BACK AT the mansion, mararamdaman naman ang tensyon sa paligid--lalo na sa loob ng conference room na west wing niyon. For what reason?
Because for the first time since the attack, nagtipon-tipon ang mga importanteng miyembro ng Shrouded Flowers minus the Shinomiya sisters Mari and Kourin. In fact, iyon ang talagang sinamantala ng mga miyembrong dumalo dahil na rin sa isang rason--the issue had something to do with what the princess had truly feared since that night. As for Mari's absence, pinagtuunan nito ng agarang pansin ang isang isyu na may kinalaman pa rin sa pag-atake. But the international actress had to go to Japan for that. May permiso naman nito ang conference na iyon kaya walang problema rito kung magkaroon ng ganoong meeting na kumpleto ang 12 Knights at naroon din ang presensiya ng clan leaders ng Shrouded Flowers.
In addition to that, Daryll and Shingo were also present for a very important reason--it was actually the two of them who asked Mari's permission to organize an important meeting such as that.
"I'm glad I still get to see you again, Daryll," nakangiting bati ni Kenji Azuraya--ang leader ng Azuraya clan--na nakaupo na sa puwestong nakalaan para sa kanya kasama ang kapatid na si Arisa. "Ang akala ko ay tuluyan ka nang nagpahuli sa mga iyon."
"Wala pa sa plano ko ang magpakamatay na hindi pa natatapos ang misyon ko, Lord Kenji. At least I know I made that promise to you and Lady Shouda, most especially to the princess," sagot naman ni Daryll na dagling nagseryoso ang ekspresyon nang harapin si Shingo. Tango lang ang iginawad ng doktor sa kanya. Iyon lang ang hudyat na kailangan niya. He faced the rest of the people in that conference room. "Everyone, I know you were already informed that Lady Mari gave us permission to have this meeting with all of you who are present here today. To be honest, things right now are starting to look bad for us."
Nanatili lang ang tensyunadong katahimikan sa loob ng silid na iyon. But it only proved that all of them were aware of the issue that Daryll was talking about.
"How many Dark Rose members have been spotted so far attempting to harm the princess?" tanong ni Shouda Miyuzaki na bumasag sa katahimikan bumabalot sa kanilang lahat. For some reasons, even though the question that the Miyuzaki clan leader had uttered was quite grave, there was a sort of comfort that laced her voiced which had slowly eased the tension hovering around.
"One of our men once spotted Aphrodite and Poseidon," Ryuuji informed as a representative of the Shinomiya clan.
"Then there was Nanami's encounter with Theia and Phoebe which I must say was a close call, by the way," Satoru said which earned him a glare from Nanami but remained silent.
"Iapetus came out, as well, but for some reasons, he was surprised to see Miss Wilford alive," dagdag ni Shingo habang nakakunot-noo at tila napapaisip dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Ano'ng kinalaman ng photojournalist na iyon dito? She just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when she got involved in the attack," ani Shouda.
But to her confusion, Shingo shook his head and faced her. "She didn't just happen to be there, Shouda. May dahilan kung bakit naroon siya sa mansion nang mga panahong iyon. And Lord Ryuuki knew that reason full well."
Now Shingo's statement has caught everyone's attention.
"What was that supposed to mean?"
"Shingo's right," Shigeru Miyuzaki stated as he spoke for the first time in response to Arisa Azuraya's question. "Dalawang taon ko nang iniimbestigahan ang tungkol sa totoong rason kung bakit siya inimbitahan ni Lord Ryuuki sa mansion before the attack to conduct an exclusive interview. But I keep coming up with nothing. That woman knew how to keep her secret really well for an amateur."
"Amateur or not, it doesn't matter. That woman is not a part of our concern right now," Shouko Miyuzaki--the Miyuzaki clan leader Shouda Miyuzaki's sister--stated sternly which earned her a sigh from Mamoru. Nakita rin niya ang pagpalatak at pag-iling ng binata. "What are you trying to prove by doing that, Mamoru?"
Hinarap ni Mamoru si Shouko. "You're saying that as if you didn't know that it was our fault why Yasha is suffering from partial amnesia and recurring nightmares until now." Kapagkuwan ay hinarap naman niya si Shingo. "Sorry, Doc. Kailangan kong makialam ng mga files mo. I'm just curious about something, that's why."
"As long as it has something to do with our mission, I'll be able to tolerate that."
"Seriously, Onii-chan? You could've think of a better reason than that," naiiling na sabi ni Miyako bago siya nagseryoso. "Then I guess I could add those goons' sudden attack to the princess even before the Dark Rose members started popping out like mushrooms again."
"And even their attempt to kidnap Seiichi Yasuhara," Amiko added.
"I know that boy was Lord Hitoshi's best friend, but I think it's a little of a reason for them to kidnap him," Julianna Marie Elzea--nicknamed Julie who happened to be Chrono's sister--said with a slight frown. "Unless he has other purpose for them."
Muli ay natahimik sila at napaisip.
"Seiichi Yasuhara... and Yasha Wilford..." Tsukasa muttered before she raised her head and faced Daryll and Shingo. "By chance, have those two ever met? We can't leave out that possiblity."
"It's highly unlikely, Tsukasa," Daryll answered. "Pero hindi rin natin puwedeng alisin ang posibilidad na may koneksyon sila. At kung meron nga, iyon ang kailangan nating alamin."
"So far, only five were spotted and none of them dared to attack the princess? Isn't that strange considering their nature and true intentions?" Takumi commented as he looked around and faced everyone in that room.
Until a realization hit them almost all at the same time.
"They were just a warning," Akemi uttered. "Iyon lang ang posibleng rason. Dahil kung may iba pa silang dahilan para magpakita, hindi nila maiisipang tirahin ang sinuman sa atin gayong si Kourin ang totoong target nila."
"Akemi, they still didn't know that the princess is alive," Arisa said.
"Gaano tayo kasigurado sa bagay na iyan, Princess Arisa? A lot of things can happen in the span of two years since the attack."
"If that is really the case, then we have to think of a way to counter that." Though Shouda said it with full of conviction, she couldn't help feeling... scared. Pero mabuti na lang at nagagawa niyang huwag ipakita iyon sa mga kasama niya roon.
Though the lady doctor was unaware, Shingo could already tell what she was feeling. Minabuti na lang niya na huwag ihayag dito ang napuna niya. "If only we could a way to infiltrate the enemy's base to help us discover their move about attacking us again..."
"What are you talking about, Shingo?" Kenji inquired.
Hinarap ni Shingo ang naturang clan leader. "The day Iapetus attacked me and Miss Wilford, he stated something which accounts to a grave warning. He said something about repeating history--one that has a relation to the Yasunaga clan 300 years ago."
"Yasunaga clan? Are you talking about the original Fourth Family?" Arisa voiced out. Shingo responded with a solemn nod.
Kinakitaan naman ng confusion sina Kana, Nanami, ang magkambal na sina Takumi at Tsukasa, ang magkapatid na sina Julie at Chrono, maging sina Satoru at Hotaru, at pati rin si Miyako dahil sa narinig. Kenji, Arisa and Shigeru remained impassive while the Miyuzaki sisters Shouda and Shouko showed frustration. Amiko and Mamoru only sighed.
"What do you mean original Fourth Family? Ang sinasabi mo ba, Miss Arisa, ay ang pamilyang minsang naging kabilang sa Shrouded Flowers bago pumalit ang mga Miyuzaki sa puwestong iyon?" tanong ni Nanami. Tumango na lang si Arisa. "Ano naman ang relation n'on sa sinasabi ni Iapetus about repeating history?"
"And why didn't anyone tell anything about this to us before?" Kana added.
"Mahabang kuwento, Kana. But since this was already brought up, mukhang kailangan n'yo na ring malaman iyon. But not right now," Shouko said before facing Shingo. "Iyon ba ang rason kung bakit nasabi mo ang tungkol sa infiltration sa Dark Rose Agency?"
"Alam kong hindi magiging madali pero iyon ang pinakaepektibong paraan sa ngayon."
Though they were all aware of the immense danger that lies with that suggestion, batid nilang tama si Shingo. Knowing their enemies' next move that way would make it easy for them to prepare and have the upper hand on the battle.
Until--
"I'll do it, then," bigla ay inanunsyo ni Shouko na ikinagulat nilang lahat. "I'll be using that as another means for me to confirm one more thing about the Dark Rose."
"Shouko, what are you talking about?"
But the woman just gave a reassuring smile to her sister. "Sasabihin ko rin ang lahat, Ate. Hindi pa nga lang sa ngayon. Just trust me with this."
No comments:
Post a Comment