PART 2: Revival of Sailor Senshi Io- The Mystical Gatekeeper

The instant Yomi opened her eyes she immediately shut them, suddenly overcome with nausea. All night bright flashes of color and blurry images spun around in her head. Her mind was spinning backward, forward, side-to-side and upside down all at the same time. She wasn't sure what was up and what was down anymore. She wasn't even sure the voices she heard were really there until she felt something warm cover her face.

"You saw it, didn't you? It wasn't my imagination?" This was Haruka now sitting lightly on the foot of the young teenagers futon. "The symbol on her forehead was there for a split second. It was hard to read at first…" The tall woman's partner nodded and stared down at Yomi's prone figure.

"Io…Sailor Io. I wonder why she's been revived now and not sooner?" Michiru shifted aside as Yomi groaned and slowly sat up, massaging her temples.

"Ugh…My head. The room's spinning. Oh!" Yomi's eyes opened wide when she noticed her two guests smiling back at her.

"Feeling better? Your Uncle was worried about you."

"I-I think I'll be okay. Wait…What're you guys doing here?" Haruka ignored her question, her face turned very serious.

"Tell us what you saw, Yomi. Or should I say…Sailor Io."

"Wha…What are you talking about? What's a Sailor Io?"

"There's no need to act dumb now. We won't hurt you unless we feel you're a threat to our cause," Michiru added twirling her hair in her fingers. Yomi looked around, suddenly panicked and looking for a means of escape. She was alone with these crazy people and she feared if she screamed for help they'd finish her quickly. Defeated, the girl sighed and hugged her knees.

"I don't know what you guys are talking about, but I really don't think my visions have anything to do with this 'cause' you speak of. And as for this…Io thing you refer to, I have seen Jupiter's moon Io in my dreams. Is that what you mean?" Haruka scratched her chin and stared off into space. Maybe confronting this girl was a bad idea. Pluto had told them once that Senshi Io was notorious for exhibiting explosive powers when provoked. She was, after all, a priestess, a demon slayer among the Senshi. She was the controller of the gates to the Netherworld - Sailor Io could travel back and forth through the gates at a whim. Her Staff of Judgment cleansed the souls of the departed, and sent those especially evil spirits deep into the darkest most inaccessible reaches of Hell. She was one of the most feared warriors in the Moon Kingdom, rivaled only by the powers of Queen Serenity. Of course she'd have to be strong – as an Outer Senshi, she was the last line of defense before the inner sanctum of the Moon Kingdom.

But…Haruka wondered what had gone wrong that she had to be reborn. Something terrible, she suspected.

"There is something else…," Yomi stood slowly, wobbly at first. She tucked a few strands of brilliant silver hair behind her ear and pointed out the nearby window. Outside, almost hidden in the bracken of fallen tree branches and thick green moss was a medium-sized boulder. Around it were numerous sealing talismans and peace offerings, '…There's something sealed there. I've sensed its power since I was five, but now it's grown stronger. I don't think it's a bad spirit. But I think it's something important. No one else feels anything from it but me." Yomi turned to look at her guests. Haruka exchanged a glance with Michiru before turning back to the younger girl.

"Yomi…can you break the seals on it? It might help you understand those visions you're having." Yomi shook her head, sending waves through her silver hair.

"I don't think I can."

"Wouldn't hurt to try," Michiru commented. If anything went wrong she figured she and Haruka could handle it. Then they'd have to figure out how to deal with the girl – they already may have said too much.

"Well, it's so nice that you already seem to be making friends Yomi-chan. You two are welcome here for as long as my niece wants it." The older man beamed at his niece as he swept the fallen cherry blossom petals from the stone walkway. Yomi waved and hurried past, followed closely by Haruka and Michiru. She only turned to face them when they were out of earshot.

"I don't want my family involved in this, especially my little sister. Why can't you tell me who you two are?"

"Don't worry about that now. The answers will come soon…", was all Haruka said, now walking beside the girl. Yomi tugged her hair nervously as the three edged closer to the spot where the boulder lay. She suddenly stopped dead as she felt a strange presence surround them. A bright reddish light exploded from the large rock and spread in all directions, freezing everything it touched except for the three girls. Now, slowly materializing in the air above it was a grayish-silver symbol…a perfectly round O with and single vertical line right down the center, rising just above and below the O. Yomi's violet eyes were glued to the light, she seemed in a trance. As if controlled by some outside force the girl found herself reaching into her back pocket and pulling out a spell talisman.

"Yomi wait…," Haruka started but found she was unable to move. She watched the silver-haired shrine maiden let go of the scrap of paper. It actually seemed to hover in mid-air for a second before falling to the ground by the glowing light. As soon as it touched the ground, the boulder split apart and was replaced with the form of a fox. She opened her icy-blue eyes and landed gently on delicate paws.

"Mmm…Thank you for that. I was eagerly awaiting the day you'd find me again, Princess Io. It seems we have work to do to get you back up to par with your usually strength," the silver fox purred in a soft voice. She took a long hard look at Haruka and Michiru, seeming to be reading into their minds…And she was, of course.

"N-No way…It-It talks!," was all Yomi could utter.

"Who the hell are you?," Haruka demanded as she stood guarding both Michiru and the flabbergasted Yomi. The fox plopped down on her haunches and snapped her jaws.

"Now now now, there is nothing you need fear from me…Sailor Senshi Uranus. I assure you I am on your side,' the fox tapped her forehead where a golden crescent moon shone, '…I serve the Moon Kingdom as yourself and Sailor Senshi Neptune there. My name is Sirius, trusted advisor and partner to you, Sailor Io. I believe I have something to give you."

Yomi collapsed to her knees. This was all just too much. She was overwhelmed and confused. Was this the creature from her vision? This fox, this Sirius as she called herself, granted was beautiful and only stood about knee-high but Yomi was intimidated. Though…there was something pure about the creature, something she felt in her gut that told her she could trust it.