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Shiori smirked. "I thought you liked it when I screamed." she teased, cackling and pushing him gently. "Although I suppose that's hard to say..."

Kaguyo watched over the people grimly. "I know..." she whispered. "We need to go through and figure out our losses... Hapushi-chan, how bad do you think it is??"

This actually caused Kaguyo to sit down.
She couldn't speak for a long time, thoughts running furiously through her head.
She had to figure this out somehow...
Somehow...
Then again, this was very, very bad news.
It wasn't surprising the sudden decrease had put her in a very foul mood.

Shiori almost blushed.
"You're afraid? Then what business do you have being Ou?" she retorted, more or less proving his point. "Better quit while you're ahead."

"Is there any way we can bring them back?? Any way to persuade them...?? Perhaps we should go to Aled for this." Kaguyo murmured to herself. "He or Po-ar could stir public support..."

Shiori shrugged. "Well, you're not special." she smiled slightly. "So what? You're born rich. Big deal. Doesn't make you a god. You could work just as much as any peasant if you were powerless and had a whip set to you." she kissed him gently. "But, you have time to prove me wrong, at least partially."

"Put the cells on lockdown." Kaguyo sighed deeply. "No one else leaves...."
The question was at this point, among those who left, who were spies, and who were loyalists?

Shiori nodded. "I wouldn't want you to be a god. I could never compare." she shook her head. "But perhaps you are more special than I give you credit for."
It was double-entendre. She was picking on him more, but part of her actually meant it, and not in the stupid sense.
He could be someone genuine...
So far seemed good...
But he was taking too long to make a move. She slowly began to sit up, watching him. "You are awfully slow." she finished with a smirk.

"Cameras all activated. We need to see who the traitors are." Kaguyo answered warily. "We need to beef up security.... Contact the Fir Darrigs if we can. I could use some advice myself."
She just shook her head, rubbing her temples.
Of all the times...

She wouldn't hear it, however.
She rose to her feet, diving into the water, washing it all off.
"They're as easily brushed off as you are." Shiori retorted sharply, although part of her agreed with him.
Part of her had been looking forward to it.
"And just as quick to burn out."
Slash, slash!
She continued on into the water, intending to just swim as far as she could go.
It was a dream after all. She'd never drown.

Shiori paused, the water undulating about waist-level on her.
She crossed her arms, watching him. "First, you want me, then, you don't." she shook her head. "If I'm not good enough for you, just say so, and spare me your lip service. Quit making a hypocrite of yourself... Don't indulge in such games as we've been playing just to pull that. That's cruel. I've been waiting for this---I'm 36, Aled, it's not like I'm growing younger! What if I wanted to have a family, to boot?" she backed away a bit. "Iie, iie... you would switch on me just as quickly, I don't doubt. You're a politician, you're all talk..."
She didn't understand the sudden panic attack....
Perhaps Aled just got too close.
It was utterly irrational, they both knew this, Shiori keenly aware of how silly it all seemed.
But either way... Such sweet words... Unreal. They had to be. At the bottom of everything, she wasn't sure if he was just trying to trick her.
She didn't sense anything bad... but...
But why take that sort of chance?
He desired her in the real world, where she couldn't escape. Where there were enemies everywhere... where they were wounded and healing even now.
Could she trust him that much?

Kaguyo sighed deeply. "Aoki-san blocked it, didn't he...? KAZU-KUN! HOW'S THE FORCEFIELD!?"
"SUGOI!" the child shouted, "Up and running! We're safe! Do you need my help??"
"Hapushi-chan, can you trace where the jamming signals are coming from?" the woman raised an eyebrow, Kazuhiko floating above and to the side. "We need to disable it... I'd say let Kazu-kun teleport, but we need him here..."

"But from the mountains...." Kaguyo whispered. "There's probably a portal there..."
This was actually a bit of exciting news.
Except that a good majority of bases were located in and around said mountain range. This complicated matters a bit.
"Is anyone intercepting us, Hapushi-chan?"

Shiori sighed, backing up into the water.
Part of her felt relieved that he had gone.
But the other part ached. Even in her sleep it wasn't hard to tell she suffered.
The only question was whether it was because of him, her wounds, neither, both, or whatever combination that could be asked.
Barely seconds after he left she woke up with a gasp, falling clean out of bed with a heavy thud.
Had she even really been asleep???
Gods, she ached...
She lingered there on the floor for a while, trying to compose herself.
Had he really been there?
Where was he now?
Had he been awake that entire time?

All very good questions.

She rose to her feet, examining herself. She was still sore, but she could start working at least...
She didn't put on any makeup. She didn't change her robes.
No, she was too tired for that.
But when she tried to leave the room, she found she was still locked in.
She started screaming and yelling until someone paid attention.
If there was one thing she didn't want, it was to be trapped in an unfamiliar place---Aled's room, of all places--and alone.
Being alone in one's dream was one thing, but she certainly didn't want it here.