(chapter 15)

O'Reilly apartment

Kuroko and Galadriel were preparing the ingredients for dinner, when they heard the front door open.

"I'm home," said Mizuchi, her usual cheerfulness missing from her voice.

Kuroko called towards her little sister in concern. "What's got you down, Mizuchi?"

"Her Mummy gave her a big lecture," said a strange girl's voice.

"It went for over an hour," said another girl's voice.

Kuroko and Galadriel moved out of the kitchen, to see a young nekomata and a young harpy standing behind Mizuchi.

"Who are these two?" asked Kuroko.

"Mama-Freya rescued them," replied Mizuchi. "They live here now."

"I think your mother's time living in that orphanage has made her susceptible to wanting to adopt kids without warning?" Galadriel commented.

"I think you're right," replied Kuroko. "However, that same instinct is probably why Hikari took you in, instead of spacing you. Anyway, let's get some more food out. We've got a lot of people to feed tonight. Galadriel, could you preheat the oven in the other kitchen?"

"On it," replied the elf.

"I'll help," said Mizuchi.

"...actually..." hesitated Galadriel. "You're going to have to move your things to your aunt's bedroom. With these two now living here, and …(mumble, mumble, mumble)... we're going to have to rearrange the bedrooms."

"What about using the rooms in Hikari's TARDIS?" asked Mizuchi.

"That's still being worked on," replied Kuroko. "Harmony still doesn't think it's safe to sleep in there until she's finished checking the dimensional integrity of her corridors."

"Also, What did Galadriel just mumble?"

Galadriel goes red.

"Your twin brother seems to be a natural ladies-man, just like both versions of our great grandfather," said Kuroko. "He's already picked up a girlfriend, and I think Galadriel wanted the position."

===/===

Undisclosed special holding facility

...light...

….and a fairy... no six fairies and a red-haired woman in black armour. She was leaning, lazily, on a door.

"Welcome back to consciousness, Mr Tokugawa," said a voice from behind him.

"Nakahara? What is the meaning of this outrage? I'll have your job for this."

"Doubtful," said the woman. "You knew Oborozuka should have been listed on the list of established non-human settlements."

"I-I have no idea what you're talking about," he stammered.

"We're already investigating who tipped you off about the fairies," said Nakahara

"N-no one tipped me off," he protested. "Y-you've got the wrong guy."

"The fact you had Agent Smith and the colony under observation says otherwise," replied Nakahara. "The fact you tried to go after Agent Kobayashi means that someone decided to throw you under the bus."

"How did that ...that... robot get on payroll without my knowledge? You're also hiding things," Tokugawa tried to sound confident. "Maybe we can come to an arrangement."

"Uncuff him," said the woman. Nakahara removed the handcuffs from the prisoner. "Seeing as you were trying to use your position as a cover to traffic people that you were supposed to protect, and I currently represent these fairies, how about this arrangement. Tell us everything, and spend your life in prison."

"That's not an arrangement," said Tokugawa.

"Good point. There's an exit behind you," replied the woman. "Director Nakahara, could you come over here, please?"

Tokugawa made a break for the door.

"(He's getting away, your Highness)" said one of the fairies (in their language).

"(Are you sure about that?) Director Nakahara, can you read Esperanto?"

"A little," he replied. "I stopped when the UN changed their mind about using it."

"Ever wonder why this building has so many automated doors?" Hikari pointed to a sign above the door behind her. It was some sort of led display, changing between several unknown languages. Nakahara's jaw dropped when the Esperanto-version of the sign appeared.

"(The sign says 'Welcome to United Nations Orbital Station Lethbridge-Stewart.') He won't get far."

"How? You took us through the back of the police station."

"(It's a heavily modified 'fairy door' spell.) I'm a fairy that knows Dark magic, and a talented engineer. I linked a broom cupboard in their evidence lock up with one up here."

===/===

Mayor Wainwright's house, Red Lake City

Duchess Von Strudelheim was plastered.

...and all over the mayor...

"Hansh, Hansh, Hansh," she slurred. "Y-you dun, don'. You don' unnershtan. I-I shaw th-the anshel o-ob deff."

"Now, now," he said, trying to hold her up. "Miss O'Reilly is no such thing. She doesn't wear black, for starters."

"Sh-so!" she said, slightly offended. "She'sh a wuh, wom, a-a girl. Maybe black'sh not fash, fish, ...no' f'sh'n'bl'..."

"I think you need to go to bed."

"Goo' pl'n." she then started fumbling at his shirt. "wh' are th' butt'nsh on th'sh'rt?"

"I'm not wearing any buttons, and you're too drunk. You don't want to make a decision you'll regret in the morning.

"I'm no' ash think ash you drunk I am," she replied. "The onl' regr't I've ev' had was no' ashkin' tha' nishe Hansh Wai'rite onna date. D'you, d'you no he'sh ...a... a mayor now..." She passes out.

===/===

Emperor's Flame Inn

The glasses were stacked high, and several dwarves and humans were passed out at the table.

Kahl'ryleh-hophiit was leaning on the bar, nursing a mug of mead. She and Mrs. Cartwright were looking on, at the 'event' happening in front of them. Some of the onlookers were taking bets.

"That dwarf sure is stubborn."

"The centaur isn't giving up, either."

"Miss O'Reilly is keeping up with them."

"She shouldn't be encouraging them. She can't actually get drunk."

"Should we say something?"

"Hell, no! I've got 20 silver pieces riding on this."

"So do I."

Both girls burst out laughing.

===/===

Elsewhere

Clemene's eye twitches.

"You paid a goblin chieftain to attack picnic-goers at Red Lake's river gate park, and they were wiped out by five people?"

"We don't believe it either, so we're tortu- ahem further investigating the survivors stories. One of them did mention a 'Frost Dragon' was involved."

"A what?"

"That was our reaction as well. Only yuki-onna have the abilities the priso- witness described."

"It could be possible," said one of the serving girls.

"Don't correct your betters, wench."

"Wait!" said Clemene. "Hear her out. What did you mean by 'it could be possible' girl?"

"L-lord Cl-clemene, s-sir. If the K-kamui f-family can use l-lightning, and L-lady Elma can use water magic, wouldn't it be possible for a dragon to use frost magic?" She cringed, expecting punishment at any second.

"Good girl," Clemene said, patting her head. "Your job is to be helpful, and that was being helpful. However, you did speak without asking permission. Rohan, remove her tongue, and then remove two of your fingers from your left hand, for needing a simple peasant to point out your oversight."

The other serving girls whimpered, as Rohan dragged the screaming girl away.

"Anything else to report?"

"Y-yes, sir," said one of Clemene's spy-masters. "Our spy in Red Lake is in the dungeon, and absolutely terrified. He claims the peasant girl you sent that child to kill has become the vessel of Death herself."

"He's gone mad," scoffed Clemene. "Death. Ha!"

"We had one of our seers mindra- extract his memories."

"And?"

"She died of terror. Her last words were 'Angelis Vert' before her hair went white, and she died."

"Meh. Circumstantial evidence. Until I get a message from God himself, I'm still going to disrupt those talks.