Orion Saga
Part 1
Quest for the Orbs
Chapter 12: The cousins
Zentora is on her way to Samaru's apartment. After a hot bath and a good night's rest, she woke up feeling much better. Her back only a little sore. As she is walking along, her mind drifts back to the day before. Though she did get the orb, she couldn't help wondering about the stranger that helped her to get away from the other senshi.
"He'd said he was here to help. I can get the orbs on my own." She was more than reluctant to have gone into great detail with her guardians because she didn't want them to worry. But as she was getting nearer to Samaru's she was wondering if she should have said something.
When the doorbell rings, Zentora finds herself looking up into Samaru's warm hazel eyes. "Hello, Zentora."
"Samaru. Hi." She stands awkwardly for a moment.
"Come in." His smile is warm as he stands back to let her pass.
Her white socks make contact with the soft carpet. As she looks around, she notices all of the strange statues and old looking photographs. She follows Samaru and sits next to him on the couch. "Your place is very nice."
"Thank-you. My cousins and I have brought more than a few things from home."
Zentora nods as she looks at the coffee table. It is a deep mahogany with silver bands around the top. "So where are they?"
"They should be out in a moment. They heard the doorbell, but wanted to make sure-" "Samaru."
Zentora looks up at the sound of the jovial voice. She is looking at a rather tall young woman with short curly hair cut close to her head. Her deep brown eyes are sparkling. She is wearing a bright pink T-shirt and red pants. Her feet are bare except for a couple of silver toe rings on her right foot. She smiles a sincere welcome when she sees Zentora.
"Hello, I'm glad you could come."
Zentora nods. "So am I."
Just then, Zentora looks up to see Samaru's other cousin walk in. She is just as tall as the first, if not taller. She walks in wearing a long dress with short sleeves, which reveals muscular arms and her long black hair is pulled up high on her head into a ponytail which flows down her back. Her gold and ivory earrings compliment the beige dress and bring out the serious light brown eyes. But when she smiles at Zentora, something in them softens.
Zentora looks at the young woman with intrigue. "Hello."
She gives a slight nod. Silently, she sits in a chair next to them.
Zentora looks at them both. "So, how do you like Japan?"
The shorthaired cousin smiles. "We are glad that our cousin was gracious enough to invite us."
"Yes…" The deep voice of the other calls their attention. "…and it is very good to meet the one who has sparked his heart."
Samaru looks at Zentora who tries not to blush. Instead, she changes the subject. "What are your names?"
The shorthaired girl answers first. "I am Ogechi."
"And my name is Matsume."
"It's nice to meet you."
Samaru interrupts. "Oh, Zentora. Would you like some tea?"
"Um, yes please."
Matsume stands. "We will go prepare it." As she leaves, Ogechi follows her into the kitchen.
"Is this not wonderful, Bellatrix?!" Ogechi whispers as she takes out a tray.
"Yes, but we must contain our excitement. At least until the prince is certain. It might not be her."
"But it has to be."
Matsume lowers her voice as she pours the tea. "She did not recognize us, Najid."
"Perhaps she was feigning in front of the planets."
As she places the cups and saucers on the tray, she nods at the possibility. "Maybe, but perhaps she was not."
"Well then what would that mean?"
"I do not know."
They take the tea into the living room area and sit down. Zentora looks at the cup and saucer as they are given to her. "This is a beautiful set." Her voice shows amazement as she looks at the cup. It is midnight blue and encrusted with silver stars. The saucer is also midnight blue with a silver band around the rim and a star in the center.
Matsume holds her own cup very gently. "Yes, it belonged to a girl we knew."
Zentora looks up. "What happened to her?"
Ogechi looks at Zentora as her happy face takes on a solemn expression. "We don't know."
"What do you mean?"
Matsume looks at Ogechi before answering Zentora's question. "As it turns out, she went missing a long time ago. Her family, friends of ours, was very upset."
Zentora's soft voice is sincere. "That's so sad."
Samaru speaks up. "The worst part about it is that she was betrothed and to be wed. To a young man who loved her deeply." A strange look enters his eyes and Matsume and Ogechi look at him. "But…she disappeared."
Zentora looks at him. "What about her fiancé?"
"He's spent most of his time looking for her. Searching in every place he could think of and has yet to find her." With this last sentence, he closes his eyes and sips his tea.
Zentora looks and him and his cousins. Matsume and Ogechi both look as though they are trying to keep themselves from crying.
"You must have been very close." As she says this, she gently places a hand on Samaru's arm.
The young man looks at her fondly. "Yes, she's a very special person."
The pale green skin of the smooth forehead is beaded with sweat. After what happened at the modeling contest, he is more than reluctant to see Queen Andromeda. Thorn had been watching from the shadows of the stage when the sailor scouts appeared to stop Orion. When Uranus attacked her, it looked as though he might have had a shot at getting the orb. But then someone came for the newest senshi and they seemed to vanish.
Now he'd lost two of the orbs and had no idea of how to get them back. To make matters worse, it looked as though Orion wasn't working alone. Even Queen Andromeda seemed a little edgy at the mention of her name. But, he had to report.
Running a gloved hand through his crimped green locks, he turns his rose colored eyes on the door. "Queen Andromeda."
The long thin fingers strum the arm of the throne. "Don't tell me. We are out one more orb?"
General Thorn drops to one knee and lowers his head. "My queen-"
"Ceres, I don't really think I'm in the moos to hear any of your excuses right now." The cold voice is impatient.
"But your highness. There are still two orbs left."
"Two orbs are of little use. Especially if Orion has the other two."
General Thorn speaks with some uncertainty. "We could try to get them."
In the silence that follows, Thorn glances up to see the silvery blue eyes gazing at him. "Get them back?" Queen Andromeda is silent for a moment as though actually considering his suggestion. "That's a wonderful idea."
"Really?"
"Yes. Except for the fact that you've failed miserably so far. I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to get them." She gives Thorn a condescending look, but her pale fingers stop moving. "You know, Ceres, in essence, it isn't a bad idea."
General Thorn looks up.
"However, I think that the focus should be on finding out just who Orion is."
"Yes, majesty. Only…"
"What?"
"Sailor Orion isn't working alone."
"What do you mean?"
"Yesterday, one of the planets attacked her. I was going to use the opportunity to take the orb, since she seemed injured. But someone helped her to escape."
"I see." The fingers resume with their thumping. "Then it looks as if we've encountered a problem." Queen Andromeda is silent for a moment as she thinks. "I don't like to waste time, but we need those orbs."
"Ceres. Do you think that there is enough competence in that green head of yours to at least find out who is helping her?"
Thorn looks up with surprise. "Queen Andromeda, what about the orbs?"
"I don't think you're in any position to question me given your current record of failure. Just do it."
"Yes, Queen Andromeda."
"Thanks for having me over. It was really nice meeting the two of you." Zentora is in the hall talking with Samaru and his cousins.
Matsume nods. "It was nice seeing you too."
"Maybe we could get together again sometime?" Ogechi looks down at Zentora.
Zentora nods. "Um, okay. I could show you around Tokyo a little, I guess."
Samaru looks at them. "What do you think?"
Matsume answers. "That would be very nice of you."
"Alright then." Zentora nods. "Just let me know when. Bye."
"See you later, Zentora." Samaru closes the door after she enters the elevator. Turning to the two young women, he speaks. "What did you think?"
Matsume looks at them. "She's very nice, Prince Diya."
"Is that all?"
"I think it's her." Ogechi draws Matsume's serious gaze.
"You keep saying that, but how do we know?"
"Bellatrix, I know you are upset. But you have to look. She is who she is."
Not taking her eyes from her sister soldier, she answers Diya. "Then how did she not know us? I did not come here to waste time. I only protect you and the princess."
Diya sighs at the longhaired woman. "You are loyal. But part of loyalty involves hope." He places a hand on her shoulder and looks into her eyes.
Matsume turns her head away. "You are right. But I do not like this."
"Neither do I. Nor does your sister amazon, but as I told Empress Auria when I arrived. She is the only one that I have ever gotten a signal from. And she is Orion."