Sokana Miyuki felt like flying. Finally, after so long, her powers were back to their rightful owner. Tower had questioned the method and motive of their return, but she had been more interested in getting back into the habit as Fortune. There was so much to go through, so much to catch up on and see... Hanako had let the threads of fate get tangled, instead of the neatly organized skeins Miyuki kept. Perhaps because she was so caught up in rediscovering the joys of Fortune, Miyuki missed an important occurrence. Perhaps it was so powerful a force, Miyuki would not have been able to affect it significantly either way. As it was, the girl found herself lambasted with a powerful vision only moments before its subject entered the Tower Reversed. "Tetsuya!" + + + Arcana by Scott Schimmel Chapter Forty-Two: Answers and Questions by Erin Ellis + + + Clearly visible from where she was reading the newspaper, Shinjo Arisa cut her eyes, tapped her foot, even periodically flared her nostrils. "Is there something wrong, Ari-chan?" Yasuragi Sumire asked mildly. "Don't 'Ari-chan' me. You know there's something wrong, and you know exactly what it is." "I do?" Sumire persisted. It was selfish, she knew, but it had been so long -- and to have the chance to stay with Arisa, no interruptions, was intoxicating. It was worth it, despite that the Page of Cups' trail was getting colder by the second, and they'd never seen anything to tip them off to the location of the High Priestess at all. They had, however, gotten a chance to visit quite a few shrines, and a couple hot springs. Izumo was quite scenic, especially with the right companion... Noting Arisa's exasperated expression, Sumire smoothly continued. "I know that it seems like we're getting nowhere. But I think just looking around a little bit more--" "What more could we possibly look at? It's been a week! Izumo is only so big! Or so small, should I say." "Thoroughness is a virtue," the Ace remarked stiffly. "Che," Arisa swore. "Don't spout that crap at me. Not when you're ditching school to chase phantoms. You're becoming like me," she finished wryly. "And that's so bad?" The Knight gave an annoyed look. "What's bad is the wasted time we've spent here. Aren't you worried about your 'duties'? Your family? School work? Your little friends? Shirosawa?" Sumire instantly dropped her gaze. She had all but forgotten about Keisuke's plight. She'd been so caught up in her own selfish desires... and that was what had gotten her into trouble in the first place, when she'd run, and Arisa was left behind... "Eh, it's... it's not that bad, Su-chan." Sumire looked up; Arisa looked markedly uncomfortable. "I didn't mean to make you..." The Knight awkwardly put an arm on Sumire's shoulder, which she awkwardly turned into a half-embrace. "I've forgotten myself again, Arisa," she whispered. Pulling away and sweeping a hand through her hair she stood, controlled mask back in place. "We'll return tomorrow, then." "We might want to go sooner than that," the Knight said, passing her Ace the paper. "Looks like Shirosawa's gone." + + + Shirosawa Keisuke was beginning to think that the members of the Court of Cups had a seriously different concept of 'soon' than he personally held. To be honest, he had no concept of time while in the Cups' lair, and would not be surprised to find that time's rules did not apply here. Still, to the Knight, it seemed an eternity had passed since he had regained consciousness in the dusty courtyard, since he had been stripped of his title of Wands and assumed the mantle of Cups. He was worried. His memories outside of the very recent past were very fuzzy. He had seen the car -- jeep? -- bearing down on him, and then... The boy grabbed his forehead. Everything was a blur after that. He'd been hurt... how were his parents? Hotaru, Miyuki and the others? A dark, uncomfortable feeling began growling in his stomach. What about Tetsuya? If he truly had his powers... "Do you require assistance, Knight of Cups? You do not look well." Keisuke looked up, then down to see the Healer before him. "What do you want?" His voice was still sore with resentment at the boy. Healer dipped his head slightly. "As a Page, I serve you at the behest of our King." The taller boy opened his mouth and closed it, unsure of what he wanted to say. Part of him still voted for fighting his way out of here, and finding some way to get his old powers back. The rest of him had fallen into dull acceptance of the situation, and realized he didn't even know where 'here' was. "If you want to help me, then you'll let me go." Cocking his head, the boy gave a questioning look. "You aren't being held here against your will. While I would advise you to remain here until the others arrive, which should be shortly, there is nothing keeping you from returning to your home." "Really? Well then, where's the exit? How long will it take to get back to Tokyo?" The Page shook his head. "Not a 'where' like that. We are in the world of dreams, of course. Distance makes little difference here." "And time?" Healer smiled. "You catch on quickly, Knight of Cups." Keisuke winced at the title. "Don't call me that. Call me Shirosawa, Keisuke, anything." "As you wish, Shirosawa-sama, Knight of Cups." "Plain 'Shirosawa' will be fine, thanks," he said curtly. "Well, if you don't need me, I'll be cutting out. I assume m-- the Knight of Cups' powers extends to popping in and out of this 'dream world'?" To be honest, he couldn't remember ever seeing Tetsuya perform any sort of power in the time he'd known him. A look of consternation, followed by pitied sympathy crossed the Page's face. "How little you truly know, young one." Keisuke gave a long look at the short, effeminate boy. "You're calling -me- young? How old are you, twelve?" "As I said, time, and the evidence thereof, is inconsequential here. I have seen more than you will ever remember. More than anyone should, perhaps." His face clouded, suddenly looking very old. A pause. He blinked, continuing as before. "That too is irrelevant. As for your powers, they come from within. I cannot show you how to use them, just help you refine their use. Please, do not hesitate to ask my assistance, if you require it." "You seem a lot nicer now than you did earlier," Keisuke groused. "You have joined us of your own accord," Healer said, face placid. "We will trust you and your judgment, until you give us reason not to." "Oh." Unsure how much of a threat to take that as, he decided not to think about it. "Umm..." "Yes, Shirosawa-sama?" "So, like I've got the powers of the Knight of Cups now," Keisuke began. "That is correct, due to your accepta--" "Yeah, yeah, so... What happened to Te-- to the old Knight of Cups?" The Healer turned grave. "He was found unworthy." "What does that mean? I've got his power, and he gets..." The tall boy trailed, waiting for the Page's answer. "He failed his judgment by our Court. Stripped of an Arcana's powers, he will die. So is the will our King; so is the fate of any of our Court." "Die?" Keisuke echoed, uncomprehending. "But... but he's got an Arcana's powers. He's got my old powers, right?" The Page's expression changed back to the pity-laden one Keisuke was quickly growing to hate. "Oh no. For him to receive your powers without the will of his King, he would have to Request them, and you would have to Give--" "But it's possible? I can do that?" he said, alarmed. "Yes, it's -possible-," the child seemed to lose his patience for the first time. "But you would have to find him -- a physical exchange. I am unsure why you would want to go through the trouble to spare him when he has already been judged." "I didn't ask for this! I won't be a murderer!" Keisuke realized he was yelling, but he didn't care. "Take me back. Show me how to get back. Now!" The Page of Cups stopped, then bowed his head. "As you wish, my Knight. I will retrieve you once the others are assembled." Keisuke grimaced, worried about his friend. Reaching out into his core, the way he would when manipulating a field, he felt, and touched, and then -- + + + "Death. How nice to see you." World smiled serenely in the direction of the card which appeared on the coffee table. "Forgive me if I don't offer you a drink." /I have no need of such pleasantries,/ Death's voice echoed. Though without a body, in World's realm, this made little difference. /I was able to do my duties, but my hosts were reclaimed./ The beautiful woman's voice darkened. "Then, you didn't really do your duty, now did you. I asked you to bring the body of Fortune here to me." /You asked me to return Fortune. I did./ The woman's eyes seemed to narrow behind their blindfold. "I want you to bring me her body. I won't have her returning, and if she does, it will be on my terms." /The body was taken to a morgue, in police custody. It will be difficult to reach it./ "Being disobedient is new for you, Death. I don't think it suits you very well." /I--/ The image of the card flickered and was gone. World's scowl deepened. No matter how she looked, she could not see Death anywhere. + + + Tetsuya. Tetsuya? Tetsuya? Are you alright? /All... right?/ The words came to him as if swimming through lead. He was dimly aware that the girls had taken him to the Tower Reversed. He was quite sharply aware that the world felt a great deal like rusty nails being slowly pushed out through his skin. "Take me to... chair..." He was led, probably by Hanako, to a seat around the massive table in the main hall of the Tower Reversed. Natsu began to ease him into the cushy-looking armchair, when a tingle, much like that when two Arcana touched, began to envelop him; as if the chair were covered in static electricity. It changed to a burning as he came to rest in the chair, and Tetsuya was up like a shot. He staggered around the table, shrugging off any help from the girls. The nails pushed out of his skin, focusing into pinpoints behind his chest and eyes which drew him around the table, weaving about the scattered chairs. He stopped in front of a high, straight chair, and flung himself (was flung?) onto it. Immediately, the pain stopped, like switching off a light, and was almost painful in it's instant absence. And he could think again. Tetsuya gingerly rubbed a hand to his chest; it felt raw. He laid his head back, taking a second to collect his bearings, to enjoy the sharp breaths burning down his throat and into his lungs. "God... what was that?" "Tetsuya-kun... look at where you're sitting." Hanako's voice was small and frightened. With considerable effort, he raised his head and opened his eyes. He was at a different position at the table, and he -knew- his chair was more padded. Still, this one had a familiar comfortable feeling. "That's not your usual chair, Tetsuya," the girl continued, and from her solemn, glazed expression and tone, he could tell she was parroting Fortune's words. "That's the chair of the Knight of Wands." "But isn't he supposed to be--" Natsu began. "Yes. But not anymore. And unless we find the current Knight of Cups, Tetsuya will cease to be. ...I'm sorry I couldn't foresee this." Blinking back to normal, Hanako reeled back as if struck. "Natsu... Tetsuya-kun..." "It just doesn't end, does it," Natsu murmured, dropping to her knees beside his chair. Tetsuya thought it might be acceptable at this point to pass out, at least briefly. + + + The High Priestess woke frightened, and scrabbled for his boy. It was the dream again, and he needed the comfort of another, one bound to him, one who could not betray him. But the large bed was empty, the silken sheets were cold, no longer even wrinkled from his presence. He was alone, and knew at once that She had him. His darling little Fool. His hands clenched, sculptured nails pressing into the ivory palms. The blood wicked away from the pressure points, yet pressing just a little harder would reveal the beautiful redness for all to see... But High Priestess released the pressure. It wasn't the same, not as perfect as when he had another as his canvas. This was the purpose of his boy, his beautiful plaything. How could he accept Death taking him away -- in the guise of his truest foe, no less? The Fool gone, Page of Cups gone. Both his lovely boys, snatched away from him. This wouldn't do. This wouldn't do at all. He would have one of them back. For even Death couldn't sever bonds he couldn't see. + + + Sergeant Sagara lit another match, watching it burn down to his fingers before he dropped the wooden stick into the ashtray. It was time to buy more cigarettes. He was late. The policeman reached again for the book of matches, dropping his hand before he made it to them. He really had to quit these nervous habits, especially when trying to look inconspicuous. Therefore, he refrained from jiggling his knee, toying with his cup, matches, or wedding ring, and allowing his eyes to dart around the smoky tavern as they so longed to. "Got a light?" came a gruff voice from across the table. Finally. Sagara offered the man a match. "What do you have for me?" Jimmy the Mole said nothing for a moment, taking a long drag off his cigarette. Sagara gave in to temptation and followed suit. "Not much, buddy." The scruffy man looked at Sagara. "I told you it'd be pretty pointless. Anything juicy would've been brought to light while he was campaigning for majority leader. The guy's squeaky clean." "Too clean," Sagara muttered. "There's gotta be something -- who's he been talking to? Who's he been seen with?" "Well, I thought someone might be wondering about that, and so I found out." Jimmy went below the table, pulling out a thick file of photos and newspaper clippings. "To be honest, I thought some tabloid might be curious as to who the new chairman was rubbing elbows with, but I never found any takers. He isn't found with anyone of any interest, anyway." The policeman flipped idly through the file. Various Diet members, some famous socialites, heads of state. In short, no one of any use. He stopped at a picture of Oda with a foreign businessman. "Who's this?" Sagara asked, careful to keep his voice casual. Jimmy peered at the photo, pushing his greasy hair out of his squinty eyes. "Ehn, just some American. See, you can't see his whole face clearly, so the pic's kinda worthless. It's some guy Oda talked to right after he had his majority leader press conference a couple weeks back. Couldn't find out anything else without a better picture." "Hmm." The policeman finished his cigarette, adding it to the pile in the full ashtray. "Too bad. Well, keep looking, will you?" He rose, closing the file and passing it back to Jimmy. The mole looked with hooded eyes at Sagara. "You must really have something against the Chairman." "I think you can appreciate why my colleagues might want this kept silent," he said smoothly. "Speaking of colleagues, I've got to get back to work. I'm finished with this paper, if you want it." Just visible beneath the newspaper were several bills. Jimmy slid the paper to his side of the table. "Later then." Sagara walked off, allowing himself a small smile. Maybe he wouldn't be returning to Maki empty-handed after all, he thought, fingering the photo he'd nicked from Jimmy's file. He could swear the red-haired salaryman was William Forrester -- or perhaps, Willard Milliner. + + + Keisuke woke all at once, eyes snapping open and sitting forward in one fluid motion, clutching at his chest as if that could still his pounding heart. "All... a dream?" But he could feel his power, feel the unfamiliar familiarity of it, and he knew it was all too real. A pulse went through him, like an admonition of his limited time. He rose from the bed, realizing he was in a hospital cot. It was drafty... his normal clothes seemed to be left behind in the dream world. Inconvenient, to say the least... Grabbing a pair of slippers from the adjacent bathroom, he crept into the hallway, intent on the seemingly impossible task of not drawing attention as a 185cm tall boy dressed in a flimsy hospital gown and ill-fitting bathroom slippers. After one step, he was stopped by a police line taped across the entrance. Whose room was this anyway? "Hey, you, what do you think you're doing?!" The shout came from down the hall, where a female doctor was coming towards him quickly, an angry expression on her face. They met eyes, and Keisuke froze like a deer in headlights. Caught, sneaking out of a police site... "Ano.. Shirosawa-san?" With her words, the spell was broken, and the boy fled, zipping around a corner and darting into the first open door he could find. It was just another hospital room; two cots, two chairs, a separator and a bathroom. No place really to hide. Frantic, he pulled the separator to, pushed the chair close to it and cowered behind it. Scattered on the floor was a newspaper, and the Knight grabbed it, taken in by the headline on the local section. "'Local Star Disappears From Hospital'..?" An odd feeling began to grow in the pit of his stomach as he skimmed the article. "'After being put in a coma by a brutal hit-and-run, Hataraku High baseball star Shirosawa Keisuke was found missing from his hospital room'... coma... police investigation..." Keisuke dropped the paper, glancing apprehensively at the door. No wonder the doctor had given him such a strange look. He was supposed to be unconscious, and kidnapped... or worse. If anyone was to find him hale and hearty wandering around, that would just bring up a slew of problems he couldn't afford to deal with right now. If he couldn't reach Tetsuya in time... "Hello? Is anybody there?" Dammit, they'd found him. He peered up and over the chair, his hiding place feeling woefully inadequate. It was the doctor from before, with two male orderlies. For hospital staff, they looked awfully ominous. She took a step into the room. "Come out please, Shirosawa-san." 'Please, don't let them find me now,' he begged anyone who would listen. 'Please, please, make them just go away.' The orderlies were approaching his chair... and stopped. "Nobody here, doctor," the taller one said. She gave a puzzled look, but nodded, and left the room. "Come on then, he can't have disappeared into thin air," the voice trailed down the hall. Every muscle in Keisuke's body sagged, letting out the breath he'd been holding the whole encounter. He couldn't believe it. They'd left. They had found him, and they just left. It was like magic... After that, the power came quite naturally to the new Knight of Cups. Able to charm people -out- of paying attention to him (quite the opposite of what Tetsuya usually used his power for, he mused), he met no opposition walking out of the front doors of the hospital. Relieved that the hospital was relatively nearby the school, he started hot footing it down to the Tower Reversed. He knew -- he could feel -- Tetsuya was there. "Shirosawa Keisuke," a voice singsonged from behind him. He froze, turning slowly. Who... How... "Fancy meeting you here. I always like it when boys dress up to see me." Even with the hospital gown, he would have seemed more dignified had he not blushed at her remark. "Kurayami Maki." "The one and only. And I think we've got some talking to do." + + + The Page of Cups walked back to the table, alone. "My King," he began. + + + tbc. + + + MAN, this was a stressful chapter to write... Mainly because I couldn't think of a darned thing until the day before it was due. Of course, that was when I had to start travel for work... ARRRRRRRRRGH. So, excuse the excessive ellipses and other weird grammar/phraseage; that's just me typing from my head, so all the characters talk like me, and not real people. (Did anyone catch the Hitchhikers' Guide 42 oblique reference? Hmm? Too oblique? ehh.. better that way, prolly..) No love for Tetsuya. *sigh* He eluded me this week; hopefully Keisuke fans can make up for it. My only other major regret is the lack of the Sumire/Arisa karaoke scene... (come on, she wanted to be an idol singer. She'd do it.) Ehm. Thanks to Segev for prereading, Glenn for offering, Signus for dealing with it in his inbox, and Illyria for taking it late. I hope this makes some sense. eme 4.nov.01 + + + Sergeant Nakamura sighed, noting the slip of paper on the ground. "This place is turning into a pig sty," he murmured, bending down to throw it away. As he crouched over the card, he noted a certain familiar design and picture printed upon it. It tingled slightly as he picked it up, slowly reading the single word upon it. "Death," he read. "Yes," it replied.