Nightbreak

Part 2 of Vampire Princess Michiru

cadz0001@algonquinc.on.ca

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     Incredibly, I'm having a great time with this series.  When I first
read the
title in one of His Lordship's "Curse of The Fanboys" series, my mind
refused to
leave the idea of a vampiric Michiru alone.
     Now, thanks to the kindness of His Lordship Chaos, our fanfic host
Greenbeans, and my friend Blazej, this little fanfic set is alive!  To the
three best
editors I could have picked, I raise my caffeine!  And to Mark Page, whose
"Usagi Is Dead, Usagi Is Dead, Hip Hip Hip Hooray" series brought a new
insight into the Asteroid Senshi.
     Comments can always go to cadz0001@algonquinc.on.ca
     That is, unless my college again feels that E-mail isn't important for
me
to receive.  I pay them enough money.  Why do we have so many problems?

     A word about "Dante's Prayer."  The instruments listed for it in the
"Book of Secrets" album are: piano, violin, keyboards, and acoustic bass.
But all I can hear in that song is the piano and violin, along with
Loreena's
stirring lyrics.  She's a fellow Canadian and that's a reason I chose this
song,
along with the dark feeling of The Divine Comedy that it portrays.  If you
can
ever find this song, listen to it while reading these chapters.

     Finally, thanks go to the God I worship, who gave me the talent of
writing and is an encouragement in my life.  Thanks, Jesus. ^_^.

- - - -
Vampire Princess Michiru  (Part 2)
- - - -

     The room was clothed in blackness.  Then, from somewhere up above,
a single spotlight burst on, its light streaking across to shine on the
velvet
drapes that covered the far wall.  With a soft hissing, the drapes parted,
revealing the tiny stage and  elegant backdrop of a classical banquet scene.
     Two marionettes shambled onto the stage from the wings.  One had
long blond hair and was dressed in a white and orange Sailor fuku.  The
other
was also a blond, but wore its hair in two ponytails and sported a
blue-skirted
fuku.
     "Can you feel it, Usagi-chan?" the first one asked in a high voice,
striking a fashionable pose.  "Something is different today!"
     Puppet Usagi nodded and replied in the same high-pitched tone.  "Hai!
Something's missing, Mina-chan!  What could it be?"  She tried to strike her
own pose, but instead tripped over her strings and sprawled on the boards.
"Ittaaaaiiiii . . . "
     "Baka Usagi," the Minako puppet sighed, not helping her up.  "One of
our
wonderful, talented, and lovely sisters is what's missing!  We can't feel
her
anymore, can we?  The attack must have started already!"
     Puppet Usagi scrambled back to her feet, her arm and leg strings
tangling even more.  "Whoever killed her, I'll punish them in the name of
the
Moon, most severely!  OH-HOHOHOHOHOHO . . .  Awwwk!"  As she
attempted to pirouette while laughing maniacally, the threads twisted around
her body and neck, lifting her off the ground.
     The two little wooden legs kicked the air futilely for a few seconds as
soft choking sounds could be heard, then they slowly quieted and the Moon
Princess marionette hung lifelessly in the glare of the spotlight.
     Off to the side, Puppet Minako shook her head, tiny wooden jaw jerking
up and down as she spoke again.  "Well, whoever's responsible for the loss
of
my sister, I will gain my revenge!  And I'll cut their life short, just like
that pair
of scissors up there . . .  nani?"
     As the little puppet looked up into the rafters, a hand wielding that
pair
of scissors descended and cut.
     Puppet Minako collapsed to the floor, legs and arms at skewed angles as
its strings fell loosely around it.  The tiny head hit the stage with the
sharp bang
of wood meeting wood.  Both figures lay still.
     Then, from above, came the sound of girlish laughter.  "Another happy
ending, just like always!"
     The curtains slowly slid shut.
     The spotlight snapped off, plunging the room into blackness once more.

-----
     Michiru stood at the glass doors and watched the sun sink below the
horizon.  The sky was the colour of Small Lady's hair and the clouds shone
with
silver and gold halos.  She could see the trees ruffled by the evening
breeze
and a few cherry blossoms were blown off to land on the patio.
     Behind her, she felt her partner and lover approach.  "Good evening,
Haruka," she murmured, "It's going to be another clear night.  That's good
for
us."  She turned away from the view and went to the bookcase to pick up her
violin.  "We have some time, too.  Care to practice?"
     If she could have seen beneath Haruka's steel mask at that moment,
Michiru
knew that there would have been a smile on her partner's face.  There was
still
one way the two of them could talk with each other: through their music.
     Sitting down at the piano, Haruka flexed her fingers and nodded.
Michiru
picked up her bow and drew it carefully across the strings, listening for
the
tones.  She stopped to adjust a string, tried it again, then nodded back in
satisfaction.  "Ready."
     At the first touch of Haruka's fingers on the keys, Michiru closed her
eyes, concentrating only on the music.  She wanted to forget for a little
while:
forget that she was under a penalty, forget that she was hunting other
Senshi,
and forget that, deep within her, the hunger was beginning to build once
again.
     Listening to the piano, she chose her entrance carefully, moving
effortlessly
into the framework Haruka had set up.  Her own fingers slid along the carved
neck of her instrument, selecting the notes and blending them easily into
the song.
     She opened one eye to watch her partner play, smiling as she saw the
determination in the blue eyes.  Haruka was putting forth one of her better
efforts tonight.  The mask meant nothing as the piano spoke volumes in its
place.
     The music slowed.  It became softer, notes tumbling forth in a gentle
melody,
one Michiru had never heard before.  She was drawn instinctively to it,
shifting
her own music to fit.  Her bow rose and fell, sending the new tune out to
weave
together with Haruka's.
     Together they played a song they didn't know, pouring aching hearts and
troubled souls into the improvisation.  All the unspoken thoughts and
worries
about their plight went into their music now, pushing it beyond a simple
practice.
It became a release of the emotions that they couldn't express, a catharsis.
     Finally, Haruka looked up from the keys and heaved her shoulders in a
sigh.
Her hands came off the piano and she rested them on top of it as she looked
off
into the distance.
     Michiru also silenced her instrument and leaned against the piano,
staring into
nowhere.  Finally, after a few minutes of silence, she spoke.
     "We should have recorded that.  There is no way we will ever be able to
play
that song again."
     Haruka shook her head and stood up, lifting up the lid of the bench.
With a
flick of the wrist, she tossed a sheaf of papers on top of the piano.  Her
eyes
twinkled with mischief as she saw the surprised look she was given.
     Michiru picked up the sheet music and blinked at it.  "When did you
write
this?  I never heard you play it before."
     A note was offered and she took it.
     *When you were in the hospital.  I needed something to pass the time
while I
waited for you.*
     Michiru looked up and smiled.  "So you sat at my bedside night after
night
while I was in intensive care, trying to come up with a song for me?"
     Even behind the mask, Haruka managed to look embarrassed.
     "Haruka, have I ever told you how much I love you?"  Smiling even more
broadly, she moved forward and hugged her partner tightly.  "Thank you.  I
love
it."  She was about to say more, but a knock on the front door interrupted
her.
     Stepping back, Michiru glanced at the door.  "We aren't expecting
company,
are we?"
     Haruka shook her head and moved quickly, taking up a position just
beside
the archway to the front hall.
     The Senshi of Neptune crossed the room and turned the knob.  With a
quick
backwards glance, she opened the door.
     "Hello again, Michiru."
     Sister Mary Therese stood on the front porch, the late evening breeze
ruffling the hem of her black and white habit.  "I figured that since you
came to
me so late, this would be the best time to find you.  I hope I'm not
intruding."
     With mixed emotions, Michiru shook her head.  She knew she needed the
nun's help to find the Asteroids, but the woman's rigid insistence grated on
her
own ideals.  "Did you have trouble finding where I live?"
     A small smile flittered across the Sister's face.  "None to concern
you.  May
we talk?"
     "Of course."  Michiru stepped aside and allowed her in.  "May I get you
anything?  Tea?"
     "Please."
     Painfully aware of their stilted conversation, Michiru led the Sister
into the
living room.
     Haruka, fortunately, had discerned the situation and left her post when
she
had heard Mary Therese being invited in.  Now she looked up from the couch,
where she appeared to have been sitting and reading.
     Michiru motioned at Haruka as she continued toward the kitchen.  "This
is
my partner, Haruka Ten'oh.  She lost her voice recently and is unable to
speak.
Haruka, this is Sister Mary Therese."
     The masked face nodded silently.
     Therese, for her part, peered carefully into Haruka's eyes.  "You're no
ordinary person, either," she said quietly, "Not after that jump I saw the
other
night."
     Haruka crossed her arms and shot a glance at Michiru, who shrugged.  "I
know.  Nothing I can do about it, either.  Just remember that it was her
help that
led us to Vesta."
     Therese frowned as she sat down, arranging her robes.  "Ah yes, the
girl that
didn't want to return."
     Michiru paused again as she entered the kitchen.  "You'll be happy to
know
that she did go back home of her own free will, Sister.  We didn't have to
force
her."  She disappeared from view.
     "I see."  The nun looked at Haruka.  "What changed her mind?"
     Rolling her eyes blatantly in exasperation, Haruka snatched up her pen
and
wrote.  With a flick of her hand, she tore the paper off and handed it over.
     *Michiru says your advice gave her the help she needed.*
     Now Therese smiled.  "I'm glad to hear it.  Does this mean I'm going to
get
some answers?"
     Haruka shrugged expansively and jerked a thumb at the kitchen.
     "I know, but I want to hear it from you.  You don't like me, I see.
Why?"
     The Senshi of Uranus stiffened and glared, but subsided again, putting
a hand
to her throat and looking down at the carpet.  Tears of frustration stung
her eyes
as she was unable to bring out the words she wanted to say.  Serenity's
curse had
silenced every sound, be it breath or voice, for as long as the mask was
over her face.
     Breathing deeply, Haruka tried to control her emotions.  There was no
telling
what would happen if she began crying right now.  Being unable to clear her
face
of the tears would be bad enough.  Hearing the rustle of cloth, she glanced
up to
see Therese kneeling in front of her.
     "So it's true," the nun said softly, "You really can't say anything,
can you?"
She lifted a hand up while Haruka watched her warily.  Her fingers touched
the
steel of the mask lightly, as if seeking a clue to the young woman locked
away
beneath it.  Looking directly into the blue eyes, the Sister could see every
emotion expressed in them, feelings that couldn't be communicated.
     "Pain . . . " Therese continued, "Frustration, and something else.
Worry?  For
Michiru?"  She smiled as Haruka's eyes widened.  "Don't look so surprised.
I've
learned over many years to see the truth behind peoples' faces, even when
they
try their best to disguise it.  And despite what you may think, I *can* be
trusted."
     Just as she was getting up, Michiru came back in with the tray.  The
Senshi
looked quizzically at the two of them.  "Is everything all right?" she
asked.
     Therese nodded as she sat back down.  "I was just asking Haruka how she
had lost her voice.  She seems to communicate rather well, even without it."
     Michiru nodded as well and set a teacup in front of the nun.  "She
does, but
I'll be more than happy to hear it again when it finally comes back.  It's
something
I've grown to miss."
     Therese picked up her tea as Michiru went to sit beside her partner.
"Aren't
you having one?"
     The vampire girl shook her head.  "Unfortunately, no.  I found recently
that
I've become . . .  allergic to a lot of things.  Now, you wanted to talk to
me?"
     "My, eager to get down to business."
     "I have to be, Sister.  Three more Asteroids are out there and Haruka
and I
do not have much time to find them.  The girls are still unpredictable and
the sooner
they return home, the happier we both will be."
     Therese took a sip of her tea.  "So I've seen.  Well, I am still
willing to help
you locate these girls, Michiru, but only on one condition: that I come with
you
when you find them.  I want to assure myself that I'm not doing the wrong
thing
by turning them over to you.  As it is, I have only your word that Vesta
went
back of her own will."
     The two Senshi exchanged glances.  "You don't believe us?" Michiru
inquired
quietly.
     "I never said that.  I believe that you are telling the truth about the
first time,
but I want to be there for the others.  Like it or not, that is the
condition for my
helping you."  Therese leaned forward, cradling the warm cup in her hands as
Haruka
and Michiru looked at each other once more.

-----
     The room lay in blackness once again.  In a moment, it was pierced by
another spotlight.  This time, instead of the harshness of white light, the
warmer
green tones bathed the miniature stage.  As the drapes swished aside, the
background of cardboard waves began to roll.
     Two marionettes rowed onto the stage in a small boat.  The one with
short
blue hair and a matching blue sailor fuku wiped her forehead as she pulled
on the
oars.  "I don't see why I have to row."
     The other, a brunette with a long ponytail and pink and green fuku
shrugged.
"You know lightning and water don't mix, Ami-chan.  Besides, I'm on the
lookout for whoever kidnapped our sister!"
     Puppet Ami shielded her eyes as she peered out into the light.  "Have
you
found them yet, Mako-chan?"
     The Makoto marionette scratched her head.  "Well . . . no, but I know
who
could!"
     "Who?  Who who who?  Tell me, Mako-chan!"  Puppet Ami jumped up and
began clapping her hands.
     As the boat rocked back and forth dangerously, Puppet Makoto waved her
arms.  "Be careful!" she snapped, "The Guardians can help us!  They're still
here.
All we have to do is get their attention."
     "Of course!" the Ami marionette cheered, doing a little dance. "And I
know
just how we can do thaaaaaaaaaaat!"
     *SPLASH!*
     As the rowboat tipped over, the two puppets were thrown into the waves.
A
small spray of water flew up from behind the backdrop as they landed.  Then
the
two heads appeared on the top of the still-rolling waves.
     "Good one, Ami-chan."
     "Hey, at least we can swim."
     Just then, at the far side of the stage, a large fin appeared in the
middle of the
water and began moving toward them.
     The two puppets looked over at the fin, then at each other.
     "Uhhh-ohhhhh. . . ."
     As the curtains closed, the sound of screaming could be heard from
behind
the crushed velvet.

-----
     As she looked over the city's night life once again, Michiru drew a
deep
breath and sighed.  "So, we don't really have a choice, do we?"
     Beside her on the roof, Haruka shrugged.
     "I know you don't like it.  I don't either.  But without her, we'd
never have
found Vesta, let alone the other three."  Michiru sighed again and ran her
tongue
across her fangs.  "We'll just have to make sure that she doesn't get hurt."
     Haruka shrugged again.
     "I know it's easier said than done, but I feel responsible for her
now."
     Haruka shrugged a third time.
     "I know it's my own fault, dear.  Now please stop arguing with me and
let me
think for a little while."  Michiru leaned back against the roof tiles,
feeling a little
better after having fed earlier in the night.
     While out looking for the other Asteroid Senshi, she had broken up a
mugging,
purely by accident.  The victim had escaped and Michiru had exacted her own
revenge on the would-be mugger, sinking her fangs into his throat to drink
his
blood.
     When the police found him, he would be locked away in a hospital for
the
rest of his immortal life, forever asleep in a world of dreams.  No doubt
they
would wonder at the marks on his neck and, over the years,  his longevity,
but
nothing would come of it.
     That was the difference between human and Senshi, Michiru realized.
Vesta
had recovered after a night of sleep, with no ill effects from being bitten.
She had
not received eternal life either, since that was something no Senshi could
accept.
The Moon Kingdom kept careful rein on those sorts of things.
     Right in the middle of her musings, Michiru was startled by a sudden
flash of
colour over her head.  A loud thump sounded beside her, and she sat up.
     Haruka was on her feet, Space Sword in one hand.  The other hand rubbed
the back of her blond head as she glared across the roof into the night.
Not
seeing anything, she then looked down to see what had hit her.
     Michiru leaned down and picked the ball up before it could roll off the
sloping
roof.  It was about the size of a melon and made of thick blue rubber.
Strangely,
it felt light in her hands.
     "Are you all right?" she asked, moving over to examine her partner's
head.
Her fingers probed Haruka's scalp gently, finding a small lump but no
bleeding.
"No damage," she pronounced, stroking the blond hair.  "That hard head of
yours comes in useful, Haruka."
     As her partner tried to come up with a suitable response to her jibe,
Michiru
turned to look at the trees across the street from their house.  "It looks
like
someone wants our attention," she murmured, "Well, whoever you are, you've
got it."  Then she peered a bit closer at the ball.  "Wait. . . ."  She
passed the ball
to Haruka.  "Do you see it?"
     The masked woman nodded, then hefted the Space Sword and tossed the
ball
in the air.  As it came down, the Sword came down as well, cleaving the
rubber
in two.
     The two halves fell apart, revealing a piece of paper tucked into the
hollow
center of the ball.  Michiru, who had spotted the line marking the new join
right
off, plucked the paper out of the air.  "It seems to be an invitation."
     Putting the Space Sword away, Haruka tilted her head in confusion as
her
partner continued to read.
     Michiru looked up again.  "It's from Pallas.  She wants to see us
tomorrow
evening."
     If she could be bothered making a face, Haruka would have.  To her,
PalaPala
was the most childish person she had ever met, including Small Lady.  She
wondered if time had improved the Asteroid Senshi's immature disposition
any.
     Then her partner frowned.  "And she signed it, "In the name of Pallas,
Tag-
You're It"."
     Why, Haruka wondered, did she even bother asking?

-----
     Michiru stepped back into the shadows of the alleyway as she carefully
watched the old warehouse across the street.  The address matched that on
Pallas' letter.
     "I wouldn't be so worried if I didn't know Pallas as well as I do," she
murmured to Haruka, her gaze never leaving the building.  "She just loves
her
games a little *too* much, even to the point of torturing people."
     Her companion nodded.  Then her head came up as she spotted a figure
walking down the sidewalk.  She tapped Michiru on the shoulder to catch her
attention.
     Leaning out, the vampire girl saw Sister Therese heading their way.
"Good,
she didn't have any trouble finding us."  Lifting her hand slightly, she
beckoned
the nun in their direction, then ducked back in.
     As Therese joined them, Michiru nodded in greeting.  "Hello, Sister.
Pallas is
waiting for us inside, I believe.  Before we go anywhere, though, I should
give
you fair warning.  Pallas is considered the most . . .  unbalanced of the
four
Asteroids, let alone all of us.  She favours rather cruel tricks for her own
amusement and cares little for other people besides her sisters."
     The nun simply looked at her.  "That may be what you see, Kaioh
Michiru,
but I prefer to make my own conclusions.  Shall we go?"
     Stung, Michiru glanced over her shoulder at Haruka, who could only
shrug
and move past the other two.
     The door opened easily enough under her touch and she slowly opened it,
peering inside.  Looking back, she gestured helplessly.
     "She says that it's pitch dark in there," Michiru quietly said to
Therese as
they crossed the street.  "I wouldn't expect anything else from Pallas."
     "You certainly don't seem to trust this girl too much."
     "It's all from experience, Sister.  Before they were our allies, they
were our
opponents.  Our friends fought against the four of them when the girls were
with
The Dead Moon Circus."
     "The *what*?"
     "I'll explain later."  Michiru looked into the dark interior then
nodded to
Haruka.  "We go in."
      As soon as they had all crossed the threshold, the heavy door closed
behind
them, sending echoes up and down the length of the now dark building.
Startled, Therese clutched the arm of Michiru's kimono.  "What's going on?"
     The Senshi of Neptune shuffled back, feeling for the back wall.
"Pallas is
determined to play her little games.  Just keep your back against a wall and
you
should be all right.  Haruka, you with us?"
     She reached out and caught her partner's hand, moving her back until
they
were pressed against the wall.  "Be patient," she murmured, "She'll show
herself
soon."
     Then in the blackness, the solid wall rippled beneath her spine.

-----
     With a shriek of surprise and fear, Michiru let go of her companions'
hands
and whirled around, ready to face whatever was attacking.  Haruka, however,
beat her to it.
     Beams of golden light shattered the darkness as the Senshi of Uranus
raised
her arm into the air, power pouring from her clenched fist.  And their
opponents
were caught in the brightness.
     Two life-size marionettes stood there, their arms, legs, and heads all
guided
by strings that disappeared into the rafters.  Both were smiling insanely at
the
Senshi, the smiles made even more unnerving by the fact that both were also
near
carbon copies of Haruka and Michiru.
     The two puppets were dressed in battle fukus, their wooden bodies
looking
slightly odd in the short skirts and blouses.  Their eyes were anything but
dead,
though, showing an unnatural gleam that spoke of unearthly life.
     The Haruka-puppet grinned and spoke in Haruka's voice.  "We've been
waiting for you two.  Now come on, let's get reacquainted, shall we?"  She
and
the Michiru-puppet shambled forward, limp wooden arms extended.
     With a massive leap, the real Uranus flew back into the middle of the
room,
her hand still glowing.  As she landed, she stiffened her legs and slammed
her
raised arm into the floor.  A golden ball exploded from the tiles and roared
across the room.
     Michiru grabbed Therese by the shoulders and hauled her out of the way
as
Haruka's "World Shaking" attack flew by the two of them to smash into the
puppets.  When the dust cleared, they could feel the fine splinters of
charred
wood raining down.
     "Are you all right?" Michiru murmured, sheltering Therese's body as
best she
could.
     "Fine," the nun replied, a bit breathless, "But *what* was that?"
     "If you mean the puppets, that's just Pallas.  If you mean Haruka,
though, I
really wish I could tell you.  But right now, trust me when I say I'm as
surprised
as you are."
     "Nice one, Uranus!  I see you're still shooting first and thinking
later."
     A light came on and everyone looked up to where the voice had come
from.
There, leaning on the railing of a catwalk, was a teenaged girl in a dark
blue
jogging suit.
     Michiru stared up from where she was kneeling and blinked at what she
saw.  The last time she had seen PalaPala was four years earlier, when the
girl
had been only fourteen.  Now her short, light blue hair had grown longer,
down
past her shoulders.  She had grown taller and filled out in all the right
areas.  And
there, hanging down around her ears, were her trademark bola-balls.
     Michiru got up and moved forward.  "Pallas.  You've changed, in some
ways,"
Then she looked over her shoulder at the wreckage of the marionettes.  "Yet,
in
other ways, you haven't."
     PalaPala made a face.  "Still all proper and serious, eh Neptune?
Well, the
Outers never really had much of a sense of humour."  She straightened up and
performed a quick little dance step on the catwalk.  "Hop!"
     "You called for us, Pallas.  Why?"
     PalaPala narrowed her eyes.  "You mean . . . you don't know?  You can't
feel
the coming attack either, then, can you?"
     "Pallas . . . "
     "It's already claimed one of my sisters!  I want you to find her if you
can!
You're supposed to be a guardian, so stand guard for us while we try and
fight
the threat to this Earth that we're expected to save!"
     Michiru could feel Therese's eyes boring into her back.  The nun was
hearing
far too much for her own good.  When this was over, she would definitely be
wanting some answers.  Answers that Michiru didn't really want to give her.
"Pallas, there was . . . "
     The Asteroid Senshi flipped off the high catwalk, landing lightly on
her
sneakered feet in front of Haruka and Michiru.  She walked towards them,
body
taut.  "Listen Neptune, don't try to give me any excuses.  I'm older than
when
we last met.  And now that I'm no longer with the Circus, I could probably
blow
you and your fellow skirt here somewhere into the resting place of every
Queen
you destroyed.  So I'd *appreciate* your help, if you know what I mean!"  As
if to
make her point, her bolas began glowing brightly.
     Michiru sighed.  "You know, I think it would be better if we talked
privately."
Stepping ahead, she glanced back at Therese.  "Sorry, Sister.  But Pallas
talks
better if she doesn't have an audience."
     With that, the space around the two solidified and turned black, then
slowly
shrank into nothingness, taking them with it.  Mary Therese and Haruka were
left alone in the midst of a dim warehouse.
     "So, Ten'oh-san, do you mind telling me what that was all about?"
     Too late, Haruka wished she had gone with Michiru and Pallas.

-----
     "You realize that you were getting rather carried away out there?"
     "Yeah, but what else is new?" PalaPala shrugged, leaning back against
the
enclosure.  Her glowing bolas dimmed.  "By the way, this is a nice trick.
When'd
you learn it?"
     Michiru tilted her head.  "About the same time that Queen Serenity laid
a
punishment on Haruka and me for breaking the seal on the darkness."  As
PalaPala
paused, assimilating that, Michiru forged ahead.  "There is no attack
against Earth.
There never was.  You were woken by accident when Haruka went down, and
Serenity charged us with bringing you back.  That's why you can't feel
Vesta, either.
We already found her and sent her back to the darkness."
     PalaPala looked down at her feet, then back up.  "No danger?"
     "None."
     "No nasty, drawn-out fight where thousands perish and honour and glory
await me at every turn?"
     "I'm afraid not."
     "Well, damn.  I guess this means that I don't get to blow anything up,
either.
I was so looking forward to that."  She sighed and straightened up.  "So I
suppose you want me to come quietly, or something to that effect, right?"
     Michiru nodded.  "It would be easier."
     "Well, I guess I never did things the easy way.  You're going to have
to earn
this one, Neptune."
     "I'm in no mood for games, Pallas.  My orders from Queen Serenity are
clear:
Return you to your rest.  Only then will I get my life back!"  Her head came
up,
fangs bared again.
     "Ooh, you might want to have those capped," PalaPala chuckled.
     Michiru took a couple of steps forward.  "The only thing," she said
quietly,
"that's keeping me from grabbing you by the scruff of your neck and dragging
you back to the darkness is that nun out there.  If she doesn't like the way
I deal
with you, she won't help me find your sisters.  But, Kami help me, unless
you
have a little more common sense, I *will* knock you out myself."
     PalaPala looked a little surprised at that. "Settle down, Neptune.  I
don't
know why you're angry at me.  If what you told me is true, it's Uranus'
fault that
we're awake.  You can't pick on her, though, can you?  Since she's your
lover,
you don't see it as her fault."  Her voice took on a sudden singsong
quality.  "It's
the fault of the naughty Asteroid Senshi, for playing around while you're
just
trying to do your job!"  Becoming reasonably normal again, PalaPala moved
right
up to her.  "You can't make me go back, Neptune.  Not on your word alone.
But
if Serenity says to come home, I will.  Is that what you want to hear?"
     Michiru leaned back against her barrier and let her breath out.
"You're right.
I'm sorry Pallas, but my options for dealing with you have been severely
limited
here."
     Smiling a little, PalaPala sat down, arranging herself comfortably.
"Ah, who
needs rules?  We Asteroids never did.  We were independent of all the Senshi
except Queen Serenity herself."
     "And look where you ended up," Michiru replied softly, kneeling beside
her.
"Warped by the Dark Moon Circus for all those years.  How did you ever
survive?"
     "Hey, don't go feeling sorry for me, Neptune!  The last thing I want is
your
sympathy.  I survived just fine!  Besides, I was already crazy to begin
with.  Just
ask Rei here."  And from inside her jacket, she produced a small Sailor Mars
doll
and began manipulating the strings.  "Hey, Rei!  I'm long around the bend,
ne?
Nuttier than a chestnut, Pallas!" she answered herself in a high-pitched
voice.
     All Michiru could do was rest her forehead in her hands.  "Pallas,
didn't
Serenity ever suggest that perhaps you should seek some professional help?"
     PalaPala grinned wickedly and put the marionette away.  "Now why would
she do something like that?  Amateur help was always at hand with Mercury
around.  Plus I was on great terms with the Queen, you know.  Last time I
saw
her, I said  "Serenity, you're so lucky to have us Asteroid Senshi around.
You
know why?"  She said, "Why?"  So I said, "Because you never know what we're
going to do next!  Keeps things from getting dull!"  You know what she said?
She told me that I was exactly right!"  PalaPala shrugged.  "Of course, that
may
be beyond your memory."
     Then her eyes lowered and she folded her hands in her lap.  "Honestly,
though.  When I felt Vesta's life signs leave, I thought the worst.  I went
crazy,
Neptune, crazier than normal.  I swore then and there that whoever hurt her
would pay for it not only with their life, but with as much pain as I could
wring
out of them."  She looked up again.  "And now I find out Serenity's just
sent her
truant officers out to pick up her rogue Senshi.  I feel really silly now,
after going
through all that."
     Michiru rested a gentle hand on the younger girl's shoulder.  "You're
loyal to
your sisters, Pallas.  That was something I took a long time to learn, when
I first
met the Inners here on Earth.  We ended up fighting against each other for a
short while and Haruka even hit Mako-chan at one point."
     PalaPala managed a wry grin.  "That explains it.  One punch from Uranus
and
Jupiter was smitten for the rest of her life, huh?"
     Laughing softly, Michiru held out her hands.  "Come on and don't let
Haruka
hear you say that.  If we keep her waiting, Therese is going to pester her
to death.
And I don't want to have to pick up the pieces if she figures out how to do
another
"World Shaking."
     PalaPala grinned again as she laid her own hands in Michiru's.  "Hey,
Neptune,
you're starting to even think like me.  I'd be worried, if I was you."

-----
     Heaving a silent groan, Haruka ran her hands through her short blond
hair.
     "You must be able to tell me *something*, Ten'oh-san.  This "Dead Moon
Circus", why you call these girls "Asteroids", anything!  Just who are you
people, anyway?"
     Idly, Haruka found herself wondering how she had managed that last
burst of
power for her attack.  Without her voice, she shouldn't have been able to
fire off
anything.  Perhaps Queen Serenity had left her more than she originally
thought?
Maybe if she just concentrated hard enough . . . .
     Just then, the air in front of them shimmered, and Michiru and PalaPala
appeared again.  Inwardly, Haruka breathed a sigh of relief at her partner's
return.  She didn't have the patience to deal with people, especially when
she
couldn't tell them to go away..
     PalaPala stumbled slightly as the seal dissipated, then looked around.
"Right!
Off to jail we go!"  Lowering her head, she extended her arms, hands down,
as if
waiting to be cuffed.
     Both Haruka and Therese stared at Michiru, who shrugged.  "I did warn
you,"
she told the nun, "Pallas is rather . . . eccentric."
     "Ah, eccentric schmentric.  I'm just plain nuts, Neptune, and you know
it."
     Michiru smiled at that and looked to Therese.  "Pallas will be staying
with
Haruka and me tonight.  Tomorrow, we're taking her home.  Then I promise to
answer some of your questions.  Can you wait another day or so, Sister?"
     The nun looked rather disappointed, but nodded.  "I'll survive.
Patience is
supposed to be a godly virtue, Nep. . . Michiru."  She blushed.  "I'm sorry,
I'm
not sure even what to call you now."
     "Pallas and her sisters call me Neptune, Sister, because that is how
they know
me.  But to you I am still Kaioh Michiru, which is my real name."
     "All right, *Kaioh Michiru*," she answered, emphasizing her name as if
it were
an alias, "I'll be waiting for you.  This time, I do expect some answers."
     "You only asked to come along this time, Sister, and you've done so.
And
you do deserve a bit of an explanation.  But it will be made on our terms,
so our
safety is not compromised.  But for now, I still answer only to my Queen, as
does Pallas."  She cast a glance at the light-blue haired girl beside her,
who was
tapping her on the shoulder.
     "Hey Neptune," murmured PalaPala, "Quit the melodrama.  You're freaking
even me out here.  Just what did Serenity do to you?"
     Michiru looked at the Asteroid Senshi and bared one fang.  "Guess," she
whispered back, then winked.  Looking back at Therese, she bowed.  "If
there's
nothing else right now, I would like to take Pallas back home and prepare
her
for the trip home."
     Therese bowed back.  "I won't keep you then, Michiru.  Congratulations
on
finding your second quarry and I will see you tomorrow night after vespers
at the
church."  With that, she turned and stepped out of the building.
     As soon as she was gone, Haruka wilted and handed Michiru a note.
     *She is starting to get on my nerves.*
     Michiru nodded.  "Always insisting that she should know what we're
doing.
Isn't it enough for people that we're keeping them safe from the Asteroid
Senshi?"
     PalaPala shrugged and leaned on Michiru's shoulder.  "Humans.  Go
figure.
They'd benefit so much from a few months of terror and mayhem from me!"
     Looking up at the taller girl, the Senshi of Neptune put her own arm
around
her shoulders.  "Pallas, the Moon Kingdom had to pass a law preventing you
from
doing more than one random act of insanity a month, remember?"
     "Oh, right.  Well, they never forgot me, did they?"

-----
     PalaPala pulled her Hino Rei doll out of her jacket and handed it to
Michiru.
"Here, Neptune.  Watch her for me, will you?  When you come down for your
rest, you can give it back to me."
     Michiru smiled and tucked it in the crook of her arm.  "I'll keep a
good eye on
her."
     "Thanks."  The Asteroid Senshi looked over her shoulder at a waiting
Setsuna.
"There is one other thing, too, before I let Pluto take me down."
     "Oh?  And that would be?"
     "Well, I haven't just been sitting around twiddling my cute little
thumbs, you
know.  I've been preparing for that end-of-the-world attack that I thought
was
coming!  I had it all planned out, too!  Now that it's not going to happen,
someone's
got to rescue my work!  Take care of it, would you?"
     "Of course, Pallas.  Where is it?"
     "Back in the warehouse.  The back rooms, to be precise.  Do whatever
you want
with them, but just don't let it all go to waste!  Promise me that."
     Michiru nodded.  "I promise.  Now, go with Setsuna and take your rest,
all right?"
     PalaPala hugged her one last time.  "All right."
     She turned and let Setsuna take her arm.  With her head held high, she
walked
into the black passageway in the mountain.

-----
     In the warehouse, Haruka stared blankly at the sight before her.  Eyes
fixed
on her surroundings, she wrote something and passed the pad over to Michiru.
     *What on earth are we going to do with all these?*
     "I have no idea, Haruka.  Maybe we could sell them to a store."
     *What was she going to do with all of them?*
     "I don't really want to think about it."
     All around them, marionettes and puppets sat stacked in rows.  Hundred
of
glassy eyes gazed unblinkingly at them.  A vast, dormant army of wood and
cloth
lay before them, their builder and general now sleeping below.
     *I think that one blinked.*
     "Don't say things like that."
-----

               ~When the mountain rose before me,
                 By the deep well of desire,
                 From the fountain of forgiveness,
                 Beyond the ice and the fire. . .

                 Cast your eyes on the ocean,
                 Cast your soul to the sea,
                 When the dark night seems endless,
                 Please remember me . . .  ~

"Dante's Prayer", Loreena McKennitt, "Book of Secrets" album,   1997