"Tell your woes to your saddle; bow and ride away singing."
—Bazy Tankersley

    Arms cradled comfortably behind his head, Kogami sat slumped back in the passenger seat of a PSB official car.  After nearly an hour on the road, he had dozed off while taking in the beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji and the surrounding countryside.  The car abruptly hit a bump in the road, jarring him from slumber and aggravating a recently cracked rib.  He winced, gritting his teeth against the pain, and sat up straight to relieve the soreness of the injury.

    "I'm really sorry about this, Mr. Kogami," Akane said.  Hands in her lap, she gave him a pained expression, as if symbiotically sharing his discomfort.  "I wouldn't have pulled you out of the medical bay if the situation didn't warrant it."

    "It's alright.  Shion signed off on it."  He leaned his head against his hand, propping his elbow against the window.  "If I puncture a lung while out in the field, Ginoza will blame her."

    "That's not what I mean."

    "I know.  Just glad you sprung me.  I was starting to get a little cabin fever."  He glanced over at her.  "There were three other Enforcers to chose from, you know?  Why not one of them?"

    "I needed someone with presence."

    "What?  Kagari doesn't have enough attitude for you?"

     "It's not at all like that!"  She blushed, considering that her words had brought an offense.  "The situation is serious and requires a bit of brash and diplomacy, mostly diplomacy."

    "Speak softly but carry a big stick."  Kogami laughed.  "I get it.  What's the emergency?"

    "Not an emergency," she replied, "well, not really.  Chief Kasei wants me to talk to the CEO of Kurosawa Industries and get him to fully cooperate with an MWPSB investigation probe."

    "Kurosawa Industries?  Owned by Mr. Masahiro Kurosawa?  That Kurosawa Industries?"

    "Twin brother to Mr. Masahuru Kurosawa, the Secretary of the Ministry of Economy?  Yes."

    "Thought Ginoza had that wrapped up and in the bag."

    "Inspector Ginoza quickly wore out his welcome and was escorted off the premises by an armed security team.  Guess he pressed Mr. Kurosawa a bit too hard and paid the consequence for it."

    "That's Ginoza."

     "Chief Kasei got the call from Secretary Kurosawa to close the case, but she's not ready to leave it unsolved."

    "So she's sending you in to give it one last shot."

    Akane's eyes went dark, pensive in thought.  "Her orders were very explicit.  She even suggested that I bring an Enforcer."

    "Is she looking to intimidate Kurosawa?  One Enforcer against a security team?"  He shrugged and sat back in the chair.  "I'd be intimidated, if it were me."

    Akane laughed, despite the enormity of the task before her.  "It's that very confidence that I love about you, Enforcer Kogami."  She deactivated the automated navigation system and took manual control of the car.  "We're here.  This is Mr. Kurosawa's personal estate."  She peered through the windshield taking in the sprawling landscape.  "Looks like he has company."

    "I'll say."  Kogami stared through the window at row upon row of heavy duty trucks, semi-trucks with long vans, and assorted horse trailers neatly parked in an enormous pasture of green grass.  "Looks like some sort of competition."

    The Shizuoka Prefecture was situated near Mt. Fuji.  The area was home to some of the wealthiest families in the country, diplomats, and other dignitaries of state.  A spacious mansion sat back on a wide berth of manicured land with cobblestone driveways, brick walking paths, and manicured gardens with trees clipped into the form of horses in various poses.

    "Why are you scowling?"

    "Feeling underdressed."  Kogami buttoned the front of his gray coat as he stepped from the car.  "Never quite seemed to fit in around these kinds of people."

    "Judgmental much?"  Akane winked at him, throwing her MWPSB jacket over her shoulders.

    "No, I just know my place."  He shoved his hands into his coat pockets.  "Sibyl makes certain of that daily."  With a subtle nod, Kogami turned toward her and pretended to stretch as if weary from the long drive.  "Heads up, Inspector, incoming."

    A security detail of a dozen armed men made their way down the slope of the driveway.  Armed with stun batons, they wore personal protection vests.  Their positioning and movements spoke to intensive military training.  It was not unusual for the rich and famous to employ such men while on holiday in the country, especially when far from the psycho pass scanners.  Nor was it unusual to have them armed with non-lethal deterrents.  It was the aggressive scowls on their faces that bothered Kogami, who found himself feeling suddenly protective of Akane while simultaneously feeling cornered by their greater numbers.

    "What the hell did Ginoza say to Kurosawa?  This isn't exactly what I would call a warm welcome.  Permission to carry?"

    "Not necessary," Akane said under her breath.  "The chief was quite specific about that, too.  This is a social visit, not a confrontation."  With narrowed eyes, she glared at him when he rolled his eyes in exasperation.  "Stand down unless needed."

    "You're the one who brought me along, remember?"  He snorted humorously, hoping to relieve the tension knotting in his shoulders.  It did not work.  Staring down the security team with menace, he took a defensive stance at Akane's side.

    "You want to remove your hands from your pockets?" the apparent team leader requested.

    "Not particularly."

    "Mr. Kogami?"  Akane stomped her foot, not bothering to look at him.  "Stand down."

    He relented with a sigh, removing his hands from his pockets to assure them he was not armed.  "It's your call, Inspector."

    Akane bowed respectfully.  "My name is Akane Tsunemori.  I'm an Inspector with Division 1 of the MWPSB."

    From the rear of the detail, a young woman stepped through the ranks of security personnel.  No older than Akane, she appeared much older due to the accoutrements of her station, which made her look rather aloof and stern.  She was dressed in a vivid crimson dress that hampered any natural movement with its tightness and the severity of its design.  While graceful in a pair of six-inch stilettos, the woman had difficulty keeping up with the men assigned to her protection.

    Kogami resisted the urge to shove his hands back in his pockets.  Some dogs wear fancier collars than others, he thought.

    "Yes, I know who you are and why you have come."  The woman's dark hair was wrapped in a severe head knot that pulled at the temples of head, further sharpening her features.  She brought that cold gaze to bear on Kogami. "And you?  You were not expected."

    Reluctantly, Kogami held up his identification. "Enforcer Shinya Kogami, MWPSB."

    Eyebrows raised in indignation, the bureaucrat turned back to Akane.  "You brought an Enforcer with you?  Expecting trouble?"

    Disliking her tone, Kogami answered, "No. Were you?"  He intently held the gaze of the closest guard.

    Akane gasped softly and shifted her weight enough to step on his foot.  "No, ma'am."  She bowed deeply once more.  "On behalf of the Ministry of Welfare's Public Safety Bureau, please allow me to humbly apologize for any indiscretions, implied or directly stated, Miss—Miss?"  Akane's lowered her shoulders, deepening the bow.   "I'm very sorry, I didn't catch your name."

    "Because I didn't give it, Inspector Tsunemori."

    "Yes, well—" Akane stiffened with the rebuke.  "I apologize—"

    "Stop bowing," Kogami grumbled.  "She never meant to give you her name."

    The woman frowned, her eyes hard on Kogami.  He was certain that icy gaze had taken other men to task and brought them to heel.  But he wasn't her dog to scold, and he was definitely not intimidated.  "You're correct, Mr. Kogami.  My name is Angel Okamoto.  I'm Mr. Kurosawa's personal administrative assistant.  I thought for certain that after the last Inspector was escorted from the property, there would not be any more visits from the Ministry of Welfare's Public Safety Bureau."

    "Yes, well Chief Kasei—"

    Okamoto Cut Akane off with a stern finger and turned slightly away from her.  She pressed her hand against a small comlink in her ear.  "Repeat that again!  What do you mean our rider has been flagged by a psycho pass scanner?  How can this happen?"  Hand on her hip, she took three aggressive steps back down the driveway.  The security team scattered to get out of her way.  "The test is in 15 minutes.  Mr. Kurosawa spent a great deal of time and money for this qualification.  He stands to lose it all because she's having a meltdown over an ex-boyfriend."

    The security team made a semi-huddle around the autocrat, their eyes on Kogami as if he might assault her while her back was turned, and she was otherwise engaged. 

    The Enforcer laughed, taking Akane by the elbow and walking a few paces in the opposite direction.  "Hey, how bad do you need this?"

    "How bad?  Without Mr. Kurosawa's cooperation, we can't properly close out this case.  Ginoza ruined any opportunity to get that when he came here and insulted Mr. Kurosawa.  If I can't make this work—" She stopped talking, her voice cracking under the strain.  "If I can't get his consent, I'll be the one with egg on my face.  Not Ginoza.  The failure will be on me."

    Shoving his hands once more into his pockets, Kogami sighed with resignation.  "Ginoza's charm strikes again."  He walked back toward the security detail.

    "What are you going to do?"  Akane had to jog to keep up with his long strides.

    Kogami paused to let her catch up to him.  Glancing over his shoulder, he said, "I'm going to do what a good hound is supposed to do.  Keep you safe." 

    Ignoring the ranks of the security team, he attempted to approach Kurosawa's assistant, who was in a heated conversation with an unknown person on the other line.  Cheeks flushed with fury, her icy persona had melted with desperation. 

    "Kogami, no!"  Akane wrapped an arm about his waist and tried to hold him back.  It was a pointless gesture as he barely slowed down.  She could not know that the last thing he wanted was a fight.

    "Back off," Kogami growled at the guard who tried to intercept him.  "Hey, Miss Okamoto, was it?  Tell your boss you found a rider."

    "What?" She looked up skeptically, one eye twitching for a moment.  "You?"  Regaining her frigid composure, she inspected him over from feet to face and took a stock assessment. "Are you serious?"

    "I am."

    Okamoto exchanged a bemused look with Akane, who had stepped between them.  Nodding to the security detail, she waved her hand at them.  "Please follow me."

    The security detail relaxed their stance and shifted positions.   Flanking Kogami and Akane, they included them in a protective semi-circle and herded them toward the estate entrance.  "Alert, Mr. Kurosawa," Okamoto said.  "I may have a solution to our problem."  She looked nervously over her shoulder to ensure that the visitors from the MWPSB were in tow and then quickened her steps.

    "What do you think you're doing, Kogami?"  Akane kept her voice low so that only the Enforcer could hear her.

    He took a deep breath and exhaled wearily.  "Getting you what you need, Inspector.  That's what I do."

    "I've rarely doubted your abilities as a detective, but this is slightly different, don't you think?  Didn't you say yourself that you were out of your league here?"

    "Now my feelings are hurt."  He grinned wickedly at her.  "I said I didn't fit in with people who live in places like this.  Never said I was out of my league." 

    Okamoto led them from the driveway into an elaborate courtyard of statues and flower gardens.  There were more cars and other vehicles parked along stonewalls and four-post fences, but there were more horses than vehicles, each animal accompanied by their grooms and handlers.

    "Oh, what have you done?"  Akane rubbed her forehead with the palms of her hands.  "I'm never going to live this down."

    "You will.  Do you have your compact with you?"

    "My compact?"

    "Yeah, the one you use to change your clothes using holograms."

    "How did you know about that?" she demanded.

    "I saw you and Kunizuka using it in the bathroom."

    "Kogami!  You were spying on us in the ladies' restroom!"

    "No.  I was just walking by, and the custodian had the door open."  He felt her eyes boring into him and struggled not to laugh.  "It's not my fault.  I'm naturally curious.  Never been in there."

    Rankled by his admission, Akane fumbled in her lapel pocket and retrieved the compact.  She handed it to him with a stern slam against his palm.  "Is there something about you I need to know, Mr. Kogami?"  She was angry, refusing to joke with him.  "I recommend number 3 for fall fashion."

    "Maybe later."  He shrugged out of his coat and handed it to her.  Pressing a few buttons on the compact, he brought up the image that he needed and activated it.  His features momentarily blurred as the hologram coalesced about him.  The Enforcer stood dressed in a formal black waistcoat with long tails.  A canary vest could be seen just below the front hemming.  Meticulous white riding breeches sharply contrasted with the sheen of black tall boots that came up to his knees.  A top hat, more of a bowler style, crowned his head of tousled hair.

    Kogami chuckled softly as Akane gawked at him, left speechless by the transformation.  "Not a word of this to Kagari.  Or I'll be the one to never live it down."

    "I don't know what to say, Mr. Kogami."

    "Then don't say anything.  Save it for Kurosawa."

    Their security detail came to a halt near a large dressage arena, where they were joined by a smaller entourage of guards.  A solemn-faced gentleman in his sixties walked in a position of authority at the front of the smaller group.  Dressed in a black kimono, he made his way toward them, flanked by six bodyguards.  The fabric of the kimono caught every play of the sunlight and shimmered with the illumination. Kogami was certain that he'd need to save six months of his pay to afford it.

    "Mr. Kurosawa," Akane said respectfully, bowing as he approached.  "Thank you for letting the Bureau make amends.  I'm—"

    "I know who you are, Inspector Tsunemori," Kurosawa said gruffly.  "I must say that your manners are far superior to the last Inspector to stand before me."

    "Then allow me to introduce, Mr. Shin—"

    "I'm aware of Enforcer Kogami as well."  A smaller man, he had to strain his neck to look up at Kogami, which he did without any hesitation, taking a full measure of the Enforcer.  "I'm also aware of what you can do for me.  Do not disappoint me, Mr. Kogami, and you will leave this estate with my full cooperation.  Good luck."  Kurosawa waved his hand toward a pair of grooms who stood nearby with a handsome black horse standing between them.  He turned to leave among his guards.  "Miss Okamoto?  Bring Inspector Tsunemori to my hospitality.  We can afford to be civil until there is no reason or need to be."

    Okamoto bowed respectfully as her employer returned down a path leading to a private tent area for spectators.  "Inspector," she said, now bowing to Akane.

    "Kogami?" Akane's voice quivered with more than a fair hint of fear.

    "Relax, Inspector.  Keep your wristcom on so that I can hear if you get in trouble."  Before she could protest any further, he walked away from her and joined the grooms waiting near the arena.  "I'm a bit rusty at this," Kogami confessed to them.  "I don't know the test."

    The tallest of the the pair, a thin red-headed girl handed him a comlink to place behind his ear.  "Someone will read it to you."  She stepped aside as the other groom brought a mounting block over for Kogami to use.

    "What's his name?"

    The groom who brought the block for him replied, "Ardent Desire, but his barn name is Lancelot."  She went to the off side of the horse and held the stirrup securely for him as he mounted.

    "Anything I need to know."

    The groom holding the horse's bridle rolled her eyes.  "This is Mr. Kurosawa's prized stallion. He knows what he's doing, even if you don't."

    The look of scorn in her face reminded Kogami too much of Ginoza.  He didn't like her disparaging attitude or the tone in her voice.  "It takes two to make love, or to make a quarrel," he quoted T.H. White.  "As long as he doesn't act like you, we'll get along fine."  He picked up the double bridle's reins and made his way to the outer edge of the ring.

    Other than the three judges sitting on the perimeters of the arena, there was no one else within 20 meters.  Akane was sitting beneath the tent canopy among regally dressed men and women, most in kimonos and others in business suits.  She looked pale and uncomfortable in their midst.  Kogami saluted her by touching the brim of his top hat and gave her a grin that brought some of the color back to her face.  The chime of a bell rang out.  It was time to earn his keep and save Akane's reputation.

    A calm voice, not unlike that of the Dominator, stated, "Enter at A, collected canter."

    The test was more intricate than he expected and challenging.  But with his well-versed partner, Kogami managed to get through the eight-minute assessment with no errors.  He grit his teeth as they walked out of the arena on a loose rein.  The cracked rib ached unmercifully despite Lancelot's smooth gaits. 

    The judges' remarks were not complete, so the only measure of success came over Akane's wristcom in one word.  "Splendid."  It was Kurosawa's voice, and the pleasure in it was evident.

    The spectators beneath the tent swiftly emptied out onto the stone dust on the perimeter of the arena.  Like a flock of sheep led to home pastures, they followed on Kurosawa's heels as he quickly made his way toward Kogami and the winded stallion.  Now that Kogami could see them up close, the entourage was comprised of family members, business partners, friends, and of course Inspector Tsunemori, who appeared as if she had just seen a ghost.

    "A solid performance, Mr. Kogami!" Kurosawa said.  His solemn, taciturn face had been replaced with an almost jovial expression and a genuine smile of pride.  "A few bobbles, but nothing to be ashamed of."  There was a collective gasp of awe from the entourage as the scores flashed across the screens.  "And there it is.  Signed, sealed, and delivered."

    Kogami glanced up at the score:  78.5.  The number meant nothing to him, but judging from the reaction of the wealthy businessmen in Kurosawa's entourage, his gamble for Akane was about to pay off.

    "Miss Okamoto, contact my lawyers.  Have them draw up all the necessary papers to grant the Ministry of Welfare's Public Safety Bureau full access to Kurosawa Industries servers and databases.  Inspector Tsunemori is to have whatever information she requires and the full cooperation of any employees."  He stroked the stallion's neck and gave it a sound pat of praise.  "Have the documents delivered to me immediately for my signature.  There must be no unnecessary delay."

    "Right away, Mr. Kurosawa."  Okamoto touched the comlink in her ear and stepped aside from the gathering to pass along the instructions to the essential personnel.

    "Mr. Kogami," Kurosawa said, breathlessly.  He extended his hand to the Enforcer.  "I cannot thank you enough."

    Kogami reached down from the saddle and shook his hand.  "I take it we did well?"

    "Champion.  Doesn't get much better than that."  Kurosawa took the reins from Kogami's hands and encouraged the stallion to be still.  "When I heard my rider was on her way to a mental health facility, I thought all was lost."

    "Then my work here is done."  Kogami slid his feet out of the stirrups and jumped down in one graceful motion.  He gave the stallion a firm pat on the neck and then stepped aside for the grooms, who came in to wrap Lancelot's legs.  Deactivating the hologram from the compact, he returned it to Akane.

    "On the contrary, Mr. Kogami.  I believe I will be seeing you again.  And shortly."  With a grin as wide as any child's on Christmas morning, Kurosawa led the stallion and his entourage back toward the stable area.

    "Mr. Kurosawa would like for me to extend his invitation for you to stay and celebrate this victory," Miss Okamoto said.

    "That won't be necessary," Akane replied.

    "Mr. Kurosawa is not a man that allows good work to go unrewarded, Inspector Tsunemori.  If you cannot stay for the celebration, than the celebration will be brought to you."  She made a few gestures on her wristcom and then deactivated the screen.  "You will find, upon your return to the Ministry building, some gifts from Mr. Kurosawa as thanks.  Safe journey to you both."  She bowed deeply to Akane and then mischievously glanced up at Kogami.  "We will meet again."  Signaling to the rest of the security team to fall in behind her, Okamoto left them standing in the courtyard.

    "Not sure I like the sound of that," Kogami whispered, watching after them.  With a shrug, he gave Akane's shoulder a gentle bump and headed back towards their car.

    "I can't believe what just happened."  She remained where she stood, staring after him for some plausible explanation.  "Where did you ever learn to ride like that?"

    "Therapy."  Taking the pack of Spiel cigarettes from his pocket, he tapped it against his hand and drew one out.  He stared into the sky for a long moment and then put the cigarette to his lips and lit it.  She was waiting for an explanation, and he was in no hurry to give her one.

    "Kogami?"

    "When Sasayama was murdered, things went sideways for me.  Real sideways.  My crime coefficient was out of control.  I tried treatment, hoping to get my life back, but the meds they used were ineffective.  The counseling was a waste of time.  I wasn't even fit to be an Enforcer.  So the doctors tried something drastic:  hippotherapy."

    "Riding horses became your therapy?"

    "Yep." 

    "And it worked?"

    "I'm still a latent criminal, Inspector."  She could be so annoyingly naive at times, but that was the flaw of inexperience and youth he found refreshing.  He was sorry for the harsh tone in his voice, evidenced by the embarrassed look on her face.  "After what I'd been through, there was no coming back, but it worked well enough to get me back on the job as an Enforcer."

    "Well, if you don't mind me saying so," she said with a smile, "I thought you were pretty impressive."

    "Who knew that it might come in handy?"  He glanced back at the stables with suspicion.  "Let's go.  I don't like the way Kurosawa said he'd see me again.  Gives me the creeps."

    "What do you think he meant by that?"

    "I don't know and don't care to find out."  Kogami used his long legs to get out ahead of her.  "I'll drive."