Far off in the distance, a city slept under a blanket of blue. All the people safely tucked into their beds even as that thick blue blanket began to fade into glowing hues of pink and purple. Grey buildings reached up into the sky fighting with the sea of color, their grey skin splashed with salmon rivers of light. Surely, today’s sunrise would be the kind to inspire the artist, lift the spirits of the hopeless. Too bad it was a fake, like almost everything in this city. It consisted of just bits of color that passed over the thick skin of the bubble called our atmosphere. The long night spent peering down on the motionless city had led me to believe that it too was just an illusion.

This wouldn’t be the first time I stayed up all night looking down on our un-interesting city. This past week I spent most of my nights and mornings perched on our roof top, contemplating life. Well, as much as a seventeen year old could contemplate about life. I dreamt of going somewhere real, somewhere the sun really did rise. Somewhere like the pictures of earth my pin pal mailed to me. A place with fields of flowers and oceans full of creatures, where clothes were knitted from rough wools and housed were made from wood. It was a far cry from this place I called home for these seventeen years of my life. Here, where everything was synthetic and there were no fields of flowers, just cement formations filled with engineered plants. Any hopes of leaving this façade called life was surely hopeless. More than likely I would be placed into my job and grow old here just like my parents, just as their parents had and so many others that were born here had done.

There was only one thing that could possibly save me from my cookie cutter fate and that was becoming a Senshi. Being a Senshi might not be as interesting as it had been in the past when the galaxy came under threat on a regular basis but it would certainly be better then any of the other fates that could await me. It was one of the few positions that you could volunteer for. Most of the time you were just evaluated then given a job that fits your skill sets but you could train to take the test to become a Senshi. Not many people were picked to become one, however. It almost seemed like there was more too it than just the test but no one at the academy was really sure. Once you had been picked you would be transferred to the training facilities. We never really saw any of the students after that. It was almost like one big mystery but it was a mystery I defiantly wanted.

For the past two years my sister and I have trained for it. I have tried to stay at the top of my classes in hopes that I would be the next to be chosen. To my luck today of all days would be when all the students that make the first cut will be announced and given their future names. I know I will be one. By now the bright dot in the fake sky began to rise higher so I made my retreat back into my room struggling along the slick roof and squirmed back into my window.

I flipped off the alarm on my watch. Even though I knew I wouldn’t be sleeping, I still set it from force of habit. I didn’t need to get dressed or shower since I had snuck around the house to do that earlier that night. I headed over to my sisters room to try to wake her. More then likely I would have to repeat the process a few times, so starting early wouldn’t be a problem.

I walked down the hall where her room was. I stabbed at the button by her door causing the cool purple metal to whiz open. I stood in the door way unable to walk in. Hoku looked so peaceful while sleeping. She seemed as if she was the same sweet little sister she had always been. Not the distant mysterious person she had became lately. I missed the closeness we used to share but mother says things like this happen when you become a teen. Maybe she will get over whatever is bothering her and we can once again be each other’s shadows. I took a deep breath and tiptoed into the room. I leaned close to my sweet sister.” I love you little sis. Please come back soon from where ever you went.” I whispered softly into her ear and walked back out the room. She looked like she was enjoying her sleep and I defiantly didn’t want to interrupt what dreams she was having.

I hopped down the hall checking my hair in a mirror on the way. Still perfect enough so I went down to sit in the kitchen. Not a soul seemed to be awake yet so I poured a bowl of breakfast flakes and grabbed my school books. A few extra minutes of studying wouldn’t hurt. After a few chapters in my Lit book people began to stir. Mom’s tired head bobbed down the stairs. The early morning light blinded her but shined a warm hue across her face. Despite her age her face was still beautiful and her eyes still shined from behind fine wrinkles that had begun to appear over the past few years.

“Sakura, what are you doing up already. I swear you get up earlier and earlier every morning. Such a contrast too your sister that seems to be sleeping more everyday.” She remarked as she took in my site.

“I’m just excited I guess. It’s almost the end of the year.’ I replied as I stuffed my books into my bag.

She nodded as she turned to look at the info screen on the refrigerator.” Time is going by so fast. Today is the day you all get promoted and next year you will get to going to training.” She sighed. “Time goes so fast. In no time my little girls will be gone but I still can’t help but see you two as just little things, all silly and sweet.”

I could since that Mom was going to get into one of those sentimental moods so I decided to make my escape a little earlier then usual. I dropped my bowl into the wash slot and it sucked it up as I ran around the metallic counter.

“Hey Mom, I think I am going to head out a little early. The anticipation is killing me so I will see you later.” I shouted as the front door swung open for me.

“What about your sister? Don’t you want to walk with her?” Mom called back.

“I really don’t think she wants to be around me. She has been really moody lately. Just tell her I will see her at school.” I yelled back as I ran out the door. Later on in school everything went about the way it always did but all the students seemed to be buzzing with excitement. I found that I too was about to burst. We would have to wait until 2 o’clock right before school was out for the announcements. It could hardly wait. Like everyone else I was in a daze, hardly aware of the class that was going on. Finally, it was time for the closing announcements. Everyone was in a buzz. The dean called out the normal daily announcements. I squirmed impatiently. Finally, names began to be announcements alphabetically with their potential Senshi names following. There weren’t many but there was enough that the names smashed together with the names of stars, moons and far off planets but the words became clear when I heard my sisters name being read. “Hoku Komodo, CopperTitan,” The speaker blurted” Sakura Komodo, GlassTitan.” Followed after.

I was over come with excitement but then my eyes bugged at the thought of my name” Glass… GlassTitan? Are they trying to say I’m fragile like glass? That’s not fair. Hoku is copper; she is at least something strong.” I huffed.

I tried to push the feelings away as I focused on the fact that I made it through the first cut. A lot of people weren’t that lucky, so what if my name wasn’t what I wanted. That wasn’t what mattered because next year I would be preparing to enter training.

The last bell rung and everyone began piling out. Some of the students were sad and others comforting the others, a few of them talking proudly of their new names. I shot up, out of my daze and ran through the door. I wanted to find Hoku and celebrate the news. I stopped out front by a fake tree where I always met Hoku. There I waited. Twenty minutes went by and Hoku never showed.” Maybe she ran home already.” I said to myself.

I began down the path from the school. As I made my way to the path by the street a high pitched buzz shot out through the air. All the lights at the school flickered out. As I looked down the street I watched as the lights went out in a wave.” What is happening?” I shouted as a bunch of students scrambled out to the street.

Just then a loud explosion echoed from the other side of the city followed by a tremor. Students began to panic around me as I stood in shock looking off in the direction of the blast.

“Oh my god, it’s an attack.” One girl shouted in terror.

“Don’t be an idiot. There hasn’t been an attack in forever. It’s probably just some kind of accident or something.” I boy yelled in reply. I held my ears as the crowd erupted into chaos. It was hard to think over the noise. A couple of instructors had started to round up the students to head back into the school as they tried to reassure the panicking teens. One of the instructors turned and called to me to come. At that moment a flash of thoughts pushed through my mine. I turned and began to run towards the part of the city I lived in. The instructor yelled after me but his voice was drowned out by sounds of sirens.

After running a few blocks it felt like my lungs where going to explode making me really think about exercising more often. Before too long I stood in front of my house. The door left half open as if it was opening when the power went down. I slipped threw the opening, struggling a little until I fell onto the living room floor. I pushed myself up ignoring the pain from carpet burn and began running around the house.” Mom…dad...Hoku…where are you?” I yelled franticly.

It seemed like no one was home but why was the door open. I calmed myself and decided that they probably heard the noise and went outside. I stood in the kitchen for a moment trying to stop the burning in my chest when I heard a clamor from upstairs. I stumbled up the stairs. I walked slowly down the wall. I noticed that Hoku’s door had been prided open. I crept beside the door then looked in. No one was there so I stepped half way into the door way just when a backpack flew out of the closet. I jumped back and was ready to run until I saw Hoku spin out of the closet with arms full of clothe. She began stuffing the bag and then got up to grab a few more things.

“Hoku… what are you doing?” I questioned in confusion.

Hoku jumped around to face me. Her eyes were wide with shock and distress until they focused into a furrow. I walked back into the room but was pushed back out as Hoku pushed past me into the hall. She swung the bag over her shoulder. As she stormed towards the stairs I caught her by the sleeve of her school uniform.

“Hoku, what’s going on? Where are you going? “I pled with my distant sister.

We stood by the steps for a couple of long seconds, silently. My dear sister turned her face up to me. Tears were stinging in her eyes while they were still set with anger. She grabbed my wrist.” I’m sorry Sakura, really I am but you won’t understand.” My sister whispered in a low voice as her eyes sunk into sadness.

“Sorry for what?” I replied as my eyes, too, began to tear.

I stepped forward to try to embrace Hoku but as I did she pulled hard on my wrest, hurling my body forward. I tumbled down the stairs, hitting the floor hard. My head stun and my vision blurred. As I tried to stay conscious I saw my sister’s form standing over me. Hoku’s breathe soft near my ear.

“I’m really sorry Sakura. It’s my destiny, I’m sure you will find yours and then you will understand.” Hoku’s voice bounced in my head as I felt a soft touch on my face. Then her shadow passed over and then away from me as Hoku walked out of my life. Tears ran down my face cooling my sister’s last touch as everything went black. In the blackness, dreams of my sister haunted me, faded slow memories from years before. All the while, Hoku’s last words saturated every tattered image. Destiny, what is my destiny and why can’t it be with my sister.

Slowly the dreams faded as my eyes cleared to the site of the living room’s ceiling. The light was low. I wondered how long I was out but one thing I was sure of was that I was going to find my sister. Whatever my destiny was I wasn’t going to have it with out her no matter what she thinks.