[FFML] [Ranma/SM/KFTLC] A Different Viewpoint: Curses and Demons: Chapter 37

[Christopher Olsen]

All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published by
Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz Communications.

A Different Viewpoint: Curses and Demons:

Chapter 37

Late that night, Michael Dwire came out of the hiding spot he had chosen
deep within the zoo's interior, having sequestered himself away just before
closing time behind the large dumpster style trash bins near the big cat
area of the zoo.

One of the zoo's few guards had gone by several minutes before, but Michael
looked around cautiously just in case the man had decided to backtrack.
Quietly he snuck over toward the panther enclosure, keeping his eyes peeled
for any movement, and listening for any suspicious sound.

He was almost to the panther cage when he heard the faint but unmistakable
sound of a shoe lightly touching down on concrete. His head pivoted toward
the sound just long enough to spot a dark shape coming around the corner,
then he took one LONG and quiet step under the shadow of a tree, where he
did his best to become absolutely still. He did not even breathe, and he
used all he knew to make his aura as unremarkable as possible.

Peter Caine stopped dead as he came around the corner. Something was wrong
with the scene in front of him, although he couldn't immediately say what it
was. He had felt, if only for an instant, the presence of someone else
nearby, caught, perhaps, just a tiny hint of movement from up ahead of him,
but now, there was nothing, not even the sense of a presence anymore. Since
becoming reunited with his father, Peter had learned once again to rely on
his inner senses, and they had told him that someone had just been looking
at him, and then had vanished.

< It's not a guard.> Peter reasoned. < Or they'd have done something by
now....> He hesitated, thinking that over. < Even if it were a guard
trying to see what's going on, I'd be able to tell if he was still watching
me. Could if be the demon?> < Demoness.> He corrected himself. < Not
that that makes her any less dangerous, I bet.>

Peter nearly pulled out his pistol before discarding that idea. < If it is
the demoness, my gun's not going to stop her, and if it's one of the guards,
I could shoot him by mistake. Better safe than sorry.> Rather than move
forward, Peter focused on the scene in front of him, recalling on of he
lessons his father had given him long ago.

During his 11th year at the monastery, Kwai Chan Caine had put young Peter
in charge of maintaining a rock garden, an incredibly boring task to the
young man. Still, Peter had stuck with the duty, despite his long having
since tired of it, being, at the time, a dutiful young man. Finally, after
several months of the labor, he had finally decided to question the reason.

"Father." Young Peter Caine started hesitantly. "Why must I spend so much
time taking care of the rock garden? It's rock, it doesn't change. I
really don't need to spend so much time taking care of it, do I?"

Kwai Chan Caine did not respond at first, instead gazing out at the garden
calmly. "Does it not?" He waved his hand over the garden expansively.
"Look closely. What is different?"

Peter frowned at the spread of different shaped rocks. "Nothing's
different. They're rocks. They don't change."

Caine simply shook his head. "Watch. Watch till you can see what has
changed."

Peter sighed and sat down facing the rock garden, staring at it dubiously.
"What am I supposed to see?"

Caine shrugged. "You will know."

Peter sighed again and continued to watch his rock garden, wondering what in
the world his old man was trying to teach him this time. It seemed like
hours had passed, although in retrospect Peter suspected it had only been
minutes, before young Peter had forgotten that he was so bored, and instead
was really looking at the rock garden, remembering all the details he had
noticed in passing from time to time in the months before. Suddenly he sat
up, incredulous, and peered closer. There among the rocks was a large
lizard, sunning itself in plain sight.

It had obviously been there the whole time, but Peter had completely missed
it's motionless form, so well had it blended into the rocks. "Father,
there's a lizard!" Peter exclaimed excitedly, eager to share his discovery.
"There, between those two big rocks on the right, do you see?"

Kwai Chan simply nodded calmly. "I see. But do you?"

Peter had pondered that for quite awhile before finally deciding that it was
just another one of his father's cryptic statements that he wasn't supposed
to understand yet. Eventually, however, he had taken the lesson to heart in
his work as a detective, using the skills of observation his father had
taught him long ago to aid his investigative work.

In this particular situation, Peter realized, something had indeed changed
since he had last checked the scene that morning, while planning his
midnight invasion. Something was vaguely off, and all he had to do was
figure out what it was. After several long moments of thought, Peter
finally saw it. One of the trees on the left was a different shape than he
remembered from first seeing it, and when he thought back and eliminated the
curved shape of the young tree trunk from the picture in his mind, what was
left looked very much like the silhouette of a human figure standing
motionless behind it.

Slowly Peter approached, his guard up against any surprises from the
motionless figure. He crossed slowly through the light of an overhead lamp,
knowing that whoever the person was, it had already spotted him. A moment
after his face was illuminated by the light, however, the person by the tree
spoke. The statue gained animation and life at once, startling Peter
slightly even though he had expected it.

"Detective," Came the quiet but familiar voice. "I thought it might be
you."

"Michael Dwire." Peter responded dryly, not really very much surprised.
"What if I had been a security guard, eh?"

Michael raised an eyebrow. "Look who's talking." He pointed behind Peter.
"What if that was Mara standing behind you instead of just Master Caine?"

Peter whirled about to see his father standing calmly only a couple feet
behind him. "Sheesh, Pop! You know I hate it when you do that."

Caine raised an eyebrow. "You would prefer, perhaps, more attention drawn
to this location?" He asked in a slightly louder than normal tone.

Peter winced and waved hushingly at his father, who just shrugged.

In the panther enclosure below, Ami woke to the sound of voices and blinked
three times at the sight of the outdoorlike scene in front of her, not
really sure, at first, where she was. She recognized the pair of black paws
in front of her at the same time as another warm body moved slowly against
her, as if stretching.

Memory flooded back to her in a wave, and her full recollection generated a
spike of terror and embarrassment through her stomach. Ami shot up in
shock, jumping away from the peacefully sleeping panther next to her, which
caused Midnight to wake up as well.

< Ami?> He thought at her questioningly. < What's wrong? What's
happened?>

Ami just shook her head, shock, embarrassment and anxiety overwhelming her
normally rational thought processes. < They're here! I've got to get
dressed... they can't see....> Forcing herself to slow down, Ami took a
slow, deep breath. < I'm panicking. I'm a panther right now, not a human.
I don't wear clothes.>

Midnight was getting increasingly confused by the turmoil within Ami's mind.
< Of course you're not a human. What's going on, Ami?> He glanced toward
the top of the panther enclosure. < It sounds like those men from before
are back. They're here to get you, right?>

Ami turned to Midnight. < That's right.... I've got to go with them.> Her
mental voice sounded reluctant, almost sad, and Midnight started to get
worried.

< Ami... I can't lose you so soon! Don't leave... at least not without me
with you!>

Ami hesitated. < I know I said I would take you with me if I could...
but... > She turned away. < Oh Kami... what have I done?> She was aghast
at herself for losing control, for giving in to her animal instincts as she
had, but somehow she couldn't blame Midnight for any of it. He had been
gallant till the end, until she herself had practically forced him to....
Ami nearly fell, her legs going weak in remembrance of the event, both in
fear and with another deep emotion she dared not examine too closely. Even
as heart warred with head inside her, time was swiftly moving forward.

Michael appeared at the top of the panther enclosure, followed closely by
the other two men from before. "Ami?" Michael called softly, unable to
clearly see her in the darkness. "Ami, it's Michael. We're here to get
you." Pulling a coiled rope, complete with loops every two feet for easy
climbing, out of his pack, Michael glanced around for something to secure it
to, and settled on a nearby tree. "I'll be right down, Ami. Hold on a
second!" He told her slightly louder, still pitching his voice relatively
low so as not to be overheard by the zoo's security.

Peter Caine got out his own loop of rope, this one a plain but sturdy
looking example of the breed, and quickly started tying it off on a lamp
post. "Maybe you shouldn't go down there, Dwire." He told the other man
roughly. "There are two other panthers down there besides you friend. They
might decide you look tasty."

"I'm not worried." Michael answered smoothly. "I've dealt with much worse,
trust me."

"They're your limbs to risk." Peter allowed, then promptly started climbing
down to the bottom of the panther enclosure. Michael grunted noncommittally
and tossed his own length of rope over the side.

Kwai Chan Caine stood calmly at the top of the enclosure. "I will... keep a
look out."

Peter reached the bottom of the enclosure's moat first and walked around,
heading for the stairs that led up into the main part of the panther's
living area. Michael reached the ground just behind him and followed close
behind, keeping an eye out for any panthers. When they reached the main
living area of the enclosure, they both spotted the two panthers standing
close together, although it was nearly impossible to tell if either of them
was the one they were looking for.

With one last frightened look at Midnight, Ami cautiously headed towards the
familiar face and the stranger with him, easily able to make out their
features with her panther form's greatly enhanced night vision.

Michael peered at the panther coming toward him and made a guess. "Ami?
Hold on, I've got some hot water in my pack. He removed his backpack and
started rummaging around in it. "Ah, here we go!" He pulled out a slightly
battered but extremely sturdy looking metal and plastic thermos. "I had it
filled with boiling water right before the park closed, so it should still
be pretty hot."

He opened the top and nodded as a faint wisp of steam came out. "Yup,
should be hot enough." Michael held the thermos out and tilted it slightly.
"Stand over here and I'll change you back." Ami started to move over to
beneath the thermos automatically, so eager she was to get some hot water.
She had stuck her head underneath the thermos before she remembered
Midnight.

< I never told him.... What will he think of me?> It was already too late
for second thoughts or explanations. Michael was already pouring the entire
contents of the thermos over her head, neck and shoulders. An instant
later, Ami found herself human again, still crouched on all fours, head
lowered, she rose unsteadily to her feet, looking at her hands in wonder.
"I'm me again." She whispered quietly to herself. "I'm human again."

Three pairs of eyes stared at her incredulously, Michael and Peter both
purposely adverting their gazes after confirming that they were, in fact,
looking at a very naked girl.

Midnight continued to stare, not truly believing his eyes. < Ami?> He sent
at her questioningly. < Is that... is that really you?>

Ami glanced back at Midnight with a sad expression. < I... I'm sorry.> She
thought back at him automatically, finding it more natural to do so than
to speak aloud. < I should have told you... I'm not really sure why I
didn't, except... I didn't now if you'd have believed me.>

Midnight continued to stare at her in confusion. < I... I don't understand,
Ami. You're human? Then how can... how can we be talking like....> His
eyes widened with a startling thought, then narrowed again. < Wait, how did
this happen exactly. Which are you? Human or panther?>

< I'm human.> Ami answered honestly. < I was born human, at least, and
I've only been a panther a few times now... it's a curse, you see, a magical
curse from the springs of Jusenkyo....>

Midnight sat back on his haunches. < Then... you were never a panther at
all... just a human girl who was cursed. Is that the magical energy that I
felt?>

Ami was about to respond when she realized that her name was being called,
softly, by the two men behind her. She turned to face them curiously, only
to realize that both men were looking pointedly away from her, and that the
stranger had taken off his jacket (revealing the holster for some kind of
sidearm) and was holding it out in her general direction. They had both
been talking to her, she realized... something about.... It took Ami all of
half a second to realize that she had been standing there naked in front of
two older men for nearly a minute.

Suddenly blushing a deep purple, Ami covered herself automatically with her
hands as best as she could and slipped forward to take the jacket that the
stranger was offering her. Quickly she pulled the leather jacket on,
relieved to note that it stopped far enough down her hips to cover her. She
was, in fact, swimming in the thing and had to hike up the sleeves to be
able to see her hands.

"It's alright now." Ami said to the two men in Japanese, still somewhat
frazzled. "I'm dressed now."

Michael Dwire turned to look at her, only the slightest trace of a blush on
his face. "Are you alright?" He asked in concern. "You're not injured in
any way?" Like her, Michael had spoken in Japanese, and Ami responded in
kind.

"Domo Arigato Gozimasu, Johnathon-san." She said clearly, bowing deeply at
the waist to him.

Michael shook his head answering her in Japanese. "No, I'm Michael.
Johnathon is still back in Japan, for all I know."

Ami blinked twice, then blushed. "Sumimasen, Michael-san."

Remembering herself, Ami turned to Peter Caine, who was starting to get a
bit frustrated at not being able to follow the conversation. She bowed
again to him, this time repeating her words in English. "Thank you very
much." Ami said gratefully. "For the loan of your jacket, sir, and for
coming here to rescue me.

Peter, turning to face her fully now that she was at least partially
dressed, bowed clumsily back. "Not a problem." He told Ami with an
embarrassed shrug. "Er... sorry about earlier."

Ami shook her head in denial. "Oh no! It was certainly not your fault...
and you gave me your own jacket to wear." She was blushing, becoming more
and more acutely conscious of her state of dress now that both men were
looking at her. The jacket was so big on her that she could feel air rather
than leather on most of her skin still, and it made her keep wanting to
glance down and check to see if it was covering everything. Even as her
cheeks continued to flame in embarrassment, there was another problem for
her to deal with.

< Ami...?> Midnight's voice in her head seemed hesitant to speak, scared of
what might follow. < If you're really a human... then how are we still able
to communicate like this?>

Ami looked at him in confusion. < What? Can't you communicate like this
with other humans? What about your old master....> Both Ami and Midnight's
eyes shot open wide in a shared realization. < You didn't!!!> Ami accused,
sounding hurt.

< No!> Midnight denied automatically. < I mean I don't think I did... I
didn't intend to.... Maybe?> He sounded confused in his own thoughts. <
Maybe something happened while we were mating?> He wondered curiously,
trying to recall each detail.

Ami's face turned purple and she moaned quietly. < Oh Kami... don't even
say that word.>

Midnight looked up at her in puzzlement. < Which word? Mated?> Ami's
flinch told him that his guess was accurate and he looked worried. < I did
it wrong, didn't I? I hurt you, or....>

Ami shook her head just slightly. < No, it's not that.> She tried to
think of a way to explain it to the obviously concerned panther. <
Sometimes humans get... embarrassed about... mating... and certain other
bodily functions. You didn't do anything wrong.> She blushed brighter at
the memory, and nearly jumped straight up when Michael Dwire moved to her
side, looking at her face in confusion.

"Er... Ami, we should hurry now, before the guard comes back this way." He
glanced at Midnight questioningly. "Is something wrong? You keep looking
at this panther here and blushing...."

Ami froze in sheer terror. < Oh no! No one can know!> With an effort of
will she forced her features into a semblance of normalcy, although she
could not completely get rid of the blush. "I was just embarrassed,
Michael-san... at everyone seeing me....." She broke off. "But you're
right, we should go before you are discovered.

Midnight's voice in her mind was suddenly frantic. < Ami, please! Please
don't leave me alone in here!> She stepped away from him slowly, trying not
to look back. < Ami...> Midnight took a single step to follow her. < Till
you arrived... I had almost forgotten what it was like... to be with someone
who can understand me....>

Ami kept going as Michael looked at her in confusion, waiting for her to
catch up with him as he headed for his rope. "Ami? Are you sure you're OK?
Want me to carry you?"

Michael looked genuinely concerned, and Ami shook her head then moved
forward rapidly to join him heading for the stairs down into the moat.

Midnight's voice followed her. < Ami,> His voice was quiet but pained. <
I don't know if I could stand... being alone again.> Ami choked halfway
down the stairs and stopped dead, shaking slightly.

"Ami!" Michael stopped as well, really worried now. "Are you all right?"
The short Japanese girl didn't answer right away, not able to formulate a
response, and Michael frowned. "I'm going to carry you. We don't have much
time left."

Peter Caine, who had been quiet up to that point, glanced back. "If you're
going to do something, I'd hurry, Dwire. That panther is coming this way."

Ami shook her head, suddenly determined. "I can walk." She turned to
Michael. "I can't go. At least, I can't go yet." She turned to face
Midnight, who was standing on top of the ledge looking down at her, and
bowed. "I'm sorry Midnight. I shouldn't have just walked away like that."
She hesitated then continued to speak aloud. "I will take you with me
somehow, as I promised."

Peter Caine looked at her as if she was insane. "Are you nuts, kid?" He
demanded incredulously. "That's a wild animal... not to mention zoo
property."

Ami sighed, shaking her head slightly but addressing Midnight instead of
Peter. "I'll come back and bring you with me when I can. I won't make you
wait long, I promise." She sighed. "But I cannot endanger these men, so
for now I must go."

Midnight nodded from the top of the stairs, suddenly calm and understanding.
< I'll wait. I trust you, Ami.>

Ami turned away with a choked off sob and ran down the stairs as quickly as
she could go, reaching Michael's rope ladder and climbing up is as fast as
she could manage without slipping. Kwai Chan Caine gave her a hand up for
the last few feet, pulling her easily over the edge and placing her down on
her feet.

The Shaolin Master bowed slightly before her, speaking to Ami in her native
Japanese. "Take heart, Senshi. No harm shall come to Midnight during your
absence." He switched to English a moment later as Michael and his son
Peter climbed up after Ami. "I am called Caine." He nodded to his son.
"And this is my son, Peter." Kwai Chan Caine bowed again slightly. "It is
good to meet you."

Ami bowed back deeply. "Thank you. Thank you for all for rescuing me."

Caine shrugged. "It is nothing." He glanced of to his left. "Time IS
short. We must go quickly."

Ami nodded back. "Yes we must. I'll keep up, please lead the way out,
Caine-san." The Shaolin Priest nodded back quickly and started off, moving
quietly through the zoo. Ami followed him closely, while Michael and Peter
both quickly untied their ropes (Peter with a sharp knife) and started
coiling them as they followed the older man and the girl they had come to
rescue out of the zoo.

Caine made several inexplicable turns away from the nearest outside wall
before doubling back toward it but no one questioned his judgment, and they
soon reached a the ten foot brick wall that ran around the zoo's exterior.
Ami glanced up at the structure and hesitated.

Michael stopped next to her and started getting out his rope again. "I'll
climb up and lower the rope down to you...." He began, but Ami stopped him.

"Why don't you just give me a hand up, Michael-san." Ami said. "I'll be
fine."

The young man who so resembled Johnathon Dwire-Tendo hesitated for only a
moment before cupping his hands at about knee level. "I'll boost you as
hard as I can." He informed her and Ami nodded, stepping into his hands
with her left foot and grabbing hold of his shoulders in reparation. "On
one..." The man warned her and started quickly counting down. "Three...
two...." He grunted and pulled upward as hard as he could, and the small
girl kicked off as she got as high as he could push her. Michael got a
quick flash of leg and the faint smell of girl in his nostrils before she
was gone, going to the top of the wall and dropping down to the far side in
one smooth motion that he wished he could
emulate.

Peter Caine exchanged a slightly surprised and impressed glance with Michael
before both men scrambled over the wall themselves, vaulting over the top
and landing on the pavement on either side of Ami just moments after she
herself had landed, although with a bit more effort and noise than she had
managed.

Ami was looking at the distant ocean in wonder. "Where is this?" Ami asked
quietly. "We're on the West Coast of America somewhere, right?"

Michael nodded. "That's right, Ami. This is San Francisco." He scratched
his head. "It's actually a pretty strange coincidence that you'd end up so
close to where I live, huh?"

Ami considered that. "I wonder." She could still feel a distant presence
in her mind, an already lonely panther waiting for her back inside the zoo.
"No." She shook her head. "This was no coincidence."

Peter Caine interrupted, glancing both ways. "Whatever the reason, we
should get out of here before somebody realizes that they're missing one
panther." He started off to the left, glancing back to make sure that the
others were following. "My car is this way."

Michael coughed and jerked his thumb in the opposite direction. "MY car is
THIS way." He emphasized, sounding a bit irritated. Ami stopped, torn in
indecision between the two men.

Peter Cain looked at Michael with a frown. "Look, she'll be safer coming
with me. I know a place where no one will come looking for her." The young
detective raised an eyebrow. "Besides, if she's a friend of your brother's
in Japan, your place is the first place they'd look, right?"

Michael frowned, then nodded. "You're probably right. I guess I had better
follow you there then."

"Right." Peter jerked his head up the street. "Go get your car and bring
it around to the ocean side parking. We'll wait for you there and I can
show you the way."

Ami glanced from one man to the other uncertainly. "Um... excuse me please,
but I must get back to Japan as quickly as possible. I can not wait and
hide here."

Peter Caine smiled reassuringly at the teenager. "Don't worry, we'll get
you home as soon as we can."

Ami hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Michael, then finally at the
strange older man. < Michael must know the truth of my identity by this
point, he's far from slow... but do the others? That older man... he called
me by my title... he has to know to... doesn't he?> Ami stepped up to the
Shaolin Master hesitantly. "Sumimasen..." She began in Japanese. "Do you
know who I really am?"

Caine raised an eyebrow. "You are Ami." He replied in Japanese simply.
"Is that not enough?"

Ami nearly let it go, but she had to be sure. "You called me Senshi." She
explained.

"Ah." Caine nodded, switching back to English. "This is WHAT you are."
Ami hesitated again, a bit flustered by Caine's vagueness.

Peter blinked, having been able to pick out only a bit of the conversation.
"You said that word before, Pop... Senshi..." He repeated it slowly but
accurately. "What does that mean?"

Caine glanced at his son gagingly for several moments before answering. "It
means Warrior." He finally answered calmly. "Come." He said to Ami then,
turning back to face her. "We should not linger here. Something...
dangerous... is coming."

They hurried to Peter Caine's car, save Michael, who ran the other direction
to collect his own vehicle. As they were about to reach his car, however, a
man stepped out of the shadows, wearing green sunglasses and a brown trench
coat.

"Kermit!" Peter Caine addressed the man in surprise. "What are you doing
here?" His eyes narrowed. "Did you put a bug on my car again?"

Kermit looked at him over the brims of his glasses. "Now would I do a thing
like that?"

"In an instant." Peter answered instantly. "If you had a reason."

Kermit smiles wryly. "Well, you do know me." He admitted unashamedly.
"But not this time." I was about to perform a quick extraction, but it
looks..." He glanced over at Ami. "Like you beat me too it." He slung a
duffel bag off his shoulder and walked over to hand it too her. "Although
it looks like you forgot a few things." He smiled at Ami kindly. "Ami
Mizuno, I presume?"

Ami unzipped the bag cautiously and looked inside. There was a blue
sweatshirt and sweat pants, a tee-shirt, tennis shoes and even underwear.

"They're all in my size..." Ami stammered questioningly. "How...?"

Peter Caine glanced back as his co-worker with a raised eyebrow of his own.
"She has a good question, unless you tapped my phone...." He blinked. "And
then somehow learned her complete name and shoe size...."

Kermit shrugged. "I have my sources." He reached into his jacket pocket
and pulled out a passport with what looked like an airline ticket inside.
"These are also for you." He said, handing them to Ami, who quickly flipped
through the passport in amazement.

"This is real!" She turned to Kermit in confusion. "But how? Who did
this?"

Kermit shook his head. "Sorry, my sources are confidential." Peter raised
an eyebrow but said nothing, and Kermit turned to him with a nod. "Well, it
looks like you have everything covered here." His eyes twinkled. "Of
course, I was never here, and we aren't having this conversation."

"What conversation?" Peter deadpanned back.

Kermit vanished into the shadows just as Michael drove up in his white
Rabbit and rolled down his window. "Alright." He started to ask. "Where
are we going?"

Peter stared at the white sub compact care in astonishment. "THIS was your
getaway vehicle?"

Michael rose to his car's defense immediately. "Hey, it may not be the
fastest thing on the road, but it corners on a dime...."

Ami took a moment to inspect the car and suddenly smiled as the brand and
color became clear. "It's a little white rabbit!" She said with a giggle,
causing Michael to beam. "I see you've read Louis Carroll then?"

Ami nodded, smiling brightly. "I loved Alice in Wonderland and Through the
Looking Glass when I was a child." She walked around to the side door,
still carrying the duffle bag. "Can I ride with you, Michael-san?"

Michael popped open the door for her immediately. "Sure, Ami "hop" on in."

Ami giggled again, catching the pun, and Peter groaned, then glanced back at
his own powerful vehicle, a black Jaguar. < I don't think I'll ever
understand women.> He thought wryly. "We're headed for Chinatown." He
informed them. "So stay close, you don't want to miss a turn." Moments
later they were on their way.

Ami had slipped into the back seat of the Rabbit to change, slipping the
panties and sweat pants she had found in the bag on under the leather jacket
she had borrowed from Peter Caine, then quickly taking off the jacket so she
could put on the rest of the clothing Kermit had brought her.

As he drove, Michael strove to keep the levity going with another joke.
"Hey, that's something you don't see every day." He commented gaily. "A
white Rabbit chasing a black Jaguar...." He glanced into the rear view
mirror to see his passenger's response to his joke and choked, staring for a
long moment before focusing on his driving again. Ami squeaked and dived
behind the seat even as Michael averted his eyes. "Sorry, sorry..."

"That's... alright." Ami told him from her position on the floor, quickly
pulling on her bra the rest of the way and reaching for her tee shirt.
"Chasing a black Jaguar..." She laughed politely, sounding a bit strained.
"Yes... very funny, Michael-san."

Michael winced and there was an uncomfortable silence as they drove on. Ami
finished dressing and pushed the passenger side seat forward so that she
could climb over it to sit next to Michael in the front of the car, belting
herself into the front passenger seat and quietly taking in the sights as
they passed through nighttime, downtown San Francisco.

As they started passing through Chinatown, however, she spoke. "Michael...
you know, don't you?"

Michael nodded calmly, having been prepared for the question for some time.
"That you're Sailor Mercury? Yeah, I know. I was there."

"What about those other two men...." She asked slowly. "How much do they
know?"

Michael shook his head. "I don't really know. I assume Johnathon contacted
them to help, but I don't know how much he told them." Michael hesitated.
"I don't think that detective knows about you being one of the Senshi,
though... it was like he didn't even know the word... but his father...."

Ami nodded. "He knows... or at least he knows something...."

Michael wrinkled his nose. "Maybe he just meant that you're... a warrior."
He nodded to himself. "That old man is a Shaolin Priest, apparently... and
he was able to catch a small... demon, I guess, outside your cage." Michael
shrugged. "I mean, even I can tell, now that I know to look for it... you
carry yourself like a fighter... and your chi..." He shrugged again. "It's
very strong. That detective is a martial artist too... but the Priest...
he's REALLY good."

"Oh." Ami considered that for awhile. "I hope you're right,
Michael-san...."

Before long they had pulled up outside what appeared to be an apothecary's
shop, and ahead of them, Peter Caine got out of his car and waved for them
to follow him inside. Michael and Ami got of and were greeted at the door
by a very old Chinese man, who's hands were holding a stack of paper wards.

"Come inside, quickly!" He told them. "I must complete the barrier before
the demon finds this place.

Peter looked confused. "Barrier? You're going to put up spirit wards? Is
that actually supposed to do something?"

The Ancient rolled his eyes and started putting up his wards on the front
door and the windows of his shop. Michael simply nodded, remembering what
the goddesses had said about Mara's weaknesses, and Ami went to help the old
man place the wards, having seen Rei do the same many times before. The old
man said an incantation in Chinese before placing each ward, and Ami could
feel the power flowing
through him each time. She smiled, feeling much safer under their
protection.

Ami frowned suddenly, noticing something. "Where is he?" She turned to
Peter. "Where is your father?"

Peter blinked. "He said he'd meet us here. I'm sure he'll be here soon."

************************

Back at the panther cages, Kwai Chan Caine quietly waited. The guards had
come and gone, never noticing their missing panther. The new addition to
the zoo would most likely not be missed till the morning at the earliest,
but that was not why Caine had remained. He had a promise to keep. No harm
would come to Midnight while he watched, and harm was indeed coming. In
fact, he realized, she had arrived.

A tall blond woman in black leather stepped out of a hole rent in the air,
looking around curiously for a moment. "Now where?" Her eyes narrowed as
Caine stepped out of the shadows. "Who are you, and where is my panther?"

"I am a priest." He answered simply. "And the warrior has gone." Caine
stared at the demoness calmly. "You will not reclaim her."

Mara frowned slightly. The aura of calm radiating from the priest was
disturbing. She tried to probe him for some weakness she could use against
him, but found nothing but an iron mental discipline.

Caine took a step forward, sensing her hesitation. "Begone from this place,
Demon. You are not wanted here."

Mara was surprised to find herself taking a step back at his words. "You
have no power over me, priest." She bluffed, feeling about mentally for
Senbei's energies.

"Begone!" Caine said louder, taking another step forward and swinging an
open palm in her direction.

Mara was forced backwards by a wave of spiritual energy, and she flickered
out for an instant. Her eyes widened in shock. Somehow this mortal priest
had managed to disrupt her corporal form, if only for an instant. If she
focused her energies in defense, she doubted that the priest would be able
to repeat his attack successfully on her, but it was extremely worrying that
he had managed to do as much as he had.

"Begone!" Caine shouted, waving his palm in her direction again in a
gesture of expulsion. Again Mara was pushed back, although this time she
was able to maintain her corporal form fully. Her scan had picked up no
trace of her minion, save the faint echo of a broken spell.

"This isn't over, Priest!" The demoness warned, then vanished.

Caine frowned, concealing his sudden fatigue with difficulty. "No, Demon,
it isn't."

Midnight slipped out of the spot where he had been hiding and looked
questioningly at Caine. "You'll be safe for now." The Shaolin master
informed the black panther gravely. Midnight nodded but still looked
concerned. "I will make sure your mate is safe as well." Caine assured
him. Midnight blinked in surprise and Caine shrugged, smiling. "A fine
choice, although not, I think, quite what your master had in mind for you."

Midnight shrugged back and Caine sighed. "You have a long road ahead of you
as well, Midnight. You must be strong and loyal, and care for you mate, for
her tasks will be many and great." Satisfied that the demoness would not
return, Caine headed for the gate leading inside the maintenance section
behind the big cat enclosure. Putting one hand on the lock, he popped it
open with just a push. Midnight followed a step behind him, looking
agitated, and Caine raised an eyebrow. "You are worried for her?"

Midnight nodded emphatically and Caine hesitated only a moment before
stepping aside so that the panther could get by him. They left the zoo's
grounds without difficulty and soon Midnight was slipping quietly across the
city, heading like an arrow towards his mate... or his new master. He
really wasn't sure what their real relationship was, but he did realize that
he was bound to her now, every bit as much or more then he had been bound to
his old master before her. Caine silently shadowed the panther, making sure
that Midnight's passage was not observed by the few people awake at that
hour of the morning.

Back at the Apothecary's shop, Peter Caine had quite a few questions for the
young girl he had just rescued. "What's going on, Miss Mizuno?" He began.
"The whole story. Why is this... demon after you... and how did you get
cursed to become a panther?"

"What demon?" Ami asked innocently, looking confused.

"The demon that Johnathon Dwire warned me might be after you." Peter said,
then looked a bit disturbed at his own words. He shook his head. "I'm sure
there's something after you.... there was this... tiny little...
something... that Pop caught. It was watching you. Why? Why would this
thing be after you?" He shook his head. "And what about your curse? You'd
think someone would put up a keep out sign or something on that Jusenkyo
place... or better yet, bulldoze the whole thing...."

The Ancient shook his wizened head at the foolishness of youth. "The valley
of Jusenkyo bears a powerful magic... few who wander too close escape the
curse, even those who are aware of it."

Ami hesitated before speaking up herself. "I was in China to... help a
friend who was in trouble... Mara... she must want revenge...."

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Revenge?"

Ami hesitated again. "I'm sorry, may I use the bathroom?" She finally
asked politely.

Peter blinked, then nodded quickly, pointing. "Down the hallway, second
door on your left."

"Thank you, Detective." Ami bowed and then followed his finger, quickly
finding the bathroom and shutting herself inside, closing the door.
"Mara..." She whispered worriedly to herself, puling her Senshi
communicator out of her dimensional pocket and activating it.

After several moments Rei's face appeared in the monitor, a relieved smile
quickly sweeping across it. "Ami!" She shouted happily. "You're all
right! Where are you?"

"I'm in San Francisco." Ami answered quietly, keeping her voice low."
Michael-san and two other men... a police detective and his father, a
Shaolin priest, rescued me from the zoo." She looked puzzled. "And another
man came and brought me my passport and clothing in my size. Did
Setsuna-san arrange something?"

Rei's face darkened and she shook her head. "No... that's not really very
likely." She sighed. "Ami, Setsuna's gone missing. Not only her, but all
the Outers... and the goddesses as well. Belldandy-sama said that it looks
like it was some sort of trap."

Ami looked confused. "Belldandy said? You said that the goddesses were
missing."

Rei put a hand to her forehead as if she was in pain. "One of the extra
Belldandys... from Jusenkyo, remember? The Belldandy with... all of her
powers went with the outers to rescue...." She broke off suddenly with a
wince but Ami understood.

"To rescue me? And they went missing?" Ami frowned and said one word.
"Mara."

Rei nodded, her eyes tight. "You be careful! She'll be after you for sure
once she finds out you're not in the zoo any more." She looked worried.
"And don't try teleporting, that's how Belldandy things they got the
Outers...." Rei trailed off before speaking up again. "We're all at the
Tendos' for the meantime, in case Mara tries anything. She's already
attacked here once. Usagi's still grounded, but Mamoru is keeping an eye on
her place."

"I'll come back as soon as I can." Ami reassured Rei. "Whoever it was that
got me my passport provided some plane tickets for..." She checked to make
sure. "For tomorrow morning." Ami gave Rei her arrival time, and Rei
assured her that everyone would come out in force to pick her up at the
airport.

"Still, Ami, who could have arranged for your passport like that?" Rei
asked curiously.

"You don't think it's Johnathon, do you?" Ami asked uncertainly.

Rei shook her head. "I'll ask him, but it doesn't seem likely. I mean,
where would he get that sort of clout?"

Ami was about to answer that when Minako's face appeared on the screen. "Hi
Ami! You're alright!" She blinked. "What are you wearing?" Minako shook
her head. "Never mind, Makoto-chan wants to talk to you!" She glanced off
the screen. "What are you waving at me like that for, Makoto-chan? Don't
you want to talk to Ami?"

A moment later a slightly embarrassed looking Makoto appeared on the screen.
"Ami... it's really good to see you." She swallowed. "I was really
worried. You're coming back soon?"

Ami nodded, smiling. "Tomorrow. Don't worry, I haven't seen any sign of
Mara here. I'm sure I'll be fine. You be careful, though." She frowned
slightly. "Take care of the Tendos."

"Don't worry." Makoto told her. "Even Mara wouldn't dare try anything with
all of us right here."

Ami sighed. "I hope so." She glanced at the bathroom door. "I have to go
now. I'll see you all tomorrow." She closed the connection, feeling
suddenly that something was wrong. A worry filled her, although she could
not trace the source at first. "I'm worried about the Outers." She told
herself, and she was suddenly aware of the knot in her stomach that she had
been ignoring ever since Rei had told her of their disappearance. She WAS
worried, she realized, desperately worried, but that worry was almost
familiar to her. Worrying about her fellow Senshi going into danger was
nothing new, and she had long since learned to deal with it, pushing the
worry aside so she could get done those things that needed doing.

That worry, however, was not the worry she had felt. Ami left the bathroom
quietly, trying to pin down what was bothering her, but she couldn't. It
felt like the sweet, painful anxiety or realizing the danger of losing
someone close to you that you've just met, and realizing how much you care
about them because if it. The worry she felt reminded her of her feelings
regarding Uwara after she learned that he was destined to be one of the
seven shadows. That memory nearly brought her to a halt with pain. Losing
Uwara as she had, not once but twice, first when he became one of the
shadows, and the second time to the magic of the Silver Crystal, turning
back time so that they had never really met.

The pain of that double loss was ever bit as visceral, as real as it had
ever been, but Ami forced herself to push it aside. Despite his gift to see
glimpses into the future, Uwara was no better able to protect himself from
the enemies she had to face then was her mother, and she could not dare even
approach him in her normal identity for fear that his powers would once
again reveal her secret, that he would "see" who she really was. Ami had
not truly thought about the boy in months, and she couldn't understand why
she would suddenly be reliving her feelings for him. It was even more
puzzling when the feelings started to get even stronger.

Suddenly Ami understood what was happening to her. The feelings of worry
weren't coming from her, but from an outside source. In fact, she could
practically tell the direction and distance the feelings were coming from,
back towards the center of town and...

"The zoo!" Ami said aloud as she came to a halt, back in the main part of
the Apothecary. "That's where..." She trailed off, blushing, as Peter,
Michael and the ancient old shopkeeper all turned to look at her in
interest.

"The zoo?" Michael repeated in English, questioningly. "That's where
what?""

Ami flushed in embarrassment and shook her head, her mind racing. < That's
where those feelings are coming from, Midnight. It must be our bond....>
She tried to analyze the feelings she was getting and was almost able to
point to their source. < He's coming closer?> Her eyes went wide her newly
awakened senses confirmed that her mate... familiar... friend... she could
not define what he was to her in her mind, but she knew now clearly that he
was coming gradually closer to her. < Midnight....> Ami's face was a war
of conflicting emotions for a long moment before she controlled herself. <
Why are you coming after me?>

Moments later her face went slack when her inner question was answered. < A
demoness, Ami! She hunts for you!> Midnight's mental voice was as soft, as
if he was in the next room rather then standing at her side, but it was
unmistakably him.

< Midnight? How can I hear you from so far away?>

< The bond.> Midnight answered simply. < It can reach over several miles,
especially when there is strong magic involved.> Midnight sounded confused.
< Ami, how is your magic so strong? Are you a wizard like my old master?>

Ami frowned. < Not exactly. I'm a Sailor Senshi.>

"Ami?" Peter Caine had come over to her to look closely at her face. "Are
you feeling all right? You've got that distant look on your face again."

The short haired girl blinked and focused her eyes on his face. "Oh, I'm
sorry, Detective Caine. I'm just a bit... distracted."

"That's understandable." Peter told her sympathetically. "But do you think
you could answer a few more questions for me?"

Ami nodded calmly. "If you wish. What, exactly did you wish to know?"

"Well, for starters, who was this friend that you went down to China to
help, and why was this demon after them?" Peter asked, ticking off points
on his fingers.

"Ranma Saotome." Ami answered immediately, seeing no reason to hide that
information. "He had apparently disrupted Mara's plans in the past, and she
was trying to get rid of him."

Peter Caine raised an eyebrow. "Ranma. Why am I not surprised?" He looked
at Ami again. "Why did you go to China to help him?"

Ami blinked. "Ranma is my sensei, and my friend. I couldn't NOT go."

Peter frowned at that, about to protest that a young girl shouldn't be
trying to rescue anyone, but before he spoke, his mind flashed back to a
martial arts tournament where another "little girl" had not only beaten him
soundly, but his father as well, and gone on to win. The fact that the
"little girl" in question had also been Ranma Saotome was not lost on him.

"Alright." The detective finally allowed. "So you went to China to help
Ranma, tangled with this demon, and got cursed, right?"

Ami nodded, and Michael was quick to back her up. "I was there as well,
Detective Caine. That's pretty much what happened."

Peter Caine jumped on that, turning on Michael earnestly. "Oh? What can
YOU tell me about all this, then?" He raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Is
this demon after you too? Do you have a Jusenkyo curse?"

As Peter went on questioning Michael Dwire, Ami focused again on the voice
in her head. < Midnight, you can't come here now. I could never
explain...>

Midnights voice, however, was determined. < I can't just leave you
unprotected.>

< I can protect myself.> Ami insisted. < But if you come I'll have to
protect you too....>

< Maybe.> Midnight agreed reluctantly. < But I can help you fight her...
and you'll need all the help you can get if you have to face that demoness.>
Ami hesitated, not wanting to question him, but feeling uncertain of how
much use a single panther, even an intellegent one, could be against a demon
as powerful as Mara. Midnight senced her confusion and answered Ami's
unspoken question. < Our bond. We both are stengthened by it. In this
case, the whole really is greater than the sum of it's parts.>

Ami blinked. < What? How?>

Midnight answered as concisely as he could. < My physical and magical
abilities are enhanced by the powers of my Master... you, Mistress, and when
I am close enough I can use my strength to bolster your magic as well.>

Ami frowned slightly. < Midnight... why don't you call me Ami for now,
alright?>

The black panther's mental voice sounded pleased. < OK, Ami.> He paused.
< Er... so... what is a Sailor Senshi anyway? Is it anything like a
Sorceress?>

Ami blinked three times while trying to think of how to explain. < Well...
we're reincarnated warriors from a kingdom on the moon. We get our powers
from the planets of this Solar System. I'm Sailor Mercury, or just Mercury,
because my powers come from that planet.

Midnight didn't answer for several seconds. < OK...> He finally said. <
I'll just take your word for that. Um... what does that mean, anyway? What
kind of powers do you have?>

Ami wrinkled her nose in thought. < I have three different magical attacks
with increasing levels of power, I'm faster and stronger than a normal
person when I transform, I heal quickly, and I have an advanced sensor visor
and mini computer from the past that allow me to scan... well, just about
anything you can think of, really.>

Midnight's mental voice sounded hopeful. < Well now, that all sounds really
useful!> He ruminated for a moment. < I should be able to help bolster
your magical attacks some, if I'm nearby. I don't know about the rest.> He
trailed off. < Ami... when you said you transformed, did you mean into a
panther, or something else?>

Ami blinked. < Oh no, I change into Sailor Mercury... er... really I just
power up and change into my uniform.>

Midnight thought that over for a bit. < So there are other Sailor Senshi?
Is there one for each planet?>

< That's right.> Ami confirmed. < And one for the Earth's moon. She's our
leader, Sailor Moon.> Ami continued to explain about the Senshi to Midnight
as he swiftly raced towards the apothocary. She split her concentration
between talking to Midnight and listening to the old man, Lo Si, who had
offered them a short tour of his shop. There were rooms in the floor above
an dhe suggested that everyone might get some rest, seeing that it was
likely to be a busy day the next day. Ami wanted to accept, but Midnight
was getting closer every moment, and she had to figure out what to do about
him. Just as she could feel him arriving just outside the shop, she came up
with an idea.

Ami turned to the old Chinese man and bowed politely to him. "Master Lo Si,
do you think I could sleep in here tonight?" Ami indicated the bedroom they
had just passed. "I'm really quite exhausted." She explained with a tired
smile.

"Of course!" The Ancient nodded with a smile. "You are welcome tonight.
Please... make yourself... comfortable."

Ami yawned theatrically and stepped into the bedroom, slowly closing the
door behind her. "Thank you so much, Master Lo Si. It's been days since
I've even seen a real bed." She shut the door tightly and waited listening
until she heard the men walking away, then rushed to the window. Opening it
as quietly as she could, Ami called softly. "Midnight? Midnight are you
out here?"

< I'm right across from you.> Midnight's voice came a moment later, and Ami
looked out across the rooftops to see a pair of yellow eyes staring at her
from out of the blackness. Midnight's form was swallowed by the shadows,
and if she hadn't have been able to feel his presence, Ami doubted she'd
have been able to spot him. Ami felt a bit relieaved that at least one of
her worries about the male panther was reasured.

< You're very good at sneaking around, aren't you, Midnight?> Ami told him.
Midnight's eyes vanished from sight but she could tell that the panther
was very pleased with himself.

< My master often had me practice moving about without being seen. It's an
important skill for a panther.> Midnight told her.

Ami smiled. < It certainly is.> She gaged the distance between the window
and the nearest rooftop. < Can you make it in here, or should I come out
and get....> She stepped to on side as Midnight jumped through the open
window smoothly, landing on the floor beside her with scarcely a sound. <
Never mind....> Ami smiled and reached down to pet Midnight behind the
ears. The big cat thrummed very quietly from somewhere deep in his belly,
and Ami could tell that he was quite pleased with himself.

Ami sat down on the bed with a sigh, suddenly feeling a bit of trepidation
at having him in the same room with her.

Midnight sensed her worry and sat down on his haunches. < What's wrong,
Mistress Ami?> He asked. < You're worried about having me here? Why?>

Ami hesitated a moment before answering. < I just don't know how I'll
explain your presence here. You belong to the zoo.> She frowned, then
shook her head. < Well, technically you shouldn't belong to anyone, but I'm
sure the zoo wouldn't agree. They'll think I stole you.>

Midnight sighed. < I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put you through so much
trouble. I guess you really can't just tell them the truth, can you.>

Ami shook her head. < No, that wouldn't be wise.> She frowned again. <
But what can I do with you? I'm going back to Japan in the morning. If I
had the others with me we could just teleport you... but until Mara's dealt
with that might not be possible.> She sighed. < I just don't
know.>

Midnight blinked. < You can teleport?>

Ami looked down at him and nodded. < We can, if we're all together. It
takes all five of us though.>

The panther looked impressed. < Wow! That's really high level magic! My
old master told me about teleportation, but he said it was a lost art.>
Midnight looked curious. < You said it wouldn't be possible till Mara is
dealt with. Why is that?>

Ami wrinkled her nose. < Rei, that's a friend of mine in Japan, told me
that several of the other Senshi and er... the Norse Fates....> She rushed
on, realizing how improbable she was sounding. < They tried to teleport to
look for me, but didn't seem to arrive. They think it's probably because of
Mara, somehow. It might not be safe to teleport.>

Midnight's mental voice seemed to frown. < Oh... so you're worried about
how you're going to get me to Japan?>

Ami sighed. < Exactly. Not to mention where you're going to stay when we
get there.> Absently, Ami realized she was no longer denying the fact that
she did want him to come to Japan with her.

Midnight blinked. < Can't I stay with you?>

Ami looked down at him incredulously. < What? No... there's no way.> She
sighed again. < Midnight, I live with my mother right now, and I really
don't think she'd let me keep you.>

< Why not?> Midnight asked innocently.

<Well...> Ami hesitated. < Besides the fact that it's hardly legal... how
could I explain finding you?>

Midnight looked confused. < Why don't you just tell her how we met? I'm
sure she'd understand.>

< Midnight...> Ami's mental voice was uncertain. < My mother doesn't know
that I turn into a panther... or that I'm a Senshi.>

The large black cat took that in quietly. < Oh.> He was silent for several
long moments, although Ami could tell that he was thinking hard. < Ami, are
you an adult?> He sounded a bit hesitant. < I mean... a human adult... I
know that humans have a... what do they call it...? A rite of passage? Are
you still living with your mother because you're too young to leave her?>

Ami sighed. < Yes. In my culture I suppose I would still be considered a
child... although...> She shrugged, not able to explain.

Midnight stared at her for a long moment. < Well... you seem pretty grown
up to me. Your mind sounds mature, and your body is as well.>

< I've had to grow up fast in the last couple years.> Ami explained. < In
many cultures, I would be considered an adult.> She wrinkled her nose
slowly. < I've been considering this for awhile, but I wasn't ready to
commit to it. I think it's the only way now.>

Midnight looked curious. < What?>

Ami looked into his eyes. < It's time I moved out on my own, away from my
mother.>

Midnight nodded. < Your rite of passage?>

Ami sighed again. < You could say that.> She lay back on the bed and
stared up at the ceiling. < This is insane. I have no real money. I'll
need to find a job, an apartment...> Midnight jumped up on the bed next to
her and lay down at her side as she ruminated. Ami froze, shivering.

< Ami?> Midnight was concerned at the waves of conflicting emotions
suddenly overwhelming the girl at his side. < Ami, what's wrong.>

< Nothing is wrong.> Ami thought back at him, sounding like she was trying
to convince herself.

Midnight wasn't fooled for a moment. < Ami, you're scared of something...
you're scared of me?> He sounded hurt. < Why? Why are you scared of me?>

The desolation in his voice was almost too much for her to bear, and Ami
rolled on her side to hug him, even as he started rising to leave. < No...>
She told him shakily. < Not of YOU.> She fought to calm herself enough
to give the panther a straight answer. < I'm scared of what I might do...
what I did.. because you were there... because I was near you.>

The hurt in Midnight's voice subsided slightly, but the confusion remained.
< I don't understand, Ami. Why are you frightened?> Ami was quiet for a
long time, holding Midnight gently to her as he settled back down and
seriously thinking about how she'd answer his question. At the same time
she examined the fear she felt and tried to understand it. < I was
frightened because... because...> She sighed. < There were... are several
reasons. For one, I've been a panther for less than a week. I really
wasn't ready for... what we did.>

Midnight was nearly dumbstruck. < Less than a week. But...>

< I was... am... scared of the power of the instincts I have in that form.>
Ami explained.

< Humans don't have very strong instincts, do they.> Midnight said,
sounding like he was beginning to understand.

< No we don't.> Ami told him, < I wasn't at all prepared for how much
more... powerful my... er.... urges were.>

Midnight's voice was soft. < You didn't even really know what was happening
to you.>

Ami sighed. < Well, I figured it out... and then I got really scared.>

< Oh?>

< Yes. My body was ready to mate... but I really wasn't. Humans don't
just... mate like that. At least not normally. I had planned on waiting...
saving myself for the man I would marry.>

< Oh.> Midnight sounded sad, and Ami winced, but she couldn't bring herself
to lie to him.

< I didn't know you well enough to... to want to mate with you. I still
don't... not really. And... and... I'm not really a panther. I'm a human.
I had always thought my... first time would be with another human.> Ami
looked over to catch Midnight's eyes with her own. < It's not about you,
Midnight. I like you. If there was any panther in the world I might have
ended up with, I'm truly glad it was you. I just wasn't prepared to mate
with anyone, human or panther.>

Midnight nodded in understanding. < You'd just have prefered it to be a
human.> His voice was calm. < I can understand that.> He sounded
thoughtful. < I had never considered mating with a human before today
either.>

Ami sighed, starting to relax slightly before the full meaning of what he
had said occurred to her. < Er... Midnight?> She swallowed, suddenly
realizing how closely she was holding him. < You mean you've considered
it... today? With... me?>

< You mean mating with you as a human?> Midnight looked surprised. < Well,
I prefer you as a panther... but you do smell nice as a human.> His mental
voice turned curious. < I wonder if it's possible?> Ami blushed bright red
as her powerful imagination supplied a vivid image of just how it might be
possible. She pushed the thought away instantly, but it had been so vivid
that Midnight had gotten a glimpse of it. He blinked. < Er... did you want
to do that now?>

Ami froze again, her face going from bright red to purple. < No!
Absolutely not!> She slid away from the panther hurriedly, covering her
still fully clad body with her hands unconsciously. Midnight cringed away
from the waves of embarrassment and fear coming from his mistress, but he
finally understood why his jumping up on the bed earlier had frightened her,
at least in part.

< Why don't I sleep on the floor?> He offered. Midnight put action to his
words, jumping down off the bed and walking around to the side facing the
door to lay down.

Ami relaxed immediately and regretted it a moment later. < It's not you I'm
scared of...> She repeated. < It's me... I just...>

Midnight's voice was soft again. < It's alright, Ami. You don't have to
explain any more. I can tell you're tired, why don't you get some sleep.>

Despite her anxiety about their "relationship", Ami found it oddly
comforting to have Midnight at her bedside and soon she was able to get to
sleep.


End Chapter 37

I hope you liked it! Please C&C, it's why I write!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/1449/fanfics.html

__________________________________________________ _______________
The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE*
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail


.---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
| Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
| Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
| Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject |
`---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'