Thirteenth Chapter
Trial and Error
KOENMA WIPED
THE tears from his face, smearing black ink all over it. (His hands are
soiled from all the stamping.) He rolled off his seat, his knees giving
way under him. He fell, bumping his desk, toppling over the numerous piles
of paperwork. He crawled through it indifferently, searching for the torn
pieces of Botan's letter. When he finally found the last portion, he
pieced the letter together.
Dear Koenma-sama,
I hope you're
not working yourself to death again. Um… I have to hurry up with this.
We'll be leaving for Makai soon. Duh. Why am I telling you this? Of
course, you already know.
I'm sorry about
what happened last night. I must have been carried away or something. I
mean the mood was so romantic and all that. It's like living a scene from
romance novel, ne? I guess we both thought we were in theater or
something. Anyways, I suggest you forget it. It'll just stir up trouble
for you if others find out (especially your father).
And forget me
too, okay? You and Miss Masago forget me. I know you two (is) are
really hardheaded but there's just things you can't change. We all have to
make sacrifices. Now you two stop (bikering) bickering, get married
and make it work out, okay?
Oh yeah, I made
a boo-boo again. Sorry. (Peace!) I sort of lied to the investigating team.
I said I went to the (arcives) archives but the truth is I didn't.
At least, I don't recall doing so. They all said I did anyway, so maybe I
did. You know me.
I do remember
going through the passage they're talking about. However, it didn't lead
to the (palas) palace. It lead to this room, which had this
multicolored flower I can't describe very well. I hid it in my room in the
secret place. You know about it, right? Do you remember? I almost
strangled you when you found it while snooping around my room years ago.
Anyway, just take a look at it please. Show it to Kurama or maybe Yukina.
One of them might know what it is.
Anyway, I'll
tell you exactly what I think happened. I remember sitting on this chair
when something (wird) weird happened and I blackened out. When I
woke up, I found myself on the clinic and then Sir Ieyasu summoned me to
his office. He told me I was found by the sentinels and that was it. We
also had a near argument about you and Miss Masago. He sort of blamed me
for the failed match. I guess he was partially right to say the least.
I can imagine
you cursing me for my stupidity already. (Peace again!) I was afraid Miss
Masago might get into trouble, too. If I told them the truth, the police
will surely make a fuss and the Yoshio family shall be scandalized, which
brings me to the real purpose of this letter. Please do this last favor
for me. Just in case anybody in the Yoshio family is found guilty of
something, don't let the public know. If any shame comes to them because
of this (confetion) confession, I'd be fairly angry with myself.
Not at you, of
course. I know it's not your fault. And I'm not asking you to give them
immunity or something. I know your good nature won't let you do such a
thing. Just please make sure to conceal any scandal, okay?
I guess this
letter is also goodbye. The guard outside my cell is such an impatient
jerk. He's yelling for me to get it over with so I will. By the way, sorry
about the erasures. I can't think properly with that creature at the other
side of the bars throwing a fit.
Well, see you
old friend. Take care. Remember to eat thrice daily. And have at least
eight to ten hours sleep (I heard sleep requirement decreases as one gets
old but in your toddler form anyway…). Please take a vacation at least
once a year. And try to smile once in a while. Whistle while you work or
something. You'll wrinkle your forehead and wouldn't Yusuke dig that?
He'll say you're a chibi ojiichan. Oh, I keep on forgetting your staying
on your adult form permanently! (smacks head)
One last thing,
don't forget. Miss Masago's birthday is on the twentieth next
month. Buy her a gift for me. She really loves those chocolates and sweets
from south of Reikai. Why don’t you buy her some from Ningenkai and see
which ones she likes better?
There. That
stupid soldier is scolding me again. I gotta run. Ja ne!
(Lo)
(Affec)
Sincerely,
Botan
P.S. Tear this
up after reading it. It's easier to forget something if there's nothing to
remind you with, right?
It took a while
for the contents to sink in. When they did, Koenma punched the floor as
hard as he could.
"Botan-no-baka!"
he roared. "I can't believe you're that stupid not to understand the
situation. Treason is punishable by death DAMMIT!"
All the
confessions he read in that tiny space of time bore down on him
mercilessly. It was as if everything was cramped inside
him and that he ran out of space to register everything at once. He
felt numb, drained, totally battered. He just sat there on his haunches,
staring limpidly at her letter, his hands hanging lifelessly on his side.
No expression showed on his face but the tears continuously fell from his
eyes.
"You're an
idiot, Botan," he murmured. "You're being accused of treason and
you're in danger of death penalty but you still think of others before
yourself."
He shook his
head, sighing in exasperation. Then, he smiled lightly in spite of
himself.
"Sorry, my
scatter-brained chicken of a spirit guide," he said. "But it's
never wise to listen to your counsel when it comes to legal matters. I do
learn from experiences."
With that, he
stuffed the letter in his pocket, stood up groggily and went on his way.
GEORGE SATOME
BRISKLY made his way down the employees' quarters. He had been searching
for the royal fledgling for quite some time already. Well, Botan's old
room seemed such a strange place for him to be, but then again, being a
close friend of the ferry girl, he might have been searching for something
to save her from exile. At least, that's what George thought.
"Koenma-sama,"
said the blue creature, knocking on the door. "Your father wants you
in the conference room now."
No answer. A
few moments later, the door swung open and the prince himself emerged.
George's jaw
fell. He was shocked by the prince's appearance. His clothes are dirty, as
are his face and hands. His hair was disarrayed with lone strands standing
on end. But what struck the oni worse were his eyes. Koenma was sporting
wild-eyes, red and puffy. The ordinarily serene peepers were darting
everywhere as if in desperation.
The oni opened
his mouth to inquire his boss about his health. His stopped a moment
later, however, apparently changing his mind. Koenma didn't seem to
notice.
"Which
conference room?" asked the prince wearily.
"Main
building, fourth floor, right wing."
Koenma nodded
then walked away.
George jogged
after his charge, then hesitated. He sure didn't want to get a yelling,
but the baby-sitter in him spoke up.
"Koenma-sama?"
he asked almost fearfully. "Is there something wrong?"
The other
turned around, an impatient scowl threatening to form on his face. The
concerned look of his old servant softened him, though. He shook his head.
George was
unconvinced but knew not to press.
"Well, I
must go now," he said, and walked off.
"Hey,"
Koenma called after him. "The leave you're asking for. Go take it.
Now."
George was
surprised but joy immediately replaced the initial reaction.
"You're an
angel, Koenma-sama!" he shouted, skipping away.
Koenma watched
him disappear around the bend. "Some angel," he snorted. Then
with one final melancholic smile, he left.
"See you,
George."
THE COUNCIL HAD
started the meeting despite the incompleteness of the assembly. It was the
prince himself who was late and that has never happened before.
Nonetheless, they listened uneasily as the reports on the latest
development on the situation were presented.
Sometime later,
the crier announced the tardy one's arrival. However, the Koenma who
entered was different from the one we saw earlier. His eyes had lost its
wild confused look, now replaced by an empty coldness. His hair was combed
properly and was very clean. He was no longer wearing his soiled clothes.
Nor was he wearing one of his typical uniform on red, blue and white.
On the contrary, he looked very cool in his attire.
"I want to
fetch the ferry girl Botan from her cell," he declared; no greeting,
no nothing.
The members of
the assembly looked at each other dismally. They did expect this. But not
this soon.
"Your
Highness," said one. "That would be quite impossible. See-"
"The girl
has been sent to Makai," interrupted Enma. "If you've been here
earlier, you would have heard the minutes of the previous meeting and the
latest news. Sit down, Koenma."
"I'm not
done yet, sir," the prince answered coolly. "And if you don't
mind, I'd like to settle my business here immediately so as to allow me to
move on to others later."
Koenma checked
his audience. They were gawking at him. They just couldn't believe he had
disobeyed a direct order. The prince only half-smiled, satisfied.
"I believe
my former employee has been a victim of mistrial," he started.
"Proof that she has been in the archives is not conclusive of
treason. We have no proof at all that she has made any youkai. Besides, we
really aren't really positive she's been to the archives at all."
"But the
ki print-" said somebody.
"Ki prints
can be faked. I myself have done so many times before. That's how I manage
to sneak out the office undetected."
"Are you
suggesting a conspiracy is involved here?"
"Not
necessarily. Anybody could have done it."
"Are you
doubting the integrity of out workers?" asked another rather
insolently.
"No, but
there are powerful beings capable of controlling the mind of others."
Silence.
Then…
"She has
confessed, sir," piped one timidly.
"According
to law," said Koenma. "Confessions are not sufficient grounds in
judging a case. Strong evidence must be able to support such
confessions."
"But Miss
Botan's case has not yet been given a verdict. She's just being sent away
for security reasons."
"In that
case, we have no right to detain her. She has not yet been proven guilty
and is therefore presumed innocent."
"Yes, but
she still posses as a potential threat to the safety of classified
information and the populace itself."
"Which is
why we have to investigate this deeper." He held up the indescribable
flower and the letter he attempted to piece together. "These are new
leads. I want this flower studied now. You may also use this personal
letter of mine received from the accused herself. Also this." He
brought out something from the pocket of his trench coat, making sure his
eyes were locked on to his father's emotionless ones. "My mother's
diary."