The following morning, Senator Akiko Saito arrives at her office to find several security guards holding back a baying crowd of journalists. "What's going on?" she asks, confused and a little scared.
"The full briefing is on your desk, Saito‑sama," one of the guards informs.
"I'm not going to like it, am I?" Akiko asks.
"Not even slightly," the guard replies.
Fearing the worst, Akiko enters her office, closes and locks the door, and puts the radio on to drown out the noise from the journalists outside. After taking a calming breath, she sits at her desk and opens the briefing folder sat upon it.
Fifteen minutes later, having read every page, Akiko sets the folder on the desk, lets out a long sigh of defeat, and flops forward, her forehead hitting the desk firmly.
Suddenly, her intercom buzzes. "My apologies senator, but have you read the briefing? It's just the journalists won't leave until you give a statement, and‑"
Akiko presses the 'reply' button. "Just issue a blanket statement absolving us of any involvement, and stating that we're working to establish the facts before taking action. And bring me a box of aspirin: I'm going to need it."
Half an hour later, and Akiko is fielding questions via videophone from Senators Katsu Nishimura and Mariko Nakahara.
"How could you let Mizu‑dojo commit these atrocities?" Mariko demands.
"I didn't know a thing about them until this morning," Akiko protests, doing her best to remain calm.
"I'm not buying it," Katsu spits. "We all know how much you work with Chika Ueno. You're just trying to protect her."
"I work with Chika for the good of Mizutani!" Akiko declares passionately. "Thanks to her efforts, we have the lowest homelessness rate in the whole of the Gotoshi!"
"Bolstering her army, no doubt," Mariko opines.
"With children?" Akiko counters.
"Don't pretend Mizu‑dojo doesn't frequently break the law," Katsu demands.
"At least the dojo doesn't scare people away!" Akiko retorts. "And what evidence have you got implicating Mizu‑dojo anyway? A few scraps of cloth? Easily faked. It's not as if midnight blue is a rare colour. Not to mention the symbol of 'mizu' is used all over the Gotoshi. It's Imperial for 'water', for kitsune's sake!"
For a few moments, neither Katsu nor Mariko speak.
"Seventy‑two hours," Akiko decides. "Give me seventy‑two hours to prove Mizu‑dojo is innocent."
"Seventy‑two hours," Katsu agrees.
"Fail, and we will be forced to take drastic action," Mariko adds.
Katsu and Mariko hang up without another word.
Akiko slumps back in her chair and rubs her forehead. "Kitsune dammit, I'm getting too old for this shit."
In Mizu‑dojo, Chika Ueno is personally overseeing a full stock check of the entire dojo in the main training hall, accompanied by both Xander Lykos and Senator Akiko Saito's representative. She started the task immediately after hearing about the attacks on Kinzoku and Mokuzai, and six hours later, the task is almost at an end.
"Four more kohai to check… and I'm about to fall asleep," Chika yawns deeply.
"I've been telling you to take a break for four hours now," Xander reminds.
"And I've been telling you, not until this task is finished," Chika replies. "Mizu cloaks were found in both Kinzoku and Mokuzai, and I want to make sure we can account for every one of our own. It is my duty."
"In that case, I'll make some more coffee," Xander volunteers.
"I'll pass," Chika decides, yawning again. "I've had far too much already, and it's clearly not working."
"I'll make some anyway, just in case," Xander informs as he departs.
The four remaining kohai are brought into the hall and led to Chika, where they lay out all the equipment provided to them by the dojo. Chika notes the items and their quantities, then dismisses the kohai.
"…and that's everything," Chika sighs in relief as she calculates the final totals. "There's some stuff missing, but what matters is every single cloak is accounted for. Therefore, the ones found in Kinzoku and Mokuzai are fakes."
"If I may, can I double‑check your sums?" the representative asks.
"Sure," Chika agrees, sliding the tally sheets over then laying her head on her arms.
Xander returns to find Chika's already slipped into a light sleep. "How are the counts?" he asks the representative as he places the coffee on the table.
"They… are… good!" the representative declares as he finishes the calculations. "Every cloak is indeed accounted for."
"Excellent," Xander smiles. "Looks like I'd better take her to bed," he decides.
"Good idea," the representative agrees. "I'll report to the Senator."
An hour later, Chika wakes slowly. Mmm… that was a good nap. Also, everything feels softer now. Did someone move me? Chika rolls onto her back, stretches and yawns, and finally opens her eyes. "Oh, I'm in my bedroom. Guess Xander brought me back here."
As if on cue, Xander appears in the doorway. "Oh hey, you're awake," he smiles. "Your calculations were correct, by the way."
"Good," Chika sighs, relieved. "And since we have nothing else to do today, how about you come and play with me?" she flirts seductively.
"I'd love to, but I'm afraid we have company," Xander informs.
"Tell them to make an appointment," Chika waves dismissively.
"Unfortunately, circumstances mean I must speak with you now," Senator Akiko Saito interrupts, poking her head around the edge of the door.
"Every cloak is accounted for: the ones found in Kinzoku and Mokuzai are fakes," Chika summarises.
"I know," Akiko assures. "I still need to talk with you."
Chika sighs. "OK," she agrees, sliding off the bed and onto her feet. "Let's get this over with."
An hour later, and with Senator Akiko Saito having left happy that Mizu‑dojo is indeed innocent, Chika flops onto the sofa. "Today has been a real trial," she sighs.
"At least it's over now," Xander assures. "And we have the evening and night to ourselves."
"And that means you finally get to play with me," Chika flirts seductively. "I might even be persuaded to play 'damsel in distress'," she adds with a cheeky smile.
"Not going to get dinner first?" Xander asks, joining Chika on the sofa.
"Gotta work up an appetite somehow," Chika purrs, pulling Xander in for a kiss.
Late in the evening, Senator Akiko Saito is once again conversing with Senators Katsu Nishimura and Mariko Nakahara via videophone.
"This evidence is certainly compelling," Katsu informs. "Ueno‑san has certainly played her part very well."
"I find it hard to counter myself," Mariko concurs. "But it's not enough to put her innocence beyond reasonable doubt."
"What more do you want?" Akiko asks. "Ueno‑san did a complete stock check of her entire dojo personally. Also, I had a long talk with her. As far as I'm concerned, she's totally innocent."
"You would think that," Katsu replies. "She's your citizen."
"I don't like that implication," Akiko growls.
"We can't discount the possibility you two are in cohorts," Mariko cautions. "However, for now I'm assured enough to give you benefit of the doubt."
"I'm not convinced you're not her co‑conspirator," Katsu reveals. "But in the interests of keeping this contained, I'll also give you benefit of the doubt."
"Thanks, I guess," Akiko acknowledges.
"Just know that if these attacks continue, Kinzokumori will take any action necessary to ensure its safety," Katsu warns, hanging up without giving Akiko a chance to reply.
"I hate to say this, but he has a point," Mariko informs. "Mokuzaihanto's future must be protected."
"I assure you, Mizu‑dojo is no threat to you," Akiko assures.
"I hope that is the case," Mariko replies, then hangs up.
"Tomorrow, I'm calling in sick," Akiko sighs.
Shortly before midnight, from her inner sanctum, Tsubaki contacts Kaede via videophone using an encrypted connection.
"Hey there!" Kaede greets when she answers. "Sorry about the generators."
"You should have warned me," Tsubaki growls. "And what on Avalice are you wearing?"
"A latex bodyglove," Kaede answers. "It's really very comfortable: it's like a stretchy cocoon. Plus, it shows off my figure really well."
"Say no more," Tsubaki instructs. "You know your actions mean I have to send the childwoman to attack your dojo now."
"Obviously. To be honest, I'm surprised you went after Mokuzai first," Kaede admits.
"Simple: if we turn Ryoichi against Mizu and Kasai, we get an ally," Tsubaki explains.
"Good thinking," Kaede admits. "Question is, do I send loverboy into Mokuzai, or into Kasai?"
"Whichever you do, you'll need to make the evidence against Mizu a lot sounder," Tsubaki instructs. "The cloaks aren't enough."
"Oh, don't worry about that," Kaede smirks. "I have a plan."