Warrior of Solitude

Last Revised: Never

       A gentle breeze trailed behind a troubled soul, rustling the leaves and branches in its wake.  Anybody that could have interrupted its pilgrimage down the darkened paths would have long since left the gardens for the night. The person was left to contemplate its problems, alone, as the setting autumn sun cast long ribbons of light through the amber clouds.  A solitary bird flew across the sunset's sky to gaze down upon a lone shadow working its way down twisting paths too familiar for it likes.

 “This place brings back too many memories,” the man said sadly. “Too many with that person and when we...” He paused and shook his head violently, “Too many. Far, far too many memories.”

    The paths were all too familiar.  

    "How could it have happened? It seemed like just yesterday that we were together with not a care in the world." 

    The path ended a few feet from a patch of bush. The man stopped and stared at the leaves without actually seeing them. His pale silver eyes unfocused and looked through the things before him and into memory. 

    It seemed like just a short while ago that he was laughing with his old friends with no thought about the future, only worrying about the present. Everything was faded white with the light of the afternoon sun and the waters of the river were bluer than they've ever been. But now, instead of the sun, everything was faded with the dim light of time. Everyone that he knew has died, or changed beyond recognition. True, nothing stays the same, but he never would have expected that everything could change so quickly.

    "Just past those bushes is where the one that caused all this lives. That person changed me, whether for the better or worse, I'm no longer sure.  It has been such a long time since I've met someone I could trust with my words." He shook his head, as if it were possible to dislodge these thoughts with the action. "All I know is that I wouldn't have made it this long without their help....  I just wonder if its all been worth it."

    The person laughed dryly.  

    “I've found myself talking to myself like an idiot,” he chided himself, “I've come down this path millions of times and just once, I'd like to know I made the walk without stopping to chat with myself.” The man sighed and gathered his cloak around him. “I really should stop doing this but I can't just turn tail and run away from my problems again..."

    He pushed past the bushes and stepped onto the smooth steps. 

    'Or...I might lose my chance to redeem myself with......'

*  *  *

     A gentle breeze fell down from the crisp blue sky and through the empty grounds of Suishou Private High School. It danced down the many paths winding through the campus and tussled the leaves of the swaying trees in its wake. The sun streamed through the windows and shone upon a lone girl with long dark lavender hair. Oblivious to the world surrounding her, the silent girl gazed out the window with sad amethyst eyes.

“Amefuri, are you listening to me? AMEFURI!” A dark haired and obviously upset woman yelled at the infuriating girl. 

    The girl finally pulled her gaze from the trees to stare at the front of the classroom. She was aware of the looks she was receiving from her fellow classmates. Some were pitying, some were smug, some were hateful, some were merely curious to see her reaction. But all that Amefuri did was to say plainly, "Yes Ms. Machiko?”

    “What do you even bother coming to class if all you do is stare out of the window? This is a place of learning and if you don't want to be left behind again, then you'd better start paying attention. I'm sure that your parents do not approve of having to pay your tuition, only to have you fail every year!”

    “I pay my own tuition,” Amefuri replied distantly and returned her attention to window. "So whether I fail or not is my own concern. Not yours."

    Ms. Machiko slammed her hands down against Amefuri's desk.  

    Amefuri turned slowly to meet her furious teacher's gaze with eerie crystalline eyes. “Yes?”

    Ms. Machiko couldn't help but shudder slightly as she stared unwaveringly into her student's dark eyes. They were like the eyes of the war veterans that she's met in the past, haunted. But how could somebody so young have eyes that old in these peaceful times? Amefuri must be keeping a tragic secret hidden from the world. Maybe the principal knows what that secret is, so that's why he tolerates her behavior. But regardless of that fact...

    “Amefuri, I know you try to be a good student but unless you start paying attention in class, you'll never graduate. I don't care if you get A's on the tests that you do write, but unless you do all of the homework, you'll never pass!”

    Ms. Machiko spun on her heel and stormed back to the front to the room to continue the lesson on History. The class, quite accustomed to the spats between Amefuri and the teacher by now, turned around and waited for the lesson to continue.  Ignored once again, she turned to stare at her faded reflection in the window.

*  *  *

     A shrill bell rung announcing the end of school.  The room was empty in a few moments as the students quickly filed out of Ms Machiko's classroom on their way to their after-school clubs.  The buzz of conversation filled the air as students hurried to meet their friends to discuss the latest bits of gossip. Cheerful conversations and laughter could be heard echoing through the halls of the Suishou Private School.

     Amefuri waited for the sound of the crowd move down the halls and out the door before she finished gathering her books. She left as soon as the majority of students have left to pursue their other duties. Walking past the laughing lingering groups of friends and down the stairs, Amefuri steadfastly ignored the whispered comments around her. There was no doubt that her gossiping classmates were talking about her confrontation that morning. 

    'I would be surprised if I wasn't the object of ridicule' Amefuri continued silently out the doors of the school and down the web-like paths that covered the campus grounds.  'Just once I wish that they would leave me be.  I've never done anything to them.'

    Sighing, Amefuri walked down the path leading into the small grove of trees on campus. In a few minutes, her quick measured pace took her far into the trees and away from the school grounds. She paused beneath a tall oak tree and and leaned against its steady bark to study her thoughts.

    "Why do I even bother coming here? I'd much rather be back home sleeping or tending the shrine grounds. Coming to school is such a waste of time... I've got better things that I could be doing."

    She reached beneath the collar of her uniform and pulled out her silver necklace.  She knew that students weren't allowed to wear any jewellery but if she didn't listen to the other rules, why would she listen to a rule like that?  The amethyst crystal glittered dully, occasionally emitting flashes of light when it caught the sun just right. Mesmerized, Amefuri stared at the crystal until a distant sound snapped her attention back to the surroundings.  

    "What was that?" Amefuri climbed to her feet and looked around. "It was probably my imagination...."

    Distantly, someone screamed, "Help me!"

    Resigned, Amefuri turned and sprinted in the direction of the screams. 

    "I don't know why I even bother," Amefuri grunted. "There'll probably already be a Senshi there by the time I arrive."

*  *  *

    A girl with long blonde hair was sprawled on the grass beside the main doors to the academy. She turned and stared wide eyed up at the horrendous demon looming over her.  She opened her mouth and let out an ear-piercing scream as she scrambled away on all fours.

    "PLEASE! Somebody HELP ME!!"

    The demon bellowed and grabbed for the girl but at that moment Amefuri ran around the corner and stared at the huge demon. She absently wished that, for once, she had gone home at a normal hour like everyone else. That way, she could have avoided the need to fight this thing. Unless, of course, she could lure it to a place where some other Senshi could battle it. But this wasn't the time to quibble.

    "Demon! You have no right to attack this girl on school grounds!" Amefuri challenged the monster, feeling that she was doing something rather stupid and contrary to the rules of common sense. "I order you to leave that girl alone and leave at once!"

    The demon flung the girl aside and charged Amefuri with unnatural speed and agility for something that large. It let fly a terrifying battle cry and Amefuri quickly side-stepped the demon's first charge and took off like a shot, with the demon in hot pursuit. After skidding around a corner, several minutes later, Amefuri stumbled against the wall gasping.

    "Good, I think I finally lost it," she said softly and slumped to the ground. "But why did I challenge that demon? It's not like me...not at all.... but I couldn't just let it get away with attacking someone." Amefuri lay her head against the wall. "But how can I fight again after what happened?"

    Amefuri pulled out her amethyst crystal and stared into its depths for an answer. Surprisingly, she did receive an answer. A familiar glow pulsed from within the crystal, almost beating in time to the heartbeat of some unseen person. She could see the familiar symbol of Epsilon glowing dimly from within the depths of the pendant.  There was her answer. Amefuri narrowed her eyes as she came to her decision.

    "Okay, it looks like I have no choice but to fight!" Amefuri straightened herself and familiar words sprung to mind as she raised the pendant above her head, "Epsilon Light, MAKE UP!"

    As if the pendant broke, glittering shards of amethyst crystal burst from the pendant and fell upon her. She spun around holding the crystal above her head and traced a circle around her. The shards fused into twirling strands of dark purple crystal that spiralled around her body. An aura came from the pendant as she curled up hugging her knees as the crystal encased her.  Then, a light shone from within as the crystal shattered and Sailor Epsilon stood place with her silver staff in hand.

    'I'm sorry, but I have to break my promise... I have to fight again.' She lowered her head for a moment and sighed sadly. "Okay, there will be time for sentiment later. I have a job to do."

    Gripping her staff Sailor Epsilon ran to confront the demon.

*  *  *

    The monster, who had long given up on Amefuri, had cornered another victim.  It growled and grabbed the at startled girl when a voice interrupted the demon's attack.

    "I told you to leave these students alone!" Sailor Epsilon pointed her staff at the demon with an icy glare. "I am the Soldier of Solitude, Sailor Epsilon!"

    Unimpressed, the demon threw the girl away and charged at Epsilon with a furious bellow.  Sailor Epsilon ducked the blow and lunged at the demon with her staff braced tightly against her body.  Unfortunately, the demon anticipated the attack and dodged her swing easily, then jumped back growling.  Its clawed hands flashed out and gripped the staff and swung Epsilon into a wall with enough force to crack the cement.  Epsilon cried out in pain and looked up at the demon approaching her with a ugly hungry grin.  The demon came closer and Epsilon narrowed her eyes.

    "You'll never win little girl..." the demon rasped in barely intelligible Japanese.  "You'll make a nice meal...I've never eaten a Sailor Soldier before..."

    "And you never will!" Epsilon swung her staff the back of it's knees knocking to the ground.  She jumped to feet and gripped her staff tightly. "Prepare to die demon!"

    She held her staff at arm's length and closed her eyes.  Calming her mind, Epsilon called forth the power from her crystal.  'I hope I remember how to do this properly. It's been so long..' 

    With a roar of fury the demon lunged with hands outstretched. 

    Suddenly, her eyes snapped open blazing with an angry violet light. Time had not dulled her powers. Epsilon raised the staff above her head as a bright light shone from the crystal on the end of her staff.

    "Crystal..." Glowing threads of violet spiralled around her as she twirled the staff above her head.

    "Soul!" The crystal strands fused together into crystal strands that flew toward the demon.  The crystals pulsed while an eerie aura surrounded Sailor Epsilon. She slashed her staff at the demon in a quick motion causing the crystal to explode into a million shards showering the demon.  The crystals sliced deep into the demon while the aura engulfed the demon.

    Screaming from the rage the demon managed to stare into her eyes.  Raw fury flashed in it's eyes as Epsilon stared back into it's eyes. It lunged towards her roaring in a final attack. Epsilon's eyes blazed with fury as she glared at the demon.

    "STORM!" As soon as the final word rang out the shards pelted the demon.  The crystals embedded in the demon shone with an eerie light and exploded. The body of the demon shuddered and convulsed one last time before falling to the ground.

    Epsilon stared at the mangled body of the demon.  Slowly the impact of her actions sunk and she slowly sunk to her knees dropping her staff on the ground.  'I've killed...' A choked sob escaped her as she stared at the demon's disintegrating body.

    "How could I have become a soldier again? I promised that I would never fight again....  After what had happened, why do this? Why?"

    The approaching sounds of a siren interrupted Epsilon's train of thought as she looked back in the direction of the siren.  She grabbed her staff and ran around the corner of the school as an ambulance pulled up to the school. 'I can't let anybody catch me.  Nobody can find out.  This will be my final battle.'

    She faded back into the shadows of the school and started down the path to the grove of trees. Silently, she began to cry as she knew she was going to have to break her promise again. Surely, this monster showed that it was impossible to escape fate.

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