hapter 11: Lashing Out

*Hikari*

She sat on her bed with her knees pulled to her chest as she eye balled the kitten who sat on the trunk that lay the end of Hikari's bed. The kitten had been looking back at her patiently since Hikari brought her home. Finally the normally composed and concise Hikari spoke, "How in the name Hecate are you able to speak?"

Persephone smiled and wagged her tail, "My name is Persephone and I was sent here to be your guardian cat… Well, yours and the others… The Sailor Shoku. I come from a long line of guardians whose purpose is to guide Senshi across the galaxy." She stood up on all fours, "Do not be afraid."

Hikari could not believe her ears. She stammered, "There… There are others… Other Senshi?" She could feel her eyes bugging out.

The diminutive white kitten stretched and walked towards Hikari, "Yes, Hikari, this galaxy is filled with soldiers just like you. They all have homes and princesses that they have sworn to protect."

"They all have princesses?" Hikari spoke scarcely above a whisper. She couldn't imagine an entire galaxy that were controlled by monarchy. She knew what her dreams told her, but it was a difficult concept for her to swallow regardless.

Nodding, Persephone replied, "Yes Hikari. There are princesses intrusted with the light and hope of their people all over the galaxy. Some choose to rule their people and some to quietly watch over them." She licked her fur as if she were just a normal housecat and that confused Hikari even more.

After grooming herself for a time, Persephone stopped and looked up at Hikari, "So, Sailor Aether, when do I get to meet the other Shoku?"

Groaning, Hikari retorted, "So, you are asking me to call my friends and tell them to come meet the talking cat I found?"

Persephone peered up at Hikari, "I'm not certain I would put it that way, but yes." She went back to grooming herself like a normal housecat.

She waited for Persephone to present her with a more realistic plan for a few minutes and then sighed, realizing that the cat would not give her anything else to work with here. Hikari reached for her communicator and attempted to connect with the other Shoku. After a moment had passed Hikari heard Akemi's breathless voice on the other end of the transmission, "Yes… Hikari… What do… you… need?"

The blue haired leader of the Shoku rolled her eyes at the communicator and took a deep breath before replying, "I need the two of you to come over to my place. I have something to show you."

Akemi hesitated and then replied with a slight edge in her voice, "Does it have to be right this second?"

That was enough for Hikari, especially on top of the shock she was still reeling from due to Persephone's appearance. She had originally not intended to call Akemi out on things but now she was annoyed, "Get out of bed and get over here. You two can do that later." She closed her communicator before Akemi had a chance to make the smartass remark Hikari knew was on the tip of her tongue.

Hikari put the communicator on her night stand and decided that she needed to change and get ready for this introduction….. But how did one prepare for introducing a talking feline to one's friends? That was a question Hikari did not have the answer to.

*Haruka*

Haruka landed another strike on the practice dummy and heard its framework crack a little. She shrugged and started on it again. From behind her she heard a voice, "You plan on breaking them all Haruka?"

When she turned around Haruka laid eyes on Rei, standing with her arms crossed. Haruka glanced at the other three dummies she'd broken already, "Maybe we need better dummies."

Rei rolled her eyes, "Or maybe you need to quit punishing the dummies when they're not who you're angry with."

Haruka almost growled in response, "You assume you know what I think because you're psychic."

The fire Senshi arched an eyebrow. "I know you understand the meaning of being psychic. But you also know my powers don't work like that. Besides, I don't have to be psychic to know why you are pissed off."

It was Haruka's turn to roll her eyes, " So why am I pissed off?" She turned and struck the dummy again, causing another cracking sound.

"Truth? You're pissed off because you both made your choices… But making that choice doesn't make the feelings go away. So, you lash out at the dummies since you could never lash out at her," Rei replied plainly.

The sky king just punched the dummy a few more times before it finally collapsed to the ground and she swore, "Damn thing."

Rei took a step closer, " You can beat the crap out of all the practice dummies there are, but you won't feel better until they come back safe, until she does."

A sigh escaped Haruka's mouth and so did a question that even she surprised herself with, "Rei… Do you think… Do you think if Endymion comes home… Do you think that she will too?"

Shock ran through the fire Senshi as she processed the question and then she responded, "Would it really be best if she did?" She put her hands up, seeing the protests on Haruka's lips, "Don't misunderstand, I would love to have her here more. But she has people and a life that it'd be wrong to walk away from. So before you think about yourself and what you want, think about what is best for...everyone."

On that note, Rei turned and walked out. Haruka moved onto the next dummy, Rei's final words bouncing around in her mind and stinging like a swarm of bees in her heart.

*Yaten*

The snow haired starlight paced back and forth down the hall as the doctor examined the young princess, not that Yaten expected him to find anything. Michiko was a creature of mystery and confusion. Sometimes the princess drove him mad, a girl and yet the wisdom of centuries within her.

Said doctor emerged and gave Yaten the look she expected, "The princess appears to be in perfect health, but she will not wake no matter what I try. I am so sorry Sailor Starhealer."

Yaten bowed, "Thank you for looking at her anyway. We appreciate it." She watched as the doctor bowed in returned and excused himself, walking away. Yaten looked after him, shaking her fists in frustration.

From behind her she hears a voice, "He will never be able to help her. She is something different than what his skills can address."

Turning, Yaten grumbled in response, "Then perhaps you can help our princess…. Keeper…" Something about the redheaded being got under Yaten's skin, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was.

Hestia sighed, "All that I can tell you is that something is shifting and her young form cannot take the shift like Setsuna and myself." She paused, taking a single step closer to Yaten, "I am truly sorry."

Her eyes widened a moment as she felt genuine warmth emanating from Hestia causing Yaten to take a step back, "Please excuse me, I need to make my daily patrols."

Before she could leave Hestia's hand was on her own, "I would like to accompany you. I want to be useful."

Her filter impaired and not great to begin with, Yaten slips, "Useful to whom? Us or your father's agenda?"

Her eyes clouded with tears and she pulled back, "I am sorry." The keeper strode off, gone before Yaten could catch her. Yaten stood in the hallway cursing herself. She saw the sincerity and still she struck out at her. What was wrong with Yaten? She wished she knew.

Clearing his throat the young prince Endymion addressed Yaten, "Sometimes you lash out at something you're afraid of."

Yaten looked her incredulously, "Afraid of that keeper? Never! Why would I be afraid of her Endymion?"

Endymion shook his head, "I never said it was her you were afraid of Yaten. I may be young, but I can see the butterflies. Try talking to her and getting to know her."

Just as quickly as he appeared the prince was gone, gone back to his sister. Yaten left alone again, thinking about Endo's words… Butterflies? There was no way! None! Was there?