Chapter Two: A Favor for Nothing?

The Lights of Infinity
Chapter Two: A Favor for Nothing?

At the café, Katie immediately began her search for her drawings. She found mere scraps of them. Halves that were wrinkled and dirty- maliciously ripped apart. "No," Katie mumbled to herself. "Katie, I found some more" Amanda trailed off as she saw her friend start to cry. "Oh Katie," she said as she hurried over to her friend. "I'm sorry," she apologized, trying to make her friend feel better. "It's okay," Katie sniffed. "Now I know how you felt when you lost The Gospel," she said and wiped her face. "At least you've got copies," Amanda replied, trying to hit on something good. "Yeah, but it's not like having the original," Katie replied. "It's not like sitting back and looking at what an awesome job you've done and just staring at it and feeling good about having finished a work of art." Amanda wrinkled her brow, then knelt down beside her friend. "I was able to find these," she said as she handed the few leftover scraps to Katie. "Thanks," she sniffed.

Outside, there were pieces of paper floating around everywhere. Linda and Moira picked some of them up. "Do these look drawn on to you?" Moira asked Linda. She nodded her head. "Yup. But they're all ruined." "Bloody buggers," Moira cursed. I really would have liked to have seen how close she was to the real thing." Linda picked up a torn folder. "I suppose she could use this to hold whatever she's found," she said as she placed the mistreated scraps in the folder, which was ready to fall apart. "Dare we go in?" Linda asked. "Of course," Moira said. "We'll see if we can do anything more to help."
The two ladies opened the busted door and stepped inside. The crunching of glass seemed to surround them everywhere. The place looked filthy, when only an hour ago, it had been spick and span. Easily finding the other two of their party, Linda and Moira walked forward. "We found your folder," Linda said as she handed it to Katie. "And a few other pieces," Moira smiled at her. "Thank-you," Katie said in reply. She put the scraps away in the tattered folder. "I'm gonna take one last look around for anything else," Katie commented as she stood up. "Then I think we should leave to wherever we're supposed to meet the other ladies at." "Want any help?" Linda offered. "Sure, that would be great," Katie said. "Thanks so much girls." "No problem," replied Moira, who could see that all of their efforts were starting to pay off a little bit. The ladies searched for another fifteen minutes, finding all that they could discern that was or had been Katie's handiwork. Luckily, all four ladies were able to find their wallets and purses as well, scattered among the remains. That brought the biggest relief to all of them. With hands over hearts and deep sighs, they departed for another well-established restaurant to eat and talk about life in general.

In Mia's jeep, Saya and co. were trying to figure out- "Where the heck is this Rain Tree place anyways?" Katrina shouted over the din. Rinoa and Sanya busied themselves offering suggestions, while Saya tried to direct Mia. "I think you take a right here, Mia." Saya pointed out her window. "Alright," Mia replied as she hit her blinker and turned the wheel. "How do you know where this restaurant is, Saya?" Mia inquired. "It used to be a weekly tradition," she winked. "The girls and I would go out for drinks after work on Fridays," Saya continued. "It's a pretty classy affair, but it's not overly pricey. They've got a piano player at night." "Hm," Mia commented. "Sounds high class. Who was it that suggested it?" "I think it was the tallest one, Mi," Katrina piped in. "Hm." Saya thought to herself. "Doesn't she work there?" She didn't have a whole lot time to ponder over her thought, as Mia turned into the parking lot of the Rain Tree. Saya was sure that the other troupe had already beaten them there. The five girls piled out of Mia's jeep and walked in the doors.

"You must be the five ladies that Kimiko-chan was telling me about," said a perky waitress as the ladies walked up to a small podium. "Follow me please," she said, and then she stopped in her tracks. "Heeeeeey you four are regulars in here!" she sparked as she noted Saya, Sanya, Rinoa and Katrina. "It's nice to have you back!" she smiled. "Thanks," the ladies sweatdropped as the waitress led them to the table where Linda, Moira, Amanda and Katie were talking quietly. Miss perky waitress handed them all drink menus and happily told them that she'd be back in a few minutes to take their orders. They all thanked her and waved her along her happy way.

"Were you able to find the restaurant easily?" Linda asked. "Yes, just fine, thanks." Saya said. "I used to come here every Friday with my girlfriends here," she motioned. "Ah," Linda noted. "That's why you look a little familiar." Saya, Sanya, Rinoa and Katrina just smiled. "Do you still work here?" Saya asked, "As a matter of fact, yes," Linda told her, "but only part-time." "Oh," Saya said. Sanya noticed the beat-up folder on the table. "Whose is that? She asked as she pointed. A pause of silence came before the answer. "Mine," Katie said. "Did you find any of your pictures?" Sanya asked nicely. "All of the originals I was carrying were ruined." Katie said in a hurt tone. "Sorry," Amanda and Sanya said at the same time. "Thanks," Katie said. "That really sucks," Katrina put in. "Now there's no pictures to go along with this story." "Hm," Katie drearily replied. "That's right!" Mia remembered. "The story! So, who wrote it?" Linda and Moira looked at Katie and Amanda. So did the other five. "That depends on which story you're referring to," Amanda answered. "The one you and your friend were talking about," Mia said. "I think she means 'The Disaster Armors', Amanda." Katie said. "Yup, I think so too," Amanda replied.

"Well," she started," a while ago, I wrote a story about five girls who knew about their armors long before the Troopers ever knew about theirs." Mia Saya, Sanya, Rinoa and Katrina settled back to listen. "Their armors were more powerful than the Trooper's was. I had it made by Arago's wife, Lady Miranda in my story." Amanda continued along. "Mia, you knew all about your armors and had to pretend to be surprised a lot during the first wave of the dynasty. You all wanted to help, but had to stay put, since it wasn't your fight. When the second wave of the dynasty came, then you girls were able to join in. Of course, you kept your armors a secret from the boys until a big fight with Miranda herself, and then you revealed yourselves." Amanda paused as the waitress came back and took everyone's orders. "Thank-you!" the waitress smiled as she bounced away.
"Of course," Amanda said as she continued, "the boys didn't want you anywhere near the fighting, but you did anyways. At the climax of the story, everybody worked together with their counterparts. Lady Miranda was beaten, but not easily. Everybody was hurt pretty badly, especially you, Mia." The five girls looked at each other in shock. This lady, that they had just met, was recounting their battle! "Is there more?" Mia demanded. "Sure there is!" Piped up Katie. "All the girls pooled together their energy together to try and heal you because you were in a coma or something. All of the guys got mad at Saya 'cause she woke everybody up from their sleep. But anyways," Katie said as she waved her hands, "the girls got Ryo to help, and you came back good as new!" "Ryo?!" Mia exclaimed, blushing. Rinoa, Katrina, Sanya and Saya snickered. "And?" Mia asked, planting her face in a hand, still quite red. "Well, someone had a fight and I think Sanya and Rinoa went out for a walk with Cye and Rowen. When the guys came back carrying the girls 'cause they were tuckered out, one of the guys blew their tops, but the girls were just tired. Then you and Saya had a good talk, 'cause I think it was Ryo or Sage that lost it." Saya giggled. "Sounds like them," she smiled. "Uh-huh," Katie replied. "Anyways, you and the girls and I think Ryo saved the day." "Wow" Mia said.

"Uh-huh!" Katie beamed. "I just looooove Amanda's stories!!" "Thanks," Amanda said. "Well, now we have to do when you're sad," Moira said. "We'll just plop down one of Amanda's stories in front of you, and that will cheer you up!" Moira said, smiling at Katie. "I only wish I had my pictures," Katie said. "You look like you walked right out of them!" "Yeah, it's true!" Amanda confirmed. "I love Katie's pictures!" "Me too," Katie piped in, and she and Amanda laughed. "We may not be talented at what we do-" "but we love it anyways!" Katie finished, interrupting Amanda. Everyone smiled. Then Katie sighed. "Well, do you feel like you know us yet?" "So much for patience," Amanda said under her breath. "Hey!! No bad puns!" Katie told her as she poked Amanda in the arm. "Just kidding!" Amanda replied. "I know," confirmed Katie. "So you two," Moira summarized, "draw pictures and write stories?" "Just for fun!" Katie answered. "Yes," Amanda replied. "Call it a hobby." She smiled. "You guys should get your stuff published," pushed Saya. Having heard this one before, they both said: "It's not that good!" "Everybody's their own worst critic," Katie added to the previous surround sound statement she and Amanda had said. "Besides," said Amanda, "You haven't read any of our stories, or seen the pictures. How would you know?" "Call it a good hunch," Moira said. Katie and Amanda looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Moira noticed the brief hint of suspicion in the air. "Do you know more than you're letting on?" Katie asked. "No, no," Moira insisted, waving her hands. "It's just a really good hunch! Honest!" "Sure," Katie said. "Don't go over-defensive," she told herself. Yet, she just couldn't help it. "Unless," Katie said to herself, "You've read our stuff before!" "Nope," shrugged Moira "Sorry!" "So, it's truly just a hunch?" Asked Katie. "Yup," replied Moira. "Don't you get them too? I believe that everyone does." This statement had every head at the table nodding in agreement. "Good. I'm glad we can all agree." Said Moira.

Then, the conversation launched into the info section. Where Linda, Moira, Amanda and Katie were from, and what they were doing in Japan. "I live here," noted Linda. "And I'm here visiting Linda," said Moira with a lilt in her voice. "I live in Dublin." Katie laughed nervously. "Just playing tourist!" she sweatdropped. "Ditto," smiled Amanda. "So, you're not from Japan then?" asked Linda. "Nope," said Katie. "I'm Canadian." "I'm from the US," said Amanda. "Hm," commented Rinoa. "World-class warriors!" "I guess so," said Katie. "Yeah, that's right!" Amanda piped in. "World-class warriors." She smiled.
"So," Mia asked, "do you four know what the leftovers are about?" "Leftovers?" repeated the four ladies looking at each other. "Guess they don't," Katrina said. "And neither do we." Katie, Amanda, Moira and Linda thought for a few minutes. "Well, if we were unleashed," Katie said, quoting unleashed, "then something else was also unleashed, I think." Katie finished. "Sounds perfectly logical to me," Linda commented. "But what if it isn't something else that's been unleashed? What if it really is just leftovers?" Amanda asked. "Yeah," Katie said, "but what's our purpose?" "I don't think we know that yet," Amanda answered. "If we did, we'd be all set!" Katie finished. "I think it's something we'll find out with time," Moira said. "And speaking of time," Linda commented, glancing at her watch, "I've got dinner to make." She said. "We're sorry if we've kept you," Mia replied. "No, it's alright," Linda said. "It was very nice to get to know you." This echoed a chorus of "Yeah's" from around the table. Linda, Moira, Amanda and Katie got up to leave. So did Mia, Saya, Sanya, Rinoa and Katrina. The two groups paid their bills up at the podium near the entrance. Miss Perky Waitress smiled at them and asked everyone to please come again.

After the five ladies hopped into Mia's jeep, Linda turned around to face Amanda and Katie. "I didn't want to say this in front of the other girls because I didn't think it would be fair," she said to them. "Oh?" asked Katie. "Well, I wanted to invite you over for dinner," Linda said as she gestured towards them. "I have enough for four, and this way it will be just the four of us and we can truly get to know each other." "Okay," accepted Katie without hesitation. "You're sure you don't mind?" asked Amanda. "If I did," Linda replied with an index finger, "I wouldn't have asked." "If you insist," smiled Amanda. "Just follow us," Linda said as she walked towards her car. "Alright!" shouted Katie in reply. She and Amanda hopped in their rental car.

Linda had a very nice house. It was small by American standards, but at 23, Linda was very fortunate. It had two floors, and was very square in shape. The front foyer led to the kitchen, dining room and upstairs. The dining room led to Linda's small but cozy living room. However, Amanda, Katie and Moira all sat in Linda's kitchen while she tossed the main course in the oven.

"How did you ever manage to own a house at your age, Linda?" Katie asked. "I thought it was tough to own a house in Japan." "So did I," Amanda added. "My parents were cowards," Linda replied casually. "Uh-" Katie was stuck for words. "Cowards?" repeated Amanda. "That's right," Linda said. "They didn't think that they could take care of me, so they put me in an orphanage on the south side of Tokyo. I've worked really hard to get to where I'm at," Linda said as she pulled out a chair for herself and sat down. "And I'm no coward. I have no reason to be," she said as she smiled. "That was a long time ago, and I don't even give it a second thought." Linda concluded. "Oh," said Katie. "Sorry," said Amanda. "No, it's really okay," Linda said, waving her hands. "There's no need to apologize." "Wow," Katie said. "So you worked for this house." "Yup!" Linda beamed. "And awfully proud of it too," added Moira. "Look how tidy she keeps it!" she pointed out. "Thank-you, Moira" Linda said sarcastically. "It's always this clean," she whispered to Amanda and Katie as she got up to see what dinner was doing in the oven. "I'm just teasing her," Moira laughed. "And you enjoy it too," Linda shot back at her. "That smells good," Amanda commented. "Yeah," said Katie as she leaned back in her chair and breathed deeply. "What are you making?" Amanda asked curiously. "Just a pasta dish," Linda answered. "It's one of Moi's favorites." Linda laughed. "Yup! Dinner's going to be good tonight!" Moira said. Linda shut the oven door and sat back down at the table.

"So, what are you two really doing in Japan?" Linda asked. "We're on summer vacation," replied Amanda. "And doing the things we've always wanted to do!" put in Katie. "Have you been wanting to come to Japan for a long time?" Linda asked. "Since 1997," Katie replied. "Since 1999," replied Amanda. "So that's about seven years for you," Linda said, pointing at Katie, "and five years for you." Linda concluded, pointing at Amanda. "Bingo," smiled Katie. "That's correct," smiled Amanda. "Wow," said Moira, "what kept you?" "Uh, a lot of things," started Katie. "Like money, for instance." Amanda finished. The buzzer stopped their conversation as Linda hauled dinner out of the oven.

During dinner, the four women talked about Amanda and Katie's trip to Japan. Linda and Moira also found out what they had done so far, and what they were intended to do. " We were going to go up the Tokyo Tower," Katie insisted, "but now they'll be closed for construction," she said as she shoved some pasta into her face. "Yeah. We were supposed to go see a Shinto temple too," Amanda said. "Which one?" Linda asked. "The Cherry Hill temple!" Katie smiled. "Oh? I know where that is." Linda said. "It's right beside the park, five blocks from the tower." "Yeah, I know," said Katie. "It's on the map in my purse." "Mmmmm" Moira looked like she was on cloud nine. "That's the only word we've heard you say all night!" Katie pointed out. "Hmph-mmmm!" Was all Moira could say. Her face beamed as she chewed. Everyone laughed at that. "There's nothing like a good meal," said Moira as she washed down her last mouthful with some juice. "Everyone knows that!" "I'm glad you think so," Linda replied. Katie and Amanda just laughed. "It is very good," Amanda said, using her fork to make a point. "I have to agree," Katie nodded. "Well thank-you," Linda smiled. "Glad you liked it."
Linda cleared the dishes, but not before she got a dozen offers for help. Politely rejecting them all, her kitchen looked like it had been untouched in five minutes flat. "That'll make your head spin," Katie thought with raised eyebrows. Noticing the slightest bit of surprise on their faces, Moira pointed out, "She was always good with clean up," "I'll say," agreed Amanda. Katie only nodded her head.

"And just in the nick of time, too." Said a new voice. The ladies flicked their eyes towards the open balcony window, on which stood Shuten. "How did you get there?" Linda said with a wrinkle in her brow. "Quite easily," he quipped, "but you don't need to know the rest." "D'you always pop up like that?" Katie asked. Amanda shot him an annoyed look. "At least he didn't show up during dinner," she thought. "Yes and no," he said, shaking a finger at them. Linda, Katie and Amanda sweatdropped. Moira looked at him with concern. "What is it?" She was the only one who asked.

"Well, " he began, "I have a favor to ask of you ladies." "And that is?" asked Amanda and Katie at the same time. They both crossed their arms. "You see," Shuten started, "I did something when I completed my mission. Upon receiving my armor and my freedom, and giving Lady Kayura her rightful place, the doors to the dark realm were forever sealed." He continued to receive the stares of all four ladies. "That was what caused the sudden onslaught of leftover warriors. They knew I was going to shut their exit off." "You made a mistake," Smirked Katie. "Well," Shuten sweatdropped, "yes and no," he nervously beamed. "My fellow ex-warlords-" "Warlords?!" Amanda immediately questioned. "Ex- warlords," he stressed, "were disaffected from a powerful evil entity named Arago 17 years ago. To keep them from being captured again," Shuten paused, "they were placed in safe havens. I myself do not know where they are, but I was told that you four would." Linda-tachi looked at each other, and then looked back at Shuten. "And you want US to find them?" Linda asked. "You're good," he said, pointing at her. "Yes," Shuten said as he spun off on a tangent, "I would like you to find and free them." "For what cost?" inquired Amanda with a raised eyebrow. "What cost?" he laughed. "Why nothing at all, ladies." "Sorry, but I'll have to repeat my friend here," said Katie, staring at him. "At what cost?" She stressed her words. Amanda rested her chin on folded hands and thought, "Speak, boy." As she smirked. "Uh well," Shuten said as he thought, "I didn't think they'd go this far." "Can't do it yourself?" Linda asked intimidatingly. "Yes!" Shuten said in mid-thought. "I can't do it myself!" "He's asking for help?" Thought Katie and Amanda. All four ladies watched Shuten think aloud to himself with his back turned on them. After a few minutes, Shuten realized what he was doing, and turned around to face the four women again. They didn't look too impressed, not even Moira, who seemed to comprehend him more than anyone else. "What?" he demanded. "You get good at talking to yourself when you're a lone wanderer slash nomad!" he protested. Amanda, Katie, Linda and Moira narrowed their stares.

"Look," Shuten said, "I can't free them. I'm not allowed." "Huh?" Katie asked. "Ah-ah!" scolded Shuten, "Let me finish!" he said as he stared at Katie. She stared back at him. "My power could not free any of them." He concluded. "Since you four are the strongest ladies in the universe, I thought you would be able to do it." "What's involved?" Asked Amanda. "I- I'm not really sure," Shuten said as he sweatdropped. "Great," Amanda said as she flung her hands in the air. "So you don't know about any possible dangers there could be, much less the obstacles we'll be up against, do you?" "Nope," said Shuten as he looked at the ground. "You'll probably have to fend for yourselves on this one." He commented.

"Idiot!" Naaza yelled at the real-time hologram of Shuten. "How does he think that four women are going to be able to get us out alone?" "Because that's all the room he has for," replied Anubis, tapping a finger to his head. "You knew that, right?" he asked Naaza. "Of course," the man with the snake-like eyes replied. "In any case," Rajura commented, extinguishing his illusion, "we'll be the ones doing the thinking to get out of here. It's time we started searching for loopholes." "Loopholes?" Questioned Naaza and Anubis. "Yes," Rajura said, looking at them with the only eye he had. "Ways we can contact the Human Realm." "Ah, I see." Commented the man with the dark blue hair. "Easier said than done," finished Anubis. "I suggest you get thinking, gentlemen." Rajura said as he walked away from the other two men. They looked at each other, then went their separate ways.