Yay! More already!
I just noticed the sudden rash of new C&C for this a few minutes ago, and
after reading I'm more or less forced to agree on many points. However, I
am making time to try and correct each and every little error, and I'll put
my overall thoughts at the end. And if I miss any, well, sorry. My english
ain't the best itself.
Sukban Senshi Chapter 7 part 2 of 3
"Jadeite, you disappoint me." Kunzite looked coldly
down at the kneeling General. "Three of the Kingdoms
finest warriors, your own High Captain among them, gone.
Worst of all the offering to Metalia was also lost."
"I have no excuses Lord Kunzite."
excuses, Lord
"You were gifted with Eternal Sleep before, for your
incompetence." Kunzite tapped a large crystal meaningfully.
Gifted? Odd choice. I'd think punished would be more appropriate.
Against his will Jadeite felt his eyes drawn to the
figure frozen in the energy trap, like a bug in amber.
Awkward sentance.
"Perhaps I made a mistake in giving you a second
chance?" Kunzite pursed his lips thoughtfully.
"No, Lord Kunzite. I am . . .grateful," Jadeite forced
the word past his lips, his soul burning at the amusement he
saw glimmering in Kunzite's eyes. "The senshi took me by
surprise with their tactics. I will not fail again."
"You may go." Kunzite made a dismissive gesture
and Jadeite vanished.
"So my old friend," Kunzite spoke conversationally
to the crystal monolith. "What do you think of your. . .self?"
Kunzite's lip curled in a smile that would have made a shark
nervous. "A most unexpected side-effect of my little project.
I got rid of Sailor Moon but _you_ returned." Kunzite rose
from his seat, adjusting his cape so that it fell smoothly from
his shoulders.
I suppose we're supposed to be wondering what is going on here?
"Can you hear me, in your Eternal Sleep?" Kunzite
pulled off his gauntlet and caressed the crystals surface. By
appearance it should have been cold and hard. Instead it was
gently warm and tugged at him with an almost irresistible
pull. One that would be fatal . . .or worse than fatal if he
gave in to the crystals seductive call.
"Ahhhh, you want me, don't you?" Whether he
spoke to the crystal or the man even Kunzite didn't know.
His hand sank into the surface a few millimeters. "Beryl has
a sense of humor, does she not?" Kunzite watched his hand
melt into the crystal. "Eternal Sleep . . .but you're not
asleep are you." A fraction more and he would touch the
outstretched hand of the condemned man. "Jadeite, first
among equals, Beryl's favorite . . ." Almost he could
imagine the imprisoned hand straining for his. "Metalia's
chief servant . . ."He stopped, no more than the width of a
sheet of paper separating their fingers. Kunzite closed his
eyes. Imagining their flesh meeting, hands clasping . . .
pulling free into the light. Or surrendering to forever,
trapped in pain . . .together.
Kinky.
Kunzite's back arched in delicious agony as he
pulled free of the crystal. Pulling the gauntlet over his
bleeding hand caused a burning pain that he could almost
imagine was another hand holding his. "I have to go now.
Some of Beryl's new allies are becoming fractious." He
turned to go in a swirl of spider-silk. "I'm glad you're
back." Kunzite gestured, plunging the room into darkness.
"Beryl was too merciful."
************************************************
Jadeite strode through the dimly lit corridors, his
face cool and controlled as always. It would have taken a
subtler intelligence than most youma were gifted with to
detect the fury behind his eyes.
As well as the inttelligence.
"You are troubled, Jadeite?" The mind behind the
soft voice was more subtle than any could imagine.
"Perhaps you would allow me the honor of aiding you."
"Why, I wonder, do I feel that your aid comes with a
price I would regret." Jadeite didn't slow his stride in the
slightest, forcing the speaker to follow in his wake.
"You are unnecessarily suspicious Jadeite. It grieves
me to see one of your nobility and accomplishments so
demeaned."
"Kunzite wishes me dead, and himself on Beryl's
throne. Neherenia wishes revenge on the White Moon and
eternal youth, Mistress Nine," Jadeite glanced sardonically
at his companion, "has no wishes except those of her
master. Now what, I wonder, do you wish for?" The robed
figure gasped and crumpled in on itself as Jadeite suddenly
clenched his will like an iron fist. "Be as clever as your name
. . ."A moan of pain issued from the face hidden beneath the
dark cowl. "and return to your diamond prince." Jadeite
relaxed his force, dropping his captive to the floor like an
empty bag of rice. "I am dead, dammed and resurrected.
Not stupid. Approach me again with your little games and
we'll see what lies beneath those robes, just before I gut you
like a carp and feed you to my servants." Thickening
shadows crawled and slithered about the downed figure,
whispering hungrily.
Jadeite smiled with real humor as the figure vanished
with a sharp crack of imploding air.
"Was that prudent master?" A slim form
materialized beside him.
prudent, master?
"Perhaps not," Jadeite relaxed slightly as his lesser
servants withdrew to a discrete distance. Their master
needed no protection from this one. "but it was most
satisfying."
"You have made an enemy." There was real concern
in the voice.
"Another one, you mean." Jadeite sighed wearily.
"One more can't matter. Nothing matters unless I can
convince the Queen of her folly. These new _allies_ are
going dismember the Kingdom like rats on a baby chick.
And turn on each other once they've sucked the marrow."
He beat his clenched fist against his thigh. "But no one
listens to a dead man."
They rarely have anything to say.
"You saved my life, master." The green skinned man
lightly stroked the head of the tiny flower-woman growing
from his breast. "Both our lives. We would have perished in
the cold of space if not for you. Command us and we will
destroy your enemies."
Who is this? I'm not familiar with this character.
"No," Jadeite placed a companionable hand on the
man's shoulder in a gesture that would have shocked any
who knew, or thought they knew, the general. "I have no
fields to manure with your blood. Keep yourself alive and in
readiness. We will have but one chance to act, if that."
Jadeite stopped at the doors to his quarters. "Perhaps I will
even survive the attempt." The door closed behind him.
"Have no fear master," the figure turned away from
the door in an oddly boneless manner, "you will not die
again. This Fiore swears."
************************************************
"You're doing very well." Ami leaned over Soban's
shoulder examining the page of kana Soban had painfully
brushed. "There's one little mistake here," She took
Soban's hand in hers and guided the brush. "The kana for
'a' has the cross stroke first," she drew Soban's hand across
the paper, "the down stroke and _then_ a loop like this."
Ami moved Soban's hand to dip the brush in ink. "You've
made the down stroke and loop a _single_ stroke as if you
were doing the kana for 'o'." Ami carefully moved Soban's
hand through the correct motions twice more. "Do
you . . ." She'd never realized how _tiny_ Soban's hands
were. It made her feel strangely protective ----
Oh great. Maybe Ami and Rei can join a therapy group.
"Anything wrong Ami?" Makoto asked.
wrong, Ami?
Ami blinked, suddenly aware that everyone was
staring at her. She realized she was still clasping Soban's
hand and dropped it like a hot dumpling. "Ummm, no . . .
nothing's wrong." She cleared her throat. "Do you
understand the difference in the stroke order for 'a' and 'o'
now?" She shuffled nervously through her papers,
unaccountably feeling very flushed.
"Are you alright?" Soban looked concerned and
little puzzled.
and a little
"Yes, yes. Fine. Ummm, yes I'm fine." What could
yes, I'm
she say. She didn't know what was wrong herself. "Why
don't we quit for today." Smiling brightly she started
cramming her books and papers into her bag feeling a little
sad and lost.
Bit awkward.
"Ummmm, yeah," Minako decided she'd have a talk
with Ami later, "how 'bout a little game?"
Reminds me of a few other RPGers I know.
Soban groaned theatrically and the others grinned in
sympathy.
"I don't know why you're upset," Rei groused, "you
always win." She began setting up the game pieces.
That's why. They aren't a challenge anymore.
"Yeah, if I could play like that I'd turn pro." Minako
was about even with Makoto in skill which meant they both
usually lived long enough to die well. Rei usually died early
on in a suicidal death-or-glory charge. Ami _should_ have
been the best, perhaps beating Soban, but she didn't trust
her instincts and usually died second-guessing herself.
"There are professionals?" Soban looked a little ill at
the thought.
Sad no?
"Oh yeah. It's not real big yet, but the prizes are
getting larger every year." Minako informed her excitedly.
"Some of the game manufacturers are starting to act as
sponsors and----"
Yup. You probably didn't have to look far to find people to base this off
of.
"That's OK," Soban said hastily. "I don't want to
know. Geeez, and I thought things got strange at the
Island." She muttered under her breath. "Well, let's get
started."
Really though, you'd think she be a little more understanding. Everyone
has a fetish.
"Ummmm, we've got this little problem with a game
we're playing with some friends." They'd decided this
would be a good "cover" to get Soban's help in analyzing
their real fights with the Dark Kingdom. Makoto started
helping Rei set up the board. "We . . .uhhhh . . .could you
help us maybe analyze the game and . . .uhhhh . . ."
"Help you win? But wouldn't that be . . .cheating?"
Soban quirked a grin at the group surrounding her. "OK,
OK, turn off the lost-puppy-look." She closed her eyes in
mock pain. "I give already. Why don't I take a----" She
started to move from the chair, now _hers'_ by unspoken
_hers_ No '.
agreement, to get a better look. Before she could do more
than tense her muscles Makoto had moved the chair
forward, Rei pushed a footstool under her feet, Ami slid the
game-board onto a table that raised it to a comfortable level
and Minako appeared with a tray of snacks.
Heh heh.
"-----look." She swept them all with a darkling
darkling? What the hell is that? You mean darkening or is this something
I've just never heard before?
glance. "You know, _some_ people like this sort of
bootlicking, brown-nosing servility." She tapped a finger on
the table top. "And I'm one of them. Keep up the good
work."
HAH! I loved this.
************************************************
Any particular reason for a scene break here?
Soban rubbed the scar just under her blind eye. "Is
that everything," she asked as Ami finished reading the
notes for the game.
"Ummm," Ami flipped through the thick book
outlining players, strategies and objectives supposedly for
their next role playing game; but actually for their next
planned move against the Dark Kingdom. "Yes . . .yes
that's everything."
Soban puffed out her cheeks, then let the air out
with a tired sigh. "I've got an easier way to do this----"
"Yes?" Ami and the others leaned forward
expectantly.
"Everyone hold hands and repeat after me 'Our
me, 'Our
Father who art in heaven' . . ."
"Huh?" Makoto had trouble staying awake in
English class.
What a coinkidink.
"What!" Rei had gone to a private Catholic school .
"I thought it was a good plan." Ami's English was
very good.
"I've never seen anything like it, full of tricks . . .,"
Soban traced a line on a diagram with her finger.
" . . . traps," Soban flipped through the book, watching
intricate diagrams appear and disappear. " . . .and ambushes.
It's a beautiful plan," Ami started to smile. "until it turns
around and bites you on the ass." Soban sent the booklet
spinning across the game board, scattering the tokens like
leaves. "Unless the guys playing the Generals are complete
idiots they're going to beat you like a cheap rug." She
thought a minute. "Actually they could be six months dead
and still beat you."
Actually, they
Ami worried her lower lip while Makoto and Rei
stared daggers at Soban. Minako shifted uncomfortably in
place. She'd been a little uncertain about the plans
complexity herself. On the other hand they'd been winning
stunning victories with Ami in charge lately and she'd
wondered if her doubts hadn't been based on jealousy as
Ami gradually supplanted her leadership.
"Oh yeah? I'd like to see _you_ beat her!" Makoto
thrust her chin out belligerently. "Ami's a genius and you're
nothing but a----"
Interesting.
"Mako-chan!" Rei was furious. She didn't think
Soban was right about Ami's plan but she took her duties as
host _very_ seriously.
"I'm nothing but . . .?" Soban stared cooly at
Makoto who flushed as she realized what she'd said. Or
almost said. "I'm nothing but an illiterate, ignorant,
cripple?"
I don't think Makoto would have mentioned the cripple part to someone that
more or less kicked her ass. The rest, yeah.
The knuckles of Makoto's hands turned white as she
fisted them at her sides.
"Makoto didn't mean----" Ami started, clearly
distressed.
"Of course she did," Soban's voice was without
inflection and her eyes never left Makoto's face. "Didn't
you." It was not a question.
"Yes." Makoto was embarrassed at herself and
irrationally angry at Soban for her embarrassment. "You've
got some nerve putting down Ami's plan when she had to
_read_ it to you." There was a sudden hiss of shock beside
her and a cold leaden feeling settled in her belly as she
realized what she _had_ said this time.
I know this is turning into a style bit for you, but I'd suggest laying off
the _underscores_ just a _little_. In many cases, yeah, they're great. In
others, nah. That's a large part of the readers job, to put emphasis on
different words according to what they think. Ever listened to a book on
tape and read the same book to yourself?
"I'm not as smart as Mizuno-sama," Ami felt like
crying. She'd been Ami-chan just the other day. "I'm not
even as smart as you are," Makoto had the grace to blush.
"but I know a little about fighting, and this," Soban jerked a
thumb at the game-book. "isn't just a cluster fuck . . .it's a
_bounding_ cluster fuck." She moved off "her" chair to sit
awkwardly on the floor next to the board.
POed ain't she?
"Let's play."
************************************************
Sailor Mercury sprinted down the alley, chest
burning, frantically looking for a way out. She just needed a
minute to rest. Just a----
"ZOI!"
I immediatly thought of Pokemon here. Zoiduck, return!
The whirlwind of cherry blossoms slammed Mercury
against the side of a building.
"Aaaaaaaaaa" Minako threw her game cards down
in disgust. "I thought you said Mercury was the most
powerful?" She asked Soban accusingly.
"I never said she was a kami." Soban gathered her
cards and began replacing them neatly in their box.
"Hey," Makoto grabbed Sobans wrist. "You can't
just quit without giving us another chance to win."
Ah, but I think she can.
Soban glanced at Makoto's hand circling her wrist,
then up at Makoto's face.
"Makoto. San." Makoto paled a little at Soban's
toneless voice but didn't relax her grip. "Are you asking me
to stay?"
"Uhhhhhh," something about Soban's cool relaxed
gaze told her to choose her next words very carefully. "Yes,
I'd like you to stay. To play another game. . .please?"
"Certainly." Soban began removing game cards from
the deck and tension ran out of the room like water down a
drain.
"Makoto-san . . ." Makoto looked over at Soban.
"Don't start anything you're not ready to finish."
Makoto nodded jerkily, then bent to set up her game
pieces.
"Don't worry about it Makoto," Ami said wearily.
She looked up from the loose sheets that held her notes for
the past several games. She straightened the papers with
overly precise movements and placed them carefully to one
side. "You were right." She looked at Soban, then away.
"This was an awful plan."
"Hey, we won the last game. And two more
besides," Rei protested.
"We didn't win," Ami corrected. "We just didn't
lose as badly. Out of nine games the Sailor Senshi have
_survived_ three. We only defeated the Dark Kingdom
once. And even then Sailor Venus, Rei-chan," Ami nodded
in the direction of her friend, "was the only survivor."
"That was just luck," Makoto defended. "With a
little practice I bet we'd do better."
"I worked for a kumo when I was a kid," Soban
remarked casually, staring up at the ceiling, "and he----"
"Wait, wait," Rei held up her hand to stop Soban.
"You worked for a _spider_?"
"Sorry, Ummmm, cat-burgler?" At the dawning
ummmm,
looks of comprehension she continued. "He was akinaishi,
_trade expert_," Soban translated the ingo, secret language,
of the Japanese underworld. "He thought I might go into
the business----"she stopped, shaking her head in
annoyance. "The point is, he told me "one day some little
shit is going to bet you ten million yen he can teach a cat to
pee in your ear while doing a bon-dance on the ceiling."
"What does that have to do with any----" Makoto
started to ask.
"And if you take this bet," Soban continued, "you're
going to end up with an ear full of cat piss." She picked up
a game token and idly made it dance between her fingers.
"Never make bets unless the game is fixed, you're in on the
fix and the fixers are close personal friends who owe you
money." Soban flipped the small figurine of a Dark General
through the air at Makoto who caught it reflexively. "I'll bet
you the deed to the Island and my good eye that if we play
ten more games I'll win at least six of them."
"That's crazy." Makoto sounded a little less certain
than before.
"Watch," Soban lined up four game tokens across
the edge of the board. "Zoicite's got a hit penalty of only
one hundred thousand but his agility rating is two-fifty. That
means you need to roll a nine or better to score against
him." Scooping up a pair of dice in the dice cup she shook
them across the board. "Seven." She rolled again. "Three."
Again the dice rolled. "Eight."
"Well, yeah but----" Soban held up a finger to hush
Rei.
"You've got four choke-points," She stabbed a
finger at the game board, "with no fall back positions . . .
everything has to go right, no mistakes." She smiled
mirthlessly. "It's hard to be perfect once, four times is
pushing it." She tossed the dice again. "Nine. Managed to
do some damage." She grabbed the dice and tossed them
from hand to hand. "You've got to roll a nine or better at
_least_ four times . . .assuming you get the breaks to get
Zoicite in position in the first place. It's even worse with
the other Generals. I can't do the math, but I'm sure
Mizuno-sama can."
"I . . .I didn't think of all that," Ami looked shame-
faced at making such an elementary mistake. "She's right,"
Ami admitted, "there's only one chance in three of success
with each roll and we'd have to get lucky four times." She
gave Soban a wan smile. "I don't know why I didn't see
that earlier. It's such a _basic_ part of game theory."
Soban shrugged. "Winning is making one less
mistake than the other guy." She started to her feet,
grimacing slightly as she did.
"Are you alright?" Minako frowned slightly in
worry.
"Just a little stiff from sitting." Soban grabbed the
edge of the chair and started to lever herself up.
"Have you eaten yet?" Rei asked suddenly.
"No." Soban answered innocently unsuspecting.
"Great, why don't we all go out to eat. My treat."
"Yeah, this is your one month anniversary for Ami's
torture . . . errrrr . . . study sessions," Ami stuck her tongue
out at Minako who just smirked,. "so we should celebrate
your survival."
"I appreciate it," Soban tried to demure, "but I really
need to get back to the Island."
"That's alright," Ami said cheerfully, "we'll just eat
there."
Soban looked around at the smiling, eager faces
(Rei's slightly pink). "You won't all fit on the back of my
bike." She tried one last time.
She'd tried one time to put them on her bike?
"I'll go call a cab." Minako headed for the phone.
"This should be fun." Ami started putting her books
and papers away. "Rei's told us all about your place."
And they still want to go. Every SM lemon writer's dream.
************************************************
"This is a bad idea," Artemis hissed.
"I'm sorry, would you repeat that," Minako said,
pushing the cat away with her free hand. "there was some
static on the line." She pressed the phone against her ear as
Artemis grumbled in the background. "Yes, Hikawa Jinja
right across from the Upper Sendaizaka bus stop." Artemis
could hear someone speaking on the other end, like the faint
buzzing of an insect. "Fifteen minutes? Great. We'll be
waiting. Goodby." She replaced the receiver, then gave her
cohort a very dirty look.
"I was _trying_ to talk on the phone."
"And I was _trying_ to tell you this is a bad idea. All
of you going off to _that_ place." Artemis put his paws on
Mikako's shoulders, staring her in the eyes. "You don't
know what could happen to you. I get a very strange feeling
from that girl."
"You got a very strange feeling from Ami." Minako
retorted. "You probably just ate some bad tuna."
"Don't listen to me," Artemis hopped off the table.
"I'm just a cat after all. What do I know." He stalked
toward one of the kitty door's Rei had installed throughout
the shrine buildings.
"Don't be like that,"Minako coaxed. "I'll bring you
something back nice from dinner."
"Just bring yourself back." He looked back over his
shoulder. "I'm going on patrol. I hope you don't mind if I
disturb your meal with news of a youma attack?" Before
Minako could answer, the tip of his white tail had already
disappeared through the swinging door.
************************************************
Padding through the darkening streets Artemis
streets,
headed for the Crown Game Center. Fastidiously he stepped
Fastidiously,
around a burst garbage bag. He could remember when
Tokyo was one of the cleanest cities in the world and neon
lights had made the city one giant carnival.
He ghosted through pools of dirty shadows, the
evening breeze damp and heavy with rot.
Now, trash spilled onto the streets; no one cleaned it
up. Lights burned out and weren't replaced. Everyday the
darkness grew a little stronger. Just a little . . .but Beryl had
... but
time.
A sensor, not on the buildings original plans, opened
the door at his approach. Artemis sneezed in the musty air.
The game center had been closed for over a year. The
original manager had left one day . . .looking for his
vanished girlfriend . . .and no replacement had ever been
found. The neighborhood had a bad reputation.
A thousand feet below ground ancient computers
sent a signal to a camouflaged interface.
Artemis hopped up on the Sailor V game and
touched the screen. Icons appeared and words scrolled
across the bottom in a language dead for a hundred
thousand years. He entered a command; more icons
appeared and alpha-numeric characters crowded the display.
A cold feeling settled in the pit of his stomach as
ancient machines reported yet another increase in youma
activity. His sensor coverage was spotty but some of the old
installations still survived, here and on the moon. And other
places. Vast computer and sensor networks, weapons
platforms still alive and functioning millennia after the fall of
the Moon Kingdom. He was comforted by the thought that
the works of the Silver Millennium still operated flawlessly
after one hundred thousand years.
Then he would remember the Kingdom had fallen
when the systems had been new and intact.
He finished reviewing the summary of the weeks
data dump. Had there been anything unusual he could have
requested the raw data and re-aligned his sensor net. The
youma were still using their chameleon fields, appearing
openly only just before striking. It make them harder to
track but it showed they were still too weak for a frontal
attack. At least that's what Artemis kept telling himself.
"Code name 0091"
Artemis froze, his paw a millimeter from the power
off switch.
"Code name 0091." The static laden voice came
faintly from the speakers.
"Password." Artemis demanded hoarsely.
"The rabbit of the moon had some mochi."
"The mochi . . ." Tears clogged his voice. "The
mochi of the moon is sticky."
"It puffs up when you cook it."
And here's Luna. What took her?
************************************************
The taxi moved slowly through the darkening
streets. The elegant high rises of West Shinjuku had
gradually given way to the crowded dirty streets and garish
neon of the Kabuki-cho. Noses pressed against the glass,
four school girls gaped at the bright electric signs
advertising "love hotels" and "soaplands" where, for a few
thousand yen, a Sopu-reedi would soap you up and wash
you down before playing the "bamboo flute". Their driver
had originally been reluctant to venture into East Shijuku
after dark so Soban was sitting up front to provide moral
support.
And a hand around his throat.
Crew cut yakuza toughs barked into cell phones,
while African emigres, pretending to be New York movie
agents, passed out handbills, speaking in accented English
that neither they nor their prospective customers
understood.
Dark suited pimps cornered demure school girls
against shop doors, making them offers they weren't sure
they wanted to refuse while pimply school boys hawked
Viagra , ground rhinoceros horn and other illegal
aphrodisiacs to balding salary-men with tired eyes.
"Did you know that Shinjuku has the largest
concentrations of high rises and businesses in Tokyo?" Ami
read from her guide book. "and that the Shinjuku station
handles almost a million----"
Remarkably clueless.
"Wow!"
Ami's head whipped around at Makoto's
exclamation to see a green-spiked-haired "goth" press a
Of which sex? Or both?
checked skirted . . .woman? against a lamp post, raise _her_
skirts and----"
"eeep." Blushing furiously Ami turned back to her
book. ". . . a m . .m . .million and a half riders a day," she
continued unsteadily. "Shinjuku has a vast network of
underground passageways which are extremely
useful in the rain. Shinjuku also has vast open spaces in the
Central Park and Shinjuku Gyoen Park with skyscrapers
watching over all that . . .that goes on." Stumbling a little
she marked her place in her book, carefully _not_ looking
out the taxi window. "I . . .I was just thinking," she said,
keeping her voice low. " it's strange that we haven't seen
any youma attacks in this part of town."
Interesting. I had the same rection as Minako had below, even before I
read the line.
"Probably afraid of getting mugged." Minako
offered, watching fascinated as a salaryman, objecting to the
fifty thousand Yen price of a Budweiser at a yakuza run
Anyone who drinks Bud needs a good whack to the head anyway. Maybe bring
them to their senses.
"sham bar", was beaten senseless with aluminum bats and
tossed into an ally. He made one bounce before a horde of
homeless men and women stripped him naked, one even
shaving his head to sell the hair to wig makers.
Free enterprise in action. Home of the true capitalists. Or maybe
advanced hunter/gatherers.
"Hey!" Rei caught herself as the taxi stopped
suddenly, throwing her forward. She and the rest of the girls
started to untangle themselves just as the door opened
automatically. Soban stuck her head in the door and began
sorting them out.
"We're going to have to walk the rest of the way,"
she said apologetically, "The driver," she jerked a thumb at
the pasty faced man in the front. "thinks his car is having
_mechanical_ problems." Soban shot a sardonic look
forward as she said this.
Heh.
"How much do I owe you," Rei peered at the name
plate mounted on the back of the drivers seat, "Dix-san?"
She pulled out her purse as she exited the cab, followed by
the other three girls.
"Never mind," his eyes darted nervously around the
crowded streets. "The ride's on me."
Ass, grass, or gas, no one rides for free.
"But you must let us pay you," Ami started to
protest.
"I said never _mind_." the driver snapped, starting
the taxi with a savage twist of the key.
"Wait a minute." Frozen like a rabbit under the gaze
of a hawk the driver could only watch helplessly as Soban
approached him. Her hand dipped into a pocket then flashed
across the hood of his car in a quick slashing motion.
"Leave that on until you get home. It'll make life easier."
With a squeal of spinning tires the taxi whipped around,
knocking over a trash can in his clumsy haste and hurried
back the way he had come.
"What's with the crescent moon?"Makoto asked,
watching the taxi disappear with indecent haste.
"What are you talking about?" Soban returned the
bit of pink chalk to her pocket.
"On the hood of his car," Makoto pointed in the
direction the now vanished taxi had taken. "You drew a
crescent moon."
"That wasn't a crescent moon," Soban chuckled.
"That's my face," she touched the heavy ridge of scar tissue
that cut across her right eye. "People see this," she sketched
a half circle in the air. "and they know not to bother the guy
or they answer to me." Turning she linked arms with Ami
and Rei. "We better get going if you want to eat."
Nifty.
"It sure looked like a crescent moon to me."
Makoto muttered, following after the three.
Turning to say something over her shoulder to
Makoto, light and shadow softened Sobans battered face,
transforming the ragged scar into a moon in eclipse.
"It _does_ look like a crescent moon." Minako
whispered to herself. Shivering at a sudden chill she hurried
to catch up with the others.
************************************************
A short fifteen minute walk later they entered the
Golden-gai, the underbelly of the Kabuki-cho. Looking
around Minako decided it looked like a scene out of Blade
Runner with a little Clock Work Orange mixed in, only not
as warm and fuzzy.
By Blade Runner, do you mean the book or the movie?
"And you came here . . .by _yourself_?" Ami
whispered to Rei, nervously clutching Makoto's arm.
"It looked a lot . . .different . . .in the daylight." Rei
answered in a tiny voice. She scrunched inside her coat a
little as a group of women in short skirts and high heels
sauntered by. One of the women glanced down at Rei and
her friends, then turned aside to whisper to her companions.
All three women looked back at the school girls and burst
into laughter.
The air was thick with sweat, sex and sake. The
shadows were a little darker, the lights a little colder and the
vices would have given Caligula nightmares.
Nah, he'd have felt right at home.
"How did it _smell_?" Makoto muttered, fumbling
in her pocket for a face mask.
"Watch where you walk." Minako advised,
grimacing as her shoes broke free of a sticky spot. "How
much longer before we get there?"She muttered an aside to
Soban. "I'd hate to get lost down here this time of night."
"Lost . . .lost . . ."
The plaintive cry raised the hairs on the back of
Minako's neck. Spinning around she dropped into a
defensive crouch, Ami and Rei on her flanks with Makoto
covering the rear. Soban somehow ended up in the middle.
Heh heh heh.
"Have you seen it?" The shambling figure reached a
pleading hand toward Makoto. "Have you seen it?"
Yes I have. It's right over there.
*looks around*
*ZOOM*
Makoto jerked back in surprised revulsion. "Get
away from us you----"
A bit intolerant here aint she?
"Hello Aichou-ko," Soban pushed her way forward
and took the stranger's hands in her own. "You shouldn't
be out in the night air." She ran her hands over the figures
ragged coat, frowning at the tattered vermillion material.
"What happened to your coat?"
I didn't belive it when it said 'gentle cycle only'.
"I can't find it," Slender fingers, nails black with
grime, picked ceaselessly at the material. "I've looked and
looked." She pulled another strip of cloth free of the coat,
ran it through her fingers and dropped it on the ground.
Just what is this IT?
"Never mind," Soban sighed. "Go see Na-chan. Tell
her I said to give you a new coat . . .can you remember
that?"
"It's not here . . .it's not . . ." The nervous fingers
stilled instantly when Soban placed a gentle hand on her
cheek.
"I'll help you look later, OK?"
"Promise?" The figure asked in the voice of a small
child asking for a treat it doesn't really expect to get.
"I promise," Soban assured the muffled shape.
"Tomorrow, first thing in the morning." She pressed a wad
of bank notes into the dirty hands. "Now go get something
to eat and get some sleep . . .in a hotel," Soban
commanded. "not on the street."
"I want to go home . . .I'm tired . . .I want to go
home." The strange figure started to shuffle away, crying
softly. As the girls moved past a dirty arm shot out and
grabbed Rei in a surprisingly strong grip.
"The fallen blossom doesn't return to the branch, a
broken mirror can not be made to shine."Rei tried to jerk
The pieces can.
away but was held fast. "But the branch will put forth new
blossoms, priestess. And a broken mirror can be mended."
"What . . .what?" Rei was frozen in shock for a
moment. "What do you mean? How did you know
I'm a ----" but the strange prophet had vanished into the
shadows, leaving only the echo of her weeping.
"Errrrr . . .friend of yours?" Minako relaxed her
defensive posture slightly. The denizens of the Golden-gai
pushed past the little group, finding nothing unusual in four
school girls forming a defensive circle in the middle of the
sidewalk.
Usually it's the salarymen.
"She's been around for as long as I can remember."
Soban replied, starting back on her way.
"That's an . . .uhhhh . . .unusual name she has." Ami
fell into step beside Soban, Rei and Makoto bringing up the
rear. "I don't think I've ever heard anyone called 'mournful
child' before."
"It's a play on words, because she's always crying,
looking for her lost house key . . .Aikagi . . . 'minor
key' . . ." Soban paused to let everyone groan at the awful
pun. "It's a street name, like most you'll hear in the Kubuki-
cho." Soban gave a twisted smile. "You don't think anyone
actually wrote _Soban_ on my birth certificate."
Makoto's mouth opened and closed soundlessly.
"Uhhhh, I never thought about . . .I mean . . .what is your
name . . .uhhhh if you don't mind telling . . ." Makoto
floundered helplessly.
"I don't mind telling. I just don't know."
Ami stopped so suddenly that Rei ran into her back.
Apologizing she frowned down at Soban. "What do you
mean, you don't know?"
"I guess my brains got a little scrambled in the
wreck that did this," she pointed at the scar bisecting her
face. "I don't remember much before I woke up in the
hospital and they told me I was an orphan." There were
gasps of sympathy and Minako put her hand on Soban's
shoulder.
"It wasn't that bad," Soban said, uncomfortable with
the overt sympathy. "Clean bed, two meals a day, roof
didn't leak and my-----and it wasn't to bad." She withdrew
Yeah, what happened to little Bro?
suddenly, as if she'd said too much.
Rei noticed that Soban was keeping something to
herself. She opened her mouth to ask when she stumbled
suddenly as if a great weight had been lifted, throwing her
off balance.
"We're here," Soban looked a little self conscious.
"I hope you like the food."
Ami took a deep breath, feeling as if a tight band
around her chest had been cut. It didn't _look_ any
different, she thought glancing up and down the street.
Same dirty sidewalks, crowded with hard faced women in
too tight clothes, yakuza punks in cheap suits, hair shiny
with gel. A salaryman, aged before his time, negotiated
unenthusiastically with a fuku clad girl young enough to be
his daughter. The girl turned her head and Ami shuddered
at the emptiness in her eyes. Negotiations complete the two
started to walk down the street.
It was as if someone had thrown a switch. Between
one step and the next the salaryman's head came up and
there was a spring in his step. The girl looked up at the man
with a sparkle in her eye. She said something and they both
burst out laughing as they walked past Ami, arm in arm.
Then, as if he'd been punched the man stumbled, the girl
cried out angrily and the two separated, snarling.
Err, what the hell was that? That made no sense.
"Welcome to the 'Island of Misfit Toys'," Ami
jerked out of her reverie to see the others following Soban
through the door. Pushing her observations to a corner of
her brain for later analysis she hurried to catch up.
************************************************
"I hope you don't mind, but I ordered for
everyone," Soban apologized.
"That's OK, I like surprises." Minako assured her.
"I . . .uhhhh . . .yeah . . .that's OK . . ." Makoto
looked around nervously. A statuesque blond wearing a tiny
leather apron, her rouged nipples joined with a gold chain
brought the first tray to the table, pouring Aosudofu into
the bowls already set before each of them.
Does Aosudofu have to be capitalized?
"Eeeeep . . . ." Makoto averted her eyes, focusing
on the green kuzu tofu.
Kuzu?
"I thought, we'd do kaiseki ryori . . .since it's your
first time here." Soban said diffidently.
"Kaiseki? That's kinda ambitious for a . . .uhhhh."
Makoto floundered again, mind racing to extricate her foot
from her mouth.
Intolerant, and stereotyping to boot.
"The Island of Misfit Toys has excellent chefs,"The
offended waitress replied in cultured Kyoto accents. "I
Delete a space.
assure you we are _quite_ capable of preparing the dishes
properly. We also have a tea master attached to the staff if
you wish tea ceremony as well."
Makoto wasn't sure which was more surprising; a
gaijin speaking better Japanese than herself or a restaurant
in the Golden-gai serving the Japanese national haute
cuisine.
Why should anyone be surprised that a non native speaker can speak their
language better than the native? Look at America.
"I was just surprised that you were going to attempt
kaiseki." Makoto said defensively.
"Kaiseki requires a rather sophisticate palet," the
young lady said frostily. "perhaps you would like to look at
the _children's_ menu."
Again, I'm just going to repeat something I said earlier. It may not
really apply here, but I think you should think about it. _Underscores_
aren't that necessary.
"I think we'll stick with kaiseki," Soban interrupted
mildly, placing a calming hand on Makoto, pushing up the
Makoto and pushing
brim of her hat with the other.
"And who do you----Soban?" The girl squeaked. "I
didn't know----you look so _different_ . . .I . . ." She trailed
miserably to a stop.
"I'm beginning to wonder about this _new_ look."
Soban tugged uncomfortably at her tie. "I think I'll ditch
this stuff and go back to my regular clothes."
"NO!" The waitress protested. "You look great. Not
that you didn't look good before . . .uhhh . . .I mean . . ."
"Don't get your panties in a twist." Soban grinned at
the flustered girl. "Assuming you're wearing any. Just relax
and bring the next course." The girl turned to go in a jingle
of chains. "And don't stay up too late. You've got a
chemistry exam tomorrow."
"Ummm, a children's menu?" Rei asked, partly to
diffuse some of the tension.
"We've got a day-care center too." Soban took a
tiny taste of the hot soup. "What do you think?" She asked
the table at large.
think?" she
************************************************
The conversation had been pleasant and the food
superb. Eventually Makoto and even Ami were able to stop
staring at the staff and customers and concentrate on their
food. Even the sight of a man, naked save for a zippered
leather hood and a woman dressed only in a purple satin
corset feeding a baby in a stroller didn't attract their
Extra space again. And were they together?
attention. Although Minako choked slightly, holding back a
laugh, when she saw the baby girl waving a rattle shaped
like a coiled whip in one chubby fist.
Who is this? Kodachi and family?
They were just starting on the Hirame No Kimiae
Does this really have to be capitalized?
when Jules hurried up to Soban, bending to whisper
urgently in her ear. She listened impassively then replaced
the bit of flounder she was about to eat.
"All right, start moving everyone out the back. Send
someone to get Baba Jun." She pushed away from the table,
slipping her chopsticks into her pocket as she did so. "Make
sure they get away from the area," she jerked a thumb
toward Minako and the rest. "I'll try to calm things down."
"What about . . ."
"It would take at least two men to carry her. We
Extra space.
can't spare anyone." Soban's face was a stony mask. "Her
mind's too far gone to know what's going on. She'll never
feel a thing if . . ."Turning away sharply Soban hurried from
Need a space.
the room.
"What's going on?" Rei stared worriedly after
Soban.
"Follow me,"Jules ignored the question. "I'll show
you to the exit. Don't wait for a taxi or bus. Just head west
as fast as you can and keep going until . . ." He stopped
talking when he realized he no longer had an audience.
Whipping around he just caught sight of Ami disappearing
through the same door Soban had used.
"Ahhh hell. She's going to _kill_ me for this." He
comforted himself with the thought he was unlikely to
survive the night if things went wrong. Pulling out his cell
phone he started issuing orders to the other staff even as he
hurried to the back exit.
************************************************
"Not so fast." Rei hissed, pulling Minako back
sharply. Soban was hurrying, but it amounted to only a
moderate walking pace. Rei had to pull Ami back once or
twice to keep her from catching up. Around them they
could see men and women in the red, yellow and blue
uniforms of Island staff gathering up clumps of patrons and
hurrying them out side doors.
Following Soban at a discrete distance Rei and the
others passed through several rooms and down half a dozen
stair ways, always going down. Finally, when Ami estimated
they must be two, perhaps three stories below street level,
Soban pushed open a thick sound proofed door. In the
Soundproof
dimly lit room beyond Minako could see a flickering large
screen projection TV.
"Daisuke no baka!" The dialogue came clearly
through the open door. As they watched the screen a short
haired girl whapped a pig tailed boy over the head with a
desk.
"Hey," Makoto leaned around Minako to peer into
the room. "That's 'Mama Four'." She chuckled as the boy
scooted away from the angry girl. "This is a great episode.
See, what happens next----" She broke off as the others
stared at her strangely. "Ummmmm, but that's not
important now."
You realize that this isn't exactly a high recomendation? Any anime that
turns the veiwer into a drooling idiot is to be reguarded with caution.
Minako motioned for her friends to follow her. Cat
footing across the carpeted floor she and the rest squeezed,
unnoticed, into the dark room before the door shut behind
Soban.
"Hello Momiji-chan." Inside the room Soban knelt
beside a wheelchair bound figure. "How are you feeling?"
I've seen some Blue Seed, but not much. Just when is this set?
"She's doing very well," A sad faced woman of
early middle age bent to wipe some drool from the corner of
the young girls mouth. "She especially liked the ice cream."
Ami looked at the small bowl of ice cream fixed to
the arm of the wheelchair. There was a tiny depression
where about a teaspoon of the confection appeared to be
missing. She looked more closely to see that the girl was
strapped firmly into the chair. Her head slumped sideways
against a head rest and her mouth was slack. She was very
young for a stroke, Ami considered the symptoms clinically,
Hmm, maybe: stroke, Ami thought clinically, but
but perhaps head trauma from an accident? Or a congenital
Extra space.
mental defect?
Nah, she's just been watching too much anime.
She quickly discarded that thought when she
looked into the girls eyes, full of life and amazingly
Delete amazingly.
brimming with mischief despite her terrible handicap.
"I've got an ulterior motive," Soban whispered
conspiratorially. "I'm trying to soften up Momiji-chan so
she'll talk her boy friend into dancing for the Island. I've got
Boyfriend.
this little tiger-stripped thong for him . . ." She trailed off
suggestively. The chair bound girl started jerking alarmingly
and making horse honking noises. Ami started forward,
thinking she was having convulsions, then realized she was
_laughing_.
"What a wretched noise it makes." Ami twisted
around toward the new voice. "It is past time I cleaned up
this imperfect soul."
Here's the sponge and bucket. _Finally_ I get a night off.
"Just try it you bastard," A tousled red head wearing
a pink jumpsuit stalked from the shadows. "Try it and----"
"Easy, Kome-chan," A strikingly beautiful young
woman with dark bangs hanging low over one eye placed a
bandaged hand on the other's shoulder.
"Easy!" Kome hissed. "That bastard killed Yaegashi-
kun, put Momiji in that chair and you----"
"It is my duty, in the Kingdom of the Roots, to
cleanse the earth of imperfect souls."
Charity starts at home, or something to that effect. Blue seed always did
seem a little silly to me. I think they used plants as an excuse to have
tentacles.
Ami found herself clutching the cool cylinder of her
transformation wand. With a conscious effort she forced her
fist to unclench. Looking around at her friends she saw they
were similarly affected by the cool arrogance of the
newcomers voice.
newcomer's
"He reminds me of my senpai whom I loved and
who spurned me" Makoto whispered. Her hands itched with
Hmm, maybe: "He reminds me of my sempai whom I fell in love with." She
tightened her grip on her wand. "He _spurned_ me..." Her hands itched
with...
the need to adjust the arrogant snot's attitude with a
Supreme Thunder.
"I thought I told you to leave." Soban spoke
conversationally without looking in their direction. Rising
from the floor with an audible creaking she turned toward
Extra space.
the shadowed figure and bowed.
"You honor us with your presence, Murakumo-san."
The mysterious voice stepped into the light and
there were gasps from Rei and her friends on seeing the
mans unearthly beauty. Chiseled features, more suited to a
man's
statue than living flesh, were framed by thick wavy hair that
hung down his back, almost to his knees. His compact body
moved with a predatory arrogance that completely suited
his tone of voice.
"I am curious, Kushinada Hime . . ." The cool tones
made the honorific an insult.
Rei stiffened. Princess? Could this poor girl be the
princess they had given up finding? She caught Minako's
eye and raised a questioning brow. Minako shook her head
Extra space.
slightly. They would wait a little longer before acting.
" . . .why you associate with this trash."
"We are fortunate," Soban interjected smoothly.
"that the Kushinada deigns to find our poor entertainments
amusing." She indicated the anime still playing on the big
screen. "We also have selections for other tastes. We have
all of Kurosawa-sama's films, from 'The Seven Samurai' to
'The Bad Sleep Well'." She waited a moment to see how
that news was received. "However you might prefer
Mizoguchi's 'Sansho the Bailiff'."
There was a hiss of surprise from Momiji's friends
and what sounded like a badly suppressed chuckle. Ami
wondered if the arrogant man knew the film . . .about
another arrogant young man who sacrificed principle for
material gain and ended by being crushed and humiliated by
those he despised.
From the stormy look on his face it appeared he
_was_ familiar with Mizoguchi's masterpiece. "You are the
first imperfect soul I shall dispose of this night." The stench
of ozone filled the air and fire danced and crackled across
his raised fists.
There was a sudden rustling clatter and Ami twisted
her head to see a very impressive array of weapons in the
hands of the people surrounding Momiji.
Soban's face didn't change expression as she took a
step _toward_ Murakumo. "I am flattered that you deem me
worthy of your personal attention." She took another step
forward.
"What the _hell_ does she think she's doing?" Rei
whispered harshly to Minako, a leaden ball forming in her
stomach as she watched Soban take another step closer to
the smiling maniac.
"She's stalling for time . . .to let everyone get out,"
Minako had no doubt Murakumo had power enough and
more to level the building and most of the block. ". . .it's all
she _can_ do." But the Sailor Senshi could do more, and the
hell with secret identities. Her fingers tightened around her
henshin stick and she started to say the words of power that
would summon Sailor Venus. Before she could do so, it
became apparent that Soban had an excellent understanding
Extra space.
of her opponents psychology.
"Worthy!" Murakumo practically spat, lowering his
hands. "You are nothing but trash, crippled and ugly."
"Is that all?" Soban asked mildly.
"It is enough." Murakumo said disdainfully, turning
back to Momiji.
"Ah no, young sir,"Soban stepped between
Murakumo and his prey. "You are too simple."
"Young sir?" Makoto mouthed, looking toward Rei.
Her friend shrugged, puzzled as well.
"Why, you might have said -- Oh a great many
things! Mon dieu, why waste your opportunity?"
Another extra space.
Ami gave a little start of surprise as she recognized
the line.
Soban tilted her head to one side as if thinking. "For
example, thus: AGGRESSIVE: I, madame, if that face
were mine, I'd cover it with a bag! FRIENDLY: You're
lucky you've only got one eye, you can only see half your
face in the mirror. DESCRIPTIVE: You're so ugly the
maggots eating your corpse would puke."
"Cyrano . . ." Ami whispered to herself.
"What?" Minako glanced aside at her friend.
"Cyrano de Bergerac," Ami said in a wondering
voice, unable to look away from the spectacle playing out
before her eyes. "Act I, The Hall of the Hotel de
Bourgogne, 1640."
Soban rocked back and forth on her heels, gazing
blandly at Murakumo who seemed unable to cope with her
strange actions. "INQUISITIVE: Are you really an
orphan, or did your parents kill themselves when they saw
your face?"
"But she's changing it . . ." Ami's puzzlement
changed to horror as she realized Soban was repeating
words she'd heard many times before.
"KINDLY: You are building up much merit for the
next life with this penance." Soban slowly circled
I know I am.
Murakumo, forcing him away from Momiji and the others.
Reaching out she picked up a heavy glass mug, beaded with
moisture, and took a sip.
"INSOLENT: Girl, you're the reason condoms were
invented. ENTERPRISING: You're lucky, you don't have
to buy a mask for the Bon Dance." Having turned him
almost ninety degrees away from her friends and Momiji she
stopped, standing in front of him.
"SIMPLE," She finished softly. "It would have been
a blessing if she had died."
In the shocked silence Murakumo smiled
sardonically. "Very amusing. Did you really think your
pathetic little story could sway me from my purpose. You,
purpose?
your friends and the flawed Kushinada will all be cleansed."
Extra space.
"You can't kill Momiji," a new figure stepped
forward, rust colored trench coat flaring. Placing himself
squarely between the wheelchair bound girl and Murakumo,
a young man with skin stained the color of old oak assumed
a defensive stance. "You and all your Aragami die with
her."
"An imperfect soul might not be able to comprehend
the subtlety of my plan," Murakumo sneered. "but the blood
of the Kushinada holds no power here. In one stroke I will
eliminate the false Kushinada, T.A.C. and all who
oppose---- "
"Errrrr, I hope you don't mind," Soban interrupted,
"but I removed the Ceramic Field your agents placed
around this room. It interfered with the acoustics." She
added apologetically.
There was a loud guffaw from the group
surrounding Momiji. Murakumo spun to face Soban. "You
insignificant worm, I'll kill you."
"If I'm so insignificant you shouldn't need your
friends to help." Soban glanced over Murakumo's shoulder.
Involuntarily he looked behind him, almost instantly
realizing he'd been tricked.
Soban slammed the heavy glass mug against his skull
with enough force to stun a musk ox, a blow that would
have shattered the skull of a normal human and did leave a
fist sized dent in Murakumo's head. The chief soldier of the
Aragami could have recovered from this blow, had Soban's
right hand not grabbed the magatama at the apex of his
chest. Crushing the blue, comma shaped bead in her fist she
twisted----hard. Screaming in pain he fell to his knees,
stunned for a moment.
Any sense of victory was short lived. Slender
double edged blades slid from Murakumo's forearms as he
recovered with inhuman speed. Soban compensated for her
lesser reflexes with an uncanny ability to anticipate an
opponents actions. She'd already dropped the broken mug,
replacing it with her chopsticks from an inside pocket.
Slapping aside his right arm with her left she reposted,
Are you sure reposted is the right word here? You repost in fencing, but
I'd think a term used in kendo might be better here. I don't know any, but
hey.
driving the tips of her steel chopsticks toward Murakumo's
temple. Impossibly his neck twisted and thinned, causing her
killing stroke to miss by millimeters.
Unfortunately Soban lacked a similar ability to
change her body's structure. She was further handicapped
by being anchored in place. But she didn't dare release her
place, but
grip on his magatama. Twisting at the last moment caused
his blade to slice along her side, instead of piercing her
Extra space.
heart. Tangling her left arm with his he drew back his right
arm for the killing stroke she couldn't avoid.
In the bare two seconds this battle had taken, Kome
vaulted a table and jammed the grenade launcher of her
CAR15 into Murakumo's ear.
"The _worst_ luck," she growled, pressing the
trigger.
"Stop!" The stern female voice rang in their ears and
minds.
It was Soban's hand on hers, rather than the
unknown person's command, that stopped Kome's finger.
"Release our servant."
Soban didn't look at Murakumo to see how he took
his demotion to servant. Tightening her grip on his
magatama she pressed her free hand against the wound in
her side.
"I don't know," Soban grimaced, feeling a warm
wet stain spread over her fingers and down her side. "I'd
kinda like to blow a hole in Mr. Congeniality and see if his
insides look like gummy bear bits." She looked over at
Kome. "Whaddya think?"
I'd imagine Nerds more, but hey.
Kome growled in agreement, jamming the barrel of
her grenade launcher hard against Murakumo's head.
Murakumo tensed, preparing to throw off these
imperfect souls. Makoto saw him start to strike and stepped
forward. At the same instant the trench coated boy moved,
crescent blades ripping free of his forearms.
The odd were against Murakumo and he knew it.
While Soban held his magatama he was at a disadvantage,
his power seriously compromised. If he dealt with her,
Kome would fire and even he couldn't survive a HEAT
round through his head. While he could easily kill Kome,
Soban would do her best to rip his magatama from his chest
as he did so. And no matter what he did, Kushinada would
use the opportunity to tear his head from his shoulders and
play kemari with it.
"I think we're just gonna kill him." Soban looked
into an apparently empty corner of the room where two
white robed figures materialized. "Don't have to worry
'bout him jumping out of a dark corner some night." She
swayed a little, then steadied herself by clamping onto the
comma shaped bead imbedded in Murakumo's chest.
I thought they represented the Yin or Yang.
The taller of the two figures threw back her hood,
revealing a solemn faced young girl of striking beauty.
"Release Lord So-sa-no-oh's servant. You are interfering
with matters that are none of your concern."
"Your thug comes into _my_ place an' threaten's
p . . .people . . .," Soban paled so alarmingly that Makoto
jumped to her side to support her. It was a sign of Soban's
distress that she didn't protest. " . . .threaten . . .I _make_ it
my business." Gritting her teeth Soban forced herself erect,
fighting pain and blood loss. "Give me a good reason _not_
to rip this sonnava bitch a new asshole."
"You dare bargain with Su-sa-no-oh?" The beautiful
face tightened angrily.
"That little pip-squeak?" Soban sneered disdainfully,
pointing at the smaller figure standing beside the girl. "I'm
not bargainin' . . . I'm _tellin'_ him. Unless he want's to be
pickin' little bits an' pieces of his _servant_," Soban gave a
savage twist to the blue bead, forcing a grimace of pain
from the kneeling Murakumo. "outa his hair for the next
Extra space.
month, he'll give me what I want."
"What do you desire." If possible the girls tone
became even colder.
"You, Su-sa-no-oh and pretty boy," Soban patted
Murakumo's cheek insultingly. "leave the Island and never
come back." The girl started to nod curtly in agreement
when Soban held up her hand. "You don't bother _ANY_
of my people or customers, coming or going, ever again,"
Leaving out herself.
the girls face tightened, but there was more. "and I want
girl's face
you to fix whatever you did to Momiji-chan."
"You _DARE_!" The girl was blazingly angry.
"That one," She pointed a finger of outrage at the chair
bound girl, "has offended my Lord Su-sa-no-oh and been
justly punished for it. And you wish him to forgive her
trespass?"
"Nah . . .I _wish_ to kick his skinny white butt up
around his tonsils. This is just what I'll settle for."
"Do you know what Lord Su-sa-no-oh will do to
you for your effrontery?" The girl threw back her cloak,
drawing a sword in one smooth motion.
"Yeah, yeah," Soban answered tiredly. "Kill me,
unimaginable torment, never forgive, yada, yada
. . .been there," She smiled, a not nice smile that made her
Extra space.
scar stand out. "_done_ that." She slammed her steel
Underscores work well here.
chopsticks through Murakumo's eye, driving them home
with a savage twist. Murakumo convulsed, viscous green
fluid fountaining from the wound. "He can probably grow a
new eye," She jerked a thumb at Kome, still holding the
grenade launcher. "but I bet he can't grow a new head."
"Stop!" The girl commanded as Kome's finger
began to press the trigger. She turned to the slight figure
beside her, communing silently with her god and lover.
"Lord Su-sa-no-oh will grant your boon." She said finally,
turning back to face Soban.
Su-sa-so-no moved silently forward, to stand before
Momiji's wheelchair. Small white hands pushed his hood
back, revealing a pale, beautiful boy, his face dominated by
the blue crescent shaped bead in the center of his forehead.
The bead began to glow, filling the room with a blue light.
Squinting against the brightness, Ami surreptitiously
keyed her computer to record. As she watched, a stream of
oily smoke appeared to flow from Momiji's mouth and be
absorbed by the blue light. Moments later the glow vanished
and the boy moved silently back to his place beside the girl.
Not being that familiar with Blue Seed, I really don't know what that was.
"Momiji . . .Momiji-chan! Are you alright?" The sad
faced woman dropped to her knees beside the chair, taking
one of Momiji's pale, too thin hands, in her own.
"I'm fine, Matsudaira-san," Momiji struggled to sit
up, her muscles atrophied from weeks of disuse. "Ummmm,
can I have some more ice-cream?"
"Oh Momiji," The woman with bandaged hands was
laughing and crying at the same time. "you can have all the
ice cream you can eat."
"She'll get a belly ache," The young man moved to
Momiji's other side, his tender touch at odds with his
sarcastic tone. "she's such a child."
"Kusanagi no baka!" Momiji snapped, then started
coughing.
"You mustn't excite yourself," Matsudaira took
Momiji's wrist, feeling her pulse. "you've been very sick."
"Kaede," A haggard man, prematurely grey, stepped
toward the young girl. "Kaede, don't go." He stretched out
his hand in supplication. "You are the Kushinada . . .your
duty is to protect Japan, not destroy her."
"What Japan should I protect, father?" The girl
spoke without turning around. "The Japan of myth, green
and beautiful, is dying . . .Lord Su-sa-so-no is it's
Ah HAH! I just got nailed on my screwup in this department, now it's my
turn. is _its_ salvation. Not it's.
salvation."
Soban snorted in derision. " We're here to help you
. . .isn't that what the Imperial Army said to the Chinese in
Nanking?" She released Murakumo, letting him fall all the
way to the floor. "Beryl's got class . . .she wants to plunge
Extra space.
the earth into eternal darkness and rule it forever. And the
Dead Moon Circus, now there's a bunch with style . . .
Dead Moon Circus? Who?
snappy dressers and some really cool monsters." Stuffing
the tail of her shirt in her wound she limped forward until
she was within arms reach of Kaede. She stood there a
moment, the only sound the slow drip of her blood onto the
floor. "You . . ." she said finally. "_You_ run around
dressed in a sheet tellin' everyone you're gonna' save Japan
by turnin' everyone into crab-grass." Soban laughed
derisively. "That's pretty pathetic."
That's effectively what I thought.
"Japan is crying out in despair," Kaede replied
coldly. "Lord Su-sa-no-oh will cleanse it of the filthy
filthy, corrupt
corrupt humans."
"Give me a break," Soban swayed a little, "you're
like the kid who spits in the candy to keep anyone else from
having a piece, or breaks her toys so no one else can play.
You're not the savior of Japan, you're just a spoiled brat."
There was a rustling sound behind her as Murakumo
dragged himself upright. Soban didn't even glance at him as
he moved past her to stand in front of Kaede and
Su-sa-so-no, his ruined eye already starting to heal.
"While Lord Su-sa-so-no has promised to leave your
wretched business and friends unmolested, you forgot to
gain Lord Su-sa-so-no's protection for yourself."
Murakumo smiled cruelly. Twinned blades slid from his
forearms as he took a step toward Soban.
"I didn't forget." Soban replied softly.
Murakumo looked at the small crippled girl,
bleeding on the floor. Then he felt the pain as his wounded
eye regenerated.
"Come."
It was only the Kushinada's command that made him
leave, Murakumo told himself as he followed his god from
the room.
Soban watched the odd trio vanish. "Well, that was
exciting,"she said to no one in particular as her eyes rolled
Need a space.
up in her head and she collapsed bonelessly to the floor.
************************************************
Sukeban Senshi Chapter 7 END part 2 of 3
Well, that was interesting, although I hope you don't get too carried away
with the Aragami running around. I'm here for girls in short fukus, not
betentacled plants. Sorry it took me this long, I leave every weekend.
I'll try to have part three done by this weekend. And hurry up with part
eight!
Sukeban Senshi Chapter 7 C&C END part 2 of 3
Kichigai
ICQ# 37606443
Visit my site! http://lavender.fortunecity.com/clockwork/416/index.html
There's a lot to be said for thinking with your dick. The average penis
is much more likely to stand up for what it wants than the average guy. -
Someone who's name I've forgot.