"So you're not going to do anything?"

"What can I do?" Youko asked with a sigh, "if he doesn't remember, then there's very little I can do. His youma are looking after him, and I've asked Jyuusaku to try and talk to them. Help them understand that this is not Tai, that different rules apply here. What might seem rude back home is not here, especially if you're a child and not an adult."

"We know that, but how do you explain that to someone who doesn't even remember who he is! Maybe if you send him back, he'll remember again?"

Youko and Sugimoto walked to school the day after Youko had talked with Takasato, or Taiki. She had only heard about the kirins story, not actually seen him, so she couldn't be sure. But the evidence was there.

"Just make sure you show him the proper respect when interacting with him," Youko said, "that way you wont give his youma an excuse to attack you."

"now how do we warn everyone else?"

"We can't. We just try and be his friend and explain to the youma that everything is ok."

"And that will work?"

Youko shrugged, "its what we can do, weather we want to or not."

Sugimoto nodded, appreciated that Nakajima was using the word 'we' instead of 'I'. She would have understood if she had used 'I' instead, but it would've hurt.

"Just promise me you'll be careful," youko said, "You've already upset them once, I'm guessing they wouldn't forgive a second offence."

"What second offence?"

The stopped walking and turned to face two girls behind them. Youko didn't recognize either of them from her class.

"Are you picking out your next victim?"

"Shhh, they might choose you," her friend giggled. Youko stood there as Sugimoto turned to keep going, choosing to ignore the girls. But Youko stayed and Sugimoto turned back to see why.

"I, personally, have never harmed a hair on my classmates heads," Youko said firmly, her chin tilted upward, angry, "I never plan to. So stop spreading such baseless and pointless rumors!"

"What's your problem?" the girl sneered.

"I'm-" Youko stopped herself as Sugimoto grabbed her arm.

"Just back off," Sugimoto snapped at the other two, "stay out of other peoples business."

"Whatever, freaks."

They walked passed them and Youko glared at their backs. Her face was red as she tried to calm herself down.

"That rumor is the worst," she snapped, "And I'm tired of it!"

"I know," Sugimoto tightened her grip, "its just stupid."

Was Nakajima going to start crying? Sugimoto had to wonder, since she did have a crush on the boy everyone was saying she'd murdered.

But she didn't.

"Asano died doing the right thing," Youko said slowly, "but he didn't have to die. And it is my fault for letting everything get out of hand in the first place. If I had been a better queen at the start-"

"You were a mess at the start, that's for sure," Sugimoto cut in with a chuckle, "made me glad I wasn't in your shoes."

"Geeeee, thanks."

"You're welcome. But you're obviously doing well now. I've never seen you look more stately than you did just now."

"I was just angry."

"Well, don't lose your temper at your teachers or else bad things will happen," Sugimoto said, giving Youkos arm a squeeze, "last thing we need is a rumor that you're in a gang or something."

()

Youko wondered at how easy it was to lose her temper.

At first, she was just busy hiding her secret, now that she was settling into her past routine, she found that her peers were beyond…well, her help. They were foolish and shallow and the fact that her words no longer held the weight of a queen was irritating, to say the least.

It didn't help that the more she tried to talk to Taiki the more rumors would start to spread.

"The two murderers are going to team up."

"that's bad news."

"they'll start a gang."

It wasn't so much the content of the rumors as it was the persistence! They never let up! It was like an itch she couldn't scratch!

"I understand that you are Sugimotos friend?" Takasato asked when Youko tried to talk to him again.

"Yes?"

"Why are you both bothering me?"

Youko frowned, "I just wanted to be friends with you as well."

"Why? Because we were both missing for a while?"

"No," Youko said firmly, "because I think we have some things in common. In fact, I was wondering if you could call me Kei. And I can call you Taiki."

"Don't just make up names for people," he snapped, "its rude."

"Not if we're friends," she said smiling, "In fact, I'm planning on going out with a few friends soon, and I really want you to come as well."

It was an idea that just came to her as she stood there. She just needed to organize everything…

"You are a weird one."

"Yes, I know," She said, "does that mean you'll come?"

His mouth twitch upward before he shook his head and walked away. She sighed and made a mental note to contact Enki the moment Honkyo got back.

()

A brief respite.

Keiki felt like he breathed for the first time in months as the sun shone all over the country. The ministers were still instructing the people to be wary, and clean up was underway.