O.K Here is the last two pieces of Interlude. ^_^


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	*Wake up!* Elenora groaned mentally at Catherine's call. It wasn't time 
for school yet, was it? Why was she wet?

	"What the...!!!" She sat up suddenly, the water a good three inches 
above her supporting hands in the pool that was forming in the trench. 
She tipped her head to one side, then the other to get the water out of 
her ears as she frowned, still muddled and scattered. Then she 
remembered. Amaru had turned into a dragon? She heard the whump of 
chopper blades. Catherine! Catherine was coming! She scrambled up the 
stairs, heard Owaru yell, headed that direction.


	Matsuri thought frantically. No way could they take Hajime and run. She 
meet Owaru's eyes. She doubted seriously whoever was coming was going to 
be friendly. Even if it wasn't the Four Sisters, the American police or 
military would not be pleased with a Black Dragon cluttering their 
airspace. Or four Japanese tourists, *thank the Gods that Jasmine had 
reminded her to bring Hajime, Tsuzuku and Amaru's passports*, two of 
which were hurt seriously and in the remains of a fire.

	"Owaru-kun, take Tsuzuku and get out of here."

	"No way, Matsuri-chan!" Owaru growled back at her.

	"Owaru-kun, if it's the Four Sisters, we can't let them take you or 
Tsuzuku! Hajime wouldn't survive the rough handling. I'll stay with him 
and Amaru."

	Owaru glared at her, frustrated by the logic of her plan. But it was 
true. "Matsuri-chan, you come with us."

	"No. It might just be the police or something and if it is, I'll need 
to be here." *Besides, I won't leave him. Period.* "Now go! They're 
almost here!"

	"Owaru-kun! Matsuri-chan!" Elenora came rushing up with a huge grin on 
her face. It faded as she saw Hajime.

	"Elenora-chan! Go with Owaru-kun! Get them out of here!" Matsuri 
yelled.

	Elenora's look was totally confused. "Why?"

	Matsuri pointed at the faint lights that where closing on them faster 
than she'd thought. "That's why! Go!" She reached out and shoved Elenora 
towards Owaru.

	"But, Matsuri! Those are our choppers!" Elenora blinked at her.

	*Our choppers?* She almost went weak kneed as that sunk in. "Our 
choppers?" She echoed her thought.

	"Hai! The good guys!" Elenora grinned at the relief on Matsuri's face. 
Not that she didn't feel it also. Man, Hajime was a mess. She wondered 
why Jasmine wasn't here, she was close by. Well, maybe she was sitting 
on Tamanji or something. She turned to ask Owaru how Tsuzuku was doing 
as the vibrant yellow choppers resolved out of the rain. The words 
turned into an "eep" as the Black Dragon reared up from behind the cliff 
with a threatening rumble and glared at the hovering helicopters. He 
arched his neck and she knew he was getting ready to breathe whatever 
Black Dragons breathed. *Oh crap!*

	"Owaru! Help! Don't let him hurt the choppers!" She yelled as she 
gathered her power and sprang up into the air. She hated levitating. It 
sucked up a tremendous amount of energy and she was always aware of how 
much empty space separated her from the ground. But she needed the speed 
and the maneuverability the open air provided. She formed a small sphere 
of energy between her palms as he opened his jaws. Just enough to sting 
his nose and get his attention. She hoped.

	The Black Dragon paused, his lighting filled breath tickling the back 
of his throat as his third brothers Other ran backwards towards the 
hovering yellow metal dragonflies, waving his arms and yelling for him 
to wait. He wondered why? The metal dragonflies where nothing but a 
nuisance, always trying to sting. He grumbled, debating whether he could 
hit the dragonflies without harming his brother's Other. He snorted and 
flinched back, tiny lighting bolts flickering from his nostrils and 
jumping for the clouds as something hit him with an annoying sting right 
on the tip of his muzzle. He swiveled his head with a growl, eyed the 
tiny hovering figure and bit back his lightning.

	"Amaru! Don't! They're friends!" The figure yelled at him.

	He turned his attention back to the dragonflies. They had lit and 
humans were scurrying away from them. He rumbled in displeasure. His 
third brother's Other was now standing dead center between the 
dragonflies and a knot of the humans were converging on the Lord of his 
House and his second brother's Other.

	"Amaru, they're here to help! Listen to me, please!"

	He turned one eye to study the little flyer. A warning. He would give 
them a warning of what would happen if they hurt his kin. He tipped back 
his head and sent forth the breath he had been holding. The bolt of 
white hot electricity shot for the clouds, separated to skip and arc. 
For a few seconds the whole area was lit with brilliant light that cast 
stark shadows. He turned his head toward the flyer, keeping one eye on 
the humans. Who was this? He inhaled deeply, watched in amusement as the 
flyer struggled not to move in the air currents that created, tasted the 
air. Female. Blooded. Familiar. He sang one pleased and surprised note 
which echoed gong-like through the air. Yes, he knew this one!

	Three figures had separated from the knot of humans by his wounded kin 
and strode determinedly towards him. He regretfully turned his attention 
from the female. The little party came to a halt a respectful distance 
from him and bowed. The mind touch was a pleasant surprise. A Priestess. 
The flyer angled and came down by the human woman.

	"Are you all right, Elenora?" Catherine asked in a sotto aside as her 
child floated down to stand beside her.

	Elenora nodded back as she leaned forwards and supported her weight 
with her hands on her knees, breathing hard.

	*Dragon King. I suggest you return to your other form.* Catherine told 
the creature that towered over her, fighting hard to keep her mental 
voice calm and confident. The raw power that flowed from and crackled 
around this beast awed her. And terrified her. Never, never had she come 
across anything this powerful. She had always figured that the myths and 
accounts that she had researched when her dragon blooded daughters had 
come to her had been greatly exaggerated as all myths were. Now she knew 
better.

	The dragon cocked it's head. *Why?*

	That chimed response reverberated through her head, made her take a 
step back. She also caught an under-thought. He considered her rude. She 
hadn't even introduced herself. Elenora reached over to steady her, 
scowled up at the dragon, as she shook her head.

	Well, they didn't have time for niceties. All kinds of curious folk 
where on their way. She knew that beyond a doubt. They were running 
short on time.

	*Your current form threatens the safety of your brothers. You will draw 
attention to them and yourself.* Frigid air washed over her as the 
dragon snorted his disdain. He hissed and snaked his head down past 
them, the boom of thunder that echoed him making them all jump as the 
medical teams began to move Hajime and Tsuzuku toward the waiting 
choppers. Catherine turned to see what had annoyed him, saw the crews 
standing still, some looking towards her but most looking up at the 
angry dragon face that hovered over their heads.

	"Amaru! Stop it!" She heard the third brother, (*Owaru* her mind 
informed her),  yell.

	She took a deep breath and turned back, put her hands on her hips and 
glared up into the one huge glowing lavender eye that she could see, let 
impatience and exasperation fill her thoughts.

	*Now you listen to me! We have to get you and your brothers out of 
here. Now. These people have put themselves in a lot of danger to help 
you and your family. Let them do their jobs and stop threatening them!*

	The dragon ignored her.

	"Amaru, please! Turn back. Or at least let us get the others to 
safety." The female pleaded.

	He focused that eye on her. She wanted him to change back into his 
Other. She needed him to change back. She was afraid for them, truly 
believed that his presence was a mortal danger for them all. He knew it 
as he knew his own heart. For her he would. But only for her.

	*Priestess, you have no manners.* He grumbled as he rose, stretched to 
his full height and let his energy flow out with a air shivering roar.

	A pillar of pure light enveloped the dragon, punched a hole through the 
clouds as it rose towards the heavens. Elenora and Catherine watched, 
Elenora smiling in sheer delight at the beauty of Amaru's power, 
Catherine's mouth hard and tight as she narrowed her eyes. The pillar 
dissipated into a whirl of sparkles, Amaru's human shape slowly 
resolving as they winked out. Elenora stepped in to catch him as he 
slumped forwards. She blinked up at Catherine as her foster mother 
scooped him up out of her arms. She wouldn't meet her daughter's eyes, 
simply turned and hurried towards the chopper. Elenora trotted beside 
her, studied her out of the corner of her eye. Something was bothering 
Catherine. A lot.

	"Where's your sister?" Catherine yelled over the buzz of the rotors.

	"Over there." Elenora pointed toward the blackened remains of the 
trees.

	"Is she all right?"

	"Yes." She thought about that. Tamanji's presence was no longer in her 
mind but Jasmine's was. There was something off about Jasmine's though. 
But she would have known if she had been hurt, wouldn't she? "I think."

	Catherine looked hard at her as she handed Amaru into the arms reaching 
from the chopper. Elenora stuck her head in. The medical personnel where 
fussing over Hajime and Tsuzuku in the back while Matsuri and Owaru's 
hovered. Owaru's face was full of relief as he saw Amaru get carried 
over to be wrapped in a waiting blanket as they both came towards her.

	"Domo arigato, Onna-san, Elenora-san!" Matsuri bowed deeply, her eye's 
glittering with tears. Owaru echoed her.

	Catherine nodded brusquely back as she motioned for a headset. Elenora 
frowned at her foster mother. What was wrong with her? She was never 
rude like this! She smiled and reached out to take one of their hands 
into each of her own, hoping to take the sting out of Catherine's 
strange coldness as she started barking orders into the mike pick-up.

	"You are very welcome, Matsuri-san and Owaru-san." She listened to 
Catherine, nodded. "O.K. They're going to take good care of you. You can 
trust them, O.K? Don't worry, I'll talk to you soon!"

	"What about Jasmine?" Matsuri asked, glancing at the man who was 
getting ready to close the door.

	"Oh, she's around somewhere!" She didn't let the worry that was 
starting to seep into her show. "Don't worry about it! You just take 
good care of Tsuzuku for her, O.K.?" She gave each hand a last 
reassuring squeeze as the security officer waved her back, already 
sliding the door shut as the chopper started to lift.

	"Come on, Elenora!" Catherine commanded as the chopper passed over  
them to head out over the ocean before it turned east. The remaining 
medical team from the other chopper formed behind her as she pointed the 
hand held tracker in the direction Elenora had indicated. Elenora fell 
into step beside her as they trotted into the burned out woods.

	"Go find her. We'll catch up." Catherine motioned with her head.

	It took them seven minutes to find them. Catherine's internal clock 
informed her of each endless second. She knew something was wrong. She 
couldn't 'hear' Jasmine. She wished this rain would stop. At least it 
had eased up. Her heart dropped in her chest when they came into sight. 
Elenora looked up from where she kneeled at her sisters side, her 
lavender eyes seeming to big in her pale face. Shock. The medics surged 
past her. Elenora was gently moved out of the way as they went to work. 
Alive. At least she was alive. She hurried to her youngest, kept her 
eyes off Jasmine. She didn't want to see. Elenora buried her face in her 
middle.

	"Why didn't I know? I didn't know!" She wailed.

	"I don't know, El." She did. She had suspected it for a while. She 
hugged Elenora tight against her. Jasmine was in a coma, her being 
somewhere far away from the pain. She'd seen it before in other people. 
She prayed to whoever might be listening that it was one of healing and 
not the one waiting for death. But she didn't want to upset Elenora 
more. "We'll find out, though. She'll be O.K. It's not your fault."

	"M'am?" One of the medics offered the scarf.

	"Leave it with her. She'll get comfort from it being near." Catherine 
and Elenora supported each other as they watched the medics get her onto 
the stretcher and clung to each other as they started back for the 
chopper. The beat of helicopter blades came into hearing range. 
Catherine looked up as three sleek shapes flying point for a transport 
chopper passed over. Apache's. Big guns, big boys. Bad news.

	"Elenora, take your vest off and throw it. You and Jasmine are campers 
who got caught in a forest fire and yelled for help."

	"Ma'm? We've got company." Cass' agitated voice came through her 
earphones.

	"Yes, I saw them. Give them the standard line and the alibi. Cooperate. 
We'll be there in a few minutes."

	"Yes ma'm."

	One of the Apache's came back and hovered.

	"Don't stop, just keep walking." She told her people. She could see the 
pilot. She waved, gave him a thumbs up. The Apache turned and continued 
hunting. 

	She took in the situation with a glance as they came out into the open 
area of the charred mansion's lawn. One of the Apache's was hovering, 
it's weapons trained on Big Bird, the other out over the ocean. The 
troop helicopter was on the ground. There were ten camouflage clad 
soldiers, two of which were harassing Cass and Maria, rifles obvious and 
ready and one young suit.

	"Is there a problem?" She kept her tone mild and her expression 
friendly as they came up under the guards tense watch.

	"Where are they?" The suit stalked up to her. He had the flight log and 
her pilots licenses in one hand.

	"Right here." Catherine hugged Elenora close and gestured at the 
stretcher. "Poor things. We need to get them to a hospital, if you don't 
mind? Is there something wrong?" She blinked innocently into the 
frustration on the suit's face.

	He didn't say anything, turned and went to the stretcher and looked at 
Jasmine. He turned and studied her, his eye's hard and calculating.

	"You didn't find anyone else? There should have been a whole bunch of 
people here."

	"No. We just responded to an emergency call from some trapped campers. 
This was the most convenient place to land." She shrugged. "Do you want 
some of my people to stay behind and help you search?"

	"Don't play games with me! I know who you are!" The suit all but 
snarled.

	"Do you? Well, then, what is the problem? We really need to get this 
poor girl to a hospital, Mr.?"

	He ignored her, snapped "Anything?" at one of the soldiers.

	"No Sir!"

	"Really, I must insist that you let us be on our way, Mr.?" She tried 
again.

	He glared at her. She smiled sweetly back. Their cover story was 
impenetrable. He had nothing to hold them on.

	"Fine. We'll get them eventually."

	"Get whom?" She questioned back, all innocence, rubbing it in. They 
locked eyes.

	"Just get out of here!" He waved them toward Big Bird. "But be aware 
that you've made a powerful enemy." He mimicked her sweet tones as he 
walked toward his chopper. "Let them go." He called the soldiers off.

	Cass held out his hand as the suit passed, waiting for his log and the 
licenses. The suit slapped them into his hand and turned his back on 
them, dismissing them as he talked with his men.

	For once Catherine was relieved when a helicopter took to the air. She 
and Elenora sat as close to the medics as they could without getting in 
the way, Elenora still swiping at her eyes and sniffling. The lead 
physician came and settled beside her.

	"O.K. Catherine. We've got her stable. You want the list?"

	"Not right now. Is she healing?" That was what she needed to know.

	"Yes. We're seeing improvement every minute. She'll be all right." He 
gave them a reassuring smile.

	"Thank you." Catherine said to him and to whoever had been listening.

	"Ma'm?" Maria in her earphones.

	"Yes?"

	"Mike's calling in. His passengers are pestering them about Jasmine."

	Catherine looked down at Elenora, gave her a hug. "I'll be right back." 
She moved slowly, silently cursing the dips and the sways of the 
chopper, cursing those Ryudo dragons for dragging her girls into this. 
Tita had said that Jasmine and Elenora's destinies where linked to the 
Ryudo's and the Ryudo's to the coming Darkness. Well, she would unlink 
them right here and now.

	"Ma'm?" Maria looked up at her expectantly.

	"Go to a private channel, take Mike with you." Maria blinked at her but 
did as told.

	"Ready."

	"Tell Mike to tell them that Jasmine is dead."

	"Ma'm?" Maria asked, as if she hadn't heard her correctly.

	"You heard me. Do it."

	"Yes Ma'm!" Maria frowned, glanced sideways at Cass who keep his eye's 
firmly focused on the sky in front of them. Seeing no help coming from 
that quarter, she did as instructed.

	Catherine waited until she heard Maria relay the message and then 
turned, feeling every one of her forty-six years drag on her as she went 
back to her daughters.

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