AD 2207, 5/14, 1st Hierarchical City of Ookoto – Unknown Area

"Seriously?" Kagura raises his brows in astonishment as he reviews the bill from the hotel. Most of it is above board, except for one little cleaning fee of…

"Six-thousand-seven-hundred and eighty platinum dollars?" He turns his wide purple eyes to the blonde men standing across from him in the hotel lobby, both of whom do their best to keep up a rather convincing mask of casual disinterest.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Kagura groans and leans his head back to rub a wrapped hand over his face. "What'd you guys do to rack up a bill this high?"

More silence ensues, and Kagura scoffs, removing his hand to shoot them a light glare. "C'mon, guys. You gotta let me know what exactly it is I'm paying for, here."

Their poker faces are good, Kagura will give them that, but Clover still has that habit of flushing. His eyes widen slightly in disbelief. "You didn't…?"

Clover narrows his eye slightly, bingo. Kagura huffs a laugh, leaning forward and leering. "Seriously, guys? Lemme guess…" He taps the bill. "This is for the sheets, am I right?"

Clover huffs and looks out the window, but Sena sighs and shrugs.

Kagura chuckles. "Well, would you look at that? We've hit it in one. Way to go, you two."

His smirk fades somewhat as the two blondes trade raised brows and look at him skeptically.

"Listen, Mutsuki. Just cuz Carl and I had some fun, doesn't mean we're together." Sena smirks as Kagura's face pales.

Clover smirks haughtily. "It's a bit presumptuous of you to assume that kind of thing. Especially given your, 'history,' shall we put it?"

Kagura groans. "So much for that plan. Great. I get having some fun, but don't they know I'm not made of money?"

He frowns, looking at them critically and waving the bill. "Why the hell should I be the one to pay for this thing?"

Sena smirks. "Why, Mutsuki, didn't you say you'd pay our way for agreeing to your little scheme?"

Kagura sputters. "Hey, hey! I didn't agree to anything but the restaurant and that club tab!"

Clover tuts. "Why, Mutsuki. You agree to pay the way for a pair of poor kids to experience the good life, just to throw them into crippling debt over a little fun? For shame."

Clover shakes his head with a mockingly sincere pout. Sena's emerald heart-shaped eyes begin to tear up, hiccupping while his rosy lips begin to wobble.

Kagura's eyes widen to their fullest, his face going pale and slack with dread. He's heard of Platinum's theatrics. He knows where this is going. Frantically, he signs on the dotted line and passes the bill back to the manager, who has been standing nearby awkwardly this entire time.

As soon as the bill leaves his hand, Sena's face beams with a miraculous grin. He rushes forward to shake Kagura's hand enthusiastically. "Oh! Thank you, Lord Mutsuki! Such a kind heart!"

Before Kagura can shake him off, Sena lets go of his hand. Sena begins to skip toward the doors. "Come on, we don't want to miss our ship!"

Kagura stares after him in offense and disbelief, before feeling Clover brush past him.

"He's right, we really should get going. Sis will be mad if we're late, it's impolite." Clover coolly tosses over his shoulder, a twinkle in his cerulean eye.

Kagura stares for another moment, then rubs his face once more with a groan of exasperation. "Damn kids…"

AD 2207, 5/16, 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi – Orient Town

Kagura sighs in relief as soon as he sees the clinic come into view. He catches sight of the beautiful Linhua cleaning the façade, cheerfully chatting to an unknown Kaka in a crimson jacket, a male if Kagura's keen eye is on the money.

Sena quickens his pace, bouncing with every step. "Hey, Asa! How ya been?"

The Kaka glances up, his hooded red eyes wide with surprise and delight. He bounds towards the other man, the bell serving as his zipper jingling merrily with every step. "Sena! You're back!"

They meet in the middle of the street, the crowds giving them a respectful distance as they rub their cheeks enthusiastically. Asakaka's wavy blue hair and tail flutter and flick as they bounce together. Carl watches the display with a pang of fondness and nostalgic longing.

Kagura huffs a smile. "Brings back memories, eh, Clover?"

An indifferent huff swallows Carl's fragile smile. He glances at Mutsuki dismissively. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Kagura's smile drops into a scoff as he rolls his eyes. "I already know. You're not as hard to read as you think, Clover."

The two men glare at one another for several seconds before a throat clearing draws their attention. They glance forward to see Linhua staring in disproval, hands firmly on her hips.

Luna huffs as they finally pay her some attention. "Alright, you two. Doctor Litchi has strict 'no fight' rules here in Orient Town. If you want to settle whatever macho competition you have going on, take it somewhere else."

Kagura does a double take. "Hey! I'm just being friendly, that's all."

Linhua gazes at him coolly, like he's a nasty bug quivering under her foot.

Kagura groans. "The Faye-Ling women sure are cold these days…"

"My apologies, Miss Linhua. I was just on my way to see Miss Litchi. Is she home?" Carl keeps his eye firmly on Linhua, who looks at him warily.

"Yeah, she is. But—" She points to Nirvana. "Your sister has to stay in the waiting room. Doctor's orders."

Carl narrows his eye suspiciously, but nods. He can defend himself without Ada just fine. "Very well. Shall we get going?"

Linhua nods and leads the two men toward the clinic. Sena and Asakaka are nowhere in sight.

Linhua huffs. "Ugh. Sena must've convinced Asa to go into the village to get out of chores again. Not on my watch." She strides over toward the path to Kaka Village with confidence and purpose. "The Doctor's inside. Mister Mutsuki, she wants you to stay in the waiting room too."

Kagura makes a sound of protest, but it dies in his throat when he sees the cold eyes of Litchi peeking through the window. "Right. C'mon Clover, let's go."

Kagura hurries into the building. Carl meets Litchi's gaze with scrutiny for several moments before looking away and following, Nirvana in tow.

Litchi releases the curtain with a sigh. He looks so cold. "Oh, Carl…"

A Few Minutes Later…

Carl keeps his face poised in a careful mask of neutrality as Litchi takes a seat across from him at the table, eyeing him cautiously. Two steaming mugs of herbal tea sit in front of them on the table.

Litchi picks hers up and drinks first, to show there's nothing amiss. Carl sighs, then does the same. The two sit in a somewhat cold, if companionable silence for several minutes, waiting for the other to speak first.

Eventually, she hums. "Carl. Are you… alright?"

Her purple eyes are full of caution and worry. Her fingers twitch as if to grasp at something.

He sighs again. "I'm fine, Miss Litchi. How have you been?"

"We've been doing well for ourselves; the clinic is growing every year. But Carl, I've heard some… troubling rumors." She stares him right in the eye. "Is it true you've been using that 'eye' on people?"

He shifts, his stance guarded once more. His cerulean eye meets her purple gaze defensively. "Only on those who consent to study or those, I pursue for bounty."

Her eyes narrow. "Carl, that's dangerous."

He huffs. "I do take precautions, and I try my best to temper my 'sight,' most come out of my studies completely fine."

She leans over and stares at him, hard. "Carl. You're still doing what he wants. We don't know what kind of connection that 'eye' has to him. For all we know, it could—?!"

He rises to his feet quickly, frustration twisting his face into an impatient scowl. "I knew it. Sena said you'd listen, but I knew that— Ah?!"

She rushes up and grabs him, pulling him into a tight embrace. "Wait! …Wait. I'm sorry."

He freezes. That warmth from all those years ago, it's still there, just under his skin. He stands still for a few moments, before cautiously returning the embrace. The two stand there in silence.

After a few moments, she speaks again. "I shouldn't have been so hard on you. It's just… That man is evil, and he left you that 'eye' for a reason." She pulls away slightly to meet his eye. "I just want you to be safe."

He looks away with a sigh. He stares at the far wall for a moment, lost in thought. Then he turns back with a calm frown. "I… I understand, Miss Litchi. But I have to do this."

She loosens her grip, her posture falling slightly with a sigh of her own. "Carl…"

He breaks away gently. "If I don't save Ada…"

She looks up with a slight pain in her expression. "Just be careful. You're beginning to attract attention. And not just from the Librium."

He tenses, he gets the feeling that she knows who had been tracking him before that encounter with Mutsuki. Before he can ask, she pulls him back into another warm embrace.

"Carl, it's good to see you. I'm so happy to see how much you've grown." Her eyes close as she says those words, tears welling.

He swallows thickly, feeling himself tremble with emotion. "It's… It's good to see you too, Miss Litchi."

He returns her embrace fully this time, and the two stand together in warm silence for several minutes. Then they part, and return to their seats at the table, happily drinking their tea and beginning to talk of other, happier things. Like Luna and Sena.

"I saw Sena wincing when Asa was clapping him on the back. I assume you had something to do with that?" She asks with a mischievous smile.

He fights back a sputter, his face, and neck flushing. "I… Yes. I suppose I did."

She chuckles. "I had a feeling something like this might happen. I also noticed you're sitting a little more gingerly than usual. Luna's doing?"

His flush darkens, and he shifts uncomfortably. "I don't know if I should answer that."

She laughs, rich and full. "I'm sorry, I just like to keep track. Those two can be such a handful."

He groans. That was such a terrible pun. She chuckles again.

He sighs and looks at her with a pout. "Can we talk about something else?"

She hums. "How is Mister Bang?"

He huffs in relief. "He's… well. I think. We met briefly the day after Mutsuki took me into custody."

She quirks a brow. "You make it sound like you're a prisoner."

He raises his brow. "I'm not? I can't exactly leave, Miss Litchi."

She hums and nods. "I suppose you have a point. Mutsuki's scheme is a bit ridiculous, I admit…" She looks at him fondly. "But I'm glad it's working so far."

He huffs. "I wouldn't give him that much credit."

She laughs. "Of course. Speaking of General Mutsuki, how has he been treating you?"

There's a glint of steel in her eyes.

He shrugs. "Well enough. He leaves me alone most days unless I have a 'date' coming up. Then he's insufferable."

He scowls as memories of 'battle plans' come to the surface. Mutsuki was such a damnably shameless rake.

She huffs, irritated by the thought of Mutsuki's 'advice' for him. "I'd imagine so. He does have a rather high opinion of his prowess."

He laughs boyishly. "That he does."

The two share a somewhat cruel smile between themselves. They begin to discuss the absent man, gossiping about their recent encounters with him.

Meanwhile…

In the waiting room, Kagura shivers. Nirvana's been staring at him since Clover went into the back rooms. The damn doll is unreadable as ever. Her claws gleaming in the sunlight streaming from the window don't help his nerves. He hopes Clover will come out soon. This is getting creepy.

Author's Notes

I'm so sorry it took so long to get something so short! The next chapter shouldn't take as long. There is an additional story for this universe on my ao3 account. But I warn you, it is explicit. As always, all criticisms are welcome. Thank you for your time.