"No!" screamed Rei as she snapped awake. 'It was a nightmare. Just a nightmare.' She sat on the edge of her bed, sweat-soaked red satin sheets bunched around her waist. 'I can't go on like this. First the episode in the car, then the odd fire reading I got last night, now these dreams. No. Visions. They're like the ones I experienced before Saturn awakened. Could it be? A new enemy?'
Hikawa Jinja - Former room of Hino Rei
"Small Lady, I think it is time we informed everyone of the new threat" said Meioh Setsuna, her red eyes expressionless - emotionless. She was standing upright, not leaning against the wall behind her for support. Her face was partially shaded by the shadows playing off the dim light. She had received the "recipe" from her future self. Decoding it had been easy. She should have known her future self would be as willing as she was to bend the rules. The act in and of itself was in violation of the rules but it had passed without being detected by friend or foe.
"Minna" said Small Lady looking into the faces of the nine soldiers who had assembled at the Hikawa Jinja for a senshi meeting. Some traditions never changed. Despite the peace of the preceding years, the senshi met once every week at the Jinja to keep their instincts sharp and "catch-up" on activities of the others. Rei didn't live at the temple anymore of course. She had yelled, bullied, threatened, blackmailed to get her grandfather to move out with her but he was an adamant old man, refusing to give up the old shrine. At last, Rei had to move out on her own to her apartment that was closer to the office. Even though she saw him as often as possible, it wasn't the same. Yuuchiro stayed with the old man so there was no reason to worry. Yet sometimes, after a fire reading or just a hard day at work, when she came home to find the apartment empty - She felt lonely.
"Minna, we've managed to receive a message from the future. Pluto unscrambled the recipe which was actually a letter-puzzle of sorts. To get to the point. A new enemy has appeared. However, this is no ordinary opponent. This is an Espouser." exclaimed Chibiusa dramatically. She scanned around the table to gauge the reaction. Haruka and Michiru had grown tense. Ami had gone into genius mode. Makoto had the old fighter's spark in her eye. Minako looked serious, possibly contemplating a plan of action. Usagi seemed worried as she always was when the people she loved were threatened. Rei was looking at Usagi with a faraway look in her eye. 'Wait a minute! Why the hell is Rei staring at Usagi during my briefing on the enemy?"
"Ano, Chibiusa-chan" Hotaru's shy but firm voice broke into Chibiusa's musings. "What exactly is an espouser?"
"Hey! Come to think of it, you never mentioned what it was!" exclaimed Minako, the goddess of love, now in full Sailor V mode.
"Calm down Minako. Let her finish." shushed the guardian of Mercury which shut all other voices.
Chibiusa looked over at where Pluto still remained standing, at the far wall, furthest from the senshi. She really didn't want to do this. She knew she had no tact when it came to these things. "Ne Puu, I think you should take over from here" pleaded Small Lady making a pained expression for Puu's benefit.
Setsuna remained silent for a stretch of time. All the senshi looked up at her expectantly. She seemed to be in pain. However, it didn't appear to be physical. "An Epouser in French literally means a betrothed or a spouse. It appears that in Crystal Tokyo this word has taken on a different meaning. It is when a lover of a senshi dies only to be reborn to be with his loved one again. It appears that this is a common occurrence. Its never been a problem before. However, two senshi refuse to accept their fate with their epouser. As revenge it is only natural that the two rejected lovers seek to change the past, specifically a point in time that caused the senshi they loved to love another. In essence it is a jealous lover wanting to come into your world, and possess your heart again, no matter how many casualties may result."
"Just wait a minute there Setsuna-san" snapped Rei. "So what's the big deal? We've dealt with stronger enemies. Hell, we defeated Galaxia. Two disgruntled guys can't be that much of a problem."
"Apparently they can. They possess powers bestowed by the Queen. They also appear to know their former lovers' weaknesses. Pluto said their belief in their destiny is so strong that they will stop at nothing to follow their fate. Its the age old policy of 'If I can't have you, no one can' It would be like fighting with someone who's already dead. Besides, what I see of the future is not good. Lives are at stake here Mars" said Setsuna in an even tone, looking into Rei's pale face framed by her dark hair that moved as if they had a life of their own. 'She seems paler'
"Geez, I can't believe we're in grave danger cuz of a couple of dead guys." proclaimed Makoto, leaning her elbows onto the table. "At least tell us who's 'Epouser' have come back to life. I guess we can rule out Haruka-san and Michiru-san." The comment got Makoto wry looks from around the table. "Hey just trying to lighten the mood"
"Do not take for granted that they are men. They are two women. The Epousers are those of Mars and Pluto." Silence.
Minako was the first to recover from the shock. "Ah that's great! I mean, not that the Epousers are yours but that you know - " she fell silent after Rei flashed her a look that seemed to have the power to incinerate her on the spot if it wanted.
"Pluto" said Rei, unconsciously referring to Setsuna's title, "I still don't see what the big fuss is." Rei was rapidly growing impatient. Here she had come hoping to catch some time with Usagi and Setsuna was going on about past lovers. "I don't see why this can't be handled on a personal one-to-one level."
"The future holds dangers Rei-san" said the ever-cryptic Setsuna.
'Thats it. I've reached my limit with this past-present-future lover mumbo jumbo' "What is it that's so 'dangerous' in the future huh Setsuna? Or can't you tell us? What could possibly be of so much concern? Tell me Pluto, what do you see in my future" yelled Rei.
"I don't see one" whispered Setsuna.
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