A/N: Long time no speak readers, I know it's been an even longer while since I've tried to keep up with this tale, but since I finally have a working construct on ideas, this story is coming back with a nice little vengeance; don't worry about it being dead, since I've no plans to leave this fic dead in the water. I intended something when I started this and I finally have found that vision once again. So without further adieu, welcome to the next installment of Painful Tolls of the Heart.
(End A/N)
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Chapter 3: Blossoming Emotions and the Vise of Servitude
Now for about the past week Seiren had been dating Itani and each night for her had been a new experience, she was caring less and less about her duties and seemed to no longer be interested in a duty that made her…well act a way that was less to her nature. She knew that she wasn't human, she had no right to be here or to feel this way; this was not fair to her…gods it wasn't fair at all.
"So tell me…Zeus-sama? Why do I feel this way? This one boy…I feel so many things different, it was nothing that I've ever felt before?" Seiren's words were coming to her as she lay on her back looking up at the ceiling, once more finishing the current homework from history class that was focusing on the figures of Human Mythology from the choice of the month; the center of focus being Greece.
She was finding herself lost in amazement to the world of humans and though she'd still been doing her job and looking for that special starseed while out here, she was careful with the humans, far more than she'd ever been in her life. She was trying to wonder to herself, why did she care so much all of a sudden?
She had suddenly been burdened by a league of weights that were hitting her from what she'd done on her world long ago, how long was it now..? She cringed at the thought and closed her eyes, putting her head under her pillow as if she could escape the overall way she felt by hiding.
'I…I don't know anymore! Please…leave me alone, I am sorry…gods…yes Greek gods I am sorry, I swear I am…why does it ache? I'm not supposed to have…to feel this.' Her mind cringed under the pressure of something she hadn't felt since she made her decision.
She frowned suddenly, was she so weak? She felt helpless and needed something, she wanted to feel warmth, so she curled up in her blanket and just held it tightly, as if the blanket could protect her from a past that she crafted by her own hands. Yes, she knew she was a traitor to her world, she betrayed her senshi for power…she wanted desperately to have a power that was greater than herself and for that she gave her servitude to her, to that woman who even now coldly sat in her chair and would not care. Seiren had always known what would happen with failure, she'd watched it with Sailor Iron Mouse, who failed Galaxy and was backhanded and given only one more chance. No one could fail Galaxia-sama or risk no longer existing anymore.
'So now what? I have…this power and I'm afraid, I don't have a heart…I'm just as pointless as she is, I am a worthless wretch.' She felt more tears come to her eyes as she buried her face in her bed; why did…everything have to be so cruel?
As if she hadn't known about this and hadn't know what was going through her mind and soul? She felt this aching pain from the center of her chest and shook her head into the bed.
"Aphrodite-sama…why, d-did...you help me find this boy? I…I care so much, I-I really do!" she suddenly cried as she shed the blanket.
She sat up on her bed and knocked her homework from the bed without paying it much mind, she had all but finished it since it was easy knowledge for her to acquire; yes…that boy he was so special to her and she knew that he was.
"I don't know that human word, but I feel it, what you are and that I need that boy. I know…I know what I've done is wrong, I am not worthy of what powers I have; but…but…n-no! I don't care anymore." She said as she stepped off of the bed.
Even now she wasn't entirely sure what she was doing, but for the past week now since she had been with this boy, feelings had come to her and she was experiencing the wonders that they were, this was indeed something that was beyond her and she knew that she was enjoying what she felt. She didn't care anymore about her duty; she cursed that woman's name and decided something.
Seiren was going to challenge her fate, one she knew that couldn't be escaped…working for Galaxia would get her what happiness? What did it really bring her? Her world had fallen no thanks to her and she had been granted stolen powers, this was a disguise…and so what? She knew what she desired…a wish she knew she wasn't worthy of and yet here, she was focusing on something that made her feel that she had a right and that she certainly had the worth.
"I…I will fight for this world…I swear it upon my empty shell, I have these feelings even without a…heart, I have no Starseed that I can offer for this world, but I can use my body…let me fight for this place. I have feelings, I cry…and I even weep for my atrocities, I am not worthy of anything this world has to offer; including that boy. Itani…he knows that I care about him, but no…he does not know that I…I am stricken by Cupid-sama's arrow." She smiled in a jubilant way; oh she was absolutely terrified now.
She knew that it was only a matter of time before Galaxia-sama found her way, she would hide her insurrection for now; Seiren was no fool, not half as much as she merely let herself go with the flow and even though she truly didn't understand some things; there was indeed no way that she was going to let this stop her.
Seiren would have to train hard, maybe she had more than those powers given to her by these bonds, these golden bands that let her steal a starseed…she felt guilty and looked down at the ground. She ignored where she knew the bonds were and heard the doorbell go off, her heart raced…and she instantly smiled, shedding her turmoil from earlier; she would gladly face it later, if this were that boy she would go there to him and rest in his arms, the warmth of his touch.
When she reached the door she opened it up and smiled.
"O-oh Itani-kun! I-O-oh, um…hi Lead Crow." She said with a somewhat disappointed tone, she wasn't upset to see her friend but she was bummed out. Lead Crow was the one person closest to her out of everyone that worked on the team constructed by Galaxia-sama, yes she still called that woman her master; she had made herself a victim of servitude but it would not stop her wish or now her new ambition, she would fight for Itani.
--From Lead Crow's POV—
Her eyes focused on her friend's face and spotted something hidden beneath that mask there, the smile was there as always and sure she was pleasant, but there was something that was lurking beneath her usual feelings.
"Itani-kun? You sound so human, you'd better quit that you know; we have a job to do." She said as she looked at Seiren and gave her a warning tone, this was no time to be messing around.
She had been doing some serious research on things on this planet and found that there were a multitude of things that she and Seiren were going to have to watch out for while they were keeping a low-profile on this world. She found out about the Dark Kingdom, apparently some kind of old enemy of the original kingdom that was on the moon; she was still finding things out in fragments but was finding it all rather intriguing.
"It appears that there are a multitude of Starseeds here, I think Galaxia-sama will be impressed if we can grab them; though there are a lot of other creatures here, who are led by this being called Beryl, some kind of Queen. She might have a powerful Starseed as well…hmm." Lead Crow was trying to work this whole thing out, while she and Seiren if seen could definitely pass for Senshi due to their powers; she was wondering if it would serve them to help these planetary senshi?
She knew that she was going to have to do everything for Seiren, but she'd make sure that she didn't fail and displease Galaxia-sama. She knew that her friend was a ditz, but she was a worthy opponent in that way, and there was just so much to consider. She wrote it up in her report for Galaxia-sama, when she called for it; she would send this compounded information and hope they had more time.
She noticed that Seiren was off in another world, looking past herself and obviously thinking about that boy, it was getting on her nerves really; she swatted her friend upside the head and looked at her with a stern but worried look.
"Honestly Seiren, why are you letting that boy occupy your time so much? We're supposed to be searching you know? You've been worried with acting human more and more, it's rather pathetic to see, so give it a rest. I 'd suggest focusing less on your work and less of your time worrying about being a human." She finished and watched to her disappoint that Seiren gave her a half-hearted nod.
She was honestly worried that her friend/rival would be destroyed for this; she was focusing on her humanity and showing that boy a good time, she knew that holding up appearance was a good thing but this was not the way that it should be done. And certainly that boy Hijamura was occupying some of her time, but not to the way that Seiren was letting this boy Itani hold her up. Lead Crow was seeing this boy on and off in her spare time, while she'd been searching humans that she imagined might have possibly been with starseeds; she didn't have to waste any time changing to attack them as she found these Dark Kingdom Youma would show up and a senshi would show up to fight them.
Lead Crow had been wary of the senshi but was being careful about her approach since she and Aluminum Seiren were actually the advanced force to show up here, now they needed to find a way they could get this Dark Kingdom out of the way; honestly seeking energy from humans was a waste, they had little to none and that was what she had been sensing with these fools attacking so often.
"What folly." She said with a sneer, these beings were really second-rate soldiers she decided.
She was going to find a way to finish the foolish kingdom off herself and didn't need any second-rate senshi warriors to do it, she could do it herself and that was something that she'd gone and decided some time ago; it would be a waste of time otherwise not to deal with it herself. Her train of thought was broken by the sounds of a conflict, another pathetic youma to get in her way? Maybe it would help her pass the time; she'd just go and toy with the idiotic youma soldier following a fool's orders.
As she turned the corner she cursed when she realized who it was that was under attack.
"Stupid boy…what the hell does he think he can do? He's challenging the creature with a wooden sword; right…idiot's in the kendo club, stereotypical male." She rolled her eyes and decided she'd get him out of this first before doubling back and breaking this stupid creature.
Though she never stopped to guess why? When the thought came to her mind she had already made it up and simply justified herself through word in her mind.
'It's so I can take that Starseed and have that as a memento, he's interesting for a human I admit' this she said to herself while pretending to be scared; yeah it was a dull thing she hated…to be so girly.
As Lead Crow hit the youma in the back with a trash can lid she found, she used her strength to make the creature flinch; though her face was hinting at her fear, her mind was totally straight on what she was doing.
"Hijamura, what the hell is this thing? Run!" it didn't make a whole lot of sense in her suddenly showing up, though she really didn't care as she was going to just use the age old fact 'I was passing by and I saw this thing attacking you, couldn't leave you here…' blah blah blah, it was all pointless chatter but as long as it got him to move off.
As Hijamura noticed the monster flinching violently from the shot, he didn't question it at first and took her hand. Though he knew from experience of him slicing the monster's face with his bokken that it didn't feel pain easily, she was a lot stronger than she looked wasn't she? In his mind this made her more suspicious and he knew to trust his instinct.
He didn't say a word as he followed her lead in escaping the monster that was still stunned in pain, she took him away from it and so he had nothing to say about that, she knew the streets of Tokyo as well as he had; well he figured that was expected from someone as efficient as her in school and so he had no complaints about that.
He wasn't about to complain about it, though he knew as the monster cut them both off in the alleyway and with no place to go…this would not end pretty.
"You pathetic mortals, I'll crush you both for marking my beauty and harming me!" it was clear at how vain the monster was, the youma stepped forward flexing beastly muscles and bearing claws that were intended to shred them both while draining their energy.
While the monster talked Lead Crow couldn't help but prod the monster's pride, she couldn't help herself.
"Beauty? Oh please, you going to the beauty salon for a straight week with treatments couldn't do a thing for those terrible nails and that bad skin." She seemed fearless when speaking, not at all worried about the creature's anger.
Hijamura paid this close attention while holding the bokken before him and preparing to transform…obviously he wouldn't let them both die, but this wouldn't go well if this foolish girl kept her prodding the youma she was going to be dead and soon.
Lead Crow threw danger into the wind, she was going to incinerate this monster and then be rid of her little guest, though she admitted it was a pity since she had enjoyed his dangerous nature; in another time maybe she'd have allowed him to be her consort if she didn't kill him for being obnoxious.
"Hijamura Banshou, Henshin!" he brought the kendo bokken before his chest and then thrust it out as his body ignited in an ominous glow, as his transformation began.
At the same time Lead Crow leapt into the air and transformed, ever similarly to the general senshi transformation, it was a disguise to help hide who she and Seiren really were. "This game ends, Coronis Henshin!" she chose the names of her home world and transformed.
The youma understood this meant two victims with immense, they both transformed and this meant that she was going to pull them apart. She didn't care about the fact that there was two of them, one mocked her and scarred her face, while the other sliced her with a blade of wood.
After the transformations there was only a moment of brief surprise before Sailor Lead Crow and counterpart, the newly transformed Hijamura now held one very powerful katana in his hands, and a garb ever similar to that of the late-Shinsengumi of Edo period. Even now his long hair was seen for all it was, spilling across his shoulders and down his back, it was surprising to Lead Crow to see such a change.
"I knew it…I knew you were different than the rest of these pitiful people, you couldn't fool me for a second." Lead Crow's voice obviously pretending not to be impressed.
She found him surprising and that she preferred this look for him compared to his civilian attire, she stood ready with her whip gripped tightly and her eyes focused on his, ignoring the youma that was standing in the nearby foreground. She was gazing into the eyes of a young man that despite his age would kill at the showing of a moment's notice; she felt her interest growing more in this boy.
Hijamura's grin was cold and that look of a hunting wolf lay there in his cold eyes, he held the sword back in a ready grip with one hand just over the dull side of the katana. The famous stance of a Shinsengumi leader, his blood ran with the blood of a Shinsengumi Leader through his veins after all in his re-incarnation on Earth.
"Give me one reason to finish you, it's all I need." He said with a smirk in her direction, ignoring the youma since it would be dead if it made a move; this strange senshi was his focus as he didn't know how to gauge her power.
There was a moment of nothing but tenseness that was growing steadily between the two combatants, the moment only to be broken by the youma who was tiring of the silence. The last mistake the youma would get to make before her end.
"You two will perish and my master Jadeite will have your energy!" the Youma attempted to make her move and as she took to the air, it was already over.
The youma's life had been so swiftly ended in a single lash from Lead Crow's whip, which the youma had never seen coming. She died with a scream as her soul was cast unto oblivion from the blow; neither Lead Crow nor Hijamura was taking time to deal with the creature, no...This was far more important.
Then it began, Lead Crow's whip lashed at Hijamura's face, the destructive energies within the whip immediately expanding as commanded by its mistress, striking the area where the boy had once been. The mark left by the whip easily left a deep groove where the boy was not, as Lead Crow followed his agile form into the air; her eyes on his smoothly executed jump the entire time.
While Hijamura came down at her swiftly, diving with the precision of a falling arrow; his downward thrust ripping into the ground where his target had been moments ago, his eyes watched her narrowly avoid being skewered and as his katana was raised from the ground he watched her motions with a growing taste for her blood.
The two crossed both blade and whip in several rounds and to her surprise the boy hadn't taken a single blow yet. She wasn't saying that the boy was on her level but he was good enough not to end up dashed to ribbons and it impressed her a little bit.
"Well you are more than just a little talk boy...no Hijamura, you've earned my respect and when I finish you here; I will remember your name." she said that with some meaning, she respected his efforts.
"And as for you Aya, I will remember you." the words said in the same esteem, he had been saving up his energy for the true Gatotsu, yes a technique passed down through blood; his sacred duty to carry out something he pledged himself…no to his clan, the belief of Aku Soku Zan.
Lead Crow would cherish this moment with this boy, perhaps this was what Seiren was talking about? She felt this boy bring her to life in a way that she never acknowledged before this; he would be fine in her memories. No more holding back, it was time to finish this.
Hijamura bent his knees and dug his feet into the ground; this would be over with this final pass. Lead Crow held her whip carefully and focused on this boy's eyes, she'd remember that gaze of his once she finished him now. Hijamura's feet pushed off of the ground hard, propelling him forward with great haste as Lead Crow's wings unfurled and beat once hard as her whip crossed over his body, she felt nothing in response from his blow at first.
"A good fight, I am sorry it ended this way Hijamura." She said as she turned to him, giving him a half smirk and bringing her whip down.
Though as she turned to him, she'd find not what she was expecting but only a small mark along his cheek, why was he still alive?!
"End what way? I simply missed this once, but not to worry I won't again." He said as he turned to face her.
There was a slight sting of pain that was sudden upon her cheek, her fingers rose and scanned for damage and she gasped.
"I seem to have underestimated you Hijamura." She said it coolly, normally she would have already been raging to attack him but there was a strange peace with this boy around.
Some moment of understanding had come to them both, as she lowered her whip and eyed him carefully; she had come to realize that she could not finish him even if she wanted to. Too much would go wrong if he suddenly disappeared and Galaxia-sama would punish her for failure, she knew she would not be forgiven; Earth was far too special and she knew it.
Both of them had underestimated the moment and finally came to a moment of peace, agreeing on something without ever having said a single word.
"Let that scar be a reminder to you Hija-kun, I will destroy you if you reveal anything of my secret…" her words mirrored by his own.
"…I will end all that is your existence with blade, make no mistakes Aya-chan." He spoke with a familiarity in a mocking manner since he never fully trusted her.
Yet both laughed in their cold cruel way, the crow and the wolf entwined in a deadly dance, both ready to finish one another at a moment's notice. The two turned to one another after returning to their normal states, she left the alleyway with Hijamura's arm tucked close to her side as she walked with him.
Her reason was simple as she could better watch him if they were dating and one slip up would be his last. He ensured her the same thing, if she slipped up about his identity that he would finish her without blinking. Oh he did excite her, he would be a rather strange 'boyfriend' even though she never understood the term much, she might just consider trying one of the things that these humans did that interested her…this bizarre kind of bonding. But that was for another time of consideration.
---With Seiren---
She was waiting outside in the night's chilled air; her feet antsy as she hopped in place. She was waiting for Itani to come as he promised and even though they just got off the phone maybe 5 minutes ago, she needed to see his face…to see his beautiful hair and to kiss those soft nervous lips of his. She was utterly obsessed with the boy and there was no making short of the feelings racing through her very heart.
"Itani-kun!" she turned in surprise of seeing him there, she had been so wrapped up in her thoughts it seemed she never noticed him showing up.
His arms spread and welcomed her as she hopped into his arms, he'd rarely seen anyone so glad to see him short of his closest friend Keba and even that was left to a time when he didn't see Itani for maybe a week or two.
He snapped back to reality once he felt her stroking his cheeks, he was stunned mostly by this part as he never seen someone as openly expressive by touch as she was. Seiren explored his face once again with her hands. He found himself helpless in her touch as her fingers traced along his cheeks and she drew him in for her favorite part of their near ritual greeting.
There was nothing but a soft sound from her as her lips met his gently, a soft press of their lips together and her fingers gently smoothing out along his cheeks as she leaned in closer and felt his arms enclose around her, it was just what she desired.
Itani always seemed to know what she desired or what she needed, she melted ever more whenever he did this and held onto her in just the way she desired. She wanted to know his secret for knowing why…but most of all she didn't want this moment to end for any reason at all.
But alas breathing was a necessary thing for humans and she felt him draw back with a sigh, she looked up at his face and noticed a look of concern there.
"Is something wrong Itani-kun?" she asked him, looking a little worried a moment, was something troubling him?
He shook his head and took her hand in his and just held her, if she didn't want to discuss it that was okay. He'd probably ask her more openly in their evening together, she had asked for some time together tonight. He was fine with it really and even though she was the one setting the pace, it wasn't too fast and for that reason alone he was fine.
Without another word their walk began as Seiren didn't really say where she wanted to go, just that she wanted to be with his company tonight and in his arms. He could tell she seemed to need this and was not sure why, he wasn't even sure where to start really. What was making this go on the way that it had? So many questions were on Itani's mind tonight as they walked. But the thoughts subsided whenever he glanced at her, she was so perfectly sweet and she loved to eat…she had the cutest face whenever she was blushing. There were just so many thoughts to carry his mind away, each one focusing on the sweet girl that was as comfortable as she could be.
In the park they came to a stop at a bench to sit down and just gaze at the clouds above in the night sky. There she felt safe from it all...from Lead Crow, from Galaxia, and from all of the doubt that had been haunting her. She looked up at the stars and smiled gently, this was nice as a feeling to have inside. It dawned upon her that she could do something for him that would ease her mind somewhat.
"Itani, I am going to share something with you…its extremely special and I want to trust you with this knowledge." She said softly as she looked at his face.
He smiled at her while eyeing her face, what could be on her mind?
She rose from the bench and stood nervously from a minute while she focused her energy into her forehead, she'd seen the senshi and they were beautiful…it was why she was here, but right this minute she wanted to be a true senshi; her heart was focused on that one thought.
'I want to protect him, Oh Hera-sama…can't you hear my plea? I want…no I need to protect him!' her mind almost crying out her wish to the Greek Goddess, she wondered where they had gone or why they had left? In that moment she looked at him and smiled again.
All of the confusion left her again as she raised her hands and became engulfed in a radiant sky blue light; a gentle hue that engulfed her body as she transformed truly this time. Her body felt as if she were floating on air, this was not simply dropping a disguise as so many times she'd done before.
Itani watched her transforming as he felt his heart suddenly racing, she couldn't be…she was a senshi? She wasn't from the solar system as his memories were not of her ever being here; yet as he watched her newly-shifted form appear from the light, that fuku was unmistakably that of a senshi. The questions began to build in his mind as he looked at her and still wondered and even worried, why was she here? But then she just asked him to keep it a secret and she hadn't done anything evil, nothing that he could condemn her for. There were no reports from the other Banshou of anyone fitting her description masquerading or harming anyone. Maybe it would be okay, right?
She watched his face cloud over with so many hundreds of questions and yet he said nothing and it made her blush really, she saw that he was gazing at her from head to toe, so similarly to the first time they'd been on their first date and now she revealed so much to him and she felt content in doing so.
"Itani-kun, are you okay?" she giggled a little bit at the expression on his face, she saw how dumb-founded he was.
"Y-you…are a senshi and…your beautiful." He said what was truly the first thing to his mind, he looked at her face and her gentle features beneath the moonlight.
He couldn't think about his mission right now since she had not revealed herself to be a youma or evil, he wasn't sure where he stood with it and he couldn't care about that right now…no he was thinking about how beautiful she was in the moonlight.
She blushed again as his words were so sweet and at this moment she knew that she could trust him with her identity. She moved back to the bench and sat down beside him, cupping his cheek and leaning in closer to lean against him.
For the single moment she felt as if they were both one heart and one soul, when he embraced her and she let her body rest in his arms, she felt the warmth of his body and the gentle pressure of his lips against hers as she leaned up to kiss him once more. She cared about nothing else but this moment and the fact that she had someone to confide in, it became something serious in her heart; the words of betrayal whispering some noble sweet song to her.
'For this boy…for this love I will betray everything, my very soul that I sold…I abandon it, I place instead my shining new heart; my love for this boy instead.' And there was no hesitation in the whispered words.
"I love you Itani-kun." These were the last words she said before she laid herself against his chest and rested her head on his heart…maybe she had one after all?
Itani felt the words burrow deeply into his mind and the feeling make his heart fluttered, never had chaos felt so sweet. He embraced the feelings and her, strumming his fingers through her beautiful blue locks and stroking softly at her side with his other hand while just looking up at the stars for some kind of an answer.
For once the genius of the Banshou HyoujinkenYuugou was stumped, if she was or wasn't an enemy (he hoped she wasn't), then how would he now proceed? He knew that he cared about her a great deal, and his heart danced and skipped a two beats when she mentioned her love for him; he didn't know how not to feel in hell right now. So he would have to decide who to betray: This beauty who'd swept his heart off of its feet with her love that had founded the love in his heart…oh yes that was the real truth he hesitated wasn't it?
'I-I love her too, I truly love her.' He stuttered the words in his mind and it chimed as the truth.
"Reiko…I love you too." He whispered it into her ear gently before hiding his face in her hair.
She made a soft sound as if she'd been stricken, her face illuminated with raw passion. As the moment carried her from one to the next, she found her breathing had become soft and almost faint; she could not breathe for a moment and she fell back limply against him.
Itani, immediately concerned cradled her torso in his arms, he held her back gently and raised her back and neck carefully with his free arms, holding her face closer to his own.
"What happened are you okay?" he sounded so concerned, since it worried him that she reacted in such a way.
She just giggled gently and pressed her index finger to his lips and gently pressed the pad against his soft kissable features.
"Of course not, I'm overjoyed…my heart beats like never before and my soul could dance upon 40 breezes. I am in love with a boy who loves me just as deeply, how could I be so lucky in life?" she said what she knew to be true.
He shook his head as he calmed down, a goofy smile pursed upon his lips, he could not deny just how wonderful it felt to love someone. He scooped her up in his arms and held her to his chest without a word, starting back in the direction of the park's exit he said one thing with a smile.
"I'll bring you home." He said as he started carrying her towards her apartment.
"..And you're staying the night…" she said with a look on her face that begged him to, she knew she melted his heart with that look; because he only answered 'yes' and she had a surprise that would change both of their lives.
Something that she felt was only right for a mutually blossoming love.
(End Chapter)
Well I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it, things will be taking a different step than originally planned but I can't say that I'm not happy with the outcome.
If you please to R & R, I'll catch y'all next time
Till then adieu
-Quentix
