Second Circle
17th August 2008
Series: The Seer
Summary: Watanuki, Shizuka, Jason and Sorata begin to unravel the mysteries.
Warnings: More set-up and conversations, details coming undone.
Author Notes: Much love as always to profiterole, curiousrobin, and Anyjen for all their input and beta work. Thank you to all reviewers once again (I hope I didn't miss any replies!), you wear me out replying but its still lots of fun.

"I do not, of course," Watanuki assured quickly, "raise this matter because I am offended or uncomfortable. I only mentioned it hoping this would be the correct thing to do in order that there are no doubts between us." He gestured deferentially, half bowing over the table to the Prince, "I mean no other intent than to say I understand your actions and accept them." He raised his head and fell silent, hands folded innocently in his lap.

Shizuka remained still and impassive; his master had worded that all very well. His eyes slid to the Prince.

For a long moment, Amko studied Watanuki before he suddenly smiled. Nodding, he began to clap, almost beginning to laugh outright.

Blinking, Watanuki could only regard him quietly, waiting for an explanation.

"You handled that magnificently, I must say," Amko chuckled. He sighed cheerfully, letting his hands fall to the table. "Most others would have made tension-filled polite conversation with implications or allusions to the attempt but never outright speak of them. They would consider the spy sent as something meant to offend, meant to challenge their ability or power." He nodded again, eyes sharp, "But perhaps you have no need to take it as such when your guards are as efficient as they are. From what I heard, even after a blade had been thrown down in warning, my soldier could not tell where it had come from. No sound, no glint of metal. I'm impressed."

"Thank you, honoured Prince." Watanuki bowed again, politely but firmly refusing to answer the unspoken question.

"Hm," Amko hummed, pleased even more. "And yet you do not volunteer more information than I already know. You are clever, my lord."

Again Watanuki bowed and thanked him, making Shizuka think of a hummingbird with the repeated bowing. The constant motion and persistent colourful attire suited the image, too. He smiled a little to himself.

"But I have a right to ask," Amko murmured in a voice suddenly more formal and a little arrogant, expression turning intense. "Who is it who threw that knife?"

Shizuka tensed slightly.

"I am afraid that I must protest that which your state is your right," Watanuki said quietly, shocking Shizuka all over again by defending him. "No one was harmed, your hospitality is not one we wish to offend, and we are eager to begin our task." He lowered his eyes, dipping his head in a tiny bow to indicate that he meant nothing but to protect himself; a sign that he served but would not give more than needed to do his job.

"Do you claim I lie that this is my right?" Amko demanded. And now Shizuka could see that the man was testing Watanuki yet again. He relaxed.

"I claim nothing other than I am here at your service, and I wish to maintain what are my affairs as mine alone," Watanuki spoke politely, eyes still lowered.

Amko narrowed his eyes at Watanuki then reached to wave his hand in Watanuki's range of vision. Once Watanuki sat upright again, Amko sighed and his expression smoothed out, smiling tentatively and speaking gently now, "I would have preferred you fight me as an equal with your words. And yet to the very last you are polite and deferential. I'm incredibly impressed –and somewhat frustrated-- with you." The prince leaned forward, eyes sparkling, "Do you always submit so prettily?"

Shizuka's teeth clenched.

Watanuki returned the smile politely and sidestepped, "Where one has commissioned our services, we are pleased to be of help."

Amko huffed, waving a hand, "You do not play very nicely, Huatah-nouki." He tsked, "I'm disappointed. You behave as though someone…" He narrowed his eyes at the young noble, "Are you spoken for?"

Watanuki blinked and a light flush stole across his cheeks.

Delighted by the reaction, Amko smiled warmly and with amusement. Quickly he spoke before Watanuki could say anything, "Perhaps not. Yet even now you do not engage in polite play with me. Interesting." His eyes sparkled again.

At that precise moment, Watanuki seemed to have had quite enough. He folded his hands over together in his lap and glared at the prince.

Who burst out laughing, head thrown back. "Yes!" he laughed. "That was precisely the temper I was told about by one of your clients –the one who referred you to me. My, but you lasted long. I'm told it's usually easier than that to rile you." He added, "When we met in London I had no idea. You were always so quiet and polite."

Watanuki didn't seem to find the situation funny. Neither did Shizuka; these two had met before?

"I must say," Watanuki tried to speak normally despite his gritted teeth, "It was incredibly rude of them to discuss my temperament with you." He frowned a little, "You and I had our own acquaintance, and it was none of their business to influence that."

Amko laughed again and annoyance streaked across the young noble's face.

But Watanuki's patience must have run out because he waited for Amko's mirth to die down only just enough to suddenly ask, "Has anyone in your palace mysteriously died in recent years? Perhaps with discoloration in their eyes, nails, or skin?"

Shock swept over Amko quickly and he glared, suddenly fuming. "My, your temper is certainly more pointed than I thought." He gestured sharply, the room emptied of guards and attendants, and he regarded Watanuki with mildly-irked interest, "Tell me why you ask this."

"There is the aura of ill-intent in your palace," Watanuki replied softly. Amko nodded once, sharply, allowing him to continue, "So far one of my guards and I have sensed it. We believe it could be a woman, jealous and malicious. The taste of her selfishness is quite strong. I believe I would need only to get within a closer proximity to her in order to identify this person."

Amko stared at Watanuki for a long moment then he nodded, "Yes, there died such a person only about six months ago. It was one of my father's concubines, a beautiful and kind woman, and his favourite. We thought it was illness because her hair slowly lost its brightness, skin turned sallow. No medicines worked. And when she died and her body was given to the healers, they said her tongue was not the right colour and an air of evil meaning coloured her skin." He rubbed his forehead, "Those are the healers' words, not mine, mind you. And I cannot interpret it for you."

Watanuki nodded. "I will take it as it is said, if you will allow me."

With yet another weary sigh Amko muttered, "I called you here to solve a theft problem, not to immediately catch on to a long-standing palace investigation."

Watanuki asked softly, "Are you saying the case has not been closed?"

"No." Amko sighed, "Not only was she my father's favourite and he vowed the investigators would not rest until they had found him the killer… there appeared the same symptoms in another two concubines. The investigators and healers work still to this day. It is not a disease, and the investigators are looking into possible curses. Still, most every avenue has been exhausted."

"Most every avenue?" Watanuki prodded, "Please tell me why."

"Servants, nobles and every other person in the palace had been accounted for up to a week before Lady Gbemi's death and are now always monitored," Amko relayed. "The only possible answer would be an intruder come to assassinate her, and yet security to get into the palace has never been faulted nor is there a motive. Then there is the matter of the two newly infected." He stated, "It is easy to move about within the Palace but most difficult to actually get in. And as I said, those who were inside did not and do not have the opportunity."

"But there was and is always motive, wouldn't you say?" Watanuki prodded quietly. Amko nodded. "Actually, honoured prince, the opportunity was there all along." He adjusted his spectacles, "She was killed by a kind of poison. Perhaps the two newly afflicted are suffering the same."

"I don't understand how you can be so sure of that." Amko frowned. "And I can tell you categorically that no one but those I know and trust in this palace has access to or ingredients for anything that could kill that slowly and efficiently."

"But poison is not necessarily a material, corporeal thing. And you just admitted there are items in this palace which might harm others by and in themselves," Watanuki pointed out.

Amko stilled, stunned. The noble was right.

"It is, in my experience, that if an item is infused with ill intent and words, it will sometimes carry the grudge long past the time the person responsible for those feelings has passed on." With a pointed look, Watanuki added, "I think it is time you acquaint me with the items which have gone missing."

--

Shizuka strolled back into the room with a tea tray just as Watanuki spoke, a scroll in one hand and not even looking up from his notebook in the other as he reviewed his own notes, "I've narrowed it down to a King's arrow, a ceremonial dagger, a soldier's slip-knife and a… concubine's hair pin."

"Excuse me," Jason cooed, smiling. "What was that last one?"

"Hair pin!" Watanuki repeated snappishly, raising his head briefly to frown at his cousin. "Pay attention. One of these items could be what caused the lady's death!"

Shizuka set the tray down, vastly amused by the cousins' antics. It was good to have Jason in on their conversations again. Now, with Amko's permission, the monk had set barrier spells around their suite of rooms and could now speak freely within their space without fear of being overheard. He poured tea, saving the last pour for his master since Watanuki liked it dark.

"Is there a story behind the hair pin?" Sorata asked, leaning over to peek at the scroll of animal skin that Watanuki held, at the miniature painting of the missing hair pin.

The scroll was an inventory record so the image wasn't of supreme quality but even then it was easy to see how pretty the hair pin was. It looked to be a lovely piece of smooth shell, carved into a fork-type pin, the upper prong in the shape of a miniature scythe blade –Shizuka peeked as he joined them at the table.

"It was worn by one of the concubines about six reigns ago," Watanuki said, studying his notes. "She has an interesting story; she actually snuck in to join the palace guard by disguising herself as a man. When she lost a match, she was badly cut. A healer discovered her secret as he attended her and shouted in anger just as the King was passing by to pass on his admiration of 'his' battle prowess."

Shizuka watched Watanuki smile slightly at another small painting, this one of the woman, in an additional accompanying skin-scroll to the one he held. He also absently accepted the tea Shizuka put before him, lifting it immediately to his lips –but Shizuka gently restrained him by holding his sleeve down since it was still hot… though Watanuki didn't even seem to realise what the monk did or even notice the touch.

Jason grinned at them though Watanuki didn't seem to notice.

"She's beautiful, look." The Seer held the scroll up, pointing, "And the King must have thought so too because he called her into his harem right then and there."

"And?" Sorata prodded, flashing Shizuka an amused glance.

"She remained by his side…" Watanuki trailed off as he set his tea down to rifle through a few scrolls looking for something. "Ah! Here it is. He read it and relayed, "When a small group of assassins got into the palace and the guards killed off all but the last one, that last assassin almost made it to the King. She faced him and got just under his guard enough to use her hair pin to slit his throat."

"Ohhh," Jason sighed. "Scary woman!" He looked over her painting and said, "But yes, she's absolutely lovely. I would have let a lady like that slit my throat too." Watanuki frowned darkly at his cousin for that, reaching for his tea again.

"Hey," Sorata pointed to a few scrolls he'd laid out side by side, "did you notice almost all these weapons were originally owned and made famous by beautiful people?"

Jason looked them over as well. "You're right. I wonder if that's a clue." He shrugged, "Might be, too, since Lady Gbemi was lovely and so are the two sick concubines. They are, I hear, the loveliest."

"Did you ask the prince about the concubines?" Shizuka quietly asked his master.

Watanuki turned to him, "Yes. They live where you said but we are not allowed in their area." He looked distantly away, thinking, distractedly lifting up his tea for a quick sip. "He did insist that the women there have neither access to poisonous materials and had all been accounted for up to a month before the Lady Gbemi died." His blue eyes narrowed as he set down his teacup, "But he did admit they have access to the places the artefacts had all been kept and had one of them decided to sneak out around their area and the King's quarters, they would have been able to."

"Did he consider searching their possessions?" Sorata asked. "If you sensed for the items, you'd probably find them. And that would make this matter a lot easier if we simply recovered them."

Jason nodded, "From there, you would be able to concretely tell if the thefts, the murder, and the new sickness are truly related."

Fair point, the monk thought. He too turned an expectant gaze on Watanuki.

But the noble shook his head at them, "No. Investigating the concubines is not something which has ever been done here, apparently. And still you have to remember that taking the items was never a crime in the first place. In fact, prince Amko mentioned he would be relieved if it was 'just one of those silly women' who had taken them."

"Given that the suspected item might be mostly likely affected by emotion," Sorata cheerfully observed, grinning widely, "he obviously doesn't associate with women enough if he thinks their feelings aren't anything to worry about."

"I agree." Jason stuck a finger in the air, "Hey do you suppose maybe someone could unwittingly power these things? If those who might know how to use them didn't take anything then we can assume the thief is an amateur."

"Considering what Amko said about their magic," Watanuki muttered, picking at one of the scrolls. "It's likely the magic of these lands is a genetic inheritance. And an unconscious use of it is certainly one of the most volatile and unpredictable kind."

At that moment, Shizuka noticed, nothing in Jason's outward appearance changed and not a muscle moved… but an unbearable sadness seemed to wash over him –and Watanuki, who looked down at his teacup to disguise it.

In the next instant, Jason smiled and said, "Well then, that ties up with your and Shizuka's suspicions, doesn't it?" He said in sing-song, "Now we just have to figure out what the relationship is between those two women you each noticed and see if it ties in too."

Watanuki frowned at his teacup. When confusion flitted briefly across his face at it, Shizuka tried to find humour in that his master still had no idea when the tea had appeared.

--

"Are you sure?" Amko pressed, frowning.

"Yes." Watanuki blinked. "Is there some sort of problem?"

"I am merely astonished by your efficiency," the prince admitted. An odd expression flashed across his face when he explained, "The young woman outside in the gardens was Sia, a recent addition to my harem. And the other woman you described with the red necklace, is Sia's mother Mardea."

"And how is that impressive?" Watanuki asked. "Such information could have been asked of anyone."

"But you haven't spoken to anyone," Amko pointed out, smiling. "And even if you had, you would still be limited to those who speak English… of which there are only a handful in the country."

Inclining his head in acknowledgement at that, Watanuki moved on, "Is there any other reason besides that which you find impressive? I sense that's not all."

The Prince nodded, "Mardea hated Gbemi particularly, jealous of Gbemi being the King's favourite." Amko's smile slid from his face, "They played womanly pranks on each other but when they lost their tempers and had to be pulled away from each other, the things they said… such crass language should not ever come from beautiful lips and lovely faces."

"And Sia?"

"She took up her mother's hatred, assisted with it, added to it until she too became an enemy of Gbemi's." Amko sighed, "I had not wanted to suspect them. The investigators themselves said most motive and opportunity pointed to them. They all lived within the Second Circle of the palace, and the area is closed off from the rest of the palace from there to its centre where the King resides. Access to that area is only for those expressly given permission. But there was never any proof." His eyes narrowed, "And even now there is no proof."

"No," agreed Watanuki, "there isn't. But it is a start." Smoothing his robes, he asked quietly, "What are your laws regarding concubines? Is an outsider like myself allowed to speak with them?"

"You would be allowed only by permission and monitoring of one of the royal bloodline," Amko replied. Mischief shone in his gaze, "Which I would be happy to give."

"Thank you, Prince Amko."

The Prince's smile turned that now-familiar tone of wicked and he leaned suggestively closer to Watanuki, "Is by words the only way you thank someone?"

This time, Shizuka was unable to keep his displeasure from transmitting to Watanuki… who stilled, eyes flicking over to him briefly before simply saying, "I'm afraid so."

TBC.

On another note, here's a bribe for all you readers: Every time a single chapter receives eighty reviews, I will immediately post the next chapter. I think that eighty is fair because one hundred and twenty people have this story on alert and each chapter has at least five hundred hits after only a week of being posted. So it's very possible to get eighty reviews for a single chapter. I had thought of saying sixty (half the number of alerts) but I also don't want to make it too easy…!

But regardless, rest assured that while an arc is in progress, the updates will still be posted every Saturday. The bribe above is just in case you guys want the next chapter up sooner than that.

Also, the story forum is still at (remove the spaces around the dots) www . fanfiction . net/myforums/tsubaki-dono/1125284/