Title: Not a God Part 8 (Version 1.0)
Author: nIGHT rIDER
Email: ikari@wantree.net.au
Rating: G
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I apologise for the lateness of this fic. My computer decided
to go bottom-up, recently.... So much so that it really isn't worth
emailing me until I sort everything out.... I apologise to all
those who have been trying to contact me, and I'll get to you when
I'm back online.
Until then, please send responses through my partner in crime,
DDFA, at darkdayforanime@hotmail.com. I'm sure he'll know what to
do with the responses. Actually, knowing Mark as I do, that's what
worries me the most. Maybe sending them to him is not such a good
idea..... ^_^;;
Jim Woolford (nIGHT rIDER)
Hehehe.... Fresh victims for the ever-growing army of the undead.
Mark ^_^
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"We really should be getting home and getting you into a nice,
warm bed." Ikuko sat on the edge of the bed and reached over to
Miki. The girl stepped into her arms, allowing her to be guided up
to her, pressing into Ikuko's chest.
"Aww.... I don't want to go to bed just yet.... I still
wanna see a few things." Miki screwed up her face, looking up at
Ikuko who was smiling down at her, kindly.
"Now now now.... We don't want to get you sick on your first
night out of the hospital, now do we?"
"I suppose so." Miki said, solemnly. "I'm feeling better
now, anyway."
"That's good." Ikuko rubbed Miki's back, gently, and looked
up at the dresser that sat opposite the bed. For some unknown
reason, her curiosity about what lay inside grew, and she stood
from the bed. Miki stepped aside, watching her strangely.
"What is it, Ikuko-mama?" Miki frowned as Ikuko placed her
hand against the groove of the dresser's sliding door.
"I don't know.... There's something...." She slid the door
open, and stood back in surprise. Miki gasped.
"A.... A painting...." Miki clasped onto Ikuko's hip. "Is
that REALLY Usagi-oneechan and her boyfriend?"
Ikuko had a hand placed over her mouth as she stared at the
painting, that sat upon a shelf within the dresser. She looked down
at the name of the artist in the bottom corner. "Yumeno? Yumeno
Yumeni? My daughter posed for a picture by Yumeno Yumeni?"
Before her stood the painting, of Usagi and Mamoru, as a
Princess and her Prince....
--------------------------------------------------------------------
BISHOUJO SENSHI SAILORMOON / TAIHO SHICHAUZO
NOT A GOD
by nIGHT rIDER (Assistance by DDFA)
Disclaimer - all characters pertaining to the series Bishoujo Senshi
Sailormoon and Taiho Shichauzo are owned by Takeuchi Naoko,
Fujishima Kosuke, Bandai, TBS, and Kodansya. All other characters
were thought up by me. Well, its true, isn't it?
Chapter 8
Laying Down the Law
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From the Personal Journal of Neo-Queen Serenity
(Tsukino Usagi I)
6/29/98
Pluto has been known to do some very strange things in her
self-appointed position of senshi watchdog. Sometimes, she exceeds
her duties, and just as often does things that seem strangely out of
character for her. Not that she really lets anyone know her true
character.... She is as intangible as mist, and far less
predictable.
And I suppose she prefers it that way. I could never exist
within that strange, ethereal coldness she feigns.... The
loneliness would send me mad, or kill me, whatever came first.
----o
"Would you girls be so kind to answer me something?" Setsuna
asked as she watched Jupiter lay Arimus down on the lounge suite.
She turned to the other three, who were standing around, looking
both sheepish and foolish, and for good reason. "What WERE you
thinking when you made the decision to catch a taxi, dressed as you
are, in your senshi form? It is an OPEN invitation, to ANYONE who
may consider us their enemy, to track you down and either kill you
outright, or use someone you care about to get at you.... It is
pure stupidity."
Mars swallowed, obviously stung by Setsuna's words. "We
didn't see we had any alternative at the time.... What were we
supposed to do? Sailor Teleport our way out of there?"
Mercury meekly backed her up. "Arimus is a Youma. We might
have caused her harm, using our powers, in whatever capacity...."
"Yes yes yes.... You can give me your excuses, later."
Setsuna waved at them, archly. "Or to the Princess. I'm quite sure
she'd find this little escapade amusing, to say the least."
"Yeah, sure." Mars stepped up to Setsuna, angrily. Her fists
were clenched with tension, and she was up on her toes, trying to
stare the taller woman down, something she knew she was destined to
fail. "You say what WE did was risky.... What WE did would be of
some amusement to Usagi.... What about what SHE did, hey?"
"What about it?" Setsuna stared down her nose at the fire
senshi. "What about what she did?"
"She risked everything.... She risked destiny by running into
that house to save the girl, Miki-chan.... She risked her life, and
that of the future of Crystal Tokyo.... If the roof had collapsed
in on her, or something like that, she could have been killed. And
the fact that she came close to blinding herself.... The future
might already have been changed. The doctors say her sight will
return, but what if it doesn't, hmm?" Mars held a fist up to
Setsuna's face. "And you say what WE did was risky? What we did
was nothing. NOTHING, I tell you...."
"The Princess did nothing wrong." Setsuna smiled. "Don't you
have any faith in her judgement?" Mars's expression changed,
dropping from an angry sneer to an almost comical sense of
bewilderment.
"Of course... I have faith... in her judgement... She's...
the Princess, after all... But..."
"But nothing. She showed decisive action at that moment.
And, as it shall turn out, a necessary act." Setsuna turned away
from Mars, who was now scratching her head, and walked over to
Jupiter's side. The thunder senshi was placing a pillow behind
Arimus's head as the Youma shivered, looking decidedly pale.
Jupiter turned to Setsuna.
"Her complexion... It's almost as if she's being eaten away
from the inside out." She placed a hand on Arimus's forehead. "And
she's so cold.... Is this natural for a Youma?"
Setsuna's expression was unemotional. "I would say not. The
natural body temperature of a Youma is no different to that of a
normal human. They are, however, not natural beings. They are a
form of artificial life, created from biological materials, animated
by the infusion of life energy." She shrugged. "An animated
cadaver, if you will. They have no spirit of their own, merely the
spirit of the one who created them. When that person dies, they
gain a fragment of that spirit, and it becomes their own. Some
never evolve any further than the puppets they truly are."
"It's sad." Jupiter ran her fingers along the Youma's brow.
"It's like being made to live to perform a simple task, then to be
discarded when you are no longer needed."
"That assessment is not far from the truth. Only a small
handful ever achieve a will of their own. This one appears to have
done so, but at a great cost." Setsuna crossed her arms. "Which
leaves us with a difficult decision. Shall we, or shall we not,
save her?"
"That would mean feeding her life energy." Venus rubbed her
hands together, nervously. "We can't do that.... We spent so much
of our efforts stopping them from taking life energy...."
"Who said we had to give her anybody else's life energy?"
Jupiter took a breath. "Our own should suffice. Isn't that right,
Pluto?" She looked up at the elder senshi. The woman did not say
anything, but that was more than enough of an answer for her.
"OUR ENERGY?" Mars was jumping up and down on her feet. "You
have to be KIDDING! In her state, she'd probably drain us dry...."
"Not necessarily." Mercury pointed out. "Our lifeforce is
somewhat more substantial than that of ordinary people. We'd be
able to feed her enough to keep her alive, without actually taking
too much from ourselves."
"It would be risky, I know.... It might mean we aren't able
to use our senshi powers for a few days." Jupiter added.
"For a few days, yes.... But in a few days, she's going to be
hungry again. We can't just keep feeding her. We'll be functional
basket cases, unable to do anything." Mars shook her head. "I knew
this was a bad idea. I TOLD you it would be a bad idea."
"Yes, you did. But we've learnt not to listen to your helpful
suggestions over time." Jupiter sighed. "Most of them, anyway."
"You looking for a fight?" Mars growled. Jupiter shook her
head and waved her away.
"Oh, stop being so difficult. If Usagi was here, now, she'd
be terribly embarrassed at your behaviour." Jupiter stood up and
strode over to her phone. "We should get in contact with her about
this."
"She'd be very worried about us. After all, we did contact
her over this emergency." Mercury said softly, latching onto the
suggestion with her 'voice of reason' attitude. Mars turned to look
at her, mouth open as if to shout something, then paused and
continued, softer and with more calculation.
"Yes, we can tell her we've brought her a nice Youma for her
birthday, and are thinking of feeding it. The problem is, what do
we really want to keep it alive for? To draw all the information
she has, then let her die?" Mars licked her lips for a second,
thinking over her words. The others seemed slightly stung at the
suggestion.
"She hasn't attacked us, she isn't a threat to anyone, and she
says she wants to help us.... Isn't that a good enough reason?"
Venus threw out her hands.
"No, not really." Setsuna interjected. Before anyone could
question why she was agreeing with Mars's sentiments, she continued.
"She is absolutely right when she says all we really have to do is
use this creature for our own ends. But what would that make us?"
"No better than those whom we oppose." Venus placed her hands
on her hips. "Personally, I think we should take things with Arimus
a step at a time.... We haven't even agreed where we are going to
keep her. She can't stay here, in Makoto's apartment, forever."
Jupiter snorted. "Yeah, lets keep her on a time share basis."
Venus stuck her tongue out at Jupiter. Setsuna rolled her eyes and
gestured to Mercury.
"Make contact with the Princess, will you? Theres a good
senshi...."
----o
From the Personal Journal of Neo-Queen Serenity
(Tsukino Usagi I)
6/29/98
She allows herself to take over, all to often, because she
knows things we don't know. It has made me wonder who is really in
control. And then she'll ruin it all by sacrificing (or as near as
possible) herself for the good of others. Of course, if she does
allow herself to die, it's probably because she expects to be
brought back, or is rampantly suicidal. probably a mixture of both.
It would be hard to maintain one's sanity if one were to live
throughout history, alone, as she had.
As Pluto was running things within Makoto's apartment, and I
was busy trying to explain to Mama about the painting of Mamoru and
myself, there were a pair of policewomen, that I was yet to meet,
trudging home after a long day of work. They were about to get a
nasty surprise, involving an aspect of myself... One I didn't know
existed....
----o
"I don't want to hear it." Natsumi strode through the doors
of the apartment building, hands folded behind her head. Miyuki
sighed, following her thought with a couple of shopping bags in her
hands.
"I know you might be slightly miffed about nobody telling you
that you'd forgotten to put your pants on before leaving the
changerooms.... Its still no excuse for not helping me with the
shopping." Miyuki stuck her tongue out. "Biiiiiida!"
"Don't biiida me. I'll never be able to live that down. I
bet the guys in security have made a dozen copies from the camera
pictures, already. I'd expect it from those perverted little
bastards after the massage parlour girls fiasco." Natsumi stepped
up to the lift at the far end of the small lobby and lifted up her
foot, pressing the 'up' button with the end of her foot. "I hear
Nakajima got himself a copy of that one."
"WHAT!?!?!" Miyuki nearly dropped the groceries. Natsumi
turned to her, grinning like a cheshire cat.
"Niii! Just kidding. Maybe." Natsumi sniffed and turned
back to the doors of the lift. "What's taking this damn thing so
long to get here?"
"Patience, Natsumi, patience." Miyuki heaved the bags a
couple of times, feeling the straps digging into the palms of her
hands. "Could you, at the very least, help me with one of these?
My hands are getting sore...."
At that point, the lift doors opened, and they came face to
face.... well, not literally face to face, since he was a great deal
taller than the both of them, but enough of a face to face for it to
qualify as such, with Aoi, who wore a very worried expression,
changing to relieved surprise when he saw the pair of them.
"You two! Where have you been?"
"Aoi! Where did you get that dress?" Natsumi looked down at
the long, floral frock he was wearing. He blinked for a second and
followed her gaze.
"Oh this? It's just a little thing I picked up at Masune's a
couple of weeks ago? Why do you ask?"
"It suits you. it also must have been nightmarishly
expensive. Why are all of your clothes better than ours?" She
stepped into the lift with him, followed by Miyuki, who was giving
her best impression of a martyr.
"That's not the point, Natsumi." Miyuki growled at her
partner, then turned to Aoi, flashing a sweet smile. "What brings
you to our part of the world?"
"Well, the Chief was kinda looking for you... A bit late,
since the pair of you had already left...." Aoi pressed the button
for the floor of their apartment, and was silent as he watched the
doors close. "...So... He kinda picked on Yoriko and I. Since
then, we've been standing outside the door to your apartment, with
all the files on that girl Lord Enma wants you to take care of."
"Files?" Natsumi scratched her head. "Couldn't you have
slipped them under the door, rather than wait for us to get back
from the shops?"
Aoi sweatdropped. "You're kidding me, right?"
"Ano...." Miyuki swallowed, a bad feeling coming over her.
"Just how many files are there on this girl?"
"Oh, honestly, Miyuki.... You don't think the Chief would
have sent BOTH Yoriko and myself if there'd been just a couple, do
you?"
They felt the lift come to a dead stop, and the doors opened.
In front of the door to their apartment stood two large piles of
boxes, with Yoriko making a heroic attempt to hold the both of them
from falling, her glasses hanging off her nose at a strange angle.
"Natsumi! Miyuki! Tasukete!" She said in a warbled distress.
Natsumi fainted.
----o
"Usagi...." Ikuko turned to the doorway as Miki stared at the
painting, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
"What is it?" Usagi responded, somewhere in another part of
the apartment. Ikuko took a breath.
"Usagi, can you come here for a moment?" Ikuko crossed her
arms. For some reason, she felt annoyed, in a way she couldn't
quite explain. Seeing the painting of her daughter, dressed in such
ethereal robes, in such an ethereal setting, with the man she knew
to be Mamoru by her side....
"What? What is it?" Usagi tromped up to the doorway, holding
onto a small dishcloth that she'd been using to wipe dust off
Mamoru's kitchen bench. In seconds, she assessed the situation and
allowed her sunglasses to fall over her eyes, pretending she
couldn't quite see what it was that Ikuko was worried about. "Gee,
is the light in here bright, or is it my imagination?"
"Usagi.... Would you mind coming over here for a moment."
Ikuko was pointing at the dresser. "There is something I would like
you to see."
"Ah, well, my eyes aren't to good at the moment...."
"USAGI!" Ikuko leveled her gaze at her daughter. Usagi's
head hung low as she wandered into the room, glancing aside at the
painting.
"Yes... Mama?" Ikuko looked down at her, imperiously.
"Would you mind explaining why there is a painting of yourself
and your Mamoru sitting in his bedroom dresser.... By Yumeno-san,
of all artists?"
"Kakkoi...." Miki stepped up to the dresser and reached
forward, touching the painting. "This is sooo cool. Can we take it
back to your house with us, Ikuko-mama?" She turned and looked up
at Ikuko hopefully. It was a good distraction for Usagi to attempt
to rattle off an explanation.
"WellyouseeMama, thiswaswhenwemetYumenosanandshewantedtodoa
paintingofaprinceandaprincessandshethoughtwe'dbegoodenoughandshetold
usnottoshowittoanybodyuntilafterweweremarriedandallthatandsoithas
beenhidinghereinMamochan'sapartmenteversince." Usagi sweated as
both Ikuko and Miki stared at her, looking totally nonplussed.
"Can we take it home anyway?" Miki turned back to Ikuko, who
had closed her eyes, thinking deeply.
"So, Usagi...." Ikuko began. "You're trying to tell me that
Yumeno-san thought both Mamoru and yourself would make good subjects
for a painting of this nature.... Yet she willingly chose to give
it to you, rather than sell it for some profit?"
"Wellwedidposeforotherpaintings...." Usagi warbled.
"You posed for OTHER painting?" Ikuko's eyes opened wide.
"Little lady, I think it is time we had a talk."
"Wellshethoughtwereallylookednicetogetherandall...." Usagi's
face dropped even further, going red. Ikuko did a double take for a
second, realising how embarrassed her daughter was feeling.
"You don't have to get all worked up about it, Usagi.... I
just want you to... tell me the full story. What was the REAL
reason both you and Mamoru hid the painting from us?"
"Papa..." Usagi's voice was so soft it was almost a whisper.
Ikuko's mouth opened in a silent 'ooohh' as she nodded in
understanding. Miki looked between Usagi and Ikuko.
"What is it about your Papa?" Miki stared at Usagi with wide,
innocent eyes. Usagi turned to her and lifted her sunglasses,
kneeling down to her level.
"It's nothing you should really worry about, Miki-chan. Papa
just... is very protective. He wants to see his daughter have a
happy life."
"Why? Aren't you happy with your boyfriend?" Usagi winced as
those words came out.... Too visibly, as Miki realised she'd said
the wrong thing and put a hand to her mouth, looking a little upset.
Ikuko knelt down, taking over from here.
"Miki-chan.... Kenji-papa is.... He doesn't think Usagi is
old enough to have a boyfriend, yet." Ikuko blew up her cheeks,
huffing. "He'd probably rather she become an old maid first before
she even looked at a boy.... He can be SOOOOO insensitive,
sometimes. And after all we did when we were young.... He can
complain...."
"Did what?" Usagi boggled her eyes at Ikuko.
"I thought you said it was too bright for you in here." Ikuko
sweatdropped, trying to change the topic, quickly.
----o
From the Personal Journal of Neo-Queen Serenity
(Tsukino Usagi I)
6/29/98
And so it went on.... The unfortunate thing was that the
conversation proceeded to become a verbal tennis match between Mama
and myself.... Mostly Mama trying not to give away anything about
her past with Papa. Miki was quite.... fascinated, for want of a
better term, never having experienced such interpersonal dynamics
between herself and her own mother. In fact, she spent much of the
time playing referee between the pair of us.
Of course, the upshot of it all is that Mama and I agreed that
the painting should remain in Mamoru's apartment, much to Miki's
disappointment.
As Mama closed the dresser, Miki was staring at the painting,
an almost hypnotic expression on her face. I didn't really think
much of it at the time.... I should have taken more notice. I
really should have....
----o
After some effort, the four off-duty policewomen had managed
to cart all of the boxes through into the loungeroom of Natsumi and
Miyuki's apartment. This was followed by four off duty policewomen
collapsing over various armchairs and lounge suites in patent
exhaustion.
"Just how much is there on this girl?" Natsumi huffed as
she removed her jacket, trying to fan herself with a hand. "How
can someone produce so much paperwork in the space of as few years
as she has?"
"Must have been an interesting life she's lead." Miyuki
considered one of the boxes, sitting in front of her. "It does lead
to one very major problem."
"What is that?" Natsumi frowned. Miyuki sighed and looked up
from the box.
"Where do we start?"
"Well, why don't we open a box and find out?" Yoriko sat
forward in her seat and dragged the box Miyuki was considering
towards her. She lifted the lid from the top of the box and peered
in. "Hmm, a fair few files in here."
"Are they labeled?" Miyuki rubbed her chin.
"These seem to be from the school counsellor.... Several
school counselors, in fact, dating back to pre-school, of all
things."
"Yes, she DID lead an interesting life, didn't she?" Natsumi
leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling, sighing to herself.
Yoriko reached in and lifted out one of the files, opening it.
After a couple of seconds of studying the photographs in the file,
she elicited the expected response. "Oh WOW! This guy is a HUNK!"
Before she knew it, there were three other noses pressing for space
within the file.
"Who is this?" Aoi frowned. "What does he have to do with
this Tsukino girl?"
"It's her boyfriend.... One Chiba Mamoru." Yoriko tapped a
finger on the paperwork at the bottom of the photograph. "According
to this...." She started reading, then lifted up her head.
"According to this, there was some concern by the school authorities
in a girl of her age having a relationship with someone several
years older."
"How much older?" Aoi looked hopeful, staring at the
photograph of Mamoru. Natsumi gave Aoi a dubious look.
"Why don't you just ask for his blood group and star sign
while you're at it, Aoi-chan? You're drooling all over the folder."
Aoi stood up, putting a hand to his mouth in embarrassment.
"Oh, I'm so terribly sorry. Was it that obvious?"
The three nodded at him. "I'm sorry to say, Aoi, that I am
VERY certain this Chiba person shall not change his mind about his
choice of partner, no matter how hard you try." Natsumi stood up,
looking smug.
"What makes you think that?" Aoi huffed. "After all, I AM
better looking than the three of you." He crossed his arms and
started to sulk.
"Has a high opinion of himself." Natsumi growled as she
leaned back over Yoriko's shoulder. "Pity he is. Damn my genes."
"So, what was it that worried the counsellor about this
relationship? There is no mention in any of this paperwork that he
mistreated her at any stage." Miyuki had pulled some of the papers
out and was rifling through them. "Just the opposite, in fact.
There have been occasions where he has placed his own reputation on
the line for her."
"Hey, this scholastic report looks like mine." Natsumi
pointed at the lines in the report she was reading. "Damn, I
like this girl, already. Who says learning anything at school is of
any benefit? I wonder what she is like at eating? I need a
challenge in the lunchtime guzzlers contest."
END OF PART 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Chapter.... "Little Pieces of a Life"
nIGHT rIDER
Member of the AJAS Fanfic Circle
Author: nIGHT rIDER
Email: ikari@wantree.net.au
Rating: G
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I apologise for the lateness of this fic. My computer decided
to go bottom-up, recently.... So much so that it really isn't worth
emailing me until I sort everything out.... I apologise to all
those who have been trying to contact me, and I'll get to you when
I'm back online.
Until then, please send responses through my partner in crime,
DDFA, at darkdayforanime@hotmail.com. I'm sure he'll know what to
do with the responses. Actually, knowing Mark as I do, that's what
worries me the most. Maybe sending them to him is not such a good
idea..... ^_^;;
Jim Woolford (nIGHT rIDER)
Hehehe.... Fresh victims for the ever-growing army of the undead.
Mark ^_^
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"We really should be getting home and getting you into a nice,
warm bed." Ikuko sat on the edge of the bed and reached over to
Miki. The girl stepped into her arms, allowing her to be guided up
to her, pressing into Ikuko's chest.
"Aww.... I don't want to go to bed just yet.... I still
wanna see a few things." Miki screwed up her face, looking up at
Ikuko who was smiling down at her, kindly.
"Now now now.... We don't want to get you sick on your first
night out of the hospital, now do we?"
"I suppose so." Miki said, solemnly. "I'm feeling better
now, anyway."
"That's good." Ikuko rubbed Miki's back, gently, and looked
up at the dresser that sat opposite the bed. For some unknown
reason, her curiosity about what lay inside grew, and she stood
from the bed. Miki stepped aside, watching her strangely.
"What is it, Ikuko-mama?" Miki frowned as Ikuko placed her
hand against the groove of the dresser's sliding door.
"I don't know.... There's something...." She slid the door
open, and stood back in surprise. Miki gasped.
"A.... A painting...." Miki clasped onto Ikuko's hip. "Is
that REALLY Usagi-oneechan and her boyfriend?"
Ikuko had a hand placed over her mouth as she stared at the
painting, that sat upon a shelf within the dresser. She looked down
at the name of the artist in the bottom corner. "Yumeno? Yumeno
Yumeni? My daughter posed for a picture by Yumeno Yumeni?"
Before her stood the painting, of Usagi and Mamoru, as a
Princess and her Prince....
--------------------------------------------------------------------
BISHOUJO SENSHI SAILORMOON / TAIHO SHICHAUZO
NOT A GOD
by nIGHT rIDER (Assistance by DDFA)
Disclaimer - all characters pertaining to the series Bishoujo Senshi
Sailormoon and Taiho Shichauzo are owned by Takeuchi Naoko,
Fujishima Kosuke, Bandai, TBS, and Kodansya. All other characters
were thought up by me. Well, its true, isn't it?
Chapter 8
Laying Down the Law
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From the Personal Journal of Neo-Queen Serenity
(Tsukino Usagi I)
6/29/98
Pluto has been known to do some very strange things in her
self-appointed position of senshi watchdog. Sometimes, she exceeds
her duties, and just as often does things that seem strangely out of
character for her. Not that she really lets anyone know her true
character.... She is as intangible as mist, and far less
predictable.
And I suppose she prefers it that way. I could never exist
within that strange, ethereal coldness she feigns.... The
loneliness would send me mad, or kill me, whatever came first.
----o
"Would you girls be so kind to answer me something?" Setsuna
asked as she watched Jupiter lay Arimus down on the lounge suite.
She turned to the other three, who were standing around, looking
both sheepish and foolish, and for good reason. "What WERE you
thinking when you made the decision to catch a taxi, dressed as you
are, in your senshi form? It is an OPEN invitation, to ANYONE who
may consider us their enemy, to track you down and either kill you
outright, or use someone you care about to get at you.... It is
pure stupidity."
Mars swallowed, obviously stung by Setsuna's words. "We
didn't see we had any alternative at the time.... What were we
supposed to do? Sailor Teleport our way out of there?"
Mercury meekly backed her up. "Arimus is a Youma. We might
have caused her harm, using our powers, in whatever capacity...."
"Yes yes yes.... You can give me your excuses, later."
Setsuna waved at them, archly. "Or to the Princess. I'm quite sure
she'd find this little escapade amusing, to say the least."
"Yeah, sure." Mars stepped up to Setsuna, angrily. Her fists
were clenched with tension, and she was up on her toes, trying to
stare the taller woman down, something she knew she was destined to
fail. "You say what WE did was risky.... What WE did would be of
some amusement to Usagi.... What about what SHE did, hey?"
"What about it?" Setsuna stared down her nose at the fire
senshi. "What about what she did?"
"She risked everything.... She risked destiny by running into
that house to save the girl, Miki-chan.... She risked her life, and
that of the future of Crystal Tokyo.... If the roof had collapsed
in on her, or something like that, she could have been killed. And
the fact that she came close to blinding herself.... The future
might already have been changed. The doctors say her sight will
return, but what if it doesn't, hmm?" Mars held a fist up to
Setsuna's face. "And you say what WE did was risky? What we did
was nothing. NOTHING, I tell you...."
"The Princess did nothing wrong." Setsuna smiled. "Don't you
have any faith in her judgement?" Mars's expression changed,
dropping from an angry sneer to an almost comical sense of
bewilderment.
"Of course... I have faith... in her judgement... She's...
the Princess, after all... But..."
"But nothing. She showed decisive action at that moment.
And, as it shall turn out, a necessary act." Setsuna turned away
from Mars, who was now scratching her head, and walked over to
Jupiter's side. The thunder senshi was placing a pillow behind
Arimus's head as the Youma shivered, looking decidedly pale.
Jupiter turned to Setsuna.
"Her complexion... It's almost as if she's being eaten away
from the inside out." She placed a hand on Arimus's forehead. "And
she's so cold.... Is this natural for a Youma?"
Setsuna's expression was unemotional. "I would say not. The
natural body temperature of a Youma is no different to that of a
normal human. They are, however, not natural beings. They are a
form of artificial life, created from biological materials, animated
by the infusion of life energy." She shrugged. "An animated
cadaver, if you will. They have no spirit of their own, merely the
spirit of the one who created them. When that person dies, they
gain a fragment of that spirit, and it becomes their own. Some
never evolve any further than the puppets they truly are."
"It's sad." Jupiter ran her fingers along the Youma's brow.
"It's like being made to live to perform a simple task, then to be
discarded when you are no longer needed."
"That assessment is not far from the truth. Only a small
handful ever achieve a will of their own. This one appears to have
done so, but at a great cost." Setsuna crossed her arms. "Which
leaves us with a difficult decision. Shall we, or shall we not,
save her?"
"That would mean feeding her life energy." Venus rubbed her
hands together, nervously. "We can't do that.... We spent so much
of our efforts stopping them from taking life energy...."
"Who said we had to give her anybody else's life energy?"
Jupiter took a breath. "Our own should suffice. Isn't that right,
Pluto?" She looked up at the elder senshi. The woman did not say
anything, but that was more than enough of an answer for her.
"OUR ENERGY?" Mars was jumping up and down on her feet. "You
have to be KIDDING! In her state, she'd probably drain us dry...."
"Not necessarily." Mercury pointed out. "Our lifeforce is
somewhat more substantial than that of ordinary people. We'd be
able to feed her enough to keep her alive, without actually taking
too much from ourselves."
"It would be risky, I know.... It might mean we aren't able
to use our senshi powers for a few days." Jupiter added.
"For a few days, yes.... But in a few days, she's going to be
hungry again. We can't just keep feeding her. We'll be functional
basket cases, unable to do anything." Mars shook her head. "I knew
this was a bad idea. I TOLD you it would be a bad idea."
"Yes, you did. But we've learnt not to listen to your helpful
suggestions over time." Jupiter sighed. "Most of them, anyway."
"You looking for a fight?" Mars growled. Jupiter shook her
head and waved her away.
"Oh, stop being so difficult. If Usagi was here, now, she'd
be terribly embarrassed at your behaviour." Jupiter stood up and
strode over to her phone. "We should get in contact with her about
this."
"She'd be very worried about us. After all, we did contact
her over this emergency." Mercury said softly, latching onto the
suggestion with her 'voice of reason' attitude. Mars turned to look
at her, mouth open as if to shout something, then paused and
continued, softer and with more calculation.
"Yes, we can tell her we've brought her a nice Youma for her
birthday, and are thinking of feeding it. The problem is, what do
we really want to keep it alive for? To draw all the information
she has, then let her die?" Mars licked her lips for a second,
thinking over her words. The others seemed slightly stung at the
suggestion.
"She hasn't attacked us, she isn't a threat to anyone, and she
says she wants to help us.... Isn't that a good enough reason?"
Venus threw out her hands.
"No, not really." Setsuna interjected. Before anyone could
question why she was agreeing with Mars's sentiments, she continued.
"She is absolutely right when she says all we really have to do is
use this creature for our own ends. But what would that make us?"
"No better than those whom we oppose." Venus placed her hands
on her hips. "Personally, I think we should take things with Arimus
a step at a time.... We haven't even agreed where we are going to
keep her. She can't stay here, in Makoto's apartment, forever."
Jupiter snorted. "Yeah, lets keep her on a time share basis."
Venus stuck her tongue out at Jupiter. Setsuna rolled her eyes and
gestured to Mercury.
"Make contact with the Princess, will you? Theres a good
senshi...."
----o
From the Personal Journal of Neo-Queen Serenity
(Tsukino Usagi I)
6/29/98
She allows herself to take over, all to often, because she
knows things we don't know. It has made me wonder who is really in
control. And then she'll ruin it all by sacrificing (or as near as
possible) herself for the good of others. Of course, if she does
allow herself to die, it's probably because she expects to be
brought back, or is rampantly suicidal. probably a mixture of both.
It would be hard to maintain one's sanity if one were to live
throughout history, alone, as she had.
As Pluto was running things within Makoto's apartment, and I
was busy trying to explain to Mama about the painting of Mamoru and
myself, there were a pair of policewomen, that I was yet to meet,
trudging home after a long day of work. They were about to get a
nasty surprise, involving an aspect of myself... One I didn't know
existed....
----o
"I don't want to hear it." Natsumi strode through the doors
of the apartment building, hands folded behind her head. Miyuki
sighed, following her thought with a couple of shopping bags in her
hands.
"I know you might be slightly miffed about nobody telling you
that you'd forgotten to put your pants on before leaving the
changerooms.... Its still no excuse for not helping me with the
shopping." Miyuki stuck her tongue out. "Biiiiiida!"
"Don't biiida me. I'll never be able to live that down. I
bet the guys in security have made a dozen copies from the camera
pictures, already. I'd expect it from those perverted little
bastards after the massage parlour girls fiasco." Natsumi stepped
up to the lift at the far end of the small lobby and lifted up her
foot, pressing the 'up' button with the end of her foot. "I hear
Nakajima got himself a copy of that one."
"WHAT!?!?!" Miyuki nearly dropped the groceries. Natsumi
turned to her, grinning like a cheshire cat.
"Niii! Just kidding. Maybe." Natsumi sniffed and turned
back to the doors of the lift. "What's taking this damn thing so
long to get here?"
"Patience, Natsumi, patience." Miyuki heaved the bags a
couple of times, feeling the straps digging into the palms of her
hands. "Could you, at the very least, help me with one of these?
My hands are getting sore...."
At that point, the lift doors opened, and they came face to
face.... well, not literally face to face, since he was a great deal
taller than the both of them, but enough of a face to face for it to
qualify as such, with Aoi, who wore a very worried expression,
changing to relieved surprise when he saw the pair of them.
"You two! Where have you been?"
"Aoi! Where did you get that dress?" Natsumi looked down at
the long, floral frock he was wearing. He blinked for a second and
followed her gaze.
"Oh this? It's just a little thing I picked up at Masune's a
couple of weeks ago? Why do you ask?"
"It suits you. it also must have been nightmarishly
expensive. Why are all of your clothes better than ours?" She
stepped into the lift with him, followed by Miyuki, who was giving
her best impression of a martyr.
"That's not the point, Natsumi." Miyuki growled at her
partner, then turned to Aoi, flashing a sweet smile. "What brings
you to our part of the world?"
"Well, the Chief was kinda looking for you... A bit late,
since the pair of you had already left...." Aoi pressed the button
for the floor of their apartment, and was silent as he watched the
doors close. "...So... He kinda picked on Yoriko and I. Since
then, we've been standing outside the door to your apartment, with
all the files on that girl Lord Enma wants you to take care of."
"Files?" Natsumi scratched her head. "Couldn't you have
slipped them under the door, rather than wait for us to get back
from the shops?"
Aoi sweatdropped. "You're kidding me, right?"
"Ano...." Miyuki swallowed, a bad feeling coming over her.
"Just how many files are there on this girl?"
"Oh, honestly, Miyuki.... You don't think the Chief would
have sent BOTH Yoriko and myself if there'd been just a couple, do
you?"
They felt the lift come to a dead stop, and the doors opened.
In front of the door to their apartment stood two large piles of
boxes, with Yoriko making a heroic attempt to hold the both of them
from falling, her glasses hanging off her nose at a strange angle.
"Natsumi! Miyuki! Tasukete!" She said in a warbled distress.
Natsumi fainted.
----o
"Usagi...." Ikuko turned to the doorway as Miki stared at the
painting, wide-eyed and open-mouthed.
"What is it?" Usagi responded, somewhere in another part of
the apartment. Ikuko took a breath.
"Usagi, can you come here for a moment?" Ikuko crossed her
arms. For some reason, she felt annoyed, in a way she couldn't
quite explain. Seeing the painting of her daughter, dressed in such
ethereal robes, in such an ethereal setting, with the man she knew
to be Mamoru by her side....
"What? What is it?" Usagi tromped up to the doorway, holding
onto a small dishcloth that she'd been using to wipe dust off
Mamoru's kitchen bench. In seconds, she assessed the situation and
allowed her sunglasses to fall over her eyes, pretending she
couldn't quite see what it was that Ikuko was worried about. "Gee,
is the light in here bright, or is it my imagination?"
"Usagi.... Would you mind coming over here for a moment."
Ikuko was pointing at the dresser. "There is something I would like
you to see."
"Ah, well, my eyes aren't to good at the moment...."
"USAGI!" Ikuko leveled her gaze at her daughter. Usagi's
head hung low as she wandered into the room, glancing aside at the
painting.
"Yes... Mama?" Ikuko looked down at her, imperiously.
"Would you mind explaining why there is a painting of yourself
and your Mamoru sitting in his bedroom dresser.... By Yumeno-san,
of all artists?"
"Kakkoi...." Miki stepped up to the dresser and reached
forward, touching the painting. "This is sooo cool. Can we take it
back to your house with us, Ikuko-mama?" She turned and looked up
at Ikuko hopefully. It was a good distraction for Usagi to attempt
to rattle off an explanation.
"WellyouseeMama, thiswaswhenwemetYumenosanandshewantedtodoa
paintingofaprinceandaprincessandshethoughtwe'dbegoodenoughandshetold
usnottoshowittoanybodyuntilafterweweremarriedandallthatandsoithas
beenhidinghereinMamochan'sapartmenteversince." Usagi sweated as
both Ikuko and Miki stared at her, looking totally nonplussed.
"Can we take it home anyway?" Miki turned back to Ikuko, who
had closed her eyes, thinking deeply.
"So, Usagi...." Ikuko began. "You're trying to tell me that
Yumeno-san thought both Mamoru and yourself would make good subjects
for a painting of this nature.... Yet she willingly chose to give
it to you, rather than sell it for some profit?"
"Wellwedidposeforotherpaintings...." Usagi warbled.
"You posed for OTHER painting?" Ikuko's eyes opened wide.
"Little lady, I think it is time we had a talk."
"Wellshethoughtwereallylookednicetogetherandall...." Usagi's
face dropped even further, going red. Ikuko did a double take for a
second, realising how embarrassed her daughter was feeling.
"You don't have to get all worked up about it, Usagi.... I
just want you to... tell me the full story. What was the REAL
reason both you and Mamoru hid the painting from us?"
"Papa..." Usagi's voice was so soft it was almost a whisper.
Ikuko's mouth opened in a silent 'ooohh' as she nodded in
understanding. Miki looked between Usagi and Ikuko.
"What is it about your Papa?" Miki stared at Usagi with wide,
innocent eyes. Usagi turned to her and lifted her sunglasses,
kneeling down to her level.
"It's nothing you should really worry about, Miki-chan. Papa
just... is very protective. He wants to see his daughter have a
happy life."
"Why? Aren't you happy with your boyfriend?" Usagi winced as
those words came out.... Too visibly, as Miki realised she'd said
the wrong thing and put a hand to her mouth, looking a little upset.
Ikuko knelt down, taking over from here.
"Miki-chan.... Kenji-papa is.... He doesn't think Usagi is
old enough to have a boyfriend, yet." Ikuko blew up her cheeks,
huffing. "He'd probably rather she become an old maid first before
she even looked at a boy.... He can be SOOOOO insensitive,
sometimes. And after all we did when we were young.... He can
complain...."
"Did what?" Usagi boggled her eyes at Ikuko.
"I thought you said it was too bright for you in here." Ikuko
sweatdropped, trying to change the topic, quickly.
----o
From the Personal Journal of Neo-Queen Serenity
(Tsukino Usagi I)
6/29/98
And so it went on.... The unfortunate thing was that the
conversation proceeded to become a verbal tennis match between Mama
and myself.... Mostly Mama trying not to give away anything about
her past with Papa. Miki was quite.... fascinated, for want of a
better term, never having experienced such interpersonal dynamics
between herself and her own mother. In fact, she spent much of the
time playing referee between the pair of us.
Of course, the upshot of it all is that Mama and I agreed that
the painting should remain in Mamoru's apartment, much to Miki's
disappointment.
As Mama closed the dresser, Miki was staring at the painting,
an almost hypnotic expression on her face. I didn't really think
much of it at the time.... I should have taken more notice. I
really should have....
----o
After some effort, the four off-duty policewomen had managed
to cart all of the boxes through into the loungeroom of Natsumi and
Miyuki's apartment. This was followed by four off duty policewomen
collapsing over various armchairs and lounge suites in patent
exhaustion.
"Just how much is there on this girl?" Natsumi huffed as
she removed her jacket, trying to fan herself with a hand. "How
can someone produce so much paperwork in the space of as few years
as she has?"
"Must have been an interesting life she's lead." Miyuki
considered one of the boxes, sitting in front of her. "It does lead
to one very major problem."
"What is that?" Natsumi frowned. Miyuki sighed and looked up
from the box.
"Where do we start?"
"Well, why don't we open a box and find out?" Yoriko sat
forward in her seat and dragged the box Miyuki was considering
towards her. She lifted the lid from the top of the box and peered
in. "Hmm, a fair few files in here."
"Are they labeled?" Miyuki rubbed her chin.
"These seem to be from the school counsellor.... Several
school counselors, in fact, dating back to pre-school, of all
things."
"Yes, she DID lead an interesting life, didn't she?" Natsumi
leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling, sighing to herself.
Yoriko reached in and lifted out one of the files, opening it.
After a couple of seconds of studying the photographs in the file,
she elicited the expected response. "Oh WOW! This guy is a HUNK!"
Before she knew it, there were three other noses pressing for space
within the file.
"Who is this?" Aoi frowned. "What does he have to do with
this Tsukino girl?"
"It's her boyfriend.... One Chiba Mamoru." Yoriko tapped a
finger on the paperwork at the bottom of the photograph. "According
to this...." She started reading, then lifted up her head.
"According to this, there was some concern by the school authorities
in a girl of her age having a relationship with someone several
years older."
"How much older?" Aoi looked hopeful, staring at the
photograph of Mamoru. Natsumi gave Aoi a dubious look.
"Why don't you just ask for his blood group and star sign
while you're at it, Aoi-chan? You're drooling all over the folder."
Aoi stood up, putting a hand to his mouth in embarrassment.
"Oh, I'm so terribly sorry. Was it that obvious?"
The three nodded at him. "I'm sorry to say, Aoi, that I am
VERY certain this Chiba person shall not change his mind about his
choice of partner, no matter how hard you try." Natsumi stood up,
looking smug.
"What makes you think that?" Aoi huffed. "After all, I AM
better looking than the three of you." He crossed his arms and
started to sulk.
"Has a high opinion of himself." Natsumi growled as she
leaned back over Yoriko's shoulder. "Pity he is. Damn my genes."
"So, what was it that worried the counsellor about this
relationship? There is no mention in any of this paperwork that he
mistreated her at any stage." Miyuki had pulled some of the papers
out and was rifling through them. "Just the opposite, in fact.
There have been occasions where he has placed his own reputation on
the line for her."
"Hey, this scholastic report looks like mine." Natsumi
pointed at the lines in the report she was reading. "Damn, I
like this girl, already. Who says learning anything at school is of
any benefit? I wonder what she is like at eating? I need a
challenge in the lunchtime guzzlers contest."
END OF PART 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Chapter.... "Little Pieces of a Life"
nIGHT rIDER
Member of the AJAS Fanfic Circle
