Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Shades of Time ❯ Damage Report ( Chapter 14 )

 

To say that Shi-ne was not in a good mood would have been the understatement of several centuries. So much in fact, that everyone who saw her cleared a wide path and very nearly jumped to stay out of her way. She would have rather stabbed herself in the foot than go where she was heading and it was not helping her mood in the slightest. It was bad enough that the morning had started off with Tenpou apparently thinking she was a life sized stuffed animal. He had managed to wrap himself firmly around her at some point in time during the night because Goku had wiggled himself off the bed. She had woken because of warm air blowing on the back of her neck, upon coming fully alert she realized that it was Tenpou breathing on her. He'd also had one arm thrown over her and had pulled her tightly against him. That was not the worst part of the entire debacle. No, that came in the form of his knee being wedged between her thighs and his hips settled firmly against her backside. She had managed to wriggle her way out of that potentially embarrassing situation without him waking. Thank the gods!

 

The morning was made worse after she had tracked down just who the CO of the people who had beaten Goku up was. She didn't bother knocking on the door but simply walked in without announcement or preamble. Tenpou was already seated across from the Colonel's desk and he stood when she entered while the Colonel did not. He simply glared at her from across the desk. Shi-ne saluted Tenpou like a perfect subordinate and turned toward the Colonel.

 

“Colonel Kai, you will stand and salute a superior officer,” she growled.

 

“Why the hell would I salute my daughter?” he sneered.

 

“Since you claim you don't have one, I fail to see the problem with it. As to the why, it's because I <i>outrank</i> you. Get your ass up. I won't say it again,” she said, putting her hands on his desk and leaning forward.

 

The Colonel got up reluctantly and snapped her a salute then sat right back down again.

 

She smiled bitterly. “There, was that so difficult?” She tossed several papers onto his desk. “Orders from <i>your</i> commanding officer. I expect to have these men in my office the instant they are released from medical care. They will be training with me for that following week. After that, I believe Field Marshall Tenpou would like to have access to them,” she said, looking at Tenpou for confirmation.

 

“Correct, General Kai,” he said. His mind was now turning, wondering at the obviously bad blood between father and daughter. There had been all sorts of rumors for ages but he hadn't bothered to pay any attention to them. He wondered what had really happened.

 

Before he could ponder it any further, one of the Lieutenants burst into the room.

 

“Forgive the intrusion, Colonel Kai,” she said, saluting him then Tenpou and Shi-ne in turn. “But the Emperor has called an emergency meeting of all officers ranked Major and above from all divisions. Assembly is to be in the great hall of the palace within the hour.”

 

“Thank you, Lieutenant. Dismiss!”

 

“Yes, sir!” the woman said, leaving as quickly as she had arrived.

 

Shi-ne smiled a little wider. “Well, it seems like this little party is cancelled for the time being. Make sure those men get to my office, Colonel. If I have to hunt them down you may be missing part of a squad,” she said, turning on her heel and walking out.

 

Tenpou stood, saluted Colonel Kai and left to catch up with Shi-ne. She wasn't exactly running but it was a very fast walk away from the Colonel's office.

 

“Uh, Shi-ne, what . . .”

 

“Was that all about?” she finished the sentence for him. “Here I thought you knew everything, Tenpou. He hates me. Always has, always will.”

 

“Why?” Tenpou cursed silently. Damn it, that was none of his business.

 

She shrugged. “Because I lived and my mother died. He apparently couldn't bring himself to outright kill me but he was always mumbling shi-ne every time he got near me. Eventually, the caretakers just presumed that was my name and it stuck.”

 

“What was your name supposed to be?” he asked before he could get control of his mouth.

 

“Any knowledge of that died with my mother.”

 

“Shit. I'm sor . . .”

 

“Don't, Tenpou! Just don't,” she said, holding up a hand as though that would keep him at bay. “I can stand the false sympathy from anyone but you. At least you've always been honest in your hatred of me, let's not spoil that with dishonesty now.” She turned on her heel and left him standing there gaping at her rapidly retreating form.

 

“Fuck!” he growled, shoving his hands through his hair. Did she really think he hated her? He disliked a lot of the things she did, that was certainly true. But he didn't dislike <i>her</i> personally because he really didn't know her that well. He paused as that thought really struck home. He <i>didn't</i> know her. He knew she was strong willed and focused, smart and powerful, truly if Goku ever had a mother she was that but he really didn't know her. Damn this was a mess.