Fire's Heart
Ahknee/Kitteen
(Disclaimer: Tch, yeah, right. *snorts*)
Yo! Wow, I hit a good ninety reviews last chapter. *dies* I really don't think I can handle that many!
Anywho, I'm shocked at myself. They want to publish one of my poems in the U.K. *dies yet again* I nearly had a heart attack the night when I heard the news.
But anyway, onto other stuff. . .I really would've updated sooner, but we had to F-Disk our computer (for the third freaking time in four months)! Crapit, I lost many of my favorite songs. *pouts unhappily* Plus I've been swamped with homework and oogling the snow that's been recently down here in St. Louis (though by now it's completely melted).
In other news, life's been super hectic and things have been going insane since the flu is spreading like wildfire through the city, causing many people my age and younger to become very sick (with possible death). School's now a basic hazard to go to unless you've had a flu shot (dangit, I haven't had one yet), and with all the contact stuff we do, I'm surprised I only caught a bad cough. I got two days off from school, one from being slightly sick (my sister being the sicker of the two of us, thus I had to tend to her every whim -_-) and I got another day off for recovery (school policy; sick one day you get the next off to make sure you're totally recovered so it doesn't spread). Then, on Monday, I felt woozy at school and went home. By the time I was going to bed that night, I had a one- hundred and three degree fever. GAH!
Review Responses:
Shadowkitsune - *blink* Hey, you can't do that to fangirls! They're what makes the anime world. . .the anime world. O.o; And I don't think you're as good at torture as I am. *huffs* Ever heard of the pinata trick? *bursts into insane giggles*
DragonStar - Eh, the necklace idea was scraped and I did another idea. . .The stinkin' beads were too freakin' expensive. *pouts* Well, hey, what can I say, I figureed Haruka saying that would be better than them freaking out, since it's slightly funnier.
Carrie - Whoo, you're a devoted fan. *smile* Here's the next chapter, then.
One Winged Kuja - Yes, I've already read and reviewed that. *grins* Thanks! Oh, I'll never give up hope on my fics unless they are beyond fixing, in which I shall delete them and try to re-work them.
Jacqui10 - Yay, I've a super-honest reviewer! *dances around happily before throwing confettii* I was waiting for someone to say this fic isn't perfect. In truth, I was getting a bit freaked out by all the nice reviews and no flames. O.o Glad you liked how I did Inuyasha. *giggles insanely*
Firenze - Erm, yeah, thanks. *blink*
Angel-eyes56 - Oh, Rei isn't really leaving. . . .*whisltes innocently*
Skittles the Sugar Fairy - Hyperer? *sweatdrop* Um, yeah. you have a interesting vocabulary there. . . You really think the chapter was awsome? Spiffiness. And we'll just have to see what Sesshoumaru thinks. Of course Rin's happy to have a friend to play with. . .After all, it can get tiring, torturing Jaken and all.
Tenshi-Hotaru - Thanks! Yes, it is. Minako is almost the comic relief of this story. . . Hey, even I don't know where Setsuna sent Rei, and I'm the one writing this thing. . .
fanfiction fanatic - Yes, there are. Yeah, maybe. And thanks. ^^
Well, I hope you all enjoy this (somewhat) long-awaited chapter. And I'm probably going to hit a good one-hundred reviews once I get this chapter out, oh Kami-sama. *dies* I'm getting famous!
(the belated) KEY:
"talking" (quite obviously)
'thinking' (another giveaway)
(author's notes) (couldn't you tell by now?)
*******
Kagome bit her lower lip nervously, still wondering where her cousin had gone.
"I really think we should go search for her! She's probably hurt!"she whined, bouncing on her heels to release some of her nervous energy.
"Shut up already so we can get going!!"Inuyasha yelled at her.
Kagome sent a glare at him before shouting out the imfamous phrase she loved to death, "Osuwari!!"
With a loud wham, Inuyasha was re-aquainted with the dirt for the umpteenth time that week.
Kagome grinned in satisfaction, some of her stress dying down from yelling that phrase.
"And that is how I release stress!"she stated proudly, marching off to pack her things.
*******
Setsuna motioned Hotaru over.
"We're going Hotaru!"she called.
Hotaru turned her head to pout at Setsuna before smiling, waving goodbye to Rin, and running over to Setsuna.
"So soon?"Hotaru whined, pouting once again at her adoptive mother.
"We've been here for a good two hours, Hotaru. We need to get back home, otherwise Haruka and Michiru will worry."Setsuna said, taking Hotaru's hand. (Hotaru's about. . . .nine in this fic. Hey, nine year olds sometimes hold their parents hands! . . .Despite me never being one of'em. O.o)
"Okay."Hotaru sighed, "But we can visit again, right?"
"We'll see."Setsuna replied, tugging Hotaru along gentley.
"Okay!"Hotaru replied, still not knowing that 'we'll see' usually meant that it most likely wouldn't happen.
*******
Gathered at the shrine was the whole group of Sailor Senshi -well, at least those who were in present-day Japan. This included all of the inner senshi, minus Rei, and two of the four outer senshi, those being Haruka and Michiru.
Ami laid out the scannings she had printed out just a second ago in front of Luna and Artemis.
"As you can see here, the well we spotted, which can be found at this coordinate, is giving off high energy readings, much to our amusement."Ami said, pointing out things here and there on a sheet and a map of the shrine.
"Yeah, and the old guy said there was nothing in there, so he was totally hiding it from us!"Minako piped up.
Ami sighed, "Anyway, from a few inferences and other such things, we figured Rei either jumped into the well herself or was dragged and tossed into there by force. Either way, she probably landed in there, but we have no clue what would happen if we were to jump into the well itself."
Luna scanned the statistics on the sheet, "Setsuna might know what these readings are."
"Why is that, Luna?"Usagi asked, walking over and looking at the jumbling numbers and stats.
"These,"Luna began, pointing her paw to some jibberish or other, "Are time waves. Unlike other waves in the atmosphere, these waves are of the lowest, most undetectable in level. Quite a clever little masking trick, if you ask me."
Ami nodded, "Ah, I see. Very interesting."
"Awhatawhat?"Usagi asked, blinking in slight confusion.
Everyone could almost see what would happen if Rei was still herE: she would roll her eyes from her spot opposite of Usagi before reaching out and whacking the blonde across the head.
"Itai!"Usagi would've whimpered, tending to her head, which could've had a comical lump forming on the spot she was hit.
Sadly, everyone snapped from that reverie.
"Well, if you ask me, there's more likely than not some other way Rei might've disappeared,"Makoto began,"Who knows, she could've just decided to hide her energy readings from us so we couldn't track where she was going."
"True, true."Luna agreed, nodding her head slightly.
"Well, check out this sheet."Ami said, placing another sheet in front of the dark-colored feline, who's eyes immediantly began scanning to page.
Every fell silent as the cat scanned the page, her eyes running rapidly over every word and managing to absorb their meanings in less than a second. In a few minutes, she was done.
". . .So??"Usagi asked the question that plagued everyone.
"Traces of Rei's magic was sensed near the well, though it was very old, it appears. As if it was used long ago, yet refused to disperse for some reason of other."Ami explained for Luna.
"And that means?"Usagi asked.
"It means, hime, that Rei was simply sent to another time."a more elegant voice pitched her two cents in.
All heads turned to spot Setsuna carrying a sleeping Hotaru, a small smile gracing the delicate feature sof the time guardian.
"Setsuna, what're you doing here? And how'd you know about Rei? And do you even know where Rei is? And is she safe? Hm?"Usagi asked, letting the flurry of questions fly.
Setsuna sighed lightly, laying Hotaru on a vacant couch just big enough for the young girl, before walking over to the table the group was gathered around and looking over the papers.
"Ah, seems you've been investiagting the Higurashi shrine."Setsuna said, smiling her infamous 'I-know-something-you-don't-know' smile.
Haruka stared hard at Setsuna before speaking, "You're doing it again. . ."
"Doing what again?"Setsuna asked, much too innocently for herself.
"Smiling! L-like that!"Haruka said, quite childishly, pointing an accusing finger at the older, garnet-eyes woman who ruled over time.
Michiru sighed before whapping her partner over the head for behaving like a three year-old child.
"Grow up, Haruka."she sighed, exasperated.
Haruka just gave Michiru a mock-hurt look before resuming her usual Haruka attitude.
"Answer my questions, onegai, Setsuna?"Usagi asked, going puppy-dog eyed.
Setsuna sighed, caving in, for now, "I'm here to check up on how everything is going, I know everything, yes, yes, and there."
Usagi paused, recalling her questions and ticking off to see if she wanted those answers before speaking again, "Hey! At least tell us where Rei is!"
"I'd love to, but. . .she had personal business to take care of. She's very busy and shouldn't be disturbed."Setsuna replied wisely.
Haruka's eyebrows shot up, "I highly doubt that."
Michiru whacked the sandy blonde on the back of the head again, "Trust her on these matters, she's the all seeing guardian of the time gates!"
All others in the room with dignity sweatdropped at the antics, not quite used to the two most calm people acting this way.
Ami gathered the papers together, straightening them once before pulling off her glasses, smiling lightly up at the group before standing, sliding her glasses into her pocket.
"I really hate to march off like this, but I must be going. I have a very important session at my tech school."Ami said, smiling once more at the group before waving at everyone and leaving.
"Well, we shall have to continue this meeting tomorrow, then. Until then we have more time to research any places Rei might've gone."Luna announced.
Everyone nodded and the chatter started up on what their next move was.
*******
Rei took a deep breath and looked at the door that had appeared in front of her.
"Setsuna wouldn't trick me. . .would she?"she asked aloud, wincing slightly at a sound of some creature in the distance.
. . .Wait, since when were their monsters running around in the Time Stream? Unless Setsuna forgot to mention something. . .
Rei sighed, deciding not to ponder the matter and to just make haste, not wanting to find out what exactly produced the sound far off in the distance. She did not want to become chow for some unknown monster.
Rei grasped the handle of the door firmly, slowly twisting it, holding her breath for some reason. What was she so very much anticipating? Or was she getting some kind or reluctance to leave the place she had become so aquianted with? She shook her head and rid herself of any of these thoughts, her breathing returning to normal as she pulled open the door, which, for some odd reason, seemed very heavy and refused to open easily for the fire soldier. Narrowing her eyes in determination, she put one foot against the frame of the door and tugged harder at the knob. With that, the door flew open, Rei flying backwards from the sudden willingness of the door to succumb to her persistant tugging.
Rei blinked in slight confusion before regaining her senses a few seconds later and standing, brushing off anything that might've gotten onto her outfit. Once fully satisfied that there was nothing on her outfit (and realizing, quite unhappily) that she was just stalling unconciously, she walked up to the door, the light coming through it seeming like it could blind. And so she stepped through, wondering if she really should turn back right now.
She shut the door firmly behind her once she felt solid ground beneath her feet and sheilded her eyes from the blinding sun emitting pleasent waves of heat in this cool weather. From within the darknes of the time stream, the figures moving about her seemed to be nothing more than sihouettes.
"Rei?"
She spun around to see who it was.
*******
Well, this is where I end it. I wanted to get this out before the official start of most of the holidays. Tee hee. ^^ I hope you've enjoyed this chapter!
Now, I shall be out now so I can work on the next chapter for this while I can and the chapters for other stories I'm working on. Yayness for multi- tasking!
Happy holidays and best wishes to all the readers out there!
Ahknee/Kitteen
(Disclaimer: Tch, yeah, right. *snorts*)
Yo! Wow, I hit a good ninety reviews last chapter. *dies* I really don't think I can handle that many!
Anywho, I'm shocked at myself. They want to publish one of my poems in the U.K. *dies yet again* I nearly had a heart attack the night when I heard the news.
But anyway, onto other stuff. . .I really would've updated sooner, but we had to F-Disk our computer (for the third freaking time in four months)! Crapit, I lost many of my favorite songs. *pouts unhappily* Plus I've been swamped with homework and oogling the snow that's been recently down here in St. Louis (though by now it's completely melted).
In other news, life's been super hectic and things have been going insane since the flu is spreading like wildfire through the city, causing many people my age and younger to become very sick (with possible death). School's now a basic hazard to go to unless you've had a flu shot (dangit, I haven't had one yet), and with all the contact stuff we do, I'm surprised I only caught a bad cough. I got two days off from school, one from being slightly sick (my sister being the sicker of the two of us, thus I had to tend to her every whim -_-) and I got another day off for recovery (school policy; sick one day you get the next off to make sure you're totally recovered so it doesn't spread). Then, on Monday, I felt woozy at school and went home. By the time I was going to bed that night, I had a one- hundred and three degree fever. GAH!
Review Responses:
Shadowkitsune - *blink* Hey, you can't do that to fangirls! They're what makes the anime world. . .the anime world. O.o; And I don't think you're as good at torture as I am. *huffs* Ever heard of the pinata trick? *bursts into insane giggles*
DragonStar - Eh, the necklace idea was scraped and I did another idea. . .The stinkin' beads were too freakin' expensive. *pouts* Well, hey, what can I say, I figureed Haruka saying that would be better than them freaking out, since it's slightly funnier.
Carrie - Whoo, you're a devoted fan. *smile* Here's the next chapter, then.
One Winged Kuja - Yes, I've already read and reviewed that. *grins* Thanks! Oh, I'll never give up hope on my fics unless they are beyond fixing, in which I shall delete them and try to re-work them.
Jacqui10 - Yay, I've a super-honest reviewer! *dances around happily before throwing confettii* I was waiting for someone to say this fic isn't perfect. In truth, I was getting a bit freaked out by all the nice reviews and no flames. O.o Glad you liked how I did Inuyasha. *giggles insanely*
Firenze - Erm, yeah, thanks. *blink*
Angel-eyes56 - Oh, Rei isn't really leaving. . . .*whisltes innocently*
Skittles the Sugar Fairy - Hyperer? *sweatdrop* Um, yeah. you have a interesting vocabulary there. . . You really think the chapter was awsome? Spiffiness. And we'll just have to see what Sesshoumaru thinks. Of course Rin's happy to have a friend to play with. . .After all, it can get tiring, torturing Jaken and all.
Tenshi-Hotaru - Thanks! Yes, it is. Minako is almost the comic relief of this story. . . Hey, even I don't know where Setsuna sent Rei, and I'm the one writing this thing. . .
fanfiction fanatic - Yes, there are. Yeah, maybe. And thanks. ^^
Well, I hope you all enjoy this (somewhat) long-awaited chapter. And I'm probably going to hit a good one-hundred reviews once I get this chapter out, oh Kami-sama. *dies* I'm getting famous!
(the belated) KEY:
"talking" (quite obviously)
'thinking' (another giveaway)
(author's notes) (couldn't you tell by now?)
*******
Kagome bit her lower lip nervously, still wondering where her cousin had gone.
"I really think we should go search for her! She's probably hurt!"she whined, bouncing on her heels to release some of her nervous energy.
"Shut up already so we can get going!!"Inuyasha yelled at her.
Kagome sent a glare at him before shouting out the imfamous phrase she loved to death, "Osuwari!!"
With a loud wham, Inuyasha was re-aquainted with the dirt for the umpteenth time that week.
Kagome grinned in satisfaction, some of her stress dying down from yelling that phrase.
"And that is how I release stress!"she stated proudly, marching off to pack her things.
*******
Setsuna motioned Hotaru over.
"We're going Hotaru!"she called.
Hotaru turned her head to pout at Setsuna before smiling, waving goodbye to Rin, and running over to Setsuna.
"So soon?"Hotaru whined, pouting once again at her adoptive mother.
"We've been here for a good two hours, Hotaru. We need to get back home, otherwise Haruka and Michiru will worry."Setsuna said, taking Hotaru's hand. (Hotaru's about. . . .nine in this fic. Hey, nine year olds sometimes hold their parents hands! . . .Despite me never being one of'em. O.o)
"Okay."Hotaru sighed, "But we can visit again, right?"
"We'll see."Setsuna replied, tugging Hotaru along gentley.
"Okay!"Hotaru replied, still not knowing that 'we'll see' usually meant that it most likely wouldn't happen.
*******
Gathered at the shrine was the whole group of Sailor Senshi -well, at least those who were in present-day Japan. This included all of the inner senshi, minus Rei, and two of the four outer senshi, those being Haruka and Michiru.
Ami laid out the scannings she had printed out just a second ago in front of Luna and Artemis.
"As you can see here, the well we spotted, which can be found at this coordinate, is giving off high energy readings, much to our amusement."Ami said, pointing out things here and there on a sheet and a map of the shrine.
"Yeah, and the old guy said there was nothing in there, so he was totally hiding it from us!"Minako piped up.
Ami sighed, "Anyway, from a few inferences and other such things, we figured Rei either jumped into the well herself or was dragged and tossed into there by force. Either way, she probably landed in there, but we have no clue what would happen if we were to jump into the well itself."
Luna scanned the statistics on the sheet, "Setsuna might know what these readings are."
"Why is that, Luna?"Usagi asked, walking over and looking at the jumbling numbers and stats.
"These,"Luna began, pointing her paw to some jibberish or other, "Are time waves. Unlike other waves in the atmosphere, these waves are of the lowest, most undetectable in level. Quite a clever little masking trick, if you ask me."
Ami nodded, "Ah, I see. Very interesting."
"Awhatawhat?"Usagi asked, blinking in slight confusion.
Everyone could almost see what would happen if Rei was still herE: she would roll her eyes from her spot opposite of Usagi before reaching out and whacking the blonde across the head.
"Itai!"Usagi would've whimpered, tending to her head, which could've had a comical lump forming on the spot she was hit.
Sadly, everyone snapped from that reverie.
"Well, if you ask me, there's more likely than not some other way Rei might've disappeared,"Makoto began,"Who knows, she could've just decided to hide her energy readings from us so we couldn't track where she was going."
"True, true."Luna agreed, nodding her head slightly.
"Well, check out this sheet."Ami said, placing another sheet in front of the dark-colored feline, who's eyes immediantly began scanning to page.
Every fell silent as the cat scanned the page, her eyes running rapidly over every word and managing to absorb their meanings in less than a second. In a few minutes, she was done.
". . .So??"Usagi asked the question that plagued everyone.
"Traces of Rei's magic was sensed near the well, though it was very old, it appears. As if it was used long ago, yet refused to disperse for some reason of other."Ami explained for Luna.
"And that means?"Usagi asked.
"It means, hime, that Rei was simply sent to another time."a more elegant voice pitched her two cents in.
All heads turned to spot Setsuna carrying a sleeping Hotaru, a small smile gracing the delicate feature sof the time guardian.
"Setsuna, what're you doing here? And how'd you know about Rei? And do you even know where Rei is? And is she safe? Hm?"Usagi asked, letting the flurry of questions fly.
Setsuna sighed lightly, laying Hotaru on a vacant couch just big enough for the young girl, before walking over to the table the group was gathered around and looking over the papers.
"Ah, seems you've been investiagting the Higurashi shrine."Setsuna said, smiling her infamous 'I-know-something-you-don't-know' smile.
Haruka stared hard at Setsuna before speaking, "You're doing it again. . ."
"Doing what again?"Setsuna asked, much too innocently for herself.
"Smiling! L-like that!"Haruka said, quite childishly, pointing an accusing finger at the older, garnet-eyes woman who ruled over time.
Michiru sighed before whapping her partner over the head for behaving like a three year-old child.
"Grow up, Haruka."she sighed, exasperated.
Haruka just gave Michiru a mock-hurt look before resuming her usual Haruka attitude.
"Answer my questions, onegai, Setsuna?"Usagi asked, going puppy-dog eyed.
Setsuna sighed, caving in, for now, "I'm here to check up on how everything is going, I know everything, yes, yes, and there."
Usagi paused, recalling her questions and ticking off to see if she wanted those answers before speaking again, "Hey! At least tell us where Rei is!"
"I'd love to, but. . .she had personal business to take care of. She's very busy and shouldn't be disturbed."Setsuna replied wisely.
Haruka's eyebrows shot up, "I highly doubt that."
Michiru whacked the sandy blonde on the back of the head again, "Trust her on these matters, she's the all seeing guardian of the time gates!"
All others in the room with dignity sweatdropped at the antics, not quite used to the two most calm people acting this way.
Ami gathered the papers together, straightening them once before pulling off her glasses, smiling lightly up at the group before standing, sliding her glasses into her pocket.
"I really hate to march off like this, but I must be going. I have a very important session at my tech school."Ami said, smiling once more at the group before waving at everyone and leaving.
"Well, we shall have to continue this meeting tomorrow, then. Until then we have more time to research any places Rei might've gone."Luna announced.
Everyone nodded and the chatter started up on what their next move was.
*******
Rei took a deep breath and looked at the door that had appeared in front of her.
"Setsuna wouldn't trick me. . .would she?"she asked aloud, wincing slightly at a sound of some creature in the distance.
. . .Wait, since when were their monsters running around in the Time Stream? Unless Setsuna forgot to mention something. . .
Rei sighed, deciding not to ponder the matter and to just make haste, not wanting to find out what exactly produced the sound far off in the distance. She did not want to become chow for some unknown monster.
Rei grasped the handle of the door firmly, slowly twisting it, holding her breath for some reason. What was she so very much anticipating? Or was she getting some kind or reluctance to leave the place she had become so aquianted with? She shook her head and rid herself of any of these thoughts, her breathing returning to normal as she pulled open the door, which, for some odd reason, seemed very heavy and refused to open easily for the fire soldier. Narrowing her eyes in determination, she put one foot against the frame of the door and tugged harder at the knob. With that, the door flew open, Rei flying backwards from the sudden willingness of the door to succumb to her persistant tugging.
Rei blinked in slight confusion before regaining her senses a few seconds later and standing, brushing off anything that might've gotten onto her outfit. Once fully satisfied that there was nothing on her outfit (and realizing, quite unhappily) that she was just stalling unconciously, she walked up to the door, the light coming through it seeming like it could blind. And so she stepped through, wondering if she really should turn back right now.
She shut the door firmly behind her once she felt solid ground beneath her feet and sheilded her eyes from the blinding sun emitting pleasent waves of heat in this cool weather. From within the darknes of the time stream, the figures moving about her seemed to be nothing more than sihouettes.
"Rei?"
She spun around to see who it was.
*******
Well, this is where I end it. I wanted to get this out before the official start of most of the holidays. Tee hee. ^^ I hope you've enjoyed this chapter!
Now, I shall be out now so I can work on the next chapter for this while I can and the chapters for other stories I'm working on. Yayness for multi- tasking!
Happy holidays and best wishes to all the readers out there!