JadeandtheMissionFromGod

静松晨竹

% n- e8 m! b4 t' yAuthors' note: event, prompt. characters, Hiraya, 2025, Jade, ActingUp's
* R% ~: _  L# O- f, g( |4 X" p
'Jade' stories. suggestions. story, Jade, a Vi, a Austen, Hiraya, a industry. 2026 Paris, a amulet, a , powers. Philippines...
5 R1 p  \. I3 E" P, j8 F( d
A narrow, mountain, a growth. trunks, bananas, road, stones. constant, a , blanket. cloud.

3 y! q3 B4 V. J- X8 X, AA road, a driver's cabin, back. A type, Philippines. a franchise, a war, a background. a a a horns, city. groaned, around. slim, skin. a cut, a hat. shorts, a top, a top, ensemble. she'd 'tropical casual' Paris, had.
3 ~6 Z$ I( r9 v% Y! Q% R& b; }
2 ?- J6 I1 i7 M9 l"Oh arse," said. "I don't I that, Hiraya."
6 X  [9 Z8 U5 j4 a4 Q/ f6 n
"You experience, Jade," mildly. "Plus 'a foreigners', I remember. I'm a a today." smile. a companion, a darker, a tail. woman, a pants, styles. home: somehow, her.
. Y3 d8 W0 y( d+ W; j, X& x
0 {" D* f8 u! A0 _3 p5 ?9 d$ {calm, much. grunted. "Playing a a idea, I'll that." a driveway, sight.

"Bahay Ignacia," slowly, words. "Inang Ignacia?"
7 J$ l2 Q) Z8 j! W5 T" S
"House Ignacia," happily. "Although I'm that's here, spirit. women, parent's marry, church's life. a , speak, a way.

."
8 z- o  E1 \/ b, w
"You a tautologies," Jade. "But I sense. I radicals. I Temple, didn't it? you're alive, you're dead?" a sharp, glance. "Watch yourself, Jade," said. "I'm you're wrong, here. "
& r! O  m( t; c: j0 j
9 i3 f, n% ?9 U3 @! E9 m"Sorry," immediately. anything, did.

. X7 p# w/ n4 R6 V"It's fine," Hiraya, a up. "I you, don't locals. Washington, you'll behave." bags, Hiraya's hand. "I'll both," said. "At I guilt. Auntie?"

Together, track.

later, a around. a a compound, a fence, a sorts, a end. A a boy. area.

0 Z3 Q) K1 ^8 |+ ~3 G3 E( h"Volcanic ash," Hiraya, it. "It's it, games." a yell, over, behind, smiling.

"Auntie Raya!" English. fourteen, woman, eighteen. a beautiful, face, a braid, eyes. a dress, them, sister.
. K+ H  W8 a2 V* U6 k% y7 t
) @- i! e3 s& _"Hey Jose!" him, "Hey Maria!" woman, back.
% Z, S+ q% k+ w$ K
. G- \! S5 m' z* `' U"Where's Diwa? We've her," Jade.
# n3 q- U" d0 t" {6 X
  ?9 ]7 ]8 {% a4 o" v"She others," answered.

"Jose, Maria, Jade," said, shake. again, nothing, from. answer, Maria, smiling, Jose's ear. a second, invitation. "Maria I ready." didn't – basic, a love, a trees. around, group. A slopes, milk. place. well, place. a sister, general, a English.
$ N5 E  C3 X6 l2 j6 L/ L0 R; R
"I school," said. "I a commune," said. "But it's bad. Ignacia's helps."

"Do her?" Hiraya. shrugged. "Not really. a babae. I don't English, sorry", said, Jade.

! Z* {# [/ n" d3 Z/ }% o. y. B"A heroine," Hiraya.

! i. j( Q9 `% z"Yes. too," Jose. "She doesn't much, people. died," , "but here, Dad's jail." off, a distracted. that, queasy, her, Hiraya, puzzled. disconcerted, Jade's herself.
. N! T0 U! p+ w  ~
/ S, \5 ]' ]1 n8 b2 H" S: g"Lindol," Jose, reaction. "Earthquake. volcano."

"You a lot?" Jade, panic. shrugged. "All time. to. animals. here. eruptions, ash." Hiraya, Jose. "Why I I'm a here? tomorrow?"

2 W% p: T0 u, k, {$ u6 c& ]% JJose, confused, Jade's literally. "Great a nap. She's hut. We're mountain. really, stupid. it's tourists. scientists, say. do." a voice, science.

"Auntie a woman," Hiraya, smiling. "And a American, I advice. yours."

"I didn't

1 W: j# a5 W5 O: L6 s," Jose.

"But I
0 D; j, H. [; E4 l" F. W
, }: S2 {0 x' J' B. ait," Hiraya, smiling, "and that's okay.

dumb. too," a Jade. couldn't a Maria, area. table, herself. embarrassed, accepted, them. chatting, USA, Australia, been.
6 P6 L$ Q- a9 ?  w
; R2 T; v' {" O& N) y/ Y, T3 Estories, course. sex, shorter. wasn't talking, word. agreement, didn't father. appropriate. hour, a music. A arrived, a women. laughing. a first. A features, a nun's habit, driver's side, community, side. driver's seat, a a hug.
8 c. d- ^. U( i
"Hiraya!" out. "Why didn't coming?"

" z2 a1 @) T) N"Auntie Diwa!" out. "Sorry, minute, weren't work. Er, you're phone, you? Anyway, I Paris, you." Hiraya, a smile. "Where manners? Diwa, Hiraya's a mine. a woman." lightly, Diwa's a weight.
  N0 p% g3 C6 [
"She everybody," nervously. "I I skills. I'm Jade, I'm you. Um, we've to..." a lips.

9 ?0 K! x# r2 Q" \"I'm it's important, we'll that" said. "First, we'll a in. a bed?"
: A7 w/ y+ h- c% S+ Z* Q
! ^5 C* ~( `! v) q% y: a"Um, yes," Jade, a Hiraya. hadn't lovers. laughter. "No here," said. "It 'friend'. there, life." tasks, a hut, a tables. A ceiling, a through.
: K8 T! e, D, \2 p! U
"One ago," a voice. "She husband, dismay. She'll a two, meantime, free."
7 m3 v- L. K2 G0 \( X9 I( S
"That's awful!" Hiraya, shocked, nodded, motion.

, v, F6 o. d$ ^( O"You've before. mother?" said, gently, again.

: {3 v' D, E7 q) @"I... I don't it, that's okay," said, uncharacteristically quiet.
3 W$ m7 t4 U& E/ l
"We're to," kindly. "Now, here?" Hiraya, a friend. wearing. a large, a cord, brown, underneath.

"A ," Diwa, surprised. "But it's dirty. old? it?"

"We paint, wouldn't customs," said. "I'm a it, story?" room, herself. it, , Australia, a conference. didn't mother, didn't to: there, lines. wasn't profession. a door. back, quietly, amulet.
: m2 v2 q4 m- @* i: {) m. A7 g
"You Diwa," Jade. a breath. "So," said, "Professionally, I'm a cracker. A thief. A sorts. I people, I jail." amusement, wide. "That's honest," said. "We'll later, on."
2 W  C9 e0 p! ^
"I I investigating else. a a price. room, I hotel's together. hand: danger. a a bit. awesome."
  T& }2 ?6 H6 t1 `. I8 i. p
"So you," Hiraya.
1 H) Y6 w- u3 d9 H9 _% q4 W0 D
"Whatever. Anyway, article. He'd somebody, it's Philippines. didn't a museum, here."
/ p+ m( q3 i9 }- @
"I I a off,"said doubtfully. a table. glass. water, murky. water, breath. up, gold. detail, flowing, colliding, surface, a recreation. round, a void, circle, piece.
  z0 L' g0 a& w
/ G  S+ ^; \7 D. i0 I# E"May I?" reverently, hand. a listening, , a wood. one, old, refined, lines. one, expectantly, a transformation occur. sparks, lightning, music. instead, both.

"They ancient," said. "They authentic. personalities. kings, deeds, world. stock, I wouldn't a things. gold. powers.

/ n9 |; w, r! L, j- s6 q  y$ i"How powers?" Jade, curiously. "I luck, doesn't life, that's a effect." Hiraya, inquiry. nodded. "It feels... wholeness, it's well. It's being. Good, a scary. a a girl. I'm more," added, Jade. laughed. "Like I said, here. I mine, a Force."

"The Force?" Jade. "Um, like...?"

"Like volcano," Diwa, up, laughing. "I movie, it's silly." again. "What ?" aback. "We you'd a gift. Don't you?"

"This community," smiling, "And it. It's wear."

"Oh. I didn't that." crestfallen.

+ D) g  B& ]+ E5 A5 i0 C: O9 t"Too conscience?" words. "It's okay. you've a salve, a me. We'll out. Let's eat." rose, area.

( G- _+ Y, }& D$ h% O( k# f- [awoke, room. soundly, sleep. off, breasts, chill. dinner: , a forward. table. up. touch, Jade. Smiling, neck, a wear, a bra, day. door, chickens, up. her, cloud, glory. a volcano, slopes, a summit. magnificent. closely, eruptions, was. Jose's back: awakening. a her, tenderly, Hiraya. hers, a hug.
) y. V) t. J2 s
"Are okay, Jade?" Diwa. "I I a night. I direct, I don't right."
: W; c, m9 n3 X+ v3 x8 {$ F
  E6 P2 @+ z* J' |9 o+ A4 F4 d/ \Touched, hug. "I'm fine, you. I it. I'm up, aren't I?"

, X" k5 ]7 E: x5 h* q4 m"So I," Diwa. "It stops. Magnificent, isn't it?" asked, volcano.
2 q% N: _; P/ y# }4 W$ D
1 U: F  I, a8 D8 c- ~0 K3 f"Aren't it?" curiously. "I mean, I that, can't outrun."
3 m7 F/ k* q" Q8 D2 I
7 M& ^3 W: [' Z7 x4 }1 y1 W* a"Of worried," Diwa. "But, I a location, we're a yard. And, yes, suddenly, eventually. we're a living, planet. shakes,
+ H1 N4 U7 n' ?; `8 }( s. y* V
we're least. fertile! yet?"

"I did. Delicious. land?" sourly. "Funny story, that. I family. 'lifestyle', attention. I world, I poor. away, I volcano, town. I myself, I that's said. He's now, I've on. couldn't I'm
( |6 s, Q  X  \
– a rights."
9 |6 p4 O$ p  O! }0 z) k
"Do be?"
5 O) P6 Z; K+ H# q
"Probably safe, I guess. lawyer's safe. There's I it." a a look.
* i1 B0 p8 |" x# w
8 N8 R  Z% f6 P0 H% w& y"
6 Y# p+ M- I8 j# r4 A, H
  R) l/ U3 ^, r+ W" A1 u7 UWhat?" Diwa, puzzled.

. p8 p: a$ i5 d6 S/ F7 Q"I

+ Z8 {0 i' [, k# U) b8 ya night," Jade. "But I profession? a lesson?"

"A... oh.
/ E3 N! i: M. X
- t  Y7 s$ o( ]Oh. really....? I couldn't anyway," Diwa, "And taken, Jade. Sorry."
+ j  u4 |4 i1 E5 O; ^- o
1 _: j0 l, L' G, X8 @" A"I'm a worker, you'll French, I'm job," Jade. "How breakfast, we'll talk?"
0 e3 T0 c. C5 j3 N+ s
Humming, a backside, step. done.
: F/ x6 `4 v* ~
... later, driving. a reconnaissance town. along, Diwa. chatting, commentary, ride: town, a stalls. usual. hall, building. didn't stop: there. houses, out, study. straightforward. market, a a gossip.

"Come on, let's explore," cheerfully, they'd later. market, again, sold. stalls, overload.
1 }* X( s/ ^# o9 t8 S- ]
$ `6 q; M8 ]+ ^. D& k. T* K"Stop!" a while, a obscure, fruit. "My full."

! |0 u& U/ G9 F4 d+ J$ m"I fertile," Diwa. "Unlimited fecundity. Okay, let's a drink." a area,
+ f  E1 Z; u% ]! u
: a lime.
' H) ?5 f2 d3 P* H
8 q7 s: z3 L/ \* r"This divine," Jade.

"Isn't it?" Diwa. "Imagine this!"
; H" Q) a: ~2 z4 ?; ?1 b+ V
% `4 C' u5 L7 u& }. B; Z"What's neck?" suddenly, Hiraya. a around: them. a history,

$ N, G: n8 Q! s/ k" e"Oh, it's Diwa's, shiny," quickly, stopped, relieved.

7 _* i  u3 t6 m# e7 Z! n4 P"Yes, exactly," said. fascination. impulse, a minute. beamingly, concentration,

& Y7 f1 c, ~, c( t6 b: F3 T# m"We a secret," a bit. "Hiraya, away?" comply, Maria, a out,
) {, k6 \& }" W- U
"Diwa!" a boomed, English. "Why don't friends?" couldn't part, a Hiraya's face, a Diwa's eyes, a English.
# o8 p+ D6 J8 o3 B
; D+ ^: x0 c. B" v# k1 f  M6 b"Dakila! you," said. "These Jasmine, Australia. I'm you've Maria, community." aged, stout, a living. a power. a man, kind, a neck. attention, distance. Hiraya. a long, Maria, theatrically. tremors, Maria's behalf. , hadn't blouse.

"'This a thing, isn't it?" said, Hiraya's space. "May I from?"
1 ?8 d4 n6 B2 s& ]
) B' j( ^1 p; }6 R( F"This? Oh, me. It's it's much," Hiraya, could, didn't him. hadn't visit, didn't names. didn't , hand. "It's wears," mused, "but gold." enough. back, blouse.
6 v/ e7 a% Q  k
9 k' K" B' I$ j"I wish," bluntly. "But that, soul." a face. seething, well, story. off: didn't choice. "Well, you" said. "Drop Mayor's I'll a city. always, Diwa." crowd, him.

"So, brother," Diwa.

" A5 z% }5 ?+ e& s4 T& ^"And him?" wonder.

. P) b4 m# k9 f( X! n"Politics business," said, subject, market. unsettled, silent, pondering, home.
8 Y* @1 Q$ d, `! V8 q& u
— commune, a better, dinner, a fritters. a women, depressing, Jade. dinner, telling, again. didn't here, situation. priorities: activities, wasn't moment. a help.

"Do out?" dishes.

"Tomorrow," a moment's thought. "He a town. 8pm."

7 E/ v: x7 H& Y' p, i. M"Okay. that's community?"

4 b# \# g4 ^5 E8 i$ E"It fine," Diwa, a bed.
$ i" ^2 i' R1 u& y! U1 J$ H
. i* J4 ^6 U/ C' e# D2 I— morning, again, wasn't sunlight. a breast, a nipple.

  ]% e- C, W( B7 E# |+ P"That's nice," purred, Hiraya's her. didn't Jade.

"Okay, nice.

Exceptionally
4 R& a$ D* s( A5 Q, Q% r
! l) v" o/ o) y" a0 m, Dnice. Don't stop," Jade, Hiraya's sex. silent, low, action, her, Hiraya's right. didn't assault, her. Finally, away.
% W( \' G* i* I  e
& `% {  u; E( ^7 m"Your turn," sighed. "Just a second."
0 i" ]2 p! [: d  G+ N9 w/ ~! V$ P: A) s
"You don't to," Hiraya.

"Bullshit I don't. I can't me. amazing, Hiraya. I don't you've quickly."
7 o/ A5 C+ G- B
/ a% z! K' R5 G"I a learner, Jade," mildly. pillow. a underneath, Hiraya's pubes.

"The well, Hiraya," Jade, kindly. 'Don't a untouched."

- Y9 {4 o/ W5 B  x, m, D"But interrupted? I'm a this."

$ B: A* ^# z, E5 v3 P, h* n"Then they'll a lover, a energy. issues?"
: S2 `6 K8 Q+ U( P
"Well, that..." nightie, again, closed, Hiraya's body, eyelids, nose, Hiraya's soft, breasts, them. her, fingers, that, enthusiastically centre, a Hiraya's clit. time, loud, intensified. And, said, body. Hiraya's , Hiraya's screamed, climax. weirdly, around,

* D. B+ B; \( {& e"What the....?" suddenly, continued. herself, a second, action, Hiraya's suitcases.
" P# L8 K3 u2 f* y
"Put on, quickly," a delay, a Hiraya. a Hiraya's bag, underwear. a door. "Hurry," outside, corridor, doors. a later, a lawn. dress, them, on. a show. A top, volcano, a shape. turbulent, beneath. it.

"Look," suddenly, a side, them.

"Pyroclastic flow," said. "Hot deadly. won't here, there's a

! H/ X# n# R- Z5 f, a ravine, that's a a eruption. Inside, now," above. a inside. closed, compound. palpable, a while, settle. least.
) U" d' Y) j* D5 l+ n; ~& @6 U
: y* v1 A6 `9 y% \( U0 ["Does often?" Diwa.

"Not often, a worry," Diwa, a tense. "We'll volcanologists one. nearby: month."
8 c4 h* g$ R& ?7 e# o  P+ s5 Y. d
"It now," others. "Or not."
, V2 x4 x3 ^* Q$ ~
8 j1 l7 B9 F/ d0 u# R"Mmph," Diwa. "Let's case." day, hard, a needed, down.

"This disgusting," Jade, coughing, brushes.

4 I* F* B! J, T/ L$ Q"Imagine engine," Hiraya. "It's sand, dirty."

  G5 o5 Y1 ~  G0 K! o  X% u) i" ~"I it," a unexpectedly. surprise, a grin.

"Me too," said, all. "Me too," repeated, task.

2 Z4 n0 G) a: N1 _& \/ q  \— day, needed. discussions, volcanologists, situation.

"Mostly a that," cheerfully. "But they're they're seeing."
: V5 H4 A* Q: j$ `( W4 |
* k0 n6 C6 V  T3 ~& ?"So we're tonight?" Jade.

+ M/ [/ ?6 {- q* z! e9 N"I don't not," Diwa. "Just..." paused, apologetically Hiraya. "Hiraya dear, I don't brother's house. It's a a risk. I it's priceless."
- o+ {8 U9 `# j; g1 \: s0 X
"Do me, Jade?" Hiraya. torn. "I I behind."

"Stay here, darling," decisively. "Spend a maybe? you." a smile. "I've a request. we're a God, yes?"

"I suppose," Diwa, confused.

# I/ d5 U1 @; P"Right, I've a on."
% t2 @( I8 D$ L! v
— later, speaker. a Diwa, away.
) x: u+ _& p  k9 \
. i  O0 F0 A, f, m2 i"I movie. It's though," she'd said. "But we'll town, it's a mission." Dakila's house, streets. colours, caught, crime. were, however, sneakers. time, satisfaction. a street. a a minutes, a open.

"Wait here, a minute" shortly, window. house.

' B+ D9 `* T7 p& }"Alarms disabled, door's open," a tone..
6 v6 A* i" b, e1 p/ M: K8 m
"I didn't a second," Diwa.

"Yes did, it's fine. I'm it."
* x9 I  j8 u3 p+ s
"You don't you're it?"
! ^5 O" c1 U3 L4 S( E6 H6 X
0 F/ D8 h* F$ r"Whatever. Let's inside," Jade, back. inside, Diwa's description.
8 R8 s& Z: P& ^$ \, ?' ^
"It's here," staircase.
$ V* E# F4 |; P: `0 }$ f7 K0 h
"Northanger what?"

  Y9 g9 A9 n( h$ G/ I& n"Never mind. I a references. jokes. There's Austen."

1 S/ G2 a1 T- d5 Y- ?, Y7 q1 C"I is, I don't much. I retire. I retire." darkness, nothing. a leader. a bedroom, a bed, table. a surprise, room, study, a corner. carefully, a satisfaction.
2 I+ _/ o6 B2 ~- ?/ K
"It's I'm it, okay," said, hands. made, cuffs.

; K" r& c& |: w"Special gloves?" Diwa.

3 L; j! c5 R  v8 @" S+ L' ], ~"One a style," Jade, a doctor's ears. "Now, I this." safe, stethoscope. open. a glance, "Never doubt."

"Hmph," Jade, a papers. a safe, ignored. a a end, Filipino.

"Here is," Diwa, a document, a disgust.
0 u8 n- h/ z1 Y6 V: A
$ Y+ e& y8 ^' A6 U5 R& Z"And?" Jade.
" `; v: Y( @& y( B) A7 k6 A) C
"And us, it," Diwa. "They split, a town."

0 @' A, u# O* T  z) A  ?. U2 M"As expected. document, he'll you're him. things?" there, will.
8 m) ?: U" i$ x' i2 N
6 {3 o, b( e% r% w5 z"Nothing me, I'm cash. I won't," said, Jade. "Sorry, I can't you. I don't a either." away. "I wasn't money. Let's go." back, a Jose.
# i: K+ s& @  y! M, S  u
"I Mum," said, "which horrible, course. doesn't speak? What's them?" a look. "I there's won't speak, hasn't anybody. I her. She's men, her. I haven't yet, I future. eighteen." a minutes, "Jose together. excited. both, before."
: n5 T! H( F6 B6 ?
"Everybody Hiraya," neutrally.

2 r- O! ]7 }/ g- j"Don't yourself. You've spark. too. I."
' X( A, }: l$ Y- N8 S+ V
— commune, wrong. road, Jeepney, women. cab, hut.

A a sofa.
: Q+ \' Z, S# j8 d
"Hiraya!" lover's hand. forehead. neck, gone. open, dazed. Jade.

- n( F/ q7 q& t' q"What happened?" demanded, control. language, possible. patiently, orders, Jade, hadn't Hiraya.

. G/ P: O# Z. f) K$ g"It's bad, Jade," tersely. "My 20 ago, me. refused. left, brother's didn't him. them, them. kid. force, floor. Maria, her, door, followed. they're there. I've Hiraya, we'll grounds. heroics."
3 P" Z+ z3 t. q! b( z7 Z
"I'll Hiraya," Jade. "The search." a her. "No, Jade." turned, surprised. "No? Hiraya, you've attacked. I here."

"And I that. respect, skills. You're woman. me, it. I'll ok. me. Ok?"

"Fuck. Yes. Okay." Hiraya's hand, her. "I'll best." up, action. "We car," said. "They a getaway. mischief." Filipino. "You're right." order, searchers.

"Should armed?" asked. head. "Violence violence. things."

A east, see. west, north, area, earlier.

"You they're here?" softly.
8 ]2 r( q3 \  G
"Most likely. Maria's smart. well, a here." wasn't a a path, gully.

$ Z+ o- f- t: O  m: E# o"Jose!" Jade, forward. head, groggy, face.
+ E& D5 L1 ]0 ~# Y  f8 q, Y9 P
"Jade," weakly. "Auntie. a rock. They're there, her."

"Don't move," sharply, a spot.

"That about," grimly. "This a whistle. don't it's us." gully, her. "We here," said, "we don't either." frustrated, racing, couldn't Diwa's logic. counterproductive safely. over. Jose, wild. silently. a shook, summit, a stars. a a sounded, a wave. peak, appearing, mountain. instead, pointing. couldn't language, clear: Jeepney, evacuate. wasn't a waste. off, them. sister, weren't listening. again, could. couldn't longer, logic. a a gully, "Eruption! Evacuate!". Diwa's whistling. upwards, grow. again, eruption: somebody. ominously, closer. it? couldn't remember. Pyro? "Pyroclitic FLOW" voice, a "GET OUT!" emphasis. a a report. now. A path, height. her: guy, limping. a damage, case, behind. him, assist, instead, Maria.

"Give me!" bellowed. completely. Jade. them, choice: choice. Maria. them, climbing. face, effort, ground. Maria's level. Together, together, him. him, themselves. Filipino, guy, them. Maria, happened. a squad, a temple. open, staring, backwards, sight. look, a hot, fast, rocks, sides. them, a man, off.

"Run," Diwa, them. ground, them, air. gone, instructions, there, suggested. "My useful. back. Safer!" Diwa, driver's herself, dared, hail. a heartstopping them, city. mirror, eastwards, ocean. moonlight. survive.

"Where to, guv'ner?" shoulder, heart.
% ?5 c. ]" F0 \; }: N2 w
"Back brother's house. I there. way?"
. J( g. t' p  r- d/ s
# w8 e! D9 E5 X& X"Is Catholic? I lost."
7 U7 `; {8 N, B% y4 q5 R0 _
— Jeepney, a them. happened, voices. a dazed, filthy, hair, night. a hug.
0 L  q) E# b3 Q. J
"Thank Hiraya," said. "You brave."

! O- o+ g& O2 H4 S) i: R9 FMaria's wide. "Where?" asked. "Where they?"

"At hospital. out. hurt." door. Diwa, up. "Let's go. okay." time, hospital. them: night. wounds, filthy. around, possible, home. exhausted, apologetically missing, dead, property. circumstances 'excursion'. Filipino, Hiraya's understanding something. distress, reports, a ceased. news: a situation.

5 A' h' p0 m$ o, T) e  z& I% `+ o"What you?" back, Jeepney.

"The brother's companion. a partners. I it, retrospect"

"You don't gay. happens. keeps, I'm brother, a politician, wouldn't police. 'lifestyle choices', respectability."

' H: U0 F0 q+ ]"He's anyway, though? survived?"
8 V) p; H0 N, b
"No," finality. "He's dead. be."

— a house, snoring, furniture. A though, empty.
; }7 P. l. H- H0 P8 q
"Jose, sorry, I space," "We'll a rooms, we'll you. we'll everybody." ensuite, hand.

"Wait," firmly. "I others. Jose, I I out, I've rest. you." a hug, a kiss, him. Maria, crying. her, a she'd something, tattered, blouse, a triumph. filthy, sweat. Hiraya, hand.
# H% t- v! y+ @
' [3 i. x5 t- e5 [. U"Maria, after?" asked. "You a colour, doesn't gold, I you'd a me."
: y6 u6 c' m& h9 Z1 ]( q3 {
Startled, head, group.
9 ~7 n3 w- k) J
"I couldn't," softly, volume. "I don't it. I'm nothing." a a second, up.
  j  f% y4 |) _/ z: Z
"Oh honey, I don't that, so, wrong. You're a woman."

Unexpectedly, well, strongly.
5 Q  p) V! d* Y, S( x2 j( [  `
" J! W. G2 d* p/ m+ @"Maria, I I you're from. days? I I'd about, situation. I, um, help. meantime, we'll decide?"
) v, y5 E4 r3 s8 X& t7 H$ M
5 L; |, A7 X, \$ n! X% |Maria's brightened, firmly.
! n% S' J: d2 L$ B+ A
3 J) U9 h; _4 \9 f— bed. Jade, Hiraya, showers, Dikala's wardrobe. bathroom, her, a it, table. a

, eggs, coffee, a human. down, voices.
+ C) I  _) d, `; w
"What now?" a while.
: A9 p5 i) u& I$ \/ n- @
8 w6 v4 P) _5 l"Now

doesn't we've brother's belongings. nice, least. we'll damage, stopped. I don't heirs, me, I parent's anyway, won't that. I don't myself, door. won't." ravine, day.

– now, volcanologists a peak. that, visit, workers, dead. a together, she, animals. around. rocks, buildings. clothes, work. perished, ash. ash, a metres, searing. down, a edges, a a party: found. ravine, a rock. ravine. a moment's hesitation, her, side. Diwa's cheeks, a pants. a while, spoke. "I course, I private, opportunities. a bastard, brother. a person, friends."

"Do companion?" carefully.

"No. will. I much, body, that. I brother's wake, least, family. It's a sad, actually, Philippines, this, okay. I sensitivities. church."
* [# N, X; @% }6 v' ~: \* C
/ j' C! M& M" _7 i' Y4 w* p6 j+ HGrimly, now.
* I5 B% {4 h1 v' M# n
( t- n* o8 `. R6 i— funeral, later, could. job, Sydney. Dikala's house, a days, goods. hadn't time, roofs: a community: Ignacia's weight, Diwa, circumstances, thought. circumstances out. a Diwa, separate, Maria, ready. Finally, funeral, a them, a Dikala's room.

+ {9 Y; m( P( L! }6 e- |4 x4 }"I a proposal," Jade. "I philanthropic I've with. I've circumstances, are. you've university. complications that's required. ask, agrees, custodianship , medallion. stolen, problem: don't it. belongs, somebody's heart. think?" a moment's silence, in. "What Australia?"
+ {/ F7 K4 o9 P1 g
) s5 E+ F. |( Y& L" X8 O0 X"No problem," Jade. "We'd that." Maria, much. bothered. shining.
; l; f4 p9 l3 _- W0 B& h5 F) x' U
5 F- Z& o" V/ F# ^' H4 v2 |4 F"You that? education? Jose's?" asked.

9 w6 r+ g. H$ x* G8 O+ ~- g"Yes... I mean, would, yes," Jade. "Through that's up. It's Foundation. open, it's well, future. that's

( P$ O% k- c3 q# I% ddeal. one's you."
" X6 h* x" R1 ]3 l
"Then, yes," Maria. smiled.

9 Y4 \  z, _6 o! h. a— funeral, Dikala's a together. west, smouldering, summit. a while, nothing, waterline. nights, time. cracked.
2 `' }" n* C+ D4 Q$ W. E6 y
# J2 L. T# C3 {2 f# t/ }"This agony."

' }$ W* i8 A  U+ z"We've this," patiently. a girl?
% H' R) y7 @: H: h( J) d$ r
, g' {1 X. l* F0 W# q"No. I hadn't week."

"Well I. We'll person, we'll see. it's a yes, well, it's Australia, I it's I now. I I a job. a Sydney. I'm I a there. first: I letters. I'm meantime. fun, it." away. "That's I will, it's important. I don't else."

"You that. You've minutes. I bed."
3 S/ ?: K. d5 B' n. Q
"I might. I won't. I them."

7 s2 d! S/ d* j- s) p4 s3 x6 H"Should a contest? There's a town," Hiraya, grinning.
7 t* z$ I4 _4 Q$ X
"No, we're tonight. Diwa's a you. I've sources, you. gratified."

# M6 ?- M: }: @2 G( n) t" {"She'll go, know. you."
1 O7 y* ?7 g$ Y& \
; c6 i% s4 u$ ]/ @0 n4 \/ z* y"Yeah," softly. "Yeah, I too.
1 N% i: q) A' F- D5 `
, {8 r; \4 \0 o9 h6 U( Lway. I now, here. a saint. about. way, I haven't ? symptoms?"

( W2 H" ]+ w$ Z2 g9 p* v% P+ L"Not really," Hiraya. "I it, course. frankly, I don't there's it. I couldn't world, love, I now." nothing, freely. else, head.
, \/ o1 ?6 g* k. S: {
"I you'll a soon," managed. beach, hand. reading! Penny.