Ormheim: ODD's Obsessions

Cat Proofing Interior Doors

droiche — Tue, 06 May 2025 00:46:51 GMT

Fearless Silly Sally has learned how to open some of our interior doors. Here are some of the methods I use to defeat her.

Bathroom sink cabinet with child safety lock looped through the door handles like a U-lock. Small long shackled padlocks also work. The doors aren't secured as tight as I prefer but secured enough to keep FS Sally out of the cabinet.

More to come...

Today We Say Goodbye to Mighty Minnie

droiche — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 04:05:07 GMT

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gypsy & Minnie (@gypsy.and.minnie)

Farewell, Mighty Minnie. Your light will shine forever because you will always be loved and remembered and you are a beacon of hope and kindness for those who are different. You proved that all animals want to live in spite of disabilities or illness. Peace be with you on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

😔💔

🐈🌈🕊️🕯️🌟✨🌌

Today We Say Goodbye To Chris Arsenault And 158 Kitties At The Happy Cat Sanctuary 😔

droiche — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 23:34:58 GMT

Memorial image courtesy of Loving Paws, Inc
https://www.facebook.com/LovingPawsInc

Chris Arsenault was killed by the 31 March 2025 fire at Happy Cat Sanctuary in Long Island, New York while trying to save the cats. Around 100 cats are believed to have also perished in the fire. Many animal rescuers have stepped up to rescue the surviving cats. Farewell, Chris and kitties. Your lights will shine forever because you are loved, remembered, and your kindness made a difference in a harsh universe. Peace be with you on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

🌈🕊️🕯️✨
😔
🐈🐈‍⬛
💖☮️

Happy Cat Sanctuary Links

official website
https://www.happycatsanctuary.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Happycatsanctuaryinc

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/happycatsanctuary

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/@happycatsanctuary

Update: According to local news reports from Long Island, 108 cats were found deceased above ground at the sanctuary or died a few days after the fire, 180-200 were found alive and are being treated and cared for by local animal rescuers, 50 more cats were found dead in the basement on 7 April 2025, and approximately 60 other cats are missing and may be hiding in distress in the surrounding area. The search continues for the cats that may still be alive nearby. The total number of cats Mr Arsenault was trying to care for at the sanctuary is not yet known. The fire marshall has ruled out arson as the cause of the fire.

Fearless Silly Sally & Me

droiche — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 01:37:21 GMT

Yeah. There really is a woman caring for these three moggies. I generally loathe posting photos of myself publicly. This one only exists because I needed a profile pic for my PayPal. Obviously, that's Fearless Silly Sally with me and she was not any more enthusiastic about being a meowdel than I was. Photo date: October 2024.

Please Be Patient

droiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 22:22:52 GMT

I don't have high speed internet so it's a struggle to do anything online. LiveJournal takes several minutes to load with my dialup era slow mobile data and the LJ app doesn't offer enough of the features I require. 😤

Today We Say Goodbye To YseraTok 😿

droiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:35:57 GMT

YseraTok
7 December 2021-20 January 2024
😔
🐈🌈🕊️🕯️🌟✨💖☮️

Announcement from Ysera's hoomdad Charlie this morning at Ysera's Bakery (Discord public community):

Links to Ysera's online presence. I don't use TikTok, but it's on her Link Tree.:

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/yseratok1207/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556653312055

Link Tree
https://linktr.ee/yseratok

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/@YseraTok

Farewell, Brave Ysera! Your spirit light will always shine forever because you will always be loved and remembered. You were a gift to the world that can not be replaced. You showed us that special needs animals deserve love too and a chance to have a good life no matter how short that life is. Good night, Ysera. You will have an eternity of Good Mornings on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. Run free with Freya's cats. You are a shining star that guides our way. 🐈🌈🕊️🕯️🌟✨💖☮️

Halloween Cats

droiche — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 09:11:06 GMT

Fearless Silly Sally and Nomad on Halloween 2024. They didn't wear the outfits for more than a few minutes.

Fearless Silly Sally

Nomad

First Shared Tongue Baff

droiche — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:39:03 GMT

This is the first time Fearless Silly Sally and Nomad have allogroomed each other. Unfortunately, I missed recording the beginning of the session. Fearless Silly Sally initiated the mutual tongue baff by licking Nomad's forehead.

Meet The Grrls: Fearless Silly Sally

droiche — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 07:13:06 GMT

December 2023

October 2024

Name: Fearless Silly Sally
Breed: Short Haired Moggie
Color: Grey Mackerel Tabby
Born: Probably in late June 2023
Notes: Sally is the youngest and most reckless.

Meet The Grrls: Gizmo

droiche — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 09:00:50 GMT

May 2021

February 2024

Easter 2024

Name: Gizmo
Breed: Fluffy Moggie
Color: Grey classic tabby
Born: Probably in May 2016
Notes: Gizmo is Nomad's older litter sister.

Meet The Grrls: Nomad

droiche — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 19:31:21 GMT

May 2021

February 2024

February 2024

Name: Nomad
Breed: Fluffy Moggie
Color: Grey ticked tabby
Born: Probably in May 2016
Notes: Younger litter sister of Gizmo

Meta Can Kiss My A$$

droiche — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 23:50:07 GMT

Meta is pissing me off with it's arbitary censorship and security measures that lock users out of our own accounts, but do nothing to stop scammers, content & account thieves, trolls, and the like. Live Journal is mostly dead and was never that great, but it wasn't as glitchy and full of 🐂💩 as Facebook and Instagram. So I guess I will be giving LJ another go until they piss me off too. It's not like I ever wanted to be famous or popular. I just want to share stuff with my friends and family. I will miss interacting with my favorite public animal pages and supporting animal rescue organisations though.

Edit: Apparently I can share some posts from Instagram and Facebook so I guess I can support animal rescue organisations that way.

You Have Been Warned!

droiche — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:59:30 GMT

droiche — Thu, 10 May 2007 07:11:43 GMT

I return you now to your regularly scheduled programming.

Chasing The Sun - Act 17

droiche — Wed, 09 May 2007 23:58:15 GMT

"John, I'm only dancing.
(She turns me on.) I'm only dancing.
(She turns me on.) Ooh, but she moves me.
Don't get me wrong.
I'm only dancing, wooh-wooh."
- David Bowie, "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)"

Chang 'An, Walpurgisnacht

      On April 30, it rained all day which put Genjyo in an unusually crankier mood. We could not go outdoors, so Genjyo and I played gin rummy all morning. I wanted to learn to play riichi mahjong, but there were never four of us free at the same time. I knew how to play the Chinese classical and Hong Kong versions of the game a little, and I wanted to participate sometimes when the guys played mahjong. After lunch, Genjyo returned to Keiun Palace to check on Goku and take care of temple business. That afternoon, Hakkai showed up for my Chinese lessons as usual. The rain continued until supper time so Hakkai and I went to the inn's library to do our lessons. Gena came to the library to announce that supper was ready. I was invited to eat with the inn's staff in the dining room. Hakkai left then because he and Gojyo were going out that night to the bar on the top floor of the Hotel Chang 'An. He said he would have invited me to go with them but he did not think Genjyo would approve.
      The rain finally stopped at nightfall. Depressed and bored, I hung out with Grimmy in my room after supper. Genjyo had not returned so I sat down at the table to play spider solitaire. I had finished laying out the first hand when someone knocked on my door.
      Thinking it was probably Gena (Genjyo never bothered to knock. He would always simply come and go as he pleased.), I opened the door. Gojyo was leaning on the frame - wearing a fuschia satin shirt that was mostly unbuttoned and tight black jeans. "Put on something pretty. I'm taking you out tonight," he said with a mischievous gleam in his scarlet eyes. "Aww. What the hell," I said aloud and invited him inside to wait while I fetched my backpack and went into the bathroom to change. I put on a red velvet cocktail dress and a little makeup. I combed out my hair but decided to leave it loose. When I was ready, Gojyo escorted Grimmy and me downstairs.
      Hakkai was waiting in the lobby - chatting with Mrs Browning. We went outside where Hakuryu was parked in his jeep form. I sat in the front with Hakkai, and Grimmy and Gojyo piled into the back. Hakkai drove northwest to the Hotel Chang 'An which was a few blocks from the medical university.
      At the hotel, we took the elevator to the top floor. The bar was already crowded when we arrived. We found a table near the dance floor and sat down. Hakuryu perched on Hakkai's shoulder. Grimmy plopped down on the floor under the table. A waitress came over and took our orders. Gojyo ordered a bottle of baijiu - a hard rice liqueur equivalent to vodka - for us all to share. I could not drink the baiju so I ordered a fuzzy navel and a bowl of water for Grimmy. We sat around the table drinking, chatting, and smoking for about an hour.
      I was on my second drink when the band started playing a slow song. Several couples wandered to the dance floor. I watched them. Gojyo watched me watching the dancers and grinned.
      "Wanna dance with me?" Gojyo asked and held out his hand.
      "Sure. Why not?" I said and accepted his invitation.
      The band had just started another slow song. I put my arms around Gojyo's shoulders and rested my cheek on his chest. He put his arms around me with his hands on my back and my hair hanging over his fingers.
      We must have been swaying to the song for about a minute when Gojyo looked back at our table and whispered, "You know this must really burn Sanzo's ass."
      "Huh? I doubt he really cares what I do," I said and shrugged.
      "I dunno. He looks pretty pissed to me," Gojyo said.
      "What?!" I squawked and looked back at our table too. As I had expected, there was Hakkai with Hakuryu and Grimmy. Unexpectedly however, now there was also Genjyo striding across the dance floor toward us - furious enough to melt steel. I saw he had changed out of his robes and was now wearing a filmy, black, silk shirt that was fully unbuttoned and tight blue jeans.
      "Oh boy. Here it comes," I remarked. Before I could say anything else, Genjyo left hooked Gojyo on the jaw hard enough to raise a bruise instantly.
      "Ow! What the hell was that for?" Gojyo barked. "If you wanted to cut in, all you had to do was ask." Gojyo rubbed his jaw. The bruise was rapidly turning from bright red to to dark red to purple.
      "I told you never to touch my..." Genjyo growled at Gojyo then trailed off as if he realized what he had almost said.
      "Your what?" I snapped. I crossed my arms across my breasts and glared at Genjyo. I had just about had enough of being kept in the dark.
      "Go on. Tell her," Gojyo sneered.
      "My wife!" Genjyo snarled at him.
      "That's right. Your wife. Maybe if you treated her more like your wife and not some expensive painting you hang on a wall...," Gojyo started to say. Genjyo's face flushed at Gojyo's words. Before Gojyo could finish the sentence, Genjyo raised his fist to punch him again.
      "Knock it off," I hissed and slapped Genjyo across the cheek with the palm of my hand. "This is the stupidest thing I've ever seen."
      By this time, Hakkai was headed across the dance floor to intervene. Fed up with Genjyo behaving like a junk yard dog snarling over a bone, I turned and stomped back to the table. I plopped down in my chair and put my elbows on the table with my face buried in my hands. I was so mad I wanted to cry. Grimmy shoved his head in my lap and whined. I looked down at the dog and scratched his ears. I wished I had some money of my own so I could go ask the bartender to call a cab for me.
      "Oh. Fuck it!" I muttered. "Come on Grimmy. Let's go for a walk outside." We were halfway to the door when Genjyo caught up with us. He grabbed my shoulder and spun me around to face him.
      "Don't you dare walk out on me," he snapped. Through his lowered lashes, his violet eyes sparkled like amethyst with a candle flame shining through it.
     "Why didn't you guys tell me?" I asked through gritted teeth. He flinched and stared down at the floor. "Never mind. I'm out of here. Let's go, Grimmy." I shook Genjyo off and walked out of the bar. I did not care if Genjyo followed us.
      Grimmy and I had already boarded the elevator when Genjyo grabbed the sliding door and shoved it open. He entered the elevator and punched the "close door" and the "halt elevator" buttons. Then he shoved me back against the elavator's wall. My legs turned to water. I grabbed his shirt to keep from falling. I was sure he was going to hit me. Instead, he twined my hair around his fingers and kissed me hard on the mouth - taking my breath away.

Notes and Comments Section

Act 16

Table of Contents

Act 18

Chasing The Sun - Act 16

droiche — Wed, 09 May 2007 23:56:30 GMT

"He had a ring around his finger
And something burning in his hand.
And I wanted him to teach me
And I needed to believe."
- The Alan Parsons Project, "Freudiana"

Chang 'An, April 17-April 29

      Over the next two weeks, Genjyo continued his efforts to teach me t'ai chi and archery. Never having been an athletic person, I was a terribly slow learner of both. Genjyo would often become decidely annoyed with my snail-like progress, but I realized over time that he really did have the patience of a moutain. "Nothing is ever mastered in a hurry," he told me. It dawned on me that this was Koumyou's infinite wisdom rubbing off on him. I felt like the tortoise in Aesop's "Tortoise and the Hare" fable. "Slow and steady wins the race," I told myself. Still, my self confidence remained at an all time low. I recalled my friend Bryan telling me that it takes thirty years or more to master t'ai chi. I did not have thirty years. I had two weeks at best. The peaches on the tree at Keiun Palace were fast becoming ripe enough for Goku to steal, and that meant that our destiny was looming on the horizon like the approach of Hurricane Katrina in the week before it annihilated New Orleans. I did not know for sure how much Genjyo knew about the quest ahead of us, but I suspected that he was also worried that time was growing too short for comfort. So we spent every morning trying to cram as much work as we could into the hours between dawn and noon.
      Every day after lunch, Hakkai came to teach me Chinese. He and Gojyo had been excused from running errands for the temple. He brought several good text books to work from, but as my German professor had said, the best way to learn a culture and its language is to live it. So Hakkai frequently took me on field trips around Chang 'An. We visited museums, archeological sites, theatres, opera houses - just about everything Chang 'An had to offer. We practiced every time he took me shopping. Hakkai often brought me magazines and newspapers to practice my reading with. I learned that I was a "laowai" or "old outsider" - meaning that I was a foreigner. I picked up many other useful everyday words and phrases, but I was far from being fluent in Mandarin Chinese. My academic prowess could be stellar, but Chinese is far more complicated than either French or German. For one thing, there are no cognates to English from which I could guess the gist of a word or phrase's meaning. Chinese slang completely defeated me. I gained an empathy for the Japanese students I had known who had come to America to learn English. All too often, I felt like an idiot when trying to talk to people on the street without Hakkai, Genjyo, or Goku handy to help me. My calligraphy was naturally atrocious. If something needed to be written in Chinese, it was always Genjyo or Hakkai who did the writing. I was allowed to sign my name to various forms, but one or the other of them would have to co-sign too. Typically, this would be Genjyo doing the co-signing.
      Genjyo would sometimes stay the night at the inn, but all of his afternoons and most of his evenings were spent at the temple performing the duties of a sanzo priest. Whether he wanted to or not, he had to fulfill his responsibilities to both me and Shangri-lah. I worried that the heavy burden was too much for him, and told him he could rant to me all he wanted. I wished I could do more to help him. We often talked well into the night, but he continued to be reticent about truly sensitive matters - including the exact nature of our relationship. My curiostiy was raging like a forest fire, but I was wise enough not to push him. On the nights it rained, I was always left alone with just Grimmy for company. I understood that the rain troubled Genjyo, but he would not tell me why. I wished he would tell me more about Koumyou, but I figured he would tell me everything when he felt the time was right.
      Goku visited often, but with all of us being so busy, he was frequently left at the temple to fend for himself. I worried that Goku would inadvertantly get himself into trouble, but as Genjyo did not trust him being left alone with Gojyo very long, Goku was forced to mind himself on his own. I offered to let Goku borrow Grimmy, but Genjyo said that the monks at the temple would probably blow a gasket if both Goku and the big dog were found wandering around Keiun Palace unattended.
      I assumed that Gojyo found his own way to stay occupied. I did not dare ask about Gojyo's absence from my presence because Genjyo's hackles would instantly rise at the mention of his name, and Hakkai would always deftly change the subject. Asking Goku was pointless because the boy would obviously be the last person in the world to be informed about "adult affairs". I suspected that Genjyo had demanded that Gojyo never be allowed to have anything to do with me. I did not know exactly why, but Genjyo always behaved like a jealous husband whenever Gojyo was mentioned. I could not for the life of me understand what the fuss was about. It was not like Gojyo could be any more interested in me than Genjyo himself was, and I knew from decades of experience that Genjyo probably did not really want me. Whatever relationship we had was brought about by outside forces. We got along because there were no other options for us. Thus, I was confused whenever Genjyo touched me or looked at me with an odd expression in his violet eyes that seemed like longing or desire. He was undeniably attractive, but I knew better than to hope for anything real. I had been burned too often to follow that road to hell.
      Greta finished my dress in the last week of April and brought it to me. The underdress was of burgundy silk with white Brussels lace trumpeting the elbow-length sleeve in three layers. The bottom edge of this lace reached all the way to my wrist in a wide arc. The underdress's neckline curved in a shallow arc low enough to be elegant but high enough to be discreet. More lace lined the edge of the neckline and bunched in the center of the bodice in a wide frilly fan with a diamond brooch fastened at the top. The skirt was gathered under my breasts. The skirt's hem fell all the way to the top of my feet and was lined with another layer of lace. The black velvet pinafore was similar to a large apron and tied in the back with black silk ribbons. There were orange roses and a dragon embroidered all over the pinafore. The dragon was similar to the viking dragons but had a pearl colored body with peacock colored feathered wings. The dragon's head covered the chest area of the pinafore and faced outward in a snarl much like that of the Chinese dragons that decorated the emperor's robes. The dragon's lynx-like ears canted sideways. Its body and tail coiled around the skirt of the pinafore so that the tip of the tail ended in the front below the dragon's chin. There were red, orange, and violet roses mingled with Hessian designs embroidered on the shoulder straps and the band around the pinafore's hem. There was also a white Brussels lace veil. I asked Greta about the veil, but all she said was that Genjyo had commissioned that too.
      So I spent my days learning how to cope with life in Shangri-lah, and spent my nights nursing my bruises and my delicate pride - waiting for the end of April, the beginning of May, and whatever the west wind carried.

Notes and Comments Section

Act 15

Table of Contents

Act 17

Chasing The Sun - Act 15

droiche — Tue, 08 May 2007 08:29:26 GMT

"On the wild and misty hillside,
Fear is nature's warning.
Hunger here is never far away.
And all of this world
Is for children who play."

- Miriam Stockley, "Perfect Day"

Chang 'An, Ostara and Easter Sunday

      After Ullr and the bear had left, Genjyo retrieved the horse and harnessed it to the carriage while I packed up the remains of our picnic. Grimmy jumped into the carriage and waited for us. I held the Maten Sutra for Genjyo while he put his undershirt back on. He tucked the gun back in his jeans at the small of his back, then put his fingerless gloves on the back seat with his robes and Grimmy. The sutra vibrated in my hand like a purring cat. Genjyo took the sutra and stashed it under the driver's seat, then helped me to climb up there. He climbed in and started the horse back to the road at a steady walk. The full moon was high in the sky now, but it was too dark for the horse to pull the carriage faster. Once we reached the road, he flicked the reins. The horse took off at a fast trot. The moon was halfway to its zenith when we reached Chang 'An proper. We returned the horse and carriage to the livery stable Genjyo had leased them from. The stable was just a few blocks from the Red Lion Inn so we walked there. Genjyo held my hand all the way back to the inn, carrying his robes and the Maten Sutra bundled in his free arm.
      It was midnight when we reached the inn. We quietly slipped inside and hurried up the stairs to my room. I unlocked the door, and Grimmy trotted into my room ahead of Genjyo and me. Genjyo put the bundled robes on the dresser and sat at the table with the rolled sutra beside his elbow. I went into the bathroom to wash my make-up off. While I was in the bathroom, I heard a knock on the door. Then, I heard Genjyo answer it.
      When I came out, Gena was telling him that she had heard us return. She had been waiting for us in the kitchen. Margie had made a supper for two for us, and had told Gena to keep it warm. Gena set the heavy tray on the table then picked up a white taper candle in a brass candlestick. She set the candle in the center of the table and lit it. Then she set out the supper dishes and left.
      I sat down in the chair opposite Genjyo and pulled off my sandals. As I was doing so, I saw that he had kicked off his thong-sandals and pulled off his black socks. Grimmy was happily munching away on the dog food someone (probably Gena) had put in his bowl while we were out. While we ate, Genjyo told me about his plans for the next day - which was Easter Sunday.
      After supper, we stacked the dishes in the wooden tray for Gena to retrieve in the morning. Genjyo wanted to leave the candle lit. I fetched my nightgown and went into the bathroom to change. When I returned, Genjyo had turned off the lamp on the night stand and climbed into the bed wearing only his jeans. The gun and the sutra lay on the night stand within easy reach. Grimmy lay stretched out on the foot of the bed. I put my spectacles on the night stand beside the sutra and walked around the bed to the other side. I climbed into the bed and started to invite Grimmy to scoot up between us when Genjyo whispered hoarsely, "Leave the dog be. Come here." He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me toward him. He lay back on the pillow with one arm covering his eyes and the other wrapped around my waist. I lay down with my cheek resting on his bare chest and my arm wrapped around his waist. He reached down with the hand that had been covering his eyes and pulled my leg over his until my ankle was crooked around one of his shins. Then he laid his arm across my back, and I fell asleep with his arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace.
      The next morning, Genjyo began teaching me archery and t'ai chi. He told me he would teach me swordmanship and kung fu a few weeks later on. While the inn's staff was at the Easter morning mass, Genjyo took Grimmy and me out to the field of wild flowers at the bottom of the inn's garden. He had left his robes in my room and thus was wearing only his jeans and undershirt with the banishing gun tucked at the small of his back again. I brought the bow and arrows Ullr had given me with the Maten Sutra stashed in the bottom of the quiver. Grimmy explored the garden while we started our lessons.
      Naturally, the first archery lesson was a disaster. Genjyo had picked a spot on the wall of the potting shed next to garden's rear wall to use as a target. My first shot went wild - hitting the stone garden wall and bouncing back toward us. The next three shots hit the ground in front of me about ten feet from the shed. Genjyo shook his head with irritation. "I told you so," I said, shrugging. Genjyo sighed and wrapped his arms around me - grasping my hands and the bow - guiding them. He drew my hand with the arrow and bowstring back about an inch from my cheek and told me to use the arrow's shaft as a sightline. Then he told me to let it fly. The arrow bit into the shed wall about a foot below the target. "That's better," he said and retrieved the arrow. We practiced like that for about three hours. None of my shots ever hit the target, but at least now they were hitting the shed wall.
      The sun was at the mid-morning mark, when Genjyo called for a break. We went to the inn's kitchen and ate the breakfast Margie had left on the kitchen's fireplace hearth for us. After breakfast, Genjyo told me I needed a little more self displine and started teaching me t'ai chi.
      We had been working on that for around two more hours when the inn's staff returned from their church. Goku, Hakkai, and a stunningly handsome, tall, thin, young man with blood red hair showed up at the same time. The newcomer was wearing his long hair tied in a ponytail with two strands curving upward like butterfly antennae. As they got closer to Genjyo and me, I saw the young man's eyes were as red as a sunset shining through storm clouds. "I'll bet my last dollar that's Gojyo," I thought playfully. Gena had lead them out to the garden to meet us. Grimmy bounded up to Goku and began licking him on the hands. Goku laughed and tussled with the big dog. Next, Grimmy woofed a greeting to Hakkai - who patted him on the head. Then, Grimmy cocked his head with one ear canted and gave Gojyo a once over. Apparently, he liked what he found because he shoved his muzzle into Gojyo's hands as if demanding to be petted. Gojyo quickly complied with the dog's wish. He kneeled down and scratched the dog's head and ears.
      Once, Grimmy was satisfied, Gojyo stood up. Grimmy trotted to my side and sat down with his tongue lolling. Gojyo spotted me and grinned bright enough to blind someone wearing sunglasses. "Well hello, darlin'," he said with a sultry baritone voice that could melt an iceberg. "This your dog?" I smiled and nodded. "This is Grimmy," I said. "He's beautiful," Gojyo said. "Nicer than our cranky monk too." Genjyo glowered at Gojyo. Gojyo ignored him and proceeded to pick up my hand as if to give it a greeting kiss on the knuckles. Genjyo grabbed my hand and yanked me toward himself - almost making me fall. "Hey!" I squawked. Ignoring my protest, Genjyo wrapped his arms around me with the back of my shoulders flush with his chest. I could feel rage coming off him in waves that reminded me of heatwaves rising from asphalt that had been baking in the late summer sun all day. Over my shoulder, Genjyo snarled, "Gojyo, I told you never too..." Before he was finished, Gojyo threw up his hands in mock surrender and backed off. "I'm just sayin' hello to the lady," he sneered. Right then, Hakkai stepped in and murmered something in Gojyo's ear. Gojyo nodded and went inside the inn. I figured he was probably going in to flirt with Gena and Margie. Hakkai collected Goku and went inside the inn too. Grimmy followed them.
      Genjyo let go of me, but I could tell he was still angry. I turned around and snapped, "Was that really necessary?" He pulled a pack of Marlboros out of his jeans' hip pocket and stood puffing on a cigarette - staring off into space. His chest was still heaving and his hands were shaking - making the cigarette tremble so that sparks flew off into the flowers around us. He closed his eyes and shook his head. Frustrated, I dug a pack cigarettes out of the pocket of my shorts and stuck one in my mouth. I was about to light it, when Genjyo flicked his lighter and lit it for me. I took a drag and exhaled, "Care to explain what that was all about then?" I asked him with my eyes narrowed into flat slits. "No," he said and walked off toward the inn. I sighed, fetched my bow and the quiver with the Maten Sutra still hidden inside it, and followed him.
      I went to my room to put the bow away and found the bathroom door closed. Through the closed door, I heard rushing water. I guessed Genjyo was taking a shower. "Twenty yuan says it's a cold one," I thought and sat on the bed to dismantle the bow.
      I had retrieved the Maten Sutra from the bottom of the quiver and had it lying on the bed beside me when Genjyo came out of the bathroom. His hair was damp. He put on his gloves and robes without speaking. Then he picked up the sutra and threw it over his shoulders. The sutra unrolled with a zing that vibrated the air like a tuning fork and settled into its usual place. Genjyo sat down beside me and hissed into my right ear, "Don't encourage him." I assumed he meant Gojyo and said, "Fine." That seemed to satisfy him. He lay back on the bed with one arm covering his eyes. I finished dismantling the bow and stashed it in my backpack with the quiver fastened to the front of the pack. Then I went to the window and stood leaning on the sill with my head resting on the side frame - gazing out at the garden without really seeing anything.
      A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door to my room. Genjyo got up, and opened the door. It was Hakkai. Genjyo looked around the hallway with obvious irritation then waved Hakkai into the room.
      "What is it?" Genjyo asked.
      "Mister Browning says their church's Easter picnic is about to start," Hakkai said. "Goku and Gojyo want to go. I think it would be fun too."
      Genjyo looked back at me. "I suppose you want to go too," he said curtly.
      I just nodded sadly then looked back out the window. I really doubted that Genjyo would want to go to a crowded park.
      "Fine. We'll go," he said resignedly. "I don't dare let you go without me if Gojyo's going to be there." Genjyo grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room.
      Hakkai lead the way downstairs. I had left Grimmy downstairs to play with Goku. All the way down the stairs, Genjyo held my hand in a grip so tight that it was painful. I refrained from complaining because I discovered that I really did not want him to let go.
      "This is not my idea of a good time you know," Genjyo muttered. "But, at least I can get out of having the monks at the temple bugging me all damn day today."
      "What is your idea of a good time?" I asked. I really did want to know. Genjyo did not answer the question, and I suspected that he probably seldom had a chance to figure that out himself.
      Downstairs, everyone met in the lobby. Margie was holding a brightly painted basket full of dyed eggs. Gojyo was chatting up Gena. She was blushing a little, but seemed to like the attention. We went outside, and the inn's staff piled into a black coach pulled by four bay horses that I assumed belonged to the Brownings. Behind the coach, Hakuryu waited in his jeep form. Hakkai sat behind Hakuryu's steering wheel as usual, but as Gojyo was about to get in the back with Goku and Grimmy, Genjyo glared at him. Gojyo shrugged and got in the front. Genjyo shoved me toward the jeep. I climbed in and sat next to Goku with Grimmy over my feet on the floor. Genjyo climbed in and lay his hand on my left thigh. I wondered if that was meant to discourage Gojyo's shenanigans. Resigned to put up with the guys' weird quarrelling, I curled my fingers around Genjyo's and lay my head on his shoulder.
      The Brownings' coach pulled out, and Hakkai had Hakuryu follow it. We followed the coach northwest past Keiun Palace and The Great Wild Goose Pagoda. The towering pagoda was like a lighthouse to me now. It seemed like a beacon telling me which way was home. I wondered if I would ever see my home again.
      The coach stopped at Laodong Park. There was already a huge crowd there. I wondered how many of these families were parishioners of the Anglican church the Brownings belonged to. We piled out of the jeep, and Hakuryu transformed back into a little white wyvern. He perched on Hakkai's shoulder, and we followed the inn's staff to the picnic grounds. Margie put the basket of eggs on a table with about a dozen other similar baskets. Hakkai also set a carton of eggs there. Apparently, he had managed to convince Goku not to eat them yet. We joined everyone else at the buffet tables and filled our plates. I grabbed a couple of weiners for Grimmy and put them on my plate. I just took small helpings of a few of the foods offered because I was not very hungry despite all the exercise Genjyo and I had gotten that morning and the day before. Goku filled his plate to overflowing and Gojyo teased him about it - saying that there was enough for Goku to come back for seconds, thirds, and tenths. Genjyo glowered at them and put only few scoops on his own plate. Hakkai scooped enough food for himself and Hakuryu.
      We joined the inn's staff at one of the bigger picnic tables. Gojyo zeroed in on Gena, and Goku plopped himself down next to Margie - chattering away to the plump little cook. Margie seemed to enjoy Goku's company and openly encouraged him. Genjyo and I sat down with Hakkai on the opposite side of the table. Genjyo sat on my right - picking at his food, and I gave Grimmy his weiners. It did not take long for Goku and Gojyo to start bickering, and for them to annoy Genjyo - who was already put out about being there anyway.
      "Knock it off, you jerks!" He snapped. I frowned and waited for him to hit them with his harisen. He did not pull the fan out of his sleeve. Goku and Gojyo shut up despite the failure of the fan's appearance.
      I was almost finished with my meal, when a fellow I guessed was the church's head priest stood up and announced it was time to hide the eggs for the children's egg hunt. Gena, Margie, and Goku rushed off to help hide eggs. Gojyo got up and followed Gena. I wanted to join in the fun, but I did not want to leave with Genjyo mad at Gojyo and me. I glanced at Genjyo. "Go," he said and slipped the rest of his plate under the table for Grimmy to eat. "Come on, Sanzo! Hakkai!" Goku shouted. Hakkai chuckled and went to join Goku. Genjyo sighed and stood up. He took my hand and lead me after the others. Grimmy abandoned the now empty plate and raced to join Goku.
      I took a basket of eggs from the woman in charge and went to the area where she told me to hide the eggs. Genjyo followed me as I hid the eggs in places where I knew the smaller children would be able to find them easily. I knew Genjyo was probably bored, but I had not had many chances to have any fun since my arrival in Shangri-lah. I frowned and wished he shared my small joy in this rather silly activity.
      After the eggs were all hidden, we gathered to watch the children go look for them. Goku volunteered to help the smallest children. Some of the kids were about the same ages as my son and my nephew. As I watched them, I felt a sharp pang in my chest. Homesickness washed over me like a tidal wave, and tears slid down my cheek. Gojyo looked at me and frowned. Worry seemed to cloud his scarlet eyes. Genjyo turned toward me, saw the tears, and wrapped his arms around my waist - crushing me to him.
      After the egg hunt was over, the crowd dispersed. Our little group piled into the jeep and followed the Brownings' coach back to the inn. There, Genjyo, Grimmy, and I got out. Genjyo said something to Hakkai that I could not hear. Hakkai nodded and put Hakuryu into to gear. Goku noticed that Genjyo was not going with them and asked, "Aren't you coming back to the temple?" Genjyo shook his head and told him to stay with Hakkai and Gojyo. Goku seemed to be all right with staying with them and started asking Hakkai what they were having for supper. Gojyo teased him about all the eggs, pastries, and candy he had eaten at the picnic, and while they were bickering, Hakkai drove off.
      Genjyo took me up to my room where I threw myself onto the bed and cried until there were no more tears to shed. He lay down beside me and rested his hand on my hip until I dozed off.

Notes and Comments Section

Act 14

Table of Contents

Act 16

Chasing The Sun - Act 14

droiche — Tue, 08 May 2007 07:53:07 GMT

"And all my days are trances, And all my nightly dreams
Are where thy dark eye glances, And where thy footstep gleams
In what ethereal dances, By what eternal streams."
- The Alan Parsons Project, "To One In Paradise"

Wei River, Ostara

      "Shh. Don't move," Genjyo whispered in my ear. I opened my eyes. The moon had already risen. As Genjyo had said, it was full. Its light cast a silvery glow over the whole meadow and the river. Genjyo let go of my hand and pulled his gun silently out of his jeans. He stretched his arm straight over my shoulder and pointed the barrel in the direction of the river. He switched off the safety and slowly pulled the firing pin back. In front of us, Grimmy crouched with his hackles raised and his ears flattened. His teeth were bared. The moonlight gleamed on his scimitar-like fangs. The dog was not growling so whatever was out there was the sort of danger that required silence. Even the horse had stopped grazing and stood frozen by the river, staring in the same direction Grimmy and Genjyo were. Its ears were also flat, and its hindquarters were bunched as if it were preparing to run. I worried that, if we were attacked, it would be helpless with the hobbles around its forelegs Then I remembered that the hobbles were the kind that would break if the horse bolted. Thank gods for safety precautions.
      I watched the shadows over there too. A band of five youkai wandered out of the trees and started wading across the river. My blood ran cold. I was scared that the youkai would notice us. I shoved my fist in my mouth to keep from squealing aloud. The first three youkai were already across the river, when I heard a rustling from the brush on the other side of the river. "Are there more youkai on that side?" I wondered silently.
      The brush shook violently. Whatever was on that side was big. Maybe too big to be youkai. A branch snapped loudly, and I squirmed. Genjyo brushed his cheek on my shoulder the way a mother cat does when she wants to reassure her kittens. I guessed that Genjyo wanted to let me know he would take care of whatever trouble showed up - whether it was youkai or something even more dangerous.
      As we watched, the youkai on the other bank froze. The two still in the river also stopped dead in their tracks. All five of them had dropped their pointed ears down. Apparently, whatever was coming out of the trees on the far side frightened them as much as it did us. The youkai in the lead backed up, and the two behind him started to head back toward the river.
      Suddenly, the brush parted like the waves of the Red Sea for Moses, and a massive grizzled brown bear sauntered out into the moonlight. It stood on the graveled clearing several yards from the river's bank. I estimated that it was around a ton in weight and decided that it could easily slaughter all five youkai if it wanted to. Even if they tried to run, the youkai were doomed. The youkai probably figured the same thing, but appreared to cast caution to the wind. The first youkai turned around and bolted back across the river. The others followed him. The bear stood its ground and watched them run away.
      Genjyo tensed - prepared to shoot if the youkai ran in our direction. Fortunately for us, the band headed south - away from us. I silently thanked whatever gods were listening that they had not gone back toward the city. Who knows what would have happened to anybody else who was unlucky enough to be out tonight.
      The bear turned its head back toward the trees from which it had emerged. A strikingly handsome man wearing buckskin trousers, shaggy fur boots, and not much else emerged from the trees, carrying a long bow. He had a quiver of arrows strapped to his back. The moonlight shone on his long, braided, blond hair and double-braided beard. "Is that...? Nah. Couldn't be. I'm wide awake. Or am I?" Genjyo's tautly muscled chest pressing against my back felt too real for this to be a dream.
      The man with the bow joined the bear. The man patted the bear's huge shoulder, and together they waded across the river to our side. As they approached us, I saw Grimmy relax. The dog began wagging his tail and trotted up to the man and the bear. "Allo, Grimmy," the man said and patted the dog's head. I was confused. "The hell...?"
      "Who the hell are you?" Genjyo shouted - almost deafening me.
      "I think you know," the man shouted back, grinning.
      "I don't," Genjyo barked.
      "She does," the man replied, nodding toward me.
      "What? Who is he?" Genjyo asked me. His voice voice had a hard edge.
      "I'm not sure," I said shrugging.
      "Oh yeah?" Genjyo snapped.
      "Sorry. I don't remember ever seeing him anywhere before," I said, worried that Genjyo was now annoyed with me too.
      "Don't apologize," Genjyo said to me in a low voice. Then louder he said, "The dog knows you. What do you have to do with her?"
      The man laughed and said, "She's one of mine."
      "Your what?" Genjyo snapped. I wondered why that statement bothered him, but I did not want to get in the middle a quarrel with him and the stranger with the bear.
      "My daughters," the man said and shrugged.
      "What?" Genjyo asked as if confused. Apparently, that was not the answer he was expecting.
      "He's not my biological father," I told him.
      "I figured that out. He doesn't look old enough," Genjyo said.
      "I'm older than you think," the man remarked. "I've been around for centuries. Thor is older than me though."
      That confirmed my suspicions. "This is Ullr," I told Genjyo.
      "Eh?" Genjyo looked down at me.
      I shrugged. "He's the Germanic god of the wilderness," I said.
      "Oh," Genjyo said, switched the safety of the gun back on, and put it down. "Great. Now I have gods from other pantheons bugging me."
      I recalled the Sanbutsushin and felt sympathy for him. Genjyo sat up behind me so I could sit up too. He grasped my hips with his hands and stretched his legs out on either side of me. I wondered why he still held onto me. "Is he jealous or something? Unlikely." Ullr told the bear to stay put, then pulled the quiver of arrows from his back and sat down in front of us in much the same way Odin had done in my dream. Grimmy plopped down beside me, and I stroked his ears.
      "What business do you have with me," I asked the god.
      "I've brought something for you," he said and held out the bow and quiver.
      I took the bow and examined it. The bow was as long as I was tall. It was finely crafted from yew wood and had carved viking dragon heads at either end. The taut string was fastened through their mouths. I noticed the bow had seams where it was designed to be taken apart in five pieces. I guessed the pieces would be small enough to fit in my backpack. I laid the bow across my lap and pulled an arrow out of the quiver. The arrow was about three feet long. Its steel head was narrow, thin, and had razor sharp edges. The shaft was also made from yew wood. This bow was meant to be used for either hunting or war and could also be shot from the back of a horse.
      "What am I supposed to do with this? I asked Ullr.
      "Use it of course.You'll need a weapon," the god said. His azure blue eyes gleamed in the moonlight.
      "What? I can't even budge the string," I said.
      "You can pull this one,"Ullr said. "Try."
      I stood up. Genjyo got up too and hovered behind me, just far enough away to give me room to pull the bowstring. I pulled the string as far back as I could. Surprisingly, it stretched all the way to my shoulder. "Whoah," I remarked aloud, amazed.
      "Good," Ullr said and stood up. "My work is done. See you later." He rejoined the bear and the two if them crossed the river in the direction from which they had come.
      Genjyo looked at me and shook his head. "He's right. You will need to learn how to defend youself."
      I lowered the bow and hung my head. "Yeah. Problem is I'm clumsy, and I can't hit the broadside of a barn."
      Genjyo sighed and said, "I'll teach you."

Notes and Comments Section

Act 13

Table of Contents

Act 15

Chasing The Sun - Act 13

droiche — Tue, 08 May 2007 07:16:50 GMT

Dragon fly! Dragon fly!
Spirit so young, filled with dreams and hopes..."
- Hagalaz' Runedance, "On Wings of Rapture"

Chang 'An and The Wei River, Ostara

      At dawn, I awoke - sensing the presence of someone other than Grimmy in my room. I glanced at Grimmy lying beside me on the bed. He was quiet, so there was obviously no danger. The dog was looking at the window so I turned to see who he was watching. Genjyo was silhouetted in the open window. He was standing with his back to me - watching the rising sun. A breeze caused the drapes to flutter around him. He had folded the top of his robes down over his waist, and the glow from the newborn sun made his black undershirt and fingerless gloves shine like obsidian. The smoke from Genjyo's cigarette drifted out the window in a thin mist. The flowing light formed a brilliant aura around him and shone on his blond hair like a pale gold halo.
      My heart raced like a galloping thoroughbred horse. I grasped the bronze valknot pendant I always wore. "So that's what Shuei was trying to describe all those years ago," I reflected. "If I were Christian I would say he looks like an archangel. Genjyo is wonderfully eldritch. He would give Oberon or Jereth a run for their money."
      Quietly, I slipped out of bed, grabbed my backpack, and went into the bathroom to take a shower. After my shower, I got dressed. I decided not to bother wearing a bra. I put on a velvet, burgundy, low-cut, spaghetti-strapped, tank top that buttoned in front - leaving my naval exposed. I had lost a few more inches off my belly. I now had a 38 inch waist and wanted to show it off. Next, I put on a hip hugging, ankle length, florescent orange skirt. The swallowtail division at the back of my tank top allowed the top of my burgundy thong underwear to peek over the back of my skirt. I pulled on my sandals. I brushed a little bit of purple, blue, and green eyeshadow on my upper eyelids then dabbed my lips with red lipstick. I sprayed a rose scented body mist all over myself, then I grabbed my tortoiseshell comb and went into the main room to comb my still damp hair.
      "Morning, Sunshine," I said blithely and sat on the end of the bed. I figured Genjyo would probably not be sure if I was talking to him or Grimmy. My fingers trembled, but I was determined to keep going come Helheim or high water. As I combed my hair, I watched Genjyo. Grimmy was standing beside Genjyo with his front paws on the window sill. Genjyo was stroking the big dog's ears absently as if his thoughts were a million miles away. I wondered what was up.
      I was just about to tie my hair in a pony tail with my scarf when Genjyo turned around. He grabbed the scarf and told me to sit in one of the chairs next to the table. "Sit up straight," he ordered. I felt like a student being chastized by a teacher, but I kept my big mouth shut in favor of letting him do whatever it was he was planning to do. He deftly gathered up my hair and swiftly tied it in a perfect "I Dream of Genie" top knot. "There. Now it's neater than if you had tied it yourself," He said, then he set the ash tray in the middle of the table and sat down in the other chair.
      "OK. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" I asked him, lighting one of my Turkish Jades. I took a drag and exhaled while I waited for his response. Grimmy lay under the table with his head resting on Genjyo's thong-sandaled feet.
      "Your test results came back from the lab yesterday," he said, lighting another Marlboro Red. "They were all normal. You're clean."
      "Well duh, George!" I thought and bit back the urge to snap, "And you? Are you clean too?" I knew he was still a virgin, but I also knew the question would burn him. Instead, I said, "Of course."
      "Today is the first day of the full moon," he said as he crushed the stub of his cigarette in the ash tray. "I thought I should take you on a picnic." "It's Ostara today," I recalled.
      "Ah," I said, my curiosity flaming like a bonfire. "Will Goku be coming?"
      "No. I sent him to visit Hakkai and Gojyo. They're dyeing eggs for Easter," he said. I was amused by the mental picture of Goku gobbling the boiled eggs and Hakkai's frustration with Goku and Gojyo bickering over there not being enough eggs left to dye.
      "There's a pretty spot on the bank of the Wei River I want to show you," he said and stood up. He slipped the top part of his robes back up. Then he flipped the Maten Sutra around his shoulders and stood with his elbow crooked at his waist for me to put my arm through. I summoned Grimmy, and we went downstairs.
      Margie was waiting at the clerk's counter with Mister Browning. Margie handed a wicker picnic basket with a red and white checked blanket folded on the lid to Genjyo. He took the basket with his free hand, and we headed outside. There was an elegant little carriage drawn by a dapple gray coach horse waiting at the curb. I guessed Genjyo meant to drive the carriage himself. "He really means for us to be alone today, except for Grimmy," I thought with surprise. Grimmy hopped onto the back seat and sat waiting for us. Genjyo helped me up onto the driver's seat then climbed up himself and took the reins. "Whoah, Nellie!" I thought.
      Genjyo flipped the reins expertly, and the horse pulled us away from the inn at a smart trot. We went north past Keiun Palace and The Great Wild Goose Pagoda, then turned west and headed out of Chang 'An. "I sure get to see a lot of southwest Chang 'an," I thought as we passed now familiar landmarks. As we crossed the flood plain west of the city, we passed many fields, orchards, and rice paddies. I noticed the peaches were almost ripe. The grains and rapeseed were almost as tall as Goku now. The rapeseed fields were still covered in blankets of bright yellow flowers. As we approached the Wei, I saw wild forest land.
      After about an hour, Genjyo turned the carriage off the road, and we drove south near the river's bank for another half hour. Genjyo stopped the carriage in a meadow that gently sloped all way to the edge of the Wei's bank. Grimmy jumped out of the carriage and wandered off to explore the meadow. Genjyo hopped down then helped me out of the carriage. As he did so, he grabbed my waist and gently lifted me down until I was standing firmly on the ground. "Oh me! Oh my!" I thought, "I was right. He really is very strong for such a relatively small man."
      I fetched the picnic basket and spread the blanket on the ground in the shade of a huge tree while Genjyo unharnessed the horse and placed hobbles around its forelegs. He allowed the horse to graze near the river bank. Then he shucked off his robes altogether and put them on the back seat of the carriage, after fishing out his banishing gun - which he tucked into his black jeans at the small of his back. The little silver pistol reminded me that Shangri-lah was a dangerous place. Even with Grimmy present we were vulnerable out here alone. Genjyo rolled up the Maten Sutra and laid it inside the basket. I spread out our lunch and we ate in silence. Grimmy plopped down on the blanket next to me. I gave him the scraps Margie had put in the basket for him. The dog devoured the scraps then got up and wandered around the meadow some more. Genjyo and I watched Grimmy without talking.
      When I finished my lunch, I stood up and followed the dog to the edge of the river. My back was sore from the ride in the carriage, and I wanted to walk the ache off. Genjyo lay on his side, puffing a cigarette and drinking a bottle of Guinness - watching us. I stood on the bank - smoking a cigarette, and watched Grimmy chase flying insects. The river's water sparkled like diamonds in the mid-day sunshine. It was already hot, and I was glad I had decided to wear such sparse clothing. I glanced at the reeds near the river's bank and thought I caught a glimpse of something sparkling blue
      I wandered closer to the reeds. Sure enough, there was a swarm of sapphire blue dragonflies flitting around the reeds. They were just like the dragonflies that lived near the rivers where I grew up in western Colorado. "Look! Dragonflies!" I shouted. Grimmy trotted over to see what I had found. I had just put my hand on Grimmy's head to pat him, when I felt something pressing on the small of my back. I turned to see what it was. Genjyo was standing beside me with his left hand on my back. He had hooked a finger around the top of my thong. He had taken off his undershirt and gloves and stood beside me with his bare chest flush with my shoulder. I glanced into his eyes. There was a spark in his amethyst eyes that I had not seen in a man's eyes in years. I wondered if his interest was real or if he was buzzed from the beer. I turned back to watch the dragonflies because I did not want to hope for more than I should.
      "The dragonflies are breathtaking aren't they?" I squeaked. My voice cracked on the question. "Let him think the dragonflies are what's exciting me." I suddenly recalled the bondage scene from the "Still Time" opening theme of the Gensomaden Saiyuki anime. Genjyo had been wearing jewelry that featured a dragonfly in the center of a net of silver chains across his bare chest. I wondered if that jewelry really existed.
      "Yes. They are beautiful. Come on. You're going to get a sun burn."
      I followed him back to the blanket. He sat down with his legs crossed Indian-style and pulled a bottle of sunscreen from the basket. He handed me the sunscreen which I promptly slathered over all of the exposed parts of my skin.
      "You know you could get a sun burn too," I said, guesturing at him with the sunscreen bottle.
      "Uhuh," he said, nodding.
      "OK. I'll put it on for you," I told him. I kneeled down on the blanket behind him and began rubbing the sunscreen over his bare skin. There were scars all over his back, and I was careful not to snag them with my fingernails in case his skin was still sensitive. He sat rigid as a board plank for a few seconds then relaxed a little. I was rather amazed that he allowed me to touch him at all.
      Grimmy came back and lay on the blanket in the shade of the big tree. The dog quickly fell asleep. "A nap seems like a good idea to me too," I remarked aloud. As if on cue, Genjyo lay back in the shade too and closed his eyes. His lashes brushed his cheeks like tiny black pinfeathers from a peacock's tail. I guessed he assumed the dog would alert us if there was any trouble. Plus, I knew that Genjyo had sharp insincts and lightening quick reflexes. I doubted anything would get past him. I lay on my side with my back to him. I rolled over on my stomach with my legs crooked a little and put my hands under my cheek to make a little cushion. As I was dozing off, Genjyo rolled over and put his arm around my waist, clasped one of my hands in his, and pressed his cheek against my bare shoulder. "You smell good," he said. Then there was silence except for the sound of the breeze fluttering the leaves, the flowing water, and the buzzing of the dragonflies down by the river.

Notes and Comments Section

Act 12

Table of Contents

Act 14