So here's today's chapter. I apologize for the lateness, but I had some stuff to do around the house. I come home from college and this is what happens...I kid...mostly...;)
I won't spend time rambling. I'll let you guys get right to the fic! Aren't I nice like that?
I still do not own the rights to Sailor Moon or any related characters therein
Yaten looked up from the book she was reading. A tall, auburn haired teen was carrying out a box of trash. The silver haired girl frowned and rose to her feet, marking the page she was on in her book before closing it. She walked over to the teen and smiled. "Hello."
The tall girl looked up and smiled. "Hey," she said casually.
"You just move in?"
"Two days ago," the girl confirmed. "I'm Taiki Kou." Yaten started giggling and Taiki arched a brow. "What's so funny?"
"My name is Kou too," Yaten said.
Taiki chuckled. "That is a bit funny."
"My full name is Yaten Kou."
"Nice to meet you," Taiki greeted, shaking the silver haired girl's hand.
"Likewise. So…what brings you to the city?"
"Studying."
Yaten nodded. "I'll let you get back to settling in with your parents."
"I'm actually here on my own," Taiki said.
"Why? If you don't mind my asking."
"My family lives out in the countryside. They love it out there so I told them they didn't have to uproot with me."
"Must be hard being on your own."
Taiki shrugged, putting her hands in her pants pockets. "It's not like I don't see them, but I love traveling and learning about new places."
"I've lived in the city my whole life. I'd love to go out to the countryside someday," Yaten said.
"Any particular reason why?"
Yaten shrugged. "I like to take pictures, but most of my shots are of the city."
"And the countryside would be something different," Taiki figured. Yaten nodded. Taiki saw a glint on Yaten's finger. "Nice ring."
Yaten looked at it and smiled faintly. "It's a promise ring my boyfriend gave me a few days ago."
"Nice," Taiki grinned. "Well…I should get back to unpacking. Feel free to stop by anytime."
"Same to you," Yaten smiled. She turned and walked back to the house, glancing at the brown haired girl over her shoulder. Why do I feel like I know her? Yaten walked back inside when Kei ran up to her.
"Who's she?" the little girl demanded.
"Our new neighbor," Yaten grinned. "Her name's Taiki Kou."
"She's got the same name as you!" Kei giggled.
Yaten chuckled. "I know. Now why are you running through the house?"
The small girl's face reddened. "I forgot it wasn't allowed?" she asked with large puppy eyes. Yaten laughed and picked her sister up.
"It'll be our little secret, okay?" Kei nodded and hugged her sister.
"I wanna be just like you when I grow up!" the small girl stated.
"You can be anything you want to be Kei. Even a Starlight if you really want."
"Only if you're a Starlight too!" Kei said firmly.
Yaten smiled and walked upstairs, still holding her sister. "You want me to be a Starlight too?"
"Yeah!"
"Then how about Sailor Star…Tickler!" she exclaimed and began tickling the small girl. Kei screamed with laughter and tried to get out of Yaten's grasp. Kei tried to get her older sister back, but Yaten was too quick and tossed Kei onto her bed. The girl laughed and hurled a stuffed toy at the teen. It struck Yaten and she made a big show of "dying" on Kei's floor. The little girl laughed as Yaten lay still. She cautiously walked over to her older sister. Without warning Yaten lunged forward and grabbed the little girl in a hug. Kei squealed in delight and the two siblings lay on the ground laughing.
- - - - - - - - - -
Taiki watched as Yaten headed down the street. Walking with her was a handsome young man that the auburn haired girl figured was Yaten's boyfriend. Taiki looked down and let the curtain fall in front of the window. "Why do I care so much about her?" she muttered. "I barely know her."
She shook her head and walked upstairs to get ready for bed. She tossed the covers off the bed and slid under the covers. She flipped onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, one hand behind her head. She closed her eyes and waited for sleep to come.
- - - - - - - - - -
Yaten smiled as she walked down the street with Taiyo, a smile on her face. "I had a great time tonight."
"So did I." He frowned as he saw movement in a window. "Who moved in?"
"A girl named Taiki Kou."
"She nice?"
"Yeah. Keeps to herself mostly. She's nice though."
Taiyo nodded. Something rustled behind them and they spun around. "There's the little girl who took down our buddy!" a figure in black snarled. "Get her!"
"Run!" Taiyo shouted, blocking one of the figures.
Yaten turned and tried to run down the street when one of the figures grabbed her from behind. "You're not going anywhere pretty thing!" he laughed.
"Kou!" Taiyo yelled. One of the figures slammed a wood beam over his head and he fell to the ground.
"TAIYO!" Yaten shouted, struggling against her captors. "Let me go!"
The figures laughed. "I don't think so," the one holding her said. Her head was pulled to the side and she cried out in pain as teeth sank into her neck. Her face twisted in pain as she felt herself grow weaker. She fell limp in the figure's arms and was dropped unmercifully to the ground.
"Star Gentle Uterus!" Screams filled the night air as several attacks struck the figures. Retreating footsteps sounded on the pavement. Yaten weakly looked up as a figure hovered over her. Blue eyes stared into her green eyes with worry. "Hold on Yaten…hold on."
"Taiki…" Yaten whispered. Her eyes fell close as she passed out.
Maker looked at the teen, worry worming its way through her gut. She carefully picked Yaten up and looked over as Taiyo came to. "Kou?" he whispered groggily.
"She's been hurt. Are you all right?" Maker demanded.
Taiyo stumbled to his feet, rubbing his head. "I'll live. How bad is she?" he demanded, worry in his voice.
"I don't know. Let her family know what happened. I'm taking her to the main hospital near the palace."
"That's too far!" Taiyo cried.
"It's the only chance she has," Maker snapped. She turned and took off running as fast as she could to the main part of the city. "Fighter! Yaten's been hurt! I'm taking her to the main hospital!" she yelled through the Sailor Change Star resting on her left ear. She leapt up to the rooftops to make better time.
"Okay. I'll let them know. How far are you?"
"Five minutes!"
"Got it."
Maker continued on her way. She glanced down and saw that Yaten was semi-conscious. "Hang on Yaten! Hang on, do you hear me?" Yaten's eyes fluttered in and out of focus, her face extremely pale. Maker began cursing. "You are not going to die Yaten! Do you hear me?" She leapt down to the street and burst into the hospital. She set the girl down on a waiting gurney and she was wheeled away.
"What happened?" Fighter asked.
"She was attacked by that group of assassins," Maker answered. "I saw one bite her in the neck."
Fighter frowned. "You realize what this means, right?"
"Yeah. The vampires are back."
"And they still want the Princess dead," Fighter added. "We need to find the third Starlight," she said.
"I know." She sighed. "I should have been paying better attention."
"This isn't your fault Maker. You couldn't have known what would happen."
"I saw her coming down the street. I should've…" she fell silent and bowed her head. "I should've been more observant."
"It's not your fault Maker. Don't blame yourself."
"I know."
"I need to get back to the palace and let the Princess know. If Yaten's been bitten…" she trailed off.
"She could be changed," Maker finished. "Go. I'll keep an eye on her."
"I'll be back," Fighter said and left the building.
Maker walked down the hall to where Yaten had been taken. She looked through the window as healers hurriedly worked on the young teen. She barely turned when Naosu walked up to her. "What happened to her?" the healer demanded.
"She was bitten by a vampire."
"By the stars…" Naosu whispered. Another healer came up and whispered something into the older woman's ear. Naosu's eyes narrowed.
"What?" Maker demanded.
"Nearly all of her blood was drained."
Maker's eyes widened. "And she's still alive?" Naosu nodded. "I want her under armed guard until further notice. No one goes in to see her without the Princess's say so, is that understood?"
Naosu nodded. "We'll still need to check in on her."
"I know. But no one else, not even her family, understand?" The healers nodded in agreement. They walked back into the room as guards ran up and stood guard out and inside the room. Maker ran a hand through her hair and sighed. She looked down the hall as a group of people came running up towards the room. Guards immediately blocked their path.
"Get out of my way! I want to see my daughter!" Tao shouted.
Maker braced herself and walked over to them. "No one's allowed in."
"Why not?" Tao demanded.
"She was attacked."
"I don't care! I want to see my daughter!"
"She was attacked by a vampire," Maker added.
"You…you're lying!" Akari stammered.
"I'm not," Maker said. "I saw one attacking her."
"What…what will happen to her?" Akari stammered.
"I'm not sure. The healers are working on her now." Akari let out a small cry and turned into her husband's shoulder to sob. "Princess Kakyuu is on her way here now. If your daughter does start to change, she should be able to heal her."
"But why can't we go in to see her?" Taiyo demanded.
"If she does change, she'll go after every person in that room to feed. It won't matter if you're her family or not. It's for your own safety."
"Can we at least stay here?" Akari asked.
Maker nodded. "Of course. I just can't let any of you into the room. It's my duty to protect the people of this planet."
"You were the one who brought her here?" Tao asked.
Maker nodded. "I saw the vampires swarming her and him," she nodded to Taiyo, "so I ran over to try and help. Unfortunately I was too late. I'm sorry."
"You brought her here. That's all that matters," Akari said.
Maker nodded and they waited. A short time later the amount of guards doubled in the hall. Maker rose to her feet as she saw Fighter heading down the hall. She bowed as Kakyuu walked out from behind Fighter. Yaten's family bowed as well. Kakyuu entered the room with the two Starlights and Fighter shut the door.
"She was bitten by a vampire you said?" Kakyuu asked.
"Yes. And according to Naosu, most of her blood was drained."
"And she's still alive?" Fighter exclaimed.
Kakyuu looked at the unconscious form of Yaten. "She is extremely resilient," Kakyuu murmured. "She might one day become a Starlight." The three looked over as Naosu walked into the room.
"Highness," the healer greeted. "This young lady is incredible."
"How so?"
"Her body is fighting off the change." The Starlights' eyes widened as did Kakyuu's. "That's not all."
"There's more?" Fighter asked.
"When she first came in, she had little blood left. Now new blood has been steadily refilling her body," Naosu said.
"How is that possible?" Kakyuu demanded.
"I can't explain it other than that she could be a Starlight."
Kakyuu nodded. "Can her body defeat the infection?"
"Probably not." She shrugged. "Then again, I've never seen anyone like her before," she added.
"Better to be safe than sorry," Kakyuu murmured. She held her hands over Yaten's body and they began to glow. After several minutes she lowered her hands. "There. She should be fine now." The Princess turned to Maker. "Don't let anyone in to see her until we can be certain it worked."
"I will," Maker promised. She bowed as Fighter and Kakyuu left. She turned and looked at the sleeping form of Yaten. Who are you Yaten? How can you be all right after what you've been through?
So? How is it so far? I crave reviews! Also, if you couldn't tell, this is apparently going to be a Taiki/Yaten fic. So yeah...no maiming of me for that.
Please drop a review! Onegai shimasu?