Illustrated Warrior #4
Chapter Eleven

"Tomoe Gozen? What on earth are you doing here?"

This whole evening had seemed impossible; an evening where she had had the time of her life with a New York City detective, and now this; her best friend, sitting on the steps of the building next door. The world tonight was a place where anything could happen.

Tomoe grinned back at her in that know-it-all way she had. "It's been a long time my friend." She paused to stroke her chin perhaps a bit too thoughtfully. "What am I doing here?' she asks. I thought I was waiting for a workaholic to come home from her long day at the office." She paused again to admire the man on Ana's arm. "I'm glad to see that's not the case. All of my teachings were not wasted on you after all. Maybe that old, to-bed-with-the-setting-sun Ana Ishikawa is dead." She laughed at the thought. "If so, good riddance."

Tomoe's words were more true than she could imagine. After the revelation of the night before, Ana truly felt that her old self was gone, purged of a constant need for death. What better omen for her new self than to be blessed by the arrival of her best friend?

Ana shook her head again. "I can't believe you're in New York."

"Landed a freelance assignment that was the chance of a lifetime, little sister. You know how I am with chances of a lifetime. I take them whenever I can."

Ana felt like dancing. "This is so great! How long are you here for?"

Tomoe almost frowned. "Hard to say. The job's turned out to be -- not as straight forward as I'd expected. But I'm definitely here long enough for us to get a drink and find out why you're dressed up like formal-wear Barbie."

She looked from Tomoe to Peter DeNyse, the new man in her life. She was feeling reborn. She realized tonight that she did very much want Peter to be a part of her new life for a long time to come.

Peter looked a little bemused by the whole situation. And a little confused, too. Ana realized that she and Tomoe had been speaking to each other in Japanese. Under any other circumstances, such a predicament would be unbearably awkward. She thought both Pete and herself would have wanted to say goodnight in a more private fashion. But, as always, Tomoe's presence seemed to be positively intolerant of awkward moments. Her spirit elevated Ana, making the evening that much more magical. Seeing Tomoe now, Ana realized how much she had missed her.

Ana turned back to her friend. "Tomoe, I'd like you to meet Peter DeNyse. Peter, this is Gozen Tomoe, my best friend from back home."

Peter bowed his head slightly. "Konichiwa, Gozen Tomoe."

That was very nicely done. Not only was he charming, he was a constant surprise.

She could tell Tomoe approved, too. "My, my, isn"t he interesting?" her friend said with a knowing grin. "Well, I didn"t want to come between you two. I mean it. Do whatever you were going to do before I opened my big mouth. I know that I wouldn"t let it stop me."

Ana looked back at Peter. Tomoe was right. Nothing should stop them. Nothing at all. She turned to face her big city policeman.

They kissed.

Goodnight, sweet prince, she thought, and wished she could say the words aloud. What had gotten into her? She felt like she was back in school, without a care in the world. She wished this moment could l last forever.

Peter smiled at Ana, and told Tomoe he was glad to have met her. He waved to both of them as he walked away.

The moment was over, but maybe it could be the first of a thousand moments, each one as wonderful as this.

Ana turned to Tomoe and invited her upstairs.

Illustrated Warrior

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