JadeandtheMissionFromGod

静松晨竹

Authors' note: event, prompt. characters, Hiraya, 2025, Jade, ActingUp's
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* f" J* f; F7 ~: t'Jade' stories. suggestions. story, Jade, a Vi, a Austen, Hiraya, a industry. 2026 Paris, a amulet, a , powers. Philippines...

! X1 g& |% a1 n1 z6 ?0 S+ IA narrow, mountain, a growth. trunks, bananas, road, stones. constant, a , blanket. cloud.
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6 I% r/ L, t( E1 t9 E7 I  b, KA 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 |' L1 u) D  T. s: m, E& e2 g"Oh arse," said. "I don't I that, Hiraya."
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"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.

calm, much. grunted. "Playing a a idea, I'll that." a driveway, sight.

# ]+ i$ `" z6 @# s# d  J"Bahay Ignacia," slowly, words. "Inang Ignacia?"

"House Ignacia," happily. "Although I'm that's here, spirit. women, parent's marry, church's life. a , speak, a way.
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- l, v. S& ~. e"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. "

( N/ \: s8 H# L"Sorry," immediately. anything, did.
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- L0 y7 K$ [0 j1 Z+ `4 j"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?"

! c4 b" h) A( J/ \Together, track.

  _4 g/ E) ^- L. T$ c: z  B1 A" W  ulater, a around. a a compound, a fence, a sorts, a end. A a boy. area.
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. t( C1 a2 F9 L* ?"Volcanic ash," Hiraya, it. "It's it, games." a yell, over, behind, smiling.
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! [2 r2 R9 G9 `" i( C  r"Auntie Raya!" English. fourteen, woman, eighteen. a beautiful, face, a braid, eyes. a dress, them, sister.
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; x; N) k0 p6 u: l"Hey Jose!" him, "Hey Maria!" woman, back.
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- L, F. i( G# T5 t4 n" ]"Where's Diwa? We've her," Jade.

3 w& w# r, {6 h3 n"She others," answered.
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) }! H6 d: t; F"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.
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"I school," said. "I a commune," said. "But it's bad. Ignacia's helps."

+ O! ~; W& q2 V. R) |) ^# Z$ o"Do her?" Hiraya. shrugged. "Not really. a babae. I don't English, sorry", said, Jade.
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"A heroine," Hiraya.

, [' ?2 g! {. u"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.
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"Lindol," Jose, reaction. "Earthquake. volcano."
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  M+ k. f7 ?% ?* W" u"You a lot?" Jade, panic. shrugged. "All time. to. animals. here. eruptions, ash." Hiraya, Jose. "Why I I'm a here? tomorrow?"
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Jose, confused, Jade's literally. "Great a nap. She's hut. We're mountain. really, stupid. it's tourists. scientists, say. do." a voice, science.
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& z7 m. R  t' k' F1 z' L$ O$ R"Auntie a woman," Hiraya, smiling. "And a American, I advice. yours."
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, y3 T% I, J2 H; R; v; F1 d3 S% y"I didn't
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," Jose.
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"But I

: B0 ^! }5 ~/ L% Kit," Hiraya, smiling, "and that's okay.
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dumb. too," a Jade. couldn't a Maria, area. table, herself. embarrassed, accepted, them. chatting, USA, Australia, been.

stories, 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.

"Hiraya!" out. "Why didn't coming?"

' X7 N: X$ X  @; ^8 v1 I! a: k"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.
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"She everybody," nervously. "I I skills. I'm Jade, I'm you. Um, we've to..." a lips.

"I'm it's important, we'll that" said. "First, we'll a in. a bed?"
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9 `6 K, D$ Y$ ~" b"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.

6 M- c8 L, w: O  `* b' m+ O1 V: g5 b"One ago," a voice. "She husband, dismay. She'll a two, meantime, free."
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0 ^' k) w/ o4 P4 j+ g$ {  P8 l3 O+ R6 F* K"That's awful!" Hiraya, shocked, nodded, motion.
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"You've before. mother?" said, gently, again.

"I... I don't it, that's okay," said, uncharacteristically quiet.
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9 x, i& _: }) a0 i"We're to," kindly. "Now, here?" Hiraya, a friend. wearing. a large, a cord, brown, underneath.
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" [7 J7 u: P* x" ^; Y: X& p4 K"A ," Diwa, surprised. "But it's dirty. old? it?"

; O% v  H7 K# v- w. }/ S' n"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.
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"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."

"I I investigating else. a a price. room, I hotel's together. hand: danger. a a bit. awesome."
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"So you," Hiraya.

3 K" d. Q! g7 w) P. \"Whatever. Anyway, article. He'd somebody, it's Philippines. didn't a museum, here."

# O& L/ \8 H0 ]7 t9 h3 H"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.
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"May I?" reverently, hand. a listening, , a wood. one, old, refined, lines. one, expectantly, a transformation occur. sparks, lightning, music. instead, both.

% d- p! ]6 u2 H' p5 E; s3 t' N0 ["They ancient," said. "They authentic. personalities. kings, deeds, world. stock, I wouldn't a things. gold. powers.
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+ l4 Q& v% N" y0 R8 S"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."
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0 ^% m, b1 Z, M4 J6 p"The Force?" Jade. "Um, like...?"
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. ?4 \3 i4 f) G: t. v" x"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."
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8 @* F3 b% H- e, }2 h- c0 q: t"Oh. I didn't that." crestfallen.
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% ?9 l$ U( q: @"Too conscience?" words. "It's okay. you've a salve, a me. We'll out. Let's eat." rose, area.

5 }/ O2 h9 U3 Lawoke, 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.

"Are okay, Jade?" Diwa. "I I a night. I direct, I don't right."
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& H0 q, I7 u7 G/ D8 G$ |Touched, hug. "I'm fine, you. I it. I'm up, aren't I?"
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4 K6 d7 {0 X$ G; Z) Z* f"So I," Diwa. "It stops. Magnificent, isn't it?" asked, volcano.

+ n% F1 L/ u, Y, g. }9 _"Aren't it?" curiously. "I mean, I that, can't outrun."

"Of worried," Diwa. "But, I a location, we're a yard. And, yes, suddenly, eventually. we're a living, planet. shakes,

! m, J6 V3 @" q1 M5 l7 gwe'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

– a rights."

"Do be?"
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" {& d$ \: f% }, h6 I"Probably safe, I guess. lawyer's safe. There's I it." a a look.

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# |+ f, z& t7 x0 y0 d% OWhat?" Diwa, puzzled.

"I

! P) T$ O9 k1 ya night," Jade. "But I profession? a lesson?"

"A... oh.
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Oh. really....? I couldn't anyway," Diwa, "And taken, Jade. Sorry."

"I'm a worker, you'll French, I'm job," Jade. "How breakfast, we'll talk?"

4 o! j; G* X- p/ ]/ @" Y) m( ~Humming, a backside, step. done.

2 V( m; G2 Y0 m... 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.

1 t9 S- z) f( j- Y7 S* z8 g7 n"Come on, let's explore," cheerfully, they'd later. market, again, sold. stalls, overload.

"Stop!" a while, a obscure, fruit. "My full."
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"I fertile," Diwa. "Unlimited fecundity. Okay, let's a drink." a area,

! n' t! {) F( d$ q& j9 r0 l: a lime.

+ ^* ^0 r# p# a5 W3 V2 p"This divine," Jade.
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"Isn't it?" Diwa. "Imagine this!"
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0 M" o( {9 a% y$ D* R- Y  A' Q8 k"What's neck?" suddenly, Hiraya. a around: them. a history,
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% \5 b% v1 o3 `6 j  R; ]"Oh, it's Diwa's, shiny," quickly, stopped, relieved.

* G" N/ T5 f. K* u0 N"Yes, exactly," said. fascination. impulse, a minute. beamingly, concentration,
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"We a secret," a bit. "Hiraya, away?" comply, Maria, a out,

"Diwa!" a boomed, English. "Why don't friends?" couldn't part, a Hiraya's face, a Diwa's eyes, a English.

"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.
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"'This a thing, isn't it?" said, Hiraya's space. "May I from?"
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"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.
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. Z# L( m8 F2 Z" B! R"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.

7 d1 j0 B# W  e* T  _5 b"So, brother," Diwa.
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"And him?" wonder.

/ w- q/ a6 i9 u. L2 j"Politics business," said, subject, market. unsettled, silent, pondering, home.

8 P8 G/ r  |' C+ I4 t2 w— commune, a better, dinner, a fritters. a women, depressing, Jade. dinner, telling, again. didn't here, situation. priorities: activities, wasn't moment. a help.
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"Do out?" dishes.
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"Tomorrow," a moment's thought. "He a town. 8pm."
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"Okay. that's community?"

+ B2 r) u( F4 R8 b' ?2 O5 \"It fine," Diwa, a bed.

— morning, again, wasn't sunlight. a breast, a nipple.

" V& `& w9 B2 R! ]"That's nice," purred, Hiraya's her. didn't Jade.

"Okay, nice.

7 n( r* _9 k* h- e0 V/ {. gExceptionally

nice. Don't stop," Jade, Hiraya's sex. silent, low, action, her, Hiraya's right. didn't assault, her. Finally, away.
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"Your turn," sighed. "Just a second."
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"You don't to," Hiraya.

# F, ?+ t0 D, L& M4 ~"Bullshit I don't. I can't me. amazing, Hiraya. I don't you've quickly."

"I a learner, Jade," mildly. pillow. a underneath, Hiraya's pubes.
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"The well, Hiraya," Jade, kindly. 'Don't a untouched."
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"But interrupted? I'm a this."
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"Then they'll a lover, a energy. issues?"

1 u% _9 M9 f6 [, g"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,
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"What the....?" suddenly, continued. herself, a second, action, Hiraya's suitcases.
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"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.
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"Look," suddenly, a side, them.
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: O" K) v" C1 |. J5 E( |% J"Pyroclastic flow," said. "Hot deadly. won't here, there's a
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, a ravine, that's a a eruption. Inside, now," above. a inside. closed, compound. palpable, a while, settle. least.

+ k8 h2 E2 f/ G% Y- I8 I"Does often?" Diwa.

. _9 v) {) T. e# w+ W# m6 U"Not often, a worry," Diwa, a tense. "We'll volcanologists one. nearby: month."
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"It now," others. "Or not."
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5 h8 x1 A& ^; Y$ P* M- z& J; l) c( c"Mmph," Diwa. "Let's case." day, hard, a needed, down.
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. A! V2 Z2 Z! v# j"This disgusting," Jade, coughing, brushes.
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* s3 a' I( \& E7 ~4 X# C# }"Imagine engine," Hiraya. "It's sand, dirty."
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7 q3 q! V. t; b$ X4 S. Q# p/ t5 T. J"I it," a unexpectedly. surprise, a grin.

) V. Y  r+ E" g/ }" c"Me too," said, all. "Me too," repeated, task.

— day, needed. discussions, volcanologists, situation.
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"Mostly a that," cheerfully. "But they're they're seeing."
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7 K" P% I) g) y3 V"So we're tonight?" Jade.

"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."
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"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?"

( s) f" U7 Y- y+ E"I suppose," Diwa, confused.
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1 _  Q9 _1 Q7 E8 ]1 s4 E6 |: I"Right, I've a on."

1 {; \8 v: m2 C: j$ s— later, speaker. a Diwa, away.

- g8 g5 g, ?2 _% H* J# W+ J$ W"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.
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1 Z) ^4 N( V5 J' S% w% W  Y"Wait here, a minute" shortly, window. house.

"Alarms disabled, door's open," a tone..

"I didn't a second," Diwa.

  u, R; P" ^7 S( j  ]1 u"Yes did, it's fine. I'm it."
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"You don't you're it?"

& K' D0 }9 M  Z5 p1 B7 @" S"Whatever. Let's inside," Jade, back. inside, Diwa's description.
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"It's here," staircase.

9 @( P* T+ I& }. s9 ~3 S4 d"Northanger what?"
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) n$ W, z" O4 t( n7 T6 H"Never mind. I a references. jokes. There's Austen."
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, F1 [  Z( j. q3 ?& `"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.

"It's I'm it, okay," said, hands. made, cuffs.

; O- k0 V5 N5 z1 y4 O7 _+ ~. K"Special gloves?" Diwa.

"One a style," Jade, a doctor's ears. "Now, I this." safe, stethoscope. open. a glance, "Never doubt."
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"Hmph," Jade, a papers. a safe, ignored. a a end, Filipino.

( |: H4 |. M& F+ P* @' E6 h2 g6 m" N"Here is," Diwa, a document, a disgust.
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$ X' G5 D* B9 C" [/ @! k" A"And?" Jade.
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2 N* M  a$ `, {) p9 p, Q"And us, it," Diwa. "They split, a town."
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% L9 y  ]5 M8 D! e+ n7 X/ @7 Q"As expected. document, he'll you're him. things?" there, will.
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"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.
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"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."
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* @* ?$ r6 V: A- z! N+ `0 ]4 {0 S% f"Everybody Hiraya," neutrally.
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"Don't yourself. You've spark. too. I."
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/ u+ `& H8 X2 ~; j' @  r— commune, wrong. road, Jeepney, women. cab, hut.
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3 Z' t, w" z  s9 V. dA a sofa.

"Hiraya!" lover's hand. forehead. neck, gone. open, dazed. Jade.
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/ x8 t: {1 M' g/ R$ ~% ["What happened?" demanded, control. language, possible. patiently, orders, Jade, hadn't Hiraya.

"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."
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"I'll Hiraya," Jade. "The search." a her. "No, Jade." turned, surprised. "No? Hiraya, you've attacked. I here."
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$ H7 y: y4 H- z+ v7 R"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.
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"Should armed?" asked. head. "Violence violence. things."
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3 r, ~7 y1 K9 B1 V5 O' k' HA east, see. west, north, area, earlier.
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" g- }4 `& K1 |; a; w: A"You they're here?" softly.
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4 |- U& h" h8 h  x"Most likely. Maria's smart. well, a here." wasn't a a path, gully.
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$ y; o  S  b" S2 y* B"Jose!" Jade, forward. head, groggy, face.

"Jade," weakly. "Auntie. a rock. They're there, her."

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

3 a" g5 Y( I( p: c0 K"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.

"Back brother's house. I there. way?"

( i. Z7 U, o9 Z"Is Catholic? I lost."
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— Jeepney, a them. happened, voices. a dazed, filthy, hair, night. a hug.

9 t0 q$ E% C- C"Thank Hiraya," said. "You brave."
' Q" ?' i5 U; V2 G( ~; m; |" ?
Maria's wide. "Where?" asked. "Where they?"
' l  o" k7 a. E6 e+ N# R/ d
"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.
; Z5 f: \0 Q" d. S: S
"What you?" back, Jeepney.

( [/ _! k* N2 `"The brother's companion. a partners. I it, retrospect"
; }7 v3 H$ x9 e& ?6 \4 h7 ~1 @! Y( [
"You don't gay. happens. keeps, I'm brother, a politician, wouldn't police. 'lifestyle choices', respectability."

"He's anyway, though? survived?"
- ?) H( w2 z6 [1 k" \
"No," finality. "He's dead. be."
7 c. ]2 _, X6 s
" B  k$ K0 ~% Q— a house, snoring, furniture. A though, empty.

"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.

"Maria, after?" asked. "You a colour, doesn't gold, I you'd a me."

3 ~  S- p) `- Z* X5 N" C  uStartled, head, group.

% B1 `/ O6 @7 R"I couldn't," softly, volume. "I don't it. I'm nothing." a a second, up.

! m( u" s/ d) X) a6 b2 c: z"Oh honey, I don't that, so, wrong. You're a woman."
. `0 t" Q. ^8 J' x
5 b7 Z$ \- n8 q9 ], z# aUnexpectedly, well, strongly.
& D( U7 o, i9 u( }
. V( R3 _, R! v- V) P& i"Maria, I I you're from. days? I I'd about, situation. I, um, help. meantime, we'll decide?"
! _' }% s% k/ c% U7 A, v
! M* q4 x  N- r/ ]0 U; j. }9 b9 q& UMaria's brightened, firmly.
, U& k* X7 r; n8 x+ c' A* ~
" `; X7 i- P- x5 z! e0 r: A& j— bed. Jade, Hiraya, showers, Dikala's wardrobe. bathroom, her, a it, table. a
8 U* g, q* C. A9 p/ {, V7 H
' F- {! \/ N5 F3 a  B: `0 ^, eggs, coffee, a human. down, voices.

9 p+ q, O9 }! n  ["What now?" a while.
+ J# @, N! r+ E  T8 x  `
# |1 P0 r, p5 w  [2 F"Now
8 h( J1 {/ e$ l# {+ K3 H
+ w5 j4 {2 `2 `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.
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3 |  N6 z8 k- R/ C– 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."
# \# H# |! k& w5 o$ P% W
"Do companion?" carefully.
* O/ @5 w4 o# |& L, n0 s5 b* H
+ X# C/ R" |- m/ X0 h/ w- ^5 C+ v! y"No. will. I much, body, that. I brother's wake, least, family. It's a sad, actually, Philippines, this, okay. I sensitivities. church."

0 A3 F  T# o+ W4 ZGrimly, now.

- F" ~/ U, k" T— 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.
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"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?"

- B- I7 m8 Y5 l$ f3 i"No problem," Jade. "We'd that." Maria, much. bothered. shining.
2 j# I: P# y! {) k* N2 w. }
"You that? education? Jose's?" asked.
7 C1 G" l: X  k, c' O8 ?
"Yes... I mean, would, yes," Jade. "Through that's up. It's Foundation. open, it's well, future. that's
; @; w  l8 s  I3 M! p( n2 `
deal. one's you."

"Then, yes," Maria. smiled.

— funeral, Dikala's a together. west, smouldering, summit. a while, nothing, waterline. nights, time. cracked.

# u* }3 e; Z  X3 E"This agony."
5 x9 Y- T; `& n" ?. O! p3 W
- G$ y2 k; I6 o: p"We've this," patiently. a girl?

"No. I hadn't week."

& L8 G6 \+ u* X4 ]) D* Z"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."

( ?( S3 l2 f! U% d, r. \! Q( |"You that. You've minutes. I bed."

7 b8 N+ \* s$ d"I might. I won't. I them."
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! q! T* ]* ^8 ?. }1 ]# J0 L"Should a contest? There's a town," Hiraya, grinning.

+ g8 s7 k& l) U- `5 N) j"No, we're tonight. Diwa's a you. I've sources, you. gratified."
  d2 q' O8 k; m3 f& e9 }
8 E: H# D( q: Y& S"She'll go, know. you."
1 r. v8 Y- I) D- o! |) x
: b# v/ y+ i* }; v( g"Yeah," softly. "Yeah, I too.
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9 |: c+ a8 j% T9 F% c  Bway. I now, here. a saint. about. way, I haven't ? symptoms?"

% b9 Z! G( N7 a3 `1 J) h"Not really," Hiraya. "I it, course. frankly, I don't there's it. I couldn't world, love, I now." nothing, freely. else, head.
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"I you'll a soon," managed. beach, hand. reading! Penny.
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