There was a great deal of worry that was starting to eat at Rei. She knew herself the forces of
Chaos was starting to form into another unbeaten team. This time, they were kidnapping Rio's best friends. There was possibly of power being drained from people who the sailors knew. The sailors were not entirely in the dark. Rei asked, "What is going on with Rio?"
Lita sighed. She felt like Rio's own problems were far too hard to solve even with everyone pitching on. She said, "I have a feeling Rio has a hard time talking about things. She so much into facing her own problems with no helps at all!" then, Lita shrugged her shoulders.
"And why was she asking Serena for?" Rei asked.
"Serena is our Queen and Rio felt like telling her about the nightmares at first…Rio hadn't been a sailor scout for too long!"
"Serena did have her own troubles with everything that happened to us back home…yet will we face the same thing here?"
"Hard to tell. It seemed like we have been repeating ourselves couple of times. We did have some enemies, but we found out the long way…we can't use our powers with these others!" Rei said. She knew another evil force was coming and with a great deal of power.
It was nearly eight in the morning. Things were going to turn upside down for just a little while.
Rio had a good time with her uncle and Aunt before they left for home back in London. She wanted to take a walk to one of the many streets of Salem to see where she could end up. She had no idea when she was going to come back. She wanted to have someone to talk to along the way.
The fullness of the moon on the warm still night was so alluring to Rio. She wanted to be happy to see the others busy for a little while.
Seyia did call Serena about coming over for a few hours. She was more than just excited. Serena was totally gone with glee. Reenie was going to hang out with Houtra at Skuld's place. They were hoping to see the new robot that Skuld was working on. Serena was getting herself ready for Seiya's visit.
Lita and Ami were doing the dishes with the radio going at full tilt. They wanted to have some idea what was going on with the rest of the world. Rio did have it tuned to a local NPR station. At first, they were going to change it. Yet, they had heard the news about what was going on with the rest of the world; they had decided to keep it on. The other five sailors were watching TV in the TV room.
Rei had told Rio not to stray off too far. She might be needed for an unforeseeable battle with the dark forces. Rei knew Rio was getting strong with her fighting skills. Rio had stopped over to the three lights house. She noticed Seiya walking out of the house. Yaten was following him with a concerned look on his face.
She did want to disturb Seiya on his date. She had also wondered why Yaten was all up on arms about his older brother's date with Serena. Yaten appeared to be too stressed about everting going wrong with Seiya to be concerned about her.
The only one she had left was Taiki. Taiki was going to finish up his daily tasks before his reading. He would read at least a chapter of a book he knew was going to be in next year studies. Taiki was in the front room. He could hear the other two talking about Seyia's date. Yaten was starting to tolerate Seyia's dating habits. He was letting Mina come over from time to time. Taiki was half there when there was a knock on the door.
"Hey…Taiki…" Seiya's voice echoed throughout the house.
"Hang on there…there's someone at the door!" Taiki said as he walked over to the door. On opening the door, Taiki was surprised to see Rio. He smiled a little and asked, "Hello…what's up with you?"
"Nothing really," Rio said as she could hear Seiya and Yaten still talking about Serena.
There was an awkward minute of silence. Taiki was not sure on how to ask what was on Rio's mind. She had her own ideas. Rio felt like Taiki should be the one to speak first. This was his house and by rights she knew he had first try. He smiled as he said, "Are you here to see Seiya?"
She shook her head.
Then, Taiki asked, "Yaten…you were talking to him a few days ago at the library…was it about rare rock and roll films?"
Rio snorted a little as she said, "That's a good one…he asked me about the Rolling stones. There were a couple of films…but…"
Then, Taiki asked, "You want to come in?"
"Sure…" Rio said as she entered inside.
"Are you wanting something!" he asked again.
"There are a few ideas that I have been meaning to tell you!"
"Me?" he asked, blushing slightly. He knew she had been dating Dusty for a long time. Why was she going to ask him of all people? Taiki was more into talking things over with Ami. Taiki still harbored a feeling of mustrust with Rio. To Taiki, rio was still the outsider, more so with the outers then, himself.
"Yea," she made her way to the living room. She noticed the coffee table strewn over with book and magazines. She had to smile. There were a few days of complete rain was in the forecast. She knew one of the brothers was totally bored. "I just wanted ask you if you wanted to go for a walk?"
"A walk?" Taiki asked, feeling a little out of place with Rio's question. He had to be sure; she was not under Galaxia's spell.
"Yea…I want to get to know the real you…" Rio smiled. She raised her hands slightly before letting them fall. She knew Taiki had to open once in his life.
"The real me?" Taiki blushed for a second time. He wondered if there was a hidden mike in the house and really the other two were spying on Rio's dissections. He knew Seyia and Yaten all too well. They wanted a good laugh. Yet, he wondered why now. There was a strange take on the whole group; as well. They were still waiting for the princess to return to them, but she had not appeared to them in a long while. He had to put everything like the other two on hold until she appeared.
"Yea…I felt like talking to you…not to Seyia and not to Yaten…" she smiled. She had to smooth any ill feelings over with Taiki. Yaten was another huddler to scale as she was concerned, while Seyia was easiest to get along with.
"You felt like talking to me?" he asked. Knowing that Seyia was up to no good, Taiki excused himself for just a minute and walked over where the hall which connected the bedrooms was at.
"You and I need to talk…it looks like you need someone who is really an outsider to vent your feelings too!" Rio smiled slowly.
Taiki felt like he really needed to talk about his own feelings. He could not talk to the others on how he felt of being a sailor senshi or just a young person who like to be around books instead of people. Rio knew a few things on the same wave length of what Taiki was feeling. She was always the outside in some respects. She had been a sickly child on and off thought out her life. She wanted to have happy life. There was the training to be a good queen. There was no end to that. She had to be always on her best behavior. It was a channel to her to speak what was asks of her.
"Taiki…you look like you need to speak to anyone outside of the inners. The outers and Reenie are not really in any speaking moods right now. I have an opened ear to you…I just wanted to get things smoothed out before a great battle starts up with Galaxia." Rio had a smile on her lips.
"You feel like there is going to be a battle…" Taiki asked when he closed the door.
"Yea…" she sighed as her face kind of scrunched up a little. "There is a taste of bitterness in the air. Where's coming from….I don't know!"
"And what about us…" Taiki was usually right on the ball.
"Just you and me…or is it everyone you want to include?"
"I think everyone!" he said. He knew she had a few questions that needed his voice to be answered. He could see Rio was little like ami. She was always curious.
"Good…let's go for that walk…I am sure we could find anything in which Galaxia would have her own set of questions."
"Her own set of questions!" Taiki said. He felt like he was being set up for a bad joke. Rio had to explain to him about getting inside of Galaxia's mind as she set up for battle. Rio had some military training with the sword. Taiki had some with his own powers as a sailor Senshi. He knew they were not winning at all costs. In fact, they had lost within the month a great deal.
Just as Taiki was about to leave, Seiya and Yaten happened to see Taiki leaving with Rio. Seiya asked, "Where are you going….Taiki?"
For a split second, Taiki was going to stay put. He had quickly changed his mind," I'm going for a walk with rio…that's all!"
"Where to?" Seiya asked. He knew Rio was still a little weary of Taiki. Maybe he should go along with Serena.
"Just up to the end of the street. It's about fifteen minutes or so…we wouldn't be very long!" Rio said in her reassuring voice. She had a touch with Seiya. He could not say not to her. She said to Taiki," Aren't you coming?"
"Me?" Taiki said he was starting to get cold feet.
"And why not?" she asked, with a small smile. She was going to break this weariness with Taiki once and for all.
Taiki found himself asking these words, "What do I have to lose?"
"Nothing really…you need to stop putting me at a long distance…I'm just like you in some ways. I too lost a home and way or life…you were not luckily as I was. I grew up here…just like Ami…Yet you are equal in the loss. I lost my mum and da when I was just three. I don't envy that fact you lost your partners. I just envy the idea you have seen your mum and da before Galaxia had taken over you world!" she glanced pursed her lips slightly as she glanced down at the floor.
"And you think I'm a little envious?" Taiki asked.
"Just do it…" a voice said as Taiki and Rio looked at Seiya who was standing in the hallway near the bedrooms. He smiled at his brother who was not in the best of moods. Taiki hated to be pushed into a situation that he had no control over.
"But, Seiya!" Taiki said through clenched teeth. His face was turning into one of a sour expression. He wanted to speak his mind. He knew if he could get his viewpoint across, then he could say not to Rio.
"The fresh air will do you some good…plus you really never got to know Rio well enough…" Seiya said with a sly grin.
"I know…" Rio began to say with a great deal of mock guilt. She had jerked her head to one side like she was giving out a perforce. She said, "I need to be honest and truthfull for you…"
"What a ham?" Yaten interrupted. He had entered the room.
Rio was going to set her sights after she got done with Taiki was Yaten. Yaten had to be handled with kid gloves. Rio knew Yaten's attitude with just a sour at time like Mina's was. She had to be careful or she was going to get her feelings crushed. She knew there was a great wall in Taiki's mindset that needed to be scaled. She was just the one to do it. Ami was an equal to Taiki. It took a while for Rio to break some of the uncomfortable misgiving between her and Ami. Ami was civil to Rio in front of the others. Ami was a little cold at times with Rio in the early days. It had changed quickly as Rio grew into her role as a Sailor Senshi.
"You are such a stick in the mud!" Seiya quipped at Taiki. The grin had broadened into a slightly wild eyed stare.
"Then, it's settled. I'll be back within the hour!" Taiki sighed with sour look on his face. He had grabbed his shoes after he went to the coat closet in the front room. He said, "If I'm not back within the hour, then start dinner without me!"
The other two gave an all knowing look at Rio. Taiki would invite himself over to see Ami for just a little while.
The two started on a long walk up on union. It was still a warm day and the sun was hot. Rio was a fast walker which gave Taiki some pause to catch up with her. He said, "Wait…"
Rio turned to look at Taiki who was struggling to get his pace up to hers. She had to stop to give Taiki a chance. She said, "Sorry…what is it that you want to do…I can slow down!"
Taiki placed a hand up to his neck. His pulse was up a little. He wandered if she was under a spell. She looked pretty normal. He tried to act naturally as he asked, "Did you have your vitamins?"
"Yea…I just hyped about getting some old movies for my first date answers!" she smiled, shrugging her shoulder.
"That is what made you happy!" Taiki asked he felt he was being set up again. This time he wondered if Seiya was behind it instead of Galaxia.
""Yea…I love old movies…they are much better than the newer ones."
"You are a different girl…you were born in the wrong time…" Taiki quipped.
"Come on…and I'll tell you what I am really like!" Rio shrugged.
The two started up again, yet this time was a little slower. Taiki heard the story on why Rio liked certain diffident movies. Rio heard about why Taiki was really into facts instead of fiction. They seemed to look at the world in a differ light. Rio said, "I'm sorry…I'm a fast walker. Everyone tells me that!"
"You and Seyia are cut from the same cloth…he never stops until there is food or Serrano there!" Taiki said as he came up to Rio.
"And he's still hung up on her!" Rio said. There was a slight smile on her face. She knew Seyia was playing with fire. "He better watch…Darien and Serena are still pretty tight!"
"We all know that…" Taiki said, noticing a couple of birds on a for sale sign. "He has a tendency to be a driving wedge!"
"I must be lucky…it's just Dusty for me" Rio recalled the hours spent with other boys. They seemed not right for her. She was given Dusty for a reason. At first it was a very rocky relationship. Dusty was smacked across the chops with a toy shovel in the mouth after he had made a rude comment about Rio's dress. The two were at a party when they had met. She was given a harsh punishment by her grandfather after the party and she was pledged to Dusty.
Taiki had heard the story before. He had given Rio credit where it was due. She had realized her actions were unheard of when he was growing up. He knew she was different. He wondered why she was moved to take action. "Why did you that?"
"Why are you asking that? What did in do?" she asked.
"You hit Dusty in the mouth...was he being a jerk?" he asked.
"I'm kind of touchy when it comes to me…my looks and my pride. I think needed to grow up a little!"
"And you got punished for it. You learned about others?"
"Yea… there is more to learn, but you have to take it one step at a time!" Rio smiled. She walked slowly to let Taiki walk next to her. She remembered when the three lights met her for the time. Then, the idea of being a sailor senshi did throw all three Kuo brothers for a loop. She was not just a princess of a long ago planet, but she had more things that she need to find out.
"That should be my moto!" Taiki said with a glance. He knew he should be relaxed more often. He could see Seiya be still in order even in a battle. He said, "You have been in a few straights…but, I can't see you for what reason really losing your cool!"
"I did…I near lost Charlie and Stephone years ago…it was when we were in Blackpool and we had some special people who were not from here!"
Taiki thought of Rio's daily. He had read some of the dairy tie her when she was in coma. He wanted to apologize for try reading. He said, "While you were in coma at the hospital, we took the liberty of reading your dairy!"
"Whoa…wait!" she said with a sour smirk. "Are we on the same page…"
"Sorry…I just thought since you want to talk…." Taiki said with surprised look on his face.
"You wanted to get something off of your chest….is that right?" she asked. Her sour look had softened a little.
Taiki felt a little undecided as he said, "Well…maybe…sort of!"
"Taiki Kuo…you may wear glasses, but you are ever inch like Seiya…you have a bold streak in you!"
"And what does that for to?" Taiki asked. He knew he was not like his two other brothers. He had his own personal and manners. He knew himself all too well. He wanted to turn the tables on Rio. He glanced at a for sale sign in a yard as he and Rio started to walk up the sidewalk. He said, "What about you…you really have your aunts and your uncles. What about your other family!"
She had to understand about other people. They had families who cared for them. She said, "My sister is not with my family…she died when we were still very young, my parents were kidnapped by the evil troll king named Aveel. He had a grudge as big as the sky. The story goes that one time he and Jakten were kings who hated my people!"
"Jatken was a king…king of what?" Taiki asked. He seemed fascinated by Rio's story.
"He is the king of the goblins…in fact Jareth is his distance cousin. They seemed to be growing closer as cousins. It's not the distance of space…more like Jakten had a hard time being king. He never liked to wear the crown. He rather be outside with nature. He loves birds of prey."
Taiki cringed at the mention of birds. He did like the little birds that dfid not need to attack the others birds in order to surive. He rather see a peaceful world all round. He said, "What about happebned?"
"What…ot the birds or to Jakten?"
"To Jakten?" Taiki asked.
"He was out looking for birds one day and one of the many princess or duke's sosbn were out in the forest.
"he enedced up saving someone's life!" Taiki said with a surpous look on his face. he knew Jakten did not like to be caught in the middle of people's ideas of what the proper wat of a king should act. he was not even a prince, he was just a warrior who was protecting his princess.
"I have told you this before?" she aksed.
"No...I have talked ot Jakten one aother time!"
She wsmiled as they stopped in frpnt of a house with a small sprinkler going at full tlit. Rio stopped for a minute, watching the sprinkler. She turned to ask Taiki if he had a chance to run through a sprinkler in his life. He shook his head, feeling it was a silly thing to do.
"Why don't you it!" Rio grinned. Then, she waited for the sprinklers to arch over as it watered the yard. She noticed the side walk was getting wet as well. Without looking at it twice, Rio darted across the sidewalk. She stopped in a few feet from where she was. Then, she whipped around to grin at Taiki.
He just looked at her in disbelief. He gasped, "And you find that fun?"
She glanced around to see if there was anyone who was watching. She noted that was only one bird who was more engrossed in finding a bug than watching people. She said, "You live in a stupid box!" she was going to be pushing his buttons until he broke down.
"You are just so silly!" Taiki gasped again. He did want to take risks without talking it over with his two brothers.
"Come on... it's just water," Rio coaxed with a snort. "It's not going to hurt you..."
"Yea...that's what you think," Taiki huffed. He knew there were still photographers who wanted to take a picture, any picture of the three lights in a bad light.
"Are you going to let one run through ruin your life?" Rio whined a little. She felt like walking back to Taiki. She had another idea in her mind about pushing him towards the sprinklers. She was going to do it when Taiki asked, "What are you doing?"
"Nothing…" Rio said as she circled around Taiki. When she got to his back, she reached out at arm's length to push Taiki with her palms. She said, "You are going to be a little wet for a bit!"
Taiki felt Rio pushing him. He was a little shocked as he began to walk towards the sprinklers. He said, "What?"
Rio felt a little resistance from Taiki as she pushed him. She said, "For once in your life, please have a little fun!"
"Why?" Taiki whined a little. He began to get a little wet when he neared the edge. Then, he felt her giving a good shove. He nearly stumbled onto the lawn. Then, Rio darted over to take Taiki by the hand. She pulled him out of the line of with the sprinklers. He noticed he was wet. Then, he glanced at Rio. She was soaked.
Using her one hand to comb back her bangs, she did not mind getting wet. She said, "Sorry there. You needed to step out our comfort zone!"
"My comfort zone?" he asked, feeling a great deal of embranchment. His face was now a bright shade of pink. He knew Rio was pushing her luck.
"Yea…you fight; you study and do normal things. You need a little bit of change…" she said as she stared at him for just a second. Then, she spun around to continue on with her walking. "You need to loose just a tiny bit!"
"Loosen up a tiny bit?" he gasped. He had been good natured up to a point. He needed to get through to Rio he was not going to be pushed around.
She ignored him as he began to blast her ideas right out from her. She just smiled as she walked. She noticed the secrecy around her. He was not too far behind with his anger in check. He darted up close to her. Taiki finally caught up with her. She was smiling at the world. He wondered if she had finally flipped. He asked, "Why me?"
"You need to take things at a different path. It's O.K. to be serious, but add a little sugar rot that salt!" she said with a wink.
"Me? Salt...sugar?" he wondered. He felt a little confused. He was in a dazed stare as he walked alongside her.
"And there is nothing you don't have in the way of you being you…but, you can watch Seyia and how he treats Serena and the others!"
He knew there was no comparing to Sekiya and himself. Seyia was just a guy who liked to be around people. Then, he thought of Yates. Yates was happy when he was ordering people around. Giving him some time to real think, Taiki knew he was happiest when he learns something new. It was like ami. Severna had a hand in break open the shell in which case Ami had surrounding her in.
Rio stopped at the corner. She asked out loud, "Should I go on and found out where this road takes me or do I want to go home?"
"Uh?" Taiki gasped again.
"I am just thinking out loud!" Rio smiled. After a minute of waiting around, she said, "Let's forward!"
"Forward?" Taiki asked. He mentally blind followed her as the two talked. He was starting to realize Rio was indeed a unique person.
When the two ended up at the end of the road, Rio said, noticing a fence, "This is the end of the road!"
Taiki finally had reached his own end. He could trust riot a great deal more than he did in the past. He figured out she was not after Seiya or Yaten. He also believed Rio was an equal to any other senshi, but she did have a past. "What will you do about finding your parents?" he asked.
"That's really up to Jakten and Poal…they are older than me…I have also the rest of my family," she said as she glanced out onto a large opened field which was on the other side of the fence. She noticed neat rows of corn stalks growing for the following year's harvest. "My grandfather has the say in everything!"
"He does?" Taiki said as he began to take in the view.
"Yea…" Rio began to say. Then, an unseen needle of power came from the ground. It flew right between Rio's eyes. She felt all of her senses freezing up. Placing a hand up to her forehead, she uttered loudly, "I don't feel so hot all of a sudden!"
Taiki instantly spot a change in Rio's additive. She felt a little frightened. Her body was becoming weak. She wondered if she had any strength left to get home. Taiki said, "Are you O.K."
Blushing a little, she said, "No…I just want to go home?"
"O.K. I'll walk you home!" he said, trying to smile a sympathetic smile. He was beginning to realize Rio had also a secret.
When Rio and Taiki got to Rio's house, the other scouts were busy doing chores. Rio had hers done early before taking off. He was worried about Rio's off and on again poor health. He had idea it was her secret. He knew Hotura before she was reborn as a stronger visons of herself. Houtra had very poor health when the power of Saturn was still lying dormant. She did not have any more health problems when she was reborn. She was healthy, but weary about any sort of problems with her fears. Rio on the other hand had a long and difficult road to get her back on her feet after the attacks. She did not appear to be playing any sort of tricks on Taiki. She appeared to be tired.
Rio and Taiki were greeted by Ami and Setsuna. Ami asked, "Where were you, Rio?"
"Just out for a walk!" Rio sighed. She began to walk past the other two and walk towards the house. She hoped the house was not all that hot. She turned to tell the other two that she had to go and lay down for a while.
Taiki wanted to speak to Ami about Rio. Ami excused herself from Setsuna and Rio. The two walked over to the drive way. Taiki said with a worry look, "We were out for a walk and we stopped for minute or two at a dead end."
"There is dead end?" Ami asked.
"Yea...it's a fenced in corn field at the other end. We're were looking at the field and just talking!" he sighed.
"About what?" Ami was just curious.
"About her family and Jakten…he seems like a very committed king!"
Setsuna asked Rio if she wanted to have a drink. Rio nodded before heading off for her room.
Taiki watched as Rio disappeared down the hall. He said, "We were just talking, she told me she got bit by a bug. She might have a reaction from the bite."
"That could be…its June. Having a bug bites goes with the month. If anything happens to Rio…I'll call Terri," Ami said with a small smile. She could sense Taiki worry. She told Taiki, she would be at Rio's side if Rio should come down with something.
The night had grown so still, seemed like it had no sound or light in darkness. Everyone at the Senshi house was deep asleep. Rio was having a hard time in her dreams. She had been watching someone else running in the hall. Rio wanted to know who was running. She decided to chase the person who was running. She could hear music being played somewhere off in the distance.
As she tried to struggle with her dream in her mind, the rest of her body was now under someone else's control. She did not feel herself being pulled out of her bed. She did not feel the rug under her feet as she walked. It was like she was under a spell of sorts. Noiseless she made her way to the living room. She was given an instruction of grabbing her long blue sweater from the coat closet.
The feeling of the struggle between the worlds of sleep and awake were at Rio's mind. She felt the pain of little tiny needles trying to bore their ways into her memories. Those memories were hers to keep. Rio wanted to keep those memoirs safe, yet how was she going to do it under the blanket of sleep. It was like fighting a losing battle with a thick fog. She wanted to break the spell, but she was unable to. It was like she getting nowhere fast. She tried to call out to anyone who could hear her. There was nothing, not even a pin drop which came to her ears.
"Where am I?" she thought to herself. All she could see was shadows of things. She could make out a school desk and a chair. She wondered if she had ended up in school. She was going to summer classes to make up for lost time. She turned to see a wall covered in posters. She could recognize some of the art work. The others she had a hard understanding them. She thought, "I'm dreaming this."
There was a hint or two of light. It was like she was waiting for the sun. This was in her sleep while her control body, Rio was walking out the door. She had no idea where she was headed for.
In Galaxia's realm, Alex was watching Rio as she began to head to the other side of town. He was curious at first. Where she was going, he wondered. He could sense her inner struggle for control. He wanted to take her to Galaxia. He had studied her scout powers for a while. Then, the nightmares of a past she had no idea where it came from. He tried to figure out who was bringing forth the past where Rio had no memories of. He heard a figure entering the room where he was watching Rio from. It was Tiger's eye. He turned to see the young circus performer standing in the door. Tiger's eye asked, "Who are you watching?"
"It's Sailor Acardia…I know her!" Alex said coldly.
"Oh?" Tiger's eye asked with a curious smirk. He knew Alex was just a trump card for Galaxia. "Why are you doing that?"
"I gave a feeling…I have talked to Zoysite and she had a bad feelings where all the stars were all out of alinement!"
Alex watched as Rio walked down the street at nearly two in the morning. He remembered slightly when she was having another bout of sleep walking. It was after she was found in the field. She was missing for a six month stretch when she was thirteen. She was staying at a local clinic for a while. She had been examined by a doctor who told her family she had no memory during the six months she was gone.
Then, if by some sort of touching of the past, Alex had a sour taste of fear wetting his mouth. He felt fritted for Rio's ever life. He had forgotten why he was there at Galaxia. He sensed a much darker force trying to break into his mind. It was the same force she had been facing during the time she was sleeps walking.
Tiger's eye asked, "Why do you look like you have seen a ghost." he was not the least bit concerned for Alex, but there was an underlining fear starting on him.
"It's not a ghost, something is getting inside of my head and trying to look for a link," Alex gasped, feeling a great deal of pain.
"What link?" Tiger's eye asked. The pain on Alex's face was frightening. He wanted to get a hold of Iron crow or even Galaxia. He did want to lose the sailors to just anyone.
As quickly as it came it left. Alex was now pressing the sides of his head with his fingertips. It was like a creature was digging inside of his head with a large needle. He staggered a little as he said, "It's this link…I…don't know!"
"What link is that?" Tiger's eye slightly demanded. He knew Alex was holding back, but what was he holding back.
"In her past, Sailor Acarida…Princess Rio was kidnapped. Who did it; I still don't have a clue. In fact there was a few times I was mixed up in her dealings with this strange group. It was like everything was set up for her to disappear and never show up," Alex said, feeling his breath slow down.
Prince Diamond had entered the hallway where Tiger's eye was standing. He wondered what was going on with Alex. Alex had to piece things back into place even for himself. He said, "Who was behind all of Rio's missing past."
"These creatures…I don't even know they are even human. It seemed like…" Alex broke away from his discussion before watching in his mind, Rio reaching the water tower.
By an odd stroke of luck, Rio ended up at the water tower which was walking distance of her house. She had trek within a matter of minutes. She was now standing at the door of the water tower. She had still no power over her body. She wanted to get a hold of anyone who could be with her at this time by the use of psychic powers. Everything was cut off between her and the rest of the world. She stared blankly at door for a long time, wondering why she was here.
An unseen creature of great strength was viewing her from a far up distance. It had no real formed what so ever. It counted as it took shape as a sort worm as it slid down the edge of the tower itself. The tower had a long tube like base with a short fat oval on top. It was turquoise in color with large, plain black letter of 'SALEM' in all capital letters. A lone pole with a red light flashed in the inky darkness.
Suddenly the door cracked opened as the worm exited the inside. It seemed it took appearance of something as a clear gooey slug as it approached Rio. It came up to her and said, "Long time no see…you Protozoa-tic creature," It whined at her, oozing into a strange rope like strand. The voice sounded like a whinny British headmaster with a distance upper London crust voice.
Rio did not even speak. Her mind was so muddled with sleep and blank memory; she had no way of starting a conversion with this strange creature.
At the same time, it was not rei who was having a hard time with her dreams. Instead, it was Mina and Lita. They seemed to be having a horrible time in getting out of the darkness they had found themselves in their dreams.
Mina was sharing a room with Serena, while Lita was sharing a room with Rei. Lita nearly screamed as she awoke. She gave a good start to Rei who was still sleeping. Rei sat up and ran over to Lita who was still lying in bed. Rei asked, "Lita….Lita…"
Lita screamed again as she sat up. On opening her eyes, Lita cried out, "I don't know who you were talking about…"
Rei was already out of bed before darting over to Lota's bed. She said, "Lita…Lita….you are here…who are talking to?"
Lita shook her head violently as she spoke, "Someone inside me…it was like they were picking at my memoirs…." Her heart was beating hard.
The stillness of the room coated Rei's senses with a damp hand. She felt like she wanted to see if Lita was Ok. She could not get the right words to say.
Lita turned to see a whitened rei. She breathed as she asked, "you...are here?"
"Yea..." was the only words Rei could speak of.
There was another moment of specie before Lita said, "Sorry for waking you up like that!"
"That's all right. You sound like someone was really hurting you!" Rei said gently.
Then, like a knife cutting its way through the night, Lita felt serge of pain. Her left hand reached up to her mouth, holding back the air inside of her lungs. She gasped as she questioned to the whereabouts of Rio. Lita glanced at the door with a wild, confused stare at Serena and Mina. She said, "Where is rio?"
Serena looked worried as Mina looked at Rei and then at her. She said, "You know something…don't you?"
Mina breathed for a minute before speaking. She was tiring to gather her mind. She said, "It's more like she is gone!"
"Gone?" Serena gasped. The colour in her face was now whitened. She worried about Rio just disappearing. She remembered what Alex had spoken of about Rio ending up missing around her thirteen birthday. Then, she had no memories of where she was at, on her fourteenth after she was found. Saran said, "We can't call the police!"
"Why?" Rei asked. She knew there was more to Rio's simply leaving. There was a darker hand in this.
"There might be another person behind this," a voice said firmly.
Serna turned to look at the outers and Reenie standing in the hallway. Ami was standing in the hallway with Chibi-chibi in arms. Chibi-chibi was still asleep as ami held her.
"Haruka….?" Serna asked. She noticed the senshi of the wind was very concerned for Rio's outcome.
"If it's Galaxia. Then, we can fight," Haruka said. She looked like she was going to track Rio herself.
"Haruka?" Michuri asked. She turned to see her cousin's face growing cold.
"What if it's someone else?" Mina asked, Shakely. She felt the uneasiness growing into an acid which taunted her stomach. She did have a point. Even with the evil coming from Galaxia, another hand could be simply by passing her to get to Rio. It was not unthinkable. Galaxia could be just eliminated very quickly by a much stronger second party who could just be waiting in the wings.
"There is no time to be auguring over split hairs….we must be on the hunt for Rio and…" Serena said in a firm tone.
"Bring her back safe!" Luna added. She was starting to realize Rio was an equal in Serena's eyes as the others were.
Artimes was thinking while the others were talking. He said, "Don't transform just yet. Galaxia might be waiting for that!"
"How can we do anything without our powers?" Ami asked.
Serena was thinking like she had never done before. She had to contact both the three lights and Darien in case they could help out. She ordered the outers first to go and search for Rio. There had to be a clue in Rio's bedroom. Then, she told the inners to change in their street clothes. At least they would appear to be normal teen's just breaking curfew instead of their sailor forms. Then, she noticed Luna and Artimes still standing in the hall after the others went to do their tasks. She asked Luna, "Why are you still here?"
"You are taking charge?" Luna asked her own question.
Feeling her own self growing a bit more mature Serena said gravely, "We must save Rio…she is in the worst possible threat."
"I take that as a 'yes'," Artimes said with a surprised look on his face.
There was no time to waste as the sailors took it upon their selves and got ready.
Seiya was in his bed, trying to sleep. He had the window opened and could hear the nightlife outside. A warm breeze played with the curtains. Lying on his back, Seiya tried to close his eyes. He could see nothing as the darkness kept everything in check. He could see a normal dream unfolding. He was in a park. There was Serena and Rei trying to keep the peace. Ami was sitting underneath a tree with Taiki. Mina was Artimes were playing with Hotura and Reenie. Chibi-chibi was running in circles as the outers talked to Darien. Anything seemed like it was a little too prefect. He glanced around for Rio. Where could she be?
He turned to face a pathway leading to another part of park. He walked over to the path to look for Rio. He could hear people talking down the path. When he had reached to a section of the park where the people were taking, he had found Ryoko and Tenchi talking. He asked, "Did you see Rio?"
"Who?" Ryoko asked in quick surprised tone.
"Rio!" Seiya gasped. He had to find her. Were Ryoko and Tenchi pulling a fast one on him? He did not have time to be playing around with anyone else.
Tenchi was going to be reasonable with Seiya as he asked, "Is it someone you know?"
"Yea!" Seiya said as he felt deflated. He knew Rio was there. He began to walk down a path. Was she just hiding and told everyone not to tell where she was at? He wondered as he glammed around for a second time. He wanted to call out her name to see if she was there. he glanced around the forest to see where she could be.
Closing his eyes to hear the wind, he could hear, "Find…me!" it struck a chord with him. It was deep, low and sad. The voice rang deep within his mind.
He started to walk few steps more. He felt the warmth of the day. Being to speak out loud to himself, Seiya asked, "Where are you?"
All was his answer from the wind was, "Find me!"
"Where?" he asked. He was still searching for Rio. He followed the path until he found himself in front of fenced off corn field. It was just a plain corn roiled. He said, "Is this the place where I can find you?"
"Find me?" the voice replied.
"Hey…this is my end! I can't go on any further!" Seiya said as he felt like climbing over the fence.
Before he could any further, he was stopped by a large root coming out of the ground with a lighting fast reflex. It grew right over Sekiya's head. Within a second or two it stopped as a large bulb took shape and changed over to a pure white flower. The bulb cracked open into a lily of sorts. The stigma appeared to be like a long mouth and tiny lips while the stamens were its eyes.
Seiya stared at the newly formed flower with fear. He wanted to turn and run, but his legs were unable to even move.
The flower cracked its neck before speaking, "Where is the girl?"
Finally finding his vice after a minute or two of utter fear, he said, "What girl?"
"The girl who was here?" the flower said. The voice seemed so distance. It sounded so needling it was like edge to a sharp knife.
"What girl?" Seyia asked. On feeling he was in a dream that was not making any sense, Seyia, "Who are you looking for?"
The flower was going to get answer one way or another, "The girl who has no past...yet, she wants to have a future!"
"A girl who has no past?" Seyia asked out loud. He was getting a riddle from the flower which could hold a clue. He knew everyone had a past. Seyia felt like was he no going nowhere with this dream. He wanted to wake up so badly. He knew Rio was in trouble. He also felt this dream could be broken. He asked, "The girl who has no past…where is she?"
"As if you didn't know!" the flower asked. It began to bend and stretch itself all over.
Seyia backed instant a foot as the root started to creep over the fence. Seyia looked around for any more clues. Not Even a hair clip could be found. He did notice the root was just staying put at the edge. It was like waiting for a sign of either pull back or moves forward. It had a mind of its own when it decided to use caution before moving own.
"You are so fast...aren't you!" the flower began to spluttered.
"What?" Seyia asked. He was very confused about this whole dream. He wanted to reason with the flower to the best of his abilities. Then, he backed into a small tree. It was near the fence. He turned a little to look at unit. The flower lowers its head to look at Seyia. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked the flower.
"You are human…but you have a different way of looking at yourself. It's just like her!" the flower hissed.
The words that the flower was using instate had a biting effect on Seyia. He knew Rio was indeed lost. He needed to find her. It was going to be hard from the first time. He was having no luck with the others. Now, he was up against this strange flower type creature that had him pinned a little down. "What does it matter? I want to find my friend and leave….why is it so hard to get through your twisted mind…if you have one!" he hissed, flexing his firsts. His mind was focusing on trying save a life. It was just a normal life of a girl whom he loved as a sister. He told the flower he was going to look for Rio one way or another. He said, "If it was so much to what I was going to do, I would have told you!"
"What a twisted anger boy you are!" The flower said as it watched Seyia try to space. Then, by chance the flower was instantly thrown for a loop when a great deal of electrical power race up past Seyia and right through the flower. The power was truly an unseen force. Seyia watched as the flower began to scream in writhing pain. "What are you doing?" the flower groaned loudly.
"What…me?" Seyia asked so innocently. He had a touch of malice towards the flower. He wanted to watch it suffer just a little before getting an answer. There was a tingle of acknowledgement for Seyia. He understood there was a force that was really controlling this stream. He said, "I have not done a thing to you!"
"ARE…" the flower yelled out. Then, it stopped. The pain, the suffering had all stopped. The flower instant drooped to the ground, face down.
"Pleas find me!" the voice called out to Seiya.
"Where are you?" Seyia asked before feeling his own heart beating hard. He could sense a great deal of fear welling up inside of him. Why did he feel that? He wouldn't stop feeling that for all the time was dream. He needed to be awake. He said to himself, "I must be awake…I must be awake!"
The flower was beginning to stir little. It felt all the power inside itself being halted for a reason. On raising its head, the flower looked at Seyia with a watery glare. It said, "What is it that you need to look for. She is not one of your kind in a way!"
Seyia could not make out what the flower was talking about. He said, "I can't make out what you are saying…I have no idea who she is!"
Then, by a spilt second the sense had changed into a blackened nothingness. Seyia could hear voices in his mind. The voices were of the same voice echoing, repeating the same thing in his mind, "Find me!"
Seyia raised his hands up to his head in effort to stop the voices. He groped blindly in searching for his ears as he cried out, "Who are you?"
Then, he opened his eyes. It was like a kick to the stomach as he realized Rio was somewhere nearby. He sat up to see the floor covered in water. Was he still dreaming? He wanted to think he was still another dream within another dream. He said, "Rio….where are you?"
"She's in a great deal of danger…" a voice said. This was a sad and lonely vice which greeted Seiya's ears. He wondered if it was Rio, herself who spoke. It was like she was still hidden from sight.
"And where could she be?" he called out. Then, he tried to get out bed. He did not realize how wet the floor was. As he left foot touched the floor, the water felt cold. He pulled it back to feel the water dripping off of his feet. He asked the unseen voice, "Where did this water come from?"
"Her tears…" the voice said.
"Her tears?" he muttered loudly. On being caution, Seyia placed one foot back down on the floor. The water was cold. Then, he placed the other foot down on the watery floor. He was going to walk across the floor very carefully. He did want to talk at the moments leading up to the opening up of his bedroom door.
"She has a past which was hidden even from her," the voice said.
"A past that she didn't even know?" he asked. He slowly reached the door. It took him a minute to open the door to the hallway. He wondered if he was going to be greeted by more water or another dimension. It was dark in the hallway when he left his room. When he entered the hallway, he realized wet the rug was. He was wondering what was going on with his dreams.
"Where is all this water coming from?"
The water had spilled out of the room into the hallway. Seyia felt the water running out of the room. He said, "Why is there darkness in the hall?"
"The darkness is her past that is hidden…please look for a tower and a red light in her present!" the voice said.
It was an answer he did want to hear. The words the voice had spoken were a great puzzle to Seyia. He blindly looked for any sort of wall switch. He hoped with a little light could help in the search. There was a song playing in his mind. It filled his ears with hope. He slowly found a light switch after a minute or two of searching. He said as he flipped on the light, "Let there be light?"
His eyes were greeted by a pale rose colored light. At his surprised reaction, Seiya said, "why is there pink light!"
There was no answer. Seyia felt like he needed one, but he could not find the words to describe on he had just felt when the pink light came on. He tried to find where his two other brothers were. He could hear a soft breathing coming from one of the room. He opened a door to see Taiki still sleeping. On feeling a great deal of relief, Seyia closed the door. He walked over to another door. He strained to hear any sort of noise. As he opened the door, he noticed Yaten was sleeping so soundly it was a little surprising.
"What are you doing?" the voice aced very quality.
"Oh, just checking up on my brothers. I wanted to be sure they aware safe!" Seyia said. He quietly closed the door.