Senshi: the Gathering of Five The three that came before
The storm had come up in on Tokyo with frightening quickness, the great waves crashing up against the gray stones on the shoreline. A young woman stood there fearlessly as the waves sprayed her with salty mist, her long black hair oddly tinted with green as it flowed behind her like a banner, her narrowed eyes almost scarlet as she intently studied the waters.
Her name was Setsuna Meiou, or at least that was what she was called herself in this place and time. She had carried many names, many identities down through the long span of years, but her duty had always been the same. And now, that duty called her to take action once again.
The curved blade she raised in one hand was well balanced, held there loosely. A crescent, shining in the dim light almost like the moon, a inscription in some dead tongue along the curve of the blade itself. Holding it in her left hand she swiftly brought it across the palm of her right, dark red blood pooling there in her cupped hand.
The winds died for a moment and she dramatically flung the blood out onto the waters. "I call you," Setsuna declared, "by the covenant signed in blood. I call you by the old oaths, sworn in bygone days. I call you, by the bonds of heart and duty!"
The eye of the storm reached her then, the waves oddly calm in that space of quiet. Then the liquid began to churn where the blood had fallen, frothing and rising up, subsiding then rearing up again. Suddenly, the water seemed to split apart, and she rose out of the depths.
Green hair reached her shoulders, her eyes oddly piercing as she gazed up at Setsuna. Other than that she was entirely nude, her slim form curved gently but not overly so. As soon as she saw Setsuna standing there she smiled, a gentle and warm gaze.
"It's been a long time, Michiru," Setsuna picked up a robe from the ground, shaking it out vigorously before putting it over the other woman's shoulders.
"Yes, it has," Michiru pulled the robe shut then followed Setsuna from the shore, "so what shall I call you now, oh ancient guardian?"
"Setsuna," she answered her simply. Quietly Setsuna added,. "I'm sorry for awakening you like this, but I felt I had little choice."
"The youma?" Michiru asked. At Setsuna's surprised expression she added, "Even resting in the depths I could feel the rising evil."
"Worse than that," Setsuna opened up the car door to the clearly bewildered Michiru. "It's like a horse-less carriage," she offered as an explanation, remembering how long it had been since her companion had walked among humanity.
"Ah," Michiru got in, carefully avoiding tracking any mud in. Once Setsuna got in the driver's side she asked, "You were saying?"
"It's not just the youma," Setsuna said grimly as she slid her key in and started up the engine, "it seems the Oni have awakened." She reached into the back and handed Michiru a simple one piece dress, "This will have to do for now."
Michiru smiled slightly, "Thank you." She gasped out softly in surprise as the car started to move. A nervous breath, but when nothing seemed to go wrong she looked over at Setsuna, "You're certain the Oni have awakened?"
"I'm quite certain," Setsuna said seriously. She concentrated on driving, being careful not to meet Michiru's eyes, "I think we may need to awaken the other, as well."
Michiru sighed, "You know we don't get along."
"I see little choice," Setsuna shrugged, "I suspect that we'll need that power when the time finally comes for us to act."
"And what of the champions?" Michiru asked.
"Gathering," Setsuna shrugged, "but I fear the five may not be enough to drive back the coming darkness." A sigh, "And then there's the problem of the Princess out of Shadow."
"True," Michiru quietly admitted. She smiled ruefully, "Then let us go to that place, Setsuna, before I loose my nerve."
"All right," Setsuna answered her crisply, holding back a small triumphant smile.
As they traveled across the great city Michiru gazed out in awe, surprise, and even a little bit of horror at what had happened to it over the years. The congestion there clearly displeased her, and she wrinkled her nose at the smells of pollution. But the great skyscrapers silenced any criticism, as did the indoor pools they passed.
"Here?" Michiru blinked as they came to a stop in front of a great tower of steel.
"Tokyo tower," Setsuna identified it to her companion, "the tallest structure in Tokyo."
After passing Michiru a pair of shoes, they headed inside. The elevator ride up startled Michiru a bit, but they quickly reached the observation deck. Walking over to a locked stairway Setsuna touched the lock a moment, and with a soft click it opened. They ascended together, soon standing near the very top of the metal structure.
The wind whipped around them as they stepped out onto the ledge there, and if they hadn't been ready they might have fallen "Do you think it knows they're needed?" Michiru called out, holding onto a steel beam.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Setsuna answered as she drew the ritual knife out again.
"Good luck," Michiru murmured softly.
"Thanks," Setsuna threw her a smile.
Carefully keeping her balance, Setsuna swiftly drew the knife across her palm once again, being cautious not to reopen the earlier cut. She gave a moment for the blood to pool, while waiting for the wind to rise. Feeling the gale force winds begin she flung her hand straight up, letting the wind carry the blood up to the clouds.
The words Setsuna spoke there were much the same as those she had said upon the waters "I call on you," Setsuna cried out, "by the covenant signed in my blood. I call you by the old oaths, sworn in bygone days. I call you, by the bonds of heart and duty!"
The winds suddenly died off, an eerie silence stretching across the city. A soft rumble, then a louder sound of thunder. Setsuna and Michiru exchanged a glance, then each cautiously took a step back even as lightning flashed downward!
Boom!
There was a bright flash of light and heat as lightning touched down for just a moment on the tower, then it was gone. Steam swirled, and in the middle of the cloud a figure rose up before walking confidently towards where they stood. As the steam began to dissipate the figure was completely revealed, and both gazed in shock.
"A woman?" Michiru gaped in disbelief.
The sandy haired figure was boyish in appearance, but clearly female from the small breasts to the nearly blonde triangle down below. Seemingly utterly unconcerned by her nudity the young woman met Setsuna's gaze steadily, "I'm sorry, m'lady. My father, with whom you swore your oath, is dead, slain in battle years past."
Setsuna paled, then softly said, "Then I'm sorry, to both you and to your clan."
"My father considered you to be a good friend," she said to Setsuna directly, "as well as an honorable ally against the forces of darkness. I would be honored to fight in his place, if you would be willing to allow it."
Setsuna didn't hesitate for a moment, "I welcome your aide. I'm called Setsuna, in this place and time, and this is Michiru."
"I'm called Haruka," she turned to meet Michiru's gaze thoughtfully, "and my father spoke of you, too." She smiled wryly, "I don't think I'll repeat it, however."
"Wise," Setsuna smiled slightly. She drew out a pair of pants and a shirt from beneath her coat and smiled apologetically, "I was expecting..."
The three retreated indoors, pausing while Haruka changed. "Actually," she admitted as she stood, the pants and shirt highlighting her slim form, "I think I like it." She sat down to slip on the runners, "So what's the situation?"
"All the forces of darkness are about to be unleashed on a nearly defenseless humanity," Michiru summed it up quickly.
"Then let's go stop them," Haruka said simply.
Setsuna sighed. "It's not quite that simple," she said.
Michiru smiled wryly, "There are champions of humanity, who stand against our ancient enemies. We have to give them the opportunity to save their kind, before we take action."
"But if they fail," Setsuna said grimly, "it falls to us."
To be continued...
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