Act X: Discoveries A television turns on and a reporter appears on the screen. "News flash. One of the recently named co-controllers of the empire, Kouten, originally from Deimos, was found dead early this morning next to his vehicle in the parking lot outside the government office building of Europa. The authorities have no witnesses or suspects on the case at this time. The next move of the government will be decided today in yet another special meeting similar to the one held yesterday." The same official from before quiets the reassembled group of politicians. The official speaks, "It has been suggested for the time being that Koruou Nouri be the single Acting Ruler of this empire. If there are any objections, please speak now." A man stands and says, "We must have more than one person running this government. We made it that way to have a system of checks and balances. To give all the power to him is to give him unrestrained control. We might as well call him emperor." Another man stands, "I object to those statements. In these times we need one strong leader to take grasp of all that is happening. Kourou Nouri is a trusted individual. He can lead us out of these murky waters." A woman stands and the group hushes not recognizing her. Noticing their hesitation she states her name, "I am Aritsune Sugai, a personal friend of Naitsuu Hachimonguu, the one who would have been your emperor, a former consideration for power at the first meeting of this government, and a personal friend of Kourou Nouri. Take my advice, a trusted man he is. My judgement for the next course of action is that you name him full controller of this empire. I concur with the statements that this empire needs one individual to 'take grasp of all that is happening.' We need not worry about checks and balances. Running in the system of resistance officers, a whole other government besides the empire that was run underground, gave Kourou Nouri full control over his colony of Charon. You saw the results. Imagine what he can do with the empire. We should all recognize Kourou Nouri as the full controller of the empire." The group is riveted by Aritsune's speech and the begin cheering for Kourou Nouri. Kourou glances at Aritsune with a smile from his place in front of the room as the official swears him in by unanimous vote as the full controller of the empire. Munenori's ship lands roughly at a station on the colony of Charon. He exits the ship and walks into the settlement. He thinks hard of why Aritsune would come to this place. He walks into a bar and sits on a stool. He mumbles to himself, "There is nothing here she would want." "She, huh," a man comments sitting next to Munenori. "What?" Munenori questions. "Don't mind me, I'm not exactly good with the ladies," the man continues to say. "Well, I'm not having that kind of trouble with this particular woman, she just had a large change in the way she acted," Munenori explains. "Isn't that how all women are?" Munenori laughs a little at the man's continuing cynical attitude towards the opposite. The man continues, "So what happened to the lady you're thinking about?" "Well, we were in Europa. I heard she came here. I was told she didn't know how she got here and that she was confused." The man laughs a little and is about to say something when Munenori cuts him off, "And no gender wisecracks." The man shuts his mouth in order not to say what he was just about to. The two sit quietly for a little while longer while the man gets more drunk. Two guys walk over, and one puts his arm around the first man's shoulder. The man sitting then says, "Maybe the dragon got her." "Huh?" Munenori questions as the other two laugh. "Now not that again," one of the men say. The other than says, "You gotta stop confusing these impressionable youngsters." The other continues, "Yeah, how much you wanna bet that girl who was in her a week or so ago actually searched for it." "Yeah, pendant and all." The three all laugh wildly and brings Munenori to think that just maybe.... "Hey, what did this girl happen to look like?" Munenori asks. "What? You think it's your girl?" the very drunk man asks. "I don't know," Munenori responds. "Well," one of the other men describes. "That gullible little girl had long blue hair and, ah, I don't know. I was kinda plastered at the time." The three laugh and the other standing man continues, "Well, she also wore a yukata. That's all I can remember either." "Well, that actually might be her," Munenori says. "Really? Well, you tell her that that dragon's gonna probably end up hurting her more than helping her." "Huh?" Munenori gets more and more confused. "Yeah," the sitting man says. "And tell her not to keep that dragon to herself." The men laugh more as they each grab another drink and the man continues, "Someone else might want it. And if they can't get to Pluto to get that other one, then, well, they're outta luck." The man sways drearily as the other two laugh more in their drunkenness. Munenori decides he's had enough of these guys when the sitting one calls out to him, "Hey, if he ain't waiting for at the top of that there crater then maybe you can get him at that other place." Munenori turns, "Exactly what are you talking about? And please, try to speak clearly." "That temple thing up there," The man points out of an imaginary window in the closed off bar. "Tis' there, but there is also that other one." "Okay, some kind of dragon thing in a temple out there somewhere and one at Pluto?" Munenori tries to make sure. "Yeah, you got it," the man exclaims. "You're a smart boy, you know." "Yeah, whatever," Munenori comments as he exits the bar. He looks up at the top of the crater and can make out a building there. He decides to go check it out. Kourou and Aritsune eat dinner together at Kourou's house. "You really are a good cook," Kourou comments about the food. "Well, I try hard to please," Aritsune answers. "I know." They continue eating dinner and having a conversation. They eventually finish their food. They leave the room and sit together in front of a fire Kourou builds. They sit quietly enjoying each other's company when Aritsune asks Kourou a question. "Do you really love me?" "Do you doubt the sincerity of my affections?" he asks of her. "I have never felt so comfortable with anyone before," Aritsune tells Kourou. "I never want to leave your side." Kourou holds Aritsune tighter in his embrace and says, "Then don't." Aritsune looks up into Kourou's eyes and asks him, "Do you want me around all the time?" Kourou answers her, "You know I haven't had someone to be so close with like I have with you. If I could have it my way, we'd never be apart." "Do you mean it?" "What do I have to do to make you believe me?" Kourou asks her. "Do I have to marry you or something?" "Would you?" she asks. "Well, yes, I would," he answers her. "Will you?" Kourou pauses for a little while, but finally answers her, "Yes, Aritsune, I will." "Then let's do it." "Seriously?" "Yes." "Well, okay." Kourou and Aritsune stay in each other's arms through the night. Munenori reaches the old temple and walks in. He stumbles around in the darkness of the hallways until he suddenly falls down a large hole. He notices torches in the room, he pulls out his weapons he brought with him and scrapes them together to create a spark to ignite a torch. He brings the torch around to the others and soon the room is lighted. He inspects the room and notices that it looks as if there had been a floor where he fell through. He soon notices a gold structure standing out from the wall. He walks over to it. There are many jewels within it. He notices a blue one that looks familiar. He exclaims to himself, "Hey, isn't that the pendant Akari had been wearing? What is it doing here?" Munenori looks around the room and decides there is nothing else there. He says to himself, "Whatever was here isn't here anymore. Maybe I'll go check out that other place supposedly on Pluto. Ugh, why am I trusting the words of a drunken old man." Munenori sets the torch back in its place and begins climbing up the wall. He reaches the hallway again and finds his way out of the temple. Once out, he walks back to the settlement to get a ride to Pluto. A television turns on to a news station. An anchor reports on the events of the time. "An announcement was made this morning that new full controller, Kourou Nouri, is to be married to Aritsune Sugai tomorrow. Sugai was a member of the Hachimonguu group. The wedding is suspected to be of spectacular size, fit for an emperor."