SEVEN – EPISODE SLEIGHT

Soft lights, white walls, and the smell of sterilizing chemicals.

"Ooergh," moaned Tetsuya.

"I'm in the hospital, aren't I?" he said.

"Good observation," said a cold, familiar voice. "I'm glad you came to. It wouldn't be nearly as satisfying to kill you otherwise."

"I'm glad you made it out safely too, Kirijo-san," groaned Tetsuya. "Can you dim the lights? My entire head- no, entire body- feels like a giant tapdanced over it. How did the others fare?"

"Minato retreated almost immediately after your brother made his escape. So did the rest of the enemy forces. My team rigged the warehouse to look as if a gas main had broken, and I ordered everybody else home. Including SEES."

"Good," said Tetsuya as he covered his eyes and leaned back. "Good, nobody died." He began to laugh softly, wincing as his chest injuries made itself known.

"Tetsuya-san... the doctor-"

"I know. It's irrelevant. More importantly, as far as saving the world is concerned, we're back at square two."

Mitsuru gave him an odd look. "Square two? I'd say we're all the way back to square zero."

Tetsuya gave a painful cough and shook his head. "I said two. We're two steps ahead from where we were. We know who's truly pulling the strings of this affair, and we know the extent in which we can operate."

"'The extent in which we can operate?' They have both Minato and Ryoji on their side now. What can we hope to accomplish?"

Tetsuya pondered.

"...well?"

"Shush, I'm still thinking. I'm more used to just using what's in front of me to get the job done. My brother does the long-term logistics stuff."

"...we're doomed then. I'll inform the others to take time off for the next two-"

Tetsuya scowled and coughed. "Oh, stop that. That behavior's beneath you, Mitsuru Kirijo. There's a hundred ways to end the world, and a thousand ways to redeem it. I'm just trying to decide which one of the thousand to use."

"Well, make it quick- you've been out for a week."

"I- ...what?!"

This isn't how things are supposed to be.

"This coming... from the Appriser? I admit... I am shocked at your... reluctance."

There was another path forged. A miracle accomplished. You would take this away?

"Death... is the only absolute. The path forks... but rejoins. What difference does it make... if we should die now... or tomorrow?

"Besides... tell me... do you not hunger?"

...I... hunger...

"Then enough. You shall be... sated soon."

"Three days. You're kidding me. We have three days to figure it out?" protested Tetsuya.

"We? You're the one with the optimistic saying, Juno-san."

"Grr. Fine. Fine! My hotel room- get my briefcase, if you will. There's a wearable computer in there. The Juno Group digitized most of its records last year, after my brother... he... Anyhow, just get it for me, please."

"I'll be back soon."

"...actually, wait." Tetsuya furrowed his brow. "...I've been out for a week. Have you been watching over me this entire time?"

"...yes."

"...why?"

"I think I can still trust you. And, though I am upset at your family's role, it wasn't your fault."

"...thanks."

"I'll be back soon," said Mitsuru again. "Rest. I can heal your injuries when the Dark Hour comes, but not your fatigue."

Dark. Stars shown through the dormitory's windows. Ken gave a long sigh.

"Mm... what's wrong?" asked Yumi sleepily.

"Sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Kinda... you've been mopey since you got back. Did you get that thing with the Kirijos fixed...?"

Ken shook his head. "I'm... I'm afraid it's become something of a mess. Um, I might have to leave again in a few days."

It was Yumi's turn to sigh. She sat up, the waxing moon illuminating her nightgown. "Ken, I know you signed a confidentiality contract. But this is getting pretty silly."

"I-I know," said Ken, guiltily. "But-"

"Look, you came back covered in bruises and burns! What am I supposed to do- just sit back and see you fall apart? Ken..."

"I-I'm sorry for making you worry about me, Yumi..."

She leaned down to kiss him. "I'm afraid I'm losing you. I really don't want to. There isn't anybody else, right?"

"No! Of course not." He embraced her tightly, but found himself clutching a coffin. "...I swear, I'll make things right again."

"...you should really get some sleep," said Tetsuya absent-mindedly. A translucent wrap-around was perched upon his nose, flickering with lights and odd symbols as his hands twitched. "Seriously. I won't be done for a few hours."

Mitsuru shook her head. "I have everybody else on standby. The moment you figure out a way, we're getting ready."

"Ah, good. But, seriously, you should get some sleep." His eyes flickered in her direction. "You look exhausted."

"It's... been a trying one and a half weeks," she said.

"I'm sorry."

A pause. Tetsuya's fingers incessantly twitched, causing cascades of light to flash off his display.

"How did you and your brother inherit the Juno Group?" asked Mitsuru suddenly.

"Hm? Same way as you- bloodline inheritance. Um, Mother and Father were on a transpacific flight when their pilot was attacked during the Dark Hour."

"...oh, I'm- I'm sorry."

"It's no big deal." Tetsuya pushed his wearable to a more comfortable position. "Ten years ago, after all."

"...you were... twenty, then?"

Tetsuya gave an imperceptible shrug. "Yeah. Bit of a rocky start. Bro and I had to beat off usurpers with a bat. Um, literally. Still have the bat, actually, in case I have to give a company pep talk."

"...that is certainly... odd."

"Heh. Fun times."

Mitsuru stifled a yawn. "...you'll be taking over your brother's position when this all ends, right?"

"'When' this- oh, yeah, right. Sorry. Yeah, stock transfer to me, controlling power, ect. Going to have to invest in more bodyguards too, since they trust me less than they did Bro. Um... and probably write up a will really, really soon."

"...sorry."

Tetsuya chuckled. "You're weird when you're half asleep. Sorry? I'm the one still sucking down something like two, three packs a day. It's my choice to live as madly, as freely as I can manage it. You've seen my bro- so stressed, so constantly under attack, he turned out to be a drunkard. No wonder he chose his path- since the Janus Group sprung up, he must've believed that it's a matter of either shooting your own dog, or being a coward and let somebody do it for you. And he's too proud to consider otherwise."

"So you chose to slowly kill yourself as an alternative?"

Tetsuya looked at her over his shades and grin. "Memento mori. We all die eventually; it's how we live that matters- and I'd say I'm living pretty well. When the Reaper comes, I'll still be laughing."

"And there'll be the cries and lamentations of the women of your life during the funeral?" asked Mitsuru, smirking slightly.

"Nah. Never had a chance to settle down, for any amount of time. Think that's the only thing I regret."

"I'm surprised to hear that."

Tetsuya shrugged. "Speak for yourself. You rejected so many suitors, some of the big Japanese families are saying that you're a lesbian."

"...they what."

Tetsuya backed away slightly as the air suddenly chilled a few degrees. "Whoa, whoa. Not me. Don't shoot the messenger here."

"Who said."

"...you are absolutely terrifying when you're pissed, Kirijo-san. Um... look, I'll tell you on three conditions: one, you don't hurt me. Two, you wait for after we're done with the current fiasco. It's not going to matter if we don't succeed, right?"

"And the third?" said Mitsuru, calming down.

"...later, I think I'm onto some- ah... yes." Tetsuya pumped a fist in the air, and tossed his wearable computer off. "Tell me, does the word 'Monad' mean anything to you?"

Mitsuru gave him a quizzical look. "That was what we called the basement floor of Tartarus- it was unbelievably dangerous."

"Pfhah. I not only laugh in the face of danger, I steal its lunch money too. Look, I cross-applied the metaphysical and geographical terrain maps- oh, here." Tetsuya tossed her the computer. "Anyhow, cross-applied the two phase levels, and marked points of common convergence. I'm basing this off the Kirijo Gekkoukan project- we can use the old tramways, snake through this junction..."

"We've 'exposed' enough men to station full squadrons of guards throughout the stationary floors," said Alex. "Given how my brother thinks, he'll be looking for access to the basement levels- possibly using the old Kirijo lab complex to do so. None of my men are equipped, unfortunately, to survive a Monad expedition for very long."

"Sounds... adequate," said Takaya distantly. "So long as they don't interfere."

"...am I boring you, Shepherd?"

"Your plans are... sensible, Juno. But... ultimately unnecessary."

"I know my brother. He'll turn a low denominator into an ace up his sleeve if you don't watch him every step of the way."

"He cannot... change destiny. It has been written... in ink."

"Yes, but ten years ago, somebody scribbled over it and wrote a new conclusion."