========================================================================= DISCLAIMER: This is one part of a multi-part story. It has been modified as a .txt document for the Tenchi Muyo! Fan Fiction Archive (www.tmffa.com) and can be viewed with its original bold/italics at FanFiction.Net (www.fanfiction.net). "Tenchi Muyo!", Washu, and all related images and properties are (c) Pioneer and AIC Animation. This is a work of fan-fiction. The author has received no monterary compensation. Any attempt to profit from this document in any way is punishable by law. To leave feedback, send fan-art, or make arrangements to host this fic on your website, please contact me at takisjoh@msu.edu ========================================================================= WASHU'S LULLABY A "Tenchi Muyo!" Novel by John Takis ========================================================================= - PART III - THE LOVER ========================================================================= The tree was not especially tall, but it was very wide. Long branches arced down from a height of about three meters. It formed an almost umbrella-like shape, and the thick canopy of leaves completed the impression, creating a ten-meter covered area. It was here, laid back on the loamy earth, that Washu rested, letting her mind wander as her skin soaked up the tiny patches of sunlight that had managed to filter through the foliage. She wriggled comfortably inside her casual clothes -- one of the many benefits of being a post-doctoral student. The old uniform had long since been discarded in favor of a red vest over a loose white blouse and a soft hand-spun skirt. This was a private place, one of several that Washu had designated during her undergraduate years. Celebrity had been trying, though the constant attention was finally beginning to fade. She craved time to herself, and the isolated copses and gardens between her new residence and the Graduate Center provided just that. They needed a little help, of course. After all, alone meant alone ... the most benign custodian or meandering student could still be an unwelcome distraction. That help took the shape of an energy field -- nothing complex: just a simple unobtrusive barrier. Anyone attempting to pass would suddenly find themselves facing the opposite direction. And if they ever got around to researching the matter, Washu would be long-gone. The technique had thus far proven to be an effective deterrent. So she was especially surprised when a young man in casual dress lifted a branch and walked inside. He had light bronze skin and wavy golden hair that framed a face which was firmly buried in a book. Only his unusually long ears were visible on either side of the open volume, and he walked several steps towards the trunk before she realized that he wasn't going to stop. She sat up quickly. "Hey! How did you get in here?" The man looked up, startled. His eyes widened, and he took a few awkward steps to one side. The book he had been carrying tumbled from his hands. "I'm ... I'm sorry. I didn't know ... Please excuse me." Hastily, he reached for another branch and pushed through, stumbling over her book- bag. Washu jumped up in alarm. "Wait! Not that way! There's a ..." She was too late. The bushes around the tree obscured the fact that the garden was perilously close to the border of a tall cliff. The man disappeared from view with a small cry of alarm. Washu launched herself through the tangled branches, seizing onto a thick one with her left hand and grabbing out with her right. Her fingers closed around a flailing limb and she pulled back hard. There was a cracking of wood as she tumbled sideways, rolling over the hedge, his arm still firmly in her grasp. Moments later, the two were sitting entangled and breathless on the ground outside the tree. He stared at her, panting. "Thank you! I thought I was dead!" Washu rose to her feet and brushed herself off. "The automatic anti- gravity generators would've probably saved you." She flashed him a small grin. "Still, it was awfully clumsy of you Niwase Mikamo-kun." He looked puzzled as he rose. "Wh ... why do you know my name? I mean, how did you ..." he trailed off. "Have we met?" His gaze drifted from Washu's spiky length of red hair, down the length of her slim body, and then back to her eyes. The intensity of his stare surprised her, and she gave back as much. "I'm sure I would have remembered." He suddenly blushed and looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry ..." Washu smiled, and lifted a hand to smooth back her rumpled hair. "It's hot out here." She indicated the gap they had torn in the foliage. "Come on in." Mikamo remained where he was, shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably. "What is it?" she asked. "I ... I'm terribly sorry for interrupting you. I was just walking around thinking to myself. I wasn't paying attention. I ... I am sorry to invade your privacy." Washu laughed. The brief action had gotten her blood pumping, and there was something charming about the involuntary intruder. Suddenly, company didn't seem so bad. "Don't worry about it. It's not like this is the little girls room or anything. Come on." "Yes, but ..." She batted her eyelashes -- a trick Naja had taught her. She'd never intended to use it, of course. "You don't want to spend time with me?" "Of course!" he blurted out. A moment later, his cheeks colored. Washu laughed again. At least he to be polite. "By the way, how did you get through the branches, anyway? I set up an energy field, you know." She ran a finger along the side of her chin. "Perhaps it's broken." He shook his head earnestly. "No, no, I don't think it would be broken. I ... you see, sometimes when I'm walking around lost in thought, I ... I end up in places where I shouldn't be. Places that are supposed to be protected. Professor Ikuma told me I have some sort of genetic deviation in the probability matrix. I guess you could call me inherently lucky." He grinned, indicating the broken branches. "Guess I wasn't so lucky today, huh?" Washu smirked. "I'm insulted!" "Oh, I didn't mean ..." this time his face relaxed into a reciprocal grin. "Luck, huh? Sounds like something Ikuma would be interested in. Be careful, Mikamo -- you might end up the subject of one of his anatomy lectures." Mikamo paled. Professor Ikuma's infamous anatomy lectures -- affectionately dubbed "anatomization" by the student body -- involved lots of students ... and very few clothes. "How do you know my name?" he asked again. "Isn't this the first time we've met?" Washu's eyes tilted back in her head and she tapped one temple in an exaggerated show of recollection. "There was this student in my first class ... I'm new here, you know ... anyway, this guy, he had a nice warm seat in the sun. He slept from beginning to end. His name was Niwase Mikamo." She smiled wryly. "He looked a lot like you." Mikamo suddenly became intently interested with the cloth over his shoulder. "Oh, right. About that ..." He looked up suddenly, as if seeing her for the first time. "You're Dr. Washu, aren't you!" She nodded. "It's a very comfortable seat, especially during this season. The sun shines the longest there, you know." "Yes," he said, looking up. "I calculated it." "I love that spot too." They smiled at each other for a long moment, Mikamo flushing a deep red. Then the mellifluous sound of the nearest clock rang through the air, signaling the end of the lunch break. Washu reached behind the canopy and retrieved her book-bag. "Take care. If you fall asleep again, I may have to anatomize you myself." She winked and tossed him his book. He turned to hurry away, embarrassed, but she followed after him. "You like to read, huh?" she asked. He nodded. "I prefer it to data-cards." "Me too." "I like it because you can see the information in a different way. I get so tired of staring at numbers. Words are glorious. It's like ... they have some sort of power all their own, and ..." "I like the smell of old books," Washu interjected. "... I love the smell of old books," he finished simultaneously, their voices overlapping. They stopped and stared at each other. Then they both began to laugh. "How lovely!" Washu giggled. She drew herself up in mock-pomp. "Mikamo- kun, I hereby admit you as the first official member of the Book-Loving Club. Henceforth you are always welcome to enter beneath the umbrella- tree." He grinned. "Thank you very much. But ..." "What is it?" "Well, if I'm number one, where does that leave Dr. Washu?" "I'm the advisor," Washu smiled, and winked again. A tremor ran through her when he smiled back. What was this now? There was a knot in her chest. Something tight with hope and anticipation. She continued looking into his eyes, and she knew that if she never saw him again she would never forget what she saw there. Somehow, Mikamo had touched something in her heart she hadn't known existed. It was, she was surprised to realize, not an entirely unpleasant feeling. * * * It didn't take Naja long to notice the change in Washu's attitude. It took her even less time to guess the cause. "Welcome home, Washu," she said happily. Washu looked around, vaguely distracted. This room was bigger than any that had existed in their previous house, though the house itself was smaller and more manageable. She had purchased it because of the personal observatory that dominated the roof. That and the fact that the property included several acres of farm land, animals included. They hadn't had many animals back on Kanemitsu, but those few had been large and stubborn as sin. As a girl, she had spent many hours with a shoulder pressed up against the back end of some four-legged lump. she thought. Still, even having bought the house, she sometimes felt like a tenant. The old lady who had previously owned the house continued to reside there on some secluded floor. Washu had insisted. It was still, after all, a very large house. Large enough for Naja and the maids and butler -- who Naja could not bear to leave behind, and who had remained devoted as ever to Washu. Naja waved a hand in front of Washu's face. "Hello! Did something good happen to you today?" "Something good? Oh ... no, nothing much," she replied. The smile on her face said otherwise. "Ohhhhh Kay ... I see." Naja looked at Washu questioningly. "What?" Washu asked innocently. Before Naja could respond, one of the maids stepped out of the kitchen. "Dr. Washu. Dinner is ready." "Thank you. We're coming," Washu said quickly and brushed by Naja into the kitchen. She tried to keep her step light. Watching her, Naja blinked. With a flash of awareness, her eyes lit up. "That attitude ..." she leapt out of her chair triumphantly. "I sense this is related to a man!!" she shouted. In an instant, Naja was surrounded by maids. "Oooh, really? Has Dr. Washu got a boyfriend?" "Is it true?" "She looks perfectly normal to me." "I don't see anything." "That's 'cause you're not like me!" Naja cried, laughing wildly. The maids tittered amongst themselves in awe. "You can't fool me, Washu-chan!!" "Oh, I envy her," whispered Mei, a small girl with long purple hair. "I don't remember the last time I had a date." That made Naja frown. She hadn't had a boyfriend in so many years, she'd lost count. She strode haughtily into the kitchen and planted her palms on the table. Washu sat across from her, innocuously sipping her soup. "It's Niwase Mikamo, isn't it?" Naja demanded. Washu almost dropped her spoon. Pretending to be calm, she wiped her mouth with her napkin and looked back at Naja, who smiled significantly. "I saw you looking at him in class. He's a very special student, you know. Born on planet Shitori. Twenty-seven years old. He's the third son of a very influential family. He got sent to the Academy as part of a rapprochement contract between Jurai and his home planet. But he got into the philosophy department on his own merits." She leered. "Now that he's getting private lessons with Associate Professor Washu, I'm sure his score and evaluation will be doubled." "Now hang on a second!" Washu leapt to her feet, striking the table. "Whaddaya mean by 'private lesson?' " Naja looked away. "I'm just stating an objective fact," she said in a cool voice. "Now look here, there's nothing between me and him! He found my reading- place." She sat back down, gripping her hand where she had struck it against the wood. "I see. So you called him to your library, is that it?" "That's a gross distortion of the facts!" Washu placed her hands on her hips. "And you say you belong to the Department of Philosophy!" "I'm just guessing, Washu-chan." Naja laughed. "Still, it looks like I struck a nerve." Washu spluttered in protest, then noticed the crowd of maids spilling through the kitchen doorway. "Congratulations, Dr. Washuuuu!" they cried with one voice. "Wha ... what?" she stammered. "We knew this day would come!" Mei gushed. "We didn't expect it so early!" Mikoto was practically swooning. "What are you talking about?" "I really envy you, Dr. Washu!" "I'm so happy for you!" Washu stared dumbfounded into the army of glowing faces. "I have nothing to do with him." "!" one of the maids squealed. "Did you hear that? She called Mikamo-san ! Did you hear the way she said it? Did you hear?" The maids crowded around Washu, murmuring blessings of good fortune. Behind her, Naja was whispering to herself dramatically. "First her lover is disclosed. Then ... dating! Engagement! Marriage! !" "Aaaaaaaaah!" Washu cried out. "There's nothing between us! Really!" But the maids only laughed and Naja just grinned. Washu sighed. Philosophy be damned. She knew when she was beaten. And she allowed herself a small smile. * * * Washu and Mikamo met again three days later at the Graduate Center's outdoor fountain. "You got my note," Washu smiled. Mikamo nodded. "I found it at ... at the 'clubhouse.' " Washu laughed. "I thought we could go to my place," she said. "I have a private library I've been building over the years. We could look through some of the old books together. Plan our next ... our next meeting." He held out a hand and she realized she was shaking. Tentatively she reached out. Their skin made contact. It felt impossibly warm. "That would be lovely," he said. Washu gave his hand a squeeze and smiled, though she was sure it was coming across as a dopey grin. They stared at each other without speaking. The smirk or whatever it was seemed like plastic on her face. "Would you like to get dinner first?" Her smile broke. "Huh?" "Oh! Um ... yeah. That would be great. Let me check my schedule." She flicked her wrist and a transparent data-panel opened between them, numbers scrolling up the screen. "Where would you like to eat?" * * * >From the other side of the fountain, Dr. Clay's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the familiar figures. "Interesting," he said to himself. "Washu and that boy. What are they doing?" Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he reached into his pocket, withdrew a small metal object, and held it up to his face. Moments later he was struck from behind. The next thing he knew he was lying face-up in the fountain, water pouring down on his face. He spluttered and sat up, rubbing at his eyes. When his vision cleared, he saw Akara Naja glowering at him from the sidewalk. "Get lost, Clay," she said coldly. "This doesn't concern you." Before he could respond, Washu moved into view. Clay looked around. The foreign boy was gone. Washu leaned over and examined him. For a moment, he thought she was going to offer him a hand up. But she only squinted. "Are you trying to grow a beard or something? Looks kinda scraggly." Clay growled in frustration. "Washu ..." "That's Washu to you, fat-head! The greatest scientific genius in the Academy!" "Talk," spat Clay. "The fact that you got through the doctoral program first means nothing!" Even in his watery state, he managed a smug grin. "After all, you're still teaching, while I've moved on to advanced administrative duties." Washu snorted. "Yeah. How are things at the Office of Biological Waste Disposal?" Clay turned dark purple. "Never mind him," Naja sighed, taking Washu by the shoulder and leading her away. "Tell me everything! Did he ask you out?" In a supreme demonstration of self-control, Clay ignored them, removing himself from the fountain with as much dignity as he could possibly muster, self-consciously wiping the beads of water from his (rather nice, he thought) beard. He watched as the figures of Naja and Washu moved into the distance. When he was quite sure they were gone, he hurried to the nearest park bench and plucked the metal device from his sleeve. He pushed a button and waited impatiently while a small screen materialized. His wide lips turned upwards in a diabolical grin. Floating in front of him was a crystal-clear image of Washu holding hands with the Shitori student. He knew just where to take it. * * * Washu paced impatiently on the library's second floor. Light shone in through the tall windows, casting a dusty glow on the impossibly high shelves of ancient texts. Naja sat at the two-person table, casually flipping through a book that looked like it might fall apart any moment. Her silvery hair looked almost bronze in the tinted light, and a small pair of frameless reading glasses perched on the end of her nose. "Relax," she said. "He'll be here." Washu stopped pacing and looked at her friend in consternation. "Then shouldn't you be gone?" "How was dinner?" "Fine. I like everything. You know that." "That's not what I meant." Washu spun around. "I know what you meant! Did it ever occur to you that I might want some privacy?" Naja nodded and casually turned a page. "Of course. So did he kiss you?" Washu turned bright red. "That is none of your business!" Naja smirked. "So he kiss you! Washu-chan, I didn't know you had it in you!" "He did kiss me! We held hands! That's as far as it got, smart girl!" She shrugged. "Well, that's information anyway." "When you leaving, anyway?" Naja looked up and closed the book. "Right now," she whispered. Washu turned around and swallowed. Mikamo was standing there, a smile on his face. She swallowed. "Hi!" she blurted out. "Um ... we were just ..." she turned to indicate the table, but Naja was nowhere to be seen. Washu smiled. "Won't you sit down?" "Of course," he said, still smiling. He pulled out a chair for her, then took his place opposite her. "This is a beautiful place you've created." Washu cleared her throat and opened a book she had selected. "I found this text this morning. I thought you might be interested. It's an ancient document on formulas involving chance. Ancient Minagin notation." His eyes lit up, and he ran a hand across the texture of the pages. It brushed against hers briefly and she shivered. "Fascinating," he said. "Thank you. I'd been meaning to ask you ... there are some subspace equations I'd like your opinion on." Four books and five conversations later, Washu was surprised to hear the evening bell ring. She checked her watch. It had seemed like mere minutes had passed. "Would you look at that?" she said, smiling at him. "Time flies when you're having fun. How do you like that? It's my new temporal mechanics thesis." He smiled, but Washu thought she detected a trace of sadness in his expression. She frowned. "Is something wrong?" He turned his head towards the window, staring at the sunset. "You always know just where to sit," he said quietly. She felt her heart catch in her throat. A tightness crept over her. Something was wrong. Mikamo turned back to her, and at the look in his eyes made her heart skip a beat. What's more, he was holding back. That only made her heart work faster. "I want to be totally honest with you, Washu. Because ... because I think I have felt something these past few days. Something that, quite frankly, is beyond me. But I think I like it. And ..." he blushed slightly. "And I think you felt it too." Mutely, she nodded. "Dr. Washu ..." she thought. "Washu, how much do you know about my past?" She frowned. "You're from Shitori ... some sort of exchange student. Through a government program, right?" "According to my student file, yes." He sighed. "Washu, I was born on Seniwa." Washu's face twitched. That was bad. Not as bad as she might have imagined. But ... It was an enormous nation: an alliance of 943 interplanetary governments, and one of the major superpowers in the Galactic Union -- the institution which dominated half the galaxy and was currently locked in cold war with the Jurai Empire. The Seniwa Protectorate was renowned for its rigorous enforcement of immigration and emigration to the point of almost total seclusion. Some even claimed the nation was stricter with its foreign policy than the Jurai Royal Space Academy. Washu thought. She stared into Mikamo's face, noting the restraint with fresh eyes. "I was born on Seniwa," Mikamo repeated. "... so?" whispered Washu. " 'So?' " "So ... what does that mean?" His face fell. "I don't know. I'm here because ..." Washu held up a finger to his lips. "Well I don't care why you're here. You're here, isn't that enough?" she felt her face turn hot. Was that a note of pleading in her voice? She saw his jaw tighten with resolve, and for a moment she felt her insides turn to jelly. Then he leaned forward. She could feel his breath against her face. "I ... I am going to kiss you, Washu-chan." And then his lips were pressed against hers. Her shoulders stiffened in momentary panic, her wide eyes mere inches from his. He jerked back, flushed. "I'm sorry, I ..." She grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him back. It was his turn to be surprised. This time the kiss lingered. Washu had once asked Naja. It felt good, she realized. Surprisingly, improbably good. The nearness of his face, his strong hands on her shoulders. His breath ... Breath. She pulled back, gasping for air. Mikamo's face was undergoing rapid emotional contortions. "What's wrong?" She smiled at him weakly. "Nothing ... nothing. I forgot to breath through my nose, that's all. I've ... I've never done this before." He looked at her in astonishment. "You haven't ... ?" She frowned at him. "I don't have a reputation, do I?" There was a hint of anger in her voice. He swallowed hard. "Oh, no, no. It's just ... well, I mean, a girl like you. I mean, as pretty as you." He colored, and her anger melted. Her lips twitched. "What, you can kiss me but you can't compliment me, is that it?" The statement appeared to touch off his sense of honor, and he straightened. "I would sing your praises for hours on end." She jumped up to sit on the edge of the table, leaning forward. "Boring. me." She leaned forward, pulling him into an embrace. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the heady fragrance of the Jurai Empearls that blossomed in some rare corners of the grounds. His lips worked sound- lessly against her neck. Electricity shot through her veins. she though as a small moan of bliss escaped her lips. The thought made her pause; some random memory brushing ghostlike at her mind. Something clicked in her right inner ear, and she almost fell backwards off the table. "" blared Naja's tinny voice, "" She could almost see Naja's sly smile. So they were alone. She pulled Mikamo's body tighter to her own. she wondered. The setting sun felt like it was inside the room, and the electric fire playing across her skin was met by a raging heat deep inside of her, like a supernova struggling to escape. Against the skin of her chest, the pendant in which she kept her gems seemed to blaze like a crucible. Urgently, she clasped his chin and drew his lips up to meet hers. This kiss was not soft or cool. It was breathy and questing ... it whispered of passions she had never known ... that she would never have believed. Her heart pounded until she thought it would shake her apart. Was she shaking? The pulsation in her breast redoubled, and she realized that it was heartbeat she felt, taut against the skin of his shirt. "Show me," she whispered again. He did. * * * When Mikamo and Washu went downstairs the following morning, they found Naja in the kitchen, reading the latest newsprint over a bowl of cereal. She looked up at the couple and grinned. "There you are! I guess those books were pretty interesting if they kept you up all night studying." "That's right," Washu repeated firmly. "Studying." But Naja noticed that Mikamo gave her hand an affectionate squeeze. "We're on your side, you know," she said, waving her spoon at Mikamo. "Don't forget." Mikamo smiled. "I won't." He leaned over and kissed Washu gently on the cheek. Naja snickered, and Washu blazed with a combination of embarrassment and pride. Naja waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, lighten up, Washu. Have a human emotion once and a while. So you have a boyfriend. So you're lucky. He's cute." Now Mikamo blushed. He cleared his throat and straightened up. "There is a party this weekend at the Great Hall. You both are welcome to attend, of course. You'll be there, won't you?" "Of course we will," Washu said. "I've got an outfit I've been saving for an occasion like this. Naja raised an eyebrow. "Really? I haven't seen anything in your closet." Washu chuckled. "This one doesn't need a closet." Naja looked shocked and Washu realized the implication. "Oh, it's not what you're thinking," she scolded. "You either," she told Mikamo. "Perish the thought," he grinned. It was plain he hadn't. "Besides," Washu said, turning back to Naja. "You could use the exposure, if you know what I mean." She grinned deviously and attached herself to Mikamo's arm. "You're not getting any younger, after all." Naja batted her eyes innocently. "None of us are, dear. So Mikamo-san, do you have any cute friends?" * * * The Great Hall lived up to its name. 300 meters on each side, the massive stone ceiling was supported by four towering columns. Smaller columns held up an ornate mezzanine that ringed the entire room. The ceiling was vaulted, centering around an enormous golden dome, carved in almost infinite detail with the mathematical principles that had been defined through the ages. Paintings and works of art covered the walls around the mezzanine floor. The rest was covered with tapestries of every nationality and color. The auditorium-style seating had been removed for the occasion, and the floor was a complicated network of carpet and tiles that was hardly visible beneath the massive tide of students. A raised stage rose up at one end of the room, where the Royal Jurai Symphony was deftly performing some exotic waltz. Washu and Mikamo were close to the symphony in the wide area reserved for dancing. She wore a strapless pink dress that flared out from the waist. Her mane of hair was adorned by a golden tiara. He wore a pure-white suit of formal cut, laced with gold trim that complemented his tawny hair. Spinning, clasped close together at the waist, their appearance was evocative of some exotic hybrid flower. "You dance beautifully," he told her. She smiled. "It's my first time." "You're joking, surely." "Nope." The dance shifted and she rested one cheek against his shoulder, enjoying the sensation of the cool, silky fabric against her skin. "I watched the others while we were having our drinks. I'm a fast learner." He kissed her hair. "Definitely." "Hmmm ..." she closed her eyes and drifted lazily against him, her feet gliding across the floor. Mikamo stumbled slightly. "Can you see where you're going?" "Don't have to. The Jurai are predictable dancers." He gave a small laugh. "And you are a genius." "Who, me? I'm just an innocent little ingenue!" "Of course," he whispered. "So," she said, opening her eyes and looking around. "This is a big social event. Any family here?" He stiffened. "Did I say something wrong?" He grimaced. "I'm the only Seniwa allowed on the planet." Her eyebrows lifted in concern. "I'm sorry. I didn't know." "I didn't tell you." A tremor ran through his shoulders, and though his position did not change she felt as if he had drawn away ... like his soul had retreated into his body. His eyes were fixed on some undefined point behind her. "There's a lot I have to tell you." Determined to draw him out, she pressed closer against him. He seemed to relax slightly. "Do they keep in contact?" "Sometimes I hear from my grandfather. I ... I told him about you." "Already? Should I be flattered or worried?" He smiled. "My sweet Washu. I've taken risks on your account. What do think?" A small frown appeared on her face. "I think we've shared something very special. I think we're not through yet. I don't want you to get hurt." His brow narrowed and his voice betrayed a hint of bitter irony. "Oh, I'm untouchable. If the truth about me ever came out, I'd be bigger news than you were." He smirked. "No offense." She laughed. "Don't make me take you down a notch." Her eyes flashed mischievously. "You might enjoy it," she whispered. "You a fast learner." "You're a good teacher." "You give me too much credit. I'm hardly, shall we say, 'prolific.' " She laughed harder. "My, what interesting word-use one picks up from books." He beamed with affection. His right hand reached up to her face, the smooth fabric of his glove caressing the smoothness of her face as he gently nudged a strand of pink-red hair behind her ear. "Washu-chan, there's something I want to ask you. Is there someplace we can go to be alone?" * * * Naja thought bitterly. She let out an exasperated sigh at the injustice of the universe. The symphony swelled as she approached the dance floor, narrowly evading a rush of students and patrons. Every shape, size and species in the Academy had turned out. The crowd was a mosaic of shifting colors. Naja was tall enough to stand out, her silver high-necked dress gleaming as she glided between couple after couple. She craned her long neck, searching for some trace of spiky red hair. Washu found her first, but Naja wasn't sure she was happy about that. Her face was pale, her eyes wide. The golden tiara sat slightly askew on her head, and the gorgeous strapless pink dress she had mysteriously produced was creased awkwardly in several places. Naja was so struck by the sight that she instantly felt a twinge of alarm. "Is everything alright, Washu?" Washu was trembling. "We need to find somewhere private ... somewhere we can talk." "Of course." Naja took Washu by the arm and led her between two of the massive columns. There was a small door there. Naja opened it, and the pair found themselves in an elegant, if tiny, room. Naja locked the door behind them and sat down on a green-cushioned couch. She motioned for Washu to sit down next to her. Washu did so gratefully. "Tell me, Naja, am I crazy?" Naja smiled. "Of course. You wouldn't be the number-one genius in the Academy otherwise. It sure wasn't sanity that beat out Yume in the Centannual Science Fair." Washu smiled faintly, but the expression did not last. "Naja, do you ... do you think maybe ... this is all moving so fast." "Is it something with Mikamo? Did he say something to hurt you?" Washu looked up at Naja with gleaming eyes. "Naja, he proposed to me." "Washu-chan! That's wonderful!" Washu did not smile. "Are you certain? His family ..." "His family is his family." "He says he asked his grandfather ... the head of Seniwa, can you believe it? So now I'm an official bride candidate. Of course, we'd have to wait until the opening of their country before anything official ..." "What about ? Washu, do you love him?" Washu's smooth forehead creased in anxiety. "I suppose I must. I've never felt anything like this before. It's like flying." She nodded her head firmly at the simile. "That's exactly right. It's like flying, because I'm afraid of falling. But ... oh, I love him, Naja! What else could it be?" Naja placed a hand on Washu's knee. "Then what are you waiting for?" Washu exhaled deeply. "I know so much about the world and so little about love. I feel like I don't have enough information to accurately assess the situation ..." Naja laughed incredulously. "Washu! This isn't some sort of science experiment! This is romance, not research! It's not always about storing up data and calculating your chances. No one ever experiences real love without accepting risk." She paused. "Look, I know it's the most cliché thing ever said, but this sort of thing only comes around once a life- time." She looked down sadly. "Trust me." Washu managed a faint grin. "You would know exactly?" Naja gave her a faint punch on the shoulder. "Congratulations." Her lips began to curl up in a wicked smile. "You know," she said carefully. "If we make the announcement right now, this could turn into an party." Washu's eyes widened, but before she could say anything, Naja had shoved her off the couch to thud against the floor and was running for the door- way. "Damn it, Akara!" Washu scrambled to her feet. "Don't even think about it! NAJA!" But Washu was too late. And an hour later, she was too drunk and too happy to care. * * * The sun had just started to rise the morning after the party when Naja and Washu finally stumbled home. "I'm going to sleep for a week," Naja croaked as they marched up the walkway leading to the house. "First things first," Washu moaned. "There are stairs." She fumbled with the door, and held it open for Naja before following her inside. The interior of the house was dark, but Washu could discern a tiny figure moving towards them. "Mei? Is that you?" The girl looked at her with wide serious eyes. "What are you doing up? Is something wrong." Mei's lip twitched nervously. "There's someone here to see you," she whispered. "In the study. They ... they let themselves in." Naja had straightened. There was no trace of weariness on her face now. "Thank you, Mei," she said. "Go back to bed." The maid bowed and retreated up the stairs. Naja and Washu walked quickly through the sitting room to the study doors. Naja flung them back. "Director Ikuma!" Ikuma looked up from where he was sitting behind the desk. Next to him sat a man Washu did not recognize. He was tall, with jet-black hair and dark glasses that obscured any view of his eyes. Neither man was smiling. She looked at the rest of the room and saw that the two large chairs had been arranged facing the desk. She looked at Ikuma. "What is this?" "Please sit down," he said. "Am I to be granted an audience in my own home?" "Sit down," the man in black echoed firmly. Washu was about to protest when he tossed a small metal rod towards her. She caught it. It made a quiet beeping noise, and then an image materialized ... a picture of her and Mikamo holding hands outside the fountain. "Hardly discrete of you," the man said. His voice was high and measured. "If you know what's good for you, you'll listen to what we have to say." Washu's eyes met Naja's. Without speaking, they took their seats. "Good," Ikuma said. "I'll cut right to the chase. You must know that Niwase Mikamo is Seniwa." Washu nodded. "You must also know that relations between Seniwa and Jurai right now are at a very ... delicate stage." "What does that have to do with anything?" Washu demanded. "Everything," the strange man said. He was plainly a government agent of some kind. "Seniwa has been in total seclusion for decades. Mikamo's presence here is very important." He leaned forward. "This information is reserved for top-level Jurai officials," he whispered. "If your servants are listening, tell them to stop." After there was no response, he continued. "The Imperial Academy is the most advanced research facility in the known universe. Even rival families like the Seniwa view entry here as the highest form of prestige. And Jurai is more than happy to have them. It gives us an indispensable link." Ikuma leaned forward. "-dispensable," he echoed. "What do you want," Washu demanded. "Do you want us to break off the engagement?" Her jaw tightened. "Because that's not going to happen." Ikuma's lips stretched thin. "You would do well to restrain your more brash impulses, Dr. Hakubi. But no. No, we have no wish to cancel the engagement." "Seniwa is on the verge of opening up to us," the other man continued. "That means big things. Jurai trade expansion, Jurai immigration, an end to hostilities. It's of paramount importance. The Galaxy Union isn't going to be taking any prisoners. Seniwa may be the point-of-leverage we need if we're going to come out on top." Washu snorted. "I don't care about any of this. Get to the point." "The point is, Seniwa is willing to open their borders to us. President Kuramitsu has been conducting secret meetings with the Emperor. They're almost ready to act." He took a deep breath. "I won't lie to you ... there's some opposition to the idea on both sides. Kuramitsu is very old. If one of his sons should take control ..." "I get what's going on," Naja sneered. "This is about propaganda. You think if people rally behind Washu and Mikamo it'll work to your advantage." Her icy stare fell on Ikuma. "How thoughtful of you, ." Ikuma clenched his hands into fists. "Don't blame me for this! The Academy is necessarily entangled. We're the focal point!" The agent bowed low towards Washu. "Dr. Hakubi Washu. Please. For the good of Seniwa and of Jurai, consider what you've heard tonight carefully. Our ultimate goal is unity." "Jurai's brand of unity," Naja whispered bitterly. The agent cocked his head. "Is there any other kind?" Washu shifted uncomfortably. "I ... I suppose as long as we can be together, I suppose it's all right ..." "I don't like it!" Naja snapped. "Invading people's homes. Jeopardizing people's happiness. If you ask me, it's none of your business." The agent grinned humorlessly. "Information is our business." "I see," Naja said. She turned to Washu. "I guess this means Jurai is paying for your wedding." "Of course," the agent said. "What about me?" Naja asked. "I'm afraid we can't offer you money ..." Naja snorted. "Of course." Ikuma produced a hollow laugh. "Don't be disappointed. Your cooperation is valuable to us as well, Dr. Akara. You will, of course, receive a special scholarship. Consider all your university debts paid." Naja's face seemed to stretch and her entire demeanor transformed in an instant. "Professor!" she gasped. "I ... I don't know what to say!" The agent turned towards Washu. "There are conditions, of course. Right now this is a planetary affair. Until the negotiations are finished, this entire system is under a communications lockdown. That means no contact with your home planet." Washu nodded numbly. "The galaxy is watching, ladies. From today onward, you will be kept under surveillance. I can assure you we'll take special care not to disturb your private life. Small consolation, I know, but I hope you'll accept it in the good faith in which it's offered." Washu sighed. "Mister, I've been under six kinds of surveillance since I got here. Right now all I want is to go to bed." He just stared at her, eyes hidden behind those inscrutable lenses. "Then you agree to our conditions." "I agree, damn you." She stood up and bowed briefly to Ikuma. "Good night, Director." Without waiting for Naja, she turned and left the room. Naja moved to follow, but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder. She turned. It was the agent. In front of her, Ikuma quietly closed the door. There was something hard and painful in his eyes. "Let Washu go to bed," he said. "I think that this would be a good time to discuss the terms of cooperation." * * * It was a rare overcast day. A pall of gray clouds stretched from horizon to horizon, dimming the sun's natural light. The fields, too, were barren; the harvesters had been most efficient about that. Only brown earth now, and the occasional tree. At least, Washu reflected, there was a touch of green somewhere in all that bleakness. >From her vantage point on her room's balcony -- which was just beneath the observatory -- she cast her vision out over the landscape, idly wondering where they had hidden the surveillance devices. The nearest tree perhaps? An orbital satellite? The very room? It didn't really matter ... she had nothing to hide. But it still made her feel odd. Like at the monastery -- you never felt like cursing, but you couldn't curse if you wanted to. There was a noise behind her as someone opened her bedroom door. Mikamo. She recognized his footsteps, the sound of his breathing. He was also the only one she would allow into her room without first knocking. He moved up behind her and put his hands around her waist. He rested a chin on her shoulder, nuzzling the side of his face against her luxuriant hair. She looked up at him ... eyes tracing the outline of his thin nose and elfin aspect ... his wide, soulful eyes. Was it any wonder she had fallen in love with him? "What are you thinking?" he whispered. "I was thinking about how nice that tree looks." "I was thinking about your name." She looked up at him quizzically. He smiled. "Hakubi. On my world it means 'the ideal choice.' " "On Kanemitsu it means 'favored of the gods.' It was ... is ... the name of the monastery where I grew up." He pressed closer against her. "I'd like to see it someday." She swallowed. "There's ... there's something else I was thinking about. Something I have to tell you." He looked down in concern. "Yes, Washu?" She looked out over the barren field. "I ... I have this need, and I don't know where it comes from. Somewhere deep. Somewhere from a past I don't think I can remember. An ... I don't know, an urge, a ... to create. And I know ..." Something appeared in her eyes ... something ambitious and eager and quick and alive. "It's like burning, you know? It's eating me up inside. And I know, I what I'm capable of. I could shine like the sun if I wanted to. I could do ..." She trailed off, turning away from the window. "But I can't," she finished sadly. "I couldn't explain it to you. I can't even explain it to myself. And I thought ... I let myself think ..." She turned to stare into his eyes. "... that maybe you and I ... together ... we could create something." There was a catch in her voice. "And maybe I wouldn't be alone anymore." He cradled her face between his hands, concern written in his expression. "Washu-kun ... are you lonely?" "I'm terrified. Of your family, of the Jurai, of the whole damn Academy ... of myself." "Washu," he said softly. "You're in pain. I can tell." He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "It's okay to cry, you know. I'm here." Washu laughed, and Mikamo looked wounded. "I'm sorry," she said, looking up at him in adoration. "It's not you. You're very sweet. I just ... someone else told me that a long time ago. Besides," she sniffed, "I don't want to cry. I'm not sad, I'm ..." She took a deep breath and clasped his hands together. She stared deep into his eyes. "I'm pregnant." He took a sharp breath. "And I'm scared." Her face shimmered with a combination of hope and desire. She wanted him to comfort her. To say something reassuring. To stroke her hair and whisper to her and tell her everything was all right, that it would be all right forever. But he did none of these things. He took her in his arms and kissed her forehead tenderly and pulled her gently onto the bed. She thought perhaps it was the best he had to offer. She thought ... she hoped ... perhaps it was enough. * * * "Pregnant!" Naja cried. "Pregnant! Washu Washu Washu Washu ..." She hugged Washu violently around the waist and lifted the smaller woman off the ground. "Naja, I can't breathe!" Washu choked. Wearing a childlike grin, Naja set her down on the kitchen table. "You won't be able to hide that! We'll to have a wedding now! And I know the place ..." "Oh, no!" Washu exclaimed, holding up her hands as if to ward off some onrushing enemy. "It'll be a small wedding. We'll have it right here at the farm." Naja's nose wrinkled. "Well sounds romantic." Washu snorted. "Trust me, where I grew up it happened all the time. Besides, the planet is still locked down. We can't go to Seniwa Kanemitsu, and if I can't have Kanemitsu, I'll take the next best thing. Which is here. And before you get any ideas, we're keeping it small. Just you, me, and some of Mikamo's friends. Try and see if you can get a hold of Yume ... if she's not too busy taking over the universe, of course. Oh, and send Dr. Clay an invitation." Naja gaped. "Clay?" Washu sniggered evilly. "Put down the address for some big public facility. With any luck, he'll go bragging to the networks." "Oh, Washu!" Naja clapped her hands hysterically. "That's perfect! Divert attention and humiliate Clay all at the same time." She reached forward to ruffle Washu's hair. "I you were the greatest genius in the galaxy!" "Did you ever doubt it?" Naja spun around and flung open a cabinet. "We've got to celebrate!" she cried, whisking out a tall bottle and two glasses. "Can't" Washu smiled, patting her abdomen. Naja rolled her eyes. "Oh, just metabolize it. The drinks, I mean." She set down the bottle and blinked. "What am I saying? I've got to pack!" "What are you talking about? You're not going anywhere." Naja looked at her as if she had just grown wings. "Are you joking? I can't stay here getting in the way of a newly married couple!" "Do you know how many people are living here? There are more than a hundred people on our property. What difference will one more make?" Naja looked vaguely worried. Washu sighed. "You're just grousing because you know I'm not going to let you throw a huge wedding party." "I don't want to disrupt your life, Washu," she said, turning away. "You should send me far away." Her friend's distress was evident. Washu walked up from behind and threw her arms around the other woman in a reassuring hug. She leaned around and kissed Naja on the cheek. "Naja ... I want you to stay," Washu whispered. "I want you to see us happy. I'm not about to let you walk out on me. Not after everything we've been through together." A tear slipped down Naja's cheek. "Damn you, Washu," she whispered. She smiled sadly. "I'll get in the way, you'll see. Don't say I didn't warn you." * * * Sixteen months later, a high-pitched cry broke the silence of Washu's study. Washu rose from her desk automatically, leaving open panels and scattered papers where they respectively hung and lay, only pausing to enjoy the verdant fragrance of Springtime that wafted gently on the breeze through the open window. As she drifted across the room, the sunlight played warmly over her dark blue kimono, which hung snugly over a golden blouse. In moments, she had reached the crib and was gathering up the source of the noise. "You cry much too loudly for seven months-old," she admonished the child, tickling his nose. At his mother's touch, the baby instantly ceased its wriggling and its cry turned into a laugh. Washu gave him a few gentle bounces, then pressed him tight against her chest so that he could rest his chin on her shoulder. "And how is my little Mikumo?" The golden-haired infant burbled happily, grasping at her long hair with chubby hands. "Would you like to go for a walk?" she asked, walking over to the open window. She held up Mikumo so that he could see outside. He squinted in the sunlight and attempted to grab a leaf from the closest branch. She let him settle into the crook of her arm and calmly stroked his hair. "It's a beautiful day." The door creaked behind her. "It's nice out today." Washu turned around with a smile. "How was your day, Mikamo?" "Fine." He walked up to her and kissed her cheek. "And how is my son today?" She teased the baby's cheek with one long finger. "Sounding healthy. I was going to take him out to the park." She examined Mikamo's face. "Is something wrong? You look tense." He cleared his throat. "It's a nice day. Maybe I'll come with you." She beamed. "Really?" A dimensional portal opened up by his elbow. "There's a packed basket in there. We'll make a picnic out of it!" * * * It was not a long walk to their usual spot. By the time several hours had passed, Washu and Mikamo sat sprawled out on the soft grass, surrounded by the remains of their lunch. A few yards distant, their infant son struggled to crawl beneath the shade of a mid-sized tree, grabbing at blades of grass. It was an isolated corner of the park, but still within view of the finely carved wooden terrace that enclosed the preserve. A few people walked there ... botany students, most probably, Washu thought. Studying the arboreal life. Washu turned her eyes towards the sky. "Look there. You can see the rookery from here. Way up there, floating over the Royal Aviary." Mikamo nodded absently. She leaned over, her ornate brown, green and purple shawl folding up beneath one shoulder. "Is there anything wrong?" He closed his eyes. His voice sounded strange. "Kuramitsu, the current Seniwa representative, has just publicly declared the failure of a diplomatic union with Jurai. There's been a bit of an internal shake-up. They're closing their borders. Probably for good." "Mikamo ..." Washu whispered. Empathy clutched at her heart. That thought took predominance above all others. "Do you remember what we talked about last month?" Mikamo continued. "I can get citizenship here if I want." His voice was unnaturally flat. "I'll be fine." "But your family ..." protested Washu. "I won't say I'm not worried." He took a deep breath. "This probably isn't reassuring, but this sort of thing happens all the time." A note of spite crept into his tone. "Power. Politics. My family will survive." He nodded. "It's the Seniwa way, to survive." His eyes drifted to where Mikumo was playing in the grass. "What time is it?" he said abruptly. "Mikumo has an appointment with his pediatrician today." Washu frowned. "Today? I don't remember setting an appointment." "I set it. I noticed he was coughing the other day. I forgot to tell you." "Oh," she said. "I didn't noticed anything. But if you say so." Standing up, she clapped her hands. The remains of the picnic vanished with an audible pop. Mikumo turned his tiny head and giggled. With a beatific smile, Washu bent over her son. He smiled hugely and reached up with grabby hands. She swept him up into her arms and twirled him around in the air. His laughter fell musically across her ears. she thought blissfully, She tucked the infant into one arm and turned to regard her husband. "Daddy's strange, isn't he Mikumo?" she cooed. Mikamo approached and she gave him a playful swat on the cheek. "Let's go." Mikamo reached out an arm. "I'll take him. You have to get back to the house." "To the house? My work can wait." He made a small coughing sound. "I bumped into Naja today. She said she had to speak to you before 1600. It sounded important." "All right," Washu sighed. She turned Mikumo around and looked sternly into his small face. "You be good for daddy, you hear?" She kissed him tenderly on the forehead. "I love you, my baby," she whispered. She handed him to Mikamo, who turned without speaking and walked away. For a moment, she was seized with the sudden urge to run after them. But she chided herself. It was an irrational impulse. Whatever Naja wanted, it was important enough for her to have mentioned it to Mikamo. Even so, she couldn't help looking over her shoulder, just in time to catch one last glimpse of her husband and son as they vanished into the green. * * * Washu thought sourly as she trudged up the front walk of the house that evening. "But Washu, I promised," Naja had whined. "So it's quantum theory. So it's textbook simple. They wanted so badly for you to present ..." Washu grumbled mentally as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. A shape moved in the kitchen. "Mikamo?" But it was only the aged butler. He looked at her with that stony face and said, "Master Mikamo asked me to tell you that he has taken young Mikumo to show him the sea and that they will return this evening." "Again?" Washu grinned. "Typical. Well, let me know when he gets back. I'll be in my study finishing grading those term papers." But by the time she had finished, the butler had still not appeared. Washu looked out the window and was surprised to see the sun almost set. "Must have lost track of time," she told herself. Shutting down her workstation, she went back to the main room and grabbed the arm of a passing maid. "Has my husband returned?" The girl bowed and shook her head low. "I haven't seen him since this morning when he left with you." Washu nodded absently and walked over to the curtains, pulling them back. The sky was beginning to darken. "They should have been back by now. Find Mei or Mikoto. Tell them I'm going to look for them." Feeling a growing sense of unease, Washu wrapped her shawl tightly around her shoulders and stepped out into the chill of the evening. Naja was standing at the foot of the porch. "Naja!" Washu exclaimed. "You're here! Good. Mikamo and Mikumo aren't back yet. Can you help me ..." She trailed off. There was something about Naja's posture, the way she carried herself, the slope of her shoulders. Her expression was firmly fixed, as if she had been rehearsing. As if she'd been waiting for Washu to open the door and come outside. A nameless disquiet seized Washu's heart, and she tried to rush past the taller woman. Naja seized her arm in a vice-like grip. "Naja?" Washu stared blankly at her friend's face. The corners of Naja's eyes were crinkling with intensity and ... something else. Pain? "Naja, I'm scared. What's going on? Why don't you say something?" Panic began to edge her voice, the merest hint of the desperate fear that had begun to swallow her heart. She shook Naja violently. "" Naja made no response, only stared. Washu shook harder. It was nothing compared to what was happening to her on the inside. It was as if her heart had been squeezed into a tiny rock and tossed into a gaping canyon, so that it was rushing, plummeting downward, gathering up loose and broken stone as it fell. "" she screamed at the top of her lungs. At last, Naja's frozen expression began to crack. But she turned away before it could show. Her voice was measured and clear. "They won't come back." With an inarticulate cry of rage and anguish, Washu leapt away, only to be pulled back by Naja's strong arms. "Let me go! Let me go!!" Washu shrieked, flailing. "It's too late ..." "" There was a blast of raw power and Naja went flying against the side of the house. "Washu!" she cried. But Washu was already running as fast as she could towards the front gate, a frantic blur trailing a long cloud of dust. But she knew she could never run fast enough. she thought in utter desperation. The heat raged and seethed within her like a bottled-up volcano. She could feel the skin of her chest blistering where the gem-pendant slapped against it. The gems. The power. Crazed with anger and pain, she tore the pendant off from around her neck and clutched it in her hand. It burned like a hot coal, but she felt none of it. Her mind plunged inward, greedy, delirious. The power was there, dammed up like a reservoir of molten lava; trapped like the heart of a star. Her consciousness crashed forward, raging and unstoppable as an out-of-control river. She rode it, laughing madly, abandoning herself to the white-hot current. THEN The river ceased to flow. The voice brought everything crashing to a stop. It was as if she had run herself up against a black hole. IT She struggled against it. Railed against the horror. The pain. WILL Every fiber of her being seemed to pass through a crucible of pressure so intense she thought she would lose her very existence. BEGIN AGAIN THEN IT WILL BEGIN AGAIN. she screamed into the blackness. THEN IT WILL BEGIN AGAIN. THEN IT WILL BEGIN AGAIN. Abruptly, the pressure vanished, and she was standing outside her front gate, alone and powerless. Her whole mind was blank. Her whole body numb. She fell to her knees like a collapsible automaton. Dark streaks of blackness swam before her eyes. It was over. They were gone. * * * It might have been ten seconds. It might have been a year. "Why?" Washu whispered to the dust. "Why ..." Naja was standing behind her. She barely felt the hand on her shoulder. "Niwase Mikamo's real name is Kuramitsu Mikamo." The voice seemed galaxies away, hard and dead as the air that burned in her lungs. "One month ago, President Kuramitsu died. He had been eager to open his country to Jurai. He tried to push the deal through while he was still alive. His son -- his Vice-President -- is in control now. Misaka. Mikamo's father. He thought the expansion was too hasty. He sent for his son ... and his grandson ..." "He told me he would stay here ..." Washu said numbly. Some wretched part of her had crawled back to awareness. "Seniwa is his home ..." Naja said slowly. Washu could tell she was trying to sound calm and rational. "His family lives there ..." Washu spun around. "And what am I?" The sheer force of her words caused Naja to drop her eyes. "Mikamo wanted to leave you Mikumo ..." she began. Something like guilt flickered across her face. "It's a hard world, Washu. You don't always get to make your own decisions. You don't always like the decisions made for you. Seniwa agents are everywhere, both for expansion and against it. What would happen if they came here? For little Mikumo? They'd have torn him in two." Unmistakable hatred laced her voice. "The powers that be have decided that Washu will be for Jurai, and Mikamo and Mikumo will be for Seniwa. It's stupid. It's unfair. I despise it. I hate what they've done to us. There is no lack of cowardice among the powerful." When there was no response, Naja turned. "Washu-chan?" Washu stared at her calmly, then vanished into thin air. Naja gaped. "Teleportation?" she whispered. Hurriedly, she raised her wrist and checked the small device clasped there. The homing device she had planted on Washu during the struggle at the front door was active, signaling from the third-floor library inside the mansion. Naja trembled, and her breath began to quicken, the horror of the past months threatening to send her fleeing into the night. A shadow stepped out of the bushes that ran along the great gate. "I'm sorry, Naja," Ikuma said softly. Naja turned to him, shaking. Tears poured from her eyes. She thought they would never stop. She sank into Ikuma's outstretched arms and he patted her gently. "Director," she choked. "What should I do? She wasn't even crying! How could she not cry?" Ikuma held her tight in his fatherly embrace. "You must understand, Naja," he said, his voice dry and gravelly. "Washu is burdened with rational ability and perception to an extreme degree. Whether she wants to or not, she understands the situation. She knows why it had to happen. Just like you did. We saved lives, Naja," he whispered. "Don't think it didn't hurt, though. Poor Washu. She was like a daughter to me." Naja tried to laugh, to do anything that would stem the flow of pain and tears. "Y-you mean g-g-grand-daughter, don't you?" It didn't work. Guilt consumed her; seemed to swallow her whole, and she collapsed against his shoulder, tears streaming afresh. "Hey, hey! My clothes!" Naja laughed like a broken toy, sinking to the ground. Ikuma knelt down, signaling to the ranks of maids that had materialized from behind the wall. "There, there," he whispered to Naja sympathetic- ally. "Right now, the only thing is to leave her alone." * * * Washu sat alone at the second level of the library, staring across the table where Mikamo once sat. How had she been so naïve? Now she understood. She understood everything. Jurai. Seniwa. The Academy. The greatest powers in the galaxy. Her only treasure was halfway across the universe. Even if she could get out of the Academy, she would still have to evade the combined forces of galactic government. "With my present abilities, I am helpless," she whispered to nobody. She soaked up the despair; drank it down like water. Logic dictated that there was nothing to be done. Reason demanded that she accept it. She stared idly at the gem-pendant, and had a sudden impulse to hurl it away. To throw it as hard as she could, deep into the nearest quantum singularity. But she didn't. Instead, she let her hand fall limply at her side. The gems clattered to the hardwood floor and scattered. She closed her eyes. Time passed. The sun was long gone. Washu sat, emotionless as a statue. "Washu-chan." Washu opened her eyes. It was the old lady. The one who had sold her the house. Who looked so much like the Reverend Mother right now ... Washu blinked feebly. The old lady pulled out a chair and sat down next to Washu. Her ancient eyes swam with compassion. When she spoke, it was a loving admonishment, cracked and heavy. "You foolish girl. You must cry at this time." Large tears began to spill from Washu's dollish face. They sprang from nowhere. They didn't stop. There was an unbearable tightening around her lips and then her mouth sagged open, silently at first. Then she began to emit strange, broken sounds. Like the bleat of a calf, or the halting cry of some exotic bird. She clung to the old lady like a child. For the first time since she was born, without really knowing how, she cried. She cried and kept crying. * * * How long the tears came, she did not know. A lifetime of tears before she woke up to the sun on her face, her body curled up on one of the library couches. She saw that she was covered in a blanket, and that the old lady had fallen asleep at the foot of the couch. Tenderly, so as not to wake the sleeping woman, Washu pushed back the cover and slipped out onto the floor. She padded over and gave the old woman a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, grandmother," she whispered. She looked down at her body. It was the body of a twelve-year old girl. She had transformed during the night. She gathered her energy to change back ... but then stopped. "Perhaps just for a little while ..." There were too many bad memories in that old body. Sinking to her hands and knees, Washu crawled across the floor and retrieved her gems. She cradled them in the palm of her hand, regarding them critically. "Hunh. I don't know what you are or where you came from, but I won't lose you." Staring at the stones some ugly temptation clawed at her mind. She closed her fist and tried not to dwell on them. "I'm helpless," she said aloud, and accepted it. This time, she added two more words. "For now." And even as she spoke it, the wheels in her head began to turn ... Calmly, she gathered up her too-large clothes where they had been discarded, and began to think. * * * For two nights Naja slept on the couch in her private laboratory. Or, rather, she did not sleep. She merely stared into the blackness. Sometimes she thought she might have been unconscious. But the effort it took to reach this conclusion only sent her spiraling back down into a dark well of guilt and tears. Then the lights turned on. Before she could sit up, small hands covered her eyes. "Who .. Washu-chan?" she sniffed. "Bingo." Naja sat up and turned around. "Oh, Washu ..." she trailed off dumbly, peering wide-eyed at the twelve-year old girl in front of her. "You're ..." Washu crossed her small arms. "Are you surprised? You knew I was an esper, didn't you?" "Well, well I , but ..." Naja couldn't contain herself any longer. She let out a happy sigh of relief and threw her arms around the figure of her friend. "I am so sorry ..." "I'm sorry to keep you worried," Washu said. Naja sniffed. "I thought that Washu-chan hated me." "It wasn't your fault." Washu grimaced. "Get up, Naja. And wipe your nose. We've got work to do." Naja stood up. She wiped her nose. They went to work. ========================================================================= CONTINUED IN: Washu's Lullaby - Part IV: The Chimera =========================================================================