Secrets
Chapter 6 - Wedding Dress

    "This must be the place," Smith said, seeing the police line barring entry to the temple grounds.
    "Yep, that's it." Takada parked his Mercedez beside the diminutive police car in front of the gate. "You about over your jet lag?"
    "I suppose. This is morning, isn't it?"
    "Last time I checked."
    "I guess we can get to work, then."
    They locked up the car and presented their credentials to the uniformed officer at the gate. He waved them in.
    Smith let out a low whistle. "They really did a number on this place."
    "Looks pretty much like the others." In other words, a pile of rubble. The grounds and the brick wall that surrounded them were untouched.
    "It's a good job you've kept the press photographers out of here. You'd have a hell of a time explaining this."
    Takada chuckled. "I wish I could take the credit, but that's just Metro Police S.O.P. for Weird Shit. No reporters get within a mile. Speaking of Metro, looks like our liaison has taken notice of us."
    A young woman in a business suit who had been speaking with another uniformed officer over by the ruins was now walking over to them. As she approached, Smith and Takada fished their badges out of their breast pockets. "I'm agent Takada, and this is agent Smith, Interpol."
    The woman did likewise. "Lieutenant Saori Nagashima, Metro Police. Feel free to call me Saori-kun if you're so inclined, everybody does. I was told to expect you, but I wasn't told much else. Would it be improper for me to ask why Interpol is interested in this horrid case?"
    "Of course, Saori-kun," Smith said, keeping his deadpan fully intact. "We're investigating possible links with cult activity in America and Canada."
    Saori cocked her head. "Cult activity?" She sighed. "As far as I know, no cult in America or anywhere else is in the habit of demolishing temples. Believe me, I checked. Not that they would have the wherewithal to do something like this anyway. May I ask why you think there may be a connection between American cults and these temples being demolished?"
    "We're just investigating at this point, Saori-kun," Smith said. "We won't be able to say more until we've had a look around."
    "And what exactly do you expect to find?"
    "We won't know that until we've looked around."
    Her scowl deepened. "Fine, whatever. Before I let you waste too much time, maybe I should bring you up to speed on what to expect from Sailor Senshi cases."
    Smith raised an eyebrow. "Sailor what?"
    "Oh, weren't you told? There was a Sailor Senshi sighting at this one. You've heard of them?"
    "Some local urban legend, if memory serves."
    "Right. Anyway, this is a typical Senshi case in most respects. First, no physical evidence. Just some property damage and no idea how it happened. The forensic reports are always interesting studies in how to say 'I haven't got a clue' in the most long-winded way possible. Next, no reliable eyewitnesses. Just lots of people saying there was a bunch of angelic little girls leaping tall buildings in a single bound. Any police sketches that get done always have them looking remarkably ... well, angelic. Lots of guys at the station have them pinned up on their bulletin boards, they're kind of cute. Oh, and lots of monster, too. I won't even bother describing those, since no two of them are ever the same. Next, no possible motive. Just some random property damage. This latest bunch is remarkable only in that they're all shrines or temples. No other connection. And finally, needless to say, no suspects. Anyway, that about sums it up. If there are no other questions, I'll leave you to it."
    There weren't. Saori called over the uniformed officer, and they both left the premises. Smith watched them leave. "Is it just me, or does she have a chip on her shoulder about this long?"
    "You can hardly blame her for being annoyed. Getting assigned to one of these cases is the kiss of death."
    "Why's that?"
    "What she said. They never get solved, period. I figure somebody in the force has it in for her. Metro Police isn't exactly an equal opportunity institution. For her to have gotten her rank at such a young age is remarkable. This could easily put her career into a nose-dive. No wonder she's pissed."
    "I thought maybe she just didn't like me."
    "Well, I keep telling you those shades make you look distant."
    Smith grinned, reached up and adjusted his sunglasses. "Force of habit I guess. They've been standard issue for American field agents for years. Psychological dominance and all that. But actually, these ones are new."
    "Meaning what?"
    Smith reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a leather glass case. He drew another set of tinted glasses out of it and held them out. "Try these."
    Takada shrugged. He took the sunglasses and put them on. His jaw dropped open.
    "So what do you see?" Smith asked.
    Takada scanned the grounds for a few moments. "Auras," he said softly. "I can see auras. Residual magical energy."
    "Not bad, huh?"
    "It's ... not as clear as using a spell, but still it's remarkable."
    "It's got to beat taking slices out of your hand."
    "Granted." Takada walked over to a part of the grounds that had been roped off with police tape. Smith followed. "It's a bit different, but I'd swear that's a spatial distortion residue," Takada said, pointing.
    "You got it. Pretty cold, probably will be gone by tomorrow. Small group of human sized entities teleported in and out. No surprise there, I guess."
    "Four this time, according to the footprints in the gravel. Two men, two women. Also, four others who appeared over there then disappeared. Again, two men and two women. One of those may have jumped from the wall, the one with sandals, which matches how this Sailor Venus character is described."
    "Takada, you sound like you're quoting a forensics report. You don't mean to say there's a Metro Police report that says a girl in sandals jumped off that wall and landed over there, do you?"
    "Despite her attitude, Saori is being very thorough. She's demanding that everyone in the case set down their observations and conclusions, however ridiculous they may look at face value. She had them go over every inch of this place before anything got touched and whip up a quick preliminary report. Probably so that people get their reports in before they even realize how impossible they sound. I think she really does want to find out what's going on here, whatever it takes." He noticed Smith's smile. "What?"
    "I know that tone. You've got your eye on her."
    Takada chuckled. "Like I said, for her to have gotten this far this fast, against the odds, she really must be something."
    "Think hard, Takada."
    "Why, just because she doesn't like you?"
    "I've always said you need a good sense of humour for this job. She hasn't got one. I can tell."
    "I think that's a cultural misunderstanding. We tend to show our sense of humour in more subtle ways."
    "I've seen what passes for comedy over here. Subtle, it ain't. So anyway, anything else of interest in miss supercop's report?"
    "It looks like the girl in sandles came close to getting backstabbed by one of the men in the first group. They figure she jumped back onto the wall then back off again."
    "Now that is interesting. Have we got two rival groups here, after the same thing?"
    "Or one group trying to stop the other from doing their business."
    "Which is?"
    Takada shrugged. "I guess that's the million yen question."
    "Right. I suppose we should do the standard walkabout here, but I doubt we'll find anything we don't already know. Sounds like we can depend on Saori-kun to gather the physical evidence, which is a welcome change."
    "And that's why she doesn't like you."
    "Come again?"
    Takada sighed. "How many years have you spent in this country?"
    "Three. Why?"
    "You ought to know she would detest being called Saori-kun."
    "But she said-"
    "Like I said," Takada interrupted, grinning, "our sense of humour is more subtle, including our sarcasm."
    Smith sighed. "There's just no pleasing people. I'm beginning to see why she's pissed at this case, though. We haven't a hope of catching these people in the act. There are hundreds of shrines and temples in this city."
    "Thousands, if you count the little ones. And even if we could keep them all under watch, we couldn't in good conscience suggest to Metro that they post officers in these places at night. They wouldn't stand a chance."
    "True enough. Which seems to leave us with exactly one lead. Your contact with the Ancients."
    Takada's face fell. "I was afraid you were going to bring that up."
    "You were the one who said some of them are likely to be involved."
    "Yes, that's true. They're the only family of paranormals we know of who might have people powerful enough to do something like this."
    "So what exactly is your relationship with this contact?"
    "It's the mother of the young boy I pulled out of that lab."
    Smith let out a low whistle. Everybody in the Hidden branch new about that story, it was the Tokyo office's claim to fame. A top secret government lab had gone rogue, secreting away a young boy who had scored positive on some PK tests. The poor, tormented boy had finally turned on his captors, releasing energies that could have caused a cataclysm. Takada had managed to wade through the rogue scientists' steaming pink entrails, and to find the boy, talk him out of nuking the whole city. "I take it you're on friendly terms with her."
    "Yes, we still meet every now and then. I also like to check up on her son."
    "How's he doing?"
    "He's still very withdrawn, poor kid. His powers never manifested again. I think we can all be grateful for that."
    "So may I assume it would not be inappropriate for you to make some polite inquiries on our behalf?"
    Takada smiled. "That was a delightfully indirect question. I think you're going native."
    "Bite me."
    "Anyway, shall we do our rounds so that I can give you your spare sunglasses back?"
    "Actually you can keep those, I requisitioned them specifically for you."
    "Oh fine, now everybody will think I'm a Yakuza."

    *****

    "That was Michiru again," Hotaru said, hanging up the phone. "She says they just got onto the highway, they'll be here in about twenty minutes."
    "Okay," Setsuna said. She put down her book and stood up. "I guess we can start preparing things, then. Can you give me a hand?"
    "Sure." Hotaru followed Setsuna into the kitchen. They had already prepared what could be done ahead of time, it was just a matter of cooking what needed to be cooked and laying it out. It was a big meal, but heavy on green vegetables, which Setsuna had explained to her was best for relieving the effects of jet lag. Haruka and Michiru wouldn't eat airline food, so they would be starving.
    "They're a bit early," Hotaru said as she put on water for the miso soup. "Maybe they didn't get too badly mobbed at the airport."
    "They tried as best they could to keep their flight a secret. But with both of them cancelling events in Europe so suddenly, it was bound to attract attention. Reporters have their way of finding out."
    "Well, whatever they say, I know they both love the attention," Hotaru said. That very attention was the reason they hadn't gone to pick up their friends at the airport. Hers and Setsuna's lives revolved around carefully constructed false documents and false personal histories, each for different reasons. Neither of them could afford the close scrutiny that would no doubt follow being seen publicly with their much more famous friends. "I just feel kind of bad, they both had to cancel events they were really looking forward to."
    "Well, it can't be helped."
    Another of her enigmatic answers, Hotaru noted. It wasn't clear why exactly they needed Uranus and Neptune on hand. Setsuna seemed convinced both of them would make the same decision she did, not become involved in hunting down the ESPers. It seemed like they were coming back for nothing. "Just in case," was about all Setsuna would say. She had also extracted a promise from Hotaru not to make her own decision regarding the matter until the four of them had a chance to talk. Which was also puzzling. As far as she knew, Setsuna would be telling Haruka and Michiru the same things she told Hotaru just a few days ago.
    There was a gentle beep. Hotaru looked over at the home security panel on the living room wall. There was a flashing green light on the otherwise featureless black surface. Somebody had opened the front gate with a remote. That would be Haruka. Whenever she was abroad she had her convertible sportster kept in a garage near Narita airport, that way they wouldn't need to take a cab.
    "I'll go see them in, okay?" Hotaru said.
    Setsuna smiled knowingly, noting Hotaru's eagerness. "Go ahead, I'll finish setting things out."
    Hotaru hung her apron in the kitchen closet and ran through the house to the garages. When she arrived, Haruka had just killed the engine. They were parked in between the sedan and the minivan. The garage door was just closing. Hotaru flipped on the main garage lights on the way in. "Haruka, Michiru! Welcome back!"
    Michiru waved. "Good to see you again, Hotaru-chan."
    "Hey, Hotaru," Haruka called, already getting out of the car. "Long time no see. Looks like you've grown some more."
    Hotaru made a face. "You always say that, even when you've only been gone a few weeks."
    Haruka winked. "You miss us?"
    "You know I do. Let me help you carry your stuff in."
    "The heavy luggage is arriving later," Michiru said.
    "You must have carry-ons, though."
    Haruka chuckled. "Nice try. We don't unwrap the souvenirs until after we get fed."
    "Same goes for the duty free," Michiru added, walking back to the trunk.
    Haruka reached down over the door and pulled the lever that popped the trunk. "Well, I don't think Hotaru's interested in that."
    Hotaru pouted. "You know, chronologically I'm eighteen now."
    "Which still isn't twenty-one," Michiru noted.
    "That never stopped you," Hotaru said. She reached out her hand, and Michiru handed her one of the packages with a smile of gratitude.
    "We're just trying to make sure you don't repeat the mistakes of our own misspent youth," Haruka assured her. She slung the last of the carry- on bags over her shoulder and closed the trunk.
    They all started making their way over to Haruka and Michiru's room, which Hotaru had just finished cleaning up for them today. "Did you bring back any pictures?"
    "Plenty," Michiru said. "Especially from around the Black Sea, we spent a week touring there."
    Hotaru frowned. "You never told us about that. There's a civil war going on around there, isn't it dangerous?"
    "There are some areas we had to avoid," Haruka said. "Besides, if we really got into a pinch we could just transform and beat up anybody who gives us attitude."
    Hotaru sighed. "I thought you were supposed to be role models for me. Do you at least have the pictures with you?"
    "Yes," Michiru said. "But like Haruka said, we don't open up anything until we get fed."
    They put all the packages down on the dresser in the bedroom. Haruka put her arm around Hotaru and steered her back out towards the dining room. "But after dinner, the first thing I want to see is this bridesmaid's dress you've been raving about."
    "And I want to see yours!" Hotaru said, grinning up at her.
    "Not until the rest of the luggage arrives tomorrow," Michiru said.
    "You haven't told me anything about them," Hotaru complained. Over the phone she had described in excruciating detail the dress she had chosen, but the other two had been very mysterious.
    Haruka grinned. "It'll be worth the wait, you'll see."
    Setsuna had dinner waiting for them. They dragged it out, making it last insufferably long. Mainly because Setsuna was bringing Haruka and Michiru up to speed on what had been happening. She described Venus' encounter with the ESPers and the extraterrestrials. Then she related what they had learned from the extraterrestrials, in somewhat greater detail than she had related to Hotaru a few days ago. She gave what seemed to be almost a word for word account of her subsequent argument with the inner Senshi and how it was resolved.
    Haruka and Michiru had been almost silent during all this, only asking the occasional question. Hotaru had cleared away the remains of dinner while Setsuna spoke, they were now drinking tea.
    "We have some news of our own," Michiru said. "Yesterday, I had the same vision again. This time it was unmistakable."
    "Vision?" Hotaru asked hesitantly.
    Michiru looked at her. "I'm sorry Hotaru, I didn't say anything to you because I wasn't really sure. But now I am sure. It was a vision of the Crystal Palace."
    Hotaru gasped. "You mean ... *the* Crystal Palace? Crystal Tokyo?"
    She nodded. "Yes. It's exactly as Pluto described it." Her use of Setsuna's title put Hotaru on edge. It was a signal that things were serious. There was obviously something going on that Hotaru didn't know about yet.
    "Pluto, can you tell us what it means?" Haruka asked. Her tone implied she had some reason to believe Setsuna did indeed have an answer.
    "Yes, I believe I can." Setsuna paused, her expression became very grim. "I need you all to understand that in telling you these things I am violating a sacred trust I have held for several years. Before I continue, I need your solemn oaths that none of what I say will go beyond this room."
    Hotaru looked to see Haruka and Michiru both nodding. Suddenly they were all looking at her, waiting. "Yes, I promise," Hotaru said quickly. She felt even more uneasy now.
    "I know who is destroying the temples and why they are doing it."
    Hotaru's heart was fluttering. *She knew?* "Setsuna ... !" The piercing stare of those red eyes stopped her cold. Setsuna's expression implied she should be careful what she asked. She tried to calm herself, frame her question in a reasonable way. "Pluto, how long have you known?"
    "I found out shortly before I met with the extraterrestrials."
    So she knew even then. While they were all talking about it, trying to figure out a way to fight them. "Why ... why did you keep it a secret?"
    "I believe that will become clear." Once again, she addressed herself to all three of them. "The people attacking these temples are four members of a family of paranormals called the Ancients. I have had dealings with several generations of this family. Over the past few years I have had repeated meetings with a particular member of this family. This is the confidence I spoke of earlier. I cannot even tell you her name. She knows who and what I am. To a limited degree, she knows about us. Not our identities, obviously. We have exchanged information where appropriate. I have warned her about the times when her people should avoid the Juban area or other areas. ESPers tend to invite attack from paranormal beings, you see, they are in greater danger than most. In exchange, she has shared visions from sensitives and precognitives in her family, visions I have found useful.
    "A week ago, I mentioned to her that the Senshi had become involved in one of the attacks on the temples. I had already suspected, but she confirmed that the attackers were in fact Ancients, and they were operating with her knowledge."
    "And she told you why they are doing this?" Haruka asked.
    "Yes. The Ancients possess an artifact known as the Seed Crystal, something that has been in their family for many centuries at least. It appears to be a source of visions, something like Neptune's talisman. Four years ago, after Chaos was released from Galaxia's body, it suddenly started emanating a vision of the Crystal Palace."
    "Have you told her about Crystal Tokyo?" Michiru asked. She sounded anxious.
    "No. I simply told her that I have seen the Palace before, nothing more. Some weeks ago, I suspect by accident, some of the Ancients found that if they extracted the life force of a holy place and brought it before the Seed Crystal, it would strengthen and clarify the vision."
    "So they hope to learn the meaning of the vision," Michiru said.
    "More than that. They hope to bring the Crystal Palace into being."
    "What?" Haruka sat upright, her whole body suddenly tense. "How do they expect to do that?"
    "My contact shared the vision with me, telepathically. Don't worry, she would be unable to read my mind, even if she tried. The vision was sharp enough, even seen indirectly, to convince me that the Seed Crystal is more than just an oracle of sorts. I believe that the Seed Crystal *is* the Crystal Palace. Or rather, its purpose is to become the Crystal Palace."
    They sat in silence for a few moments. Haruka and Michiru looked very troubled. And rightly so. The implications of this were just starting to sink in.
    "By obtaining the life force of more holy sites and bringing it before the Seed Crystal, the Ancients hope to make it reveal exactly how the Crystal Palace can be brought into being."
    "Do you think they could really do that?" Haruka asked.
    "It's possible. I honestly don't know. All I know is, they mean to try."
    Michiru leaned forward. "You don't intend to stop them." It was a statement, not a question.
    "Correct."
    "Gods ..." Haruka breathed. "Pluto ... you have to tell us, this is too important to keep us in the dark. Do you know that this is the way that the Crystal Palace is supposed to come into being?"
    Setsuna sighed. She let her poker face slip a little. Hotaru saw sadness, and ... a flash of what she would not quite describe as fear. "Uranus, in truth, I don't know. I know the future for which we are striving, but there are many possible paths to it. This may be one of those paths."
    "Do you have any idea where this Seed Crystal is?" Michiru asked. Hotaru didn't like the look in her eyes, didn't want to think of the reason for asking the question.
    "No. They've kept it hidden for centuries, it is their most closely guarded secret."
    "So that means if they truly can bring the Palace into being, it will be under their control," Haruka said. The look in her eyes was even more disturbing than that of her partner.
    "It will be in their possession," Setsuna agreed. "Not necessarily under their control. Remember, the Palace is truly enormous. If they bring it into being, wherever it might be, they will no longer be able to keep it a secret. Its location will be revealed to us."
    "They must be doing this for a reason," Haruka said. "They figure it will be a source of power for them or something. I don't imagine they'll sit by and let us or anybody else just walk up and move in."
    "No, I would think not." Setsuna said. "If they really can do this, then all bets are off. The appearance of the Crystal Palace would change everything, not just for us but for the whole world. It's impossible to predict what would happen at that point. We would just have to play it by ear."
    "Pluto, I just don't get it," Haruka said. "It sounds like you're playing dice with our future, everybody's future. You just admitted you have no idea what might happen if you let the Ancients continue what they're doing. Why are you so determined to let them try this?"
    "Because we may need the Palace soon."
    "What do you mean?" Hotaru asked. She suddenly heard an intake of breath and glanced at Haruka. She looked as if something dreadful had occurred to her, as if she knew what Setsuna's answer would be.
    Setsuna glanced at Haruka and nodded, as if confirming her unspoken fear. "The effects of the release of Chaos are still with us, and will get worse before they get better. There is a better than even chance that within the next few years, global civilization will collapse entirely."
    "You mean to have the Palace for a sanctuary," Michiru said. "A sanctuary against a new Dark Age."
    "More than that," Setsuna said. "If a new Dark Age does come, it would fall upon us to help the Princess forge a new order out of that chaos, to bring her future kingdom into being. With the power and protection of the Palace at our command, we would have a much better chance of success. Without it, Crystal Tokyo may never come into being."
    "It still sounds like a craps shoot," Haruka said. "My God, if that thing really does appear can you imagine the panic it would cause? You keep telling us how fragile our peace is, that sounds like just the sort of thing that would shatter it."
    "I agree, there is a risk," Setsuna said. "Yet the risk of the collapse is there regardless of what we do. If the collapse comes, and the Palace has not come into being, it may be lost to us forever. That we absolutely cannot allow to happen."
    "Something is troubling me," Michiru said. "You make it sound like the Ancients had no idea what the Seed Crystal really might be until recently. That seems to suggest that they didn't create it themselves, they simply obtained it somehow. Which begs the question, who did build it?"
    "I can only speculate," Setsuna said. "It could very well date from the time of the Silver Millennium. At the time I had heard rumours of sorcery being used to create crystals that could be commanded to absorb matter and energy from around them, to grow and assume certain shapes. This could very well be one of those artifacts. Even once the palace becomes ours, we may never know to whom we owe its existence."
    "The Princess will never go for this."
    They all looked at Haruka. She looked to be awaiting a reply from Setsuna. "Won't go for what, exactly?" Setsuna asked calmly.
    "Any of it. Letting the Ancients demolish more temples, letting them try and create the Crystal Palace. It's all premised on us preparing for the end of civilization, and she just won't buy into that."
    Hotaru felt her stomach flutter as she caught on to what Haruka wasn't saying. She was no longer arguing with Setsuna's plan, her question was a tactical one. She had already accepted the necessity of what Setsuna was planning. From Michiru's look of calm resolve, she had accepted it as well. "That's why you didn't tell her," Hotaru said, surprising herself by the amount of anger that showed through in her voice.
    Hotaru had expected reproof, but Setsuna's face showed only sympathy and patience. "Saturn, do you know what is the source of the Princess' strength?"
    Hotaru was taken aback by the question. "The Ginzuishou."
    "The Ginzuishou is only a tool. How is it that she uses it to help people, not to hurt people?"
    "How? I don't know what you mean. She would never use it to hurt people."
    Setsuna nodded. "That's right. It would never even occur to her to try. It is her innocence that ensures the Ginzuishou will never be used to harm people. But that innocence comes at a price. There are certain things she simply cannot do. She cannot stand by and allow acts of evil to be committed. She would very simply refuse to believe that a malevolent act could eventually lead to a positive result. She doesn't have it in her to believe that. Just consider what she would do if I told her what I have told you."
    Hotaru thought about that very carefully. The others simply waited, giving her all the time she needed.
    At length, Hotaru bowed her head, unable to meet their gaze. "She would try to stop them," she said very quietly.
    "She is going to try regardless of what we tell her," Michiru reminded them. "They all are."
    Hotaru stared at the table. *They,* she thought sadly. Not *we* any more.
    "That's the problem," Haruka said. "And even if Mercury doesn't figure out some way to track the Ancients, they've got those E.T.s to help them now. Eventually, they're going to get into a scrap. If that happens, we'll have to help the Princess, whether she wants our help or not." She framed it not as an argument but as a simple statement of fact. Which it was.
    "I think I can arrange things so that there won't be any further conflicts," Setsuna said.
    "We can't do anything that puts the Princess in any more danger than she's already putting herself in," Haruka said. Again, just a statement of fact.
    "She won't be in any danger, not if I can help the Ancients escape detection in the first place."
    "How can you do that?" Michiru asked.
    "By dropping a hint in the right place."

    *****

    "What, she's coming here *again*?" Rei asked.
    "They both are," her grandfather said, smiling up at her. "Usagi-san wants to do another walkthrough of the ceremony, and she needs Mamoru-san with her to do that."
    Rei sighed. "That's the second time this *week*. I'll bet she's using this as an excuse to skip classes."
    "Oh, I think she's just nervous, that's all. Since you're here, you might as well participate too."
    "I've already practiced more than enough, I can do it in my sleep now. The maid of honour doesn't have to do a whole lot."
    "Actually I thought you might do one walkthrough as the bride, show her how it's done."
    *Oh yeah, that would go over with Usagi just dandy.* "I don't think that would be appropriate, grandpa."
    Her grandfather rubbed his chin thoughtfully, looking up into the sky. "Perhaps Mamoru-san would benefit from having somebody show him the groom's role. When Yuichirou gets back-"
    "Grandpa!" Rei tightened her grip on her bamboo broom.
    "Just a thought." He groaned and stretched, making a production out of it. "These old bones ache more and more each year." He folded his arms, scanned the temple grounds. "I'm going to have to step down sooner or later," he said wistfully. "I really have to start thinking about who will be succeeding me."
    Compared to some of the other hints he had been dropping since Usagi's wedding date was decided on, this one had been downright subtle. "That won't be for a long time, grandpa."
    "Well, hopefully I can stick around long enough to see all your other friends married off too."
    *Oh boy.* "Don't hold your breath. They're all career girls now." Though from what she'd been hearing, they might expect to hear news from Ami sometime soon.
    "Well, I can only hope that Usagi-san's example will inspire more of you to take the same path."
    Rei spotted somebody climbing the steps that led down to street level, and silently gave thanks to whichever Kami had saved her this day. "Grandpa, it looks like Ichiro-san is here to visit."
    Her grandfather looked over to the gate at the top of the steps, and smiled. "Why, so he is." Without further ado, he walked over to greet his old friend. Rei noticed he was walking with a slight limp. Probably overdid things in his morning exercises again.
    Hori Ichiro wore the dark robes of a Buddhist priest, which contrasted with her grandfather's white robes. Ichiro was even shorter and chubbier than her grandfather, which was really saying something. And just as bald. Rei would swear his head and body formed two perfect circles.
    They came to a halt right where they met and started talking. Great, that would keep him busy for a while. Rei continued her sweeping. She glanced across the grounds to spot Miho doing the same. She smiled. The first of the autumn leaves were just starting to fall. It was beginning to dawn on poor Miho just what she had gotten herself into by joining a shrine with such heavily wooded grounds.
    She had just about reached the shrine building when she spotted Yuichirou walking towards her. They both waved. He wore his usual white acolyte's robe and sandles. Some time ago she had convinced him to wear his hair just a bit shorter. You could actually glimpse both his eyes now if you looked hard. He carried the big parcel she had been expecting.
    "Thanks for your trouble," she said.
    "Not at all." He handed her the paper box tied with ribbons. "I checked, they said they were able to do all the alterations you asked for."
    "Well I hope so, I'm sure paying them enough." It would be worth it, though.
    "They couldn't believe it when I told them this was going to be a bridesmaid's dress."
    "Well, Usagi said do your own thing, so that's what I'm doing." Actually, it was more like Usagi giving up on all eight of them agreeing on the same style of dress.
    "I spotted your grandfather and Ichiro-san on the way in. They didn't even notice me."
    "I don't think they'd notice if a brass band paraded by them. Probably arguing about whether the Buddhas are the true forms of the Kami or the Kami are the true forms of the Buddhas."
    "How long have they been at it?"
    "Less than half an hour."
    "I guess we'll have to go dump water on them or something when the happy couple gets here."
    Rei chuckled. Yes, they would be there until sunset otherwise. Unless their legs gave out from standing there. Grandpa was still in fine shape, but was getting more aches and pains these days.
    "You know, it's kind of nice," Yuichirou said, a fond smile growing on his face.
    Rei raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
    "It's kind of nice to think that two people could disagree for fifty years and still be close like that."
    Rei returned his smile, stepped a little closer. "Yeah. That is a very nice thought, isn't it?" She suddenly regretted that her hands were full.
    He divested her of the broom. "You'd better go try that dress. I'll take over leaf detail."
    "Thanks. I'll see you tonight." She went up on her toes to give him a quick kiss. Then she turned to walk to the temple residence. As she walked, her smile slowly faded. Her grandfather wasn't the only one dropping hints these days. *I'm sorry, Yuichirou.* She glanced at the box she carried. *Maybe when this is over and done with ... maybe then I'll have the courage.*
    She removed her sandals at the door, walked a ways down the corridor, and slid aside the panel leading to the room that had been requisitioned for the preparations. She closed the door behind her, then turned to look at it for a moment.
    The wedding dress.
    Of course for the ceremony Usagi would be wearing what was appropriate for a traditional Shinto ceremony. The elaborate kimono was packed away in a nearby cupboard. What the black mannequin in the centre of the room wore was the dress Usagi would wear at the reception. Rei glanced at the box again and smiled. *A matched set.*
    She went behind the screen and opened up the box. She hung the dress up on a hanger and inspected it. Almost impossible to see where the alterations were made. Great. She removed her red and white priestess' robes, stripping down to her underwear. She relaxed considerably when she had the dress on. A perfect fit. She examined herself in the full-length mirror and smiled. Yes, this would be perfect.
    She glanced at the make-up kit sitting on a desk nearby. What the hell, might as well see how this looks for real.
    A little while later she was inspecting herself in the full-length mirror again. She still had a vague feeling that something was missing. It was annoying her. After some more craning her neck seeing what it looked like from the side, it suddenly hit her. The hair. She grinned. Oh yeah, she could just imagine herself doing that. It was out of the question for the wedding ... but somehow she was just dying to see how that would look.
    It took more work than she had thought. After three tries, and some creative use of hairpins, it looked about as good as it was going to get. She shook her head as she examined the results in the mirror. No, it definitely lost something in the translation.
    "Rei-chaaan. It's meee." Usagi's voice came closer. Rei could hear her footsteps coming down the corridor.
    Rei looked in the mirror and grinned from ear to ear. Yes, the Kami are in a playful mood today. Best not disappoint them.
    Rei heard the door slide open. "Rei-chan, you in here?"
    Rei leaped out from behind the screen and struck a pose. "Stop right there! How dare you enter this sacred place uninvited! The wedding dress expresses the hopes and dreams of all young girls who wait for their prince charming! In the name of the moon, I will punish you!"
    Usagi looked like she had been struck by lightning. After a moment the corners of her mouth started going up. She snickered. Then they both lost it.
    After spending about half a minute doubled over laughing, Rei managed to stagger over to a table and grab a tissue. She dabbed the tears out of her eyes before they could smear her makeup.
    Usagi stood up straight, her wheezing just about done. Her face was still flushed. "Rei, where did you *get* that?"
    "I bought it years ago. Never had the nerve to wear it, though. It had a shorter skirt then, I had to have some major alterations done to get it like this."
    Usagi gasped. "I remember now!" She glanced at the wedding dress, pointed to it, then to Rei. "They ... it ... they're both-"
    "Right, both designed by Usui Yoshiki." That was the fashion designer they had rescued from one of the Amazon Trio, back when they and Chibi-moon were fighting them. Soon after that he had designed a wedding dress, which Usagi's was patterned after. At the same time, his encounter with Sailor Moon had inspired Usui to design a white, blue and red dress patterned on Sailor Moon's outfit. Rei's dress was essentially the same one, but with a new skirt that went just above the knees.
    "Wow. It's, uh ... still pretty short."
    "It would ruin the effect if the hem were any lower. I compromised."
    Usagi smiled again. It was different this time. Not amusement, but warmth. "Rei, it's perfect. You'll look beautiful."
    "Thanks."
    Usagi's smile faded a bit. She looked a bit embarrassed. "Uh, I'm wondering though, are you really planning to do your hair up like that?"
    "Gods, no! I just did this for fun. How do you like it?" She reached up and patted one of the buns she had curled her hair into, slightly larger versions of the odangos Usagi always wore her hair in. The pigtails that emerged from them certainly could not compare to Usagi's, they only went about halfway down her back.
    Usagi cocked her head, rubbed her chin meditatively. "I think I liked it better the way it was before."
    "Well, I should think so."
    Usagi giggled. "At least you did a better job than when Venus tried it."
    Yes, Rei remembered that well. "That was a rush job done under duress." It had been part of an on the spot plan to have Venus impersonate Sailor Moon, back when they were fighting the Death Busters.
    "I mean, the pigtails didn't even match," Usagi said.
    "That was because I did one of them while Jupiter did the other, we didn't even have time to check our work."
    Usagi crossed her arms, made a face of mock haughtiness. "Well, I hope this made you appreciate how much work I put into achieving this look."
    "Yes, your odangoness. So anyway, what brought you in here?"
    Usagi hesitated for just a moment. "Oh, I just wanted to come see you for a second before we go practice the ceremony."
    "Isn't Mamoru-san with you?"
    "He's parking the car. I told him I'd meet him at the shrine."
    Usagi was answering her questions almost tonelessly. She looked preoccupied. Definitely she was nervous about something. And not just wedding jitters. "Was there something you needed from here?"
    She shook her head. "No. There was just something I wanted to ask you."
    "Yes?"
    Usagi's eyes dropped down to the floor. She was fidgeting. Rei had a bad feeling about this.
    Usagi met her eyes again, with some effort. "Rei-chan, are you happy?"
    Rei blinked. She didn't know quite what to make of the question. "Why are you asking me this, all of a sudden?"
    "I just want to know if you're happy. I mean, with the way your life is going."
    Rei sighed. "I think we should go sit down."
    In this mess there actually were two cushions next to a table with not too much clutter on it. They both sat down. Usagi was still looking nervous.
    "Usagi, this is about Mamoru and me, isn't it?"
    Usagi just nodded. Rei reached out and took her hand. She took just a moment to review the long rehearsed words. "I'll just tell you the truth, Usagi. Even if we really do live a thousand years, I will never, ever love anybody as I love you and Mamoru. It's that simple. I'll just have to deal with it, that's all."
    Usagi's expression became even more troubled. She almost looked to be in pain. "Rei, I would rather die than do anything to hurt you," she said softly.
    Rei counted two slow breaths, using the breathing exercise to calm herself. She had no doubt at all that Usagi meant that literally. After all this time it still frightened her, the intensity, the completeness with which Usagi loved them all. "Usagi, the only way you could hurt me is by not marrying the man you love and raising a lovely pink-haired daughter."
    "But you love him too."
    *Here comes the hard part.* "Yes, just as much as I love you."
    Usagi shook her head. "That's different."
    Rei slid a little closer and took Usagi's other hand, clasping them both firmly. "Usagi, let me tell you something. If, God forbid, you and Mamoru were to break up, I would have a very, very hard decision to make."
    Usagi frowned. "Decision?"
    "Which one of you to try and seduce." She leaned forward and gave Usagi a kiss that was just long enough to show that she meant it. She backed away just a couple of centimetres, no more.
    Usagi went slack-jawed. Her face turned beet red with astonishing speed. Rei would swear she could feel the heat radiating off Usagi's face. "Rei ... I ... Uh ... Um ... Oh ... I see."
    Rei sat up straight again, released Usagi's hands and smiled. "I'm really happy I'll never have to make that decision."
    "Right. Good. Uh, thanks."
    "No problem."
    "I'd better go now, Mamo-chan is probably waiting for me."
    "Yes, he probably is. Drop by for some tea later, okay?"
    "Sure." Usagi got up. Her colour was almost back to normal, but she still looked rather dazed. She made her way through the mess to the door. She even remembered to say goodbye and to close the door behind her.
    Rei took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Well, that had gone fairly well. Almost anti-climactic, really. For a long time she had anticipated Usagi asking her about this, prepared herself for it. Now, it was finally laid to rest. Hopefully.
    She stood and stretched. Time to put the dress away. She felt sad somehow. She'd been having such fun with it on, it was like a party coming to an end.
    Rei spotted something on the table. She groaned. "That airhead." Usagi had forgotten her purse. Well, this time she could hardly be blamed. Rei had played the shock value of her confession for all it was worth.
    Rei went back behind the screen to change. She had just about finished putting the dress back into the box when she heard footsteps in the hallway. The door slid open. Back sooner than expected. Rei walked around the screen. "Honestly Usagi, if your head wasn't attached to your neck you would ... oh."
    Mamoru stood in the doorway, looking very astonished. Rei was suddenly very conscious of being in nothing but her underwear. Neither of them moved. Then Mamoru's expression brightened. He started laughing.
    Rei put her hands on her hips, suddenly not caring about how embarrassing this was. "Do you find something amusing, buster?"
    "If ... If you dyed it ..." that was all he got out before doubling over in another fit of laughter.
    *Oh Gods, the hair.* An image of what she must look like flashed through her head. Standing in her underwear with heavy makeup and her hair in odangos. She lost it again. This time it was almost painful, her stomach still ached from her first laughing fit. In spite of the delightful moment, in the midst of her uncontrollable laughter, she still felt awkward about her state of undress. There was a yukata hanging on a rack, from when Usagi had been in here trying on her kimono. Rei stepped over to it and tripped over a box.
    "Whoa ... !" Already doubled over, she was hopelessly unbalanced. She flailed her arms as she went staggering headlong, straight for the wedding dress.
    Mamoru came out of nowhere, intercepting her at the last moment. They both went tumbling down to the floor. Incredibly, he managed to avoid any of the clutter on the floor and to also break her fall. He grunted as her weight knocked the wind out of him.
    Rei untangled herself from him and levered herself up on her arms. She shook her head, trying to clear it. Nothing hurt badly, she must be okay. She looked at Mamoru lying next to her. He was just getting his wind back. He met her gaze and they both smiled. An instant later they both realized their mistake. But it was too late. Rei involuntarily snickered, priming the positive feedback loop. Her arms gave out and she dropped back down next to him. This time it was more wheezing than laughing, neither of them had much breath left. Rei didn't think she could stand up even if she wanted to.
    After a minute or so, she managed to at least sit back up again. "Are you okay?"
    Mamoru nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." He also pushed himself up into a sitting position.
    "I'm sorry, I feel so stupid."
    "It was my fault for barging in like that. I really should have knocked."
    Rei was about to agree, when she spotted something more pressing. "Oh my God, your shirt! Look!" Mamoru looked down to where she was pointing. She had gotten lipstick on the front of his white dress shirt when she fell on him. "Take it off, quick. I've got something that will keep it from staining."
    "Aren't you supposed to soak it?" Mamoru asked, already unbuttoning the shirt.
    "I've got something better. Now where is it?" She went to one of the tables and started rummaging through the small boxes there. "Ah, here." She took a small vial out and walked back to where Mamoru sat on the bamboo floor. He already had the shirt off. Rei sat down and took it from him. She inspected it quickly, making sure it was just that one spot. Then she laid it on the floor and opened up the vial. "It's something from the former Rising Wind company," she explained as she carefully squeezed drops of the milky liquid onto the red stain. "Some nano-goo that binds with the stain, or something like that. You just have let it dry for a few minutes. Then wash it later on."
    "Thanks."
    "No problem." Rei reached over and put the vial on a low table nearby. Stretching out on the floor suddenly seemed more appealing than sitting back up again. She let out a long groan.
    Mamoru grinned at her. "My, don't we look like we've been up to something naughty."
    Yes, they certainly did. Rei just felt too comfortable lying there to go do anything about her state of undress. "It's not like you to barge in without knocking."
    "I wasn't expecting to find you here. Usagi sent me over here to pick up her handbag. She told me she had come here looking for you, but you weren't here."
    "What? But I was just talking to ..." her voice trailed off, as the realization hit her. She suddenly sat bolt upright. She saw the same look on Mamoru's face. As one, they pointed to each other and exclaimed "She set us up!"
    Rei just shook her head in disbelief. "I didn't think she had it in her."
    "I thought something was fishy," Mamoru said. "There was something in her smile, almost like satisfaction or triumph."
    "Maybe she was just getting even."
    "For what?"
    Rei sighed. The circumstances were far from ideal, but she would have to talk to him sometime. "She came in here to ask about us."
    "Oh." Mamoru's expression sobered. "What did you tell her?"
    "Exactly what I told you." That had been years ago. Mamoru had come to her asking much the same questions, though rather less awkwardly than Usagi had.
    "How did she take it?"
    "Hard to tell. I'm not even sure if she believed me. It looked as if she would need some time to digest what I told her. If this little trick of hers is a message, I'm not sure what to make of it."
    Mamoru smiled. "I think it means that whether she believed you or not, she's satisfied with the answer you gave her. She hasn't said in so many words, but she's really been worried about you."
    "I know, I could tell too. I hope I've set her mind at ease," she said quietly, really meaning it.
    "We're so lucky, having a friend like you," Mamoru said softly.
    Rei returned his smile. She was almost at the point now where she no longer felt regretful about Mamoru seeing her as a friend, almost at the point where it was enough.
    Rei heard something drop. She turned her head, and suddenly her heart leaped up into her throat. Minako was holding onto the door she had just opened. The package she had dropped lay on the floor beside her. The look on her face was appropriate for somebody who had just stumbled on an act of cannibalism in progress. Her arm shot up and she pointed at Rei, sighting down her finger like it was a gun. "Rei! How could you let this happen?"
    "Minako-" Rei and Mamoru both stopped in mid sentence, each hoping to God the other could think up something more original than 'this isn't what you think.'
    Minako strode into the room, her clenched fists swaying at her sides. She kicked another box aside as she went. She didn't seem to notice.
    Minako thrust her finger out at Rei again. "We all trusted you Rei, and now look at what you've done!"
    "Minako-"
    "We do everything we can to make sure they have every possible kind of good luck, and this is what you do!"
    Rei blinked. *Good luck?* "Huh?"
    "Don't you 'huh' me, Rei! You're a priestess now, you're supposed to know these things! Oh Gods, you can't tell me you actually don't know!"
    Rei shook her head, utterly lost. "Know what?"
    "It's bad luck for the groom to see the dress before the wedding, that's what!"
    Rei just stared back at her. She didn't know whether she should laugh or cry. Just at the moment she was too stunned to do either.
    "Well what have you got to say for yourself?"
    "Minako, it's only bad luck if he sees her in the dress," Rei said calmly.
    Minako's look of outrage faded. "Are you sure?"
    "Yes. I looked it up."
    "Oh." Minako relaxed. Her anger vanished like a popped balloon. "Well, I guess that's okay then."
    "Is that by any chance your bridesmaid's dress?" Mamoru asked, pointing at the big box Minako had dropped. There was a hint of fear in his voice. Rei could imagine him being unsure about this attempt to divert the attention of the unpredictable girl.
    "Oh, right." Minako went back to retrieve it. "I just wanted to store it here for now, is that okay?"
    "Sure," Rei said. "You can just leave it over there."
    "Okay." She put it down on the table Rei had indicated. She glanced over at Mamoru's shirt lying on the floor. "Hmmm. Lipstick on cotton, huh? You know, once that nanogoop dries you can get it off with a fine-bristled brush, you don't have to wait until you wash it. I'd suggest doing that, you might have trouble explaining that stain to Usagi." She winked, flashed a wicked smile.
    Rei held up her hand. "Minako, it's not-"
    "I've gotta run, I promised Usagi I'd help her with the rehearsal. Mamoru, see you there in a few minutes?"
    "Yeah."
    "Okay. Have fun, you two." She blew them a kiss, twirled around and walked briskly through the door, closing it smartly behind her.
    The two of them just stared at the door for a few moments. "Rei?"
    "Yeah?"
    "Do you sometimes find Minako scary?"
    "Oh yeah. Being with her can be like chugging enriched essence of Usagi. Anyway, I think we should take her advice."
    She found an appropriate brush and went to work. It was coming off like it was just powder. "I didn't know it would work this fast. I wonder how she found that out?"
    "Why don't you ask her sometime?"
    "Pass." She looked up from her work. Mamoru met her eyes, and realized she had seen where he had been looking. He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."
    Rei smiled in return. "I suppose you're wondering about this." She pointed at the mark that was half hidden by her bra.
    "Well ... yeah."
    "Don't worry, I don't mind." She put down the brush and reached up to carefully push back the fabric of her bra just enough to reveal the rest of the tiny tattoo. It was a little red rose on a green stem etched over the top of her right breast.
    "It's beautiful. When did you have that done?"
    "It was shortly after you had been taken by Queen Beryl. Surprised?"
    "Well, to be honest, you're the last person I'd expect to go get a tattoo. And you were barely fifteen at the time. Was it just a whim?"
    Rei smiled. "No, there was a purpose behind this. It's hard to explain, but it was a kind of tribute to you, or maybe a memento. After that day at Starlight Tower I pretty much knew I had lost you. I mean, even if we could get you back, you were destined for the Princess. Either I would end up having to kill you in battle, or if you broke the hold Beryl had on you, I would have to give you up to Usagi. I had this silly notion that this rose would be my little secret, never ever seen or touched by anyone."
    "And is it still your little secret?" Mamoru asked playfully.
    "Hmph. None of your damned business, buster."
    "Well, I'm honoured." Mamoru did a little sleight of hand move and suddenly there was a red rose in his hand. He held it out to her. "Just to say thanks for everything."
    She accepted it, a little astonished. "Thank you. I didn't know you could do that if you weren't Tuxedo Mask."
    "I can only do ordinary roses like this, not the ones I love to embed in concrete."
    Rei took in the flower's scent. Yes, it was genuine. Just for the hell of it, she decided to put it in her hair, just below the odango on her left. "Now I've got a matching set."
    "Just promise me something, okay?" Mamoru asked.
    "What's that?"
    "Wear the rose if you must, but please let your hair back down before you step out of the room."
    "Deal." Rei picked up her brush again and continued brushing off the powder that the stain remover had left on his shirt.
    Mamoru reclined on a cushion, getting more comfortable while he waited for her. "Usagi told me Ami's rigged up a communicator for the extraterrestrials," he said.
    "Yes, she took it over to them a couple of days ago." Ami and Makoto had gone over to their apartment in their Senshi form, both to introduce themselves to their new allies and to give Jeneth the communicator Ami had made for them. Since then Jeneth had been checking in twice daily as arranged, but there had been no other occasion to use the device. "I suppose you heard what Setsuna had to say about all this."
    "Yes. Usagi's rather upset about it. She's beginning to wonder if Pluto might be right."
    Rei glanced up from her work. "Do you think she's right?"
    "I can see her point, but I don't know how she can back it up. I mean, there isn't exactly a body of law defining what the Sailor Senshi should and should not be doing. She's just making a personal value judgement, same as Usagi is."
    "But what do *you* think?"
    "Usagi has never led us wrong. I believe in her."
    Rei smiled. They didn't need to say more. She looked closely at her work one last time. "Well, you should still wash it, but that should do it for now."
    "Thanks." Mamoru took back the shirt and stood up to put it on. Rei walked over to where the yukata was hanging and put it on, just in case anybody else decided to barge in. Then she went to put the box with Minako's dress where it would be out of the way. By the time she was done, Mamoru had finished doing up his shirt. "You'd better get over to the shrine before Usagi starts getting antsy."
    "You know, after what she pulled on us I'm almost tempted to stay here a while, make her sweat a bit."
    Rei sighed. "Mamoru, let me give you some expert advice. Usagi had me look up practically every astrological calendar in existence to find the perfect wedding day for the both of you. I've practically memorized the work. And I very distinctly remember that today is a very inauspicious day for you."
    Mamoru seemed to shrink down into himself a little under her stern gaze. "It is?"
    "Yes. My professional advice is simply this: don't press your luck. Finish your business here as quickly as possible, then go home. Stay there for the rest of the day. That's all."
    Mamoru smiled nervously. "Right. Would it be pressing our luck to stop by for tea before we go?"
    "If Usagi insists, go with the flow."
    "Okay. See you later. And thanks again."
    "No problem."
    When Mamoru had left, Rei marched straight over to the mirror, took the rose out of her hair and let it back down again. The way the last little while had been going, she was beginning to feel that putting it up in Usagi's unique style had somehow altered the fundamental balance in the universe. Only when she had set it right again did she go find something that she could put her rose in water with.
    After hesitating at her bedroom door for a moment, Rei walked over to the dining room and put the little vase in the middle of the long table. She looked down at her rose, smiling. *Not my little secret any more.*

    *****

    Shoji looked at the group of Ancients sitting around the Seed Crystal, all with eyes closed and heads bowed. His lip curled into a sneer.
*Groovin' with the Crystal. Why do I suddenly feel like putting flowers in my hair?*
    Yui was among them, she had been there for almost an hour. They were trying something new, setting up a group telepathic link as they all strove to clarify each others' view of the vision. Yui was suddenly becoming more popular in the family, even among the snot-noses in the Matriarch's household.
    It looked like they would be here a while, so Shoji decided to leave them to it. This mystical group hug thing just wasn't for him.
    Shoji walked onto the teleportation stone and 'ported to the garden. Even on a sunny day the garden was well shaded, but after the gloom of the caves he had to squint while his eyes adjusted. The Matriarch was seated where he had seen her on the way out, contemplating her bonsai tree. Once again, she did not acknowledge his presence in any way. Which was fine with him. It seemed that in the past few days she had been even more grim and reticent than normal.
    Shoji liked to think she was pissed off by Yui stealing her thunder.
    When he and Yui had come back from their trip they had been delivered a terribly polite letter inviting them to the house here, handwritten by grandma Himiko herself. Since she and Shoji had graciously accepted, they had been placed in the nicest guest room in the house and Yui had been the centre of attention at each family meal. Everyone wanted to know what it was like taking the life force out of a holy place, or what was her interpretation of the Seed Crystal's vision. A little bewildered at first, she seemed to be basking in the attention now. Everybody seemed to be thinking of this as her pet project now.
    He was happy to see her having such a good time, it really was taking the edge off the anxiety she felt over going back to Tokyo. Problem was, at times like this he didn't have much to do. This place was about as much fun as a museum. He walked into the house, contemplating whether he should go soak in the nearby hot springs, or go toss some fireballs around where Himiko's people would practice. As he walked down the dark hallway, he became aware of a familiar presence. When he rounded a corner, it was no surprise who he found standing there. "Hi Mom. When did you get here?"
    "Just a few minutes ago," Kaori said. "Is Yui still in the cave?"
    "Yeah, I just finished checking up on her. I've got to watch these people, if they had their way she'd be in there day and night until she dropped."
    "The Matriarch is very strict about people contemplating the Crystal being sufficiently rested and prepared."
    "Well, she's not saying much these days."
    Kaori did not react to the implied criticism. "Can we go sit for a while?"
    "Sure, let's go to my room."
    They climbed to the second story and Shoji ushered her into the rooms that he and Yui were sharing. With all the rice paper panels open to admit the air and the afternoon sun into the spacious rooms, it felt a little less like living in a museum.
    Shoji plopped himself down cross-legged on one of the cushions. His mother sat across the table from him, kneeling and folding her hands over her light blue kimono. "Yesterday I was told that Yui and the others had been trying to clarify the vision by a group effort," she said.
    "That's what they're doing now. I talked to Yui after their first try. She doesn't think it's going anywhere, but they'll give it another go."
    "I see. It's unlike her to be that patient. I wonder if she is being agreeable because this delays your return to Tokyo."
    Shoji kept his tone casual. "No, we've talked about it. She's okay about going after more places. It's almost getting fun for her now."
    "Shoji, that is not something that anybody should get any joy out of doing," his mother said, the hint of sharpness in her voice only detectable by Shoji's long experience.
    "I don't mean it that way, Mom. I just mean it's getting easier for her, that's all."
    "So you've encountered no problems?"
    "Only with places outside of Tokyo area, that idea turned out to be a bust."
    "I meant other sorts of problems."
    Shoji met her gaze firmly, slipping easily into their old game of mental jujitsu. "No, there hasn't been any problems worth mentioning. We're always long gone before anybody can see us."
    "The authorities are becoming greatly concerned over your activities. They would give a great deal to capture those responsible and hold them accountable."
    "We won't give them the chance."
    "Be that as it may, I would feel better if you took an additional precaution."
    Shoji frowned. "What precaution?"
    Kaori reached into the front of her kimono and drew out a small white cloth bundle. She put it on the table between them and unwrapped it. She laid the cloth out around its contents, and withdrew her hands.
    Shoji leaned forward to get a look. It was a little obsidian statue, rough and very stylized, about ten centimetres high. "It looks ... old."
    "We have no idea how old."
    "It's got quite the aura." Now that it was no longer hugged against Kaori's breast, Shoji could easily see that it had its own aura, almost like a living thing. He was nowhere near as aura sensitive as his mother or as Yui, so it must be very powerful.
    "Shoji, I would like you to raise its temperature by five degrees celsius."
    Shoji blinked. Suddenly, his mother was talking to him like she had when he was five years old. That's about when she had started him doing this sort of practice. This was the most elementary of exercises for him, he could do it blindfolded by the time he was six. He got the impression there was no point asking what this was about until after he had complied. "Okay." He glanced back down at the statue, directed his will towards it.
    Shoji let out a grunt of surprise. He resisted the urge to put out his hands to steady himself. The vertigo passed in just a second. To his inner eye, it had seemed like the room had suddenly gone reeling. "That was ... weird."
    Kaori pointed at one of the teacups in the tea set on the table. "Feel that cup."
    Shoji did. It was warm. "Did I do that?"
    "Yes. The statue misdirected your psionic probe. It acts like a sort of refractor of psychic activity." She picked up the statue, held it between them. "Try to see my aura."
    Carefully this time, Shoji reached out again with his inner sight. He found the feeling of vertigo was not too bad, now he was expecting it. But his mother's aura, usually so familiar, looked all wrong. It was distorted, and somehow it seemed to be all over the place. If he closed his eyes, he probably would have no clue where she was.
    Kaori placed the statue back on the table. "I think you should take this with you, whenever you and Yui go out to take the life force from another holy place, as you no doubt will soon be doing. This will help to mask your activity."
    Hesitantly, Shoji picked up the statue. "I don't get it. This isn't going to help Yui contain the light and noise of taking the life force, is it?"
    "No. But it will help mask you from psychic sensitives."
    "What good will that do?"
    Kaori's expression had those familiar hints of impatience and sadness, the very face she wore when she knew he wasn't telling her the whole truth. "It has come to my attention that there are a group of Sensitives in 3- chome Shinjuku. Your activities have apparently attracted their attention. I think that attention would best be avoided. Whenever Yui is taking another Soul Icon, this artifact would be best utilized if you place it approximately between her and 3-chome Shinjuku. I might suggest you study a map before venturing out."
    *She's serious about this.* "So who are these people? Black sheep?"
    "Just friends of a friend."
    Shoji blinked. Was that all?
    "I would feel better if you assured me you will do as I have asked." Her tone was almost cold now.
    "Okay. I'll do it. Is there anything else I should know about these people?"
    "No. If you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the house. Men will be delivering material for our garden later today, they like me to be on hand when outsiders are let onto the premises." She rose gracefully to her feet. "Give my regards to Yui-chan."
    "I will. See you later." Shoji just sat and watched her leave. She definitely knew more than she was letting on. These sensitives she was talking about, were they the alien weirdos they had run into? How in Hell could she know about them? This didn't make any damned sense. He picked up the little statue again. It really was an evil looking thing, he thought. He wondered if he should tell Yui about this. No, probably not. He'd do as his mother asked. If Yui noticed the statue and asked about it, he'd say Kaori just gave it to him as a good luck charm.
    Now he really felt like working off some stress. He pocketed the little statue, got up and headed down to the main floor. When he walked into the front foyer, he found Kaori's younger sister there, tying her son's shoelaces for him. She looked up at his approach and smiled. "Hello, Shoji."
    "Hi Aunt Megumi. You're all dressed up, are you going out on the town?"
    She blushed slightly at his teasing. "A friend from Tokyo is meeting me in Sapporo for dinner," she said in her soft, tiny voice. "I'm taking Akira there early so that we can take a walk through the park first."
    They had family in Sapporo, one of the big cities in Hokkaido, so she would no doubt be 'porting them there. That was about as far out as Aunt Megumi and her son ventured these days.
    "That's great." Shoji stepped over to them and went down on his haunches, bringing him level with the young boy. "You really like Sapporo, don't you, Akira?"
    The little boy just smiled shyly and nodded. Looked like he wasn't very talkative today. Too bad, he was actually a nice kid when he wasn't in his depressive phase. He wasn't too messed up, considering what he had gone through. Shoji stood up again. "Aunt Megumi, can I ask you a quick question?"
    "Of course."
    "Do you know any family or friends of the family living in 3-chome Shinjuku?"
    Megumi thought about that for a moment. "No, I'm quite sure there aren't any."
    Which probably meant there weren't. Megumi knew the family very well, other than these occasional outings they were about her only contact. "Oh well, thanks anyway."
    "Why do you ask?"
    "Oh, I have some business there next week, I was just wondering if there was anybody I could visit while I was in the area. Anyway, have fun."
    He went out and spent a little while blasting a cliff face with fireballs. It was still bothering him, that Kaori seemed to know about these aliens. Somehow he no longer felt like it was his own game he was playing.

End Chapter 6