This time, Sailor Giclas and Sailor Abramov dressed in lighter clothing. The place where they were going - the World of Abramov, had the evident of a light Summer - again in Japan. They gathered their things and bid the Bones family a due once more. Giclas placed her arm around Abramov's elbow, and they teleported far off to the same cluster of asteroids, yet to a different asteroid in particular.
Soon they found themselves on dark world, with no sunlight at all. Abramov mumbled something about the sun being blocked out by Chaos and promptly passed out. Giclas quickly caught her brother and lowered him (somewhat clumsily) to the ground. Quickly, she set up the tent and sleeping bags, and then moved him as best as she could into his sleeping bag. Then she came in herself and zipped up the tent door behind her.
As she waited for him to awake, she tended to the portable heater and made some soup and juice.
After Abramov had awakened, they ate to regain their strength and then dismantled their tent and gathered their things.
Then they lighted their lanterns and Abramov led the way in a direction that moved his heart. They seemed to be traveling in a dark wasteland covered in dust.
Giclas finally commented on it... "So much dust."
To which, Abramov shrugged and replied, "Dust to dust."
Giclas knew her brother well, and knew he was speaking of the bible verse, "Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust..."
She thought about this for a moment. "From dust we are created..." "And to dust we return..." Abramov finished not really paying attention.
Giclas thought about something else. "Abramov, your Challenge is, 'Death Be My Domain.' And your sphere is Rafflesia, commonly known as 'the Corpse Flower'. What is your world about? Death?" She asked a little alarmed.
"In a sense." He frowned, not really paying attention, as he made his way into a grotto. There seemed to be a great carved stone with strange writing on it - like a giant tombstone.
He spoke as he placed his hand upon it in such a way as if giving a handprint verification. "We valued Honor in Death." Around his hand, a dark purple light shone, and the Tombstone Door made a great creaking and rumbling as it slid aside. He made his way into the tunnel inside.
Giclas was amazed but kept her mouth shut and followed inside. She knew from her own experience that that he was in a deep trance-like state from being on his Homeworld. He was regaining Memories of his past life.
He led the way and the tunnels turned to ones made of stone - common stone here and there red and green jade and other precious stones.
Abramov seemed to be somewhat aware of Giclas and spoke to her. "The common stone is for the people's path." He said as the tunnels widened out to streets and almost highways. There were great caverns, where even the ceilings were done in stone and decorated in a way similar to Ancient Japanese Murals. The caverns contained great feudal Houses and Villages. All were in great disrepair.
"The paths lined with precious stones lead to the Palace and other Nobility."
However, Abramov did not follow either the People's Path, nor the Precious Path, as Abramov later called them.
He took a path lined with Amthysts and Rubies. He did not speak of what name this path took, but it took so long, they had to stop to make camp for a while.
While Giclas and Abramov ate a good meal, Giclas felt it safe to ask questions and make comments now. "Abramov, I see that your people lived underground, yet they had a culture similar to Japan. And of course, you said they valued Honor in Death above all things, correct?" He nodded. "That is so awesome!" She replied.
"And my Culture lived in a Winter Wonderland of Japanese-like culture, where people lived hidden in snow globe like forcefields and celebrated Life, especially Honor in Life. Hmm, I wonder if our worlds were connected in some way?"
Abramov was silent for a moment and then said softly, "We were allies." "Well, that is cool! I mean we worked together, right?"
Abramov pursed his lips. "I guess. Our relationship was complicated. Abramov was so quiet today, even with the trance - and it was so unlike him that Giclas was a little worried about him. What was he not saying?
Abramov was a little weirded out right now. From the few memories that had poured into him - he had deduced that Sailor Abramov and Sailor Giclas of their previous lives, were ah... secret lovers..., which was considerably awkward, because of this life they were twin brother and sister. To make matters worse, in their previous lives, Abramov understood... that um somehow it was ... forbidden love....... and worst yet... something horrible had come of it. He didn't know yet and he wasn't sure how Giclas would react if he told her.
It was time to start once more. The tunnel wound on and on, and it started to shrink until one person at a time could pass. They came to a gate lined with amthysts and rubies. On either side of the gate there windowsills, where pots, that once held large plants sat decaying. "They once held Rafflesia plants to ward off troublemakers." Abramov commented, then opened the gate, which the lock had long since fallen to pieces and went in.
Inside, was the largest cementary Giclas had ever seen - it looked as if it covered half the stated of Viriginia, and somehow she knew it covered more than that. On either side of the enterance, there were several deteriated buildings and one huge deteriated Chapel.
"Abramov?" Giclas said a little frightened. "We're going to work here?"
"Yes. This is my Headquarters. My main Position other than protecting the planet, was Chief Caretaker." "Caretaker? As... As in?" "Yes, as in as Caretaker of the Greater Abramov Cemetary of Honor."
And so they worked for about an hour restoring the Caretaker Dormintories.
It was almost time to go and they were about to teleport, when Abramov stopped. He sensed magic - from his world. "I sense my world." Giclas stayed quiet and just watched.
They turned to the gate, and there was a Rafflesia plant blooming from one of the decaying pots.. out of the bloom came the symbol of the Rafflesia, and it joined with Abramov.
They were both quiet.
Later, they both arrived back on Earth, about a 100 yards from where the Bones were camping.
As they walked up, Giclas' arm wrapped around Abramov's elbow, they walked upon a white carpet of Jasmine (that smelled nice and appeared a few feet in front of them), lined with 2 inch wide red Rafflesia (that stank, and also appeared a few feet in front of them). Behind them, the Jasmine simply vanished and the Rafflesia withered and vanished. Together they made a lovely vision, but a disturbing smell.
The Bones and Dari stared at them, "Just what have you been up to now?"