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Description
Time is relative to the observer. For some of us it can go really slow, and for others -- like me -- it seems to go WAY too fast! For F's sake, we're entering February already??? Guh!

Let's get back to this story in progress before I think about that too much! For Akemi and Eri, no doubt time has been going slowly as their loving bond grows stronger and crystallizes more and more. But in this part a creepy, kooky and altogether annoying interloper will enter the picture. Those of you who follow my Slayers stories and 's works know how important the enigmatic Sister Marie is, and she's here to not-so-simply take a look at Eri...but this will provoke a primal reaction from someone in a way that might surprise you!
---

"Akemi" -- Part Five!

--1--

The next day, Masanori Asata's feelings had indeed chilled a bit from the day before, and Eri could continue to stay...just as long as she held up her end of the arrangement. And ESPECIALLY continued to abide to his very simple rules! In fact, Akemi suggested that the houseguest shift a bit to doing some chores outside...specifically to tending to the landscape in front of the home. The only thing that surprised Eri more, considering Akemi told her that her dad tended to the landscape regularly and in her words didn't want anyone else to do it, Masanori said he would allow Eri to do it! (But with very specific instructions on precisely how to tend to certain parts of the front yard and where; he even told Akemi to show her by example for about an hour before she focused on her daily studies.)

Eri thought at first that Akemi must have overstated how he felt about tending to the environs around his house. But then the girl thought that maybe Akemi didn't, and Masanori wanted her outside rather than inside. Or, Eri really started to ask herself if she was being tested in some way. Maybe that was the situation? Or maybe all THREE of those things were true, and then the American girl whispered to herself (when Akemi and her dad weren't close by), "Holy shit, don't overthink it! Just be glad you can stay...!"

It wasn't much later that Masanori left the house, again for reasons he never said, and Eri could only guess how long he'd be out. Again. In the big front yard, Akemi did spend about an hour with Eri, but didn't so much show her exactly what to do and how. The black haired girl did point to very specific places like hedges that needed pruning and trimming. Eri could immediately see what obviously needed tending to, but for others she didn't.

With considerable anxiousness, Eri said, "Akemi, I've never done something like this before. I really don't want to fail you again." Not the way she failed yesterday by breaking one of Masanori's rules.

With pure certainty and serenity, Akemi reassured, "You won't."

"You sound so sure of that. I'm not."

"Don't be so anxious. Calm your self, Eri." Slowly, Akemi began to move close...and then around the girl with platinum hair. Right behind Eri, the sweet girl urged, "Close your eyes."

Eri almost turned to look at her...but she trusted in Akemi so by now, she didn't. "A-Akemi..."

Akemi laid her slender hands on Eri's shoulders and much more softly instructed: "Close your eyes." Eri did...and very slowly, with undeniable love, Akemi wrapped her arms around the foreigner in a sweet embrace from behind. Eri's heart quickened in pace briefly. "Relax. Find your calm. Breathe with me now...slowly..."

"O...okay." Eri was almost immediately intoxicated by this sisterly affection given to her. No, she had never known anyone this kind. This full of love. Eri did relax...and she never wanted what she felt now to stop as she said with a much more certain voice, "Okay."

Akemi held Eri like that for a few minutes, which melted away too damn fast...the foreigner's heart slowed...slowed...until Akemi finally purred into the platinum blonde's ear, "Better. Open your eyes." Eri did. "Very slowly, look around you. Slowly. Look at the natural beauty around you. One element perfectly complements the other...but there are some places that are growing a bit more than others. Like the bonsai tree, nature isn't held to a predetermined shape...yet there must still be order. There must be harmony between the elements. Really look around you...take your time...and you will see."

Eri gazed very slowly and carefully at the natural beauty before her as Akemi held her. Finally she said with a hushed tone, "Oh. I...I can see, Akemi." Amazed, the platinum blonde thought: For goodness' sake, it wasn't possible to NOT see the little imperfections around me now!

Akemi said tenderly, "Good." And sweetly, slowly, she disengaged in her embrace. It was almost a thudding feeling for Eri to no longer feel that loving hold. With great melacholy, she turned to Akemi, who smiled so fondly as she slowly stepped backward on the walkway away from her...with so much grace, like always. "You have your tools. You can see what must be worked on. You can take it from here."

As Akemi became more distant, Eri really didn't want her to go. "But...!"

Akemi assured further: "I'm not asking for perfection. Simply that you do what you've been asked to. But be advised that father will critique you later!"

Eri raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Thanks. I guess!"

Akemi said with loving humor, "You're welcome!" But her face became very serious in the next moment. "I believe in you, Eri. I know you can do this." Her right hand lifted, and her index and middle fingers separated to make a 'V for victory' sign. "Talk to you later!" Akemi turned and glided away.

Eri was so affected, she didn't realize a broad smile was on her beautiful face. She purred, "You really do believe in me." She looked to the tools next to her feet...and her eyes narrowed with determination. "So. I'll be damned if I'll fail you."

--2--

Over an hour later, as Eri worked on the front yard...she was so fixed on her duty, she was surprised when a voice greeted: "Well, hello there!" It was a strange accent spoken in English. It was a lilting voice that definitely wasn't quite American or British or any such accent she'd heard before.

Eri turned where she knelt on the grass...and she didn't expect the sight that greeted her eyes. It was a woman in what Eri didn't immediately realize was a traditional black habit that flowed down her body like a curtain. She was in her fifties? Maybe? Eri very nearly frowned because of two things: one, the lady had this quiet yet creepy and knowing smile on her face...second, her mostly negated Telepathy couldn't sense any emotion from this lady. The platinum blonde could feel an unusual...aura about her. The nun asked, "I hope I'm not intruding?"

Her defenses up, Eri answered mildly, "You might be intruding on this property...unless you just go wherever you want without asking anyone?"

The nun laughed with a sound similar to tinkling bells. "Ha-ha-ha! I certainly don't do that! I know the owner of this residence and his daughter, the Asatas."

"Really?"

"Absolutely! You've undoubtedly seen that Masanori can be...unfailingly serious.

"His dear daughter Akemi, though...she's such a jewel, isn't she?" The nun moved a couple of slow steps closer as she spoke. "But then she's the product of both her father and the rest of their family. Akemi has had such a broad range of influences that helped make her into the loving young lady she is today...but at the core of them all, of course, is Masanori. Above everything, she's her father's daughter."

Eri straightened in posture as she sat on her knees. She kept herself mild as she started to feel...something else. It was a queer sensation, nothing she could define in words, but she felt it as the lady really gazed upon her. Keeping her focus, Eri commented, "They did mention they have an...extended family. I think I met only one of them so far."

The nun nodded. "Oh, their family is big and they're often quite busy, childe! I came to visit Akemi, but...I wouldn't mind talking to you for a few minutes. Would you?"

"Actually..." Eri couldn't help but frown as she looked at the nun. "I don't mean to be impolite, but...there's something really different about you..."

The nun grinned knowingly. "Oh, I'm not offended. And if you sense something different about me, it's just because I'm an Angel from Paradise!"

Eri's eyes really examined the lady. "You're an Angel?"

"Yep! You must not have met anyone like me before. I'm here to serve my god Jehovah Himself as a Holy Nun. I do have other interests, but that's my main vocation."

"You're a nun, too??" Eri had heard of them. Even seen them here and there as she traveled. "I...don't know much about nuns. Or about your church."

Surprised, the lady asked, "Why is that??"

"Well...it's not because I didn't want to know. It's just..." Eri looked down for a couple of beats, guarding herself further. "I don't know much about many things. You could say that for most of my life, I...was pretty sheltered."

The Holy Nun cocked her head a bit. At the same moment, Eri felt that queer feeling...fade. Just like that. "Is it all right...to ask why that is?"

Relaxing only slightly, Eri answered honestly (but vaguely), "I was...busy learning other things with my brothers and sisters."

"Sounds like you have a big family, too!"

Eri's blue eyes shifted to become a bit more somber. "I wouldn't say that. We...went our separate ways a while ago."

The Holy Nun took one step closer, but very carefully, giving the girl plenty of space. A true...sadness formed on the lady's face. She commented, "You have been so sheltered, haven't you. Until lately, your life has been so...cold." With a start, the lady seemed to catch herself (?) and quickly added, "I-I mean, from the way you talk, that's the impression I get!"

Eri herself got the impression that this strange Angel didn't just say that -- she somehow KNEW that. But that couldn't be. Right? Eri finally said, "You're not wrong...but I don't want to talk about it."

The Holy Nun nodded deeply. "As you wish. My apologies, childe. I'm Sister Marie."

"Eri."

Marie told the girl, "I really hope I didn't intrude. I'll go see Akemi now." Just like that, she turned on her heel and began to move toward the house. It was so damn abrupt, Eri couldn't help but be taken a little aback. And then Marie stopped, turned back to her, and said, "I'm surprised you're doing any work on Masanori's front yard! He doesn't just let anyone else take care of it."

Yeah, this Angel definitely knew Masanori...in what way, the girl could only guess at! Eri shrugged and told her, "I've been staying here for a while and he wanted me to do it. I guess...he trusted me enough to do some trimming here and there." Much more humbly, she said, "Just, you know. Little things."

With a strange and KNOWING smile, Sister Marie told the girl, "Little things can lead to much bigger things, childe. If you'll excuse me...!" Again, she turned to trot off.

Eri was left wondering about that Angel as she murmured, "Kind of creepy...!" She finally got back to her work.

--3--

Inside the home. Marie reached the second floor in moments and moved to the door to Akemi's room. She said with care, "Akemi? Honey, it's me! Can I come in?" For a long moment...there was silence.

Marie thought, Uh-oh. That's not a good sign.

A soft voice finally answered from the other side of the door: "Hai."

Marie opened the door and entered...but stopped herself when she saw Akemi Asata standing RIGID and facing away from her. Looking out of one of the house's few windows. Marie really understood then that Akemi was really angry, just as Masanori warned her. She sure didn't need her omniscience to sense that! Akemi kept looking away from Marie as she said with a taut voice, "I know why you're here and this is not right. I feel like I'm betraying Eri."

With a sunny smile, Marie responded, "You're not because very simply, you never had a say in this! Your father thought this had to happen, and I couldn't help but agree."

Akemi wheeled on her, and Marie was very nearly surprised by how angry the girl was purely in her lovely face's expression. Marie saw a similar look on the girl's face this one time the Holy Nun wanted to visit her at a very different location from this comfortable home late last year...the Holy Nun dropped in during Akemi's efforts to complete a rigorous combat course that would have made British SAS operators and Greet Berets pause. It was only one of many parts of the training Akemi put herself through for over half of her young life. Even after the girl completed the course in record time and honored both Masanori and her clan, the girl's face was still one of the most divine and pure determination and resolve. This was similar, except Akemi was now being fueled by righteous anger that made her snap, "That doesn't make this right. My family and your High Choir are sworn to protect the innocent, Marie. We do not spy on them!"

Marie felt her heart sink a little. Dammit, she won't even call me Auntie Marie. She's definitely mad! There was only one way to respond, though, and so Marie retorted, "At times my High Choir must simply to be sure someone is innocent or not. And please don't snow me and say your fellow Asata have never done the same thing in your clan's entire history."

"This is different! Eri is innocent! I believe..." Akemi finally said with quiet certainty and power, "I know it to be true!"

Marie took a step closer as she smiled wide. "Well, for what it's worth...you were right! That girl is truly amazing in so many respects. And your father had no reason to worry at all."

Marie regarded Akemi and said with affection, "Your instincts have always done you credit, dear childe. Indeed, there is so much you've already mastered in your training that you took to on far more primal levels. I know it's still a matter of months before you'll be ready, but I can see in you all of the things your father does. You have the potential to be one of the greatest in your clan's history."

Akemi softened. Only a little. She purred, "I pray I do make my father proud of me...but. I will not care to hear your praise until after I'm done with my training.

"And if you're trying to make me feel better by patronizing me, I would rather you didn't." This was absolutely a side to Akemi that Eri hadn't yet seen. Passionate. Righteous. And fierce in her service to virtue. Just like her father.

"I..." It really hit Marie how much she bordered upon offending Akemi. She said with care and a deep bow, "Forgive me, childe. Just remember there is too much at stake...your family, your clan -- you -- for me and your father to be anything but totally sure. Okay?"

Akemi...finally cast her eyes away from the Holy Nun. "I still feel like hell."

With a soothing tone that also contained more than a little relief, Marie said with absolute affection, "Don't ever change, you wonderful girl! Your father should be home soon, right?"

Akemi, still angry and looking away, quietly confirmed, "Within the hour."

Marie told the girl, "It'll take me a little time to fully process all of Eri's experiences, including the exact location of the institute in Maui. I'll then send some of my best to investigate the site toot-sweet, and..." A beat or two of thought. "Let him know I'll fire him an encrypted email before tomorrow evening." Marie moved to Akemi's door. "Until then, tell him from me that Eri Mori is someone he can trust." Marie turned briefly, gave Akemi a wave, and said brightly, "Ta-ta!"

But it still hurt to see that incredible girl so divinely angry as Marie slid the door shut...!

--4--

The rest of the day passed. Eri never knew how righteously (and rightfully) furious Akemi was for her sake...the next time she saw the sweet girl, she was just as serene as always. Things progressed most peacefully that evening. And well into the next day.

The following evening, though, was when everything would begin to change. Around 9 PM, everyone relaxed and Eri was the first to return to her guest room, where she'd shower and change for bed. Only minutes later, Akemi went to her father's study.

The sweet girl moved so gracefully in her casual shirt and underwear. She moved with a natural poise so much more graceful than Eri had ever seen. And yet there was also a disciplined martial way to her stance and every move, as well. Yes, she had trained for over half of her life. That elementally different from the rest of her clan, as the daughter of her father and daimyo, she strove for NOTHING short of excellence. It wasn't just because, one day, her mortal life would depend upon it. It was because her clan and all she swore to protect would depend on her being the very best she could be.

Akemi reached the study door...and without even knocking, simply in response to her presence, she heard her father call, "Enter." With silence, she opened the door and moved inside. Masanori was at his big easy chair as he asked, "Where is Eri-san?"

Akemi answered simply, "Upstairs in her room, father."

The father nodded. "Close the door."

With pure obedience, Akemi did so.

Masanori stood tall from his seat as the fireplace crackled not far away. Fixed on his daughter, he told her, "Sister Marie sent me her report. I now know everything I needed to about Eri Mori..." A deliberate pause. "...and I have much to tell you."

TO BE CONTINUED!
---
Next time, almost everything you ever wanted to know about a girl named Eri Mori WILL be revealed! ^___^

Giving credit where it's due!
XNALara created by Dusan Pavlicek; XPS by Dusan and XNAaraL

Models:
Akemi Asata is thanks to ! x 1000!
And both Eri Mori and Sister Marie St. Augustine are thanks to their creator, !

Description
Time is relative to the observer. For some of us it can go really slow, and for others -- like me -- it seems to go WAY too fast! For F's sake, we're entering February already??? Guh!

Let's get back to this story in progress before I think about that too much! For Akemi and Eri, no doubt time has been going slowly as their loving bond grows stronger and crystallizes more and more. But in this part a creepy, kooky and altogether annoying interloper will enter the picture. Those of you who follow my Slayers stories and 's works know how important the enigmatic Sister Marie is, and she's here to not-so-simply take a look at Eri...but this will provoke a primal reaction from someone in a way that might surprise you!
---

"Akemi" -- Part Five!

--1--

The next day, Masanori Asata's feelings had indeed chilled a bit from the day before, and Eri could continue to stay...just as long as she held up her end of the arrangement. And ESPECIALLY continued to abide to his very simple rules! In fact, Akemi suggested that the houseguest shift a bit to doing some chores outside...specifically to tending to the landscape in front of the home. The only thing that surprised Eri more, considering Akemi told her that her dad tended to the landscape regularly and in her words didn't want anyone else to do it, Masanori said he would allow Eri to do it! (But with very specific instructions on precisely how to tend to certain parts of the front yard and where; he even told Akemi to show her by example for about an hour before she focused on her daily studies.)

Eri thought at first that Akemi must have overstated how he felt about tending to the environs around his house. But then the girl thought that maybe Akemi didn't, and Masanori wanted her outside rather than inside. Or, Eri really started to ask herself if she was being tested in some way. Maybe that was the situation? Or maybe all THREE of those things were true, and then the American girl whispered to herself (when Akemi and her dad weren't close by), "Holy shit, don't overthink it! Just be glad you can stay...!"

It wasn't much later that Masanori left the house, again for reasons he never said, and Eri could only guess how long he'd be out. Again. In the big front yard, Akemi did spend about an hour with Eri, but didn't so much show her exactly what to do and how. The black haired girl did point to very specific places like hedges that needed pruning and trimming. Eri could immediately see what obviously needed tending to, but for others she didn't.

With considerable anxiousness, Eri said, "Akemi, I've never done something like this before. I really don't want to fail you again." Not the way she failed yesterday by breaking one of Masanori's rules.

With pure certainty and serenity, Akemi reassured, "You won't."

"You sound so sure of that. I'm not."

"Don't be so anxious. Calm your self, Eri." Slowly, Akemi began to move close...and then around the girl with platinum hair. Right behind Eri, the sweet girl urged, "Close your eyes."

Eri almost turned to look at her...but she trusted in Akemi so by now, she didn't. "A-Akemi..."

Akemi laid her slender hands on Eri's shoulders and much more softly instructed: "Close your eyes." Eri did...and very slowly, with undeniable love, Akemi wrapped her arms around the foreigner in a sweet embrace from behind. Eri's heart quickened in pace briefly. "Relax. Find your calm. Breathe with me now...slowly..."

"O...okay." Eri was almost immediately intoxicated by this sisterly affection given to her. No, she had never known anyone this kind. This full of love. Eri did relax...and she never wanted what she felt now to stop as she said with a much more certain voice, "Okay."

Akemi held Eri like that for a few minutes, which melted away too damn fast...the foreigner's heart slowed...slowed...until Akemi finally purred into the platinum blonde's ear, "Better. Open your eyes." Eri did. "Very slowly, look around you. Slowly. Look at the natural beauty around you. One element perfectly complements the other...but there are some places that are growing a bit more than others. Like the bonsai tree, nature isn't held to a predetermined shape...yet there must still be order. There must be harmony between the elements. Really look around you...take your time...and you will see."

Eri gazed very slowly and carefully at the natural beauty before her as Akemi held her. Finally she said with a hushed tone, "Oh. I...I can see, Akemi." Amazed, the platinum blonde thought: For goodness' sake, it wasn't possible to NOT see the little imperfections around me now!

Akemi said tenderly, "Good." And sweetly, slowly, she disengaged in her embrace. It was almost a thudding feeling for Eri to no longer feel that loving hold. With great melacholy, she turned to Akemi, who smiled so fondly as she slowly stepped backward on the walkway away from her...with so much grace, like always. "You have your tools. You can see what must be worked on. You can take it from here."

As Akemi became more distant, Eri really didn't want her to go. "But...!"

Akemi assured further: "I'm not asking for perfection. Simply that you do what you've been asked to. But be advised that father will critique you later!"

Eri raised an eyebrow. "Oh. Thanks. I guess!"

Akemi said with loving humor, "You're welcome!" But her face became very serious in the next moment. "I believe in you, Eri. I know you can do this." Her right hand lifted, and her index and middle fingers separated to make a 'V for victory' sign. "Talk to you later!" Akemi turned and glided away.

Eri was so affected, she didn't realize a broad smile was on her beautiful face. She purred, "You really do believe in me." She looked to the tools next to her feet...and her eyes narrowed with determination. "So. I'll be damned if I'll fail you."

--2--

Over an hour later, as Eri worked on the front yard...she was so fixed on her duty, she was surprised when a voice greeted: "Well, hello there!" It was a strange accent spoken in English. It was a lilting voice that definitely wasn't quite American or British or any such accent she'd heard before.

Eri turned where she knelt on the grass...and she didn't expect the sight that greeted her eyes. It was a woman in what Eri didn't immediately realize was a traditional black habit that flowed down her body like a curtain. She was in her fifties? Maybe? Eri very nearly frowned because of two things: one, the lady had this quiet yet creepy and knowing smile on her face...second, her mostly negated Telepathy couldn't sense any emotion from this lady. The platinum blonde could feel an unusual...aura about her. The nun asked, "I hope I'm not intruding?"

Her defenses up, Eri answered mildly, "You might be intruding on this property...unless you just go wherever you want without asking anyone?"

The nun laughed with a sound similar to tinkling bells. "Ha-ha-ha! I certainly don't do that! I know the owner of this residence and his daughter, the Asatas."

"Really?"

"Absolutely! You've undoubtedly seen that Masanori can be...unfailingly serious.

"His dear daughter Akemi, though...she's such a jewel, isn't she?" The nun moved a couple of slow steps closer as she spoke. "But then she's the product of both her father and the rest of their family. Akemi has had such a broad range of influences that helped make her into the loving young lady she is today...but at the core of them all, of course, is Masanori. Above everything, she's her father's daughter."

Eri straightened in posture as she sat on her knees. She kept herself mild as she started to feel...something else. It was a queer sensation, nothing she could define in words, but she felt it as the lady really gazed upon her. Keeping her focus, Eri commented, "They did mention they have an...extended family. I think I met only one of them so far."

The nun nodded. "Oh, their family is big and they're often quite busy, childe! I came to visit Akemi, but...I wouldn't mind talking to you for a few minutes. Would you?"

"Actually..." Eri couldn't help but frown as she looked at the nun. "I don't mean to be impolite, but...there's something really different about you..."

The nun grinned knowingly. "Oh, I'm not offended. And if you sense something different about me, it's just because I'm an Angel from Paradise!"

Eri's eyes really examined the lady. "You're an Angel?"

"Yep! You must not have met anyone like me before. I'm here to serve my god Jehovah Himself as a Holy Nun. I do have other interests, but that's my main vocation."

"You're a nun, too??" Eri had heard of them. Even seen them here and there as she traveled. "I...don't know much about nuns. Or about your church."

Surprised, the lady asked, "Why is that??"

"Well...it's not because I didn't want to know. It's just..." Eri looked down for a couple of beats, guarding herself further. "I don't know much about many things. You could say that for most of my life, I...was pretty sheltered."

The Holy Nun cocked her head a bit. At the same moment, Eri felt that queer feeling...fade. Just like that. "Is it all right...to ask why that is?"

Relaxing only slightly, Eri answered honestly (but vaguely), "I was...busy learning other things with my brothers and sisters."

"Sounds like you have a big family, too!"

Eri's blue eyes shifted to become a bit more somber. "I wouldn't say that. We...went our separate ways a while ago."

The Holy Nun took one step closer, but very carefully, giving the girl plenty of space. A true...sadness formed on the lady's face. She commented, "You have been so sheltered, haven't you. Until lately, your life has been so...cold." With a start, the lady seemed to catch herself (?) and quickly added, "I-I mean, from the way you talk, that's the impression I get!"

Eri herself got the impression that this strange Angel didn't just say that -- she somehow KNEW that. But that couldn't be. Right? Eri finally said, "You're not wrong...but I don't want to talk about it."

The Holy Nun nodded deeply. "As you wish. My apologies, childe. I'm Sister Marie."

"Eri."

Marie told the girl, "I really hope I didn't intrude. I'll go see Akemi now." Just like that, she turned on her heel and began to move toward the house. It was so damn abrupt, Eri couldn't help but be taken a little aback. And then Marie stopped, turned back to her, and said, "I'm surprised you're doing any work on Masanori's front yard! He doesn't just let anyone else take care of it."

Yeah, this Angel definitely knew Masanori...in what way, the girl could only guess at! Eri shrugged and told her, "I've been staying here for a while and he wanted me to do it. I guess...he trusted me enough to do some trimming here and there." Much more humbly, she said, "Just, you know. Little things."

With a strange and KNOWING smile, Sister Marie told the girl, "Little things can lead to much bigger things, childe. If you'll excuse me...!" Again, she turned to trot off.

Eri was left wondering about that Angel as she murmured, "Kind of creepy...!" She finally got back to her work.

--3--

Inside the home. Marie reached the second floor in moments and moved to the door to Akemi's room. She said with care, "Akemi? Honey, it's me! Can I come in?" For a long moment...there was silence.

Marie thought, Uh-oh. That's not a good sign.

A soft voice finally answered from the other side of the door: "Hai."

Marie opened the door and entered...but stopped herself when she saw Akemi Asata standing RIGID and facing away from her. Looking out of one of the house's few windows. Marie really understood then that Akemi was really angry, just as Masanori warned her. She sure didn't need her omniscience to sense that! Akemi kept looking away from Marie as she said with a taut voice, "I know why you're here and this is not right. I feel like I'm betraying Eri."

With a sunny smile, Marie responded, "You're not because very simply, you never had a say in this! Your father thought this had to happen, and I couldn't help but agree."

Akemi wheeled on her, and Marie was very nearly surprised by how angry the girl was purely in her lovely face's expression. Marie saw a similar look on the girl's face this one time the Holy Nun wanted to visit her at a very different location from this comfortable home late last year...the Holy Nun dropped in during Akemi's efforts to complete a rigorous combat course that would have made British SAS operators and Greet Berets pause. It was only one of many parts of the training Akemi put herself through for over half of her young life. Even after the girl completed the course in record time and honored both Masanori and her clan, the girl's face was still one of the most divine and pure determination and resolve. This was similar, except Akemi was now being fueled by righteous anger that made her snap, "That doesn't make this right. My family and your High Choir are sworn to protect the innocent, Marie. We do not spy on them!"

Marie felt her heart sink a little. Dammit, she won't even call me Auntie Marie. She's definitely mad! There was only one way to respond, though, and so Marie retorted, "At times my High Choir must simply to be sure someone is innocent or not. And please don't snow me and say your fellow Asata have never done the same thing in your clan's entire history."

"This is different! Eri is innocent! I believe..." Akemi finally said with quiet certainty and power, "I know it to be true!"

Marie took a step closer as she smiled wide. "Well, for what it's worth...you were right! That girl is truly amazing in so many respects. And your father had no reason to worry at all."

Marie regarded Akemi and said with affection, "Your instincts have always done you credit, dear childe. Indeed, there is so much you've already mastered in your training that you took to on far more primal levels. I know it's still a matter of months before you'll be ready, but I can see in you all of the things your father does. You have the potential to be one of the greatest in your clan's history."

Akemi softened. Only a little. She purred, "I pray I do make my father proud of me...but. I will not care to hear your praise until after I'm done with my training.

"And if you're trying to make me feel better by patronizing me, I would rather you didn't." This was absolutely a side to Akemi that Eri hadn't yet seen. Passionate. Righteous. And fierce in her service to virtue. Just like her father.

"I..." It really hit Marie how much she bordered upon offending Akemi. She said with care and a deep bow, "Forgive me, childe. Just remember there is too much at stake...your family, your clan -- you -- for me and your father to be anything but totally sure. Okay?"

Akemi...finally cast her eyes away from the Holy Nun. "I still feel like hell."

With a soothing tone that also contained more than a little relief, Marie said with absolute affection, "Don't ever change, you wonderful girl! Your father should be home soon, right?"

Akemi, still angry and looking away, quietly confirmed, "Within the hour."

Marie told the girl, "It'll take me a little time to fully process all of Eri's experiences, including the exact location of the institute in Maui. I'll then send some of my best to investigate the site toot-sweet, and..." A beat or two of thought. "Let him know I'll fire him an encrypted email before tomorrow evening." Marie moved to Akemi's door. "Until then, tell him from me that Eri Mori is someone he can trust." Marie turned briefly, gave Akemi a wave, and said brightly, "Ta-ta!"

But it still hurt to see that incredible girl so divinely angry as Marie slid the door shut...!

--4--

The rest of the day passed. Eri never knew how righteously (and rightfully) furious Akemi was for her sake...the next time she saw the sweet girl, she was just as serene as always. Things progressed most peacefully that evening. And well into the next day.

The following evening, though, was when everything would begin to change. Around 9 PM, everyone relaxed and Eri was the first to return to her guest room, where she'd shower and change for bed. Only minutes later, Akemi went to her father's study.

The sweet girl moved so gracefully in her casual shirt and underwear. She moved with a natural poise so much more graceful than Eri had ever seen. And yet there was also a disciplined martial way to her stance and every move, as well. Yes, she had trained for over half of her life. That elementally different from the rest of her clan, as the daughter of her father and daimyo, she strove for NOTHING short of excellence. It wasn't just because, one day, her mortal life would depend upon it. It was because her clan and all she swore to protect would depend on her being the very best she could be.

Akemi reached the study door...and without even knocking, simply in response to her presence, she heard her father call, "Enter." With silence, she opened the door and moved inside. Masanori was at his big easy chair as he asked, "Where is Eri-san?"

Akemi answered simply, "Upstairs in her room, father."

The father nodded. "Close the door."

With pure obedience, Akemi did so.

Masanori stood tall from his seat as the fireplace crackled not far away. Fixed on his daughter, he told her, "Sister Marie sent me her report. I now know everything I needed to about Eri Mori..." A deliberate pause. "...and I have much to tell you."

TO BE CONTINUED!
---
Next time, almost everything you ever wanted to know about a girl named Eri Mori WILL be revealed! ^___^

Giving credit where it's due!
XNALara created by Dusan Pavlicek; XPS by Dusan and XNAaraL

Models:
Akemi Asata is thanks to ! x 1000!
And both Eri Mori and Sister Marie St. Augustine are thanks to their creator, !