Eighty-Seven


    As Eri and Aiko got off the train I waved at them. “Over here you two!”


    Eri came scuttling towards me, face red, and before I could react she had her arms around me, pulling me close, before nting a kiss on my lips. It wasn’t a deep one, but nheless I was feeling both embarrassed and warm. <em>Wow, kissing in public. That’s so bold… still, this feeling, is it… contentment?</em>


    Eri released me, blushing furiously, not listening to Shae’s cackles or the wolf-whistles my sister was performing. As she stepped back her gaze dropped down my body. <em>Hey, where are you looking? </em>Reflexively I tightened my leg. The injury had healed even more, as during my trainingst night I had been sending aether down my Silver Cord to try and repair my body, causing the wound to shrink even further, new tender flesh filling the gouge. It wasn’t healed by any means, but it was now bearable, even without numbing my pain senses. <em>I guess I still feel guilty keeping it hidden from them. Still, it’s for the best…</em>


    “I’m happy to see you too, Eri.” I said, patting her on the head gently. “So, are you two looking forwards to the trip? It should be fun.”


    “Sure am bro, sure am.” My sister said brightly, handing the suitcase Eri had dropped in her haste to rush to me back to her. “It’s a shame that we can’t check out your Tokyo pad while we are here, but we have a ne to catch, right Eri?”


    “Yes, I’ve never been on a ne before. I’m very curious.” Eri said, looking around at therge crowds at Tokyo station. She moved to my side, and I reacted instinctively, draping an arm over her shoulder, and pulling her close.


    “Indeed. I too am very curious about how a giant metal bird can fly so high-high.” Shae agreed from behind me. “I feel seeing it may give me some precious insights on the nature of the wind.”


    <em>Uh, less talk about Astral stuff in front of my sister and Eri please! Although I guess that was pretty vague, so only people in the know would get it…</em>


    “You’ve never flown then, Shae? So how did you get to Japan then, you are a foreigner right?” My annoyingly perceptive sister asked. As I struggled for a response she shrugged with a giggle. “Never mind. Doesn’t matter really does it? Hey big bro, we should stock up on supplies for the train to the airport. No time to waste, we are in Tokyo, there must be nice stuff!”


    “The train to Haneda airport is only an hour. You won’t need much. But we can grab some bento I guess.” I led them to a store selling some pretty nice boxed lunches and paid for us all, as well as grabbing some drinks, though Shae moaned when I wouldn’t let her have any beer.


    “You can’t get drunk before getting on a ne.” Eri advised her as we descended to the tform we needed. “They are really strict about that. They serve drinks on the flight though, don’t they?”


    “They sure do. It’s a twelve hour flight, so we’ll get meals as well. Though ironically due to the time difference we’ll end upnding before we set off, if that makes any sense.” Iughed.


    I had exined this to Shae before, and it took a while before she had understood the concept of time-zones. Still, it meant that we’d be arriving around lunchtime Thursday at local Las Vegas time.


    As the train we needed pulled up, I asked Eri and Aiko if they had stayed upte like I had advised.


    “Yep, don’t worry about it big bro. We only had a couple of hours’ sleep, so I think we’ll be able to get some more on the flight. How about you two?”


    <em>Well, I didn’t do anything special, but with my abilities, going without sleep for a while is no big deal, the same for Shae. </em>“Yeah, I might sleep a little. Anyway, make sure you have everything.” I grabbed Eri’s suitcase with my free hand, lifting it in, even though it was pretty light, as we were only going for a few days. My sister pouted as I didn’t take hers, but Iughed it off as the duty of a boyfriend to carry his girlfriends’ bags.


    On the train we chatted away, the four of us attracting attention from some of the other passengers. Well, I was surrounded by three very pretty girls after all, one of them foreign in looks. We ate our bento boxes, which were as nice as they were expensive, and discussed what we were going to do when we arrived.


    “I can’t believe my first flight is such a long one.” My sis eximed. “Oh yeah, the two fashionable idiots are super jealous of us, so we have to make sure to really rub it in by sending them lots of pictures of cool things. We need a few of you and big bro being all lovey-dovey as well, Eri-chan!”


    Eri chided my sister, blushing, but she agreed with her. “It’s… my first trip with Akio as his girlfriend, so I have to make memories. My mom and dad will want to see pictures as well…”


    “Don’t worry, we may be there for work, but we’ll have time to hang out and have fun together.” I promised. <em>After all, there’s no point risking my life to protect friends and family if I don’t get to spend any time with them…</em>


    <em></em>


    ********


    Shae was kicking her legs in amusement as we took our seats. I had upgraded us to seats with better leg-room with some winnings I had earned over thest few days. <em>I suppose I could have gone all out and upgraded us to business ss… but I spent enough on the Hotel… maybe on the way back we’ll be in First ss… </em>She had sunk a couple of beers in the airport bar while we waited after check-in, while Eri and my sis were doing somest minute shopping. <em>Seriously, girls do need a lot of stuff…</em>


    “This aerone really is very impressive indeed-indeed.” She chimed, peering out the window at the other nes as they took off andnded.


    “Oh, you are just truly adorable.” Aikoughed. “You too Eri-chan. You’d think you’d never been on a ne befo… oh, we haven’t have we? I guess I’m pretty excited too. Thanks for this big bro, you really are the best!”


    Eri was on one side of me, Shae on the other, while my sister was seated next to Eri. Eri was looking a bit nervous about the flight, so I held her hand reassuringly, getting a radiant yet shy smile in return. <em>Man she’s cute... and her hands are so soft and warm…</em>


    “Don’t worry.” I told them all. “The best is yet toe, I assure you. This will be a trip of a lifetime!”


    We were interrupted by the cabin crew running through the safety announcements, which mypanions watched with rapt attention. Once that was done, the ne taxied to the runway, and I found my other hand also being held by Shae. Eri shot her a stern nce, but upon seeing my sister smirking she turned away.


    “Cut her a break Eri, she’s nervous too. Me, I’m just excited. Wow, this is going to be awesome!”


    And with that the ne elerated, taking us into the air, Shae peering out of the window in fascinated amazement, Eri with her eyes shut…


    ********


    The gentle snoring of my sister and the slow gentle breaths of Eri could be heard as the ne cruised at high altitude. <em>Good, finally asleep. They could use the rest…</em>


    Beside me, Shae was enjoying a beer, having be tired of staring out of the window. I too had a drink, and was enjoying the calm. “So, did you get any insight into the wind? That would be an unexpected bonus to this trip.”


    “Hmm, it is hard to say-say. I definitely feel some insight is just within my grasp. After all…” she paused, gathering her thoughts. “This massive machine is moved by but the winding from those engines, is it not-not? To think the wind can hold such power, create such marvels… yes, if I could duplicate it-it…”


    “Yeah, if we could fly a ne in the Boundary we could bomb the crap out of all our enemies. I doubt it’s feasible though. And I’d worry about being shot down by Wyrms too. Still, harnessing the same power to move an aerone with a smaller object could make one hell of an attack…”


    We bantered on as time passed, enjoying a few more drinks while Eri and Aiko slept peacefully. Luckily the flight was smooth, with little turbulence. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but it was surprisingly rxing. <em>Though I guess thepany helps…</em>


    “You know what, I was wondering…” a sudden thought urred to me. “What do you think would happen if we entered the Boundary now?”


    Shae paused, ss of beer raised to her lips. Gently she lowered it and looked at me, her amber orbs gazing into mine. “I suggest… we do not try anything foolish, my master.” She shuddered then. “I suspect all that would await us would be a very long fall-fall. Perhaps there might bends or dungeons in the skies, but if not…”


    “Yeah, I thought it would be a lousy idea. I was just curious.” With that our conversation became lighter, and we passed another few hours before my sister stirred from her slumber. Opening her eyes she nced around, seeing Eri still sleeping, and Shae and I enjoying ourselves with beer and some spirits.


    “No fair bro, why do you pair get to drink and have all the fun?”


    “Well, the perks of age, I guess?” I raised my ss to her sardonically. “America is even stricter than Japan, so no beer for you, which is probably good after your hangoverst time. Still, I expect you’ll have more than enough fun without it. Maybe if you are a good girl you’ll find a wayter…”


    Aiko joined in our chat, and around an hourter Eri woke up too. We ate dinner and passed the time reading, chatting and watching some in-flight movies, until our captain announced that we would bending shortly.


    Eri, Aiko and Shae all crowded the window, watching as we descend to the airport. In the distance the tall, exotic buildings of the Las Vegas strip could be made out, prompting expressions of delight from the girls. Once wended we headed to passport control, where I discovered that Shae could speak English as well, though she didn’t seem to be aware she was talking a differentnguage. <em>That makes me wonder if Shae is actually speaking anynguage at all… maybe it’s like telepathy… but that wouldn’t exin how she understands the written word or the TV… hey, maybe because I speak bothnguages, and she’s bound to me and my Territory…?</em>


    The customs officer smiled at us as he checked our passports and other paperwork. Impressed by our excellent English, he asked what our purpose for visiting was.


    “Well, us two are here for business. But I thought I’d bring my sister and my girlfriend…” I still blushed saying it… “… along for a short holiday.”


    “Well, wee to Las Vegas, Sin City. Don’t be leading these cute girls astray now, you hear me?”


    “I wouldn’t dream of it. Anyway, where can…” I asked a few questions about getting a taxi and so on, and soon we were through customs and driving towards the strip, a very chatty taxi driver showering us withpliments, my sister talking back excitedly. I hadn’t told the driver which hotel we were staying at, only to drive to the strip, as I wanted to surprise them. As the girls gawked at the impressive showpiece buildings around us I too admitted I was impressed. <em>Damn, this ce is something special… a month ago, who’d have thought this is where I’d end up?</em>


    “So, which hotel you guys staying at?” The taxi driver asked now we were at the main strip. I replied, “MGM Grand, please.” And the driver took us there, in front of the massive building. As I paid the driver and gave him a suitable tip he ttered the girls outrageously, saying that he would likely not see passengers as cute for a long time. <em>Yeah, Americans sure are more forward than us Japanese. </em>Still, seeing Shae puff up with pride and Eri writhe in embarrassment, I thought it wasn’t so bad.


    Entering the impressive hotel we approached the desk. I leaned in and spoke to the receptionist while Eri and Aiko were looking around, captivated by the hustle and bustle, a far cry from the quiet town life they had known. The receptionist noticed the room we were staying in, and raised an impressed eyebrow. “Nice. Living the high-roller life I see.”


    “Sure am. My first time here, so I thought we might as well make the most of it.” As I took the keys she signalled over a porter to carry our luggage. Following us to the lift we went up to one of the upper floors. As we got off my sister was bing more and more excited. “Uh, big bro… just what room are we staying in? Aren’t the nicer rooms towards the top? You can afford this, right?”


    “Well, all will be revealed.” I said, checking the key. “Here we are. You can drop the bags here thanks.” I told the porter, giving him a few dors, and he headed off with a smile and a wave. Unlocking the door I pushed it open, revealing a four-person suite room, with an expansive seating area, tworge bedrooms with massive beds, and even more…


    <em>Sure, this was expensive as hell, burning through a ton of cash, but considering the n, it’s insurance…</em>


    “Wowowowowowowow!” my sister had broken, rattling out her signature verbal tic at a rapid rate. “You must be joking bro. we are staying here? Seriously?”