Erm, in this universe I'm making "Searrs" a country not an organization. Hope it's okay. I'm really sleepy so any corrections/improvements for this chapter will have to wait until later. Much, much later.

Also, thanks to Hoppy-Chan for all the suggestions! They're really appreciated.

Remember the Enemy - Chapter 4

by Mara S. S.

It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times. That's what Natsuki thought of the next few days. She'd managed to persuade Nao to allow her to take sole charge of Shizuru. Natsuki told Nao - and herself - that the prisoner had already opened up to her so it was no use antagonizing the prisoner any further.

Indeed, the prisoner was remarkably well-behaved. She answered all of Natsuki's questions with unfailing politeness and, as far as Natsuki could tell, complete honesty.

This Shizuru was too good to be true. Natsuki found herself probing desperately for any flaw in this regal woman. Anything at all that would give her an excuse not to like the prisoner.

-o-

"How did you get away?" Natsuki asked the question almost every day. It was amazing that among all of the nobles it was this one, this pampered princess, that had eluded capture the longest.

Shizuru patiently repeated her story. " I wasn't with Mashiro and the rest of the court that night so I had time to get away. Father Glear helped me and Lady Yukariko escape."

"Why weren't you with everyone else?" Natsuki asked suspiciously

"Mashiro-chan left her favorite ring in her room so she asked me to get it for her."

"Why you? Why not Lady Fumi or her maid, Aoi?"

"I wasn't doing anything at the time. Besides, she already sent Aoi to get something else and Lady Fumi was talking to the ambassador of Searrs."

"Hmm." Natsuki carefully observed Shizuru. She kept getting the feeling that Shizuru wasn't telling everything yet, but to her frustration, the princess seemed to be completely honest. "What then?" Natsuki demanded.

Shizuru shrugged. "Then the riots began. I ran, and I ended up heading towards the chapel. I bumped into Father Glear. Lady Yukariko was there as well."

"Weren't you surprised to see Lady Yukariko there?" Natsuki interrupted.

"Not really. She was very religious."

Natsuki nodded, signaling at Shizuru to continue.

"He disguised us as nuns. Then we went out through a side door and no one paid any attention to us. We left the city and hid in various churches."

"But you got caught."

"We got caught." Shizuru agreed sadly, and Natsuki angrily found herself reining in the impulse to reach out and comfort the woman. "We had a... a disagreement about where to go. We split up and Yukariko got caught. Would you... would you know what happened to her?"

"No." Natsuki said harshly, though she knew perfectly well what had happened. Yukariko had been under her care after all, so it was her fault that Yukariko managed to escape justice. In the face of a death sentence, Yukariko broke free of her guards. It was a futile gesture because she only ended up killing herself.

Shizuru continued her story though, apparently oblivious to Natsuki's inner turmoil. "Father Glear and I gave up on her. We were on our way to a different location when we realized we were being chased. We were near, so near to the church where we were supposed to hide. I'm sure you know the rest."

Natsuki nodded. Then she caught Shizuru off guard by abruptly changing the topic. "Were you born here in Fuuka?"

"Eh?" Shizuru said in surprise.

"Where you born here in Fuuka?"

Shizuru shook her head, still looking puzzled. "No. I was born in my parents' estate but they fostered me at the palace after Mashiro-chan was born."

"So you grew up with her?" Natsuki prodded.

"In a sense. Arika-chan and Nina-chan were closer to her in age. I was more of an older sister." Shizuru shifted uneasily. "I suppose I spoiled her too much. You have to understand, Mashiro was..."

Natsuki realized that Shizuru was about to say one thing but then quickly changed it to something else. She filed it away for future reference.

"...impetuous at times but she could be very adorable when she wanted. I think..." Shizuru sighed. "... we all loved her a bit too much."

Shizuru fell silent after that and Natsuki felt an uneasy stirring in her chest at the melancholic expression on her captive. Without thinking, Natsuki quickly filled in the silence.

"Reito. You mentioned him before." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Natsuki cursed under her breath. She'd meant to ask about the Duke Nagi.

Shizuru's mood seemed to become more cheerful, just as a clown's would upon donning its mask. "Ara? My jailer seems to be dreadfully curious about the Lord Protector." Shizuru said teasingly.

"Sh-shut up! It's nothing like that!" Natsuki protested vehemently. "Just answer the question."

Shizuru tilted her head to one side and her expression could only be described as innocent. "Mhmm. I don't seem to recall any question being asked."

Natsuki leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms in front of her chest defensively. "Whatever. Nagi, then. Duke Nagi."

"Ah? Him too? My, my, I didn't know my jailer liked younger men as well."

Natsuki courageously fought down the blushes that threatened to overwhelm her. It irked her that this prisoner could get a rise out of her so easily. Curses and threats, begging and pleading, those Natsuki could handle. But this lighthearted teasing? It was unnatural. Absurd.

"You said he was Mashiro's closest advisor." Natsuki ground out through clenched teeth. "What made you say that?"

Shizuru dropped the teasing tone, seemingly content with her momentary triumph. "They were always together. They especially enjoyed receiving gifts from foreign emissaries." Shizuru shrugged and added sadly. "But that's in the past now..."

An insistent rap on the door interrupted them.

Natsuki looked back at the door then glanced at Shizuru. The prisoner made a shooing motion, already turning away from Natsuki. Natsuki got up, mumbled an apology, and left the cell.

-o-

"Nao, what is it?" Natsuki asked crossly.

"Can't it be that I miss your company?" Nao asked, striking a pose as if she was a jilted lover.

"Yeah right." Natsuki said, her lips twitching into an amused smile as they left the prison floor.

Nao sighed theatrically. "I'll be leaving for Searrs tomorrow." At Natsuki's incredulous expression she added, "It's a top secret mission."

Natsuki didn't respond. Instead she kept walking, knowing Nao would tell her whatever it was sooner or later. And sure enough...

"All right, all right. You have a visitor."

"Thanks." Natsuki said.

"Think nothing of it." Nao replied airily. "Besides, you still owe me one for allowing you to take that job solo."

"I'll pay you back..." Natsuki said grudgingly, opening the door to her office.

"Natsuki!" A cheerful voice greeted Natsuki, bringing a small smile to Natsuki's face.

"Mai. What are you doing here?"

Mai was sitting in one of the chairs in front of Natsuki's desk. Natsuki pulled the other chair closer so it would be facing Mai and sat down in it. Natsuki could hear the door close as Nao left the two friends alone.

Mai made a face. "Official business first. The president wants to see you."

Natsuki's eyes narrowed. "Why?" She asked suspiciously, mentally running through the past few days, wondering what she'd done to get herself in trouble.

Mai laughed. "Geez, don't be so worried. She just wants you to look into something, that's all."

"Oh." Natsuki relaxed. A task, now that she could do. What would it be, she wondered. Spying or assassination perhaps? Natsuki's heart beat faster at the thought of actually doing something useful. Peace was, well, quiet but sometimes Natsuki missed the old days.

"Natsuki? Are you listening?"

Natsuki blinked and saw Mai waving a hand in front of her face. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

"Do you want to have dinner with us? I need to go home soon, Mikoto will be hungry."

Natsuki laughed. "Mikoto's always hungry."

"So you'll come?"

Natsuki hesitated a moment, her thoughts quickly flickering back to a certain prisoner who would surely be eating alone. Then she put such thoughts out of her mind and instead answered her friend. "Sure."

TBC