Hearts in time part three: Shocking developments
by
Lance The Flamesniper
Matt Blackheart sat in a booth at the Crown Arcade's cafe. He and Wraith had been walking around for three hours. Neither of
them had any idea where their associate Lance Jayd was nor could they guess at how he was doing.
"Man this sucks!" Matt growled.
"I wouldn't go that far. At least this instant translation thing seems to still be working," Wraith drawled.
"Which is something we are not doing. WE haven't had any luck at finding a job."
Just then who should wander in but their errant friend. It was a strange visage at first until it dawned on them as to what was
different. He looked so strange because he happened to be smiling.
"And exactly what is your problem?" Wraith asked as that exceptionally sugary appearance started to irk him.
"Yeah, if you get and more sacarine I'm going to get cavities!" Matt added.
"Nothing really," Lance replied his smile getting even bigger, much to the irritation of his partners.
"Yeah right!" Matt snapped.
"Come one man if you got any more cheery I'd have to kill you on principle. Now fess up!" Wraith snarled.
"All right, no need for violence," placated still smiling Lance. "I got a job and a date on the same day."
"WHAT?!" Both men fairly screamed.
"Yep I got a job working as a caretaker for the Cherry Hill Temple and who should I run into there but literally the girl of my
dreams."
"You have GOT to be kidding," Wraith stated.
"Nope she's real alright. Right down to the green hair and lovely magenta eyes," Lance replied with a tone that boardered on day
dreamy.
"Okay stop it," Matt said.
"Stop what?" Came Lance's reply.
"Stop with that love sick looks. No woman can possibly be that good looking," Came Matt's tart reply.
As if to contradict him, a tall girl around the age of twenty walked into the Cafe. She had brown hair sparlking green eyes and a
figure that spoke of hours a day spent working out. She was dressed in a long sleeved black shirt paired with a light green skirt and matching
shoes. She had her brown hair up in pony tail held in place with a bolo-style hair tie.
"That, is one beautiful woman," Matt said as his mouth suddenly went dry.
Lance could only smile in amusement at his friend as Fate once more began dealing in his favor.
******
"No! No! NO!" The dark lord Necros roared as Chronos once more claimed one of his peices. "Curse you Chronos and your sneaky
ways!"
Chronos smiled. The game which looked a lot like a role playing game dye to the various peices made to resemble people and youmas,
had been going on for Millenia. Each time Chronos, who wasn't always nice to his peices managed to get the upper hand. The endgame was
coming and with it would be the reconing that Necros so dearly deserved.
"It's not my fault that my newest peice is so strong," The master of time replied. "Nor is it my fault that his support peices are equally strong."
"We'll just SEE about that!" Necros growled as he summoned yet another Youma to go after the peice called Lance Jayd.
*****
Lance leaned in close beside Matt's head watching what Matt was looking at. Gravity had already pulled his hapless friend's jaw slightly toward
the floor and his eyes seemingly was frozen in the open position as he'd not blinked since the girl came in.
Wraith, naturally, was the first to say something. "You know if you don't move soon, your face will stick that way..."
"Lance, tell Wraith to kindly shut up," Matt said as continued to stare.
"You know buddy, staring is really rude," Lance said an amused smile twitching at the corners of his lips.
"Then what do you suggest I do?" Matt snapped.
"Well why not going and introducing yourself, like a civilized person would?" came Lance's simplistic retort.
"Are you INSANE!? I can't do that!" Matt replied, sounding as if the very idea was terrifying.
"Why not?" Wraith replied.
"Look at her you morons! She's beautiful. If I ask her out her boyfriend or husband will beat me up!"
"Uhm Matt," Lance began. "She's alone."
"The moment I go over there Some man will appear and pummel me."
"If you don't go over there I'M going to pummel you," Wraith said, his voice dropping to a meanacing growl.
Still Matt Balked. Until Lance got to his feet...
"W-what are you doing Lance?!" Matt screached.
"I'm going to walk up to that young woman and point her over here. From there, you are on your own."
"Y-you Can't!" Matt said his mind racing at warp speed.
"Watch me," Lance retruned, his voice taking on that iron edge that matched his sword skills.
Matt wanted to call Lance's bluff, but he knew Lance didn't bluff. That being the case Matt watched as each step took him closer to the woman who
had seized his attention...
*****
Lita's day had been rather relaxing. She'd not had to fight a youma or had a souffle fall flat all day. She'd slipped in the Crown Arcade for a light snack
before heading home. Mina had offered to go out dancing with her later in the evening, however, something had told her she should probably decline the offer.
When she got to the Arcade there was a cluster of men who couldn't have stood out more if they tied in one of the booths. Still they seemed harmless enough.
Especially the one with staring problem. Still despite the apparent lack of manners he looked kinda cute...
Just then she caught one of them get up out the corner of her eye. It was the man with the sand colored Hair. For a moment he looked as if he was vaguely
familiar in a hazy way but she dismissed that as the man began to walk toward her. In a few moments he was right beside her.
"Hello ma'am," He said. His voice was smooth and measured with a slight richness.
"Hello," She answered.
"My name's Lance Jayd, my friends and I are new to the area."
"I'm Lita Kino. I'm pleased to meet you."
"Likewise. My friend Matt there couldn't help but notice that you are a very beautiful girl."
Lita looked the man named Lance over. She'd heard that line used before as a pickup line. However, one look into those blue eyes and she knew he was
being honest. "So why are you over here talking if your friend thinks I'm so attractive."
"Do you want the honest answer or for me to be nice?"
"Honest."
"He was afraid your boyfriend or husband would pummel him for talking to you."
At that Lita laughed. "He has no fear of that, I'm very much single at the moment."
"Quite the shame then, that my friend is rather shy," Lance sighed. "He is interested in you though."
"I guess I could go over and introduce myself," Lita said as she got out of her chair.
*****
Amara Ten'ou stared in disbelief at the dazed look on Setsuna's face. It was an odd look, at least to those who knew her. She'd gone through battles that
would have broken normal people without flinching. Apparently though something had happened during the day that she wasn't prepared for.
"You okay Suna?" Amara asked her normal image as a hard case dropping momentarily.
"I'm not sure..." Suna answered.
"How can you not be sure if your okay or not?" Michelle ask as she joined her partner in questioning.
"Michelle, I went to the Cherry hill Temple today and there was a Youma battle."
"Oh my!" Michelle replied. "Were you or Raye hurt?"
"No, that's where things started to get confusing. In the middle of this battle a man with a katana appeared and defeated the demon."
"A man," Amara repeated.
"With a katana," Confirmed Setsuna.
"And he defeated this monster?" Michelle asked.
"Yes. Then he..." Setsuna began then paused to collect her thoughts.
"He what?" Amara asked her mind already jumping to murederously wrong conclusions.
"He asked me out." Setsuna replied and Amara's face fell. Of all the things she could have of expected, THAT was not one of them.
"And THAT has you walking around in a daze?" Amara screeched, for once sounding almost feminine despite her decidely male attire.
"Well...yes."
"Why?" Was all Amara could ask.
"I haven't had a date in six thousand years."
"WHAT??" her fellow outers asked.
"Not since just before the final night."
"I didn't know you were dating back then," Michelle said. "The person that caught your eye must've been something special."
"He was. He was a warrior-prince of Pluto. One of the only men born on Pluto the same year as me."
"I remember hearing a little about that," Amara replied as some of her past memories kicked in. "For some reason male births were in short supply in the last
few centuries of the Millenium."
Setsuna nodded. "No one knows why that was. Anyway this warrior prince was handed over to the Plutonian knights and trained at the palace so we knew
each other pretty well. We'd started dating a few months after I was made the official Guardian of the Gate. In fact the last time i saw him he was shoving me onto the
path of Time to protect me from Malacite."
"Still, six thousand years is a long time to go without dating," Michelle sighed.
Setsuna sighed as well, the breeze from her breath lifting her bangs slightly. "Tell me about it. Last time I dated the normal thing was dinner, dancing and an
Earthlight stroll."
Michelle nodded. "That much hasn't changed really."
"Except that no one takes Earthlight strolls now they take moonlight ones," Amara said. "If you're nervous about it we could double date."
"Thank you. That would be much appreciated," Setsuna said with a small smile.
*****
Lance smiled from his seat across the Arcade things were going perfectly...just as they were meant to. He didn't know how he knew, but this was meant to
happen. Matt and the girl named Lita were now sharing the largest bannana split he'd ever seen and laughing the whole time.
"You and your irrational behavior," Wraith growled as he slouched next to Lance.
"Hey I only do what is willed of me," Lance said mysteriously.
"And just what does that mean?"
Lance shrugged as he sipped his green tea. Wraith made a face and he took a gulp of the stuff as well.
"How do you drink that stuff?" Wraith asked as the bitterness in his mouth faded.
"Sugar. Lots and lots of sugar," Lance replied as he continued to watch events in the booth.
*****
"So tell me about your friends Matt," Lita said between bites.
"Not much to tell really. Wraith's the group's wisecracker. He was raised somewhere in Texas. Apparently his family used to be stage coach drives way back
when. He found that to be interesting and trained with a whip just in cash he ever got the chance to try it out. He's even got one with him now," mumbled Matt as be
took a big spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.
"And Lance?" Lita prompted.
"Ah Lance. He's a strange one. He was raised in some backwater town in Ohio. But somehow his family got this REALLY old katana sword several generations
ago. According to him the thing's so old that no one remembers HOW or who found it. He's completely into the whole Ronin lifestyle. I bet he even has that blade with
him now."
"Really? That DOES sound interesting. So he's the toughguy of the group?"
"No, actually he's the hopeless romantic. Completely willing to defy Time and space for a chance at happiness," Matt said then mentally winced. He really
shouldn't have said that.
"'Defy time and space' how?" Lita asked as her eyes narrowed.
"Just my way of saying he'd go to just about any lengths to make sure he'd gets a happy ending," Matt countered quickly, though as he spoke his face took
on a wistful expression.
"And what about you? Are you looking for a happy ending?" Lita asked.
"Aren't we all?" Matt answered and was rewarded with a cheery smile.
Unfortunately, the next sound was that of glass shattering...
A Youma made to look like a mass of eyeballs and razor sharp tentacles broke through the front window. Lance was on his feet in a blink katana drawn.
"What the Hell is that?" Wraith said as his pulled his whip....
"That is one ugly thing!" Matt said as he pushed Lita out a back door. He looked around desperately for a weapon his eys falling on a broadsword that he hadn't
noticed before.
Meanwhile outside Lita pulled her transformation wand. "Jupiter STAR power!"
When she retuned to the battle she was supprised to see that the men were battling as if this was a daily event for them. Matt and Lance danced easily out of
flurries of parries and thrusts against the creature's tenicles, while Wraith struck with his whip when he could. Still they could use some help.
"Oak Evolution!" Sailor Jupiter called out distractingt he beast.
Matt blinked as at flash from the attack then noticed his blade was crackling with electicity. "Lance what do I do with this?"
"There should be words somewhere in your brain begging to be said...," Lance countered. "Use them!"
Matt nodded then pointed his blade at the monster. "JUPITER....THUNDER....STRIKE!" When the last word left his lips a bolt of green lightning leaped from the
blade stunning the monster one way and sailor Jupiter another.
As the beast twitched Lance's blade took on a glow similar in hue to Setsuna's Dead scream. "Celestial Blade....SLASH!"
With that the creature screamed as the glowing weapon sliced the youma neatly in half.
"Where the Hell did you learn that??" Wraith growled as he pocketed his whip.
"I don't know..," Lance sighed as Sailor Jupiter disappeared through the broken window.
A few moments later Lita walked back through the back door.
"Wow, as far as first dates go this is pretty intense," Lita said as she surveyed the wreckage.
"Yes, the electricity between you two is clearly...shocking," Wraith replied.
"Wraith that joke was the worst I ever heard," Lance replied while shaking his head. "Matt, why not walk Lita home. I have to be heading back to the temple."
*****
Lance had barely closed the door to his modest room at the temple when the first jolts of green lightning blasted through him. This was the worst one to date as
it set all his nerves screaming in white hot pain. Lance doubled over as jolt after jolt threatened to peel away his sanity. In a twinkling it was over and he collapsed onto
the simple mat that was his bed. Unknown to him as he drifted into a troubled sleep was the appearance of the symbol for Pluto that appeared upon his forehead....
TBC
by
Lance The Flamesniper
Matt Blackheart sat in a booth at the Crown Arcade's cafe. He and Wraith had been walking around for three hours. Neither of
them had any idea where their associate Lance Jayd was nor could they guess at how he was doing.
"Man this sucks!" Matt growled.
"I wouldn't go that far. At least this instant translation thing seems to still be working," Wraith drawled.
"Which is something we are not doing. WE haven't had any luck at finding a job."
Just then who should wander in but their errant friend. It was a strange visage at first until it dawned on them as to what was
different. He looked so strange because he happened to be smiling.
"And exactly what is your problem?" Wraith asked as that exceptionally sugary appearance started to irk him.
"Yeah, if you get and more sacarine I'm going to get cavities!" Matt added.
"Nothing really," Lance replied his smile getting even bigger, much to the irritation of his partners.
"Yeah right!" Matt snapped.
"Come one man if you got any more cheery I'd have to kill you on principle. Now fess up!" Wraith snarled.
"All right, no need for violence," placated still smiling Lance. "I got a job and a date on the same day."
"WHAT?!" Both men fairly screamed.
"Yep I got a job working as a caretaker for the Cherry Hill Temple and who should I run into there but literally the girl of my
dreams."
"You have GOT to be kidding," Wraith stated.
"Nope she's real alright. Right down to the green hair and lovely magenta eyes," Lance replied with a tone that boardered on day
dreamy.
"Okay stop it," Matt said.
"Stop what?" Came Lance's reply.
"Stop with that love sick looks. No woman can possibly be that good looking," Came Matt's tart reply.
As if to contradict him, a tall girl around the age of twenty walked into the Cafe. She had brown hair sparlking green eyes and a
figure that spoke of hours a day spent working out. She was dressed in a long sleeved black shirt paired with a light green skirt and matching
shoes. She had her brown hair up in pony tail held in place with a bolo-style hair tie.
"That, is one beautiful woman," Matt said as his mouth suddenly went dry.
Lance could only smile in amusement at his friend as Fate once more began dealing in his favor.
******
"No! No! NO!" The dark lord Necros roared as Chronos once more claimed one of his peices. "Curse you Chronos and your sneaky
ways!"
Chronos smiled. The game which looked a lot like a role playing game dye to the various peices made to resemble people and youmas,
had been going on for Millenia. Each time Chronos, who wasn't always nice to his peices managed to get the upper hand. The endgame was
coming and with it would be the reconing that Necros so dearly deserved.
"It's not my fault that my newest peice is so strong," The master of time replied. "Nor is it my fault that his support peices are equally strong."
"We'll just SEE about that!" Necros growled as he summoned yet another Youma to go after the peice called Lance Jayd.
*****
Lance leaned in close beside Matt's head watching what Matt was looking at. Gravity had already pulled his hapless friend's jaw slightly toward
the floor and his eyes seemingly was frozen in the open position as he'd not blinked since the girl came in.
Wraith, naturally, was the first to say something. "You know if you don't move soon, your face will stick that way..."
"Lance, tell Wraith to kindly shut up," Matt said as continued to stare.
"You know buddy, staring is really rude," Lance said an amused smile twitching at the corners of his lips.
"Then what do you suggest I do?" Matt snapped.
"Well why not going and introducing yourself, like a civilized person would?" came Lance's simplistic retort.
"Are you INSANE!? I can't do that!" Matt replied, sounding as if the very idea was terrifying.
"Why not?" Wraith replied.
"Look at her you morons! She's beautiful. If I ask her out her boyfriend or husband will beat me up!"
"Uhm Matt," Lance began. "She's alone."
"The moment I go over there Some man will appear and pummel me."
"If you don't go over there I'M going to pummel you," Wraith said, his voice dropping to a meanacing growl.
Still Matt Balked. Until Lance got to his feet...
"W-what are you doing Lance?!" Matt screached.
"I'm going to walk up to that young woman and point her over here. From there, you are on your own."
"Y-you Can't!" Matt said his mind racing at warp speed.
"Watch me," Lance retruned, his voice taking on that iron edge that matched his sword skills.
Matt wanted to call Lance's bluff, but he knew Lance didn't bluff. That being the case Matt watched as each step took him closer to the woman who
had seized his attention...
*****
Lita's day had been rather relaxing. She'd not had to fight a youma or had a souffle fall flat all day. She'd slipped in the Crown Arcade for a light snack
before heading home. Mina had offered to go out dancing with her later in the evening, however, something had told her she should probably decline the offer.
When she got to the Arcade there was a cluster of men who couldn't have stood out more if they tied in one of the booths. Still they seemed harmless enough.
Especially the one with staring problem. Still despite the apparent lack of manners he looked kinda cute...
Just then she caught one of them get up out the corner of her eye. It was the man with the sand colored Hair. For a moment he looked as if he was vaguely
familiar in a hazy way but she dismissed that as the man began to walk toward her. In a few moments he was right beside her.
"Hello ma'am," He said. His voice was smooth and measured with a slight richness.
"Hello," She answered.
"My name's Lance Jayd, my friends and I are new to the area."
"I'm Lita Kino. I'm pleased to meet you."
"Likewise. My friend Matt there couldn't help but notice that you are a very beautiful girl."
Lita looked the man named Lance over. She'd heard that line used before as a pickup line. However, one look into those blue eyes and she knew he was
being honest. "So why are you over here talking if your friend thinks I'm so attractive."
"Do you want the honest answer or for me to be nice?"
"Honest."
"He was afraid your boyfriend or husband would pummel him for talking to you."
At that Lita laughed. "He has no fear of that, I'm very much single at the moment."
"Quite the shame then, that my friend is rather shy," Lance sighed. "He is interested in you though."
"I guess I could go over and introduce myself," Lita said as she got out of her chair.
*****
Amara Ten'ou stared in disbelief at the dazed look on Setsuna's face. It was an odd look, at least to those who knew her. She'd gone through battles that
would have broken normal people without flinching. Apparently though something had happened during the day that she wasn't prepared for.
"You okay Suna?" Amara asked her normal image as a hard case dropping momentarily.
"I'm not sure..." Suna answered.
"How can you not be sure if your okay or not?" Michelle ask as she joined her partner in questioning.
"Michelle, I went to the Cherry hill Temple today and there was a Youma battle."
"Oh my!" Michelle replied. "Were you or Raye hurt?"
"No, that's where things started to get confusing. In the middle of this battle a man with a katana appeared and defeated the demon."
"A man," Amara repeated.
"With a katana," Confirmed Setsuna.
"And he defeated this monster?" Michelle asked.
"Yes. Then he..." Setsuna began then paused to collect her thoughts.
"He what?" Amara asked her mind already jumping to murederously wrong conclusions.
"He asked me out." Setsuna replied and Amara's face fell. Of all the things she could have of expected, THAT was not one of them.
"And THAT has you walking around in a daze?" Amara screeched, for once sounding almost feminine despite her decidely male attire.
"Well...yes."
"Why?" Was all Amara could ask.
"I haven't had a date in six thousand years."
"WHAT??" her fellow outers asked.
"Not since just before the final night."
"I didn't know you were dating back then," Michelle said. "The person that caught your eye must've been something special."
"He was. He was a warrior-prince of Pluto. One of the only men born on Pluto the same year as me."
"I remember hearing a little about that," Amara replied as some of her past memories kicked in. "For some reason male births were in short supply in the last
few centuries of the Millenium."
Setsuna nodded. "No one knows why that was. Anyway this warrior prince was handed over to the Plutonian knights and trained at the palace so we knew
each other pretty well. We'd started dating a few months after I was made the official Guardian of the Gate. In fact the last time i saw him he was shoving me onto the
path of Time to protect me from Malacite."
"Still, six thousand years is a long time to go without dating," Michelle sighed.
Setsuna sighed as well, the breeze from her breath lifting her bangs slightly. "Tell me about it. Last time I dated the normal thing was dinner, dancing and an
Earthlight stroll."
Michelle nodded. "That much hasn't changed really."
"Except that no one takes Earthlight strolls now they take moonlight ones," Amara said. "If you're nervous about it we could double date."
"Thank you. That would be much appreciated," Setsuna said with a small smile.
*****
Lance smiled from his seat across the Arcade things were going perfectly...just as they were meant to. He didn't know how he knew, but this was meant to
happen. Matt and the girl named Lita were now sharing the largest bannana split he'd ever seen and laughing the whole time.
"You and your irrational behavior," Wraith growled as he slouched next to Lance.
"Hey I only do what is willed of me," Lance said mysteriously.
"And just what does that mean?"
Lance shrugged as he sipped his green tea. Wraith made a face and he took a gulp of the stuff as well.
"How do you drink that stuff?" Wraith asked as the bitterness in his mouth faded.
"Sugar. Lots and lots of sugar," Lance replied as he continued to watch events in the booth.
*****
"So tell me about your friends Matt," Lita said between bites.
"Not much to tell really. Wraith's the group's wisecracker. He was raised somewhere in Texas. Apparently his family used to be stage coach drives way back
when. He found that to be interesting and trained with a whip just in cash he ever got the chance to try it out. He's even got one with him now," mumbled Matt as be
took a big spoonful of ice cream into his mouth.
"And Lance?" Lita prompted.
"Ah Lance. He's a strange one. He was raised in some backwater town in Ohio. But somehow his family got this REALLY old katana sword several generations
ago. According to him the thing's so old that no one remembers HOW or who found it. He's completely into the whole Ronin lifestyle. I bet he even has that blade with
him now."
"Really? That DOES sound interesting. So he's the toughguy of the group?"
"No, actually he's the hopeless romantic. Completely willing to defy Time and space for a chance at happiness," Matt said then mentally winced. He really
shouldn't have said that.
"'Defy time and space' how?" Lita asked as her eyes narrowed.
"Just my way of saying he'd go to just about any lengths to make sure he'd gets a happy ending," Matt countered quickly, though as he spoke his face took
on a wistful expression.
"And what about you? Are you looking for a happy ending?" Lita asked.
"Aren't we all?" Matt answered and was rewarded with a cheery smile.
Unfortunately, the next sound was that of glass shattering...
A Youma made to look like a mass of eyeballs and razor sharp tentacles broke through the front window. Lance was on his feet in a blink katana drawn.
"What the Hell is that?" Wraith said as his pulled his whip....
"That is one ugly thing!" Matt said as he pushed Lita out a back door. He looked around desperately for a weapon his eys falling on a broadsword that he hadn't
noticed before.
Meanwhile outside Lita pulled her transformation wand. "Jupiter STAR power!"
When she retuned to the battle she was supprised to see that the men were battling as if this was a daily event for them. Matt and Lance danced easily out of
flurries of parries and thrusts against the creature's tenicles, while Wraith struck with his whip when he could. Still they could use some help.
"Oak Evolution!" Sailor Jupiter called out distractingt he beast.
Matt blinked as at flash from the attack then noticed his blade was crackling with electicity. "Lance what do I do with this?"
"There should be words somewhere in your brain begging to be said...," Lance countered. "Use them!"
Matt nodded then pointed his blade at the monster. "JUPITER....THUNDER....STRIKE!" When the last word left his lips a bolt of green lightning leaped from the
blade stunning the monster one way and sailor Jupiter another.
As the beast twitched Lance's blade took on a glow similar in hue to Setsuna's Dead scream. "Celestial Blade....SLASH!"
With that the creature screamed as the glowing weapon sliced the youma neatly in half.
"Where the Hell did you learn that??" Wraith growled as he pocketed his whip.
"I don't know..," Lance sighed as Sailor Jupiter disappeared through the broken window.
A few moments later Lita walked back through the back door.
"Wow, as far as first dates go this is pretty intense," Lita said as she surveyed the wreckage.
"Yes, the electricity between you two is clearly...shocking," Wraith replied.
"Wraith that joke was the worst I ever heard," Lance replied while shaking his head. "Matt, why not walk Lita home. I have to be heading back to the temple."
*****
Lance had barely closed the door to his modest room at the temple when the first jolts of green lightning blasted through him. This was the worst one to date as
it set all his nerves screaming in white hot pain. Lance doubled over as jolt after jolt threatened to peel away his sanity. In a twinkling it was over and he collapsed onto
the simple mat that was his bed. Unknown to him as he drifted into a troubled sleep was the appearance of the symbol for Pluto that appeared upon his forehead....
TBC