Disclaimers and notes in part 1.

Boxed In
by Estirose
c 2008

Part 6

Hotaru was surprised, in a way, that she'd gotten Wataru back. Or at least in her custody, since she'd never really had him in the first place, as it was supposed to be. She'd seen the Executioner's point about how Wataru had emerged from his shell after he'd been allowed to see his family; there had been a marked improvement in his behavior, and as the Executioner had pointed out, Wataru was adapting. Just not in the usual ways. Maybe the Executioner had the right idea, at least in Wataru's case. It might only work with him, or might work with any other hunter-born ferals they recovered.

In any case, he was at her house, patterned (though he seemed less than happy about that, and she'd have to talk to the Executioner about it) and not shying away or really avoiding her like she'd seen in some ferals. She listened to the faint sounds of violin music; Wataru was getting in some practice, it seemed.

The music eventually wound down, and as a few minutes passed, no new music took its place. She remembered vaguely hearing her first violin music about two, maybe three centuries ago, the sound of the imported musical instrument pleasant to her ears. Wataru was a good player, which wasn't surprising. From what she knew of Wataru's family, his father had also had that talent too. She didn't have a problem with him practicing the violin – it was something quite acceptable, and in some cases, encouraging. She thought the Executioner was insane to let Wataru make violins, with all the tools that he could have used to attack his foster parent, but playing the instrument was harmless.

Wataru wouldn't be the first foster child to come with and play a musical instrument, though various types of flutes and pipes were more common. Hotaru had had one other violinist that she remembered throughout the years.

She looked up as the door to the living room opened. Wataru stood in the doorway, as if unsure that he should enter. “Wataru, come in,” she said invitingly. No matter what the Executioner had done, the young man was hesitant, quiet. Polite, too, and the impression that he'd given her in their brief conversations was that he'd been sequestered, kept away and kept 'safe'. So typical of a hunter-born Fandiri. She wished once more that they'd found him and rescued him sooner, but there was nothing that she or anybody else could do about it.

Wataru slipped into the room, bowing politely as he took the chair she indicated. Some of the older hunter-borns that they'd rescued had attacked her, but Wataru had shown no such interest. She had a suspicion that had she gotten him first, he would have been withdrawn rather than dangerous. And she could deal with a withdrawn Fandiri, even if it was only because she wouldn't have to restrain them. Whether she'd have been able to bring him out of his shell was a good question, but she'd love to believe so. Even if it took longer than it had the Executioner.

"The Executioner wanted me to tell you what he'd done," Wataru said softly. She'd never heard the boy speak in a normal tone of voice, and wondered if that was part of his normal personality, or if he was still scared. Just because he seemed to be adapting, didn't mean that he couldn't be scared. And she'd take scared over withdrawn any day.

"He did tell me something of what he'd done," Hotaru said, "But I want to hear it from you. Because you're the one this affects."

A lot of what she'd recommend to the Council would be dependent upon her evaluation of Wataru's mental state. Sure, he was adapting... but he'd still run like the feral he was when she tried to collect him. That was worrisome. She also wanted to make sure that Wataru was meant to be the Executioner's apprentice; though she had met enough of the hunter-born to know that some of them were quiet rather than aggressive, even that hadn't made any of them able to function in Fangaire society.

"You won't drug me this time?" Wataru asked, almost pleading at her.

"Not if you tell me what's going on," Hotaru said. "And Wataru, I did that for your own good. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have lived up to my obligations to keep you safe."

Wataru's expression screamed that he didn't agree with that, but he didn't say anything about it, probably having been instructed to cooperate with her fully. Instead, he started talking about their original topic. "The Executioner brought my father and Yuri-san home one day. He said it was because he wanted them to see I was okay... and that he thought I'd be better this way."

Aso Yuri. She'd heard of the woman, slightly more radical than the rest of her cell. She had to question why such a person was allowed access to a vulnerable Fandiri. Wataru's father seemed far less dangerous. If it had been his father, given Wataru's improvement... maybe she would have less of a problem. "Why the two of them?"

"He came for my father, and I guess Yuri-san wanted to come along," Wataru said hesitantly. "Yuri-san didn't want me with the Executioner, but my father talked her into not trying to take me back."

That was a useful piece of information. Hotaru had to remind herself that Kurenai Otoya was a hunter, but at least he showed sanity that most hunters lacked. Which made her wonder how he'd ended up in such a pitiful group in the first place. Of course, the Executioner would probably argue that taking Wataru away from him would turn him radical, but she had hope that he, like most humans, had more sense than the hunters. "Do you feel better that your father and Aso Yuri are able to visit you?"

Wataru nodded. "I don't think they'd leave me there if they couldn't see I was all right," he said. "And I know that they'd get me free if they thought I wasn't."

"You mean, you want them to visit because you're afraid that they'll think you're in trouble?" Hotaru asked. That shed a new light on things. If Wataru was trying to keep the peace between his past and his present, that was something unexpected. Maybe something that was worth being preserved.

"I don't want to be Fangaire," Wataru said. "And Yuri-san knows that. If she's there, I'm safe, because she wouldn't let that happen."

The determination in Wataru's voice made her pause, reminded her that she was still dealing with a feral. "Is she that important to you, Wataru?"

"Yuri-san helped raise me," Wataru said. "She taught me to fight. She protects me. She's part of who I am."

Which made Wataru more dangerous than he seemed, but also made him an ideal candidate for the Executioner's apprentice. They had to channel his fighter instincts and training somewhere, after all. But there was more danger here than Wataru's upbringing, danger to Wataru himself. He couldn't be who he was supposed to be if these humans kept holding him back.

The trouble would be protecting Wataru from himself. Or getting him to the point where he could see that he was meant to be Fangaire, not human. Where Aso Yuri and her attitudes didn't matter anymore. When Wataru was changed, he'd begin to see things differently. Plus, maybe the woman would want nothing to do with Wataru once he was past change, and get out of his life.

She smiled as she realized that she might have to, like the Executioner, think of a radical solution. "Hiraoka-san?" Wataru asked hesitantly.

"I was just thinking... Wataru, you think you're an adult, don't you?"

The Executioner calmly contemplated the whole turn of events as he waited. Wataru's discovery of the secret door in the wall was excellent, even if it set things back a week or two. He was proud of his apprentice for getting out and evading him. He'd had to trace down where Wataru had likely hidden, who he would have contacted, and then persuaded Otoya and Yuri that he knew more than he did about where Wataru was.

And then he'd had to talk Wataru into staying with Hotaru, which hadn't been fun, and had reinforced that it was going to take a lot of work to tame Yuri. But she was a good warrior, well worth the effort to work on getting to trust him. And hopefully Wataru had convinced Hotaru that anything treasonous wasn't really treasonous, because it had helped a feral Fandiri adapt to his new life. Besides, if Wataru made a good impression on Hotaru, that would make it easier when he was taking on his own apprentice someday.

Of course, the Executioner had to face the council first, getting them to not try him for treason and to let him have Wataru back. At least it was the regular council, not the judicial council, at least at the moment. He'd have a chance to explain his reasoning once more, make them understand why he'd acted as he did. If they weren't satisfied, he might be well facing the judicial council. He hoped not. It was annoying.

When he entered, he saw Wataru, sitting off to the left. The young man was in ceremonial robes marking him as the Executioner's apprentice. He was sitting in seiza position on top of a zabuton, a cushion, and the Executioner thought he saw a seiza stool being discreetly used. He was, of course, fully patterned, the marks extending down his arms to spiderweb at his hands.

At least they still were recognizing Wataru as his apprentice. Good.

The council was seated in front of him. Hotaru was off to the left of center of the seven-member council. Quiet and thoughtful. Off to the right of the council, he could see the Chooser, and wondered if the other man had business there as well. Maybe he'd only come to look at Wataru and evaluate him.

"Executioner," Ohme Fumizuki said. He was the head of the council, the one that kept order, the one who was interested in history and keeping things straight. "You understand why you are here?"

"I presume it has to do with Kurenai Wataru and my choice of ways to raise him," the Executioner said. No lightness here, no time for that. No referring to Wataru as his apprentice, despite the robes; they might decide, in a fit of spite, to take that away.

"That is correct," said a second council member. Yumi Sayuri, the youngest of the council. Executioner wondered how she'd swing; she tended to take the position that seemed most popular. "Because of your continued contact with the hunter cell he was removed from."

"Councilmember Hiraoka has presented a recording of her discussions with Wataru, and with you over the matter," Ohme said. "We believe that we can deal with this issue instead of pressing criminal charges."

Good. That meant that he probably wouldn't be killed over this whole thing. Not that the council seemed overly happy with him right now, but he'd live and hopefully Wataru would stay his apprentice. Of course, he might not stay his foster child.

"The Chooser has evaluated the child," Yumi Sayuri said. "Wataru would not make a suitable Fangaire under normal circumstances, but he has agreed that Wataru will make a suitable Executioner one day."

The Chooser nodded, apparently agreeing with the councilor's description.

"You have two choices," Ohme Fumizuki said. "One is to cut off contact with the hunter cell until Wataru is changed. While he remains Fandiri, we believe that he will be harmed by continued contact."

"The second," Hotaru said, "Is to change him now." She didn't look happy with what she was saying. "As you pointed out, once he names them as his helpers, they will no longer be a hunter cell and it will no longer be treasonous. At the very least, they should be less dangerous to him. We normally don't recommend this, but your circumstances are special. It might be in Wataru's best interest to be changed."

"You can, of course," Yumi said, "Choose to die. Wataru would become Executioner immediately after your death." Yumi had never liked him, he recalled. "That would remove any... problems on your part."

He realized from the expression on some of the councilmembers' faces that they'd like nothing better than have a new Executioner. He had really never been good at the formal things, he'd just played at them. But he wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of dying.

And he wasn't going to break his promise to Wataru's cell.

That left changing Wataru. He didn't know how the boy would react. He hoped if Wataru had reservations about changing, that they would let the Executioner talk to him, maybe help him through it. He wouldn't be allowed to change Wataru, though. That would fall to Ohme Fumizuki because Wataru was in a ceremonial position.

He looked at Wataru. The boy seemed tense, and if he didn't want to be changed, it seemed bad either way for him. But the Executioner was not going to die, and he wasn't going to cut Wataru off from his family. He was going to keep his promise to Yuri if it killed him.

"Change him now," he said. He saw panic in Wataru's wide eyes; he hoped the boy would have the sense not to run. Wataru did not want to change, would resist the change, might die if he didn't cooperate.

The Executioner had to wonder if Wataru was more like Yuri than he thought, Yuri who had never been enthusiastic about the whole thing.

"Understood," Ohme Fumizuki said, nodding curtly. The Executioner knew that he'd treat Wataru fairly.

"Please wait," Hotaru said, as politely as possible. "For the moment, he's still Fandiri and still under my care. I'd like to talk to him. And to the Executioner. Wataru is still getting used to being Fandiri; I'd rather we not lose the Executioner's apprentice by accident."

"Understood," Ohme Fumizuki said. "You have... half an hour. We'll excuse the three of you to a side room."

Wataru was assisted up by one of the council assistants, and lead Wataru off to said room. Hotaru met the Executioner on the way to the same room. "I may not be as... creative... as you, but I thought about it, and thought about it, and this is what I could think of to solve the problem. I didn't think it likely that you'd break off contact. And, after dealing with Wataru, I'm willing to concede that at least brief contact with human parents in this kind of situation is not necessarily a bad thing."

"Thank you," he said. "I just wish Wataru was taking it as well."

"I... think I sometimes forget that Wataru is still relatively feral," Hotaru confessed. "I think he's the first candidate for change that didn't want it. You did a good job in that short time, Executioner."

It was funny. A few weeks ago, Hotaru had been an enemy, an obstacle. Here, she might be Wataru's best chance at surviving.

"But it's still treason?" he asked, with a small smile.

"Unfortunately, yes, and had you mishandled it, I would have been asking for your death, but... he's all right. Still feral, but I guess you do know how to handle at least some hunters." She paused. "Sometimes to save someone, you have to let them go."

"Thank you. Now, let's make sure this one doesn't inadvertently kill himself."

Wataru had, strangely enough, not minded his stay at Hiraoka-san's place. She mostly left him alone, probably figuring he could fend for himself. They did talk, in a more relaxed manner, mostly because the Executioner had told him to be honest about it. The more Hiraoka-san understood, the easier it might be for the next hunter-raised half-Fangaire. And he knew that the Executioner thought he could talk his and Wataru's way out of this, and that everything would somewhat go back to the way it was. He'd never be allowed to be human again, not under these peoples' watchful gazes, but he had his father and Yuri-san and Megumi-san to keep him anchored.

Earlier in the day, he'd been brought to the council building - at some point, somebody's house, apparently - and brought clothes to wear, the same ceremonial clothes he'd be expected to wear when he was before the council as the Executioner's apprentice. Then he'd had a long talk with the Chooser, who turned out to be actually fairly elderly-looking for a Fangaire human form, and kind, and good at prying things out of him that he didn't mean to say. The Chooser hadn't needed drugs to make him confess things.

And they'd let him sit on a seiza stool, for which he was grateful. It was because he was the one that they were debating about, and because of his status he'd been allowed to use one. Sitting that long would have been very... interesting.

He was more grateful for it when the Council had made their statement, and the Executioner had made his choice. The Executioner had chosen to maintain contact with his father and Yuri over keeping Wataru as he was. He had been prepared to run, only the Executioner's warning gaze had kept him there.

But he wasn't ready to change. Not at the moment, not with Yuri-san to argue with them about it, and his father to be by his side. With Megumi-san to stand over him and protect him. He had some clue on what to expect, part of Yuri-san's horror stories on what would happen to him if the Fangaire found him out. But somehow he'd expected to change around twenty, or twenty-five, or maybe never. The Executioner was not allowing his cell to have its say.

Of course, he got the sense that the Executioner did what he thought was best for both himself and the cell. The Executioner had never said it out loud, but he'd incorporated Wataru's cell into "his people", humans he protected and in turn made decisions for.

Yuri-san would probably not be very happy about that, if she knew.

Hiraoka-san and the Executioner entered the room. "Wataru, are you all right?" Hiraoka-san asked. "It looked like you were having a panic attack."

"I don't want to be changed," he said softly. The volume he'd had when the Executioner started talking to him, to some extent when Hiraoka-san had been talking to him.

"Wataru," the Executioner said, "You would have been changed eventually. This is a small price to pay for maintaining the alliances you grew up in. Alliances that the Fangaire badly need. You won't even be out of circulation that long, just enough to learn how to control your energy drain so you don't kill humans."

"I am human," Wataru said. And Fangaire too, he couldn't deny that part of himself. But that part didn't come out. He didn't want it to come out.

"And Fangaire," Hiraoka-san said. "You want to protect humans from rogue Fangaire, right? You've told me that's what you were brought up to do."

Wataru nodded, realizing Hiraoka-san sometimes understood. Sometimes.

"Then take the gift. Become the Executioner's apprentice for real. Protect your people. Protect those you love. As Fangaire, we love too." She smiled a little. "Sometimes a little too much."

"Hotaru and I were Fandiri once, too," the Executioner pointed out. "We have human blood. She protects Fandiri, I protect humans. And so will you. Sometimes you just can't foresee how you're meant to do it."

Was that how he was meant to do it, to become Fangaire? Yuri-san would probably thwack him soundly with her sword if he'd voiced that to her, funnily enough. But it made sense. Much as he hated to admit it, it made sense. And it wasn't like he had a choice in the matter. Lose Yuri-san and Megumi-san and his father for three years and be changed anyway, or accept it now and figure out how to deal. At least he wasn't doing it alone.

"Are you feeling better, Wataru?" the Executioner asked. "Do you think you can get through this?"

"I don't know," he said honestly. "But I... I guess I'll try."

The Executioner watched Wataru sleep, exhausted by the change. He was full Fangaire now, even if he hadn't chosen to be. Sometimes, the Executioner had learned, life was full of things you couldn't see right away, and sometimes someone wiser and older had to choose for you. As he had chosen for Wataru, no matter how painful it might have been for the young man.

He himself would have to explain things to Otoya and Yuri, tell them what had happened to Wataru while Wataru learned how to drain energy properly. He wasn't looking forward to the conversation, even as he knew it had to be done. But it would be better for all of them. Better for the future.

Better for the world.

-end

And that's it, until/if/when I write this thing's sequel, which will deal more with some of the issues raised in this story. Thank you to all who read/reviewed!