Chapter Five
Hope sat in her room, waiting for her twin. It was late and she had never known her sister to be this late. She knew as well as Hope did that their parents would panic if they missed dinner. But Faith had. Hope had told Mirchiru and Haruka and they had gone out looking for her.
Hope walked to the window. It had since turned dark. And dinner had been a solemn event. Gloria wasn't around to raise hell. As annoying as it was, Hope was not ashamed to admit that she missed it.
But she was worried about her sister. She walked to her sister's bed and sat down, hugging her knees. Why had she stayed behind? She should have gone with Faith!
The girl started to twist a strand of blue hair around her finger. She looked down and started to turn her henshin wand over in her hands. Why couldn't she transform? How had this Hiroshima managed to block such power? Hope thought no one could have such power.
She remembered that wondrous rush of power she felt when those words left her lips. Then that soothing rush of cold water through her veins. When it hit her heart, it felt like the strength of the ocean surged throughout her body, bringing her the strength of the mightiest force on the planet cut through her muscles and bones.
In a way, Hope surmised that her power was like a drug. After that first burst, she knew she would never be able to go back.
The girl heard a shout and recognized it as Mirchiru-mama's immediately. She also heard Aunt Hotaru's. She crept out of her room.
"Faith Danielle! Are you trying to give us a-Faith! Your ears!"
Hotaru turned to go. She had found Faith in an alleyway on her way home from the store. The girl had been gasping for air and her ears were bleeding. Hotaru had managed to stop the bleeding but there was still some hardened blood on her ears.
Haruka came in, with a wet cloth. Hotaru opened the door. Mirchiru caught her grown daughter's shoulder,
"Hotaru?"
"Hai, Mirchiru-mama?"
"Arigato."
Hotaru hugged her mother and said, "No problem. Tell me if her ears are hurt worse. I can't tell right now because of the dried blood and I figured I better get her home to you two."
Mirchiru nodded, "Hai, we'll let you know."
Hotaru walked out. Mirchiru ran to where Haruka was. Her partner was already wiping at her daughter's ears. She had to pick some of the blood off with her fingernails. But although it must have hurt, Faith made no reaction. If anything, she looked stunned, terrified even. Being that Faith rarely revealed any feelings of panic, this scared Mirchiru.
"Faith? Faith? Faith, tell me what happened!" Haruka all but screamed.
Faith was too stunned. She simply stared straight ahead, not seeing anything. She looked pale and wouldn't answer. Haruka finally gave up and picked her up, carrying her to her bedroom. The girl didn't lean against Haruka and she didn't pull away either.
Haruka knocked on the door,
"Hope?"
The door opened.
"Faith!"
Finally, Haruka got a reply. Faith looked up and seemed to finally take note of her surroundings.
"Haruka-papa, put me down!"
"Faith! Where were you?"
"I…" she stalled, "I…Haruka-papa, not now. Please…I'm tired. Tomorrow?"
Haruka looked at her sternly as she set her down. Hope flung her arms around her sister's shoulders. Faith looked at her 'papa.'
"Onegai?"
Haruka looked at her and said, "I expect an explanation first thing in the morning, young lady."
Faith nodded and followed her sister into their room. Mirchiru joined Haruka. The two walked in and tucked their daughters in although Mirchiru repeated Haruka's threat to Faith.
As soon as they left, Hope jumped from her bed and to her sister's.
"Faith?"
She turned to her sister, "yeah?"
"What happened?"
Faith took a breath, "I'll tell you…but I'm not gonna tell Haruka-papa until tomorrow."
Hope nodded and waited.
"I was going home after I got my soda. And then, I decided to take the side roads home so I could think. And then the wind started to blow. It was talking to me-"
"the wind was talking to you?"
Faith nodded, "it sounds crazy but it was. Tomorrow I hafta talk to Maggie. It told me to."
"You're obeying the wind?"
"it was Uranus."
"Nani?"
"Hai…my guardian deity."
"Sugoi…"
Faith sighed, "I'll tell the other Chibi Senshi tomorrow."
Hope nodded, knowing that if her sister had seen what she said that she would need time to process it.
The girl wordlessly walked back to her own bed and laid down, closing her eyes. She was still very nervous because of her lack to transform and hoped that sleep would perhaps ease it.
It did, but not in the way she expected.
Hope gasped for air and found water pouring down her throat. She kicked for the surface and for where she knew would be air. But the further she kicked, the further away the surface was. She fought as hard as she could. But it was no use. The girl closed her eyes and sank deep.
"Don't give up Hope Elizabeth Kai'ou."
"Nani?"
Hope clasped her hands over her mouth. She was under water! How could she possibly talk? Why wasn't she drowning? She felt her hands turn clammy. But…why weren't they wet already? In fact, her outfit…
Hope gasped. She was naked, nothing on whatsoever. And yet for some reason as she realized this, she felt no shame. But she did feel fear. An agonizing fear. She knew that she was vulnerable this way.
"You need not fear, daughter of the sea. I will not harm you."
"Nani? Who are you? What are you?"
"You know."
"No I don't," the girl screamed, "I don't know!"
"I am the spirit of Neptune."
Hope didn't believe it. She knew in her soul it was true. But why had it appeared to her? What her sister had gone through….
The girl found herself surrounded by a spiral of foam. It swept her blue hair over her head and coated her body in a blue aura. The mark of Neptune lit up bright on her forehead. She closed her eyes. Taking a breath, she said softly,
"What do you wish of me, Mother Star?"
Hope felt a roar invade her ears. But there was no pain. The roar was the roar of the waves as they crashed above her. But to Hope they were music. She understood every crash, every roar.
"Listen to me, Kai'ou Hope."
"My name's Ten'ou."
"Iie. You legal name is Ten'ou. The name which runs through your veins is Kai'ou. You are a true daughter of mine, child. The force of Neptune rushes into and out of your heart."
Hope felt the ocean emerge upon her, but it was gentle, but strong. Hope spread her arms wide, embracing it.
"Tell me, Mother Star Neptune."
"Darling, sweet daughter of my ocean's depths. The time is drawing near. Time when you must strike onto your own. Your parents have been aiding you for years, as well they should. But Neptune is calling you."
"Nani?"
"Seek out Mei'ou Margaret."
"Why?"
"She is the granddaughter of Chronus."
"Father of Time and Space?"
"Hai. She possesses the ability to shift and transfer time as she sees fit."
"But Aunt Setsuna says-"
"In desperate situations, one must make a choice, daughter. If you move through time, yes it is a taboo of the Senshi laws and yes, it is punishable. However, if you do not, then all the peace you have fought for will be for naught."
"IIE!"
"Hai, but listen to my words, sweet daughter. Go to the granddaughter of Chronus. She will take you through time. You will gather the aid you need there."
"What help? For what?"
"Your time has come to embrace the soul of Neptune. It is your turn to become the soldier of Neptune."
"Demo…how will we know where to go?"
"You'll know."
A roar filled Hope's ears, whispering over and over,
"You'll know…you'll know."
Hope sat up, panting. Her pillow was dark red. She stuck her fingers into her ears and they came back, moist with rich red blood. She heard the roar of the sea in her mind,
"You'll know."