Epoch Augmented
Volume I – StigmatizedChapter Five: Challenges
By: Juki
Spiked fan scattered across the air, chained…her fast hand snapped at the chain, locking it as she lowered her stance to stabilize her balance and began to tug. The demonic woman, ivory in colour, screeched while flaying forward from the immense strength of the solitude Sailor. Hiding behind her, a man trembling cowardly, shielded himself by kneeling on the ground soon became a burden. "Sparkling…wide…pressure!" A jolt of electricity shot through the chain and in a flash; sent the woman tumbling backwards, electrocuted. The metal chain sizzled and smoked while she released the brittle wire and turned. "It's okay…" She assured him, kneeling down, obviously underestimating her opponent.
A talon swept across silently, his eyes widened and as of reflex he pushed her out of the way as the jagged claw fastened around his previously wounded shoulder and with a sudden retrieve, drew the man off of his knees and forward. Reliving his past, stunned, he fell limply onto the ground when the talon broke free from its precious hold and withdrew. The ivory woman stood up with half of her body partially scorched, angered, she lunged forward. "Jupiter Oak Evolution!" A vivid spray of razor edged foliage shot from her trained hands and in a matter of moments vulgarly annihilated the ivory creature. Smoke emitted heavily from the ivory statue cloaked in foul grey with a bright stone etched deep into its talon. As the brittle diamond released its crystalline ping, it burst forth from its invalid domain and along with it the life of the demon.
The remainder of the ivory creature settled onto the ground, no traces of its presence but only a short mountain of sparkling sand and a wound. "Naru!" Super Sailor Jupiter knelt by him as he stared off into the heavens; drowned in its infinity and said, "Promise to never forget me…" His vision blurred by the forbidden tears, and for a moment there she is, round verdant eyes piercing his soul, a russet sea of waves…haunting him. She lifted him, with the raw strength dedicated to her solely, hauled him over her back and with unimaginable speed sprinted off from the scene, "Hold on, Naru…" She said through gritted teeth, "We'll make it," She encouraged him, heading the opposite way of her home…the resounding reflex of a name – Ami.
The sound of pebbles accurately slung onto the window, the ticking, stirred her from her night studying. Opening the window she discovered Super Sailor Jupiter, which alerted her. She whispered a "wait" and quickly exited through the front door, unnoticed. A coat of red painted upon her back, Ami went to examine it when the tall warrior shook her head, "The blood isn't mine…it's his…" She led the young girl towards a shrub where a man laid unconscious. In a matter of moments, Makoto emerged from the mask of a warrior and with the tenderness of a delicate of creature, followed the woman into her home. Through the emeralds and white lace…through it all, she is no more than a woman. With the proper bandaging, clothes of tainted scarlet soon filled the tiled ground until a moderate amount of gauze coiled around his shoulder locked it in place.
"What happened?" Ami asked as she puts away the medical utensils while the other cleaned up after her. "He…he led me to the youma." Makoto whispered quietly, "He saw it through the stars." Ami bit her lip as she glanced over at the man. "Do you know who he is?" Ami asked Makoto. "Naru…that's what he kept calling himself." She replied, trying to hide the bloodied clothes behind the amounts of rejected paperwork in the disposal bin. Ami shook her head, "Did he reveal anything about himself?" Makoto paused at the expression, "I don't think he's capable of doing that, Ami…I found him on the streets…battered and wounded. I-…I took him in…" Makoto diverted her eyes as if ashamed at her decision, "He didn't have any place to go."
Her eyes locked onto the man, indecisive…but she held her tongue. "It's a wise decision, Makoto." Ami said, "If you can, try and take him back to your house now…before he is discovered." Ami wrapped the bag lining the disposal bin up and helped them through the small hallway that led to the back door. There, she opened it exiting first to discard the plastic bag and then held the door opened for the others to exit. "Clean his wounds once a day…he should…heal fast." Ami called after them and watched as the two disappeared into the shadowy nights intricately woven with secrets. She couldn't understand why she couldn't tell Makoto the truth…that this man is no Naru but Nephrite…from the forgotten past of the Generals. Why didn't she have the heart to uncover the truth even if it had been tugged so safely away by time? Perhaps it was the touching story behind his demise that only a handful of people knew. Her being one of them. "Naru…" Ami repeated into the night, "Has long moved on, Nephrite…"
Mystified breaths carrying the essence of life slowly seeped through the gaps of his teeth while he cradled himself. With his head pressed up against the softly fragranced shoulder, he studied her heartbeat, rhythmically mesmerizing him. The penetrating memory of her verdant eyes…the sweet reminiscent image, through the turmoil of physical pain, still strained to bleed into his mind. "Naru…" He whispered inwardly, almost mindlessly. Her uncomfortable shoes, embedded painful blisters onto the side of her feet. She underdressed him for the rigid weather as night slowly faded to welcome the approaching rebirth of time. The sky teemed with periwinkle as the sun climbed over the bridge of dawn to draw the curtains to unleash the day. Her movements were limited from the tanned skirt that reached her shins so as to impede upon her speed in carrying him home. Still a ways from home, she stopped and gently rested him down onto the ground while she rolled off her green chemise. She draped the fuzzy green sweater over him and resumed in carrying him home, bearing the numbing gropes of coldness while battling the sluggish weight upon her shoulders.
Out of breath she fell onto the ground but with him safely sprawled on the sofa…knew she could release herself. Laying on the warm rug, her chest heaving, rising up and down, she had never exerted herself this excessively before, not like this. Glancing over at him, her fatigue catching up to her, it slowed her thoughts even if the blood coursing through her veins sprinted for miles. She could only cast her eyes daringly at the magnificence of his alluring tranquility… She silently marvelled at his glory with the first stroke of the sun's fingertips accentuating the unforgettable depths of his face. He fumbled in his oblivious sleep…and if it had killed her tonight to save him, she would've died gladly. She always had a soft spot for the handsome type… and she is not vain…but hopeful. With dreamy eyes, she silenced everything, even her own thundering heartbeat, and fell fast asleep on the ground adjacent to him.
Boisterous sounds of chattering, despite the loudness, she continued to be engrossed by the sonnet of the Mistress. With one of her ear cupped so she could hear her own thoughts, she did not hear the announcement over the speakers until some boy poked her until she looked up. He shouted over all of the noise, "They want you in the office, Ami!" She looked up from the bleachers, finding herself in the gymnasium surrounded by cheering for their home volleyball game. She packed her books quickly, then ushered out of the busy place to the empty halls where she then found herself in the office. There, the phone sat perched up and waiting, picking it up she listened closely. "Ami, please come to the hospital as soon as you can…that volunteer's position you acquired might be replaced if you do not attend today." Her mother's sophisticated, almost monotone voice…came across. Often she wondered if this woman is her mother…surely she respected her so, admired her integrity as a doctor, adored her stamina in the extended race of patience…everything she wanted to be, everything she admired was borne onto her mother.
Surely this woman is someone she looked up to. Yet it seemed she could never impress her, her studies, the woman didn't seem to be as touched as she would have liked but only gave the occasional encouragement that meant nothing, how often had she heard, "good job, Ami"? Too many times. The increased bandwidth for her financial accounts meant nothing. She didn't want money, all she wanted was attention and love. "I will come as soon as I can." Ami replied, shattering the awkward silence, which had settled comfortably around them, "Where should I meet you?" It was a disappointing question, she rarely saw her mother…the single parent that raised her. Her father is in some deep expedition some place, some place lost in his own world. She never understood them, they didn't love each other, they just…remotely stayed together for her. Perhaps they still haven't realized that she is no longer that naïve little girl who believed that their parents fought only because it was normal. It wasn't. Nonetheless her mother's tone shattered that thought, "I won't be meeting you, but I've already paved out all your documents, all you need to do is be punctual and fulfil your duties for the acquired certain of time." With that the phone clicked, no goodbye, no warmed sent love. Nothing. Hanging up the phone, never had she felt so cold, she drew her book bag and exited the school, 4:00PM.
Rushed with the familiar scent of astringent, too many times had she slept on these benches waiting to see her mother. The receptionist knew her by name, doctors knew her by name, nurses knew her by name and even some patients, what does it matter? They weren't her mother. No one could replace it. No one. Hanging her jacket, unable to change due to the lack of time though she found no shame in wearing a school uniform, she left her book bag with her jacket and entered the reference room. Bombarded with talking and instructions, obviously late, she caught up soon enough and was quickly sent to her designated wing, which brought comfort. She sat with the children, doing what she loved and did best…reading. A man is wheeled in…his eyes bandaged as he is set by the far corner of the room while the children roared in laughter as she read with emotion. "I will not eat it with a fox, I will not eat it in a box!" Ami flipped the page as the children soon ran around her, losing interest in the book until only a few stayed until the story was finished and then joined the others in chasing a balloon.
One thing she knew…she couldn't grow too attached with them…it was typical, maybe today she'll see them running and laughing, the next…fighting to breathe in a stuffy room…ready to meet death at their doors. That's how it goes…cancer is a horrible disease. Her attention diverted to the man in the wheelchair by himself until a young boy went up and started asking him questions. "What happened to your eyes?" He asked, curious, trying to peer through the bandages. "Do you like cats?" The man veered his head from the boy's direction, "I'm blind." He stated flatly, "I hate cats." He replied coldly, the boy…liking the reaction of this man, still having some spark left in him, poked him. "Why are you here?" The man sighed, despaired, "Because…I am incompetent." The boy blinked, "What's that mean?" The man shook his head, perched his forehead in his hand, "It means I'm useless…okay!?"
She led the boy away, who pouted, but left and joined the others once again. "My name is Mizuno Ami." She introduced herself, he seemed apathetic to her placid starter and turned his head away from her. So used to being overlooked, she sat herself down across from him without taking into offence and simply studied him. Adorning a hospital uniform, the unattractive white upon white, the only eccentricity left in him is his Midas hair, most probably beautiful once, now cropped and dwindled limply by his ears. And his bangs trimmed carelessly away hung over his forehead like a curtain of tiny curls. He looked remotely comical, she had to admit…and gave a quiet giggle, which caught his attention. "What are you laughing at?" He asked her. "Your bangs…" She leaned forward with her hand and tried to flatten it out, but her attempt became futilely as the curls sprung back up like grass. He attempted to move his head away but could not escape, as she shoved his bangs over his head. He seemed dissatisfied and moved his hand up and pushed it back down. "Leave it." He warned.
"Ami, Ami!" A small girl tugged at her sleeve, "Remember, you promised me you'd read one of your adult books to me." The young girl…deprived of any hair but with sweet hazel eyes and the most alluring of all smiles, had softened her heart and sighed while picking her up. "Alright…" Sitting the girl onto her lap, she fished through some of the books available on the side. "Here's something interesting." She said, "Silver Rhapsody." The girl clapped her hands while Ami turned to the first page, reading slowly as the girl listened, leaning back with her eyes lazily squinted, she loomed over a new word…she had not encountered before. "Sidas." She pronounced, in the way of Si – Das.
The man corrected her, "It's pronounced Sidas." Ce –Da. "It's Latin." Ami shot him a look, none that he could detect as she continued on and read, encountering yet another word, she tensed. Clearing her throat, she tried –" Idehtne ." She pronounced E – det – neh. The man shook his head, "E-deht-n." The girl looked to the man and then back at Ami, "Which way is it?" The girl asked. Ami sighed, "Idehtne." She changed her pronunciation and with a glance over, seeing the smug expression on the man's face…finished reading the chapter before the nurses called all the children for dinner, and let the girl go. She clapped the book closed as the man remarked cockily, "You should learn to read before reading to the children." With that, he is wheeled out of the entertainment room. The remark seared a path through her mild facade…as a challenge to her could never be overlooked.