Valdis yawned as she dragged herself though the duties of a shrine maiden. Despite her busy meddling she always made time to keep up with the shrine work. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she continued to sweep the dusting of snow that covered the grounds. She also sprinkled the salt around on the ground to keep things from icing over. Her hair was done up in a messy bun, while she wore the normal miko garb.

Last night’s party was interesting, she had been ecstatic that Nazo showed up and surprised her. She had not been expecting him to show up all dressed up, without a mask to boot. Perhaps she could introduce him to Daddy soon enough. Especially now that he agreed to work with the Senshi. However the new Moonie Loonie bothered her. He clung to Sophia like a tick to a dog…she disliked it and it was inappropriate for him to be touching a minor like that especially when it was obvious that it was making Sophia feel uncomfortable.

A sigh escaped her throat as she paused to rub the bridge of her nose…Sophia was a big girl…or at least would have to be. She had more important things to worry about at the moment. With that worry pushed away she continued about her work. If she hurried she’d be over with her duties and be able to leave a bit earlier than planned.

David sighed, continuing to shovel the snow from the concrete steps towards the shrine entrance. Clearing the path was just something one got used to in this weather, he supposed. Even with the climate shifts since the invasion, California's weather was more or less the same. You couldn't change Death Valley, the Bay Area, or the Siskiyous that much, aliens or no. But Japan, well, Japan was it's own creature, so to speak.

The snow cleared from the pathways, the young man hung the snow shovel in the maintenance shed, checked the circuit breakers, squeezed out any remaining water from the garden hoses after the concrete pouring the prior day, and went back to the main administration building. Along the way, he thought he saw Val, who seemed to be rushing her tasks.

"Um, Val?" David asked, practicing the still unfamiliar bow. "Did you need a hand with something?"

This was defiantly not something Setsumi had planned to do early this morning. In fact she wanted to sleep in and do nothing, but no. That was a luxury she would never get to indulge after 5:00 A.M rolled around. The door to her apartment swung open and her father and younger step brother helped themselves in. Both dragging her out of bed and down to the local library where the library staff had been cooking all night and morning for the Hikawa Shrine. So guess who were the delivery boys... Thats right, the task was given to none other than Setsumi and her annoying half brother Jin. Armed with wagon and two coolers before being dropped off at the shrine entrance.

Slightly annoyed, Setsumi bit her tongue as she got out of the car and walked around to the trunk. Jin grabbed the wagon, Setsumi grabbed the coolers and both half siblings were off to deliver breakfast to the people working at the shrine. They had handed out some of the breakfast plates when Setsumi caught notice of two familiar faces. Her eyes blinking rapidly at the sight of David, however she didn't know Valdis very well other than their first encounter.

With a deep breath, Setsumi reached into the first cooler and grabbed out two white food bags and two bottles of water. " Good morning! Would you two like some breakfast? Brought to you by the lovely local Tokyo Library?" Setsumi announced with a friendly wave, her hand still holding onto the two bottles of water as she approached both Valdis and David. " It's free and fresh. " Setsumi smiled sheepishly.

Valdis sighed these thoughts were annoying, Moonie Loonie did say he wouldn’t touch Sophia in such away. As much she distrusted him she would have to accept that he would keep his word on that. She would have to push the thoughts aside. When Yinko came up Valdis paused and smiled. He was a welcome distraction.

”Good morning, I’m fine, I just got stuff on my mind….and you know by now that you don’t need to bow to me like that.”

She was about to ask him how things were going when another presence made itself known…and with food! A confused expression crossed Valdis face as she tilted her head to the side, obviously perplexed.

”Wait….the library has a kitchen?”

Now this was intriguing, how did she not know this before…..She just stood there awkwardly still perplexed to why the library had a full working kitchen to be able to make breakfast…unless it was cereal… cereal made sense.

"I guess... but it's a habit I have to build," he answered in response. It was still so awkward, so unnatural for him. The culture would grow on him, but it would take time.

The conversation suddenly stalled as a wagon escorted by-

David blushed, and shrank back beside Val, trying to mirror a professional, courteous manner. He thought back to the NROTC training, but slowly shook it aside. David realized, after the last week, the fluctuating behaviors he had given were less professional, and more schizophrenic around Memiko. What exactly was wrong with him? Couldn't he hold it together long enough not to blow something up, get angry, break down into sad, Kyle Reese pity mode, and then back to Yinko? Why couldn't this girl just tell him that dark, mysterious warlord, or simple, all-American guy worked, and he could just settle on one?

"Food..." he started, "would be nice, thank you." He took the bottled water, and slowly poured half of the contents into a disposable cup. Pausing, blushing slightly as the kid lingered around Setsumi, the young man handed the bottle to her. "Would you split it with me?" he asked. "You... did bring it up here, after all."

He could feel eyes on him, and turning to Val, mouthed quietly "don't you dare start!"

”Seriously I made your pants disappear the first time we met, you would think that would cause you to be significantly less formal with me.”

Really, even after that he was still formal…and had accidently tried to assassinate her dad and she still talked to him. You would think by now he would have gotten over the need to bow. When camera girl appeared she noticed that he instantly had gone to hide behind her. This caused Val to pause in her spazzings and raise an eyebrow. She watched quietly while the awkward exchange took place. This only lasted a moment until he mouthed don’t you dare start at her. Well that was just an invitation, RESUME THE SPAZ. She darted out and grabbed the front of his shirt and shook it a little.

”There are more important matters then your awkward flirting, THERE IS A KITCHIN IN THE LIBRARY!”

She released him as a sad forlorn expression found its way across her face.

”all those years wasted….so many pranks that could have been played….”

Setsumi Blinked at the elaborate expressions and high energy being before her. This girl, Valdis she recalled was hyper like this when they had first met. Oddly enough here at the shrine... Just like how David and her met. A 'Venus Knight' of some unholy order that followed the dark lord Satan she assumed. However, she couldn't judge for she too must of been chosen. To become a magic girl by the servant of the devil, the cat. Which gave her a pin... That makes her turn into Sailor Mercury? Which was a planet last time she recalled. So this was something she really couldn't tell her therapist about. Nor really ask advise about with out sounding like a lunatic. 

Drawn back to the subject and the two people before her. Setsumi blinked at David who seemed to be acting a little more strange than usual. Hell she even took notice of the blush on his face as he took the bottled water and poured half in a cup. When he handed her the half way full plastic container, she tilted her head slightly to the right. Her eyes bulging out when Vadis grabbed hold of his robes and began yelling at him dramatically about a kitchen in the library.

A brow raised and Setsumi couldn't hold it in any more. She burst out in to laughter, before covering her mouth in embarrassment. It didn't take her long however to regain her composure. A big smile crossing her lips. " The staff at the library brought their own equipment from each of their homes to the library. Some of the staff members, including myself and my father got up this morning to bake these EN-Chan Custard filled bread. So there really isn't a kitchen in the library, Valdis."

Her attention turning to David as she held the water bottle in her hand. " Are you sure? " She asked, looking down at the water bottle. " I mean I do have a cooler full after all. " Setsumi smiled, pointing over to the two coolers on the wagon. Her brother perched on top of the lids, his eyes locked on david with a strait forward glare.


(( This is what is inside the bags.  EN-chan Custard Filled Bread )) 

Rolling his eyes, trying not to embarrass himself any further while Val clung to his robes, screaming at the top of her lungs, David sighed. He didn't say much of anything, at least until Setsumi debated the finer points of sharing the bottled water.

"That... defeats the whole trying to be sweet and romantic bit, I guess..." he grumbled aloud. Before he realized what he said, Rhodes' hands trembled slightly, finding it hard to hold on to the water bottle. How would she even react to that? What would she say? A monk, well...okay, she knew he wasn't a monk, but a man pretending to be a monk, talking about romance and feelings at a shrine? Didn't that border on inappropriate?

Did it even honestly matter anymore? Watching as Val's fits of laughter seemed to ebb with the lightening mood, feeling the younger boy's eyes on him, and seeing Setsumi's complete lack of interest in the conversation... what was he to think?

Val fell silent when Setsumi burst out in fits of laughter, this was a serious matter there was a kitchen in the library! How could one be laughing now? When she calmed down enough to explain that there was in fact no kitchen in the library Vals expression dropped to one of despair and she let go the front of David’s robes. That was a bummer on the excitement of this new discovery. However at least it meant that her observation skills hadn’t totally tanked all these years. When the food however was pointed to her attention she immediately rummaged through one of the bags, pulling out the seal shaped pastry.

”D’awwww its adorable!”

She pet the thing on the head with a big dopey grin…all before viciously ripping its head off with her teeth and devouring it.

”Om nom nom, I’m a polar bear”

She let out an evil laugh before happily munching on the rest like a normal person, content to continue to watch the awkward exchange before her. Her eyebrow raised in amusement as David out did himself in awkward displays of affection….For the knight of love he sure tanked at it. Pretty adorably awkward though. A small amused smile crossed her face, she almost felt sorry for him…almost. But frankly that was a really really awkward confession. She didn’t blame him if he wanted to run and hide for a bit. Her expression changed as if she had just remembered something important.

”You asked me if I needed help with anything, I just remembered. There is a lot of debri where this..fire…started. Do you mind clearing some of the rubble when you have time doesn’t have to be now but I will be going off there soon to start repairing some of the structural damage.”

Really it was to repair structural damage and erase any evidence that could trace the youma back to Rei. She didn't really need any help doing so but it was an excuse to leave without it being to awkward if needed.

Setsumi's face completely turned into a bright shade of red. Like a tomato except it spread from the tip of her nose all the way across her cheeks and around her face. David was trying to be romantic? Setsumi blinked, clearly shocked and some what embarrassed. Her lips trembled as Jin's eyes refused to leave David alone. In fact it almost seemed like the young boy was examining the monk before making his way over to his sister's side.

" I can't wait to tell papa that Setsumi has a boyfriend that she's been hiding. " The young boy whispered teasingly to his sister, patting her hard on the back before bursting into a fit of laughter and running off with the rest o the pastries. Meanwhile leaving his poor sister to stand dumbfounded before David and Valdis. Her mouth still slightly gaped and one would of thought that her soul had momentarily separated from her body.

'I'm going to kill him....' Setsumi thought to her self over and over while her right eyebrow twitched. However, Her anger subsided when Valdis interrupted with a more serious tone. Her attention darting back and forth between the two. It seemed that she had come at a bad time perhaps? Then again... Setsumi's eyes widen as she looked to Valdis and then to David. Valdis was a priestess right? She wore the robes of one, and David wore the robes of a monk and he was a knight chosen by the cat Luna right? Then maybe...Setsumi pondered, not really sure if blurting out ' Excuse me Valdis sense you are a priestess and all I was wondering if it was a good thing or a bad thing to come in contact with a talking cat?' Of course that would go over well! No one would expect her of being crazy, she knew David wouldn't sense he was just like her too.

Setsumi blinked, taking a sip of the water from the bottle David had handed her. A bright smile crossing her lips. " Thank you, David, for the water. I should of been more grateful of your gesture. " Setsumi smiled, slightly still embarrassed but her smile was genuine towards David. In fact, she still remained smiling when she turned to Valdis. " So Valdis, if you don't mind me asking... How do you know David? " her question was some what serious, however the tone she used suggested otherwise.

Watching Setsumi go nearly tomato red in embarrassment was, David had to admit, the highlight of his morning. He felt bad about frustrating and embarrassing her in front of her brother, but, in a way, it was a relief. If she didn't at least share some common feelings, if she didn't at least like him a little, she wouldn't have become so flustered.

Then Val took his offer more seriously, and suggested some of the debris from the "fire" needed to be dealt with. That was easy enough.

"Sure, I can handle that," he said. "Though, can I ask, were we expecting anyone showing interest in the fire? I had a late night visitor stop by, hunting for, as he put it, 'crystal fragments'. Something about it just didn't sound right."

Setsumi commented about the water, and David took his turn at blushing, and started to drift away from the group. "I should... get on those repairs..."

Valdis watched as Setsumi went bright red…the better alternative to brushing of the poor kicked puppy’s accidental confession. A small giggle escaped her lips as her brother came up and gave some good natured ribbing. She would be lying if she said she never occasionally thought of what it would have been like to have a sibling. But her parents had gone their separate ways before she was born for reasons unknown to her. Then again…if she did have a sibling she would have likely lost it that day at her mother’s funeral. It was likely for the best she was the only child. She was pulled out of her musings when David inquired about the ‘rubble’. She had to hold herself back from frowning, what sounded inconspicuous before now was glaringly suspicious. She really was trying to be subtle about the whole thing…but instead of showing her displeasure the look on Valdis face showed puzzlement. She tilted her head to the side as she raised an eyebrow.

”Crystals…why on earth would a fire have anything to do with crystals. That is really odd…as for the fire I’m sure we will have plenty of people asking and looking to how it started. Considering we’re not too sure ourselves. But really after you’re done clearing the rubble come seek me out, I want to hear more about this person looking for crystals. They sound awfully suspicious, perhaps they played a part in this lovely mess.”

She was troubled by this development, so her concern was genuine. It was a chance that her father was acting on her instructions however to be safe she would want to hear the whole story later. But at the moment clearing the ‘rubble’ was a more pressing matter. She looked back at the camera girl when she asked a question. Valdis tapped her chin and thought…that was a good question.

”Well actually besides for starting to work her after me we actually met at the Tropical Dome. I had gotten everyone VIP passes to come when the dome was usually closed for a party. One of my other friends invited David here….He looked grumpy so I introduced myself by suddenly playing a game of find the swim trunks. Though we didn’t really formally get to know each other until I found he was working here as well. But considering we work at the same place I would suppose the answer of how I know him is pretty obvious…why do you ask?”

Setsumi had a puzzled look about her at this point. Her eyes focusing on Valdis when David mentioned about the 'rubble' and something about a 'crystal'. A small shiver made its way up Setsumi's spine the moment Valdis opened her mouth to respond to David's obvious concern about the fire. Crystals? What did crystals have to do with something like a burning building? Then again it wouldn't surprise her in the least if a 'crystal' was the cause of this mess. " It could be possible. The man at the Ice rink used a cyrstal to make a ice snake.. If that is so, then there is a probability. " Setsumi spoke to herself aloud, not really realizing that she had done so. When she did however realize this, her arms shot up and she began to wave them about in a panic.

" Oh! Don't mind me! " Setsumi tried to interject, saving herself from more embarrassment. Her panic subsided when Valdis tapped her chin and answered her question about how she knew David. Her brow raised as she tilted her head to one side. Setsumi honestly couldn't imagine David at a VIP party, let alone in swim trunks. Then again, she had never been to the dome either so imagining swimming in this kind of weather was kinda difficult. A small chuckle escaping as she reached up to rub the back of her head, her weight shifting side to side in slight embarrassment.

" I was curious... " Setsumi lied at first, granted she was curious but that wasn't the reason why she asked. With a deep breath Setsumi mustered up the courage once more. This time she would cut straight to the point. " Sorry, I'm just nervous and scared... Most likely insane seeing how the past week in a half has been filled with strange phenomenon's.. I know I must be crazy sense I've seen giant ice snakes, talking cats, and random gun fights at my place of work." Setsumi spoke softly, her eyes not leaving Valdis as she reached in her pocket to take hold of the Mercury pen. She didn't remove it from her pocket, just held on to it as she waited for the ' You must be crazy ' stare.

David lingered just on the edge of the conversation, starting to clean up one pile of the debris. It was easy enough work, and distracting, which is exactly what he needed. This whole love, romance thing that people talked about was an illogical nightmare. War was so much easier. X amount of munitions fired from Y amount of weapons systems equaled Z amount of casualties.

But... looking back at Setsumi, love was not that easy.

Relational effectiveness did not increase, nor decrease with respect to time. There was a quality factor, and why was it all of the time the two of them spent together recently turned into... drama?

Sweeping up the smaller particulates into a trash bin, and dragging those to the non-combustible pile of refuse, the young man wrung his hands. In the distance, he thought he heard something about talking cats, and the gunfight. Great, so now Val would know everything that was going on.

He wondered, when considering what Val would do to him after such revelations, if he should buy more insurance.

Valdis looked back at Setsumi with a look that just said wtf, her eye brow was raised and her lips were set in a frown. Her Violet eyes bore into the girl as her head tilted slightly to the side. Her look towards the girl was less so about the snake itself, more so of the way she said it had been created. That and the fact she had been involved with anything of the like…considering every battle she had been to with the exception of harbor most normies were knocked out cold when the battle began. She didn’t have to wait long for the answer to that question. Valdis wtf look softened as soon as the cats had been mentioned. Instead of staring down Setsumi Val turned her site to David who had gone off to work. She waited to catch his eye before she raised her eyebrow ever so slightly as if to ask ‘did you know about this?’ If David had known there was another Senshi she wondered why on earth no one had told her they had a new member to Crazies R’Us. Valdis turned her attention back to Setsumi.

”I hate those cats…well the black one I hate but Gun fights? Snakes….I would like to hear more about those…but let’s go somewhere to talk, it looks as though you need to get stuff off your chest”

She placed a comforting hand on the girls shoulder, in her other hand she still had the food that Setsumi had brought.

”Plus I want details on you and David; it seems more has happened since the first time we met.”

She looked back over her shoulder as she let the girl inside to give one last final wicked grin towards David whom she knew had to be eavesdropping. After all she had directed him towards the den of doom but he chose to stay semi close by. She would however have to come back and poke him later for not telling her more about this Setsumi development.

---

Once inside Valdis let her to one of the spare rooms, Valdis plopped down on the floor and dug into her food. She was famished so she was happy to have some food. However it needed to be heated a bit, so she held the little seal pocket in her hand and it was suddenly for a very short time enveloped in a bright purple flame. Afterwards it was steaming once more and Val continued to munch down on it.


”So to ease your mind the talking cats have names, Luna and Artimas…or Artimis…not sure either way you’re not going to crazy…they do talk. ”