The Morningstar was typical of underground clubs in Tokyo. Built to maximize the use of minimal space, its natural darkness broken into fragments by glaring strobe lights and Day-Glo colours, while too-loud music was contained by soundproofed walls into a confined space, creating perpetual headaches for regulars. Chaos abounded within the club, and as a result, its reputation was not entirely safe. And yet, it was one of the most popular clubs in town.
In short, the Morningstar Club was the perfect hunting ground. As it had been designed to be.
The pigtailed youth that glided through the crowds was striking enough to merit a second glance, but quick enough to be gone before those glances came. He wore mostly black, but the most outstanding feature of his wardrobe was a blazing red silk shirt that fit his athletic form like a second skin. The contrast was deliberate, as it virtually ensured that no one would remember his face. Still, the young man was careful, knowing that the person he sought - creature, he corrected himself - was ancient, skilled, and powerful beyond mortal ability. Still, he was no slouch himself in the arts of war, nor was he without protections. More, this was the duty of his bloodline - to hunt and destroy those who stood outside the natural balance decreed by the kami, and by their nature, threatened that balance.
It was a duty centuries old, and Ranma Saotome was determined not to be the one to fail in executing it. Absently touching the items of Power he carried, the young hunter scanned the club again, seeking the trail of his enemy. Finding it, he moved deeper into the club's interior. It would be time to unleash that Power soon.
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Her mortal name had been lost long before the fall of the Empire. During the so-called Crimson Millennium, she had been called Mars. In this day and age, her preferred sobriquet was "Rei." And at this moment, she stood outside the Morningstar Club with a look of amused disdain.
The club was so typically Venus. Always the hedonist, even in a time when secrecy was demanded, she couldn't resist showing off. The broad hinting contained within the club's name practically begged the other senshi to come and get her. Which was why Rei was being cautious. Venus acted the fool, but could be surprisingly innovative at times. It was her strength. Mercury was the most cunning of the vampire Senshi, Jupiter the most physically powerful. Mars' own bloodline tended towards spiritual strength - one of her Blood Gifts was to wield soul-spawned fire, the element which virtually insured the True Death of any vampire. Yet Venus was the most adaptable, the one who drew equally on all their strengths, while never reaching the pinnacle of achievement in them that the others had. She was also the oldest of them, and therefore arguably the most powerful, save for the purity of the Princess's bloodline. Therefore, she was a fitting first hunt for her newest cat's-paw.
The boy's presence had surprised her. Few mortals, it seemed, had the strength to hunt vampires in this day and age - but their weapons and numbers made them a power to be respected. Yet this one not only was well-trained in the ways of combat, he bore talismans of Power, specifically enchanted to slay her kind. He was as dangerous as Tuxedo Kamen in his way, perhaps even more so - the costumed vampire hunter had knowledge of them specifically, their individual powers and weaknesses, and used it to his advantage. This "Ranma Saotome," on the other hand, was a far more formidable warrior - but less knowledgeable, making him less a direct threat. His tools, on the other hand, made him easily capable of slaughtering their minions left, right, and centre.
Rei suspected that she recognised the signature of their enchanter, but had thought all the old druid's work had been long since destroyed. In either case, the origins of Ranma's talismans was less important than the location of the Golden Light (also known as the Solar) Crystal. To her knowledge, neither Tuxedo Kamen, Ranma, nor any of his "sisters" possessed it. If she could find it, however, she would have the ultimate threat to safeguard her empire. And, she would eliminate the biggest threat to its well-being at the same time.
Hence, her use of Ranma. At worst, Ranma would fall in battle to Venus, eliminating the hunter as a future threat. Next to worst, Ranma would still fall, but leave Venus weakened enough for Mars to overcome her, and absorb her power and empire into her own. At best, Mars could still absorb the resources, both mystical and temporal, of the other vampire, and Ranma would be free to hunt down one of her other "sisters." Meanwhile, she could concentrate on locating the Light Crystal - though Serenity's Dark Crystal wouldn't be too bad a prize, either.
Rei stretched, luxuriating in the moonlight that reflected the violet highlights of her midnight tresses. One way or another, the events of the next few hours would rock the foundations of the Senshi's shadow empires - and she stood poised to gain, no matter the circumstances.
It was going to be a beautiful night.
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See other episodes by Galen Salvatore
(Posted Wed, 26 Jan 2005 15:47)
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