The usual disclaimers apply.
Chapter Twenty: The Birth of a Secret
A rosy tangerine dusk was approaching overhead but they pushed on despite their exhaustion. It had been a unanimous decision, Makoto, Ami and Minako would keep walking until they arrived at the castle. The battle with the giant niphropid had taken a toll on each of them and they could not afford the energy for another battle should they encounter another creature. They had also lost all of their traveling supplies the moment the horses took off so there was no option of camping for the night even if they wanted to. Sticking to the road, they followed the wide dirt path north. Makoto's stomach gurgled loudly. It had been a long time since breakfast. A long time since the kevha and the buttery, soft bread she had shared with Ami.
"My sentiments exactly," Minako answered with a faint smile. The sunset bathed her in a golden glow and Makoto had the thought that she was well suited to the color before she returned to the topic of food again.
"We should have just roasted the son of a bitch and had ourselves a feast," Makoto muttered, visions of a lobster dinner floating in front of her. If anything it just made her stomach growl much more. Ran would have asked how she could still be interested in lobster after fighting that creature. But food was food according to Makoto, overgrown or not. Well, except for the icky scorpion bits-she could do without that. Mako recalled Ran claiming she had a healthy appetite and a cast iron stomach to boot.
"Surely you must be joking," the Healer interjected.
"I'm too tired and hungry to care," Mako stated. She grinned lopsidedly when she caught sight of the slightly distasteful look on Ami's face. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding."
"It must have been riddled with poison, and frankly I would rather avoid all niphropids at this point," Ami retorted.
"Mhmm." Makoto agreed. "I would much prefer some of that stew you made when I first woke up in your cottage. And bread, that soft, fluffy bread!" Makoto began to salivate once more. She loved bread.
Ami blushed lightly at the unspoken compliment in Makoto's words but moved a little closer to the brunette as they walked along side by side. Their hands brushed together once before Makoto caught the smaller woman's hand in her own and gave it a light squeeze.
Minako listened to their exchange, waiting for silence to fall before she spoke. "Makoto, I must commend you-despite being in a strange place and beset with all these creatures you're really taking everything in stride."
Makoto shrugged her shoulders. "It's do or die. I don't think I have much choice in the matter, do I?" She leveled a serious look at both Ami and Minako. There was a flash of guilt in the Healer's eyes but Minako gave nothing away. "What was that conversation about before the fropid attacked?"
"It was about you," Ami answered, the gaze she returned just as serious.
"Me?" Curiosity was blatant in the word Mako returned.
"Yes, about why you're here." Minako answered this time around.
"And?"
Once more, Minako gave nothing away, "Like I mentioned earlier, the Neo-Queen and her advisor will tell you soon enough." The blonde's tone softened. "I'm sorry, at this stage it is not my place to tell."
Makoto nodded, deciding to trust the woman despite the lack of forthcoming information. There was a feeling deep down inside her that she could depend on Mina. Makoto typically had a good sense for people in general-unlike the women she dated-and Minako had not set off any alarms, which was why she was more than willing to let the issue go. It would not do to estrange herself and Ami from the one person who could aid them the most at this point. Besides, she was too tired to make a fuss. Her chest still stung from when the tail had whipped her. "You know Minako, you'd make one hell of a poker player."
"What's poker?" The blonde asked, and Makoto proceeded to enlighten both Minako and Ami on playing cards and the wonders of poker. Up ahead, the shape of trees contrasted darkly against the dying light of the sky. Unlike the Southern Forests, it was a shallow one and the road cut through the growth instead of detouring around. It made sense of course, by cutting through the thin woods the travel time to the castle was shortened. The woods did not seem as if it housed any dangers but it was better to err on the side of caution. Even as Mako chatted freely while they walked along, the three women's hands stayed near the handle of their weapons. Makoto wondered if she was fooling Minako and Ami with her mindless chatter, because she couldn't fool herself. The morning's happenings still lingered in her head. The fact that she couldn't recall her exact movements even if it was for less than a minute was bothering her immensely.
Chest still heaving from the unexpected and deadly exertion Makoto sat up and wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. "So, anyone want to tell me what the hell was that?" She gestured towards the monster with the very hand she used to wipe the sweat. Of course Mako already knew what it looked like to her but she wondered if it was a creature unfamiliar to Verdantia much like the scaled centipede she had encountered earlier with Ami.
Minako joined the Traveler in the grass, appearing elegant even with streaks of dirt on her face. Ami sat too, on the brunette's other side and Mako reached over automatically and gently squeezed the Healer's hand. She was relieved the woman was safe and had not been inflicted with any injuries. Ami, sensing her thoughts responded with a squeeze of her own. She recalled the frantic sound of her name when Ami had called out to her earlier.
"A niphropid," came the blonde's answer from Mako's right," mostly anyway. Usually they aren't so so large."
"Their tails are wider as well, and colorful, almost like a fan." Ami added.
And typically, they're considered a food source.". Minako tacked on.
Mako nodded at their descriptions," Sounds about right. We call them lobsters where I'm from. Though they're usually just brown in color and smaller as well." She pointed again towards the animal. "The other pieces of it, that don't look anything like the lobster resembles another creature that exists in my world-a scorpion. Some of them are pretty deadly; they can paralyze or kill a person or larger animals in a matter of minutes." A thought occurred to Mako and she immediately turned to the blonde.
"Do you know anything about these creatures that are appearing? I gathered from Ami they're not your usual animals. And what about they towns? Are the people safe?"
Minako's expression tightened at the questions, " They aren't natural-they are emerging from the cracks of the crisis Verdantia faces. The people are safe. But I can't answer for how much longer which is why time is of the essence. We need to get a move on and it's going to be harder without the horses." Minako's solemnity hit home with Makoto. Ever since meeting the blonde, Mina had been pleasant if not carefree at times. Or perhaps something had changed in between the hours of night and morning and the woman had hidden it until now?
Ami was the first to stand, "Then we should be on our way." Mako nodded and stood as well in spite of the pain. Endure it, she told herself. Striding to the head of the niphropid she clambered up onto the creature's head once more and grabbed the hilt of her short sword. Ami had followed her, worry in her cool eyes even though the fropid was dead. It took Makoto a few tugs before the sword came free, she had not realized just how much strength she had used when she had buried th sword straight down into the creature's head. The blade was smeared with greasy bits of dark brown and red goop as it was dislodged.
Upon noticing it Mako made a face,"Ew," she muttered before jumping off the head. Kneeling in the grass she rubbed the flat side of the blade in the grass to remove the goop. Flipping to the other broad side she repeated the action. She flipped it once more. And again. Her lids fell midway, her expression almost blank. She scrubbed it again, lost in the task as she kept trying to remove every bit of of gunk that stuck to the sword. The daylight lost its brightness; it became gray instead and Makoto moved her head to look upwards in order to see if clouds had suddenly rolled in. But she couldn't lift her head, she was stuck in the same kneeling position, head down, her arm mindlessly motioning while her fingers gripped the hilt of her sword tightly.
"Mako," Ami called her name softly from a few feet away and the brunette looked up quickly, her eyes widening as the color flooded into the day again. The Healer pointed to the sword. "I think it's clean now," she stated just as softly. Mako's grasp on the sword's handle loosened and it almost fell to the ground. Standing still in the same spot, Ami's blue eyes showed concern, even the shape of her eyebrows made the emotion obvious to Makoto.
Mako licked her lips suddenly, "Ah...," she glanced at the blade and noticed its pristine condition. When did that happen? What the hell just happened? Her mind whirled but something told her to keep quiet about the strange experience until she could figure it out.
"Are you okay?" Ami asked as she came closer.
Mako stood, nodding as she did," Yeah, I'm fine." And she was, but a few moments ago she couldn't remember a thing. The sword had been dirty and the next moment it was clean, the patch of grass before her flattened. Did I just black out? No, there had to be a better explanation. Maybe she had simply zoned out, it hadn't been the first time she had done that while in the middle of some monotonous task. Placing the sword in the scabbard that hung from her hip she took a step closer to Ami and brought their bodies together. Her arms came up and she wrapped them around the smaller woman. She immediately felt more at peace when she was in contact with Ami though the question of blacking out did not fade from her mind. Rather, she tried to put it aside.
"Are you okay?" She asked as the Healer clung to her.
Like Mako earlier, Ami nodded her head, "Yes, fortunately."
"I'm so glad," Mako exhaled with a sigh as an arm traveled up Ami's back and her fingers tangled itself in Ami's fine hair at the nape of her neck. Ami's body melted into hers, the smaller woman's arms holding onto the Traveler and Mako supported them both."Everything happened so quickly."
"Mmhmm," Ami responded, resting her head on the taller woman's shoulder for a few moments.
Although it was hot Makoto was enjoying the warmth from Ami's body and the way the woman clung to her. The heat and the sweat and the smell of earth and grass reassured her that everything was real. Her green eyes traveled towards the edge of the stream where Minako stood. The blonde's eyes were unreadable though she wore a half smile. Worry bubbled forth and Mako wondered if Minako had also observed what happened just a few moments earlier. Guess I'll find out sooner or later.
The trees petered out on the sides of the road and Mako's set shoulders relaxed as they left the shallow forest behind. A sliver of the sun remained and as they followed the bend in the road there was enough light left for Makoto and Ami to stop and stare at the sight in front of them.
A needle shot up into the sky, its height impressive and Makoto estimated it had to be twice as tall as the Empire State Building in Manhattan. No, even taller, she amended. The last of the sunlight reflected off the sides yet illuminated the inside of the tall clear structure. Well, Mako thought to herself, no wonder it's called Crystal Castle.
-x-x-x-
Chibiusa was finally alone with Hotaru in her chambers but the situation couldn't have been more wrong. Earlier, Kasha's news had brought pain and panic to all three women in the Neo-Queen's work chamber. It had also disrupted what was going to be a serious conversation between Chibiusa and Usagi and the pink-haired girl couldn't help but feel frustrated timing of it all. A soft moan escaped Hotaru's lips in sleep and Chibiusa gently stroked the dark hair of the girl's still form. The princess currently sat at the edge of her bed. Her gaze was directed towards Hotaru's sleeping face. Although Hotaru was a year older than the princess she looked much younger and defenseless in her sleep.
"Michiru-mama..." Hotaru murmured. Chibiusa felt her heart constrict. She couldn't begin to imagine the feeling of loss Hotaru was feeling. Tear-trails were still visible on her cheeks; Hotaru had fallen asleep even as the tears flowed. Chibiusa had simply held her, unsure of what else she could do to comfort the girl. A flurry of footsteps hurried by her door and drew her gaze away from Hotaru for a moment. It wasn't that late but typically the workers of the castle carried about their business quietly. A second set of footsteps passed by and Chibiusa opened the door and peeked out. Andie, a worker she knew well came around the corner quickly.
"Andie, why is there such a commotion?" Chibiusa directed the question at her before Andie could leave.
"Oh! Princess, some guests just arrived," the woman answered. Chibiusa could see Andie was ready to go but she was too curious to let the woman go. Just who was it that caused a mini-uproar in the castle?
"Who?"
Andie shook her head, "I don't know princess Chibiusa but whoever it is Neo-Queen Serenity is already in a meeting with them. I did overhear someone mention the word traveler."
"Traveler?" Chibiusa echoed.
Andie nodded, "Yes. I must go now princess."
"Of course, thank you Andie," Chibiusa nodded and the woman responded in kind before taking off again quickly.
Traveler? Staring at the retreating back of the woman, Chibiusa couldn't make heads or tails of the word but her curiosity grew stronger than ever.
Dun dun dunnnnn. What's up with Mako? Even I want to know. lol For those of you requesting more AmiMako moments I hope this suffices for now. Thank you all for reading! Feedback is always appreciated!