Disclaimer: Yep, I own RK. I also own a couple hundred enslaved animators and make the draw Barney cartoons. Being able to afford all that, it makes you wonder why I never have enough spare change for a soda.
Warning: Huh... Does anyone else see that bright light? No? Maybe I ate a bad meatball...
-----------------------------------------
Souken no Shibun
Pieces Apart
-----------------------------------------
Michika slammed her fist down on the desk. "Dammit! You meant to tell me I've put up with your sadistic ass all night for nothing?!"
Saito leaned back in his chair, amused at how easily he could push the girl into losing her temper. She was almost as amusing as Sagara. He wondered briefly if his favorite moron had returned home yet. Most likely, and probably broke as well. Since he was done with this idiot, he could probably pay the little group another visit. Besides, he needed to inform their little pet about the conditions of her 'amnesia'. He was sure the Rei would love to know her sister had induced it.
Even better, the Karada had explained that she had broken Kyouki's memory up into six separate pieces. Each piece could only be unlocked by a particular phrase corresponding to that piece. Saito was sure knowing that would make dear little 'Kyouki' even more happy. Oh yes, he'd definitely love having a front seat to the upcoming event. Watching the Rei tear the Karada limb from limb promised to be very entertaining.
All he needed now were those damn phrases. However, even with as much as the Karada revealed, she refused to give that little extra bit of information. Which was rather aggravating, considering she was absolutely the only person in existence with that knowledge. Of course, he did not allow the woman to see his irritation. "You have made her memory retrievable. Why?"
Michika's eye twitched. "There might be need of it."
He arched an eyebrow, skimming over a report he'd been handed as he walked into the station. He knew his seeming lack of attention only further angered the girl, clouding her ability to reason as it would most people. Still, throughout the night, she still managed to keep secret that vital bit of information concerning those phrases, no matter how he poked or prodded. Surely, he was wearing her down by now. A little more and she'd probably tell him anything he wanted to simply get out of that office. "I see. And in the unfortunate event of your death?"
The girl frowned at him. Of course, the little idiot actually hadn't thought of that. Or at least, hadn't considered it a real possibility. The Karada was definitely the soldier she claimed to be; trained to act, not to think. She turned away from him, trying hide whatever expression was playing across her face. Although he couldn't see it, he could hear her foot tapping incessantly. Annoying as it was, he sat quietly, allowing her time to think her decision through... if only to a certain extent. "Well?"
The Karada slowly turned her head to glare at him over her shoulder. As she opened her mouth to answer, she paused, some thought lighting her eyes up. She closed her mouth and allowed a smirk, not dissimilar from one of Saito's own, to curve her lips. "You've made a rather valid point, Saito-san."
Officially, Saito did not like seeing that expression on someone else's face. He could already tell that whatever she had decided on in that moment her eyes lit up, it was not going to be something Saito liked. No matter, he could handle whatever she had planned.
She smiled brightly at him. "So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to tell the phrases to one other person. If that person tells you the phrases, well, lucky you."
"And do I get to know who is person is?"
She giggled. "Nope!"
Saito groaned internally. "Of course." Now she knew she was being a pest. Making him have to deal with other people, how time consuming. One would think she'd be a little more helpful considering he was out to stop her brother from starting some pointless war.
Michika tapped her chin thoughtfully. "It does seem a bit unfair, though. Hm... How about I go ahead and give you one phrase?" He remained silent and she took that as an affirmative response. Leaning across his desk a bit, as if to share some great secret, she whispered to him in a downright giddy tone, "Pink in the summer rain."
He arched an eyebrow, finding the chosen phrase to be rather ridiculous. "I'm assuming it refers to the 'bunny incident' spoken of last night..."
She nodded happily. "Indeed, but you don't need to know about that. All you need is the phrase."
There was a god. Or at least, a reasonable facsimile thereof. If he had to sit there and listen to the Karada go on about some childhood memory, he might snap. Not that it would have been such a bad thing, ridding the world of the Karada, but it would ruin Saito's carefully constructed image of control.
As the girl backed towards the door, she offered one other bit of information. "I'll be nice and give you a clue to who will hold the other phrases. This person that I tell will be able to at least reasonably defend themselves against you," she said and was out the door.
Reasonably defend against him? How laughable. Oh well, he only had to find one person. How hard could it be?
-----------------------------------------
A/N: Pigeon!! *hugs her screen* *smiles at onlookers* I've had this strange fixation on feathers since about four this morning... *shrugs* And FF isn't up right this moment... so I'm going to answer reviews from memory. Yep, that means that if anyone else reviewed, I hereby formally apologize for not answering it. I also apologize for the stickers all over your windshields. *grins*
To Cymberleah: *points up* Look, look! Saito! *eyes get shifty* That's all...
To Colleen: *eyes twinkle* You're still reading? Yay!! And I'm very glad you liked the druggy chapter. *smiles*
To SaveTheTurkeys: La li ho! *eyes get shifty* Ok, so maybe answering reviews from memory wasn't the greatest idea I have considering my memory... *smiles* But I'm still very, very happy you reviewed!
- In a dark room somewhere with a single lamp hanging overhead- *passes chapter across the table* What do you think, Author Lady? Too many typos?
Author Lady kills Pigeon.