A God We Can Believe In

By The Jersey Boy

NOTES: This is probably one of the first, if not the only, Bow/Katt romance here. Most people pair up humanoids with humanoids…but not me! You gots a problem wittat? But this isn't just a simple romance story… it's part of something far… grander. *Looks into the sky* AHEM! Enjoy this, and R/R! What's that? Step out of the car please.

^_^

"Yoh, welcome home!" Cried Rand in delight from the steps of the Bateson Mansion. "I thought you guys were NEVER coming back!"

"Well, we had our good buddy with us!" Said Bow, slapping Ryu on the back. If the impact affected Ryu, the Fatal Child gave no indication. His face was a stone, and etched on it was a solemn, contemplative expression. His mother killed herself for him, his father was going to wait out his life in some dumb machine… what would be next?

"Buddy? Ryu!" Bow snapped his fingers in front of Ryu's eyes twice, and Ryu blinked.

"I'm sorry, what?"

Bleu laughed. "You've been through quite a lot, haven't you?"

"No…" He answered with a slight smile. "We've been through quite a lot. We did this all together."

Nina hugged him, impulsively. "That's right. We're a team."

Ryu held Nina tightly for a few moments, then they all went inside to talk about what to do next.

"What's wrong with Niro?" Ryu asked, indicating the elderly man who was passed out over the desk.

"He found out that Charcoal does have a use after all." Sten answered.

"Yeah, man…" Said Niro, lifting his head, "It's some good stuff."

Ryu rolled his eyes. "So guys! We still have a ton of work to do."

"Like what?" Katt asked, her tail twitching across the floor.

"Well, we have to establish a safe, believable religion, with a god that everyone can believe in without worrying that they're sending their feelings to some giant, horned motherf*cker deep underground."

"I hear that." Said Bow.

"But what about the Dragon God?" Yua asked, coming downstairs.

Ryu smiled at his sister. "I don't think everyone in the world feels comfortable praying to a god that only a certain clan used to believe in."

Yua nodded.

"How would we spread this religion?" Jean asked. "Would we sing about it?"

"No… we'll have churches, just like St. Eva, but they'll be honest churches. No lying, energy sending, or whatever."

Everyone voiced their agreement.

"So our first task," Ryu continued, "Is to split up to get the first churches built."

"Uh, hang on, hang on…" Spar interrupted, "But you did not tell us the name of this god yet."

Ryu smiled. "Just God will do for now. So here's what we'll do: Rand, Sten, and I will head to where Evrai once stood and build a new Grand Church, this time for God. Bow and Katt, you go to Capitan and build the Church of God where Sana's house used to be. Finally, Nina, Bleu, and Jean, do the same in Farmtown. Understood?"

Everyone voiced agreement again.

"And who will be head minister of the Grand Church?" Spar asked.

Ryu simply smiled.

Two days later, after having said formal and not-so-formal good-byes to everyone, the group of 9 warriors split up to start spreading the belief in God. Mina carried Nina, Bleu and Jean across the ocean to Farmtown, Ryu transformed into the Great Dragon and flew Rand and Sten to Evrai Island, and Bow and Katt set off on foot for Capitan.

The sun was overhead, and the Beaks were chirping in the bushes as the pair walked silently along the grassy plain. Finally, Katt decided to break the silence.

"So… uh, heh, heh… we did a great job, didn't we?"

"Yup." Bow said.

Katt frowned. Bow never DID have a way with words.

"I'm just sorry I wasn't in Infinity with you when you killed off Deathevn."

Bow nodded. "Yeah."

"Was he really hard to kill?"

"Well, the whole fight took us about 3 hours, so what do you think?"

At first, Katt thought he was genuinely angry with her, but when she glanced over at him, she saw a twinkle of humor in his canine eyes.

"I once fought a guy in the Coliseum who was so incredibly tough… he had like, 600 HP or something…" She laughed, remembering how she still managed to knock the man silly.

"I've never been much of a fighter." Bow said. "I like to hunt, and I like to help people with healing magic, but you'd never see ME at a fight club."

Katt was surprised at Bow, who seemed to have opened up to conversation a bit. "But you fought with Ryu."

"Yeah, but that's because we've been buds for over 10 years… I'd do anything for the guy."

Katt smiled. Bow's heart was so pure. "You two certainly have a great friendship."

"Yeah… right when Evan was about to shatter my crystal, the last thing I remember was the pain on Ryu's face." The Plains Runner seemed to sadden, contradicting his usual, cheerful nature. Katt absently took his hand.

By now they had reached Coursair, and decided to have a snack at the pub, then continue on to Windia where they would rest for the evening.

"What can I get this lovely couple?" The man behind the counter asked.

Katt immediately blushed. "We're… we're not a 'couple,' we're just working… together."

The man grinned. "Ah, it's okay… denial is not just a river in Egypt, you know."

By now both Katt and Bow had blushed a deep, crimson hue. "We're not going out." Katt insisted.

"Ah, very well. What'll it be?"

"I'll have a hamburger, well-done, with extra onions." Bow said.

"Oy, Marty!" The man called into the kitchen, "Burn a cow and make her cry!" He turned back. "And for the lovely lady?"

"I think I'll have the same thing." Katt replied.

The man turned to the kitchen again. "Marty, make that double, don't gimme no trouble!" He smiled. "Be right with you." And he exited.

While they waited for their food, Bow fidgeted nervously with his fork. Katt swished her tail around the feet of the chair, biting her lip.

Bow took looked up quickly at the cat warrior across from him. He understood why the waiter thought they were going out… but he never really considered it possible. What could such a strong fighter feel for a mutt like him, anyway.

Meanwhile, Katt was having similar thoughts. She was always amused by Bow's constant carefree, cheerful nature… it always brought a smile to her face… but she had NEVER thought of it as attraction. Besides, the cumbadda-cheech (Best Friend, translation… I dunno, ask Curtis Sliwa --TJB) of Ryu Bateson, the Destined Child, wouldn't sink down so low as to go out with someone like her. Would he…? She stole a quick glance across the table, and their eyes met for a few short, but blissful seconds. There was that twinkle in Bow's eyes again, not bright in appearance, but burning into Katt's soul. Bow saw the same Katt he had known since the beginning of the journey, but he was looking at her different. He couldn't tell, but something was different about her.

This moment was interrupted by the waiter, who was standing at the table with their food. For how long, they didn't know.

"Ah, I saw that gaze!" He declared with a grin. "I have played matchmaker, yes? Eee, hee, hee! Enjoy the food!"

Katt quickly cleared her throat and dug in, and Bow followed suit. They both tried to discard the thought of being attracted to each other. But each time they killed the notion, it resurrected itself with tenfold the power.

"All done are we?" The waiter asked, sweeping back to their table. "Wonderful! That'll be 35 Zenny, please."

"I'll pay for my stuff…" Katt began reaching into her travel bag. Suddenly, she felt a furry hand on her arm.

"Let me." Bow said with a grin. "It's the least I can do."

Katt's breathing became a bit faster, but she smiled and said, "Okay, Bow. Thanks!"

Bow paid the waiter, and gave him a handsome 15 Zenny tip.

"Ah, bless you!" The waiter declared. "You two run along now! Have fun! Not too much, though… Hee, hee, hee!"

Katt rolled her eyes, and followed Bow out of the pub.

"Well, if we want to make Windia before dark, we better shake a leg." Bow said, looking skyward.

"How about shake a tail?" Katt joked, jerking her tail up and down.

Bow laughed. "Good one!" He looked at his own tail. "I can't do anything with this thing…"

She laughed as well, and gave him a quick hug. "Such a playful animal!" She stared into his eyes again, the twinkle returning in them.

She quickly looked away. "Come on, let's move."

"Right."

They set out on the road again, holding hands, just so they didn't lose each other in the rapidly approaching darkness. (Yeah, right! --TJB)

Meanwhile…

"Yo Rand! I need some more nails, here!" Sten called.

Rand took several nails in his mouth, balled up and rolled across the large beam to where Sten stood, wearing a hard hat.

"You look ridiculous in that thing, monkey boy!" Rand chuckled.

"Yeah, whatever. What's Ryu been doing with himself while we've been slaving up here?"

"I'm slaving down here!" Ryu called.

Sten looked down the foundation to see Ryu banging up beams in what appeared to be a basement.

"This church is going to have a basement?" Sten asked.

"Yeah… for the Highlander sacrificing ritual!" Ryu cackled.

Sten trembled so much that Rand had to grab him so he didn't fall off the beam.

"Just kidding." Said Ryu with a grin.

"DON'T DO THAT!" Sten screamed. "That ain't nowhere NEAR funny!"

"I thought it was a riot." Rand said.

"Grr…" Sten kept his anger within, and started working on the Church again.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Being written by The Jersey Boy

Name, License, and Registration, please.

Email me at: [email protected]

(Note: My spellchecker is soooo pissed at me now! I hate that

thing… *^_^*)