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Coutuva.


Yue - Part Five
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	She was tired.  More tired than she had been in as long as
she could remember, and it was just time for the evening meal.
	Her afternoon had been filled with a dizzying exploration
of the city, and she had seen, done, felt, sampled and examined
more than she could possibly remember.  
	Lin had also tried to tell her the Japanese words for 
everything she had encountered, but she found that there were 
simply too many to place.
	It was no wonder her forehead throbbed in a dull ache.
	However, she had also enjoyed the experience far more than
she would have thought possible.  Perhaps, it had been the challenge
of trying so many new things.  Perhaps it had been the fact that she
was feeling more comfort in her new surroundings.  
	Perhaps it was just the fact that she had spent the 
afternoon laughing and giggling like a child, with a very good 
friend at her side.
	She could still feel the euphoria in her body and the glow
on her cheeks -- right along with the soreness an afternoon of 
laughter had caused.
	Knowing it would be a while before Lin would serve their 
dinner, she reached down into her bags and withdrew four balls of 
coloured twine.
	Drawing the leads from each, she began to braid herself a
lanyard.  One had adorned the hilt of her long-lost sword, and its
absence from her new weapon was disconcerting.  
	As well, she hoped it would distract her from thoughts of
the morning's events, which had not been far from her mind all day.
	She had only managed a small amount before the approach of 
a familiar presence interrupted.  Knotting off temporarily, she 
looked up, only to be surprised at who it turned out to be.
	"Nihao, Liang Ju Yue," the black-haired girl greeted
cordially, with a suitable bow.
	She couldn't stop herself from blinking.  The difference in
the girl's comportment was akin to night from day.
	"" she smiled back, dipping her
head.
	"" the girl asked, choosing her
words carefully.  Yue was impressed.
	"" she replied, gesturing
toward a chair adjacent.
	"" the girl smiled, again bowing.  As she
seated herself, Yue set aside her task, intrigued by her guest.  It
was apparent that the girl had invested considerable effort in
refining herself, which was something she could respect.
	""
she opened, gesturing toward the pile.
	"" the girl replied, folding her hands in
her lap -- in a very Kasumi-like manner.  "" she attempted, but apparently couldn't
find the word.
	Yue smiled at her.  Her face was too sore to try laughing
off the girl's difficulty politely, so she opted for diplomacy.
"" she supplied, holding up the
completed section.  "" she continued,
thinking that if she offered a topic, the girl might relax.
	"" the girl nodded, happily.  A
moment later, she drew a long breath, apparently building up to
something.  Yue looked back at her encouragingly, not wanting to
intimidate her by seeming impatient.  
	The girl glanced up briefly, then her face seemed to calm
slightly.  "" she stated, sheepishly.  "" 
she stammered, wrinkling her nose at her mangling of the language.
	"" she smiled back,
speaking slowly.  Her guest seemed to appreciate it, looking as
if she hung upon each word.
	"" the girl
stammered, then, likely without meaning to, looked back at her
searchingly.
	She couldn't stop herself from chuckling, but forced
herself to when she saw the mortified look on her guest's face.
"" she retracted, fighting to school her
features.  "Is easy to do thing not, yes?" she followed, flashing
Lin's famous grin.
	The girl immediately brightened, then chuckled herself.
"Iya...  It really isn't.  I've been trying for two days and
nights," she puffed, shaking her head.  "I'm sorry I'm still not
very good."
	"You okay, Tendou-san.  No self worry.  Lin teach me try,
but still I long way have to go, too," she confessed, shrugging.
She was, however, pleased to note that the girl seemed much more
at ease, now that the conversation had shifted to her language.
	"You're doing a lot better than me.  I just can't seem to
make it work," the girl noted, frowning slightly.  "But I'll keep
trying.  I really want to learn it," she stated, her face
determined.
	"Why?  City Chinese others have?" she asked, wondering
genuinely.
	"Hai.  And I'd like to make you feel more comfortable
than I did this morning.  Oh -- that reminds me!  The reason I 
came to see you is that my family has a training room.  I wanted
to invite you to come over and try it out," the girl responded,
looking back expectantly.
	She smiled.  "Hai!  Like too much I would.  You
fighter?"
	The girl smiled proudly.  "Hai.  I am a Martial Artist -- 
the only one in the family other than my Dad.  He taught me," she
indicated, which brought a certain soft smile to Yue's face.  She
was starting to like her new friend just a little more.
	"Father teach me, too.  Say girls no different boys.  Need
know.  When come you want me?" she asked, looking forward
to the opportunity.
	"How about tomorrow morning?" the girl proposed, happily.
"About ten o'clock?"
	Yue shook her head.  "Good is not.  Lin want show me town
more," she stated, with a slight frown.
	"That's okay.  You can come whenever you have the chance.
Just let me know," the girl replied, smiling.
	This time, she nodded.  "Good!  Sword I bring?"
	"Sure!  I'd love to watch you do your workout, and I'm
sure Kasumi would like to see you again," the girl stated, then
rose from her chair and bowed.  "Arigato...  And I'll see you as
soon as you can come," she smiled, then turned and headed out
the door.
	Yue smiled back as she watched the girl leave, shaking her
head slightly.  It was apparent that this Tendou Akane was trying
very hard to be nice, and in a way she considered it flattering.
However, she could not understand why, particularly in view of
how determined and serious the girl seemed.
	Sighing, she moved her twines back into place and resumed
her task, thinking that she would likely find out soon enough.





	Lin seemed shocked.  ""
the girl repeated, setting down her sticks.
        "" she smiled back, rolling her eyes.
	"" Lin noted, tapping her chin
thoughtfully.
	"" she explained, only to blink at the look Lin
was giving her.
	"" the girl abruptly quipped, snickering.
	"" she smirked back, flicking a
fish cake at the still-sniggering Amazon.  ""
	"" Lin
countered, still snickering.
	Yue narrowed her eyes.  ""
	Lin stopped laughing and smirked.  "" she shot back,
leaning across the table.
	For a long heartbeat, they simply glared at each
other -- until Lin broke out laughing, and Yue joined her.
	In the kitchen, meantime, Mousse leaned on the prep 
counter and frowned, his attention riveted on a certain oblivious
redhead.
	When she'd first introduced herself, he'd had no interest 
in talking to her, much less getting to know her.  Every time he
saw that head of hair, it reminded him yet again of his situation,
and the reason he was in it.
	Now, he'd been told that he had to form a relationship with
her, and eventually marry her.
	The thought still gave him a shudder, even though he knew 
going along with it would restore his tarnished prestige, and let 
him return home with his head held high.  He had to wonder, however, 
if it would ever be worth losing out on marrying Lin.  Even disgraced,
he'd still had a slim chance - very slim, to be sure, but still a 
chance.
	A sad smirk of resignation crossed his face.
	Rising from the counter, he puffed a sigh and returned to 
his duties, brightening as he realized that if it all worked, he'd at 
least have no problem finding willing concubines.




	Yue gathered her twines and partially completed strands
together, too tired to concentrate on the intricate work.  As
Lin was still away assisting the Elder, she decided to submit to 
her body's insistent demand for sleep.
	Rubbing her eyes, she picked up her bags and started for
the passage to the stairs, already envisioning herself snuggled
into her bedding.  As she rounded the corner at the base of the 
stairs, however, her eye caught a movement in the shadows of the 
yard, visible through the open door nearby.
	Hanging the bag on the stair post, she stepped to the door
to determine what she had seen, only to gasp at the sight of Tsu
working on a collection of weapons.
	Licking her drying lips, she checked herself quickly and
started into the yard, not wanting to waste the chance.
	She saw Tsu look up from his work as she approached, then
immediately lower his gaze again.  After a heartbeat's
consideration, she decided the act constituted being 'addressed', 
and moved to a spot about a yard distant, there to simply stand, 
hands enmeshed.
	"" she bowed politely, watching
his face intently -- and crossing her fingers inwardly.
	"" he responded, tightly.  Not what she had
hoped for, but at least he had spoken.  Drawing a breath softly,
she threw caution to the wind.
	"" she ventured, hoping that by
speaking to his interest, she could at least open a conversation.
	To her great relief, he turned and looked up at her.
"" he responded, 
the edge noticeably absent from his voice.
	She had to smile -- for a number of reasons.  "" she followed pleasantly,
fighting the weakness in her knees.  "" she
added, tearing her gaze away from his face to glance at the array
of chains, axes, maces, grapples, shuriken et al displayed before
her.  ""
	Tsu actually smiled at her comments, then cast her a look
she couldn't be sure of.  Just as she was beginning to worry,
however, he lit an almost childlike smile.  ""
	She felt like cheering out loud at the unexpected success
of her gamble, but instead only smiled brightly.  "" she nodded, happily.
	He smiled back -- she felt her heart race.
	"" he indicated, taking one of 
the weapons and placing it within his voluminous sleeve.  As she 
watched in fascination, it occurred to her how his arms -- and 
chest -- had become so muscular.
	After a few moments, he had them all reset, and stood 
smiling with his cuffs together.  "" he 
grinned, excitedly.  "" he continued, 
extending his arm smoothly, and in the same motion launching a 
chain-tethered mace at a distant target.
	Her jaw dropped ungraciously as she watched the weapon
impact the target dead-center, even though the light was fast
dimming around them.  A barely-perceptible twitch of his arm
later, the chain retracted, once again to disappear into his
sleeve.
	""
	"" he bowed, smiling proudly.  ""
	She smiled enthusiastically, then stepped closer to be
clear of the firing line.
	He, meanwhile, nodded and readied himself.  She could
see subtle shifts in his shoulders and arms, even though his
hands did not appear to move under his large cuffs.  
	A moment later, he became a whirlwind of motion, 
launching, retracting and re-launching what seemed like more 
weaponry than had been contained in her Palace armoury.
	Each and every volley found its target, with a great
degree of accuracy and surprising power.  She watched in
appreciative awe, hypnotized as she observed the almost 
unnoticeable changes his face underwent.
	She felt her cheeks heat as she imagined the workings of
his sculptured chest and powerful arms, and moved her hands to
mesh behind her back.  She was finding it ever more difficult to
keep them from confirming what her mind was seeing.
	Finally, he retracted his weapons for the final time, then
moved his cuffs together and smiled, despite breathing slightly
more heavily.  His smile widened as he looked back toward her, 
which in turn sent a pleasant shiver down her back.
	Suddenly, she was glad the dusk was fading.
	""
she commented, bowing slightly to him.  
	She immediately noticed the manner of his belated 
response, as it did not seem to fit with what she had just 
witnessed.
	"" he 
stammered, unconvincingly.
	" she blinked, wondering why he would lie -- especially 
about something most men would boast of.
	He only shook his head.  "" he replied with lowered eyes, the 
timbre of his voice only reinforcing her sense -- and twisting
her heart.
	"" she heard herself 
ask, her hand settling on his arm.
	He shuddered at the contact, then she felt his arm twitch
as if he were going to pull it away -- but he did not.  His eyes
instead met hers, at which he seemed to struggle with his thoughts.
	A moment later, anger crossed his strong features, and 
he turned away amid a sigh of disgust.
	"" 
he blurted, bitterly.
	She started at the remark.  For a moment, her mind reeled,
then abruptly, it came to her.
	"" she breathed aloud, a hand
rising to her face.
	"" he nodded, voice still 
bitter. 
	She had to shake her head breifly.  "" she began, only to suddenly gasp aloud at
the thought that crashed through her mind.
	"" she breathed, the truth of
it ringing strong.
	He gasped aloud at the assertion, face dropping and eyes 
opening wide.  ""
	"" 
she opened, a smile growing as she put it together.  ""
	He gaped back at her for a long moment, his face taking a 
surprised, then throughly pleased expression.  "" he began, then his expression soured.  ""
	She shook her head.  "" she asserted, pleased to see him 
brighten at her words.
	"

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/bay/9295