For well over a thousand years, the incredible example of nature buttressed free society like a fortress, it's sheer size and total of inhabitants in the the very equal of major Coalition cities. Namely, Chi Town. Chi Town was another battlement, the capital of Coalition society. Unlike Chi Town, this miracle of nature displayed no fear of the unknown environment about it. The hugely intricate form displayed only beauty, and strength. Mile long branches held massive baubles, homes for the many kind and welcome healers, warriors of good, and other champions of the future. What kind of mage could ignore the plainly sentient and highly magical nature of the tree?
One young healer could not. It was the way of her life. To change, or forsake the gift of the tree would be to sacrifice her own existence. At this point, however, she was considering a sacrifice of another kind entirely. Why did Jenra trouble her like this? In the time she knew it would take her to reach her destination, she knew that a wounded man or woman could die, if the wound was bad enough. The thought of using her power came forth with a great measure of unease.
Catch a good look 'round, she thought. Even though she did not fear being ostracized, as she was well aware that the millennium tree would not allow such a thing, she did not want to jeopardize the normality of her life. The respect - the nigh worship - she knew her kind were always given was not something she desired.
She scrambled up the seamless steps of wood. The walls kept a similar appearance, round, like the inside of a tube, as if grown that way. That much was true.
No, she decided, I won't make light - she chuckled - of my powers. She aptly evaded others in her haste, knowing she could not spare any time. Pushing aside a curtain as she entered the spherical alcove, she halted, catching her breath as she regarded a middle aged woman with brown hair and a knowing smile.
“What took you s' long Demelza?” the grey-robed woman asked, belaying a smirk.
She bowed slightly. “I am sorry MasterHealer, but I was so far away…”
Finally, her resolve failed her. Her green eyes lit with warm humor.
“I am glad you did not give into an act of ill caution, shining one.”
The young woman sighed as she turned towards what appeared to be an adolescent male. “Who is he?” She ran her hands over him in assessment.
“He is called 'Mamoru' by friends. He does not have any relatives here,” the MasterHealer noted almost indifferently.
Demelza heard those words fade into a dark silence as her trance set in, clearing all emotions and thoughts from her mind. A white field was all she conceived, letting his presence indicate what damage had been done. She did not even act in thought to search for pain, for it made itself quite evident to her.
“ ʻTis internal,” she noted calmly, nigh emotionless. “He is bleeding gravely. He's got broken ribs, a punctured lung, an' he will die anon.” Her eyes snapped open abruptly. “Jenra, why did j'ye not tend 'im?” She sounded more puzzled than angry, hesitant to question the motives of her mentor.
“You know very well that your talent exceeds mine,” Jenra replied calmly. Regarding her student with a stern look, she added: “Besides, I exhausted myself saving the life of that foolish prince.”
If those words sparked any reaction within her, she forced it down. It had to wait, for his life was quite literally in her hands. She cleared her mind again, observing the white veil in the core of her consciousness. She reached out, hands already lying on his chest, where the pain resided. In her mind she saw, as much as felt, the weak pumping of blood through his veins. He was not fighting. A despondency gripped him so tightly that he refused to give any effort for his survival.
Who are you? his weary mind asked.
I am trying to save your life.
Don't bother.
An' why not lad? What puts you in such a dark emotional place?
…
You've lost someone close to ye.
Hai…
I canna see that you've lost all hope for 'er
…
What of your circumstance? Sure it isn't so hopeless as all tha'.
I was so close… just to lose her again!
You love her, aye?
Hai!
I can see y've been though worse. What is different now, lad?
We are alone, and on a strange world. How can I…
An' what makes ya think that y'are really so alone? What would y' say if I told you I would help?
What can I do?
Start fighting, dark eyes.
Minutes passed in seconds, reality blurred into emotions. When Mamoru opened his eyes, he felt the tears in them. Demelza sighed and fell forward on him.
'Nani…?' Mamoru gasped.
Demelza forced her eyes open, and dragged herself to her feet. “You're alive lad,” she muttered. “See? There be hope, if ya jus' be willin' t'look.”
Mamoru was stunned into silence as he recognized her voice. 'Domo,' he murmured. 'Domo arigatao Dem-chan.'
“Please, Mamoru, in English, if ye don't mind, aye? My Japanese is very weak.”
He nodded.
“Ah, so sorry.” Gradually, the events already past flooded his mind. He groaned and closed his eyes, emotional pain welling inside him. Demelza closed her eyes in unison, as if reacting to his pain.
“Demelza, close your mind, will you dearest?” Jenra chided in motherly tones. “You have helped him. He must find a measure of his own strength with which to fight.”
She smiled faintly and nodded. “Sometimes I forget.”
Jenra gazed at her steadily, a smirk painted on her face.
“Okay, so I ne'er remember,” she sighed, rolling her eyes.
“Dem-chan?” asked a faint male voice. The light brown haired girl turned towards the source. She knelt beside his bed, and bid him lie down as she 'sshed' him softly.
“Yes Mamoru?”
His eyes trembled. Demelza knew that his heart did also; she had felt the striking of his emotions. “Will you help me?”
Jenra looked curious. Demelza looked startled, and gravely uncertain. Knowing what he asked of her, it was almost entirely too much for her to bear. She knew his pain, and sympathized with the core of her heart. How could she refuse, having assisted him in finding a will to live? She turned away for a moment, her unsettled gaze cast at Jenra, who got to her feet as the implications became clear to her.
“Demelza, you can't,” she began, knowing it was a fight already lost. As a psychic herself, she knew that what Demelza felt could not be ignored; she knew the psionic nature of the persuasion.
Demelza said nothing. Her face settled to a concentrated look, which she kept as she turned towards Mamoru again.
“There's only s'much a young lass like m'self can do Mamoru,” she said, her voice testimony to her decision. Her voice also betrayed the concern, and sympathy to Jenra, who did not appear shocked, or surprised, in the least. Mamoru smiled faintly, and closed his eyes, falling asleep moments later. With an emotionally heavy sigh, Demelza sat down beside her mentor, her eyes downcast.
“She is very far from here. You realize that, don't you?” Jenra noted quietly.
Demelza merely nodded. “Aye, but he needs m'help,” she admonished. “It's this stuff, Jenra, that makes me wish I was somethin' else entirely.”
“It is what you are, you cannot escape that,” Jenra said, gazing at the young woman. “Besides; you are young yet. Understanding comes with experience.”
“An' I suppose experience comes with age?” Demelza finished.
“My heavens no! Whatever makes you think that?” her elder replied rather sharply, yet calmly. Demelza looked startled. “I have known many who know very little about life, yet a great deal about age. Experience makes the difference of perception, of understanding.”
“It'd be a lie t' say I understood ye, mentor.”
A wafting silence punctuated Jenra's following comment. “You do like him, don't you?”
“What?” She felt her face redden. “I…”
“You would
have to, to want to go through so much trouble for him.” A knowing smile drifted across her face. “Oh don't blush so, Demelza. Why be embarrassed about being attracted to him? Were I ten years younger…” she gazed at the sleeping form of Mamoru.
“Mentor!” Demelza gasped, aghast.
“You suppose because I'm married I can't recognize masculine beauty when I see it? Though really dear one, you know me better than that,” she smirked. “He is very handsome, though. This girl,” she paused, as if in thought, “Usagi… She must be a very happy girl.”
“She is,” Demelza stated with a trace of despondency. “Or was… he worries so for 'er now.”
Jenra got to her feet, plainly careful of her back, and stood before Demelza. She put her hands to the young woman's forearms.
“Trust in the good of this world, young one.”
When their eyes met, Jenra could plainly see that it was not the good that she trusted. She wrapped her arms about Demelza, who trembled in silence. The peacefully silent respite of the omnipresent millennium tree offered what comfort it could.
Time, Demelza was sure, was dawdling. Was it her dwelling on Mamoru that caused this? The young black haired Japanese man slept nigh constantly over the following several weeks. She knew it made sense, but she so wanted to talk to him, to come to know him better. Feeling the strength of the love he held for Usagi was toxic. She wished she could share it, or be his focus. It was selfish, but she had never known such love. Most of the young men she had relationships with regarded themselves as being “unworthy” somehow.
She truly began to wonder if what she was feeling for him was true. It was plain to her that it was merely superficial, but the emotions had been so potent that she had a difficult time being anything but envious of their intensity.
Demelza watched him heal much faster than any other human she had seen in a long while. The fact that he healed so quickly did not surprise her; psychics, and other mystics healed just as, if not faster than he. What surprised her was that she had not sensed any innate psionic ability within him. For what she had read of him while in his mind, he was without any superhuman abilities.
Finally, his restlessness founded his interest in leaving. He did not seem too make any note, or even recognize that anything had transpired between them. It was as if she had never been in his mind. Demelza realized that it would be irrational to feel slighted, but could not help her response. She refused to talk to him at length, though his concern eventually caused her to falter her anger. Friendship seemed to be an obvious close second to his love, which she knew she could not win.
Though the occasional irrational argument out of sheer frustration regarding this point could not be halted. As time passed, Jenra saw that he could not be held. She also saw that her student would fall into depression, and worse, if she delayed her any further. They decided to make a trek to New Camelot. It was not very far away, and it was the most likely source of rumors, and assistance.
Demelza had heard little from those who visited the Millennium Tree, and those she tended. What she had heard, complied with the information Mamoru had given her. He had described a young man and woman, pale-skinned, and stressed on their foreign appearance. Some told her that there had been a number of murders, and a few deaths of various women which matched the description of Luna. Mamoru refused to face the possibility that Luna might be dead. Instead, he followed the more likely (favorable) prospect: A man and woman had been noted wandering about the Open Market. How were they distinguished? Few humans had such psionic power. They had been suspected to be a pair of European Mind Melters.
The next question: How did they get from Europe to England? Few speculated. The fact of the matter was, Mamoru did not care. Even though the idea of their being psychics did not quite fit, it made relatively little difference in the light that they were human, instead of feline.
He did, after all, clearly recall the difference in their appearances just after arriving here, before their separation.
Jenra saw them off with a blessing, and a prayer. For as short as the trek was to be, the dangers along the way could see their deaths, or worse.
@~%~~~
“By th' Generous Soul of th' Tree,” Demelza said, sounding as stricken as she looked. She held her ankle as she sat there, her back to an ancient tree, watching in astonishment, and horror, as Mamoru challenged the Splugorth to battle.
She could not understand why he was reacting so strongly. The Splugorth had not actually hurt her. Not directly, at least. Sure she had walked into a trap and broken her ankle. Escaping could have been as simple as changing to light. Of course, she had not been able to do that, unfortunately. Not in front of Mamoru. He, however, had jumped up - much to her surprise - the ten feet to cut her down, then hopped back down with her in his arms. The Splugorth had then decided to reveal himself. He struck Mamoru from behind, knocking him to the cool earth, and sending Demelza with him. It was at that point that the Japanese youth issued his guttural wailing of challenge.
As Mamoru approached the creature, his robed form began to change. Demelza gasped, watching as his clothes stretched and tore against his abruptly earth toned skin. He appeared to become a statue, his normally attractive facial features dulled and blurred by the roughly unchiseled stone that either covered or became him. Even she was unsure of which. His voice deepened in a cry of rage. There was a flurry of motion and noise as nearby animals bolted, squawking and chirping, as if feeling the anger of this being.
“An Earth Child - - - !?” She cursed her own inability, wincing sharply. The earthen creature formerly known as Mamoru ignored her, and took a slow, heavy swing at the Slaver with a fist. The Slaver blocked aptly with an arm, then struck Mamoru, sending him flying back into a tree, causing it to tear free from the earth.
The Slaver turned to Demelza, who seemed stunned. He leveled a small energy pistol at her, and fired. A scream of pain echoed, spurring Mamoru to his feet.
“Mamoru help me!!” Demelza cried frantically, pain distorting her sense of panic into the beginnings of hysteria. Her screams continued, for a moment, then ceased as the shock overwhelmed her. Mamoru's eyes fell upon the young woman who helped him. His eyes and heart betrayed him, at first. She did not look hurt, as there was no blood. The second glance told the truth. The absence of her lower right leg sent Mamoru into a rage which would not see an end until either the Slaver, or he, was dead.
The Slaver laughed. Mamoru's thick fist traveled through the air again, evenly, to catch the snake-like creature by the jaw, sending it flying backward. The Slaver lay stunned for a time. Mamoru stomped up to the creature in a cold fury. His foot raised, then there was a sound like the cracking of dry wood.
Just as quickly as the transformation had occurred, it reversed, leaving a very unbelieving half-clad Mamoru standing before the still reptilian form of the Slaver.
A dark nagging took him; “Demelza!” He turned, and ran to her unconscious form.
“So sorry, Dem-chan!' I never meant for anything to happen to you…” He uttered a dry curse. Without thought, he laid his hands on her, and closed his eyes. After a few moments of silence, her eyes began to flutter open.
“Mamoru…?” she muttered, gazing upwards at him.
“I'm here, Dem-chan.”
Realization slowly set in. Her eyes flew from the missing part of her leg, to the still body of the Slaver.
“By the Tree. Mamoru… You killed the bugger,” she half whispered in astonishment, and skepticism.
“Yes,” he nodded firmly. “I had no choice. How far are we from Camelot?”
“A day an' night,” she replied, not quite trusting the implications of the question. “Why ask?”
He took her up in his arms. “That's all I need to know Demelza. Thank you.”
“Mamoru!” she started, surprised, and concerned. “If we're going… best we tarry not! But… are ye sure 'bout our safety, nonetheless?”
He frowned, knowing what she said was true. Then hi
s face set. “There's another way.”
All it took was a gesture of mind to let his senshi transformation consume him. In a matter of moments, his torn robe was replaced by the formal outfit of Tuxedo Kamen. With her in his arms, not waiting to elaborate for Demelza's startled gasp, he jumped up into a high limb of a tree.
The thick tangle of trees had given over to hills and plains fairly quickly. Demelza indicated that it was due to their proximity to New Camelot. As the silence grew between them, she felt it become increasingly uncomfortable, as if it was driving a wedge between them. Aside from the fact that he had saved her life, she did not want to make things any more awkward than they already were. The fact that he was an Earth child disturbed her as much as it surprised her. He had not asked any questions about it. Apparently he wanted to avoid the subject of the terrible transformation as much as she did. Jenra had taught her that such things could not be ignored. Such power would surely lead to trouble if disregarded.
Further, there was the matter of his summoning formal clothing and cape, and the fact that he was able to leap significant distances with what seemed no more than a shrug's effort. Yet, somehow this really didn't worry her. From having been in his mind, there was the vague sense that he was a protector of women, including his lost love, and it was, if anything, comforting. So, on to question the most piquant concern…
“I shoulda known! Have ye always been a Child of Earth, Mamoru?” The question, she realized, was pure foolishness. The fact of the matter was one was born that way: With the ability to draw from the power of the earth, or the sun as she could. It was no different for Star Children. The powers themselves manifested at a young age, and the clan was usually filled with many of the Earth or Star Child's' kind.
“What? Earth Child?” He looked puzzled. “Demelza, what… oh.”
She groaned as a dull pain washed over her. “Y-yes. How long?”
He gazed at her steadily, worry creasing his brow. “Are you alright?”
“I-i…” she gasped in a quick rush of air involuntarily. She began trembling in his arms, eyes closed, voice still.
“Dem-chan!” Mamoru cried, his eyes narrowing. Touching her forehead revealed that she was burning up with fever. He doubled his pace, desperation spurring him on. Fortunately, Camelot was only an hours' distance away. Mamoru reached the gates of the sprawling city heaving air through the dry passage of his throat. He was stopped by a pair of guards adorned in knight-style armor.
“Is there a problem?” one of them asked.
“She's very ill!” Mamoru panted, almost dropping to one knee in his own weakness.
“Thom!” the fellow hollered. A short fellow, wearing the clothes of a squire approached the knight.
“Yes Sir!” the young man snapped obediently.
“Escort this man to the nearest healer, lad, on the double!”
“Yes Sir!” He turned to Mamoru, his twentyish features studying him for a moment. “Give 'er to me. You look almost to the point of collapse yourself, man.”
Mamoru relented the pallid and still trembling form of Demelza. The young man took her, and started off, hardly waiting for Mamoru to catch his wind.
They had not taken long. Apparently the squire knew the area well. He was able to conduct them to a place called 'Hysian's Healings' in a matter of minutes. The place smelled strongly of herbs and other plants. Mamoru felt lost again, his hope hanging on a thin silvery line.
“Hysian!” Thom called, setting Demelza down on a table in the middle of the room. “Where 're ya! I've got an ill lass here!”
He paced about, hands on hips, the expression on his face seeming quite expectant of this behavior. He threw Mamoru an exasperated glance, his arms akimbo.
“I know!” a high-strung voice said. A woman of a very fitting form to the voice appeared from behind a congregation of tall vines.
“Oh my! Demelza!” Her smile faded to a concentrated frown as she regarded the haggard looking young woman. “Come come, I won't bite. I'm not that strung out.”
Mamoru tried to suppress his surprise as he approached her. “Thank you Thom. You'd best get back to Terin. He'll be waiting,” she said absently as she ran her hands gently over Demelza.
“Yes Healer,” he said with a half-bow at the waist, and left.
Hysian sighed. “He'll not make much of a Knight if he continues to be so submissive. Oh well. Now,” her green eyed gaze gripped Mamoru's stony expression. She resisted an urge to sigh. “Well, are you going to tell me what happened or just stand there and look stoned?”
Mamoru blinked. 'Gomen nasai.'
“Japanese, eh? Hm… 'Well, young thing, how did it happen that Dem-chan lost a part of her leg?' “ A certain smile followed her inquiry in his native language.
ʻWe were attacked by a strange creature on our way from the Millennium Tree that Dem-chan lives in.'
'I see,' she replied. 'What did it look like?'
'It was like a man-sized lizard, but it had armour on it. Instead of eyes, it had a band of metal. It had no legs, just a long tail.'
'Splugorth, then. How unpleasant for you.' Then she quirked an eyebrow. 'How did you come to defeat the thing? And what is your name?'
Mamoru's gaze dropped. 'That is not something I wish to discuss. It's, uh, Mamoru.'
'If you wish, Mamoru,' she smiled faintly, consideration abound. 'Then tell me how she was wounded.'
Mamoru suppressed a shudder of rage. 'She was first caught by a trap. A rope caught her leg and pulled her up into a tree. I think it broke her leg.'
'Not that it matters now,' Hysian muttered. She glanced up at him. 'Go on.'
'I killed it. That's, uh, all.'
Hysian's eyes wandered to the vine swathed ceiling of the small herbalist shop as she 'hummed' thoughtfully. 'There is more you aren't telling me, my boy, but we shall discuss it later. At any rate, she's quite ill. A contact poison on the rope would explain this. She will be alright though. I've dealt with worse.' She put a hand on her forehead. Demelza's eyes wandered slowly open.
“Eat this,” Hysian commanded softly, presenting a small leaf to her lips. As if in a trance, Demelza obeyed, not seeming to react to her surroundings. Mamoru started to ask a question, but Hysian raised a finger to her lips, indicating he should remain silent.
“Now rest,” she said, removing her hand, and letting the young woman's eyes drift closed. 'Mamo-chan, she was as much in a trance as you thought. She will be recovering from this for many days. I merely gave her that to settle the fever. I still must prepare a tea to cull the poison.' She glanced at him. 'There is another matter here, however. She will need a prosthetic. I must leave to discuss that with a friend. You will watch her while I am gone, hai?'
'Of course. I don't know, senpai, about the prosthetic.'
'You don't have to. The decision is not yours.' She turned, and headed towards the entrance of the shop. 'There is a chair next to you. Use it. If she begins shaking again, I will be in the shop right across from this one. Come and get me without hesitation.'
'Hai, Hysian-san.'
@~%~~~
Randy's face lit up.
“Mamoru, as in Mamoru Chiba?”
Hysian nodded her brown haired head. “He's over there, watching over the girl who saved his life.”
“As long as he's alive, that's all that matters. I'm going to have a talk with him.”
“What about Demelza?”
Randy paused, then shrugged. “It would be best to leave the operation until she's recovered.”
Hysian nodded; that made sense.
“How long?”
“A week.”
Randy nodded, “Fine, fine. Why don't you ask him to come over here.”
She sighed, and nodded, leaving the shoppe.
Mamoru was still somewhat stunned by the request.
“I could use your combat talents,” Randy stated firmly.
“How do you know who I am?”
“We know a great deal about who's responsibl
e for bringing you here. We also know about your Bishojo Sailor Senshi. Right now we're doing our best to rescue them.”
Mamoru's heart leapt in his chest. “Usako!” he blurted. “Where is she!”
Randy shook his head.
“We don't know. She's still missing. The last we heard, it was possible she's somewhere in North America. Pretty vague, I know, but it's better than nothing.”
Mamoru looked puzzled. “There's still a lot you haven't told me.”
“So you accept?”
Mamoru nodded firmly.
“Good. Then perhaps now would be a good time to bring Luna and Artemis into this…” Randy added with a pleasant smile. Mamoru's expression of surprise was superseded only by the gladness in his heart.
Chapter 18
Average Perspective
Starlit Ruins Page 19