Originally posted May 5, 2010
((Kori and Chance talk magic and parenting on a family trip to Chicago. This followed a rather dramatic confrontation with their daughter, Akemi, and set up the next crossover story.))
He didn't even try to meditate. After they loved, he let sleep carry him away in her arms.
Chance opened his eyes to watch her type away at her laptop, numbers and figures hovering above her in a holographic display. She slipped silently out of bed, her voice quietly speaking of contracts, dollars, and yen. He watched her as she stretched, moving to a headstand, then a warrior's pose, her eyes never leaving the floating shapes.
"Good morning," heard her whisper. He smiles as she stood upright and moved closer to better deliver a lingering kiss and embrace. "Did I wake you?"
"You make a great mom," he said, looking into those eyes. She smiled at the words, "Really?" She chuckled. "I hope so. I have so much to learn."
"It was nice sleeping with you," he continued. "I had gotten used to us being together."
She kissed Chance again. "It was nice to finally get some sleep, as well." He shifted, sitting up to better return the caress.
He reached out a hand to wrap around the nape of her neck. "Kori, we all have a lot to learn. Thank you for coming back last night."
"She's so self-conscious about the way people perceive her," the beautiful redhead commented. "That sometimes drives her actions."
"She is," Chance agreed. "And so down on herself." Kori nodded. "She's had such a terrible life before."
"Kori, I know this is a rough time for all of us; in some ways more so than before the ritual."
"It's about to get even more interesting."
"I don't doubt it. And I also know that you have something that you're going to tell me…"
Kori's eyes narrowed as she straightened her glasses and turned to the laptop. A triangular shape surrounded by a circle and, mystical symbols sprung into the air. "I got a call from Meri last night after dinner this symbol has been popping up around Millennium City."
Chance rubbed his face with his hand. "Yes?" He looked at the floating symbol. "I've seen it.
"I don't know what it means yet but she thinks that it has something to do with some sort of new mystical group linked to DEMON." Her eyes focused on something beyond the room. "I have been analyzing the...." Her focus returned to her fiancée. She leaned over to press her lips against his. "I'm sorry. I'm talking too much."
"Tell me what you've learned. You've got me curious now," he assured her. "But then I have something to say and to ask."
"Ask. Please."
"You say, first."
"Wait. Did you say you've seen it?"
"I saw them on the West Side. I was doing some anti-gang sweeps through there this week."
Kori paused, wrinkling her brow in consideration. "I think there's some connection within city hall but I'm not sure who." She turned her attention back to the laptop. "Meri believes it's some sort of triad of power. Certainly Demon is part of the three."
"Two other mystical organizations, or could Shinoda be involved?"
"I'm not sure. This doesn't seem like Shinoda's style."
"I agree."
"Local gang members have been using the symbol as of late probably as part of a recruitment ritual."
Chance breathed out. "That would match where I saw it."
"Meri is interpreting the symbols within the circle, but preliminary reports suggest that they might be linked to a civilization existing hundreds of millions of years ago."
"And you? What are you doing?"
"I am trying to find out who the connection to city hall is."
"Are you going back to MC from Chicago then?"
"I will be back and forth."
Chance nodded as he breathed through his hand, his fingers pulling his lips into odd shapes.
"Right now everything is merely informational at this stage," Kori continued. "I'm not sure what the meaning of this sigil or why it is showing up now, but I need to establish the connections."
"You need me to look into anything?" Chance asked. "I've got some leads on a child prostitution ring on West Side. That's where I've seen that mark."
"If the tattoo or symbol shows up on the west side, if you can find out any information on where it links to, that would be great." Chance nodded, offering a slight smile.
"All information is crucial right now," Kori noted. "I'm meeting with a representative of the Trismegistus Council with Meri soon as well."
"OK. I'll see what I can dig up." Chance studied her face. The evenings he had spent examining that jaw line, the tiny wrinkles around the eyes, betrayed her. "And?"
"And?" She smirked. "I don't know. It's something about the council that has her concerned but she won't tell me the connection."
"Could they be part of the triad?"
"Possibly but they are sworn to protect this realm from mystical enemies, sort of a United Nations for mages. See? Even I get kept in the dark."
"I like you in the dark." Chance smiled and shivered a bit with the memory."
Kori's lips turned to a coy smile. "I bet you do."
"I didn't think those were sounds of objection." He kissed her.
"Now who is being self-conscious?" she asked with a laugh.
"My turn?"
"What confuses me is why the council would be linked to DEMON and this symbol, which is sprouting up on the West Side, with writing that is apparently so ancient that it goes beyond any known civilizations...." She chuckled quietly at her own voice. "Yes. Your turn."
"I wanted to say that you were an amazing mother, last night."
Kori pursed her lips and she looked down at the sheets. "You don't think I was too... I mean... I lost it."
"I think that you two are clearly related." He poked her nose as he chuckled.
"I can speak easily in front of a hundred reporters, business people, employees, and never lose my cool, but a 13 year old girl and I crack immediately."
"I heard about a decision last night. What is going through your mind?" She tapped a few keys on the laptop opening another screen, showing a contract, signed by the entire board of directors, with one blank spot for hers. The document described turning over Arasaka Enterprises to the board of directors and Diana on an equal distribution, eliminating Kori from a leadership position.
"Kori, I trust that you will take your time in making that decision."
"The Lemurian government would see to the acquisition of the Night Blade and keep it locked away in their vaults," she explained. "A good move," Chance agreed.
"And Meri would see to the removal through a ritual process of my abilities."
Chance frowned, wrinkles appearing on his forehead. "But Kori, you are such a force for good, especially now."
"I would have done it without question. Left it all."
"You can do so much." Her young fiancée placed one hands on either of her cheeks. "You can be a great hero and more."
"I don't want to be a hero... I just want to see the world exist another day for heroes."
Chance pointed at the screen. "Is that what you want to do? Not what you feel you have to do?"
"I can't sit still and watch as organizations plan and plot the destruction of this world." Chance smiled at her words. "I feel compelled to be involved. It's always a game of chess. To move into a position and anticipate the opponent, planning for their moves and knowing where to sacrifice to put yourself into a better position next round. But sometimes you over sacrifice," She placed her hand on her lover's, "And lose too much."
Kori smiled weakly, finding Chance's eyes with her own. "I have to keep all options open in case I sacrifice too much."
"And which option looks most appealing right now?" he asked.
"Well," her smile broadened, "I still like being the boss."
"I like you as the boss, too," Chance replied with a coy smile of his own.
Kori sighed. "You should take Akemi with you when you poke around on the West Side."
"That gets me to the questions." He raised an eyebrow. "Do we have a dress code?"
"Dress code?"
"For Akemi."
"Are you talking about what she wore to dinner?" Chance nodded and added. "It was the least extreme of her outfits this week,… and she's been smoking."
"Well, I would like to think a 13 year old girl should grow gracefully into her skin than just jumping into the body of a 25 year old. I knew about the smoking and that…." Kori sighed. "It poses a question on its own. Do we let her experience life on her own? Make her own mistakes and hope that she learns from them or become restrictive and hope that she doesn't rebel from it."
"Kori, we've moved past the crisis and into the day to day. I hope that we can talk about and agree on what we expect."
"As far as the outfits are concerned," Kori explained, "I don't want her dressing like a harlot but I do want her to have her own style."
"I think it will be different for either of us, how we relate. I agree, she should be able to find her own style. Are you taking her out this morning, shopping?" Chance asked? Kori nodded and her fiancée pulled a pad of paper from the nightstand.
"Let me suggest a couple of places." He scribbled on the pad. "There is great high end shopping across the river," he pointed north, "But these places are a bit more current with alternative fashions. There's a couple of resale shops on this list, if you really want to be trendy and hip. And here's the address of the place I was thinking of for lunch. You can meet us there."
She smiled and took the note. "Care to join us?" Chance smiled, one lip higher than the other. "I would, but.... make it a special thing, huh? I can give you your tickets to the game if you want to meet us there or there is a high tea over at the Peninsular Hotel if you want to skip the game even."
She smiled, knowing how he would answer. "Sure thing." Kori reached over the bed to open her purse. She removed a small case and opened it to reveal several earpieces. "Here, these are for you, Yuki, and Danny... although Danny may have something a bit more hi-tech."
Chance lifted three from the case. "Instant communications?"
"They're linked via our satellite network. Sort of like satellite phones with much better latency."
"OK."
"Can I see your cell phone?" Chance handed over his iPhone. Kori fiddled with it for a moment then showed him a screen that revealed the location of the ear buds on a scalable map. "There you go," she said as she handed the device back to him.
"Thank you, Kori." His eyes dipped to the bed. "I thought I lost you for a moment last night."
"With all that I have on my mind, having you bring me back into focus was important."
"I'll be here, whenever you come back into focus' He shook his head. That didn’t sound right." Kori chuckled and commented. "I know what you mean."
"Let me know if you two decide to skip the game."
"I'll call you," she reassured him, smiling.
"I figure we have a lifetime together, you and I. Akemi is going to be an adult soon and will have a life of her own. I can wait."
"Being an adult and acting like an adult are two different things."
"Absolutely."
"Maturity is subjective. Diana, for instance, is still a kid." She giggled.
"Now I get to shoo you off," Chance told her with a grin. "You need to get cleaned up if you're going shopping." She leaned over to embrace Chance. "Thank you." She whispered in his ear.
"You're welcome. Thank you." She stood and retreated to the bathroom. Chance chuckled and smiled before calling out. "Let me know if you need any help scrubbing your back!"
|