Green Eyed Monster

Chapter 6: "Desire Versus Obligation"
A Sailor Moon fanfic

By Bill K.

Rei burst out of the Nursery at top speed. Usagi was on her heels, with Minako and Ami close behind. The three women had no idea where Rei was headed or what she had been babbling about in the Nursery beyond the obvious meaning of "Meshiwokuu Eiji" - - Devourer of Babies. But Rei seemed to know and at the moment they didn't have any other options.

"Rei, where are we going?" Ami shouted to her as the four barreled down the hall toward the nurse's station and the elevators beyond.

"Lotus Blossom Shrine!" Rei called back, not slowing down at all.

"How are we going to get there?" Minako posed as she came up beside Usagi. "I don't have my car anymore!"

"What is it?" Dr. Mizuno asked. She'd seen the four racing down the hall and came out from the nurse's station to meet them, only to realize that they weren't stopping for her. "Did you find something?"

"Yes!" Rei said as she whizzed past the doctor.

"What?" Dr. Mizuno called after her.

"No time!" Rei called back. Minako and Usagi blew past her as well

"Rei, slow down!" whined Usagi. "These shoes weren't made to run in!"

Dr. Mizuno noticed Ami slowing down and managed to grab her. Her daughter stared urgently into her eyes.

"Mother," Ami panted. "I need to borrow the car! Quickly!"

"Ami, what is it? What did she find?" Dr. Mizuno demanded.

"I don't know the answer to that entirely," Ami told her. "But we've got a lead on what's killing these infants! The keys!"

Dr. Mizuno handed them over. Ami tore away and joined her fellow senshi in the elevator car Minako was holding. The door closed, leaving Dr. Mizuno and the three duty nurses staring after them.

"Those are the strangest consultants I've ever seen," commented one of the nurses.

"I admit they're somewhat - - unorthodox," Dr. Mizuno replied, her concern for her daughter still occupying much of her attention. "But they do get results."

A dark Toyota mid-size pulled out of the parking garage under the hospital. Ami Mizuno was at the wheel, with her three friends occupying the other seats. Mindful of the ill-feelings between Rei and Minako, Usagi managed to snag the back seat next to Rei and "suggested" Minako sit up front.

"Where is this 'Lotus Blossom Shrine', Rei?" Ami asked as she skillfully pulled into traffic. "I'm not familiar with it."

"It's in the north part of the district, on Sagara Street," Rei replied. Ami glanced at her through the rear view mirror. She found the priest pensive - - not a good sign.

"Man, this car is expensive," Minako marveled, running her hand along the leather interior. "How much does your mom make?"

"More than she can spend," Ami replied casually, "though it isn't as if she's a spendthrift. She views money as a means to acquire things that make it easier to enjoy the things in life you do enjoy."

"Does she need a personal secretary?" Minako asked. "Because I know this recently out of work actress/singer . . ."

"Can we hurry, please?" Rei prodded, partially to shut Minako up.

"I still have to obey the traffic laws, Rei," Ami chided her. "What exactly are we up against? You mentioned 'Meshiwokuu Eiji'. Is that a name?"

"It's what it came to be known as," Rei related. "I only know the story Grandpa told me. He and the priest of Lotus Blossom Shrine, um, knew each other."

Rei's smile quickly dimmed.

"Anyway, Meshiwokuu Eiji is a demon. It sneaks up on small, healthy infants and sucks the life energy from them. I don't know a lot of the specifics. Kaji-sensei would know them. One of Kaji-sensei's ancestors trapped the demon on the sacred ground of Lotus Blossom Shrine. I think Grandpa said it was five or six hundred years ago."

"So you're saying that," Ami struggled to understand, "that a demonic presence is responsible for this? Might even be responsible for every case of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in history?"

"No," Rei grinned. "Even demons aren't that industrious. But some cases of crib death over the centuries may have actually been the work of this demon." She sensed Ami's brow furrow. "I know this is hard for you to accept, Ami. Not everything in life has a scientific explanation, just like not everything in life has a supernatural one."

Suddenly Rei turned and looked at Usagi. Usagi caught her look and blushed in shame.

"You don't think . . .?" Usagi whispered. Rei reached out and clutched her hand.

"No," Rei told her. "This demon only kills infants who have already been born. It didn't take Kousagi."

Usagi squeezed the hand holding hers. "I suppose that's something."

"That's another thing," Minako ventured. "Usagi was the first one who sensed this thing's presence, right? Why? I thought you were the resident spirit psychic." Minako's eyes narrowed coldly. "Other things on your mind?"

"I've been wondering that myself!" Rei snapped back. "Maybe it has some sort of spell that hides it from people with the sight!"

"And perhaps," Ami interjected, trying to mollify the combatants, "Usagi has a special affinity to it. She does possess some extra-sensory ability, though hardly as strong as Rei's. And she may have a natural sense of it because she's the only one of the four of us who has ever been pregnant."

Thankfully the car arrived at Lotus Blossom Shrine. Rei jumped out of the car, followed by Minako. Ami parked, then easily overtook Usagi, who was chugging slowly but tenaciously up the towering column of steps.

Rei didn't stop for anything. At the top step, she buzzed past the ancient priest of the shrine and into the wooded area on the east side of the grounds. Minako followed, her henshin stick out and ready to use. Ami paused only long enough to bow and apologize to the priest, then she continued on after the others. Usagi reached the top step and gasped.

"Are you all right, young lady?" the wizened priest asked her.

"Why couldn't I have been born in the flat part of Tokyo?" Usagi groaned.

When Minako caught up to Rei, she found the priest staring at a boulder in the middle of the woods. Carved into the boulder were kanji, but they made no sense. On top of it, graffiti was spray-painted onto the rock, clearly by vandals. Unsure about what Rei was thinking, though the young priest's distress was obvious, she crept closer. Ami then joined them.

"What is it, Rei?" Ami inquired, saving Minako the need.

"This is where the demon was trapped." Rei whispered, staring bitterly down at the boulder.

"How do you know?"

"See the kanji carved into the rock?" Rei pointed out. "That was used to bind the demon to this place. Besides, I can feel the remnants of its presence."

"I don't feel anything," Minako stated.

"What language is the carved word?" Ami asked. "The kanji don't represent anything that I recognize."

"The paint has obliterated part of the carving," Rei pointed out. Ami and Minako looked. Part of one symbol had been filled in with the paint. "It changed the meaning of the kanji and broke the binding spell."

"Oh my, no!" they heard a withered voice gasp. All three women turned and found the old priest and Usagi approaching. Each seemed to be supporting the other.

"Kaji-sensei," Rei said, then bowed deeply at the waist to him. "Please forgive my earlier rudeness. I was in a hurry and desperate to confirm what I feared had happened. It doesn't excuse my lack of manners, though. I humbly apologize."

Minako and Ami looked at her, surprised.

"Gratefully accepted, Rei-chan," the old priest nodded with some effort. Remaining upright seemed to be an effort for him at times, though he was clearly stronger than he looked. "Given the circumstances, quite understandable. Is the demon loose?"

"It looks that way," Rei nodded.

The old man sighed. "It's all my fault. Please forgive me. I'm not long for this world and I haven't been able to find someone to succeed me at this shrine. I should have checked the marker daily, like I used to," and he looked down, shamed, "but the path has become so arduous for these old bones. I've been neglecting - - my duties." He took a moment to recover his composure. "How long has it been loose?"

"Possibly three months," Ami told him. The priest reacted as if a knife had plunged into his chest.

"Kaji-sensei, we will hunt this thing down and bind it again," Rei told him adamantly, "destroy it if possible. I vow it!"

"We all will," Usagi added.

They noticed the old man staring at Rei for just a moment. Rei reached out and touched his arm.

"Kaji-sensei?" she asked.

"Forgive me," he shook himself. "Your words and tone brought back a very old memory."

"Of what?" Rei inquired.

"Nothing important."

"Is it possible to recapture this demon, sensei?" Ami inquired.

Kaji-sensei glanced at Ami, then returned his gaze to Rei.

"Have you kept to the path of spiritual enlightenment that your honored grandfather set for you?" he asked the young priest.

"I've tried," Rei replied. "Occasionally I've been - - distracted by things." Minako made a conspicuous coughing noise. "I'll never be as good a priest as my grandfather."

"Rei-chan," the old man grinned, "you'll be a better one. Your grandfather wasn't above distraction from time to time himself. We all get distracted. But it takes discipline to return to the path you have set for yourself. Have you that discipline?"

"Yes, sensei," Rei nodded.

"Then it can be done." He turned and began stepping gingerly toward the main shrine, Usagi following him in case he faltered. "We must consult the ancient writings to learn how my ancestor trapped this foul demon. Please go on ahead of me, Hino-chan. We must not be slowed by my withered old bones."

The others nodded and went on ahead. Usagi stayed with him for support. As they walked, he turned to Usagi and smiled.

"You are a most illuminating spirit, young one," he said, still smiling. "I would imagine such a bright and wondrous spirit would make a delicious cup of tea."

"And you'd be wrong," Usagi grimaced in embarrassment.

"Nevertheless, could you indulge an old man? Such things are no longer easy for me to do."

"Oh you're not that old," Usagi replied flirtatiously. And, looking back, once again her friends could only marvel at the almost magical way Usagi had of cheering a person up. "Have you known Rei long? I bet she was a real brat when she was younger."

"Hey!" Rei protested.

"Actually she was quite well-behaved," Kaji-sensei recalled. "Very respectful - - almost shy. She adored her mother and was in awe of her father's commanding presence." The old priest clouded over. "Life was very cruel to her. Her mother's death, her father's indifference,
and the burden of her sight were more things than one so young should endure. It made her strong, but it made her guarded. I miss the innocent she used to be."

Usagi looked down, chastened and hurting for her friend.

"That's why I didn't want to say anything earlier about the memory she brought back," he continued. "It would have upset her."

"What was it?" Usagi asked.

"When she spoke earlier - - the fire and determination in her soul - - it comes from her father. She drew her spirituality from her mother and her mother's family. Her grandfather had gifts, as did her mother. But her will comes from her father - - and she would see that as an insult. But her father is a very bold, very charming, very determined man. There is much of him in her."

"Did you know Rei's father?

The elderly priest's eyes grew misty. He said nothing, but nodded to answer her inquiry and not be rude. Usagi, feeling bad for him, let the matter drop. But as they approached the shrine, it suddenly dawned on her that the old priest resembled Dietman Hino.

Usagi and Kaji-sensei entered the shrine and sought out its library. The echo of raised voices caused Usagi to leave the priest and hurry into the room.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Minako demanded indignantly.

"It means I don't need anymore of your hair-brained ideas!" Rei bellowed. "This is not one of your third-rate monster movies! This is MY area of expertise, MISS ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONAL! So butt out! Ami can help me! All you have to do is sit down, shut up and DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!"

Ami seemed about to try to separate the combatants. Usagi acted first, though. She grasped Minako around the wrist before her friend could reply to Rei's rebuke.

"Mina-chan, could you help me make some tea for Kaji-sensei?" Usagi asked, pulling Minako toward the kitchen.

"What's to know? All you do is boil water and . . .!" Minako began.

"PLEASE?" Usagi reiterated. Minako surrendered and followed Usagi in.

"Well that was certainly conducive to a united front," Ami scowled at Rei.

"Don't start," Rei huffed, surveying the book titles. "Maybe I just got sick of listening to her little jabs and digs. Maybe I'm just sick of listening to her. It's not my fault that she hasn't made it in show business. I shouldn't have to take all this grief." Rei surveyed the books more intently. "Damn it, where is that book?"

An ancient hand reached up and pulled an ancient tome from the shelf. Rei turned and found Kaji-sensei holding it out to her.

"Calm yourself, Rei-chan," the wizened priest said gently. "No one expected you to know which text to select in an unfamiliar collection. Now let us search together for the weapon we will need to defeat this demon."

"Yes, Kaji-sensei," Rei swallowed, dropping her gaze in mortification.

In the kitchen, Usagi filled a pot with water while Minako searched the cabinets for the tea. Usagi glanced over several times before she got the courage to speak.

"Mina-chan," she began.

"Usagi," Minako sighed, her shoulders slumping, "I already know what you're going to say. I've gotten this speech from Artemis and from Toshi-chan. I know Rei isn't purposefully trying to sabotage my career."

"Well, she isn't," Usagi whimpered. "She wants you to succeed, she does. Can't you be happy for her?"

"Up here," Minako said, pointing to her head, "I get it, and I am happy for her. But down here," and she pointed to her heart, "there's this little voice that keeps demanding to know 'why not me'."

She slumped against the counter. Usagi was there instantly, holding her hand.

"And then I find myself saying the nastiest things, things that I want to take back the moment they're out of my mouth," Minako continued, "and at the same time part of me feels good that I said them. This business does things to you, Usagi. You go to a hundred auditions and you lose out because you're too tall or too short, you're too blonde, you're not blonde enough, you're not pretty enough, you're too pretty. I've heard them all, Usagi. It wears at you after a while. You begin to wonder if - - if maybe you're never going to make it. If you've just wasted eight years of your life chasing a fantasy. That's why seeing a break like that drop into Rei's lap just makes me see red."

"Or green?" Usagi gently suggested.

"Or green," Minako smiled ironically.

"I hope you don't quit trying, Mina-chan," Usagi offered. "I've liked everything you've done and I think you'd be a wonderful idol. But you'll still be my friend, whatever you do decide. And Rei'll be your friend, too - - unless you poison it."

Minako blew air out of her mouth. "I'll try. But I said the same thing to Artemis and Toshi-chan and I guess I was lying to them. If I end up lying to you, too, here's an 'I'm sorry' in advance."

"If it comes to it," Usagi grinned, "just think of it as a part you have to play. Maybe that'll make it easier."

Minako snorted. "Given some of the things I had to do on 'Angel High'," Minako quipped, glancing gratefully at Usagi, "doing that will be a cinch."

Entering the room with a tray full of cups and a steaming pot, Usagi and Minako found the three others busy with their research. Hunting down the transcription of an ancient scroll was no easy task. The frustration was beginning to show on Rei.

Minako hung back.

"Tea's ready," Usagi sang out. "And I brought extra sugar, just in case you don't like it." Then she stuck her tongue out at Rei.

"Congratulations on not burning yourself," Rei jabbed back playfully. As usual, Usagi proved able to lift even Rei's mood, though in her case it was short-lived. "This is taking too long."

"We still have time until the next attack, Rei," Ami informed her.

"How do you know that?" Usagi asked.

"By studying the case files for discernable patterns. And one of the things I discovered is that the suspected attacks occurred roughly every eight to ten days. It's been two days since the last death. That gives us a minimum of six days to determine a means to combat this
- - I hesitate to say it, but 'demon'."

"So it takes eight to ten days for it to get hungry again?" Usagi asked.

"Was there a pattern to the location of the victims?" Minako ventured cautiously, lest she set Rei off again.

"No, unfortunately," Ami replied. "Whatever attracts this entity to its victims has nothing to do with location. The attacks follow no pattern."

Seized by a sudden thought, Ami turned to the elderly priest.

"How did your ancestor trap the demon in the first place?" Ami inquired. "Was he able to summon it to him?"

"I can't remember exactly how it was done," Kaji-sensei replied. "My memory's not that good. I do remember some of the things my grandfather told me and I don't believe it can be summoned the way some demons can."

Usagi put a cup of tea by the old priest. He looked up at her and nodded his gratitude, then stopped. His trembling hands reached out and grasped Usagi's free hand. She silently questioned the gesture, but he only looked deep into her eyes. Then he smiled.

"But I think we may have a way to track it," Kaji-sensei said.

Continued in Chapter 7