Aishiteru Means I Love You

"This meeting of The Quarrymen will come to order." said Castaway, tapping his gavel.

"I'll have a cheeseburger and fries!" snickered a short, pudgy man with a brown mustache. The musclebound man sitting next to him snickered.

"Lou," sighed a slim woman with brown curls. "That joke wasn't funny the first 200 times. It's still not funny!"

"Thank you, Beatrice." said Castaway. "Now, if we could get down to business. It has come to my attention that the Gargoyle Problem is even worse than previously believed. I'm sure you all remember the gargoyle riot at the start of 1997." Castaway showed his audience slides of the gargoyles "rioting" in Times Square. "We learned terrible things about the Gargoyles then. We learned that women are not safe from their carnal desires." He showed a slide of Brooklyn carrying off a screaming, obviously terrified woman. (He was actually carrying her to safety, a truth that Castaway did not burden the listeners with.) "We learned that gargoyle females are, if anything, even more savage than the males." He showed a slide of Angela crouched on the back of a terrified, prostate man as Katana was prepared to behead him with her sword, both with their eyes blazing red. The slide was actually a clever PhotoShop. The image of Wolf had been replaced with an image of a man Castaway found in an advertisement for debt relief. In reality, Wolf had managed to throw Angela off his back and escape before Katana could carry out the beheading. "We learned that even their young have savagery from the very beginning." He showed a slide of Nashville administering a flying kick to Jackal, whose image had been cleverly retouched to make him look fully human.

"Mr. Castaway?" said a plump woman with short blonde hair. "I'd like to say again, I'm not sure I like the idea of endangering children."

"Nits make lice, Sarah." said Beatrice. "And these monsters can hardly be called children!"

"Do not think that merely because they are young they are innocent." said Castaway. "Gargoyles don't love or care for their young as humans do. Reproduction is merely a biological urge for them. Gargoyles are bred for evil from the very beginning. In case you've forgotten how much brutality a young gargoyle is capable of...." Castaway showed a slide of Lexington digging his talons into Hyena's forehead as he sat on her shoulders, eyes glowing. The photo was cropped and retouched to make Hyena look as much like a typical, innocent woman as possible.

"It was not long after that," Castaway continued. "That we learned how far into evil and carnal decadence Gargoyles will sink to." He showed slides of photos Lexington and Staghart posed for in /The Rainbow Connection/.

"I'll kill those ass fucking fags!" The musclebound man sprung to his feet.

"Whoa, Chaz, settle!" said Lou.

"Really, there's no need for foul language!" sniffed Sarah.

"It was here we see how diabolic Gargoyles are with their young." said Castaway. "The small, green one couldn't be much older than twelve. To them, their young are merely toys to practice their pederastic acts on."

"Murder 'em, murder 'em!" growled Chaz. "Cut 'em both up, rip 'em to pieces...."

"Well, it's hardly the younger one's fault." said Sarah.

"It's bred into them, Sarah." said Beatrice. "If it makes you feel better, think of killing a young gargoyle as putting it out of its misery."

"If I may say something, Mr. Castaway." said a tall man. "I don't think that one's a child. It may be short like that other one, but it has too much muscle mass to be a child."

"How dare you question our leader's judgment?" snapped Beatrice, rising to her feet.

"Bea, try to calm down!" said Sarah, touching her arm.

"Hey, I'm just saying that that gargoyle might be an adult." said the tall man.

"All the more reason to kill the damn thing!" said Chaz.

"Yeah!" said Lou. "We got enough problems with human queers spreading disease without adding these vermin to the mix!"

Castaway tapped his gavel. "It's this gargoyle," Castaway pointed to the image of Staghart. "The most bestial one we've seen to date that brings me to something that has come to my attention. It appears that America is not the only country with a Gargoyle problem. This one, in fact, is an invader from outside our country." He switched the slide to one of a blurry white object seen among the silhouettes of trees at night. "This photo was taken at Windsor Park in London, England. It was published in a tabloid as 'The Ghost of Herne the Hunter', a local folk hero. However, with some clarification:" A better focused version of the photo was shown. "We can see what are clearly wings. What sort of ghost would have wings? Even without the magnification, you could clearly tell that this 'ghost' had horns like this new enemy of ours."

"So what?" said a man in the audience. "If there's Gargoyles in other countries, it ain't our problem."

"That's exactly what Americans thought before World War II." Castaway pointed out. "And then, Japan made it our problem. Which brings me to something that has come to my attention. There is, in Japan, a town heavily infested with Gargoyles. This infestation makes our problem look small in comparison. The poor people in this community are burdened by the demands of their harsh Gargoyle masters. Someone must save this village! The Japanese government can't seem to trouble themselves with such a small village. And do you really think Clinton can stop fondling interns enough to be bothered?" There was laughter in the audience. "I urge you, fellow Quarryman, to take up arms with me and liberate this town from its Gargoyle Menace! Our funds are such that fifteen Quarrymen and myself can go to Japan. If anyone cares to purchase their own ticket and join us, they are welcome to do so."

"I'll go if I have to buy my own ticket!" shouted Beatrice.

"You can count on me, John!" Chaz took to his feet. "I'll kill every fucking one of 'em!"

"Chaz, we ain't got passports." said Lou.

"Passport applications will be handed out to anyone who requests one." said Castaway. "The list of Quarrymen I have selected to join me in Japan will be posted by the end of the week." He knew Chaz would be on the list. He wasn't very bright, but he was muscle and rage. Chaz had gone into such a paroxysm of blind fury when Castaway first announced that gargoyles practiced homosexuality that he feared Chaz might take his anger out on the messenger. Fortunately, his loyal bodyguards had been there for him.

Beatrice was on the short list too. She wasn't strong, but she was swift, loyal and an excellent sharp shooter- a much better candidate than her dumpy, weak-willed sister, Sarah. Oh well, he'd be grateful to Sarah for recruiting her. Beatrice also had those graphic arts skills that helped him make such a convincing slide show. Castaway fondly remembered how Beatrice held that gargoyle loving whore at bay while he retrieved his hammer. She showed him just last week how good she was with a gun at the firing range. And then there had been that nice dinner afterwords. Perhaps Beatrice would be the fitting first lady his organization needed.

"I-I can't be away from my children for so long." said Sarah. "But, I wish you the best of luck. Those poor villagers, beset by those monsters!"

"You should bring them with you, Sarah!" urged Beatrice. "Let my niece and nephew see what is being done for them! For all the children!"

"Beatrice is right." said Castaway. "Join me and never worry about these monsters again!"

"I'm in!" shouted another. "Remember Pearl Harbor!"

"Remember Times Square!" shouted another.

"Death to Gargoyles!" Beatrice started the chant. Others quickly joined in. "Death to Gargoyles! Death to Gargoyles!"

Little did they know, Coldstone and Coldfire were perched on the brownstone, using their cyber-enhancements to watch and listen.

"Robyn will not be happy with this news." Coldfire lamented.

"No." agreed Coldstone. "But she must be informed. Come, my love." The two flew away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Alright, I'm doing it." Staghart said to the camera. The background showed an indigo sky- not quite sunset. The Old Temple was close by and a steady "thunk" noise could be heard in the background as the cicadas hummed. "Today, I am getting my ear pierced! And I'm not gonna puss out like I did those times I tried to get Castor and Pollux to do it. And do you know why?"

"Because he is completely shitfaced." said Lexington, holding the camera.

"I am not!" Staghart laughed and held up his sake cup. "How many of these have I had, Toshiro?"

"Four." said the man holding the sake flask. "And you should have another." Toshiro filled the cup. "Four is bad luck."

"Well, wouldn't want that!" Staghart held up his cup. What is it you're supposed to say? Gone by?"

"Ganbai!" Toshiro shouted with enthusiasm.

"Yeah! Ganbai!" Staghart gulped down another shot of sake. "Right. Angela's volunteered to do it for me. Lex, get a shot of Angela!" Angela was still in her pink bikini but had dressed it up with a matching sarong. She was threading a needle while Broadway lit a candle. Some cotton swabs and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide stood on the picnic table. "Wave hello to everyone in London, Angela!" Angela smiled and waved at the camera. "Isn't she pretty? Alright, let's get this over with!" Staghart sat near Angela and held out his ear.

"Hang on a moment." she said, straightening out the thread. "I gotta get this good and hot." Broadway put a beach towel over Staghart's shoulders.

"Say, what's this for?" asked Staghart.

"Oh, I'll try not to hit a vein or anything." said Angela, running the tip of the needle over the candle flame. "But, accidents happen and a little cartilage might drip out."

"Toshiro!" Staghart held up his cup. Toshiro filled it again. Staghart slugged it down. "Alright! Do it!" Staghart took a deep breath and steeled himself.

"Hold the ear out straight, Broadway." said Angela, wiping the soot off the needle with a corner of the beach towel. "I don't wanna mish."

"Mish?" said Staghart as Broadway held Staghart's right ear out.

"Just kidding!" laughed Angela. "Haven't touched a drop, really."

"Oh, just stick it in already!" Staghart said impatiently.

"Is that what he said?" Angela asked.

"Hey!" Broadway laughed. "Angela just made a dirty joke! Not bad for a first try, sweetheart!"

"Want me to hold your hand?" Lex volunteered.

"Yeah, OK." Staghart took Lex's hand in his and tried to steady his breathing.

"Here it goes!" said Angela, driving the needle in.

"Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger!" Staghart yelled as he squeezed Lex's hand with one hand and splintered the edge of the wooden table with the talons on his other hand.

"OK, you're going to be OK." Angela said reassuringly. "No blood, I missed the vein, we've just got a tiny bit of cartilage to wipe off." She cleaned it with the towel. "Let me just tie it off here." Angela knotted up the thick black thread that was hanging in Staghart's ear. /Good, it's over./ Staghart thought with a sigh. "Broadway, the Q-Tip!" Broadway prepared a Q-Tip with peroxide. Angela touched it to the new hole.

"Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger!" Staghart yelled as the wound foamed.

Angela blew on the wound. "Just means it's working!" she told him. "There, you're all done! Just remember to rotate it every once in a while and make sure it's in when you turn to stone or you'll heal up. Get the knot in the hole for best effect."

"More sake?" Toshiro offered.

"More sake." Staghart accepted. He swigged it down and shivered. "Could someone tell me what that annoying 'doink' sound is?"

"Doink?" asked Toshiro.

"Yeah, don't you hear it?" A hollow thump sounded yet again. "What the hell is that?"

"Oh, that's just the shishi odoshi." said Toshiro. "It's a clever device made with bamboo and a small fountain. That sound is the bamboo striking the rock underneath it."

"Well, it's bloody annoying!" said Staghart. "What do you want something like that for?"

"Because...." Toshiro looked uncomfortable for a moment. The sky went dark and stone could be heard breaking as the Ishimura gargoyles woke with a series of roars. "Oh, look! Everyone's up!"

'Really? Well, I better go and inner-doose myself." Staghart stood, allowing the towel to slip off his shoulders.

"I didn't want to tell him." Toshiro whispered to Angela and Broadway. "'Shishi odoshi' means 'deer chaser'. We use it to scare deer away from the garden." The couple chuckled.

Lexington turned off the camera, put the lens cap back on and zipped it up inside its carrying case. "Enjoying your stay in Japan so far, Lex?" asked Xanatos, nursing his own cup of sake.

"Other than my boyfriend getting drunk," said Lex. "Pretty good."

"I've seen drunk." said Xanatos. "He's not there yet. He's just buzzed."

"Still, I hope he doesn't try gliding for a good while."

"I talked to Owen on the phone earlier today." said Xanatos. "You remember that computer software that you talked me into reprogramming before making available on the market? Well, selling like proverbial hotcakes!" Xanatos finished his drink and wrote something on a napkin. "I figure it's only fair for you to get half the proceeds. This is your share." He showed Lex the number. He didn't think it was possible, but the little gargoyle's eyes got even bigger.

"That...that's a lot of numbers!" said Lex.

"And it's expected to rise before the next quarter." Xanatos took a card out of his wallet. "I took the liberty of putting your money in a bank account under the name Victor Lexington. This would be your debit card. Are you OK with that name?"

"Uh, yeah, it's OK." said Lex, looking at the card Xanatos just handed him.

"So...what do you plan on buying with your first million?"

"Well...I kinda owe Vinnie a motorcycle. Maybe I'll get him something nicer than the one I wrecked. Brooklyn can help me pick out something." Lex smiled and flipped open the gPhone Brooklyn had lent him for the night. "And I know exactly what I want shipped here overnight express!" He signed on to Amazon, searched category: jewelry, sub-category: men's earrings. "More than two-thousand results. I'm going to have to narrow this down. Nothing black, that would clash with his fur. Nothing kitschy. No nickle plated, cubic zirconium crap. I'm going for the real thing. Stud? Hoop? Silver? Gold? Any suggestions, Xanatos?"

"For an engagement gift?" Xanatos guessed.

"Um...yeah." Lex said, blushing. "Me and Staghart, we've been together a while and...I want him to be my mate. So...any hints or suggestions?"

"Yes." said Xanatos. "Don't use any jewelry that has an ancient magical curse on it. There's nothing less romantic than watching your lover turn into a howling beast." Xanatos smirked. "Outside the bedroom, that is."

Lex went through the images of men's earrings, mentally dismissing the ones he definitely did not want. "Lexington!" Lex immediately closed the window at the sound of Staghart's voice, wanting to keep this a surprise as long as possible. "Lex, Some of the gargoyles are putting a stage together. Thought it might be fun to do some karaoke and this one bird called Yuri plays electric guitar. Would you be interested in helping them?"

"Sure." said Lex. "Uh, you might wanna carbo-load or something."

"You're a sweetheart." Staghart said, hugging him.

Broadway smelled something very interesting. It was a blend of so many delicious aromas; cheese, yam, cabbage, green onion, bacon, ginger and shrimp. He had to investigate and followed his nose. "Where are you going, Broadway?" Angela asked. She followed him. The smell was soon joined by the unmistakable sound of something being grilled. They came across a large, deep yellow gargoyle with his black hair in an elaborate topknot working at a hibachi with a wooden spatula in each hand. Broadway didn't know what this gargoyle was making, but it smelled wonderful. Broadway smiled and was about to politely ask if he could try some when the yellow gargoyle looked up at them. He smiled broadly, laid aside his spatulas and said "Tenshiko-San!"

"Kaze!" Angela smiled and waved at him. The yellow gargoyle ran up to her and gave her a hug, which she seemed eager to return. Broadway suddenly liked this cook a little less. He also wished Angela was wearing more than just a bikini and sarong. An anorak would be nice. With several layers of long johns underneath.

"Tenshiko-San!" said Kaze, still smiling broadly. "I...speak...Engrish now." It was stilted and highly accented, but coherent.

"Kaze, you do!" said Angela. "And you sound great."

"What's with 'Tenshiko-San'?" asked Broadway.

"Kaze and a few others had trouble with the L in my name." Angela said. "So, they called me 'Tenshiko'. It means 'Angel child'. San means something like 'Miss' or 'Mister' over here."

/She won't even let me call her 'Angie'!/ Broadway thought miserably.

"I can try say your name." said Kaze. "Angera...no...Angelllla! Ange-LA! Angela. Takes very much practice."

"You're doing fine, Kaze." Angela assured him. "What are you cooking?"

"Is okonomiyaki." said Kaze, leading them back to the hibachi. "Is very good. You want try?" Kaze put the grilled dough covered in savory toppings on a plate and offered to cut.

"I'd love some, Kaze." said Angela. Kaze gave her a piece. "How about you. Broadway?"

"I'm not hungry." he said.

Angela had to do a double take. "Broadway? Are you feeling well?"

"I put seaweed flake on it!" Kaze said enticingly. "Seaweed make it taste very good!"

"Hello, Broadway, Angela!" Staghart approached him. "What have we got here? Pizza?"

"It's...." Angela turned to Kaze. "Kaze, would you tell Staghart what this is called again?"

"Okonomiyaki!" Kaze said proudly. "Grilled how you like!" Kaze cut a piece. "Is shrimp, cheese, bacon, vegetable, otafuku sauce and other good things." Staghart tried some. "You like?" asked Kaze.

"It's very good." said Staghart.

"It is." Angela agreed. "Broadway, are you sure you don't want any?"

"I said I'm not hungry!" Broadway said crossly.

"Who are you, and what have you done with Broadway?" asked Staghart.

"Tenshiko-San! Tenshiko-San!" A few hatchlings from the Ishimura Clan recognized the female who had visited them a long time ago.

"Oh, hello, darlings!" Angela put down her okonomiyaki to pick up one of the smaller ones, who had puffy pigtails. "My, haven't you all gotten big since last time! Aren't they adorable, Broadway?"

Broadway couldn't help smiling. "Yeah. They're cute."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I take full responsibility for my actions." Yama was saying to Goliath, telling him all that had happened since they last met. "Nothing can change the past, but I have learned from it."

"What more can be done?" said Goliath. "I've been deceived a few times myself. When we expect to see good in others, it can be shocking and disappointing when things don't turn out as they seem."

"Sake?" Yama offered.

"A small cup, thank you." Yama served him with a bow. "Arigato." Goliath had learned this and a few other polite words from Katana. He took a sip. "I hope Taro's actions will not sour you on humans completely." said Goliath. "Xanatos has shown that even the worst have some capacity for good. And Elisa...." Goliath smiled. "Where do I begin with Elisa?"

"Are you in a romantic relationship with her?" Goliath lowered his cup as he pondered how to answer the question. "Forgive me, Goliath, it was not my place to ask."

Goliath waved his hand. "Elisa and I...we are courting for want of a better word. She is the best thing that ever came into my life."

"Your life is your own, of course." said Yama. "But, I respectfully advise you against such a relationship." Yama shook his head as he poured himself some sake. "It won't last. She won't be happy having you around only at night. You won't be happy with the fact that she ages twice as fast as you. You'll live in two different worlds and just be driven apart, eventually."

"Do you speak from experience, Yama?" It sounded like he did.

"Hai. It was a long time ago, though. We're still friends, but, I am mated to Sora now, and forever."

"Well," Goliath lifted his cup. "Here's to the ones we lost." They tapped cups together. "And to those we found." They both drank.

"Robyn told me about that punch your daughter landed on Fang." Yama said with a smile. "And that one of your number had a video camera with him. Please tell me he recorded that."

"I'm sure he did." said Goliath. "It's a good thing I turned to stone when I did, or I would've beat him to a pulp." Goliath took another sip. "I must remind myself sometimes, that Angela is an adult. She must be allowed to fight her own battles."

"Say, isn't that your daughter on the stage?" Yama gestured to the impromptu stage that had been set up for karaoke. Staghart was with her and had the mike.

"Fujin to shinshi, madames et monsiers." Staghart said into the mike. "Ladies...and gentlemen." Staghart gave a learing smile. "I am proud to present to you a new talent from America!" He paused for applause and was disappointed when there was none forthcoming. "America?" He prompted some applause. "And she is so charming and talented that yesterday, I told her I wanted her for my wife and she said 'Your wife? What does she want with me?'" A few people laughed. A few had to have it explained to them. "Thank you! Without further ado, I give to you, and don't forget to bring her back when you are finished with her, the Toast of Avalon, Miss Angela! Isn't she bee-yoooo-tiful?" The intro to "Don't Tell Mama" played on the karaoke machine. "And she is hot, hot, hot!" Staghart turned the mike over to Angela.

"Mama," said Angela. "Thinks I'm living in a castle. A castle above the clouds. Somewhere in Manhattan. Mama, doesn't even have an inkling that I'm singing karaoke...in a bikini and sarong!"

"Rather sloppy rhyme." Dingo commented, taking a swig from his bottle of Kirin, as Angela went into her song.

"But she looks hot." said Fang. "So, who cares?"

"Hope you learned your lesson from earlier, mate." Dingo said.

"Yeah, I decided I like having balls." Angela blew a kiss to Goliath after the line "You can tell my papa, that's alright!" line.

"Robyn wants to go up next." Dingo said as Angela played with the lyrics again, claiming to be on a tour of Asia with a couple of her school chums. "Wants to sing some song from one of them James Bond flicks."

"You gonna go up with her later and sing 'I Got You Babe' or something?"

"Depends on how drunk I get."

"But don't tell Mama, kudasai," Angela sang. "Don't tell Mama, please, Sir. Don't tell Mama, what you know!" She put her fingers to her lips and made a "sh" sound. "If you see my, Mummy, Mum's the word!" There was applause as Staghart took the microphone back.

"Thank you, Miss Angela!" he said. "Isn't she bee-yooo-tiful?" Angela left the stage. "And now, the performing 'For Your Eyes Only', the lovely bride-to-be, put your hands together for Robyn!"

Robyn took the mike as the music played. "For your eyes only can see me through the night. For your eyes only I never need to hide. You can see so much in me so much in me that's new. I never felt until I looked at you." Dingo smiled and just focused on her.

"Enjoying yourself so far?" Dingo looked up to see Staghart with the video camera.

"Havin' a ball, mate!" Dingo said, raising his bottle. "Say, you sure you want the piercing in your right ear? Y'know what it means, right?"

"Yes I know." Staghart got some footage of Robyn singing.

"Hey!" said Fang. "I got a riddle for ya! How many homos does it take to put in a light bulb? Just one, but it takes a whole emergency team to...." Fang was cut off when a white fist right crossed him across the face.

"Hold this for me, please?" Staghart asked, handing Dingo the camera.

"Sorry, Fang." Dingo said, preparing to film the butt-whooping that was about to start. "But you brought this on yourself, mate."

A/N: Just some song lyric credits. "The Gambler", as I should've mentioned in the last chapter, was written by Don Schlitz. "Don't Tell Mama" is by Fred Ebb. "For Your Eyes Only" is by Bill Conti and Mike Leeson. Next chapter, Fang gets his ass handed to him.