She laid in her bed on her side, making sure she was facing away from the door, letting the time tick by. She knew her cousin might stay up late, but she hoped not to late or that maybe she would do homework or something and would be to distracted to hear or notice something was up. This was easier with parents that passed out at 1130 at the very latest and brother’s who if they weren’t sleep were usually blasting music into their ears.
At 1130 she had enough trying to wait it out. She snuck out of her room, as quietly as possible not even bothering to get dressed, dressed still in the pjs and slippers. Once she powered up, she’d have her fuku, which sadly wasn't as warm as her pajamas, but it couldn't be helped. She went down the stairs, sliding quietly down the hall toward the kitchen and out the back door as quickly as possible. As soon as she made it to the back gate she slipped out and ran. She needed to be a good ways away from the house before she powered up.
Mercy was steadily working on her homework for the better part of an hour after she had Ashley and Dae go to bed. She needed to get the rough draft of this paper written so she could get some sleep. She shut down her computer and yawned, catching movement out of the corner of her eye. Hummmmn… She stretched once more and walked to Dae’s room first, peeking in to make sure he was actually asleep, which he was. Leah’s room was next, causing Mercy to frown when she found that the girl wasn't in her bed at all. “Ash?” she looked around, narrowing her eyes. That little girl was about to get a tongue lashing when she found her next. Why would she be sneaking out in the middle of the night?
Mercy wasn’t any better when she was her cousin’s age either, often sneaking out when she wanted some air or just to go chill with friends. Rolling her eyes, she looked around and henshined, calmly walking out of the house to go search for her cousin. She made sure to leave out the back door, keeping crouched so no one would see her. She leaped onto the roof and looked around, leaping from roof to roof while trying to look for that familiar head of curls.
Ashleigh stopped a few blocks out, feeling she was a good distance from her house and powered up, calling, “Rhea Power, Make Up!” A moment later she stood in under, clad in pink and yellow, looking like the cutest clown one might find. Terrifying she was not. She spun around when she felt another in the area. She was shocked to realize the other was really close and seemingly headed right for her. She sighed though, at least the person wasn’t one of the negaverse.
She looked up to the rooftops in time to see senshi in red and white looking like she was probably going to be very cold tonight jumping about. She stood waiting wondering if the other would come to her or just pass her by.
Mu Arae was a good distance away from Leah’s house, which worried her a little. Dae probably wasn't going to wake up anytime soon, but Dee would have her hide if she came home and found out her daughter was missing. Her own father would kill her too, as much as he loved her, he took pride in the fact that she was good with children and was a pretty good babysitter. His bragging is what got her most of her clients, so hearing about how she managed to lose her cousin would be disastrous.
She halted when she felt another power signature, debating on whether she should go investigate since this wasn't a nega signature. Maybe they could help me find her? She leaped down from the roof she was on, blinking when she saw what could only be the most adorable senshi she's ever seen so far. “Hello, you're an adorable looking senshi. What's your power?” she hoped she didn't look threatening, she was generally curious. “I'm….Looking for my cousin, maybe you could help me find her? I'm worried and I don't want anyone from the negaverse to get their hands on her or her starseed.”
Now that she was getting a good look at the senshi, she did look a bit familiar…
Rhea wasn’t sure she was trying to be funny or not when she called her an adorable looking senshi, but she took it at face value because he fuku was definitely adorable. “I’m the chibi senshi of laughter,” she said answer the woman’s question. She really hoped the woman didn’t awe at her sphere because she swore she’d walk away.
She gave the other a curious look though when she said she was looking for her cousin. The woman did look familiar, but it couldn’t be her cousin. Her cousin was sleep in the house, right? Well she wasn’t actually sure about that, since she didn’t bother to look for fear that her cousin wasn't sleep.
“Sure I can help? I haven’t seen anyone go by though, but I don’t want the negaverse to get their hands on anyone, they are terrible!”
She balled her fists up frowning, clearly angry, but she tried to push it aside, lest she rant and get a little too sassy. “Um what’s she look like and what’s she wearing? Is she younger or older?” Isn't that how it worked, get a description so she knew what look for.
Laughter huh? And she was one of those chibi senshi she heard about? It's weird, seeing someone that's technically/more than likely has been a senshi longer than she has. Arae smiled and held back a small giggle at the fierceness this chibi was displaying, reminding her of Ashleigh so much that she wanted to hug her. “Ummmn…” She lifted up her glove and pulled out her personal cellphone, bringing up one of the many selfies she's taken with her. “She looks like this~ I mean...You kinda look like her.”
If Leah was a senshi, then she wouldn't worry as much if she went out at night. In fact, she would patrol with her since two senshi were better than one when it came to safety. She put her phone away, back under her glove (she never brings her phone with her, but since she was looking for Leah, she felt the need to bring it so she could show photos just in case.
Rhea jaw dropped when the senshi showed her a picture of herself. She looked up slowly wide eyed at the senshi who was her cousin. “Mercy,” she exclaimed looking, “Oh my god … I am in so much trouble … please don’t tell my mom … she’ll have like 12 cows.”
She looked a little frantic wondering if Mercy was going to drag her home now. She just wanted to do a quick patrol. “I know I shouldn't have snuck out … I wasn't going to stay out long … just do a patrol and come back.”
She should have just waited until Sunday to patrol. She wouldn't have gotten caught, but she just had to sneak out while Mercy was there and she was a senshi too?!?
Mercy blinked and tilted her head for a second before it hit her. “Leah?!” Well, this was a surprise...Mercy couldn't help but laugh for all of three minutes before looking back at the senshi before her. “Why would I tell your mom about your senshi life? I don't even tell dad anything and you know I won't say anything to mom.” Gawd if Katrina found out about what she did at night, she would just assume that her daughter was up to no good. She sighed and smiled, embracing Leah tightly. “Now that I know you're a senshi, we can go out on patrol together. Two senshis are better than one right?”
She pulled away with a smile, tugging on her cheek gently. “Wanna patrol together from now on?”
Rhea gave her cousin a brilliant hug and literally glomped the girl. This was really the best thing that had ever happened to her as senshi. She was so happy she could cry, and that was exactly what she started to do.
She hugged her cousin tight and nodded repeated against her shoulder, “yeah I want to patrol with you. Thank you for not telling … maybe this senshi thing will get easier.”
She released her cousin and gave her a water smile, something like relief blossoming in her. “I’m Chibi Sailor Rhea, senshi of laughter. Probably best for you to know that … can’t go around calling each other Mercy and Leah … crazy cat made me a chibi senshi when I was 9 and it has not been fun at all. My magic is interesting though, I’ve found that out recently. What about you?”
She barely waited for the answer before she realized something and blurted out, “can you teach me how to fight?”
Mercy smiled and shook her head, hugging Leah while she cried. This was something she wasn't expecting, but she would take it. Protecting her little cousin would be far easier than protecting herself [since she really had no care when it came to her own personal safety], and she could use the company. “Oh, even if I had to, I wouldn't be telling aunt Dee anything...That would be your job. She ain’t ripping me a new one~” As much as she loved her aunt, that woman could be downright scary when it came to her kids.
“Well, nice to meet you chibi Rhea, I am Sailor Mu Aarae, senshi of brutality.” her name used to make her wince, but now that she’s gotten used to her powers and knows how to use them properly, she was quite proud of making people go into a bloodthirsty rage. “Fight? Well...How about I take you to a karate class and we can go from there? I'm not really all that good at fighting. I just use my powers as soon as I'm close enough and run away.” Something she wasn't proud of, but hey, it got the job done so she wasn't complaining much.
Rhea blinked at her cousin briefly before she started to laugh. She really couldn't help it because it turned out Mercy or Mu Aarae … she had to remember that … did the same thing she did. “I do that too,” she said in between laughs, “... I just hit them with the giggles and book it.”
She smiled at her cousin though, “I would very much like to learn karate though it would be helpful. Methone told me to keep up with cheerleading and gymnastic because they are useful too. I imagine because both take a lot of strength, coordination and stamina.” It took her a little bit to realize just how helpful they were, but she’d never intended to give them up anyway.
“Okay, Sailor Mu Aarae, shall we patrol quickly and get back to the house … tomorrow's a busy day, yeah?”
“Well, I'm looking into what I can afford for classes, so I’ll look for you too and then we’ll need to talk to your mom about it.” She smiled and nodded, leaping onto the rooftop she came down from. “Ready when you are Sailor Rhea!~” She was so excited to see how this would turn out! Who wouldve thought her own cousin would be a senshi?! (Well, Nessa was the senshi of volcanoes so this shouldn't surprise her one bit. Perhaps senshi blood ran in her family? On both sides?) “I’ll race you around while we patrol~” Mercy grinned and leaped away at a moderate speed, making sure Leah would be able to keep up.
Viva Viola
