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

With the Awards Banquet on a few minds, certain characters bump into each other at the MegaKat City Mall. How will everyone react? Also, Feral uses this opportunity to make a casual "offer."

Author's note: Sorry for being a little late. I got caught up with playing Skies of Arcadia. Great game.

I also got the idea of a particular scene after a few late-night gab sessions with Kris. So, thanks again Kris! ;)

Also, if you haven't already, you might want to check out "Musings of a Kat," which is Feral's journal, and "Of the Past, Of the Present," which is Callie's journal. They're in the new stories SWAT Kats section at Fanfiction.net. They might get updated soon.

As always, send any comments or questions 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:
Chance Meetings
*****************


"I'm surprised you asked me along, dear."

"Why's that?"

Camilla adjusts herself in the limo's deep cushioned seats. "It's just that you've insisted on picking your own dresses since high school. It did catch me off guard."

Callie smiles. "Well, I want other she-kat's opinions this time around."

"Why now? You usually hate this banquet since Manx gets all the time."

"It's just more important this time around." Callie blushes a little.

Camilla raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Callie takes a deep breath and turns to her assistant sitting besides her.  "Anshi, did Kandi turn up today?"

Anshi shakes her head. "No, Briggs-sama. Manx wasn't there either."

"That's good." Callie leans back into the seat.

Camilla looks at her. "Problems?"

"That's the understatement of the year."

"How so?"

"She told me not to come to the Banquet dressed as a school marm." Callie sighs. "Which is the other reason why I asked you to come."

"So you won't look like a school marm." Camilla smiles at her daughter.  "Well, we will just have to prove her wrong, won't we?"

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

"Oh. You. What do I owe the pleasure?"

Nanami finds herself face to face with Ascott after she had opened her hotel door. She takes a step back to let the Commander in.

"Getting rather cynical, aren't we?" Ascott remarks.

"So it seems." Nanami grabs hold of her katana sword and unsheathes it.  "What do you want?"

"Just checking on you since you breezed into town."

Nanami make a slight movement with her blade. "And?"

Ascott narrows his eyes. "Stay away from my son."

"Is that a threat?"

"What do you think? I don't want you causing any more problems than there already is."

Nanami, enraged, swipes the blade of her katana inches from Ascott's face.  "It's all your fault! Jake was *my* boyfriend! How could you make him do that Duel?"

"Jake made that decision on his own." Ascott remains calm. "I didn't influence him."

"You didn't have to!" Nanami tightens her grip on the katana's hilt. "Family honor. Desire to reclaim the Dragon Sword. You forced him to do it
whether you knew it or not!"

"Is this jealousy? You should hide it more." Ascott smiles, starting to walk out the door. "As president, you have to be objective."

Nanami smolders as Ascott walks out the door. Regaining her composure, she walks towards her desk out pulls out some stationary. Uncapping a pen, Nanami starts to write in the ancient language of the Dark Ages.

"To the Engaged One. . ."

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

"See anything?"

"Not yet."

Camilla absentmindedly looks through a rack of dresses. "So, who's escorting you to the banquet?"

"Escort?"

"Callie, I'm trying to be civil here and let you tell me." Camilla sighs.

Callie blushes a little. "Well. . ."

Camilla smiles. "Well, that tell me all I need to know."

"What do you mean?"

"His Honor told me yesterday."

"He did?"

Camilla nods. "I guess he figured that if he didn't tell, I could get him on an ethics violation."

"Which he told after strong-arming me." Callie sighs.

"Even so, I'm happy for you, dear."

"I'd bet." Callie starts back looking at some dresses. "You've wanted us to date for a while now."

"Hai."

"Why?" Callie asks. "Besides the fact that two major Western families are getting together."

"You mean, not because he's as handsome as his father?" Camilla replies.  "Nope."

Callie laughs lightly. She begins to go toward yet another rack of dresses, when a particular dress catches her eye. Callie pulls it out. "Hey, look!"

"Siamese dress, cute." Camilla looks the long, formal dress over. "It's in your colors too: Pink and purple."

"Yeah. . ." Callie says. "I don't know about that side slit though. . ."

"But, Kandi wouldn't dare call you school marm wearing it!" Camilla replies.

"That's true." Callie gives it a second look. "I'll take it!"

"Great! Now we need to accessorize."

"After I find another dress." Callie says. "I need to fill out my wardrobe a little."

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

"Form of payment? Charge it, of course!"

Kandi looks around her general area at a little store in the mall, a little bored. "*When you go through the Mayor's expense account a couple of times, it isn't fun any more. . .*"

Kandi retrieves her purchases and exits the shop. "*Too bad I couldn't force 'Ms. Briggs' to accompany me. That would have been fun!"

The redhead starts to leave the mall, but a flash of blonde hair catches her eye. She turns around to see Callie going down on the escalators.

"*This is going to be fun!*"

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

"*I hate specialty services. . .*"

Feral grumbles, drumming his claws on the counter. Nothing was as high maintenance as a tuxedo.

"Sir, it's going to take at least a hour to get your tuxedo pressed."

"That's fine. I'll be back."

Feral steps out of the shop, tucking a strand of hair back into his ponytail.

"Fancy meeting you here, Commander."

Feral cringes. "What is it, Deleon?"

Teioh chuckles, crossing his arms in front of him as he walks into Feral's line of sight. "Getting ready for the big day?"

Feral looks blank. "What are you talking about?"

"You know. The Awards Banquet." Teioh says.

"What about it?"

"Going alone like you've done for the past couple of years? Or," Teioh smiles, "Taking anyone special?"

Feral looks at him. "You tell me."

Teioh blinks. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Feral smiles a bit as he starts to walk away. "As a matter of fact, I am.  Now, if you'll excuse me. . ."

"I know your type, Feral!" Teioh calls after him. "You like she-kats with green eyes and blonde hair!"

Feral pauses and shrugs. "What's wrong with that?"


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

"Anshi! We're about to go!" Callie calls, sitting in front of one the mall's enormous fountains.

"Hai, Briggs-sama!"

Anshi starts to peel a banana as she goes down the escalator.

"Hungry?" Callie asks Anshi as she walks towards her.

"A little. Just thought I'd eat a little snack," Anshi replies. "Where's your mother?"

"She decided to go wait for the limo out in the parking lot."

"Oh, can I come, too?"

Callie cringes. "*It can't be. . *"

"Callie, so nice to meet you here!" Kandi says from the top of the escalator, her paws taking hold of shopping bags. "Trying to break out of you
school marm mold?"

"How dare you!"

Kandi laughs, finally reaching the bottom of the escalator. Anshi finishes
peeling the banana.

"You know, Callie, that the Commander deserves a well dressed she-kat."  Kandi smiles, walking over to Callie. "I don't think you fit the bill."

"Says you." Callie retorts, then smiles. "But, you didn't do much to land the Mayor, did you?"

"What are you insinuating?"

"You know what mean, darling."

"Why you-!"

Kandi takes a step forward and finds herself on something slippery.  "Huh?"

"Have a nice swim, Kandi!" Callie smiles.

Kandi looks startled. "Wha-"

Callie stands up and gives Kandi a little nudge. Kandi flies backwards, ending up the fountain.

"Oh, how awful!" Anshi says.

"I'll get you for this, Calico!" Kandi tries desperately to get her wet hair out of her eyes, but the weight of her shopping bags prevent her from doing
anything.

"Go ahead and try." Callie replies, giggling. "Come on, Anshi."

"Hai, Briggs-sama!" Anshi eats the last bit of banana.

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

"Commander!"

Feral, who was opening up his car's trunk, looks up. "Hello, Briggs-san!"

"Hi!" Camilla replies, walking over towards him. "Umm. . .Call me Camilla! ' Briggs-san' sounds so formal."

"Very well." Feral says. "Waiting for someone?"

"Yes. The limo," Camilla says, "And my daughter."

"She's here?"

"Hai." Camilla looks around. "Here she comes now."

"Hello, Calico. . .Anshi."

"Ah, hello, Ulysses." Callie walks up. "Doing any shopping?"

"Not today. I just came to get my tuxedo pressed." Feral closes the trunk.  "I heard a lot of commotion in the mall a while ago. . .did you see anything?"

"Well," Callie smiles, "Kandi decided to take a little swim in the
fountain."

Camilla looks at her. "Callie, you didn't!"

"She slipped on a banana peel. I had nothing to do with it." Callie says innocently.

"I'd bet." Feral smiles a bit. "So, were you shopping?"

"Hai. Had to get a dress for the Awards Banquet."

Feral chuckles. "Well, I'm sure you'll look gorgeous."

Callie feels herself grow warm. "Thank you."

"Well, the limo's here Callie." Camilla says.

"You two go on ahead. I'll catch up."

"All right."

"You look just like your mother." Feral comments as Camilla and Anshi walk away.

"I know. It tends to run in the family."

Feral chuckles again. "So, are you up for dinner?"

Callie looks at him. "Huh?"

"I thought I'd be a gentlekat and ask. It's getting late." Feral opens up his driver's side door.

"Well. . ." Callie pauses.

"You don't have to if you have other plans. . ."

"No, that's not it." Callie says quickly. "I was just thinking it would be better to me up later at my apartment."

Feral raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Callie smiles. "I want to change first."

"I see." Feral climbs into his car. "So, what do you say? Eight o'clock?"

"Sure. It's. . ." Callie pauses again.

Feral smiles. ". . .a date. . ."