When Shadows Rise, part three
The Future Ain't What it Used to be
The flight from the US to Japan was always a long one. In the old days there were ways of getting place to place that did not involve having to share a cabin with a hundred strangers. Shayla, once known as Sailor Sweetwater, sighed and buckled her seat belt. The plane was coming in to land finally. Taking her back to a place she wasn't sure she was ready to be. Memories were still fresh; the pain had not dimmed very much.
Looking out the window as the plane descended through the clouds her mind went back to the day she left. Jai and Hana standing there, their silence supporting her, yet not saying goodbye. Something about Hana's face told her that she would be seeing them again. Hana had given to her a wrapped box that she was not open till she got back to her home. She carried it in her lap now, clutched tight as memories good and bad flooded through her.
She had not touched her Kouhei powers in the years between then and now. Only using the inner gifts of healing that she could not ignore. Being among so many living and breathing humans was a strain but she now had additional shields. Both those she hard forged for herself after Oak's death and those given to her by Pluto and Time.
As she disembarked the plane she smiled as she spotted Setsuna. The Elder senshi was dressed in her conservative best for this meeting. Though there was no way that the green haired regal beauty of the Senshi of Time could be hidden she managed to look like a busy executive waiting for a business partner.
"I see you decided to come." Setsuna's voice was pleasant as ever when speaking to the Healer.
"I am needed, you know that."
"Will you continue to protect what is in your care, Healer?" The flash in the red eyes should have frightened the retiring woman before her but Sweetwater had grown strong in the years of solitude in the old mountains of her home.
"Till it is returned to whom it belongs, my friend." Shayla then smiled and chuckled. "Okay now that that is said, where do I need to go?"
Setsuna smiled and led the shorter woman to a waiting car. Her luggage was already in the truck and they sped off, skipping customs all together. She would be staying as a guest with Setsuna and her family. An old friend that the others would not remember. An ace in the sleeve that had an important part to play.
Hana left Matten back in the place they had set up to observe the changes in the city and headed out. It was time to bring back another member of the old team and as much as he had changed, Matten was still not the most sensitive of men. While her teacher took care of the Healer, she was to bring back the leader.
Once she had been afraid of almost everything. A set of memories from longer ago than all but one being knew had been locked into her subconscious. It was long after she learned to trust a select few that those memories had been unlocked.
She smiled and reached for the bell next to the unmarked door. When it was yanked open she schooled her expression and blinked as an taller and broader Jai barked, "What?"
Jai stepped back as he saw a familiar face in front of him. "Hana…it's you," He leaned out to look around her to see if she was alone. "I'm sorry." He smiled down at her and in a gentlemanly sweep of his arm invited her in.
Hana stepped in and looked about. Jai's apartment was spare and clean, a far cry from the mess and darkness outside. The dark cherry wood table and futon frame was polished to a quiet gleam and the cushions were of a dark burgundy. Hana nodded once, it was as she expected, down to the scattering of healthy plants.
She turned to face her host, "No reason to be. They have come all ready?"
Jai chuckled and shook his head. Hana was always direct. No small talk needed with this former teammate. "The Shadow master seems to think that I am a toothless dragon now. A brief "suggestion" that I tend to my business and let others tend to theirs."Hana nodded. The final battle had taken much from her team and much from her one time leader. But she knew things would come to a head only with Draco's return. It was time for Drano and the Unicorn to meet. "It is time for you to come back from the dead, Jai. There is someone who has been waiting for you," she smiled her enigmatic smile at his look only completing the sentence in her mind, "though she doesn't know it yet."
"And who would that be little one?" Jai had grown over the years into a stern looking yet quiet adult. The years of running a small dojo away from the world had mellowed him some. As one of the very few who from the beginning understood that Hana was more than she would appear, he took whatever she told him to be the total unvarnished truth. Sailor Time, while able to hold back all time, didn't waste a moment.
"Someone who will affect history that has yet to be written at this time." She perched on the arm of the futon. "But that one will wait a bit longer. There are others who need to be gathered. Old friends."
Jai's breath caught. He had not wanted the time to come when his old friends would be forced back into the world. He knew that she was here to take him to see those who had agreed once more to protect the planet from forces beyond human understanding. "You convinced her to come back?"
Hana shrugged. "No convincing is necessary when the call is given Draco. You know that. Destiny follows us all."
Stevie, once know as Sailor Star Ocean, rode the waves on a board of energy. Unlike the other Kouhei he never gave up using his gifts. Once the most carefree of them, a part of him died the day of their final battle. Losing friends and comrades had changed him. Before that battle he had never thought of the next day, of the true cost of what they were doing. When Sailor Moon and her senshi had released and healed the others it had awoken him to the true facts of how he had been deceived and mistreated.
As the wave passed he coasted forward to the calm waters of the bay and turned to look at the golden red sunset. "Five years is a long time for your friends to stay away, don't you think?" Came a voice from behind him.
Without turning Stevie shrugged. "They had lives you know. Or were trying to have lives." He slowly turned the board on which he rode. "Besides not all of them stayed away." From time to time he had odd little visits from Hana. They hardly interacted when they were a team. He was more of a friend to Sweetwater, Earth and Oak than the odd little Time but she in her quiet way kept him up on all that the others had been doing.
The being on the water next to him was not dressed to be surfing. The fact that he wore black leather and jeans was not as troubling as the fact that he stood on the waves, or more stood just above them. The Kouhei part of himself knew what this creature must be, but the human part of his soul was intrigued. "So why is a Youma coming to talk to a Kouhei? Last time we met your cousins all perished."
The Shadow shrugged. "Those that came before were not related to my kind in anyway other than an outward form. We belong here, they did not."
"So why come to me, then?"
The shadow sank down to sit cross legged on the waves. "Our lord wishes to speak to the master of the oceans and offer him something. Something his past comrades will not." It held up a swirling ball of darkness where images fluttered inside. Stevie leaned toward those images and smiled.
Setsuna and Shayla pulled into the drive before the unmarked dojo. Waiting just outside was two figures from Shayla's past. Setsuna smiled, as always her student arrived just before she would be needed. And she had done as was expected by luring the lost Draco out of his self imposed exile.
The Leader of the Kouhei nodded in greeting as the two women climbed out of the car. His eyes widened and then he smiled at his long lost friend. Shayla blinked and then rushed forward to embrace him. Always more openly affectionate than the rest of the team, Jai allowed her the embrace. He didn't stiffen up like he used to, the years having eased some of the demons that haunted him.
"So the Master comes to the mountain hmmm?" He joked.
Shayla chuckled and shook her head. "I'm not Mohammad; I just needed to be asked." She looked over to the two time scouts. "Though how did they get you to leave your mountain?"
He gestured to the plain door. "This is my mountain, or at least my local branch, come inside."
Much like the master's apartment had been, the dojo had clean and uncluttered lines. Here and there about the main room there were a few students sparring. Shayla looked about, a bit surprised. She had managed to stay in touch with this one member of her team via emails and the internet. Not as reliable as they old ways but neither of the former Kouhei had wanted reminders of days past.
Jai softly gave his friends a tour of the place he now felt most at home. Greeting each of the students in turn he gently corrected a few stances and then led the women out of the dojo to the rooms beyond.
After seating the women and offering them tea, he too took a seat. "All right Setsuna, why do you need my team now?" While before his voice had been calm and friendly, the old hard edge reappeared. He had not forgotten what had happened in the past, nor the members of his team that even now where a part of his soul, though they no longer lived.
It was Hana who answered him, not her teacher. "Jai, there is a force coming that if not stopped now will destroy all that has been set in motion by the past. A force who has decided to take destiny off it tracks for its own ends."
"Yeah, yeah," he waved a hand. "That is nothing new. We fought those forces before. There will always be forces to do that. Why reawaken us now?" He looked to Shayla, then back to Hana. "Why break open old wounds?"
This time Setsuna answered. "Draco you know that this has to be done. You know that there are things that must happen to bring about the Silver Millennium."
"What do we care about that?" For a moment his old temper showed. "Did they care about my team, did Serenity bring back my fallen friends!" As he said that he winced and turned to Shayla. She held up a hand, stopping his apology.
"Jai, I understand and Setsuna has explained to me why…" she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Why Pain, Earth and...My Oak where not brought back with the rest. And why we are called back today." She pulled out the box she had so carefully guarded for five years.
It was small and covered in carved looping vines. Pressing a hidden catch she eased it open and pulled out a horn dagger, a pair of si, monofilament cord and finally a crystal. The first three she tenderly returned to the box. Jai shivered as he recognized the tools of his fallen friends, then she took his hand and placed the crystal in his palm. Tapping it lightly on the topmost edge she sat back as a tone sounded.
The tone instead of fading quickly slowly grew till an image started to form. Jai blinked as the figure of a woman in a white and silver fuku formed. "This is why you were called back my friend."
As Jai leaded forward to get a better view of the woman the image expanded and a week's worth of battle and loss flowed between them. When the final image flowed back into the crystal he lifted his eyes to Shayla's. Wordlessly they nodded, both understanding now what was needed. "Why weren't we ever told of the Star Knights?"
""It wasn't time for you to meet Jai," came Hana's response.
"Time for us to meet? But you knew about them? This Unicorn…with her Light powers she could have broken us out of …..Ohhhhhh" Jai stopped as he thought over what he was saying. "Unicorn was fighting battles after we won and lost ours, wasn't she?"
Setsuna nodded. "The Star Knights formed last in Beryl's reign. They had other places and things to do before becoming the team they were. Unicorn had to clean up family business before she could join the battle for the greater good. There were only 3 Star Knights discovered before the battles were finished."
"Are there others out there?"
Setsuna just smiled. "The future will write that tale when it needs to. For now your tasks are simple Draco and Sweetwater. You must stay quietly hidden. The forces of Shadow have contacted you Draco but they know nothing of Sweetwater. They may return for you now that you have this again." She handed him his crystal. It was different from days of old. No longer was it dark and cracked. It had been healed, as he had been.
She stood and nodded to Hana. "It is time to go visit one more friend of the past." Jai looked confused but Shayla closed her eyes in understanding. Jai did not know that one other team member was still alive. It would be her task in the future to try and save that team member, if he came their way. "We will come and pick up Shayla later Jai. Enjoy your visit"
Hotaru gently stroked the cat that rode on her lap. As the bus moved through midtown traffic she quietly conversed with the stately cat about the Star Knights. She was intrigued about the small band of fighters who had appeared and disappeared from Tokyo. This Chris kid sounded so juvenile but at the same time like someone she wish she could have known. He seemed to be much like his cousin Usagi, sweet and open and fun loving but with an obviously strong sense of duty. The other Knight Akuma at first sounded like a bully but as Andromeda filled in his story it was obvious that the big guy really cared for his team mates. As for the mysterious Unicorn she was holding off on her judgment till she met her.
The fact that a guardian cat had attached herself to the lone Star Knight after her team mates had died meant something. What Andromeda would not say or may could not say. After all she might be an elder like Luna but she wasn't all knowing.
She eased off the bus, carrying Andromeda and headed toward Iriko's apartment. She had been there once or twice with Usagi and Mamaru. The pretty girl with the purple hair had turned out to be yet another of Serenity's court from long ago. It was funny how that turned out.
Climbing the stairs to the top floor apartment, she set Andromeda down and lightly tapped on the door. When Iriko answered she smiled and was gestured to come inside.
As always entering Iriko's home was like entering a secret garden or glade. The plants that dominated every surface breathed a gentle mix of scents that eased the mind of any who entered.
On one of the couches that bracketed the windows sat the object of her quest. Curled up, dressed in ill fitting clothing was Suteko. She had been softly talking to Ami about something technical and medical, obviously trying to convince the other woman that nothing was going on below the surface. But as senshi of Saturn Hotaru could see that there was a tension about this woman that would not go away. Death had touched her intimately and was hovering over her shoulder like a shadow.
Taking a closer look, there was a face in the shadow that was hovering over Suteko and was not natural. Hotaru reached to pull her powers about herself when she saw Suteko shake her head subtly.
With quick twist of her wrist the Star Knight bought out her light blade and cleanly sliced through the shadow behind her. It vaporized with an eerie howl, which made both Ami and Iriko shudder.
Signing, Suteko banished her blade and settled more deeply into her seat, weariness in her eyes. "I am sorry Iriko. I seem to have trimmed your ivy here a bit. Misgauged that one a bit."
Iriko came over and picked up the bits of leaf and vine that had fluttered down around Suteko. "It is alright Suteko-san; I can have these growing in no time." She headed into the kitchen her hands busy with the stems.
"Well that shield didn't work out." Ami sounded frustrated.
Hotaru turned to her. "You knew it was there?"
Ami nodded. "The minor shadows, like that one, found where Suteko was after the meeting and we have been trying out different ways to mask her.:
"I keep telling you not to bother. Once I am back to full strength they won't be able to stand being near me." Suteko looked over to Hotaru. "And who is this?" She narrowed her eyes for a moment. "She is definitely one of you senshi and as I have met most of you all ready…you must be Saturn?" Hotaru nodded. "Come to see the captive Star Knight have you?" Suteko's voice seemed to be joking but it held a note of impatience in it. As if sitting here and healing was not what she needed to be doing.
Ami scolded her patient lightly. "You aren't a captive Suteko. Usagi and Mamaru will be back soon with your things and then you can go out if you wish. We just need to make sure you will not be attacked as soon as you do."
Signing Suteko nodded and leaned back into the cushions. The patience she used to have had been eaten up in the week of running and fighting. Persephone came over and settled herself on Suteko's lap, lightly kneading her legs like a true cat trying to relax her charge.
Andromeda gave the younger cat an arched look and settled on Ami. "I think it is more time to discuss why my cousin here has joined up with you Suteko."
Looking at the cat in her lap and then at the other she shrugged. "What can I say? She likes me?"
Persephone made what suspiciously sounded like a snorted giggle and then smiled. "Of course I do. After all you are my charge. I was sent to protect and guide you."
That comment made Andromeda take a closer look at the other cat. The crescent moon that marked Luna, Artemis and herself was not on the grey brow of Persephone. The symbol was definitely that of a stylized Unicorn. "You're not a moon cat are you?"
Persephone paused in her kneading to shake her head. "Never said I was oh wise one. You cats from the Moon always thought you were the only guardians in existence. Too bad really. There was always too few of you to go around. If you had asked we would have helped you."
Suteko lightly settled her hand on her cat's shoulder, almost a shushing gesture. "Be nice, cat." Then a look past between cat and human that was not missed by the others.
"Why did you come to her then? I thought you were part of the summer court. Assigned to those of royal parentage like Chris."
Suteko's hand closed about the cat for a moment, and then she sighed. "Go ahead and tell them what you wish cat, after all they might believe it more than I did." She gently eased the cat onto the couch and went into the kitchen to get a glass of water.
Just before Persephone launched into her tale Usagi and Mamaru returned with Suteko's things. Taking her bags with relief she headed into the bedroom to change, ignoring the questioning looks she was given.
After a quick summation of the fact that she wasn't a moon cat for Usagi and Mamaru, Persephone started the tale of who Suteko was and where she had come from.
"There were many dynasties on Earth when the Moon Kingdom existed. Your majesty was just the Heir of the largest of the kingdoms of the time. As you know not all of Earth was happy with the intervention of the Moon Kingdom in the life of those bound to Earth. Beryl was one, as was her mistress. But they weren't the only troublemakers of that distant time. "
"In the years before your mother, Serenity ruled there was another Earth kingdom that was harsh and cruel and full of beings who wanted to rule all the known lands. A small part of the ruling family of that time were powerful masters of Chi magic and had studied long and hard to find a way to protect the Earth they so loved. When the wars for ascension got out of control they took it upon themselves and their heirs to protect the Earth by removing to an alternate universe the battling tribes who were threatening all existence."
"Chi magic?" Usagi asked. She had heard of Chi in the manga that she loved to read and in movies but never thought it was real.
"Yes, Chi. Much like the magic you possess, it is as powerful as the user wielding it. A finely trained Chi master can do many things. The masters of that time managed to send those who wanted to destroy the Earth into the Shadow kingdom. A place of darkness and hate. Suteko and her brother are the last descendants of those ancient Chi Masters."
"Brother! She has a brother out there!" Usagi looked excited. None of her friends had siblings. "What is he like?"
"In a moment your majesty. You see after the Shadow Kingdom was created to hold the prisoners, the remaining Chi masters and their families took a vow to guard and protect this world from the evil they had imprisoned. They had been faithful to that vow until Suteko's great grandfather Ito took over the leadership of the family. Because of his cruel and wicked heart, his father had not told him of the family legacy. He had intended to pass it on to Ito's eldest son but that son had been banished before he could and then the old man died holding back the evil in the Cave in China."
The cat continued the story, filling in these almost strangers with the facts of Suteko's life. The betrayals that she suffered and the family she had lost. The fact that her younger brother was the new guardian of the Shadows but no longer remembered his sister due to a magic spell gone wrong and how she vowed to let him live his life in peace with his chosen few friends. It had cost her much to give up her family and how joining the Star Knights was in a way a penance for what she felt she had done. How the three knights became the tight team they were and why she had come to when she did. Mamaru pulled out the photos from his jacket and showed them to the women around him.
As they looked at the two photos and shook their heads, he listened by the bedroom door. Suteko had taken out the harp and was playing something softly to herself. He eased the door open and stood listening. The sadness of the soft notes plucked as his own heart. "You can come in if you wish." She said softly, not stopping the roll of sound.
Stepping in he gently closed the door and took a seat. Her hair once more tied back in her rational tight braid only the ragged bangs covered her eyes. "As you can see my tale is even weirder than yours majesty." Her voice was sad and lost.
"I thought once you were part of my old court. Now I remember your people. They were true heroes Suteko. Warriors of light as you are today. You have no reason to feel shame."
"I let my little brother take the burden on his shoulders. He should have been allowed to finish growing up and to choose his bride, not to have to be the guardian. He had his father's destiny wasn't that enough?" She flattened her hand on the strings, silencing the soft chords.
"Was he unwilling to be guardian? Did you force it on him?" Mamaru asked softly.
She looked up at him fiercely. "Of course he was willing. The Jackass never backs down from a fight. He wouldn't have let me…." She stopped and then softly chuckled. "Okay maybe it was his destiny but," she looked away. "Did destiny have to remove me from his memory? He was all I had after Mother died."
"Destiny does what it does. We can't control it. You know that." He stood and turned back to door. "Are you sure he doesn't remember you?" Mamaru knew a little about suppressed memories after all.
Suteko's weak smile and nod saddened him. "The magic was thorough in removing me once it was decided I was not to be this generation's guardian. The guardian must be focused on what he is entrusted with, not on his possible rivals." She sighed. "When Mother and Grandfather tried to make him into the perfect assassin and sent him out to kill those he loved, only the fact that we shared the same curse that kept him from becoming what they wanted."
"The curse? Do you still carry it?" When the cat told them of the curses at first it was just one too many facts but now. Well it could be a problem if the other side knew of it.
"No, Chris broke the curse somehow when he made my Unicorn." She closed her eyes for a brief shudder. "It would have been a little hard to do battle in the damn skimpy outfits we wear if I was turned into a guy every time I got wet."
She forced out a chuckle and then gently placed the harp back into its case. "Thank you for bringing this. It means a lot to me."
"Can you talk to the others now?" He asked softly.
Suteko nodded and headed into the well lit room beyond. She knew that the story of her past would leave the people in the other room even more questions. Ones that she either didn't know the answer to or couldn't answer. As much as she trusted the Princess there were family secrets that she could just not talk about. Things that would give away some of her advantages. But she would answer as many questions as she needed to and hope that they stayed away from those.
Mamoru went over and settled next to Usagi and took her hand. She rested her head on his shoulder and cuddled up close. The picture they made was almost too sweet for the Star Knight. They reminded her of her lost brother and his wife. She sighed and went over to the window. Her movements were a lot more relaxed now that she was back in her preferred jeans and loose top but she was still radiating tense. "So, did you tell them the whole sordid tale cat?"
Persephone snorted from her perch on Saturn's lap. The beast knew that her charge was referring to things from her more recent past but she would never reveal the heart secrets that the lonely young woman held. She may have only joined her in the past week but she had kept an eye on this young woman from the time she was a child.
"Just brought them up to date on the Crystal kingdom and your ancestors." The cat purred as the young woman stroked her back.
"How long have you known about the Crystal kingdom Suteko?"
She shook her head and sighed. "By that name, only since the Cat came but I knew some of what she told you. Grandfather used to tell me stories, stories I thought were just tales to entertain a child. A few things he taught just to me as his heir."
"Did you get to pass those stories on?"
She sighed before answering. "I told a few stories but they are part of the memories wrapped in the spell. At this time I am the only living person who knows the tales."
"Would any of these tales help now?"
Suteko thought for a moment. While the tales were not secrets they were family tales. "Possibly," Suteko thought back to the early tales. Leaning against the window sill, she looked out. Taking a deep breath she started telling a story, changing it to the facts she was slowly remembering. "In the days before there was once a teacher. This teacher was assigned to the emperor's court. She would tell tales to the young prince, teaching him to think before reacting. Combining the tales with physical training she helped the prince grow into a fine young man. They were friends and more.
Only those who were part of a certain clan were allowed to teach the royal family. Cousins as teachers and sensei. The woman had grown close to her student. They were friends and it was to his friend that the prince went with his concerns.
Among the royal family there were those who had magic. The Sensei was one, as was the Prince. In secret she taught the Prince how to channel his Chi, to send the power through his hands and outward. The Prince was quite powerful and he could hit any target with his Chi but he had not developed any finesse yet.
Each day passed like the next for many months but there was a subtle rebellion brewing. Whenever mankind was at peace for too long the darker side would rise, deciding that they knew better how to steer the world. In the Crystal Kingdom the dark was lead by the Lord Seneschal.
The Seneschal, Lord Shyama, was uncle to the Prince. He felt he was robbed of his rightful throne but he hid it very well. He made a pact with creatures outside of the kingdom, creatures that were aligned to strife and war, those who worshiped the Darkness.
When the Sensei took the prince out for one of their training missions deep into the mountains surrounding the kingdom, he struck. In one night of treachery and blood, Lord Shyama killed or imprisoned most of the royal family. The King's younger sons fought like whirlwinds but they could not overcome the monsters of the Shadows. They died with swords in their hands. The daughters, some were seduced and joined their uncle in the darkness while others were killed in their beds. A set of tiny twin daughters were smuggled out of the city by their caretakers. Soon the once bright and happy kingdom had fallen to the dark powers. Daily battles lead to death squads roaming the countryside and the city looking for the missing Prince and his baby sisters.
The only thing keeping hope alive was that the crown Prince was still alive. Legends of the Prince and his advisor started to trickle into the beleaguered city. Shadow assassins were sent out and they never returned. With each group that disappeared the legends grew.
In the mountains above the city a small enclave of the Light born existed. It was here that the tiny princesses were brought and it was there that two wandering priests started their travels. The moved from village to village no matter the season or the weather. At each gathering of huts they healed the sick and taught the ignorant and occasionally they took on apprentices. By the time they left the villages for the city there were six traveling together by foot. The legend goes that the six were the Prince, his Sensei, two guardsmen and two priestesses."
The listening senshi were all sitting forward as Suteko paused her tale. Iriko slipped into the kitchen and brought Suteko a large cold glass of water. She swallowed most of it down before turning to the room. "You have to understand that when this tale was told to me it was over the period of a year, just before my great uncle died. He did not tell me names but…" she frowned.
"You are starting to remember aren't you?" asked Mamaru.
Suteko started to nod but then shrugged. "Not so much a memory. The story was always something told, or so my uncle said but now, years later, I realize that Uncle only told these tales to me. At the time I thought nothing of them, but now?"
"Now you realize that he was teaching you your history?"
Suteko nodded and continued. "The details are fuzzy from the time they entered the city. They would fight the shadows in battles that lit up the night. The Shadows controlled the palace guard and the police. Many battles it took to reach the castle and the cost was high. "
Once more Suteko fell into the storyteller's cadence. "The priestesses fell in the third ring, fighting shadow demons. Their powers we strong but the beasts were stronger. The guardsmen died in the second ring, filled with arrows of steel infused with shadow poison. It was the Prince and his Sensei that fought their way into the palace. Using steel, wood and magic, they defeated the police, then destroyed the guard." She paused and closed her eyes as if to concentrate.
"After a night, a day and another night, the Prince and his Sensei reached the throne room." Her voice started to change as the rest spilled out. No longer was it Suteko telling the tale. A glow started under her skin, clean and white.
"We stood facing our uncle, the man who betrayed all our people stood for. He was no longer the tall, handsome man who had taught us to ride. He had become twisted and strange. As her words flowed an image formed in the air. Usagi sat up and changed to Princess Serenity as magic filled the air. She waved a shushing hand to quiet her court as Suteko's voice spun magic from light.
The image of Lord Shyama at first was tall, broad of shoulder and dark of hair and beard. Obviously related to both of the young people standing proudly before him in simple robes of traveling priests. Though only cousins it was clear in the magic that the two could have been twins. Iriko looked from the Sensei to Suteko. Barring clothing and hair style, they were identical.
"We tried to save our uncle, using my gift of music and Hiro's strength but our uncle had been consumed. No longer a man, he had become a Shadow Master. Chi flew from us both, wounding the Shadow Master, tearing hunks from his form but still he fought.
He had the power of all shadows and had sucked in the hatred and fear that his creature had generated in the people of our land."
The silent scouts watched as the two fought separately and together. Defeating each sending but slowly being defeated themselves."
"When we thought we had destroyed him, we collapsed into each other's arms, sobbing in pain and sadness for our lost family and home but Shyama was not dead. He rose up and struck us once more."
The images of the Prince and his Sensei looked up as the Shadow Master sent a bolt of purest black toward them. Somehow the Sensei pulled herself in front of her Prince and took the blast to her back. "The pain was more than any I have ever felt. It ate through my bones, killing me but I had to protect Hiro. He was my Prince, my lord and my life."
Suteko's voice took on the suffering of Sensei as she died. Then the voice changed, it echoed now, sounding ghostly. "Hiro screamed my name and went berserk. He threw blast after blast, draining his soul in anger and sorrow. My Prince was trying to kill Shyama with his pain but I could not let him. For he would have become what he hated if he did."
Serenity slowly stood and moved to Suteko's side. "How did you stop him?"
"My spirit slipped from my broken body and I did the one thing I was told never to do. I slid inside of Hiro's body and joined my soul to his. Together we raised the Light. A Light brighter than the sun and we ended the Shadow master."
"Ended him how?" This one thing could be the way to end the threat of the Shadow Master to the last generation of the Chi Masters.
Suteko's gazed turned to Serenity. Her large green eyes had changed to pale silver as the spirit continued. "As Hiro destroyed his body, I took his soul and locked it into a limbo cage. Using the last of my powers to seal him in. Forever trapping him in the Shadow realm, or so I thought."
"He has broke out of his prison by gaining the aid of the heir of his powers. The boy who wanted my Heir as his bride."
Serenity nodded. That part of Suteko's story they had all ready heard. "This boy Kaneda. He has become your Uncle?"
The ghostly Sensei nodded Suteko's head. "Yes, the boy wants my heir for his own selfish reasons but the Shadow Master wants to destroy her because of who she is."
Serenity softly asked what everyone was thinking. "Sensei you have told us your Prince's name and even the Shadow Master but what was yours?"
"My name was Sutemi, Princess. This vessel is my child and heir to my power. She was returned to my charge." The features superimposed over Suteko's softened. "She was originally born on a mountain top and left in the care of your great grandmother. A gentle and loving soul who promised to care for my child and my nieces. She and the children were gone when Hiro returned to get them."
There were soft gasps as the listeners realized that Hiro and Sutemi were more than teacher and student and that Suteko was also royalty, though she did not know it. The Spirit gestured to Serenity and they silently communed for a long moment before the silver eyes closed and the light started to dim.
Serenity slowly faded back to Usagi and put a finger to her lips. The people in this room now knew a big secret that even Suteko didn't know.
Suteko opened her eyes with a frustrated look. "I'm sorry but that is all I remember."
Iriko, Hana and Ami all looked at each other and then to the Prince and Princess, stunned.
Persephone let out a long yawn. "It is all you need to remember Unicorn." The cat gave one last head stroke to the teenager holding her and leapt down.
"So you see there aren't any secrets to the tales. No power or attack that I can pull out of it."
Hoturu joined the princess as Suteko went to put the glass in the Kitchette. Softly the youngest Senshi asked, "What did Sutemi tell you there at the end?"
Briefly Usagi let her more serious self out. "She asked that we keep the secret of who Suteko is. Her child was the last heir of that dynasty. Another family rose to fill the gap when Hiro gave up his throne."
"He never married?: the teenager, though normally very serious, was reacting like any star struck girl.
"No, he spent his life looking for his tiny daughter and his sisters." Usagi looked across the apartment toward the Star Knight. :"But my ancestor disappeared from the kingdom with the children and she never returned to the Moon kingdom."
"So your ancestor took Suteko and raised her out kingdom, brought her to ancient Japan?"
Usagi shrugged and spoke up brightly. "You tell stories so well Suteko. Where did you learn?"
Hoturu smile her secret smile. The Princess was distracting the Star Knight with her bubble headed persona, wisely setting the mood in the room.