As the snow was melting away little by little, and the cherry trees began to bend under the weight of flower buds, just waiting to blossom, their projects were beginning to pick up. Both Amara and Shuichi were in the B building of the university for the longest part of their day, working in different labs for the sake of avoiding distractions. To be honest, they were each other's greatest distraction and preferred excuse for procrastination, so working in different rooms allowed them to be productive and advance in their work.
Amara was stuck writing and editing the same section of her paper. It was obvious that plants did react to stimuli in a way that would indicate they felt something, but how could she prove it was pain? She tried gently wiping the leaves with a soft cloth, compared to spalling the plants, compared to squeezing the leaves as a young child could do in a household. Amara misted the plants, used a shower head to simulate rain, and high pressure with a fan on to mimic storms. She even tried cutting little bits of the plant's leaves and then playing the sound of the scissors on a record to see what happened.
The results were indeed different, but was this enough? The entire Vegan community will try to rip her article to shreds! Was there any way to contest her research?
She bent the plants, pinched them, twisted their leaves both playfully and aggressively. These things could not feel pleasant to any sentient being. If the signals could be assigned to more or less the same range, then perhaps, this was the proof she needed that plants did feel pain, after all!
The only aspect missing from her research was parasites... Those species ate the subject-plant, so there should be an uncontestable response of distress. Amara thought of one way to do this, but she still wanted to hear a second opinion, so she walked into the laboratory next to hers.
Kurama was analyzing the chemical compounds of drainage water from several pots of young shrubs.
"I've got an idea!"
Uncertain of what he should expect, Kurama turned towards the door slowly, trying not to mix the mediums inside the glass vial he was holding. Amara's enthusiasm was a sure sign of trouble.
"What kind of idea?"
"...What's that?"
Of course - she saw his vials and got distracted. Kurama could read her much easier now.
"I have injected one branch of the juniper in the pot number 1 with a natural insect repellant derived from the mint plant in the corner. I'll be watching through the following weeks if it shows up in the drainage water of the juniper plants numbered 2 through 5, which were not exposed to the extract. This will prove that plants do much more than simply recognize each other - they also recognize certain substances as useful and share them within their network. All of these have at least one strong root crossing back and forth to its neighbor, just like they would do in their natural environment."
Amara nodded slowly.
"Is it going to work?"
Kurama smiled in amusement. "We'll see! That's the whole point, isn't it?"
"I sure want to know the result of that! So, back to my idea - not as spectacular with colorful chemicals, but still!"
"Go ahead," he urged her.
"I'll get mealybugs to infest the plants and study their reaction. If getting eaten isn't painful, I don't know what is!"
Kurama chuckled. "As long as they don't leave the laboratory and infest the entire building... You didn't think about preventing this problem, did you?"
Her face confirmed his assumption even if she decided to deny it.
"I'll bring ladybugs inside if we get a problem. Ladybugs eat those, right? And they're cute. Maybe not to the mealybugs, but for us, they're really pretty."
"You should first find some ways to isolate the laboratory as a micro-ecosystem so that we don't have to capture every ladybug for miles and have them apply for a permanent job at the university," he laughed.
The girl scratched the back of her head, uncertain, but trying to seem positive about it.
"Well, how hard can it be? Is it safe if I spray insect spray around the door and window frames?"
"It's worth a try, but you'll have to be very persistent with it."
The girl nodded. "So, do you have a lot of work to do right now, or can it wait for a bit?"
"I think I can take a break in half an hour," Kurama estimated. He continued with his work, as Amara took a seat at a table to the side.
"It's lunchtime, by the way. I know you tend to forget about it."
Kurama gave her a little smile. "Already? Time flies, I suppose..."
"I also got a message about two hours ago. It's from an unknown number, saying we should go to the Rising Moon restaurant for lunch today."
This was odd, to say the least. Kurama had never been tot hat restaurant and his very compact group of friends were unfamiliar with the luxurious Rising Moon. This was a new restaurant opened in the most expensive residential area of the city, upon a hill, surrounded by woodland and overlooking the wealthy part of town.
"Would you mind reading it for me?"
Amara opened her phone and began reading, as Kurama was focused on finishing his tasks.
'Good morning! Our CEO has heard of your ambitious research and had decided to invite you both to the Rising Moon restaurant for lunch today, between 12 PM and 3 PM. All expenses will be on us. We hope to see you soon!'
This sounded very much like a trap.
"Did you publish anything on our research?" Kurama asked.
"No, why?"
"Did you take part in any kind of contest or filled a form or gave your phone number away by any means?"
Amara shook her head again. "None of that."
"I don't think this is safe."
The girl shrugged. "Probably not, but what could happen in the most guarded part of town, in the middle of the day? Besides, we're going together, right? It will be fine. It's a free lunch!"
Her way of phrasing the issue did make him smile, but Kurama was still skeptical. The chances for something violent were small, but never absent.
"I suppose we could go just to see what this is all about..."
"Exactly! And eat for free," Amara said with a wide grin as she jumped to her feet. "Let's go!"
Sighing softly, Kurama gathered his things and replaced the lab coat with his usual one. They walked out of the university's building and campus, all the way to the richest side of town. The restaurant was really easy to find - it had an exclusive terrace on its roof that overlooked the entire city, which made it stand out from most other buildings.
"Hello and welcome," a waiter greeted them as soon as they reached the entrance. "You are expected, shall I lead you to the table?"
Amara looked at Kurama with a look of amusement and amazement on her face. "Yeah... sure. Thanks."
Following the waiter, they crossed two salons - the second more luxurious than the first - and eventually reached a partly closed area with a U-shaped couch circling the table. Seated there, dressed in the finest of human fashion, a powerful demon seemed well aware of their presence, despite its closen and slightly sunken eyelids. Two additional pairs of ears and several horns were the only indications to his species, as he rested his manicured hands on the table in a relaxed manner and stood up just halfway, enough to pretend he respected his guests.
"I'm glad you could make it. I'm sure you have really busy schedules."
Amara was confused. She couldn't sense any demonic energy coming from the stranger, yet he was not human. She looked at him and extended her hand, unsure, but reaching for a handshake. Instead, with incredible accuracy, the demon took her hand in his and kissed it, barely brushing his lips over her skin in a formal way. Surprised, she slipped her hand back and looked at Kurama.
His eyes were cold and his facial expression, rigid and inexpressive like that of a statue. What kind of trick was Yomi going to pull this time? They had agreed to stay out of each other's lives the last time they spoke, though Yomi had never been the kind to stay true to his word.
"What are you doing here, Yomi?"
The stranger stepped to his right, freeing up space for his guests around the table and gesturing for them to take it.
"Is this how you greet all of your friends? Please, I insist - there are Shadows outside who will make sure we have this conversation, so why not make it enjoyable for everyone and behave like civilized higher class individuals?"
Amara sat down first, while constantly moving her eyes from Yomi to Kurama and back again. What was going on? It was more and more obvious that Kurama was right to be suspicious about the invitation. Eventually, he sat down beside her.
"Since when do the Shadows become involved in your parlor tricks?"
Kurama's words were different from how Amara knew them, sharp and unforgiving.
"Since I found out that they are far more loyal than you," Yomi teased him. "Have you told her about yourself yet?"
"That is irrelevant to this conversation. Why have you summoned me? We both know it's more or less of an accident that we are both present here."
Yomi leaned back in his seat with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "So she doesn't know... Well, you've always been slow to trust people - it's nothing new. I wanted to deliver a message before any kind of action begins, but I may be late by a few minutes."
"We might not have had this conversation before, but I'm aware of his nature, and yours," Amara interrupted their discussion. "You're aiming to use my presence as a means to threaten him into doing something. Do you mind going into details about this message of yours?"
Surprised and slightly amused, Yomi smiled. "I apologize if that offended you."
Although it was unexpected, Kurama couldn't let this fresh piece of information linger in his mind for too long. He decided to push it into his memory, just for the time being. Yomi was being a much more urgent problem.
"The Demon world is in anarchy, I'm not sure if you've heard... I'm going to bring back the monarchy in Gandara, expand it, and rule once again. Demons need authority in order to differ from aminals."
Kurama was ready to leave any second. "Then, I wish you good luck. Business in that world is none of my concerns."
"Oh, but I believe it is... You see, I want you to help develop my kingdom through science, and I've heard that you are quite good at it."
"What happens if I refuse?"
"Theoretically - because I know you won't - the human world might be turned into an exile place for the outlaws. That, of course, after all the life in it is consumed by disease."
"Explain," Kurama demanded.
"You see... An infection has already been released somewhere in this world. I didn't bother to remember the details - biology had never been my field of interest - though it is very adaptable and rather deadly. Ranna has the cure for it, but you may only receive it after you will have completed this job."
Amara glanced over at Kurama briefly. "Who is Ranna?"
"A powerful demon. I believe she also matches the human definition for power, the political and economical criteria."
Yomi crossed his legs and separated Amara from Kurama underneath the table.
"She used Yomi as a front man, a mask if you will. The demon world inhabitants are extremely misogynistic, and there are certain risks one assumes when taking a leadership position. By having Yomi on the throne of Gandara, Ranna could rule without dealing with these details," Kurama clarified. "I admit, I did hear rumors about it, but I refused to believe Yomi would let himself be used in such an obvious way... I may have been right to cut ties with him, after all."
"My, did I catch you in a bad mood today?" Yomi chuckled. "If you knew of the benefits, you wouldn't judge me the same way. Besides, I had my independence."
"Is that what you call being given the illusion of taking small and insignificant decisions?"
Frowning, Yomi leaned with his forearms against the table. "Kurama, you know that I like you enough to overlook your betrayal. Try not to force my hand. You're not exactly in a powerful position right now."