Greetings! Here's the fic I promised from the guy on vacation, but I'm not
sure if I should add another scene or two. Care to comment on it? The
other's are being started, but I just got back from a trip to Florida, and
am trying to get my wits together. Anyone on the list stationed in Mayport
or Jacksonville Florida w/the military? Anyway, enjoy!
Ja ne!!!^_^
-Kenji Murasaki (Writing from his nice vacation spot.)
"Damn morning people, annoying, cheerful, energetic morning people.
People
better off dead. Shoot them just on principle. Blaster,
near. Shoot. No.
Stay. In bed. Forever. My place, my bed. Mine, mine."
"Stuff" by Gheorghe2
"Could someone please explain to me how he managed to put a
Club(tm) on the entry plug?"
-Asuka, Excerpt from the Obnoxious Otaku Series
"You can't look dignified when you're having fun."
-Wes Janson, Solo Command
Brought to you by:
THE
NN N EEEEEE X X U U SSSSSS
N N N E X X U U S S
N N N EEE XX U U S
N N N E X X U U SSSSSS
N N N E X X U U SS
N NN EEEEEE X X UUUUU S S
N N SSSSSSS
ICQ: 36417150 (KMurasaki@Hotmail.com)
Get sucked into the Nexus!
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/4835/index.html
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
-- File: AWANPch1.txt
The following characters are not mine. Some are the work of Naoko Takeuchi;
some are the result of Juzo Mutsuki and Madhouse. All credit on mentioned
characters and some concepts should be sent to them. Don't sue, you won't
get much. Take care, as it contains lime-like material. Enjoy!
-Kenji Murasaki (KMurasaki@Hotmail.com)
Saturday 11:10 a.m.
The sun erased the final traces of morning in the district of Juban, Japan,
its citizens already about their daily task and duties. Throughout the city,
the sounds of civilization were constant and widespread. Papers ruffling in
offices around town; read, proofed, and signed by busy executives with the
taste of coffee still fresh in their mouths. Impatient ravings along the
Wall Street part of town about what and how much to buy or sell. The
registers ringing sale after sale of rushed consumers and hyper teenagers,
glad for their day off to relax. Children in the park emitting squeals of
delight while at play. The banging, clanging, and shouting of construction
workers rebuilding yet more monster-ravaged city blocks.
The Hikawa Shrine was particular in the thick of this reconstruction, as
it usually is. The Shrine location is well known for its charms, readings,
and choice location of attack for any demon or devil that just happened to
cruse by that day. It really did do the semi peaceful temple was home to one
of the town's well-known fuku suited fighters who were acknowledged as the
Sailor Senshi. Said sailor would usually spend her time at this time doing
her chores, relaxing and taking in the relative peace while she could, or
was involved with her friends planing or preparing for something to occupy
the day with; the later being the correct one in this case.
At the current moment, she and her friends were all in her room, which was
a bit cramped for all of them. A closer look would indicate to anyone with
a special eye that this was actually too big an inconvenience for all five
girls at present to look that much like the Senshi. They were strewn about
the room in no specific manner other than a relaxed one: The dark blue
haired one was in a chair currently reading a book. Another seemed to act
as pillars to hold up the wall, her trademark ponytail resting peacefully
at her shoulder. A longhaired blonde was putting a beanbag and teddy bear
in use not far from the bed. The bed served as a seat for the last two: The
other blonde with super long ponytails was also enveloping a teddy, and the
other one, the Senshi in question, had her head in her hand, her raven bangs
covering her eyes, and a scowl on her face.
The pony-tailed one spoke up. "So when does she get here?"
Rei Hino sighed. "In about two hours. I guess I could be happier, but that
baka Yuuchiro forgot to give it to me."
"And what was that, two days ago?" Minako asked.
"Nope, more like yesterday evening. I saw him hand it to her with an
apology. He said it came two days ago," Ami then added, "Rei, I still think
you should apologize to him as well. He didn't deserve to be hit like that.
And besides, It's just a slight inconvenience, nothing too bad to worry
about."
"I don't think he'll be talking to anyone coherently after that lick."
Makoto snickered, then turned to her grumpy (for lack of a better word)
friend.
"So Rei, what's she like?" Usagi asked the Shinto priestess.
"I haven' t seen her in years, though we do keep in some contact. She's your
basic friendly kind of person. But she liked to flirt, a lot. We used to
keep the boys blushing and gaping over us all the time." She frowned at a
new memory. "But there was this kid that had a serious crush on her, but
never approached her. I remember him passing out because she was hanging
upside down from some monkey bars, with her skirt over her head."
Makoto went into a giggling fit. "Sounds like what happened to Usagi and
Umino in fourth grade."
"That wasn't funny! I didn't know he was there!" Usagi threw a pillow at the
girl, and shot her a dirty look.
Minako added in on the snickers. "Oh yeah, I remember Shingo telling us
about that. You got caught with your skirt down!" She broke out in laughter,
soon followed by everyone else save for a fuming Usagi, and Ami, who was
trying to fight the giggles herself. "That's pants Mina-chan."
Once the laughter died down, Rei continued. "Well, the last letter I
received
from her told me he was still there, still as shy, and added nosebleeds
to his passing out routine. The weird thing was she enjoyed the attention."
She sighed. "It's gonna be good to see her again. I wanted to see what she
was up to anyway. I wonder if her grandma is still on that training drive of
hers."
Makoto arched an eyebrow at that. "She's a martial artist, and a flirt? I
like her already."
Rei looked thoughtful for a moment. "I don't think she went that far. Her
grandmother just had her training a lot. She kept mentioning 'family
tradition' and acted like a drill instructor during sessions." She shook her
head. "I participated some times, but it was a little too hard for me."
"So let's go already, I want to meet her!" Usagi called.
"Actually, just grandpa and I are going to meet her. How about we catch up
later at the mall? I wanted a little time for her to settle in before she
meets you and I get embarrassed Usagi."
"I would not! Stop being so mean!"
"What? I bet if I took you, you'd probably klutz out and knock over the
luggage carrier or something."
Usagi shot a raspberry at Rei. " Meanie!"
Rei retorted with her own tongue. "Brat!"
The tongue war ensued, earning a facefault from the rest of the group.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Yohko Mano pushed herself deeper into the kiss of her soon-to-be lover. The
probe of her oral cavity drove her to no end of excitement. She had finally
found him. The man now working his way down her neck was not out for her
'female gifts'. He wasn't another demon either; a string of exorcist test
had proved that. He was all hers, his mind, body, and soul to her molding
and pleasure. Oh yeah, she was going to enjoy this.
His playful tongue ran across her collarbone, earning a shiver and giggle
from her. She tilted her head back, as he took cue and worked his way down
her chest, unbuttoning her school shirt with his teeth every step of the
way. He then looked up at her, and kissed her passionately once again. She
reached behind her back for a moment, then hesitated. Was he worth it? Was
he worthy? She pondered on it for a moment, in a vain attempt to convince
herself that this wasn't going to be quite possibly the best thing that has
ever happened to her.
Yohko looked into his soft blue eyes, only to find understanding and love
there. She decided for a tiebreaker since he wasn't going to help. She gazed
at his perfectly crafted chest, and made her choice. [ Sorry, pleasure
before business], she told the rational part of her mind as she let the bra
drop, revealing her fleshy mounds to him.
He took one nipple into his mouth and gently pinched the other one, earning
a deep moan from Yohko. She subconsciously pushed her breast into his face
as his assault. Her nerves shot electricity through her while he suckled
her, filling her with senseless bliss. She lifted his forehead, and pulled
him into another kiss, doing her best to touch the back of his throat.
At that motion, he stood strait and reached for the fastener for his pants.
She practically squealed with delight and impatience, but held herself in
restraint. There was no need for a rush, and she definitely wanted this to
last for a long time. It was then that she took note that he seemed to be
reaching instead of unzipping.
She had no further time to ponder why, as he pulled a mallet from seemingly
nowhere, and took a rather good swing at her with it.
"RANMA NO BAKA!!!"
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Being constantly awoken like this before, care of her grandmother, Yohko
fell into instinct immediately. She dove and rolled to her left, only to
discover two things: One, she wasn't the one being swung on. And two, the
only thing between her window seat on the train, and the floor, were the
atoms that made the air she had just sharply inhaled upon impact with the
carpeted ground. She would have risen, but something, or someone, had
stumbled into her, putting both her and said person into another role and
a rather precarious position. Being Yohko, she had locked onto one thing
about the guy, he was cute. Truly sad that she couldn't admire him further
as his assailant stomped up the pathway, a seething look on her face, and
a very big mallet in her hand. The wielder of the blunt object obviously
did not like the seen before her.
The two on the floor finally took notice of their position, and quickly
disentangled. The man was the first to speak.
"It's not what you think!" He exclaimed. "I stumbled into her and she
grabbed me and...."
"Hey!" Yohko shot back, not liking the way the blaming was being directed.
"You ran into me! I was enjoying my nap until you up and tumbled all over
me!" [Not that I didn't enjoy the feeling], she silently added.
Yohko didn't think that many other people could generate that much of an
aura field, and started wishing for her sword. [ She could kill someone with
that output.] Fortunately for her, it was being directed at the male in
accusation.
"Ranma, you, you, pervert!"
She executed a perfect field kick that knocked him well into the other side
of the car. He picked himself up from his imprint in the wall, and started
to clean himself off. Yohko noted he looked none too happy with what just
happened, and he was completely unharmed, save for his pride maybe.
He grabbed a pack from the upper compartment, and headed toward the door,
grumbling every step of the way.
"Kawiikune tomboy, never listens to my side of the story..." He was cut off
as his form was sent through the open doorway, courtesy of Air Akane. Said
pilot then collected her suitcase, and left in a huff.
[ I didn't think you could get that kind of trajectory out of someone.]
Yohko thought, taking her seat once more. She paused to mourn for her
dream's sudden death. It was one of her better ones, no tentacles, no body
snatching demons. It was just her, her lover, and the most comforting silk
sheets she had ever felt in her life.
She snapped out of her reverie, and studied her current location. [Nerima
District, Juuban should be next.] It was about time anyway. This trip was
agonizingly long, and she wanted to see her friend now. It had been so long
since they had actual eye contact. Letters were fine, but no match for
physical appearance.
Every time she thought about it, she would feel sad, and wish her best
friend didn't move away like that. Those days with Rei were some of the
best of her life. They would always be doing something or plotting something
that put the in a world of unstoppable laughter, or parental trouble. Boys
would bow at their sudden appearance, girls would grumble in envy and
jealousy; Osamu would pass out at every pass Rei made; though she was too
stubborn to admit it. And thanks to grandparents, they had gotten in a lot
of culture too. With her grandmother training her for no reason (or so she
thought at the time), and grandfather Hino teaching them about the shrine
and its religion, they always had something slightly interesting the adults
wanted them to do, and it was a great excuse to camp out together.
They'd done more than the usual amount of things best friends do, then her
dad packed her up and moved her away. It was extremely depressing for Yohko
that week, until Chi came and cheered her up. Still, she missed her friend,
and hoped this ride would be over soon so she could see her again.
Her head turned at the sudden jerk movements of the train. Its whistle blew,
and it began to roll out of the station. She sighed. It was all a game of
patience now. She would soon see her friend, and things would seem normal
again.
She stewed on that line of thought for a moment. On the term of normal, her
current lifestyle was anything but normal. Being a resident devil hunter had
no benefits in anything along the lines of a social life. Her friend Chi was
more concerned with temporary diets and managing her career at the moment,
Azusa acted more as a robot with the way she was taking her role as devil
hunter in training, and any attention she received from the opposite sex
was usually an attempt by some demon to use her. And her grandmother was
no help either. After that Tokima thing, she just pushed Yohko even harder,
turning into a full-fledged drill instructor. This vacation was definitely a
godsend, and she would do her best to see it stayed in the bounds of reality
the way she preferred it, no demons attached.
And if Rei didn't know about her new responsibilities, she wasn't planning
on telling her anytime soon. The last thing she wanted, as a welcome from
Rei was a swift boot out the door in case some demon was tracking her, as
always. [ No], she told herself. [ Just a normal relaxed period away from
that craziness.]
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Rei Hino sat at a bench at the Juuban Transit Station, fuming at the state
of human intelligence for the twentieth time. She was uncomfortable, this
silly little bell boy that frequented her area of presence was constantly
starring at her in ways she more than didn't appreciate, and Yuuchiro was
not here to accept the brunt of a rage that was desperate to vent. To
compound the wound, her grandfather was proving a true adept at annoying her
at the moment.
Even now, the elderly priest threw a knowing smirk at his apprentice of a
grandchild. "Well Rei, you know glaring at the youth won't stop him from
looking at his new source of joy. How can you help it if you have such an
attractive air about you?"
"Stop teasing me!" Rei puffed at the elderly priest, who had never even
wavered in his facial smile, nor his mischievous grin. "If you hadn't called
him over and looked at the board that has the train schedules, I wouldn't
have to put up with some pervert's starring at me!"
Grandfather Hino lips went from grin to sly, irritating her even further.
"Well, he wouldn't stare so much if you had followed my advice and worn
something to cover a little more than that," he pointed to the skirt that
failed to pass off as her epidermis only because of the color. It did more
than its share in outlining her bottom, but it was fast becoming one of her
least favorite articles of clothing. "Than you wouldn't have such problems
with the lad."
The raven-haired girl refused to give ground in the fashion war that had
raged with a savagery that had more than surpassed her senshi foes and their
goal of universal destruction. So what if she wanted to compliment her
figure
outside of Shrine grounds? Her priestess robes were fine, but she did like
to don things that showed her shape. Even her uniform, despite the daring
shortness and firm fit, was tailored especially for her. So what if a few
perverted boys were starring and day-dreaming about her? It wasn't as if she
told them to.
"I can wear what I want. I do buy them." She gave the Shinto man a cold
stare. "And you know good and well that I have more than enough sense to
pick carefully out of the perverts for someone with enough brain that runs
past the usual male functions." She smirked and fired her return shots.
"Besides, I don't see you chiding any other of the girls you try to put into
your shrine."
The priest's smile only twitched. Normally he would more than oblige her
In a shouting match, or role her into a defensive posture with something
else, But his sight had caught something that he hadn't seen for quite some
time. The subject was about as tall as Rei, just as lean, and had a pair
of tan shorts that came to mid thigh. She was also sporting a white shirt
made something like an evening gown, leaving her shoulders bare, though it
stillhad sleeves that reached her wrists, and was trailed by the same boy
that had been making passes at Rei. Her hair, a dark brunette, was done up
in two very elaborate loops on either side of her head, which were held in
place by two red jeweled ornaments. It reminded him of one of Rei's other
friends who had a specific taste in hair styles. The girl was headed their
way, a wide smile upon her face, and an aura that was hard to hide from one
who knew what he was looking for. He may have not recognized this Yohko from
the little girl who had kept Rei so happy and carefree, but the aura, though
much stronger than when he had last saw it, was unmistakably the same from
when he last saw it.
"Well Rei, none of those girls are my granddaughter," He pointed behind
his grandchild. "But I'll be more than happy to change that with this young
lady."
Rei turned to see who he was going to annoy now, and gave a joyful cry
as she ran to hug her childhood friend, who had just recognized the people
in front of her. "Yohko-chan! You made it!"
That was about all that the priest could make out before words powered by
speed, backed by excitement, and tainted with impatience. The two then
turned
and headed back to him, a slightly embarrassed bag boy in tow. Yohko stopped
and bowed before him. "It's nice to see you again grandpa."
The Shinto priest chuckled, but returned the gesture. "And a pleasure to
see you as well little one." She seemed to relax at hearing her nickname.
"Well, this is fine, but what do you say we get you two back to the shrine
so you can get yourselves affiliated again and then catch up?"
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
<Flashback>
"I don't know Rei-chan," Yohko rubbed her sandled toe in the dirt. "Old
people always make you wanna do things for them. She could be like grandma."
Rei pulled the girl away from Seyako and Mr. Hino having their
conversation.
"That's why you gotta meet him! It proves that not all people make you work
and exercise like your grandma does. He's really nice, and he teaches me
lots
of neat stuff about the shrine."
Submitting with a sigh, Yohko allowed the little girl to pull her along.
"You'd better be right." She said as they headed up the stairs.
The autumn was setting in, and gave an array of bronzed and tan colors
to the trees standing, covered also by prayer strips and wards. Among all
of this, a small man stood sweeping away the colors that had scattered to
the ground. Looking up, he caught sight of the two small children running
in his direction. One he knew immediately as his granddaughter, but the
other he had no familiarity with. However, her aura was strong, rivaling
Rei's; a special feat accomplished by both. How such small children could
possess such large essences was something to look into, but he knew better.
Obviously this was the grandchild of Madoka Mano, meaning this girl was the
next in line to pick up their family mantle of Devil Hunter.
Rei waved to the priest, to which he returned. After walking up, Rei bowed
in formal greeting, and her friend followed, though she seemed wary of the
old man. "It's nice to meet you Granpa."
He smiled, and returned the gesture in kind. "A pleasure to meet you as
well little one."
She giggled. He wasn't as nearly as rude or mean as she thought he was
going to be, so far.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
The Shrine was as she remembered it, a haven with its constant colorful
assault year-round, as well as the holy, peaceful feel that made her feel
safe. She had visited Rei as she went here just about every year for half
a summer. Those times had indeed been fun, and they spent the entire time
talking about the things they used to do: Roasting sweet potatoes over an
open fire, Grandfather Hino teaching them how to read the Sacred Fire, the
incident where Rei was running around grounds trying to find where her
clothes, including the ones she had on, were hidden. Of course, Yohko did
tell her where she had thrown her robes and undergarments, eventually.
Rei had left her to get used to her room and told her that she would return
later. Yohko kicked off her shoes at the door and lay on the guest bed.
She'd
have to ask Rei about bunking instead. As much as she liked personal space
and separate rooms, she'd rather see as much of her friend as possible. But
first, there was that rather sticky feeling she had from the train ride. The
furo would be her next stop. She had just finished pulling out the
appropriate items when grandfather Hino knocked at her door.
She opened the door and bade him a greeting. "Do you need me for
something?"
The old man simply smiled. "Actually, I was coming to see if I could
persuade you to stay on and be tutored in the ways of the Shrine," He
motioned to the grounds and their rusted splendor. "But I believed I taught
you more than enough. Instead, I was wondering if you had gotten yourself
assituated."
"Mostly," she answered tiredly. "At the moment I was going to take a bath,
then go to Rei and ask her about the guy that is supposed to be staying
here too."
He smirked at the hidden mirth beneath her statement. "Oh? And what would
she know about my apprentice that I wouldn't?"
"Just if he's interested in anybody." She didn't bother to hide her smile.
She had seen him walking up the stairs, and had only gotten a small word of
greeting in, but could tell several things: If he wasn't moving on Rei by
now, he was either shy, or involved with someone. Either way, she more than
wanted to know him during her stay. It was her vacation after all.
"Well, he doesn't have much time for relationships here with his duties,"
The priest allowed a smile to grace his lips. "But I'll be sure to ask him
for you."
Yohko blushed. "Ah, that's okay Grandpa. I think I'll ask myself. " She
Then grabbed her personal items and left for the bath, leaving the elder
Hino to chuckle at her sudden embarrassment.
Said girl was on her way to the bathhouse, not taking true notice of the
woman floating twenty or so feet above her head. Kaolinite touched down and
finished her work quickly. Placing the egg of daimon inside a prayer tree,
she then vanished, satisfied that the job would be done, and a talisman
would be found.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
"Usagi, aren't you supposed to be at the mall with the girls?"
The rabbit looked sheepishly at her raven-haired friend, scratching at the
back of her head. "Well, they sent me ahead to come and get you two." She
looked around, and then outside of Rei's window in her room. "So where is
she?"
Rei frowned at the girl. "Couldn't wait could you?" Well, she is in the
bath at the moment, so just settle your nerves for a while, okay?" Having
said what she felt would vent her annoyance at the girl, she turned back to
the task of doing her homework, only to feel at unease when she saw Usagi's
sullen expression. "What's wrong now? You couldn't have looking forward to
meeting her that much?"
Usagi sighed. "I was, but that's not the problem. Mamo-chan saw my grades
and says that I should spend more time studying, and less time on dates with
him."
"He's right. You know what shape you grades are in Usagi. How are you
supposed to get past the high school entrance exams if you don't study?" Rei
ignored the pouting look that was coming from the girl. Any other time Rei
would have definitely sided and comforted the girl, however that also would
have meant encouraging Usagi to waste more time not studying; something that
could put her future, be she the future queen or not, on a more difficult
path. She simply refused to be that person.
"But we already have our study groups in the afternoon don't we? Why
couldn't I just..." She fell silent upon an old realization. "Oh yeah. Dad
won't let me go on a night date."
"Usagi, just face it like a woman. You're not going to be able to see him
like you want to until you pass the exams."
"See who?"
Both girls turned to Yohko, in some fresh clothing, at the doorway to Rei's
room. Her look became sheepish as she caught site of Usagi. "Oh, I'm sorry.
I thought that you were on the phone."
Rei's displeasure at the sudden situation was quickly hidden. "Um, Yohko,
this is Usagi, one of my friends I was talking about." She chuckled
nervously.
"Usagi, this is my friend Yohko."
The two bowed to each other, then the giggling began. "What's so funny
Rei?"
They asked in unison.
Rei was gazing at them through watered eyes. "I just notice the two things
you had most in common." Losing the battle of control at pointing to their
hairdo, she collapsed into laughter's embrace. The two girls looked at each
other, then at the bundle of shivers that was on the ground. "Actually,"
Usagi said, "I was going to ask where you had gotten the ornaments to tie
your hair with."
Yohko smiled. "They're a family treasure. My mother gave them to me when
I was younger, and I did my hair up with them. How did you get them into
those balls? Rubber bands?"
Usagi giggled slightly. "Only Minako knows that I don't use them." She
patted at the corner of her head subconsciously. "I used to, but it started
to hurt a lot, so I found other ways. Ribbons, pins, even a couple of
strands
of hair."
"Minako?"
"Our other friend. There's Mina-chan, Mako-chan, and Ami-chan. We were
actually supposed to meet at the Tenth Street shopping district, but I came
early." This time it was Usagi's turn to look sheepish. "I wanted to see
Rei's childhood friend. It really is nice to meet you."
"It's nice meeting you too." Yohko looked down at the figure just gaining
her composure. "Well, are you done? I want to go check out the guys at the
mall now."
Rei gave her a look of slight belief. "Already? You just got here." Her
gaze turned to Usagi, who found Rei's manga suddenly interesting. "We
weren't
even due to go for another hour."
"Well I want to meet the others." She clung to her friend's arm and dragged
her out the door. "Besides, when was the last time we were able to go out
together?"
Usagi looked at the raven-haired girl's expression, but simply shrugged and
followed after the two.
Yohko continued on to the steps of the shrine when something threw a sharp,
pointed branch into the pavement mere inches in front of her step.
"YOU LITTLE BRAT! YOU TRIED TO KILL ME! NOW YOU'LL PAY!"
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Earlier:
Yohko was playing with a strand of her slightly damp hair, when she sensed
it. It wasn't what she was sadly used to, but there was still no mistaking
the evilness generating from it, the malevolence. She concentrated,
attempting to locate the source, and stopped her gaze at one of the warded
trees of the shrine. She didn't remember any sealed devils in the shrine
from her visits, and she definitely knew that it was near impossible for a
devil to be active with a ward on it, let alone that many wards. So what was
it that could actually be alive and growing inside a spirit protected tree?
The Devil Hunter sighed. [So much for the vacation. Couldn't they had even
waited until she had gotten acquainted with her surroundings?]
She gathered her spiritual aura around her, just enough to silence it so
she could deal with it later. She was the only one present that knew of her
Devil Hunter heritage, and she intended to keep it that way. She could come
back when everyone was sleep, and then deal with it in a more direct,
discreet manner. She walked up to the tree, and placed a hand on it,
channeling her energy through it.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
This was wonderful. Its prey was in enough range that it didn't have to
Go chasing after it, and its birth was only moments away. It chuckled
softly.
this was going to be perfect. Talisman or no, it was going to make a great
kill. So much better if it did have one of the talisman, but it was still
going to enjoy the kill.
Then it happened. The burning started small, then course through it, now
her, entire being; wildfire destroying every new cell, nerve, and ounce of
energy she had. She screamed, but no sound, the result of no mouth, came
forward. She fought through the pain; she had to. Her quarry was still
functional, so she still had a mission to finish. It was a losing battle,
the light, so pure and deadly, had more than destroyed half of her being,
and was on its way to devouring the rest of her. Her only coherent thoughts
were of apologies to her master for not completing her goal...
Then it stopped, and left her drained, but living. It took her remaining
energy, the energy needed to steal the Heart Crystal, to keep living with
what she had left. In licking her severe wounds, she only thought of one
thing, her new goal:
The assailant, the girl now walking away, was going to pay in blood for
such an insult. The upstart should have killed her, but in making her
mistake, she had doomed herself. Perhaps mistress Kaolinite would find it
forgivable if she just brought both bodies to her.
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Now:
The daimon looked at its assailant with eyes of maddened rage. This puny
thing had managed to harm her in such a way that she had to throw her
primary
weapon away to just maintain a hold to this mortal plane? This was the
source
of that accursed light? She began to glow a dark blue, and growl in disgust.
This little girl was going to die. Slowly. Painfully.
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The girls took a look at what was before them. It looked the mix of
a sickly tree half chopped at, and a starved human. It, her, skin was a
mix of colors, and few looked healthy on her. She was shaking with anger,
pointing at them with half of a arm that was hard to distinguish between
a human arm somewhat mutilated, and a badly hacked at tree. She was
also emitting an azure aura that was flickering on and off, and sweat was
pouring from her head. She, in summary, was the bad result of a blender
mixed with a mulch machine.
[Another youma?] Rei thought. It was too hard to even tell. The thing was
evil, but it was also looking as if it was about to fall out in exhaustion.
The second thought was its comment, and the death glare at Yohko. What had
she done, taken an ax to her while she was hiding? Her third thought was
how to get out of this without showing her identity to her loop-haired
friend.
Her prayers were unfortunately answered when the daimon moved with a speed
it looked like it shouldn't have had. The blow to Yohko was just as quick,
and landed the girl unconscious on her back. Usagi went up to the girl's
prone form, checking for wounds, but only found a bump where she had been
struck on the head. She turned and saw the daimon on top of them, another
pointed wooden staff in its mangled hands. It raised to a position of
striking, and then began wirthing in pain from the prayer strip on her back.
Rei, maintaining enough of a check on her temper to think straight, struck
the Daimon with another strip, and then turned and ran as it gave chase to
her. [That should give Usagi enough time to take Yohko to safety.]
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Usagi tried her best not to think about the fact that she had just left Rei
to deal with a monster on her own. It was not one of her most favorite
things
to do, but despite all, she knew that the priestess could hold the thing off
at least until she got there. For now, she had a fallen friend to attend to.
Usagi checked for any obvious sign of injury that the attack could have
dealt, but found nothing save for a bump where she was struck. Usagi sighed
with relief, but couldn't help but feel something unsettling about the light
damage. That was a blow to loosen teeth. Maybe she would have a concussion?
There was time to dabble on that later, she decided. Rei needed backup,
and she was going to deliver. Making sure grandfather Hino was nowhere in
sight, and placing the unconscious Yohko in Rei's room, she uttered the
words
that would bring her the power needed to defeat this new diluted, physically
decapitating evil.
"MOON CRYSTAL POWER MAKE UP!"
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Rei turned to face the damaged daimon after realizing that she had run into
a dead end. However this thing managed to look intimidating while wheezing
was beyond her. Currently it had another wooden lance ready to be launched
at her, though it was obviously straining from the effort of just holing it.
Rei smiled. To be damaged, and have wood as a primary weapon while facing
her? A mistake that this reject from a lumber yard was going to regret. She
had her henshin stick out by the time that it had finished forming the
lance,
and was already imagining the words that would release her power, and wrath,
upon the youma for harming her friend.
"MARS STAR POWER MAKE UP!"
The transformation took place, and Sailor Mars struck a pose. "How dare
you mold such a peaceful plants into a tool for your sick intentions! In the
name of Mars, I'll punished you!"
A lance to the spot where she was standing milliseconds ago was her reply.
For a youma that looked ready to collapse at any moment, it certainly put
up
quite a skirmish. She had attempted physical attacks to guage what she was
dealing with, only to have it hold her at bay with a wicked-looking quarter
staff that came from nowhere. Then came the part where she simply began a
barrage of fire attacks against it, but it proved able to still maintain an
even greater speed than when it was chasing her, and was dodging the
fireballs with what seemed like little or no trouble. Then the thing
switched
to the offense, making her give ground, or risk being hit with a stick that
did a lot more than just smart. She had to figure a way to put the thing
back to defending itself without leaving herself wide open for an attack
that
was likely to prove stunning, if no more.
The daimon feinted a swing to her left leg, and she went to block, leaving
her right flank completely open to the vicious kick that put her to her
knees
holding her side. Then it picked her up, and began glowing that same sickly
blue. Mars failed to register the pain from being slammed into the wall by
arms that had tripled in their length, as she was still dealing with the
pain
in her side, adding to the fact that the monster was now draining her of
energy. It's pale flesh color began to take a more healthy shade, and the
nervous twitching ceased altogether. It disconnected it's hands and
regenerated new ones, and seem to pull the fresh-looking robe open,
revealing a mass amount of cleavage, as well as a black star that was
flashing with energy. Mars felt the most painful thing she had
felt in her life.
Then a tiara hit the daimon straight in her back, leaving a nasty scar
where it struck. It turned with a snarl on its lips to its attacker,
another fuku-suited fighter.
"How dare you assault my friend and the fine people of this shrine! For
interrupting the peace of this quiet shrine, I can't forgive you!" The girl
went through a series of poses. "I am the lovely sailor-suited soldier,
Sailor Moon, and in the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!"
Sailor Moon flew at the monster with her feet extended to a drop kick, was
grabbed by the same two feet, and was flung into the temple wall with only
slightly less momentum. Quickly shacking the cobwebs out, and promising
herself never to try that again, she sized up her enemy. The youma had
seemed
to grow much more healthy looking than it did a couple of minutes ago, and
its once flickering azure aura was now glowing red. She then took stock of
the motionless Sailor Mars stuck on the wall behind the growling willow. [It
must have drained her of her energy.] Sailor Moon's expression went slightly
cold. That was something this youma was going to pay for. Pulling the Moon
Scepter from seemingly nowhere, she aimed at the daimon.
"MOON PRINCESS...OOF!"
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The daimon had carefully regarded the energy gathering around the second
Senshi, and decided that while it wasn't lethal, it was still at least as
painful as the attack that had delayed this mission; definitely something
to not get hit by. So it reacted, swiftly, and tackled the girl into the
wall she had been introduced to only moments ago. Quickly deciphering the
source of her energy, it flung the scepter from her hands, and then bit hard
into her broach, cracking it completely, and transforming the girl into her
normal state. It smiled as the crystal located at the center of the jewelry
flickered for a moment longer, and died.
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Usagi fought to regain the air knocked out of her from the impact with the
wall. The back of her eyes would not stop stinging, and there was a definite
rigging in her ears. She was briefly aware of her scepter being knocked from
her hands, and then the pain began. It was sharp and brief, but it also
was coming from the inside of her. Something was being ripped from her
being.
She choked on ignorance of what it was, and fear that it might kill her.
Then
Then she finally came to realize that something just as important as her
beating heart was being ripped from her person. She opened her eyes in time
to see her broach, the source of her power and the holding place of the
ginzouishou, fall from her chest to the ground. Her fuku uniform burst into
ribbons of carnation light around her, and she was once again plain old
Usagi
Tsukino, and Sailor Moon had fallen, powerless to aid her in any way.
The youma locked her into the wall in the same was she did Rei, and she was
helpless to do nothing more but watch and scream as something just as vital
was pulled from the unconscious Sailor Mars. The raven-haired girl was shot
with a black energy beam, and began convulsing and shaking in pain. Then
a crystal, red with a glowing center that held together the many pointed
ends
of the gem, emerged from her chest, which had gone still, and flew into the
youma's hands. The wicked woodwind laughed in triumph, and turned in time to
accept a rather vicious magic attack. A combo of yellow and blue energy
slammed into the youma, vaporizing it completely, and leaving only the
strange crystal behind. Then to Usagi's continued shock and confusion, two
girls,
clad in senshi outfits, jumped down from a tree. The sandy blond picked up
the gem, and examined it intensely for a moment. Then mumbled something to
her partner, and threw the crystal to the fallen Mars, where it merely sunk
back into its place in her chest.
With no further words spoken, the two departed, leaving Usagi and Mars to
free themselves.
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This was not fun for Yohko, in the slightest. To be knocked out was one
thing, but to have a rather cheesy dream where a bunch of super-deformed
monsters were chasing people, and she was sitting like a giant upon some
building watching it all, was just too much for her. Then it happened, a
quiet so disturbing, the demons began to shriek just to fight it. It was a
futile effort, and demon and human alike began to disappear, leaving an aura
of death behind them.
She sighed, couldn't she have a nice dream where she didn't have to be
confronted with such stupid tricks? She had caught on with the manipulation
of her dreams after the incident with prince Ryu*, and several others had
done the same thing since. She gazed around once more, taking in a good
look at the crimson sky, the bodies vanishing left and right, the horrid
screams that were silenced when it approached, whatever 'it' was. It had no
form, no evidence that it existed, but she knew it was there. Less of a
malevolence, more of a overpowered force of nature.
Then it finally came to her, and vanished, taken away more then likely by
the person, or thing, that had activated this dream. But it didn't disappear
before Yohko got a good feel of the power. Faked or no, it was something
she did not wish to run into. Something with that much power behind it was
something you just didn't mess with without taking out a will.
She turned to the sky, and huffed. "Can I go back to help my friends, or
do you have any other mysterious puzzle piece to show me?" The sky seemed
to look indignant, then sweatdrop in reply.
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She awoke looking at Rei, which was a good thing. However the pain from
The now slightly larger bump on her forehead was something she could safely
put in the bad thing category. Rei, who had a relieved look on her face,
hugged the girl. "Thank goodness you're okay."
"What happened to that monster thing?"
A look into Rei's eyes seemed to show something, then it vanished, as it
never there. Now what would she be nervous about? "The thing chased me
around
for a moment before the Sailor Senshi appeared and took care of it."
Yohko looked slightly confused, but then remembering the other reason
that she was glad Rei decided to live here came to mind, and she calmed
down.
The Senshi were the only other fighters of evil that she knew about, and
even then it was only because Chi had designated them as competition should
she decide to help Yohko 'expand' her fight against rogue devils.
Remembering
the several dozen treks she had to make out of district to take care of
other
demons, she shuddered mentally. Those jogs alone were enough to not begrudge
the short-skirted warriors on anything they did. As far as she was
concerned,
it just saved her a trip should anything actually appear in this district.
In all her thinking of the Senshi, she paled as she recalled that there was
a face missing from the room. "Where's Usagi?"
Rei managed to look even more uncomfortable than she had a moment ago.
Usagi was fine, if you could call crying yourself to sleep about something
that shouldn't have been able to happen okay. She shuddered to even think
about what had happened to leave her friend so incredibly powerless...
"She's okay. She took a bump to the head too, but she's in the guest room
resting it off."
Yohko put a wry grin to her face. "I guess that means that the mall meeting
is canceled huh?" She smiled slightly at the scowl from her raven-haired
friend. Better to have her slightly angry at her for such a bad comment than
saddened over that whole ordeal. It suited her better anyway.
"Well I'm going to check on her and see if she's okay." Yohko sat up, but
Rei put a hand to her chest, restraining further movement. "What?" Getting
annoyed at the wary look Rei was giving her, she stared back. "It's not like
I'm crippled or anything. It's just a bump Rei; could've happened to anyone.
I'm a big girl."
Rei continued her gaze, then relented, allowing Yohko to rise. "Fine then,
but don't overexert yourself, okay?"
"Yes kaasan."
Yohko dodged the pillow on the way out of the room, leaving Rei with her
thoughts.
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