"Where are we going?"
She didn't receive an answer before they left the bedroom, or as they sprinted, hand in hand, across the shrine grounds in their bare feet. They passed the koi pond, the archery range, and the dojo. Minako was tempted to repeat herself, but why bother? Rei heard her, she just wasn't answering with words.
The couple crossed what Minako assumed to be the entirety of the shrine's property, not stopping upon they came upon an unremarkable maintenance shed with peeling paint. Minako arched an eyebrow but reserved her judgment. Rei grabbed the rusty handle and opened the door. The hinges groaned in protest.
The shed's interior was equally unimpressive. In fact, it was downright dingy and depressing. Basic lawn care items hung from the walls. A lawn mower sat in a corner. There were multiple shelves, all containing tools that were barely visible beneath inches of dust. Dampness and mildew clung to the stagnant air.
"I think I'm growing mold just standing here," Minako commented.
The assassin transfixed her with the uncharacteristically jubilant expression she'd worn since conjuring up this plan.
"Stay right there." Rei looked down at Minako's feet before walking to the opposite end of the shed. She flipped open what appeared to be an old breaker box, revealing an out of place, state of the art electronic keypad. Rei entered a code that must have been at least twenty digits long; she made no attempt to hide it, but Minako couldn't follow her fingers long enough to memorize it.
"Holy shit!" Minako shrieked when the floor before her split open. Planks of half-rotted wood folded away, revealing the sheets of steel they were secured to underneath. Mina found herself staring down into what she could only assume was a basement. Mossy stone steps led downward, towards some medieval dungeon.
Rei walked around the opening to stand beside her. The wide smile lighting up Rei's face settled Minako's nerves. Slightly.
"You first," Rei insisted while gesturing towards the steps.
"You gonna feed me to the alligators or something?" Minako's feigned bravado didn't fool Rei, who rolled her eyes.
"If you're scared, just say so."
"Whatever." Minako gave a playful sneer before descending into the dungeon. The steps were not as slippery as they first appeared. Having steady footing was helpful, but being able to see would have been even better. The stairs descended for what felt like a mile, but a faint glimmer at the end of the tunnel guided her. Rei's soft footing behind her echoed against the narrow pathway. Stagnant air filling her lungs made her want to gag, but she remained silent.
It wasn't until they reached the bottom of the staircase, that the stifling air slightly relented. By then, Minako was too distracted by the sights to notice.
"Is this an old cistern or something?"
Solid bedrock formed a solid foundation beneath their feet. It stretched for yards on either side before creeping up the walls and meeting the wooden flooring above them. Sconces with lit torches were perched at equal intervals along both sides of the wall, leading towards ivory and gold double doors in the distance. A pool of water, coated with a thin layer of green scum, separated them from what Minako assumed to be their ultimate destination.
At first glance, one would assume there was no way to traverse the distance between the staircase and the gilded doors without taking a swim in unsanitary waters. Those not trained as an assassin or templar would never even consider the intended course of action. Rei said nothing as Minako stared at the obstacle course in silence, plotting out her path.
The cistern featured an old irrigation system, decorated with precariously placed wooden poles, two watermills, and dangling buckets for collecting the murky water. Traversing cities and other architectural layouts was Assassin 101 from what Minako understood, so it came as no surprise that there were no boats or bridges to take them across.
"Yes. An old irrigation system turned assassin training ground. If you can make it across, you're permitted access to the vault."
"A vault, huh?" Minako clicked her tongue. What sort of secret assassin treasures could they be hiding in this sort of place? "Well then, what are we waiting for?" That she was barefoot and just in her dress hadn't quite registered yet; the possibilities outweighing common sense at the moment.
"Wait." Rei held out her hand; if she was bemused by her willingness, it wasn't something she commented on. "Your chain."
"What about it?" A belated realization that it was wrapped around her waist. Then again, she was so used to it that she wasn't surprised she forgot about it until Rei drew attention to it.
"Hand it over. It won't do if you cheat."
She kept her thoughts to herself about the ways she could cheat with it; in bed and other ways. Rolling her eyes, her hand caught the hidden clasp, offering it over without a word.
Bereft of it and wanting to prove she was more than just a pretty pop idol face, Minako took a deep breath before leaping into the air. The closest pole was also the shortest, and the obvious starting block. The poles stood straight up from the water, and were barely wide enough for both of her hands to grasp the flat top, which was slick. Finding a nick in either side deep enough to dig her heels into was all she needed to jump and balance herself on top of the pole by her toes.
She leapt to the next pole, and then the next, gradually climbing higher and higher and gaining more momentum with each hop. The fifth and final pole brought her to the highest perch, where she had to decide which path to take. Minako had already planned her course before leaving solid ground. Without any hesitation, she pivoted left toward an old watermill.
As she descended towards the water wheel, Mina was beginning to think she had miscalculated. The arc of her jump was not playing out as expected; in fact, she was definitely going to get wet. Bracing herself, Minako clutched both sides of the waterwheel while her feet scrambled up the paddles.
Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the wooden paddles creaked and split beneath her weight. Her entire body slid down, legs sinking into the frigid, dirty water. A gasp escaped her mouth, but she didn't let the setback stop her. Minako scrambled up along the curve of the waterwheel, convinced she heard Rei laughing at her misfortune from the other side of the room.
Breathless from her little setback, Minako tried ignoring Rei's taunts and how effectively soaked she was. From the top of the waterwheel she jumped to a nearby wall, on the farside of the dim water cavern across from the assassin. Conspicuous grooves in the stones made for excellent gripping, despite her wet feet slipping before finding a placeholder. Before beginning her templar training, the popstar often wondered how people could scale mountains and walls, all the while making it look so damn easy. And, while climbing did not come as easily to her as Rei, she was pretty impressed with herself. Strong upper body strength, an equally strong core, and controlled breathing made all the difference.
Her next maneuver, and also her final stunt, proved to be the most perilous. After laterally scaling the wall towards her destination for a few yards, Minako tensed her legs and prepared to launch.
"Here goes nothing." From her quads down through her heels, Minako propelled herself from the wall. Halfway through her jump she turned 180 degrees, facing a line of water buckets dangling by chains from an old fashioned conveyor belt. Water splashed over the bucket lid when her hands gained purchase. A splash of cold water momentarily blinded her. The old bucket and support system did not give to her weight. Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, a rush of exhilaration filled her as the rusty gears holding the buckets in place snapped. Her body lurched forward before her stomach, as if she were riding a high speed roller coaster. A scream, half excitement-half fear, left her lungs and echoed against the cavern before Minako realized she'd yelled.
Mina gripped both sides of the bucket for dear life. Her eyes opened just before her support snapped beneath her weight. She was flying through the air yet again, this time on a crash course for her destination. Tossing the bucket aside, she curled into a ball and braced herself for impact. She would land her jump, but it wouldn't be pretty.
A few tumbles and bruises later, the idol found herself laying on her back with a pair of amused violet eyes looking down at her. "Beat you."
"I didn't realize we were racing," Minako quipped before accepting her hand and standing on her feet. She rubbed a sore spot on the back of her head. "I'm definitely gonna have a mark there."
Rei's smug expression slightly faded. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Not my most graceful landing ever." Mina turned her attention to the double doors looming over them. It was a lot better than standing there while she dripped water all over the place. A quick shower, not to mention change of clothes, was definitely going to be in order, but she ignored it as her curiosity was piqued by her trial's completion.
They were twice the height of most standard doors. Now that she had a closer look, Minako could make out the design, etched in gold, against the plain white doors. Split asymmetrically where the doors met, it was a symbol Minako knew well; the emblem of the Sisterhood. "So what's this symbol mean, anyway? It looks like a triangle to me."
Rei chuckled. "This design was etched in the sand when the founders of our creed, Bayek and Aya of ancient Egypt, plucked an eagle skull from the ground. The tip way up top is the beak."
"Ohhhhh." Not only did that explain their emblem, but it also explained why the eagle was their unofficial patron animal.
Rei grabbed the large golden handles. She pushed the doors inward. The assassin made the gesture seem effortless, even though the enormous doors looked like they weighed half a ton. Minako followed her inside, gasping when she realized she was inside of one of the Sisterhood's treasure vaults.
"Whoa…" The room was a stark contrast from the ancient cistern. LED lights flooded every inch of this veritable trove of weaponry and ancient assassin artifacts. The room was shaped in a half circle; the curved wall featuring all sorts of fascinating armor and weapons in clear glass panels.
Minako descended a short flight of stairs. Glass casing reaching her waist stretched across the center of the room. She paused to study each of the unique pieces of weaponry. Rope darts, swords, crossbows, daggers; assassin equipment spanning multiple centuries and cultures. Small plaques labeled many of them with a name and year. Some names she recognized, others she did not.
Her eyes eventually settled on an old whip, coiled in the center of a glass case, surrounded by odds and ends from the eighteenth century.
"As the plaque says, this whip was used by Aveline de Grandpre, a well-renowned assassin from the 1700's," Rei began. "She helped overthrow an American templar slave trading organization, among many other impressive feats. One of her armor sets is in the case over there."
Minako's eyes followed Rei's pointed finger. She walked until she was face-to-face with empty armor nearly a foot taller than her. A traditional grey sailing hat, folded into an eagle's beak at the tip, floated above an intricate armored assassin outfit. From the leather shoulder pads, buckles, sword belt featuring the same symbol on the door, and the studded boots, Minako could see how the wearer would both blend into the crowds at an old American harbor, or appear from the shadows as an intimidating spectre of death.
"The outfits were a lot more intricate back then, huh?" Minako asked as her eyes wandered down the curved row of outfits. Of the handful of female assassin ensembles, she found she liked that of Evie Frye, the London-based assassin from the nineteenth century, the best. The form-fitting black leather coat, topped with the expected tipped hood and flowing red garments that poured from the waist to the ankles, was functional, sexy, and intimidating as well.
Rei stood beside Mina and joined her in admiring the ensemble for a moment. "Follow me."
Minako absently nodded and followed. The stainless steel floor was eerily silent beneath their feet, hers leaving a wet imprint of her passage before drying. While a treasure trove, this hidden space felt sacred. Years of power and wisdom were buried here. Artifacts left behind by assassins who fought and died against the templars. A sudden feeling, like her very presence sullied their sacrifices, made her stomach turn.
As if sensing her doubts, Rei turned and held her hand. Even now, Mina couldn't help but be mystified by the impossible depth of her dark eyes. She believed in Rei's clairvoyant abilities. Not only could Rei read the sacred flames, but Mina knew part of her was the very essence of the dangerous, but life-sustaining, element.
An opaque metal cabinet, made from a material much like the floor, stretched along the flat wall to the left of the entrance. It was longer than the walk-in closets of every changing room she'd ever been in. Another keypad console. Rei entered a code and stood back as the doors slid open with a low hissing sound.
Once again, Minako found herself dumbfounded by the sight before her. Hooded assassin jackets hung in one half of the closet. They were white, but unlike the sweaters Minako expected, these were made of durable leather, trimmed with various colors, with widened sleeves to accomodate for hidden blades, and wide collars giving way to the trademark hood.
The other half of the closet was filled with hidden blades. Upon closer inspection, she realized they weren't all blades. Some were hidden crossbows, while others had darts of some sort. There were even a few that looked like miniature shotguns that could be strapped on.
"Whichever jacket you want, it's yours," Rei offered.
Minako blinked. "Really? Are you sure?"
Rei nodded. Not needing to be told twice, Mina browsed through the jackets until finding her size. The color selection was impressive, and she was happy to find dimensions that would snugly fit her waist with enough room to wrap her whip around as well. She eventually settled on a jacket with bold blue and orange trim around the sleeves, zipper, and hood.
"I want this one."
Rei nodded again while removing it from the hanger. "Go ahead and try it on."
"So. Do you have one of these jackets?" Minako asked while sliding her arms through the sleeves. Yanking the zipper up to her collarbones told her that it fit against her body like a second skin. The material of the inner lining was remarkably flexible and comfortable. She felt warmer already, be it the jacket, or maybe it was something more at play.
"Yeah. Mine has red and purple trim." Rei stepped back and studied Minako's new look with admiration and, she dared to assume, pride. "Now pull your hood up and repeat after me."
"Um, okay." Minako bunched her mass of hair beneath the hood. Pulling the hood up over her forehead made it difficult to see. Assassins used the hoods to shield their faces. Their training was superior to hers; the singer knew they relied on their sense of sight far less than she did.
"Good. Now repeat after me."
"Huh?" Mina lifted her head to look at Rei again, but her expression gave away nothing but annoyance.
"You want to be an assassin, don't you?"
"Well yeah, but-"
"Then bow your head and repeat after me."
Mina bowed her head and smirked. She saw through Rei's prickly temper and took the considerate action for what it was. "I hope you're this bossy in bed later."
Rei sighed. Minako wished she could have seen her lover's face, but she imagined Rei was rolling her eyes with flushed cheeks.
"The wisdom of our creed is revealed through these words." Rei's voice turned somber. Almost haunting.
"The wisdom of our creed is revealed through these words," Minako repeated.
"We work in the dark to serve the light. We are assassins. Nothing is true; everything is permitted."
"We work in the dark to serve the light. We are assassins. Nothing is true; everything is permitted." The weight of the centuries-old creed settled into her. Throughout history, templars were slave catchers, wealthy elite, people in positions of power and influence, corralling humanity in carefully orchestrated maneuvers to control them.
Back when she was lying paralyzed in a hospital bed, Sailor V never would have thought her short-sighted decision would have led her here. All she wanted was to perform; she never meant to hurt anyone, nor did she want to become involved in an endless struggle between warring factions.
"Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent. Hide in plain sight. Be one with the crowd. Never compromise the Sisterhood." Calloused fingertips grazed beneath her chin.
Minako lifted her gaze. Purple flames flickered behind Rei's hooded lids. Minako wasn't wearing her mask, but she could see Rei's scarlet aura engulfing her. The mutual adoration and respect, laced with the romantic urges she felt for the Shrine Maiden, swelled in her chest and spread through her body. The orange glow of her innate aura filled the room.
"Welcome to the Sisterhood, Sailor V."
With the burden of her templar status shed, the Isu descendants embraced in a blaze of orange and red light.