Tasuke stayed with Chiyo in her hospital room through the night, not sleeping. The Inner Senshi visited early the next morning, when Chiyo was feeling better. Kohana was well enough to be discharged, but chose to stay with Chiyo and help her heal.
"Kohana, I'll be fine! You only just got better, you shouldn't be wasting your energy." Chiyo argued.
Kohana ignored her. "Don't say such nonsense, princess. You need to get better, and I can help, so I will." Chiyo eventually gave up and let Kohana do what was needed. She had to admit, she was feeling much better. By noon she was almost completely recovered, and able to say goodbye to the Outer Senshi. She almost insisted on making them stay at the Moon kingdom with her, it wasn't safe to be separated, she wanted them with her. But in her heart, she knew that the people of all the planets would be safer with the Outers at their posts.
"I don't want you to worry at all, princess," Hakeru assured her, speaking formally in front of the passersby. "We will keep everyone safe. You have your guardians here."
"There is a powerful radar net strung out among the planets now, nothing will get in or out unnoticed." Sora said helpfully.
Yodume nodded. "And the neighboring stars have also been alarmed- all of the Senshi within range are keeping an eye out."
"If you need anything, never hesitate to contact us," Kohana insisted. She still had a flower tucked behind her ear.
Chiyo had a terrible feeling. It hadn't left her since late the night before. She hugged them each.
"I keep having to remind myself that things are different now. We are Senshi. Things are more dangerous now." She looked intently at Hakeru as she said "I just worry about everyone."
Hakeru, looking serene as always, smiled a small delicate smile. She met Chiyo's gaze, saying "I told you. There will be nothing to be worried about." With that, the girls got into the transporter and left. Chiyo felt empty as Hakeru's words echoed in her mind.
Umi was meeting Koushi and Mikomi for lunch that morning. The Inners had all decided that it would be smart to stay in their fuku for the time being, and as they walked through the streets of the Moon kingdom, got more looks than they expected. Children would stare open-mouthed, and tug on their mother's skirt. A woman ran up to them and gave them each a deep red rose, repeating "bless you, bless you. . . " It occurred to them that these people had only heard legends of the Senshi, never really seen one. Now there were three of them walking down their street!
Their favorite restaurant was called Rhea's, and was owned by an old man an his dutiful daughter, Ryoshi. Ryoshi was almost twenty-five now, married and with a young son of her own. As soon as the girls opened her doors, she cleared the best table in the house and offered them a seat.
"Where's Lady Kei? And the princess?" Ryoshi asked, as she set the table.
"They didn't feel like coming," said Koushi shortly.
Sensing their discomfort, she changed subjects. "Fair enough. . . You guys look great in your uniforms!" She said with a smile. Again, the response was dismal, with only Mikomi managing a polite "thank you". Her efforts failing again, she handed them the menus and quietly returned to her other clients.
Koushi gazed at the rose in her hand. She made it blossom out fully, redder than before. Then she made it fade, drying into a red and brown shell of a rose. She sighed, setting it on the table.
"Well, I guess I'll start the conversation." Umi began. I've done my research on this Eidre character. Apparently, we weren't the first victims of an attack like that. She working in a straight line, from the center of our galaxy outwards, conquering whoever she can in her path. It's been going on for centuries now."
Koushi lifted an eyebrow. "Centuries? So you mean that Eidre isn't human?"
Umi shook her head. "The being named Eidre has gone by multiple other names throughout this time. That's why it's hard to find any concrete info about her."
"So she's less of a physical being, and more of an anonymous entity?" Mikomi suggested. "Like a spirit?"
"That's what I'm thinking." Replied Umi. They stopped talking as a waiter stopped by their table and wrote their orders down. After he had left, they resumed the conversation. "Every time, it's the same tactics. Take over the body of a person in power, and break their defenses from the inside out. I don't think that when she took the body of Queen Ayeka, she knew what she was getting herself into, though."
"What do you mean?" Asked Koushi, intrigued.
"All of Eidre's other targets have succumbed to her power within months, weeks even. Queen Ayeka was battling against Eidre for sixteen years before she gave in." Umi was leaning in towards the table, talking as loudly as she dared. When a voice suddenly came from outside the table, the girls jumped.
"She is the mother of a Senshi." Kei stood over them, flanked by Tasuke and Ken. They pulled up chairs and joined the girls. Mikomi couldn't help but notice how dashing Kei could look, even in a short skirt, high heels and big. . . bows. She blushed.
Umi smiled. "Exactly. The birth of a Senshi to any parents, royal or otherwise, automatically blesses the parents with a holy protection power. It's universal law."
Ken cleared his throat. "What I couldn't figure out, was why didn't Eidre just pull out? I mean, if it was going to be such a problem, why didn't she just switch to an easier victim?"
The girls looked as if they hadn't seen him there before. Senshi business hardly seemed like something to be sharing with Ken. "Uh, Ken, I don't want to sound rude but, why are you here?" Koushi asked.
Ken shrugged. "Why are any of us here?" He said in a misty voice. Tasuke elbowed him.
"He's with me," Tasuke corrected.
The girls were silent, exchanging looks. Koushi began again. "This is Senshi business, Ken. I don't think-" She looked at him stopped talking, staring.
Mikomi gasped, and Umi leapt towards him over the table.
"It's true!" Umi said loudly. She held Ken's face between her hands, staring at the glowing yellow Sun sign on his forehead. His eyes were also glowing a golden-red.
"What's true?" asked Kei, bewildered.
"They left it out of the royal copies of the Senshi Legends, but there was a very short stanza that alluded to a Guardian of the Sun, who would come from the royal family of the Moon."
"Is there anything you don't know, Umi?" Ken managed to say through his squished face. Umi apologized and released her grip.
"Why in the world would they eliminate a detail like that?" Mikomi inquired. She too was examining the symbol on Ken's forehead.
"Because it didn't match the format of the rest of the legends. They thought someone added it as a hoax. If you want to know my opinion, I think that it was the beginning of another book of Senshi history, they just never found it." She recoiled back into her seat, with the waiter delivering their food trying to look up her skirt. Kei glared at him and he disappeared quickly. Tasuke caught the attention of a nearby waitress so the ones who came late could order something to eat.
"We can look into that later," said Koushi. "Let's get back to Eidre. Umi, is there any kind of pattern to her attacks? Should we know what to expect next?"
Umi winced. Still stealing glances at the Sun symbol. "Not really. I think the tactics she uses are based on the kingdom she's attacking. And I'd say that we're the biggest, if not the most influential system she's ever tried to overpower."
"That tells me that she's probably not quite sure of what to expect from us. She might even have expected that assault yesterday to do the dirty work for her." Tasuke thought aloud.
Kei was thinking along with him. "That would also explain why she would try to go for royalty this time. It's a higher position of power, she'd have more influence that way."
Koushi was nodding slowly. "This is good information." She was quiet for a moment longer, and then sat up straight. "Okay, we will have to have a plan of action here. Kei, Mikomi, I want one of you to be with the Princess at all times. If you're not with the Princess, I want you to be near Queen Imbriana. They'll both argue, but they won't have a choice. Ken and Tasuke, keep as near to King Atlas as you can. He insists on being out with the people, where he's most helpful, but most at risk. Umi, I want you to stay with Kinyume and find out everything you can about our enemy. In the mean time, I'm going to stay at the Central Defense Center, to keep an eye on the activity in space. Eidre is bound to be out there somewhere. Is everyone okay with that?"
There were nods around the table as the others got their food delivered. They all began to eat, as there was a loud slamming and commotion near the front of the restaurant. Tasuke, Ken and Kei all leapt out of their seats to see what had happened.
A tall man, plainly dressed with a large bottle of alcohol in hand, was staggering in from the streets. Ryoshi tried to call her doormen to throw him out, but he started storming towards where the Senshi sat.
"You! All of you!" Tasuke and Ken stopped the big man from hurling himself into the table.
"Whoa, calm down, sir." Tasuke instructed. "What's going on?"
"You Senshi. . . They always said you would protect us! That we would be safe as long as you were here!" His words were slurring, but the girls could tell that he knew exactly what he was saying. The stood up, watching him. "My wife and child are dead! Dead! Died yesterday with almost eighty others! Where were you when they all died? You are all failures, disgraces to your title! You're disgraces to us all!"
They were speechless. Kei regained her breath and tried to reason. "Had it not been for the efforts of us and our comrades, there would be nothing left of your city today."
"You're all failures. Couldn't even see that grand army marching at us! You dishonor the Senshi name!" He threw his cup at the table, sending plates flying. Ryoshi's guards came running from the back, and seized the man. He began to shout again as they dragged him towards the door. Mikomi felt her heart sink very low. She wanted to help this man. He had lost so much. Peace of heart would have to be enough; it was all she could give him.
"Wait!" she got up from the table and ran after them. "Wait, please." The guards stopped, and she looked the tall man in the face. He was crying now.
"Sir," she began. "May I ask your name?"
He looked at her, puzzled. "Torama. Akira Torama."
Mikomi felt the other names come to her, out of a gray mist. "Your wife, her name was Hashiko, wasn't it?"
Akira's eyes went wide. "Ye. . . Yes, it was. I called her-"
"Ha-chan," The two said together.
"Yes!" The man exclaimed, as he cried again.
"And your son, his name was Tetsuya, after your father, wasn't it?" Mikomi continued.
Akira was dumbfounded. "How do you know these things?"
Mikomi sighed, and looked down at her fuku. "I am Sailorvenus, the Senshi of love. And I can tell, Torama-san, that there was very much love in your family." At this, Akira broke down. Then, he surprised everyone by reaching out and embracing Mikomi tightly. "It's okay, Torama-san," she whispered. "Hashiko and Tetsuya will be waiting for you. They say they will be waiting for you in a land of never-ending summer."
Another moment passed, and Akira stood up, sobered and ashamed of his earlier behavior. He looked towards the table of Senshi, wanting to apologize. He was met with heartfelt smiles and honest tears in their eyes. "Bless you all," was all he could say.
That night, Chiyo and her mother ate dinner together. Kei and Mikomi lingered on the balcony that came out from the dining hall, speaking of the day's events.
"You made me realize something, Miko." began Kei. "My mother, Ayeka, she was dead a very long time ago. I guess I had always had this hope that she would get better, and things would be as they were when I was very young. But in my heart, I knew. She was already gone." She was silent, looking into Mikomi's caring eyes. "I've decided something, Miko. I want to change my name. I don't want to be Kei any more. I want to be Ayeka, out of respect for my mother."
Mikomi's eyes were instantly watery. "Ayeka," She repeated to herself. "I love it."
"Kohana, I'll be fine! You only just got better, you shouldn't be wasting your energy." Chiyo argued.
Kohana ignored her. "Don't say such nonsense, princess. You need to get better, and I can help, so I will." Chiyo eventually gave up and let Kohana do what was needed. She had to admit, she was feeling much better. By noon she was almost completely recovered, and able to say goodbye to the Outer Senshi. She almost insisted on making them stay at the Moon kingdom with her, it wasn't safe to be separated, she wanted them with her. But in her heart, she knew that the people of all the planets would be safer with the Outers at their posts.
"I don't want you to worry at all, princess," Hakeru assured her, speaking formally in front of the passersby. "We will keep everyone safe. You have your guardians here."
"There is a powerful radar net strung out among the planets now, nothing will get in or out unnoticed." Sora said helpfully.
Yodume nodded. "And the neighboring stars have also been alarmed- all of the Senshi within range are keeping an eye out."
"If you need anything, never hesitate to contact us," Kohana insisted. She still had a flower tucked behind her ear.
Chiyo had a terrible feeling. It hadn't left her since late the night before. She hugged them each.
"I keep having to remind myself that things are different now. We are Senshi. Things are more dangerous now." She looked intently at Hakeru as she said "I just worry about everyone."
Hakeru, looking serene as always, smiled a small delicate smile. She met Chiyo's gaze, saying "I told you. There will be nothing to be worried about." With that, the girls got into the transporter and left. Chiyo felt empty as Hakeru's words echoed in her mind.
Umi was meeting Koushi and Mikomi for lunch that morning. The Inners had all decided that it would be smart to stay in their fuku for the time being, and as they walked through the streets of the Moon kingdom, got more looks than they expected. Children would stare open-mouthed, and tug on their mother's skirt. A woman ran up to them and gave them each a deep red rose, repeating "bless you, bless you. . . " It occurred to them that these people had only heard legends of the Senshi, never really seen one. Now there were three of them walking down their street!
Their favorite restaurant was called Rhea's, and was owned by an old man an his dutiful daughter, Ryoshi. Ryoshi was almost twenty-five now, married and with a young son of her own. As soon as the girls opened her doors, she cleared the best table in the house and offered them a seat.
"Where's Lady Kei? And the princess?" Ryoshi asked, as she set the table.
"They didn't feel like coming," said Koushi shortly.
Sensing their discomfort, she changed subjects. "Fair enough. . . You guys look great in your uniforms!" She said with a smile. Again, the response was dismal, with only Mikomi managing a polite "thank you". Her efforts failing again, she handed them the menus and quietly returned to her other clients.
Koushi gazed at the rose in her hand. She made it blossom out fully, redder than before. Then she made it fade, drying into a red and brown shell of a rose. She sighed, setting it on the table.
"Well, I guess I'll start the conversation." Umi began. I've done my research on this Eidre character. Apparently, we weren't the first victims of an attack like that. She working in a straight line, from the center of our galaxy outwards, conquering whoever she can in her path. It's been going on for centuries now."
Koushi lifted an eyebrow. "Centuries? So you mean that Eidre isn't human?"
Umi shook her head. "The being named Eidre has gone by multiple other names throughout this time. That's why it's hard to find any concrete info about her."
"So she's less of a physical being, and more of an anonymous entity?" Mikomi suggested. "Like a spirit?"
"That's what I'm thinking." Replied Umi. They stopped talking as a waiter stopped by their table and wrote their orders down. After he had left, they resumed the conversation. "Every time, it's the same tactics. Take over the body of a person in power, and break their defenses from the inside out. I don't think that when she took the body of Queen Ayeka, she knew what she was getting herself into, though."
"What do you mean?" Asked Koushi, intrigued.
"All of Eidre's other targets have succumbed to her power within months, weeks even. Queen Ayeka was battling against Eidre for sixteen years before she gave in." Umi was leaning in towards the table, talking as loudly as she dared. When a voice suddenly came from outside the table, the girls jumped.
"She is the mother of a Senshi." Kei stood over them, flanked by Tasuke and Ken. They pulled up chairs and joined the girls. Mikomi couldn't help but notice how dashing Kei could look, even in a short skirt, high heels and big. . . bows. She blushed.
Umi smiled. "Exactly. The birth of a Senshi to any parents, royal or otherwise, automatically blesses the parents with a holy protection power. It's universal law."
Ken cleared his throat. "What I couldn't figure out, was why didn't Eidre just pull out? I mean, if it was going to be such a problem, why didn't she just switch to an easier victim?"
The girls looked as if they hadn't seen him there before. Senshi business hardly seemed like something to be sharing with Ken. "Uh, Ken, I don't want to sound rude but, why are you here?" Koushi asked.
Ken shrugged. "Why are any of us here?" He said in a misty voice. Tasuke elbowed him.
"He's with me," Tasuke corrected.
The girls were silent, exchanging looks. Koushi began again. "This is Senshi business, Ken. I don't think-" She looked at him stopped talking, staring.
Mikomi gasped, and Umi leapt towards him over the table.
"It's true!" Umi said loudly. She held Ken's face between her hands, staring at the glowing yellow Sun sign on his forehead. His eyes were also glowing a golden-red.
"What's true?" asked Kei, bewildered.
"They left it out of the royal copies of the Senshi Legends, but there was a very short stanza that alluded to a Guardian of the Sun, who would come from the royal family of the Moon."
"Is there anything you don't know, Umi?" Ken managed to say through his squished face. Umi apologized and released her grip.
"Why in the world would they eliminate a detail like that?" Mikomi inquired. She too was examining the symbol on Ken's forehead.
"Because it didn't match the format of the rest of the legends. They thought someone added it as a hoax. If you want to know my opinion, I think that it was the beginning of another book of Senshi history, they just never found it." She recoiled back into her seat, with the waiter delivering their food trying to look up her skirt. Kei glared at him and he disappeared quickly. Tasuke caught the attention of a nearby waitress so the ones who came late could order something to eat.
"We can look into that later," said Koushi. "Let's get back to Eidre. Umi, is there any kind of pattern to her attacks? Should we know what to expect next?"
Umi winced. Still stealing glances at the Sun symbol. "Not really. I think the tactics she uses are based on the kingdom she's attacking. And I'd say that we're the biggest, if not the most influential system she's ever tried to overpower."
"That tells me that she's probably not quite sure of what to expect from us. She might even have expected that assault yesterday to do the dirty work for her." Tasuke thought aloud.
Kei was thinking along with him. "That would also explain why she would try to go for royalty this time. It's a higher position of power, she'd have more influence that way."
Koushi was nodding slowly. "This is good information." She was quiet for a moment longer, and then sat up straight. "Okay, we will have to have a plan of action here. Kei, Mikomi, I want one of you to be with the Princess at all times. If you're not with the Princess, I want you to be near Queen Imbriana. They'll both argue, but they won't have a choice. Ken and Tasuke, keep as near to King Atlas as you can. He insists on being out with the people, where he's most helpful, but most at risk. Umi, I want you to stay with Kinyume and find out everything you can about our enemy. In the mean time, I'm going to stay at the Central Defense Center, to keep an eye on the activity in space. Eidre is bound to be out there somewhere. Is everyone okay with that?"
There were nods around the table as the others got their food delivered. They all began to eat, as there was a loud slamming and commotion near the front of the restaurant. Tasuke, Ken and Kei all leapt out of their seats to see what had happened.
A tall man, plainly dressed with a large bottle of alcohol in hand, was staggering in from the streets. Ryoshi tried to call her doormen to throw him out, but he started storming towards where the Senshi sat.
"You! All of you!" Tasuke and Ken stopped the big man from hurling himself into the table.
"Whoa, calm down, sir." Tasuke instructed. "What's going on?"
"You Senshi. . . They always said you would protect us! That we would be safe as long as you were here!" His words were slurring, but the girls could tell that he knew exactly what he was saying. The stood up, watching him. "My wife and child are dead! Dead! Died yesterday with almost eighty others! Where were you when they all died? You are all failures, disgraces to your title! You're disgraces to us all!"
They were speechless. Kei regained her breath and tried to reason. "Had it not been for the efforts of us and our comrades, there would be nothing left of your city today."
"You're all failures. Couldn't even see that grand army marching at us! You dishonor the Senshi name!" He threw his cup at the table, sending plates flying. Ryoshi's guards came running from the back, and seized the man. He began to shout again as they dragged him towards the door. Mikomi felt her heart sink very low. She wanted to help this man. He had lost so much. Peace of heart would have to be enough; it was all she could give him.
"Wait!" she got up from the table and ran after them. "Wait, please." The guards stopped, and she looked the tall man in the face. He was crying now.
"Sir," she began. "May I ask your name?"
He looked at her, puzzled. "Torama. Akira Torama."
Mikomi felt the other names come to her, out of a gray mist. "Your wife, her name was Hashiko, wasn't it?"
Akira's eyes went wide. "Ye. . . Yes, it was. I called her-"
"Ha-chan," The two said together.
"Yes!" The man exclaimed, as he cried again.
"And your son, his name was Tetsuya, after your father, wasn't it?" Mikomi continued.
Akira was dumbfounded. "How do you know these things?"
Mikomi sighed, and looked down at her fuku. "I am Sailorvenus, the Senshi of love. And I can tell, Torama-san, that there was very much love in your family." At this, Akira broke down. Then, he surprised everyone by reaching out and embracing Mikomi tightly. "It's okay, Torama-san," she whispered. "Hashiko and Tetsuya will be waiting for you. They say they will be waiting for you in a land of never-ending summer."
Another moment passed, and Akira stood up, sobered and ashamed of his earlier behavior. He looked towards the table of Senshi, wanting to apologize. He was met with heartfelt smiles and honest tears in their eyes. "Bless you all," was all he could say.
That night, Chiyo and her mother ate dinner together. Kei and Mikomi lingered on the balcony that came out from the dining hall, speaking of the day's events.
"You made me realize something, Miko." began Kei. "My mother, Ayeka, she was dead a very long time ago. I guess I had always had this hope that she would get better, and things would be as they were when I was very young. But in my heart, I knew. She was already gone." She was silent, looking into Mikomi's caring eyes. "I've decided something, Miko. I want to change my name. I don't want to be Kei any more. I want to be Ayeka, out of respect for my mother."
Mikomi's eyes were instantly watery. "Ayeka," She repeated to herself. "I love it."