All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by Viz Communications.
The flash of light and feeling of incredibly fast movement that accompanied their teleport seemed normal enough, but the sudden wrenching sensation definitely did not. Hotaru tried to tighten her grip on Haruka and Michiru's hands, although, as was usual for a teleport, she really wasn't able to feel any physical sensations during the jump. She just hoped that her body was obeying her, and that she was still holding on to them. It felt like they were being pulled off course somehow, and she sincerely did not want to find herself in some strange place alone.
A moment later the wrenching sensation ended, leaving Hotaru feeling incredibly drained, just in time to reappear into the real world, landing in a heap between her guardians, thankfully still holding hands. Groggily she glanced around her and was relieved to note that Setsuna, Belldandy and Urd were there as well, also still holding hands, although, like her, they had all fallen to the floor of whatever place they had ended up at. There was a number of groans, and everyone slowly started to sit up and look around in confusion.
Haruka gently disengaged her hand from Hotaru's and stood up, raising an eyebrow at their surroundings. "Now this is an interesting place, Setsuna." She commented, gesturing at the decor. "Where exactly in Copenhagen are we, anyway?" Everyone was now looking at the room in interest. It seemed like a gigantic palatial bedchamber of some kind, with a huge circular bed (at least 20 feet in diameter) set into a large depression set in the floor on the left side of the room and covered with fluffy looking pillows. There was an ornate looking fountain in the room's center, with statues of nymphs and fawns cavorting forming the base of it. Several well done marble statues of naked or scantily clad women framed the corners of the room, and comfortable looking sofas and pillows filled the entryway to their right, which was framed by a pair of ornate but sturdy looking wooden doors. There was even a recessed hot tub in one corner of the room, with steam faintly rising from it.
Setsuna remained sitting, although she did crane her neck around to get a good look a the room. "Honestly, I have no idea. This looks like the inside of some sultan's palace, but I don't recall anything like this from my last trip to Copenhagen...."
Belldandy had started to slowly turn pale, and she stood up, looking worried. "I don't think we're in Copenhagen at all!" She declared, getting everyone's attention. "I'm not sure we're even on Earth anymore."
Urd frowned and stood as well, brushing herself off. "Not on Earth? Come on. That was a pretty rough ride, but I think I would have noticed if our trip went interplanetary." She glanced around thoughtfully. "Unless this is some sort of pocket dimension... but how....?"
Belldandy nodded. "That could explain it. All I know is that I've lost contact with my other selves... and I should be able to maintain contact anywhere on the planet."
Haruka turned to Urd with a glare. "This has to be your fault somehow. Our teleports have always worked properly before. It has got to have something to do with you two trying to link with us for the jump."
Urd wrinkled her nose. "Well, I suppose it's possible... but I think it's more likely that some sort of outside force acted on us in mid teleport." She glanced at her younger sister. "Didn't you feel something strange, Belldandy? A kind of pull?"
Belldandy nodded. "I did. It felt... wrong somehow. At first I thought it might have something to do with the Senshi's manner of teleportation, but now I'm not so sure."
Hotaru nodded quickly. "I felt it too! It was like we were pulled away from where we were supposed to go! It didn't come from any of us... it felt like it came from... well, from outside us."
Setsuna slowly nodded as well, getting to her feet as she did so. "That matches what I sensed as well, although it was over so quickly that I wasn't really sure." She reached out her hands for the others. "I think we should leave, quickly. Everyone join hands again. I fear it is not safe here."
Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru joined hands with Setsuna immediately, followed moments later by Urd and Belldandy.
"I think you may be right, Setsuna." Belldandy began, joining hands with the taller woman smoothly. "I only hope that it's not already to late."
Setsuna frowned. "Only one way to find out. Ready? Sailor... TELEPORT!!!"
There was a wrenching sensation, and the girls were flung apart with a burst of energy, scattering them about the four corners of the room. There were a series of thuds and crashing sounds, and then silence for several long moments.
"Ouch." Haruka was the first to speak, slowly levering herself up to peer around worriedly for Michiru. "Is everyone else alright?"
Michiru's hand popped up a moment later, and she crawled out from under several of the larger pillows on the oversized bed, where the shock wave had thrown her. "I'm OK. I landed soft. Anyone else?"
Hotaru's head popped up from the other side of the bed, where she had gotten unceremoniously dumped. "I'm fine, Michiru-mama."
Urd groaned from her place near the double doors, which she had bounced off of before hitting the (luckily) soft carpeting below. "What in the name of the All Father just happened?"
Belldandy staggered to her feet from behind an overturned sofa, looking slightly worse for wear. "Oh dear. That was slightly violent...." She looked around worriedly. "Did anyone see where Setsuna-san went?"
In moments everyone had gotten dizzily to their feet, and were looking around for any sign of the eldest Senshi. "Did she teleport?" Haruka asked in confusion. "We're still here, but I don't see any sign of her...."
"Oh no!" Hotaru exclaimed. "Her clothes are here... in the fountain!" The littlest Senshi quickly knelt by the fountain in question and carefully pulled out Setsuna's blouse and skirt, laying them down on the floor before going back to peer into the fountain. Belldandy was at her side in a moment, the others reaching her an instant later, everyone looking into the fountain carefully.
"Do you think she's still in there?" Haruka quietly wondered, peering at the water from several feet away. "Did you check her clothes?"
Hotaru blinked and went back to Setsuna's clothing, leaving everyone else to search the water. "Setsuna-mama?" She whispered softly, carefully searching through the folds of Setsuna's blouse and skirt. "Are you in here?" Moments later she cried out in relief, holding up a bedraggled and barely conscious gray mouse up with both hands. The other's gathered around them in relief, and Hotaru slowly stood, holding the mouse carefully in both hands. "Setsuna-mama!" Hotaru's voice was full of relief. "I'm so glad you're alright!" She petted the gray mouse with a smile, brushing away some of the excess water matting down it's fur in the process.
"Be careful, Hotaru." Michiru warned. "Don't be too rough with Setsuna-san."
"I will." Hotaru said, feeling a bit put upon. "I'm really careful, aren't I Setsuna-mama?" Glancing around, Hotaru noted the location of the hot tub in the corner and started over in that direction. "You'd like to change back now, wouldn't you Setsuna-mama?"
Michiru followed behind her "daughter", still looking concerned, while Haruka confronted the Goddesses. "OK, now I know something's not right. What the hell happened to us just now? Why couldn't we teleport out of here?"
Belldandy and Urd exchanged worried glances. "I don't really know." Belldandy admitted a moment later. "Some force is keeping us from teleporting away... I don't know what it is, or how it's keeping us here, but it's obvious that we won't be able to teleport normally."
Haruka rolled her eyes. "Well I know that much." She said acidly. "Tell me something I don't know."
Urd shrugged. "At this point you know as much as we do, Haruka." She turned to Belldandy. "Do you think Mara could be behind this somehow?"
Belldandy looked uncertain. "It seems like something she might do... but how did she find the power? It must have taken a huge amount of energy just to bring us here, much less keeping us from teleporting out." She closed her eyes, holding up her hands. "Spirits of this place, REVEAL." Belldandy staggered, visibly jolted by some unseen force. Urd and Haruka stepped in to steady her and Belldandy opened her eyes to look at them. "Something's wrong...." She began. "I didn't feel it till just now, but my powers... they're... they're being drained." Urd and Haruka exchanged a glance, and started calling upon their own abilities.
Urd began to speak in a strange language, and Haruka focused inwardly, calling upon her sword to emerge. Both of their efforts met with failure, and even as their powers failed to manifest, they could feel their energies being drained away, as if going somewhere. At the same time, there was a growing heaviness around them, as if the very air was starting to thicken.
Hotaru had just placed her mouse in the hot tub, causing it to enlarge into a half conscious and naked female human in an instant when she felt the air starting to harden around her. She turned to Michiru questioningly and the Aqua haired girl nodded in confirmation.
"I feel it too." Michiru said with a worried expression. "Something's happening." Instinctively, she called upon her Aqua Mirror, intending to search for the source of whatever was happening to them, but her efforts to summon it only seemed to make the air around them thicken even faster. "Wait!" She shouted, turning to Hotaru in sudden realization. "Don't use your powers...."
It was already too late, panicking as she felt the very air start to close in on her, Hotaru called upon the full force of her Silence Wall in an effort to stave off whatever was attacking them. The energy she was pouring into trying to erect her Silence Wall, however, were drained away like all the others powers, and the much higher level of power she was producing caused the air to thicken about them ten times quicker than before. In moments they were all caught like flies in amber in the thickening air. Slowly, however, the air around them started to solidify and shrink, the effect, whatever it was, centering on each of their arms, leaving their bodies increasingly free as the solidified air shrunk and transformed. Air had, thankfully, rushed in from outside the room to fill the void, and they could all breath, although none of them could move far from where the now hardened air was solidifying now further, holding their arms in place.
Even Setsuna was caught, her arms pinned under the water, causing her to snap awake and begin struggling to escape. "What in the world?!?" Setsuna exclaimed, finding herself sitting naked and bound in the hot tub, a transparent force pinning her arms in place in front of her, slowly shrinking and seeming to harden at the same time. "Hotaru?" The older Senshi glanced up and back at her young charge. "What's going on?"
Hotaru could only shake her head, bracing her feet against the floor and trying to pull her arms free of whatever was encasing them futilely. "I don't know Setsuna-mama... something made my Silence Wall go away... and I couldn't move, and...."
Michiru spoke up quickly, interrupting. "Whatever it is, it's feeding on our powers. Whatever you do, don't try to power up."
Setsuna nodded. "Hotaru's Silence Wall set it off?"
Michiru shook her head. "No, we all tried to use our powers, Hotaru's was just a lot stronger... I think the goddesses are being drained as well."
"We are." Belldandy confirmed. "And whatever it is, I can't stop it. If this goes on much longer, I'm afraid I'll lose consciousness... I can't seem to stop the drain, now that it's started."
Urd was nearly hanging from the solidified air around her arms, looking exhausted. "This... isn't good." She stated obviously. "If this drain can overcome Belldandy, I don't think any of us have much chance."
Haruka growled, fiercely tugging at her arms, trying to get free. "What about if we all tried at once? Maybe we could overload it... whatever it is?"
Belldandy looked dubious. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea."
Haruka shot her a firm stare. "We're all being drained to death anyway... what have we got to lose?"
Belldandy sighed, then nodded. "Very well."
Setsuna spoke up. "Alright, on three, summon all your power! We're only going to get one shot at this!" Everyone nodded, and they all started to concentrate as Setsuna started to count. "One... Two... THREE!!!"
There was a great flash, and in moments it was all over. Hotaru, Urd and Haruka, being unbalanced, all fell over as the air around their arms shrunk around their wrists and suddenly vanished. Setsuna sank under the surface of the hot tub for an instant, then came up with a sputter, which Belldandy and Michiru simply wavered a bit before regaining their balance, then went to check on the others.
Haruka got up on her hands and knees and looked around in confusion. "Now what happened? Did we beat it?"
Belldandy frowned and shook her head, glancing from one of her wrists to the other. "No, I'm afraid not." Slowly, bracers started to appear about her wrists, going from invisible to transparent, finally taking on the opaque consistency of some type of metal.
Haruka glanced down at her own wrists, which were now encased in an identical pair of bracers. "What the hell? Where the heck did these things come from?"
Urd shook her head. "I should have guessed. The decor should have given me a clue, at the least."
Haruka glanced at her angrily. "Guessed? Guessed what? If you know something, spill it!"
Michiru spoke up. "I don't understand. We're not being drained anymore, but now I can't access my powers at all!"
Urd sighed. "I'm afraid I'm beginning to. Understand, that is."
Setsuna started pulling herself out of the hot tub, reaching for a large fluffy towel that was conveniently placed near it. "Please explain, Urd-san."
"Well, it's not good news." Urd looked down at her bracers with concern. "You see, I've seen these... I've seen all of this before."
Belldandy moved over to her older sister, looking curious. "I don't remember learning about anything like this during our training in the heavens. It's obviously some sort of binding, but like nothing I've seen before."
"It's not something you'd have learned up there, Belldandy." Urd told her sister with a shrug. "I spent quite a few years traveling around while you and Skuld were growing up. I picked up a few things." She tapped her left bracer with her index finger. "These are an old trick, a spell that hasn't been used for thousands of years I'd suspect."
Michiru looked at their surroundings again, a dark suspicion growing in her mind. "Oh dear... is this all what I'm afraid it is?"
Urd glanced at where Michiru was looking and shrugged. "If you're remembering your mythology, I think you're probably pretty close to the mark."
Michiru frowned. "Arabian Mythology? 1001 nights, Sinbad the Sailor, that sort of thing?"
Haruka spoke up incredulously. "You're not saying what I think you're saying."
Urd shrugged. "Not all the tales are true, but the last time I saw a bracer like this..." She tapped her left bracer again. "It was attached to a fellow that had been wearing it for over a thousand years." She shrugged. "I was able to free that poor sucker, but it wasn't easy."
"Did you meet an actual Genie?" Hotaru spoke up quietly, looking slightly wondrous.
Urd looked over at Hotaru with approval. "You're a quick one, Hotaru-chan. Did your parents read many fairy tales to you when you were growing up?"
Hotaru nodded shyly, looking at her feet. "Mama and Papa used to read them all the time when I was growing up. With everything else that had happened in my life, they seemed almost real."
"Some of them are real." Urd told her matter-of-factly. "Although the storytellers often got more wrong than right. This fellow was just a rather ordinary desert spirit when he started out, and from what I could learn, it could have been any sort of spirit that was trapped by the spell that trapped him."
Michiru spoke up. "You said you freed him. How?"
"There's only one way for us to get these bracers off." Urd said with a frown. "At least that I know of. Only if the one to whom we are bound was to wish for us to be free would be able to escape."
Michiru raised an eyebrow. "The one to whom we are bound?" She questioned. "And who...." A bright flash and a harsh wind interrupted Michiru in mid-sentence as a vortex appeared in the fountain, launching a startled looking Skuld toward the ceiling with great force.
Belldandy spun about even as Skuld shot ceiling ward, her eyes going wide. "SKULD!" She shouted desperately. "Don't use your powers!"
The frantic younger goddess had been about to do just that in an effort to save herself, but Belldandy's voice was one she would always listen to. Instead of casting a spell like she had been about to, Skuld froze still and closed her eyes as she slammed into the ceiling, rebounding toward the floor with frightening speed, praying that someone would catch her in time. Skuld's prayers were answered a moment later in the form of her eldest sister and Haruka throwing themselves under her just before she hit the ground, breaking her fall with their own bodies.
"Whoof." Urd groaned from underneath her younger sister, slowly turning over to glare at her angrily. "What in the world were you thinking, you brat?" She took a moment to take a longer breath before continuing her tirade. "Coming after us like that without checking first if it would be safe. Just the kind of stunt I'd expect a wet nosed snot like you to pull."
Skuld glared back at her older sister indignantly. "I was trying to go back to the heavens, for your information. What was I supposed to do? Just sit there? I couldn't let something happen to Belldandy or the others, could I?"
"Well then." Urd said, rolling her eyes. "This is tremendously helpful." She reached up and gave Skuld a sharp push. "Now off! I don't plan on being furniture all day."
Skuld picked herself up off of Haruka and Urd gingerly, sniffing back tears. "Urd... you.... you...."
Belldandy was at her side a moment before Skuld yelled out whatever insult she had been about to say. "Skuld, remember, do not use your powers. It's very important."
Skuld turned to Belldandy, nodding slowly and trying not to cry. "Alright, big sister... but...."
Belldandy gazed compassionately into her younger sister's eyes. "It's very important, Skuld. Urd was in about to explain before you arrived, so perhaps we should let her continue?"
Skuld took a deep breath and sighed, but finally nodded. "Alright, Belldandy. If you say so."
Urd finished helping Haruka to her feet and made a show of brushing herself off. "Well, I believe I was about to answer Michiru's question?"
Michiru hesitated, then nodded. "I was wondering what you meant exactly by "the one that we are bound to."
"That's right." Urd answered with a nod. "Only the one to whom we are bound can wish us free of the spell that currently binds us... unless I'm badly mistaken that is... and I would give a lot to be mistaken right now." She wrinkled her nose. "The Desert Spirit I freed was bound to the person who had a particular ring, while I've heard of others bound to a candlestick, an ancient puzzle box, or even the bloodline of a particular family." Urd shrugged. "It could even just be a bond to a particular individual, although few contracts are quite that simple." She shook her head. "Still, whoever cast the spell that bound us... had to have used more power than I've seen since...." She frowned deeply. "Since the Lord of Nightmares... or perhaps that wish of Sayoka's...." Urd nodded to herself. "Yes, the most heartfelt wish of a mortal could possibly generate the kind of power needed... if someone like Mara were to grant it."
Belldandy nodded slowly. "I'm afraid you might be right. It does make sense." She looked slightly sad. "But it would have had to have been the greatest wish of that mortal's life... and who could wish for...."
Setsuna spoke up, wrapped in a towel and still wringing water out of her hair. "Their own harem of Genies?" She shook her head. "I'm afraid I can guess."
There was a general shudder at that, and Skuld spoke up. "Wait... you mean all of you got bound as Genies somehow? Is that even possible?"
Belldandy nodded. "Apparently so. I believe whoever set this trap for us also made it so that it is our own powers that bound us. When we tried to break free of the trap it only made things worse."
"Oh." Skuld sounded subdued. "That's why you warned me not to use my powers. If I do, I'll get bound like the rest of you, right?"
Belldandy nodded. "I suspect so. You must not use your powers for anything... not for any reason. Even the slightest use of power could begin the binding spell."
Skuld nodded quickly. "I'll be careful, Belldandy. Don't worry, I'll find a way to free all of us without my powers. You'll see."
Michiru spoke up. "How is it that we are bound, Urd-san? We're human, at least some of us are."
Urd shrugged again. "You're just a step more human then we are, Michiru-kun. Your powers set you apart. As far I could guess, the spell that binds a Genie will work on any creature or spirit with power. The stronger the power the stronger the bond... although even the bond on a weak spirit was more than a Goddess like me could break... and everyone here is quite a bit more powerful than that poor desert spirit I mentioned."
Hotaru hung her head. "We're not human at all, are we." It was a statement of fact, not a question, and everyone flinched slightly at the sadness in the young girl's voice.
"In every way it counts, you are a very fine example of humanity, Hotaru." Belldandy assured her. "In every important aspect, you are human. Your powers, and your destiny, makes you special, but you're still human."
Hotaru looked uncertain but Setsuna nodded. "We are human, Hotaru. Take it from someone who was there when the Senshi were first engendered. We are set apart, for a purpose, but we are born human, and save for our powers, we are no different than any other member of our species."
Hotaru nodded. "I understand, I guess... but we're still Genies now...."
Urd wrinkled her nose. "Not forever. I've freed one Genie. I'm sure we'll find the way to get out of this."
Hotaru put on a brave face. "We will. I know it."
"That's the spirit, girls." A young man said from just behind Haruka. All seven girls turned to face him in astonishment, as none of them had heard or seen him come in, or even the door opening, but it was, in fact, open wide behind the young man standing there, clad in a distinctive purple gi.
"Happosai." Setsuna said the name flatly, staring at the youthful appearing man with cool disdain. "I thought that it must have been you. Who else would make such a wish?"
Happosai winked. "Any man might wish for such a bevy of beauties if he had the chance or luck to do so, my dear, and I believe you've been around long enough to see as much."
Urd suddenly glanced down at her chest in consternation. "Wow, old man, you aren't half bad!"
Happosai studied the ceiling innocently pretending not to understand what she was talking about. "Hmm? Whatever could you be talking about?"
Urd pulled the front of her tight Chinese dress down a few inches to illustrate. "Oh? And I suppose Hotaru here was the one that made off with my bra?"
Surreptitiously, each of the other girls checked, and almost as one realized that the youthened ancient pervert had somehow managed to divest each and every one of them of one or more undergarments.
Setsuna and Michiru simply looked annoyed, and Belldandy was obviously surprised, Hotaru was blushing bright red, and Skuld and Haruka....
"Die you old freak!" Haruka yelled in fury, swinging for the youthful appearing man with a powerful but out of control Haymaker. Skuld didn't even bother speaking, simply pulling her mallet off her back and lining up for a whack at his head as he dodged away from Haruka was a laugh.
Happosai parried Skuld's mallet with his pipe, bringing it out of nowhere at the last instant to send the youngest Norn's weapon spinning away with ease. The mallet clattered to the ground on the far side of the room as Haruka renewed her assault, coming at the young/old martial artist with a much more deliberate attack, bringing her training under Ranma and Ryoga to play, attacking with a series of punches and kicks that actually managed to drive Happosai back slightly as he continued to dodge. Haruka started to slowly circle Happosai as she attacked, getting increasingly angry as the ancient/young man declined to even block any of her blows, simply flowing around them effortlessly. The second Haruka had moved to a point opposite the other girls from Happosai, however, Michiru jumped in, timing her own attack to come exactly when Haruka was hardest pressing the old pervert, launching a vicious side kick at his kidneys as he dodged backwards.
Somehow Happosai sensed the attack and twisted out of the way at the very last moment, causing Michiru's kick to collide jarringly with Haruka's own outstretched foot. Both girls fell backwards and Happosai chortled leefully. "Nice try, girls." He told them, still chuckling. "Don't stop on my account."
"We won't." Skuld said firmly from the other side of the room, where she had just retrieved her mallet. Happosai glanced cockily in her direction, ready to respond with another quip, only to be bashed in the face by the head of Skuld's mallet, which laid him flat on the ground with a thud.
Skuld pushed the button that caused her mallet to retract and started to stomp over toward Happosai angrily. "That'll show him to mess with a Goddess...." She trailed off in surprise as Happosai sat up, appearing none the worse for wear.
"Well now, that was bracing." He commented wryly. "I think I'll keep you around, honey, just to remind me not to underestimate the cute ones." He calmly dodged Haruka and Michiru as they attacked him again, ducking a moment later as Skuld swept her mallet through the space his head had just been occupying from half a dozen meters away. "Now that's an impressive toy!" Happosai commented cheerfully as he continued to dance about, dodging the three girl's attacks. Michiru yelped as Skuld narrowly missed her with her mallet, and a moment later aruka hit the floor as Skuld brought it back just over her in her increasingly frantic efforts to hit the old pervert.
"Neptune, Uranus, desist." Setsuna ordered calmly. "This is obviously futile." Haruka and Michiru glanced at Setsuna questioningly, then backed away from Happosai obediently.
Happosai glanced over at Setsuna looking a bit petulant. "Aww, and it was just getting to be entertaining." He stopped another swing from Skuld's mallet with one hand without even looking in her direction and easily pulled it out of her grasp, tossing it casually to one side. "Oh well, I suppose it was tarting to get just a bit predictable." He raised an eyebrow at Setsuna thughtfully. "Why don't you try me yourself? You might have a better chance then these youngsters."
Setsuna shrugged. "I doubt it. This is all a game to you. You haven't been the slightest bit serious this whole time, have you?"
"Am I that obvious?" Happosai pouted, looking disappointed, then shot her a knowing look. "You just want to find out how much I've holding back. Only one way for you to find out, Sweety. He pulled a half dozen bras out of an inner pocket of his gi with a flourish. "Are you sure you don't want any of these back?"
Skuld had finally retrieved her mallet, but before she could attack again Belldandy glanced her direction and softly shook her head, looking concerned. With a sigh, the youngest Norn sheathed her weapon once more over her shoulder.
Setsuna continued to stare the ancient pervert down. "We're not going to play your game, old man. You hold all the cards here, and we all know it."
Happosai looked disappointed. "Oh, so you already know all about the little spell on you?"
Setsuna glanced at her bracers. "It was rather obvious."
Happosai sighed, then shrugged. "Well, I was hoping it would come as a surprise, but since you already know about it... lets test it out, shall we?" He thought a moment. "Oh! I know! How about this. I wish you would all tell me your real names, starting with, oh, Sailor Pluto and working your way around."
The eldest Senshi grimaced but immediately spoke. "My name is Setsuna Meiou." One by one, each of the others gave their name, even Skuld, who decided not to point out the fact that she wasn't actually being controlled yet. Setsuna's face was a mixture of anger and chagrin as Happosai carefully noted each of their names.
Their "master" was quick to notice her discomfort. "Don't like me knowing that, do you? Care to do something about it?"
Setsuna shook her head firmly, regaining her calm. "I will not be baited."
Happosai raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Well, if that's the way you feel." He reached over and smoothly pulled Setsuna's towel off in one smooth motion, leaving the green haired Senshi entirely nude. "Are you positive you don't want to play?" Setsuna didn't even flinch, not bothering to try and cover up or hide as the others all froze in shock. Happosai shrugged and started walking toward the still open double doors. "I think I'll go add these to my collection, so I'll be seeing you all soon." He walked through the doors and out of sight, leaving the goddesses and Senshi all standing there staring at the doors.
"Should we follow?" Hotaru asked questioningly. "Maybe there's a way out of here?
Belldandy looked concerned. "I hope so, but...."
Urd frowned. "That's right, if Belldandy here can't sense any of her other selves, we're probably cut off from the outer world somehow. Happosai probably knows a way out, but I doubt it'll be as simple as looking for an exit."
"We might as well take a look around." Haruka pointed out realistically. "At least we'll know more about where he's got us." She started to cautiously head for the door, and the other girls began to follow along behind, while Setsuna glanced down at herself thoughtfully, then started over toward the fountain to collect her clothing.
"I'll follow along in just a minute." Setsuna told them calmly. "I'm tempted not to bother dressing at all, but I think that would just encourage him more."
Haruka paused at the doorway uncertainly. "Are you sure we shouldn't wait for you?"
Setsuna shook her head. "If Happosai really wants to separate us, he could do so any time he wished."
"Literally." Urd added wryly.
"Yes." Setsuna continued. "We should find out as much as we can, as quickly as we can. We can't fight him directly, not yet. We need to know more before we can try anything." She hesitated. "Besides, Happosai seemed to single me out this time. Perhaps if we do separate for a while he might return, and I might be able to get more out of him alone than if all of us are together."
Urd nodded. "It's a good idea. I was thinking pretty much the same thing. Let's all try to learn what we can, alright?" She glanced at Setsuna knowingly. "Although I think it might be best if only Setsuna or I try talking to "Master" Happosai alone for the time being. We have the most experience in these sort of things, right?"
Setsuna nodded in agreement calmly, fishing her underwear out of the fountain. "I agree. I think that the two of us should have the best chance of accomplishing something."
Haruka frowned, pausing at the threshold of the doorway. "Wait just a second here. If you two are planning on doing what I think you're planning, you can just forget it. There is no way... with that pervert?" She flushed angrily. "If he just tries it I'll...."
Michiru put a restraining hand lightly on her lover's arm. "Haruka...."
The tall, blond tomboy grimaced and looked away from Michiru. "I know... I can't beat him. But we can't just let him...."
Urd stepped in at that point. "What would you suggest, Haruka-san?" She asked gently. "If there is another way, a better way...?"
Haruka ground her teeth but said nothing, shaking her head futilely.
Urd shrugged. "Then let us do this. I'm not a goddess of love for nothing you know. I've seen and done things Happosai hasn't even dreamed of yet, and Setsuna-san has been around the block more than once herself."
"I spent several years in a... I suppose you'd call it a house of ill repute." Setsuna stated calmly, wringing the water out of her bra. "Sometime around the 1920's... I doubt our old pervert has anything I haven't seen before a hundred times."
Hotaru looked shocked. "Really, Setsuna-mama?"
Setsuna nodded a faint smile coming to her face. "It is... just slightly dull, watching the gates of time for all eternity. I've tried my hand at, well, just about every profession known to man or woman in the last few centuries." She shrugged. "Well, I've never been an astronaught." Setsuna wrinkled her nose in thought. "At least not a conventional one.
Hotaru just blinked. "Oh."
Skuld looked impressed. "You used to travel through space back in the moon kingdom?"
Setsuna nodded matter-of-factly. "Naturally. We had commerce throughout the entire solar system, and we had sent scouts out toward the nearer stars... before the end came." She looked thoughtful. "I wonder what became of them, those scouts. Some of them wouldn't have returned until long after the White Kingdom's destruction...." Setsuna shook her head. "Enough of this reminiscing. We follow Urd's plan. I'll stay here in case Happosai returns, the rest of you go and search this place for clues. Perhaps there will be something that will give us some insight into his mind."
Haruka looked reluctant, but sighed and nodded. "If you say so, Pluto."
"I do." Setsuna said firmly, pulling her still damp bra on. "Quickly now, before he returns."
Haruka nodded and led the way out of the room, and the others followed close behind, save Belldandy, who lingered for a moment by the doorway. Setsuna-san... are you sure you wish to do this? Mara... and Happosai are my responsibility more than anyone else's... I shouldn't let you... sacrifice yourself like this...."
Setsuna regarded the young goddess seriously. "I appreciate what you are trying to do, Belldandy-san, but your older sister is right. I am well able to bear this burden, as, I believe, is she. I would not ask this of you."
Belldandy hesitated. "But my responsibility...."
Setsuna shook her head. "Is to stop Mara." She looked the flaxen haired Norn in the eyes. "Tell me truthfully. Do you believe you will be able to properly seduce "Master" Happosai? Will you be able to make him believe that he has won you over? Get him to reveal confidences to you as you lie together?" Belldandy was turning crimson, and she slowly shook her head. Setsuna smiled sadly. "Then perhaps you should leave this to the two of us."
Belldandy looked away, then nodded sadly. "I understand, Setsuna. You are of course correct." She turned to face the oldest Senshi with a look of strength. "If necessary, I will do what is needed to protect the children... but I will leave Happosai to you and my sister for now." With another nod Belldandy slipped quickly through the doorway, heading quickly after the other girls.
Up ahead, Haruka had been opening each doorway as they headed down a long ornate hallway. Belldandy couldn't help but admire the Greek architecture, pillars lining the walls, mixed with frescos of idillic garden vistas.... She couldn't help but notice the predominate theme seemed to be scantily clad or naked women, lounging or frolicking in woodland groves, swimming in pools, posing for pictures. They were very aesthetically pleasing, at least, nothing too tasteless or overdone.
Belldandy glanced into the open doors as she passed them, raising an eyebrow at the contents. The first seemed to be a teenage girl's bedroom, complete with posters of a popular boy band and a pair of pajamas nicely laid out at the foot of the bed. There were several other bedrooms with various themes, making Belldandy wonder exactly how many girls were supposed to be present. One bedroom was all pink frills and lace, the next contained sports memorabilia, yet another had a modern looking computer and looked remarkably similar to her sister's Skuld's room, and the next shared a resemblance to her own room at home. Belldandy started to go over the numbers in her head and realized that there was a bedroom for each of the Senshi and her sisters, with several to spare. She did her best to guess at the likely occupant of each one and found herself adding the Tendo sisters (all four) to her list, as well as the Amazon Shampoo, Ukyo, and Ranko.
The total was rather dismaying, and Belldandy rushed forward to walk next to Haruka and the others. "I believe these rooms are for all of us, and for the other girls from Nermia as well...."
Haruka nodded grimly. "It looks like Happosai isn't satisfied with just the seven of us, doesn't it?"
Michiru looked thoughtful. "If he wishes to try and capture all of the others as well, I think he might be making a mistake."
Urd frowned. "We'll see. Who knows what kind of control he could place over someone without powers? I hope the other manage to rescue us before we have to find out."
Haruka opened the next door out of the expansive hallway, revealing an extensive kitchen, and for the first time, what appeared to be another door leading farther on. Curious, she entered the kitchen and walked over to the far doorway, pushing it wide with one hand to see what lay beyond. "It's a restaurant." She announced in surprise. Some sort of theme place... American, maybe?"
Urd glanced past her and nodded. "A soda fountain... from the 1950's I think. Known for the skimpy outfits the waitresses often wore...."
"Like these?" Michiru called out from the other side of the kitchen where she had opened up a closet. She pulled a hanger holding a skimpy looking waitresses outfit out of the closet and held it up for all to see. "It looks like there's one for each of us." Michiru added, her eyebrow twitching slightly in anger.
"Makes sense." Urd said calmly. "If you've got a restaurant, why not cute waitresses?"
Haruka had gone into the main part of the restaurant and looked around in concern. "No way out... unless it's hidden somewhere."
Urd shook her head. "It won't be that easy to find, lets finish looking around before we start tearing the place apart looking for secret passages." Haruka shrugged and followed Urd and the others out of the restaurant and back into the hallway. There were only three doors left in the hallway, one on either side of the passage and the last at the end of the hall.
Haruka hesitated only a moment before heading to the leftmost door and opened it with a quick tug. She blinked and walked inside the room a moment later, looking around in astonishment.
"A gymnasium?" Skuld said incredulously as she followed the other inside. "This looks like a high school gym, doesn't it?" Hotaru and Michiru nodded in agreement, and Haruka headed for the far wall and a single door with a sign labeling it the "Girls Locker Room".
The short haired blond opened the door to the locker room and walked inside. "Plenty of lockers." She commented. "And showers." She wandered over to one of the lockers and opened it. "Gym shorts." She said with a sigh. "It figures." She rolled her eyes. "I hate girls gym shorts."
Michiru glanced over at her lover with a raised eyebrow. "Oh? You always used to say you liked me in them."
Haruka looked sheepish. "Well I like YOU in them... I just don't like wearing them myself."
Belldandy opened several lockers to look inside before closing them. "Lots of gym outfits, leotards, tee shirts, white socks... plenty of underwear too."
"But not one decent outfit among them." Haruka added darkly. "At least there isn't anything I'd be caught dead in. Not with a pervert like Happosai around."
Urd shrugged. "I doubt you'll have much choice. None of us will, if I make my guess."
Haruka groaned. "I don't want to think about it, OK?" She headed back out the doors into the gym. "Come on, there's still two doors to check out. Although I'm afraid of what we're going to find...." Without saying anything more she led the way out of the gym and across the hall, opening the door and letting a large cloud of steam out around her head.
"Ah." Urd said knowingly. "The baths. I was wondering where those would be."
"Come on in girls!" A old man's voice cackled gleefully. "The water's fine!"
Haruka raised an eyebrow. "He's in his normal form?" She nodded firmly to herself and headed into the room, waving a hand in front of her face to clear away some of the steam. The other girls followed Haruka in more cautiously, looking all about them for any sign of the ancient pervert. Haruka stalked directly toward where the sound of his voice had come from, soon discovering the old man luxuriating in a huge bath, a towel thankfully wrapped around his lower half.
"Join me, ladies?" Happosai suggested, gesturing grandly to the water around him. "It's nice and hot."
Urd hesitated and was about to step forward when Haruka spoke up. "What, and get all wrinkled up like you, old prune? I don't think so."
Happosai pouted slightly at the angry blond. "Don't like older gentlemen, eh? Well, I can soon fix that." He hopped agilely out of the bath and over to a water faucet attached to the far wall, dodging a kick by Haruka as he passed. "So rude." He said disapprovingly. "You really don't like us older fellows, do you, honey?" The old master turned on the cold water and splashed himself even as Haruka launched herself at him with a roar and a flying kick. The younger version of Happosai caught her by her outstretched foot even as he adjusted his towel to fit his larger form, holding her effortlessly at arms length. "As much fun as this is..." Happosai began casually. "You're not really dressed for playing in the bath, are you?" With a twist, he sent Haruka spinning into the air, plucking off her shoes and socks as her feet spun past him. He looked at Haruka's shoes thoughtfully for a moment before tossing them over his shoulder. "Hmm, not quite my size."
Haruka hit the tile floor hard, barely managing to take the landing on her shoulder, and slowly picked herself up. "Why you...!" She lashed out at him with another kick before she was even fully off the ground, aiming for his groin. Happosai sidestepped easily, grabbing hold of the leg of Haruka's pants as her leg became fully extended. With a tug, and a bit of leverage, Happosai swung Haruka around behind him to crash into the wall of the bath, neatly pulling her pants off at the same time and letting her slide down the length of the wall for several feet before she came to a rest. Somehow Happosai had managed to get Haruka's pants onto his own legs even before she came to a rest and calmly belted them up under the towel as she staggered to her feet.
Haruka rubbed the back of her hand against the corner of her mouth, wiping away a thin line of blood, and stared incredulously at Happosai as the handsome youthful looking man calmly hung his towel up on a rack, now that he was wearing her pants. "Hey!" She cried indignantly. "Those are mine! Give them back!"
"Haruka no!" Michiru cried out in warning as her lover dived for her pants with outstretched arms, but Haruka was already committed to the attack. Happosai smoothly caught Haruka by one arm as she dived for him, whipping her around much like he had moments before and pulling her right sleeve off her arm at the same time. As Haruka spun away from him he gave a practiced tug and the shirt came off entirely, whipping back around to him, where he smoothly inserted his arms into the sleeves and was already buttoning it up calmly as Haruka crashed to the floor of the bath admist the other girls, wearing only her panties.
Michiru helped Haruka to her feet but held her tightly when she tried to move angrily in Happosai's direction. "No, love. Don't do it."
Happosai finished dressing in Haruka's clothing and stopped to admire himself. "Not at all bad." He noted with a tinge of amusement in his voice. "Perhaps I should change my style." He glanced over at Haruka appreciatively. "What do you think? Better than the same old purple gi all the time, I suppose." He winked at her. "I like your new style too, my dear. Excellent taste." Haruka belatedly covered up her breasts with her arms, blushing furiously, but she let Michiru draw her away, out of the room, rather than jumping for him again. Happosai pouted again, looking disappointed. "I suppose she doesn't want to play anymore?"
Urd walked up to him slowly, taking a good long look at him in his purloined clothing. "She might not, but I'm willing to stand in for her, old man." She stopped a foot and a half away from Happosai and slowly ran a finger along the collar of his shirt. "Well, perhaps "old" isn't quite so accurate for you right now."
Happosai froze, looking surprised. "Oh?" He asked warily. "And what would be appropriate then?"
Urd slowly walked around him, continuing to run a finger along his collar until she had gone all the way around him. "Hmm... that's a good question. You're very handsome, you know... "old" men don't look like this."
Happosai preened slightly. "I am quite the strapping young fellow, aren't I?"
Urd was quick to agree, subtlety motioning for the rest of the girls to leave as she continued to sweet talk the old man. "Absolutely. If anything, Jusenkyo certainly does give a quality curse, I have to admit. Ranko's quite the healthy girl, and you make a gorgeous hunk of a young man."
Happosai turned to look her in the eyes, not really believing what he was being told. "You're just trying to butter me up so you can learn something. Don't tell me you're actually attracted to an old letch like me."
Urd raised an eyebrow. "Like I said, old really isn't the right word for you right now... besides, I've been around, one way or another, far longer than you have, kiddo. If either of us should be considered old, it would be me."
Happosai cackled. "All the better, cutie. That just means you're more interesting." He ran a hand along her flank, coming up finally to cup her right breast. "You held up pretty well for an older gal."
Urd closed her eyes and and purred just slightly at his touch. "I do try and keep up my figure." She said proudly. "How do you like it?"
"Oh I like it!" Happosai affirmed, proving his statement by promptly burying his face into her cleavage and fondling her chest with both hands.
Urd let her head loll back and ran her hands through Happosai's luxurious blond hair, making appreciative noises as he continued to play with her body.
Outside the bath, Belldandy closed the door, giving her older sister what privacy she could before turning to the others. "Oh dear." She tried to resist the urge to go to Urd's aid, then turned to face the door at the end of the hall. "My sister... is well able to care for herself. We should complete our search while we still have time."
Haruka shuddered, staring at the bath doorway darkly. "She's in there right now... with him... because of me. If I hadn't provoked him...." Belldandy shook her head, taking Haruka's right hand in both of hers and holding it reassuringly. "He would have still done something. I doubt he could have resisted the opportunity, whether or not one of us had acted. Urd had already decided upon her course, your actions did not change that."
Skuld had opened the door at the end of the hall while the others talked, and she called back to them. "Come look everyone. It looks like a clothing store!"
Haruka looked in Skuld's direction hopefully. "Alright! Now we're talking." She hurried over to the last doorway and walked quickly into the room past, looking around with interest. "It does look like a store...." She glanced around a second time, then a third, walking though the aisles looking increasingly frustrated. "A lingerie store that is." She concluded glumly. Haruka started slowly going through the racks one by one, searching through the selection of bras. "Well, at least it's something...."
The other girls all filed in and they all started going through the large selection of underwear themselves. "Why is all this here?" Skuld asked in confusion as she picked out a plain white bra in her size. "Did Happosai steal all of these?"
Michiru shook her head. "I don't think so somehow. >From what Akane said, Happosai prefers to steal undergarments that have been previously worn. These all seem brand new."
Belldandy nodded. "It's part of his wish, obviously. Happosai must have a fantasy involving a lingerie shop." She looked thoughtful. "Truthfully, his obsessions seem rather normal for a human male... if greatly exaggerated."
Hotaru blinked as she looked over at Belldandy. "Are all men really like that?" She held up a small black bra that appeared to be about her side. "Do all men like bras and panties?"
Skuld sniffed. "I'd believe it. I bet Keichi would love to get into Belldandy's underwear drawer if I didn't have a tech trap on it."
Belldandy smiled at her younger sister indulgently. "I keep telling you that's not necessary, Skuld-chan. Keichi would never violate my privacy like that." She shrugged. "And if he did, it would be for a good reason."
Skuld sighed. "All men are pigs, big sister. I think you would be able to see that by now."
Belldandy shook her head. "Being interested in the opposite sex is only natural, Skuld-chan. Otherwise there wouldn't be very many human beings still around, would there?" She turned to Hotaru and nodded. "Many men do find women's undergarments exciting, Hotaru-chan, from what I understand. I think it has something to do with what they conceal."
Hotaru swallowed and nodded. "I think I understand, Belldandy-sama. What about the other rooms? The gym, and the restaurant?"
Michiru spoke up from where she was picking out a green silk bra in her size, down the aisle. "Those are all places where women tend to wear skimpy outfits and bounce about... two activities most men find utterly fascinating... or so I understand." Hotaru glanced at her lover with a slightly guilty grin, and Michiru couldn't help but laugh. "Not to mention Haruka-chan... who does an excellent job of imitating the appetites of the male half of the species from time to time."
Hotaru wrinkled her nose and glared at Haruka suspiciously. "Haruka-papa you pervert." She held her disapproving face for only a moment before giggling and sharing a wink with Michiru. Their levity only lasted a moment, however, before the reality of their situation came crashing back down on them. Haruka sighed and started walking out of the lingerie shop, not having found anything more substantial than a plain white bra to wear.
Michiru held up a transparent lace teddy up for her as Haruka went past. "Perhaps this?" She suggested mildly.
Haruka shook her head quickly and continued on. "No way. I guess it's gym shorts and a tee shirt for me today, unless Urd manages to get my clothes away from Happosai somehow."
Michiru raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You don't want to try one of those waitress outfits?"
Haruka shuddered. "No way. Those are way too...."
"Feminine?" Michiru suggested helpfully.
"Revealing." Haruka responded with another frown. "At least the gym outfits are easy to move in."
"So are the waitress outfits." Michiru pointed out.
"I wouldn't want to do a drop kick in one." Haruka countered.
"Granted." Michiru allowed. "Well, let's hurry before Happosai tires of Urd-sama and comes looking for the rest of us." She started unbuttoning her frilly blouse in order to put on the bra she had selected, and Haruka started out the doorway. "I'll be back in a second."
Minutes later the girls were all gathered once more in the hallway, once again fully dressed. Setsuna had walked down to join them even as Haruka made her way out of the gym in her gym clothes, and all of them looked at the doorway to the baths with verying states of apprehension.
Setsuna glanced at Haruka questioningly, then at the door. "Happosai is in there?" She asked quietly.
"With Urd-sama." Hotaru added just as softly. "She... er...."
"She's doing what she said she would." Michiru confirmed. "Haruka... provoked Happosai again... so Urd stepped in."
Setsuna glanced at Haruka's current attire again, then nodded. "I see... then perhaps we should find an out of the way place to discuss what you've found so far?"
"The locker room?" Haruka suggested. "Or the restaurant?"
"How about the first room?" Belldandy added quietly. "It's the furthest from here."
"That sounds best." Michiru agreed. "Lets go."
Before long all six girls had found places to sit on either one of the couches or among the pillows in the palatial bedroom they had first arrived in. "So." Setsuna began. "What have you learned?"
"Happosai seems to have a number of fantasies to fulfill." Belldandy answered first, glancing toward the hallway. "There is a girls gymnasium, a restaurant with skimpy waitress outfits, a large indoor bath, and a lingerie shop."
"Not to mention all the bedrooms." Haruka brought up. "There's one for each of us, and all of the others as well. Obviously he wants all of the Senshi here, and the other girls from Nermia too."
Setsuna nodded. "That's something to work on, at least." She glanced down the hallway herself. "And you found him in the bath?"
Haruka frowned angrily. "He was in his normal form, and I thought I'd have a better chance at him as an old man...." She trailed off in disgust. "He treated me more like a clothes rack than an opponent. He just changed into his young guy form, took my clothes and put them on himself... he was just playing with me the whole time."
Setsuna shook her head. "He wants us to fight back... he enjoys the challenge. We can't beat him, and he knows it, but he likes it when you try and fight him."
Haruka frowned. "What am I supposed to do, just let him do whatever he wants?"
"Not exactly." Setsuna answered thoughtfully. "He wants you to fight him.... If you just "let" him do what he wants, he won't get any enjoyment out of it."
Haruka looked doubtful. "Anything? I'm not so sure I could just sit there if he started... touching me or something."
Setsuna sighed. "Hopefully it won't come to that... but do your best to resist any impulse to attack him... at least until we come up with a real plan. You're just playing his game."
"I know." Haruka agreed reluctantly. "I'll try."
Hotaru swallowed nervously. "What do you think... what do you think he's doing to Urd-sama right now?"
Setsuna, Michiru and Haruka all exchanged worried glances, none of them sure how to explain, or even what they should tell her.
Hotaru looked from one "parent" to the next in concern. "They're having sex, right?"
Setsuna decided to field the question. "Probably. That's what Urd and I planned."
Hotaru shivered. "Will he want to have sex with me too?"
Michiru and Haruka moved over to hug the smaller girl reassuringly. "Not while we're around, Hotaru-chan." Michiru reassured her quickly. No one here will let that happen."
Setsuna nodded. "We will protect you, Hotaru, for as long as we can." She shook her head. "But I won't lie to you. If he's determined enough, there is only so much we can do. It'll be up to you to decide what happens then."
Hotaru swallowed hard, then nodded. "I understand, Pluto. I'm a fighter too. I'll do what I have to."
"It shouldn't come to that." Setsuna said quietly. "But I want you to know the truth."
Hotaru sighed. "None of us are really safe, are we?" She looked at Setsuna questioningly. "Does it hurt?" She shook her head. "I know that sex is supposed to feel really good, but I also heard that it hurts."
Setsuna nodded. "It hurts the first time usually, but after that it usually does feel good."
Hotaru nodded knowingly. "I thought so. Otherwise Mama and Papa wouldn't always be doing it."
Haruka and Michiru blushed bright red and Belldandy blinked in surprise. "Oh my!" Belldandy turned to them. "I wasn't aware that you two were a couple."
Haruka laughed nervously. "Heh... I thought it was kind of obvious. I'm sure Urd knew, at least."
Skuld blinked three times before her eyes went wide. "Oh! You're lesbians! I knew there was something strange about Haruka always wearing guy's clothes."
Haruka frowned. "Hey, just because I wear guy's clothing doesn't make me a lesbian." She shrugged. "I just think I look cool like that."
Skuld was quick to agree. "Oh you do! I just... well, I thought there was something going on between you and Michiru-san... I just couldn't figure out what."
"Now I'm confused." Haruka said, scratching her head. "How come you're all surprised by me and Michiru, anyway? Aren't you two goddesses? Couldn't you have just read our minds or something?"
Belldandy shook her head. "Oh no. It's not permitted to do so except when we're fulfilling a contract. We do have the ability, but we don't use it."
Haruka looked a bit nonplused. "Oh." She brightened. "Hey! Why don't you use that on Happosai? I mean, I know this isn't part of a contract or anything, but I don't think anyone would mind if you used your powers, just this..." She stopped, looking frustrated. "Never mind, that was stupid. You can't use any of your powers now either, can you?"
Belldandy shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I wish that one of the other versions of me had come... like the me with the curse to become a Tiger. Then at least there might be something I could do."
Setsuna blinked. "I can't believe I didn't think of that!" She started toward the fountain. "If I change into a mouse, I might be able to escape these bracers."
"I'm afraid that won't work." Skuld said reluctantly. "Although it sounds good, your bracers aren't really metal. They're a bit like your costumes. They're fields of force, not matter."
Belldandy looked over at her younger sister in surprise. "That's very good, Skuld! I hadn't considered it fully, but I'm sure you're right about it. What made you think of it? You weren't even here when the spell happened."
Skuld shrugged modestly. "I've been doing some research the last couple weeks, ever since Mara escaped. I've been looking for ways to contain her so that she wouldn't be able to escape again... and I came across some old records that mentioned spells like the one you're all under. I didn't really recognize it until Urd explained, but that's the only thing that would fit."
Setsuna turned away from the fountain with a shrug. "You're right, I should have seen it myself. There's no point in even trying it." She wrinkled her nose. "I might as well keep my curse a secret from Happosai as long as I can. If he doesn't know what I turn into, it could prove to be an advantage at some point." She looked thoughtful. "That is, if these bracers even will let us transform?"
Belldandy shook her head. "I don't think they would impede that change, as it is not one inner born. They only prevent us from using our own powers on ourselves."
Skuld sighed. "So I could use my powers to free one of you... if I was powerful enough to even bother trying. If Urd couldn't break a bond like this with her powers, I wouldn't have much of a chance either, as much as I hate to admit it."
Belldandy put a hand comfortingly over her youngest sister's. "We can only do the best we can, Skuld-chan. Right now that means that we watch and wait for an opportunity."
Skuld grimaced. "But right now Urd is... Urd is...." She flushed in anger and embarrassment. "I know she's... she's Urd... but still, she shouldn't have to... to... be with an evil little man like that."
Belldandy looked away, shaking her head. "I know Skuld... and if I could take her place... if I could... if I could be as brave as she is, I would."
Setsuna walked over to the two goddesses and put her hands over the two of theirs. "Don't think of it like that, Belldandy-san. You shouldn't blame yourself for what Urd is doing. She's just the best one for this task." She looked Belldandy in the eyes. "I'll tell you this straight. Hotaru-chan is just about the bravest people I know. She willingly gave her life for her friends, without ever knowing why, not once, but twice. It took me thousands of years to be able to make that kind of sacrifice, and I knew the full story. Never-the-less, even with as little as I know of your older sister, I'd choose her for the task she's chosen for herself a thousand times before letting Hotaru-chan have to do it. Urd, and myself are best able to deal with Happosai in this situation. Neither one of us has all that much innocence left to lose, you know. He can't really hurt us, not with all we've seen."
Belldandy nodded, putting her other hand over Setsuna's. "I know, and it saddens me that you both had to go through such hardships in your lives, but you're right. I will respect your decisions in this matter."
Setsuna squeezed both goddesses hands, then let go, looking off at the hallway again. "I know how difficult it is to do nothing at a time like this, but I wonder how much we really can do?" She hesitated. "Perhaps I should join...." She shook her head. "No. Best to save that for later. It has some possibilities as a stall tactic, but won't serve much purpose now." Setsuna took a deep breath and forced herself to sit down on a couch. "Some guardian of time I am, if I can't even wait a few hours when I need to."
After a few more minutes Haruka stood up. "Well, I can't just sit here. Let's search the other rooms again. Maybe if we look close we'll see something we missed."
Michiru shrugged and stood up next to her lover. "I'll come with you, love. We never really searched the smaller bedrooms, have we? Perhaps there will be some more clothing in one of them that you can use. Haruka brightened at that suggestion, and headed for the hall.
Setsuna waved at Michiru to follow. "I think the goddesses and I will wait here. We'll come quickly if you need us."
Michiru nodded. "Understood." She turned and hurried out, following quickly after her lover.
The two of them soon found themselves in a small bedroom that closely resembled the one they shared at their home and started to methodically search it. The results of the search were not encouraging. Neither of them had found anything resembling normal clothing, although there had been quite a few "accessories" and "toys" that they had put right back where they had found. There were even some outfits in the closet, but nothing either of them would wear in public, consisting of more lingerie and some highly perverted costumes, including everything from a leather loincloth, bikini and tall leather boots, to a greatly abbreviated version of a french maid's outfit.
After a complete search, Michiru sighed. "I might as well just wear what he left me of my Senshi outfit. It would cover about as much as most of these."
Haruka's breath caught slightly at the thought and she raised an eyebrow. "Love... before he comes back... why don't you and I... make the best use of the time we have left?"
Michiru glanced at the bed, hesitating. "Here?"
Haruka nodded urgently, pulling her borrowed tee shirt off over her head. "Here and now. I may end up having to be with that pervert before this is all over, but I'd much prefer it if was someone I care about."
Michiru walked over to the door to the room and slowly closed it. "Well, strangely enough, I feel the same way."
It was over an hour later when the two of them returned to the main bedchamber, looking just slightly disheveled and much more relaxed then before. No one said a word about it, although Hotaru and Setsuna exchanged knowing smiles, and Belldandy was suddenly slightly more cheerful with the lessening of the tensions in the room.
Skuld had been absently drawing mechanical diagrams on a pad of paper she had brought in her jacket, and Setsuna was doing her best imitation of one of the sphinxes with Hotaru trying to get some sleep resting her head in the Senshi of Pluto's lap, and Belldandy had been tiding up the room. Haruka and Michiru started to cuddle on one of the couches until Skuld finally stood up angrily.
"How long are we going to have to wait?" The short goddess demanded. "Isn't there anything we can do?"
Haruka brought a deck of cards out of where she had stowed it in the back of her shorts. "Anyone for a game of cards?"
I hope you liked it! Please C&C, it's why I write!
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