Chapter Fourteen
They had made good progress.
Hyoushin gazed pensively out across the busy city of Hengei, a thoughtful look in his gaze as he leant up against the window of the tavern they had taken rooms in just an hour or two earlier. Although it was not directly on their path back to the port of Kaidou, Hyoushin had wanted to avoid the path through Eiroku and the angry townspeople, and so they had taken a diversion, sweeping south-east as they made their way back home.
"It would almost be easier to cross the southern lands, and leave the boat completely." He reflected. "But I dare not do that...not if there is something in the South that we don't understand. This girl - this Hikari. I must ask the Emperor's opinion...but I feel...that there's something we must learn before we worry about venturing towards our most recent bitter rivals."
He turned from the window, settling down on the end of the bed as he pulled the charmed mirror from his belt. As he did so, he caught sight of the pouch holding yet another mirror - the blessed treasure of Byakko - and a faint smile touched his lips.
"But we have succeeded." he reflected. "Miramu's presence may have been a trial, and there have been things he has not willingly divulged to us. But in the end, we have what we need. The result is the same...I should not concern myself overly with assassins that keep their skeletons in their closets."
He brushed his hand over the surface of Kikei's mirror, gazing into it as the hazy depths began to clear.
"Kintsusei-sama?" He said softly. "It's Hyoushin, making report."
"Hyoushin!" The Emperor's voice came back clear and strong, and little by little the man's face became visible in the glistening glass. "I've been waiting to hear from you - I was beginning to worry about the lack of communication!"
"My sincere apologies, my Lord. We had a few small diversions on our journey which made it difficult." Hyoushin said slowly. "But all is well. We have obtained both the Byakko Shinzahou and the relic from the shrine...the fang of Byakko which contains the power of the mage spirit Kitora. These both we are bringing back to you. At present we are in a town near the southern border - we were forced to take a different route back to the port, so our return may be delayed a day or two. However, we are making good time, and I anticipate it won't be more than a day's ride on the morrow to rejoin the ship and set sail."
"You have succeeded?" There was no keeping the relief from the Emperor's voice. "Then I have nothing to fear. This is good news indeed, Hyoushin - another step closer to Kutou's salvation."
"I trust so, Heika."
"You're still determined not to commit yourself on that subject, aren't you?" Kintsusei reproached him, and Hyoushin offered a faint smile.
"I am not a man of the beast Gods." He agreed. "But I believe in my Emperor's will. You need not worry. We will bring the treasures back to Kutou in safety."
"Miramu has not been a problem?"
"No more of one than I anticipated." Hyoushin considered. "He has not been entirely open with us about his connections to Byakko's guardian Toroki, but even so, he was able to lead us to the treasure and retrieve the fang from the shrine himself. Although I must report to you, Kintsusei-sama, that I have been unable to prevent him from killing anyone on our trip West. I believe representatives of Suzaku were also here - and one of these Miramu appears to have slain in Byakko's shrine."
Kintsusei frowned, biting his lip.
"That is less good news." He admitted.
"It appears the man he slew was no more than one of the bandits associated with the Seishi known as Tasuki." Hyoushin continued. "I am not pleased that any blood was shed, but unfortunately I was not present during this particular squabble...I do not know the precise nature of the conflict. I do not believe the boy was important enough to create serious implications for Kutou - like as not Reizeitei-sama is not aware of individual bandits. But I take responsibility for the death - I was not able to prevent the killer from indulging in his favourite pastime after all."
"Well, if it stopped at just one, I suppose we should be grateful." Kintsusei sighed. "And Suzaku's people were definitely in Sairou, also?"
"More, they have sought the assistance of Byakko's guardian, Toroki." Hyoushin hesitated, then, "She possesses a strange power that somewhat concerns me...I would rather not have my men exposed to her wiles and spells if it could be avoided. I think she could possibly cause significant mental damage, if she was to attack someone who was not expecting it."
"That sounds sinister indeed!"
"Well, there's little surprise in that." Hyoushin's lips curled slightly as he remembered what he had learnt. "It appears that Toroki is Miramu's younger sister...there must simply be a sadistic streak in their family's blood."
"Siblings..." Kintsusei sighed. "I see. It explains how Miramu knew so well the location, then. Are we caught in the midst of a family feud, Hyoushin?"
"Perhaps, but Miramu is returning to Kutou with us and you can ask him yourself to explain his motives and conduct when we arrive." Hyoushin replied. "Although, on that note...my Lord, there is one other matter I must address with you...another reason why I have chosen to spend tonight in Hengei instead of pushing for a more coastal location."
"Yes?" Kintsusei sounded curious. "What is it?"
"Both Miramu and Suiko mentioned something about one of Suzaku's travellers." Hyoushin replied. "A girl by the name of Hikari. Unfortunately, neither one of them have been explicit. Suiko seems to degrade in memory and maturity the further she is from Kutou, and insists on playing silly games at every turn. And Miramu...speaks in tongues and reveals only the things he wants you to know. I feel certain one or both of them knows more than they have told me - however, the fact they have raised the girl's name independantly of one another makes me curious to know why."
"One of Suzaku's..." Kintsusei bit his lip. "One of Suzaku's Celestial Warriors?"
"I don't know, my Lord." Hyoushin admitted. "To me she seems just another girl - not even so old as Maichu or Aoiketsu in years, and certainly not trained with a weapon. She seems...nothing unusual to me. But I am not an adequate judge of such things. And I would like...with your permission...to find out more. It occurs to me that this child - this Hikari - may be partly involved in the mobilisation of Suzaku's forces. It seems convenient otherwise, that they would choose to search out Shinzahou at the same time as we are. Suiko said in the mountains that she could sense Suzaku's magic - she thought that Suzaku's Shinzahou was there, although we found no trace of it. My theory, therefore, is that this Hikari girl may well be its protector - or at the very least, she is a key to the door of Kounan's motivation."
"Yes, so it sounds to me also." Kintsusei's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "And you think we should act, then, in the way we discussed once before? It is time to send a spy?"
"I believe it is, sire, yes."
"Then I will bow to your opinion. I think you are right." Kintsusei nodded. "You wish to send someone from your party south, instead of back to the East - don't you?"
"With your permission, my Lord, I would like to send Aoiketsu, with Maichu and Kayu as potential go-betweens." Hyoushin said slowly. "Maichu has already begged me not to force him back on the boat, and considering the miserable spectacle he made of himself on the journey here, I see this may be a better use for him...to convey messages back to Kutou. Kayu also has proven fairly competent in this trip, and I would like to add responsibility to his shoulders. He is maturing, I think...and that should be rewarded. Between the two of them they should be able to liase with Aoiketsu and convey messages back to Kutou without creating any great suspicion - and if there are two of them, the message will be more sure to get through."
"But...Aoiketsu?" Kintsusei's eyes widened. "Isn't that a risk? If they were to discover the boy's true origins..."
"Yes, I know." Hyoushin admitted. "But in truth, of all my men, I have most faith in Maichu or Aoiketsu to carry out orders without the risk of failure or deviation. And Aoiketsu is by far the more even-tempered of the two - Maichu's impulsiveness may well put him in a position of risk. Besides, it has occured to me that Aoiketsu's identity may well be the key thing in allowing him to infiltrate the Suzaku party unnoticed."
"Go on..."
"Aoiketsu lives under the name Kaiga Aoiketsu." Hyoushin said simply. "A noble family of Kutou eradicated to a man by the Shougun during the war with Kounan. Aoiketsu wears on his finger the ring his mother left him - the one that bears the crest of the Kaiga house. Such things cannot easily be falsified - that ring belonged to Kaiga Gin, and the fact Aoiketsu has it is indication enough of his Kaiga connections."
He frowned.
"He also has the appearance of a noble son, if not dressed in the armour of a fighting man." He added. "He has been raised more or less at Kutou's court, and even though he has trained as a soldier from an early age, he has benefitted from the same tuition a son of your own would receive, on account of his mother's dying wishes. Being raised in such proximity to the crown, he also knows much of the politics of office. He is literate, educated and intelligent...even a noble son in exile could expect to have such attributes. In all things, his perceived identity is the perfect foil to convince Suzaku of his authenticity. After all, even within Kutou only a very few individuals know the truth of his origins. Aoiketsu is unaware of them himself, for that matter. Why would strangers in Kounan be any more perceptive? And he cannot give away to them things he does not know."
"Yes, I do see what you mean." Kintsusei agreed. "In that light, it wouldn't be obvious...who he really was. And since he knows the story of the Kaiga family as well or better than anyone..."
"Well, it occured to me that I am Kounan's enemy, and so are you." Hyoushin said evenly. "And, additionally, we were both involved in the downfall of the Kaiga family, in one way or another. An outward observer would see many reasons for an orphaned Kaiga child to have grievances against the Emperor and his chief military officer. You were a soldier involved in the raid. I was a Kaiga slave. And the family was wiped out, the land taken first as the Shougun's domain, and then, later, as your own. Disinherited, orphaned and exiled...there is enough truth in such a story to be convincing."
"Indeed there is." Kintsusei nodded. "Kaiga Gin's evil ways were legendary within Kutou...the cleansing of the estate was, in my view, a necessary atrocity to break my father's stranglehold on power. But to an outsider...I suppose it must simply represent the brutality they automatically associate with this realm."
"My thinking precisely." Hyoushin responded. "And there is one other suggestion I would make, if I may."
"Of course."
"I'd like to send Aoiketsu south in the company of our assassin friend."
"Miramu?" Kintsusei's eyes opened wide with surprise. "But why? I thought you didn't trust him."
"I don't, but I do trust that Aoiketsu is a good enough soldier to protect himself if need be." Hyoushin replied. "Besides, they have spent time alone together without harm befalling Aoiketsu, so I am not concerned for his safety. In truth, I think Miramu has rather latched on to Aoiketsu in some way - he seems unusually interested in him, and has on a couple of occasions divulged information that he has not given to you or I. I cannot explain the workings of it, but I think, in some twisted way, Miramu has taken to Aoiketsu. And that can only work in our favour."
"Taken to him?" Kintsusei looked disturbed. "Do you mean what I think you mean?"
"Possibly." Hyoushin shrugged. "It is no secret that Aoiketsu is a handsome young soldier, after all, and he is often teased by his fellow soldiers for his 'pretty' looks. But you needn't have concerns in that regard. Aoiketsu's focus has always been on Kutou's safety - and on the few occasions when it has wavered at all, his tastes have not swung in that direction. There is no danger of him becoming entangled in something inappropriate. However, I do not like Miramu or his modus operandi. And I seek to exploit any weakness in it to our best effect wherever possible. Whatever his interest in Aoiketsu - whether it be physical or something else - I do believe that he won't cause him harm. And that if Aoiketsu was to travel south in Miramu's company, he may well be better positioned to explain his presence in Kounan."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Miramu has killed a man of the south, after all." He murmured. "If he were to be perceived as causing Aoiketsu a similar threat, then surely Suzaku's people would be only too glad to take his part."
"You have been thinking deviously." Kintsusei's expression became one of comprehension and he grinned. "I see exactly what you are getting at. And yes, you are right. If we are to send a spy, he must be someone the South can believe. I think your plan is the best one, Hyoushin. You may act on it - you have my blessing."
"Thank you." Hyoushin inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement. "Then tomorrow I will brief the men on their new orders. And we will discover what secrets the south are hiding before we worry about tackling them...we do not want another war with Kounan if we can avoid it, and I have hopes that if anyone can root out the truth, it will be Kaiga Aoiketsu."
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"Aniki, are we just going to spend our whole morning on this ridge?"
As Kouji and his group of companions crossed the uneven mountain terrain, one of the younger members of the group piped in a question, causing the tall, scar-faced bandit to turn, eying him quizzically. It was early morning on Reikaku-zan, another bright day which would turn hot as the sun climbed higher in the sky, and as ever, the men of the mountain were busy with their morning tasks. For Kouji and his two young associates, this was collecting toll, although for the scarfaced bandit, keeping the youngsters' excitement and impatience under wraps was proving to be a more troublesome job than he had first anticipated.
"You'd like to lead the party, would you?" He challenged. "We're taking toll, we're not going for a leisurely stroll around the mountain side. You want to do that, you take it up with Genrou - but don't expect me to be puttin' the parts of you back together afterwards. You know as well as I do that takings have been low in the last week or two - an' we have obligations. It ain't just us we gotta feed, you know...if you've got issues with that, you can always find another mountain to pitch on."
"Hey, I wasn't saying that." The young bandit held up his hands hurriedly. "I just wondered...we ain't seen anyone comin' along this trackway for a long time."
"Well, we ain't seen anyone usin' any of the mountain paths for a while." Kouji sighed, gazing up at the sky. It was true, he reflected. Since the day he and his Seishi companion had first discussed the re-emergence of Suzaku's mark, takings on the mountain had slipped to the barest minimum, and Kouji's thoughts slipped as they often did to the struggling inhabitants in some of the poorer mountain villages. As a child of the mountains himself, Kouji had always taken a keen interest in Reikaku-zan's community obligations, and in this he knew he and Tasuki were of one mind.
After all, he reflected, the Kashira was as much a boy of this rough terrain as he was.
"But if we can't even feed ourselves fully, we're gonna have a job providin' for others." He acknowledged with a sigh. "Maybe Kaou-zan's responsible...perhaps they're settin' up path blocks again. It would help if Genrou's mind was on somethin' other than the fact the cub's somewhere in the wilds of Sairou - but I guess I can't blame him. I'm worried about the kid too - it's a lot of responsibility for a brat like that, an' Shishi's only a kid of fourteen. Younger even than Genrou was when he came to Reikaku-zan. Still...I understand he doesn't want to launch in on Kaou-zan whilst Suzaku's buzzin' round his brain. But if this goin' to be a problem - supplies in some of the villages are already short, an' there's rumours of disease in one of the furthermost ones. Since Genrou took hold o' the mountain, the people've relied on us to take care of them when somethin' strikes...Genrou's a symbol of Suzaku to them, after all. Their protector, an' he takes it to heart. But right now...he ain't with the program. I know he thinks the world of that cub - but even so..."
"Aniki, I think I hear horses!" A young bandit by the name of Ueji hissed excitedly at this point, jerking Kouji back to the present, and the older bandit frowned, listening carefully with expert ears to the sounds of the mountain. He nodded his head.
"Two, an' coming this way." He agreed. "Be ready, all of you...we don't know what we're dealin' with yet, so hold off on the blades till we know. If they're willin' to pay toll without causin' us any trouble, we won't be causin' them any, after all."
"I hope they cause trouble." The impetuous youngster who had spoken earlier put in. "I could use a good fight."
"You'll get yourself killed before you know it, thinking that way." Kouji said disparagingly. "You could stand t'take a few lessons on patience, Raiku. It's only by luck alone that noone's pushed a blade through you yet - if you want to live to improve, you pay attention an' do as you're told."
"They're getting closer." Ueji murmured. "If they have no money, will we take their horses, Aniki? At least then we'd have something to barter in Souun for food or supplies."
"Sounds like a plan t'me." Kouji nodded. "But we'll see. If they're on horseback, they can't be completely without resources...it may be our lucky day."
"I think I can see them." Raiku squinted along the horizon. "Two...just like you said, Aniki. Over there...from the West. Are we goin' to take them by surprise, Aniki? Give them a bit of a scare to convince them not to argue with us?"
"Hang on."
As the riders came more clearly into view, Kouji raised his hand, his brow furrowing as he registered the identity of one of the riders, and he frowned, glancing from one horse to the other as if trying to understand.
"It's the cub." He breathed. "Hold back, all of you. It's Genrou's cub...do you want t'face him if you charge her down?"
"Shishi?" Ueji looked startled. "But...who's the dame with her?"
"I'll find out. You stay right here...be ready to move if there's trouble." Kouji instructed. "I'm gonna find out what the hell's goin' on - do as I say and don't move till I give an order."
"Yes, Aniki." Ueji agreed, and a glare from him to his companion quieted any protestations that might have been on Raiku's lips. Kouji's lips thinned, as a sense of foreboding washed through him, but he said no more, merely slipping out from his scrub cover to face the two riders head on.
"Shishi?" He exclaimed, and at his voice, the young red-head halted her steed, meeting his gaze with a look of both surprise and relief. To Kouji's dismay, there were tears glittering in the bronze depths, and as the girl dismounted her horse, all her ingrained training about mountain etiquette seemed to desert her as she flung herself on the bandits' second in command, burying her head in his shoulder as her body began to shake with sobs.
"Aniue." She wept, and Kouji stared at her, unsure quite what to do with this sudden emotional outburst, for though Shishi had always been an expressive and impetuous young girl, she had always scorned tearful outbursts.
"Hey, kid, what is it?" He asked softly. "Shishi, stop this - what's happened? What's wrong?"
Shishi just continued to cry into his bandit's attire, and Kouji frowned as the girl's companion dismounted her own animal, grasping the reins of both beasts as she stepped forward.
"I'm sorry." She murmured. "I imagine you didn't expect this kind of greeting. But I thought...Shishi should be brought home."
"Who are you?" Kouji demanded, eying the white-haired stranger with wary confusion. "You ain't local - what's your story?"
"My name is Toroki." The stranger said quietly. "I'm one of Byakko's Celestial Warriors. I mean no trouble for you or your companions...I came to bring Shishi back to Reikaku-zan, and, I hoped, to speak to Tasuki or Chichiri in person."
Kouji's eyes narrowed, but at length he nodded.
"Ueji, go back to the base." He said softly, his glance flitting to one of his accompanying bandits. "Tell the Kashira I'm comin' back early, an' I'm bringing Shishi back with me. Don't tell him nothin' else - okay? I'll deal with that."
"Yes, Aniki." The young bandit nodded his head, disappearing immediately back towards the base, and Kouji glanced down at the still sobbing Shishi that clung to him as if afraid he was about to be ripped away.
"Get a hold of yourself, girl." He murmured. "This ain't like you. What the hell's the matter?"
"Jin..." Shishi managed, raising mournful bronze eyes to her companion, and a cold chill struck deep into Kouji's heart as he interpreted the unspoken message. He cursed, glancing at the enigmatic Toroki for confirmation of his worst fear, and the woman nodded slowly.
"He lost his life defending Suzaku no Shinzahou from a dangerous enemy." She said sadly.
Kouji cursed again, then he hauled Shishi up onto her own feet, scooping her up into his arms as if she weighed no more than her younger cousin Meikyo.
"All right. I get it now." He said quietly. "We'll go inside, all right? You're home now - it's all right."
"Aniue." Shishi gazed up at him, slipping her arms around his neck as she did so, then, "I...I want Papa."
"I've already sent a message." Kouji assured her, inwardly unnerved by this uncharacteristic display of clinginess from the young bandit who had always fought fire with fire. "Pull yourself together a little, huh? You're goin' to scare him like this."
"I can't help it." Shishi leant her head up against him. "I don't like it, but I..I can't stop...cryin'. And now we're here...now we're here..."
She trailed off, and Kouji sighed, casting Toroki a glance.
"You'd better come too, though when Genrou hears this news he mightn't want you here." He said quietly. "Still, he'll want a coherent story of what happened to the kid. An' about what happened to Hikari - he'll want to know that, too, an' so will Chichiri."
"Hikari's gone back to her world." Shishi mumbled. "She glowed red again, an' vanished."
"Vanished?" Kouji blinked, and Myoume nodded.
"As Shishi said." She agreed. "And I'll come with you with pleasure. I'm sorry to come to Kounan - and Reikaku-zan - in these circumstances."
She paused, then,
"Are you the bandit known as Kouji?" She hazarded. "Shishi calls you Aniue, and the other man, he called you Aniki. Am I right, then, in assuming you're Tasuki's second in command?"
"Yes." Kouji looked startled. "That's right."
"Then I'm glad it was you we ran into." Myoume sighed, absently touching her cheek. "I recognised you from your scar...both Jin and Shishi spoke about you and I know you're someone I can trust."
"Well, I guess that all depends on what Genrou has to say about all of this." Kouji reflected. "Come on. This way. You might as well go that far an' let him decide for himself."
"Kouji!"
As they made their way into the bandit strong-hold, a voice hailed them, edged with a rolling mountain accent, and Kouji turned to meet his superior's gaze, a mixture of relief and apprehension in his gaze. At the sound of the man's voice, Shishi struggled out of Kouji's grip and back onto her own feet.
"Papa!" She exclaimed, and the bandit leader stopped dead as he registered the state his daughter was in.
"Shit." He murmured. "Shishi? What the hell...?"
"Papa..." Shishi flung herself against the brawny red-haired bandit in much the same way as she had done Kouji, and for a moment Tasuki just stared at her, non-plussed. Then, as he seemed to register the violence of her emotions, he frowned, resting a hand on her head as he cast Kouji a questioning glance.
"Well?"
"Somethin' happened in Sairou, Genrou." Kouji said soberly. "The cub's come back alone. Well, almost...this woman came with her. She says she's Toroki - one o' Byakko's. But the Hikari kid wound up sent back to her own world, an' Jin..."
He trailed off, as colour visibly drained from the wolfish features.
"What about Jin?" The question was softly spoken, and Kouji knew that his friend had already guessed the truth.
"He was killed." Toroki herself answered the question, a sober look in her strange seiran eyes.
For a moment there was silence, punctuated only by the occasional sob from the young girl, and at Toroki's words, Tasuki's grasp on his daughter tightened. He frowned, then slowly, he nodded his head.
"Kouji, get Anzu. Tell her nothin', jus' that I want her an' in my private quarters." He said softly. "An' then go to the village. Find Chichiri an' tell him everythin' you know. Tell him to get his ass up here as soon as he can...no matter what Aidou says about it. All right?"
"Understood." Kouji nodded. "What about you? Can you manage Shishi on your own?"
"I'll have to." Tasuki said frankly. His gaze flitted to Toroki, and his bronze eyes clouded slightly.
"You better come with me, too." He murmured. "I want to know everythin'. An' be prepared to be asked a shitload o' questions. Especially when Chichiri's here."
The stranger bowed her head, holding out her hands in a gesture of peace and submission.
"I've come ready and willing to do that." She agreed. "I'm truly sorry to be meeting you under these circumstances."
Kouji heard no more, for he withdrew from the chamber at that moment, biting his lip as he got his own composure under control. Jin had been a great favourite among the bandits, and he knew that it would not just be the wolf's family who would feel the loss keenly.
"But Genrou sees...saw him like a son, an' Anzu scarcely any different." He muttered. "What the hell did happen in the West, anyway? Shit...what kind of danger is there in a peaceful land that causes a kid like Jin to be killed anyway? What the hell is wrong with this world?"
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"Well, at least she's safely back here."
As Taka set down the telephone receiver, he cast his wife a rueful smile, nodding his head. It had been just over an hour since Hikari's return home and, after a tearful reunion with her mother, the young girl had quietly asked to have a bath, taking a fresh towel and heading up the stairs to clean up her dishevilled, desert-dusty appearance. Left alone downstairs, Taka had quickly put a call through to his brother in law to notify him of the girl's safe return, and now, as they sat in the small Sukunami sitting room, he realised that the overwhelming sensation was one of relief.
"She's back, and it's over." He murmured. "Miaka, I've never been so glad to see anyone as I was glad to see Hikari in that library office. She said that three weeks passed in the book world - she must have been terrified, thrown into a situation like that. But she's come back - and thank goodness, she's in one piece."
"Do you really think so?" Miaka frowned, her expression uncharacteristically thoughtful, and Taka's brows drew together as he interpreted his wife's uneasiness. He frowned, reaching out to take her by the hand as he sat down beside her on the sofa.
"What's on your mind, Miaka?" He asked quietly. "Something is - I know that look. Something about Hikari's homecoming?"
"Did you see her, when she came in?" Miaka asked hesitantly. "Taka, you must have noticed it...how she looked."
"She was shaken up." Taka agreed. "But I can't blame her for that. Considering..."
"No." Miaka shook her head, heaving a sigh as she pursed her lips. "No, it's not that, Taka. Her clothing. Did you notice?"
"Well, she's dressed like she's from Ancient China, but she was in Kounan. That's not unusual - you did it yourself, so I seem to remember."
"I did, and that's not what I'm getting at either." Miaka sat back in her seat. "Taka...there was blood on her skirt. Did you not notice it? I'm sure that's what it was."
"Blood?" Taka looked startled. "Do you think she's hurt?"
"Yes, but not in the way you're thinking." Miaka looked troubled. "What was it she said to you in the car, Taka? That something had happened?"
"Something horrible." Taka's brows drew together in consternation as he considered the implications in his companion's words. "And that it was her fault. But she didn't want to talk about it, so I didn't press her. I didn't notice the blood at all - to be honest, I was so relieved to see her, I don't think I took anything else in."
"Well, I did." Miaka frowned. "She's back here, for sure. But Taka, something's upset her. Something happened in Kounan. And whatever it is, it's worrying her."
She chewed on her lip.
"This is our fault." She added. "Mine especially, for making her Suzaku's Shinzahou. Whatever she's been through, I have to take some of the blame. And it worries me, seeing her looking like that."
"It's not your fault." Taka shook his head, and Miaka shrugged her shoulders.
"I feel like it is." She murmured. "A lot's happened in the last twenty four hours - for Hikari, it's been a lot longer. Whatever it is she's been through, I want her to know that she can talk to us. We'll try and understand - we're probably the only ones who really can, aside from maybe Yui or Mayo. But you and I in particular."
She hesitated, then got to her feet.
"I'm going to go speak to her." She decided. "I'll ask her if she wants anything to eat...it is late, after all. And then we'll see. If she's not up to it, Taka, we shouldn't try and send her to school tomorrow - it won't hurt, if she's really upset. And even if she isn't...even if she's not as shaken as I think she is - we still have things to talk about. Keisuke's money, for example."
"She told me she was sorry and that she wouldn't do it again." Taka shook his head. "No harm was done, so I vote we forget about that, Miaka."
"Maybe you're right, if that's the case." Miaka acknowledged. "To be honest, I don't want to tackle her on that kind of note at the moment. Call it mother's intuition, Taka, but something's badly upset our daughter's heart - and I won't be happy till I've got to the bottom of what it is."
"You want to talk to her alone?" Taka realised, and Miaka nodded.
"Mother to daughter." She agreed, relief flickering in her hazel eyes. "Yes. Thank you for understanding. After all, it's occured to me that maybe we haven't had that kind of a conversation for a while. And perhaps that's been part of the problem."
She offered her husband a smile.
"Now I can share with her a lot of things I never could before." She added. "Maybe just knowing I understand will help - it's worth a try."
With that she was gone, and Taka sank back in his seat, pursing his lips as he considered Miaka's uncharacteristic burst of perceptiveness.
"Maybe she's right. Maybe in the end, it is our fault." He reflected. "For keeping secrets...for not being truly ourselves with either Hikari or Makoto. I don't know...how could we have explained it to them? I don't see how it would have worked out...but in some ways, maybe she doesn't feel she can talk to us in the way she should be able to. I don't know what happened in that world - but if Miaka can reach out to her, so much the better. After all, even now she's back, if something's still troubling her, it will be a while before she really gets over her trip into the Shijin-Tenchishou."