Chapter 4: A past love? Kathryn's star-crossed reunion!
"Who are you?" Kathryn yelled as she spun around to face the stranger.
"Whoa there, whoa..." The stranger replied soothingly. He caught Kathryn by the
shoulders and looked into her eyes.
Kathryn settled down as she stared into his eyes. They were like a bottomless lake
underneath the cloud of his short, white hair. "Who are you?" She asked again, this time
softer and slower.
"You silly girl," The stranger chuckled kindly. He smiled at her. "Kathryn-"
Kathryn's eyes widened. "Who--?"
"Shh..." The stranger cooed. "Yes, I know your name, love. My beloved princess, do you
not remember me?"
Kathryn frowned in confusion. "Should I?" She asked softly.
The stranger pulled Kathryn close to him and embraced her lovingly. "Oh how I've missed
you."
Kathryn was bewildered. Who was this nut job?! She didn't know what to do, so she
hugged him back.
The stranger pulled away and swept a pink lock of Kathryn's hair from her face. He then
placed his index and middle finger on her forehead and an explosion of lavender light
occurred.
The silver haired stranger was holding her, they were above a seemingly endless ocean.
"OH MY GOSH!" Kathryn screamed. She clung to the stranger closer now.
"Shh... you'll be fine. Look there, recognize it? It's your palace..." The stranger pointed
out.
Kathryn floated closer to it and then leapt back in surprise. "Why are you showing me
something I already know? Wait! Who's that? The person I'm with?"
"Myself. We were in love. We were in love so much that you risked your status as
princess to stay with me. I was the reason you dumped all those men. Your mother and
father however..."
"They didn't approve, did they? What was your social rank?" Kathryn asked softly.
"I was a servant. Actually, I was the stable master's apprentice."
Kathryn nodded her head. "I think I'm beginning to remember..."
A soft scent of lilac and rose filled the air as they now found themselves in a field of
flowers.
"Uragiru.... I remember you now! Uragiru!" Kathryn wailed and she collapsed into soft
cries against him.
The stranger, Uragiru, nodded his head. "My beloved..." He whispered. Another flash and
they were back in the present time.
"Uragiru.... I'm so sorry... I couldn't say good-bye that day..." Kathryn sobbed.
Uragiru shook his head. "Don't worry about it.... Come let's sit down."
Kathryn nodded and leaned against him as they wandered over to a bench. She was telling
him everything as she began to remember, everything that suddenly flooded her mind. She
let out a gasp, however, as his grip tightened. She asked him to stop, it was hurting her,
but as she looked up, his eyes were cold and hateful.
"Get away from me!" Kathryn screamed as loud as she could.
Uragiru snickered. "My my, you really are easy to fool!"
"Lemme go! Ouch! Stop it!" Kathryn yelled.
Uragiru shook his head. "You never loved anyone... Don't you know? Your fate was to
live alone, you hated the idea of love!"
"That's not true!" Kathryn replied angrily.
"Not true? I was one of the princes you scared off. I should know. You embarrassed me in
front of yours and my whole kingdom! You pushed me into the lake after dumping the
contents of your dinner plate on me!" Uragiru reminded her.
Kathryn gasped. She shook her head and tried to get out of his grip, but the hold he had
on her only tightened.
"Now I have the chance to get you back for what you did, and oh you'd better believe I
am," Uragiru hissed. He placed his free hand in front of her chest and it let out a bright
white beam of energy. Right when the beam hit Kathryn, she let out an earsplitting scream.
As the pink and teal key emitted from her chest, she collapsed against him. Uragiru
grabbed the crystal key and grinned evilly. "You should work on your japanese princess,"
He snickered. "Or else you would've remembered: My name means betray."
Sandana appeared in front of him. "Terrific work, Uragiru. Lady Antoinette requests that
you give the key to her immediately and leave the girl at the bottom of the staircase at the
Hikawa Jinja."
"It's as good as done," Uragiru laughed.
--------
"REI! Rei you gotta come see this!" Usagi screamed as she came upon the limp body of
Kathryn. She bolted back up the stairs. "Rei! Rei!"
"What's the rush, Usagi?" Makoto asked softly as she and Rei looked up from the poster
they had been making.
"Kathryn--" Usagi gasped for air.
"Kathryn?" Rei asked.
"She's at the bottom of the stairs... unconcious!" Usagi yelped.
Makoto frowned and bounded down the stairs, Rei and Usagi close behind her.
"Oh my gosh.... She looks horrible," Rei commented.
"I hope it wasn't our fault," Usagi pouted.
"We'll put her in your room, okay, Rei? Make sure nothing's in the way," Makoto grunted
as she picked up Kathryn and slung her over her shoulder.
Rei nodded and scurried up the stairs, Usagi following her.
As Makoto reached the top, Ami and Minako were helping with everything as well.
Minako opened Rei's door for Makoto and Ami was gathering some blankets. Makoto set
Kathryn down on the bed and looked at the others.
"I'm calling Hotaru and the starlights," Usagi whispered. "They're the only ones who'd
have any knowledge about this. Maybe Hotaru can heal her somewhat..."
Rei began to protest, but Makoto caught her and shook her head.
Ami scurried back into the room with some blankets and placed them over Kathryn gently
while Minako took her temperature.
Makoto came in with a wet washcloth soon and placed it over Kathryn's head.
It was about 15 minutes before the starlights and Hotaru arrived. Setsuna had brought
Hotaru, knowing very well that Haruka and Michiru were shopping and wouldn't even
think of coming in the first place. Kakyuu was dressed in a school girl's uniform identical
to Usagi's and the other's. She ran over and hugged Kathryn's limp body immediately
upon arrival.
"She was just there, I was getting ready to go home. I don't know how long she was
there," Usagi explained.
Seiya nodded. "I understand."
Kakyuu nodded as well. "Let me tell you a story, so please, make yourselves
comfortable."
Everyone took a seat on the floor and stared intently at the kinmoku princess.
"Long ago," Kakyuu-hime began. "There was a woman. She was gorgeous and very
wealthy. She also held a high position in politices. She was the Queen's most trusted lady.
No one dared to even think that she would do anything to betray the kingdom and her
queen. She was practically perfect, and they all adored her. There was a problem,
however. This woman was greedy. Extremely greedy and she was furiously jealous of the
Queen. Many say she was just biding her time; others disagree and say that a dark force
pulled her over. We know not which one it was, but she did betray the queen. She
researched an ancient spell which involves the use of items called crystal keys. Everyone
holds one, yes, that's true. However, the ones with the most importance call upon the
stars. The number of these powerful ones is four. The enemy, this lady, already has one
powerful crystal key. She has Kathryn's powers."
"What does this mean?" Minako asked softly.
"My dear," Kakyuu whispered. "This means that if we don't get the girl's crystal key
back, she will die. But before that, she cannot wake up without a crystal key to begin with.
The lifespan of one without a crystal key is 3 years. At the end of 3 years, the body will
lose it's protection and rot. In other words, her body will be preserved for three years or
until we get her the crystal key back. Whichever comes first."
"Can Hotaru do anything to help, Princess?" Setsuna questioned softly.
"Little firefly, can you create a fake crystal key for Kathryn? One that'll allow her to live
her life while we search for her crystal key?" Kakyuu suggested.
Hotaru nodded. "I can do that, Princess." She got up and walked over to Kathryn. After
placing her hand directly above Kathryn's chest, a bright purple light began to glow. They
watched as a purple crystal key formed and placed itself in the unconcious princess.
"Will she be okay?" Makoto asked softly.
Kakyuu smiled and nodded. "For now, yes she will be."
"Who are you?" Kathryn yelled as she spun around to face the stranger.
"Whoa there, whoa..." The stranger replied soothingly. He caught Kathryn by the
shoulders and looked into her eyes.
Kathryn settled down as she stared into his eyes. They were like a bottomless lake
underneath the cloud of his short, white hair. "Who are you?" She asked again, this time
softer and slower.
"You silly girl," The stranger chuckled kindly. He smiled at her. "Kathryn-"
Kathryn's eyes widened. "Who--?"
"Shh..." The stranger cooed. "Yes, I know your name, love. My beloved princess, do you
not remember me?"
Kathryn frowned in confusion. "Should I?" She asked softly.
The stranger pulled Kathryn close to him and embraced her lovingly. "Oh how I've missed
you."
Kathryn was bewildered. Who was this nut job?! She didn't know what to do, so she
hugged him back.
The stranger pulled away and swept a pink lock of Kathryn's hair from her face. He then
placed his index and middle finger on her forehead and an explosion of lavender light
occurred.
The silver haired stranger was holding her, they were above a seemingly endless ocean.
"OH MY GOSH!" Kathryn screamed. She clung to the stranger closer now.
"Shh... you'll be fine. Look there, recognize it? It's your palace..." The stranger pointed
out.
Kathryn floated closer to it and then leapt back in surprise. "Why are you showing me
something I already know? Wait! Who's that? The person I'm with?"
"Myself. We were in love. We were in love so much that you risked your status as
princess to stay with me. I was the reason you dumped all those men. Your mother and
father however..."
"They didn't approve, did they? What was your social rank?" Kathryn asked softly.
"I was a servant. Actually, I was the stable master's apprentice."
Kathryn nodded her head. "I think I'm beginning to remember..."
A soft scent of lilac and rose filled the air as they now found themselves in a field of
flowers.
"Uragiru.... I remember you now! Uragiru!" Kathryn wailed and she collapsed into soft
cries against him.
The stranger, Uragiru, nodded his head. "My beloved..." He whispered. Another flash and
they were back in the present time.
"Uragiru.... I'm so sorry... I couldn't say good-bye that day..." Kathryn sobbed.
Uragiru shook his head. "Don't worry about it.... Come let's sit down."
Kathryn nodded and leaned against him as they wandered over to a bench. She was telling
him everything as she began to remember, everything that suddenly flooded her mind. She
let out a gasp, however, as his grip tightened. She asked him to stop, it was hurting her,
but as she looked up, his eyes were cold and hateful.
"Get away from me!" Kathryn screamed as loud as she could.
Uragiru snickered. "My my, you really are easy to fool!"
"Lemme go! Ouch! Stop it!" Kathryn yelled.
Uragiru shook his head. "You never loved anyone... Don't you know? Your fate was to
live alone, you hated the idea of love!"
"That's not true!" Kathryn replied angrily.
"Not true? I was one of the princes you scared off. I should know. You embarrassed me in
front of yours and my whole kingdom! You pushed me into the lake after dumping the
contents of your dinner plate on me!" Uragiru reminded her.
Kathryn gasped. She shook her head and tried to get out of his grip, but the hold he had
on her only tightened.
"Now I have the chance to get you back for what you did, and oh you'd better believe I
am," Uragiru hissed. He placed his free hand in front of her chest and it let out a bright
white beam of energy. Right when the beam hit Kathryn, she let out an earsplitting scream.
As the pink and teal key emitted from her chest, she collapsed against him. Uragiru
grabbed the crystal key and grinned evilly. "You should work on your japanese princess,"
He snickered. "Or else you would've remembered: My name means betray."
Sandana appeared in front of him. "Terrific work, Uragiru. Lady Antoinette requests that
you give the key to her immediately and leave the girl at the bottom of the staircase at the
Hikawa Jinja."
"It's as good as done," Uragiru laughed.
--------
"REI! Rei you gotta come see this!" Usagi screamed as she came upon the limp body of
Kathryn. She bolted back up the stairs. "Rei! Rei!"
"What's the rush, Usagi?" Makoto asked softly as she and Rei looked up from the poster
they had been making.
"Kathryn--" Usagi gasped for air.
"Kathryn?" Rei asked.
"She's at the bottom of the stairs... unconcious!" Usagi yelped.
Makoto frowned and bounded down the stairs, Rei and Usagi close behind her.
"Oh my gosh.... She looks horrible," Rei commented.
"I hope it wasn't our fault," Usagi pouted.
"We'll put her in your room, okay, Rei? Make sure nothing's in the way," Makoto grunted
as she picked up Kathryn and slung her over her shoulder.
Rei nodded and scurried up the stairs, Usagi following her.
As Makoto reached the top, Ami and Minako were helping with everything as well.
Minako opened Rei's door for Makoto and Ami was gathering some blankets. Makoto set
Kathryn down on the bed and looked at the others.
"I'm calling Hotaru and the starlights," Usagi whispered. "They're the only ones who'd
have any knowledge about this. Maybe Hotaru can heal her somewhat..."
Rei began to protest, but Makoto caught her and shook her head.
Ami scurried back into the room with some blankets and placed them over Kathryn gently
while Minako took her temperature.
Makoto came in with a wet washcloth soon and placed it over Kathryn's head.
It was about 15 minutes before the starlights and Hotaru arrived. Setsuna had brought
Hotaru, knowing very well that Haruka and Michiru were shopping and wouldn't even
think of coming in the first place. Kakyuu was dressed in a school girl's uniform identical
to Usagi's and the other's. She ran over and hugged Kathryn's limp body immediately
upon arrival.
"She was just there, I was getting ready to go home. I don't know how long she was
there," Usagi explained.
Seiya nodded. "I understand."
Kakyuu nodded as well. "Let me tell you a story, so please, make yourselves
comfortable."
Everyone took a seat on the floor and stared intently at the kinmoku princess.
"Long ago," Kakyuu-hime began. "There was a woman. She was gorgeous and very
wealthy. She also held a high position in politices. She was the Queen's most trusted lady.
No one dared to even think that she would do anything to betray the kingdom and her
queen. She was practically perfect, and they all adored her. There was a problem,
however. This woman was greedy. Extremely greedy and she was furiously jealous of the
Queen. Many say she was just biding her time; others disagree and say that a dark force
pulled her over. We know not which one it was, but she did betray the queen. She
researched an ancient spell which involves the use of items called crystal keys. Everyone
holds one, yes, that's true. However, the ones with the most importance call upon the
stars. The number of these powerful ones is four. The enemy, this lady, already has one
powerful crystal key. She has Kathryn's powers."
"What does this mean?" Minako asked softly.
"My dear," Kakyuu whispered. "This means that if we don't get the girl's crystal key
back, she will die. But before that, she cannot wake up without a crystal key to begin with.
The lifespan of one without a crystal key is 3 years. At the end of 3 years, the body will
lose it's protection and rot. In other words, her body will be preserved for three years or
until we get her the crystal key back. Whichever comes first."
"Can Hotaru do anything to help, Princess?" Setsuna questioned softly.
"Little firefly, can you create a fake crystal key for Kathryn? One that'll allow her to live
her life while we search for her crystal key?" Kakyuu suggested.
Hotaru nodded. "I can do that, Princess." She got up and walked over to Kathryn. After
placing her hand directly above Kathryn's chest, a bright purple light began to glow. They
watched as a purple crystal key formed and placed itself in the unconcious princess.
"Will she be okay?" Makoto asked softly.
Kakyuu smiled and nodded. "For now, yes she will be."