2
The Man from Beyond
It was late at night when Motoki Furuhata closed the Game Center Crown. Light from the stores nearby lightened the darken street as he put his key in the lock. He turned the key to the right until he heard a click. A sigh left his lips as he pulled his key out of the door and placed it back into his pocket. Today had been slow. Customers had been coming less and less as the days went by. He hadn't seen Usagi and her friends come by as often as they used to a year ago. That made him a little sad. He missed seeing his 'little sisters' as he liked calling them. Most of his customers tended to be stuck up children that would complain about the 'dated' arcades they used. Like he could convince his boss to spend the money to get new up to dates ones. His boss was a notorious tightwad. It honestly amazed him when his boss spent the money on the Sailor V games two years ago. However that didn't matter now, it wasn't like lightning was going to strike twice.
Motoki's eyelids drooped a little as he stared at the door to his work. His late night study sessions were starting to catch up to him. He rubbed his eyes. The workload at college was getting larger by the day as well. If it kept growing like it had been the past two weeks, he was going to pass out at work. Motoki yawned as he turned left to leave for his apartment. He needed to get home and go to bed. He took two steps forward when he heard the sound of electricity crackling behind him. The young man turned around to see a bright purple light flickering from the alley a couple feet down from the Center. The sound got louder and louder as the bright light got stronger. Motoki looked nervously around his surroundings to see if anyone else was nearby. Unfortunately he was alone.
"Just my luck.." he muttered as he bit his lower lip.
In past poor Motoki had been the victim of monster attacks on more then one occasion. One of those encounters happened in front of his girlfriend, Reika. Thankfully he'd had Sailor Moon and her friends to save him every single time. He was unfortunately totally alone at the moment, and had no sign that his heroes were nearby. So one could understand his anxiety when he saw a strange purple light from the alley.
Motoki grimaced as he took a few steps back. He really, really didn't want to be here. He wanted to be anywhere but here. His head darted from side to side as he checked for any signs of life nearby. After a few more seconds the sound started to lessen and the light began to fade. The light dimmed lower and lower until it finally disappeared. The electric sound also petered out. The roar of cars a few miles down the road replaced it. Motoki stared intently at the alley. This was usually the part where a monster or an evil effeminate villain would appear. He decided to wait and see if anyone or thing would leave from the alley before he left. The college student waited for a good ten minutes before he turned to leave. He took two steps forward before he shot a glance behind him to double check if there was any movement in the alley. Not a soul emerged from that now dark corridor. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he continued forward.
"That scared me for a moment.." he laughed.
Motoki continued down the street for home. He had things to do back at home. Like sleep and call his girlfriend in England. He had no time to worry about whatever that light was. With a smile on his face, he advanced home in peace.
The sound of footsteps echoed from the alley after Motoki had left. They became louder and louder until a woman with long dark green hair emerged. The young lady wore a strange black sailor fuku and walked with a tall gray staff with a red orb on the top.
The woman turned her head left and then right to see if anyone was nearby. She didn't see a soul which pleased her. The last thing she wanted was for someone to see what she was doing. She twisted her head back to the alley.
"There isn't anyone nearby. You may come out." she said.
More foot steps came from the alley as a man exited and walked past the woman. He looked around at his surroundings. He sighed as he took everything in.
"I'm...back. Everything looks..like it used to. This is unreal!" he muttered.
The man was tall and wore a blue Capsule Corp. baseball cap over his shaved head. A pair of black sunglasses covered his green eyes. He had a moon shaped scar on the bottom of his jaw on the left side of his face. He wore a dirty tan trench-coat and a green t-shirt to cover his muscular body. The man had on a pair of blue jeans with mud stains on the pant legs. His red and white sneakers with red shoe laces was just as muddy as his jeans.
The woman stared at the man for a few moments before she spoke.
"I have done as you have asked and brought you back."
The man nodded.
"That you have. Words cannot express how grateful I am to you Sailor Pluto-"
"I have no need for words and I need gratitude even less. Is this the correct point in time you need to be in?" she snapped.
The man sighed. He wished she would be a little less gruff with him.
"What is the date?"
"May fourth, 1995."
He scowled a little.
"I'm two months away from 'his' Awakening.."
Sailor Pluto folded her arms.
"You told me you wanted to be here early enough for you to find him. If this is too much time we can go back through the Time Gate and-"
The man shook his head.
"No, that's unnecessary. In truth, I need as much time as I can get. I just hope me being here doesn't speed things up or make things ten times worse."
"You being here changes the flow of time. Wither it's worse or not is up to you. It doesn't matter much to me. I've completed my part of the task. All I ask is that you complete yours."
The man brought his gaze to Sailor Pluto and smiled.
"Oh, I'll complete my task don't you worry your pretty head off. I didn't train my ass off for the last ten years just for show."
Pluto nodded and unfolded her arms.
"Good. A lot is riding on your success."
The man chuckled and tipped his baseball cap.
"You don't have to tell me twice..We'll I'm off. See ya later Pluto!"
As he went to leave Pluto walked in front of him and stopped him. The man gave her a perplexed stare.
"Is there anything else?" he asked.
"Yes. When we left your Master's Island you told me not to use your real name when I brought you back. You were to give me your new name before you left."
The man rubbed his eyes and nodded. He had forgotten about that.
"Yeah, I forgot about that. Can't have you calling me by my real name in front of people. If people recognize me it'll make what I had to do that much harder..."
He folded his arms in thought. The excitement of coming back in time caused him to forget to make up a name. He honestly wasn't good at this sort of stuff.
"Shit..Why is coming up with name so damn hard.."
He tapped his foot for a couple of moments before he spoke again.
"Just call me Hiroshi Sato.."
Sailor Pluto pursed her lips.
"Hiroshi Sato? Really? That's what your going with? That's the equivalent of the name John Smith in American spy movies.."
Sato gave her an annoyed stare.
"You got a better name?!"
Pluto sighed and shook her head.
"It's not my name. I don't care. You do as you please..."
Sato nodded.
"I will..Is there anything else?"
Sailor Pluto shook her head.
"No.."
"Good! Cause I have a lot to do and not enough time to do it!" said Sato.
He walked around Sailor Pluto heading westward in the direction of the Tsukino residence. He had advanced four steps when Pluto called after him.
"Hiroshi Sato!"
He groaned and turned around to face the Sailor scout of time.
"What?! I thought we where done!"
Pluto had a slight look of concern on her face as she trudged over to him.
"Technically we are but.."
Her jaw hardened a little as she looked up at the Garnet Orb on her staff. She looked conflicted about something. Sato didn't notice and gave her an annoyed stare as he waited for her to continue.
"Take your time..It's not like I'm trying to prevent the end of the world here."
Sailor Pluto gave him a venomous glare.
"Don't you get smart with me boy! I'm the reason your here! I could have left you on that damn island of yours!"
Sato backed away with his palms out.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be gruff.."
Sailor Pluto's face softened. She sighed and rubbed her temples in frustration. Loosing her temper wasn't her intention, but this boy sure knew how to press her buttons.
"No..I should apologize. I shouldn't have snapped.."
"Naw, you're fine. I was getting pretty snippy. My time with my Master has made me forget how to interact with people. When the only person you can chat with is a old man and a giant turtle you forget a lot of things."
Pluto scoffed. She had forgotten about the turtle. It was a shocking sight to see a talking turtle. She jumped a good ten feet when he ask her what she wanted. Honestly that turtle was lucky Sato was there. She thought it was a Youma for a moment and almost Dead Screamed it. The scout shook the memory of the turtle out of her head and continued speaking.
"I'll accept your apology if you will accept mine.."
Sato smiled.
"I do. So what did you want to tell me?"
Pluto's left eye twitched a little. She had almost forgotten about she wanted to tell him. Part of her honestly hoped that she would have forgotten. She had information for him that while wasn't important to his mission, was important for him personally. Pluto sighed.
"You know about some of my abilities as the guardian of time, correct?"
Sato nodded.
"Yeah, you told me that you can see-"
"Variables...Time isn't a straight line. It's a path with many different roads going many different directions depending on what happens when."
Sato again nodded.
"Like if I decide to help someone when he's getting mugged or leave him for the police? Depending on my decision time follows in the direction of the road I've taken."
"Precisely. I can see all the variables, and possible variables going forward..."
"Yeah, you told me all this on the way here. What's that got to due with all of this?" asked Sato.
"I've seen every action and possible action you have and will take..and in every single one of those futures...you die.."
Sato said nothing. Sailor Pluto waited a couple of moments for him to say something but he remained silent. She decided to repeat what she said just encase he didn't hear or understand her.
"No matter what action you take, or don't take. You die.."
"Is there a future where I succeed?" asked Sato.
Sailor Pluto was silent for a moment or two before she spoke again.
"There is.."
A smile came across Sato's face.
"Then all is well."
He again turned to leave but Pluto stopped him by grabbing his arm. She was more then a little surprised by the young man's reaction. Most people who hear of their impending death didn't act like that. They'd panic or say she was full of shit. Anything but say all is well.
"All is well?! I just told you that your going to die?!"
Sato's smiled faded.
"You've seen the future..Specifically the future I live in...You know what I've had to endure to survive. Pluto you've seen all the pain and death I've seen. In that future I loose everyone that ever meant anything to me..If I can prevent that from happening..then it's all worth it."
Pluto stared at him blankly for a moment. She wasn't expecting that answer from him. She thought the man was a brainless, immature oaf.
"I see...Are you sure about that?"
Sato nodded.
"Yes. More then I've been about a lot of things."
Sailor Pluto sighed and released her grip on his arm.
"Then off you go, Hiroshi Sato. I will bother you no more."
A slight grin appeared on Sato's face.
"Don't be so down, Pluto! Your gonna see me by the end of this! Hell you might even fall in love me if I beat your variables!"
Pluto cocked her left eyebrow.
"I sincerely doubt that.."
Sato chuckled.
"Lighten up! You're gonna see me again. I just now it!"
Sailor Pluto.
"Honestly I sincerely hope I don't. For a split second I though you more noble in heart then you actually were. I will not make that mistake again. I must leave you. Good night."
Before Sato could say anything more Sailor Pluto spun around and went back toward the alley they left out of. He laughed and waved goodbye to her.
"Whatever you say, Pluto! I bet the next time we meet your gonna fall for me like a sack of potatoes!"
Pluto scoffed as she disappeared into the alley.
"Believe what you will..It's not like it's actually going to happen!" She shouted.
The sound of electricity cracking returned and a bright purple light shone from the alley. Sato chuckled as he turned towards the road he was walking earlier. He continued forward not paying attention as the light in the alley behind him brightened and then faded away. His smile faded as he thought of what he had to do. He had to find the 'host' of the man who destroyed his world. He had to find that boy before Sailor Moon and Lady Garnet of Saturn find him. If they get their hands on him all is lost. He had to..kill him. If he did that every horrible thing that monster was going to do would be negated. Everyone would be safe. He had to do it. Wither it damned his soul in hell or not. He was going to save everyone.
He continued forward down the street. He knew what he had to do, and he didn't have much time to do it. Hiroshi Sato had a lot of ground to cover. It was time to get started.
