Disclaimer: Not mine
Notes: Post series, spoilers apply. Sequel fic to 'The Changed Tomorrow', spoilers apply there as well.
--
"Okay, I realize I'm just rambling at this point," Kara said as she paced around the room, hands circling in the air. "And now that I think about it, I probably should've expected you, but I mean-- I still can't believe that it's really you! And how did you managed to sneak past the guards we posted, anyways--
"Lieutenant." That, and one particularly icy glare, was all Yuuri needed to get Kara to quiet down. Domon was right; she is scary when she wants to be. "To answer your question... you had a member of your team contact the local authorities to see if they have any information on the case." She shrugged slightly. "I'm the detective in charge of the case. I originally came to see Domon and Sion, but the officer at the door directed me here. He said you were the one in charge." Yuuri took a seat on the couch, giving Kara that same, scary look.
"I guess if anyone was in charge, it would be me." Kara sat next to Yuuri and re-booted her computer. "It's kind of early though to be assigning anyone anything though, isn't it? When were you given this case?"
"When I found out Sion was nearly killed."
"Oh." Feeling like an idiot, Kara positioned the portable computer so they both could see. "This is all the information I have so far. I've gone over it all night, but I can't figure out who was--"
"That I can help you with." Yuuri handed her a data pad. "The method matches up with a career assassin named Lieve. She's good-- this is the first time she's failed to get the job done." She leaned forward to type in a command on Kara's computer. "What I can't figure out is how she managed to get what should have been strictly classified Time Bureau information, unless--"
"Yeah, she probably had someone on the inside working for her."
Yuuri raised an eyebrow. "You seem to have accepted the idea of a traitor in your ranks very well."
"I lived through the Ryuuta scandal-- and I've spent a year helping the Commander clean up as much of his mess as we can. After a while, you get used to finding out people you thought were your friends are against you." Kara sighed heavily and then tried to smile. "So, um, you'll probably want to set up an official date for the investigation, right?"
"What's the best time for you?"
Kara stood up again, deep in thought. "Well, if the doctor wasn't lying, and considering what a workaholic the Commander is... Monday morning. Things will be chaotic, no one will even notice you're there."
"I'll be there." While she'd had her doubts at first (and to a certain extent, still did), Lieutenant Kara seemed like a competent Bureau officer... something Yuuri was going to need if she was going to find an assassin and a traitor.
--
Technically, Domon wasn't supposed to be at the Bureau Monday morning, since he still had two days of leave left. But aside from reoccurring dreams where a bear insisted that a clown take a rest, he felt fine.
Also, Sion was back at work, even though he wasn't supposed to be back for a week. And while he knew from personal experience he wouldn't be able to get him away from the Bureau, he might be able to get him to relax for a bit.
"Please tell me you're not working on your own attempted murder investigation." Domon kept his tone as light as he could. It was frustrating for both personal and professional reasons that he was being kept off the case, but after forcing himself to look at it objectively, he could understand why.
"No, I'm just doing some paperwork." Sion kept his eyes fixed on his computer. "I figured I'd take advantage out of all this."
Domon took a chair. "I... didn't know there was an advantage in being shot, Sion."
He still wasn't looking at him. "Everyone's avoiding bothering me since the incident. I guess they're afraid they'll overtax me if they give me any work." Sion closed one program, and then opened another. "Which means I can finally finish these reports. Some of them have been sitting on my desk for a month, can you believe that?"
His mind flashed back to the unfinished reports on his own desk (some of which had been sitting there since he re-enlisted). "Oh, I believe you. But speaking of being overtaxed," Domon moved from his seat, positioning himself so that he was between Sion and his computer. "I'm betting you've been here since morning. How about some lunch? I could bring it here if you--"
"Domon-san." Sion finally looked at him, but... there was something in his eyes Domon had never seen before. "This is the biggest thing to hit us since Ryuuta. The Bureau's this close to anarchy, what little credibility we'd rebuilt with the public is completely gone... I have to do what I can to keep things together. I would've thought my Security Chief would be aware of this."
Domon visibly bristled... but then he calmed down. "I'm aware of that." He moved out of Sion's way. "I guess I thought you'd be aware that I'd be damned before I let this job kill you."
Sion watched as he left, the guilt nearly making him sick... and then he returned to his work.
--
"Are you sure it's a good idea for me to be seen with you?"
"I don't see why not," Kara replied as she led Yuuri down a corridor. "People are expecting someone from law enforcement to run their own investigation." It wasn't until they were in Domon's office that she continued. "They just don't know that you're helping me smell out the rat."
"You read too many detective novels." Yuuri found a nearby chair. "But if I'm expected to help you 'smell out your rat', I'm going to need to know who helped Ryuuta last year."
"No problem." Kara looked up some data on her computer. Five very old faces appeared on the screen. "They were part of Ryuuta's inner circle, for lack of a better. The highest-ranking one was Vice-Admiral Epps." She pointed to a stern looking Human man. "He's currently in prison. He wasn't escalated since Commander Sion thinks he still has some insider info about any lingering corruption in the Bureau." She pointed to the next face, an off-worlder with features that reminded Yuuri vaguely of a blue bird. "This is Commodore Aves, but I don't think she has anything to do with this, what with her killing herself when the scandal broke out and all."
"What about this one?"
"Oh, Captain Jenkins-- he was one of the ones who thought they were keeping the time line intact. He cooperated with the Bureau and was discharged. I think he's still in Japan, actually."
"Then I'd like to talk to him as soon as possible." Yuuri leaned back in her seat. "What about the last two? Where are they?"
"Lennox and Karlson?" Kara's face was unusually serious. "They were escalated. They were the ones who helped Ryuuta plan the death of that guy from 2000."
"Good." The raw anger in that statement surprised even Yuuri. She pushed her feelings aside as she copied the data she'd need from Kara's computer for later reference. "Call Jenkins and set up a time to talk, please."
"Already on it." Kara hoped Yuuri didn't notice that her pace was quicker than absolutely necessary.
Yep, definitely scary.
--
To his credit, Domon had made it though the day without hitting something. But now he was on his way home and really needed to feel something against his fist. He was so busy trying to decide whether or not anyone would stare (too long) if he punched the wall of a store he didn't notice the hover car slowing up.
"Domon-- Domon, listen to me!" Ayase was leaning out the window, not looking too pleased.
He walked towards Ayase's vehicle. "What're you doing here?"
"I came to see you and Sion, but they wouldn't let me in-- where is Sion, by the way?"
He didn't bother hiding the anger. "Most likely working himself to death."
"... Oh. Well, since you appear to be free, would you like to get some dinner? I'm paying."
Domon pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd been expecting Ayase to yell at him for not making sure Sion was okay, not inviting him out to eat-- but he hadn't expected Sion's reaction earlier, either.
What the hell was wrong with him? He used to be able to read people.
"Okay, but remember I've got a big appetite," he said as he got into the passenger seat. Even if his life was currently a mess, Domon had enough sense not to miss a chance for a free meal.
--
"... And then he tells me it's his job to keep the Bureau from falling apart or some bull like that! Can you believe him?!" Domon slurped up the rest of his noodles angrily.
Ayase gazed at him levelly. "But isn't it his job to keep the Bureau from falling apart?"
"That's not the point!" He slammed the palms of his hands against the table. He'd done it partly to get some sort of reaction out of Ayase. Sion was his friend, too-- why wasn't he upset?
"This is Sion we're talking about," Ayase reminded him calmly (and once again, Domon didn't get what he wanted). "He's miserable if he feels useless-- and he spent the majority of his life feeling useless. If you really want to reach him, your best bet is to go with something that has nothing to do with work."
Of course-- why didn't he think of it earlier? "Not that I'm ungrateful for the meal of anything, but I have to go now."
Ayase took a sip of his drink as Domon apologized to an old man he'd nearly knocked down in his rush to get out of the restaurant.
"Take care of Sion for me, and we'll call it even, Domon."
--
"Domon-san?" Sion hadn't expected to have any visitors at this hour, especially Domon... not after what had happened at work today, at least.
"Hey." His arms were full as he made his way into the living room. "I know you're mad at me--"
"I'm not--"
"I know you're mad at me, but I thought you might be interested in this." Domon began to organize his things on the arm of Sion's couch. "I mean, I can't think of anyone else who'd be interested in ancient ninja movies."
In a flash, Sion was next to him. "How many did you download?"
"As many as I could afford." He felt himself smile for the first time that day. "You wanna watch them with me?"
Sion taking a seat on the couch was all the answer he needed.
Domon sat next to him. It'd cost him nearly a month's salary, he wouldn't be getting any sleep, and he didn't even like ninja movies that much.
Sion leaned against him, the Time Bureau and all the problems that came with it long forgotten.
He decided he could deal with it.
--
"You were supposed to kill him."
"I did. You were the one who had him rushed to the hospital."
"What other choice did I have?"
Lieve imagined that whoever was behind the voice who'd given her this assignment, he or she was most likely popping a vein. "So... you still want me to kill him? Because I'm charging double if you do."
"Yes, but I want you to go with the other plan." The call ended with that.
She stopped polishing her weapon for a moment. She hadn't been expecting that.
"Hunh. This might be interesting after all."