She could feel the well of emotions seeping forth from him. She could "see" his normally controlled psion flow suddenly surging wildly about him. She could feel him…losing control.
And she couldn't tell if she should be terrified or mystified by his power and intensity.
"Is this…..his true strength? He's so…."
"I can't fail Miyuki! I can't live with that!"
He was beginning to explode with rage.
"If I ever let them hurt Miyuki again, I will burn them to the…"
"Tatsuya-kun."
These simple words had stunned Tatsuya from his rage, and they had simply stunned Miyuki.
"Mo….mother?"
Miyuki replied instinctively to her mother's voice, but she couldn't believe how gentle and warm it had sounded. She was used to hearing that voice aimed towards her, but never towards him before.
"…my son."
So much warmth, so much concern, and for him, for Onii-sama.
Miyuki couldn't believe her mother's words and tone. She had never shown any significant love or concern for Tatsuya before. But now…
"….I always wanted to believe…."
And now her hopes and prayers had finally been rewarded.
Joy flooded her heart as her Onii-sama looked into the kind eyes of his mother for what Miyuki thought was surely the very first time in his life.
"She had felt him inside her too!"
Dare she hope today was a breakthrough?
"….maybe….we can be a real family now?"
"You saved your sister and your mother and protected both of us. We are safe and healthy because of you. You have done well, and we are proud of you."
"…..momma!"
Joy seeped through her call to her parent, but Miya never even acknowledged her daughter. All her focus and energy was on her stupefied son. Miyuki thought he must be stunned by his mother's suddenly loving words.
But then she saw a sudden change wash over him.
"…..no…that's not the right response."
Concern bubbled up as she felt his rage rebuilding as if never stopped previously.
"…no, she loves you! See! She does!"
She wished she could push these words out of her mouth and into his mind.
"…..you."
It was calm and even toned, but Miyuki felt a strength and anger in her Onii-sama singular word that made her want to flee. He clutched both his fists so tightly that she could hear his fingers popping. The glare in his eyes was terrifying.
"You….are the one who brought Miyuki to this island."
"Onii-sama….no!"
"You are the one who put Miyuki in jeopardy by bringing her here."
His even tone never broke.
"Safe and healthy? You think Miyuki is safe now? Is SHE safe and healthy now?"
She could hear sarcasm leaking into his words.
"You are the one that sent her to me. She would have never come without your order."
His hand pointed back toward Kazama and Sanada. No, his hand was pointing between them, at the vehicle they had rode in.
"She would have never came if you hadn't allowed it."
Miyuki suddenly was curious about what was under that blanket on the back of the vehicle.
"What good were my powers for her?"
"For….her?"
He didn't hear his sister's concerned question.
He was too focused on Miya to be stopped by a mere question. Miyuki was too terrified to push the question again. She turned to see the angry face her mother was surely directing now at her Onii-sama. At any second she expected to feel her mother's magic striking down her poor Onii-sama.
But there before her was the same warm and caring eyes looking back at him from his mother.
"She asked me to let her go to you. She wanted to help you son."
"…..son?"
He almost sneered back at her.
Miyuki suddenly realized her world no longer made any sense to her.
"She asked to go, and I agreed. She wanted to protect you and so did I, and by protecting you she would protect Miyuki and me as well."
Then Miyuki's mind was slapped hard by sudden and deep fear and mourning.
"OWAAAAAAA!"
Everyone in earshot was stunned by her sudden wail of pain.
"MIYUKI!" Tatsuya and Miya called out to her simultaneously in concern.
She twisted out of Tatsuya's arms. He went to pursue her, and Sanada and Kazama moved to block her way.
"HONAMI-CHAN!"
She hit the wall formed by the Captain and the Lieutenant's legs and arms.
"LET ME GO! HONAMI-CHAN!"
She reached through their legs in desperation. Tatsuya pulled her back.
"No Miyuki, no."
"HONAMI-CHAN!"
Tears flowed uncontrolled with her screams.
"Tatsuya-kun."
Miya called to him. He directed an angry gaze at her as he struggled to get Miyuki under control.
"We can't always protect her from the pain in this life."
He sneered at her words.
"Please let her go son."
He then turned and whispered to her ear.
"Calm Miyuki, remember what she taught us. This is for Honami. Let us say goodbye to her with the dignity she deserves."
Her Onii-sama was calm again, and his words calmed her raging heart.
"….Onii-sama is right."
She stopped struggling and he wiped the tears from her eyes with his gloved fingers.
Then he guided her past the sad expressions of Kazama and Sanada.
His hand on her shoulder, they walked calmly around to the rear of the vehicle.
Then Miyuki burst into sudden tears again and buried her head in his chest.
Honami's hand had flopped out from under the blanket and was dangling in mid-air.
Tatsuya turned Miyuki more so into his chest and away from the sight before her as she bawled into his combat suit.
"I'll fix her up." He whispered into Miyuki's ear, and then he let her go to put Honami's hand back under the cover.
"OK Miyuki, you can approach now."
She walked over beside him, tears flowing but her sobbing under momentary control. Miya approached from the side and stood at Honami's feet. The outline of a young woman, in the prime of her life, lay before them.
They stood there in silence for a few moments, then….
"I want to see her."
A simple request from a tearful and heart-broken little girl.
"Miyuki, you shouldn't….."
"Let Miyuki see her Tatsuya."
Suddenly his burning eyes came back as he held his sister in his right arm, and directed a vitriolic glare at the woman standing at the corpse's feet. Then he looked down softly at his sister's teary face, all the gentleness and concern returned in an instant.
"So many….emotions. I never knew he had this in him!"
"If that is truly what Miyuki wishes?"
Miyuki meekly nodded. Only with her head down did she see that Tatsuya had yet to let go of Honami's hand that he had placed back under the blanket. She realized now that what she saw when he was on the back of the vehicle was him gently holding Honami's body in place.
He finally let go of the hand, and gently lifted the blanket off from over her head.
"OWAAAA!"
Miyuki released another pained cry. Any slim chance that all this was some great mistake and Honami was still really alive, were now blown away forever. There below them was the lovely face of a person who had been a mentor, a friend, an older sister to them both. There lay the face of someone who had gladly gave up her own life for them. There was the face of someone who loved them, and who they would love and revere forever.
As she laid both her hands on Honami's chest Miyuki once again lost all control of her sobbing. Tatsuya's strong right arm enveloped her for comfort.
"Ho….ho…..nami-chan. Why? WHY?"
Miyuki didn't expect an answer to her desperate rhetorical question, and she was surprised to get one.
"….I failed her."
Tear stained eyes looked up to see anger as her brother looked down at Honami's slightly smiling visage.
"Onii-sama, no…."
"I wasn't good enough."
"Tatsuya, that's not…."
In his arms she could feel him tense at their mother's words. His anger amplified immediately as vengeful eyes looked onto their mother.
"I'm a FLAWED creation."
"Onii…."
He began to smile at their mother over her head. There was no joy in that expression, just hate.
"And so Honami had to rescue the valuable but flawed material."
"Son, now is not the time….."
Sarcasm was radiating in his voice now.
"'The Family' can't afford to lose the valuable material, even if it is flawed."
Miyuki turned towards their mother, expecting an angry showdown.
Instead she saw…
"…..FEAR?"
This woman hadn't shown even the slightest hint of fear as bullets pierced her and her daughter's bodies, but now….
"She AFRAID! She afraid of…."
Miyuki turned back around and looked into the face she loved. She didn't recognize him with that feral smirk on his face.
"Does Madam wish for me to secure this weapon for transport so that 'The Family' can investigate it and improve upon it further?"
"Tatsuya…..please….."
Her mother's eyes darted in the direction of the serious and confused expressions on Captain Kazama and Lieutenant Sanada's faces.
"After all…..this weapon worked exactly as she…..pardon me, IT, was designed to. We shouldn't let valuable research material go to waste, right…..Madam?"
"That's enough Tatsuya."
"It's just spent material now for your research anyway, right…..Madam?"
"Son…stop, please. You're frightening Miyuki."
Their traditional roles had been reversed. Now Tatsuya was in authority and it was Miya who was frantically trying to mollify him instead.
"After all, it's just a weapon, no 'human' life was lost here."
"AWWWWW!"
They all froze at Miyuki's sudden outburst.
"MIYUKI!"
His anger gone in an instant, concern pushed to the forefront as he stared down at her. She reached up and place both hands on his cheeks.
"She loved us Onii-sama!"
Concern melted to sadness as he looked into his sister's tear stained eyes.
"…I know."
She suddenly smiled up at him, then he smiled back down at her.
"She died for us Onii-sama."
His sad eyes turned toward Honami's tranquil looking face.
"She died for you, Onii-sama."
He turned away in shame but she pulled his face back to her.
"She BELIEVED in YOU, Onii-sama!"
They stared into each other's eyes intently.
"Just as your Miyuki will always BELIEVE IN YOU!"
"…Miyuki, I…."
She pulled him down and kissed his forehead then.
"We must and we will honor her sacrifice for us. Together, Onii-sama."
She smiled brightly at him again, through her tears.
"Yes….Miyuki."
And he was finally calm again.
And they both turned again to look at Honami, who had given everything she had for them. Miyuki reached down and pulled the blanket slowly over Honami's face.
"Honami-chan will never be forgotten."
"No she will not…."
With these words Tatsuya's eyes drifted back toward their mother.
"…and she will not have died for nothing. I will make certain of that."
Miya didn't speak, they simply looked at each other with unreadable eyes, as if they were speaking a language to each other that no one else could understand. Miyuki trembled in his arms as the two people she loved the most looked at each other with these horrible expressions.
Anger and defiance from her previously placid and obedient Onii-sama.
Concern and fear from her previously dominant and commanding mother.
"Ma'am."
Into this moment stepped another very brave man, at least in Miyuki's estimation.
"Yes Captain Kazama?"
"How can we assist your family at this moment?"
His kind offer was pondered by their mother for a few seconds before she gave an answer.
"My children and I have had a very tiring and trying day Captain. May we return to the guardhouse to relax until you can arrange to take us back to our villa?"
At the last part of her question both military officers looked at each other in puzzlement. If Miyuki had to describe that look it would be something along the lines of "does this woman not understand what happened today?"
All around them lay pieces of formerly functional equipment her son had rendered into pieces, and that wasn't even at the top of the list of amazing and fearsome things that this woman's thirteen year old son had done today.
These two men clearly didn't think there was any chance in the world these three magicians would be heading back to their "vacation" anytime in the near future.
And yet they couldn't help but see the same look in their mother's eyes that Miyuki saw. She had a baring and determination that defied her fragile appearance.
To his credit, the Captain managed a strong response. As before, Miyuki could tell he was a man used to commanding, and being obeyed.
"Of course ma'am, please relax in the guardhouse."
He motioned towards the female Lieutenant who had escorted them to the surface. She hesitated, but soon moved towards them.
"Now….she's afraid of us again."
The Sergeant and Corporal also began moving cautiously towards them. None of them had weapons now, since Tatsuya hadn't risked letting any in the area remain intact.
They walked through the other soldiers who still couldn't seem to grasp what had happened to their weapons.
Only now did Miyuki see that Lieutenant Sanada was having a vigorous discussion with a very agitated looking major. Miyuki assumed he was the commander of the forces around the gate. He would randomly point in their direction while angrily arguing with the placid Sanada. Then his eyes drifted, along with what Miyuki had assumed were specific words from Sanada, towards Captain Kazama.
The look Kazama exchanged with his nominally superior officer on the scene seemed to indicate that their ranks were somehow reversed. After only a moment of defiance, the major sighed, then called out to his men.
"Listen up! We're moving forward. Vehicles are bringing replacement equipment to our new location. Leave EVERY! And I do mean EVERY! Piece of hardware here! Sergeants! Form the men up!"
The major again sent Tatsuya a furtive look, and then moved about his business. Slowly at first, the men formed two lines, and then marched off down the road.
Every one of them looked at Tatsuya with fear and curiosity as they passed him. Miyuki remembered her mother's dark words from earlier.
"…..and now, they know as well."
"My poor Onii-sama."
"I wonder who else also got to watch his dramatic debut?"
Their looks seemed to mean nothing to him. He stayed in place standing watch over Honami's covered body.
The three who had guarded them before arrived in their proximity during all of this. Kazama began issuing orders.
"Lieutenant, take Shiba-san and her children back to the guardhouse and see that they are comfortable. Then return to your normal duties."
"Yes Sir!"
"Sergeant, you and the Corporal get some new gear. You'll stay on guard here. Make sure they are not disturbed till either myself of Lieutenant Sanada returns for them."
"Yes Sir!"
The Lieutenant, despite her renewed sense of fear of them, smiled brightly at Miyuki then, while speaking to their mother.
"Ma'am, if you'll follow me back…"
Just then another open topped vehicle came roaring up the road. Like Tatsuya, Kazama, and Sanada; the three men in this vehicle had on combat suits. Despite their visors still being down, Miyuki could tell they were suddenly stunned at the site of the disassembled weapons systems around them.
When they stopped, only the passenger got out of the vehicle. He rapidly approached the Captain, who wasn't the least bit put off by this action from the currently anonymous soldier.
"Report Lieutenant."
They exchanged salutes, and the man then removed his visor and helmet.
Miyuki didn't know this man, but she could tell that Tatsuya recognized him before he had even removed his helmet.
He looked around with wide eyes and a slight smirk.
"Well that explains why that regular unit we just passed were unarmed."
Then the young man looked at Tatsuya with a knowing grin and spoke to him as he scratched at the back of his head.
"Hope we're still on the same team Tatsuya-san."
His grin and teasing words were in good humor, but no one was laughing. He looked around in confusion, and then realized to his chagrin what Tatsuya and Miyuki were standing in front of, or instead who they were standing in front of.
"Oh!...damn, Tatsuya-san…I…I didn't mean….."
"Never mind that Yanagi."
Kazama's slightly irritated words stopped Yanagi's awkward apology attempt in its tracks.
"I'll have your report now, Lieutenant."
"Um, Yes Sir! Sorry Sir!"
He recovered quickly with a salute.
"All identified enemy magicians have either been eliminated or contained. Per standing orders we have dispersed our men in groups of two to regular units advancing on the remaining enemy positions in case new enemy magicians appear. The enemy combatants we captured were vetted for magicians and then the rest were turned over to regular units. My squad stands by to support any of our forward units at the Captain's command, Sir!"
"Very well Lieutenant. Sanada and I must speak with the base commander. Take charge here until we return."
Yanagi snapped to attention again with a salute.
"Yes Sir!"
Kazama then turned to nod at the lady Lieutenant, who understood from that that it was time to take the Shibas to the guardhouse.
"Ma'am, if you're ready?"
Miya nodded to her as she replied.
"Yes, come Miyuki, Tatsuya."
Miyuki looked down again at the covered body of her beloved friend, then slowly moved towards her mother.
"Captain Sir?"
Her brother's words made everyone turn towards him.
"Yes Special Officer Shiba?"
Kazama instantly recognized that the boy had again become the soldier from earlier. He responded in kind.
"Request permission to engage remaining enemy forces."
"Tatsuya…."
Miya's words radiated concern and weariness.
"…you have done enough today, son."
"Sir…."
He ignored her willfully.
"….I am combat ready Sir!"
"Onii-sama…."
Miyuki, like her mother, disparately didn't want him to go back to the fighting. She saw him flinch when he heard her voice. If she had to she'd throw a tantrum to keep him with her. She'd even beg if needed. She vowed to do anything to keep him safe with her.
Captain Kazama rescued her from those embarrassing actions.
"That won't be necessary Special Officer. The forward magicians and the regular units have the situation in hand."
Tatsuya's eyes darted around to find a response.
"Sir, I can easily…."
"You are ordered to stay here and guard your family and this position under Lieutenant Yanagi's command until I return. Is that understood Special Officer?"
Kazama's firm but calm, commanding demeanor allowed Tatsuya no room to maneuver out from under his orders.
"Yes Sir!"
Miyuki heard his spine pop as he again straightened himself beside her.
Miya sighed ever so slightly in relief and again indicated for them to return to the guardhouse.
She put her hand on Miyuki's shoulder for support. Then they all realized Tatsuya still wasn't coming. He looked down at Honami's body and then stood to ridged attention over her body.
"Madam."
Miyuki had a sinking feeling again in response to his words.
"Oh no! Not again!"
"The Captain has ordered me to guard this position and my family. I can protect Miyuki and you from here, but I cannot protect this position and all of my family from inside that build."
No one was confused who else Tatsuya was referring to as "family". Miyuki felt the tears coming back.
"….Tatsuya, please….."
Miya's plea was more shocking to hear for Miyuki than Tatsuya's own words.
Then Tatsuya replied. A growl of anger mixed with a plea of sadness.
"She did not abandon me. I will not abandon HER!"
She looked at him. Calm, strong, unyielding and yet.
"….tears….again?"
She saw moisture form in the corners of her precious Onii-sama's eyes.
"….no, he can't…."
In a day full of terror, tears from her Onii-sama would inspire more fear in her heart than anything she had felt before.
"I must save my Onii-sama!"
"….Miyuki!"
Miya called to her as she tore away from her mother and stood looking defiantly and sadly back at her mother.
"My place is with Onii-sama. I will not abandon Honami-chan either."
Her mother looked down at her with sympathy, exasperation, and aggravation mixed on her face. The expression clearly conveyed the impression that Miyuki was not being helpful to her mother.
Miya, in a rare display among a day of rare displays for both herself and her son, leaned over to support herself on the side of the vehicle and pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh. Everyone present, even Tatsuya began to move toward her to prevent her from collapsing, but she stopped herself from moving further.
Then she looked at her recently and suddenly defiant son, stood up next to him and spoke to him directly.
"Would it be alright if, with the Captain's permission, one of the men you fought beside of you today watched over our Honami while you secure our safety and tell me all that happened?"
Before Tatsuya replied Yanagi stepped forward at attention before him.
"Special Officer Shiba, with the Captain's approval, I would consider it a high honor to guard your Onee-sama until you return."
Miyuki didn't know if Yanagi had misunderstood the relationship Honami had with them, or if he was calling her their big sister simply to honor her sacrifice for them. Miyuki didn't care, she was deeply moved and overjoyed to hear Honami referred to in this way. Hot tears flowed down her face.
If their mother had any objection to her dead servant being referred to this way she hid it well.
"I know what your Onee-sama did today. For ALL of us. For everyone on this island. She's a hero."
Miyuki began to sob again, but she fought to regain her composure. She heard her Onii-sama inhale hard and saw his throat move as he too fought for composure.
"Not even considering what we, and I personally owe to you as well, her actions alone are worthy of the highest honors. Please…"
Yanagi then bowed gracefully at the waist to Tatsuya.
"….though I do not deserve it, I beg you for the honor to stand guard over one of the Heroes of Okinawa!"
Miyuki lost it then, she buried her face in Tatsuya's side and sobbed as he wrapped his arms around her.
Before Yanagi's humbling display, Tatsuya could fight no more.
"Please….Onii-sama."
His beloved sister's whispered plea took any last resistance he might have tried to muster out of him. Tatsuya looked towards the Captain then.
"With your permission Sir?"
Kazama nodded with a sad smile.
"Of course. Truth is I am jealous of Yanagi. We all owe Sakurai-san our lives. We owe her more than we can ever repay her for."
"I agree with the Captain."
Sanada spoke up beside his commander.
"She never hesitated. Her dedication to Tatsuya-san allowed you to complete your mission and save the people of this island. Yanagi may have dramatic tendencies….."
The two magician Lieutenants exchanged brief smirks before they refocused on Tatsuya and Miyuki.
"….but in this rare case he is right. Sakurai-san is indeed a hero."
Yanagi snapped a salute at Tatsuya, then all the military personnel present did so as well. Even the two combat magicians in Yanagi's vehicle got out and saluted.
Then Tatsuya saluted back.
"Special Officer, I am here to relieve you until your return!"
Tatsuya swallowed hard, and then responded.
"Lieutenant, I stand relieved."
Miyuki instinctively bowed towards Yanagi. Off to her side Miya nodded gratefully at Captain Kazama.
Tatsuya must have already understood the procedure for guard change. He and Yanagi exchanged positions. Then saluted each other again.
Then Yanagi stood over Honami's covered body, and Tatsuya reluctantly moved away.
They were then surprised as the Captain led the other military personnel forward.
"For our honored dead. PRESENT…ARMS!"
The Sergeant and the Corporal held their new rifles forward while everyone else saluted. At this, Tatsuya joined them and Miyuki bowed towards Honami's body while fighting a new flood of tears. She was the only one in a position to see her mother now. Her eyes were closed, and she bowed her head lightly to her former Guardian.
"…..momma."
Once arms were lowered the lady Lieutenant nodded to them to indicate that if they were ready she would take them to the guardhouse.
Miya stretched out her hand for Miyuki, who grabbed a hold and positioned herself again to help their weakened mother support herself. They began to follow the lady Lieutenant and the two soldiers back to the guardhouse when they noticed Tatsuya still wasn't moving.
He was just looking blankly down at the cloth covering Honami's body.
"…..son."
Miyuki's eyes widened as Miya extended her other hand towards Tatsuya. Tatsuya too was initially shocked, then he furrowed his brow at her hand as if it were a poisonous snake ready to strike him.
He then turned back defiantly towards Honami.
"…..Onii-sama…"
When her words reached his ears his defiance broke at last. With one last look of concern for the body, he turned and took his mother's hand. To Miyuki's knowledge it was the first time the two had every held hands.
Tatsuya moved to take over the support of Miya's weight from Miyuki.
Then, as they turned to leave….
"I know it has been a long day for everyone ma'am."
Captain Kazama's words were clearly directed towards their mother. Without turning to face him, she sighed lightly and tried to hide her irritation. Miyuki could only guess from this reaction that her mother had expected the Captain to have more to say to her. Once her face was composed again she turned towards him to respond.
"Indeed it has been Captain. If you will excuse us my children and I need to rest."
She started to turn back onto their previous course, but Kazama had more to say.
"Of course, the Lieutenant will see to that. But when I return, we will need to talk."
Miyuki tensed, she knew exactly what, no, who, he wanted to talk about.
"Is that so Captain?"
Miya smiled lightly back at him. She seemed to know something he didn't and enjoyed it. Kazama furrowed his brows at her expression.
"Indeed Shiba-san, there will be a great many things to discuss."
Miya shrugged at his words, while leaning against Tatsuya.
"Um….well we'll see."
She then turned and they proceeded towards the guardhouse.
Kazama and Sanada looked on as they moved away. Miyuki could see that they both were looking at Miya as if seeing her with new eyes, but their confusion at her nonchalant attitude to the momentous events of this day was still evident as well.
The Captain and Lieutenant Sanada nodded to Tatsuya then and proceeded to the vehicle Yanagi had brought with him. The two combat magicians with their visors still up took up positions on either side of the road where the disabled forward tanks sat.
The Shibas followed the lady Lieutenant back up the ramp and then into the guardhouse. The sudden chill of air conditioning made Miyuki shiver. She hadn't even realized she was sweating under the hot afternoon sun.
"Please sit here ma'am."
The Lieutenant offered Miya a hand to a couch along the back wall.
As Tatsuya also helped their mother sit on the couch, Miyuki finally took note of this room.
There were two couches facing each other only a few meters apart. The guardhouse was very utilitarian and there were no attempts to make it nicer than required. There was a door in all four walls. There was the main door that they had just come back in, and the closet door that led to the secret entrance back to the bunker system was on the far side wall. What looked like another exit to the right of the couch their mother now sat on was along the windowless back wall, and also a door that led into what looked like an office was beside the entrance door on the wall beside it.
Miyuki could see that the office room had windows on all four sides, including the one she was looking through now to see into the office. The couch beside the door outside to the deck, which Miyuki thought of as the main door, had a small cooler beside it.
"If you'd like something to drink we have cold beverages in the cooler."
At the Lieutenant's suggestion, Tatsuya immediately opened the cooler and removed three water bottles. He handed one to Miyuki, one to their mother, and one to the officer before gulping down the fourth bottle and returning to the cooler for another.
Miyuki noticed suddenly that there was no bathroom. As if they had the same thought the Lieutenant spoke again.
"The restroom is right outside the back door."
She indicated to the doorway beside the couch Miya sat on.
Miyuki noticed Tatsuya had finished his second bottle of water and was rapidly going through a third.
"Of course Onii-sama is dehydrated. He worked so hard for us today."
She looked around for a moment and then saw what she needed.
"Thank you Lieutenant, you've been very helpful today. We don't wish to keep you further from your normal duties."
"If you're sure you're fine for now ma'am….."
"We are, I'll make certain Captain Kazama mentions our appreciation of your efforts today…"
Miya was suddenly distracted by something in the corner of her eye.
"….Miyuki, what…."
Miyuki had a hand towel she had found and had wetted it from her water bottle. She had it in her hands and was beaming up at a slightly perplexed Tatsuya.
"Oh…..um, thank you….Miyuki."
He gently reached for it but Miyuki's words stopped him.
"No, Onii-sama is exhausted. Please allow Miyuki to do this simple task."
Tatsuya's eyes drifted curiously towards Miya then, to see her reaction.
"Miyuki, that is not app….."
Before her mother could finish reproaching her, Tatsuya's eyes narrowed at Miya, and then he graciously lowered his head.
"Thank you very much Miyuki."
Miyuki was delighted and she began to happily wipe the dust and sweat from her Onii-sama's face and neck.
Clearly sensing that somehow she was in an awkward family moment, the Lieutenant excused herself.
"Please excuse me, I need to speak to the guards."
Miya nodded her consent and the young officer stepped out on the deck. Once the door closed Miya directed disapproving eyes towards both her children, but she said nothing else to them and neither seemed to pay her any attention. Having finished cleaning him, Miyuki went to get Tatsuya a fourth bottle of water.
Miya sighed heavily and Miyuki glowed with joy as her brother accepted the bottle with a thankful smile. Miyuki then heard her mother sigh heavily again. Miyuki was preparing to turn her own disapproving look to her mother, when she saw her lips moving slightly.
"….too soon. Much too soon."
Brief confusion ruled her mind.
"Too soon? What is mother saying is too soon?"
Then the thought was lost as the Lieutenant returned.
"Everything is set ma'am. Lieutenant Yanagi and his men will watch out for you until the Captain returns."
Miya nodded as she thanked her again.
"You have been most helpful Lieutenant."
Then the young officer turned towards Miyuki and Tatsuya.
"I am….very sorry for your loss."
She bowed, and Miyuki returned her bow.
"Thank you Lieutenant."
Then she looked at Tatsuya.
"She's still afraid of my Onii-sama…"
Sadness welled up inside of Miyuki but suddenly dissipated. The Lieutenant's back went straight and her right hand came up to her right temple. Recognizing the gesture, Tatsuya immediately returned it.
"Thank you for all your hard work today Special Officer."
"You as well ma'am, thank you for looking out for Miyuki, and our mother."
Miyuki knew that Tatsuya still terrified the Lieutenant, but she was happy to see she could overcome her fear with gratitude.
And with that, the Lieutenant sent all three of them departing nods with a smile and proceeded into the closet.
This action caused Tatsuya to raise his eyebrows in curiosity. Miyuki began to get excited.
"Please ask me why the woman went into the closet Onii-sama!"
She wanted to impress him with her knowledge. He then got a look in his eyes as if he could see something far away and through the wall. Then sudden clarity appeared on his face.
"…of course."
He whispered this ever so slightly and then he turned to see the anxious look on Miyuki's face.
"Are you alright Miyuki?"
"Um…..yes, Onii-sama."
He nodded and turned towards Miya. Miyuki felt a sudden pang of disappointment, then Miya's words broke her pouting.
"Tatsuya, please close the blinds."
A request that he easily completed.
"Miyuki, I want your brother to give me the details of today's events…alone."
Miyuki tensed immediately, she suspected at once that her mother wished to separate her and Tatsuya.
"Please go into the office and close the blinds. I then want you to cast a sound deadening barrier against the wall to this room."
"Mother, there is no reason for me not to…."
"Please Miyuki, we are all exhausted and I really don't feel like having an argument with you about this."
"But mother, I have already seen…"
"Too much, and you don't need to hear the gruesome details."
Miyuki was preparing to stand her ground, when her legs were metaphorically cut out from under her.
"Miyuki, mother is right."
She whipped around towards him to protest, but he caught her by the shoulders, which stopped her instantly.
"Onii-sama, please I…"
"Please Miyuki, I don't….I don't want you to….."
She could see the turmoil in his eyes as he fought to keep her innocent of his actions and powers.
In the face of her precious Onii-sama's struggle, she yielded with a sigh.
"Very well."
"We will try to hurry Miyuki, but please stay in there patiently till I send Tatsuya in for you."
Miyuki still pouted but obeyed.
"Yes, mother."
Tatsuya led her into the office, then closed the binds to the windows between the two rooms.
Miyuki sat behind the desk.
"Do you need anything?"
"Only my Onii-sama, so please hurry back to me soon."
She could tell as he looked away that her words had embarrassed him, but before she could apologize he spoke to her.
"Then I must hurry back to your side."
They smiled shyly to each other, and then he closed the door behind him as he walked out.
Miyuki calmly activated her sound barrier magic, and once she was sure it was in place…
She sprang from the desk chair and closed all the other blinds in the room that showed the outside world. It had been bright enough from the sunlight alone beforehand so that the office lights weren't on. With the final blind closed Miyuki could see the light from the waiting room streaming in.
"Now, I have to find some way…"
She knew if she tried to alter the sound barrier, just even a little, her mother would still detect it. So listening in was out of the question.
Her eyes frantically scanned the blinds between the rooms looking for a small…..
"AH! There it is!"
One of the blinds hadn't closed all the way. The end was just barely open from the one below it.
Miyuki maneuvered herself to bend so that she could look out that tiny gap. She knew she couldn't get right on the blinds to look through it or she might be seen. Yet, if everything lined up right…..
"AH! YES!"
She could see her mother sitting on the couch. It was perfect for what Miyuki planned to do, since she could see her lips full on.
"….Honami-chan…."
It was Honami who had just started a few weeks back to teach Miyuki the art of reading lips. Just days before she had praised Miyuki for having picked up the talent so quickly. She had told her that it was "their little secret". Miyuki was so glad in this moment to have a piece of something with Honami that only they shared, and that she could use for the rest of her life.
Sudden movement beyond the blinds caught her attention.
"Not there Onii-sama!"
His body suddenly blocked her view of Miya's face, but he was walking toward Miya, and soon stood directly in front of her. She then looked up at her son. Miyuki couldn't see Tatsuya's head, just his mid-section and the upper half of their mother's body along with her face.
Miya's lips moved and Miyuki strained to see them while she leaned sideways in the darkened office. Needless to say, as with the acceleration and deceleration magic beforehand, Miyuki could cast the sound deadening barrier virtually on instinct alone. Doing so prevented her from accomplishing her present task not in the least.
"…you to kneel here, son."
Miya looked upward towards where Miyuki knew her Onii-sama's face was.
"If only I could see his lips too!"
After a few moments Miya's lips moved again.
"Please, so we can look at each other eye to eye."
Miyuki's excitement level jumped a bit. She didn't know why her mother wanted Tatsuya to kneel in front of her, but it surely wasn't to hear a report from him.
"What's going on? What's she doing?"
After a few more moments of resistance, Tatsuya sank down before their mother. She could finally see his head, but the angle was too great to see his mouth.
Miyuki didn't let that frustrate her, since she really wanted to know what their mother was doing the most.
She looked at him, almost…..
"….tenderly?"
Miyuki could feel her heart twinge. She had seen more motherly concern and love from Miya in the last ten minutes for her son than the rest of their lives combined had ever shown her.
"Momma! Tell him you love him, PLEASE!"
She had already told him today she was proud of him, and why shouldn't she be. What mother couldn't be proud of such an amazing and wonderful son? In Miyuki's heart, she sincerely hoped that today was the day everything changed for all of them. She truly believed that only a few words from Miya could fix a lifetime of mistakes in this moment.
Then Miya's hands lifted towards Tatsuya's face. He instinctively and immediately pulled back from them.
"No Onii-sama! Let her in!"
He stopped short of getting up, then Miya pleaded with him.
"Please…..my son."
He still looked on with trepidation at her, but allowed her to place both her hands on each of his cheeks. Then she lightly pulled him towards her. He seemed confused, and then…..
Miya kissed her son on the forehead.
"Oh MOMMA! I knew you loved Onii-sama! I KNEW IT!"
A wave of warmth enveloped Miyuki's body. Pure joy seeped from her every pour. Tears formed once again in her eyes; but on this day of tears, finally tears of joy would be released. She randomly thought to herself that she needed to drink more water or else risk dehydration herself.
And then, as her Onii-sama looked at their mother in utter confusion and she back at him with only the bitterest of smiles, she pulled his face in closer to hers.
And then she….
"What…..what are you…"
…kissed him on the lips.
"…um, well, that's good too….um…I guess."
And then she really kissed him. It was…..intense, even passionate. She pulled him into her mouth the way a hungry lover kissed their object of desire.
"WHAT IN THE…"