Chapter Text
==A.0==
A creak and a shut. The clanks and clunks of gears turning behind him. They were all sounds he had long become accustomed from visiting the former count. After all, it has been two years since the war had ended and for two years has he frequented this long corridor towards and away a glass room.
However these were sounds and a reality his companion was not accustomed to. He had noticed his companion walked out as they had intended -- excusing themselves -- but her very steps only went through the notions. Robotic and pretending to remain composed. He knew better though and it became more apparent of how shaken she was, the closer they reached the exit of the prison.
Once outside and indulging in her insistence, the two had a long stroll before them to where he had parked the car. Their pace had slowed immensely and in the final stretch to the car, he had to pause and turn to her. She could no longer drag her feet forward or look forward, to look him in the eye.
Was this what his sister had tried to verify with him?
“She wants to see him and you allowed it?” Yuki had questioned in an alarm voice.
Inaho had already picked up the car keys and was already on his way out.
“Yes. I’m sure they both need to see each other.” He had concluded. In the two years he had visited the former count, the time Inaho had mentioned Asseylum’s request did the former count radiate with life.
Yuki shook her head before resting it in her palm. Her expression suggested what was to happen would not bode well; he could not grasp why. It was necessary for the two -- Asseylum and Troyard -- to talk considering what has happened and… after all, aren’t they friends?
“Perhaps it will serve as a good reality check for her.” Yuki said before Inaho nodded and left.
Inaho concluded this is what his sister had meant. Asseylum knew full well she should have disguised herself by now considering that they were out in the open but had yet to do so. Her eyes remained downcast.
“... He’s been living like this… since… then?” Asseylum said in a weakened yet struggling voice.
He could see Asseylum yielded a struggling smile or holding back a sob but her eyes betrayed her. Tears started to fall from her cheeks and before long did she cover her face. He did not need to voice the answer; she knew.
Perhaps he should have said something as Asseylum did not speak after that. The silence continued awkwardly in the car as he drove her back to the Embassy. There was no talk of stopping for a bite to eat and idle chatter; there was no plans for adventuring the city -- things their group of friends suggested when Asseylum came back to Earth from Vers.
Once at the Embassy, Inaho was about to remove his seatbelt and escort Asseylum out of the passenger seat but instead, he found Asseylum reaching for his hand. She brought his hand to her chin and grasped his hand with both of hers; it was a familiar sensation to him. It was like when she had requested saving her childhood friend. Surely, she was going to request something. Inaho was unsure whether or not he can fulfill this time. He could not necessarily say he was succeeding on this one and it was already underworks rather to simply sentence the former count to death out of economical concerns on the UFE side.
“Is… there really no way… for him to be under the blue sky again?”
“No.” Inaho responded, perhaps too fast he noted from Asseylum’s reaction.
Asseylum was taken aback for a moment but she would have to admit saving Slaine was already a miracle on its own.
“Not on my own at least. The higher ups are already making a notion to execute Slaine Troyard later this year. It's almost entirely out of my hands.” Inaho added and informed.
“I see... in other words I need to…” Asseylum mumbled and began to think of a viable solution.
Inaho nodded in agreement.
==Asseylum.1==
Count Klancain spoke in a slightly nervous tone, “Your Highness…”
“I know, Count Klancain.” Asseylum tried to reassure but her voice came out flat.
Their footsteps made a rather peculiar noise for outer space. They had taken a pit stop on the abandoned Moonbase on their way back to Vers and were currently exploring a forsaken memorable place to the empress. It was once the garden Slaine had made for her when she had first awakened from her coma.
What were once green, lush plants were now nothing more than frozen ash. The ceiling that once illuminated a sunny blue sky had long been shut down and instead displayed the cold outer space that laid waste beyond.
Count Klancain was somewhat at a loss as to why they were here but could presume it involved her visit with the former count, her childhood Terran friend. However there seemed to be nothing here to the count.
The empress seemed to have come to a halt and took a long look around the forgotten garden. The memories of back then danced in her mind and it was almost like she could imagine ghosts of the past reenacting her memories before her. The only difference for her now from then was that now she stood where Slaine had once before. Here above this balcony, he could see everything he had made but also see past that. The empress looked to the "sky" where the apparent borders of each displaying screen were ever more obvious with dust and for some static and sparks of failing electrical connections. It was as if the dream they shared was below but unable to for manifest into the reality above.
She closed her eyes and sighed. Before leaving Earth, Inaho had inadvertently made it clear how cruel a fate she had left not only to Slaine and that even Inaho could only do so much. No. He was doing what clearly should have been her responsibility.
Eddelrittuo’s words echoed in her mind as the empress resumed her pacing but this time more quickly and now towards a room with an empty tube.
"He never changed."
"He did whatever he could to keep you alive even if it would risk his life."
"He waited for you to wake up. He believed you would wake up."
Could she say the same for herself? Did she even have that luxury considering her role to her people?
What meaning was there to save a kingdom without consideration of its citizens. Technically Slaine discarded his citizenship but even so...
She shook her head. Such thoughts didn't matter. All that mattered was that she wanted to help and save that one person. Looking once more at the empty tube, Asseylum gathered her thoughts and had figured out a plan.
==Inaho.1==
“I see. I have that part covered.” Inaho answered before putting away his phone.
A few months had passed since Asseylum had visited Inaho and for one reason another, Inaho was currently seeking shelter at a closed aviation workshop… in the outskirts of one of the smaller European countries. Inaho found a small bit of roof the workshop had to spare and leaned against the wall, which was thankfully dry. However not all his problems were solved; a chilly gust of wind howled and Inaho was again reminded of how cold it was here as opposed to Japan.
“You again? Didn’t you see the sign around back -- no soliciting?” A male voice said next to Inaho; it was a mechanic Inaho had seen on site for the last few days. The mechanic was definitely trying to play dumb. Unfortunately for the mechanic, Inaho was not the easiest person to chase away once his mind was set.
Inaho nonetheless played along. He did not have many options given his circumstances. “Yes but I am here to see Mrs. Kirsten T--”
“I have no business with UFE scum,” the person of interest stated flatly. She had opened the main entrance of the workshop -- the gigantic gates in which they’d bring in or out various planes and other aviation tools.
“UFE?” The mechanic exclaimed in shock but then noticed the uniform Inaho had on underneath his jacket and scarf. “We especially don’t do business--”
“I am here to discuss business not necessarily pertaining to the UFE.” Inaho said.
The woman’s hair was more brightly blond but Inaho was sure he was facing Slaine’s mother; their resemblance is uncanny and impossible to deny. Kirsten had turned around and was attempting to rudely disregard Inaho.
The mechanic got a hold of Inaho’s shoulder and already Inaho could decipher the man’s intention to use force to remove him from the premises. Inaho added, “It’s regarding your son.”
Inaho’s taciturn nature was not helping him. He may have gambled poorly as he noticed the mechanic had winced upon hearing him. The mechanic’s expression implicitly suggested that he shouldn’t have said that and he was in for it now. Kirsten had dropped whatever she was carrying loudly and crudely; she was surely holding her anger.
“My son’s dead. Now I would highly recommend that you consider your next words very carefully or leave. Otherwise, I cannot promise that you won’t be flying back in one piece, Japanese boy.”
Kirsten turned to Inaho and behind Inaho, Inaho could hear the mechanic let a muffled whimper for Kirsten was glaring at Inaho. He sighed as he was long use to seeing that expression from Slaine. “If I were to say he was alive, then would I have your attention?”
“Oh. Completely.” Kirsten said with a disturbing smile and immediately walked over to Inaho, gripping both of his shoulders. Inaho’s view went upside down as her voice blared through his ears. “When pigs fly and over a bunch of horse manure!”
She had thrown him like a sack of potatoes and in a manner that Inaho was going to land head first to the ground.
“Yes. She is definitely Slaine’s mother.” Inaho concluded.
==Slaine.1==
“A tracking device?” Slaine thought as he looked to the armlet wrapped around his right wrist.
“Troyard.” Inaho addressed to get Slaine’s attention.
Slaine looked up from his wrist to his former enemy, who sat across from him. He had not seen Kaizuka Inaho in several months. Inaho had visited him one more time since the Empress’s visit and had informed Slaine that he would be unable to visit him for at least a few months due to a mission. Inaho did not disclose any more details but whatever it was, did not stop Inaho from abruptly visiting him once more. This time, however Inaho had brusquely ordered him to prepare to leave the prison and into his car to the airport.
Now, the two were aboard a private plane that was heading to an unknown destination to Slaine. He couldn’t bring himself to care anymore. He could tell wherever he was heading brought not only unease to the wardens and other personnel from the prison but there was something in the air that, he knew his time was calling -- the time he had been waiting for, his execution. Perhaps he was being taken back to Russia where the main headquarters of UFE was during the war; of course he wondered if the UFE would be not consider relocating after what had happened.
“Troyard...”
The blond sighed and looked down to the recognizable black and white checkered board. No matter how many times he was close to death in war and escaped, he still couldn’t find a way to escape from Inaho’s chess games. It was Slaine’s turn and he had not only paid little attention to the status of the board but did not place much thought of his previous or his current move. Perhaps, Inaho kept insisting this game as it was the most fitting for the two veterans. Chess after all was a game of philosophy and perhaps, this was the best chance Inaho had in understanding him -- the same going for him. However Inaho fails to understand one thing -- Slaine did not care. Slaine can see how the threads of fate were spinning and that he was at the end of his rope. Did Inaho not see the futility in what he had done? Inaho could have saved himself -- as well as spare Slaine of his suffering of these chess games -- of dealing with Slaine anymore. After all, the world already considers him dead so why continue this facade?