Author's Note: This is a long one. Brace yourselves.
Comments, questions, compliments, and flames all accepted. On that note, let the story begin.
-
Chapter 1
The man turned slightly, his eyes and blade flashing in the half light. The monster came at him, but he could not see it. The air seemed murky and it swirled around him like water. All that his eyes would register were the flashes of light that betrayed the fire that the demon breathed. He swung his sword, slashing off the demon's head, but almost immediately another grew in its place. Suddenly the monster took on a form that was very human like. A beautiful woman stood before him and started to laugh evilly at him. The man leapt forward, sword held high, ready to impale her on the razor edge. Her name came easily to him.
'Beryl.' He thought the word with such an intense hatred that it almost hurt to say the name. The woman disappeared. Her laugh taunted him and he whirled up from the dusty ground. His eyes locked with hers and again he rushed forward, his eyes blazing. His throat burned as his voice scaled up into an ancient battle cry, like that of his distant ancestors. In his frenzied rush, he lost all of the cold logic, all of the elegance that he had based his life on. Time around him seemed to run a little slower. He charged forward, his eyes locked on her face. A smug smile tugged at the corner of her lips. He leapt again, knowing that he could not miss. As his saber reached out to stop the tormenting laughter, everything around him exploded into light. Again he tried to strike at her. And again. And again. Everything grew dark and like a wet blanket, it smothered him, trying to snuff out his soul. He screamed, a raw expulsion of energy that disappeared into the mantle over him. His body also screamed, a last burst of psychic energy that tried to beckon for help. But it slowly died out. But her laughter did not.
The man woke up. Sweat poured down his brow and down his cheeks. His blue eyes grew misty as he relived every tortured second of the massacre. His conscious mind sought a logical answer to the torture of this dream, but the deep primal fear that accompanied it defied his reasoning. He closed his eyes, trying to fight that fear. He ran his hand through his blond hair, now spiky from the moisture. By now he knew the dream by heart. It had been seven long years, since he had renounced that evil. Seven long years. Now it seemed that it had come to claim him again.
He pushed himself up. He definitely wasn't going to get anymore sleep tonight. The man sighed and padded slowly to the shower. He felt the warm water running down his shoulders and his back, washing away the pains of the incubus. He leaned against the shower stall, his mind fuzzy from the warmth. But the sour taste of fear still blossomed fresh in his mouth.
Rei Hino looked out the window with an expression akin to sadness. It was a cloudy day, with wind and rain being the prevalent elements in the struggle. It had been many long years since the fight with Galaxia, and it finally seemed like peace would reign. But that peace also came with sadness. Yuuichirou had moved away for a few months, only to return a neat, clean shaven young man with a clipped, almost imperial accent. He also returned with a girlfriend.
Rei sighed. He was no longer the surfer bum that was so infatuated with her, that she could hold in the palm of her hand. Instead, he was an intelligent young man, a good listener, and the best male friend she had ever had.
'Stop dwelling in the past. It's not productive'
Yet, Yuuichirou was the closest to a boyfriend she had ever had. And she missed that feeling, of how one person could hold her in such high esteem as to cater to her every whim. She hugged herself. She wanted that feeling back.
But back to business. Rei slowly and meticulously performed a ritual, she had executed a thousand times before.
The fire before her seemed to feed on her presence, building up to higher proportions as she shifted from the physical world to the metaphysical.
She immersed herself in the nothingness, leaving her body to soar on a higher plane of being. The power of her visions though, varied. If meditating in the city, she could feel and see the lives of millions. If she meditated on a plane or ship, she could see the interactions of countries and politics in a fierce interwoven archaic struggle of survival of the fittest. But if meditating here in the Shrine, the center of her being and power, she could occasion a glimpse of the planet Earth and ultimately observe the destiny of the universe itself.
Her mind observed momentous happenings, far beyond the comprehension of the human mind. She noted her friends Minako and Makoto, their energies far greater than that of any mortal. Her friend Ami, diminutive senshi of water, had her intelligence, creating a far greater ripple in the energy plane than Newton or Einstein. And Hotaru, the silent warrior of Saturn, had a frightening amount of power of which death was only a small part. Haruka, Michiru, far away from the others, had a sort of distant power, though one not to be taken lightly. And most of all, her dear friends Usagi-chan and Mamoru-san. Their energies seemed to feed off each other, nurturing each other's thoughts. Their love was special, something she seemed destined to never have.
Something tugged at her mind. Frowning, she dove deeper into the infinite waters of that plane. Something glowed slightly, not fierce or menacing, but suppressed almost. Rei came closer.
As if it had sensed her presence, it tried to wriggle away. Rei closed the distance quickly, attempting to find it or perhaps make contact. As she touched the shadowy figure, it vanished.
Rei opened her eyes. She had not touched it long enough to make true contact, but she had touched its mind. It was a familiar presence, someone she had known long ago.
The towel clung around my legs and, annoyed, I tossed it to the chair beside me. The shower had cleansed the last few aches and pains from my body. My blond hair fell around my eyes, and I slowly brushed it back. My hair usually is not so unruly.
Carefully I eased on a black robe. I had touched her. It still bothered me immensely. How had she known? Found me amidst the shrouds and barriers that I had constructed? Among the garbled mesh of what was the psychic plane?
I should have known. I had faced her power before and it was something not to be trifled with. The power of the sacred fire was the core of Sailor Mars' ability, allowing the senshi a vital tool in defeating their enemies. It's prediction power was unmatched, not even by Nephrite's stars, nor Wiseman's crystal ball, nor anything that the enemies of light and goodness could even muster.
That fateful night, I acted like a fool. Just a damned fool. The senshi were weak and scattered. I could have swept them off the earth with a single blow. Then, through some twist of fate, they defeated me. I sighed and walked towards the main bedroom. My home was not like that of a typical bachelor's. No, there weren't clothes strewn everywhere, nor was it even dirty to any extent. It was rigidly clean, almost military. Perhaps just a throwback to a dynasty long past and a life long ago.
My hand reached out to push open my closet. Dark blue dress shirt. Dark blue pants. No tie, not yet. Forgive my tastes, I wear dark colors to remind myself of the pain and death I have created.
I looked out into the brilliant California sun, that splashed golden light all over the foothills. It has become a ritual of mine, to observe the sunrise.
Perhaps I am a fool. The life I lead is perilous and in another life I would have scoffed at any whose chose it willingly. Yet I am irresistibly drawn to the edge of life and death.
By now you must be wondering who I am, what I stand for, and about the life I am forced to lead. I suppose I used to be an embodiment of hate and deceit and a thousand other evil emotions.
I think that an Americanism fits rather well for my situation. "Life's a bitch and then you die." In all honesty, there are days when I wish I were dead.
Sighing, I selected a black tie and held it to my neck. I muttered softly, "Looks like a damn bruise."
I chose another tie, this one the same shade of dark blue as my shirt. "Infinitely better."
The clock read seven o'clock and it was time for me to go to work. I grabbed my jacket and padded downstairs to my car.
The first five years after I had come to America, I had attended college and business school at Stanford, building my connections within the computer world. Right after b-school, I joined a then-small software company as a marketing and sales executive. My knowledge of numerous Asian languages helped with overseas sales, expanding to create branches in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. I enjoyed the way my life had turned out. I was the chief operating officer of a software company grossing sixty million dollars sales a year alone in the United States, formerly a subsidiary of a larger conglomerate. It paid well and the job challenged me. I had managed to streamline production and internal business processes and was looking forward to more work.
My executive assistant entered, carrying a sheaf of papers.
"Ah, the messenger comes bearing gifts!"
She flashed a quirky smile, "Yes, Mr. Kaitou. Your usual run of the mill memos, notices, and...." She waved a piece of paper in front of my face, "Something else."
"Really now. Something tells me that you know more than I do about this....something else."
The assistant regarded me with amusement, "You haven't heard the rumors?"
I laughed, "Ma'am, you know me. I'm as dense as bedrock and about as intelligent."
She giggled, "Yes, sir. As you know, the CEO is preparing to retire soon. It is rumored that..."
"I'll get the post? I couldn't run this place. I'm not much of a leader."
"Whatever you say sir." She winked and left.
I smirked and then proceeded to open the envelope that she had handed me. I arched an eyebrow. It set a meeting with the Board of Directors. In twenty minutes.
I sighed and paced around a bit. My secretary re-entered with a mug of coffee and a jelly donut, "Thought you might want something to eat before your meeting."
"You knew?"
"Sir, I am your secretary. Or as you prefer to call me, your executive assistant. I screen your calls and your mail. I would be remiss if I didn't know everything that happens to you."
"Ms. Anison, what would I do without you?"
"Mr. Kaitou, please sit down."
"Thank you, sir."
The chairman of the board stood up and betrayed amused twinkle in his eyes, "I would first like to thank you for all your efforts on behalf of this company. We've experienced growth beyond our wildest dreams, much of it due to your personal leadership and vision."
"Again, I thank you for the praise, although much of it is undeserved. I only helped coordinate those to who truly made this company what it is."
"Then you will do us a favor and convey our appreciation to them. I suspect you know why you're here today."
I smiled wryly, "I only found out this morning from my secretary."
"Then this will come as no surprise. We are formally offering you the position of Chief Executive Officer of this company, due to your efforts in expanding our East Asian market."
"East Asian, sir?"
"Through our research we've realized that the majority of our sales are overseas. We're suggesting you create a regional subsidiary in Japan. You'll be spending an equal amount of time between here and there."
"Admirable grasp of the situation, however Japanese land prices are rather high. As you know, the Ginza business sector of Tokyo has average land prices per square foot in excess of anything here in the United States."
"We have realized this, but the Tokyo hub is an essential business and travel center. The cost factor is mitigated by the fact that we own a medium sized office building in the heart of the Ginza. We have thus far rented it out to businesses, but are offering it to you."
"Thank you, sir. But I need some time to think about it. Could I get back to you two days from now?"
"A reasonable request. It is a huge move. You'll want to ask your assistant about the move as well. We've heard many good things about her. I suspect she is in line for a promotion as well. A very large one. I think you'll have to decide that for yourself though."
"I'll relay the message sir. Thanks."
Ms. Anison sat on the edge of my desk. "How did it go, sir?"
"Not bad. I got the job, but I'm not sure whether or not I'll go."
"What's the problem, sir?"
Carefully, I framed my answer, "They want me to hover between here and Japan."
She shrugged, "What's so bad about that?"
"First, they want you to come with me-"
She smiled genuinely, "You mean it?"
"You're more essential to the operation of this company than I am. I would not have a transfer unless you cam along."
"Thanks for the praise. Now if you could only be that nice during National Secretary Day."
"I do what I can."
"So besides your wonderful consideration of me, what else is preventing you from going to Japan? I'll bet it was a girl."
Sometimes, she is so incredibly perceptive, it scares me. I raised my eyebrow slightly, "Yes, a long time ago. We had a very difficult fight nine years ago. I've never gone back and apologized."
"Were you two close?"
I smiled ironically, "In a way, yes. Very much so."
"And you'll be afraid that you'll see her one day and won't be able to deal with it."
"That's about it."
"Well, I've been told that the best way to deal with one's fears is to face them, " She stood up and took off her glasses, "You know you're the best person to run this company. You're the most experienced and most intelligent person we have. Are you going to let some twit from your past rule your decision to carve your place in history?"
I regarded her with even more respect then I had for her before. An honors graduate of Columbia University in psychology and economics, she was far overqualified for the job that she had chosen. However, Dana Anison performed more the role of a highly regarded middle manager than secretary. Her finger lay squarely on the pulse of the company, anticipating personnel problems even before they started. Additionally, she typed at 200 words a minute, read at 4000 words a minute, and was a source of endlessly interesting commentary and advice. I didn't think she would stay a secretary for long.
Of course, this portrayal seems to be rather sexless. So, I ought to mention that she was actually very attractive. However, during the time of our association, she had never had a steady boyfriend and at times, I had considered dating her. What had stopped me was company policy and our close bond of friendship. Both without family on the West Coast, we had tended to spend holidays and significant amounts of time together. While this spread rumors through the company, our open policies and banter had not generated anything serious.
I considered myself blessed to have met and befriended her. "I suppose not."
"Anyway, I've always wanted to visit Japan. Maybe I'll find eligible bachelors there."
"One can only hope."
Comments, questions, compliments, and flames all accepted. On that note, let the story begin.
-
Chapter 1
The man turned slightly, his eyes and blade flashing in the half light. The monster came at him, but he could not see it. The air seemed murky and it swirled around him like water. All that his eyes would register were the flashes of light that betrayed the fire that the demon breathed. He swung his sword, slashing off the demon's head, but almost immediately another grew in its place. Suddenly the monster took on a form that was very human like. A beautiful woman stood before him and started to laugh evilly at him. The man leapt forward, sword held high, ready to impale her on the razor edge. Her name came easily to him.
'Beryl.' He thought the word with such an intense hatred that it almost hurt to say the name. The woman disappeared. Her laugh taunted him and he whirled up from the dusty ground. His eyes locked with hers and again he rushed forward, his eyes blazing. His throat burned as his voice scaled up into an ancient battle cry, like that of his distant ancestors. In his frenzied rush, he lost all of the cold logic, all of the elegance that he had based his life on. Time around him seemed to run a little slower. He charged forward, his eyes locked on her face. A smug smile tugged at the corner of her lips. He leapt again, knowing that he could not miss. As his saber reached out to stop the tormenting laughter, everything around him exploded into light. Again he tried to strike at her. And again. And again. Everything grew dark and like a wet blanket, it smothered him, trying to snuff out his soul. He screamed, a raw expulsion of energy that disappeared into the mantle over him. His body also screamed, a last burst of psychic energy that tried to beckon for help. But it slowly died out. But her laughter did not.
The man woke up. Sweat poured down his brow and down his cheeks. His blue eyes grew misty as he relived every tortured second of the massacre. His conscious mind sought a logical answer to the torture of this dream, but the deep primal fear that accompanied it defied his reasoning. He closed his eyes, trying to fight that fear. He ran his hand through his blond hair, now spiky from the moisture. By now he knew the dream by heart. It had been seven long years, since he had renounced that evil. Seven long years. Now it seemed that it had come to claim him again.
He pushed himself up. He definitely wasn't going to get anymore sleep tonight. The man sighed and padded slowly to the shower. He felt the warm water running down his shoulders and his back, washing away the pains of the incubus. He leaned against the shower stall, his mind fuzzy from the warmth. But the sour taste of fear still blossomed fresh in his mouth.
Rei Hino looked out the window with an expression akin to sadness. It was a cloudy day, with wind and rain being the prevalent elements in the struggle. It had been many long years since the fight with Galaxia, and it finally seemed like peace would reign. But that peace also came with sadness. Yuuichirou had moved away for a few months, only to return a neat, clean shaven young man with a clipped, almost imperial accent. He also returned with a girlfriend.
Rei sighed. He was no longer the surfer bum that was so infatuated with her, that she could hold in the palm of her hand. Instead, he was an intelligent young man, a good listener, and the best male friend she had ever had.
'Stop dwelling in the past. It's not productive'
Yet, Yuuichirou was the closest to a boyfriend she had ever had. And she missed that feeling, of how one person could hold her in such high esteem as to cater to her every whim. She hugged herself. She wanted that feeling back.
But back to business. Rei slowly and meticulously performed a ritual, she had executed a thousand times before.
The fire before her seemed to feed on her presence, building up to higher proportions as she shifted from the physical world to the metaphysical.
She immersed herself in the nothingness, leaving her body to soar on a higher plane of being. The power of her visions though, varied. If meditating in the city, she could feel and see the lives of millions. If she meditated on a plane or ship, she could see the interactions of countries and politics in a fierce interwoven archaic struggle of survival of the fittest. But if meditating here in the Shrine, the center of her being and power, she could occasion a glimpse of the planet Earth and ultimately observe the destiny of the universe itself.
Her mind observed momentous happenings, far beyond the comprehension of the human mind. She noted her friends Minako and Makoto, their energies far greater than that of any mortal. Her friend Ami, diminutive senshi of water, had her intelligence, creating a far greater ripple in the energy plane than Newton or Einstein. And Hotaru, the silent warrior of Saturn, had a frightening amount of power of which death was only a small part. Haruka, Michiru, far away from the others, had a sort of distant power, though one not to be taken lightly. And most of all, her dear friends Usagi-chan and Mamoru-san. Their energies seemed to feed off each other, nurturing each other's thoughts. Their love was special, something she seemed destined to never have.
Something tugged at her mind. Frowning, she dove deeper into the infinite waters of that plane. Something glowed slightly, not fierce or menacing, but suppressed almost. Rei came closer.
As if it had sensed her presence, it tried to wriggle away. Rei closed the distance quickly, attempting to find it or perhaps make contact. As she touched the shadowy figure, it vanished.
Rei opened her eyes. She had not touched it long enough to make true contact, but she had touched its mind. It was a familiar presence, someone she had known long ago.
The towel clung around my legs and, annoyed, I tossed it to the chair beside me. The shower had cleansed the last few aches and pains from my body. My blond hair fell around my eyes, and I slowly brushed it back. My hair usually is not so unruly.
Carefully I eased on a black robe. I had touched her. It still bothered me immensely. How had she known? Found me amidst the shrouds and barriers that I had constructed? Among the garbled mesh of what was the psychic plane?
I should have known. I had faced her power before and it was something not to be trifled with. The power of the sacred fire was the core of Sailor Mars' ability, allowing the senshi a vital tool in defeating their enemies. It's prediction power was unmatched, not even by Nephrite's stars, nor Wiseman's crystal ball, nor anything that the enemies of light and goodness could even muster.
That fateful night, I acted like a fool. Just a damned fool. The senshi were weak and scattered. I could have swept them off the earth with a single blow. Then, through some twist of fate, they defeated me. I sighed and walked towards the main bedroom. My home was not like that of a typical bachelor's. No, there weren't clothes strewn everywhere, nor was it even dirty to any extent. It was rigidly clean, almost military. Perhaps just a throwback to a dynasty long past and a life long ago.
My hand reached out to push open my closet. Dark blue dress shirt. Dark blue pants. No tie, not yet. Forgive my tastes, I wear dark colors to remind myself of the pain and death I have created.
I looked out into the brilliant California sun, that splashed golden light all over the foothills. It has become a ritual of mine, to observe the sunrise.
Perhaps I am a fool. The life I lead is perilous and in another life I would have scoffed at any whose chose it willingly. Yet I am irresistibly drawn to the edge of life and death.
By now you must be wondering who I am, what I stand for, and about the life I am forced to lead. I suppose I used to be an embodiment of hate and deceit and a thousand other evil emotions.
I think that an Americanism fits rather well for my situation. "Life's a bitch and then you die." In all honesty, there are days when I wish I were dead.
Sighing, I selected a black tie and held it to my neck. I muttered softly, "Looks like a damn bruise."
I chose another tie, this one the same shade of dark blue as my shirt. "Infinitely better."
The clock read seven o'clock and it was time for me to go to work. I grabbed my jacket and padded downstairs to my car.
The first five years after I had come to America, I had attended college and business school at Stanford, building my connections within the computer world. Right after b-school, I joined a then-small software company as a marketing and sales executive. My knowledge of numerous Asian languages helped with overseas sales, expanding to create branches in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. I enjoyed the way my life had turned out. I was the chief operating officer of a software company grossing sixty million dollars sales a year alone in the United States, formerly a subsidiary of a larger conglomerate. It paid well and the job challenged me. I had managed to streamline production and internal business processes and was looking forward to more work.
My executive assistant entered, carrying a sheaf of papers.
"Ah, the messenger comes bearing gifts!"
She flashed a quirky smile, "Yes, Mr. Kaitou. Your usual run of the mill memos, notices, and...." She waved a piece of paper in front of my face, "Something else."
"Really now. Something tells me that you know more than I do about this....something else."
The assistant regarded me with amusement, "You haven't heard the rumors?"
I laughed, "Ma'am, you know me. I'm as dense as bedrock and about as intelligent."
She giggled, "Yes, sir. As you know, the CEO is preparing to retire soon. It is rumored that..."
"I'll get the post? I couldn't run this place. I'm not much of a leader."
"Whatever you say sir." She winked and left.
I smirked and then proceeded to open the envelope that she had handed me. I arched an eyebrow. It set a meeting with the Board of Directors. In twenty minutes.
I sighed and paced around a bit. My secretary re-entered with a mug of coffee and a jelly donut, "Thought you might want something to eat before your meeting."
"You knew?"
"Sir, I am your secretary. Or as you prefer to call me, your executive assistant. I screen your calls and your mail. I would be remiss if I didn't know everything that happens to you."
"Ms. Anison, what would I do without you?"
"Mr. Kaitou, please sit down."
"Thank you, sir."
The chairman of the board stood up and betrayed amused twinkle in his eyes, "I would first like to thank you for all your efforts on behalf of this company. We've experienced growth beyond our wildest dreams, much of it due to your personal leadership and vision."
"Again, I thank you for the praise, although much of it is undeserved. I only helped coordinate those to who truly made this company what it is."
"Then you will do us a favor and convey our appreciation to them. I suspect you know why you're here today."
I smiled wryly, "I only found out this morning from my secretary."
"Then this will come as no surprise. We are formally offering you the position of Chief Executive Officer of this company, due to your efforts in expanding our East Asian market."
"East Asian, sir?"
"Through our research we've realized that the majority of our sales are overseas. We're suggesting you create a regional subsidiary in Japan. You'll be spending an equal amount of time between here and there."
"Admirable grasp of the situation, however Japanese land prices are rather high. As you know, the Ginza business sector of Tokyo has average land prices per square foot in excess of anything here in the United States."
"We have realized this, but the Tokyo hub is an essential business and travel center. The cost factor is mitigated by the fact that we own a medium sized office building in the heart of the Ginza. We have thus far rented it out to businesses, but are offering it to you."
"Thank you, sir. But I need some time to think about it. Could I get back to you two days from now?"
"A reasonable request. It is a huge move. You'll want to ask your assistant about the move as well. We've heard many good things about her. I suspect she is in line for a promotion as well. A very large one. I think you'll have to decide that for yourself though."
"I'll relay the message sir. Thanks."
Ms. Anison sat on the edge of my desk. "How did it go, sir?"
"Not bad. I got the job, but I'm not sure whether or not I'll go."
"What's the problem, sir?"
Carefully, I framed my answer, "They want me to hover between here and Japan."
She shrugged, "What's so bad about that?"
"First, they want you to come with me-"
She smiled genuinely, "You mean it?"
"You're more essential to the operation of this company than I am. I would not have a transfer unless you cam along."
"Thanks for the praise. Now if you could only be that nice during National Secretary Day."
"I do what I can."
"So besides your wonderful consideration of me, what else is preventing you from going to Japan? I'll bet it was a girl."
Sometimes, she is so incredibly perceptive, it scares me. I raised my eyebrow slightly, "Yes, a long time ago. We had a very difficult fight nine years ago. I've never gone back and apologized."
"Were you two close?"
I smiled ironically, "In a way, yes. Very much so."
"And you'll be afraid that you'll see her one day and won't be able to deal with it."
"That's about it."
"Well, I've been told that the best way to deal with one's fears is to face them, " She stood up and took off her glasses, "You know you're the best person to run this company. You're the most experienced and most intelligent person we have. Are you going to let some twit from your past rule your decision to carve your place in history?"
I regarded her with even more respect then I had for her before. An honors graduate of Columbia University in psychology and economics, she was far overqualified for the job that she had chosen. However, Dana Anison performed more the role of a highly regarded middle manager than secretary. Her finger lay squarely on the pulse of the company, anticipating personnel problems even before they started. Additionally, she typed at 200 words a minute, read at 4000 words a minute, and was a source of endlessly interesting commentary and advice. I didn't think she would stay a secretary for long.
Of course, this portrayal seems to be rather sexless. So, I ought to mention that she was actually very attractive. However, during the time of our association, she had never had a steady boyfriend and at times, I had considered dating her. What had stopped me was company policy and our close bond of friendship. Both without family on the West Coast, we had tended to spend holidays and significant amounts of time together. While this spread rumors through the company, our open policies and banter had not generated anything serious.
I considered myself blessed to have met and befriended her. "I suppose not."
"Anyway, I've always wanted to visit Japan. Maybe I'll find eligible bachelors there."
"One can only hope."