* Wirrit, four-kitty eared electro-girl
 * Relapse, ki-androidal ninja of Kwan


Date: Autumn
Time: Morning
Place: The Isle of Tranquil Dreams, the Orb, Way of the Tiger system
Climate: Slightly brisk, but pleasant.


I

Salt water gently laps around wooden trunks embedded in the sand near an
island's shore.  Called the Inner Sea, the circular sea had only one island in
its waters.  Supporting a village and more, this is The Isle of Tranquil Dreams,
home to a dedicated group of devotees.  Monks, ninja and their families live and
train on this island towards the goals outlined by Kwan the Redeemer.  Today
however the training halls are empty.  Monks do not ponder the holy works on
their parchments.  Animals, chores and fields are untended by families of
villagers.  On the shore where the trunks and water meet is the entire
population of the Isle along with two others.

Wirrit and Relapse have spent the last few days with the ninja's foster family,
having gained the approval of his step father Naijishi (Grand Master of the
Tiger Style Ninja) to be engaged.  Two nights ago held the acceptance ceremony
to formally bring Wirrit into the family as part of the clan's culture for a
formal engagement.  Kwan Himself appeared at the ceremony to bless the
prospective union, a very good omen.

Standing near her ninja, Wirrit in human form wears a grin which rivals any of
those present but with a hint of sadness.  Even taking into account the problems
at the ceremony, today means the end of one of the longest happy periods she's
had in a while.  Waving to the crowd, she in particular smiles at a trio of
female ninja who helped her frequently during her stay.  Chun, Ayane and Kasumi
wave back with matching grins.

A short distance away Relapse chats quietly with Tanaka, a childhood friend from
the isle.  Both similar ages and builds, Tanaka continues his grilling of his
former training partner and best friend on the finer points of control involved
in the ki-dash technique.  Looking around the people gathered as Tanaka digested
the latest ki sign, the Guardian ninja smiles as he catches sight of Wirrit.
She smiles back.  Relapse clasps hands with Tanaka before leaving his his friend
to stand by Wirrit's side and put an arm around her.  Wirrit puts an arm around
him in return, adding a light squeeze.

Wirrit:  ...Have a good talk? Relapse:  We did, it'll be interesting to see if
Tanaka can master the technique before the Master of Spirit.  A good challenge
for him.  And you?  Bringing any more fashion triumphs from Chun, Ayane and
Kasumi home with us? Wirrit:  You wouldn't believe how bulky those can be..
Relapse:  Just have to hope that ..someone can work from what we remember to
make them. Wirrit:  ..mayybe.  Even if we had them, no guarantees I'd -wear-
them..  They may be pretty, but they're not easy to move in.

She thinks for a moment.

Wirrit:  .oO( ...who am I kidding?  Of course I'd wear them.  >.<  I'm such a
push-over.. )

With casual quietness, Naijishi leaves the crowd to join the partnered two on
the shoreline.  Leaving little impression on the ground as he moves like a
relaxed tiger, which is apt, with a look and a raised hand the crowd grows
silent as he stands now in front of them.  His unremarkable, but kind face looks
upon Wirrit in particular as he starts to speak.

Naijishi:  Wirrit, thank you for taking care of my son, and joining him in the
work that we do.  Take care on your trip back home, and try to come back and
visit us.  Maybe bring some of your artifices next time? Wirrit:  ..You're
welcome, We will, we will, and I'll try to find something good.  Thank you for
letting me try to take care of him. *little grin*

Naijishi moves closer to his prospective daughter-in-law for a farewell hug,
which causes concern to Wirrit.  Even disguised as human, she was still emitting
a healthy electrical charge.  Unable to decide whether to move or not she is
hugged, but sparks don't fly as Wirrit keeps her leg in contact with her
boyfriend's, being grounded that way the hug is safe.  The hug is brief and the
Grand Master stands back again.  Many smiling faces smile broader at the
sentiment shown.

Naijishi: *bows* Kwan guide your decisions. Relapse & other Kwanites:  *bow
also* Wirrit: *bows while stepping backward, as colliding heads is not becoming
for partners of ninja and their fathers*

After a respectful time, everyone stands straight once again.  The crowd
quietens, cheerful farewells replaced with a slightly sadder wave.  Wirrit and
Relapse return the waves, before Relapse starts back towards the shoreline and
the row of spaced, sank trunks that form the dock for their craft.

Relapse: Time to go. Wirrit:  *takes Relapse's hand* .yes. ..er.. ..I still
don't trust my balance on those.. so..?

With a grin, Relapse sweeps Wirrit off her feet and into a cradle-like hold; to
the amusement of many and the cheering of Tanaka, Chun, Ayane, Kasumi and
others.  Wirrit puts her arms around her transport, grinning at the cheers as
Relapse leaps from stump to stump towards their craft.  The two shortly climb
into the boat, oars are deploy and are plied.  Strong strokes send the boat
moving, and the Isle starts to recede.  Things are quiet for a time.

Wirrit:  (quietly) ..rough start, but a very, very worthwhile trip. Relapse:
*rows* ...Yes... They really liked you a lot... *big grin* Wirrit:  *grins also,
but smaller* ..which. surprised me a bit..  ..  A pleasant surprise. Relapse:
*rows* What's not to like?  Pretty, dedicated to Kwan, pretty, smart, pretty,
talented... Wirrit: *blushes a little* Your opinion is biased, though...
Relapse:  *rows* Maybe, because I've had more time to know you. Wirrit:
Flatterer. Relapse: Maybe, but only because it's true. Wirrit:  Ah guess we'll
have to agree t' disagree, then..

The ninja's grin moves to a smile, pulling the boat along the undulating surface
of the sea with ease.  Already the figures on the Isle have become
indistinguishable from the surrounding mountain and trees.  Only a few huts and
the raised training areas can be seen on the Isle as signs of the clan's
habitation.  Relapse ships the oars to glide along the sea for a while, moving
aftward from the rowing seat to give Wirrit a quick kiss.  She's surprised for a
moment, but returns it with interest -- Even to the point of following him back
to his seat for a second or two.  This surprises Relapse in turn, and no further
forward progress is made for a time.

Eventually, they have to part for air.

Wirrit:  So there. Relapse:  ...you win. Wirrit:  *slight smirk* Eeexcellent.
Relapse:  *returns to rowing*  ...Maybe we could find an inn somewhere else on
the Orb to stay longer, without ninja around?  ... Other ninja anyway. Wirrit:
..maybe..  This place is a lot quieter than th' outpost.
Though the fact we were with other ninja might have had something to do with it.
Relapse:  *nods* Plus there's more privacy being somewhere we're unknown.  Of a
sense anyway. Wirrit:  ..Ah'm almost worried that if we don't go back now we
won't.  It's... such a different place.

Relapse nods, and both think their own thoughts for the remainder of the trip to
the more substantial shore of the Inner Sea, the forest of the Manmarches.
Pulling up close to where they had started their journey to the Isle a few days
ago, Relapse leaps out when close enough to pull the craft ashore.  Accepting
the offered hand, Wirrit joins the him on solid ground.

The Cupboard, quiet for days now, shoots out of Relapse's jacket pocket and
grows only large enough to take the craft back inside itself.  Also knowing how
to take advantage of a presented opportunity, it floats over to Wirrit; openning
its doors to perform its version of a hug with care.  The huggee smiles and with
equal gentleness hugs the Cupboard's doors back.  She reaches up to pat the
infinity symbol in it's livery.

Wirrit: ..and thank you, Cupboard.

Pleased with itself, the Cupboard floats back slightly before zooming over to
Relapse.  Lightly batting the ninja with a door to indicate it's miffedness at
being stuck without play for a few days, it still gives him a hug.  Smilingly
returned by Relapse, it shrinks and vanishes back into one of his pockets.  He
looks up from watching the Cupboard disappear and again offers his hand.

Relapse:  Into the forest we go.

Wirrit adjusts the shoulder-strap of her backpack slightly, then takes the hand
and walks wood-wards.

Wirrit:  ..so.. Do we go back once in the woods, or later? Relapse:  ...As much
as I'd like to stay... we should get back and tell more people the good news.
Plus, that means it's sooner we get to come back for a longer stay. Wirrit:
*grins and nods* ..I'd like that.  It's a good place.

The Manmarches forests are thick, green, and more often than not spiked.  Moving
through them is a careful forward progression when staying close together.
Another consideration is possible audiences, thick forests provide that many
more places to hide and listen in to conversations.  Relapse leads on
cautiously, but they reach their arrival point (now departure zone) without
incident.  Wirrit looks around the forested area one last time, before leaning
close to spontaneously hug her ninja.

Wirrit:  ..Thank you for bringing me here. Relapse:  *returns hug, closes eyes*
Thank you for coming.

With a kiss on the cheek, Relapse activates the recall jaunt.  Smiling up at
him, Wirrit doesn't wince for once at the comming jaunt.  Relapse's face frowns
a moment later, as the oncomming infinity symbol is accompanied by a message.

Comm: <<Jaunt engaged.>> Relapse:  .oO ( ... Recalls are automated... )

Wirrit also frowns, and the ninja pulls back slightly to look at her.
Surrounded by jauntspace as they are now Wirrit looks at Relapse before joining
him in looking behind her.  From Relapse's position he can see a trail of odd
items behind them in jauntspace -- originating from the Orb, and ending at
Wirrit's backpack -- No, wait, reverse that. And make it the top half of her
backpack, because the rest appears to have gone missing.  She watches some duct
tape, rags, lighters, and a dagger float off into space behind them (among other
things), and starts to tense up like she wasn't before.

Relapse:  ? <<Relapse to C&C, what's going on?>>

With only static crackle as a response, Relapse takes his and from the comm
badge to put it around Wirrit and pull her close and hold her more firmly.
Trying to calm her, while she tries to calm herself, he looks around for any
possible cause of what's happening.

Wirrit: .oO( .. gear replaceable, we're safe, .. going to .. be.. safe.. ) *mild
ear-twitch*

There are no apparent causes which either can see so far.  Nothing but the trail
of gear ( water bottle, flashlight, ball of yarn, towel.. ) and... the system
the duo appears to be heading towards.  A black-and-white window/system that's
dark more than light, and surrounded by similarly monochrome windows..  Through
them all are scenes of fairly ordinary people, except for a wolf-man here, and a
woman with ..fangs.. there...  The latter is where they're going.

Relapse's eyes widen on seeing this system, but he doesn't dare let go of Wirrit
enough to tap the comm badge again, little that appears to be worth anyway.
That's the last theing either of them manage before everything bursts with a
massive infinity symbol.  Wirrit's ears all flatten back, and her eyes flick
open to quickly take in as much of their new surroundings as possible.  Relapse
does the same observance of surroundings, but less of the ear flattening.  He
lets go of the hug to drop into a defensive position and place his back to
Wirrit so he can observe properly.

Their eyes clear, revealling an alley with brick walls covered in a notable
amount of graffiti -- some of it impressively high up.  Out towards the street,
neon lights compete with concrete decorations for the attention of rooftop-
gazers.  And there is a fairly clear view of rather familiar towers atop a
building in the distance.

Wirrit still holds onto her ninja, less willing to let go of Relapse than he was
her because she recognizes this alleyway.  Even if the streets are somewhat less
unpopulated than when she remembers. This is not a good place to be.  She clings
suddenly to Relapse, eyes widening as it sets in.  With a *BLIP* she panic
'ports taking the ninja with her as he reaches for his badge.

A considerable distance higher in the air, the two appear in reality again;
fortunately also slightly to the side and they land on the roof of one of the
alley's buildings after a three foot drop.  Relapse stifles a painfilled cry as
they reappear, landing then falling to his side on the surface beneath them and
clutching at his forearms, which spark once... twice... smoke... and then
nothing.





next:      where are they?