The Cheri Teahouse

They were to meet there, the two of them, with Snow, that was it.

So, she called ahead, hopefully getting hold of James but instead able to leave a note. "Up to my neck in WCPD, not quite chin high but above the collarbone. I will make it in time I promise"

Exactly as the time to meet for dinner arrived Miray stepped into the teahouse, How long had it been since she had just relaxed for dinner like this ? Nothing hunting her, just a mostly formal dinner with a friend ?

In short, never. In long, never. This was a first time attempt at just relaxing and having a meal with a friend. Nothing more nothing less. She did not possess any formal clothing, and it took little to get the owners of the place to allow Snow to enter with James, and thankfully the minor delay was mostly for the waiter

Mostly.

Miray took her seat, James had yet to arrive too ? But his truck, their truck was in the parking lot, she had walked. Must be letting Snow wander the grassy area nearby before coming inside Miray mused. She was worried however that trouble would get drawn t othem, but nonethless the pair had planned that evening to occur. and that was the time to meet.

Miray would find James' coat on the back of his seat, and after she sat, something shuffled under the table. Upon waiting a few seconds or taking the time to look, it would be revealed to be Snow as she sat up and popped her head up between Miray's legs and looked up at her like an adorable doofus.

Panting happily, Snow eventually removed her head from Miray's lower stomach/groin area and moved out from under the table to her side, sitting and nuzzling Miray's arm. Upon closer inspection, Miray would find something attached to Snow's collar: a small, narrow case. Inside? A necklace with a beautiful Ruby pendant. And a note.

Miray,

I wanted to thank you for simply being there for me when no one else was; what better way to do it than over dinner and with a necklace? I hope you like it, otherwise I've got a bone to pick with the Jeweler who told me "this will make any woman's heart swoon".

Yours, James.

P.S. If there's any dog-hair in the case, blame Snow. She's blowing her coat again.

"Ah....I had hoped to be here when you found that...." James said, a faint splash of crimson on his cheeks, as he sat down across from her. His hands were a bit damp; he'd likely gone to the restroom to freshen up, or at least splash water on his face to calm himself down.

He himself hadn't been on a dinner date in...well, never, actually. He'd not really been on dates at all, actually. Despite having been mated twice, and even having children at one point.

He smiled; one of the few genuine smiles Miray had probably ever seen from him, pointed canines and all.

A voice sounding like a loudspeaker called out, it's echoes muffled somewhat by the teahouse windows. "Evacuate the area now if you are able, otherwise remain your homes and await instruction. This area is soon to become a battlefield, and you need not lose your life to our war." The voice repeated over and over.

Not long after, a contingent of Golden armored warriors opened the door to the teahouse and filed in. They carried mid sized kite shields and shields of gold and red, which they brandished as they cased the establishment. One called out "All those in this building are to evacuate at once, at the risk of losing your life should you fail to listen."

When the soldiers arrived Miray had just put on the necklace that James had gotten for her. "It is beautiful, James, thank you." Miray said softly, she was truly enthralled by the gemstone, the chain glittered on her skin as well. Miray felt honored to wear it. It felt right. Coming from James only made it much better in many ways.

She gave Snow a gently headrub "Hey Snow, you seem happier then normal." Indeed Snow was quite upbeat, just like her and James, and that in essence was good! It was always good actually to see James with a smile on his face more often. Most times good came of it actually.

Miray smiled and was about to speak as the soldiers arrived. Great, just wonderful, just frigging great! Sti down to a nice calm dinner, and get invaded. She turned to James, clearly confused and asked him. "Is this place always like this ?"

James smiled wider at her reaction. The jeweler was correct; she liked it! He seemed a bit relieved at that. Snow licked at Miray's wrist and hand as she was given the head-rub, panting happily, tail wagging gently. Snow was generally a happy dog, but she was also very sensitive to emotions and intent, particularly those of James, and those close to him.

When the soldiers entered the building and demanded that they vacate, Snow let out a bark, which was quickly stifled by a snap of James' fingers as she went to his side and sat. He pet her gently and his smile slowly began to fade, turning into a frown.

"No...this place isn't normally like this...." he said. He did have to chuckle at the threat of the soldier, however. Kill him? Have fun. Not an easy feat; specially since he was well-rested and healthy. James wasn't one to stir up trouble on his own most of the time. But he wasn't moving from his seat just yet; he'd just sat down, and gotten comfortable! His eyes flashed yellow briefly and he leaned against the back of his chair, and stretched out his arms and shoulders. Under the table, his boots brushed gently against Miray's legs as he stretched out his legs.

He was making ready to fight anyway. "Under who's authority do you preside?" James called out to the golden-armor-clad soldiers. Guys looked like they stumbled out the wrong end of a renaissance fair.

The soldiers began to spread throughout the room, escorting every diner they met outside, where large ship had touched down and and began picking them up.

One soldier walked over towards James and responded to him directly. "We act under the authority of the light. Leave the premises, it is for your own safety"

A larger soldier carrying a heavy looking axe and wearing very thick armor stood just outside the diner, looking inside directly at James and their fellow soldier.

Miray could tell Snow was nervous under their table. the soldier had interrupted their meal, and it was not a good thing. She carefully took in the seeming man... thing. And faster then lightning she struck. It was as if she had never moved. One minute the man was standing there talking to James and disturbing their peaceful dinner unprovoked over something that may have been a serious delusional vision. Next thing anyone knew, the man hit the ground, stone dead, a fork in his left eyesocket deep into his brain.

Of course Miray seemed nochalant about it all but it was clear that she was unhappy of the interruption. So she said "I recommend not ordering the spegetti" She said simply to James, Snow she knew was nervousand scared. How Miray had moved so quickly was something natural. At least she didn't call forth her hoopsword, that would have made even the beef a not to order recommendation as well as the pasta. Miray then picked up a menu as if nothing had happened.

James smiled wider at her reaction. The jeweler was correct; she liked it! He seemed a bit relieved at that. Snow licked at Miray's wrist and hand as she was given the head-rub, panting happily, tail wagging gently. Snow was generally a happy dog, but she was also very sensitive to emotions and intent, particularly those of James, and those close to him.

He then clicked his tongue and snapped his finger, and Snow returned to her place under the table to lay quietly. He'd recently registered her as a therapy dog, which allowed him to bring her everywhere provided she behaved, which with his natural affinity for canines and his strict training, she did.

He then reached half way across the table and placed his hand on Miray's after she finished putting on the necklace, his eyes glued to her and the ruby. "It looks great on you....I think I made a good choice." he chuckled, again the small splash of a crimson blush spreading across his cheeks.

Miray put on the necklace that James had gotten for her. "It is beautiful, James, thank you." Miray said softly, she was truly enthralled by the gemstone, the chain glittered on her skin as well. Miray felt honored to wear it. It felt right. Coming from James only made it much better in many ways.

She gave Snow a gently headrub "Hey Snow, you seem happier then normal." Indeed Snow was quite upbeat, just like her and James, and that in essence was good! It was always good actually to see James with a smile on his face more often. Most times good came of it actually.

there was however a slight brighter glitter almost like a twinkle somewhere within the painscarred memories of something important, or someone important to Miray. Finally she revealed it, setting a jade stone on the table, it was in the shape of a snake holding an strange bow "My family isnt all dead. This was waiting for me at the post." meaning the postal services office in the city

Her only problem then was, who in her family was still alive ?

James' thumb rubbed over some of Miray's knuckles before she pulled her hand back to show him the Jade stone. He looked at it and raised an eyebrow before his smile faded a small bit. She was lucky; everyone aside from her and Snow that he knew or had known was dead by now. But she had someone...that made him happy, it seemed, in a sort of solemn way.

"That's great, right? Well, that's considering that they don't try to kill me if we ever meet; y'know...with me being what I am." he joked. Yes he was capable of some morbid humor of his own! He tried, and often did alright when he was in the mood. "Any idea who they might be?" he asked her, holding out an upright palm on the table to hold her hand again gently. Sometimes he surprised himself, a man of his size, easily out weighing Miray by almost twice her weight, and one who could fight so violently and without hesitation kill someone, could be so gentle and warm when he wished to be.

James counted himself lucky; this was the first time in the last five years that someone he cared about hadn't left or died yet despite how long he'd known Miray. He smiled again at that, a waiter coming by to ask what they would like to drink. James ordered some water, then looked to Miray, his forest green eyes focusing on Miray again, taking in her visage, and simply admiring it.

It was strange in many levels of who close of a friend Miray had in James, he was gentle and Snow made her relax more to begin with as it was actually, Miray used to be terrified of dogs of any kind, espieically those really tiny yippy ones she could easily dropkick a hundred yards and change as a child {a Chiwuawua} {but again she was so freaked out by anything that yapped at her that she refused to go near them}. But thankfully Snow never made to attack her, and she never tried to harm James, and James she knew was a werewolf, but he was too gentle to be a werewolf.

She was thoughtful, when the waiter came and asked for their drink order she said simply "Iced team please" then went quiet as the waiter was out of earshot.

"I'm not sure" She said at long last, "I rarely saw my older siblings, but Papa always said I had six older siblings, one of them a sister. But I never met her, but there's no mistaking her from the pictures father painted of our family at times, at least in my mind he painted a wonderful picture, I'm pretty sure I can spot her if I find her. She had a weapon like this. papa said she was good with technology, which was why she left home to try and find more, learn more."

For long moments she went quiet again, a gentle hand on James own just as gentle hand. "Asaca...." She looked up then, that sparkle in her eyes seemingly brighter. "Papa said her name was Asaca; as firstborn she had the strontgest blood that Vampires could shy away from if she went near them!"

James listened with half-closed, gentle eyes as she spoke, even her voice was beautiful to him. Oh man he had it bad. Soon after their drinks arrived, and the server gave them a moment to look over their menus before coming back. Of course James ordered a steak; their most tender cut, and insisted on having a full pound of it, 16 oz, even if that meant having to pay for two steaks. For a side he got some rice and a baked potato. Man likes himself some energy food.

After the waiter took Miray's order, he left and James continued to hold Miray's hand gently in his. "Asaca, huh? Interesting name... you think she'd try to kill me if we met?" he asked calmly, well, half serious, and half as a joke. "After all..that was what your family did, yea? Hunt were-creatures like myself?" he asked, his tone hushed of course as to not disturb anyone else dining in the establishment.

"I dont think she'd know what happened to our parents and siblings. If I meet her first then introduce you to her and she to you. Possibly you may have another new friend" Though i hope she wont joke of my old fears.... the last part was unsaid because Miray ordered, amazingly they had it, a leg of goat, lightly roasted

"It was yes, but according to Papa, Asaca left home to pursue technology. like I said this was waiting for me at the Post. If Asaca is trying to contact me It might be because of my meditations recently roo" Miray had meditated more recently in her bedroom of their recently renovated and in many cases completely rebuilt apartment.

James nodded to signify that he followed her words. "I see, so she'd likely not disapprove of...well, this." he nodded to their hand holding. "That puts me at ease just a little, not that it would change my mind." he added, giving her a wink as he tightened his grip on her hand gently.

"I've wondered what the purpose of those meditations were. So they were to reach out to anyone you may be related to?" he asked softly.

Miray nodded at the question; "Sort of. I meditate mostly to keep my mind and body balanced, but in doing so I can feel other's like me, I cant really connect to them unless they try to connect to me. I guess its what I am, not exactly human like you... well... sotr of like yourself" Miray said thoughtfully.

"But two nights ago when I was meditating, one of those others reached to me, we connected briefly. the only thing I saw, was her face. And her weapon. That was it" That and the sudden backlash of energy at disconnecting the meditational connection made things only slightly harder to deal with if that. At least the mess was easy to clean up. Next time, she told herself, do the meditations on the roof where nothing can get trashed.

"Maybe that's why this was sent to me ?" Miray pointed to the jade snake holding the strange bow. "It had my name on its paper, my full name, You know me as Miray, but that's only a small portion of my full name, what I am, who I am. so on and so fourth." For example a cat had three names, its common name, its given name, and the name only the cat knows, in Miray's case her name was a combination of all three, and Miray was just part of a mucvh longer word. "if it is Asaca, Why is she trying to find me ?"

But before those questions could get answered, or even thought over, it was time to eat. Fresh food and water was also brought for Snow to eat with her friends as well. Miray even offered to pay extra if need be.

James blinked slowly as she explained, and then shrugged when it came to the question of why it was sent to her. "I'm not sure..." as to her having three names, he raised an eyebrow. "Well then; I suppose I'm not going anywhere for another couple hundred years with my slow aging....I'll have time to get to know you." he winked at her with a chuckle as their food was brought to them and to Snow.

"Either way; if she's trying to find you I don't think you'll be too hard to find. You're tall for a woman of this planet, taller than me, and I'm tall." he said calmly. She was two and a half inches taller than he was, and he was six foot three. He sighed softly as he ate, his canines helping him tear apart the steak he was eating so he could swallow and continue enjoying his food; drinking his water periodically.

"I...never really had a family; not one that you would call a family anyway." he said. "Being raised by a pack of werewolves when you are both a runt and have Alpha Blood....well, if you've learned anything about were-creatures in your life, I think you know how well that went." he said. Him? A runt? Certainly not anymore; he'd be considered rather normal sized for a werewolf, perhaps small for an Alpha, but still large. Perhaps all the better for him that his original pack was destroyed long ago, and he prefers to be a lone wolf, in a matter of speaking.

He shrugged softly before digging into his food, letting out an appreciative hum of delight at the taste.

Miray smiled as she took a bite of the tender meat, the mention of her height, it came natrual. "Most where I grew up were naturally tall, a few even taller then I" She said simply around a mouthful of goat meat. if her sister was trying to contact her, why use a jade seal ? it didnt make sense. But, apparently it was useful.

"My father was eleven hundred when he died." Miray said a few moments later after taking a sip of her iced tea. "I have forgotten how I myself am actually" It was true, in all her years of hunting those that killed her family and simply surviving she had lost track of how old she truly was. And Asaca had left the house before Miray was born.

She smiled then, "In truth my name, my full name, is not easy to speak, Miray is but a small bit of it thus giving me an easy to speak name when one asks for it." Miray explained how her name worked, it wasnt possible to pronounce correctly unless you spoke it in a certain dialect of a certain {now dead} preternatural langauge. In short; Miray's name was actually shortened by a hell of a lot to form the name of Miray to begin with, as the first two letters of her name started with MI, and the last three were RAY, so she just cut out the middleman so tpo speak and called herself Miray since then

The name stuck

Being rasied in a city that had vampires lurking under your very noses is one thing for sure. She simply nodded. Raising an eyebrow at mention of james being a runt, "You dont look it' She said, in regards to the runt comment, hell she was the trunt of her family, and yet, look how she turned out

James chuckled at her response to his runt comment. "Being Alpha by blood gave me the physical strength to shove my older ...let's call them siblings...out of the way and allow me to eat what I wanted. I grew bigger than everyone who picked on me, then I pounded them senseless." he said, staring off into the distance quietly for a second before blinking and returning his Emerald gaze back towards her slender frame.

He sighed softly as he ate; truly enjoying his meal it seemed as Snow gnawed at the bone that was in her piece of meat under the table, tail wagging gently and brushing against Miray's leg. Snow was a polite dog, even polite while eating, and rarely made noise even when crunching at bones.

"So..." James swallowed his last piece of meat before working on his final scoops of rice and drinks of water. "..What ya want for dessert? Or are ya stuffed?" he asked, a rather playful smile on his face.

Kander looked at the Teahouse, surprised that it was as nice as the rumors had made it out to be. The windows gave off flashing lights, implying that there must have been a party of sorts inside. He wasn't particularly fond of parties. There was a small flight of steps leading up to the glass doors of the nice looking building. He climbed them, while keeping an eye on the shady looking figures standing at the entrance, all had rifles in hand. "Welcome to the Teahouse." said a buff man with a deep voice. Kander pondered whether he should answer or not. "Why thank you," Kander finally said, deciding that not answering would make him look more suspicious than he already was. "Any weapons?" Said another, who pointed his rifle at Kander's feet. Kander nodded. "Yes. Where would the discard pile be?" The buff man held out his hands. Kander sighed. He pulled out his pistol, assault rifle, and a pocket knife. The buff man put them in a box and turned to him. "And what would your name be?"
"Kander. Kander Hotigan." The buff man winced at his name, the others stood up and seemed even more defensive than they already were. Kander held his hands up. "Just coming for a little meeting and I will be off this planet." The buff man was apparently the head of this little band, because everyone turned to him and waited for his response. "Fine. But two of my boys will accompany you in, and keep a watchful eye. We have heard the stories." Kander nodded. "My reputation precedes me."
They entered the teahouse. It was beautiful. It had nice lighting on this floor, with bamboo shoots next to the nice little mats that people were sitting on. In the middle of the room was the bar, which broke the Japanese theme. It looked more modern. It had nice white wood pillars, and a nice marble table, with a bartender who met everyone with an equally nice smile. "Nice place." Kander said quietly. What was a little odd to Kander was that the men were leading him around, not the other way around. The damned hacker must have some influence on these goons. They circled around the bar, and right behind it was a nice little mat like the others, but this one was glowing green, due to a little candle flickering on it. Behind the candle was a figure in a black hood. That was him. The annoying hacker that is making the empty threats.
Kander walked over and sat down in front of the candle and the hooded figure. "I'm here." "Oh, the great Kander has heeded the calls of a weak hacker. Funny isn't it?" Kander shrugged. "Weak? Clearly not, seeing as you practically run this place." "Oh, no. I don't run this place. No, no, no. That isn't the case here." Kander sighed, making a weird metallic groan. "Stop playing these games. What do you want with me?" "I don't want anything to do with you. But Gundo does." A green dot appeared on Kander's chest. "I can't say I didn't see that coming. Cause I did." The hooded figure didn't move. "Of course."

"Gundo has eyes everywhere. I suggest you heed my words." Kander laughed. "What makes you think I would listen to a coward who won't even show his face?" The hooded figure pulled back his hood to reveal a young man with green hair, peculiar looking glasses, and a grim facial expression. "Still a coward?" "Yes. Because you are pointing a gun at an unarmed man." "You are never unarmed." Kander had to give him that. He wasn't ever truly without a weapon. "True, true..." Kander looked around for anything he could use to kill the man before him. "I made sure that you have nothing to hold against me." The man said. Kander nodded. "I can see that. Not even a particle of dust on the ground." The green haired man narrowed his eyes. "Can never tell with you." He jabbed the gun forward a bit, then pulled it back. Kander was a bit disappointed. If the gun was extended just a bit farther, he could have taken it and shot the man. Then gone back to Hotigan Enterprises easy. "So, I hear you caused a scare." "What I do best." "I'm aware of that." "What is this Gundo you speak of?" "Top secret agency. Keeps the peace around these parts without anyone really realizing it. That part is thanks to me. I cover our tracks. Makes us undetectable." Kander shook his head. "Not completely. I was able to save that last message you encrypted into my data records. I can now trace it back." This was all a lie, but the man with the green hair seemed to temporarily believe it. His neck became tense- then relaxed. "Impossible. My encryption doesn't work like that." Kander sighed again. It was worth the try. "And what are you going to do with me?"

The man with the green hair smiled. "I have sent out a distress beacon to the local authorities. They will be here in a couple minutes... Lockjaw is no more. You can never hurt anyone ever again." Kander laughed. "Hold on..." The green haired man cocked his head, wondering what Kander could be talking about. "You... I... Oh, I killed your father. That's right!" Kander snapped his fingers, making the man in green flinch. "He had green hair just like you. And those same annoying eyes. Oh, I wish I could have been there for a more... personal... execution." The man's jaw clenched hard, his neck became tense again. Kander could hear his teeth grinding, could hear his finger rub against the trigger of his pulsar gun. "Do it. One shot can end me and my enterprise... One... SHOT."

Not only was the green haired man not joking, but he was also serious to. He had shot Kander in the shoulder, taking a large chunk of it, and throwing it on the ground. The whole teahouse went quiet. Kander smiled, putting a hand on his blown shoulder. "I applaud you for being gutsy enough to do that... I really do..." Kander stood up, knowing that the man wouldn't kill him. He pulled out a pocket watch. He glanced at it, and was thankful that the idiots guarding the entrance didn't detect it, because this was the only toy he had on him. He took it and turned around, faster than the average male, and blasted backwards, diving behind some bamboo shoots before the green haired man opened fire on them. Kander pressed the second button, and his Rocket launcher began to unfold in his hand. He took it and pointed it at the wall closest to him and blasted it to bits with one of his only rockets. It exploded, exposing the outside. It was dark out now, night time. It would be easy to escape into the night. He hopped out of the teahouse after receiving yet another blast to the back, making him cough up blood, which just got stuck in his jaw. He pressed the first button on his rocket launcher, turning it back into a pocket watch, before running off towards the business district or at least what he thought was the business district. He couldn't really tell, his vision was blurred from the pulsar wounds. He had no doubts in his mind that the security in the business district upped its level tenfold. He had no idea.

Harry cursed to himself, over and over. He had his father's killer right there, three feet in front of him. He had every chance to kill him. The shot he made should have hit his head, not his shoulder. And now he is gone. Slipped out of his grasp. Harry returned his hood to his head, covering his face, shielding his identity. He quickly propped his laptop open at an empty table in the Teahouse, and opened up the security feed in the OmniCorp building. "Holy... shit." Was all Harry could possibly say as he watched the Imperial soldiers storm the building. So many of them. Harry could only hope that they will find Kander and give him hell. That is all he ever wanted... was to see Kander dead. See his dark Enterprise fall. Maybe that can happen now... Maybe. He closed the security feed and opened up another window. A secret communication link on his laptop that allowed him to communicate with Gundo operatives. He needed to speak with someone that could ensure that Kander will be dead by tomorrow morning if all else fails.

He didn't get an instant reply from his computer, which was slightly disappointing. Maybe the man was busy. He started to shut down the laptop when another message from the GUNDO window came up. Next to the name Artis it read "Give me and my team exactly 5.2 hours to get situated, and your target will be dead." Harry had never actually met the man named Artis, but he was apparently one of the greatest Bounty Hunters in the galaxy. Of course, Harry didn't believe everything he heard, like the fact that the guy could snipe a man ten miles away with a pistol. That is impossible. Not even a man training for something like that could actually do it. He typed in a response. "I will be keeping an eye out for your team's arrival." Harry then closed his laptop and exited the main entrance of the Teahouse. He noticed some dark red rifles and pistols. That must be Hotigan's load-out. He kept walking. He had to reach the spaceport and inform Artis of what he was up against. A vile criminal who kills unarmed civilians with explosives.

Master sits down and haves himself some tea.

Arlin Soarge has arrived, coming from Wing City Business District.

Arlin Soarge has left the area, heading west towards Wing City Business District.