Azula forgot how beautiful and peaceful Rei's shrine was. It had been a very long time since she visited, probably before the Scouts lost their memories. She walked past several people who were looking content with whatever had been predicted for them. It was a crazy idea to leave all the predictions to Rei but so far it was all Azula had. Days passed since she thought of the idea to find out if Rei could give her more information on Senka and Sailor Hemera. And, in those days, Senka had continue to attack. Sailor Hemera also kept reappearing to vanquish the evil shadow but it never took long for Senka to reappear and cause mayhem again.
Azula held her breath without intention the first time she saw Rei. It'd been so long and, to be honest, she just missed Rei (and the others). It was a rather lonely job Azula took as a silent guardian, and she admitted it was hard for her to make friends at school too. She came across as arrogant when, in her perspective, she thought she was just making true statements. Even when she'd met Usagi and the others through blackmail, the girls were sweet by default. They saw a good in Azula that Azula herself never thought about. She missed them terribly.
Rei gave a kind smile at the redhead as they took a seat. "Are you here for a prediction too?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm a little nervous with everything that's going on lately and, uh…" Azula shrugged her shoulders. It was an easy enough excuse and a very valid one too. Everyone knew Senka by now after all.
"You are not the first," Rei said with a bit of a sigh. She'd had many people come to her before with the worries of being caught in the evil creature's path.
Azula didn't want to give out anymore words that could trigger any memories so she just stayed quiet while Rei did her thing. It was always a wonder how Rei saw blips of the future - she'd once called it impossible and started a whole fight with Rei about it. Now Azula was glad Rei possessed such wondrous power.
When Rei commanded her abilities, she entered a small trance of 'what ifs' . But lately those what ifs had been very...odd. Sure she'd gotten bad premonitions but those had been like not getting the job or failing a school subject. What she saw lately was a dark shadow, dark spirits, crystals...it was all such a mess.
But now upon reaching for Azula's future she saw clearer...but worse. It all came in a flash for Rei, and little did she know that not all of it had to do with Azula herself. A clear darkness surrounded Azula and a pair of golden eyes flashed behind her; there was a ginger-haired girl screaming over a cliff overlooking at a city's ruins; the scene then changed to a slightly older pink-haired girl with sad eyes; a black crescent moon turned upside down glowed; a tall woman with a long, black hair rising in the air with a malevolent air around her. Finally, what really brought things home: Azula gasping and blood spilling.
Rei breathed heavily with a hand over her heart. For a moment Azula wondered if Rei was having some sort of attack. "Are you...are you alright?" Azula looked around the empty room. "D-do you need some water, or-"
"I'm okay," Rei motioned with a hand for Azula to stay put. "I just...I don't usually see a lot like I did now." Azula wondered what exactly Rei saw that put her in such a state. Rei slowly calmed herself and looked to Azula. Rei thought the girl looked completely innocent and for a moment doubted her skills as a future priestess.
"What did you see?" Azula finally asked after a moment of silence. "Good grades? Uh, good university…?" but of course this wasn't the type of answers she was looking for.
"Um, uh...y-yes…" Rei normally wouldn't lie about predictions but this one was far too much. How could she tell a stranger she saw their death? She had to be wrong. It had to be. "Um, just...you should just avoid talking to strangers," she thought up fast.
"Hm, well I don't do much of that…" Azula thought for a second. "I have, uh, a challenging personality," she smiled to herself. It was one of the first things said to her by Mamoru when they first met.
"You don't look like the type," Rei remarked and pushed some of her hair behind her shoulders. "But just try to stay safe, alright? With everything that's happening…"
"Yeah, no, I get that," Azula said then added, "You wouldn't happen to know more about these recent attacks, would you?"
Rei quickly shook her head. "Nope! As far as we know they're just aliens."
"Okay," Azula gave a small nod, trying not to look so disappointed. She had hoped Rei would give a little more information on them but apparently this idea didn't turn out the way Azula wanted. With a small sigh, Azula got on her feet. "Thank you Miss Hino."
"You can call me Rei," the girl said before she could think. She was suddenly so worried for Azula and why shouldn't she be? It was terrible what Rei saw.
Azula smiled. "Thank you...Rei. And I'm Keena Azula by the way."
"It's nice to meet you," Rei said, rather awkwardly. She couldn't help give out a sympathetic look. "What school do you go to if you don't mind my asking?"
Azula blinked at the question, obviously not expecting the small conversation to actually go anywhere. Nonetheless, she gave the answer on account of craving some talks with her good friend. "Um, Moto-Azabu High School. I'm a first year." She knew perfectly well Rei attended a Catholic school set apart from the rest of the girls' but she still went ahead and asked, "And you?"
"T*A Academy," Rei gave a small smile.
"I've seen it - it's very prestigious," Azula remarked. "Though I like my school because it's really close to the Game Center Crown arcade and cafe shop. I love games and I love food, so…"
Rei chuckled. "Maybe I'll see you then."
The thought startled Azula as Rei hardly visited those places since the memory wipe. But Azula didn't know that Rei had so suddenly, and quickly, made the decision to keep a close eye on Azula for any possible danger lurking around.
~ 0 ~
"Miss Keena?"
This time Azula snapped her gaze from her notebook as soon as Miss Nano had called her. She wasn't taking anymore chances with the woman who was probably looking at her thinking she was going to continuously fail the class. Azula did not play when it came to her work. She certainly wasn't looking for her father to find out about that 30 and if she could just bribe Keiko to keep quiet then all would be good. Now Azula just intended on pleasing Miss Nano until the incident was forgotten.
"Yes?" Azula quickly shut her notebook of notes on her investigation and looked around the classroom. There were barely any students as class had yet to begin.
Behind Miss Nano stood a girl with long, straight brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was staring intently at Azula, making the red-haired girl a tad uncomfortable.
"I was concerned for your grade on your recent exam-" Miss Nano had began but Azula quickly cut in to explain.
"It was a one time thing, I swear! I was just having a bad day that day and I actually really did study but-"
"We have a new student who was more than willing to help you with the material," Miss Nano then gestured to the girl behind her, making Azula's eyes widen in alarm. "Ikeda Meroko has graciously accepted the task."
"What?" Azula gaped.
"It's no trouble at all," Meroko reassured calmly. "I'm new so I was hoping you could help me get to know the school in return…"
"Azula would be glad to do so," Miss Nano said before Azula could even open her mouth.
Meroko sweetly smiled and took the empty desk next to Azula. For that entire day Azula would be followed around by Meroko who asked various questions over the school and neighborhood in general. All this Azula took calmly. She didn't mind showing a new student around and she loved her neighborhood. That was fine.
What wasn't fine was Meroko thinking Azula actually needed to be tutored.
As students began filing out of their last class to go home, Azula hastily walked away from Meroko who insisted they should get to the library for some tutoring.
"Look, Meroko, I don't need to be tutored. I don't get 30s. And I know that's what anyone would say but believe me I don't get them."
"Miss Nano said-"
"-Miss Nano was sadly mistaken because I don't need I. If anything I would be giving lessons to her on how to know her students better," Azula didn't care how snappy and rude she sounded. "You make one mistake and you're branded for life."
"It wouldn't take much-" but Meroko bumped into Azula who had stopped walking all of a sudden.
Azula had crossed gazes with Mamoru, and her heart raced. She was dead terrified that at any moment he would reproach her for keeping his and Usagi's true identities a secret. Ever since the incident where he went into her mind Azula had tried her best to avoid him at every possible location. It was easy enough because their school was large and they were a year separated. The neighborhood? Not so easy. Detours had to be taken in order to avoid meeting on the streets. The arcade and the cafe shop had to be visited with caution now.
Azula felt like she was going to lose her mind if she kept doing things like this.
"Azula?" Meroko's voice managed to break through Azula's thoughts.
The red-haired girl whipped her head back, her hair nearly hitting Meroko in the face. "Do you want to go to the Fruits Parlor Crown Cafe?"
"Um…"
Azula didn't necessarily wait. She grabbed Meroko's arm and led her down the opposite hallway.
~ 0 ~
"So you're new in the neighborhood?" Azula felt far more comfortable making conversation with Meroko when they were closer to the cafe shop. If Meroko refrained from talking about Azula's last exam score, things could possibly end well between them.
Meroko nodded beside her. "I moved in last week."
"Where'd you come from?"
"Um...far," Meroko chuckled to herself. "It, uh, it wasn't a place I thought I should remain in."
"Hm, I get that. I used to live with my Mom in New York until she died when I was seven. I was supposed to stay with my aunts there but I ddin't really like them...my cousins there were mean," Azula shook her head. "So I was glad my Dad brought me over here instead."
"And...you've made better friends here?" Meroko inquired, giving Azula a discreet glance.
"Oh yeah, definitely," Azula suddenly felt a ping of sadness. Most her friends didn't remember her and the ones she had in her school weren't that close. It was a lonely job she had…
When Azula led Meroko into the cafe shop, the first thing she heard was Usagi's loud cry from a booth. Azula chuckled and went ahead to the blonde's table. "Afternoon, Usagi, are we already crying over homework?"
Usagi looked up from a magazine she held and frowned. "I don't have homework today. I was just reading that my band broke up!"
"You're into pop bands?" Azula asked with a hint of a mock in her tone.
Usagi glared. "Don't tease my interests!"
Azula playfully rolled her eyes. "My bad. Anyways, this is Ikeda Meroko," she gestured to the brunette standing beside her, "She joined my math class today."
"I'm her tutor-" Meroko went to explain but Azula cut her off sharply.
"No-" Azula pointed fast at Meroko, "-you're not." She would not have that rumor going around.
Meroko smiled nonetheless. "Is there a restroom around here?" she looked around.
"Yeah, right down that hallway over there," Azula pointed to the hallway just by the entrance. Meroko thanked her and left her school bag over the table before leaving.
"She's so pretty," Usagi remarked after Azula slid into the opposite seat at the table.
"Well, I'm sort of stuck with her since Nano thought I needed help on my math," Azula rolled her eyes. "As if."
Usagi giggled. "You know, I've been running into your other friend a lot lately."
Azula gave her an odd look. "What friend?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Chiba Mamoru," Usagi said with such a giddiness in her tone that Azula, for a moment, felt like they had returned to their olden days. "He's kind of rude but he's got gorgeous eyes…"
Azula produced a small, incoherent noise. "Did he say anything?"
"Besides cheap remarks about my hair?" Usagi raised one hand to her incredibly blonde hair. "Barely."
"So then why are you happy?"
"I have no idea," Usagi admitted with a widened smile. She leaned forwards on the table. "I...kind of like our small conversations-"
"-if it's just you two going back and forth then is it really a conversation?" Azula really felt like they were getting back to the old days now.
"You and I go back and forth all the time!" Usagi exclaimed.
"Here's the thing, I don't have a crush on you," Azula reminded sarcastically.
"You just don't get it! I just...feel something, you know? Right here," Usagi patted a hand over her heart. "It's strange. I can't really explain it, but...it's something."
Oh it was something alright, thought Azula. "I'm going to get myself a drink," she said just as she got up from her seat. "Oh, are we really going to repeat the same story?" she mumbled under her breath as she headed for the counter.
But she figured the question was far answered already.
~ 0 ~
After an interesting lunch with Meroko and Usagi, Azula decided to go back to her investigation notes. It infuriated her that she hadn't come up with anything good. If my friends were here it wouldn't be so hard, she remarked in her mind. Her hand fervently wrote underneath her notes about Sailor Hemera, Senka and the Shadow Crystal.
"The crystal has to be a sort of life source…" she mumbled to herself. Senka was growing stronger, yes, but if all she needed was a quick suck of energy from random people then what was the crystal needed for? Maybe it wasn't a life source then - she drew a line over her last sentence and started thinking again.
In her experience with Usagi's Silver Crystal, it probably meant power. Senka was an evil spirit hell bent on finding the 'Shadow Crystal' which Azula was sure was native for Senka. She and Sailor Hemera had to be from the same planet...right?
"It's you."
Azula's hard notebook shutting movement was like an instinct nowadays. She'd always been good at sneaking notes and not paying attention whether it was in class or in plain social situations. Lately, the talent had gotten even better. Somehow, Azula couldn't say she was surprised to see Mamoru coming straight for her. She got up from the bench and carefully put her notebook behind her. "I don't know what you want-"
"You do know," Mamoru snapped, startling her. It was rare when he expressed anger - most of it was usually irritation and that Azula was completely used to. "Ever since I saw whatever the hell it was I keep seeing more things. I see you, I see your loud friend-"
"-hey-" Azula snapped with a pointed finger t him, nearly poking him in the eye, "-from what I've heard you're not all that upset with Usagi considering you keep oh-so-magically bumping into her!"
"That is not the point-"
"Oh yes it is!" Azula had no idea where she was going with that but it was her only line of defense at the moment. Her heart felt like it would bust out from her chest at any moment. He was remembering! Azula tried to calm herself within but it was harder. "All of a sudden you keep meeting her on the street? C'mon!"
"Who are you?" Mamoru demanded, although his anger seemed to simmer. At least the mention of Usagi still got him in a better mood, thought Azula. "And why do I keep seeing...things...about you...U-Usagi...and-and other things that I had never before?"
Azula was sympathetic, truly. She could see that overall Mamoru was just confused and wanted some clarity. Should she be kind and fill him in? But if she did, she would also have to point out that Usagi remembered nothing of him and Azula wondered how badly that could hurt him.
"I...I'm…" Azula sighed and put her notebook on the bench. "I'm Keena Azula, and I'm sorry that you've been seeing things. It's not my fault, alright? I mean, who knows, it could be from that weird shadow thing that attacked a while ago. She is evil after all."
"You've researched her," Mamoru stated without much surprise. At Azula's look, he added, "I've asked about you. You were right, you don't get 30s." A small smile appeared on Azula's face. "Look, I don't go shouting at random girls but I know that seeing you, Usagi, and these other things aren't normal either. And I know that you know something because every time you look at me you do it with fear, like...like you're just waiting for something bad to happen. That's not how Usagi looks at me."
"No I bet she wouldn't," Azula mumbled under her breath.
"Can you just explain to me why it feels like I know people...that I've never even spoken to? Why I see things that I don't remember happening? Please?"
Azula thought about it long and hard before she decided to answer. "I get the feeling you're not going to believe me."
Author's Note:
First and foremost, I would like to thank those who have favorited/alerted this story! It means a lot to me and it definitely makes it more fun to continue writing more chapters for this story! Azula has been an OC who's undergone a total rewrite so I was extra nervous about finally publishing her story. That being said, I hope this chapter was good!
For the review:
arenero: I know you wrote a review for another chapter but since this is the only place I can respond to your review I'll just say thank you so much for your comments! I do have this story already written out till its end so hopefully it continues being good enough to read! :)