by Haruka

Signal leaned against the railing and looked out over the water. The moonlight shimmering on the waves was nice, calming. There wasn't really any reason he should feel uneasy, and yet ....
"Hi Signal." Chihaya walked over to join him.
"Hi," he answered. "Anything new?"
"Not really," Chihaya replied. "I'd like to get closer to some of the Pets and talk to them, but their Masters keep them right by their sides for the most part."
"Including Inu Yasha?" Signal asked.
"Especially him." Chihaya sighed. "That Sesshomaru is terrible. He won't let him out of his sight if it isn't Free Time, and I'm sure he only allows him that because he'll look bad if he doesn't."
Signal snorted. "I'm not so sure he cares about looking bad."
Chihaya nodded sadly. "Maybe you're right."
There was a few moments' pause while each became lost in their own thoughts, then Signal looked thoughtfully at the other boy. "Chihaya ... have you noticed anything unusual about Nuriko?"
"What do you mean?" Chihaya asked.
"Well ... he seems kind of quiet, doesn't he? I mean, before we came on this ship and even after he was all gung-ho and pumping us up all the time. Now he doesn't say anything."
"I hadn't noticed, but now that you mention it he _has_ been pretty withdrawn." Chihaya frowned. "Have you asked him what's wrong?"
"I tried earlier, but he pretended to hear Pulse calling him from the other room and ran off. _I'm_ a robot with precision hearing and the only noise Pulse was making was a snore while he slept to recharge."
"Maybe Nuriko just thought he heard his voice?"
"Or maybe he was avoiding the question," Signal replied. "The past couple of days, he seems to be avoiding _me_. I don't get it."
"I'll try to talk to him," Chihaya decided. "If he's distracted somehow, he won't be any good to us, and we need him on this mission as a veteran Seigi agent."
"Let me know what you find out, okay?" Signal said. "I've been having this weird feeling about Nuriko ... and I'm worried."

A lost cause. That's what Duo was starting to think this mission was. There were problems in the Community and they knew it, but none of them were getting closer to finding a solution.
Ryoga was in the game room now there was another 'lost' cause. Despite their semi-truce, Duo still didn't want the other boy to find out what he was doing.
Which at the moment was digging into Quatre's desk drawer.
It wasn't hard getting into it no harder than breaking into Setsuna's office had been. What was hard was concentrating on what he was doing and not thinking that Quatre could walk in at any moment. Sure, he was in a meeting right now, but he wouldn't be there forever.
Fortunately, it seemed that Quatre kept his drawer neat and tidy so he didn't have to sift through old note papers and candy wrappers. What he found were several notebooks, all stacked carefully, of differing sizes. He picked up the top one small, leatherbound, with a red ribbon tied around it. Quickly, he untied the ribbon and opened the book, recognizing Quatre's handwriting immediately.
"'I can't be everywhere at once,'" Duo read aloud. "'The rumours of Pets being mistreated without benefit of masochistic pleasure troubles me, but I haven't known how to investigate without offending some Community members. Therefore, I have engaged the assistance of a few trusted members by having them keep journals like this one. I hope they will convey their suspicions so that we may compare notes and eliminate those who would be cruel.'"
Wow, Duo thought, closing the book. So Quatre was aware of problems, huh? And yet the problems, namely Nakago and Sesshomaru, remained. Why? He wondered who the others were who kept journals. How could he find out without searching every cabin?
"Duo? Ryoga?"
Damn! Duo quickly stuffed the journal inside his shirt and closed the drawer. Taking the book might be a bad idea if Quatre decided to write in it, but there was no other choice. He peered out the bedroom door and saw Quatre glancing into the bathroom. He crept up behind Quatre and covered his eyes. "Guess who?"
"Duo!" Quatre turned, smiling. "I was looking for you. Where were you?"
"Hiding." Duo grinned. "To surprise you."
"Hiding, huh?" Quatre looked thoughtful. "Hmm, that gives me an idea for a delightful little game we used to play in the neighbourhood we should play on deck one day soon. I'm sure the others would enjoy it, given the success of Kurama and Arislan's performance."
Uh oh, Duo thought, but kept the grin plastered on his face. "What game is that?"
"Hide and Spank. It's fun. Didn't you and your Master ever play?"
Duo tried his best to look sorrowful. "No sir. My Master didn't have much imagination."
"What a shame." Quatre patted his head. "Don't you worry, we'll make up for it here."
I can't wait, Duo thought with an internal sigh.

Nuriko brushed his long hair slowly. It was morning, time to go out and face another day. He was going to approach Sesshomaru about buying Inu Yasha even though it seemed like a lost cause. Nobody thought the demon would sell his half-brother, but he had to at least try. They were also supposed to try buying Van, but Pulse was going to handle that one. Nuriko had said that Nakago wouldn't sell peanuts to a Suzaku Seishi, let alone his Pet, but the truth was he just couldn't bear the thought of approaching the man.
"Nuriko?"
The purple-haired beauty looked up into his mirror and saw Chihaya in the doorway behind him. "Yes?"
"May I come in?"
"Certainly."
Chihaya closed the door and went over to stand behind him. He smiled. "You have such pretty hair. May I?" He held out his hand for the brush. Nuriko surrendered it and relaxed to enjoy being pampered.
"How do you think it's going so far?" Chihaya asked as he brushed Nuriko's hair with smooth, firm strokes.
"The mission?" Nuriko sighed. "Not very well. We're gaining information, but it feels like we're all going in circles. I can't understand anyone wanting to live this lifestyle, but apparently most of the Pets do. Those that don't should simply be released. If their Masters resist, they should be taken by force."
"I agree," Chihaya said softly. "I want to save Inu Yasha so badly."
Nuriko glanced at him mischievously in the mirror. "What about Van? He _is_ one of the main reasons we came."
Chihaya flushed. "Of course I want to save Van," he said. "It's just that he at least knows we're here and he has hope. Inu Yasha has none."
"Hopefully we can change that."
"Mm-hmm," Chihaya murmured, lifting Nuriko's hair in his hand so he could brush underneath it. He frowned, noticing a dark bruise at the base of Nuriko's neck. He wondered why he hadn't seen it before, and then realized that spot was usually hidden by Nuriko's hair. "Did you hurt yourself?" he asked.
"What?" Nuriko looked at him.
"There's a bruise ... right here." Chihaya touched the spot as gently as he could. Nuriko winced.
"Is there? I wondered why it was sore there. Can't imagine how that happened. So, Chihaya, tell me how you're doing fitting in with the people here. Are they open in speaking to you, or guarded?"
The change in subject happened so fast, it took a few moments for Chihaya to catch up. "Um, open mostly. At least no one seems to have any doubts that I am who I say."
"Has anyone offered to sell you Pets?"
"Most of them want to trade for Yui or Kenshin," Chihaya replied. "I keep saying they aren't mine to trade." He took a deep breath and decided to try again to do what he came for. "Nuriko, are you okay?"
"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?"
"We've noticed ... that is, Signal and I ... that you've been distracted lately, and kind of withdrawn. We're worried."
Nuriko turned to face him sharply. "Is _that_ what this is all about?"
Chihaya wasn't prepared for an angry Nuriko and it frightened him a little. "Um ... n-no, not exactly ...."
"You're a terrible liar." Nuriko yanked the brush from his hand. "If Signal has any problems with me why doesn't he come to me himself instead of sending someone else or isn't bravery part of his programming?!"
"I - I'm sorry." Chihaya ran from the room as quickly as he could. The exchange had only strengthened his conviction that Signal was right, but now they were further than ever from finding out what troubled Nuriko. It was time to take this to a higher source.

Duo watched Hamel stroll through the tables, providing soft violin music accompaniment to breakfast. The boy was talented, there was no denying that. He stole a mischievous glance at Ryoga's rapt expression as he listened to his lover. Obviously Hamel had other talents as well.
There was a quiet stir through the room as Nakago arrived late, and without Van. Duo frowned. With things the way they were, anytime Van turned up missing was reason for worry. Nakago, for his part, seemed unconcerned. He seated himself at Sesshomaru's table, earning a sneer from Inu Yasha. You aren't the only one who feels that way about him, buddy, Duo thought fervently.
Nearly everyone was eating on deck that morning, which provided him with the perfect opportunity to look around and try to guess who might be harbouring journals and likewise, who amongst the agents could search for them. Kei and Yuri were buddy-buddy with Scarlet and her Pet, Lina -- they might have a chance there, even if Scarlet didn't strike him as the journal-keeping type. Rascal, on the other hand, was a real possibility. He was a teacher, so he'd be used to taking notes, and he and Quatre seemed to get along really well. He'd expressed interest in borrowing Kurama before maybe an opportunity to look for a journal would present itself if Hiei allowed it. Soujirou and Xelloss? Tough call. With their sharing of Master duties, how would they handle writing in a journal for Quatre? Still, as long as there was a chance, they couldn't be overlooked. It might be difficult to access their cabin, though they hadn't really become friends with any of the undercover agents. Narsus and Daryun weren't in the running at all Quatre barely knew them. Chocolate ... maybe. She didn't strike Duo as being very sensitive, but sometimes you had to look in the least likely places. Accessing her cabin would be made difficult because of Hamel and Ryoga's secret affair just when the place might be empty would be when they could sneak off to it.
He figured Nuriko's group would have a good chance of moving freely without being questioned the family cover was perfect. Judging from the expressions around their table, however, something was wrong. Chihaya and Signal looked miserable, Nuriko's jaw was set stubbornly, Pulse was frowning, and Kenshin and Yui were exchanging puzzled glances. He hoped that whatever the problem was, it would be resolved soon. They couldn't afford to lose half their agents to some kind of internal squabble.
"Arislan seems to have recovered nicely," Quatre remarked to his Pets. "I don't think I've ever seen a young Pet with as much obvious breeding as that one."
Duo couldn't argue. No one would know anything out of the ordinary had happened to the boy kneeling by his Masters' table. He ate as politely as ever, and showed no outward signs of suffering. A wisp of white-blonde hair fell into his impossibly blue eyes and he delicately brush it back. Duo was about to turn away, when a flash of gold caught his attention. What was that he had seen? He focused on Arislan's face, but didn't see anything unusual until the same wisp of hair slipped out of place again. This time when the young beauty pushed it back, Duo saw the source of the flash. A jewelled circlet across his forehead a symbol of royalty.
Duo sucked in his breath. No way! Arislan couldn't be royalty, no Pet could be. His Masters must have somehow acquired the circlet and had Arislan wear it as decoration, not realizing the symbolism. Where could they have found it, though? Crowns and the like didn't just find their way into street bazaars.
"Duo, what are you staring at?"
He looked up into Quatre's puzzled face. "Oh ... um ... just Arislan, Master."
Quatre smiled knowingly. "I see. Well, I can't blame you for that, he seems made to be admired."
Could be, Duo thought. Or maybe he was made for something greater.

Nakago bid Sesshomaru goodbye after breakfast and headed back to his cabin, ignoring the growl coming from Inu Yasha's throat. He was ready for a rough-and-tumble session with Van. Not that the boy would stand up to much more rough stuff he was weakening fast. He was getting bored of him, anyway. He thought perhaps it was time for a Pet with more spirit. Unfortunately, on the ship, not a lot of Pets were going up for sale, and Pulse and Nuriko were already looking for Pets for their kids. A sly smile crossed his face as he thought of Nuriko. Now _there_ was a victim with spirit.
He opened the cabin door and went in. "Van, come out here," he commanded, closing the door behind him. His order was met with silence, and he frowned. If Van thought ignoring him would help him avoid what was to come, he should know by now it was a mistake.
"Van!" he shouted, striding into the bedroom. It appeared empty. He looked in the bathroom, then went back out into the living room. Where could he be?
Closing his eyes, Nakago used a bit of magic to determine Van's location in the cabin. It came up blank.
"He's gone," the seishi murmured. Van knew better than to leave the cabin without permission he'd been taught the lessons well over the past several weeks. That meant only one thing he didn't plan on coming back. He'd gone into hiding.
Nakago stormed out of the room. The first order of business was to tell Quatre and have him organize the Masters.

"Breakfast was good," Daryun remarked as he, Narsus, and Arislan headed back to their cabin.
"Yes, there's no shortage of fine food on this ship, even if most of it is not native to our lands." Narsus agreed and looked down at Arislan. "Did you enjoy ...?" he stopped abruptly and caught the Prince by the shoulder, turning him around to face him. Arislan gave a small squeak of surprise, his blue eyes wide.
"Narsus, are you out of your mind?" Daryun demanded.
"Your Highness," Narsus murmured, trying with difficulty to keep his voice steady, "your forehead."
Arislan frowned and put up his hand to finger the circlet. Understanding and horror dawned on his face. "Oh no! I must have put it on this morning automatically! Do you think anyone noticed?!"
"I doubt it," Daryun said slowly. "They would have mentioned it if they had, I believe."
"I'm so sorry." Arislan pulled off the circlet. "I almost ruined your plan, Narsus. Can you ever forgive me?"
"There's nothing to forgive, Your Highness. It was an honest mistake." Narsus smiled reassuringly and unlocked the cabin door, allowing the other two to precede him inside. Daryun glanced at him, his dark eyes grown even darker with concern. Narsus' smile disappeared and he shrugged. The error had occurred. If there were to be ramifications, they'd find out soon enough.
"Master Narsus, Master Daryun!" came a voice from down the hall before they could shut the door. They peered into the hallway and saw Duo running toward them.
"Sorry to disturb you, but my Master Quatre has requested that all Masters gather in the Presentation room, no Pets allowed. It's on the deck just below this one, there'll be stewards to give directions."
"What has happened, Duo?" Narsus asked.
He glanced toward Arislan thoughtfully. "I can't say in the presence of a Pet."
Arislan dutifully went to the bedroom and shut the door.
"One of the Pets has run off," Duo told the Masters. "I'd say more, but I have to go spread the word."
"Thank you, we'll go join the others right away," Daryun assured him, and watched the braided boy dash off, then shut the door.
"You may come out now, Your Highness," Narsus said.
Arislan left the bedroom. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Apparently a Pet has escaped," Daryun told him. "They won't get far on a ship."
"It's a big ship," Narsus said. "And if they hide long and well enough, they might be able to slip off next time we dock."
"I wish them luck," Arislan murmured.

Quatre watched gravely as the Masters and Mistresses assembled. Nakago stood by his side, his expression frightening to behold. Everyone spoke softly until they were all seated, then they faced Quatre curiously.
"Thank you all for coming," he said. "I know Duo told a few of you what this is about, but for the benefit of the others, I'll have Nakago fill you in." He stood aside and Nakago stepped forward.
"My Pet, Van, has run away," he said.
Everyone began murmuring. The Seigi agents exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"He left during breakfast, so he hasn't been gone long," Nakago continued. "Obviously, he's still on board ...."
"Like Fish Eye?" Rascal said casually. Sesshomaru turned toward him slowly, his slitted eyes cold.
"What are you suggesting?"
"He's not saying anything, Sesshomaru," Quatre interrupted. "Rascal, please. We have a problem here and we need to work together to solve it."
"What's the problem?" Sesshomaru shrugged elegantly. "Find the boy and return him, simple as that."
"Not that simple," Quatre said. "If Van is found, I want him returned to _me_."
Nakago looked at him, frowning. "I don't think it will necessary to bother you with the return of my wayward Pet."
"If he ran away, Nakago, there must be a reason," Quatre replied softly, not looking at him. "I'm not just here for the Masters, I listen to the Pets, as well. I'm very good at determining fault, and whether or not someone is lying to me. If Van has no legitimate claims, he will be returned to you immediately. If he does, you and I will speak again, in private." He addressed the Masters, "Please tell your Pets as little as possible about this we don't want any of them following Van's lead. But keep an eye on them and to whom they speak. Often, the Pets know more than we think they know, and they may hold the clue to Van's whereabouts." He bowed. "Again, thank you for coming. This meeting is adjourned."
Nakago ignored the suspicious looks he was receiving from some Masters as they filed out and instead focused on Nuriko. The purple-haired beauty glanced his way as if sensing his gaze and his eyes widened. Nakago licked his lips and Nuriko turned away so abruptly that he stumbled into Pulse.
"Nuriko, what's wrong with you?" the robot asked as he steadied him.
"I just lost my balance," Nuriko said hastily. "Come on, let's go back to the room and talk to the others." He glanced over to where Nakago had stood to find the Seiryuu seishi had left.

End of Chapter 20

I own none of the characters used in Seigi.
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