Furry Tokyo, Royal Palace, 4:57 am…
His name was Michaels. Nomura Michaels. His family had roots both in the US and Japan, giving him his mixed name and a certain exotic uniqueness that had draw many a lady’s eyes. He was also a werepanther. Had been, since the Cleansing. He was as well a former US Navy SEAL lieutenant. When the call for the building of Furry Tokyo spread around the world, he had felt, and answered it… Oh boy, how did he felt it! He thought ruefully to himself while slowly fingering the gold band on his finger. Yukiko, his wife, was one of Lady Amy’s medical and magical team at the Central Tokyo Hospital, having risen to become the senshi and wererat elder’s right hand. The beautiful white furred kitsune had taken his heart totally by assault, and he couldn’t have been more happier for it. Maybe I should see if she had finished her shift as well… We can go home together for some ‘quality time’… he thought smiling softly, while running his hand down the length of his ponytail. Thankfully, the discipline rules of the Royal Guard allowed for some little ‘vanity’, as he and his fellow warriors used to joke about from time to time.
Now he was one of the Palace top security officers, making sure the Royal Family and their closer retainers stayed safe in those last few rounds of his shift through the crystal and live wood corridors of the palace. He could have stayed at the control center, watching everything through the monitors (both magical and mundane) and coordinating the guards from there, but he had never been one to sit around giving orders; no, he liked to muck his hands on the job too much, so he always made a few rounds of his own. He liked to think it built a better relationship with his men and so far he had not been proven wrong.
He also knew that, one-on-one, many, if not all of the higher-ups could wipe the floor with him and many others to boot, but nevertheless, he stood guard, happy to use his past oftentimes lethal abilities to keep the present and the future safe, not for a privileged few, but for truly EVERYBODY. He would never be able to quite truly understand how that young lady could engender such loyalty in everyone around, but he could not deny its force, or sincerity.
Maybe that was it. Serenity-hime got everyone’s loyalty because SHE was loyal to _them_ in return, in a way that could not be faked, nor imitated. She could have taught my Navy instructors about keeping the morale of the troops high no matter what… he thought laughingly to himself. A movement coming from the depths of the Pluto Wing towards him attracted his full attention.
Ah! There they are… he thought ruefully. Right on schedule. Like clockwork, every day at 5:30 am, as he crossed that particular Wing, he saw once again Lady Meioh, her husband Lord Onoli and their eldest, Yong Lady Mirako, already on their way to the training grounds for their morning workout. “Miladies, sir… have a good morning.” He saluted them on passing.
“Captain Michaels, good morning.” Replied Onoli pleasantly. Even after all this time, Lady Pluto wasn’t something of a morning person, so she simply nodded back. Little Mirako, on the other hand, was already at full throttle, as only a four-year-old can. “Hi Michaels-san! How did the rounds go?” she spoke happily.
Michaels could not help but smile in return. Young Lady Pluto was a precocious child, being a big taller than her true age, her copper red with green stripes similar to her mother’s, and, in a whimsical turn inherited from her father, a mane-like crown of dark blue hair. Often very serious for her age, she also had nevertheless a sunny disposition that endeared many to her, himself included. “All’s well, lady Mirako. We had a few reporters trying a break-in in the Jaden Wing for a few ‘exclusive pics’, but nothing of consequence.”
“Ah… nobody was hurt, wasn’t it? I felt like somebody got hurt…” she told, worry aging her youthful face suddenly.
Aha, it seems that Young Lady’s heritage have been acting up again… “Well, one of the guards, Kioko, cut herself on the windows’ shards, but nothing of gravity Mirako-sama. Actually, her regenerating took care of it.” He answered smiling. He was already somewhat used to Young Lady’s foretelling ability. Although not as sure as her Mother’s, he had learned to trust her insights when they came.
“Ah well…” she replied soothed.
“Captain,” interrupted Setsuna. “just make sure the guard is on extra alert today. I sensed some trouble to brew during the day and maybe into the night.” She said in her usual cryptic way.
He had already stopped questioning Lady Pluto for clearer info when she gave such ‘hints’. She NEVER revealed any more than she had too, but never too little that it couldn’t be useful. “Sure milady, I’ll see to it myself when I turn the shift.” He replied. And he would.
Setsuna smiled at him. He was a good sort, respectful and friendly if Mirako’s words were to be believed, and she KNEW her little one was trustworthy. “I now you will, captain. Beware of the late afternoon…” she said, and turned to go with her family.
Standing into attention, the slim athletic werepanther replied: “Do not worry M’Lady, I’ll pass your warning to the control center and make sure of everything before leaving.” He spoke, leaving for the end of his tour. On his hand, he had taken his palm and were busily jotting notes for his replacement…
6:45 am, side entrance of the Royal Palace…
The three Plutonians stood at the side entrance of the palace, little Mirako eagerly watching the movement. Suddenly she pointed, squealing happily: “There they are Mommy!”
Setsuna nodded to her, as she noticed the car (one of the new electrical, ‘safe’ models). Driving it was her fellow Senshi Makoto. By her side and on the backseat, her mates and children enjoyed the travel.
Stopping besides them, Ranma and Sheila got out as Mirako entered, warmly greeting her friends. “Hi boss,” nodded Ranma to Onoly. “How’s everything?”
“Everything’s fine Ranma.” He replied, standing his hand for their usual compliment. He and Ranma had become good friends in the wake of the Purification and rise of Furry Tokyo. His seriousness and practical no-nonsense approach was balanced by his free-thinking and totally unconventional solutions. Some tended to think of Ranma as a chaos bringer (and they would be right… only partially though.), but he had (with his wife’s help, he had to admit) came to know the noble, friendly heart within the brash youth. Yes, Ranma had an enormous tendency to… liven things up around him. But he could be trusted and depended on blindly. And had proved it to him on many occasions already.
Which was one of the reasons Onoly put him in charge of Furry Tokyo’s Edge Guard Branch, while he managed _all_ Earth branches at their HQ, in the work wing of the palace. Sheila usually worked alongside her husband, tough he employed her a lot as liaison between the many branches and the central command.
His daughter’s exited voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Mommy, daddy!” began the precocious youth. “Auntie Makoto and Auntie Sheila said that Yuki and Micca will be coming to a sleep-over!” she beamed. “Can I stay there too? Please?” she asked, turning the dreaded 'puppy dog eyes' full force.
The Plutonian couple exchanged a look that held hours worth of conversation on it. Smiling, Onoli turned to her youngest. “If the Saotomes don’t worry, I see no problem in it. Just make sure to pack when you return from school.” He replied. “And make sure you obey your aunt Makoto and Sheila and your Uncle Ranma ok?” added Setsuna.
The glomp he and his wife received while she squealed was worth. “Thank you Daddy! Thank you Mommy!”
As she left with the Saotome kids (it seemed to be Makoto’s turn to
deliver them to class), the group continued towards the work wing of the palace,
making light conversation and exchanging a few comments of the work ahead of
them. All in all, another common day. Or so they hopped.
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(Posted Thu, 28 Apr 2005 23:10)
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