I think I'm going mad.

Sikari thought to himself as he stared at his reflection in the mirror.  The face that looked back at him was beaten and drawn, with trembling eyes and sunken cheeks.  He covered the ghastly image with his hands.  Yesterday's events had not been a battle, he concluded.

It was a massacre.

He had allowed himself to be torn apart, but the reason for his inability to fight back remained out of reach.  He wondered again why he didn't use Azura as a human shield and yet still attacked her.  There was a tempest raging inside him, and he didn't know how to stop it.  He sat for a while, wallowing in confusion and self-pity before his eyes snapped open and he pounded his fist on the table of his vanity.

"They are the enemy," he asserted.  He was only doing what he had to do. There was no room to question his orders.  Sikari repeated these mantras again and again, trying to drill any possibility of dissension from his mind.  Going against what he had been told would only cause problems, he decided.

And besides... I've hurt too many people... I'm far beyond the point of no return.

"I'm sorry, Azura," he said to the mirror. "But this is the way it has to be."

"Master Roan," Reiko whispered, touching a lock of her master's long, flame red hair, "Master Roan, breakfast is ready."

"Nrr..nn." Roan responded, swatting at Reiko's hand.

"Master Roan, please... I'm afraid that if you are not at breakfast your father will be most irate."

"Nmn!" Roan swatted at Reiko again, placing a pillow over her head.  Reiko sighed.

"As you wish, Master Roan."

"I'm sorry, Master Serafine," Reiko said quietly, bowing her head.

"Think nothing of it," the man said, patting Reiko's shoulder. "If she won't listen to you, I doubt she'll pay any attention to me...insolent child that she is..." he dissolved into his incoherent muttering again, still attacking his breakfast with an uncanny fervor.  Reiko face-faulted.

"I suppose I shall go set up today's experiments, then," she said, walking slowly out of the room.  She listened for some sign of response from Roan's father, but she found herself unable to discern anything intelligible from his strung-together ramblings.  Sighing, she walked into the laboratory attached to the side of the mansion and began to tidy up the remains of last night's experiments.  She swept up the broken glass fragments and the bits of decaying cadavers, tossing them into a large, black trash bag which she then proceeded to take out.  Reiko hummed to herself, tossing the heavy bag into the Dumpster outside the lab.  She dusted her hands off and was about to re-enter the lab when a hand appeared out of nowhere and clapped over her mouth.  Her eyes widened as a sharp shot of pain hit her stomach, and a few moments later darkness descended.

"Mrr?" she rose slowly from her bed, hunger poking at her stomach.

"Foood..." she mumbled, wandering down the steps and into the kitchen.

"Feed me, Reiko!" Roan cried, pounding on a random piece of furniture.

"Miss Roan," one of the servants in the kitchen spoke up, "Reiko has already gone out to the lab."

"Why the hell didn't she wake me up?!" Roan grumbled, grabbing a cup of yogurt from the fridge.

"I... I believe she attempted to, Miss Roan," the servant said, her voice small.

"Why are you still talking?  I see only ONE person in this room worth talking to and that is ME, therefore I am speaking to MYSELF." Roan spoke through bites of yogurt.

"Y-yes," the servant said, scuttling off.  Roan grumbled again, tossing the empy cup in the trash can.  She threw her labcoat on over her pajamas and stalked into the lab, her annoyance rising when she found that Reiko was not there.

"Reiko!" she yelled, hitting a medicine cabinet with her fist.  "Reiko, get in here!  Oooh, I'm going to give you SUCH A PINCH!"

Roan stomped through the lab, calling for Reiko and breaking various glass objects.  After a few minutes, the realization struck her that Reiko was still not in attendance, so she searched the building's outside parameters.  She knelt on the ground near the dumpster, finding that the muddy earth had been imprinted with two sets of footprints--one was small, with an added indention like the spike of a high-heel.  The other set was large and unrecognizable, and it looked as though it were made by a pair of boots.

"Hrm...I believe something sinister has befallen my precious!" Roan cried, jumping to her feet. "Fret not, Reiko!  I shalt save thee and beat thine tormentor with his own spine!" she paused, listened to her stomach make several strange noises in her general direction.  Apparently the yogurt she had fed it was insufficient.

"Right after I eat."

“Damn it!  You’re not Roan!” Sikari cried, glaring at his captive.

“N-no, I should think not,” she said meekly.

“You don’t look anything like her,” he said, taking her in.  She was petite, with a heart-shaped face framed by short-cropped, teal hair.  A pair of spectacles clung precariously to the tip of her nose, and she gazed up at him with wide, aqua eyes.  She was dressed in blue pumps and a beige dress suit, over which was thrown an immaculate, white laboratory coat.

“There’s not even a vague resemblance!  What was I thinking?!” he growled, pounding the wall.

“Please, sir, calm down,” the girl said, her voice small, but calm. “Your thinking will be clouded if you don’t relax.”

“Relax?!  How can I relax?!  I’m supposed to kill your friend and I’m supposed to have killed all her other friends, not to mention I keep getting beaten to a bloody pulp and I haven’t found any of the shards yet and oh my god I think I have some sort of sick CRUSH on one of them and I’m THIS close to having a nervous breakdown--” he babbled, putting his hands over his ears and kneeling on the floor. He stopped his mad rambling when he heard a sharp knock on the door.  They were in one of the rooms of a small, run-down apartment building, the subsidiary to the larger, nicer one nearby.  Sikari rented this room every so often, usually when he wanted to be apart from the others in his permanent place of residence.

“Grh..” Sikari made a strangled sort of noise and pushed Reiko inside the closet before yanking the door open.

“Yessss?” he hissed.

“Dude, could you possibly try and keep it down?  I’m sleeping over here,” a tall man dressed in a black trenchcoat and holding a wicked scythe stood in the doorway, an annoyed expression on his face (or rather, what Sikari could see of his face, as most of it was obscured by the thick locks of his dark hair).  Sikari took one look at the scythe’s long, curved blade and gulped, nodding a little.

“Ye-yeah.”

“Thanks,” he said, turning to leave.  Sikari shut the door, shaking his head and returning to Reiko.

“What are you planning to do with me, sir?” she asked gently.

“I don’t know,” he moaned. “I’ve been feeling so confused lately.”

Reiko pushed her spectacles back up on her nose and Sikari blinked when he realized that her hands were free.

“H-hey, you untied yourself!” he said, eyes wide.

“Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. I just needed to adjust my spectacles.  You can redo your bindings if you wish.”

“What a weirdo,” Sikari thought, watching as Reiko began to dust the tiny room, humming to herself.

“I should have you know, sir, that my master will be quite disgruntled concerning my disappearance.”

Sikari managed a small smile.

“Well, lady…that’s just what I’m hoping for.”

“Ten bucks, man, right here,” Jada said, holding out her hand.

“Oh, no,” Kaitlyn replied, “the bet was that he would attack Roan…the one missing is Reiko.  Besides, it might not even be him.”

“Details, details,” Jada muttered.

“Who is this ‘he’ you speak of?” Roan growled, grabbing a bit of Kaitlyn’s sleeve.  The six (along with Etienne, who had mostly come along because he had nothing better to do) were gathered in the front hall of Roan’s house, discussing Reiko’s sudden disappearance.

“He’s, uh, just this strange guy we know,” Kaitlyn said nervously.  She breathed a sigh of relief when the doorbell rang, causing Roan to release her to attend to the visitor.

“Helloo, little minion,” she grinned at the young boy standing on the porch.

“Hey, Nikolas!” Lani cried, hugging the boy.

Xin trembled a little.  He hadn’t known that they’d all be here…including, he saw, Etienne.  Xin blushed, finding his eyes lock with the taller boy’s.

“O-oh… hello, everyone…”

“Hello, Nikolas…” Etienne said softly.  Xin’s cheeks flushed scarlet.

“What brings you here?” Lani said brightly, hugging him again.

“I, um, I… I’m just looking for Egan.. we..I mean… I haven’t seen him since yesterday and I’m starting to get a little worried…”

“Reallly…” Jada said. “How terribly unfortunate.”

“Have you seen my Reiko?!” Roan cried, yanking Xin away from Lani by the back of his shirt.  Xin made a high pitched, whimpering noise in his throat and squeaked,

“N-no.”

Roan dropped him roughly.

“Then remove your person from my domicile!”

Xin shuddered.

“S-sorry for bothering you,” he muttered.

“Hang on a second…” Etienne said, clamping a hand on Xin’s shoulder.  Xin felt his blood jump as Etienne’s fingers pressed against the thin fabric of his shirt.

“Where have you looked for your friend?” he asked, gripping Xin’s shoulder tightly.

“I-I… a-at.. our house.. and s-some other places…”

“Have you looked everywhere?” Etienne said, his eyes hard.

“W-well, I think he may have an apartment of his own at the smaller building downtown…”
 

“Why don’t you take us there?” Etienne said softly.

“Er.. I…”

“Yeah, Nikolas,” Lani said, “We’re not really having much luck with finding Reiko, so maybe we could find your friend.”

“I… I…” Xin stammered.  What if he brought them there and they found out Sikari had taken Reiko?  His heart trembled.  Then there would be another battle.  He didn’t want anymore battles.  Xin’s fists clenched and he stepped away from Lani, a shaky plan forming in his mind.  He would go to Sikari and try to talk him, try to make him understand.  Xin knew that this would probably only lead to Sikari’s becoming angry with him and making some sort of attempt on his life, but better his own blood be shed than that of those who surrounded him.

“It’s fine,” he said quietly. “I’ll find him myself.  Sorry again.”  He turned quickly, hastening out the door and down the driveway.

“Nikolas…” Lani bit her lip.  “Do you think we ought to go after him?”

Etienne exchanged a look with Kaitlyn and then said,

“Oh yes.”

“Er…Sikari?” Xin said, removing his glamour before the girl looked up.  Sikari muttered something unintelligible, and the girl raised her head, a sympathetic expression on her face.

“What’s going on?” Xin asked, kneeling in front of Sikari’s prostrate form.

“I believe he’s having something akin to a nervous breakdown,” the girl said, petting Sikari’s hair.

“Are you Reiko?” Xin said.

“Yes, sir.  Reiko Mizu,” she answered demurely. “Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner.  What is your name, sir?”

“U-um, Xin… Xin Nikolai…you don’t need to call me sir…”

“Of course, sir.” Reiko said.  It was at that moment that Roan entered the room, her eyes blazing violently.

“Reiko!” she cried, pouncing the girl and enclosing her in a bear hug.

“M…M-miss Roan,” Reiko blushed.

“Oh, Reiko, I hath found thee!  And now…now I shall punish the one who dared snatch you from my arms!” she cried, standing up.

“Ohh, no…” Sikari hissed, his body uncurling.  The apartment’s door slammed shut, almost hitting Kaitlyn and company (who had been chasing Roan).

“No one’s going anywhere…” he said softly, rising to his feet.  Flames burst up around him, forming three tall pillars.

“Ohhh, coool…” Roan’s eyes glittered.

“Stop it!” Xin cried, alarmed.  He reached out for Sikari.

“Shut up,” Sikari growled, knocking Xin to his knees. “I don’t need you telling me what I should and should not be doing… I don’t need Azura…I don’t need Riordan… I don’t need anyone!”

The pillars trembled.

“What the hell are you babbling about?!” Roan said, as a tiny, lizard-like creature appeared in the room.  It vaguely resembled a salamander, save for one important detail—its tail was made of fire.  The little creature chittered and scuttled up Roan’s arm, a crimson pen forming in its mouth.  Dropping the pen on Roan’s shoulder, it proceeded to crawl up her neck and curl up, nestled in her hair.

“That pen!” Sikari cried.  Roan grabbed it, her already wild eyes growing larger as she felt the new power surge through her body.  Xin retreated to the closet, preparing to lock himself inside it in a few moments.

“Another battle…” he thought, shaking.

“Salamando Burning Power!” Roan called out.  Her body glowed a red-prism color as ribbons of fire wrapped around her figure, changing into tiny red stars that shimmered before they formed the various parts of her uniform.  Roan then stood before Sikari, her fists clenched, a mad smile on her face.  The  little creature chittered happily and then hopped into Reiko's arms.

“Fire Bouquet!”  Roan yelled the attack before Sikari could even react.  Fire flowers danced around him, slipping through the pillars and searing his soft, white skin.  Sailor Salamando laughed maniacally, reaching through the flames and defenestrating him, her eyes widening as bits of dirty glass sprinkled the overgrown lawn.  She jumped out the window after him, holding her hand out and calling,

“Fire Staff Summon!”

A long pole manifested itself in her hands.  It solidified, revealing itself to be a decorative metal staff with curved blades at either end.

“Heehee…this is too much fun!” she squealed, reveling in her destruction.

“Unh..” Sikari rolled over on the grass, blood running from his lips, his flesh smoking. “No..N-no more..” he cried, his eyes squeezing shut.

“Oh, but we’re just getting started!” she laughed and raised the staff.  Sikari looked up at Salamando’s staff, his gaze switching from the maniacal glare in her eyes to the staff’s wicked blades.  His mind combined these imagines with the pain of his torn skin and burned flesh, and he whispered very quietly,

“Oh, fuck.”

Charon Asteri watched the scene unfolding near his window, gripping the handle of his scythe.  But his hard, cold eyes were not focused on the battle—instead, they were fixed upon one of the five girls that had just rushed to the battle’s site.  Her long, pure white hair swirled around her tanned legs and delicate face, and her aqua-green eyes were wide and trembling.

“Lumina…” Charon whispered, now knowing how that name had sprung so easily to his lips.  It felt as though smeone else were speaking, someone that had been buried inside him for a very long time.  His fingers trembled as he fought to keep this strange person from shattering the glass of his window.  The scythe slipped from his hands, clattering to the floor as he fell to his knees, perspiring and shaking.

Xin stood by the window, still trembling as he watched Salamando brandish the staff.

“No…” he thought. “No more battles…”

He teleported out of the building, re-appearing behind Sikari’s battered body.  Tears filled his eyes.

“I won’t let you hurt him anymore.  I won’t let you!”

No more battles...

The ground beneath them shuddered, knocking Salamando to her knees.  The sky blackened, and the sun was obscured by a gathering of dark clouds.  Lightning glittered against the pitch darkness, and a thin, jagged bolt hit the earth between Sikari and Salamando.  Fire and tears burned in Xin’s eyes with a vivid anger that caused the hearts of those assembled around him to tremble. He said nothing, simply gathering Sikari’s body into his arms and disappearing.  Almost instantly afterwards, the earth calmed, the clouds dissipated, and everyone stood there beneath the warm blue sky, feeling rather confused.

“It’s always the quiet ones,” Lumina finally muttered, reverting back to her normal form.

“Wicked brat,” Roan hissed.

“Master?” Reiko, who (along with the strange little creature) had been watching everything very calmly up until this time, peered out the window. “I believe it’s almost time for lunch, Master Roan…if you are still not present, I fear your father’s reaction…”

“Well, I’m feeling neglected.” Umi said to no one in particular.  Ever since the other senshi had shown up, Kaitlyn had been spending all her time either with them or with that drab little goth-boy.

“Poor little fish.” THEM said.

“Not even you guys have been talking to me,” Umi muttered.

“We’ve been orchestrating…” THEM answered. “Thought we’d see if you were making any progress.”

“How kind of you.  It doesn’t really seem like my charge has time for me anymore, though…”

“And apparently you haven’t…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?  You know, maybe I could make some progress if you would tell me what it is that I’m supposed to be doing here.” Umi snapped.

“What fun would that be?”

“You people are sadistic, you know that?” Umi said, wishing he had the ability to glare.

“That’s Fate for you..”

Umi was about to think of some snappy reply, but before he could the kitchen door opened and Kaitlyn stepped in.

“Gee, and here I thought you’d forgotten about me,” Umi grumbled, though he brightened a bit when Kaitlyn picked up the bottle of fish flakes.  She rolled her eyes as she emptied some of the bottle into his bowl.

“Do you know how boring it is to swim around in this cramped little bowl all day, with absolutely no intelligent conversation at all?” Umi spoke as he snapped up the bits of food.

“Do you want me to get you a mate?” Kaitlyn joked, capping the fish food and carrying his bowl into her bedroom.

“Teehee, teehee.”

“What do you want from me, Umi?” Kaitlyn said. “I mean, when I’m here, you scold me.  When I’m not here, you scold me.  What am I supposed to do?”

“Well, I…” he started, and then paused. “I don’t know.”

Kaitlyn blinked.

“You admitted that you don’t know something!” she cried, clapping her hands on the bowl.  “That’s amazing!”

“I am so not in the mood for sarcasm, Kaitlyn,” Umi said, hiding behind a fake plant.

“Neither am I,” Kaitlyn said. “I’d much rather be sitting around here or going out to the movies or something, but nooo…”

She then proceeded to launch into an explanation of the past few days’ activities.

“Sounds like you’re having fun.”

“Yeah.  Running around in a skimpy little outfit watching everyone else win the battle…real fun.” She sighed. “I know I’m supposed to be the leader, but I really don’t feel very qualified…I’ve hardly done anything in these past few fights.  I just can’t bring myself to hurt other people…”

“Kaitlyn, these are not people.”

“Yes, they are, Umi…  Azura almost got through to that Sikari guy…and the one named Xin started crying today.  Monsters don’t do those sorts of things.”

“You’re so bleeding heart, Kaitlyn,” Umi said.  “One of these days you’re going to realize that some people are just fundamentally evil and there’s nothing you can about it.  You've just got to get rid of them.”

Kaitlyn buried her face in her pillow.

“No, I won’t, Umi.  I’ll never think that.”

“Hmph..” Umi’s thoughts were colored with contempt. “Wait, Kaitlyn.  Just wait.”
 
 

Wow.  I think I'm getting progressively worse. >< Also, I think most of the scene endings in this chapter were funky..that's just me, though...and I'm trying to vary my sentence structure more, but it doesn't appear to be working out well.  Blaargh. --;  Anyway, yes.  Concerning Things That Happened.

Charon is finally introduced, as opposed to just being mentioned, and you see that he's a leetle bit off in the head. ^^;  Xin gets pissed..I don't think I did that very well, but the point is that when Xin gets angry (which is not too often, as you may be able to guess) you don't screw with him. ^^;  I personally find it odd that he's still defending Sikari, but I guess he's getting over-excited about the spark of goodness Azura found in him.. ^^;

I finished this chapter pretty quickly, don't you think?  I'm so proud of myself..too bad it still sucks. --;;