12/5: Storm Chaser

Prompt: Lightning (storm):

Setting: Pre-Classic SM

O.O.O

Sanjonin Masato stared up at the gathering clouds. The weather report had mentioned a thunderstorm but actually seeing the sky darkened filled him with a sense of anticipation. He knew exactly how he was going to spend his afternoon.

"Masato-kun," A voice came, interrupting his train of thought. He turned to see his former nanny Yoshimitsu Hana approaching, holding a parcel. The old woman was still employed as a housekeeper around the manor and continued to help raise her former charge. "I insist you take this with you."

"What is it?" Masato asked, taking the package. He opened the wrapping and found it contained a raincoat.

"It's the best rainwear I could find. Insulated and everything," Hana explained. "If you are going to keep partaking in these foolish expeditions in the rain I want to make sure it doesn't result in you getting sick again. I still don't understand your fixation on these rainy day excursions."

"Thank you oba-san," Masato replied, putting the coat on and zipping it up. "Yes this is nice and warm. I'll be much warmer wearing this in the rain."

"It should," Hana insisted, with a smile. "I made sure to read the reviews before making a purchase. Not a lot of young people do. You should try it sometime."

"I'll keep it in mind," Masato chuckled as the two made their way to the front entrance of the manor. The jovial mood was extinguished as Masato opened the door and saw a familiar face. "Keitaro-san…what are you doing here?"

"My job," Keitaro snorted with a shrug. The handsome youth removed his shades and slipped them into the breast pocket of his jacket.

"You're a pool boy and it's about to rain," Hana reminded him, staring daggers at the young man. "What business could you possibly have to do today?"

"Well that's the common misconception with my line of work," Keitaro retorted ignoring the looks both Masato and Hana were giving him. "People don't understand what rainwater can do to the overall PH balance of a pool. If more individuals would take the time to prep their pools before a rain storm then….

"Your here to see my mother," Masato interrupted sick of Keitearo's BS. "We all know it's so stop blowing smoke up our asses."

"Well…I mean…," Keitaro hesitated but quickly recovered with a cough. "Fine as long as we're being open about it. Yes, your mother values my companionship. Especially with all of the business trips your father takes."

"Companionship…good to see the word a day calendar is getting some much use," Masato scoffed, not in the mood to even associate with Keitaro.

"I've found having a talented tongue is a perk I can provide my clients," Keitaro smirked. "I know your mom appreciated it."

"You son of a…" Masato roared, grabbing Keitaro by the collar. His arm was tensed back to throttle the rude pool boy when a voice stopped him.

"Masato!" His mother called, halting the young man from delivering his blow. Masato turned and saw his mom standing at the top of the stairs looking like the stereotype of a bored housewife from a soap opera. Complete with a sexy silk bathrobe and a glass of wine in her hand. "I thought you were over these violent outbursts. Release him."

Masato snarled, turned to Keitaro, and let go of him with a shove against the front door. Keitaro straightened his shirt before walking past Msasto, and ascending the stairs towards Mrs. Sanjonin. As the two walked away and began to chat amongst themselves. Hana was left with a fuming Masato.

"Are you alright dear?" Hana wondered even though she knew it was a foolish question. Still she knew she was one of the few individuals who actually cared about the young man's emotions.

"That Hana-obasan," Masato grunted, not turning to look at her. "Is the reason why I prefer communing with nature rather than spending time with my parents."

Without another word, Masato left slamming the door as he did. He took off in a run and didn't stop until he arrived in the forest surrounding the family estate. Once he arrived, he began attacking a tree in an effort to release the anger he had built up.

Only after his knuckles were bruised and there were several indentations in the bark on the side of the tree, did Masato stop his assault. Flexing his fingers in an effort to reduce the pain, Masato turned towards the sky.

"Come on," Masato whispered, hoping nature would listen to him. He walked through the forest, occasionally looking towards the clouds in hopes something would happen. Soon enough the storm he had been anticipating began.

It started with a few droplets but from there the sky opened up and the rain poured down. Masato didn't use the hood of the coat as he didn't want to hinder his peripheral vision. He needed to be ready for when the show began.

Again, he did not have to wait long. The first bolt of lightning fell from the sky and collided with the ground. As it made contact the entire area and Masato's vision was bombarded in white light. These moments were the reason behind Masato's excursions in the rain.

In this area of blinding white light did he see her. A woman as if made of pure energy stood before him. Stunning in beauty, strength radiating off every bit of her, but always out of reach. It was only as he stared into the flash of lightning as it connected with the Earth was he able to see this enchanting vision at all. No matter how many times he experienced it, he always looked forward to every time a thunderstorm or tsunami might appear.

Unfortunately, every storm brought crushing disappointment. No matter how many times he saw the flash the mystical woman was always outside of his reach. At times he would run as fast as he could into the impact sight as if hoping he could capture the energy being and keep her in the mortal plane. He would run to the point he would fall to his knees from exhaustion and be reminded of the impossibility of attempting to catch lightning.

Today's storm did not give him the opportunity to make a fool of himself by chasing after lightning. Instead it ended abruptly with only five flashes of the enticing figure Masato craved. He had hoped it would last the entire night.

"Beautiful weather wouldn't you say?" A voice asked. Masato turned to see a woman with bright red hair holding an umbrella. "I would have sworn it would last longer."

"Who are you and what are you doing on my family's land?" Massato demanded, still not in a social mood.

"Me?" The red haired woman wondered, gesturing towards herself. "Just someone hoping to help a storm chaser find what he's looking for. To help you find the woman you see in the lightning."

"How do you…," Masato began but stopped himself. He didn't know what it was but this woman definitely wasn't ordinary. "Can you really help me find her?"

"Absolutely," The red haired woman insisted. She extended her hand, offering it as a gesture for them to work together. "All you have to do is trust me."

Masato hestated for a moment, his gaze wandering from the woman to the sky and back to the woman. Reluctantly, he accepted the woman's hand and shook it. "You better not be messing with me…"

O.O.O

This makes 3 completed and 4 more to go. This is the third in my "seeing their girls in the elements" series. In an effort to connect with Jupiter, Masato spent his entire life being a store chaser to see her even for a moment. To this end I brought back the crappy family life I briefly mentioned back in "Storm Of The Prodigal Son" as part of my After The Cauldron series. To think back then I thought I"d be done with Senshi/Shitensou stories after I was done with that series. So naive…

Reviews are love and they keep me going.