The girl was startled, and feeling the icy pinpricks of fear. Yet she stood her ground and with open defiance faced the young men who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. She remained resolutely silent, refusing to break the tension with flimsy, nervous words. A challenge was in her stance, and no matter how frightened she was, no matter that she had no idea what was going on, she would never back down.
"This one's not scared at all," the red-haired one said, with a meaningful grin at his friends. "Thinks she safe, doesn't she?"
"Hm. More likely she doesn't realize just how much trouble she's in," the dark-haired one commented pensively. "Or... doesn't care. Yes, she may prove even more useful to us than we thought."
"Nobody's using me for anything." The girl had a flame in her eyes now, and she took one step forward. The dark-haired one only smiled slightly, and looked more thoughtful.
The third man, with long, green hair twitched a finger chidingly. "Au contraire, brave one. It's beyond your control. Far beyond your control." She prepared herself for whatever attack would come next-
Pallapalla seated herself on the edge of the bed, tucking her feet beneath her. "You have such a nice room, Bunny!" she exclaimed.
Bunny beamed, pleased at the compliment. "Thanks. I-"
Bunny's mother shuffled in, laden with an armload of supplies. "Where's that poor cat of yours? There she is!" She descended upon Diana, showering her with a barrage of salves, bandages, and treats. "Such a brave, sweet kitty! Standing up to a mean old dog," she crooned, as she did what she did best- nurture. By the time she had disappeared, cat and girls alike were stuffed with treats, and Diana was looking much better. "Oh, Chibi-usa, your friend's here," her mom called back as she left the room "I'll send her in. You girls have a nice visit."
Cerecere entered, laden with a fresh armload of sweets. "Gee, Bunny, your mom is really… nice."
Bunny rolled her eyes and grinned. "She's in one of her moods."
Diana rolled over on her cushion, purring happily. "Mmm-hm."
"So…" Bunny said. "Down to business?"
Diana straightened, blushing through her fur. "Oh, ah- yes. Business." She blinked, and tried to regain a appearance of responsibility. "We need to make some sort of plan to fight the enemy. There are still two senshi that have not awakened into their powers somewhere out there."
Cerecere leaned back against the foot of the bed and gazed at the ceiling. "What do you think they're after, anyways? They attack a school, a pizza parlor, and a festival. All public places. And- those spiky things…"
"Heart crystals," Bunny and Diana amended at the same time. Diana blinked, and gave Bunny an odd, unreadable look. Then the cat began to explain. "Heart crystals are the crystallized essence of a person's life and soul. Every living being has one, and without them, it is impossible to survive. They are coveted for a source of energy, and because a rare few have a special power. But this… they're doing something new. I don't understand it. Somehow they're removing the part of them that makes a person who he is. It's not death, but…"
"Enslavement." Cerecere's eyes were flaming. "I saw the way our friends at school were acting. The enemy is can control them- violate their souls! It's wrong!"
Pallapalla leaned over an placed a hand on Cerecere's shoulder. "We know they're wrong. That's why we're going to stop them." She smiled, her sunny nature returning. "We're a team now, remember?"
Bunny grinned. "That's right. We are a team. Now let's aim for being a team with a plan. Do you suppose we could anticipate what they'll do and nip the thing in the bud? I doubt we'll be so conveniently located the next time."
"You never know," Pallapalla commented, hanging off the side of the bed so she could meet their eyes upside-down. "They seem to like us. Maybe they're just following us around."
"They do know who we are…" Cerecere said, biting her lip. "Dangit! How do we know if we should go to some public place 'cause they might show up there, or we shouldn't because we'll only lead them there and endanger all those people?!" There was a brief silence, as they digested that unhappy thought.
"Disguises!" Pallapalla shrieked, sitting up so abruptly she made the other three jump. "I could do us all up- you'd have to help of course- wouldn't it be fun?- I bet I could do a really good job- Your hair would look so cute-"
Bunny yelped as Pallapalla tugged the tail of one of her odangos. "Slow down! It's a good idea, but do you really think we could pull it off?"
Pallapalla crossed her arms and looked affronted. "I can do anything artistic." She winked, and dropped the charade. "Really, the hardest part would be making sure they don't notice us change. Assuming they're even watching, of course."
"I can handle that part," Cerecere volunteered. She looked distinctly unsettled.
"What is it?" Diana asked.
"You know I'm partly here because my parents wanted 'more stability in my life,'" she said, the tone of her voice making it obvious she was quoting a much repeated parental phrase. "But it's also because the festival they perform in is coming to town. They're announcing it tomorrow, and it will be open to the public next week. The next large gathering."
Bunny squeezed her hand, and Pallapalla became momentarily solemn. "We'll be there," Bunny said firmly. "Nothing's going to happen to your parents- or to anyone else.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Zephyr was seething. He had been expecting to receive praise for his carefully formed plans, his perfect strategy that had taken him several days to perfect to standards of which his master would approve. Not like the other three, who had stumbled into their attempts hopelessly unprepared. And now… the fools had fumbled their way into ta treasure vault. He gritted his teeth as he entered his Lord's chamber, and knelt before the throne. He did his best to appear detatched and calm, outwardly if not inwardly. The other three men, Aquilo, Eurius, and Austeri, entered together and also knelt. Unlike Zephyr, they positively radiated smug satisfaction.
"I understand you have something for me," the white-cloaked man on the pedestal said, voice smooth as ice. "Speak then."
The three raised there faces to him, and Eurius spoke, dark eyes glinting. "We have done as you wished, my Lord. We have captured one of the unawakened senshi." As he spoke, Aquilo drew forth a crystal that glinted and shimmered with a strange, dancing light.
A smile spread across the man's face, graceful and predatory as a feline. "Well done. Very well done," he extended a hand, and took the crystal, holding it up before his face as he peered at the shimmering mist that played in its depths. "Tell me how you have done this."
Austeri took his turn to speak, enthusiasm apparent in his voice. "We followed your advice, my Lord. We used the information salvaged from the three freed spirit-catchers…" He hesitated here, glancing uneasily at the man on the throne, and more specifically the red star that glowed steadily on the brow of his turban. Seeing no warning flicker he continued. "…the information on the sustaining energy that protected the senshi from acquisition. The data was imperfect, but we were able to isolate the unique aural vibration of those girls who were not awakened into their senshi powers at the time. It was usable as a tracker…"
"You were unable to determine the equivalent for the three awakened senshi?" the man asked, curious, but showing no signs of displeasure.
"My lord, working from what we had- it would appear there is no equivalent for the senshi. Their aural vibration cannot be matched or singled out. We did create something that should help the spirit-catchers with them…"
The pale man nodded his acknowledgement. "Interesting…" he twisted the crystal that encased the spirit of the captured senshi's heart crystal. "I think I shall work at an innovation of my own. I have been meaning to try it with our other guest-" the word guest was emphasized ever so slightly, so that it meant something entirely different, "- but a younger spirit would probably adapt much better." He smiled again, and from beneath the cold malice of the red star, his chestnut eyes were warm, though not with out a hint of danger to them. "I believe you three have earned some time to rest. Now, Zephyr, tell me of your progress…"