Thank you very much for reviewing this story guys. I'm more into this one for the time being, but have not forgotten the other story. I had my first class of the semester today, painting, so things might get a bit busier for me. Those of you who attend college and whatnot know exactly what I mean. We gotta work hard for the money...then spend it to work hard for the education, but it's all good. Feel free to e-mail me, review, laugh at my life on livejournal, or whatever floats your boat. I'm happy to get any feedback that I can.

-Aldsvider

Chapter 5: Captain

The next day, Rei took Usagi to one of the galleries at the stern of the ship. She'd resolved that today was going to be the day that she would tell her of their plans, and her part in those plans. She just needed to find the right time and place; she didn't want to scare her and make her cry again. She'd seen more than enough of that. 'I'm not the person who should tell her. I can't sweeten my worlds like Mina can.' Minako well enough could; she'd spent her life around her many brothers and sisters, along with regular attendance at court and balls, which gave her a lot of experience in interacting with others. Minako had a fluent knowledge of the social arts, and could use them, or abuse them, to her liking.

Rei on the other hand, grew up in a militant setting. The only social interaction she'd had was discussing tactics with other military leaders, or the occasional negotiation with her enemies. Training, drilling, practice, meditation, and more training. Who had time for balls and court? She was a child of war and death, born of a mother who died shortly after Rei's birth, and a father who would see her become one of his strongest minions. Though she had once idolized his name and image, that was all he ever was to her. Never was he a father, but a leader, always a leader, a King, a god. Not a father. And she betrayed him, took his ship, and fled to join his new enemies, ones which he had created in the past year. With his change, came her own; she changed for the better, though, and hoped to right all of his wrongs, so that their people and others could have a better life. Now she just needed to convince the one person who could make her plan complete.

Most of the morning and afternoon was spent showing the princess around the large ship, and large it was. One of her father's most distinguished vessels, no other ship of its kind existed. It was made to intimidate mainly. From the black stained wood that gave it an overall dark and foreboding look, to the immense size of the craft which towered over all other ships. It was hard keeping it concealed when they'd docked in Enlil, but Rei had managed, with some effort, to make it appear as a normal, large merchant ship to those who viewed it. To a goddess this trick was simple to preform on mortal minds, but took a bit of work with other immortals. However, since Minako was on board as well, they were able to pull it off, though Mina was not as adept at controlling her powers yet. Rei had assumed that Lady Anu would not think that a god or goddess would be her enemy, so she hadn't worried so much at being found out.

Walking out onto the gallery, Rei paused, leaning against the railing of the small balcony that rapped around the stern of the ship. Usagi settled next to her in the same position, looking out over the water. It was glittering orange from the sun, which would set within the hour. Rei heard the smaller woman sigh and then, strangely, she spoke first, "The sea looks like it is on fire, does it not?"

Rei's gaze went out to the sea beyond Usagi's profile, which she had been studying closely, "It's a rather tame fire, if it is. Those two elements don't mix too well I'd think."

"No, they do not, but it is beautiful all the same."

"Hm," Rei nodded.

"Are you going to tell me now?" Usagi turned her head toward Rei, who was looking back at her, "Tell me of what I have become a part of." She did not say it with any hint of anger or contempt. She said it like she'd already accepted her fate, like nothing she did would change it. And really, she was right.

"Very well then," Rei took a deep breath, grasping for the words that she had run through her head countless times. Some pretty words that she was going to use, ones that would make her sound more serious and confident. However, when she met the princess's honest gaze, she couldn't come up with one single thing to say, so she just told her outright. "You're a weapon."

Usagi smiled, "I figured as much."

"You did?"

"Yes, I did. What else could you need me for? The goddess of war and fire; that says it all and then some. I must have some power within me that you do not, otherwise you would have done whatever it is on your own." She put her chin in her hand and looked down into the water, "Now, go on then."

What she'd said made Rei feel simple, like she was just some barbarian who was taking what she wanted. Though she couldn't really be angry at the blonde's words, because really, those were the same thoughts she'd had about her own father.

"Very well. I know that you have heard of the problems in other kingdoms that developed this past year. They all happened at the same time, and struck with such a force that the leaders were at a loss as of what to do."

Usagi nodded, a strained look crossing her delicate features.

Rei went on, "My father is the one responsible. He has taken advantage of something that he shouldn't have. My ancestors would strike him dead if they were alive. They spent so long guarding them, controlling them..."

"It is true then? They really have been set free?" Her voice was trembling, "The...Horsemen?"

"Yes." Rei answered without thinking, only watching Usagi closely.

Usagi suddenly spun to face Rei, a look of horror in her eyes, "But how! How could he do that! I just do not want to believe that this could happen!"

Rei started to panic a little, but retained her calm exterior. She couldn't let Usagi see that she was just as horrified, it wouldn't help the situation, "Yes. I know it's hard to believe that he would do such a thing, but he's done it. He holds sway over them, and commands them to do his bidding. They are the reason that so much disaster has swept over the nine kingdoms."

Usagi leaned back against the rail, staring at the mural on the wall in front of her, but not really seeing it. She looked to be on the verge of tears, so helpless. Rei could understand how she must feel, and felt just as helpless wanting to comfort her.

"Plague, Famine, Pestilence, Death...War," Usagi whispered each name, now covering her eyes with one hand. Her hair fell forward, covering her face from Rei's view, which she was glad for. It gave her some strength to continue explaining. "Those are only the ones that we know of. There were more, less powerful, but just as lethal to mortals. We've managed to capture some of those so far. However, our struggle has lost us many, and we've only been doing this for eight months. I did not leave soon enough, I know. It took me a while to see that what my father was doing was wrong. I was stupid to go along with it to begin with, but I'm trying to amend my ways now. I have found the resources and constructed a plan that I hope will work." She finished, looking over at Usagi in sympathy. She hoped this wouldn't be too much for the girl to handle. She could tell that the blonde wasn't used to news like this, but she had to know these things, for she was the key part in Rei's plan. She really hated to see the girl crying, so she continued to talk, looking away from Usagi.

"You thought that they were going to use you against your mother, didn't you?" Rei asked calmly.

Usagi nodded, a hand still over her eyes. "I imagined that they wanted to take mother's throne and I knew that a great number of lives may be lost because of me. My mother would send many brave souls to rescue me if she learned the identity of those who took me. I could not let that happen. I am not worth that much."

Rei felt her throat tighten at Usagi's words, "Oh, but you are worth that and so much more," she heard herself say, but where did that come from? Not caring where, she went on when she saw Usagi's tear-streaked face looking at her. "It's plain to see that you are no warrior, but there is something different about you. Something that made even my father weary. He knows that you have a power within you, just as your great ancestors had that same power. With this power you will be able to seal the Horsemen and bring peace to the Kingdoms once again." Rei's eyes were resolved as she looked at Usagi, "My father's plans are quite simple, and you're more right than you know when you say that he covets your mother's throne. He wants the power more than anything, and he already controls the King of Enlil as well as others. Those who defy him are punished, and the others become tools in his quest for power."

Usagi was trying to wipe some of the wetness from her face. Seeing this, Rei took a handkerchief from her pocket and moved closer to the blonde. Lifting Usagi's chin with one hand, she took the cloth in the other and began to gently wipe the tears from her cheeks. She noticed that Usagi was staring at her with a strange expression on her face. Surprise? Maybe, but it wasn't fear, so Rei didn't dwell on it.

"I know that this is a lot to take in right now, Highness, but we need you to be strong. For all of us." Rei realized that she'd dried all of Usagi's tears, but her hand still lingered under the girl's chin. Pausing like that for only a breath longer, she broke contact and reached for Usagi's hand. Turning the small, delicate hand over, she placed her red handkerchief in Usagi's palm. "Keep it, you seem to cry a lot." Rei tried to smile, feeling awkward.

Usagi sniffled a little and smiled back, "I think that I am supposed to be insulted by that statement, but I cannot help but admit that it is true."

"It's all right to cry. It let's me know how you feel." 'So that I might do something about it,' she thought worriedly. They were silent again for a while, until Usagi spoke.

"What did you mean when you said that your father controls the King of Enlil?" Usagi asked quietly, "How can he control another god like that?"

Rei was actually glad that Usagi needed to ask her such questions. It meant that the girl's innocent mind could not fathom the tactics which Rei's father would not hesitate to employ in order to get what he wanted. Usagi had never seen real evil. Rei relaxed somewhat and answered Usagi's question. "Since he controls the Horsemen now, he can use them to his liking. For many years, Enlil was over run with civil war. The people fought amongst themselves and there was even a rebellious faction looking to overtake the throne. Death and destruction hailed over all the citizens and even the nobility felt the effects. Eventually, though, it came to an end, but through much struggle. The Kingdom is finally at peace, after such great losses. It is thought that it was the Queen's death that sparked the end in those last few years. For when she died, some say, the King's heart died with her. From that point on, he used many ruthless means to get his country under control again. Some of the worst, most merciless warriors were made at that time."

Rei looked at the sea behind them. "One of them is following us now."

Usagi followed Rei's gaze, "I am quite aware of who is following us, and I must admit, that when I first saw her, I could not believe that she was such a person. Somehow I still cannot."

Re smiled, "I admire that in you, Highness, please do not loose that quality." Usagi looked confused, but Rei went on, "Now, do you understand why the King of Enlil was holding you captive under my father's command?"

Usagi nodded and answered, "Lady Anu's father fears another war; just when his land is at peace. Your father now has the power to cause such a war, and so, he has rendered Enlil's King powerless against him."

Rei nodded once in a satisfied way, as a teacher would to a pupil. "And with you held there, no one would be able to accuse him of taking you. You would be hidden away in a place others wouldn't even dream of looking. Not with a jackal guarding the door."

Usagi had a sad look on her face. "What of the other Kingdoms? Are they, too, under his control?"

"Some, and others soon to be." Rei shifted onto one arm, leaning on the rail. The sun was almost gone, sinking into the ocean in the distance. "My father does not view Kingdoms without a great army as a threat, though he is no fool, and knows that alliances form in times of hardship. He has well enough kept these alliances from happening, but he has made one important mistake, that we will use to our advantage." Usagi was hanging on Rei's every word, absently picking at a chip in the wood of the rail beneath her hand.

"He forgot about the children," Rei held up her index finger, "At least, that is what we are in his eyes. We've made our alliances amongst each other, taking on our burden early to protect our people."

Rei stopped, biting her bottom lip in thought. "There is probably something that you should know. I had debated on not telling you. In fact, I had ordered Minako not to tell you at all, for your own safety. Now, however, I think that you may feel more at ease in knowing. First, you must promise not to tell anyone aboard this ship of Minako's secret. It is something that should not be known for many reasons."

Usagi nodded. "I promise." Her eyes were sincere in a way that Rei could tell that she really meant it.

Moving close to Usagi, Rei spoke in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, "Minako's true identity is Lady Minako Ishtar of the Kingdom of Assur. She is a goddess, like us."

Usagi's eyes widened in surprise, "So that is what you meant when you said alliances?"

Rei nodded.

"Her kingdom is inhabited by Famine at the moment, and her father is very near his breaking point. He is a good and kind man who cannot bear to see his people suffer. Therefore, Minako will aid us on our journey. She has much to fight for, but her father does not know that she fights, so that is the cause for secrecy. He is too good a man to let his own daughter fight his battles for him, but at the same time he is powerless to fight for himself. It was her choice and decision to take on this burden, and she doesn't want him trying to find her."

She let Usagi take all of this in, allowing her time to think before, finally, raising her voice to a normal tone and continuing. "You wanted to know of the other Kingdoms' fates. Well, the Kingdom of Theia is rampant with Plague. It kills hundreds daily because the Queen refused to submit to my father's demands. They are very advanced in Theia, as you know, and could offer quite a bit to his cause if they were willing. When last I spoke with the Queen's daughter, she had admitted that she was considering joining with me in my plan, but then we lost contact for a while and I haven't heard from her since."

"So she is not on our side then?" Usagi questioned.

Rei smiled at Usagi's use of the word 'our'. It brought her some relief to know that Usagi had already put herself on Rei's side. "I cannot tell you really. She may or may not be. I don't know her or her mother personally, so I don't know how they will act. They might have already chosen their side if the loss of contact is any indication."

"Oh, I hope not." Usagi was biting her bottom lip, anxious at hearing this news.

"As do I," Rei conceded, "But don't let it worry you for now. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now we are a mere week away from another ally that I had amazing luck in acquiring. My father did not see the Kingdom of Enki as much of a threat so he's left it alone for now. But the princess of that land is no fool, and she knows that one day her land may fall into his hands if she does nothing to stop him. She is very much like her mother in that way."

"You mean Lady Tiamat? Her mother was killed, was she not?" Usagi asked.

"Yes. She died years ago, in the wars on Enlil. Hearing about the demon-like warrior who was being unleashed on the people, she went in secret to dispose of them. She was a warrior herself and could not bear hearing of the abominations being committed by this murderer in Enlil. No one really knows how it happened, but the Queen was defeated and killed on the battlefield amidst a trivial quarrel between some mercenaries and a group of the King's soldiers. She must have slipped among the mercenaries, knowing of their plan to hunt down the same warrior that she was after. It wasn't until afterward that Haruka Enlil stepped forward and admitted that is was her doing, and at that time she revealed her identity as the warrior, the Jackal she came to be called by many. Since an immortal can only be killed by another immortal, they took her word for it and left it at that. Who was going to question a goddess?"

"But she killed the Queen of another Kingdom!" Usagi said heatedly, "I never understood why no one punished her for such an act!"

Rei raised one eyebrow, "And who would punish her? You? I think not. Enki does not have a great army, nor do they have the desire to fight. They are pacifists, though their Queen's blood does run through her daughter's veins. And she is willing to fight, however, I think that revenge drives her more than anything. No one would give her justice when she needed it, and it has left her with a wound in her soul that has never healed. So, Lady Michiru Tiamat will be joining us when we reach Enki, and Haruka wouldn't dream of taking her ship to those shores. We've got a common enemy biting at ours heals right now. Also, since Anu is a wind goddess, she may take the wind from our sails whenever she likes. However, Lady Tiamat is a water goddess..." She trailed off, watching Usagi's eyes widen in delight.

"So she will be able to help us out tremendously! Because, well," she motioned frantically around them, "just look at all of this water!"

Rei laughed lightly, "Yes, yes, my thoughts exactly Highness. She'll get this ship moving faster than the mightiest wind ever could."

Usagi was smiling pleasantly, and Rei really hated to have to wipe that smile away.

"There is more Highness. The leaderless Kingdom of Ninsar is now ruled by one of my father's underlings. Also, one of the other Kingdoms is sided completely with my father. And another merely watched it all unmoving. These and many other obstacles await us on our journey. I must ask you this now, for I have already asked myself the same many times over."

Usagi stood quietly, waiting for her to continue.

"Are you willing to make sacrifices? Could you give up everything for this mission? Would you stake your life on it, not just for your own Kingdom, but for all our Kingdoms and people?" Rei waited in silence for Usagi's answer.

Usagi answered in a strong, unwavering tone, "I would rather die than to stand by and do nothing about this."

Rei was extremely satisfied with her answer, "As would I, Highness, and as before, I pledge my life and allegiance to you," she began to kneel before Usagi, but was stopped by a pair of arms pulling her up and into a tight embrace. Rei froze, not knowing what to do with her own arms as the smaller woman hugged her, so she let them hang limp at her sides.

"Please do not say that. I will have no one else die for my sake. You are the captain, remember, and on this ship you are the law, so you cannot die." She looked up into Rei's violet eyes. "And from now on, I would like to be treated as an equal. Call me by my name, 'Usagi'."

Rei started to protest, "I couldn't possibly–," but Usagi silenced her with a finger upon her lips.

"Please," she pleaded, "I will not be pampered, nor put upon a pedestal. Not when there are people out there dying."

Rei could not deny her request. In fact, Rei doubted that she could deny Usagi anything. Looking into those blue eyes, Rei nodded slightly, feeling Usagi's hand slip away from her mouth. Her lips tingled and she breathed deeply, the girl's arms still around her waist. She felt the urge to hug her back, but couldn't find the will to make her arms move. She battled within herself for only moments before the arms left her sides, taking their warmth with them. Usagi had moved away and was now standing in the doorway.

"Thank you, Rei, for telling me all of this, and for bringing me aboard your ship. I had thought awful things about you and am now ashamed that I had such thoughts." She smiled brightly, "Now, though, I hope that we can be friends." She then left Rei standing on the balcony in the still evening.

Rei stood in thought for a while. She called me 'Rei'. The only person who has ever done that is Mina. But it's different when Lady Suen says it. Wait, no, not Lady Suen, Usagi. She wants me to call her Usagi.

"Usagi." She said the name aloud, liking the sound of it. Smiling to herself, she felt satisfied. She didn't know how she'd been able to get through her entire conversation with Usagi without screwing everything up, but she was happy regardless. One thing did worry her a bit, but not enough to ruin her mood. Usagi had accepted everything that Rei had said. She didn't seem to doubt her for one moment. Usagi was too trusting, that was plain to see. This thought reminded Rei of why they had a potentially dangerous hostage on board now. 'Just too trusting.' She sighed, hoping that this wouldn't present problems in the future.

The sound of singing soon reached her ears, and Rei couldn't help but think that, despite everything, it had been a pretty good day, and that tomorrow might be even better.

Continued...

Author's note:

Because it confuses the hell outta me, and I'm the one writing the damn thing:

Kingdom of An - Lady Usagi Suen

Kingdom of Enlil - Lady Haruka Anu

Kingdom of Bellona - Lady Rei Enyo

Kingdom of Theia - Lady Ami Metis

Kingdom of Assur - Lady Minako Ishtar

Kingdom of Enki - Lady Michiru Tiamat

Kingdom of Moros - ?

Kingdom of Ninsar - ?

Kingdom of Nammu - ?

My apologies for any spelling or grammar mistakes in this document.