she can look seriously, yet gently to her daughter, “I wished for a daughter that smiled and loved herself as much as she loves others, whose heart was kind and giving and whom I was proud to call my own. I still ask Buddha to this day what I did right in my lifetime to have been given such a gift as you.”

Her eyes and lips go from a smile to sadness as she looks down and away from her mother. “You don't have to make that up Kori-mama for my benefit. No one prays such a thing when they got pregnant the way you did.”

Kori lifts Gales chin and kisses her cheek, “My heart doesn't lie Akemi. I have known more wrong in my life than most will ever know, both at my hand and at the hands of others.”

“I did not mean to say you are a liar... but that you... form your words to be sweeter than the truth. I know, Kori-mama and I am the product of a great wrong and evil.” Sighing she lays her head on her mother’s shoulder, “It took me a long time not to hate myself but I still have doubts.”

She lays her hand gently on Gale’s head, holding her as she wished she could have when she but a baby. “To have you in my life after my mistakes, to have been given another chance to make you proud of me is a debt I can never repay.”

“Debt? Kori-mama... you see me as a... debt?” pulling back gently to see her mother’s face. “Yes, to the spirits and fate for guiding me back to you.” she replies as she touches her daughter’s face. He eyes show the truth of her words and poor forth love for the young girl looking back at her.

“You owe me nothing.” Gale sniffs as tears begin to well and she wipes at her nose with the flat of her hand. “I have dreamed of you... longed for you. For me it is I that should be indebted. What more could I ask that the woman I wanted for my sensei, my senpai... is my mother.”

Kori looks down for a moment, feeling her own doubts, her own guilts in the face of a daughter that loved her so much. That looked past everything and only wished to be love her and be loved in returned. Her eyes come up and she looks in her daughters eyes. “Then we forgive ourselves and release our pain during Obon.”

Gale searches her mother’s face then slowly smiles, “mm... hai at Obon. Oh… one more question please?” Kori nods and gale’s face breaks out into a mischievous grin, “Will Diana dance?” and Kori laughs, “I make her every year.” They laugh together and embrace again, letting themselves just ‘be’ with each other for the moment then Gale whispers, I love you… I have always loved you.”

“Kokoro no sokokara aishiteru (I love you from the bottom of my heart)” Kori whispers back and again they just hold each other.

“The difference between sex and death is that with death you can do it alone and no one is going to make fun of you.” - Woody Allen

Sprawled naked on his bed, Nix sleeps mumbling, “Naughty... naughty… little bird.” as he smiles stupidly.

Back in Kori’s room the two finally separate as Gale tell her mother she should go check on Nathan. Kori smiles and nods, “I will be here for a few more days while the building is being remodeled.”

“Or at Chance-papa’s.” Gale giggles and kisses her mother’s cheek, then she seems something she has never seen before, her mother blushing which only makes her giggle more. Kori stands and turns her daughter, giving her a playful slap to her bottom ushering her out. “Hush up, and get some sleep.”

Nix, having a wet dream, shuffles and moves his bed blanket around him mumbling, “Oh hell... that's just...” and his breath becomes heavy.

Gale suddenly stops giggling and grabs hold of the doorframe, turning she looks to her mother, “Kori-mama… something is wrong.

Kori raises a inquisitive eyebrow, “What is it?”

“I don’t know. I feel… funny, like... my skin is flushed and…” her breathing becomes heavy then she stiffens and her eyes blink. Kori comes to her, whispering having begun the kuji-kiri for Sha (healing), then touches Gale. Gale can feel healing energy enter her but it does nothing to stem what, unbeknownst to her is Nix’s feelings during his dream.

Her face turns red, “I... gotta... aer... go now…” and her hands cover the lower part of her kimono.

Nix rolls in the bed and excitement is everywhere, then rolls around again still sleeping, “Oh yeah, that's the spot.” Images floating in his head of Gale.

“I... I don't... er…” her body stiffens again and her eyes roll back, “OH GOD!”

Kori shifts to the kuji-kiri for Jin (Knowing the thoughts of others) and has an odd look on her face and then her eyes narrow as she looks at Gale's symptoms and checks her pulse. She then easily picks Gale up and begins to carry her to her room, now aware of what is happening.

Nix rolls and moves and hands grabs the sheets pulling them and body stretches, head jerks back and...


Already breathing hard, flushed and sweating her body suddenly stiffens, locks and shakes, “OhhhHHHHhh!!!!”

With his climax, Nix falls off the bed. “WAAA! OUCH! What the F… ?” exclaiming as he wakes up abruptly.

Kori lays Gale down on her bed and tucks her in, as gale swallows hard and hides her face in the pillow, embarrassedly repeating, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Kori kisses her daughter’s head and smiles shaking her head and then walks out of the room.

“The hell was that...?” Nix wonders as he massages his butt, “what am I doing on the floor?” then looking down at himself, “Oh hey there...” Just then, Kori walks in and over to Nix, pours a large cup of cold water on him, and he howls. Then she looks at him, shaking her head, before walking out without a word.

“What the…?” he exclaims as he gets up and stands there dumbfounded, “... I swear I don't get that family!”