A Ceremony on Queen Earth A Short Story by Jayne Soohoo Berg January 1998 Adapted from the Manga Story Written and Illustrated by Ikeno Koi & English Translation by Tomodachi Anime by Tomodachi Anime "HEY, RIRIKA!" [ririka standing] The slender blond with a perky ponytail stopped walking and turned to face the young man who ran up to her, holding a basketball in his right hand. "Done with track and field? I’m done too. Wait for me, and we’ll walk home together, okay?" he suggested. "Sure," the girl replied. The young man ran back towards the gym. Neither of them noticed the three pairs of eyes that watched them intently. Ririka leaned against the tree, closed her eyes, and sighed. It had been a long, tiring day. "Excuse us....Ririka-Senpai?" stammered a timid voice. Ririka opened her eyes and saw three girls standing in front of her. Although they wore the same White Dove Academy school uniform consisting of a plaid jumper, white blouse and red bow as herself, they were obviously younger than she, with some hint of baby fat still on their faces. She judged them to be around 11 or 12 years old. The girls seemed nervous, but anxious to talk to her. She waited. "We wanted to ask you...." "Um, isn’t it true that you and Uzaki-kun have been close...that is, from childhood...." "You two are always together...." "Well, what we mean to say is...." "Is it true that you and Seiya-Senpai are going together??" they chorused. "WHAAAAT????!!!!" Ririka shrieked. Birds flew out of the tree, startled by the noise. The three girls hastily backed away, profusely apologized for disturbing her, and ran off. As Ririka watched them in the distance, she wondered why they seemed so happy all of a sudden. She then spotted her two best friends, Karin and Anna, walking towards her. [Karin and Anna] "So, Ririka, what happened with those Junior Girls?" asked Karin, the taller of her two friends. Her short dark hair flattered her face, making her look rather chic. "We saw you with them just now. Was it about Uzaki-kun?" questioned Anna, who pushed back some of her shoulder length hair that had fallen forward. "How’d you know? They wanted to know if Seiya and I are going together." Ririka replied. "Well, what did you tell them? Hmmm?" asked Karin. "I laughed, of course. It’s such a ridiculous idea!" answered Ririka. Karin groaned, muttered "I figured as much," and pounded the surface of the stone wall with her fist. Anna looked embarrassed and gave out a little nervous laugh. "Huh? What? What??!!" Ririka couldn't figure out her two best friends sometimes. She tried to explain. "It’s just that we’re nothing more than childhood friends. You know Seiya, he’s still just a kid...awfully noisy...hyperactive...." "Ririka! You may not have noticed...," started Karin. "...but Uzaki-kun is popular with the girls," finished off Anna. "Oh? Well, I find that hard to believe," Ririka said, sarcastically. "He’s become really quite cool. And, he’s cheerful, considerate...." "Yes, he’s nothing like he was four years ago, when you were in love with Kanou-Senpai," explained Karin. "Oh, com’on, you two, Seiya doesn’t think of me like that!" laughed Ririka. Anna and Karin whispered to each other, and turned to her. "Oh, we gotta go now. Catch ya later, Ririka," they said. "Tell Seiya-kun we said hi, okay?" Part of their conversation drifted within Ririka’s earshot as they walked away. <> <> <> "HUH? What was THAT all about? Humph! What’s with them?" Ririka said emphatically as she crossed her arms over her chest, watching her friends depart. Seiya ran up to her, gym bag slung over his shoulder. "Hey, Ririka! Keep you waiting long?" Ririka gave Seiya a brilliant smile, and shook her head. Ririka and Seiya walked for a while in companionable silence along the well traveled route they took every day to and from school. After awhile, Seiya started telling Ririka about his basketball workout, but Ririka wasn’t paying attention. Instead, she was mulling over what Anna and Karin had said to her earlier. [Ririka looking at Seiya] ‘Uzaki-kun has become cool’ they said. "...and then Hirano..." "...and then Hirano..." ‘He’s popular with the Junior Level Girls...’ [Seiya profile] She studied Seiya’s face, really looking at him for the first time. When did he turn handsome? "Then Hakozaki got his revenge...." He had a sudden growth spurt in the 8th grade, she realized. "It was pretty fun." We’ve ALWAYS been the same size before, but now he’s a head taller! "See you tomorrow, Ririka!" Seiya called over his shoulder, as he dashed up the steps to his home. The nerve of him, doing that! Ririka reached her front door, and looked back at the Uzaki residence, still feeling miffed. "I’m home!" she called out and reached for the doorknob.... BANG! "OWWW!" she cried. [Shou] Her little brother had run into her and now stuck out his tongue. "That’s what’cha get for standing in the way, you ugly girl!!" he taunted, and took off around the corner of the house. "SHOU!!!!" "Oh, by the way, Sis,”"he said, peeking back around the corner, "I heard noises coming from your room. Bet your stereo’s busted or something. Later! I’m off to Boys’ Club!" Noises? What kind of noises? Sounds scary....No Way! Ririka ran up the stairs to her room, and ripped open her door. A sparkling ball of light shimmered above her desk., crackling with energy. An object floated in the middle of it. "What in the world...," she muttered as she walked towards the strange phenomenon in her room. "It’s a letter?" The light dissipated, and the letter dropped onto her hands. The envelope was richly embossed. She opened it and drew out the sheets of paper. ‘Dear Ririka’ she read. ‘How are things? Four years have already passed. Now, because of you, Queen Earth is green once again.’ It’s from Helena! Ririka continued reading. ‘This letter is to invite you to Queen Earth. Please come and see it with your own eyes.’ I can’t believe this is really happening. ‘And there’s one more thing...’ "AAAAAHHHHHH!" "Ririka? Ririka? Is something wrong?" Her mother and grandmother's voices called up anxiously. "No, it's nothing, REALLY!" she yelled back. She HAD to tell Seiya! Ririka opened her window, and saw Seiya down below outside. "Seiya! Just a sec! I have something to tell you!" she yelled, sticking her head out the window. Seiya looked up, and waved a sheet of paper at her. "You got a letter, right? I got one too!" "Queen Helena and Kanou-Senpai are getting married!!" they called to each other. "It’s so Marvelous...so Wonderful...so Lovely....," gushed Ririka, spinning herself around by her window. "Geez, don't over excite yourself. Wait, I’m coming up!" yelled Seiya, and he dashed into Ririka’s home. Her mother and grandmother just gave him a nod as he bounded up the stairs. The Moriya and Uzaki families were used to the comings and goings of both their offspring in their homes. By the time Seiya reached Ririka’s room, she had calmed [Ririka on bed] down a little, but not by much. He found her bouncing excitedly on her bed, and swinging her feet back and forth. He grabbed her desk chair and straddled it, draping his arms over the back. "You’re going to go?" he asked. "Of course! Ohhh! I knew they would marry one day, but it’s happening sooner than I expected!" Ririka was getting giddy at the thought. "They’re just 14 and 17 years old...pretty young...gee, marriage...." mused Seiya. "Seiya, of course you’re going too, aren’t you?" Ririka asked excitedly. "Sure, like I can tell my family about this?" Seiya remarked dryly. "That I’m going to a friend’s wedding on Queen Earth?" Ririka jumped up and showed her letter to Seiya. "No problem! It says right here ‘I’ll take care of everything. All you have to do is go to Kanon’s old house at 6 p.m. today.’" She grabbed Seiya, pulled him out of the seat, and hung onto his arm. "Please, Seiya, let’s go," she coaxed, giving him a special smile. Seiya looked into those deep chocolate brown eyes begging him, and felt himself blush. How can I say no to that? "Oh, all right. I give up. I’ll tell them I have study group at a friend’s house." "All right!" squealed Ririka. Ririka started dashing madly about her room, grabbing a large overnight bag and digging around in her dresser. "The letter says not to bring anything, but I need to have at least some clothes...."she explained to Seiya. Seiya watched as she continued her packing and excited chatter. He crossed his arms and sighed. She is so totally clueless about the way I feel about her.... It was close to six o’clock, and the sky was beginning to darken. Seiya and Ririka stood in front of the abandoned mansion which had been Kanon’s headquarters during his stay on Earth. "No one lives here anymore," said Ririka, looking at the shuttered windows. "Brings back memories, doesn’t it?" remarked Seiya. "True. We came here so often...." "A lot has happened here at this place," said Seiya, a bit wistfully. "Why Seiya, you sound downright sentimental!" Ririka said with surprise, stifling a chuckle. "What’s your problem?" snapped Seiya, embarrassed at being caught revealing his feelings. "Why did ya take so much stuff? Planning on moving out for good?" "Hey, it’s a wedding! I have to have something nice to wear,"retorted Ririka. "Ohhhhh...." Their argument was stopped short by the sudden appearance of a maelstrom in front of them. It whirled and pulsated, and they could hear a faint howling sound coming from its inky depths. "Is...is this the w-w-way..."stammered Ririka. "...the way to Queen Earth...." Seiya whispered. A yawning gape appeared in the middle of the maelstrom. Light streamed forth. "Shall we go in?"asked Seiya, with more courage in his voice than he felt. "G-guess s-so," gulped Ririka, staring fixedly at the portal. They approached it cautiously, and stepped through. It closed up behind them. Ririka and Seiya drew closer together as they walked slowly through the darkened tunnel towards the light ahead. Seiya’s eyes darted around, alert for unseen dangers. "This place feels familiar. I remember now. This IS the way!" Seiya said with some relief. Suddenly, Ririka and Seiya walked into a vortex that picked them up and sucked them further into the darkness. Ririka screamed, and clung onto Seiya. "It’s making me dizzy!" she gasped. Seiya tightened his arms around Ririka, afraid she would be torn away from him. "You’ll be fine," he reassured her. "I’ll protect you." They closed their eyes as they were hurled back and forth among the eddies and the flashing lights that cackled around them. When they thought they could bear it no longer, they felt their feet touch solid ground again, and the winds subside into a gentle breeze. They slowly opened their eyes. eyes. [Queen Earth] They were robbed speechless for a moment. They had never seen a place so beautiful. "This is Queen Earth," Seiya said finally. "Ahhh," sighed Ririka, "We’re really on Queen Earth!" Tears started forming in her eyes as she took in the meadows, the trees, and the abundant Flowers of Life that carpeted the landscape. "It’s so wonderful, Ririka! WONDERFUL!" cried Seiya, as he exuberantly grabbed her hands. "It is! IT IS!!" responded Ririka, caught up in his excitement. "SEI-YAAA!" WHOMP! "Ooomph!" Seiya had the wind knocked out of him. Looking down, he saw a young girl with an animated face looking up at him. She pulled slightly back, but kept holding Seiya’s hands in hers. "I’ve been waiting for you to come! I’ve been DYING TO SEE YOU!" she exclaimed. Ririka picked herself up from the ground, and glared at the teal haired girl. "Excuse me, but have we met?" Seiya asked, as the girl gave him a big hug around his midsection. He could see that Ririka had murder in her eyes. "You can’t tell me that you’ve forgotten ME, your dearest love!" the girl said, as she hugged him even tighter. "Uuh....Umm...Err..." stammered Seiya, as he glanced quickly down at the girl, and then at Ririka, who was staring open mouthed at the girl in his arms. "MIMINA??!" she finally shrieked. The girl stepped back to look at the both of them. "Yours Truly! The reason you didn’t recognize me at first is because I’ve become so beautiful!! Seiya, I knew you right away, even though you’ve grown up so tall and handsome!" she gushed. "And Ririka, you look the same!" Gee, thanks a lot. "I’m so happy to see you," Mimina continued. "You seem fine!" "Oh yes, Mimina, I really am!" said Ririka. "RIRIKA! I’m here too! It’s me, Malulu!" A fuzzy teal cuddly creature flew towards them, with his cotton ball paws outstretched to give a hug. "MALULU!!!" Ririka screamed with delight. Behind Malulu, a young couple of regal bearing approached. "Ririka...Ririka, Welcome to Queen Earth," said the young woman, as she held out her hand. The young man gave Ririka and Seiya a warm smile and nodded to them. "Queen Helena! Kanou-Senpai!" Ririka exclaimed. "Congrats! Oh, It’s so GOOD to see you!" Surrounded by their friends, it seemed as if four years had not passed after all. Seiya and Ririka had been shown to their rooms, and after refreshing themselves, they rejoined Queen Helena and the others in the drawing room. "The wedding is in two days, but please stay as long as you wish," offered Helena. "We’d love to, but we have school, and it isn’t summer break," explained Ririka. "Oh, don’t worry about that, Ririka. I can send you both back to the time you left, so no time will have passed in your world." "Oh boy! Let’s stay a month, then!" Ririka exclaimed. "Oh, Seiya, stay here forever!" gushed Mimina. "Oh brother..." muttered Seiya. "By the way, Queen Helena," Ririka said as she dug around in her bag and drew out a nurse’s cap, "I won’t be needing this, so I’m returning it to you." Queen Helena gave Ririka a warm smile. "That belongs to you, Ririka. You don’t need to give it back." "But it’s so valuable!" "Not more than your memories. Ririka, that was a very hard fight. Because of you, peace has returned to Queen Earth. We’re very grateful to you." "Yes, good going, Seiya," interjected Kanon. "Heheheh...don’t mention it," blushed Seiya. A maid walked in, and announced that the dinner reception was about to start. As they were getting ready to enter the main dining hall, a door opened, and a tall, elegant young male walked in. He glanced at Ririka and Seiya, and then leaned nonchalantly against a pillar. [Dewey] "So, that’s the Nurse Angel? I was expecting an exquisite angel, but all I see is a plain ordinary girl." "HEY! Watch what you’re saying, Mister!" Seiya retorted. Ririka, on the other hand, was still transfixed over the elegance of the newcomer, and was especially taken in with his long, silvery, braided hair. Wow, he’s so gorgeous.... "Quit it, Dewey. You’re being rude," chastised Kanon. "Very well, Kanon, I’ll leave," said Dewey, and strolled off. "Huh? What was that all about?" Ririka asked Kanon. "That was Dewey, my best friend, and leader of the Imperial Guards," Kanon explained. "He was infected with the Black Vaccine during the war against Dark Joker, and couldn’t fight. He felt worthless, and so that’s why he behaved towards you that way, Nurse Angel. Even though he does some mouthing off, he’s actually quite a nice guy." "In fact," said Kanon with a warm smile, "he’s been looking forward to having you come---Very Much So!" "Kanon! Knock it off! You talk too Much!!" Kanon saw Dewey behind one of the pillars motioning to him to be quiet. So, he’s embarrassed! Ririka stifled a giggle, and Seiya turned away, disgusted with the whole silly episode. What's with this Dewey guy anyway? That’s all I need.... Hey, what’s that shaking and rumbling sound? Earthquake? The ground shook harder, and then subsided. It took a few seconds longer before the chandeliers and pictures stopped swaying. "That one wasn’t so bad," remarked Seiya. "For us, that’s BIG!" Mimina shrieked. "Well, it seems to be over now," Ririka said calmly. "Seiya, you can’t stand the sight of blood, why don’t earthquakes bother you?" asked Mimina. "I live in Japan, after all," said Seiya. Change the subject, will ya? Kanon had a note of worry in his voice. "Lately there’s been a great many of these earthquakes. I hope they are not a forerunner of worse things to come." Mimina patted his arm and laughed. "Oh, Kanon, you are SUCH a worrywart! Our dinner will get cold! Come on, we’d better go!" Kanon took Queen Helena’s arm, and they proceeded into the dining hall. Ririka and Seiya were about to follow, but Mimina held them back. "Hey, Ririka! Seiya!" she whispered. "I really, really need to talk to you. Tomorrow morning. Get up early." Seiya and Ririka glanced at each other. Huh? "YOU MUST!" Mimina implored urgently. Shocked by Mimina’s seriousness, they agreed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Continue onto Part II Back to Jayne's Favorite Anime