Chapter Seven: New Mission
Peaceful days passed and Katsuko became more involved with the moon princess and her Scouts. Usagi's clumsiness didn't bother her at all. She was even amused by Rei's berating whenever Usagi showed up late for a study session. Katsuko had been concerned about Minako after their talk, but Minako showed no change in attitude. The blonde girl smiled and laughed and joked with everyone like always and Katsuko's worry soon disappeared. But her worry about her Leader did not. The Wind Leader Elite hadn't contacted her in weeks now and Katsuko didn't understand. The temptation to try to get in touch with Tori or Taka was great, but obedience to one's Leader was required, disobedience punishable. At times, Katsuko lost herself in staring out into the sky, a wistful look on her face. Taiki spied her in the garden one night as he passed by inside the house. Katsuko was sitting on one of the stone benches, watching the stars silently.
"Katsuko-chan? What are you doing out here?," he asked, throwing his suit blazer over her bare shoulders. She was wearing a sundress because of the warm afternoon, but the air had turned chilly with the setting sun.
"Oh, Taiki kou.," she murmured, coming out of her daze. "What time is it?"
"Kyu ji." Nine o'clock. The tall Light sat down next to her, searching her profile. "Does Yaten know you're out here this late?"
Katsuko smiled a small smile. "No, he's asleep. I came out from some fresh air and time.just slipped away."
Taiki leaned closer. "What is wrong, dear friend? Something is bothering you. It's all over your face."
Katsuko still smiled, but sadly this time. "Ah, Taiki.you were always so perceptive." She reached over to take his hand, face heavenward. "It has been a long time, hasn't it? Since we've really spent time together?"
"Hai. It has."
She nodded. "So many things have changed, Taiki kou..," she sighed. "I've changed."
"We all have, Katsuko-chan, but it's alright." Taiki was not sure where this was headed. He had never seen Katsuko so.low on confidence.
"Hmm." Her onyx eyes, usually so clear and bright, looked pained and dim. "I used to believe that I was as strong as any good sailor senshi should be. My mother believed that." Taiki came closer as the first teardrop fell. "My Leader has not contacted me for days, weeks now. Perhaps.perhaps I am not the strong warrior she needs for a mission."
Taiki was in shock at such words. "Katsuko-chan, how could you think that? I can not believe that there is any other sailor out there that matches up to your caliber." Strong arms held her gently. "I.we..know what you've been through and you've come through it beautifully. Your mother would have been so proud. We are. All of us are. Especially Yaten."
Katsuko's tear-streaked face looked up at him. "Hontoni, Taiki kou? You're proud of me?"
Her smile warmed him. "I would never lie to you."
"Arigato, my friend."
They went inside then and he escorted her upstairs. "Are you going to Yaten now?"
Katsuko shook her head as she handed his blazer back. "I'll let him sleep. You do the same, dear Taiki. Get some rest."
Taiki smiled and touched her hair. "Yes, Suntao."
Her eyes brightened at the nickname her mother had given her so long ago. They hugged and parted ways. Alone with her thoughts, Katsuko changed into a nightgown and on her way to bed, hairbrush in hand, she stopped by her window to gaze out at the stars again. Do you really have a use for me, my Leader?
"Of course I do, my lovely."
Katsuko turned sharply to see a shimmering yet crystal clear blue image of the Wind Goddess smiling before her. She dropped to one knee in haste, hair spilling to the floor. "My Leader!"
"Oh, my lovely, how we've missed you."
Katsuko looked up with a smile of relief and happiness. "I have missed you all as well."
The Wind Leader nodded. "I long to have you back with us, but the mission is more important than my wants."
Katsuko's heart soared. My mission! She does need me! "I mean to show no impatience, my Leader, but I am compelled to ask what you need of me."
"Of course. I need you to train the moon princess and her guardians."
"Train?"
"Yes. There is something dark headed for you, my lovely. You must be prepared for it. My sisters and I can not determine what it is, but it is undeniably evil and I will not have it taking you away from us. Your Guardian sisters need you as well as I do. We couldn't bear for another in our ranks to fall in battle. Not so soon after."
The Wind Leader trailed off and there was no need for her to finish. No, the Elite couldn't bear another death almost immediately after Mane's own passing. The Wind Leader began speaking again.
"I want you to make sure that this time they will have no doubts as to being able to defeat their enemy. Be careful, Monarch. This darkness I'm feeling.it will be terrible. Fight it with everything you have."
"Yes, my Leader. I will."
"May Mother Goddess keep you."
"The Mother watches over us."
Peaceful days passed and Katsuko became more involved with the moon princess and her Scouts. Usagi's clumsiness didn't bother her at all. She was even amused by Rei's berating whenever Usagi showed up late for a study session. Katsuko had been concerned about Minako after their talk, but Minako showed no change in attitude. The blonde girl smiled and laughed and joked with everyone like always and Katsuko's worry soon disappeared. But her worry about her Leader did not. The Wind Leader Elite hadn't contacted her in weeks now and Katsuko didn't understand. The temptation to try to get in touch with Tori or Taka was great, but obedience to one's Leader was required, disobedience punishable. At times, Katsuko lost herself in staring out into the sky, a wistful look on her face. Taiki spied her in the garden one night as he passed by inside the house. Katsuko was sitting on one of the stone benches, watching the stars silently.
"Katsuko-chan? What are you doing out here?," he asked, throwing his suit blazer over her bare shoulders. She was wearing a sundress because of the warm afternoon, but the air had turned chilly with the setting sun.
"Oh, Taiki kou.," she murmured, coming out of her daze. "What time is it?"
"Kyu ji." Nine o'clock. The tall Light sat down next to her, searching her profile. "Does Yaten know you're out here this late?"
Katsuko smiled a small smile. "No, he's asleep. I came out from some fresh air and time.just slipped away."
Taiki leaned closer. "What is wrong, dear friend? Something is bothering you. It's all over your face."
Katsuko still smiled, but sadly this time. "Ah, Taiki.you were always so perceptive." She reached over to take his hand, face heavenward. "It has been a long time, hasn't it? Since we've really spent time together?"
"Hai. It has."
She nodded. "So many things have changed, Taiki kou..," she sighed. "I've changed."
"We all have, Katsuko-chan, but it's alright." Taiki was not sure where this was headed. He had never seen Katsuko so.low on confidence.
"Hmm." Her onyx eyes, usually so clear and bright, looked pained and dim. "I used to believe that I was as strong as any good sailor senshi should be. My mother believed that." Taiki came closer as the first teardrop fell. "My Leader has not contacted me for days, weeks now. Perhaps.perhaps I am not the strong warrior she needs for a mission."
Taiki was in shock at such words. "Katsuko-chan, how could you think that? I can not believe that there is any other sailor out there that matches up to your caliber." Strong arms held her gently. "I.we..know what you've been through and you've come through it beautifully. Your mother would have been so proud. We are. All of us are. Especially Yaten."
Katsuko's tear-streaked face looked up at him. "Hontoni, Taiki kou? You're proud of me?"
Her smile warmed him. "I would never lie to you."
"Arigato, my friend."
They went inside then and he escorted her upstairs. "Are you going to Yaten now?"
Katsuko shook her head as she handed his blazer back. "I'll let him sleep. You do the same, dear Taiki. Get some rest."
Taiki smiled and touched her hair. "Yes, Suntao."
Her eyes brightened at the nickname her mother had given her so long ago. They hugged and parted ways. Alone with her thoughts, Katsuko changed into a nightgown and on her way to bed, hairbrush in hand, she stopped by her window to gaze out at the stars again. Do you really have a use for me, my Leader?
"Of course I do, my lovely."
Katsuko turned sharply to see a shimmering yet crystal clear blue image of the Wind Goddess smiling before her. She dropped to one knee in haste, hair spilling to the floor. "My Leader!"
"Oh, my lovely, how we've missed you."
Katsuko looked up with a smile of relief and happiness. "I have missed you all as well."
The Wind Leader nodded. "I long to have you back with us, but the mission is more important than my wants."
Katsuko's heart soared. My mission! She does need me! "I mean to show no impatience, my Leader, but I am compelled to ask what you need of me."
"Of course. I need you to train the moon princess and her guardians."
"Train?"
"Yes. There is something dark headed for you, my lovely. You must be prepared for it. My sisters and I can not determine what it is, but it is undeniably evil and I will not have it taking you away from us. Your Guardian sisters need you as well as I do. We couldn't bear for another in our ranks to fall in battle. Not so soon after."
The Wind Leader trailed off and there was no need for her to finish. No, the Elite couldn't bear another death almost immediately after Mane's own passing. The Wind Leader began speaking again.
"I want you to make sure that this time they will have no doubts as to being able to defeat their enemy. Be careful, Monarch. This darkness I'm feeling.it will be terrible. Fight it with everything you have."
"Yes, my Leader. I will."
"May Mother Goddess keep you."
"The Mother watches over us."
