AN: Ah! I'm being drowned in good reviews! *laughs* No...but another wild thank you to everyone who's reviewing! *cheers* Sorry this couldn't get out sooner; I've been bombed with work and my new obsession for Final Fantasy AMVs. Oh yeah, I know it would make it less confusing to use only one point of view (Usagi's or narrators) but I need to show/say some things without giving too much away. Sorry if it's too befuddling. I'll shut up and let you read now, byes!
Disclaimer: I don't own sailor moon. (ha!) less that 15 words!
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Desire's Deceit
* * *
It had been one week.
One full week for me to grieve and prepare myself for Michiru's funeral. Garbed in my trademark of all black, I stood away from her family and friends, as her teary-eyed mother read the eulogy.
She was an elegant woman, and she held many of the traits I had seen in Michiru. Her long aquamarine waves, her soft lilting voice, and the pale skin, all hurt to look at because of the similarities to Michiru. But where Michiru had aqua eyes, her mother had amber, and where she had been quiet and insightful, her mother was nosey and shallow.
She spoke of Michiru's many talents, the great things she had achieved in her short time, and the tragedy of her early death. Her wording wasn't adequate, and I felt that Michiru deserved better; she always would.
Since no body could be recovered, there was no casket to be lowered into the ground. In place of it they had ordered a monument of an angel with eighteen dozen dried roses to surround it; to represent her death at the mere age of 18.
I missed her. It hurt as if someone had taken sandpaper and rubbed it all around my heart until it was sore and bleeding in the area Michiru had occupied, and everywhere the blood touched became a festering, infected wound.
My whole being ached.
I hadn't seen Makoto or Mamoru since I had been dropped off at my house, and I was quite glad. I'm not in any state of mental, physical, or emotional health right now, and dealing with them would be just too much right now.
I had been on high alert since the incident with the message, and after several mountains of paperwork I had proven that I had no motivation to kill Michiru and that I had no idea who the murderer could be.
I was seeing Ami and Minako for dinner tonight, we all looked up to Michiru and I thought a final crying session wouldn't hurt. Ami hadn't yet grieved for Michiru, she had been focused on the dying wolf Ryo lately. When I asked her about it, she had gone fickle and immediately switched emotions from depression to aloofness.
I needed a good crying session anyway. Ever since Mamoru, my emotions had been high-strung and I had been trying not to leave myself exposed in any way. Letting it all out would be good for me.
Makoto had been in touch with me recently (face to face only once), and she had been desperately trying to find out which wolf killed Michiru so she could let me have it, but with no success. None of her pets had any reason to kill Michiru when there were plenty of late-night teenagers for snacking on out anyway.
As I watched the mourners gather around the monument I felt a tear slip down my cheek. Turning away I walked away from the other mourners. I bumped into someone as I walked not knowing where I was heading. Haruka stood in front of me as I looked up... but why wasn't she with the other mourners, grieving over her girl-friend's death? She didn't look the least bit sad either, she looked almost angry.
She grabbed my arm harshly before I could greet her, glaring at me as she pulled me closer. "Where is she?" she growled, her voice low and threatening.
"Where is who?" I asked nervously, wondering who she could be talking about.
Haruka's eyes narrowed. "Michiru damn it! Where the hell is she?" I pulled away from her in shock, had she gone insane?
"Michiru's gone, Haruka-chan. This is her funeral you're at...you know that right? I saw her...before her body disappeared. I don't know what happened to her Haruka, and I don't know where her body went. No one does, I'm sorry. I know you two had a thing for each other..."She cut me off sharply.
"A thing, a thing...I love her Usagi." Before I could correct her and tell her to make it past tense, she again cut me off. "She's not dead, I would have felt something." I looked up at her with sympathy, she just wouldn't let go.
"Haru-chan...I saw" I broke off as I noticed her eyes flickering insanely, her pupils reflecting chaos. Before I could react she had slapped me across the face, and as I turned back towards her, I tasted a copper tang. She had split my lip.
"We had a blood-bond Usagi! Rei performed the ceremony, and we both went through all the steps. I know it worked because I could feel her emotions, just by looking at her. So I don't care what anyone else says, Michiru is NOT DEAD." Her breathing was labored, and for a moment I thought she might faint.
Why would someone want to fake Michiru's death? "Who would do something like that..." I trailed off as I thought about all the possibilities.
Haruka gave me a hard piercing look, and scoffed. "Apparently you don't know anything useful. I'm done here, call me if you decide you want to find Michiru."
I watched as she marched away detachedly. No wonder Makoto couldn't find out about anything concerning Michiru's death, she wasn't dead!
I knew about blood bonds...not a lot, but I knew the basics. First, there was a 'joining', then the vows of protection and devotion, and then the initial blood-bond was made. There were three ceremonies, but I didn't know about the others. The first ceremony bound two people for life, and let both people feel the others emotions through eye-contact. It successfully enhanced the connection between the two people each time it was performed...but I didn't know exactly what changed each time.
But the fact Haruka had formed a blood-bond with Michiru startled me. I didn't know it could be performed with members of the same gender, but now that I did I wondered if maybe it could be possible for Haruka not to feel Michiru die.
There was only one way I was going to get my answers.
I had to go see Rei, the resident Shinto-priestess.
* * *
After what felt like a hike up a small mountain, I finished my journey up the temple's stairs. Huffing and puffing, I leant up against the archway that proclaimed the temple to be sacred ground. As soon as I could breath normally again, I stood back up and walked around, surveying what was going on.
A shaggy-headed man was sitting behind a small booth at the edge of the temple itself, selling good-luck charms to a long line of schoolgirls as they chattered away about the authenticity of the charms. Behind the stand was a small triangular building with a steeply layered roof, what I guessed to be the temple. As I continued to look around a flash of black caught my attention and before I could investigate further I heard the grating sound of an old man's weathered voice.
"Greetings!" He croaked happily, his bald head and squat posture reminding me of a frog. "Aren't you a pretty girl...would you like to work at my temple?" Although he seemed nice enough, I already had a job.
"No thank you sir," I cleared my throat uncomfortably. "I already have a job..." Before I could continue a raven-haired banshee ran up behind the poor old man, witch's broomstick in hand and hair fanning out behind her.
"Grandpa!" She screeched, bashing him over the head with her broom. "We don't need anymore people to help run the temple! Yuuichirou and I do fine!" She puffed out her chest like a peacock and looked up at me apologetically. "I'm soo sorry! He does this all the time..." She shoved the stumpy old man behind her, "Was he bothering you? I can get you a free charm if you'd like to make up for his disruption of your day..."
I shook my head, hearing the whining and complaining the old man was doing behind her. "No...actually he seemed very nice. I didn't come here for a charm though, I was looking for the Shinto priestess Rei." She smiled proudly at me.
"You've found her!" She again flashed her pearly whites and held her broom to the side. "What can I help you with then?"
I looked around at the giggling schoolgirls, the blushing workman (who I now knew was named Yuuichirou), the slightly-perverted old man, and then back to the priestess in front of me. "We need to speak somewhere private. I have to ask you something." Her eyes darkened at my comment, and for a moment I though I had offended her in some way, but then the she nodded and started to walk towards the paper door that lead to the heart of the shrine. I followed behind her mutely, wondering what the inside of the temple would look like.
It was cooler inside, but the rest was the same. The triangular patterns still ran through the walls and the floor was still wood and cobblestones. Rei moved into a brighter, warmer room, and I quickly went in behind her. She shut the door behind me and as I turned around I gasped, noticing a huge bonfire blazing in the middle of the room.
"That is the Sacred Fire," she explained quietly, patting my shoulder. "It won't burn the temple down or hurt you." I breathed a small sigh of relief. Walking into a building and finding a huge fire in the middle of the complex was not something I was use to, no matter how strange the things I WAS use to were.
I decided to cut through the formalities and go ahead and ask her the question that was confusing me so well. "Tell me about blood-bonds between members of the same gender." She smiled slightly, but I could see a small frown tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Why would you want to know about blood-bonds between members of the same sex?" She raised one eyebrow at me, challengingly. I had always loved a good challenge though.
"What does it matter. Tell me and I'll leave, otherwise I'll just go right back out there and tell your 'grandpa' that working at this temple has become a very good idea to me." Her face flushed and her eyes narrowed in anger. Wasn't she quick to light up.
"I don't have to tell you. In fact, I don't think I want to." She tossed her hair snootily and I felt a smirk pull my lip up. As I began to walk towards the door she grabbed my arm and stopped me. "Fine. Just...don't ever come back to this shrine again." She took a deep breath before looking me in the eyes.
"A blood-bond with two of the same sex works almost exactly the same as that of one with two of opposite sexes. But, the difference is...they don't have to do the joining for the first ceremony, but it makes the bond weaker. The first time it's finished there is barely any change, maybe a stronger friendship between them at most. I haven't done many ceremonies for members of the same gender, but usually they say they can 'feel' the other's emotions by looking at them, after the first part of course. The secon-"
I cut her off, needed to get my answer faster than the lecture she was delivering. "Can one person feel it if the other dies? Without eye contact?" She nodded slowly, and I could see her eyes calculating my reaction already. I didn't give her the honor of any expression, I left my face impassive and emotionless.
"Thank you for your time. I should be going now, I have dinner with a friend to attend." She gave a slight nod again and muttered a soft blessing as I headed for the door. I'd bet my lunch money it was customary to bless those who came to the temple or she wouldn't do it, she seemed to hate me a lot.
I stopped before I exited, turning around to look at her.
"Are you hungry? I'm heading out to dinner and I'm sure another addition couldn't hurt..." I knew I shouldn't be trying to make friends with this feisty and slightly mean-spirited priestess, but she would make a nice addition to our group. She could probably provide us with holy water, evil wards and spiritual guidance. What, you thought I actually invited her just to become friends with her?
She stood there looking at me penetratingly for a moment, before smiling. "I am kind of hungry. Dinner would be great, just let me change clothes and tell grandpa I'm leaving." I grinned at her retreating back as she walked out the door. Mission accomplished.
Ten minutes later, we were both hiking down the front steps to the shrine, sweaty and tired even though we were going downhill this time. "Why..." I broke off as I gulped in some needed oxygen, "do you have," again I stopped to pant some, "so many friggin'" I quit walking to catch my breath, "stairs to the temple?"
She looked at me in amusement, even though she was in just as bad shape as I was, and stopped walking too. "It symbolizes hard work and determination to reach your final goal, and the ascent up a stairway towards the afterlife, and in Christian terms 'heaven.'" She smiled as I nodded, only half understanding what she was saying.
"Those who are weak of heart cannot make the climb and turn back after only a few flights. But those who can are greatly rewarded."
"Yeah...with good-luck charms..." I grumbled as I started to trek down again. She frowned at me and bashed me upside the head.
"Those good-luck charms really work! You shouldn't make fun of them..." she trailed off as if remembering something. She looked at me again and laughed. "I don't know your name."
I smirked evilly, thinking up all the weird things I could make her call me, but then I remembered that Ami and Minako were going to be at dinner calling me 'Usagi' so there wasn't much of a point. "Usagi" I whooped as I stepped off the last stair, happy to have finally finished the descent. I gestured to the right and began walking alongside Rei.
I think Haruka needed to come to dinner. I needed some way to trap Rei into becoming our spiritual point...and Haruka seemed like the perfect way to do it. If I invited her, and then she showed up with all our new 'treats' Rei would for sure feel compelled to ask what it was for...right? And maybe I could guilt her into it...or maybe Ami could help me trick her into agreeing...
I smiled and pulled out my cell phone, speed-dialing Haruka's number. "Haruka-chan, are you free for dinner tonight?" I paused as she answered. "Great. Hey listen...I'm sorry about earlier...I've realized you were just telling me the truth, even if I didn't want to hear it. Meet me at Asuka's allright?" I gave a predatory smile as I hung up. Success.
Rei was giving me a strange look, but I just brushed it off with a shrug. "I'm just calling some more friends. We could make this a group thing." Insert fake cheesy smile here.
If plan A failed though...I would have to have a backup plan. I might have to force her into joining our group...so...who to call. I knew just the person. Digging around in my purse I soon came up with a small scrap of paper with a phone number on it. I'm so glad I put this into my purse when she gave it to me the other day. "Makoto? Hey, it's Usagi, I need to call in a favor..."
* * *
Haruka had failed to bring us any treats. She probably didn't want to be caught in public with some of the things she carried around sometimes...Most of dinner went smoothly, until we got to the crying session, which I had been prepared for craziness. So, one hour and two hundred sobs later...
"No." Well, that was sure fast.
"Please Rei...we need you," I could see the hesitation on her face and quickly took advantage of it. "You'd be helping out everyone!"
She seemed to be thinking about it...
"No." I let out a defeated sigh, turning pleading eyes to Haruka. I had hoped it wouldn't come to this...and after such a nice crying session too...
"Rei-chan, you remember Haruka right? You did a bonding ceremony for her and her..." I coughed pointedly, "Friend. Well, something is fishy because her friend has turned up 'dead' and she hasn't felt anything. We need your expert advice on how to use the bond to get her back."
Rei looked sternly at me, and then glanced at Haruka. More like glared. "Fine." Before I could clap my hands gleefully she held up a hand. "BUT, the second I want out, I'm out. Got it?" I gave her a puppy dog face, or at least, my best attempt at it.
"What makes you think you'll want out?" I grinned at her and slung my around her shoulder, which she shrugged off. "Fine. Deal." I held out my hand, neatly concealing the seaweed and rice that coated the inside of it. Five..four...three...two...
"EW! Gross! What's the slimey thing in your hand!" She frantically rubbed at her napkin, her hand covered in the remnants of my sushi.
"Sushi delight...of course." I smiled. I liked Rei already, gullible, almost as sneaky as me, and determined. She would make the perfect recruit.
* * *
After dinner, I headed back towards Minako's house, Minako apparently had a new ward for evil and I wanted to know everything I could about it.
As soon as she pulled out the pretty looking white things...the first thing that came to my mind was of course, sugar. "What're you making Minako? I want some.."
"Don't be silly Usagi, of course I'm not making food with these! They're flowers!" She held them up so I could see that indeed, they were white lilies, not sugar cubes. Wah "I'm making a ward. Most evil creatures can handle a regular injury no problem, but if they walk through a purity ward, made from these lilies, they will be weak to physical attack when in the perimeter of it, and sometimes the weaker ones just don't go near these wards at all."
I let out a little smile at Minako. She was excited about this, which meant she had only recently found out about it. Which meant that she had found another ancient text book. I let my smile widen at the promise of more help.
"Once you've pulled all the petals off, you tilt your hand so they slip out of it and take the last petal and put your blood on it. It doesn't matter where you get the blood from..." I felt an evil smirk curl my lips and before I could ask the question on my mind Minako beat me to it.
"Get your head out of the gutter Usa-chan!" She knows me way too well.
"You caught me." I grinned, Minako was just such a good person to be around. "Could you use them as a weapon?" Hey, I needed all the help I could get.
"Sure you could, but it wouldn't be a very good weapon. You just say "Pratyu," and throw the lily at them. When it touches their skin they will be weak to physical damage for at least a few seconds. Lilies aren't generally used like that Usagi, it doesn't last long enough to be considered a real 'fatal' weapon. Stick with your stakes, knives and guns." She smiled cheekily at me.
"I'm going to be performing the ward ceremony on Ryo...it should delay his death and pain for at least a little bit. It's going to drain me though, so I need you to stay here until I finish so you can help me go lay down." She picked up a lily and a small dagger from the wall stash. She didn't follow the same rules as me (mainly the 'hide all your weapons' rule).
We both went into the room with an unconscious Ryo on the ground moaning. I didn't know what to feel. He was dying...but he must have killed so many...he was a lycanthrope...I didn't know whether I should be crying, smiling or just impassive. Pushing my thoughts aside I helped Minako set herself up, incase she fainted or fell over.
She leaned over Ryo, pulling off the petals of the white flower off one by one, letting them slowly fall through her fingers and onto Ryo. Holding out the dagger she pricked her finger and smeared the blood onto the last petal, before letting it drop to rest with the others. Carefully lifting her hand straight up she whispered. "Pratyu."
That was when everything exploded in light. I felt something heavy crash into me, which I quickly caught, hoping it wasn't anything too expensive or breakable. For two frantic seconds I couldn't see past the blinding brightness, before everything faded back to normal the second after. I blinked owlishly, trying to get rid of the sun-spots all around, and noticed what had fallen on me. Minako.
She was glowing slightly, and sweating profusely. Panic started to grip my insides before I remembered she told me she might be weak after the ceremony. Carefully straightening her up so that I didn't injure her, I started to pull her towards her cot. She was mumbling under her breath all the way, but I could only catch fragments of it.
"Crystalu...daerku...hiiru...colodu...blood..." she let out a heavy snore and I wondered if she usually had nightmares. I felt a chill crawl down my spine as I thought about her words. Crystalu, daerku, Hiiru, colodu and blood. Briefly I wondered if she was referring to an incantation of spell, but I couldn't hear all of what she was saying, so I'll just have to let my curiosity rest for a while and ask her later.
I pushed her blankets up more on her, and took the dagger out of her hand, which was now bleeding because she had been gripping it too hard and too close to the blade. She must have cut herself...I walked to the sink and poured her a wet washcloth before going back over and wiping off the cut and wrapping it with the wet cloth. Minako...what am I going to do with you.
Suddenly she bolted up right, scaring me out of my mind. She grabbed me with her bloody washclothed hand and looked at me, her eyes dilated at large.
"It is coming. Escape..." She fell over again, her grip on my arm loosening and falling slack. I couldn't shake her words though...although Rei was suppose to be the rumored prophet psychic girl, I wondered if Minako could also see things that others couldn't. She was an eidolon after all...
Another chill crawled up my back, making me shiver. I decided I would leave Minako for now...but she had some serious questions coming her way when I came back.
* * *
I awoke feeling as though everything in the world was right, and nothing could possibly go wrong for any reason. I also felt incredibly tired. So when he walked in and started firing 100 questions...I was completely docile and answered every single one of them.
"So...tell me about this...what is it, and what happened to it?"
"It's my girl-friends. I don't know what it is...or WHERE it is now...it just inspired me, because it looked so pretty...I don't know why." I went quiet. I was getting very sleepy...
"Hmm...interesting. Can you tell me your girl-friends name?"
I yawned tiredly, I really wanted to go to sleep now... "Ruka-chan" I managed to smile proudly, thinking about Haruka. "She's one of the top racers on the street. She's never lost a race."
"Thank you. You've been a great help. I'm going to have to..." I felt my eyes close halfway through his sentence, the rest of what he was saying blurring and warping as drowsiness stole my attention and sleep floated in.
"...Good night Michiru...sleep tight." Two fangs glinted in the harsh lighting, but I was obliviously ignorant of them.
* * *
AN: I'm sorry this chapter didn't turn out to be 20 pages even though I set myself a goal that it would be...but so much has happened these last few months...forgive...forgive....*goes down on one knee* I hope you liked the chapter, and just remember, although Mamoru has yet to reappear, he is lurking...for now. He will be back full blown soon, so don't demand more Mamo. This chapter may have seemed very boring, but everything has it's purpose...*insert evil smile here* Muahahahah *runs off to hide from flamers* Review! ^^
Disclaimer: I don't own sailor moon. (ha!) less that 15 words!
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Desire's Deceit
* * *
It had been one week.
One full week for me to grieve and prepare myself for Michiru's funeral. Garbed in my trademark of all black, I stood away from her family and friends, as her teary-eyed mother read the eulogy.
She was an elegant woman, and she held many of the traits I had seen in Michiru. Her long aquamarine waves, her soft lilting voice, and the pale skin, all hurt to look at because of the similarities to Michiru. But where Michiru had aqua eyes, her mother had amber, and where she had been quiet and insightful, her mother was nosey and shallow.
She spoke of Michiru's many talents, the great things she had achieved in her short time, and the tragedy of her early death. Her wording wasn't adequate, and I felt that Michiru deserved better; she always would.
Since no body could be recovered, there was no casket to be lowered into the ground. In place of it they had ordered a monument of an angel with eighteen dozen dried roses to surround it; to represent her death at the mere age of 18.
I missed her. It hurt as if someone had taken sandpaper and rubbed it all around my heart until it was sore and bleeding in the area Michiru had occupied, and everywhere the blood touched became a festering, infected wound.
My whole being ached.
I hadn't seen Makoto or Mamoru since I had been dropped off at my house, and I was quite glad. I'm not in any state of mental, physical, or emotional health right now, and dealing with them would be just too much right now.
I had been on high alert since the incident with the message, and after several mountains of paperwork I had proven that I had no motivation to kill Michiru and that I had no idea who the murderer could be.
I was seeing Ami and Minako for dinner tonight, we all looked up to Michiru and I thought a final crying session wouldn't hurt. Ami hadn't yet grieved for Michiru, she had been focused on the dying wolf Ryo lately. When I asked her about it, she had gone fickle and immediately switched emotions from depression to aloofness.
I needed a good crying session anyway. Ever since Mamoru, my emotions had been high-strung and I had been trying not to leave myself exposed in any way. Letting it all out would be good for me.
Makoto had been in touch with me recently (face to face only once), and she had been desperately trying to find out which wolf killed Michiru so she could let me have it, but with no success. None of her pets had any reason to kill Michiru when there were plenty of late-night teenagers for snacking on out anyway.
As I watched the mourners gather around the monument I felt a tear slip down my cheek. Turning away I walked away from the other mourners. I bumped into someone as I walked not knowing where I was heading. Haruka stood in front of me as I looked up... but why wasn't she with the other mourners, grieving over her girl-friend's death? She didn't look the least bit sad either, she looked almost angry.
She grabbed my arm harshly before I could greet her, glaring at me as she pulled me closer. "Where is she?" she growled, her voice low and threatening.
"Where is who?" I asked nervously, wondering who she could be talking about.
Haruka's eyes narrowed. "Michiru damn it! Where the hell is she?" I pulled away from her in shock, had she gone insane?
"Michiru's gone, Haruka-chan. This is her funeral you're at...you know that right? I saw her...before her body disappeared. I don't know what happened to her Haruka, and I don't know where her body went. No one does, I'm sorry. I know you two had a thing for each other..."She cut me off sharply.
"A thing, a thing...I love her Usagi." Before I could correct her and tell her to make it past tense, she again cut me off. "She's not dead, I would have felt something." I looked up at her with sympathy, she just wouldn't let go.
"Haru-chan...I saw" I broke off as I noticed her eyes flickering insanely, her pupils reflecting chaos. Before I could react she had slapped me across the face, and as I turned back towards her, I tasted a copper tang. She had split my lip.
"We had a blood-bond Usagi! Rei performed the ceremony, and we both went through all the steps. I know it worked because I could feel her emotions, just by looking at her. So I don't care what anyone else says, Michiru is NOT DEAD." Her breathing was labored, and for a moment I thought she might faint.
Why would someone want to fake Michiru's death? "Who would do something like that..." I trailed off as I thought about all the possibilities.
Haruka gave me a hard piercing look, and scoffed. "Apparently you don't know anything useful. I'm done here, call me if you decide you want to find Michiru."
I watched as she marched away detachedly. No wonder Makoto couldn't find out about anything concerning Michiru's death, she wasn't dead!
I knew about blood bonds...not a lot, but I knew the basics. First, there was a 'joining', then the vows of protection and devotion, and then the initial blood-bond was made. There were three ceremonies, but I didn't know about the others. The first ceremony bound two people for life, and let both people feel the others emotions through eye-contact. It successfully enhanced the connection between the two people each time it was performed...but I didn't know exactly what changed each time.
But the fact Haruka had formed a blood-bond with Michiru startled me. I didn't know it could be performed with members of the same gender, but now that I did I wondered if maybe it could be possible for Haruka not to feel Michiru die.
There was only one way I was going to get my answers.
I had to go see Rei, the resident Shinto-priestess.
* * *
After what felt like a hike up a small mountain, I finished my journey up the temple's stairs. Huffing and puffing, I leant up against the archway that proclaimed the temple to be sacred ground. As soon as I could breath normally again, I stood back up and walked around, surveying what was going on.
A shaggy-headed man was sitting behind a small booth at the edge of the temple itself, selling good-luck charms to a long line of schoolgirls as they chattered away about the authenticity of the charms. Behind the stand was a small triangular building with a steeply layered roof, what I guessed to be the temple. As I continued to look around a flash of black caught my attention and before I could investigate further I heard the grating sound of an old man's weathered voice.
"Greetings!" He croaked happily, his bald head and squat posture reminding me of a frog. "Aren't you a pretty girl...would you like to work at my temple?" Although he seemed nice enough, I already had a job.
"No thank you sir," I cleared my throat uncomfortably. "I already have a job..." Before I could continue a raven-haired banshee ran up behind the poor old man, witch's broomstick in hand and hair fanning out behind her.
"Grandpa!" She screeched, bashing him over the head with her broom. "We don't need anymore people to help run the temple! Yuuichirou and I do fine!" She puffed out her chest like a peacock and looked up at me apologetically. "I'm soo sorry! He does this all the time..." She shoved the stumpy old man behind her, "Was he bothering you? I can get you a free charm if you'd like to make up for his disruption of your day..."
I shook my head, hearing the whining and complaining the old man was doing behind her. "No...actually he seemed very nice. I didn't come here for a charm though, I was looking for the Shinto priestess Rei." She smiled proudly at me.
"You've found her!" She again flashed her pearly whites and held her broom to the side. "What can I help you with then?"
I looked around at the giggling schoolgirls, the blushing workman (who I now knew was named Yuuichirou), the slightly-perverted old man, and then back to the priestess in front of me. "We need to speak somewhere private. I have to ask you something." Her eyes darkened at my comment, and for a moment I though I had offended her in some way, but then the she nodded and started to walk towards the paper door that lead to the heart of the shrine. I followed behind her mutely, wondering what the inside of the temple would look like.
It was cooler inside, but the rest was the same. The triangular patterns still ran through the walls and the floor was still wood and cobblestones. Rei moved into a brighter, warmer room, and I quickly went in behind her. She shut the door behind me and as I turned around I gasped, noticing a huge bonfire blazing in the middle of the room.
"That is the Sacred Fire," she explained quietly, patting my shoulder. "It won't burn the temple down or hurt you." I breathed a small sigh of relief. Walking into a building and finding a huge fire in the middle of the complex was not something I was use to, no matter how strange the things I WAS use to were.
I decided to cut through the formalities and go ahead and ask her the question that was confusing me so well. "Tell me about blood-bonds between members of the same gender." She smiled slightly, but I could see a small frown tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Why would you want to know about blood-bonds between members of the same sex?" She raised one eyebrow at me, challengingly. I had always loved a good challenge though.
"What does it matter. Tell me and I'll leave, otherwise I'll just go right back out there and tell your 'grandpa' that working at this temple has become a very good idea to me." Her face flushed and her eyes narrowed in anger. Wasn't she quick to light up.
"I don't have to tell you. In fact, I don't think I want to." She tossed her hair snootily and I felt a smirk pull my lip up. As I began to walk towards the door she grabbed my arm and stopped me. "Fine. Just...don't ever come back to this shrine again." She took a deep breath before looking me in the eyes.
"A blood-bond with two of the same sex works almost exactly the same as that of one with two of opposite sexes. But, the difference is...they don't have to do the joining for the first ceremony, but it makes the bond weaker. The first time it's finished there is barely any change, maybe a stronger friendship between them at most. I haven't done many ceremonies for members of the same gender, but usually they say they can 'feel' the other's emotions by looking at them, after the first part of course. The secon-"
I cut her off, needed to get my answer faster than the lecture she was delivering. "Can one person feel it if the other dies? Without eye contact?" She nodded slowly, and I could see her eyes calculating my reaction already. I didn't give her the honor of any expression, I left my face impassive and emotionless.
"Thank you for your time. I should be going now, I have dinner with a friend to attend." She gave a slight nod again and muttered a soft blessing as I headed for the door. I'd bet my lunch money it was customary to bless those who came to the temple or she wouldn't do it, she seemed to hate me a lot.
I stopped before I exited, turning around to look at her.
"Are you hungry? I'm heading out to dinner and I'm sure another addition couldn't hurt..." I knew I shouldn't be trying to make friends with this feisty and slightly mean-spirited priestess, but she would make a nice addition to our group. She could probably provide us with holy water, evil wards and spiritual guidance. What, you thought I actually invited her just to become friends with her?
She stood there looking at me penetratingly for a moment, before smiling. "I am kind of hungry. Dinner would be great, just let me change clothes and tell grandpa I'm leaving." I grinned at her retreating back as she walked out the door. Mission accomplished.
Ten minutes later, we were both hiking down the front steps to the shrine, sweaty and tired even though we were going downhill this time. "Why..." I broke off as I gulped in some needed oxygen, "do you have," again I stopped to pant some, "so many friggin'" I quit walking to catch my breath, "stairs to the temple?"
She looked at me in amusement, even though she was in just as bad shape as I was, and stopped walking too. "It symbolizes hard work and determination to reach your final goal, and the ascent up a stairway towards the afterlife, and in Christian terms 'heaven.'" She smiled as I nodded, only half understanding what she was saying.
"Those who are weak of heart cannot make the climb and turn back after only a few flights. But those who can are greatly rewarded."
"Yeah...with good-luck charms..." I grumbled as I started to trek down again. She frowned at me and bashed me upside the head.
"Those good-luck charms really work! You shouldn't make fun of them..." she trailed off as if remembering something. She looked at me again and laughed. "I don't know your name."
I smirked evilly, thinking up all the weird things I could make her call me, but then I remembered that Ami and Minako were going to be at dinner calling me 'Usagi' so there wasn't much of a point. "Usagi" I whooped as I stepped off the last stair, happy to have finally finished the descent. I gestured to the right and began walking alongside Rei.
I think Haruka needed to come to dinner. I needed some way to trap Rei into becoming our spiritual point...and Haruka seemed like the perfect way to do it. If I invited her, and then she showed up with all our new 'treats' Rei would for sure feel compelled to ask what it was for...right? And maybe I could guilt her into it...or maybe Ami could help me trick her into agreeing...
I smiled and pulled out my cell phone, speed-dialing Haruka's number. "Haruka-chan, are you free for dinner tonight?" I paused as she answered. "Great. Hey listen...I'm sorry about earlier...I've realized you were just telling me the truth, even if I didn't want to hear it. Meet me at Asuka's allright?" I gave a predatory smile as I hung up. Success.
Rei was giving me a strange look, but I just brushed it off with a shrug. "I'm just calling some more friends. We could make this a group thing." Insert fake cheesy smile here.
If plan A failed though...I would have to have a backup plan. I might have to force her into joining our group...so...who to call. I knew just the person. Digging around in my purse I soon came up with a small scrap of paper with a phone number on it. I'm so glad I put this into my purse when she gave it to me the other day. "Makoto? Hey, it's Usagi, I need to call in a favor..."
* * *
Haruka had failed to bring us any treats. She probably didn't want to be caught in public with some of the things she carried around sometimes...Most of dinner went smoothly, until we got to the crying session, which I had been prepared for craziness. So, one hour and two hundred sobs later...
"No." Well, that was sure fast.
"Please Rei...we need you," I could see the hesitation on her face and quickly took advantage of it. "You'd be helping out everyone!"
She seemed to be thinking about it...
"No." I let out a defeated sigh, turning pleading eyes to Haruka. I had hoped it wouldn't come to this...and after such a nice crying session too...
"Rei-chan, you remember Haruka right? You did a bonding ceremony for her and her..." I coughed pointedly, "Friend. Well, something is fishy because her friend has turned up 'dead' and she hasn't felt anything. We need your expert advice on how to use the bond to get her back."
Rei looked sternly at me, and then glanced at Haruka. More like glared. "Fine." Before I could clap my hands gleefully she held up a hand. "BUT, the second I want out, I'm out. Got it?" I gave her a puppy dog face, or at least, my best attempt at it.
"What makes you think you'll want out?" I grinned at her and slung my around her shoulder, which she shrugged off. "Fine. Deal." I held out my hand, neatly concealing the seaweed and rice that coated the inside of it. Five..four...three...two...
"EW! Gross! What's the slimey thing in your hand!" She frantically rubbed at her napkin, her hand covered in the remnants of my sushi.
"Sushi delight...of course." I smiled. I liked Rei already, gullible, almost as sneaky as me, and determined. She would make the perfect recruit.
* * *
After dinner, I headed back towards Minako's house, Minako apparently had a new ward for evil and I wanted to know everything I could about it.
As soon as she pulled out the pretty looking white things...the first thing that came to my mind was of course, sugar. "What're you making Minako? I want some.."
"Don't be silly Usagi, of course I'm not making food with these! They're flowers!" She held them up so I could see that indeed, they were white lilies, not sugar cubes. Wah "I'm making a ward. Most evil creatures can handle a regular injury no problem, but if they walk through a purity ward, made from these lilies, they will be weak to physical attack when in the perimeter of it, and sometimes the weaker ones just don't go near these wards at all."
I let out a little smile at Minako. She was excited about this, which meant she had only recently found out about it. Which meant that she had found another ancient text book. I let my smile widen at the promise of more help.
"Once you've pulled all the petals off, you tilt your hand so they slip out of it and take the last petal and put your blood on it. It doesn't matter where you get the blood from..." I felt an evil smirk curl my lips and before I could ask the question on my mind Minako beat me to it.
"Get your head out of the gutter Usa-chan!" She knows me way too well.
"You caught me." I grinned, Minako was just such a good person to be around. "Could you use them as a weapon?" Hey, I needed all the help I could get.
"Sure you could, but it wouldn't be a very good weapon. You just say "Pratyu," and throw the lily at them. When it touches their skin they will be weak to physical damage for at least a few seconds. Lilies aren't generally used like that Usagi, it doesn't last long enough to be considered a real 'fatal' weapon. Stick with your stakes, knives and guns." She smiled cheekily at me.
"I'm going to be performing the ward ceremony on Ryo...it should delay his death and pain for at least a little bit. It's going to drain me though, so I need you to stay here until I finish so you can help me go lay down." She picked up a lily and a small dagger from the wall stash. She didn't follow the same rules as me (mainly the 'hide all your weapons' rule).
We both went into the room with an unconscious Ryo on the ground moaning. I didn't know what to feel. He was dying...but he must have killed so many...he was a lycanthrope...I didn't know whether I should be crying, smiling or just impassive. Pushing my thoughts aside I helped Minako set herself up, incase she fainted or fell over.
She leaned over Ryo, pulling off the petals of the white flower off one by one, letting them slowly fall through her fingers and onto Ryo. Holding out the dagger she pricked her finger and smeared the blood onto the last petal, before letting it drop to rest with the others. Carefully lifting her hand straight up she whispered. "Pratyu."
That was when everything exploded in light. I felt something heavy crash into me, which I quickly caught, hoping it wasn't anything too expensive or breakable. For two frantic seconds I couldn't see past the blinding brightness, before everything faded back to normal the second after. I blinked owlishly, trying to get rid of the sun-spots all around, and noticed what had fallen on me. Minako.
She was glowing slightly, and sweating profusely. Panic started to grip my insides before I remembered she told me she might be weak after the ceremony. Carefully straightening her up so that I didn't injure her, I started to pull her towards her cot. She was mumbling under her breath all the way, but I could only catch fragments of it.
"Crystalu...daerku...hiiru...colodu...blood..." she let out a heavy snore and I wondered if she usually had nightmares. I felt a chill crawl down my spine as I thought about her words. Crystalu, daerku, Hiiru, colodu and blood. Briefly I wondered if she was referring to an incantation of spell, but I couldn't hear all of what she was saying, so I'll just have to let my curiosity rest for a while and ask her later.
I pushed her blankets up more on her, and took the dagger out of her hand, which was now bleeding because she had been gripping it too hard and too close to the blade. She must have cut herself...I walked to the sink and poured her a wet washcloth before going back over and wiping off the cut and wrapping it with the wet cloth. Minako...what am I going to do with you.
Suddenly she bolted up right, scaring me out of my mind. She grabbed me with her bloody washclothed hand and looked at me, her eyes dilated at large.
"It is coming. Escape..." She fell over again, her grip on my arm loosening and falling slack. I couldn't shake her words though...although Rei was suppose to be the rumored prophet psychic girl, I wondered if Minako could also see things that others couldn't. She was an eidolon after all...
Another chill crawled up my back, making me shiver. I decided I would leave Minako for now...but she had some serious questions coming her way when I came back.
* * *
I awoke feeling as though everything in the world was right, and nothing could possibly go wrong for any reason. I also felt incredibly tired. So when he walked in and started firing 100 questions...I was completely docile and answered every single one of them.
"So...tell me about this...what is it, and what happened to it?"
"It's my girl-friends. I don't know what it is...or WHERE it is now...it just inspired me, because it looked so pretty...I don't know why." I went quiet. I was getting very sleepy...
"Hmm...interesting. Can you tell me your girl-friends name?"
I yawned tiredly, I really wanted to go to sleep now... "Ruka-chan" I managed to smile proudly, thinking about Haruka. "She's one of the top racers on the street. She's never lost a race."
"Thank you. You've been a great help. I'm going to have to..." I felt my eyes close halfway through his sentence, the rest of what he was saying blurring and warping as drowsiness stole my attention and sleep floated in.
"...Good night Michiru...sleep tight." Two fangs glinted in the harsh lighting, but I was obliviously ignorant of them.
* * *
AN: I'm sorry this chapter didn't turn out to be 20 pages even though I set myself a goal that it would be...but so much has happened these last few months...forgive...forgive....*goes down on one knee* I hope you liked the chapter, and just remember, although Mamoru has yet to reappear, he is lurking...for now. He will be back full blown soon, so don't demand more Mamo. This chapter may have seemed very boring, but everything has it's purpose...*insert evil smile here* Muahahahah *runs off to hide from flamers* Review! ^^