Gods of Thunder
By Tiger (& Raven)

          XXXI-Flowers of Fortune

Ouchou, Odio Koinu, Kijo, Kinu and Kuro Neko were 
worried about Sai Tora...after speaking with the guys, 
they went in to see Tora. They knew that Kitsune was 
with the others. Tora still was unwell, and it showed. 
No wonder Kitsune didn't want her moving around. She 
looked at Koru Neko sadly. "Tora... Will you attept 
another jump thru time?" Ochou asked her worriedly. 
"No..not yet.. I am deeply uncertain about jumping 
thru time again. The strain has almost been too much. 
To lose Kitsune again... I do not know if I could 
handle that again, but yet, if the vision was 
correct... I would have to, just not in this time 
period." "So you know for certain, that you will not 
see him die in this period?" Kijo asked her quietly. 
"Yes. I have not made any decision about what I will 
do.. That would plainly be unwise. I must ask your 
forgiveness, for all that you have gone through on 
account of me." She turned her head, tears spilling 
down her face. "I have caused a lot of grief and pain, 
and I am deeply sorry". She spoke a soft prayer that 
Koru Neko recognized as the invocation of the Goddess 
Of Mercy - Quan Yin! "All of you are Flowers Of 
Fortune..and very good friends to have followed me 
like that. Whatever did I do to deserve such Flowers?" 
"Tora..." She felt a hug. Looking up in surprise, she 
saw her friends gather together and hug her. "promise 
us that you WILL NOT do anything while you are so 
ill... Wait until you are fully healed before coming 
to such a decision." "This I have already promised 
Kitsune and I make you the same promise on my life." 
The girls changed the subject. Soon they had her 
laughing again. Kitsune heard the laughing and came 
in...The girls were about to split, but he called in 
reinforcements. Finally everyone talked and laughed, 
including Taka. The shine was back in her eyes. 
Kitsune smiled.. NOW she really was healing!


                XXXII (by Raven)

Neko realized Kuro Neko had slipped away sometime. He 
did not like her roaming around by herself. This was 
a much different time and place from what she was 
accustomed to. And she had a knack for getting into  
trouble almost as bad as he did. He slipped away 
while no one was looking, not wanting to undo what 
they had accomplished now that they finally had  
Tora laughing again. He carefully searched the 
grounds, finally finding Kuro Neko kneeling at the 
edge of an expanse of sand, an abacus in one hand  
and a stick in the other. She looked up guiltily when 
she heard his footstep, relaxing when she saw it was 
him. "What are you doing?" he asked, looking  
at a series of scrawled numbers in the sand. Kuro 
Neko answered in exasperation, "I think best when I 
can figure and I couldn't bring my laptop so I have to 
find some way to do my calculations." He looked over 
the sand. "So you're writing on the ground." She 
glanced around nervously. "It's a  
Zen garden. They use special rakes and create 
patterns for meditation. I'll smooth it all back out 
when I'm done." He picked up the rake and  
began erasing the figures. "You're done now."  
"Peter!" He corrected, "Neko.  
And I'm beginning to wonder which one of you we need 
to tie down." She sighed and let him help her to her 
feet. "If I can calculate the time jump  
distance and the effect it has on her, I might be able 
to figure out how long until she is recovered and we 
have to really start watching her.  
We need some forewarning." He pulled her away from 
the Zen garden. "We'll be watching and Kitsune won't 
let her go before she's fully recovered."  
Kuro Neko muttered something under her breath and then 
said, "There is no point in helping her recover just 
to have her do another jump and redo it all  
again. I know there has to be some way to calculate 
this." "We have time to observe and figure it out.  
For now, you need to relax too. We all  
do. Now come back with the others or I'll see to it 
you need that little pillow on your backside."

                  XXIII 

Several Months later... 
 
Springtime fell down upon the land.. There had been no 
raiding or war for several seasons and all were 
recovering nicely. The Shogun was content with what 
was. So Kitsune and Tora continued to spend time 
together. Tora had finally begun to recover. She had 
regained her spunk. The others were just as content, 
knowing that Tora wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. 
Tora and Kitsune had just closed their door for the 
evening, when a knowing gleam in his eyes had her 
giving him a knowing look. She bowed to him, and he 
caught her up into his arms. This would be the first 
time...despite appearances to the contrary, they had 
not been together like this in this time period. He 
felt the soft silk and satin of her kimono and smelled 
the scent of lotus flowers on her skin. She felt the 
coarseness of his hair and the warmth of his skin, as 
he held her closer. Mouths softly blended. He reached 
behind her and let her hair down. Her arms slid around 
his neck, pulling him closer. She could feel his 
strength, he, her gentleness. His hands gently ran 
down her back, causing her to shiver, as she did the 
same to him. His hands slid to the belt of her kimono, 
quickly untying it. She did the same, her hands 
trembling. Sliding his hands under her kimono, he 
heard a soft moan as the silken kimonos both slid 
away, to lie in silken puddles on the floor.. He 
stepped back and gazed at her in wonder.. Her eyes 
were emerald fire, his a deep velvet brown. Finally he 
lifted her and carried her to the sleeping mat. Her 
gaze roamed appreciateively over him and he grinned 
even more. He gently poured oil into his hand and 
gently, slowly massaged his way down from her head 
down to her feet, which made her wild. "Shh.. not yet 
beloved.. not nearly yet." She finally got him to lay 
down and slowly doing as he had done, massaged him as 
well. His eyes grew almost black with heat. Tracing a 
pleasure trail carefully, she continued with slow, 
deliberate strokes. He groaned with delight. He 
quickly pulled her down to him. The touch of skin on 
skin damn near undid them both! Her breath caught, as 
he gently nipped at her neck. He growled as she nipped 
his shoulder. Hunger was raging thru both, but he held 
his in check for the moment. A lone candle lit the 
room as the breeze flowed through the window.

Softly stroking her skin, loving her with all his 
heart and soul, he looked deep into her eyes. Warm 
emerald green pools reflected her soul back 
to him.. saying everything that she couldn't. She 
pulled him closer to her. Her skin was electric with 
his touch. Then he leaned down and captured her mouth 
in a soft kiss, as her hands tangled gently in his 
hair. Scalding lips slid down to the base of her 
throat, then to her shoulder. Her hands traced gentle 
circles on his back.. inflaming him more. A soft cry 
slid from her.  She ached, she longed, she wanted 
him with a hunger that she had never felt before. 
Soft cries filled the air. Harsh breathing filled 
the night air, as the fire grew hotter between them. 
A swell of joy filled both rising as would a tidal 
wave. At the moment of completion, Tora screamed 
as light filled her totaly, the music driving anything 
else out of her mind. Kitsune saw and felt the exact 
same thing. Then on the crest of the tidal wave came 
a sudden merging. Both felt the others perceptions. 
Stunned, both collapsed into each others arms. All was 
silent save for the ragged breathing and two hearts that 
beat completely as one. Holding Tora close, Kistune swore 
that this one, he would not let go..to hell with what others 
thought...this one was special in so many ways... That was 
the last thought before sleep overtook them both.

                       XXXIV (by Raven)

Living in Feudal Japan at first had been fun for Neko.  He 
had always loved weapons, and he could work with blades to 
his heart's content here.  If it was just him perhaps he 
would have enjoyed the lengthy stay.  But a few others in 
their group were finding the lack of technology bothersome.  
Esu and Kuro Neko were both felling the effects of lack of 
their computers and devices.  Neko and Hoshi had more than 
once had to remind one of them to cease an attempt to 
create a technology replacement because of the risk it may 
be discovered and alter history.  Hoshi and the others 
could fortunately distract Esu with explorations of the 
various musical instruments.  Which left Neko to handle 
'his geisha'.  Fortunately she was a country girl so he 
could distract her with the gardens and shrubs.  But he 
could not get her to stop worrying about Tora and the 
possibility that the time jumps could do cumulative damage.  
Kuro Neko did not mention her concerns to anyone but Hoshi 
and Neko and probably would not have mentioned it to them 
but it was impossible for her to hide it from Neko and 
Hoshi was always very good at spotting when someone was 
upset even when they hid it well.  They spent many nights 
talking, trying to decide what to do, trying to find ways 
to test if there was any cumulative effect from the time 
jumps.  Everyone seemed to be recovering well, but Tora's 
extreme reaction bothered Koru Neko, who feared there was 
more than just the influenza and emotional distress to 
blame.  Hoshi promised to help watch everyone as did Neko.  
And when Kuro Neko was not around Hoshi and Neko discussed 
Kuro Neko and concerns that there might be effects no one 
knew about. 

                   XXXV (by Raven)

"Something is wrong with Esu."  Kinu's words made Hoshi 
forget the song he had been trying to learn.  He ran to 
Esu's room.  "What's going on?"  Esu sat in the middle of 
the room, Koomori and Taka with him.  Esu looked up and in 
English said, "Paul, where are we?"  Hoshi knelt and in 
Japanese said, "Esu, do you remember coming through the 
Portal?"  Esu frowned and in English asked "Paul, what are 
you saying?"  Koomori looked at Hoshi and in Japanese said 
"He has a touch of fever.  He complained about a headache 
earlier.  He came in to rest and now this."  

Odio Inu suddenly appeared in the doorway.  "Neko sent me 
to find you.  Kuro Neko is sick."  Hoshi nodded.  
"Headache, confused, speaking in English?"  Odio Inu 
nodded, surprised.  "What's it mean?" "Neko, Koru Neko, and 
I were afraid something like this may happen.  We did not 
train as much as Tora did for the time jumps.  The strain 
on our bodies is making us lose touch with the time period 
we're in.  Those closest to technology are evidently the 
most affected.  That was probably why they instinctively 
tried to rebuild some of it.  Trying to adjust their 
thinking to the different time period is getting to be too 
much.  We should not have stayed this long in the past."  
"We can't leave Tora!" Taka protested.  "What are you all 
saying?" Esu asked.  Hoshi sighed.  "We can't expect those 
affected to stay.  And those of us not affected yet should 
take turns staying here.  Taka, you should leave until near 
the time when Tora would be able to time jump again.  I 
will stay as long as I can.  Neko can return with the 
afflicted.  We should not let Esu and Koru Neko travel 
alone, and he would not wish to stay if Koru Neko is ill 
and in another time period.  Any others showing any effects 
should leave too." "This will make it harder to watch 
Tora," Koomori warned.  Hoshi nodded.  "I know.  But it's 
the only thing we can do."  They quickly checked with 
everyone, finding some others also developing the warning 
headache.  All were sorry to see the group broken up but 
knew they had to.  They promised to see each other in their 
home time.  As he left, Neko hoped Tora would keep that 
promise and not force them to come after her.