The Rising Sun & The Morning Calm Ch. 27

For those who were kind enough to write...Romanization of eastern languages is a real bitch. I find myself torn between spelling the words as they are romanized or spelling them phonetically in order to give the reader a better sense of what the dialogue sounds like. Hopefully this explains some of the discrepancies you see in the text.

In any case, thank you for reading. Comments are always appreciated and are a great incentive for me to write! ^ ^

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"WHAT?!!!!"

Everyone stared at Linnsa's emerald irises in disbelief. Scrambling back onto his feet, Genzo retreated closer to the others, as if they potentially offered protection from whatever it was Linssa could do, but seeing the panicked look on her face as her verdant eyes darted from person to person, he did his utmost to push his fear aside and walked slowly towards her.

"Genzo! What are you doing?!" Noboru shouted. "You do not know what will happen to you!"

Doing his best to remain calm, he knelt in front of Linnsa and gently took her hand. "Please, Linnsa," he began, hoping that his voice sounded more reassuring than he felt. "I must show you something."

"What?! Stop scaring me and just tell me what is going on! Huh?" Unsure of why Genzo was handing her the clock next to her bed, she looked at him with confusion. He gestured for her to turn it over. Still not understanding where this was going, she did as he ordered and let out a scream of her own when she saw her eyes reflected in the mirrored chrome surface. "What the hell is this?!"

"Linnsa, please, try to remain calm..."

"Don't you tell me to be calm!" she shrieked. "What's happening to me? What did you do to me?!"

Genzo was lost for words. "I-"

Grabbing her head with one hand, Linnsa felt another headache beginning. "No! Not again!" She let out a bloodcurdling shriek when all of a sudden the clock in her other hand began to glow red and then let out an angry shower of sparks as it exploded. Taken completely by surprise, Genzo shielded his face, then after a few seconds of quiet, he peered up from behind his forearms to see Linnsa fall limply onto the bed, taking in rasping breaths. "Unnie," she gasped between gulps.

Forgetting her own safety, Angela ran to her sister's side. "What happened?"

"I don't...know," was all she could manage before she lost consciousness.

"Genzo, are you alright?" Noboru helped him to his feet as he looked on in confusion.

"[Donno], I am not sure what just happened."

"Did Linnsa do that?" Sang Nam wondered out loud.

Noboru turned to Ryuzo. "Do you have any idea what is going on?"

For the first time in his life, Ryuzo didn't know what to make of the situation. "None."

"Oh great, if you don't know then we're all totally screwed," Angela moaned.

"I will draw some blood and run some tests. Perhaps I can find some explanation for her symptoms." Ryuzo motioned for Genzo to pick her up which he was all too ready to do and he effortlessly scooped up her tiny frame.

Sang Nam picked up the remains of the clock and examined it closely. There was an area that showed the outline of Linnsa's tiny fingers in charred relief. "What happened to you?" he wondered softly to himself. At the sound of him muttering to himself, Genzo turned his head slightly and gave Sang Nam a sour look before leaving the room.

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Donno: Lord (Japanese)

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Blinking slowly, Linnsa saw her room come into focus, then her sister, sleeping next to her and Sang Nam dozing in the chair across from her. Doing her best not to wake either of them, she delicately made her way out of the bed and felt her stomach growl loudly. Feeling hungrier than she had in a long time, she went out to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Distracted by her sudden appetite, she began arranging bread on a plate and piling on various cold cuts. Before digging in, she reached for a diet soda, but all of a sudden changed her mind and pulled the tab off a regular one. She could use the sugar. Diving in, she was about halfway through her sandwich when Genzo peered cautiously round the corner. Hearing her stirrings in the kitchen, he had immediately picked up on the now familiar sound of her footsteps. Seeing her seated at the table, eating a sandwich that was far too big for her tiny mouth, he couldn't help a smile. As if sensing his eyes on her, she turned to meet his gaze and narrowed her eyes, the sandwich halfway to her lips. "What do you want?"

[She's back to hating me again], he thought sadly. "Nothing." Dejected, he turned and walked away as she continued to devour her snack.

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"I am really getting sick and tired of being poked and prodded," Linnsa growled as Ryuzo carefully glued electrodes to her scalp. "Ow!" she hissed. "Watch it, old man!" she snarled after giving him a lightning fast glare.

Angela looked at Ryuzo with surprise. Her sister was normally so mild mannered. It was strange to hear her so irritable. "Linnsa, I know it sucks, but he's only trying to help you."

"Fine," she grumbled. "Let's just get this over with." As the computer began recording her brainwaves, Linnsa's stomach growled again. "How much longer is this going to take? I'm starving!"

"You know, normally, I'm not surprised that you eat like you have two hollow legs, but this is strange even for you," Angela attempted by means of a joke.

Sang Nam elbowed Genzo in the ribs. "You sure it was smart coming along, Genzo-kun? What if she lets loose another clock bomb on you?" He chortled at the mental image and grinned when he saw Genzo grind his teeth together in annoyance.

"[Urusai]!" Ryuzo barked at the two. "If you cannot keep quiet then I would be more than happy to throw you both out ass first." Linnsa actually cracked a small smile at his threat.

"I'll be good," Sang Nam acquiesced meekly. "Dunno if I can make that promise for Genzo though-" He shrank back at Angela's death stare and smiled innocently.

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urusai: shut up (Japanese)

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After twenty four hours, there were no signs whatsoever of any abnormal brainwave activity. A trash can directly next to Linnsa was practically overflowing with take out containers, candy bar wrappers and soda cans. By Ryuzo's estimation, she had eaten almost ten thousand calories in a day's time and she showed no signs of her appetite abating. Smashing the trash down further with her latest addition, she scratched her itchy scalp and scowled. "How much longer do I have to sit here?"

Ryuzo looked at her thoughtfully, rubbing his chin with his forefinger. "May I draw one more blood sample?"

"Are you kidding me? I look like a pincushion!" Linnsa held out both her forearms which sported several bruises from the previous phlebotomy attempts.

"I wish to check your thyroid function. You have consumed a very large amount of calories and I wonder if your metabolism has been affected." He prepared a needle as he continued speaking and put a hand on one of her arms. "It will only be a moment-"

"NO!"

Bellowing in pain, Ryuzo suddenly dropped the vial and butterfly needle as he felt a jolt of pain travel with lightning speed throughout his body. He heard the glass shatter on the floor but found that he could not let go of Linnsa's arm. Then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped. Releasing his grip, he staggered back a few steps.

"No more needles, no more electrodes and no more sitting all day in this stupid lab!" Linnsa began yanking the EEG leads off her scalp, ignoring the pain as the glue took a few stray strands of hair with it. The display on the EEG monitor began to flatline, one after the other. Kicking over the trash can, she stomped angrily out of the lab.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Angela called out after her.

"Anywhere but here!" she huffed as she kicked the door to the lab open.

"Genzo..."

"I will get her," he replied, already reading her mind.

Sang Nam stepped between the two of them, blocking Genzo's way. "Why don't you let me? She looks pretty pissed." Before Genzo could tell him to go fuck himself, Angela nodded and placed a hand on his chest to prevent him from following.

"I think he has a point," she explained. "Let her cool down a bit." Frustrated, he left off following Sang Nam and instead began to pace the room like a caged animal. [We can't go on like this], Angela thought with apprehension. "Ryuzo, are you okay? What happened there?"

"I am not quite sure, Angela-san. It almost felt like I had stuck my finger in an electric socket or something of the sort. [Okashina]." After picking up the glass off the floor, Ryuzo gave a resigned sigh and went to turn off the EEG display when he noticed something curious. "Angela-san, please take a look at this."

Walking over to him, Angela looked at the readings. "What is it?

Scrolling backwards about fifteen minutes, Ryuzo fast forwarded part of the recording. You notice that nothing remarkable is happening."

"Mm hm. So?"

"[Mitteh]." Angela watched as all the leads suddenly became chaotic before briefly returning to normal and then going flat.

"What does it mean?"

"I believe the epileptiform activity corresponded with your sister's outburst. This is followed immediately afterwards by the loss of signal due to her removing the leads." He scrolled back slightly. "And at the beginning of the spikes is when the activity is greatest. I think that was the moment when I felt strangely."

"My sister actually caused that to happen to you?"

His eyes scanned the time index of the readings. "That would be the only plausible explanation. I cannot see this being purely due to coincidence."

"What the hell is happening to her?"

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okashina: strange (Japanese)

mitteh: look (Japanese)

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Sang Nam walked to a dimly lit part of the hallway where she was holding her head with her eyes screwed shut. "Another headache?" he ventured softly.

Annoyed, she snapped, "Wow, did you go to medical school for that keen diagnostic eye?"

"No, but I watch a lot of doctor shows on TV," he joked.

Grinning in spite of herself, Linnsa turned towards him. "Sorry. I'm pretty cranky."

"That's okay. [Agashi] is very cute when she's angry." Reaching into his pocket he took two Advil from a small pillbox. "Here."

Taking them from him, she swallowed the pills gratefully. "You always carry Advil with you?"

"Depends on the company I keep," he smiled. "Beautiful ladies with headaches are a tragic combination."

Linnsa eyed him cautiously. "Sang Nam, are you flirting with me?"

Feigning distress, he fell to his knees. "Am I being too obvious?" Linnsa couldn't help giggling at his melodramatics. Getting up, he dusted off his knees. "You're good luck for me. Since I met you I haven't been smoking, so you'll keep the lung cancer away."

"But you can't get lung cancer," she countered.

"See how well you work?" He waggled his finger in the air in mock consternation. "One less nagging worry to keep me up at night." Laughing in earnest, she couldn't help but feel charmed by his attention. Her laughter was cut short by a loud growl. "[Wah!] The monster in you is hungry."

Rubbing her stomach, Linnsa sheepishly met his eyes. "I swear, I normally don't eat this much."

"Shall I fetch the monster another hapless victim?" Sang Nam deadpanned.

"Yes, please. Preferably something that used to be breathing," she said menacingly. When she saw a brief flicker of uncertainty on his face, she chuckled and Sang Nam soon joined in when he realized she was returning in kind.

"I will return with some carrion for you, [Agashi]."

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agashi: young miss (Korean)

wah: wow (exclamation, Korean)

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Still pacing the room restlessly, Genzo looked over and saw that Angela appeared to be quite engrossed in talking to Ryuzo. Seeing the opportunity, he slipped out the door. The hallway was so dark, he could barely see Linnsa. He followed her scent and found her sitting hunched over at the base of a stairwell. When she heard him approach, her head snapped up and he saw her eyes glitter in the darkness much the way a cat's did when seen in low lighting.

"Your sister would like for you to come back. I am sure that she will not expect you to put up with any more inconveniences today." He paused a few feet away from where she was seated feeling awkward. "Linnsa, I know you must hate me very much, but I-"

Her sigh interrupted him. "I don't hate you Genzo. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't mad about what was happening to me. I guess you just make for an easy target since you don't seem to react much." He heard a small smile creep into her voice. "You make it too easy for me to get mad at you."

"Could you offer advice on how I could make this more difficult?" When Linnsa realized he was joking, she giggled and felt some of her irritability melt away. "May I?" Linnsa shuffled over to make room for Genzo on the step. Even seated, he towered over her. "I was only partially joking."

"Meaning what?"

He suddenly felt grateful for the darkness. "It is...quite hard for me to bear when you are angry with me," he admitted quietly.

Linnsa winced at the vulnerability she felt coming from him. "I'm sorry," was all she could come up with.

"Please tell me what I am doing wrong."

She looked up in surprise. "Doing wrong?"

Genzo rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. He never balked at the thought of risking his life but at the moment, he thought that would be preferable to trying to explain his feelings to Linnsa. "I...I seem to do everything incorrectly around you. I always make you upset."

"Is this about my punching you in the nose?" Her tone was playfully light.

Blood rushed into his face as he felt himself blush furiously. "I...[ano]...that...I mean..." He felt her hand on his arm.

"Unnie explained it to me. At least, she explained it to me as best she could."

"Explained what?"

"You know, your animal instincts, why you got a little carried away." She chuckled. "I've never had to use tae kwon do to fend off a guy before."

Genzo smiled at hearing her laughter. "You affect me in a way that no one has for many centuries."

"Why? It makes no sense!"

"Of course it does," he countered. "I am sure many men would feel that way about you. You are an exceptional woman."

Unable to help feeling flattered by his sincere admission, she ducked her head downward shyly. "Oh, please."

"I am only speaking the truth." Noticing that she had not withdrawn her hand, he gently played with her fingertips, not wanting her to be put off by his grabbing her hand. "You are a rare treasure in this world. I am only sorry that I am so poorly equipped to demonstrate my feelings appropriately. I suppose...I have spent too much time alone." When she said nothing, embarrassment flooded him and he stood up abruptly. "Your sister will want to know that you are alright." He felt a light tug on his sleeve from the dark.

"Wait..."

Allowing himself to be pulled back down to the step, Genzo felt her hands on either side of his face and nearly jumped out of his skin from the completely unexpected sensation. "Linnsa? I..." Her mouth stopped his completing the sentence. Almost afraid to believe it was happening, he tried to refrain from pulling her to him and crushing her lips under his own.

If he was caught off guard by her gesture, Linnsa was no less surprised. Under her fingertips, she could practically feel him shaking and as she ran her hand up his arm, she felt the muscles tense and she found that she liked the steely feel of him under her fingers. "Genzo, why are you shaking?"

His breathing was heavy as he brushed her lips with tentative kisses. "I...I am trying...to..." She drew back slightly as she saw two flashes of amber flicker in front of her but his grip on her never loosened. "I do not want....to upset you...as I did the last time."

A jolt of excitement raced up her spine at his strained words. Feeling coy, she couldn't help but enjoy seeing Genzo so completely unraveled by his attraction to her. She felt desirable...and powerful. "Is your wolf wanting to come out and play?" The tightening of his grip and another amber glow answered her question.

"We should go...back..."

He sounded as if he were struggling to form the words into a coherent sentence. Each word seemed to drop an octave lower in tone. "Why?" Watching him squirm was so much fun.

He was at the very edge of shifting and it was requiring every ounce of willpower he possessed not to rape her on the spot. "Linnsa, please stop...I will not be able to control myself..." Another pair of golden orbs shone briefly in the darkness.

Though she had been frightened of his amorous attentions the first time, now she was curious to see how far his primitive instincts would take him. Bringing her face close to his again, she nipped at his lower lip. A distinctly animal growl surrounded her and she felt herself thrown back against the stairs. Leaning over her, Genzo began biting her neck while pulling her closer to him. Exhilarated by his teeth on her skin, Linnsa dug her nails into his back and heard a strange sound. Not sure what it was, she tried to move but felt a sharp pain in her neck and then suddenly realized that the strange noise was in fact the sound of Genzo's clothes slowly tearing as his body was changing. Having seen his previous shift, this one was going much slower and she couldn't understand why. Unable to restrain his expanding bulk, his jeans and shirt split open and Linnsa felt fur under her palms. His teeth now two inch long daggers, she had no doubt that he was drawing blood, but she felt disinclined to stop him.

As his ruined clothes fell away from him, Genzo tried desperately to quell his lust but as her blood ran down his tongue, any part of his evolved thinking effectively shut down and his cock began leaking precum onto Linnsa's jeans. Curious, having had so little sexual experience herself, she let her hand slide down and found what felt like an arm in her hand when she realized it was in fact his penis. Wondering if they were typically this large, she stroked it gently, enjoying the soft sensation of the skin against the stiffness that lay underneath. Breathing hoarsely, Genzo grabbed her small head in his giant clawed hand, reared back his head and bit down where her neck joined her shoulder with full force. All of a sudden, Linnsa threw her arms around his maned neck and screamed, trembling all over. When he realized that she was in fact having an orgasm, he lost control and ejaculated as the lights suddenly went on in the hallway. His eyes were unable to adjust to the abrupt change in brightness and he was still cumming when he felt a cold breeze on him. Enraged at having been interrupted, he got down on all fours and snarled menacingly. As his eyes finally recovered, he saw a smoky haze and then Angela come into view. Wielding a fire extinguisher, she gave him a look that essentially said, "Don't fuck with me," and despite her small size, Genzo shrank back.

Seeing that he was standing down, Angela dropped the fire extinguisher and ran to her sister and cried out in alarm when she saw her unconscious against the stairs, her neck bleeding and her clothes covered in what had to be about a gallon of Genzo's spunk. Whirling around to face him, he lowered his eyes submissively and slunk forward, gently licking her neck to repair the damage he had done. When he was finished, he slipped back into his human form and avoided looking at them. Cradling her sister in her arms, Angela glared at him. "Care to explain yourself?"

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ano: um (Japanese)