Chapter 8
The new moon. The cosmic reset. The beginning.
Pluto saw the logic to that and how ancient Earthians would have come to see it that way. Tonight, though, it was meant to be an end to things. The lack of light from her queen's symbol only leant to the cold feeling of finality.
Hidden from sight, Pluto watched the group of young women laughing as the garden gate closed behind them. She let out a small sigh as Kaede glanced back nervously over her shoulder. Their greatest advantage tonight was the element of surprise. Pluto knew the second she touched the medallion, Alandra would know something was wrong, but she was counting on just a few moments of confusion to give her the time she needed to get the medallion to the clearing. She didn't need Kaede's obvious anxiousness giving them away now at the eleventh hour.
Pluto continued to watch them as Mai pulled Kaede from her uneasiness by putting an arm around her shoulders. She said something that caused Kaede to blush and huff at her. Then the blonde gave her friend a playful shove, freeing herself before moving ahead to grab Chika's arm as if she was being claimed as her date. Another burst of laughter, and then they were turning the corner and out of sight.
"Kaya," said Pluto softly into her communicator, "they're gone. Are you ready?"
A pop of walkie talkie static, then Kaya returned, "Yes. Just waiting on the go ahead to light the fire." She let out a shaky chuckle. "I'm not afraid of the dark, but I will be glad for the light it gives. I can't see anything out here, and my flashlight beam just gets swallowed up."
"Go ahead and get it started," answered Pluto. She started to smile, but it never fully formed. There was a tension in her body, a certain hum that always came before a fight. She released a steadying breath. If things worked the way they were supposed to, there wouldn't actually be much of a fight. She just needed to time everything properly. "I'm going to start counting down ten minutes. Let me know in nine if you need more time."
"That should do it," said Kaya, and Setsuna heard the camp match strike right before comms closed.
Left to the quiet of the evening, Pluto tried to balance a sense of calm with the adrenaline of imminent battle. The urge to impatiently tap her foot was supplanted by a white-knuckled grip on her staff. Her eyes closed, and she visualized their set-up, running down the list of details. They'd chosen the spot of trees where she'd tracked Kaede that night three weeks ago. It was quiet and well away from prying eyes with just enough clearance to set up the pyre. A large, flatish stone had been maneuvered in front of the pyre, a lace handkerchief placed over it to lay the medallion on. White and orange carnations had been laid out in a wreath around the stone, and a glass of red wine with a handful of coins piled beside it waited in one corner. The details so far were as perfect as she could get them, and their movements rehearsed until they were muscle memory. Now all she needed was to get the medallion in place and hope her recording worked.
A soft chime from her communicator and no further word from Kaya let Pluto know it was time to go. She got around the main house and into the back apartment easily enough. Kaede had remembered to leave the door unlocked, though truthfully it wouldn't have been an issue if she had. The detail, however, added to a sense of correctness. Of things going right.
Pluto stood in front of the closet door and took a deep breath. She asked a quick and silent blessing from the Lunar Goddess, then opened the door. The medallion lay there, the edge of it sticking out from the brown kitchen towel it was wrapped in. She reached forward quickly, pulling it to her before throwing herself through the small time corridor she set up to their meeting spot.
.
.
Kaya stood back from the small fire she'd kindled, glad for the light but not fond of the heat in the sticky September night. These last ten minutes were killing her, simply because there wasn't anything left to do but wait. She leaned against a tree and stared hard at their set-up, resisting the urge to go slightly adjust anything. She hiked the bag on her shoulder into a more comfortable position, made sure her tape player with their altered recording of Kaede's voice was still within easy reach, then shoved her hands into the pockets on her shorts. Her fingers began playing restlessly along the rough seams inside her pockets as her foot fidgeted between the ground and tree trunk.
Until an angry blast of light shot through the woods and knocked her to her knees.
Through the ringing in her ears, Kaya could hear Pluto's voice calling out an attack. She balled up even further to make herself smaller, getting closer to the ground and forcing one eye open enough to see what was going on.
Wisps of maroon wind wrapped around a ball of fiery looking orange as Pluto tumbled through the trees into the clearing, trying to keep her hold on both her staff and the medallion. She looked around quickly, and when she spotted Kaya their eyes held with an unspoken understanding. Kaya needed to get the hell out of the way. This time, she wasn't going to argue.
Kaya got to her feet and scrambled behind the tree she'd been leaning against. A shot of light streaked off along one side of the clearing as the little goddess manifested from the fireball on the other. Hair ablaze and creating an angry orange halo behind her, Alandra lit up the night with her ire.
"How dare you!" the little goddess yelled at Pluto. Her hands began to glow a blinding white. "To show such insolence with your act of thievery! You've forgotten your place, Guardian. And as my aunt is not here to remind you, the lesson will fall to me."
The white light Alandra held shot out like thin chains. Pluto dodged, causing the beams to miss her and hit the ground where she had been standing. They curled tightly into the dirt, snapping a thick root that got caught in their grip. The little goddess let out a growl of frustration as that streak of light on the opposite side of the clearing formed into an elongated and sharply featured kirkri.
"Retrieve it!" Alandra called out, and the kirkri pounced.
While it had been nothing more than a lightweight annoyance at the festival, the kirkri now was a rabid animal with a strength far greater than its small body suggested. It snarled as it landed against Pluto's side, claws digging in enough to draw blood. Pluto was forced backward, the disc falling from her grip at the unexpected blow. The kirkri's amused chitter came out as a high pitched hiss, the creature's sharp teeth showing as its lips curled back. It took advantage of Pluto's distraction and grabbed the medallion with its teeth.
Pluto moved with surprising speed, recovering from the blow and planting the end of her staff into the kirkri's hind paw.
The kirkri shrieked, dropping the medallion as a wave of golden static like an electrical short washed over its fur. Across from them, the little goddess' fire flickered and dimmed. She doubled over, clutching her middle and coming perilously close to falling to the ground.
Pluto didn't wait for a further response. She grabbed the medallion and sprinted to the makeshift altar. She didn't concern herself with gentleness as the medallion was practically thrown on top of the handkerchief. The glass of wine bobbled, and Pluto called to Kaya, "The recorder! Now!"
Alandra, after taking several heaving breaths, looked from her injured familiar to Pluto. She was still holding her middle, though her fire had regained its intensity. "You will pay for that as well the barbaric way in which you handle my med…"
The little goddess stopped short as her high priestess' voice rang out in the clearing. She searched, trying to spot the young woman, and for just a moment thought this failure of a priestess might actually be doing something right in coming to collect them. Then she saw Kaya and realized where the voice was coming from.
Her hands began to glow again, to pull up the proper retribution for the disrespect and ungratefulness this muddled Mercurian was participating in. But it was too late. The heat in her fire dimmed, and the little goddess yawned. The words of the sunset ceremony penetrated the haze of her anger as she involuntarily drifted to the ground, and she was momentarily struck by just how correct the words were. It had been so long since she'd heard a prayer recited correctly.
Nonetheless, this was not what she wanted.
"I don't want to," she said, her voice holding a bit of petulance before she released another yawn. Her eyes started to drift shut as she laid forward on her stomach, her head resting on her folded arms. "I'm really not sleepy yet. I can still do more before I need a nap." She sensed more than saw her kirkri limping over to lay at her side. The warmth of her familiar when it did curl in beside her caused her to reach out and hug it to her.
Kaya came up behind Pluto as the little goddess and her kirkri began to lose their form. They became hazy, like an out of focus picture dusted with gold glitter, until the picture faded away entirely.
"Is… is that it?" asked Kaya tentatively. One hand reached out for Pluto, holding lightly to her arm as Kaya's eyes flitted nervously between the spot Alandra had been and Pluto's wound.
Pluto nodded. "I think so." She frowned at the little pinpricks of blood that had bloomed on her uniform, then looked back at Kaya with a resigned smile. "It stings, but it's not bad. It will be gone by the time we get back to the apartment."
"All things considered, this feels too easy." She pulled the tape player out of her backpack and hit 'stop,' then waited a moment, absolutely certain the little goddess and her kirkri would jump out of the darkness again. When that didn't happen, she took a slow, deep breath, found her flashlight, then let her bag drop to the ground before turning her full attention to Pluto.
Kaya's fingers danced lightly along Pluto's side. The holes in the fabric were barely noticeable, and the blood was minimal. Nothing like the night they'd met. One corner of her mouth turned up. She wanted to make a joke about how this was a perfect bookend to their adventure together, but her heart wouldn't quite let her get it out. Instead, she asked the question she felt like she was most expected to.
"You're sure you're okay? I mean, I know you've got that super special magical healing, but…"
Pluto chuckled. "It's fine." She took Kaya's hovering hand and held it in hers, getting the other woman to meet her eyes. She gave Kaya's hand a squeeze, then brought it up to her lips to kiss the knuckles. "I just need to take care of the medallion. Can you handle cleaning up here by yourself?"
"Yeah, there's not really much to it." Kaya knew the answer to the question she was about to ask and hated the neediness she heard in her voice as the words formed. "We're meeting back at the apartment when you're done, right?"
"We are. I promise."
With a nod, Kaya let go of Pluto so they could get on with the rest of the job and have what was left of the night for themselves.
.
.
Pluto slipped quietly into the museum storage area, easily getting around the facility's security. She found the metal box that matched the medallion's catalog number, opened the lid, and for a moment stared at the empty bed this lost piece of Venusian history was going to be laid to rest on. There was some guilt in the action she was about to take. There were no truly good options, though, and this was the least invasive for everyone involved. The little Venusian goddess shouldn't be harmed by it, just prevented from coming back into this world once her tie to the medallion was severed, and Pluto wouldn't have to jump around the timeline to find a suitable Venusian to take custody.
Still, there was hesitancy in damaging such a rare piece of a past only she remembered.
Shaking her head to clear it of unnecessary thoughts, Pluto laid a handful of dried orange and red flowers on the velvet lining of the box. Then, after a silent apology to the artist, she broke the medallion in half. Another silent apology to the Venusians who had kept it safe for so long, and she set the broken medallion on top of the dried flowers from its world. The lid was closed and locked, and the box tucked away.
Perhaps someday someone would find it and wonder what happened, and Sailor Pluto would be there to tell the story. Right now, however, Setsuna had somewhere to be.
The apartment was dimmed when Setsuna arrived, two tapered candles on the breakfast bar and a short squat one on the kotatsu beside a bottle of white wine and two glasses.
She'd chosen a blouse with a purple and yellow starburst print and a black mini skirt. The lotus flower comb from the festival was back in her hair, and she hoped that would make Kaya smile. It was the kind of detail she would notice, even in the low candlelight.
Kaya was standing in front of the record player trying to decide between LPs. She'd changed from her shorts and t-shirt to a pair of white hip-huggers and blue checked midriff blouse. Her feet disappeared beneath the flared hem of her pants, though the little movements in the shag rug gave away how she was restlessly moving her toes.
Setsuna cleared her throat to get Kaya's attention, startling her.
"Oh, hey! Didn't hear you come in." Kaya quickly made a record choice, then set it to play low. As the soft, slow sound came through the speakers, she stepped over to the kotatsu and picked up both glasses.
Setsuna took hers with a 'thank you.'
Kaya raised her glass. "To a successful mission?"
"Yes," agreed Setsuna. She reached over and ran her fingers along the fall of Kaya's hair. "And to a… highly valued partnership."
A rosy blush spread on Kaya's cheeks. She took a quick sip from her glass, then set it down and held a hand out to Setsuna. "This is one of my favorites. I don't dance to it with just anyone."
Setsuna smiled widely and took the offered hand after setting her glass beside Kaya's. "I'm very lucky, then."
They moved slowly with the music, their bodies close as Kaya led. About halfway through the song, Kaya's stance changed subtly, giving Setsuna the lead as Kaya laid her head just above Setsuna's heart. Their movement slowed almost to a stop as Setsuna's arms tightened around Kaya's shoulders.
"I've got a whole collection you've barely gotten to hear."
"We've got all night," whispered Setsuna. "We'll get through what we can. Maybe I'll find a new favorite. We'll worry about everything else in the morning."
Setsuna woke slowly, not in any hurry to let her reality intrude on the pleasant haze she was wrapped up in. Keeping her eyes closed, she took in the ever present whir of the fan in the background, the slight scent of detergent in the pillowcase, the feeling of Kaya's breath against her neck as an arm draped lightly over her bare stomach, the softness of the sheet loosely pooling at their hips. There would be soft yellow light spilling in through the open balcony door, too, the sunrise painting the world brilliant shades of gold and pink.
She smiled and opened her eyes just a bit before gently tugging Kaya closer, getting a small sound of protest and a scrunched up nose in response. A kiss laid over mussy blue bangs got Kaya to settle, the arm across Setsuna's stomach tightening before her whole body relaxed again.
Setsuna drew in a slow, deep breath. She didn't want anything to intrude on this, but…
Her smile fading, she closed her eyes again and listened. A few more deep breaths, and she blocked out the sounds of this world to listen for the voice of her own. There was the faintest hint of a hum, the sound time made as it wrapped around and wove its way through the universe. It was as familiar a sound to her as the rustle of leaves, a bird's song, or the thrum of humanity would be to anyone else. It was comforting, as was the gentle voice it often carried with it. Even when she didn't want to hear the words.
The words, or more precisely the semblance of them, were gentle. There was a sense she was loved and cared for even as a reminder of her duty tickled at her soul. Just a reminder though. There was no immediate demand or tether tightening to pull her back to the place she was bound to. It was an unusually obtuse answer from her typically straightforward Goddess.
An unhappy murmur and some restless shifting from Kaya pulled Setsuna out of her thoughts. When she looked over, she was greeted with a sheepish half grin.
"I have to pee," mumbled Kaya.
When Kaya's grip tightened rather than loosening so she could move from the bed, Setsuna understood the unspoken question. "I'm not going to run off that quickly. I promise."
Kaya nodded, though her brows stayed knitted with concern as she picked up Setsuna's blouse from the floor and slipped it on before stepping into the hall.
Pulling the sheet with her, Setsuna stood and went over to look out into the morning sky. She crossed her arms over her chest, wrapping herself fully in the thin cotton, her fingers twisted in its folds. She watched a small flock of birds dive and circle as she listened to the breeze they rode on.
I will return, but if you don't immediately require it, perhaps I could have just a bit of time? I just need to know what you want.
Arms slipping around her waist from behind startled her, and she heard a soft giggle at her response. Then Kaya's forehead rested against her shoulder blades, and she pictured a lip being chewed nervously.
"So I suppose she's ready for you to come home?" was asked quietly.
"She's… actually being very quiet right now," answered Setsuna, hesitancy in her voice.
Kaya's arms tightened around her. "What does that mean? Do you get to stay?"
Setsuna glanced back over her shoulder. Kaya hadn't looked up, instead continued to stand there with her forehead pressed to Setsuna's back. Letting out a slow breath, Setsuna loosened Kaya's arms just enough so she could turn and face her. She took Kaya's cheeks in her hands, thumbs rubbing lightly over her cheekbones.
"For awhile," said Setsuna softly. "It won't be for long, maybe just a few days, especially with what I know is looming…"
"I know," cut off Kaya, her hands coming up to cover Setsuna's. She guided them away from her face and twined their fingers together, the sheet around Setsuna barely managing to stay up with the movement. "But I'll take a few days more, and I won't try to interfere when she says you have to come back. Maybe this time, though, she's just letting you have something for yourself. I mean, if that's what you want. To stay here."
Setsuna grinned widely at the way Kaya's cheeks warmed to a bright pink. Those gray eyes ducked down, a bit embarrassed at her assumptions or trying to hide the fear of being told she was wrong.
"I'd like a few more days," Setsuna answered, her response coaxing Kaya's eyes back up to meet hers. She worked her hands from Kaya's and slipped them beneath Kaya's unbuttoned shirt, pulling the smaller woman close. Laying a kiss on her forehead, she went on. "I can't make any promises, but if you're okay with that and don't mind sharing your space, I'd like to stay for awhile."
A happy smile bloomed on Kaya's lips. "I'm okay with that. And you know, if you do get tired of me, you've got the best excuse ever for leaving. I'd never know if it was true or not," she chuckled.
Setsuna tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "Detective Ishida, are you trying to tell me you wouldn't be able to spot a lie from your subject?"
"Perhaps with a bit more study and some… subtle interrogation," returned Kaya. She stood on tiptoe to capture Setsuna's lips, taking the sheet with her when she lowered herself back down. One corner of her mouth turned up as she retook Setsuna's hand and tugged her back toward the bed.
The concerns around her mission and her Goddess' ambiguousness shifted to the back of Setsuna's mind. She perched on the edge of the mattress and watched the shirt slip down Kaya's arms. She would be more directly called when she was needed. For now, Setsuna allowed herself to get lost in a playful grin as Kaya's small frame eased her back. This time was hers, and nothing else was going to intrude.
End Notes
Next story up: That Night Beneath the Moon
Current plans are for three parts in the series with a few shorter bridge/side stories that work better on their own than as part of the larger stories. Swathes of these are already written.
Planned stories in series:
1. A Bit of Mischief (Part 1, complete and posted)
2. That Night Beneath the Moon (bridge story)
3. While You Were Gone (Part 2)
4. Untitled Michiru centric story (Side story taking place in Part 2)
5. Funny Running into You Here (Side story taking place in Part 2, complete and posted)
6. Untitled Ami centric story (Side story taking place late Part 2/early Part 3)
7. That Moment a Venusian Made a Wish (Part 3)