Chapter 2: Makoto joins.
3
Days passed over them as they walked and traveled.
"Somewhere around here is another one of us. I can feel her as I felt you," Michiru said as they approached a small town. "We are eight. With the princess nine."
"And your memories are still in a blur cloud?" Rei asked cutting a thick liana with her sword she had forged out of fire.
"Yes, they are. But they will become clearer when I will lay my eyes on her, as I did with you. The moment I saw you, I knew who you were."
"Well, all nice and good, but we haven't eaten in two days."
"Yes, I agree we should rest," they entered the village and walked to the first inn.
The villagers looked at the two women with curious eyes. They had heard about the Lonesome Hero, but it seemed she had found a companion.
"I should find myself a name," Rei joked. "If you are the lonesome hero, I won't be just your side kick."
Michiru smiled amused and looked towards the kitchen. Something caught her senses.
"Maybe Fire Lord!"
"And that will instantly throw you in the hands of our enemy. Rei…we need to eat."
"I was just saying that earlier. What about Fire Priestess? No…that has fire in the name as well."
"You two ladies are hungry?" a pretty girl asked.
"Yes, have the cook prepare us something fresh. And it shall be only touched by her hands," Michiru placed a golden coin on the table.
"As you wish," the girl took the coin away.
"I still don't understand where you have all that wealth from," Rei looked after the girl.
"Before I awoke I played the violin. I come from a wealthy family of musicians and I inherited their talent. I had many performances in all the large cities. We are fortune that it happened like that; at least we don't have to starve out there."
"We are indeed," Rei looked towards the kitchen. The same feeling Michiru had earlier took over her. "You feel it too…"
"I do. Rei…there is something I haven't told you. The dream you had…it was awakening for you because you are a priestess. But I don't think it will work on the others. All nine of us have the dream…but not all awake from it. In a distant past it was Luna that awoke you."
"Who is Luna?"
"I don't know…she appears as a shadow to me. There is also Artemis to awake another one of us. One soldier I know must never be awakened; her power is so strong that it would swallow the world. I am sorry…some of it doesn't make sense to me."
"We'll figure it out," Rei said as the food was set in front of them.
They ate enjoying the delicious food and asked to see the cook. A tall woman was brought in front of them, her nose covered in flower.
"Please, take a sit and let us buy you a drink," Michiru said.
"You are a strange squad. Two women traveling alone and dressed…well, different," the cook said
"We do travel alone and have long distances to go. We don't wear dresses as they would perturb us."
"But your clothes…with their long jackets and high boots look expensive."
Michiru smiled crossing her hands under her chin.
"What do you think about traveling with us? We have a long way to go and we could need a cook. You look healthy and able to protect yourself, what do you think about an adventure? What is your name?"
"Makoto…" the cook arched.
"Of course we would highly pay you. Isn't there a wish you have that money could make come true?"
Makoto thought for a second.
"There is…," she looked back and whispered.
"Then work for the money and I will pay you enough to open a small bistro in the city."
"What…how did you…what is a bistro?"
"The city is very different from the village land. There are places where people go and eat just for the sheer pleasure of it. They receive a card, a menu it is called, with different kind of foods on it. They order the food they like and the cook makes it on the spot. People eat and drink there, chat with their friends and dance to music."
"Just for pleasure?" Makoto's eyes sparkled.
"What…" Rei scratched her forehead. "Michiru has seen the whole world. She was not born in this forsaken place. And she speaks to me of lands that seem from fairy tales," she helped Michiru out.
"Why do I have the impression I have met the two of you before? And how did you know my dream was to open my own place where they serve food? And…they eat for the sole pleasure of it?"
Michiru nodded.
"There are many wonders out there, Makoto. Ditch the flour from your nose and take the chance we are offering. Or stay here and work that filthy kitchen your whole life. You think I didn't notice this?" Michiru pulled a hair out of an untouched potato. Makoto turned red.
"That's not mine, my helpers…" she babbled. "You need to give me time to think. I can't just…"
"You have an hour we will continue our way afterwards," Michiru said.
"Where to?"
"Well, the big city of course," Michiru's charmed her with a smile.
Makoto nodded and stood up confused, hitting a table on her way to the kitchen.
"You think it's going to work?" Rei whispered.
"You felt her; she is withdrawn to us. It's her path; she is Jupiter as you are Mars."
"I see. And…do bistros really exist?"
"Rei…the world we live in today is chaos, a shattered piece out of all the worlds that have ever existed. This village is as real as the city we are going to. You are going to see many wonders on your path."
Rei nodded, thinking. The two paid and walked outside. While they waited, Michiru bought three horses and new clothes for Makoto.
"I have to warn you. The city you talk about is the residence of the Shaded Night. She lives in a castle upon the sea there," Rei said as they saddled the horses.
"I have heard about it…but my feeling says we need to go there. You see…the city is blooming and that is the place to search for a gifted mind."
"Mercury…" Rei said out of the sudden. "I can recall her…she was the thinker, the strategist and the planner. But why can't I see her face?"
"I can't see her face either."
"Tell me…tell me what you feel about all of us."
"I felt fire…the first time I felt I was approaching one of us, I knew it was fire. I felt a warrior and fire. Fire is a warm force as is lightning…and so you led us to Makoto, Jupiter. I know there is a thinker, Mercury. And then there is a unifier; the only force that can unite everything is love, Venus."
Michiru rubbed her forehead.
"But there is something I am missing, something buried deep in my soul, something my mind is trying to hide from me. Allies…the more I think about it, I realize they are allies, but they are hidden. The one to never be awaken something about time and then…my greatest fear, the sky."
"You try to understand and figure all at once. But you need to give it time and take it step by step. One thing leads to the other: as you said you found me and that led us to Makoto."
"Time…I am trapped in time. We are all trapped in time until we find the princess."
"Very well. You have convinced me," Makoto appeared in the stable carrying a small sachet. Her clothes consisted out of a grey, rug dress.
"Put this on," Michiru handed her a pair of trousers and a blouse, both green.
"How did you know green was my…"
"Your favorite color? There are many things I know about you, Makoto. Now get dressed, we would like to reach the city by morning."
Makoto looked long at the two and grabbed the clothes although her mind was full of doubt.
4.
The camp fire was warming them; Michiru was walking around while Makoto cooked. Rei was in front of the fire, meditating.
"Fire, time, sky, ocean, water, thunder, lightning. Fire, time, sky, ocean, water, thunder, lightning," she repeated again and again.
Makoto looked at her confused. Suddenly the fire flamed up in the shape of a bird.
"Michiru…" Rei called. "I had a vision and it was about you."
Makoto steered in her pot, looking at the two.
"It was about the sky and your fear. Something will be revealed to you soon, something from the past, but something will also remain hidden. It is a memory that you shall not understand yet."
Michiru bit the inside of her cheek.
"You two are so mysterious, I don't understand half of the things you say," Makoto took the pot away from the fire.
"You will soon. We hold no secrets from you, but they will be revealed to you at a given time," Michiru said. "Rei, show her your powers."
Rei snapped her fingers and a flame appeared in her palm. Makoto scared; grabbed a bucket of water and threw it on the woman.
"Makoto!" Rei said angry as Michiru chuckled.
"I am sorry but if the Shaded Knight finds out what you can do you're doomed," she looked around.
Michiru laughed long. She looked at the two, lovingly.
"Suddenly, I don't feel so lonely anymore," she said.
"And you? Can you play with fire as well?" Makoto asked.
"No. Water is closer to me."
"And so it is to Mercury," Rei recalled.
"What?" Makoto asked confused.
"Nothing. I'm starving."
"Eat, we leave at sunrise," Michiru sat down.
5
The architecture of the city strained in front of them; the small plaza had a fountain in the middle. A street musician was warming the air with his music; a painter was drawing a child playing with a doll. The light was warm and golden, buildings stretched between ruins. An old fairy tale was resting on the city.
"This is…this is breathtaking," Makoto whispered and Rei agreed.
"I believe it was once called Paris…," Michiru said. "An old Paris…"
"And that is a bistro…" Makoto said looking towards a terrace.
The three approached and sat down. Michiru handed the menu to Makoto.
"Have a first look."
"Ah, welcome," a bearded waiter greeted them. "For the beautiful ladies, coffee on the house. Would you like to order?"
"Makoto?" Michiru asked.
Makoto managed to mumble a few words and the waiter vanished pleased. The three drank their coffee in silence.
"Where should we start?" Rei asked.
"What are we looking for?" Makoto asked.
"A thinker, a great mind," Rei said.
"Someone famous for her achievements. Someone…," Michiru noticed a poster on the door of the bistro. "Grand Opening of the Opera with the courtesy of her highness the Shaded Knight," she read the words. "Someone famous enough to be invited to this event."
"The opera?" Rei asked. "I heard of it…a theater play but sung…"
"Yes…," Michiru whispered. "You think I might be right?" she asked Rei.
"It caught your attention so yes. And it is worth a try," the woman's eyes sparkled.
"You just want to go to the opera," Michiru smirked.
"Meh," Rei shrugged. "But I mean it. Your sixth sense has guided you until now."
"Then, ladies, you need new clothes. And this time they will be dresses."
"Again?" Makoto widened her eyes.
Note: First of all thank you for reading. Next chapter they are going to meet Haruka.
