Chapter Two - History

Haruka and Michiru watch Setsuna do all of her usual chores in the house the next day, both of them yearning to talk to her but deciding not to. Setsuna is even more quiet than before, thinking about the previous day's events. Hotaru comes skipping in with a smile and leans up to retrieve an apple from a basket by where Setsuna is cleaning.
"Good morning, Setsuna." she says cheerfully and bites into the apple. Setsuna doesn't even look at her and goes to the other side of the room as if she did not even hear Hotaru. "Setsuna, what is the matter?" Hotaru tries again.
Setsuna looks at her and weakly smiles, "I am sorry, good morning Hotaru-chan." she says and continues her chores. Hotaru is about to pop another question when the door chimes ring. Hotaru goes tearing off to answer the door as Setsuna doesn't even bat an eye. Hotaru opens the door to reveal the cats and the Inners standing there in casual clothes.
"Hi, Hotaru!" Usagi says with a smile.
"Hi guys, come on in!" Hotaru says and steps aside. The girls walk in and are met by Michiru smiling with Haruka standing close behind.
"Hi, what are you all doing here?" Michiru asks.
"We came to talk to Setsuna." Rei says.
"Yeah, we would like to know about the man she was talking about." Ami says. Haruka and Michiru look into the kitchen where Setsuna is at. The other follow there gaze and see her busying herself.
"She has been like this all day. She hasn't said but two words to Hotaru." Haruka says. The other gives looks of concern and Hotaru looks at all of them curiously.
"What? What is going on?" she asks. The others all try to explain at the same time and Hotaru covers her ears. "Ahhh, not all at the same time." she yells. They all stop and look at each other with slightly red faces. Hotaru looks up and sees Setsuna standing in the doorway. The others look over and look at her.
"You have come to learn about the man I spoke of yesterday?" she says.
"Yes, we need to know who he was." Luna says and steps forward. Setsuna nods and walks into the room holding her arms. She sits down in a chair and faces all of them. They all face her and listen intently as she starts to talk.
"His name is Owari Jikan. All that knew of him in the Silver Millennium, knew him as the Time Mage. He was assigned to guard the time lanes, just as I was. In fact, he was the one who taught me how to do just that. He carries the Owari Naginata, a staff with a blade on the end and an orb that sits at the top. The orb is called Toki, time itself. His staff has the ability to change time at his will. He is well trained with not only the orb, but naginata itself. He and I kept the flow of time going smooth for eons. Then during the attack on the Moon Kingdom by Beryl, he disappeared. I did not know where he went and I assumed he had been either killed in the war, or somehow got lost in the lanes of time. Only now do I realize he is still alive." she says and closes her eyes.
"I have heard of him. Queen Serenity often spoke of this Time Mage and he was always a trusted ally of the court. Why is he now attacking the people of Tokyo?" Luna says. The others are slowly trying to grasp all that had been told to them when Usagi blurts out the question again.
"Setsuna, were you and he more than friends?" she says and everyone looks at her.
"Usagi!" they all yell and Usagi reels back.
"What?? What did I say?" she asks.
Setsuna sighs and turns her head slightly, "He and I were to be wed." she says. All of the other stare at her and gasp.
"Setsuna, you were in love with this, Time Mage?" Michiru asks.
Setsuna nods and looks at them all, "The love between he and I was only equaled by the love Princess Serenity and Prince Mamoru. We were so happy together, I just don't know why he left." she says and her voice quivers. She closes her eyes and tears form, "And now he has returned and is using his power to attack us." she says with tremendous pain in her voice.
Hotaru walks over to her and sits next to her, "Please don't cry, Setsuna." she says and puts her hand on Setsuna's. Setsuna looks at her and smiles, "We will find out why he is doing this." Hotaru says with a friendly smile.
"Thank you." she says and looks at all of them, "Thank you all." she says.
They all smile, "No problem, we are here for you!" they all say.
Setsuna smiles and stands up, "We will have to find him soon. I don't know how much manipulation of the time lanes will damage Tokyo permanently." she says. The other agree and start talking amongst themselves as Setsuna looks out a window again. "Where are you, Jikan? Why have you not come back sooner......and why are you doing what you are doing?" she thinks to herself. The sky seems to soothe her mind as the other girls are talking and discussing what they should do next. Hotaru just looks at Setsuna and wonders about all that is going on right now. Somewhere in the city though, all is not well. Setsuna feels a tremor in time and shivers, as if she were cold.
"He is here." she says and stands up, looking out into the city.

       End <Chapter Two>