(Note: Again..... I've been just a bit...... swamped...... but I apologize for the long, long delay. ^_~ I'm afraid it's a bit short, but I'll do better as we get on in the story.)

"Interesting......."

A mystery indeed. Had the shattering of the sculpture been an occurance within the ancient artifact...... or a subconscious reaction from without?

"Not a wonderful situation to contemplate," Shitan murmured softly to himself. If he were one to believe in omens...... but man made his own omens -- he had learned that long ago. One's perception of things colored one's future; if a person assumed things would go badly for them, it usually happened.

All in the attitude......

The shattered remains of the base of the statue glittered, still turning on a now-useless wheel. A faint whir was all that remained of the audio device itself...... It had all broken, into little glimmering pieces of glass and metal, and soul......

Shitan reached out and placed his fingers on the wheel, halting its useless spin.

What need was there, for such a reminder?

== It approaches. ==

So he had said. No explanation; just that one sentence...... 'It approaches'. It was a ridiculous way to warn someone of a coming event, but Cain always had his reasons. If he wanted his agent to be surprised, or perhaps didn't know himself what was about to happen...... well, nothing could be done about it.

He released the wheel, letting it drift indecisively a few moments before ceasing to move altogether. It was a shame such a priceless antique had been destroyed in whatever the Emperor had wanted to achieve; Shitan could feel the age of the artifact, and almost wished he could have saved it, for Yui. She was a great lover of history.

And though the artifact's meaning was unclear to him...... he felt it was a tragedy, that it had been shattered. Its reminders weren't all...... unpleasant.

==It could not be helped.==

Shitan blinked, startled by the contact. ==You did not plan this? What happened? Surely not pure chance......==

Cain seemed to pause, or perhaps hesitate; it was impossible to tell, with such a minimal connection established. ==The boy did it, under his own power. He wasn't pleased with the reminder of the melody, if events are any indication. Which one it is should be obvious to you.==

==I had no idea he was aware enough to make use of his power.== Disturbing thought. The idea of being watched......

==He is not.== Cain's voice began to fade, even as he finished his statement. ==Another has intervened on his behalf.==

Wonderful......

~*~*~ ------ ~*~*~

"Enough is enough, gentlmen." Yui smiled, and reached between Fei and Midori to wisk his dinner plate away and replace it with a small dish of mint ice cream. And never missing a stride, Fei immediately started on it, all the while continuing his one-sided conversation with Midori.

It was a cute picture; it was a shame Shitan was so withdrawn, or she thought he might at least be scolding Fei for his lack of manners at the table.

She glanced over at her husband again, sliding the dirty plates into a pile next to the sink. He sat in his chair with his eyes turned toward their guest, but his gaze held the far-away look she had come to associate with worry, and other unpleasant thoughts. **Something else. I wonder if it has to do with the conversation Midori mentioned before lunch......?**

But enough -was- enough; she left the plates where they were and glided over to Shitan, slipping her arms around his shoulders from behind and leaning down to rest her head against his. "Is something bothering you?" she whispered, shifting her gaze from Fei back to her husband, to make sure they would not be overheard. "You don't look particularly cheerful......"

He was silent a moment, staring into nothingness. "A disturbing revelation." His voice was very soft, as if it were a secret for her ears only -- and perhaps it was.

"And?" Yui prompted, tightening her embrace.

"And......" Shitan sighed. "And now, I am afraid, is not the time to discuss it."

She raised her eyebrow in a flash of irritation, but immediately saw the subject of his worry; Fei had finished the rest of his dessert, and Midori was walking off to her room, leaving the three more or less alone.

And Fei had nothing with which to distract himself.

**He had better unwind once Fei is gone,** she thought, recalling with annoyance the many times he'd distracted her like this. **If he doesn't, he'll have to go down to Lahan to eat.** "Did you enjoy the dinner, Fei?" She distangled herself from Shitan and straightened. "I made it with you in mind!"

"It was great!" The boy smiled, leaping up from the table. She blushed; something about his sincerety seemed to make it more than a compliment.

And she got few enough compliments. Shitan meant well, of course, and she knew he appreciated everything she did for him, but he wasn't very forthcoming most of the time -- at least, not in the last few years. Having Fei encourage her so enthusiastically tended to make her feel a little flustered.

"Are you still cooking for the wedding, Yui?" he asked, breaking her thoughts. "You've gotta make some of that fried rice for everyone! They'll love it......"

She raised her eyebrows with a smile. "You mean, you'd like to eat most of it?"

"Well......" he rubbed the back of his head, grinning a bit sheepishly. "I will be preparing the food for Alice's wedding -- don't worry about that." She leaned over the table and took his bowl, moving across the room to place it atop the pile of dishes. "Will you be here to help me carry it down into the town tomorrow morning?"

"Of course!"

She gave him a final smile and turned to the sink, pouring soap in and watching as water filled it and created a mountain of suds. Shitan asked Fei outside, but she didn't turn around to bid Fei farewell; he would likely be back in for something he had forgotten, or at the very least for a snack to take on his way, as usual.

And Shitan...... well, she knew better than to interfere with his plans for the boy. It wasn't really her place, and though she knew part of why they were here, she had no desire to learn the rest.

At least...... as long as it wasn't a danger to her family......