by Haruka

Nuriko walked into the dorm room the next morning, expecting to find the recruits lazing in bed. To his surprise, they were all awake. Half-dead, but awake.
"Hung over, are we?" he remarked pleasantly.
"Moozat?" Kei said from under her pillow.
"Would somebody please turn off the sun?" whimpered Yuri, pulling her blankets over her head.
"Nuriko-sensei, is there a doctor on staff here?" Chihaya asked softly.
"Yes, Chihaya, but none of you are going to waste his time with this." Nuriko folded his arms. "All of you, except for Signal, are to be disciplined for your little party. Kei, Yuri, get out here and listen."
The two girls slowly uncovered their heads. Kei muttered a curse and winced in pain.
"That's better," Nuriko said. "There is one way you can avoid punishment, and that is if you reveal to us which of you brought in the wine."
The recruits exchanged looks. Yuri sat up, slowly blinking her bloodshot eyes. "And what would happen to the one responsible?"
"The same thing that will happen to all five of you if you don't name the guilty party."
Kei snorted. "How bad could it be? We're not babies, you can't scare us that easily."
"Speak for yourself," Chihaya murmured.
"What Kei means, Chihaya, is whatever punishment they have planned isn't worth worrying about," Yuri told him.
Nuriko lifted an eyebrow. "You think so, Yuri? Well then, let me remind you that this campus is like a country unto itself. We have no need to worry about being politically correct, for we are, in effect, a dictatorship."
Kurama's green eyes widened. "Are you suggesting that you could torture us?"
"We draw the line at that," Nuriko admitted. "But we're not above using other so-called outdated methods."
"He means they'd beat us!" Chihaya squeaked.
"He didn't say that," Yui pointed out.
Kurama eyed Nuriko. "He's not denying it, either."
"You can use breakfast to consider your choice, but immediately afterwards you must decide," Nuriko went on. "Otherwise, the decision will be made for you."
The recruits watched him leave with their mouths hanging open.
"He's bluffing, he's gotta be," Kei said.
"What if he's not?" Chihaya asked softly. "Maybe Yui doesn't have to worry with Seiryuu to protect her, but the rest of us "
"Aren't going to stand still for it!" Yuri interrupted with a sniff. "We're not helpless, after all!"
Kurama looked at her. "You don't think they'd plan such a thing if they didn't know they could do it, do you? They're well aware of our strengths and weaknesses."
"And Seiryuu may not help me, Chihaya," Yui said. "He protects my life, but this wouldn't be life-threatening."
"What about you, Kurama?" Chihaya asked. "Won't Youko come out if you're hurt?"
"Yes," Kurama admitted. "But Hiei knows that, too, and they've probably taken precautions."
"So what do we do?" Chihaya sighed.
Yuri tossed her hair, then winced from the pain. "Well, _I_ vote we do what he wants and give him the name of the person responsible." She gave Kei a significant look.
Kei had been in the middle of brushing hair from her eyes, but now she stopped and looked at Yuri, then at the others. "Is that what you're gonna do? Fink on me?"
"Wouldn't you rather turn yourself in?" Chihaya asked.
"Would _you_ in my place?" Kei demanded.
"I don't think we should say anything," Kurama told them. "After all, we accepted the wine, Kei didn't pour it down our throats. There's no reason why she should be punished and not us."
"I can think of _one_ reason," Yuri argued. "Punishment hurts!"
"I agree with Kurama," Yui said. "But it won't matter if the two of us say nothing and the rest of you talk."
Chihaya pouted. "I don't want to get beaten ... but I'm not a stoolie, either."
Yui looked at Yuri. "That means it's up to you."
"Oh ...." Yuri's brow wrinkled as she thought. "I suppose Kei would plot some terrible revenge on me if I told. She's like that, you know."
"Thanks a lot," Kei said wryly.
"So it's unanimous," Kurama stated. "Whatever happens, we'll handle it together."
"Aw, hell," Kei snapped. "I'm not letting all of you protect me." She got up and headed for the doorway. "I'll just go confess now and get it over with."
Yuri's eyes were wide. "Kei! You'd really do that?"
The other girl stopped in the doorway. "I'm doing it, aren't I? Don't make a big deal out of it." She walked out.
"I never would have believed it." Yuri shook her head. "Kei behaving unselfishly. The world must be coming to an end."
"I hope they're not too hard on her," Chihaya said worriedly.
"I still don't think it's right for her to take it all alone," Kurama insisted.
Chihaya looked confused. "But what can we do? She's already made her decision."
Kurama stood and walked toward the door. "I know one thing I can do. If I tell them _I'm_ responsible, they won't know which of the two of us really did it. Maybe they'll punish us both, but at least she won't be alone."
"Wait for me!" Yui jumped up. "I'm going, too!"
Chihaya sighed heavily and dragged himself off the bed. "I suppose it _is_ the only fair thing to do ...."
"Well, don't wait around for me," Yuri said. "_I'm_ certainly not going to beg for it." She glanced in the mirror critically. "At least, not until I've had a chance to fix my hair."
Kurama grinned at the others and winked. "We'll wait."

Nuriko shook his head. "I really don't know, Setsuna. This group doesn't look as though they'll be any help at all. They're acting like college kids during summer break."
"They're our best hope, Nuriko," Setsuna said firmly. "And I wouldn't dismiss them so easily. They were each brought here for a reason, and I truly believe "
A knock at the office door interrupted her. "Who is it?" Setsuna asked.
"Kei," came the answer. "I want to talk to you."
"All right, come in."
Kei opened the door and walked into the office, looking around. "Nice place," she said, admiring the shelves lined with texts and the aquarium that decorated one wall.
"Thank you," Setsuna replied, folding her hands on her desk. "What was it you wanted to speak to me about?"
Kei glanced at Nuriko, then looked away. She scuffed her toe into the carpet. "Look, I'm the one who brought the booze in, okay? So there's no point in getting down on everyone else."
"Why am I not surprised?" Nuriko said wryly.
"Nuriko, stop it," Setsuna admonished, then regarded the girl in front of her. "I appreciate that you came to me yourself, Kei."
She shrugged. "I'm not such a jerk that I'll let someone else take the rap for me."
"Neither am I.."
The three of them looked over at the doorway to find Kurama peeking in.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said, approaching the desk, "but I decided to confess. I'm the one who brought in the wine."
Kei stared at him. "Are you delusional or something? You know the one who brought the wine in was "
"Me," Yui said promptly as she walked in behind Kurama. "It was all my fault and I'm sorry."
"Not as sorry as _I_ am!" Chihaya insisted, joining the two fifteen-year-olds. "I should never have brought that wine in!"
"Which, of course, you didn't," said Yuri as she strolled into the office. She sighed. "Since I did it."
"What the hell ?" Kei began, her face a picture of confusion.
"I think," Setsuna interrupted, "that you had all better return to your room. You, too, Kei."
She turned. "But this is crazy! I "
"You're coming with us." Yuri hooked her arm in Kei's and began pulling her backwards. "You heard Meiou-sensei."
"Waittaminit!" Kei protested, her heels skidding across the carpet as she was bodily hauled from the room. "This is ridiculous! HEY!"
The door shut firmly behind the departed group. Nuriko and Setsuna exchanged a look.
"Perhaps I was wrong," Nuriko said slowly.
Setsuna smiled. "If they can already think in terms of protecting each other, yes, perhaps you were."

"Okay," Kei said as she followed the other recruits into the dorm room, "now what was _that_ about?!"
"We decided that we're all in this together," Kurama told her.
"It doesn't really matter who brought the wine, we _all_ drank it," Yui added.
"Let me get this straight," Kei said. "You guys were in the clear, but you _volunteered_ to be punished with me? What kind of stupidity is that?" She looked at Yuri. "What did they do, Yuri? Twist your arm behind your back?"
Yuri sniffed. "It was _my_ choice, Kei. But rest assured it was only a matter of my own conscience and nothing to do with protecting you."
"I wonder what happens now," Chihaya thought out loud.
Kei shrugged. "Now we wait."
"Hn," Hiei said as he walked in.
"But apparently not long," Kei added. She folded her arms and regarded Hiei with a raised eyebrow. "Well, what's the verdict?"
Hiei ignored her and focused on Kurama. "Why, Fox?"
"I had to, Hiei," Kurama answered. "Have you heard how they're going to punish us?"
"Not yet," the Koorimei replied, "but it won't be good."
"We can take it," Chihaya stated, trying to keep the edge of anxiety from his voice.
"Hn," Hiei replied.
"Don't worry, Hiei, everything will be all right," Kurama assured him with a gentle smile. Hiei held his gaze for a long moment, then left.
"Boy, that is one cold guy," Kei remarked.
"On the contrary," Kurama said softly, the smile still on his lips. "I find him very warm indeed."

Michiru nestled her head against Haruka's shoulder as they walked. Because of what happened with the recruits, the morning's training session had been postponed, so the two of them were going out to have brunch.
"Maybe Setsuna should start looking for replacement recruits just in case," Michiru said thoughtfully.
Haruka glanced at her. "I thought you were the one who defended them to Nuriko."
"I did," Michiru admitted, "and I admire that they wound up banding together, but ...."
"What is it?" Haruka asked gently, giving her shoulders a soft squeeze.
Michiru sighed. "I've had this uneasy feeling all day. Like we shouldn't be wasting time."
Haruka studied her. "You told Setsuna?"
"No," said Michiru. "I suppose I should have, but I consulted my Deep Aqua Mirror and it revealed nothing, so I didn't know if I should trouble Set with it or not."
"I always trust your instincts and so does Set," Haruka said firmly. She opened the front door for Michiru and handed her a set of keys. "You go to the car. I'll run back and tell her what you said."
"Okay," Michiru agreed and turned to go out. She stopped suddenly and gasped, "Haruka, look!"
Haruka followed her gaze, her eyes widening. Just outside the Seigi gates, a bedraggled figure was staggering. A pair of scaled hands grabbed onto the bars of the gate, then the figure slid down to the ground, unconscious.
Haruka bolted for the gate with Michiru close behind. The tall blonde slammed her palm over the button to open the gates, then leapt out and gathered the sodden creature into her arms.
"Fish Eye," Michiru breathed, touching the newcomer's cold, bruised cheek.
"He's in bad shape," Haruka said. "We'd better get him inside and tell Setsuna one of the lost agents has returned."

"Kenshin, wait!"
"Oro?" The samurai stopped and turned. Duo and Kagetsuya were hurrying to catch up with him.
"What's this emergency meeting about?" Duo asked.
"Do you know why it's being held in the infirmary?" Kagetsuya asked in concern. "Was someone injured?"
"I'm afraid I don't know any more than you do," Kenshin admitted.
Duo ran on ahead. "Then let's move!"
The three of them arrived at the infirmary to find the other instructors outside the door. Only Nuriko was missing.
"What's going on?" Duo asked Haruka.
She looked at him. "Fish Eye's back."
"Really?" Kenshin said in surprise, then his expression clouded. "But if we're at the infirmary, he must be in bad shape."
"You're right, Kenshin," Setsuna said as she appeared in the doorway. She looked around at everyone. "Thank you for coming so promptly. As Haruka said, Fish Eye _has_ returned, but he's been through a lot since we last saw him. Nuriko is with him now, and he's awake."
"Has he told you anything?" Hiei asked. "Like what happened to his partner?"
"He wanted to wait until you were all here so he could brief everyone at once." Setsuna stood aside. "Come in."
The group entered the infirmary and instantly saw Nuriko sitting at a bedside across the room. As they approached, they could see a blue-haired form in the bed. The face could have been that of a pretty boy or a girl and was clearly exotic, with two coloured streaks on one cheek and pointed ears. The skin tone was pale under the bruises, and big blue eyes opened at the sound of their arrival.
"I still can't believe I made it," he said weakly.
"You look like you've been through hell, buddy," remarked Duo.
"Accurate enough description," Fish Eye answered, closing his eyes briefly. "You'll all have to excuse me, I've got less strength than a newborn baby right now. I'll try to stay alert until I've explained everything."
"Take your time, Fishie," Nuriko stroked the boy's hair.
Fish Eye took a deep breath. "You all know that Van and I were assigned to infiltrate one of the Pet Communities Setsuna had been investigating?"
"That was weeks ago," Kenshin said. "Two months without word from you or Van."
"I know," Fish Eye said, regret tinging his voice. "We wanted to contact you, but we ran into some serious bad luck."
"You were going to pose as a Pet with Van as your Master, weren't you?" Haruka asked.
Fish Eye nodded. "Yes, and that's what we did for all of five minutes. Then the Leader of the Community came to our door and told us that no new Masters could join without serving time as a Pet first."
Setsuna frowned. "The other Communities we surveyed weren't like that."
"I don't know if this one was, either, or if it was just an excuse to test newcomers." Fish Eye shrugged. "All I know is that Van and I were separated and he was forced into becoming a Pet. Right after that, we left on the cruise."
"That's the annual cruise that Communities from around the world take part in?" Nuriko asked.
Fish Eye nodded. "Yes. We all thought that we'd be more readily accepted if we joined a community before the cruise began rather than boarding half-way through the trip. It would attract less attention. In that case, we were right, but it didn't solve the problem of Van and I being separated."
"If Van was made into a Pet himself, that means you both had your own Masters," Kenshin remarked grimly.
"Yes," Fish Eye said quietly. "My Master was a beautiful demon named Sesshomaru. He had another Pet as well, his younger brother, Inu Yasha."
Kagetsuya grimaced. "But ... aren't the Pets ... sex slaves?"
"In general, yes, but Sesshomaru didn't use Inu Yasha that way," Fish Eye said. "He didn't have to."
Michiru touched his hair softly. "Because he had you," she said.
Fish Eye took a deep breath. "It was inevitable that something like that would happen, both Van and I knew it going in."
"Why would a guy keep his own brother as a Pet?" Haruka said, changing the subject.
"Sesshomaru enjoys tormenting Inu Yasha. He calls him 'half- breed' and 'mongrel'. Inu Yasha is only half-demon. He's also half- human, and Sesshomaru seems to hate him for that."
"_You're_ half-human, too," Duo pointed out.
"Yes, but for some reason that didn't seem to bother Sesshomaru. Perhaps because I wasn't related to him."
"Fish Eye," Setsuna said, "what happened to Van?"
Fish Eye sighed. "I thought I was unlucky when Sesshomaru chose me, as I had seen some of his treatment of his brother before hand. And while I was right in expecting ill treatment from him, Van's luck was far worse than mine." His blue eyes fell to the bedspread. "He was taken by a man named Nakago. Even some of other Masters fear him. I've never seen anyone with such cold eyes in my life."
"Has Van been hurt?" Haruka asked roughly.
"Probably," Fish Eye replied. "I couldn't say for sure, as I haven't seen him since Nakago took him away. However, from what I've heard of Nakago, it would be a miracle if he remained unharmed."
"How did you escape, Fishie?" Nuriko asked.
"I had to wait until a time when both no one was around and when I was strong enough physically. Sesshomaru ... well, he's a demon, and as I'm sure Hiei can tell you, they can be very rough and have a lot of stamina."
"Hn," Hiei retorted.
"But when the chance came one day, I dove over the side of the ship and changed into my full fish form," Fish Eye said. "Then I just kept swimming."
"I know you're a strong swimmer, Fishie, but even I wouldn't have attempted that distance," Michiru told him.
"I don't think I would have made it if I'd had to remain in my mid-way form," Fish Eye answered. "But as a full fish, it could have been worse. My problems came from being chased by predators and running into coral reefs."
"You're also exhausted," Setsuna said. "And you need rest, so we'll let you sleep while we decide what to do next."
Fish Eye's lids were already closing. "I'll ... tell you more ... later."
The group quietly left the room and closed the door.
"What _are_ we going to do?" Pulse asked.
"We have to get Van out and we have to finish the assignment," Setsuna said. "That means more people going in."
"Won't they just make anyone who goes in a Pet?" Duo asked.
"No, they're picking up people at different ports along the way, Masters with their Pets." Setsuna shook her head. "If I'd sent Fish Eye and Van in that way, none of this would have happened."
"You didn't know that Community had its own way of doing things," Michiru told her. "If indeed they do. As Fish Eye said, it might just be a test for newcomers."
"There are going to be risks, there always are," Setsuna said. "But no one has to go who doesn't want to _or_ who isn't qualified."
"The new recruits aren't fully trained," Hiei pointed out.
"That's true, I'm afraid," Setsuna admitted. "So we'll just have to figure out who would be best for this job and intensify their training so they can get out there. Some of us will go, as well. I'm not sending rookies alone again, not on this mission."
"Let's go to the conference room and discuss it," Kenshin suggested.

End of chapter 5 Story contents (C) 1997 Tenou Haruka Character copyrights are too many to mention, just know that none of them are mine.