| The 10th Warrior Chapter 3: Discoveries |
| Makoto reached home much later that night. She sank down onto her couch and rubbed her temples, her right arm and hand bandaged from the battle. "If I ever find the guy that stole my bike, I'll show him a thing or two," murmured Makoto, slightly cross. She looked at her bandaged hand and arm and frowned, inwardly promising to return the favor to Kale. She leaned back into her couch, and stretched her muscles. She was glad she'd continued training. The other girls had stopped, even Haruka and Michiru, but she'd continued training, although she wasn't sure why. She figured it was to give her something. After Galaxia, the scouts had all sort of gone apart to their own things. They still kept in touch and occasionally got together, but not like things had been. She looked at the painting from the older and youngest scout hanging on the far wall, lights casting a delicate glow on it. Yes. Things were certainly changing. The trip to America was one of the rare times the scouts were almost all together since Galaxia's defeat. Makoto moaned silently as she felt her arm begin to throb again. She glanced around the apartment and then noticed her answering machine bleeping, showing she'd had calls while she was out. She got up, walked over to the machine, and pressed the playback. "Makoto? This is Ami. We got to America safely. Nothing's happened yet. Usagi has been accident-free. She and Rei didn't fight once, either. I think my theory is right about what happened after the incident with Galaxia last year. Haruka said she's going to be calling you later tonight. Talk to you later." "Mako-chan. This is Haruka. I've got a bad feeling that something is going to happen. Keep an eye on things till we get back. Michiru thinks you can handle it till then. We'll call back in a few days. Goodnight." "Makoto. This is Setsuna. Your time is drawing closer. I am glad that you have continued your training, for you'll need it. The ball I gave you..." Makoto's eyes widened as her front door crashed open and gray creatures began to swarm in. She jumped to her feet in surprise and ducked as a chain whipped towards her and into the wall. "The landlady's going to love this," she murmured as she raised her wand. "Jupiter, Star Pow..." she was cut off as a chain wrapped around her hand and she dropped her henshi wand. She yanked free from the chain, but her wand was nowhere in sight. She had no time to look for it, but raised the coffee table into the air. She slammed it down onto some of the soldiers, knocking them over, and ran from the room and down the hall, with her pursuers following. She ran into the bedroom and over to the balcony window. She swung it open and ran out. The soldiers began to enter the room and she looked down out of the balcony at the pool. "I hope this works," she shouted and swung herself over and out into the air. She sailed a moment and then began to fall downwards. A small scream flew from her throat and was cut off as she landed in the water. She touched bottom was a jar and shot to the surface. She immediately swam for the side and looked up to see the soldiers vanishing and a lone armored figure now standing there, watching her. "Kale," she growled. She climbed out of the pool and looked back up to see him gone. "What happened here!?" shouted the landlady angrily, looking at the destroyed room that Makoto sat in sadly. "Some creeps broke in," said Makoto. "In ski masks and everything.I had to jump out the balcony to the pool or they would have killed me." She put on her best-frightened look and glanced up at the older woman. "I'm sorry, Makoto. Don't worry about the damage. It's insured and it's happened before at a place I used to live," said the woman, impulsively hugging Makoto. Makoto nodded, silently brooding about what she should do. "There's a hotel not too far away from here that you can stay the night," said the woman curiously. Makoto nodded and stood to her feet. "Thank you, Mrs. Tanigawa." The old woman smiled and then left through the broken door, where the police were searching for fingerprints. Makoto answered the police's questions and then left the building, walking to the hotel and checking in. As she headed for the elevator, she was met by a young man with blonde hair. "Allow me," he said with a flirtatious smile, pressing the elevator button. Makoto's eyes got dreamy a moment, but when she thought about the recent events, her mind was taken off of the cute young man. The doors opened and she and the guy got on. "What floor?" asked the guy. "Huh? Oh, top floor," said Makoto, slightly absently as she played with the fresh bandages on her hand while thinking. "What happened?" asked the guy, suddenly taking her right hand from her gently. Makoto started in surprise and watched as he examined her hand and bandages. "Oh, just an accident," she lied. The guy made a small noise and gently pressed the hand, right where her cut was. She breathed in sharply and closed her eyes as pain shot through her arm and she tried to pull away. "You should have had it looked at," said the guy. Makoto opened her eys and found herself being looked at with intense violet eyes. She looked away and pulled her hand away from his grasp. She was relieved when the doors opened and she immediately stepped out. Unfortunately, he followed her. She walked wordlessly to her room door and turned to see him watching her from a door farther down. "Can I have breakfast with you in the morning?" he asked. She blinked in surprise and then shook her head. "I'm sorry. I have to get back to my apartment. The landlady will need me to come move my stuff to a new place till the damage is replaced." "What?" asked the guy in surprise. "Never mind," said Makoto sharply and opened her room. She entered and shut the door, annoyed by the guy's persistence and sat down on the bed in the room. Things can't get any worse, she thought as she laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. She pulled out the round ball that she held in her pocket and opened her eyes again as she held it before her. For a moment, she thought it was glowing, but she pushed the idea away and lowered her arm. "Wonder what Setsuna was going to tell me about it," she whispered as she held it a moment longer and slipped it back into its pocket. She clsoed her eyes, and then fell asleep. In the morning, Makoto peered out of her hotel room and looked down the hall both ways for any signs of the young man from last night. She smiled in relief when she didn't see him and ran to the elevator. She pressed the button and bounced slightly as she began to wait. "Hello again," said a voice behind her, making her jump slightly. "Oh, hi," said Makoto, her voice faltering as she saw the blonde guy with two other guys. "Are you heading to your apartment?" asked the guy. Makoto shifted slightly, wishing the elevator would hurry. "Yeah." The tall blue-haired boy leaned over and whispered something to the blonde and the brunette and they nodded. "Sage told us you were moving stuff," said the brown-haired boy. "Would you like some help?" Makoto shook her head. "No, I can handle it." "I don't think you should, with that arm and hand," said the blue-haired guy. Makoto frowned slightly and sighed, "Fine. You win." The three young men smiled and Makoto felt herself blush. They looked so cute, but she was still cautious. The elevator doors opened and they stepped in. The blonde pressed a button and the doors closed once more. "My name's Sage," said the blonde quite suddenly. "I'm Rowen," said the blue-haired young man. "And I'm Cye," said the brunette almost shyly with a smile. Makoto's eeys widened as she recognized the names of the three Ronins from the battle a few nights ago and then quickly recovered with a smile. "I'm Makoto." The doors opened and she walked out quickly, not seeing the smirk passed from Sage to the other two with a "see, I told you so" expression. "You weren't kidding when you said it was damaged," said Rowen witrh a small whistle as they entered the trashed apartment. Makoto sighed, "The creeps. Make yourselves at home. I'll see if I can get some tea together before you get to work." Cye watched her vanish into a kitchen and then walked into the room that held the most damage. "It's her, all right," said Sage. "If she hadn't been attacked again, we never would have found her," said Rowen, looking at the damage in disgust. "It's amazing she got out of this flea trap." Sage looked around the room and then his eye was caught by a painting on the wall. He walked over and gazed at it. It was very nicely done, but he was curious about the faces at the side. He recognized Sailor Jupiter, but he didn't know the others. "What is it?" asked Cye, coming over. He too found himself staring at it a moment and then moved away. "She may not want us to look at that," said Rowen. Sage moved away from the painting worldlessly just as Makoto entered. "Normally, I'd have tea in here," she smiled, "but it's a bit of a mess. The tea's in the kitchen." They followed her to the kitchen and Cye's eyes widened. "It's spotless!" he said in surprise. Makoto smiled. "Apparently, they didn't want anything in my kitchen." They sat down and she watched them closely as they took a sip of the tea. Sage's eyebrows rose and he looked at her. "What type of tea is this?" asked Cye quickly. Makoto smiled sadly as she sipped her tea. "My mother taught me." "Think she'd give me the recipe?" asked Cye. Makoto bit her lower lip in thought and Sage studied her in concern. "She can't, that is..." she broke off as she stood. "I forgot something, I'll be back in a moment." "Did I say something wrong?" asked Cye in confusion. Rowen looked around the spotless kitchen in thought and spied something hanging on a cupboard door. "I think I know what's wrong," he said in sympathy. Cye looked and his face became laced with guilt. Sage almost immediately averted his eyes, as if he'd seen something forbidden. "Not only is she 'her,' but she's on her own," said Rowen. "Must be tough." Makoto leaned up against the wall of her ruined bedroom. Get control of yourself, she urged. You have three cute guys in your kitchen. Don't blow it! She took a few steps towards the balcony and was surprised when light began to radiate from her pocket. "What?" she exclaimed as she shot her hand into it. She pulled out the ball that the pocket held and held it up to her face in surprise as a clear light shone out of it. "Now I see why Master Talpa wants you so badly," said a cool voice. She clutched the ball to her chest and looked to her balcony to see Kale standing in full armor, his arms crossed. "You've caused me enough trouble. Get lost!" she demanded. Kale smiled evilly at her and she raised her hand for her henshin, before remembering she'd lost it in the fight the previous night. "Looking for this?" he asked her tauntingly as he uncrossed his arms and revealed her small wand in his hands. "Give that back!" she demanded with a small growl. "How about an exchange," said Kale. "I'll give you your precious stick in exchange for the ball." Makoto blinked a moment and found herself shaking her head. "I don't think so." Kale's eyes narrowed and then an evil smile lit across his face. Makoto watched in horror as his hand tightened over the stick and snapped it in two. "No!" she shouted. "Give me the armor," said Kale darkly, taking a step towards her and drawing his sword. "No!" she hissed angrily. "Black Lightning Slash!" Makoto ran from the room as the attack ripped into the wall where she'd stood moments ago. Rowen, Cye, and Sage heard Makoto shout something and stood up swiftly. They were entering the hall when they saw Makoto come barreling out of her room, clutching a glowing object. "Run!" she shouted, just as an explosion ripped open the wall behind her. She was blown forward and Sage caught her in his arms. Then, out of the dust, the armored Kale emerged. "Kale!" exclaimed Rowen. Almost instantly, the three young men were in their sub-armor, a very shocked Makoto behind them. Kale looked equally surprised and then glowered at them before disappearing into the darkness. "Makoto, are you..." started Cye, turning. "She's gone!" Sage and Rowen turned in surprise. "We have to find her," said Rowen. "I have a good idea of what she was holding." Cye nodded, but Sage's attention was drawn to the red stain on the ground. Wherever Makoto was, she was hurt...TO BE CONTINUED |