Mariko came into her parent's house with Hedeki, carrying their suitcases. "Hello, anyone home?" she called. "It's Mariko and Hedeki."
Walking farther into the house, Mariko looked around and again called, "Is anyone home?"
A young woman came out of the kitchen wearing a purple kimono. "Hi, you must be ... Mariko, right?"
Mariko asked the tall, busty brunette, "Who are you?"
The woman cast her a coy smile. "I am Kazehana, Sekeri number three. Since Ruby is so busy, I do work for her, and she buys my sake. And who is this fine young man with you?"
"My friend, Hedeki. We came home for the Spring Festival. Is Papa home?"
"No dear, he's probably still down in the Mayor's office," Kazehana told her. "Usually no one gets home before seven."
"The Mayor's office in the city?" Mariko guessed.
"Hosoi is the Assistant Mayor of Witch Hill."
"Witch Hill has it's own Mayor?" Mariko asked, surprised by this.
"Yes. Aono Tsukune is the Mayor, Hosoi is the Assistant Mayor. The poor dear works so hard, as does Ruby. Many days the only time they get to see each other is at supper. Sometimes, Hosoi is even later than that. " Kazehana explained.
"Why is Mom so late? She has that many troubles with the school?"
"You mean the school system," Kazenana said, correcting her. "Besides the schools at the bottom of the hill here, there is also Vampire Hill Primary, Kikumura Primary and Orc Valley Primary, and another high school is being constructed down by Wolf's Run. Not to mention Mayor Aono also has other jobs for Ruby."
"When did Witch Hill get so ... big?" Mariko asked.
"There is also the Sekaku islands that is going to be developed for yokai to live on. I know your mother is involved with that, also."
Mariko blinked. "Is everyone THAT busy?" she asked. Thinking about Kikumura Primary, she asked, "What happened to Lucy?"
"Lucy has gone back to the world you and her came from in order to make peace."
'Throwing gasoline on a fire', was Mariko's first thought on that. "Do you know who went with her?" Mariko asked, knowing someone even tempered HAD to have gone with her.
Kazehanna frowned in thought and said, "Let's see ... a bunch of dragons and a long line of those big, ugly creatures that wear armor and carry those shields and spiky clubs. Oh, and some of the stone-looking things too."
Mariko gaped at her. "Just dragons, orcs and gargoyles?" she asked, suddenly feeling ill.
Kazehanna nodded and asked, "Shall I make you something? It is hours before dinner."
Mariko became afraid a war was raging instead of peace talks. "Oh no," she said weakly. She put her suitcase down. "Hedeki, please find us a room and let my parents know we're here. I have to go, now. Tell Mom I went to go help Lucy."
.
Mariko ran to her mother's magic room. Knowing exactly where she was going, she made a portal into the coming meeting cavern and went through. On the circle of stone benches was Ghan and a few elders. "Ghan," she said running up to them.
Seeing Mariko, Ghan turned to her, showing her a stressed look. "Mariko, I believe Lucy has done something horrible."
Mariko nearly fainted. "I'm afraid to ask," she said and dropped down on a seat.
Another man said, "Two days ago, we felt these strong ... vibrations in the ground. I went up to see what it was, and the woods are full of these big ugly creatures wrapped in metal, and giant lizards are flying around."
Mariko nodded and said, "OK, I know what those are. Do you know where Lucy is?"
"Some place on the surface. We dare not go up there." Ghan told her.
"I'll go find out what's happening," Mariko said, and got up. "As soon as I know, I'll come tell you."
"Thank you," Ghan said in a breath of relief.
.
Mariko had no idea where Lucy went, she she followed the orc tracks and came upon a massive wall.
Seeing a pair of orc guards, she went up to them and asked, "Excuse me, do you know where Lucy is?"
One raised a thick arm and grunted, "Follow wall."
"Thank you," Mariko replied and ran off he way he pointed.
Mariko did follow the wall quite a ways. In fact, she had to keep going as Jade made more wall then moved to the end and conjured yet more wall along a hilltop. "Jade! Where's Lucy?" Mariko called.
Jade paused and pointed, "Down there, she's showing me where she wants the wall."
"Thanks!" Mariko jumped down off the wall and bounded towards Lucy. She had to bound again as Lucy bounded back so Jade could make another section of wall.
Landing beside Lucy she asked, "What's going on?"
Lucy eyed her and said, "We're going to keep humans out."
Lucy bounded back again, Mariko bounded with her.
"So there's a treaty?" Mariko asked.
"Yes, it's called keep out or die."
They both bounded back again, to drop lower. Lucy held up a hand. They were no longer on the highest point. Lucy walked up to the top.
"So that's what the treaty says?" Mariko ask curiously.
"No, that's what I said," Lucy told her, and waved for Jade to continue.
Jade conjured wall to right in front of them. They bounded back again.
"Lucy! You have to deal with them, not dictate to them!" Mariko cried.
Lucy frowned at her and said, "Then you do it. Just keep in mind, any humans come past this wall, they're orc food!"
They bounded back again as more wall came into being.
"Fine, I'm going to ask Ghan if I can negotiate with him," Mariko told her.
"Go ahead," Lucy stated.
Lucy bounded back again. Mariko bounded off to the side and headed back to see Ghan.
.
Ghan was sure disaster was about to come down on them.
Mariko came back in and sat down. "Ghan, Lucy is dedicated to saving the clans, but she is not the best when it comes to talking to people."
"I also have also come to that conclusion," he said dryly as he eyed her.
"So, please, come with me to talk to the humans. Lucy is scaring the crap out of everyone here," Mariko begged.
Ghan's face bore terror. "Me? Talk to humans?" he asked.
"You can only talk to me if you like, but you have to be there to let the humans see you, the clan leader. I will ensure no harm comes to you," she said sincerely.
Ghan stared at the floor for a moment, then got up and stiffened himself. "If that's what it takes to stop this madness, then I will!"
.
Mariko walked up to the wall with Ghan. She asked the orc to open the gates. At first they resisted, then she told then Ghan was the leader. One blew a short, loud toot on a horn, and Kumiko came flying in to land.
"Hi Mariko, so you're Ghan, right?" she asked.
"Kumiko, we need to go talk to the humans, We need the gate open," Mariko told him.
Kumiko gave the command, and the huge gate was pulled open.
Beside Kumiko, she felt Ghan shudder as the gate boomed shut behind them. Kumiko gave him a reassuring smile and said, "It will be all right."
"We're in human land. There's some down there," Ghan whispered.
"It will be fine, trust me," Mariko told him, then waved to the men watching them. "Hello! Who's in charge here?" she asked.
Major Bennet stepped forward. "I am, Miss. Is there a problem?"
Mariko walked down to them and made introductions, then said, "Lucy is not a negotiator. She did well, for being Lucy, but we need to made a treaty, correct?"
Major Bennet breathed out a sigh of relief. "We do. I will call for transportation."
"Don't, just tell them we'll be coming. I'd like all of us to walk together into town. Will that be all right?" Mariko asked. She knew Ghan might loose his composure if he were stuffed into a car.
"Sure, this way, please," Major Bennet said, and lead the way. He told his radio operator to let command know he was coming with two diclonius to talk about a formal treaty, and walked back towards town with Mariko and Ghan.
"So, how is everyone doing on this side?" Mariko asked.
Bennet shrugged. "No one is hurt, though there was some soiled clothes when Lucy brought her peace keeping force," he told her.
Mariko let out a sigh. "Well, at least she didn't go all 'Lucy' on you. Please, understand she is that way for a reason."
"Go Lucy?" Bennet asked with a raised eyebrow. "That is a term?"
"You don't want to know," Mariko told him. "She was doing her best to keep the peace. She can just be rather ... abrasive at times."
"We found that out."
Mariko saw he looked irritated with his statement. "Mr. Bennet, Lucy has fought wars her whole young life up until she was about seventeen or eighteen. Battle and showing her strength is ingrained in her. She's gotten better, but she still can be hard to deal with," Mariko explained. "I was young enough when the conflict ended to spend much of my childhood happy and learning. Lucy never got that chance. I was able to put what happened to me at that facility behind me."
"So as Lucy sees it, we caused her agony," Bennet concluded.
"That is correct."
"What are those?" Ghan asked.
A few cameramen were on the road at the edge of town, filming them. "Cameras, to show others what is happening here," Mariko explained. "Just stay calm. It's nothing to hurt us."
Ghan nodded and continued on beside Mariko.
Bennet also noted Ghan's reaction. "Your people really are afraid of us, aren't they?" he asked.
"Yes we can't sense humans coming, and in the past, babies were taken. Lucy went a bit overboard in assuring them they were safe."
"I think I understand now," Bennet said thoughtfully. "I believe it is important for the negotiators to understand also."
"So do I," Mariko agreed.
.
Walking through town, people came out to see and greet Mariko from the sides. She returned waves and greetings, and the local priest and his assistant were allowed to come close and bow to her, giving their thanks that she was here. She refused the sword and her hat she'd left, thanking them for being considerate of her. A couple small girls were allowed close to give Mariko flowers. She accepted them gracefully.
"Humans like you?' Ghan asked, surprised at what he was seeing.
"I stopped some bad men and saved them. Humans in general, as not as bad as you think, most are just like our people and want to live in peace and live their lives," Mariko explained.
"But there are bad humans," Ghan stated.
"There are, unfortunately," Mariko agreed.
"We are here to keep those bad humans away," Bennet told him.
.
By the time they reached the tea house, most of the town was out in the streets to see Mariko. Mariko's arm was sore from waving, but she kept on, and kept up her smile as they approached three men in suits at the steps of the tea house. Mariko noted one was Japanese.
Bennet saluted the men. "Sirs! Mariko Kurama, negotiator for the diclonius, and Ghan, the Clan Leader have come to begin peace negotiations," he announced.
"What of Lucy?" the man in the middle asked.
Mariko spoke up. "Lucy is working to continue the barrier around our land. Although she is honest and loyal to her people, our Leader had decided that for negotiations, a more even temper is required."
The men smiled in relief. One moved to shake Ghan's hand.
"Wait!" Mariko said firmly. "Ghan has no experience in human rituals. He came to ensure I help make an agreeable treaty for all concerned. I will be speaking for our clan."
"Yes, of course. Come in with us, please," the man on the middle said.
Mariko glanced at Ghan. He was nervous about being around so many humans, but was holding up with a stonic face and straight posture. He gave a stiff nod to Mariko. They went up the stairs with the delegates.
So far, so good.
.
Mariko was happy with how the peace negotiations were progressing. Number one on the list was Japan's acknowledgment of the existence of diclonius as a race, and their right to live in their own
territory. Another was that while they did live in Japan, a customs type of station would be set up to control and record who went through the gate to the other side. Other than right at the gate Lucy's troops had constructed, no passage would be allowed anywhere else over the border wall.
Ghan was becoming less nervous after three days of talks. He even visited the shrine that honored Akira - and now Mariko also. He was not comfortable around humans, and did not fully trust any of them, but he was starting to see that not all of them were the animals he thought they were.
By the fourth day, The wall around the Diclonius land was finished, and Lucy had taken most of her troops back home. The gargoyles were left scattered here and there along the walls. Mid day, Ghan and Mariko returned with the agreed on treaty to discuss it with their people as another copy made it's way to Tokyo for approval by the Prime Minister, the Diet, and the Emperor.
Instead of meeting in the chambers as they usually did, Ghan asked they meet on the surface near a waterfall. Mariko cleared off the large flat area near the bottom of the waterfall had been cleared to show it was an ancient stone patio. Other than a few stones here and there being uneven, the floor and steps down to the pool beyond the waterfall were intact.
Gathering together, the leaders of all the clans met here, taking in the beauty of the falls and the scenery around them.
Ghan got their attention by saying, "This stone we are standing on was put down by our ancestors. Once again, their children's children are standing here, seeing these beautiful sights as they had intended. The legacy they left us has at last been claimed. With the treaty we have made with the humans, we can live in peace on the surface with no fear. Tall, thick walls will keep humans out, unless we invite them in. Creatures will watch these walls, and if needed, our lost children will help keep humans away. Will you accept what Lucy and Mariko have made possible."
A short murmuring, then heads bobbed. "We shall accept this gift, and the efforts of Lucy and Mariko. We also would like Mariko to stay, to ensure no other problems with humans arise."
All eyes turned to Mariko. some looked hopeful, others downright pleading. Mariko bowed to them. "I am your servant as long as you need me," she said sincerely.
"Thank you, Mariko. Our people will be very relieved to hear that," Ghan told her. "Where would you like your dwelling? Down with your host clan, or up here so you may keep a close watch on humans?"
At first, Mariko was going to say she had a home. Then she understood. Ghan and his council didn't want her to leave. They wanted her to make a permanent home here. It wasn't the walls that made them feel safer, it was her.
Mariko had first come here to find her roots. She had found them, and now they were asking for her help. She could not refuse them. Offering them a smile, she said, "I thank you for your generosity and the faith you have in me. To properly keep watch on the humans, I will choose a place on the surface near the gate to the human world."
A purple haired man gazed at her in awe, and bowed deeply to her. "Thank you for your selfless sacrifice, Kurama Mariko."
She didn't dare tell any of them that if she was going to live here, she wanted to have a place where she could see trees and sky. Pleasantly, she said, "Then if everyone agrees, I will go inform the humans the treaty we have made is acceptable."
Everyone did agree. Mariko breathed a little easier. Not only did she find their people, she also made them safer and happier.
The End