Wedding Bells Will Chime -- Death Knells Shall Clang By Matt Plotecher Part One Wedding Preparations -- Funeral Arrangements "Marriage." Dale gave a morose sigh. "Matrimony." Still nothing. "Wedding." He frowned slightly, wondering what it would take. "Commitment." The face looking back at him remained impassive. "Obey." A wide smile formed. "Obey. Oooobey. O-yay Obey!" Dale's reflection in the mirror grinned even wider. "It *does* sound like pig-Latin," he observed to himself. Still, he was nervous all over. And why shouldn't he be? Wasn't he in the place where a very important marriage would be taking place? Wasn't Foxglove in the room across the hall from his own? Wasn't his life seemingly flashing before his eyes? Of course, he sort of enjoyed the last bit, even rewinding and playing back some of his fonder memories as an eligible, single, hunk of a 'munk. "Dale." Dale shot up like a bottle rocket, practically ricocheting off the ceiling, but was saved from a painful landing by the person who had spooked him, acting quickly and catching the descending chipmunk. "Dale, take it easy!" Chip advised his best friend. "Sorry, sorry," Dale managed as he dropped from Chip's arms and back to his (somewhat shaky) legs. "I'm just nervous, is all. High-strung and butterflies in the stomach, you know? Bad case of the jitters." "It would explain why you're acting bonkers, all right," Chip agreed, managing not to grin. Dale turned back to the mirror. "Well c'mon Chip, whattaya expect from me? This marriage business is just plain, well, spooky. I mean, I'm starting to have second thoughts about it." "Impossible," Chip reasoned, "as you never had first thoughts about it in the first place." "Hey," Dale frowned at his friend. "Dale," Chip couldn't hold back his smile anymore. "You're not the one getting married, remember?" Dale blinked. "Oh yeah." He smiled sheepishly. "I guess I just got caught up in the whole thoughts-before-the-marriage thing. Kinda neat, in a way. Sorta like virtual reality." Chip chuckled. "Virtual matrimony, I suppose, but just relax. Being an intricate part of a marriage ceremony, even if it's not your own, can give any single guy a bit of nervousness. Especially if he's hoping to reach that state himself with a certain young lady." He gave Dale a knowing look. "Just relax, like me." "Chip?" Gadget's voice asked politely. Chip actually *did* ricochet off the ceiling, landing on his hindquarters with an undignified grunt. Gadget blinked. "Uhm, are you okay?" "Fine," Chip assured her, rubbing his rump while ignoring Dale's muffled laugh. "I just wanted to let you know that Foxy and I will be heading out to pick up the floral arrangements," Gadget explained. "So will you guys tell Kan and Tham that? We'll be back in a little while." She glanced at Dale. "Is he all right?" she asked, indicating the mumbling chipmunk before her. Dale nodded, then glanced down at Chip with a smile. "Chip just needs some time to 'relax', is all." "Heya cutie!" Foxglove cheerfully greeted Dale as she bounded to the door. Dale landed next to Chip, also with a grunt. "We both need a moment," Chip explained to the two ladies standing in the doorway, who were unsure as to why the chipmunks were so jumpy. "We'll head up and tell them that you two are taking care of that errand. I think Tham wanted to pick up a few more things today, too, so we might be gone before you get back." Gadget and Foxglove smiled and nodded as they left, closing the door behind them. Dale and Chip were still on the floor, so Dale casually rested his elbow on his best friend's shoulder. "Well, Chipper, you think we'll ever be any more relaxed when it's our own time?" "Not on your life, Dale," Chip grinned. "Not on your life." They regained their feet, brushing themselves off and privately assuring themselves that they really weren't as shaken up as their trembling indicated. They headed out through the men's dressing rooms, down the hallway, and up the stairway in back which led to the guest rooms. Dale had to admit, it was really an impressive place. More so in the fact that it was located in Stones City. He had thought that Kan and Tham would have wanted the ceremony to take place in Japan, their homeland, but Kan had explained that some Japanese couples have started having their marriage take place overseas. Thus, they can start on the honeymoon immediately after the wedding. Combining the two also cut down on costs a bit, and gave the newlyweds more time to spend on the honeymoon, rather than traveling. Kan and Tham planned to head up further north, toward one of the large state forests, and spend the first week of their honeymoon there, in the comforting Western abode of Mother Nature. The building everyone was staying at, known as The Ivy Crest, was one of the very few actual "rodent" buildings -- that is, a building built by the animal community, rather than just an extension or modification of a pre-existing human dwelling. This one was near Chinatown, though its actual history was long forgotten in the turbulent years that enshrouded the territory of the crime lords, The Siamese Twins. Fortunately, the cat overlords had been missing since Swarm's quondam occupation, making this a prime opportunity for Kan and Tham's marriage to take place in town. The actual structure itself was near the docks, down along the waterfront, tucked away from the wandering eyes of humans in a midst of various fishing shanties and harbor-master shacks. It stood about five feet high, with another two feet acting as lower levels underground, and stretched back into the actual rising ground level for more than ten feet. It had had several purposes during its lifespan, but currently it was being used as a hotel, and, being in Chinatown, had adapted to providing services for its numerous Oriental guests. One of those services -- which took place on a regular basis, actually -- was as a wedding chapel. A traditional Shinto shrine had been constructed in the heart of the hotel, made from timber and painted red and black. Some very small saplings were even cared for within, acting as sacred objects on which Shinto followers could tie straw ropes with zigzag papers (Tham called them shimenawa). Kan and Tham were, naturally, delighted to hear of The Ivy Crest when Monterey Jack mentioned it to them in the Rangers' correspondence with the couple. After some negotiations with The Ivy Crest's management and staff, arrangements were made for the wedding, and the preparations for the ceremony went into full swing. Now, all the wedding guests were assembled in The Ivy Crest, as well as various people who were part of the ceremony itself. The Rangers still weren't quite clear on their roles, but Tham promised them it would all be explained later today. "I was kinda surprised," Dale mentioned as he and Chip made their way up the stairs leading to the engaged couple's rooms, "at how small the guest list was. I guess I'm used to the idea of weddings usually being big events." "Well, like you said," Chip replied, "they usually are. Some people, though, don't even have a guest list -- they just have a legal document signed in the mayor's office declaring them legally married. But the actual ceremony is pretty elaborate, from what Tham told me. A combination of the traditional and the Western influence." He shrugged as they reached the top of the stairs and headed down the hallway. "Really?" "Yep. Happens a lot these days, I guess. Like the honeymoon, and the exchange of rings. I guess Tham and Kan also had to make a few modifications anyway, though, seeing as how neither of them has any family." "Gee, that's kinda sad." "Yeah, but they have already dealt with those issues. This is a happy event, remember? A joyous occasion, my friend." The ring of metal clashing on metal jolted Chip and Dale out of their conversation. They glanced at each other in confusion, then tore down the hall to the room it was coming from: Tham's. Throwing the door open, the chipmunks were astonished at what they saw. Tham and Kan were in the middle of an intense sword fight with each other, katanas flashing too fast to follow. Each moved with a fluid grace that almost defied comprehension, threatening to put the chipmunks into a trace. But the clamor of the swords waging war against each other easily dispelled it. "Kan! Tham!" Chip shouted out in horror. "What're you--" Dale started. "Shut up!" Kan snapped at them, not taking her eyes from her betrothed. "He doesn't need any more advantages than he already has!" It was at this time that the two friends finally noticed that both of the dueling contestants were smiling. "Why, my dear Kan," Tham chuckled easily as he continued to press the attack, driving his fianc‚ back. "Are you admitting that I am your superior?" "Hah!" Kan laughed, but was still backing up. "You're just lucky Chip and Dale distracted me and you were able to capitalize on it." Tham shrugged, his sword tip always just missing his future bride by no more than a centimeter, and would have struck home if Kan hadn't been able to block each attack. Chip and Dale stood motionless in the doorway, gaping unabashedly at the couple. Tham increased his attacks, slowly herding Kan towards the corner. He brought his sword in for an overhead chop, apparently aiming to spilt her head open. Kan's sword flashed upwards in the nick of time to block it. Even so, she was forced down, doing the splits in order to keep her torso erect. She swung her forward leg around, spinning on her hips, and managed to catch her fiance in a foot sweep. Tham toppled to the floor, and Kan was quick to pop back up to her feet, bringing her own katana in towards his neck. Tham deftly used his hilt to nudge the blade aside, the tip digging into the wooden floor right next to his throat. Using his free hand, he snatched Kan's swordarm, pulling her forward to meet his rising foot and catapulting her up and over his head. Kan cursed herself for not foreseeing such a counterattack, pulled herself into a ball and flipped cleanly over to land expertly on her feet. The second she spent in the air was all Tham needed to spring back upright and take up the attack once more. Chip and Dale watched with hearts racing as the battle raged on, the advantage swinging back and forth from Tham to Kan and back to Tham again. In all honestly, it might have gone on for some time, but Kan's katana, though well-made, couldn't compete with the legendary Time Blade. Tham's ancestral heirloom spun and maneuvered cleanly in his grasp so well it appeared to be a natural extension of his arm. The superior balance was more than adequate to block Kan's latest thrust with the hilt, then snap around to snatch her katana free from her grasp, flipping it perfectly into Tham's awaiting free hand. Both swordtips were at Kan's delicate throat within an instant. "Do you yield?" Tham asked with a wry smile. Kan fretted a bit, then lowered her head. Her sparkling green eyes looked up at Tham through her wild bangs while her lower lip pouted. "Uh-uh," Tham shook his head. "Not this time." "Blast!" Kan stomped her foot, a surprisingly cute gesture to make while at swordpoint. "The one time I really need it to work...." She sighed finally, and nodded. "Very well, Tham. I yield." Tham nodded his acceptance and handed her katana back to her. They each sheathed their blades, bowed respectfully, then hugged each other strongly. "You're getting better," Tham chuckled. Kan gave a throaty murmur, nipping her fiance on the nose lightly. "Good." She gently separated from him and headed through the doorway leading to the kitchen, pausing long enough to turn to him. "Because I'm getting tired of being the one who has to do the dishes." A few moments after she had left, the chipmunks were able to move their limbs once more. "Uh..." Chip slowly started, "Gadget and Foxglove... left to pick up the flowers. They'll be back later...." Dale, meanwhile, did his patented Etch-a-Sketch method of recovering; shake head firmly until it clears. "Good," Tham said in response to Chip's statement. "We can pick up a few more items today, as well." He spoke with his usual calm and dignified voice as he lightly cleaned and polished his katana. The Time Blade had been in Tham's family for generations untold, and had once carried the power to grant a descendant of the original wielder a wish. Had, of course, as Tham had used it to save himself, Kan, Geegaw, and the Rangers from a rather grisly end back in Japan. The absence of the wish did nothing to detract from the blade, however, as it was still the pinnacle of any swordmaker's career; truly, a work of art. Sleek, perfectly balanced, blade folded over countless times, a razor-sharp edge, and with a highly decorative and ornamental hilt and sheath, the Time Blade was still something that the Raccoon and Packrat Museum of Naturally Glittery Things would have been proud to display. Of course, the Time Blade being a priceless heirloom, the chances were nonexistent of this ever happening. "Well, let's get a move on, then," Dale finally managed, recovering from the rather odd method Tham and Kan used to determine who did what chores. "The rehearsal's tomorrow, right?" The Rangers had actually only been at the hotel since last night, and had spent their first time in ages seeing Kan and Tham by visiting rather than studying the wedding plans. "Right," Tham nodded as he sheathed the katana. "I have the list with me. Most are within a short walking distance, but we'll have a fair amount to carry back." He glanced at the chipmunks. "Are Monterey Jack and Zipper coming with us?" "I imagine so, yes," Chip nodded, finally putting the sword fight behind him. "They should be downstairs. Probably taking a look around the cafe." "Hey, I wanted to ask you, Tham," Dale said suddenly, remembering. "What exactly are we doing in this thing again? Are we like ushers, or something?" Tham smiled. "Not quite, but you'll be helping out in the ceremony, yes. If you want to, of course." Chip grinned. "That's a stupid question." "Well, thank you in advance, then," Tham smiled. "Don't worry, Kan and I will guide you through it tomorrow at the rehearsal. It will be a day-long event, after all." Chip and Dale nodded, and started to follow Tham out, until Chip advised that Tham leave the Time Blade behind; in the animal society of America, wearing a sword about in public wasn't a good idea. Kan called from the kitchen, reminding Tham to be back soon, so they could start filling the Rangers in on the ceremony, once Gadget and Foxglove returned. Agreeing, Tham and the chipmunks exited and went downstairs, where they found Monterey and Zipper fast enough. As Chip predicted, they were at the cafe. They gathered around the table as Tham went over the errand list. "Gadget and Foxglove are taking care of the floral arrangements," he glanced at the paper, "so we need to stop by the baker's, the caterer's, the clothiers', and the musicians'. Plus, I received word from the glassblowers' shop that in addition to the wine glasses, my wedding gift for Kan is ready to be picked up, so we should be able to get everything in one trip. And without having to worry about Kan spotting her gift." What'd you get her, again? Zipper politely inquired. Tham glanced about to make sure that no other members of the wedding party were in the area. "A small, glass globe, with a crystalline butterfly inside, suspended by two metal wires. A slight tap to the glass dome will set the butterfly into motion, and it will remain that way for several minutes. Truly captivating, and practically breathtaking if you set it in direct sunlight. It represents how I feel about Kan; she can take a ray of pure sunshine and create something even more wondrous from it," he stated proudly. "Pretty impressive, mate," Monterey chuckled. "Reminds me of the kind of reactions I got from me ol' flames when I gave 'em gifts." "Really?" Tham asked. "What sort of gifts did you use?" "Cheese," he replied with a smile and a distant look of fond remembrance in his eyes. "Limburger always made 'em swoon...." Tham exchanged a surreptitious glance with the others. "I can imagine," he finally stated with honesty. "Well, we're burnin' daylight, boyos," Dale remarked with a chuckle. "Let's hit the caterers first. Maybe they have some leftovers we can munch on." Tham was about to mention what they would have to pick up from the caterers, and why it would be a bit of a bother, but Dale, Monterey, and Zipper were already enticed by the prospect of free food and were out the door. Chip sighed and shrugged to Tham as he followed his fellow Rangers outside. After a chuckle about what lay in store for them, the groom quickly caught up. * * * On the surface of the city, light is a welcomed and cherished aspect of life. So much so that the people living there have hundreds of artificial lighting systems for when the night comes. Light is associated with life and protection, being used to ward off the dangers which may lurk in the shadows, hidden from view. But deep in the bowels of the city's sewer system, light is a bane and considered an evil which must be tolerated. Where no sunlight ever falls, no moonlight ever shines, and artificial light only appears once in a great while, it is a suicidal endeavor to be caught near a light source. Creatures roam the pitch black corridors, relying on extraordinary vision or other, even more precise sensory organs to navigate their way through the endless corridors of darkness. Light draws attention, and attention often results in lethal danger. Still, some love the light as if they lived on the surface. This may be due to their needing it for proper living conditions, or because the creature has no fear of attack from another denizen of the deep. And, in one particular case, it's both. Sewer Al sat against the wall of his cavernous dwelling, his reading lamp shining brightly above him and illuminating the novel he was currently reading with brilliant clarity. The bulb was a halogen -- easily the huge Cajun gator's favorite. Bright, long-lasting, and easily powered from the few electrical lines he had tapped into. Hulking over his precious literature, one might mistake him for a docile animal. A grave mistake. Despite his large number of years, it would be inaccurate in the extreme to consider Sewer Al as being "past his prime". True, his age showed, from the gray, large, bushy eyebrows, to the pair of spectacles resting at the end of his nose, to the tattered, worn sweater and vest he sported. Yet, he was sitting on top of the food chain; the only creatures that would dare attack him would be other gators, and they had no reason to provoke him. More importantly, Sewer Al's mind was just as sharp and nimble as it always was. The gator had amassed an almost-legendary store of books, ranging the entire Dewey decimal system from dictionaries and encyclopedias to the most recent in science fiction. The half-buried subway car he used as his lair was filled with books, magazines and other reading materials. Safely high and dry from the reflecting pools all about his abode, his collection of written works had been amassed as payments for hundreds of jobs; they ranged from enforcer to informant, criminal to legitimate. As long as his price was met, Sewer Al was not one to concern himself with whom the payer was. He had worked for the likes of Fat Cat and Rat Capone as well as the Rescue Rangers and the Animal Police Force (A.P.F.). His price was not as easy to meet as most thought, however, as having already collected more research material than most bookstores, it was becoming increasingly difficult to meet the gator's demands. Indeed, this insatiable thirst for books, and hence the paying clients' need to steal them from humans, had given Stones City the distinction of having the best-read criminals in the world. Stones City had the highest rate of book theft on the globe, and things had become so bad in recent years that insurance companies had had book coverage listed as a separate policy. Sewer Al was currently reading a true delicacy of the animal kingdom -- a small book written and published by animals, rather than humans. This rarity was the latest in the series, "Life Under Earth", by the noted biologist, David Digginburrow. A slight scuffling to the right, however, gave him cause to insert one of his bookmarks before lowering the tome and looking off into the darkness, just out of the range of the reading lamp's illumination. He didn't say anything. Whoever had come this far was either a potential client, or a potential dinner. Interrupting Sewer Al's reading, particularly when such intrusion was uncalled for , was similar to a treason charge in most countries. "Hey, you don't look so good," a voice full of confidence and self- assurance called out to the educated reptile. "You have some sort of disease from hanging around in these sewers?" Sewer Al didn't bother to respond. "All right, sorry about that. I just can't understand what the attraction is to living your life surrounded by aromas strong enough to make the stone walls melt." The owner of the voice stepped into the light radius, revealing himself as one of the city's lesser-seen residents: a raccoon. His gray and black fur was presentable, showing him to be from the city, rather than the unkempt and carefree style of his brethren in the wilds. In addition, Sewer Al noticed the jean jacket the raccoon was wearing was dyed gray and black, so as not to ruin the natural camouflage. "I need information," the raccoon stated bluntly, obviously not caring in the least about formalities or subtlety. Again, Sewer Al decided not to waste energy replying. The raccoon obviously knew what Sewer Al's price was, so there was no point in bringing it up. After a moment, the raccoon frowned. "Fine. And I have another book to exchange for it, too. Happy?" He seemed rather upset, and Sewer Al was getting the feeling that this raccoon was trying to push Sewer Al's buttons, to get a reaction. It was an insane idea, of course, but this raccoon seemed disappointed that he couldn't get a rise from the wizened gator. Sewer Al, being the well-read and congenial person he was, decided to oblige him. "You have ten seconds to explain your desired transaction in detail," he explained. "At the end of it, if I feel you've wasted my time, I'll chew you into meat shreds." Sewer Al calmly set his book down and stood up, waiting. "I need to know the layout to The Ivy Crest," the raccoon quickly grunted out, actually more irritated than frightened. "All the entrances, exits, and room locations. Full detail. In payment, I offer an animal press book, which I doubt has ever been seen in the Western Hemisphere before." The raccoon tossed a small but thick book up to Sewer Al, who caught it one-handed and began flipping through carefully it with a sharp claw. Fortunately for the raccoon, the well-read reptile was impressed. "Where did you get this?" Sewer Al asked offhandedly, his deep voice, always with a trace of a growling, deliberate Cajun drawl, rebounding from all angles around the raccoon. Still, the raccoon refused to feel nervous. "Let us just say that I had it procured for me through a contact," he replied evenly. "Unless you care to consider that as payment rather than the book?" Sewer Al smirked as he glanced at the raccoon. True, the mammal had a certain level of belligerence, but at least he was smart enough to keep it in check. Such a trait, nevertheless, would make the raccoon's presence known to Sewer Al through rumors and rumblings of the animal society, yet he couldn't even place a name as to whom this might be. None of that mattered, however, as Sewer Al lightly closed the book and nodded. "Very well," he said, "I shall consider this as a fair trade. You are correct; I have not seen this book before, and the nature of the writing suggests it originated outside of this country. Hence, my curiosity of where you," he chuckled, "'procured it from', as you so aptly put it. "Whatever the case may be," he went on as he walked inside the subway car, "make yourself comfortable. I shall return momentarily." "Comfortable?" the raccoon grumbled to himself as he waited. "Here? Just sitting down might be soaking my fur in someone's bile that leaked from an inflamed orifice." He opted to await Sewer Al's return while standing. A few minutes later, the huge carnivore returned with a series of rolled-up papers. He lobbed them to the raccoon, who snatched them quickly, unrolling them at once to glance over each one in detail. Sewer Al waited patiently for the raccoon to finish, reclaiming his place by the wall and opening his book as he did so. The raccoon nodded to Sewer Al and left without another word. For his own part, Sewer Al was silent, far more interested in finishing his current book so that he could start on his latest acquisition as soon as possible. When the raccoon was far off, heading for the next spot on his itinerary, Sewer Al once again bookmarked his place, rose, and walked over to a small table. Pulling out a small sheet of paper, he quickly jotted down a note in shorthand, indecipherable to anyone who didn't know the writing style. Once completed, he rolled up the paper, placed it in a bottle, corked it, and dropped in the sewer flowing towards the Sewage Treatment Plant. Then once more, he sat down to read at a leisurely pace. It would be a while before his next guests arrived. * * * "You got it okay, Monty?" Dale looked with concern at the colossal box with legs, currently wobbling. The box wasn't that heavy, of course. The cake inside was. "No (pant) sweat (puff), mate!" Monterey wheezed as he maintained his slow but steady pace, being careful not to tip the cake or lose his footing. The actual cake, itself, was heavy to begin with -- it was bigger than he was -- but it was the enormous amounts of ornamentation and decorations on the cake, both edible and non-edible, that added on the weight. He tried to keep his energy up by reminding himself that this was a *real* cake, and once the wedding was over, he would be able to take his revenge on it by helping to scarf it down in record time. And, he knew, Dale would be a valuable tag-team partner in that bout. Zipper assisted Monterey by flying near the top of the box to aid the balancing act, leaving Monterey more energy to worry about simply holding it up. The fly was able to help Monterey quite nicely, as the only package Zipper was carrying was the box holding Tham's wedding gift to Kan; it was small enough for him to secure it to his body with one hand, leaving the other free for the Amazing Walking Cake. Dale, Chip, and Tham were carrying several packages themselves, or they would have been helping out Monterey as well. Dale's arms were full of the proper clothing for the ceremony; They had the clothes for everyone who wasn't a guest, from the musicians to the servers during the meal. Dale thought the outfits looked rather stylish, but felt they were somewhat drab compared to his own wardrobe. Next to him, Chip was busy carrying all the other various baked goods, the boxes stacked up to his nose. The caterers would be by tomorrow, but some of the special dishes on the menu came from the same bakery as the cake, and since the bakers charged extra for delivery, Tham had elected to pick them up instead. Chip was just glad his burdens were mere food, and not the eighth wonder of the world that Monterey was gasping under. As for the groom, Tham's arms were weighted down with two hard suitcases, each filled with numerous wine glasses, freshly engraved from the glassblowers' shop. Each one had a guest name on it, to be used as souvenir presents at the reception. The glassblower had packed each suitcase full of foam, assuring Tham that he could use the suitcases as a shield from an asteroid and not worry about breaking the contents within. Tham had merely smiled in reply. He knew merchants all too well to take heart in such proclamations, and knew it best not to tempt fate. The five of them were making their way back from the musicians', the last people they had needed to see, confirming that they would arrive later tonight for setting up, as well as doing a few warm-ups. They would be part of the rehearsal the next day, and wanted to be ready to play by then. In addition, the head of the group would also act as a DJ for a the reception. Kan had mentioned once before that Karaoke was a popular pastime at Japanese weddings, and Dale was tickled pink by the idea. Monterey would have asked about earplugs, but Zipper had elbowed him in time. "Only a few more blocks to go," Chip called out, turning a bit so the cake with Monterey's legs could hear. "No good," came the forced reply. "You said that three blocks ago." He set the large box down and took a deep breath. "Hang on a minute, mates," he said breathlessly. "I think this thing is gainin' weight." "I believe it," Dale nodded, setting the clothes down next to him. "I think there's some kind of weird mathematical formula that talks about something getting heavier for every foot you travel, or something like that. You know, sorta like those quacktron physics formulas." "Quantum, Dale," Chip corrected him, setting his own boxes down as well, but Dale shook his head. "No, I meant quacktron. I read about it online, using the library's Internet computer. It makes things float and stuff." "Indeed?" Tham asked, coming back over to join them and placing the heavy suitcases down. Zipper flitted over and sat down on the top of the cake box as Dale explained. "Sure. There's this ray that was being built, see, and you could fire it to make things get lighter and lighter by using these tiny things called quacktrons. And you could punch holes through dimensional walls and stuff, too. Really cool. Except when your insane counterpart from another dimension slips in and kills you. Then it kinda sucks." The others were quiet for a moment. "Uh, where did you read this?" Chip finally queried. "On this one website," Dale responded. "Off of the DAFT Webring." "If there was ever a more apt name...." Chip remarked dryly. "Hey, don't knock the idea of separate dimensions, buddy," Dale retorted with a grin. "Or should I remind you of Dragon and the robots?" "Is that a band?" Tham asked, thinking they were talking about a song. "No," Monterey chuckled. "But you could label 'em as 'Heavy Metal'." Tham was about to ask another question, then decided the answer would be even more confusing, so wisely skipped it. Guys, Zipper quietly buzzed from his vantage point, about ten yards in front of us, to the right of the street. They didn't visibly react to Zipper's warning, but they all managed to steal a nondescript glance at the location Zipper had reported. Some figures were moving in the shadows of the building, heading in their direction. While there was no proof that these figures were after them -- or even noticed them -- this wasn't a place to wander about without some method of self-defense. In the waning daylight, the local gangs got more and more bold about assaulting people returning home from work and shopping. Most didn't bother people out in the open, like Tham and the four Rangers, but nobody wanted to become another gang statistic in the power struggle which was broiling in the vacuum left by the Siamese Twins' sudden departure. Tham frowned, wishing he had some type of blade on him, but Chip had been right; walking around with a sword would have attracted more attention than they already had gotten. "Whattaya think?" Dale quietly asked the group, glancing about. The sun was setting, so they wouldn't have much time before the dusk only added more shadows to keep track of. "I'd prefer to avoid any conflict," Tham replied. "Don't like fightin'?" Monterey asked, slightly disappointed. "More like I prefer to avoid risking damaging any of our packages," Tham chuckled. "Doing so would undoubtedly endanger the perfection of the wedding, and do you wish to be the one to inform Kan of that?" While everyone nodded in understanding, Monterey considered the number of women he had known in his lifetime. The ones he remembered as being the most vindictive and merciless were usually those who had had a serious relationship that had gone horribly sour. He winced as he wondered about his old flame, Desiree. Would she have stayed on the right side of the law had he not inadvertently left her at the alter? In that unexpected revelation, Monterey realized she could probably attempt to kill him a hundred times, and he would still have a soft spot for her; how could anything she could do compare to what he had actually done? Such thoughts normally come unbidden, and frequently at rather inopportune times. By the time that Monterey had shaken his head to return his attention to the problem at hand, he saw the grim looks on his friends' faces; the figures had finally separated from the shadows. From all around them. And had started closing in. The five friends unconsciously formed a defensive ring around their packages, putting the safety of the wedding preparations above their own welfare. A wise move, of course. Maybe they could intimidate their way out of this. The gang drawing closer was regarding them warily, as if the gang wasn't quite certain of who it was. It might have been due to the absence of Gadget, who was far and away the most popular Ranger in the city; heck, probably in the world. The gang was actually mostly younger kids, no older than sixteen or so, Chip would have guessed, so inexperience might have been a partial cause of the trepidation being shown. At last, the apparent leader of the gang stepped forward while the others halted. His cool, dark eyes regarded each of the Rangers and Tham carefully, weighing each one before moving on to the next, trying to firmly decide on the correct course of action to take. Finally, he spoke. "So," his voice was even and crisp, "you guys are the Rescue Rangers?" Zipper noticed a slight twitch at the corner of the leader's mouth; the mouse was trying hard to suppress a grin.... "That's us," Chip nodded. He and the others weren't in any particular aggressive pose, but were still ready for whatever this gang threw at them. "Hah! You see?" the mouse said to his fellow gang members, grinning widely. "I *told* you guys it was them!" Well, almost anything. "Excuse me?" Dale asked, slightly puzzled at the happiness shown by the gang. Zipper, on the other hand, was astonished at what he recognized in their eyes: hero worship. "We're your biggest fans!" the mouse exclaimed as he and the rest of the group crowded around to shake hands with the Rangers, even Tham. "We've been following all your adventures since... well, since as long as I can remember!" "It's what brought us all together!" another one added vigorously. "We all admire you guys so much we decided to follow your example, and so we started this gang to go around and help keep the streets down here as safe as we could. It's a lot of work, but hey, we figured you guys have done a lot more, so we can surely do this little service to our community!" The mouse leader nodded. "Eddie's right. Before we learned about you guys, we didn't have much to do with our lives. You sure helped to give us a direction." Chip finally found his tongue. "Great," he said through a widening smile. "Glad to hear it." "Who's the new guy?" the mouse asked politely, nodding to Tham. "You guys take another member?" "And where's Gadget?" a female voice called out. "This is Tham," Chip answered the leader first, "and no, he's not a new member. He's a friend of ours from overseas, here on, uh, personal matters. I don't think we'll be taking on any actual new members for a while. We only have a few Honorary Rangers, to start with." "Cool," the mouse said with a grin. "Truth is, we've heard so many rumors about strangers joining your team, it sounded like you were running a hotel in your Headquarters." "Where's Gadget?" the same female voice called out loudly. "Back at the hotel!" Dale replied, trying to see who asked it, but the crowd was too thick. "You'll have to forgive Julie," the mouse chuckled, "she's a huge fan of Gadget." "Hey, who isn't?" Monterey pointed out, a sentiment everyone else agreed with. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?" Chip asked the leader. "Oh, sorry -- where are my manners? My name's Jeff," he respectfully gave a small bow to Chip. "Jeff Puncture. And forgive our indulgence, but could you spare a few minutes to chat? We've always wanted to meet you guys face-to-face." "Well--" Chip started. "You bet!" Dale interrupt, forcing his way in front of Chip. "The Rangers are always ready and willing to meet with our fans!" "Great!" Jeff replied, and everyone who was gathered around began a series of rapid-fire questions: How long had they been together? Did they have a website? Did they know anyone named Clarice? Did they really beat Swarm with one hand tied behind their backs? Tham smiled and shook his head, glad to be sitting out this particular panel discussion. * * * "Now I want you to realize," the raccoon addressed the large crowd before him, "that this will be a fairly straightforward and easy task. That's what the boss says. So, it will be, even if it's more difficult than cramming Fat Albert into the back seat of a Volkswagen Beetle." The crowd grumbled amongst themselves. The raccoon, whom they knew as Morty, smirked condescendingly at them all. He didn't respect them, and made no effort to hide it. Most criminal bosses showing such distaste for his employees would find themselves ousted from power within weeks -- some were so bad that they were ousted from the ranks of the living, as well. Morty's career, on the other hand, had seemed to skyrocket despite his adversarial demeanor. He had seemingly arisen from nowhere a few months ago, but, as the information brokers of the underground knew, this wasn't as strange as it might seem to the untrained eye. The truth was that Swarm's temporary hostile take-over of the city's animal populace had ground several crime rings to dust; only the very powerful (such as The Kingpin Kingdom of Fat Cat and Stripes) or the reclusive (such as Rat Capone's Sewer Empire) crime syndicates had survived the ordeal in sufficient condition to protect their assets during the wild and rather savage power struggle which had emerged in the aftermath of Swarm's downfall. Morty had managed to quickly form his own core of loyal followers, and had systematically set about absorbing all of the small criminal rackets in the immediate area, by both force and subterfuge. Now he was one of the top contenders vying for control of the docks. The Siamese Twins, former lords over Chinatown, would return eventually, as everyone knew. The docks were generally in the Twins' sphere of influence as well, but in their absence, it had slipped free from the paw of their reputation entirely. If another criminal had established a secure enough hold over the area, the Twins could very well be denied their old hunting grounds -- and perhaps even "convinced" to either join the current crimelord's syndicate, or leave the city altogether. And while Morty's "silver-tongue" wasn't nearly as "politely polished" as his henchmen would prefer, the raccoon got results, got them fast, and got them with flying colors. For all his degradation of his men, he delivered. He paid what he said he would, did not try to shortchange them, and gave credit where credit was due. Only a few had realized that it was all because Morty was just blatantly honest. He was right more often than not, which was the really irritating thing. Glancing over them once more, Morty continued. "I have secured the blueprints for the ever-so-blandly-named Ivy Crest, as well as the information that the rehearsal will be taking place tomorrow. So tonight, all of you lucky kiddies will get to listen to me, and hopefully learn something. We'll have the advantages of numbers and size, so you'll have to work extra hard to come up with some lame excuse if you fail." That was another thing that made Morty practically untouchable in the underworld. People who attempted to usurp him, people who consistently failed him, or people who he just really didn't like all had a mysterious habit of vanishing without a trace. Morty had once made an aside that they had merely taken a trip to the Ministry of Love for readjustment, but nobody ever liked the way he said it enough to feel the need to research the reference. Morty set the blueprints down on a simple contraption made from a few pieces of wood, mirrors and penlights, which projected the images onto the wall behind him, easily seen by everyone. "Here," he said, tapping the cathedral-like hall in front of the Shinto Shrine, "is where we will make our uninvited entrance, and do so with such showmanship as to knock them dead." The crowd chuckled at that. At least Morty had a good sense of humor. * * * "That was pretty cool," Dale remarked with a grin as he and the guys relaxed in the small cafe at the hotel. "I don't know," Chip frowned slightly. "I got the distinct impression that Julie didn't like me, or even you, Dale." Tham shrugged. "Not everyone will like you, Chip. You should hardly let it get you down." "Too right," Monterey nodded. "Especially when you had so many fawnin' admirers!" He laughed at Chip's slight blush. Two of the girls in particular, Natasha and Rachel, had practically swooned upon meeting him. The rest of the gang, after the Rangers answered all the questions they could, had helped bring all the packages back to the hotel, as a small token of their gratitude. Now that everything had been dropped off -- Chip and Dale agreeing to hide Tham's gift for Kan in their room -- they were taking a short break before going over the actual ceremony. The girls had returned shortly beforehand, no doubt taking the time to chat with Kan. "So Tham," Dale asked over their drinks, "how's it feel to be tyin' the knot?" "Yeah, mate," Monterey added. "I don't think you've been too chatty over *that* aspect of the weddin'," he chuckled. Tham smiled and took a sip from his tea before nodding. "Well, it's not as if I can really give any precise commentary on it yet, as I've never been married before. But I feel it's the right step; Kan and I have known each other long enough, the spirits know." I guessed as much, Zipper's nod replied, but was never entirely sure. You guys met before Geegaw showed up, right? "Yes," Tham confirmed. "We had known each other for a few years by then. She had arrived in my village one day, working in the shipyards. I'm not sure when we first started talking, but my parents had known her since day one, given their trade on the seas. Eventually, we met, although it was just a casual acquaintance at first. I was busy with my studies in swordsmanship, and Kan was busy working as a diver to support herself." "How old was she?" Dale asked. Tham thought for a moment. "Perhaps twelve. Maybe fourteen. It was a long time ago, you understand." "She moved out on her own at that age?" Chip asked, puzzled. "Even in the West, most young women don't leave home until they near the end of their adolescence." Tham sighed quietly. "She doesn't speak of them much, but from what I gather, her parents passed away while she was still young. She didn't choose to be on her own." "Oh, Tham," Chip grimaced. "I'm sorry. I didn't know...." "You're not the first," Tham reassured him. "She never brings it up voluntarily, and if someone else does mention it in passing, she's obviously uncomfortable discussing the issue. She'll eventually tell me the whole story, I have no doubt, but she still has some issues she feels she has to resolve within herself, first. Fortunately, our marriage will lend her some much-needed strength. I don't think she's ever held a bond with anyone as close as me before, not even family bonds." He seemed both honored and saddened by this. "Still kinda weird," Dale commented, "I mean since when we first met you two, you were at each other's throats." "And *not* in the right nice affectionate manner," Monterey winked. Allowing a small laugh, Tham shrugged. "What can I say, Monterey? I guess there were some buds of romance beginning to bloom shortly before we met Geegaw. I had finished my studies, and started helping my parents on the docks more and more. Which, in turn, meant I got to see Kan more and more. She truly has a lovely smile..." he sighed happily as he thought of his future wife, then sobered. "But then my grandfather died, and all my attention was to helping my father claim his rightful place at the head of the Shandi Clan. After their deaths...." he shook his head, breaking free from the trance before it weighed him down too much. The others wisely let the subject drop. Tham had taken his parents' murders as hard as possible, going so far as to lie to the Rangers, Kan, and Geegaw about his true desires for the Time Blade; he didn't care about ruling the clan, all he had wanted was to use the legendary wish to bring his parents back from the dead. His obsession had clouded over his better judgement, and he might very well had made things even worse had he achieved that goal. But the Rangers -- particularly Dale and Zipper -- had stopped him, and to them all, especially the aforementioned two, he owed a huge debt. "Well, let's get moving," Chip offered, breaking the heavy silence skillfully. "We want to finish early, and get a good sleep tonight, so we can get an early start tomorrow morning for the rehearsal." "That's right," Tham nodded, standing up with the others. "The musicians will be here early, so we should be all set to do the dry-run once they have their arrangements in place." "And you wanted to do a dress rehearsal?" Dale looked quizzically at Tham, remembering their earlier discussions. Tham nodded. "Indeed. The dry-run will help you know when to move and do what. The dress rehearsal will be to give you a bit of exposure to our customs in Japan. Have any of you attended a Japanese wedding before?" Monterey nodded. "A while back. But only at the reception -- they had hired me as one of the chefs." "So you'll have some ideas of what to expect," Tham agreed. "But the actual ceremony is a bit different than that, which is what we want to go over." The group of them quickly headed up the stairs to join the ladies. They had decided to have the meeting in Tham's room, as he had just about all of the wedding's plans on hand. He enjoyed being well-organized. Kan and Tham greeted each other with an affectionate hug and kiss, while Foxglove immediately tackled Dale with a much less restrained hug, knocking him clear on his back. Chip and Gadget glanced at each and smiled warmly. They hadn't quite worked out their trepidations at public displays of affection, but they didn't mind at the moment. The emotions contained in the smiles suited them just fine for now. "Well, let us begin," Tham said briskly as Dale slowly rose from the floor, helped by Foxglove. "First," Tham went on, "Kan and I wish to express to you all," his gesture took in all gathered, "how much you mean to us. You people truly are, and always will be, more than our most honored friends. You are our family. And neither Kan nor I can dispute the claim that one could not wish for a more caring group of individuals." Gadget and Foxglove both blushed lightly at the glowing compliments, while the men grinned widely in thanks. "Hey mates," Monterey gently said to the engaged couple, "we'll always consider you blokes as our own kin, too. I mean, never mindin' the closeness to Geegaw you had an' all, I think I speak for all of us when I tell you that we're a mite honored to be considered as kin by you, too." "And since you are family," Kan said, "it is why we're asking for you to act as our family members in the actual Shinto ceremony. Normally, only family members are allowed, but you are our family now." "Especially in the absence of our own kin," Tham added. For a brief moment, Zipper spotted Kan give a downcast gaze, but then she hugged her soon-to-be husband close, and she quickly grew a smile as he returned the hug strongly. "So what do we need to do, exactly?" Dale asked, scratching his head. "The Shinto ceremony goes as such," Tham explained. "First, when we enter the shrine, there will be some cleansing practices that must be performed. The Shinto priest present will perform a purification act, as well. Afterwards, normally we would be reporting to the elders of the family, and ask for their lasting favors on us as newly-weds. Since we do not have any elders, we will be performing that part with you, Monterey, as you are the eldest here. No offense implied, of course." Monterey chuckled wryly and nodded in understanding. Tham continued. "Then, our go-between will read aloud our mutual oath to remain faithful and obedient to one another in married life." "Go-between?" Gadget asked. "It's a person who is usually a mutual friend of both families," Kan explained. She turned to Dale. "Dale, we would be honored if you'd accept that position. You and Foxglove, that is, as go-betweens are normally couples." She grinned as Foxglove's face lit up at the fact that someone besides her had publicly announced that she and Dale were an "item". Oh happy day! "Oh, yes! Yes! YES!" the enthusiastic bat answered for Dale. "Oh, we'd absolutely love to! Wouldn't we, cutie?" she beamed at Dale, who was too taken by surprise over his significant other's sudden burst of zeal to answer right away. "Um, uh, yeah." Dale managed to regain his senses, and grinned at Kan and Tham. "Yeah! Love to!" Smiling, Tham spoke again. "Next comes the 'San-San-Kudo', or if you prefer, the ceremony of "three-threes-are-nine"; both Kan and myself take three sips of sake from three separate nuptial cups." "Sake?" Dale asked. "A rice wine," Kan explained. Dale tried to visualize a wine with rice floating in it, but all that came up was minestrone soup in a bottle. He doubted that that was what Kan had meant. "Then," Tham said, "Kan and I exchange our rings." "Golly," Gadget blinked, "I didn't know that was customary." "These days, it usually is," Tham informed her. "Japan has adopted a number of the Western wedding customs, so these days, nearly all of the weddings in Japan have some form of Western influence to varying degrees. But we still believe in a number of our traditional customs, as well. "For example, after we exchange rings, Kan and I will proceed into the sanctuary and offer twigs from one of the sacred trees in worship to our gods. We shall return here, at which point we all partake in sipping sake to signify everyone's union through the marriage. Generally, it's meant to bond the families, but in this case, it's more to strengthen the bond between us all." "That will end the actual wedding ceremony," Kan said. "It's not long, but full of tradition and solemn reverence. The reception party will be much more relaxed. Oh, and before it can start, we'll need our go-betweens," she nodded to Dale and Foxglove again, "to announce us to the reception group. Also, during the reception, it is customary for the bride to change clothes a few times during the event, so I may enlist Gadget and Foxglove's help to speed up the process." "Golly, that'll be interesting," Gadget said, thinking about how festive such a tradition was. "Does Tham get to change outfits, too?" "He may if he wants to," Kan shrugged, then looked at her fiance. "It's not mandatory, but not uncommon, either." "Man," Dale breathed. "The bride and groom sure get a work-out from the ceremony, huh?" Kan grinned at Dale's fidgeting. "Just be glad that Tham isn't being married in the village where I grew up. They still used a traditional wedding day ritual which calls for the hazing of the groom." "Hazing?" Dale asked warily. He knew what it meant to be hazed at colleges, but hoped it didn't mean the same thing in this case. Kan, however, grinned wider, confirming it was the same thing. "Oh, yes. I remember a few marriages when I was still a small child. On the day of the wedding, when the groom would leave his house to escort his bride to the Shinto shrine, everyone along the way to the bride's house would come out to jeer and mock him." Dale's eyes widened. Conversely, so did Kan's grin. "We would affix a pair of stilts to his feet," she explained with a light laugh, "and make him carry a worn-out umbrella. He had to walk like this all the way to his bride's house, and all the while people would be coming out and walking alongside him, ringing bells and banging drums and basically humiliating him something fierce." "Please tell me you're kidding," Dale finally managed, seeing himself put in that spot, with Chip all too eagerly working on the drums. Kan laughed, but shook her head. "I'm serious, Dale. It was a long- honored custom, and still is in parts of Japan." "I'm surprised anyone ever got married over there in the first place," Dale remarked, a bit stunned. Foxglove warmly nuzzled into him, though, bringing a smile to his face without delay. "Well, it's not as widespread in the big cities," Kan remarked with a chuckle. "You won't see too many stilt-walkers in Tokyo. And marriages in the villages that hold the practice are generally arranged to begin with, so it's not as if people get too upset over the hazing. It is just expected, is all." "Still, I'd never want to go through it." "Not many do," Kan agreed. "But it is supposed to serve a purpose, not just provide some laughs." "A purpose?" Dale asked skeptically. "Like what? Tell everyone to stay single?" Kan smiled. "No, Dale. One, all the noise attracts the whole village's attention, so when the bride and groom arrive at the Shinto shrine, the whole village has turned out for the ceremony, making it a very social event. Two, the shame is meant to prevent the couple from remarriage or..." -- her voice caught -- "... from divorce." As if someone had pulled a stopper from a plughole, Dale watched as the happiness visibly drained out of Kan, replaced with a sense of sadness. Everyone else noticed her bubble burst, but for some reason only Dale saw the magnitude of it. Perhaps her flowing hair and Tham's proximity blocked their views enough to mistake her emotions for simple sorrow over the loss of her own parents. Dale's clear line of sight, however, made it painfully clear that this was something more. It only lasted for a second, though, and then Kan shook her head and smiled once more, but even though Dale never considered himself a detective like Chip, he knew a forced smile when he saw it. "Has the priest arrived yet?" Chip asked, drawing everyone's attention to him, much to Kan's relief. "This morning," Tham nodded. "Glad you were able to find one locally. I imagine there aren't too many Shinto priests available in the West," Chip noted thoughtfully. "Oh, we could've had a Christian priest perform the wedding, even though it's not our religion," Tham mentioned. "In fact, sometimes it's a very popular practice, especially in human circles. The foreign priests who do not speak fluent Japanese, or those who purposefully exaggerate their gaijin accent, are particularly enjoyed; it adds a special exotic effect to the wedding." Zipper grinned widely at the thought of others considering American accents "exotic". That is just *too* cool, he thought to himself. "Well, that's the plan," Kan said brightly, having regained her old self. "Any questions?" "Nah, luv," Monterey shook his head. "I think we got it all. And any kinks will be taken care of durin' the rehearsal tomorrow, anyway." Everyone else agreed, and decided to split up for the reminder of the night. Kan and Tham both were going to stop by the Shinto shrine, and then head to their rooms for a solid night's sleep. Dale and Foxglove trotted off downstairs, where the hotel had a small portable TV wired up; it was almost time for "The What Files?". Gadget, Monterey and Zipper decided to head back down to the cafe for a relaxed dinner, and invited Chip along. The chipmunk said he'd join them later, as he wanted to catch a glimpse of the hall being used for the reception -- he hadn't had time to really look it over yet, and wanted to do so while it was empty. They all headed downstairs as a group, then went their separate ways. Chip decided to give Tham and Kan some privacy, so he waited around in the lobby, reading through some of the small rodent-printed pamphlets. One of them was a local newsletter, of sorts, and had some interesting information concerning some crimes that were happening in the northern section of the docks. Chip read through the article, but it wasn't too accurate, dealing mostly in hearsay and rumors. Still, he tucked it away in his jacket pocket as he glanced at the large, ornate watch on the wall. Tham and Kan would be out of the hall by now, so he made his way down past the stairwell leading up to the rooms, to the part of the hotel actually dug into the shore of the waterfront. It was tucked nicely away from the rest of the hotel, affording a large amount of privacy and peace from any noises the rest of the structure might make. As he suspected, he spotted Tham just as the mouse was heading back upstairs, Kan no doubt ahead of him, as Chip didn't see her as he strolled leisurely down the long passageway. He stepped around a corner at the end, coming to a set of large, thick double doors. He opened one of them, letting it swing gently to a close behind him after he stepped through. He glanced around at the large, ornate hall. For rodent standards, it really was quite impressive, easily four feet high and six feet long. It had a long aisle running between two sets of pews, apparently used for Western weddings. At the front of the pews, however, a small, clear area separated the pews from what was obviously a dance floor. The tables and chairs for the reception were arranged in the open area in front of the pews, while the area for the musicians was located beyond the dance floor, between it and the shrine. The actual entrance to the shrine was on the side, though, so one would have to cross over the dance floor to get to it from the orchestra pit. Not that Chip suspected any of the band practiced Shinto, but one never knew. As he made his way down the wide aisle, Chip had to admit that this hall was an odd combination of architecture, but all the elements present worked well enough together that Chip had to admire the skill with which the hall was designed. Chip noticed -- with a sudden grin -- a slick, black, grand piano off to the side of the band's area. Stealing a glance around to make sure nobody was about, he sneaked off down the aisle and over the dance floor to the instrument. He took another moment to glance over at the Shrine, but didn't hear anyone back there. After another moment of listening to satisfy himself, he turned his investigation back to the instrument before him. It was hard to tell if it was new or just well-kept, but Chip really didn't care. The wood held a beautiful finish, easily acting as a mirror, reflecting the image of him in his fedora and fighter pilot's jacket. Lightly, he sat down on the piano bench, lifted the key cover, and experimentally played a few chords. The acoustics of the hall surprised him, as he heard the notes resound brilliantly around him, coming in as clear as if he had been wearing headphones. Likewise, from the design of the hall, the sounds wouldn't get back out into the hallway, basically closing it off in its own little world. He glanced at the music sheets in the rack before him, then shuffled through. Lots of classical music, some swing, jazz, and various soundtrack pieces -- he thought "A Whole Knew World" was a bit corny, but it was Tham and Kan's wedding, not his. His shuffling halted when he came across a tune he was actually surprised to see. He had heard the song before, and thought it was quite eloquent, but he also thought it was a bit too sad for a wedding. Then again, he had to admit, the piano chords in it were beautiful, so that may have been the reason for its inclusion. Taking another quick look about him, Chip removed his hat, flexed his fingers, and began to play. The chords started out slow and soft, easy to sight-read, so he didn't have to concentrate too hard as he played, which was fortunate -- had he been too wrapped up in his musical exploration he might had been startled out of it altogether when a light, female voice began to sing. China All the way to New York I can feel the distance Getting close You're right next to me But I need an airplane I can feel the distance As you breathe As he played, Chip stole a glance down the hallway to the entrance of the hall, to see who the vocalist was. But to his surprise, she came from around the corner -- Kan slowly stepped into view, walking in time to the slow rhythm, singing the chorus with a distant, reflective look on her lovely features. She must have been quietly praying within the shrine, but at the moment, Chip was glad that he had failed to notice her; this was the first time he had heard her rather accomplished singing voice. Sometimes, I think you want me to touch you How can I, when you build the great wall around you? In your eyes, I saw a future together You just look away, in the distance The piano notes and Kan's voice were blending together far better than Chip would have first suspected, but he grew less and less interested in it, and more enraptured by the wonderful melody the two of them were creating, apparently without any effort. His paws nimbly danced along the keys as Kan moved into the next verse. China Decorates our table Funny how the cracks don't Seem to show Pour the wine dear You say we'll take a holiday But we never can agree on Where to go Neither of the two musicians looked at each other, but it would have been pointless; the tempo of the song connected them well enough to trust in their instincts without the crutch of sight. Kan paused briefly as she stopped at the dance floor, closing her eyes slowly before moving out onto it. Sometimes, I think you want me to touch you How can I, when you build the great wall around you? In your eyes, I saw a future together You just look away, in the distance She spun once, slowly, the light breeze from her movement gently lifting the bottom of her kimono away from her in an elegant twirl before settling back down against her fur. Her raven-black hair playfully danced around her shoulders, gracefully resting around her head as light as an angel descending from Heaven. China All the way to New York Maybe you got lost in Mexico You're right next to me I think that you can hear me Funny how the distance learns to grow Kan silently slid onto the piano bench next to Chip, facing the other way, but he was too engrossed in his playing to notice. He was busy working the chords smoothly and flawlessly -- it was the best he'd played in years -- to be distracted by the trappings of the physical world. He moved along the keys with an artisan's grace, lambently bringing the crescendo up fluidly, then holding it for a brief moment before letting it down, perfectly in time with Kan's enriching tones. Sometimes, I think you want me to touch you How can I, when you build the great wall around you? Softly, she sang. Quietly, he played. I can feel the distance I can feel the distance I can feel the distance Getting close Gently, the song ended. They sat in silence a few minutes more, neither one wanting to rejoin reality all that quickly. The hall seemed to be holding the ethereal essence of the music they had created, bathing them in its presence. They remained facing in opposite directions, despite sitting right next to each other. Finally, Chip spoke. "It's a sad song." Kan remained quiet at first. "It's a very sad song," she said at length. Silence for another moment. "You're afraid, aren't you?" Chip asked quietly. Kan nervously laughed. "I'm terrified." "Don't you love him?" A slow smile. "Very much." Chip thought. "Commitment?" Kan nodded slowly. "I've always been alone. I had no one to trust but myself. Now I'm about to tie myself to someone for a lifetime. It's a frightening thought, really." "You've lived with others for a while, though," Chip suggested. "It's not too different. How long were you with your parents?" Kan's gaze went to the floor. "Not long," she replied quietly, and Chip feared he might have said the wrong thing. But caught up in the mood of the song, Kan's heart had opened up. "My parents divorced when I was very young," she explained. "In the particular area we were living in, it was highly frowned upon. I spent my younger years learning all the various demeaning attitudes and taunts that could be applied to the child of a divorced couple." She sighed deeply, and Chip could almost swear from the sound of it that she had a tear in her eye. "I was so very young..." she breathed. "The children's taunting wasn't too bad, I suppose, but it was the adults that killed me. They looked down on me and my father and mother no matter what we did or accomplished. I was too young to understand how to be as durable as my parents, how to take it as stoically as they did; all I knew was I was tired of being picked on and put down. So... I ran away." Chip continued to stare at the keyboard, at a loss for words. Kan, however, was not. "I never went back," she said softly as she leaned forward to nervously massage her foot. "I don't hate my parents, though. I don't even hate those who made me leave in the first place. But they did hurt me, and returning would be just be reopening old wounds. I'm not ready for that." She smiled for a moment, leaning back. "It's why I got along so well with Tham's parents. They treated me as a normal person, not some plague carrier like in my old village." Kan remained quiet then, thinking of her parents. Were they still living there? Were they still even alive? Part of her didn't care, but the other part was curious and wondering. Maybe things had changed for the better, maybe not, but it'd be nice to know for sure. "Kan," Chip quietly began, "Tham thinks your parents are dead." The young lady nodded slowly. "He doesn't know the truth. Nobody does, except you. Everyone else thinks my parents are dead." "Kan, you need to tell him." "I know," she sighed again, then turned to look at him. Seeing that he was still staring at the piano, she reached out and lightly took hold of his chin, turning his eyes to face her own. "I will tell him, I promise. But I have to decide about a few things on my own first." She didn't let go of his chin, and even gave it a light squeeze to reassure him as she smiled. Chip returned the smile, slightly charmed by her bright green eyes (although he'd never admit it publicly). They remained like that for a few seconds more, the silence between them seeming to gain some sort of weight. Then, ever so slowly, Kan leaned over, pulling Chip to her, and lightly brushed his lips with her own. Chip somehow knew what was happening, but felt frozen -- like a deer caught in the headlights. And the shivers down his spine were *not* being caused by any air currents. But it was just a light kiss, and then she pulled back, dropping her hand and smiling wider at him. "Thank you." "For what?" he heard himself ask. "For being here," she answered. "And... for sharing a song with me." She rose from the bench and quietly walked back out over the dance floor, down the aisle, and back to the hotel without a word. As he reached for his hat, Chip noticed he was trembling. "Stop it," he said somewhat weakly. He sternly grabbed his hat and put it on, trying to clear his fogged brain. He glanced back at the ivory keys, suddenly grinned, and proceeded to pound the keyboard merrily, careening loud, cacophonous, childlike sounds off of the walls and back over him. A moment later he calmly rose from the bench, closed the key cover, and walked back out of the hall, hands clasped proudly behind his back. Dale would have been proud of that use of nervous energy, he chuckled to himself.