The Darkest Night

by Riolee


Disclaimer: See the disclaimer page.
Notes: See below


The building rose against the Phoenix skyline, gleaming in the sunlight. As they stepped into the opulent lobby, thy were greeted by four burly security guards. Rather than step through the metal detector, Remy withdrew a business card and handed it to the quiet Asian who had joined them. "Give this to the Clanmaster,"  he said firmly.

The Asian studied the card, then withdrew silently. Within minutes, he returned and motioned Remy and Jubilee around the metal detector, escorting them into the elevator and pressing a button.

The elevator opened onto a floor as spacious and gorgeous as the lobby. The corner office was the only one with a closed door. The Asian man silently opened the door, and motioned Remy and Jubilee through, and into the office. As they stepped in, Jubilee gasped.

The office was done in shades of scarlet and ivory. The carpet was a plush ivory shade, with red and white leather furniture. The massive redwood desk held a bare amount of paperwork. The wet bar was also made of redwood, and potted plants filed the corners. The two outer walls consisted of floor to ceiling windows, affording a beautiful view of Phoenix. On the walls were two tapestries, one of a scarlet dragon on a white background, the other of an ivory dragon on a scarlet background.

As they approached the redwood desk, Remy gave the white leather chair behind the desk an amused smile. "Clanmaster, I am Remy LeBeau." He gestured to the veiled woman with him. "Dis be Jubilation Lee."

The chair spun around, revealing a striking young woman of obvious Asian descent. Her almond shaped eyes were of a black shade, her flawless skin a golden colour. Her long hair curled around her slender frame, held back by a red and white circlet. Her tightly toned body was extremely curvaceous, emphasized by her ivory pantsuit.

She studied the two of them for a long moment, then pushed a manila envelope towards him. "As you requested." Her low voice was almost husky, with a strange accent.

Remy made no move to take it, however. "De price?" he inquired with a raised brow. "I remember a price being attached, Clanmaster."

At that, she grimaced. "I・ll add it to the list, Remy." She rose and circled her desk, settling on the corner.

"Sure y・ will," he answered good-naturedly. When she scowled at him, he grinned and rose as well, catching her in a hug. "How I missed y・, chere," he murmured in her hair.

"Charmer," she answered, returning his embrace with equal affection.

Remy finally released her, turning to Jubilee. "Dis be Yukiko Chang, p・tite." He had entwined his fingers with Yukiko・s. "She be de Clanmaster here."

Jubilee raised a brow, finally shedding her veil. "Oh?"

Yukiko nodded solemnly. "I am the Clanmaster of the White Dragon here in the States." When Jubilee raised her brow again, Yukiko sighed. "I answer only to the Dragonlord, Jubilation." She paused. "Well, both Dragonlords."

"Both?"

She nodded. "I am the Clanmaster, and I am a Clanmember of the Red Dragon." A flutter of surprise crossed Jubilee・s features, making Yukiko scowl. "My father was a Red Dragon, and my mother was a White Dragon. I have immunity in both."

"So how do you know the Cajun?"

"He and I crossed paths three years ago. He was doing a theft for New Orleans, and I was proving my ability to be Clanmaster. We wound up at the same assignment."

"What was your test?" Jubilee asked, fascinated by the woman・s accent and story.

Yukiko grimaced deeply, glancing at Remy. "I・m the first female Clanmaster. All Clanmasters must be able to resist a woman・s charm. Otherwise, a lover could be fatal."

Remy blinked. "But, y・ be a femme, chere."

Yukiko shrugged. "In my case, it was to resist your charms."

"Quoi?"

"I have a weakness for exotic men. The others thought you・d qualify." Yukiko shrugged again. "With males, they assign a spy. With me, they had a doctor examine me."

Jubilee snorted. "How does a doctor tell if you・ve succumbed to a man・s charm?" When Yukiko gave her a pitying look, she suddenly felt foolish. "Oh."

"Of course, I・m now free to choose my lovers as I will." Yukiko smiled in amusement. "Men are prostitutes, Miss Lee. They・ll trade sex for power."

Remy scowled at her. "When y・ get dis cynical?"

"When somebody started calling me at godawful hours."

"It got results, non?"

"I still think you need a gun shoved up your whoring -" she was cut off by Remy, who clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Later, chere," he winked at her provocatively. "Jubilee might jealous, neh?"

Jubilee almost burst into laughter at the exchange. "What is there to be jealous of, Gumbo?" she teased.

Yukiko smacked Remy・s hand away, giving Jubilee an approving look. "Fast learner."

Remy raised his hands heavenward in an appeal. "Why y・ do dis to Remy? What Remy do dat make y・ treat him like dis?" It wasn・t quite apparent if he was talking to the two Asian women, or to a higher power.

None of them answered.

*****

"Nice place," Jubilee said as she entered Yukiko・s home in Scottsdale.

"Oui," Remy answered absently. "Yukiko get de best she can. She be a lady, t・rough ・n t・rough."

"Did you really call her in the middle of the night, Gumbo?" Jubilee settled herself comfortably on Yukiko・s couch. The Clanmaster was doing some digging, and would be in later.

Remy laughed at that. "Oui, p・tite. When Yukiko bothered like dat, she curse worse than any truck driver. Never believed de Clanmaster sound like dat."

Jubilee studied her friend closely. "You love her."

Remy blinked at her. "Oui, p・tite, dat I do. But no・ like y・ be talking. If things be diff・rent, mebbe Yukiko ・n Remy be a couple. She be an old friend, p・tite, dat all."

She shrugged and sat back, wincing. "When is she gonna get a healer?" She knew it sounded like a whine, but she didn・t care.

He started to answer, but was cut off as a black clad figure leaped from a high beam against the ceiling and tackled him. "Merde!" he swore. The figure grasped his hands and pinned them above his head, straddling his stomach easily.

"You are getting soft, my Cajun amigo," the figure・s muffled voice said. With a free hand, the black hood was yanked off swiftly, a swath of rich black hair falling free.

"Yukiko Chang, dat not funny!" Remy snarled.

She let him up and smiled charmingly. "Of course it was. You couldn・t beat me then, and you still can・t." She vanished into her room, returning in moments, dressed in tight blue jeans, black boots, and a tight black silk tank top. When Remy continued to glare at her, she tossed another manila envelope at him. "Marshall Peterson will see you in Los Angeles in three days. Go to the address listed."

"How did you wing that?" Jubilee inquired.

"Connections, Miss Lee." Yukiko reached her hands out, cupping the younger woman・s face. Her hands began to glow a pale green, her eyes fading into a green the same shade as the light around her hands.

Remy watched as the burns faded from Jubilee・s face and throat, as Yukiko・s healing light enveloped both of them. She had never mentioned what her mutation entailed, or how it had manifested itself. When Yukiko finally dropped her hands, she looked exhausted.

Jubilee, on the other hand, looked radiant. "Wow・that was weird. How does it work?"

"I do not know, Miss Lee. Only that I can do it. I do not question, I simply accept."

*****

It was later when Jubilee realised that Remy and Yukiko were in her room. She had been given a guest room, but she had never bothered to ask where Remy would be sleeping.

Except the soft murmurs, and almost passionate moans, informed Jubilee that Remy was not sleeping. Nor was Yukiko.

"Just friends, huh?" she muttered. "Friends and casual lovers, Gumbo." She yanked her pillow over her head, trying to go back to sleep.

And trying to ignore the tiny voice of jealousy.

*****

"Are y・ sure y・ cannot come wit・ us, chere?" Remy asked, his arms wrapped around Yukiko, his fingers absently tracing her markings of the Red Dragon and the White Dragon.

She gave him a slightly sleepy smile, all of her defenses dropped. "I am Clanmaster, Remy," she said, her exotic accent thickening. "I cannot simply abandon my duties here."

"Why not?"

"You are heir to the Guildmaster of New Orleans, Remy. You tell me."

He closed his eyes, ignoring the stab of disappointment. He had known what her answer would be, but a part of him was still hoping. "Cannot blame a man f・r trying, chere."

Yukiko pushed herself upright, propping herself on her elbow. "Remy, you do not want me to go with you. This is not your mission of personal vengeance. It is hers. She needs your help, your support, your love. Give it to her."

"Chere・"

"Goodnight, Remy."

*****

Yukiko saw them off the next morning, laden with supplies and information. Remy tried, one last time, to get her to go with them, but she demurred. Instead, she handed him two gold medallions on black cords.

"What dis?"

"Entrance to wherever you are going, for both you and Miss Lee. She is, by birth, a member of the Red Dragon. This indicates she is under the protection of another Red Dragon Clanmember. You are, by my choice, an honourary Clanmember. You will not be challenged."

"If we are?"

"Then demand to see the Red Dragonlord. My grandfather will recognise my sigil." She drew him close and kissed him lightly. "Go now, before I talk you out of going."

"Chere -" He broke off, startled by the sheen of tears in her eyes.

"Don・t worry about me, Remy. I love you - always have. But you have other things to do." Yukiko released him, and stepped back. "Go, Remy. Go, and do not return."

Something twisted in his chest, but he turned and made his way to the Jeep.

*****

Jubilee stepped from the house, watching Remy climb into the Jeep. Yukiko was beside her, her face calm and composed.

"You love him, don・t you?" Jubilee burst out.

"Yes, Miss Lee, I do." Yukiko looked at her, a tinge of regret in her eyes. "I also avoided the truth about my abilities. My healing works as I am an empath. I took your injuries and made them my own. And I could sense his feelings, and yours."

"Excuse me?"

"You and he are falling in love with one another, Miss Lee. I will not stand between that." Yukiko took a step back. "All I ask is that you take care of him for me."

"I will, Clanmaster," Jubilee promised. Then she joined Remy in the Jeep, and they sped off into the distance.

-Finis Chapter Three-



Author's notes: I apologise to everyone who had to wait for this next chapter. I got into a deadly match with Writer's Block. Have you ever seen what happens when the match is Irate Writer vs. Writer's Block? Not pretty...

That, and my Muse decided to dump a whole new writing idea into my lap. I had to rough her up a bit for that.

Enjoy (and here's to hoping the chapters come out more often)!
Riolee