Gods of Thunder
By Tiger (& Raven)

                XXVI

1800 Japan 
 
Taka, along with Neko, were allowed to see her first. 
Taka reined in his temper... she was still very ill, 
and he understood why Sai Tora had come looking for 
Sai Kitsune. But dammit, he wanted her too! "How is 
she?" Neko asked breaking an eerie silence. "Not 
well.. another jump WILL kill her, if she does not 
take the time to heal. My disappearance, plus the loss 
of our son...did not help matters at all. She needs 
time to heal. Desperation sometimes makes people do 
crazy things." Sai Kitsune answered. Then he looked at 
Taka. "You are the one that would be able to most free 
her in the future. Do not blow it." Taka looked at him 
amazed...Neko nodded in satisfaction. Sai Tora 
apologized to all of them. Taka just hugged her.. 
mindful of Sai Kitsune's warning. Just then the healer 
came within view. Sai Tora whispered something, and 
the healer taught her a prayer in Japanese. Taka and 
Neko left Sai Kitsune with Sai Tora. Neko found Koru 
Neko dressed as a geisha. He grinned. "You look cute 
like that." Raven groaned... "I am gonna bash Tiger's 
skewed head in!" "Naah... Don't... I understand her 
reasoning all too well." he replied 
softly..."besides... we're alone". he purred.


                         XXVII (by Raven)

1800 Japan 
 
"Peter, geishas are not what you think they are," 
Raven warned. "Really?" he asked softly, wrapping his 
arms around her. "A geisha is a performer, an  
entertainer, a companion, not a...Well, she's more 
than a..." It was difficult to concentrate on the 
conversation with Peter purring in her ear and his breath 
tickling her neck. "Are you listening to me?" "Of course," 
he assured her. "You're my companion, for me to protect 
and keep safe."   "We're here to try to get Tiger to come 
to her senses," Raven reminded Peter. "Of course," he agreed. 
"You're not going to go out and play with your sword that can 
cut through a person," she reminded him. "Of course not," 
he assured her, pulling her closer. "What did she have to say?" 
Raven asked. "The healer says another time jump would kill 
her, so she has to rest." Raven gave an exasperated sigh 
and asked "How long?" "Long enough," Peter said with a grin 
and picked her up. "Peter!"  "Neko," he corrected as  
he carried her to the futon. "And you are Kuro Neko 
and we're going to be here for a while and I know exactly 
how my geisha can entertain me."

                    XXVIII

1800 Japan 
 
Taka remained in the room with Kitsune and Tora.. His 
anger grew and he shouted as Kitsune.."I'll  
fight you if I have to, she belongs back with us in 
the future". Kitsune sadly agreed, which shocked 
Taka.. "No, she can't stay here for the rest of her 
life. But she needs rest, and she will not get that 
if we are at odds. We both care about her. Let us 
not harm her by creating strife when she needs peace.  
Let her regain her strength here, and let me have her 
for just a little longer. Do not begrudge her or I a 
few stolen moments." Taka then understood that Kitsune 
did love Tora. He grew quiet, when he saw tears 
sliding down Tora's thin cheeks. "When she loves..." 
Kitsune spoke sadly..."she loves deeply and can love 
only one. That is just her way, Taka. I trust you with 
her." Hoshi came in and shooed Taka out. Tora could 
not stop crying. Kitsune held her tight, knowing that 
between Neko and Hoshi... They would keep eveyrone 
quiet. He called for the healer, who brought a draught 
to him immediately. Sai Hoshi softly reminded her that 
she should rest. He lay on the bed holding her, 
letting her cry out her grief, pain and anguish. "Must 
this end again..."she cried softly..."Ah Tora... 
beloved.. I will be with you always... Death will not 
separate us. This I promise you." She cried herself to 
sleep in his arms as his heart broke along with hers. 
He vowed that she would rest and recover and heal. 
 
 
                    XXIX

1800 Japan 
 
Tora lay asleep in Kitsune's arms, spent from weeping. 
She was healing, but very slowly. Hoshi had just come 
in, and was keeping Kitsune informed of all that was 
going on.. He was deeply worried about Tora. Kitsune 
cleared his throat.. Hoshi looked at him. "she is very 
upset about causing such pain for all of you...Plus 
her own agony. It is tearing her to pieces. Right now, 
she doesn't know which way is up." Hoshi nodded. "Her 
love for you is very strong, stronger than most 
people. What the hell do we do when we get her back?!" 
"Taka is the answer, Hoshi... She knows my mortal body 
is dead in that time. This has happened to her once 
before in the future, long before certain events 
occured.. many years ago. She loved only one other 
person with that kind of love, and when he died, it 
nearly destroyed her. She thought that she would never 
be able to love like that again." "but she did" Hoshi 
said quietly. "Yes" was all Kitsune would say, a 
shadow of pain crossing his face. Tora stirred gently. 
"Twice she has been blessed with that kind of love..." 
Tora opened her eyes. Hoshi took himself out.

                    XXX

1800 Japan 
 
Tora looked into Kitsune's eyes. So warm. She had 
heard the conversation between him and Hoshi. In her 
eyes, he saw that she knew and felt his pain as well 
as hers. He gently gave her a hug. Such a tender heart 
and caring soul. "You must rest, and regain your 
strength." he said softly, rising from the bed.. 
"Stay.." she said softly. He smiled at her, and lay 
back down beside her. He held her close to him. then 
they talked for hours, each baring their souls to the 
other. Neko, Hoshi, Taka and Koomori were guarding the 
door in turns. Taka began to understand the enormous 
problem, not that it was a problem. But they needed to 
be together, and he didn't begrudge them their time 
either. He realized now that Tora had a very caring 
and kind heart to her, disguised with a cool front. He 
also knew he would have to be very strong once Tiger 
was brought back into the future. He had seen first 
hand how deeply loving she really was. Was he strong 
enough to bring her back to the living? 
 
Meanwhile 
 
Tora and Kitsune were talking when a deep feeling of 
premonition overcame her. Her eyes clouded with grief. 
"What is it Beautiful Tora...What is wrong?" "I have 
seen a glimpse of the next jump. and it fills me with 
deep dread." He growled softly... After this, she was 
going back to the... wait a minute.. he could not do 
that to her. "Tell me, beloved, what do you see." She 
told him and he paled...Rightly so. The next time jump 
would take her to 1942, right into the middle of World 
War 2! on top of that.. a pilot?! Oh damn. Unless he 
stopped this after she healed, she would be in the 
danger zone bigtime. But they talked it out finally. 
She admitted that she didn't know what to do, that 
only time and heaing would tell. She promised not to 
make any decisions, until she was healed fully. He 
left and went and talked to the others. "1942... Good 
God!" Koomori exploded, out of earshot. "She promised 
me that she would not consider a move like that until 
she was fully healed, Koomori. Taka... I may have to 
have you drag her back, if she does decide to follow 
me again. Seeing my death would only kill her." 
Everyone was shocked at that statement, as they knew 
Tora did have a sixth sense. "Perhaps Esu or myself 
could talk some sense into her" Odio Inu spoke 
quietly. "One thing I do know for certain" he 
continued. "You have a woman that loves you greatly. 
But she is not suicidal, as one might think. If one 
found the love of a lifetime,not once but twice, would 
you not do the same after all she has been thru?" 
Kitsune nodded... "Yes..I would." "But she will not 
witness my death here, if I have anything to do with 
it!" Whirling, he went back to Tora