Chapter 5: Interrogation

Rikka felt tired when she reached her house early in the evening. She and the girls had had a hard time with the mouse jikochu (which supported her theory that stronger selfish desires made stronger monsters.) She was almost upset with Cure Ace for not stepping in, but the girl had warned them that she wouldn't always be around to help them. Thankfully, Rikka and her friends always had each other's backs; otherwise, she and Raquel wouldn't get out of these dangerous situations.

But that wasn't one her mind anymore, as she saw a light coming from the windows of the living room. She had been the happiest coming home these days, as she could see both of her parents every evening. She unlocked the front door and entered the hallway, where she put on her froggy slippers and called out, 'I'm home!'

'Rikka!' she heard her father's muffled cry, but it sounded distressed.

'Papa?' Rikka yelped and rushed into the corridor from the side. In the right passageway, she saw the man curled up on the ground next to the cupboard where the telephone was.

'Papa, what's wrong?!' Rikka cried and dropped to her knees next to him in panic.

The man had his arms around his stomach, and his face was scrunched with pain. 'I have stomach cramps,' he breathed out, wincing. 'I can't stand up.'

'Have you called the ambulance?' Rikka asked promptly, seeing the receiver on the ground.

After her father confirmed it, she needed to know more to help him. 'Where does it hurt?'

The man placed one hand below his chest and the other on his right side. Rikka's eyes widened with apprehension; there could be something wrong with his liver or kidney. When Rikka touched his forehead and hers with both hands, she felt that he had a fever, too.

'My stomach started hurting a few hours ago. I thought it wasn't serious but then the cramps started,' the man said.

Rikka was stumped; she didn't know what to do in this case, but she had to be of some assistance.

'Don't worry, papa. I'll help you.' She wanted to lift him up and help him walk over to the living room, but he shook his head.

'No no, we'll wait for them.

'Then I'll bring you some painkillers,' Rikka offered. She turned on her heel, and headed toward the cupboard where they kept pharmaceuticals. In a minute, she was back with a glass of water and a pill. She helped her father sit up and knelt down next to him, watching him take the medication. Of course, it wouldn't take effect immediately.

'Thank you.' The man with purple curls gave her a smile. 'Now I see why you want to be a doctor.' This didn't help ease Rikka's worry, though. She felt helpless; they had to wait for real doctors to arrive.

'You never told us what convinced you,' her father said with a hint of curiosity in his voice.

Rikka blinked in surprise. Oh yeah, she had told her parents that what had happened that day was a secret. She couldn't tell her father everything now. But at that moment, she felt like talking to him might make him feel a bit better.

'Well, you see... Recently, I treated one person myself,' she said after a bit of hesitation.

'Really? Who?' asked the man.

Rikka tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled softly. 'One boy whom I found injured on the beach. I brought him here and treated his wounds, and-'

Suddenly, they heard the blaring of the ambulance car growing louder.

'Oh, the ambulance!' Rikka jumped to her feet and hurried outside to open the gate for them and explain the situation.

The following procedures were nothing Rikka wasn't familiar with. However, this was the first time she was the one answering the paramedic's questions. After examining her father, the man in blue confirmed that the problem was serious and had the staff carry Mr. Hishikawa outside on a stretcher. While they were placing him in the car and talking to both family members, the house was left empty.

But not for long.

With a swish, a short figure appeared in the middle of the living room in a fighting stance. The boy glanced around to make sure he was alone and let his fists drop. He had seen Rikka- Cure Diamond outside, and while he didn't know what was going on, he expected her to come inside. When he took a better look at the place, memories came flooding in—pleasant memories. There was the sofa where he had had his injuries treated, and the table at the back where he had eaten. Why had the meal that Rikka had made him tasted so good?

Stay focused! he reproved himself, shaking his head. He decided to take the stairs to the second floor, where he lay down next to the wooden railing. This way, he'd be able to observe the living room. He didn't want to attack the girl directly, but he had to separate her from the fairy.

...

Once Rikka was back inside and had closed the door behind her, Raquel flew out of the pocket of her knee-length pants.

'Rikka, what happened to your father~quel?' he inquired with worry, floating next to her.

'I don't know,' the girl replied, her face clouded with worry.

She ambled back to the living room and Raquel quietly followed her. 'He's probably caught some illness on his way back to Japan,' she said as she walked out of the corridor. She sat down on the grey sofa opposite the TV, with a low table in front of it.

'Oh... I'm sorry~quel,' the fairy said with sympathy as he landed next to her.

Rikka sighed, slouching over her clasped hands. At least she had Raquel to confide in. 'It's not the first time this has happened. It's also partly my motivation for wanting to be a doctor,' she said, managing a faint smile.

Raquel put his paw on her thigh to express his support. The girl kept thinking about what illness her father could have had. She'll probably find out from her mother when she comes back. Her thoughts wandered back to her recent discovery about Ira.

'I wish I could have taken Ira to a real doctor, too,' she said regretfully, surprising Raquel. 'They could have recognized the pattern and given him proper treatment.'

Ira, who had wanted to know why Rikka looked so sad, was listening in on their conversation.

She... still thinks about me? He was completely stunned, he thought she didn't care about him anymore.

She's gonna hate you for this, the other voice reminded him.

Ira clenched his jaw and tried to block it out. Good.

Meanwhile, the blue fairy wasn't in agreement with his friend. 'But that would have been too dangerous~quel!' he objected.

Rikka smiled sadly and shifted her gaze. 'I know.'

In that moment, Raquel pricked his ears as he heard a swish behind the couch.

'Did you hear something~quel?' Without waiting for an answer, he flew over the backrest of the sofa and looked down.

Before Rikka could react, two hands grabbed Raquel and someone hopped on the headrest, making a long leap from there. A boy landed in the top left corner of the room, almost below the staircase, keeping his distance from her. Rikka gasped and quickly stood up, meeting his gaze.

'Where is the princess?' he demanded, holding Raquel by the neck with one hand.

'Ira?! Rikka yelped but he just shouted her down.

'Where have you hidden her!'

The girl paled with shock as she tried to process the situation. Her eyes darted from Ira's serious expression to Raquel who was struggling to break free. He was there... to make them reveal the princess's location? No... She didn't want to believe it.

'Run~quel!' the fairy cried.

'Stop!' Rikka shouted at the boy when she found words. 'What are you doing?'

'Just tell me and nobody has to get hurt!' Ira raised his voice, his eyes fixed on her movement.

Rikka's breath stopped as she gaped at him in disbelief. This was the old Ira, or rather, the real Ira. The 'nice Ira' was just a mirage, and the real one only cared about himself. She knew it was a risk to have taken him to her house, and she probably should have seen this coming but... she had still thought-

'What? But we- We saved your life!' she cried, the feeling of betrayal burning in her chest. 'Did that mean nothing to you?'

The boy opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He tried to ignore these words but they still stung like salt in the wound. He expected shock, fear, anger... but that look of disappointment on Rikka's face made him waver. After a moment, he sighed in resignation. He couldn't act like he was there voluntarily.

'Listen, I need you to tell me!'

'Why?' Rikka urged him to explain.

'C-Cause I have to prove I'm not a traitor!' the boy finally snapped in frustration.

This caught the girl off guard. Ira's expression and voice both implied that he was being serious. Was he in trouble since he had been seen with them by Gula?

'A traitor?' she said in a softer voice. 'Why do you have to prove that?'

'To save my skin, obviously!' Ira barked. It was embarrassing to admit it, but she had to understand that he had no other option!

'Is the Selfish King threatening you?' Rikka took a careful step forward.

This made Ira realize that he had just made himself look vulnerable. What was he thinking, telling this to her? He couldn't let her think that he cared about her opinion of him, nor that he could be reasoned with.

'I... Don't get off topic and tell me already!' He pumped his other fist to show he wasn't playing around.

Rikka's jaw clenched; for a moment, she had thought she could get through to him. Thankfully, Jonathan had kept the princess' location a secret from them. She knew she wouldn't be able to hold her tongue if worse came to the worst.

'It's pointless~quel!' Raquel finally spoke up in defiance. 'We don't know where she is~quel!'

Ira brought the small fairy closer to his face, making him gulp. 'Oh yeah?'

'Enough!'

Ira looked at the girl with astonishment, recognizing Cure Diamond's authority in her voice. She stood with her fists clenched by her sides and glared at him fiercely. But then, she let out a sigh and let her arms drop in defeat.

'Okay, I'll show you how to get to her.'

'What?!' Raquel squeaked when Rikka took two steps in their direction with her hands raised.

'No! Don't try anything!' Ira shouted to stop her. It sounded more like a warning than a threat.

Until now, Rikka had thought there was a small chance that she could transform. But there was no going back now. All she wanted was to help Raquel escape.

She took her Cure Lovead out of her pocket and said, 'Take me with you, but let Raquel go.' Then she threw the golden token behind her, and they heard it tingle on the floor.

'No! No!' Raquel cried frantically as Rikka carefully trod forward, having Ira shocked and less on age.

Before the boy knew it, she broke into a run and made a jump at him. He instinctively caught the fist aimed at his face, but not the one aimed at his stomach. It didn't make him drop Raquel, but at least he let go of Rikka's fist. Her hands instantly reached for the fairy and pushed Ira's fingers apart. But just as she freed him, Ira caught him with his other hand. In a fit of panic, he threw him against the wall across the room, where he fell to the ground next to the corridor.

'Raquel!' Rikka cried and wanted to rush to him, only for Ira to grab her arm and make her fall on her bottom.

'He's just unconscious,' he said with irritation. He hadn't thrown him that hard.

Rikka got up and tried again, but this time, Ira leapt and toppled her over. He pinned her wrists to the ground and put his knees around her hips. What did she think that assault would do? Now she got them in this stupid situation!

'Now tell me what you know or-!' he demanded, or rather pleaded. Couldn't this girl just be selfish for once?

'Just stop!' Rikka cried, trying to move her hands with no success. This was all too much. She struggled to move but she was afraid of Ira's superstrength. If he attacked her like this...

It's all my fault. If I hadn't been so naive-! The thought of that made her want to cry.

Surprising himself, Ira did stop as that voice inside his head became impossible to block out anymore. The memory of Rikka shielding him from Cure Ace flashed before him. She was willing to go against everyone for him, to take a bullet for him. If she didn't hate him at that point, she had to now!

'Why did you even help me?' he half-whispered the question that had been tormenting him ever since his memory came back.

Rikka's mouth was dry and her heart beat fast, but Ira's question surprised her. 'Because you needed it!' she answered without hesitation, letting her emotions out. 'I never wanted to be enemies!'

Ira was struck dumb by these claims. He couldn't begin to comprehend it when Rikka added in a weak voice, 'Do you really not care?'

All fell silent as Ira's lower lip dropped and his face stiffened. Rikka searched his yellow eyes for any trace of the 'nice Ira' from before. He just couldn't be completely gone...

The boy spaced out for a moment as Rikka's question resonated in his mind. Did he not care about what? About her help? About- her? He stared into those deep blue eyes as if they could give him an answer. They were so pure and beautiful it hurt. Why did they have to pierce his soul like that? Why couldn't he see her cute smile again? Why did they have to be enemies?

Rikka was confused by this shift in mood and tried to read Ira's mind. Then, as if he snapped back to reality, the boy jerked back with his cheeks flushed.

'...no, no!' he mumbled shaking his head, and shut his eyes. What was he thinking!

He opened his eyes but had to shift his gaze from Rikka. He hated that she made him feel like this (whatever this was)! After all that time wanting to punish Cure Diamond for always getting in his way, he couldn't enjoy this. He tried to convince himself that he hated her. But he didn't see her only as his rival anymore; she was his savior too!

You really want to hurt the only person who's ever cared about you? The other voice said, except it wasn't just a voice anymore. It was like an invisible force holding him back. All Ira knew was that if he stays in this position any longer, he's gonna lose his mind!

Rikka opted to stay quiet until Ira turned to her. Suddenly, he let go of her right arm, curled his hand into a fist and drew it back with a loud groan. Rikka immediately shoved her hand in front of her face and shut her eyes to brace the blow-

But it never came. Instead, Ira rammed his fist into the floor next to her head, making a hole in it.

'You stupid girl!' His voice cracked, and he let go of her other hand, pulling back. His head was bowed, so his hair covered his eyes as he trebled. When he lifted his gaze, his face was scrunched with frustration, and his eyes were welling up.

'This is all your fault!' He cried out in a strained voice, and just like that, he disappeared before her eyes.

For a moment, Rikka had no idea what had just happened; she only heard her heart beating in her ears. She stopped shielding her face and lifted her head to look around. When she didn't see Ira anywhere in the room, she let out the breath she'd been holding. Was he actually gone?

'Rikka!'

She heard Raquel's call behind her. She quickly lifted herself to a sitting position and turned around to see Raquel flying towards her. She only crawled a few steps before she caught him in her arms and brought him close.

'Raquel, are you okay?' she blurted out with a worried expression.

The fairy squeezed the fabric of her blue blouse as if his life depended on it. 'Yeah, what about you~quel?' he uttered, almost crying.

Rikka sighed in relief; she was so glad to see that he was alright. 'I'm fine. It's alright now,' she assured him and caressed his head.

Raquel was still confused and jittery as he let go of her and looked around. 'What happened? Where's Ira~quel?'

Rikka didn't really have the answers, but she tried to calm him (and herself) down. 'Don't worry, he's gone.' Her emotions were a jumbled mess of relief and sadness as she thought about Ira's actions.

'I guess... he didn't want to hurt me,' she said, looking back at the hole in the floor. She would have to come up with some kind of excuse for that.

Raquel furrowed his brow and turned to her with glossy eyes, 'I told you to run~quel!'

The made Rikka frown. She admired his selflessness, but he was a child and she felt responsible for him.

'I could never leave you, Raquel!'

The fairy stared at her, then he couldn't hold back tears anymore and went for another hug. 'Rikka, you're too kind~quel,' he sniffed.

The girl put her hand on his back, but she was still weighed down by regret. 'I'm sorry I put you in danger.'

Just then, they heard a familiar voice call out from the hallway, 'I'm home!'

It was Rikka's mother. Rikka stood up, and Raquel popped into his commune form before the girl hid him in her pocket.

'Mama?' Rikka said as she exited the living room. She switched the lights on in the corridor, and there, she met a woman with hair as dark as hers, wearing glasses and a grey cardigan.

'Rikka?' the woman said with concern when she saw the girl's expression.

Rikka was at a loss for words; she wanted her mother's arms to shield her from everything that had happened. She was used to life-threatening situations as a pretty cure, but she hadn't expected this at all. She needed somebody to comfort her, too.

'Mama,' she uttered, and without adding anything, she went and embraced the woman. Ryoko, who only got word of her husband's hospitalization, put her arms around her daughter with a knowing look.

'Oh, honey. It'll be okay,' she said as reassuringly as she could and brought the girl closer. She stayed with her like that, trying to soothe her, but she had no idea about Rikka's inner struggle.

...

In a darkened blind alley, the silhouette of a boy appeared out of thin air. Kneeling on the ground with his eyes shut, Ira felt the cool night air around him. The voice inside his head had finally gone quiet, and he felt relief for just a second.

Then he opened his eyes.

Wait, no, what am I doing?! He thought, holding his head in dismay. I have to go back! I have to... But he couldn't go back now. They'd be ready for him; it wouldn't get him anywhere.

Just a moment ago, he had Rikka at his mercy, and yet... he couldn't make her reveal anything! No, not Rikka, this was Cure Diamond! So what happened?

She- She did something to me. If I had hurt her, it would have hurt me! However, this excuse only confused him more.

How could that hurt him? When Ira thought about it, he realized that he didn't know how, he just knew it. That was when the truth hit him like a train. He let his enemy, a pretty cure, a threat to the Selfish King, go. And that could only mean...

'No!' he shouted into the darkness as he stood up with his fists clenched. I'm not a traitor, I'm not! He had to believe that to keep sane. But if he had failed to prove that to himself, how could anyone else believe him?

Why didn't I at least take her Cure Lovead? he realized then and slapped his forehead. Even though he had been told to leave the pretty cures to Leva and Gula, they probably wouldn't complain. But then again, even if he had taken it and showed it to them, he couldn't just say he had found it.

They'd ask me about her, if she's alive... and I'd be back where I started. He wanted to kick something, to scream his lungs out, but he just slumped into a squat and buried his face in his hands.

Maybe I could try again, he thought with naive hope. The problem was, he could still see the girl's face before him; and those eyes, so blue that he could drown in them. He was angry at her for not telling him, but also at himself because he was so weak around her. He couldn't go back because he couldn't even look at her after this!

He let out a loud groan and punched the ground with both hands. Why couldn't things just go back to the way they were! If he can't block out that voice, how else will he find the princess? With those accusing and scary thoughts in his mind, Ira brought his forehead to the ground and shut his eyes.

Then suddenly, he remembered what he had told Gula earlier:

'I could pretend to have memory loss to get closer to them. To learn where the princess is!'

Ira lifted his head and thought about his own made-up statement. Of course they wouldn't trust me, but maybe...

An idea started forming in his head—the kind of idea that could easily blow up in his face. Nevertheless, anything seemed better than attacking Rikka again, and maybe it could even protect him from Leva and Gula for a while. He wasn't sure if he could pull it off, but at least he had some hope. Unfortunately, he didn't even know where he could get the necessary supplies. He put his hand to his chin in thought.

Marmo! he thought with a glint in his eyes. Marmo could know more about this.

Then he remembered how he had assured Gula that Marmo was the real traitor... Hopefully they haven't found her yet. Hopefully for him, of course. He would go look for her first thing in the morning.