Chapter Twelve
"So, what did Jurai have to say for themselves?"
Agent Ryousuke Takamura of the Galaxy Police Elite Division slid back the door of his colleague's work quarters, casting him a quizzical look as he set down his pile of data disks on the already cluttered desk. "Anything more helpful than we already have, or are we still up against a brick wall?"
"A little bit of both." His companion, Agent Hideki Imaguchi turned from his screen, sending his partner a rueful grin. "Come in, Ryou...you might as well add your brain to the chaos of mine. I spoke to Lord Takeru - and he was able to tell me at the very least that they think their spy was from Kanemitsu. My suspicions are that he's probably an extremist sympathiser - Kanemitsu have never been the most docile of Juraian outposts and since the Sumire incident, negotiations seem to have gone dead on that front. Imada-sama's forwarded the forensic report and I've read it over - but I'd like you to take a look at it, too. You're the one with the medical qualifications, after all - like as not you might find something I've missed."
With pleasure." Takamura nodded his head, coming to sit down. "But I doubt that, if the suspect is as you say, we'll learn much from that connection. Kanemitsu extremists want to hurt Jurai - well, that's nothing new, is it? And now he's dead, we won't get to find out who paid him to act. I thought Jurai's security were more vigilant than that...but I guess we all have our weak points."
"Too true." Imaguchi acknowledged. "But right now it's all we've got. That and the psychological report on the Tokimi girl. I've read that too - I think we can rule her out of anything. Even despite the frequent references to her activities in that hearing report, it seems pretty certain that the girl's mental impairments are severe. I watched the film and went over the write up with a fine tooth comb...having done so, I find it hard to attribute so much destruction to her, to be honest. She's like a child - and we can dismiss her as a suspect this time around."
"Well, I suppose that's progress." Takamura said frankly. "But even so, they're not giving us much to work with, either? Did you mention the possibility of seeing Seiryo?"
"Hah." Imaguchi snorted. "Apparently he's misplaced his spine since he went back to Jurai - either that or they're not quite trusting him as much as they seem to be, and they're keeping him on a short leash. Takeru-sama was very clear on that subject - that we'd have to apply to the Emperor and we might as well not bother. They don't want him speaking to us."
"Maybe it's simply because of his mother's death." Takamura suggested, and Imaguchi arched an eyebrow.
"We are talking about Seiryo Tennan." He said softly. "Do you really think that's the case?"
"Hard to know." His companion acknowledged. "I always got the impression that if he had a soft spot for anything, it was his family - his mother and his sister, anyway."
"Either way, it doesn't help us." Imaguchi sighed. "So far we've got a big problem. We have the hearing report that this spy died to leak...but we can't speak to anyone who was involved. Or at least, the ones we can...we've been told the things they want us to know. Lord Azusa, Lord Haru - they keep their cards as close to their chests as you might expect from any Juraian lord. I asked Takeru-sama straight what his impressions were, but all I got from him was that when he encountered Seiryo on Earth, the man was not in his wits. Which I think, knowing him as we do, we'd both assumed. Professor Hakubi's last recorded whereabouts were planet Earth - which we cannot go to without creating suspicion from the people we're investigating. Not when we suspect it's one - or many - of our own. And the droid...Yume...Zero...who knows what's become of her. Scrap metal, as far as I'm concerned. I did hope we might get something from the horse's mouth - I can't help but think Seiryo was very tight-lipped during the whole proceeding."
"Even if that's true, he's disassociated from the Elite now." Takamura said evenly. "Hideki, I know you like to root out secrets and see if you can't use them to your better advantage. However..."
"However, you think my focus is wrong?" Imaguchi eyed his partner quizzically, and Takamura shrugged his shoulders.
"No." He admitted. "But the truth is, I don't think the real enemy is on Jurai - at least, this case is awkward for us, but it's more awkward if it becomes a matter for tribunal. Seiryo did commit crimes against a protected sector of space, for which he should have been formally charged and arraigned. But Jurai seem to have impeded this process, and that could be seen as an interference in justice. Many planets have grievances against Jurai and the Galaxy Police - if people think there's been a cover-up..."
He sighed.
"And what about us? Are we helping to defend the law or to break it ourselves?" He asked helplessly. "The Earth's involvement is problematic. Now there's a planet with witnesses who can come forward and testify against Seiryo if the matter came to trial. And that Seiryo is now so tied up in Juraian politics - it would be seen as a potential act of aggression towards a planet with official primitive life protection. If you consider that Jurai have accepted Seiryo back and given him high office, and yet he's done these things which put him open to criticism - it looks very much like Jurai at best don't care about the Earth. At worst...they're looking to divide and conquer."
"You think a war is brewing, don't you?" Imaguchi asked softly, and his companion pursed his lips, gesturing to the pile of disks.
"Everything I could find on past cases of serious space law breaching." He said softly. "In most cases, justice meant imprisonment or exile. In a few, execution. In all cases, those who betrayed the badge had their lives broken down from underneath them. When you go back to the insurrection led by Prince Kagato, you have the last major abuse of Galaxy Police resources by one particular planetary authority. Following that...you know as well as I do that we suffered...that the Force lost many men and women tainted by the conspiracy, and that a lot of rebuilding and restructuring had to be done in order to regain the universe's trust. I don't want this to appear to be a similar situation. That to an outsider's eye, Seiryo was an Elite and is now the agent of the Lady Sasami, the Princess said to be blessed with a Goddess's power. Kagato thought himself a God, and acted on those delusions. I have no idea whether Sasami-sama is truly the reborn Goddess or if she is just a powerful young Princess with elevated Jurai power. But these things are a matter of faith as much as anything else. My family are from Yubisu, remember. I know from our Juraian ties how strong the belief is where Tsunami-kami-sama is concerned. Can you imagine how intimidated other planetary bodies must be feeling? Especially as, for the first time in space history, Jurai has allied itself with both Seniwa and Airai? If ever they were in a powerful position to take control of anything and everything, this would be it."
"Which side of the fence are you on, then, Ryou?" Imaguchi eyed him keenly, and his companion smiled ruefully.
"Yours, as ever." He said frankly. "I'm not talking about my beliefs. I'm quite sure in my own mind that no matter how much of an arrogant fool Seiryo Tennan can be, this is all being blown out of proportion. But if we're to prove that to intergalactic satisfaction, we need more information. We need more proof. And we just don't have it."
"There's one other thing concerning me." Imaguchi admitted. "And that's the fact that the leak didn't begin with Jurai. It began here...within the Galaxy Police."
"Within the Elite division." Takamura agreed. "At least, so it would seem."
"Since Tsunetomo-san's death, there hasn't been an agent quite as good at manipulating data and computer surveillance as he was." Imaguchi reflected. "But that doesn't mean there aren't agents within the division who have high level skills. And...reasons to align themselves against Seiryo Tennan."
Takamura's eyes narrowed.
"Junichi Nakabito." He murmured. "That's who you mean, isn't it? You think Nakabito is the leak."
"I think that if he isn't, he's become extremely lax of late." Imaguch said forthrightedly. "Because if anyone should have pinned this down at source so far, it should have been him. Especially considering he is of Kanemitsu extraction himself - doesn't he have his finger on the pulse? Or if not, why is he considered the division's expert in surveillance espionage? If he can't spot a spy within the Elite, what use is he out in the field?"
"But we have no proof." Takamura sighed. "And we're back to that again. Nothing can be done without proof - and saying that Seiryo and Nakabito hated one another when they were teenagers seems feeble. Dammit...I wish Jurai weren't so fussy! Unless he's said he doesn't want to speak to us, of course...but even so..."
"I got the impression that he knows nothing about it." Imaguchi grimaced. "Therein lies the frustration. Jurai seem to operate on a need-to-know basis. And if you don't need to know, believe me, you don't."
"Lord Haru is sly as a fox in that regard." Takamura agreed. "In the meantime...short of alerting everyone's suspicions by placing an official request to spy on Nakabito - without a scrap of evidence to support why we want to invade his personal space - what the hell can we do? We can't go the Earth. We can't get any more out of Jurai. And we have nothing else to go on. Can we really risk filing this case and leaving it be?"
"I think if we do that, a lot of people might die." Imaguchi said darkly. "I'm firmly of the belief that this is some kind of plot to bring Jurai into disrepute. Maybe even a Kanemitsu plot - with my experience in investigating their terrorist activities, they're crazy enough to try it, especially if they have got Nakabito involved at this end of proceedings."
He grimaced.
"And I'm also sure that this Earth are being used as a sacrifice to achieve that end." He added. "I'm certain that, foolish though they might be, it's our duty to protect them, because they don't know the risks they're stumbling into. Investigating Seiryo's misdemeanours is one thing, but I'm certain it's bigger than what he's done in the past. I'm of the opinion that this past evidence is going to be used to stitch up him - and therefore his noble patrons - for anything about to come in the future. And if underground Kanemitsu rebels are involved in things, it must be of some significance. I don't for one minute think that any of their extremists are savvy enough to go to such wild lengths on their own."
"I'm getting a headache." Takamura groaned. "I hate feeling helpless."
His companion opened his mouth to reply, but before he could do so, there was a knock on the door and the two agents faltered, exchanging confused looks.
"Expecting someone?" Takamura asked, and Imaguchi shook his head, reaching across to switch off his digital screen as he flipped back the door switch to unlock it.
"Not at all." He admitted, as with a hiss the divide slid back to reveal a young woman, dressed in the attire of a regular division Detective, her dark hair braided back from her face and a look of determined resolution in her sapphire blue eyes. At the sight of her, Imaguchi's eyes widened, and he shook his head slowly, not quite able to believe what he was seeing.
"I'm sorry to disturb you both." The girl broke the silence, speaking in low, composed tones. "But I think I need to speak to you. And...it's quite important."
"Detective Makibi." Takamura shot his partner a glance, then eyed the Detective keenly. "What can we do for you?"
"You know my name?" The young woman seemed taken aback, and Imaguchi nodded his head, an ironic smile on his lips as he beckoned for her to come in. She did so, glancing around her at the untidy office as he closed the door behind her.
"Yes. We do." He agreed evenly. "And since you've come looking for us specifically, I imagine you must know ours, as well. I have to admit, we're neither one of us used to entertaining Regular division officers at short notice - I apologise for the mess and chaos you've just stepped into."
"Believe me, compared to my partner's quarters, it's nothing unusual." The woman smiled, and a little of the intensity left her vivid blue eyes. "I'm sorry for dropping on you unexpectedly. It was a last minute decision to come here this evening. I'm here because I think you're friends of Seiryo Tennan. And it's that I want to talk to you about."
"Seiryo." Takamura murmured, and Imaguchi's eyes narrowed as he struggled to read the girl's motives. Her face was familiar to them both, from the hearing footage they had both watched in minute detail. But the expression on her face was not, and it was impossible for him to tell what she was thinking.
"Sit down, then." He said at length, gesturing to a free chair, and the woman did a she was bidden, folding her hands in her lap as she gazed between them. Takamura offered her a smile.
"I'm Ryousuke Takamura, and my colleague is Hideki Imaguchi." He said softly, and the girl nodded.
"I know." She said evenly. "I assumed that - after all, this is Agent Imaguchi's workspace, and so I took it for granted that it was Agent Imaguchi who apologised for the mess."
Imaguchi's eyes widened slightly, and the woman smiled.
"I'm a Regular Division Detective. I'm not a simpleton." She said softly. "We have brains too, you know...and I'm hoping to be of some help to you, so I want you to know that from the beginning. I'm here on the advice of Lord Kuramitsu...he recommended to me that you were people I could trust, and that you were...once friends of Seiryo's. I hope he was right - because it's hard to know who I should be trusting."
"Kuramitsu-sensei." Takamura looked startled. "I don't understand - what has he to do with anything?"
"I went to ask his advice." The Detective said evenly. "My partner Mihoshi is his eldest child...so I'm well acquainted with the family, and he's someone I have faith in to be straight with me."
She shrugged.
"I'll cut to the chase, because I imagine neither you nor I have a lot of time to waste on unecessary pleasantries." She added. "Are you truly Seiryo's friends?"
"As much as anyone is, I imagine so." Imaguchi gathered himself, nodding his head. "Although I find it confusing, Detective Makibi, that you're here concerned with something like that. What interest can you possibly have in Seiryo Tennan? You're a Regular Division Detective, as you rightly pointed out. And Seiryo...Lord Tennan is no longer a member of the Galaxy Police Elite."
"I know that." Vague impatience laced the woman's tones. "I was with him on Jurai a few days ago - I already told you, I'm not stupid. I know people are spying on him, and I know you went to Jurai, too. Lord Kuramitsu seemed to think I could trust in your honesty - that you'd be acting in Seiryo's interests, not against him. So I've come here to help, if I possibly can."
Takamura's eyes narrowed, and he pursed his lips.
"Why would a Detective whose life was threatened and almost ended by a former Galaxy Police Agent such as Seiryo Tennan wish to act in his interests?" He asked softly.
"Because we're friends."
"We have video footage that begs to differ." Imaguchi said briefly. "You gave testimony against Seiryo at a Juraian hearing, and we have in our custody digital recordings of that event. Your attitude seems a little different now to what it was then...we're not fools either, Detective. You're going to have to be more clear with us than that."
"Then that's how you know my name." Kiyone's expression cleared, and she nodded her head. "I'm not denying that you're right - I did do as you say. I was terrified of the man - and I did what I believed was the right thing to do at the time."
"And now?"
"Seiryo and I were both victims of dark magic." Kiyone met their gazes earnestly with an open, honest one of her own. "If you really are his friends in any capacity, you'll know as well as me that sneaking around in the shadows marking someone for death is not his style. It's not the man he is. I've seen him lose his temper and draw his sword, but only to defend those he loves. And when he attacked me, he was under a spell - a spell which had long-lasting, far-reaching consequences for the both of us. Besides..."
She sighed, biting her lip.
"Besides, his mother just died." She added softly. "And I've never seen him so broken up about anything. I know he's at risk from whatever it is that's going on behind the scenes, and I think you want to help prevent that from happening, just like I do. He did a bad thing, I won't deny it. Several bad things, and if you've seen the hearing, you know all about them. But he's not a bad man. He was misled, and he suffered for it - more than a Galaxy Police Tribunal or the Emperor of Jurai could inflict in terms of punishment. I don't...I don't want him to suffer any more. That's all."
She raised her gaze.
"I want to be involved." She added, and Imaguchi sighed.
"Even if you're right, we can't put a Regular Division Detective at risk in a dangerous Elite operation." He said with a little shake of his head. "You don't have the training, and..."
"I have more than you might think. I've trained as an Elite, I've just never obtained the promotion." Kiyone cut across him, determination in her expression. "Besides, I gave Sasami my word that I'd do what I could for Jurai. And for the Earth. She was worried...about them, about Seiryo - and so am I. I have friends on both worlds, and I don't like the way it looks. It seems to me like someone wants to make it look like Jurai wants to hurt the Earth - and I'm an officer of the Galaxy Police. When I took my badge, I swore to uphold justice in the universe. So that's what I mean to do!"
"Wait a minute." Takamura held up his hands. "Did you say...Sasami? Lady Sasami? The Princess of Jurai?"
"Yes." Kiyone agreed.
"She...sent you?"
"Not exactly, but I'm here with her blessing." Kiyone said evenly.
Takamura exchanged glances with his partner, then he frowned.
"How does a Regular Division Detective form such connections?" He asked softly.
"By helping to restore both Princess Ayeka and Princess Sasami during Kagato's revolt." Kiyone said evenly. "But if you're Agents worth your salt, you'll background check me and find that for yourself. I told you, I have friends on both Earth and Jurai. And Sasami and Seiryo both need me to do this. After all, it could rebound back on both of them, and neither one deserves it."
Imaguchi stared at her for a moment. Then a faint smile touched his lips.
"Ryou, I think we might have just found the source we were looking for." He said softly.
"But..." Takamura looked startled, and Imaguchi shrugged his shoulders.
"It will be dangerous." He reflected evenly. "But I imagine you know that, Detective."
"My name is Kiyone." Kiyone said frankly. "And yes. I know. I'm not afraid."
"And you really want to help us, in all regards?"
"If I can. Yes. If it means that whoever wants to stir up trouble is stopped." Kiyone agreed. "I wanted to see you as soon as I could, because I have a feeling things are already moving. Sasami warned me that I might become involved against my will because of my testimony, and tomorrow I've been summoned to speak to your colleague, Junichi Nakabito. I knew nothing about the man...so I went to Mitsuru-sama and asked him his opinion. Now I'm asking yours. Can I trust this man?"
"Nakabito, huh?" Imaguchi's eyes narrowed, and Kiyone's expression flickered with comprehension.
"You're not sure I can, but you can't prove otherwise. Just like Mitsuru-sama said." She murmured. "He said that Nakabito was a fine, diligent agent, but that he hated Seiryo with a deep-rooted passion and that he had a failing for holding grudges. And you...you think he is involved, but you don't know how to formalise those suspicions into a justified accusation."
Takamura blinked.
"Are you sure you're not an Elite?" He asked ruefully. "You sure as hell sound like one, talking like that."
"I told you, I've done training." Kiyone said vaguely, dismissing it with her hand. "But any Detective who cares about her work pays close attention to things...even things that aren't said. Right?"
"Very true." Imaguchi grinned at her. "And if you come with Kuramitsu-sensei's seal of approval, I suppose we must trust in your ability, also."
"Then tomorrow, I will meet with Junichi Nakabito." Kiyone said decidedly. "And I'll see what I can find out. Then I'll report back to you."
"Be careful." Takamura told her. "Nakabito is not stupid. He's also an expert in spotting spies and catching people in deception. He's not your average dumb crook."
"Lord Kuramitsu said the same thing." Kiyone admitted. "But it's all right. I'll just see what he wants...that's all."
"Perhaps you should wear a wire." Imaguchi murmured reflectively, but Takamura shook his head.
"The risk is too great." He said frankly. "No. But it just occured to me...that if our Juraian spy was leaking information to someone here, and that someone was Nakabito, he might well know about her testimony against Seiryo. In which case, he might look to her as an ally, not as a potential foe. In which case..."
"In which case, I'll do what I can to obtain his trust." Kiyone said resolutely. "And then, if he is the one trying to cause trouble, I'll do my bit to make sure he's stopped before anyone gets hurt!"
--------
"You've been in Osaka a lot of late, you know."
As Sakura slipped into the booth opposite her alien friend, she rested her chin in her hands, eying the other girl thoughtfully. "I thought that us graduating would mean I'd see less of you - but with this wedding thing, I think I'm seeing more. You even start to look like a stressed out bride to be, Ryoko - it's sort of weird, if you want to know the truth."
"I wish the wedding was all I was planning." Ryoko sighed. "Right now I've got a lot of things on my mind. I suppose I came here because it's easier than doing nothing at all, and I don't want to attract attention. You and I are friends these days, and it's not unusual for me to hang out with you, is it?"
"No, it's not." Sakura looked confused. "But I don't understand. Why does that matter?"
Ryoko grimaced.
"I don't know how much to tell you." She admitted. "Since at the moment, Tenchi doesn't know anything about it, either. And it's probably better that way."
"Has this got something to do with Kyoda?" Sakura asked softly. Ryoko looked startled.
"How did you...?"
"I saw Tenchi with him in the city the other day." Sakura shrugged. "I thought the only place they'd be burying hatchets would be in each other's head, but I guess I misjudged...they seemed quite friendly, to me."
She looked rueful.
"Mind you, I also thought it impossible Hiroshi could get the attention of a girl like that Mayume, and he's not even answering his cell this week." She added. "So I guess my judgement's pretty shot."
"I don't trust Kyoda, that's all." Ryoko admitted. "I think he's being friendly to Tenchi for other reasons...because of me. Because he hates me."
"To annoy you? To drive a rift between you?" Sakura asked questioningly, and Ryoko shook her head.
"You...understand better than most people on this planet what Tenchi and my world is like." She said softly. "Since we went to Yousai, I've felt that we've more of a connection to you and Hiroshi than other natives of this planet - ones who haven't seen space for themselves. And you know that there are good people and bad people out there, right?"
"Yes." Sakura was nonplussed. "I tend to count you and Tenchi in the good category, even if you have been bad in the past. Why?"
"Not everyone has got to the dividing point." Ryoko ran her fingers through her hair. "They're putting us all in the bad category. Which would be fine - I wouldn't care. Except that I think there's more to it. All of a sudden, Kyoda's being friendly to Tenchi and Tenchi's too dense not to see it for what it is. And I might think I was being paranoid, except that Washu has the same impression. In fact, yesterday she spoke to someone at the Space Consortium who pretty much spelled out to her - by name - that he thought I was a danger to Earth. Me, and the planet Jurai."
"You think that people on the Earth expect an invasion?" Sakura only just managed to keep her voice down, and Ryoko nodded.
"That's nuts." Sayaka snorted. "The people on Jurai aren't like that!"
"No...I don't think they'd care enough to invade this world, even if they were." Ryoko responded. "There's nothing here to take...nothing they need."
"Seiryo Tennan said that to us, when he landed here before." Sakura agreed. "And having seen Jurai, I believe him. Why would they want to invade a minor planet light years away? Especially one where Tenchi lives - I got the impression that everything in space thinks a whole lot of Tenchi Masaki."
"Yes...well, there's the other complication." Ryoko grimaced. "Tenchi's cover on the Earth hasn't been blown yet. Plenty of people have commented on his relationship with me, but that we share - at least in part - a common genetic origin, noone knows. He's a Prince of Jurai in much more legitimate terms than I can be called Princess - he might even have been their Emperor, if he'd been so inclined. Can you imagine what hysterical idiots like Kyoda and whoever he's got involved in would do, if they realised how much power Tenchi has inside of him?"
She bit her lip.
"I love him so much." She whispered. "And I won't do anything to make him at risk. But it puts me on edge - that even marrying him might do that, you know? Bringing attention to him, to the shrine, to everything that goes on in the Masaki family. It's gotten so complicated. I thought I was just marrying a man I love, and moving to a planet which I've come to call home. But now..."
"You're really worrying about this." Sakura said gently. "Something major must have happened since the last time we spoke, because then your prime concern was avoiding being stifled if you opted for traditional Japanese wedding attire."
"It hasn't, really." Ryoko admitted. "I'm more afraid that it's coming. Like there's something in the wind. In the air. That the general opinion of aliens has been slowly getting more and more grim...especially here, in Osaka."
"So why come here?"
"Because I'm as free a citizen as anyone else, and if I want to see my friends, I will." Ryoko said frankly. "However, I don't want to put you at risk either, Sakura-chan. I really like having a female friend I can talk to - and I'd be really annoyed if someone made you pay for befriending me."
"I'm not going to change my opinions of you because some people don't understand." Sakura said frankly. "I was afraid at first - we all were - but we didn't understand. Now we do - Ikeda and I both. You needn't worry on that account. We won't be abandoning you."
She shrugged.
"But you should probably talk to Tenchi about Kyoda." She added. "If you think he's a problem. After all, as you said, Tenchi won't look for it. He and Kane were pretty good friends, before you came to the Earth. I'm sure he's wanted to make up the rift somehow...he might not be as rational about the implications, if he's not looking at it objectively."
"I just wish something could deal with Kane Kyoda, and his nasty, spying companions." Ryoko said darkly. "But I'm not that kind of pirate. Fortunately or unfortunately, I don't know...but it makes me uneasy."
"I'm glad you're not that kind of pirate." Sakura said bluntly. "If you'd been the kind of alien who killed people, Ryoko, you and I wouldn't be friends."
"Well, it's too messy for my tastes." Ryoko said off-handedly. "But I wasn't thinking so much in those terms. I'd just like to put them in a capsule and send them into pirate space for a few weeks. Then they'd understand a dangerous pirate when they saw one, and leave me alone."
"I can't offer you a solution to that problem." Sakura reflected. "But I can offer you retail therapy. Even if we neither of us have money to spend this afternoon, the looking might be therapeutic. And there's nothing more normal or Earth-like than shopping, is there?"
She grinned, and the pirate offered her a faint smile in return.
"Guess not." She agreed. "All right. I'm game. Lead the way."
As they made their way through the crowds of busy shoppers, Ryoko was aware of attention on her and she paused, frowning as she turned back to look the way they'd come. Nothing was immediately apparent, however, and she narrowed her eyes, pursing her lips as she tried to work out whether or not it had been her over-active imagination.
"Or are they actually spying on me in person, now?" She murmured, as Sakura sent her a quizzical look. "I wonder."
"Ryoko? Are you coming - you're causing a road block." Sakura gave her a tug on the arm, and Ryoko forced her attention back to the matter at hand, offering her friend a sheepish smile.
"Sorry. I'm with you." She replied. "Where are we heading first?"
"Just chill out a little, huh?" Sakura told her evenly. "Focus your attention on other things - on wedding things, if you like. We can take a look around at some things, see what you like - and forget all of this alien spying business. Okay?"
"Okay." Ryoko agreed. "Thanks, 'Kura-chan. I guess maybe part of it is wedding jitters...weird as that might sound coming from a hardened space criminal."
"Hey, you and Tenchi are the strongest couple I know. If you can't have a happy ending, who can?" Sakura said ruefully. "Besides, I like being your wedding coach. It's as close as I can get to a wedding of my own right now, after all."
"You should just spit it out and tell him, you idiot."
"We're not going there again, Ryoko. I told you - it's not so simple as that." Sakura shook her head. "Especially not now this girl is on the scene."
"You should be doing it because she is." Ryoko shook her head. "Stake your claim, before it's too late! Believe me, you'll regret it otherwise. Live in the now a little."
"That sounds more like you." Sakura laughed. "And I do understand what you're saying. I just...Ryoko?"
As the pirate hesitated again, her brows knitting together as she scanned the crowd a second time.
"Ryoko, what are you doing?" Sakura eyed her, confused, and Ryoko shook her head.
"Gotcha." She muttered, hazing out of view and re-materialising at the other end of the street, reaching out a hand and clapping it down on the shoulder of a young man who swung around to face her, dismay in his expression as he registered her presence.
"Let me go!"
"Tell me why you're following us, and I will." Ryoko said simply, tightening her grasp on the man's shoulder as he struggled to get away. "Who are you and what do you want?"
"Ishida-kun?" As Sakura approached them, she shot Ryoko a confused look. "Ryoko, what are you doing?"
"You know this guy?" Ryoko asked, and Sakura nodded.
"Kenichi Ishida." She agreed. "He was at University with us - he's an old friend of Kane's."
"I see. A friend of Kane's." Ryoko's eyes narrowed, and she fixed the unfortunate Kenichi with a dark, penetrating look. "That's convenient."
"What do you want, you crazy lady - let me go! Sakura, tell her to let me go!" Kenichi struggled against her grip once more, but it was to no avail.
"Not until you tell me why you were following us." She said softly, and Sakura bit her lip.
"Ryoko, you're causing a scene." She murmured. "People are starting to stare. Let him go, huh? It doesn't matter. Let him go."
Ryoko's eyes narrowed, and slowly she shook her head.
"I don't like people tracking me." She said slowly. "Kenichi Ishida, is it? Well, Kenichi Ishida - you better take this on board...and you can tell your friend Kane the same thing, too. A lot of people have tried to follow my trail over the years. None of them have ever succeeded in besting me. I've no interest in you or your life, but I will not tolerate being followed around like I've done something terrible and need to be under constant surveillance. Do you understand me?"
At this, Kenichi's eyes narrowed, and he shook his head.
"You're a pirate. A space criminal. A vandal." He spat out, finally wrenching himself free. "You pretend to help the Earth, but you're nothing but a liar and a fraud. And we'll stop you - you and your kind. You're not welcome on the Earth...with all the things you've done, I wonder that you can hold your head up at all!"
Ryoko's eyes widened in surprise, and she eyed him coldly.
"You seem to know a lot about me...and yet I know next to nothing about you." She murmured. "I wonder who's invading whose life, here?"
"You don't fool me!"
"I'm not trying to." Ryoko returned scathingly. "I'm trying to live my life, just like every other citizen of this planet. I'm trying to spend an afternoon shopping with a friend and planning my wedding. If that's so interesting to you, you really need to get yourself a hobby. Or a girlfriend. Or both."
"The Galaxy Police will stop you, and so will we!" Kenichi snapped back. "You might fool simple country boys like Tenchi Masaki, but you don't fool me! We know all about you - and more, all about the kind of people Jurai really have lurking behind the scenes. Earth aren't going to be taken for fools, Ryoko Hakubi! We have allies in the Galaxy Police, and..."
He gasped, stopping in mid-sentence as a look of surprise and alarm flooded his features. Then, without saying another word, he stumbled to his knees, crumpling on the ground unconscious before them.
Ryoko cursed, taking a step back from the man's still form.
"What the...?" Sakura dropped down at Kenichi's side, alarm glittering in her expression. "What happened? Did someone...Ryoko...what happened?"
"Someone shut him up." Ryoko said quietly, her expression shaken. "And I think...I think it was intentional. I think...to make it look like I...used my...power."
"He's alive. He's just unconscious." Sakura looked relieved. "Stunned, that's all."
"Mmm." Ryoko faltered, then bent at the young man's side, conscious all the time of the swelling crowd of people that had begun to gather around the graduate's still form. She hesitated, then stretched out her fingers to scoop up something from the back of the victim's body. She held it up, glancing at it for a moment, then frowning.
"The Galaxy Police." She murmured, clasping it more tightly in her fist as she slid the offending article into the folds of her clothing. "This is deeper and more rotten than we imagined, Sakura. Our rookie spy here was shot by a Galaxy Police stun gun."
"Galaxy..." Sakura looked alarmed, and Ryoko nodded.
"And right now, you and I need to get out of here." She added, reaching out to grab her friend by the arm, even as the crowd began to surge towards them. Some voices had already been raised in accusation against her, and as she gazed at the surrounding crowd, Ryoko realised that on more than one face was an expression of suspicion and dismay. "We're going to the mountains, before I get framed and locked up for something I didn't do. This is dirty - dirtier than we thought it was. If the Galaxy Police are truly involved..."
She swallowed hard, then,
"If they are, then noone in the Galaxy is safe." She murmured. "What the hell are the Earth involved in...and what is going to happen to Tenchi and I if it carries on?!"
End of part one.
Author's addendum
There will be a part two to this story. So far I've five chapters written but I won't post any of it until I'm further into it. I'm back at work from Tuesday and I was away this past week so I've not got much done (my inspiration for it is coming in fits and starts depending on the mood I'm in, the anime I'm watching, the weather, etc...I'm really useless, huh...::)
I'm also involved in other "real life" things,and writing the Fushigi fic (which for various reasons is proving a less stressful story to write at present) so like I said, it will take a little while longer to complete than maybe some of the others have. (I really am having to use my brain a lot more this time around, and considering I don't have much of a brain to begin with, that's highly strenuous..lol!). I do know how it's going to end and I do have a comprehensive plan. It's just finding the time and energy to sit down at the PC and put that into something coherent. I really don't want to let all the people who've supported and reviewed and PMed me over the last year down, especially since this is the last story!!
(Brief moment of panic about whether people will hate the ending I have planned...hum...)
I'll do my best to have something up in the not too distant future, anyhow, but I'm not giving any definitive timescale. In the meantime, enjoy the cliffhanger and don't hate me too terribly...please?
::offers cookies to readers::
Vraie ;)