Chapter Six
"Cool it Joe! I told you, I'm not interested! Stop stalking me already!"
"Ah, come off it, babe. You know you'll like it too. Just give me a chance."
Smack!
"One more time and I'll bean you good."
He held a hand to his swollen eye, a glare beginning to flare on his face. "I'm warnin' ya, Kia, I…"
"Didn't you hear the lady?" came a smirking voice from the shadows. Joe glanced around at a slim figure, whose arms were crossed; "I believe she said 'not interested', am I right?"
"Mind your own business, whoever you are! What do you care anyway?"
The shadow jumped down from her perch lightly and walked forward, still shadowed, "Oh I have my interests. So I suggest you protect your own, if you know what's healthy for you."
Joe smirked as Kia crossed her arms, glaring at Joe, "Take a hike, Joe. Wouldn't want to see you get it now, would you?"
He turned to Kia and hit her across the face, sending her flying to the ground. She was stunned to say the least, as she looked up at him in new fear.
"Shut your trap, bitch! I'll deal with you later. But for my little freak here…" he turned but blinked in surprise. There was no one in the shadows. Suddenly, without warning he heard a swish from below and a foot suddenly made direct contact with his jaw.
Stars exploding in his eyes, he fell with a crash, moaning as he went out like a light.
The slim shadow now stood half out in the light her upper half still in shadow but an evident smirk in her voice.
"Men! They never learn."
Kia rose a bit shaken but came toward the slim figure, "Oh, thanks. That creep was beginning to scare me. If you hadn't come along…"
Smack! Kia suddenly found her self on the ground, again looking up into the sky and wondering what hit her. She was aware of the doubling pain on her face and jaw and could only think what a black eye she'd have in the morning, not knowing what hit her. And then she was in the air, feeling the air being choked from her, and a tight pressure around her neck. She coughed, trying to look down at what held her.
"Wh- cough wha-t …are you choke d-doing?"
The feminine voice laughed as Kia could see it was the figure that held her high in the air, her hand clenched tightly around the girl's neck.
"Having some fun. It has been a while since I could do this and these guys are such pushovers. They see a girl and fall down on there own heads. Tsk, tsk, no fun at all. You girls, you know how to sound terrified."
Kia was suddenly very close to the girl's face, still not seeing it but something else caught her attention. The eyes suddenly glowed a fierce blue and her blood seemed to freeze even as her face felt a frosty air blow over, her skin beginning to harden.
The voice hissed a deep deathly sound.
"Scream."
Blood curling screams filled the night air before they were suddenly silenced.
Moments later, she dusted off her hands, chuckling to herself.
"Much too easy. I must find something more challenging. Perhaps a different approach." She laughed, the sounds of heals clicking softly as she walked away, leaving behind the deathly scene to found in the morning.
The terrified look forever etched, a very blue, very frozen, very dead…
…Kia.
~~~
"It's not a good idea. You might have another encounter. You can't keep going out, especially if you don't want them to be involved."
"I understand your concern," she said calmly as she dressed in the dark recess of the room, slipping on the dark cloak over her outfit, " I'll look normal this time, if you wish, go undercover."
"No," he sighed, that wouldn't do either. You might be susceptible to other troubles of this place. You know what it was like during this…"
"Yes," she chuckled softly, "A girl couldn't be caught around her alone, now could she?"
He felt his argument would go no where. With a defeated sigh. He nodded, "Fine. But go like this. You're swifter and much less detectable from rooftops. The cloak, is it…"
She grinned and turned a bit, the cloak swirling about.
"Good as new. She knew what she was doing. She seems the only one who can fix it. It means a lot. It's saved me quite a bit."
He paused a moment, his face curious. "What do you hope to find this time?"
She was still, shifting part of her cloak a bit nervously, "I… I need to seek another. I know the Ciah-lah (AN: not a miss spelling. This is my creation ^^ Pronounced Cee-ha-la ) is safe for now. The Protector has seen to that as will her study. There are other things I must find out that I could not find back home. It is… important to me." She said this softly, her head still in shadow and her face unreadable.
He was quiet as he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He leaned forward, a soft caress to her cheek as he spoke gently.
"I understand. But this time… you're not going alone."
She turned around in the dark room, the moonlight just sparkling against the shimmer of the strange lining on the cloak, facing him.
"Aroi-he (AN: Another of mine. Pronounced A-h-roe-hey. Going for something-kinda Celtic here), it wouldn't be wise. What if they should see me again? And this time, you as well. It would make this much more complicated."
"Ki-he," (AN: Kee-ar-hey) he rested his hands on her shoulders, "This mission is as much to me as it is to you. I have my own mission; you know that. Besides," he stepped back, a glow of silver slipping down from his head to his toes, leaving him in the blue and silver outfit of before, (AN: Back in TFO: Ch.13) his almond shaped eyes flashing with some unknown mischief; "Who said anything about being seen? It's been awhile since I stretch my legs. Or perhaps wings would be better."
He suddenly leapt into the air, the same silver glow encompassing him, leaving a handsome blue banded falcon, a streak of faint red down its head and partially back. It flapped a bit before landing on her outstretched gloved arm.
"Very well. But you need to be careful. It's very different out there."
The falcon nipped at her hand playfully and she could hear a soft if not laughing voice in her mind.
'Tsk, tsk, I'm not a child.'
"Hmmm, sometimes I wonder." She chuckled as she lifted her large hood over her head, a darkness encompassing her face, tiny lights like stars twinkling from within, as well as two large pinpoints that appeared more like eyes then the small stars that surrounded where face would be. She raised a hand, and a soft glow formed growing longer and longer till finally her staff appeared. A long crystal staff that widened at the end, looking much like that of a rose stem, and green crystal vines twisting around it with small leaves here and there. At the top, rested two iridescent Fae wings on each side, a strange jewel in the middle, and a silver crescent facing up, it's points up and slightly inward. A closed crystallized rose resided in its center, carrying a faint glow as wishing to open but forbidden to. It stood just a foot past her head.
She seemed to sigh, both with pride and yet, sadness as well as she glanced at.
The falcon nipped her hand again, this time with concern rather then play.
'Ki-he, you honor her by using it. Do not be troubled by its appearance."
"You know, I wonder if this thing may be more a curse then gift." She brought the staff lower, caressing the sleeping bloom. "It was believed that my grandmother once used it to…" she brought a hand to her hood.
'I know. But we will make sure that does not happen again. Those were desperate times. She felt in her heart that it was the thing to do, I'm sure of it. She never knew what happened to her daughter.'
She took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders and letting the staff stand tall with an odd echoing boom, sounding like ages past.
"I will honor her by this. And I will know what happened in this place. I promise you that."
He gave a strong cry of triumph as she went to the window, leaping lightly onto the balcony railing, the wind gently catching at her cloak. She threw up her arm and the bird took flight, a screech filling the air as he flew.
With a grace of a cat, she leapt from her perch into the night.
~~~
"Great night to be prowling," Lita muttered as she turned up her coat against the soft chill. Winter was coming it seemed and she did welcome it yet. It just meant that nights would be colder for the scouts to go out.
"Really, I wish Luna and Artemis would come up with something at least for winter. I'm sure Queen Serenity would have understood. Talking to myself, great. I really need to get home."
Laughing at herself and ignoring the strange stares she was receiving from passing pedestrians, she jogged a bit before coming to a stop. She blinked. Had she just seen a shadow cross her path? It seemed to large to be a bird at this time of night. She glanced up.
Nothing. Shaking her head she continued on. Then something really caught her eye and she nearly tripped over herself. Right there across the street, at the mouth of an alley way, wearing a long overcoat no less, was…
"Michiru!" Lita gasped, not believing her eyes. Her hair seemed darker but it had to be her none the less.
Michiru had not heard or seen her, as she looked down the alley once more, then turned and began walking away from Lita.
Taking but a minute to recover her senses, Lita began to follow, jogging a bit as she tapped her communicator.
"Guys! You're not going to believe this but I've spotted Michiru!"
Suddenly Haruka, Serena and Rei's face appeared in split screens, Haruka and Serena's eyes wide.
"Where is she?!" they basically shouted.
"I'm near Cherry Lane, not far from Tenth Street. I'm gonna try and catch her. I can't see why she's not listening."
Rei spoke seriously, if not in a concerned voice, "Be careful, Lita. We don't know what might have happened."
"Right! Talk later." She tapped it off as she turned a corner she was sure Michiru had gone down. But she suddenly came to a very empty street. Blinking in surprise she looked behind and back again.
"Wha-… where could she have gone?"
Suddenly she felt a screaming pain sear through her head, the touch like burning ice on the side of her head. With a sickening feeling, she moaned as the world swam away and she fell with a thud.
One hand in her pocket the other steaming, the girl chuckled at the fallen one.
"You should have looked up."
~~~
Her senses had gone crazy when she'd leapt over the last alley. With ease she stopped abruptly, looking up to the bird far over head.
'Something's wrong.'
'I know, I feel it too. Should I…'
'No, I will. You stay hidden. It may bring the others. I won't be long.'
With quick quiet steps, she raced back to the open space of the alley. Cautiously, she looked down. Something twinkled below. With careful movements, she made her way down, till she hit the alley ground. Staying hidden, she approached the frozen shape.
And her blood ran cold.
It was a human. A girl, frozen solid, fear evident on her face, her hands at her throat as if she had fallen, hanging from somewhere. This seemed very familiar.
She swallowed hard.
'Aroi-he, I need you.'
There was a wisp through the air and he was suddenly perched on a railing across from her. She heard a small cry and then a silver glow go over him. He sat upon the railing, one leg bent beside him to balance, and a look of surprise across his face.
"This… this was a girl."
"Yes," she said grimly, her voice quiet and still in horror, "I could not believe it possible. But here it is before my very eyes."
"The lore's are true. Such being exist." He said in a hoarse whisper. "This is unexpected."
"No, I won't believe it. Those were just tales to scare children, us in particular. I can't believe that such mythic creatures could exist."
"But the evidence before you. What else could it be? Did not your own mother…"
She looked up to him quickly, "Leave her from this. I was afraid then when these tales were told, just to keep me from straying far. But I knew she meant it only as a guidance tool. I cannot and will not believe that such beings exist!"
He sighed, "As you wish. But I would be wary." The silver glow appeared again and he was replaced again by the falcon.
'I will carry on my mission. But don't think I won't be watching over you.'
She waved him off as he took flight, a cry through the air before he was gone. She knelt beside the girl, gently touching her frozen cheek.
"Poor child. Life could have been so much more for you." She suddenly notice a still form of a boy not far off, a sizable lump on his head.
"It would seem, at least, that one of your problems may have been solved. If that is any comfort to your family."
Her touch gave a soft glow as did something from within the cloak at her chest. The girl face dissolved of its fear and was replaced by that of calm, as though she may have been sleeping. Her body was no longer frozen.
"At least these people of authority will not be alarmed of strange events. It would be all I need. Rest now. May your journey to heaven be free of pain."
Then her senses went off again. Whipping her head around to the mouth of the alley, she heard voices.
"She called from around here. But I don't see anything."
"Wait!" came a husky voice, one that sounded like it felt the pain of worry and determination, "This alley. Do you…"
The sounds of rushing feet and before she knew it, three of them stood not far.
"It's her again!" spoke the dark hared one.
Damn! That same Guardian! That's all I need now.
"A body? What have you done?" hissed the sandy hair girl, her face practically livid as she charged forward, "What have you done to Michiru?!"
"Uranus, wait!" yelled the blond girl as she ran after.
She could see this would be bad if she didn't leave now. With a sound leap, she jumped high into the air, reaching a fire escape and seeing the angry on charge below. Without stopping, she looked up at her and her hand raised.
"WORLD SHAKING!!"
"Uranus, no!"
With the speed of lighting, she leapt from the blast, practically running along the wall as she leapt higher till she reached the rooftop. Seeing the sandy hair one coming, she raised her wand in defense. As the other bound onto the roof, she whipped the staff around and the girl was hit in the gut, then the staff went under her knees and she was knocked to the ground. Falling to her hands and knees, she coughed, holding her stomach as the other reached her even as the Ki-he began her escape.
"Wait, don't go! I wish to speak-"
"You should hold a better leash on your guardian," she spoke directly if not almost coldly. "I will not be so easy next time."
"Coward!" Uranus choked as she struggled to leave, "Only a thief would run from their crime."
"Humph!" she muttered darkly, "We shall see who is the coward. Don't get in my way again." With that she leapt to another roof and was gone.
~~~
"Haruka," Moon whispered as she bent done beside her friend, "You shouldn't have gone after her."
"It is my duty." She choked as she rose, with some help from Mars, "She is not from here. I don't believe she can mean anything good."
"I agree with Uranus on this one," Mars said darkly, glancing in the direction of the vanishing shadow, "I don't like not knowing who she may be."
Moon looked upset, "I believe we had this same conversation regarding the Sailor Stars as well, am I right? And was I wrong about them?"
Uranus began her descent back down into the alley, as did the other two. Reaching the ground, she glanced at Moon.
"They were scouts and even then, they would not be entirely trusted. They were willing to make sacrifices."
"And so were you." Moon said calmly but with a stern look. Uranus' jaw set but she said nothing, looking away.
"Still," Mars carried on, "We don't know who are what she is. She can't be a scout. It doesn't seem possible."
"Whatever she may be," Haruka said as she knelt beside the still form of the girl, "She did something here. I still feel strong here." She glanced away, "At least it was not Michiru."
"Or Lita." Mars said quietly. Moon stood by, a bit shaken suddenly.
"We-we've never see anyone die. No body innocent at least. This… this is so wrong. But I don't believe it was she. She helped us once."
"Sailor Moon," Mars turned, her face rather upset, "This same so called 'savor' also left this girl in a hurry. You think she was 'saving' her too? You heard what she said. 'Don't get in my way'. That sounds like a threat to me."
Uranus rose, looking to Moon, "That's enough for me. This is one threat I will not let get past me. Our duty is to protect you and we will. This 'being' will leave or die at our hands."
"But," Moon said softly, more to herself, "She called them guardians. How would she know that and why did she? She was warning you, yes, but I don't believe she could cause harm."
"Is this not proof enough?" Uranus looked with anger at the girl on the ground. That could have been Lita. Or Michiru. What would you say then? Would you still believe in good then?!"
"I believe there is good in us all!" Moon suddenly shouted, "I believed it in the Star and I believed it in you! And was I wrong? Tell me, was I?!" Tears were forming, if only a little.
With a sigh, both Mars and Uranus looked defeated.
Uranus spoke softly, not looking up.
"Princess, you are too sweet."
Mars nodded sadly, glancing once more to the girl on the ground, her face oddly peaceful.
"We better call the police and get out of here. We still need to find Lita."
Moon nodded silently, her hands clenched before her as Mars went for a phone. Uranus' face went soft as she approached her, a hand to her shoulder as she whispered.
"Forgive me, Serena. I do not wish to doubt you. Please, leave these things to us. We will deal with them as they should be. Getting involved will only hurt you I fear."
Moon was quiet before she spoke softly, "I am involved. Nothing you or anyone can say will ever change that. It's a fate I have to live with. Please, let me make my own decisions." She looked calmly with a steel in her eyes at Uranus.
A bit surprised but determined, Uranus gave Moon's shoulder a squeeze.
"We trust in your judgment but we must make our own as well. That is the way of the scouts. Remember that, first as a princess then as a scout. You are royalty first and that comes first in our mission. The protection of your future."
Mars returned, "Their coming. I had to muffle my voice so as not to be found out. I don't need so many questions. But we better leave right now."
They nodded, hearing the sounds of sirens already as the left the alley and turned a corner before de-transforming and walking along like nothing happened.
~~~
Lousy, I know, not much for creativity but here it is. Gomen minna. Things will get harder now. Looks like I may be going to LA for drama training and then I will be gone for two years. Chances are I won't see a computer for about every five months. Sigh So, I will try to write as many chapters as I can then do writing in the ol' scrib' again till I see a computer. I hope my account will be alive still ^^; Yeah the whole thing worries me. But I would be traveling a lot. So, hey. May be along the road, I'll get to meet one of you wonderful people. States looks like the main place for now in travel plans, may be Europe. Oh now I'm dreaming. Ah well, R&R please! ^^