Act VI: Believe

     Ami, Miya, and Munenori sit together in a field. Miya struggles as she takes off
Munenori's torn sleeve, and wraps it around his arm like a bandage.
     "There is so much blood, and this is a difficult place to bandage," Miya comments.
     "Just do as best you can, and get me to the station," Munenori replies.
     "Well, that's the best I can do," Miya says getting to her feet and helping Munenori up.
     "Then let's go," Munenori states.
     The group continues on their hike back to the city. They reach the outskirts and
Munenori starts to get dizzy. In an alley he leans up against the side of a building and Miya runs
to his side.
     "Are you okay?" she asks.
     "I'll be fine," he answers. "Just give me a moment."
     They wait a couple minutes and finally Munenori regains his stability.
     "Ready?" Miya questions.
     "Yeah."
     The group continues walking as Miya helps Munenori to steady himself from his great
loss of blood.
     "The station is just around the corner," Miya mentions. "But why are we going there?"
     "You'll see," he replies.
     As they round the corner they reach the landing pad of the ship Munenori arrived on.
     Munenori calls out, "I need assistance."
     The aide that had accompanied him before sees Munenori and comes running out.
     "Chief! We need help over here," the aide calls out.
     Miya picks up Ami and stands back as a group of people surround Munenori and help
him into a vehicle. As he gets in, Munenori says to the chief, "Make sure that girl over there
knows where you are taking me. Okay?"
     "Yes, sir," the chief replies.
     The vehicle speeds away to the nearest hospital, that is, one in better condition than most
of the medical centers in the rundown area.

     The sun breaks through the white curtains of a medium-sized window. The room is
painted an off-white color. A man sits in a chair, reading a newspaper across from a bed where
Munenori lies.
     As the sunshine brushes against his face, Munenori awakens to find himself in this place.
He sits up and says nothing as he stares at the man.
     A couple minutes pass and the man puts down his paper and notices that Munenori is
awake.
     "Good morning, sir," the man says. "You have slept quite soundly."
     "Where am I?" Munenori asks.
     "In a hospital," the man replies. "Remember? You were brought to the station by a girl
your age and another younger one."
     "Yeah, I remember."
     "Will you be leaving here soon?" the man asks.
     "Possibly."
     A man dressed in a dark suit opens the door, and he talks to the man, "I know the
emperor is not suppose to be seeing visitors. But the young lady who helped him to our ship
demands to see him."
     "Let her in," Munenori commands.
     "But, sir, you're still weak," the original man pleads.
     "I think I know what I can handle, and a visitor isn't that hard to deal with," Munenori
retorts.
     The man sighs and motions with his hand, "Okay, let her see the emperor."
     The guard holds the door open for Miya, who walks in with an annoyed expression on
her face.
                                                                 "What is all of this about?" she immediately asks.     
     "What?" Munenori asks astonished. "No hello?"
     Miya stares at the guard and the other man and says, "I'm beginning to think you are
hiding something from me."
     Munenori commands, "Leave us for a moment."
     "Sir..."
     "Just go."
     The guard and the other man leave the room, closing the door behind him.
     "Okay, now what is up with all of this? I want all the answers now," Miya demands.
     "Must you be so direct?" Munenori questions. "Let's start this again."
     In a higher pitched voice Munenori tries to copy Miya's voice, "‘Hi Munenori. Are you
okay?'"
     Miya stare at him irritated. Her glare makes Munenori stop his mocking.
     "Okay, let me explain," Munenori starts. "I am sure you have wondered why I would be
so sure that I could make everything okay and get away with so much. Well, here is the reason."
     "This should be good," Miya scoffs.
     "Well," Munenori hesitates. "Well, I am the emperor."
     Miya looks at him, with little change in her facial expression, "You expect me to believe
that?"
     "Don't you ever watch the news?" he asks.
     "Tell me, did you see a television in my house?" she asks with disdain.
     "Do you have to answer my questions with questions?"
     "You started it."
     "Look, if you don't believe me..." he pauses. "Aide!"
     The man who was originally in the room enters the room, "Yes, sir."
     "Will you tell this imprudent girl here who I am."
     "Yes, sir," the man turns to face Miya. "Young lady, the man you are speaking to is the
emperor of this entire solar system."
     "Now you're kidding," she derides.
     Munenori slaps his left hand to his forehead, "Is it that hard for you to understand?"
     "I still don't believe it," she says. "Maybe you are just some rich kid paying these guys to
pretend that you are the emperor."
     "If you don't believe me, why don't you just come back to Europa where my new palace
is being finished."
     "Promise?"
     "Fine."
     Miya walks towards the door, "You know where to find me."
     She leaves and the aide looks back at Munenori, "Are you really taking that stupid girl
back to Europa with you?"
     "Um," Munenori starts rethinking what he just did. "I guess I have to now."

     "What do you mean it failed?"
     "The five men we sent to kill him, including one of my best, we're either killed or woke
up later to find they had been defeated."
     "And where are these men now?"
     "Dispatched, sir,"
     A light laugh can be heard from the shadows, "There will be no failures tolerated in this
new era."
     "I promise you, sir. The next attempt will be executed by me personally."
     "Do not fail me."
     "Yes, Tsujimoto, sir."

     Munenori walks into the familiar rundown building.
     "Munenori-san!" Ami calls out and runs over to greet him.
     Miya cheerfully walks over to him, "I'm ready."
     She tosses two bags into Munenori's arms, wounded and all, and he struggles against the
weight.
     "One would think you were moving there," Munenori comments.
     "That's a good idea," Miya says happily. "What do you think Ami?"
     "Yeah! I want to go live with Munenori-san!" Ami shouts joyfully.
     "Ah, h-hold on a second," Munenori stutters.
     "What's wrong, Mr. Emperor?" Miya questions. "Don't you want what's best for Ami?"
     "Well, yeah, sure, but..."
     "Then let's get going," Miya announces as she picks up Ami and heads out the door
ahead of Munenori.
     Munenori thinks to himself, I guess a little female influence won't hurt the atmosphere of
the palace.
     The group walks to the landing station. As they near, a couple aides takes the baggage
from Munenori.
     "Phew, that was getting to hurt," Munenori comments.
     Miya punches him in the shoulder and says, "Aw, can't you be a little tougher."
     Munenori winces, and grabs his wounded shoulder, "Well let's see how you feel when
you get a seven foot sword driven through YOUR shoulder."
     "I'm just kidding you, come on, let's go," Miya says as she and Ami run towards the
ship.
     Ami says delighted, "I've never been on a ship before. I wonder what Europa is like."
     "It's a rather desolate and cold place," Miya tells her. "Only a stupid emperor would
place a palace there."
     Ami laughs a little and the two get onboard the ship. Munenori turns his back to the ship
and looks back over the city. He thinks to himself, Akari, wherever you are, I'll find you.