Ni-hao! This is "Honesty," a part of the Arcana Saga.

After a letter arrives, Jake decides to be honest. . .to a point. Will Chance's curiosity get the best of him? Callie taunts with the revenge minded Kandi.

Author's note: I'm really putting these out, aren't I? If all goes well, look for a chapter around a special day. . .

I updated Callie's journal, "Of the Past, of the Present." You might want to look at it before you read the chapter, as it may explain Callie's actions.

As always, send any questions or comments to AkaneKitty@aol.com, or drop me a line in my review section at Fanfiction.net. Enjoy!

Ja ne,
AkaneKitty

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The Arcana Saga:
Honesty
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"Junk mail and even more junk mail. How come we never get anything interesting for a change?"

"You mean, like a release from our debt?"

"Something like that." Chance mindlessly looks through the day's mail.

"It'll take a higher power to make Feral change his mind." Jake comments, looking at one of the panels he had taken of the TurboKat.

"Like Callie?"

Jake chuckles. "That's not what I was thinking, but. . .would she qualify?"

"I don't know." Chance shrugs. "She does have a lot of influence. . ."

"Speaking of which, we should visit her sometime." Jake says, concentrating on working on the panel.

"And try and patch things up?"

"If you would have listened. . ."

"I know. I know." Chance flips back through the mail. "I just don't like the fact we'll have to tolerate Feral even more. . .Huh?"

Chance pauses as he comes across an unusual letter. The envelope was bordered with dragons, and was even sealed with one. He flips it over.

"What is it?" Jake asks.

"A letter. For you." Chance holds the letter up, tossing the junk mail aside.

"I'll take it." Jake reaches for it, but Chance holds it aloft. "Well, at least me look at it."

"Why should I?" Chance teases, still holding the letter from Jake. "Especially after how secretive you've been."

Jake scans the envelope, and smiles. "Go ahead and open it."

"All right." Chance gingerly opens the envelope and extracts the letter. The letter contains a lot of line markings. "Huh? What is this?"

"Draconian Kanji. An ancient writing system." Jake takes the letter and reads it. "From Madam President."

To the Engaged One:

The President desires the your presence at the Sakuru Shrine this afternoon. Plans for the Final Duel are to be arranged. Your Dragon Bride will be present as well.


"Madam President?" Chance asks.

"Yes. She's my ex-girlfriend," Jake explains after a pause. "She didn't like how we broke up."

"How did you two break up?"

"Forces beyond my control," Jake says. "And, she's been on a terror."

"What does the President do?"

"Nanami presides over my and other family's Duel system," Jake explains. "She arranges the Duels to be fought."

"Which means. . ."

"She wants me to meet her," Jake sighs. "I'm really tired of dealing with her."

"Good luck."

"Thanks." Jake puts the letter down and resumes work on the panel. "I'll need it."

*********************************************************

"Do you know? Do you know? Do you know what I wonder?"

"Is this a saying? ' The Truth shall set you free.'"

"But, isn't this a saying as well? ' The Truth hurts.'"

"I thought it was 'Love hurts.'"

"Same thing. But, which is worst? Telling the partial Truth or not saying the Truth at all?"

"Do you know? Do you know? Do you know which one is worst?"

*************************************************************

"I hate tips that pan out days later!"

Teioh types into his laptop, sneaking a glance at Ann. "This informant has been on the money so far, but the waiting game gets to me."

"It all seems like a lot of trouble just to prove the relationship between Callie and the Commander is real." Ann looks at some papers. "The newspapers are already putting the gossip in the rumors section."

"It's safe to say that we would get the exclusive on it. Proving that the relationship is real will generate a lot of happy katizens."

"And votes." Ann finishes.

"Wouldn't it be a coup if the Deputy Mayor decides to run for Mayor?" Teioh laughs. "All those votes would swing the other way."

"True. . .But, I wonder why this informant is so interested? And, why they have so much information?"

*********************************************************

"Following Jake is harder than I thought. The kat's quick."

Chance keeps his distance, while keeping his eye on Jake. There were lots of kats milling around the street, making it difficult for Chance to keep up.

"This is crazy! I shouldn't be even doing this!" Chance mutters to himself.  "But, I can't shake the feeling that there was more in that letter."

Chance notices that he'd followed Jake into the western part of town. That was normal, as Jake is a western kat. But. . .

"Where is that kat g-"

"Hey! Watch where you're going!"

"What?" Chance bumps into a kat and falls down.

"Oww. . ."

"This is just great. . ." Chance says, remembering to look for Jake. It was too late. Jake was gone.

"Oh, no! My papers!" The kat, now apparently a she-kat, watches as some papers are carried down the street.

"I'm sorry!" Chance offers his paw to the she-kat. "I should have been watching where I was going."

"It's all right." The she-kat accepts Chance's paw.

Chance blinks as he helps the she-kat up. "Kia?"

"Chance!" Kia smoothes her clothes, and casts her eyes to the scattered papers. "There goes my report.. . ."

"I'm really sorry about all this." Chance says. "Was it important?"

"Yes. But, I can get another copy." Kia looks at him. "Never thought I see you on this part of town."

"It's a long story." Chance sighs.

"So I see." Kia remarks, picking up her books.

"Umm. . ."

"Hmm?"

"Have you had lunch yet?"

"No. Why?" Kia replies.

"How about I treat you to lunch?" Chance asks. "My way of making up losing your report."

"Sure." Kia says, secretly pleased. "I'd like that very much."

***********************************************************

"Briggs-sama, here are the expense reports."

"Thank you, Anshi. I was hoping you'd got them."

"Oh?"

Callie sits back in her chair, looking at the reports while Anshi picks up a watering can, watering the roses.

"If the Manx had gotten them, our budget would have gone through the roof," Callie explains, putting the reports in her briefcase. "The City doesn't need that."

"I see." Anshi picks up a flower pot containing some rosebuds. "Shall I put this over the door? It'll give the space some color."

"Yes. I'd like that." Callie nods. "Just be careful on that ladder."

"Hai, Briggs-sama."

"My! Isn't the Queen looking quite contented!"

Callie cringes as Kandi strolls into the office. Anshi steps onto the ladder to place the flower pot above the door.

"What do you want, Kandi." Callie sighs.

"I just wanted to see if the rumors were true." Kandi says silkily.

"What rumors?"

Kandi tosses a newspaper onto Callie's desk. Callie picks it up and reads the circled portion.

PSST! Is it real? Rumor has it that the Queen and Knight were spotted at a restaurant on the western part of town. Seeing that the announcement of intent to do the Fall Season courtship is a week away, this seems a little premature for a couple doing it for 'appearances sake.' Is there a relationship in the works?

"Well?" Kandi asks.

"I'm not telling you anything." Callie tosses aside the newspaper.

"You know, if it is real, that you two seem like a mismatched couple."

"Excuse me?"

"The Commander deserves someone better than a school marm," Kandi says, relishing Callie's anger. "Meaning, not you."

"And, I suppose you'd fit the profile of one who would?" Callie replies as coolly as she can.

"As a matter of fact, yes." Kandi takes out a nail file.

"I'd seriously doubt that."

"Oh?"

"Feral doesn't like redheads. Just blondes." Callie smiles. "Like me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

"Don't think I haven't forgotten that incident at the mall, Callie." Kandi seethes, starting to leave the office. "I'll get you back yet!"

"Dear me." Callie yawns. "You know, the 'wet hen' look works for you, darling."

"You-" Kandi continues to back up, unaware where she going.

"Watch it!" Anshi calls to her.

"Huh?" Kandi bumps into the ladder Anshi was on. The watering can Anshi was holding slips, dumping water onto Kandi's head. Anshi manages to catch the can.

"Oh, how dreadful." Anshi says innocently.

"Ugh!" Kandi yelps, once again soaked.

"A new look!" Callie laughs. "I call it, 'Wet Hen #2'"

Kandi says nothing, opting to run out of the office. Callie laughs after her.

*************************************************

"Have you gotten your first crime statistics report yet?"

"Hai."

Feral and Ascott were in Feral's office, leafing through the latest reports handed down by the Admiral.

"Calico will be pleased. Crime is still going in its downward trend." Feral continues, looking through the report. "Although the real report won't be in
until much later."

"Speaking of the Emperor's Daughter," Ascott says, looking at his brother with a gleam in his eyes, "How goes it with her?"

"We had a date." Feral replies, almost smiling.

"And?"

"She fainted."

"Oh, the affects male Ferals have on she-kats. . ."

"Don't laugh!"

Ascott chuckles. "So, what happened?"

"I don't know. She wouldn't say." Feral sits back in his chair. "But, I think it was something I said."

"What did you say?"

"I said lots of thing."

Ascott chuckles again. "Like I said. . ."

Feral smiles and waves his paw. "So, how about you? Everything all right."

"Well. . ." Ascott turns somber. "The President worries me. I want her to leave Jake alone, but she's blaming everyone and everything about their breakup."

"Were they serious?"

"I can't really say." Ascott shrugs. "They might have been, but Jake entered the Duels. I think she was going to try and prevent him from Dueling, but. . ."

". . .Things have a way of working out, huh?" Feral finishes.

"Everyone knows that once an engagement is made via the Duels, they can never be broken. Of course, the engagement can be broken while the Duels are going on by losing, but this set of Duels are finished. Nanami can't do a thing." Ascott sighs. "I hope she doesn't try to stir up trouble for Jake."

"I'm sure he'll be fine. And, oniisama. . ."

"Hmm?"

"Expect an answer about the debt soon." Feral looks out of his window.

"Let me guess: It depends on your relationship with the Deputy Mayor." Ascott smiles.

"I didn't say that. But," Feral smiles again, "Love is a chess game. And, I'm close to a checkmate."