"That is all the information entered into the data file 'Possession'." Said Kinyume. Chiyo looked up at the image and felt hurt that it could maintain such a stony expression.
No one was quiet sure of what to say. Kohana, Hakeru and Kei had all known about this and kept silent to let the others think. Kei was still staring at Kinyume, who was silent. It startled the group when Kei spoke first.
"The being that has possessed my mother is named Eidre. She comes from a system near the center of the galaxy that is known for overpowering other civilizations to their already expansive empire. Ours is next on the hit list. She'll use the queen's body as protection when she attacks. And that could be any day now." Kei rose from her seat and walked around the table, stopping behind Umi. "I think that they will be coming from this side of the solar system," she continued, pointing towards the model. "I'm betting that the Moon Kingdom will be their first attack spot, which, if successful, will cripple the rest of the Alliance." Kei stopped for a moment, and licked her lips. "I think, that to protect our people, we should get rid of-"
Mikomi stood up, her chair making a loud scooting noise across the floor, and Kei stopped talking in surprise. Mikomi walked silently towards Kei, her head bowed, and stopped in front of her. She looked up into Kei's face, and it was then that everyone saw she had been crying. Wordlessly, she put her arms gently around Kei's slender waist.
She stood there and hugged her silently, her head resting on Kei's shoulder. At first Kei wasn't sure what to do about the crying girl, but a wave of emotion came over her when she heard Mikomi crying for her, and she leaned down and hugged back.
"Kei," Mikomi whispered. "You don't have to say it. I don't want you to say it."
A couple of the other girls sniffed back tears and Kohana looked over towards Hakeru. She had her head resting on her chin, watching Kei and Mikomi intently.
Kei closed her eyes and held Mikomi tighter than ever. She was still softly crying.
"We understand you, Kei. So we won't make you say it." Mikomi said again. She stood back and looked into Kei's eyes, smiling compassionately. Kei was so confused. Did Mikomi feel this strongly towards all her friends? Or was it something else? Mikomi had always dated men. . . Her heart began to feel lighter at the possibility
Chiyo rose from her seat and placed her hands on the table. She looked around the table, taking in all of her friends' expressions and sighed. She willed herself to be a responsible leader and act accordingly. "Kohana?" she said finally.
Kei winced.
Kohana hesitantly looked up towards Chiyo. Her pale face and violet eyes seemed somewhat empty. The only thing that seemed to look alive about her was the violet lily behind her ear.
"I need you to do something for us, and I hope I never have to ask this again," Chiyo continued slowly.
Mikomi could feel Kei's grip tight around her waist. She won't let herself cry, thought Mikomi.
"Go to Mars Kingdom, and visit Queen Shoujiki. Send her our love. And set her free for us, Kohana."
Chiyo was the only person Tasuke could think of who could sentence a person to death so peacefully. It made him want to hold her and tell her how often he thought of her and what she meant to him. . .but all he could do was reach out and rest his hand on top of hers.
Kohana stood up without making the slightest noise. She looked over at Kei, who still had one arm securely around Mikomi's waist. Kohana merely cocked her head to one side, and smiled like a small girl. Something about the innocent way she did comforted Kei more than anything else anyone could say. Kohana then disappeared.
Kinyume's image was still hovering motionless above the solar system model. There was a very awkward silence as some of the people got up to leave. Mikomi and Kei were the first to leave the room, whispering to each other. Umi hugged Chiyo and told her that she did the right thing. Koushi and Sora both agreed. Ken smoothed his sister's hair and told her how strong she was, and then kissed her on the forehead. They only people left were Tasuke, Hakeru and Chiyo.
Chiyo sat back down in her seat. Tasuke hadn't gotten up, but had been sitting with his chin resting on his hands reflectively. Hakeru hadn't moved at all.
"Hakeru. Please tell me that this will turn out okay," Chiyo pleaded. She was on the verge of crying.
Hakeru shifted her weight and studied the moon princess. After a couple of seconds, she took a long, deep breath.
"I don't have to tell you. You already know," she replied with a small smile. Hakeru stood up and left the room.
Chiyo nodded to herself. Once again she stood up, this time walking to the back of the room.
"Windows, please," she said aloud. The walls magically went see- through, and suddenly she was overlooking the entire Northern part of her kingdom. The scene made her calm inside again, but her head was swimming. Kei's mother had been possessed for at least ten years, maybe more. And no one except Kohana, Hakeru and Kei herself had known about it. If they had told somebody earlier, maybe she would have been able to save Ayeka Shoujiki. She suddenly felt very guilty for not knowing. She could have helped. She could have made everything better. She wouldn't have had to send her Soldier of Death to polish off one of her closest friend's only mother.
Tasuke got out of his chair and walked casually towards her. "You couldn't have stopped this, Imbria. There was still so much we didn't understand back then about possession, still so much we don't know today. There isn't much we could have done to help."
Chiyo looked at him with a surprised look. "I was just thinking about that," she admitted. "And, call me Chiyo. It's what everyone close to me knows me as." She was somewhat embarrassed now that she had said to call her Imbria. It made things seem much too formal.
He was now standing next to her and looking out the window. Tasuke nodded. "I know they do." He looked at her from the corner of his eye and smiled. She bit her lip and tried not to smile, but it only made her laugh a little.
"Sorry about that," she acknowledged. She reached up and smoothed her braided hair, secretly wishing that she could just let it loose. She already had a headache. "I feel like I've betrayed Kei," she confessed finally. "I hate to feel like I've hurt her, or anyone. I feel like I have this enormous duty to protect my people and the entire alliance, and do always do what's in their best interest," she wasn't sure why she was telling him so much, but for some reason the words came out of her very easily. "But it's so hard to be impersonal about it. To keep my friends and myself from getting involved. It clouds things that should be clear, you know? So whenever I have to make a decision like that, like the one I just made, I'm always left with that lingering doubt. 'Did I do the right thing?'"
Tasuke looked at the floor for a moment, then back at Chiyo. "What does your heart tell you, Chiyo?" When he said her name, a chill went up her spine and caught her breath for only a moment. "I think, that if Ayeka Shoujiki had a choice of living as possessed, or dying and being reborn free, that she'd make the same choice you did." Chiyo nodded slowly and looked over at Tasuke tenderly. "Someone just had to make the choice for her."
Chiyo smiled at him, her heart feeling much lighter. "Thank you," she whispered. They looked at each other for a few seconds, but Chiyo had to look away before she lost herself completely. Once again she smoothed out her hair and looked out the window.
Tasuke cleared his throat. "You know, I like your hair much better when it's not so styled," he started. Chiyo looked at him a little oddly. He smiled mischievously and walked behind her. "May I?" he asked politely.
Chiyo laughed again. "Sure, I guess," she replied, shrugging. He untied the purple ribbon holding her hair in the braid and handed it to her. Her thick strawberry hair came out of the braid easily, but Tasuke combed it through with his fingers and made it smooth. Chiyo tried to hide the goose bumps she got on her arms by rubbing them.
"There." He said gently. "But it needs one more thing," he whispered across her shoulder.
Out of his coat pocket he pulled a satin blue ribbon. Chiyo gasped when she saw it and stared at him with amazement. Then she remembered.
"You," she started. "You were in the garden yesterday!" she said with wonder. He tied her hair back in a loose ponytail, the way it had been when she had lost the ribbon the day before.
"I followed you out there. I had been meaning to tell you something, and I thought that the gardens would be a good place to talk," he started. "But then, I saw you sitting at the fountain, watching the birds and looking beautiful. I stood there for what seemed like an eternity just watching you exist, and I became so entranced and lost in you just sitting there, that I couldn't find any words to tell you. To explain to you how I feel." He rested a hand very sweetly on the small of her back. She was still facing the windows and he was behind and a bit to the side of her, watching her look out to the world. The soft rain was still falling outside, as patches of sunlight weaved their way across the cities and field.
Chiyo couldn't think of what to say back. She almost wanted to cry from relief of hearing he felt for her exactly what she felt for him.
Slowly, she turned around to look into his eyes. The moment she did the world around them spun and her entire body felt weightless. He pulled her slightly closer and put his other hand around her delicate waist. He was nearly six inches taller than her and she was looking almost directly up into his eyes, dynamic and powerful and compassionate all at the same time. As he bowed his head a little closer, she leaned in nearer to him and let his strong arms wrap easily around her. They were so close that she felt his breath warm and comforting right upon her lips.
It's you, she thought to herself.
All the Senshi stared at Kohana in amazement. Kohana nodded again. "I'm sure. I went to Mars Kingdom and she wasn't there. Eidre is gone."
The explosion hit completely without warning, demolishing almost the entire west quarter of the Moon Kingdom. It rippled through the palace and threw the Senshi to the ground. And as the scrambled to their feet they exchanged horrified looks.
The west wing was where the Moon Shrine was.
No one was quiet sure of what to say. Kohana, Hakeru and Kei had all known about this and kept silent to let the others think. Kei was still staring at Kinyume, who was silent. It startled the group when Kei spoke first.
"The being that has possessed my mother is named Eidre. She comes from a system near the center of the galaxy that is known for overpowering other civilizations to their already expansive empire. Ours is next on the hit list. She'll use the queen's body as protection when she attacks. And that could be any day now." Kei rose from her seat and walked around the table, stopping behind Umi. "I think that they will be coming from this side of the solar system," she continued, pointing towards the model. "I'm betting that the Moon Kingdom will be their first attack spot, which, if successful, will cripple the rest of the Alliance." Kei stopped for a moment, and licked her lips. "I think, that to protect our people, we should get rid of-"
Mikomi stood up, her chair making a loud scooting noise across the floor, and Kei stopped talking in surprise. Mikomi walked silently towards Kei, her head bowed, and stopped in front of her. She looked up into Kei's face, and it was then that everyone saw she had been crying. Wordlessly, she put her arms gently around Kei's slender waist.
She stood there and hugged her silently, her head resting on Kei's shoulder. At first Kei wasn't sure what to do about the crying girl, but a wave of emotion came over her when she heard Mikomi crying for her, and she leaned down and hugged back.
"Kei," Mikomi whispered. "You don't have to say it. I don't want you to say it."
A couple of the other girls sniffed back tears and Kohana looked over towards Hakeru. She had her head resting on her chin, watching Kei and Mikomi intently.
Kei closed her eyes and held Mikomi tighter than ever. She was still softly crying.
"We understand you, Kei. So we won't make you say it." Mikomi said again. She stood back and looked into Kei's eyes, smiling compassionately. Kei was so confused. Did Mikomi feel this strongly towards all her friends? Or was it something else? Mikomi had always dated men. . . Her heart began to feel lighter at the possibility
Chiyo rose from her seat and placed her hands on the table. She looked around the table, taking in all of her friends' expressions and sighed. She willed herself to be a responsible leader and act accordingly. "Kohana?" she said finally.
Kei winced.
Kohana hesitantly looked up towards Chiyo. Her pale face and violet eyes seemed somewhat empty. The only thing that seemed to look alive about her was the violet lily behind her ear.
"I need you to do something for us, and I hope I never have to ask this again," Chiyo continued slowly.
Mikomi could feel Kei's grip tight around her waist. She won't let herself cry, thought Mikomi.
"Go to Mars Kingdom, and visit Queen Shoujiki. Send her our love. And set her free for us, Kohana."
Chiyo was the only person Tasuke could think of who could sentence a person to death so peacefully. It made him want to hold her and tell her how often he thought of her and what she meant to him. . .but all he could do was reach out and rest his hand on top of hers.
Kohana stood up without making the slightest noise. She looked over at Kei, who still had one arm securely around Mikomi's waist. Kohana merely cocked her head to one side, and smiled like a small girl. Something about the innocent way she did comforted Kei more than anything else anyone could say. Kohana then disappeared.
Kinyume's image was still hovering motionless above the solar system model. There was a very awkward silence as some of the people got up to leave. Mikomi and Kei were the first to leave the room, whispering to each other. Umi hugged Chiyo and told her that she did the right thing. Koushi and Sora both agreed. Ken smoothed his sister's hair and told her how strong she was, and then kissed her on the forehead. They only people left were Tasuke, Hakeru and Chiyo.
Chiyo sat back down in her seat. Tasuke hadn't gotten up, but had been sitting with his chin resting on his hands reflectively. Hakeru hadn't moved at all.
"Hakeru. Please tell me that this will turn out okay," Chiyo pleaded. She was on the verge of crying.
Hakeru shifted her weight and studied the moon princess. After a couple of seconds, she took a long, deep breath.
"I don't have to tell you. You already know," she replied with a small smile. Hakeru stood up and left the room.
Chiyo nodded to herself. Once again she stood up, this time walking to the back of the room.
"Windows, please," she said aloud. The walls magically went see- through, and suddenly she was overlooking the entire Northern part of her kingdom. The scene made her calm inside again, but her head was swimming. Kei's mother had been possessed for at least ten years, maybe more. And no one except Kohana, Hakeru and Kei herself had known about it. If they had told somebody earlier, maybe she would have been able to save Ayeka Shoujiki. She suddenly felt very guilty for not knowing. She could have helped. She could have made everything better. She wouldn't have had to send her Soldier of Death to polish off one of her closest friend's only mother.
Tasuke got out of his chair and walked casually towards her. "You couldn't have stopped this, Imbria. There was still so much we didn't understand back then about possession, still so much we don't know today. There isn't much we could have done to help."
Chiyo looked at him with a surprised look. "I was just thinking about that," she admitted. "And, call me Chiyo. It's what everyone close to me knows me as." She was somewhat embarrassed now that she had said to call her Imbria. It made things seem much too formal.
He was now standing next to her and looking out the window. Tasuke nodded. "I know they do." He looked at her from the corner of his eye and smiled. She bit her lip and tried not to smile, but it only made her laugh a little.
"Sorry about that," she acknowledged. She reached up and smoothed her braided hair, secretly wishing that she could just let it loose. She already had a headache. "I feel like I've betrayed Kei," she confessed finally. "I hate to feel like I've hurt her, or anyone. I feel like I have this enormous duty to protect my people and the entire alliance, and do always do what's in their best interest," she wasn't sure why she was telling him so much, but for some reason the words came out of her very easily. "But it's so hard to be impersonal about it. To keep my friends and myself from getting involved. It clouds things that should be clear, you know? So whenever I have to make a decision like that, like the one I just made, I'm always left with that lingering doubt. 'Did I do the right thing?'"
Tasuke looked at the floor for a moment, then back at Chiyo. "What does your heart tell you, Chiyo?" When he said her name, a chill went up her spine and caught her breath for only a moment. "I think, that if Ayeka Shoujiki had a choice of living as possessed, or dying and being reborn free, that she'd make the same choice you did." Chiyo nodded slowly and looked over at Tasuke tenderly. "Someone just had to make the choice for her."
Chiyo smiled at him, her heart feeling much lighter. "Thank you," she whispered. They looked at each other for a few seconds, but Chiyo had to look away before she lost herself completely. Once again she smoothed out her hair and looked out the window.
Tasuke cleared his throat. "You know, I like your hair much better when it's not so styled," he started. Chiyo looked at him a little oddly. He smiled mischievously and walked behind her. "May I?" he asked politely.
Chiyo laughed again. "Sure, I guess," she replied, shrugging. He untied the purple ribbon holding her hair in the braid and handed it to her. Her thick strawberry hair came out of the braid easily, but Tasuke combed it through with his fingers and made it smooth. Chiyo tried to hide the goose bumps she got on her arms by rubbing them.
"There." He said gently. "But it needs one more thing," he whispered across her shoulder.
Out of his coat pocket he pulled a satin blue ribbon. Chiyo gasped when she saw it and stared at him with amazement. Then she remembered.
"You," she started. "You were in the garden yesterday!" she said with wonder. He tied her hair back in a loose ponytail, the way it had been when she had lost the ribbon the day before.
"I followed you out there. I had been meaning to tell you something, and I thought that the gardens would be a good place to talk," he started. "But then, I saw you sitting at the fountain, watching the birds and looking beautiful. I stood there for what seemed like an eternity just watching you exist, and I became so entranced and lost in you just sitting there, that I couldn't find any words to tell you. To explain to you how I feel." He rested a hand very sweetly on the small of her back. She was still facing the windows and he was behind and a bit to the side of her, watching her look out to the world. The soft rain was still falling outside, as patches of sunlight weaved their way across the cities and field.
Chiyo couldn't think of what to say back. She almost wanted to cry from relief of hearing he felt for her exactly what she felt for him.
Slowly, she turned around to look into his eyes. The moment she did the world around them spun and her entire body felt weightless. He pulled her slightly closer and put his other hand around her delicate waist. He was nearly six inches taller than her and she was looking almost directly up into his eyes, dynamic and powerful and compassionate all at the same time. As he bowed his head a little closer, she leaned in nearer to him and let his strong arms wrap easily around her. They were so close that she felt his breath warm and comforting right upon her lips.
It's you, she thought to herself.
All the Senshi stared at Kohana in amazement. Kohana nodded again. "I'm sure. I went to Mars Kingdom and she wasn't there. Eidre is gone."
The explosion hit completely without warning, demolishing almost the entire west quarter of the Moon Kingdom. It rippled through the palace and threw the Senshi to the ground. And as the scrambled to their feet they exchanged horrified looks.
The west wing was where the Moon Shrine was.