Very carefully he slid his arms under her and lifted her close. Now he had to get them out of here. Mind working furiously he realized that taking the figurine with him was probably not the wisest thing he did. Before when they used the statues they had only touched them. The statues were the links to the everyday world.
Chapter Sixteen
Startled Suteko and Jaeoh reached for Gregor but he disappeared. They both looked down and in the rubble, watched as the red warrior moved between the pink woman and the ghostly hourglass. He was glowing bright and then brighter. “No Gregor,” Jaeoh whispered as he saw black flickering over the warrior. When a stain flowed on the image of Hana’s hourglass, the warrior flared black but not for long. As they watched the pink stone burst apart and the warrior returned to red jade. They looked at each other
“Oh Gods,” Suteko whispered. Jaeoh grabbed her wrist as she reached down.
“No, love. You touch any of them and you will be back in the Shadow realm.” He turned, speaking firmly. “Uhanzee, Samuel. You know what to do.” The two warriors nodded and reached in past the reforming glass. In a moment they disappeared, the oak tree and globe appearing next to the warrior. Jaeoh pulled Suteko to his side and nodded to Shayla who ran to get the kits.
Suteko looked down at his hand still on her wrist. “You can let go warrior.” Her voice was low and angry. Jaeoh stepped back from the table, pulling her with him.
“Calm love, you know you can’t go back there.” He spoke using his most calming voice. She wasn’t one of his warriors, he couldn’t order her about but on the other hand he couldn’t let her return to the place she came so very close to dying. “The guys will bring them back soon.”
“Really? You sure they won’t get taken, like Rage?: Her voice had a hard edge to it, brittle and untrusting. ‘Your Kouhei are in more danger of losing themselves to Shadow than I am.” She was tense but she didn’t move away from his side.
He turned her to look into his eyes. “They haven’t just recovered from shadow poisoning.” He carefully curled his hands about her upper arms. ‘Love, due to your nature that place is pure poison. It took four healers, the Princess’ crystal…and others to bring you back” He pulled her tight to him, tucking her under his chin. “I know it is hard to hang back, love. But I won’t lose you now.”
Suteko wanted to stay angry, wanted to push away but everything he said was true. The drain had made her vulnerable in a unique way and an anchor to her friends. She let her arms slip around him slowly and sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to….this.” As they stood together there was a flash and the Kouhei returned. They separated and went to work.
Suteko went right to Hana’s side, pushing Gregor out of the way. She did give him a cursory look and pointed. “Settle over there Gregor, I’ll deal with you once we have her stable.” Stunned by the command in the Star Knight’s voice, he actually obeyed.
“Shayla start your thing. Uhanzee my kit, get the shears and gauze, Samuel clean water…Now people!” It was clear that Suteko had worked in a trauma unit. She kept snapping orders left and right. Within minutes they had removed bloody cloth, splinted broken bones and she even added her own healing power to Shayla’s. She could feel the shock and anger in the room. She gestured for Iriko to take care of Gregor.
The big man was fine physically, but mentally and emotionally he was a mess. The Minervan’s abilities should at least place a rough bandage on him till Hana was able to talk.
“Suteko, she’s fighting me.” Shayla whispered.
Turning her attention back to the childlike woman Suteko nodded. This sometimes happened with trauma victims. “Let me,” she answered placing her fingers over Hana’s heart and she dropped her own shields. It wasn’t something she would normally do, especially not in a crowded room but who else would understand better than another victim.
“Hana?” she mind spoke gently. Hana’s mindscape was nothing like she had seen before. Like an Eicher painting mixed with Dahle. Melted doors on upside-down staircases, all of it in shadow.
“Go away pretty lady. It isn’t safe,” came a child’s voice behind her.
Suteko spun about and knelt down. There before her was Hana’s child self. Tiny and perfect, like a porcelain doll. She was clutching a ragged teddy bear in her arms. “Why isn’t it safe Hana-chan?”
“The bad men. They are trying to find me. They hurt mama-san and mama-san told me to hide.”
Suteko blinked confused at first but then nodded. This was the Hana from her childhood. The ancient clothing and the hair pulled back from her face showed the lovely child she was. “Mama-san is very wise sweet one. I’m here to help keep the bad men away. I won’t let them hurt you.”
The child slipped her thumb into her mouth and her eyes got big. “But what about the evil women? Are you here to protect from them” Came another voice from behind.
Suteko turned to see a different Hana this time. Elderly, dressed in black with a lace shawl over her white hair. Once more the clothing was from ancient times. “Yes, Hana-sama. I will protect you from all harm if you let me.”
“Even from myself?” A third voice at her elbow asked.
Spinning a bit this time that Hana was her own age, yet still dressed out of character. The ancient kimono looked odd to Suteko. “If necessary, yes my friend. You saved me, how could I not save you?”
“Is that the only reason?’
Suteko smiled. “No my friend it isn’t And it isn’t why I am here Hana. You know that.”
The three figures stepped up to stand side by side. “Why are you here?” All three voices swirled about Suteko, who calmly focused n the center form.
“You must allow us to heal you. Gregor is barely holding himself contained. If we lose you, we lose him.”
“But I have been tainted Mistress. I took in Shadow to save myself.” A fourth voice spoke, once more behind her.
Suteko turned again. This time she saw a Hana closer to the self she knew. This one was dressed in a short purple and black fuku. Her hair was back in her face, partially hiding eyes that glowed blackly. “I have tainted the vessel meant to guard and protect.”
“You can be purged Time, you know that . You purged me of the poison.”
The fuku clad figured tilted her head like a puzzle bird. “Why did you call me Time?”
“That is who you are, Sailor Kouhei Time.”
The woman shook her head with an enigmatic smile. “She is currently Time. I am Sailor Charon. Aide to Pluto. I am from the time before the Moon Kingdom, Princess, like you.”
Suteko reached up and rubbed her temple. “Okay, before the Moon. Just how old is Hana?”
The senshi of Charon smiled. "Like you she bas been reborn in the wrong place and wrong court. She/I was meant to guard the outer system from paradox, only allowing those who belonged in our system but my family was discovered. The cycle was broke and Sailor Kouhei Time was born. She had stayed true to me till Pain forced her to feed on shadows. Do you still wish to save her/me?”
Suteko took in the new information and nodded. “Who you are and what you had to do doesn’t matter. You are my friend. You need healing. Please Charon or Time or Hana, who ever you are, let us, let me help you.”
The four figures started to spin around Suteko, faster and faster, making her dizzy. They finally blurred together and stopped before Suteko. “Are we still friends Suteko-chan?” Standing before her was the Hana she knew. Ragged, weak and shy but recognizable.
“Yes, Hana. She opened her arms and hugged the smaller woman. “Nothing will change that.“
Inside her mind Hana let the tears flow. No outward sign would be seen but she let Suteko see her heart. “Will you let us heal you now little one? The bear is waiting for you.”
Hana giggled, once more a surprise. “He is a bear, isn’t he?”
“A bear who loves
you little one.” Suteko smiled and wiped her friend’s tears. “Now can we get you back to him?”
Hana nodded and in a flash Suteko was back in her own body. She felt Shayla’s healing energy flowing thorough Hana’s wounds and smiled as the bones straightened. She turned her own attention to helping the leg wound knit. Once they stabilized her, Suteko let Shayla continue and started to get up. Hana’s hand stopped her, wrapping her fingers about Suteko’s wrist. She settled back on her knees and leaned down. She could hear a soft whisper. “Is he ok?”
Suteko smiled and whispered back. “He will be, let me go check him over.”
The wounded woman nodded and let go. Rising quickly she went over to where Gregor was surrounded by the Kouhei. The big man was sunk into himself on the floor, eyes closed. She pushed past his teammates and knelt down. Here too was a confused and wounded soul. Everyone in the room knew that he had had to destroy Seiya and it ate at him. They were too close to the big man to understand where he was in his head Once more Suteko felt a tug to her special brand of healing.
"Jaeoh, take the guys out of here please. “ Suteko gestured toward the dojo practice room.
"You sure?” He asked after sending Uhanzee and Samuel out of the room.
She smiled and nodded. “Take Iriko and Shayla too. I need to help these two.” He nodded and escorted the two women out.
Suteko studied Gregor for a long moment. He was dirty, bloody and pale. Quivering not from any outer wound but from the inner turmoil the Kouhei all seemed to contain, the big man more than most. “So you going sit here and mope or are you going to go to her Gregor?” She decided on the stern teacher mode. It was only his obvious pain and despair that allowed Suteko to drop her guard with him. Her tiny friend cared for the big bear so she would help him. “She needs you.”
Gregor slowly brought up his eyes and his hands. “I killed her, woman. With these hands.”
Suteko took his hands and looked them over. “These? The hands that carried Hana so gently?” He nodded eyes still dazed and haunted.
“Tell me Gregor, would you have done anything different?” He shook his head after a pause. “Do you think Hana would turn away from you?” A longer pause this time and he shook his head She smiled and gently patted his hands. “She is asking for you Gregor. Asking for you before anything else.”
His eyes focused. “She is awake?”
“Very weak but yes, and I think in need of the one she trusts.”
He pushed her out of the way and was at Hana’s side in a flash. He gently scooped her up and moved them to the couch. Suteko smiled and left the room. Maybe he did finally see the woman in the friend.
***
Hana lay in Gregor’s arms too tired to hide herself. They had just been through something earth shattering. She opened her mouth to speak but Gregor stopped her. “Not now my little Mouse. You need to rest.” His large hand was gently stroking her back over and over. He used the other to lightly press her head to his shoulder. “Sleep will…”
“Make it easier for you?” she asked softly.
He blinked in confusion and looked down. “For me?”
She nodded, snuggling closer. “You tend to ignore anything uncomfortable, Bear.” She sighed softly. “I don’t want to be ignored.”
“You never make me uncomfortable.”
"But this does,” she slipped one tiny hand up and for the first time took something for herself. She pulled him into a very tentative kiss.
He didn’t react at first and she sniffed, pulling away but not far. His arm tightened as he pulled her back and kissed her like he had secretly dreamed of. Not wild, not hard like he once did with Seiya but deep, gentle and tender. A kiss that explained wordlessly just how much she meant to him and how afraid of losing her he was.
Suteko and Shayla had redressed her in a clean man’s shirt. One that let him realize that she wasn’t a little girl anymore. That a woman lay in his lap. Slowly he pulled out of the kiss and smiled weakly down at her sweet face. Her eyes were closed and she looked a bit dazed. His fingers traced her bottom lip and he felt her quiver. Briefly a troubled look filled his eyes as he realized that this was probably her first kiss. This beautiful child/woman while incredibly wise was still innocent. He didn’t deserve her but he couldn’t let her go either.
Hana’s eyes slowly opened and the soft smile she gave him both melted his heart and heated up other things. For this moment they were more than Kouhei, more than friends and he would take what was offered. A precious jewel to take into the darkness to come.
***
Iriko was troubled as she left the room. Gregor had been radiating shame and despair along with the worry for Hana. While the worry was understandable and a good sign for her little friend. It was the shame and despair that had her worried. In his distraction he was broadcasting. When she placed a soothing hand on his arm earlier she fell into his thoughts.
Never mind the reason, he had let loose Rage and had lashed out. He had fought friends, innocent bystanders and finally had killed with just his hands. This wasn’t some youma, some beast attacking others. It was one of their own and his own hands. If Uhanzee or Samuel or Jaeoh had gone after Seiya, they would have brought her back alive or killed her cleanly. He had gone berserk. Wild enough that he didn’t remember what happened. Or so he thought.
Once thing about Iriko’s gifts, she could see beyond the surface to the reasons behind the actions. She knew that while he didn’t remember and would never remember, Seiya had not gone down easily. Only Rage would have been able to stop the Mistress of Pain. Plus unknowing, the shadow taint Steve had flooded the wound with had sunk deep. It was true Suteko had burned some of it but before she had even got to him a part had settled in the back of his mind, like a leech and fed on his anger. While he wasn’t paying attention she pried it off and dissolved it. But in his mind he had made a decision. One that would devastate Hana and the others. One she had to find a way to stop.
Stepping outside she pulled out her phone and called her first friend. Mamaru might not be the best person for this problem but he knew who could talk out things with Gregor. She filled him in on her concerns and the Prince agreed. He would get the voice of reason over to deal with the big man before he didn’t something rash.
***
After a long pleasant interlude Gregor looked down at the woman he held. She had let him see her heart, opened up to him in her quiet way. Still weak from all that had happened, they had mostly talked. He smiled at her sleeping face, still tracing fingers over her skin. She deserved so much more than a broken souled man. He dropped a feather light kiss on her forehead and gently moved her from his lap to the couch. His body cried out for him to stay, to do more than hold this woman but his mind would not stop.
He eased the door shut and sighed, resting his forehead on the wood. Why did they find each other now? For five years she had always been there for him. Longer if he really admitted that truth. Patient, quiet yet always there with the one word needed and a cup of tea. He wanted to go back there, wake her with kisses and claim her totally but it was wrong, selfish. He was a beast of little control. If he didn’t leave now he would just hurt her.
He turned away, heading into the kitchen. On automatic he made tea. Something so central to the relationship he had with his little mouse. As the water heated he held the tin, eyes lost. “It works better in water, Rage.” Came a voice behind him.
He spun about, a fist raised and then stopped. Sitting at the table was Rei and Mina. How they got past him he had no idea. ‘What do you two want?” His gruff persona slipped back on like a comfy sweater. He turned back and spooned tea into the pot and poured the hot water to steep.
Mina looked at Rei. Disheveled, bare chested and distracted was not the Gregor they had grown used to. The big gruff man was definitely not himself. Iriko had intercepted them before they came in and gave them
the full rundown of what had happened that morning . What the Kouhei had to do to save his tiny partner.
“To talk to you obviously,” snorted Mina. “Someone needs to.”
He rested his hands on the counter, head down, eyes closed. “Why would you think you have anything I need to hear?”
“Maybe because we aren’t at the heart of your dilemma gajjin.” Rei’s voice was less sharp than Mina’s. The priestess knew soul pain when she saw it. The years had taught her that some things can’t be healed by medicine or magic. That simple conversation that pulled no punches could save a soul.
He turned and leaned back on the counter. “Do you even know what I have done?”
Mina smiled, not her usually vapid grin but something that came from long ago. ‘Yah we do. You saved the woman who has patiently loved your grumpy self since you were teenagers. Saved her from someone who didn’t want to be saved.”
He looked at them from his heavy white brows. “I hurt people…I killed Seiya…and I barely remember doing it!”
Rei shrugged. “Not surprising with shadow controlling your Rage, brother Gregor.”
Gregor shook his head. “I won’t cop out to something controlling me ladies. That was Rage.”