Walk in the rain, in the rain, in the rain
I walk in the rain, in the rain
Am I right or am I wrong
and is it here that I belong?
-Tim Jensen
"Rain"


Westmarch greatly reminded Fordo of the Church of England. While Anglicanism is Catholic Light (half the penitence with Pope-free salvation), Westmarch had all the appearance of a big city in about an eighth of the size. About three-hundred-thousand people lived in its most poplulated area. It was a college town with the University right in the heart of the city. Well, closer to the right lung, really, but definitely beneath the ribcage. Home, on the other hand, was around the appendix. It was actually called the appendix because of its location in relation to the University and the fact that so many considered it completely pointless.

However, they did not realise the full importance of this little quadrant.

"Basil Baker was an Oxford graduate, sociology major, I think. Right out of the University he got this idea of founding the Coalition for United Prosperity."

"Kind of rash, isn't it?"

"I don't know. He said he met someone who changed his outlook on life. Nobody knows who, though. Basil seems to keep to himself about his reasonings for the C.U.P." Hiroko turned a sharp corner into a long, gravel drive. "Still, we're glad he did it. Else most of us wouldn't have a home." Fordo sighted an old and tattered brick building. Its windows were boarded up, the door was rotting and the garden was over-run with lenghthy grass and vertically blessed weeds.

"This is where you live?"

"Sure is. I'm kind of proud of my home. After all, it's the only one I've got." She parked the car and climbed out, catching the bright light in her hair, though Fordo understood not how.

Basil Baker saw teh car come up the drive. He saw the girl open the door and coax her companion out from the otehr side. He saw Fordo Summers for the very first time as his lively eyes beheld Home. And then he smiled and sipped his lukewarm tea.

Downstairs, the front door opened and they headed up the stairs and towards Basil's office. It was a large building, full of a musty, sweet odour and scratched hardwood floors. People lived here, that was obvious enough, and seemed to love it. They reached the office door and knocked. "Don't swear too much, okay?" Hiroko requested. "He's not anal about language, but he's very sure there are more creative forms of communication." Fordo nodded.

Basil reached the door and opened it. Before him, Fordo saw a man directly at his eye-level. He was a jovial fellow with laugh lines all-ready growing about his face and an obvious twinkle in his eyes. He had clear, dark skin, short, black hair and was wearing a button down shirt in french blue. He held out his hand and Fordo shook it.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Summers. Welcome Home."

"Thanks. You must be Basil."

"That would be me, yes. I assume you had a pleasant journey." Fordo nodded. "Wonderful. Please," he offered a chair. "Have a seat." Hiroko ran to Basil and embraced him. "Konichiwa, Neko."

"Konichiwa, Basil-sama."

He walked to the desk before Fordo and sat down on its aged top. "Well, Mr. Summers, I'm certainly glad that you're here." However, Fordo did not seem glad himself. Basil tilted his head to observe his student. "Is something troubling you?"

Fordo took a deep breath. He was still dealing with what Hiroko had told him that morning; about not being able to die. "Dr. Baker, are you a man of science?"

"For my part, yes."

His hands were shaking in his lap. "Can you fix me?"

He could sense the man's eyes narrowing. "Fix you?"

"Yes. So that....I'm not different. So there's nothing wrong with me."

"Nothing is wrong with you," sighed Basil. "You are absolutely fine."

"If I was fine I could die." Despite himself, Fordo glanced up into Basil's eyes. They were looking firmly at the boy, intending to make his purpose as unquestionable as possible.

"You are exactly what was intended for you to be. What is to be will be and what you are you always were. I know it doesn't seem fair or possible and I know it doesn't make sense. But this is you destiny and you must realise that it could be unchanging."

Fordo could feel Hiroko's eyes on him. Christ, this was embarrassing. "You don't understand, sir. I can't be this way."

"I'm sorry, but you are."

"No, sir. See," He swallowed down the lump in his throat. "I have to get to the Valar."

"Valar, Mr. Summers?" He seemed genuinely curious. Most just scoffed at Fordo's beliefs.

"Yes, the Valar. It's where we go when...when we die." Looking up again at Basil, Fordo saw his eyes fill with concern. "If I don't get to the Valar, I'll never meet the children of Illúvatar. My mother would be furious." He could feel himself blushing.

"Oh, I see." Fordo stared at his hands, still shaking rapidly. Why was he bringing this up now? He'd hate for Basil to think he was some overly religious freak, because he wasn't. And what would Hiroko think? The man before him leaned forward. "If this is that important to you, I will assist as best I can."

"No, sorry. I-it's not. I'm idiotic, don't mind it at all, sir."

"Mr. Summers, there is nothing wrong with having beliefs. Trust me, I know. You'll find your paradise someday, I promise that." He patted Fordo's shoulder foundly, offering comfort. "Now, then. You probably want to let go of your belongings, so I'll allow that. Hiroko?"

"Hai!"

"Would you please escort Mr. Summers to his room?"

"Hai!" She leapt off of the counter where she perched and headed for the door, closely followed by Fordo.

At the last minute, though, he turned back around to face Basil. "Dr. Baker?"

"Yes?"

"Call me Fordo?"

"Of course." The doctor smiled and went back to his work. Behind him, the office door closed and his visitors went on.

Hiroko led Fordo up another flight of stairs and into a near corridor filled with the sunlight that flowed through the window at the end. "Welcome to your corridor." Around him, Fordo saw chipping paint and scratches in the hardwood floor. It was remarkably clean compared to the condition, though not staunchily so. This area was lived in and loved and he could tell that. They headed down the corridor to the final door on the left-hand side. "This is your room."

The door was opened with a flourish of grandeur and they both entered. It was a fairly large room with white-washed walls and the same aged hardwood floor that sloped throughout the building. There was a closet behind the door, empty but for its population of hangers, and a bed, messily made, sitting in the opposite corner. On the east wall were two large windows, over-looking part of the appendix and filling the room with light.

"I know it's kind of empty, but that means you've got a new canvas to play in."

Fordo smiled. "Sounds very optimistic."

Outside the room there came the sound of soft footsteps, racing towards the room they were in. Fordo saw a small face poke through his bedroom door and two huge, gleaming blue eyes searching for something.

,,Schwesi!" A small girl, somewhere between the ages of six and ten, raced into the room and monkey-hugged Hiroko.

"Mika! How're you felling?"

,,Toll."

"Were you a good girl?"

,,Na ja. Wir spiel'n Fußball! Gis lehrt mich."

"Did he?"

,,Ja! Es mach' Spaß!"

"That's wonderful, Mika." She turned towards Fordo with her ward in her arms. The girl was wearing a long and heavy overcoat and no shoes. On her back sat a strange looking bulge that protruded slightly into the coat. She was one of those very cute children who could smile and everything would be better somehow. "Mika, say hello to Fordo, please."

The girl slipped out of Hiroko's arms and looked up at Fordo. ,,Hallo!"

"Hi," replied Fordo. He bent down to better observe the girl before him. "What's your name?"

She took a deep breath and proceeded quickly. ,,Ich heiss' Mika Kleinbär, bin acht Jahre alt und meine Lieblingsfarb'st blau. Ich mag Tigern. Sind Sie ein'n Tiger?" She looked at him piercingly.

"I haven't any ida what you just said."

,,Ich weiß." She looked up at Hiroko. ,,Ist'r dumm?"

Hiroko studied him for a moment, attempting to decide her answer. "No," she replied finally. "He just can't understand you."

,,Warum?"

"He speaks English."

,,Vati spricht English. Er versteht mich."

"Basil also speaks what you do."

,,Stimmt." She sighed. "Sprich'du mit'm?"

"Yes."

,,Soll ich geh'n?"

"Probably."

,,Okay." The girl hugged Hiroko again. ,,Ich lieb' dich, Schwesi."

"And I you." She hugged the girl tightly. "Say goodbye to Fordo, please."

She turned back to Fordo. ,,Tschüs Tiger." Then she tripped out of the room and through the door.

Fordo turned to Hiroko with a look of utter puzzlement. "I am so confused."

"She does that." Hiroko walked over to the window to look out at the city. "She likes you."

"How could you tell?" He wandered over to where she stood, staring out.

"You have a nickname." Her grin was bright and truly amused. "Tiger, though. Don't know if it suits you."

"Who was that?"

"Mika Kleinbär, our resident Jew." She shook her head sadly. "I still don't understand how she can be so happy."

"Why wouldn't she be?"

She turned and faced him directly, invoking an air of extreme importance. "There are things in this world that we can't understand. Big, scary things; and no one sees them because they're too worried of getting involved. Of being on the wrong side of the revolver. So they stay blind and pretend to be happy. They sit in silence, ignoring the war around them like strangers in a café ignore the shattering glass in the kitchen and the child crying in the next booth. Ignore it, and it'll disappear." Hiroko paused for a moment and glanced at her watch. "Dinner's at six tonight. Come if you want, leave when you must. We can talk more tomorrow."

She let herself out and headed down the hallway. A thought struck Fordo and he raced to the door. Hiroko was heading down to the other end of the hall. "Hey Hiroko!" She turned around to face him. He faultered a moment, again caught up in how deep and brilliant her eyes were as they caught his, even at this distance. "Uh, where's your room?"

"Right across the hall." She pointed. "Why?"

"Just curious," he shrugged. "In case I've a bad dream."

She snorted slightly, but still managing to look pretty and elegant. "You wake me up because of a nightmare and I'll likely throttle you." She turned back to the stairs and left the corridor. At the end of teh hall, Fordo Summers smiled and went back to his room. After unpacking his belongings and shedding his coat, he found the boy's water closet and took a much needed shower.

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I know it took forever, sorry about that. Gah. I'm so bad...about updating. Probably bad about writing in this chapter too but I don't care. I just started 15, like, two days ago so it'll be a little while before I get it up. If anyone is willing to let me use their computer this summer to update, please let me know. Ours isn't letting us get online and it really blows. Please read and review, especially M-Dawg who no longer has school (slut).

Much love,
Kirily Wood