Sarah seemed to pay Jiro little attention at first, intent on completing her incantation.

A ghostly version of Alex emerged connected to the physical body by strands of white light. The 'ghost' looked liked it was being pulled out of her, and the strands seemed to strain under the pressure. The ghost Alex writhed in pain while the physical one's muscle locked in agony.

Some of the strands break, and the ghost seems to fade a little. Before any more can, the incantation comes to an end and the ghost was pulled back into Alex.

Sarah wavers on her feet, struggling to control her breathing. She looks at Jiro, acknowledging him for the first time since this started.

"You," she gasped "You might be right. This isn't working."

Sarah looked like she was about to say something more, but collapses instead.

As Sarah collapses Jiro quickly moves to her side. That's not a good sign. That's probably about as bad a sign as what almost happened with Alex...

He quickly checked Sarah's vitals, but in his distraction he could tell little. She's very pregnant, and she just collapsed exhausted... Should I heal her? A pause, and he glanced to Alex for a moment as his mind raced again. Soaked in sweat, breathing shallowly, she looked like the bad end of an adrenaline crash.

Back to Sarah. This doesn't look good... But I have never healed a pregnant woman. I do not know what it might do to the child... I don't think it would induce labor, and Sarah seems to be in rough shape... A fall like that can be bad for a pregnant woman, I know that much... Pale blue ki shrouded his hands. "Great and powerful Kamis, if you have any good will left to lend me, I ask that you prevent this from doing further harm. Please excuse my hands, Sarah-san."

Then he placed one hand on the center of her chest, the other on her forehead, and let the healing energies flow; soothing hurts and bringing what healing he could. "Merciful Spirit's Grasp."

[OOC:19:10, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 8 using 1d20+6. medical check on Sarah.
Array is in healing.]

Jiro's Ki flows through Sarah. He feels her and the child within. Both are damaged in some way, but he believes that the worst of it has been healed.

In the distance, Jiro hears the sound of Sirens.

Sirens. Kuso. Time to leave. He looked Sarah over. She's looking better... And she and the child both feel... stronger... now. Probably safe to move her. Quickly, he checked Alex over as well. Nothing seemed physically wrong with her, but she looked like she was exhausted. She won't be moving under her own power, not any time soon...

He licked dry lips. "Sarah-san, can you hear me?" There was no response, and for a moment he wrestled with indecision. I cannot carry them both... Gently, he put a hand on Sarah's shoulder, shook her gently. "Sarah-san, please wake... We need to get out of here..."

Sarah groans and her eyes slowly open. She looks up at Jiro with an expression of confusion on her face. "What? Who are you?"

Then she notices the sirens. "Oh, damn." she mutters.

Sighing heaviliy she slowly stands up. She looks at Alex laying in the middle of the circle. "Oh, damn." This time it is much more heartfelt. "Is she alright?"

"So far as I can tell, there is nothing physically wrong with her, she is simply... spent." After a moment of making sure Sarah was not in danger of falling again, he quickly moved to Alex's side and lifted her, one arm beneath her legs and the other beneath her back.

He looked back to Sarah. "I think, at this point, our best bet is to make our way out of here and pretend to be innocents. If we try to flee through the bushes and are spotted, it will not go well for us. If we are on the paths, and present ourselves as victims fleeing some kind of attack, our odds would perhaps be better."

I am not hopeful of my odds of actually escaping, not carrying Alex... and I do not know how good Sarah is at moving through the woods or with stealth.

"If we can get out of the park, I can get us a cab to a place of safety, unless you have such a place that is closer."

"The sirens aren't that close yet. Let's get a couple blocks away then figure out where we are going."

"All right. You know the area better than I, Sarah-san. Lead on." He steadied Alex in his arms, shifting them for a steady carry, and followed the sorceress.

It is not hard to escape the immediate area before the cops arrive. You make your way to an alley a couple blocks away, and pause to take stock.

Alex is still unconscious.

Sarah slumps down against the wall, looking spent. "That went well.."

She shakes her head and looks up at Jiro. "I need a bit to catch my breath. So, Jiro was it? You a native to this rock?"

Jiro nods, taking a moment to carefully set Alex down, leaned back against the wall, then pulls a water bottle from a pocket and offers it to Sarah. "I am. Japanese native, lived most of my life there, some travel. I am... on a journey of discovery here. Running into Alex was fortuitous, though I am sorry I was not better able to aid your friend."

A pause, and he moved to a better position to watch the street. "Though I think the city's vampires have not enjoyed what we have accomplished."

He walked back into the alley. "How do you feel? I know that collapse cannot have been a good thing. I... took the liberty of healing you when you fell, Sarah-san, I hope that is not an offense." He bowed low, hands held before him, palms together.

All I know about you is what I have seen and what Alexandria has told me... I know so little and, well, I am intimidated... you are, by reputation, a far greater friend to her than I have been, and I feel overshadowed and a failure.

Sarah hesitates for a moment, then takes the water. "Thank you."
It's clear she's talking about more then the water.


"You can heal?" Sarah says with a look of wonder on her face. "How? That's amazing, I don't know of anyone back home who can heal."

She pauses as the baby kicks. "He isn't in any danger from it, is he?" Sarah says, concern clear in her voice.

"Even here, healing is a rare skill. I have dedicated great effort in learning it, as a part of my art and skill in manipulating Ki. The full explanation is too long and technical for a location such as this, I would prefer to wait until we are off the streets." Mind, if you're half so knowledgeable with lore as Alex implied you'll probably get a good handle on it before I'm half done explaining.

"As for the child, as best I could tell he is fine. My apologies, Sarah-san, but I have little experience with pregnancy. I... do not have the knowledge to say more with any certainty. My medical knowledge is focused primarily on the kinds of wounds and sprains one suffers while training or fighting. I knew the collapse and fall could be a danger, to you and the child both. I thought healing you carefully was a lesser risk than simply leaving you there." He gave another small bow.

"Are you ready to continue? We should be able to get a cab around here, and make our way to a safe place."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:33, Sat 09 July 2011.

Sarah considers Jiro's words for a long moment, her hand absently rubbing her swollen belly. "Alright." she says finally. "I guess that's all I can ask for. Please don't do it again, unless you think there is no other way. I don't want to take any more chances with the baby then I have already. To damn many..."

She shakes her head to clear it. "A cab sounds good. You said you had a place to stay? Where?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:49, Thu 14 July 2011.

"A nearby motel. It is not much, but it has been safe enough so far." He paused for a moment and gathered up Alex once more, slinging one of her arms across his shoulder. "Shall we?"

"Lead the way."

A little while later, the group is back at the Motel. Alex has not yet awakened, and has been placed on the bed.

A good thing the cab driver bought our tale of too much to drink for Alex and I... but this is getting worrisome.

"Be it ever so humble, I believe is the usual phrase. Feel free to make yourself comfortable, Sarah-san. There is bottled water in the fridge, and there should still be a slice or two of pizza..." Lines of worry writ large across his features, his concern for Alex overriding his usual collected and calm nature, Jiro took the time to give the Slayer a proper check-over.

Pulse is good. Breathing is steady. No obvious wounds that I can see... Jiro pulled back one eyelid, shrouded a finger in glowing blue, began to move it. No pupil dilation, and she does not track it... For a thoughtful moment, he rubbed his chin in thought, then shifted his ki and shrouded both hands in soft, diffuse blue light. "Merciful Spirit's Grasp," he said as he laid healing hands on forehead and base of throat. Nothing seemed to happen, which he'd half expected.

For a moment he sat their in worried thought, then he glanced to Sarah. "There is nothing physically wrong with her, as best I can tell. She is simply... overcome by the night's ordeal." And you nearly tearing her soul out. And me not stopping you from tearing her soul out until it was almost too late. Merciful Kamis...

[OOC: 19:52, Today: Jiro Koji rolled 15 using 1d20+6. Medical check on Alex again. Array is in healing.]

Sarah looks down at Alex with an expression of loving concern on her face. She gently brushes some hair out of Alex's eyes.

"I will try to figure out what went wrong *yawn* in the morning. I just don't have it in me now to cast anything else."

"I understand." He gave a brief glance around the room. "Perhaps it would be best to move her to the couch, leaving the bed for you, given your... condition. I will be fine on the floor." Slept on worse...

And I will likely not be getting much sleep just yet. My nerves are... frayed. I will keep watch... and do some research. My knowledge, medical and mystic, was insufficient tonight. I do not like that.

Absently, he booted up the laptop. Time for a little research....

Sarah looks at the bed, the couch, the floor and then at Jiro. "Keep the couch, you'll need your rest. We've had to share a motel room enough times in the past, it will be fine."

Jiro hesitated a moment, then nodded. "If you are sure." Taking the laptop, he moved to the couch, and sat at an angle, keeping the door in his field of view. "I will be as quiet as I can until I retire for the night, Sarah-san. Rest well."

Sarah gently moves Alex to one side and lies down beside her. In a few moments she is asleep.

For a few hours Jiro hunted online, illuminated only by the light of the LCD screen. He read medical sites and delved into some of the mystic forums he was at least nominally a member of (though Kamis knew he spent little enough time on them), looking for information to fill some of the gaps in his knowledge that had, rather forcibly, been shoved in his face this night. His mid-afternoon nap held him in good stead here, and he was able to stay awake and attentive long enough that he was reasonably sure he had learned a few things.

He also took the opportunity to email a few of his more mystically minded contacts (a much better source of information than sorting through the dross on even the better moderated message boards) giving no specifics but enough generalities to, he hoped, generate some useful responses. While he got a few quick greetings and one "Thought you were dead, boygirl," nobody had anything useful for him in those few hours.

Every few minutes, he glanced to the motel room's door and window, looking for any sign of unwanted attention or visitors. Thank the Kamis, nothing appeared.

Just as he prepared to shut down and sleep, he debated for a long moment, then sent a final email to an address he knew was monitored.

Omiko-sama

I know it has been some time since I have written you. Life has been... complicated for this one of late. I hope this message finds you well. I hope it finds you at all. I still care for you and I hope to see you again someday.

Ever your friend,

-Jiro Koji

He waited a few moments, hoping. He knew that Takashi had one of his pawns watch his daughter's mail. There was only a small chance the email would even stay there long enough for her to find it... but it was a chance, and he was glad to take it.

Shutting down the laptop, he placed it on an end table and stretched out, finding fitful sleep.

Meanwhile...

A young woman looks at her computer screen with a peculiar smile on her face...

A man's eyes narrow in anger as he contemplates a report he has just been handed...

Another young woman breaks a steel plate with her palm, her face locked in a mask of anger...

A wizard of great power contemplates the events of the day...

A third young woman's eyes go dark as a demon in human drag drains the last bit of her life blood from her...

Two woman, sisters in heart if not in blood, sleep peacefully.

[END CHAPTER 3]