[FFML] [Fic][Orig/R.5/BSM/AMG][Tears of a Dragon] Book Three: Chapter 7: Heart of Steel

And now for chapter 7

This is entirely a chapter about Ukyo, and it poured out of me in a single shot over the last twelve hours. Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did writing it.

All disclaimers in force.

Book Three: The Black Dragon

Chapter 7: Heart of Steel

Build a fire a thousand miles awayTo light my long way homeI ride a cometMy trail is long to staySilence is a heavy stoneI fight the world and take all they can giveThere are times my heart hangs lowBorn to walk against the windBorn to hear my nameNo matter where I stand I�m aloneStand and fightLive by your heartAlways one more tryI�m not afraid to dieStand and fightSay what you feelBorn with a heart of steelBurn the bridge behind youLeave no retreatThere�s only one way homeThose who laugh and crowd the pathAnd cut each other�s throatsWill fall like melting snowThey�ll watch us rise with fire in our eyesThey�ll bow their headsTheir hearts will hang lowThen we�ll laugh and they will kneelAnd know this heart of steel wasToo hard to breakToo hard to holdStand and fightLive by your heartAlways one more tryI�m not afraid to dieStand and fightSay what you feelBorn with a heart of steel
Manowar

Ukyo looked at the impression of Tsubasa�s face in her spatula as she gasped for breath, then slowly raised her eyes to look around at the devastated shop. One really didn�t need the neon purple battle aura around her to know she was beyond pissed.

�I take it you are not pleased by my choice.� Her father�s voice was disdainful.

�What gave you the clue, dad?� She whirled. �There are no circumstances in the world under which I would marry that pervert! I�LL DIE FIRST!�

�I�m not asking you to, Son. I�m telling you. Miss Kurenai has told me about how you would have pledged your hand to her had you not already been on your quest.�

�ARE YOU BLIND!!!!� In rage, Ukyo ripped the dress off the unconscious Tsubasa, revealing the distinct lack of feminine attributes on his chest. �He�s a fucking CROSS-DRESSER!!!!�

Her father was unmoved. �Then that makes her perfect for you, SON.� He shrugged, �It matters not to me. I WILL see you married before the year is out. I have a dozen other girls in mind as well. One of them will be suitable, I�m sure.�

Ukyo�s mouth opened and closed but no sound came out. Her hands had begun crushing the spatula�s shaft as her aura began scorching the roof. There was no thought beyond murder in her eyes.

But before she could move, a small figure interposed herself between her and her father.

�Please sir, is no way will release Ukyo from this?�

Ukyo gobbled in shock, but didn�t move.

The elder Kuonji shook his head. �I swore an oath upon my ancestors honor. Ukyo has dishonored that vow. Now I must do what I must.�

�Then honored sir has left no choice.�

�What are you doing, Zhu Shu?� Ukyo�s voice was strained with the tension of holding back her desire to commit patricide.

�Is only honorable course Zhu Shu can see.� She knelt before the Ukyo�s father and pulled out from behind her back an ornate scarlet and gold box. She placed it on the ground before her and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as the nervousness nearly prevented her from speaking. From the side Lo Shen looked on curiously, trying to figure out what her charge was up to.

Before terror could stop her, Zhu Shu repeated the words she had rehearsed so many times in her dreams that no trace of her accent marred them.

�If you cannot release Ukyo from her vows, then there is only one honorable choice I can make. I am Song Zhu Shu, Heir of Clan Dragon, Master of the Song School of Sword Dance, and with this gift, I respectfully request the hand of your son in marriage.�

As she opened the box, she could hear Ukyo�s spatula clatter to the floor, and Lo Shen�s sigh.

Ukyo�s father lifted one of the porcelain teacups of the set that had been recovered from the Musk fortress, his eyes expertly appraising the small rubies and the delicate gold scrollwork.

�This is exquisite. Ming Dynasty if I�m not mistaken.� He carefully replaced it next to the solid gold teapot and the fine silk tablecloth. �This is priceless.� He said finally.

Zhu Shu still had her head bowed respectfully. �So is Ukyo.�

He looked over to Lo Shen. �I do not know you, Elder, but I can see from your bearing that you are wise. So I must ask, is this match a worthy one for my son?�

Lo Shen cackled. �A far better one than you had planned, sonny. I�m a bit surprised that Zhu Shu was so hasty, and I doubt she�s thought it through in her desire to help Ukyo, but what�s done is done. My Niece, the true heir of the Song Dynasty, Exiled Empress of China, Ruler of the Celestial City, Daughter of the Dragon, and liege of the Joketsuzoku, has spoken her heart. The ball is now in your court, Kuonji.�

Ukyo�s face had grown whiter with each title Lo Shen had pronounced, her battle aura extinguished like a candle blown out by a gale.

Her father nodded. �Indeed. A fine catch. Ukyo, any objections?� His tone made it clear he could care less if there were, but Ukyo still hadn�t found her voice. He nodded at her frozen expression. �Very well, I, Koda Kuonji, Head of the Kuonji Clan, Master of the Kuonji School of Combat Okonomiyaki Chefs, accept your dowry and approve your betrothal to my son, Ukyo Kuonji.�

The breath Zhu Shu had been holding left her in a whoosh.

�Welcome to the family, daughter. I know you shall never be the disappointment my son has been.� He gave the still unmoving girl a look. �Expect the formal papers within the week, Ukyo. Your wedding will take place within the year.� He turned and left, his back stiff and unforgiving. A moment latter the driver came in with an apologetic look to collect the unconscious Tsubasa and the tea set.

For long moments not a word was spoken, then finally Ukyo slumped in a seat morosely. �Well, at least someone got what they wanted.� She said bitterly.

�Zhu Shu only meant to-�

�I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT TO DO!!! YOU FUCKING HAD IT PLANNED!!! YOU EVEN HAD YOUR WORDS REHEARSED!!!�

�Uc-Chan-� Zhu Shu started to try to explain again.

�I don�t want to hear it. Just go. I don�t think I can stand to look at you right now Zhu Shu. You just made my worst nightmare a reality and I don�t think you have any right to expect me to thank you for it.�

With a sob, the diminutive dragon girl fled. Ukyo sighed heavily. �And I suppose you�re going to tell me I�m being entirely unfair.�

Lo Shen shrugged. �That is for you to decide. But there is one thing you should know. She just threw away her own honor to save yours. Her Grandfather will disown her for abandoning her quest, and she has just shamed herself before the Joketsuzoku for your sake. In her desperation to save you from your father�s idiocy she just gave up the most precious gift she had to give. She would have never forced you to marry her, but it would have stopped your father from trying to make you marry someone else.� She sprayed herself with the water spout from the soda machine, one to the few intact items in the shop, and resumed her school girl form before making her way out of the wreckage.

Then, there was only silence.

* * * * *

It was nearly an hour later before anyone poked their head through the door, and Ukyo still hadn�t moved.

But it wasn�t anyone she was expecting. Nor was she wearing her usual street clothes. Ukyo raised her eyebrow at the hakima and kimono.

�I guess they figured I wouldn�t kill a miko out of hand, huh?� She said as Rei waved a small white handkerchief.

�Actually, I�m the only one she told. Lo Shen kept the other girls in the dojo along with Ranma, Shan Pu and Akane. Kasumi knows she�s upset, but she respected Zhu Shu�s privacy.�

�I see. So why did you come?�

�Because I love her. And because I can never have her. Not permanently.�

Ukyo looked up at the priestess in shock. �What?�

Rei sat down across from her. �When I first saw Zhu Shu, she was standing on the roof of my shrine. The girls and I thought she might be a youma, and unfortunately, we nearly killed her.�

Ukyo blinked. �Youma?� She shook her head. �I�ve seen you guys practice. There�s no way you�re good enough to have even touched her.�

�As Rei Hino, no. As Sailor Mars, I�m afraid I tried rather hard, thinking she was a threat.� She pulled out her pen and tossed it on the table under Ukyo�s shocked expression. �When I realized she was human, I was devastated. I couldn�t believe I had been so quick to overlook all the training I had as a priestess and had been so willing to see only a face value. It went against every thing I stood for as a priestess and a Warrior of the Moon Kingdom. I took care of her, and when she had recovered, I became her friend, we all did. Before she came out and told any of us her preferences, I knew. And I tortured myself by not wanting to admit to myself that I was attracted to her.�

�Listen, I�m not-�
�Shut up. I�m not talking as a fifteen year old girl here, or even Sailor Mars. I�m talking to you as a miko. You need to know this.�

Ukyo sighed but held her tongue.

Rei nodded. �Good. Anyway, we became friends, and we helped her on her quest to find Ranma for Shan Pu.�

�Do they know?�
�That we�re the Sailor Senshi? Yes. That�s why Zhu Shu was reluctant to let you join our class. But Zhu Shu is one of us too. And unfortunately, it took her death for me to finally overcome my fears about loving her.�

�What?� Ukyo�s face was disbelieving. �But, but�

�I know Ranma told you about her attempted suicide, but what he doesn�t know is that it wasn�t an attempt. Zhu Shu has died twice.� Rei shuddered. �The second time, it was in my arms as I realized finally what she meant to me.� She pulled a small DVD player out of her kimono and handed it to Ukyo. �That�s the record from Ami�s computer.�

Ukyo flipped it up and pressed play. Rei sat quietly as the color left Ukyo�s face.

�Oh my god.� Ukyo said as the video faded to black, a faint echo in her thoughts of a voice telling her �I guard the door.�

For a long moment there was silence. Then �Why are you telling me this?

�Because I know that you have a destiny. I know that you would not be a part of Zhu Shu�s life if you could not be who she needs you to be.� She smiled. �Zhu Shu has done more for my faith than all my years of training and devotion. She showed me the truths of my own heart, and because of it, I am a better person than I think I could have ever been.�

�So why don�t you go out with her?�

�I have. Our first date was the night she died. But I can�t keep her forever. My first loyalty lies with the Kingdom of the Moon.�

�Okay, that�s like the second or third time you�ve mentioned that, what the heck are you talking about?�

�Ask Zhu Shu. She can tall you far faster than I can.�

�Umm, in case you haven�t noticed, she�s not here right now.�

�Of course she is. And you know it. She said you were ignoring her, but you know it doesn�t make her go away.�

�Kami.� Ukyo sighed. She closed her eyes, and touched the part of her mind she had tried to forget was there since Zhu Shu had fled the shop. The emotional pain was like an open wound, but she ignored it. <<Look, Rei�s here and she says I have to ask you about the Moon Kingdom.>> she thought at the link, not bothering to mask her annoyance. For a long second, there was silence�

Then, she felt something touch her, like a butterfly brushing the back of her head, and somehow, she suddenly knew everything. She reeled as everything she had learned about the past shredded like paper in a gale and was replaced with a much different one.

And then, from out of the depths of her subconscious came a memory of her own�

* * * * *

He stood more than a head taller than Lin Tzu, but there was no mistaking the resemblance. But where she had never seen anything but love and kindness on her beloveds face, hatred made his a mask of rage.

�Where is she, Ukyo.�

She spun her glaive, the weapon making a whine as it blurred before her. She was dead, but every second she could buy would give Lin Tzu just that much more of a chance to escape.

�Where you�ll never find her, Xi�an Chi.� Her words were mocking. �Looks like you�re going to have to stay Beryl�s lackey.�

His eyes blazed. �You were a fool to stay. Did you think I didn�t know about your curse? That I didn�t know you are the father of her child?�

Ukyo laughed. �I think you are entirely unaware of many things, wizard. Not the least of which is exactly how cursed I am.� With a laugh, she slit the wine skin hidden in the hangings above her.

It had been difficult to find the spring she had sought, and she prayed it was worth it. Just five more minutes, that�s all she had to buy, and Lin would be safe. She looked down at the suddenly diminutive wizard, her previously oversized weapon now fitting her hand perfectly.

The wizard sneered. �An Oni. Do you really think that strength alone can match my magic?� He raised his hand and fired a bolt of lightning at her.

She laughed as her glaive absorbed the bolt. �Oh, but I have far more than strength alone.�

Then there was no time to think, only to act.

The duel shattered the remains of the imperial palace, dust and debris flying as he parried her attacks with his staff, or as she dodged one of his spells. Her spear rendered her immune to direct attack and every block drained more of his energy. As the soldiers of the Moon fought and died along side the loyal troops of the empire against the endless hordes of Queen Beryl, they danced to a song of death.

And then, he was just a second too slow, and her glaive ripped across his left eye, then buried itself into his belly as he howled in pain.

Ukyo gave a vicious grin. �Gotcha, you bastard.� She twisted the shaft hard.

Xi�an Chi coughed up blood, but gave her an evil smile, one made even more hideous by the ruin she had made of his face. �Do you think you�ve won?� He laughed weakly. �You may have kept her from me this time, but I will find her eventually, and where will you be to save her then?� He spat. �Just a forgotten trophy in my throne room.�

Ukyo screamed as the spittle burned into her cheek, and she yanked the glaive out to begin a swing to decapitate the wizard, but even as she did, she could feel herself going numb. In horror she saw the color draining from her arm, replaced by the smooth whiteness of marble.

Then sight was gone to the darkness of stone, and she relinquished herself to eternal night.

But it was okay. She�d bought the time they needed.

Farewell, my darling Lin. And know I have always loved you�

* * * * *

She found herself looking at the splintered remains of the table they had been setting at, Rei hesitantly reaching out to her.

�Ukyo? Are you okay?�

Ukyo realized she was hyperventilating, and forced herself to stop. She slowed her breathing and tried to get her heart to stop trying to jump through her ribcage.

�Ukyo?�

�The bastard turned me into a statue!� she hissed.

�What? Ukyo, what happened?�

�Xi�an Chi! The bastard turned me into a statue! I almost had him!�

And then she started shaking. �Oh gods, Rei. I remember dying!� She tried to take another deep breath. �I-I tried asking Zhu Shu like you told me, and I think she tried to tell me, at least, I suddenly knew about the Moon Kingdom, and the war with Beryl and how you and the Senshi� and then, from out of nowhere, I found myself remembering how I had died� but I kept him from getting to her. I bought them the time to get away.�

�Who, Ukyo? What are you talking about?�

�Lin Tzu.�

Rei drew her breath in sharply. �You remember her too?�

Ukyo nodded. �Yes. Not really much, but I remember I was her wife, and I-I volunteered to stay behind to make sure she escaped�� She paused, overwhelmed by a memory of tiny little jade green eyes. �I made sure she could escape with our daughter��

�Oh.� Rei said, her eyes bright with tears. �I can remember the day she asked Queen Serenity for her approval to marry me. I had never felt so happy in my life. But I have no memories of the final days of the war. Or of our actual marriage.�

Ukyo looked at her. �How can you take this so calmly?�

Rei shrugged. �You think I wasn�t freaked out the first time I got drawn into a fight against Beryl and her minions? My very first encounter got me drawn into a pocket universe that we barely got out of, but we prevailed, and now Beryl is gone for good. But it wasn�t without cost. We DIED getting rid of her, and only the power of the Ginzishou brought us back.�

Ukyo sighed. �I need a drink.� She said as she stood and dug behind the counter, producing a bottle of sake. Rei gave her a raised eyebrow as she poured a small glass, and shook her head when Ukyo held up the bottle questioningly.

�We�re both underage, Ukyo. You shouldn�t be drinking that either.�

�One glass isn�t enough to get me drunk, Rei. I just need to calm down, and it is a relaxant.� She sat back down, �and you can�t tell me you�ve never had any.�

�Well, just a little.� She admitted. �Look, I know you�re probably very confused right now, but none of that is important, I just wanted you to know about us because I knew Zhu Shu hadn�t told you, and you needed to know.�

�Why?� Ukyo said glumly, looking into her cup.

Rei shrugged. �I guess because I needed you to know how far she is willing to go to help others, and to know that you don�t hate her for trying to help, even if it might not have been the smartest thing for her to do. I love her, Ukyo, and you have no idea how much it hurts to see her in pain.�

�Then you marry her!�

�I can�t, Ukyo. In the end, my loyalty is to Usagi and the Senshi. And I might die at any time fighting against threats that only the Senshi can handle. We are the defenders of the Earth. I�ve already had to leave her once because of duty, way back when. I can�t do that to her again. I�m thankful I�ve had a chance to be her lover again, but I can�t be to her what she needs.� She sighed. �The gods know I want to, but it�s impossible. I don�t share the same bond with her that you do.�

�I would give it to you in a heartbeat.� Ukyo snarled. �Look, okay, I might have been a wife to her ancestor, but that�s not who I am now!�

�And I�m not saying you have to be.� Rei said quietly. �But you can be friends, and you can hopefully understand that all she was trying to do was save you from having to be forced into marrying someone your dad picked. You should know her enough to realize even if she did become your wife, she would never ask from you anything you were unwilling to give, or stop you from finding a boy you did love. All she cares about is your happiness. Surely you can feel that?�

Ukyo didn�t say anything, just kept staring into her glass. Finally Rei sighed and stood.

�Alright, I guess I�ve said my piece. I don�t know what else to say.�

Ukyo still didn�t say a word, so Rei sighed again and turned to go.

�Why did you admit to me that you were Mars?� Ukyo asked right before she opened the door. �How did you know I wouldn�t run out and tell everyone? You barely even know me.�

Rei nodded. �True, but you see, I too have looked into the eyes of the Dragon.�

Then she was gone.

* * * * *

It was a long, uncomfortable night.

The morning wasn�t much better. Zhu Shu wasn�t walking along the river when Ukyo checked, nor in her homeroom.

Akane and Shan Pu wouldn�t even meet her eyes, the Amazon just sniffed in disdain.

Even the Hentai squad looked at her and shook their heads, looking askance at her, wondering how anyone could find the cruelty to break Zhu Shu�s heart.

At lunch she had the roof all to herself, the few others who had been there leaving when she arrived.

Even her portable Okonomiyaki grill refused to light. She was about to toss it off the roof when a shadow fell across her.

�Not easy is it?� Ai asked as she sat down on the edge of the roof, her long hair blowing softly in the wind.

�What?� Ukyo asked looking around for the rest of the squad, but the head cheerleader was alone.

�Being the object of the jealousy of an entire school, being hated.� She waved around the grounds. �There�s not a person in this school, male or female, that doesn�t like Zhu Shu, including me. She�s still got to pay for humiliating my squad, but it doesn�t mean I don�t like her. And here, she�s gone and thrown herself at your feet, and the entire school hates you for it.�

Ukyo shrugged. �I would have thought it was because I�m pissed at her manipulating my dad into making her my fianc�.�

�No. Whether you know it or not, Ukyo, your dad is lucky no-one here knew he was in Nerima, or he�d have had a challenge from just about everyone in school over his idiotic vow over Ranma. We�re on your side there. You�re one of us, one of the misfits. It�s our common bond.� She pointed with her head, �Out there, a whole world goes by, doing it�s best to ignore us, the square pegs that don�t fit in round holes, but we know it�s because they don�t understand us. Take my parents for example. They just love my sister, Mariko. She�s their golden girl, but me?� She snorted. �I�m the prodigal they wish would disappear. It never occurred to them that if maybe they had paid more attention to me, instead of their work, I would have never been so desperate for attention that I ended up pregnant at fourteen.� She gave Ukyo a glare, �And if you ever tell anyone that, I�ll kill you.�

Ukyo shook her head.

�Good, anyway, they never realized all I was looking for was their love, and when I couldn�t get it, I tried finding substitutes. My squad is pretty similar, we�re all rich pretty girls who got raised by nannies and daddy�s wallet, instead of our parents. If we weren�t in the squad, we�d probably be in JuV now. But because I made mistakes, they started to actually pay attention to Mariko, and she gets everything I wish they would give me.� She sighed again. �But we all still have our little niches, our little safe havens from a world that is nothing but pain��

��And we have Zhu Shu.�

Ukyo blinked at Ai�s last comment. �Huh?�

�She�s the ultimate outsider, Ukyo. A mascot for the rest of us. We care about her because as bad as we thought we had it, somehow, it seems she�s had it just that tiny bit worse.�

�And she makes us feel guilty for feeling so bitter and spiteful, because she has every right to be, and isn�t.�

A long moment passed with only the sound of the wind.

�So I guess you�re trying to tell me I should just give in and become a lesbian too?� Ukyo finally said.

Ai shook her head. �Believe it or not, no. That�s not something anyone can force themselves to be. We don�t control whether we�re straight or gay or bisexual, Ukyo. We�re born who we are. But one thing I know all about is denial. I know how badly we can lie to ourselves about what our desires are because we have so many societal pressures to conform to what�s accepted. For me, it took being took nearly dying due to a miscarriage to get me to look seriously at my life, and if it hadn�t been for this cute little nurses aid who would come in and talk to me every day while I was recovering, I don�t know that I would have recovered. The Gods know, all I wanted to do was die. But we talked, and I ended up telling her my whole story. And eventually, I realized that I loved her. We dated for six months after I got out of the hospital, until she had to move to Germany with her family, and I learned what it felt like to simply be accepted instead of condemned.�

She looked down at Ukyo, �My point is, I had told myself so many times that being Bisexual was being perverted until it had simply become a habit, one that, had I not met her, and found in her the courage to overcome my inhibitions, I might have never beaten. I would have probably spent the rest of my life going from one bad relationship to the next looking solely for the most idiotically testosterone overloaded guys I could find in an effort to prove I wasn�t really attracted to girls. I�m not ready for a serious relationship right now, but I know now that when I am, it doesn�t really matter whether it�s a guy or a girl, so long as I know they love me.� She stood. �I�m not saying that just because Zhu Shu loves you, you have to return her love, but don�t throw it away because of what society may or may not approve of, or because you�re rebelling against your dad. Your only criteria has to be whether or not it makes YOU happy. You have to make a choice for yourself, regardless of what any of THEM say or do.�

As Ai turned to leave Ukyo had to ask. �So why, out of everybody in this school, are you the only one who came to talk to me?�

Ai gave her a smile. �Because I know how hard it is to be born with a heart of steel.�

* * * * *

The day passed, and Ukyo was glad that school was finally over. But she wasn�t ready to go home. Instead she headed to the train station.

Trains had always helped her think. She bought a ticket on the longest circle track and settled into a seat, and popped on her headphones. Setting the iPod to random and the volume to low, she tuned out and watched the scenery go by.

Was she wrong to be upset?

In a way, yes. Zhu Shu really hadn�t meant any harm. But she had known that Ukyo wasn�t happy about her dad trying to engage her to ANY girl. Just because he was a stubborn ass about his vow�

But really, hadn�t she been just as stubborn in her ten year quest to force Ranma to marry her? She�d been dead set on marrying him regardless of whatever he might have thought, sure she would make him love her in time. She certainly had to admit she didn�t have the moral highground there.

And what of his curse? She�d been willing enough to accept him being a girl part time in regards to marrying him, for the all of five minutes of hope she�d entertained before his mother destroyed it forever. Why really did she object to a full time girl so hard? Because she didn�t like girls, or because she was rebelling against her fathers insistence on treating her like a boy?

She looked up as a pretty dark haired girl flounced into the seat beside her, muttering loud enough to be heard over her earbuds.

�I swear that knucklehead is going to go too far one day and I�m going to make him sit in a river until he drowns!�

She quirked an eyebrow. �Relationship not going smoothly?�

The girl looked up. �Oh, I�m sorry, I didn�t realize I said that out loud.�

Ukyo pulled the buds out. �No biggie, sugar. My thoughts are just going in circles anyway.�

�I know how that feels.� The other girl said sympathetically. �Sometimes I think he annoys me just to see if I�ll come back.�

�So why do you?�

The girl shrugged. �Because as much of a jerk as he can be, I also see that deep down, he�s probably the noblest man I�ve ever met.� She blushed. �Not that I�d ever tell him that. He�d laugh at me.�

�Doesn�t sound noble to me.� Ukyo tilted her head.

�But he is! I mean, he�s just had such a rough life. He�s such a sweetheart, but nobody ever gave him a chance when he was growing up. He just doesn�t know how to act because he�s never been allowed to learn.� The girl sighed. �He looks a little different, because he�s only half- � well half Japanese anyway. He was always picked on and his parents both died young. He�s just always been alone.�

Ukyo nodded. �I can sympathize with that. I�ve had my own share of being alone, and being teased. Children can be so cruel without realizing it.�

The girl nodded, �Exactly, so he�s a little rough around the edges, but that�s just one of the small things.� She sighed. �I just wish I could be certain he loved me, is all.�

�I see.� Ukyo leaned back. �So what does he do to make you wonder?�

The girl sighed. �It�s complicated.�

Ukyo laughed. �Trust me, I know complicated.�

�Well, before we met, there was another girl that he was in love with.�

�Umhuh?�

�Well, they sort of had a breakup, but it wasn�t because they didn�t love each other anymore. It was, well, because another person kinda made each of them think the other had betrayed them, and they had a really bad argument and, well, broke up. And now they found out that it was this other person who had caused everything. I know he still loves her, but she�s still cold to him. And I think he loves me, but everytime Kikyo shows up, he�s still all gaga over her.�

Ukyo whistled. �That is tough.� She shook her head. �I�m kinda on the opposite end of the spectrum. I know they love me. I just don�t know if I can love them.�

�Why?�

�Well�� Ukyo sighed. �I�um� I have a small problem with how they look.� She ended up lamely.

The girl gave her sympathetic expression. �I have this friend, named Jinenji. He�s the kindest most caring person I�ve ever met, and the ugliest. I was terrified of him the very first time I saw him, but I saw right away that he meant me no harm, and soon, I discovered how wonderful a person he was. He spends his time growing medicinal herbs and taking care of his frail old mother. But the people in his town were just as scared of him as I was at first, and they wanted to make him move, they even accused him of a couple of crimes, until he caught the real criminal and they saw how good hearted he really was. The last time I saw him, the children were using him as a jungle gym.� Her eyes grew far away, �and my boyfriend, I have to admit, before I got to know him, he was scary too.� She gave Ukyo a warm smile. �I guess what I�m trying to say is that looks aren�t everything. I think I�d take the certainty of love any day.� She looked up. �Oh, my stops up next.�

�Okay. Hey, I don�t even know your name, I�m Ukyo, Ukyo Kuonji.�

�Kagome Higurashi. Nice to meet you, and good luck.�

�You too.�

She settled back into her seat and replaced her earbuds. It was nice to know that even people with nice sane lives could sympathize with the nuthouse existence of hers.

* * * * *

By the time she finally got home and turned in she was still trying to figure out what to do about the engagement, but had at least decided she couldn�t really be mad at Zhu Shu. She showered and lay in her bed, feeling the link in her head. Zhu Shu wasn�t crying any more, but the aura of depression colored the strand heavily.

<<Zhu Shu.>> she thought at the thread. <<I don�t know if you can hear me or not, but I hope at least the feeling gets through. I�m sorry I got so mad. I know you were just wanting to help, and I know I was just too upset to see it. I� I don�t know what to do about your feelings for me, but I at least can accept that they�re real.>>

The little butterfly was at the back of her mind, and it felt hesitant, like it was unsure it was welcome.

<<Is that you Zhu Shu?>>

<<Yes?>>

And then, around her, there was the smell of sakura, and she found herself standing in front of the little dragon girl surrounded by a twilit grove. Zhu Shu looked horrible, and Ukyo felt the stab of guilt in her stomach. She reached out and wiped away a tear.

�Look, I�m sorry I yelled at you.�

�Zhu Shu sorry she hurt Ukyo.�

Ukyo nodded and looked around. Spying a stone bench not far away, in front of a arch into nothingness, she sat down and patted the stone beside her.

�I know you love me, Zhu Shu,� Ukyo began as the dragon girl took her seat. �And I know you mean well, but I don�t know what to think. When I met you, I did see something, a rush of images I can�t explain, and don�t really remember, but I knew what you wanted of me, what you wanted me to be. I sorry I got scared.�

�Is Zhu Shu should be sorry. Tried force Ukyo feel same as Zhu Shu.�

�You did move a little fast, sugar. But again, I can forgive you for it, knowing how feel.� Ukyo sighed. �I guess the best way I can put this is give me time. I had a memory today that showed me that I can love you, I just can�t promise that I will love you. Be patient.�

The little Chinese girl nodded, and Ukyo gathered her in for a hug.

Then something caught her eye, and she looked up to see a mirror propped against one of the cherry trees. It hadn�t been visible from where they had arrived in the grove, but it reflected the two of them quite well.

And Ukyo realized where they were� in a shared space in their minds, a common dreamscape, and she was once again seeing a reflection of her soul.

But it was Zhu Shu who drew her eye.

Ukyo could only stare in wonder. The mirror showed Zhu Shu�s cursed form, not her normal body, but that wasn�t what made her heart lump in her throat or her face feel flushed, it was how it had been changed�

Where Zhu Shu�s hair was midnight black, the one in the mirror seemed to have been spun from the purest strands of silver, frosted with flecks of diamond. Her horns were slightly longer and were polished gold, but even that paled besides her wings.

The fine, nearly invisible scales that covered the arm part of her wing had also changed from black, to a silver nearly pearlescent in its shine, matching the translucent mother of pearl of the webbing. Like a dusting of glitter, small sparkles twinkled on those wings, and down the center of her back to her tail, accenting and highlighting her tattoo dramatically and making the spatula look like polished steel.

And she glowed, a clear radiant light that seemed to shine from deep with in her, a light that with a start, Ukyo saw she shared as well.

She pulled away slightly and lifted Zhu Shu�s chin, noting that once again , they had turned to bottomless pools of liquid gold.

�What ever we may end up as in this lifetime, you should know that I loved you in our last one. Xi�an Chi may have turned me into stone, but I fought him to my last breath, and my dying thought was of you.�

And then she felt herself falling into those glorious golden depths and for just a moment before sleep claimed her, she felt herself wrapped by warm arms and delicate platinum wings�

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