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...
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...
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 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...
Chapter Eleven -- Departure
Chapter Eleven -- Departure Miyatsu's prediction concerning the Gigantos on the circuit proved correct. Sisyro and Miyatsu had been the two top contenders; with them both out of the running, the Gigantos powered through the rest of the circuit...
The Miyatsu File Chapter Seven -- On The Circuit
**PART TWO** Chapter Seven -- On the Circuit Aiko stood at the entrance to the stadium. All around her washed the sounds of GMA battle practice, but she felt a curious sense of unreality. The winter wind was chill, she could feel its icy...
Chapter Nine -- Jealousy, The Green-Eyed Monster
Chapter Nine -- Envy, The Green-Eyed Monster The Circuit Hotel was a pleasant surprise after the depressing greyness of the hospital. It catered to wealthy GMA owners, and as such was equipped to deal with every contingency, from exotic diets to...
Chapter Eighteen -- Family Matters
Chapter Eighteen -- Family Matters The catamaran pulled out smoothly from the jetty, and Miyatsu swung the wheel to head it north. Then he looked to where Montaro and Mieko were sitting, their expressions just a little too innocent in the...
Chapter Thirteen -- Old Friends
Chapter Thirteen -- Old Friends The Expo was a huge affair, drawing visitors not only from Japan, but overseas as well. The stalls ranged from simple canvass-roofed structures, barely large enough to show off one display, to huge prefabricated...
Chapter Twenty -- Where The Heart Is
Chapter Twenty -- Where the Heart Is The boat was one of the numerous research vessels bobbing at anchor at Raikatuji wharf. It was small and slow, but what made it invaluable for their purpose was that the fuel tank was full. And it was still...