Lost in the Dark
By E.M. Megs
Chapter 24 - Confronting
Haruhi learned a ton about Kyoya from Charmaine and Desdemona over the three days that The Witch remained in the palace. It turned out that 27-year-old Charmaine had known Kyoya since he was a baby and used to help look after him as well as play with Fuyumi and Akito. Desdemona was the one that would babysit him when his parents were busy too. The entire Hedgewood family had been serving the Ohtoris for nearly 300 years. Thus, Haruhi heard all sorts of stories about the Ohtori children.
"Kyoya was the cutest little boy, but he hated it if you called him that," Mona murmured as she sat with some embroidery.
"He wanted to be like his father when he grew up so he refused to be treated like a child. Mayumi used to hate it when he would act like that and tried to teach him that he needed to be himself instead of Yoshio," Maine added quietly. Haruhi looked at the older young adult. She wouldn't have guessed that right off the bat. The way that he acted around his father now made it seem as though Kyoya disliked his father enough that he never would want to be anything more than his position.
"What happened when the Queen died then?" she asked. She didn't know details. Kyoya hadn't given details. Maine and Mona looked at each other, then at her.
Finally Mona spoke with her own amount of sadness interjected in her voice. "When Mayumi died... A lot of things changed. Yoshio was bound by grief. The kids were 9, 14, 16, and 20. Yuiichi took on responsibilities he shouldn't have needed to. He met with the court, he organized the funeral. Yoshio shut them out and left it to his oldest son for months. No one knew that such a strong man could be torn apart by one event, but his wife's death did it.
"Yuiichi allowed Akito to help with small tasks, triggering the younger boy's desire to become king one day. Yuiichi couldn't always keep a check on him though and without Yoshio imposing rules on him, he... got into trouble. Fuyumi took on the role of mothering Kyoya, which is why they're so close now. She tried to watch Akito too, but she couldn't always and Akito didn't like to listen to someone who was only two years older than him."
"Akito always saw me as everyone's favorite. He thought I was Mother and Father's favorite, he thought that Fuyumi and Yuiichi liked me more than him. That was the only reason he acted out. He wanted to take the attention off of me." Haruhi turned sharply at Kyoya's voice coming from the passage door. He didn't look at her but continued speaking, "Mother... Had a way of making sure everyone was happy. She made sure that Father wasn't too hard on us, she kept Akito busy, she made sure I had the care I deserved even though my birth was never planned."
Haruhi swallowed. She suddenly felt as though she was trespassing some personal territory of Kyoya's. "Kyoya," she mumbled, embarrassed at being caught talking about him. A lump caught in her throat. "I didn't mean..."
"If you wanted to know something you could have asked, Haruhi," he replied, still not even batting an eye at her. She stared at his face. It remained expressionless but she knew that it was never like that unless he was trying to hide what he was really feeling.
"I didn't want to pry open anything painful..."
"She died 12 years ago, Haruhi. It..."
"Don't tell me it doesn't affect you anymore. I know it does. I saw how you were last week at her grave." She stood up and sighed with frustration. "Sometimes it bothers me how much you keep from me when I want to know so I can understand you more." She looked away from him, toward Mona and Maine, then back at him and let out a breath. "What did you need?"
"She's gone. You can come back to my quarters now."
He was back in the passage with the door closed before she could think to reply. "Is he angry?"
"Well," Maine mused, "Considering that he's never liked to be called out like that, I'd say he's probably a bit offended if anything."
"Haruhi... He's been particular about the subject of his mother ever since she died," Mona murmured. "If you want to know about it, you'd have to know what kinds of questions to ask and you'd have to be very sensitive. There... are some things that not even we know about what he went through."
Haruhi looked toward the wardrobe that the passage entrance was hidden behind. "Thank you," she mumbled quickly to the two women before opening the door and ducking inside. She found him in his bedroom when she got back. His back was to her, shoulders hunched. "Kyoya?" She put her hands on his shoulders, squeezing. Hesitantly, they trailed down his back and wrapped around his waist. She gently rested her head against his back. "You know I wouldn't ever think less of you," she mumbled into the back of his shirt.
His fingers pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know," he murmured. "Thank you." She felt him tense and released him. He turned to face her slowly, his hands found hers, intertwining their fingers together. "There are some things I'm not ready to face. Things I've locked away for years." She tightened her grip on her hands, prompting him to continue. He closed his eyes and let his head fall to rest against hers. "When all of us were little, I couldn't have been older than 5, Mother told us that there would come a time when we would have to confront our problems by ourselves.
"A few weeks later Akito almost killed me. It was an accident. The two of us and Maine were playing a silly game where I was somehow the bad guy and Maine and Akito were interrogating me or something. I don't even remember what the game was. But there was a bow and arrow that Akito had. He shot me in the chest. Luckily, Maine screamed and ran to get Mother. I think she almost beat Akito within an inch of his life.
"She seemed... Afraid... After that. She didn't want to leave me alone with Akito anymore. She worried over the smallest things. It was almost like she thought that her words had been what influenced Akito..."
"But you said that it was an accident..."
He swallowed and didn't answer, his eyes remained closed. "Sometimes I wonder if it was. He's never been particularly friendly with me as it is. Would he have gone to get help if Maine hadn't been there?"
She carefully pulled her hands from his and moved them to cradle his face. In return his shifted to her waist. "I'm sure that he didn't try to kill you," she whispered.
"Whether he actually tried to or not is beside the point, Haruhi." He lifted his head and opened his eyes to stare her in the eye. "Sometimes I feel like I can't even trust my own family since Uhermo died. She was the one who protected me. Uherfa never even wanted me." He drew in a deep breath. She hated how defenseless he seemed at this moment. But wasn't that what she wanted? She wanted him to share with her. Even the small stuff.
"Does that matter? Does it matter whether he wanted you or not?" He tried to divert his eyes but she held him firmly in place. "Kyoya... Your mother loved you. Your sister loves you. I can tell that Yuiichi cares and... I..." She stopped abruptly, unable to put any of her feelings into words. She was afraid to, honestly. They were there, lingering, but she was scared to act on or acknowledge them. She rationalized to herself that even if he had proposed to her just a week before, that did not mean that anything would come from a relationship. Or even if a relationship would arise. Voicing them aloud wouldn't help anything at all. Even if just a week ago both of them had admitted that there was something there.
He gave a small sigh and nodded his head, understanding that she couldn't possibly finish her sentence. They stayed there for a few more moments, standing, staring at each other as if examining the other would tell them everything that they needed to know about what they were thinking and feeling. Like they would eventually be able to see into each other's very souls.
She found herself smiling and kept her arms around him, head shifting to rest on his chest and his onto of hers. Then she sighed and muttered, "I should probably leave in the morning. Your brothers will probably suspect something if I'm gone only in the time that the Witch is here." He hummed under his breath in approval. "It won't hurt anything to go home a bit early either."
He pulled away from her and took one of her hands in his, gently pushing her sleeve up till he could see her scarred forearm. It was still red and in places her skin was swollen. Deep scars ran up and down her arm, scabbing over now but still painful to look at. "It's not good enough," he murmured under his breath, troubled. "These scars will still be evidence against you. It hasn't been long enough."
"I'll... find some way to hide them. Whether it's with armor or feigning a hurt wrist."
"I sincerely hope that you do," he murmured, letting her hand fall and eying her with a kind of reserved worry.
Somewhere in the depths of those eyes, she knew that there was some kind of affection lingering. How advanced, she couldn't even begin to imagine.
That scared her more than the prospect of returning to Kira and being caught.
~o~
By the time she approached the Kiran military camp, she was practically bouncing with anxiety. Her scarred arm was heavily armored as it had been at the Exodus Festival while she was in combat. She could feel her sanity slipping. She seriously couldn't keep up this double lifestyle. It was eventually going to tear her apart.
"Oi! Namahi! You're early!" Kaoru's exclamation broke her out of her thoughts immediately as he ran to meet her. She stared at his grin, suddenly feeling the incredible different between Nari and Kira, especially with the things she knew about Nari now. Somehow, Kaoru could still grin with that huge optimism even in the midst of a war that was probably going to kill them before it ended. Kaoru's smile faltered slightly when he took note of her expression. "What is it? What's wrong?" he demanded.
She shook her head, a light pounding had started in the back of it. "It's… nothing. Just a bit of culture shock, I guess." She felt the ring on the chain around her neck heat up, hot against her skin and closed her eyes. So soon for a message. Unless he was just checking up on her… Or something terrible had happened. "We need to talk later. You, Hikaru, Hunny, Mori, and I. All of us. And Tamaki if we can snag him."
"What's going on?"
"Nothing," she muttered with a note of finality just as she caught sight of Major General Andres Larsen. A glint on his belt drove a shiver down her spine. Her arm still ached from that knife slicing into her flesh, burning it, torching it. "Nothing at all." She turned her eyes away from Larsen right as he turned his head.
"Corporal!" Larsen called out, sadistic delight in his voice. She turned cold for a moment, thinking that perhaps he had somehow figured it out before she had even set foot back in camp. "Glad to have you back, albeit a bit early. General Fusawa's been anxious for your return." He motioned to her with his hand for her to follow him. "Come with me." She followed with one last look back at Kaoru.
They got to the General's tent after passing the one that she knew harbored so many litriads they could take four or five whole squads down, possibly more. Larsen called out for consent to enter and got it. "You're early," Fusawa muttered as soon as she stepped foot in the tent.
"Yes, sir."
"Why?"
"Does it matter? It's only two days."
"I suppose not. Unless, of course, you left early for a specific urgent reason?" She shook her head. He heaved a weary sigh. "What do you have?"
"King Kyoya's cautious to do anything at the moment since my cousin is still injured from that… Blade." She spared a glanced at Larsen's belt.
To her horror, Larsen grinned sadistically. "Heard about that did you?"
"Yes," she replied drily, looking away from him. "And I don't exactly approve of your methods, Major General." She drew in a breath to calm herself as he narrowed his eyes at her. "You've angered him greatly, it seems, but he's able to keep a level head and knows better than to strike without proper planning. We can expect something, I just don't know what." That was a lie. She knew that Kyoya wasn't likely to validate a plan of attack. She just didn't want Fusawa thinking that meant that he should make one.
"His father. How is he?"
She turned her eyes to the General, making sure to keep her face as blank as possible. "Coma. No idea when he'll wake, if ever."
He pursed his lips and his eyebrows furrowed. "Have to say I'm a bit disappointed in your lack of information the last few trips, Corporal."
"Information is not that easy to come by, Sir. You have to be at the right place in the right time." A lie. She could easily get Kyoya to tell her battles plans for the next month. Problem was, she didn't want to tell Fusawa those plans in the first place so there was no point in asking for them.
"Dismissed."
"Sir, permission to visit Meira."
He turned his eyes back to her from the map on his desk, a suspicious frown on his face. "Why?"
"My father. I haven't seen him in three weeks and want to make sure his health is still good."
He looked at her then straightened and nodded. "Yes. Of course. Three days then should suffice?"
"Yessir." She nodded in thanks and turned again. The twins intercepted her on the way to their tent. "I'm going home for a few days. To check on Dad. Need anything while I'm there?"
"No…" Hikaru murmured, looking at her like a strange alien subject.
"What's going on?" Kaoru asked immediately. She looked around quickly, shushing them.
"Not here," she hissed, then leveled her voice again to speak normally. "Walk with me part way home? Where are Hunny and Mori? They should join us as well."
"I'll fetch them," Hikaru muttered as they approached the tent she and the twins shared.
As soon as he had left and she and Kaoru had entered the tent she turned to him and muttered in a very low voice, "He proposed. Officially. Well… Not exactly. He asked me to think about marrying him. But… He may as well have pulled out a ring and proposed outright on the spot."
Kaoru's face had grown ashen and when she looked at him his eyes were the size of saucers. "What? What did you say? You didn't….?"
"No. He's not in love with me so there was no reason to kill him." She turned away from her most faithful guard and let out a short breath. "He's a strange, complicated man. One minute he can be furious and the next dangerously sentimental. He… frightens me sometimes, Kaoru. With the things that he says…" She shook her head quickly, banishing all affectionate thoughts of the Narian prince. "Never mind that though. Nothing will come from it, I'm sure. Not for a long while in the least."
"'Not for a long while'?" Kaoru hissed, "Namahi, you make it sound like it is important. Like it is turning into something."
"Possibly. He did propose."
"Who proposed?" Hikaru's voice now demanded from the tent flap, Hunny and Mori on his tail. The three entered the tent and Haruhi closed her eyes. "Who proposed to you?"
"No one. It's nothing, Hikaru. Don't worry." Hikaru shot a look at his twin, scanning his face as if he might find the answer to his question hidden somewhere in his twin's expression. Thankfully, Kaoru remained expressionless. She threw some of her laundry in a bag and closed it up. "Come. We should get going if I'm going to make it to Meira before nightfall." She brushed past all four men and started toward the camp exit. She stopped and checked out.
"Oi. Where are they going?" the guard at the entrance asked, jabbing his finger at her entourage.
"Ah… Into town for some personal supplies. They'll probably be back by nightfall. Problem, Private?" She gave him a look that would have made Kyoya proud. The private shook his head and allowed the five of them to pass. As soon as they were out of hearing and sight range she stopped and turned to them. "Here's how it is." She turned to the twins. "I'm about to tell these two. And you're not going to stop me." She jerked her head toward Hunny and Mori quickly.
"Tell them what?" Hikaru and Kaoru asked as she looked around quickly before turning back to the cousins.
"We're-."
"Bloody hell!" Hikaru protested.
"Not that!" Kaoru exclaimed.
"Oh be quiet, you two." She shushed them. She didn't even spare them a glance. "We're Moradian. The three of us. And I'm the princess in hiding." She drew in a breath and continued before anyone could interrupt her, "Now that that's out of the way… I am about to tell you four very sensitive information that must be kept in utmost secrecy. My life may depend on it." She paused and looked all four of them in the eyes. "I am not a traitor to Kira. Nor am I a spy for Kira. I am merely looking for peace. And Kyoya is helping me."
Hikaru suddenly looked like he had just swallowed a bug or a sour bit of milk. "What?"
"We're looking for a way to end the war peacefully. I know he's brilliant enough to think up a plan, if given the right information."
"You're spying for Nari then?"
"No." She sighed. "Hikaru, I told you before. Lord. You can be dense sometimes. I'm working for peace. Which is exactly what Kyoya wants too if you'd ever pay attention to what I'm saying." Hikaru wrinkled his nose. "Surely you've heard of Yuki's kidnapping…" Hunny and Mori both nodded their heads, intently keeping their mouths shut, for which she was grateful. "Kyoya's lover traded herself in exchange for Yuki. And… They tortured her." She drew in a breath, remembering the slice of the knife against her arm. "That woman… Was me."
"I knew that," Kaoru said, scowling. Hikaru shrugged his shoulders like he had known as well but Hunny rose an eyebrow.
"You sacrificed yourself to save her, Nama-kisci?"
"Yes… I did. And Kyoya was furious with me for a while afterwards, but never mind that. If the army knows that she was me…"
"They'll kill you," Mori finished quietly. She nodded her head at him.
"So you're asking for protection," Hunny murmured. It wasn't a question. She nodded again.
"Not just that though… And I might be asking too much… But I need help figuring out exactly what's going on around here. I'm going to talk to Tamaki while I'm in Meira, but he might not know exactly. If you can, I need you four to try and figure out everything you can about Fusawa's plans."
"Wouldn't Tamaki know?" Hikaru asked.
"No. Fusawa's stopped going through the royal court. From what I can tell the military is now basically a separate entity from the royal family and court. They are not controlled by anyone but Fusawa's whims. What I need, is to know why he's doing this. He's obviously vengeful, but why?" She looked at them and shook her head. "It would make sense if I could figure that out. But… I can't. Fusawa's been distant with me in particular and… I can't ever get close enough to hear him speak of plans. Will you help me?"
"Of course!" Hunny said cheerfully. "We'll help in any way we can, Nama-kisci!" She turned to Hikaru and Kaoru, but all they did was nod and smile.
"Get that idiot Prince on our side too," Kaoru said with a huge grin.
"Shouldn't be hard for you," Hikaru added. She drew in a deep breath and hugged each of them in sequence.
"Thank you… I know this might put your lives in danger… so thank you." She inwardly let out a sigh of relief. This was a burden off her shoulders. They were going to be extremely helpful, because hopefully one of them would be in the right place to get the information she needed. The chances of her getting everything Kyoya needed to create a proper plan were now increased greatly with five of them looking instead of one. She grinned at her four friends but couldn't help Hunny glancing worriedly at a blank-faced Mori. Something was up with them, but she didn't want to pry too much. "Alright… You should head back into camp soon… And I'll go see Dad and Tamaki."
"See you soon, Namahi," the twins both chimed with identical Cheshire smirks. Hunny waved distractedly and Mori just stood there, nodding at her solemnly. She turned, giving Hunny and Mori one last look, and hurried down the road toward Meira.
~o~
Haruhi's first moments back home were like any other… Her father squeezing her and hugging her and dragging her all over creation in joyful glee with tears of happiness at her safe return running down his face.
You would think that a man who was dignified enough to be a part of the Kiran royal court would show more manly self-control, but her father had never been that way. Which was also oddly like the Kiran crown Prince. Speaking of said Prince… As soon as her father was finished with her, she found herself being swept into the same exact routine with her best friend. By the time she was replaced safely on her feet again, she was dizzy from being spun around so much.
"Namahiiiii!" Tamaki exclaimed and she sighed with exasperation and looked at him expectantly. "I'm really glad you're home!"
"No really? I couldn't tell," she muttered sarcastically, shooting a glare in the blonde's direction. Ranka kept smartly quiet, not wanting to be the butt of his daughter's sharp tongue. Tamaki went to his corner like normal and she just rolled her eyes. She spared a glance at her father and figured that he may as well be included in hers and Kyoya's plans. "I… have something to run by the two of you."
"Like?" her father inquired, now intently listening to her.
"Kyoya and I…" She stopped and glanced at them. Neither reacted other than her father's eyes darkening a bit and Tamaki's smile dimming. She drew in a deep breath and continued, "We're trying to create a plan for peace that will address the issues in both Nari and Kira without military action."
"Okay…?" Ranka prompted softly. Tamaki just stared at her.
"I need to know everything happening with the royal court and the military."
Tamaki took a step back. "You're going to tell Kyoya this?"
"For peace, Tamaki. I'm going to tell him so he can get peace."
He seemed hurt for a moment and she didn't quite understand. Then, very slowly he looked up at her and murmured, "You're in love with him, aren't you, Namahi?"
She sighed. Why did everyone automatically jump to that conclusion? And yet, she still couldn't deny them. "Tamaki… Please. Not now."
"But you are. I can see it in your eyes. You're completely in love with him. But you're so afraid to admit it." Her father wouldn't look at them and Tamaki wouldn't stop staring at her. His purple eyes bore into her brown ones. "I understand why, of course. But…" He stopped and looked away, drawing in a deep breath.
This was a different side of Tamaki. One that she had seen before but only ever showed itself when the circumstances allowed, which wouldn't have been possible at the moment. "We have very little control over the military," Ranka spoke. Haruhi's gaze shifted to her father's. "My guess is that Fusawa is pulling rank as a superior officer, not telling his soldiers that his plans aren't royalty approved, and controlling his troops that way."
"Couldn't you arrest him?"
Her father shook his head. "It's not that easy. He controls a very large portion of the military and the other generals are both younger and look up to him."
"Father's trying to keep the problem under wraps so we don't cause widespread panic or support for Fusawa's ways," Tamaki added in a murmur.
"That's what I thought… Kyoya also said that you accept foreign refuges."
"We don't ask questions, if that's what you mean." Tamaki replied. Haruhi glanced at her father and swallowed. That meant them. They hadn't been asked where they had originally come from. That is what they had meant. They were Moradian royalty and Kiran officials didn't even know.
"Yes," Haruhi mumbled, "I'm aware. However, Moradian refuges is one reason that Nari hates Kira so much." She glanced at Tamaki and answered his question before it was out of his mouth, "Kyoya's mother was killed by a Moradian rebel when he was 9. His father resents all Moradians because of it." She ran a hand through her hair and closed her eyes, thinking at a mile a minute. "There has to be something else…" she muttered to herself. "Something that we're not seeing. Tamaki and Kyoya got along surprisingly well for being princes of enemy countries. So I don't think it has much to do with the royal families themselves." She tapped her forehead quickly as if that would help her think faster. "The Witch!" she exclaimed, "The Witch visits Kyoya's family frequently! Is she ever here?"
"Sometimes. Not very often though. She only ever comes to Kira because she has diplomatic immunity."
"Why?" Haruhi demanded, heart racing.
"She and Father made a contract with her shortly after Mora fell. She gave us a huge portion of her part of the formerly Moradian land that she got from Nari in exchange for her help. It could only be broken if she hurt a royal court or family member."
"That's it. She's the connection. She's probably goading the damn war on. Telling Kira that Nari's taking what they earned and Nari that Kira's taking what's rightfully theirs." Haruhi shut her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her mind raced with what this might mean. If the Witch was a big part of the war then finding a way to get rid of her would allow them to end it easier. She shook her head quickly. 'Get rid of'? She was getting to be as bad as her grandmother. There had to be a better way than to kill her.
She took a deep breath. She was getting ahead of herself. First she had to share with Kyoya. Then they could plan the best way to take care of the situation. Together. "Anything else?" she murmured once under control again.
"Not that I can tell," Tamaki said. "Ranka?"
"Me neither. We'll be sure to tell you if we hear anything though, darling," her father answered the Prince's prodding. She nodded and stood, going to another room of the house. To her irritation Tamaki followed her and tried to start up the same conversation he had tried to in front of her father.
"What are you doing?" he asked first. But she shook her head and shushed him as she wrote a short message of her findings about The Witch to Kyoya. "Namahi… What are you doing?"
"Writing Kyoya," she replied quietly, catching him looking over her shoulder out of the corner of her eye. She chuckled under her breath as his lips turned down in a frown. "I'm not writing love letters if that's what you're thinking." She smiled as she turned to look straight into his face.
He blushed and turned away. She raised an eyebrow. How strange he was. "O-Of course I didn't think that!" he exclaimed with a defiant stutter. She laughed at his defensiveness. Her best friend did have a way of making her laugh. She shook her head at him and returned to her writing with chuckles still falling from her mouth.
"Suppose I should teach you how to use this," she muttered to herself once she was ready to send. She took the chain off her neck that held the ring and glanced up at Tamaki to make sure he was watching. "It gets warm when a message comes through. Receive word is Lego. Press the stone to a piece of paper and say it to get the message. Sending is similar. Write message out and press stone to the first word, say Cogo, and shift to the last word. Only works with people with natural magic. Twins might be able to but more likely Yuzuha will. Keep it short so you don't drain the poor soul, whoever it is." She stopped when she realized that Tamaki was staring at her. "What?"
"Why him?"
She turned away abruptly, prepping herself to send the short message to Kyoya as she mumbled, "What do you mean?"
"Why did you choose him?"
"I don't understand."
"Yes you do. I know you do. Because I shouldn't have to explain your own feelings to you. You're smart."
"I haven't chosen anyone. I'm neutral." Her stomach flipped uncomfortably because she did know what he was talking about. And the thought of that actually frightened her horrifically.
"I'm not talking about the war, Namahi. And you know it." She swallowed and refused to look at him. "Why him? Why not… Hikaru or Kaoru… Or…"
"You?" she finished, her stomach discomfort transforming into full-blown nausea. He didn't say anything, confirming her fears. Her heart began to wrench so hard that tears forced their way into her eyes. She looked away from him quickly so he wouldn't see. "I… can't choose, Tamaki. I won't. Choosing something like that… Isn't good for anyone. It means fear… And pain… And blood. And I don't want to go through that nor put anyone else through it."
"But you've already-."
"Don't, Tamaki," she breathed, "Just don't." His lips zipped themselves tight. Very slowly the feeling in her chest stopped. She looked back at him.
"If you had to choose…"
"I can't Tamaki. If I choose one of you then more than likely someone's going to end up dead. Do you want that?" He shook his head with pursed lips. She sighed and turned back to the waiting paper, ring in hand. She went through the sending procedure without a hitch. "I'm going to leave the ring with you. Because it's more useful in the hands of someone here than it is in mine since I switch between Nari and here quite regularly." He nodded, staying quiet for once.
She couldn't help but feel like he was sad somehow…
However, to her relief the rest of her stay in Miera, Tamaki didn't bring it up again.
~o~
Another few good days went by where she plotted and enjoyed herself with her four army friends. They set up a system that would be fool-proof in order to protect each other. And then, like all good things in Haruhi's life, it had to end.
"They're gone," Kaoru said as he and his twin burst into the tent while she was lounging in her free time. She sat up quickly, shooting them both quizzical looks.
"Mori and Hunny," Hikaru clarified at the same time that the younger Hitachiin repeated, "They're gone!"
"What do you mean gone?" Haruhi demanded quickly.
"As in disappeared," Kaoru said.
"They just… left," Hikaru continued.
"Haven't been signed out of camp or assigned a mission."
"Nothing."
"They up and left."
"No trace of them anywhere."
Fear coursed through her briefly, making her think that perhaps Mori and Hunny had given her up and were in hiding to make sure that no one would hurt them. She tried to crush the feeling but it only intensified as another random head poked its way into her tent and said, "Corporal Marioka, General Fusawa and Major-General Larsen request your presence."
"I'll be right there," she told the other soldier quietly. He retreated and she turned her gaze to the twins. "I have a really bad feeling."
"Ditto," they chimed. She stood and prepared to leave.
"If I don't come back… Tell Tamaki to send a message to Kyoya saying… Well…" Then she shook her head. "Never mind…. It doesn't matter. Just tell him that he's on his own. I'll go to Pait if I can… But somehow I don't think I'll have the chance."
Neither twin asked her what she thought might happen to her. But they could only assume that she thought she was walking to her death.
~o~
The first thing that happened when she entered the tent was the armor on her injured arm being ripped off by Larsen's prying fingers. She didn't look down just swallowed and stared straight at her commanding officer as Larsen's accusing gaze glared at her. "It's sufficient, sir," the Major-General said, stepping back.
She opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by Fusawa. "Didn't think you could play the role of a woman so well, Marioka. Unless of course, you are one. In which you're breaking another law."
"I don't understand, sir," she said, keeping her face carefully blank in order to keep herself from showing her true fear.
"Don't play dumb," Larsen snarled. "Been sleeping with any Narian Princes lately?" She remained calm and blank. No way was any reaction from her going to convict her for high treason.
"No. What would make you think that?" she asked innocently.
"I tortured your cousin."
"I know."
"But she's not your cousin. She's you."
"Reducing yourself to petty insults now are you?"
"Be quiet! You show the same signs of the methods I performed, putting you in a very tight spot, Corporal."
"Where's your proof?"
Fusawa cleared his throat, signaling Larsen to back off with an indignant, angry huff. "The evidence would be in your actions. And the testimony of three different people. Though I must say I'm impressed with how long you've been able to masquerade as a man, Miss Marioka, this silly façade really needs to come to an end."
"I assure you that I-."
"Bullshit," Larsen cut off. She pursed her lips, unable to keep her annoyance from showing. "You're Kyoya Ohtori's lover. The evidence in plain on your arm."
"I've been useful though, haven't I? Even if I am a woman… being so allowed me on the inside. Gave me the proper leverage."
"Snake," Larsen hissed.
"You interfered with a military operation." The Kiran General did not look like a happy man. He made some kind of signal and two men from outside the tent entered and took hold of her arms. She knew what would happen next.
"Yuki is five and is completely innocent," Haruhi snapped back.
"Your defense of her just proves your guilt," Larsen growled. She sighed and submitted herself to being forced to her knees while Fusawa stated her sentence.
"Namahi Marioka, you're under arrest for high treason. You will be stripped of rank and imprisoned until the time of your hanging in four days time. Any attempt to resist will result in your immediate death."
~o~
A/N: Woooooah, it's a long one! 13 pages and over 6000 words! Can you say JEE-ZUS?
I'm not even going to comment on the content other than to say that defenseless Kyoya is rather… odd to see and will not appear very often. Mostly because he freaks me out. Anywayssssss… We can all tell what's going to happen.
Kudos to: isara-love, Mrs. Ootori43ver (Long time no see! Missed you!), crimson-goth-girl, Toffee-Pixie, Countess of Western March, Magpie09, ShadowedSerenity, JUCHKO, Obsessed Dreamer, Victoria5624, Nessie-san, and Koharu Veddette!
Now excuse me while I sleep off my constant migraine that sleep probably won't help. But hey, I found out that I don't have brain cancer! Woohoo! Just means that I can enjoy The Fault in Our Stars all the more (I'm reading it for the second of many times to come.)
By the way… This is the start of a (non-existent) new years resolution to try and update at least once a month this year until I finish this story. (Which means I may need reminders ever few weeks. Hint hint.)