Chapter Seven
"We're having visitors?"
Sasami glanced up from where she had been secluded in the grassy grounds of the palace, leaning casually up against the trunk of a nearby tree as she carefully slotted together blossoms into an intricate chain. "What do you mean, Ayeka? Who's coming to Jurai?"
"I've been looking all over the palace for you, Sasami." Ayeka sighed, sinking down onto an exposed tree root as she eyed her sister's gown with a long suffering glance. "And that's a new gown. Are you determined to ruin it already?"
"You sound as bad as Mother." Sasami pulled a face. "You're not Empress yet, you know. Why so stressed out, Ayeka-oneechan? What's happened?"
"Nothing, I'm just fed up of deputising for Uncle." Ayeka looked rueful. "I'm sorry...but it is a new gown. And you know that Mother will only say the same thing, if she sees you curling up on the grass wearing it."
"You're not much better, sitting on the tree like that." Sasami said unrepentantly. "And you didn't tell me who was going to visit us. Who's coming? People from Earth?"
"I've had a communication from the Galaxy Police." Ayeka shook her head.
"The Galaxy Police? You mean Kiyone and Mihoshi?" Sasami's eyes lit up. "Are they coming here? Oh good. They must be working on a case...and it's bringing them to Jurai? Right?"
"Not quite." Ayeka shook her head. "It's only Kiyone who's coming, Sasami-chan. Her commander didn't give a lot of details, but he seemed concerned about her, and wanted to know whether we'd mind if she came to visit us, on Jurai for a little while. Apparently it was her idea to come here, although she's not too happy about taking a trip at all."
"Taking a trip?" Sasami set down her chain of flowers, looking confused. "But what do you mean? Kiyone's on holiday...by herself?"
"She's been discharged." Ayeka pursed her lips. "Temporarily, I think, but I got the impression something had happened at Headquarters."
"Kiyone's sick?" Sasami's expression became one of concern. "Oh no! But then she has to come here! You did say she could, didn't you, Ayeka? I mean..."
"I did." Ayeka agreed. "I know Uncle wouldn't mind, given the circumstances. And it's a pain, him being delayed in these negotiations of his, but he should be back tomorrow so I won't have to make the decisions for much longer. Kiyone is an old friend, after all. I told the Commander that she'd be very welcome here."
"Did he tell you why she's not well?" Sasami asked. Ayeka shook her head.
"He didn't tell me what exactly happened." She replied. "Just that Kiyone was feeling a bit under pressure and needed a few weeks to rest. That's all."
"Weird." Sasami frowned. "That doesn't sound like Kiyone."
"Putting herself under pressure does." Ayeka sighed. "Maybe she finally took on too much. She does work too hard, we all know that. Anyhow, she will be coming here as soon as the Galaxy Police can spare a transport bug to bring her. I'm trusting you to look after her, Sasami-chan. I'm going to be too busy to do much myself, and well, if anyone knows how to live life carefree, it's generally you. Even with Tsunami hanging over your head, you still seem to manage to get every last drop of enjoyment out of your day."
"It sounds like fun." Sasami nodded her head. "I'll be glad to, Ayeka. Suki and I will look after her, and..."
"Suki?" Ayeka looked startled. Sasami smiled.
"Well, sure." She agreed. "Why? Is there a reason why she shouldn't help? Suki's not a bad person, you know. And she is my friend."
"No, I know." Ayeka shook her head. "I just...you spend a lot of time with Suki now, don't you?"
"Yes." Sasami frowned. "So what?"
"No reason. I was just commenting." Ayeka shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose it's nice for you to have a friend of your own, here on Jurai."
"Onee-chan, are you jealous?" Sasami asked softly. Ayeka started, then looked rueful.
"Perhaps a little bit." She admitted. "I know it's silly, but you've always come to me in the past. But today I really had trouble tracking you down. Kamidake said you and Suki had walked out this way - but still, I didn't know where you were. First Tsunami claims you for her own, and now Suki Tennan, too. Is it selfish of me, Sasami, to want to keep you?"
"Don't be silly." Sasami giggled. "I still love you too, you know. You're my sister and I don't want that to change. But you have Takeru and so many things to do at court now, Ayeka. And I need my own friends, too. I like Suki. She's sweet and we have fun together. She understands about Tsunami and she doesn't mind. That means a lot to me."
"Where is she, anyway? If you both walked this way..."
"She went ahead to gather more flowers." Sasami said. "We're making decorations for Tokimi's room. I thought it would be nice for her to have flowers around her, just in case she woke up. And some of them smell so beautiful - maybe it will help."
"Tokimi, huh?" Ayeka said softly. Sasami smiled.
"Yes." She agreed. "I want to help her get well. Don't you?"
"So long as she poses no further danger to you or to Jurai, then yes." Ayeka said thoughtfully. "If everything Washu said at Seiryo-san's hearing was correct, she's been a victim of this magic for a long time. Who knows what kind of a person lies in that bed?"
"Someone who's been hurt." Sasami said firmly. "Just like Seiryo-dono. But he's getting better now, and Tokimi needs to as well. Then everything will be all right."
"Seiryo..." Ayeka's brow creased, and Sasami eyed her curiously.
"Yes, Ayeka? What about Seiryo-san?" She asked softly.
"It didn't occur to me when I spoke to the Commander, and I'm sure it hadn't occured to him either." Ayeka said quietly. "But Seiryo is here on Jurai. And a free man, too."
"So?" Sasami looked genuinely puzzled. "Why shouldn't he be? He hasn't been naughty since Tokimi was defeated, has he?"
"No." Ayeka shook her head. "But Seiryo was the one who hurt Kiyone so badly six months ago. I know that that was dark magic too, but still..."
"Kiyone's not silly. She knows it was a spell." Sasami turned her attention back to her flowers. "Besides, they probably won't even see each other. Seiryo-dono is wrapped up in the council and you said Kiyone was coming for a holiday. Right?"
"Right." Ayeka agreed doubtfully, getting carefully to her feet. "Well, now I've shared the news, I suppose that I must..."
"Sasami-chan!"
Before she could finish, Suki came tearing over the hill, acting very little like the daughter of an illustrious noble house as she approached them. Her thick wavy hair had loosed itself from it's ribbons and as she grabbed hold of the tree, catching her breath, there was excitement glittering in her aqua eyes. "Sasami-chan, a spaceship! Someone's coming to Jurai!"
"A spaceship?" Sasami scrambled to her feet, tearing the sash of her dress as she did so. "What kind of spaceship?"
"Lord Azaka said it was the Ryo Ohki, I heard him." Suki drew another gasp of air into her lungs. "And I knew you'd want to know. Isn't that your cousin Lord Tenchi's ship?"
"Tenchi? On Jurai?" Ayeka looked startled. "Suki-dono, are you sure?"
"Lady...Lady Ayeka." Suki suddenly seemed to register the presence of the Crown Princess, blushing as she found her manners. She bowed her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't realise you were with Lady Sasami. I didn't mean to interrupt you so rudely - forgive me."
"Oh, forget all that fussy stuff." Sasami scolded, grabbing her friend by the hand. "Ryo Ohki is Ryoko's ship, not Tenchi's, but if she's here, he might be too. They're usually together these days and Tenchi doesn't have a ship of his own. Oh, I hope Azaka was right. I hope it is Ryo Ohki! Let's go see!"
"Sasami, hang on a minute." Ayeka began, but Sasami was taking no notice. Gripping Suki's hand more tightly, and scooping up her linked blossoms in the other, she pulled the older girl back towards the palace at a pace which Suki only just managed to meet.
"Sasami, I can't breathe!" She protested, laughing as they reached the top of the hill, looking down on the palace complex itself. "Stop. Please!"
"I'm stopping, I'm stopping!" Sasami obediently halted, staring down into the valley with eager eyes as Suki sank down onto the grass beside her. "Look, Suki! It is Ryo Ohki! And I...I can see Tenchi and Ryoko. And Washu! Washu's come too! This is so cool! We're having lots of visitors!"
"Looks that way." Suki agreed. "Sasami-chan, I was rude to your sister. Do you think..."
"Oh, Ayeka won't mind. You were excited and she's not that much of a fuddy-duddy." Sasami shrugged. "Can you breathe now? I want us to go down and greet them, but I don't want you to drop down dead if we do."
"I don't have to come with you, you know." Suki pointed out.
"True, but it would be more fun if you did." Sasami grinned. "And you don't really know Tenchi-niichan, do you? Or Ryoko?"
"No-o-o." Suki bit her lip. "But I know my brother upset them both very much when he...was not himself. Do you think they'd want to meet me?"
"Tenchi won't care about that." Sasami assured her. "Come on, Suki, please? I want to go down there, before some palace official swallows them up and drags them off to see Takeru or something."
"All right, I'm coming." Suki relented. "But more slowly, okay? I haven't as much energy as you do. Tsunami must give you extra, I swear."
"Maybe she does." Sasami agreed. "Okay. This way - I know a short cut."
Before Suki could object she was wriggling through a dense group of trees, going deeper and deeper into their meshed branches as she searched for the path she knew led directly down to the palace. Behind her she could hear Suki's breathing as the older girl followed her, and at length they stepped out into open country once more.
"Tenchiiii!" Sasami let out a yell, breaking into a run as she hurried to greet the visitors. Tenchi turned, surprise and amusement touching his expression as the younger princess flung herself on him, hugging him tightly.
"Tenchi, you're really here!" She exclaimed. "But why are you? I mean, Ayeka didn't say anything about you coming too!"
"Ask Washu." Ryoko interjected, folding her arms across her chest. "Hi, Sasami. No need to ask how you are."
"Fine, and happy to see you all." Sasami's eyes sparkled. "You only just went away, so it's a doubly nice surprise to have you back!"
"That's my fault, I'm afraid. I need to ask a favour of your uncle." Washu brushed imaginary flecks of dust from her outfit, bestowing a warm smile on the young girl. "What did you mean, Sasami-chan?"
"Huh?"
"Ayeka didn't know we were coming, but it sounded like she was expecting someone else." The scientist replied. "Are you having more guests?"
"I said we should have radioed before we dropped through their security scanners." Ryoko muttered. "Why do you never listen to me, Washu?"
"Oh, it's okay. Really." Sasami dimpled. "Ayeka just told me that Kiyone is coming to Jurai, that's all. Then Suki came running to say...hey, where is Suki? She was right here..."
She turned, seeing her friend standing a short distance away, a look of shy awkwardness on her face. She grinned, coming to grab the older girl by the hand and pull her forward.
"I told you not to be shy, Suki-oneechan! Come say hello to everyone."
"I...didn't like to intrude..." Suki began, but Washu offered her a warm smile.
"Lady Suki, with everything I know you've done for my poor sister, you're not intruding at all." She said, bowing her head slightly. "It's nice to finally get a chance to speak to you, face to face."
"You also, Lady Washu." Suki pinkened. "But Tokimi isn't any better. I'm sorry...but she isn't."
"We've been to visit her, and we're taking her some flowers." Sasami held up her chain as proof. "But so far nothing has worked, Washu-chan."
"That's why I'm here." Washu pursed her lips, looking thoughtful. "I'm hoping that your good Uncle the Emperor might grant me access to the Royal Library. I need to do some research - see what Kii records Jurai might have kept after the colonisation. Just in case there's something written there that can help Tokimi."
"Uncle isn't here." Sasami shook her head. "But I'm sure Ayeka will let you in. She's playing stand in Empress at the moment, since Uncle got called away to negotiate some peace treaty or other between two planetary warlords. Something like that...I don't know. It sounds very boring to me, honestly."
"Azusa isn't here, huh?" Sasami saw a flicker of relief touch Ryoko's expression. "Well, if that's the case, I guess we don't have to suck up to his good graces today, do we Tenchi? Are you coming? We might as well invade the palace and see what's to eat. And I could use a bath...I'm sure Sasami wouldn't mind if we made ourselves at home. Since we came all this way, and all."
Tenchi cast his companion a rueful smile, and Sasami giggled.
"Of course you're welcome. You're all welcome." She assured them. "Come with me. I'll make sure that people know you're here - and I'm sure they'll be able to provide food and all of that. I mean, we've eaten lunch already, but they're always willing to help out when Tenchi's here."
"I'd noticed that." Ryoko agreed wryly. "Thank you, Sasami."
She turned, glancing up at Ryo Ohki, who mewed defiantly.
"All right. You might as well come too." She said with a grin. "I know you're as hungry as I am, and you're still convalescent. Come on, Ryo-Ohki. Lets see if we can't find you some carrots to chew on, huh?"
Ryo Ohki let out a joyful yowl, transforming back into her cabbit form as she jumped eagerly up onto Ryoko's shoulder. She flicked her ears in Sasami's direction, and Sasami grinned.
"You're welcome too, Ryo Ohki." She said seriously. "This is so exciting, having everyone here like this!"
"Sasami, why is Kiyone coming to Jurai?"
As they made their way into the palace, Suki following slightly awkwardly, Washu cast Sasami a curious look. "It seems strange that she'd be coming here, and without Mihoshi. Is something wrong?"
"I don't know." Sasami frowned. "Ayeka just said she wasn't well and was being sent to Jurai to rest. That's all she knows, and all she told me. But Ayeka told the Galaxy Police it would be fine, and she wants Suki and I to make sure Kiyone gets plenty of time to relax when she's here...so I said I would."
"Me too?" Suki looked startled. Sasami nodded.
"Well, of course." She agreed. "Unless you really don't want to."
"I don't mind." Suki shook her head. "But will Kiyone-san want to speak to me? I...I am a Tennan, after all."
"She'll be happy to meet you. You'll see." Sasami slid a reassuring hand into her friend's grip. "And I'm sure there's nothing really wrong with her. If there was, the Commander would have told Ayeka. He just said she'd been under too much stress, or something. Working too hard. I guess she just needs some time off."
"And away from Mihoshi, I bet." Ryoko mused. "She's one person's work at any time."
"Mihoshi cares about Kiyone. They're partners, and Mihoshi takes that very seriously." Tenchi pointed out.
"So does Kiyone." Ryoko shrugged. "But there are limits to everyone's patience, and I've always wondered how Kiyone lives with Mihoshi's quirks day in and day out."
"I guess it's something like Tenchi managing to live with yours, musume-chan." Washu said carelessly. "Besides, Mihoshi has a lot of good qualities. She might be absent-minded and clumsy, but she means well. Kiyone knows that better than anyone...whenever she's needed someone, Mihoshi has been there to help."
"And even if she hasn't needed someone, Mihoshi has still been there to help." Ryoko interjected ironically. "All right. But I hope she isn't really sick. I mean, I like Kiyone and I guess it'll make visiting Jurai less annoying, if she's here too."
"I'm sure she'll be all right, Ryoko." Tenchi said gently. "Kiyone's a strong person. The hard part will be convincing her to rest, that's all."
"She sounds a lot like my brother." Suki put in absently. Sasami shot her a surprised look, and Suki blushed, dropping her gaze.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt." She said hurriedly.
"I hope you're going to keep your brother away from Kiyone, when she's here." Ryoko said quietly. "Because otherwise, I might get involved."
"Ryoko, that isn't necessary." Washu said warningly, but Suki sighed, nodding her head.
"I know. I know you don't like him very much and I know what he...did." She said haltingly. "But Seiryo's not really like that at all, Ryoko-san. He isn't going to hurt her - or anyone at all. He really isn't an evil person."
"I don't care what he is or isn't - he's not at all important to me." Ryoko said frankly. "But I do care about Kiyone and I have no idea whether she even remembers his name or not. On the offchance that she does remember, I'd rather she wasn't reminded of what went on between them aboard her spaceship. Okay? So you tell your brother to keep his distance. Else he'll have an angry space pirate to contend with."
Energy flickered across her palms, and Suki stared at her in consternation, taking a step back.
"I...I..."
"Ryoko, stop it." Sasami scolded. "Seiryo's not going to hurt Kiyone and besides, none of it is Suki's fault. You're scaring her - she doesn't know you're only joking."
"Am I joking?" Ryoko raised an eyebrow. "Kiyone was almost killed by that blast, Sasami. If not for Mihoshi bringing her so quickly across space, she would have died. I don't think I am joking. I don't care if Jurai have forgiven him, or if he's repented, or what. I don't want him anywhere near her. Okay?"
"I...I'll tell him." Suki said unhappily. "Don't worry, Ryoko-san. I don't think he'll want to get involved. It upset him too, you know. I mean, how would you feel if someone almost died because of something you did? Even if it wasn't your fault in the first place. Nii-chan doesn't need any reminders either. He's worked hard to get back to fitness and I won't have him hurt either. So it's all right, Ryoko-san. I will tell Seiryo to keep away from Kiyone-san when she comes here, and I'm sure he will."
"Good." The light faded from Ryoko's fingers and she lowered her hands to her sides, offering the younger girl a guarded smile. "Then we'll get along just fine."
"Ryoko, Suki is my friend. Stop being rude to her." Sasami put her hands on her hips. Ryoko shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm just looking out for the well-being of one of my friends." She said quietly. "It's all right. I'm done. Besides, right now I want to eat. I'm not going to blast holes in Azusa's palace walls today, don't fret. I just wanted to get my point across."
"I think you did that." Tenchi said quietly. "In the meantime, let's not abuse Jurai's hospitality. Washu has work to do, and we don't want to make things any more difficult for her, do we?"
"Whatever." Ryoko grimaced, but Sasami could tell from her expression that she was chastened by his calm words. "Okay. We'll eat and then I want to hit the onsen. It's been a long flight, and not one I would have taken by choice. God knows why Kiyone's coming here. If there's a single planet in the universe where the word relax doesn't exist, it seems to be Jurai!"
--------------------
Well, she was almost there.
Kiyone gazed out at the approaching landscape of Jurai, her heart heavy as she watched the tree-ridden planet rushing up towards them through the mists. Her conversation with the commander and the subsequent discussion with Mihoshi preyed on her mind, and no matter what she did, she could not push it out of her thoughts.
"I know that there was something with me on Yagami. Something that damaged my ship, but the scanners didn't pick it up." She said thoughtfully, pushing her palms against the glass as she struggled to make sense of events at Headquarters. "When Mihoshi and I reached the Seniwan ship, there were life signs. But when we got there, noone aboard was alive. The woman who spoke to us had been killed, so whatever killed her must have still been aboard the Tsubasa. And yet..."
She sighed, sinking back into her seat.
"And yet we saw noone." She acknowledged. "Nothing. No clues, just three dead crew and a ship with an encrypted log."
She hesitated, then slid her hand into her pocket, pulling the small black recording device out and glancing at it.
"Maybe I was rash to erase this so quickly." She reasoned out loud. "Perhaps there would have been a clue somewhere on it. But now all I'm left with is a discharge to Jurai, an empty data box and the woman's security key from the ship we tried to salvage."
She sighed, slipping the box back into her pocket as she rubbed her temples.
"No ship, no resources, and a commander who thinks I'm losing my wits." She said sadly. "Maybe I am - talking to myself like this. But I know that I didn't wreck Yagami. I couldn't have done it. I couldn't have forgotten that I'd done it! And even if the scanners didn't pick anyone else up..."
She swallowed hard.
"No, this is nuts." She said bitterly. "I know what I saw. Stop doubting yourself, Kiyone. You know your own mind and you know you're not crazy! Bad dreams about a past event is one thing. But going psycho on your own spaceship and then forgetting it ever happened - that's not you. Which means...there's only one other explanation. Somehow, whatever it was that killed the crew of the Tsubasa also wrecked the dash of the Yagami. And that means that..."
She faltered, biting her lip as she glanced back the way they had come.
"That the killer must have boarded Yagami, and come back to Headquarters with us." She whispered. "That the reason we didn't find anyone aboard the Seniwan ship is because there was noone there. The link walkway was open the whole time Mihoshi and I were searching for survivors. It would have been easy...Oh! But if that's the case, everyone at Headquarters could be in danger! If there's a mad killer on the loose who can conceal themselves from detection, anyone could be the next victim. It could even be Mihoshi!"
She got to her feet, hurrying out of the ship's seating area and up to the bridge, where an officer, clad in the uniform of the Elite Force barred her way, casting her a curious look.
"Detective Makibi? Is something wrong?"
"I need to speak to the Commander." Kiyone struggled to get past the man, but he held her firm in his strong grip. "Will you let me go? It's important. I think Headquarters is in danger, and I have to make sure something is done!"
"In danger? From what?" The officer looked startled. "Detective, there are no comm devices down in the seating area. Who have you been talking to?"
"Noone." Kiyone shook her head. "I've just been thinking about the Yagami, and..."
"I see." The officer exchanged looks with a colleague, who had left the central control room at the sound of their voices. Kiyone saw the expression that passed between them and her cheeks reddened in anger.
"I'm not crazy!" She exclaimed. "Will you listen to me? Something wrecked the Yagami and that something could well be at Headquarters. It killed people already and it could kill them again. I have to speak to the Commander and make him understand what happened on that ship. I have to..."
"Kiyone-san, calm down. We're listening to you." The second detective said softly. "Stop fighting and explain to us what you mean. All right? If there's something we need to tell the commander, it will come better from us than from you right now."
"I...I guess." Relief flickered in Kiyone's expression and she gave up her struggle, eying the newcomer with fresh hope. "You're going to listen to me, then? Because it is important. Really. It is."
"We're listening." The man said smoothly. "Go on. Explain."
"Well, when Mihoshi and I went to try and find survivors on that ship, there weren't any." Kiyone said slowly. "We talked to one of them before, but when we got aboard, her throat had been slit. She was dead."
"And yet you spoke to her just moments before?"
"Yes." Kiyone nodded her head. "So whatever killed her was still on the ship. Right?"
"I see." The first man pursed his lips. "But you and Mihoshi-san didn't find it?"
"We didn't see or hear anyone at all." Kiyone shook her head. "But don't you see? They must have come aboard Yagami, and come back to Headquarters. And then..."
"And then they wrecked the dashboard of your ship?" The second man asked.
"Yes. Exactly." Kiyone nodded her head. "And they must still be there. Unless they're...unless they're on this ship, somewhere."
She glanced around herself anxiously. "Which they could be."
"Let me run this through again, Kiyone-san." The first detective leant back against the ship wall. "You think that the creature who slew three well-trained Seniwan officers aboard the Tsubasa crept aboard Yagami while you and Mihoshi-san were looking for survivors?"
"Yes. That's what I'm saying."
"And that, even though this creature had apparently single-handedly slaughtered the crew and wrecked the ship you searched, it didn't raise a finger to harm either you or Detective Kuramitsu, during your flight back to Headquarters?"
"No. I guess we were the transport system."
"I see." The second man tilted his head, eying her keenly. "And all that time, you and Mihoshi didn't see anything aboard with you?"
"No. I don't think they can be seen. I don't know how, but I think they're just, well, not visible to the naked eye."
"And when you had returned to Headquarters, and left the docking bay, this creature wrecked Yagami's dashboard."
"They were looking for something."
"And yet you went aboard your ship, and - so you say - interrupted their actions, they didn't hurt you?"
"I didn't say that." Kiyone said flatly. "They did something to me. I don't know what...but they forced me to leave the ship."
"In something of a state." The first man pointed out. "Kiyone-san, listen to me. The ship you and Mihoshi-san investigated was a Seniwan spy ship. You know that already. The people aboard were some of the finest military people Seniwa had to offer. That something would kill them and yet let you go - twice - unharmed, seems strange to me. Not to mention the fact that the scanners at Headquarters picked up no additional life signs from your ship or any other. There's no evidence that anything boarded the ship at all."
"You don't believe me." Kiyone's last hope flickered and died inside her, and she sent them a dark glare. "I thought you were listening to me - but you just want to laugh at me, don't you? You think I'm crazy too."
"I think you've been working far too hard." The second officer said gently. "We'll get to the bottom of the Seniwan murders, and that's a promise. But what you say doesn't make sense. According to you, this being has no physical presence. And the scanners at Headquarters didn't pick up any signals, either. But in order to commit murders as brutal as the ones aboard Tsubasa, the killer must have had a physical presence. They must be tangible and alive. The two things don't add up."
Kiyone sent them the most poisonous look that she could muster. Then she turned on her heel, flouncing back down the corridor towards the ship's living area. As she went, she could hear them discussing her behaviour.
"So sad - she's always been one of the Galaxy Police's biggest hopes." She heard one of them say.
"I guess she's not as together as she seems." That was the other, and Kiyone pulled open the door of the seating area with some force, slamming it hard behind her as she took out her frustration on the sturdy transport craft.
"Nobody wants to listen to me!" She muttered, kicking out at the seat in her temper. "People might die - people have already died! And yet they don't want to listen! How can I do my job if noone will let me even tell them what I know?"
She turned her gaze back to the window, seeing that the craft had almost reached Jurai's surface, and she frowned.
"Well, here I am, anyway." She murmured sadly. "Leaving God knows what behind me at Headquarters. That is, supposing that whatever it was didn't follow me here...aboard this ship. Not that anyone would even listen to me, if it did."
She sighed.
"Maybe someone on Jurai will care." She mused. "Ayeka might listen, if I can convince her I'm not nuts...or over-stressing. And if the Juraian throne got involved, Headquarters would have to listen. "I..."
"Detective, we're here."
The door slid back to reveal a female officer and Kiyone blushed as she realised she had been ranting to herself. The woman shot her an odd look, but made no comment. Instead she offered a smile.
"You'll have a nice break on Jurai. It's supposed to be a beautiful planet, and I understand you have friends here." She said softly.
"Yes. Some." Kiyone said flatly. "Though that's not really any concern of yours."
She sighed.
"You could at least have let Mihoshi accompany me here. She wanted to come."
"The Commander felt it better that she didn't come." The officer said softly. "She has plenty of her own work to do, after all."
She hesitated, then,
"Detective Makibi, I must ensure that you've relinquished all weaponry to us before you leave this ship. While discharged, you have no authority to use your Galaxy Police accessories, and to do so..."
"I know, and I already handed my gun and my badge in to the Commander, before I left." Kiyone cut across her, resentment flickering in the depths of her blue eyes.
"Is that all you carry?"
"No. I left the rest in my room, back at Headquarters." Kiyone shook her head. "I am unarmed - though if you want to strip me to check, I guess that you'll just have to do it."
"No. If you had come aboard the ship armed, the sensors would have picked it up." The officer told her simply. "Follow me. You're able to disembark now, so ensure you bring all your belongings with you. We won't be turning back, once we've left Jurai's atmosphere. Don't forget anything."
Kiyone treated her companion to another black glare, but she obediently scooped up her rucksack, tossing it over her shoulder as she followed the officer along the narrow hallway. At the furthest end, big double doors were slid back and a glittering ramp led down to the surface of the planet below. She hesitated for a moment, then set her teeth, marching purposefully down onto the ground without a backward glance. Behind her, she heard the whirr of the ship as it pulled in the walkway, and for a moment she had a sense of complete isolation. Then, as the ship rose slowly back up towards the planet's atmosphere, she pulled herself together, heading slowly across the familiar terrain towards a shady copse of trees.
As she reached them, she glanced upwards, seeing that already her ship was no more than a speck on the horizon.
"Good." She said bitterly, releasing the catch on her bag and tossing the contents out on the ground below. After a moment of searching, she found what she was looking for, and as she scooped up the small surveillance device, she pulled a face.
"Keeping tabs on me? Not that easy." She muttered, lifting her hand above her head and tossing the glittering sensor into the rushing water of a nearby stream. "Keep track of that, Commander. If you want me here, then fine, I'm here. But I'm not going to be spied on like I'm not able to be responsible for my own actions. I'm not sick and the sooner you realise that something dangerous is going on, the better it will be. You've exiled the wrong person. I didn't wreck Yagami and the longer you believe I did, the more danger you might all be in!"
Carefully she returned her few belongings to their bag, checking each one as she did so for additional surveillance devices. Finally, satisfied that she was no longer under the watchful eye of her superior, she got to her feet, heading slowly along the long, narrow path that led to the palace.
"I thought they'd at least send someone to meet me, but I guess I'm early." She mused, glancing down at her watch. "Ugh, I am. Very early. No wonder there's noone around. Another little ploy by the Chief, I guess. Get me out here as soon as possible, then he can stop fussing about me and start worrying about the cost of repairing my ship. Figures. Maybe he thought I'd vandalise that one, too, if I was aboard it for too long. Who knows? Right now I'd believe anything of him."
She kicked bad-temperedly at a pebble, watching with little pleasure as it skipped across the ground and landed in the dip that ran along each side of the stony pathway. "This is so stupid. I shouldn't even be here. I'm fine, and I don't deserve to be treated this way. I'm being punished for doing my job properly - it sucks!"
As she rounded the corner, she ran headlong into someone coming in the opposite direction and as they collided, she struggled to steady herself, losing her footing and tumbling to the floor.
"I'm sorry." A voice said. "I suppose I didn't look where I was going."
"Me either. I was too busy muttering to myself." Kiyone said ruefully. "I'm sorry, too. I..."
She raised her eyes to her companion, words dying on her tongue as she registered the other person's features. For his part, he seemed equally dumbstruck, the hand he had proffered to help her up trembling slightly as he drew it away from her. For a moment, neither of them spoke, and then Kiyone swallowed hard, struggling against the swirl of emotion that threatened to flood her senses.
"Agent Tennan." She whispered.
A stricken expression touched the man's teal eyes, and he seemed unable at first to get to grips with himself. Then, at length, he found his own voice.
"Detective Makibi."
"I...I didn't...I didn't think...I..."
Kiyone faltered, unable to form a coherent sentence as she struggled to her feet. Fear rushed through her as memories came unbidden to the forefront of her mind.
"No." She whispered. "Please...don't hurt me. I didn't...I won't..."
"Detective, I have no intention of..." Seiryo began, but Kiyone was no longer listening.
"Leave me alone." She choked, pushing past him and fleeing down the path, her heart pounding in her throat as she fought to put as much distance between her and her companion as possible. Tears flowed down her cheeks, splashing onto the stones beneath her feet as she ran and blinding her vision, but she did not care where she was going. All she knew was that she had to get away, and that she could not stop running until she knew she was safe. In her mind's eye, the dark walls of Yagami loomed over her and she let out a cry of fear, flinging herself against the wall of the palace as she struggled to find the way in. At any moment, she knew, he might catch up to her and this knowledge added new panic to her already shattered nerves. She pounded wildly against the wood, her breath coming in ragged, frightened gasps as she waited for the touch of his hand on her shoulder, and the surge of dark energy she knew it would bring.
"Kiyone?"
A fresh voice broke through her terrified haze and she struggled to focus on it as she felt gentle hands touch her by the shoulders, leading her away from the hard surface of the palace wall.
"Kiyone, what on earth has gotten into you?" The voice was gentle and soothing, and gradually Kiyone felt her panic subsiding, realising that somehow she had found sanctuary and that this time, at least, she was safe. She drew a ragged breath of air into her lungs, clinging hold of the speaker as if afraid to be let go. The tears continued to spill down her cheeks, and the careful, guiding touch led her into a room, gently ushering her down onto something soft.
"Kiyone, please, calm down." The voice said gently. "This isn't like you. What were you doing wandering around the palace grounds? Ayeka wasn't expecting you until this evening - and what on earth happened? This isn't like you!"
At this, Kiyone made a super-human effort to check her emotions, dashing her tears away as she struggled to bring her surroundings into clearer focus. As she did so, she met the gaze of her rescuer, and new relief washed through her.
"Washu." She whispered. "It's you."
"Yes, it's me." Washu sounded completely non-plussed. "But what about you, Kiyone? You're not supposed to even be on Jurai till later on."
"I...I guess I'm early."
"I guess you are...but right now I'm more concerned to know why you're in floods of tears." Washu said quietly, and something in her matter-of-fact tones brought the frightened detective back to herself with a jolt. She swallowed hard, colour burning in her cheeks as she realised how badly she had lost control.
"Oh God...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...I must have looked..."
"You were upset." Washu rested a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder. "It's all right, you know...there's noone else here and I was the only one who saw you. But I am worried. You were acting like a woman possessed, and I've never seen you that way before."
"I...I don't know what happened to me." Kiyone drew a shaking breath of air into her lungs, glancing down at her hands. "I was all right, and then..."
"And then?"
"He...was there." Kiyone raised troubled blue eyes to her companion's. "I didn't even think...when Mihoshi suggested I come to Jurai, it seemed like a good idea. Then. I'd forgotten that he...he would be here. And I was heading to the palace when...when..."
She faltered, and Washu looked grave.
"Are we talking about Lord Tennan, by any chance?" She asked lightly. Kiyone nodded, looking ashamed.
"I'm pathetic, I know." She said, embarrassed. "I completely lost my head. I just...I remembered...and..."
"You don't have to justify or explain yourself to me. I know." Washu held up her hand, offering her a smile. "We spoke about this once before, when you first came out of your coma. It's not cowardly to feel fear, or to suffer after-effects from a traumatic event. You've nothing to be ashamed of. I suppose seeing him again, after everything...it was unexpected. So it frightened you."
"Yes."
"Is that why you were sent here? Because of Seiryo Tennan?"
"I don't know." Kiyone sighed. "It's complicated and...well, I don't want to go into it all right now, Washu. My head is aching and I'm tired."
"I'm sure you are - I'm sorry." Washu looked contrite. "If you want to sleep here, then be my guest. I'll tell Ayeka that you've arrived, and that you're taking a nap in my room. Would that help?"
"Your...room?" Kiyone blinked, then, "Wait, why are you here, Washu? Why are you on Jurai? You don't live here."
"Doing research...hoping to help Tokimi recover from her own magic-induced coma." Washu said simply. "Tenchi and Ryoko came with me...and now you're here, too. It's busy at the palace, all things considered."
"I see." Kiyone sighed. "Well. I'm glad you were. But please, Washu...don't...I mean..."
"Don't tell anyone about this?" Washu asked gently. Kiyone nodded.
"Please." She whispered. "Don't embarrass me to the others. I didn't mean to lose control."
"My lips are sealed." Washu smiled. "So get some rest and I'll tell Ayeka you've come. But Kiyone?"
"Yes?"
"We will talk, later." Washu got to her feet. "And I want to know exactly why you were sent to Jurai in the first place."
-------------
Dammit.
Seiryo pushed open the door of the Royal Infirmary, a dark look in his malachite eyes as he strode purposefully down the corridor. Deep in thought, he did not even notice the nurse on duty and one glance at his forebidding expression advised her that it was better not to attempt to speak to him, instead turning to pull a face at her colleague. In a matter of months, Seiryo Tennan had gained a reputation as an enigma - and none of the staff of the hospital wing knew which Seiryo they were going to get on any given day.
Oblivious to the attention he had attracted, Seiryo made straight for the little room which had housed Tokimi since their arrival on Jurai, pushing open the door and slipping inside, shutting it behind him. For a moment he leant up against the carved wood, letting out his breath in a rush as he forced himself to relax.
"I'm not going to yell and shout in here." He muttered, clenching his fists as he struggled to control his temper. "But dammit, she was the last person I expected to see on Jurai! Why did noone tell me we were going to be visited by the Galaxy Police? I could have made myself scarce. It's only too damn obvious that that girl thinks I'm some kind of loosed maniac who wants to finish the job I began aboard Yagami - and who can blame her? It's exactly what I'd think, if I'd been through what she had!"
He groaned, the tension seeping out of him as his gaze rested on Tokimi's sleeping face.
"But you don't care about all this, do you?" He murmured. "I wish I knew if you were in there...and what Tokimi was lurking behind those closed eyes. Washu is so sure that you're not going to hurt anyone any more, but sometimes I have doubts. And when something like that happens...well, maybe I did come to shout, Tokimi. Maybe I came to blame you for making me worry about the mental well being of some stupid detective that I would never have crossed paths with if you hadn't decided it was a good idea that she should die!"
He faltered, then came to sit beside the bed, touching her pale white hand with his finger.
"Is Washu right?" He wondered. "Because I've worked very hard to bring everything back together. And even if she is right, sometimes I can't help but be angry at you. I just wish I knew whether my anger was misdirected. Kiyone Makibi is the one thing that still haunts me...and she has to cross my path and make the whole thing even harder to handle. If I believed in divine intervention, I'd be yelling abuse at Tsunami for this, but I don't...so I guess I'll just have to mutter to you and hope the feeling passes."
"That's a heartfelt speech, Lord Tennan."
Washu's voice from the doorway startled him and he glanced up, his eyes clouding over as he took in the gravity of her expression.
"So everyone is on Jurai today, it seems." He murmured. "I suppose you are responsible for the arrival of Detective Makibi too, are you, Washu-sama?"
"No...as a matter of fact, that's a complete coincidence. I didn't know she was going to be on Jurai at all." Washu shook her head. "I came to see Tokimi, and to raid the Royal Library - but Azusa isn't here to ask, and Ayeka can't seem to find the key at present."
She eyed him keenly.
"I did think you might be here, however, when I didn't find you at the Tennan estate." She added. "And I thought it was as well that I found you, before more damage was done."
Seiryo turned his gaze back towards the bed.
"I did nothing to her." He said quietly. "Whether you believe me or not, it's the truth."
"I do believe you." Washu settled herself comfortably on Tokimi's other side, eying him with her sharp, penetrating gaze. "I'd know if it was otherwise. Body language is a language in itself, you know, Lord Tennan. Deception is very hard to conceal from a Kii."
"So why are you looking for me, then?" Seiryo asked quizzically. "Obviously you've seen Miss Makibi, and obviously you know that we encountered one another in the grounds. But she was the one who ran off like a mad thing without even letting me speak."
"Well, the whole business was traumatic for her, and I doubt she expected to see you so soon." Washu said simply. "It's all right, Seiryo-dono. I haven't come to scold. Just to advise you that - if you had had any ideas of breaching the gap in some way - it probably isn't a good idea. For one thing, Ryoko is very fond of Kiyone, and she's already made it clear that she'll make trouble if you hurt her friend. And for another, I don't think it would be good for you or for Kiyone right at the moment. All things considered, you might want to keep your distance."
"If I'd known in advance, there would have been no meeting. One thing I can be is discreet." Seiryo said bitterly. "I have no desire to see her either, Washu-sama. The walking proof of my attempted murder...no. I could live without returning to that place, believe me."
"I'm sure that's true." Washu said pensively. She glanced down at her sister, shaking her head slowly.
"Tokimi-chan, you have so much to answer for." She murmured softly. Seiryo started, staring at his companion in surprise.
"I thought you didn't blame her for what happened on Kihaku." He objected. "Was that a lie?"
"No, not a lie. I don't blame her for it...she did what she felt she had to do, and that's all." Washu shook her head. "But the end result is the same. She's hurt. You're hurt. Kiyone is distressed. And this all happened six months ago. You'd expect wounds to heal over time...but it was pretty clear to me today that Kiyone's wounds are as fresh as they were that night Mihoshi brought her to me."
She pursed her lips, her gaze flickering over Seiryo's body, and absorbing the tension in his demeanour. She sighed.
"Perhaps yours are too. You hide your feelings better than she does, but it's still there."
"You're not going to psychoanalyse me." Seiryo got to his feet, moving to the window of the chamber. "I don't need it."
"Perhaps you don't." Washu spread her hands. "And I wasn't going to try to. I only came to tell you to give Kiyone a wide berth, that's all. She's been discharged from the Galaxy Police for a while, and I think the intention is that she gets some rest. So..."
"Discharged?" Stricken, Seiryo turned back to his companion. "Because of me?"
"I don't know yet. We haven't had a chance to discuss it." Washu said seriously. "But it's possible. If nothing else, she took the attack very much to heart. Tokimi's magic has emotional side effects - you know that. Noone who is ever touched by it is completely the same afterwards. It's just not possible to go back, once you're tainted by it's lure."
"I don't need to be told about the effects of Tokimi's magic." Seiryo said darkly. "I live with them every day, Washu. I don't need to be educated."
"No, I didn't think you did." Washu said softly. "I'm not here to judge you, or patronise you, either. I come as a friend, that's all. You've done much to help my sister. I want to be able to say I've done the same for you."
"Help...me?" Seiryo started, staring at her in confusion. "But I don't need help, Washu-sama. I'm fit and well, now. I'm back on the Council, taking responsibility for my family and everything here on Jurai. I'm all right. I don't think it's me who needs your help."
"I disagree." Washu shook her head. "You're worried about that girl, aren't you? Kiyone, I mean. You still worry about it - how close you came to taking her life. You're a very together person, and I doubt before Tokimi's magic touched you that you would have thought twice about the feelings of someone so far beneath you in the Galaxy Police hierarchy, let alone the social one. But now it's different. Much as you try and control your feelings, I know you've experienced a lot of negativity and doubt since your hearing. I've done my homework, really - before I testified the way I did in court that day, I wanted to be sure in my own mind about the man I was going to defend. Considering all you had done, I had to think carefully about whether you posed a risk to anyone. You hurt Kiyone very badly, and I wanted to be sure that it wouldn't happen again. So I suppose I know you better than you think I do."
"Kii magic told you all of those things, did it?" Seiryo asked sardonically. Washu laughed.
"No. But Lord Takeru told me a lot of things about your childhood together, and I read between lines well." She said simply. "All the things you never bothered about as a kid haunt you now, don't they?"
"You are psychoanalysing me. You lied." Seiryo said blackly. "Please, Washu-sama. I know you have the right to see your sister, and I'm not going to try and prevent you. But the last thing I need is someone coming in and telling me how my brain works. I know how it works. I've been rudely introduced to all it's less pleasant impulses since Father died. If you really want to help me..."
"Stop trying to see behind the facade?" Washu asked softly.
"It's not a damn facade!" Seiryo clenched his fists, only just managing to control the tone of his voice as he remembered where he was.
"I'm not trying to upset you, Seiryo-sama." Washu glanced at her hands. "And I know you are better. In a manner of speaking. I suppose part of my reason for quizzing you is to try and get a better impression of Tokimi's condition - you might well be telling me the things she can't, after all. And in the final analysis...well, I spent a long time fretting over the death of my world, when I first realised that I'd abandoned it too soon. Learning that Jurai's mining was ultimately what drove my sister mad is some slight comfort, but I still feel a little to blame for it. I learnt to deal with it, but it wasn't easy. And you have the same situation with Kiyone. It might seem over to the people around you - even to you yourself, maybe. But when you consider that just seeing her face to face can upset you still - I'm just saying, maybe there's still something you need to find closure on."
"It wasn't seeing her face." Seiryo said softly, his temper fading at Washu's words. "It was the way she looked at me. Like I...like I was some monster. Like I would hurt her again, if I had the chance. That look, Washu. It's the same look she gave me aboard Yagami, when she asked me if I was going to kill her. I can't erase that from my thoughts, no matter what I do. It's always there...and seeing her made me realise it all over again. Six months is nothing. It's always going to be there."
"Perhaps the memory will." Washu said wisely. "The pain and blame, possibly not. It all depends on how you handle it. Bottling it up isn't going to repair your conscience or undo the action. Sometimes it's facing up to our faults and our crimes that make us strong. Not running away from them."
She shrugged, looking rueful.
"I don't mean to preach, but I do speak from experience." She added softly. "I always say that I have no regrets about my life or my judgement, but that's just another in a long catalogue of lies that I've created to protect myself, over the centuries."
"All right." Seiryo eyed her thoughtfully. "So what do you regret, Washu-sama? The death of your world...what else?"
"That's a little too much probing from an almost stranger." Washu said reproachfully, and Seiryo smiled at her slightly.
"No more than you prying into my mind." He said quietly. "I may be just another stupid Juraian noble to you now, Lady Washu, but I was a Galaxy Police Elite Agent. And I am not a fool. What works for you works for me also. You can't take without also giving."
Washu eyed him for a moment, then she laughed, clasping his hand in hers.
"You know, I do like you." She said reflectively. "It's such a shame that my daughter has a bee in her bonnet about you, because of what happened in the past. Ryoko doesn't like to let go of grievances, and you made the mistake of hurting Kiyone and Tenchi. It's a pity, when all is said and done. You have a quick mind and I like that."
"Well, Ryoko can think what she likes." Seiryo's gaze flitted back to the still form of Tokimi, a frown on his face. "I didn't ask for her approval. Or for yours, for that matter."
"Still, you have it." Washu said simply. "I think you have the opportunity to be a very great man, Seiryo Tennan. I just hope that you learn to follow your true instincts and take that chance, that's all."
"What do you mean?" Seiryo stared. Washu shrugged.
"Guess time will tell if it even matters." She replied airily. "In the meantime, I'm being rude to my sister, and so are you. We're all but ignoring her, and it can't be nice to hear us going at one another like this, even if we're not exactly fighting."
"Do you think she hears?" Seiryo wondered. Washu frowned.
"No idea." She admitted. "It frustrates me. But that's why I'm here. There may be Kii records in the Royal Archive which can tell me more."
"I'm surprised that, if that's the case, Azusa didn't already send someone to research it." Seiryo said quietly. "Considering that he must care whether or not Tokimi is a national risk."
"It wouldn't matter even if he did. Azusa can't read Kii, and nor can any of his advisors." Washu shook her head. "Tokimi and I are probably the only living beings who can read what the Priests and Priestesses left behind them."
"I suppose that makes sense." Seiryo acknowledged. "What do you think you'll find?"
"I don't think I'll know until I find it." Washu admitted. "Lord Seiryo, I need to know how far your benevolence towards my sister is going to reach."
"Meaning?"
"That if Tokimi was to wake, would you still be supportive of her, regardless of her condition?"
"Suki and I already undertook this as our duty to the Crown. I think that binds us to it regardless." Seiryo agreed. "Besides, if she is the girl you say she is, I'd like to think she won't wake up a monster."
"A monster, no. But impaired...possibly." Washu frowned. "Consider what effect this had on you, Seiryo-sama. And then consider the damage so much exposure could do to one mind. Even a Kii mind, acclimatised to the ways of the planet and the ritual associated with it. I think that is my greatest fear - that Tokimi will be compromised somehow, when she wakes. I need to know that there will always be people here to support her, if that proves to be the case."
"I see." Seiryo's expression softened. He nodded.
"Yes, Lady Washu. You have my assurance that Suki and I won't abandon Tokimi easily." He agreed. "If you can accept the word of a Tennan, I will give it to you that I won't let any harm befall her if I can possibly prevent it."
"Your word is good enough for me, Lord Tennan." Washu said gravely. "Thank you."
She touched Tokimi's hand, then glanced up.
"Seiryo-san, about Kiyone..."
"Yes?" Seiryo's head jerked up, apprehension flickering in his gaze once more as he eyed her questioningly.
"Give it time and don't try to fight it. It will resolve itself, so long as you don't try and shut out the feelings that are upsetting you." Washu smiled. "And I'll tell Kiyone the same thing, when I have a chance."
"I can handle my thoughts and my emotions, Washu-sama. And I will." Seiryo said frankly. "Save your concern and your sympathy for Detective Makibi. It seems to me that she's the one who really needs it."
Washu pursed her lips, eying him keenly.
"Well, I wonder about that." She murmured. "But I guess we'll see."
