Chapter 2:

I took Kuga back to her apartment, where she showered and changed into fresh clothes. The apartment had dozens of pictures of Fujino and Kuga together through the years. Here was one of the two of them making a snowman with Miyu and Alyssa. Here on the wall was a picture of them holding hands in the park. In all of them, there was one thing I couldn't help but notice, and that's that the two of them were genuinely happy in them.

Eight years ago, standing on a sea cliff, Fujino had suggested that I suffered in my youth because I was a bit too observant for my own good. She'd been trying to get under my skin, to rattle me so that she could rescue Kuga from my wrath. Well, she wasn't wrong. And she did get under my skin, but it wouldn't have mattered.

The power of a HiME's CHILD was born from the love they had for the person who was most precious to them. And Julia had been pretty powerful, because I loved my Mama dearly. But it was a love of a memory, much as Kuga's love for her mom was on a memory of someone who was gone. Fujino's love had been for someone right there in front of her. And the power of her CHILD had been unrelenting. Whether she was right about me or not, it little mattered. She had the power to squash me like a bug. And she very likely would have after our second fight.

Except that Kuga stepped between us. On my behalf, she stopped Fujino. And short of Tokiha swinging in with that beast of hers, Kuga was pretty much the only person who could have saved me in that instant. All the hatred I'd had for her, all the resentment, the frustration and rage, it was all gone at that point.

She had had every reason to hate me. I'd attacked her twice. I'd tried to pluck her eye out. I'd tied her up and used her as bait like a worm on a hook. And still, she protected me.

Kuga came out of her bedroom, dressed in a fresh change of clothes. She paused by a picture hanging on the wall, and she looked like she wanted to cry, but she also smiled softly at the same time, "This has to be my favorite of the two of us, together."

I don't know why, but I decided to look. It was a picture of Kuga and Fujino from our days back at Fuuka Academy, from the year of the Festival. Fujino and Kuga were in the Student Council Room. Fujino's arms were wrapped around Kuga's trunk, and her face was very close to Kuga's neck. The general flow of the picture looked like Fujino had gently pulled Kuga back as she had been walking away. Kuga's emerald eyes were wide in surprise, and her mouth was open in a tiny little "o". Chie had caught the image before even a trace of blush had formed on Kuga's cheeks. Fujino's eyes were dancing with amusement, and she was wearing that enigmatic smile she'd worn so often in those days. I could see why she liked it. It was such a soft and gentle image.

"You need a minute?" I asked her.

She shook her head, and sniffed a bit, "No, no, I'm…I'll be okay. It's just rough. The whole place is full of memories, and…"

"Of course it is," I said, "Look, Pup, you and Fujino lived here for eight years together. I get it. You and me, we both know what it's like to lose people. Look, if you need to cry, I'm not going to judge."

She actually fixed me with a wry smile and chuckled, "Thanks, Nao. I'll cry myself out before this is all over, but we've got some phone calls to make, right?"

"Let me make the calls, Pup," I said, actually smiling at her, "Why don't you put together a list of music for the reception. You knew Fujino best, after all. Oh, quick question. Should I invite Suzushiro?"

"They put their differences aside ages ago," Kuga said, "But last I heard, she'd moved to Okinawa to handle a contract on the U.S.A.F. base there. I don't know if she'll be free or not."

We had been at it for about an hour, me calling everyone whose number I had and explaining the situation, and Kuga pulling CDs and calling a caterer when there was a knock at the door.

Kuga opened the door to a large burly man in a trench coat. He had a weatherworn face and a gruff look that absolutely screamed cop.

"Come in, Inspector Watanabe. May I help you?"

She knew who he was? What sort of a life was Kuga leading?!

"I won't be long, Instructor Kuga," he said, shaking his head, "I just wanted you to know that we found your motorcycle parked outside of the Rorschach Bar last night. There was an incident there, apparently. Some ruffians tried to accost a woman at the bar, and she was forced to defend herself. We weren't able to identify her, or a friend of hers, a young woman with striking red hair," he gave me a very knowing look, and I actually felt my stomach doing flip flops, though I kept my face neutral, "So we wanted to know if you had any information on the subject."

Wait, did he say "Instructor" Kuga?

"I'm afraid I can't be of any help," Natsuki actually managed to sound contrite, "I…lost my partner a few days ago, and I went into Rorschach to drown my sorrows. I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention to anything going on around me. My friend, Nao Yuuki, here, found me there, as she was out with some friends to celebrate her birthday, and when she saw the state I was in she walked me home. I left my bike, since I was in no state to drive, and planned on retrieving it later today."

He nodded, smiling a strangely warm smile, "Well, if anything does come through the fog of tying one too many on, it's not a pressing matter. The bartender and a patron of the bar named Yamada told us that the women were clearly being harassed by those thugs, all of whom had priors, and so they're not really in any trouble," then he cast a stern look at me, "Though we might lecture them on the importance of not fleeing the scene of a crime."

He returned his attention to Kuga, "In any case, Instructor Kuga, we were all sorry to hear about Fujino-san. She was a remarkable woman. I sincerely hope that you won't make drowning your sorrows a habit. Not good for someone in our line of work, you know. And it would shame Fujino-san's memory to do that too often."

Kuga actually smiled gently, "Yeah, you're right, it would. I appreciate the advice, Watanabe-sama. Truly. And thank you for keeping my bike safe. I'll be back at work in a couple of days."

He tipped his hat, then left.

When I could finally breathe again, I turned to her, "'Instructor' Kuga?!"

She smirked, "I teach kendo and judo for the local police department. I also train the dogs and their handlers. You should see them. We have some of the most beautiful German Shepherds in the whole of Japan."

"Pick a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life, huh? And the police didn't mind your priors as a HiME?"

Kuga grinned, "With the exception of that one time I made the mistake of taking Mikoto and Mai on a covert operation, I've never been caught. And they didn't exactly get my identity before Sakomizu bailed us out of that situation."

"And the cops from that night didn't recognize you?"

"A dark-haired teen girl they saw in the dark of night years ago? Officers Okida and Taniguchi thought I looked a little familiar, but they couldn't place it. I suggested it was from news footage of the Fuuka Campus being evacuated during that time, and they said that must be it."

I sighed, "I guess I better not break any major laws in your presence, huh, Instructor Kuga?"

She actually managed a laugh, "I wouldn't recommend it, no. So, what about you, Nao? I heard from Mikoto that you were at Fuuka University, now, so what are you majoring in?"

"Believe it or not, I'm going to be a teacher."

Kuga was dumbstruck. I'd find the fact that she couldn't hide the expressions on her face adorable if I didn't find her disbelief in my statement to be so insulting.

"What, don't you think I could do well as a teacher?" I asked with a haughty tone.

"High school?" she managed at last.

"Nope. I'll be teaching the fresh young minds of Fuuka Academy's primary school. Your sister gave me the idea."

"I'm suddenly very worried for the future of our nation," she quipped. We looked each other in the eyes, emerald green and lime green sparking at each other, then both of us cracked and started laughing.

"Come now," I laughed, "I'm much more mature than I was at the tender age of fourteen. I just want to help shape the bright young minds of our nation's youth while they're still teachable."

"I'll pray I don't meet your students in my line of work," She laughed long and loud.

We collapsed on the sofa, sitting side by side, "So, who all were you able to get ahold of?"

"Well, I got definite 'yes's from Tokiha and Mikoto, as well as her brother and Okuzaki. Though they got married last year, so I guess I've got to start calling her Tokiha, now, too."

Kuga mock-groaned, "Takumi Tokiha, married. Damn, I feel old."

"Tell me about it. Suzushiro said she would come, and she said she'd bring Kikukawa. She was very emphatic, 'I would sail straight through a typhoon to pay final respects to Fujino!'"

"Sounds like her," Kuga nodded. I didn't tell her that the word Suzushiro had actually used was 'rejects', instead translating intent from her malapropism.

"I got platitudes and apologies from Yukariko. Suguira is incommunicado. Mikoto promised to bring her brother, so that's Kanzaki covered. And I don't have the numbers for Higurashi or Munekata, and I assume you'll be calling Alyssa and Miyu to tell them our plans."

"Already taken care of," she stretched, "Thanks for your help, Nao."

I nodded, "Well, we're friends, aren't we?"

She gave a look of mild surprise, then smiled and nodded, "Yeah. Yeah, I suppose we are. Though we've done a crappy job of staying in touch. Maybe…we ought to change that?"

I shrugged, "Maybe we should."

She yawned, "I'm going to snag a nap. I'm still worn out from last night. I'll call you a cab."

"No need," I said, "We're going to have the reception here, so I might as well just hang. It's fine."

I don't know if it was habit from her days with Fujino, but I know it was too far removed from her night of drinking for it to be the alcohol, but Kuga leaned down and gave me a quick peck on my forehead.

Then she yawned, "Thanks, again, Nao. I'll see you in about an hour, then."

I could swear that about a dozen photographs of a red-eyed young woman all glared at me where I sat on the sofa.