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"That was quick," Sage says, studying the tickets. He notices something on them, a code, that tells him they have been bought under a specific name. "We have to be really quiet and good now. If we're spotted or anything, they have your name, Korin, to search by. It's hard enough, I should think, them having Rowen's name."

"You think the CIA is after us?" Kento asks.

"They will be once we get on American soil," Sage remarks. "No matter how many people we get past, there will always be the one with the question in the back of his mind, the one who's just curious enough to look into things. In America, everyone suspects everyone else, so the best thing to do for a fight is to run."

"Which is probably what they'll be counting on," Rowen says, "I mean, the warlords. I can't help feeling this has all been orchestrated somehow."

"Is your ability working, Korin?" Cye asks. "Is it okay to go yet?"

"I think, it says..." Sage looks up at the plane display. "Fifty minutes. I've ridden so many planes, I hardly even notice these things anymore."

EDIT: this is now a rather confusing co-post between myself and DK -Shade

Korin nodds, "We'll be all right, everything is still as I have made it."

Alaric blinked when he saw a very familiar face in very strange clothes racing in his direction. When she got close, she closed her eyws and began looking for him.... Finally, she stopped. "Alaric?"

He blinked. "I-Seji-chan!"

She looked up at him as he was perched. "I need you to come with us, I have a change of clothes for you so you can fit in.

"But this place seems nuts!"

"It's okay, you're..... simply.... a few dozen thousand years in the future. Follow my lead, and try not to flip out."

Korin watches Asako for a moment longer, then turns to Sage.

"Hold down the fort," she say, "I'll be right back." and launches into a run

Korin keeps running, like a cat out the airport and keeps going until she is in the trees outside. She slows to a jog, her ears perked for any sounds

"Stay calm?!?!?" the low baritone voice sounds almost spastic. Asako's calm reply is ...... far too calm in contrast.

"Yes, stay calm. And I go by Asako, I suggest you find a different name as well."

"Well, if you're here, I guess Michael-"

"He died not long before the war ended."

"Then how about I go by Korin? It;'s a pretty name I'd hoped to name a baby with."


She pauses when she hears voices, one belonging to Asako, and another to.....something out a dream Korin felt she had as a young child

"Korin's taken, my old friend."

"Then.... you pick something!"

A soft chuckle. "Are you *sure* you want me picking a name for you?"

A one beat pause. "On second thought, no. You'd name me Inu or something."


Alaric fliped down, wearing his Ogre armor subarmor, his long deep brown-red locks shimmering- contrasted by his jade colored eyes. "How about..... heh, Okasa."

"Baka, fine, the reverse of mine it is. Now.... I need to go get you clothes....."

Korin's ears perked again as she came around a bend to see Asako and...was it Anubis? No, he was dead, who who else wore the Orge armor?

"Asako!" Korin says.

Asako pivoted, a jingling staff in hand as she faced Korin- then she relaxed. Okasa's eyes went wide as he stuttered. "K-k-kaylyn-hime?!?!?"

He looked like he got hit with a flat board.

"Kaylyn-hime?" Korin tilts her head, "No one has said that name in a long time, very few used it.....but it is not my name."

"It was my mother's name...who are you?" she says

He blinked several times. Asako gestured to Korin. "This is Korin. She was born after you died."

He blinked again. "Oh. Well..... you said this was the future...... I guess Okasa will do for this time." He shook his head and looked at Asako. "Did I go well?"

She nodded. "You made us all proud. And you shoudl tell her."

He looked at Korin. "It was your mother's name? Is she still alive? She was a very beautiful woman."

"Kaylyn Hyrosha of the Wildcats was my mother," Korin said, "she died a long time ago, though from battle-wear of a broken heart, no one has ever told me. Making the Ronin Armors took most of her life, she lived long enough to teach me and she died."

"My father died before I was born," she added

Okasa shook his head. "I'm..... very sorry to hear what happened to Kaylyn."

Asako nodded. "And it was of a broken heart." As she said that, she looked at Okasa. "And she only loved her husband, no other." A smile as she looked at Korin now. "I should know, I presided over thier very secret wedding." She started to leave.

"I think you two need to be alone for a few minutes, he has something he should tell you." Alaric was looking at Korin, his eyes bright with unshed tears.

Korin smirked, "So you ARE Shadowsage of the Dragons then....that explains a lot."

Okasa nodded. "That she is.... a very unusual and powerful woman."

Korin look back at Alaric, her eyes matching his own, "I know you...like a far off dream...something a child would remember. Who are you?"

He shook his head and turned away. "I died before you were born- early in the war. You couldn;t have known me. If she is around..... is Anubis, Kaylyn's younger brother?" (the she is referring to shadowsage)

"Anubis died to free the Ancient Kayura from the Warlord Talpa years ago," Korin said, "of the full-blood Wildcats, on Dannin of Black Flame remains. All others died long ago. I am the last of the half-breeds. There is no one left."

He shook his head. "Anubis......... tended to be a little brash when I knew him- though I *am* glad to hear at least one of them survived." He tunred. "So. You are Korin, daughter of Kaylyn Hyrosha." a pause. "Did you know that your father took your mother's name when they married, instead of keeping his own?"

"I heard that rumor, but I left the Wildcats before I could find out a lot about them," Korin said, "most of what I know of my father comes from my mother."

"And what do you know of your father?"

A hand landed on Sage's shoulder. It was asako.

"Calm down. We will be fine. And I'm now doubly glad I got an extra plane ticket on my own. We are going to need it, our number just grew by one. Sage, I need to borrow a change of clothes for a friend."

Korin tilts her head a bit, almost like a kitten.

"My father?" she says, "he was a warrior...a Cloud who chose a sword over the power of his voice. He took my mother's name when they wed, just before the war began. They had talked about having kids, but never did. He died just days after my mother found out she was with child, and so she never told him. He never knew. They worked on the armors together, his being the original Orge. He gave it to my uncle before he died."

Rowen, remembering that Kayura last had the old armor of Anubis, keeps to himself, waiting for the explain.

Cye looks at his watch: twenty-five minutes remaining.

Alaric reached a hand up glently and slowly, as if to trace Korin;s face, his expression softening as he looked at her.

"Your uncle is my Kaylyn's little borther. I know that I die when it is passed on to him, Shadowsage confirmed that to me. It's why I had to tell my Kaylyn that I loved her with all of my heart. I can face my path now comforted in the fact that together we left beind someone so strong."