Future Talk

Chapter 29:

"It's A Metaphor, Fool"


Kurama wove in and out of the crowd, as slippery as an eel but at least easier to spot than one, and it took me three agonizing minutes to catch up to him at the buffet table. He was facing the food, studying it for whatever reason, and when I grabbed him by the shoulder he snatched a bay leaf off the mozzarella tray and brandished it in my face like a weapon.

Plants, deadly, Kurama, right, I thought through my haze of panic, and he lowered the leaf when he recognized my face.

"Dani?" he hissed, taking me by the shoulders. "Dani, you're not supposed to approach me!"

I opened my mouth to tell him everything but all that came out was a wheeze. Frowning, he turned to grab a glass of punch off of the buffet table. I downed it in three gulps that I almost choked on. I was lucky he didn't pick up anything with alcohol. This was not the moment to get drunk.

"You gotta find the guys," I sputtered, shoving the glass back into his hands. "You gotta regroup, Kurama, you have to—"

"Slow down," he said, not liking the rising sense of urgency any more than I did. "What's happened?"

"I overheard some people talking," I said, reigning in my erratic breath. "All these people, they're followers of Seishou."

Green eyes opened wide, then narrowed. His shoulders tensed and his fingers tightened around the bay leaf. "What did you hear?" he asked, voice low and deadly and definitely not one I wanted to hear in reference to myself.

"Everyone here is trying to meet the same goal using the Book," I said, summarizing as best I could. "They didn't say what their goal is, but they did say that Seishou is introducing a new recruit tonight, some psychic called the 'Seishi no Ryu'." When Kurama looked alarmed and horrified at once I said: "Yeah, I did the same thing when I heard."

"Ryu," he said, perhaps unnecessarily. "I knew we couldn't trust him. What else?"

"You know that knife Hogosha used to get away?" I said.

"Genkai told me about it, yes."

"Ryu probably made it. Oh, and Ryu's the guy who stole the Book in the first place, not Seishou." Kurama started to protest. I didn't let him. "Listen, I know it sounds far-fetched and I know I probably misheard everything, but we can argue about it later!"

Kurama, for all the arguments I could see rising in his eyes, just nodded. "I'll find the others," he said. "Wait here."

He turned around, took a step, and paused.

"Be careful, Dani-san," he said quietly, and I barely saw him vanish into the crowd.

Waiting did not feel good right then, so I did the one thing I could easily do in that situation: I turned around to begin a systematic mutilation of the buffet table. However, when the rush of food-smells hit me in the face—caviar, fruit, olives, meat, sugar—I detected a scent that nearly made me sick.

"I can't handle bread right now!" I moaned, staring at the food as my stomach churned. That infernal baking-bread smell radiated from somewhere in a relentless waves, but when I scanned the food I didn't see the source. There was no bread to be found: some pastries, yes, but nothing to account for the yeasty warmth of the breadflowers…

"Well shit," I said, confused, and someone tapped me on the shoulder. I spun, giddy that my friends had arrived so soon, and then my smile broke.

"Excuse me," said the small man in the tux. He wore thick glasses and had graying hair, a likeable grandfather figure. "Excuse me, may I get past you? The mozzarella looks delicious."

"Sure," I said, feeling like getting away from the food would be the best option for me at that point, and I took a step to my right. He moved past with a smile, and the wave of scent that followed after almost made me gag.

"Are you feeling well, young lady?" he asked when he saw my face go pale. I clenched my hand over my mouth so I wouldn't vomit and shook my head. Concern made his features ripple. He set down his plate, took me by the elbow (the one connected to the hand on my face; he seemed to notice and accommodate for the cane arm) and gently guided me to a chair behind the buffet with whispers of: "There there, young lady, let's get you a seat."

"Thank you," I whispered as he knelt before me, staring into my wild eyes. But I could still smell that stupid flower and it was still making me sick, and where was it coming from, dammit, and—

I pointed at the nice man's lapel, where a sprig of breadflower lay as innocently as a lamb.

"This?" he asked, surprised.

"Allergic," I mumbled, and with an 'oh' he removed the flower and set it next to a plate of figs.

"I'm sorry," he said with real compassion in his dark brown eyes. "You must suffer so much at Lord Seishou's meetings. A pity. You know what happens to those unmarked."

I looked at him sharply, but he was scanning my dress and my hair with a frown. Just what was he getting at?

"I see," he said. "You can't wear the mark since you're allergic to it."

'The mark'? Does he mean those flowers?

"But where is your insignia, in that case?"

"I… left it at home," I said, playing along, and even though he nodded I could tell he was having trouble believing me. "It's my first time here."

"I knew I didn't recognize you!" he said, suspicions vanishing. "You're in for a treat. It's your first meeting and you're getting to see our true savior brought to light at last."

I tried to smile and failed, not knowing what the hell he was talking about, but he didn't notice.

"Yes, he's our true savior considering what he's done for us. A pity his father can't see him today." The old gentleman raised his right hand so I could see the ring on his pinky finger. "We are a tight-knit family here. If I let you borrow my insignia for the evening, will you promise to return it? I can wear the flowers." His smile made his eyes crinkle. "I remember my first meeting. I received this very ring from our group's founder. You should feel honored to wear it. Here." He removed the ring, took the hand not clamped over my mouth, and slipped it onto my ring finger. "Such small hands, but… you play instruments, don't you? I can tell."

I nodded, eyes glued to the flowers on the table, at the familiar image engraved on the gold ring's circular face, at the guests who all wore sprigs of breadflower in their lapels. I remembered the people twining the flowers into their hair in the garden.

The mark… you must suffer so much… insignia…

"I'm going to be sick," I told him, and I stood. He backed a few feet away, worried for my health and the cleanliness of his tuxedo (not that I blame him).

"Do you need assistance?"

I shook my head, speaking through clenched teeth. "You have been so kind to me already. May I have your name?"

"It's Hiruma," he said.

"I will return your ring as soon as possible, Hiruma-san," I told him, and I bowed before running off with my hand pressed to my lips.

"Feel better, young lady!" he called, and I felt bad for deceiving such a sweet old man because as soon as I crossed the ballroom and went outside, I let my façade of sickness drop. With all the speed I could muster I ran down the steps and into the garden, searching with my eyes and nose for the breadflower cove.

The detectives, every last one of them, was about as conspicuous as a sheep in a den of wolves without one of those flowers in their hand.


I probably should have waited for the boys to arrive before running off. We could have all gone together to get them some flowers; we could have had strength in numbers and then maybe things would have turned out differently. But I didn't wait, oh no, I just vanished into the garden so I could save this mission with a bundle of stupid posies.

No one was in the breadflower garden when I got there, but all the lights were still on. I attacked the nearest bush in a frenzy, ripping down bunches of little flowers until I had four good-sized sprigs.

"Hiei and Yusuke won't like wearing flowers," I said, giggling in almost-hysterics, and I turned to leave. The ring on my finger felt cold; I snuck a glance at it. It was an ornate piece: a silver band, a gold-rimmed face with a silver center, six small diamonds ringing the inside edge of the gold, and a circular panel of black jade engraved with the breadflower.

If it hadn't been the logo of an evil organization bent on mass murder, I would have thought it was pretty.

I fought my way out of the garden, taking a wrong turn twice and thinking all the while of what would happen if I didn't get my friends camouflaged in time. You know what happens to those unmarked, Hiruma had said, and even though I didn't know I felt chilled just thinking about it. I had no way of knowing if Ryu or Seishou had any idea what the detectives looked like, but I wasn't taking chances. In the event that the crooks didn't know, the flowers could give the boys enough secrecy to take Seishou and Ryu into custody without bloodshed, or they could stay unnoticed by the other guests and navigate through the crowd with no need to fight their way through.

I hated to think of the alternative. There were so many (comparative) innocents in that ballroom.

Yeah, it's safe to say Ryu and Seishou are both pretty evil, I thought as I walked. But the humans in there, they probably don't know about that.

It occurred to me, then, that I had never heard of either Ryu or Seishou doing anything besides stealing the Book, which didn't seem so bad if I ignored my knowledge of the world's end, but I banished all of those thoughts when I saw The Terrace looming large above me. I was about to go to it when the doors at the top of the steps opened, and when I saw who stood there I pulled back into the shadows of a large hibiscus bush.

He didn't see me, I though frantically. He didn't see me, he didn't—

"I know you're there, Dani-san," Ryu called. He didn't sound anything like the soft-spoken man I had had dinner with; power radiated in his every syllable. "Come out. Now."

I almost obeyed him. Then I remembered not to. I quickly shoved my flowers into the depths of the hibiscus plant and took off my ring; after a moment's hesitation, I shoved it down my cleavage. It settled in with my crumpled invitation.

I contemplated running for a moment. He would be easy to hide from in the maze.

"I'm faster than you, Dani-san," Ryu called, almost reading my thoughts. "And I know that maze inside and out. I designed it. You can't hide."

Defeated and aware of it, I took a deep breath and stepped into the light. Ryu stood on the top step, looking down his nose at me. He wore a sprig of breadflower in his lapel.

Remember Dani: you're not with the detectives and you have nothing to hide, I told myself.

"But why would I want to run, or hide?" I asked innocently. "Good to see you, Ryu, I'm sorry I'm late—"

"Don't pull that crap with me," he said flatly. My grin vanished. "I know you're one of Koenma's."

"I don't know what you're talking about, and yes, before you ask, I'm insulted," I said waspishly.

He took a step down. "So am I. I trusted you."

I stared at him, shoulders squared and cane at the ready. He took another step.

"So what happens now?" I asked.

Another step. "You come with me. We have to talk."

I took a step back. Between on heartbeat and the next he vanished, and between two more he reappeared behind me. My back smacked against his chest. His hands gripped my biceps. My cheeks paled.

He was so fast.

"Don't play any games with me. My temper is short," he said in my ear.

"So's mine," I replied, and I slammed the butt of my cane onto his foot. He hissed in pain, grip slackening, and I hopped like mad back toward the maze.

He was in front of me before I knew it, ramming his shoulder into my diaphragm to make me lose my breath. Gasping for air, I tried to scream when he stood up, shoulder still in my stomach, and began to carry me up the stairs. Every step hurt, making breathing even more difficult.

From the sound of music and happy voices I deduced that the party was in full swing, and then a door opened and we were in shadows. We walked a little more; another door opened, then closed. Ryu threw me unceremoniously onto something soft, where I lay sprawled and oxygen-starved for several seconds. A light flickered on.

"So your name is Dani, and you're one of Koenma's spies," Ryu said, sitting next to me on the gold velvet couch. His arm circled around behind me and gripped my shoulder; he had crossed his legs, too, looking relaxed but coiled, ready to strike. "And you know, I've never known anything more than that." He laughed. "I never thought to ask you about yourself. I just assumed what I wanted. A pity. This could have all happened so much sooner."

"Yeah, a real letdown," I admitted, voice harsh from lack of air. I decided not to bullshit him anymore. It would only make him angry. "And I'm not a spy. Never have been."

"I find that hard to believe considering the company you keep," he said, eyebrow raised as he studied my face. His scrutiny made me feel uncomfortable, so I kept my knees pressed tight together and folded my hands in my lap. I kept my back straight, too, and stared at the gold-patterned wall opposite me as if it was something much more interesting than expensive wallpaper.

"Really, I'm not," I said. "Koenma actually thinks I'm some sort of spy for you guys. It's so annoying."

"So you admit you're working for him?"

I shrugged. "We've come to an understanding, but I'm not... his." For some reason, that sentence had been hard to say.

"Whose are you, then?"

I shrugged. His fingers dug into my skin.

"I'm Dani," I said, "just… Dani."

"But if you're not with Koenma and you're not with me, who are you with?" he said, shifting so he could face me. One of his hands wormed into mine, holding it, and the incongruousness of the gesture amidst the current situation made me lose my focus.

"No one," I said sharply, looking at him. He seemed less angry than he did frustrated. "Do you want to hear the story I told Koenma? He didn't believe me and had a mind-reader verify it, and he still doesn't believe me. I don't think you will, either."

"Try me."

"OK, I will." I pulled my hand out of his, intent on telling his just about everything in an outpouring of pen-up frustrations, but I stopped.

"Well, go on!" said Ryu. "What did you tell Koenma?"

"I shouldn't tell you," I said, tongue thick and clumsy around every syllable.

"Oh, because Koenma told you not to?" he sneered. "I thought you were on your own team, Dani. My mistake for thinking you had any sort of backbone."

Temper flared. "You don't even know me," I hissed.

"Don't I?" he said, mocking me. "You're a stupid little girl with no spine and no thoughts of her own, blindly following whoever says they're the right leader like a brainless sheep." He laughed. "Yeah, I think I know you pretty well indeed."

He was goading me. I knew that very well. He wanted me to rise to the bait. I knew this, too, and still my mental acuity snapped in half. It was stupid, rash, hot-headed, and I couldn't help myself. I would regret it in the future, I knew that, but…

Those mocking purple eyes just got to me.

"I'm from a country that was destroyed ten thousand years ago, and on my twentieth birthday I was walking home from the library when I got stabbed to death by a rapist!" I rasped in one rush of breath. I slowly stood up, shaking quietly with rage.

Ryu's triumphant face crumpled.

"I woke up naked in a forest when one of Koenma's people found me and started asking questions I didn't have the answers to, and I'm lost and scared and confused and no one believes me about anything!" I turned toward him, teeth bared.

"Apparently I have some weird demon energy streak that I can't explain," I continued, "and now I'm all involved in some weird doomsday plot to take over the world with a freaking Book! It sucks and I hate it and I want to go home, and you're not making things any better." To my horror I felt tears well up—all that stress, the admittance of everything that had happened to me and the feelings I had because of it, had cracked my shell of strength. "In fact, you're only making this mess worse, so get out of my hair and mind your own damn business!"

Ryu stood up. I sat down, hand over my face to hide the tears I could no longer hold back.

"What country?" he whispered.

My hand dropped. "Does it matter?" I snapped, sniffing.

He knelt in front of me and grabbed my shoulders. "What country?"

No answer.

He shook me until my teeth rattled. "What country?" he roared.

"America!" I blurted, and he let me go. He stood. He paced. He ran his fingers through his tawny hair.

"Don't tell anyone in this organization that you're an American," he said, mind racing like a stockcar if his raving eyes were any indication. "Shit. Shit. If Seishou finds you, then—"

I felt myself go a little numb. "Then what?" I asked, but a part of me didn't want to know.

Ryu stopped pacing and stared, oddly purple eyes showing anger, fear, and… sadness.

"He's interested in America," he said. "He won't tell me why but it's nothing good, I promise you." He spun, the tails of his jacket flying. "I'm not like him, Dani! I want peace and equality and happiness, not death and destruction!"

"But by what means?" I said hotly, standing. "Killing the people who made fun of you for those 'differences' you never told me about?"

"No!" He looked appalled, and then his face darkened. "I want to tell you, Dani. You're like me. I knew you were the minute I saw your leg and felt you." He paused. "Can you promise to keep my secret safe?"

I hesitated, remembering Kurama's words: "You must learn all there is to learn and keep his trust in your hand. You cannot afford mistakes."

"And you must be ready to betray him."

I had told Kurama I could do it.

Now was the moment to make that promise good.

Still, a part of me didn't want to shatter Ryu's incomprehensible and one-sided bond with me—pity made it hard to keep on task. I asked: "How do you know you can trust me?"

"Because you're like me," he said, with no hesitation and absolute certainty.

The tears still flowing down my cheeks changed their nature. They were no longer for myself. Ryu was their benefactor now.

"I won't tell," I told Ryu, and my voice broke.

He didn't seem to notice. "You're a halfbreed, right?"

I froze.

"No, you're used to denying it," he said dismissively, and he sat next to me on the couch. His arm snaked around my shoulders again, warm and real and far too close. "But I it was true knew from the moment I felt you in that garden. You're part demon. It's unmistakable." He seemed to shine from within, fervor rising. "I'm half of something, too. It drove my father all but mad, and he started the Society because of it."

"Your father was the… founder?"

"Mmm-hmm. The members of the Society are the people at this party." His smile made me shiver. "We're all psychics, or friends of psychics, with powers normal humans could never fathom."

I processed this. At least I'll have some information to give to the detectives, I thought. My slip-up wasn't entirely for nothing, I guess.

"You too?" I asked, and he nodded. My suspicions were dually confirmed.

"I couldn't control my powers when I was a child," he said. "People called me the devil child, or an abomination. But not any more." He stood his ground, proud of what he was saying. "The Society will turn every human of note—politicians, kings, queens, celebrities—into a psychic with undeniable powers. Then humans will have no choice but to look up to us, to want to be like us and stop persecuting those of our kind." His voice dropped into a whisper. "People hate the ones who are different, Dani. You know that even better than I do, with your leg and your heritage working together. Now you can let your powers out without fear."

"…you're insane."

He froze. I did, too. The words had slipped out on accident. Ryu's jaw clenched.

"Explain?" he said through tight teeth.

I swallowed, nervous, but there wasn't any turning back. I pulled out the only name I knew that could resolve this situation: "Ever heard of Miley Cyrus?"

He looked at me like I was crazy (which I definitely was at that point). "No."

"Oh." That certainly threw a monkey wrench into my speech plan. I'd like to think I recovered gracefully. "Well, do you have any spoiled TV stars in this country?"

"Yes." He did not appear to have predicted my point, so I was blunt about it:

"Imagine the brattiest one of them with the ability to destroy cities or kill people if they don't get their way."

He swallowed, eyes shifting down and to one side.

"Yeah, I think you get my point."

"We're going to be careful," he said in a low voice. "Give only the smallest of powers to those who would abuse them. Give the greatest powers to those in the Society itself, or to people who would use them for good."

I snorted. "Yeah, and you're a good judge of that?"

His hand tightened on my shoulder, dangerous and hard.

"You yourself admitted that Seishou was deranged," I went on, ignoring his silent warning, "and yet you're allies. Yeah, I totally trust you to make good choices. Uh-huh. Sure."

Ryu stood up, stepped in front of me, and knelt. My heart fluttered. Oh, he was handsome all right, and in that traditional 'I'm on one knee and about to propose' pose… well, what girl wouldn't feel a little hot under the collar?

"I couldn't avoid making him my ally," Ryu said, cajoling and melodious. "He had taken over the Society before I managed to get inside it, but I don't plan on humoring him for long. Ruling the Society is my right by birth and by spirit, not his!" He took my hands, pressing his forehead against my palms. "You have to believe me, Dani. I have only the best intentions."

"And the road to hell is paved with those," I said, but he didn't hear. He probably didn't allow himself to.

"I'll protect you from Seishou," he said, head rising so our eyes could meet. "If he finds out that you're from America there's no telling what he'd do to get you, but I won't let that happen. Trust me."

I didn't reply. Only stared.

"I'll protect you," he repeated, hands tightening around my own, and then he stood and turned toward the door. My hands fell coldly to my sides. "But right now, I have somewhere I need to be. You stay here."

"No," I snapped, rising to my feet as my fear did the same. Thoughts of Ryu—who seemed to be getting crazier by the minute—going after the detectives didn't seem like a good idea. "No way. You can't just—"

"I can do anything I damn well want!" he roared, wheeling on me, and he snatched my cane out of his hands and broke it over his knee, wood splintering with a sound like tangled hearts. The pieces fell to my feet with a clatter. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, his temper fled and was replaced by remorse.

"You'll be safer here," he said, breath shuddering past his lips. I stared at the cane, feeling as lost as a child left alone in a crowded shopping mall. "I'll be back for you soon. Stay quiet."

He left, then. I heard the lock engage a moment after.


I grieved over that cane until I spotted a decorative bucket of umbrellas in one corner. Still, as I stared down at its ruined form, at the pale wood of the cane's core lying open like a wounded heart, a twinge of every negative emotion a person can feel washed over me. Loss, fear, anger, sorrow, doubt… all of it and more that I'm at a loss to name.

If Ryu and I had ever had the potential to be friends, it was gone now. That broken cane almost seemed like a metaphor for our shattered relationship. Imagine that, right? Totally not cheesy at all. Not like something a fanfic author with a flare for the dramatic would cook up.

Totally not. Never. Nuh-uh.

I bent down to caress that cane one last time. I arranged the splinters to say: SYMBOLISM

"If I'm the butt of some sick joke," I muttered to myself, "my story had better have a damn cool title. Oh, and a well-spelled summary. Christ."

After that little interlude, I did what I was supposed to do and made and EPIC PLAN. However, the EPIC PLAN only went as far as getting out of the room Ryu had locked me in, because I had no idea what to expect after that.

One thing at a time, right? Right.

The room was obviously a dressing room for a bridal party having a wedding or reception on The Terrace—I could tell from all the framed pictures of cakes and happy couples in unmistakable nuptial uniform. There was one big room (where Ryu and I had talked) that contained three couches, a vanity mirror surrounded by makeup lights, and a bolted-and-barred window that lay opposite the door I could not get through (the lock seemed unpickable; I lost all but two of my many hairpins trying). There was also a closet and a door that led to a beautiful bathroom, but nothing in either room promised me an escape.

I listened at the door for stock characters—I mean, dimwitted guards I could somehow trick into opening the door ("Oh no, I've hurt myself and have no intention of bashing you over the head with this umbrella and stealing your keys when you come in to administer medical attention or revel in your cute captive's helplessness; what do you take me for, an unimaginative hussy?") but the hall outside the room was still and silent.

I paced for a bit; that usually helps me think, but nothing happened besides a bit of sweating. I snagged some tissues from the vanity and wiped myself down.

"Am I just nervous or is it really hot in here?" I said crossly, tucking a few more tissues down my top in case I needed them. It was getting crowded in there, I might add—my invitation, the ring, and now a bundle of tissues made me look like I had a budding third boob.

I sat down, fanning myself with my hand.

"No, it really is just hot in here," I said. "Maybe if I walk around I'll stir up a breeze. Yeah. That'll totally work."

And despite my skepticism, it did. I made a circuit around the big room, into the bathroom, and back out again, and when I passed by the door I felt a breeze. The breeze vanished when I moved away from the door, so with a mind for being cool I backtracked.

The breeze returned.

Now just where did you come from? I thought, and I looked up. My eyes bugged out of my head. A laugh bubbled up inside.

"You're an idiot, Ryu," I said. "A true idiot."

You know those little vertically-opening windows people put above doors for ventilation? I think they're called 'transom' windows, and yes, that room just happened to have one. And even luckier for me, this one was open.

It was also four feet above my head.

Looking at it (gosh, it wasn't very big at all, was it?), I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath. "It'll be a tight fit, but if Buzz Lightyear can do it," I said, resolute, "then so can I. To infinity and beyond, yadda yadda yadda, but where's a stinking ladder when you need one?"

I didn't have a ladder, though. What I did have was a chair (a remarkably low one from the vanity) and a bucket out of the closet. I put the bucket on the chair and stood on both, slid the umbrella outside, and hooked its curved handle onto the top of the door beneath the transom. Then I followed it out.

Predictably, I got stuck.

"Dear god I'm useless. For the first time in my life," I said through clenched teeth, wriggling with all my might, "my hips are actually too big for something!" I took a deep breath, blew it out, and tried to push my way free, but nothing would help. I was wedged too tight inside.

"Where's Jenny Craig with her stupid miracle diet when you need her? The only way I'm getting out of this is if I lose five pounds around my middle or drench myself in olive oil, but I'm a little short on the olive—"

I froze.

"Brilliant, Dani. Brilliant." I paused. "But are you up to the challenge?"

The thought of my favorite characters putting their lives on the line scared me enough to believe that yes, I was indeed up to it.

Entering theta state while hanging half upside-down, with a windowsill pressing right into your already abused diaphragm, is hard. Deep breathing exercises are impossible. But Genkai and Hiei had trained me well, and after a few false starts I began to drift.

Thinner, thinner, thinner, I chanted in my head, summoning the image of a more narrow pelvis. Thinner, thinner, oh god I sound like an anorexic fourteen-year-old get me out of here NOW!

I opened my eyes. Moved. Twisted. Kicked.

I was still stuck.

"Damn," I growled, and I bit my lip. The bite triggered my wandering memory in just the right way; I smiled. "Let's try this again, shall we?"

I submerged myself in theta, feeling my will wash over my power, and from a great distance I felt the pain of my teeth digging into my lower lip. Small enough to fit through this gap, I told myself. Just small enough to get through.

My eyes opened. I braced my hands on the door below me and jerked.

Was it just me, or did I move a little more than I was used to?

I worked at it for a few seconds, twisting and turning in place, and yes, I was definitely smaller than before. With new hope I writhed, elated and grinning from ear to happy ear, and when I felt my hips pop free I couldn't help but laugh in triumph.

That cry was quickly stifled by the floor rushing up to meet me. I put my hands out just in time to save my face from getting smacked, but I still fell into a dazed heap until I could gather my rattled wits and sit up.

"Well," I said in amazement, "I guess I'm not a totally useless fangirl, after all." I stood, using the door for support, and I unhooked my makeshift cane from the ledge above me. Intent on getting moving, I took one step and staggered against the wall.

My thighs, you see, were anchored immovably in place.

"So making my hips this small without making my thighs smaller, too, impedes my mobility," I said, trying to keep calm in the face of not knowing what was wrong with my own body, dammit. "Oh. I see. I need to keep my joints proportional. That makes sense."
I bit my lip again, releasing my hips. Normal, normal, normal, I thought, and when I took another step they seemed just fine. I breathed a sigh of relief, then looked around myself.

I was in a long hall lined with other doors that led, conceivably, to other rooms like the one I had just vacated. But I remembered that Ryu only opened one door between the ballroom and the door to the dressing room, so I assumed that one of the doors before me led straight to The Terrace. Not knowing how else to go about it, I started opening doors.

Most, however, proved to be locked. I started listening at the keyholes instead, but until I traveled quite a ways down the hall I heard nothing. Then the sound of music (piano, of course—soft classical piano played with the flair of a jazz musician) drifted toward me, and I knew I was on the right path, especially when I found the door—smaller than all the others, oddly—that radiated music and chatting voices like a fog.

I sighed, again with relief. Ryu hadn't started any mayhem yet, it seemed.

I put my hand on the door's gold knob. "Gotta find the guys and warn them," I said to myself, steeling my nerves for conflict, and I walked out that door with all the severity of a priest.


The door, as it turns out, wasn't much of a door at all—not to those in the ballroom, at least. It had been made to blend in with the back wall so perfectly that not even I could tell where it had been once it was closed. The seam was so small as to be almost invisible. The gigantic potted fern that had been placed in front of the door didn't help visibility much, either. It did, however, afford me a nice hiding spot, and once I got through that secret door I had no idea how to get back.

So the fern, in the end, was a good thing, especially considering what happened next.

I got there just in time to see the lights dim. Everyone fell quiet. The music stopped as I peeked out from behind the fern's pot (it was taller than I am), and with mounting trepidation I saw a man climb the piano's platform all the way on the other side of the ballroom. It's a stage now, I suppose, I thought. Great. Let's just hope this little drama has a happy ending.

Meanwhile, Seishou had tuned to face his followers.

"Friends," he boomed. I had never heard—and I never will hear again—a voice like that one. It was as if someone had learned the language of mountains or thunderclouds, lightning or avalanches, tsunamis or earthquakes of untold magnitude. With one word he stole the breath from my throat and stilled the room completely.

"Friends," he repeated through the veil of a cold metal mask. Its features had been frozen in a perpetual smile of good grace. "I bring to you tonight a man who will change our lives forever."

No one moved. I stood rooted to the spot, petrified with fear and awe. Seishou's cloak moved about him in an unseen wind; his night-black hair radiated around his head like a static halo.

"He has already helped us once. Months ago he used the powers many of you dream of possessing to do the one thing we desired most." He raised a hand and clenched it into a fist before the eye sockets of his mask. "He tricked a guide of the Spirit World into granting him entry to its halls, and then he took… It."

People gasped. I think that's what Seishou meant for them to do.

His breath hissed over the syllables, rainwater sluicing over ice. "But he is more than just our friend, our ally, our knight." Arms—arms with hands clad in metal gloves, tipped with golden claws and bronze detail—swept out wide. "He is our prince!"

A cheer went up, one I almost joined in on. Sieshou's words ignited the fire of joy within me; I could not help but get swept away. How could anyone resist a voice like that?

But Seishou's voice cut through the wild cry like magma. "He is Ryu," he screamed. "Ryu, son of Yoshio, the founder of our Society and the man whose ambition unites us all! Ryu: heir to the vision that will calm the world and bring it peace! Ryu: a leader and a guiding light in these times of darkness, bearer of the Book that will make our presence known! Welcome him; welcome our new brother; welcome the Subtle Dragon!"

Seishou's arms dropped, and he stepped aside. The spell—the one that had kept me from moving or thinking or breathing while he spoke—broke as people screamed in joy and rapture.

I have never heard cheers that genuine. I have never seen faces so jubilant. I have never seen four men stand out so much in a crowd.

I was, you see, able to look for my friends for the first time since Seishou spoke, and finding them was a simple task. My detectives stood in the middle of the Society, lacking both the flowers and the faces that could have showed that they belonged, and their joyless expressions were about as obvious as a wolf in a nursery.

But I, the only one of their side that knew the consequences of such expressions, stood at the back of the room, unable to reach them.

I looked around, desperate for anything that could help the situation, and that's when I saw Ryu standing on the dais next to the silent Seishou, arms raised as he faced the exultant crowd, but his eyes weren't looking at his followers. He was staring straight at the boys, who had no idea what was about to hit them.

"Thank you, my friends," Ryu said when the cheers died down. His voice seemed weak after Seishou's. "My father, Yoshio-san… his name means 'righteous man.'" He paused, letting that sink in. Despite not having Seishou's voice, I could already tell he was a skilled orator. "He was named well. He had a dream—"

I immediately pictured Martin Luther King Jr. dressed as Seishou. Not good.

"—to do away with the prejudices of mankind, to lift righteousness up and put false judgment down." A smile. "Psychics, he often said, were the next step in human evolution." He paused again, swallowing. "He said so… because of me."

The crowd waited with bated breath as the speech picked up in intensity. "My father loved me, but no one else did. They called me a freak, a devil, a demon, but I am none of those. I am human. I love, I hate, I dream, all as a human being. I am simply… different. But not any more."

"Because we have the Book!" someone in the crowd yelled, and people cheered. But Ryu's morose expression made them quiet with uncertainty.

"We did have it," he intoned, solemn. "I stole it myself, felt it breathe within my spirit's hands when I used my soul to infiltrate the vaults of that wretched place. But when I reached the Human World and began to look for my abandoned body, the Book resisted. It loves to feed on the energy of the Human World, and it would not enter spirit from again." He stopped talking, looking like his heart would burst from regret. The next words seemed hard for him to say. "That's when the Spirit World's dogs appeared."

"They stole what's ours!" called a voice.

"Yes," said others, and Ryu nodded in agreement.

"But all was not lost!" he said, raising his hands over his head. "We have two things to celebrate, brethren! Consider them gifts from myself—" he put a hand over his heart and held the other one out to the crowd "—to you."

"Ryu!" someone shouted. "Ryu, Ryu!" A chant started up, but Ryu quieted it with a gesture. His voice seemed so much more hypnotic since the memory of Seishou's had faded.

"The first gift," he said, "is the reclamation of the Book! A team of our most trusted and powerful friends is heading its way to Its side right now."

Cheers; ecstatic cheers.

"And our other gift to you…" His eyes locked onto the detectives.

My body ached with tension, but there was nothing I could do. Tears pricked my eyes like needles. Nails cut into my palms.

"My other gift," Ryu said with relish, "is the men responsible for the Book's first loss. Look, my family, and see the unmarked! I present to you the humans Urameshi Yusuke and Kuwabara Kazuma, and the demons Hiei and Kurama!"

As one the crowd turned on them, backing away from the detectives until they stood exposed, back-to-back in a tightly defensive pod. I saw Hiei's snarl and Kurama's cold glare before Yusuke spoke. He was as brash as always, never showing fear in the face of almost certain death.

"Hey!" he said, pointing. "Hey, mask-man!"

Seishou pointed at himself, expression unreadable through the mask.

"Yeah, you! We're taking you in!"

"I think not," said Ryu, and he reached into his pocket. From it he pulled two small knives, and with his other hand he pinched a bloom off of the breadflower sprig in his lapel. He placed the blossom on his tongue, closed his eyes, and knelt. Then he put a knife in both hands and shoved them into the floor.

I didn't expect anything to happen. They were only knives, after all, and they couldn't stand up to the hard stage's surface. However, the incident with Hogosha was out of my mind at the time, and I quickly recalled it when the knives cut neat circles in the stage. But in those circles was not ruined wood or stone, just darkness so complete it looked like the end of the world, and when the darkness rippled and grew and formed four towering figures of night and dreams… I took a step back in fear, shrinking into the shadows of the giant fern.

The figures soon coalesced into more recognizable forms. Pointed ears, long muzzles, four legs, tails, and lots and lots of teeth… they seemed more dog-like than anything, and with a howl that made my ears vibrate the four of them jumped off the stage and onto the floor, sniffing their way to the detectives (they were probably blind, I decided, since their noses were doing all the work and they didn't have visible eyes). The Society members backed away, murmuring in appreciation. The beasts' nails clicked across the tile.

You know those "Turn off you cellphone!" things they play before movies? I really wish they had those in front of dire situations in real life, you know?

Because just then, Ryu's cellphone rang.

The dogs paused and looked over their shoulders at their master. The boys lowered their weapons (Hiei look especially pissed). Ryu's face went red and he pulled a phone out of his pocket. It all would have been funny had I not been so close to having a heart attack.

"What?" he growled, and then: "WHAT?" He wheeled on Seishou. "They relocated It. We need to regroup."

"Ha!" said Yusuke. "Gotcha! Did you really think we'd be stupid enough to just leave it at the temple? THE JOKES ON YOU, IDIOT!"

"Get them!" Ryu snarled to the dogs, "but keep them alive. I'll need information out of them."

I took a step forward as the dogs did the same, but before I could shout a word of warning or jump in or… or… something, the things had pounced. I couldn't really see the fight because the crowd surged in too close, but at that moment I didn't really need to be looking after the boys. They could take care of themselves, and I was in enough hot water of my own. I felt eyes on me, making me shiver, and with dawning dread I looked up at the stage.

Ryu had spotted me.

"And when you're done with them," he thundered, eyes flashing violent violet, "round up all of the unmarked and bring them to me."

I barely heard his last few words. By then, I was already out the door.


NOTE:

I didn't mean for there to be so many lighthearted moments in this chapter, but I think I subconsciously wanted them to break up all the seriousness. Did they make you smile, at the very least?

And what the heck does Seishou want with America?

I 3 Hiruma. Anyone know who I named him after? A drawing of his ring is on my deviantART account.

Also, the fic should move pretty quickly from now on. We know (most) of the stakes. Haven't seen 'em all, though… MWA HA HA!

Also, names! The winner of my poll was "Danielle Elaine Thompson," but several of you had great suggestions. Now I have a poll up that pits my winner with your suggested names. Vote now! All names have the creators alongside them ^_^ Thanks to: Zetsubel (Danielle Brianna Fitzgerald), Lady of the Gags (Danielle Nesbitt), and Foxgirl Ray (who said that Dani's name should have to do with music, which prompted me to make "Danielle Integra Treble", odd middle name and all. I actually really like this name—'treble' sounds an awful lot like 'trouble,' lol). I'm also putting "Danielle Grace McGillicutty" back up because it makes me laugh. =P (Did I miss anyone's name? It's not too late to put it up!)

And thank you my lovely reviewers! I am constantly amazed by your kind words. They make me as happy as an appropriate simile! Kaiya's Watergarden, ilovemusicrox12, Koryu Elric, Robyn the Perpetually 15, chocolateluvr13, dumbrat, WickedLovelyDream, RedbudInTheSky, LadyoftheGags, ShadowFireFox13, Turtle Kid, DoilyRox, colbub, Heart's Icy Touch, crossyourteez, Out-Of-Control-Authoress, AkaMizu-chan, j.d.y., Reclun, Zetsubel, 0nfateswings, the Under-Cover Fangirl, Foxgirl Ray, Shadow of Sound, Masuyo Shun, HeeHeeHee01, Miyakomono, rainchant, heve-chan, Ry171819, Yaoi-Beloved, oceanabyss, and WingThief!