She had known this would happen. She could see into
the future, the past, and of course into the present. This turn of events
was not unexpected. Since her brother had sacrificed himself for these
childrenÕs cause, she had known it was her turn to help them next.
These children had almost beaten this evil, but
one of their number was about to pass on. She couldnÕt let that
happen. To face this next evil they would need all nine of their powers.
To save his soul, she would have to act as soon
as he fell. She shifted the weight of the shakujo-like staff in her hands.
ÒAlmost... Almost...
*** In the Nether Realm ***
Anubis gave a weak smile as he saw Kayura freed from
BadamonÕs hold. It was all he could do to stay standing. He knew,
in his last few seconds, that heÕd died for a good reason and now
Talpa would be defeated.
As his strength left him he fell off the bridge
and headed right for the cold waters below. He never felt himself hit them.
*** Back to the strange gate we were at before ***
.....Now!
She 'grabbed' onto the soul with all her might.
Here! It needs to go here! Putting all her strength into it, she
got the soul to be sent to this place. The afterlife would come later for
this soul. Right now it needed to be ready to go back to earth.
The soul, Anubis, slowly appeared and became almost
solid. His spirt body appeared to be in the clothes he had left his life
in. None of his physical wounds had followed him here. "It worked."
Anubis, slowly opened his eyes. As he looked around
he was startled to see a woman in a silver kimono with red hair half hidden
under a hat like Kaosu's holding a staff that looked a lot like the Shakujo.
He had known he was going to die, but if anything, this wasn't what he'd
expected.
"Am I....?"
"Dead? Yes, technically you are, Toshitada."
She called him by that name.... That name. Why couldn't
he place where it was from? He knew it was his... but how? Why? "How do
you know me?", he asked trying to get answers for his confused mind.
"My brother. He and I talked about what was happening
on earth. He knew you."
"Your brother? I know your brother?" He was shocked
at the thought.
"You knew him as Kaosu or The Ancient."
"Kaosu? He was your brother?"
A sad half nod was all he got as an answer from
this mysterious woman. Well that was the end of that subject. "Since I'm
dead is this Heaven or Hell? Or are you my judge?"
"None of the above, Toshitada. This is the time
gate."
Hmm... how strange. None of the above. "Time gate?
Why? Wasn't I supposed to go somewhere else?"
A small nod. Then she spoke softly and quickly.
"Yes, Toshitada, you were destined to be somewhere else, but the earth
will need you again. I brought you here so that when that time comes I
could help my kin bring you back to earth. Your armor is most powerful
worn by you, not Kayura. If I keep you here at this time gate, we can wait
out the year together. It won't seem that long here, however. Maybe two
hours."
"I need to go back? Why? Talpa? Won't the ronins
win?"
"No, the evil known as Talpa Arago will be defeated
by the Ronin Warriors. Your comrades in arms with help them. It's the evil
I sense on its way that will need you and you armor."
"What is your name? Or do you have one?"
"My name. My name is the opposite of Kaosu, I am
Serenity."
" If you were born as a human, a member of the clan
of the Ancients, how did you come to be here, at this Time Gate?
"Is my past so important to you?-"
"Yes."
She sighed. "As children, my brother and I were
identified to have strong powers. He, being the male and older of the two,
was chosen to be Earth's Guardian. Me, I was chosen to guard the time gate.
We were trained until we were old enough to assume our roles. He stayed
on Earth and I was sent here. We have been communicating through our staffs.
Both are very similar in power and made to help the other. That is how
I learned of you and the Ronin Warriors. I would look through time for
the bearers of the armors and report what I found to my brother."
"How long have you been here?"
"Forever."
"Are you alone in this calling?"
"No, not technically. Each separate world has a
'Time Mistress' guarding it's gate to this realm of time. However, in what
you ask yes, I am alone. I'm am the sole guardian of this gate."
"Do you know any other.. I've had contact with a
few, but not many compared to how many there are. Yes they are all female.
I don't know why but.. all guardians have been female."
"What are some of the names of the ones you've met?"
"Why do you ask such foolish questions? When you return
to earth you will only remember this vaguely if at all."
"I ask because I want to know. Besides, if I won't
remember much of this, why not tell me?"
At the look on Anubis's face Serenity relented.
"Sailor Pluto and Sailor Hades are the two I've had the most contact with."
With those words Serenity's staff started to chime
loudly. "It's time for you to return, Toshitada."
" You mean already?"
"Yes, now please be quiet. This will take focus."
Anubis sat down on the ground and watched as Serenity
chanted and a small form of Kayura appeared doing the same thing. In unison,
the two females of the clan of the Ancients brought a male of their clan
back into the realm of the living.