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Guardians Book Two: Awakened

Chapter One: Alexi

Tatsukan walked down the street towards the apartment he'd been renting ever since the cops had started posting lookouts at his last hideout. He stopped outside the small shop on the city street and looked around as all the furs walked around him, being a human he stuck out like a sore thumb in the evolutionary section of the city. But he didn't care; he liked standing out even if it made the authorities more likely to spot him in a crowd, made his life a little more interesting. He sighed softly and opened the door to the shop the little bell tinkling as he walked inside. He nodded to the red dragon behind the counter.

"Morning Alexi." He waved in an exaggerated fashion as he slunk around the counter to get to the room he'd been renting from the dragon, "Slow day?"

The dragon looked up after a second; he looked a little distraught today,

"Huh? Oh." He shook his purple maned head, "No not really, just slow at this moment." He looked down and laughed, "Didn't notice you come in." He rubbed the back of his head, "Call me what you will." He laughed.

Tatsukan grinned,

"Sure... Old coot."

Alexi shook his head,

"Whatever. You said you're gonna have company today?"

The human nodded,

"Yeah, I've got a wolf coming in who's interested in my work. He'll ask for me when he comes in. Just send him back for me if you would."

Alexi nodded and brought out the rag he was holding and started to polish the marble counter he stood behind.

"Arright."

Tatsukan nodded and walked up the stairs to his room whistling some random tune.

Alexi sighed and continued to polish the counter his crimson wings rustling behind him as he swayed to the music on the radio nearby. He heard the soft step behind him and smiled,

"Hello, dear." He turned to the woman behind him and kissed her gently.

The phoenix scowled.

"Damn this shapes' lack of lips. It's been two years, and I still hate it." Her scowl grew darker as Alexi laughed, "It's not funny Alyx! ....i." She looked down, "At least you're still a dragon." Then she snickered, "Even if you're shorter."

Alyx made a face at her,

"I'll show you how much of a dragon I am tonight darling. When we can be ourselves of course."

"Oooh, I can't wait!" Sain tried to give him a kiss but failed with her beak, she sighed, "I'm just gonna go back to cleaning..." She turned and padded off into the back rooms she looked over her shoulder, "Imma try to be a lizard tomorrow, so don't forget to fire the phoenix or something."

The bell over the door tinkled and another customer walked in.

Alexi glanced up and started, as he saw the military uniform. The lupine walked forward, his long military trench coat flapping as the wind blew briefly before the door shut. The wolf stared at Alexi for a few seconds and shook his head.

"You look just like someone I used to work with back in the day. Except he was taller" He looked down, "But he's dead now."

Alexi nodded,

"It happens. I lost my mother to the service." He motioned around the store, "What can I help you with Mr. Slater?"

The wolf jumped,

"How do you know my name?"

Alexi simply laughed and pointed at the lapel on the wolf's coat.

"Oh, right." The wolf twitched his ears, "I forget about that sometimes. Just call me Vance please."

Alexi bobbed his head,

"Sure thing, what can I do for you?"

Vance pulled out a small wrinkled piece of yellow notepaper,

"Uhm, I'm looking for Tatsukan Yui."

"Ah, he's up those stairs," Alexi pointed behind him, "Second room on the left. Come on back." He motioned for the wolf to come around the counter to the stairs.

Vance nodded and gave a word of thanks as he took the stairs two at a time. Alexi looked after him for a moment before going back to polishing the counters.

. . .

"So, pretty much you're just a con man and thief?"

Tatsukan bristled,

"No!" He gestured wildly at Vance, "There is a really big difference from what I am man!"

Vance laughed,

"Sorry, sorry." He scratched the back of his head, "Criminology is not my thing." He sighed, "But if you find this information for me there would be a very sizable amount of money in it for you."

Tatsukan nodded.

"Finding a man isn't hard. Everything is traceable no matter how far you try to cover up."

Vance winced,

"That might have been true for this wolf a coupled years ago..." Vance shrugged.

"Mmmhmm. So what has the Eli dude done to wrong you?"

Vance looked down,

"I'd rather not discuss it." He looked back up, "There's a very big reason that I'm giving away military secrets. They killed my company, my best friend and his mate." He growled softly, "Eli and his lackeys are going down in a not-so-bright ball of flames."

Tatsukan laughed,

"May I watch?"

"No. Just find him and tell me where he is, then forget I ever existed."

"Alright man, alright. I hear you. That all?"

Vance nodded,

"If you find anything interesting lemme know though."

"Sure thing boss."

Vance shook his head and saw himself out of the room going back downstairs.

He paused behind Alexi.

"Hey."

Alexi turned around.

"Sir?"

"What did you say your name was?"

Alexi looked down,

"Uhh... I didn't, but it's, Dontair. Alexi Dontair."

Vance shivered for a bit,

"So fucking close... Yet so far..." He walked slowly out of the little shop as thunder rolled and it began to drizzle. He pulled his coat tighter and pulled his wide brimmed hat down. He looked back over his shoulder, wondering... Was it possible?

. . .

Tatsukan was typing on his computer trying to find any leads at all on this Eli character he'd been asked to find. As far as he could tell she never existed, just a ghost. But, people never came to Tatsukan for something easy, he closed the laptop down and pulled out his phonebook, he looked up the last name and began the long, tedious, and sometimes insulting task of trying to find what he was looking for.

After a few hours of no success he finally got one lead,

"Eli? Yeah, he's my son. He was in the military and he got selected for some special mission or some other nonsense. Haven't seen him since. Is he dead?"

Tatsukan sighed,

"No, I don't think so, but he is missing." He paused for a moment, "Do you remember the last place he was when you last talked to him?"

There was a pause and a slow sigh.

"I knew he shouldn't have joined." There was another pause, "In the Norwegian countryside there's a training facility out there for the army from what he said."

"Perfect. That's all I need. Thank you sir."

Tatsukan hung the phone up and heaved a sigh. Norway! That was a long walk, or an expensive taxi ride.

He packed up his computer and other devices he'd need, and threw it all into a backpack which he slung over his shoulder donning his black boonie hat. He struck a heroic pose in front of the mirror and deflated laughing at himself. God he was a dork.

He walked down the stairs and looked at Alexi who looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"Dude? Are you okay? You look like someone went walking over your grave man."

Alexi shook his head, "No, no I'm fine, just dwelling on what I shouldn't." He turned around, "Where are you off to?"

Tatsukan motioned vaguely,

"Norway? Gotta find some bitchy disabled wolf." He pulled out his wallet and took about three thousand Euros out of it. "Don't rent my room out while I'm gone"

Alexi nodded. "Long way. I can take you if you'd like. I've got a helicopter, and only a jet's faster."

"Really? You've got a helo?" Tatsukan exclaimed.

Alexi shrugged,

"Military grade HH-2 to be exact... Well, and a Huey, but it's old as dirt... Been a while since I last fired it up..." He made a rather curious face.

Tatsukan raised an eyebrow.

"We really need to talk more man."

Alexi laughed.

"Gimme a second to close up shop and I'll drive you to my place."

Tatsukan nodded and watched the dragon with renewed interest as he closed everything up. After a few minutes he pulled his apron off and laid it across the counter locking the front door. He motioned for Tatsukan to follow him out the back door and locked it as Tatsukan came out. The human stared at the black Humvee that was sitting in the alleyway. It was definitely military grade, or at least an auctioned off government vehicle.

"Whoa, man. Is this yours?"

Alexi laughed and opened the driver side door getting in,

"Well duh. I'm not gonna drive a little economy car, those are uncomfortable for my wings."

Tatsukan stood for a moment before getting in the black vehicle. Alexi cranked it up and sighed as it roared to life.

"What has happened to all my excitement?"

"What?"

"I'll tell you about it one day."

"Okay?"

Tatsukan looked around in the car, then to the back seat. He almost shouted, but the phoenix's hand was quicker,

"Shut-up, I'm his mate."

Alyx looked in the rear-view and smiled at Sain who was sprawled in one of the rear chairs,

"Ah. Hello Sain, I was wondering where you went."

"Sup."

She let go of Tatsukan's mouth and he worked it up and down a few time,

"I thought you only worked for him." He paused for a second, "But I guess it makes sense. You two were always rather friendly."

Tatsukan got comfortable as Alexi pulled the vehicle out into traffic and they took off into whatever awaited them.