FATE AND FRAILTY

What we sorely lack.
Is something that we don't need.
But long to have it...


Haiku 5: Ennui

No one in this world should ever be bored, that is what Minako had concluded. Boredom kills and should be illegal in Japan! But no, "boredom" was free to run around and victimize beautiful, young and blonde Pop Stars like her.

She was in the studio, overseeing the training of the Three Lights along with the song director, Katsuhiko. She resented the fact that her manager had forced her to be here. The other Stars, she knew, could get away with missing sessions like this. But then again, she wouldn't be number one in the entertainment business if it hadn't been for Michiru's management skills. So Minako did not argue. She would do anything to stay on top after all.

'At least,' she thought wryly as she watched the Three Lights practice with passion, 'some of us are enjoying our lives.' When she had seen everything this world had to offer, there was nothing left to satisfy her anymore. 'I wonder if Makoto-san would...' She stiffened at the impulsive thought. Good god! What was wrong with her? This little infatuation was getting out of hand.

"Are you feeling alright Minako-sempai?" She felt a shadow cast over her, and she looked up to see that it had been Taiki who had asked her.

"Sit down for a minute." She patted a place beside her on the couch. She had to be subtle about this, and not raise any questions that would have Taiki wondering why she was inquiring such personal things about their friend. "How old is Makoto-san? Does he have a girlfriend? Do you know where he lives? Why doesn't he come to these practice sessions with you guys?"

Subtlety? What subtlety? These questions had been haunting her for the past few days and needed to be let out of her chest. She exhaled in relief. She felt better already. But still, she was anxious and hopeful enough that Taiki would at least answer her questions honestly. She watched her face, which was unreadable as always, as she waited for her to speak.

"Well..." Taiki finally replied, a hint of amazement in her otherwise docile voice, "I did not realize that Minako-sempai had taken such a great interest in our Mako-chan." The blonde girl blushed. "But I'm afraid I could not answer your questions. You see..."

Having heard (eavesdropped) enough, Seiya appeared behind the couch, crossing her arms over each other on top of the cushioned backrest. She effortlessly interjected, "What Taiki-baka means to say is... We think it's best if you ask Mako-chan personally."

"Seiya-chan..." Taiki rolled her eyes to look at her darkly. The other woman simply looked back. While both were locked in a mental, battle of wits, of some sort... Yaten had tapped Minako's shoulder and gestured, with a jerk of her head, to follow her to a quieter corner. Minako nodded and followed her.

"What's up Yaten-kun?"

"Do you like Makoto-san?" Yaten asked directly. She saw the other blush again, and looked everywhere but at her. "I heard interesting things about you, Minako-sempai." She went on cautiously, she prayed that the blonde Star would not fire them because of her impudence. But Makoto's well-being was more important to her than this job. "I don't want you to end up breaking our friend's heart."

Minako knew she should be angry at Yaten for judging her. What did this "guy'" know about her? Nothing! She really should start reminding her employee of "his" place. But she didn't. She was quick enough to realize that out of all the Three Lights, Yaten seemed closest to Makoto. 'Why is this guy (Makoto) so worth it?' Minako asked herself as she swallowed her pride and smiled at the other "boy."

"I know you have every right to worry, Yaten-kun. My um... reputation certainly doesn't help much. But I want you to know that I..." That she what?

"What, Minako-sempai?" Yaten prodded patiently.

"I... I want to be close to him." And Minako knew it was the truth. She felt some of her conflicted emotions unravel and set itself into order. "Yeah..." She continued, sounding surer of herself and her words. "I want to be close to him."

"Him?" She heard Yaten mutter to herself. But she couldn't be sure. The platinum-blonde youth looked up at her, her expression grave. "If you want to be close to... him... you will have to accept parts of Makoto-san that you might not probably like."

"Yaten-kun..." Minako began firmly, "if you're trying to discourage me, you shouldn't. My mind is made up. Don't you think it's up to me to decide whether I should like him or not?"

"Of course... You're right, Minako-sempai." Yaten lowered her eyes, yielding to her logic.

"Oi Yaten-baka! Don't hog Minako-sama all to yourself!" Seiya suddenly called out from the couch, breaking the tension that had unknowingly permeated between them. Yaten rolled her eyes. Before she returned to them however, she advised the Star one last time.

"If you really want to know... Mako-chan goes to Juuban Junior High."


It was another new day in school. Ami was both apprehensive and excited at the same time. She was not sure she was ready to deal with another torture session with the rest of the mean kids. But the thought of seeing Makoto again gave her enough incentive to brave the forthcoming harassment. She decided to leave her precious book bag behind and put her stuff in a rucksack that she borrowed from her father. She would use this only until she bought a new one. Her father and mother's book bag was too valuable to be exposed to thieving hands, especially now that Nishikawa knew what it meant to her. Besides, she had Makoto now. The other girl's reassuring presence was enough to give her courage.

Like before, Ami came to school early. But instead of hiding inside the girl's bathroom, she stood waiting outside the gate. The other students looked at her oddly but otherwise left her alone. Half an hour later-- she spotted a familiar figure to her left. She put on a bright smile on her face when Makoto approached her at a slow and steady pace. The taller girl did not look like she had seen her yet.

"Oi Aniki! Looks like someone's waiting for us!" Came a shrill cry behind her and she turned around, her stomach feeling like it had tightened itself into knots, to see Nishikawa and his gang approaching in the opposite direction. It was Usui who had yelled the words, his shrill voice distinctively his and his alone.

She looked away from them when Makoto suddenly walked past in front of her. The taller girl did not acknowledge her, her face was as stony and as daunting as it had been before. Ami was confused at first, but decided to quickly follow after her-- walking behind her like before. But Nishikawa grabbed her elbow from behind, having caught up with them, and pulled her back.

"Hey, hey... Where are you going?" He sneered. "I'm not done with you yet."

"Let go of her..." Everyone looked at Makoto, surprised. The fierce, brown-haired girl had stopped the instant she caught sight of Nishikawa grabbing Ami and was now turned towards them with an angry glare.

'Makoto...' Ami thought with a relieved and hopeful smile. She winced when Nishikawa pulled her against his chest and wrapped an arm around her neck in a choke hold.

"Why should I?" He mocked. "You didn't give a damn about her last time... Why should this time be any better?"

"Let her go..." Makoto repeated staunchly, her scowl deepening.

"Make me!" He snarled and emphasized his point by jerking Ami violently until the smaller girl yelped.

Makoto took a deep breath to calm herself and released it gradually. "What do you want Nishikawa?" She asked him wearily.

The bully smirked, and for a moment Ami thought she saw his normally sullen eyes brighten. "What else, Kino? I want to punch your face in!"

Makoto cocked her head at him and put on a bored expression on her face. "That again? Don't you get tired of losing to a girl all the time?" She did not give him a chance to retort, however, and threw her book bag to the side and positioned herself into a fighting stance. "Let's get this over with already..."

"You'll lose this time Kino!" Nishikawa vowed, throwing Ami towards Endo who instantly caught her around the shoulders, before throwing himself over to the taller girl.

The brunette instinctively brought her arms over her head to block his deadly, downward kick. She recoiled down slightly at the force of his assault but nonetheless withstood it. "What makes you so sure you'll win this time?" She taunted him.

"I will..." Nishikawa smiled darkly. "Because I have your girlfriend." As if on cue, Endo squeezed Ami's shoulders tightly causing the blue-haired girl to cry out in pain.

Makoto growled before shoving him away. She moved towards him swiftly before he could recover and raised her fist to strike him. He met her attack head on and punched her on her exposed right side, just as she punched his face. Both contenders were thrust back by the power of the other's attack, but neither gave any indication that it had affected them.

"It's just like you, you jerk!" Makoto yelled. "Hiding behind a girl... You're gutless!"

"Whatever it takes to win, bitch!" Nishikawa yelled back. With an animalistic cry, he launched a series of rapid punches and kicks at his most hated enemy. Makoto blocked each strike with careful dodges and defensive strikes of her own. He was sure he was going to win now. Makoto would not fight back!

But to his surprise, an unexpected kick was delivered to his groin. Almost every witnessing male in the vicinity winced in sympathy. His face reddened and contorted in agony. Then he fell to his knees as he painfully clutched at his injured area. "N-no fair!" He squeaked.

"Hey, you fight dirty, I fight dirty." Makoto smirked down at him mirthlessly. She brushed past him and approached the others, stopping a few scant inches in front of them. She folded her arms in front of her and raised a stern eyebrow. "I believe you have something of mine."

She did not realize the impact her innocent words had on everyone, especially Ami-- so she was oblivious to Endo's, Usui's and Inouye's startled looks and Ami's radiant smile.

'Hers...' The blue-haired girl repeated in her mind and felt her heart skip a beat. She felt Endo let her go, and she ran to hide behind Makoto's intimidating form.

"Next time you guys want a fair fight," the brunette warned them, "don't involve innocents." With that, she turned around to retrieve her bag. But Ami ran ahead of her to pick it up first and held it out for her.

"Thank you..." She told the taller girl, lowering her eyes to the ground bashfully.

Makoto chuckled wryly and took her bag from Ami's hands. "Don't thank me yet. It's gonna get worse from this point on." Indeed, she could already sense the spiteful and interested stares directed at her and her smaller companion. She started towards school, ignoring the negative feelings that were transmitted towards her. Ami followed behind her.

"I'm not worried." The smaller girl beamed. "I have Makoto-san to protect me."

For some inexplicable reason, Makoto felt her face flush at the utter conviction in Ami's proclamation. "Look Mizuno-san..."

"Please call me Ami."

"Yeah... Well Ami-san then... I'm not always around to protect you. And the others can be pretty sneaky... And--"

Ami reached out to grasp at a piece of Makoto's long sleeve, halting her worried ramblings. The brunette looked down at her companion's tranquil features inquiringly. "I'll be okay." She told Makoto before she released her sleeve. To prove that she was not totally dependent on her, Ami walked ahead towards the shoe lockers. She ignored the slanderous vandalism etched on her locker, opened it, and retrieved her school shoes inside.

Makoto moved behind her, and was troubled when she saw the horrible names sprayed on Ami's locker. But the smaller girl looked like it didn't even affect her. "Let's eat lunch together." She told her, determined to be near Ami as much as possible so that she could watch out for her. She had experienced first hand how cruel these kids were after all, and did not want her... friend... yes, her new friend... to go through that.

Ami closed her locker with a resounding clang, after she replaced her black leather shoes with the white ones, and she grew silent. Makoto was worried that the smaller girl had finally come to her senses and decided to stay away from her after all. But truth be told-- Ami was so thrilled she was having a hard time trying to find the right words to say. "I-I'd like that." She settled on answering honestly, before turning her head slightly to nod at her happily.

"I'll be at the field." Makoto released a breath she was not aware she had been holding and was smiling back at her.

"I'll be there." Ami told her shyly before running ahead towards the classrooms, keeping her head down to hide the ridiculous grin that was spreading across her face.

Makoto watched her leave, and when she was sure no one was watching, she groaned and held her side. 'Damn... Nishikawa's strong...' She thought.


Michiru reached down to twist the doorknob open when the door was flung open, causing her to stumble back in shock. She frowned as Minako rushed past her, her orange head scarf and coat flying up slightly as she hastened to put them on. The older woman hurried to catch up to her, while calling out, "Hey... Where are you going? Don't you have home school this afternoon? My husband is waiting for you back home."

"It's probably my best friend's lunch break and I'm going to pay her a visit before it ends." Minako called back , blowing Michiru a kiss before she exited the building. "Tell Mamo-kun that we can do the tutoring thing tomorrow!"

Meanwhile, Seiya withdrew her head from the doorway and turned to look at Yaten. "Did you tell her?"

"She needs to find out for herself." The other girl shrugged. Taiki wordlessly nodded in agreement.

"She's going to fire us when she finds out... I'm sure of it." A paranoid Seiya muttered worriedly.

Angry crimson eyes watched the blonde-haired teenager exit the building and got into a cab-- from where the small figure was perched, watching, on top of a building across the music studio. "Onee-chan, onee-chan... They're going to meet. They're all going to meet." Dumdum fretted beside her, tugging at her twin's long, long sleeves.

If anyone were to look up at the rooftop right now they would see a pair of little girls, no older than ten. The dark-haired one would be in red over-sized satin shirt that reached up to her hips, with long sleeves that went past her hands (practically reaching up to her feet), and with a white spade sawn crudely in front of her chest. She had black leotards to cover her legs and brown over-sized shoes for her feet. If her jester-like costume wasn't obvious enough, the white jester's frills around her neck was stereotypical enough to identify her as one. The white-haired one was similarly dressed, except in a white top with a red spade.

"Shut up! I can see that!" Deedee spat and kicked her sister away. The other girl staggered back, and tilted over the edge. Dumdum flailed her arms furiously to regain her balance, then forced herself forward and away from a fatal encounter with the street-- stumbling into the rough asphalt of the rooftop's flooring instead.

"I nearly died onee-chan!" Dumdum whined, though the ever-present smile on her face took away any credibility in her complaint.

"Like you could..." Deedee muttered as she grabbed a cell phone from the belt around her waist and flipped it open. She hit speed dial. "Maestro Cappello." She spoke curtly into the phone, "It's happening again. I can't believe it! Are they always supposed to meet? Every world? Again and again!"

"Onee-chan... Onee-chan." Dumdum tugged at her sleeve again, not wanting to be left out from the one-sided conversation.

Deedee ignored her. "What do you mean it's destiny! Fuck destiny! I hate it! I should just kill them right now before they awaken! Let's see fuckin'destiny fix that!"

"Onee-chan!"

"Continue to watch them? This is stupid..." Incredibly annoyed with the absurdity of the discussion, she flung the phone into the air violently, and felt some measure of satisfaction as it smashed into pieces against the building across from her. Then she turned to the source of the insistent tugging at her sleeve and backhanded the other girl who fell to her knees from the blow. "Stop that! Damn, I hate you!"

"I'm sorry onee-chan." Dumdum replied timidly and licked at the blood that was oozing from her ripped lower lip. "What did Maestro Cappello tell us to do?"

"What else, onee-chan? We kill them." Deedee lied.

"Really?"

"Do I look like a liar to you?"

"Yeah...?"

"That's why you're stupid because you can't tell." The dark-haired twin smirked and bent to help her other half to her feet. Dumdum relished the rare feeling of being held in her beloved sister's arms and nodded enthusiastically.

"You've always been the smart one, onee-chan."

They reached out for the other's hand, meeting half-way, and clasped each other tightly. Without preamble, they jumped off the edge of the roof, disappearing midway before they reached the ground.


The field was lush and green. It was the only place the faculty of Juuban took pains in having it well-maintained. It was their only pride in this, otherwise, lousy school. The other students did not care about this place though. Except when there were outdoor activities to be carried out or there were secret night fights between school yard gangs, the field was always empty. During lunch time, the students prefer to eat out-- the guards never stopping them. So it was no surprise that Ami and Makoto had the place to themselves. They sat under one of the large trees that were planted at the edge of the field, just near a wired fence. This was Makoto's favorite spot since no one bothered her here, and it was usually so breezy.

Ami was so preoccupied staring at the unaware brunette, her heart nearly leapt off her chest when her cell phone rang. She quickly rummaged inside her rucksack for the ringing object, found it, pressed a button to receive the call and put it gingerly in her ear. "Hello?"

"Ami-babe? It's Minako!"

Ami frowned in puzzlement. "Mina-chan? Why are you calling at this time? You know I'm still in school."

"Yeah, yeah... Look, I'm outside the gate! Come get me."

"W-what? Why are you--" But the other girl had already hung up. Ami pulled her phone away to look at it in bewilderment.

"Ami-san?" Makoto's concerned voice tugged her attention away and she looked up at her friend with a bemused smile.

"My best friend is at the entrance." Ami murmured in quiet astonishment. She searched Makoto's eyes and saw only amusement there. "She wants me to come and get her."

"You want me to come with you?" The brunette made to rise, but Ami quickly put her hand on her leg to stop her.

"No, that's alright. I'll be quick." The smaller girl told her, letting her hand linger on Makoto's leg for a few moments before pulling away. She pushed her bento safely to one side and stood up. "Save a spot for me." She giggled and wandered away towards in the direction towards the school's entrance.

Ami saw her friend chatting up the guard, who was probably trying to charm her way in. Minako had a scarf over her head and was wearing large sunglasses like a clichéd celebrity who was trying to hide from the public. Oddly enough, the people around her did not seem to recognize her. People really were ignorant to the incredible things that tend to be right under their noses. Ami shook her head at that.

"Mina-chan." She greeted her as she stopped in front of her grinning friend. "What in the world are you doing here?"

"Oh, I just thought that I should check up on how my best friend is doing..." Minako confided slyly. She snaked an arm around hers and began to tug her forward towards the school but not before looking at the guard who grinned back at her as he waved her away. "And I figured it's about time that you give me a grand tour of Juuban!"

"Mina-chan..." Ami began slowly, skepticism coloring her voice.

"Seriously!" Minako exclaimed. "I know the timing is wrong, but this is the only free time I have! C'mon Ami-chan..." She tugged her sunglasses down to bat her baby blue eyes at her best friend. "Have a heart?"

The blue-haired girl shook her head at the blonde affectionately, not believing her in the least, but glad that she was here all the same. "Alright, alright. I don't have time to give you a tour though. But you can join my friend and I for lunch. You haven't eaten lunch, right?"

'But I want you to show me around so that I can find Makoto-san!' She mentally whined but wordlessly shook her head instead. She felt Ami redirect their steps, and she allowed herself to be led. 'Maybe,' she thought absently, 'I can come back later, after school. THEN I can look for Makoto-san...'

As the pair made their way towards the field, Minako decided to ditch the disguise since no one was near enough to recognize her. She saw a strangely familiar girl sitting under a tree just a few meters across from them. She turned her attention towards her best friend as she watched a soft smile bloom on Ami's face. "We're back, Makoto-san!" The blue-hared girl called out.

When the blonde turned back around to scrutinize the person again, she froze. Minako and Makoto stared at each other in disbelief. Ami looked at them back and forth, confused by their reactions.

"It's y--" Minako did not get an opportunity to finish though, because she and Ami were forced back by small and brutal hands. The pair fell to the ground clumsily.

Makoto quickly shot up. "What the hell are you--!" A flash of metal, and the fierce brunette was compelled to stop talking when the tip of a knife was pressed against her neck dangerously, practically pricking the skin. She looked down with her eyes, to meet the blank red ones of a smiling little girl.

"Wow... It's Jupiter. Look onee-chan! I found Jupiter." The white-haired child spoke.

"You're so stupid onee-chan, we already know all of them remember?" The black-haired addressed her mirror image, not taking her furious gaze at the other two girls on the ground. She jerked her arms upwards, and the long sleeves trailed down to reveal several small knives in between her fingers. "Let's kill them..."

"NO!" Makoto yelled and moved to slap the hand that held a knife in her throat. Minako and Ami screamed and tried to move away. But then, everything came to a halt and the area around them darkened-- the trees, the sky and the ground disappeared. There was nothing else but a dark violet fog.

The little girls shrieked and disappeared, reappearing several meters away from the rest of the girls. "Shit! Fuck!" Deedee was quivering and hugging herself tightly. Her eyes were wild and crazed with fear and anger. Dumdum, held her shaking sister in her arms, looking around blankly.

"Maestro Cheshire..." The white-haired child smiled happily when a compact form fell out of nowhere and landed between them and their supposed prey.

The newcomer straightened in a leisurely manner, cat-like in grace. It was obvious that she was a woman, by the tightness of her black, and shiny cat-suit that revealed her slender and womanly form. She would've been considered attractive... if it weren't for the white porcelain cat-mask etched with six red stripes-- the freaky grin that was carved onto it was unnervingly wide. The mask looked like it knew some private joke, it looked like it was inviting anyone to ask what it was, and it looked like it would never give anyone a chance to find out what it was...

"Cheshire!" Deedee hissed. "Stay out of this!"

"You've been bad little Maestros..." Cheshire purred as she slowly approached them. The little girls backed away. "What did I tell you about disobeying your superiors?"

"Aren't we all equal?" Dumdum inquired innocently and flinched when the mask was turned in her direction.

"Time to go home, little Maestros... be thankful that it is Maestro Pillar who will punish you and not the queen." Cheshire turned her back on them. She did not need to look back to see them disappear immediately.

When it looked like they were safe, Makoto quickly rushed to Minako and Ami's side and offered her hands to them. "Are you guys alright?" When the other girls took them, Makoto hoisted them both to their feet.

"Yeah... What was THAT all about!" Minako whirled around, her eyes flashing furiously, to demand for answers that she never got to when she found the cat-mask staring at her in the face, just mere inches from where she stood. She shrieked and stumbled back. Makoto and Ami caught her from behind and tried to steady her.

"What, you say?" Came Cheshire's teasingly playful answer. "What is what is what? Such a question that cannot be answered in this world that only had answers to WHY." She circled them like a hunter stalking her kill, forcing them to huddle close together defensively. They warily followed her with their eyes, tense and ready to escape when they find a chance to do so. "Why is this world such a miserable place to live? Why are you here? Why is this happening to you? Those are the questions you should be asking..."

"Yeah?" Makoto started sarcastically. "Why then?"

"Why what, Kino Makoto?" Cheshire responded coyly. "Why do you feel so helpless and victimized by circumstances beyond your control?"

"What the..." The brunette's eyes widened and she moved forward to grab the mysterious woman. "How do you know who I am! Who the hell are you!"

"Makoto-san!" Ami restrained her by the waist. Her instincts were screaming at her that this woman was dangerous-- more dangerous than the twins that had attacked them earlier.

"Ah, ah, ah..." Cheshire made clucking noises as she danced away from the other girl's flailing hands. "I only said 'why' questions, remember?" She cocked her head at Ami, scrutinizing her intently through the mask's squinting smiling eyes. "Mizuno Ami... You use your head well. Unfortunately, knowledge can only go so far if you're afraid to know the answers. Why are you so afraid?"

Cheshire did not wait for a response and faded into the fog, only to reappear in front of a very unnerved Minako. "Aino Minako... Pretty yellow canary... Why do you love singing in a bird cage?" She disappeared again, reappearing, and standing in mid-air above them. She spread her arms, suddenly sprinkling glittering violet dust into the air. When the sandy mass engulfed them-- the girls fell to the ground as they feel their consciousness fade away very quickly. Ami tried to stay awake for as long as she could, straining to look at the blurry figure of Cheshire, who looked like she was actually standing on one of the tree branches as the fog slowly lifted up. She heard her say, before she passed out, "It's too soon for you all to meet, little pretties. When you wake up, it will all seem like a bad dream."


"Miss? Miss? Excuse me Miss?"

Minako started as she came into focus and looked over at the cab driver across her seat in confusion. She looked around to see that she was still inside the cab, the cab itself was still in front of the studio. "Huh?" She looked back at the driver dumbly.

The man rolled his eyes and repeated his question again. "Where to, Miss?"

Where WAS she supposed to go anyway? Then she glanced at her watch and remembered. She was supposed to go to Michiru's house to meet up with Mamoru for her afternoon tutorials. She felt chagrined when she realized she must have zoned out for a second. She told the driver where to go.


Ami jerked away and tried to look around wildly, only to be hindered by something weighing heavily on her shoulder. She glanced down slightly to see a sleeping Makoto resting peacefully against her, and it had been her head that was resting heavily on top of her shoulder. Ami was suddenly conscious of the other girl's warm breath brushing against her neck. She stifled the urge to shiver but could not stop the blood from rushing to her face

'When did we fall asleep?' Ami thought, she looked over to their half-eaten bento with a frown. It didn't matter, she concluded, happy to have Makoto this near her even if the other girl was unconscious.

With a tender smile, she reached out gingerly to brush a lock of brown hair away from Makoto's serene face.


The dark hall reverberated with agonized screams and excited tittering. Other than that there was a deadly pause. The air sang as a leather whip cut through it and struck against Deedee and Dumdum's exposed backs with a loud "WHACK!" Deedee screamed again, the other girl simply whimpered.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" The black-haired girl pleaded desperately, trying to look around to catch her punisher's eyes. She strained against the clawed hands that held her arms firmly above her head. Her sister was in a similar position. Both of their backs were bleeding heavily. The youma that were holding their wrists together smacked its lips as the scent of blood wafted up to its nose. But it recoiled when Deedee twisted her head back upwards to glare into its frightened black eyes murderously. 'You're next...' They seemed to say.

"Ugh... This is such a chore..." Pillar muttered boredly, sucking at her cigarette slowly and relishing the taste and feel of the rough smoke passing down her throat. She lifted her whip one more time and brought it down violently over the small girls' backs. Deedee screamed again, and Pillar sighed. This was a killer on her hang over.

She looked up at the shadowed figure that was watching the events on her darkly magnificent throne. "Hey... Can I stop already? My sake is probably getting cold." She saw their leader wave a hand to dismiss her. She threw the whip down and walked back to her spot among the other white, ornate arches on each side of the throne's sides that were reserved for Maestros like her alone.

The youma in the darkness grew restless as their entertainment was stopped short and started to jostle each other. "Quiet..." The vague figure on the throne spoke, and the demonic residents in the hall suddenly grew silent-- except for Dumdum who was sobbing pathetically. Their leader waved a hand at the youma who held the little girls. It immediately let them go and tried to run back into the safety of the shadows. But Deedee was quick, and she threw several knives at its back in rage. The youma shrieked before it fell to the ground, bursting into blue flame.

"Fuck..." She panted heavily, nearly fainting with pain. But she had enough strength to stagger towards her fallen sister and knelt beside her. She gathered her in her arms and cradled her against her chest.

Dumdum looked up weakly and smiled at her. "Onee-chan. It actually hurt."

"I know onee-chan." Deedee answered back. The sisters looked up at their observant queen, lowering their heads in shame.

"We will never disobey you again." They chorused.

"Good..." Pillar muttered, as she held her pot of sake above her makeshift stove to heat her precious drink. "It's so tedious punishing you idiots every time you fuck up." Deedee bit back a bitter retort and tightened her hold on her sister instead.

"Pillar..." The queen suddenly spoke, and the loosely, pink kimono-clad woman with classically beautiful Japanese features turned to her leader sleepily. "You will be taking over the task of watching our senshi."

"Aw... Alright..." Pillar yawned. "Right after I finish this pot."

"As for the both of you..." The queen turned to the children, who instinctively cowered under her cold regard. "You will start collecting more misery for me..."

"Y-yes, my queen." Deedee and Dumdum bowed gratefully. The dark-haired one felt better. This job was better suited for her. When she looked up at the queen, there was adoration in her eyes. The queen understood her better than anyone. She knew her needs and desires and had many ways of making it come true. Of course she should... The queen loved her. She loved everyone who served her faithfully. And the sisters were determined to be as faithful to her as possible so that she would love them even more.

"Where is Cheshire?" The queen queried.

The children did not answer at first, until Deedee nudged her sister on the ribs. "W-we don't know my queen." The white-haired girl answered nervously.

"That meddler is probably up to no good again, knowing how she is." Pillar commented with another yawn. "I'll tell her you asked for her when I see her."

The queen did not answer, but rose from her throne instead. She looked around her magnificent hall-- the architecture was Baroque and Greek in design-- with intricate ribbed vaults and colonades with demonic designs. Everything was beautiful in its monstrosity, and the stones that made up this place were pure white (but it was hard to tell in this darkness). This was her unholy temple.

"My subjects!" Her voice boomed through out the large hall, causing the youma in the shadows to start their excited tittering once again. "Bring me more misery!"

The noise rose like a rumbling thunder, shaking the walls with its anxious adulation.


+Author's Note+

To explain the shoe-thingy... Japanese are really such neat freaks. It's a custom for them to change their "outside shoes" with the white "inside shoes" so that they wouldn't bring dirt into school. Almost every place in Japan is soooooo clean!

Unless you didn't get the hint... for people who did-- now that you found out who exactly is Michiru's husband, I bet you're all going like "Whhuuuuuuuutt?" (grins and holds up a peace sign) Patience, patience... There are a lot of twists in this story.

Hehe... "Cappello" means hat in Italian.

Bento is a Japanese lunch box.

Youma means demon. I'm sure everyone knows what senshi means already. :P

Sake is a Japanese rice wine. It tastes like water, but has an unexpected kick to it.