Eru listened as Suzie suggested ideas for speeding up the course of this, as she called it, "this mission." She didn't know what she was referring to. Then again, Hotarou hardly told her anything about what he was doing or even what his plans were. She wanted, at times, for him to open up to her or even to take a look inside of his head and see how all the wheels and contraptions in his mind worked.

"So that is my suggestion," Suzie finished, looking at all of the listeners.

Satoshi was the first to speak after a tense pause, Eru noticed him give a quick glance at Hotarou before starting. "That's a good plan, but we are planning to make a few stops," he pointed at a random asteroid then at planet, which Eru couldn't see directly.

"Why are you stopping?" Suzie said in a bothered tone, "Do you want the Organization to be able to track you that easily?"

"No, it's just that…"

"It's none of your business," Hotarou intervened. "You don't need to know everything about us just like we don't need to know everything about you."

"So you do not trust me?" the woman's eyes glittered under her lashes.

"In a manner of speaking," Hotarou confirmed sitting back on his cushion, hands positioned as braces behind him.

"What can I do to have you trust me?" she cooed.

This had been bothering Eru for a while, and she was so curious but she knew it was rude to ask, so with this suggestion she spoke up immediately. "Why is your face wrapped with a scarf?"

The others looked in her direction, but refocused on Suzie to wait for her answer. She causally pushed the hair on the left side of her face back behind her ear, then, with a low sigh, untied the scarf from around her face. When it dropped about her neck, two large scars were displayed one that had greatly deformed her nose, and the other, her lips. These were old scars, but these features were ostentatious when her face was not covered by the wrap. Eru uttered a little gasp, but strained to refrain from asking the question that rose to her lips. Suzie retired the scarf before she began speaking, showing just a bit of a self-conscience blush before it was covered by the cloth.

"One of the reasons I became a Dealer was because of these scars," Suzie looked Eru in the eyes and held her in a gaze that was equal to the hold of a wolf on its prey. "On Uranus, my parents, as most, did not care. They worked came home, ate, slept, then went to work again. Children were a side-project if the adults felt like thinking about them. I was old enough to go to work and I was out of learning institutions when I was given the job of cleaning the domes."

"Cleaning the domes?"

Satoshi stepped in at this point. "To make sure there isn't toxin build-up, the workers scrape and scrub away the build-up on the inside surface of the domes. It also lets in more light. On the outside, they clear away toxic gasses that liquefied and solidified on the outer-shell. That's the more dangers of the jobs, cleaning the outside is."

Suzie nodded. "I worked with others to make sure transfer chambers for in-coming and outgoing jets were clean and functioned well. But it was a certain day, I was sixteen when I received these scars. A ship, belonging to one of the rich landed in its designated landing area. We rarely received rich guests on Uranus, but it was important to keep protocol so I and a few others went in to begin cleaning the ship and the port. I began scraping off the debris on the outside of the ship when I accidentally backed into one of the rich folk. I apologized quickly and fervently, and he said it was fine, but a guard who had been assigned by the Organization saw the happening and ran over and without a second thought used an Iron Claw and struck my face with it." She had to pause for a moment to somewhat regain her composure, her breath trembled in the stillness of the room, they listened with intent. Suzie closed her eyes turned he head towards the floor. "Chitanda-san, do you know what an Iron Claw is?"

Eru shook her head, but upon realizing that she could see her response she made a quiet "No." Suzie didn't seem able to find the words to explain what it was and no one else spoke. Eru suddenly felt very embarrassed apparently being the only one who didn't know what this "Iron Claw" was. Eventually Mayaka leaned into her and whispered, "It's a weapon that straps around your hand and has three prongs that stick out. At the end of each prong are usually spikes with sharpened metal. I've never seen one myself, but I've heard that only Organization people can use them and that those who've been hit with one are never the same after…"

Eru gasped at looked at Suzie. "Don't pity me," Suzie said still with a tremor which she tried to hide, "I wouldn't be who I am today if it were not for that event. After he struck me, the rich person struck him with his fist and reprimanded him greatly. But I was not satisfied. Inside a loathing for him burned so greatly in my mind that as the rich man left I attacked the man with my bristle. I was not sure if he was dead, but blinded by the blood in my eyes and in my mouth and the rage in my mind I forced my way onto the ship and killed all of the Organization guards. The frightened rich folk ran terrified away; I did not want them anyway. I climbed to the front of the ship and took the controls and was prepared to hijack the ship when I heard my name from behind me. My coworkers as well as the young rich man had re-entered the ship and were asking for me to leave, to turn away my anger and come have my injuries tended to. When I saw them and I saw him and the blood on my hands I began to sob, but I shook my head and told them that I had had enough, either come with me or be left behind. My coworkers fled from the very thought of escaping, but the man, he stayed. He came to me and knelt on the ground and took my stained hands in his and tried to talk me out of it. I pushed him away and started the ship, lifting out into the atmosphere with a shaky hand and unsteady mind. I had never flown a ship before, though it was simple enough to decipher, but from exhaustion and blood loss I fainted as we pulled away from the planet. The young man had apparently taken over the ship for when I woke I was in the copilot's seat, my face wrapped with bandages.

"I turned to him and tried to speak, but pain shot through my face at any movement. He told me to remain still and rest then added that I had made a foolish and very childish mistake. He told me that, had I gone back to Uranus and visited the doctor, my face could practically be restored to normal, but since I had suddenly been so rash, I could never return to a planet or a moon to receive help lest the Organization should track me down."

"How did he know so much about them?" Eru inquired softly, "And where is he now?"

"He was a Scholar of Knowledge and Records for the Organization, he knew the histories, past and present, and the plans for the future of the Organization. That is why he had so many guards. And for his whereabouts," the corner of Suzie's eyes crinkled affectionately, "He's safely bound with me."

Eru's eyes glowed joyfully. "You mean, you married him?"

Suzie sighed, apparently having recovered from telling her story, "Not legally, but in our own right we are. But not many know this." Suzie looked up with a glint in her eyes, "So now that I've told you two of my own private stories, are you willing to share your own?"

The group appealed to Hotarou, the chief secret-keeper. Hotarou's expression remained un-phased throughout the entire story. "I still don't see the reason to tell you why we're stopping these certain places, suffice it to say that we're connoisseurs looking for certain treasures, alright?"

Suzie considered his words then conceded, "Some things are best left unsaid in mixed company."

Eru wondered what had passed between the two so discretely that they had come to a mutual agreement so quickly and why couldn't Hotarou say some things in mixed company. Weren't they all friends and confidants?

Suzie stood to indicate that the meeting was adjourned. Eru watched the others leave and was going to follow when she noticed Hotarou pull Suzie aside. She burned with curiosity to know what they were talking about, but forgot about it as Mayaka pulled her away somewhere else.

"Who do you think her husband is?" Mayaka whispered to Eru excitedly as they walked down the hall.

"I wonder…" Eru agreed.

"I'm sure he's super strong, for a girl like her," Mayaka smiled. "But super smart too…oh if only Fuku would be like that!"

"That's a little bit of tall order!" Satoshi laughed as he came up behind them.

"Well at least you could be a little manlier…"

"He's manly in some ways," Eru added, sympathizing with the skinny young man.

"Thanks Chitanda!"

He takes the words that Mayaka aims at him with the grace of a king, Eru giggled at the thought. These two are good for each other…I had not noticed it before. "Where's Irisu?" she suddenly recalled, having not noticed the other rich girl leaving the meeting room. And she had been so quiet the whole time too.

"She went back to her room, I think," Mayaka commented. "Sheesh, I'm hungry after that meeting. Oh! Do you think there some Turkish Delight left?"

"I know there is!" the friendly sound of Tomoe's voice came to them as she appeared from around the corner. "Come with me to the kitchen, I'll get you some!"

The group followed her down the hallways, her dreadlocks bouncing happily with every step she took, then she turned into a doorway. Upon stepping inside the group was met with a sparkling clean kitchen with updated cooking technologies that practically allowed food to cook itself. In front of a certain machine stood a tall man, who looked like he was mostly comprised of more arms and legs than torso, and wore thin, square glasses. As he turned his hair bounced vibrantly even back in a short ponytail; it was an unusual color, or rather colors, graduating from grey-blue into a light yellow at the tips. Upon hearing them approach, he turned.

"Good evening Tomoe-chan," he said in formal, but broken Japanese.

"Dobra večer," she replied cleanly and with smile.

"You made Turkish Delights," he commented. "Miško must be glad."

"She seemed even happier that you knew her favorite flavor!" Tomoe told him handing him an empty box with residue from the sweets, "They were a hit with everyone, right?" she turned to the group that followed her. They all gave a quick nod. "I have some more over there, help yourselves," she pointed to a pantry that was slightly ajar. Mayaka and Satoshi moved towards it and looked around for the Turkish Delights.

"Oreki, is this Suzie's husband?" Eru whispered to the girl.

"Yes it is, and please, call me Tomoe—Oreki is too formal," she placed a hand on Eru's shoulder. "His name is Branimir, but everyone just calls him Bran. I guess she told you the story, huh?" Eru was confused then remembered and understood her meaning. "That's a bit of a hard story for her to tell, she doesn't like remembering it. Did you know?" She suddenly stepped away from Eru and propped and hand on her hip, "Bran"s pure Croatian by birth and speaks it fluently, that's not very common with so much intermarriage anymore. Suzie and I have helped him learn Japanese! He's pretty good, talk to him a bit!" Before she could say a word, Tomoe had called the tall man over and he now stood in front of Eru.

"H-hello…" Eru said shyly.

Branimir gave her a gentle smile which relived her. "I am Branimir Horvat," he said politely. "Please call me Bran. I cook often on this ship. Who are you?"

"My name is Chitanda Eru, I am guest—thank you for taking care of all of us," she bowed to show her gratitude, but upon looking up again noticed how oddly feminine and pretty his eyes were.

"Eru, we found the Turkish Delights!" Mayaka exclaimed, bringing back a tin full of them and interrupting the conversation. "Tomoe said we could take this to the room," she paused on seeing the tall man smiling down at her. "Um…"

"This is Bran, he is the cook," Eru introduced shortly.

"Good evening," he repeated.

"Good…evening," Mayaka dipped her head quickly. She turned to Eru and grabbed her hand, "Come on! Let's get back to the room…" She pulled Eru away who only had a chance to wave her hand a call a short goodbye as she was pulled along.

"Mayaka, that was rude," Eru chided once they were walking out in the hallway again.

"He's a little scary," Mayaka confessed, "He made me uncomfortable with how tall he was and…and…"

"But that was Suzie's husband," Eru informed her, "And Suzie has been wonderful to let us stay here like this."

Mayaka blinked with a bit of shock, "That was her husband?" Eru nodded gently. "But he's so—I don't even know the word for it!"

"I think he was a lovely person. He doesn't know Japanese very well, so we should try to help him learn some. He also just made me feel so welcome when I looked at him; it was strange, it was almost like, he is more out-of-place than I am but in a way that is comforting…"

"We can talk to him later," Mayaka consented, having her own sense of curiosity about Suzie's husband now knowing who he was. "let's have some Turkish Delight."

Eru started after her friend, "Yes, but let's not ruin our appetites before supper…"