23: Loss
No one could really explain my secret joy in learning Brutus was testifying. I really couldn't; only some time before, I had probably been Tsukinousagi's greatest enemy.
I was not sure what had caused this. I was almost a little afraid, because the change had been so oddly abrupt, something I would never have expected for me. Yet the change was there, and slowly, or perhaps rapidly, in three days I began to find that I was liking Tsukinousagi more and more.
In fact, on the third night after Dyka told us that Brutus was testifying, I even almost gathered up the courage to ask her if she wanted some food. In the end, though, I was still afraid that she would somehow reject me for asking what had happened at the Galaxy Cauldron, on top of my attack on her. Surely, she couldn't be quickly forgiving like that?
I still contemplated on the question I had, of course, for it was always on my mind now. What could have driven her to commit such a crime! I couldn't understand it, couldn't reconcile it. It was if a piece of the puzzle was missing. And She. Who was She?
So I made the food, but I stopped myself from actually bringing it up. I fretted very much, for I vividly remembered what had happened before. So, I went for an alternative.
-Varuna?
For whatever reason, once Varuna came onto Dyka's team, her demeanor almost instantly changed, for almost no reason. She wasn't really all that rude to me, and she didn't seem as rumor-hungry as she had been when she had told me of the Tsukinousagi and Brutus affair. She was actually an agreeable person to a degree, and probably the most cheerful of the group. This was probably because she had not been a part of the initial tensions, nor was she aware that I had killed Tsukinousagi. It was also - and this is far more obvious - because she was ingratiating herself to Dyka.
Actually, now that I think about it, I don't know how Dyka managed to cover up what had happened between the Vika soldier and I from Varuna. Varuna didn't seem like someone who was that foolish not to be suspicious. Perhaps she suspected, but decided it was best not to ask. But I digress.
-Why do you want me to bring this up? Varuna was obviously amused. -You made it.
-Well...... I gave a stammer. -I'm not feeling good, you see.
To make my point, I began to cough and hack, and I almost spit in the food by accident. With that, of course, Varuna quickly took the food from me, and with a disgusted look on her face, took it up to Tsukinousagi's room.
-
So, three days passed, and nothing had really happened. Everyone but myself went to Asgerd, leaving me all by myself with nothing much to do. So, I did what most people with nothing to do probably wouldn't do. I watched holograms and ate coocors in the main room. I was pretty lazy in those three days.
Then again, I started watching the news, and began to get some more insight into the Great Matter as it was being seen from the outside. I read almost everything I could get my hands on. Until those three days, I never realized how truly incensed people were.
According to statistics, the Great Matter was on the front page of 97 percent of papers all over the civilized countries; it was the main headline every day on 82 percent of those papers. I am not good with math, but that is more than half of the galaxies' outlets dedicating their space to the Great Matter.
This, however, only counts official publications. I learned, during those three days, that underground publishing was rampant now because of the Great Matter. Many people began writing what they felt on the issue, even those, such as civilians, who normally didn't care about the Seemarin, since in some cases it was illegal to slight the Seemarin.
THE TIME OF THE SEEMARIN IS OVER. I remember that was the news headline of one publication whose presses were eventually smashed for subversive writings. THE SEEMARIN IS FAILED! EMBRACE CHAOS!
This was something that had never happened before in the history of the Seemarin. I must stress that, before, the soldiers and the civilians had lived in relative peace before the Great Matter. But, for whatever reason, reasons I never really quite grasped until later, many people slowly began to turn against the Seemarin. Even some sailor soldiers who had been faithful servants to the Seemarin were not insusceptible to the anger. The threat of Tsukinousagi being the demon to destroy civilization was indeed a self-fulfilling prophecy, yet it wasn't Tsukinousagi herself who was fulfilling it. Fear, panic, confusion, and hatred was increasing by the day.
Perhaps, perhaps it had been because the Seemarin, to them, was aloof. Or perhaps they thought the Seermarin truly failed this time, seeing how they were reacting to Tsukinousagi's trial, and about how tightlipped they were being to the outside world as to why the were going for a quick trial. Some trials took years to do in the Seemarin. Tsukinousagi's trial took less than an Earth year in time. This was a record.
And then there was the Astramort; why was the Seemarin not pursuing them? Surely the Great Matter could wait until the Blood Thirsters were purged from our worlds, as Blood Thirsters were more pressing? With a plausible threat like that, the Three should have postponed the trial until that problem - mockingly nicknamed by some people as the Not-So-Great Matter - was solved. Yet nothing was done.
Many things were simmering under the surface, which threatened to be very damaging and very potent, to the point where instability like no other would come and overtake even Asgerd itself. Many people still pointed the finger at Tsukinousagi. Yet, by that time, I could not believe that. What I had felt from Tsukinousagi was not that horrible shadow that was slowly killing my way of life. Surely, then, it was something else, another factor, which had not become known yet, that was causing the true threat which we had to face.
And what I would have given to learn what it was!
-
Of course, the next great shock to us was still yet to come, even with my newfound thoughts on what was going on.
Four days after Dyka had told us that Brutus was to testify, Varuna decided to take me out on a bonding experience. She was one who liked to do things like shopping, and she liked to go and spend money on useless things. Of course, I admit that I sometimes like to do such things myself as well, so off we went.
-Isn't this fun, Floritiuse? Varuna liked calling me by my civilian name. -I LOVE this lovely sailor top right here. It looks so much better than the one I have right now.
-Yes, it looks nice.
Unfortunately, most of the places we went were not those which I would have preferred. Most were very expensive shops in the most exclusive center on Mehsheh, where some people paid what your kind would put as an arm and a leg. Which is how some people actually paid, since they had more than one arm and leg to spare, so to speak. But I digress.
I admit that I paid a bit too much on things there that day. I bought myself a shirt, which was so delicate I thought it would rip at the slightest tug. However, there was something else I ended up buying as well.
-Hey! It was Varuna who spotted it. -Look at that!
We were at an exotic shop, which had imports from all over the universe on its shelves. They were also, in comparison to the other items in the other shops, very cheap. Most things there were things most people would buy as fake gifts, or what you would call gag gifts.
-Heh. Varuna pointed at it and laughed. -What an ugly little thing. I wonder what it is?
It was sitting on a shelf by itself. It was a single plant, in a jar, a strange thing indeed to see. It was green on the bottom, which was its stem, but on top, its bloom was a bright red.
-They call it a flower. Varuna scoffed. -Ha! That's nothing compared to the blooms on my planet. What kind of world would grow that....
I stared at it for a moment, before I touched it. The tope, the red part where the bloom was, was extremely soft, even though it showed signs of withering on certain parts of it, and the flower on a whole was drooping. However, parts of the flower were very sharp starting where the green met the read - I felt a stab and jerked my hand away. When I looked closer to see why I was hurt, I realized there were tiny blades of some sort on the stem.
-What a strange flower....
Somehow, for no reason I could understand, I took it with its jar at that moment, marched towards the counter, and paid for it. This, of course, left Varuna quite shocked.
-What an ugly flower! She commented as we left. -Its not worth what you paid. Its so plain!
Plain as it was, I had bought it. I almost didn't realize I had bought it until we were halfway down from that shop. When I realized what I had done, though, my thought was not to give it back to the owner (he wouldn't have taken it back anyways). My next thought was whom would get the flower.
-I don't know why, I said aloud. -But I think I'm going to give this to Tsukinousagi.
-Huh. Varuna just shook her head. -You are a fool.
Of course, then I was confused as to why I was even giving something to Tsukinousagi. Yet, as we sat to rest, I noticed that the strange flower seemed to almost brighten up. It was not drooping as it has been; in fact, it was almost straight, and the withered parts were almost all red once more. If I'd have thought the flower had a soul, I daresay I would have figured I had cheered it up somehow.
-
Some time after we sat to rest, we decided to go out and get something to eat. We went outside of the shops, and found a little eating place with newspapers.
-I could eat like a Bucephalian!
Varuna got the largest amount of food that they offered, and put it on the Seemarin's tab. She encouraged me to do the same. I wisely declined.
-I'm not really hungry.
-Suit yourself!Varuna picked out our table. -Here's a nice spot with lots of papers. I love reading. Don't you?
-Mmm hmm.
I looked at our table. Where we were, the eating place offered up to twenty different newspapers to choose from. Our table had all twenty papers - mainly the large newspapers, main civilian, but the official Seemarin paper was there too. Of course, being from Themis and Ydhh, I took the Themis Report and decided to read that one.
-Here you are! Almost as soon as we chose out newspapers, our food had arrived. -Enjoy your food and the news!
-Thanks...
I took a large bite of my newly arrived food - mesh cin dabe* - as I casually shifted through the paper. Naturally, the Great Matter was front page news - more specifically, the news of my dismissal. All specific details were left out, simply saying that while Dyka had a great respect for me, she realized that my employment in her service left her in a small disadvantage which she could not elaborate on, and hence, Varuna was appointed. There were other articles - civilian boy executed for murdering his sister, for one, shared some space on the front cover with my troubles.
-Hmm..... Varuna made a sound in her chewing. -Mmmm!
-Huh?
-Hey, Foritiuse. Varuna gulped her food down. -Look at this headline!
I looked over, inquisitive. I was treated to a surprise.
FAKE SAILOR FOUND GUILTY OF SPREADING BASELESS PROPAGANDA! The headline read. CASTRAPO SENTENCED TO DEATH BY SEEMARIN!
I gave a start at this. I knew the name of Castrapo. She had been an honored guest of the Ydhh princess some years back. I had personally met her. She had seemed like a real sailor to me. Then again, my senses can be addled. But I digress.
-I guess she wrote something that was offensive in nature to the Seemarin. Varuna chuckled. -Well, a true sailor wouldn't do something so mean to our beloved institution! Right, Floritiuse?
-Right... I flipped the page. -Though, for a moment, I thought......I..........
I was staring at the next page of Varuna's newspaper. For a moment, the words blurred on me, as though my mind refused to think of it. Unfortunately, my mind cleared up, and the words were clear to me as if I should have known it was inevitable all along.
SIBLING OF FAMOUS SAILOR FOUND DEAD! It was the special intergalactic section's main story. FIRST GENERATION PIRATE FIGHTER'S ONLY LIVING RELATIVE DIED OF APPARENT SELF-COMBUSTION!
-No way.....
-Floritiuse?
-.....Michag's brother.....!
I simply stared at the headline. It was quite dumbfounding. First Michag, now her brother! And her diaries destroyed as well It was as if bad coincidence had descended on the family.
Yet a piece of myself refused to believe in the coincidence. I don't know why, or at least I didn't know why. It seemed so convenient for Michag, one of the greatest pirate fighters to have lived, to suddenly have beheld such horrible fortune....perhaps too convenient.
-It's a shame.
-Yes, it is. I turned to look at Varuna. -And we were going to-
-Hello, Themis.
I heard the voice, this time from my right. Both Varuna - for it wasn't Varuna - and I looked to see who was speaking to us.
-Sailor Bora!
It was indeed Sailor Bora. She stood some bit away from us, holding a bag of food. She looked at me, then at Varuna.
-Heh. She smirked. -I didn't expect to see you here.
-Neither did we. Varuna returned a smile. -Out shopping for your master, Bora?
-Hmph. Bora's expression became a frown. -Kepe's not my master. I am merely her partner.
-Well, whichever.
In response, Bora walked over and looked at the paper. She gave the article on Michag's brother a look, nodding as if she had already known.
-Yes, very sad indeed. He was a good man.
-He was old. Varuna shrugged. -But well-known. He had the diaries, too, at least before they were destroyed.
-Hmm.... Bora looked at the paper. -Yes, its odd, isn't it? How things like that happen to certain people? Very strange indeed.
-The Astramort's being blamed for it. Varuna looked up. -They've been killing people all over, you know.
-Hah. Bora snorted. -I don't believe in the Astramort. They're for children to fear.
-But they've been spotted.
-I still don't think they exist.
-I do. I finally spoke. -They killed Jyanda. And this man. And...Zra.
It was at this that Bora looked at me. She had a very strange expression on her face, and I couldn't exactly figure out what it meant - annoyance? Amusement? I wasn't sure.
-You really think so?
-Yeah. I nodded. -She was one of our witnesses, remember?
-Yes, yes....a pity. She kept staring at me. -Well, believe what you want. But I wouldn't be so eager to simply pin such things on some ghosts.
-Huh? I was confused. -What do you mean?
-Sometimes the threat is closer than you think. She took several steps back. -But that's the risk you take, I guess. I wouldn't be so ignorant, though.
It was then I noticed something strange in Bora's eyes. They almost seemed to flash, if that makes any sense. But they were looking at me, not at Varuna. Then, she saw the strange flower, and I almost thought she was sneering at me when she looked back up at me. What it meant, I don't know, but it caused me to shudder.
-Well, the expression changed to one of cheer. -I'll see you tomorrow in court, Varuna.
-Bye!
With that, she took her leave and left. With a shrug, Varuna went back to her food.
-Mmm, yeah. Varuna looked up at me. -Floritiuse, you stopped eating.
-Yeah.......
The strange sneer stuck with me. So did the feeling of discomfort which had accompanied it. With a sigh, is pushed my plate away.
-I...I'm not hungry now.
-
The day of looking around and buying things was over in some hours. It was, of course, not I who had bought things, but rather, most of what was gotten was b Varuna. She had an entire load of clothing, in particular.
-I must look my best in court! She looked at me with some disapproval. -But I still don't get what possessed you to get that.
At that, I closed my hands protectively around the strange flower I had bought. I myself pondered why I had bought it still, though by now I was positive it had been the right thing to do, though I didn't know why I thought that.
-I already told you why.
-But how do you know she'll even like it? Varuna frowned. -It's just so.....so....plain.
-Well, I looked away. -I'll just take my chances.
There was a pause at this. By this time, our transport was nearing the housing complex we lived in.
-You seem pretty keen on pleasing that girl, Floritiuse. Varuna rubbed her appendages together. -Did you have some problems with her?
-....We did not get along well in the past.
I ended it at that. What more did she need to know? Either way, it seemed foolish to reiterate. Dyka didn't tell her; therefore, I did not tell her.
And so, with that conversation ended, we went to our door. We were almost expecting Dyka to come to the door as we entered, with a frown on her face. We'd tell here where we had gone, and she'd frown still, since Varuna had used the Seemarin credit in such a bad fashion. Then she'd frown, look at my flower, sigh, and leave us to our devices. She wouldn't laugh at us, she wouldn't smile at us telling her that we saw Bora. I daresay that Dyka smiling in like a supernovae. But I digress.
So, we opened the door and went inside. Dyka was not at the door, though we were not surprised. But we were not expecting where we found Dyka instead.
She was there, but she had sat down on the couch in the main room, her face down towards the floor. In front of her was a strange man, wearing a white and black uniform with a red sash of some kind. His face was covered with soot and a small bit of blood, which made me shudder.
-.........Thank you.
Dyka did not even look up at the man as he stood up and started walking off. It was obvious then that they had had some kind of conversation, and from what I could see, I realized it had to be serious. I gave a shudder as I felt the man pass me.
-........So you're that girl.
I heard him speaking, though I didn't look at him. I had seen enough to know who he was. The black and white colors were reserved for prison wardens. The red sash indicated a worker at Veldanis.
-Dyka......
A sob arose as soon as the door closed. With a cry, Dyka then stood, walked over to the wall, and punched a hole right through it!
-DYKA! Both Varuna and I started towards her. -What-
-Shut up.
She looked at us, her eyes glaring right at us. At first, I thought she was mad at me - what did I do now? Yet I realized that it made no sense when it pertained to the Veldanis guard being there. The more I thought, the more I began to dread.
-Just.....shut up. Dyka was silent. -It's over.
-.....Over?
-.....It's over. Dyka turned away. -We have nothing left.
-What are you talking about?
-The trial.
She looked again at us. This time, I could see the strain in her face, her trying not to cry. If she did cry, they would be tears of defeat.
-Brutus is dead.
-
What shock that was! Brutus, dead! DEAD! But that it had happened in such a horribly ironic way....we would not have thought of it. It was unexpected.
The truth was, Brutus was thoughtlessly murdered, right in front of his men. There had been a riot at Veldanis that morning; several people had incited the entire place to riot.
One of the ringleaders - some would say THE ringleader - was Sailor Yomokei, the prosecution's star witness. No body knew how she did it, but within the hour of the first meal of the day, guards and prisoners were in such terrible skirmishes that they were calling people in from other prisons, people who weren't on duty. Brutus, who had been given leave to be Tsukinousagi's bodyguard, was even called up.
I've heard stories about it since the Great Matter has subsided. He spotted Yomokei at the gates, and challenged her head on. It must have been a fight to see. The two fought horrible, slashing each other to pieces. Brutus was given the advantage due to his sheer size, and was beating Yomokei back into the yard, where more men were waiting to rein her in and re-capture her.
But fate thought otherwise. For, as Brutus was bringing Yomokei down, several shots rang out. No one knew where they had come from. Bullets, the style like the type your kind has, but ones we rarely use anymore, hit Brutus. He wasn't dead, not then. Not until Yomokei took his weapon and rammed it through his chest.
It was in this bloody fashion, then, that Brutus died, and was tossed aside by Yomokei. She then ran through the gates, with guards pursuing her.
I wish I could say there was a type of justice for Brutus, and that this was not the absolute end of his story. But in some ways, it was. There was no trial to bring Yomokei to justice; after the next day, the entire affair had been forgotten, even by Kepe, who only made a comment the next day that the renegade was -out of their hands-. So Yomokei, the prosecution's witness, escaped from prison, and because no one cared, she has not been captured again to this day.
-
I was shocked. Brutus dead! For a moment, I could not believe it. There was no reaction I could muster. The one witness to help, dead!
Yet in another instant, those thoughts vanished. I could only think of one thing.
Tsukinousagi.
There was no thought after that. The strange flower fell to the floor, as I hastened with all speed to Tsukinousagi's room. Panic and fear gripped me, for thoughts of what Tsukinousagi's reactions were on my mind. Would she rage? Would she rage, and then in her rage-
I stopped in front of her room.
-B........bruto-san....!
She was at the foot of her bed, her head buried in her appendages. I could hear her sobbing, shaking violently and crying long and hard.
Hmph. Probably hurt herself on something. Serves her right!
I closed my eyes as I remembered what I had said that first night. Now I realized, I knew she was hurt. But not through stupidity or foolishness. No, she was hurt by sadness and sorrow. I did not do not know what things Brutus did for her. I may never truly know. Perhaps, treating her better than I did, was that start ot what made Tsukinousagi love him, not as an affair, but as something else entirely different.
.........How.......how can she bear it?
For the first time, truly and honestly, I suddenly felt myself about to cry. All this time, I was not defending a Vika. I was not defending some girl. I was defending a sailor soldier. I was defending a true sister. Dignity in Death, the Seemarin said, and I realized that there was nothing more dignified than crying over a fallen comrade. I wanted to share that.
I wanted to share that with Tsukinousagi. I started to walk into the room.
..................u.........sa........gi.......................
I stopped. A strange word descended into my ears.
...........u.......sagi.........
Usagi. What was an usagi?
..................usagi...................
I saw her head go up at this. I gave a start; usagi? It was not with Tsukino!
.......U......sa......
My eyes widened, but not because of how Tsukinousagi's name was said without the Tsukino. No; a light suddenly appeared inside the room. Within it, a hazy figure that I could not see very well.
-............Ma........
I saw Tsukinousagi's face pale at the sight. She gave a cry.
-OH!!!
-Usa.
The light disappeared, leaving only the figure. Now I could see him clearly. And I nearly felt sick to my stomach because of it.
It was the cleaner.
-Mamo-chan!
*On Earth it would be the equivalent of a BLT. Sort of.
