Stone of Lust that Fuses Love and Passion
Usagi's POV:
She's mad at me. I can tell. What did I do now?
I watch her trample leaves underfoot, and soon, I realize she repeatedly looking on both her sides. She's looking for something. I rush up and fall into step beside her. Making sure I have her attention, I ask, “Rei-chan, what's wrong?”
She looks the other way. “What makes you think there's something wrong?”
I point out, “You're avoiding me.”
“I'm still answering you, aren't I?” She still has that agitated look. And then I get a new revelation. She's nervous about seeing someone, excited, happy, kind of nervous. Could it be...?
“Hey, is Mina-chan nearby?”
My sudden question must have startled her, because she stares at me for a moment before vigorously shaking her head and stepping up the pace.
As I see her walk farther away, I sense something inside me telling me to go for it while I still can, before they're reunited. As we reach the hill, my mind is made up.
She pauses to make sure I'm still behind her, and then starts climbing the hill. I look up, and I find it's rather steep. Shaking it off, I start climbing, following the path Rei is setting.
Halfway up, the rock I use as a hand leverage slips, and I yelp as I nearly go sliding all the way down. It's enough warning for Rei, though, and she snatches my hand from mid air. Once I've calmed down, she asks if I'm all right, and I manage a nod. She waits until I start climbing again before doing the same.
That's when I notice. Right now, Rei is wearing a blouse and tight leggings, and it shows her curves really well. Actually, from my view behind her... Ack! What am I doing? These aren't the thoughts of a Princess! Concentrate on climbing, baka! Every so often, I find my gaze traveling to places where it shouldn't, and I have to berate myself to stop looking. It doesn't really last.
We reach the top landing fairly easily- it just took a while. Rei helps me up the last part, and I find that the hill is so steep, there's only a gazebo to take up the whole top. Oh well. At least it's flat. And it has some benches to sit down on.
Rei apparently appreciates this, too, and by unspoken consensus we both sit down. I watch as she absently grips the thin column for support as she looks behind the bench to the horizon. I look, too, in case she catches me staring. Oh what the hey- we're both sitting, there's no entertainment- why not? I rest my head on my folded arms on the back of the bench, and turn my head so I can watch her undisturbed.
Rei's so beautiful... I wish I could be like her. Everyone knows that if she were into guys, if she cared to go to parties, she'd be the queen of every ball. It doesn't matter that I'm the Princess of the Kingdom, or that Mom is the Queen- she'd be crowned as soon as someone could get her to accept it. And it's not just looks either. Rei-chan is so calm, and rational, and she understands the people who throws tantrums, and she can humble them all with her own fits... She's loyal... fiercely loyal... and protective... and trustworthy... and... and...
Kami-sama, I want her so much.
She finally takes notice of my staring, and turns to me. From the look in those lavender orbs of hers, she's known I've been watching her for a while now, and is unsurprised. Nevertheless, she asks, “Is something wrong?”
Yes- my whole life is incomplete because I can't have you. And I don't mean as a companion, as a friend, as a confidante. I can't have you
Instead of saying that, though, I shrug. But it's as if she can read my mind, and she turns towards the horizon again. “I wonder how Mamoru-san is doing...”
A haziness begins to fog my brain, and before I can assure her that he's fine, I begin to wonder who this Mamoru is... there's only Rei here... “Rei's the only one that matters to me...”
Her head snaps up and she stares at me. A part of me recoils, wondering how in the world that had gotten out. But figuring I might as well continue, I add, “Thank you, Rei-chan. I don't say it enough- you're always looking out for me.”
Her eyes soften and a light smile graces her features. Oh that smile... those lips... how I yearn to kiss them! Again, it's as if she can read my mind, her smile fades and she gives me a strange look. “U- usagi-chan? Are you feeling all right?”
She reaches out, from the angle, most likely to feel my forehead, but I latch out, holding her delicate wrist, purring as I nuzzle that hand. Her skin is so silky smooth, so perfect...
I can sense in her voice as she repeats my name, that she's really growing concerned. I murmur a few words in hopes of reassuring her. “I'm fine... I'll be blissfully happy as long as I'm with you, Rei-chan. With you... all alone... my Rei-chan...”
Abruptly, I find that the hand I held is gone- she's stolen it back. I open my eyes to look at her, and she's standing before me. The multiple hand signs she makes are hypnotic, and I find my eyes growing leaden. Then I see that strip of paper again, and I remember when we first met.
I smile languidly. “I'm not a youma, Rei-chan...”
She releases it, after which she declares, “Maybe not, but something's influencing you. Wake up, Usagi!”
Usagi... Bunny... no, don't call me that. Bunny's for everyone else. I snatch the paper out of the air like an unearthly feline. Slowly, I make my way to a standing position, and attempt reaching out for her. She takes a step back for every one I stagger forward. “Rei-chan... call me...” A small voice inside my head tells me there's something wrong, that I'm not being myself, that the Rei-chan I know never looks at me with that much fear in her eyes, that much contempt.
Then again, the Rei I knew also wasn't my lover. Something obviously needed to change.
I advance closer, she keeps backing up, until she hits a post at the other end of the gazebo. “Usagi... come to your senses and wake up! You... you aren't acting like you usually do. You-”
The last of my refusal snaps, and I sprint the last of the distance, taking her up in a hug, even as she struggles. “I love you, Rei!” Suddenly, all her movements stop, though I can hear her soft, rushed breathing, and feel the fall and rise of her chest. Confidence strengthening, I continue, knowing she's listening.
“No one complements me better than you. You're everything I'm not and more. You're beautiful, graceful, smart, strong, loyal, trustworthy... I love you Rei! I want to be with you. I don't want anyone else but you. And I don't care what anyone else says- I want you.” Finding that my mouth's run dry of words to spout, I slowly back up so I can see her expression. Her head is hung, and there's a strange smile on her face. It isn't one of rejection... or acceptance... more like... that small voice inside me revives just a little. I see sympathetic irony in that smile.
After a long silence, in which I allow her to gather her thoughts, she speaks. It's a quiet whisper, but I can hear it all. And I'm not liking it at all.
“There was a time, maybe a week ago now, that Mina asked me a simple question. 'Why do you want me to wait?' I told her there were some things I needed to search out, to let go, to fully satisfy my curiosity before anything else. She understood, and let it be. Then I had to figure out exactly what it was that was bothering me so much.
“It wasn't you, Usagi. It never had anything to do with you. Or Mamoru for that matter. I knew since before I even knew what love was, that you two belonged together. And I never felt that spark that was needed to start any romantic feelings, for us anyway.
“But I felt it with Mina, instantly. I thought it was just because of who she was, the Senshi of Love. I befriended her all the same, and slowly, I began to realize it wasn't just that. I got scared, and ran. The first thing I bumped into was Mamoru. I was young and naïve then; I tried using him as a shield, to hide my growing feelings for my leader, my best friend, my fellow female Senshi.
“It didn't work. He was getting too attached to you to be an effective obstacle. Then I saw you, and the power you had with the Silver Millennium Crystal. I thought if you could wield that much power for love and justice, you would be a suitable hindrance between me and Mina. It worked longer, but then you clung and wouldn't let go. My plan was backfiring. If I couldn't make you let me go, Mamoru might leave, Mina might give up. The latter, I realized, scared me more than everything else combined. I didn't care what society told me was wrong anymore. I needed Mina, and in being her best friend, I already knew I would be safe in refuge with her.
“I tried to get close to her, I tried to show her how I felt, without having to say it. She didn't show any signs of knowing, or reciprocating. She flirted at all the balls (and parties), with all her suitors. I began to think it was too late.
“But then, on the short voyage that I was never supposed to go on, at least, I hadn't planned to two weeks beforehand, she triggered something. Just by asking what I wanted for my birthday, she figured it out, and she told me she felt the same. If I hadn't been suspicious of her motives, I would have died with the happiness she gave me then.
“I'm getting off track. What you just said, Usagi... I can't reciprocate it. My heart belongs to Mina, and only Mina. I'll always protect you, as the Princess and as my friend, but I can't love you like that. I also realize... I can't love anyone else like that either. Only Mina.
“That... that makes me believe... the one thing that was hindering me from being with her... is whether or not I can accept that. We don't live in an age where we can have children without the 'help' of a male. I've always hated that fact. Maybe in the future, we will, but not now.
“This... in turn... means several things. One, by lineage, there won't be heirs to take on our names. Unless we adopt, but that isn't the same as a child born from us, and only us. Two, unless we trick the priest- Kami-sama forbid- we'll never be 'married' by law. Not in this day and age. I doubt it will really happen in the future either. Three, I can be happy that I won't have to watch my family die of old age; I only have to worry about Mina falling in battle. But I can deal with that; if I'm on the battlefield then, or afterwards, I can deal with that. Four, loving the Senshi of Love, I can feel confident that she knows how much I love her- if she doesn't, I can try again and again until she knows it by heart- and will never really leave me after she knows we're together. She knows how much heartbreak hurts, so unless it's circumstances that can't be avoided anyway, I know I can depend on her to be there for me. Five,” Rei pauses to widen her ironic smile, “she understands me in a way no one else, male or female, can. And for that, I have no reason left to believe that she and I don't belong together.”
Rei meets my gaze, and I can see the sadness in her eyes. I try to deny it, but I know it's because she misses Mina.
Something other than my heart pulses inside me, and I suddenly feel pure hatred for Mina swell and grow within my bodily limits. How dare she steal my Rei from me. The witch! She's brainwashed my Rei! I won't stand for it! Rei is mine!
A red haze filters through my eyesight, and I take it to be Rei's passionate flames. I can't hear her call my name, even as I see her lips move. She's clutching my arms, shaking me, but I don't feel any pain. I'm numb. I force my body to lean forward, and it instantly complies.
I'm kissing her! I'm actually kissing her! Kami-sama, you must have blessed these lips; they are so perfect, so soft, so delicious...
She pushes me away, but my body won't even listen to me anymore. That little voice that would ask me to stop, that she's my friend, that I know she doesn't want this, but I don't care. I close my ears to it. I approach her, she's in the middle of her transformation sequence- No! I grab her arms, disrupting the change. I clutch tightly, trying to kiss her again, but she seems to know my goal, and fights against it.
We miss the post.. I trip over the edge of the gazebo... I lose my grip on her... I'm falling... falling... Rei, help me, it hurts...
Setsuna's POV
“She's close, I can feel it! Sets-chan, do you sense it? They're close!”
Mina turns around, an eccentric grin plastered on her face, her hands behind her back to further signify that she is honestly and innocently happy. I can only give her a small smile and nod in return.
We reach the hill, but just as she starts making ready to climb it, I notice something and bid her to wait. A curious look in her eye, she nods and stops. I start to walk around the hill, and before long, I see an unnatural path of weeds growing in a particular spot. Weary of poison and danger, I use a stick to clear a spot, and I'm rewarded with a clear cave entrance. Mina looks over my shoulder in awe.
“Wow Sets... how'd you know that was there?”
I smile wanly. “Intuition I suppose. Come, let's see what this cave has to offer.”
She hesitates, and I know she's looking towards whatever direction she feels Rei from. I don't feel it, even for the Princess, but I lost track of them dozens of yards back. The only one I can sense is Mina, and I can visibly see her. “What about climbing...?”
I shake my head. “Rei-san has most likely already climbed it, and will soon come down. If you like, we can leave a marker, to tell her that we've been here, and she should wait for us if we don't come out before she descends.”
She jumps up and down with excitement. Then, concentrating, she summons whip, and unleashes it on the nearest tree. As I clear away a sufficient amount of the weeds that act as a guard, I watch her at work, and soon realize her intentions. Eventually, she claps the imaginary dirt off her hands, signifying that she has finished her ten-minute masterpiece.
The tree is alight with golden heart formations, blazing on each and every leaf, and encircling like a vine on the bark. A tree specially done for the Winter Solstice Festival could not have been more exquisite. “How long will that last?” I ask her ask she walks back over.
She grins and gives me a 'V' sign for... victory in this case, I suppose. “No worries, no worries; so long as I don't die or lose my powers, that'll stay bright.”
I cast her a concerned gaze. “Won't that detract from your normal output of power? We might need it inside.”
She grinned and waved it off, explaining, “I'll be fine, I'll be fine. I have energy to burn because of how much my love and need for Rei-chan has been growing. (w)”
That explanation, at least, I can believe very well. I know she has tried to suppress it the past few days, but it becomes blatantly obvious at night when she talks and moves in her sleep. She misses Rei. I can see that very well. “Since you seem to have so much light, might you lead the way? If I had my staff, I would do so surely, but as it is...”
Mina is happy to comply. It seems the opportunity to leave a big fat beacon for Rei in the form of a heart tattooed tree has completely outweighed her wish to climb the hill to see Rei sooner. She walks in, holding an orb of light over her hand, and I soon follow.
The tunnel is small, but there's just enough room for one and a half people to walk side by side. It goes on for perhaps twenty yards, before I start to feel something inside me changing. I look up as it momentarily fades, and I see Mina's features highlighted by the orb.
In that instant, I know she is the one and only Senshi of Beauty. To me, no beauty is parallel to hers, nor so perfectly preserved. Her fair skin, her luxurious hair, her well-toned limbs, those delicate features... all is aglow, exuding warmth, love, shining with happiness.
I want to share in that light. I wish to feel all that for myself. I don't remember doing so, but I call out something that makes her stop. Before she can turn around all the way, I'm holding her in an embrace, not too tight, not too informal. Just...
I can smell the scent of her love, that which she was bathed in as a mere babe. That which exudes from her very existence. “I love you, I love you so much.”
It isn't until she responds, that I realize I've said this aloud, but I no longer care. She puts me at arm's length, and smiles at me, softly, gently. “I know, Setsuna, I know. I'm just sorry I can't say the same.”
An irrational side surfaces, what I felt just moments before, and my grip on her tightens. She squeaks, looking at my hands, and then back at me. “Sets...una?”
“Love me.” I plead. “For one night, love me as you would your lover, and let me remember it.”
Her smile changes origin, but it's a smile nonetheless. Slowly, she reaches up to take hold of my wrists, and gently makes me release my hold. “You know I can't do that, Sets. I won't break Rei's trust. Besides... I couldn't... 'love you as a lover' anyway... even for a night. I... I'm not the one for you, Setsuna.”
The rash spirit fluctuated again- I held her shoulders and kissed her. She's surprised, and I sense that's the only reason her mouth is open to me. But even as I chance a moment to deepen the kiss, she pulls away, stepping back. That warmth... I have to have it! I felt it for a blissful moment... in that kiss... Mina! Let me feel it again!
“Don't do this, Setsuna... Don't do this to yourself.” I still advance. “Stop! This... this isn't like you! Snap out of it!”
Her words slowly fade away, and a red haze filters my vision. I approach her again. She streams the light so that it follows her, growing longer, as she turns and sprints down the passage. I give chase, though my limbs begin to feel numb and leaden.
Moments later, I hear her squeal echo through the tunnel, and I inherently pick up the pace. It isn't long before I come to a staircase leading down, and I assume she's tripped and fallen. I lethargically make my way down. There's an unladylike “Umph” that signifies Mina has reached the bottom of the staircase, I try to force my muscles to go faster, and I trip. The way is a lot faster, but had I not been numbed, I fear it would have hurt drastically. In any case, it seems Mina had not been able to move, for I landed in a quite compromising position on top of her.
She is facing me, and her eyes open wide at that moment. Mina struggles to throw me off, but something about my leaden muscles make this impossible. I move down to kiss her, and she turns her head to the side. I get her ear. It doesn't matter much to me; I begin to kiss it, suckle it, lick it softly. She struggles even harder at the first contact, but eventually, all movement ceases.
Believing it to mean she'll allow me to continue without a fight, I slowly begin to unbutton her blouse. Her hand stops me, and I realize I never really held back any of her limbs. Her voice is soft, but it echoes. “This isn't right, Setsuna. Stop this. You're above this, I know you are.”
A rough snarl is emitted from my throat as I nuzzle her neck. A voice that we both know not to my mine, spoke out, “As long as I get what I want, I am willing to shed dignity.”
She stares at me a moment, and then her head jerks to the side. I can hardly hear anymore, but I sense another's arrival. No, she is mine! No one else shall have her!
But in my moment of distraction, she's summoned a small, heart-shaped shock, and she presses it to my forehead. Her face is spinning all around... and the last thing I see are her gentle eyes... the eyes of one who rejected me, but had no wish for me to be hurt by it.
An unlikely outcome.
Rei's POV:
Running after the Princess, I just barely manage to grab her hand before the rest of her body drops out of my line of vision. A split-second later, I follow her. Idiot Bunny that she is, she just has to go tumbling into a burrow that was meant for someone more than half her mass. Nevertheless, I manage to curl around her so as to protect her from the greater brunt of the bumps.
The long spiral tunnel eventually comes to an end, and I unwrap myself from Usagi. Looking around, and wincing as I raise my hand to light a small fire, I see that we're in a rather spacious cavern. The hill must be almost completely hollow- and the hole deliberate.
Before I can think on it any longer, Usagi's revived and starting on me again. Kami-sama help me, I know she's possessed by something! I try to push her away, to move, but even the attempt aches my bones. Damnit Usagi, I know you're the Princess, but stay the hell away from me!
It's then that I catch sight of a dim light from the other side. Could it be...? Despite how much it hurts, I try to rise as I call out, “MINA! ARE YOU HERE?”
I hear a rustling, but there's no other reply. The light momentarily flares, before going completely out. I nearly lose all hope, but then the dim light is back, and it's moving.
I try to stand again, but Usagi, perhaps realizing I can't get away with her on top of me, maneuvers to be just so. Gah! Usagi, when we get back- I'm putting you on a diet!
The footsteps echo as they draw nearer, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. It's Mina. It just has to be her...!
I hear rustling again, but it's one of a different nature, and much closer to me. Even in my dim lighting, I can feel the heat rise to my cheeks, as the leaf dress I made for Usagi falls apart, and the slashes the ragged rocks in the tunnel made in my shirt leave the garment in a similar manner. I struggle to throw her off me again, but the pain becomes even more noticeable as a strange draft blows through the cavern.
Momentarily, I debate smacking her over the head hard enough so that she becomes unconscious, but there are two problems with that. One, she's the heir to the Kingdom, and hitting her that hard, no matter what the circumstances, might be considered a treason of sorts. Two, my whole body hurts so much right now- I don't think I could summon the power to even if it was allowed. Still, the fire might be- psh, never mind that- it's gone out on me.
And then I hear it. “R-rei-chan?”
I look up. There she is. Her hair is messy- the bow's missing- a few of her buttons are missing, she's barefoot, and there's a dumbfounded look on her face, but yes, it's her all right.
“Mi...na.” I find that my voice is hoarse, and cough to clear it. Bracing myself, I spurt out, “Since you seem able to move your limbs... think you can help get this Royal anvil off me?”
She hesitates, and I suppose it's because of our state of undress, but then she starts forward. That's when I see something that makes my own eyes widen in surprise. Setsuna saunters up behind her- from what I can see, outer garments shed- and wraps her arms around Mina's neck, holding her back. Mina's eyes widen as well. Even from the distance we're apart, I can sense her shiver as Setsuna whispers something in her ear.
But she shakes it off and takes a deep breath. Then she does something I can't do; she uses her Senshi powers against a fellow teammate, and Setsuna falls to the ground. Bending down, Mina then does something to her hand, and with the tips of her fingers, emblazons something on Setsuna's neck. With a wistful smile, Mina rearranges Setsuna's limbs, parts her hair away from her sleeping face, and then stands to make her way towards me.
As if completely understanding Usagi's condition, she avoids Usagi's venomous swats, tranquilizers her- without getting me- and then places that mark on her neck. As she slides Usagi off me, I see that it's the shape of a golden flower. Still, I can't help but ask as she rearranges Usagi comfortably as she did Setsuna, “What did you do to them?”
With that same motherly smile- I realize that's what it is now- she answers me as she brings over the largest remaining leaf, and drapes it over Usagi. “It's just a small tranquilizer. It's for emergency purposes if someone is delirious and needs sleep, or if you just don't want to hurt the target.”
After finishing, she extends a hand down to me, and suggests, “Now what do you say we find the source of all this mayhem and set it right?”
I try to smile but even that hurts. She sees me wince, and instantly, she bends down next to me. “What's wrong? Where does it hurt?”
Through a grimace, I answer, “Everywhere. I rolled around Usagi to protect her as we tumbled down the chute, and all the rocks got me.” I hiss through my teeth as she traces one deep abrasion on my arm, before adding, “I would transform, knowing that alone would get rid of most of it, but I can't seem to raise enough strength to go through with it. But... ah... how are you faring?”
Mina grins at me sheepishly. “We found a staircase down here after a horizontal tunnel- and I fell down all five-hundred something of the steps. Somehow, I can still move. But like I told Setsuna, my love gives me enough energy to not only stay conscious and strong, but it heals my wounds a bit faster.”
I can't help but verify, “Love for who?”
She gives me a good-humored stern look as if daring me to ask that again, knowing the answer. But she laughs it off and instead asks back, “Do you still love me, Rei-chan?”
She asks it so easily, as if this is an everyday question, a joke, but I can see in her eyes that she really wants to be sure of my answer.
Playing off another grimace, I whisper her, “Move closer, my voice is starting to fail me.”
Believing it, she leans over until we're almost an inch apart, and I close the distance to press my lips against hers. She smiles into the kiss, and deepens it. But as soon as she starts to push me back, we both hear my spine crack, and she pulls away quickly, concern written all over her face.
As if it wasn't obvious, she murmurs, “Rei-chan... you really are in pain, aren't you?”
Through clench teeth, I hiss a few haggard breaths, before I can manage, “Nice diagnosis, Nurse Mina. Now got any painkillers?”
There's a mysterious glint in her eyes as she smiles, and she tilts up my head. “Would the Patient be willing to work with my ministrations?”
I try to smile back, but it really does hurt too much. “So long as you don't make it worse or kill me, do whatever you like.”
The smile widens, and she stands to walk around me. “All right... just remember it tends to get worse before it gets better, all right? Here goes...!”
I didn't think it was possible, but that day, Mina succeeded in extracting a howl of pain from me.
Mina's POV:
“There now, that wasn't so bad, was it?”
She glares daggers at me, and I smile innocently in an attempt to alleviate it. “Define bad, and whatever you answer, I'll say that was a hundred times worse. Mina?” I hum questioningly, and she adds, closing her eyes, “Do the world a favor and never go into the medical field.”
I blink in surprise. I learned that remedy from my aunt, the masseuse! Hmm... did I do it wrong? “Does it still hurt?”
I'm sure she's about to say “Of course it does,” but then, surprise passes her expression, and she easily moves her limbs about. “Wow... it really doesn't hurt! Hnh.. you actually got something right for once, imagine that.”
I puff my cheeks in a stubborn pout at the retort. “Hmph, see if I ever help you out like that again.”
She grins at me then, and on rickity steps, stands and extends her hand to me now. I take it, and in an instant, she's embraced me. “Thank you, Mina. But you know... if you never help me again... how can I ever find an excuse to really thank you...?”
For some reason, heat begins to rise to my cheeks, but as I kiss her cheek and move away, tugging at her hand, I tell her, “I'll take a very temporary rain check on that one. Come on, let's get the lusty source out of the way so our two stalkers don't revive and start after us again.”
As we find a third doorway to go through, we head towards it, still talking. “I suppose that means Setsuna was possessed by the same thing Usagi was?”
I couldn't help a giggle, knowing the feeling that I had sensed from Setsuna, Usagi, and the other now dormant thing in this cave. “Possessed, sure, but I don't think this is our typical Youma, if it's an evil thing at all.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, nothing, nothing,” I grin as I wave the question off. “It should be just ahead, come on!”
I see the stone upon the altar, and I race towards it, the still slightly weary Rei following behind. If I wasn't already sure of it by now, the caption inscribed into the side of the altar proved it. I pointed at it with as much excitement as I could reveal, and started reading it aloud as Rei came up behind me, resting her chin on my shoulder as she followed my narration.
“THE STONE OF LUST
Dated 1000 B.C.
I, Aiyokuno Gokai°, hereby declare that this artifact will be the monument of my life's work. For many years I have toiled alongside Yaku Zaishi°° and Dou Seiai°°° to create this masterpiece.
The Stone of Lust is a unique creation that draws upon the nearest source of the most powerful entity known to Man- “Love” and from it also extracts its counterpart “Passion” to produce the untouchable substance referred to as “Lust”.
It is designed to unite two people who, under other circumstances, would not be able to find Love in another. That is, this was the original plan, but somewhere along the line, our experiment went awry. The Love it produces, while valiant, is false, and will fail once out of contact with the Stone. To spare people of the misery of either isolation or broken faith, I have sealed it away on this here island. Should any others arrive after we depart, and wish to deactivate it, there is but a simple, though rare, antidote.
'Recipe'
2 People on the Island that still retain full use of their own senses even in close proximity of the stone
-1 of which is the embodiment of Love and has full control over thus
-1 of which is the embodiment of Passion and has full control over thus
-Both of which were in love with each other before arriving on this here Island
Directions: While in direct contact with each other in a frenzy of submitting to self inspired “lust”, one or both may touch the Stone, transferring a register of the involved parties' emotions. If the true love between the people is stronger than the false love of the Stone, the Stone will power down, and its effect on any other patrons will be nullified until the same party, or one of stronger love, touches the stone again, in the same fashion.
Signed,
Gokai, Zaishi, and Seiai
P.S. If we are still alive when someone succeeds in turning the Stone off, if it is possible, please record it and send to the following address.”
At that point, I had to stop reading as I'm overcome with giggles. I happen to glance at her as she does the same, and our noses touch. We both collapse in laughter.
When our mirth has subsided, I look at her through one eye- the other squeezing out a tear- and verify, “One Senshi of Passion?”
She grins. “Check. One Senshi of Love?”
I grin to match hers. “Check. In love since before the island?”
We say in unison, “Check!”
Then Rei adds, lightly nudging me to the floor- which is remarkably clean for being however old it is, and being underground- “Any chance you'd be willing to pick up that rain check now?”
I put a finger to my lips, as if considering it. “Well, I have nothing better to do so...” I shrug. “Sure, why not.”
As she bends down and kisses me, a distant part of my mind wonders if I can touch the Stone at the right moment, or if she'll make me forget all about it. But as we deepen the kiss, I shrug it off- I can always make her go for another round.
Time Lapse
I stir from a very sated sleep, and turn over, startling myself awake upon realizing there's a body missing that should be with me. Sitting up, I look around, and indeed, Rei is nowhere to be seen. I concentrate my power, and I sense her at the top of the hill. I sigh with regret, but then a smile grows as I anticipate how she dressed for it, knowing her clothes are still in shreds. I pick up, dust and throw on my shirt and pants. I'm about to sprint for the outdoors, but then I remember the Stone, and deciding not to leave anything to chance, I grab it and stick it in my pocket before running off.
Briefly, in the first cavern, I check to make sure the Princess and Setsuna are all right- they are, and they're still sound asleep. I move them both over to the end of the staircase, so when they wake up, they catch the hint and come up after us. Then I bound up the steps three at a time.
The sight that meets me upon exiting the cave makes me pause, but I smile and begin to climb. Rei's been here- only she could have wrapped every single one of my heart insignia's in a little flame. Poor tree.
It's all but forgotten though, as I reach my destination. She's there, staring at the horizon whose sun is barely rising, and I briefly wonder if I should bother her at all.
I can't see her face, but I don't doubt that she's in some form of meditation, or at least, in deep contemplation. She's wearing her sailor fuku, which, all things considered, is probably the easiest outfit at hand.
“Mina.”
The name on her lips, gone as quick as it had come, startles me out of my dazed expression. She doesn't turn to me, but I know she knows I'm there. So I climb up all the way and answer in a drawl, “Yyyyeeeeeeeeessss?”
Apparently, she really didn't know I was there, because she jumps and swirls around. Hm, maybe I'm underestimating her this morning. But just as quickly, she turns back around, without another word. I walk over and sit beside her.
We lapse into a silence, and, as sleep begins to call me again, that's fine. At least I know where she is now. But just as I drift off, I hear her voice, and instantly force myself to wake up.
“They cast a smoke signal for us... they're all gathered. Once the Princess and Setsuna recover, we'll head there. They've probably already found a way off.”
Even if I'm awake, I'm still really sleepy, so my assent comes out in an incoherent murmur. A few moments later, I feel her gloved fingers move stray hairs behind my ear, and caresses my cheek. I smile and try to lean into it, but I'm too lethargic. Oh well... it still feels nice.
“Sleep Mina... sleep. I'll wake you when they come out. So... just sleep.”
Somehow, there's something hidden in that voice that makes me wonder, and I can never deny my curiosity anything. So I control my breathing and my energy level to a point where I really could be considered sleeping, and I wait to listen.
There's a long silence, and all she does is run the back of her fingers over my cheek. Then, just as I can stand to stay awake no longer, I hear her whisper, “What's wrong with me, Mina? I love you so much, but... why can't I...”
At that point, I curse my brain for failing on me and shutting down to hibernate. When I come to again, I'm on Setsuna's back, and she's walking. I raise my head and look around. Usagi's next to Setsuna, and her face lights upon seeing that I've awoken. I ignore her little comments of delight, as I see some twenty paces ahead, Rei.
Something's wrong. Something's horribly wrong. I motion for Setsuna to let me off, and she complies. Briefly, I'm sidetracked by my concern that last night might have left ill will, but there's none in her eyes, or Usagi's. I smile at them, say I'm going to go up to Rei, and leave them to do just that. There's no bad feelings from them.
But as I glance at Rei's slightly downtrodden gaze, lifeless as if her body is a robot that moves without consciousness, I worry. I wave a hand in front of her face, and she absently swats it away. Her expression doesn't change.
“Rei...?”
Her reply is quick, soft, and abrupt. “I'm fine Mina.”
I don't... I can't believe her. There's something bothering her. I say just so.
She doesn't answer me. But ever so slightly, her speed increases. When she passes me and I'm about to follow, she tells me, “There are man-eating snakes here. I killed one just after waking up. Make sure the Princess stays safe.”
I want to question her further, find out what's bothering her, but... the snake thing gets to me, and I glance back. When I look at Rei again, she's already fading behind a tree. But she's safe. I skip over to Usagi and Setsuna, and with Usagi in the middle, I keep my eye on Rei.
She worries me, but until we make sure the Princess is safe, and off the island, I suppose I'll have to wait.
When the time comes, I hope I'm not too late.
A/N: For the degree signs, I looked up in a Japanese dictionary to find the names, and these are the translations (that I found):
°Aiyokuno Gokai Passion/Love/Lust of Misunderstanding
°°Yaku Zaishi Chemist/Pharmacist
°°°Dou Seiai Homosexual Love
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