NOTE:
"Doryaaaaaaaaaa!": normal talking
"Charge!": special case
'Darn!': thoughts
GWA HA HAHA! : Giant creature speech
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!
Please… read and review
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"And you're telling me what you're doing is not?" Kira replied back. "You're not doing a very good job as a tutor, Xingke. How do you think the other heads of states around the world would react when they hear that the Empress of China would grant so great a boon to a commoner over a god damn meal? She's the Empress for God's sake. Even though it's not in her blood can you not at least make her act like it is?"
Something that Kira said made Xingke snapped in horror and realization. "Yamato-darren… what did you say just now?"
"I've said it clearly enough." Kira glanced around to make sure there are no eavesdroppers. "Tianzi… is NOT a royalty… is she?"
Xingke looked like he had 20 years drained off his already diminishing lifespan.
"W… What are you saying Kira-kun?" Kaguya gulped. "Tianzi's not a royalty? The Fire Emperor is her father you know? That's just… that's just…" Kaguya looked at Xingke, and his nervous smile vanished completely upon seeing just how pale Xingke became. And that's when Kaguya understand. "Holy mother of Mercy…"
Xingke kept his eyes down. "…how did you find out?"
"Cabbage." Kira answered. "Chinese Skunk Cabbage. They were named as such because when they're nearing the end of their shelf life… they stink to high heaven. Fact is, they stink so bad nobles never used them." This was Kira's experience back he was living in the slums of Germany and Zaft's market streets. "And as such, the green grocer will sell them cheap… really cheap… even giving them away for free. The poor would gladly buy them up. They used them in various ways: boil them, eat them raw or, most importantly: feed their young with it. Though it tastes as bad as it smells, disregarding that fact, that stinky cabbage provides enough nutrients to keep us alive through all the hardship we have to endure. Do you understand?"
"What are you saying?"
"Cabbage… is a food for the masses. We didn't eat them because of how it taste or how it smell, we ate them because that's what keep us alive. Its value is something that only we can understand. A value that a noble born-" Kira glanced at Lacus to make his point. "-will have trouble understanding. We hate it, but when we lose it we miss it. There was a time I had to eat cabbage for a month straight. Years passed, I learned how to make better food that tasted ten times better than cabbage… but my dinner still didn't taste right without cabbage in it."
"Now, the Empress tasted my cabbage dish… and yet she didn't just say it's good… she was literally moved to tears. Now, I didn't say I've never seen a nobleborn moved to tears from eating a dish, but I've never seen a nobleborn cry over a plain soup of cabbages. Circumstances at such… I can only assume there was a time she had to live with cabbage as sustenance. Maybe her birth mother was so poor and sickly she can't breastfed her, so she fed her with cabbage soup. She may be too young to remember it, but she still subconsciously remembers."
What Kira said immediately synched with Lacus, from a medical standpoint: "There's actually a scientific precedence to this. The first food a baby tasted when they were born was the mother's milk. As the baby grew up they won't remember exactly how it tasted like, but it is sweet. That memory will be imprinted on a person's sub-consciousness. That's why all human universally liked anything that is sweet."
Xingke closed his eyes and nodded. He probably never imagined the secret's out in such a way. "…the Fire Emperor… faced a crisis in his later life. His flesh and blood son died a stillborn, along with his wife. Natural death or assassination, we knew not. His heart far too broken to father another… and he understood. If he died without an heir, the Eunuchs will take over completely with a puppet ruler. So he took a child… a baby barely over one year old… and claimed her as his daughter born of a concubine. That is… Tianzi." Xingke shrugged. "The Emperor told me the truth with his own dying breath."
Kaguya, Lacus, and Kira stood there, digesting the weight of what's at stake. The Eunuchs wanted to get rid of the Empress so badly… and this knowledge is the perfect weapon to do just that. Kira ruffled his messy hair, his headache just doubled over this issue. "Other than us, how many people know about this?"
"Me… Hong Gu, Xianglin… and General Imelia. We've been keeping this a secret between the four of us for years." Xingke no longer hold nothing back, he revealed everything and trust in fate.
'And keeping this secret had almost killed you… nay… I would say it had…' Kira sighed. "Xingke… I refused Tianzi's gift because… that would mean I would risk the dignity and welfare of an entire nation over the life of just one me. How can I make that kind of choice?"
Once again, it took a moment for Xingke to understand what Kira was saying. When he did, he looked up with life and hope restored. "Kira-darren…?"
"I'm entrusting Hikari to you. Assign her to take over the Eunuch's duties as chamberlains, marginalize their influence on the Empress – do NOT let them meet or even speak with her anymore. And then you need to get rid of them as quickly as possible. And most importantly…" Xingke looked up, waiting his reply. "…get yourself treated. And when this is over, win or lose… quit the army. Quit the Alliance. Stay at her side where your heart lies. And don't you argue with me on this." Kira glared. "As it stands now, if you die, China dies with you, regardless of whether the Alliance win the war or not."
Xingke's eyes sprang wide slightly. "I… I understand."
"And one more thing…"
"Anything."
"Lend me your ears." Xingke knelt down as Kira whispered a few things, which apparently left Xingke utterly bewildered.
"That?" Xingke blinked. "Yes. Of course we have that. But why on earth…" Kira gestured him to come closer and he continued his explanation, still in whispers. Xingke's confused gaze tuned to clarity. "I see… yes… I understand. Alright then. It shall be as you asked."
"Thank you. Now give us a minute." Kira eyed Hikari and Kaguya. Xingke understood the request for private time. Kira was kind enough to not only keep a secret he guarded with his life, he also tried to keep China's dignity intact. After all that, some privacy is the least he owed him. And so he left the three alone.
"Now… for the reason I did all this. I've explained this to Hikari, now I'll explain it to you." Kira addressed Kaguya, and she gave him her undivided attention. "I promised Lacus' sister I'll return her to her family. I thought… if I just keep things quiet… I can do it quietly. But then… things, as you know… escalated. No thanks to her." Kira glanced at Lacus. "…but… it made me realized I'm not enough to protect her. Not anymore. Lord knows what might happen from this point onward… so I'll entrust her to you."
Kaguya shrugged.
"If needs be… you take her away from China. Take her to Orb… to Japan. Orb will be in a much better position to bargain her safe exchange. Either way, you give her back to her sister ASAP. Can you do that, Kaguya-sama?"
Kaguya understand, and she nodded. "I see. I understand… but… I doubt even that would do much good to brighten your sterling reputation, Kira-kun. If Lamia founds you and her beloved sister's not with you-"
"They brought in an invasion down just to kill me after what I did with the first two Hakutenkun. Once they found out what happened to the third, I think they'll shoot through her just to get to me."
"Like how you stabbed a guy through her." Kaguya has been regaled the full story of what happened in Corner's incident.
"Yes." Kira sighed. "I promised her sister I'll return her unblemished. In that respect I've failed. So at this point, with all the shit that has been happening… and all the shit that's about to happen… I really don't care anymore who's doing it… how, or why… just… get her the hell out of my misery. Because, as you can see, I got plenty of it already for God's sake." Kira rubbed his aching head. He was that desperate.
Despite the rude choice of words, Kaguya easily understood that Kira was that desperate to keep her safe, and why Lacus would find his method disagreeable, but they can't deny the logic is sound on one important ground: Kira's a good strategist… but he's one lousy bodyguard. "Fine. But!"
"But?"
Kaguya raised a finger. "But… with this you owe me a favor. I won't tell you what, but remember that I will call upon this one day. Yes?"
Kira sighed. "Fine, fine…"
Chapter 54
The Beijing Court:
Part 3: Vote of No Confidence
Meanwhile, in the Army pantry, there's a small quarter on the second floor of the vast quarter reserved for seated officers. Not exactly luxurious but it has a nice window overlooking the view of the forest.
Jane arrived to eat her meal only to be welcomed by, among other thing, the sight of Murrue and Mwu sharing a table over what seem to be a bottle of alcohol, and the former is patting the latter's head, buried under his arms.
"What… happened here?"
"Stress relief." Murrue answered. "Fueled with illicitly self brewed sake."
"Stress?" Jane rolled her eyes. "I didn't know Mwu La Flagga was capable of having a stress."
"Well… he's trying to figure out what went wrong with his latest student."
"You mean Kage?" Jane raised her eyebrows. "How on earth Mwu was able to tutor someone like that?"
"I'm wondering… (hick)… that saaame… (hick)… questionsh… (hicks!)" Mwu moaned over his hangover. Murrue gently tapped Mwu's head.
Jane joined their table. "Why are they like that?"
"Why what like that?" Murrue asked.
"Captains. Blacklist Captains… why do they have the tendency to be so… dysfunctional?" Jane asked. "I mean… three… and now four Captains that descendants of the Onis likened to walking catastrophes. And out of the four, Morgan seems to be the only one who got any sense. The only one… actually, behaving like a normal, sane, human."
"You categorize Ed as insane?"
"Well…" Jane gave her a look.
"Right." Murrue nodded as she rubbed Mwu's burrowed blonde head. "You asked Rena?"
"She said she dispatched the message… two months ago. Which means he should've been here two weeks ago."
"…you think he's…"
Jane looked at the forest of Sages.
"That man's no slouch, Jane." Rena suddenly made her presence known as she casually yanked the sake bottle off Mwu's clutches.
When he realized he's in the presence of the scariest general in the Alliance, Mwu sobered up in less than a second. He watched in horror as Rena observed the content of that bottle in her hand, even sniffing over the mouth of that bottle.
Rena couldn't care less and drank the whole lot with one copious gulp after another. When she was done, she merely burped. No sign of her being overwhelmed by the bootleg alcohol whatsoever. "Whoever made this watered down cat's piss, hang him." She tossed the empty bottle away to a shattered mess.
If the sweating and shaking Mwu was to follow that suggestion, he'll have to write a will first.
Rena looked at Jane's concerned look. "…listen. Now's not the time to worry people who's not here… yet. So focus. Okay? As soon as this stupid farce of trial is done with, we'll be having a briefing… with all captains available."
"All captains?" Murrue frowned. "Including Kage?"
"I said: all captains available." Rena indifferent eyes were unmoving. "And when I say available-" She glared to make her point: You get the point. So shut up.
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Xingke seems to be a lot more… merry as he escorted Kira, Hikari and Kaguya into the so called Lotus room. But he stopped some distance away from the entrance whilst Kira and Hikari looked back at him. "Lotus room is a VIP guest rooms as well as the Empress private chamber. Only… personal guards are allowed in there." Xingke gestured at the guards. That was when Kira and Hikari noticed that they are all… girls.
The leader of the Imperial guard is a woman, with long black hair, her forehead feature a tiara with red gem at the center and a unique headdress behind her head that resemble dragon wings, as well as a pair of horns. She also wear a pink sleeveless upper clothing that also extends into a loincloth that stream down the middle to almost reaching her feet. Beneath that she wear baggy red lower robe. She carries a sword on her waist to signify her post as the head of the Empress' personal guard. "I'm Salamandine. Head of the Empress' Personal Guard. And… the Empress is a girl, Yamato-darren. And girls had that… private problems. And Xingke's a man… You understand of course."
"No, I don't, actually." Kira raised an eyebrow. "I'm a man! And you're letting me in?" A nagging but somewhat ludicrous suspicious struck him. "…Xingke… did the Empress… did you… perchance… think I'm a girl?" Kira's eyes twitched dangerously.
Xingke nervously clearing his throat clearly answered the question. "But you have made it abundantly clear that you're a man yes? Of course you are." The female guards chuckled and snickered. Kaguya's cheeks puffed red to suppress her bursting laughter, understanding why Xingke… why anyone would have that plight with Kira's almost girlish look. Only Hikari knew well enough to not let loose so much as a chuckle but an annoyed grunt… because she secretly pinched herself to stop herself snickering. Xingke quickly justify himself: "But… the Empress seem to really like you… and speaking from my personal judgment, I believe you are worthy of my trust, Kira-darren." Xingke's smile was genuine this time. It's as if the man just regained back the 10 years lifespan he'd lost a while back.
"You should be honored you know?" Kaguya slapped Kira at the back. "Took me three years to be allowed entry in the Empress' personal chamber!"
Both statements were clearly a powerful one, signifying the amount of trust Kira had gained from the Empress. Kira can already hear the female imperial guards whispered amongst themselves and even giving him looks that no longer has anything to do with his appearance. Kira sighed. "Fine."
Xingke gestured at Salamandine as a sign that now he's entrusting things to her. Salamandine nodded, and the grand tutor can finally leave in peace. "It's not every day I get to see my stiff brother that relaxed around people." As soon as Xingke's back disappeared, Salamandine can finally speak her piece.
Kira rolled his eyes. "You're his sister?"
"And speaking for myself here, I thank you. And you can call me Sala-san, Kira-darren" Salamandine smiled sweetly at Kira, causing the man (yes, everyone surmised, he's clearly 100% honest to god male) blushed a bit at how cute her smile is.
Lacus felt a powerful urge to hit something… or rather someone, which is worsened when Kaguya gave her a meaningful nudge.
"Now then. The Empress awaits." Salamandine gestured her subordinates to open the door for their honored guests. As she signaled the guards to open the door, it was Hikari who had a premonition of something awful. She felt she had forgotten something, but she can't exactly remember what it was…
"Hikari?" Noticing her friend's troubled state, Kaguya asked in concern. "Something wrong?"
Hikari shook her head, and she was about to say everything's okay when the door was opened… and Hikari suddenly realized: nothing's okay.
There's Tianzi, all dressed up proper and ready to receive her guests…
…if not for the presence of several uninvited guests, consisting of Murata Azrael himself… and Kage, still in chains. The doppelganger twin daemons fidgeted nervously in their seat, giving the subtlest of glances at their master as well as the person they are impersonating, screaming for help in their silence. Kira can only exchange uneasy glances at Hikari.
"Ah, welcome, Kira Yamato. Mrs. Hikari. We've been expecting you. Come. Sit. Please join us."
Salamandine herself was clearly far from pleased at this situation. "Wha… Naga! Kaname! What's the meaning of this?"
Sala's two subordinates frettingly reported. "I'm terribly sorry Salamandine-darren. They just barged in and… and…"
"I'm sorry; I don't recall Tien zi-chan ever invited YOU, Azrael!" Kaguya was the only one in that room to find her voice.
"Apologies. It's just that, given the gravity of the situation and that the trial got pushed to tomorrow, I took the liberty of… rushing things a bit."
That doesn't change the fact things is still dire for Kira. And it was a complete blunder on Lacus. She was so busy monitoring all her other Haros, she didn't notice the twins had been taken away from their cell. Fortunately they still maintain their Kage disguise. Still… impersonating the man's exterior is one thing, copying his mannerisms and everything else is a different story entirely. And Lacus can't give control of Lea and Rea to Kira without being indiscreet. Which means…
Lacus gulped. '…time to put my study of Kira's psychology to the test.'
With little choice, the three took their seat. Hikari and Kira sandwiched Kage in the middle whilst Kaguya sat right next to Lacus, keeping her away from Murata. That said, the meeting can finally begin in the earnest.
"Now then." Tien Zi began. "Tell me your story, Kira-darren."
And Kira began regaling his tale. It was amazing that he managed to keep his tone casual, despite the tense atmosphere. But then, he finally managed to finish the story on a neutral note. He was even able to alter the story slightly, withholding key details that a pretended third party could never know to make it as if he was never there, but it didn't change the story by the slightest. And then a Hikari controlled 'Kage' continued the story to its end whilst filling in the blanks. No altercation was necessary nor any details omitted because Lacus was also there in person. Alas, that was just the easy part.
"I see…" Murata nodded. "So that's what happened…"
"This is outrageous…" Tienzi was even less pleased. "…was that really a conduct becoming of a minister of Logos!?"
"I certainly did not think so." Murata swiftly followed. "I'd say good riddance, Mr. Kage."
Kira swallowed to hide his panic. 'Kage' did not answer, but he merely shrugged uncomfortably. Apparently Lacus had yet to give the doppelganger any instruction on what to say in response.
"Mr. Kage?" Murata repeated.
Kira was sorely tempted to respond in the doppelganger's place when Kage spoke. "…Hikari… once said something like this." The Ninja glanced slightly at the armored doctor. "There's no bad son in this world. Only bad parenting." Kage stared at Azrael and the Empress. "…Alejandro Corner… became the man he is today… because his parents taught him to be as such. I mean… Mr. Azrael, you yourself saw what kind insufferable wretch Corner the senior was. Between that… and a hard childhood of being chased around by Zaft assassins… both factors hardly qualify to what I would consider a happy childhood, which translate into an adult with a somewhat warped sense of being."
The two listeners gawked. This Kage, contrary to his earlier murderous self, was not only mild mannered and meek, but also very, very soft spoken. It's like a 180 degree character change. They began to wonder if it's the same person behind that mask.
Kira's eyes twitched.
"Excuse me… you lopped his head off… and earlier on you were just about to kill his father… and you actually sympathize with their family?" Azrael frowned.
"I was angry at the time. I still am, actually." Kage growled. "He poisoned my men, sabotaged my army, nearly killed my girlfriend… for all that… he'll have no mercy from me." The anger made this 'Kage' now appear more like the Kage from before, and thus the suspicion was alleviated. "Still, I had time to sit and finally calm down in my cell. Quite frankly… I'm surprised you didn't sympathize with their plight, Mr. Azrael. You, of all people."
"Me of all people?"
"Every Advanced in the world hates your family to the bone." Kage remarked. "We're talking about hatred so profound, they swore they will never rest until the last of Azrael are dead and buried. Even in the worst case scenario where the Alliance has been completely beaten and Zaft ruled the peaceful desolation of what remained, they will not stop until the name Azrael was erased from the world forevermore."
Everyone winced. But Murata's facial features hardly budged. Lacus found this extremely suspicious. She also noted that the sound of the man's heart beat hardly affected a sign that he was not the least bit intimidated… ' Either because he's used to it… or…' As a noble born who had her fair share of assassination attempts, Lacus had her own suspicion.
"I do sympathize." Azrael replied calmly. "But what he's done is inexcusable. Especially in such times."
"Which brings me the question… why do I have to put up with this… bullshit of a farce?" 'Kage' almost said nonsense, but the doppelganger figured some profanity from Kira's less than sterling arsenal of vocabulary might made the impersonation more convincing. Plus… Kira had made it absolutely clear on what he thinks of his own trial. "…don't tell me now… that you intend to make a political, or worse yet, business game out of this?" Kage glared to intensify the depth of his question to the Logos minister.
Azrael merely shrugged. He did not answer but merely took a sip of his wine. "My dear Captain Kage, I fear you and I have gone on a wrong foot because this misunderstanding as well as Corner's heinous actions. At this point there's little I can do about it, so I will wait it out. Still… I will start by saying that you are right. Normally, I would definitely try to make a political profit out of this… And I'm afraid… like it as not, when you murdered Corner, you've sent out a ripple that will influence every aspect in China… including political and economical sector. It's hard NOT to take a political and indeed economical standpoint on this case. But just this instance… speaking for myself here, there's nothing political about it. I only wish to see justice served by making sure you survive this ordeal, Captain Kage."
"Why do you care so much if I live or die?"
"Your drive. As I've I said before, I'm a great admirer of your work and you asked what part of what you do is admirable? I will tell you. Your drive. Your zeal to stop at nothing to accomplish what you set out to do." Azrael stated. "What do you think of the Alliance today? Rena had a word for it, and it's quite apt in my opinion: useless overglorified lapdogs, if I'm not mistaken."
Azrael continued: "Once, a long time ago, the Alliance was a powerful world spanning military force. Nothing like the superhuman samurais with their Spartan regiment or the Advanced which rely excessively on their special abilities, no… They were merely a mass of men, normal, ordinary men, pooling the strength of their backs and joining the sweats of their brows to accomplish wonders."Azrael narrowed his eyes down in frustration. "In comparison to that… the current alliance is just… pathetic."
"I do believe Rena is doing something about that?"
"She is. But all due respect to the great general… it's not enough. She's a woman. No matter how bad ass of a warrior she is, glass ceiling will still hit her at some point. She needs help." Azrael shrugged at Kage. "She needs your help. No matter how much she would deny it."
"Yes, she needs help. (koff)" Hikari suddenly started. "But not in more fighting or anymore of that bad assery. (koff) What she needs is time to calm down. (koff)"
Azrael showed a quick but visible show of dislike when Hikari suddenly joined the conversation. "Excuse me? I believe we haven't been introduced?"
"I'm Dr. Hikari. (Koff) Kage's partner, personal physician… and girlfriend. (koff)." She quickly added.
"Ah, I see. A doctor. Yes, yes, I understand. And what's your take on the current situation, my good doctor?"
Hikari shrugged. "…I've talked with the General. I see a woman living in the world of rage and hatred." Hikari looked at Kage, and in extension Kira. "I don't know what manner of misfortune befell upon her in the past. But I do know it has been going on for a very long while, and no one… has ever tried to address it. Or, she was so steeped in it, she pushed away those who could and would."
"War… is not a gentle place my dear doctor."
"Truly. But they are still fought by humans." Azrael is trying to trip her. A doctor, commenting on war? Hikari clasped her hands in a professional manner. He's about to get sorely disappointed. "I am Hikari. The Light of the Shadow. There's a reason why Shadow must always be accompanied by Light."
"And that would be…?"
"Kage is a designation for Orb's top ninja agent." Hikari interjected. "He will take missions no sane man would even dream of undertaking. Missions that will take enormously inhuman physical and mental toll on one's being. The burden would've killed him ten times over, and yet once a mission was over, another begins. But Kage isn't just some agent. He's a national hero. He's a subject to expectations and traditions of his people, even if he's weary of broken minded, he must remain the hero people expect him to be. That's why they have to assign me as his partner. Because once the mission is over, it's my job to put him back together for the next."
"My good doctor, I'm afraid I don't follow…"
"This war is the same. War is fought by humans. Living breathing humans with limited physical and emotional durability. No matter how good a warrior, how strong, how tough… or how… bad ass… they are… to me they're just another human being. Even though I can put Kage back together every time he was torn apart, there will come a time… when he will reach that limit. When EVERYONE will reach his or her limit. You can't carry that much anger and hate forever… sooner or later… anyone would be weary."
"And you think General Rena is weary?"
"I think everyone is. Not just the good general. Everyone. Alliance… and Zaft. They're tired. From physical sense, how many countries had been bankrupted to fund this war? How many people had died? Ask yourself, Mr. Azrael. Even with you being such an economical powerhouse… how long can you go, exactly?"
And Salamandine and her guards went from frowny face… to officially impressed with the girl in the armor for that very strong, very clever argument. That really SHUT the man right up. Azrael realized his plan to trip the doctor had failed, so he'll just come plain. "You're right. It does takes its toll. But I do not regret it. This is to the death. This fight is for the survival of our species into the future. Not just for the people currently living in this age, but for the children that will soon come. If I have to spend every cent I have today for the sake of the future… that's fine by me. My children will understand."
His words are gentle and suave. But as Kira tried to analyze this man, he sensed something else.
"But what I'm truly concerned about is that what would happen… when after everything is spent, when I no longer had anything else to contribute… and it's not yet over? That's why it's imperative for me that Captain Kage… and Captain Rena, worked together to end this war. Quickly. And the right way. For our children… and their children as well."And Hikari had to snort. "Does the good doctor found that notion as hilarious?"
"It's funny you mentioned children… because that's the next part of the fact I'm about to explain to you all. Children. And this will interest you. Because this time, I'm not talking about anyone's children, I'm talking about Zaft's children." Hikari shrugged at Azrael, who for once, showed genuine interest. "The same situation that befell the Alliance also goes for Zaft as well. Monetary issue aside… they're running out of men and resources." Hikari continued. "I spoke earlier of physical burden, now I will explain the emotional one. The older generation who fought this war from the start is already weary. New generations took over the reins of this war with lesser and lesser understanding on why. With adults trying to lessen the horrors of war with tales of glory and honor… the current bulk of Zaft's army… are youths… who are more thrill seekers than warriors. They don't do it for their nation, they don't do it for honor… they do it for their personal glory… for the FUN of it." Hikari raised to her feet to stress her point.
"How is that an emotional burden?" Tianzi asked in genuine curiosity.
"…moral degeneration. War has become something so routine, they're starting to forget the horror of the concept. Not one of the Zaft knights who lived today were born when the Alliance performed the… 'Miracle work'… which I prefer to call it for what it really is: racial genocide. The hatred they carry as they first entered the battle is but a hatred that was passed on to them by tales of their predecessor, who in turn gets it from their predecessor as well. Generations after generations… and suddenly: hate your enemies because they are enemies became norm. Glory-hounds deluded by illusions of grandeur. What, do you imagine, would become of such people when the first shots are fired and people start dying all around them?"
"You're saying Zaft is… declining into such state?"
"I think the whole world is." Hikari retorted. "Do not mistake my telling of Zaft's poor state of society as a sign that your side is any better, Mr. Azrael. Dare I say, they could be worse, based on what I've seen." Hikari stated coldly, momentarily diminishing Azrael's gleam. "I have the proof RIGHT here." And Hikari, to the surprise of all, pointed at Kage.
"Y… Your own boyfriend?" Azrael blinked.
"If you can call this my boyfriend." Hikari glared, first at Azrael. "I know you were trying to trip me earlier, Mr. Azrael. You were trying to question what do a doctor know of war? Right on the money you are, for I AM a consummate doctor. I see everything, even war, from a medical standpoint. I only knew well enough what I had to of war. And I can tell that you were also wondering how is it I know so much of Zaft? You have Kage to thank for this knowledge. A long time ago, there was a time where Kage lived on Zaft. An undercover mission to gather as much information as he could regarding Zaft."
"Oh…" Azrael smiled in admiration at the black clad nin. And for once, the admiration was genuine.
"Unfortunately… the mission proved far more grueling than he had anticipated." At this, Lacus frowned to Kira. "…it cost him much… far too much. I remember sending away a man I can respect and admire. What I get back… was a broken shattered shell of a man."
Azrael began eying Kage with renewed sense of recognition, finally realizing that Kage's value had just doubled, if not tripled. "My condolences for what Zaft did to you-"
And Lacus, in a very rare moment, was furious as she understood the meaning of Azrael's excitement. He didn't even see Kage as a human, but an asset that he must acquire. "Spare me your condolences. The Alliance are not blameless on this." Hikari growled. "Kage had time to calm down. Wounds heal, scars fade… he was well on the mend until the Alliance showed up at his door. Years of painstaking work of putting him back together, and in less than a few months, the Alliance transformed him into this monstrosity as you see before you now."
"I think you're starting to take this too personally, Doctor."
"How can I not? This is my boyfriend." Hikari's fury was genuine. "But if we are going to be objective… I consider what happened to him as a template of what the children of this world will become if things continue as they are. When in the more peaceful era parents would scorn children for violence, suddenly, in this era they found that not only violence was not punished, they were rewarded and encouraged. Their emotional stability, twisted. Their moral compass warped. Tell me. What kind of future will be built by such broken generation?"
Suddenly, it became obvious by everyone that what supposed to be a meeting with the Empress had somehow devolved into a personal debate between Hikari and Azrael.
"Which brings me back to my point. The world… everyone is already weary. They may not show it, they may not wish to admit it, in fact they may not even realize it… but they are weary and tired. Tired of enmity and hostility of a war for a cause they no longer even understand. Tired of death and destruction that corrupted entire generations." Hikari turned to Tien Zi this time. "More and more people, like me, are beginning to realize this. More and more people are beginning to question… the effectiveness of war as a solution to these centuries of enmity between the two races."
Azrael suddenly realized where the doctor is going towards. She was one of those Advanced sympathizer. "Doctor… I feel it's weird, if not improper, that you speak of the possibility of peace with the Advanced… when there's a huge invasion coming towards us as we speak. An invasion, which I'd like to point out, was launched by the Advanced."
"An invasion which is the retaliatory strikes against all the harm Kage had dealt to Zaft. And Kage was exceedingly good at what he does, because he was motivated by his hatred of them, born from the all wrong he had endured during his last mission. It's a vicious cycle." Hikari scoffed. And then she addressed the Empress, who seem to have been rendered silent all this time. "Kira… called me a doctor. He's not wrong… but he's not entirely accurate either. I'm a Medic Nin. Which means: I'm a doctor yet I'm also a fully trained cold blooded killer. I can be more terrifying than an army executioner if the muse ever strikes me. Feel free to reconsider if you really want to take up Kira's offer of keeping me at your side in the face of this fact, your majesty." Hikari shrugged at the Empress. Tienzi merely rolled her eyes in bewilderment, whilst the rest of the imperial guards now had a slight tinge of fear amidst their look of admiration at Lacus. "Now… amongst the many medical studies I took, one of them… was the psychological study of killers. Conventionally, we were to study the killers: their motives, their methods… I took it backwards. I studied the victims."
"And in my research, I found something… weird. No. I mean, funny. In many cases of genocide and mass murder that happened in war, most people tend to lay the blame for the killer. They blame them for the murder, the loss of their significant ones. The pain, the agony. They blamed the culprit for what they've done and what they've caused. That is their question: What. In anger, people tend to forget to ask the most important question: why the killer did it." Hikari laughed sarcastically. "I say it's funny because in the end, they tend to finally ask why, AFTER the killer has been punished. And when they do find out why… most of them ended up understanding, even sympathizing with the killer."
Kira twitched. Somehow, he had a feeling Lacus meant this for him.
"Are you saying the victims, all the dead, all those who had suffered losses are to blame for the misfortune that befell them when cold blooded killers and psychopaths fell upon their family for the sheer fun of it?" Azrael rebuked.
"You're misinterpreting my opinion. But I'll let it slide. Call me naïve if you will, Mr. Azrael, but I know for a fact: humans are not born to end the life of another." Hikari remained steadfast. "When a person became a killer, the first thing they kill is not the person whose life they take. The first thing they kill is their own heart. Their conscience. Those… psychopaths and cold blooded killers you had in mind, Mr. Azrael…? Did you know that 80% of them used to be victims themselves? I've met my share of them. Interviewed them up close, even spending time with them when they're in a strait jacket… or not. Hell… in case everyone had yet to notice: my boyfriend is a psychopath himself." Hikari jerked her thumb at Kage. "And he himself admit it. Am I wrong, boyfriend mine?"
"No." Kage answered easily.
"As for the remaining 20%, they are broken down to those who really don't know what else to do, job oriented, and there also those who felt they were forced to. A very small percentage… probably less than one, was those who really enjoyed what they're doing. And even these, I believed, is not beyond help." Hikari quickly added. "That is of course, if you had gotten to them on time."
"I think we're getting off track here. This is quite a separate issue with the current crisis."
"No. I consider them linked. And I thank you, Mr. Azrael, for giving me the opportunity to finally explain why." Hikari quickly interjected before Azrael can expand his opinion. "This war… between Zaft and Alliance started the same way with everything else: with a grievance. Zaft and Alliance both think themselves the victim. Both think the other side is the killers. Who is killer who is victim? How many people had died to answer this question? How many more must die?" Hikari made her point as she stand and speak. "I've studied both the killers and victims… over time… I'm proud to say I've failed to understand the distinction between the two. The killer was as much a casualty as the victim. For whatever reasons, both had failed to stop at a crucial and important time to repeatedly ask themselves: WHY. Why must I kill this person, why must I hate this person? They didn't realize it until at last they went past that threshold, that one line they shouldn't cross… and suddenly, when the haze was lifted, they looked back… and they've realized they've become something they're not. Something they hate."
"I've said it before at the beginning, and it bears repeating: what we need… what everyone need is time to calm down. We've rushed through a path of carnage and violence. We all think that it is the only road that we should take. But if we stop. If we just take one moment… to look back and see what we were… and then see what we are becoming. When we are weary, we stop. We rest. And then we can think. We are at an important point in our history as a species. A point where we have a chance to stop. This point… this moment… is the intersection. The point where we, as a race, must stop and think on which road to take – do we continue as we are now, and make the same mistake, over and over… or we take this one opportunity… an opportunity made by the blood of so many before us and choose a different path, towards a different future?"
The audience in that room is virtually speechless in awe. Hikari's oratory is not loud, nor beautifully toned (thanks to her mask) but the words she chose were powerful and infused with no small amount of courage and conviction. Tienzi's silence was no longer that of an intimidated child… but an awed Empress.
While everyone is overwhelmed and silenced by Hikari's words, 'Kage' gave a few meaningful glances at Kira. The twins are running out of things to say, and they could use the help. Already Kira knew what to do, so he covered his mouth with clasped fingers.
Meanwhile, Azrael clearly dislike the way Hikari is swaying the audience her way. He had broke into this meeting in hope to catch everyone unprepared… instead he's being bullrushed by this doctor… who clearly is not who she seems. He tried to regain control. "Then what do you suggest we do when 1 million plus Advanced Knights arrived at our doorstep? Opening a dialogue will not stop their rain of arrows and cannonballs."
"At that point, Mr. Azrael, it'll be my job." Finally Kage retorted.
Azrael looked at Kage in disbelief. "Kage… are you telling me you agree with this… overly optimistic pipe dream of peace talks?"
"I'll say. It is overly optimistic. My girlfriend can be a little bit of an… idiot." 'Kage' choked, Lacus rolled her eyes at Kira, the one truly saying the words, who merely shrugged. "I'll grant you that much, she knew absolutely nothing about the nature of war. But can you blame her? Like you said: she's a doctor not a warrior. It's not her job to fight battles. She did not understand that sometimes, while beautiful words can sway hearts and minds, you still need some sharp blades to make your point through." Kage glared at Hikari. "And that different future you speak of. Are you really that naïve? Even if you can solve one issue and bring peace… another will rise… mankind will always try to find a reason, any reason to start the fighting again. It's in our nature."
Kage turned to Azrael. "…I'm a warrior, Mr. Azrael. And we are in the middle of a war, where I've fought and killed countless people. Everyone from your side called me a hero, because this is a war. It is the only time warriors can truly be useful, the only time they can be loved. But outside wars, they'll deem us murderers, and killers." Kira whispered the word under his breath, and 'Kage' relayed it all. "I'm not a peace making idiot like my girlfriend here… and I don't think I'll ever understand how can she be so…" Kira gave Lacus the stare. "…ridiculously positive and idiotically naïve to the point of silly, all the time. So I don't think I'll be able to ever support her in her beliefs." Azrael looked like he was about to say anything, but Kage quickly interjected: "But at the very LEAST… I can respect her beliefs. And in that respect, I can honestly and rationally say, her vision of peace is not some pipe dream."
Lacus' heart beats a slight faster as her eyes gleamed.
Azrael on the other hand, looked more displeased than ever at this development.
"It is a future that can be realized if we try to get there. I think it's a future worth believing, it's worth fighting for, and it's a future this world deserves after all the crap we put it through." Kage tilted. "But that future ain't for the likes of us." He glared at Azrael. "I know what you wanted me to say. I'll just be blunt. An invasion is coming. And you are right: words can no longer stop it. In that case, I will fight it. And God help those who stand against me. But if in the midst of all that madness… someone, anyone… found a miraculous way to stop it all without further bloodshed… then I will step aside and stand by their side. And God help anyone who'll stand in their way then."
To say Azrael was disappointed… would be an understatement. The mask of professional smile he always wears crumbled slightly, and his expression of dislike was terrible to behold. "I… I suppose… I picked the wrong time to bring this up after all."
"Don't blame us, you're the one who forced your way into this meeting uninvited." Kaguya chortled.
Azrael finally stood up, preparing to leave. He looked mournfully at Kage. "I thought… you of all people would…"
"Understand?" Kage sighed. "I've told you before… don't hold your breath. When you're so used to hearing lies, you've lost the ability to 'understand' people's reasoning."
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In the end, the meeting ended abruptly on a rather sour note as soon as Azrael left. The atmosphere suddenly became very awkward and unpleasant. Tienzi originally had intended to have but a nice civil conversation with Kira and his companions, but that impromptu debate weighed her conscience, it had reminded her of the severity of the current predicament, and thus civil conversation in such times is not exactly appropriate. Even if it wasn't, she was no longer in the mood. With a heavier heart than when she first began, Tienzi ordered the meeting adjourned. Kage was to be escorted back to his cell, Kira and Hikari are to be afforded the highest of courtesies as the Empress' guests of honor, and the Imperial Guards were swiftly reprimanded by Xingke who found out about this incident just a little later. The poor panic attacked man looked like he's about to spit blood as he shouted abuse in his angry sermon to his sister, and the rest of the negligent imperial guards, with a volume that can be heard several halls away.
Salamandine's ears are still ringing when she returned to her Empress' side. When she did, she found the young empress in a state of depression. "Your majesty? Something wrong?"
"Sala…" Tienzi sighed. "…I'm… okay."
"…no, your Majesty… you're not." Sala pointed out. "Your majesty was so looking forward to talk to Kira-darren… but it wasn't Azrael hijacking the meeting that upset you, was it?"
"…" Tienzi frowned. "Can I speak freely?"
"If you would honor me?"
"…it is about Azrael barging in. But I'm not upset because of what he did. I'm upset… because at that meeting, everyone stands up to him. Everyone but me. I'm ashamed… I'm so ashamed."
"…"
"…how did they do that? Kage, Kira, and then Doctor Hikari too. Xingke told me I should try to learn their courage… but how did they do that? Where on earth did they summon that courage?"
"If I may speak freely, your majesty?"
"Please."
"In my opinion, Kira-darren, Kage-darren, and Hikari-sensei all had one thing in common. Conviction. These are people who truly believed in what they're doing, they know what they had to do, and thus they have the courage to walk that path." Salamandine solemnly stated. "Your majesty, deep down, you had always yearned for such a path. To have something you truly believed in. But in the end, conviction and beliefs is not something you were born with. It's something you have to find."
"But my path was set. I was to be the Empress-"
"Your majesty, for this case, I think you should do yourself a favor and forget about the path that was set for you. The people you saw were able to move along that path without doubt or fear because that path is what they chose for themselves."
"What about you, Salamandine? You're the head of the Imperial Guard… did you choose this?"
"Well… more or less I was influenced by my brother. But… he never forced me. I chose this."
"You chose this because you want to stay close to your brother."
"Guilty as charged. I can honestly say I don't regret it, but… there's also a part of me who wondered what it'll be like if I didn't have a brother to care for." Tienzi gave her a look, but Salamandine merely cackled. "Tee-hee! No… It's not like that! It's just… I can't help it sometimes. My brother is a genius. But… you know what they say about geniuses? They're often alone. Every time I saw my brother… I always perceive that air of… loneliness. And there's little I can do to help."
"But…?"
"But then… they came. One after another. Kira-darren, his brother Kage, the doctor Hikari… I can tell. Geniuses. All of them. Geniuses in their own way. For the first time, I get to see my brother to finally have someone he can relate to at an eye to eye level. Someone who is his equal in intellect and conviction, someone he can actually call friend. That's what I can surmise when I saw the way his feet levitate a few inches above the ground when he waltzed off a little earlier."
"You're saying Xingke's… happier with them here?" When they suddenly moved to that subject, Tienzi could barely conceal her excitement. The last time an outsider made things from worse to better, in the end only Tienzi that emotionally benefitted from Kaguya's company. That now Xingke had the opportunity to finally be at ease if only for a while…
And Salamandine, knowing the empress' little crush for Xingke, clearly appreciate how much she valued her brother. "Well… he certainly is a lot more at ease around them. Especially that cook, Kira." Salamandine can barely hide her slight blush.
Something that Tienzi didn't fail to notice. "Well… maybe… if we can convince Kira-san's to stay here… Xingke won't be the only one feeling much better?"
Salamandine snapped to attention, and his face turned redder than even her pink clothes. "I… well… maybe… yeah… maybe…"
"Well… it's going to be hard. Corner tried and his brother said no, and Kira himself said no… and then we had all that… all this…"
"Well… one thing for sure is that… if we are going to persuade him, we won't even consider taking on hostages."
Tienzi actually chuckled.
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Regardless, that was way too close to call for Kira and Lacus. Kira breathes again as soon as he takes his place… in his cell, as Kage, once more. Lea and Rea took Kira's place in return. "And here I think I'll stay until this ridiculousness reached its final stupidity."
"Why do I get the feeling you're treating this as a game?" Hikari removed her helmet for once and Lacus barked. There's no one else in that prison, Kaguya had made sure to keep that section empty, giving the two some private time alone.
"Is it not?" Kira snorted. "Politicians, businessmen playing the game of politics and cash flow. Something that is right up your alley, I suppose?"
"Truly. But what I do take issue, is that it's your life that is on the line." Lacus glared angrily across the bar. "And the fact that you didn't give a damn about that fact makes me even more furious. Why did you say that?"
"Say what?"
"Back with Lord Matias Adukarf and then now. You were once asked if you have a vision for the future. I know you lied when you said you never think that far. The reason you didn't think about it is because… you never even considered a future with you still in it, aren't you?" Kira's answer was to turn his silent back on her, but Lacus knew she was right. Kira always projected that his quest, succeed or fail, will eventually lead him to his death.
And Lacus, not for the first or the last, understand the gravity of what Kira had been doing. Throughout his military career, Kira had killed so many of his own kind. He's doing an exceedingly good job at it because he has a talent unlike anything the world has ever seen. But that was never his true calling. That was never what he wanted to do. It tortured him. Plagued him with so much guilt, Kira had all but lost sight of the value of his own life. This is what she meant when the killer is as much victim as the killed. 'Just like Lord Veia… just like me… just like everybody else's.' But what makes this especially painful for Lacus is because Kira understands the value of living to the fullest better than anyone. It's not an opinion, it's a fact. "…Kira?"
Kira frowned. "…I always knew. Somewhere… deep inside me… before Terminal, even before Junius… there's always that… monstrous side of me. Terminal… merely brings out what's already there. And look what I did to the world with it. I tore it apart. And I barely started." Kira looked at his hands. "Why should you care if I live or die?"
Lacus felt the strong urge to scream, but she didn't even know what she should say, and the volume died in her throat. "And who was it that once taught me to live when I want to die?"
"…I'm not trying to die, Lacus, in case you're wondering." Kira shrugged. "And I certainly don't want to die. Not like this. No. I will fight. I will struggle. I will claw my way to stay alive. I will do that to the very end. The thing is… I think we both know how it'll end." Kira chuckled. "They say there's a special place in hell for the stuff I've done. When I killed my first Advanced… that was the day I stopped caring. My hand is already stained by the blood of my own kin, why should I care anymore what methods I used? When the end comes and I die, I'm going to hell and I'm gonna drag a lot of people with me."
"Kira, it doesn't have to be like that!" A very distressed Lacus gripped the bars tight, as if wanting to tear it open. "We have a choice. We always have a choice. And it's never too late to turn away from one choice, even when you think you've already gone too far to turn."
"…but I have." Kira still showed his back. "Too far to turn. This invasion coming here was called here because of me. Words won't be enough. All because of what I've done. They'll never forgive me for this."
"Why not? I did." Lacus's tone was strained now, the girl was trying her best not to cry.
And for the first time, Kira's stoic back jerked in response. He turned around to see Lacus face to face. He gasped when he saw her eyes, gleaming on the verge of tears.
"You killed Lord Veia… and I still forgive you, didn't I?" She smiled desperately.
Kira's chest tightened upon seeing that heart wrenching expression. His hands twitched, tempted to bring it up to her face and… Kira closed his eyes to remove her from his sight. If he looked at her any longer, his resolve might break. His expression darkened again as his eyes hardened. "…I wonder will you still be able to say those words… when I kill your sister."
Lacus gaped.
"Your sister will doubtlessly be a part of that invasion force… and I can just about imagine she'll be the fiercest of the lot. How many of my men will she kill before she get you back, I wonder?"
Lacus looked at Kira in horrified anger. Her eyes were no longer on the verge of crying, but the sadness is still there. "You're a terrible, conniving, manipulative bastard." She chuckled sarcastically. "You would play on my conscience so that I will return to my sister faster? Were you that desperate to get rid of me?"
Kira merely glared back. "…yes."
"…" Lacus wanted to retort but something stuck in her throat and she just couldn't muster a response. As he wished, she turned around and leave. But just before she left through the door, she halted. She turned one last time at Kira, hoping he would say something to stop her. But Kira merely turned his back on her again.
Lacus bit her lips to stop herself from crying. "You're a terrible liar."
And Kira's expression… was surprisingly worse off.
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In a blink of an eye, the night passed by. And the morning of the trial arrived. A pair of grim faced troopers arrived at Kage's cell. "Prisoner, step away from the door."
Kage perked. "About damn time."
Kage was put in chains as the troopers drag him to the court room. It was a large circular room, with two floors: a ground floor and a circular overlooking balcony on top, filled with chairs arranged to face the center of that room, which is that pedestal. Fully ¾ of the ground floor was filled with chairs meant for juries, but the remaining ¼ was reserved for the Judge, notary, and other important officials of the court, including parties involved to this case. While the room is mostly white with the usual Chinese style dragon decorations on existing pillars, the pedestal alone was black. Also, said pedestal was placed inside a giant and grotesque brazier, barely enough room for a single person to fit in there. That's where all criminals will be seated, and that's where Kage was seated.
Kage had some time to look around. The whole room was fully booked, it seems. He saw only strangers filling the seats of the juries. And then he locked eyes with Corner's sitting on the plaintiff seat. Exchanging moments of brief but pure hatred with one another, Kage quickly turned away to the guests seat, where he see a lot more familiar faces, including some which he had to take note of. Mwu, Murrue, Jane, and Rena were seated up there. And then there's Hikari on one side, Kaguya, Master Bull, and then Azrael, George and Kirihara on the other. But of greater interest, along with the Logos that he does know, there were a bunch of people with a similar air of self importance.
There are all ladies and gentleman, smartly dressed with lavish embellishments… almost out of place. Though some seem was so out of place amidst this assemblage… they seem to be more real than the others.
"Sir Hellsing. I did not expect you, of all people, to take interest in this kind of event." One of the Logos minister asked said person.
"Well, some things as interesting as this is what makes life worth living." Sir Hellsing was rather out of place amongst his peers by the garb he wears. While the rest dressed like a businessman with their dress and top hats, he wears a thick ragged black trench coat that had seen better years, as do the cowboy hat covering his grey ragged hair. Not to mention the fleas flying all over it. To Kage's eyes, he looked more like a weary and hardened old man rather than a businessman. 'Hellsing?'
"The court is now in session. All rise!"
The whole court rose to their feet as the judge of the court arrived. He was expecting Tienzi, and indeed there she was… but she was also accompanied by another man, dressed with a simple Chinese garb, with an illustration of a horse depicting it. The man took a center seat as befit his place as the presiding Judge whilst Tienzi, symbolically take a side seat, but right next to the Judge.
"By the blessing of her majesty, the Empress, the chair now belongs to venerable lord Cheng, Master Horse, Supreme Judge of China's imperial court." The announcer back away once he finished the introduction.
"Let the accused stand forth." The Judge declared.
Kage stand calmly in his cage.
"Commander Captain Kage of the 7th division, this court accused you of first degree murder of Alejandro Corner and high treason. How do the defendants plea?"
Answering that was not Kage, who rolled his eyes at the word high treason. Instead, a balding, short, and chubby man spoke up. "Umm… uh… the defendant… um…" The man was trying to say something but only ended up fretting and even dropping his files out of sheer nervousness… and eventually ended up saying absolutely nothing. The commotion is what finally made Kage notice the man's presence.
"Excuse me?"
"Aaah!" The man jumped as if Kage's whispery voice just whipped a crack on his butt. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kage, sir! I'm… I'm…"
"Who… are you?" Kage asked.
"I… I'm Edmund Fudge, sir. I'm your lawyer, sir."
"My law-ah" Kage rolled his eyes. He looked up and saw Azrael smiling back. So this is what he meant with defendant. But this is… "Mr. Fudge? I know this is rude, but how long have you been a lawyer?"
"Objection!" Corner suddenly rose. "The accused hasn't been given a permission to spe-"
"And neither should this court be held in so rushed a manner, Corner." Kage glared back. "So fuck YOU sir. I'm talking to him, wait your fucking turn."
"Your honor, will you allow this man to use such boorish and hostile language in this sacred chamber of the law?"
The Master Judge took note of the obvious subjective hatred and sighed. "Master Kage. The court understood your background as a field officer. But what you're doing is as highly irregular as it is improper to the procedure. You must comply to the rules of this office, or I'm afraid I must treat you as hostile and remove you from this room."
"Your honor, we both now, what's happening right now is an attempt by a certain someone to perverse the law." Kage addressed the judge… with a distinctly contrast level of politeness than what he showed to Corner. "I mean… court rush? Standard procedure allows the prisoner at least an hour to talk with the lawyer that was supposed to defend him. Some time were supposedly allocated to the lawyer to familiarize himself with the case. Judging but what I see here…" Kage nudged his chin at Fudge, who's sweating buckets. "…the two of us had been denied all that by a corrupt system. If you truly are Master Horse, guardian of China's imperial law, will you at least allow me a five minute leeway?"
The audience blinked. Azrael above all was perplexed. Master Horse also began to realize. This Kage is not what he seems. "Indeed. Very well. The court will allow you five minutes of private conference with your lawyer. Guards, escort them to a private chamber-"
"There will be no need for that, your honor, Mr. Fudge and I can talk here just fine." Then Kage turned to a very nervous Fudge. "Now… back to my question… how long have you been a lawyer, Mr. Fudge?"
"Actually sir…" Fudge gulped. "You're my very first case." It seems he was scared that as soon as the answer escaped his lips, Kage would lop his head off. His very first case and he had to defend a psychopathic killer!?
"Oh. An amateur." Kage rolled his eyes. 'Azrael… are you trying to trip me or something?' "Fresh out of law school are you?"
"Y-Y-Yes sir."
"Hm. You could be of use. Did you bring any law book, any precedent cases, any written federal law book?"
Fudge blinked when he heard that Kage deemed him useful. "Actually sir…" A slightly calmer Fudge nevertheless gulped. "They informed me on such a short notice, I had no idea on what exactly is the case, so I brought all my law books with me." Fudge displayed what he brought: an entire briefcase stuffed to the brim with books and laws. "But I had most of the laws, and most of the precedent cases… in case I need them."
"That depends. Did you catalogue them properly? Can you find them and bring them out whenever I need them?"
"O… Of course sir." Fudge blinked. The masked man's voice is firm, but soothing. Something about it instill not only calmness, but also sense of purpose.
"Good. You could be useful. Just follow my instructions and be ready to bring them out as I speak them."
"Sir?"
"Calm down, Fudge. Calm down. You can do this. We can do this. Just stay calm. Will you help me, Fudge?"
"I… of course sir. Of course." By now, Fudge is a lot calmer than he first started.
"Good man." Kage turned to the Judge. "Alright. Your honor. We're ready to begin."
"Very well." The Judge Master banged his hammer. "Court is now in session! Once again, Captain Commander Kage of the 7th division. This court hereby charged you guilty of first degree murder and high treason. How do the defendant…" The Judge take one more look at the lawyer Fudge, and immediately changed his words: "How do you plea?" He correctly addressed Kage.
Kage was visibly pleased that the Judge asked the question to the right person this time. "Your honor… if you're accusing me of first degree murder, then I happily admit I'm guilty. As do all soldiers and warriors… and pretty much every poor bastard out there who would plea for self defense which sometimes results in the fatality of those who attacked them."
"You're plea is for self defense?"
"In a manner. Self defense is retaliating while you're in the middle of an assault. What I've done is already well beyond that. I went into the offense. Arguably Corner attacked me first, and I attacked him back to prevent future assaults. Lop the bastard's head off. It's self defense in advance." Kage slit his throat with a finger. Corner was visibly enraged. "And if you wish to call it first degree murder, go right ahead, I'm gladly guilty of that." Kage quickly followed. "But what I do take issue, is that you're accusing me of high treason? Treason against what, may I ask?"
"Against a superior officer."
"Superior officer." Kage sarcastically chuckled. "Superior Officer. Are you kidding me?"
"You found that notion hilarious?"
"I found that as outrageous as it is insulting to Alliance dignity." Kage spat. "Mr. Fudge. If you be so kind to help me a bit. In this case, what constitutional law is relevant… that we should follow in this trial?"
"Constitution… ummm…" Fudge quickly snapped to action. Just as he promised, he quickly produced a law book, flipped over its pages, and immediately determined a precedent case: "Based on the Edward v Billington case, in year 1x2x, in the case in which an Alliance officer is implicated, than the law that takes precedence is the Alliance Military Law… and then following that is the local government federal law which in this case would be China's federal law."
"Alright. Now. Based on Alliance Military Code, who is the superior officer of an Alliance Captain?"
Fudge immediately trudged his case and produced another lawbook. This time it's about Alliance laws and precedent cases. "Based on Tucker v Fajar case, year 15xx, an Alliance Captain's authority is superseded only by the Central Command. Otherwise, a Captain's authority is regional one. In the case of Guy v Alexander, a captain assigned outside his region must abide by the authority of the Captain in command of said region."
"Which is to say, my current Superior Officer is Rena Imelia." Kage nodded to Rena up in the balcony. "And what… Mr. Fudge if you would indulge me… what position did the Alliance afford a Logos minister? May I ask?"
Fudge quickly hurled himself into his books. It took him quite a while, and he went and deeper and deeper… as he trudged past older and older case and laws… until finally, he re-emerge with an almost crumbling case in his hand… and face as pale as death as he read its content. He did not answer Kage's inquiry for a very awfully long moment. Kage had to repeat his question. "Mr. Fudge?"
Fudge jumped. "Mr. Kage… this…"
"Mr. Fudge, I'll repeat my question and you must answer: what position, does the Alliance hold a Logos Minister, in this… and any case?"
Fudge gulped as his skin glistened with sweat. He finally starts reading the law in his hand out loud. "…precedent case… Azrael vs Shuterland."
Azrael perked in his seat. That was the case that brought down a law some several hundred years ago… from the time of his deranged patriarch, Calron Azrael.
"It stated… that from henceforth, Logos Minister will be held nothing more… than a local magistrate. Local magistrate, by definition, are those, who are civil servants of the region on which he was stationed upon, and thus, was forbidden to hold any real military power. In return, Captains must abide under the authority of local magistrates in civil concerns, but in extreme circumstances, such as war, local magistrates must abide, without question, to the authority of Captains, unless such magistrate has been given authority to do as such."
"Alejandro Corner is a Logos Minister." Kage glared. "For all intents and purposes, and more importantly, by Alliance code of law, Alejandro Corner is not a military commander. He used to be one… but he became a civilian, and as such, a local magistrate. And I think I speak for everyone here, we ARE in the middle of a war! Civil Magistrates, by code of the Alliance, must abide by the authority of us, ALLIANCE CAPTAINS. Unless of course, if General Rena had granted Corner some exceptions?"
"No. I have never any of such exceptions." Rena answered shortly while giving a fierce glare of her own to Corner… whose expression seem like a mixture between red anger or blue horror.
"Right. So, based on General Rena's answer, I'm to understand that Alejandro has not been given any special privileges. Thus his status as a Local Magistrate does not change." Kage glared. "So tell me again, WHY, am I accused of high treason, when I merely executing an insubordinate and treacherous Local Civil Magistrate… who's supposed to be obeying my authority!?"
Corner looked like he's about to have a coroner. His fingers gripped his armchair so tight he might as well crush it. His lawyer immediately try to take the field. "With respect your honor, my client's son is a respectable member of the community. While Captain Kage had a history of violent behavior, psychopathic tendencies-"
"Excuse me, I'm not finished yet, and I still have the floor, yet that gentleman over there is out of order!" Kage growled.
The Judge quickly banged the table with his gavel. "Master Kage, you have been heard. Mr. Corner, please wait your turn."
"Thank you." By thank you, Kage glared Corner's lawyer down to unnerving silence. "And to correct you, Mr… Larington, is it? I'm not a psychopath." He was referring to the lawyer. "I'm a HIGH functioning psychopath, and you may quote me on that."
The lawyer's eyes twitched. "S… should I be worried?"
"You should… you should…" Up there in the balcony, Mwu had finished all his sake trying to calm down.
"Somebody's been giving your boy some access to China's imperial archive I see." Rena had a good idea who.
"A… Are you threatening me, Mr. Kage?"
"No." Kage smiled. "I'm correcting your psychological analysis. I'm a psychopath, but a high functioning one. That is to say, if a psychopath in general take joy in the act murder, I too enjoy it. The difference being, I'm morally aware it's wrong to kill people in broad daylight. Which also means that I can't apply for the insanity plea." Kage chuckled. "But come now. We're not here to discuss my sanity. Mr. Fudge!" Kage barked an order now. And like a whipped dog, the terrified novice lawyer stood to attention.
"Y-y-y-y-yessir!'
"Find the law of Sherman vs Dudley, year 12x5 if you please!"
"Sh-shshsh-sherman v… uhhh…" For the first time, Kage asked him to search for a very specific case. Fudge quickly trudge his archive and found the said law. "Here it is!"
"Read it!"
"Ummm… the law… S-s-s-sherman v Dudley… s-s-s-s-stipulate… t-t-t-t" Kage gave Fudge a look, and that only made the situation worse for the stuttering man. "-t-t-t-tthat-" At the rate of the man's talking; he'll finish reading the case the next morning.
Rena choked upon hearing that particular case. "Mwu, that kid of yours is poking a hornet's nest!"
"What manner of instrument of chaos and destruction he just pulled out this time?" Mwu's stress is reaching an all new record: 10 bottles of sake and he's still sober and awake… in a court of law!
"Basically, that case formed a foundation to a certain article in the Alliance military law." Rena finally took over, much to the audience's surprise. "It revolves around the article: Vote of no Confidence. The article stipulates that when a certain faction within the Alliance was deemed unable to fulfill its function, or even worse, proved to be harmful to the interest of the Alliance in general, any Alliance officer has the right to move that vote against that faction. And if approved, an Alliance Officer was allowed to take extreme measures to right the wrong." Rena raised an eyebrow. "I know that one, because a long time ago, I moved that same vote against Harlbarton's leadership and the continued existence of the 7th division."
"Considering that I'm here, leading the 7th division, I'm gonna guess it didn't work out so well." Kage stated.
"But I think that law best describe your actions, Mr. Kage." Corner's lawyer hastily tried to take over the situation. "Mr. Corner is the head of the Corner's industry, one of the biggest… no, THE biggest industrial enterprise in China. And he's practically the base foundation that supported said industry, and YOU sir, just hacked that foundation clean off. How is it that your actions did not harm the Alliance's interest in the worst of ways?"
"Did I?" Kage raised his eyebrows. "How much your stocks in China are worth these days, Mr. Corner?"
And suddenly, everyone in that room was rendered utterly speechless. "Objection! That is a personal issue of my client! It has nothing to do with the current case."
"It has EVERYTHING to do with this case the moment you accused me of harming Alliance's interest by killing a has-been businessman." Kage retorted back. "You mentioned how Corner shaped the foundation of Businesses in China. In what way, exactly? Your son's hip deep in criminal activity to get by, you're moving your finance via IOUs. Alejandro Corner had, among other things, committed sabotage, espionage, even kidnapping… and don't get me started on his involvement with guns trafficking. The worst part is that it's not even negligence, but willful knowing actions." Kage glared. "In that regard, I, a seated officer of the organization the Alliance, moved my Vote of No Confidence on the entire Corner Dynasty's continued usefulness as an asset to the Alliance and indeed… China's interest in general." Corner's lawyer and Fudge was at total loss for words, they dropped their useless lawbook.
And in that instant the court room exploded in an uproar of yells and screams. Fudge didn't hear this commotion; he had long since passed out on his seat with foams spilling out of his frothing lips. The Master Judge futilely banged his gavel to no effect. Even his scream to have order in the chamber was outshouted. Some of the angry Logos ministers up above began throwing things at Kage, for all the damage pens, inkbottles, paper, and even spit pot, can inflict upon the caged Captain. But there are also some who were screaming "Vote now!", among other things. Finally, knowing this complete chaos is beyond salvaging, the Judge had no choice but to order the court adjourned, and for the convicted Captain to be escorted out.
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Master Horse retreated to his chamber, welcomed by a concerned Xingke. "Tiger… you have to be honest with me… where in heavens name did you find this guy?"
"Not me." Xingke shrugged. "Though I'll be honest with you, I mean… it's well within his right to have some of his… favorite books to be delivered to help the prisoner pass the time."
Master Horse merely laughed exasperatedly. He'd imagine some of those favorite books must've included some of the oldest and most critical law books stored away in the Forbidden Palace's imperial library. "Handing a loaded gun to an infant is one thing…. But using it properly is a different matter entirely. That man, is no baby. He's a gunslinger with a fully loaded gun in his hand. So… seriously… who was that man?"
"What do you mean?"
"He called himself a high functioning psychopath." The Judge shrugged. "Which is an elegant way of saying: I'm crazy, but I'm not stupid. I can't help but to agree. That man… I've been in the law enforcement business for 30 or so years… this man I put on trial… he's not just some military field man like Rena Imelia with all the bloods and guts. That's the man of the law. The way he's using cases and laws as a weapon like that…"
"You're saying he's a lawyer?" and Xingke couldn't believe he just consider that out loud.
"No. Lawyer has not that kind of flexibility of bending rules as bent as what he's done. Lawyers don't rock the boat by cutting a man's head off. I think he's more like… a beat cop."
Xingke rolled his eyes. 'Cook, killer, strategist, commander, and now lawman…!? One of these days I had to ask if there is anything he CAN'T do?'
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Knock, knock…
'Kira' opened the door and to find a fidgeting Salamandine right there, who seem rather surprised… or pleased that he welcomed the door. "Oh, Sala-san? Can I help you?"
"Ahh… I'm sorry… I was looking for Ms. Hikari?"
"Ah." Kira glanced over his shoulder. "Can it wait? Milady isn't exactly in the best of moods right now." Kira showed that Hikari was sulking in the corner.
"Milady?" Sala blinked.
'Ah, oops.' That was a mistake on the twins. They forgot they're still in disguise. And Kira would probably never call Lacus milady. "Yeah. Well… 'Milady'… because as you can see… she's in her Drama Queen episode."
"Oh." Sala rolled her eyes. So. He's just being witty. "Well… his boyfriend is in trouble… but he then went and kicked up a storm like that… is that why he's upset?"
"Well… yes, and no. My Brother is being his usual self AKA a class A jerk. And uhh… let's just say… they had a falling out." 'Kira' smirked. "The normal world shattering level of quarrel between lovers. That sort of things. It happens."
"I suppose." Sala nodded. But then she keeps eying at Kira, longing evident, and her heart rate kind of spiked… something that the super hearings of a very annoyed Lacus didn't miss.
"Kira, are you going to just stand there or are you gonna take the nice lady out or in!? (koff)"Hikari groaned.
"Oops." 'Kira' gulped. "Ahh… well that depends on you, Hikari-san."
"…" Now normally, Hikari would let the poor lady in… but after what she had went through with Kira… the real one, it really left her in less than charitable mood. Plus the girl's longing for Kira (Kira, not Kage) couldn't be more evident. "Actually… (koff) If she's here to talk about your brother… (Koff) Why don't you go take her to a stroll? (koff) I've had enough of Kage… (koff) for a few lifetimes. (koff)" She groaned and she's back to her sulking in the corner.
'Kira' rolled his eyes. 'Well… wow. She's really pissed to the high heavens.' "Well… there she goes sulking again, the Queen has spoken. Excuse the rudeness, you're not welcome at the moment. I mean… you were trying to talk about my brother, aren't you?"
"…yeah. Indeed I am… but you know…" Sala shrugged. "Maybe I'll talk to you after all… may I?"
Sala happily walked around with Kira. Inside though, the twins sweat buckets. Lacus left them in charge of their own behavior, there's no longer the original one to rely on… Now they have to rely on what they have. Lea and Rea are Greater Daemons of Doppelganger. That is to say that little doppelganger creep in Junius is like a firefly to their volcano. Their disguise is immaculate, they can absorb all sorts of information from their subject without even touching them, allowing them to become perfect immaculate copy of that person assuming their taste, their psychology, their memories… everything. But the devil is in the details. Their transformation is so complicatedly detailed; a single demon can't get them all. Hence, the twin thing. Lea can transform into anyone, Rea can transform into anything. That is to say Lea can only transform into naked people and Rea can transform into empty dresses and clothing… but they're very accurate.
And here they are… scared shitless and on the verge of breaking their cover. Kira was so complex of a character they were having trouble copying him if not for Lacus' firsthand experience in the insides of his head. 'In times like this, Rea… I really hate this job.' Lea sighed. 'Me too, sister. Me too…' Rea moaned.
"So… Kira-dono, is it? That's how you call someone honorably in your country."
"Well, yes." 'Kira' chuckled. "So… uhh… You wish to talk to me?"
"Uh, yeah." Sala blushed. "Well… I'm here… to… talk… about your brother."
"Ah. Yes. Of course." Kira chuckled. "Yeah, who wouldn't want to talk about him? Yes."
"Your brother… well… it's about you too really… I mean… how does it felt… to have a brother like that?"
"How does it feel…?"
"Well… speaking from one sibling with a genius brother to another." Sala chuckled.
"Genius brother. Oh. You mean Xingke." Kira nodded. "Well… I suppose… it's… interesting in a way. It's… kinda overwhelming sometimes. You know… looking at some the stuff he can do… with it being way over my head… It's sometimes difficult for me to believe we were related."
Sala chuckled. "Whenever I talked to my brother I always felt like… overwhelmed. I mean… every time I looked at him, we talked… it felt like… he strained himself down so that he can talk to me at the same level."
"Hm." 'Kira' nodded. "Well… in my case…" Sala looked at 'Kira' intently. "…it's challenging. My brother… well… he's not as adaptable. He's a shinobi, he can easily blend. But we grew up separately. And he grew up with someone who can stand with him at the same level. That's not me by the way. He had a friend. A close childhood friend, who's also equally brilliant with him. So… when he finally met me… his own real brother… he was at a… complete loss on what to do."
"Oh… the awkward older brother met the unexpected little brother."
"And he had to do… what every awkward brother had to do. He communicate to me… the only way he knew how. I mean… you said your brother strained to get down to your level, I don't think he ever do that… or rather… He really can't do that. Not to me… not to anyone else for that matter. He… may not show it… but he really doesn't like being restrained or tied down. He likes to do things at his pace. You've seen an example of that when he… well… being what he is."
"And… how do you respond to that?"
Kira didn't answer. "You know… in the end I really don't have any problem with it."
"Oh?"
"Because in the end… he strained himself to raise other people up, so that they can talk to him at his level. It's a long arduous task, both to others and to himself. But he didn't mind. Because… in the end… he enjoyed the process. My brother seem to have a… soft spots for underdogs. He really like raising them from rock bottom to rock stars. What's more, he's a very kind, selfless man." 'Kira's eyes twitched. "Too selfless. That's why Milady was so upset."
"Milady… you mean Lady Hikari?"
"…yeah. About that… I'd really like to apologize about the way Hikari behave just now. I mean… she was having a rather bad falling out with Kage. The poor girl."
"I understand." Sala nodded. "She must've… loved him very much."
Kira paused for a minute. "Well… truth be told… I think she's still in love with… the man he once was."
"Hikari-dono said something like that too… what was he like… before he's… like that?"
"…well… if you can believe it, he's a total crybaby."
"Who?"
"My bro."
"You jest."
"Certified bad joker here." Thumb pointed at self.
Sala's eyes twitched. "…that's like… 180 degree change. What on earth happened to him?"
"If I were you, I wouldn't ask that question to his face." Kira shrugged. "You will forgive me for I'm not telling. It took me and Hikari forever to get it out of him. And we were his family and lover. And yet he refused to divulge much."
"I understand. I won't insist." And that's when Sala suddenly realized. She wanted to use this conversation about each other's respective brothers as a way in… but somewhere along the line, she herself became genuinely interested in Kage as well. "Still… I must say… I'm impressed with your brother too. My brother was quite multitalented person himself. He's a teacher. Actually, he's the imperial Grand Tutor. He's responsible for the education of the Empress. And he's the only teacher. And when I say only, I mean she taught the Empress everything from Mathematics to Literature!"
"That doesn't sound like standard procedure." Kira rolled his eye. "Shouldn't there be multiple teachers?"
"There used to be…" At this, Sala's expression made a dark turn. It made the twins realized something bad had happened. "It has something to do with my brother's condition. There was… an incident with the Master's council. I wish I can say more, Kira-dono."
"If you wish not to discuss this further, I won't insist."
"I appreciate that." Sala smiled back. "And your brother? He's pretty multitalented too, isn't he?"
"Well… he's a ninja. That is to say he's an assassin." Now this is not a knowledge that the original Kira has. But the Twin's master is an officially trained kunoichi. So naturally, she knew a thing or two about standards of a proper Ninja. And because she knew, they knew. "An Assassin is, above all, an Infiltrator. They sneak by way of disguise. They pass off as anybody but an assassin. Sometimes they're teachers, lawyers, cooks, even beggars or prostitutes. The more skillful an assassin, the broader their range of skills should be. They have to be able to assume all sorts of roles, so naturally, they have to be pretty knowledgeable about a little bit of everything." 'Kira' frowned. "And when I say a little bit, I mean as much as the mission require, and as much as one's sanity can handle."
Salamandine rolled her eyes. "Wow… we really do have some incredible brothers don't we?"
"…and that's what upset Hikari to no end." Kira frowned in sorrow. "And I think you should be upset too."
"?"
"Our brothers are incredible. They're geniuses. But… the problem is… when you're really good at something and people see that… people will keep asking what else you could do… and never asked what you wanted to do."
"…!"
"The problem with our brothers, Sala-san… is that they're both are too nice for their own good. If people asked them to do something, something that they can believe on… they'll do everything in their power to help… even if that means leaving little to nothing for themselves."
Sala's eyes widened in horror as she remembered every time she watched her brother coughed blood in secret when he thought no one was looking. His brother has given everything to this country he loved. And when everyone would say he had done more than enough, he would say 'not yet'. "Truly… you're right, Kira-dono. But… sometimes… I wonder… if there's anything at all we can do to help them. I mean… I'm just me… how can I ever catch up with someone so… amazing?"
"If you think that way, you'll never catch up. Besides… I don't think our brothers would want us to be like them. I mean… look at me for instance." Kira jerked a thumb to himself. "I'm a cook. My brother's an assassin. Our profession, our skill set couldn't be further apart. There are times that I had to put myself in a rather harsh perspective. My brother's out there, in the field, fighting for his life, I'm down here, in the kitchen, cooking. But… guess what?"
"What?"
"When I brought it up… he said… I'd rather hold a spatula in the kitchen rather than carrying a blade in battle. At least in the kitchen your ingredients didn't try to kill you." 'Kira' emphasize on the side of Kage (original Kira) that loved his chef side significantly better than his murderous side. "That's the way he put it… but… I think I realized then… that… as much as I envy my brother for what he can do… he's also envious of me of what I can do. In the end… it's not about trying to be someone we're not. It's about trying to be the best we can be… if not for ourselves… but for others who can't be like us even when they want to."
Sala stood transfixed in awe at Kira. "…Kira-dono… what do you think I can do?"
"Hm. Well… Clearly, you can't be her teacher… but… you ARE her personal guard. Aside from Xingke, dare I say, you're probably the closest thing she can get to a confidant, I suppose? You are her majesty's imperial guard. Try think… what can an Imperial Guard do… that a grand tutor cannot?"
"Well…" Sala chuckled. "I'm doing it right now. I… want to make it up the earlier incident."
"Oh?"
"Truth be told… the Empress really wanted to know more about Kage… especially after that thing he just pulled out at the court. But… she can't exactly meet him face to face… and the last time they do… things went so disastrously wrong…"
"It went disastrously wrong because that Azrael creep had to get involved into all this." The twins are still genuinely pissed with how Azrael dragged them out like that.
"What are you suggesting, Kira-dono?"
"…if the Empress is not just being nice or sympathetic to my brother, and you really must tell me if that is the case… but if it genuinely interests her on what my brother really was like… I suggest, you find a way, so that these two can meet face to face… and this time… get the politicians out of the picture."
Salamandine blinked… and just like that… she knew what she had to do… what she can do. Her smile of satisfaction can be seen as clearly as the gleam in her eyes.
And just as the twins congratulate themselves for a job well done…
Salamandine suddenly brought her head forward and touch her lips on his…
It only lasted five seconds… which, to the twins, felt like five hours.
But when it's done, Salamandine took half a second to take a deep breath… before she ran with a face redder than her pink dress.
'Kira' just stood there… before finally he… she… they had to break cover and returned back to their original forms as they touched their lips. And they can only conclude:
Lea started: "…we are so-" Rea ended: "-royally screwed."
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"What?" Kage frowned at his guests sitting on the other side of the prison bar.
"Kira… I… I'm not going to say I'm defending Corner." George Allistair was picking his words carefully. "I'm not… I'm not saying that they are good people… but… but…" The old man was so terrified he was at lost for words.
"Kira… I'm going to assume that you already know…" Kirihara was the only one who can found his voice. "Yes. As a seated officer of the Alliance, you are well within your rights to move a vote of no Confidence. Yes, the motion has been seconded, by Azrael, as you might already know. If it's passed, you can justify your murder as wartime necessity, by declaring that Alejnadro Corner… and his family is doing more harm than good. Vote of No Confidence is, as it named, a vote. By the Alliance own code, the vote will be taken three days from now. Which means the justification of your murder of Alejandro Corner rests on whether 2/3 of the existing and present Logos Minister… that's at least 10 out 14 people, including the two of us, can agree in a vote that Corner is useless and harmful to Alliance's interest. And thus you are justified in the extreme measures you have taken."
"I see. And how many people would readily agree to this? Half?"
"Well… I'll be blunt… you can count the two of us as people who would be against that vote." Kirihara spared no breath.
Kira's eyes were visibly raised. "Oh?"
"…there's more to this than just Corner's corrupt ways, Kira-kun." George bitterly explained. "For years, Azrael wanted a way into China's market. As bad as Corners were… they were the only one of the Logos in the eastern hemisphere who had kept Azrael at bay. When you killed Alejandro, you unwittingly paved a way for Azrael to come in."
"Even as we speak, Azrael is buying up Corner's stocks, whose value plummeted past rock bottom. And there's nothing that I, or George can do about it."
"…I see." Kira was hardly moved.
"I take it you don't understand how bad the situation is, so I'll give you a crash course." Kirihara grunted. "You've been to South America, Kira-kun? It's a tropical country, filled with green. It's a very fertile land. Rich in nature's bounty, and above all, minerals. Mining business and the like flourished and made the landlords whose land contains such mine very well off. And normally, the income rates of the populace in such lands aren't far behind."
"Let me guess. They're not."
"Young man… you fought Zaft tooth and nail in protest of their practice of slavery. Well… what Azrael did to South America is no more different than what Zaft is doing to you, and its own people. Underpaid labor, forced to work in inhumane condition, a nation spiraling down to poverty… that's what China will become if we let Azrael in."
"And why didn't you guys do anything about it?" Kira glared back.
"We can't."
"Can't or won't?"
"Kira-"
"No. I don't care." Kira hissed. "I'm a cook trying to fight a centuries old Empire! You think I didn't have enough problems as is? I was shocked that there's still an Azrael sitting on a seat of a Logos minister after what his ancestor did the last time, when you idiots should've done everybody a favor, and kill the son of a bitch."
"Unlike popular belief, Kira, not everything can be solved with swords."
"Of course. Politics. Right." Kira laughed bitterly.
"Kira, you have to understand-"
"Oh I UNDERSTAND!" Kira suddenly spat. "PERFECTLY! You people didn't finish him off the first time when you had the chance. You want to use his assets so you put a collar on his neck and hope he won't try to bite back. Now he's all one big bloated monster, and you're cowering behind his lash, you can't even summon the guts to put up a damn fight, not even to save your own ass. I say: you've reaped what you sow, so clean up your own damn mess!"
"You're just going to let Azrael in and let the people of China suffer?" The Logos ministers looked at the caged Captain in the eye. He was as adamant as he is cold and ruthless.
"Based on what I've seen so far of China's welfare… personally I don't see how it'll make any difference whatsoever even if Azrael took over."
The two ministers looked at the Captain's eyes and saw nothing but cold indifference. "…this is disappointing, Kage." George growled. "I thought you were a better man than this."
"Thought wrong, have you?"
George had heard enough and leave in disgust. Kirihara stayed a little longer to look once more into Kira's eyes through his aged and hardened eyes. Somehow… he was able to sense something deeper still in his eyes. But he can't yet to fathom it, and so he left as well.
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And so the day passed… each returning to their ranks… each with their own issues. The Vote of No Confidence that Kage had enacted saw the three days preparation that followed a busy and tense three days for everyone involved. Regardless, involved or not, everyone knew what's at stake, everyone knew that irrespective of winning or losing, this vote will change China forever. Perhaps it was because of that, everyone build a reasonably high amount of stress… rendering them in a… perpetually foul tempered state.
In the next morning…
"YOU… DID… WHAT!? SHE DID WHAT!?" Hikari already went past well beyond tickled pink after the Twins, with their heads on the floor begging for mercy, reported the latest incident that happened yesterday evening to her, first thing this morning.
"We're sorry! We're so very sorry!" Lea and Rea knelt as deeply as they could. "We were trying to do our best to impersonate Kira to perfection… we had no idea it will result in… that."
"You girls really had made a real mess of things now…" Lacus felt a strong urge to shout abuses at the twins for this catastrophe, but she immediately held back. As she recall… Salamandine was asking for her, and yet she callously turned her back on her on the account as trivial as a foul mood… something she should've never done… and instead she pushed the twins on her instead, knowing her crush on Kira… the original one that is… with this disaster as a result. In summary: she dug her own grave. "Oh God…" All this, in combination with everything that has been happening around her, is really giving her headache like nobody's business. "For now… I think… it's best if you two maintain your disguise as Kira… until… further advice from me."
"Awww…" Lea moaned. "I don't like being him…" Rea was no different.
"THIS ISN'T UP FOR DISCUSSION! YOU GIRLS HAVE-!"
Suddenly, the door was banged several times. "Lacu~us! You're up!?" Kaguya's jovial shrill can be heard from the other side of that door.
One shock barely ended, another came. Lacus could've sworn she almost forgot how to breathe. What was she thinking? That friend of her is screaming her name at the top of her lungs in this place!? "Kaguya…" She quickly put her mask on as she opened the door. "Kaguya, if I were you, I would refrain from saying that name out loud in this place. (koff)"
"No worries, I had this place cleared before hand, I'm not that stupid you know."
"Walls have ears. (Koff) You of all people should know. (Koff)"
"The fact that it is me of all people is the reason I'm not worried." The Shinobi princess grinned wide. "What's wrong? Why are you so cranky so early in the morning?"
"I'm sorry. (koff) I guess… the stress is getting to me. (koff)"
"You? A girl like you can suffer from stress?"
"You will if you're a girlfriend to a walking disaster magnet. (koff)"
Kaguya can easily see, masked or not, that the overbearing exasperation and weariness are taking massive toll on her bestie's state of being. It was enough to illicit some form of sympathy, enough that even the mirthful Kaguya felt it would be grossly inappropriate if she were to tease her on the 'girlfriend' remark at the moment. "Sniff-sniff… Hmm… Say, when was the last time you bathe, sister?"
"Bathe…? (koff)" Ever since the Corner incident, it seems like it's been ages since the last time she bathed.
"If the smell of this horrid flea infested armor is any indication, I'd say you could use that right about now."
"…I don't know, Kaguya. (Koff) Given my condition I don't think-"
"No, no, no… you don't get to say anything in this, Sister. You need a bath! Period!" And before Lacus can say anything else, Kaguya yanked her arm and drag her out. In a blink of an eye, she's already standing at the edge of a massive bathhouse: a vast Olympic sized pool of steaming hot water.
"This is the public bathhouse for the Imperial Guards. Just for this morning, I've chartered this place for your private use only. So you can get as skinny dip as you like with no problem." Such was her last words as she closed the door shut before Lacus had a chance to argue. Then again, if she knew her friend well, she doubt not that whatever argument she can muster will fall on deaf ears. In the end, Lacus saw little choice but to slump back and began to undo her armor.
Her miasma immediately spread across the room… as well as her smell. Lacus' nose wrinkled a bit. She never knew she can smell this bad. "…maybe Kaguya was right. But… I can't bathe like this…" This isn't the specially treated tonic waters of the Angel's bath. If she just jumped into the water (as much as she wants to, given this god awful stench), the next people jumping into this water will be jumping into their grave. "…no way around it. I hope they don't mind." She grabbed Ghienny. "Haroha, Haroha, Roharo… Haro-Haro Clumpiclump!" Lacus throw the light blue haro into the water… and then, slowly, but surely, a sizable blob of water the shape of a Haro erupted from the surface before it was held suspended up in the air.
Leaving her armor neatly on the side, Lacus slightly tiptoe across the edges before she plunged head first into the ball of water. The sphere floated a few meters off the surface of the bath, with Lacus floating right in the middle of it, her long wavy pink hair sprayed wide within the water. Arcane magic saw to it she did not suffocate or drown even when she was submerged unmoving head to toe inside said water. Inside, as soon as Lacus entered the hot warm water, she felt as if all the weight on her back were washed away. Discounting her underwater predicament, this is the first time, in many days, that Lacus can deign to breathe in relaxation. 'Maybe Kaguya was right… I need this…' She closed her eyes and smiled as she reveled in the warmth, the comfort blanking her mind, she was close to slumber within the sphere… a predicament that won't kill her, naturally. Time flies, Lacus unknowing had stayed in that state for well over a few hours…
"My first bath in three days, finally!" Naga and Kaname had just finished undressing, and they just can't wait to hop into that warm water. They slid open the door to the bathhouse, only to see a giant big blob of water floating above the waters. What's more, there's a person inside it. "What the…!?"
Lacus' thought of heavenly comfort was immediately dispelled as her eyes sprang open in shock. She turned around to see Kaname and Naga staring at her in shock and awe. 'Oh no…?'
But then, lacus finally noticed that the water sphere she resided in had become murky with white color. From her point of view, Lacus can see the two clearly. But from their point of view, Naga and Kaname can only see a silhouette of a woman inside a nearly white blob of murky water. "W… Who are you!" They immediately get into their fighting stance.
"Wait… wait! I can explain!" Lacus immediately realized why the water is so murky. Her miasma remained active, even underwater. The muddy state of the water aided her, for it concealed her true identity, but it is also a sign that every last drop of water in this sphere has been completely contaminated by her poison. If the two girls plunged into it, they will die.
"HAAA!" The two guards won't let her finish, they charged and jumped into a flying kick straight into the ball of water, something that Lacus cannot allow. Their kicks suddenly sank into a wall made of golden strings. "Eh?" They wriggled and struggles, but they can do little but to hang helplessly in the air with their leg stuck on the string wall.
"What's going on here?" Before long, the commotion had drawn the attention of the head of the Imperial Guard, Salamandine herself. As she entered the bathhouse, she too was struck in awe at the giant blob of white murky water floating in the sky. But she quickly recovered and noticed her subordinates dangling in the air, with their feet sank into a wall of strings. She also noticed Lacus' figure inside the water mass. "Who are you? What have you done?"
"Please! Wait! I can explain!" Lacus tried to reason with the much calmer Head Guard.
And indeed, Salamandine is more level headed than her warriors. She looked around, and noticed a familiar looking armor rested nearby. That's when she connected the dots and recognized who's inside the water blob. "Hikari-daifu?" (daifu = a honorific for medical doctors)
Naga and Kaname gasped in realization and Lacus sighed in relief. "Yes. It is I. Hikari." With that cleared out, Lacus undo the string walls that bind the two guards and used the strings to carry them back to the edge of the waters. As soon as they've landed, Naga and Kaname immediately fell on their knees.
"Hikari-daifu, please forgive our indiscretion."
"No. No need for that. It was I who overstayed my welcome." Lacus immediately remembered that this is the Imperial Guard's bathhouse. And they too must need a bath from time to time. "I will soon depart."
"No, no! Please, do not let us disturb you, stay as long as you wish, we will wait it out." Salamandine also saluted.
Upon seeing the Head Guard, Lacus felt a pang of guilt in her chest. Disregarding the incident between her and 'Kira'… it was terribly rude of her to reject her request for aid yesterday night. Damn her if she did not try to make any form of atonement now. "Salamandine-darren?"
"Yes?"
"…if I recall… last night… you came to me for help, did you not?" Now that she's in a much better mood, Lacus mourned her foul temper fueled discourtesy yesterday. "And yet for some trivial reason, I rejected you. I'm here now for you. Allow me to make amends… if you'll let me?"
Salamandine stare at the figure within the water. Now that she mentioned it… she do need her help… though the issue is now completely different. "Hikari-daifu… please grant me your guidance."
Lacus smiled. "It is given."
And so, Salamandine instead joined Lacus in the bath. She and her guards dipped themselves on the water below while Lacus carefully maintain the water sphere a few meters above the waters, very carefully so that not one drop of the now poisonous water touch anything.
But the Imperial Guards can't help but to also stare in awe at the figure residing within the water sphere. To be able to reside within that water sphere and even kept that much water afloat for so long of a time is no small feat. They may well be in the presence of a powerful being indeed. However, more than her powers, the guards were more intrigued by a completely different matter: her beauty.
Stripped of her armor, the guards can now see a glimpse, just a glimpse of Lacus' true form. And it is indeed a beautiful sight to behold that is a stark contrast with the horrid shape of her armor, if the perfectly formed silhouette of her goddess like figure is any indication. But more beautiful than the silhouette of her body is her voice. The helmet distorted and ruined it all, but released from it, a melodious voice echoed from within the sphere of water. Truly, she is a gem covered in mud. A poisonous gem; more is the pity.
Lacus can sense their attention. "Do you wish to see my face, Salamandine-darren?"
Salamandine chuckled. "I believe everyone would harbor such intent whenever one encounters people with disguises, Hikari-daifu."
"Be warned." Lacus immediately stated. "Due to some mistakes in my training, my naked body constantly discharge a lethal poison that can kill anyone fallen under it. Usually, that armor is what kept it at bay." Lacus pointed at the armor resting at the corner. "And that is why, I had to bathe like this. But now that I'm inside this water, this water has been contaminated." Lacus turned to Naga and Kaname. "That was why I had to stop you both earlier on. For to enter this water, is death. And by my oath, I wish that not for anyone."
Naga and Kaname immediately understood their folly, and they will forever owe Lacus their lives for pointing it out. They silently bowed to her with the utmost respect and gratitude.
"The only exception to that is… Kage."
"Oh, your beloved?"
Lacus stared at Salamandine, not saying anything to support or deny it.
Salamandine immediately thought she made an unintended offense with her offhand remark. "Oh… I'm sorry… I heard you and Kage had… uh… umm…"
"…you've talked to his brother, to Kira." Lacus sighed. "You've learned from him how difficult he is to socialize, did you not? What else did he told you?"
"Well… that Kage was… a different man… before he had to wear the mask, that is."
"You're interested?"
"If you wish not to discuss this, then I-"
"He was a different man. Very different." Lacus curled inside her sphere. "Kage… the man he was… he came from a rough neighborhood. It's the usual hard luck story. Because of that… he's no saint. There's a part of him… the street savvy survivor side… the rough and dirty side… but he was able to live with it and he liked it. Liked everything in his life and the world in general as it was. Resulting in a…funny… mischievous… naive… and brave character. All qualities that I can… respect. But more than anything he was kind. Very, very kind… if he ever cry… it's not because of what was done to him… it's always what was done to others… if you ask me… they really pick a wrong person to be an assassin."
"What happened?"
"…that mission happened. The mission where he has to spend two years of his life… in a hell on earth, consummating with every evil known to man. He refused to speak of it to anyone. Even I can only knew it after great cost and risk. You can look at his eyes and you'll know he's been reliving it… every night."
The sorrow in her voice was heart wrenching. "…Hikari-daifu… while I'm no stranger to the concept of how drastically a man can change… do you still think… that there's still a part of him in there? The part… of the old him that you… loved?"
"That's the problem. I see it every day. That part… was the better, and indeed, stronger part of him. Even after everything that has happened, it can't die. He… became the man that he is today… is precisely because he's that kind of a person." Lacus bit her lips. "Poisoned with cruelty and rage, and yet because that part of him can't die… instead, it became twisted and perverted."
"You ever thought that you can just… quit? You know… just take him somewhere… far away… to a place no one knows you and then… lived out your life in peace and quiet?"
"He tried that." Lacus nodded. "…that's how he managed to reunite with his brother. He tasted civilian life and he liked it. Scarred as he was. Bloody has it been. If only for a while… he's human again. But then… things got worse. Alliance came, Zaft invaded… I suppose he decided he's not taking it anymore."
"…and your protest fell on deaf ears?"
"…to my eternal regret, I did not protest because I wasn't at his side… where I should've been. I was on… another errand whose importance is of ginormous stupidity. When I met him again… after all these years… I just couldn't believe just how far he has fallen."
"So now you wish to be by his side at all times… just to make amends."
"Amends?" Lacus scoffed. "What amends? We're both grown ups. We've made our choices." Lacus curled. "…if I were in his position then… I don't know if I won't make the same choices that lead him to this. He never blamed me for never being there when he needed it… He respected the choices I made; I must learn to respect his. But my boyfriend is a very powerful man. His choices could affect a lot of lives. Some in a bad way, some in a good way. I need to make sure the bad… won't be so bad. And at times this job is a lot harder than I would've liked."
Lacus frowned in sorrow as she curled even tighter around herself. When she saw how cleverly Kira defended himself at the court, she was far from impressed. Kira had helped so many people around him. But when other wishes to help him, they just don't know how to do it… seeing how he was so good at everything. He could carry so much burden that would've break lesser man apart, and yet he failed to see that he didn't have to.
Salamandine and her guards can just about imagine the sorrow in Lacus' heart. Seeing this sorrow, they can only conclude one word that can do justice to the depth of her feelings to the masked man.
Lacus suddenly realized the silence and she chuckled. "Oh… look at me. I bore you. You came to me for help and instead you had to partake with my ramblings."
"Ah, Hikari-daifu… no… it was interesting." Salamandine smiled. "No. We're honored to have been given the opportunity to partake in it. Really. Thank you."
Lacus chuckled. In all honesty, she too felt a lot better to have spoken her piece. And she's mighty grateful that there's someone like Salamandine to hear her out. "Now… you've given me the courtesy of hearing me out… what could I offer you in return, Salamandine-darren?"
Salamandine bowed her head. "Hikari-daifu… I'm to understand that Kaguya-darren vouched thee as a physician of outstanding skills?"
"Ah." Lacus nodded. "It is about your brother, Xing Ke, yes? Yes. I've had the opportunity to study his conditions. You'll be happy to know… that while his illness is severe, it is not incurable."
Salamandine's smile break, just as tears fell from her eyes. Naga and Kaname also cheered immediately. "There's a way." She repeated. Just to make sure she did not misheard a dream. "He really can be cured?"
"Yes." Lacus is also happy seeing the joy in Salamandine's eyes. "However, to cure the worst of illness require the bitterest of medicine. And the medicine I've prescribed to your brother is most bitter one indeed. He may need help to swallow it."
"Hikari-daifu, name it and it shall be done."
"You don't know what you ask. To understand the cure you must first understand the illness." Lacus began to explain, and Salamandine repositioned herself to a more attentive seating position so that she won't miss a word. "There's a flow of energy inside all living being. This energy flows, intermingled with the life functions of vital human organs: Heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, brain… etc. You know what I speak?"
"We Kung Fu Warriors call them Chi, Daifu."
"I'm no Kung Fu warrior. But as a doctor, I understand their importance. And to tamper them… to disrupt them is to risk the most terrible of injuries to these vital organs." Lacus stressed her next point. "I am no master of Kung Fu. But I know human body, trained and untrained. As I study Xing Ke's physics, at first, I would arrive at the conclusion of a powerful trained young male at the zenith of his strength and vitality. But beneath all that… there's an underlying issue. I don't know what sort of training your brother underwent to become what he is today… but I suspect that… in the past… he had a made a mistake in his training. Whatever that mistake is, it is already impossible to trace at this point. But its effect is easy to see. It must've been small at first. Ignored and forgotten for years, the damage piled up, eventually reaching critical mass and caused the most severe of injuries… which had eaten away at your brother's lifespan. Now… between that and the mounting stress and overwork… he had less than a year left to live."
Internal damage due to Kung Fu mis-training. That is the worst of all kinds of injuries for a Kung Fu master. It can result in loss of kung fu, death… or worse. Salamandine was horrified at Lacus' blunt verdict. But she also stated that it was not incurable, so hope remained. "After so many years… is there a way to heal such injury?"
"Some damage is too severe to be undone, regrettably." Lacus stated. "But there's a way to extend his life… to at least 10 years or more. I've already told him how. Whether or whether not he took it… is all up to him… and you, as his kin."
"How?" Salamandine looked like she would be ready to even sell her soul to the devil if it comes down to it.
"…your brother must undo his kung fu." That is the answer Lacus come up with. "He must destroy his livelong work… and he must never practice it again. That is the only way to permanently root out the evil that is eating away his life."
"But… to ask him to undo his Kung Fu… can it be so easily done?" Kaname also voiced her concern. To unlearn a Kung Fu is easier said than done. The greater the mastery, the harder it will be for it to be uprooted. Not to mention the risk involved. A Kung Fu Master can be so integrated with his Kung Fu that to undo his mastery would probably mean forfeiting his life… and that was just the best case scenario.
"That would also mean he had to step down from his seat as a master!" Naga immediately pondered on the consequences. "He may even have to give up his position as a Grand Tutor!" This has been mentioned before and it bears repeating, right now, Xingke is the one responsible keeping this nation intact. If anything were to happen to him at this period… China will suffer immensely for it. To say the loss of such powerful military asset at this hour of need can have dire ramifications… would be an understatement.
The two guards finally looked at Salamandine, giving the sister the right to decide.
Alas, conflicted silence is her answer. In her heart she wanted her brother to live, regardless of what he had to pay. But at the same time… she knew her brother so well… he would ponder if such a life worth living?
Lacus understand why a quick answer is not exactly possible at this time. Lacus noticed the girl now need some time alone in her thoughts. And then the white ball of water floated away from the bath and landed in front of the armor. The ball of water opened up one side, and Lacus walked out of it, drying herself before she began putting the armor back. Once the helmet has been sealed with a telltale hiss, the water ball moved away to reveal Hikari, once again covering her beauty in horrid armor. Hikari glanced at the mass of white poisonous water next to her. She stretched out her palm towards it and she began to squeeze. In concert, the massive blob of water began to shrink smaller and smaller still. By the time Hikari's palm had balled to a fist, the white water had not only been reduced to the size of a tennis ball, it had also solidified into a white murky crystal.
"Now… I must dispose of this dangerous substance safely and quickly." With the poison crystal in hand, Hikari looked at Salamandine, still in thought. "I can offer no other option apart from what I've told you. But I will offer you an advice: Do not rush and take your time to process this. Even with his current predicament, there's no need for hasty rashness. It is more imperative that you and your brother must decide this as calmly as possible… and you must do so together, as a family. But know this: in penance of my earlier insolent rejection, I promise you my door will never be closed to you ever again. Whatever help you require of me, ask and you shall receive."
And the only way Salamandine can show her endless gratitude is by giving Lacus her lowest bow.
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With no window in his cell, Kage can only rely on his gut feeling to tell the time. He wasn't even sure how long the time had passed. Which won't bother him none, but it does made him question why, unlike before, Corner didn't send anything… yet. And just when he thought of going to sleep…
"No, I don't wanna go in there, he'll notice me! No!" One loud kick later, and a man with an eyepatch and a cowboy hat was kicked into the room.
"?" Kage blinked several times, seeing his newest albeit awkward guest. "…who are you?" His first guess was a very clumsy assassin. But given his wears, he looked more like mercenary rather than assassin.
"Aah… Captain Kage, right? Sgt. Bernadotte of the Wild Geese. You have a visitor."
"…again?"
"Well, you're the popular guy."
The one eyed mercenary step aside to make way for his client. Kage immediately recognize his figure as that ragged and haggard trench coated Logos Minister he saw at the balcony. The man briskly stopped right in front of his cell, eying him from top to bottom. And then he croaked: "Bernadotte, guard the doors. I want solitude."
"Yes sirree." Bernadotte saluted and left the two alone.
"…do you know who I am?" The man wasted no breath.
"…should I know you?"
"No. I don't think you should." The man uncorked his flask and took a swig before continuing. "My name is Abraham Van Hellsing. I'm a member of the Logos minister, and I have a few questions for you, which I need you to answer."
Kage found his eyebrows rose in interest. He had no idea what Hellsing is and not sure why should he care… but the man immediately strike him as anything but ordinary. The man's weather beaten wares, his gaunt appearance… he looked more like a veteran brawler than businessman. And there's this flame burning in his eyes that Kira did not see in the likes of George, Kirihara, or even Azrael for that matter. Small wonder that Kage has little to no intention but to know more. "Alright. I'm listening."
"What is your relationship with Azrael?"
"…excuse me?"
"I will not repeat myself. You heard the question."
"…my relationship? With Azrael? Sir, I don't know who or what you heard… but I can tell you… I only know the name Azrael from history books. So should everyone with access to a bookstore or a public library."
"And yet your actions pave the way for him to enter China. Why do you want him to come in here to China?"
The more he heard his questions, the less sense it make to Kage. "Mr. Hellsing, sir? I don't know what you are getting at. All I can tell you, is that I have absolutely no idea as to what exactly you want to hear from me in regards to my… practically and virtually inexistent connection with Azrael."
"You're insisting that you and Azrael are not in cahoots in any way?"
"And I can tell you're not convinced that I'm not being false."
"It's hard to say because he defended you and even provided you with a lawyer."
"Is that what you see in that court room? He provided me with a glorified secretary, not a lawyer. I'd say that's far from putting me in his good graces, no?"
"Or it could be just a convenient trick to throw everyone off."
"Trust issues. I see. Now we're getting somewhere. Though I'm sorry to say: knock yourselves out. I really had no other answer to give you."
Kage and Van Hellsing stared one another in silence for quite some time, measuring each other's worth. The gaunt Logos was the first to break it though. "Do you hear what's happening out there, Mr. Kage? Out there, there's an outbreak of noises. Politicians and businessmen, hatching plans and concocting plots, whirling around one simple question: what is your worth? How much it's going to cost me and how much I'll earn to either keep you alive… or kill you."
"What do you think?"
"I don't give two shits about that." The old man took another gulp from his flask. "That is… until I start sniffing around and heard this… fantastical rumor brewing about. The rumor being… that before you came here, you take a sojourn to Junius, of all places… and you survived for one whole week in there… all alone."
Kage sighed. "This comes from a man with trust issues as severe as yours? I think you of all people should know that rumors like that have a way of blowing up out of proportion. Already I heard from the streets that I'm 8 feet tall, can blast fireball from my nostrils and fart thunderbolt from my arse."
"You're right. I have trust issues, because that is my job: to not trust easily. To know the taste and smell of dogshit, no one better. Being as such, then you should know that I would not bring this up, unless I had done some thorough investigation."
"Okay. You want the truth? Here's the truth: I was stuck in Junius for a week. But no. I wasn't stuck alone. I was in luck, because at that time, Zaft sent another pilgrimage of priests and exorcists into that island. They're still trying to purify it, those idiotic fools. Thusly, I was able to sneak in, pose as one of them, and survive under their yoke for some time until they finally retreated with their tail between their legs."
Van Hellsing listened to Kage's testimony. He knew of Zaft's pilgrimage tradition, and Kage's story simply made his survival a lot more plausible. And yet, his gut instinct told him this ninja is still hiding something. "Is that all? A bit lacking in detail, don't you think?"
"What makes you think you deserve that much privilege, Mr. Hellsing?"
At this, Van Hellsing's narrow eyes widened. He looked sharper at Kage… only to see a gaunt dark glaring eyes stare back. Suddenly, he realized he's looking at a mirror. "…and you said I had trust issues." For the first time throughout their conversation, the old man deigned the closest thing he can get to a smile. "Fine. Fair enough. I think I'm done here. But let me tell you something: if I had known about the tales of your sojourn in Hell, do you not think others had not caught wind of it? Why do you think Azrael was so interested in saving your life?"
Kage's dark look merely intensified. "…and what… may I ask… is your stake in that?"
"…China is more than just corruption and incompetence, Mr. Kage. That's all I'm going to say for now." The old man nodded. "Bernadotte! We're done here."
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As the days dwindle down ever closer to the voting day, the stress around the occupants of the Forbidden Palace continue to mount.
Rena reopened the articles of the Alliance codes… the very same article that Kage had used… the very same article she once used to unsuccessfully dissolve the 7th division. As she re-read them word per word, she finally reached a certain part of the law, stipulating a certain article. Her eyes widened in revelation. "Well, well… I've never seen a riskier gamble."
Eye bags began to form in many people's eyes, including Xing Ke's.
But then again, Xing Ke was on his knees right now, kneeling before the Empress, so she can't exactly see it.
In the Empress hand is a certain article, pertaining the Vote of No Confidence that was just around the corner. The Empress read the article slowly and carefully… until she reached a certain part and revelation dawned. "Xingke… this is…?"
"Your Majesty… I have scoured everything that Kage had studied in effort to understand his methods… And I see it now. This… and only this… is the lynchpin of his plot. And I realized… there's nothing I can do. Kage had placed it all in thy hands." Xing Ke knelt until his forehead touched the floor. "What will happen, what will be… your majesty, you, and only you can decide the fate… of us all."
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At the final night just before the vote take place however…
Once again, another visitor arrived.
"Okay… this is getting ridiculous, but I suppose I was asking for it." Kage grunted.
"Kage-huixia?" (huxia: honorifics used to address generals and military officers of high rank)
Kage eyes widened and his eyebrows rose upon seeing his latest guest. It was Salamandine… or… is it only her?
"Salamandine-darren? How can I help you?"
"There's someone who wish to-"
"See me? Sheesh. The last prison I'm in, I didn't have this many visitors in three days."
Salamandine can only stifle her laugh. She step aside, allowing the true guest to reveal herself.
And when Kage saw who it was, he can only roll his eyes. "Oh… dear… lord…"
It was none other than Tien Zi herself. "Umm… Oya…sumi? Am I doing it right?" Her Japanese were somewhat choked… but very fluent by Kira's standards.
Kage chuckled. "The right word you're looking for, your Majesty, is: Konbanwa. You use Oyasumi to someone who's about to sleep. Still, Kaguya taught you well."
"Domo." Tien Zi smiled. "Salamandine, that'll be all."
"Your majesty." With that said, Salamandine bid them a silent fare thee well.
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Outside the prison, Naga and Kaname stand guard. "Right. Spread out, make sure no one knows the Empress is here."
"Yes, ma'am."
"…and if those Eunuchs asked where she is, tell them politely and nicely to: fuck off."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Salamandine smiled in satisfaction. Just for tonight, she ordered this section of the palace to be completely sealed off. Her brother would disagree, but as the head of the Imperial Guard, this is well within something she can do.
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"To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"…your voting will occur tomorrow. The voting that you orchestrated. Why do you want this to happen?"
"Because it has to happen."
"You do realize tomorrow's voting will not only decide your fate… but it will also decide the fate of my people as well."
"I'm aware. Yet I find it funny because it is being decided by people who didn't even care much about your people."
Tienzi twitched at Kage's blatant sarcasm. But she took no offense. Salamandine and Xing Ke had told everything she should expect to face from the good captain: a good natured man whose social skills and manners are severely lacking. "My country, is not perfect, Kage-huixia. I'll admit that much. It needs change. Drastic change. But if a change is rushed, it may lead people astray."
"We're running out of time, your majesty. We both know that irrespective of my guilt, this voting… this direct head butting between the two opposing sides is exactly what will happen eventually. I think we both know… this isn't about me. It's about them." And by them, Kage meant the Logos ministers. "I don't have the patience to stomach the weeks they'll spend bickering with each other until they get to this eventuality. Quite frankly, I don't think your nation has that kind of time either."
"Why… are you forcing this on my people?"
"Place your men in hardship and they will endure. Place them in adversity and they will persevere."
"Sun Tzu." Tien Zi immediately remembered Xing Ke's teachings.
"Xing Ke taught you well." Just that and Kage immediately understand the Empress' potential. "But you too must understand that not everything can be taught."
Tien Zi remembered the alliance code that Xing Ke named the focus of Kage's ploy. "…what… exactly do you expect from me?"
"Hm." Kage think calmly on how best he can explain his point. "Kaguya called my little brother the cook who nearly destroyed Orb in three days. Would you like to know how that happened?"
Tien Zi blinked. One part, she was perplexed at the sudden change of subject… but on the other hand… she was mighty curious as to how that can come about. She nodded eagerly. "Yes please."
"It happened some two years ago, when he just began to grasp how to cook ramen properly." Kage shrugged. "The Boss left for a few days due to some… undisclosed issues, leaving Kira in charge. First day, and Kira ran into an old man seemingly lost and somewhat confused. The old man asked for some leftover food. Now, Kira was kind enough to give him some food, but he also observed what he saw. The man's cloth was simple, but not poor. The fabric is not the sort commoner can afford. So he quickly assumed he was some rich guy, you understand. When the old man finished eating, he said he can't pay because he didn't bring any money with him. Naturally, my brother didn't trust such statement. Fortunately, before the argument escalates further, a deal was struck. That man will stay at the restaurant and wash the dishes for a week, free of charge other than meager food and lodging."
Tien Zi listened intently from behind the bars.
"For three days, the mysterious old man held up his end of the bargain. Not once he made complaints or bemoaned his fate. And in during those three days, Orb was in chaos, verging on a breaking point. You see, two days ago, there was supposed to be a banquet of magnificent importance, to honor the friendship and unity of the state members of Orb. Said banquet was to be hosted by the High Councilor of Orb, attended by the heads of state from the members of the United Emirates: The Tsar of Russia and his family, the Great Khan of Mongolia and his tribe leaders, and the Primarch King of Scandinavia. Guess who went missing at the table and where he went."
Tien Zi frowned for a moment… and she jaw dropped. "Oh dear…"
"When the Samurais came barging in, Kira still had no idea that he practically had Orb's head of state confined at the back of his pantry. And that in doing so, he was about to bring an end to a country aged for hundreds of years. The others heads of state, especially the Mongolian Khans, already had one foot out of the door due to what they considered a gross disrespect stemming from the High Councilor's absence in a banquet he should've hosted. This threatens a crack in the unity of our Emirates, verging on a war. By all rights, Kira should've been sent to the chopping block straight away." Kira smiled fondly behind his mask. "But in the end, the Councilor defended and spared him. With one condition of course: he has to cook for the banquet."
"What an honor. To cook for the Heads of State…" Tien Zi smiled. "I guess that explains how your brother had such a refined taste. He had cooked for Kings and Tsars…"
"(Chuckle) Your Highness, I'm afraid you had it all wrong. My brother may be a good cook today, but… at that point in time, he's still far below the level of the cooks who cooked for kings and queens. The best dish he can make is… an eatery level ramen."
"Then how…?"
"Well…" Kira remembered that day like it was yesterday. Lord knows he was so scared to death when the Councilor told him what he wants him to cook.
"But, sir! Surely you jest! These are the heads of state! How can I serve them… THAT!?"
"This is also an order, boy."
That was his final word, and Kira can do nothing but bit his lips and get to work. Very briefly, the food is ready, and the Councilor and a gulping Kira entered the room together. Within was an assemblage of very angry and hungry heads of state. He can feel the tension in that room was so thick, one might suffocate at the pressure. And what he'll serve them will pop that pressure into a massive explosion. What was that old man THINKING!?
The nervous waiters pushed the tray and handed the dish to each table of each heads of state. It was but a simple bowl covered with a lid to keep the food, whatever it was, warm. The dignitaries opened the lid…
"What is the meaning of this?" The Great Khan glared as he was the first to express the zenith of his irritancy. "You've made us wait for two days for your promised banquet and this is what you gave us!?"
What the Councilor asked him to make… was the meager food Kira had the Councilor ate together with him during his three day stay in the Amate Ramen as a dishwasher. A simple watery gruel of porridge seasoned with leftovers and nearly expired cabbages.
"Yes." The Councilor was as unrepentant as he is unafraid. "This is what I've been eating for three days straight, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while I worked as a dishwasher to pay my debts in this young man's restaurant."
The assembled guests were so stupefied they forgot to be angry altogether.
"I had to eat such food for three days…" The Councilor then nudge a very nerve wracked Kira forward. "And this boy had to eat something like this all his life, three times a day, for 24/7."
Kira can feel everyone's eyes are staring at him.
"I won't bore you into details, but I assure you he's a fine cook. He cooks really delicious dishes that sent his customers home with full stomach and happy smiles. He used various kinds of ingredients, cut no corners, took every painstaking process to ensure every dish that comes out bring a smile to his customers." The Councilor glared to make his point. "All that delicious food for other people… and this is what he affords for himself. Kinda put oneself in a rather harsh perspective, don't you think?"
The Khan who was still partially fuming took the bowl and drank a sip. It was bland. In comparison to the image of the lavish stuff one usually serve in this kind of banquet, it was everything but delicious. And yet, despite the poor fare, the temperamental Khan was also the first to calm his anger, followed swiftly by everyone else who quickly understands the point the Councilor was trying to make.
"All these years, every banquet, we forget what's important and concern ourselves in keeping images by providing lavish and exotic food to impress our guests and maintain our… 'image'. One dish can probably cost enough to feed a 100 people for a year! Just this once… I would like to serve this. To remind us of our duty. Our responsibility as rulers." The Councilor stared, and the assemblage tucked their head down in deep thought. "We are chosen by our people to lead them. To be a man from and for the people. And yet perhaps somewhere along the line, we tend to forget that simple fact. And we forget that we were once one of them. We've always were one of them. Our people. Remember. Remember again when the power of leadership was trusted into thy hands. Remember why we lead, why we were chosen to lead."
Kage ended his flashback in front of a wide eyed Tien Zi. He concluded it with: "If a ruler is a boat, then the people are the ocean which the boat sailed. The ocean can keep the boat afloat, but it can also capsize it."
Tien Zi looked in deep thought… but in the end, her frown breaks into uncertainty. "Please. Please teach me what to do, Captain. I'm… I'm scared. I'm not sure what to do. Not for me, but for my people!"
Kage closed his eyes in disappointment. The girl's heart is already in the right place… she has the ability, and the potential… but the most fundamental problem is that she lacked the courage to act upon it. He tucked his head down. "Highness. You're the Empress. You're the son of Heaven, not me, not Xingke, not Kaguya, not everyone else's. YOU. You're chosen by the Heaven to lead your people. You, and you alone, must find the wisdom for us all."
That was Kage's final answer. Tien Zi finally understands: Kage never chose a side. Corner or Azrael, it was of little consequences to him. His life didn't matter. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean she had the answer she wanted. And even if Kage had any answer… just like Xing Ke, he wanted her to figure it out herself. She had no choice but to leave somewhat disappointed. At least she had gained yet another interesting story of the world outside. Just one little clincher. "Kage-huixia… what… happened after the banquet?"
Kage blinked and answered. "Believe it or not… the councilor kept coming back for the next four days without fail, despite the protestation of his ministers and personal guards. Both to eat the same gruel, and to wash the dishes – without being paid. When the boss returned and found out who washed his dishes in the last one week, he had to take another leave of absence because of the heart attack."
Tien Zi had to stifle an outburst of laughter behind her lips. She almost failed.
00000000000000
Finally, the morning arrives and with it, the voting begins.
As before, Kage was dragged into the center cage, before the tribunal seat where the judges arrived. But there's a slight change of formation. This time, the Empress took center seat and the Chief Judge at her side.
Up in the balcony, Mwu, Murrue, Rena and Jane watched the proceedings. Kaguya was also there, but to her confusion, Hikari was strangely absent.
What's more, the jury has been replaced with the Ministers of Logos. George, Kirihara, Hellsing, everyone was there. Still, the only one whose expression was far from grim was Azrael. As expected. Fudge took his place at Kage's side, just as yesterday. Perhaps Azrael was pleased enough with the current circumstances; he decided not to fire the poor man… a fact that made the sweating Fudge anything but grateful.
"Right then." Master House nodded to the Empress, asking her permission to begin. It was given. "On the matter of the current case of Kage vs Corner, a motion has been made for a Vote of no Confidence by the Convicted Captain Kage… in which case to justify his extreme measures against Alejandro Corner. Today we will vote… with every Logos Minister present… which will be headed by her highness, Empress Tienzi."
"We begin with… the Logos Minister of Da Xing Hai company, representative of Lord Chen Guo Ming, Ms. Karen Low."
"Lord Chen Guo Ming has delegated me… to say he's indisposed… and that he said: yes." A woman in her twenties answered calmly. 1 yes.
And Master Horse took note of the answer. There are 14 people, discounting lord Corner himself, and Kage needs at least 10 to agree to this vote. "Sir Alwin Ritter?"
"I vote no." 1 yes 1 no
"Mr. Adam Vermilyea?"
"No." 1 yes 2 no
"Mr. George Allister"
George paused for a moment, sweat pouring over his head. He did not expect his name would be called so soon. He looked at Kage, his expression unreadable. "I… vote…"
"…Mr. Allister?"
He closed his eyes in regret. "I vote no." 1 yes 3 no
Kage sighed.
"Mr. Lucs Kohler"
"I vote yes." 2 yes 3 no
"Mr. Graham Nelleis."
"Aye." 3 yes 3 no
"Celestine Groht"
"No" 3 yes 4 no. One more no and the vote will fail.
"Sir Murata Azrael"
"Aye of course." Azrael laughed. 4 yes 4 no
"Lord Kirihara Taizo"
Kirihara, like George, did not answer immediately. He glanced at Kira… and then, ever so briefly, at the Empress. '…a bigger gamble has never been taken… Kage… you're willing to do this, at the risk of your own life?'
"Lord Kiriha-"
"I vote yes." Kirihara answered immediately. 5 yes 4 no.
"WHAT!?" "EHRGH?" Some of the Logos Ministers who had expected Kirihara would answer no was shocked at the sudden reversal. George looked at Kirihara with shock. "Kirihara?"
"…" Kirihara remained silent amidst the riot in the court room. On the other hand, Corner suddenly realized things won't be that simple indeed. Lord knows what Kage and Azrael had done at the background? He took a piece of paper and start counting the yeses and nos. Some of the witnesses at the court also began doing the same thing, knowing how close it'll be.
Master Horse immediately struck his gavel several times to calm the room. It was that unexpected. Even Kage was taken completely by surprise.
"Right. Continue on: Sir Abraham Wingate van Hellsing."
Hellsing looked at Kage with a glare, and he spit into his pot before declaring: "I vote yes." 6 yes 4 no
"WHAT?" Again with a chorus of shock and gaping jaws. This time, even Azrael was counted among them. He looked at one of his most persistent contender with nothing but shock. Everyone clearly did not expect Van Hellsing of all people would say that. Many yelled and roared, Hellsing's reaction to that is silence. Once again, Master Horse gavel had to do the talking. The room immediately quiet down.
"Mr. Lally McWilliams"
"I vote yes." 7 yeses. 4 no
"Duncan Luis Mockelberg"
"Yes." 8 yeses. 4 no
But then, just when everyone thought Kage's vote was all but won…
"I vote no!" A Logos minister snarled. 8 yeses. 5 nos.
Kage blinked.
"HAH!" Corner laughed in triumph. "That's the end of the line for you, murderer!"
"Is it now?" Kage chuckled.
"Oh yes it is. Even if the last person said yes, you can't achieve 2/3rd majority if there are no 10 yeses! And you had only had 9! Not 10, 9! You hear me! I'll have your head on a pike-"
"We're not done yet until the last person cast his vote." Kage remained stoic and calm. "So if you'll excuse the language: sit down and shut up."
"Oh no I won't shut up! I won! You hear me-?"
"Your honor?" Kage groaned.
Master Horse had to agree with Kage. "Mr. Corner, I would insist that you return to your seat, court is still in session!"
Corner finally shut up, but the smile of triumph did not vanish from his lips.
And then finally, the last Logos Minister was asked, and his answer was: "Yes." 9 yeses, 5 nos. Kage was one vote short from having the Vote of Confidence ratified.
"The vote is concluded." Master Horse signed his paper, and then he handed said paper to Tien Zi… who will finalize this vote by reading it out loud…
As Tienzi brought the paper before her… and she sat there in silence.
"Behold the lynchpin of Kage's plan." Kirihara whispered to George, who's beginning to understand why Kage brought all this to happen. "This is exactly what he wanted to happen: At 9 yeses and 5 nos. Normally, only present members of the current of organization may vote… however… in the event that a head of state is directly involved, the head of state may use his or her right… to also cast a vote. The only way for this to turn… is if the Empress herself used her right to cast a vote to achieve a 2/3rd majority."
"Assuming she wants to…" George suddenly realized just how big of a gamble this is. "Kage's asking that child to decide his fate… and that of a nation…!"
Tienzi looked at the vote papers, the word of 9 yeses and 4 nos had never been so large in her eyes. She had read the laws that Kage wishes to use. As long as she had yet to read the results out loud, she's well within her right to cast a vote. RIGHT NOW… one word from her… will literally decide the fate of her entire nation. Her mouth parted open, no sound came out… it's not even clear what she wants to say. Tienzi looked at the audience… their eyes are fixed on her. Suddenly she felt her throat very dry…
Kage narrowed his eyes. 'Will she do it?'
"Your majesty?" Master horse asked. "Is there… something… you'd like to add?"
"I…" Tienzi began to tremble and she began to feel faint. The piece of paper in her hand suddenly felt like cast iron weight. "I…"
She looked around one more time, searching for just one drop of courage to speak the words… but she could not find it. She closed her mouth and gritted her teeth. She didn't dare, and she slunk back to her chair in silence, her expression was as miserable as she can be.
Kage sighed as he slumped back into his cage… in sheer disappointment. To him, it doesn't matter what the Empress will vote… fact is… she didn't even have the courage to make any decision at all. He turned back and saw Xing Ke at the balcony. 'I'm sorry Xing Ke… with an empress like this, your country is as good as doomed.'
Up above Xing Ke heard Kage's silent statement… and he despaired as he tucked down to his chair, saddened and dejected at his student's failure at this most crucial of test.
In the end, Tienzi's mind went blank, she didn't remember what she wanted to choose. The writings in the paper filled her mind. And just as she's about to read it…
"WAIT!"
The audience gasped and turned to the source of that voice… it was…
"Jess? Jess Rabble?" Kage rolled his eyes.
The bi colored haired man looked like he needed a new set of lungs. "W… Wait! H… Halt… everything…" The man was on his knees, panting… and one breath away from fainting. It'll took him a few precious minutes to catch his breath… a few minutes that require the patience the audience didn't have. "Sorry… I just… ran… from the station… all the way here…"
"Young man, we're in a middle of a court session."
"I understand… that. (Pant… pant…) I came here… (heave…) to tell you… that… there's… one… more… person… who wishes… to vote…"
"Wh… Wha… who!?"
"ME."
The audience gaped… Matias Adukarf immediately walked in and took center stage. "Forgive me for being so late. There was a problem with the… transportation."
Kage's eyes widened. Now that he realized it… he didn't notice Matias was among the Logos who participated in this court.
Suddenly, the atmosphere became incredibly tense. So tense, even Azrael, whose smile was only fading a while ago had now lost it completely. This is the one Logos member that everyone must be wary of, even him. Needless to say, the entire court room… which moments earlier looked like on the verge of exploding was rendered into a complete deathly silence. No one seem keen to stop Adukarf from saying his piece.
"Kage… you did a very bad thing."
"I… I am?" Even Kage was somewhat confused.
"Aye. Remember our deal? You promised that you will take Jess Rabble wherever you go to document everything to your final days… or until I say otherwise, did I not? And yet… you left him behind in Wu fortress."
"I… I… well… I'm sorry… he must've missed the train… I…" Kage found himself gaping like a yokel. "I mean… I… it slipped my mind. I have no excuse."
Adukarf chuckled. "Very well. Considering this is your first offense, I'll let you off with a… stern talking. Don't do it again, promise?"
"…promise." Kage didn't know what else to say.
"And we're done." Matias chuckled, completely ignoring the tense focused gaze of everyone in that court room. "Now then… Master Cheng, of the House of stallions… I would like to cast my vote on the Vote of No Confidence. I believe, despite my tardiness, I'm well within my rights to do so?"
"That you are." Master Horse found his voice back. "And… how does Lord Matias Adukarf vote?"
"Aye, Master Cheng. That would be an Aye." Matias easily answered with a smile. "Now… I believe if my calculations are correct… a certain vote must now be read… unless there's someone here who had yet to cast his or her vote?"
Tien zi looked at the changed papers. There was no longer any need for her to cast her own vote… yet instead of relief, she only had a sense of nauseating disgust in her stomach. In the end, she read it with a hollow tone and expression. "The result is as follows… with 14 present and 1 absent… 10 for and 5 against… the vote is passed."
Having finished her task, the Empress slunk to her chair, completely silent, unwilling to say anything else. Master Horse had no choice but to take over. "With this, the vote is passed. Captain Kage's action has been accepted as necessary extreme measures against a grossly incompetent local magistrate that had inflicted serious harm upon China's interest. Thusly… the court hereby declared Captain Kage… cleared of all charges."
And yet, there were no clapping, no cheers. Not even from Azrael, who should've been most pleased at this development. His eyes met with Matias, the man replied with a confident smile of his own.
Kage finally realized that he was not alone in his fear of this unknowable quantity that is Matias Adukarf. 'This guy…' he looked at the interaction between Azrael and Adukarf. '…'Corner may not be able to resist you… but I'm still here…' is that what he's trying to say?'
In the end, Azrael left with bitter mood. Matias too, merely gave a confounded Kage an enigmatic meaningful smile. Corner can't say anything else but to remained silent… but the anger in his eyes merely intensified.
And just like that, the trial of Kage was over.
00000000000000
As Kage walked out of the trial chamber, Rena and the rest of the Captains were waiting outside.
"…General." Kage shrugged.
"…Commander." Rena snarled. "War meeting in five. The Chrysanthemum chamber."
"Roger that." Kage frowned.
00000000000000
Escorted by her guards, Tien Zi also left the chamber. Through it all she was locked in a gloomy expression with her head down. But then, she noticed someone standing in hallway. She gaped.
It was Xing Ke.
"Xing Ke…!" She wanted to say something… but she gasped upon seeing the pained look and sorrow in her beloved mentor's face. It was a mixture of anger and sorrow. Sala and her guards also gasped. They've never seen Xing Ke to be that… depressed and disappointed. Tien Zi immediately realized why. "Xing Ke… I…"
"Say no more… highness." Xing Ke merely knelt. "Your fault as a student… is my failings as a teacher."
To Tien Zi… that sorrowful word is like a hard slap to her face, yet it is more painful than any pain imaginable. She had failed her teacher.
Tien Zi can't stand it anymore and she ran past Xing Ke's kneeling figure, tears streaming down her eyes.
Sala looked helplessly at Tien Zi's back. Her guards immediately chased after the Empress, but she stayed with her sorrowful brother a little while longer. "Dage…" (Dage: Chinese for Big brother)
"…protect the Empress, xiao mei." (Xiao Mei: Chinese for little sister)
"…" Sala lightly nodded.
00000000000000
In the war meeting, captains stand ready, encircling the map of China. Kage was the last to arrive. As soon as he did, Mwu immediately found the voice he cannot say all this time. "Oi, Kid! Why didn't you tell us?"
"Tell about what?"
"That you were in cahoots with Adukarf from the beginning?"
"In cahoots… I'm not even sure if that's the way to describe it…"
"He said you made a deal! What kind of a deal?"
"…the strangest I've ever made." Kage shrugged and behind him, Jess Rabble and Kaite Madigan followed behind. Jess waved nervously at the glaring Captains.
"…what kind of deal?" Murrue repeated.
"Well…" Kage explained the deal he made.
Even Rena was as confused but not so shocked. "Well… that guy was always the enigma… and that's what makes him scary. But… I think you can see from what happened in that court room, that is one Logos Minister that everyone fears. To think he would intervene directly like this was unprecedented."
Mwu grunted. "oi… kid… I know you're smarter than me… so you probably think this more thoroughly than I ever could. But… don't you think making deals with a Logos minister could be… dangerous?"
"…considering I almost got killed by one… yes. Very." Kage rubbed his forehead. "But… I'm also alive because of one… so I don't know if I should regret this or not…"
"Excuse me…? You almost died!?" Mwu barked. "I thought you've planned for everything!?"
"Not this time. This time I took a gamble. A big gamble." The gamble being that under pressure, the Empress will develop some backbone, just like he did once before. "And I've lost. I let my sentiments get the better of me."
Mwu and Murrue gaped, whilst Rena visibly raised her eyebrows in displeasure.
"Won't happen again."
Rena scoffed. That farce of a trial had wasted enough time. "You better be. Captain Kage! Hurry up and come here! We're beginning the war meeting now!"
And Rena wasted no breath. "Basically, there are three strategic points of possible attack if Zaft is going to invade this country. The first is Shanghai. Second is the Bohai strait. And finally, here." Rena pointed at a place far inland. In there, there's a fortress, the last of three great fortresses: Liu ShuHan.
"I get the Shanghai and the Bohai… but what's this in the Shuhan. Isn't that inland?" Mwu asked.
"Zaft had attacked China from that direction before." Xing Ke suddenly entered the meeting. "A long time ago, Zaft was able to push deep into China's western hemisphere by attacking from that direction. We were caught unprepared that time. But eventually we were able to push them back and we've learnt from that lesson."
"Xing Ke." Kage looked at the man… it was easy to see he had to recover from his disappointment… but it seems he intend to bury that sorrow by concentrating on his work.
Xing Ke merely exchanged the briefest of glances with Kage before he continued. "When they occupied that area, they left many fortifications and forts. We've made use of them, but Zaft also had extensive understanding and knowledge of that territory."
"That said… this will be a war on multiple fronts." Rena immediately concluded. "We have five captains here. We need to split up to cover them all."
"…how are we going to do this, General?" Kage asked.
Rena eyed at Kage. And she decided: "Captain Jane. Oversee the naval forces in Bohai. Captain Mwu, Captain Murrue, I'm assigning you to Shanghai."
"?" Mwu and Murrue noticed something amiss.
"Captain Kage, I'm assigning you to Shuhan fortress."
"!?"
Kage blinked. "…Shuhan?"
"You mind?"
"Considering the hassle you put me through in securing Shanghai, I had thought you wanted me to watch over that city."
"I used that city to test you. I never said a word that I'm going to assign you there." Rena snarled.
"…Shuhan… was originally Militia's HQ in China." Xing Ke took over. "It is the recruitment center of Militia in the whole region. 80% of our standing army there is militia."
"I see."
"The commanding officer in Shuhan is Sergeant Jill. She's the sergeant of one of the top ten Squadrons of the 10th division, called Arsenal. If Genesis is a squadron to train Arsenal gear tuners, Arsenal is a training ground for future Arsenal gear Technicians. Sergeant Jill has also been assigned to train the militia. However…" Xing Ke chose his words carefully.
"Jill hates the 7th division. With passion." Rena continued. "Her method of training with the 7th division in Shu Han has grown increasingly… counterproductive. I want you to go there, work your magic, and turn it around."
"…I see." Kage nodded.
"Mwu-darren and Murrue-darren had spent a long time with your men. I think you can safely relegate the leadership of your forces in Shanghai to their hands." Xing Ke followed.
"I understand." Kage nodded. "Fine. I accept the assignment. And… who else is coming with me?"
"Who else?" Rena guffawed. "You're going there alone with the next train."
"Wait a minute!" Mwu protested. "You mean he's going to that fortress alone, no back up, no reinforcement whatsoever!?"
"He can bring that journalist along, seeing that deal with Matias requires him to do just that." Rena replied. "Besides, as I've said, that fortress is filled with mostly Miltia. HIS division. It's his job, as their captain to put them back in shape and line."
"Wha…!" Mwu gawked.
"This is an order." Rena growled. "Considering your protégé had emphasized on this throughout the court, I think you need to bear in mind: I'm the commanding officer in China. You're currently in my base. My turf. You WILL obey my orders, or I'll have you shot where you stand." The General glared Mwu down. The man still showed no sign of backing down. "I'm not as forgiving as Halrbarton when it comes to insubordination."
"It's okay." Kage suddenly stated. Mwu gasped and looked at his apprentice. "It's okay, Mwu-san. I'll be fine."
"…kid…"
"It's decided then. Captains! You have your orders. Carry them out!"
00000000000000
As soon as the trial ended, Kaguya finally found her friend in the Imperial apothecary, reading.
"Hikari?"
Hikari didn't answer, but she knew if her old classmate is here, that can only mean one thing. "The trial. (koff) Is it over? (koff)"
"Yes."
And strangely enough, Hikari didn't ask any further. She kept her attention on this book in her hand.
Kaguya thought this strange, so she pushed it a bit. "Kage survived."
"…of course he did. (koff)" Hikari kept her eyes on the book.
"Hikari… I don't need your super ears to know you don't sound too happy about it."
"It's not like he's done something different than what he has done many times before. (koff)" Hikari's tone was flat and cold… as if suppressing a rage within.
Kaguya rolled her eyes. She had heard that they were having a falling out recently… she didn't expect it was this bad. "…look. With the trial is over, clearly, Kage will return back to active duty. Now… if my sources tell me right… he'll be put somewhere very, very far away. You'll have little to no chance to see him… for a very long while."
"…"
"If you wish to talk to him… tonight might be your last chance."
"I've said… what I have to say. (koff)" Hikari growled. "If he won't listen to me, what's the point? (koff)"
Kaguya sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you…" And thus she left Hikari to her books…
But as she left, Lacus didn't found comfort… and instead she practically lost any form of concentration…
00000000000000
He's no longer in a cell. He's not complaining… but a trooper's bunk is indeed better than straw matted cell.
The next stop of the Qin Shih Huang was to Shu Han. And it will depart very early in the morning. That means Kage only have like… a little less than an hour to even get just a wink of sleep. It's not like he could even if he wanted to. Besides, during his time in jail, he had slept more than enough of his share.
Knock-knock…
"?"
His first thought was yet another assassin sent by a certain someone who's clearly bitter with the decision of the court. Kage quickly looked around the room for anything he can use as a weapon. The only thing he found is a nail filer. He slowly rested his back against the door. "Who is this?"
"It's me."
And Kage relaxed immediately and opened the door.
"Yo." Mwu smiled.
"Mwu-san."
"Were you expecting someone else? Your girlfriend maybe?" He chuckled.
"Yeah, I wish."
"Don't worry. This is Rena's turf. As snotty as those Logos Ministers could be, they wouldn't dare to do anything funny right under her nose." Mwu gestured at the nail filer in Kage's hand. "Can we talk?"
"…yeah. Sure."
The two walked until they arrived at the balcony of the now empty trooper's lounge, the officer's 2nd floor. There's a view overlooking the edges of Forest of Sages. Mwu bend down and rest his body on the railings, whilst Kage simply stood, but both are enjoying the fresh breeze of air to the fullest… this may well be their last chance to breathe in the smell of air unmarred by blood and carnage. It's dusk, and any moment now, the sun will come out.
"Hey, kid…"
"Yes?"
Mwu didn't answer. He remained quiet for an indeterminate amount of time. Kage knew he wanted to speak something… but he didn't rush him. Despite how he is, Mwu isn't exactly the most vocal of person. And it seems whatever he wants to say to him, he wanted it to be done right. He finally started with: "Are you alright?"
"…well… I can't sleep."
"That makes the two of us. No… I think that makes all of us." Mwu smiled. "That's what happened every time you're waiting at the edge of a battle you can't escape from."
Kage sighed. "I see…"
And Mwu noticed that Kira didn't even flinch. "Kid?"
"Yes?"
"…can I ask you to do something?"
"…anything?"
"Be honest with me."
"What do you wish to hear?"
"…How you truly feel. About all this. And about what had happened… and what will happen." Mwu looked at Kira in the eye. "And be honest. Don't you use your brain, use your heart."
"…people will die."
Mwu motioned him to go on.
"I'm about to go somewhere… far away from the people I'm supposed to protect… in part… because I believe it in my heart… and my head… that I do so to protect them. It's just…"
"Now that you're really going to take the full measure of your decision… you're beginning to doubt if you've made the right decision."
"…" Kira couldn't say a word but he nodded. "I don't know… this war… this battle… will be the biggest battle the world has ever seen. Win… or lose… the world will never be the same. It's just…"
"Go on…?"
"I brought this. I… started this. But… every time I see the world changes… it's always for the worst. I… I'm not even sure if this time will be any different."
Mwu smiled, partly in relief. "Well… the fact that you are in doubt, kid… proves that you're still only human. And I think… as a person significantly less smarter than you… I believe it's a good thing."
"You think so?"
"First of all… I think you need to put this in perspective. You're super smart, but you're not superman. Yes, you're smart enough… but I don't think you're smart enough to cause this. If anything, I'd say you accelerated it. Meaning… you didn't invent this situation. This has been a long time coming."
"…okay…"
"That being said… you keep insisting on playing the lone gunslinger in all this when you don't have to." Mwu patted Kira's shoulder… it was much broader and tougher than the last time he touched him… back in Amaterasu when they first met. He really had gone far. "I know… that for you… things look bleak all around. Everything seems so bad, regardless of what you choose. Considering I was largely responsible for bringing you into this situation in the first place… I wish I could change some of those bads into good. But I know I can't."
"Mwu-san…"
"Kid… Kira… where you're going tomorrow… you're probably going to feel… you can face whatever they throw at you alone… And… I think you're good enough and strong enough to do just that. But sometimes… it is also important to know that you don't have to do this alone. Because you're not alone." Mwu tapped said shoulder several times. "Me, Murrue, and Natarle… well mostly me actually, brought you all the way here. So lord help us, we'll be with you to the end."
Kira looked at Mwu… and for a moment… something dark burgeoned into his chest: his anger… his hatred of this man… a part of him that blamed Mwu for all the things that had happened to him… that had turned him into this. Everything boiled up to the surface in one breath…
All so that, at long last… after all this time… he can finally forgive him. "Mwu-san… I've said this before, and it bears repeating. You are my teacher. But… you're not the first. I had several teachers… some are bad, some are good… two among them were the best in the world. They taught almost everything I know today. And yet… despite the knowledge is always being up here… I was never able to put them into practice… until you teach me how."
"…oh… kid…"
"Look after my friends will you?"
"You'll trust me with that?"
"In my confession… I do always have some doubts." Kira stretched out his hand. "I don't now."
The two shook hands. Mwu strained to hold back a tear, and Kira chuckled. "Come on. Mwu-san. This is way too sentimental for you."
Mwu blinked… and then he also chuckled. "You're right." He suddenly arm wrestled Kira's head as he rummaged his wild hair and laughed. "You eggheaded cute faced devil… what the heck you made me say!?"
"Excuse me, how did it became my fault?"
"You're the smart manipulative one!"
"I'm not that manipulative!"
And the two surrogate brothers in arms chuckled and laughed with one another, as master and student… and as friends.
In the dark corner, a pair of eyes behind an armored mask watched all this and smiled.
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Corner has just returned to his room and was about to throw a tantrum when he was welcomed by the most unexpected of unwelcome guest. "Azrael. If you're here to gloat at my loss, I'm in no mood."
"Your loss is your inept son, over 30% of your existing stock – which I've bought, and a 25% plummet of your stock price. Which I know for a fact won't really bother you… in the short run." Azrael growled. "All those are cause for me to celebrate… yet here I am… and I'm not smiling."
Corner looked at Azrael's bitter expression. He looked like he just realized he had taken a wrong deal. "You didn't know about the Matias thing."
"What I saw in that court… is someone whose growth, if remained unchecked, would be dangerous. To all of us. We need to stop it before he grew beyond our control, because he will."
"If you recall: I want him dead in the first place."
"Do you know your son's biggest mistake?" Azrael started. "He tried to attack the man head on. He's clever enough to try to sever deep into his arteries from the flanks, trying to bleed him. But the problem is, even when this wolf is reduced to a head, its mouth can still rip him by the jugular. And now, once the news of your defeat in the court spreads, Kage will continue his office in a semi divine stature. They obeyed and respect him before, they'll worship him now."
"What are you suggesting?"
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The next morning, Kage's departure was a rather… quiet one. By quiet, means that the only familiar face that see him go was Rena. He's not complaining. He and Mwu had already said what needs to be said last night.
"What… exactly should I be expecting in Shuhan?"
"Well… I'm gonna guess that you've tasted what 7th division is like under Harlbarton? Think that… worsened 10 times."
"Shit."
"When I was there… I was able to keep Zaft away from the entire western hemisphere of China… their fear of me kept them away… but after I left… they zealously tried to take back their lost holdings. The fortress was beaten several times… even now they're still fixing some of the damage."
"I see…" And then, the train boomed a loud sound… they're about to leave. "Well… okay. It's time for me to leave."
"Just don't forget about your job."
Kage stopped midstep just before he entered the train.
"That trial is almost like a briefing… all those names you heard… all those faces. I trust… now that you've seen them in the flesh… it had helped you… or… will it trouble you?" Rena was pointing with how close Kage was with some of his supposed targets.
"We shall see."
Rena's bulged. "We shall see? Excuse me, do I look like I had tolerance for any cra-"
"And do I look like your goffer?" Kage glared. "We'll do this my way, or you can do it yourself."
"…Are you threatening me?"
"Do I look like I care what you think?"
The troopers around the two froze and they seem to forget how to breathe. Rena had shot someone for less.
"Do your job, I'll do mine."
"Hmph. Fair enough."
"See you on the other side."
And with that, the Dark Captain entered the train, and Rena can only watch as the Qin Shih Huang departed in a loud rumble. As she was about to walk away she noted a presence. She looked around… and saw no one. "Hm?"
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Kage had to conclude something: this train is freakishly huge! Huge enough that he actually spend the last two hours on board getting lost, searching for his room. 'I think this is the first time in many weeks I actually got lost… not that I'm complaining…'
It took a while until Kage finally understand, now that he's on board the train as a passenger rather than a prisoner; that this train is no different than those commercial ones he found in Japan: they used tickets on assigned chairs. In his case, his chair is the officer's bunk on one of the cars. He walked past a bunch troopers playing cards, some troopers looked like they just finished a gym… and some squads reassembling their guns… they were remarkably quiet in their activity, but their eyes turned to him wherever he walked. The whole train was filled to the brim with troopers.
"Captain Kage, sir?" A trooper welcomed him.
"Yes?"
"I'm Sergeant Brock, I'll be your aide this evening."
"Uh-huh."
"Anything you need, just let me know-"
"What else did you bring here… other than troopers?"
"We're bringing the half assembled Attila to Shu Han. It'll help reinforcing the base defenses."
"How long is the trip?"
"Around 6 hours."
"Hmm…" Kage looked at the Sergeant… and his men… "There are two people… who entered here before me… a journalist and his bodyguard, where are they?"
"They're in your room sir."
"…" Kage looked at Brock… and then he looked back at everybody he passed on his way here. "Hm… okay."
Kage finally reached the door to his room. He turned around… "Wait here, okay?"
"Yes sir."
Kage opened the door and found Jess and Kaite inside.
"Captain Kage?"
"Jess… Kaite… are you guys okay?"
"Yeah?"
Kage nodded. "Alright. Jess… I want you stay here. Kaite… time for you to work for a living. Anybody enter this room other than me, you beat him out. Understood?"
Kaite suddenly understand what's about to happen. And he nodded.
"You don't hear another gunfire in 15 minutes… you take Jess and bring him back to Mr. Adukarf, no matter what." Kage gave some instructions. "And if after 15 minutes you still hear gunfire, you take Jess away from here, and you hide somewhere until I can find you."
"Roger that sir."
"W… What are you talking about?" Jess had yet to grasp what's about to happen.
"Just… stay safe. I'm about to get really busy… I won't have time to cover your asses." And that was Kage's final word. He opened the door again and closed it before locking the officer's room from outside.
There… waiting for him… every single trooper he had laid eyes before on his way in are waiting for him with drawn weapons and bared hostile intentions, including his so called aide of the evening.
"Before we get started… does anybody wanna get off?"
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The Qin Shih Huang departed the Caowei fortress with 7 cars, full of troopers.
Only half the cars barely arrived at ShuHan.
And when the troopers at the Shuhan checked the insides, all they found… are lots and lots of dead bodies.
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Oh God… this chapter gave me nightmares from back when I studied (and failed) business law in my college. I never wanted to write something like this again. My sanity….!
I wish…
