Tapestry Tangles

  by Spira
  <wleung@mustang.uwo.ca>

  
  Chapter 1 ( Part 1 )


        As he blinked into existence, the familiar Darkness shivered 
  slightly, then enclosed him in a welcoming embrace.  Calesta let
  it wash over him, the overwhelming feeling ran through all his 
  senses.  He opened his eyes, looked around, then shook his head
  in dismay.  "Oh, great!!  Why do I have to come back through the
  public chamber?  Some stupid miscalculation..." He groaned inwardly,
  "Malachite would sure give me another lecture if he finds out."

        "Lord Calesta!! You're back!!"  A young pretty flower youma
  exclaimed as she turned around to see who had arrived.  Others 
  glanced up from their works as well.  "We thought..."  Before she
  could finished her sentence, another deep voice cut in.

        "So, you're back, Brat Lord."  A large eagle youma growled 
  loudly.  His long golden feathers flickered as the light of the 
  fire ball glittering above his head.  His sharp talons extended
  as he advanced towards Calesta.  "The Queen would be happy to see
  you. And, I'll have the honor to escort you to her."  He grinned
  dangerously.
     
        And you still smell like a greedy rat, thought Calesta. Why
  am I not surprised?  He rolled his eyes as the eagle youma came
  and gripped his arm.  "Come on, *my Lord*.  Our Queen will sure 
  want to know all you've done during your absence.  Let's go."
  The youma hissed.

        But before he could blinked, Calesta was already out of his 
  grip, smugging at him on the opposite side of the room.  "Why,
  Ash Bird, you've never learnt at all, haven't you?"  Calesta 
  smiled. "Play catch with me?  Haha... You couldn't do that even
  10 years ago, what makes you think you can get me now?"  He turned
  his back and walked towards the door which led to Queen Beryl's
  private court, ignoring the angry youma totally.

        "I'll kill you one of these days, Brat!!"  The eagle youma
  snarled behind him.  "No one who crosses me can stay alive for 
  long!!"  Some lesser youma were holding the furious youma captain, 
  trying frantically to calm him down.

        "Pathetic."  Calesta shook his head, and chuckled softly 
  as he walked along the dark corridor.  The architecture of the 
  Dark Kingdom still held some appeals for him, he stopped for a
  while to look at them. The sharp clear crystals hanged down
  from the high ceiling, the beautifully decorated pillars stood
  along both sides of the quiet corridor... for a moment, just for
  a moment, Calesta thought that he was back to some place, in 
  another time, in another life. 

        "Now, now, see who's here?"  A gleeful voice rang behind
  him, bringing him back to the present.

        "Uh... Hi, Zoicite."  He smiled slightly.

        "I presume, you were having a good time down there on Earth,
  weren't you, Calesta?"  asked Zoicite, with a half smile hanging
  at the corner of his mouth.

        "Hemm... how about you yourself?  You've been running around
  down there as well, don't you think there's quite a lot of fun out 
  there?"  Calesta retorted mildly.  

        "Oh, come now. Queen Beryl is waiting."  Zoicite let the topic
  dropped and said playfully.  He reached out and pat Calesta on the 
  back.  "Let's go."

        ======================================================


        "Ah!!  So, you're back, Calesta."  Queen Beryl smiled as she
  looked up from her crystalball and saw who had come in.  "Do you
  have anything for me, little one?"  She asked sweetly.

        "Greetings, Your Majesty."  Calesta bowed and answered her.
  "Of course, I have something for you,"  he said.  "Here."  He held
  out his right hand.  Several energy globes flashed into existence,
  dancing around on his palm.

        "Well done."  Queen Beryl was a little impressed.  "Tell me,
  Calesta. How did you manage to get all these energies without being 
  hunted down by the Sailor Senshi?"  She asked calmly as she collected
  all the energies into her crystal globe.  

        "Not a problem, My Queen."  He smugged.  "They didn't even know
  I was there."

        "How did you do that?"  asked Malachite, as he stepped out from
  the shadows of the room and stood beside Zoicite.  "Those Sailor brats
  are liked magnets, wherever we go, they're bound to come and make
  troubles." He frowned.

        "Yes. Tell us how, Calesta,"  said the Queen glibly.  

        "Oh, it's simple.  Just keep a low profile, don't make a scene
  when you're draining those stupid humans, and..." He answered airily.

        "And...?"  Queen Beryl waited with a bemused tone.

        "... and drop the charges to someone else when danger comes."
  He shrugged.

        The air seemed to freeze for a moment, as the Queen and her 
  Generals stared at the boy, surprised by his bold honesty.  Then
  she started laughing, her maniacal laugh rang through the whole 
  chamber and echoed back.  Malachite shook his head in disbelieve,
  while Zoicite chuckled under his breathe.

        Calesta gave them a pretended innocent look.  

        "You taught him well, Malachite."  Queen Beryl said, after 
  her laughter finally subsided.  Malachite rolled his eyes.  "Seems
  like we should give you the command post of the energy draining
  operation in the first place after all."  She turned back to the
  boy and said.

        Calesta gave her a 'I've told you so' look.

        "Enough joking around.  I didn't call you here to play,"
  the Queen grew seroius.  "Now, about the Rainbow Crystals..."
  She started briefing about the Rainbow Crystals to them.  

        "... So, we must find them, and get the Imperial Silver
  Crystal, in order to release the Negaforce."  She turned and
  stared at Calesta again.  "Calesta!!  Are you listening?  Wake
  up from your silly dreams!!"  She was irritated. He was most 
  certainly not listening to her, and from his blank look, you
  could be sure that his mind had been wandering off again. 
  How dare he shows such little respect to me?  She thought. 
  Maybe we've spoiled him too much.  She sighed inwardly.

        "What?"  He looked a bit hurt.  "I heard what you've said.
  You don't need to yell at me."  He muttered.

        She shook her head and turned back to Zoicite.  "Now,
  Zoicite. I want you to find and gather those Rainbow Crystals
  for me."  She ordered.

        Zoicite bowed and smiled.  "Yes, My Queen."

        Queen Beryl looked back at Calesta.  He was staring at 
  the floor, sulking.  She thought for a moment, then added,
  "And bring Calesta with you, maybe he could help."

        Calesta jerked up his head and regarded her suspiciously. 

        "You always complain that I didn't give you any exciting
  assignment.  Now, it's time to prove yourself."  She smiled.

        "What about the energy draining operation?"  He asked.

        "Leave that to Nephrite.  You and Zoicite go look for
  the crystals.  Now, where is Nephrite?  He hasn't been reporting
  back for two days, what's he doing down there?"  Queen Beryl 
  frowned.

        "He's mooning after a mortal girl called Molly." replied 
  Zoicite.  Calesta flashed him a quick look of surprise, he 
  shrugged and turned back to the Queen.  

        "A mortal?! Humm..."  Queen Beryl narrowed her eyes.
  "Zoicite, keep an eye on him.  I want to know everything he
  has done."  She turned her attentions back to her crystalball.

        "I will, My Queen."  Zoicite replied.

        "Good."  Queen Beryl nodded.  "Now, dismiss."

        They all bowed to the Queen with respects, and then vanished.

        
        ======================================================


        "What do you mean by mooning after a human?  Is he really
  doing that?"  Calesta shook his head in disbelieve.  Damn, how
  could Nephrite be this stupid?  He thought. 

        "Well, I saw him associating with this girl a couple of 
  times, and..."  Zoicite answered.  They were in Calesta's
  room, trading gossips about others.  Calesta was laying on his 
  bed, holding up one hand to guide the dancing flames above his
  head, while Zoicite was sitting across at the table, watching
  the flames.  Malachite walked in, holding a golden chest in
  his hands.  
  
        "What is that?"  Zoicite turned to Malachite and asked
  affectionately.  Malachite put down the box in front of him.
  "Is it for me?"  Zoicite looked up innocently.

        Malachite smiled and nodded.  "Open it," he stood behind
  Zoicite and put a hand on his shoulder.

        Calesta seemed oblivious to what was going on beside him,
  he was deep in the thought of thinking Nephrite's affair, until
  a bright silvery glow caught his attention.  Before him, a 
  beautiful crystal rose was glowing gloriously in Zoicite's
  hands.  The perfectly shaped petals radiated a dazzling silvery
  glow, with colourful stars sparkling all around it. Zoicite was
  obviously in awe, he stared at the rose speechlessly, then he
  turned to Malachite. 

        "It suits you, my love."  Malachite leaned close and kissed 
  Zoicite's cheek.

        "Thank you. Malachite..."  Zoicite blushed.  Malachite pulled
  him gently into his arms.  Zoicite closed his eyes and rest his 
  head on Malachite's shoulder.  Malachite murmured softly into his
  ears.

        And I thought this is MY room, *sigh*, I might as well let
  them use it as their love nest.  Calesta thought.   Oh well...
  He looked up at them one more time, neither of them seemed to 
  be aware of the world around them.  He shook his head and vanished.

        After a long while, Zoicite looked up at Malachite.  Seeing
  his loving face looking down at him, Zoicite tightened his arms 
  around his lover's waist, cuddling in Malachite's strong embrace.
  "I hope this can last forever..." he sighed.  "Me too..."  Malachite
  replied.  "But we have works to do."  He said regretfully.  

        Zoicite disentangled himself from Malachite's embrace and 
  looked around the room.  "Where is Calesta?" he asked. Malachite
  shrugged.  Then Malachite frowned as he concentrated his power to
  locate their wayward charge.  "Damn.  He has gone back on Earth
  already."  He shook his head.  "His 'Hide and Seek' game again."
  Zoicite groaned.  "Where am I suppose to find him?"

   
        ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


        Calesta sat up on his bed, shaking his head to clear his 
  memories. Weird images had been flooding in his mind, fragments 
  of the past and the present were all mingling together, he was
  not sure if he could remember which was which anymore.

        "Nephrite... you idiot..."  He groaned softly.  "It's
  all your fault."  He looked out of the window and stared at the
  lights of the night city blankly.  "If you didn't fall for her...
  if you didn't die... damn you, Nephrite..."  He muttered wearily
  and closed his eyes. "Do you know, when one of you dies, I'll be
  one step closer to death myself..."  He sank himself down on the 
  large soft pillow on the floor under the window, curling his legs
  up and wrapping them with his arms, then burying his face in 
  his knees.  "And do you know, your death holds one of the key of 
  my past memory as well, now, what am I suppose to do?..."

        "How can I go back to Queen Beryl now?  What if she finds out
  who I really am?  I don't have enough power left to shield myself,
  much less, if she finds out how to probe my memory and use it against
  them..."  He murmured miserably.  "And human energies can't substain me
  anymore..."

        "Then why did you still collect them?"  A voice said above his 
  head.

        "That's none of your business, Artemis,"  he muffled a reply 
  with his head still buried in his arms. "Go away."  He said tiredly.  

        "Tonight's incident about the energy globe, it's your doing,
  isn't it?"  Artemis asked sternly.  

        "What about it?"  Mina's stupid cat was becoming annoying.

        "You used the Sailor Senshi to kill the youma for you." Artemis's
  big blue eyes narrowed.  "Why?"

        "Why not?"  He looked up at Artemis in amusement.  An evil
  glint was flashing behind his silver eyes.  

        Aaarrrggghh... Artemis groaned inwardly.  He is going to
  play the mind game again.  

        Calesta's calm glare seemed to pierce into Artemis's soul.        
  Artemis suddenly found himself trapped in a frozen silvery void.
  He gasped, but the air in the void was as still as dead, he was
  soon suffocating to death.  Then all of a sudden, the void 
  dissipated, Artemis fell on th floor, gasping for air.  He looked
  up and saw Calesta regarding him with a half smile on his face.   
 
        "That's not what you come to me for,"  said Calesta.  He moved
  towards his bookshelf and pulled out a book.

        "Of course not.  I'm not coming here to let you kill me."
  snorted Artemis as he walked towards the door furiously. 

        Calesta flipped through the pages of the book, and glanced
  at the white cat with the corner of his eyes.  Now, the cat is
  most definitely angry.  Good.  God knows, I do need some distractions
  from the whole mess, and torturing or toying with Mina's cat does
  sound like a good idea at the moment.  He thought.

        "You want to ask me about the story I've told Mina,"  Calesta
  said airily.  Artemis froze on his feet.  What's he doing?  Is he 
  going to cooperate this time?  Artemis turned back and glared hard 
  at this young demon before him.

        "Let's see what I've told her... Oh, right.  Some legends
  about something called the Rainbow Crystals."  Calesta's wicked 
  half smile made Artemis feel like the Father of Lies was standing
  right in front of him. 

        "Yes.  Is the legend true?  What is it to do with us?" Artemis 
  asked nervously.  "Please, Calesta.  Don't play anymore games.  We
  need to know the truth."

        "Why should I tell you?"  Oh, how I want to wipe that smug off
  his wicked face, thought Artemis.  Calesta looked at him gleefully.

        "Look, I'm not going to play anymore witty word games with
  you.  I've had enough!  And if Mina didn't tell me to ask..."  
  Artemis bit his lips.  Oh, great! I lost my temper again  He thought.
  Stupid of me.  To say the wrong thing at the wrong time.

        Calesta stared at him with a cruel smile.  "OK.  So you've
  had enough of me, haven't you?  Same here."  He flung open the 
  window and threw Artemis out of the house.  "Good night, stupid
  cat."  He closed the window and turned off the light.

        Artemis landed on the flowerbed with a light thud. The thorn
  of the roses scratched him.  He shook his head and sighed.  Then 
  something caught his sight.  A book had landed right in front of
  him.  As he walked up to inspected it, he recongised that, it was 
  the book Calesta had been flipping through when they were arguing.
  And when he read further, his eyes grew larger and larger.  He 
  looked up at Calesta's window, and shook his head.  "I don't
  understand you, Calesta.  I don't understand you at all." 
  He whispered.
   
        I don't need you to understand me, stupid cat.  And frankly,
  I don't expect a dim wit cat like you will understand half of what
  I've been telling you.  Calesta thought.  But, it will provide
  some games, some entertainments for me, seeing you and your airhead
  friends trying to figure out the secrets, which might or might not
  even exist... haha...  

        He laid on his bed, staring at the dark ceiling as his thought
  sailed far far away.  Images flew in and out of his mind,  Zoicite,
  Nephrite, Malachite, Jadeite... their shadows danced around with 
  some others, someone that he should know, but he couldn't remember...
  
        He sighed and got out of the bed.  He couldn't possibly sleep
  when these dreams haunted him every night since Nephrite died. Damn
  you, Nephrite.  He thought wearily.  I want my blissful ignorance 
  back...  



        ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

  to be continued...