Today was going to be one of those good days.  Before the sun had even risen over the apartment building, Setsumi was wide awake and up and about. She had showered, brushed her teeth and hair before reading her daily horoscope. A routine She performed every morning before going to school or work. 

This particular morning however, Setsumi did not waste any time. She hurried out her small apartment building and scuttled her way to school. At school Setsumi didnt seemed to interact with anyone other than her science and lititure notes. Lost within her own thoughts through out the day until the school bell charm sounded. Then just like before she hurried off to her part time job, 'Knooks and Gnomes - Cups and Tomes', a small book an tea shop located in the shopping district. 

Setsumi had counted the steps from school to her work. 2,500 steps she had counted before reaching the door. Blue eyes glancing up at the old clover green sign with the shops title painted in gold letters. An just above the door was a second sign, saying welcome and come on in. 

With a deep breath Setsumi pushed the door open, her eyes locked with her bosses as she steps inside the tiny store. A brow raised at the short, sweet looking 90 year old man who went by the name of Mr. Moon. " Good afternoon Mr. Moon." Setsumi smiled and waved, stepping past him behind the counter and disappearing into the office. When she emerged, something black and white was tucked and folded over her arms. Her disappearing act happening a second time, except this one was to the bathroom to change into her working uniform. 

10 minutes later and Setsumi stepped out of the bathroom in a black and white lollita style mini dress, white stockings and black slipper shoes. Her hair braided in the front where her hair was the longest. She even had a name tag that said 'Setsumi Memiko - Knooks and Gnomes clerk & professional terot reader', a tag she wore proudly within the store. Once clocked in, Setsumi made her rounds, cleaning the small round tables, organizing the books that lined all the shelves of the knooks and gnomes. She even served tea and coffee on a silver plater to those who sat down and paid. All while she was smiling.



Setsumi didnt even stop, not until she heard the door chime ding. "Hello and welcome to Knooks and Gnomes. How may I assist you this evening?" Setsumi greeted, her voice soft yet slightly nervous. 

He needed a place to hide, that was all. David had thought any place would do, but the odd fetish shops, the bars with women paid to socialize, none of it suited him. Okay, maybe he was being a bit picky. Pressing his hand against the bruised ribs again, he had ditched the priest robes for his usual black on black somewhere at the edge of the district. Still, a wincing, running American stumbling through Juuban, while not uncommon, did attract attention, more so than a wincing Shinto priest running for his life.

The odd Irish sign in green and gold caught David's eye. Surely that place wouldn't be that bad, right? Stumbling into the door, David looked up to the counter, and froze.

"Setsumi?" David squeaked. Looking her up and down in the dress, he couldn't help but blush. Forgetting about the ribs for a moment, he just stood there in the doorway, his eyebrow latched up two or three notches. Dear God, the girl he thought was cute was living in otaku fetish hell...

Setsumi's eyes widen like a deer caught in the head lights. Her lips parted as if her jaw was about to drop to the counter, while her whole face flushed like a bright red tomato. The poor girl just stood there in an awkward state of shock. Of all places David had to find THIS shop on the day that she had to wear the stupid Lolita outfit! Her heart began to pound heavily in her chest with every possibly excuse to come up with on why she was in this ridiculous outfit. However, no answers came. Why?! Why didn't Mr. Moon go to the dry cleaners yesterday to pick up the more reasonable outfits. Then possibly this moment of humiliation would of never happened. Panicked, Setsumi scrambled to find her composure. Unaware of Mr. Moon's presence behind her at this point.

" D-D-David? " Setsumi managed to get out before Mr. Moon creeped out from behind her. His old sheepish eyes staring at both her and David with that perverted man smile of his. " Oh? A friend of Setsumi. How lovely, come in come in. Take a seat and warm your bones. " Mr.Moon smiled, gesturing David to take a seat at one of the small tables. For a 90 year old man he could sure move fast... With out even skipping a beat, he reached over to hand Setsumi one of the silver trays and whispered. " Don't be rude Setsumi, the gods must be smiling upon you. " Mr. Moon teased giving her a pat on the back before walking away to the back of the shop.

Her eyes drifting back to David, managing to give him a warm smile out of embarrassment." Hello David, come with me. " Setsumi smiled, walking out from behind the counter and to the closest table.

David blinked, and nodded slowly. Gripping his side, he walked towards the table, choosing to sit facing the door. He kept his left hand pressed to his side, while his right-

In his right was the .50 Beowulf, with the optional M203 grenade launcher and rail-mounted laser sight. He slapped a fresh mag home, pressing the bolt catch, and hearing the rewarding click of the bolt carrier coming down on a freshly fed armor piercing round.

Nevermind, he thought. Just play it cool. No one will possibly pay attention to the scruffy ex-Marine cadet turned terrorist-slash-warlord with the big machine gun. He's just going to have a sip of tea while laying down suppressing fire at his enemy's breach point. Who would think that's out of place in pacifist Tokyo, really?

"You... may want to up your insurance coverage," David started, the thousand-yard stare aimed towards the door as he broke the rear action of the grenade launcher, loading a 40 millimeter projectile, and locked it in place. He tucked the assault rifle into his lap, the red dot of the laser sight shimmering on the glass of the store's only front door. It distorted slightly through the gauze of the table cloth.

Seeing a few people start to back away and make for the door, Yinko sighed. Okay, maybe he wasn't so inconspicuous.

Setsumi followed David to the table with the tray at hand. However, she didn't follow him long when the rather large machine gun came into view. He held out the gun, loaded it and aimed it at the door as if it was something completely natural. A shiver quickly crawled up her spine, while blue eyes widen like saucers behind large spectacles. WAS HE FOR REAL?! Had he completely lost his mind by bringing a gun inside a book and coffee shop?! Wait, wasn't he a monk? Why would a monk have a gun like that?! Wait monks don't have guns.... Oh what the hell. The rant continued inside her skull for a minute and a half longer; Just enough time for David to mention about upping the insurance coverage.

" Insurance coverage..." Setsumi blinked, not sure if he was joking or being serious. " Oh your so funny David! Ha, Hah, Haaah!! It's okay everyone, his just joking. This isn't a real gun! So settle down and don't mind him." Setsumi laughed nervously, trying to calm the customers down so they wouldn't panic and call the police.

Then she turned to David.. " What are you doing? " She questioned, the tone of her voice rather heightened now that there was a gun in the picture. One she didn't want him go trigger happy and put a hole in her and two Mr Moon. Oh wait, Mr. Moon, If he were out here to see this. That poor old pervert would surely have a heart attack and die right in the store's floor. Which wasn't something that Setsumi wanted to happen, plus she didn't want to go through the pain of job hunting again. With a deep breath Setsumi approached the table and set the tray down at the center. Her expression clearly not amused as she picked up the black iron decorative tea pot and poured him a cup of Mellow Dandelion tea.

" I'm taking it that you're not really a monk. So who are you really?" Setsumi spoke softly, her tone some what serious. However, her hands gave away her courage as they trembled when setting the delicate tea cup in front of him. " So what is your plan Rambo, blow away the first innocent customer that comes through that door? "

"Monk in training," David answered softly, positioning his hands on the forend and pistol grip of the AR-15 variant, collapsing the telescoping buttstock to rest firmly in his side. It was a horrible way to shoot. It would be so much better to press it into his shoulder, using the bone support of his arms as was the proper technique. But, it wasn't about proper technique in this situation. It was, rather, about surprise.

"Why would I be that sloppy?" the young man asked, grunting slightly. The pain in his side hadn't faded. Was it really just a bruise? "My plan was to go take care of some errands, maybe-" He froze, his cheeks burning red. He didn't want to talk about the other part, about giving her a call, seeing if she'd be up to a movie. That was challenging enough. More challenging, he'd argue, than shooting the next person to walk into the building, hoping it was the Nihil collaborator tailing him and not some stay-at-home mom and her four year old out on a walk.

David watched as a silhouette paused at the edge of a window, an average-looking salaryman staring at him. There was panic, fear in his eyes, but an odd, almost desperate resolution. Over the hushed whispers and muted dials of the other customers phones as they each tried to reach the police, the slapping sound of an autoloading pistol's slide racking a fresh round home clacked over the ambient noise.

Maybe, playing Han shot first was a bad idea...

There was a thirty, maybe forty second pause as the faintest, blurred edge of the silhouette hung in the corner of the window beside the door. The old, wooden door offered no line of sight on his target, nothing to determine how he was going to strike. Yinko knew his only chance was to shoot the instant whoever he was came through the door, before he could shoot back.

Glancing back to Setsumi, he frowned, his hands slightly shaking, eyes turning a cold, cobalt blue. The nervous twitch in the lids, the tightening of his jaw, they were not characteristic of some movie action hero. There was a time for bravado, a time for bragging about his skills, of using his exploits to drive the enemy away in fear. That time was gone, and all that was left, was to wait.

The next few seconds felt like forever. The door swung open, driving David's sweaty palms to grip the weapon. The salaryman's right arm came up in slow motion, a shiny object protruding out menacingly. The flash registered before the gunshot, missing entirely. That, however, did not stop David from instinctively reaching up, trying to grip Setsumi by the shoulder, and yank her down under the cover of the table as he kicked it over as a blind.

" I have a hard time believing - " Setsumi paused, her sentence interrupted when the door opened. In steps a man dressed in a casual business attire, possibly a good hearted customer, whom now was going to be blown apart by a man who claims to be a 'monk in training'. Everything that David had said before this moment became a blur of jumbled words. Out of all the rotten luck and karma in the world; It would of course find her.

Setsumi tensed as the business man paused at the door and drew something from his side. If she had time to scream, she would, but before her mouth could even open to scream David had grabbed her and yanked her behind the tossed over table. It was like watching a bad action film, where the clumsy girl gets pushed out of the way of danger and into the cross fire of a classic sc-fi gun fight. The sound of gun fire deafens the screams from both her and the customers.

" OH FUUU! "

Setsumi screamed, tucking herself to the floor in a fettle position. Her heart racing and her eyes closed shut, but only for a moment. With a gasp of terror Setsumi's eyes shot open and adjusted to the floor where all her tarot cards had been scattered. They must have all fallen out of her apron when she hit the floor. Out of all the cards, only three were facing up side by side.

The Devil, The fool, and Judgment. Those three cards snapped Setsumi back into reality and the memories of the ice rink came into play. The magical gift given to her by the satan cat, the pen that was tucked safely in her apron pocket. With a deep breath she freed herself from her cowardly state and glared at David. If she could get out of sight just enough to transform, she could protect the shop, the customers and deal with him. So there was no choice other than to take the gamble, in the pause of the gun fire Setsumi tucked and rolled away from the table to behind the counter. Once she made it safely behind the counter, she scrambled on all fours to the employee's only door entry. There she disappeared into the back of the store and took the pen. " Mercury Power Make Up."

There was that strange feeling again, creeping over her in a chilling rush and light. The transformation complete, Setsumi picked herself up off the floor. With the distraction of David, Setsumi needed a plan. She had to figure out a way to stop both guns from firing and to have less damage and casualties to the store and customers. Her mind racing in the small amount of time she had, until a chime went off. To her right, there were two tea pots that had just got done brewing. Tea, a form of water that has been flavored... Perfect. A smile forming when the idea hits her. She reached out and picked up both the tea pots and moved quietly toward the door frame. Once she could see the business man in her sights she took aim with the both tea pots. The spouts aimed at the business man and with a jerk of both her arms, a pressurized ball of hot scalding tea fires out of both tea pots similar to how a gun would go off at the man's chest.

" Everyone go out the back way behind me! " Setsumi yelled out to the frightened customers, taking position behind the doors frame while her eyes fixed on both the business man and David. Just like in the triller she had seen last night on television, Setsumi brought both tea pots up and pressed them up against the door frame and aimed out. One tea pot pointed at David, the other still pointed at man whom she had shot in the chest with scalding hot tea. " Drop your weapons. " Setsumi warned, the people within the shop quickly scrambling past her as they exited the building at the back. Her hands trembling but she didn't sway from her defensive position. 

Everything went sideways, and oddly enough, David found himself wondering once again why he was always the bad guy? Once again, he was in a stalemate with this... seriously? He was being chased around town by a desperate salaryman who was too cowardly to avoid turning? It wasn't surprising, though, when he thought about it. The least suspect and the most malleable of operatives were usually one and the same.

Then, out of nowhere, SHE had to arrive. Wait... Sailor Mercury? He didn't remember her as part of the crew, not since the last time he had bothered talking to anyone outside of Val and Sophia. Maybe he didn't get the memo, or perhaps she was too new to show up on anyone's radar.

Taking a moment to glance down at the floor, he saw the tarot cards, then the fact Setsumi was missing. Was it... possible? Studying the girl up and down, he supposed there was a resemblance, though this Mercury had more confidence in her than Setsumi.

This changed things, though. With Mercury trying to defuse the situation, the salaryman started blabbering about how he didn't want this. He talked about his family, his daughter, mostly, and how the Covenant used him to follow Yinko. David twitched at that, seeing the man form the syllables. Yes, he even got the name right.

"You are looking for Yinko?" the booming, echoing voice was back. The pupils were gone, now, replaced by a solid, radioactive blue glow. The dark man set down the weapon, black on black seeming to blend into the shadows of the silent room. Slowly, the Wraith of Barton drew the ancient Venusian knife, whispering the chant.

Who cared if they saw him transform? If Mercury was real, and not some cosplayer out for a good time, they would be allies, anyway. At least, Moon and the others would try to keep a non-aggression pact between them to keep up the body count. The salaryman, if he lived, it wouldn't matter, either. David was a nobody, a ghost in the metropolis of Tokyo. So long as he stayed away from others, they wouldn't identify him.

"I go by many names!" The voice hissed, a twisted, savage, spittle-filled rasp. The figure in black emerged. If David dressed like Johnny Cash before, the jet black regal cloak did not help. Neither did the barbaric, Scandinavian broadsword, held in both hands in front of the specter like ancient depictions of knights of the Crusades. "The Dark Knight of Venus, the Wraith of Barton, Yinko, take your pick."

It appears some of emergency calls went through or perhaps the gunshots were heard. Sirens can be heard in the distance, but are approaching the scene at a fast rate as they whiz past all traffic, providing everyone only moments before law enforcement arrives on the scene.

Customers flood to the back because it I the only place they can go. Some sit there sobbing and some others making some last minute calls to their families, telling them how much they love them.  

Was this really happening now?! The man babbled away like a fool and David was now acting weird. Yinko? Who the hell-oh. David's sudden voice caught her off guard. His sudden new appearance causing her to jerk and prematurely fire off both guns; hot tea flying out in the direction of David and the businessman. Luckily for them her aim really sucked. Both shots splattered against the doorframe behind the stranger and a bookshelf beside David. A hint of steam exhausting out from the spout as she drew both tea pots back.

" Oops, went off a little too soon there."

Setsumi apologized. however she was still taken back that HE was someone like her... A knight was it? But he said Venus? So the bigger question is, were they really on the same side? Setsumi pondered this for a moment, drawing her gun back on the business man. Blue eyes tracing the floor where David..er..Yinko? had tipped over the table. She remembered the pot of Dandelion Mellow Tea that she had brought out to David before all this. She had set it on the center of the table, which meant that it had to have hit the floor somewhere. When she finally located the tea pot to her disappointment the beautiful piece had been shattered, but the contents within had pooled out and around the strangers shoes. With the door wide open, the cold air outside could easily freeze... It was an idea, an one that would at least give them a chance to escape with the sound of sirens getting closer by every second.

" Yinko, leave this man alone. If we are truly on the same side then we must leave now..." Setsumi spoke in a warning tone, lowering the tea pots. Her eyes still focused on the puddle around the man's feet. Fingers twitching, adjusting to the change in temperature within the store. The puddle around the man's feet began to crystalize and freeze, holding him in place where he stood.

" The authorities will handle you. Yinko.Errr... Crazy guy, Follow unless you want to join him."

Setsumi nodded, still keeping herself shielded by the door frame as she motioned To David er Yinko..When she got to the back of the store, she paused at the sight of the customers still here within the back of the store. Oh my god could this get any worse?! Oh wait, don't think of stuff like that because it always can! Setsumi blinked, taking in a deep breath and approached the customers. Her posture confident as she sat the tea pots down and held her hands up.

" Please! Calm down everyone, the situation is under control. I am sorry you all had to go threw such a thing, If you all would please follow me calmly to the exit. Then you can wait for the authorities and go home to your loved ones. I promise." Setsumi reassured the people, walking over to a door that was labeled emergency exit in white scotch tape. Wow Mr. Moon really needed to actually get legit signs in this place. She thought, opening the door to allow the people to leave the building. Once everyone was out, Setsumi glanced back behind her.

" Well? I'm not waiting here for the police to arrive..."

Yinko focused on the salaryman. No matter how Setsu-, or rather, Mercury, responded, the dark man kept his sword drawn, eyes focused on the spy. Even when the sirens approached, when she barked at him to retreat, his eyes never left the traitor. Slipping back into the darkness with the girl, the Venusian blade glinting at the last traces of daylight, a sick grin spread over his face.

"I will be seeing you again," he insisted, pointing the tip of the blade at the collaborator.

Pushing past the exit, David glanced to each direction, noticing the growing police presence. They weren't going to escape so easily, even if they ditched their powers and made a run to blend in with the civilians. No, this required a different tactic.

Putting the sword away and slinging the assault rifle over his shoulder, the cloaked man turned to the senshi. "It might be safer for you to return and blend in with the crowd. At least... less suspicious." He paused. "But, if you are leaving with me, you're going to have to trust me."

Extending his cloak, Yinko held the henshin dagger, closed his eyes, and whispered the blood oath, vanishing in the alley as one with the darkness.

The customers flood out of the emergency exit as the Sailor senshi suggests. One boy snaps a picture of her before rushing out the door.

In the meantime, the car full of MPs can be heard pulling up to the front of the shop. A male voice yells for everyone to put their hands up as they are about to enter the building. A few moments after the shout, two MPs enter with guns ready. They see the salaryman who probably looks ready to piss himself, and see motion towards the back of the store. One stays by the frightened gentleman with the gun while another heads to the back of the store.

The police were already here. The heavy clomps of their boots could easily be heard entering the building and down the employee hallway. Someone was coming down the hall and approaching them fast. Normally in this type of situation Setsumi would of already been out the door, down the street, and be out of sight in a matter of minutes possibly even seconds. Which all depended on what she was running from at that point of time. Why?! Why did she help him escape?! How would she know if he was telling the truth? Now she was going to get arrested and tossed in jail cell with a bunch of … Setsumi Gasped, a lump forming in her throat as her brain slowly began to have a melt down.

' MY PERFECT BACKGROUND RECORD!! Think, think, THINK! '

Setsumi panicked. Her mind racing at a ungodly speed and pace, un-sorting and sorting through all the books, movies, internet blog sources that she had memorized over the years. They needed a distraction, something to give the illusion of what was suppose to be here and is not.

" In the midst of Chaos, there is also opportunity. "

Setsumi spoke, taking a deep breath before following behind david. She would take this small window of opportunity to look down at the snow which covered the streets. Each foot print of the customers who had fled the store coming into view. If she could play her cards right, then possibly she could use this as a means for their escape. So, Setsumi quickly and quietly walked backwards behind David. Her eyes not leaving the snow as she calculated each indention in the fresh white powder. . Her breathing becoming more shallow. Her fingers slowly moving up and down like how a piano artist would press the keys to his instrument.

In the snow, the indentions of their foot prints began to rise as she used the water in the air to create fresh powder over their own prints. This would cover their tracks as they moved. That way no one would know which way they had escaped from.

" Okay… I'll trust you…for now. " Setsumi spoke softly, following closely behind David…er..Yinko?

The walk down the cold, dismal alleys was tedious at best. With Mercury's help, though, the footprints dissipating in the fresh snow, the police were left baffled. It was maybe another hour of cautious, silent running, when David, adrenaline bleeding out of his system, finally succumbed.

He had been using the new, unproven technique for too long, and it showed. Crumpling into the brick wall of a grungy alleyway, the weathered young man peeled away the layers of black, the amorphous, violent form winking out of existence. In it's place, a simple, battered boy clutching a rusted blade and an assault rifle, cringed in the cold of the snow.

For the longest time, he said nothing. What was there to say? What could he possibly tell this girl? Okay, what could he tell this girl that wanted posters, Interpol, and the American commanders on the Pacific theater couldn't tell her? He was an outlaw and a marauder, someone not to be trusted. They would likely mention the body count, the civilian hostages he had blown away, and the one chance at a ceasefire in San Mateo where he shot down anything that moved.

Clutching the armor piercing carbine, David fell back to his old habits, ejecting the mag, checking the ammo, and slapping it back home. A shiver ran through his body as the snow started to cut through his simple pair of slacks and polo shirt. Still, he clung to the ground, longing for shelter and a better vantage point.

"Yinko," he explained. "That's what they called me after the Battle of San Mateo, and the Sierra Campaign. I was just a nuisance before then." He paused, hefting the weapon, and staring down the barrel, promptly considered his options. "The Covenant culture... they only give names to things of... significance."

The Mercury Senshi said nothing as she continued to walk backwards behind David. Grumbles escaping lightly under her breath. Obviously brewing in her own thoughts. Her mind calculating, debating, and going over ideas of what to do next. For now all she could do was cover up their tracks in silence. Her focus only directed to the snow; Until it was torn away when David hit the wall. Blue eyes shot up and with out skipping a beat Setsumi twirled around and took a very awkward defensive stance. However, instead of facing someone attacking she was faced with a battered looking young man.

Did he get hurt or something? Setsumi blinked, some what in disbelief at this David fellow before her. He was acting like a complete crazy person! Loading another magazine in the same gun used to decorate the walls of her job with tiny holes. With a deep breath, Setsumi listened to him as he gave a brief explanation of the name given to him, ' Yinko '. Her blue eyes stayed locked onto him, her expression blank as she stood there in the alley.

" What's in a name? That which we call a rose.. by any other name would smell as sweet. " Setsumi sighed, her tone slightly irritable but it also had a calmness to it. " Is that suppose to scare me or something? " Setsumi questioned, her brow raised as she cautiously approached him. This was insane. First a giant Ice snake. Second, a guy who she thought was a monk was really a gun crazy 'warlord' who went by the name 'Yinko'. Yay for random internet blogs late at night! Great...Just Great. However there was a silver lining in this situation. If he was like her, then he could explain what exactly was going on.

Setsumi paused, Her eyes closed as she transformed back into her normal self. Still dressed in the black Lolita work attire. " Now that I know who you are..." She sighed, opening her eyes and looking back at David. " You have a lot more explaining to do.... So lets get out of here, before the cops come down this way. Think you can trust me with your life for the time being? "