Hitsuzen

Chapter 2

(start)

“How much longer must I wait Yuko-san?”

A woman with long black hair and wearing an outfit resembling those of the old sorcerers stepped out into the yard, not even bothered by the rain falling heavily around her. In fact, not even a single drop of rain was touching the woman.

The woman turned her head, “The time will be arriving within the minute Usagi-san. Just remember that because of your circumstance and wish, the price required from you will have to be a high one.”

Usagi, still dressed in her mourning cloths, nodded. Yuko had already explained to her that because she no longer had what she treasured most, she would have to give one of Cosmos’s powers up instead. She just had yet to say which one.

Suddenly, the sky dropped onto the ground; like thick, wet paint that had dropped from a roof onto the floor. The ‘sky’ burst to reveal the battered forms of two adolescent teenagers wearing cloths suited for a dryer environment. The boy was holding the girl like she would break if he let go.

“There here.” Yuko spoke up.

‘Eh?’ Usagi thought in confusion.

Right after she said that, both the sky and the ground did the ‘wet paint’ effect to reveal a lean, blonde-haired man with a finely crafted staff and a black-haired man wearing something straight from a history book.

The black-haired man blinked once before demanding, “Who’re you.”

Yuko smirked as the blonde spoke up. “If I may, you are the Dimensional Witch are you not?”

“I am known by that title yes.” she replied airily.

This seemed to wake the boy up from his daze, “Please help Sakura! She needs help!”

The note of desperation in his voice made Usagi’s heart clench. She had heard this same voice in her own many times when she was trying to save her friends and family.

Yuko placed her hand above Sakura and it glowed for a few moments before she spoke.

“This girl has lost something important and without it, she will die.” The boy lowered his head in despair.

As Yuko talked to the group, Usagi was wondering why Yuko had made her wait for these people to appear before Yuko would grant her wish. She had spent days at Yuko’s shop hiding in a back room because Yuko had specifically told her that her wish would take a few days to grant. She had never mentioned once in her time at the shop that other people would be involved.

“….along with Usagi-san here.” Yuko’s voice penetrated Usagi’s mind as she focused her thoughts to the here and now. From the looks of surprise and/or suspicion on the group’s faces, they had obviously not noticed her even though she had been only ten feet away.

Yuko turned her body so that it was completely facing her. “Well Usagi-san, as per your wish I am giving you a purpose. Should you accept my services than your purpose will be to travel with these four. What you do is completely up to you, all I give you is one of many paths to take. So Usagi-san, what is your answer?”

The sound of the rain falling was deafening for a few moments as Usagi stared into the eyes of the group. Her mind was racing as she heard her heart beat drum in her ears.

Traveling with a group meant that she would have to be wary of bonding with them on an emotional level, for making new bonds so soon after she lost her friends and family only to lose those bonds again would mean the end of her. She would not be able to continue existing if her soul broke for a second time.

‘Demo…’

The girl lying in the boy’s arms with such a serene sadness had lost her star seed, that much was certain. Of the four forces that were required for a being to exist naturally in this world (1), only a star seed was universal. No matter what shape or form it took, it was always the source of one’s soul.

And though she had laid down her title of Tsuki no Senshi, it did not change the fact that she was the current incarnation of Cosmos. She had no doubt that the core of Cosmos, which had transferred into her new body with her, would force her to help in some way as to ease the suffering of one as pure as the little princess.

She then calmly walked to the boy and placed her hand on Sakura’s forehead.

“Holy Crystal of the House of Artemis, heal this child so that she may live to see a new day. Let the voice of Cosmos be your guide and give new breath to this child of the desert.” Usagi chanted in the ancient tongue of the moon, glowing silver as her magic entered Sakura.

For five seconds she continued to glow until she felt the Ginzenshiosu wink out. It could only heal a soulless body to an extent, but it was enough that Sakura would last a few more days.

Syaoran, who had been ready to jump away, watched in awe as he felt Sakura grow just a little warmer and breathe more easily. He stared into the masked face of the woman, Usagi, and bowed his head in gratitude. Usagi silently nodded and stood up to face Yuko.

“I believe that is your answer Witch of Demons. And I am fully aware of the price that this will cost.” Yuko smirked at her, her eyes gazing eerily at the former senshi.

Just than Watanuki returned with the item Yuko had asked for. Taking it, she held it up to reveal…..a white pork bun? Suddenly it jumped and landed on Yuko’s hand, smiling cheerily.

“This is Mokona. He will be your guide through the dimensions. But before you leave, I will require the payments from all of you. I will require your sword Kurogane, the marking on your back Fai, your relationship with Sakura, and your most forbidden power Usagi.”

There was some resistance for the most part, but all three gave up their prices to Yuko. Yuko turned her head to stare at Usagi.

“I’m afraid Yuko-san that I do not know of which power you speak of. I have so many powers that even I do not know all of them.” Usagi told the witch.

Yuko stared at the former senshi with no emotion on her face, “The power, Usagi-san, is one that only you, in all of time and space, have ever had. A power that made the gods tremble with unease and cause even hitsuzen to be broken.” Usagi suddenly felt the crystal warm, telling her that it was important.

Yuko continued, “The power I speak of Usagi-san is the power that you have used more than once. Often you used it right after finishing off the head of your current enemy……The power I require of you Usagi-san, is the power to bring a person back after they have already disappeared. (1)”

The others watched this with confusion on Syaoran and Kurogane’s part, and awe/fear in Fai’s part.

Usagi tensed as she realized what Yuko was asking of her. Clenching her fists she said, “I would have to give you a piece of the crystal to give you this price Yuko-san.”

“I am aware of that. However, it is the only thing you can properly give me seeing as what you cherish the most was already taken from you. Be assured that that single power is all I require, nothing more.”

Usagi’s body remained tensed for a few moments before she relaxed with a heavy sigh. Walking up to Yuko, she placed her hand over her heart and summoned her power. Holding her hand out, it contained a glowing ball. Yuko lifted her hand, and the ball winked before spitting out a string of purple energy connected to what looked like a piece of crystal. The string floated over to the black pork bun Watanuki held.

Usagi’s legs trembled with strain, the loss of a chunk of energy taking its toll on her. “Kuso.” Usagi mumbled before falling into darkness.

/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\

‘My head hurts.’ was the first thing Usagi thought when she woke up, groaning in pain as the throbbing got worse.

“PUU! Pretty lady is awake!” an almost chipmunk voice screamed next to her ear.

‘Oh Kami shut it up.’ she whined at the unknown owner of the voice. She grabbed her head and blocked her ears as she groaned.

“Mokona, I think she is not feeling well. Do you think you could keep your voice down.” an older woman’s voice shushed.

“Mokona will be quite for pretty lady. Pretty lady get better.” ‘Mokona’ whispered back.

‘Praise Kami, nothing loud.’ Usagi thought with relief. Slowly, ever so slowly, her headache dissipated to the point where she felt only a slight throbbing. Carefully opening her eyes, Usagi noticed her mask staring back at her.

Breathing slowly, she rose from her lying position so that she was sitting. Looking around, she was greeted by the sight of the group she had joined spread throughout what reminded her of an old dorm room straight from her father’s college days.

Samurai-dude was sitting in a corner, the cheeky-wizard was sitting like a monkey next to the dessert-boy who was grasping the sleeping hime’s hand. She took note that a woman sitting with tea cups was emitting an aura similar to Rei’s and Oji-san’s.

‘Must be a miko or something close.’ She thought and filled the information away. Verbally she croaked, “Where am I and you are you?” She nearly blushed at how awful her voice was, she swore the next time she saw Yuko-san she was punching the lady in the face, consequences be damned.

“You are right now in one of the rooms of the apartment-dorm building my husband and I run. And my name is Arashi.” The woman, Arashi, told her. Usagi nodded before turning her head to her new group.

She raised an eyebrow and asked, “Would you all be kind enough to introduce yourselves so that I don’t have to call you some strange or silly nickname.”

That got a reaction from the samurai instantly. “My name is Kurogane.” Usagi nodded and turned to the rest of the group.

“My name is Fai D. Flowright.”

“I am Syaoran and this is Sakura-hime.”

“Mokona is Mokona!”

She almost smiled at how cute this picture was. “I am Usagi-”

“Honey I’m home! How about a welcome home kiss-“

BAMN

“-and I think that that man needs some medical attention right about now….”

(End)

Tell me what you think of it! Ja!