Senshi: the Gathering of Five
Part Twenty-two
"This is a waste of our time" Manticore scowled, red hair falling over rose tinted skin. The leader of the Doom sisters turned from where they had been watching the Senshi gathering at the shrine, her sisters arrayed around her in the shadows of the great trees. It was peaceful here, in the middle of the city, a oasis of green in a busy world.
Sitting on one of the larger branches Chimera smiled coldly as she reminded them"We aren't the ones to decide that." The blue haired second in command frowned"Though I do not understand what these beings are doing."
"They are humans" Hydra noted, her light green skin reminding one of the forests of ancient times"irrationality is part of their very nature."
Gryphon had a worried look on her face, the earthy brown of her skin and hair helping her to blend into the trees all around them. "I still cannot believe that bitch Setsuna has dared to contacted them directly" she said.
Basilisk nodded grimly, the orange skinned figure crouching down nearby like some beast ready to lunge. "We might be able to use it for our advantage" she noted"if Setsuna hasn't told them the truth of their origins."
"It's not quite that simple" Manticore reminded them"they would slay us on sight"
Hydra nodded glumly as she added"And that damn miko would see through any disguise we dared attempt."
"The Queen will be most annoyed if we don't find out what they're talking about in there" Chimera reminded them.
Manticore looked over at Basilisk"Can you..."
Basilisk narrowed her cat-slit eyes, frowning as the eerily beautiful woman thought. "I can try to spy on them magically" she admitted"but Setsuna is a seer. I can't guarantee that she won't sense me, her or that thrice-damned miko."
"I'll get you a basin of water" Gryphon said as she disappeared into the trees, her movement almost like that of a ghost. In a few moments she returned to the base of the tree they perched in carrying a rough stone basin, half filled with rain water.
"A birdbath" Hydra looked amused.
"It holds water" Gryphon said defensively.
"Never mind" Basilisk swiftly cut off the possible argument"it will serve well enough for my purposes." She held her hands out over the water, the long razor sharp nails gleaming in the sunlight as she spoke softly under her breath, words that were not meant for a human mouth.
The water sloshing in the basin had been mostly clear to begin with, glittering, but as the chanting continued on it slowly darkened. Changing first pink to blood red it shifted, thickening up to match what it so closely resembled. Bubbling slightly images formed in the clear center of the fluid, the outline of a room forming.
"There..." Manticore leaned forward eagerly as the women inside began to speak.
Inside the shrine Rei frowned as Usagi and Minako lead the tall, black haired woman into the room, studying her intently. There was an almost unearthly quality to her, an almost ancient wisdom and sorrow that she carried with her like a cape.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Setsuna Meiou" Minako said formally"from what Artemis and Luna say, she may have some of the answers we need."
"Setsuna-san" Ami Mizuno rose from her seat to bow slightly, her short blue hair making her look remarkably boyish.
"Professor Mizuno, it's an honor" Setsuna returned the bow. She looked around with a smile"Makoto Kino, Rei Hino, it's been a long time since I've seen you all."
Usagi had the oddest look on her face as the slim blonde listened to Setsuna"You mean that you've met all of us in the past"
"I am a seer" Setsuna said to them gently"but I needed to be sure of what I saw, so yes, I visited you all as children."
The door to the room slid open and Rei's grandfather entered carrying a tray. The bald headed priest stepped into the room only to stop, eyes widening, as he saw Setsuna standing there. "I hadn't expected to see you again" he said coldly.
"It has been a long time, honored monk" Setsuna bowed to him slightly"I bear no ill will from our last meeting."
"You bear me no ill will" he started to say before Grandfather realized all the women's eyes were resting on him.
"You've been busy" Makoto commented wryly, the amazonian young woman sitting by the low table. Her usual brown ponytail seemed to almost shine today as she leaned forward a bit to study the other woman.
"A misunderstanding" Setsuna answered her quickly"one best not spoken of now."
"Oh no" Rei said firmly, the black haired miko's eyes flashing as she continued"I want to hear about this, please."
Grandfather smiled grimly as he revealed"When I was much younger I did things like you do now." A breath"I was cleaning out a next of minor youma when I encountered the lady here trying to steal artifacts from their nest."
"Not steal" Setsuna quickly corrected"I was retrieving a knife, an relic of great power and one that had been taken from me many years ago."
"Either way" Grandfather continued"we fought in the tunnels for the relic and over the lives of the surviving youma, and she escaped." He nodded to them all while tossing a suspicious glance at Setsuna"Good luck to you all."
"You were trying to save youma" Usagi asked in surprise once he was gone.
Setsuna met her eyes gravely"It was necessary, as are many of my actions." She looked around the circle of women"I believe you have questions"
There was a long moment of silence as the girl's thought, then Makoto cleared her throat. "I've always known I'm stronger than normal" she said"but where does it come from"
"I was expecting this question, but it still won't be easy to answer" Setsuna said. She took a breath"Your strength, Rei's visions, the intelligence Ami has, even M inalo's unearthly charisma all come from a common source."
"We're all carrying Oni blood" Minako said calmly"just like you."
"Not quite" Setsuna sighed"but close. In truth you are all descended from the race that preceded both the Oni and youma."
"I think I may be ill" Rei finally said into the long silence.
"It makes sense" Ami conceded after a moment's thought"normal humans don't seem to have the sort of abilities we have." She frowned"But my intelligence being from pre-oni descent does seem a bit much."
"I was surprised you realized it so quickly" Setsuna looked over at Minako curiously.
"I've been thinking about it for awhile" Minako admitted, the blonde idol smiling grimly. "How easy it was for me to use their gate under the city" she said"how easily I blend into shadows. It was the only answer that fit."
"I don't know if I should feel better about all this or disturbed" Usagi finally admitted.
"Explains why we heal up so fast" Makoto growled. She closed her eyes"So we've been killing our relatives all this time"
"What the oni and youma are now have fallen so far" Setsuna said grimly"there's no comparison, none at all."
"This is a lot to digest" Rei murmured.
"I know, and I wish I could give you time to do so" Setsuna answered"but we have bigger problems to worry about."
"Oh" Usagi asked.
"You have defeated all the youma that have been sent out so far, but they were merely energy gatherers, just lesser servants" Setsuna grimly revealed"the Queen has decided to send her warriors out after you, now."
To be continued...