Author's Note: Hello everyone, I'm back with some updates. :D Sorry, I've been very busy with my job (new grad's struggles). I'm quite moved by my viewer's support (Thanks Tatyanna Harper for the supportive review) :D This chapter is pretty short. I actually watched the episode of Sailor Moon and wanted to implement some elements of its into this story but unfortunately it won't be visible until the later chapters. This one is just a transitioning stage for the upcoming events. I hope you all enjoy this short chapter!
Words behind the Mask
Chapter 6: Answer Me!
"I'm fine, Makoto. You don't have to go that far!" Noel pulled her friend's tail, begging her to calm down. Makoto was outright furious upon hearing the whole story at NOL headquarter from Noel.
"Let go, Noel. I have to teach that damn misogynist a big lesson of manner! He deserves my Makoto Planet Crush punch in the face!" The squirreled girl shook her tail violently. Her fist clenched tight and her teeth gritted while imagining the detestable face of Jin's receiving her godly attack.
"It's ok, Makoto. I got home in one piece. See? No wound. Just let it go!" Noel pleaded even more. Despite all the shock elicited by major Kisaragi's bloodthirst, she still believed there was something deeper than that. She grabbed Makoto's fluffy tail; her arm barely made a round around it. Her legs quivered from fighting against her overly infuriated friend.
"You don't have to cover for him. I don't care if he's your superior or your friend or your lover…" Noel blushed at the remark. "No, we are not!"
"Whatever" Makoto rolled her eyes "But he doesn't have the right to mistreat you like this! He insulted you, abused you and now this? Trying to kill you?" Makoto yelled and pointed at the door. Noel understood the rationale of that wrath, but she absolutely cannot let the girl charge at her major like that knowing that he would show no clemency. "Please, Makoto. I'm fine." The brunette girl loosened her muscles a bit. Tears welled in her eyes as she had no idea how to help her best friend out. She shivered and let out some sobs. She could stand watching her friend enduring the merciless assault from Jin. Noel dropped on her knees; her eyes was damped as well. "I'm fine, really."
"No! You are not!" Makoto grabbed both sides of Noel's arm "You can't just keep up with this façade. You need to unchain yourself of this misery. Just quit being this douchebag's aide and get another job. He was a fool for no knowing your worth!" Her grip tightened as she tried to feel what Noel had gone through.
"Makoto, you know I can't do that. I have my family's honor to restore." Noel shook her head and looked at her friend with her green, helpless eyes.
"The fate of the Vermillions lies on my shoulder. I can't quit like that. I have to move forward. They will…" She continued
"Noel! No family will let their daughter suffer like that. Just tell them, I'm sure they will understand."
As much as Noel wanted to have her own peace, she knew it was not the life intended for her.
"I…I dearly wished the same thing, but it can't be done. I'll overcome it all." Noel let out a long exhale and said with some determination in her voice. She still believed in her intuition and strength.
"Just trust me. As usual, ok?"
Makoto said nothing. She was clueless about how to reply. Noel picked the squirrelled girl's hands from her arms and held it delicately as if they were treasure. Those hands had saved her so many times. It embraced her when she was down; punched her bully when she was victimized. Those feminine yet powerful hands were her savior many times. Noel rubbed it against her cheek. "Thanks, Makoto." She spoke softly, letting out some tears, wetting the back of her friend's hand.
"It's ok, Noellie, I'm here." Makoto hugged the poor girl, she could feel intense tremble as the blonde girl couldn't contain any more sorrow. "I'm here…"
"Ahhh!" Noel let out a loud cry of desperation and buried her face Makoto shoulder. Makoto patted the girl's head. At time like this, the only thing she could do is being Noel's moral support. Bearing intense hate for the major, she herself knew that she was no match for him. It just broke her heart seeing Noel's kind soul being trampled heartlessly by the world.
After an hour of crying, Noel was exhausted, lying asleep on Makoto's shoulder. The brunette girl gently laid her friend down on a pillow and pat her head with great care and love. "Good night, Noel."
She closed the door behind her and let out a long sigh. "Jin, what madness is going on with you?" She whispered. Jin was also her friend back in the day at the academy. He was indeed aloof and serious, but he was nowhere close to being as malicious as he was today. The development between her friend and the major troubled her deeply. Rubbing her own temper, she walked to her room, getting ready to sleep.
*Creak*
"Who's there?" said she, adrenaline rushed all over her body. She lowered her stance; her fist clenched tight as she swiftly shifted her gaze side by side then up and down.
*Creak*
The sound was evidently louder and clearer. It came out from the roof. Makoto, as fast as she could possibly be, dashed out the door, and leapt with her muscular legs all the way to the roof in one go. As her feet landed on the tiles, she saw a black cloak soaring in the air. The guy was jumping down, trying to escape. "STOP RIGHT THERE!" She bawled and made another long leap with her fists coiled back for a thundering blow. Her monstrous punch cratered the ground with a loud blast, sending a shockwave blowing the cloak of the person in front of her. The mysterious masked man whom her friend's life was spinning of was standing there, completely unfazed by the display of strength from Makoto. His face was covered by a blue eagle mask the rim of which was cladded in golden royal decoration. His arms were folded in front of his chest. Although it was a summer day, cold smoke escaped from his mask as he breathed.
The squirreled girl stood up from her knee; her eyes never left her target. "Who are you?"
There was a long silence between the two. None of them exchange anything but long and cautious stares.
"Answer me! Who are you?" Makoto repeated with a loud, intimidating voice.
"Who I am is none of your concern. I am just a wanderer who happened to pas…"
"Cut the bullshit!" interrupted Makoto "You have been appearing around Noel for the pass weeks." She pointed at him. Her tonfa was ready to swing any moment. "What do you want from my friend? Who exactly are you?" Her usual goofy, cute face now turned into a very hostile, furious frown. Her body vibrated from the thirst of battle against this suspicious man.
"I advise you not to end this with a combat. I wish not to cause any harm." The man raised his hand, gestured peaceful intention. Makoto, however, exhibited no sign to back off from the engagement.
"Answer me first! Then I will think about whether to punch you in the face or not."
The masked man put his hand on the hip and shook his head disappointingly "You are just as brass and reckless as I always know, Makoto. I only want to ensure Noel's safety. You don't have t…" He quickly dodged aside from the charging Makoto. Her fist punctured through the tree with a loud crack. Her eyes were red, filled with killing intention. "How do you know my name?" She said each word slowly and prepared herself for more rain of attacks.
"You don't have to know why. Just let it go here, and we both go our way." Said the masked man while turning away and walked toward the dark.
"YOU WON'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!" The lieutenant surged forward; her knuckle, full of power, plunged to the man.
"Who needs your pathetic permission, scum!" The man shouted and stomped. An ice field projected from his feet to the surrounding. Makoto, in the attacking effort, stumbled on the slippery ground. A grimace formed on her face as she landed with a loud thud. She tried to pick herself up "Ice spell?"
"I'm not done with you!" The man continued with his retreat "Noel was right to suspect you. That way of talking, showing dominance. Your spell and chants was all too much to be a coincident. You are major Kisaragi. Am I correct?" The man stopped without looking back. "What if I am and what if I am not?"
"The only thing that I can't understand is your unusual heroic action and your affection towards Noel when you are in this form. What the heck is going on here? Answer me! Are you Jin Kisaragi?"
The man sighed "You just never learn, do you?" He vanished and turned up a few inches from Makoto's face. His hand grabbed the girl's face and pulled pitilessly towards him while his knee thrust forward, meeting her stomach.
"Kuurrghhh!" The brunette girl embraced her abdomen, vomiting on the ground as she fell on her knee.
"I don't want to inflict any more harm than this. You forced me to act." Despite his calm voice, the lieutenant could feel deep anger within his actions. His hand was still on Makoto's face. His grip tightened and raised her into the air, ignoring her helpless struggle. Her breaths were short and unstable as she was still in great pain. Her fists feebly pounded on the man's arm and her legs just swung around aimlessly.
"Forbidden spell, ice prison!" He chanted and in a flash, Makoto was fully covered in ice; her terrified expression was still there as her last scream for help was never heard. "This is for your own good." Tracing his finger along the ice sculpture of Makoto's, his gaze wandered around the whole area with great caution.
"This is not good." Mumbled the man. He waved his arm in circular motion in front of his chest, forming a pure white energy ball. He compressed in to a small marble with his palms and placed the power in front of the house.
"Chaos is coming… I must act before this whole city is annihilated."
Those were his last words before he jumped into the dark of the night, preparing for the worst to come.
A/N: Haaa... I know, it's very short. I apologize for that. It's not that I don't have ideas, I do have a lot, but to express them all out fluently takes a lot of skills. I really want to make a good work with good use of diction, descriptions, blah blah. Anyhow, thanks for reading, I hope to read some reviews from you guys, please tell me what you want to see from my stories. Even if it doesn't appear in this particular fanfic it will appear on the others. I should pick up my writing more!
Cardlover95
