Tokyo CBD
Everything had happened so fast. I laughed at the very idea that I thought I could get away from it all and though it had been a wonderful weekend, I didn't count on this celestial heritage stuff that chose that weekend in particular to gate crash the party.
On top of getting used to the notion of having encountered extraterrestrial cat shape-shifters, I was a warrior in training. I was doing quite well thank you very much, all things considered.
I kept giggling; it was all so surreal. Yes, and there was that tiny detail that the girls I was hanging out with were senshi, as was I as it had turned out, how’s them apples?
Now we were all employed at Central Control, a cover for our work to fight the Dark Kingdom and their allies, and in this instance the Shachihoko were enemy number one although Luna and Arty weren’t sure if they were working for their own agendas but that was a moot point.
After getting my memories back though, everything continued to get clearer and less overwhelming, and today, I felt excited. Yeah, weird isn’t it. OH well, I need something stimulating in my life right now. senshi business was the perfect solution for me right now as well as a duty I would embrace whole heartedly as it was in my nature to do so. Then, there was the matter of finding the Moon Princess.
---
Although young, attractive and new to the machinations of my chosen profession, I was ready to take on the world. I held a secret smile as I walked the length of the marble courtyard, aware of the admiring eyes upon my long shapely legs. I chose silk sky-blue stockings this morning, put on my favorite cherry-red mini skirt and finished the look with a revealing navy-blue top and white leather sandals with a matching make-up bag slung over one shoulder, in my hand my briefcase.
I paused to drink at the water fountain, knowing the guys would continue to stare at me. Minako took a lot of care and skill cultivating my feminine vanity to a honed intensity that had always made me feel so good. I liked the attention, sassiness and sophistication. My silver-rimmed glasses, coupled with my intellectual aura seemed to flow off me in waves.
My watchers probably thinking, ‘sexy brainiac’ I giggled at the thought, the sound echoing off the flagstone that to my ears sounded like tinkling crystal.
---
Reflecting back on my first day, I had found the building so imposing. I have to laugh now. I sat on the bench outside the glittering Tokyo tower in the impressive roman courtyard below, trying to summon the courage to enter the building. I was in awe of my surroundings, the spacious pink granite tiles, stunning fountains, and the sparse but no less impressive greenery. Statues depicting figures taken from Greek and Roman mythology kept vigil day and night as people, young couples, romanced one another.
Students ate their lunch, tourists flocked, taking time out to rest or chat on their cell phones to friends and relatives here in Japan or offshore. I loved it out here. But as I told myself, ‘Dr. Mizuno, you must overcome your first day, lest you end up on your own couch as both patient and therapist.’ The thought made me laugh.
I jumped to my feet, breathed in the fresh air, as fresh as it would ever get during a typical Tokyo day so early in the morning before the smog reclaimed the city skyline, and strode confidently into the imposing structure before me; this monolith that would prove to become such an important part of my life from now on.
My cheerful smile as I entered the atrium had captured the good looking and shy guy at the service desk who was none other than my former study buddy, Zoisite, grinning from ear to ear as he waved in my direction.
“Small world, first day too?” I asked rhetorically, and beamed at his cheeky smile as he nodded.
“Good morning Dr. Mizuno!” he said, in a cheerful manner.
“Good Morning, Zoi.”
I smiled and gave him a chocolate swirl, his favorite sweet and he placed a hazelnut cream in my palm.
Our friendly ritual started one day on campus when I noticed a box of chocolates on my desk after the lunch break. I laughed as he eyed off the box of confection with rapacious intensity. He had always been a sweet tooth even when we went to Juuban Jnr. High together.
He often rifled my bento box, some things never change thank the kamis.
“Your sweet tooth bugging you again, Zoi? Help yourself.”
“On our first day here, I think it fitting we indulge ourselves, ne? Now, let me see… hmmm, the Chocolate Swirl actually. Oh, I see you have five here. May I have one?” he said, almost like a puppy dog, and I melted. I only hoped the chocolate wouldn’t as it was a hot day and the air conditioning was a little out of whack.
“Take all five. I will make a deal with you. You bring me some Hazelnut Creams – hand me one each morning to have with my coffee, and I will bring you one of these treats. Do we have an agreement?” I grinned.
He bowed and we broke into fits of laughter and the tradition was born once again.
---
I accepted the rather thick dossier on the woman, Hino Rei, otherwise known as, Estella with a grateful smile from Luna.
“Congratulations on protecting Rei by the way, you were the right choice for the assignment, Central Control is happy to have you girls on-board.”
“I was happy to help Rei, after what I’d seen it was just as well I was there, I’d hate to think what might have transpired if not-“
“Fact is, she is safe and we need to bring her in, up to the task?” Artemis said, leaning against the partition.
“Ready as I’ll ever be as they say,” I said, pleased to see Artemis and amazed by how they could make their feline physiology change at will.
“Seems the Shachihoko had detected her energy signature as well, but had mistaken it for Hino Rei’s grandfather, Asuka Ajari,” Luna added, typing something on her computer.
“I was able to learn through the scrying pool of her encounter and witnessed it first hand having sent her a message to call upon her gift, but not even her grandfather could have known she was a senshi. Now, the enemy are aware of their error and if I don’t find her first, she might be in mortal peril,” I said, determined to find her in time.
“I think we just might have had a little luck; we know she is a frequent visitor to the shrine, and she is getting some time off, our ears and eyes, one Gurio Umino and Osaka Naru, his girlfriend, have called in and we have a go!”
“Okay folks,” Minako called from the entrance, Makoto carrying a platter of her homemade cookies, while the blonde held two cups of coffee, “Let’s party!”
“You bet!” I said, taking the coffee and a cookie off the plate.
