A Walk on the Side

By Cassandra

A/N: Sup? Wow, I'm really cranking them out aren't I? I just updated "Different" yesterday and now you have a new chapter of "A Walk on the Side" out. Lucky are you who are reading these words right now since I'm not really much on updates this speedy. Hehe, review. I've only got one ya know? ^_^

DISCLAIMER: This is a side-story to Senashenta's "Walk a Mile" and I have permission from her to make this. Hikaru, Josei, and Amai are also Senashenta's characters. Familiar characters from Sailor Moon are also aren't mine though I want them to be. I only own Kira, Aoi, Satsu and Miku Kou who are all my original Starlights. ^_^

Chapter II

Cryptic Messages

Her eyelids were closed over her blue-green eyes as she lay against her bed as if she were dead. She was so still, but Kira could see her chest rise and fall with each breath she took. It was the only indication that Aoi was still alive.

Kira sat by her unconscious friend's bed, feeling as guilty as she had when she had ran to her in the training range. She knew she should have gone to get Aoi some more food before training that morning. She just hadn't eaten enough breakfast.

So now there Kira sat beside Aoi's bed. It was almost lunchtime but she wasn't moving from her place. The Healers had tried to persuade her to get something to eat and come back later. The harsher ones had reminded her that she had training to attend to. She was a senshi-in-training after all. It wouldn't be advisable for her to skip practices.

Who knew what Raider-sama would do to her in punishment?

But still Kira stayed, despite their insistences and their pleas.

"I'm sorry, Aoi." The red-haired senshi-in-training told her fallen friend, her gaze riveted on her dear friend's face to make sure that she still had color in her cheeks no matter how little.

"I should have really done something. And just when I had promised to protect you."

A small grubby hand tightened on the white Healers' ward bed sheets as Kira grit her teeth and lowered her head in shame.

"I'll never fail you again, I won't. I know how to keep my promises. I will keep you safe and I'll protect you forever, Aoi."

"It is treason to promise such a thing, Striker."

A cold, unmistakable gaze greeted her when she looked up abruptly.

There in the doorway stood the leader of the Queen's senshi, Sailor Star Raider. She was a tall, intimidating woman with fine silver-violet hair and the coolest ice blue eyes she had ever seen. She was the most powerful one of all the Queen's senshi and her name warranted respect. She was the reason Kira had agreed to become a senshi in the first place.

She wanted to be like her: someone who was in control and so powerful.

Now, as she stood before Kira inside the almost empty and eerily quiet ward, Kira felt how it was to become the senshi leader's enemy for it certainly was what she seemed right at that moment.

Sailor Star Raider's eyes seemed to have a chillier quality and there was something intensely terrifying to have them focused at you when they were. Her eyes conveyed one purpose: destroy.

Kira backed away when the taller, extremely more capable senshi slowly came toward her.

She had never really known fear since that moment, but she couldn't allow herself to be sidetracked. She had promised Aoi that she would protect her didn't she? And that extended even against Raider's wrath.

Her hand slipped against the bed to grasp Aoi's hand in a strong grip. When she found it, it suddenly didn't feel so terrifying anymore, despite how stupid it probably sounded.

Then again, Aoi had really been the one she was the most comfortable with when in combat.

Raider practically loomed over Kira now and she could look directly up into those paralyzing ice blue eyes.

Heels clacked to a stop and Kira tensed.

She could feel her doom coming any minute.

Those ice blue eyes that sent her little heart thumping wildly in fear were still focused on her face, not straying.

Her grip on Aoi's hand tightened when a gloved hand was lifted slowly from Raider's side.

She forced herself to stand strong still even as Raider's right hand was almost right in front of her face, but her reflexes were a bitch and her silver-gray eyes were pulled closed in a cringe.

Damn it. She thought bitterly as her eyes refused to open and her teeth bit at the tender flesh of her lower lip to stop it from trembling. Am I this useless? Will I be killed without even actually doing something good for Aoi-chan?

The rustle of fabric filled her ears and she tried once more to open her eyes—

"Kira?"

They widened instantly at the feeble voice beside her and what she saw next wasn't a gloved hand that held a ball of crackling energy, but fluttering eyelids over blue-green eyes.

"Aoi!" Kira practically jumped to an almost crouching position by the bed that she was almost pushing her face far too close into her friend's personal face. "Are you all right? Do you need anything? Can I get you some water? Some food maybe? Does your head hurt? Are you—"

Aoi winced as she listened to her friend babble. She put a stop to her friend's flurry of concerned questions by tightening her hold on Kira's hand that was still wrapped around her own.

"I'm fine, Kira. Just a bit disoriented but I'll be all right." She smiled at her friend sunnily and it seemed to somehow placate her friend for now. She turned her gaze slowly to the taller figure standing by her bed and gave her the same smile. "I apologize for being such a source of trouble, Raider-sama."

Kira tensed once more at the mention of the senshi who was still with them. She had completely forgotten about Sailor Star Raider. She turned almost cautiously around and was almost floored to find a different expression on the senshi leader's face.

"Just get some rest and eat your breakfast, all right Keeper?" The tone that the senshi used was probably as monotonous as before but Kira heard how different it was from her usual tone. It had a touch of softness to it that she couldn't place. Raider's expression was also somewhat less stoic than before.

If anything, her eyes looked like they had become less icy and more blue.

Who knew there was some kind of warmth somewhere too inside "Satsu the Ice block" as Miku-sama, or Sailor Star Caster, had once called the cool and stoic senshi?

Beside her on the bed, Aoi nodded obediently.
"I will, Raider-sama."

Raider settled her gaze on Aoi once more before she nodded once and turned to Kira. Once more, Kira felt like wincing. It was hard not to in the face of so much intensity and she barely knew what the taller senshi had in mind.

"I leave her to you, Striker." Raider told her in a more business-sounding voice. Those ice blue eyes narrowed a fraction as she added. "The next time she falls in the middle of training it would be you in the hot seat."

Kira had been ready to drop her jaw in surprise when she first heard Raider's statement, but when she came to the next, she let the surprise go.

Probably Raider would never really let loose as Miku-sama wanted.

"You can count on me, Raider-sama."

"You better hold to it."

Then she was gone.

Aoi looked up at Kira curiously.

"What did Raider-sama say last? I barely heard her."

Kira turned to Aoi, her eyes a bit wide still.

"I didn't hear her either." She lied.

***

"Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-OW!! Josei be careful! Injured here!"

"Whoops! Sorry Hikaru!"

"Mou! You must really hate me, don't you Josei."

"Now whatever made you think like that?"

"Hikaru, you're being far too loud…"

Kira sighed as she followed the three Starlights-in-training through the many twisting halls which characterized the castle's hallways.

"For someone who is obviously injured, Hikaru sure is taking this a bit too lightly." Silver-gray eyes were trained warily on the senshi trainee with green hair and far too much energy still despite her injuries. "She's talking far too much still."

Beside her, Aoi smiled at her partner's comment, falling in step with her easily. Their shoes' sounds were dulled by the red carpet, which lined the center of the hallways. "That's Hikaru-chan for you. But you do realize that her elbow is a bit far off from her mouth now isn't it?"

At her response, Kira gave her a small glower, which only earned her another smile from Aoi. Once more, Kira shook her head and rolled her eyes.

Sometimes, everyone around him just couldn't see the seriousness of a situation.

"Hikaru." The red-haired senshi addressed the unofficial leader of the Starlight trainees up ahead. "You three are playing in the ball too aren't you?"

Hikaru turned her head so that she could nod at her superior properly.

"Yes we are, Kira-san."

"Then there better be no funny business from you anytime soon all right?"

At the red-haired Starlight's words, Hikaru actually frowned a bit, rolling her eyes and looking away a moment later. The little trainee was probably complaining to herself of Kira being far too serious sometimes.

Kira and Aoi managed to come across the Earth senshi and their fellow Starlights along with their trainees at the shopping district. Predictably, Kira and Seiya had been at it again and once more Aoi had to pull her partner away from her revelry before it got too much or before Seiya could actually think of killing her. Kira actually had the nerve to flirt with Seiya's Odango, Sailor Moon and predictably, the dark-haired senshi hadn't been too happy.

Before Kira could revel even more at the look on Seiya's face when they left, a youma began an attack. Imagine Kira and Aoi's appalled reactions when they saw that the three trainees were just left to themselves against the youma. It took only one moment and the next thing they knew Hunter had fallen.

And it was all Seiya-baka's fault. Kira thought with characteristic disgust.

The group of the trainees and their Outer Senshi mentors were rounding a corner when they almost collided with two other figures that were also making their own progress down the hall.

"No rushing down the hallways." Came a curt and all too familiar voice, which was quickly followed by an equally familiar reprimand. Well, sort of reprimand.

"Satsu, lighten up a bit would you? Can't you see that Hunter is injured?"

And there standing by the hallway were two of Kira and Aoi's mentors, Satsu and Miku Kou, formerly Sailor Stars Raider and Caster.

Satsu, Raider, was tall and statuesque with flowing silver-violet hair that was currently pulled back into a long plait. She seemed to prefer the masculine form that day and was wearing a white uniform with pants and adorned with gold trimmings under an equally pristine white cloak, which had gold clover clasps by the neck. His pale blue eyes were like chips of ice, which could freeze anything they gazed at.

Beside him stood Miku, Caster, who barely reached his shoulder. There was a friendly and open expression on her youngish face as her wondrous green eyes sparkled from underneath her orange windblown bangs. Her hair was done in layers and while a good amount of it seemed to hang around her face, the traditional Starlights ponytail could be found trailing down her back and almost reaching her knees. Her clothes were casual, but obviously acceptable enough in the palace, especially when visiting with Kakyuu-hime.

After taking stock of Hikaru's injured elbow and ignoring the curious and awed stares he was getting from the Starlight trainees he hadn't really encountered before, Satsu's eyes immediately sought out those of Kira's whom he always seemed to notice first at any gathering.

"What happened?"

"There was a youma attack, Satsu-san." Kira answered formally as she came forward, though she now used 'san' instead of 'sama' in referring to her mentor. It felt like senshi training days again when she had to report whatever chaos had happened in Satsu's absence. "It took some time to take care of it even with the Earth senshi's aid and unfortunately, Hunter there has injured herself."

A thin eyebrow lifted when Kira mentioned the Earth senshi, but Satsu didn't say anything more.

Miku meanwhile had taken to approaching the Starlight trainees to examine Hikaru's elbow.

"I see you've done some work on that." She said, nodding to what Hikaru had done to her elbow as she smiled in that friendly way of hers. "But you really should have that fixed. Bone cracking it back won't help that much though it works."

It may be just because Hikaru was far too overwhelmed at seeing the two former Starlights that all she did was nod. Meanwhile, Josei and Amai just remained silent, unsure of what to do and yet knowing that they needed to get Hikaru some help.

"I'll take you to the Healer now ne?" Miku said with a little wink as she herded the trainees down the hallway and started her cheerful chatter. "Old Soto's a bit gruff but I'll take care of him for you. We're good friends, Soto and I."

She paused to look over her shoulder and smile at Aoi.

"Ne Aoi-chan, isn't that right?"

Aoi, who had been silent till then, smiled and took it as her cue to follow her mentor and the Starilight trainees.

"Hai." She answered graciously as she came towards her trainees. She smiled at Amai who had her head bowed as usual as she came up beside her.

"Sou!" Miku exclaimed before she turned back to where Kira and Satsu were still standing and watching them walk away. "I'll take care of Hunter for the two of you ne? I'll be right back, Satsu-chan! Don't leave without me all right? Soooo, how are you girls finding senshi training? I've always thought it was an enjoyable experience."

Aoi gave Satsu a polite bow of her head in farewell and a small wave to Kira before she followed her charges and her mentor down the hallway.

It was Josei and Hikaru who answered and Miku probably noticed how shy Amai was since she asked Amai too. Before the usually shy girl could answer though, their chatter was drowned out by the silence that filled the hallways and exemplified by the distance.

"She still smiles beyond the pain."

Kira turned her gaze towards Satsu when he spoke to find him still looking at the path, which the others took. He still didn't look at her when he continued.

"You don't know do you?"

The senshi of Striker shivered slightly, instinctively when those icy blue eyes stared right at her. She could never forget how those eyes struck such fear into her heart when she was young. They still did now.

Even if he wasn't a sailor senshi anymore, Satsu Kou still possessed much power and a lethal edge that could take care of any annoyances which he cared not to deal with for long.

"She's hurting, Striker. Open your eyes." He told her and those ice blue eyes narrowed a bit as they always did when he emphasized something. His voice was a whisper when he spoke once more.

"I thought you wanted to protect her."

Kira stayed silent as she quickly reevaluated Aoi's current condition in her head. She can't recall seeing any sign or symptom of injury on Aoi when they walked back here. Aoi was good at keeping her wounds from her, but she'd always find where they were.

A puzzled look came into being on her face.

What was Satsu talking about?

Before she could air out her question though, she heard footsteps and voices ringing through the hallways. The others were coming.

Taiki was the first who noticed the two of them standing there and was quick to speak and inquire. She nodded to Satsu first in greeting.

"Satsu-san, I didn't expect to see you around here today. Is everything in Kakyuu-hime's council well?"

Satsu was now an adviser to Kakyuu-hime. He nodded back to Taiki solemnly.

"All is well, Maker." He never addressed them by their real names for some reason. They never really knew why but they never questioned him about it. "I wish I could say the same for one of your trainees."

The blunt way he spoke actually made Taiki look a bit despondent, surprising the Earth senshi quite a bit who were with her. None of them must have seen Taiki look so affected by what someone said. Yaten, who was still latched on Minako's arm, was eyeing Satsu with a combination of dislike and ire. Her lime green eyes burned.

Such was the effect of the former Raider on his former Starlight trainees.

Kira respected and yet feared him.

Aoi was pleasant with him as she was pretty much with everyone else.

Taiki saw him as the only person who could make her feel so small.

Yaten just didn't like him.

The tense mood was broken when Miku came back.

"Hunter-chan is being taken care of as we speak. She'll be fine." It took a moment before she realized that it had gotten a bit crowded in the hallway. She smiled at all the familiar and unfamiliar faces. "Well hello, looks like we have ourselves a bit of a gathering here."

Introductions were taken care of quickly by Taiki and Kira, Kira introducing Miku and Satsu while Taiki took care of the Earth Senshi.

Yaten just continued to glare at Satsu and Satsu easily ignored her as he easily did everything else he cared whit for.

Miku must have realized Satsu's dampening effect on the group and immediately frowned.

"Mah, Satsu-chan! Do you always have to do that?" She sighed in exasperation before turning to the uncomfortable-looking Earth senshi, flashing them an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, he's just the party pooper isn't he?"

Then, taking the stoic Satsu's arm, proceeded to drag him away while he allowed her to without protest. One couldn't ignore the now-sullen expression on his face though.

"You and me—"

"You and I."

"Whatever! We are getting you a sundae at the Uchu so that you'd get some sugar pumped into your veins."

If Satsu grumbled, it couldn't be heard anymore from where Kira stood and she let out a sigh of relief.

"Who was that Satsu guy anyway?"

Kira looked up at the curious question from the brown-haired man who was formerly Sailor Jupiter, Kino Makoto, but before she could answer, Yaten had beaten her to it.

"The Sailor Ass Star Raider from our grim past." She declared as she tugged at Minako's arm so that they could get going to where Hikaru and the others were.

Minako looked startled and so did the rest of the Earth senshi when they heard Yaten speak of the former senshi and suddenly Taiki looked stricken, her purple eyes widening and her feet almost missing a step.

Kira watched this with interest in her eyes.

Yaten hadn't seemed to realize her mistake yet.

Did the Earth senshi pick up the hint that Yaten had so carelessly given them in light of her complaining?

"You mean…that handsome man was actually a senshi?" Minako exclaimed and the others just shook their heads in wonder.

Beside Kira, Taiki sweatdropped. Kira just fought the urge to laugh.

These Earth senshi could be pretty gullible.

No wonder they idolized Seiya when she was playing pop idol on Earth. Kira mused to herself as she ruefully shook her head. They just didn't have a clue!

Seiya's prank was still ongoing it seemed.

By then they had reached the infirmary room and they found Hikaru lying back on a bed and Soto the Healer was lecturing her on fixing her bones up herself.

Kira immediately made her way towards Aoi when she saw her standing quietly by the side. Her blond head was rested against the white wall as she stood with her hands held behind her back. She almost blended in with the wall and Kira had to wonder how she did it. She certainly wasn't wallflower material. Aoi was far too pretty to become a wallflower.

Clearing her head of such inappropriate thoughts, she stood by her side and asked.

"How is she doing?"

Aoi glanced up at her with a smile, as always. Sometimes Kira wondered if she ever got tired of smiling. She must, right?

"Soto-san said she will be fine in a day or two. They just need to keep her arm in a sling to keep it steady."

Kira nodded quietly at the information.

"That's good."

They stopped talking then as the Earth senshi and Taiki and Yaten talked to Hikaru to ask how she was.

"She says she's all right but she's hurting. I'm sure."

Kira turned her head to look at Aoi when she spoke.

Aoi's blue green eyes were fixed on Hikaru and there still remained her serene smile.

Kira turned again to look at Hikaru.

The girl was looking put out by the arrangement, but Josei, Amai and the others were trying to convince her that everything will be all right soon if she would rest.

Hikaru smiled a bit when Yaten said something to Minako that made the blond now-man exclaim comically, which also made the others laugh.

"Hikaru-chan is so strong."

Aoi's blue green eyes sparkled whenever she smiled.

She still smiles beyond the pain.

Kira's gaze was once more riveted to Aoi.

Aoi was laughing along with the others at the spectacle that was Yaten and Minako.

She's hurting, Striker. Open your eyes.

I thought you wanted to protect her.

Kira frowned as she recalled Satsu's cryptic words.

What did he mean by all that?