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Heart of the Dragon Ch. 00

By: Aurora Black



Author's Note: The main characters (Gabriel Knight, Grace Nakimura) are the property of Sierra / Vivendi Universal and Jane Jensen. Okay, moving on... This takes place after the events of GK2: The Beast Within, and it's part of a fanfic that I never finished.

I wrote this when I was 19, so it's rather rough compared to my later stuff. Enjoy.

* * * 

The Journal of Nakimura Sayuri

June, 1695

I write in this journal for what may be the last time. My beloved sister is dead, and I feel numb and hollow. I have not been able to find her body, and I doubt that I ever will. It has been washed away into the cruel sea, and her soul cannot be saved from the fires of Hell. 

Oh, merciful God, aid me in my attempt to make things right. Help me to destroy the being who is responsible for this. He is Belial, one of the most powerful minions of Satan; a high and powerful Lord in the realm of the underworld. He is a Shapeshifter; he has the power to disguise himself as any living creature, and he exists for no reason but to make others suffer. We are among his victims.

He was not disappointed in his quest to slaughter us all; his victory over us is nearly complete. 

Oh, poor Matsuri. He took the form of a foreign nobleman, and under this guise he tempted her, seduced her, and corrupted her. She thought that she was in love, but it was the pull of Belial's evil charm that affected her instead of passion. 

Belial did not love her; he used her in an attempt to destroy our family. I fear that he may have succeeded. With the passage of time, his true nature was revealed. Her lover turned out to be a monster; a maniacal and manipulative serpent beneath his beautiful mask. I discovered everything; the affair and its dire consequences. It was a secret that was kept from me until the end. 

Due to this deception, I was too late to aid my twin and I was powerless against the evil seed which had taken root. Matsuri was so revolted and grieved that she threw herself off a cliff and into the sea. She was damned by this lowly being, this Belial. She knew that she could not be saved, and she sacrificed herself to save the rest of us.

Now I, Sayuri, shall go to destroy Belial. My soul will never find rest until this score is settled. I will send my remaining family, my youngest sister, into safety. If I should not return, let the Nakimura line somehow continue, so that the next Dragon may succeed where I have failed. 

Let the Light pierce the darkest corners of the Universe.

* * *

Tatsu Island, Japan

Sayuri put down her quill with a sigh. It is done. Now there's only one thing left to do. 

She got up, and took a lingering look at her secret library, knowing deep down that she would never see it again. The candles flickered in their holders, casting everything in a surreal glow. One by one, she blew out the candles, and she made her way through the darkness towards the entrance and the hallway beyond. She removed an object from a chest by the door, and she left the library. 

She kept her back to the vacated entrance, listening for the scrape of rock and the click of heavy iron to signal the door's closure. She was rewarded by the sound, and she touched the smooth surface of the wall where a door used to be. 

Let the next Dragon find the means to destroy him. He will not get away with this, I swear. 

Sayuri's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a scraping foot on the stone floor in the distance. She immediately unsheathed her sword and hid in a nearby alcove. In the shadows, her eyes narrowed as she saw an outline of a person walking towards her. She held her breath as the intruder tiptoed past her hiding place. She then left the alcove and she crept behind the figure, her sword in tow. 

Like a flash of lightning, she grabbed the intruder and placed the razor-sharp blade against the stranger's throat. The intruder gasped, and Sayuri's voice was fierce. 

"Who are you?" 

The blade edged up and down as the intruder struggled to breathe. 

Sayuri tightened her grip around the figure's waist and was rewarded with another gasp. 

"Let me ask again. Speak if you value your head! WHO ARE YOU?" 

A whoosh of air escaped from the stranger's lips. "Sayuri, it's me. Hana." 

Sayuri breathed a sigh of relief and quickly sheathed her sword. 

"Hana, why were you sneaking around like that? I could have killed you, little sister." 

She re-lit some of the hallway candles that she had blown out before hiding. The candles illuminated the hallway once more, and they shined upon a frightened young girl. 

"I am sorry, my sister. I was only trying to be careful." 

Sayuri hugged her tightly, afraid to let her go. 

"And I thought that I was being careful enough for the both of us." 

She remembered her task, and her voice was somber. 

"Hana, I need you to do something for me." 

Hana perked up at the idea of helping her big sister with something important. Her eyes twinkled and the dimples in her round cheeks grew more prominent as she smiled. Sayuri envied her innocence; she wished that she could collect some in a bottle to prove that it still exists in the world. 

Please God, let her be well when I am gone. 

She reached for the thick chain around her neck, and she pulled an object from underneath her armor, from where it rested over her heart. It caught the light, and its radiance was as brilliant as the sun. She felt its weight in her palm as she looked at it for a long moment. This will ensure her safety. She then placed it around Hana's neck. 

"I want you to have the Heart of the Dragon, Hana." 

Even at her young age, Hana had the perception of a woman of many years. She could tell that something was wrong. Hana's smile evaporated as if it hadn't existed. 

"But the Heart is YOURS. I cannot take it from you." 

Sayuri wanted desperately to cry, but she had to be strong for Hana. 

"It is a gift, little sister. It will protect you." 

It was at that moment that Hana understood the situation. She would never see her sister again. A few tears escaped as she shook her head in denial. 

Sayuri knelt down and held her. 

"Please do not make this harder than it already is, sister. It must be done." 

A sob escaped from Hana's throat. 

"There is always something that must be done! But why does it always have to be YOU who must do these things? The Lord of Hell wants us all to be no more, do you not see? Let us leave this island together, so that we may find a place where he cannot strike us any longer! Please. He has already taken Matsuri away from us; if you go to fight him, you too will perish! I do not want to lose you, Sayuri! You are all that I have left! The presence of so much death in our family ravages my heart with each passing day. I cannot bear it if I were to lose another sister. The pain would be too great."

Sayuri shared the same feelings of anger and grief, but she knew that what she was about to do and the sacrifice that she was prepared to make was only a part of a divine plan to breathe life into the dying Nakimura legacy, to return it to the splendor that it once was. 

Sayuri felt the sting of unshed tears in her eyes. 

If I were to turn away from my duty now, future generations would share the same needless, tragic fate as the Dragons of this era until the end of time. I cannot let that happen. I must break the cycle of destruction.

Sayuri slowly pulled away from Hana, meeting her eyes. 

"I am sorrier than I can ever say, my dear sister. I cannot run away and allow all the deaths in our family and of Matsuri to go unavenged. I must try to set things right, Hana. I know that you do not understand now, but someday I hope that when the time comes for you to become the Dragon you will know that..."

"NEVER! This damned legacy has done nothing but drive us all into early graves! It brings only madness and death, and I will not be a part of it!"

Sayuri had expected Hana's reaction, but she hadn't counted on how much the words would hurt. 

Her soul is in agony, and I can do nothing to help her find peace.

She knew that time was running out, and that soon she had to say goodbye. 

Sayuri's voice was thick with her grief over Hana's prejudices as she spoke. 

"If only you knew how splendid the Dragons were long ago, before the evil came. Before we began to fade from the earth. The sight of spilled blood and the stench of death is all that you have ever known of our family, and that in itself is tragic. But Hana, our legacy is worth saving; it is so much more than just you or I, more than our fallen sister. It is everything; it is who we are and all that we will ever become. It is our nature, our birthright, our destiny. It is unchangeable, undeniable, and everlasting. I can only hope that one day you will realize that." 

She looked away from Hana then, to fight back tears. Outside one of the castle's windows, the moon was visible from where Sayuri and Hana knelt together on the floor. The radiant sight helped Sayuri to compose herself enough to look back at her sister. 

"You will never lose me, Hana. I will always be with you in here." 

She placed her hand over her sister's heart, and beneath her palm it pounded like thunder. 

Hana was very quiet, and Sayuri knew that she realized that they were in their final moments together. Hana was sorrowfully resigned to her sister's fate and to her own as well.

Sayuri cleared her throat and stood up. 

"I need you to listen carefully now, Hana." 

The moment of conversation was over. It was time for Sayuri to get her sister to safety. She deliberately made her voice hard to get Hana's full attention. 

"I want you to leave this place. Tonight. Now. Go to the Saito property and stay there. Do not come back here until Saito says that it is safe, and even then you must only visit the castle to collect your things. You will no longer be safe here, do you understand?" 

It took a great deal of self-control to keep from crying as she saw Hana nod her head in acceptance, tears still glistening in her eyes. 

Sayuri forced herself to continue. 

"Do not take the Heart off until it is safe to; you will know when. You must take exceptional care of the talisman. It will guarantee our family's survival." 

Hana pressed her hand against her chest and touched the Heart of the Dragon. 

"It will be done, my sister." 

Sayuri remembered the object that she took from the library. She brought forth the small jewel on a chain from a hidden fold of her armor and gave it to Hana. 

"Take this ruby. It is more important than you know." 

She whispered its use in her ear, and Hana nodded her head. 

Sayuri went to hug her one last time, and with great sadness she said, "Go." 

Hana hesitated, and Sayuri made herself scream at her to leave. 

"GO NOW!" 

The vast hallway echoed with the sound of Hana's departing footfalls. She was gone. 

Sayuri stared at the spot where Hana had departed. "I love you, little sister. Goodbye."

She turned and walked down the deserted hallway. She had no doubt that Saito, a trusted family friend and Shinto priest, would take care of Hana. 

The Nakimura line will continue. I am satisfied in that, at least. 

Sayuri stopped at the huge door leading to the outside world and her confrontation with Belial. 

It is now the moment of truth. I am ready. 

She stepped out of the castle and marched forward to meet her destiny. 

* * *

Tatsu Island, Japan

June, 1970

"Are you sure that you want to go through with this, Hiroshi? It may do more ill than good." 

The old man is really pushing it this time, Hiroshi Nakimura thought as he and his father stood in the hospital's hallway. 

He trembled with anger. "Of course I want this, Dad! That monster nearly killed my little girl. I want us to be as far away from that castle as we can possibly get." 

The elder Nakimura sighed. "Please consider this, Hiroshi. Do not damn your ancestral home based on an incident of the supernatural. It is the nature of the beast. Things of this sort are bound to happen sooner or later." 

Hiroshi, who was standing slightly away from his father, came within an inch of him at once. 

"Incident of the supernatural?! The nature of the beast?! What the hell are you talking about, old man?" 

Hiroshi's hands curled into fists at his sides as he tried to contain his fury. He failed.

"Do you believe for one second that it was a mere incident? I sure as hell don't! That creature had a plan. That thing wanted my little girl. It USED my own flesh and blood to do its dirty work. And when that was not enough, it went after her ITSELF!" 

Hiroshi's fists unclenched, and he turned away to look toward the room where his young daughter was resting. He wanted to scream out his rage, and make it echo along the long halls of the hospital. 

"I will not expose her to any more of this. Nothing you can say will make me change my mind. After Grace is released from here, Keiko and I will take her to America. We will tell her nothing about the Dragons of Light. Nothing!" 

Hiroshi started to walk away from his father, toward Grace's hospital room. The shouts of his father rung in his ears. 

"Go ahead," said the old man. "Just know this: by doing this you will be robbing her of her birthright, part of her heritage, and part of her self-identity. Do you think that the monsters will melt away because you've kept her ignorant? No, if anything, they'll have an advantage when they seek her out; she won't know what to do. She won't be able to fight back if you don't tell her about the Dragons. Think about what you're doing, Hiroshi!" 

Hiroshi gritted his teeth as he pushed on, ignoring his father's plea.

I will not listen to this. I must save my child from the horrors that would eventually follow if we stay here. Yes, the demon has disappeared, but what is there to stop more of them from coming if we stay? I'm doing the right thing.

The elderly man watched his youngest son disappear into his granddaughter's room. He sighed. Stubborn. There was no doubt in his mind that Hiroshi's plan would ultimately hurt Grace. 

Our family traditions are too powerful to be shaken off like a bad dream. Hiroshi will find out; so will Grace, God willing. 

It was at that moment that the old man vowed to watch over Grace. He decided that he would not interfere with his son's plan, but he will tell her all that she needs to know when the time comes. 

It's only a matter of time, he thought. f all goes well, it will happen under pleasant circumstances; the inevitable moment of reckoning. 

* * *

Tatsu Island, Japan

Nakimura Castle

So, he went forward with his plan, the old man thought as he finished gathering his belongings. Hiroshi was never one to go back on his word. 

He had just received the news from his friend Saito that Hiroshi and Keiko took Grace to America like they said they would. New York City. 

Now that it's all settled, I'll be on my way as well. 

The old man took his suitcase and left his room. He descended several flights of stairs, entering the depths of the castle. It was completely dark except for one glowing lantern on the other side of the shadowy area. 

His eyes slowly grew accustomed to the darkness, and he made his way toward the end of the corridor. The old man stopped at a large iron door and unlocked it. The door creaked open, and he took the lantern off of the wall and stepped inside. 

The large room was filled with many old statues, tapestries and weapons. The various objects in the room were the relics of a very powerful and ancient era. 

The old man crossed the room, appreciating its contents. He stopped and stared at a very old portrait that was hanging on the wall. It was a painting of a very beautiful Japanese woman. She looked to be in her late 20s. She was dressed in a ceremonial kimono, and the only piece of jewelry that she wore was a single ruby on a chain around her neck. Her long, glossy black hair was pulled away from her face and it spilled over one of her shoulders to end where she held a white lily between the fingers of a delicate hand. Her eyes were the most striking feature of the painting; they had the look of strength and power to them. 

They had the ability to touch one's soul. 

The old man continued to look upon the portrait for a long moment. 

You have waited so long for her. Do not worry. She will be protected. 

The old man moved the portrait aside to reveal a vault that was stashed behind it. He unlocked it with one of his many keys and he surveyed its contents. 

Among the objects inside the vault was an exquisite Japanese samurai sword, old-world maps, and several ancient books and journals. 

Something caught the old man's eye. Of course. He reached his hand into the vault and pulled out the Heart of the Dragon. He ran his hand over the talisman, admiring it. 

So beautiful, yet such a powerful weapon. Soon, my friend. The time will come when you will be called upon again.

From a distance he heard a clock chiming the hour. He knew that time was running out before he had to catch his plane. He took one last lingering look at the heart-shaped amulet he held in his aged hand, and he placed it back in the vault and locked it. He left and locked up the room, and he climbed up the many stairs to the ground level, carrying the set of heavy iron keys. 

He left the castle, strolled out of the vast courtyard and locked the heavy front gates. He made his way to the road where his trusted friend Saito was waiting for him. Saito's face was grave as he handed the old man the note that his other son, Takeo, had left for him. 

The old man unfolded the paper, his sharp eyes scanning his oldest son's familiar script.

Father, forgive me. I was weak. I allowed myself to be taken over by that being; to become the instrument of evil. Somehow, the demon was able to see straight to my soul, and it found something that it liked. It planted the seeds of evil into my heart, and I feel that I must go away for a while to purge myself. 

I did not mean for any of this to happen, and I certainly did not want the child to be harmed in any way. I am ashamed of myself, more than you can possibly imagine. Everything was beyond my control. I regret my actions deeply, but I am afraid that it is not enough to win back the esteem of both my brother and of you that was so utterly lost in these events. Let God allow me to break free of evil's influence now that the demon is gone, hopefully forever. Once again, forgive me.

He sighed and looked up to find Saito watching him. 

"He has gone away. To where, I don't know." 

Saito stepped closer to the old man, patting him on the back.

"You must let him find his own way, Yukio. He feels responsible for what happened. He'll get over it in time." 

Yukio smiled. "You're right, my friend." 

He handed Saito the keys to the castle. 

"Take care of it, Saito. I have a feeling that it will be needed in the future." 

Heart of the Dragon Ch. 01



Tatsu Island, Japan

June, 1995

The night wind blew through the trees, causing the leaves to stir and produce a soft rustling. The waxing moon shone in the ink black sky and was reflected on the surface of the still water. The moonlight was the only illumination, an ethereal beacon unveiling the secrets of the darkness and finally resting on an abandoned castle. 

The castle had been empty for years, but no one could have guessed that from a glance. It was magnificent. Surrounded on all sides by lush forests, it radiated power. The heavy iron gates at the entrance were topped with some sort of family crest, featuring a golden dragon. The eyes of the dragon were ablaze, and it spewed fire within the portrayed scene on the emblem. 

Near the castle, through another throng of trees was a graveyard. Many tombstones were there. Some of them were from many centuries past. The inscriptions on a few of the graves were so old that they were ruined by time and completely unreadable.

The winds grew stronger, and the sounds of the night creatures lessened. The frogs in the area stopped their night songs and leaped from their lilypads to return to the safety of the water. Ripples formed and they spread over the small pond, reflecting the recent condition of the sky. The moon had disappeared. New clouds shielded it from what was about to happen. 

The clouds multiplied, blanketing the sky with a sinister intent. The thunder rolled. The ripples that were already in the water from the departing frogs were joined by the ones caused by raindrops. The clouds churned, and the glow of the moon was abducted and replaced by the harsh zigzagging of lightning. 

Zap! The lightning struck a tree close to the water, and a great thud sounded with the tree's fall. Zap! A frog that wasn't as lucky as its earlier companions was struck next. 

The once quiet pond was greatly disturbed by the wind and the rain, and the greater purpose behind them. 

The clouds developed a darker tint as they edged closer to the castle. The family crypt was located behind the trees, almost completely guarded from the storm's path. 

Almost. 

The grayish-black of the storm clouds gave way to the incredible flashing within. Blinding light emerged from the cloud in the form of a lightning bolt, and made its way through the air, through the trees, to strike within the graveyard with a huge crash. 

A great burst of light exploded in the graveyard, followed by maniacal laughter.

Almost immediately after the destruction, the clouds dissipated and the moonlight returned. The storm had ended. It left as quietly as it arrived. Other than the tree and the frog, one could say that the storm never happened. 

The moon beamed even brighter than before upon the castle, and its cemetery. Especially the cemetery. Something was different. Something was wrong. 

The sound of snapping twigs resounded throughout the area as a figure stepped away from the burial ground and into the night. All of the graves had been spared by the sudden, violent storm except for one. 

The lightning bolt had entirely destroyed one of the most beautifully decorated graves on the property. Only a few bits and pieces remained of its intricate design, which had obviously been crafted with great reverence for the tomb's owner. 

The stone fragments that still existed were severely charred and blackened, but one part of a large piece was miraculously clear; the area with the epitaph for the deceased. 

"Let the Light pierce the darkest corners of the Universe."

* * *

Oahu, Hawaii

The old man cried out and sat up quickly in his bed. The early morning was quite warm, but it went unnoticed as he panted, in the throes of a cold sweat. He closed his eyes and willed himself to calm down. It did the trick, but it was slow in coming. 

He laid back on his damp sheets and thought about what he had just experienced. He went over the vivid details of the dream one by one, and his terror returned when he recalled what happened concerning the shadowy figure. 

The grave. 

"Oh God," the elderly man moaned. It wasn't a dream. It was heartbreakingly real.

He quickly sat up again, slipped on his shoes and robe, and rushed from his bedroom. In his haste, he knocked down papers and other loose objects, but he did not care. 

I have prayed against this. That THING was supposed to be gone from our lives forever. We were thought to be free from the pain and suffering that it brings. The being is back, and with it's return, almost all hope for salvation from the terror is gone. I have to get to a phone.

* * *

New York City

The sky is very beautiful and clear this afternoon, thought Keiko Nakimura as she stood out on the balcony overlooking Central Park. 

She was taking a break from her sculpting to go out and get some fresh air. She sat in a patio chair and focused her attention on the park below, letting her mind drift. Her thoughts returned to her daughter, Grace. 

28 years ago today, a miracle came into our lives. My, how fast time flies. 

Keiko was pleased at the news that Grace was going to go back to school to work on her Ph.D., but she was surprised when she learned of the method that she chose to do it. Grace, out of the blue, had made the decision to continue her studies at the University of Munich. 

Munich? What is there in Munich that could make Grace want to cross an ocean? 

Keiko asked herself the question, but she already knew the answer. 

It is because of that man, that writer. The one with the flaming red hair and the bedroom eyes. 

Yes, Keiko knew about him. It wasn't that hard to piece together, with Grace's reluctance to return to New York and to Yale. Oh, yes. His reputation as a novelist and as a man was well known in many social circles; about him being a loner and a heartbreaker concerning women. 

I wish that I knew what she was thinking, Keiko thought. 

In the beginning, when Grace first moved to New Orleans and got a job at the St. George Bookstore, Keiko believed that it would be a good exercise in independence for her. But when she continued to stay...

With a sigh, Keiko stood up and went back inside the apartment. 

"I hope he's worth it, honey," she said to the empty room. 

Meanwhile, in another part of the apartment, Hiroshi Nakimura was sitting in his study. The daily newspaper was on top of his desk, and he was glancing at the New York Stock Exchange while sipping at his coffee. He slipped off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. 

Munich. It should be a good experience for her. She'll be able to see the world and meet new people, he thought. 

Contrary to his wife's opinion, Hiroshi believed that Grace had changed for the better since her tenure in New Orleans. He also suspected that Grace's decision to move to Europe had something to do with Gabriel Knight, but he trusted his daughter's judgment. 

I'll just sit back and see what happens for now Hiroshi decided. But if he hurts her in any way, I'll rip Knight's balls off and use them in my next tennis match! 

He was interrupted from his reverie by the ringing of the telephone. Hiroshi had to stand up and rifle through a few papers before he could find the phone. He answered on the third ring. 

"Hello?" 

An elderly man's voice responded. "Son, is that you?" 

"Yeah, Dad. How are you?" 

Hiroshi was glad to hear from him, but nothing could prepare him for what his father was about to tell him. 

"Not well, Hiroshi. I need to talk to Grace. It's urgent." 

A shiver went down Hiroshi's spine. "She's not here, Dad. She moved to Europe. What's this about?" 

Yukio Nakimura took a deep breath. "Our worst nightmare has become a reality, my son."

Hiroshi suddenly felt the need to sit down. His breathing quickened, and he took a moment to find the ability to speak. 

"You mean... the spirit has...?" 

"Yes, my son. The time has come to talk to Grace." 

Hiroshi let out a sigh as he stared sightlessly at the phone. He began to feel a painful pressure behind his eyes, an ache that no aspirin would cure. 

"I agree, but how shall we tell her? We've kept her ignorant about the family's plans for her, and now that it's time..." 

"I know, Hiroshi," Yukio broke in. "But it'll be better to let her know now before IT..." 

His words trailed off, but he knew that he didn't have to finish that statement. He knew that his son understood. 

"I'll get in touch with her, Father. Don't worry." 

Keiko was still in her sculpting room, molding clay. Hiroshi entered the room with a very grim expression. Keiko looked up, and could immediately tell that something was wrong. Hiroshi walked up to Keiko's chair and kneeled down, locking eyes with her. 

"Something terrible has happened." 

At Keiko's sudden expression, he rushed to tell her that Grace was fine. 

For the time being, Hiroshi thought with bitterness. 

"What's wrong?" Keiko held her breath, waiting for the answer. 

Hiroshi's voice trembled when he finally uttered the words. 

"The spirit has returned to torment the family." 

Keiko stilled her hands, causing the clay to fall to the floor in a heap. She didn't care. She started to sob, her entire body trembling in fear. "Oh, my God. Grace. No, please no..." 

Hiroshi stood up, bringing Keiko with him. He hugged her tight, not caring that she was covered with clay. They stood together, holding each other for a long, long time.

* * *

Schloss Ritter

Rittersberg, Germany

Gerde Hull performed her normal evening routine at Schloss Ritter; washing the dishes, going into town to collect the mail, and talking for a while with Werner Huber, the local gastof owner and her uncle. 

When Gerde returned to the castle, she fixed herself something to eat and settled down at her desk to get some reading done. She read a bit, and then she looked around, taking in her surroundings. It was about six in the evening, and the only sound in the large hall was the crackling of the fire in the fireplace. 

Gerde sighed. Another night alone at the castle. 

Gabriel and Grace had left a while before to go to a party that Ubergrau was throwing to celebrate the release of the new Blake Backlash novel, "The Lone Wolf." 

They had invited Gerde to join them, but she politely turned them down, saying that she needed to finish some work at the castle. That was only part of the reason. It was that time again; the anniversary of Wolfgang's passing was near, and she was feeling down. 

God, how I miss him. 

Besides, she didn't think that it would have helped things if she had taken them up on their offer. She would have felt like a third wheel if she had tagged along with the lovebirds. 

She jumped when the phone rang, and she briefly laughed at herself for reacting that way. Gerde picked up the receiver. 

"Schloss Ritter, may I help you?" 

The voice on the other end was feminine, strong, and very upset. 

"Yes. Is Grace there, please?" 

"I'm sorry. You've just missed her. May I take a message?" 

Gerde searched the desktop for a pad of paper and a pen as she heard a heavy exhalation of air come from the caller. 

"Um, yes. Could you please tell Grace that her mother called, and that it's urgent?" 

Gerde sensed a feeling of desperation coming from Mrs. Nakimura, and she rushed to comfort her. "Yes, of course I will. Don't worry. She'll get the message." 

"Thank you very much," the other woman sighed. 

"Good-bye, Mrs. Nakimura." 

"Good-bye," said the worried mother. 

With a ball of fear forming in pit of her stomach, Gerde returned the phone to its cradle. 

"Something's wrong," she said aloud, hearing her voice echo in the huge hall of the castle. "Something's very, very wrong."



Heart of the Dragon Ch. 02



Munich, Germany

June 21, 1995

Gabriel Knight smiled as he led Grace Nakimura to the building reserved for the party. He had a few surprises in store for her this night. This was going to be a celebration to remember. 

First, the party was to celebrate the release of "The Lone Wolf," the novel "loosely" based on their last case. Gabriel told his publisher to give Gracie a co-writing credit without her knowledge. 

Surprise number one, Gabriel thought, grinning. It was only fitting with the non-stop assistance and support that she gave him since the beginning. He really appreciated it, and her. 

Also, the party was a kind of double celebration; it was also a birthday party for Gracie. He deliberately didn't mention it the whole day, and he could tell that she was a bit put out with him for "forgetting". He felt awful about tricking her, but he consoled himself with the thought of how she'll react to the surprise party. He smiled again. 

Surprise number two. The third surprise can wait until later, Gabriel decided. When we're alone. 

It was at that moment that Grace looked up at him and smirked. 

"What are you smiling at, Knight? Something naughty, no doubt." 

Gabriel played along, giving her an exaggerated once over and wiggling his eyebrows. 

"What do YOU think?" 

Grace laughed and squeezed his arm tighter. 

"I think that we should hurry and get to this party. It'll keep me from throwing myself at you." She added a mock leer of her own to this statement. 

They both giggled and made their way toward the huge double doors at the building's front. They were soon close enough to hear the party guests already in progress. 

Before they entered, Gabriel surprised Grace by turning her around and giving her a lengthy kiss which left her breathless. He raised his head, and her lips tingled. 

"What was that for?" 

Gabriel continued to hold her close, his eyes warm. 

"Since when do I have to have a reason?" 

She smiled as she looked up into his face, and she had to remind herself to breathe. 

"Well, you don't. Even though I was startled when you did it out of the blue like that, I didn't mind a bit. Promise me that you'll do that more often, and never when I'm expecting it." 

Smiling with satisfaction, Gabriel held out his arm for her to take. 

"Shall we continue to our destination, my lady?" 

She returned his grin with one of her own, and took his arm.

"Lead the way, my Knight."

The double doors opened, and they got their first view of the party. The ballroom was lovely, decorated with golden balloons, golden streams, and other golden fixtures. 

The balloons were all over the place; tied to fixtures on the walls, floating about on the ceiling, and stuffed inside of nets to be released later. A very beautiful swan ice sculpture was on one side of the room on a table, and a second ice sculpture depicting the scene on the Ritter talisman, the lion and the dragon in combat, was on another table. 

Topping it all off, a very large replica of the "Backlash" talisman was suspended in the center of the room, over a table arranged with several copies of the new book, "The Lone Wolf," by Gabriel Knight and Grace Nakimura. 

Gabriel looked down at Grace, very pleased with her reaction. Grace was taking everything in with an open look of wonder and excitement. 

In the distance, they heard a woman shout, "There they are!" 

Up until then, the people weren't aware that they had arrived; they had entered so quietly. The party guests turned, and Gabriel and Grace were greeted with earth-shattering applause. The celebrated authors made their way through the crowd, murmuring thank yous and greetings. Finally they came face-to-face with Ubergrau. 

"Ah, our wonderful guests of honor are here at last," beamed the young attorney. 

Gabriel shook hands with Ubergrau, glancing again at the decorations. 

"You've got a great setup here, Harry. This is gonna be one hell of a party." 

Ubergrau brightened even more with the compliment. 

"I hope so. You're not paying me for nothing, you know." 

Gabriel introduced Grace to Ubergrau. 

"Let me present my partner and muse. Harry, Gracie. Gracie, this is Harry Ubergrau." 

Harry took Grace's hand and clasped it firmly. 

"So glad to finally meet you. You can't believe how much Gabriel talks about you..." 

Gabriel flushed. "Come on, Harry..." 

Grace smiled. "It's great to meet you too, Harry. You know, without you, we wouldn't have been able to write 'The Lone Wolf.'" 

Ubergrau, very pleased with this statement, blushed and grinned. He then excused himself, and Gabriel whispered in her ear. 

"There's that Gracie charm that I love." 

She shivered at the feel of his warm breath on her ear.

"More than the charm, I hope." 

He kissed her hand. "The whole package, Gracie. The whole package."

The rest of the evening was a blur of book signings, introductions, and celebrations. Grace, as hoped, was very pleased with the band suddenly playing "Happy Birthday" and a huge cake being wheeled out for her. The cake's design was, of course, the Ritter talisman. The ballroom floor was later cleared, and dancing was on the agenda for the rest of the night. 

In the middle of a slow dance, Gabriel whispered for Grace to look up, and she was rewarded with the sight of the previously restrained balloons being set free. She watched them float up, one by one, toward the glorious domed ceiling. Her gaze returned to Gabriel, who was looking at her with another one of those trademark lopsided grins. 

"You know what?" 

Gabriel's eyes glistened in the light as he watched her. "What?" 

Grace moved her arms to wrap them around his neck. 

"This was the sweetest thing that you could have done for me tonight." 

Gabriel's lips curved at the thought of his next surprise, and it was all he could do not to shout out his joy. 

"It won't be the last one, darlin'. Night's not over yet." 

He didn't say anything at her puzzled look. He just grinned again. 

* * *

Somewhere between Munich and Rittersberg

June 22, 1995

They had taken their leave from the party sometime after midnight, and they were making their way back to Schloss Ritter. They were talking about the events of the evening as they traveled through the stormy countryside in Gabriel's new Mercedes Benz. 

"Gabriel? What did you think of Gerde passing on tonight's party?" 

"Well, I'm sure that she had her reasons to stay at home. You know, to answer the phone and stuff." 

He was trying to loosen the bow tie on his tuxedo and drive at the same time. Grace helped him so he could concentrate on the deserted road. She frowned slightly, worried about her friend's well-being. 

"She could have taken a break for one night, at least. She's been working too hard." 

Gabriel cleared his throat, his eyes focused on his task. "Perhaps she's acting this way because the anniversary is this week. It's been two years since Wolfgang died. She probably thinks that if she throws herself into her work, then it won't hurt as much." 

Grace was stunned, and her frown vanished. 

"Oh, God. I had completely forgotten. Poor Gerde." 

Gabriel glanced at her, and he felt a surge of tenderness at the sight of her face. 

"I'll talk to her when we get back. Give her some time off." 

Grace shifted in her seat so she could move closer to Gabriel and rest her head on his shoulder. "That sounds like a good idea." 

They fell silent, and . After a few more minutes, Grace spoke again. "Hey, I've been thinking about all those symbols at the party. You know, the ones of the talisman." 

Gabriel said before he glanced down at her shiny, raven hair against his shoulder. 

"What about them?" 

She toyed with the end of his opened bow-tie. 

"We know that the Ritters are represented by the Lion, right?" 

"Yeah," Gabriel responded, waiting for her to continue. 

"Have you ever wondered about whom the Dragon represents?" 

Gabriel frowned slightly, trying to recall. "No, can't say that I have. Why?" 

A shiver went down Grace's spine. "I was just wondering." 

Gabriel sensed that something was going on, but he wasn't sure what. 

"Seriously, what made you think of that?" 

Grace looked up at him with confused eyes. 

"I honestly don't know. I've been thinking about this on and off all day, and seeing all those talisman symbols at the party brought it all to the surface." 

They looked into each other's eyes for a long moment before Gabriel broke the silence.

"I know one thing. No matter who the Dragon is, you are my partner. I love you, and I trust you with my life." 

After taking a quick glance at the road, he leaned down to kiss her. She made him happy for the first time in what seemed like forever, and he tried to communicate his feelings to her through the kiss. Grace must have gotten the message; after his lips left hers, she sighed with satisfaction and her head returned to his shoulder. 

"I can't ask for anything more, then." 

Silence fell once again. It was a comfortable silence, like a warm blanket. As the car continued to weave through the German countryside, Gabriel allowed his mind to drift. He reflected with great satisfaction on the success of the party and the evening as a whole. 

Gabriel smiled to himself. The surprises that he had planned for Grace pleased her greatly and then some, which left him wondering how she'd take the third and final plan that he had in store for her. 

His face sobered as his thoughts turned serious, his reflections involving emotions that ran deep down to the core of his being. It's been a long, hard battle, he thought. 

* * *

Only two years before, he considered love to be a foreign emotion, one that trapped people into becoming complete fools. He had led a very lonely existence, content with numerous one-night stands with women whose names he usually forgot by the next morning. Or so he told himself. 

He had lived each day of his life as if it was the last, making no real plans for the future, because he'd convinced himself that he did not have one. He had lived his life in fear that if something were to happen to him, no one would miss him. In a way, that assumption was ridiculous. Back then he had his Gran and Mosely, but that wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. 

He had resigned himself to the idea that there was no one who would truly care for him as he was, to see past the many layers that made up the Gabriel Knight that he showed to the outside world and find the genuine article, the heart and soul of him. 

Like an answer to an unspoken prayer, Gracie came into his life. She was such a little thing, but she took him by surprise when she demonstrated her strength and her spirit. He was charmed by her from the beginning. 

Throughout his first case with the Voodoo Murders, he had relied on her quick wit and sound judgment. Without her, he knew that he could have been killed on several occasions. And she was very helpful to him while he was struggling to come to terms with what happened to Malia, his first love. Her death had left a gaping hole where his heart had been, and he'd shut down completely.

After the Voodoo Murders case, he left to establish his claim to his birthright, Schloss Ritter, and along with it the lifestyle of a Shadow Hunter. He shut himself away in his castle, brooding over the death of Malia, the situation that he had found himself in.

He had thought about Grace a lot, as well. He didn't understand at the time why the business with his family was so important to her. He only concentrated on feeling sorry for himself, convincing himself that he was incapable of falling in love again. 

Then, during the Black Wolf case, he was angry and shocked after learning that Gracie had come to Germany to help him. He used every trick that he could think of to mislead and divert her, deliberately keeping her away from him. He wanted her to stay at the castle for her own safety, or so he had convinced himself. He had wanted her to be safe, but he had also wanted to fight the emotions that she stirred up in him. 

When he was bitten by Von Zell and brought back to Rittersberg, he tried his damnedest to keep himself emotionally withdrawn when he realized how much she had to care about him to help him during that very difficult time. How strong she was, his Gracie. She had stuck by him, helping him without complaint. 

Especially when the tainted blood worked its way into his mind, causing him to treat her so unfairly. His memories of what he had said to her in the Opera House basement made him want to retch. He didn't blame her when she announced her plans to go back to school after the Von Glower case was over. He had let her go, knowing that it would rip his heart out to do so. 

The summer turned into autumn, and soon the leaves fell from the trees and the land was covered with winter snow. Gabriel went back to his faithful typewriter to crank out another novel, but his heart wasn't in it. After she left, it wasn't in anything. It took those many months for him to realize that his heart was with Gracie. 

Love had conquered him a second time. 

The love that he felt for Grace was as powerful as a tempestuous storm. It was pure, deep, and all consuming. It had developed so gradually that it first came as a shock, but it quickly melted into recognition; he knew all along how he felt about her. 

He knew that there would always be a special place in his heart for Malia, but she was dead. He was tired of the dead. He needed the living; he needed Grace. 

He set off for New York on the next plane. He drove non-stop from New York to New Haven, and frantically searched the grounds of Yale. He found her, sitting on a bench, sketching. He knew that she was shocked by his presence there, but she recovered quickly. 

Gabriel knew that he had to be careful, or risk losing her forever. He opened the emotional floodgates, and he told her about his hopes, his fears, and he confessed his love for her. He apologized for all the hell that he had put her through back in Germany, and Grace was silent from shock, sorting through all that he had told her. His heart had sunk when she didn't respond, and he started to walk away, convinced that it was too late for them. 

It's over, he thought. I lost my chance, and I have no one to blame but myself. 

He had left the snowy courtyard when he suddenly heard someone shouting behind him. He turned around, and he saw Grace, standing a few yards behind him. 

"What did you say?" 

Grace smiled and walked the remaining distance between them.

"I said, 'come back, you asshole.'" 

With that, they both laughed until she silenced him with a kiss. They stood there holding each other until Grace spoke again, pulling him closer. 

"Now, then... How does Rittersberg look during Christmastime?"

* * *

The sudden sound of a thunderclap brought Gabriel back to the present. That day at Yale had been six months before, and they'd been an item ever since. 

I've never felt this strongly for any woman before Grace, Gabriel thought. I love her, and I'll keep loving her until my last breath. If she'll have me for that long. 

He glanced at Grace, and he saw that she was asleep. He unconsciously felt the pocket of his tuxedo jacket, and was rewarded with the bulge of the square box within. 

As soon as we get home, he kept thinking. As soon as we get home. 

* * *

Schloss Ritter

Rittersberg, Germany

The rumbles of thunder echoed through the desolate halls of Schloss Ritter. Gerde was pacing back and forth in the main hall, checking the antique grandfather clock with each pass. 

It's 2:00 in the morning, and they still haven't returned. Where the hell are they? 

She had been on edge since the phone call from Grace's mother earlier in the evening. From what Grace had told her about her mother, Gerde pictured Keiko Nakimura as a very stable personality. The earlier phone call contradicted her impression of her. It seemed like Mrs. Nakimura was very close to the edge of panic. 

The feeling of impending doom that had suddenly closed around Gerde after the phone call wouldn't go away. Gerde hadn't felt this way since right before Wolfgang died. When she'd learned that he was on his way to Africa, deep down she knew he would not return alive. 

She couldn't take it anymore. Gerde raced towards the castle's heavy front doors, grabbing her raincoat on the way out. She knew where to go for guidance.

At the church, she prayed as if her own life hung in the balance. She prayed that her feelings concerning Grace and her family were wrong, that nothing would happen to endanger their lives and those of others. 

Before she left, she visited Wolfgang's tomb and sobbed. She spoke aloud to the grave, which was often her custom. She asked him for advice, for guidance. No answer.

When she felt that she could do no more, she returned to the castle. She saw that the Mercedes was back in the driveway. Gabriel and Grace had returned. She entered just in time to catch Gabriel, with a sleeping Grace in his arms, about to climb the stairs. 

She gently tapped Gabriel on the shoulder. "Gabriel. I have to talk to you. It's important." 

Gabriel turned to glance at her. "Are you sure it can't wait?" 

"I'm positive. Come on." 

Gabriel gently placed the still sleeping Grace on a nearby couch and went to follow Gerde into another room. "Okay. What's up?" 

Gerde took a deep breath. "Earlier this evening, right after the two of you left, Mrs. Nakimura called asking for Grace. I told her that she had just missed Grace and it sounded like she was about to panic. She tried to act calm, but her voice betrayed her. It was as if it was a life and death situation." 

Gabriel had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. "What else, Gerde?" 

"I feel that this is very serious, Gabriel. I can't explain it, but my instincts never lie to me. It is truly a matter of life and death."

Gabriel let out a long sigh. Gerde was right. She was able to sense things that he was only beginning to learn about; instincts and premonitions. He trusted her. 

He turned around and looked at Grace, still sleeping where he had left her. He felt the need to protect her from whatever this serious situation was, but he suspected that if he were to keep it from her, it would end up hurting her more than he could ever imagine. He sighed again. He walked over to the couch and gently shook her awake. 

"Gracie. Gracie, we're home." 

Grace slowly came awake, blinking. "Hmm? Oh. How long have we been back?" 

"Only a few minutes." Gabriel cleared his throat, and Grace looked up at him. 

"Your mom called right after we left. She said that it was urgent." 

Grace frowned. She sincerely hoped that this wouldn't involve her mom giving her grief because of her decision to move to Germany. "Okay. I'll call."

A moment later, she held the phone against her ear with a furrowed brow. 

What's taking them so long? 

She didn't understand why Gabriel and Gerde were hovering around nearby while she was making the call, but she didn't mind because all she was concerned with at the moment was getting her parents on the phone and finding out what they wanted. 

After what seemed like an eternity, the phone on the other end picked up. "Hello?" 

Mom sounds like she's been crying, Grace thought. 

She cleared her throat. "Yeah, Mom. It's me. Is everything okay?" 

No words on the other end. Only heavy breathing. 

"Mom?" 

More crying, and then the sudden knock of the receiver being put down somewhere. An instant later, she heard her father's voice on the line. 





Heart of the Dragon Ch. 02



"Hi, Grace. Your mother had to get off of the phone. She had to lie down." 

"Is she okay, Dad?" 

She heard a soft exhalation on the other end of the line. 

"She'll be fine. I have to tell you something. It's really important, are you sitting down?" 

The earlier shiver returned to Grace. "It's that bad?" 

"I'm afraid so," her father replied.

She sat down, trying to prepare herself for what she was about to hear. She took a few deep breaths, and she asked, "What's wrong?" 

Hiroshi was thinking his words over carefully, figuring how much he wanted to tell her over the phone. God, how he had wished it had not come to this. Suddenly, he made his decision. 

"We're having a family crisis, Grace. It's critical. I need you to go to Oahu and see your Grandfather. He'll tell you the rest." 

Grace was very confused. "What's wrong? What's going on?" 

Hiroshi tried to calm her down. "I really cannot tell you more than what I've already told you. Trust me. Please go to Oahu. You'll find out for yourself what's going on." 

Grace calmed down, and Gabriel came over to sit next to her. "All right, Dad. I'll do what you ask. I was just confused, with Mom crying and everything. Is Grandpa okay?" 

"He's fine. He just wants to see you." 

Grace was still wondering what was going on, but she trusted her father. 

"I'll leave first thing in the morning." 

"Call me as soon as you get there, my daughter. I love you." 

"I love you too, Dad. Bye." 

Grace hung up the phone, and looked at Gabriel, who was waiting for her to fill him in. She told him everything, and Gabriel calmly replied, "When do we leave?" 

Grace just gave him a relieved smile, confident that no matter what dangers lurked on the horizon, she wouldn't be facing them alone. 



Heart of the Dragon Ch. 03



Tatsu Island

The gentle ocean waves made their way ashore, stroking across the beach like a lover's caress and washing away the recently made footsteps from the sand. The cries of the seagulls echoed through the air, and several of them landed on the beach to feast upon an unfortunate fish that had been washed ashore by the tide. One by one, the birds used their hooked beaks and sharp talons to rip it to shreds. The birds, in their ecstasy, did not notice the shadowy figure of a man that was watching them. 

He had been there all along, observing. He continued watching the seagulls as they ravenously devoured their meal. 

Such savagery, he thought. It is brutal, yet so poetic, so...beautiful. How delicious it is to feel the life drain from your prey; to feel their surrender before they die. How satisfying. It's been too long, but soon my wait will be over. 

The figure turned away from the content birds and faced the ocean, repeating the words in his head like a mantra: She's so close. She's so close. I'll have my chance again. The figure threw his head back and his psychotic laughter revertebrated along the deserted beach. The frightened birds fled, and the figure melted into the shadows. 

Let the games begin. 

* * *

Oahu, Hawaii

June 22, 1995

It was a balmy early evening when Grace and Gabriel emerged from the plane. With the combination of the long trip and the time zone changes, they were exhausted. They had decided to leave immediately instead of waiting until morning. They changed their clothes, and they left Gerde at the castle, promising to call when they arrived. The trip was filled with delays for their connecting flights, loud children, and occasional turbulence. Grace hadn't noticed. She had been in deep thought since they'd left Munich. After they collected their luggage from the baggage claim, they sat down on a bench near some pay phones. 

"Should we call Gerde now?" Gabriel asked. 

Grace was looking at the floor, in another world. 

"Gracie?" 

Grace looked up. "Hmm? Oh! Yeah, we should." 

Gabriel looked at her for a few seconds. "Are you all right, Gracie? You haven't been yourself since you were on the phone with your father." 

Grace took one of his hands and squeezed it. "No, I haven't. I don't know what's going on here. I don't know how to feel about all this secrecy. I called my parents to find out what they wanted, my mom had some kind of fit, my dad was very brief about what's wrong and told me to come to visit my grandfather here in Oahu, and my father also said that this was going to affect the whole family? That can't be good." 

Grace let go of Gabriel's hand and covered her face with her hands. She let out a sigh. Gabriel put an arm around her and whispered, "Tell you what. Whatever this situation turns out to be, we'll get through it together. Okay?" 

He pulled her hands off of her face and looked into her eyes. "Okay, darlin'?" 

Grace smiled. "Okay." 

Gabriel grinned and kissed her. "Good. I'm going to call Gerde and let her know that we're here, and then we'll get a cab. I'll be back as soon as I can." With that, Gabriel got up and strode over to the pay phones. 

Grace watched him go, then she started looking in her purse for a map of the area she had thoughtfully placed in there before they left Germany. It had been a while since she had been in Oahu last. Grace had always been close with her grandfather, but she hadn't been to visit him as much as she should have. 

She continued looking through her purse and its compartments. "Damn. Where the hell is it?" She didn't see the stranger nearby, staring at her with narrowed eyes. 

Meanwhile, Gabriel was at a pay phone, calling Schloss Ritter. Gerde answered the phone. 

"Schloss Ritter, may I help you?" 

"Yeah, Gerde. It's Gabriel. We're in Oahu." 

"How was your trip, Gabriel?" 

Gabriel let out a sigh. "It was long and uncomfortable as hell, but it's over, thank God." 

Gabriel glanced over where Grace was sitting, and he saw that she was looking for something in her purse. He kept his gaze on her, while still on the phone with Gerde. 

Gerde asked, "How's Grace?" 

"She was quiet through most of the trip, thinking about that phone call. She'll be fine. Don't worry." 

Gabriel noticed a movement from the corner of his eye. His gaze had shifted toward the phone, but it returned abruptly to Grace. She hadn't moved. She had given up on her purse, and she was fishing a map from her carry-on. For the first time, Gabriel noticed a man that was standing near Grace, staring at her. A strange feeling washed over him. 

Of course, Gabriel thought, I should be used to this. Gracie is a beautiful woman, but something is... different about that man's stare. Gabriel didn't like it, not one bit. 

He realized after a few minutes that Gerde had been talking. "I'm sorry, Gerde. What did you say?" 

Gerde answered with, "I said that I hope that this crisis blows over quickly. That's all." 

"I hope so too." 

It was then that Gabriel noticed that the stranger was making his way towards Grace. Gabriel looked at Grace again. She suspected nothing. He had to get over there. 

"Gerde, I've got to go. We'll call again later." Gabriel hung up the phone and started to hurry back to where he'd left Grace. 

Grace had succeeded in finding the map. It wasn't in her purse, but it was in her carry-on.

I knew that I had put it somewhere. Now, time to look at it and find Grandpa's area... there it is. 

A cold hand on her shoulder made her jump. "What the...?" 

Grace turned around to find a strange man behind her, and she let out a gasp. She jerked away from the hand and stood up, dropping her map. She moved so the bench was between her and the stranger. 

Surely he wouldn't try anything here with all these people around. Grace thought. Would he? 

She looked at the man with a frown. "Do I know you?" 

The man locked eyes with her. "Don't you recognize me, Grace? You probably wouldn't. It's been so long since you were here last." 

Grace's frown disappeared as recognition finally set in. "Uncle Takeo?" 

Gabriel approached the scene, adrenaline pumping through him. He saw the stranger come closer and closer to Grace, even going as far as touching her. He also saw Grace moving away from the man when he had made his presence known. What the hell does this bastard want? I'm going to damn well find out, Gabriel thought. He grabbed the stranger and raised him until his feet dangled off of the ground. 

"All right, God damn it. I'll ask you two questions: Who the hell are you, and what the FUCK are you doing bothering my woman? Answer me!" 

Grace was in shock from seeing Uncle Takeo again, but she recovered when she saw Gabriel pick him up and shake him. "Gabriel! It's okay. He's my uncle!" 

Gabriel looked at Grace, who nodded her head, and he lowered the middle-aged man down and patted his back. "I'm very sorry, sir. This is the introduction from hell." 

"I'll say," Takeo Nakimura managed to choke out. He leaned over the bench and recovered his breath. When he was back to normal, he calmly said to Grace, "I was sent here by your grandfather to pick you up. He didn't want you to worry about getting a cab in the evening rush." 

Grace managed to clear her throat, which was curiously tight. "Thank you. That's very nice. We're ready to go over there now." They picked up the map and the bags, and Takeo led the way out of the airport to the parking lot, where a jeep was waiting for them. 

"It'll be a while between Honolulu and the house on Kaneohe Bay, so we can chat on the way over." 

The bags were loaded, the key was turned, and they were off. The sun was setting, and it bathed everything in a warm, red glow. The road they were traveling on gave them an awe-inspiring view of the ocean. 

Grace sighed at the sight. "I almost forgot how beautiful it was here."

Gabriel nodded in agreement, his gaze switching from the surroundings to Takeo.

"Yeah, it's great out here. I wasn't expecting Hawaii to be THIS beautiful, Mr. Nakimura," 

The middle-aged man turned slightly, casting a look in Gabriel's direction. 

"Please, call me Takeo. Tell me about yourself, Mr. Knight." 

Gabriel watched Takeo turn his attention back to the road. 

"Oh, I write mystery novels. That's about it. And please call me Gabriel." 

Takeo's smile was slightly visible from behind as he continued to drive. "Okay, Gabriel. And I believe that you are being modest. I've read your books, and they are quite fascinating." 

Gabriel grinned, "Well, thank you very much." 

The jeep fell silent for a while. A few moments passed when Grace spoke up. 

"Uncle Takeo, can you let us know what's been going on?" 

Takeo took a lengthy look at her, as if weighing the pros and cons. "Well, I'm not sure if I should. I promised your grandfather that I would leave all of the explaining to him." 

Grace's curiosity was really piqued by this point. "Come on, Uncle Takeo. Tell me a small bit." 

Takeo glanced at Gabriel before his gaze returned to the road. "Is it safe? No offense, Gabriel." 

"None taken," Gabriel replied. "Don't worry. Your secrets are safe with me."

Still facing forward, Takeo let out a sigh. His eyes remained on the road. 

"I'll tell you a few details. This situation partly involves you and your place in the family." 

A pause followed while Grace slowly digested this information. "Go on, Uncle Takeo." 

"Your role in this family has been planned since before you were born. Your role as a protector and a defender of the family." 

Grace shrugged her shoulders. "My role? Protect and defend against what?" 

Takeo turned and looked over at Grace. His eyes locked with hers. "Evil." 

Grace's jaw dropped, and she immediately turned around to look at Gabriel, who was equally shocked at the revelation. The silence was so thick, it could've been cut by a knife. 

Grace was stunned. A defender against evil? Me? 

She thought back to when she first took up with Gabriel, when he was finding out about the Shadow Hunters. She also remembered her research at Schloss Ritter, when she had read about other Defenders of Light. My family?

She recalled her excitement and envy when she first arrived in Rittersberg. All that history surrounding one family, all that power. She had envied Gabriel's destiny then, but now, when the same thing could be said about herself... she was scared. 

In a flash, she remembered the events that took place on the night of Von Glower's death. The flames wrapping around his form in the furnace, the stench of burning flesh. A shudder ripped through Grace. That was definitely a time when Grace did not envy Gabriel's role as a soldier of God. 

Grace wrapped her arms tightly around herself. Am I going to have to go through something like that, only with myself as the Hunter? My God, would I be able to bear it? 

She turned around in her seat, watching as the sun continued to disappear into the ocean. 

Grace found herself trying to remember the old family castle. Her parents had taken her to the United States when she was three years old, and no matter how hard she had tried in the years afterwards, she couldn't remember anything about the Nakimura castle, Tatsu Island, or anything else in the few weeks prior to her life in America in any form other than bits and pieces. It was like trying to watch a movie with some of its critical scenes missing. It was very frustrating to her, knowing that part of her past was gone from her memory. It was an emptiness that she had felt her entire life. She had always sensed that something significant must have happened, but she had no idea what it was. 

Now that the big secret was out, Grace wondered at the lengths taken by her parents to keep her ignorant. Part of her felt betrayed by them; that they knew about this and failed to tell her. But deep down she knew her parents must have had a good reason to stay silent about her role in the family. Grace took a deep breath and closed her eyes. 

If I had known about this sooner... who knows how I would have reacted. I'm not the same Grace that I was before. I am no longer the skeptical know-it-all. I've seen and experienced too much over the last two years to pretend to not be affected by all this. 

Grace opened her eyes and saw the Nakimura house looming in the distance. 

I'll hear what Grandfather has to say and I'll know what to do. 

Grace was brought out of her reverie by the touch of Gabriel's hand on her arm. 

"Are you okay, Gracie?" 

Grace smiled. "Yeah. I'm fine." 

Gabriel grinned back at her before glancing at Takeo, who had his attention completely on the road. Looks like the road's getting a bit TOO much attention, I'd say. A burning sensation began in the pit of his stomach as the eerie feeling from the airport returned. 

His eyes narrowed as he continued to watch the middle-aged man. There's something about him that I can't quite put my finger on, but it's there. "Takeo? Is that the house?" 

Gabriel had to repeat the question before the older man nodded jerkily. "Sorry. I guess I'm a bit preoccupied," Takeo blurted out before the path to the house became visible. 

Grace placed her hand on her uncle's arm. 

"It's okay, Uncle Takeo. It seems that we all have a lot to think about right now." 

The last of the sun disappeared as they approached the house. The house was magnificent. Surrounded by a garden of exotic flowers and stone-lined pools with an abundance of tiny fish, the house was built in the traditional Japanese style, complete with paths leading through the garden to the different areas of the house, and authentic sliding paper and wood doors. Lanterns led the way to the front porch, where an elderly man was waiting for them. 

Grace, Gabriel, and Takeo unloaded the jeep and walked up the stone path towards the house. She looked around at the wonders of the garden. "God, how I've missed this place." 

Takeo responded. "The house has missed you, as well." 

Grace turned and smiled at him, and Takeo grinned back briefly before his expression became strangely blank. Grace continued walking towards the house with a puzzled expression and Gabriel, noticing the peculiar exchange, made a mental note to keep an eye on Takeo. 

He's starting to creep me out, and Gracie isn't that unaffected either. 

Grace was the first to see the old man in the shadows near the front door. 

She put down her luggage and she raced towards him. "Grandfather!" 

The old man stepped from the shadows into the light, and Gabriel got his first look at Yukio Nakimura. He was a very powerful looking man, with an air of immense wisdom. His long white hair was secured with a long black ribbon, but some tendrils had escaped to frame a face that exuded great strength and intelligence. His eyes were so brown that they were almost black, and they seemed to have the ability to draw a person in completely, to captivate and mesmerize. 

He watched as Grace and her grandfather embraced. Now I know where Gracie got her eyes.

They parted and they both went down the front stairs into the garden. Grace looked back and forth between her grandfather and Gabriel as she made the introductions. 

"Grandfather, this is Gabriel Knight. Gabriel, this is my grandfather, Yukio Nakimura." 

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Nakimura. You have a very lovely house here, " Gabriel said as he shook the older man's hand. Yukio's eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement.

"Thank you very much. I hope that you'll find your time here pleasant, Mr. Knight." 

Yukio looked over Gabriel's shoulder at Takeo, who was watching the three of them with an unreadable expression. Yukio cleared his throat and Takeo shook his head and blinked as if waking up from a deep sleep. 

"Takeo? Would you please bring their bags in while I'm showing them around the house?" 

Takeo bent over to pick up the bags after muttering, "Sure. No problem, Father." 

The old man led his guests into the house, leaving Takeo behind in the garden. 

The large entry hall was filled with many family photos, old portraits, and mirrors. The library was filled with many volumes of the classics in Latin, English, and Japanese. They continued to tour the many rooms of the house, seeing the art studio, the game room, and the dojo. They made it as far as the kitchen before Grace decided she couldn't take any more of the suspense. She brought them all to a halt.

"Grandfather, what's the deal? I'm sorry to disrespect you, but could we please talk about what's going on instead of touring the house like nothing's wrong?" 

Yukio sighed deeply. "You're right. I don't know why I keep stalling when it I know it will only delay the inevitable. Let me show you both to your rooms, and we'll talk about it all you want over dinner." 

Without another word, Yukio led Grace and Gabriel up the stairs towards a set of sliding doors. The old man slid them open to reveal a very lovely room with a large canopied bed. Grace's bags were already placed on the bed. 

"It's beautiful, Grandfather," Grace said. 

"It's your old room, my dear." 

Yukio glanced at Gabriel, who was taking in the surroundings, especially the bed. 

"Gabriel, your room is there." Yukio pointed to a door that led to a connecting room. 

Gabriel grinned and glanced at Grace, who was watching both men with amusement. 

"Dinner will be ready in a little while, so you two can rest and unpack. And don't worry, all of your questions will be answered to the best of my ability. I'll let you know when it's ready." With that, Yukio left the room. As soon as the door closed, Grace let out a sigh. 

"Gabriel, do you think I was too hard on him?" 

Gabriel cleared the bed of the luggage and sat her down. 

"No. You wanted to know exactly what the emergency was. We found it out from Takeo already, but there's nothing wrong with a second voice in the matter." 

Grace shook her head. "I guess, but I'm starting to have a weird feeling about this whole thing. Is that all there is to it, this big secret? Maybe it's so big to them because they think that I haven't been exposed to this sort of "Defender of Light" thing. Maybe they think I'd faint or go into hysterics at the revelation." 

He cleared his throat. "So since you've been with me while I've had my trials, you think that this is all a piece of cake?" 

"No, that did not cross my mind at all," Grace was quick to point out. "I was just thinking that maybe Takeo didn't tell us the whole story. He was reluctant even when he told us that little bit of info. I was thinking about that phone call from my parents, also. My parents have always been strong people, Gabriel. Good people that anyone could depend on. That phone call was the first time that I've ever heard fear in their voices. My mom crying in the background, and my father..." 

Grace let out another sigh. "I'm just saying that I think that there's something else, something really bad going down. I don't know what it is yet, but it damn sure isn't what we've been told so far." 

He sat down on the bed next to her. "I've been having the same thoughts. I've also been picking up some strange vibes from your uncle. There's just something about him that throws me." 

She placed her hand on top of his. "I know. I've felt it, too. He's acting really weird. I don't think that I've ever seen him that way before. He has always been a bit withdrawn, but never to that extent." 

Grace fell back on the bed, pulling Gabriel down with her. Her smile was seductive.

"I don't really want to talk about Uncle Takeo right now; let's forget about him and everything for a while." 




Heart of the Dragon Ch. 03



Gabriel's eyebrows shot up at the suggestion. 

"What's going to happen for that while, exactly?" 

Grace traced his sensual lips with her fingertips. "You're going to kiss me for that while." 

He grinned. "How can I resist such a demand?" 

"You can't," she muttered in the last second before his lips met hers. 

* * *

On the other side of the Nakimura property, far away from the house, was a very modest cabin. It was only large enough for one person, and its occupant made his way back to his humble abode. Takeo entered the cabin and sank down onto his cot in the bedroom area of the one-room cabin with a weary sigh. 

She has returned, Takeo thought as he quietly listened to the sound of chirping crickets and the nearby ocean. He leaned back onto the cot and remembered Grace as a small child. The image of her was branded into his memory. 

She was so innocent, so pure. Such a sweet child, full of joy. She remembers nothing of what happened, for that she is the luckiest of us all.

He stared at the ceiling, remembering a time when the family was not plagued by its current troubles. His eyes slowly grew too heavy to remain open, and he found himself drifting towards another place...

* * * 

He opened his eyes and was almost blinded by sunlight. He threw his arm up to shield his eyes, and he took deep breaths of the clean, crisp air. As soon as his eyes became adjusted to the light, he looked around and was shocked to find himself in the middle of a field of wildflowers. A warm breeze passed overhead, and Takeo watched as some of the flowers' petals began to break free and float towards a gathering of trees. Takeo rose from his grassy spot and was drawn to the path that the flower petals had taken. 

As he neared the forest, Takeo noticed a flash of red light from among the trees. He continued walking, and he followed a narrow pathway that weaved its way between the trees. 

I know this place. Tatsu. It's been so long since I've seen this. 

He felt the lump forming in his throat, and he turned away to look upon the ground, fighting to control his emotions. He was startled when he heard a twig snap nearby. He thought that he had been alone in the forest. His eyes darted around the multitude of trees, searching for signs of another person. There were none. Takeo continued to tour the forest, and he began to feel a peculiar tingling on the back of his neck. Nervously, Takeo pushed on.

Many long moments had passed when Takeo finally stopped to figure out where he was. The sun was beginning to set, and the forest came alive with the sounds of crickets and other nocturnal animals. Takeo was able to see where the forest ended, and he was about to go there when again he noticed the red light from earlier. 

Takeo was mesmerized by the glow in the distance, and he felt his body leaping to find the source. It was as if his body completely divorced his mind, and Takeo had no choice but to follow where his legs took him. A twisting sensation began in his stomach, and he increasingly became aware and fearful of his surroundings. His body stopped in its tracks, and Takeo was horrified as he realized what was happening. 

Oh, God. I'm reliving it. 

His fears were confirmed as the sound of a child's laugh floated on the wind to reach his ears. The red light came closer and closer to him, and Takeo closed his eyes and frantically tried to wake himself up from the dream. He heard the sound of light footsteps making their way towards him. He cringed as he was forced to witness his dream melt into past reality. 

No, please. No.

Takeo felt a small hand grab one of his. "Uncle Takeo?" 

He opened his eyes and a small child was staring up at him with unmasked admiration. The red light had come from the jewel that was hanging from the child's neck. 

"Uncle Takeo, what's wrong?" 

Tears gathered and spilled from his eyes as he stared down at a young Grace. He couldn't speak, couldn't move. He had no control. 

A sudden gust of wind tore through the forest, and Takeo was shocked to his core. From far away, he finally found his voice. "We have to get out of here now!" 

He held on tight to Grace's hand and they began to run. The sound of insane laughter floated on the wind towards the fleeing Takeo and Grace, and Takeo picked the child up and tried to run faster. 

The forest's exit is just up ahead. It's so close. 

The cracking of wood sliced through the air, and a tree crashed to the ground in front of the exit. The young Grace screamed. Takeo cursed, knowing they were trapped. 

He placed Grace on the ground and fell to his knees, the tears flowing freely down his face. He saw the shadowy figure walking towards them, and he cried out and covered his ears with his hands. Takeo heard Grace crying and shouting out his name, but he was paralyzed with fear. 

I'm so sorry, my Grace. So sorry. 

The laughter was louder now, closer. Takeo's hands fisted and he began to pray that the nightmare would end. A sob broke from his throat as he heard Grace scream again...

* * * 

Takeo jolted awake, his throat raw from his shouts. He was dripping with sweat, and it took a few moments before he realized that he wasn't in the forest on Tatsu Island, but in his cabin. He bolted out of the cot and raced over to the window that faced the main house. The sky was dark and cloudless, and a few hours had passed since Takeo returned to his cabin. He could see the many lights of the house shimmering in the distance. He continued to stand there, staring at everything but seeing nothing. He was too caught up in the past. 

She is the Dragon, the one that our family has been waiting for so long to bring into this world. No wonder it wanted her so badly. 

Takeo tore his gaze from the window and paced around the cramped cabin, finally stopping at a small cabinet in a dusty corner. He opened it to reveal a small chest. Takeo blew off the many years worth of accumulated dust that was on the chest before he opened it. Inside the chest were many drawings made by a child. They were very old; they came from a different time and a different world. One was drawn of the ocean, another was drawn of the Nakimura castle. The one that drew Takeo's attention the most, however, was a very different drawing. It was much more intense than the others. It showed a golden dragon, eyes blazing and breathing fire. At the bottoms of these sketches, there was the same inscription in Japanese: "Nakimura Grace, June 1970."

Takeo shifted the drawings into his left hand, and he used his other hand to dig deeper into the chest. He didn't remember exactly what it was inside the chest that he wanted, but... his hand closed around something. He slowly brought his hand out of the chest, and he saw that he was holding something that was wrapped in an old cloth. Takeo unwrapped the material. What he saw made him feel like he was being kicked in the chest. He was holding a dried flower, a white lily that the young Grace had once given to him. He had kept it all these years; preserved it.

Takeo wasn't aware that he was crying until he saw a drop land on one of the lily's dried petals. He felt himself collapsing, and he kneeled on the floor, tears flowing heavily. He dropped the drawings and the flower onto the floor and buried his face in his hands. 

She trusted me, and I betrayed her. Oh, dear God. I've never forgiven himself for what happened, and I never will. 

He remembered the presence of that creature so many years before, and its power over him. He swore that Belial would not conquer him again, but he felt himself slipping. 

Don't let anything happen this time. Help me find the strength to resist the Demon. Let him not find his home in me again. 

His prayers were suddenly interrupted by a gust of wind that slammed open the door, almost tearing its hinges off of the door frame with the strength of it. Takeo flinched as he felt an unusual chill against his skin. He quickly rose and went to close the door when he heard a strange noise. He paused, looking around the cabin for the source of the noise. Nothing. He went to the door and started to close it, still looking around and listening for what made the noise. There was nothing out of the ordinary on the outside, but several clouds were gathering; a storm was on its way at a great speed. Takeo shrugged, grabbed the knob, and closed the door. He leaned against it, trying to still the rapid beating of his heart. 

What's wrong with me? It's just a little wind. A summer storm, that's all. Nothing to worry about. 

While he was trying to convince himself that there was nothing wrong, he knew that he had been found. He had been found by it. Outside, the sky darkened further and the rain speared the night. 

He heard scratching at the door behind him. The sound echoed inside Takeo's head; the scratching of unearthly long nails against the cabin's exterior. He reached an arm behind himself, frantically searching for the deadbolt to secure the door. The scratching was accompanied by steady pounding, and Takeo felt his heart in his throat. He felt as if the walls were closing in on him, and he was terrified as he finally found the deadbolt and slid it into place. The pounding at the door grew stronger as Takeo slowly backed away. The old wood creaked as it began to weaken as a result of its punishment. 

Takeo glanced around the cabin frantically, trying to find something to block the door with. An old writing desk was on the other side of the cabin. Please let it be enough. 

He scrambled to grab the desk as some of the door's wood began to give, revealing a clawed fist. Takeo watched in horror as the ungodly fist's fingers unwound one by one, the razor-sharp nails tracing the hole in the door before poking through. Takeo couldn't look away from those nails. He felt rooted to the floor as the fingers motioned for him to come forward, to let it in. 

Takeo found himself taking a few steps forward before he caught himself, screaming at the top of his lungs. "NO!!" 

The Demon Belial answered with a laugh that made Takeo's stomach clench. An inhuman eye peered through the hole in the door at him. The storm still raged outside. The little cabin vibrated with the constant thunder. 

"Why are you bothering to scream, Takeo? You are too far away from the house. Besides," the blood-red eye winked at him, "You don't really want to resist me. Do you?" 

Takeo turned away from the battered door and succeeded in moving the desk away from its original spot. He was going to push it against the door when he heard Belial again. 

"Takeo. Takeo, my friend. Remember how powerful you felt when we were one, Takeo? You were transformed from the weak soul that you've always been into a fierce warrior! Don't you want that feeling again, my friend?" 

Takeo kept his eyes away from Belial, and he tried to concentrate on his task. He thought again of that long ago forest, the screams of the helpless Grace, and the weakness of himself. Never again. He raised his head to look first at the claw inside the door, then at the desk in front of him. Takeo allowed his bottled-up rage against the demon to explode as he rushed forth, pushing the desk against the door and crushing the demon's claw between the two in the process. 

Feel THAT, Belial. 

Belial screamed, and he tried to yank his claw out of the door. It was stuck. The cabin shook with the angry roar that burst out of Belial's throat. Takeo used the opportunity to climb out of one of the cabin's windows. He landed into the cold mud, and he raced for the main house as if Hell itself was on his heels. 

It is, Takeo thought as the sound of Belial's screams melted into the distance. It is.

Belial heard nothing as he was screaming, but as he started to calm down, he realized that Takeo had escaped. Damn him! 

Belial stood still as he changed his form, metamorphosing his claw into a human hand and allowing it to slip free from its trap. He examined his torn hand, and he took a deep breath and released it and his hand proceeded to glow, to heal. He then made his way from the cabin to stand underneath a nearby tree and ponder the situation. 

My former host has escaped for now, but it may be for the best. 

Belial imagined Takeo arriving at the house, frightened and out of breath, the grandfather and niece that will be concerned for his safety, and the havoc that would certainly follow. 

Takeo will frighten them with his story, and they will have no choice but to advance. She will not be ready for me, but I'll be more than ready for her.

Belial waved his hand, and all of the traces of the struggle were erased. Belial laughed insanely as the lightning struck again, and he disappeared into the stormy night.



Heart of the Dragon Ch. 04



Nakimura House

The kisses went on and on, and they blocked out everything else in the world as Gabriel and Grace rolled around fully clothed on the bed. Their kisses had started off sweet and slow, but before long they grew more passionate, more intense. 

Grace's soft moan was audible in the silence of the room as she increased the pressure of the kiss and threaded her fingers through Gabriel's hair. Gabriel responded by tightening his arms around her waist and pressing her closer to him. He sighed at the adjustment, and he lost himself in the kiss.

Grace enjoyed the moment, but she couldn't help but think about what lay ahead. The explanation of the situation by her grandfather was unavoidable, but she found herself wishing that she could hold it back, if only for a while. 

She thought about how things had been just a day before. The peaceful landscape of Rittersberg, the joy of her new home and her new life with Gabriel, the feeling of belonging. 

Grace broke off the kiss. She opened her eyes and met Gabriel's puzzled gaze with her own.

"I don't want these new developments to change what we have together." 

It took all of her concentration to keep her voice from breaking as she looked up at him.

Gabriel regarded her for a long moment, and his eyes softened. 

"We're going to make it through this, Gracie."

He raised a hand to her face and caressed her cheek. She turned her head toward his hand and kissed his palm, and Gabriel's eyes darkened with emotion. 

"Christ, I love you. There's no force on earth that can separate us." 

They embraced, and Grace let out a sigh of contentment as she rested her head against his strong shoulder. They basked in the warmth of the moment, and they were both reluctant to break the spell.

With a sharp cry, Grace suddenly bolted upright in the bed, her eyes darting frantically around the room. Gabriel sat up and watched her with an alarmed expression on his face. He reached for her, and she flinched at his touch as if he were a stranger. Hurt and confused, he let his arms drop away from her and he continued to watch her, unsure of what else to do.

After a few moments, Grace began to calm down. She passed a trembling hand over her ashen face, and she took several deep breaths. Clearing her throat, she turned and met his concerned gaze. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Gabriel framed her face in his hands and he looked into her eyes. 

"Are you alright, Gracie?"

Still slightly stunned, she managed a weak smile. 

"I'll be okay. I just need some fresh air."

Grace left the bed and slowly walked over to the bedroom window. She concentrated on the latch and opened the window to see clear skies and puffy clouds that shone with twilight. A warm breeze drifted through the window and softly stirred the curtains.

Grace continued to look outside with a feeling of disbelief.

That's very odd. I could have sworn that things were different somehow.

Her thoughts fled as she felt strong arms close around her waist and a set of full lips press against the nape of her neck. "Feeling better?" 

Gabriel's breath stirred some loose hairs around her neck, and she shivered at the sensation. She turned around in his arms, facing him. 

"I'm much better now. That air worked wonders."

Gabriel smiled. "Your grandfather called us down for dinner. Are you hungry?"

Grace tilted her head to one side, regarding him. 

"Yeah, I am, but when did he call? I don't remember hearing him."

"He called while you were in deep thought."

"Oh. Let's go downstairs, then. We don't want to keep him waiting."

Grace stepped out of his arms and turned to close the window when she saw a figure below, walking away from the house. Grace frowned as she peered out of the window.

"Who is that?"

Gabriel came up beside her and looked out. His eyes rested on the departing figure, and his brow furrowed. "Could that be Takeo?"

Grace felt a sudden chill, and she closed the window. "Perhaps. Let's go downstairs."

* * *

They went downstairs and were greeted by delicious smells coming from the kitchen. The two of them weren't sure whose stomach growled first, but the sounds reminded them that they had not eaten in some time. 

All of the rooms of the house were bathed in light, and Grace led Gabriel into the kitchen where Yukio was fiddling around with some pots and pans.

"Need any help, Grandfather?"

Yukio's head lifted from his task. "No thank you, my dear. I've just finished."

Grace smiled at Yukio and she and Gabriel glanced at the fabulous spread of food on the nearby dining room table.The table was filled with several mouth-watering dishes, including a lovely garden salad, rice, and steaming bowls of miso soup. Tempura, a traditional Japanese dish of vegetables and fried shrimp was the main course, and juicy pineapple slices were for dessert.

"Looks like you've been busy, Grandfather. Everything looks delicious."

Yukio put the last of the cooking pots away before leaving the kitchen, and he joined them in the dining room. He shrugged his shoulders. 

"Alas, I cannot take all of the credit. Takeo helped me prepare dinner."

Gabriel's eyes met Grace's briefly before he spoke up. "Did Takeo leave the house just now?"

Yukio turned away from them and slowly walked towards a pair of glass doors. He watched the early evening twilight fade into darkness. 

"Yes. He told me that he wasn't feeling well, and he left to get some rest in his cabin."

Yukio's shoulders rose and fell with a silent sigh. Grace came up behind Yukio and laid a hand on his back. She felt him stiffen briefly before he slowly relaxed and turned to her. His head, which had been previously lowered, rose as his gaze met hers. He saw that her eyes held both concern and confusion, and Yukio longed to banish them forever.

He remembered the vow that he made years before, when he promised himself to keep nothing from his granddaughter concerning the family legacy when the time came.

The time is now at hand, but how shall I proceed?

Meanwhile, Gabriel watched the exchange, intrigued by the emotions that played across the old man's features. Yukio recovered with a shake of his head and an exhalation of breath. He removed Grace's hand which had moved to his arm and held it between his own. He then nodded his head toward the dining room table.

"Shall we eat? I'm sure that you'll both be pleased with tonight's arrangement."

Grace allowed her grandfather to lead her back to the table, her mind filled with questions. She was puzzled by the tension that she sensed in Yukio's every word and gesture.

What does he have in store for us tonight, she wondered as her grandfather pulled out a chair for her to sit. She looked across the table at Gabriel, and she saw a mirror of her own thoughts in his expression.

Having sat down, Grace and Gabriel watched as Yukio sat at the head of the oval table and they waited for something, anything to happen to ease the feelings of anticipation and dread that had gathered in their stomachs. 

Their expectations were met with silence.

The silence continued throughout the meal, and several times Grace glanced at the head of the table to find Yukio's gaze on her before he would look away. She stared at the half-eaten food on her plate and she felt herself growing restless. 

Since the night before, Grace wondered at the events that surrounded her family and as the shock of Takeo's earlier outburst began to wear off, she found herself becoming intrigued by what she may learn.

"Your role in this family has been planned since before you were born. Your role as a protector and a defender of the family against evil."

Her pulse quickened and she closed her eyes. I knew in my heart this day would come.

Grace thought over her uncle's words and she remembered a time in her life, not so long ago, when she was content to hide behind books and let life pass her by. When she drove herself constantly to succeed.

Succeed in what exactly, Grace asked herself. To get the initials "Ph.D." next to my name? To spend my life behind a professor's desk and give long, boring lectures? To work myself into a frenzy concerning history while I'm powerless to create my own history?

No, I don't want that for myself. Not yet. I deserve more. There is more to life than books and classrooms, and a whole world to explore. I intend to do just that; as soon as this is over, I'll...

Her thoughts were interrupted by the feel of a hand covering hers on the table. She glanced up and met Gabriel's eyes. She let her eyes travel over the face that she knew and loved so well. His hair shone crimson, his jade eyes were fixed on hers, and for a moment Grace knew nothing but him. His smile, which had the power to light a thousand candles and make her melt, was absent. She knew why.

He's still concerned over what happened upstairs. So am I. I've never felt like that before; I had no sense of myself. It felt as if my body was in the room, yet my mind was elsewhere.

Grace clasped hands with Gabriel and held on tight.

After taking a deep breath, Grace turned her head toward her grandfather once more. Yukio was looking straight at her, and this time he didn't glance away.

"I need to know what's going on, Grandfather. Please."

Yukio looked down at the tablecloth, sighed and nodded his head. He looked into Grace's eyes. "My dear granddaughter, you know that we love you and that we've always tried to do what's best for you. It is extremely hard for me to tell you this..."

Yukio tore his eyes away from hers and focused once again on the tablecloth. 

"Our family isn't exactly..."

What you were made to believe all these years, Yukio thought as he felt his throat grow dry.

He stood up from the dining room table and walked again towards the glass doors. He watched the sky grow stormy and he felt as if it had fallen on him.

I made a vow, but it is not so easy to tell her. The 300 years of waiting are over, and she must know everything. Everything. 

The word echoed in Yukio's mind. He balled his hand into a fist and placed it against his heart. He closed his eyes and immediately recalled the sounds of a child's laughter.

So long ago. No.

A child's scream.

NO!

Grace and Gabriel had watched him as he walked away, and they grew alarmed as Yukio appeared to have trouble breathing. They bolted from the table to assist him.

Yukio was trembling where he stood, his eyes fixated on the growing storm outside.

"Dragons. Light. So long ago."

Gabriel picked up the old man and headed for the living room while Grace followed closely with a knot of fear in her belly. Yukio was sweating hard, and for a moment they feared he was having a heart attack. They made it as far as the living room threshold when Yukio began to protest. "I'm fine. Really, I'm fine!" 

The statement ended with a fit of coughing while Gabriel laid the elderly Nakimura gently on the sofa and Grace ran to fetch Yukio a glass of water.

Grace returned to the room to find Yukio sitting upright, his eyes brimming with moisture as he looked upon her. She handed him the water, and he nodded his head in thanks while wiping his eyes hurriedly with a handkerchief. She watched him drink the water as if he was dying of thirst, and as he handed the empty glass back to her, Yukio avoided her eyes once more.

Grace's brow creased in confusion as she walked slowly back to the kitchen to return the glass, and Yukio watched her from beneath lowered lids. Gabriel was starting a fire in the nearby fireplace, but his senses were tuned into Yukio and how he reacted to Grace.

Something's going on with both him and Takeo, and I don't think that this homecoming will be the same quality as those damned "Waltons" reruns on television.

The flames came to flickering life, and Gabriel warmed his hands before turning towards Yukio. "Everything alright, Mr. Nakimura?"

The old man's gaze switched from the fire to Gabriel. "I'm better, Gabriel. Thank you."

Gabriel nodded his head at Yukio and he was about to say something else when Yukio gave him a perceptive look. "What are your intentions towards Grace?"

Gabriel was caught completely off-guard by the question, and he was at a loss for words. Yukio waited patiently for an answer, his midnight eyes ripe with intelligence and power.

Yeah, those eyes definitely run in the family.

Gabriel thought about that "special surprise" that he had meant to show Grace back in Rittersburg, and he inwardly sighed. He had it all planned out; after they returned home from the "Lone Wolf" party he was going to propose to her.

Now this is happening, and I have no clue what to do. Part of me is glad over the discovery; I am not alone in this supernatural business. But will we be able to handle this? I hope to God that we will.

Gabriel closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Maybe when things cool down, I can try again. I can't imagine my life with any other woman. I want Gracie as my wife, now and forever.

Yukio cleared his throat, and Gabriel opened his eyes. He saw that the corners of the old man's mouth were turned upward. Whether he was smiling or smirking, Gabriel wasn't sure which. They heard light footsteps approaching the living room, and Yukio gave him a quick wink. "We'll discuss this later. Privately."

Gabriel nodded to Yukio just before Grace entered the living room. She walked over to where Yukio was sitting and he held his hand out to her. She took it without hesitation, and Yukio pulled her to the couch to sit next to him. 

Gabriel sat in an armchair across from Grace and Yukio, anticipation racing through his veins. Grace felt the same way. She felt as if she was standing on the edge of a cliff; her senses were heightened, her body tense. Release me, Grandfather. Tell me.

The old man looked directly at Grace and began. "It has been said that the Dragons of Light have been on this earth since the beginning of time, forged by fire..."

Grace's eyes widened as she listened to her grandfather's words, breathlessly waiting for him to continue. Gabriel's eyes flicked between Grace and Yukio. Grace had inched closer to her grandfather, and Gabriel noted that Yukio's fingers were clutching one of the pillows on the sofa tightly.

"Warriors who fought for many centuries in defense of everything that was fine and just, scholars who used their minds as effectively and sharply as any sword to defeat their adversaries and those of God, human beings who used their supernatural gifts to help others in need as well as to aid in their quests. These were the Dragons of Light... and they were all women."

Grace felt a surge of pride at her grandfather's statement. Well I'll be damned. It's nice to know that women had at least some power in Japan back then. And they were my ancestors, she reflected in awe.

Yukio cleared his throat, and Grace gave her attention back to him.

"The Dragons were very powerful and influential, yet very secret. They concealed the fact that they were female in order to safeguard their reputations, their possessions, and to prevent any unwarranted trouble from outsiders. They fought admirably in the face of fierce foes, whether feuding clans of Japan or dangerous otherworldly beings, and they never gave up on their principles..."

Yukio trailed off, remembering that there was a case where the Dragon's code was forsaken. Ignored completely. Wasted.

He looked at Grace and he saw the wonder in her eyes. That incident was the origin of this whole twisted game in which we are now pawns. God help us, the ones that must pay for the actions of long ago. Yukio's eyes remained fixed on his granddaughter. God help her.

Grace tilted her head to the side when she realized that Yukio had stopped. She glanced at Gabriel. He appeared to be as eager to hear more as she was. Grace touched her grandfather on the shoulder.

"Grandfather, how is the role of Dragon passed from generation to generation? In societies such as this, I thought that..."

She broke off her sentence, wondering what she should share. She remembered that Takeo had leaked the information on the ride to the house without Yukio's knowledge.

I wouldn't want Grandfather to be angry with Uncle Takeo for his giving us a "sneak peek" of what I was going to be told. I also don't think that it would be a good idea to say anything to suggest that I've encountered anything like this before, at least not yet.

Grace looked around the living room. What should I say? Think carefully, girl... got it!

Grace started again. "I mean, whenever anything was passed down in a family, especially in the old days...it was usually given to the men, wasn't it? How did it work with women in this case? Also, wouldn't there have been marriages to mix things up through the years?"

Yukio folded his hands in his lap. "Well, needless to say the Dragons were unique in many ways. In ancient Japan, when there were no male children in a family, it was customary for the daughters to be married off to continue the family line. Here is the twist: In these cases of marriage, the women kept their last names. When a woman in old world Japan kept her last name, her husband would adopt the name as his own and so would any children produced from the union.

In the case of the Dragons of Light, the Lady Nakimura would marry and give birth to daughters. When their day came the Nakimura daughters would marry, keep the family name, have their own daughters and so on. The Dragon's power was passed from mother to daughter, and the system of marriages and inheritances of gifts helped to ensure the continuity of the bloodline."

Gabriel sat up in the armchair. "What kinds of 'gifts' did the Nakimura women inherit, exactly?"

Yukio's gaze, which had been glued to Grace, quickly shifted towards Gabriel. The old man blinked several times, startled. It was as if he had forgotten that Gabriel was in the room with them.

"The supernatural gifts depended on the individual woman. The women became Dragons when they reached a certain age, but the gifts... the abilities appeared a bit before that time. Each ability was unique and suited for the owner. For example, if a Nakimura woman was kind-hearted and nurturing, then she would gain the gift of healing power. If a Nakimura woman was mean-spirited and cruel... yes, the gifts depended on the woman."

Grace tensed as she felt a shiver run through her at her grandfather's words.

Yukio continued. "Just over three centuries ago, the vast branches of the Nakimura family tree began to lessen as members of the family became victims of bloody battles, bizarre accidents, or they simply vanished altogether. By the late 1690s, the only Dragons left standing were three Nakimura women. They were sisters; their names were Sayuri, Matsuri, and Hana."

Grace was shocked. "Only THREE of them were left? What on earth could have befallen the family to cause such misfortune?"

Yukio's eyes were dark with sadness. "I wish that I knew, my child. I wish to God that I knew."

Gabriel's mind was going a mile a minute. "So what became of the three sisters?"

The old man sighed. "Well, Sayuri and Matsuri both... died shortly after Sayuri was initiated as Dragon. Hana, who was much younger than the two, was left to fend for herself after their deaths."

Grace gasped. "Oh God, how awful that must have been for her..."

Yukio placed an aged hand over hers. "She was taken in by a long-time friend of the family, and she lived a very long and fruitful life. However, she renounced any and all claims to the Dragon title and she bore all sons. Sons..."

The old man stood up and began to pace around the living room.




Heart of the Dragon Ch. 04



Gabriel watched the elderly man, a question forming in his mind. His gaze went to Grace, and he was surprised to see the beginnings of tears forming in her beautiful eyes. He continued to watch as the tears fell, creating trails of moisture down her face. 

She's mourning the memory of what had been, the powerful legacy of light.

Grace's eyes stayed with her grandfather, her mind focused on how tragic the situation of the Dragons had been.

Such a splendid family, so much to offer the world. What a shame, the strong foundation on which the family was built just... crumbling. The family members blowing away like leaves...

Grace closed her eyes, aware that she was crying. Sayuri, Matsuri, and Hana. I've never heard their names before upon my ears, yet somehow I feel linked to them.

Gabriel was still looking at her, torn between coming to her and kissing away her tears or waiting to hear what Yukio had to say next. 

She needs to hear everything that he has to tell her. I promised myself that I wouldn't interfere. 

He let out a soft sigh as he silently willed her to look at him, to give him some sign that she would be okay. She opened her eyes and met his gaze. Gabriel felt his heart wrench as he saw her lower lip trembling from emotion. He mouthed the words, "I love you," and Grace nodded and did the same.

Yukio stopped his pacing and he caught the exchange. He cleared his throat, and he was rewarded when Grace and Gabriel looked up at him. He returned to the sofa.

Gabriel remembered his question. "So if just sons were born from Hana, then why are we here? I mean, if the Dragon legacy is passed only from mother to daughter then wouldn't the line have diminished long ago?"

Yukio stared at Gabriel. "I don't recall saying that the role of Dragon was held in such strict boundaries as those." 

The old man turned towards Grace and took her hands in his. Gabriel leaned closer as Yukio began to speak again, almost in a whisper.

"A family such as ours can defy such boundaries in order to survive."

Grace's heart thundered in her chest as she found herself responding to the siren's call of the Dragon. Her grip tightened on Yukio's withered fingers.

Survival, one of the most important drives of humanity. Perhaps the most powerful. How did they survive? I know for a fact that they did. I'm here, aren't I? How does this relate to me exactly?

She continued to look into her grandfather's eyes. Eyes which were an enigma to her, revealing nothing except one thing. Fear.

Fear of what? Grace grew uncomfortable under his gaze. Yukio's eyes, which she had known her whole life, looked upon her as if to scream, "Run away!"

Grace released one hand from Yukio's grip and placed it on the side of his wrinkled face.

For a moment Grace thought that she could hear a low roaring in the distance, in the darkness outside. She shook her head to clear it, sending her hair out of its long braid. She listened for more sounds and only heard the rain hitting the window panes. She recovered her thoughts and looked at Gabriel. He appeared to be as confused as she was by the noise.

I sure as hell hope that was the wind, Grace thought as she shifted again towards Yukio.

"Tell me what you mean, Grandfather. How did the survival of the line come about?"

Yukio's thoughts were on the storm outside. He had also heard the noise.

What on earth was that?

His breath faltered as he remembered that Takeo was out in the storm.

Oh dear God. Please let him be all right.

Grace touched Yukio's arm. "Grandfather?"

Yukio turned his attention back to Grace. "Yes, my child. I know."

He took a deep breath. "300 years ago, when the last Dragon faded from this earth, it was believed that our family legacy was no more. The locals on Tatsu mourned the loss of Sayuri, and with the grief came the terror and rage. They were afraid of what may become of them without the Dragons, and they were furious with Hana. The rest of her life was filled with scornful glances and whispers. Hana was despised by the community because she denied her destiny, her birthright of becoming a Dragon."

Grace felt sorrow for her ancestor. Exiled from society, hated by those around her for the rest of her life. Destiny. What could have caused her to turn her back on her family tradition? Was it worth the cost?

Yukio continued. "As I mentioned earlier, Hana bore all sons. This was an event that had never happened before. Of course, the Nakimuras have had mixed bunches of female and male children throughout the generations, but never all sons! For obvious reasons, the female children were more desirable to bear, and when Hana produced sons the hope for the Dragon legacy died as much then as it did when Sayuri drew her last breath."

Gabriel was intrigued at the story, yet something tugged at the back of his mind. 

"Sorry to interrupt, but you said before that Sayuri was severely missed by the townspeople. What about Matsuri? Didn't you mention that she died around the same time as Sayuri did?"

Yukio's eyes rested on Gabriel and remained there. "Yes, she did."

The old man said no more on the subject, and Grace made a mental note to learn more later if she could. She wanted to hear more of the family history concerning the family line.

Yukio rose from the sofa and walked to the fireplace. He stared into the flames, trying to find the words to explain the many things that he desperately wanted to share with her, and trying to find the courage to hold back the ones he needed to conceal.

Ancestors, guide me.

He turned around to find Grace and Gabriel's eyes on him. He walked towards the sofa once more, but he did not sit down. Instead, he knelt down in front of where she was sitting and looked up into her face.

Grace, forgive me.

Yukio cleared his throat. "All hope was lost for the continuation of the Dragon line until one year after Hana's death. One of her sons was exploring the family castle when he came upon an aged letter that was mysteriously addressed to him. He read it and found that it was written by Sayuri, many years before he was even born! The letter explained that males born from a Lady of the Dragon line could be just as susceptible to the supernatural in cases of 'female drought,' as Sayuri put it.

As soon as Hana's son found the letter from Sayuri, he began to experience visions and dreams the way his female ancestors had before him. To ensure that this new glimmer of hope was not extinguished, the male Nakimuras, along with members of the Saito family, planned ways to keep the Dragon legacy alive."

Grace tilted her head thoughtfully as she looked down at her grandfather. 

"Saito? Why does that name sound familiar?"

Yukio rose and returned to the sofa beside Grace. "You were very young at the time, but you may remember that the Saito family is very close to the Nakimuras. Our history with them has been long and peaceful."

Gabriel leaned forward in the armchair. "What plans were formed by the Nakimura males to keep the Dragon powers in the family?"

Yukio gave a slight smile to Gabriel. Smart boy, this one. 

"They decided that some traditions of the past needed to be changed to safeguard the future. The marriage system, which up until that time involved the ladies keeping the Nakimura name, was altered. Instead, it became the tradition for the male Nakimuras to pass their name to their wives. It is the system that is used all over in this day and age, but for us it was used centuries before its time. Throughout the next three centuries, the abilities of the Dragon affected one male Nakimura in each generation. There were absolutely no females born in the family during that time, so the men relied on marrying and passing their name and genes to their sons and so on."

Grace's palms began to sweat as realization dawned on her. "So, you're telling me that back in the late 1600s, there were no more female Nakimuras by birth so the men in the family organized a way to work things out, serving as Dragon substitutes until the next..."

Yukio's eyes glittered like black fire in the candlelight.

"Until the next female Nakimura is born to resume her rightful role as the Dragon of Light. My dear, you are the first female in the family by natural birth in 300 years. You are the chosen one."

Yukio did not smile as he said the words. Grace felt lightheaded, and she began to breathe heavily. Her heart felt like it was in her throat.

Gabriel became alarmed for the second time that evening as he saw her face drain of color. Yukio wept inside as he watched her attempt to leave the couch, gasping for air.

Gabriel looked at Yukio and saw that the old man was doing nothing to help her. It was as if he was frozen in place, powerless to do anything but stare in shocked sadness.

"Jesus Christ," Gabriel spat as he dashed from the armchair to come to Grace's aid.

He reached the sofa and placed his hands on the side of Grace's face and looked into her eyes, trying to keep her from passing out.

"Gracie? Baby? Calm down and breathe please!"

Grace's head swam, and Gabriel's pleas for her to breathe sounded distorted to her ears.

"Ahhh..." She couldn't say any more as she felt her head begin to pound.

Gabriel picked her up from the sofa, and Yukio snapped out of his silent trance.

"I'm so sorry, my dear child! I'm sorry..."

The old man's fruitless apologies drifted up the stairs, following Gabriel as he carried Grace to her room.



Heart of the Dragon Ch. 05



Nakimura House

June 23, 1995

The sounds of rainfall and low, rumbling thunder roused Grace from a deep slumber. Her room was as black as pitch except for the occasional flash of lightning, which doused the whole area in almost blinding light.

She slowly opened her eyes, her vision focusing on her surroundings. Grace briefly stiffened from a sense of unfamiliarity that she felt upon seeing her room, but she relaxed when she remembered exactly where she was. She was not in an alien place, but in her grandfather's house...

Then she remembered what happened.

I am the Dragon, Grace thought as her hand automatically went to her temple, where the earlier pounding had subsided. Her mouth felt strangely dry to her, and her stomach clenched as if someone held it in his fist.

Segments from the discussion with her grandfather earlier that evening came back to her mind. The tale of the Dragons and their abilities, the three Nakimura sisters who remained after the rest of the line had mysteriously died, the young girl who lived the rest of her life in isolation and grief after losing everyone that she loved...and the 300-year long wait for a successor.

Only that wasn't a tale, Grace thought as she left her bed and observed the darkened room. It really happened.

She rose from the bed, the swish of her silken nightgown audible in the brief silence between thunderclaps. She walked slowly in the darkness, allowing the lightning to show her the way. Her purse lay on top of a nearby dresser, and Grace reached in and searched for what she wanted. After a minute or so, her hand closed around a tiny leather pouch and she withdrew it.

Upon touching the pouch, Grace felt unimaginable relief, the feeling making her body feel warm and comforted. She opened the small sack and removed her prize.

It was a ruby pendant given to her by her grandfather when she was very young. The jewel was her most cherished possession; she always carried it with her. It was a deep crimson surrounded by silver, radiant in the palm of her hand. Grace sighed at its beauty as she fastened it around her neck, allowing the jewel to settle between her cloth-covered breasts. She then turned and walked to the connecting bedroom, where Gabriel lay.

Grace silently entered the room, her almond-shaped eyes searching the darkness before resting on Gabriel's sleeping form. He was lying sideways on the bed, his long legs dangling off the edge, his feet facing where she stood. She could hear his faint snores, and she couldn't help but smile as she felt her way through the room to grab a candle and matches. Her nose caught the whiff of sulfur as the match blazed to life, and the candle's light helped Grace to get a closer look at her love.

The white bed sheets were a striking contrast against his hair and skin, and Grace couldn't take her eyes off him. She let her eyes travel over his partially covered body, remembering each time that his lips kissed her, when his hands would caress her face, when he would hold her in his arms and sometimes carry her.

Like tonight, Grace remembered with a chill. When she felt as if her head would explode. She remembered the looks of fright and concern on both Gabriel's and her grandfather's faces during her violent reaction to her legacy, and she shuddered.

They looked at me as if I was going to die.

It was in that moment, in a house that she had known since she was a small child and surrounded by people whom she knew loved her, that Grace felt completely alone.

There will always be the possibility that I could be hurt, Grace thought as she inched closer to Gabriel's bedside. Or killed. And so could he.

She remembered the feeling of overwhelming fear that she had experienced more than a year before, when Gabriel fell under the werewolf curse. It had been a painful reminder that even shadow hunters were mortal...and vulnerable. The sight of him in twisted agony from the wolf's bite and the dangerous, primal instincts that had emerged in Gabriel during that time had slowly ripped her apart inside. Even the memory of that time brought the sting of unshed tears to her eyes.

How could I put him through something like that, if I were to...?

Grace quickly placed her hand on her mouth to silence her sudden sobs as she fell to her knees beside the bed. 

Gabriel was only a small distance away; all she had to do was reach her hand to make contact. Grace wanted to touch him, to wake him from his slumber. She wanted him to take her in his arms to comfort her, to ease her fears. 

She wanted him to make love to her. She wanted to lose herself in the dark embrace of passion, to experience sensations that she had never known before and to forget what challenges lay ahead for them. She knew that if she could just wake him, he would cover her with his body, make her burn, and gasp out his name. If she did so however, it would have been only a temporary escape from the shadow of what was coming. Nothing would have changed. The danger would have remained.

Her hands remained at her sides, and she fought in vain against fresh tears. 

What can I do? God help me, what can I do?

"Do not be afraid, my child." 

The whisper of sound escaped her dry lips. Grace felt comforted by what seemed to be her own voice, yet somehow she felt otherwise. She tilted her head backward, raising her arms upward as she experienced a sensation of warmth envelop her. Grace didn't know what she sought as she reached out towards the empty space, but she knew when it found her. When she first felt the other woman's mystical presence, she was no longer afraid. On the contrary. Tears of joy replaced her tears of uncertainty and fears, as she felt a long-forgotten corner of her heart begin to awaken and merge with the rest, bonding together to work as one. She gasped as an embrace of sweet tenderness cut through her despair like a thousand swords as Grace felt her soul growing, expanding, and preparing itself for the path of destiny that she knew she must take.

You possess great strength and courage, my daughter. The journey ahead will be very difficult, its outcome uncertain. Keep your mind and heart open and all will become known to you. We have all waited so long for you to enter this world. Our flesh, our blood, our last hope...

The mysterious presence faded from Grace's consciousness, and she felt a tinge of sorrow at the loss. She didn't think to question what happened; her outlook on such matters had changed so much because of her experiences on Gabriel's cases that she no longer felt the need to analyze so closely when something happened to her - instead of Gabriel - of a supernatural nature. Only this time she knew that this spiritual contact was for her benefit alone. 

"All that is meant to be known will be revealed, and everything will happen as fate chooses." This became Grace's personal motto sometime after the last big case.

Grace wiped her tears away with her hands and returned to her feet. She closed her eyes and began taking deep breaths.

I will not panic, I will not yield. I am not a helpless lamb who is led towards its slaughter; I am Grace Nakimura. I have survived many difficult situations in my life so far, and this time is no different. I can handle this.

With that thought in mind, Grace took one last look at the sleeping Gabriel before quietly returning to her room.

Once back in her own room, she set down the candle and slipped her red silk kimono robe over her nightgown. She then took the candle once more and went downstairs. Grace had no idea of the time, but she guessed that it was just after midnight. The house was very quiet, and other than her candle, she saw no other lights around.

She was mistaken, as she discovered on her way towards the kitchen. A fire was burning low in the living room fireplace, and Grace tiptoed to the slightly opened door to investigate.

Grace carefully slid the door open further, just wide enough for her to peek inside. She saw Yukio sitting cross-legged by the fire with his back turned towards her, his head bowed as if in prayer.

She continued to watch her grandfather as he slowly raised his head to gaze into the fire. His voice crackled with sadness and pain as he whispered, "Grace..."

Grace remained silent, unsure of whether or not he had discovered her presence. She got her answer when Yukio's silver head lowered once more without comment. Grace wanted to speak with her grandfather and discuss what happened earlier that evening, but she hesitated when she saw his shoulders tremble and heard him release broken sighs. 

Yukio was crying. 

Her chest felt tight at the realization, and she stepped away from the living room door as silently as she had arrived. Grace didn't want to embarrass him by letting him know that she had witnessed his distress. The dryness of her throat returned to her mind then, and she told herself that she would return to Yukio after having a cool glass of water.

In the kitchen, Grace slowly sipped her water and allowed it to trickle down her parched throat, soothing it. After she was finished, she remained standing with her back to the sink, looking around as if she hadn't seen her surroundings in a lifetime.

In a way, that was true. It had been many years since she had last visited her grandfather's house, and her current feelings about returning were torn between the Dragon business, warm memories connected with the house, and regret that it had taken her so long to come back.

Grace unconsciously twirled her ruby in her fingers as she let her thoughts wash over her. I was 16 the last time I was here. 12 years ago. My God, how could so much time have passed so quickly? Before I threw myself into school and then the Schattenjager business with Gabriel, this house was my favorite place in the world.

She felt a curious fluttering in her stomach as she whispered aloud, "the second favorite place."

As she walked back to the living room, the sensation in her middle ceased yet Grace felt as if she had crossed the point of no return. From the moment of her encounter with the unknown entity in Gabriel's room, the feeling of helplessness that had surrounded her faded from every fiber of her being, and she became more driven to find out what was going on; to see what else was in store for her.

Grace lightly rapped on the living room door. "Grandfather?"

There was no answer, and as she opened the door, she saw that Yukio was no longer there.

"Damn it. Where did he go?" Grace asked herself aloud as she went to find him. 

She checked Yukio's bedroom, his study and the meditation room on the ground floor of the house. There was no sign of him. Grace knew that he couldn't have gone to the kitchen, and she automatically declined the thought that Yukio may have ventured outside. 

She walked across the darkened foyer, her gaze drawn to the raging storm outside of the window. Grace could hear the cracking of wood as the wind tore it apart, the sound of the rain hitting the ground with great strength. She felt a chill rip through her body, and she hoped with all her heart that no one was out there. 

Suddenly, Grace heard whispers in the distance. She followed the sound and she realized that the voices of two men were coming from the indoor greenhouse. 

She slowly crept to the door and listened. 

* * * 

Yukio had been alone in his thoughts, cursing himself for allowing his fears to silence him over the years and ultimately hurt Grace. 

I should have told her about this a long time ago.

He stood there in the darkness, amongst the many plants and flowers that he loved to maintain. It was a precious hobby of his, a source of relaxation for when he was troubled. Working in the greenhouse also allowed him the spiritual clarity needed to concentrate on difficult problems, and more importantly, to find the solutions that always lay just beneath the surface of his consciousness.

Not any longer, Yukio thought to himself. I have found nothing here that can help my granddaughter face her fate. If she had known sooner, she could have been prepared for this. I have thrown her onto a dangerous path with no protection. I have killed her. She is as good as dead.

Yukio closed his eyes as tears streaked down his face. A clap of thunder echoed throughout the house, startling him for a moment. As the noise faded, he heard the whispering of words to his soul, infinitely sweet and as comforting as the voice in which they were delivered to him.

There is still hope, Yukio...

His eyes shot open. Sayuri? Where are you?

Yukio was still alone in the greenhouse, but the words continued to flow from the shadows.

Bring her home, Yukio. Our land yearns for her return; it needs her like rain. She must know everything...

He nodded, the feeling of hope making his heart race. Yes. She will finally know the truth.

The voice of Sayuri softened, filling him with warmth. 

Good, noble Yukio. I knew that I had made the right decision when I chose you as her guardian. However, please do not misunderstand my guidance. For Grace to realize what it is to be a true Dragon, you cannot simply tell her in mere words. She must return to the place of her birth, back to Tatsu Island. She must experience the castle and the land, and she will remember! She will remember everything, Yukio.

Yukio took her words to heart, and Sayuri continued. 

She will know exactly what she is, and only when she has accepted her destiny, I will make myself known to her...and to the one that accompanies her. You need not fear him, Yukio. His blood is as sacred as ours is, if not more. All that you must do is bring her home, and the rest depends on her; only she can decide what she must do. She is wise, and her travels with her companion have already allowed her to gain some knowledge of what is required of her. 

Her voice began to fade away, to mingle once again with the storm. Bring her home, and keep her safe. All will be well...

Sayuri was gone, and in her wake, Yukio felt a new sense of determination. 

Yes, my ancestor.