bloodsong1 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bloodsong1) wrote2012-07-16 10:42 pm
bloodsong1) wrote2012-07-16 10:42 pm
Entry tags:
So this is what it's like.
Can't sleep because...
Rei hesitated, glancing at the gaijin beside her. Miss Sarah. Why was she here? Why would she think she was a priestess? How in the name of all that was holy did a young American widow with two children find out everything about the Sailor Senshi? Miss Sarah smiled slightly.
"I'm okay, Rei-san." She whispered. Rei nodded and opened the door.
The Great Fire flickered and spat. As both a miko and Sailor Mars, Rei had an intimate link with this embodiment of Kami. She tended the flames, meditated before It and borrowed Its power to peer into the future, with mixed results. This was the first time she had brought a guest, let alone a foreigner with a powerful question. Rei wasn't sure what to expect. She knelt on her usual cushion, Miss Sarah joining her a half step behind and to her left and kneeling directly on the tatami.
"I'm going to introduce you and then ask your question," Rei whispered.
"Yes." Miss Sarah replied. Rei glanced over her shoulder. Miss Sarah took two deep, slow breaths, then held her hands up, her left palm facing the Fire, her right palm facing the ceiling.
"Oh Great Fire. I bring to you Miss Sarah. She seeks knowledge of Self. Please show me, does she have the Gift?" Rei closed her eyes, laced her fingers and started chanting her meditations.
~Hail Guardian of the Watchtower of the South. Spirt of Flames. Spirit of Passion. I have worked with you many times and always have received what I needed. I come before you tonight with a question. How do I return to my proper place and time?~ Miss Sarah asked softly in English. Rei ignored the speech, but her concentration was broken when the Fire whooshed. The miko's eyes snapped open with a gasp. Miss Sarah's hands were covered in twirling loops of flames up to her wrists. Her eyes were closed and her teeth dug deeply into her lower lip. Rei gawked as the Great Fire seemed to embrace the older woman. With another, louder Whoosh, the Fire returned to normal. Harsh breathing echoed against quiet crackling, then Miss Sarah toppled over, barely missing Rei.
"Miss Sarah! Miss Sarah!" Rei cried, turning to cradle Miss Sarah's head in her arms. Miss Sarah blinked a few times.
"Shimatta."
"Miss Sarah! Are you all right?"
"Um, yes?"
"Are you sure?" Miss Sarah reached up and patted Rei's arm, then started to sit up. Rei helped her steady herself.
"Wow." Miss Sarah looked at Rei and shook her head, awe stamped all over her features. "Wow."
"It seems you are a priestess."
"Yeah." Miss Sarah shook her head, then clapped twice and bowed to the flames. "Thank you, Great Spirit." Rei rose to her feet and helped Miss Sarah to stand. "Oy. I'm hungry!"
"Yuichiro should have dinner ready."
--------------------
Sarah sat quietly on the porch, watching Yuichiro tend the fire for the baths. Dinner had been...interesting. Her children, Goddess love them, had been very good. Hino-ojiisan had offered her a job and asked for a date in the same breath, only to be berated by Rei-chan. The job offer had brought a lot of terrible questions to the fore; namely, if it took more then a week to get back to Her Tokyo, she was really going to NEED a job and how was she going to get the family's prescriptions? Everything had been left behind at the hotel. She had her purse, which had the passports and bank cards and such, but clothing, shoes, toothbrushes, all of that was out of reach.
"Miss Sarah, the water should be ready now," Yuichiro said, calling her out of the sudden-but-not-unexpected case of Indigo she had fallen into.
"Thank you. I'll get the children cleaned up first. Um, is there anything we could borrow to sleep in? If not, we can make do."
"I already put two robes in the bathroom for you and Marc-kun. Hino-san said she could loan Becca-chan an old shirt."
"You are all so very kind. I will find a way to thank you." Sarah stood, smiled at Yuichiro and went to collect the kiddos.
"Mo-om! Do we HAVE to bathe together?" Marc protested once they were all inside the bathroom. Sarah sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"It's not uncommon for families to bathe together, Markl. Considering we're the guests here and this bath is heated by a wood fire, conserving water is the polite thing to do. You remember how this works, right?"
"Yeah, I remember. But it still feels weird."
"Would you rather bathe with Hino-ojiisan or Yuichiro-san?"
"ACK! NO!"
"Then you're stuck with us." Sarah knelt to help Becca with the ties on her sundress. "If it bothers you that much, just stare at the door until we're in the tub. We won't peek at you and you can get washed and wrapped in a clean towel. Then you can come in and stare at the wall while we get out and wrapped up. Okay?"
"Yeah." Marc sighed and shuffled around until he was staring at the door. Sarah shook her head. No, this wasn't easy. Not at all!
-------------
By the time Miss Sarah had her children bathed and tucked into the spare futons in the guest room, Rei had made several phone calls and was at the front of the shrine, waiting. Usagi and Mamoru appeared at the top of the steps as Miss Sarah walked onto the porch.
"Rei-san, I...Oh My Gods!!" Rei glanced over her shoulder and smirked. Miss Sarah, demurely wrapped in a black and brown yukata, was gaping.
"Miss Sarah! Good evening!" Usagi called, waving a hand filled with shopping bags. Mamoru nodded.
"She...she's so pretty!" Miss Sarah gasped.
"Eh?" Rei looked back. Usagi bounded over, eyes sparkling and lips stretched in a wide smile.
"Miss Sarah! Rei-chan told us about how you're from a different Tokyo and all your stuff got left behind and so Chibi-Usa and I went through my closet and Shingo's closet and we think we've got enough for your stay here until we can get you home. Right, Mamo-chan?"
"I think you're going a little fast, Usako," Mamoru said, grinning at the flummoxed widow.
~Ami and the others will be here soon. Rei called us and told us you needed help.~ He explained in English. Usagi offered Miss Sarah the bags. Miss Sarah took them and knelt on the porch to rummage through one. Rei winked at Usagi as Mamoru added his bags to the pile. Miss Sarah lifted up a white shirt with purple stars embroidered on it.
"I know it's not what a grown up would normally wear, but I thought it suited you," Usagi explained, digging the toe of her sandal into the dirt. Miss Sarah looked up, eyes bright with tears and threw herself into Usagi's arms. Mamoru steadied both women.
~You wonderful, beautiful girl. Everything you've gone through, everything you will go through and you raid your own closet for a strange gaijin who got lost in your world and can't even help you with the fights that are coming!~ Miss Sarah sobbed. Rei looked at Mamoru, unable to follow the choked English. He shook his head. Miss Sarah raised her head and gently kissed Usagi's forehead. The teenaged superheroine blushed.
~If I could, I would swear fealty to the Princess Serenity.~ Miss Sarah said, causing Mamoru to jerk back as if burned. Usagi only recognized "Princess Serenity", so she blinked and smiled. ~Since I am not of this world, all I can do is swear that I will treasure these moments with you and hold them dear to my heart.~ "Thank you so much." She added in Japanese before letting go. While Miss Sarah dried her eyes and collected the bags, Mamoru quickly translated what she had said.
"EH!?!" Rei's mouth fell open, again.
"Usagi-chan!"
"Usagi-chan! Mamoru-san!"
"Hi everyone!" Three new voices broke the spell. Miss Sarah looked up, blushed and scurried away, muttering about appropriate clothing. Rei, Mamoru and Usagi turned to Ami, Makoto and Minako running over.
"Was that her?" Ami asked, trying to peer down the hallway from the front door.
"Yes, and you'll NEVER believe what she said!" Rei exclaimed.
Rei hesitated, glancing at the gaijin beside her. Miss Sarah. Why was she here? Why would she think she was a priestess? How in the name of all that was holy did a young American widow with two children find out everything about the Sailor Senshi? Miss Sarah smiled slightly.
"I'm okay, Rei-san." She whispered. Rei nodded and opened the door.
The Great Fire flickered and spat. As both a miko and Sailor Mars, Rei had an intimate link with this embodiment of Kami. She tended the flames, meditated before It and borrowed Its power to peer into the future, with mixed results. This was the first time she had brought a guest, let alone a foreigner with a powerful question. Rei wasn't sure what to expect. She knelt on her usual cushion, Miss Sarah joining her a half step behind and to her left and kneeling directly on the tatami.
"I'm going to introduce you and then ask your question," Rei whispered.
"Yes." Miss Sarah replied. Rei glanced over her shoulder. Miss Sarah took two deep, slow breaths, then held her hands up, her left palm facing the Fire, her right palm facing the ceiling.
"Oh Great Fire. I bring to you Miss Sarah. She seeks knowledge of Self. Please show me, does she have the Gift?" Rei closed her eyes, laced her fingers and started chanting her meditations.
~Hail Guardian of the Watchtower of the South. Spirt of Flames. Spirit of Passion. I have worked with you many times and always have received what I needed. I come before you tonight with a question. How do I return to my proper place and time?~ Miss Sarah asked softly in English. Rei ignored the speech, but her concentration was broken when the Fire whooshed. The miko's eyes snapped open with a gasp. Miss Sarah's hands were covered in twirling loops of flames up to her wrists. Her eyes were closed and her teeth dug deeply into her lower lip. Rei gawked as the Great Fire seemed to embrace the older woman. With another, louder Whoosh, the Fire returned to normal. Harsh breathing echoed against quiet crackling, then Miss Sarah toppled over, barely missing Rei.
"Miss Sarah! Miss Sarah!" Rei cried, turning to cradle Miss Sarah's head in her arms. Miss Sarah blinked a few times.
"Shimatta."
"Miss Sarah! Are you all right?"
"Um, yes?"
"Are you sure?" Miss Sarah reached up and patted Rei's arm, then started to sit up. Rei helped her steady herself.
"Wow." Miss Sarah looked at Rei and shook her head, awe stamped all over her features. "Wow."
"It seems you are a priestess."
"Yeah." Miss Sarah shook her head, then clapped twice and bowed to the flames. "Thank you, Great Spirit." Rei rose to her feet and helped Miss Sarah to stand. "Oy. I'm hungry!"
"Yuichiro should have dinner ready."
--------------------
Sarah sat quietly on the porch, watching Yuichiro tend the fire for the baths. Dinner had been...interesting. Her children, Goddess love them, had been very good. Hino-ojiisan had offered her a job and asked for a date in the same breath, only to be berated by Rei-chan. The job offer had brought a lot of terrible questions to the fore; namely, if it took more then a week to get back to Her Tokyo, she was really going to NEED a job and how was she going to get the family's prescriptions? Everything had been left behind at the hotel. She had her purse, which had the passports and bank cards and such, but clothing, shoes, toothbrushes, all of that was out of reach.
"Miss Sarah, the water should be ready now," Yuichiro said, calling her out of the sudden-but-not-unexpected case of Indigo she had fallen into.
"Thank you. I'll get the children cleaned up first. Um, is there anything we could borrow to sleep in? If not, we can make do."
"I already put two robes in the bathroom for you and Marc-kun. Hino-san said she could loan Becca-chan an old shirt."
"You are all so very kind. I will find a way to thank you." Sarah stood, smiled at Yuichiro and went to collect the kiddos.
"Mo-om! Do we HAVE to bathe together?" Marc protested once they were all inside the bathroom. Sarah sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"It's not uncommon for families to bathe together, Markl. Considering we're the guests here and this bath is heated by a wood fire, conserving water is the polite thing to do. You remember how this works, right?"
"Yeah, I remember. But it still feels weird."
"Would you rather bathe with Hino-ojiisan or Yuichiro-san?"
"ACK! NO!"
"Then you're stuck with us." Sarah knelt to help Becca with the ties on her sundress. "If it bothers you that much, just stare at the door until we're in the tub. We won't peek at you and you can get washed and wrapped in a clean towel. Then you can come in and stare at the wall while we get out and wrapped up. Okay?"
"Yeah." Marc sighed and shuffled around until he was staring at the door. Sarah shook her head. No, this wasn't easy. Not at all!
-------------
By the time Miss Sarah had her children bathed and tucked into the spare futons in the guest room, Rei had made several phone calls and was at the front of the shrine, waiting. Usagi and Mamoru appeared at the top of the steps as Miss Sarah walked onto the porch.
"Rei-san, I...Oh My Gods!!" Rei glanced over her shoulder and smirked. Miss Sarah, demurely wrapped in a black and brown yukata, was gaping.
"Miss Sarah! Good evening!" Usagi called, waving a hand filled with shopping bags. Mamoru nodded.
"She...she's so pretty!" Miss Sarah gasped.
"Eh?" Rei looked back. Usagi bounded over, eyes sparkling and lips stretched in a wide smile.
"Miss Sarah! Rei-chan told us about how you're from a different Tokyo and all your stuff got left behind and so Chibi-Usa and I went through my closet and Shingo's closet and we think we've got enough for your stay here until we can get you home. Right, Mamo-chan?"
"I think you're going a little fast, Usako," Mamoru said, grinning at the flummoxed widow.
~Ami and the others will be here soon. Rei called us and told us you needed help.~ He explained in English. Usagi offered Miss Sarah the bags. Miss Sarah took them and knelt on the porch to rummage through one. Rei winked at Usagi as Mamoru added his bags to the pile. Miss Sarah lifted up a white shirt with purple stars embroidered on it.
"I know it's not what a grown up would normally wear, but I thought it suited you," Usagi explained, digging the toe of her sandal into the dirt. Miss Sarah looked up, eyes bright with tears and threw herself into Usagi's arms. Mamoru steadied both women.
~You wonderful, beautiful girl. Everything you've gone through, everything you will go through and you raid your own closet for a strange gaijin who got lost in your world and can't even help you with the fights that are coming!~ Miss Sarah sobbed. Rei looked at Mamoru, unable to follow the choked English. He shook his head. Miss Sarah raised her head and gently kissed Usagi's forehead. The teenaged superheroine blushed.
~If I could, I would swear fealty to the Princess Serenity.~ Miss Sarah said, causing Mamoru to jerk back as if burned. Usagi only recognized "Princess Serenity", so she blinked and smiled. ~Since I am not of this world, all I can do is swear that I will treasure these moments with you and hold them dear to my heart.~ "Thank you so much." She added in Japanese before letting go. While Miss Sarah dried her eyes and collected the bags, Mamoru quickly translated what she had said.
"EH!?!" Rei's mouth fell open, again.
"Usagi-chan!"
"Usagi-chan! Mamoru-san!"
"Hi everyone!" Three new voices broke the spell. Miss Sarah looked up, blushed and scurried away, muttering about appropriate clothing. Rei, Mamoru and Usagi turned to Ami, Makoto and Minako running over.
"Was that her?" Ami asked, trying to peer down the hallway from the front door.
"Yes, and you'll NEVER believe what she said!" Rei exclaimed.