Ch. 4
Usagi stood outside the Hino shrine, admiring the beauty of the building. The reds and gold of the Shrine looked more alive than ever now, almost as if they were radiating their own energies to protect this ancient site. Usagi walked up to the Shrine bell and put her hands together in prayer, asking the ancient Shinto Gods for their aid and protection for what she would soon have to face. After her prayers, she tossed a 500-yen coin into the offering grate and rung the bell to send her message off to the spirits of the Shrine. Usagi had become more anxious over the last few weeks; she could feel the demonic energy growing and knew that the final battle would soon be upon her. Rei saw Usagi standing before the bell and knew that the time was approaching when Usagi would face the greatest challenge of her life. Rei waited patiently for Usagi to finish her prayers, then quietly approached her and gently placed her hand on her shoulder. Usagi felt Rei's firm warm hand and turned towards one of her dearest friends in the universe, they had shared so much over these years that they felt more like sisters than mere friends. "Grandpa has prepared everything for you, and is waiting in the lower hall for your arrival", Rei said gently but commandingly. Usagi looked onto Rei's eyes and gently replied, "Well, I guess I'm as ready as I could ever be, let's go down and get started"! "Don't worry.the rituals we will be performing are ancient and powerful, they should provide the extra protection you will need in the coming battle"! Usagi smiled gently at Rei, and the two walked off together to the lower hall of the Shrine where Grandpa Hino was awaiting them both.
Rei and Usagi entered the first room of the lower hall, which contained an ancient spring and a few bowls for the ritual of purification. Rei and Usagi removed their clothes and approached the bubbling spring. Rei took a bowl and scooped some water from the spring, recited a few mantras and poured the water over her head to cleanse away all the negative energies. She then directed Usagi to step into the shallow pool, close her eyes and to recite the mantras that Rei had taught her for this time. As Usagi focused her thoughts on the mantras, Rei started pouring bowl after bowl of water over Usagi's head, reciting several protective mantras of her own, to help cleanse and purify Usagi. After the purification ritual was completed, Usagi put on a simple white robe while Rei put on her traditional Priestess outfit, then both women left the chamber and moved on to where Grandpa Hino was waiting. Grandpa Hino welcomed Usagi and began the first of several spells that he would weave around Usagi, each one more powerful and time consuming than the other. This series of events continued for 7 days, after each set Usagi would eat a sparse meal and spend the rest of the day with Rei in the Fire hall, doing readings and more purification rituals.
Usagi stepped out of the Hino Shrine with a strength and vigor that she had not known for some time. She was especially proud of the fact that all the rituals and fasting had helped her lose 20 pounds and was eager to show Mamoru the improvements in her figure (the best spa around and it didn't cost me a dime). She was a little disappointed when she was told that from now until the end of the battle, she must remain pure and should have no intimate contact with her husband, she could not kiss him or even share the same bed until it was all over. Usagi hoped in her heart that it would not be too long before this was finally ended. The weather was sunny and warm and Usagi decided to walk home and enjoy the beauty of the city rather than use the subway to get back to her home. When she arrived home she was greeted by Ami at the door and went to her room to wait for the final confrontation. Mamoru knew that it would be best to keep his distance from Usagi for now and was staying at a nearby hotel until the hour of battle arrived.
Usagi awoke from a restless sleep; a sense of dread was now so intense that she knew the time would soon arrive when she would face her greatest challenge, with the fate of the world resting upon her strength and courage. She entered the kitchen and was served a traditional breakfast by Ami who had been staying with her until the time arrived. Around noon Rei arrived at Usagi's house, she had finally learned the name of their new enemy: her name was METHUSELAH. An ancient Goddess of hatred and misery, who was said to have been sealed away by Zeus 3000 years ago. Now Methuselah was gathering power and enslaving people to her call, to take the power point and help her finally enter this mortal realm.
Usagi stood outside the Hino shrine, admiring the beauty of the building. The reds and gold of the Shrine looked more alive than ever now, almost as if they were radiating their own energies to protect this ancient site. Usagi walked up to the Shrine bell and put her hands together in prayer, asking the ancient Shinto Gods for their aid and protection for what she would soon have to face. After her prayers, she tossed a 500-yen coin into the offering grate and rung the bell to send her message off to the spirits of the Shrine. Usagi had become more anxious over the last few weeks; she could feel the demonic energy growing and knew that the final battle would soon be upon her. Rei saw Usagi standing before the bell and knew that the time was approaching when Usagi would face the greatest challenge of her life. Rei waited patiently for Usagi to finish her prayers, then quietly approached her and gently placed her hand on her shoulder. Usagi felt Rei's firm warm hand and turned towards one of her dearest friends in the universe, they had shared so much over these years that they felt more like sisters than mere friends. "Grandpa has prepared everything for you, and is waiting in the lower hall for your arrival", Rei said gently but commandingly. Usagi looked onto Rei's eyes and gently replied, "Well, I guess I'm as ready as I could ever be, let's go down and get started"! "Don't worry.the rituals we will be performing are ancient and powerful, they should provide the extra protection you will need in the coming battle"! Usagi smiled gently at Rei, and the two walked off together to the lower hall of the Shrine where Grandpa Hino was awaiting them both.
Rei and Usagi entered the first room of the lower hall, which contained an ancient spring and a few bowls for the ritual of purification. Rei and Usagi removed their clothes and approached the bubbling spring. Rei took a bowl and scooped some water from the spring, recited a few mantras and poured the water over her head to cleanse away all the negative energies. She then directed Usagi to step into the shallow pool, close her eyes and to recite the mantras that Rei had taught her for this time. As Usagi focused her thoughts on the mantras, Rei started pouring bowl after bowl of water over Usagi's head, reciting several protective mantras of her own, to help cleanse and purify Usagi. After the purification ritual was completed, Usagi put on a simple white robe while Rei put on her traditional Priestess outfit, then both women left the chamber and moved on to where Grandpa Hino was waiting. Grandpa Hino welcomed Usagi and began the first of several spells that he would weave around Usagi, each one more powerful and time consuming than the other. This series of events continued for 7 days, after each set Usagi would eat a sparse meal and spend the rest of the day with Rei in the Fire hall, doing readings and more purification rituals.
Usagi stepped out of the Hino Shrine with a strength and vigor that she had not known for some time. She was especially proud of the fact that all the rituals and fasting had helped her lose 20 pounds and was eager to show Mamoru the improvements in her figure (the best spa around and it didn't cost me a dime). She was a little disappointed when she was told that from now until the end of the battle, she must remain pure and should have no intimate contact with her husband, she could not kiss him or even share the same bed until it was all over. Usagi hoped in her heart that it would not be too long before this was finally ended. The weather was sunny and warm and Usagi decided to walk home and enjoy the beauty of the city rather than use the subway to get back to her home. When she arrived home she was greeted by Ami at the door and went to her room to wait for the final confrontation. Mamoru knew that it would be best to keep his distance from Usagi for now and was staying at a nearby hotel until the hour of battle arrived.
Usagi awoke from a restless sleep; a sense of dread was now so intense that she knew the time would soon arrive when she would face her greatest challenge, with the fate of the world resting upon her strength and courage. She entered the kitchen and was served a traditional breakfast by Ami who had been staying with her until the time arrived. Around noon Rei arrived at Usagi's house, she had finally learned the name of their new enemy: her name was METHUSELAH. An ancient Goddess of hatred and misery, who was said to have been sealed away by Zeus 3000 years ago. Now Methuselah was gathering power and enslaving people to her call, to take the power point and help her finally enter this mortal realm.