Iczer-one Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Earth Child ❯ There's a New Girl in Town ( Chapter 2 )

The Earthchild

 

(An Iczer/Ranma/Sailor Moon Crossover)

 

Written by

Jim Robert Bader

 

Proofread by

Shiva Barnwell

 

(Inspired by the works of Rumiko Takahashi,

Naoko Takeuchi, Toshihiro Hirano, & Hitoshi Okuda,

with ideas and suggestions by TH Tiger and Johannes Huber)

 

 

 

 

 

Muku stared in dismay as six ungodly shapes that walked on two legs but had only the barest semblance of anything even remotely human suddenly filled the former schoolyard. The creatures were hideous nightmare shapes whose faces consisted of some kind of combination eyeball and gaping mouth, and all of them seemed bent and determined to some foul purpose that centered on Muku herself, not to mention her more comely companion, who stood facing these monsters in a battle stance that denoted a born martial artist.

 

“Be careful,” her new `friend' murmured urgently, “Do not let them touch you. The Venomoids are not from our timeframe, but they can use the neutral field of Subspace as a transition point to draw us into their world, and once they have made contact they will attempt to take you over and make you one of their servants.”

 

“They…what?” Muku asked, feeling very much out of the loop and out to sea with her head swimming from the sudden sense of transition.

 

“No time!” the blonde-haired elf-girl raised her hands and suddenly she was holding onto what seemed like a shard of light, over a meter in length and resembling a light saber out of a Star Wars movie. Without preamble she moved to defend them both as the creatures came rushing into the attack, and without warning their pliable bodies lashed out in an attempt to engulf them in their unwholesome embrace.

 

But Rhea---or so the elf girl had named herself---was prepared for this and sliced through every piece of the creatures that came near them while simultaneously shoving Muku to the floor in order to get her out of the line of attack, much though Muku did not fully appreciate being dumped on her ass in the middle of such a crisis. Muku's own martial arts training came to the fore as she rolled with rude landing, scrunching up into a ball and half-rising in a defensive crouch that took everything into her range of vision.

 

The creatures were wisely avoiding a direct confrontation with Rhea, who seemed to be everywhere at once with that ruby sword of hers slicing through creature body parts as though they were harmless globs of gelatin from some movie prop house. Muku had thought that only a Kuno knew moves like that in swordplay with either bokken or katana, but this girl was obviously a full master in that capacity and far faster even than Kuno senior himself. That sword found everything that came anywhere near the elfin girl and shrouded it into disintegrating molecular bits, but when the creatures managed to get around her they came unrelentingly after Muku, who had to dodge by leaping backwards, reacting instinctively as though she were under attack by her Uncle Mousse or Aunt Shiratori. The rules were basically the same, after all…don't let the enemy touch you, and in that regard her lifetime of intensive training was a definite advantage.

 

But these were not ordinary creatures that aimed and missed her with their prehensile attacks, they were monsters of a different variety, and as such they did not play by the same rules as ordinary martial artists. Muku sensed that even before she saw the creatures moving closer together to form a single mass, their bodies flowing one into the other until they took on a giant form more terrifying than their individual contours. Rhea paused in her onslaught as she took in this new urgent menace, and then a wave of force lashed out at her and knocked her away. The monster then turned its attention towards Muku once again, but rather than a physical assault it started to glow in an ominous manner, and then beams of energy shot from its body, lashing out at Muku, who again had to take defensive action.

 

“What the heck is this thing?” Muku asked of herself as she tried to dodge these new attacks, thinking as an afterthought how much it sucked not to be able to strike back with a weapon. Bare handed she could take down nearly anything at or around her weight class, but she had a feeling that this particular target would not be solid enough for her to strike with a foot or a fist, and the warning against touching the creature was echoing in her mind, seconded by her instinctive aversion of the thing and what it potentially represented.

 

All at once she found something solid pressing up against her back, and Muku belatedly recognized it as a wall of some sort, cutting off her line of escape and leaving her vulnerable to the thing as he got its bearings and struck nearer to its target. A blast came near to taking her in the head, and only by twisting to the side did she avoid another attack aimed at the center of her body. As used to fighting on uneven surfaces as she was, Muku could not regain her balance in time and fell heavily to the ground, open and vulnerable though she attempted to turn her momentum into a roll, knowing that she was as good as toast as the thing had the perfect opportunity to nail her.

 

“NO!” a voice cried both in her ears and in her mind, and all at once something interposed itself between the oncoming blast and Muku. She looked up in time to see Rhea and her energy sword deflecting a powerful burst that seemed bright as the sun and as deadly as a bomb blast. Then Rhea staggered backwards, clutching at one arm as the creature renewed its onslaught, only to halt abruptly even as Muku got to her feet and tried to take stock of this whole insane situation.

 

But then she felt the very solid presence of Rhea go staggering into her arms, and by reflex Muku caught the armored girl with both hands to steady her, wondering if her nominal protector had somehow been injured. To her dismay one hand encountered a wetness that felt warm and curiously sticky, and then she looked into the pained expression of the blonde elf-girl's face and realized that she had been hurt, opened her mouth to say something, only to see the girl smile and say, “Don't worry...I got him.”

 

Muku turned to see the creature rearing back as Rhea's sword protruded from its dark chest, and all at once the horror cried out in dismay, its body falling apart before their very eyes as its dark shape crumbled into chunks of unwholesome flesh, and then disintegrated altogether.

 

One moment later the world change back into its normal lighting and color, leaving Muku to wonder if it had been a dream or another waking nightmare. But then again the body of the girl learning against her was VERY real and quite unmistakably solid, putting to rest any doubt on that quarter as Muku tried to make sense of the whole insane situation.

 

“What was that thing?” Muku asked of her injured companion.

 

“The enemy,” Rhea replied, “They are after you…but I think you will safe for now. It will take them time to marshal enough strength to attempt another crossing.”

 

“The enemy?” Muku asked, “What enemy? You…you're hurt…?”

 

“I am…damaged,” Rhea glanced at her own arm, “Throwing my sword created an opening, but it was a risk that had to be taken. The Venomoid are not like ordinary enemies, and they are quite relentless once they have determined their prey. I regret that I have involved you in this…it was not by intention…”

 

“You did this for me?” Muku asked as she held up a hand and stared at the blood…or that was what she took it to be, though in some dismay she said, “It's…orange?”

 

“My plasma is synthetic,” Rhea stood on her own power now and turned around to look up at Muku directly, “Though it has a molecular basis not too dissimilar from your own. I trust you will be safe for now, for I must return to be repaired, but…I will see you again when I am able.”

 

Muku opened her eyes to ask what the other girl meant by this, but before she had the chance the girl vanished before her very eyes, becoming a blur and then disappearing altogether. Muku stared a the spot where the elvish girl had been standing for a long time, totally stunned by the whole strange mess, but then she heard a familiar bell ringing from close nearby and said, “OH CRAP! I'M LATE!!!”

 

With that she took off at a run into the school building, pausing briefly to check in at the nearest rest room so that she could get her hands cleaned of the…whatever it was that passed for blood with the blonde stranger. She knew that her teacher would be strict with her for coming in late for class, but coming in with her hands full of orange stuff was bound to raise even more questions, and---besides---she needed to splash her face to cool herself off after fighting for her life against things that should not even have existed. All the while she was playing the whole curious affair over and over in her mind with a flood of questions that demanded some kind of an answer.

 

Who was this Rhea, this girl who bled orange and had a face like an angel? What were these creatures that now regarded Muku as an enemy, and how was Rhea involved with them, and why were they after Muku? Was this all happening for real or was she losing it big time, and…why did she feel so sure that it was only going to get worse from this point onward and not better? So many questions, and no real answers, but Muku intended to pursue the matter on her own at the earliest possibility and seek answers the next time she saw Rhea…for she was absolutely positive that she would indeed see her again, and soon. There was something odd that happened whenever she was around…something that had little to do with any monsters, something that made Muku's pulse quicken and her stomach to knot up without any definable reason. She had to learn what this connection was one way or another…

 

…Or die trying in the effort, she thought with a wince, knowing well the other unspoken part of her resolve, and what it might well signify for the future…

 

 

 

 

 

“…Plasma levels are stabilizing, she is regenerating within safe parameters. She is well outside of the danger zone, Commander, and we can expect a full recovery within ten standard Earth hours.”

 

“Very good,” replied the Commander, a very tall woman with large eyes, pointed ears and a mane of crimson hair that hung down her back almost to her ankles, turning to regard the floating form of the naked Rhea as her eyes narrowed sternly and she spoke with an equally hard expression, “That was very reckless of you, young lady. Your parents will most displeased that you risked yourself in such an audacious encounter.”

 

The slender Rhea was floating in an aqueous solution that was stabilizing her body and helping to restore her essential functions. Her manner was shy and quite obviously contrite as she spoke the words that could be heard in spite of her lungs being filled with aerated solution, “I know, Auntie…and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to broach protocols, but when I sensed the Venomoid attack…”

 

The pointy-eared redhead raised a hand to stifle further protest, “Do not apologize to me…make your apologies to my sister and her mate. They entrusted me to see to your well being, and so far I must say that I am very disappointed in your performance. It is not the correctness of your actions that concerns me, though…it is that the enemy has grown so bold that they would lash out at your designated partner in such a flagrant manner. In that regard you acted properly to forestall their efforts, but you know that this can but signify the opening foray in a much greater war, and for that you must be at your optimal combat settings. I have been training you for this moment for years, and to allow yourself to become damaged in this way is carelessness beyond forgiveness.”

 

“I know,” Rhea glanced down, “I will do better next time, Ni-sama…I promise.”

 

The stern redhead allowed her mask of disapproval to slip by a fraction and she quirked a little smile before adding, “See that you do, or I'm going to double your training regimen. Merely having the programmed moves of an accomplished fighter in your cellular nature is no reason to get sloppy. You must push yourself harder to draw on more of your reserves of knowledge to become the ultimate fighting machine. Only then will you be worthy of the name of Iczer.”

 

Rhea lifted her eyes then hesitated before saying, “So…will you be telling my parents about this?”

 

“I'd be remiss in my duties if I did not,” the redhead turned and said, “Cerulean…notify my sister and her partner. It is time to wake them from their sleep cycles, and my term of duty is entering third watch at any rate. I will give a full report, then officially go off duty for the quarter.”

 

“Understood, Commander,” the technician on duty responded, “And will your Mate be joining you in your cubicle, as usual?”

 

“Not this time,” the Commander smiled, “She is taking me on…I believe the Earthers call it a `date.' A curious custom, this socializing between committed partners. I think I rather like it.”

 

“I believe I understand you, Sir,” Cerulean smiled back, “There are many strange customs these Terrans have which take some getting used to, but that is one of their more pleasant. Shall I file a report with Sector Leader Indigo?”

 

“Of course,” the redheaded woman replied, “The leader herself must learn of the growing aggressiveness of the enemy. A council of war will need to be convened between my sisters and the rest of us so that new steps and protocols may be adopted to deter further encroachments.”

 

Rhea tuned out the rest of her aunt's conversation, her mind focusing on the words that most intensely drew her interest. “A date?” she wondered, filing through her memories to identify the reference, then opening her already large eyes even wider as the full meaning and implications sank in, causing her to say, “Oh…” and she started to blush a crimson hue for reasons which had little to do with the process of her healing…

 

 

 

 

 

“You really have lost it this time,” Sakura remarked as she and Yumi walked home with a chagrined Muku beside them, “First you're seeing ghosts, now you're telling us that this elf girl of yours has twice saved your life?”

 

“Hey, I'm not kidding guys,” Muku replied, “She was really hurt…I don't know what that thing was that attacked us, but if it wasn't for her…”

 

“It's not that we're questioning you or anything, Muku-chan,” Yumi attempted to reassure her, “But so far there's no hard concrete evidence to prove that any of this is real. Are you absolutely sure you didn't eat one of Gel's concoctions?”

 

“Do I look like I'm that stupid?” Muku sniffed, reaching into her book-bag and pulling something out to show them, “But if you're talking about physical evidence, what the heck does this look like?”

 

“Huh?” Sakura and Yumi both turned around to see the object in her hand, and then the former said, “Hey, that's one of Yui's scarves…”

 

“The ones she's always throwing around,” Yumi finished for her, “But…what's that brown stuff? Did you stain it or something?”

 

“No, Baka,” Muku snorted, “It's that girl's blood…I cleaned it off my hands when I went to the restroom before returning to class…”

 

“Blood?” Sakura leaned closer and studied it, “Doesn't look like any kind of bloodstains that I've ever seen before. Looks more like…battery acid, or something that discolors fabric.”

 

“Maybe she's an alien,” Yumi suggested.

 

“Oh yeah, get real,” Sakura sniffed.

 

“No, I mean seriously,” Yumi replied, “You know full well we've got aliens running around in our class. How else to you explain the Moroboshi twins?”

 

“Really weird genetics,” Muku sobered, “You may be right about the alien thing…that monster that attacked us looked alien…but…I dunno…she seemed more like…a Tengu or something…”

 

“A Tengu?” Sakura did not sound near so dismissive this time, “Could be…we've got Oni and other weird stuff showing up all the time…and my dad could probably tell us all about that. Maybe she really is an Elf, and maybe the reason that you're the only one who can see her is…”

 

“Is?” Muku asked as Sakura did not finish her own sentence.

 

Instead Sakura smiled and said, “Maybe she's a Fairy come to take you to her world…the world of the elves and spirits, ever think of that?”

 

“Could be,” Yumi postulated, “I've heard they do that…fairies, that is…but—HEY! There's the person we ought to see to consult about this matter. HEY YUI! Over here!”

 

“Yui?” Muku asked when she turned to see a familiar figure wandering out from the bushes, looking as lost and clueless as was her usual wont, to which Muku groaned, “Oh no…”

 

“Where am I now?” Yui asked as she sighted her three friends, “Hey, how did you guys get to Hokkaido?”

 

“We're not in Hokkaido, Banana Brain,” Sakura sniffed, “What's the matter, lose your compass again? Maybe you should try tying a string around your finger with the other end leading you to school.”

 

“Very funny,” Yui snarled as she reached for her umbrella, “Let's see how you look with your face flattened, Spatula-head…”

 

“Guys!” Yumi put up her hands and stepped into the “No Man's Zone” that literally cropped up every time Yui and Sakura were together, “Time out already! Yui…we need your help, you being an apprenticed shrine maiden and all…”

 

“Just shrine maiden,” Yui partially relaxed, “I do part-time work with my mother at her temple, but I'm studying to be a Spiritualist when I…”

 

“Right,” Yumi said as she snatched the kerchief from Muku's hand and presented it to Yui Hibiki, “Can you tell us anything about this? I mean…use that Spiritual Psycho-thing power of yours…”

 

“Psychometry?” Yui took the proffered scarf into her hand and then said, “Hey, this is one of mine…!”

 

“Was,” Muku corrected, “You threw it at me, remember?”

 

“Never mind that, guys,” Yumi insisted, “Yui…what can you tell by holding the thing in your hands?”

 

“Well…I…” Yui stared at the cloth for a few seconds, and then her eyes went wide and she gained a horrified expression.

 

All at once she dropped the scarf as though it were on fire and stood back with terror written on her face as she panted frantically for several moments before saying, “Where the heck did you get that?”

 

“I was in a fight,” Muku explained, “Someone…got hurt…it's got her blood on it, and…”

 

“And she isn't human!” Yui responded, then paused before correcting herself, “I mean…she's partly human…but there's something…alien about her…and the thing that attacked you…that injured her…it's not human at all…it's…awful…!”

 

“Yeah, we figured that part out for ourselves,” Sakura sniffed, “But what can you tell us about the girl, the one Muku says she keeps seeing whenever no one else is around…”

 

“Sad…so sad…and so lonely,” Yui shivered, “She wants something…a…friend…I think…or maybe something more than that…she's watching you and is becoming an important part of your life, but with her comes…danger…Muku…you have to be on your guard around this one. She's not an enemy, but she brings with her more trouble than I think you're prepared to handle.”

 

“Tell me something I don't already know,” Muku sighed, bending to pick up the scarf, “Can you at least tell me what she is…who she is? She said her name was Rhea…”

 

“Rhea,” Yui murmured, “Another name for the Earth…Rhea was the wife of Chronos and mother to the Gods…a Titan from the time before there was time, when the Earth was in chaos and the powers that be were in turmoil…”

 

“Sounds like you've been reading up on foreign mythology again,” Sakura remarked as she cupped both hands behind her head and flexed her shoulders, “Can you at least tell us if she's an Elf or a Tengu?”

 

Yui shook her head, “Not an elf…and not a Tengu…she is powerful…I can sense great spiritual power surrounding her, but she's something…more than human. I can't say anything more about her than that…”

 

“Well, at least we know that she's for real and not a figment of Muku-chan's imagination,” Yumi smiled, “Hear that, Muku-chan? You're not going crazy…or at least, you're no crazier than the rest of us, even if you are seeing invisible people.”

 

“So this girl's for real,” Sakura frowned, “Why don't I find that reassuring?”

 

“Because you're paranoid and basically self-centered,” Yui countered.

 

“What?” Sakura straightened up, “I don't have to take that from you…!”

 

“Guys?” Muku said in a feeble effort to stave off the inevitable, “Could we try and get through a single day without totaling half the neighborhood in another catfight? I kind of promised my folks that I'd check in with them and explain why I had to skip practice. You'll cover for me with your father, won't you, Saku-chan?”

 

“Of course,” Sakura replied, “We'll still have our match as soon as you're feeling up to it, and Dad's the sort who'll understand. Things like this happen to him all the time, you know…”

 

“Really?” Muku asked.

 

“Weeelll…not exactly, I suppose,” Sakura replied, “But to hear the stories he and Mom tell, you'd think it did. At any rate, this elf girl's gotta show her face sometime when Yumi and me are around, so odds are we can ask her for ourselves just what the heck kind of weird stuff she'd gotten you involved with.”

 

“Yes,” Yumi remarked, “I'd like very much to meet with her myself. She sounds…like a very interesting person…”

 

Yui shook her head and said, “You guys are nuts! You got no idea what we're talking about here! This girl is nothing but trouble, I tell you…you should stay the heck away from her and not get messed up in anything she's involved with.”

 

“Maybe that's true,” Muku frowned, “But…I don't know that I have any choice about it. I guess we're gonna find out one way or another, right?”

 

Her friends nodded their heads in sage agreement, yet somehow Muku did not feel too comforted about that. She had the oddest sense that she would be seeing this Rhea before too long, and yet should could not say for certain whether she was looking forward to another meeting…or dreading it…either way she felt a curious anxiety as she wondered how this Rhea was doing with her injury, and wondered even more about the strange look in that girl's overly large eyes when Muku had asked about her injury, and why the thought of that was making her feel even more nervous…

 

 

 

 

“Heads up, sleepy head!” her father called out, causing Muku to start out of a semi-trance that she had fallen into.

 

Muku looked up in alarm as she saw the hockey puck zipping towards her head and only dodged out of the way by the last half second, hearing it carom off the plastic wall as it rebounded back onto the ice rink some meters away, to be intercepted by her mother.

 

“Too slow!” Akane cried as she moved into the way to intercept her husband's attempt at scoring a quick point. Moving her body and the heavy protection equipment that she was wearing, Akane easily caught the puck then held it aloft with a faintly smug expression. Her husband just smiled back at her and waited until she returned it before going back into action, scooping the thing up just inches ahead of Muku, whose hockey stick was a tad too far behind his.

 

“Got it again,” her father declared before shooting another close-up shot at her mother, who again moved her body in time to block the shot with little apparent effort. Rather than exchange another round of cheerful barbs with Akane, however, Mikado turned with a look of genuine concern and examined his daughter's expression, then asked, “Is there something wrong today, Muku-chan? You're playing as though your mind is in several different places.”

 

“I'm sorry, Dad,” Muku replied, “Guess I'm just not on my game today. I've had a lot to do at school, and…I've been having weird dreams again…”

 

“Weird dreams?” her father looked puzzled, “Dreams are often a portal to our subconscious, little Starling. Maybe you should sit down and talk with your old man…is it boy trouble again? Are your friends from school giving you any problems?”

 

“No Dad, it's nothing like that,” Muku replied, “It's okay…really. I mean…I want to keep playing, and Mom's giving us the eye again…”

 

“Uh oh,” her father said in mock-horror, turning around to see Akane skating towards them, her expression one of cross vexation.

 

“You two…I swear,” Akane shook her head, “You start to have a father-daughter conference in the middle of practice? What next…do we do martial arts and chat about the latest gossip?”

 

“Well, you do that all the time with your friends,” Mikado said reasonably, looking ready to take evasive action should his volatile wife take umbrage with this simple observation.

 

“It's nothing, Mom,” Muku reassured, “I was just telling Dad about my having dreams…it's nothing to do with schoolwork or with training, so you don't have to look so worried…”

 

“I'm your mother,” Akane declared matter-of-factly, “That means it's my job to worry. What dreams? What's bothering so much that you can't keep your mind on training? And don't tell me it's nothing, I know that look…you inherited it from your father!”

 

“Wounded to the core I am,” Mikado said in mock-pain, then gave Muku a comforting look and said, “You've always know that you can come to us with any problem that you have, Muku-chan…so…why not come clean and tell us what's troubling you? Is it Kuno's children again? I ought to have another word with him about this constant challenging that you get from both his son and daughter…”

 

“I can handle myself around the Kunos, Dad,” Muku reassured, “Believe me, it's got nothing to do with them. I've just been…under a lot of stress lately…you know…with schoolwork and stuff…”

 

“Senzenen Muku Dori,” Akane said crossly, “Why do I have this feeling that you're holding something back from us?”

 

“Still, we can't exactly force her to come clean if she doesn't want to,” Mikado confided to his wife, “Besides, it may be that she doesn't want us getting involved. You remember what we were like when we were her age? You couldn't exactly bring yourself to ask for help from anybody…”

 

“While you were too stuck up to even admit when you needed help, Pretty Boy,” Akane countered with a teasing note to her voice that belied her stern expression, “All right then, we won't press you, but if you can't cut whatever it is that's keeping you from doing your best in training…?”

 

“It's nothing to worry about, Mom,” Muku said, “I just---huh?”

 

All at once she felt that curious prickling sensation traveling along up and down her spine, and then Muku shifted her eyes to take in the sight of mane of reddish-gold hair that she spied near to the other end of the hockey rink, and---sure enough---there was Rhea standing there, not on the ice but staring across it with a look of trepidation.

 

“Eh?” Mikado was quick to catch his daughter's shift of attention and followed her gaze, only to see a fleeting shadow-form as the vision hastily vanished, disappearing from the spot as though she truly were a ghost and not truly a person.

 

“Who was that?” Akane asked, having only just the vaguest sense of someone having been there, and no stranger to characters who could come and go seemingly at will.

 

“You…saw her?” Muku asked without glancing at her parents.

 

“Her?” Senzenen turned around to look at Muku, “You mean there's another girl from your school who's been giving you trouble?”

 

“No!” Muku insisted, then hesitated before adding, “Well…not trouble exactly…she's…more like an acquaintance…”

 

“Oh really?” Akane asked with renewed interest, “Sounds familiar. I can remember back when having a new girl enter my life always signified the beginnings of trouble or some major kind of adventure…”

 

“You mean like that Prince fellow who tried to make off with your sister?” Senzenen asked, “What was his name again? Kyle? Corn?”

 

“It was Kirin, as you very well know,” Akane made a face, “But I was thinking more of Lychee, the one who started it all, right before that mess where he did attempt to kidnap Kasumi. It's kind of hard to forget a girl who runs around with a trained elephant who radiates a tenth level battle aura…”

 

“Yes, that does seem to make a major impression,” Senzenen stroked his chin as if only just remembering, “Oh well…if someone new in town is here to cause trouble, I'm sure you'll be more than able to put her to rights on that subject, won't you Muku-chan?”

 

“Ah,” Muku said sheepishly, “It…really isn't like that either…in fact…I think she saved my life…”

 

“She what?” Akane reacted, “When did this happen?”

 

“A couple of days ago,” Muku replied, chagrined at realizing that she had admitted that much aloud in front of her usually overprotective `parental units' (as she sometimes was wont to call them before others), “We…kind of got into this fight, and she got hurt protecting me…and I haven't seen her since it happened…so…”

 

“You mean you didn't go to see her in the hospital?” Mikado asked.

 

“I don't even know which hospital she went to, or even if she went to any hospital,” Muku replied, “She…took off after the fight…I didn't see where she went, and I couldn't follow, so…”

 

“So you're wondering if you're going to see her again?” Akane asked with unusually sharp insight.

 

“Um…well…” Muku silently wished she had kept her mouth shut. It was not like she had actually been lying awake at nights worrying where Rhea was and where she had gotten off to. Two full days had elapsed since the fight against the Venomoids and in that time she had wondered near constantly if the blonde elf girl had survived her injuries, and what she might be doing, and if there were some actual reason why this girl kept appearing and vanishing without warning.

 

But then, before she could answer, a voice behind her said, “Would it be…permissible if I could speak with you for myself?”

 

Muku's eyes got very round and then she whirled about on her skates and stared in disbelief at Rhea, who stood no more than three paces away from them, having appeared where she was once again without warning.

 

“Well…say now…” Mikado brightened up, “Who do we have---OOF!” he gasped as his wife affectionately elbowed him in the stomach.

 

“Leer on your own time, Lecher,” Akane snorted, then turned to study the curious looking girl in the blue-and-green costume, saying aloud, “And you are…?”

 

“Rhea,” the stranger bowed, “Kano Rhea. I'm…here to speak with your daughter…”

 

“Do tell?” Mikado asked, straightening up as he shook off the effects of Akane's elbow, “Rhea…as in the Earth Titan? Curious…”

 

“Are you here to challenge our daughter?” Akane asked.

 

“Oh no,” Rhea sounded surprised by the very question, “I would never do that. I just want to…talk with her…and to give her something…something she needs.”

 

“You what?” Muku asked, staring in mild disbelief.

 

“It's something I had made for you,” Rhea held out a bracelet in one slender hand, “It's for your protection. It should keep away…your nightmares.”

 

“Oh?” Muku asked, eyeing the plain golden ring, which glistened like highly polished metal.

 

“Is it some kind of charm or something?” Akane asked.

 

“Um…something like that,” Rhea said shyly, “There is nothing harmful about it, I assure you…”

 

“May I see it then?” Senzenen asked, and when Rhea reluctantly offered it to him he held it up for close examination, “Interesting…it's not really metal…feels warm, almost like a kind of plastic…”

 

“It's neither metal nor plastic,” Rhea assured, “It has…other uses than its plain form would suggest. If you wear it, then you won't be bothered again by the sort of…things…we had to go up against.”

 

“You're sure about that?” Muku asked, “Those…guys did look kind of nasty…”

 

“They are,” Rhea replied, “But wear this and they will leave you alone…at least for a while anyway. Once again I want to apologize to you for involving you in something that was not of your intention. It…well…it is complicated to explain…”

 

“That I don't doubt,” Mikado said as he offered the bracelet to Muku, “What about it, Muku-chan? Do you want to accept this? Normally I'd have qualms about you taking a gift from a stranger, but…since she did help you out, and she does seem more-or-less sincere…the choice is up to you…”

 

“Who says it is?” Akane asked, “Who said I was going to approve anyone giving an unsolicited gift to our daughter?”

 

“I understand that you may have some concerns with me,” Rhea casually remarked, “And believe me, I would not be doing this if I did not have very good reasons. My own parents wanted me to keep a lower profile, but I convinced them that I had to do this, and…and it truly is my fault that Muku-chan is even involved in the affairs of our people…”

 

“Muku-chan?” Senzenen raised and eyebrow, “Who are…your people?”

 

“That's…what I mean about complicated,” Rhea replied, turning back to Muku herself, “I would have come sooner, but my injuries needed further repair, and my parents were concerned…”

 

“Your parents?” Akane asked, “Are you new in town or something, because I'm pretty sure that I've never seen you around…”

 

“Actually…I've been here for quite some time, only…living in another province,” Rhea replied, “But now that I've meet Muku-chan, I've been thinking about coming here more often and…”

 

“Wait a minute,” Muku said, “Slow down a bit, will you? I mean…we just met the other day and now you're thinking of living here in the same prefecture? Why?”

 

“Because you're my partner,” Rhea said matter-of-factly, then covered her mouth with a surprised look in her expressions and added, “Oh…I should not have said that. I'm sorry…”

 

“Partner?” Mikado cocked an eyebrow, then gave Muku a very strange look, “Do you know anything about this?”

 

“No!” Muku cried a little too hastily, “I mean…I…what's this about you being my partner?”

 

“I'm…sorry,” Rhea backed away, “I should go now…I just wanted to see you and to offer you the bracelet…”

 

“Wait!” Muku spoke without thinking, then suddenly realized something that she had recognized before now, “You're…not wearing any ice skates?”

 

“Oh?” Rhea glanced down at the ice upon which she was standing, then at Muku and asked, “Is there something wrong with that?”

 

“How can you even be standing upright?” Akane marveled.

 

“I have…very good balancing centers,” Rhea replied, “And I am lighter on my feet than any Earth female…I mean…than a regular person…”

 

“Earth female, huh?” Mikado asked skeptically, “Well, just be careful you don't fall down, young lady. You could hurt yourself on the ice like that. Don't you know how to use ice skates?”

 

“Um…no,” Rhea said sheepishly, “Not really.”

 

“Haven't your parents ever taken you to an ice rink?” Akane asked incredulously.

 

“I…don't think that question has ever come up before,” Rhea answered remarked with a peculiar expression.

 

“Where are you from?” Muku wondered, once again having the peculiar sense that the other girl was somehow both alien and yet entirely familiar.

 

“I'm from Earth,” Rhea once again said matter-of-factly, “I was born on this planet, the same as you…”

 

“Come again?” Muku asked, her eyes by now almost as wide as Rhea's.

 

“Um…did I say something wrong?” Rhea asked, “I hope that you're not too offended…”

 

“You know,” Akane murmured to her husband, “Something about her does sound awfully familiar…”

 

“If one closes his eyes they could almost imagine her as a younger Saotome Nodoka,” Mikado remarked, “Or were you thinking more along the lines of your older sister?”

 

“Either way,” Akane smiled, “Take your pick.”

 

“Um…look,” Muku shrugged, “I'm flattered about the present and all, but…if you want to spend some time with me, why don't you put on a pair of ice skates and we can go around the rink together. It's no problem, my folks have bought the place out for the rest of the day.”

 

“But…I do not know how to skate,” Rhea pointed out.

 

“Hey, no problem, it's easy,” Muku smiled, “I'll show you how, there's nothing to it, and it's the least that I can do after you saved my life, right?”

 

“Well…” Rhea turned around shyly, a faint smile on her lips, “If…that is what you would like to do, and if it is of no trouble to your parents…”

 

Muku glanced over her shoulders, seeing her folks smiling back in confirmation, “No problem at all. In fact it'll be a blast, you'll see.”

 

“Then…” Rhea brightened like the sun, “I would…love for you to teach me, Muku-chan.”

 

Muku felt…very odd about that last part and winced slightly before saying, “Um…do you think maybe you might not call me `chan' already? I mean, you hardly even know me…and it's embarrassing, know what I mean?”

 

“Oh,” Rhea covered her mouth, “I…did not realize…I'll try and remember that, Muku-chan---san! Yes…I will…try…”

 

In spite of herself Muku could not help but feel amused at the verbal gaff. For some reason she just could not get too upset about this strange girl with her odd ways, and finding her very real rather than a phantom of her memories was a big relief besides. Spending a little more time with her might, after all, help unlock the mysteries surrounding this Rhea Kano, and that would be a good thing, right? Muku agreed mentally that it was, then set about the task of playing the instructor, unaware of the amused looks that her parents were turning her way while moving off to give her more distance. One the whole the day was looking a bit brighter all ready as there was something about Rhea that seemed to banish away all of the shadows of her nightmares. Muku could not put her finger on just why this was so, but felt reasonably certain that the answer would come to her eventually…

 

…One way or another…

 

 

 

Continued

 

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