The Morning After - Call of the Wild #7 tie-in

The Morning After (Call of the Wild #8)

    "You are Liu Xi," Zdenka noted as she passed a Chinese girl with long black hair wearing a brightly colored shirt that was slightly too long over jeans. The girl was significantly shorter and smaller than herself, and she was carrying a small backpack.

    Through her dark hair Liu Xi gave her an almost fearful look with her dark eyes at first, seeming not to recognize her at first. "Hello," she finally said in a heavily accented soft voice, a smile appearing once she figured out who it was. "I'm sorry for being rude, I'm a little distracted. Pleased to meet you."

    Zdenka smiled. "Is okay," she said. "Distracted?"

    "I didn't sleep well," Liu Xi admitted. "I had nightmares. But that's not important."

    "If you are not sleeping it is good to walk around," Zdenka suggested.

    Liu Xi simply nodded. The longer she stared, the more her exhaustion became apparent to Zdenka.

    "From where did you come to this country?" Zdenka asked, curious about her accent.

    "China," Liu Xi replied quickly. "I can show you someday if you wish."

    "Show me?" Zdenka sounded confused. She knew where China was relative to Paradopolis, and even if they took Hatman and his Rockets cap it would take the better part of a day to get there by air. "Is very long trip, no?"

    "Not my way." Liu Xi smiled. "I am an elementalist. I have a special talent for crossing large distances without travel time. I have my own private abandoned beach. Jay has been there."

    "He told me he went to a far away beach with you," Zdenka said. "It confused me, what he said. Now I understand." She laughed.

    Liu Xi gasped suddenly and reached into her backpack. "I almost forgot," she commented as she produced a small, dark rock that looked like a piece of coal only more solid. It was small and sat in the palm of her hand. "Please don't be upset, but I overheard a phrase you used around Jay a couple of times."

    "Phrase?" Zdenka asked, seeming not to understand.

    "You said you were not as powerful because you were far from home." Liu Xi smiled as she held up the rock.

    Zdenka picked up the rock and inspected it. It was dark as coal, but had both the properties of a rock and a crystal. "It is very pretty," she noted. "Is it from my home?" She looked confused again when she remembered what Liu Xi began the introduction with. "Why do you say 'don't be upset'?"

    "It's not just a piece of your home." She smirked at Zdenka. "It is your home. I asked Xander to help me find you a unique gift. He gave me a book that told me how to make this."

    She shook her head with a blank look on her face. "I...not understand."

    "It is called a pocket universe," Liu Xi explained. "I guess the name is funny because it fits in your pocket. It is a plain native crystal from your land that has been given the essence of your land within it. I hoped that wouldn't upset you."

    Zdenka shook her head. "I not understand still." She and nodded after a moment. "No...I think I understand a little. It will not take away the...hole...I feel from missing my home."

    "Of course not." Liu Xi smiled. "But Xander said it may give you a little boost in an emergency."

    "Oh." Zdenka smiled nervously. "I thank you. You are very sweet." She noted again that Liu Xi seemed very tired. "You sleep more now perhaps? We can talk later."

    Liu Xi agreed with a nod as she gave Zdenka a weak smile. "Enjoy your gift. I'm going to take your advice and go back to sleep." She quietly walked down the hall toward her room.

    "Good night," Zdenka bid her as she walked away.

    Zdenka continued walking as she looked at the dark crystal and ended up nearly running into an athletic blonde with eyes that seemed like they couldn't possibly be real. The blonde dodged past her quickly and continued on before realizing that she just walked past someone she'd never seen close up before.

    "Do I know you?" the blonde asked.

    "I am Zdenka Zarazoza."

    "Oh!" the blonde seemed enthusiastic to see her, nearly giving her a ceremonial hug, then almost a handshake, seeming somewhat nervous all the while. "Um...sorry. This is embarrassing, but I'm no good with diplomacy, I'm not sure how to do this."

    Zdenka smiled and gave her a quick hug. "You are Lara Night, yes? Jay told me of a--" she paused when she realized she wasn't sure if the exact wording was polite.

    "A goofy blonde?" Lara asked jokingly.

    "No," Zdenka paused to remember again. "Ener...energetic?"

    "That works too," Lara said with a smile.

    "You won't ask me about last night?" Zdenka asked, expecting that from every other person she met since morning.

    "Why?" Lara asked. "What happened?"

    "You did not hear?" Zdenka asked.

    Lara laughed. "No, I miss most of the gossip around here. I don't actually live here, I just visit from time to time."

    "Oh!" Zdenka sounded relieved both at having cleared up the misunderstanding and at the fact that Lara didn't know what happened the night before. "No...never mind. Nothing happened."

    "Why, did you and Jay sleep together?" Lara finally caught on. "I mean literally," she added when Zdenka seemed disappointed with the first assessment. Zdenka cheered up again after that. "I heard last night that Jay had a date and Dream was taunting Jay this morning when I got here," she explained the basis for her guess, "And I know Jay isn't the one night stand type so..."

    "Yes, we fell asleep together," Zdenka replied cautiously.

    "That's very sweet," Lara said. "I've done that before. It's an excellent bonding experience." She smiled and added, "And you can do that even when you're tired."

    "Yes," Zdenka agreed with a smile. She glanced at her watch for a moment. "Oh...I...I'm sorry, I have to...meet with Hallie and Uhuna."

    "Ah, you're going to be meeting some people," Lara noted. "Good luck. Don't let any of these guys give you trouble."

    "Thank you." Zdenka nodded and started to walk away. "Um...Lara?" she called the blonde back as she turned around.

    "Yes?" Lara stopped and turned around.

    "Can you show me where the door is?" Zdenka asked. "I am very lost, and very late, and I am being stopped to talk a lot."

    Lara laughed slightly. "The same thing happened to me the first time I came here," she said.

    "I'll take you," a small Asian woman promised. She startled Zdenka, not just because of her sudden and silent appearance, but because she carried a sword. Yet she also wore a rather disarming smile and warm glance. "I have an important matter to speak to her about."

    "Okay." Lara nodded and looked at Zdenka. "Chiaki will show you the door. Have fun with Hallie and Uhuna." With that, the blonde continued on her way.

    Zdenka seemed nervous all of a sudden as she followed the woman she remembered Jay telling her was called the Psychic Samurai, her real name Chiaki Bushido. A mysterious woman to Zdenka, and armed with a sword she knew how to use. That much was obvious by the fact that Chiaki walked with confidence and balance even with the extra weight of the sword. And to top if off, she knew this was a woman Jay had a recent relationship, reason enough to be nervous around her.

    "Jay told you he and I were in a very intimate relationship recently, didn't he?" Chiaki asked as they walked. "And that we're friends now?" She emphasized the last part.

    Zdenka nodded. "Yes," she added, though somehow she could sense that Chiaki knew she nodded even before she added the verbal supplement.

    Chiaki stopped suddenly and turned to face Zdenka. "Do you object? Does it concern you?"

    The Candian super-hero paused to think for a moment. "It did...concern me," she said. "Until now. Until you showed me respect...by asking me. Now it does not disturb me."

    Chiaki flashed her a quick smile before escorting her around the final corner to the front door, and opening it for her. "Then I welcome you as a friend as well," she said. She gave Zdenka a quick bow.

    Zdenka was not familiar with the custom but found it amusing to return the bow, trying her best to smile without seeming unduly entertained by it. She was well trained in diplomacy.

    "If Jay is busy for a while tomorrow," Chiaki suggested, "Perhaps I can show you a few places most people never see."

    "I would like that." Zdenka nodded. She looked outside, where Hallie and Uhuna were chatting idly and waiting, and followed when Chiaki courteously escorted her directly to them.

    "Are you coming along too?" Hallie asked as Chiaki approached.

    "I must decline," Chiaki replied with a friendly smile. "I have quite a busy day myself."

    "Too bad." Hallie shrugged. "I guess we'll see you around."

    "Don't let Mr. Epitome's occasional gruffness get to you," Chiaki warned Zdenka. "It's just his way."

    "I will remember that," Zdenka promised. She watched Chiaki bow again and head back inside the mansion, thinking to herself that the Psychic Samurai definitely defied her dangerous reputation up close. She began to realize a little of what Jay must have seen in her at one time. "Thank you," she told the Psychic Samurai as she left with Hallie and Uhuna.

---

    Jay sat looking bored before the Lair Legion lunch meeting began to discuss their current cases. He was early, as usual, and was the only one in the room at the time - so he used the time to organize some paperwork.

    He was a little surprised when he noticed Liu Xi standing in the doorway of the room, watching him silently. "Sorry Liu Xi," he said, "This meeting is for Lair Legion members only."

    "Then why is Flapjack always here throwing in a comment from time to time?" she asked.

    "That's a good question." Jay sighed. "It's complicated."

    Liu Xi smiled at that. "I won't stay for the meeting. I am just here to ask if you're angry with me."

    "Why would I be angry?"

    "The offer I made this morning," she explained. "It was not my place to suggest such a thing."

    "Did Sir Mumphrey scold you about it?"

    "He doesn't know." Liu Xi shook her head. "But he would. That, and upsetting you, is reason enough for me to feel guilty. I assumed too much and I thought I could help you. I was honestly surprised when you responded angrily."

    "Oh." Jay smiled slightly. "So you thought Zdenka and I...?"

    She nodded and looked down. "I have more experience dealing with Visionary. And lately, he--" She paused and looked at him for a moment. "But you are not him, or like Dream. You're different."

    "Of course I'm different," Jay told her.

    "I want to be different too," she continued. As she spoke, Sir Mumphrey entered the room, but she ignored him. "Different from everyone who teases you about last night. I want to say I'm sorry."

    Jay looked at her and smiled. "I was never really angry with you Liu Xi. But if you feel need to apologize, then yes, I forgive you."

    She nodded and glanced at Sir Mumphrey for a moment before asking Jay, "So we're still friends?"

    "Sure," Jay replied quickly.

    Liu Xi looked at Sir Mumphrey again. "The meeting will start soon. Thank you, Jay. I will see you later." With that, she quickly slipped out of the room and closed the door behind her.

    "What was that about?" Sir Mumphrey asked.

    Jay looked at the door for a moment. "Remember when she first got here? How distant and separated she was from everyone?"

    Mumph nodded once. "Hmph. Perhaps she's learned something from staying here, what?"

    "I think so too," Jay agreed. "Yuki was right to put her up here. It's really been a positive influence."

-- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2005 by Jason Froikin, and may not be
-- reprinted without permission.
-- Liu Xi Xian, Psychic Samurai (C) 2005 by Jason Froikin, all rights reserved
-- Lara Night (C) 2005 by Jason Froikin, all rights reserved
-- All other characters property of their respective owners

To the Spirit of the Night, I surrender...

Post By Anime Jason Sat Nov 19, 2005 at 04:51:38 pm EST	Subject The Morning After - Call of the Wild #7 tie-in

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