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'Where is the White Moon Court leader? Who is she, anyway? What did she do to piss off the Dark Mirror Court, and why are we the ones to deal with it?'

There were many things on Sailor Tsui's mind, except the one thing that SHOULD have been on her mind, which was the task at hand. She was still recovering from this strange and on going cold that seemed to linger on (no doubt thanks to her busy "schedule") as well as the fight she had with one of the Dark Mirror Court's Senshi, Sailor Remarque. Her patrols were done at an earlier time now, thanks to that run in, though she still had trouble with the 'going it alone' part. The few Senshi she did know where either busy with their own problems, or sick like her, but she couldn't lay in bed. Not with these troubling thoughts following her.

'I need answers, but I have no idea where to look. It's not like it'd be on the internet...'She walked silently across the streets, avoiding alleyways and any place that seemed more infested with thugs than Youma. Her senses were on alert but her mind was cloudy, not just because of the cold either. She was distracted, and before too long, she was also lost. She looked around, not recognizing her surroundings immediately and slapping a palm to her forehead. "Great... I swear, I'm the worse Senshi ever..."

What was worse? She sensed a youma, and it seemed like it'd be a big one. She looked around her surroundings, looking for anyone or anything that looked suspicious. She growled, cracking her knuckles and stepping forward cautiously. "Come out, come out, wherever you are..."

Sailor Tsui could not help but jump at the sudden arrival of the other Senshi, and almost immediately she was on alert. There was an awful lot of black on her attire and at first glance, Tsui was worried that she had the most rotten luck in the world. Running into a Dark Mirror Senshi two weeks in a row? What the hell did she do to deserve that?

Yet, she sensed that this one was different, more similar to her, and Chibi Lenka, and her initial fears were replaced with slightly annoyance when she started talking about her hair. Tsui had liked her hair, as a matter of fact, and she never liked it when other kids mocked her for it. She was certain that it shown in her eyes, as well as her body language, as she curled her fists and straightened her arms at her side. She was angry, until her tone seemed to change to a more lively one as she introduced herself.

"What you doing out her Up-do? Patrolling? Found anything interesting? The titles Super Sailor Ate, Senshi of Pollutions. No need to ask, that smell is probably me."

"Really? I just assumed it was a nearby garbage can, or a Youma..." Tsui admitted, glancing around the wide alleyway they were in and taking noticed of the trashcans present, though still there was no definite sign of the youma. She could sense it was nearby, but it must have been a master of stealth to remain hidden, especially now with two Senshi present. Tsui tried to ignore the smell, for once thankful that the bulk of it must have been blocked thanks to the damned mucus gathered in her nose. Thank goodness for this cold, for once.

"Sailor Tsui, Senshi of Tigers," Tsui introduced herself, her shoulders relaxing a bit now that she knew that Sailor Ate was on her side. She didn't extend her hand, though, not yet, not when she knew that there was a Youma nearby. "And I'm on the hunt for a youma that's nearby. It's doing a good job of hiding, though... if you smell as bad as you think you do, maybe that scared it away though?"

She was merely jesting at that last part, returning the favor for the wisecrack about the hair. In retrospect, she actually kind of liked the nickname. 'UpDo... never thought of it that way.'

The youma was laying in wait, observing the two senshi and preparing for its attack. With two senshi there, it would have to strike soon, before the stronger, more experienced one was able to prepare for it. It began to gather and form, the trashcans around them shifting about and causing them to vibrate ever so softly. It was going to strike the smaller, weaker of the two first...

Tsui had more than wanted to get better acquainted with Ate, but it seemed that the dark aura that she had lightly sensed had finally caught up with them. She couldn't ignore just how serious Ate grew and that prepared her more than her warning, but it wasn't enough to stop her from jumping a few good feet into the air when it finally revealed itself. Tsui watched at the youma's tail came crashing down on Ate's face and the older senshi was pushed into the wall, and now she had a good look at the youma, face to face.

Not that Tsui wanted to. She was hardly a coward, but even she had to admit that she was appalled at the sight of that thing. She couldn't help but comment aloud, even as it began moving towards her. "Look at the size of that thing...!"

She moved her hands in front of her, trying to gather energy in her arms so that she could strike, but before she could even begin to focus, it caught on to her plan and made a sudden movement to the left. For a youma its size, it was quick, and Tsui tried her hardest not to panic as she looked into the shadows it seemed to have merged in. "I... I can't see it? Drats..."

Tsui stood alert and ready, trying to keep her ears open for its movements but there was too much noise in the street, and damned this cold for clogging up her ears! Why couldn't things go right for once? Fearing that she was nothing but an easy target, she moved closer towards Ate, looking around almost frantically and trying to pinpoint onto the youma's aura before it could get the jump on them again. She glanced back at Ate for only a moment, knowing that it might have left her open to an attack but taking that chance; maybe she could draw it out and catch it with the Tiger Fist Strike? It was worth a try...

"Are you okay?" Tsui asked Ate, genuinely concerned for her safety despite having just met her. "Can you still fight?"

'Please say you can... I don't think I can handle this guy alone!' Tsui kept these thoughts to herself, hoping that none of her fear could be seen by either the older senshi or the youma, only the rush of adrenaline and the excitement that came with a fight. All the while, she searched physically and mentally for that creature, not realizing just how close it was getting. 'Where is it? Where?'

"I'm fine... he hasn't touched me yet!" Tsui could barely contain her glee when Ate was able to reply, and she was thankful to hear that sarcasm of hers, though she didn't want to disappoint her. She chuckled, but it wasn't a condescending one, but a nervous one, and she eyed the area as she replied. "No, unfortunately... not that my aim would be that good anyways."

Then she admitted, not wanting to disappoint the other Senshi but knowing that she couldn't lie to her. "And... I never killed a youma before. Not on my own. I've only been able to push them back and someone else is the one that gives the finishing blow."

Tsui didn't even WANT to mention her lackluster accuracy; she didn't want to give Ate any more reason to start fearing for their lives. However, despite this, she remained firm and her senses on high, commenting aloud as she heard the lightest of movements from above. Could have been the wind, or the Youma... "But now's as good as time to kill one..."

Her words were almost ironic, as no sooner did she said them, she caught movement in the corner of her eyes and immediately fell backwards to avoid those razor like claws. Now she got a good look at the creature, slimy, hairless otter fur and all, and she was able to put some of her gymnastics training to good use as she backflipped and rolled to get back to her feet, allowing the youma to hit nothing but air. Knowing that it was going to try hiding in the shadows again, Tsui acted fast, leaping back to her feet and charging it, hoping to hit its side and ram it against the wall to daze it. If she could daze it, she'd give Ate a chance to attack!

Her plans were foiled when her shoulder hit the slimy youma but she didn't budge. Not a single inch! The youma was not only fast and stealthy, but it fits like hitting a mountain of reinforced gelatin, and Tsui could see the slimy, black fur bristle and spring to life around her, latching onto anything it could as Tsui tried to pull away. She cursed vehemently and tried to pull away, but to no avail. "Yargh-dammit! It's like hitting a fly paper! I'm stuck!"

She could feel herself being lifted up when the creature rose to its hindlegs, and Tsui continued to struggle against the fly paper-like grip, thankful that she had hit it at an angle that neither its whip-like tail nor razor short claws could reach her, and she hoped that her rapid kicking would either pull her free from its grip or at least slow it down. "Ate, it's right in front of you- hurry up, you can't miss it!"

Tsui kicked, and kicked and kicked, but she felt as though she was going nowhere. She heard Ate's words and took them very, very seriously; after her encounter with Sailor Remarque, she -knew- Senshi were capable of hurting, or even killing, other Senshi. And despite all of her doubts and questions, she knew one simple truth: she was too young to die!

Despite her best efforts, all she managed to do was slow the youma down, and the youma had sensed Ate's reluctance, practically tasting it, as he ventured towards the stronger of the Senshi. It had thought to remove the smaller one off of it, but it showed intelligence by keeping her attached, now knowing that the other would not attack so long as he had leverage. It moved towards Ate, its stance slow and unsteady thanks to Tsui's thrashing, but it had its eyes on the target. He'd take care of the little nuisance once the bigger threat was taken care of...

Seeing the youma getting closer and closer to Ate, Tsui knew she was running out of time. She had to do something, and quick, or the youma would kill them both! "D-dammit!"

"Can't you blast yourself off kid!! Do your attack! DO IT!!!"

Ate's words were heavy and near frantic, but they were Tsui's anchor. She felt like a damn fool for not even THINKING about it, and her struggles ceased for a moment so that she could gather the energy she needed. At this angle, she might crash into the wall, but at this point, all she needed was to break free and give Ate the chance she needed. White aura began to dance around her hands, arms and shoulders, and it stopped the Youma's march for a brief moment, turning its head as far as it could to see what the little Senshi was doing, but by then it was too late.

"Tiger... Fist... STRIKE!!!!!!" Tsui yelled at the top of her lungs, hoping that the ferocity of her attack would be equal to the ferocity of her shout, and with a rush of energy, she shot forward and into the air. Not only did she free herself from the Youma's body, but she ripped herself off, taking a good chunk of its gunky skin and flesh (if one would call it that) with her, and the Youma's screeches were loud enough to let them know that he was injured, but still right in Ate's path.

Tsui yelled as she came falling down, using her gymnastic-trained sense of balance to catch herself on the landing without injury. "Now, Ate!"

Tsui was speechless at Ate's power, and she watched in amazement as the youma exploded after the direct hit, not releasing a breath or breathing in until she was certain that the creature was dead and that the stench of the attack wouldn't penetrate the mucus in her nose. If her attack was that powerful, she could only imagine how powerful the smell would have been. But, a dead youma was a dead youma, and terrible stench or not, Tsui was grateful, and envious. 'One day, I'll be that strong...'

She heard Ate's question and finally drew her attention back to herself.

"I'm... alright, yeah," Tsui said, though it was obvious in her voice that she wasn't too thrilled. Residue of the youma she ripped out of was still on her, and while normally she wasn't the type to be screamish, this was an exception. Black, gunky ... gunk, decorated her attire and some of it even lingered in her hair, and she tried not to sound too disgusted as she tried picking off some of the bigger pieces. "I'm going to need a really long bath after this, though... youma usually aren't that messy, at least not the ones I've fought in the past."

Realizing that there was only so much that she could do to get the crap off of her, she turned her focus to the other Senshi, rushing over to her side and hoping to give her a hand. After all, she had taken the bulk of the attack and saved them both. "How about you? That thing didn't mess you up TOO badly, right?"

She took a glance at the remains, thankful to see that Ate's blow was a direct hit and powerful enough to keep the damn thing dead. She didn't want to have to fight it again anytime soon... She whistled, commenting aloud and to herself more than anything, before offering Ate a hand. "Dusted it but good... serves it right for messing with us!"

'She dusted a youma with a single attack, and she thinks -I'm- the one with the cool moves?' Tsui wasn't sure what to say or how to feel about the compliment, as she hardly received any. Not that her fellow Senshi thought ill of her (at least, not to her knowledge), but most Senshi she fought alongside with were there for a brief moment then off like a flash. None ever stayed long enough for her to talk to, and Tsui hated that. How could she have learned from the other Senshi if they didn't stick around long enough to TELL her something?

More surprising to Tsui was Ate's hug, and Tsui couldn't explain the feeling within her, to not only be complimented for her abilities but to be hugged as well. She returned the favor, hoping that she didn't seem so desperate, but Tsui could not deny that she welcomed the encouragement. At this distance, Tsui had no choice but to get a whiff of the smell that Ate was talking about, but it hardly bothered her; after all, she probably still had remains of the beastly youma still on her, so she probably didn't smell much better herself. For now, it was a welcoming smell...

In regards to her questions, Tsui waited until she felt that she had a good control of herself. The post-battle jitters always got the better of her, and combined with the cold she had been fighting, it took her much longer to recover than she would have wanted. "Thanks... I've been practicing my landing technique for awhile now and it's always good to know that it can be useful outside of the gym."

And she bobbed her head at the second question, counting on her fingers the Senshi that she had met... and realizing that there weren't that many at all. "I've come across Sailor Chibi Lenka twice, I've met Sailor Minkowski and Sailor Athene, though they don't know who I am. I was a civilian at the time and they saved me... then there was Sailor Draconis at the zoo. Hm..."

She paused for a moment, considering all of the Senshi that she had met and she silently mourned the fact that she hadn't been in permanent contact with them since her initial encounters. Were they that busy, or was she a terrible Senshi herself to not seek them out? She tried not to dwell on it, focusing on the Senshi before her now and determined not to let her slip away like the others. Despite her snark, Ate had experience under her belt, and Tsui was certain that she could learn from it.

"Say, Ate... can I ask you a few questions? Being a Senshi, a White Court senshi... do you like it? Even though we don't know where our leader is?"

Tsui wasn't opposed to taking a seat next to her; it might have been a trash can but she wasn't a very picky person when it came to stuff like that. She owned a pet rat and lived in a rather run down apartment. Sitting on a trash can next to a smoker seemed like nothing compared to that. So, she sat next to Ate and listened to her, eager and hoping that she would learn something valuable from the experienced Senshi, and she tried not to appear too disappointed or lost during her speech.

Ate seemed like someone who would speak her mind, regardless if it was needed or not, and Tsui found that out in earnest today. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but to hear all of that? Especially about the leader...

When she asked if she could tell she wasn't angry, Tsui was quick to respond, without really thinking too hard on the answer, or what the effects would be. "It's hard to say... you're kind of snarky, and you seem like the type to enjoy what you do. Which is obviously to grind youma into dust."

That laugh of hers, though, almost killed the good mood in Tsui, and for a moment, she felt foolish. Was hoping to find their leader really a waste of time? She had little time to dwell on it, looking back at Ate and taking those hands when Ate motioned for her to do so. Despite her words, and the harsh reality that came with it, she felt safe, secure within that hold, almost distracting her from what she had to say, yet she hung to every word. How could she not when they carried such weight and conviction?

Only when Ate had withdrawn and criticized herself did Tsui speak up, and she hated to admit that she sounded like a blubbering fool, but how else could someone sound after hearing all of that? She was just fifteen years old- that was some heavy stuff!

"Maybe ten Oscars, and an Emmy..." Tsui added in, trying to remain lighthearted though she felt like it was impossible. Finding out about their leader was really disheartening, but she knew she couldn't let her drag her down. She tried to focus on everything else that Ate had said, commenting on the aspect of finding her place. "Not sure what my place is yet, but I'll figure it out. For now, I think I'll stick to training my Tiger Fist Strike to be as powerful as your Toxic Cyclone Blast... that way, I can start keeping a track record of my own."

Not once pulling her hands away, Tsui asked, coming up with a great idea, "How many youma have you dusted so far? I bet I can match it, and soon!"