They crossed the passage when the sun was already rising, finding themselves in a crisp and clean new dawn. Sando and MoiMoi preceded the earthlings with a quick pace and headed to the laboratory without a word; they rushed in and beckoned the girls to follow them, then went down to the room where they had first met Teruga, passed it and turned left; beyond the arch of a door, they entered a long and narrow corridor, half submerged in darkness, and without slowing down they walked it entirely within a couple of minutes. The group remained silent and could feel the distant buzz of the squares and streets beyond the bare walls: the corridor had to be just below the surface of the road and run along the market, because for almost the entire journey they heard distinctly steps of all kinds echoing around them until, little by little, every noise began to slowly fade out until completely disappearing. The five girls looked around trying to figure out where they were, but only spotted the end of the hallway.
.
.
.
In front of them there was a small door, with only a tiny hole without a knob. At that point, Sando rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a small golden handle, wedged it with a slight metallic snap in the opening and unlocked the door, though which he managed to pass only by bending over. The man stood straight on the other side, let the whole group in and then closed the lock with a sharp iron noise and, as he did so, Ichigo realized that he also took the handle away, leaving the door without any system to open it from their side. She didn't think to ask and didn't have the time, because the two aliens immediately resumed their advance with increasingly worried expressions.
The passage had taken them to a building that, compared to the laboratory from which they had departed, seemed to belong to another world.
Tall, light walls rose smoothly like tiles and then gently curved five meters above their heads; a smooth floor was cut through by wide rays of sunshine, coming from the very tall ogival windows with pastel colored glass and an elegant but simple appearance; there was no sound around them except for their quick gait, echoing as in a deserted cathedral.
"I don't like this place."
Zakuro laconically whispered, looking around with the wariness of an animal in unknown territory; Ichigo could only agree. She had the impression that she was walking down corridors where she should never have been and where she was not well accepted, corridors that, however quiet, were dangerous.
After a few minutes, they heard a dull murmur that escalated suddenly, turning into an astounding cackle: dozens of voices rumbled low from behind a thick door and none of them was too peaceful. The five MewMew exchanged glances, nervous at the idea of having to enter, but Sando and MoiMoi passed the threshold and reached another door in a not-so-distant corner. The man opened it and the girls were hit by a wave of din: beyond the entrance there was a miniscule passage and at the end a much larger and very crowded environment. MoiMoi signaled them to stay quiet and invited them to enter cautiously, stopping just before reaching the hall.
They stood at the end of a semi-circular room, behind the three Ikisatashi brothers and Eyner. Standing next to one other, straight as statues and their faces tensed, the four were facing five rows of seats placed along the round wall, each consisting of five chairs except for the middle row, which had six; on either side of the lower row, four soldiers stood immobile ready to intervene in case of emergency and among them Ichigo was struck by the second to the right, a man in his fifties with dark indigo hair.
Why do I feel like I've seen him before...?
She soon forgot about him, returning her focus on the rest of those present. Thirty-one aliens, men and women, in white robes and surly faces alternated heavy silences with angry mutterings as a choir to one of them, standing on the right of the second row: he was a man not too old but with a wasted and malignant air, which gave him a withered appearance; he had small, elongated eyes of an icy stone grey, and the smoke-black hair was combed over his head until it became an integral part of the skull, descending into two curls down on the sharp jaw. He must have just said something that the rest of the audience had not appreciated given the murmur it had created, but the chaos had to satisfy him because he wouldn't stop smiling smugly. The earthlings noticed only a few people who weren't talking – among whom they recognized Teruga, almost in the middle on the top row – but the others did nothing but gesticulate and stress out, unceremoniously pointing at the four standing boys who, evidently, were the subject of the debate.
The grey-eyed man nodded to the audience and restored calm, returning to look in front of him: Taruto held up his stare with a grim air exactly like Kisshu, even if his expression tended more to murderous, Pai as always inscrutable, Eyner serious and composed; their faces seemed to further amuse the man who curled his thin lips into a fake smile.
"There, there, you don't have to be so serious!" he joked, "Understand us, Councilman Teruga's statements have puzzled us... Do you confirm everything he said?"
And he stretched a sharp-nailed finger towards the eldest Councilman; he did not move a muscle, but remained straight and impassive, looking at the other man serenely.
"You're asking us as if we were on trial, Councilman Ebode."
Kisshu pinpointed coldly. No one told him anything – although Pai would have gladly fried him with a lightning bolt, judging by the glance he threw him – and Kisshu remained indifferent even when Eyner nudged him discreetly with his elbow between the fourth and fifth rib, making him exhale just an imperceptible groan. Ebode did not appreciate the sarcasm and his face trembled with irritation, but he merely smiled:
"We are only asking you for confirmation, as persons directly concerned," he theatrically outstretched an arm, pointing to the rest of the Council, "Therefore, do you confirm what Teruga said?"
"Yes, sir."
Pai said sharply before anyone else could comment.
"So do you confirm," Ebode began dramatically, "That you acted behind the Council's back, that you conspired to seize our people's only salvation together with dirty humans, guilty of marking the end of our lord Deep Blue?"
"Deep Blue! It wasn't…"
"Deep Blue-sama has dishonored the trust of his people and consequently ours," Pai intervened, blocking Taruto's invective in the bud, "The events of our mission to Earth are already known to you."
"Events that we must believe in on your word."
Ebode specified. His stone eyes glided toward Kisshu and the Councilman smiled malevolently, slightly showing his feral teeth:
"Rumors travel. It gets hard to believe that everything happened out of sheer duty to the motherland when you come to know certain details... Right, Captain?"
The hall roared with low confused murmurs. Kisshu didn't respond to the insinuation and stood still, staring at him with hatred, probably biting his tongue so as not to insult him.
"And what makes you believe that the 'details' are truer than our report on those events?"
Pai asked again. Ebode didn't hold back a giggle and answered venomously:
"It makes someone think, Colonel; especially considering who Councilman Teruga has paired you with. Captain Luneilim..."
There were other mutterings and some mischievous remarks, accompanied by stifled snickers; the girls saw MoiMoi stiffen as he clutched the flaps of his sleeves, with Sando behind him taking on a furious expression.
"Without forgetting Colonel Okorene and the here present..." Ebode suspended the sentence, implying something that the earthlings didn't catch like the others, but which couldn't be very kind, "Captain Toruke."
Whatever he hadn't said was something too much, because an internal conflict erupted between the Councilmen; from the few words the girls could grasp, not everyone liked the allusions about Sando and Eyner and defended them energetically and even too passionately.
It took five minutes for the situation to calm down enough for Ebode to speak. He had realized that he had ruined the atmosphere of mistrust created with such care, but he did not seem willing to surrender and resumed, mellifluous:
"Grant it to us, that this seems suspicious."
"What, exactly?"
Eyner calmly intervened. As soon as he spoke, the feud seemed to light up again, with half of the Councilmen scrutinizing him smugly and the other half hanging from his lips, but they all avoided throwing themselves into new discussions, so the brown-haired man said:
"Captain Luneilim is one of the greatest technological experts on the planet and her…"
"His, he must mean…"
It was a whisper and it wasn't clear who had uttered it, but it was enough to provoke other sneers; next to the earthlings, MoiMoi cowered a little more, more out of anger than anything else, but he held back and stood still in his corner. Eyner pretended not to hear anything and, glancing icily at the seats, he continued:
"And nothing in her career could cast doubt on her loyalty to our people. Same goes for Colonel Okorene."
"Who certainly does not shine for exemplary military conduct."
Ebode made clear, with a nod of denial of his finger.
From where she was hiding with the others, Ichigo clenched her hand tightly around the vial containing the Mew Aqua, which she hadn't let go of since MoiMoi had entrusted it to her. She didn't quite understand what was happening, but with every word that man uttered, she felt anger mount.
How could he say all those absurdities? And how could he not understand what they were doing to get the crystal back? How could he doubt those who were trying to keep that beautiful planet alive? Hadn't he seen what was happening?! Didn't he know who the Ancestrals were? Or maybe, he was one of those who supported their actions, and then that upset her even more.
"But he never gave way to doubts about his dedication to our cause," Eyner insisted firmly, "And neither did I, as a matter of fact; whatever my choice was."
More muttering of protest and others of assent. Ebode smiled sarcastically at that last statement and took his chin between two fingers:
"What about the earthlings? Should we entrust our fate to human beings? It's because of humans, if we haven't regained our homeland."
"This is our homeland!"
Taruto protested loudly, and many in attendance joined him. Ebode immediately backtracked:
"A dying homeland, Lieutenant," he said gravely, "And I can only fear…! What guarantees to us that those humans will cooperate?! What guarantees us that they won't rob us of the fragments that we'll find (if there are any, doubt that it has not yet been resolved) and use them to heal what the small and inane minds of their people have done to Earth?! What, tell me, Councilmen!"
"The fact that we are here!"
The hall fell silent as Ichigo advanced marching until she was a couple of meters from the Council seats. Both her friends in the corner and the four aliens behind her panicked, and Teruga, from above, could only stand up and look at her worriedly.
"Ichigo, what the hell are you doing?" Kisshu whispered through clenched teeth, "Are you crazy?!"
"I can't stand it anymore!"
"Get out... Immediately!"
Pai spit out coldly, his dark gaze flashing with anger; he exchanged an alarmed glance with Eyner and stared at the guards at the foot of the seats, hands on the hilts of their weapons, and clicked his tongue: if they intervened, the guards could even kill her.
"Leave!"
"An earthling..."
Ebode seemed not to believe his eyes, but his face did not betray only bewilderment: he had never expected fate to turn in his favor so abruptly, he had to force himself not to smile and maintain a scandalized attitude.
"An earthling! What is an earthling doing in the presence of the Council?!"
He turned to the audience with a chocked voice:
"Look at that! The facts are obvious! They make them spy, as if they were thieves…!"
'We're not the thieves! Least of all spies!"
The Councilmen did not appreciate the reply; they became agitated again, shouting of insolence and scandal, while Ebode smiled more and more smugly:
"And you think you're going to prove it by presenting yourself in this way? Such impudence!"
The outcry increased, covering the redhead's protests. The four boys behind her were shifting their gazes from her to Teruga to the guards to the small group in the corner, which only for the power of some unknown deity had not yet lost its temper.
"She's gone crazy! Completely gone crazy!"
Whimpered Retasu in terror; Minto was out of her mind:
"I don't know whether it would be better to kill her or that nice Councilman first…"
"This is where they all kill us, rather!" MoiMoi cried out, "You should have told me there was a such a risk!"
"What would you have done?"
Zakuro asked bitterly. Behind her Sando grumbled sourly:
"I would've tied her up and hid her in some ditch, as long as she didn't make such a mess."
In the middle of the room, Kisshu tried as discreetly as possible to get Ichigo back, firmly grabbing her arm:
"Kitten, you don't know what you're doing," he whispered in her ear, "Please, for once listen to me, humbly ask for forgiveness, bow down, and leave! Maybe we can fi – "
She, as usual, was deaf to his pleas and wriggled away, frowning at him:
"I have no intention of hearing him say any more nonsense!"
She took two more steps forward and raised her arm:
"You don't trust us, do you? Do you want to see the Mew Aqua?!"
From the corner Sando had to hold MoiMoi by the collar of the pullover so that he wouldn't throw himself at the redhead:
"Ichigo-chan, no...!"
In the same moment, the mewneko let the vial slip a little out of her palm: a series of iridescent flashes spread all around, shutting down all dissent. When there was complete silence, Ichigo lowered her arm and decisively exclaimed:
"If I'd wanted to, I wouldn't have brought it back here! We have agreed to help you, there is no hidden agenda or other nonsense!"
Silence. The anger, agitation and vehemence she had put into her words had taken her breath away and were making her heart buzz in her ears, but she was certain that she had asserted herself and helped the boys' cause.
"Kitty cat… I love you, but I have to tell you... Sometimes you're an idiot."
Suddenly all those present detonated in furious screams and protests; the four guards pulled out their weapons altogether and put themselves in a threatening position, so much so that Ichigo withdrew in fear.
"It's unheard of!"
She caught in the general turmoil.
"Did you hear her?"
"That's the Mew Aqua, that's really it!"
"Nonsense!" Ebode intervened, "It must be a trick!"
"How did she get in?"
"Betrayal!"
It was a wet blanket for the redhead, who let Kisshu and the others hide her behind them for cover. She believed that showing herself that way would silence any doubt, instead it only seemed to have intensified the problems.
What the hell did I do?!
"That's enough. Silence, immediately."
An unknown, firm and authoritarian voice thundered over the confused grumble. All the councilmen settled down quickly, and everyone's eyes shifted to who had given the order.
From the fourth seat of the third row, one of many in the Council, a woman rose to speak. A little younger than Teruga, but older than Ebode, she was an alien with a face delicately marked by age, serious and firm; long dark magenta hair fell down the sides of her face divided into two large tresses to the waist, where it had been pulled back and tied into a low, loose ponytail, in the middle of which ran a small braid. In a reverential silence the woman got up, descended the few steps that separated her from the floor and approached the defendants, her gaze fixed on Ichigo. Kisshu instinctively moved a little further in front of the redhead and the Councilwoman smiled:
"Captain, would you let me talk to this young lady for a moment?"
She looked up at him with amusement:
"Just talk."
Kisshu didn't protest and, unconvinced, accompanied the mewneko forward. She shyly stood in front of the woman and bowed her head in salute, wondering why her brain would stop working only when it shouldn't.
"Councilwoman Meryold…"
Ebode's voice, so powerful until a few moments earlier, had been reduced to a mild whisper:
"I don't think it's necessary..."
"I believe that my office as Chairwoman of the Council allows me to also do unnecessary things, within the limits of the law, don't you think?" the woman calmly interrupted him, "And in any case, yes, I believe it's necessary."
She went back to look at Ichigo and gave her a slight nod of encouragement; the redhead took another step forward, admiring the woman's sapphire-colored irises.
"I have the impression that introductions have been skipped," Meryold said, with a polite tone of reproach, "You are…?"
"M-Momomiya... Momomiya Ichigo."
She muttered, bowing slightly; the Councilwoman reciprocated.
"Very well. Momomiya-san... You said there's crystal in liquid form in that vial, huh?"
"Yes ma'am."
She answered as politely as possible and showed the object again.
"Where did you find it?"
"On Earth."
She replied readily; suddenly she was feeling nervous and struggled to speak without stumbling over her words due to her hurry:
"Me and my companions, with the help of MoiMoi… I mean…"
"Captain Luneilim," the woman corrected her gently, "I imagine that this flask is also her work... I also recognize your touch, don't I, Colonel?"
She looked up at Pai who nodded reverently. Councilwoman Meryold smiled.
"Momomiya-san, would you mind giving me that vial for a moment?"
She gently offered her right hand. Ichigo hesitated for a second, but complied, noting only at that moment that the woman was moving only the arm she was presenting her and never the left one, hidden by the long sleeve and kept folded under her breast.
The air charged with tension as Meryold took the vial between her fingers. Carefully uncorking the cap without opening it more than a millimeter, the woman lifted her left arm with much difficulty and uncovered it slightly, putting the vial close. When the sleeve reached her elbow, Ichigo felt a cold chill and stiffened, ashamed of the surge of disgust that tightened her stomach: beyond the woman's diaphanous hand, the skin of the wrist was ridden with sores as if it had been devoured by fire, all the way beyond the elbow; even to the inexperienced eyes of the Japanese girl, however, that didn't really look like a serious sunburn, but rather something foreign to the rest of the body, appearing there by accident like a parasite, something that perhaps was once alive and now was rotting away, bringing along what hosted it. Ichigo tried not to look elsewhere, uncomfortable, but Meryold didn't seem to notice and let the brim of the vial touch her battered skin. The MewAqua's power instantly reacted to the wound and healed it, regenerating muscles and skin and restoring an elegant pale arm.
The whole room held its breath, no evidence could be more overwhelming than that one. After about ten seconds, Meryold suddenly pulled the bottle away and corked it with a trembling hand, as if holding it close was causing her pain; Ichigo saw her take a slow breath and pull herself together, then she covered her arm and held out the bottle again.
"This gift is not for me."
Was the exhale that the redhead's feline senses managed to grasp.
"Gentlemen," Meryold exclaimed with resolved and firm voice, turning around, "Your eyes were not deceived, you had irrefutable proof that that in the hands of this young woman is the Gift of the Forefathers."
The Councilmen agreed and the woman walked next to Ichigo so that everyone could see her, asking again:
"Was it you and your companions who recovered it?"
"Yes." The mewneko replied again, "And without the help of Mo… of Captain Luneilim, now this drop would be in the hands of Zizi."
At that statement, Meryold's gaze hardened:
"Zizi...? Are you talking about the former Captain?"
Ichigo wasn't sure what to answer:
"He was an alie… A young man, with blond hair and blue eyes and ears similar to yours…" the last sentence died on her lips and, as she feared, caused some protests from the stands, "I mean not like human ones."
Meryold nodded her head:
"And he had a language... let's say colorful?"
"To understate it."
The Council stirred again. Ebode rose vigorously:
"And how can we believe her?! She's an earthling, an adversary!" he complained, "If it was one of us, of course it wouldn't…! In all likelihood the Captain feared for the safety of the Gift…"
Ichigo's composure went out the window and she looked at the man with rage:
"He almost killed MoiMoi!"
She protested outraged. The participants got nervous again at that statement and Ebode was forced to remain silent.
"Did he attack Captain Luneilim?"
Meryold searched for further confirmation and Ichigo affirmed:
"Luckily…" she stopped, unsure whether to reveal Sando's presence; she decided that it was better to remain vague, "She managed to get by."
It seemed to be enough for the Councilwoman. She nodded one last time to the redhead and the four boys and returned to her seat, followed by the usual stillness of waiting; in the middle of the room, Kisshu brought Ichigo back into their row by unceremoniously pulling her, fearing more rash decisions, but given the situation she proved very docile and obeyed.
"If they sentence me to death," he whispered in her ear, "Remember, for me you're the culprit."
He was immediately silent when Meryold's loud voice invaded the whole hall:
"Councilmen. We were gathered here today because our distinguished member, Councilman Ebode, wanted clarifications on what Councilman Teruga had announced a few hours earlier, that is, of the project of collaboration with the sole individuals able to locate the Gift of the Forefathers. The questions were many and the issues touched upon were the most varied. Premising that," she raised a hand to silence Ebode's protests before he even spoke, "It was not in our interest to focus on the events of three years ago. It has already been decided that the actions of Colonel Ikisatashi, Captain Ikisatashi and Lieutenant Ikisatashi were bent by the reality of the facts and they acted in the best interest of our world."
"B-but…"
"Would you want to deny the true sky above this ceiling, Ebode?"
She asked severe. The other bowed his head, furious, and fell silent again.
"Same thing," Meryold continued, "For the others mentioned earlier, including Captain Toruke."
Eyner bowed slightly as a thank you, which Meryold imperceptibly reciprocated.
"The only things to evaluate are our need to recover the Gift, and the obvious fact that these young women are able to do so and apparently are also willing to do so."
She turned to Ichigo, who lifted her head in a sign of attention.
"Can you speak for all of you, Momomiya-san, saying that you will help us for as long as you are asked to?"
"Certainly."
There was some unconvinced buzz, but the Head Councilwoman nodded, and everyone had to accept the answer without objections."
"As for the Four Ancestral, I suspend my judgment for now," she continued, "The only thing I order is that, in whatever circumstances they are found to attack any member of our army, they are attacked back."
More voices of assent. Ebode was out of his mind.
"So," Meryold's voice rose of another tone, "How many against?"
Ichigo watched Kisshu clench his jaw when he saw fourteen hands raised, and she too felt a wave of fear.
"Abstained?"
No hands.
"How many in favor?"
Seventeen hands rose slowly, including Meryold's; Ichigo felt the boy's hand around her arm relax at once.
"Very well."
The whole Council stood and Meryold concluded the session:
"I officially declare that the Major Council supports Councillor Teruga's proposal. The appointed men will take care of finding the Gift of the Forefathers and will collaborate with the human beings of their choice, within the limits of our laws; as long as Jeweliria and all of our people aren't safe, the earthlings will be under the protection of the Major Council."
She made an eloquent gesture towards the five boys standing; they bowed as much as they could – Ichigo, to whose arm Kisshu was still attached, bent quite ungracefully, and ran off more politely and quickly than they could through the side corridor, dragging away the rest of the MewMew and their two fellows.
They immediately found cover in a quieter side corridor, hearing more and more in the distance the Council hall come alive with steps and moving chairs, and they remained silent in that nook until they were certain that all the participants had walked far away enough; only when they felt safe did Kisshu let go of Ichigo's arm and he and the other aliens finally began to breathe again.
"Oh jeez, oh jeez, oh jeez!" MoiMoi breathed, "I feared I would end up in a cell!"
"You're telling me!" Eyner laughed nervously, "I was telling myself, soon I'll see the sun through bars!"
"Until they cut off your head. If you were lucky."
Hissed Pai. He turned suddenly to Ichigo and grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her angrily:
"What the hell do you have in your brain, you stupid human?!"
"Wha – "
"Don't you ever get involved in our people's matters again!"
"Are you kidding me?!" Minto blurted out, "Look, if you have to reproach her, I agree, she did something stupid, but I think we are very involved in your people's matters, don't you think?"
"Avoid sarcasm, little crow."
Rudely, Kisshu pulled his brother away from the redhead, and Pai turned on his heels and started mumbling curses in a corner.
"Pai is right," he told her sternly, "You risked blowing up all the work done so far, as well as obviously risking your lovely neck."
"I just wanted to help you! " Ichigo protested, "Nice way of thanking me!"
"You wanted to help us by pitting us against those who are able to decide on our fate?!" he retorted harshly, "Thank you for your help, I'll do without!"
"It's not my fault that... That Ebode...!"
"Ichigo, they are right."
"Zakuro-san!"
"We know nothing about their laws, their customs; we may have overblown a mess and caused a catastrophe."
Ichigo looked at her offended and sought support from her companions, without receiving it; she angrily bit her lip, she didn't deserve those harsh judgments!
"If you'd listened to me, at least three seconds…" Kisshu pointed out again, "But you never listen to me, do you?"
It was impossible not to hear the wounded note of that last sentence. Ichigo looked down, unable to withstand the boy's glare.
"Well," Eyner concluded, "Let's say that, in the end, it went well."
Pai responded by clicking his tongue furiously.
"Meryold-sama gave us her support, didn't she?" Eyner insisted "And for the moment the Council is supporting us, I think it is the best we could get."
"Yeah…"
Taruto sighed and crossed his hands behind his head:
"Seriously, old bat, you always cause a lot of troub – "
He screamed and the earthlings saw two hands grab his hips and throw him on their owner's shoulders without any effort, not even as if Taruto was made of feathers.
"It's not nice to call such a pretty girl an 'old bat'!"
Ichigo jolted slightly, looking at the man holding the brown-haired boy like a sack of potatoes: he was the dark-haired soldier who had caught her eye in the Council hall.
"Since when have you become so rude, eh?"
"What the heck...?! Dad, let me down immediately!"
Every astonished comment was buried by the strong laughter of the man, who didn't listen to Taruto's complaints for a second and held him firmly where he had put him, merrily.
"You started a nice hustle in there, young lady," he winked at Ichigo, "Luckily, there were my pouter son and Eyner behind you, and my men don't really have lion hearts."
"I'll take it as a compliment."
Eyner just chuckled, while Pai sighed grimly.
"Thank you for considering me as threatening as a little girl…"
Kisshu protested by crossing his arms.
"If you had intervened as well, you would have sent us into early retirement."
"Pops, you talk as if you're an old man!"
His father snickered and scratched his cheek, covered by a five o'clock shadow:
"We all know that the safekeeping of the Major Council is a nice way to set aside senior soldiers, don't we?"
In one gesture, he gently tipped over his younger son and put him on the ground, then ruffled his hair with one hand:
"It's to you young people that fun things happen."
Taruto annoyingly waved away his hand and began to protest that he should no longer treat him like a brat, which only made Mr. Ikisatashi laugh a little more. As he bickered with his son, Ichigo watched the man more closely and finally understood why she had had the impression that she knew him.
If he had been younger and without that cheerful smile, he would have been Pai's living portrait. Even the short hair was of the same shade of purple, even if it tended less to blue; on the base of his neck, he wore a short pigtail wrapped in a ribbon, black as the very simple clothes he wore under the uniform, a light armor of a leather-like material, consisting of shoulders pads, breastplate and arm sleeves; by studying it closely, the beard appeared purposely short and well kept, and it followed the line of the cheekbone, giving strength to his already robust figure. The thing that made him more different from his son, smile aside, were the eyes of a glowing gold, elongated in shape and endowed with a cheerful and proud light.
"I'm glad to see that the gang here is very diverse!"
He bowed theatrically and winked at the earthlings, pointing to Kisshu, Pai and Taruto:
"Iader Ikisatashi, unfortunately the progenitor of these rascals."
"Funny…"
"It's nice to meet you, Sir."
Retau smiled and Iader laughed again:
"Kami-sama, not 'Sir'! I could be your father, child!"
Retasu blushed as usual, but answered with a tender smile:
"Yes... Iader-san…"
"You picked the wrong one, pops," Kisshu joked, "You're talking to Ms. Formalities."
"The fact that Retasu is polite," Minto bitterly pointed out, "Does not authorize you to give her titles; especially you, who have lost your manners over the years along with your modesty!"
Hearing that exchange of digs, Iader whistled high-pitched:
"You too didn't make a good choice on whom to argue with, Kisshu."
"Okay. That's enough. I really have to kill her."
"Stop it immediately, you two," Pai snorted, dividing them, "Father... What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to meet our guests," he replied candidly, "And see how our MoiMoi was doing."
He turned to the alien who smiled gratefully at him, tilting his head to the side like a cat:
"I'm peachy" he giggled and put his index against his cheek, "They just whipped me a little bit."
"But you're going to get checked anyways."
Sando ruled; MoiMoi protested strongly, but the other ignored him. Iader gently nudged her shoulder:
"He's right. Zizi never had a light touch. You have to…"
He stopped and looked earnestly towards the larger corridor behind them: the other aliens imitated him, and, after a few seconds, the earthlings as well heard footsteps coming in their direction. They leaned outside and spotted Councilwoman Meryold, flanked by two guards, heading towards them; as soon she was close, the aliens made a gesture of reverence and the girls imitated them, a little intimidated.
"Meryold-sama..."
"Iader-san," smiled the woman, "I imagined you were with them."
The man smiled and ruffled again the hair of Taruto, who thought better than protesting.
"Is Lasa-san better?"
"Much better, thank you," He said, "In a few days she'll be back in shape."
The girls didn't know who Iader was talking about, but that sentence appeared like a balm for the nerves of his sons, who all relaxed their shoulders. Meryold smiled kindly:
"I'm glad."
The woman's blue eyes turned to MoiMoi, who straightened his back and bowed again.
"Captain Luneilim, I've been told you're hurt…"
"Nothing serious," he replied promptly, "I will be fine."
The woman nodded gently. She then looked over the five earthlings and, nodding to her escort to back up a little, said:
"I would like to exchange a few more words with Momomiya-san and her friends, if you have time."
The earthlings looked at each other; they had little choice but to consent. They followed Meryold a few meters further down the corridor, enough to stay under the watchful eye of their custodians and find some privacy. The woman looked at them one by one and sighed:
"You are so young... But, after all, the mission we sent to Earth was also made up of boys..."
She had a nostalgic tone, marked by regret. The girls didn't know what to reply and they just mumbled meekly.
"Momomiya-san."
"Y-yes?"
"I must admit, I admire your courage today. You're a strong girl, and, know, I don't think you said anything wrong."
The redhead smiled radiantly, but immediately changed her expression when she saw Meryold's troubled air:
"But you were reckless. Your intentions and motives are more than noble... But it is not with those that you shake the consciences of politicians. With your attitude you only embittered those who opposed you, appearing as a disrespectful agitator."
"I-I…" Ichigo wanted to sink down into the ground, but tried to maintain her composure, "I only told the truth!"
"It's not the truth that some people want to hear," the woman replied sadly, "They want to be told what is comfortable. That we can recapture our ancient motherland and recreate it, that we will have honors and glory on the part of Deep Blue-sama. The truth… The truth is uncomfortable and does not satisfy those who want too much. By the way, in this environment the presentation matters more, in many cases, than the words."
Ichigo lowered her head, humiliated, not knowing what to respond. The Councilwoman gracefully placed her healthy hand on her shoulder and said:
"I understand your will and, I repeat, I admire your fortitude. But from now on, look for more diplomatic ways to prove your worth and leave your energy for where you need it."
She smiled encouragingly at her and nodded to her two guards, then re-started with them down the hallway.
Aliens and earthlings came out of a secondary entrance of the palace and found themselves in a large garden, surrounded by houses that increased more and more towards south, stopping at the edge of the forest. Iader left them in the doorway and returned to his business followed by Sando, who was to return to Teruga's guard; not before, of course, having again warned MoiMoi to get checked up.
"But I'm fine!" he protested "And then I have to go and put the Mew Aqua…!"
"I'll take care of that."
Pai stopped him harshly and tore out of his hand the bottle with the drop he had recovered; MoiMoi puffed his cheeks, offended:
"Pai-chan, don't interfere."
"If you weren't well, I'd have twice as much work."
He said briskly. Looking at him, Retasu held back a chuckle, his highest expression of concern was so rigid that it was comical.
"Funny!" MoiMoi snorted, "Those at the medical center won't let me out for weeks…!"
"If it's just for a check-up," said Iader politely, "Why don't you get checked by Lasa? She's better now, and seeing someone will just please her."
MoiMoi seemed to appreciate the idea, but then he thought about it:
"I won't disturb Lasa-san?"
"You know what my wife is like, even if she doesn't heal, she forces herself to feel better!" The man laughed, "She's incapable of staying in bed, she gets restless."
"Okay," sighed Kisshu massaging his neck, "Then in the meantime I will take the girls home…"
"You're joking, right?"
Purin exclaimed and bypassing the boy she turned to Taruto:
"Taru-Taru, you do remember that you promised me, huh? I wanna meet your mom!"
"What?!"
The little boy heard with horror his father holding back a fat laugh: he would have to endure weeks and weeks of teasing for that nickname.
"Purin, what are you saying?" Minto scolded her, "You don't invite yourself to other people's homes, how old are you?!"
Purin didn't pay her attention and continued to stare at the brown-haired boy with eyes shining of excitement as he protested:
"Apart from the fact that I've already told you that you have to call me by my name, but what are you thinking?! I didn't promise you a damn!"
"Come on! I'm curious! I bet the girls are, too… Right onee-chan?"
Feeling involved, Retasu gasped without hiding a slight blush; it was evident that the idea of discovering something else about the daily life of their new allies intrigued her.
"And they say 'being an open book'…"
Kisshu teased her, and Retasu became scarlet.
"Is it that fun for you to annoy her?"
Pai's annoyed comment only amused his brother more, who looked at him mischievously:
"Does it bother you?"
"It bothers me to have a four-year-old brother," he whispered glacially, "It's rude to pick on those those who do not rebut."
Kisshu responded by snorting. For her part, Retasu returned to her usual complexion, but her mood suddenly worsened: she didn't know why, but she was convinced that she had been teased by both; and yet, if on Kisshu's part it was something she was getting used to – she was aware of giving him far too many chances of saying mean things – and that she basically accepted because of his character, it seemed to her that in Pai's words there was always an allusion to the fact that she was a little dumb. And it wasn't a pleasant feeling.
Pai pressed two fingers to his temple and he squeezed the vial he held in his hand:
"Do as you please, however, I don't have time to deal with this nonsense."
And he left without adding anything else. Iader watched him disappear and looked up to the sky, going back in with Sando:
"I just don't understand whom he took this bad temper from!"
.
.
.
In the end, Purin convinced Taruto and Kisshu to take her with them along with MoiMoi and the other girls, not all of them happy with the decision.
"It's a waste of time!"
Minto burst out, crossing her arms.
"What is it," Kisshu taunted her, "Are you afraid that our humble peasant abode is not suitable for your lineage, milady?"
She didn't even answer him and lifted her chin imperiously. To be honest, even Ichigo, although very curious, didn't have a great desire to be there. She had appeared stupid, risked her and her friends' lives and perhaps compromised all the boys' work... Not to mention the fact that she had wounded Kisshu for the umpteenth time and was regretting it to death.
"Where did Eyner-san go?"
"I believe he went to get Sury from a neighbor's," Taruto vaguely pondered, "Since my mother was not well…"
Retasu fixed her glasses on her nose without understanding:
"Sury?"
"His sister."
The two turned surprised at Zakuro, who merely shrugged:
"He mentioned to me that he has a sister. Two plus two…"
They stopped in front of a simple boxed construction, which looked like it was made of stone and resembled certain human houses built in the desert; it was very large and two-storied, with rough wooden Venetian-like blinds and a large, heavy door, which Kisshu opened scraping it hard on the floor.
"Mom? Are you there?"
He signaled to the girls to stay behind and entered with Taruto first, looking around. There was a small hallway overlooking a living room with a one-legged large circular table, made of a grey plastic material just like the chairs placed around it, surrounded by shelves full of unidentifiable objects, but the whole place was deserted.
"Maybe she went to rest a little."
Taruto thought aloud. He stopped, for from a room further down he heard a high voice calling him; a few light steps and from a shadowy corner a petite figure came to him smiling:
"Boys! I thought I heard... Oh?"
The woman stopped shortly before reaching her youngest son, looking curiously at the crowd outside her doorway; she smiled imperceptibly:
"We have company, I see."
Lasa had all the girls settle down in her living room and listened to the various reasons for the visits, smiling lightly and following carefully as she was helped by Taruto in serving cups filled with a steaming drink.
"Oh, no, madam…!"
Retasu fretted, remembering Meryold's words about the woman and fearing for their meaning:
"You don't need to…!"
"Don't worry," the woman replied kindly, "And please, call me Lasa."
Retasu did not respond and accepted with a shy smile the mug she was offered.
"You don't need so many ceremonies," Kisshu muttered to his mother, "And besides, shouldn't you be resting?"
"Kisshu, I had a slight fever, I wasn't dying," she pointed out calmly, "Come on, drink and don't grumble."
The woman sat in a chair and took a few sips as she finished listening to MoiMoi's account of the latest events.
After meeting Iader, it would have been hard to imagine that Lasa, the wife of the all-too-lively Mr. Ikisatashi, was really the person in front of them. Unlike her husband, Lasa spoke little, always in a low voice, had measured and kind manners and seemed a little cold, or perhaps careful to relate to others without invading their space. Minute and not very tall – she barely had to reach five foot two – she had a round and sweet face very similar to Taruto's; shoulder-length chestnut-colored hair curled at the tips, and behind her right ear she wore a braid, tied by deep-blue beads, the same color as her eyes. To the eyes of the earthlings, even more than all the rest, the clothes appeared curious, probably because they had never seen a woman among the aliens except for Councilwoman Meryold, who in any case wore the clothes of her caste. Lasa wore a sort of lightly fitted dark mahogany bodice, laced with a ribbon that started from the gentle v-neckline and stopped at her waist; below, there appeared a light cream shirt that came down to her wrists, where it was closed with two laces; of the same color was the long skirt that swayed in various folds, but its material was unintelligible: at first glance it looked like heavy cotton for the way it fell to her feet, yet it wrapped the woman's hips and legs with the lightness of silk.
Everything in Lasa fascinated and intrigued them; the girls remained silent for a long time, studying her furtively and leaving MoiMoi to lead the conversation.
"…So, Lasa-san," he said after a while, "If I could take a look at me... Just to make sure I didn't break anything."
"With pleasure, my dear. Ah, you know... I wish it were for other reasons, but I'm glad you came by." she emptied her mug and smiled at the earthlings, "And you too, of course."
"It was my idea!"
Purin laughed radiantly; the others sighed resignedly, and Lasa let a chuckle slip:
"It's a really good idea, then. Now, though, I'd like to check MoiMoi-chan, if you don't mind."
At that sentence, the boy jumped out of his chair and confidently walked down the hallway leading to the other side of the house, ahead of the woman.
"So, your mother is a doctor."
Minto said distractedly, turning the mug in her hands.
"And what do you know?"
Taruto asked, raising an eyebrow; she looked at him condescendingly:
"It seems obvious to me, since MoiMoi-chan asked her to check her health."
The other frowned and blushed in anger, he detested that hold hag who always treated him like a stupid child.
"It's a bit weird to think that she is…" chuckled Retasu, "How can I say this... If I imagine aliens, it's hard to associate them with normal jobs…"
"What was she supposed to be, a mongoose farmer?" Kisshu asked sarcastically, "And I'd also like to remind you that you are the aliens here, not the other way around."
"How cool!"
Purin laughed. She swallowed the last sip and pirouetted off her chair, throwing herself onto Taruto's:
"Now I'm curious to take a look around! Can you show me your room?"
"What? Are you stupid by any chance?!" he blurted, "Over my dead body!"
She only laughed louder and grabbed his hand, forcing him to stand:
"Come on, let's go!"
"Can you listen to me, you stupid monkey?!"
But Taruto's protests fell among the ruckus the blonde was causing by dragging him around the house like a trailer and he had no choice but to run after her trying not to stumble.
"Oh dear…"
It was the only comment Ichigo was able to make; Minto shrugged and drank another sip elegantly and Zakuro snickered.
"I don't know who's more of a fool, the brat or my brother… I hope at least they don't destroy the house!"
Retasu smiled strained, but had to admit that perhaps that wasn't such a remote concern.
The group remained silent for a few minutes and Ichigo soon felt uncomfortable again: she wanted to apologize for what had happened in the Council Hall and in particular apologize to Kisshu for treating him like dirt, but her tongue wasn't collaborating and was staying immobile in her completely dry mouth. Unexpectedly, it was Minto who got her out of the mess of making up her mind, having finished drinking:
"What was Councilman Ebode referring to when he was talking about MoiMoi, Sando-san and Eyner?"
The question was asked by her, but it had had to be buzzing in everyone's head for a while, because Kisshu found himself being stared at by four curious pairs of eyes. He sighed and passed a hand through his bangs:
"Well, about MoiMoi Senpai, you can imagine it…"
He sighed contemptuously and Ichigo slammed her cup on the table, scandalized:
"It won't be because she's not..."
He shrugged:
"Skills and intelligence are obviously irrelevant, if you choose to wear a skirt even if you are equipped with the family jewels."
"It's… awful."
Was the little hiccup with which Retasu answered; Zakuro exhaled and whispered bitterly:
"It's nice to know that certain stupidities are common to the whole universe."
Kisshu bitterly chuckled in agreement.
"As for Eyner," he went on, "I don't think I'm the most appropriate person to talk about it, so..."
He emptied his cup and did not seem keen on concluding the speech.
"And Sando-san?"
Retasu asked timidly; Kisshu watched her for a few seconds in silence and crossed his arms:
"Let's say that even his is complicated..."
"But this can be talked about."
MoiMoi intervened, returning with Lasa.
"MoiMoi-chan! So?"
Ichigo asked apprehensive, and the other smiled at her:
"Without being too technical, I'm just a little bruised; nothing to stitch or put into a cast. I have a hard skin," she giggled, "I'm a steel damsel!"
"But," Lasa pointed out, "You'll be careful, and you won't stress yourself for a few days, am I clear?"
MoiMoi mumbled through tight lips but nodded and sat down:
"And Purin-chan and Taruto?"
"I think Purin forced him to a sightseeing tour of the house."
Kisshu sneered amused. MoiMoi reciprocated his grinning and laughed, while Lasa sighed with a smile:
"Try not to overdo it in torturing him, Kisshu..."
.
.
.
"Did no one taught you that you don't go through other people's stuff?"
Taruto inveighed, grabbing Purin by her waist and pulling her out of one of the drawers in his closet, where the blonde had tucked her head in.
"But I'm curious!" she admitted, sticking out her tongue, "I never thought I'd see your room."
"It's a room, Purin," he pointed out, tired, "I just sleep there."
"That's not true. There are all your things too!"
She said and ran her finger on the spines of some books written in an unknown language:
"Especially the ones you like."
"So what?"
He asked skeptically and she smiled:
"It's nice to find out the things you like, isn't it?"
"Get this over with!"
He shrilled, flaring up, but she didn't mind him and grabbed a small box from a shelf; Taruto blanched as he watched her shake the box to check if it was empty:
"What's in here?"
"Nothing!" he muttered, "Give it back!"
"It feels like something small... That rolls?"
Without giving her more leeway, he took the box from her hands and hid it behind his back:
"There's nothing in it, I told you!"
"Oh, come on, let me see!" she giggled, "Or at least tell me what's in there."
"I can't…" he was red as a tomato, "I cannot, okay? It's a secret."
She pouted and watched him hide the box under his pillow.
"Alright… Keep your secrets if you want." She sent him a complicit glance, "In return, I want to see how you were when you were a child. Do you have a photo?"
"What?! Forget it! And what the hell is a photo?"
She resumed rummaging around, deaf to his protests, but Taruto indulged: he would have done anything, even look for something whose nature he didn't know, in order to keep Purin away from the box where he jealously guarded the candies she had given him.
.
.
.
"MoiMoi-san?"
"Uh?"
The alien looked at Retasu, who was clutching her cup and moving awkwardly on her chair:
"What... were you saying about Sando-san?"
MoiMoi stopped laughing and put on sad smile.
"If it's something we shouldn't know..."
The other shook his head and began:
"You may have known that before the MewAqua, this planet was in appalling climatic conditions."
Zakuro nodded with a low grumbling and MoiMoi continued:
"It often happened that we had to send exploration patrols to nearby planets, you know, for supplies or trading... Although things weren't always friendly. At that time, Sando was in charge of a team that I was also part of, along with a girl who was my kohai and, well... Skills or not, we weren't very appreciated by the rest of the platoon. Myself for the way I am..."
He paused for an instant, shaking his head.
"The other because she was a woman uh?"
Finished Minto. MoiMoi nodded slowly:
"Long story short, there was an action against hostile soldiers, and my kohai and I were voluntarily left behind by the rest of the team, risking our life."
"What?!"
"They didn't want to risk their limbs for us. Even though we somehow managed… Couldn't avoid the hospital that time!" He tried to downplay it, watching Ichigo with a crooked smile, "Neither could my partner, that's true…"
"But the rest of the team came out worse."
Kisshu concluded with a certain malignant satisfaction. The girls looked at him confused and his grin widened:
"Sando-san had never liked certain discriminations and he didn't tolerate such cowardice at all. So, he gathered his team and beat up more than half of them."
"No deaths… Fortunately…"
Ichigo was certain that MoiMoi's fortunately was placed in giant quotes.
"But Sando-san was demoted and sent to be the babysitter to the recruits and to Councilman Teruga," Kisshu continued, "Or rather, the Councilman proposed him for those tasks, to keep him out of jail."
"Although this was not enough for the Council…"
Lasa added distractedly; when she noticed that the Earthlings looked at her worriedly, she sighed and concluded:
"As an act of punishment, they demanded that he lose his Belonging."
"Because he had tarnished the honor of the army."
Kisshu mimicked bitterly. The girls didn't immediately understand, until Ichigo distractedly touched MoiMoi's ribbons that tied her pigtails:
"Sando-san has nothing..."
Lasa slowly nodded yes.
"Our people wear them as a distinctive trait."
MoiMoi touched one of his tails with two fingers and pointed to Kisshu's and Lasa's braid with a nod:
"Not having any is like being excluded from the others."
He was silent, crouching sadly on the chair.
"MoiMoi-chan, you know it wasn't your fault."
Lasa said softly but decisively; he nodded unconvinced. On her chair, Ichigo made herself as small as she could and whined:
"It's my fault...! If I hadn't intervened, they wouldn't have brought up such nonsense...!"
"That's silly," MoiMoi corrected her, "Ebode was going to play those cards for sure; of course, he should have avoided bringing up both Sando and Eyn-chan, since half of the Council dotes on them."
"I don't know about Eyner... But as for Sando-san, do I have to suspect that it has anything to do with the way he hammered that vulgar blond kid?"
Minto asked and MoiMoi smiled satisfied:
"And you didn't really see him angry!"
"I'd be curious a little bit..."
"Zakuro, are you aware that you are a quarrelsome girl?"
"Don't you dare talk like that to onee-sama, you know?" Minto hissed, unconcerned by the amused air in Kisshu's golden eyes, "And coming from you, a person dedicated to some acts of diplomacy...!"
"You really want me to drown you in some puddle."
The brunette forced herself to ignore the subtle reference to their misadventure in the Yakori pool and didn't reply anymore.
"Yes, it's true Ichigo," sighed MoiMoi, leaving the two to their squabble, "You were silly. But you brought Councilwoman Meryold to our side, and that's a great thing!"
"Absolutely."
Lasa added softly.
Upon hearing about the Councilwoman, Ichigo remembered what had happened in the hall and looked up:
"By the way… Meryold-san, what does she have on her…"
She didn't know how to proceed without appearing disrespectful; she wanted to avoid that, as she had already exhausted her dose of rudeness allowed around there.
"It happened shortly after the planet began to die." Kisshu hurriedly said, "When she came into contact with one of the plants in that area."
"Some released poisonous exhalations before they died, perhaps a reaction of rejection to the loss of the benefits of the Gift." MoiMoi explained, "The result on those who came into contact with them is strange sores and burns, and from what we have analyzed so far, only the power of MewAqua can heal them."
"Through the Gift of the Forefathers, as that woman called it."
Zakuro said without needing them to confirm.
"That's why we have to find the Drops as soon as possible!" MoiMoi exclaimed loudly, "Rather, thanks for the paina, Lasa-san, but it's better to go back and help Pai-chan."
The woman nodded kindly:
"I hope you'll come back to see me. Ah, and same for you."
The girls agreed with a smile and wondered, almost simultaneously, what Pai and Kisshu's terrible tempers– Taruto was still passable – had to do with such a sweet and polite woman.
"Well," Kisshu muttered as he got up, "I'm going to retrieve the monkey and Taruto, so they can accompany you…"
"You're not going with them?"
He stopped for a second on the stairs at his mother's question, but then limited himself to a laconic no and disappeared upstairs.
.
.
.
The punch was so hard that he couldn't manage to stand and was hurled against the column, crushing against the small tub and spilling water everywhere.
"Don't ruin the altar, Zizi." a voice sneered, "You know that unaesthetic disturbs my soul."
"Shut your awful mouth, Toyu!"
The other hissed, wiping the blood from his lip already swollen from his encounter with Sando.
The young man named Toyu stared at him conceitedly, but added nothing else, silenced by the nod from the giver of the punch.
"It's useless for you to vent your anger on him. You were an idiot, because of you we lost another Drop."
"It's not my fault, Arashi!" he protested, "You didn't tell me that those shitty earthlings would be with the faggot senpai and that living tank of Sando!"
"And you couldn't get rid of them," the other sentenced, "Must I doubt you?"
Zizi didn't respond and finished wiping himself from the blood, looking like a beaten dog.
"Our search is at a standstill. Without an active Drop, we can't find the others."
"Arashi, don't let the bile boil up," said Toyu with a smarmy smile, "In the end, they only have one Drop; we have three. We let them find them for us, and if Zizi can't recover them on his own, we're going to make the effort of helping him."
The concerned individual inveighed against him in an alien dialect, which made a blonde girl, standing next to Toyu, split her sides laughing. Arashi ignored them, reflecting:
"Yes... Until the strength increases, it is the quickest solution."
He snapped his fingers and the other three turned to look at him:
"Start tailing those five little girls. Wait until they find an active Drop... And kill them."