The policeman looked at the still figure on the bed.  He'd been found in
pretty bad condition and had been taken to the hospital.  He wasn't sure
what the connection between him and his 'niece' was, but he was sure it
was something similar to his situation.  Ishido had probably
double-crossed the girl; she seemed like the type to hold a grudge.

Ishido murmured something in his sleep, then his eyes snapped open.

*****

Arcana
Started by Scott Schimmel
Chapter Thirteen - Streams of Consciousness
By Delfina

*****

The first thing he saw was light.  And then the police officer.  The
sanitary smell of the hospital pervaded his senses and he groaned.  Not
again.  Harlequin had taken over, and then drug him around the world of
dreams with him.  For some reason he focused in on Hotaru's friend...it
was an interesting dream she had.  One that rang of truth.  Could she
be...?  He shrugged.  Whether she was or was not, it did not matter.
Regardless, he'd keep that particular thought to himself.

The sound of sure steps echoed down the hallway and paused before his
door.  It opened a crack and a familiar face peeked in, then squeezed
through and closed the door firmly behind.  Waving at the officer, the
visitor took a seat next to his bed while the man quietly left the room.

Ishido wished he hadn't woken up.  Maki was the last person he wanted to
see right now.

*****

She glared at Ishido.  Taking a deep breath, she brought her anger under
control.

"I see that you are feeling a bit, under the weather, shall we say?"

He closed his eyes.  "You could say that."

"Why are you protecting her?"

"You told me to kill the Empress.  She's not."

Clenching a fist, she bit out her next words.  "She is a Trump."

He grinned, infuriating her.  "I followed my orders, as best I could.
Since I don't know who the Empress is, I can't exactly do anything, can
I?"

She stood up.  "No, I suppose not," she replied as she glanced at her
watch.  "I don't have the time for this right now, but I will be by
again later."

"I look forward to it, my Queen," came the mocking reply as she stepped
out the door.

The police officer looked at her expression and blinked.  "Are you
okay?"

She nodded and put on her public face'.  "Oh, of course, Uncle Sagara!
I'll be fine!  Do you think you could make sure this gentleman doesn't
escape this time?"

He flinched.  "Right...let me make a few phone calls.  You should
probably go to class.  You don't need a ride, do you?"

"No, I'll be fine."  She waved and headed down the hall.  Sagara
shrugged and pulled out his phone.

*****

A policeman, sitting at a desk in an office, answered his ringing
phone.  "Nakamura here."

*Hey, this is Sagara.  Could you send a few officers down to the
hospital to watch over that kid?  We want to make sure he doesn't escape
again, you know.*

He laughed.  "All right, Sagara.  Is the guy awake?"

There was a pause, then, *Affirmative.  He seems to be in full control
of his senses, near as I can tell.*

"I'll stop on by then in a few minutes.  First I'm going to pick up
something to eat, do you want anything?"

*Hm, where are you going?*

"That new little American breakfast place, by the school.  I think it's
called...the House of International Pancakes?"

*Yeah, get me something.  Anyways, I've gotta go, see you then.*  The
line clicked and died.

He hung up the phone and walked out the door, grabbing his jacket on the
way.  The school was only a few blocks away, and that restaurant was
right next door to it.  The stroll would be good for him.

As he ambled along past the school, he noticed that girl from the
robbery run past at high speeds.  Well at least she seemed to be doing
all right now.

*****

As she zipped past the police officer, the only thought going through
her mind was that she was late.  Again.

"Hotaru!  Wait up."  A blonde came jogging up to her and smiled.  "Good
morning!  Looks like you're in time, with minutes to spare."

The girl blinked.  "What?  But I thought I was...oh, dang it.  Mom
pulled a fast one on me again."  She held her head in her hands.
"Honestly, Natsu.  I have no idea how she does it every day."

Natsu laughed.  "She's had lots of experience, I imagine."

"Yeah, I can imagine."  She glanced at her watch.  "Geez, we have lots
of time before our club meeting."

Natsu nodded.  "I was hoping to catch you before, I had the strangest
dream..."

She looked at Natsu, puzzled. "Oh?  What was it about?  I bet Miyuki
could decipher it for you."

Natsu shook her head.  "I don't want to tell Miyuki about it."

"Are you sure?  She's really good at that sort of thing, I think."

"I'm positive."  Shaking her head again for emphasis, she started to
speak again when she was  interrupted by a voice from behind.

"Ah, I see that you made it here all right, Hotaru.  And look!  It is
her lovely friend Natsu!  What a coincidence to find two such beautiful
maidens together!" Tetsuya smiled brightly at the pair.

*****

She groaned outwardly but privately smiled as she turned to the
playboy.  "Aren't you supposed to be at school?"

He spread his arms wide, to indicate the sprawling campus.  "Why, so I
am at school!  Not my school, to be sure, but school nonetheless."
Pulling two flowers out from...well she wasn't sure where he had
them...he handed her a red carnation and gave a white lily to Hotaru.
"These are for you ladies."

Hotaru blushed slightly as she accepted the proffered blossom. "Thank
you, Tetsuya-san."

Taking her red carnation, she smirked.  "What an apt flower from you.
'Alas, my poor heart.'"

Tetsuya chuckled.  "Ah, so you know the language of flowers?  Perhaps I
should have gotten you some jasmine instead, or camellia."

Smiling sweetly, she replied, "Why, I am flattered that you think of me
as a vision of loveliness.  And perhaps I should get you some narcissus,
or stephanotis."

Tetsuya affected a hurt expression and held his hand over his heart.
"My lady, you wound me!  My ego is not that big!"

Hotaru giggled.  "Score one for Natsu."

She made a victory sign and grinned at Tetsuya.

*****

He couldn't help grinning back.  For some reason this girl seemed a bit
different to him than the others.  Maybe it was because she insisted
upon not being impressed by him.  They did say the chase was more fun
than the catch.  "So why are you girls here so early?"

"We've got a club meeting," Hotaru replied.  "Actually we volunteered to
help set up for the cherry blossom festival."

Natsu laughed.  "You mean you volunteered our help, Hotaru."

Hotaru blushed slightly.  "Well, yes, I did.  But there was a good
reason!"

He leaned in to Hotaru.  "Oh?  What was the reason?"

She flushed deeper and waved at a giggling Natsu to be quiet.  "No
reason!"

Natsu ignored Hotaru's discomfort and winked at Tetsuya.  "It was a very
good reason, believe me."  Glancing at her watch, she gasped.  "Oh no,
we're going to be late!  Come on, Hotaru."  Dragging Hotaru along behind
her, she raced into the building, almost knocking over Keisuke in her
rush.  "Sempai!  I'm sorry!"

The tall boy stood up and brushed himself off, with the assistance of a
red-faced pair of girls.  "Hello Hotaru, Natsu.  It's all right.  Don't
hurry like that, you might run over someone," he admonished, smiling
warmly.  The girls nodded and ran off, albeit more careful this time.

*****

He watched the pair hurry off, and smiled.  Striding over to his fellow
Arcana, he commented, "She appears to be doing just fine today, don't
you think?"

Tetsuya nodded.  "Yeah."

"Isn't it my turn to watch her today?"

"Yes, it is.  I just, you know, felt like dropping by, making sure she
was okay."

He grinned and prodded Tetsuya.  "Natsu, eh?"

Tetsuya looked rather dramatically at his watch.  "Oh dear.  I'm
supposed to be attending class now.  I think I'm going to go."

"Aren't you taking Hanako to school today?"

Tetsuya smacked his forehead.  "Right.  Almost forgot about that.  Could
you do it for me?  I've missed this class one too many times..."

He shrugged.  "Sure, I can do that.  I have a meeting that I'm supposed
to go to, but I can skip it today."

"Thanks, Keisuke."  Clapping him on the back good-naturedly, Tetsuya
raced off.

Turning, he started to walk towards the Tower Reversed when the Page of
Pentacles popped up from behind a bush.  "Hi!"

"Hi there, Hanako-chan," he greeted the small Arcana, kneeling down a
bit to get on her level. "Were you eavesdropping?"

Her face a picture of innocence, she shook her head.  "Me?  Never!"
Lowering her voice to a conspirational whisper, she said, "So, does he
have a crush on Natsu?"

Laughing in spite of himself, he replied, "Sure looks that way, doesn't
it?"  Extending his hand to the little girl, he said, "Come on, let's
go."

Hanako took his hand and started chattering a mile a minute, while he
simply smiled and nodded.

*****

She hadn't been an Arcana very long, but it did have its benefits.  She
had a place to stay, food to eat, and a bunch of new friends, Keisuke
being one of them.  Looking up at her escort, she frowned slightly.
There was something not quite right about him, but she wasn't sure what
it was.  He did seem to be dedicated to Hotaru though, so she supposed
he was all right.

As they walked out of the schoolyard, they passed Sumire, nodding to her
as they went by.  She bit her lip.  Sumire was all right.  She should be
now.  She was just...cold.  Shaking herself a little, she resumed her
happy prattle.

*****

She smiled to herself as she saw the cheerfulness of the newest Arcana
exude out from her like a light from within.  Taking a deep, cleansing
breath, she welcomed the warm rays of the sun as they filtered down from
through the trees branches.  She didn't have many moments like these,
usually she always had to be in perfect control.  Sometimes it was nice
to let her guard down for a bit and just enjoy the day though.

She sighed.  Arisa.  The memories wounded her, but she couldn't banish
them.  Looking at the school clock tower she decided she had enough time
to talk to Miyuki for a bit before class started.

Fortunately it was still early enough that not many students were around
to pester her as she made her way to the basement door.  She still
looked around quickly to make sure there were no followers, then stepped
through and went into the Tower Reversed.

"Miyuki-chan?" she called, looking for the girl.  Pushing open another
door, she found her, sitting on the ground with her cards scattered
around her.  "Miyuki!"

*****

She looked up at Sumire, whose expression conveyed the utmost concern
for her.  "I'm fine," she assured her, although Sumire appeared
doubtful.

"Miyuki, what's wrong?  Did you see something...?"

Shaking her head, she started to gather up the fallen cards.  "No.  I
didn't see anything."  It was the truth.

Sumire sighed in relief.  "Then why were you like this?"

An excuse.  Some dust swept up near her nose and made her sneeze.
Instantly Sumire was helping her up and to her room.

"You must be coming down with a cold," she stated.  "I'll fix you
something warm."  Sumire deposited her into bed and left the room,
leaving her alone.

While she was grateful for the quick answer to her problem, she hoped
Sumire wouldn't hover about her all day.  Sumire may appear to be cold
on the outside, but truly did care.

But that wasn't important.  She had to think of a solution for her more
pressing quandary.  Why was she reluctant to give the order to Sumire to
eliminate Hotaru?  She didn't feel that she could do it...but she was
ordered to.  She couldn't disobey orders...but then again...

Sumire stepped  into the room holding a cup of tea.  "Here you are.  Be
sure to drink this and get some rest, I'll be back to check upon you
later."

She smiled at the girl.  "Yes, ma'am."  Her only reply was a curt nod
before Sumire exited, not even telling her why she'd dropped by in the
first place.  She shrugged, she'd find out later, most likely.

Back to her orders...  Sipping the tea thoughtfully, she realized that
she didn't want to follow these particular commands.  Hotaru was such a
nice girl, and showed such promise.  Questioning the orders seemed like
a betrayal of sorts, as did disobeying them.  Not that she could really
do either anyways.

She sighed and sneezed again.  Maybe she was coming down with a
cold...time enough to puzzle out the solution later.  For now she was
going back to sleep.  Setting her tea aside she snuggled back into her
blankets.

*****

Author's notes:  Well, I hope this wasn't *too* bad.  I decided to go a
bit experimental with it, and do it from the POV's of the different
characters.  I know it's short but quite frankly I've been really busy
lately and Impro was the last of my concerns.  I didn't want to skip
either though, and have yet another few weeks in between parts.  (Since
in the midst of the madness I only remembered I had this due on the day
before it was supposed to be in.)

The madness hasn't ended for me yet.  Gawd, I didn't know being a grad
student would be so ...well, busy.  15 hours this semester plus two
jobs.  ^_^;  (Tsuin-chan is afraid that I'm going to forget to schedule
in time to breathe.)

Another thing I've noticed, is that this is my second chapter thirteen.
My first one was for HHH...and I never wrote for that Impro again.  I
hope that this one doesn't curse me like that one did.  ^_^;  (Or after
reading this chapter, maybe some of you are hoping it does.)

I do hope you enjoyed it, as for myself, I'm going to collapse now.  ^_^