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

Callie's answer to one of Feral's remarks surprises him. Also, Jake is troubled. Will his secret be forced out? Lokii gets scared for once.

Author's note: Short chapter. Sometimes, a chapter can become more conversation driven than anything else. This is one of them.

Does it seem like I'm running out of titles or is it just me?

I snuck a quoted line in this chapter. The person who wrote it should recognize it ;)

I'm gearing up again for some big revelations, so a big thank you goes out to readers who have stuck with the story. I hope you all are keeping up with my plot twists!

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:
Sprinkles of the Truth
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"Jake? Jake! Who was that one the phone?"

"Err. . .A wrong number!" Jake calls back to Chance, clumsily hanging up the phone.

" * Jake, all you have to do is lose. That silly engagement would be broken. . . * "

"Jake?"

" * . . .and you can be with me. Think about it. The Neigung and Clawson families could be together! So, J-kun, lose that Duel for me. . . * "

"Jake!"

"Huh?"

"If you don't mind, bud, I could really use a paw down here." Chance calls up.

"Coming!" Jake replies, shaking his head in order to clear it.

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

"Deputy Mayor Briggs."

"Calico. How lovely to hear your voice."

Callie giggles a bit. Feral, at times, could be obvious. "Hello, Ulysses."

"You remembered."

"Hai." Callie twirls the phone cord. "So, what's going on?"

"Expect a visit from a roving reporter."

"Ann?"

"Nope. Teioh Deleon."

"That kat? Why is he in town?"

"I'm guessing because of the Fall Season. Speaking of which. . ."

"Our announcement, huh?"

"It isn't expected for another week."

"I know. How do you feel about that?"

"Feel?"

"Yes, feel. I know you have feelings."

"Well, it could be said that I'm happy."

". . .Really?"

"Yes. I'm fulfilling a social obligation."

Callie draws in a breath and lets it out slowly. " *There he goes a again.*"

"Calico?"

"Sorry. I'm just thinking about the announcements myself."

"Oh?"

"I'm thinking I would be happy, too."

"Happy?"

"I would be with you, right?"

There's silence on the other end of the line for a while. "So you would."

"* I would've loved to see his face. *" Callie thinks.


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

"The poor dear is running scared. I wonder why he would hide his 'lovely' engagement."

Nanami slowly replaces the phone to its cradle. "Oh, the misfortune of not being a Dragon Bride."

Nanami walks over to her dresser and picks up her family ring. "I wonder if Jake's little friend has ever heard of us. . ."

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

"* He's preoccupied again. I wonder who really called? *"

Chance casts a sideways glance at Jake, who was busy screwing in a lug.

"* I bet it was his dad. He really got needled when we got kicked out.*"

Chance sits the wrench down and sighs. "* I really don't want to pry. *"


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

"So, are the Autumn constellations out?"

"Not yet. Maybe in another week or so."

"Hmm." Callie thinks, continuing to twirl the phone cord. "I would really like to see them."

"The planetarium could show them."

"It's not complete yet."

"I'm sure you could use your position as Deputy Mayor to get a look."

Callie smiles. "Are you saying that I should abuse my power?"

"Abuse of that power falls into Federal territory. Therefore, it's out of my jurisdiction."

"It's unusual to hear you say that."

"You wanted to see the stars, right?"

Callie releases the phone cord. "All right. Meet me there."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

Callie hears a chuckle on the other end. "I love it when you boss me around."

"You're acting really coy, you know that?"

"Me? Coy? Not on your life."

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

"Hey, did you hear the decree from the Commander?"

"What? You mean the one about not calling him unless the city is burning? Yeah, I heard."

Gina Persian holsters her gun, slightly disappointed in the fact that she lost the bet to pilot in the day's patrol. "Your uncle has been acting strange for a while now. He's actually. . .I don't know. . .happy?"

"Well, when Uncle's happy, everyone feels it. It's the same when he's not."  Felina puts on her gloves.

"Do you know why he issued the decree?"

"I have an idea, yes."

"Well?"

"Sorry. I can't indulge the gossip machine."

"Not fair, Lieutenant."

"I'm his niece! I can't say everything, you know?"

Gina pulls her hair up. "Too bad."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"I hear that your relationship with Steele is the only thing that keeps the kat working."

"I have that affect on any kat."

Felina chuckles and rolls her eyes. "Come on. We don't want to be late for patrol."

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

"I wonder if the Squires realize that they were being used?"

Lokii looks at her Tarot deck, unwilling to do a reading at this time.  "Convolutions upon convolutions. . ."

Lokii looks at her Shadow, which had reattached itself to her. "Maybe I can use this to my advantage. . ."

"What are you doing, Lokii?"

Lokii jumps, turning towards the sound of the voice. "Nothing!"

"I don't like what you're doing Lokii."

"But, I'm not interfering in the Time Stream, right?" Lokii sweats a little.

There is silence for a moment. "All right. But, I'm warning you, Lokii. One false move and I'm sending Shino after you. And you know how he hates you."

"Yes, yes. I'll be good."

"You'd better. Or, you'll end up like your friend."

Lokii waits a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. "Phew. . . "