Natsu:
First MoonAUTHOR'S NOTES: Wow, what an overload! Well…I just had my finals and I've finally managed to take a REAL breather by uploading this next chappie. Sorry for the long WAIT! (hmm…Uchiha Sasuke isn't EXACTLY making me sleep very well these days, so…uh…forgive me if this chappie reads like a telegram. ;;) OK? So now I've introduced you to the major key players in Disc 1…ehmm…sorry !!! ;; uh, FIRST PART…let's get on with the story. The Kagekidan is going up for some major changes here and there, and Team Hoshi isn't exactly that pleased to note that for the time being, Lei would have to recuperate in the hospital wing and Althaea Whitaker(!!!) would be temporarily taking his place. The captain of the Griffins notes this with surprise, and even Emily is bewildered. The Ministry of Defense is moving in for the kill. Kai isn't going to take this sitting down, I tell you! R/R PLEASE!!!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Bey Blade, Sakura Taisen, Asato Tsuzuki his 12 original –Shikigami-, and Gensomaden Saiyuki, as they're all owned by their respective authors. The OC's and some of the terminologies are mine, though. So no SUING!!!
"…well then, you don't need anything else, Kon…?"
"I'm perfectly alright with this, ma'am."
"OK. Just be sure you REST. You have a long recuperation period to get all your bearings in check…"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good." Dr. Mizuhara nodded. "Don't sweat the details. Everything would be fine…Daitenji-kacho's working on it."
"…" Lei nodded, pale as he was as he sat upon his bed, and dressed in a cool hospital nagajuban. He became anxious. "Mizuhara-hakase…I'm…sorry about all of this…if only I'd been much stronger…this wouldn't have happened…"
"Hey, I told you not to sweat the details, right? Daitenji-kacho is doing all that he can to make sure the Ministry of Defense don't get their hands on you. And what are you apologizing for…? Lei, you did nothing wrong." Dr. Mizuhara proceeded to pulling at Lei's white blanket, her eyes closed happily as she did so. "So, let's get you some sleep. Alright, Lei?"
"…alright…"
"Good." Dr. Mizuhara nodded. "I'll just show Mao in and you 2 could have a talk. I think it's been quite a while since you 2 saw each other last, eh?"
Lei nodded again. "…yes…"
"OK." Dr. Mizuhara opened the door. Lei settled beneath the covers.
"…" Dr. Mizuhara looked over her shoulder. "And Lei…"
"Yes, Mizuhara-hakase…?"
Dr. Mizuhara looked at him. How he looked so much like Fei. And how he looked so vulnerable at the moment. So she decided against it, for now. She just gave Lei a small smile. "Get well soon."
The door closed. Dr. Mizuhara bit her lip.
How long is the Kagekidan going to hold on after this…? Now, after "he's" been unsealed…? Dear God, please…make us safe…
"…" Takao scratched his chin as they all settled in the dining room a little while later. "So, that means Lei won't be hanging out with us for quite some time, right…? And that Mao would be taking his place as Queen Titania…?"
"Seems like it. Aside from the height difference, I don't think the audience would miss him that much. We'll just make Mao wear high heels or something," Max replied, pulling off his headress with an almost theatrical exaggeration. He then stuck out his tongue. "Yeesh. Next time, I SHOULD remember not to mix those arabesque leaps with egg salad sandwich on rye…my stomach's going on World War II or something."
"Hmm, wearing high heels is not enough, Max-senpai, Mao-san should also wear a wig," Kenichiro added. "The audience will definitely know she's not her older twin brother for all that pink hair of hers."
"You're absolutely right, Kenichiro-kyouju-chan, we should definitely hunt for a wig to cover that crowning glory of hers down to the last wayward strand," SD Max said, a goofy grin on his face as he patted the diminutive prodigy on the head. "You're an absolute GENIUS!!!"
SD Kenichiro had several sweatdrop explosions around his head as he turned beet-red from the attention Max was giving him. "Max…Max-senpai…"
"Stop goofing around, Mizuhara, this is not an appropriate time for that, we're not out of the woods yet," Kai muttered as he started pulling the leaves off his hair one by one. "Mao may be Lei's younger twin sister but that does not mean she could act very well like he could."
"So you're finally admitting Lei's quite a GOOD thespian, Kai…?" SD Takao's eyes were wide and circular. "And here I was thinking you're going to actually burn him to eighth hell with Dranzer on Rave Mode every chance you could get…"
SD Kai's eyes were little beads. "Unlike SOME other persons I know, Kon isn't as scatterbrained and as egotistical. And as LOUDMOUTH. He could actually ACT."
"" SD Takao turned into a burning SD ogre, his teeth jagged fangs, his eyes devilish litte slits, as he breathed fire. "Who's EGOTISTICAL?! WHO'S A LOUDMOUTH?! Me, SCATTERBRAINED?! DO YOU WANT TO DIE THAT BAD, HI-WA-TA-RI?!?!?!?!" he roared. SD Max and SD Kenichiro were onto him, holding him down as he was about to kick Kai upside his head.
"…" SD Kai took a sip from his coffee mug. "And did I mention childish and has absolutely no sense of direction at all…?"
SD Takao was actually pulling at his hair, to which SD Max and SD Kenichiro was still trying to pacify him. "HI-WA-TA-RI"
"Takao, CALM DOWN!!!"
SD Yuri started laughing. "I didn't know how you guys absolutely LOVE each other."
Kai choked on his coffee. He then proceeded to giving Yuri a death glare. "Do you have any last wishes, Ivanov? Kinogu is the absolute bane of my existence, and I still have no idea how he ended up here in the Kagekidan in the FIRST place."
"Yes, you 2 are just like fire and ice, but I'm pretty sure Daitenji-kacho and Mizuhara-hakase wouldn't be able to find a –Sigil- duet more explosive than the both of you," SD Yuri said, nodding. "For quite a fiery performance…I must SAY I'm absolutely IMPRESSED."
A huge black cloud hovered over SD Kai's head. "If I were more sane than I am right now, I would really have committed hara-kiri the first time I learned Kinogu was my hell week partner…I'd rather have Jack the Ripper…"
"Well, Hiwatari, I'd RATHER have a RABID DOG!!!"
"TAKAO!!!"
"Well, aren't we all very spirited tonight," Dr. Mizuhara said as she entered the dining room, smiling. She nodded. "The Emperor was very pleased with your thespic performance, and you really did the Kagekidan and Daitenji-kacho proud. It wasn't easy to coax His Imperial Highness from his duties and the Imperial Palace…"
"Really…?" Yuri blinked. "Umm…it is such an honor to be even watched by the Emperor of Imperial Japan himself…how did you get to coax him, Mizuhara-hakase…?"
"The Emperor is such a big fan of Shakespeare, and when he heard that the Kagekidan's going to stage A Midsummer Night's Dream…he really jumped at the chance to see it. Done in our native language, of course. Some of the traditionalists weren't pleased."
"So is he in trouble, then…?"
"They're hoping to mold him in the way of his forebears – strict, very traditional, and closed to the Western world – that is, before Commodore Perry decided to pay Japan a visit on that fateful day so many years ago. It's such a good thing his father raised him up to be very open-minded about all sorts of things…and it's giving the traditionalists big headaches. They really can't touch him as he IS the Emperor. Well, it's not as if we're going to see a kabuki version of King Lear some time soon. The traditionalists are actually thinking that way."
There was a loud crash as SD Takao leapt straight at SD Kai and they both toppled to the floor, a very agitated SD Max and SD Kenichiro trying to keep the 2 combatants at bay, sweatdrop explosions about their heads. SD Yuri had a huge sweatdrop over his head, his eyes thin little slits. "I don't think that would sit with those 2. They almost killed each other on the stage back there, what more with that. They'll probably throttle each other's throats rather than do those mie beside each other."
Dr. Mizuhara had a huge sweatdrop over her head as well, looking like an amiable cat. "I'll take your word on that, Yuri. I should really talk to Daitenji-kacho about this."
"…"
There was a small slit of light, drenching the darkened room with what little luminescence it could give, and Daitenji-kacho quietly went into the room. Althaea was still sound asleep, her breathing quiet and still. There were several bandages on her arm where she ripped her IV tubes off, along with several other tubes snaking into her chest area for monitoring her heart rate. A nurse was nodding herself to sleep on one stool at the foot of her bed, a thick crocheted blanket amply covering her from the cold of the room.
He then proceeded to wake her up. "Ikeda-san, Ikeda-san…" he whispered.
The nurse blinked, then looked up to see the head of the Kagekidan looking down at her, smiling gently. She jumped to her feet, blinking herself rapidly awake. "Dai…Daitenji-kacho!!! Oh, I'm…terribly sorry…I was just…"
"At ease. I could see you've been doing your best to take care of the patient…" Daitenji-kacho said softly. "I'll take over from here for a while. Would you please be kind as to call Dr. Maeda for me to this room?"
"H…HAI!" The nurse gave a short, small bow, then she hurried off to find the doctor. Daitenji-kacho nodded after her, then turned to look at Althaea. He nodded again. "You may now come in."
Emily went inside the room, looking through the many new equipment she's only heard about from her military briefings with Gen. Collins, her eyes wide and blinking. Ralf Jurgen followed suit, his eyes impassive.
"I trust you've given Judy what you came here for, Miss…?"
"Oh WOW, is she the –Limiter-?!" Emily exclaimed, coming towards the still figure on the bed, her clear blue eyes wide and blinking. She held her hand to her mouth. "Is she…stabilized…?"
"Yes, she is." Daitenji-kacho nodded. "It took a long time, though. The first time she came here, she was a complete wreck…"
"Well, if those reports were to be believed, she WOULD be," Emily mused, her clear blue eyes now sad. "I can't imagine why they'd torture somebody just to make her gain more power…"
"Alas, that is her fate."
Emily blinked again, then she looked over at Daitenji-kacho. Daitenji-kacho gave a small smile. "I see you've been really up to date with everything, Miss…?"
"O-oh, I'm sorry about that!" Emily's cheeks flushed, then she gave a small short bow. "M-my name is Emily Watson, Cadet First Class, Eagles, United States Ministry of Defense…"
"Of course. I'm very glad to meet somebody from the Eagles." Daitenji-kacho nodded over at Ralf. "And you are…?"
"Ralf Jurgen, Cadet First Class, Griffins," Ralf answered promptly with a small short bow.
"Yes, yes. Oh my. It's not everyday I have such important guests all at once…Eagles, and Griffins. Quite a 'menagerie', if I do say so myself." Daitenji-kacho nodded. "I trust your accomodations are to your usual comforts back at home, so to speak?"
"Oh yes, Daitenji-kacho. I…the accomodations are really nice," Emily answered.
"And the play…?"
"I find it quite unusual for one of the Bard's works to be heard in your native language, but yes, I must say I am very impressed at the way things turned out. I definitely should have dragged MacGregor into this," Ralf replied.
"Good, good." Daitenji-kacho nodded again. "Well…now all the proper introductions and inquiries are in order, I guess it's but right to start on business."
Dr. Maeda came in, brandishing 3 brown folders. He nodded to each person in the room. "Daitenji-kacho, Miss Watson, Mr. Jurgen. I trust you've been briefed by your own respective superiors regarding this matter? Aside from Daitenji-kacho, of course…he has been with me and my other colleagues in this case ever since the young lady in this room was admitted prior to her 'severing' with the Wings of Metatron…"
"Yes, doctor," Ralf answered. Emily just nodded.
"Well, then…" Dr. Maeda gave each of them a folder. "I have compiled in each of these folders all information I have regarding our patient here. Now, if you'll all please turn to the 3rd page, let us begin."
There was a soft rustling of papers as Daitenji-kacho, Emily, and Ralf turned to the page the doctor was referring to.
"Now we see here her basic information. As you will note, we haven't really measured her ether points and animum psychic ratio just yet, as she's still recuperating. But I have strong reason to believe…by controlling that –Relic- Edelweiss by means of those Wings…that this young girl has near infinite amount of ether points and animum psychic ratio. It's not just anybody who could be strapped into that device and be able to move to make that –Relic- move freely. So, meaning to say, it is safe to presume that she has over 100% points, MORE than 100% points, regarding the EP and APR. Or, as I said, near infinite." Dr. Maeda nodded. "Please turn to page 16."
He cleared his throat. "Now you see here a rough sketch, a diagram, explaining that of the Kyrieans Principle. As elementary science dictates that like polarities create a huge energy of repulsion, such is the case of the Kyrieans Principle. Flowing chi inside a pilot's body determines his sensitivity to such aether abilities he may happen to possess; piloting a –Sigil-, he releases huge amounts of chi to which the –Nirvana Crystals- would react, along with the pressurized steam generator. Now, what happens during Rave mode…?" Dr. Maeda nodded. "The pilot is put under a lot of aether stress, releasing high amounts of chi from his body…theoretically speaking, we all have our own limits, and the pilot attempting Rave is pushing himself BEYOND his limits…his chi mixes with the pressurized steam…thereby reacting with the –Nirvana Crystals- at such an incredibly high rate, creating huge amounts of power…giving his –Sigil- a momentary ability of super speed, super-strength within a given time frame…which corresponds with the pilot's ability to respond to such aether stress."
Emily bit her lip.
"Too much aether stress is a REALLY bad thing. If the pilot produces more chi than what he could handle, he would literally make himself overly fatigued by harnessing such huge amounts of power in so short a time…thereby making him very vulnerable, in case his opponent should choose to relentlessly attack him. He would literally make his brain fry in its own juices. You could come out of it with only a brief period of nausea, and in really worse cases, become completely broken and insane. Some pilots have been known to come out of it totally scarred forever, a celebrated case involving the 'infamous' ICDC pilot, Asato Tsuzuki." Dr. Maeda nodded. "However, in this young girl's case, due to her torture device, so to speak…she is able to withstand such aether stress and is able to cope with such pain at a very unearthly tolerance rate…coupled with her innate abilities of near infinite levels of EP and APR, and those 'summon beasts'…it is very easy to see why the Team Axis is very anxious to have her back in their team again. We're looking at Doomsday even as I speak."
"Isn't it dangerous for her to stay here…? As what happened last night…" Ralf said.
"Now we know that it's not only Team Axis which is very anxious to take her away," Daitenji-kacho said rather gravely. "I know it is dangerous to keep her here, as she is an enemy…it's as if we're inviting a snake into a nest of chicks. Whether her coming to the Kagekidan is a blessing or a portent of doom still remains to be seen…and whether Team Axis sent her here to spy on us or committed such a costly, very stupid blunder still remains to be seen, as well. And if other factions should know we have the –Limiter- in our care, there's going to be a very huge war coming up in the horizon very soon. Our own Ministry of Defense would love to get their hands on her and use her as they see fit…"
"Of course. Who wouldn't want to gain the upper hand in a war…" Emily mused.
"They're moving, and if we don't do anything, we'll have the second world war by our doorstep in no time flat." Daitenji-kacho's mouth was set in a hard, thin line. "As opposed I am to the way things are turning out in our country's Ministry of Defense, we have no choice but do the inevitable. And that is…'using' the –Limiter- before they could get a chance to 'use' her for their own evil gains."
"!!!" Ralf and Emily's eyes went wide. Dr. Maeda bit his lip. "So it's come to this point then, Daitenji-kacho…"
"Falcrest is shot, and Rheingeld's pilot is recuperating," Daitenji-kacho answered, his eyes closed. "The other –Sigils- have still not completely 'recovered' yet, so to speak, and Galux couldn't possibly handle all of them at ONCE, even if she's the fastest –Sigil- we have capable of melee attacks and could do Kadomony."
"B-but…Daitenji-kacho…" Emily can't believe what she was hearing. "She's part of Team Axis, and if she should choose to use her powers to put us all in grave danger for them to be able to move in on us…"
"…" Daitenji-kacho looked at her, his deep brown eyes serious. "If she considers us as our enemies, she wouldn't have made that move as to protect the Rheingeld's pilot from danger…"
"…" Ralf was just quiet. Emily stepped forward, her eyes anxious. "But…but…Daitenji-kacho…it doesn't follow that if she should…protect 'him' means that...she's already our ally…!"
"On the contrary, Miss Watson…even if 'he' has awakened…he is STILL Lei Kon. And is still our ally."
"There are no guarantees that he would not harm his fellow comrades here in the Kagekidan…" Ralf said quietly. His expression was grave. "Surely, Daitenji-kacho, you still think he'd remain the same after that 'awakening' of his…? You've only put yourselves in greater, more terrible danger."
"Just think of it this way, Mr. Jurgen. If we should allow the Imperial Ministry of Defense to interfere and take control of 'him' without the –Limiter- by his side, then we would be in even more danger. If it weren't for the –Limiter- he could've really destroyed everything in an instant. She protected 'him' from his own terrible fate." Daitenji-kacho has become even more serious. "Did you honestly think the Imperial Ministry of Defense is not without its own lair of snakes…? There are some people I know who wish to wrest the power away from the Heir of the Chrysanthemum Throne himself, traitors to the crown and the Japanese people, willing to be part of Team Axis and their plans of absolute world domination. These people almost caused the abolishment of the formation of the Kagekidan, after what happened to the ICDC. They do not want any more interferences from the liberalists in making them seek their own dreams of power. These snakes would then use 'him' and the –Limiter- to put us all in jeopardy…then if that should happen, nobody would be able to stop them."
"…"
"The reason that they couldn't still get hold of the Kagekidan is because the current Emperor's grandfather has dearly wished for such a unit of elites to protect the Chrysanthemum Throne from those who should so wish to destroy it. Even then, during his own reign, he knew that the Imperial Guards were breaking apart at the seams, torn by their own loyalities and selfish ambitions. So he banded together all of the liberalists who would protect the Throne…nobles who were considered as friends of the Imperial Court…friends in a sense that they would all gladly lay down their lives for the protection and the defense of the Imperial Capital and the Japanese people. So thus the ICDC was born." Daitenji-kacho nodded. "Souichiro Hiwatari was one of his closest friends, and thus saved us from our own oblivion when Asato Tsuzuki created that catastrophe. He really is a powerful man, and few dared to rise up against him when he announced that he would become the financier of the new unit after the ICDC was disbanded. He has been with us the whole time we were still out there, financing our research and archaeological digs, and has generously shared his resources with us in every which way possible. He knew that he was doing this for the interest of the Japanese people, for their own well-being…and he tried to protect us from all the mudslinging the traditionalists were throwing our way, keeping that thought in mind. They were always mocking us. But now when they finally knew how strong we've become, they are now very eager to make us their friends. And are doing everything in their power to wrest the control of the Kagekidan from me."
Dr. Maeda, who was checking Althaea's heart rate, and ether and animum psychic stats on the device near her bed, nodded absentmidedly at what he said; Daitenji-kacho had his arms crossed over his chest and continued on. "Absolute power corrupts even the minds of those who wish to do good for the rest of humanity, any which way you put it. Once they gain control of the Kagekidan, it is not sure if we would still be safe in our own backyards. Greed would overcome all their other noble causes, and they won't stop until they gain total control of everything else. We might as well be signing and handing in our own 'death certificates'. In the end, the only ones left standing are the ones who have the strongest will to live, in the chaos that would most likely ensue (to that I say thanks, Sanzo-sama!!! o). I am not going to stand aside and let those under me be harrassed or put in grave danger just because an 'accident' happened…we have known all along that our job as the defenders of the Imperial Capital has its own perils, and we have all understood them. It doesn't take a horde of rogue –Sigils-, -Relics-, or very livid traditionalists to make us back off in this fight. They tried putting us down once, and failed. And they CERTAINLY won't be succeeding this time around. I am quite sure they know that, and I'm expecting a hairy encounter any day now because of that, what with Hiwatari breathing down my neck."
"So basically, Daitenji-kacho…you are going to protect her by 'using' HER?" Ralf asked.
"Seems like it. I can't think of any other way. If I let her go back to Team Axis now, she has known too much of the Kagekidan already as to consider it the 'safest' option. If she just becomes a pretty decoration in the background, the Ministry of Defense would have more reason as to wrest control over the Kagekidan, seeing as we're 'hiding' her for our own personal gains, and therefore be branded as traitors to the Emperor and to the Japanese people. And if we imprison her, we're looking at a major diplomatic catastrophe that would make any other diplomatic mix-up in the entire world pale in comparison…and we consider England as one of our strongest allies, as with the Germans, Americans, some of the democratic Chinese and the French. I certainly don't want World War II explode any time soon, as we've barely recovered from the first. I've already sent word to our British contacts in Hong Kong that she is safe and in my care."
"…"
"As far as I know, the English have considered Lady Whitaker's involvement in Team Axis' -Project Sophia- operations as a really big foul-up, coming at the expense of several blackmails, high profile deaths, and 'puppet manipulation', making up for some of the Allies' biggest losses. It is a small blessing for them that she has come out from her hiding place without that much fuss from Team Axis. And we would be returning her to them as soon as this is all over. So, as soon as Lei is fully recovered…we will send her back to England right away."
"That is, Daitenji-kacho, if nothing BAD happens, of course." Ralf sighed, then closed his folder. "I can clearly see the urgency of the situation, and Gen. Hauser was very right in sending me over here to learn such matters. It is very important that we should be ready in case all hell breaks loose, as the Americans say."
"Team Axis wouldn't let go of their 'trump card' that easily…and I agree with Mr. Jurgen. It has become much more dangerous, and instead of arguing among ourselves, we have to be prepared for Team Axis' imminent attack. Although…I am still quite unsure about all of this, Daitenji-kacho…" Emily said, biting her lip, her fine orange (;;) eyebrows furrowed in anxiety.
"We aren't called daredevils in our own countries, for nothing." Daitenji-kacho nodded. He looked around the room. "Any more comments? Rants…? Questions…?"
Emily and Ralf were just quiet.
"Well, in that case…this meeting is adjourned."
Takao dropped his fork to the floor. "WHITAKER?!"
Max, Kenichiro, and Yuri's mouths were small O's.
"Daitenji-kacho has just so told me about this just a while ago, and YES, I am surprised as you all are right now regarding this startling decision," Kai fumed, almost sending his oatmeal porridge flying off the dining table. His red brown eyes were narrowed. "What is he THINKING?!"
SD Mao was blinking, her spoon inside her mouth. "The Lady Whitaker…? That young girl Lei's been telling me ABOUT?!"
"Yes, and the pilot of that –Relic- who saved your older twin brother," Max replied, returning to his scrambled eggs and toast. He blinked. "Gee, I NEVER really thought we'd be having her as a comrade…-Relic- pilot and all…I wonder if Daitenji-kacho's become REALLY desperate…?"
"Maybe our poor performance during that surprise ambush really did us ALL in," Takao said mournfully. "DAMN!!! I really shouldn't have let those stupid rogues beat me up so BAD…"
SD Mao turned to look at him. "You mean, those jerks have already been here…?!"
"Yes, Mao-san, and it was really horrifying to say the least," Kenichiro replied, his deep green eyes worried. "They literally made scrap metal out of Dranzer, crippled Dragoon, and almost ripped Draciel apart to shreds…"
"Well, if it weren't for HER, we wouldn't be alive eating breakfast right now," Yuri said as he cut up his bacon. "I had a pretty rough time trying to keep Kon in check so I could shoot that damn –Seal- into the air. Mind you, he was more than willing enough to get me killed…"
"THAT'S because he became berserk," Kai told him. "He had no idea what he was doing at that time."
"Did you think that I DIDN'T KNOW at that time that he was BERSERK?" Yuri answered. He turned SD. "Try having those floating things chase after you."
"Actually, I found them kind of cute," Mao said with a grin as she dipped her spoon into her taho (;; I have NO idea how this should translate into English so I'm using the vernacular…it's basically scoops of cooked tofu[soybean] with gelatin balls and brown sugar syrup; it is usually served in a glass). "And it has such a WIDE range."
SD Max's eyes became little beads. "If I remember correctly, Mao, those cute floating things almost got the entire Kagekidan destroyed in the process."
"And if it WEREN'T for the Lady Whitaker's intervention, those cute floating things could've totally destroyed the Kagekidan, so I rest my case," Yuri finished. He blinked. "Hey, it's NOT as if Daitenji-kacho wanted THIS to HAPPEN!!!"
"Yup, making squashed tin cans out of our –Sigils- is a REAL sure thing that Daitenji-kacho did NOT want this to happen." SD Takao became even more mournful. "What's going to happen to the KAGEKIDAN?!"
"I see you're all having a lively discussion of your 'newest' comrade over breakfast, and I must say I am very impressed," Dr. Mizuhara said as she came up behind Takao. She smiled. "Not since Lei's coming did you all have such a lively discussion among yourselves."
"Is it really true that she's going to become our new comrade, Mizuhara-hakase?" Mao asked.
"For the time being, yes," Dr. Mizuhara answered. She nodded over at Kai, who by now had become unusually quiet. "I quite understand your feelings about this, Kai, and choosing between Asato Tsuzuki and Althaea Whitaker, you'd most probably choose the former. But there are 'certain' things that had become very complicated, and became rather very delicate, and even if his spirit is willing, his body still needs to recover from those losses the past 5 years he's been in convalescence. He also has a rather adverse reaction to the Lady Whitaker, as he is 'Metatron'. As the Kagekidan is very crippled right now without 3 –Sigils-, its own –Limiter-, and its' still recuperating 'awakened' pilot, we are left very naked and vulnerable to the Team Axis' offensive. This isn't about being a –Sigil- and a –Relic- pilot anymore, Kai, it's about being a team. I thought of all people in Team Hoshi, Kai, you're the only one who'll completely understand this."
"As the Captain of Team Hoshi, I am expected to understand this. Believe me, Mizuhara-hakase, I am still trying to understand this, surprise and bewilderment be damned. But such a decision is not without any serious repercussions from the Ministry of Defense. Do you think my father would take this bombshell sitting down? The hand of judgment would deliver its deathblow to the Kagekidan any day soon, and naturally this decision Daitenji-kacho made has made it even swifter," Kai answered, frowning. "Not now, not when we're stuck in such a 'crisis'. My grandfather can only do so much as to protect the Kagekidan…and there is no question where his and my loyalities lie, and my father's…divided as we are after that 'shattering' incident 5 years ago. I just don't want it all destroyed for nothing."
"Believe us, Kai, we don't want it destroyed for nothing, either. Daitenji-kacho has tried assessing other options, but those traditionalists have us all trapped in with nowhere else to go. Either we save ourselves, the Chrysanthemum Throne, and Japan's people, or we all die trying. I am quite sure your grandfather will just take this just as another hurdle in achieving our goals in protecting our country from the clutches of Team Axis, and he expects all of you, especially you, Kai, in upholding these ideals before it is too late and we all fall to ruin."
"And that includes having that girl on our team," Kai said flatly.
"…" Kenichiro blinked.
"Well, I guess we've all committed ourselves in doing this thing right, ever since we all became members of the Kagekidan," Max said slowly. "But I sure hope this is the RIGHT thing we're doing."
"Now that they all know we're really vulnerable at the moment, we MUST be sure it IS the right thing," Takao said, nodding.
"And…it's not about pride. Besides, we are not forcing her to join us if she doesn't want to…it's just some sort of precautionary measure if she intends on becoming a sub pilot for the time being." Dr. Mizuhara looked over at Kai. "Well, Captain Hiwatari…?"
"…" Kai became SD. "Well alright, since you've had such fun putting another kid under my care. But I'm warning you, the minute she turns on us I'll be the first one to send her to hell. I can't jeopardize the entire team just because of one straggler."
"Don't worry, Captain Kai, she'll be fine, don't worry! If she went through great lengths just to make sure she whacked my older twin brother back to normal, then she's a real good person. I may not know much about how the heck she really IS to you people, but I know a good person when I see one.I just didn't feel malice when she stood out there and protected Lei from losing himself against those freaks.I mean, if she just left us all to die out there, it would really make sense that she's here to make our lives hell, right? And as a –Limiter-, she can make the entire Kagekidan explode if she wanted to, even if she's off to Never Never Land, dreaming…the mere fact that she still hasn't tried to these past few days makes out that she's not too much of a psychotic mass murderer we all deem her to be." Mao nodded as she scooped some of her taho into her mouth. "Even if I don't have Lei's ridiculously high empathy ratings in my own animum psychic ratio exams, I could still pass off as a worthy empath in this case. And besides, it's a REAL great way of thanking her for saving us, you know."
Kai turned to look at her. "What sort of a thank-you present is THAT?!"
Mao turned SD, frowning at him. "Hey, if you have any other way of thanking her aside from keeping her cooped up and locked inside a cell wherein she'll become psychotic in less than 5 seconds into it, then I'm ALL ears."
They glared at each other.
Max and Kenichiro turned SD; Max with his eyes like inverted sausages, and Kenichiro with his eyes turning into little blinking beads. SD Takao snorted. "I guess the Great, High and Mighty Hiwatari has FINALLY met his match.," he announced.
SD Kai turned his death glare at Takao. "You were saying something, KINOGU?!"
Dr. Mizuhara had a huge sweatdrop over her head.
Yuri gave a goofy grin. "I can't wait for rehearsals…"
"It is as just as you have said, my lord."
"Good, good." The man smiled. "Congratulate the Sephardim for a job well done."
"Yes, my lord."
The door closed behind the speaker. The man then turned to look at the Tokyo skyline beyond the window pane.
"I'll still have my last laugh, Daitenji. Don't think it's all over so soon. On the contrary…it has only started." He smiled. "And I'll be 'collecting' it all soon, Daitenji. I just hope you would still be able to stand up and look me in the eye after all the 'ruin'. And the Kagekidan will surely be MINE."
He laughed.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Talkies, talkies, and more talkies. This is becoming a conspiracy of VERY convoluted proportions. Now, even Daitenji-kacho's becoming suspicious. Who really ARE the good guys in this ficcie?! The plot becomes thicker and thicker!