"Kazahana-sama, Himeno-san, welcome to the Imperial Palace. Please come this way."
"Thank you, sir," Kazahana Mashiro replied with a polite nod as Himeno Fumi moved to push her wheelchair through the gate into the inner palace grounds in the centre of the vast metropolis of Tokyo. Staring at the lovely scenery around her, the director of the Fuuwa Academy tried her best not to frown. When it came to interacting with any official organ of the Japanese government, Mashiro always seemed to find herself dealing with the elderly men and women running First Division. To receive a summons to a meeting before the Son of Heaven himself was utterly unheard of!
The procession remained silent until they reached a small meeting hall close to the main palace building. Awaiting them at the entrance was another surprise. "Prime Minister Koizumi!" Fumi gasped on recognizing Japan's most well known politician.
"Good afternoon, ladies," the Prime Minister greeted them with a smile, and then he moved to help Fumi lift Mashiro's wheelchair to the level of the meeting hall's main floor. "Here, come in. You're just in time; His Majesty's other guests are here."
Mashiro blinked. "'Other guests,' sir?!"
"You'll see in a moment," Koizumi assured her with one of his trademark smiles.
Both women fell silent as they followed the Prime Minister into a small room, decorated in simple Western style. Awaiting them there were four other men. All of them being gaijin, Mashiro instantly recognised, with three of them in military uniforms. Americans . . .? she wondered until she quickly spotted the word in gold braid Latin letters on the shoulders of one of the officers. No, they're . . .! she mentally exclaimed before Koizumi moved to do introductions.
"Prime Minister, General, Commodore, Colonel, this is Kazahana Mashiro, the current headmistress of the Fuuwa Academy," he began, and then -- to Masahiro's total shock -- he added, "To say anything of she being ALSO the last survivor of the HiME Festival held in the first year of Hooei; 1704 as you Canadians say it. Beside her is one of the current generation of HiMEs, Himeno Fumi-san." He then gazed on the two ladies who had just arrived. "Kazahana-san, Himeno-san, this is Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada. Along with him are Major-General Darren Jackson, Commodore Richard Yasovitch and Colonel Edward Mills, the three senior-ranking officials in charge of all operations concerning their Specialised Warfare Regiment."
Mashiro blinked as she took that in, and then her eyes went totally wide. "You mean . . .?" she gasped as she focused on the three military officers. "All of you trained under Raeburn-shoosa . . .?"
"The very same," Darren Jackson, a silver haired army officer with glasses covering his slate grey eyes, replied as he came up to gently take her hand. "When Dean told us about what you went through three centuries ago, ma'am, it awed us all. I never though I would ever have the chance to meet . . . " -- he winked at her as a playful smile crossing his face -- "Such an experienced warrior as yourself, ma'am."
Sensing his desire to keep this as pleasant as possible, Mashiro smiled in return as she exchanged a handshake with the Deputy Commander of Canada Command, the military formation in overall charge of the Specialised Warfare Regiment, both at home and deployed overseas. "I trust wherever she is, Raeburn-shoosa is well."
"As do we, Madame," Edward Mills, an air force officer and current Commander of the Regiment, said as he took his chance to grasp her hand. "She's been missing for the last several years, after the last group of metas she trained disappeared shortly after they entered the Queen's service. She took it the wrong way."
"We would normally respect her desire for privacy," Richard Yasovitch, a naval commodore -- his equivalent U.S. Navy rank would be "rear admiral (lower half)" -- then said. "Grigori's transformation has changed matters considerably."
Mashiro blinked on hearing that name, and then her eyes widened as she remembered what she had seen the previous night on television. "Destructo-sensei."
"Exactly," Yasovitch, the Director-General of Specialised Operations -- the direct intermediary in the chain of command between Jackson (who was based at CANCOM HQ in Ottawa) and Mills (based at the Regiment's home station in Ellesmere Island in Nunavut Territory not so far from CFS Alert) -- acknowledged with a curt nod. "We now know for certain that Grigori has taken interest in the upcoming HiME Festival. I . . . "
He was interrupted when a side door opened, revealing a JMSDF naval serviceman with the rank insignia of a captain on his shoulder boards. He stood to attention as he then announced, "Sirs, ladies . . . His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor; Her Majesty, the Queen; and Her Excellency, the Governor General of Canada."
Everyone braced up as three people walked inside. "Good afternoon, my friends," Akihito, the Emperor of Japan, announced as he took his place at the head of the room. Right behind him was Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada and Her Majesty's vice-regal subordinate and Canada's de facto head of state, Governor General Michaëlle Jean. As soon as the three took their seats, the politicians and military personnel also sat. Fumi kept herself close to Mashiro as the Emperor took a moment to take in all around him, and then he focused on the director of Fuuwa. "We're more than happy that you were able to come see us this day, Kazahana-san. And we apologise for any inconvenience we may have imposed on you by asking you to come see us today."
"Your Majesty, a direct summons from you is certainly no imposition to me," Mashiro admitted. "Though -- if you will forgive me -- may I ask a question?"
"Ask, please."
"Why have I been asked to come see you, sir? And with Her Majesty, Her Excellency, Mr. Harper and these fine officers in attendance? Normally, I deal with . . . "
"That will cease to be as of this time," the Emperor declared.
The director of Fuuwa was quick to notice the smile on his face slipping just a bit. For any Japanese -- to say anything of the Son of Heaven himself! -- to show such a change of facial expression could only mean that he was very displeased about something. As for what, Mashiro mused to herself, she would learn very soon.
She wasn't going to be disappointed.
"Before we begin, General, may we ask what the current disposition of Godzilla and all those involved in that dreadful fracas near Niigata is?" the Queen then asked.
"Your Majesties, as of ten minutes ago, the formation surrounding Gojira passed over the Kantou Range and are expected to arrive at the Mizunokooji estate in Tomobiki within the hour," Jackson replied. "The Observation Unit here in Tokyo has been instructed to update both ourselves and the Self-Defence Forces if there is any sort of deviation from the present plan the Justice League and the Azuma Group have set out for themselves concerning the reunion of Gojira with his offspring."
"The 'Azuma Group?'" Mashiro asked.
"The group of metahumans whose powers became active last evening, in the wake of Doctor Wysynski's sudden appearance in Tomobiki," Jackson emphasised. "That's our current designation for that group. If they choose an official name to call themselves by as an organisation, we'll recognise it, of course."
"I see."
"Commodore, is there any potential further threat from these Niphentaxians?" the Governor General then asked.
"None, Your Excellency," Yasovitch replied. "As per our standing agreement with the Special Committee concerning such persons, all communications from Earth to their home planet, Phentax Two, were cut off very early this morning. This came about in the revelation that Moroboshi Ataru's former would-be paramour, Miyake Shinobu, was herself Yizibajohei by birth. The three ships destroyed by Gojira and Saotome Ranma near Niigata earlier on were forward deployed in the asteroid belt of our home solar system to act as an emergency escape fleet should evacuation from the Niphentaxians' 'holy city' had been ordered by their president, Oogi. As the Special Committee informed us not so long ago, Madame, they are taking this matter up with Princess Oyuki of Neptune and her father, King Fuyu, right now."
"We must recognise their right to share our solar system," the Queen noted.
"Agreed," the Emperor acknowledged that with a nod, and then he turned to Mills. "Colonel, are you sure your unit can take total control of these people?"
Mills grinned. It was a thoroughly bloodless sight, Mashiro mused to herself. Then again, Major Dean Raeburn could be that very same way whenever the mood struck her. "Your Majesty, the Warden of the Icehouse -- that is, the officer in command of the Canadian Forces Service Prison and Detention Barracks (Ellesmere Island) -- is looking quite forward to taking care your most unwanted 'guests.'" Mirthless chuckles escaped Prime Minister Harper and Major-General Jackson on hearing that; Commodore Yasovitch remained stonily silent. "And he personally guarantees to you, sir, that by the time they're released to be sent home, their infatuation concerning your recent 'guest' in Tomobiki will long be erased from their minds and hearts."
"That is good, sir. And, on behalf of our nation and people, we cannot express enough our thanks for the Dominion's willingness to help us deal with our problem." A pause, and then the Emperor continued as he stared on his nation's head of government, "And speaking of which, Jun'ichirou-san, we hope you will make very sure that the Diet makes it very clear to the Special Committee that Lum will no longer be welcome in this land. Her presence has disrupted our people's lives and the harmony of our nation enough. It is to end. For good."
"As you wish, Your Majesty," Koizumi replied with a nod, and then he moved to add a warning, "But if I may remind you, sir, there is the matter of Mendou Shuutarou. His own infatuation with Lum is quite well known. And given his influence . . . "
"Then I will speak to his father directly and persuade him of the more pressing need for young Shuutarou to more concentrate his passions towards fulfilling his obligations to his family. You, of course, know what that means."
A nod from Japan's prime minister. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Also, inform your friends in the Diet that this is to be made very clear should someone in Tomobiki attempt to reverse what has happened," the Emperor added. "The insanity which has haunted that place since Lum's arrival will come to a total and complete end. The harmony of our nation has suffered enough because of it and we desire it to stop once and for all. Please see to it."
"I will, Your Majesty."
"May I ask, Your Majesty, what might happen to the body of Moroboshi Ataru?" Prime Minister Harper then wondered. "I have to confess, I'm only recently elected into my office, unlike my esteemed colleague," he then noted with a glance to Koizumi, this eliciting a laugh from the others in the room. "I'm nowhere near familiar with the Regiment's capabilities, much less the standard of training which Major Raeburn had impressed on all who followed her right to this day. If Doctor Wysynski took interest in Mister Moroboshi, I think it'll be prudent to find out why."
"He has a point there, Akihito," the Queen then noted.
"Agreed, Elizabeth, he does," the Emperor replied.
"If I may propose this, then, Your Majesty, why don't you allow us to take custody of his body and allow the Regiment's Medical Squadron to perform the autopsy?" Colonel Mills then stated. "I'm sure that, given the poor boy's reputation and his peers' willingness to almost always believe the worst about him, any autopsy done here in Japan could easily be suppressed or changed to reflect that belief. Especially by Mendou Shuutarou."
"That is a good point," Jackson added. "Regardless of what the boy's libido might have caused, he did race against that Oni girl in both Tag Races. He can be seen as someone who did care for the people of Earth. We have to acknowledge that."
"Please see to it, then," the Emperor then asked.
"Of course, sir," Mills replied. "If you'll excuse me, I'll get it arranged now."
The Emperor nodded. After the commander of the Specialised Warfare Regiment left, the descendant of Amaterasu-Oh-Mi-Kami then turned to gaze on the director of Fuuwa. "Now, as for you, Kazahana-san. The reason we've asked you to come visit us today is this: with the coming of the next Festival and your long-expressed desire to see to it that it doesn't affect its current participants such as Himeno-san here as it did your own peers in the time of our revered ancestor, Emperor Higashiyama, we have decided some changes will be made in certain elements of government. Especially when it comes to seeing to the better welfare of those such as yourself and Himeno-san."
"You'll force the disbandment of First Division?" Mashiro asked.
"Not all the way," Prime Minister Koizumi spoke up. "But it will be severely curtailed in its duties and whatever elements have been corrupted by organisations such as the Searrs Foundation will be purged. Further, it will be made directly answerable to His Majesty through a new office that will be created that will be tasked to manage metahuman and paranormal affairs here in Japan. Much like the Regiment does in Canada." He nodded to his counterpart from Ottawa in emphasis.
"A new position? What new position? And who will it be?"
"The 'who' is quite easy to conclude, Lady," Yasovitch spoke up. "Tell us, have you ever heard of the wizard named Shazam?"
Mashiro's eyes widened. "Shazam-sama?! He was one of Master Hosan's friends! Why is he suddenly involved? I know Captain Marvel is his champion . . . "
"Another Marvel will rise. And Tokiha Mai has been chosen to be that Marvel."
Silence.
Mashiro and Fumi spun over to look on Richard Yasovitch.
"Mai-san?!" Fumi gasped in shocked disbelief. "Oh, my!"
Mashiro's mind rolled through what the Canadian commodore had just revealed, and then she asked, "Will other Western deities or heroes be asked to . . .?"
"No, my dear," the Queen replied. "In this case, those Powers you will be more familiar with will become young Mai's patrons as Lady Marvel." She then glanced over to the Emperor, a knowing smile crossing her face. "Several of them, in fact, are our honoured host's most revered ancestors."
"Oh, my!" Mashiro and Fumi gasped together.
"And once he finds out that, the creature currently possessing Kanzaki Reito might decide it won't be worth instigating another Festival to create his 'golden world,'" Jackson icily noted. "To say anything of those people in the Searrs Foundation."
"Are you negotiating with the Americans to deal with that lot, General?" Canada's Governor General then asked.
"We're secretly discussing this with Amanda Waller directly, ma'am," the senior-most specialized warfare officer currently in Canada's service -- in his heyday, Darren Jackson had been code-named "the Psionic Man" -- replied. "I'm sure once she gets an idea of what the Foundation's all about, she'll gladly look the other way while we go down and clean house. And we'll make sure of it when it happens."
"Please ensure that young Alyssa Searrs is not hurt when this happened. Much less her android guardian, Miyu Greer," the Emperor then asked. "They are innocents in this matter. Especially young Alyssa. We wish them no harm."
"We'll make sure of it, sir."
"And what happens when Mai-san becomes Shazam-sama's new champion, Your Majesty?" Mashiro then asked. "With the influence of your ancestors and the others Shazam-sama will no doubt ask to make her as powerful as William Batson is when he is Captain Marvel, the defeat of the Obsidian Lord is all but assured. But what then?"
The Emperor sighed, a weary look crossing his face. "For so long, I've been tasked by Fate to be the one ultimately responsible for the welfare of all those who live on these islands, who call these islands home. And yes, for all those who come to these lands from abroad to spend time amongst us. For too long, I -- and my ancestors before me -- have failed in many respects when it comes to fulfilling that duty. As a Shintoist, my death means that I will be expunged of my mortal guilt when I pass into the realm of the kami. But as one who also accepts the teachings of Buddha, I also realise that when the day of my death comes, I will have to answer for my life's shortcomings if I am ever to reach Nirvana.
"Wysynski-sensei's transformation, his coming back to Earth as Doctor Destructo, is clearly a sign that I cannot stand back and delude myself into believing that all is well in this land, my friends. I can't do that anymore. And yes, I do acknowledge that if I actually do something, those who live beyond the shores of this land -- especially in the lands where my father's loyal soldiers went and rampaged over during the years leading up to the Pacific War -- might take it the wrong way.
"But to do nothing at all . . . "
"We understand, sir," Prime Minister Harper softly said.
"Thank you," the Emperor replied, nodding. "Our decision is this: when it comes time for Tokiha Mai to become the new champion of Shazam, we shall ask her to come here . . . " Dramatic pause. "And declare her our Shoogun of Metahuman Affairs."
Silence fell over the room . . .
"AH-CHOO!"
"Bless you!" Captain Marvel called out on hearing Tokiha Mai sneeze. "You okay?"
Mai moaned as she rubbed her nose. Kagutsuchi's head turned around as he softly trilled his own concern. "Someone's talking about me . . . " she moaned.
So now, it's time . . .
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(Posted Sun, 17 Sep 2006 05:54)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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