...

The carriages rolled to a stop in a narrow strip of clear space near the Noble's Wall between where the outer maze of monuments ended and the mass of the immense temple began. Someone had arrived ahead of them, there were two sedan chairs resting off to the side of the temple entrance. The bearers crouched on their heels beside them and occasionally rubbed their bare arms as they looked up at the fog in resentment. Ayika opened her door of the conveyance and carefully climbed down to the ground with Mizumi following behind her. They both jumped slightly as Lili materialized between them, having somehow jumped down from the other side and swept around the carriage in the time it took for Mizumi to descend two steps.

"All right," Lili whispered conspiratorially. "One of those chairs has to belong to Wu Lizhang. He is some cousin of the Professor, an accountant at a Middle Ring counting house, and truth-be-told the only family of the Professor that father could scrounge up. He was not incredibly excited about this ceremony but he has blood obligation so he would have to be first to arrive. Even so, I think he only came on the slim chance that he might be posed to inherit some money."

Ayika was coming to realize how little she knew about Professor Chen Lizhen. She was coming at his life backwards. All the threads of his existence were unraveled across the city and she was trying to piece together the tapestry they had once formed. How could she find justice for him if she did not even understand the man who she was helping? All she knew was a smiling little man who liked to fiddle with his ink-brush as he talked. And someone had cared enough about him to kill him. They had to have cared. There had to be some grand mystery behind it. It could not just be a random accident.

Lili's father was disappearing through the great doors of the temple. Lili gestured up the steps for the other girls to follow. "Come on, lets get inside."

Ayika took comfort in the fact that Mizumi's paces were hesitant as well, but together they followed Lili up into the hulking temple building. Inside Ayika stared in wonder at the vast empty space lit by the dim green glimmer given off by consecrated glowing crystals adorning the walls in bunched sockets. The whole interior of the temple was one room without dividing walls and indeed without a great deal of floor. Five meters past the square box of the walls the carefully polished marble floor was interrupted by a perfect circle punched out of the world, wider than two street blocks in the city. The huge stone-walled hole extended down precipitously past their view. As they walked closer Ayika could see carved staircases snaking down along the walls of the pit and alcoves lit with shards of green crystal, down and down beyond the reach of sight. This was the Pit of the Underking.

Beside her Mizumi whispered. "Wow, you kingdom people do not half-do any construction."

Lili was off to the side, her eyebrows raised and fingers wigging to summon them over to her. As they came near to her side she said, "Isn't it creepy? Coming here reminds me of the funeral for my mother's paternal uncle. No one liked him but still everyone needed to come and be sad and respectful. Not that anyone was glad he was dead but he did not talk with the family much. Now lets see who else has arrived yet and..." She stopped in mid sentence. "Is that Erliao? What under heaven is he doing here?

Ayika followed Lili's gaze and saw a clean shaven man in his late thirties or early forties dressed in the dark greens trimmed with gold of a government official. Nothing about him looked particularly menacing but he was clearly producing a strong reaction in Lili.

Now Mizumi inhaled sharply. "Wait, Minister Erliao? That makes absolutely no sense for him to attend."

Ayika had experienced enough cryptic statements for now. "Who is Erliao? Why is it weird for him to be here?"

Ayika had to give Lili credit, there was no one better at relaying a lot of explanation in a very short time if you could parse all of it out of her lightning lip movements. "Sub-Minister of Culture and Worthy Expression Chao Erliao is one of the premier voices of the conservative movement that wants to restrict all trade with foreign powers in the name of curbing outside influence and protecting the unique and unchanging culture of the Kingdoms and he is the one who personally called for Professor Lizhen to be expelled from the Royal University. My father hates him." Ayika was not sure Lili took a single breath.

Indeed the Minister and Mister Gaoli were walking towards each other now and the intersection of their paths brought them very close to the three girls. As they neared Mister Gaoli was first to speak. "Ah, Sub-Minister Erliao, how good of you to come down. I had not realized you and Chen were still so close."

Erliao had a pleasant and lyrical voice of one who sparkled in settings of intelligent conversation. "The past can not be erased by disagreements of the present. As it is said, 'The storm-clouds do not make the sky less blue' and Chen Lizhen was once a dear friend of mine. I was shocked to hear of his death."

Gaoli nodded without betraying emotion, "Of course."

Erliao looked to the side where the girls were standing. "And you have brought your lovely daughter! As well as some of her foreign friends?"

Gaoli's eyes narrowed slightly. "Chen was an instructor of my daughter's. Miss Miohuito and the other were her classmates. They are here under my invitation."

Mizumi and Ayika both felt their hearts begin to pound at a government official seeing them in a holy site where foreigners were not permitted. However, the minister smiled and brought his hands together in front of him for a small bow to Mizumi. "It is right and honorable for a student to mourn for her teacher. Sometimes small regulations must be bent for the purpose of preserving what is proper. Miss Miohuito, I have spoken with your father on several occasions. On the next I will have to compliment him on having a beautiful daughter." Mizumi returned the bow with her hands at her sides in the stiff style of the Islanders. Ayika only received from the sub-minister an inscrutable look that seemed piercing and questioning. She was not sure that anyone else noticed.

All Erliao's manners did not seem to comfort Gaoli. "Yes, well it appears the last guest has arrived. I will go welcome Professor Ma and the ceremony can begin."

The priests began to arrive shortly after that. Ayika had seen dead people before and she thought she had steeled herself for what was to come but when the priest revealed the body she found tears rushing into her eyes. He looked so small. Whatever motivating force had given the short grey haired man his presence and power when he was alive was gone. Something sad and shriveled lay wrapped in funeral shrouds on that stone slab. Even his face had been taken from him, hidden behind a mask of linked squares of pale stone. If Lizhen had been of nobility that mask would have been jade. If he had been poor it would have just been two bits of clay over his eyes. If the world had been just he would have been surrounded by weeping loved ones and family instead of a servant girl who was crying more for the loss of whatever dream he had symbolized to her than for the man himself.

Ayika felt a rush of self-hatred. Lizhen had been a great man, a scholar, one who played in the rarified political spheres. He had been struck down by his enemies before her eyes and she was crying because she could no longer play at pretending she was another of his rich students sent to the school to learn. Now as the priest continued to drone, waving incense to create drifting shapes of smoke in the air, Ayika felt her breath becoming uneven. She tried to hold back sobbing, cursing her own weakness. Sub-minister Erliao was glaring at her with profound distaste, and Mister Gaoli flicked a concerned look over to his daughter.

Then Ayika felt a smooth hand grasp hers. Mizumi's hand eased her fingers out of their clenched fists and then held tight, a palm soft and smooth without hard work's calloused badges. The Fire Nation girl gave no other sign but with that touch of skin Ayika was able to breath deeply and regain control. Together they stood in silence and watched as the priest sealed Lizhen's ghost behind that linked stone mask and set his soul free to wait in heaven until he was spun out into a new life. Ayika tried to ignore the feeling that something was deeply wrong. The priest was performing every rite correctly but the feeling of completion that Ayika was expecting never came. Outside, the mists gathered.

Then it was over and what remained of the professor was left to the priests as they declared Lizhen would rest in a charm-inscribed tomb beneath the wall forever, just like the Builder King. The paltry mourners murmured agreement and thanks, all understanding that in actuality the body would rest in the apportioned tomb for less than a year before his bones were separated and stored according to the most space saving method. The walls of the Impenetrable city stretched for endless miles beyond the horizon but even so there was only room for the stone draped skull to actually rest within its foundations else the mighty defenses would have collapsed ages ago, undermined by the city's endless dead. Everyone knew this, and yet everyone knew with equal force that their loved ones lay whole and undisturbed in their promised tombs. So much of this city depended on mutually agreed upon delusions.

The strange party of funeral guests made their way outside to where a few small tables were laid out, covered with snacks of assumedly ritual importance. So now they milled about at in the thin edge between the Temple of the Pit and the sprawling necropolis that surrounded it. Lili gathered up the other two girls and led them in introductions to Lizhen's cousin and the university professor, but most of her enthusiasm for this investigatorial quest had faded.

Cousin Wu Lizhen did not reveal himself to be in a mood to answer questions. He had finally confirmed that Professor Lizhen had no appreciable assets up for inheritance and so was now waiting the absolute minimum amount of time before he could leave without it being unseemly. They had better luck when Lili introduced them to Professor Ma, Lizhen's former colleague at the Royal University.

His mouth was mostly full but he still responded with fire to Ayika's inquiry. "No, I was not close friends with Chen Lizhen. But I am here to make known my protest of how he was treated. It was dreadful that he was removed from his post. Absolutely disgraceful!" He leaned in close. "People don't want to mention it but it is a conspiracy you know."

Mizumi managed to hold in her excitement. "Really? You must tell me more. I heard that the late professor had suffered unjust criticism for his political statements but..."

Professor Ma interrupted, filled with sudden disgust. "His politics! Bah! He should have been whipped from sunup to sundown for saying such traitorous things. Showing mercy and understanding to the Fire Nation! It makes me sick. And to suggest that we are the ones who should change and adopt foreign ways..." He shuddered at this unthinkable sentiment. The University professor gave no sign that he recognized Mizumi as one of those Fire Nation scum. Ayika assumed it was possible he had never seen an Islander in the flesh before.

"But, but...," Mizumi stammered. "I thought you said that it was disgraceful he was removed from his post at the university."

"Of course it was! He had tenure!" Professor Ma said like that was the most obvious thing in the world. "It is all part of a conspiracy to weaken the position of us scholars. First you ignore the rights of a few obvious traitors and then pretty soon they try to kick me out for refusing to teach students. As if that was more important about working for the Univeristy! Well, I see what they are doing and I won't stand for it."

Lili saw the stunned disbelief plastered across Mizumi's face, as well as the way Ayika was regarding the pointy chopsticks in her hand in relation to the unprotected side of this man's neck and decided to end things now. "It was great to meet you Professor, but I believe I saw my father call us over." She grabbed both Mizumi and Ayika by the hand. "I am very sorry for the loss of your colleague."

The professor was not paying them much attention. He muttered to himself. "Death, there is another fellow who doesn't respect tenure. A disgrace."

Mister Gaoli had of course given them no sign. Still, they had no where else to go. As they made their way back to Lili's father, Ayika looked out into the maze-like stone forest of walls and monuments that encircled the pit temple, all inscribed with the names of the dead who's families could afford to honor them. However, at the moment many of the names were obscured by that same clinging mist that had been lingering all morning. To the south it was particularly thick, lying like a small cloud come to rest on this particularly uneven bed. Being this near the clifflike shadow of the Noble's Wall must to strange things to wind because the air was shifting that fog in odd ways.

Lili and Mizumi were now a ways ahead of her. It was slow to walk and look around at the same time. It was also hazardous as Ayika learned when she almost walked smack into a stationary man in dark robes and a large black hat with a round drooping brim.

She stepped back in the last second before she planted her face in the man's back. "Oh, I am so sorry sir. I was not looking where I was going. I did not see..."

"No one can see all the time, girl. Although I do believe you are getting better." The man said without turning around. He was heavily covered up, as if expecting a downpour. With the strange moisture in the air around here Ayika supposed that might be sensible. Ayika had not seen him in the funeral party before but with his clothes he could be a grounds-tender come in out of the fog. In any case he was not someone she felt she needed to have an extended conversation with.

"Well, I will try. I will just pass by you now." She started to edge around him when he took a step to the side quite abruptly while still facing away.

From under his robes the man shook something metal and clattering as he spoke. "Passing is the problem. The bright fire is keeping everyone awake, and still they build it higher. Be aware girl, there are other sighted eyes behind you." This pronouncement was said with such force that Ayika could not help but spin around, her heart suddenly pounding.

There was nothing there, only a thick bank of fog that had settled down in the half bowl of the necropolis, a final refuge before the rising sun pierced through the clouds above to burn it away. Nothing to be seen, and when she turned around the chastise the groundskeeper for scaring her he had scurried off. Nothing to be seen of him either. Several meters away Mizumi was gesturing for her to come on over and join her and Lili again. Ayika quickly slid over and asked her in a quiet whisper, "Did you see where he went?"

"Who?" Mizumi said out of the corner of her mouth. Ayika opened hers but then realized she had never seen the man's face and had almost nothing to describe him with. Only that he wore dark robes and boots with metal nails in the soles. She had heard them click when he stepped on stone.

Mister Gaoli was in conversation with the Minister Erliao and looked like he would now also appreciate Lili or someone else rescuing him before he did something regrettable. Erliao paid no mind to the glowering air of his conversation partner and continued to discuss the departed as if this were a normal funeral celebration.

"Chen Lizhen was a brilliant man," Erliao said. "His work analyzing how collective societal action affects interactions with the spirit world was amazing and frankly had him on the track for a ministership. His commentary on Analects of a Meditative Journey alone brought him to the attention of the royal court. There were those who eyed him as one who's illustrious career might one day make him a candidate for minor godhood." Here he shook his head sadly. "But that was before he became uncomfortably radical and started talking about other cultures having superior aspects that we of the kingdoms should adopt." He shook his head sadly. "It is unlucky that in his comparative studies he strayed from the path and mistook the novel and unfamiliar for genius."

Gaoli exhaled in a burst that could be taken as either agreement or disagreement with that statement. "Yes, with the death of both Lizhen and Ambassador Naruhama in a matter of days we reformers do look like an unlucky bunch don't we?"

Minister Erliao looked at him askance. "Now Aizhang, I hope you do not think I could possibly take any pleasure in these tragedies. I know we disagree on some political matters but I knew Chen and Aza to be honorable men who happened to be mistaken about what is best for this nation. Chen's murder is not exactly good news for the conservatives either. Trade Representative Tailang has been on a warpath and unfortunately some of the king's men are starting to listen to him. Tailang has always exaggerated the actions of conservative supporters in order to buy his fellow foreigners more concessions and protections but now his ambition has gone too far."

Gaoli folded his hands over his stomach as he thought. "Tailang has in the past urged for greater assurances that no Kingdom industries would duplicate Fire Nation technology. Restrictions that all machines must be owned and operated by foreign hands even if they are used by domestic companies."

Erliao took a step forward. "And now he may get it. That would be a poor outcome from both our perspectives. For a while it seemed that every move of the nationalist protest movement played right into his hands, furthering his cause. Fortunately those days are over, but with whatever disaster happened to Lizhen he is again reaching for the tiller of our state. The people are waking up but it may be too little too late. Even power can quail before treachery."

"Well," Gaoli began. "You may have a few days of peace to come. Since he is the new highest ranking figure in the Exclusion I think Tailang may be caught up in some of the ceremonies involved in deifying Naruhama as their city-god. Fire Sage Huitzlan is apparently a stickler for formalities."

Now that Ayika was close she could see the hint of bags under minister Erliao's eyes. If he was working that hard then he was more worried than his calm voice indicated. He said, "Unfortunately, I have come to doubt that most people are capable of being converted by reasoned argument. Avarice and impulse consume our people. When we find the man who killed Chen I...well, justice will be served."

"They have found something out?" Ayika burst out, unable to hold herself back. Erliao seemed to be speaking from personal knowledge. "They know it was a man?"

Erliao focused on Ayika and for the briefest of seconds his gaze was filled with disgust and the most terrible anger. Then it was gone so quickly Ayika was not sure if she had imagined it. He nodded his head in her direction and spoke with perfect understanding and sympathy. "The Public Safety Authority has taken on the investigation. They alway uncover the truth, you have my word. Your teacher's soul will be given closure. In fact..."

Here he suddenly broke off. He was looking above Ayika and his eyes grew wide. Ayika turned and could just make out a figure in the drifting fog, standing on the base of an elevated monument overlooking the pit Temple. For an instant she thought it was the groundskeeper who had spoken to her but no, this figure was wearing one of the woven conical hats favored by farmers. Small objects were dangling from the edges of the brim like a beaded curtain, Ayika could not even tell which direction this person was facing. Were they regarding a memorial marker or looking down at the people below? And then the mist shifted and person was hidden again.

Erliao was curiously distressed. Under his practiced poise his breathing was slightly elevated. "Did you see? Gaoli, who was that? That was not one of the invited guests to the funeral."

Lili's father raised his eyebrow. "Get a hold of yourself Chao. This is a public graveyard after all. No need to interrogate a mourner for getting too close to us."

The minister regained his composure. "Yes, of course. I suppose I was just thinking of someone from my past. Funerals can provoke those thoughts. This fog is unsettling."

Gaoli did not seem to buy this explanation but he also did not seem to care. "Speaking of the past, I believe the cousin Lizhen has finally snuck off past us which by my estimation means the funeral is over." He gave a small jerking bow to Erliao. "Sub-minister. I look forward to seeing you next time you try to advocate for greater trade restrictions that will strangle our people's development."

Erliao was back to his normal charming self. However, Ayika saw him flick a single glance back to the fog where he had seen the mourner. He bowed much more deeply to Gaoli, the precise depth etiquette dictated was proper for an interaction of their respective ranks. "And I look forward to hearing your next advocacy for why we should abandon all our traditions to make ourselves into a false copy of the Fire Nation." There was one last moment where his glance met Ayika's eyes and once again there was a flash of suspicion.

They parted, the three girls once again piling into the second carriage. As they sat down and the wheels slowly began to turn Ayika was deep in thought but Lili's voice broke through. "Oh Ayika, I am so sorry that the Sub-Minister treated you like that. I had heard that some people had issues with tribals but there was nothing acceptable about those looks he was giving you."

This heartfelt concern and indignation on her behalf caught Ayika by surprise. "What? No, it is fine. Nothing I'm not used to. Something was knocking him off his balance. Something about that Tailang? I am just sorry that we could not find out anything about the professor." She wondered to herself, who from his past had he seen in the mist's swirling shapes?

Lili was not satisfied. She crossed her arms and folded her legs, tapping her foot mid air in a rapid blur of agitation. "No, it is not fine. You were no threat to anything of his. You did not open any aggressions with him. That was just pure ill-mannerdness."

Ayika had no choice but to smile. A righteously angry Lili was like being lectured by a small yappy dog. "Don't spend effort worrying over it. Lots of people can not get over caring what people look like. Compared to what is out there, harsh looks are nothing to complain about."

"Many people have difficulty with what they see to be out of the usual." Mizumi said and she shared a look with Ayika of mutual understanding. In the back of her mind Ayika thought that being a very rich foreigner was not quite the same but she just drank in the acceptance instead.

There was an embarrassed throat clearing from the other side of the carriage. "Erm, I suppose I should apologize," Lili began. "I am sorry, Mizumi, for the things I said on your first and, well, only day of school. I just felt a little threatened. All the girls at that school looked up to me since I could get all the Islander fashions as soon as they got off the docks. Then you showed up actually from there and, well, I suppose I acted a little silly."

Mizumi raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips in an impressed expression. "Thank you. And I suppose I am sorry that I said you did not have a brain between your ears. And that you were wearing boys shoes. And that your hair comb was a pet brush. It is not actually, you know."

"I knew it!" Lili swelled up as she clenched her fist at the memory. "Why you devious..."

Ayika interrupted with a wide grin, leaning on Mizumi to push her towards Lili. "I am so glad you are becoming such great friends."

Mizumi laughed and Lili made the outer appearances of fuming while biting her lip to hide a smile. They still had more to arrange if they were to continue the their search for the truth. They would meet the following night at Lili's house. There was not a great deal of choice as Lili had little chance of getting permission to leave the house on a day when she was not attending the school. Till then the three of them together sat as they rolled along down the streets of the city. The fog had all vanished by now.

...

(Author's Note: I consider this story to be a rough draft. When it is compleat I hope to return and revise the entire thing, so all suggestions are welcome and encouraged.)