And a tad bit more...

Let me know what you think and how it can improve!

Thanks!

Windlily

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	Hajime became aware of Owaru and Matsuri hovering and the concerned 
voices from the group gathered in the doorway as he rocked Amaru gently.

	"Elder Brother?" There was a barely detectable quaver of fear in 
Owaru's voice.

	Hajime gave a slight shake of his head. He needed a minute to get his 
emotions back under control. He knew that place. Had known it as soon as 
he had seen the crumbled walls. It was the place he wanted to get to so 
desperately. Dragon Springs. He could only hope that Amaru's dream was a 
warning of what was to come and not of what had just been.

	Tsuzuku was coming fast, he could feel him then an instant later heard 
his pounding steps on the stairway. Shinkai was close, apparently the 
representative of the knot at the door.

	"Ryudo? What's wrong?" He sounded so cautious, so uncertain.

	He was surprised it was Shinkai. Then he realized why it wasn't Tita. 
Tita probably knew. And she would not put herself into a position where 
she would have to answer him. Gods, he wished Amaru would stop shaking 
like this! He opened his eyes as Tsuzuku slid past the group at the door 
and came to them. Hajime noticed that Tita not in sight as his second 
brother tipped his head in a silent question.

	"We have to go to Dragon Springs. Now."

	Tsuzuku crossed his arms, obviously uneasy with his unspoken method of 
how, but nodded.

	Owaru had picked it up also and added a sotto, unhappy, "Aw, man..." as 
Amaru tightened his grip into an almost strangle and shook his head 'no' 
against his brother's shoulder. That decided his worry about Amaru in an 
instant.

	"You don't go, Amaru-kun. Someone needs to stay and protect Matsuri and 
the others. Can you do that?"

	Amaru didn't respond. He traded a worried look with both of his 
brothers as Shinkai asked, "How?"

	"We Change." Tsuzuku answered him softly.

	Shinkai frowned.

	"No." Nijikawa spoke up. "It's too dangerous." He met Hajime's startled 
stare evenly. "For you and us. You Change and those Gyushu people will 
know exactly where you are. There has got to be some other way. Maybe 
Tita-san and her Order can get you a plane."

	Mizuchi nodded agreement next to him.

	"I can do that, Hajime-san." Tita said as she appeared in the doorway.

	He tried to read her face, to see if she was trying to offer him some 
subtle hint of what he should do. There was nothing there to give him 
any clues.

	"How long would it take?"

	"Six to eight hours to get the plane, another twenty or so in flight 
time. And that's without the fueling stops."

	He considered that, weighed it against the panic of the dream. If it 
had already happened, then the time wouldn't make that much difference. 
But what if it hadn't occurred yet?

	"Tita-san, is there an Observer on Dragon Springs?"

	Tita shook her head. "Not really. They are a self-sufficient community 
and leery of strangers. And they did not take kindly to being Observed. 
One of our people in the area does a fly-by every three months just to 
make sure it's still there."

	While this discussion was going on Elenora went unnoticed as she 
walked across the room to the chest of drawers and pulled a handful of 
tissues out of the box there. She went and scooted across Hajime's empty 
bed so she could stand behind him and moved so she was squarely in 
Amaru's sight and offered the tissues. She knew he wasn't crying but she 
needed the gesture. He closed his eyes against her. She had a good idea 
as to what was troubling him. She chose her words carefully as she 
leaned close and whispered softly, for his hearing alone.

	"Amaru-sama. The Head of your Family has commanded that you do not go. 
He has assigned you a different task but no less important than what he 
takes your brothers into. To take care of the Family and friends he 
leaves behind will leave him free to focus totally on what they have to 
do. There is no shame or dishonor in that. Or in being afraid. Think 
about that, Amaru. And I get frightened by some of the things I've seen 
too." That last bit came out without conscious intent and she found 
herself embarrassed at having admitted it.

	He opened his eyes, so dark blue that they were almost black in this 
light and looked deep into her own. She hoped he could see the truth of 
her statements in them. He gave a little nod and she knew that he was 
giving her words careful consideration. She hopped up on the bed behind 
her, wiggled her fingers and smirked at Jasmine as her sister appeared 
behind her great-Aunt's shoulder.

	Hajime was relieved to feel Amaru finally stop trembling and the grip 
around his neck relax as he decided that waiting for the plane was just 
too much of a risk. If there was a chance of heading this disaster off, 
then they needed to get there now. And taking their Dragon forms was the 
only way to accomplish that.

	"We can't wait that long. The Gyushu might have already destroyed 
Dragon Springs but there is a chance that Amaru's dream was a warning. 
If it is then we can't waste that much time." He offered the explanation 
for his rush to his friends.

	"Well, we can't stop you, but I advise against it also, Ryudo-san. It 
could be a trap to lure you in." Shinkai crossed his arms and frowned.

	"It probably is." Hajime agreed. "But we are aware of that fact and 
forewarned is forearmed." He gave Tita a sideways look.

	"I've always hated that saying," Tita said with a hard smile. "Well, 
since you are determined, let's stop wasting time. We have some things 
to figure out before you go. Jasmine, go put on a pot of coffee and 
check and see if anything's shown up from China. Just in case."

	She turned and disappeared into the hallway, Jasmine in tow. Shinkai 
shrugged at Hajime.

	"I still think it's a bad idea, Ryudo-san."

	"Shinkai-sempai. I appreciate your, all of your," he included the 
Lieutenant and the Detective with a glance, "council and concern. But we 
have to go. It is our responsibility to protect Dragon Springs and it's 
people, if we can."

	The three men accepted that. Not gladly, but they accepted it and filed 
out.

	Amaru finally let go of him when the room cleared.

	"Amaru-kun?" He questioned softly.

	"I'll stay behind and keep everyone safe. I promise, Elder Brother." He 
said fiercely.

	"I know you will, Amaru." He gave his brother one last gentle squeeze 
then his youngest brother was wiggling off his lap.

	"Another encounter with the Gyushu, eh?" Tsuzuku said it lightly but 
Hajime could see the tension in him.

	"I hate to say that I hope so. If not, then..." he stopped. He didn't 
want to give any thought to that possibility.

	"Well, this time I'm going to kick some Gyushu butt!" Owaru growled 
with a grin and a wink at Amaru as his youngest brother went and sat 
next to Elenora. "And for once I won't have to pull my punches!"

	"It's not something to make fun of, Owaru-kun." Matsuri finally broke 
her silence. There was fear in her eyes. She seemed to know this and 
dropped her gaze to the rumpled bedding. "These creatures can hurt you! 
And you'll be half a world away if something does happen!"

	"Aw...Matsuri-chan! Don't worry! Nothing bad's going to happen to us! 
We're the good guys! And this time we'll be ready for them!"

	His bluster and bravado didn't reassure her one bit.

	"Matsuri-chan." Hajime lowered and tipped his head so she would have to 
look at him. She finally did and raised her head to follow his eyes as 
he straightened.

	"We'll be careful and come back to you. I promise it." He said it will 
all his heart.

	She gave him a small but brave smile. "O.K. I better go and get 
dressed." She slid off the bed and hurried out of the room.

						*****


	Tita had a map spread out on the table when he came down. He put his 
hastily packed bag next to the others in the shrinking pile by the door.  
Mizuchi and Nijikawa where packing them into the Bronco and the big 
luxury car. He passed Matsuri and Jasmine cluttering around in the 
kitchen packing a basket. Jasmine brought him a cup of coffee as he went 
in to study the map. He wished it had been Matsuri as he watched her go 
to stand behind Tsuzuku's chair. Tsuzuku leaned his head back against 
her for a moment and received a quick hug, then was all focus again.

	"Tita-san suggests we come in here when we come back," he pointed to an 
area on the eastern coast line.

	"We'll meet you there. Amaru is staying with us?" She asked.

	Hajime nodded as he committed the outline of the area to memory.

	"Then you can use him as a beacon also. It's still an undeveloped area 
so you won't draw gawkers but not so remote that we'll stand out to any 
pursuers as we leave."

	"Sounds good." He took a deep breath and readied himself. "Tsuzuku, 
let's go."

	Tsuzuku kept Jasmine pressed against his side as he followed his 
brother.

	"Owaru."

	Owaru, Amaru and Elenora rose from the sofa.

	They all paused on the porch to say their good-byes. Elenora gave Owaru 
a fierce hug and a kiss on the cheek as Tsuzuku and Jasmine exchanged a 
long and lingering kiss.

	"Be careful, Dragon-sama." She whispered in his ear as he hugged her 
fiercely.

	"I will, Jasmine-chan. Don't worry. Nothing will keep me from coming 
back to you." He whispered back then turned and stepped off the porch, 
leaving her.

	Matsuri was leaning against the Bronco, head down and arms crossed. 
Hajime went to her, wondered if she was angry with him.

	"Matsuri-chan?" He questioned, unable to see through the shadows that 
hid her face.

	She looked up at him and he could see the shine of tears on her cheeks. 
She moved suddenly and wrapped her arms around his neck.

	"Be careful, Hajime. And remember your promise." She got out around the 
tears.

	"I will to both, Matsuri-chan. Don't cry. Please?" He hugged her with 
one hand as the other stroked her hair.

	She nodded against his chest and swallowed. "I'm sorry. I seem full of 
tears lately. You'd better go, the others are waiting." She pushed away 
and gave him a forced smile.

	"I'll see you soon, Matsuri-chan." He promised as he stepped away from 
her. Amaru was with Owaru and Tsuzuku.

	"You keep your eye on Matsuri, Amaru." He said with an easy smile and 
ruffled his littlest brother's hair. Amaru must be upset. He didn't 
challenge the caress.

	Tsuzuku squeezed Amaru's shoulder. "And on Jasmine also, if you 
wouldn't mind?" He asked.

	Amaru nodded and told his tears to go away. He told himself once more 
that Hajime wasn't leaving him behind because he was afraid.

	"See you in a little bit, Amaru-kun!" Owaru gave him a big hug then 
waved with a grin as he followed Hajime and Tsuzuku as they headed for 
the tree line. Shinkai-san and Nijikawa followed to bring back their 
clothes.

	"Be careful, Brothers!" Amaru called after them and watched until they 
disappeared into the shadows.

	Hajime headed for the little clearing where Jasmine had thrown her 
temper-tantrum. He undressed quickly and handed his clothes to Shinkai 
as his brothers followed suit. The men gave a little bow and left.

	They moved to stand in a triangle, facing each other.

	"Hajime, how are you going to do this?" Tsuzuku asked calmly even 
though he was tense with anxiety. Each of his transformations had been 
accompanied by so much pain and the change itself was...not a pleasant 
process.

	"Trust me." He had done this with Amaru. He could and would do it with 
himself and his brothers.

	"I want both of you to close your eyes and relax." He watched as they 
obeyed. He extended his power and pushed against the pull of the earth.

	"Relax." He said it soothingly as he took them up and put his will 
behind it as Tsuzuku tensed against his power.

	It took a few seconds and a few deep breaths on his second brother's 
part, but finally the tension was gone from his frame.

	"We are riding the wind as we were born to do. We are no longer bound 
by the rules of the Earth. See the dragon that you are, feel him reach 
out for the sky." Hajime closed his eyes and felt the sensuous blue 
shape curl around him and his power built. He could feel the echo of it 
from his brothers. Amaru was right. It did feel like he was going to 
explode.

	"This human shape we wear is no longer needed, let it go." He reached 
out and touched his dragon. There was an instant of pain, then it was 
done! He opened his eyes, called to the Red and White dragons to do the 
same. All three stretched their necks out to touch muzzles in greeting 
then Hajime commanded "Up!"

						*****

	They gathered in the middle of the front lawn. Jasmine took Matsuri's 
hand and cocked her head as she felt the stir of power. Elenora and 
Amaru did the same. Shakily and Nijikawa came hurrying toward them with 
their arm load of clothes and turned at Tita's gasp. The brothers had 
cleared the tree tops, each outlined in the colored glow of their 
dragons. They continued to rise then light engulfed them as the air 
crackled with static electricity. The ball of rainbow hued light 
expanded and stopped just short of the tree tops. Power whipped the air 
into a frenzy, causing them all to drop their heads and put up their 
arms to protect their faces as leaves as branches pelted them, then all 
was eerily still.

	All eyes went back to the moonlit sky and the three dragons that hung 
in there. They touched noses then were gone leaving nothing but the 
after image of red, white and blue streaks. The three girls and Amaru 
sighed heavily as the Lieutenant went to pick up the clothes that had 
dropped from Nijikawa's nerveless fingers. Shinkai shook his head in 
wonder as Nijikawa did a very good impression of a fish out of water and 
gulping for air.

	"Come on, troops! We need to get moving! Bad guys are probably zeroing 
in!" His barked command sent his companions into motion.