Fa/Hotaru 
Msir Senshi Pt.1 Revised
Co-Writer: Beky NeRichnead
Pre-reader: Shadra Holstein
C&C welcome!!!! Flames are hot
heehehheehheheheheheh

Theme Song for Pt.1:

I don't know if You can hear me
Or if You're even there
I don't know if You would listen
To a humble prayer
They tell me I am just an outcast
I shouldn't speak to You
Still I see Your face and wonder
Were You once an outcast too?

God help the outcasts
Hungry from birth
Show them the mercy
They don't find on earth
The lost and forgotten
They look to You still
God help the outcasts
Or nobody will

I ask for nothing
I can get by
But I know so many
Less lucky than I
God help the outcasts
The poor and downtrod
I thought we all were
The children of God

I don't know if there's a reason
Why some are blessed, some not
Why the few You seem to favor
They fear us
Flee us
Try not to see us

God help the outcasts
The tattered and torn
Seeking an answer
To why they were born
Winds of misfortune
Have blown them about
You made the outcasts
Don't cast them out
The poor and unlucky
The weak and the odd
I thought we all were
The children of God
                     Msir Senshi 
 
     Rei sighed as her father walked into the embassy with
another ambassador. Yet another canceled visit. She wasn't really
upset. She had grandfather and Yuchiguro. She had never really
known her father. She had stayed with him while she was little
and then been left at the shrine with her grandfather. 
     She turned to go so she could catch the bus home. Then she
heard a voice call out, "Father!" 
     She turned to see a dark skinned, light haired, and green
eyed girl run up. 
     Her father's companion turned and tried to hide a grimace of
annoyance. "Ahh, Shepsu. I'm sure Ingram will take care of your
accommodations. I think a hotel would be better this time. I
should be by for dinner." 
     Shepsu's face fell into a hardened mask as she ignored the
obvious lie. "Of course," she murmured sadly. 
     Rei's father smiled. "Fagir, I have an idea. Why doesn't she
stay with my daughter awhile?" 
     Fagir nodded. "It could work. Let's see..." 
     After a short conference, the two girls waited for Shepsu's
chauffeur in the lobby. Neither looked at the other. 
     After a few moments a young man approached. "Hail, Shepsu!" 
     Shepsu looked up to see her friend and guardian. "Ingram!"
He had taken care of her for years.
     He placed two cats on the seat next to her. "You're things
will be packed in a few minutes, lassie." He smiled at Rei. "And
you, pretty colleen, must be Hino Rei, our host." 
     Rei nodded, feeling more than a bit miffed. Suddenly two
people were invading her home. "You are Ingram O'Connor, I
assume." 
     He nodded with a grin. "That I am, dear." 
     One of the golden cats watched Shepsu carefully. The other
did it's best to look away as if shamed. Shepsu smiled. "This is
Bastet and Ra, my cats. Though I sometimes call Bastet 'Bast'." 
     Rei almost smiled, thinking of Luna and Artemis. "Hello,"
she greeted them. 
     Shepsu gave her an odd look. "Do you always talk to cats?" 
     Rei shrugged, giving her a why-is-it-your-business look. 
     Shepsu looked away. "It's not my fault." she stated. 
     "Not your fault what?" Rei asked, obviously annoyed.
     Shepsu snorted. "It's not my fault I got dumped on you."
     Rei didn't reply, but she knew the truth of Shepsu's words. 
     Ingram cut in cheerfully. "Time to go, ladies!" 
     They stood, and Rei followed Shepsu out to a waiting limo.
There could be some upsides to this, Rei mused. 
     Shepsu slammed the door, barely giving the cats time to
climb in.
                         * 
     They stopped at the shrine, having had a quiet ride. Shepsu
stepped out and looked around. "Nice place you have here." 
     A small old man walked out of the temple. "Rei! You brought
some recruits?" 
     Rei shook her head. "Father said they could stay here for a
few days." 
     Her grandfather nodded abruptly. "I see," he said and walked
back into the temple. 
     Shepsu looked at Rei in confusion. "What was that about?" 
     Rei sighed. "My father owns the ground the temple is on and
constantly reminds grandfather of it." 
     Shepsu nodded. She saw Ra follow him in. Bast watched from a
distance. 
     Rei changed the subject. "Ingram can sleep in Yuchiguro's
room. You'll have to stay in my room." 
     Shepsu agreed. "I can sleep on the floor. I've done it
before."
     Rei smiled. "Not in my house, you can have the futon. I'll
have Yuchiguro move it." 
     Shepsu gave her a small smile in return. 
     Rei led them into the house and showed them where to put
their things. Then they sat in the kitchen. "Want a snack? I
haven't eaten all day." 
     Shepsu shrugged. "Whatever, last I ate was in Egypt. I'm not
quite sure of the time difference." 
     Rei stood and opened the refridgerator. As she looked at the
emptiness of the fridge, she frowned. "I forgot. I was going to
go shopping today." 
     "We'll go!" Ingram piped up. "It's the least we can do."  
     Rei slowly nodded. "Ok, here's the list." 
     Shepsu headed towards the front door with Ingram. She
stopped by her room to grab her jacket. Then she yawned. 
     Ingram ruffled her hair. "Stay here and take a nap." 
     Shepsu nodded. She lay on the futon in Rei's room and almost
instantly fell asleep. 
                                                                 
                                *                         
     Rei saw her friends approaching and smiled. They would be
able to have a meeting, even if they had to keep it short. Usagi
ran in. "Hey, you have anything to eat?" 
     "We just had ice cream." Ami pointed out. 
     Minako walked in with Makoto and laughed at Usagi's pouty
expression. 
     Luna padded in. "We have to get to business. The Dark
Kingdom has stepped up it's activity. Now that we have the Silver
Imperium Crystal we are at our strongest." 
     Makoto grinned. "So let's do it! Let's get them!" 
     Ami took out her computer. "May I see the crystal, Usagi?" 
     Usagi reached into her dimensional pocket and handed Ami the
crescent moon wand. 
     At least, she *attempted* to hand it to Ami. In transit, the
wand clattered to the floor. The crystal rose out of her hand to
hover in the air. Then they heard a scream from Rei's bedroom.  
     Rei cursed and ran to her room. What she saw astounded her.

 
                *COMMERCIAL BREAK* 

     *Hoards of american people chase Urd and Skuld (with wings)
away from 7 Eleven* 
 
Urd: Humans are really weird 
 
Skuld: It must be your fault! 
 
Urd: BAKA! 
 
Annoying Pursuer: Oh, thank heaven-7Eleven angel!!!!! We need
some slurpies!!!!!! 
 
*Urd and Skuld pound him into ground and escape* 

            *WE NOW RETURN TO OUR NORMAL PROGRAMMING* 
   
     Rei cursed and ran to her room. What she saw astounded her.
Shepsu had fallen off the futon, and was lying in a heap on the
floor. A large crystal was growing out of her body. It a gold
crystal double the size of the silver crystal. 
     Shepsu struggled to breathe as she muttered what Rei thought
to be Egyptian curses. 
     Usagi ran into the room a second after the Silver Crystal
floated in. Shepsu's face was turning blue, but her eyes were
open and she watched the Senshi.
     Ami scanned Shepsu and the large golden crystal.
     Luna padded towards Shepsu, but an irate golden cat blocked
her path and hissed.
     Another golden cat, with a cross in a circle symbol on it's
forehead, nudged Shepsu.
     Ami looked grim. "She is having a heart attack. Her lungs
are shutting down. Her kidneys are ceasing to function." Ami's
face took on a light pallor. "In short, she is dying."
     "What is that crystal?" asked Usagi.
     Luna hissed in return at the tomcat.
     Then the tomcat spoke. "Leave the crystal holder be."
     Luna felt her hackles raise, but she persevered. "She is in
danger. I want to help."
     Ami gasped. "There are files in here for another crystal.
They were hidden until now."
     "So, what do we do?" Minako asked.
     The golden cat in front of Luna spoke. "We can do nothing
until the Imperium Crystal is done talking to the Galaxial
Crystal."
     The other golden cat frowned. "Ra, cut the chat. The crystal
may be damaged!"
     "Sorry, Bastet," he answered, glancing sorrowfully at
Shepsu.
     "The crystal was supporting her life functions," Ami said.
"If it isn't returned to her body, she will die in a matter of
moments."
     Usagi began to cry.
     "Who is she?" Makoto asked.
     Minako at Rei. "And why is she sleeping in your room?"
     Rei turned red. "It's not LIKE that! Her father works with
my father and she needed some place to stay awhile."
     Then the golden crystal sank to where Shepsu lay. It slowly
disappeared into her chest.
     For a few moments nothing happened. Then Shepsu began to
laugh. "So, the Senshi do exist. How interesting." She struggled
to catch her breath.
     Rei offered her a hand up, which Shepsu gratefully accepted.
When she stood, still slightly leaning on Rei, she smiled. The
smile didn't quite reach her eyes, but most could tell she was
trying to be friendly. "I am Hatshepsut Ertu." She chuckled. "Of
course, you'd say it Ertu Hatshepsut. Most call me Shepsu."
     "Your Japanese is terrific," Ami commented.
     Shepsu nodded. "I am very good with languages. My mother
stayed in Japan awhile. She died a few years ago." Shepsu was
surprised by her own forthrightness. Perhaps she was talking to
distract herself from the warmth of Rei's body. Her mother's
memory was better than the memory of her father's scorn.
     Rei was getting more and more aware of Shepsu's weight on
her. Minako's comment had certainly put her mind in the gutter
today.
     Bastet looked irritated. "Perhaps we should discuss this in
the other room?"
     Luna nodded. They all walked into the other room and sat.
Rei supported Shepsu, then let her sit down on a step. Then she
sat next to her.
     "I'll start, I guess," Shepsu said. "I am originally from
Egypt. I have always tended to be unhealthy." Her voice became
unsteady, but she continued. "I was in the hospital a few years
ago, dying from multiple organ failure. My mother came to me....
***************************
     "My little Shepsu," the blonde haired, caucasian skinned
woman whispered. "Do you know how much I love you?"
     The little girl smiled. "Of course momma, I love you too.
When I get better are we gonna go to the moon like you promised?"
     The woman slowly nodded. "You'll go to the moon, my little
queen. I swear it."
     Then her mother began to glow. A crystal grew out of her
chest and headed towards her daughter. Then Shepsu blacked out.
****************************
     "My mother died that day." Shepsu said.
     Usagi's eyes began to water more. "That's SOOOOOOOOOO sad!"
     "Save the fountain for later," Rei said harshly. She turned
to Shepsu and softened her tone. "How do you know that we are
Senshi?"
     "I want to know about the cats!" Minako piped in.
     The two golden cats turned to her. Bastet smiled tightly.
"We are simply Guardians of the crystal."
     Rei saw fleeting anger float over Shepsu's face, but Shepsu 
quickly concealed it.
     Shepsu answered Rei's question slowly. "The crystal held by
your friend..."
     "Usagi," Rei supplied.
     Shepsu nodded. "It communicated with the Golden Crystal. It
in turn communicated to me. It is intelligent to a degree, though
not wise."
     Luna turned to Ami. "You said you had files on it?"
     Ami nodded and looked at her computer. "It says here that
the Golden Galaxial Crystal was created by... beings that were
worshiped by some earth people. It was the prototype for the
silver crystal. It was considered flawed, but they couldn't
destroy it because it was minimally intelligent."
     "What was the flaw?" Makoto asked.
     "I'll answer that," Shepsu said. "With it's intelligence, it
found it wanted to help people. It found someone who was dying
and bonded to her to keep her alive. Normally, it has the power
to transform it's holder into a warrior. However, it tends to
bond with people to whom it has to divert all it's power to
maintaining life functions."
     Makoto looked confused. "I don't understand."
     Ami nodded. "When they created the Silver Imperium Crystal
they made sure it could only bond to a member of the royal family
of the moon, though it can be used by others."
     Shepsu studied Ami's computer. "Does it say who it first
bonded to?"
     "The adoptive princess of Earth," Ami answered. "It doesn't
give her name."
     Shepsu nodded. "I see."
     Then they heard a cheerful voice call out, "I'm back!"
     Shepsu ran out to Ingram and hugged him. He almost dropped
his bag, but managed to hold it. "What's wrong, dearie?"
     She began to talk really fast in another language.
     Bastet looked weary. "Great, she's telling him about today.
I always said she was a poor choice."
     Ra glanced at her. "She speaks only of herself, not the
others."
     Bastet rolled her eyes and padded back into the house.
     Ingram carried his packages into the kitchen. "So what shall
we have tonight?"
     He laid out the contents of her list, then produced another
bag. "This is food I know how to cook."
     Shepsu turned to others and was not surprised to see Minako,
Usagi, and Makoto staring and saying, "Kawaii!"
     Shepsu rolled her eyes and smiled. 
     Makoto threw off the thrall first. "I'll help!"
     Both Usagi and Minako offered to help. Rei, Shepsu, and Ami
waited on the steps.
     Shepsu looked out at the setting sun. "I used to wish that
mother would come back and I would have a house to live in, some
friends to stay with, and a dog." She laughed. "I always wanted a
dog."
     Rei smiled. "You have cats."
     Shepsu's face hardened. "The crystal has cats. Their duty is
to protect the crystal. I am just a vessel to hold it. Bastet
openly hates me. Ra feels sorry for me, but that is all."
     "That's harsh," Ami said.
     "Story of my life," Shepsu answered with a shrug. "So, tell
me what being a Senshi is like."
     Ami smiled. "It is very interesting....."
                                   **
     Dinner was served with flourish. Everyone stayed and they
were joined by Yuchiguro and Rei's grandfather. 
     Usagi pouted over her failure to produce anything edible,
though it did look good. Minako's had come out decent. Makoto's
and Ingram's food was fantastic.
     They hung around talking about popular manga, tv, and boys
(well, when Ingram WASN'T around). Then both Minako and Usagi
realized they were about to miss their curfews and ran out
screaming. Makoto and Ami left in a calmer manner, because they
had classes the next day.
     Shepsu yawned. "I'm going to bed. See ya tomorrow Rei!"
     Rei nodded and went to the fire to meditate.
                                  **
	 Shepsu lay on the futon in Rei's room and tried to sleep.
She was confused by Rei's reaction to her. Did she hate her?
After a few moments she gave up trying to sleep.
     The anger returned. She was angry at her mother for dying
and leaving her. She was angry at her father for neglecting her.
She was angry at Mac for falling in love and then pulling away
before she could fully understand what love was. She was angry at
Ingram for.....for making her live.
     She studied her wrists in the moonlight. Her skin was
perfectly smooth, as always. She sighed and again tried to sleep.
As she lay on the futon she refused to let her mind travel to the
past.
     However, she failed.
*****
     She was 12. She was sitting in the bathroom holding a razor,
supposedly shaving. She watched the blood drip from a cut on her
arm.
     As the blood dripped out her anger and depression turned
into a weary highness. The door opened and a younger Ingram
thundered in. He grabbed a rag and bandaged her arm. He dressed
her in a towel and ordered her to get dressed.
     She was trembling when she came out of her room. Ingram was
waiting. "Lass, we need to talk. I may be new here, but I won't
allow you to hurt yourself like that."
     "It's fine." Shepsu said.
     He frowned at her and she took off the bandage. The scar was
almost gone. "I'm a quick healer." she said in a voice almost
devoid of emotion.
     He grabbed her arm. "It matters not. I want you to promise
to live. Live for anything, live for me if you must. Just don't
do this." He shoved her arm back at her.
     She looked down at the floor, ashamed.
     "Promise me, lass." he repeated.
     She continued her silence.
     He sighed. "Lass, this cannae go on. You must know that."
     "I promise." she whispered and ran into her room.
*****
     Shepsu cried to herself. For three years she had lived
because he told her to. If things didn't look up in a few months
she would consider her promise void. He had others, people
flocked around him.
     She fell asleep as Rei came in.
*******
     Rei looked at Shepsu's sleeping form. She had heard the girl
crying, but didn't know her well enough to know if she should try
and comfort her. She sighed and went to bed. She would deal with
it tomorrow. 
                                  ** 
     Ingram took a walk outside. It was after dark and the moon
was high. He sighed. Shepsu was getting attached and that would
be trouble when her father was ready to leave.
     He wished she could stay, have a family, have that dog she
always wanted. He didn't see how her father would ever give her a
sense of family.
     "You could help her," a voice said.
     He looked around, but saw nothing. "Hello?"
     "You know of the crystal, how it was supposed to make her a
warrior."
     He nodded. "Aye, that I ken."
     "Well, we are feeling a bit guilty for our mishap and would
like to try a remedy we have thought up."
     "What do you mean?" asked Ingram.
     "We made the crystal to begin with. She is supposed to be a
warrior. Her skill will be needed, unless we can find others to
protect her and act as her warriors."
     "And what would you be wanting me to do?" asked Ingram.
     "Well, we would like you to become Imhotep, a Msir Senshi,
as one of my colleagues put it. You would draw power from me. You
would defend Hatshepsut and work as a paladin for us, us being,
ummmm, powerful creatures. Nothing bad, just protecting the earth
every now and then."
     "Who are you, what is your name?" asked Ingram.
     "Imhotep."
     "Then how can I be Imhotep?" asked Ingram.
     "Annoying mortals, I could call you Msir Senshi Imhotep, but
that sounds silly. Khensu was the one to come up with that silly
"sailor" business. Just call yourself Imhotep. I will train you
nightly or whenever is possible."
     "Only if I can tell Shepsu," Ingram stated.
     "Very well, but the cats must not be told. They work for our
enemy though they are not evil in themselves. They are deceived."
     Ingram nodded. "I want to see you."
     "But you'll make fun of me," the deity whined.
     Ingram rose an eyebrow. "Nae, I swear I willna do so."
     A blue genie appeared. "Happy? Sebek was making fun of me
for being an egyptian god in the form of an arabic genie. I do
wish Sekhmet would teach him some manners," he stated.
     Ingram smiled. "I accept. So what shall you be teaching me?"
     "Oh, a little of this, a little of that. Choose a weapon."
Imhotep answered.
     Ingram thought about it. "How about an axe?"
     "Very well, then some magic. Shapeshifting, illusion, won't
this be fun." Imhotep said.
     Another sourceless voice said wearily, "Who let him near the
bourbon balls?"
     He glared at empty space. "I only had three!"
     There was a sigh, but the voice said nothing else.
     Imhotep grinned. "Let's get on with it!"


WHOEVER SAYS:

Imhotep says: Never mix genies and alcohol. Your wish may get
twisted. 

Character You Don't Yet Know: You're wishes ALWAYS come out
twisted!

Imhotep: It's not my fault people don't ask for what they really
want.

CYDYK: Yeah right, hey Other Character You Don't Yet Know, give
Imhotep a cold bath.

OCYDYK: Yes, mother.

Imhotep: Gotta run, see ya next episode!

CYDYK: OCYDYK, don't call me mother, they're not supposed to know
that yet

OCYDYK: Yes, mother. Imhotep is getting away.

Together: AFTER HIM!

                **************End Pt.1****************


Ending Theme:
Well I don't wanna be President
Superman or Clark Kent
I don't wanna walk 'round in their shoes

'Cause I don't know who's side I'm on
I don't know my right from wrong
I don't know where I'm going to
I don't know about you

I'll be the rain falling on your fire escape
And I may not be the one you want me to
I can be myself, how 'bout you?

I don't wanna make you mad
I don't wanna meet your dad
I don't wanna be your dream come true

'Cause I don't know just what I've found
I don't know my sky from ground
I don't know where I'm going to
I don't know about you

I'll be the rain falling on your fire escape
And I may not be the man you one me to
I can be myself, how 'bout you

I'll be the rain falling on your fire escape
And I may not be the one you want me to
I can be myself, how 'bout you
I can be myself, how 'bout you
I can be myself
How abut you?