Ann.: Previous warning about profanity be repeated here. Add in a warning for angst.

Ann. 2: I added a random thought at the end of this chapter.

Orchestrated Nightmare – Karma

~o~

In the early morning Nahyuta felt something was wrong. A whispering haunting feeling out of reach in the back of his head, nagging at his well-being and proving to be distracting but persistent enough to not get rid off easily, seemed to haunt his every step. Nahyuta assumed it must be a remnant of yesterday's events. He hated to leave matters unresolved as much as he strongly disliked to lose control over situations because of his own inability.

"Your Holiness?" Nahyuta startled, not having noticed that his thoughts had drifted away. "Your mother awaits you in her private quarters." The monk-in-training at the half open door formed two mitamahs with his hands, folded them together and bowed deeply to Nahyuta before leaving the room again.

Nahyuta turned his head away with a sigh and leaned his forehead against the tips of his fingers, distressed. Maybe … maybe it was the after-effects of that particular strong karma he had been exposed to all day yesterday. He couldn't think of a different explanation.

The upcoming trials won't be dealt with by themselves. I should not waste my time sitting by idly.

Nahyuta rose from the chair and made his way to the royal residences, turning the thoughts in his head to focus on what really mattered. It was early in the morning, around two hours after the sun had risen, and soon time for breakfast. The morning air was fresh with the kitchen's scents and enriched with fresh mountain winds that also brought cold air with them, fitting for this time of year. In contrast to that was the sun, warm on cold skin but not strong enough to clearly heat up the ground and tiles.

On his way several guards saluted and joined him, serving as the regent's protectors. Nahyuta had changed the rules in a lot of ways after Ga'ran's last public appearance, and regarding guards he tolerated absolutely none in his private quarters or in the hallways but ordered them to patrol the areas around his quarters instead. With this adjustment guards would join him on his walks when he left his rooms but would not disturb him during early morning prayers and rituals and still be there if he needed them.

They were all-present at the royal residence itself. Nahyuta motioned his guards to stay behind when he approached Late Justice Minister's Inga's rooms – now his mother's – but he didn't have a chance to knock at her door.

"Your Holiness!" His second guard captain by the name Comahn De'er reached him, out of breath and red faced, and panted: "The guest … has … disappeared!"

"What?" Nahyuta stood motionless, staring down at the bent-over breathless captain, processing the information. He had troubles understanding. How was that possible, why, and how did Simon disappear?

Did I ever give you reason to scorn my friendliness?

Anger flashed over his face. Abruptly he turned to his men gathered behind him, stretched his arm out and bellowed: "Find him! Spread out and find Simon Keyes immediately!"

His guards lost no second and followed his order instantly, while he turned to Captain De'er. "How much time has passed since you last saw him?", he asked sharply. So, if Keyes wanted to play then Nahyuta would gladly join but raise the bets first.

"I knocked at his room precisely when you told me to, Your Holiness." Comahn had finally caught enough breath to answer coherently. "He didn't answer my knocking. Fifteen minutes later I knocked again, entered and found the room deserted. I immediately headed over to report to you."

So that would make almost a whole hour unaccounted for if not more. Nahyuta crossed his arms in front of his chest and pressed his hand against his chin, going through all possibilities there were. Did Simon hint at where he might go? What he might do? Nahyuta could think of nothing. He simply lacked information. Why did he come to Khura'in in the first place? What's his goal? Where might he have gone to?

His hand wandered to his prayer bead and he let his hand run over it, baring his teeth. I don't know. I can't -

The door to Amara's quarters opened and his mother appeared on the door step, accompanied by two handmaids. Her eyes widened in surprise at the scene but her facial expression turned into worry; she had noticed the guards' commotion and immediately knew something was not right. "Nahyuta?"

She took the two steps from the entrance door down to even ground and stepped next to him, grabbing his sleeve. He shook his head shortly and made a dismissive gesture, not able to look her in the eyes because she'd immediately know his inner troubles. "Please, it's nothing to be bothered about, mother", he answered, keeping his voice as calm and his words as articulated as he'd usually do. "I must seek your apology for leaving now but there is a matter that I have to see through. Your summon will have to wait."

"Oh. It wasn't important." She let go off his sleeve and put down her hands, folding them in front of her lap, her eyes hardening at his words. "I will be going into the mountains with Rayfa today, as I wanted to discuss with you. Surely, your duties won't allow you to join us then?" The sudden distance and chill in her voice was colder than the mountain winds. It was the disappointment of a mother who had hoped to spend time with her busy son but was turned down before he even heard her out. Nahyuta clenched the hand next to his leg into a fist, holding it away from his mother's sight, not meeting her reproachful eyes still.

"It will have to wait. Excuse me now."

He motioned Comahn to follow him and walked with decisively placed steps, fighting the conflicting feelings in his chest. Add situations like these to the list of things he despised – disappointing his own mother was a crime that weighed hard on Nahyuta's soul, and that he could not forgive himself easily.

~o~

Comahn, he and another patrolman searched the Forsaken Tomb and the palace itself, to no avail. The other search troops reported similar results – it was as if Simon Keyes had disappeared from the face of the earth.

"Your Holiness, do you want us to search the Plaza of Devotion?", Comahn asked in front of his gathered men.

The mention of that place's name made Nahyuta look up in surprise. It all fell into place at once.

Of course. Keyes must have gone to the Inner Sanctum. That's why he showed that much interest in it during the audience yesterday. And to think I didn't doubt his commitment to this topic ..!

"Take additional men to the Inner Sanctum as well!", he ordered and dismissed the guards to fulfill their duty. Despite his new won certainty he still remained restless as he watched his men leave the palace in jogging pace. Nahyuta could not tell what weighed on his mind most at that moment and then he remembered with great concern that his mother and Rayfa planned to head up the mountains today, which would no doubt connect with a visit to the Inner Sanctum.

And who knows what Keyes is up to. Nahyuta turned around and started walking to where his feet were guiding him, fighting the rising panic in his chest. What if Edgeworth had been correct to warn me? What do I even know about Simon Gustavia? He intertwined his hands behind his back, picking up his pace with the rising feeling of dread in his chest. He kidnapped two minors to use them in his crimes. He killed a man he claims he was fighting in self-defense, and he manipulated several crime scenes, the Holy Mother knows how many times. What if he came here to abduct Rayfa? What if he is part of the revolution's opposition? Have I taken in an enemy? How could I possibly have allowed -

A sharp whistle startled him from his thoughts. Nahyuta had not noticed that his steps had brought him back to his own quarters and neither had he realized that his guards had fallen behind just as he had ordered them to.

Alarmed, he stopped.

The hallways were so constructed that they opened to a blooming green courtyard, letting in natural light in its middle. Right now a flock of birds sat on the grass, flapping with their wings but not taking off even though Nahyuta was close by. Surely, animals normally didn't fear his presence but they showed more trust to him when he was praying or reciting mantras.

Another sharp whistle made all birds rise into the air at once and land on the gutters, and they started chirping wildly, adding up into cacophony.

"Gosh, can it be so hard? They're supposed to be singing that song from yesterday together. They're Khura'inese birds, the tune should be in their blood. I taught them how to chirp it. And still, they don't do it. Even my whistling imitation sounds better than what they do." Simon lifted two fingers to his mouth and whistled a different tune, a higher noted whistle than the two times before. It was as if he woke the birds from hypnosis because as soon as his whistle broke off they flew into the air and away as fast as possible, out of sight, chirping continuously.

"Simon." Nahyuta put his hands on the hallway parapet in disbelief and didn't know if he was supposed to laugh or cry out. Was this a funny situation? Or was it plainly sad?

"Can you believe it, Nahyuta?" Simon turned to him while Nahyuta stared incredulous. "This palace is huge", he stretched his arms to both sides to support his statement, "and yet you only find birds and frogs here. BIRDS. And FROGS. Where are the bunnies? Or Cats? Dogs? Heavens, I had all kinds of animals in prison even. Prison!" He put his head back and held a hand against his face, laughing (Gyaa-haha!) "We had a polar bear, Nahyuta. A polar bear! And parrots. And pigs and ponies." He lowered his hand and his shoulders sank back. His voice, hysterical just a moment ago, sounded completely normal when he asked: "Is it breakfast time?"

Nahyuta sat down onto the parapet and swung his legs over, landed on the grass and skimmed over his braid, mostly to collect his troubled self. "Where have you been?", he asked and lifted his gaze.

Simon put both hands on his hips and switched his weight onto one leg, raising one eyebrow. "What do you mean, where have I been?", he asked prosaically. "Where should I go? I'd get lost in here if I left, believe me."

Nahyuta closed the distance between them, stopped in front of the shorter man and leaned closer, searching for the lie in his face. His doubts were far from being cleared up. "My guards were searching for you. You weren't here", he explained, not covering the mistrust in his voice. Maybe he had been a fool to assume Simon would go after Rayfa to abduct her. And on the other hand he had meant yesterday's words when he had told Simon it would be unwise to trust a snake.

"Your guards were – Oh, you mean that strange dude with his cap over his eyes?" Simon held his fingers over his eyes portraying the guard uniform's helmet's edge very convincingly and put his head back to not break eye contact with Nahyuta. "Yeah, he knocked. He just never thought I wouldn't be in my room anymore. He kinda left and never came back so I guess ...", Simon shrugged, "I then went out on my own but as I said, I got lost hopelessly. A wonder I found back here."

Nahyuta took a step back, formed the mitamah with his hand and took in a deep breath, concentrating on Simon's karmic flow. Due to his soul's uproar the image he received was blurry but as far as he could tell nothing had changed with Simon's karma.

I overreacted.

"You stirred a lot of trouble." Nahyuta lowered his arm, for the first time finding back to his relaxed self again. "Also this is not how you wear a Ki'monoh." He reached out to fix Simon's clothes without a second thought but noticed that Simon flinched back before he could even touch him. Nahyuta froze. "Oh … Do you mind if I fix your clothing?" Since when do you forget to ask for permission first?, he scolded himself silently.

"Go ahead. I found this in the wardrobe."

Simon tensed up under Nahyuta's fingers, which wandered over his clothes' pleats masterly. Nahyuta undid the loosely fastened belt around Simon's mid-riff and moved it lower, folding the Ki'monoh according to tradition and fastening the belt tightly right above his hips.

"Why did you go with these colors?", he asked, concentrated on his work. It was more than mere routine, more like a ritual that he liked doing. Not that he had many chances to perform it, having to wear the regent's pure colors most of the time.

"Is there something wrong with dark violet?" Simon tugged at his belt, brushing past Nahyuta's fingers to loosen the belt where Nahyuta had just fastened it. "It was better than all of those light colors." Nahyuta clicked his tongue and moved Simon's hands out of the way to finish his work.

I used to wear it when I sneaked out of the palace at nights when I was a teenager. It was my cover in the night and I have many memories connecting to it. I wouldn't have thought that one day I would see my old clothing like this.

"There is distortion in the air." Nahyuta got to his feet, scrutinizing his work. Yes, now Simon looked properly dressed. "I had thought you caused it."

"Distortion? You mean like, a perversion of the situation? Well, you just started touching me all over."

"A perversion?", Nahyuta echoed and looked up to meet Simon's eyes, "No Simon, I wouldn't ..." He broke off when he saw Simon's smug grin. "Did you … Are you teasing me?", he asked indignantly once he understood what this man had just implied.

"Might be." Simon shrugged, put both hands behind his head and deepened his smug. "So, King, you're asking me to join you for breakfast?"

~o~

~o~

I wasn't entirely honest with Nahyuta when he wanted to know why I hadn't been in my room. What I answered him wasn't a lie either, not exactly. Sure, I could have told him that falling asleep in that big comfy bed had proven to be impossible – I had even tried sleeping in the chair instead, wrapped in several blankets. But after restless hours I had decided to go outside and sleep in the courtyard under the open sky, which resembled the way I had been sleeping in my cell the closest. Even there my sleep was disturbed by broken images; but I have surpassed that point of being tired where you're just too tired to be tired anymore.

Nahyuta and I are walking along the hallway, following my offer of breakfast. Even though he wears his usual neutral expression I can tell he's different from yesterday. And I understand him a lot better as well.

"How much did you sleep?", I ask him. He takes a moment too long to answer and thus confirms, he's very tense and only tries to appear calm to the outside. Can't fool me though.

"I go to bed timely and wake up with the rising sun."

Also he's still answering me without giving a real answer. I tilt my head while walking, smiling. So he still plays mind games with me. Fine. Once I know you well enough, Nahyuta, you'll be my pawn and help me with my mission, that's decided. I stock when I think: From Knight to King, huh? Talk about a perversion indeed …

"Don't do that again", Nahyuta mumbles, staring stolidly straight ahead so that his hair covers most of his face, covering it from my sight. Can he read thoughts?

"Do what again?" I notice that guards close up and accompany us on our way. They give me queer looks and I grimace at them before turning back to Nahyuta.

We step outside into the palace's courtyard under the warm sun, more guards joining our little troupe.

"You can't go around freely", Nahyuta explains openly but just as before, it's an explanation without a real explanation. Nahyuta puts his hands together behind his back and by now I came to learn that when he does that he's on his guard (I'm a quick learner trust me). Which also means that there is something he's hiding from me.

"Aha." Despite knowing that I still can't react properly to him. Maybe I should raise an objection and start disputing with him. But, I tell myself, he will have to learn the hard way that I can't be held in cages.

I'm a free soul and go wherever I please.

"Aha?" Nahyuta stops, lack of understanding written plainly all over his face. I feel he wants to say something and place my bets what it will be but Nahyuta's eyes focus on something behind me instead. I turn and see a group of people coming our way; I have met Her Benevolence Princess Rayfa already but the woman next to her definitely must be Nahyuta's mother. There is no mistake possible – the moment I see her I'm stunned by her beauty, the same silver hair and facial grace as her son, the same smooth motions and sublimity …

"You have felt the cosmic distortion as well, haven't you?", she speaks up once in ear-shot, with cold undertone.

Ouch, someone is mad. I take a bow in Rayfa's direction, assuming that I will be introduced but both princess and Nahyuta's mother don't pay any attention to me. "Nahyuta, there has been an incident at the Inner Sanctum. Another murder at this most holy place ... I have already called upon the investigation team to head there ..." Her tone wavers.

Nahyuta went pale at her words. "You don't mean to say … who? Who was murdered?" He grabs his mother by the shoulders but it's Rayfa who answers. She holds her nose high, aloof: "The poor priest who, after your decision, went up into the mountains to contact the High Priest. And the guard captain who was with him was in critical condition when he was found." She crosses her arms in front of his chest. "I knew it was a bad decision to not act preemptively when it comes to the Inner Sanctum, Braid Head."

"The priest." Nahyuta lets go off his mother, shakes his head and puts his middle fingers against his thumbs, closing his eyes. "This is … unforgivable", he says. "I shall pray for the departed soul. The culprit will be punished accordingly. Was a suspect arrested?"

"For now, the second guard is the most suspicious but we can't arrest him without evidence. Chief Prosecutor Payne will conduct his investigations and report to us the results of the interrogations. We will decide then." Nahyuta's mother finally seems to realize my presence. "Oh, and who is this?"

"My name is Simon Keyes … Your Holiness", I introduce myself and smile sweetly.

"He's a nincompoop", Rayfa adds, glancing over me contemptuously.

"... Nincompoop?" I hold my hands to my ears, widening my eyes. "Nowaynowaynoway, using such an outdated word -"

"We don't have time for this", Nahyuta cuts me off sharply. I have not expected hearing those words from his mouth and lower my arms in surprise. "Simon, head back to your room. I will have an acolyte bring your breakfast to you and later lunch. Captain De'er", he turns to the first guard next to him, who takes a stance immediately when spoken to. "I will take part in the investigation myself. You're ordered to take care of my guest and make sure it doesn't lack him in anything."

"Your Holiness!"

"Don't I get to say a word about this?", I ask, peeved.

"No." Nahyuta's eyes are burning. "You stay here. I mean it, Simon." Since I don't answer he exhales sharply and steps closer, leaning in and whispering words that are only meant for my ears. His words sound sweet enough if you disregard the circumstances, pleading but sharp, but we both know that what he's actually saying is that I should stay put to not cause trouble. I'm not a guest but a prisoner. A prisoner but with one more detail:

A prisoner on the run.

"Of course, Your Holiness", I concede, averting my eyes. You will learn the hard way, I think angrily.

"This is Comahn. You can ask him anything. He will provide you with everything possible, Simon. And now, excuse me, Rayfa, mother. I have work to do."

Obedient, I nod and allow this Comahn to lead me back to Nahyuta's quarters. On our way, we don't talk. I still think Comahn can feel my piercing gaze in his back as I observe his way of walking. I imitate it for some steps (he's slightly bouncing and his shoulders are way too tense, also he's holding his neck stiff, like Knightley did with that neck bandage of his). Yeah, that's the guard who was knocking on my door today -

Perfect.

~o~

~o~

So his gut feeling was correct. No, it had not even been gut feeling. It had been subconscious certainty all along. Nahyuta closes his eyes and feels the karmic distortion in the air clearer now that he knows where it comes from.

"Prosecutor Sahdmadhi?" Detective Ema Skye stands at the Plaza of Devotion with two other guards and immediately heads over when he approaches. She pulls out her mobile phone from the pocket of her lab coat and scrolls through something on it. "It says here that Chief Prosecutor Payne was assigned to the case …?" She raised her voice to make it sound like a question.

"Indeed he was, detective. I'm her to aid the investigation." Nahyuta looks up to the Inner Sanctum, his face darkening. "This is a personal matter to be frank. Another murder case at the Inner Sanctum, spilled blood on holy grounds, possible involvement of my first guard captain or one of my trusted personal guards – those are aspects I can't turn a blind eye on."

"I understand." Detective Skye puts a finger against her chin and starts rocking softly from side to side. "So, you want to see the crime scene first, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi?" He nods.

The scene at the Inner Sanctum is gruesome. The investigation team does their best to clean up the blood and mark the corpse's outline while preserving the evidence. Nahyuta walks over to the dead body that still wasn't moved, kneels down and folds his hands in prayer, calling upon the departed soul. The strong reaction he gets almost knocks him back -

He hates you.

- and he breathes in, shifting his body's center, pleading the restless soul for forgiveness. The feeling this soul gives him is hard to describe, it's full of anger, which is usual upon death, but the hatred, the all consuming jealousy, it twists Nahyuta's guts and leaves him empty.

A Khura'inese priest is supposed to remain even, to find salvation in his duty toward the Holy Mother, and to share peace with others. This man here is (was) nothing of these things.

He hates you.

Simon knew. Nahyuta stands up, looking down at the corpse.

"We will be waiting for the lab results." Detective Skye joins him and turns her phone so that he can see the display. "That is the other guard's testimony. I was able to ask him some simple questions while the heavily injured guard was brought to hospital. He is extremely shaken though, so I can't vouch for him." Nahyuta takes the phone and scrolls through the typed protocol.

Rahn'to, the second guard and a chosen one of the guard captain, did not witness the crime himself it seems. He has been tasked to enter the rebel's hideout and was looking around when he heard screams and commotion outisde. When he left the cave to check on the situation his captain, Pahd Ro'hone, and the priest from yesterday's audience, Ly'on Agolyte, were lying on each other, Agolyte already dead.

"This seems to imply that the guard captain should be our prime suspect." Nahyuta looks up from the notes and hands the mobile phone over to detective Skye. She puts it away and grabs her bag of snackoos, offering Nahyuta some as well. He takes one and puts it into his mouth as a whole, letting it melt in his mouth instead of (like Ema) chewing on it.

"Rahn'to's testimony seems to indicate that, yes. Scientifically speaking we should wait for all evidence to be filed before judging." She looks around and sighs, taking more snackoos out of the bag. "I have hoped to take a fall break from work, honestly. I wanted to visit my sister for a change and spend time with her instead of doing work." Ema avoids looking at Nahyuta and focuses on her co-workers instead, chewing snackoos. "It doesn't have to be immediately, right, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi? I can instead just … go on Christmas. Take all holidays at once."

"Your work in Khura'in is irreplaceable, detective." Nahyuta makes a mental note to think of her free time later. But right now is not the right time for this. "However, let us focus on the incident. What else can you report?"

"Not much." Detective Skye puts away her bag and directs her gaze to the Sanctum's entrance. "There comes Payne", she states.

"Your Holiness!" Chief Prosecutor Gaspen Payne waves at them and smiles, flashing his golden painted teeth especially at Nahyuta. He is gaudy, to summarize his appearance, covered with gold wherever he saw fit; but his golden times are long past. If Nahyuta didn't lack prosecutors apart from himself he would have dismissed this individual long ago. "Your royal highness, holy regent Nahyuta Sahdmadhi!" Payne takes off his golden brimmed hat and bows before Nahyuta in western style.

"This is a crime scene, Mr Payne." Not a time to polish your social skills. Nahyuta concentrates on Payne's karmic flow and has to restrain himself to not flinch back. While the hatred, anger and jealousy rages in his back – Agolyte's restless soul – Payne has almost no presence whatsoever. His karma is like long extinguished incense, in a room with open windows. And still, he manages to make Nahyuta understand the slimy nature of this man …

"Oh of course, Your Holiness! I am most glad to be assigned to his case, of course. There is no higher honor than ..." He keeps praising the honor he has been given (He doesn't know I will take over the case yet) and Nahyuta listens patiently, holding his gaze in the karmic world to get a better picture of the flow around him.

This indeed is a troubled soul ... I will have to add more prayers to soothe his anger first before the Divination Séance can be held.

Something strikes him as odd. It's not clear enough to name but there is a presence at the crime scene, an unsettling feeling that's creeping up on him and making the hairs on his arms stand up. Nahyuta lifts his hand and stops Payne's flow of words, returning his senses to the real world. He can't make out any changes in his surrounding, turns to the rebel's hidout and ducks to enter, to check here as well.

"Sir, there are .. traces over here, you might want to see them." The forensics guy in the same white lab coat as detective Skye calls out to him and waves him over. "Here, if I didn't know better I would say somebody has been living here."

"It is a rebel's hideout. Lady Kee'ra has been spending her time at this place as far as I remember. It is natural to find remnants ..." He stops, recognizing the mentioned traces. "Ashes?"

"Yes. This is recent. I will take a photo and note it down. Detective Skye?" The forensics guy walks out of the way and makes place for detective Skye to snap a photo, then kneels down and brushes over the ashes with his gloved hands. "I just don't know what it can mean."

"I do not either." Nahyuta thinks back and tries to remember if Datz mentioned anything about the Inner Sanctum lately. The Defiant Dragons have no reason to come up here anymore. Nahyuta had been strict with this area's lock-off to the general public, the Inner Sanctum is a holy place in the end. "Detective, send samples to the lab to verify our theory", he orders.

"Oho?" Payne enters the hide-out and nods all-knowingly. "Yes, this place seems familiar to me. It must be related to the case back in- "

"Chief Prosecutor Payne." Nahyuta interrupts him. "I beg your pardon but could I kindly task you with checking on the history of the involved parties? Detective Skye will provide you with names and you will have to head over to the archives I fear. It will add pressure that I will be needing this material by tonight to go over it in time." He lowers his head and smiles.

"Isn't that my job?", Detective Skye whispers nearly inaudibly, confused.

"But- shouldn't I question the prime suspect instead?" Payne takes off his hat and starts whirling it in his hands, doubling over, sweating, his voice one octave too high.

"I need competent people on site", Nahyuta murmurs back and adds loudly: "Our prime suspect has been brought to hospital, Chief Prosecutor. We will have to wait until his condition stabilizes before being able to act. Do not hesitate any longer, Mr Payne, or your soul might be cast into the Hell Of Hesitation, where you will be punished for faltering too long over plain things. Five hundred years you will find yourself unable to think of anything else than doubts before finding possible salvation."

"I – I'm already on my way!", Payne squeaks on top of his voice. He almost trips over his own feet in such a hurry to get outside …

Nahyuta waits patiently until he's out of earshot before he allows himself to pick up his conversation with the detective. He listens to her opinion on a variety of things, nodding and continuously adding more questions – until Detective Skye's phone rings and she excuses herself to take the call. Nahyuta assumes it must be the hospital to give status report about Ro'hone's condition and turns to the place where the corpse has been, ready for another prayer.

The negative effects of one's soul don't last longer than several minutes and the stronger the feelings the longer they linger in Nahyuta's system. This impacts his endurance during prayers, and his concentration greatly. Surely, the longer he devotes his time to prayers the easier it is for him to manage the restless soul's pleas. And over the years, through training, his abilities have grown strong without comparison.

Nahyuta forms the mitamah, letting his mind wander freely and get in touch with the karmic flows -

and opens his eyes.

"Braid Head! I hope you have paid close attention to all those investigators so that nobody tempered with the crime scene!" Princess Rayfa lifts her head and smiles smugly. "But do not worry. Now that I am here nothing will go wrong anyways!"

"Your Benevolence." Nahyuta is first dismayed when he turns around and then in shock. "You too?"

"Gyahaha, Dear let me out investigating with the princess." Simon copies Rayfa's smug expression one to one. "We can't allow this very important incident to go past the future queen. This concerns her greatly as well, right, Your Benevolence?"

"Indeed!" Rayfa extends her hand, lifts her staff and hits its end onto the floor. "Detective Skye is here, isn't she? I will go check on her. Dyed Head, you better keep an eye on Braid Head! This is my investigation now." She walks past Nahyuta and disappear inside the rebel's hideout. Her voice rings clear enough to them as well while she orders Detective Skye to tell her the details of the case.

"So they already removed the corpse? Sad. I really wanted to see it." Simon looks at the tape on the floor, indicating the position the corpse was found in. He gives off a surprised gasp when hands close around his arms tightly, shaking him, and his eyes widen.

"Did I not tell you that you are not allowed here?", Nahyuta hisses. "Did I not order you to stay at the palace? Simon, why are you still here? Why are you doing this?"

"Woah, what's wrong, King?" Simon tries to free himself and presses his hands against Nahyuta's chest, which results in Nahyuta tearing Simon even closer. Their noses are millimeters away from each other and Nahyuta's hair hangs into Simon's face, serving as curtain for Nahyuta's plain anger on his face. Simon hasn't seen this strong of a reaction on the monk yet and it takes him completely off guard.

"What is wrong?", Nahyuta repeats dangerously quietly. "Don't make a fool out of me, Simon Keyes. Don't you dare make a fool out of me. There are certain boundaries one must not overstep and you seem to enjoy dancing on their edges far too much." He lets go of Simon's arms and Simon takes a step back, both hands pressed against his chest. His jaw is working as if he's chewing on something.

"I'm here to help y-"

"YOU ARE NOT." Nahyuta takes off his prayer bead and holds it tightly in his fist, conscious of the turning heads but he knows that none of the investigators will say anything. Right now he only fears that one person will come out the rebel's hideout but he can't say it out loud, because that's not one of his fears but should be Simon's fear and it doesn't seem to bother Simon in the least but does Simon not understand or is he just ignorant enough not to be able to? "Go. Leave the crime scene and return to the palace. I'm not playing, Simon. Just. Go."

"Prosecutor Sahdmadhi?"

Nahyuta freezes. No ...

"It's nothing, Detective", he growls but why would it ever be that easy … The Holy Mother truly does not turn a blind eye on this today.

"Who …" Ema Skye comes out of the rebel's hideout, frowning at Nahyuta and Simon, who stand inches apart from each other.

"Detective. Return to your work." Nahyuta takes a step toward Simon and decisively presses him back to the staircase, covering Simon with his body from Ema's sight, and Simon allows it without resistance, staring at Ema past Nahyuta's shoulder, who stares back with incredulously widened eyes.

"Aren't you .. Simon ... Keyes?", she asks. Nahyuta's heart beat stops for a moment. He takes a shaky breath, puts an arm around Simon and turns him around almost violently.

"Go now", he says hoarsely. "Just go." And Simon runs.

"Wait, Prosecutor Sahdmadhi, wasn't that – Isn't that Simon Keyes?" Detective Skye runs to the staircase as well but Nahyuta extends an arm and she stops mid-run, looking up to him. "Prosecutor?"

It's his own fault. The Holy Mother can't protect fools who don't want protection. He chose doom and he should get doom. Why am I doing this?

"Detective, I usually don't keep secrets from you", Nahyuta apologizes with tired voice. "Just this time, you did not see him, for my sake. You did not see this man and you don't remember ever seeing him." He lowers his arm, checks the karmic flow more out of habit than anything. He can feel Simon's strong aura moving away, and he feels the strong hatred and anger from the murder victim behind him. Detective Skye's karma, thank the Holy Mother, does not flicker nor change but remains even.

She nods, both hands around her bag, clinging to the fabric.

"I know there are things that … are hard to understand for people who are not involved", she says hesitantly. "I won't ask then, Prosecutor. I respect that you don't want me to be involved with this. But – should something bad happen I will not keep my quiet. Being silenced … is something that will never happen again in my family. I swore it to myself back then and I will not break that promise. Not even for you."

"I understand, Detective. You have my thanks."

"What is going on here? I thought this was about an investigation?", Rayfa calls from the Warbaa'd statue. Ema turns to hurry over and Nahyuta stares grimly down the mountain staircase into the deadly depths that are hidden by clouds.

~o~

~o~

At the same time, a group of people arrive on the bazaar of Khura'in and look over the crowded main street with different facial expressions.

"It should be around here somewhere, right?" The woman lifts her gloved hand and rubs one finger under her nose, looking pleased. "This place smells of adventure and places to be explored! I can't wait to get started!" She raises a fist into the air and smiles widely. "Let's go team!"

"I do not advise rushing into a crowd of people foolishly." The other woman with light blue hair crosses her arms in front of her chest and kneads her long sleeved coat at the elbow, resembling her father more than she might think she does. "We need the perfect tour guide to bring us to Prosecutor Sahdmadhi. Why did Interpol not organize a royal escort for us specifically? I should call and express my deepest indignation about this."

"Tch, sis, don't tell me you get weaker the older you get. Lang Zhi says: 'Only sugar is allowed to melt under the water drop'. We'll be able to ask our way through, you'll see. Men!"

"Shifu!" The group of around twenty men all salute when their leader turns to them. He leans forward, both hands in his pants' pockets, and stomps onto the ground.

"Let's make our way to the palace!", he shouts.

"SHI-FU!", the men shout back.

"Aw, you don't really plan on storming that place, do you, Wolfy? A thief should be careful when proceeding. Imagine we scare our prey ...", the first woman comments, whereupon Lang breaks out in howling laughter.

Of their arrival, Nahyuta Sahdmadhi knows nothing … yet.

~o~

~o~

Trivia: While the ace attorney fandom usually mentions the resolution of DL-6 on the 24th of December there are two more dates of high importance: the IS-7 incident and Rayfa's birthday, both on the 24th. The first is a date of great importance to Simon Keyes, the second one for Nahyuta, Rayfa's brother ...

Of course, I see angsty conflict potential there with a good ending :)