Pretty Cure Fan Fiction ❯ A Mirror Darkly ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

The city of Tokyo, once the pride of Japan, was gone. Destroyed almost ten years prior, without magic at first, it was rebuilt into something that only barely resembled what it once was. The city center, once the Ginza, was now replaced with a giant pyramid of black glass. Over four kilometers tall, the structure dominated the skyline of the city. One of the structure's five sides met with the harbor, covering the docking facilities which the automated boats used to enter and leave the city.Another side, this one facing due-east, had a single row of doors at ground level, wide enough to cover the entire edge of the building. In front of this pedestrian entrance was a massive public garden, a central thoroughfare banked by tall hedges and winding paths. Instead of concrete, though, the paths were a smooth, reflective metal that nonetheless seemed slightly yielding under the feet, like walking on soft earth. Mana blinked, realizing there was absolutely no way she could tell that from this high up, but the impression remained. It seemed almost idyllic, unless you looked up. Then the numerous drones buzzing within sight of the gardens killed any sort of illusion of peacefulness.Not to be outdone, the remaining three sides admitted the auto traffic and trains. The trains flowed in and out freely, but cars were in short supply, being diverted onto side-streets and back into the city. Nonetheless, the giant pyramid appeared to be the central hub of the new city.And spreading out from that hub was a marvel of modern engineering. But, rather than unique architecture, every building near the pyramid, for many kilometers in every direction, was almost exactly the same. A high-rise building, of smooth, silvered glass, each the exact same fifty-story height, giving absolutely no clues as to their individual purpose. The ground floors had the traditional street-level shops and restaurants, but it was painfully obvious that much of it had been deliberately placed.It was a city of artificial construction, planned down to the last detail. And Mana was treated to the sight of it from the top floor of one of the closest buildings when she exited the bookshelf at the head of their group.She ran right up to the glass and leaned out to look down over the streets, grinning wildly, but there were only a few people out on the sidewalks, little dots dozens of meters down. "Hey, where is everybody?"Regina shrugged. "Work, most likely. Or underground - most of the public shopping areas are down there these days,""You mean like the arcades?" Rikka asked casually, taking notice of the oddities herself. "Is that why there aren't any billboards either?"Gemini explained. "That's pretty much it. Although after the city was destroyed they moved most of it underground. The buildings you see here are the lowest-rent housing in the city.""What do you mean? The view is quite incredible!" Alice couldn't resist smiling at the whole thing herself."Sagittarius was the one to dampen it. "Most vulnerable to the monster attacks. Regina says that they can get underground, but they mostly don't bother since that's easier to ward."Mana shuddered. "That's so. . . sad.""Indeed, but I do appreciate the irony," A young male voice called out. Everyone turned to look at a man, no older than in his late twenties, wearing a three piece suit with a blue tie. The top several buttons of his shirt were purposely left undone to expose the beginnings of his tattoo. "The time was that a man like me dreamed of having a place like this to call home. Now, living here when you have the means to do much better is a sign of courage, or perhaps insanity." He smirked at Gemini. "Although it pays to have the best insurance policy in Japan, don't you agree?"Startled, Mana's head turned so hard one might be afraid her neck would snap to take in the rest of the room. The whole of it was taken up by a single long, low table surrounded by the traditional cushions on a tatami mat floor. The interior wall had a single scroll on it depicting a common scene of fishermen bringing in the day's catch in woodblock carving fashion. In short, it could have been the private room of almost any classy restaurant."Oyabun." Gemini kept her tone respectful, but refused to rise to the baiting. "We find ourselves in the unfortunate position of needing your assistance for a few days."The Oyabun was all smiles, looking over the assembled crowd in the room. "Indeed," He immediately looked to Nagisa. "And I take it you're the leader of whatever little band of rebels Gemini has managed to recruit. . . hmm." He held up his hand suddenly to silence her when she was about to speak. "Please, allow me to guess. Difficult one...but you're different from most of these. You've seen training. Not in the traditional ways. You can use a gun better than your fists or a sword, judging by the callouses on your hands. A hair too old for Precure training�.Agent?"Nagisa gave a quick, curt nod, and suddenly found herself being tossed to the ground by Gemini, who was way too strong for any 14 year old. "What the hell? I thought you were on our side!" Gemini's fist cocked back, but it was suddenly caught by Regina. "Regina? Leggo!""Mana, get up!" Regina hauled Gemini off of Nagisa, and slapped her in a single motion. "I figured it out before we left, but by that point if she had wanted to betray us she would have!"Nagisa stood up, slowly adjusting her shoulder. "Geez. Yeah, the government likes to keep an eye on all this, but it's not like�" she waved her hand out the window. "It's a job. We've got a backup plan, that's all."The Oyabun's smile could have frozen a tray of hot pastries. "Not up to your usual standards, Miss Gemini. Still. . . ah, of course, the Dimensional Exploration Project. I should have paid more attention to that particular spy's report."Gemini stared at him. "Wait, you knew about tha...no, never mind.""Rumors, nothing more. It is maddeningly hard to get details on something like that."Gemini nodded. "Which is exactly what we're going to do.""Impossible," The Oyabun snorted. "I tolerate your occasional wild fantasies of changing the system, but we both know it will not happen. Those secrets, if they even exist, are buried too deeply for anyone but a . . . " he trailed off, eyes falling on the girls and widening in surprise and understanding.Gemini's smile was the feral one Mana would never have. "Exactly. But we need a distraction. And a way inside, at least as far as the Garden.""Tell me you have more than that," The Oyabun held the bridge of his nose. "You know full well that I'm a businessman. The expansion of police powers has been bad for business, and for the people. This is why I help you. How does getting myself killed help me?"Gemini chuckled. "All we really need from you is a place to stay for a few days where we can freely come and go within the city. The last place was compromised. In a way, telling you the plan is more a courtesy call than anything.""And what else would be helpful?" the young man asked warily."Places to duck into for quick changes. Obviously, food. And a willingness to trust that any future without the YTF is better."The Oyabun considered for a moment. "Are you certain on that last thing?"Nagisa coughed. "So far, every single Cure from our home world has proven herself more than up to the challenges. The job is more about keeping people from panicking than actually trying to beat up the bad guys. Mana and her friends have everything well in hand."The Oyabun considered this for a moment. "Very well, miss Gemini. But, this will cost me. You're not popular with many of my associates. Bad for business, bad for profits. So, this will be the last time I offer assistance. And in exchange, if the plan fails we will be making an appointment with the tattoo artists for you. Am I understood?" Gemini nodded. "Very well. Someone will be by in a few minutes to show you to your room." He turned and left the room at that.Mana stared at her. "Tattoo artist?"Gemini snorted. "Are you really that naive? Yeah, I just agreed to join the Yakuza for real.""But...but why?""Because if I hadn't," Gemini snapped "In about two hours we'd all be dead or in 'custody'!" A deep breath was followed up with "I'm sorry, but I said this world was dangerous. This sort of thing is why I didn't want you to stick around."Mana winced. "I'm . . . I'm sorry.""It's my fault," Gemini felt the arms around her again, but continued anyway. "I. . . it's too late to back out isn't it?""Well, is Tokyo Tower still there? Can we find it?" Gemini's nod got a grin from Mana. "Then I guess if we really wanted to we could. But I don't want to."<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />Gemini looked over the room. No windows, no chairs, just a few more traiditional cushions, a television set mounted low on the wall, a large futon set rolled up in the corner. A small kitchenette in one alcove, and a bathroom in the opposite corner with just enough space for one. She had been told that these rooms belonged to various 'associates' who owed the Yakuza a favor and had been lucky enough to be out of town when the Quarantine was set up over Tokyo. Most likely a lie, but it was better than the cave.Especially now that the cave had almost certainly been found.Regina wouldn't like it, but since she could hardly go out and about they would just have to live with it for a few days until they could get the new place set up. Sebastian apparently had a line on some forgotten Clover assets that he had been saving, since they might attract attention, but it was obvious that she couldn't stay in Japan for awhile.A pity Spanish wasn't readily available to her in the Japanese educational system. It would have really come in handy apparently.And even after that, Yakuza. And a girl barely old enough to join one of the gangs. It would be a hell of a life, but she'd agreed. Although she wasn't going to stop going to have her grandfather's omurice for anything.A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She turned and opened the door, and it was Dream standing there. "Oh! Come in, come in. Regina's scoping out the building. I was just about to try to figure out if they gave us any tea.""Nothing drinkable," Nozomi sighed. "And you're too young for the good stuff we did get."Gemini smirked. "I might be about to be an imotou. I should probably get started." Nozomi's disapproving snort was answered with a sigh. "Maybe not one of my better life choices, but. . . yeah, that reminds me. I wanted to thank you. . . you know, before things started?""Thank me for what?" Nozomi seemed puzzled.Gemini laughed. "What do you mean? For sticking up for Regina back at the inn. It's been hell, the few times we managed to go out. Just the two of us, with a disguise, you know?" Nozomi stared at her impassively. "I know that it's kinda weird for two girls to be. . . but no one actually takes us seriously. It was nice for a change to . . . ""I'm going to stop you right there." Nozomi frowned. "I didn't do that because I thought this...relationship you've gotten yourself into is a good thing. I did it because Regina was making a huge mistake, and someone needed to correct it.""Well, yeah, she does that a lot."Nozomi didn't let her go on. "And whose fault is that? She's not just your friend. You're trying to treat her as something neither of you is ready for, and that's hurting her chances of ever being able to cope with humans.""What?!" Gemini snapped, scandalized. "I have done everything I can possibly bear to do with her! But . . . ""But nothing, miss Gemini!" Nozomi cut her off again, firmly. "It is not Regina's fault that she doesn't understand a number of limits she should be obeying. However, when you decided to befriend her you also took on the job of teaching her those limits. This should have been the first on the list when you decided to hop into bed together - ""We didn't decide that! It wasn't really a rational thing, it just. . . "Nozomi didn't even break stride. "That sort of thing doesn't just happen, Mana. Whether you admit it or not you wanted to do it, on some level. Especially with a youkai who responds to desires. It was the wrong decision, and you've insisted on compounding it since. Or are you really going to try to tell me that the incident with Makoto was the first and only?"Gemini tried to come up with a reply, but then she remembered shaking Mana awake on the bed, scared that Regina had carelessly managed to cause the girl permanent harm.Nozomi suddenly hugged her, causing Gemini to yelp out of surprise. "I'm not actually angry with you. This is difficult, and you're surprisingly mature. You just weren't as ready to handle things as you thought, and I'd imagine Sebastian hasn't been a very good parent for you. I can't be your mother, but I'm still worried.""I can't break it off now," Gemini choked out. "...I need...I can't�""Shh. It's okay." Nozomi patted her back as Gemini began to cry. "The world can wait on you for a few hours."<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />Yayoi found herself grateful, the next morning, for the sunglasses she'd been given. The morning sun reflected uncomfortably off the buildings around her, making the street an unpleasant place to walk. The storefronts were all closed, save for a few cafes. And if summer in Hokaido was miserable, this was going to be a million times worse.And only thirty kilometers to go.And choosing to accompany her was the silver-haired girl who looked just like Itsuki, but would only refer to herself as 'Eclipse' or similar. Her eyes were coldly focused on the horizon, and she hadn't said a word since they'd left the apartment. "Why don't we take the train?""Because the trains are only free with an ID check," the answer was simple, to the point, and cold."Wait, the trains are free? Is that why there's no cars on the road?" Yayoi had noticed the oddity - a six lane highway through most of the city, and it was empty.Eclipse didn't look at her. "It used to be, but since no one's driving in and out of the city anymore cars are pretty much for rich people. And not too many of them left living in Tokyo unless they have to.""...oh." Yayoi tried again. "Wait, I'm still Cure Peace right? I bet I could use her identity, it's just checked with a fingerprint. Right?""If you want to let the world know that Cure Peace is both sleeping in bed, or whatever that maniac does, and out in the city riding on a random train to go see an 'old friend' knock yourself out," Eclipse kept walking as she spoke, but there was a hint of rebuke that struck Yayoi like a slap across the face.Suddenly, a police car screamed past them, its' sirens blaring. With the streets empty, its' driver could pretty much do what he liked, which in this case was pull the emergency brake and drift to a stop with a loud screech of rubber on pavement that had both Yayoi and Eclipse covering their ears. As soon as they recovered, Eclipse's hand instinctively slipped into her pocket. Yayoi knew what that meant, and mirrored the action with her Compact, but she felt a strange unease.The police, however, just stepped calmly out of the car, followed by a man in a judge's robe. All three went down the alleyway. Eclipse motioned for her to hurry up, and neither said anything for a few more blocks before Yayoi got up the courage to ask what was going on.Eclipse cut her off. "You probably don't have the street judges where you're from. He's there to fill out the paperwork and get whatever poor guy they were after finished and thrown in jail.""What?!" Yayoi spun on her feet, but Eclipse put a hand on her shoulder. "But...that's awful!""Yeah, well, when it's a crime to even be on the street you get a lot of petty criminals," Eclipse's shrug told Yayoi all she needed to know. It was too big a problem to tackle right now. "I wouldn't worry, if the guy was accused of anything more serious than grafitti they'll give him a real trial. Probably."It was going to be a long trip across the city.<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />Regina teleported them to the basement of a building that hadn't been caught up in what was obviously a disaster. The masonry was cracked and, in many places, crumbling. Unlike the pristine central districts around the pyramid, still managing to loom in the background, here billboards and street advertisements were still hanging. The bright colors indicated fresh replacement, but Nozomi didn't find them all that comforting.Cheap electronics stores, mostly selling obviously outdated merchandise. Few convenience stores, lots of vending machines of a design where quick replacement was more of a priority than making sure they worked. And, she noted uncomfortably, a number of the former residential buildings had been converted into "Love Hotels" without the cheap, garish theming her world normally associated with the unsavory businesses. Just to top it off, the buildings all had security cameras hanging from the corners, but a great many of them showed obvious attempts to damage or remove them. Throw in a number of pachinko parlors and it could almost be home, if home were like the worst parts of Roppongi.But the thing that set her most on edge was Regina. In sharp contrast to her usual devil-may-care antics, she was all business. Her eyes glanced side-to-side, and she was making sure to stand almost uncomfortably close. With her past behavior, Nozomi expected to be put off, but it almost seemed like Regina was. . ."Is something wrong?"Regina nodded. "We're headed to old Shibuya. Not safe. Let me concentrate.""Why isn't it safe?" Nozomi gulped, glancing up and noticing several drones, only to have Regina forcibly grab her head and pull her in for a . . wait, she was stopping milimeters from her face, with their hats covering their faces."Don't. Look. Up." the Jikochuu hissed at her. "We don't think the drones have good audio pickups on the street, but if you look at them they can read your face.""Got it." Nozomi shuddered at just how close they had come, and then yelped as Regina's hand wandered somewhere it shouldn't.The blonde whispered to her apologetically "Sorry about that, but we need to make it look real, just in case there's a person on the camera."Nozomi pulled Regina closer to her. "Right. Gemini won't be mad?""Not about this. I've had to kiss Salamander out in the open. That wasn't fun. Kisses like a cactus."Nozomi separated a bit, not quite able to suppress a giggle. "All right, so why is this part of town dangerous?""It's where the Yakuza moved in after most of the old entertainment districts were. . . .you know. . . " Regina didn't sound happy with the situation.Nozomi blinked at that. "I'm surprised."Regina glared at her openly. "I'm not a child, Nozomi."Nozomi shrank back slightly under the heat of purple eyes. "All right, all right. It's just, with Gemini. . . ""I'd never force someone into that. But. . . " she sighed. "We don't get to pick our allies."Nozomi felt some sympathy for that, before a thought intruded. "Wait, so Urara's working. . . there? What? How?""I guess you'll find out." Regina's resignation was obvious. "We're almost there."<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />It felt as if the elevator had been going down for hours. It was mirrored all around, and had a small camera situated over the control panel, and had none of the usual sounds one associated with this sort of conveyance; the only way you could tell it was moving at all was by the sense of increasing pressure. Despite all impressions it was only about three minutes before it opened again onto a scene which could have been almost anywhere - except that this particular scene was a full kilometer underground. The hallways were lined with shops, each offering the latest trends. It wasn't that styles were the same. They were similar, but favoring slightly warmer colors. Befitting a people who rarely ventured outdoors when the majority of the city was now underground, it seemed.The floor was tiled with real marble, and trees were set into planters set in the floor at regular intervals between wooden benches. People milled about, going about their daily lives with coffee or tea in hand. Carts selling food were bolted into the floor at regular intervals, carefully arranged to look spontaneous in a way that obviously wasn't.As she walked with her escort, she couldn't help but notice a heavy steel shutter set into the door of every shop, and at regular intervals of about thirty meters between them. Cameras turned left and right frequently, as if trying to spot anyone looking out of place.It took a moment for Miki to realize that there was more than just the automated security. She had been around enough public events to recognize private security in plain clothes, the distinctive black suits with white shirts or blouses, with a black tie. The shades would normally be a dead giveaway as well, and were even more conspicuous in the underground shopping area. The hallway was practically filled with them, just enough to see one almost everywhere you looked among the crowds of ordinary shoppers. They seemed to be acting as if they were going about their normal business, but she could see a purpose to their movements that set her on edge.They were looking for someone."What's going on?" Miki looked to Gemini next to her, who had been given a new outfit. Jean shorts to her knees, a pink t-shirt and a simple cotton vest, she could have been almost any teenager in the country, but her long hair had somehow been tucked up underneath a blonde wig in twin pigtails down to her waist, with blue contact lenses. It was . . . well, actually pretty convincing.The disguised girl shrugged. "Could be anything." Miki paused for a moment, then realized that right now getting a straight answer would probably be the dumbest thing she could possibly do.Still, easy enough to read between the lines. Heightened security, plus Gemini not saying, so it's probably her they're looking for. It took every bit of the blue haired girl's stage experience to walk past a group of the agents trying their best to look particularly unobtrusive. "Look, this place is pretty boring. Maybe we should bail, catch a movie or something. . . "Gemini glanced back over her shoulder. "I told you I knew some people. Best place in the city, and now you wanna ditch?" Miki tried to parse that, but failed. Gemini must have caught the look, because she elaborated. "You were the one talking about how all the upper level shops aren't classy enough for you." Got it, she brought me because it was the most dangerous. She almost did a double-take at that, but they were already passing an unobtrusive side hallway. "Gotta go to the restroom. Last one for a bit, you coming?""Yeah, sure�" Miki turned down the hallway with Gemini, confused, but they ended up in front of another bank of elevators. It was at that moment that Gemini pulled out a card."Invite from someone who probably owed the Oyabun a lot of money, redeemable any time. Once," she explained. "Two girls, underage, don't check ID. It'll get us onto the right floor. After that, it's all up to you to persuade your friend not to turn us in."<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />"No."Mana stared at the tween in the computer screen at the monosylablic response to her call, which had started with 'hello.' Ako in the mirror universe was almost a completely different girl. No glasses, and a taste for garyu fashions that were really, really better suited to someone at least five years older. Still, beggars can't be choosers."You didn't even let me ask," she pointed out, realizing that losing her cool here wouldn't benefit anyone."Gemini, Gemini, Gemini. . . " Ako leaned forward, into the camera, with a smile that seemed like it belonged on someone oiling their chainsaw. "I'm past the heroic crusader bit now. It's all about the business. Well, except when it isn't, that's about fun." The girl shrugged and sat back down. "So unless you're asking about one of those things the answer's 'no.'""Well, first, call me Mana-""Oh-ho! Now you have my attention. Finally giving up?" Ako's grin widened. "I won't let you have my territory, but I'm sure I could give a recommendation. Kobe prefecture could use a Cure in the smuggling business. You don't strike me as a vice peddler even if your girlfriend would be a perfect fit."Mana ground her teeth slightly at the suggestion, but again calmed herself down. "Okay, so not business, but if you've still got a grudge like I'm told�"Ako narrowed her eyes. "No heroics.""Fine." Mana put a hand to her forehead. "All you'd need to do is fight a bunch of YTF Precure for a few hours. Since you're not interested, I won't bother with the details."Ako quirked an eyebrow. "Something's different with you today. You feeling all right?""I'm fine," Mana said, a little too quickly.Ako stared at her for a few moments longer. "I'll think about it. Send me the time and where you're thinking about. I'll be there. Or not, depends on how I feel." The screen went black.<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />A narrow hallway of unfinished cinderblocks led to a dull elevator. Yayoi blinked as Itsuki pulled out a small keyboard and attached it to a USB port on the elevator. "Wait, so you know this stuff?""Not really," Itsuki sighed wearily. "But most of these buildings didn't change the default password. It'll still keep out a monster or a youkai, so why bother?"The door opened and they stepped in. They rode it up to the third floor, just above the storefronts in the building. They checked the address, and walked to the apartment. Yayoi knocked hesitantly."How'd you get in here?" a voice asked. "Never mind, I'm coming!" The door opened. Akane was dressed as her counterpart always would be. A rather sporty tee with orange and white stripes with solid matching shorts, and a pair of sneakers. Her hair was a bit messier, but it was still recognizably Hino Akane.Yayoi tried to say 'hi' when everything happened at once. Akane sucked in her breath to scream, winding her fist back. Itsuki stepped in front with a swift motion and pushed Yayoi to the ground. Akane's fist flew, and Itsuki easily blocked it and managed to get her hand over Akane's mouth. "What the hell is wrong with you!?" Itsuki whispered. "That's still your friend. . . well, no she isn't actuOW!" Itsuki jumped back and yelped, shaking her hand out and noting the blood dripping from where she'd been bitten.Akane wasn't screaming though, so mission accomplished. Instead she used a harsh whisper that cut almost as much as a shriek would have. "Go away!"Yayoi stood up. She trembled as the redhead turned a fearsome glare on her, but managed to stand her ground. "Wait! Akane, I'm sorry I scared you, but we need to talk to you. Please, I promise there's no one lurking around, it's just the two of us, and there's absolutely no power armor anywhere near here."Akane stared at the girl in front of her for a moment, then nodded. "I'm not serving tea, but you can say what you're here to say, you lunatic."Yayoi winced. "I'm not Peace.""what." Akane stared back. "Yayoi, you finally snapped?""No!" she quickly ran though everything she knew about this universe. "I really loved your family's okonomiyaki shop!"Akane blinked at that. "I never took you there. But. . . ""You did!" Yayoi grinned at the opening. "I especially liked the soba noodles all mixed in."Akane was even more stunned. "No one makes 'yaki that way in the area except my family. . . " her eyes narrowed. "What's going on here?""Evil mirror clone." Yayoi managed to sum up. "Except I think this is the evil side of the mirror. Except you're not evil! I didn't mean to say that!"Akane stared at her for a very long time. "Okay, okay. Get out of the hall. I've got some disinfectant, but you need to go to a hospital in a few hours. . . " She allowed them into her apartment.<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />It wasn't exactly what Nozomi would have expected. Plush carpets, with polished wood tables and a bar made from solid oak and gold trimming. Velvet curtains hung all along the walls, drawn back to create an illusion of alcoves where none existed. A stairway in the back, and doors to an actual kitchen, were the best evidence that more went on here than dancing and listening to the performers on a small stage with a baby grand. There was some dust, but it seemed it was more for ambiance than anything, mixing in with heavy smoke. Being the middle of the day, there were only a few customers, being waited on by women in. . . Nozomi quickly looked away with a blush to Regina. "Where is she?"The Jikochuu looked around with glowing red eyes, and then pointed at the stage. Nozomi gave her a questionable look, but Regina just shrugged. "Can't tell you why, but she's under there.""...oh...kay." Nozomi lifted up the curtain, and indeed a blonde woman wearing. . . well, more than the waitresses was curled up with her head on a pillow. "Urara. Time to wake up.""Oh, hey Nightmare," Urara's eyes were glassy and distant, with dark circles underneath. "If you're gonna burn down the club, don't let me stop you." She turned over and fell right back asleep."Regina, help me get her out of -" Before Nozomi could blink, Regina was suddenly under the stage right next to the other woman, through several layers of supports. Another flash, and Urara was safely in her arms " - there. Thanks." Regina tried to reply, but suddenly swayed on her feet. "Hey, you okay?""Probably shouldn't have done that," Regina woozily replied, being careful not to meet Nozomi's gaze. "I'll be all right in an hour or two. Maybe try to grab some ice cream. Should be some in the apartments."One of the serving girls noticed the trio standing there and flounced up to them. "Oh, is she doing that again? The boss isn't going to be too happy. . . her room's upstairs, first on the left. Can you get her up there?" Nozomi found herself nodding helplessly, not sure what else to do.The 'room' was actually more like a tiny apartment, enhanced only by the presence of a deep western-style bathtub in the toilet area (separated by a curtain). Other than that, a cheaply-carpeted floor and a western-style bed barely large enough for one woman Urara's size were the only things to indicate it wasn't a broom closet. "Must eat out," Regina quipped, going to the bathtub and starting to run the water."We can't leave her like this.""You think you're the first to try to get her to go?" Regina shrugged. "She's happy with this.""Regina!" Nozomi snapped. "No one stays like this because they're 'happy.' She just wants to be miserable. . . "". . . humans."Nozomi chuckled softly. "Yeah. . . you sure we can't just let her sleep it off?"Regina quickly shook her head. "We need to be out of here before business picks up. Get her over here."Nozomi reluctantly picked up the passed-out singer and hauled her to the side of the tub. "All right�""You want me to do it?"Nozomi seriously considered it. This was going to be nasty. "No. It should be her real friends doing this, but they're . . . not available. At least it should be me."And with that, she thrust Urara's head under the water for two seconds.When she was pulled up, the blonde was spluttering and looking around, insanely furious. She turned on Regina, reaching out to grab, but the Jikochu teleported away. Denied, she turned back on Nozomi. . . and stopped, her eyes seeming to focus. "...Cu...Cure Dream? Am...I still asleep?""No, Urara, you're awake bu-" she was choked off by suddenly finding herself in a death-grip from the former idol."Oh, Nozomi, you're finally well! What happened? I thought they said they couldn't- couldn't - oh, who cares?!""Urara. . . Nightmare is still. . . " Regina spoke up, putting a hand on the woman's shoulder. "This isn't your Nozomi.""no." Urara backed away, throwing herself off and looking at the pair, finding herself in the corner of the apartment. "No! It's Nozomi! She's fine! She has to be okay again!""I'm. . . I'm sorry. But I came to try to help." Nozomi started to feel helpless. It was almost as if Urara was frozen in time, a devastated version of her self from five years before, not the calmer, more mature performer she now knew.The singer finally seemed to hear the words being said to her. She sagged down on herself. "I don't know what's going on, but. . . please, just go away."Nozomi winced. "Not just you. I know how hard this must be. . . ""She's dead." Urara declared. "We tried to help her, but she's just not there. You won't do better, whoever the hell you are. They didn't just drive her insane, they killed her inside her own head! You can't help! Just go!""I'm not leaving you. Not like this."A bitter laugh. "It's no more than I deserve. She's dead. I turned my back on her. I may as well be dead too."It clicked. "You weren't just friends, were you?""Hey, tough job, no boys for two years, I don't think there's a straight girl in the Garden who lasts more than a year before she starts fooling around." Urara shrugged, as if this should have been obvious. "I don't know what abomination of the Science division you are, but if you're out and about you should get out of Tokyo before they track you down."It was as clear a dismissal as could be, but Regina stepped up. "Look, Lemonade. We've got one shot at this. So whatever's wrong with Nightmare is magical, not mental. Nozomi's probably got stronger magic, so it should be simple if she can get into the Garden.""Can't help," Urara shrugged. "Don't have clearance. Leave me alone.""We'll take care of that, but we want a distraction. As few people as possible in HQ and the Garden." Regina poked at her. "You in?"Urara frowned at first, and then her epxression twisted into rage and she looked like she was about to slap the princess. Nozomi backed away a step, and jumped when Urara started to laugh. "Yeah, sure. Gimmie a day to sober up. I've still got the thingie. . . whatchacallit...who cares. The doohickey." She grinned lopsidedly. "I'll be there. . . "Nozomi was about to thank her, but the ghost of her friend chose that moment to pass out again.<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />Gemini stood next to the door to what should be Love's apartment. A long line of doors stretching from the elevator, leading to intersections on both sides, gave Miki a good sense of just how many people could live on this level. Looks like about four hundred apartments, maybe. But they're awful small for the best space in the city. The walls were paneled in bamboo, the ceiling an exotic red metal she couldn't identify covered in a deliberate, repeating pattern of symbols and runes in different languages. The floor, by contrast, was a plush western carpet.Hesitantly, she knocked. "Just a moment!" a voice called back. When the door opened, the sight was both familiar and rather alien. Love's counterpart, like her, was a tall young woman. She had given up on the pigtailed look, apparently years ago, but her hair was still wavy and perfectly styled. It was clear, both from the leotard she was wearing and the sweat stains on it that Miki had come to her in the middle of a workout. "Miki! If I'd known you were coming I'd have. . have. . " her eyes fell on Gemini, about to dismiss her as a bodyguard, when she recognized the girl's picture.She didn't even have a chance to draw in her breath to scream when Gemini had turned from standing about unconcernedly to tackling the blonde into her apartment. "Get in and close the door!" Miki complied.Love struggled against her assailant, but it was no good - Gemini may have been almost thirty centimeters shorter, but she was ridiculously strong. Once the door was closed Miki came over. "Love! We're not here to fight, just talk, all right? Talk!" Love stopped struggling and looked up at Miki over Gemini's hand. "I swear to god, you say no and we'll leave quietly. No record we were ever here, nothing. Got it?"Love nodded. Gemini glanced at Miki for confirmation before letting the woman up."I thought we agreed." Love's frown was as much contemplative as angry. "It's over, Miki. Two years ago was enough, it's time to walk away. You haven't even been back to Japan since then, so why now?"Miki swallowed nervously. ". . . it's a very long story."<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />Rikka shook her head at the television. The show in question was an obvious ripoff of those boys' shows with the transforming heroes in costumes that covered everything so you couldn't tell how many stunt doubles were needed.In this case there obviously weren't any. She was the star, and wearing what she was there was absolutely no question of her identity. Or her measurements. "I'd love to know what pervert does the costumes for the YTF so I can smack him if I see him." It wasn't her body, exactly, but it was bad enough!Rune did a needlessly complicated flip over the rubber-suited man on screen and gave him a hard shove, sending the extra flying into a wall, with a cut to disguise that the impact was probably against a mattress rather than the faux-brick wall that collapsed on his 'broken' body.Rikka was about to turn it off when the show cut out. A calm announcer spoke over text rolling up the screen. "Attention, citizens of Tokyo. A youkai attack is now in progress in the Shin-Chidoya district. All people in Shin-Chidoya, Shin-Chuo, Taito, Sum-da, and Koto-ku wards, you must proceed to your designated shelter for your safety. The police department reminds you that failure to comply means forfeiture of your rights to compensation. I repeat�"Rikka ran out into the hallway. "Raquel!"The faerie followed her. "I know! I can't sense anything-raqu! It's like there's so much dark energy they're just blending into the background!""MANA! ALICE! MAKOTO!" Rikka screamed, as the girls stumbled out of their own apartments. "Monster attack, we have to go!"Sagittarius blearily rubbed some sleep out of her eyes as she if she had just managed to get out of bed. "You're not going anywhere kids."Mana shook her head. "Not having this argument, Alice. Yep, hurts our chances, don't care. Especially not right now."Sagittarius smirked slightly. "Just got off the phone with Muse? Any luck?""Definite 'maybe.' Sharuru!" Mana's own faerie transformed and landed neatly in her hand."Don't be so quick to head out, Mana." The interrupting voice came from Nagisa. She and Honoka had obviously been lying in themselves, judging by the hasty way they were pulling on their yukata. "You're the ones who are going into the pyramid over there. We probably shouldn't be so eager to advertise we're in the city."Makoto glanced to the window at the end of the hall, noting smoke already rising a long way down the street. "People are going to get hurt.""People are already dead," Sagittarius shrugged. "We can't save all of them. You should be used to that by now.""We've managed so far," Mana countered. "Now isn't the time to give up that track record!""I agree." Honoka added. "That's what makes us better than the YTF. I propose you girls head out and let them know that we're not going anywhere just yet, and clean that monster up in record time. Nagisa and I hold back in case you can't handle it. . . and so we don't completely tip our hands."Sagittarius looked around as everyone nodded. "Fine, but I still say this is a bad idea. And we take the long way around before we go there."<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />Akane stared at her guests. The simple tatami apartment was . . . decidedly lived-in was the only way Itsuki could describe it. Much like their cave, she didn't seem to believe much in organization. There must have at least been regular trash services, because there was no garbage beyond one full bin, but clothes were piled up to almost waist-level in one corner, and the fold-out bed was just left in place to give a good view of the large-screen television.However, that wasn't as important as the increasingly disbelieving expressions Akane wore as the conversation went on. Yayoi's voice finally died when she got to making their own portal. "You don't believe me.""No, not really," Akane shrugged. "I guess you're not trying to hurt me but you've obviously gone from psychotic to completely delusional." She stood up. "Look, I know a guy. Psychologist, but he probably knows someone who can help you. None of the spooks, no one looking over your shoulder. We showed you all the ways to sneak out. I'll cover your sessions, not like I'm spending my money anyway.""I'm not crazy!" Yayoi scrambled up the couch. "Akane, please!""Yayoi. . . what you've been through. . . " Yayoi winced as Akane's voice went quieter, placating. "Look, it would break almost anyone." She threw herself even further into the wall, until suddenly Akane was hugging her. "I'm sorry. I should've said something, I should've stayed. But now you're here. Let me help you.""I'm NOT CRAZY!" Yayoi shoved the weird duplicate of her partner off her suddenly. "I've met the me you're talking about, she's crazy! She tried to shoot Nozomi with a railgun!""Yayoi. . . " Akane began, trailing off helplessly. She didn't have time to complete the thought before the sound of an explosion alerted them to the danger.To Yayoi, time seemed to stop as the sound registered. What's going on?! She froze, completely unsure of how to react to this. Itsuki seemed to be a blur of motion, shoving Akane and herself into the wall and covering them with her body. Yayoi's head spun about, trying desperately to find which way was 'up' when another explosion caused the window to shatter inwards.Glass shards filled the room, embedding themselves in the walls and ceiling at irregular intervals. The television screen shattered. Yayoi felt an incredible pressure on her ears that seemed to ease only slowly, leaving them ringing.But she could still hear Itsuki's scream, and felt something wet on her hand.For a moment panic threatened to take her, but then she felt a sudden calm. Itsuki slid to the ground, and it was only then that she remembered that this wasn't actually Itsuki."Eclipse!" Yayoi kneeled on the ground next to her where she collapsed. A cell phone was quickly pressed into her hand."...call...Cologne�" Itsuki was trembling. "Don't...move...me...I'll...be�"Akane pulled Yayoi up to her feet. "I'll call an ambulance." Yayoi stared for a few seconds in horror, then suddenly slapped the redhead. ". . . what?""She's a criminal! You do that and she'll be thrown in jail, you. . . you. . . " Yayoi tried to glare, but it came across as more of a pout.Still, that was enough to set Akane on edge. ". . . you're. . . you. . . ?""She's one of the only people who wants to help my world! I'm not letting you hurt her!" Yayoi quickly dialed the only number in the phone while Itsuki slipped away into unconsciousness. "Eclipse is hurt! Come fast." She put the phone down, and saw Akane staring at her in disbelief. "What?"". . . I believe you," Akane's voice was quiet, not believing herself. "I don't know why but seeing you. . . you're not the girl that they. . . okay, fine. What do we do?""Do you still have the Pact?" A nod was her reply. Yayoi grit her teeth, screwing up what even she knew was a limited store of courage. "Then let's get out there and buy some time for Cologne to get here."<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />Urara remained stubbornly passed out after that. Nozomi gave up for fear of hurting her and followed Regina down the stairs. It was unfortunate that the club now had another visitor. In a blue dress with a skirt flaring out, with the same leggings and fingerless gloves, Nozomi thought she looked like Egret. Then she caught the differences. Fewer bits of jewelry. A frame that the typical Cure outfit hugged tightly to show off a body completely devoid of fat, though without excessive muscle buildup either. Legs, smooth but obviously well-toned. The most chilling thing, though, was the eyes.They were cold. The eyes of a woman who no longer had hope for the best and just wanted to survive the worst.Just to confirm that this was not assistance from her counterpart, the woman was flanked by a number of men and women in black suits. Each wearing an obvious radio headband. Nozomi didn't even try to get more details before she shoved Regina back, out of the stairwell. "Egret literally just walked in the front door!" she hissed. "What do we do? I don't want a brawl in here."Regina smirked back. "Who do you think you're talking to? Hold on." She grabbed a hold of Nozomi and closed her eyes. Nothing happened."What's wrong?" Nozomi glanced back at the stairwell worriedly."I don't think I have the strength to teleport," Regina opened up her eyes again to reveal that they had dulled to a purplish-gray color. "I...I'm sorry Nozomi.""Don't be sorry, think up another plan!"Regina shook her head out. "Closet, there." Nozomi found herself being shoved into a side room. "This won't buy us long, but it gives us a moment to think.""Is your life always like this?"Regina smirked. "Worse. Wonder why Egret's out alone.""Probably the same thing we're here for, your friend."Nozomi spun around, her Curemo in hand. "No. I am not letting them take her!""Calm down," Regina snapped. "Egret's not the nicest person, but she doesn't kidnap people. That's someone else's job."Nozomi looked like she wanted to answer when the door opened. For what seemed like an eternity, no one moved as Egret and two of her bodyguards stared at them in shock. Then, quietly, one of the guards lifted a hand to her ear. "We have confirmation of the rogue General at -"Egret cut him off with a sharply raised hand. "It's not her." Regina's jaw dropped in shock at the words. The guards seemed almost as surprised, but she snapped at them. "It is not her. I will not start a brawl, especially with a monster attack in progress in a residential district, over some idiot's poor idea of a bedroom fantasy. The other girl's obviously a bad Gemini knockoff. . . although I do admit the Regina bears a remarkable resemblance." She looked at Regina closely. "You can hardly see the scarring. . . do you know who your plastic surgeon is?" Regina shook her head silently. "Pity. A few of my girls could use one that good."The guards looked at each other uncertainly, but then the first pushed the button on her radio again. "Belay. Boss says it's a false alarm."Egret seemed satisfied with that. "Tell me, where is Miss Kasugono?""In her room," Nozomi gulped nervously. "She probably won't be performing tonight, she's a bit ill."Egret looked her over, and then nodded. "Very well. I'm going to have a drink. I assume you have an appointment with someone, dressed up like that already?"Regina swallowed again. "Uhm. . . yes ma'am.""Very well. I'll be here for an hour in case my own appointment manages to recover." Egret turned away, and the door closed.Regina sagged against the wall. "That was entirely too close. . . ""Yeah. . . finally some good luck,""Good luck my ass, Nozomi!" Regina barely managed to keep her voice down. "She knew and she just let us go. Why?"<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />Miki tried to continue her explanation.She really did.But it was hard when Love insisted on nodding enthusiastically every other sentence while her eyes kept going from the door to Gemini to the security panel in rapid succession, calculating which method of escape would be easiest."Love. . . what's wrong?" she finally asked. "Please, talk to me.""I'm talking!" Love shouted, a little too quickly.Miki couldn't resist the urge to roll her eyes. "Then what was I just saying?""Talking about how Kaoru said he wouldn't make doughnuts for us anymore if we quit."Of course, Miki hadn't been talking about anything of the sort. "Love, I don't understand. . . ""The hell you don't! Buki's . . . Mom's. . . Miki, you saw everything!" Love's hands suddenly closed around a pink cell phone-like device.Miki's pupils opened wide at the implications. "Love, I told you, I'm not Miki. . . Not the one who was there. Call her, that should prove it."Love's glare only intensified as she pulled out a different phone and dialed on it. ". . . Miki." Her voice shook slipping back into her Osaka accent. "I know, wasn't plannin' on it. Look, hon, need you to do me a favor. Where are y'all?" There was a long pause. "Don' mean to say I don't trust you none, but you got anything ta back that up? It's important." Another pause, then she quickly checked something on the phone. "All righ' All righ', Miki. I admit, a photo in front of the Eifel tower's pretty darn convincin'. Thank ya kindly." One last pause. "NO! Y'all stay right where y'are! Understan'. In fact, think I'll come see ya. Same place in Paris? Yeah, I'll be there. Tomorrow. Bye."Love hung up the phone, then stared at her 'guests' for a very long minute. Finally, as Gemini noted the clock ticking over the second minute mark since she terminated the call, she shouted. "CHANGE! PRECURE, BEAT UP!"Gemini groaned. "I thought you said she was reasonable!""I don't understand, but it doesn't matter! CHANGE! PRECURE, BEAT UP!""PRECURE LOVE LINK!"Berry found herself under Peach's immediate assault, dodging a series of sweeping chops and kicks. The limited room available in the apartment didn't help, but she managed to jump over an attempt to sweep her feet out from under her to try to gain some distance.Then Peach revealed her actual intent, swinging her leg around so hard that a blast of wind slammed into the wall, causing the paneling to crack and fall out. Behind it was a steel plate covered in glowing runes.Gemini swore like a sailor. "When did she activate the security!? They'll be here any minute!"Peach cackled. "Automatic response to any magic use in the apartment!" The crazed woman picked up the couch and threw it at Gemini, who had to throw herself to the ground just to avoid being filled with splinters when the piece of furniture shattered. "You thought you could get me down here, but you were wrong!""Love!" Berry took advantage of the distraction to get in close and pin Love's arms to her sides in a bear-hug. "Seriously, we're not here to hurt you!""You're magic! Magic always hurts people! But not today! Today you're the only ones getting hurt!" With a sudden surge of strength, Love threw Miki off and spun around, slamming her in the face with a palm strike before kicking her right between the legs, hard enough to send her into the ceiling head-first. The glowing runes crackled, and Miki felt a shock like she had just been hit by a lightning bolt before she fell to the floor in a dazed heap.Peach turned towards the sound of a sword being drawn and saw Gemini holding her sword. Terror gripped her heart when Gemini's black wings extended from her back. "You're mad." Those two words, filled with so much sadness and grief she found herself unable to move as some instinct she long thought dead kicked in, held her back. "Another one. . . everyone this damn war touches. . . Berry, I'm sorry." She brought the blade back, blackness taking the length. "GEMINI�.SLASH!"Peach brought up her arms to try to defend herself, somehow, but the blow never landed. Berry was standing in front of her, a long wand being used to block the attack. ". . . Love, are you okay?" Berry looked over her shoulder as soon as the magic dissipated.Peach stared at the image of her partner, the long fluted stick completely unfamiliar. ". . . I. . . can't. . . ""Open the door, call off the guards," Berry said plaintively. "Please."Suddenly Love was standing where Cure Peach was a moment earlier. Miki and Gemini allowed the magic to leave them as well and became human again. Brokenly, she went to the door and pushed a single button. "Go. . . never come here again. I'll be leaving the country tonight."Gemini looked for a moment like she wanted to argue, but knew an out when it came. She quietly followed Miki through the door.<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />The long, wide streets of this strange new Tokyo whipped past as Heart ran at the head of the group towards the smoke. She had had a bad feeling about this whole endeavor, made worse when she had gotten her first good look at Cure Sagittarius.Someone wearing that much armor has no right moving like that, Heart decided. She hadn't known quite what to expect - maybe a color flipped version of Gemini's armor. Instead, it was much closer to fully form-fitted battle armor out of some boy's show, shaped almost exactly to her frame over yellow spandex connecting the plates. While she shoulder pads were the same white-with-yellow trim hearts she had expected, her bracers were full gauntlets. The one over her left hand had fingers sticking through the bottom of a swept-back heart, but the right ended in some kind of gun that completely covered the hand. Her feet and shins, too, had a cover with much more room for some 'extras'. Her head, at least, was allowed to go without covering beyond a golden tiara that swept around her head in the same flowing patterns that characterized the Trump Kingdom's style, similar to Ange's tiara in fact. Of course, the Princess' tiara didn't have a clip-on visor that covered the eyes. Despite the heavy plate, the Cure seemed to move just as fast as the rest of them,But there wasn't much time to dwell on the fact now. They had just reached the place where the monsters had appeared.It was a warzone.Broken glass littered the streets. Fire hydrants were intact, but covered in scorch marks. The street had fared only a little better, and repair crews would be needed to restore the street to its' apparently pristine condition of an hour ago. Shutters had been dropped in front of most of the stores, but a few wide, gaping entrances to the subways and underground shopping arcades stood open, with bright inviting lights.Heart glanced at her partners. Diamond and Rosetta seemed as horrified as she was, but Sword was grim and Sagittarius seemed positively unmoved. The latter spoke "I warned you. I didn't want you to see this."Heart shook it off to the sound of an explosion in the distance. "Doesn't matter, we'll get it done! It doesn't look like anyone's been hurt, they must have gotten out of the way in time." With a nod, the group took off again, leaping over destroyed cars and other debris, until they saw them.Heart had put some time into thinking about why the Jikochuu did what they did. The continual creation of creative new monsters to fight were probably a response to the way they kept losing completely. They weren't really making any progress since their only goal seemed to be defeating her and her friends.But when they were winning, or at least regularly managing a draw they wouldn't have any real need to be creative. Just find a few people with selfish urges and turn them loose.Hence the spiders now climbing frantically along the glass walls in defiance of physics. Each one about ten feet tall and twenty around, if you included the legs (and Heart did.) An 'advanced' member of the Jikochuu's standard arsenal, but standard nonetheless.She was almost insulted that there were only five of them. Then she remembered the devastation she had just seen, and noticed there wasn't any ahead. How'd these manage to do all this?It didn't matter, though. She had to distract them, and there was one good way she knew to do that. "It looks like you've lost your love, Spiders. I, Cure Heart, will restore your heart-throbbing excitement."This had exactly the effect Heart had intended, as the spiders stopped scuttling along and looked down at her.It also had an unintended consequence. A missile dropped out of the sky and hit the spider furthest out, showering the street in more shards of glass and black smoke produced by the Jikochuu.When the smoke cleared, there were only three spiders remaining. Diamond pointed up at the sky. "What's that?!" What it was was a small machine, held aloft by the propeller blades of a helicopter. Aside from that, its' body was mostly a missile rack, with an array of cameras in the middle, looking down on the street and trying to gain a bead on whatever it could aim at."...they killed them!" Heart had never been so angry. "They. . they just murdered whoever those poor people were!" Enraged, she ran directly at the wall, narrowly dodging the next missile herself, and put her foot against the side. Sagittarius could only stare as Heart started running straight up the wall.Heart herself kept pushing herself. She had done this before, but never to the height needed. But the Jikochuu were a secondary concern now. First she had to stop this thing from ever hurting anyone else! She reached the height of the drone, and kicked off, flying through the air at it. . . but it deftly slipped to one side.Heart screamed as she began to fall, but suddenly found herself caught by the arm. ". . . Mamo!?" Yes, it was the Jikochuu general, smirking at her."Well, that's interesting, since I don't think we've met. . . Cure Heart. Just this once." Heart was about to ask what the woman meant when she was tossed in the air, well above the drone and at the wall. For a moment she was sure she was going to crash, but then she realized she had just enough time and momentum to turn herself around. Her feet pressed lightly into the glass, and then she pushed herself forward again, the window cracking under the strain.This time the drone didn't see her trying to attack from above. Its' software unable to compensate, Heart's fist pounded through the armored plate into the delicate machine within and smashed the inner workings completely. Drone and magical girl fell to the ground as one, and when the smoke cleared Heart stood up.Meanwhile, Diamond dodged around yet another set of strands of sticky webbing. "This is ridiculous! Are they getting smarter?"Sagittarius leveled her arm cannon at one of the Jikochuu arachnids and fired a shot. "Yes, actually! Can you purify them?"Sword shook her head. "I can't get a clear shot!" Rosetta threw up a Rosetta Wall to cover Sword against a hurled rock. "Thanks." Rosetta smiled at the compliment with a wink before returning to focus on the matter at hand, throwing the clover-like shields on her hands at the glass one of the spiders was gripping, shattering it and bringing it down to the ground."TWINKLE DIAMOND!" The swirl of snow froze the spider, before it shattered and a single Psyche fluttered away. "One down. . . ""...ji...ko...chuu�"D iamond sighed at the distant sound. "Why do I say these things?"A flock of the vulture Jikochuu winged around the corner in a 'V' formation, swooping down on the Cures on the ground. Everyone turned to run, but the birds swiftly caught up and started to scratch at them."HEART SHOOT!" The pink beam of light came through, but missed every bird and both spiders. Suddenly, Heart was beset by the whole crowd of them, just as another flock turned the corner."There's no end to them!" Sagittarius started to fire wildly. Sword and Diamond pulled out their weapons as well, but with the scratching, biting talons they couldn't get in a good windup. "What are we going to do!?""Precure�.PEACE THUNDER!""Precure�.SUNNY FIRE!"Lightning arced between every single vulture, and the spiders, leaving them dazed but alive and falling to the ground, where a sphere of flame waited for them, bouncing around and setting each on fire. The Cures all looked up, to see Cure Peace and Cure Sunny standing, back to back, down the street some distance.Surprisingly, Sunny was the first to speak, grinning. "Hey, you girls all right? Had a talk with Peace here, sounds like you need a hand."Heart's smile could have melted a snow queen's heart. "I'll say. Are there usually this many monsters in an attack?"Sagittarius frowned. "No. Normally it's four or five at a time, not twenty. Can you purify them all?"Heart swallowed. "Maybe, if we put some distance between us. A Lovely Force Arrow should. . . do. . . " She trailed off, as sudden echoes of 'ji...ko...chu' resounded through the street. ". . . no."A moment later, the girls were fighting for their lives again as the Jikochuu began to swarm around them. Punching, kicking, flips, throws. They tried everything to just get a minimum of distance.Heart had wanted to save the day, to prove that they could do it better than the YTF. It was no use. They were simply outnumbered. All they could do was try to hold out until someone who wasn't in the swarm arrived. Her one hope would have been Eclipse, but if Peace and Sunny were here without her, it was obvious something had happened. The only rescue would be coming from the enemy.Until she appeared down the street. She wore a lavender overcoat over an outfit consisting of a silver vest, cut off just above the navel, and a skirt of alternating silver and deep purple flower petals. Her boots, matching the purple of the skirt, were thigh-highs. "The flower that blooms in the shadow of the moon. Cure Eclipse!" It was obvious that she reveled in the chance to give her introduction, as this world didn't afford the opportunity often.The swarm of monsters turned and started towards her, but she smirked and pulled out a simple version of Sunshine's Shiny Tambourine, with lavender and purple heart gems in a silver frame. "Precure. . . . SILVER FORTE BURST!" A spin of the wheel, a simple pirouette, and the street was filled with blazing lights. It only took a moment, but the monsters were gone."Eclipse!" Heart was filled with elation, but a moment later noticed that the trenchcoat was covered in bloodstains. "...no!"Eclipse fell to the ground moments later, her eyes closed. It was then that Cologne came flying up, catching up to them. "ITSUKI!" He shouted, falling to his knees next to her, not changing back to his faerie form. "Itsuki, you moron!"Eclipse just looked up at the group that was forming around her. "Couldn't. . . let you. . . " Her eyes closed again, as she passed off into unconsciousness.Heart spun towards the other natives. "Tell me you know someone! A doctor, a clinic, anything!"Sagittarius shook her head. "It's too late. There's only one way I know to save her. . . and Regina's not here to do it.""THEN GIVE ME YOUR CELL PHONE!" Heart held out her hand expectantly. "If I know Gemini. . . "Sagittarius changed back to her civilian form and fished the device out. "It doesn't work as a phone, and anyway all the doctors will just take her to the YTF."Heart started looking through the settings. "Sunny! Call 555-3256! Tell him to meet us at the address here." She quickly passed the phone to the other Cure, then flipped Eclipse onto her stomach and pulled off the trenchcoat. While the glass from the explosion was gone, her back was covered in jagged cuts that were only closing slowly. Far too slowly. She picked the wounded Cure up. "I'm going back." Without waiting for anyone to protest, she ran.<hr noshade="noshade" size="1" />Everyone waited silently in the meeting room. Mana had managed to bring Itsuki to their temporary home in record time, with the doctor arriving shortly thereafter. The others had returned, shared their news, and then settled in to wait. Mana and Gemini worked with the doctor, as the only two who had been through enough first aid courses to be able to assist.Two hours later, the three emerged. The doctor shook his head sadly. "I've done what I can, but she's lost a great deal of blood. All you can do now is wait," He snapped his bag shut. "She's strong. The magic is helping too, so I'd give it a fifty-fifty chance."After he left, Gemini seemed to want to say something. . then ultimately decided against whatever tirade had been building up. "So we've got maybe three, and lost Itsuki," It looked like there would be a protest of that assessment, but she snapped "For the plan! I hope she'll live, but even if she can walk tomorrow I'm tying her to the goddamn floor. So she's out.""I'm sorry...if I hadn't - " Mana started, but Gemini waved her off."No, no, we had to send her to Sunny's apartment." Gemini's voice held an air of resignation. "She'd have fought no matter what, and without your quick thinking she'd just be dead instead of . . . " she trailed off. "It wasn't our best day, but there have been worse. Mana, you take morning watch for Itsuki, just. . just in case. White - I mean, Honoka, can you deal with it for the next few hours?" There was a nod from the woman. "Good. I want to be there for her, but we desperately need a bath, dinner, and a brief nap. I'll get up to relieve you at ten."Regina stretched out. "Well, I know no one has much of an appetite, but we'd better eat. . . " She was cut off by a knock at the door. ". . . Sebastian, did you order Chinese like I was about to suggest?""I did not, Lady Regina," he said.Everyone looked up grimly. Nagisa pulled out her gun, then nodded at Salamander to open the door when the knock repeated.The girl on the other side was nothing like what anyone expected. The first thing everyone noticed was her skin was ashen, with eyes faded to an unhealthy pink color set in a face that was very familiar. She wore a pair of ill-fitting blue jeans, and of all the things for the blistering summer heat she had on a thick winter jacket. Her hair was also a faded pink color, without any sort of decoration and allowed to fall loose to her shoulders.But the scariest thing of all was the dead tone of her voice. "My name is Aida Mana. I have information that may be of use to you."A/N: Next chapter will be published some time on Friday, May 3rd.