THE WILD BOAR
Chapter 2: "Rumblings Of The Future"
A Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
Shiho Morobishi watched from the door exiting the room. The room was her husband Yoshiki's office in their Chiyoda-Ku mansion. Present were Yoshiki and his two top aides (and bodyguards), as well as Takeshi Ootsuka and two of his "associates". Ootsuka was a rival Yakuza boss from Koto-Ku, a brutish man that had been nicknamed "The Wild Boar" for his single-mindedness, his relentlessness, and his brutality in a fight. To say Shiho was concerned about Ootsuka and his men being there was an understatement.
"So you're out, Morobishi-San," Ootsuka grunted. "Maybe now your gang can get back to business. The period you were gone, your wife kept up the gambling end of the business, but let the other interests slide. But what would you expect from a woman?"
"Did you come all the way to Chiyoda-Ku just to insult my wife," Morobishi asked calmly, "Ootsuka-San?"
"I meant no offense," Ootsuka replied. "Some people are suited to some pursuits and some people aren't. That's just a fact of life. There's no shame." He paused a moment. "So are you still suited for this life?"
"How so?"
"Well, Queen Serenity saw fit to release you just eighteen months after you tried to have her killed," Ootsuka outlined. "That suggests promises were made. A deal was worked out. Compromises were sought and agreed to."
"I made no promises," Morobishi told him. "Serenity-Hime decided I was no longer a threat to society."
"Is she right?"
Morobishi smiled, more to himself than to anyone. "I don't predict the future. But I have retired from - - most - - of my former pursuits. I intend to get into brewing Sake. That's something that interests me."
"If it makes you happy," Ootsuka shrugged. "It seems like a waste, though. An efficient, profitable organization reduced to running pachinko parlors, making book and laundering the money through sake; a waste. And I hate waste."
"And I'm certain you have a solution," Morobishi responded, anticipating the answer.
"I'll take over your territory and operation," Ootsuka smiled. It was a mirthless, threatening smile. "You don't have to concern yourself with possibly running afoul of Queen Serenity and her Senshi. You can be a nice, safe Sake brewer."
"Your interest in my welfare is gratifying," Morobishi said, expertly hiding his cynicism. He glanced at his wife and saw she wasn't doing as good a job. "But I must refuse. I still have sentimental attachment to my - - network. And I wouldn't want you to overextend yourself."
"It's no trouble," Ootsuka said, menacingly, leaning on the desk to give himself a more imposing image. "I'm only looking out for your best interests."
"I think I'm a better judge of my best interests than you," Morobishi replied. He wasn't intimidated by Ootsuka's rising ire.
"I want this territory!" Ootsuka fumed. "You're not doing anything with it! I can make it worth your while!"
"I doubt that."
Ootsuka slammed his fists on the desk and shoved his face into Morobishi's.
"Give it to me! Or it won't be healthy, either for you or your family!" Ootsuka snarled.
Morobishi replied with a .44 semi-automatic that suddenly jumped from his desk drawer to his hand. The barrel of the gun pressed against Ootsuka's forehead. Shiho's breath caught. The four bodyguards all drew their weapons.
"That could be taken as a threat," Morobishi said with eerie calm. "I would now be in my rights to shoot you dead and it would be seen as self-defense. Serenity-Hime wouldn't like it, but I think she would understand. Especially when she saw the video recordings of our meeting."
He gestured up and Ootsuka saw the security camera in the corner of the ceiling. That was new.
"This is why I don't want to turn my network over to you," Morobishi continued. "You're too easily provoked and I don't want your kind of violence in my back yard. So I decline your generous offer. And don't get any ideas. Just because I've renounced violence doesn't mean I'm an easy target now."
Morobishi removed the pistol from Ootsuka's forehead and pointed it at the ceiling, smiling with superior charity. Ootsuka eased back from the desk, glaring at his host the entire time. When he reached his two bodyguards, Ootsuka gave a terse signal to them and turned to leave. They followed obediently.
"Yoshiki," Shiho exhaled after they left. "He's not going to stop. You know him. He's not going to stop."
"No, I don't think he will," sighed Morobishi.
"Perhaps we could go to Sakurada," Shiho reasoned, "or Serenity-Hime . . ."
"It might be interesting to have Sakurada chasing someone else for a change," smiled Morobishi. "Though I am retired, I am still Yakuza and will not violate the code." He turned to his wife. "But you are an adult and can make your own decisions. I will still cherish you no matter what you decide to do, Shiho."
Though he was essentially punting the decision to her, Shiho was still grateful to hear the last part.
Moriko padded softly into the shrine contained within the walls of the Crystal Palace. She looked around until she found Rei, engaged in counseling one of the palace workers who was troubled. Diplomatically Moriko withdrew to the outer chamber of the shrine.
As she waited, Moriko passed the time by examining the collection of books and scrolls Rei had on one of the walls of the outer room. Her eyes locked onto one particular volume. She reached up and pulled the book from the shelf, carefully opening the cover. The volume itself was one-hundred and twenty-seven years old. As she gazed at it, Moriko became lost in a memory. As such, she didn't hear Rei enter.
"I was able to salvage that from Sendai Hill after the ice disaster," Rei spoke up. Moriko turned to her, surprised by being surprised. "It's almost like the book itself is blessed by the gods. It didn't suffer any damage at all." She came up to her great-grandmother. "Grandpa passed it to me when I went to college."
"I remember when Shinya received it," Moriko smiled. "It was a gift from his master, the priest who taught him." She looked back at the book. "When I saw it just now, that time with Shinya came rushing back."
Rei touched her shoulder. "I'm sorry if it's painful for you."
"They're only good memories," Moriko replied. "My one regret is that I can't make any more with him."
Steeling herself, Moriko shelved the book. She turned to Rei.
"I received a warning of evil," she told the priest. "I was divining for possible threats and suddenly felt a presence."
"Do you know this presence?"
"No," Moriko shook her head. "But I sense that it's a kitsune-yako."
"Himura?"
"Himura and his kitsune are neutralized," Moriko said. "This is someone else. I couldn't learn anything else about the spirit, other than she is not controlled by another."
"You don't know what she wants?" Rei asked.
"No. Only that she means evil and that the masters of this hearth are involved," Moriko explained. "I'm sorry, Rei-Chan. I'm not the seer you or my children are. Great Ikari only blessed me with this single glimpse."
"You warned me, Obaa-San. That's enough," Rei assured her. "And with my sight restored, I can try to find out the rest."
Rei suddenly turned her head. Moriko quickly realized that the priest sensed someone outside of the shrine. The priest quickly moved to the door and opened it. Endymion was on the other end, about to enter. He stepped back, startled.
"I was just about to come to you," Rei told him. "Obaa-San has sensed a potential threat to the palace."
"So Luna tells me," Endymion replied. "Are there any details?"
"Nothing concrete," Rei explained. "I'll work on getting more information. When I learn something, I'll let you know."
"I appreciate that," Endymion nodded. "Meanwhile, I'll get Luna and Artemis on the problem and notify Chief Sakurada. We'll see if we can turn up anything in the CONVENTIONAL manner."
Rei smirked at him and then closed the door. Turning, she found Moriko waiting for her. The old woman was clearly concerned.
"I should do a fire reading," Rei murmured. "But I hate to go to the gods too often. I don't want to annoy them this soon after getting my sight back."
"If I may," Moriko began. "Perhaps a vision will come to you if you meditate. It was a method that often worked for my Ritsuko."
Rei grew embarrassed. "Well, meditation and I don't have a very good history."
"That," Moriko smirked, jabbing her finger into Rei's shoulder, "is because you lack patience. All things will come to those who are patient. You must learn patience."
"Yeah, learn patience," muttered Rei. "How long is that going to take?"
Every day two palace guards escorted little Setsuko to kindergarten. They stayed the entire day, watching out for any potential threat to the King and Queen's adopted daughter. This had been a source of unease among a few of the students and all of the staff at the facility at first. By now, though, everyone was used to the presence of two palace guards in plain clothes being in the halls or in the classroom. Some of the students even began referring to them as "Yojimbo-San".
Every evening, the two guards would escort Setsuko home. They would listen patiently as the five year old girl chattered away about her day or a book she'd read or stories about her classmates. And every day, without fail, when they arrived back at the palace, they were greeted at the front gate by Queen Serenity herself. Setsuko would bolt from the car and run up to her. Queen Serenity would kneel down and spread her arms, catching the girl and hugging her as only the Queen could. And the guards and anyone else around who witnessed the scene would smile to themselves and recall a similar time in their lives.
"And Amaya drew a picture of an owl," Setsuko related as she and the Queen headed hand in hand for the Royal Chambers, "and teacher said it was very good. Then I drew a picture of you and Mamoru-Papa, and teacher said it was very good, too. Mama, which one was better?"
"Well, I'd have to see them," Serenity deferred. "But the important thing isn't who was better. The important thing is did you have fun? Did you?"
Setsuko nodded vigorously.
"I'm glad," Serenity smiled warmly.
"Oh!" Setsuko exclaimed suddenly. "Ichiro-Kun is back from school! I should tell him!" And she ran down the hall to where the Ikegami family resided. Serenity followed at a slower pace.
"Hi, Setsuko-Chan!" Makoto said, lighting up after answering the door and finding who her visitor was. She glanced up from the child. "Hiya, Serenity."
"Is Ichiro-Kun here?" Setsuko asked. "I want to tell him all about my day!"
"Well," Makoto grimaced, "Ichiro's kind of busy, Hon'. He's got a lot of homework to do and he doesn't have time to visit right now. Same with Akiko." She turned her head back into the quarters. "ISN'T THAT RIGHT, YOUNG LADY!"
"He can't?" Setsuko replied, her disappointment obvious. Serenity knelt down beside her.
"Ichiro-Kun is in a higher grade than you are," she patiently explained. "He has more school work to do than you do. You can't spend every minute with him."
Setsuko let out a sigh that was a little more petulant than she wanted. "I apologize for bothering you," she said and bowed to Makoto.
"It's OK, Hon'," Makoto grinned. "I'll tell him you stopped by."
Serenity and Setsuko headed for the Royal Chambers hand in hand.
"Maybe I'll tell Luna-Chan," Setsuko brightened, her disappointment evaporating. "Where is she, Mama?"
"I'm afraid Luna is working on something important with Artemis," Serenity told her. "I know she'd want to listen if she could . . ."
"Will you listen?" Setsuko asked. Serenity felt her heart break.
"Well," the Queen replied, kneeling to the child, "I do have to finish this page for 'Fire Princess Rika' . . ."
Instantly she could tell Setsuko was trying to conceal her disappointment and failing miserably. The page was important, as she was hovering near her deadline again, but right now so was Setsuko's needs. Then inspiration struck the Queen.
Endymion peeked his head into Serenity's "office". Knowing of her deadline problems, he figured she'd be in there. Sure enough, his wife was at her drawing board finishing page twenty of her manga. But next to her board, Setsuko sat at a smaller desk. The girl was working on a picture as well, using crayons rather than a mechanical pencil.
"And Renji-Kun tried to jump the fence," Setsuko said as she drew, "but he couldn't and ripped his pants."
"Oh, I bet his mom is going to be furious," Serenity said as she tightened panel six.
"Like mother, like daughter?" Endymion smiled.
"Papa! Look what I drew!" Setsuko exclaimed. She showed Endymion the picture.
"Very good," he nodded. "You're going to get to the point where you can ink you Mama's pages."
"And put poor Sanoko-Chan out of a job?" gasped Serenity. She glanced at the clock. "Oh! Sanoko-Chan is going to be here any minute!" She began furiously working on panel six.
"Don't rush. She'll wait," Endymion advised her. "I'll get the Diet Coke."
"And could you get . . ."
"Dinner, I know," Endymion smiled. Serenity blew him a kiss and returned to work.
"Any luck on what Luna and Artemis are working on?" Serenity asked as she drew.
"Not yet." Endymion turned to leave. Setsuko got up to follow. "Are you all done?"
"I have to say 'hello' to Sanoko-Chan," Setsuko said. "I like her. She dresses funny. And I can tell her all about my day."
"OK," Endymion sighed and took her hand. "But don't annoy her."
Serenity smiled as she worked.
Rei emerged from her private room, the room she used to study, research, (try to) meditate or just to get away from all the crushing impressions of the world. For a woman who could read intimate thoughts in perfect strangers often needed time alone. Moriko was in the outer room, reading an old text from the previous century. She looked up as Rei entered.
"Japanese mythology?" Rei asked, glancing at the book. "I would think you'd be expert enough on that subject to write your own book."
"I'm interested in what mortals think, too," Moriko replied. "Amazingly, they're right more often than one would think." She closed the book. "And I was trying to get some sort of clue to this mystery fox spirit that's threatening the palace."
"Any luck?"
"No," frowned the old woman. "You?"
Rei scowled. "I told you I'm not very good at meditation."
"Perhaps you're going about it wrong," Moriko smiled. "I remember Gon had some trouble with it initially. Once he got to the point where he didn't think about girls every two seconds, he began to pick it up."
"Well, thinking about girls isn't my problem," the priest sighed.
"Would you like me to show you some tricks?"
"I'd be honored, Obaa-San!" Rei exclaimed.
"We can start whenever you like," Moriko assured her. "Oh, you received a telephone message while you were in your place of meditation. Your father would like to speak with you."
"Was it an emergency?"
"I don't think so," Moriko said. "He seemed like he just wanted to get together. Perhaps he wishes to renew his ties with you."
"If that's the case, he can go to . . ."
"Rei-Chan," Moriko said, very seriously. "I know your relationship with your father has long been poisoned by bitterness and distance. You wish to punish him for real crimes and perceived ones. You don't trust his motives and you don't trust his love for you."
"I don't think he ever loved me, Obaa-San!" Rei snapped. Once again, just the thought of her father sent her blood pressure soaring.
"Still, he made the gesture," Moriko maintained. "Perhaps he does want something other than his daughter's love. If so, your powers have been restored. You will see through any subterfuge." She reached up and caressed Rei's cheek. "Or perhaps he is sincere. His political career is at least on hold and perhaps gone forever. Perhaps now he sees what he lost in his single-minded pursuit of power and he wishes to reclaim it."
"Sounds like Tsukuyomi," grunted Rei. "Look how that turned out."
"If you wish to continue to spurn him, that is your choice," Moriko shrugged. "But first be certain that, in your efforts to punish him for what he did, you are not punishing yourself as well. What do you lose by pursuing this?"
"I don't know," Rei frowned.
"My granddaughter loved your father very much," Moriko continued. "Clearly she saw something within him that was worthy of her devotion. Perhaps you can see it as well now that he has shed the cloak of 'the politician' and stands before you as a man."
Rei stood there, trying to think of a counter argument and failing. Finally she sighed with frustration.
"All right," she surrendered. "But I don't have a very good feeling about this."
Continued in Chapter 3