Chrono X Angel, Book 8: The Sands of Time

Chapter 2

The plane was still at least twenty minutes from landing, but both Usoko and Kuroko were almost bouncing in their seats with excitement and anticipation. In less than an hour they would be setting foot in Cairo, Egypt, one of the oldest cities in the world and home to the Great Pyramids. It was within one of these ancient monuments that the Princess Tethnankhnamet was said to rest. Usoko had not been able to find much information on her, even with Jacqueline's extensive help. All that was known for certain was that she was a living Mummy. Although the words conjured images of heavily bandaged beings lumbering about, Usoko strongly doubted that was what she would find.

"First Vampires and Werewolves, now a Frankenstein and a Mummy," she had chuckled to herself, "My life's turning into the Monster Mash."

The sisters would waste no time once the plane had landed, and their plan was as simple as it was likely to take a while. They were going to search every last corner of the ruins at Giza until they found a clue to the Princess's whereabouts. Given that neither girl had permission from the Egyptian government to do this, stealth was going to be the name of the game and so they had spent the last several days before their flight in Jacqueline's castle practicing a powerful invisibility illusion. The memory of what she went through to master this spell made Usoko shudder. The things in the forest that surrounded the castle, where most of the training took place, were not the most friendly or forgiving beings, and more than once did both Tachibanas nearly find themselves sucked into a squirming maw...

The spell would also not mask the sounds of their movements, merely muffling them at most, but that would be less of an issue. If any tourist or guard heard them and started poking around, they could just start making ghost noises like a Scooby Doo villain to scare them away. At least, that was Kuroko's plan.

"Hey sis, before we go searching can we take some pictures and stuff?? Please??" Begged Kuroko, giving her older sister big ol' pleading puppy dog eyes.

"Well yeah, of course we can Kuro," replied Usoko with a smile, "But we do have to make sure we focus on the mission. Mom said this Princess will be the one person who can help me go back in time to before the other me started messing with stuff, and 'learn what must be learned'. Whatever that means."

"I'm also not sure what she meant by that," sighed Kuroko, sinking back down into her seat, "I mean, what's different about the past that makes it so you can't learn whatever it is here? Ugh... my brain hurts just thinking about it..."

"You and me both kiddo," came the voice of Misato Tachibana from the seat behind them. Usoko's future daughter had accompanied the pair on this mission, as she was the only one present with any experience cruising through the time stream. Misato's presence would also give them an extra level of protection against any would-be adversaries the sisters might come across. With Usoko not able to use her powers to their fullest safely, and Kuroko still a learner, Misato's raw Oni strength and her frightening capabilities with firearms would be their best defense should Kanata or any of the other so-called Dark Magical Girls come calling. Well, her and Sarah too, but considering the Banshee was still relegated to a diminutive plushie form for the time being, it was safe to say her powers were also somewhat limited.

With their plane landing uneventfully, and with most of the day still ahead of them, the trio of Tachibanas immediately began making their way towards Giza. As their journey took them across the Nile River, Kuroko wanted to go down to the edge and stick her feet in. Seeing no real issue with it, Usoko obliged her and followed close behind.

"I'm actually in the Nile!" Grinned Kuroko, "Hehe, anyone got a basket? I wanna play Baby Moses."

"Baby Moses?" Asked Misato?

"Yeah! Like in that one video, Baby Moses Baby Moses!"

"She can't stop saying Baby Moses, can she?" Groaned Sarah, pressing her felt palm to her forehead.