[Thread] - What is the price of peace of mind?

[waterfell]

Characters: OU: Mizuno Ami [PGSM], OU: Ichihara Yuuko
Where: Ast-Pente
When: after the Mist plot, when Dark!Mercury returns
Summary: Be careful what you wish for...
Warnings: none?

Comments

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko had just recently finished a shower. It had refreshed her and cleared her head a little. She had troubles at the moment of her own. Most from the various disappearances of people the reactions others were having to them. It bothered her that people merely vanished like they were and in mass amounts. Wearing a simple white kimono that she often slept in with all her hair down, Yuuko was pondering this as she stared out the window.

However someone was at her door. "Come in," She called absently before Mercury had actually knocked.

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko nodded. "Then I will grant your wish."

She held out her hand as if expecting Mercury to hand her power over. Instead it collected in her palm on its own. A trail of silvery liquid like stuff that moved from Mercury's forehead to Yuuko's palm appeared. It collected in a small ball, seemingly solid once it was there. It was painless. Yuuko closed her fingers around it.

"I have taken your price. Tomorrow when you wake up, your wish will have been granted."

[waterfell]

Mercury closed her eyes as the power was transferred, the wish made. Already done... that easily...

Yes, it was always that easy. Her awakening as a senshi had been very similar to this. Metalia's power had been as easy.

She didn't feel different. But she wouldn't, yet, from what Yuuko was saying. That was unnerving, actually...

"If I were to test how this will affect my other powers... that wouldn't be effective until tomorrow?"

If she were somehow unable to transform...

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko gave her a suddenly cold look. "Yes, but I would strongly advise against it. You might regret it."

[waterfell]

Actually, what had she been thinking? She would know immediately if the power to transform had been taken away from her; she would revert to...ah...actually...to what? To the appearance of Ami but this mindset now, most likely.

"Testing my powers?" she confirmed a bit blankly, "that's what you mean I'd regret? Why?" The tone was curious, not hostile; something about Yuuko's sudden demeanor...

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko shook her head, but did not seem inclined to answer. "It's dangerous," was all she said.

She turned away and placed the silver ball into the drawer of her nightstand. "Not to say something bad will happen. More so... something bad might happen."

[waterfell]

Mercury nodded. "I understand."

It probably wasn't necessary anyway. The essential powers, again, she should know immediately if they'd been somehow taken away.

Now the strange feelings towards Yuuko herself were coming out again. This woman was someone people came to because of what she could be, what she could do for them.

That wasn't so different from who Mercury had been. People had approached Mizuno Ami for homework help (befriend the genius girl, get her to help you study or hey! maybe even get lucky and copy an assignment) and, later, because she could be a senshi.

Was Yuuko as lonely? Unlikely; she seemed popular, actually. But there was still a strange feeling that she shouldn't have come like this, just to use this person...

Apparently Yuuko was quite right the wish wouldn't be effective until the next day. It was like being back in the Dark Kingdom again, repairing that stupid cloak for the even more foolish Nephrite after he'd been banished. She didn't know why she'd done it

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko paused and then turned around with a smile. "I do. They're... needed here. Though I haven't lately. Hm." She tapped a finger to her chin thoughtfully.

Mercury was rather right to assume Yuuko was lonely. Though one would never know it.

[waterfell]

"Are you about to tell mine, or are you teasing me?" But the expression was faint amusement mingled with interest, rather than the anger or mocking it might have been another time.

Well. She was free here, wasn't she? No one looking over her shoulder, no one to wonder why she was doing whatever she was doing. Well, not no one, but they could be ignored as far as this: She wanted to see Yuuko some other time, too.

[only_hitsuzen]

Yuuko laughed and winked in return. "Maybe both, maybe neither. You just can't tell~"