Chapter Two: Millennial Reunions.
"Well," Holo Ami said, "The Youkai Extermination started when a criminal organization called Fairy Tale was blamed for the Fukushima incident. We never got all the details, but apparently their flying fortress crashed into the sea and created the tsunami, while a wave of youkai survivors came ashore with massive publicity. The SDF panicked and started battling with the refugees, and a massacre occurred. In protest over the mass slaughter, youkai all over Japan started a riot, which settled into a series of civil rights protests that got more violent over a couple of years. The protests escalated into a full scale revolt after the Youkai High Council was assassinated by a bomb. In response to the armed rebellion the Japanese government joined forces with the Vatican's Iscariot division and began a wholesale war against the youkai. That war tore Japan apart and slowly spread to the entire world. For nearly 20 years, man and youkai fought for their very survival."
"I see," Nabiki said, looking thoughtful. "So where does 'Bunny Queen Nabiki' come in?"
"During the early part of the war, I believe our Nabiki Hibiki was a protestor in favor of youkai equality, then she was caught in one of the terrorist incidents. The youkai radicals used some sort of spell to forcefully turn humans into youkai, and she was turned into a bunny girl and was taken to an internment camp, where she developed some very strong magical abilities. No-one knows for sure what happened there, but six months after her internment, she slaughtered the entire camp and escaped. From that point on, she seemed determine to eradicate humanity entirely. Within a year, she had more or less become the youkai's leader because of her sheer power. She organized the youkai and with the aid of General Konjou and the Black Rose, she nearly wiped out the humans in Japan. She held control for almost a decade before we finally managed to overcome her. Mars, Uranus, and Neptune were killed and Jupiter lost her arm. The rest of us were so severely wounded that Saturn barely managed to save us. Things were so bad that the Earth itself was almost unlivable. In order to save the few humans remaining, Hotaru had to call down a second Silencing to let the Earth heal. For a thousand years, humanity slept, and when we awoke a hundred years ago, we built Crystal Tokyo. Neo Queen Serenity has kept watch over them ever since."
Tao-Ching nodded. "Okay, that firmly establishes this as a very different timeline than ours."
He looked around at the others sitting around the table, and smiled as he looked at the seating arrangements. He and Nabiki were next to Holo Ami, followed by Akane, Ranma, then Shan-Pu. Then the Senshi, with Usagi at the far end, then Rei, Ukyo, an empty seat, Ying-Ying, then Clove/Konatsu, with Chibi Usa sitting right next to Holo Ami. It said something about the web of relationships unconsciously expressed. He speared another piece of chicken on his chopsticks and leaned back in his chair.
"Alright, so if I understand the current situation, you are under siege by Blackmoon, and Serenity and Endymion are currently incapacitated. You and Makoto are in stasis maintaining the shields, while your consciousness is connected to the Palace AI and animating that hologram. The status of Mina and Hotaru is unknown following a failed assault on Nemesis."
Holo Ami nodded. "Sadly, yes. That is all too accurate a summation. Our fleet is destroyed, the rest of the Earth has been turned into a barren wasteland again, and I fear we are unlikely to survive a full scale assault from Blackmoon. The Earth is dying. Soon, it will be as dead as the moon has become."
"So, Blackmoon is travelling back in time attempting to rewrite the future."
"I can think of no other reason. We never had contact with them in our past."
"But the past you have is also different from ours." He rubbed his stubble. "So where did they diverge I wonder."
Rei looked up. "Um... At any point did you ever encounter Zhu-Shu?"
Holo Ami shook her head. "No. Other than the Senshi, I've never met anyone in your group. And to imagine that you are friends with Bunny Queen Nabiki is simply astonishing."
"I'm not the 'Bunny Queen' dammit." Nabiki muttered.
"My apologies. I– I have some very painful memories of her, and though you are much younger… seeing your face..."
Nabiki waved it off. "It's okay. I can certainly say that if I know me, an evil me is not someone I want to tangle with." She yawned. "And to be blunt, I'm just too fucking worn out at the moment to give a damn."
"Of course. This entire wing is yours to use as you wish. Please, refresh yourselves and rest. If you require anything, merely ask. The Palace AI will provide anything you desire."
She bowed and sparkled as she faded out, leaving the group sitting around the table.
"So how is Zhu-Shu," Akane asked.
Ying-Ying smiled. "As far as we can tell, she's merely sleeping. She's completely exhausted. There are a couple of oddities I can't really understand though. For one thing, her earrings are rather puzzling. They appear to be goddess seals, just like those worn by Belldandy, Urd and Skuld. They can't be removed, and the signature on them appears to be Kami-sama himself. Additionally, the signature of her curse is gone."
"Gone?"
Konatsu's eyes shifted to green. "Yes, gone. I've spent years studying the Jusenkyo curses. I know the base signature for it intimately. It's completely gone. She's merged both her cursed and uncursed forms into a single body, and appears to be permanently transformed. And I have not one single idea how she's done it. It's flat out impossible. It's a major deity class curse."
Ying-Ying nodded. "Even Legend said it would take direct action from someone like Kami-sama or himself to undo it, considering who it was who cursed the springs."
"So Legend can cure the curse?" Ranma asked. "And he didn't do it?"
"It's not that easy, Ranma. Divine intervention on the level needed to undo the curse would require a complete violation of all the treaties between Asgard and Nifelhiem. Had Legend done so, he would have basically permitted Hild to declare Ragnarok." She sighed. "There is more going on than you realize in the worlds outside of your normal perceptions. Were Kami-sama or Legend to act directly, it would free the forces of Chaos to take a direct hand in the world of mortals. The consequences would be unimaginable."
"Like what?"
Clove shook her head. "Do you remember how easily I took out Rubeus once I was free to use my full power? Imagine an army where the lowest ranking soldier would probably be my equal. Lo-Shen and I are probably about as strong as our Master was, and he claimed he had barely managed to survive a battle with a Valkyrie."
"We coulda beat Rubeus if he hadn't surprised us while we were getting dressed for practice!" Usagi pouted. "That pervert!"
"I'm just glad he's gone, Princess." Makoto said. "From what Akane-sensei told us, we're lucky they were so quick to come rescue us. I don't even want to imagine what he might have done to us. We'd have probably ended up replacing the Phantom sisters as sex slaves."
Mina shuddered. "Probably."
"Regardless, I still want to know about Zhu-Shu." Akane pointed out. "You said there was more odd stuff about her. Like, why would Kami-sama put those earrings on her?"
Ying-Ying bit her lip. "There's only one reason for them, Akane. Goddesses are sealed to prevent their powers from leaking out. An unsealed goddess in the mortal plane could destroy a city entirely by accident. Greater deities like Hild or Kami-sama can't even come to the mortal plane unless they do so through an avatar. Legend himself is larger than Japan. For Kami-sama himself to seal Zhu-Shu, it has to mean that something occurred which boosted her power levels to near deity class or beyond. She is the Daughter of the Dragon. It's not inconceivable that she could have absorbed energy from Peorth's wish transmittal beam. She might have been the reason for that resonance effect that knocked the magic users out."
"That even affected Konatsu in my workroom in China." Clove said. "I had wondered what that massive surge of power was."
"So Zhu-chan is a goddess now?" Rei asked, eyes wide.
Ying-Ying blushed. "Um... well... technically she always has been, kinda..."
"Just like I'm 'technically' one too, supposedly." Clove added with an eye roll. "We are both Daughters of the Dragon after all."
"She did display some incredible power levels once Naraku released her. I couldn't even touch her." Ukyo noted. "And think about what she did to Naraku. If she hadn't been fighting with the Shikon Jewel, he'd never have been able to touch her either." She shuddered. "I can only imagine that she was still fighting inside him. If he had been able to absorb her like Kagura said he was capable of, I doubt even Rei's attack could have hurt him."
Nabiki grimaced. "I don't even want to imagine what could take a point blank nuclear blast undamaged." She plucked an apple from a bowl halfway down the table with a pink hand and tossed it to herself. Akane shook her head.
"Damn sis, I still can't believe you can do that."
Nabiki laughed. "This coming from my sister, the Senshi."
"I can't believe that Rei's engaged to Ukyo and Zhu-Shu." Usagi said, blushing. "And that dress!"
Rei gave her a raised eyebrow. "I happen to like my dress, Usagi. And I am perfectly happy with my chosen girlfriends," she said firmly.
Mina waved her hand dismissively. "She'll get used to it Rei, or I'll spank her for you." She smirked. "I for one think it's wonderful to see you this happy. I'm getting quite jealous."
"So what else is odd about Zhu-Shu?" Akane said, attempting to get the conversation back on topic.
"Other than the Shikon Jewel apparently replacing her heart? I don't know. All of my senses tell me she's perfectly fine, just asleep. From what I understand of Ukyo's sensor readings, she's fine. Rei's abilities say she's fine. I even had Clove look her over. From every physical and mystical standpoint, as far as we can tell, she's perfectly fine for someone who had a sword impaling her a couple of hours ago. Her regenerative abilities appear to be immense." Ying-Ying spread her hands. "Until she wakes up, I can't tell you any more than that."
"So how do we get home?" Ranma asked. "I mean, I have to assume we can since Chibi-Usa came back, and the Blackmoon did too." He cracked his knuckles. "I'd feel a lot better getting Zhu-Shu home."
"You said you'd help my mommy!" Chibi-Usa complained.
Akane gave her a reassuring smile. "We will honey. We're just worried for our friend."
"Yeah, kid. Regardless of what else we do, we'll see what we can do to help your mom. Anyway, can you tell us how you got back to our time? If we can go back and forth, we can take our friend back home while the rest of us see what we can do to help." Tao-Ching said, giving the little girl a reassuring smile.
Chibi-Usa shook her head at Tao-Ching. "I–I stole a key from Setsuna-oba. She's probably mad at me." Her eyes teared up. "I just had to try and get help for mommy!"
"We know little lady. I'm sure your aunt will forgive you. Do you still have that key?"
Chibi-Usa nodded and showed them a small heart shaped key. "But Setsuna-oba is sure to be watching the Gate now."
"We should have no need of sneaking, Small Lady." Kuno interjected. "T'would be beneath us as noble warriors. I am certain that we need but explain our need to Lady Pluto and she would aid us in returning our comrade to her proper time."
"I am afraid that is not possible at this time, Sir Kuno." A new voice said, prompting them all to turn towards the entrance to their dining room. A tall women with long green hair stood there, wearing a Senshi uniform and carrying a long golden staff shaped like a key in her hand. "While it is true I would be willing to let you to return to the past, since I have received permission from Kami-sama to allow you passage, I cannot at the present do so."
"Setsuna-oba!" Chibi-Usa looked nervous as she tried the shove the key back into the neck of her blouse.
"Calm down, Small Lady. I forgive you for stealing the key. This time." She turned back to the rest. "Unfortunately, your arrival has created a disruption of the Gate of Time. The passage is impassible for the moment due to a temporal tempest. Gate has assured me that the disruption is temporary, but you are likely to be here for a few days at least before travel is possible. She cannot risk letting the storm into the physical world."
Tao-Ching grimaced. "Damn. It figures. It's never just easy."
Akane was staring at the staff in Pluto's hand. "You're, um... You're Sailor Pluto right?"
The green hair girl bowed slightly. "Indeed, Akane Tendo. I am the Senshi of Time. You are Sailor Earth, I believe? It's a pleasure to meet you, though I am afraid I have no memory of there having been a Sailor Earth in my history. This parallel universe you have traveled from has many changes it seems."
"Parallel Universe?" Ranma asked.
"Yes. It must be obvious to you that our universe cannot be the same one you live in. As far as Gate has been able to determine, our universe diverged from yours at a point in time approximately four years prior to the temporal co-ordinates from which you originated. The pivotal event appears to have been the deaths of Fei Ying-Ying and Song Zhu-Shu at the hands of the sorcerer Xi'an Chi. The data beyond that point becomes obscured and impossible to trace, though we have been able to confirm that Xi'an Chi was instrumental in the staging of the Youkai Extermination."
Ying-Ying was looking at her in horror. "So in this universe I was killed by Xi'an Chi? Eeew." She stuck out her tongue in disgust. "Poor me and Zhu-chan, I know all too well what Xi'an Chi does to women."
"In our timeline, yes. More than that, Gate cannot determine. As it is, the disruption has also affected Gate's connection to the Yggdrasil mainframe. As all other connections between Earth and the Heavens were severed during the Extermination, it has severely compromised our ability to retrieve data about the past."
Tao-Ching shrugged. "We've got more than enough to work with for now. Since we cannot get back immediately, I recommend we take advantage of our host's hospitality for the night and see what we can do in the morning." He sighed. "Please forgive us, Lady Pluto, but we've been through hell today. We're all exhausted, and half dead."
Ying-Ying giggled. "Technically, I'm all dead."
Tao-Ching gave her an evil eye. "And punch drunk."
She shrugged. "So I get silly when I'm tired," she said defensively.
Pluto smiled. "I apologize for intruding so late, but I desired to inform you of the situation and to collect Small Lady. It is far past her bedtime, after all."
"Awww, do I hafta, Setsuna-oba?"
Pluto gave her a look. "I've been lenient as it is, Small Lady. Queen Serenity would be quite put out were we to simply allow you to continue to run rampant."
Usagi came around the table to pat the smaller girl on the head. "Don't worry, brat. We'll save your mommy. You be a good girl for your aunt, okay?"
Chibi-Usa nodded and let Usagi help her down from her chair. She took Pluto's hand and waved. "Good night everyone, sleep tight."
After she left, Nabiki yawned again. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm gonna drag furball off for a quickie before bed. See you all in the morning."
"Nabiki!" Akane said, her face bright red.
"What? Like you're not going to do the same with Ranma and Shan-Pu?"
"You– you don't have to be so blunt about it!"
"Oh please, Akane. We're all old enough to understand what sex is."
Akane jerked her thumb at the four beet red senshi. "You forget they're here?"
Makoto laughed nervously. "Um, it's okay Akane. I– I'm not exactly a virgin."
"You're not?" Usagi asked in shock.
"Oh come on Princess. I used to be on Kodachi's rhythmic gymnast team. I didn't always despise the bitch, I'm ashamed to say. The first few times we had sex were lots of fun. It's what she did to me later that I can't forgive."
"She's not the same, Mako-chan." Akane said. "She's sorry for what she did to you."
Makoto waved her hand dismissively. "It's not going to be that easy to forgive her, Akane-sensei. You don't want to know what she did, trust me. But I gave her my virginity, because I was dumb enough to think we were actually best friends." She said bitterly, then yawned as well. "And it really doesn't matter at the moment anyway. We all need a break." She gave Mina, Ami and Usagi a wicked grin. "So, Princess, wanna go make out too? We could have our own foursome."
Usagi looked like she was about to melt, her face grew so red. "M-m-m-m-Mako-chan!"
Makoto laughed. "Just kidding, Princess. You'd probably faint before I could get you naked anyway."
Minako giggled as Usagi buried her face behind her hands and squealed. "Oh, if I only had a camera!"
Ami shook her head as she smiled. She looked at Rei. "Rei-chan, are you going to share a room with us tonight, or..."
"I'm sorry Ami-chan, but I'm going to be with Ukyo, Ying-Ying and Konatsu." Rei said with a blush. "I have so much I want to talk to you all about, but I really really want to be with my soulmates tonight. It's the first time I've ever seen Konatsu, and I've never been able to see Ying-Ying outside the spirit realm."
Ami smiled. "It's okay, Rei-chan. I understand." She blushed prettily. "I would probably do the same if I had someone to love."
Kuno stood, offering his hand to Kagura. "Very well, if you shall excuse us, Lady Kagura and I shall bid thee good night."
Kagura bowed. "Yes. and I wish to thank you all again for freeing us from Naraku."
Akane shook her head at their retreating backs. "I still can't believe he didn't try to glomp me even once."
"Or me," Ranma added. "I haven't even heard him call me 'pigtailed girl' tonight. He's changed as much as Kodachi has."
"Nyah, Shan-Pu glad he no try glomp Ai-rens. Is Shan-Pu job. Muuuu."
Akane tousled her hair. "Yes, it certainly is." She looked over at Ying-Ying. "So you're sure Zhu-chan is alright?"
The ghost girl nodded. "She's sleeping peacefully, and I have a spell on her to alert me to any changes, and the Palace AI is monitoring her as well. She's in the room furthest down the hall just before the baths. Anyone trying to get to her will have to pass by all our rooms first, and Clove's put up wards as well."
Akane pushed her chair back. "Okay, then I'm a calling it a night too. You guys have fun."
Shan-Pu giggled. "Shan-Pu wish you much fun too, myah. She go play with Ai-rens's now."
The group broke up, and silence settled over the dining room as they all disappeared into their rooms. For a few minutes, nothing moved, but finally, a quiet figure rose from her chair and walked down the hall until she stood in front of Zhu-Shu's room. A tiny pale hand reached out to touch the door as Kanna stood there for several long minutes.
Then she spoke in her near whisper. "Thank you."
Without another word, she turned her back to the door and sat on her knees in front of it, clutching her mirror as she settled in to stand guard.
"Wow, what a nice room." Rei said as they looked around the bedchamber they had been provided.
Ukyo nodded. "Only one bed though."
Ying-Ying bounced on the bed as she sat. "Well it's certainly big enough for all four of us." She gave Ukyo a sultry smile. "Almost as big as Lin-Tzu's"
Ukyo blushed. "Um... yeah. Not as ornate though." She looked around the room as her armor stopped glowing. "Well..." She broke off as Konatsu wrapped herself around her back.
"Isn't it wonderful! I finally get to meet all my beloved soulmates! I am so happy we get to be together finally!" She nuzzled Ukyo's neck. "And that lovely armor of yours has been driving us to a frenzy ever since we woke up this afternoon. Poor Clove is completely incoherent every time we look at you."
Ukyo gave her a sidelong look. "That black dress of yours isn't too shabby either. However, before we do anything else, I am going to go get a bath. I got smashed into the ground a few times today and I feel grimy."
"Want company?" Rei asked.
Ukyo shook her head. "Nah, stay here and get to know our other soulmates. I have enough of Orihime's memories to make me familiar with them. I can't wait till Zhu-Shu wakes up. She'll be so happy."
Rei and Konatsu pouted as she slipped out the door. "Darn it. I wanted to take that armor off her myself," Konatsu sighed.
Rei giggled. "I'm not sure you could. It's some sort of very powerful magic. It took the brunt of a absolutely amazing attack from Zhu-Shu when she was under Naraku's control. Without it, I think she'd have died instantly."
Konatsu moved over to press up against Rei. "And what about this lovely fiery dress of yours?" she asked as she played with one of the cloth tassels hanging from the golden chestplate.
Rei blushed. "Well... I do believe it will come off like a normal dress. But it was conjured up when I used the Phoenix Wand, so I am not entirely certain."
Konatsu's eyes shifted to green. "Well it is definitely magical in nature as well, though nowhere near the level of the Guardian's Armor. I can see enchantments for defense, regeneration, and environmental manipulation." Clove said. "At a guess, I would believe it would protect you from extremes of heat or cold, as well as most types of magical and physical attacks." She licked her lips. "And as a side effect, it's making me drool."
Ying-Ying giggled. "That was one of Orihime's intentions when she designed it. Our dear Guardian designed all the Court Regalia for maximum sex appeal. You should see Ye-Ying's and mine, let alone Lin-Tzu's. The Empress found being a scandal amusing, and Orihime out did herself designing her dress. It had yards of material and barely covered anything." Ying-Ying shrugged. "What can I say, my darling soldier was rather deliciously hentai." She looked in the direction of the bath. "And speaking of my dear warrior, I think I should go and talk with her." She tapped her head. "It feels like she's fretting a bit."
Clove frowned. "Probably about me. I'm sorry I'm intruding on your reunion."
Ying-Ying waved her hand dismissively. "I seriously doubt that's an issue, Clove. Trust me. I can deal with this." She stood and took off her hat, her hair unbraiding as she headed towards the door. "So while I deal with her, why don't you two lovely birds get to know each other better. Just don't get started without us, 'kay?" She gave them a lascivious smile. "I have been waiting for years for this, so I would hate to miss any of it."
Clove rolled her eyes heavenwards. "Ying-Ying, you are such a tease!"
The Chinese ghost giggled as she slipped out the door. When Konatsu looked back down, her eyes had shifted to brown again. She looked over to Rei and blushed. "Um..." She scratched the back of her head. "Sorry. I feel kinda nervous without Ying-Ying here."
Rei smiled. "I know how you feel. I'm nervous without Ukyo." She sat on the bed and patted the spot next to her. "Why don't we just talk for now. Tell me a little about yourself."
Konatsu beamed. "Okay." She sat down. "Well. I am Konatsu Kenzen of the Sexy Kunoichi clan of ninja, and I am a chunin. I am currently employed by Clove as her host and protector while she is in hiding from the Daimakaichou Hild, and I am living with Ying-Ying at the Tendo's since my family home burned down and my stepmother and stepsisters died. I have been permitted to enter Furinkan High recently and have become the mascot for the Cheerleading squad under Ai-senpai."
Rei laughed. "Sounds like you've had an exciting time while we've been in the past. Last I knew, Clove was supposed to be an enemy, and Ai was Zhu-Shu's biggest headache in school."
Konatsu's eyes shifted. "I was being deceived by Hild. Ying-Ying showed me how idiotically I was behaving." Clove said sadly.
Rei nodded. "I know. Ying-Ying said you were like Zhu-Shu's sister, right?"
"Kind of. Like Zhu-Shu, I am a Daughter of the Dragon, but where she is a reincarnation of Lin-Tzu, I am a mix of Lin-Tzu's blood, and a black dragon. While Legend has claimed me as his daughter, I suppose I should technically be considered her half-sister. Same father, different mother, in a manner of speaking. To be honest, I really am not sure how it works."
"Well I can feel you through our bond, just like Konatsu. You really don't seem like the danger I remember being described."
Clove laughed. "I'm an evil black dragon archmage, the scourge of the Musk Dynasty and quite a villain, you know."
"Silly! You are not." Konatsu's voice said. "You never wanted to be anything but loved. I know."
"Hush dear. You're ruining the dramatic effect."
Rei giggled. "So you are really part dragon? I remember when Zhu-Shu looked like you, though her hair was more gold than silver."
Clove nodded. "When I died, I had blonde hair. When Hild resurrected me, my hair was white. I was born with black hair, and I hated it, so I figured out a spell to change it. My mother was a black dragon, tamed by my father and turned into a human using the Nyannichuan, then locked by the Chisuitton. I hated looking like her, even though, like her, I have a vile temper, and a tendency to go berserk. And, well, when I do flip out, I usually turn into a full dragon, so please don't drop your guard around me completely. I really don't want to hurt you, but I can't trust myself when I am like that."
Rei put her finger on Clove's lips. "You won't hurt me. I can feel your fear, but don't be so worried."
"Well, I can't exactly leave Konatsu's body right now, or even put myself to sleep. I feel like I'm intruding on your reunion."
Konatsu shook their head. "You are not. I welcomed you into my head and I am happy that you are present."
Rei smiled. "I don't think I mind either, Clove. I mean, it's strange enough for me to be able to feel Konatsu and Ying-Ying in my head now, and I've known for quite some time that Zhu-Shu has more soul mates than just myself and Ukyo. Seriously, Lin-Tzu had many wives, and while I don't remember much, and I know some of us were closer to her than others, I know she loved us all. I am so jealous of the fact that I alone never got to actually marry her back then, but I didn't doubt her love. It was mine I questioned. But when Ukyo asked me to marry her, I decided to be accepting of any new members of our harem, so while I'm kind of nervous, I am also kind of excited about the whole thing as well," she finished with a blush. "Gods… I must sound like a complete hentai…"
Konatsu leaned over and whispered in Rei's ear. "You know, she has such naughty memories. She knows so many ways to make a girl scream in pleasure, and is planning to use them all."
Rei turned absolutely crimson. "Um... Um... I'm kinda a novice you know."
Konatsu giggled. "I'm a virgin personally. I've never had sex as a boy or a girl, so this is a completely new experience for me, other than me looking at Clove's memories. If she wasn't in my head, I'd probably be too embarrassed to even be in the same room with you. That gorgeous dress of yours would probably have given me a terminal nosebleed. And Ukyo's..." she fanned herself. "That, um - back - is so daring."
"Non-existent, you mean."
Konatsu giggled. "It makes me curious as to what my dress looks like. I wish I had memories of our past lives."
"I wish I had more. Mine are so fragmentary."
"It can be arranged, you know. The spell is not that difficult." Clove said. "All I need is a few herbs and enough space to make a circle. This bed is more than large enough to allow me to place one of the necessary size for you both. However, I'd really advise waiting right now. We would all be unconscious for a day or so as the spell is in effect, and under the circumstances I'm not sure how safe we are. Not to mention, it would interfere with the other plans I believe your soulmates have for their return."
Rei giggled. "True. But I do want to take you up on that offer. I'd give anything to be able to remember all of my former life."
"Just be aware… it might also end up broadcasting some of those memories over the mind-links. I might see some of them, and you might end up seeing some of my past life too, and it wasn't a very happy life. It could give you nightmares."
"I don't care. I want to remember, and if it does share, it'll just mean we get to know each other that much better."
"I suppose." Clove tapped her chin thoughtfully. "However, if you are willing to let me try a little experiment right now, I might be able to at least allow Konatsu to have a little something to surprise the others with when they return."
"Oh?"
"You are a priestess, yes?"
Rei blushed. "Um... well, about that. I am a shrine maiden, but I think I've come to believe I want to be a servant of the Dragon more than anything." She looked down at the floor. "My Grandfather has always said everyone has to find their own way, and I really think this is the path I've always been meant to follow. I know I'm a Senshi, but I'm just as much Lady Phoenix, and, well..." the Phoenix Wand appeared in her hand. "I think this means he's accepted me."
Clove nodded. "Well, what I want to do is have you pray to the Dragon for one very specific thing. My dress is created by magic, so it's completely morphable. If you and I pray to the Dragon together, and I invoke the spell to change my dress without giving it a specific pattern to form, I am hoping maybe that we can get him to shape my dress into Ye-Ying's Regalia."
"Will it work?"
Clove shrugged. "In theory, both you and Konatsu should have trace memories of it in your unconscious. Making a spell to find it specifically would take me hours though. I'm basically putting it in Legend's hands and asking a favor." She grinned sheepishly. "I know it sounds kind of silly, but I am his daughter after all."
Rei laughed. "I'm game." She stood and held out her hands to the other girl. "I certainly want to see Ye-Ying's Regalia."
Konatsu's eyes shifted again as she took Rei's hands. "Ooh I hope this works. I bet it's such a sexy dress!"
Rei held her hands as she closed her eyes. Umm, hi? I really don't know what the proper ceremonies are, but I'm Rei, and this is my first time praying to you. I hope you won't mind that I don't know how to do this properly, but I'd really like to be a proper priestess for you. I—I know you have allowed me to become one of your daughters loved ones, and, well... um... I am asking for a favor.
The butterfly at the back of her mind twitched as she felt a presence, one that seemed to be rather amused. Her whole body tingled as she felt energy flowing through her like a vast river and then an image formed in her mind of a glowing Dragon Mandala, just like the one floating behind her head.
((DO YOU TRULY WISH TO BECOME MY PRIESTESS, REI HINO?))
Legend's voice echoed in her head like a giant bell, louder than thunder, and yet oddly comforting instead of painful. Rei swallowed hard ((Yes, my lord.))
((ARE YOU CERTAIN YOU ARE PREPARED FOR THE BURDEN IN ADDITION TO YOUR DUTIES AS A SENSHI? I WILL NOT RELEASE YOU FROM THOSE DUTIES JUST BECAUSE YOU CHOSE TO SERVE ME.))
Rei thought back to the day she had received the Phoenix wand, and the realization she had had that day, ((I have already chosen to step into your hand, My Lord. I– I have no wish to be relieved of being a Senshi. I just want to serve you as your daughter's wife as well as your priestess.))
((THEN I ACCEPT YOU, REI HINO. INDEED, I ACCEPTED YOU THE DAY YOU ADMITTED TO YOUR LOVE FOR MY DAUGHTER. I HAVE MERELY AWAITED YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ASK ME CONSCIOUSLY. I DO NOT SEEK SERVANTS AND I WILL ACCEPT NONE WHO DO NOT COME TO ME OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL.))
((I–I see.)) She felt herself blush. ((I do love your daughter. C–can you do anything to help her?))
((I AM SORRY, REI HINO, BUT WHAT MUST HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN. ZHU-SHU WILL AWAKEN WHEN SHE IS MEANT TO AWAKEN. BUT HAVE NO FEAR, SHE IS MERELY SLEEPING A NATURAL SLEEP. SHE WILL AWAKEN SOON ENOUGH.))
((I see. I am sorry, My Lord.)) She bowed her head. ((What is your will, My Lord?))
There was the sound of a chuckle. ((FIRST, I COMMAND YOU TO STOP CALLING ME 'MY LORD'. I PREFER LEGEND. IF YOU MUST, I WILL TOLERATE LEGEND-SAMA.))
((Y-yes, my lo- um... Legend-sama.))
((AND SECOND, AS MY PRIESTESS, I LAY BUT ONE DUTY UPON YOU.))
Rei gulped. ((Anything, Legend-Sama.))
The mandala flared into light and reformed into a pair of golden eyes. She could feel them piercing her to her very soul, and it was like a warm stream of water poured into her body and transformed her into pure light.
((BE YOURSELF, ALWAYS, REI HINO. I REQUIRE NO WORSHIP, NO CEREMONIES. SIMPLY BE TRUE TO YOURSELF AND YOUR CONVICTIONS. BE THE PERSON I KNOW YOU TO BE, AND THAT WILL BE ALL I REQUIRE OF YOU.))
There were no words she could say, all she could feel was ecstasy as the golden light filled her. She hung suspended for an eternity as her wings spread and she reveled in the sheer joy of the Dragon's Gaze. Then the light slowly faded as she felt her consciousness come into focus again. She looked into the Dragon's eyes and felt him smile.
((AND YES. I WILL GRANT YOUR AND MY DAUGHTERS FAVOR.))
Her eyes opened to see Clove's emerald green eyes looking at her in wonder. "Wow. He actually visited in person?" She blinked repeatedly, her eyes switching between green and brown with each one. "We–we were there with you. Both of us. We heard him talking to you. I heard him accept you as his priestess."
Rei nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Isn't it wonderful?"
Konatsu's eyes returned as she threw herself forward into Rei's embrace. "It's awesome, Rei-chan! And I could feel how much he appreciated me allowing Clove to stay in my head! And I love how gorgeous your new eyes are!"
Rei blinked. "Huh? New eyes?"
Konatsu giggled. "Yes, they are such a pretty gold! Just like his!"
Rei found herself smiling. "Wow. He– he marked me too. I wonder what Ukyo and Zhu-Shu will think?" Then she blinked. "Oh yeah, and he said he was granting the favor too!" She grabbed Konatsu by the shoulders and took a step back to look at her.
"Oh... wow," was all she could say.
Ukyo sat in the bath soaking up the heat as she thought about the events of the day. It was hard to believe that just that morning she had awoken in the Hasai mansion following a dream of Ying-Ying, and now, less than a day later, they had defeated Naraku, completed the quest to return the sword, and then gotten catapulted into the future, only to meet Ying-Ying in the flesh.
Not to mention Konatsu. And Clove.
"What am I going to do? I'm not sure I'm ready for this. I barely managed to rescue Zhu-Shu and I haven't even been able to tell her I love her in person. And now I have two other soulmates to deal with." She sighed. "What am I going to do?"
((Do you mind if I join you?)) Ying-Ying's mental voice asked softly in her head.
Ukyo closed her eyes. ((Sure Ying-Ying.))
She turned as the door behind her slid open and the pink haired girl entered, her nude form teasingly half hidden in her long hair. "I could feel you fretting. I'm sorry. I can't really help that our link transmits our emotions to each other."
Ukyo shook her head. "It's okay. I have enough of Orihime's memories to be used to that. It's funny really. Her side of me knows without a single doubt that she loves you, but I really don't know you at all. In this life, we've only just met. Same with Konatsu. I can feel you both in my head, just like Rei and Zhu-Shu. It's not that I don't love you. I can't really seem to help but love you. It's just so confusing."
Ying-Ying nodded as she settled into the water. "I suppose Clove isn't really helping things either."
Ukyo chuckled. "Actually, she doesn't bother me in the slightest. I can feel her behind Konatsu." She shrugged. "I mean, she was right there when Konatsu was kissing me and..." she blushed. "Well, let's just say I saw enough that I don't really have a problem with her."
"And yet you were just fretting about us."
The chef sighed. "Yeah. Like I said, it's confusing. I mean, I've only been sleeping with Rei for a couple of days. And while that's been wonderful, I'm afraid of what is going to happen when I go back to the room." She blushed. "I'm kinda new to the whole sex thing you know."
Ying-Ying giggled. "Like any of us would be concerned about that. Truthfully, I've only had sex with Zhu-Shu once. Konatsu and I haven't actually done anything yet because Clove's been worried about how you would feel about her. Right now, I'd probably say you and Rei have far more physical experience in this lifetime than we do. Most of my recent experience has been in Zhu-Shu's dreams." She curled up against Ukyo's arm, her breasts pressed against the other girl. "Though I must admit I am hoping to remedy that," she purred as she brought her face close to Ukyo's.
Ukyo kissed her nose. "Not in the bath. And don't ask me why, but it doesn't feel right to not include the others. I feel bad enough that Zhu-Shu is still unconscious." She wiggled her arm loose and put it around the pink haired girl. "And it's more than just sex, Ying-Ying. It's just I feel... well." She tilted her head back to stare up at the ceiling. "I had a dream about you this morning, you know. Before all the other stuff that happened today. You came to me after I had stormed out of Lin-Tzu's bedchamber in a huff after catching the two of you in bed."
Ying-Ying blushed. "Oh my. Was it the day I demanded you give me your heart in exchange for mine?"
"Yes."
Ying-Ying giggled. "I was being rather forward that day, Orihime-chan. But you needed me to be."
Ukyo nodded. "Yeah, I suppose I did. I take it you have memories of our past together then?"
"Yes, beloved. I begged Legend to restore them. It's... kind of a double edged sword though. There was a lot of pain and heartbreak there at the end of things. I never knew what had happened to you until recently, and I still don't know what happened to Ye-Ying other than she died preventing us from being overtaken in the hidden passages. And I know most of our other wives died in the first attack on our residential wing except for Par-Fei and Mikotsu. My last memories were of Lin cradling me in her arms as the ship fled the palace and crying. I couldn't even feel the arrow in my heart, just sadness that I had made her cry."
Ukyo tousled her hair. "It's okay, Blossom. I'm sorry to stir up such terrible memories."
The ghost-girl closed her eyes as she sighed happily. "I love it when you call me Blossom, my darling warrior."
"Did you enjoy being a soldier's wife?"
"Immensely." Ying-Ying opened her eyes to gaze into Ukyo's hazel ones. "And I am looking forward just as much to being the wife of a chef and a Senshi." She smiled as she tapped Ukyo's nose. "But I am jealous of the fact that you have once more tamed the Phoenix before I could."
Ukyo laughed. "Hardly, Blossom. She landed on my wrist of her own free choice. I just refused to let her go once she had." She smiled at the memory. "She was a terrible tease. She henshined the first time I kissed her, trying to show me what Zhu-Shu's Chi Kiss would be like."
Before Ukyo could react, Ying-Ying's lips met hers and she melted as she felt the caress of burning ice flow through her soul. She gasped for breath following the orgasm, and looked into the laughing blue eyes of the ghost. "Okay, you mischievous imp, what the heck was that?"
"Me showing you what a true Chi Kiss is like." She fluttered her eyelashes. "So how did it compare to Rei's henshin?"
Ukyo laughed. "Not as energetic, but definitely a touch more orgasmic. She came surprisingly close."
"I'll have to get her to show me too."
"Yeah. Among other things." Ukyo rolled her head back again. "but..."
Ying-Ying rolled her head to the side curiously. "But?"
For several minutes Ukyo just stared at the ceiling as Ying-Ying waited patiently. Finally, she sighed. "I don't remember just you, Ying-Ying."
"Hummm?" the ghost-girl blinked.
"Did I... did I ever tell you about when I learned the Dance of Shiva? Back when I was still Orihime?"
Ying-Ying bit her lip. "Ummm..." a worried look came into her eyes. "Well... no. You… you were very adamant that we not ask. But you changed afterwards. There was always a sadness in your eyes that you wouldn't share."
"I see." Ukyo's arm tightened around Ying-Ying. "I suppose I just couldn't bear to tell you back then. I'm sorry."
"Tell us what?"
Ukyo sighed deeply. "About Sarhia."
Ying-Ying's breath caught. "Sarhia? But– how would... I mean... she's Zhu-Shu's..." She blinked. "I–I'm confused."
Ukyo lifted her free hand to rub her temples. "Sarhia is Shiva, Ying-Ying. Long before she taught Zhu-Shu, I met her in the heart of Mount Phoenix under the ruins of Jusendo. She's the Dark Goddess I went to see, armed only with the knowledge you found for me. And when I found her, I found something I did not expect."
"Sarhia is... Shiva?" Ying-Ying said in amazement. "Zhu-Shu was taught by the goddess herself? But why didn't Legend tell me?"
Ukyo shrugged. "Probably for the same reason I didn't tell you about her back then. Because Sarhia asked me not to. She didn't want to burden you with the knowledge of her existence."
Ying-Ying blinked again. "But– but how would knowing she existed be a burden?"
"Because she belongs with us, Blossom. She's been waiting for us for two thousand years."
Ying-Ying stood up to lean over Ukyo and look into her eyes. "You mean... she's– she's our heart's-mate as well?"
"Yes. And she's imprisoned. She's imprisoned in that damn mountain. Her 'penance' as she calls it. Her punishment for all her sins as a Lord of Chaos. And she's still waiting for me to come and free her."
"Yes, we have to free her! If she's our heart's-mate we have to!"
"Yeah, and we will."
"But why would knowing about her have been a burden?" Ying-Ying asked again. "We could have freed her already!"
Ukyo shook her head as she sighed. "It wouldn't have been possible. The time wasn't right. We couldn't even save ourselves. The Empire of the Dragon was doomed to fall. That's what I couldn't tell you. I couldn't bear to tell you I knew we were all going to die." She lifted her arms to lace her fingers behind Ying-Ying's neck. "Can you forgive me for that, Ying-chan. Can you forgive me for hiding the truth, for hiding the fact that I knew we had to die so that we could be reunited again?"
"Huh? Of course I can, my beloved. Oh you wonderful, silly fool. There's nothing to forgive."
"Yes, there is. She gave me a choice, Ying-Ying. She told me how she herself had set in motion the fall of the Empire, and how she had doomed us all to destruction. She told me how she had betrayed Chaos, destroyed the Old Kingdom, and engineered the destruction of the Silver Millennium. I knew what was going to happen, and I let it. I chose to let you die, Ying-Ying. I chose to let us all die instead of using that knowledge to fight fate."
Ying-Ying shook her head. "I am every bit as guilty of that as you, my love. At Legend's request, I delivered the assignment to Peorth that sent you all back in time. I did so knowing full well that it would change all of you. And I have many times taken various actions that I knew would guide events in one path or another. As Zhu-Shu's guardian spirit, I have even watched your thoughts and looked through your eyes."
Ukyo gave her a small smile. "You share the butterfly in the back of my mind, even if I couldn't recognize that fact till now. I'm just glad that I got to meet you in the flesh as well as spirit form."
Ying-Ying smiled softly. "I wouldn't have discovered how to without Clove and Ai's help."
"Ai, hummm? Remind me to thank her. She kinda surprised me when Zhu-chan first engaged herself to me and gave me some really good advice, even if I was too stubborn to really listen at the time."
Ying-Ying giggled. "Be careful. I have the feeling she'd have no qualms about trying to bed you now that she's called off her feud with Zhu-Shu."
Ukyo shrugged. "I don't recall any of us having issues with the occasional sweet. I seem to recall we both rather enjoyed Xianghua on many occasions."
Ying-Ying giggled. "Lady Phoenix's handmaiden? She was rather fun, wasn't she? And if I remember correctly, we both seduced Ye-Ying that first time."
Ukyo rolled her eyes. "She was a rather silly Nightingale. I mean, really, spending three months pretending to be a wandering performer because she couldn't bring herself to actually fulfill her contract on Lin. And those awful songs! Only the fact she was a siren kept me from laughing. And she thought she was doing so well at hiding the fact she was an assassin. She was quite put out when I finally asked her how long she was going to try and keep up the act." Ukyo giggled, then sighed. "And there comes yet another random memory fragment from good old Orihime."
"It was a rather amusing dance, no?" Ying-Ying smiled fondly. "She was so wonderfully shy every time we called her to sing. It was so much fun to whisper naughty things in her ear when I made her dance with me."
Ukyo hooked her foot around Ying-Ying's and pulled the pink haired girl down to sit in her lap. "You are up to your usual tricks aren't you, physician? Making me remember more of my past life to make me more comfortable around you and Konatsu."
Ying-Ying nodded. "Is it working, my darling soldier? I've rather missed being a warrior's wife you know."
Ukyo chuckled. "Have you now, my lovely flower. You know I collect priestesses, right?"
"Well, you already have a miko in your collection. Do you plan to add more?"
"Just a priestess of the Dragon."
Long eyelashes fluttered. "Anyone I know?"
"Well, she has these incredibly blue eyes, and this lovely pink hair."
"Sounds familiar."
"I should hope so." Ukyo's hand trailed down Ying-Ying's front and played with her curls. Ying-Ying sighed happily. "One question though, out of curiosity." Ukyo said as she looked down through the water.
"Yes?"
"How the hell do you have naturally pink hair?"
Ying-Ying giggled. "My grandmother was a Kitsune."
"In both lifetimes?"
Ying-Ying spread her hands. "What can I say? The Chronos mainframe tends to make reincarnations have similar genetic makeups." She giggled as she stood, letting the water teasingly run down her body. "Now, if I recall, we have two deliciously beautiful women waiting in our room, no?"
Ukyo stood and gave her a grin. "Why yes, yes we do."
Ying-Ying held out her hand. "Then shall we? I don't know about you, but Konatsu and Clove have been driving me absolutely insane with desire, and unlike you, I've haven't gotten to enjoy our lovely Phoenix for a millennium."
Ukyo took her hand. "Why physician, you sound as lusty as a soldier."
Ying-Ying smiled as her eyes twinkled mischievously. "Now what did I say? Oh yes." She fluttered her eyelashes at Ukyo. "Good thing I'm marrying one then, humm? Maybe she'll be able to think of all kinds of wild kinky things to satisfy my desires."
Ukyo gave her an evil grin. "I can think of a few."
"I know you can, my beloved. I made you prove it after all."
Ukyo laughed. "Many times."
They dried off quickly, and as Ukyo finished, her armor faded back into view. She looked down at it and frowned, wondering how she could get her regular clothes back. Then she smiled as the armor shimmered out of view again, replaced by the black and red outfit she had acquired at Sango's village.
"Ooooh" Ying-Ying cooed. "That is quite a sexy outfit as well, Uc-chan. Is that what you were wearing in the past?"
Ukyo nodded. "Yeah, and I kinda got used to it. The armor is nice and all, but I can't show off a bare ass all the time now, can I?"
"Awwww. You always did before."
"That was in the Court of the Dragon, sugar. While I can't claim to have any modesty anymore, I can at least take pity on the sensibilities of those around me and not be completely on display."
Ying-Ying smiled. "I suppose that's true. After all, I haven't worn my Regalia this lifetime either."
They stepped out of the bath, Ukyo pausing to look down at Kanna sitting before Zhu-Shu's door. "She will be safe, little one. You don't have to stand guard." Ukyo said gently.
Kanna turned her empty eyes to her. "I wish to," she whispered.
"You should rest, honey." Ying-Ying replied as she knelt to be at Kanna's level. "I know it has been a very tiring day for all of us."
Kanna shook her head. "I do not sleep."
Ukyo smiled at her. "Very well, little one. I will share her guardianship with you tonight. Watch over her well."
Kanna gave a single nod and returned to staring impassively at the far wall.
Ying-Ying petted her on the head. "You are such a cute Tsukumogami, Kanna-chan. I know you will do a good job of watching over Zhu-Shu. You have a peaceful night, okay?" She tilted her head to look at the surface of Kanna's mirror, and a small cloth appeared in her hand. She reached out and gently polished a spot from it and smiled. "There you go dear. Come to me later and I'll give you a nice polish. You should look pretty for your onee-chan, no?"
Kanna blinked at her. Then nodded once.
((Tsukyumogami?)) Ukyo asked Ying-Ying over their link.
Ying-Ying's mental voice laughed merrily. ((She's a mirror in human form, dear. As I ghost, I am quite familiar with all the various species of youkai.))
Ukyo smiled as she offered Ying-Ying a hand and pulled her back to her feet. They walked down the hallway to stand in front of the door to their room. Ying-Ying tightened her grip on Ukyo's hand. "You ready for a lovely night?"
Ukyo took a deep breath. "My heart is racing, my knees are shaking, and I'm so horny that just walking is driving me crazy. And I'm still terrified of opening that door."
"If you don't, I'll probably rape you right here in the hall, my dear warrior."
The chef mused. "Loud sex in the hall or a foursome in a soft bed..." She looked over at Nabiki and Tao-Ching's room. "Knowing them, either way it's likely to end up a four-way, but I think I'd much rather stick to soulmates tonight."
Ying-Ying giggled and hit the door switch.
They stepped inside to find Rei standing in the center of the room, her eyes closed and her fiery wings spread slightly as she smiled at them.
"Did the two of you have a nice bath?" she asked merrily.
Ukyo blinked and looked around the room. "Um, yeah... So... um... where's Ko-chan?"
There was a giggle from behind Rei. She half turned. "Hush you! I'm first."
Ying-Ying leaned forward to look at Rei intently. "What have you two been up to? You were going to wait for us!"
Rei laughed. "We have. We just have a couple of little surprises for you."
Ukyo tilted her head as she crossed her arms. "Surprises? And why do you have your eyes closed?"
Rei laughed again, raising her hand to cover her mouth. "Well, that's part of the surprise."
"Okay."
Rei nodded. "Yup. We, um, had a visitor while you were in the bath, kinda."
"A visitor?"
More giggles came from behind Rei's back.
Ying-Ying was looking around the room with a raised eyebrow. "Hang on a minute. Since when has this room been sanctified?"
Rei grinned impishly. "Probably for about ten minutes or so?"
Ying-Ying's hands were glowing as a Dragon Mandala appeared faintly on the floor. She blinked in astonishment. "Legend has been here?"
"He kinda showed up when we prayed to him."
"So he's why you're keeping Ko-chan hidden?" Ukyo guessed.
Wild giggles erupted behind Rei's back. "Hurry up Rei-chan!" Konatsu called.
Rei stuck out her tongue over her shoulder. "Hush, I'll get to you in a second."
Ying-Ying was looking critically at Rei. "What did you pray about, my dear lovely miko?"
Rei opened her eyes to transfix them with her golden irises. Ying-Ying's breath caught.
"He's accepted you as his priestess too!" She exclaimed in happiness. "Oh how wonderful!"
Rei smiled as she blushed. "He did."
"Rei-chaaaaaaan!"
"Okay, okay. And now that my surprise has been revealed, we come to the other reason we were praying. May I present our lovely Lady Nightingale!" She stepped aside with a flourish of her wings to reveal the ninja girl.
Ying-Ying clapped her hands. "Your Regalia!"
Ukyo licked her lips as she drank in the sight before her. Konatsu was a vision in black and gold. She stood in a pair of thigh high boots, the stiletto heels coming to needle sharp points. Ornate golden shinguards covered their fronts, rising to an engraved circular knee guard topped by twin horns that curved like flames. The tops of the boots were encased in a wide circlet of gold that grasped her thighs tightly, the hilts of numerous kunai showing above them, black ribbons fluttering from their ring shaped pommels. A narrow V of black silk covered her pubis, rising to hug her hips, more kunai tucked under the taunt cloth on both sides. Two golden medallions were attached to the cloth at her hips, and a long skirt hung down from them, the bottom border of the skirt a heavy zig zagging band of gold that gave it the impression of the tips of feathers. Her mid-riff was bare, but another narrow band of skintight cloth made an x across her breast and shoulders. Another set of medallions were attached to the front of her shoulders, a cloak attached to them that hung down to her ankles, it's golden hem matching the skirt. Long gloves covered her arms, covered like her boots with guards on her lower arms, and a wide band sporting kunai at the tops. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, a narrow tube of leather raising it six inches or so behind her head, her chopstick stilettos piercing the tube and securing it, the black leather making a lovely contrast with her white hair. Konatsu let them get a long look at her front before she stuck out her tongue and twirled to let them see the back, revealing that her rear end was nearly as bare as Ukyo's, and that the top of the skirt hung down in the back to mid thigh, while her cloak was split to mid back and did little to conceal the strings making a y at the small of her back, a half dozen shuriken tucked under the upper strands. She looked over her shoulder impishly and stuck out her tongue as her hands rose to the medallions on her shoulders, and the cloak fell away into her hand, twisting around as it reshaped itself into a massive fuuma shuriken, revealing that the back of her top was also just an x of strings. Konatsu giggled. "Look, Ukyo. You made me even more revealing in back than you are!"
Ukyo blushed. "Oh gods, you know I designed the Regalia?"
Ying-Ying kissed her on the cheek. "Sorry my dear soldier. I am afraid I spilled the beans."
Ukyo facepalmed. "Orihime was such a hentai" she moaned.
Ying-Ying nodded. "Yup. And a most wonderful one."
Ukyo looked at the ceiling as she shimmered back into her armor. "Alright, then I might as well be proud of the fact." She turned to look at Ying-Ying. "Alright, your turn."
"Hummm?"
"Come on Ying-Ying, we're all in our Regalia, time for you to show yours."
"Nope."
"Whadda ya mean, 'nope'?"
Ying-Ying put on a smug grin. "You are just going to have to wait."
"Aww, that's not fair Ying-chan!" Konatsu pouted. "We made such an effort to be able to show you mine!"
Ying-Ying nodded. "Yes. Which is why I am not showing off mine tonight. I don't want to distract anyone from the effort you made to give us this wonderful surprise. Don't worry. You'll get to see it soon. How about I give you a consolation prize and show off your favorite outfit instead?"
Konatsu blinked. "My favorite outfit?"
Ying-Ying's dress poofed. "This one!"
Konatsu's eyes grew round "Ooooooh..."
Then Ying-Ying pounced the ninja girl and they both fell into the bed as Ukyo grinned and dimmed the lights. She bowed to Rei as her armor faded out of existence. "Well, my Lady Phoenix, shall we join them?"
Rei blinked her golden eyes as she reached up to unhook the chain on her breast plate, dropping it and her skirts to the floor. "I can't believe I'm doing this."
"There's still time to back out."
"Oh god's no." She caught Konatsu's glove as it flew by her and giggled. "We better hurry or she might not have any clothes left for us to take off."
Ukyo raced her for the bed.
She glared down at her opponent as she gathered her chi, releasing the Talon and Fang to either side of her to float upright. They began to orbit her, leaving glowing copies of themselves around her as a forest of blades formed. Effortlessly, she called upon the ringing crystalline power within her, summoning dozens, then hundreds, until nearly a thousand blades surrounded her. Her eyes narrowed as she called out the name of the form.
"Shiva's Dance, Ultimate Attack, Dance at World's End!"
The blades around her raced to strike Ukyo down...
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The scene shifted, and she found herself floating in the courtyard of Mikado castle, the Talon and Fang piercing Rei's hands as she looked at her with golden eyes. A spray of blood spread from around the miko's hands, moving imperceptibly in the frozen moment.
She tried to close her eyes in shame, only to find herself in another place.
((If this is what you need, Zhu-Shu, then take me! Take me and come back to yourself!))Ukyo cried in terror. ((If you need me this badly, I won't fight you! Just please, come back to me!))
She sobbed, the pain inside her overwhelming.
Blood rained down on her from the body of a young okami named Kouga as she cried. Then Naraku laughed as she felt the warm blood of a nameless girl splash across her face.
"Let me disappear, let me disappear, let me disappear." she whispered between sobs.
"You suffer so beautifully." Naraku crooned...
"Just let me disappear," she pleaded.
She hovered in darkness, filled beyond bearing with Light...
"Please... just let me disappear..."
Her eyes opened to stare at an unfamiliar ceiling. Tears dripped from her eyes to fall onto her ears as she stared without really seeing. Her hand rose to press against her breast, feeling nothing.
No heartbeat.
Her eyes lowered to look at her hand as she raised it from her breast. She sighed, and lowered her hand as her eyes closed again.
Why am I still here? Why can't I die?
Noiseless sobs racked her body. For long moments, she cried before finally opening her eyes again. Listlessly, she looked around the room. Faint traceries of light crisscrossed everything.
Cobwebs? She blinked, then waved her hand at them. They shattered into glowing motes and dissipated. She felt the tingle in her hand as they did so. No, spells. I wonder what they were for?
She sat up slowly, with great effort, and shook her head, her earrings chiming softly. She looked down to see that she was dressed in a hospital gown of some sort. She grimaced and tore it away in disgust.
Animals don't wear clothes.
There was nothing she could see around the room that could tell her where she was. Not that it really mattered. Her hand pressed against her breast again and she dug in her claws until they encountered a smooth hardness.
So, the Shikon has become my heart.
She dug harder, moaning softly in agony, but try as she might she couldn't get a good enough grip on the jewel to rip it free. She finally gave up and sat crying as her body restored itself.
Why can't I just disappear?
What could have been hours passed before she finally fluttered up off the bed and crossed the room to the door. She tried to figure it out for several minutes until she finally found the switch, and the door slid aside to reveal the pale form of Kanna.
They stared at each other for an eternity before Zhu-Shu spoke. "How is your sister?" she whispered.
"Alive." Kanna whispered back.
Zhu-Shu nodded listlessly and stepped past her into the hall. More traceries of spells covered the walls. She didn't even bother to try and figure out what they were before waving her hand and dispelling them. She stood and looked down the hall, wandering where she should go.
Kanna took her hand. When Zhu-Shu looked down, she started walking down the hall, leading her. At the farthest door she stopped and pointed.
The door opened noiselessly, the room beyond dark and quiet. Kanna stood to the side of the door as Zhu-Shu entered.
It was a bedroom, and the air smelled strongly of passion. She felt an aura of peace and contentment, one echoing in the back of her mind as she realized her soul links were humming. Reluctantly, she fluttered towards the bed as the door closed behind her.
There were more people than she had thought there would be. Then as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she could see clearly, her throat choked off the sob.
Ying-Ying...
It was impossible, but her eyes couldn't deny the sight before them. Ying-Ying was whole, and physical, lying in the bed before her, her head resting on the thigh of another girl, her fingers curled in the other's white pubic hair. Ukyo lay curled next to the pink haired angel, her head resting on Ying-Ying's stomach, while Rei laid curled around the white haired girl's form on the opposite side.
But it was the white haired girl herself who filled Zhu-Shu's soul with ice as she shook her head in denial.
No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!
She turned and fled, barely able to open the door before she blurred down the hall, leaving Kanna reaching out for her vanished form.
It was nearly dawn. A soft creak came from the chain above her as she slowly swung back and forth. She couldn't have even told anyone where she was or how she had gotten there, her mind was a blank from the moment she had recognized Clove entangled with her soulmates. It could have been hours since she had found this desolate playground and it's swing set. Time was meaningless.
Why can't I disappear...
She didn't even move as footsteps drew close, and a hand reached down to pat her on the head. Empty eyes rose to stare blankly into the dark eye sockets of a fine porcelain mask, two red streaks descending from it's eyes like the fangs of a tiger.
"Welcome, child. I have been waiting for you..."
