When Shadows rise
Chapter 6
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
Setsuna pulled the heart sore Knight slightly out of sync with the others. As the two Kouhei seemed to pause, the Star Knight turned her eyes to the Senshi of Pluto. Lifting a brow in question she nodded for Pluto to speak.
"You are starting to remember." Pluto's enigmatic smile teased wit knowledge that was just out of reach for the Star Knight.
Suteko nodded, "Some. What was I really Pluto? These memories tell me I was not one of the Heirs of the Crystal Kingdom. That was my brother."
"No not an heir but..?"
Suteko closed her eyes and concentrated. "Not one of the heirs but….Sensei?" Images started to flow, not clear but they were there. Some time in the Earth's distant past she had been the personal tutor to the current Lord of Light. She taught Chi power and more to a student who looked much like her lost brother. Not a full blood, she was a trusted advisor to a young earnest Prince learning to battle the shadows. Even during the past life she held secrets, things not revealed because they were too dangerous.
Suteko pushed the memories away. They cut her very much the same way her current memories did. Pluto held a crystal out to Unicorn. "This will make the memories easier."
Suteko reached out and took the clear crystal. As her fingers touched it, it flared with a bright light and a single tone. Startled she nearly dropped it. She darted a look a the two Kouhei and was pleased to see they had not seen. Turning back to Pluto she slipped the crystal into her pocket and spoke softly. "You know so much Setsuna-sama. Where you there?"
Setsuna just lifted a brow. "There?:
Suteko chuckled softly. "That was too vague, I know." Looking out into the darkness, she continued. "I know you are part of why I am still here." She paused one hand still in her pocket caressing the crystal. "I know you can't or won't explain but can you tell me something…unrelated to this?"
Setsuna interrupted the Knight gently." Your brother is safe at the moment Unicorn. He and his bride are resting peacefully in their home."
A single tear escaped the large green eyes to slip down her cheek. Once more a flash filled the darkened car, this time softer and the tear dropped to her lap, also crystallized. Suteko scooped it up and looked deep, seeing tiny figures of her family inside. She looked up at Pluto, who shrugged. "You are surrounded by magic child. Be careful of your heart's desires. They might come true."
Pluto then snapped her elegant fingers and time went back into sync and Suteko could again hear the conversation between Rage and the woman who eased her injury. Briefly a pain spiked in her head, like an echo of an injury. She shrugged it off.
Setsuna spoke up then "Matten, don't you think an introduction is in order? After all Shayla has all ready treated Suteko."
The pretty blonde turned her blue eyes back to the dark-haired woman she had just healed. I am sorry we were so rude. I feel like I all ready know you thanks to Hana." She reached out a hand. "I am Shayla, once know as Sailor Sweet Water."
Suteko looked out the hand extended and reached out her own. Callused from harp and staff, her fingers closed firmly about hands that held a slight tinge of green. Softer than the Star Knights but still strong. The Kouhei's ability to heal rang clean with Suteko. She too had a healing gift but it was useless on herself. "Thank you Shayla-san for removing the shadow taint." Shayla looked a bit confused. She had only healed the physical damage to Suteko's ears.
Sitting it was hard to tell more than basics about Sweet water. Her hair was worn pulled back in a long tail as far as Suteko could tell. Dressed in a long flowing skirt and peasant blouse, she looked comfortable. Both top and skirt were delicately embroidered with alternating leaves and native symbols. Her feet were covered in bead trimmed moccasins. It was an odd mix of gypsy and native clothing on a woman who was clearly a descendant of Eire.
Shayla looked after the mysterious Star Knight. Suteko was in her usual jeans, loose t-shirt and battered leather jacket. She wore a simple pair of Chinese slippers on her feet.
"Greg tells me that you too practice Tai Chi? Which school?" Shayla smiled soothingly at the lone Star Knight., her touch had allowed her to feel the tight control the Star night was holding on her emotions and thoughts. The tension was visible to a healer. Fine lines about the eyes that should not be there on a woman her age. Plus something in those eyes that begged for peace. The healer felt for the woman and the warrior. She had to ignore it for now. Her conversation with Greg had been ignored by the Knight an Senshi. But after a quick glance at Setsuna she believed that tit had been heard but not by Suteko.
"No set school. Shayla-san. I picked up what I could between learning my family's tradition and school." She smiled. "I find it a good way to warm up before moving on to Kung fu or Karate." Suteko slid a hand into her hair above her collar. It looked like an embarrassed gesture but she was rubbing at a vague something, her neck still stiff after everything.
Matten perked up. The Knight was actually volunteering information. He listened to the chit chat between the Tai Chi master and Unicorn. Interjecting questions about style and training. Smartly he did not try to steer the conversation toward Unicorn's powers or abilities or why she knew the name of the Shadow master's henchman. It seemed like the woman who would relax when talking technique but then would dart a look at him and tense up, rubbing her neck.
In no time the limo pulled up in front of the home Setsuna shared with the outer Senshi and her mate, the professor. She could just see Mamaru's sedan and Iriko's scooter parked around the edge of the drive.
Greg let out a low whistle when he got out of the car. The home shared by the outer Senshi was palatial Large with a sweeping lawn it dwarfed the homes of the inner senshi and the Kouhie. Most of them lived in apartments or small houses. Sweet water's home was a two room cabin in the back woods.
Setsuna waved the two Kouhei to head in and placed a hand on the Knight to hold her back.. Suteko watched the others go, then slipped a few steps away from Pluto. "another mass meeting?"
"You need to learn to work with other teams Unicorn. Soon you will need their combined powers."
"Need their powers? Combined? Do they even know how to combine them Setsuna-san? None of the people are ready to fight together. You Senshi fight for Serena, as you should. And the Kouhei, their scars are deeper than mine." She shook her head once more rubbing the base of her skull, the headache was back and growing worse. "I see distrust and reserve in those I have met." She shook her head more. "Rage helped today but he still distrusts me." She stepped further away. "He wants to know all my secrets." Suteko winced and her eyes started to glaze over.
Setsuna could see that the woman before her was poised to fight or flee. Questions posed by the intense and large Kouhei hit too close to underlying wounds on the Star Knights psyche. But something was triggering old fears.
Matten did not know it was his size, so reminiscent of Kaneda's pre=transformation form that kept her on edge. Her mind was confused. She knew that any who fought and survived for the Princess could be trusted but body memory told her that he was a threat. The only men who did not trigger the fight or flight mode in the past 5 years had been Chris and Mamaru. Even Akuma could make her mentally pull back. Which added yet another wound to her soul. The damage needed to be healed soon or the future would jump off its tracks. She needed to trust the male members of Serena's court and when the future allowed, her brother's court.
"You need to calm yourself child." Setsuna tried to soothe.
Suteko hissed, eyes flashing. "Don't treat me like your daughter Setsuna. I have been on my own for over a decade." Suteko turned away from the green haired modelisque woman and started toward the gate. "For days you have all but smothered me, kept guards on me, even when I am sleeping. I feel one of you there watching me. Big hulking barbarian, With no manners, poking and poking at my memories, never letting me breath."
Setsuna's head snapped up. Hana and Iriko were the only people who could slip into minds and they did not take on a form different than their own when they did so. Something was riding the Knight. Quickly transforming Pluto looked through her Garnet orb. There on the Star Knights shoulder was a small wizened monkeylike creature. It kept whispering in Suteko's ear, It smiled a tooth filled grin at the outer Senshi.
"Unicorn! Transform now!"
Suteko looked back at Sailor Pluto in confusion. "Why?" She edged away from Pluto, poised for flight. Slowly her face took on a look of fear and she sprang away, leaping to the top of the fence in a quick bound. Pluto called out for her to stop ad then called Time. She sent a thought to Hana to transform ad bring Iriko. The Minerva's mind gifts were needed.
In a flash Sailor Time and Sailor Minerva were at Sailor Pluto's side, She quickly filled them in on the beast riding Unicorn's shoulders. Suteko crouched to leap away again. The beast on her shoulders grinned down at the Senshi and embedded its claws into Suteko's neck and arms. It spoke in an awful mix of a monkeys chatter and Suteko's voice. "You are too late Senshi. The Master demands this meat to be brought to him. I have her under complete control." It stroked her glossy hair with its free paw and turned her away, leaping down to the empty street and streaking away.
Down the street Jaeoh maneuvered his motorcycle past a slow moving van in time to see Suteko leap down from the fence and sprint down the block. Unlike Pluto, he had no trouble seeing the shadows crouched about Unicorn. He sped up and swung past the fleeing Star Knight. Screeching to a halt, he blocked her path and dodged to the side as the demon sent a blast his way. The blast was grey streaked with black, a prevision of Unicorns powers.
A part of Suteko could see the man who ran the dojo who had been so kind. While most of her was under control of the Tengu, the ancient warrior inside was fighting for control. She managed to deflect the blast enough that the dark energy hit a nearby car. The beast was drawing its power through her bones, burning her channels with the direct opposite of her natural power.
Jaeoh kept his eyes on Suteko's face and saw the flash of pain as the beast flung another shadow bolt toward some pedestrians. Once more she somehow diverted the shot. Her eyes flickered from emerald green to hollow black and back.
Minerva, Time and Pluto appeared in the street before Suteko and the two time senshi stood behind the Minervan, a hand each on her shoulders. They each added their strength to hers. Iriko focused her will with a cry of Minerva Mind Slip, she slid into Suteko's mind from across the street. From inside she sent blast after blast against the tendrils buried in Suteko's mind. The beast had attached itself sometime in the past month. The strength of this creature was in that is wasn't from the waking world. Iriko quickly paged through Suteko's surface memories and found that the Tengu had been waiting just outside of Jaeoh's dojo. When Suteko had dozed off briefly in the furo it had slipped into the shadows and then into her sleeping mind. It latched down and slowly started it's attack. For the past month it had been feeding the Star Knight's loneliness and fear. Built up the pressure to flee, trying to get the Knight out of protection and back to its new master.
Iriko pried each tentacle loose, wincing at the new scarring it would leave on the Star Knight's mind. The beast was bloated with her saddest memories. Making her relieve them in a loop, most of her mind trapped, only her surface thoughts free to interact with those around her. The fact that she just came from another battle was amazing. Once Iriko pried the last tentacle free she sent a blast directly to the mind of the Tengu. It screamed and then flickered into sight. No longer able to use Unicorn's sideslip ability it hissed and snarled at the Sailor Senshi.
Coming back to herself as the beast formed on her shoulder, Suteko grabbed her transformation crystal and changed. The hot white light covered her form and forced the Tengu loose. The creature screamed and flew up into the air.
In the moment it took to scan the street about her see saw the Sailor Senshi and Sailor Kouhei. They were not true combatants to the knight and she needed to steer the demon Tengu away from them. She pulled light into her palm and started lobbing balls at the beast trying to get it to settle someplace so she could attack. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the leather clad biker and hoped he was smart enough to ride away.
"Come on you little creep. You dare stir up my past, make me mistrust! Make me hurt!"" Unicorn threw like a major league pitcher. The balls of light hitting the Tengu more often than not, causing a sizzle each time as she forced it away from everyone.
Jaeoh took off his helmet as he watched the now angry Star Knight . He knew more about Tengu than most and he let out a low whistle. Somehow her anger was keeping the demon in this realm and her aim was deadly but he could also see that the demon was pulling in energy from the Knight and the shadows around them.. The shadows that should be pooling by the street lights were fading .
Pulling out his own repaired crystal he debated but then put it back. It wasn't time, no mater how he felt for the Knight. He couldn't expose himself yet. He darted from his bike to get closer to Hana and the others. Hana shook her head, gesturing for him to stay where he was.
The Tengu had had enough. When it agreed to work with the with the Shadowmaster it was told it would have an easy feast but the woman was more than it was told. Getting to her had taken all it's stealth, then it had to wait till she dozed off. Once it slipped in it was a fine feast of despair but now? The lavender haired one attacked it when no other should have been able to and now it was getting burned by the light that the Knight held.
It looked about and spotted a normal looking human and made a dive toward Jaeoh. Dodging light missiles it bounced and lunged for a new host.
Seeing the Tengu head toward Jaeoh, Suteko felt panicked. She had to protect this gentle man from the beast. Suteko ran forward and flipped up in the air. A staff of light appeared in her hands and she snapped it out, cracking the tengu in the skull, dazing it before landing lightly before Jaeoh. "Stay back. This thing is dangerous." She darted a look back at the man behind her. His hair was tousled from the helmet and his dark eyes were serious as he nodded. A small shiver went down her spine, distracting her.
Jaeoh hid a smile as Unicorn turned back. The idea hat he needed protection was amusing but then, at the moment he did. If he fought it would expose who he was and it wasn't yet time.
Unicorn traded blasts with the Tengu, who was rapidly growing in size as it absorbed the shadows around it. It finally settled on the ground in it's human monster seeming. No longer a wielded monkey thing, it was now a fat man shape with a red painted face and large horns. The creature had a shoulder spread broader than Rage and was cloaked in a skin of human scalps.
"Such a tasty treat you are little girl." It's voice was a cross between sibilant hiss and a perverts drone. "So many buried memories. So many sweet things done to you." The listening Sailor Senshi both shivered as the voice felt like slimy clutching fingers on their skin. Time glared at the beast and took the hands of the Senshi. She blocked the full brunt of the Tengu's attack. Her own darkness raising its head. The tengu made a face and once more spoke. "You were made to suffer, born to feed the darkness." It tried once more to slip inside Unicorns mind but this time she was prepared.
"Yeah I don't think so. I may not have been born for the easy path but I was never fodder for the dark!" She transformed her staff to a sword and leapt forward,. Engaging the tengu sword to claw was dangerous but she had thrown her caution to the wind, her temper snapping.
Watching her battle the beast, Jaeoh was breathless. In battle the Star night glowed, pure white light that burned the Tengu. It was obvious this woman was meant to fight the darkness and had for lifetimes. A mutated demon was bread an butter.. Jaeoh could see chunks dropping off and scuttling away into the darkness. Finally the beast let out a long undulating howl before dissolving on the point of Unicorn's light sword. She exchanged her blade and turned first to the three women, who nodded and moved back to Pluto's house. The she turned to Jaeoh and started forward.
"You should have turned back to your bike. It isn't safe to stay in a battle zone." Jaeoh smiled and opened his mouth when the Tengu reformed behind Unicorn and flung a massive ball of dark energy right into her back.
The ball staggered her forward into Jaeoh's arms with a silent scream of agony. Jaeoh could smell the burning flesh as the dark power worked deeper. He caught her as she sunk to the ground moaning and shuddering. Jaeoh, held her carefully pulling on a new power to stop the spread of the burn, fighting darkness with dragon fire. He then called out to his team pulling a bit more of his power, hoping that it wasn't enough to be noticed. "Kouhei! Assemble!"
Hana's head whipped around and she saw the Tengu reform growing larger again as Unicorns light started to flicker out. She reached back, closely followed by Minerva and Pluto. As they came to a stop between the Tengu and the fallen Star Knight a loud voice started to proclaim.
"You who dare to attack from the darkness, dare to strike the Light with the power of shadow. You deserve to be punished. I am Sailor Moon and I will punish you!"
Jaeoh watched as the Inner senshi all formed up around their leader and they took on the Demon. While powerful, the Senshi were not truly what was needed to beat the demon. They could handle the Daimon from the Negaverse but the Tengu was an Earth Demon. Soon the more powerful out Senshi joined in as the pieces of the Tengu formed into more of the beast. Jaeoh hadn't been sure but this demon seemed to fall in to the category of burn it or it will come back stronger. Moments later Mamaru appeared as Tuxedo Mask, lending his strength and control over earthly creature to the battle. He closed in, sword flickering, taking pieces from the gathering Tengu shadows..
Rage and Sweet water appeared at his side and he quickly gave them orders. Rage smiled as he ran to Mars, working with the priestess was his sort of fun.. He gave her the message about how to destroy the things.
Sweet water knelt at her leader's side and with a quick glance took in the damage to the Star Knight. The whole back of her uniform was charred, the skin underneath was smoking. She carefully placed her hands over top of the wound and let her power flow. The green glow flowed down her arms and formed a careful bandage over the injury. "This is bad Jaeoh, really bad. I cant stimulated her body to heal itself. Something is stopping her body from healing itself."
Jaeoh nodded, speaking softly above the dazed Star Knight. "Hana explained this. She is extremely sensitive to Shadow power.: He held the Star Knight gently as she shuddered trying to breath.
Too soon for Jaeoh, Suteko tensed and took a shuddering breath. "Let me up…I need to finish this…thing." Unicorn grimaced and pushed away from the comforting arms. For a brief moment she had felt something, something she didn't have time to explore but she would have to. Something was going on with Jaeoh.
She pushed herself to her feet pausing twice to pant with little moans. Then she was up and with a cry her sword shown bright in the darkness. She stumbled and then ran toward the fight, dodging flying bubbles, chains of hearts and more till she could leap forward and bury her light sword in the Tengu's skull between its curling horns. She dropped to the ground and called out. "now Mars, burn it with your ward! You need to be priestess and warrior!"
Mars eyes widened as she pulled out a slender strip of paper, chanting softly then threw it with her fire power behind it. It caught the Tengu just below the sword of light and froze it in place. It screamed in agony then burst into flames, this time truly dissolving into nothing. The mini Tengu tall faded from sight.
Unicorn's sword floated for a moment, then flared and shot back to her hand as all around panted and looked at each other, then all eyes turned to Unicorn who sank to the pavement, her transformation slipping in a bright flare of light.
Jaeoh took a step toward the fallen woman but paused as the Senshi and Tuxedo mask all encircled the downed Knight. Turning to Hana, Greg and Shayla, he nodded once, Sighing he watched them take care of the woman who was becoming too intriguing. He turned and headed back to his bike.
Shayla stated toward him only to be stopped by Hana, " Not yet Sweet water. He will know when the time is right."
Shayla looked from one team mate to the other. Greg shrugged, he didn't understand any more than she did. It was obvious something was supposed to happen between their once and future lead and the fall Star Knight. Shayla had a clue but Greg was still in the dark. He had never seen the look that briefly passed over Jar face before.
"Is he coming back, Han?" Greg asked his partner. He thought Draco had removed himself from the world when his powers were destroyed but something in his eyes told him that his powers had returned. If they had the timing was good, the Shadow Master couldn't hide from Draco's powers.
With a nod and wave to Shayla, Hana took Greg's arm and lead him back to the house, explaining quietly that the time wasn't right for their leader to reveal himself. Shayla jogged back toward the fallen Knight. Sailor Moon had transformed to Princess Serenity and was trying to close the wound on Suteko's back.
Shayla knelt next to the Princess and reached out. Serenity grasped her hand an together they sent healing into the fallen Star Knight. Normally Serenity alone could handle anything. Together they should have been able to bring Suteko to full blooming health but due to her nature and the creature who inflicted the wound it was not a complete heal. The skin grew over her back, the awful burned flesh smell receding but the Star Knight stayed unconscious. This was too much like her first coma.
Finally Serenity powered down to Usagi and sent a troubled look to Shayla. The bubbly princess was worried. Mamaru moved forward an gently picked up Suteko and they all moved back to Setsuna's home.
Mina lagged behind with Rei and Makato. They scanned the street for any more pieces of the Tengu. Years of fighting had taught them to do a complete follow through after each battle. Venus was troubled by the demon figures.
"Rei, was that beast being normal for Tengu?: As the most experienced fighter of the inner Senshi, Venus had fought many monsters. She knew that the traditional creatures and monsters existed but generally they didn't attack anyone associated wit the Moon kingdom.
Rei shook her head. No Tengu don't go after creatures of Light. They usually attack those who are selfish or greedy." She turned troubled eyes back toward the house. "It makes no sense. Unicorn is far from those things. Ami spent a week with her and she found her sad but like one of us. That Tengu should have gone after her enemies, not her."
The two Senshi headed in for a much different meeting than they had been told.
Mamaru gently lay Suteko down on the guest bed, resting her on her stomach. When she transformed back the t-shirt she had worn was as charred as her uniform, Usagi and Shayla had managed to heal the massive burn to something more like a bad sunbrn. He was gently ushered out of the room by his bride, Shayla and Ami. It was obvious they planned on doing more for the Star Knight. He turned back to scan the outer room. The groupings about the room showed that the teams still hadn't managed to mesh. Walking over to the Kouhei he started asking questions directly to Sailor Rage. It was obvious that in this battle the Koushei would be strategically important.
Matten stiffled his usual reaction to the long male of the Senshi group. He pulled out all his politieness and answered the questions of the Prince of the Earth. It was obvious that Mamaru was not just a token male. He had a head for details and he had spotted Jaeoh during the battle. He had recognized the leader of the Koushei.
"Why didn't he join in the fight, Greg? His powers would have been very useful."
Greg darted a look toward Hana. The Time warrior looked up and slowly shook her head once before turning back to her uiet converstaoin with Iriko.. "Jaeoh has no powers, Prince. He lost them in battle with the Negaverse."
Mamaru lifted a brow and corssed his arms. "Di he? Are you sure?" He understood losing his powers. He also understood still wanting ot help. He went through a time much like the Leader of the Houhei's. "I have a feeling powers or no he ill be around a lot more."
Over the past few weeks he had seen the dark haired man watching the diminutive Star Knight. Though he rarely talked to her the look on his face as the woman collapsed in his arms was clear. It was only by chance that Tuxedo Mask had looked over as the Star Knight pushed away from Jaeoh and leapt into battle.
The former Draco had automatically reached for something nand looked torn. Like the desperately wanted to protect the Star Knight but knew he shouldn't reveal himself.
"Why was he there Matten. Could it be he has gotten attached to someone?"
Greg started to deny the idea but paused. Over the past few weeks had had been sparrng with Jaeoh. While it seemed they never met he had noticed a distraction whenever she had been in to practice. The Senshi and Kouhei had been given a room to pratcie in exclusively but Greg had noticed that Jaeoh had allowed Suteko into the more private training room. It was small, no ore than 10 by 10 but the small knight had been working on some type of contained yoga thing. It was extremely slow but it defnatley was a workout.
Not sure how to deal with his questions and his nominal ruler, he debated just what to say. He had heard of the battle for the Prince and even understood the quiet Minervan was intrigal to the release of the prince.
Leaning back against the wall he studied Mamaru before answering. "Draco has always been a loner but he was a strong leader. Some how he gathered together the Kouhei and molded us into a working team. It could be he is trying to fit the Knight into a team." That didn't sound right to either the Prince or Rage. While she was now a lone Star Knight, she was still part of a whole.
"Neither of you are right you know." The men looked over to Iriko and Hana. Iriko blushed but continued. "Jaeoh, your leader, he is reacting with a mix of man and leader. He feels the need to contribute and by letting us all train in his private dojo he has made a start."
Hana nodded, hiding her mile behind her hair. "Have you seen that always the teams are mixed together. A few at a time?"
Mamaru smiled at the two shy women. "It makes for interesting confersations."
Silently Greg agreed. So far he had sparred with Venus, Mars, Jupita and Uranus. Each warrior had distinctly different styles and powers. He had yet to be paired up with the Prince or the gentlier senshi. Mercury could most definitely outthink him but his power would over whelm her weaker powers Neptune's ocean powers were extremely strong and his being more direct made a battle lopsided. Pluto and Saturn's powers were devastating and he didn't' want ot spar with them. He ahd worked with Time and they were too close at times.
The Minervan he knew little about. Other than the fact that this lone woman had been a deep cover spy for centuries he wasn't sure she had physical attacks.
"Have you been sparring with these two," he pointed a thumb at Hana and Iriko.
The ladies looked at each other and smiled. Mamaru nodded. "It is a learning experience," The four settled down and chatted over techniques and powers.
Ami was deep in conversation with Michiru an Haruka about Tengu legends and how this beast had not reacted like it should when Mina and Makoto returned. The two headed directly to Setsuna and reported all clear before asking after Suteko.
"Usagi and Shayla are still with her. The wounds have closed up but she is still unconscious."
"After Serena and Shayla healing her?" Mina let out a low whistle. "How long ha that demon been on her?"
"That is hard to say. The beast normally would not have even seen Unicorn, her light powers would keep it at bay. From what Sweet Water and Minerva can tell the creature leached itself to Unicorn at some point when she had gone out for some exercise. It has been draining her, looping her painful memories over and over growing fat on her pain. "Venus and Jupiter both winced in sympathy. They both understood pain and lowliness but they had each other and the rest of the Senshi to help them. "The battle earlier tonight must have caused the Tengu some trepidation. Unicorn pulled on her heritage. The light harp would have been damaging to it and it waited till she was alone with me to lash back. Each time it drew energy it made sure to pull it through her bones. Dragging dark poison right inside of a being who cant stand it."
Usagi and Shayla came out of the guestroom, closing the door softly. Shayla went directly to her team mates. Gently resting a hand on Iriko's arm and whispered to her. Iriko then politely excused herself and headed to the room. Shayla nodded to her friends and introduced herself to the Prince. Noting the tension in the room Usagi did her bubble headed best to distract her people, tripping over the table and scooping the Persephone as the cat tried to slip past.
Iriko walked over to her short term room mate and winced at the red skin of her back. Though it was many times better than the wound she had seen on the streets. It was going to be painful to move she was sure. Remembering the tale from Suteko's ancestor she had to wonder if things were to repeat themselves. Suteko was not a mother like her ancestor but the image of her being blasted in Jaeoh's arms had been eerily familiar. Sitting on the edge of the bed she placed her hand on Suteko's shoulder and mind slipped inside. The images running through Suteko's mind were of old battles. Iriko did not try to control the flow at this time but watched as Suteko's memories played.
She did gently steer them to just this lifetime. The early memoirs of her stern and beautiful mother and her loving great uncle were touching. Suteko had shown great promise as a young child. Her life was living and structured with secrets that she shared only with her elderly tutor. When she hit high school things started to change. Her mother had become cold and angry and pushed her to become a strong martial artist. When her Uncle died things started to move faster. Suteko's unconscious mind flashed through scenes of loss and of hardship. The paused as she focused on her younger brother but the n flew past the battles until the one where she lost him to a spell. The pain once again surfaced. Her mother had been the one who cursed her and the double blow had sent Suteko out to the world again.
The memories moved forward again as she met Chris and Akuma, how they became friends and how they fought and triumphed. Again the memories flew by as she returned home to her destroyed dojo and the first battle with Kaneda. The innocent Senshi shied away from the memories of Kaneda having his way with the dazed and injured Star Knight. She saw the expression on Phoenix and Dragon's faces when they found her broken and bleeding. They cared for her for two days before she came back to herself. It was interesting that Suteko had images when her mind had been blank after the rape of her body an mind. Iriko placed a mental bandage over that memory and others easing the old suffering but better understanding why the Star Knight tried to avoid being alone with men. The second battle was more dangerous but she did win that one. She once more bandaged and eased the damage of the loss of her team mates. While nothing would truly heal that wound she tried to help Suteko turn her mind to others who wanted to help her. The bone weary sadness from a month ago was deeper now thanks to the Shadow Tengu. She needed someone to focus on. Someone to help her past the secret longing for death.
One thing that surprised her was how in the current memories the former Kouhei Draco would appear. Images of watching him teach and of him sparring with even herself made Iriko thank. Somehow Jaeoh remained her of Hiro. Suteko's once father. It was like he was meant to be more than a friend.
When she felt a stirring in Suteko's mind, pulling out of the dark sleep of fear and pain into a more natural sleep Iriko removed her hand. This travel through the Star Knights memories had given her some perspective. Loneliness came in many forms and each could be solved if the right person was found. Iriko smiled. It was time to talk to Hana and see if she was right.
***
Suteko floated inside her mind once more. It was different this time. She knew she wasn't dead, just visiting this realm. She was walking in a floating mist that covered her to her knees. Each step caused the white mist to billow around her in little tufts. It was eerie yet soothing here. There were sounds of small animals an bird song. So different from last time.
She kept walking, humming softly, till she felt a form next to her. She turned her head and then topped, bowing deeply. Standing in the mist was Usagi's long dead mother. Queen Serenity was as lovely as her daughter but she exuded a sense of peace that even her daughter had not master. Suteko didn't know exactly how to react to the former Queen of the Moon Kingdom.
"Rise child," Serenity lightly brushed her fingers through Suteko's hair. "There is no need for protocols between us here."
"Where is here, Majesty?" Suteko had thought she was in the Land between sleep and death but she wasn't sure.
"IT doesn't really have a name. It is just here." Serenity gently guided Suteko to walk at her side. "It is a waiting place, that sometimes I visit."
:Waiting? For who?"
Serenity gestured and a moon pool appeared. She smiled leading Suteko to the edge. "Take a look. There are people waiting here for the right time to act."
Puzzled Suteko leaned down. In the pool she could see five shadowy forms. Three were close enough to see their feature. One was a tall, slender native American man, dressed in traditional buckskins, his hair in long black braids. The second was stocker, dressed in shorts and a baggy shirt. He had dark brown shaggy but short hair. The thirds was a lean, beautiful woman with a shock of pink hair. Al three floated with their eyes shut. In this realm between sleep an death Suteko knew who they were. "The other Kouhei," Suteko nodded. "They are true warriors. Seeing them will make Rage and Hana very happy." She then turned her eyes to the two figures that were fuzzy to her sight. For a brief moment the mist cleared enough for a flash of red hair and of a crystal earring.
Eyes widening in hope she tuned back to the Moon queen. She didn't dare ask the question on her lips, afraid those figures were not who she hoped. Queen Serenity just smiled then gestured. "You need to wake up child. You will not remember this when you awake, no" She stopped Suteko with a word. "I know it hurts child but the others can't know of this place." She brushed fingers through Suteko's hair again. "This was to help you heal, and nothing more. We can't have you knowing the future."
Suteko tried to argue but found herself being drawn back out of the mists to the darkness of sleep again.
Two days later Suteko came out of her deep sleep. She was alone in a darkened room. Lying on her stomach. She let out a quiet moan as she shifted. Lying for days on your belly can cause even the most fit person to be stiff. She carefully rolled over and then slid out of bed. She found she was dressed in light cotton pajamas. She winced and did a series of stretches. The skin of her back was tight. Mostly likely from the wound she received during the last battle. She was thankful that Sweetwater had appeared. The woman defiantly would be an asset in the coming battles. After she felt more like herself she padded to the nearest door. The room was huge in her opinion giving her the idea that she must be in Pluto's home.
She slipped the door open and glided into the hall. It was dark everywhere and he could tell that everyone in her range was sleeping. She trailed one hand on the wall and headed toward what she hoped was the kitchen. No matter who's house it was the kitchen should be the hub. Never mind she used too much energy over ht past few days and same juice and food would be a major help.
She came out into a large dark room. The light filtering in the big windows threw up shadows. After the last few weeks she found that she could sense shadows watching her. This room while shadow filled was empty of life. Sighing , she padded across to a hall and following it to the kitchen. Here a light was on.