I laid in bed, staring up at the ceiling. I could hear Rei's soft snoring beside me and Minako's not so soft snoring on the other side of Rei. The whir of the AC couldn't drown out -that- sound. Although the sound was annoying, it wasn't what woke me up. I turned my head toward the bedside clock. It read 5:02. I groaned.

Ever since that fight with the youma and I had lost my arm, I had been having trouble sleeping. At first, while in the hospital, I couldn't sleep because I was sleeping alone. Just when I got used to it, I was able to go home and I had to learn how to sleep with another person in the room again. My sleep the last few months had been restless. Every few days, the exhasution would finally catch up with me and I would crash out and sleep for about a day and a half before the cycle started over.

I sighed and slowly sat up in bed. I wasn't tired now. Ever since I had set foot back into this world, I had felt apprehensive. I was on edge; there was a shadow in the back of my head, taunting me, keeping me awake.

I looked down at Rei before gently untangling myself from the covers. I could feel the sweat on my body instantly dry as I stood from the bed and away from Rei's body heat. She always seemed like she was running a fever. I had worried at first, until I remembered a similar situation with Ami. The bluenette had placed her hand on my shoulder and I had instantly felt cool. Rei was the same, only with heat.

I picked my jeans up from the floor and dressed before sliding my bare feet into my sneakers. I shuffled through my bag in the dark, searching for a small pouch and a slim wooden case. Once I found them, I stood and slid the pouch into my pocket and keeping the case in my hand. I made sure I had the room key before my way to the door and silently opening it and disappearing into the hallway.

It was quiet. It was five in the morning, so of course it was. I made my way to the elevator and pushed the 'up' button, entered the elevator and went to the top floor of the hotel. Once there, I made my way to the roof. I opened the door that led outside and found a rock beside the door. I was guessing it was used to hold the door open so no one would be locked outside. Placing the rock between the door and the door frame, I made my way over to the ledge of the roof and stood there a moment before taking out the small pouch from my pocket. I laid the pouch on the ledge of the building before opening the wooden case. Inside was a -kiseru-, a small and slender Japanese pipe. I owned several, as they were beautifully crafted, but this one was very special; it had belonged to Rei's grandfather. It was a family heirloom but not the type to just sit out and collect dust. It was meant to be used. He had used it as had his father. It was a new heirloom, so to speak. Rei's grandfather's great-great-grandfather had been the original owner.

I left the case on the ledge and opened up the small pouch which held my tobacco. I took a small pinch of the hair like tobacco and rolled it between my fingers, forming a ball. I then picked up my pipe and packed the ball into the very tiny bowl. Taking the box of matches from the pouch, I struck one aflame and brought it up to the bowl, lighting the tobacco. As I puffed the pipe, I tossed the match over the side of the building and took in the city below me, taking the tabacco pouch and sliding it back into my pocket.

The sky was still dark this early in the morning and there wasn't much going on down in the world below. I sat on the edge of the building, swinging my left leg over the small wall to stradle it. A warm wind ruffled my long hair and I had to run my fingers back through my locks to push them out of my eyes. I could smell the smog and it burned my nose. The air in Crystal Tokyo was so much cleaner. Hell, the air in 20th century Japan had been cleaner then this crap.

I felt my chest tighten. I hated it here. I hadn't realized just how much until I had finally came back. I could feel that dark cloud that once settled over my head years ago returning. I felt like I had been cast out of heaven and back into hell. I wondered if the Devil was looking for me.

"Caden, you okay?"

I smiled to myself. Of course, my angel would come looking for me.

I turned to smile at Rei. She was still in her PJs, a camisole and shorts, with a blanket around her shoulders. "Hai."

"Are you sure," she asked as she closed the distance between us. "You've been gone over an hour."

"Have I," I asked, genuinly surprised, lowering my pipe. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize."

Rei smiled kindly at me, sitting between my legs on the wall, her back to the city. "What's wrong, Caden? You've been really tense since we got here."

I brought my left hand up and rested it at Rei's lower back. I trusted Rei not to fall, but I had still had a fear of heights when other people were around. It was irrational and stupid and I was over protective.

"What are you thinking about," Rei asked.

I sighed and took another toke from the pipe, trying to think of a way to make sense of the jumble of thoughts in my head.

"I was thinking it's been two years since I've been here," I finally answered. "It seems much longer, to be honest. But in a good way."

I watched Rei's brow knit with concern. "Then why are you so tense?"

"Because I realize I don't want to be here," I said honestly. I took a final puff and gently knocked the pipe against my knee, scattering the burnt tobacco and ash across the roof. "I hated this place when I lived here. And for the most part, I don't dwell on those memories. But being back here.." I shook my head, trailing off.

Rei waited patiently. She knew there were times I had a hard time getting things off my chest and expressing what I felt. I usually just vented, one way or another. But I had a hard time just -saying- what was on my mind.

"It's been two years since I've seen my mother," I said softly. "I haven't thought of her in all that time. But being back here made me think of her. It's the closest I've been to her since I left and she doesn't even live in this city. It just makes me feel sick knowing I am close to her. That I'm in a place she can readily get to."

"You make her sound like an enemy," Rei said gently.

"She is," I said flatly. I shook my head, bringing my right hand up to rub my face. I burned my skin when the bowl of the pipe brushed against my face. I hissed and Rei took the pipe from me and placed it back into its case. "Despite everything though," I said, "I realize I miss the old hag."

"Do you want to go see her?" I stared at Rei like she had lost her mind. She smiled and held up her hands. "Nevermind."

I glared at the woman in my arms before small smile tugged at my lips. "Sorry, but no." I turned to look back out over the city. I groaned a bit and rotated my right shoulder. I felt the warmth of Rei's hand when she reached up to gently massage my aching shoulder.

"How's you shoulder," she asked.

I chuckled. "How long are you going to keep asking?"

Rei leaned into me, her hand still at my shoulder. "Long after it's stopped hurting."

"It doesn't hurt," I said. "It just gets stiff and aches. But it's not really painful." I rotated my shoulder and felt Rei shudder.

"I hate when you do that," she said. "I can feel the gears in your shoulder and it's just...wrong."

I laughed. "We should get back and try to sleep a bit more," I said. "We'll have to get ready, soon."

Rei slid off the ledge and I swung my leg back over and did the same. "Your obsession with time makes me think you are related to Setsuna sometimes."

"I just like to be on time," I said, taking the case back from Rei and sliding it into my back pocket. I draped my arm around Rei's shoulders as she pulled the blanket tighter around herself and together we headed back inside the hotel.

I wiped the steam from the bathroom mirror. The morning had been, to say the least, hectic. It just isn't natural for five women to share one bathroom. It just ain't right.

I stood before the mirror, staring into my reflection. My hair was nearly to my shoulders and, because I usually kept it in a braid, very wavy. I had not cut my hair since the night I shaved my head and after the comment Rei made about not liking my hair so short, I hadn't bothered to trim it since.

My glance moved down to my face where there was a faint scar over my left eye. I reached up and gently slid my fingertips across it. It was smooth to the touch having healed fully since the attack that nearly left me blind. I was damn lucky not to have a worse scar, let alone to still have my vision.

My gaze then fell to my right shoulder. It had been a year or so since that lovely fight where I had nearly died. Again, I was lucky to be as well off as I was with only losing an arm. I brought my left hand up and gently ran it over the scar that encomapassed nearly my entire shoulder and the upper half of my right ribcage. The upper half of my chest on the right side had nearly been obliterated when the youma had attacked me. I was told it was an awesome battle but due to the severity of my wounds my mind had blocked it out. I had nightmares about it, sure, but I would never know for sure if they were surpressed memories or just visions of what I had been told.

Sighing, I pulled my towel off my body. I stood nude and began to dry my hair with the towel. Once dry enough, I quickly ran a comb through it and then wrapped and pinned my hair to my head before slipping on a thin stocking cap. I would be wearing a wig today and my hair would need to be kept in place.

I turned to the clothing box on the sink. Opening it up, I took out the many pieces of my costume. I picked up the yellow thing like panties and slid them on, cringing as I did so. The thought occured to me I probably wouldn't be able to wear this all weekend. The sensation of the string up my ass was just so...Ugh.

Shaking my head, I then slid on the very high cut black leather shorts. The front was V-cut so the yellow thong could be seen. I rolled my hips trying to adjust them both, realized I couldn't and sighed again. I was already regretting this costume and I hadn't even finished dressing. Bah!

Ignoring my discomfort, I picked up the leather brasire and slid my arms through it. I hooked the fastener in the front to close it and then adjusted my breasts as to sit more comfortably inside. I then took out a golden star with wings pendant and afixed it to the front of my bra, hiding the clasp. Being sure it was adjusted just so, I then took out a light blue, nearly white, collar from the box and fastened it around my throat.

I took in my appearence and smiled. I was getting there.

I then took out the black-haired wig with a long pony-tail and slid it over my head, making sure to not cause my hair to fall from it's place. Once I was satisfied it was secure on my head, I styled it a bit and then slid a golden band onto my forehead. The band had a star in the middle of it and several circular bullets on each side for decoration. I then clasped a set of golden star ear rings into my ears. My ears were pierced but I hadn't worn earrings in years so pushing the rods through my ears was slightly painful.

I took a pair of thigh-high, high heeled boots from the box and, sitting on the toilet, slid them and and zipped them up. I stood, a bit wobbly at first but I was able to regain my balance. I was a good two inches taller with the boots and my self confidence seemed to go up with my height.

Taking another piece from the box, which was now nearly empty, I clasped the adornment of criss-crossing straps around my waist fastened the star shaped clasp to hold it there. I then took out the mid-bicep black leather gloves and slid them on. These came with straps similar to the collar I wore to help keep the gloves from sliding down.

As I finished putting my costume on, I heard a knock on the door.

"Caden, we're going out to the hallway," came Haruka's voice. "It's just way too crowded in here. Are you almost ready?"

Smiling and taking in my reflection, I responded, "Yeah, I'll be out in a sec."

I heard the chaos of my roommates leaving the room and a door close. I looked at myself for another moment before taking a deep breath. I exited the bathroom and followed them outside to the hallway. As the door closed behind me, I smiled when my friends turned toward me, their collective jaws dropping to the ground. The others had joined my roomies out in the hallway as well and I smiled at Usagi when I saw her blush.

"I don't believe it," Michiru said. "You look exactly like Seiya."