Chapter 15

It was a blessedly calm night. There was just a slight breeze, even at the altitude at which he stood.

Kevin stood quietly at his usual skyscraper haunt, testing the cool waters of the psychic realm. Quickly enough, he found that there was nothing considerably wrong that night.

Artemis coughed quietly and the man turned back to face him. The cat stared at him intently, before offering cautiously. "So, I saw you on the news today..."

Kevin retorted sarcastically, "Really. I hadn't noticed the publicity"

Artemis was silent for a moment before reply softly. "Is anything the matter, Retainer?"

The man rubbed his forehead and sighed. "No, Artemis. Nothing's wrong. I'm just tired is all."

"I see." The cat was clearly not convinced. Nevertheless, he continued as if he hadn't noticed Kevin's dodge. "I was actually just going to congratulate you for your work. As a Retainer, you're responsible not only for the defense of Serenity but your greater duty is to the people of this world. I just want you to know that I approve."

"Thanks, Artemis. I appreciate that." Kevin fell silent again.

Artemis waited for a moment, then plunged in again. "But...something is bothering you, yes?"

Kevin hesitated, then blurted out suddenly. "It was too easy. Teleportation, then that shield," he rattled off in incomplete thoughts, then lowered his voice slightly. "I bent back the barrel of his gun with just the movement of my hand."

"That is excellent! It means that you are truly coming to terms with your full potential. I think you are more powerful than I ever imagined, Kevin."

"I didn't even think about it." The American sounded as if he was almost pleading with the cat.

"So much the better. There will be a day when you are thankful for that ease of use. I promise you that."

-

She stopped by a small fishpond, isolated from the rest of the garden by a row of neatly trimmed willows which swayed slightly in the spring wind. Minako brushed an errant strand of hair out of her face and examined what exactly she had found.

The water was crystal clear, winding through the trees with calculated randomness. A few flowers were sprinkled here and there, interspersed with wide expanses of grass and knee high shrubs. Except for the distant sound of a songbird and the swishing sound of willow branches, it was silent. She had never seen this part of the garden before and Minako knelt down to enjoy it.

It was some time before she realized that she was not alone.

Her tone was clear, but not accusatory. "When did you get here?"

The man in armor shrugged. "Whenever. I don't tend to keep track of these things."

Minako tossed her head back and mock glared at him. "Well, didn't your mother ever teach you that it was bad manners to sneak up on a lady's alone time?"

"I approached with all the grace and subtlety of a stampeding war stallion. You were so wrapped up in yourself that you did not notice me." The faintest hint of a smile crossed over the man's face. "I really can't be held responsible for your lack of observational skill, Princess Venus."

She returned smoothly. "Perhaps. But does not a gentleman know how and when to announce his presence?"

"Perhaps I am at fault. I am quite sorry." The faintly sardonic nature of his voice indicated that he was nothing of the sort.

"As it should be." The princess giggled softly and the two settled down into a comfortable silence.

-

Minako awoke with a sudden intake of breath, her mind beginning to wrap itself around the dream. Her formidable mental processes instantly analyzed the significance of the dream. By sheer force of habit, she grabbed her diary from the nightstand and began to write.

Impressions, thoughts, concerns, anxieties. All went into the orange book with the heart shaped padlock. It was a habit that had continued over since her senshi days, when Minako had approached each hour as her last. Somehow, she had felt the yearning need to make her mark upon the world, to have a record of her accomplishments and feats however insignificant they might have been.

Now, it served more of a cathartic purpose, a way to organize her thoughts and feelings into a coherent form. She finished off the entry with a flaring signature before slamming the book shut and locking it with a satisfying snap. Minako smiled contentedly in the half light and almost flopped back down to bed.

Her senses peaked just for a moment, and all the senshi-trained awareness came flooding back to her. Minako looked around quickly, as if scanning for enemies, then stared at the ceiling in puzzlement.

It was nearly a minute before she realized what she was feeling. The girl leaped out of bed, and rummaged through her schoolbag for her henshin stick.

There was an opportunity that night. She would not miss it.

-

Kevin drew in his breath quickly. "But, what if it happens again? What if I lose control of it?"

Artemis looked at him strangely. "Why are you so worried about that, Kevin? I mean, you're forgetting that these powers are a fundamental part of your being. Familiarity is the price we pay for readiness. It is a rather small concession."

He nodded glumly. "I'm just still so uncomfortable with the entire thing."

"Again, it's natural for you to feel that way. But remember, Kevin, you can't feel that way forever. Sooner or later, everything will depend on you. You can't escape your destiny.

The cat's tone turned harder. "Not every battle will be like that at the university. Your enemies will seek to destroy innocent life. There are no more choices to make. You must do you duty."

Kevin winced at the tone of finality which Artemis took. "Harsh."

"I can only try to prepare you for the arduous tasks you are to undertake. I would be remiss in my duty if I did not."

The American chuckled heavily. "Fair enough, Artemis. Fair enough. I ought to get back to patrolling anyway."

"Indeed you should. I'll get out of your way." The cat turned to leave, then hesitated slightly. "Are you busy next Saturday evening?"

Kevin turned back to face Artemis. "Not that I know of. Why?"

"Just curious. That's all." The cat trotted away quickly. "Have a good night, Retainer."

He stared at the retreating cat for a moment, before returning morosely to the solace of his own thoughts.

-

Minako looked up at the sky, reaching out with her senses to find the familiar presence. Her detection abilities were nothing near those of Rei or Michiru's, but she did have some small talents in that area. She walked quickly, refusing to meet the eyes of the people around her. Even though Tokyo was perhaps the safest city in the world to be in at night, it was still not advisable for a young girl to walk around alone.

Japanese salarymen tended to get a bit friskier after a day of unrelenting work and a night of gratuitous alcohol consumption. Minako dodged a pair of drunken businessmen, then ducked into an alleyway.

The presence was closer now and she wanted to transform, to better announce her identity and pursue him if necessary.

With a push of magically enhanced muscles, Sailor Venus vaulted herself on top of the nearest building. Her skirt fluttered softly in the wind and she untied her Love Me Chain from about her waist.

She twirled it around her hands a couple of times and looked around, listening to the air around her. Then, with a violent movement, she hurled the chain as far as she could, lopping it around a cement outcropping on a nearby skyscraper. Minako tested its strength and then swung over, beginning to climb the chain as she did.

Although Sailor Venus could easily hurdle two or three story buildings, the towers which dominated central Tokyo were a bit too high even for a senshi's leaps. The heart shaped links cut into her gloved hands, but she ignored the pain, gaining altitude with each swing.

-

Kevin was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he almost did not notice the niggling feeling at the back of his mind.

He made a surprised sound, unsure what to make of it. It was a tickling feeling, unable to be ignored even when he turned his mind to other things.

Kevin scratched his head in a vain attempt to rid himself of it, then gave up as he wondered what exactly it was. 'Perhaps it's a signal of some sort.'

He chuckled a bit at that. Some small time ago, he wouldn't have even entertained that thought. Kevin had once thought himself too rational to consider such flights of fancy. Even now, he was averse to thinking that the slightest feeling meant something...

Suddenly, the feeling in his mind tore to the front of his consciousness and he began to run.

-

'Damn, he's fast!' Minako vaulted the last two stories only to see her target's fleeing backside. She began to sprint across the rooftop after him.

Quickly, she did some quick calculations, then hurled her Love Me Chain, to trip him up and stall him. The chain sailed through the air, and wrapped around his arm. She pulled with a strength borne of desperation, knocking him off his feet. The speed which he whirled back up onto his feet confirmed her suspicions that this was no ordinary human gallivanting about in costume.

The chain slithered back into her hands and Minako prepared to toss it again. The chain again sailed through the air, this time deflecting on a newly formed energy shield. And through that hazy barrier, Minako got her first good look at her prey. The mask vanquished any chance she might have had of identifying him, but he seemed familiar for some reason.

He probably had a distinctive face, a strong chin and piercing brown eyes. Minako thought she detected a flash of recognition through the mask, but could not be sure as he began an evasion path worthy of an escape artist.

He had planned his escape route well, replete with obstacles to get in her way and many turns, preventing her from lassoing him with her chain. The man was fast, smart, and well trained...she could already tell.

But facing him was a pursuer as dedicated and intelligent as he was, with a bit more experience to top it off. Minako ruthlessly hounded him across the rooftops, shaving centimeters off the distance between them with each turn. She was a couple of meters away from him when he suddenly stopped and threw up another shield.

She skidded to a stop, a hair away from the surging induction field, before taking a moment to gain her bearings.

They had stopped at the edge of a skyscraper and there were few other tall buildings in sight to leap to.

The man had obviously come to the same conclusion, and his cool eyes looked for an out to the situation. A heavy silence filled the air, punctuated by ragged puffs of breath.

Sailor Venus said softly. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The man shook his head and stared intently at her. "That is none of your concern, Princess Venus."

Minako continued softly, yet with an undeniable steel beneath her voice. "We seem to be on the same side. And you seem to know me. I'd say that it is very much so my concern."

"Perhaps, Princess Venus." The man bowed slightly, then half grinned. "But you will not find the answers you seek tonight."

And with that, the man disappeared with a whoosh of moving air, with nothing save a slight breeze to betray his presence. Sailor Venus looked around plaintively, knowing already that it was a futile gesture. She sighed with exasperation then began to trudge back home.