Wolves
This story is rated PG-13 for sexual situations
Chapter 19 - Justice
It was very late, but Tylee could not sleep. The bed was comfortable, the silk sheets cool against her skin, but all she could think about was that smile. It was only a glance, and then he turned back to his conversation, but he had heard his name and smiled at her. Was she reading too much in it? Only two doors down he was sleeping, perhaps sprawled over the bed like he had been this morning with the moon lighting up the contours of his perfect body. His balcony was only two jumps away. But she was terrified that he would hear her when she landed, no! There was no way she would ever gather the courage to make those two leaps! So she dreamed of him instead, wondering if the front was as beautiful as the back. Of course it was! Creamy skin would melt into black curls at the juncture of his legs and … what was she thinking! She was just as bad as her den mates!
Yet, she couldn't help herself. She knew that he would be wonderful to look at and velvet soft to touch. Oh, how she yearned to touch him! But what was he? Rin was his mother, a human, but Kaiba was not his father. He was part something else, but she could not discern what species he was. She would have to ask Kenru, but how could she ask without letting her sister-in-law know that she was thinking about him. Taiki. That was his name. Taiki…
Finally Tylee fell asleep, his name on her lips and in her dreams.
Hiei returned the next morning from the Human World, laden with papers and glass tubes and various other equipment which he knew nothing about, but handled with great care. He gave it all to Kaiba, who together with Kurama, interpreted the findings. After about an hour of studying the paperwork, they called Hiya to the study, after asking Aara to attend the meeting.
Hiya walked into the room. "You got an answer, didn't you?"
"Yes, Hiya, we did." Kurama answered.
"The findings are definitive. Touya was poisoned with a blend of poisonous plants. They were probably put into his wine."
"Then I have my proof! Kamella killed my father!"
"It is not that easy. This tells us only that someone killed him, not who." Aara said.
"You know that it was Kamella! No one else had anything to gain from his death!" Hiya cried, anger flushing her cheeks red.
"We are not arguing that fact. We are just saying that we have no proof that she did it." Kaiba said gently, trying to calm the girl down. Aara gently added a bit of her power.
"Please don't do that! I want to be angry!" Hiya said to the Princess.
Aara nodded and backed off. Sometimes it was better just to allow the emotions to flow naturally. "Kurama and I are going to take our findings to Vara and Tekken. If anything is to be done, it will be their decision."
"What about Boushin?"
"That depends on my daughter."
Hiya hung her head, "So Kamella will get away with murdering my father."
"Everyone pays in the long run."
"I don't want to wait several lifetimes for her to pay! I want justice now!"
"No, you want vengeance." Kurama said. "And sometimes it is just not possible. We have no proof against Kamella and she is now the Empress and the mother of Boushin's heir."
Hiya bit her lip, but a tear still found its way down her cheek. "That's not fair!"
"No, it isn't, but life is not always fair." Aara said quietly.
"Can I go with you?"
"No."
With that Hiya turned and fled the room. The group watched her leave, and then went outside to the portal which would take them to Suzaku. In minutes they were at the Palace. Vara and Tekken joined them and they all went behind closed doors to talk. Kaiba showed him the proof that he had gathered. Tekken looked at the test tubes and papers carefully, trying to understand the scientific jargon on the pages.
"Kamella does not have the knowledge to create this potion, but her maid servant Krulle does. She was a herbalist and healer in her village before coming to the Palace. I think we should send for her and see what she says." Tekken said.
"Should we call in Boushin?" Aara asked.
"I would like to hear Krulle first."
Within a short time, the maidservant stood before them. Kurama presented and explained the evidence, inferring that the evidence proved her guilt, although not saying it directly. Krulle stared at the papers, not understanding them, but knowing that somehow they had found out about the poison.
"I confess. I poisoned the Ice Demon."
"Did your mistress order you to do this?" Tekken asked.
"No, Lady Kamella knew nothing of my plans. I knew that she was in love with the Emperor and I took it upon myself to remove Touya from his life. My mistress is completely innocent."
"You know that she cannot intercede for you? Your life is forfeit."
"I know that, My Lord."
After guards escorted her to the dungeons to await execution, Vara turned to her mother. "She is lying. I could feel it."
"I agree, but she will not give up her mistress. I also felt her resolve. She will go to the executioner without breaking her silence."
"Is there nothing we can do about Kamella?" Kaiba asked. "Hiya needs closure."
"Then let her watch Krulle's execution, that will have to be closure enough. Kamella is untouchable." Tekken answered.
"What about Boushin?" Vara asked.
"He will believe Kamella's lies, he has for years now. He will convince himself that Krulle acted alone, even though we all know that she would do nothing without her mistress' approval. But Boushin will never allow that thought to enter his head." Tekken said.
"Because that would mean that Touya died because of his love. And Boushin could never admit that to himself." Vara said softly.
A short while later, Aara, Kurama and Kaiba left for Otherworld, leaving the documents with Tekken and Vara. A few minutes later, Kamella stormed into the room.
"You dare! I was just informed that my maidservant is incarcerated and awaiting execution."
"I am head of the Protectors of Suzaku, and yes, I dare." Tekken said, standing up tall.
"What lies did you create to blame her for Touya's death?" Kamella cried in a shrill voice.
"No lies, only proof, and then her own confession." Tekken said, and then he moved closer, and whispered. "Be grateful, Lady, that she is still loyal to you, or your head would be on the block along with hers."
Kamella glared at him, but said nothing. She knew he was telling the truth. If there was any proof against her, not even being the Empress would have saved her. Boushin himself would turn against her. She turned and left without another word.
"I do not like knowing that we have a viper in our midst." Vara said.
"Hopefully without Krulle, she is now a fangless viper." Tekken replied.
"I hope you are right."
Very late that night, after Boushin was sound asleep, Kamella slipped out of their room and walked down to the lowest floor, to the dungeon. Krulle was in one of the cells. "My Lady! You should not be here!"
"You raised me, Krulle, how could I abandon you? I will talk to Boushin tomorrow morning."
"No! You must remove yourself from me; this must not taint you also."
"Tekken and Vara already suspect me."
"Then you should have never come here!"
"I had to say goodbye, Krulle. I couldn't let them kill you without at least doing that." Kamella said with her eyes full of tears. "You were like a mother to me."
"Thank you, My Lady." Krulle moved closer and whispered, "Under a floor board in my room, in the northwest corner, is a book. It has the ingredients for my potions in it. You never know when you might need them, and now, My Lady, goodbye." Then she moved away and said nothing else.
Kamella nodded and went to Krulle's room, retrieving the book which she hid in her own room. Then she returned to her bed and curled up against Boushin. He murmured in his sleep, but did not awaken.
"Krulle, thank you for your love, and your last gift." She thought. "Perhaps I can find a way to avenge you."