Chrono X Angel, Book 8: The Sands of Time

Chapter 5

In Another Time and Place...

Usoko stood in window of an immensely tall skyscraper overlooking the rebuilding city of Fumizaki with an expression of hollow pride. In the past ten years since the defeat of Ahrimanes, she had risen through the ranks of GARDNA to become its supreme commander, a role once held by the late Modred Pendragon. Some had been opposed to her taking of this role, one that had been held by the leader of Pendragon clan since the organization's inception, but any dissent was easily countered by the argument that she had been the slayer of the great beast.
Life had finally returned to her home town now, in fact it was slowly becoming an economic powerhouse to rival even Tokyo thanks in no small part to the assistance of the von Orlok clan and the Blue Oni court. It had been one of her first acts as supreme commander to begin lowering the veil, bit by bit with the help of several world governments. Humans would slowly come to realize that they were in fact cohabiting the planet with many other sentient races. That had almost been the easy part, it was what was coming next that would be... not so easy. No matter their origins or species, people could be quite resistant to change...
A knock on the door drew her attention away from the scenery, and Usoko took a seat behind her desk, laying her hands down in front of her. On her left ring finger sat a gold band with diamonds and sapphires. A token of her marriage to Emiko, who wore a similar band with pink rubies instead. The door opened, and a five year old girl came zooming over to greet Usoko at her desk, the girl's short pink hair was quite dirty from playing in the park. Following the child was Nonami, or Maria now as she tended to stay in her true form these days, all smiles as she greeted her niece.

"Good afternoon Mrs. Tachibana," she said as the smaller pinkette dove into Usoko's waiting arms, "I believe you would like to know that your daughter won first place for her school in their baseball tournament today. She was an absolute force of nature out there."

"Is that so?" Inquired Usoko, glancing down at her child and tousling her hair, "Did you make mommy proud today MisaMisa?"

"Yahuh!" Grinned the young Misato, "We whupped those other kid's butts good!!"

"Very well done kiddo," smiled Usoko. Though Misato could not see it from being so excited at the moment, there was a hint of sadness or perhaps regret tinging the corners of Usoko's mouth that Maria instantly picked up on.
"Now then, Mommy and Aunty have some important business to discuss, okay Misa? Can you go down to the gym and help Aunt Rei if she needs it?"

Misato's smile flattened out a bit as Usoko sat her back on the ground. The two did not get to see each other much these days, what with Usoko's important position within GARDNA, so whenever Misato got to see her it was almost never for long and the little girl hated it.

"Yeah... sure... okay..." she huffed, making for the door, "Love you mommy!"

"Hm, oh, love you too Misato," replied Usoko absently as she sat back in her seat.

Maria watched her younger great niece mope out of the room, and could not help but feel guilty for calling this meeting with Usoko. The two really did need to spend more time together, lest they end up like herself and her own son. Or gods forbid like herself and the daughter she had never known. Still, this meeting was going to be crucial. There had been rumors circulating, of GARDNA's military units being mobilized in ways they were not meant to. They were a peacekeeping organization first and foremost, so why were GARDNA's top units being deployed to the capitols of several powerful countries at the same time? Though Maria did not wish to admit it, a part of her already knew what was coming. She only hoped she could convince Usoko not to do this.

"So, you are the one who called this meeting, Lady von Orlok," began Usoko formally, "In your message, you mentioned some concerning rumors you had heard. Would you be so kind as to elaborate?"