The waiting was the worst part, Kyouji thought. He and Yumi were more than ready to try to save Tsugiko, but Patty had firmly told them that she had to properly prepare the potion before they could enter their friend's mind. The preparation itself hadn't seemed like much--a brief flurry of chopping and mixing and stirring, followed by a series of plops as everything was put into a pot to boil--but then Patty had wiped off her hands and informed them that it would be several hours before it was finished, and they'd just have to wait. So they waited. It was Yumi's turn to watch Tsugiko at the moment, so that left Kyouji to chat with Patty... which the generation gap made rather awkward. In more ways than one. "You have _got_ to be kidding me." "I'm not! Seriously!" he protested. "It's--" "You're telling me that the very latest in modern technology is being able to send typed messages to your friends all around the world, instantly? And having them be able to reply, instantly?" Patty shook her head slightly, a bemused expression on her face. "Why don't you just use the telephone?" "Um, that's not quite..." Kyouji thought for a moment, and failed utterly to come up with a simpler explanation. "It's kind of more complex than that--" Patty waved his fumbling attempt off. "Don't worry about it. I doubt I'll ever return to our world, anyway." She smiled a little, though, her eyes unfocusing, and Kyouji could almost see the memories unfolding behind her irises. "It's amazing, though, how much of it must have changed since we all first came here..." Kyouji caught the "we," and nodded inwardly. He hadn't had time to think about it before, not with all his worries about Tsugiko. But now... "You knew, didn't you?" he asked. "If you came here with the old Priestesses..." "About you three and them?" Patty smiled sadly. "Of course I did, dear. Hard not to notice the resemblance... although it took me a little while to be sure, in your case." "I'm... sorry." Kyouji shook his head. "I don't remember you at all." "That's all right. You are who you are _now_, not who you were back then." Her eyes twinkled. "You certainly aren't the Teru I knew." Despite himself, Kyouji had to chuckle at that. "I guess not." A shrill whistling sound interrupted them just then, coming from the doorway leading to the kitchen. "That should mean it's ready now," Patty said as she rose and started toward it. "Would you join Yumi? I need you, her, and Tsugiko in the same place." "Right." Kyouji pushed his chair back firmly and stood. They'd get Tsugiko back. And he wouldn't fail this time. He wouldn't. No matter what. * * * * * The Starburst Crystal Created by Ardweden This chapter by Marcus Fong Legend Six: Mind Candy * * * * * "All right, Yumi, here's your potion," Patty said, handing over a bulbous glass vessel, "and here's yours, Kyouji." Kyouji frowned as he took it, regarding the liquid it contained with a certain suspicion. It swished around lightly, catching the light in sparkling rainbows. "Us, too? I thought--" "You have to enter her mind, remember?" Patty reminded him sternly. "That means you all have to drink the same potion. Now, each of you take one of Tsugiko's hands." Obediently, Yumi and Kyouji did so. "Now, drink the potion." Kyouji lifted it hesitantly to his lips, screwed up his courage, and tipped it back in one hasty motion; dimly, through the glass, he could see Yumi doing the same. The potion seemed to vanish down his throat like mist, leaving behind an aftertaste of blueberries and mint and rain-soaked mornings. And then the world was spinning, dimming as he felt his grip on the potion bottle relax and slacken. A faint, discordant chime of breaking glass, and then everything faded out-- * The alarm clock chirped merrily, and Yumi stifled a sound of protest as she reached blindly over to slap at its "off" switch. That was odd, really; she usually got up before the alarm woke her-- Her eyes flew open, taking in a smooth, blank ceiling studded with tiny fluorescent stick-on stars, winking back at her in the near-darkness. What the--? Yumi sat up so suddenly the sheets spilled off her, blinking as she took in her surroundings; her favourite Kitty-chan alarm clock beside her bed, her Heart Heart High posters on the wall, right next to-- Following her thoughts, Yumi's gaze dropped to the room's other bed, where a shape was curled up under the sheets. Could it be...? Slowly, carefully, as if making a noise would break some unknown spell, Yumi rolled out of bed. Ignoring her indoor slippers, she padded, barefoot, over the carpet to her roommate's bed. There she halted, staring down at Tsugiko's peaceful, sleeping face. _Please_, she prayed, and then she reached down, grasping her friend's shoulder, and gave her a light shake. "Tsugiko-chan..." she whispered, but there was no response. "Tsugiko-chan..." Yumi repeated, raising her voice as she gave another shake, harder this time. Tsugiko only stirred lightly, though, before lapsing back into the soft, steady breathing of sleep. Yumi bit her lip, feeling a faint stirring of fear. No. Tsugiko _had_ to be okay. She _had_ to be... "Please wake up, Tsugiko!" She put a little more force into the next shake than she'd intended, rolling the other girl onto her back. And Tsugiko's eyes snapped open, focusing dazedly on Yumi. "Wha--?" "Tsugiko-chan!" Yumi exclaimed happily, wrapping her roommate in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're okay! Kyouji and I took you to York and there was a nice old lady called Patty and she gave us some kind of potion and you're all right again and we're home!" she finished in a rush. Oh, it was so good to have Tsugiko back! So she was rather surprised when Tsugiko made an irritated sound and pushed her firmly away. "What are you talking about, Yumi? It's too early in the morning to be babbling..." Yumi stared at her. "You don't remember? You looked at the Gobstopper and froze up and we--" "What?" Tsugiko shook her head, disgustedly, before glancing at Yumi's alarm clock. "Did you have some kind of weird dream last night? Never mind--we've got to get ready for today's field trip." And with that, Tsugiko stood up and started going through the closet in search of fresh clothes, leaving Yumi blinking at her roommate's back. "Field trip"--had it all been a dream? Her and Tsugiko and Kyouji-- Yumi forced her confusion aside. Tsugiko was all right, and that was all that mattered right now. If it was a dream, she could work it out later. "Sorry, Tsugiko-chan..." she started apologetically, standing and stepping over to her own side of the closet. "I--" She swung the closet open, and didn't quite stifle her gasp as she caught sight of herself in the mirror hanging on the inside of the closet door. "What?" Tsugiko asked. "Uh? Oh, nothing, Tsugiko-chan," Yumi stammered, half- turning to meet her roommate's puzzled glance. "You were probably right. I--I must have had some kind of dream." "Oh," Tsugiko responded disinterestedly, holding up a small bundle of clothes. "Well, I'm going to have my shower now." Yumi nodded distractedly, returning her gaze to her reflection as she brought one hand wonderingly up to her forehead and the faintly shimmering crystal embedded there. * "Kyouji? Are you all right?" A voice floated through the haze, breaking Kyouji out of a comfortable near-sleep. With an effort, he opened his eyes, blinking as a familiar face swam into view. "You're awake!" Tsugiko said happily. It took an effort not to stare, as his fogged mind tried to process the fact that Tsugiko was talking to him, and not lying in a coma. Oh, right! Patty had said that they'd be going into Tsugiko's mind, and-- "Uh, what?" he improvised smoothly, realising that he'd just missed something Tsugiko had said. "I said, shouldn't we get moving?" she inquired, and Kyouji was again struck by the depths of those sparkling green eyes. It took an effort to tear his gaze away. "Okay," he said, sitting up cautiously and looking around. The inside of Tsugiko's mind looked a whole lot like the countryside of Mars, it seemed. Crushed red grass shivered back into place as he rose to his feet. "Have you seen Yumi?" he asked, turning to Tsugiko-- He blinked, startled. Had that been a flash of anger on her face? No, it couldn't have been. Yumi was her friend; there was no way Tsugiko would react like that. And besides, her expression looked perfectly happy now. "Oh, Yumi?" Tsugiko replied airily. "She went ahead to scout. I stayed here to... wake you up." "Right," Kyouji said confusedly. What had Patty said? Something about saving Tsugiko from her greatest fears? But there didn't seem to be anything wrong with her here... A soft, warm weight hit him, and for an instant he panicked, thinking he'd been distracted enough to fall over onto Tsugiko. "Sorry! I--" He started to leap backward, then realised with another jolt that he was perfectly vertical. He looked down, and his mind blanked in shock. Tsugiko was leaning against him, her arms wrapped tightly about his midsection. Her head rested on his chest, a peaceful smile on her features as she looked up at him with wide, liquid eyes. Now he was _really_ panicked. "Uh, Tsugiko... are you all right?" She giggled. "I will be," she affirmed, practically purring. Kyouji's knees chose exactly that moment to give way. * "Morning, Yumi-chan!" a classmate called, as Yumi and Tsugiko passed. "Good morning!" Yumi responded brightly, waving. "Morning!" someone else piped up. Again Yumi waved, but her response was half-hearted as she cast a worried glance back at Tsugiko. Her friend was trailing behind her a little, her expression neutral. Yumi had managed to think about their situation in the short time she'd had as the two of them showered and dressed. Judging from the crystal still in her head which no one--including Tsugiko--seemed to notice, they weren't home at all. So she was in Tsugiko-chan's mind. But where was Kyouji? And Patty-san had said that they were supposed to rescue Tsugiko from her own greatest fears, or something like that. But what would Tsugiko be scared of at St. Hebereke? Yumi shook her head as they entered the dining hall. It was all too confusing. She marched over to one of the serving tables, grabbed a bowl and started to shovel cereal into it. What to say? "Tsugiko-chan--" she began, then blinked as she realised Tsugiko wasn't next to her anymore. "Tsugiko- chan?" She turned, scanning the crowd of schoolgirls, and spotted a familiar brunette figure vainly trying to squeeze back through the incoming hordes towards the entrance. Frowning, Yumi picked up her bowl and hurried over to grasp her roommate's arm. "Tsugiko-chan, where are you going? Aren't you having breakfast?" "I'm... not hungry," Tsugiko said, not really looking at Yumi. "You eat, I'll be fine." Yumi stared. It felt like a lifetime since they'd started out on the field trip, but she definitely remembered that Tsugiko _had_ been hungry that morning. In fact, Tsugiko had gone to the breakfast hall early, without telling Yumi, and she'd only just been able to catch up! She shook off her amazement. Maybe it was different inside Tsugiko's mind, but she was here to save Tsugiko, and she wouldn't let her friend out of her sight. "But, Tsugiko-chan, breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day!" Yumi babbled--any excuse would do-- and towed her friend back toward the rows of tables. After a quick stop to make sure Tsugiko-chan had some cereal and juice, they sat down at a vacant row, and Yumi breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe she could talk to Tsugiko now... but how _did_ one broach this kind of subject? Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by a blizzard of shuffling and scraping as several people crowded beside them all at once, talking almost as soon as they sat down. "Yumi-chan, can I ask you about tomorrow's test--?" "Yumi-chan, what'd you get for--?" "Yumi-chan, you're so--!" Normally, Yumi would have answered them all politely, devoting her full attention to each in turn, as was good manners. But just at that moment, she found herself mumbling distracted, noncommittal responses while studying Tsugiko out of the corner of her eye. For a moment, her brain refused to accept what it saw. Was Tsugiko-chan _really_ looking at her like that? Yumi had seen that expression before--when she watched Heart Heart High on TV, or on the faces of not-very-nice girls who didn't like her for some reason she'd never managed to work out. But... ...but it just looked _wrong_ on Tsugiko's face, as she glared across the table at Yumi. Inadvertently, Yumi turned to look fully at Tsugiko, and saw a startled--guilty?--expression flash across her friend's face, before it returned to normal. Shaken, Yumi spooned up a mouthful of cereal, finding it utterly tasteless. What was going on here? * "Ah, heh... Tsugiko, where exactly are we going again?" Kyouji asked, trying unsuccessfully to escape the girl's embrace. "To the land of the Runts, silly. Don't you remember?" That triggered off an odd memory. The dream--! He looked quickly down, and breathed a sigh of relief at finding himself--well, _himself_. His thoughts--and his breathing--were cut off as Tsugiko's grip tightened. "Uh, Tsugiko? Could you... not do that?" he gasped, prying her arms loose before he collapsed from lack of air. "Sorry, Kyouji..." The arms withdrew, and he breathed another sigh of relief... which was quickly cut off as they slid back around his neck. "Ah, Tsugiko... I'd rather you...?" "Yes?" Her breath was warm against his cheek. "Tsugiko, I--" He turned, to stare right into her soft green eyes. And froze, paralysed half with shock and half with anticipation, as they inched closer and closer... "Tsugiko-chan!" Yumi's voice rang out. "Kyouji-san!" Kyouji felt Tsugiko tense as she turned her head away from him. "What is it?" she... growled? Anyway, her grip was loosened, and that was enough. Slipping out of her arms, Kyouji turned and jogged toward Yumi, waving. "Yumi! Thank God you're here, I--" He skidded to a halt as a gust of scorched air whispered faintly past him, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Trying to ignore his sudden sense of dread, Kyouji looked back... ...to see Tsugiko glowing green, an expression of pure fury on her face as she glared from him to Yumi. "Uh, Tsugiko?" he said frantically. "Could you calm down? There's no need to--" She screamed, a shuddering, rage-edged sound, as she charged, and sheer instinct took over. Kyouji spun and ran, sprinting away as the sky fell in molten gold drops and blood-red earth erupted around him. * At the time, Yumi had thought the bus ride to Tokyo Tower was a lot of fun--chatting to Tsugiko, watching Tokyo cruise lazily past her window, happily anticipating the sights to come. Now, it was excruciating. More girls than she could ever remember knowing stopped by their seat, to ask Yumi a question, or to praise her on this or that result, or just to exchange a few words of conversation. As a result, Yumi hardly had time to _glance_ at Tsugiko, let alone talk to her. And every now and then, when she turned away for just a moment, she would see _that_ look on Tsugiko's face... She exhaled in silent relief as the bus slowed to a halt, and girls crowded into the aisle, filing out in unsteady lines. Making sure she had a firm hold on Tsugiko's arm, she headed over to Mrs. Okubo. "Okubo-sensei? We'd like to group together." Mrs. Okubo looked up at them, smiling. "All right." She handed over a pair of buttons; Yumi didn't need to look at the number on them to know it was "one." "Put these on and don't get separated. We'll meet back on the bus--" "--at two o'clock," Yumi interrupted, nodding quickly. "Thanks, Okubo-sensei!" She dragged Tsugiko off, leaving the teacher blinking in surprise. The observation deck was exactly as she remembered it; all cool grey metal spaced with bright, clear panes of glass, full of pairs of girls wandering around, looking about or just chattering to each other. She took a deep breath, steering Tsugiko over to a quiet, clear spot. "Tsugiko-chan? We need to talk." "About what?" her friend asked, an annoyed tone creeping into her voice. "Is it about that weird dream again?" "Kind of," Yumi temporised. "Do you--?" "Look, just forget it," Tsugiko snapped. "Why don't we just split up and look around? Don't you want to get an A on the field trip report?" Involuntarily, Yumi stepped back a pace. Then she stopped, shaking her head determinedly. "Tsugiko-chan, that doesn't matter. You--oof!" Something hit her from behind just then, knocking her forward to a jolting impact on her hands and knees. She looked up in surprise, seeing concern flash across Tsugiko's face as she stepped forward, half-extending a hand. But someone else got there first. "Are you all right, miss?" a familiar voice said, and Yumi felt firm hands pick her up and set her on her feet. She whirled. "Kyouji-san! You're here!" His eyes widened. "Do I know you?" "Kyouji, it's me, Yumi! Don't you remember me--?" She broke off abruptly, seeing for the first time how he was looking at her. She half-twisted, eyes searching for her roommate. "Tsugiko--" "Who?" Kyouji breathed. She felt his arms slip around her waist, warm and steady. "Kyouji, come on! This is no time to play..." She trailed off as she saw Tsugiko's face, and the expression written clearly on it. Horror. Betrayal. The Tokyo Tower trembled. "Tsugiko-chan, wait!" she cried, conscious that some disaster was about to happen as Kyouji's arms tightened around her-- --and then the tower and everything seemed to shatter into a million fragments, and she was falling through darkness... * Kyouji's breathing echoed harshly in his own ears. It was more or less dark now; the crumbling landscape had dimmed as he ran, and now the only light was the faint emerald glow which told him Tsugiko was still behind him. "Yumi?" he called again, still running. He'd looked around for her as he took off, but she'd vanished... which worried him. What happened to them if they were hurt, or worse, in here? The green glow brightened slightly, reminding him that he didn't want to find out, and he quickened his pace, pushing his tired legs as hard as possible-- --and yelped as he tripped over something lying on the floor, coming down in a heap. "Ow!" Wait a minute, that hadn't been _his_ voice... "Yumi?" "Kyouji-san?" she responded weakly. "Wh--where are we? Where'd the Tokyo Tower go?" "Tokyo Tower?" he echoed blankly. "Are you sure you're feeling all right? I last saw you back in the forest, when Tsugiko--" "Tsugiko-chan!" she interrupted. "Is she all right? She was acting kind of strange, and I--" "Strange? She's coming after us with her hammer, and you call that--uh oh..." He trailed off, as he realised exactly who was now standing over him, hefting said hammer while regarding him with murderous eyes. "Tsugiko, don't do this," he pleaded, holding his hands up, palms outward. "We can talk this over." The hammer came up, but part of Kyouji's brain--a part he'd come to associate with the Knight Protector--noted that there was something _wrong_ about its angle... And as it descended, the realisation burst on him that it was aimed at Yumi, not him. Yumi didn't make a sound, staring up with shocked eyes as the weapon descended-- And then there was a shivering, sweet chime of metal on metal, as a sword appeared out of nowhere to block the hammer's descent. It took a moment for Kyouji to realise that the hilt was cool in his hands. "No," he found himself saying, firmly. "You're not going to do this, Tsugiko. I know you don't want to--" For an instant, something unidentifiable flickered behind her eyes. And then the next blow swung up at his head, and it took everything he had to parry it in time. * Yumi stared, wide-eyed, as Kyouji and Tsugiko began to duel. She scrambled to her feet, unsure of what to do. Her wand was in her hand, but could she use it? They were so closely locked together, Yumi wasn't sure she could aim well enough not to hit Kyouji... and anyway, she wasn't sure that she could really shoot Tsugiko, even in self-defence. The sword flashed like a shaft of azure light, intercepting the hammer each time and sliding it away, but she could tell Kyouji wasn't really fighting--he was just defending himself, trying to stop Tsugiko until she calmed down. There seemed little hope of that, though; Kyouji was visibly tiring, but Tsugiko's berserk energy seemed limitless. As Yumi watched, Kyouji missed a parry, trying to dodge back, and the handle of the hammer clipped him across the top of the head. He stumbled, falling heavily, and Yumi heard herself cry out fearfully. Then Tsugiko turned to her, ignoring Kyouji's sprawled form, and Yumi backed up as her friend advanced. "Tsugiko-chan..." she tried, but the words fell flat in the emptiness around them. Tsugiko snarled something unintelligible, hefting her hammer. Her forehead was once again adorned with her green crystal, its hairline crack standing out darkly against the brilliance of her aura. "Tsugiko-chan," she whispered, feeling a sudden sting in her eyes as she looked sadly at her friend. "Do you really hate me that much?" Tsugiko hesitated, then threw herself forward; Yumi barely managed to dodge to one side, as the hammer came down with earthshaking force. "Why?" she pleaded. "I don't understand--" She broke off with a chill, as Tsugiko looked up and she saw tears glint fiercely in the other girl's eyes. "_You_!" Tsugiko yelled, rising up in another graceful, almost-wild swing; Yumi stumbled back, the wind of the near-miss hitting her like a blow. "Why... damn it, why do you always have to be _better_?" Tsugiko wailed, lashing out again; Yumi saw this one in plenty of time, though, and ducked as the hammer whistled lethally over her head. "You don't even _try_! I saw Kyouji first, but as soon as he laid eyes on _you_--! Nobody notices me, and you don't care! It's _your fault_!" Yumi backpedaled furiously, panting as Tsugiko lifted the hammer for another try, fumbling desperately for words, some magic phrase which would calm her friend down, make everything all right. But there wasn't one, she realised. How could she have let it come to this? What kind of friend was she, to make Tsugiko so unhappy and not even _realise_--? Distracted, she almost missed the next strike, a wide, fast sweep at waist height, and overbalanced to avoid it. She fell helplessly on her rear, staring up through blurred eyes as Tsugiko raised her weapon in a high arc. She closed her eyes as the hammer reached its apex and descended, feeling tears stream helplessly down her face. Was this how it ended? So much for noble quests... The ground quaked with the impact. "Yumi!" Kyouji screamed, and it was only then that Yumi realised she wasn't dead. She opened her eyes cautiously. The hammer lay where it had come down, just next to her, missing her by inches. And Tsugiko had fallen to her knees, sobbing with heartbreaking intensity. "Tsugiko-chan," Yumi said gently, reaching for her friend. She groped for something to say-- "Yumi," Tsugiko moaned. "No, don't--" "Ssh," Yumi soothed. "I--I'm sorry. About everything. We can talk about it later. Okay?" She tightened her grip a little, watched Tsugiko nod miserably. Footsteps echoed behind them. "Is she--?" Kyouji asked. Yumi held up her hand to silence him. "Tsugiko-chan..." she coaxed. "Come back? Please?" "I don't deserve you," Tsugiko whispered, sadly. "Or him. How can I--?" Yumi pressed a finger to her friend's lips. "We want you back, Tsugiko-chan. We need you back. Please, come back with us." Tsugiko didn't answer, but Yumi felt her give one last, shuddering breath, and then she leaned into Yumi's embrace, holding her tight-- * Kyouji's eyes snapped open, giving him an excellent view of the ceiling of Patty's hut. He sat up straight away, wincing as sore muscles in his back protested. "Yumi? Tsugiko?" He looked around, to see Tsugiko still lying on the cot, Yumi draped over her. "Hush," Patty entered his vision, walking across to the cot. "I think they're okay." He got his feet under him and walked cautiously over, watching with increasing hope as Yumi stirred. "Tsugiko- chan?" she asked softly, holding her breath as she looked into the other girl's face. And Tsugiko's eyelids fluttered. "Uh? Wha--?" "Tsugiko-chan!" Yumi shrieked happily, squeezing all the breath out of her friend in one giant hug. "You're all right!" "Agh!" Tsugiko choked. "W--what happened? The last thing I remember is looking into that thing's eyes, and--" She squeezed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth in frustration. "--nothing. I can't remember..." "It's all right," Yumi assured her, although Kyouji was sure there was something in her cheerful voice that hadn't been there before. Something sad, touched with regret. "It doesn't matter. You're all right, Tsugiko-chan. That's all that counts." Tsugiko shook her head, an uncertain smile touching her face. "Yumi..." she started, before she was cut off by another hug. And watching the pair of them, Kyouji silently agreed, putting aside his memories of the last few hours for a while. They were three again, and that was all that counted. Author's Notes: One of these days, I -will- get a part done before the absolute last minute. One of these days. Many thanks go to Ardweden and Phoebe, for ideas, support, and prereading; particularly to Ardweden, for last- minute encouragement when I was getting stuck all over the place. Thanks also to Richard for offering to preread; unfortunately, once again a draft wasn't ready in sufficient time. Sorry. ^_^ Apologies for any mistakes or continuity slips; this one was rather... rushed. Just feel free to mallet me if you don't like it.