After The Rain: Kagato vs Aiko
The confrontation between mother and son - Aiko discovers just how dark her son has become!

---

"Kagato?"

The prince turned, eying his mother gravely as she met his golden eyes with confused ruby ones of her own.

"What is it?" She asked softly. "Where have you been - and why are you here now, so deep into my quarters?"

"I came to speak to you, Oka-sama." Kagato said quietly, his keen gaze running over her as he folded his arms across his chest. "About important things."

"Such as?" Aiko frowned, closing the chamber door behind her and Kagato offered her a cold smile, raising his hand in it's direction. The bolt hovered, then snapped across the wood, fastening it shut and Aiko's eyes widened, alarm flickering in their depths.

"Musuko-chan?"

"I don't want us to be disturbed." Kagato said softly. "This is important to me, Mother. Very important to me."

"Then talk." Aiko got a hold of her composure, sitting down on her bed and gesturing for Kagato to take the opposing seat. He hesitated, then did so, leaning back in his chair as he regarded her thoughtfully.

"It was you, wasn't it?" He murmured. Aiko looked confused.

"What do you mean? What was me?"

"The one the seers predicted to have magic." Kagato spread his hands. "It was never Haru-dono. It was you."

"Magic?" Aiko raised an eyebrow. "Jurai's power? I've never cared about that, my son."

"No, I know." Kagato sighed. "Which is why it never occured to me before. And why it's not occured to Grandfather, either. He's enough of a chauvenist to consider Uncle Haru a failure, without realising that you are his success...the one who cost Grandmother her life by being too powerful a child for her to properly nurture."

"Kagato, Jurai's Power is just a way this family set itself apart from other families, and try and claim superiority." Aiko said frankly. "I've no interest in it, and neither should you have. It's the power of Kings and Queens, nothing else. You and I, we aren't destined for that kind of domination. It's not worth pursuing. There are more important things."

"Perhaps there are, for you." Kagato's eyes flickered thoughtfully. "Does Uncle Haru know you have the magic?"

"I don't have the magic."

"Yes, you do." Kagato said bluntly. "I can see it. You don't use it, but it's there. It radiates out from you like a beacon - what other people think is just spirit is actually this planet's royal heritage, isn't it?"

"I have never used Jurai's power, Kagato-chan. And I never will." Aiko looked confused. "And I don't understand why this is so important to you. It doesn't impact on you in any way, should I have it or not. And I don't have it. Grandmother passed away, and we were born too soon to properly develop any kind of magic. That's just how it's always been."

"I disagree." Kagato got to his feet, approaching her slowly. He paused in front of her, resting his hands gently on her shoulders, and a prickle of dark energy flitted through Aiko's body. She gazed up at him in horror, and he smiled, nodding his head.

"Grandfather might be blind and stupid, but I'm not. You raised me better than that." He said softly. "Your magic is poor, it's true. Truncated and weak. But there. And in enough quantity that, if you chose to, you could claim Jurai's crown in Yosho's stead. That you could actually be a new claimant to the throne."

"I'm not going to be Queen of Jurai." Aiko said firmly, reaching up to dislodge her son's fingers from her body. "And you should stop fixating on this. The magic is dangerous, Kagato. It takes a very particular kind of man to wield it without harm to himself or those around him. It destroys lives and steals mothers from their children. I have no interest in it...in any of it. And even if what you say is true, I'll never step before Father's throne and display any magic to him. I don't want any part of it, and nor should you."

"So you're not biding your time, then? Waiting for Yosho to finally leave so that you can take your chance to be Uncle Azusa's heir?" Kagato asked softly. Aiko stared at him, then she laughed.

"A more stupid suggestion I could not have conceived." She said scornfully. "What kind of freedom does Jurai's monarch have? I like my life. I have influence enough, without responsibility. I live as I please and noone questions me. I don't want to change it for the boredom of the Council Chamber and the monotony of listening to other people's grievances and problems."

For a moment there was silence, as Kagato digested this. Then, at length, he nodded his head.

"I believe you." He acknowledged. "And I'm glad to hear it from your own lips. Mother, I love you very much. You know that, I think. But if you had provided another obstacle..."

He shrugged, holding out his hands.

"I've already come too far."

"Kagato?" Aiko's eyes widened with alarm. "Kaga-chan, what have you done? What are you involved in?"

"Nothing that need concern you, Oka-sama." Kagato said gently, although Aiko could hear a warning note in his voice. She shook her head.

"I know you've been pursuing Jurai's power for yourself, and I can feel it in your touch." She whispered. "It's hurting you already - I was so afraid of that. Masuko-chan, please, turn away from it now. I won't see you damaged by it!"

"You and I have different aspirations." Kagato said stiffly. "You said you wanted me to be able to make my own choices. I have. Yosho is foolish and smitten with Haruna. In his absence, I will be in line to inherit. And I will not let your squeamishness stand in my way, Mother. Nothing can...you have to realise that. My magic is more than yours will ever be, and it's capabilities far outweigh those of the Crown Prince or his son. I have potential beyond anything you've ever imagined, and I've unlocked it, bit by bit. Noone will ever question my claim to this throne."

"But..."

"But nothing." Kagato shook his head. "I know more than you think, Oka-sama. I know your secret...the secret you've been so careful to keep from me as long as I've been alive. Well, it's not a secret any more. I know that Lord Hotaru was not my father. And I know that it isn't his gaze I see, whenever I meet my reflection in the mirror pool."

Aiko blanched, her breath catching in her throat, and her reaction seemed to amuse her son. He smiled.

"It's all right." He said softly. "I've taken all the necessary steps to make sure nobody can ever prove it. It's just a story, that's all. Your word...nothing more."

"My papers!" Aiko looked stricken. "It was you! Not Azusa! You!"

"Yes, Oka-sama. I'm afraid it was." Kagato looked apologetic. "But I had to find out what I didn't already know, and make sure noone else could follow the paper trail."

Aiko's heart leapt into her throat.

"But..." She faltered. "Does that mean...?"

"He hasn't returned to Airai." Kagato smiled again, and this time his smile sent a cold chill up his mother's spine, causing her to shiver involuntarily. "It was indiscreet of you, continuing a correspondance with the man who's bastard child you fathered and tried to pass off as a legitimate Prince of Jurai. It was too much of a risk - should anyone dig too deeply, it would become obvious that you'd known him a long time. He might even realise, in the end, what had happened. He might intervene...it was too dangerous. So I took steps. I eradicated that proof."

"You...killed him?" Aiko could not go any whiter, her voice little more than a whisper. "Your father? Masuko-chan, what's happened to you?"

"He was nothing to me. No more than the man you've tried to pass off as my father for all this time." Kagato shrugged his shoulders. "And now that connection can never be made. I did it to protect your secret, Oka-sama."

"And what else will you do in the interests of protecting that secret?" Aiko demanded, pulling herself to her feet and facing her son head on. "I know my son - I know he's not one to kill in cold blood! I raised you better than that!"

"And you spent my whole life lying to me." Kagato snapped back. "Teaching me to aim for the moon, while all the time sneaking around behind my back and sabotaging my chances of reaching it. It's a good thing for your sake that I'm as fond of you as I am. I dislike killing people I care about."

Aiko drew a heavy breath into her lungs, eying him uncertainly.

"What else have you done?" She whispered. "Tell me, masuko-chan. What other evil have you committed because I was indiscreet as a young girl?"

Kagato was silent for a moment, and horror flickered in Aiko's ruby gaze.

"Mikamo Niwase." She whispered. "Oh Kagato, please. Your oldest friend..."

Genuine regret touched Kagato's expression, and tears welled up in Aiko's eyes.

"Oh Kagato." She repeated.

"Mikamo knew too much, and it was no longer safe." Kagato admitted. "He was doing work for me, but it affected him. He became unstable - indiscreet. In the end, I only hastened what would have ended in insanity and institutionalisation anyway. I could not risk him exposing me - but I regret it, Oka-sama. Mikamo was my friend, as you say. I'm not proud of that act. But an Emperor must do what he has to to survive, and in the end, I had no other choice."

"You're not an Emperor." Aiko said darkly. "And if I were to tell Father who your father was..."

"If I thought you would do that, I would kill you, here and now." Kagato said flatly. "My magic surpasses yours, Mother. I've learnt a lot about my Arian roots and the magic they allow me. Combined with Jurai's magic, it's a potent and dangerous force. One that even Grandfather cannot stop. At present, I am content simply to be named in the succession - but if I think you are being disloyal to me again, I will take things to the next level. I will kill my miserable Uncle Haru, and your prim and proper Prince Azusa. And then I will see to you, also."

"Kagato..."

"So now we understand each other." Kagato cut across her coldly. "You will not betray me, Oka-sama, and I will preserve your life and your position at court. Remember that I have already shed blood in the name of this cause, and if need be, I will do so again. Do you understand?"

Aiko dropped her gaze, her heart heavy as the tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"My son." She whispered. "Where is the boy I love so much?"

"He's going to be King of Jurai, and you're going to help him get there." Kagato said frankly. "Aren't you, Oka-sama?"

Aiko sighed, glancing at her hands.

"You don't give me a lot of choice." She said, anguish in her voice. "I won't see you hurt more people. But Kagato, please. Reconsider. This isn't who you are - this isn't the man you've always been. Airai is full of dark arts and mystical forces and Jurai's power can corrupt all on it's own. You're playing with evil and it's starting to scar your soul. Please, pull back from it now. I want my son back."

Kagato was silent, then he shook his head.

"There's no going back. I've come too far." He said softly.

Aiko rubbed her temples.

"And what happens now?" She asked fearfully.

"I must deal with the scientist. Washu Hakubi." Kagato said contemplatively. "I still think Mikamo told her more than she revealed under interrogation. My attempts to poison her have proven unsuccessful - and I'm sure that further attempts on her life will meet with equal failure. She seems strong beyond the normal biology of even a Kii...so I have to think again."

"Kagato, please!"

"She has been conducting experiments recently within a space zone that borders territory belonging to you...part of your widow's settlement from Lord Hotaru." Kagato's eyes glinted. "A depopulated planet disappeared mysteriously. Normally, this area of space is ignored and noone cares what happens there. But in the circumstances, it seems convenient."

"I don't understand."

"Washu has committed a crime against the Science Academy and against the royal family of Jurai." Kagato said softly. "She must be punished. And we have the power to ensure that her punishment is severe enough to keep her out of my way. If Mikamo did tell her something, I don't want her revealing it to anyone before I'm ready to strike. And if she did steal something precious from me, and it wasn't Mikamo who hid them, then I want the chance to find them."

Aiko sighed heavily.

"I'll lodge a complaint with the Academy council of Elders." She said resignedly. "But so long as you promise me no further attempts will be made on her life. I won't be an accomplice to murder, my son. Not even for your sake."