Chapter Thirteen
Where was she?
Washu sat up in bed, blinking in confusion and surprise as she struggled to recognise her surroundings. For a moment, fear ruled her senses as she struggled to place them. Then, as slithers of memory returned to her, she realised that she was back on the Earth, in the simple, plainly decorated guest bedroom that Ryoko often claimed as her own. Somehow, though her fugged mind was reticent on revealing exactly how, she had managed to make it back in one piece.
"Are you all right, Washu-chan?"
Sasami's voice from the doorway alerted her to the fact she had company, and the scientist raised blurry green eyes to her visitor.
"I'm still counting and recounting all componant parts, but I think so." She said, surprised at the realisation. "Although I don't understand why. Destroying Kihaku should have destroyed me too. Why am I still here? And how did I get here? I don't remember."
Sasami's eyes flickered with mischief as she settled herself on the end of her friend's bed.
"Tsunami-fune belongs to the Tree of Life." She said softly. "And you're my friend, Washu. Do you think that I'd let you die aboard my ship, when you blew up Kihaku to help me?"
"You...?" Washu's expression slowly became one of comprehension. "When Tsunami...she touched me, and I felt something pass between us. But I don't understand, Sasami. Your other self is Jurai's Goddess. To her my world is a heresy - and I'm the runaway Priestess of that heresy. How can your magic even touch me?"
"Tsunami's magic couldn't." Sasami smiled. "But I told you already - you're my friend. And that means I'm going to help you, no matter what weird Goddess rules Tsunami has to stick to. She's gone back to being a whisper in the back of my mind now - at least, for the time being. But I made her help you when she was me- and she did."
"Really?" Washu stared. Then she smiled. "Then I owe you a lot, Sasami-chan. Much as I was prepared to make the sacrifice - I didn't really relish the idea of no longer existing. I've heard death can get pretty boring, after a while."
"Tsunami thinks it can." Sasami looked pensive. Then she shrugged, sending the scientist a playful wink.
"And you have a family here Earth who need a mother." She said teasingly. "A family who are all worried about you, you know. A renegade pirate, a scatty spaceship and a doleful droid. You have your work cut out for you, but Tsunami's quite jealous of it. She'd like to have the same one day...she thinks you shouldn't take it for granted."
Washu chuckled appreciatively, pulling her blanket more tightly around her as she contemplated.
"I suppose when you put it that way, you have a point." She said, amused. "Though Ryoko wouldn't thank either of us for acknowledging as much."
"Oh well." Sasami shrugged her shoulders. She paused, then smiled.
"I hope that one day I'll have a family." She added thoughtfully. "I don't know if Tsunami will be able to have children, or what will happen when we're one person. But it would be nice if I did."
"Tsunami's children, huh?" Washu looked pensive. "Now that would be some addition to the Royal Tree."
She stifled a yawn.
"Well, whatever you did, thank you." She added. "I feel a little bashed about, and I suspect that most, if not all of my magic is gone now Kihaku isn't there to sustain it. But I'm alive and that's enough for me. I've never relied on my magic, anyway. I much prefer to put my faith in my brain."
"I don't know." Sasami admitted. "All of that is beyond me. But at least it will give you something to study now, won't it? I mean, since you've finished examining Ryoko, and all...you can examine yourself and see whether or not you still have magic, now Kihaku is gone."
Washu laughed.
"Well, I guess we'll wait and see." She said with a shrug. "But I've always been the scientist, Sasami-chan. Not the witch. It's just who I am, I suppose."
"You should rest." Sasami suggested. "Ayeka said I shouldn't over-tire you, when you'd been through so much already. But I had to come make sure you were really all right. I mean, I knew you were, but...I wanted to check."
"I'm tougher than that. Trust me." Washu said ruefully. "I feel a lot better than I did when I first woke up on your ship, even if I am still a bit all over the place. And besides, someone needs to keep an eye on this rag-bag family of mine you mentioned."
She bit her lip, then,
"Sasami, what happened to Tokimi?"
"She's still sleeping." Sasami frowned. "Ayeka said to leave her aboard Tsunami-fune, where she's safe until we can work out what to do about her. She hasn't stirred since the explosion of her planet...Washu, I don't know whether she will ever wake up. But Tsunami said that Kihaku was so tortured, it really wasn't her fault any of this bad stuff happened. She thinks that not even you could have held the madness back...I just wish I knew how to help her like I helped you. I can't reach Tokimi. I've tried, but I can't."
"I see." Tears glinted in the depths of Washu's eyes. "Thank you at least for sparing her life. I know she's done a lot of bad things, but at the end of it...she was my sister."
"Kihaku was really strong." Sasami observed, and Washu nodded her head.
"She was never born to wield the magic and it took control of her, rather than the other way around." She said sadly. "Yet whatever she's done and however much she's been through..."
She faltered, and Sasami smiled, placing a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder.
"I think you really were close once, weren't you? Like Ayeka and I are close?" She asked curiously.
"She was like my true sister, even though both of us knew she wasn't." Washu agreed. "Tokimi was always gentle, never judging...always wanting there to be peace. And you know, even when the madness had her, I wanted to believe that Tokimi still lived inside, somewhere. Her true nature was never to do all this or to destroy so many things."
"That's what I think too." Sasami agreed. "Poor Tokimi. It must have been horrible for her, being alone and so trapped for so many years."
"I just don't know what to do about her, now." Washu admitted. "I love her still, I admit that. Whatever she did, I wouldn't have wanted her dead, even if in her delusions she wanted to kill me. But I can't keep her on the Earth. Ryoko is already tense enough around Zero...I mean Yume...and I don't want to fling another iron onto the fire just yet. Ryoko is naturally suspicious, after all, and Tokimi did target Tenchi. I don't think I could risk the confrontation if Tokimi recovered her wits...after all, without Kihaku, Tokimi has no magic of her own to wield in her defence."
She sighed.
"And without Kihaku, she doesn't have a world to call her home, either."
Sasami looked thoughtful.
"I'd like to take her to Jurai." She said at length. "I think that Tokimi has suffered enough already, and that she shouldn't be made to suffer any more. Plus, there may be physicians on Jurai who would be able to help her. And I think she deserves that chance."
"Do you really think that Tokimi would be treated any better on Jurai than she would be on the Earth?" Washu tilted her head, looking doubtful. "Even if she did wake up, we both know that her mind could be scarred...badly scarred from all of this. Do you think that anyone would help her, knowing what she sought to do?"
Sasami nodded.
"She was possessed by an evil force." She said quietly. "Just like Kagato possessed Ryoko when she and Tenchi fought him. Tokimi was another victim of dark magic, that's all, and Juraians are in a position to understand that, given the recent bad stuff with Kagato and Souja. Yes, I think so. If Tokimi came to Jurai, she wouldn't be badly treated. I would make sure that she was given the very best care. And you'd know where she was, if you ever wanted to see her."
She smiled.
"Presuming you're planning on staying on the Earth."
"I think so." Washu nodded. "I don't really have anywhere else to call home."
She shrugged.
"Besides, Tsunami's not the only one who sees the value in family." She said ruefully. "Motley as my pack are, they are mine and I'm tied to them whether they like it or not. It's a strange relationship I have with my daughter, but since she discovered our connection she has come to me more and more for advice...even when she doesn't realise she's doing it. I'm in no hurry to move away from that environment, and subspace can be very bleak at this time of the year."
"I guess so." Sasami looked amused. "And I think Ryoko really missed you when you were in space, even if she wouldn't admit it. She seemed happy to see you back, anyway, and I'm glad you're going to stay with her, Washu-san."
"So am I." Washu shifted herself more comfortably in her bed, looking thoughtful. "So everyone made it back in one piece, then? Tenchi and Mihoshi as well as you and the two knights?"
"Yes." Sasami nodded. "Oh! And Kiyone has woken up. She's still tired and weak, but she said Mihoshi's name, so she remembers who people are all right."
She giggled.
"Mihoshi yelled and bounced around the room like nothing else when she did it." She added. "It was so funny. Poor Kiyone had such a headache, but the more she begged Mihoshi to calm down, the more manic Mihoshi got. In the end, Ayeka had to intervene."
Washu chuckled.
"That sounds like Mihoshi." She said with a grin. "And I'm glad Kiyone has stirred. She seems all right, then? I mean, in general? Yume is taking good care of her?"
"She's doing her best." Sasami agreed. "Although I think she'll be glad when you're fit - she's a stranger to Kiyone, and with everything so unsettled, it doesn't make things easier on either of them. Ayeka wants Kiyone to come back with us to Jurai, you see - to present evidence at Seiryo Tennan's hearing, now he's been taken into custody. She's already spoken to Father about me doing so, but Father's said I'm too young, so it's kinda going to be down to other people. As usual."
She sighed, then shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh well. I think it might be better if we didn't tell him everything you and I did when we went out in space, Washu. He might lock me away forever, if he knew I'd faced down Tokimi and everything."
"He won't hear about that from me." Washu's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Your father is going to have to accept, though, sooner or later, that you can take care of yourself."
"Well, at least he doesn't think I'm mad any more, so I guess it's one step at a time." Sasami said resignedly.
"And Seiryo?"
"Ayeka knocked him out with her magic." Sasami considered. "He's come round since, but as far as I know, he hasn't spoken a word to anyone. I haven't seen him - Ayeka said she didn't want him anywhere near me, but I think he's a little dazed. I don't know how much he remembers, but at the end of the day I don't suppose it will matter much. Takeru left with the Galaxy Police officers Tokimi possessed aboard the Unko this morning, to convey him to Father's custody, and Father doesn't take well any threat to either Ayeka or me. I think they want the hearing as soon as possible, considering how high profile the whole thing is. I don't know if Kiyone will want to come, though. She hasn't said anything, but she's been through a lot recently. Well, we all have."
She looked thoughtful.
"Actually, since Dr Clay's dead, Ayeka will probably want you and Yume, too." She realised. "Ryoko has flat out refused to go anywhere that involves my father and a courtroom, and Tenchi's staying too. I think he missed her - or was worried about her - or something. But he says that if Seiryo was possessed, he doesn't want to be the reason the man is put in prison. And if he wasn't, he doesn't want to antagonise him into attacking the Earth later on. I think he and Lord Yosho will have a lot to do now that the Earth know about us, Washu-san. Since they live here and all - we're going to need their help in making the Earthlings really believe we don't want to hurt them."
"Wait a minute. Did you say that Clay is dead?" Washu looked startled, and Sasami nodded.
"It was kinda ooky, really." She reflected. "He died when Tokimi's magic did...Yume said she kept him alive and when it was gone it was like...poof. He went, too."
"I hadn't considered that." Washu admitted. "Poor old Clay. What a way to go."
She smiled, touching the Princess's hand playfully.
"He should have chosen a better deity to put faith in." She teased. "I'd be in the same boat now, if not for the intervention of Sasami-kami-sama."
"Washu!" Sasami giggled. "One thing I'm definitely not is a goddess! I leave that to Tsunami - for now, Sasami-hime is just fine with me!"
Washu eyed the young princess keenly.
"And what about you and a certain handsome knight of Jurai, Lady Sasami?" She asked playfully. Sasami pinkened.
"You had that conversation with Tsunami. Not with me." She said primly, and Washu laughed.
"I see." She said, amused. "But from the way you're blushing, it's not a completely new concept to you either, is it?"
"I really don't know." Sasami sighed. "I'm not even thirteen summers yet, and Kamidake is a lot older than I am. He might not be older than Tsunami, but I haven't become her yet. And, well, it's complicated grown up stuff. I don't want to worry about men or marriage right at the moment. I just want to have fun and make friends and explore as much of the universe as I can. I'm going to have a whole lot of things to do when I'm an adult – so while I'm not, I don't want to be one."
She smiled.
"I know you understand, since you like being a child too."
"Well, I guess not any more." Washu glanced at her hands ruefully, running her index finger over her palm as she did so. "But listen to me, Sasami. You're young and people will try and make you do things – not least Tsunami. But you have to live your life in the end and make your own decisions. If you decide you love Kamidake, when you're old enough to want to deal with those things, then go all out to get him. But if it's Tsunami's fancy, don't let her sway you. Love isn't something you should play with – and you obviously have too much of it to marry the wrong man."
"I've never heard you talk about love before." Sasami looked startled. "Sometimes it's hard to know what's Tsunami's and what's mine, to be honest. Maybe it doesn't matter, if we're two parts of the same person."
Washu fumbled in her pocket, pulling out the damaged chain and setting it down on the bedcovers.
"A man gave this to me, a long time ago, as a memory of our time together." She said slowly. "I lost him then but I never did forget him. I almost thought, when I knew Kihaku was going to be destroyed, that if I died maybe I'd see him again. And if I took it with me to face Tokimi, then he'd know that I'd waited for him all this time. It seems silly, doesn't it, that I'd do something like that? I've never had time for soppy romanticisms. But you think and do strange things when you're facing death. I don't want you to spend all your time fixing other people's lives, Sasami-chan. You have your own to live as well, and it's not always nice to live it on your own."
"Washu." Carefully Sasami picked up the chain, glancing it over and then meeting her companion's sober gaze. "That's so sad. I never knew you'd been through anything like that."
"Some things shouldn't be dwelt over. They drive you mad, if you brood for too long." Washu said simply. "But he was a good man, Sasami. The best I've ever known, and I know there will never be another like him. If Kamidake is that man for you, make sure you don't make my mistakes and let him slip away from you. All right?"
"All right." Sasami nodded, returning the chain to its owner. "I'll do my best to remember."
"Good girl." Washu smiled, fingering the pendant and then returning it to her pocket. "That's all I ask."
She sighed.
"Between you and me, I hope that Jurai's hearing goes in Seiryo's favour." She added pensively. "Haru is a skilled and ruthless interrogator...it could be the worst for a lot of people, if things went the other way."
Sasami kicked her legs idly against the side of the bed.
"I already told Takeru to make sure Seiryo didn't get doped with serum." She said absently. "I told him Tsunami said that with his mind so addled and confused by the magic, it wouldn't help and might make his situation worse. They don't use serum on mad people, and I think Father might listen to me as Tsunami, even if he wouldn't listen to me as Sasami."
"Is that true?" Washu raised an eyebrow. "Does Tsunami really think it will make him worse, to use the serum?"
"I don't know." Sasami admitted. "But I do know that they don't need serum to know what bad things Seiryo did. If they have Kiyone and they have so many witnesses and everything, then they don't need to probe his mind to find out what happened. So it's unnecessary and besides, I don't like the serum. It's nasty...it's not fair."
"Are you protecting Lady Suki too, Sasami-chan?" Washu asked softly. Surprise flickered in Sasami's eyes, and Washu knew her assumption had been correct. She smiled.
"I thought you might be." She continued. "If Seiryo was doped with serum, the whole court of Jurai would find out what really happened to her late father...and that would be a shame, wouldn't it?"
"How did you know about it?" Sasami looked startled. "I thought I was the only one who Suki had told. She trusted me...and I promised her I wouldn't talk to anyone about it, not even Ayeka. If she finds out someone else knows, she'll think I betrayed her."
"Oh, I'm very good at keeping secrets." Washu said ironically. "Don't worry. And Yume told me. She was there, you know, when it happened...her digital memory recorded the whole event and Tokimi was using it as a lever against Seiryo - blackmail, I suppose you'd call it. Sticks and carrots - the threat of Suki's disgrace if he failed, the promise and lure of power if he succeeded. He didn't stand a chance, really...not once she'd touched him with Kihaku's madness."
"I see." Sasami looked unusually solemn, then, "Do you think Yume will tell anyone?"
"No. She asked my advice about what she should do, and I advised her that it was better not spoken of. She seemed to agree...I think she felt sorry for poor Suki, and I know I did when I reviewed the recording myself." Washu said pensively. "In the end, she erased the file. She remembers what she saw - her mind is too cognisant now for her not to. But she has no digital evidence to back it up...and any copy Tokimi had was destroyed when Kihaku exploded. Clay is dead, according to you - that means the only people other than Seiryo and Suki Tennan who know what really happened to Lord Seiji are you, Yume and me. And none of us are going to betray her...now are we?"
"No." Relief flooded Sasami's features. "I'm glad you agree with me, because I like Suki and we're becoming friends. And I know she didn't do it on purpose - she wouldn't do anything like that, I know it. I trust her...and she trusted me. Besides, Ayeka and Takeru have both said how horrible and mean Seiji Tennan was. That he drank and gambled and treated Lady Kaede really badly."
"That's not really a reason to kill him, but Suki's circumstances are a special case." Washu smiled, amused by the simplicity of her companion's judgement. "So we'll say no more about it. It was smart thinking of you to warn Takeru against the serum. I doubt that Seiryo will want to betray his sister, even if he has hit an all time low."
She stretched, stifling a yawn.
"I'm tired." She realised, a rueful smile touching her lips. "I feel so lazy, sleeping when there's so much work to be done...but it's all I want to do."
"You probably should, then." Sasami smiled, the merriment returning to her gaze as she did so. "You took a beating and Tsunami would want you to look after yourself. Besides, I think the Earth might need you very much soon. Ayeka has been talking with a lot of important Earth people about Jurai and extending a hand of friendship across space, to help the Earth defend itself against invaders and aggressors. You're probably the smartest person on the planet, and if you're staying here, you can probably help them. Right?"
"Help to protect the Earth, or help to make it part of Jurai?" Washu raised an eyebrow, and Sasami looked reproachful.
"Protect, of course. Ayeka and Uncle wouldn't hurt this planet." She scolded.
"But a partnership would mean a lot of changes." Washu frowned. "For a start, Earth moves on a quicker time axis to Jurai - that would create all kinds of logistical problems in terms of building up trust. Earth's atmosphere is exposed, and there are no checkpoints or security systems in place to log idents of incoming spacecraft. The Galaxy Police patrols in this sector are limited - but there is such a culture diversity between this world and Jurai that I don't know how it would work out...in the long run."
"But you could make the time axis longer, and then Earth and Jurai would be the same." Sasami pointed out. "Couldn't you? I know you're smart - surely you could do something like that? And it would be better for us, too, when we visit. I get so confused between our time and Earth time...would it would make Earth stronger, if they had a longer axis? It would help them, right?"
"In theory, but I suppose we'll see." Despite herself, Washu felt a flare of interest stir inside of her and she grinned. "You know, it might be fun to find out, Sasami. If nothing else, it would be a new line of research - and of course I'd offer my assistance to the Earth, if they decided they needed some help and advice. After all, I'm going to live here - I might as well do my bit to make this planet safe."
"I think you should." Sasami's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Science is almost a kind of magic on it's own, you know."
"Suppose that's true." Washu looked thoughtful. Then she smiled, shrugging and pushing back her covers.
"Well, if that's so, I should stop lazing up here and pay attention to my responsibilities." She added. "I'm going to come pay a visit to Kiyone…and see what she remembers about that night aboard Yagami."
-------
"How do you feel now?"
Kiyone took a sip of hot tea, casting her companion a grateful smile as she set it down gingerly on the table beside her. Somehow, she mused, curled up in the Masaki front room and surrounded by friendly faces, it seemed almost impossible that she could have been so close to death aboard her spaceship just a short time earlier.
"Better." She said now, in answer to Ayeka's gentle question. "If still a little cold. Thank you, Ayeka."
"You're welcome." Ayeka smiled, sitting back in her seat. "Mihoshi will be back in a minute with another blanket, and I know Sasami's gone to tell Washu that you're feeling better. I'm not sure you should be up and about yet, though – I understand that it was a vicious attack."
"Yes." Kiyone bit her lip as images flooded her senses. "If you don't mind, Ayeka, I…don't want to talk about it. Not right now, anyway. It's over, anyway – that's all that matters. And I wanted to get up. I'm not lazy and I'm sure there must be a pile of work to be done back at Headquarters. Mihoshi's radioed them – or I hope it was them – to tell them what happened and that I'm safe. Now that S…that…Agent...that he's in Juraian custody, it's all right that they know where we are."
"Seiryo Tennan will pay for his crimes against you and against Jurai." Ayeka said firmly. "Takeru has taken him back first thing to face charges with my father and Uncle Azusa, so he's a long way from hurting you again. Don't worry, Kiyone. You've nothing to fear from Agent Tennan ever again."
"No, I know." Kiyone pursed her lips, as Mihoshi re-entered the room, a heavy, woollen blanket folded clumsily over her arms. She deposited her burden on the arm of the chair, beaming at her friend as she dropped down beside it.
"There." She said proudly. "It was the best one I could find. I'm sorry I took so long, Kiyone – the closets are so confusing and all these things fell on me when I was looking. I had to push everything back and then the door wouldn't shut…but I'm back now. You're not too cold, are you?"
Despite herself, Kiyone smiled, shaking her head.
"No, Mihoshi, and this will do just fine." She assured her companion, reaching for the blanket and pulling it tightly around her. "Thank you."
She relaxed back in her seat, looking thoughtful.
"Ayeka, who is this Yume girl who's been helping to look after me?" She asked at length. "I've never seen her before – is she a friend of Tenchi's?"
"Sort of." Ayeka frowned. "She's a shape-shifter, Kiyone – a droid built by Tokimi's henchman, Dr Clay. Somehow she's broken her programming – or Washu might have helped her in that department – and she's switched sides. Now Tokimi is defeated and Clay is dead, she has nowhere to go. I think Ryoko said she could stay here, on the understanding she helped out. And Lord Yosho hasn't objected to having her here. But she's Washu's project, really. And she's surprisingly domesticated, considering that she was built for criminal subterfuge."
"I guess Dr Clay made himself a housekeeper." Mihoshi suggested, settling herself more comfortably in her seat and scooping up Kiyone's tea, taking a sip. "Mm, good tea! Did Sasami make this?"
"Mihoshi, that's Kiyone's!" Ayeka protested, and Kiyone managed a faint grin.
"It's all right. I'm not that thirsty anyway, and the blanket is warming me up." She said, dismissing the princess's concern with a shrug.
"Kiyone, I have to tell you something." Mihoshi glanced down into the tea, an awkward expression touching her features as she did so. "And you might be very mad at me, so I want you to remember that Washu will want you to rest and you've been ill and yelling would be really really bad for your recovery…okay?"
"Okay." Kiyone said slowly. "What's on your mind, Mihoshi?"
"I…kinda broke Yagami." Mihoshi raised sheepish blue eyes to her partner's wary ones. "I didn't mean to, only I wanted to get you here as fast as I could and the engine didn't like it. It went sort of…phut when we got near Earth's atmosphere. I'm really, really sorry, Kiyone…Washu says she'll fix it and all. But she hasn't had time to yet and I know that you really love that ship."
She looked anxious.
"Are you cross with me?"
Kiyone was silent for a moment, then she shook her head.
"Right now there are a million places in space I'd rather be than aboard Yagami." She admitted ruefully. She paused, then grasped Mihoshi's hand, squeezing it tightly. "And you saved my life, bringing me here as fast as you did. I know that's true. Spaceships can be fixed more easily than people can, Mihoshi – you did the right thing and I'm not mad."
"You're really not?" Relief flooded Mihoshi's features. "Oh, good! Because I was really worried that you would be, and well, with you being so ill and all, I didn't want to give you a recap."
"I think you mean a relapse, Mihoshi." Ayeka looked amused. Kiyone laughed.
"I'm glad you're here." She told her scatterbrained friend affectionately. "I feel that nothing bad could possibly happen so long as I've got you to look after me."
Mihoshi beamed proudly, taking another sip of Kiyone's drink.
"That's because we're partners." She said, in her usual, happy-go-lucky way. "And we look out for each other."
"Speaking of which, Kiyone, I really do need to know whether you will come to Jurai with me for Lord Tennan's hearing." Ayeka's expression became grave, and Kiyone's heart clenched in her throat as she absorbed the seriousness of the situation. "I don't know how much you even remember – but this is going to be a big scandal, when it gets out across Jurai that one of our most esteemed noble families was wound up in all this intrigue and violence. The more people we have to testify, the easier it will be to resolve."
"I…I don't know, Ayeka." Kiyone dropped her gaze, toying with the edges of the blanket. "I'm not sure I want to stand up in court and give evidence. Really, I just want to forget it ever happened."
"But you've spoken in court lots of times, Kiyone." Mihoshi looked confused, returning the empty cup to the table and folding her arms across her chest. "Whenever we've arrested someone who was where they shouldn't have been, you've stood up there and made sure they got sent to prison for what they did. Why not do it this time? Seiryo Tennan is a bad man and he hurt you. Don't you want to have him locked away?"
Kiyone swallowed hard.
"It's different being the case, rather than solving it." She murmured. "Besides, I'm not sure…I mean…I remember…things. But I don't know how accurate my memories are or if I've been misled by what he did to me. And I'm so behind already at Headquarters...my absence there must have caused them some problems, I'm sure."
"Even so, whatever you do recall would be a help." Ayeka said softly. "And Uncle would contact Headquarters and explain why we needed you. They'd understand."
Kiyone sighed.
"Let me think on it." She begged. Ayeka looked surprised, but she nodded her head, and the detective clutched the blanket more tightly to her, getting to her feet.
"If you don't mind, I'm going to go take a walk outside." She said at length. "My head is fuzzy…I think I could use the fresh air."
"Are you sure you're up to that?" Mihoshi looked startled. "Shall I come with you, Kiyone?"
"No…you stay here." Kiyone shook her head. "I'll only be a few minutes. I just want…to clear my mind a little. And think about what Ayeka's asking me to do."
"But Kiyone…"
"No, Mihoshi, let her go if that's how she feels." Ayeka held up a hand to prevent Mihoshi's protestations, shaking her head slowly. "But Kiyone, don't tax yourself too much. We all know you're wanting to be fit and well and ready to return to Headquarters yesterday if at all possible, and I realise that taking a trip to Jurai will delay your duties even more. But most of all, your health is more important…so take care."
"I will." Kiyone assured her. "Thank you, Ayeka. I won't walk far. I think I just need some time alone."
Before either of her friends could respond, she left the small, brightly lit sitting room, heading slowly and gingerly out into the hallway and towards the front door. As she reached for the handle, she heard someone call her name and she turned, shock registering in her sapphire eyes as she stared at the speaker in disbelief.
"Washu?" She demanded.
"In the flesh."
"But what happened to you? Why are you…well…older?"
"It's good to see you up and about, Kiyone." Mischief sparkled in Washu's green eyes. "And me? Well, let's just say that my magic was another casualty of our little spat with Tokimi. It's all right – I'm kinda resigned to the idea of being grown up for once. At least I'll be able to reach things without step-stools – and I suppose that, with a renegade daughter like mine, I can't run around like a child all the time. I might set her a bad example."
Kiyone offered her a troubled smile.
"I suppose that's true." She acknowledged. "But it's odd to see you looking like that. Everything seems to be different somehow – I'm still trying to get my head around all that's happened."
"It's been a bit confusing, for sure." Washu said cheerfully. "And you? I was just coming to see you, in fact. I'm glad to see you well enough to be wandering around the house. It was touch and go for a while – Seiryo Tennan really did a number on you."
Panic welled up inside Kiyone's heart at her friend's casual words and she shook her head, taking a deep breath as she fought for her composure and won.
"Please, don't." She said quietly. "I don't want to think about it – or him – if I can help it."
"I see." The amusement died out of Washu's eyes and she nodded. "I wasn't sure how you'd react to it all, in truth, when you woke up. Tokimi's magic had powerful emotional side effects, which no doubt Agent Tennan is finding out for himself right at the moment. I wasn't sure what kind of an impact it would have had on you. In fact, I did wonder if you'd even remember things at all. A blast like that could easily have severed your memories completely…so I was relieved when Sasami said you'd called Mihoshi by name."
"Not as glad as she was." Kiyone rubbed her temples. "My head is still spinning."
"She means well, though." Washu said softly, and Kiyone nodded.
"Yes, she does." She agreed pensively.
"Were you heading outside?"
"Yes…I was going to take a walk, clear my head and get some mountain air." Kiyone agreed.
"Do you mind if I join you?"
"I…" Kiyone faltered, then shook her head. "I suppose not."
Washu eyed her keenly.
"You know, you can tell me the truth." She said quietly, and for the first time Kiyone was aware of an almost maternal concern in the scientist's clever green eyes. "I understand more about the impact of Tokimi's magic than you might think, and I don't think you're a coward because you don't want to go to Jurai and testify against Seiryo Tennan."
Shock glittered in Kiyone's eyes at this.
"How did you know that?" She whispered. "I haven't said a word of it to you!"
"But I know Ayeka, and besides, Sasami mentioned the idea when she came calling on me this morning." Washu shrugged, as they sauntered out of the house, heading slowly down the path towards Katsuhito's Shinto shrine. "I also saw the look in your eyes when I mentioned Seiryo's attack. You're scared, aren't you? That he'll come back or that it will happen again?"
"I know it won't." Kiyone said tiredly. "I know he was possessed, Washu – I remember the attack as clearly as if it happened just now and I know I saw something evil in his eyes. Something that wasn't human. I remember what I overheard between Seiryo and his sister, too – about witchcraft – and I know that's what it was. Dark magic. That's what assaulted me. A man out of his wits at the whim of a sorceress."
"But…?"
"But my brain won't accept that." Kiyone ran her fingers absently through her thick dark hair. "Washu, I know those things to be true. I know that Yagami, and Headquarters and the Galaxy Police are all as safe and as secure as they've ever been. I have Mihoshi on my side and there's no reason to think that Agent Tennan – or anyone, for that matter – will come meaning me harm. And yet it's still there, at the back of my mind. Little things…just make me remember. I feel so stupid and weak for thinking that way, but whenever someone says his name, I'm so close to breaking down."
She grimaced, kicking idly at a pebble on the ground and watching as it disappeared into the undergrowth.
"Do you think I'm a coward, Washu?" She asked plaintively. "I feel like one. I can't even bring myself to tell Ayeka why I don't really want to go to Jurai. But I don't know how to break the cycle. Do you think I'm weak?"
"No, I don't." Washu said gravely, stopping and placing her hands on her friend's shoulders. "Listen. Stop beating yourself up inside, Kiyone. You are one of the best detectives the Galaxy Police has ever had. Unconventional, maybe, and occasionally you make crazy decisions, like agreeing to help mad scientists to spy on your colleagues. But that aside, you're a phenomenal officer and you have potential beyond most of the people you work with. You're no coward and you never have been."
"Then why do I feel like this?" Kiyone asked helplessly. "This isn't who I am – if we both know that, then why is it happening? It's silly. I face death and danger all the time. Why does this bother me as much as it is? Why should it matter, now that the danger is gone?"
"You're used to being in dangerous situations, but you're not used to someone coming at you with the specific intention of ending your life." Washu said pensively. "Agent Tennan's attack was both brutal and very personal. You feel victimised, that's all. And because he was a colleague, you feel unsafe. It's all perfectly natural, you know – textbook, in fact. Trauma does cause violent psychological reactions in people - even people as dedicated as you. In fact, your attention to detail and your perfectionism probably makes you more open to it, if you want to know the truth. It's the superhero complex - you think you can cope with anything, so when something comes along that you can't handle, it sends your brain into a spin."
"Not helping." Kiyone scowled. "I don't want to be textbook anything, Washu. I want to forget it happened and get back to my life."
"Well, maybe you need a time out." Washu shrugged her shoulders carelessly. "A holiday never hurt anyone, and I haven't had a chance to look at Yagami yet."
She yawned, a rueful look on her face, and Kiyone was suddenly aware of the fatigue in her companion's green eyes.
"You look as tired as I feel." she remarked acidly. "I know you went out into space, and that somehow you were hurt, because Mihoshi told me you were still sleeping when I asked her where you were. But she didn't tell me any details - all I know is that somehow you were involved in rescuing her from Tokimi. I'm not sure even she knows how. What exactly did you have to do to save the universe, Washu?"
A haunted look crossed Washu's face.
"Let go of the past." She said vaguely. "Like you, I'd rather not dwell on it too much. We both have futures to deal with and look to, after all. Kiyone, it's up to you what you do about Jurai and Agent Tennan. But you'll only disappoint yourself if you don't stand up and do what you know is right. You were born to be involved with the Galaxy Police, and if it were any other trial, you'd be there in a flash. Don't let your personal nightmares or hangups get in the way."
Kiyone stared at her friend for a moment. Then she smiled grimly.
"I will go to Jurai." She said finally. "I think I was planning to, anyway. But I'm not looking forward to it. And I suppose I was hoping someone would tell me I didn't have to - and that would be passing the buck. Ducking out of my responsibilities. That's not something I do, so I will go with Ayeka. But..."
She faltered, then,
"I don't want to do it alone, not really." She admitted, her cheeks pink with embarassment.
"Well, I have a feeling you won't be." Washu looked rueful. "I think Yume and I might be tagging along for the ride, considering Ryoko has apparently refused point blank to step into a courtroom, and Tenchi's more preoccupied with her and with returning the Earth to sanity than anything else. No, it will rest with us and I'm sure that between us, we should be able to settle Seiryo's case and see things righted on Jurai."
"Then I'll tell Ayeka I'm in." Kiyone said, determination flaring up inside her as she made her decision. "After all, it's as you say. This is my vocation and what I need to do. And maybe then I'll stop feeling so afraid of Seiryo Tennan."