by Haruka

Robots weren't supposed to have intuition or sixth sense, but as he strode through the ship corridors, Pulse had a feeling that something big was happening. Maybe one of the others had found Van. Or Nuriko. He cursed himself for not having pressed the seishi harder about what was bothering him.
"Pulse!" Signal ran up to join him. "Any sign of anything yet?"
"No, nothing," Pulse said abruptly, then faced Signal. "Nuriko began acting weird that time when I sent you to get him from the cabin."
"Yeah, I know." Signal sighed. "I have a memory lapse from that time, too. I must have gone Chibi."
"Indeed," Pulse said thoughtfully. He reached down and opened a side panel on his own hip.
"What are you doing?" Signal asked.
"I think I can trigger a human-like sneeze through one of these sound circuits ...."
"A ... sneeze?!" Signal cried. "No, Pulse! Don't do it! Please! I don't "
"Ah-choo!" Pulse sneezed. Signal seemed to disappear in a cloud of smoke, but when it cleared, Chibi Signal was gazing quizzically up at him.
Pulse knelt in front of the three-year-old. "Chibi, do you remember what happened when I sent Signal-kun to get Nuriko-mama from the cabin?"
Chibi Signal nodded. "Signal-kun got changed and then I was going to the cabin. I ran into that big blonde man with the scary blue eyes first, though."
"You mean Nakago?" Pulse asked.
"Yes, him. Then I found the cabin easy because the door was open."
"It was?" Pulse frowned. "Was Nuriko-mama still there?"
"He was in the bedroom crying," Chibi answered solemnly.
If a chill could have run through him, Pulse knew it would be happening now. "Do you know why he was crying?"
"He was hurt ... there were black and blue marks on him and his clothes were torn up ...." Chibi bit his lip.
"What else?" Pulse pressed gently, wishing he hadn't been forced to ask the child to remember all this.
"There was blood," Chibi said quietly. "On the bed. He tried to hide it."
Suddenly, Pulse was very glad he'd put on his divider blades. That way, when he next met Nakago, he'd have no trouble slicing him in half. However, right now, while Nakago lived, it was critical to find Nuriko. He opened his hip panel once more.
"What are you doing, Oniisan?" Chibi Signal asked.
"I'm going to change you back to Signal-kun," Pulse answered. "Then we're going to find Nuriko and the others. Our mission just became more complicated." _And_ more personal, he added silently.

Duo followed Quatre, who was striding so purposefully it made him hard to keep up with. He was relieved for the determination he knew that Quatre would be prompted into action by what he read in the diaries, but he hadn't expected the Community Leader to personally phone the three owners of the diaries as well as Sesshomaru and arrange a meeting on the recreation deck. He had attempted to call Nakago as well, but the Seiryuu seishi wasn't in his cabin.
Duo did a double-take as they passed another corridor and he saw a flash of Signal's unmistakable long hair. Signal spotted him at the same time and grabbed Pulse's sleeve. They started toward them at a run.
"Master Quatre, wait," Duo said, and Quatre stopped. Pulse and Signal came around the corner and stopped in front of them.
"Good evening, Pulse, Signal," Quatre said. "I'm sorry I can't stay and talk, but I've a meeting to attend "
"I wish to report a serious crime," Pulse said evenly. "I've just learned that Nakago raped Nuriko."
Duo went white. This was the last thing he'd expected to hear. He felt tears fill his eyes and was on the verge of shedding them when he realized he wasn't supposed to know Nuriko that well. Through a greater effort than he thought he was capable of, he maintained his composure.
"That _is_ a serious accusation," Quatre said quietly. "You have proof?"
"I will, when I can find Nuriko and have him admit it. Or when I find Nakago and torture it out of him."
"And there was a witness to the aftermath ... sort of," Signal added.
"A witness sort of?" Quatre sighed. "He'll deny it, of course. Understand ... I'm not defending him. After some of the things I just learned I'm sure he's capable of it, but "
"There's no BUT!" Pulse roared, then lowered his voice, although it shook with rage. "Nuriko was _raped_ by that bastard, and if you won't exact justice believe me I will and no one had better get in my way!"
Quatre held Pulse's angry gaze for several moments before nodding. "All right. I'll deal with this seriously. It's the final straw for Nakago. I can't find him at the moment, although I'm on my way to a meeting with three other Masters concerning him."
"I'll keep looking myself, you can rest assured of that," Pulse said icily.
"Master, may I help them?" Duo asked. "To find Master Nuriko, I mean. It's probably best if he's not alone while Nakago is missing."
"You're right, Duo, but be careful. Nakago is too much for you to handle. If you see Nakago first tell him I'm on the recreation deck and wish to speak with him I'll take it from there."
"Yes, Master." Duo nodded.
"Pulse," Quatre said, "I'm terribly sorry for what Nakago has done."
"So am I," Pulse said. "But Nakago will regret it even more."

Kurama sighed deeply. This search wasn't getting them anywhere. The ship was just too big. Hiei would return any minute and then they'd try to find the others ....
Someone clapped him on the shoulder and he jumped.
"Hey, there, Fox Boy, don't panic." Kei laughed. "You must have been concentrating pretty hard."
"Something Kei couldn't relate to," Yuri added dryly.
"I'm just waiting for Hiei," Kurama said. "He's faster than the naked eye, and can cover more ground quickly."
"Oro? You're all here?"
"Kenshin!" Kei exclaimed. "When did you show up?"
"He's pretty fast, too." Yui smiled wanly as she walked up to them, rubbing her arms.
"Is something wrong?" Kurama asked her in concern. "You don't look well."
"I don't know," she admitted. "I don't feel ill, but I _do_ feel something ... strange."
"Has anyone seen any sign of Nuriko or Van?" Yuri asked.
"I'm afraid not," Kurama answered. "Nor Pulse or Signal, either. Maybe they've had more success."
"Hn."
"GAH!" Kei leaped into the air. "Where did _he_ come from?!"
"Reikai," Hiei replied.
"She doesn't mean originally, Hiei," Kurama said. "Did you find anything?"
"I found Pulse, Signal, and Duo. They'll be here soon."
"I guess they just couldn't keep up with you, huh?" Kei said with a hint of irritation. Hiei looked at her.
"No, they couldn't."
"There they are!" Yuri waved.
Signal and Duo bounded over to the group while Pulse strode behind them. The look in his eyes was frightening to behold.
"Something's wrong," Kenshin murmured.
"Man, are we glad to see _you_!" Signal said. "You won't believe what's happened "
"Has anyone seen Nuriko?" Pulse interrupted.
"No, not yet," Hiei said, staring at him. "What's going on?"
Duo drew a deep breath. "We just found out ... Nakago raped Nuriko."
Stunned silence fell over the group. Even Hiei looked shocked.
"That's why he's been acting so strangely," Yui whispered. "Poor Nuriko."
"Why didn't he say anything?!" Kei exploded. "We could have nailed that bastard Nakago!"
"Maybe he was embarrassed or ashamed, Kei!" Yuri told her. "This is a very big deal, you know!"
"Yeah, I know, but we could have helped!"
"We still can, by finding him and keeping Nakago away from him," Kenshin said.
"Quatre is looking for Nakago, too, for more reasons than one," Duo told them. "He found out from some of the other Masters about more stuff Nakago and Sesshomaru have been up to and he's about to have a meeting on the recreation deck about it, but no one has seen Nakago."
"Yui, what is it?!" Kurama said suddenly. Everyone turned toward the blonde girl to see her eyes shut tightly, the glow of Seiryuu's symbol on her forehead.
"I ... I don't know," she said helplessly. "It's Seiryuu ... he feels ... disturbed."
"Whatever's wrong, I'll bet it involves Nakago," Duo remarked.
Yui nodded vehemently. "Yes ... I can _feel_ him. "He's ...." She raised her head and looked to their right. "That way."
"Isn't that the corridor leading to the recreation deck?" Signal remarked.
"Let's go," Pulse said grimly. "If we can't find Nuriko or Van, we can at least find Nakago and make sure he's nowhere near either of them."

Sesshomaru gracefully lowered himself into a chair at the table where Quatre, Rascal, Scarlet, and Xelloss were already seated. He regarded them with one raised eyebrow. "Am I to be the guest of honour at this little gathering?"
Quatre glanced around the recreation deck. There were several other Masters and Pets there, enjoying the pleasant evening weather. He had hoped there would be. Both Sesshomaru and Nakago if he ever appeared would be less likely to create a scene in front of witnesses. He gave an internal sigh. Nakago. How could he attack another Master in such a way a mate and mother at that! No matter how he threatened to expose the Community, Nakago couldn't get away with this. His death warrant was as good as signed by Pulse if Quatre didn't do something drastic himself.
"Master Quatre?"
He snapped back to reality, realizing the others were all looking at him curiously. "I'm sorry, I was just wondering where Nakago is. I wanted him to be here as well."
"Oh really?" Sesshomaru said in a slow, deliberate tone. "What exactly is this about?"
Quatre never got a chance to answer.

Pulse and Duo burst onto the recreation deck from out of one corridor while around another corner rushed Nuriko with a group of his own and a blanket-covered bundle in his arms. Everyone at Quatre's table jumped up.
"Inu Yasha!" Sesshomaru said sharply.
"Duo, Ryoga!" Quatre began. "What ?!"
The two groups noticed each other at the same time. "Nuriko!" Pulse said.
"Chihaya, now!" Nuriko cried, pushing the bundle into Chihaya's arms.
Enormous black wings emerged behind Chihaya and his long hair flowed around him.
"So _that's_ your plan, is it?"
Yuri gave a little scream at the sight of Nakago suddenly appearing beside Chihaya. He yanked the blanket off of Van, whose eyes widened in terror.
"Nakago!" Quatre yelled.
"I believe you have something that belongs to me," Nakago said to Chihaya in a dangerous tone, his seishi symbol glowing blue on his forehead.
Nuriko's own red symbol blazed as he held up his arms, his bracelets changing into the iron gauntlets. His gaze never moved from Nakago. "Inu Yasha," he said, "see Chihaya and Van safely to the railing."
Nakago turned his gaze slowly toward the purple-haired seishi. "You would challenge me again, my little Suzaku whore?"
"Nakago!" Pulse moved forward, blades flashing. Nakago raised one hand and a blast of energy fired toward the advancing robot. Kenshin zipped by in a blur, knocking Pulse out of the way at the last moment. The blast took out part of the wall instead. Hiei zipped around to come up behind Nakago. The seishi turned and fired point-blank at the same time a vine with rose thorns yanked Hiei away. The blue energy blast struck Hamel behind him and he was vapourized. The giant violin fell to the ground.
"NOOOO!" Ryoga screamed.
Inu Yasha and Chihaya had made their way to the railing, but Chihaya looked back at Ryoga's cry and froze. "He killed him!" he exclaimed. "He killed Hamel! Oh God!"
Inu Yasha roughly turned him away from the fight. "Get going _now_! While they're holding Nakago off!"
Chihaya nodded and forced himself to regain his focus. He gave a powerful flap of his wings and took to the air with Van in his arms.
Nakago looked up and saw what was happening. His hand began to glow with blue energy once more and he took aim at Chihaya.
"Nakago!"
The seishi hesitated at the commanding voice and looked down at the pretty blonde girl Nuriko's Pet, Yui. His eyes widened in surprise to see the blue symbol of Seiryuu glowing on her forehead.
"He's already angry, Nakago," she warned. "Seiryuu doesn't like what you're doing or what you've done, any of it! He's going to take action if you don't stop _now_!"
"So you're Seiryuu no Miko, are you?" Nakago remarked slowly, his glowing hand still raised toward Chihaya's departing form. There was a moment's pause as he and Yui held each other's gaze, then he fired.
"NO!" Nuriko yelled.
Everyone watched as the blast took off half of Chihaya's right wing. He screamed and struggled to stay aloft, flapping wildly, but couldn't maintain altitude. He and Van plummeted into the ocean.
"CHIHAYA!" Inu Yasha cried, then dove overboard.
Nakago headed deliberately toward the railing. Signal aimed a powerful kick at him, but he blocked it with a seemingly effortless gesture. Kei and Duo were also knocked aside, and Pulse's blade swing was met with an energy barrier.
Nuriko started after Nakago only to find Yui clutching his right arm. He looked at her, but she was focused on Nakago's back.
"I know what Seiryuu wants to do now, Nuriko. Nakago is finished."
Nuriko didn't have time to question her Nakago had reached the railing and was looking down to where Inu Yasha was holding Chihaya and Van with one arm and keeping them all afloat with the other. The Seiryuu seishi was raising his hand to take aim for the final blast Inu Yasha, Chihaya, and Van were helpless and would die. His barrier was still up the others couldn't touch him.
"You can do it, Nuriko," Yui said. "Only you."
Beginning where her hand rested on his gauntlet, Nuriko felt a surge of power enter his body unlike any he could have imagined. His already-heightened Suzaku strength seemed to double in intensity and his psychic senses awakened to levels he'd never known.
"Die," he heard Nakago murmur as he prepared to fire over the railing. Snatching up Hamel's giant violin, Nuriko swung as hard as he could and heard the satisfying crack of connection. For an instant that seemed to last an eternity, Nakago hovered over the edge of the railing, then he toppled over it and disappeared into the waves below.
"Get life preservers down to those kids!" Quatre ordered and several hurried to do as he bid. He stared over at Nuriko in disbelief, as did the Seigi agents.
"Nuriko," Pulse held up one of his blades so the seishi could see his reflection. Nuriko blinked in shock to see Nakago's seiryuu symbol blazing blue on his own forehead, while his own Suzaku symbol continued to glow brightly on his chest.
"H-How?" he looked at Yui. "Do you know?"
"Nakago renounced Seiryuu by attacking after I warned him," Yui said. "So Seiryuu chose a new seishi to replace him."
"But I can't be a Seiryuu seishi!" Nuriko exclaimed. "I'm already serving Suzaku!"
"It looks like they've decided to share you for now," Kenshin remarked. "We all saw Nakago's symbol vanish just before it appeared on you."
Nuriko glanced at Yui and realized that he felt differently toward her. She was Seiryuu no Miko, and he had to protect her. Dear Suzaku, he thought, I really _am_ a seishi for you both now.
A quiet sob drew his attention back to where Ryoga knelt over the spot where Hamel had stood. Quatre heard it as well, and went to stand beside him. Ryoga looked up, his cheeks wet with tears. Quatre crouched by him and enfolded him in his arms.
"I know, Ryoga," he whispered. "I always knew. I'm so sorry."
Nuriko watched sadly. They had won, but had still lost. Damn you, Nakago.

*******************************************************************************

Setsuna sat back in her chair and looked around the room at everyone gathered there.
"Welcome home," she said with a smile. "And to you, Inu Yasha, welcome to Seigi."
The half-demon nodded and gave Chihaya a little squeeze under his arm.
"This is the first time we've all been able to gather together since you returned, so let's update each other, shall we? First of all, Chihaya, how is your wing?"
"It's fine, thank you," Chihaya said. "When I make them disappear, any damage to them is gone when I bring them out again."
"Good," Setsuna said. "I'm sure you're all concerned about Van. Fish Eye is with him, and he's healing, both mentally and physically. I'm sure he'll recover, as he has already told me that he wants to continue as a Seigi agent. He wanted me to thank each and every one of you for your help in saving him."
"Hey, that's what we were there for," Kei said with a grin.
"Rescuing Van was only part of your mission," Setsuna reminded her. "As to the other part, after you let me know what happened and that your cover was blown, I was in contact with Quatre myself. We had a nice long conversation, and he proved to be very reasonable and co- operative."
"What's happening to the Community?" Yuri asked.
"Well, as you know, he first freed Inu Yasha as a Pet so he could stay with Chihaya. Sesshomaru was then expelled from the Community on information in those diaries Duo gathered. He couldn't be trusted not to keep Pets against their will in the future if he remained."
"So the Community is strictly voluntary now?" Kurama said.
"That's the way Quatre intended it to be in beginning, but he made the mistake of taking people in on face value. In other words, he was too trusting. There will now be a screening process and probation period, plus the Pets will be regularly interviewed, with their fears and concerns taken seriously."
"What about Ryoga?" Duo asked quietly.
"Quatre says that Ryoga wants to stay with him," Setsuna answered. "They honestly care about each other as Master and Pet, and Ryoga has friends among the remaining Pets as well. Chocolate gave him Hamel's violin to keep in his memory. She herself disembarked the ship at the next port, along with two other Masters and their Pet."
"Two Masters and one Pet?" Yui remarked. "It must be that Arislan boy. Why did they not finish the cruise?"
"No one knows," Setsuna said. "They just disappeared with their belongings."
"I still think there was something weird about that kid," Duo said. "I swear I saw him wearing a circlet thing on his forehead once the kind that royalty wears sometimes."
Setsuna looked thoughtful. "Well, there _is_ a Prince Arislan from the land of Pars ...."
"A prince?!" Kurama squeaked. "You mean I may have spanked a _prince_?!"
"He certainly had the manners of a young royal," Kenshin remarked. "And his Masters did seem unduly concerned about anyone getting close to him."
"If indeed it was the same Arislan, we'll probably never know their reasons for getting on the ship and posing as Community members," Setsuna said. "But at least they weren't involved in what happened with Nakago." She looked at Nuriko, who up until then had remained quiet. "Nuriko, I won't lie to you. We're all worried about you."
"Don't be," the purple-haired seishi replied. "I'm fine now."
"Bull feathers," Duo stated, earning a maroon-eyed glare.
"What would you know about it?" Nuriko demanded. "If I say I'm fine, I'm fine!"
"Aw, how can you be, Nuriko?" Duo said reasonably. "You held it in when you were attacked, then you became some kind of Super Seishi and nailed Nakago you've been through a lot."
"I know what I've been through," Nuriko told him. "I also knew what I was getting into when I went on the mission, like we all did. I've been a Seigi agent longer than anyone except Setsuna." His voice softened, "Believe me, Duo, I'm not hiding anything now. I really am all right."
"Just the same, Nuriko, I'd like for you to talk to the staff rape counsellor," Setsuna said gently.
Nuriko smiled. "I already set up an appointment."
Setsuna nodded. "Then I won't press you any further about it. Just know that we're all here for you, okay?"
"So noted." Nuriko gave a gracious nod, his eyes twinkling. "And thank you."
"Hey, Inu Yasha," Kei said suddenly, "you're not wearing those prayer beads anymore, what happened?"
"That may be the weirdest thing of all," Inu Yasha put a clawed hand on his neck where the beads used to rest. "When he found out I was leaving and that he was getting kicked out of the Community, Sesshomaru took the beads off of me. He didn't say anything, just took them off and left." He paused. "I don't know, maybe in some remote corner of his brain he sort of recognizes me as his kid brother rather than just a half-breed."
"Are you becoming a Seigi agent now?" Yuri asked.
"It depends on what Chihaya wants to do." Inu Yasha looked at the angel beside him, who shrugged.
"I don't know yet. Setsuna-san said any of we new recruits could leave if we want to, but I'm still making up my mind."
"Yuri and I talked about it," Kei leaned back in her chair. "We're staying until 3WA needs us again."
"I'm staying, too," Signal chirped. "Pulse needs someone to get on his nerves."
"Ha ha, very funny. Where's that sneeze trigger ...?"
"Pulse!"
"Hiei, Kurama," Setsuna said, "I understand you're both leaving?"
"Yes," Kurama answered. "Our services are required in Reikai more than here. Only demons can handle other demons."
"I'm not so sure about that," Duo remarked, glancing at Nuriko. "Nakago was a demon for sure."
"His body was never found, was it?" Yui asked quietly.
"No," Setsuna said. "But he lost all his seishi powers when Nuriko gained them. No normal human being could survive in the middle of the ocean for long even if he survived the impact of the blow Nuriko dealt him."
"Good riddance," Duo said frankly.
"I would say that this meeting is adjourned." Setsuna stood up. "Thank you all for coming, and for your excellent work in this mission. You are all to be commended."
Everyone began leaving the room, but Setsuna caught Duo's braid as he passed her.
"Ow, hey!" he laughed. "What's the big idea?"
"You and I are going to have our own private meeting now about breaking into my office and going off on missions without backup or permission."
Although Setsuna was smiling, something about her expression made Duo very nervous. "Uh, hey, guys?!" he called after the departing agents. "A little help here?! Nuriko, hey! Help me!"
Nuriko looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Sorry, Duo, but I think it would take more than the power of two gods to get you out of this one. I'll get back to you when Genbu and Byakko pay me a visit."
Duo groaned and watched them all walk away.
"Close the door, Duo," Setsuna instructed him firmly.
"Yes, Mistress," he sighed, and proceeded to do so.

End of Seigi

I own none of the characters used in Seigi.
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