Between the shades assassination standing still,
First crystal tears fallen of snowflakes on your body,
A chance to find the phoenix for the flame…
(Duran Duran, View to a Kill)
Tokyo
It was another wonderful night. I loved my life. Breathing in the sweet night air, the sakura perfume I wore rising to my nostrils and the hint of rain on the wind lightened my heart. My name is Tsibuko Chika. I am young, and a creative kind of girl.
I just loved the texture of my wet leather skirt against my legs as I moved, one of the physical pleasures of wearing such expensive and gorgeous clothing. I felt sexy, sophisticated and light headed. I laughed at the incredible change of fortunes since meeting Hino Rei at the Sakura Jinja. She too, having fallen victim to the Shachihoko's cruel stranglehold on our lives had risen above the darkness if even a little, enough to regain some control and dignity after that movement had taken so much from her; she had helped me and so many others do the same. She was my benefactor, my friend and lifesaver.
I remember little of my family, I loved them dearly and still cry at the memories, as few of these as I have. I keep them with me all the time. I have a locket with their photographs close to my heart. I know they’d be proud of me and of all of us right now. Tragically, they were poisoned; their bodies dumped in a shallow grave within an abandoned building. I was only eleven-years-old when my world had ended. But Hino Rei and her grandfather had taken me in and helped me rebuild my life. Today, I was an independent woman, successful and educated. The miracle that was Rei and her friends, especially Furuhata Motoki and his fiancé, Reika are amazing people.
I was one of Estella's best-known backing vocalists. Rei had given me the chance of a lifetime. I had signed with Estella's label, Estella Honey and Cream Digital International only a few months back, a lucrative recording contract, my own solo career would soon take off, and I was looking forward to that very much. As things were, I enjoyed it all and my first digital mini-album was on the Oregan Charts in Japan and in the top twenty.
Fans clambered for autographs as the waiting press contingent waited for the star of the show to appear. I waved and smiled at the young fans, mostly girls, but there were plenty of guys here to pay homage to their favorite singer and dancer, Estella.
Rei's stand-in, Shiganori Machiko winked at me whilst happily signing autographs in Rei's stead. She got a real buzz out of this part of the night. The double idea Rei snagged from Star Wars, and Queen Amidalia; allowing Rei to make her getaway.
I hadn't registered the screeching tires, nor had my friend who was on the edge of the sidewalk, back turned as she waved to the crowds and handing back another autograph book and paused to reach for another when it happened. The black Mercedes stopped; its door swung open, the bright fiery after-bursts of a machine pistol's rapid tattoo tore through the night air. Then, as stealthily as it had come, the car sped away leaving utter chaos in its wake.
I screamed, scarcely able to process all that was happening. Gripping my shoulder bag tight to my chest as if it were a lifeline, I sank to my knees. Screams broke out all around me. Realizing I wasn't the target, I lifted my eyes to see a woman lying on the ground, covered in blood and another crying over her. Then I recognized the dead girl and I too wailed in shock and sorrow.
“Oh no, by the kamis, no!” I gasped, getting up and moving like a somnambulist towards the dead girl, my dearest friend Machiko.
She had not removed her makeup. She was about to fill in for Rei at the Cool Kitty Karaoke Bar as part of a promotional gig for the Return to Tokyo, round of Estella’s upcoming world tour scheduled to take place within the hour after this successful gig.
Sobbing like a child, as was another girl, a mutual friend of Machiko and me, I took her hand and held it tight. We were both crying now. I didn’t care that the blood was pouring over my skirt and onto my thighs as I cradled Machiko's head in my lap. I continued to cry, my sticky hands covered in blood as the sound of sirens rose in the distance.
This was too cruel; Machiko had just given birth to triplets, two girls and a boy, months before. Machiko’s husband, Yuuichirou, will be shattered, their lives ripped apart by this senseless act of violence.
"Chika, honey, she's gone, sweetheart," Kiki, my agent said in a gentle voice, pressing a wad of cloth to her bleeding shoulder as she too began to sob uncontrollably.
I stroked the head of my dead friend. Machiko's beautiful long black hair that she had so assiduously cared for and was so proud of, the makeup, always flawless, but for a trickle of blood issuing from the corner of her mouth. One might be forgiven for thinking she had fallen asleep and not had her life stolen from her. Those stunning dark brown eyes, so filled with life, love for her babies, and husband.
I stared into those lifeless eyes that would never again sparkle with amusement at my silly jokes and one-liners. I wept. I howled - my long black tresses stained with the blood of my best friend. The amazing dance costume also stained with blood.
Fans wailed, screaming and hysterical, thinking Estella was dead, but the security staff at the venue pushed these lamenting concertgoers back, trying their level best to calm the situation.
Paramedics prized my fingers away and a nurse spoke in a soft voice to me as survivors were loaded into waiting ambulances while crime squad investigators cordoned off the area and began questioning witnesses as news crews did their thing.
Outskirts of Tokyo
I screwed on the silencer on my automatic carbon fiber pistol. I then approached the bed where the sleeping man lay. But before I could pull the trigger, I was struck from behind.
“Crap!” I cried out in pain, falling to the floor with a loud thud.
Hino Sobereigunu, you sneaky bastard. I had to admire his cleverness. He was no fool. I was picking myself off the floor when a powerful kick followed up by a swift blow to the head knocked me down once more.
‘Fuck, this is proving to be quite a bad day for me.’
"You're trying to kill me, Jadeite… why, and whose instructions are you following!" he demanded, pulling me to my feet and punching me in the stomach.
If I succeeded in killing him, Rei would have had my head and rightly so. What was I thinking? I just followed orders, where was that excuse used before; in the last world war, no less I guessed and sighed with relief. Truth was, I was damned if I did and damned if I didn't. At least the decision had been taken out of my hands now and that was fine by me.
Throwing me into a swivel chair, he spun it round so he could look at me. With nowhere to hide, the truth my only option, I told him it all.
He surprised me; his expression was one of calm deliberation, thoughtfulness, curiosity and a raft of other emotions. I hadn’t seen rage there, indignation, only a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He began his interrogation again. At least if I came clean, Sobereigunu-sama might be sympathetic. There was still a chance I might live to see another sunrise.
“I didn't wish to kill you, I was told to as it was either that or my own death," I said in my defense, and he dropped his guard knowing I was done trying to finish what I had started and nodded.
"I can only think of one reason she'd send an assassin to take me out of the picture – curse you, Nehelenia!" he hissed, spitting out the name in disgust. “Fucking jealous bitch!”
He sighed, handing the gun back after taking out the bullets, and sat on the end of his bed.
"Nehelenia is a jealous woman and she must have resented my proposal of marriage to Arianna and sent you to kill me by way of revenge. So in a way, betrayal was her motive. Though it isn't the usual Shachihoko definition of the term, it is not our way; she must have won favors from on high. That makes her more dangerous, and my daughter’s life is now in danger. Jad, do me a favor…."
“Sure, name it,” I croaked, my head spinning from the 360 degree turn in my fortunes.
“Stay close to Rei, I know you are her lover, so watch her; Nehelenia is likely to go on a rampage after she finds out I’m still alive and kicking,” he smirked, “You have a little time to make preparations, so use the time wisely young man.”
“I think you’ll have to be careful yourself, for a while, lie low, get some extra protection to watch your back,” I suggested.
He smiled. “You offering to be my bodyguard?”
“Yeah right, I just tried to kill you right now that would really piss her off. I’m tempted, but you need somebody, maybe more than one person to watch your back.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got that angle covered, that’s how I was ready for you, take a look outside.”
Several female sharp shooters appeared out of the dark from behind the car, the outbuildings and trees with another babe crawling out from under a hedge, nice I thought. He was a connoisseur when it came to his choice of protectors, as well it seemed. We grinned at each other. Then a man in the closet with a katana at the ready and another in the kitchen strode as casual as you like into the bedroom and sat on the sofa after bowing to each of us. I had to hand it to him, he was good, and all this was so surreal.
After a few glasses of wine, I had something to eat and said my good-byes to the people I’d just met and vowed once again to keep a more watchful eye on Rei.
I sat up until almost five in the morning watching old footage of Rei, or Estella, dancing at the club; she was poetry in motion, I’d always known that, but now the world too did it seemed and I was the lucky one who held her heart.
I wouldn’t let anything happen to her, I’d die first before letting that happen. I knew now that not even her superstar status would save her or her father. In fact, Nehelenia's obsession with Sobereigunu might cost all our lives if we didn't get in first. But now that she was under the direct protection of the Order’s elite, any attempt to kill her under those circumstances would be suicide. We were caught in a most difficult situation. Survival would now be the focus.
---
"Hello, Hino here!"
"Father, it’s me… I-I can't believe it. Shiganori Machiko is dead! She took the bullets for me, it should have been me!" she sobbed through the speakerphone.
"What the fuck! You're all right?"
"Yes, but father… I," she broke down.
"Rei, its Jad, where are you?"
"I’m outside the venue. It’s horrible. The press is here. The homicide and forensic teams have just arrived. Jad, bring father, please come to the Sakura Jinja; I’m heading off there now. I need both of you here with me right now."
Ten minutes later, Sobereigunu and I were comforting Rei as Kamui served green tea. I held Rei close as she sobbed in my arms. The police were considerate, having agreed to interview Rei the following day. In the meantime, a police watch would keep an eye on her around the clock. She told them the Shachihoko was responsible and the inspector, Spencer Rider, looked to his partner Anthea and the look shared between the two wasn't lost on any of us.
---
Standing on the threshold of the shrine, I heard it, we all had.
“Ojii-san!” Rei pushed past both of us and we followed in haste.
I stood there with my gun drawn as had Rei’s father.
“What the fuck is that thing?” I said, as the sound of something like a dinosaur from Jurassic Park shrieked in the background. The cries of a creature of nightmare rang out continuously along with those of Rei and her grandfather.
The monster was hideous. Its long tail and green eyes filled with primal menace. Without warning the thing bellowed and rushed at Sobereigunu, I fired off as many shots as I could without risking hitting him. He took evasive action.
Pulling out the machine pistol and firing at the creature, the bullets did little damage and only seemed to anger it, and it lunged at Sobereigunu once again and knocked him flying across the room. Then they heard it, the cackling laughter of Nehelenia. She appeared before them with a glowing talisman about her neck, her body surrounded by dark light as the youma panted and moved ever closer to Sobereigunu.
"Lovely to see you all here. I must say, Sobereigunu, my darling, I never thought you had it in you. Fucking that little blonde slut and marrying her? Ajari, you mad fool, you go out with the rubbish and then I slowly kill you. Jadeite. Oh, and Estella, or Rei, you must die, too! How sweet, all of you shall cross the threshold together this night. So touching.”
“You sick bitch!” I said, firing my pistol in rapid succession. But the bullets went right through her. Was it a hologram of some kind, I thought so. She laughed at me. “Kill…him!"
The youma leapt and it crashed into the wall and fell in a heap at Rei’s feet, she stood there, arms folded over her chest and Nehelenia was all of a sudden unsure of herself. Rei had broken its neck somehow, seemed I was out of my league, she was indeed powerful and knowing this was one thing, seeing her in action another. I was proud of her in that moment.
The youma was dead and dissolving.
"You're getting sloppy, Nehelenia! I don't know who you've taken up with, and these powers you possess are impressive, but you're not the only one with allies!"
"We shall see, die Sobereigunu!" a volley of obsidian spikes issuing from Nehelenia's open palms flew towards Hino Sobereigunu and struck him in the chest and as he lay there, bleeding to death, he screamed, "Don't worry about me, Rei, protect yourself!"
"Shut the fuck up, Sobereigunu, you're finished!"
"No… father!" Rei rushed to his side.
“I stuffed things up pretty bad, I was a terrible father to you and poor excuse for a human being… just need to tell you I am so sorry, I love you and I hope you can forgive your stupid idiot of a father. For letting you down and hurting you all… forgive me! Rei”
“Of course I forgive you, you better not die on me now, come on, stay with me!” she began to cry as his body went limp in her arms. He was dead.
"Tragedy is such a great leveler, is it not? But I haven't finished yet, Asuka Ajari!" Nehelenia was about to attack the old man when I leapt in front of him and took the brunt of the plasma attack.
"No, Jad!"
I was doubled over in pain. I looked up and saw that Rei had transformed into her senshi form. I wanted to see her in that hot get-up, but not under these circumstances. She was hot. She jumped in front of me.
I couldn’t believe it; I could feel a rush of heat flowing through me. I was on fire. I was burning alive, but it was okay because I was changing, I was… a Shitennou. Assaulted by stacks of images, sounds, voices and memories, it was all I could do to keep my sanity and stay alive. I wasn’t dead, but soon would be if I didn’t get it together and fast.
I knew how to fight this hell-bitch and swung into action. Generating a sphere of super-heated plasma between my palms, I made ready to unleash it.
Nehelenia hadn't anticipated any of this. She was shocked. Then a fiery crystal crossbow appeared in Rei's hands, she took aim and fired, the crystal arrow penetrating the woman's shoulder. She shrieked. Sprouting a pair of huge bat-like wings, Nehelenia made a hand gesture and the wall of the Jinja opened up and she flew threw it into a swirl of dark light, or something approximating that.
The Fire Room, aptly named I thought in that moment was ablaze.
"Mercury ice sphere neutralize!" The beautiful sapphire girl shouted, in her short skirt, top with its metallic sky blue straps of silk crossing at the breastbone matching her jeweled sandals, nodding to the woman who, but for the color scheme was dressed in identical attire to that of Rei.
Surges of ‘icy bubbles' had extinguished the fire. As the smoke cleared, the scorched interior looked back at us, the floor covered in ash and water.
Rei ran to her Ojii-san's side. “We have to get him to a hospital; he's badly burned, but alive! Ami, Jad, now!"
---
Ami and Kamui were whispering something to the doctor, a bespectacled kind faced man at the entrance to the ward.
"How bad is he?"
"Miss Hino, I'm afraid we had to place him into an induced coma, the next twenty-four hours are going to be critical. He's lost a lot of blood, and the burns are quite severe. His lungs had collapsed. We're keeping up his fluids and monitoring his white blood cell count.”
"Doctor, please I can handle it," Rei cried, grabbing his wrist and looking up at him with pleading eyes. "I can handle it, really."
"Look, I won't sugarcoat it; your grandfather has an unknown parasite in his blood. We can't identify it and the only treatment seems to be keeping his body cool and running transfusions regularly. I have never seen anything like this, the parasites are, altering his DNA and if we don't stop it, he could die."
"No, he can't, I have lost so much. I’ve lost a friend who died for me today, my father was murdered and this-" she sobbed, and gulped, struggling to hold her composure.
"I'm sorry, Miss Hino, but we're doing the best we can, and we will try our best to save him, but be prepared for the worst."
Ami and Kamui hugged Rei held her close, wiping her tears away.
"I need some air, got to get some air!" she gasped, turning deathly pale.
"Rei!" Ami called after her as she pushed past her mother, the doctor and ran down the corridor.
"Let her go, Jad, she needs to be alone right now," Kamui said, offering me a sympathetic smile and patted my shoulder.
“She’ll be all right, but the old man, I’m not so sure,” I said and Kamui hugged me. So many things were happening and I scarcely had time to process it all, my transformation, seeing my beautiful Rei as a super soldier, fighting a woman who had acquired supernatural powers and aligned herself with the Dark Kingdom, for who else could this be? I guess as the hours, days and weeks played out, I’d soon have my answers but I doubted I’d like what I learned.
