Notes and Disclaimers: I don't own SM, but the American people I do.
Chapter 3
Sihane lounged on Tokahari's bed on her stomach, her chin resting on her folded arms. She watched as Marx groomed himself thoroughly. Toka straddled her comfy vanity chair facing her cat and new friend. The two girls watched the cat in silence and when he finished he looked directly at Toka.
"I'm hungry. Do you have any food?" he asked.
Toka giggled and Sihane smiled. "Sure. I think we have some tuna. Would you like some?" she asked.
"Yes!" Marx immediately replied, sitting up straight.
"Okay. I'll be right back." Toka left and about five minutes later returned with a bowl full of tuna. She set it on the ground and sat back in her chair. Marx jumped down from the bed and quickly went to the bowl. He immediately began eating. Toka made eye contact with Sihane and giggled. The two of them had tears streaming from their eyes when Marx bothered to lift his head. He eyed them and licked the bowl clean before saying anything.
"What's so funny?" Marx asked.
Toka shook her head and wiped her eyes. Sihane took a deep, calming breath and replied, "You were so funny when you ate."
Marx considered that and replied, "I was hungry. All they gave me in the shop was cat food!" he said slightly indignant.
Toka made eye contact with Sihane again. The girl on the bed raised her eyebrows. Then Toka said simply, "You're a cat. You're supposed to eat cat food."
Marx gave her a look of disapproval.
"Cat food gets tiring after a couple of reincarnations. I prefer fast food now." He said.
The girls just stared at him. He licked his whiskers and stared back unblinking.
Toka sighed. "Come on, let's go to the kitchen and see what else we have."
"I'm fine for right now. Maybe later. As soon as I've had a nap." Marx replied with a yawn. He jumped up onto the bed and curled up on a pillow. Instantly he was asleep before the two girls could say anything.
Toka and Sihane looked at each other and just blinked.
"I think he did that on purpose." Toka looked back over at the cat on her bed.
Sihane nodded with a smirk. "I think he did too." She agreed. She looked over at an alarm clock sitting on Toka's nightstand and found that it was 3:35.
"I should probably leave. I have homework I need to finish before tomorrow." Sihane sat up. She stretched and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She found her shoes nearby and began pulling them on.
"Will I see you in school tomorrow?" Toka asked.
Sihane looked up into the girl's eyes.
"Of course. We have Japanese Studies together." She replied.
Toka's eyes widened in surprise. "I never knew that!"
"Well, sometimes, actually I usually skip, but when I do go to class, I sit in the very back closest to the door. Apart from you, I'm usually one of the quietest." Sihane replied.
"Oh. Now that you mention it, I have seen you a couple of times." Toka said thoughtfully.
Sihane smirked at her, rising from the bed without waking Marx. Toka rose from her chair and bent to pick up the bowl that Marx had eaten out of.
"Well, I'll walk you out. Besides I need to get my own schoolwork. I don't think I finished some of it." Toka said following her friend out of the bedroom.
Sihane smiled at the younger girl's last words. She had finally found a friend she could share anything with. Already they had a deep secret--They together were warriors for the solar system.
All too soon the two girls arrived on the ground floor. Toka held the front door open for her new friend, wearing a smile.
"See ya tomorrow." Sihane called over her shoulder as she walked past the girl.
"See ya." Toka called back. She watched as Sihane left and then closed the door. She found her backpack and purse not too far away and as she bent to pick them up, her locket fell forward nearly hitting Toka's face. She took her stuff and quickly went up to her room.
Setting the bags beside her desk they were momentarily forgotten as Toka unclasped the locket. She lightly sat on the bed and gazed down to her hands. The locket was actually nice to look at and felt comfortable and very familiar in her hands. She found that it could open and ever so carefully opened it fully. In the center of the compact was a beautiful clear crystal. She gently touched it with the tip of a finger and found it pointy. But it wasn't so pointy that it would pierce skin. Toka also felt an aura of power from the crystal. It was comforting and then Toka could hear words being whispered in her mind.
"Past Memories Reveal," Toka whispered without another moment's thought.
The crystal flared with silvery-white light and engulfed the girl completely.
"Princess, your mother is searching for you. She informed me that she has something to give you." The young servant girl curtsied at the doorway of the parlor.
Tacria looked up from her book, her silver eyes focusing back on reality. She turned to look at the servant and gave a warm smile.
"Thank you Nanya. Where is my mother?" she said, her musical voice softly filling the large room.
"She is in her solar, your Highness." Nanya replied bobbing her head.
Closing her book she said, "Thank you. You may go." And dismissed the servant. Nanya left, curtseying once more. Tacria set her book aside on a small table and rose from her comfortable chair. She straightened her ankle length full-skirted navy blue dress. The sleeves were long and narrow ending at the wrist and then flaring out. The neckline was modest, forming a v well above her breasts. Her waist length long black hair was bound up in a masterpiece of curls with braids here and there. And on her forehead in the center was a silver eight-point star that she bore with pride and dignity.
Leaving the parlor Tacria gracefully made her way through the very spacious palace hallways. Her destination was the Royal Wing where the family suits were. As she approached her mother's solar, the servant standing just outside the room, whom was apparently waiting for her, came to attention. Immediately she opened the door, stood to one side and announced in a clear voice,
"Her Highness Princess Tacria has arrived."
Tacria stepped inside and walked past the servant as she nodded briefly to him. She swept a deep curtsey to her mother, who had looked up at the announcement. When Tacria rose she also found that her father was also there.
"Come here my daughter." Queen Serphrina Skystar said warmly.
Tacria obliged and walked to stand before her parents. She looked up at her father, who stood beside the chair his wife occupied. His silver eyes were warm as they looked down upon his daughter and his dark blond hair ended just below his shoulders was kept back in a tail at the nape of his neck.
"What do you wish to speak to me of?" Tacria asked, gazing back at her mother. She looked into the queen's light blue eyes, finding her love.
"Your father and I have discussed it with one another and decided you were ready," Serphrina started. Tacria looked puzzled, but did not voice a word. She waited for her beloved mother to continue. She watched as the queen of Starkellis held out a hand that opened to reveal a palm-sized locket. The locket was black except for the silver eight point star in the center that spread out to the edges. "We have decided that you are ready to become the Sailor Senshi. You are old enough and your training is efficient; magical and physical. It is your birthright." Serphrina said.
Tacria looked dazed, her silver eyes going from her mother, to her father, to her mother again and then down at the proffered locket.
"But, Mother, I don't think I'm strong enough," Tacria tried to protest. She was overwhelmed by the thought of becoming one of the Solar System's warrior/protectors. Despite what her parents thought, she didn't think she was ready for the responsibility.
Her father studied her with a warm expression, "You are ready, and strong enough. Just have faith in your powers." He said.
Tacria looked up at him and finally nodded. Slowly reaching out she took the locket form her mother's hand. With both hands she held the locket as if it were delicate and could break if she didn't keep it steady. As she looked down at it, the lid opened all on its own, revealing a clear crystal embedded in the center. The Takarrie Crystal. A light shone from the crystal and brightened as it engulfed the princess.
It faded just a couple of minutes later and when it did Tacria closed the lid, looking serene and confident. Falling into a deep curtsey, she held the locket in one hand.
"I have been accepted by the Crystal's power and I am now Sailor Starkellis, Senshi of Memory and Keeper of Stars. I accept my duty with pride and dignity and will put out my life to protect our planet, and Solar System." She said formally.
"Rise now new Senshi." King Caitor said.
Tacria rose and looked upon her parents.
"Now, there is something else. We've received communication from the Allied System next to ours." Serphrina said, a smile on her lips and her eyes dancing merrily.
Tacria's eyebrows rose, "Really? Whatever about? From who exactly?" she asked all in one breath.
"The Moon Kingdom," her mother replied. She turned to the small table beside her and picked up a letter. Looking back at her daughter she held it out to her.
Tacria took it, curtsied once more and excused herself. Clutching the locket and the letter she made her way back to the parlor she had previously been in. Her patience was rubbing thin—news from the Moon Kingdom was usually always exciting, though never came very often. But she held it back as she settled gracefully in her chair, placing the Senshi locket in her lap to hold the silver and gold envelope. She opened it, pulled out the letter and immediately started reading it:
To Her Royal Highness Princess Tacria Skystar of Planet Starkellis, Heir to the Starkellis Throne, Heir to the Takarrie Throne, daughter of King Caitor and Queen Serphrina Skystar.
From Her Royal Highness Princess Serenity Mooncrest of Planet Moon, Heir to the Moon Kingdom, daughter of King Arkeal and Queen Serenity Mooncrest.
You are cordially invited to attend the Masquerade Ball to celebrate the forming of many treasured alliances. It would be a great honor for you to attend. Thank You.
Tacria's face was bursting with excitement. It had been so long since the last ball at the Moon Kingdom and she couldn't wait to attend. Especially if her beloved friends and allies from her own solar system were also attending.
Just then, the servant Nanya once again entered the room, curtseying deeply.
"Princess?" she said.
Tacria dragged her gaze from her letter up to the servant, "Yes Nanya?"
"I was sent to inform you that a passenger ship from Naklai has pulled into port. It is the ship Royal Vine, milady." She said, slowly rising from the curtsey.
"Oh thank you Nanya. You are excused for the rest of the day." Tacria said with a smile when the young servant looked very surprised. The letter still in hand she picked the locket back up and rose from her chair.
Nanya gave another deep curtsey before turning to leave. Tacria gracefully walked out of the room saying to herself,
"Oh I can't wait to speak with Sacra! She'll be so excited for this!"
Toka's mind came back to the present. She blinked down at the locket and crystal in her hands. Still trying to collect her own thoughts back, she never noticed that Marx had waken and stretched.
"So," he started, breaking into her thoughts.
"…Wha…?" she asked, still a little dazed. She turned her silver eyes towards the cat. She closed the locket without looking at it, keeping her gaze on the feline, waiting for him to continue.
"You have unlocked a piece of your past life. You have learned one way of how to use your crystal." Marx stated.
"Yeah, what about it? Is it important?" she asked, a puzzled frown on her face.
Marx walked to stand right next to her, his cat eyes firm.
"Of course it's important. Your crystal can unlock the memories of anyone. You are the Senshi of Memory." He replied, his voice had a touch of exasperation in it. Toka blinked at him, but she understood what he said, "Therefore, this won't be the only time you or someone else will be influenced by the crystal and get thrown into past life memories."
"Oh," Toka whispered, her frown gone. She turned away from the cat and her gaze caught on the clock. It was now 4:45.
"Oh my gosh! That much time passed while I was memory-locked?" she exclaimed, bounding up from the bed. Marx lost his balance when the bed moved suddenly and collapsed on the bedspread. With what dignity he could salvage he rose back up and sent a small glower at the girl.
"Yes. However long it took in the past is going to take that much time while it's being replayed in the present." Marx replied.
"Hm…okay. I just hope that whenever it happens it won't take a whole day to play out." She said with a small frown as she clasped the locket back around her neck.
"I don't think you'd have any to last quite that long." Marx said cocking his head thinking it over.
"Good." She looked back at him. "Well, I need to go start dinner. And you can come keep me company until my father comes home. I think we should keep you a secret until the weekend." She said as he followed her out and down to the kitchen.
"So, you're going to go out on the weekend and then "buy me"?" he asked, clearly amused with the notion. He knew that since she'd be hiding him she wouldn't buy cat food for a couple of days. That meant she would have to give him human food. He thought with a very smug smile to himself.
"Yes. I thought that would be the easiest way to explain your presence." She replied as they arrived in the spacious kitchen. She went to the large walk-in pantry where one whole shelf was reserved for the great many cookbooks the Kisiel family owned. Marx followed her still and his eyes widened when he caught sight of all the books.
"Whoa!" if he had been human he would have whistled. "Are you a good cook or something?" he asked.
Toka chose a book and glanced down at him, "Yes, I actually enjoy cooking. And I've been doing it since I was ten. My father let me take over the kitchen at that time and he's never complained once. Actually, sometimes he asks me to cook something for his coworkers. I always get compliments." She grinned. They walked back out and she sat at the small table, Marx jumping up and getting on top of the table.
"So who taught you to cook or did you teach yourself?" he inquired.
"Well, I taught myself a little bit, but my cousin Sonja, who's a year older, taught me just about everything I know before she moved up to Fort Worth. She's s whiz in the kitchen." She replied as she opened the book and started turning pages. "It's actually quite funny how long she's been cooking. Her mother finally gave up when Sonja was seven. I've always been told the story." She said, looking up to meet Marx's eyes.
"How so?" he asked.
"Well, when she was four her mother was making gingerbread cookies. Sonja went climbed up beside her mother and tasted the batter. Then she made a face and said, 'Mommy, you didn't put enough ginger in the batter,' I will never forget that story. It's always being told no matter that we've all heard it too many times to count." Toka giggled.
Marx just stared at her and then let out a cat's version of a laugh. But he was really thinking about what she told him and knew he should meet Toka's cousin Sonja. Then he watched as she moved about the kitchen preparing the meal for that night.
She was almost done when the front door opened signaling that her father was home.
"Quick, find someplace to hide before he sees you and then get up to my room!" she whispered frantically. "I'll be sure to save you something." She added as she saw him scurry around for a hiding place. She quickly looked up when her father came into the kitchen, following his nose to the bounty of pleasing and mouth-watering aromas.
"It smells as if you are preparing a feast in here," her father said, a twinkle in his eyes.
Toka blushed and said, "Well it's been awhile since we've had one of my large meals and I didn't want to lose my touch. What would Sonja think?" she grinned.
He father returned the grin and then said, "I am going to go change before we sit down for this delicious arrangement, if you do not mind."
"No, go ahead Dad," she said. She watched as her father left the room, heading upstairs and then heard the door to the master bedroom close behind him. She sighed with relief and then saw Marx come out from behind a bookcase in the living room.
"I will go to your room." He said before he darted from the room towards the stairs.
Toka let out another sigh of relief and then set herself to finish setting out the dinnerware and the food. She even fixed the drinks, knowing what her father would like to drink. All the while she thought about the cat up in her bedroom. The Guardian of the Sailor Senshi of the Takarrie Solar System. There was much she wanted to know, but now she would just have to wait. She gave a tiny sigh but then placed a pleasant smile on her face. She needed to act normal while she was with her father.