Chapter Two - Sympatico
Chapter Two Sympatico Miyatsu was fascinated by Aiko's small beach house, although by most standards it was modest. The tiny verandah at the front faced towards the nearby beach and was screened with trees. While the city of Kagoshima was within...
The Miyatsu File - Prologue and Chapter One - Bittersweet
Prologue Aiko's father finally gave in to her pleas and agreed to let her see the kittens. "Just remember," he told her as they drove through the Japanese city of Miyatsu to his workplace, "these are genetically-enhanced creatures; they don't...
Here Be Dragons
Here Be Dragons Alison Venugoban I never should have smiled at it. Yes, thinking about it now, that was definitely the wrong thing to do. How often have I been told, never smile at a crocodile? But did I ever bother to ask why not? Well, now I...
The Miyatsu File - Chapter Three - Biology 101
Chapter Three Biology 101 Afternoons no longer held any fear for Aiko. Gone was the once-familiar depression and crushing sense of loneliness that her receptive psychic ability had previously picked up from Miyatsu. It had been replaced by a...
Chapter Twenty One -- Sakura, Sakura, Hanazakari and Epilogue
Chapter Twenty One -- Sakura, Sakura, Hanazakari _(Cherry Blossom, Cherry Blossom, In Full Bloom)_ Aiko sat at the kitchen table with Benjiro on her lap while her mother made a pot of tea. In the two months since she'd been back, the toddler...
The Miyatsu File - Chapter Five - Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This
Chapter Five -- Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This The humid weather had broken during the afternoon and rain splattered in big heavy droplets against the window as Aiko packed up to go home for the day. She went to get her umbrella from the...
Chapter Seventeen -- Message In A Bottle
Chapter Seventeen -- Message In A Bottle Aiko submitted pragmatically to Nurse Rin's efficiency. It wasn't as if she had much choice in the matter, after all. Each evening the sedative tube and catheter would be removed for one hour while...
Chapter Nineteen -- Love Not Human, Redux
Chapter Nineteen -- Love Not Human, Redux Miyatsu's ears pricked and swiveled at the sound of crunching gravel. He shielded from light, flicking into invisibility even as he opened his eyes to see a car drawing up to the entrance of the Raikatuji...
The Miyatsu File - Chapter Six - Who Your Real Friends Are
Chapter Six -- Who Your Real Friends Are Aiko punched the lift button for her office. As the lift rose, she wrapped her arms about herself with a dreamy smile. For once it was not Suzu who was late in to work, but Aiko didn't care. Her mind was...
Chapter Twelve -- Island Idyll
**PART THREE** Chapter Twelve -- Island Idyll The shade cloth flapped gently in the breeze, waking Aiko from the light doze she had slipped into. She yawned lazily and turned her head to see if her mother was awake. Fujimoto Kagami was...
The Miyatsu File Chapter Eight -- A Fraction Legal
Chapter Eight -- A Fraction Legal Aiko returned from a shopping errand one lunchtime to find a visitor at the house. She took one look at the round, cheery man sitting with her mother and father and flung herself at him, hugging him. "Uncle...
Chapter Ten -- Three's A Crowd
Chapter Ten -- Three's A Crowd "Sakaki, this is nice of you, but Miyatsu and I would really rather just go home." "Nonsense! I went to a lot of trouble arranging this party at short notice." Sakaki gazed about the room with satisfaction....