PREY OF THE QUEEN SPIDER

Chapter 3: "Myths"
A Sailor Moon fanfic

By Bill K.

From her table in the outdoor café, Naru waved at Usagi. Her friend spotted her, then tried, not always successfully, to safely navigate through the occupied tables with satchel and equipment case in one hand and portable drawing board in the other. Several apologies later Usagi reached her and sat down.

"Thanks for coming, Usagi," Naru beamed. "I really wanted to tell you something. Order anything you like."

"You're going to be sorry you said that," Usagi grinned at her. "But thanks for inviting me."

"How long do you have until you have to be back to school?"

"I've got an hour and a half between morning and afternoon classes. There's no rush."

"That long?"

"It's the way the schedule worked out," Usagi shrugged. "Usually after I'm done eating I go to the park and sketch the animals. It's good practice."

"You're really serious about this," Naru smiled, impressed with her friend. "So what would you like to do after you graduate?"

"Well," Usagi sighed dreamily, "I'd love to be a fashion designer. It would mean all those hours we spent in front of fashion magazines at thirteen weren't wasted. Or maybe I could draw manga for a living." She giggled. "I'll probably end up in the park drawing people's caricatures for money."

"Well, you seem to be enjoying yourself, which is amazing considering its school," Naru commented. "You've married the man of your dreams, you're pursuing a career you actually like. Life sounds like it's been good to you."

Usagi shrugged modestly.

"So what's wrong?"

The question caught Usagi by surprise. She looked at Naru and saw she was serious.

"Nothing," the blonde woman alibied.

"Usagi," Naru reiterated, "how long have we known each other? I know this mood. You never could hide it. You and Mamoru aren't having problems, are you?"

"No!" Usagi replied immediately. She sighed. "It's just - - well, he's out of town for two weeks. And I miss him. It's the first time we've been apart since we were married." Her fingers twisted nervously. "And Ami's in England. And Rei's at divinity school. Now Minako's just gotten married. And when was the last time we talked?" Usagi began blinking as she stared at hr hands. "It feels like everyone I love is drifting away, Naru. I don't like it. I've never liked being alone. If being an adult means losing your friends, then I don't want to be an adult."

"It's not like high school anymore, is it?" Naru said sympathetically. "We have so much new responsibility all of a sudden. I find myself wishing for the old days when all we had to do was sit in my room listening to cds and devouring the latest idol magazines. There's so many more things to do now and not always enough time to do them."

Usagi nodded.

"So you know what you have to do?" Naru smiled. "Make time. If something's important to you, make sure you do it. If someone's important to you, make sure you don't drift away from them. Keep control of your life and what your priorities are and you won't lose the things that are most important to you. I tell that to Umino all the time." She scowled suddenly. "Not that he listens."

Naru reached out and grasped Usagi's hand.

"I think being an adult means realizing that you can't always have things your way. The difference is what you do about it. You can be sad or angry or depressed about it, or you can stay focused on what's important and keep your life aimed at those things so you can have as much of what you want as you can. That make any sense?"

Usagi smiled warmly. "It's nice to know one of us grew up."

"Yeah, but which one?" Naru teased.

"Enough about my problems. You said you had something to tell me."

"Oh, yeah. Usagi, it's so wonderful. I still have to pinch myself to believe it's real."

"What is it, Naru?"

Naru's eyes suddenly dropped to her lap. She took a steadying breath.

"The test was positive," she whispered. "Usagi, I'm pregnant."

The entire outdoor café turned to the sound of the squeal.

"Don't hold back, Usagi," Naru chuckled as Usagi put her in a head lock and hugged her. "How do you really feel?"

"Naru, this is wonderful! Does Umino know? How did he take it?"

"Just like you'd think. I've been elevated in his eyes from sainthood to celestial madonna. I think he expects me to begin walking on water." The two women shared a laugh. "He's very proud. Now if I can just talk him out of quitting school and getting a job."

"Isn't your mom supporting you?" Usagi asked.

"Yes, and it burns him no end. He feels like he's being humiliated on a daily basis. I keep telling him that it doesn't diminish him in my eyes, but he won't listen."

"Tell me about it. Mamo-chan doesn't come out and say it, but he thinks the same way. What is it about men?" The woman shoved the thought aside. "So what are you hoping for?"

"Honestly, I don't care. As long as the baby is healthy and happy, I don't care. And Umino will make a great father. He's so caring and considerate. I just hope I can be a good mother."

"You will," smiled Usagi. "You can and you will"

It was mid-morning before Makoto managed to get back to the temple. She was so tired that she twice had to stop and rest during her climb up the mountainous steps. When she reached the top, her first move was to sit down on the wall and lean her head on one hand propped against her right knee. She expelled a long, fatigued sigh.

There was part of her that was beginning to question if what she'd been through the previous night had been real. When she'd talked to the doctor at the clinic next to the hotel, he'd been a sympathetic ear until she mentioned the giant spiders. Then his attitude changed to 'humoring the person suffering from shock'. She was this close to punching him.

Because there was a stronger, more experienced part of her that knew spiders the size of bears was no stranger than Cardians, Diamons, Lemures, or Animates. That's what kept her from doubting her memories of that bloated black hairy body on top of her or the foot long fangs gleaming in the moonlight.

"Kino-san?" she heard Kakusui say.

She looked up and found the monk standing a respectful distance from her, leaning in. His expression was one of gentle concern. A lump formed in her throat. It was nice to have a man concerned about her. She hadn't experienced that since her stupidity separated her from Shinozaki. Her fatigue - - that's what it was, her fatigue - - conspired to bring a tear to her eye.

"You've been gone quite a long time," he continued. "I was quite concerned."

"I'm sorry, Sensei," Makoto wheezed, prying herself to her feet with great effort. "While I was out jogging last night, I ran across a woman being attacked."

"How terrible. How is she?"

"Still in shock, mostly," Makoto related, rubbing the back of her neck. "They're treating her injuries at the clinic next to the hotel."

"An excellent place. She'll receive good care there." Kakusui thought a moment. "Was the man who did this caught?"

Makoto flushed involuntarily because she knew the moment she told him Kakusui would look at her like she was a baboon and she didn't want that. But lying had never gotten her anywhere.

"It," she began, cringing in advance, "wasn't a man."

"She was attacked by an animal?" Kakusui asked. "Bears have been known to wander out of the woods, but they usually don't attack humans unless frightened or provoked."

"It wasn't a bear. It was a spider - - a spider as big as a bear. Actually, two of them."

And despite herself Makoto looked over at Kakusui in the desperate hope that he wouldn't think she was crazy or making things up. What she saw wasn't doubt or derision, though. The doctor plainly dismissed her claim out of hand. Kakusui hardly even seemed surprised. He seemed more anxious than anything.

"Sensei?" Makoto inquired.

"Perhaps the darkness fooled you," he said quickly.

"No. I saw what I said I saw. You believe me, don't you. Have you seen them?"

"I have never seen a spider as big as a bear," Kakusui replied. "I will take you at your word, though. There are many things on this Earth that I have not witnessed and can only take on faith. If what you say is true, though, it is - - remarkable - - that two such creatures could be fended off by just yourself. Your skill is greater than I thought."

"I, um," Makoto said, glancing down nervously, "well, it was one of the Sailor Senshi. I guess she just happened to be in the neighborhood."

"Then fortune indeed smiled upon both you and the unfortunate woman attacked," Kakusui smiled almost knowingly.

"The doctor thought I was suffering from shock when I told him about the spiders," Makoto ventured, trying to steer things away from her. "But you don't, even though you've never seen one. That's a lot to take on faith. Are you sure you don't know anything?"

Kakusui frowned and cast his gaze out over the side of the temple, looking down on the pool area of the hotel nearby.

"I KNOW nothing," he said. "There have been incidents over the years. An animal will disappear. Occasionally a person. The local police will investigate and find nothing. Eventually the matter will fade from thought and become a memory we look at occasionally and frown over."

"And that's it?" goggled Makoto. "Someone disappears and eventually people just give up and forget them? If I hadn't stumbled across that woman last night, she would have ended up just one more statistic?"

"Is it any different in Tokyo?" Kakusui asked point blank. "A person disappears, the police investigate, find nothing and eventually the matter fades from thought when new events occur. The only difference is the person disappears in a forest of concrete and steel rather than wood - - and it happens far more often."

He could tell Makoto still wasn't satisfied.

"You are tenacious, Kino-san," Kakusui nodded. "You have a sense of justice and fairness that will not be smothered." He grinned. "I think it's one of the reasons I admire you. And if you are right about these spider goblins, it is something to be concerned about. Alas I can offer you nothing of substance to satisfy your questions, though." He thought a moment. "Are you familiar with Japanese legend?"

"Only what I see on those historical dramas on TV," Makoto shrugged.

Kakusui smiled at a joke known only to him. He held out his hand to Makoto.

"Then come," he said. "Let me fix you a hot and hearty meal. And while you eat and rest and regain your warrior's spirit, I will tell you of the legend I have heard of in my studies. It is the legend of the Kumo-onna."

As he led her off, a tingle ran up Makoto's spine, but it was from those words hitting her ear rather than his hand grasping hers.

Usagi entered the apartment juggling her art equipment and board. Only a last second snatch kept the board from hitting the floor. The woman expelled a sigh of relief.

"Oh, there you are, Usagi," Luna said, sitting by the phone. "What convenient timing. Rei's on the phone for you."

After locking the door, Usagi came over and picked up the phone. Luna vacated the table and headed for a corner to listen in.

"Rei? Is something the matter?" Usagi asked.

"I was calling to ask you the same thing," Rei said on the other end.

"Me?"

"I've been feeling things I can't explain," Rei told her. "I figured maybe you were upset and I was picking up on that. Are you? Don't lie to me."

"Oh very well, nosy," huffed Usagi. "I've just been down a little. Mamo-chan had to go off to some symposium in Nagasaki for two weeks."

"And you miss him," Rei added.

"Yeah," Usagi squeaked. "And everyone else is gone, too. It's just me and Luna - - and she criticizes me half the time."

"And it's deserved every time," Luna replied.

"And you felt that? All the way at Priest School?"

"Yeah, how about that? Maybe I'll have to go all the way to England like Ami did just to keep you from distracting me," Rei jabbed.

"DON'T YOU DARE!" Usagi roared and the priest in training giggled back.

"So where's Makoto and Minako?"

"Mako-chan's taking a couple of weeks up at the temple to train," and Usagi smirked wickedly, "and ogle Kakusui, if you ask me."

"Good for her," chuckled Rei.

"Oh, and YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT! Minako got married !"

"WHEN?"

"Two days ago!"

"AND YOU'RE JUST TELLING ME NOW?"

"Well, you're in the middle of finals! I didn't want you to yell at me!" Usagi pouted.

"Yeah, you're probably right," huffed Rei. "So just like that she up and married someone? I didn't even know she was dating seriously!"

"Neither did I!"

"Is she pregnant?"

"Why does everybody keep asking that?"

"Take a guess, Ditz!"

"REI-CHAN!"

"Wow. Minako married?"

"And I've got more news! Naru's pregnant!"

Usagi pulled the phone away from her ear to protect it from the squeal.

"You are kidding!" Rei exclaimed.

"Naru pregnant?" goggled Luna from the corner.

"No! She told me today!" squealed Usagi.

"Wow! I guess Umino's been loading up on the Vitamin E!" Rei chuckled.

"What's that got to do with it?" Usagi asked.

"Never mind," Rei sighed. "So how's school going for you?"

"OK, I guess," Usagi mumbled. "I don't know, I just don't think I'm doing well. My instructors are all very encouraging - - well, except for my art history professor, but that's because I never pay attention. I just don't think I'm improving fast enough."

"Usagi," she could hear Rei scowl over the phone, "how many times do we have to tell you? You've got talent! You are going to be a fabulous artist! So just listen to your instructors and stop trying to out-guess them because frankly you don't have the equipment!"

"Thanks a lot!" Usagi fussed back. "So how's priest school? Drive any of YOUR instructors into quitting with your sparkling personality?"

"Hey, compared to the Catholic School I graduated from, these guys are a piece of cake," Rei snapped back. "It's a lot to remember," she sighed. "But if I pull a 95 or higher, I can just manage to keep an 'A' average for my Freshman year."

"I'll cross everything, Rei-chan," Usagi promised. "Even my eyes!"

"Send me a picture of that one! Oh, damn, I've got to go! Now Usagi, you cheer up, OK!"

"Promise, Rei," Usagi smiled.

"And I'll be back in Tokyo next week after finals are done, so we can have some fun then."

"That's great!"

"Could you do me a favor? Stop by the shrine tomorrow, huh? Grandpa didn't sound so hot the last time I called. I'm worried he's doing too much again. I can't seem to get it through his thick head that he's not twenty anymore."

"I'll check in on him tomorrow, Rei."

"Thanks, Usagi," Rei said. Usagi heard the emotion in her friend's voice and didn't have to be psychic to judge her mood. She would visit Hikawa Shrine first thing tomorrow.

Kakusui peeked in on Makoto as she slept. It wasn't something he usually did. He respected the privacy of any guest that might come to the temple, particularly a fine and generous spirit such as Kino-san. But he worried. She'd been through so much this day and the previous night. She wanted to go back out after her meal and look for the "spider goblins". Only his persistent hand and calming voice had convinced her to get some sleep first. That was at noon. It was five now and she still slept. The ordeal, whatever she'd faced, had taken more from her than either of them thought.

She looked so peaceful as she slept. In a way she was a kindred spirit to him. Though their paths had diverged long ago, it was easy to wonder if, had some element of her life or his been different, they might have walked the same path.

Looking at her sleep so innocently, Kakusui wondered about her story. It couldn't be possible, could it? Spiders the size of bears living in the woods just south of the temple? Perhaps it was believable to the superstitious peasants of the fifteenth century, but now? But to believe that meant Kino-san was irrational. Kakusui sensed many things about the woman sleeping before him, but irrationality wasn't one of them.

That meant . . .

Turning over in her sleep, Makoto came to rest on her back, the cover pulled away to reveal her nightshirt. It also revealed a hint of her massive chest the nightshirt's buttons strained to keep concealed. The light struck her soft mouth in a way that made them seem like soft brown dates.

Spurred on by embarrassment - - and other feelings - - Kakusui quickly closed the door. Perhaps a period under the waterfall might help him refocus his thoughts on the spiritual. He hurried off.

Which meant there was now only one entity watching Makoto Kino from afar.

Continued in Chapter 4