Of This World And Yesterday
"...between desiring good and desiring evil there is but a brief step,
because it is always a matter of directing the will."
-Umberto Eco, The Name of the Rose
Chapter 19- Matches
She sliced down carefully, moving her fingers aside as dribbles of tomato juice slid out of her incision, messily pooling out onto the wooden cutting board. A bowl of freshly chopped tomatoes sat in front of her, wet edges gleaming in the fluorescent lights from above. The kitchen itself was busy, the various Inner Senshi following the orders of the resident culinary genius, Kino Makoto, who was currently browning meat in a frying pan at the stove. Kagome glanced again at Usagi, who was sitting beside her at the kitchen table, the other girl slicing off pats of creamy butter, then applying them in an uneven line on the inside of some Italian bread they found in Michiru's pantry.
It took awhile for everyone to arrive, once alerted by Chibiusa to the most recent happenings. She and Inuyasha had been the last to make it to the Outer's house, not being equipped with one of the communicators the senshi used to keep in touch. There had been a flurry of worried explanations as they were updated, and Ami and Mamoru had run upstairs to see Michiru themselves, as well as check on Setsuna's progress. Another kugutsu appearing, this time as the witch Viluy. They'd been fortunate the attack she'd used was merely an imitation; who knew what the result would have been had it been real?
As the evening progressed, Usagi had been the one to bring up the fact it was dinnertime, and wasn't anyone else getting hungry yet? Several sets of eyes switched to Makoto, who shrugged and headed into the kitchen, sifting through the cabinets and pantry until she found enough of something to make food for so many people. Michiru had a couple of slightly dusty boxes of spaghetti in the back of her pantry, and they'd found some ground meat in the freezer. So spaghetti it was.
Makoto, being the queen of the kitchen, drafted people into helping her out, assigning tasks to the various people now standing around the kitchen. Kagome sliced tomatoes for sauce, while Minako stood at the counter, peeling garlic cloves, thin leaves crumbling around her fingers. Rei was grating parmesan cheese and standing next to Minako, Kagome noticing how she kept a wary eye on both Minako and Usagi, slowly suspecting that neither blonde was exactly renowned for their culinary skills.
Slowly, the warm smells of cooking food filled the house, of browning beef and the first batch of garlic bread, now toasting in the broiler. Makoto seemed to understand the concept of feeding an army, which was more or less what she was undertaking.
Setting aside her knife, Kagome scooped up a handful of the diced tomatoes and deposited them with the rest of the bowl in front of her, glancing again as Usagi frowned in concentration, slapping the butter into the bread. Apparently, this was considered 'safe' enough for her to handle, since she wasn't the one actually putting in or taking out the bread from the broiler.
"What I'd like to know is why she had the kugutsu attack OSA-P," Rei sighed as she turned around to check on Usagi's progress again. "If what Sango-san said was right, then Karasu sent Viluy there specifically for her and Miroku. Why them? There's nothing at OSA-P. It's just a jewelry store. Was she just after some more Hoste for herself or what?"
Usagi set down her butter knife and pressed the two sides of her loaf of bread together, closing the butter inside. "Naru-chan's Mom has been attacked before, but that was a long time ago now," she said, shrugging and looking puzzled. "That was back when I first became Sailor Moon."
The others shook their heads, but Kagome glanced around, confused. "Naru-chan?"
"Oh! One of my friends from school," Usagi told her quickly, waving her hand in dismissal and grinning. "Her Mom got attacked a long time ago. She's got this really nice store over in the shopping district, and she has these really nice sales every couple weeks. But there's really nothing about the store that'd make it a target. Sango and Miroku were looking for where Karasu hid out, right? Maybe it's nearby OSA-P."
"Attacking to distract them?" Minako asked, brushing the papery leaves of the garlic aside and accepting a butter knife from Makoto so she could cut them more finely. "That would be a distraction, but she didn't send out a youkai along with the kugutsu." Minako leaned back a bit to see around Rei, focusing on Kagome with a wry grin. "How hard is it to kill a kugutsu? I was kind of unconscious last time we fought with one."
Kagome thought about that, considering their past battles with Naraku's puppets as she reached for another plump tomato, coring the top and carefully avoiding the sharp edge of the knife. "That depends. You have to strike its weak point," she demonstrated, popping out the core of the tomato onto the cutting board, "and it dies quickly. But if you hit it just anywhere, it'll make things worse." She turned the tomato upside down and sliced it in half, the two sides rocking as they fell apart. "Something's just not right about it," she finished, a frown growing on her face as she readied one of the halves for quartering. "There wasn't a youkai with her, and she was looking for Sango-chan and Miroku-sama specifically...before...before..." she trailed, and Makoto offered her,
"Eudial."
Nodding, Kagome continued, "Before the Eudial kugutsu came with two youkai with her, and just started randomly attacking the street. If Karasu's watching us somehow, then wouldn't she be better prepared than that? They were alone, with lots of people around. It's like..." Kagome's frown was deepening as she looked at the neatly separated quarters in front of her. Viluy's not having anything with her suggested haste, as though it was something thrown together at the last moment. But they were being watched, weren't they? Shouldn't she be prepared by now? "Like she was just attacking them to..." Kagome shook her head, trying to clear it. If they were distractions, what were they being distracted from? If they were looking for a hideout or signature of an evil aura, the logical conclusion would be that they were nearby its location. But if the attack was set up quickly, then she hadn't anticipated it.
Something just didn't fit right. Sighing, she set down her knife and leaned back in her chair, looking at the expectant faces around her. "If the attack was just set up to distract Sango-chan and Miroku-sama from finding her, why let them know they were close? If the jewelry store isn't anything special, and if it's in the middle of the shopping district, why there? Wouldn't it make more sense if she tried to lead them off? Without revealing herself?"
Makoto turned the heat down on the stove top thoughtfully, setting down her spatula and turning to take the garlic from Minako. "If this attack was just a distraction, where better than a shopping center with lots of people? Makes sense to me...."
"Me too," Rei added, pausing in her cheese grating to turn halfway around, leaning against the counter with her hip. "So then we need to ask Haruka or Michiru where they were when they found out Sango and Miroku were being attacked. I'll bet they were heading closer to wherever we're looking for is, if Kagome's right and she was trying to lead us off base."
"Michiru-san is talking to Mamoru now," Sango chimed in as she entered the kitchen from the dining room. She'd changed her clothing, Shippou having modestly pointed out that her skirt had torn somewhere over the course of the last battle, running up one of the seams. Setsuna had purchased two outfits for her if needed, and since Sango didn't want to walk around with a slit up her dress, she'd changed, now in a light pink knit top and black skirt to match. "Why do we need to ask her where she was when we were attacked?"
"We think she and Haruka-san were closer to Karasu's hideaway than you and Miroku-sama were," Kagome told her, picking up her knife again and starting work on her cutting. "If she's talking, how's she doing?"
"Better. At least enough to kick Haruka-san out of the room for hovering and being a nuisance. She headed down here a couple minutes ago, looking kind of grumpy."
Makoto chuckled, heading towards the kettle of boiling water and lifting the lid, releasing clouds of warm steam, which rolled their way around her face and up towards the kitchen's ceiling fan. "She's going to go vent on someone...hope they don't mind getting pounded on while she practices."
Kagome groaned, guessing where that would probably lead, standing and guessing who would volunteer to a sparring match with one of the senshi. Given the opportunity, Inuyasha would take up just about any challenge offered. "I'd better go make sure Inuyasha doesn't kill her...."
That earned her several snorts and giggles, while Usagi tugged on her sleeve, gently telling her to sit back down. "She'll be okay. Don't worry about Haruka-san. If it's just practice, I'm sure she'll take it easy on Inuyasha."
Sango and Kagome exchanged glances. Haruka take it easy on Inuyasha? That would be interesting to see. There weren't many people who could take him on and come out of it unscathed. None of the senshi seemed to think Haruka wouldn't be able to fight Inuyasha and live to tell the tale.
"Go watch your boyfriend," Minako winked at Kagome, teasing as the other girl began to splutter, turning red. "Oh, come on, Kagome, I may be the goddess of love, but we're all girls. We're not blind. I'm done with this stuff, so I can cut the last couple tomatoes for you."
"Just as long as you don't try to put curry in anything," Rei remarked dryly as Minako pushed the chopped garlic towards Makoto. Testing the pile of shredded cheese around the grater, Rei glanced towards Kagome. "We've got things under control here."
"This shouldn't take too long to finish up. Go make sure he doesn't crack his head on anything," Makoto urged, waving a hand and shoo-ing both Kagome and Sango out of 'her' kitchen, then reaching for the boxes of dried thin spaghetti to dump into the boiling water.
"Inuyasha's head is too thick to crack," Kagome muttered, still flushed, as she and Sango were pushed out into the living room. Shippou sat on the edge reclining chair, the remote control in his hands, having mastered it under Artemis' instructions. The white tomcat was sitting on the chair's arm, his tail hanging off his seat as he instructed Shippou to change the channel again, the two of them surfing for news. Kirara lifted her head from where she was curled up beside Kami, the young woman glancing upward as they entered the room.
"Your skirt will be done in a little while, taiji-ya-san," she said, gesturing at the plaid fabric in her lap. A sewing basket sat beside her, open, and a needle rested in her hands, threaded in black. "It split up the seam, so it's easy to repair. Are you two looking for Inuyasha-kun and the houshi-sama?"
Kagome nodded, glancing around and out the sliding glass door behind Kami. "Makoto said that Haruka was going to...practice...on someone, and I don't think having Inuyasha practice back is a good...what's so funny?"
The she was laughing lightly, sticking her needle through the fabric of the skirt and covering her mouth politely as she chuckled, trying to suppress her laughter. The comment perked up Shippou and Artemis as well, Artemis swiveling around and Shippou standing, putting the television on mute for a second as he peered out from behind the chair's back. "Haruka said that nobody wanted to spar with her because she would beat them up," Shippou informed them, looking exasperated. "So of course Inuyasha had to go and show off. At least with everyone here, we can patch her up if she gets hurt. Seems like everyone's getting beaten up today."
Artemis glanced at the kitsune, shaking his head seriously. "I doubt with the mood Haruka was in she'd let Inuyasha hurt her. My bet's on Haruka."
"Nobody can beat people up better than Inuyasha," Shippou argued back, dropping back onto the seat and folding his arms stoutly. "Believe me, he's whacked me more than enough times."
"Then why aren't you watching him, Shippou-chan?" Kagome asked, stepping closer and looming over the back of the chair. "Not interested?"
"No, I'm using the remote thing," he replied, picking up the narrow black box with buttons and waving it around. "Artemis and I are looking for something about the jewelry store from this afternoon, since everyone else is busy doing something. Miroku and that Chibiusa girl are out there watching them pound on each other," he sighed as he turned back to the television. "'sides, I watch Inuyasha beat people up all the time."
Artemis shrugged and told him to unmute the tv so they could listen for more reports.
"They're out back," Kami told Kagome, pointing behind her and then taking up her needle again, pinching the two sides of cloth together as she slid the point through, stitching it together finely. "I'm sure they're enjoying themselves...."
There was suddenly a thumping noise from outside, something crashing into the wall and causing everyone to look up and turn, as Kagome and Sango hurried out towards the french doors, pulling them open and rushing outside to see what went wrong.
Much to their surprise, they got there in time to watch Inuyasha upright himself from the house's back wall, grimacing and wiping some dirt from off his chin with the back of his fist, snorting,
"Feh. I was just taking it easy on you because you're a woman."
Haruka folded her arms and leaned to the side, arching her eyebrows and smirking slightly as she shot back: "And I was just taking it easy on you because you're a guy. What the hell does my being female have to do with anything?"
From where she was standing openmouthed, Kagome watched Inuyasha begin to grin, a feral appearance taking over his face as he anticipated a good fight ahead of him, this time without anyone around him in life threatening danger. He tensed his hands, and they cracked audibly in the quiet as he stepped forward again, heading back towards the impatient Tenoh Haruka, who unfolded her arms and prepared for another round.
"She really can defend herself," Sango murmured in amazement as she and Kagome slowly stepped forward, taking places on the patio next to the picnic table, shade and coolness provided by an oversized umbrella.
"Uranus is our best melee fighter," Diana announced cheerily, turning around from where she was perched on top of Chibiusa's head. The pink haired girl was sitting on top of the table, feet on the bench, elbows on her knees, chin in her hands, thoughtfully watching Inuyasha and Haruka begin to spar again. "She's faster than your friend."
"But Inuyasha is stronger," Miroku commented idly to the kitten, leaning against the side of the table and then turning to greet Sango and Kagome, who were still a bit wide eyed. "That was not the first blow exchanged, though they have just started."
"Haruka-san's better trained than Inuyasha," Chibiusa told them, glancing at the two girls, then back to the yard again. It was well cared for, a private fence extending outward over a large, freshly mown lawn. The scent of newly cut grass still hovered in the air sweetly, mingling with the rich, perfumed scents of the flower garden along the outer wall of the house. Maple trees spread wide leaves in the sunlight, shading the backyard from too much sunshine. Inuyasha was out of his daily disguise, his hair white and clothing once again the usual red kimono. Haruka had removed her shoes and light jacket to better move, but otherwise remained in the khakis she had been wearing during the day. "He's strong, but he's clumsy. He just tries to pummel her."
Kagome sighed. Well, that sounded like Inuyasha. Charge now, think later.
The two were facing off again, Haruka in a basic stance, hands up defensively and weight on her front leg, ready to bring up the other once Inuyasha made his move, either to kick or to rush forward, bringing up her speed. Inuyasha stood passively for a moment, this time trying to analyze his opponent and ignore the audience that was showing up. So far Kagome had only been surprised that he had been thrown, and of course he couldn't look that bad again. This time, he needed to be a bit more cautious in his approach.
She was angry, and blowing off steam due to Michiru's earlier injury. Inuyasha did not consider himself a punching bag. Haruka's eyes were hard, narrowed as she criticized him as he returned the gaze. She was slower, he assumed, when untransformed, which made him look worse, letting her get ahold of him in a weaker state. At the same time, if he hit her as hard as he could, untransformed, there was no guarantee he wouldn't actually hurt her. They didn't need yet another person knocked out.
Then, on some unknown signal, they moved, both at once, flying forward. He came in fast with a punch towards her head, but she saw it, intercepting and blocking the blow before it landed. While he was still lunging forward, she turned in toward him, bringing her elbow around and stepping in to slam it into his plexus from the side, only to have him twist aside, her legs knocked out from beneath her. Haruka landed and rolled, Inuyasha's fist impacting on the ground as she vanished from underneath, up on her feet as he recovered from the miss.
Inuyasha grinned, beginning to enjoy himself. She was fast. The only thing was, with the amassing audience, he wanted to make sure to prove that he was better than some girl, senshi though she may be. Considering Haruka was currently weaker than her usual fighting level, it wouldn't prove much of anything beating on a mere human.
"Oy! I just realized- it's not fair for me to beat you up if you're not as strong as you could be!"
"What are you suggesting?" Haruka called back in reply, lifting her fists again. "I'm still taking it easy on you, hanyou!"
"Feh! I can't stop taking it easy on you unless you're in that weird outfit thing you senshi all wear. You want a real fight, I'll give you one."
Haruka considered this a moment, a smirk slowly forming on her face. She hadn't had this good a workout for awhile, not since Makoto had last come around for a match. Jupiter was working hard, improving rapidly, though Haruka still considered herself better. Fighting Inuyasha was far different from sparring with another senshi though; usually their strengths and fighting styles were similar, being of relatively like build and strength. With Inuyasha, everything changed, which was good. In a real fight, she wouldn't always be up against someone of her own general weight and style. So he wanted to fight Sailor Uranus, did he? The smirk on her face spread into grin, and Inuyasha recognized it as a yes.
"Uranus Crystal Power! Make-up!"
From the sidelines, Kagome, Sango and Miroku shielded their eyes as Haruka lifted her hand to the air, golden light forming a globe around her body and washing it out with brilliance, a fine shadow of her silhouette barely visible inside, slowly becoming more solid as the light faded away, revealing Sailor Uranus in place of Tenoh Haruka.
Glitter floated around her for a moment longer, tiny stars fading away as she reached up a hand, the elegant hilt of her Space Sword filling her palm as she tested its balance, arching an eyebrow at Inuyasha. "Your main attack is that katana of yours, isn't it?"
He got her suggestion, reaching for Tetsusaiga and drawing it as it transformed. As the light of her henshin surrounded her, the brightness of her aura expanded, and it was easy for him to sense it, shifting and swirling on the faint wind that stirred the trees. With their weapons, he had a distinct advantage, Tetsusaiga being considerably larger and longer than the Space Sword.
"Just don't blow up my backyard, hanyou. Michiru'd have my head on a platter."
Inuyasha snorted as he readied his weapon, the size of it forcing him to hold it forward, unlike Uranus who kept the Space Sword to her side.
"They're going to use their weapons," Chibiusa commentated as she watched Uranus reach up, drawing her sword from subspace. "Inuyasha doesn't stand a chance now."
Miroku shook his head. "I hardly think so. He has a much greater reach than Uranus with Tetsusaiga. You shouldn't just assume she'll win because she's a senshi. Inuyasha is a hanyou. So far they've been matched."
"Uranus is even faster than Haruka. And you're doing the same thing, assuming Inuyasha will win," Diana scolded, waving a paw. "I agree with Small Lady."
Miroku shrugged, glancing at Kagome and Sango. Kagome was biting her lip, a hand resting on her chin in worry. She was half stepping forward, as though to run out in the middle of it and stop them. They may be having fun, but both with their swords out, armed and powered up, meant that there was a certain degree of danger involved.
Beside her, Sango stood with her arms crossed, observing the two opponents critically. Both houshi-sama and Diana had points. Inuyasha was fast, had greater reach, and was very likely stronger as well. However, Uranus was far from being weak, was probably faster in this form, and definitely had more maneuverability than Inuyasha did with the unwieldy blade of Tetsusaiga. All she needed to do was get inside Tetsusaiga's reach, and Inuyasha would be wide open. If she could get inside. The match would be decided in a second.
They were still again, facing each other warily, watching for one or the other to move, signaling their time to begin. Any remarks about being male or female faded away as they concentrated, trying to decide where the other would strike first.
Then Uranus moved, taking two flying steps forward as Inuyasha swung Tetsusaiga to strike back. It was a feint. She dodged the swipe by leaping upward, using the massive blade itself to propel her into the air, stepping on it like a ladder. Growling, Inuyasha recovered, watching her as she began to drop back down, sword over her head for a blow downward. With height on him, it would be easy for her to land a hit. He jumped, Tetsusaiga up, following her and meeting her halfway through her fall.
The movements were too fast for any of their audience to make out, Chibiusa leaping to her feet and standing on the bench, hands clasped, while Kagome started forward, Sango grabbing her arm to prevent her from running into the middle of the match, if it was still incomplete. When they hit ground, they landed amid a shower of dirt and grass, clumps thrown in several directions, raining down on their heads and surrounding Inuyasha and Sailor Uranus in dust.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried, trying to shake off Sango. "Inu-"
"Oy! Kagome-chan, he's fine," came a low feminine voice, half coughing, half laughing. Uranus began to emerge out of the swirls of dust they'd kicked up on landing, bent over. Behind her, they saw Inuyasha on the ground, rubbing his head, a detransformed, decrepit Tetsusaiga sticking out of the ground beside him. "He just needs to work on his landings," she chuckled, shaking her head as Kagome ran out into the yard, eyes flickering worriedly over Inuyasha as she knelt down beside him,while he folded up his legs and glared at Uranus' back.
"Inuyasha...are you alright?"
"Heh," the glare vanished into a satisfied smirk, "I'm fine. Ask her."
"Huh?" Kagome managed, turning around to see Uranus standing beside them, a hand over her side, half doubled over. "Haruka-san? What...."
Sailor Uranus reached out a gloved hand, offering it to Inuyasha. He accepted it, pulling himself up as Kagome looked between the two, somewhat bewildered. Then she noticed that the fabric of Uranus' fuku was torn under where she gripped her side, bits of cloth falling around her fingers. "Inuyasha..." Kagome began, then turned on him, face reddening with anger. "Inuyasha! I can't believe you tried to kill her! You can't just go around and try to hurt people, even if it's just practice! It's dangerous!"
"What the hell are you talking about? She was about to kill me! I can't just-"
"Hey, both of you, calm down," Uranus laughed, waving a hand between them. She lifted her hand from her side to reveal five thin, even lines across her side. "I'm barely even bleeding. He just tore the fabric, that's all. Besides, where's the fun if you're not about to get killed by an infuriated demon?" Uranus winked at Kagome, offering her a hand and helping her up as well. "With such a pretty nurse to come running to his side, I'm sure I could bang him around worse next time for you."
Kagome blinked, turned an interesting shade of pink, and pulled her hand out of Uranus' grip. Inuyasha began to glare at Uranus again, despite the fact she was looking a bit more cheerful than before. "Oy..." he began warningly, stepping closer to Kagome and putting a possessive hand on her shoulder. But before the conversation could go any further, they heard Minako's voice shouting from the house, her head poking out between the french doors.
"Everyone! Dinner's ready! Come and be it!" Minako paused, turning around as someone whispered something to her from behind. She began to laugh nervously, scratching the back of her head. "Whoops! I mean, come and get it!" She tried again, waving then disappearing back inside.
"Kagome-chan," Sango called as Chibiusa, Diana and Miroku turned to follow Minako back in, "you ready?"
"In a second," she called back, looking at the small crater Inuyasha and Haruka had formed from their landing. Well, the yard wasn't blown up...just...damaged.
"Inuyasha...the spaghetti Makoto was cooking is a lot like ramen noodles."
That, of course, inspired Inuyasha to end his glaring match with the indifferent Sailor Uranus. "Feh. Then let's go eat. I'm starving."
Kagome was glad to have avoided another sparring match.
The living room swirled with the savory scents of tomato and garlic, warmed from the steam of the pasta. As everyone milled inside, the hum of the air conditioner could be heard over the quiet murmurings of the television, kept low, and of the senshi, each chatting away. Makoto pressed plates of spaghetti into Kagome and Inuyasha's hands, accompanied by a napkin and a fork, causing Inuyasha to stare at the utensil, trying to figure out what it was.
Haruka had returned to her usual state, and was tossing her shoes down and kicking them under the couch out of everyone's way as Rei handed her some food as well.
"Arigatou," Haruka said, reaching for the other plate in Rei's hands. "I'll take the other one up to Michiru. She'll be hungry by now."
"Don't bother," another voice interrupted, as Mamoru emerged into the room, Ami a step behind him with Luna draped over her shoulder. "She needs her rest, and was about out before Ami and I left to check on Setsuna. She's probably asleep by now."
Haruka paused, frowning as she took the second plate from Rei anyway, shrugging. "I'll go sit with her. If she wakes up hungry...." she trailed, hefting one of the plates slightly for emphasis as she pushed past Rei, heading for the hallway. "I'll be upstairs."
"Wait! Haruka-san," Rei called, grabbing the back of her shirt for a moment to get the older girl's attention. "We were going to ask you. Where were you and Michiru-san before Sango and Miroku were attacked this afternoon?"
"Why?"
"Kagome thought that maybe Karasu was trying to use the attack at OSA-P as a distraction," Minako cut in, half turning around from her seat on the couch and waving her fork as she spoke, Sango, beside her, trying to avoid flying drops of sauce. "If that's true, then you two were closer. What were you by?"
Haruka blinked, frowning as she retraced her steps earlier in the day. She and Michiru had walked that street a hundred times, shopping for various things over the course of time. It was close to their old apartments, those chosen since they were nice and new, close to the target they had chosen to infiltrate when the Death Busters had first attacked.
"Mugen Academy."
There was silence for a moment, and then, very quietly, "That should have been the first place we looked." Eyes switched to Luna, who had her eyes downcast from her perch on Ami's shoulder. "Once hearing she was claiming to be a Death Buster herself, we should have checked out the old site. It's not much now...Usagi-chan, you left the building destroyed, didn't you?"
Usagi set aside the lemonade she'd been drinking, ice clinking against the sides of the glass as she remembered. After a moment, she looked up, blue eyes wide as she regarded Luna. "After the battle, I restored what I could. Everything around it. But Mugen itself...that place shouldn't have been reborn. I left it the way it was."
"Last I checked," Artemis began, leaping off the recliner and padding his way across the carpet, "Mugen was still a wreck. I think the city wanted to tear down the ruins there and make it a parking lot or some kind of city park. That place should be left alone."
"Why?" Usagi replied, looking down at the white cat, clasping her hands together and beaming with the idea, "Wouldn't it be better if something good came out of the area? I think turning it into a park would be a great! There's a lot of businesses around there, and people's kids could come play."
"Usagi-sama?" Miroku interrupted, coughing lightly and holding up a hand to get attention. "Mugen was the school place that was the home of these Death Busters, correct?" that earned him several nods of agreement, and he continued, "Then how could it be...reborn?"
A small smile formed on Usagi's face, and she held up her hands, one on either side of the brooch that held together her bow. Lightly, she brushed her fingertips across the pin's surface, and a faint silver glow touched the metallic surface, reflecting a pale light around her. "My Silver Crystal has the power to cleanse. Saturn told me, 'Always with the end, comes hope and rebirth,' and that I could bring that." Her smile broadened gently as her hands dropped to her sides again, the shimmer fading away, though leaving a warmth in the air around them, a gentle feeling of safety. "I used everyone's power to return things to the way they were before. Mugen though...Mugen was so dark. That was where Pharaoh 90 invaded. I didn't want to rebuild that place- it's better becoming something else."
From where she stood beside Inuyasha, Kagome slowly rested a hand over her chest, feeling the uneven lump of the Shikon no Tama under her shirt. Power to cleanse. The power to cleanse. One that purified, one that needed to be purified. One that banished evil, one that could strengthen it. How similar and yet how different the two jewels could be.
"Then we'd better go there tonight," Sango was saying, breaking Kagome from her reverie. "Check it out and make sure Karasu hasn't rooted herself in there. We can finish this now. Tonight." Looking around the room, Sango saw the varied expressions on the senshi's faces, all either tense, worried, or denying. "Is that not a good idea?"
"No...no, it's a fine idea," Ami began awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot anxiously as she lifted her hand to her lips in a thoughtful gesture. "But...well...."
"But well what?" Inuyasha prompted, frowning at the blue haired girl as she tried to explain. "We'll all go over and take her out now."
"I'm staying here," Haruka announced, stepping forward and angling herself in front of the hall. "I'm not leaving Michiru up there by herself injured."
"Feh. Fine. Stay. There's still more than enough of us to..." he trailed off as he noticed the senshi all beginning to shake their heads no. "What?"
Usagi stepped a little closer to Inuyasha and Kagome, glancing between the two of them quietly for a moment, then sighing as she looked between them, eyes wide in the dimming sunlight that filtered through the drapes over the window behind them. "We've been fighting weakened, without Pluto. Neptune will be up soon if Hotaru-chan healed her, but she's out for tonight, like Hotaru-chan. We fight best together. Our strength is together. All of us, working as one."
There was an expression on Usagi's features, slightly different from the usual cheerful one. Her face was still the same, but there was a sadness there, touching the corners of her eyes and mouth, formed from the experience of fighting the enemies she had. Some residual light from her brooch seemed to still hover about her, and Inuyasha found his protests die for a moment as he looked away.
"Then tomorrow. We go tomorrow." Kagome managed, looking at Usagi, who smiled.
"If Michiru's up, we can check it out in the morning," Haruka offered, shrugging. "Do some reconnaissance, so we know what we're getting into." She glanced towards Sango and Miroku, seated on the couch. "You two up to some more driving?"
Sango looked a little green, while Miroku nodded mutely. More driving with Haruka. Fun.
"Then see you in the morning. I'm heading up," Haruka said, then winked at Kagome.
"Oy. If you want to take me up on my offer, I'll bang him around some more for you."
"Eh..." Kagome began, only to stop when Inuyasha shouted at the departing senshi, who was chuckling to herself as she disappeared upstairs. "Inuyasha...calm down."
"Bitch...."
"Don't make me say it when you have your hands full of food," Kagome warned, earning her a death glare from Inuyasha. Getting bodyslammed into a plate of spaghetti didn't sound all that fun.
"Hey! We're on! Look!" Shippou suddenly shouted, hitting buttons on the remote control and raising the volume for everyone to hear. The announcement brought shuffling of bodies, the last plates being passed out and Makoto running back into the kitchen for a final time, this time reappearing with a tray of ice water, lemonade and Pepsi, all passed around as people took various spots on the floor, or found somewhere comfortable to stand.
The widescreen tv was full of shots, moving and panning across downtown Juuban as a female anchor did a voice over to the images. "...no footage was taken at the time of the attack, but there were many witnesses at what began as a typical robbery. OSA-P, one of Juuban's finest stores, was attacked this afternoon by woman identifying herself as Villain."
Miroku shook his head, arching his eyebrows. "Are all of these reports somewhat inaccurate, Mamoru-san?"
Mamoru was shaking his head, looking slightly amused as he folded his legs under him, sitting beside Usagi, who had plopped herself on the floor. Chibiusa was curling up on his other side, passing alone one of the cans.
The news anchor was replaced with a middle aged man, holding a microphone and standing beside Osaka Natsumi, who was smiling nervously and trying very hard not to fiddle with her hair as the camera focused on her.
"It's Naru-chan's Mom!" Usagi squealed excitedly, digging into her spaghetti with usual gusto, forking the noodles into her mouth as she rambled, "They're going to interview her!"
Rei shushed her from behind, leaning against the back of the reclining chair, listening as the field reporter turned to speak.
"Osaka-san. You're the owner of OSA-P, and were there during the robbery. Can you tell us what you witnessed?"
"Of course," she began, taking a deep breath and calming herself for a moment, then turning to look into the camera. "I'm not really sure about everything. She came into the store...it was very strange...she didn't seem very human...like some crazy witch more than a robber. But she started calling out to two of my customers. I didn't catch their names, but they were this lovely young couple who just got engaged to be-"
She got about that far before the entire room erupted in sound. Kagome began to choke on her spaghetti, while Makoto groaned, shaking her head. Ami was smiling and nodding politely, while Kami looked bewildered, wedged into the corner of the couch with her sewing basket. Minako and Usagi had leapt to their feet in front of Sango and Miroku, the two sitting on the couch blinking confusedly at the two blondes babbling happily in front of them.
"Oh wow! Congratulations!"
"I can't believe it!"
"That's so great!"
"I wish I were!"
"When did you two decide that? Yesterday? When are you two going to have the ceremony? Sango, what are you going to wear?"
Kagome finally managed to finish choking, while Inuyasha stared at her. "Kagome?"
"I'm fine, Inuyasha," she coughed, pounding on her chest a little and giving him a weak smile before heading towards Usagi and Minako. "Um, Usagi, Minako...I don't think...they know what you're talking about...."
"Kagome-chan?" Sango asked, looking a little worried as she glanced between her friend and the two starry eyed senshi, now blissfully rambling at Miroku, the houshi trying to fend them off as they began jumping up and down. Kirara wisely hopped off the couch to get away from it all. "Kagome-chan...engaged to...what?"
"Um, Sango-chan...Miroku-sama...were you two looking at diamond rings at the jewelry store? Clear stones? They look expensive?"
Mutely, Sango and Miroku nodded, momentarily ignoring Minako and Usagi.
"In this era..." Kagome told them, taking a deep breath, "...you give a diamond ring to someone you plan on getting married to. She meant engaged to be married."
There was a long moment.
Sango went very red.
Miroku went very white.
"Oh," they said.
"So when are you going to have the cere-" Usagi was continuing, before being interrupted by Rei.
"Usagi you dummy! We're missing the intereview! Leave them alone! Can't you see they didn't know what they were doing?"
Usagi and Minako both blinked, looking between Rei and the embarrassed pair on the couch. "Whoops?"
"...whatever it was destroyed my security system," Osaka-san was sighing, and a shot of the damaged wall was shown, chewn through and showing burned out, exposed wires. "My surveillance systems are fried. The police said they're going to try to restore it, but it was pretty badly charred when it blew. I'll need a whole new one. Good thing I have insurance."
"Did anything else happen in your store?"
"Well, the young couple fought her outside, thankfully not destroying my store. We've been having a big sale this week, so there were others inside with me, and all the jewelry. Discounts are wonderful for young people starting out, they really don't have much money, but we try to help as much as we can here. I'm just glad everyone was all right...replacing the doors won't be too bad, it's the security...." she sighed, waving a hand and the reporter turned back to the camera, looking serious.
"That was the owner of the attacked store. Now back to the studio."
Around a table, three anchors sat, a woman shuffling a sheaf of papers and then facing the camera again. "Further reports were able to determine that as the thief was forced from the store, the young couple allegedly fought her. Eyewitness accounts also place a strange zoo animal on the scene, appearing out of nowhere, though no zoos have reported any large felines missing. The descriptions of the animal are similar to those given earlier in the week, when another local business was under some kind of attack."
Kirara purred contentedly from where she sat beside Chibiusa and Diana.
"However," the woman continued, "all witnesses place two of the rumored Sailor Senshi on the scene at the time of the robbery, fighting with the alleged robber on the street. Witnesses are not able to come to agreement on what happened to the thief after the arrival of the senshi, though during the course of the fight, one of the senshi was reported to be injured by several onlookers. If she was hurt, our hopes and well wishes go with her for a full and speedy recovery."
Rei reached over Shippou's shoulder and turned off the tv as the anchorwoman turned to the others with her, all speculating as to the current events, and how they could be connected.
"They'll get it wrong. You can't explain magic away with logic," she sighed, setting her empty plate on the endtable and folding her arms. "Magic defies logic. That's it's nature."
"Well, at least it's better than everyone running around scared all the time," Shippou told her, looking straight up at the senshi hovering over him. "In our time, most people would run away."
"What, like you do?" Inuyasha snorted, earning him a dirty look from Kagome, and a quickly cut off whine from Shippou when Kami gave him an odd look.
"If people in our time had any sense they would," Rei shot at Inuyasha with a frown, interrupting the argument before it started. "Leave it to people who can fight back. But it's nice to know they're pulling for us."
"Even if they don't have a clue," Makoto sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Tomorrow. We'll have to finish this tomorrow."
Quiet exchanges were sent around the room, agreeing. Tomorrow, they would finish this.
From this point on, this fic will be considerably more serious. I hope you enjoyed the humor thus far. I wanted to pit Inuyasha against Haruka at some point...it was too funny to miss out on. When I wrote that scene, I think I'd been watching Rurouni Kenshin for too long again.
In the Sailormoon manga, Usagi goes into princess form at the end of the S arc and basically fixes everything that was destroyed in the battle with Mistress 9 and Pharaoh 90. Mugen looked like it was still a wreck at the end, but looking through the manga, it seemed like it was only that. In the anime, the whole area was blown apart- basically it was left as a crater.
Coming up next, in Chapter 20: Calm-
"Not the same person. But looks the same. Sounds the same. Maybe even acts the same. The same person you took that picture with, but not. If you loved him, it would be hard not to miss him, wouldn't it?" Kagome closed her eyes, trying to avoid the steady gleam of the lamp. If someone was in love, it was hard to forget. Hard to move on. If moving on was easy, then how strong could you have felt in the first place? And of what worth would those same weak feelings be later?