Chapter Fourteen
"This Hearing will now come to order."
Seiryo fidgeted in his seat, his heart heavy as he leant back against the stiff wooden support. The chamber was full today, he mused bitterly, as he ran his gaze cautiously over the assembled nobles and others who had come to see justice done to such a high ranking member of one of Jurai's most illustrious noble families. He rubbed his temples, biting his lip as, in the crowd of faces, he caught sight of his sister. She met his gaze for the briefest of instants, and Seiryo saw the pain and confusion that was mirrored there. Then Suki dropped her gaze, as if afraid she might lose her composure and break down. His heart lurched inside of him as he contemplated everything that had happened.
And now, he realised dully, he would be tried and sentenced as a common criminal, potentially stripped of all land and title as they discussed his deeds before him. Strangely the anger that should have welled up inside of him at this thought was completely absent - all he felt was a deep, hollow emptiness, and his head ached and buzzed with exhaustion and regret.
"Honoured Emperor, Lord Seiryo Tennan stands accused of many crimes, not least that of treason against this world, Jurai." Lord Haru had now taken centre stage, his thin features twisted into a mixture of disgust and derision as he stalked in front of the throne, his voice clear and unrelenting in the now silent courtroom. "Will you hear his case and pass judgement on this man, who is a member of your own Holy Council?"
"Yes, Lord Haru, I will preside." Azusa responded gravely, getting to his feet and eying Seiryo with a look of sad resignation. "Please, begin the proceedings."
"As you wish, my Lord Emperor." Haru swept low in a bow before his brother, then turned his attention back towards the hapless noble in the dock. "Lord Tennan, stand."
Seiryo did so, his head throbbing and swirling as he got clumsily to his feet. Resting his hand on the wooden dock before him to prevent himself from falling, he faced the Emperor's chief of security in stony silence, unwilling to speak in the taut, tense atmosphere of the elaborate council chamber.
"Lord Tennan, you are accused of treason against the planet Jurai." Haru spoke in soft, menacing tones, his dark eyes glittering as he glared at the unfortunate defendant. "You are accused of complying with the evil schemes of one Lady Tokimi, to destroy and wreak havoc on our world by harming it's noble goddess, the Honoured Lady Tsunami. Further to this end, you are accused of brutally attacking Detective Kiyone Makibi and Lord Takeru Imada, and furthermore, of launching raids on a protected space zone, putting at risk men and women of the planet known as Earth. You conspired and succeeded in abducting Prince Tenchi on the orders of this heretic Priestess, and furthermore, proceeded to put in danger the lives of the Lady Ayeka and the Lady Sasami among others. These crimes are grave. Do you have anything to say in your defence, before we call witness?"
Seiryo's gaze hardened, and he did not speak. In the crowd, he was aware of Suki sharply drawing breath, as she absorbed the true horror of what he had done, and a pang shot through his heart. He had tried his best to protect his sister, he mused sadly. But he had failed.
Haru, seeing that he was going to get no answer from his prisoner turned back to the throne, offering his brother another overly-pretentious bow.
"Lord Azusa, due to the nature of the case, truth serum has not been used on the accused." He said quietly, and from his tone Seiryo could tell that Haru was displeased with this decision. "However, the court has witnesses it can call to testify to Lord Tennan's subversive behaviour...if your Highness is willing to hear their evidence."
"Yes, Lord Haru. Please proceed." Azusa raised his hand to acknowledge Haru's words, and Haru smiled, nodding his head. He turned towards the far door of the room, gesturing to the guard, who bowed, then opened the door, disappearing for a moment and then reappearing with a young woman in tow. As Seiryo stared at her, his heart stopped in his chest and his eyes grew wide with disbelief and alarm.
"Kiyone Makibi." He muttered to himself, clenching his fists to quell the rising waves of uncertainty, relief and panic that threatened to all wash over him at once. "But I don't understand...I don't..."
"Would the first witness declare herself to the Emperor, stating her name and her rank." Haru instructed, and Kiyone placed her hands hesitantly on the witness stand, bowing her head slightly in Azusa's direction. She glanced up, meeting Seiryo's incredulous gaze with a trepidant one of her own, and Seiryo was aware of the fear that lurked behind her blue eyes. He bit his lip, knowing that she had every right to fear him, but somehow feeling none of his usual superiority for having instilled such a sensation in a lower ranking officer. Instead he felt shamed, and he leant back against the wood of the dock, eying her warily.
"Kiyone Makibi. Galaxy Police Detective, first class."
At length her words rang out across the room, strong and clear, but Seiryo's senses were sharp enough to hear the apprehension in her tone.
"Detective Makibi, thank you for making the trip to Jurai." Haru observed her gravely. "I realise that you have many duties to attend to, and that this is not a comfortable business for you."
"It's my duty to be here, Lord Haru. My superiors at the Galaxy Police understand why I had to answer Princess Ayeka's summons." Kiyone turned her gaze away from Seiryo to the Prince, offering him a faint smile. Haru returned it, bowing his head in acknowledgement of her words.
"You are, I believe, acquainted with the defendant?"
"Ye-es, sir."
"For the court, can you tell me how it is you know him?"
Kiyone visibly swallowed, avoiding his gaze.
"He is Agent Tennan of the Galaxy Police Elite Force." She whispered. "A...a colleague at Headquarters."
"Indeed. And would you say you were well acquainted with Agent Tennan?"
"No, Lord Haru." Kiyone shook her head. "We work in different divisions. In fact, it's only recently that our paths even crossed."
"I see." Haru's eyes took on a thoughtful expression. "Detective Kiyone, would you please explain to the court what happened aboard your spaceship, Yagami, the night that you last saw Agent Seiryo Tennan?"
Kiyone hesitated for a moment, and Seiryo glanced at her, anxiety surging through him as he struggled to recall all the details of that night himself. Through his tired, foggy brain he remembered only too well that he had put his hand to her body and willed her death, but he could not remember how much he had told her, or, as another horrific thought struck him, whether he had revealed to her the true nature of his father's untimely passing. He prayed not, even as she began to speak.
"I was alone aboard my ship." She said slowly. "My partner, Detective Kuramitsu, was at the mess hall and I was preparing Yagami for departure on patrol. I thought I heard someone, but I couldn't see anyone. Then Agent Tennan appeared in the drive room..."
"You say appeared?" Haru held up his hand. "Would you say, as if by magic?"
"Possibly." Kiyone nodded her head. "But really, Lord Haru, I didn't see him arrive. I don't...it would be circumstantial to say..."
She hesitated, and Haru nodded.
"Proceed." He agreed quietly. "Describe for the Emperor the manner of your meeting with Agent Tennan."
"He seemed upset." Kiyone admitted, and Seiryo noted that her grip on the witness stand had become so tight her knuckles had gone white. "He told me that he...he was going to kill me."
"And can you think of any reason why he might want to harm you, Detective?"
"I overheard bits of a conversation between him and his sister, Lady Suki." Kiyone admitted, and Seiryo saw horror flash into Suki's aqua eyes at this. "He thought I'd heard too much, so he...he decided that..."
She faltered, and Haru's eyes softened.
"Describe Agent Tennan's manner, Detective." He said gently. "When he attacked you - was there anything specific about his mode of attack?"
"Yes." Kiyone raised her gaze, nodding her head. "Lord Haru, when I overheard Lady Suki talking to her brother, I heard her mention witchcraft and dark magic very clearly. She sounded upset - and she accused him of becoming involved in these things. I also heard Agent Tennan deny her accusation. But when he came to me in Yagami's drive room, his eyes were not right. It was like some dark force had taken him over - I never saw anything like that before, and I...I really don't want to again. And when he hurt me...he didn't use weapons. He dropped his sword and neutralised my own blaster. He just...put his hand to my body."
She was shaking now, Seiryo realised, and despite himself he felt a reluctant sense of admiration for her courage, facing the man who had wanted her dead only a short time before and describing so candidly the moment when he had tried to end her life.
"And what happened when he did that, Detective?" Azusa asked gently.
"It was like something went through me...burning me." Kiyone murmured. "I couldn't breathe...it wrapped around my heart and my lungs and I couldn't make my body do anything. And then he dropped me, and I heard him say, "It's done, Tokimi." I...I don't remember much more than that. Just that he...he vanished, without walking out of the drive room. He...well, it was like he teleported."
"And then Detective Kuramitsu returned to Yagami, and found you?" Haru asked.
"I believe so." Kiyone acknowledged. "But I don't really remember."
"Detective Kiyone, tell me something." Azusa tilted his head thoughtfully as he eyed the uncomfortable witness. "Would you say that, in attacking you, Lord Tennan was aware of what he was doing?"
Seiryo tensed at this, and Kiyone sent him a fearful glance before returning her gaze to the Emperor.
"I think he knew he was killing me." She said quietly. "But..."
"But?" Haru pressed gently.
"But I don't think he was doing it of his own will." Kiyone sighed. "It's hard to explain - he was...wrong, somehow. And the energy he pulsed through me...I know that the Tennan family aren't blessed with magic, because all Galaxy Police officers have to declare any magical ability when they enter service. I think he knew what he was doing, but I don't think it was his will to do it. I think...I think the woman he called Tokimi made him do it."
Relief coursed through Seiryo's veins at this, and he relaxed, drawing a deep breath of air into his lungs.
"Detective, did Lord Tennan give a reason for his behaviour towards you? Do you remember anything else from his conversation with Lady Suki that might have precipitated these events?"
"They did talk about his father's death." Kiyone admitted, and Seiryo glanced up sharply, seeing his sister go white at the mention of Seiji. "I thought at the time that maybe Lord Seiryo had...had been involved in killing him and that he was trying to cover it up. He made it pretty clear that he...well...that he and his father weren't very close."
"I see." Haru sent Seiryo an unpleasant look. "And as a Detective of the law, what are your impressions now?"
Kiyone hesitated, then she frowned.
"I don't believe he killed Lord Seiji." She admitted. "I did, when he came to Yagami, but he told me then that he didn't do it."
"And you believed him?"
"Yes, sir." Kiyone inclined her head. "He was about to kill me. He had no reason to tell me lies."
"So you believe that the motive was not relating to Lord Seiji's death, but was instead a result of this 'witchcraft' - the dark magic of Lady Tokimi that you heard Lord Seiryo deny to Lady Suki?"
"Yes, sir."
"Thank you, Detective. You may step down." Azusa gestured to her, and with some relief, the officer did as she was bidden, following the guard along the walkway and back towards the big oaken door. For a moment she paused, hesitating as she turned her gaze on Seiryo. Then she was gone, and Seiryo sighed, biting down on his lip as he fought to maintain his composure.
Well, he thought bitterly to himself, at least he wasn't a murderer.
"Next witness, Lord Haru." Azusa nodded in his brother's direction, and the guard re-entered the chamber, followed by the droid known as Zero, and Seiryo found his anxiety returning to him threefold. As she took the stand, she eyed him gravely, and he was surprised to see a flicker of compassion in her expression.
"For the Emperor, will the second witness please state her name."
"My name is Yume." The droid spoke clearly and concisely, with none of the nerves of Detective Makibi, and Seiryo watched her apprehensively, wondering what secrets she planned to reveal to the court.
"And your status, Yume?"
"I was created as a shape-shifting entity by the late Dr Clay, Lady Tokimi's accomplice." Yume spoke seriously. "And I was known then under the name of Zero."
"You are known to the defendant under this name?"
"Yes, sir." Yume nodded. "When I first met him, I was still Zero."
"I understand from Lady Washu and others that your programming has since been altered and as such, no charges of complicity are being brought against you in this crime." Haru said softly. "Please speak freely...we wish to know all we can about Lady Tokimi and about the crimes committed by Lord Tennan."
Yume hesitated, then glanced across at Seiryo Tennan.
"Lord Tennan is a victim as much as I or Detective Makibi are victims." She said softly. "Tainted and corrupted by an evil, dark magic. My programming was broken when Lady Tokimi sent the smallest blast of radiation in my direction. When I first met Lord Tennan, he had no magic aura about him, but the second time that I did, he had a very decisive one - with anomalies that I recognised as the work of Lady Tokimi. My databanks have failed to quantify it, but I was aware of it all the same."
"So you believe that Seiryo Tennan acted under the will of Lady Tokimi, and was, essentially, her tool throughout all the recent events."
"Yes, Lord Haru. I do."
Seiryo stared at the droid in surprise, not comprehending her sudden change of attitude towards him.
"Do you believe that Lord Tennan was aware of the things he was doing?"
"I believe he must have been. At least, some of them." Yume admitted. "But when I first met him, he was afraid for the safety of his family. His father had just been murdered, and he...felt threatened."
"Are you suggesting that Lady Tokimi was responsible for the death of his father?" Haru's eyes opened wide. Yume glanced at him for a moment, then nodded her head.
"I know that Tokimi-sama was involved in concealing the body of Seiji Tennan, and in arranging the scene for her own advantage." She agreed. "I do not believe Seiryo Tennan murdered his father, but I do believe he sought to protect his honoured mother and sister from harm when he formed his alliance with Lady Tokimi."
"Lady Sasami has ventured the same opinion to me in my chambers, Lord Haru." Azusa interjected quietly. "Although she is not giving evidence today, I consider her opinion as valid as that of the witness in this matter."
He turned, glancing at Seiryo, who was growing more and more confused by the minute.
"Seiryo-dono, what have you to say on this subject?"
"I would do anything it took to protect my family, Lord Azusa." Seiryo pulled himself together hurriedly, meeting the Emperor's gaze. "The droid speaks true. I did seek to protect Lady Suki and my mother from harm."
"I see." Azusa rubbed his beard. "Yume-san, please tell me, do you believe Lord Seiryo chose to be a part of Tokimi's schemes of his own will, before she tainted him with her magic?"
"I know he did not." Yume shook her head. "I was the one who retrieved him from the planet Jurai. On Dr Clay's orders I took him by force aboard Clay's ship and he was transported to Lady Tokimi. He was not conscious throughout most of the journey, since Lady Tokimi sought to protect the secrecy of her location. And the next time I saw him, after their meeting, he had been touched by her magic."
"I see. Most interesting." Azusa said slowly. "Thank you, Yume-san. You may step down."
Seiryo let his breath out in a rush, as he forced his tired brain to make sense of what he had heard. When he had seen the shape-shifter take the stand, he had remembered all too well the recorded footage her memory had collected of his sister's crime. And yet, for some reason he could not fathom, she had concealed this evidence from the court. More, she had sought to mislead them, in naming Tokimi as his father's killer.
"Why?" He wondered. "To protect me? Or to protect Suki? It can't be to protect herself - Lord Haru told her that she already had immunity. I wish this made sense...and that my brain didn't hurt so much!"
"Would the third witness please state her name for the Emperor." Lord Haru's voice broke through his musings and he glanced up, seeing that a third figure had now taken the stand. Although they had never met face to face, Seiryo had the strangest impression of knowing her, and as she met his gaze, he felt discomfitted, as if she could see far beyond his outward appearance. For a moment his mind was drawn to Tokimi, and the way she had so casually assessed his ambitions and his nature.
"Professor Washu Hakubi." The woman spoke softly, holding Seiryo's gaze for a moment longer and then sending the Emperor a conspiratorial wink. "But then, you don't need me to tell you that, do you, Azusa-heika?"
"Washu-san, please remember you're in an official Juraian court proceeding and that there are ways in which you address an Emperor of Jurai." Haru sent her a warning look, and was rewarded by a dazzling smile.
"But Lord Azusa and I are old friends." She said casually. "And I'd hate to stand on ceremony."
Despite himself, a rueful smile touched the Emperor's lips and he nodded.
"I shouldn't be surprised to find you in the thick of this business, Washu-sensei." He said quietly. "You always seem to have a sixth sense where my great grandson is concerned."
"Or my daughter." Washu said acerbically, sending him a pointed look.
"Indeed." Azusa agreed, and Seiryo wondered at this sheepish acknowledgement of an unknown past encounter.
"Washu-san, please." Haru was becoming impatient and a faint flicker of amusement entered Seiryo's tired teal eyes as he observed the chief of security's flustering. "This is a serious matter! Lord Tennan stands accused of many grave crimes, and..."
"And I've no doubt he did all of them, Lord Haru." Washu smiled, revealing a row of perfect white teeth. "But since I never met the man face to face before today, it would be speculation for me to say whether I thought him guilty or innocent. And even if he did do them, I think it unlikely that you'll be able to convict him of any."
"Washu-sensei!" Haru was becoming exasperated, and Washu laughed.
"Lord Haru, I speak only as I find." She said simply. "Lord Azusa has already heard about Seiryo-dono's actions, but he has not heard about Tokimi and the magic that was at the root of all this. I have a greater knowledge of Kihaku than anyone else here present. Therefore that's why I'm here. Not to debate whether Lord Tennan did the things he was accused of - the tone of this Hearing shows you're convinced already that he did, as does the fact that he's been denied the decision of voting jurors in favour of Imperial will. But whether he did them of his own free will or not, that's the important question. And to my mind, it seems almost impossible that he acted on his own impulses."
Haru sighed heavily, sending the scientist a long-suffering glance.
"Speak plainly, Washu-san." He said wearily, in a tone that told Seiryo that inviting her to testify had not been his choice. "How do you come to have this knowledge that you claim? You are a scientist. You are not a sorceress."
"No, I'm not." Washu's levity disappeared, and she eyed Seiryo gravely. "But I understand the power and impact of Kihaku's magic because I was born on that world, many, many years ago. The power that corrupted and destroyed Tokimi's sanity was the legacy of my own family - the inheritance of the Hakubi tribe."
"I see." Haru's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You do know that Kihaku ceased to be a populated planet several milennia ago? What you are suggesting would indicate that you - and the Lady Tokimi - were of an even older age than that. Predating several generations of the Imperial family of Jurai, and making you both older even than this chamber in which we stand. Is that what you are saying, Washu-sensei? Is that your claim?"
"It is, Lord Haru." Washu said serenely. "I haven't aged badly, have I, considering?"
She glanced at her hands, then shrugged, clearly amused by the sensation she had created in the hall. "Jurai's legends are full of the destructive energy of Kihaku and how hostile a planet it was. It can't be any new idea to you that my world held a powerful and wild force not unlike that governed by your own Lady Tsunami. This is the power that Lady Tokimi wielded and used to control Lord Tennan in her quest for Tsunami-kami-sama."
"Elaborate, Washu-san." Azusa eyed the scientist curiously. "This magic of your world - of Kihaku. If what you say is true, how can such a force have survived through the decimation of the Kii population? How can Tokimi-sama have drawn on this strength and used it in the way you suggested?"
"People die, Lord Azusa. Planets don't, not until something destroys them." Washu said evenly. "Lady Sasami and I knew this when we travelled into space to help Lord Tenchi...that destroying Kihaku was the only way to end the cycle. When Kihaku exploded, Tokimi's magic was annulled, because there was no longer anything for her to draw it from. But just because your people deserted it and my people died out, it doesn't mean that Kihaku's spirit ceased to live. It was badly wounded by the mining of Juraian expeditions, and Tokimi was not born to wield so much magic. The result was devastating for Kihaku...and beyond."
She gestured to Seiryo, who had all but forgotten his own grievances as he stared at this strange, ancient woman with a mixture of bewilderment and fascination. At last, he realised, he understood why Tokimi had been so afraid of Washu and had wanted to keep her out of her plans. Washu was Kii, and knew how to stop her...and in the end, she had done so, destroying her own homeworld in the process.
"Lord Tennan was touched only by a tiny piece of Tokimi's power." She said carefully. "And yet it drove him to the brink of madness, causing him to act outside himself and follow emotions and impulses that he had no control over. You have heard the testimony of the droid Yume, who was also touched by Tsunami's magic and whose entire programming was sent into overload just by that brief encounter. Can you then imagine what many centuries of this power did to Tokimi herself, warping and damaging her own mind and her own thoughts until she no longer remembered the person she once was?"
"Washu-san, what are you talking about now?" Haru sighed heavily. "Lady Tokimi is not the one on trial here. Lord Tennan is, and..."
"And it's all relevant." Washu interrupted softly, going up again in Seiryo's estimation as she cut across the Emperor's brother, stopping him in mid-flow with little regard for his status. "To understand why Seiryo Tennan acted in the way he did, you have to understand that very few people would be able to resist the lure of Tokimi's magic. Not even yourself, Lord Haru. And that there is a certain irony that you should have one of your own noblemen on trial for such crimes as treason and attempted murder, when the true culprits are the ancient Juraians - your own ancestors - who sought to steal and sell Kihaku's soul for your own profits. Invading Kihaku was the first and only crime. Everything else is a consequence, and Lord Tennan should not be a scapegoat for all of Jurai's guilt."
A gasp went up from some of the surrounding stands as chaos erupted, and Haru stood stock still for a moment, staring at his witness in disbelief. Seiryo fought to conceal a smile at the expression on his face. Whatever he had expected today, he mused, he had not expected this.
"Silence." As the noise threatened to get out of hand, Azusa spoke, calming the discomfitted crowds with a gesture. "Lady Washu, you seem very confident in your accusations against Jurai. Do you have any evidence for these claims?"
"Ask Lady Sasami. She saw the damage at close quarters." Washu said quietly.
"You are speculating on the opinion of another!" Haru protested.
"If you had allowed her to come here, she would have spoken for herself." Washu shot back. "If you hadn't sought to protect someone we both know isn't a child from helping to do the right thing, she would tell you exactly what I am telling you. As it is, you have only me to speak for both of us. And even if you keep Lady Sasami from airing her views in court, you won't keep me from doing so. I am not a citizen of Jurai and I believe in telling your people the truth...whether they want to hear it or not!"
"Washu-sensei, calm yourself." Azusa urged, as the court audience threatened to break once more into chatter and exclamation. "You are not here to interrogate my brother - nor to pass judgement on a father for protecting his daughter. Sasami-hime is but twelve summers. She is too young...and that decision is none of your business."
"Then allow me to speak for her, if she cannot speak for herself." Washu was unmoved. "For a long time I thought all this was my fault, Azusa-heika...that I'd turned my back on my world and my planet, and that all of this was my guilt. But Sasami-hime saw the seams and felt the planet's pain more keenly than I did. Tokimi's madness and her desire to kill Tsunami were based on Jurai's greed. She was driven mad by your planet's desire for expansion and trade. And you can't possibly hold one individual accountable for these things, even if his family were involved in the first colonisation."
Her gaze flitted to Seiryo, then,
"He is Seiryo Tennan, not Senichi, and you are Azusa, not your noble ancestor." She added. "The guilt is with men and women long dead. Are you going to condemn one man for the crimes of so many?"
Azusa eyed the scientist carefully for a moment. Then he spread his hands.
"Whatever else you do, Washu-sensei, you never leave me in any doubt as to how you feel about Jurai, or the administration of Imperial power." He said carefully. "And maybe now I begin to understand why. I follow your reasoning, and I see your logic. There is much about Kihaku's past that is not understood, and many fingers can be pointed at those who are not here to face the accusations. But Lord Tennan has committed grave crimes, regardless of his motivation. Do you, then, believe that Kihaku's dark magic is entirely responsible for those things? That, without it, he would not have assaulted poor Detective Makibi in the way she described, or launched attacks on the unsuspecting people of Earth?"
"That is entirely my belief, Lord Azusa." Washu nodded her head. She offered him another dazzling smile. "And I know you appreciate my candour. I'm afraid I'm a little too old to pander to custom and social ritual."
For a moment there was silence, as Azusa deliberated, and Seiryo could hear his heart thumping in his ears, so loud that he was sure everyone in the room could also hear it's beat. Then, at length, the Emperor raised his hand.
"Lord Tennan, you have betrayed many people's trust." He said heavily. "And as such, I cannot simply allow you to walk from this room unpunished. To do so would be to betray those whose lives you have affected irrevocably."
He paused, and Seiryo's breath caught in his throat.
"However, I also follow Lady Washu's logic." Azusa admitted. "And I am persuaded that your actions were under the influence of Lady Tokimi's magic...the lure of Kihaku's dark power. Therefore I cannot hold you entirely accountable, either."
He pursed his lips.
"I understand that you have already submitted resignation through Lord Takeru for the Galaxy Police Elite." He asked. Seiryo nodded soberly. Azusa frowned.
"Then all that remains to be settled is your position here on Jurai." He said slowly. "Lord Tennan, your family is one of the oldest on this planet, and I believe you acted - however rashly - with their best interests at heart. Therefore I am not going to strip from you your land or your title, and you will still be called to attend the Holy Council of Jurai, as the Tennans have done for most of Jurai's recorded history. You will, however, be required to swear full allegiance to myself, my lady niece Ayeka and her Prince Consort, Lord Takeru, before the aforementioned Council. I will have it witnessed that you are a loyal subject of Jurai, and worthy to follow in your father's footsteps as a member of my governing body and elite class."
Seiryo's eyes flitted to the silent form of Takeru, taking in his rival's impassive expression, and he bit his lip, but made no demur.
"The Unko will remain in Takeru-dono's custody, for the time being." Azusa added. "I am restricting your movement to Jurai alone, and you will not be allowed to leave the planet without express permission from myself, Lord Haru or the Lady Ayeka. Your recent adventures in space have made it clear that it is unwise to allow you such a free reign - and that you would be better off here, as you work on rebuilding your life and reputation within the confines of our atmosphere. You will pay the Unko's docking fee while it is under interdict, and you will relinquish your interstellar travel paperwork to Lord Haru, until such times as I deem you able to travel again."
He fixed Seiryo with a sober look.
"In the matter of your Lord Father's death, I have no idea what the truth is." He owned. "But I am prepared to follow Yume-san's logic, and let the matter rest. Do you understand the sanctions I have placed on you, Lord Seiryo?"
For a moment, words failed him, then Seiryo gathered himself together, bowing his head towards his Emperor as a plethora of emotions washed through him.
"I understand, Lord Azusa." He said quietly. "And I thank you for the court's mercy."
"Then this matter is at rest." Azusa seemed relieved. "The Hearing is concluded."
-----
"I don't know how to properly thank you."
Sasami glanced up, eying her companion with a surprised smile as she shuffled up on her patch of grass, indicating for the other girl to sit down. Suki hesitated for a moment, then returned the smile with a warm grin of her own, settling herself down beside her friend with an equal lack of regard for her elegant clothing. It was the next day and, as the dust had begun to settle over Jurai following the high profile Hearing, life was beginning to return to normal for the planet's elite upper classes.
"I'll be the one cleaning it, so it doesn't matter." She observed, and Sasami laughed.
"I'm a bad influence on you. Lady Kaede will be shocked." She teased. Suki shrugged, shaking her head.
"No, I don't think so." She said thoughtfully. "Sasami-chan, I've done nothing to deserve your help but you helped me anyway. And you brought my brother back to me...when I was afraid dark magic would destroy him completely. You've made everything so much better...and I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"I didn't do anything, really." Sasami shrugged. "It was Tsunami's magic...and I'm not Tsunami. Well, not yet. Not properly. And Washu did a big part of things too."
"Maybe, but it was still your doing somehow." Suki reached across to squeeze the younger girl's hand. "And I have a friend which I didn't have before, among the Royal House of Jurai. You know, before all of this I'd be thinking like my father - cultivating your company because it was a good thing to do, not because I actually thought we had things in common. But all of this has taught me a lot about family pride and status. It was almost the death of my whole family and I don't want that to happen ever again."
"How is Seiryo?" Sasami asked gently. Suki pursed her lips.
"Everything has taken a toll on him." She admitted at length. "The magic hurt him somehow - I'm not quite sure how and he's such a pain, he won't talk about it more than he has to. I've tried to get him to, Sasami, but he just brushes it off and says he's not focusing on the past. I heard him moving around in the night, and I know that there are things that haunt him. But Seiryo's always been Seiryo, and I guess I can't make him confide in me if he doesn't want to. I think he doesn't want me to feel guilty, because we both know he did this to protect me from prosecution. And I suppose it is the past - it can't be changed. Just like Father's death - I can't go back either."
"Do you still feel guilty, then, about Lord Seiji's death?"
"Yes." Suki owned. "I think I always will. But then I'd be a poor kind of daughter if I didn't. He wasn't always fair or kind, but he was my father and I shouldn't have raised my hand to him in any way...that was wrong and I regret it. But he would have killed Seiryo and for that part in it, I don't feel regret. I would rather have Seiryo than Father, and I would have felt twice as bad had I just stood there and let Father kill his own son."
"What you did was an accident." Sasami agreed. "Whereas Lord Seiji really meant to hurt Seiryo, didn't he?"
"Yes." Suki acknowledged. She sighed. "But we shouldn't dwell on it. Instead, I need to be supportive of my brother and help him regain his strength. He keeps so much bottled up inside of him, and I can't prise it out. Since the hearing ruled that he was possessed by Tokimi and wasn't acting in his own mind, he's just plunging back into full blown Council responsibilities. Or at least, that's his plan. I don't think he's ready to do any of it, but I don't know how to make him listen."
Sasami was silent for a moment, considering.
"Suki-chan, Tsunami wants me to tell you something." She said slowly. "So please don't think I'm being rude when I say it. It's a message from her and I'm not quite sure how to say it."
"Go on." Suki dismissed her friend's concern with a flick of her hand. "I know you wouldn't try to offend me, Sasami. And after all she's done for me, I'd be crazy not to listen to what Tsunami has to say."
"Tsunami says...that your brother...is walking a thin line." Sasami said carefully, a pensive look on her face. "A line between being a hero and being a villain - between good and bad and she isn't sure which side he's really chosen to follow."
"What does she mean?" Suki's eyes opened wide with surprise and alarm. "Seiryo was acting under Tokimi's spell - wasn't he?"
"Tsunami's not sure." Sasami frowned, rubbing her temples. "Honestly, she isn't convinced that everything he did while in her service was done by Tokimi. She thinks that, if he's not careful, he'll let his ambition and his pride rule him and control what he does...and eventually he'll take it a step too far. This time he's been lucky - there's no doubt Tokimi's influence made him do things he wouldn't normally do, like attack Kiyone. But that's not to say that, if he continues to be the kind of man he is, he won't end up at that point by himself at some point in the future. Especially now he's tasted power of the kind Tokimi gave him."
Suki was silent for a long time, digesting this.
"Are you angry with me for saying it?" Sasami looked apprehensive. "Tsunami thought you should know, but I know you love Seiryo very much and if someone said those things to me about Ayeka, I'd be very cross."
"I'm not cross." Suki shook her head. She sighed, glancing at her hands. "Do you really think she's right, Sasami-chan?"
"She always has been, so far." Sasami nodded. "Even when it hasn't seemed to make any sense. But if she didn't think it could be changed, she wouldn't have mentioned it."
Suki bit her lip.
"I had wondered, too." She admitted. "Seiryo's been away so long and people change…I've hoped it was the magic, but Sasami, I wasn't sure that all of it was. It scared me to think that way and I was afraid I was being disloyal…but what you say makes sense."
"I'm sorry." Sasami looked contrite. "I didn't mean to make your own fears worse."
"You don't have to apologise for observing something that's already there." Suki folded her hands in her lap absently, eying her friend with anxious aqua eyes. "The question is, what can I do? I love him and I want to help him – I know there has to be a way, because I know who he was before Father sent him to the Galaxy Police. That Seiryo must still exist…mustn't he? Somewhere in all of this?"
Sasami frowned.
"Tsunami thinks you're the strongest thing Seiryo has to fall back on." She said. "That the one thing keeping him from becoming what Tokimi made him is the fact he loves you and your mother both and does so with all his heart. You might be the only thing that can prevent him from going down the wrong path, Suki, but it will mean you have to stand up to him and not let him just take over and run things on his own. For one thing, he's still weak after his encounter with Tokimi's magic. Negative emotions prey on the weak more than they do on the strong, and Seiryo has been humiliated and shackled to Jurai, even though he has been cleared of wrongdoing. Humiliation breeds resentment...at least, that's what she's saying. I'm trying to make it clear, but I don't know if I'm having any luck."
The princess sighed, flopping back onto the grass.
"I wish she'd find another way to tell people things." She added. "It can get really tiring, having all these big words in my head, and all these ideas and responsibilities that kids my age just aren't supposed to have. I'm only twelve summers, Suki. That's all. But I feel older than the world sometimes, when Tsunami's awake inside of me."
"I think I've felt as old as that too, of late, not knowing what was going to happen." Suki said sympathetically. "And besides, I do understand what you're saying. You mean that, because my Father's attitude was that I was just a pawn to be married off, Seiryo has simply assumed control of the Tennan estate as the eldest son and heir and he hasn't really stopped to ask me about any of it. He's just done it. And what Tsunami thinks is that, the more he does that, the further away he's going to go from the things that really matter - namely mother and I. Right?"
"I think so." Relief flooded Sasami's face and she smiled. "I'm glad you speak Tsunami."
"I'm trying to learn." Suki returned the smile. "You might be a child, Sasami-hime, and I might be almost grown - but sometimes I feel no older than you - or that you're maybe older than me. I know that's the Goddess inside of you - but you always make me think. And you're right. I rely on Seiryo to see to too much. I let him take all the decisions, including those surrounding me and my own life. When Father died, he assumed that the Council position would fall to him but even while he's been away, I've done nothing but sit around, mope and cry and wait for him to rescue me. That's not how a Tennan should behave in any case...and I need to make sure he realises that I'm not just here in the background, for him to protect. I'm someone he can rely on for help and support and he needs to learn how to ask for it."
"Yes." Sasami nodded. "Exactly that."
"I've never been a forward person, and I've always been shy of court." Suki looked thoughtful. "But right now Seiryo isn't well. I'm only seventeen summers - but then, I know that Father attended his first Council session when he was sixteen, with his Father, to learn what his role would be when his time came. Right now Seiryo has enough to deal with and needs to let go. So that means that I'll have to represent the Tennan family on the Council somehow. Do you think they'd mind, if I put myself forward in his stead? At least, until he was better able to cope with it himself. I do love my brother, Sasami. I want to help him in any way I can."
"I'll come with you, if you want to speak to Uncle or Ayeka. If they argue, I'll make sure they understand it's Tsunami's wish." A mischievous sparkle entered Sasami's crimson eyes. "All right, it's not exactly what she said, but its close enough and they'll never know."
"Thank you." Suki dimpled. "It's a scary thought, standing up in front of people and speaking. But...I need to do something. And I need to speak to Seiryo, as well. Things need to change - the whole Tennan family attitude needs to change. It's only thanks to Tsunami's grace that any of us are still left standing...pride and ambition almost destroyed us all, and I don't want it to happen again. I've realised what's really important to me and now I have to make Seiryo do the same."
She shrugged, amusement flickering in her aqua eyes.
"After all, if he's ever going to make a suitable marriage match, I'm going to have to make sure he's acceptable company." She added with a laugh. "After all those years at the Galaxy Police, he could probably stand to listen to me on the subject of Juraian court etiquette for a while. Don't you think?"
Sasami giggled.
"Definitely!" She agreed. She hesitated, then held out her hand to her friend, getting to her feet and pulling her companion up with her.
"Let's go now, while we think about it." She suggested. "That way you don't have time to worry about what to say."
"All right." Suki nodded. "So long as you promise to stay with me."
She blushed.
"Azusa-heika scares me a lot." She admitted, embarrassed. "I know he's your Uncle, so that might seem odd to you – but he seems so high up, somehow. So far away."
"He just acts that way because the Council expect him to. He's not like that at all, really." Sasami assured her. "Come on, Suki. I know it will be okay, when we explain you want to do it to help Seiryo."
She flashed her companion a conspiratorial grin, then pulled hard on her hand, leading the way across the grass towards the corner of the Royal Tree which housed the Emperor's private quarters. Ignoring Suki's startled look, she greeted the guards on duty with a very proper bow, telling them in clear tones that she wanted to see her Uncle. Nobody stood in her way, and before long the two girls were outside the door of Azusa's private study, being ushered into the warm, well-furnished chamber by the Emperor's own personal guard.
"Sasami-chan." Azusa grinned at her entrance, scooping her up in his arms and hugging her tightly. "I'm glad to see you back here safely and in one piece. We've had no chance to speak since you and your sister returned, what with the Hearing and everything else. But I don't mind acknowledging to you that you were right – and that from now on I'll promise to listen to what you say, no matter how crazy it might sound."
"Good, because Suki and I wanted to speak to you." Sasami returned the hug with a laugh, gesturing to her companion, who stepped shyly forward, bowing her head in deference to the man before her. Seeing her apprehension, Sasami disentangled herself from the Emperor's embrace, taking her friend's hand and squeezing it tightly. "Suki, explain to Uncle what it is you want to do. I know he'll understand, when he hears."
"What is it, my dear?" Azusa's reddish eyes softened and he beckoned for Suki to approach him. She did so hesitantly, glancing back at Sasami for support, and Sasami nodded her head.
"Lord Azusa, I…I want to come and attend the Council sessions on behalf of the Tennan family." Suki spoke softly, hardly daring to meet the Emperor's gaze as she spoke. "Since I know that our family have the honour of a Holy Council seat and we…with recent events, I thought…"
She faltered, falling silent, and Sasami squeezed her hand again.
"Suki's brother isn't feeling very well, after everything he's been through." She said simply. "He's had a bad time, Uncle, and Tokimi's magic has hurt him. He's realising all the things he did when under her magic and he's not himself. Suki wants to give him time to recover and get well before he tries to do too much – and so she wants to take his seat on the Council…since obviously now Lord Seiji is dead, the estate and the seat pass to Seiryo-dono as his heir."
"I see." Azusa rubbed his beard, looking thoughtful. "And you seek to spare your brother's health, Suki? Or the reception you fear he might receive from his peers?"
"Both." Suki raised her gaze to his, anxiety flickering in the depths of her aqua eyes. "Seiryo is proud and well, he doesn't like to have weaknesses. Plus, he's not sleeping properly and I think he's worrying about things – about how close he came to killing that Detective, and Lord Takeru, back on Earth. I know that my brother wouldn't do such things in his right mind – and I'm glad to have him back. But he's having trouble coming to terms with it all and I want to help him, Honoured Lord Azusa. Please will you let me take his seat, at least until he's feeling better?"
"Remind me how old you are, Suki-kyou."
"Seventeen." Suki admitted. "But Sasami said…"
"I thought you'd make an exception, in the circumstances." Sasami agreed. "Please, Uncle? Suki wants to help, and besides, she's a Tennan too. It's her right as much as it is Seiryo-dono's right, surely?"
"I can't argue with that." Azusa agreed. "But you are very young still, Lady Suki. Council meetings can be acerbic affairs – I wouldn't want you overwhelmed."
"I have to learn about these things sometime." Suki said quietly. "Father isn't here to teach me, and my mother may not live to see another summer. Seiryo and I have to help one another and I'm no help to him if I'm always putting pressure on him, expecting him to see to everything. He got involved with Tokimi because he thought I was in danger, and I can't let that happen again. I need to be strong enough to manage things on my own, if I have to."
"I see." Azusa eyed her keenly, and Sasami felt a flare of hope settle in her heart. "You give your arguments very well, my dear, and Sasami-chan obviously has faith in your abilities to uphold your family's honour. Since I have ignored her advice once too often this year, I will bow to it this time and agree. But on a temporary basis only, you understand. Although when you are of age, you will be as welcome to attend as any of our noble members."
"When Seiryo is well, perhaps I'll continue to come with him and see what I can learn." Suki's cheeks flushed with pleasure and she made her obeisance gratefully. "Thank you, Lord Azusa! I won't shame you or my family by attending, I promise!"
"I have no doubts about that." Azusa's eyes sparkled with warmth. "If my young niece has taken to you, then I'm sure you're destined for great things yourself, Suki-kyou."
"Thank you, Uncle." Sasami dimpled, throwing her arms around him once more. "I knew you'd help! Now Seiryo-dono has a chance to rebuild his life, and everything can settle down. I don't like it when there's bad stuff on Jurai – but now I know everything is going to be all right!"