...

Ayika kicked again at the walls of this disused parlor turned storage area and was again rewarded with bruised toes and little else. The room was now serving a third life as an impromptu cell and evidence storage vault. The guards had stopped returning to stack piles of singed papers from the professor's office but no one had spoken to Ayika or answered any of her questions. From outside the locked door she could faintly hear yelps and cries from Xinfei in the hands of the other guards.

Ayika went over to the door again and yelled at the obstinate planks, pounding against them with her hand. "Let him go! He's got nothing to do with any of this! Just...Raaah!"

"I do not think that is accomplishing anything," Mizumi said from a stool in the corner. She had sat there since they were brought into this makeshift cell. Ayika heard her sniff occasionally, but for all she knew that crying was faked entirely, or only regarding her own capture. Almost sobbing herself in frustration and emotional exhaustion, Ayika pounded on the door again.

Mizumi said, "Girl, if they were going to let you out they would do it without your noise. I am sure that your friend is safe. There are clear laws about what your city guards are permitted do in an interrogation."

Ayika turned from the door with fire in her eyes and saw the other girl flinch as a loud cry of Xinfei's filtered through the walls. Ayika stalked over and said, "My name's Ayika, not girl. And sure there're rules, if you're rich. But for us normal people, if the guards get you alone then it's a boot to the side you're in for 'til they get bored. Not that I'm sure your being rich will help you, since you're a foreigner."

Ayika turned on the table piled up with slightly singed books and class papers. She raised her hands to sweep it all onto the floor before resisting and clamping her arms back to her side in impotent rage.

Mizumi now had a bit of fear in her eyes. "No, you do not think…? My father must be coming and-"

"Ah, yes, I'm sure your father's very rich and important but down here in our world my friend is out there getting worked over by the greenbacks all because I promised him some scraps from the kitchen! He was only at the school at all because I told him to, and now they've grabbed him as part of you people's damn conspiracy!"

Ayika had had enough, so she turned away from Mizumi and returned to kick the door again. Behind her, Mizumi stood up and began to pace alongside one of the evidence tables. Ayika angled her head imperceptibly, and out of the corner of her eye she saw the Islander girl looking intently at one of the stacks of papers from Wen's office. As Ayika watched, Mizumi shifted her body slightly to hide the action of sliding something out of the stack.

"There! What is that?" Ayika spun and yelled.

Mizumi jumped, startled. Her face was written with horrified guilt and she was holding a crumpled paper in her hand. She fluttered her mouth to say something but now Ayika was in her face.

"You were after something. Lizhen said that people were going to try to stop him, and you were just waiting to steal from his office! Did you let the killer in? Answer me!"

Mizumi fended off Ayika, pushing her back with a firm strike of her palm. "It is mine, okay!"

Ayika grimaced at the pain from the bruise on her sternum and snapped back. "What do you mean it's yours? You dare to steal from his stuff you uncaring little..." She stopped. Mizumi's eyes were watering.

"It is my essay, all right?! I wrote it in the class and you saw me there. There, take it!" She thrust out the crumpled sheet and yanked it smooth. She held it in front of Ayika who was stunned for a second by this abrupt reversal. "That stupid Lili Gaoli was saying all those things about the Nation and I was so angry and the teacher did not seem to want to stop anything."

The anger began to flow out of Mizumi voice to be replaced with frustrated shame. "I was very angry and I wrote a stupid, angry paper insulting the Earth Kingdom. It would have lost me all of Teacher Wen's respect in my first day so I had to get it back before he read it. I know it was a ridiculous plan but I stayed here after school end time until you found me waiting in that classroom so I had to sneak back later but he was still in his office but I had already committed to that plan so I waited until... everything has just gone all wrong!"

Ayika was stunned. This could be another ploy but she felt that no one could lie quite this convincingly. She had learned by now that the truth was often the most ridiculous answer. Ayika opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a jabbing finger.

Mizumi had now passed from anguish to righteous indignation. "And how can you say I do not care about Teacher Wen? The whole stupiding reason I am locked in here is that I cared what he thought about me! My father told me that he was one of the few who actually understood about our culture and was not the same blind nationalist stooge as the rest of the people in this blasted city!"

The girl's mask of proud fury was marred by the tears glistening in the corner of her eyes, so Ayika briefly looked away. "Look," she said as she heard tears being hurriedly dabbed, "I- "

At that moment both girls heard footsteps approaching from outside and stood back as the door rattled. Two guards were talking, their voices muffled but distinct even behind the closed portal.

"...Yeah, the carriage'd been waiting in the dark down the street for hours but our boys got them." The guards entered, still speaking. "You, Miss Miohuito…" The lead guard gestured to Mizumi. "...you're coming with us for a bit."
Ayika ducked to the side as Mizumi advanced to face the guards. The foreign girl's composure had returned and now she was using an exaggerated high class voice, only slightly marred by her buzzing accent.

"I do not believe I shall do any such thing," Mizumi said. "I have requested that word be sent to my father, Tetzamatl Miohuito, and I will be awaiting his arrival here. If you wish to assist me, you may fetch me a refreshment."

Ayika raised an eyebrow at this sass, but the wicked grin on the guard's face did not look promising. "Of course Miss," he smirked. "I'll make sure to take you to your father. As a matter of fact, we can go right now. He's in the next room. We caught him in the getaway-coach right outside the school." He leaned in close to Mizumi's now petrified face. "I'm sure that Public Safety will treat you both with everything due your status."

The other guard grabbed Mizumi by the arm and said, "Come."

Mizumi panicked and blurted out, "Wait! You have to bring her as well," flinging out a hand to point at Ayika.

"And why should I?" said the guard.

"I…" Mizumi started haltingly, searching for an explanation.

The other guard interrupted, "Eh, take 'em both. Can't be too careful with stuff Public Safety wants, though heaven knows why they need all his papers to figure out he was beat to death. Even if they're women, they could still mess something up in here. Get her out before the Inspector sees."

As Ayika was shoved outside along with the other girl she leaned in to whisper bitterly. "Thanks."

Mizumi whispered back, harsh and quick. "Well, you are the one who said not to be alone with the zamat guards!" Ayika assumed that was a foreign swear word and silently made note to remember its pronunciation.

"Shut up, the both of you," the guard said, cuffing Ayika lightly across the head.

They were led over to a larger parlor that during the day served the school as a small greeting room just past the front entrance hall. In the corner was the looming bulk of Mrs Jiangsu looking, for the first time Ayika had ever seen, quite helpless and lost. Across the room, surrounded by a number of uniformed city guards, stood a thin man dressed in a ornate but practical black robe of foreign cut trimmed with deep rich red. His eyes were dark not hazel, but his black hair bound up in a topknot held a hint of the familiar hint of rust.

"Father!"

At the sound of Mizumi's voice the man in black turned and for an instant relief and confusion spread across his face in equal measure. He started speaking very quickly in his native tongue. All Ayika could catch was Mizumi's name but then Mister Miohuito interrupted himself and began to yell at the guards who held her. "What are you doing with your hands on my daughter?"

Ayika heard a calm reply from somewhere behind her. "She is perfectly unharmed. She appears to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time." The Public Safety Inspector's voice was dark and smooth like oiled cloth as he stepped into the room. At his entrance, Mizumi's father narrowed his eyes but he rose up in firm composure.

"Ah, someone in command here. Finally," he began, addressing the new player. "I wish to know many things, starting of course with why I was dragged out of my carriage on a public street to be interrogated within my daughter's school! I would also care to mention that I have taken the liberty of informing Trade Representative Amantza Tailang of my circumstances. Since the unfortunate death of Ambassador Naruhama, he has assumed many of those governmental powers and duties." There was no smirk on his lips but one could be heard in his voice. Mizumi tried to say something but her father raised a single finger and she fell quiet.

The Inspector stepped closer silently, analyzing Mister Miohuito. In the corner, the guard holding Ayika cleared his throat nervously. "Yeah, a runner boy dashed out as we were moving in on the carriage. He was off into the night 'fore a blink."

The Inspector gave no reaction. "It is no matter. Transport on the trams has ceased for the night and it will be well over four hours before anyone can return from the Exclusion."

Mizumi's father smiled. "It is fortunate then that I happen to know the Representative is dining tonight at Mister Gaoli's residence nearby. You will be pleased to hear that he is likely already on his way."

Again, no change came over the face of the Public Safety agent but the tension of the room increased. The air between them vibrated with such intensity that when the Inspector's hand finally twitched within his voluminous dark robes Ayika had to resist jumping out of pure reflex. However, that motion was was apparently an order, not magic sign.

As a few of his men flowed out the door, he continued. "While we await the Representative's arrival perhaps you could answer a few of our questions unaided, Mister Miohuito? Your presence on a dark street wants explanation."

Miohuito returned the blank expression, "I was awaiting the designated time to meet with an acquaintance, and more than that I do not feel obligated to provide."

"Such a friend indeed, to wait for them in the dark for what local residents have attested to be well over two hours. And it seems that your acquaintance has yet to reward your patience."

At that moment the door behind the inspector opened and two guards entered carrying between them a drooping third person, one who staggered under the pain of the bruises that showed through his ragged clothes.

Ayika let out a cry. "Xinfei!" She shook free of her captor and darted across, catching hold of her friend as he sagged towards the floor when the guards released him. She turned on the guards. "You monsters, what did you do to him? You know he didn't do anything!"

During this display the Inspector carefully regarded Miohuito's impassive face and appeared disappointed with what he saw. At the agent's signal a guard shoved Ayika out of the way, grabbing Xinfei's hair to force his face up so it was clearly visible to everyone in the room.

The Inspector continued to speak, eyes searching Mizumi's father for any sign of recognition. "As you can see, we are still conducting our analysis of tonight's events, and we would be grateful for any particular insight you might provide."

"No!" Mizumi shouted, causing her father to whip a wide eyed glance at her, "Father, they are only trying to pin Teacher Wen's death on someone from the Nation! That boy is just some innocent person who was nearby when they arrived!"

For the first time tonight Ayika saw real anger flash into the Inspector's dark eyes. By the time he returned his gaze to Mizumi's father, the man's expression was smooth, showing only carefully modulated shock.

Miohuito said, "Wen Lizhen is dead? This is terrible. It was Mister Lizhen himself who sent word to me to meet him at his office in this school. If something has indeed happened to him I urgently require you tell me all. Has he truly been killed? For such an outspoken proponent of trade to die so soon after Ambassador Naruhama is a blow indeed."

The Inspector was not pleased with this answer. There was tension in his voice as he continued. "We would appreciate the opportunity to view the message the deceased sent to you. Any evidence of the man's final day has the chance of contributing to an explanation."

"It was an oral message."

The Inspector was stone-faced. "Of course it was."

From outside the room there was the a commotion of footsteps and gradually approaching commotion. Only snatches of one side of the argument could be discerned.

"Yes, of course I understand but…!"

"..."

"What? I have to get in there and…!"

"..."

"This is my school! That's it, I'm entering!"

The doors clattered back to reveal the panting frame of the headmaster, Tian'er Gang. For a brief moment the skinny, worry-faced man was lit up with righteous indignation. All of melted off him as soon he saw the powerful occupants of this room. Public Safety, rich foreigners, and enough armed men to shut down a small riot. Gang's mouth worked silently as one of the more alert guards quietly closed the door behind him.

The Inspector didn't turn at all and yet he said with perfect cordiality, "Ah, Mister Gang. We are led to believe you are the headmaster here. We would appreciate your cooperation in several matters very shortly."

"Er, um, yes. Of course," the headmaster nodded frantically.

"That can be now. I believe I have told the good inspector everything that I can at the moment," Miohuito interjected. "And I also have questions for you, Headmaster Gang, such as why my daughter has been kept here when she should have been returned to my house hours ago!"

"I...er," Gang stammered.

The Inspector raised his voice by a single degree, "You may leave this room, Mister Gang. Our conversation with the gentleman is not yet complete."

"Of course, I would be happy to," Gang said as he started to sweat. "Oh, Mrs Jiangsu! Ah, yes, there you are. Come, we will… Ah, and Mister Miohuito, I would be happy to take your daughter to my office and convey my personal apologies to you and yours for absolutely everything that happened tonight!" He gently placed a hand on Mizumi's shoulder and directed her to the door, all while bowing constantly back towards the two figures in the center of the room.

Ayika was carefully dabbing away spots of blood from Xinfei's bruised and trembling arm with the edge of her apron when the headmaster snatched her by the shoulder and hauled her up. Gang said, "And if you have no objection I will also see to the discipline of my workers to ensure that you receive full cooperation in everything you may need?"

The Inspector nodded without looking, so despite her protests Ayika was pulled away from Xinfei and out of the room. Headmaster Gang was livid and terrified, alternating his questions between Mizumi and Ayika with such an emotional speed the experience gave both of the girls mental whiplash.

"Miss Miohuito, I am so sorry you have gotten caught up in this. Is there anything that I can do for you or your father? And you, girl, what were you doing welcoming a criminal into my school?! Again Miss Miohuito, I would like to express my profound sympathy for any distress you have experienced on this unfortunate night. Tribal girl! I can't have someone who's been questioned by Public Safety on a murder employed here! Just... just don't come back here for a few weeks and then I'll see about what to do with you! And Miss, I would perfectly understand if you need to remain at home for several days to overcome the shock of this experience. The well-being of all our students is my utmost priority."

Ayika was still reeling with the shock of effectively losing her job when an unexpected voice spoke up. Mrs Jiangsu cleared her throat softly and reluctantly interjected. "Headmaster, the officers had no issue with our girl here. And she did help put out the fire that could have sent this whole place to ash if it spread." Ayika could see the strain this unusual level of support left on the woman. Ayika was moved to make thanks but Jiangsu's returned look showed that this concession to the truth did not mean that she like Ayika any better than before. Ayika stayed silent.

Gang was shaken and confused. "She did? Well…well there's still that villain they caught! She was almost cradling him in that room, surely some nefarious lover!"

Jiangsu interrupted Ayika's angry denials. "Sir, I saw that boy before the officers got to him and I sincerely doubt him capable of menacing a chicken," Jiangsu said wearily. "He was trying to drag a flaming rug out of the door when we found him, the idiot."

Mizumi spoke up, "That is right! You must have the city guard authorities let that innocent boy go. You did say that you wanted to make things up to me. This will be a beginning."

"Well, hmm, I suppose I could relay your entreaty." He looked around as if there were a great many things he would rather do than make demands of Public Safety. "At least the priest I sent for should be here shortly. This whole thing is a ghastly business. I must be able to assure every parent that the school grounds have been thoroughly cleansed of all spiritual contamination as is right and proper." Headmaster Gang had a very practical attitude towards religion that tended to focus on the areas in which it intersected with the school's income.

Suddenly, Ayika heard the sound of bells. It came from outside the compound, at the front gate. Relief flooded over Gang's face. "Ah, that must be the priest now!"

It was not.

...