A/N In case you didn't know, Motoki= Andrew/Paul,
Naru=Molly, Umino=Melvin, Yuuichiro=Chad. If you don't know the senshi names in
Japanese, I'm sorry. Get Sailor Moon S on DVD, uncut! It's so awesome! This is
my first full-length serious SM fic, and it's Mamoru and almost Motoki
centered. Don't be turned off by the beginning, it's not what it appears.
The Helplessness
Therein
Part I- Reclaiming
Life
The
darkness pounded in his head as he lifted his hands. Jagged cuts embedded
themselves therein, blood seeping from them onto his sheets and blankets.
He got up
from bed to look in the mirror, only to see blood seeping from similar cuts on
his face as well.
With no one
to call to for help, he fell to the ground.
"Huh?"
Mamoru shook his head, waking up. Blood ran clamorously through his temples,
and he closed his eyes, bringing his hands up slowly to meet them.
"Phew," he
sighed loudly, then collapsing in his relief.
But he knew
he'd woken up for a reason, so he transformed, feeling sick, clad in a tuxedo
and top hat. It felt wrong on him, stuffy as if brand new.
What's
the point anymore? He asked himself.
The engine
of the motorcycle shattered the peaceful state of the neighborhood, and he
hoped that he hadn't drawn their attention to Motoki's apartment.
"Huh?" his
eyes suddenly widened, and he grasped his calf, bringing it up to his face only
to find it covered in blood.
Mamoru
turned around slowly, reluctantly placing his bloodied hand back on the handle
of his bike.
"Uranus,"
he whispered, turning back around and speeding up as quickly as possible as his
face was inches from being ripped off by the space sword.
He knew his
riding skills were no match for Tenoh, no match for a world renowned racer, but
when his life was at stake, he wasn't about to roll over and turn in the towel.
"Turn
around and face me," she shouted, coming up to the side of Mamoru's bike. The
street fled beneath it, and he could hardly bear to look at the wispy blonde
hair which protruded from the helmet, and most of all he could hardly bear to
look at the hardened eyes she wore, eyes filled with nothing but hate for the
traitor.
Mamoru
could do nothing but ride on, trying to get in front of his adversary.
"I'll kill
you eventually, traitor," Uranus shouted, "so why even bother?"
There was a
time when Mamoru might have shouted back to her, asking her who was really the
traitor, but it'd been done too many times. It had failed too many times.
Why am I
always drawing myself out into this? He wondered. I should have stayed in
bed—
His
wandering thoughts caused Uranus to get the better of him, stopping in front of
him, playing chicken with his feelings for her, the feelings of a lost alliance
which he could not shake.
So, of
course, he skidded to avoid her. He flew off his bike into a railing near the
local park's lake. His added strength keeping him from passing out, he
struggled to stand, lest he die.
Get up,
Mamoru! He ordered himself. But who was he getting up for?
Instinct
flipped through him and attacked his arm, causing it to grab his cane and
thrust it out in front of him while he still sat stunned. It clanged against
the impermeable metal which was the space sword, and sweat racked his face in
fear as he engaged in fencing combat with Sailor Uranus.
He had done
this before as well, but he never won, he always escaped with his life. He was
quite the skilled fencer, and he would have thought better of his odds had he a
better tool to fence with, but Uranus had at least his skill, and twice the
bravado as one who didn't fear her own death.
But why
should I fear mine?
Mamoru
mustered his strength, letting her sword near his neck enough that if it had
life he could have felt its heartbeat, then he shoved her backward, back into
the night, buying himself time to stand and ready himself.
He didn't
know why she always bothered sword fighting him when she could blow him away
with one world shaking. He figured she must want to torture him rather than
kill him quickly, which somehow seemed very unlike her.
She came at
him again, and his eyes narrowed as he readied himself for an attack.
"Why is it
just you?" he asked as blow after blow was rained upon him, causing him to back
into the railing once again. The water below was turbulent, though the air was
still. "Where's Neptune?"
"She had
other business to attend to," Uranus smirked.
Then
it's not Neptune causing the water to do that, Mamoru's heart began to
pound even more quickly then it had been, oh no—
"Argh!"
he shouted as his head was thrown back and his body was immobilized. Cold
wracked his entirety, and Uranus walked up to him casually.
"Why fight
me when you're outnumbered?" Uranus asked, lifting her sword to deal a final
blow.
Don't do
this, Uranus, he pleaded, wanting to move his eyes to see where Mercury
was, but even they were frozen open. He could hardly see anyway, the ice which
glazed his eyes fogged his vision.
"Die now,
traitor!" Uranus shouted, bringing the sword down. The sword was about four
inches from his nose when Uranus suddenly dropped the sword and began shaking,
her mouth lolling open as electricity wracked her entirety. She fell to her
knees, white electricity still pouring through her, not stopping until she was
face down on the floor.
Jupiter?
He blanched, but why?
The
ice ceased to hold him after a moment, and he fell to the ground as well. He
could see Mercury from the corner of his eye, standing near a tree, powered up
to super sailor mercury.
They
really had it out for me today, he thought as he tried to stand, still
shaking and unable to regain his vision.
"Come on!"
his savior shouted, running up to him and hoisting him onto a motorcycle.
"How?"
Mamoru asked, short of breath, "how did you?"
"I followed
you when you left my apartment," Motoki replied sternly as he drove off toward
his apartment. "I made the taser with instructions online after nothing was
safe anymore—after seeing who you were, I had the foresight to bring it with
me. God, Mamoru, if you're one of them, then why did they attack you?"
"I'm a
traitor," he coughed, and then lost consciousness while draped across his
friend's back.
-*-*-*-*-*-
"Ohhh,"
Mamoru lifted his hand, reaching for his head. His hand was put back at his
side by a soft, friendly hand, and a finger put to his lips. The person's other
hand was dabbing a warm wet towel at his head, and everything seemed blurry as
Mamoru opened his eyes.
"Where are
we?" Mamoru asked.
"The Hino
Shrine," Motoki replied, "it was close, and I didn't want them following us
back to my apar--"
"Oh shit,"
Mamoru sat up quickly, everything suddenly coming into focus, "we gotta get out
of here!"
"Huh?"
Motoki seemed puzzled.
Yuuichiro entered the room, cold
compresses in hand.
"You really got it," he commented
as he handed the compresses to Motoki. "I haven't seen you in so long, you
never hang out with the girls anymore! I'll go tell Rei you're here, she'll
want to see you--"
"No no no no no!" Mamoru shouted in
a whisper, jumping up and grabbing Yuuichiro by the collar. "She can't
know I'm here! I just have to leave!"
"Whoa," Yuuichiro held up his
hands, "it's all right dude, I won't tell. Are they all pissed at you or
something? Did you dump Usagi?"
Mamoru's breath suddenly ceased,
and he held his hand over his mouth as he began to choke for air.
"I don't want to talk about it," he
whispered again, "please, don't even tell her I was here, if she doesn't know
already."
"I won't," Yuuichiro agreed. "You
can always apologize--"
"Look," Mamoru clenched his fist at
his side, trying to remain as polite as possible, "you don't even know the half
of it."
"He's right," Motoki agreed,
grabbing Mamoru by the wrist. "And we're outta here. Thanks for the help,
Yuuichiro."
"No problem," the young man
replied.
"What happened to my bike?" Mamoru
asked as Motoki dragged him to his.
"They jacked
it," Motoki sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Oh hell,"
Mamoru bit his lip.
"Mamo-kun?"
Motoki lifted his head and turned toward Mamoru before straddling his
motorcycle.
"What?"
Mamoru replied, waiting for Motoki to reply before getting on the bike himself.
"I want you
to tell me everything," he affirmed, then pulled his helmet on. "I already know
you're Tuxedo Kamen."
"All
right," Mamoru agreed, "but then I'm leaving, or you'll be in more danger."
"I'll be in
more danger without you," Motoki rolled his eyes, "they already saw me."
"Good
point," Mamoru nodded, feeling defeated.
And they
rode back to Motoki's apartment, unaware of the fire-filled eyes which watched
their departure.
The wind
riled Mamoru's senses as they swerved in and out of cars on the freeway. Mamoru
must have detransformed after passing out--he barely knew how he had kept his
misfortunes from Motoki for the past month, and he cringed thinking that his
secret had slipped--he usually prided himself on being able to guard it--but at
least he wasn't alone.
How
selfish! He chastised himself, I've dragged my best friend into danger
he'll never be able to handle, and all I can think about is my loneliness.
But
at least he wasn't alone--anymore.
"Do you
have to work today, Motoki-kun?" Mamoru asked as they stopped in a parking
space at Motoki's apartment building.
"I told my
dad I was taking care of you," Motoki shrugged, "so he's taking over my shift
at the arcade until you're well. You know, Mamo-kun, I could just quit, if it
came to that."
"You need
money!" Mamoru argued.
"Explain to
me how bad the situation is," Motoki twirled car keys on his fingers, then
walked up to his door and scrambled for the right one, "and I'll decide how
much help you need."
"What do
you want to know?"
"Why did
the senshi go bad, for starters," Motoki opened the door, allowing Mamoru to
enter first. "And why 'Tuxedo Kamen' is a traitor."
"I don't
know why they went bad," Mamoru shrugged, "all I know is that they all did, and
I didn't, and now my life is hell. I wish I could bring myself to join
them, then at least I wouldn't be hunted by the people I love the most."
"Usagi is
one of them," Motoki deduced while closing the door, "isn't she?"
"Y--"
"You might
as well tell me who they all are," Motoki reasoned, "you have no reason to
protect them from me."
"She's
Sailor Moon."
"So you
were dating the leader, huh?" Motoki scratched his chin, then sat down on his
sofa, patting a seat next to him for Mamoru to adjourn to.
"Yeah," he
laughed, "though I never really thought of that much. I was too busy with my
own, my own, oh, I don't even know anymore. But I wonder--I wonder if I was
better to her, that she might--"
"That girl
loved you more than life itself," Motoki turned his head toward Mamoru. "You
must have been doing something right."
"Yeah,"
Mamoru rolled his eyes at himself, leaning back into the sofa, "I was dating
someone more loyal than a golden retriever."
"And you
think you took her for granted?"
"I did."
"Now isn't
the time to worry about that," Motoki changed the subject. "You have no idea
why they're bad?"
"Well,"
Mamoru shuffled his feet, "one time I cornered Usagi, asking why, and she said
that humanity wasn't worth it. I mean, if you knew anything about her at
all, you'd know that's something she'd never say. They're hardly the same
people anymore."
"She didn't
kill you?" Motoki seemed astonished.
"No,"
Mamoru scratched his chin, "and she very well could have."
"That means
something, if you ask me."
Mamoru
looked to his feet.
"Mamo-chan,"
Usagi smiled up at him, her eyes partially closed as he kept his arms around
her waist. "I wish we could always be like this."
He
nodded, not even smiling back.
He
always had to be like that, didn't he? He couldn't express how much he loved
her. Did he just have to seem cool? Now that he didn't have her, it seemed so
strange. He had no idea how he couldn't have just taken her in his arms and
laughed with her. He'd give his life for her without one look back, but the
night before she was gone forever as he knew her, he didn't pour his heart out.
I didn't
know, of course, he told himself, and it was true.
He didn't
know it would be their last night of happiness together, and that the next day
he'd have to run from her.
Maybe
she came around, he perked up.
"Motoki,"
he looked away as if he was going to ask something obscene, "may I use your
phone?"
"As long as
you don't call any 900 numbers," Motoki joked, and then tossed him the
cordless.
Mamoru
smiled weakly at the joke and held the phone tightly in his hand, dialing his
voice mail number slowly.
Maybe
she called? He deluded himself.
The first
message was an unexpected one, though strangely welcome.
"Hi, this
is Naru," the girl introduced herself, "I had to call you--I have no idea why
Usagi's been acting so strangely lately, I was wondering if you could help me,
please call me back, the number is 868-4210. Bye."
Naru-chan,
Mamoru pursed his lips thoughtfully. He didn't think anyone had noticed the
senshi acting strangely while in their civilian forms. This actually made him
feel better.
"This is
professor Hasagawa," the next message began. Mamoru took a long, regretful
gulp. "I don't normally do this, but you were one of my best students. If you
don't come to class tomorrow, I'm afraid you'll be dropped. Please get in touch
with me at the college."
Sorry
Hasagawa-sensei, Mamoru sniffled, I'll probably never come back.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Haruka
wearily pried herself off the asphalt, feeling exposed as she had detransformed
at a weak time. Where was everyone to help her? Things sure had changed.
She brushed
herself off shakily, the night teasing and worsening her bruises and wounds as
she hobbled to her motorcycle, feeling completely alone in the world.
"Did they
turn on me?" she worried. "Was that Jupiter?"
She put her
helmet on and rode off, feeling as if she could collapse again at any moment.
But she had to get out of there--at least before morning.
Michiru
would make her feel better. There was no way Jupiter had turned on her--Mamoru
must have gained some strange electrical power. She shuddered as she
contemplated what it would mean if that were not in fact the case, and she
couldn't even think about it.
The
apartment seemed lonely from the outside, the darkened sky leaving her with a
hollowed impression of its exterior. No matter, it wasn't the building's
edifice she was interested in, even if the lights coming from her window were
dim enough to bring a scowl to her visage.
She held
her hand to her chest as she tightly clutched the railing while walking up
stairs. Her clothes were torn, and a streak of blood fell from her lip and
careened down her neck.
"Michiru,"
she dabbled her tongue in it unhappily as she pawed at the door handle, to weak
to open it. She rang the doorbell on her way to collapse on the ground.
The door
was opened sometime later, by a male.
"Dorian,"
Haruka looked up at him unhappily, wishing she had the strength to stand and be
hostile towards him. "What are you doing at my house?"
"Visiting,"
he frowned, "if that is okay with you."
It's not,
she thought, but decided not to press the matter as he picked her up and
brought her to the sofa. Her muscles became completely tense as he did so, and
his face seemed to lack a necessary spit shine as she looked up at it. Still,
she couldn't move very well.
"Michiru?"
she gasped, "where's my Michiru?"
The
aqua-haired woman entered the room a few minutes after Haruka's inquiry, which
Dorian had ignored.
Oh my
God, you're hurt! Haruka wanted her to say, like she would have said
before, but she merely got a cold stare.
"What have
you done to yourself?" Michiru asked.
Haruka's
chest tightened as she asked this, too coldly. So coldly.
"I got in a
fight with the traitor," she frowned. "Someone electrocuted me--I can hardly
move--Michiru?"
"And you
didn't win again, I suppose," Michiru frowned. "I suppose we should take you to
the hospital."
"Michiru!"
Haruka whined, and it seemed strange to see her emotions bared as she held out
her arms, tears struggling to stay in the corners of her eyes.
Michiru
walked over to Haruka and stroked her face, but it didn't assuage Haruka's
longing, somehow.
"Mercury
said you could have killed Tuxedo Kamen," she narrowed her eyes at the same
time she doled out her meager affections, "but you didn't."
"That's not
true!" Haruka frowned, "I was going to kill him!"
"You can't
sympathize with him," Michiru pulled her hand away from Haruka's face. "That
would make you a traitor too."
"I don't!"
Haruka cried out, fighting her desire to lose consciousness. Why won't you
hold me? Is it because of this Dorian person?
Normally
she would have asked, but heaven forbid she should question Dorian.
There was
something wrong with that guy, something just detestable that made Haruka want
to world shake him until his head popped off. A feeling would well inside of
her each time she thought he pulled Michiru away from her, but it was
involuntarily suppressed at the same time.
I guess
I try to be too in control of my emotions, she thought bitterly as she
couldn't even rouse anger within herself to question why Michiru was being so
different, so distant.
"Are we
going to take her to the hospital?" Dorian looked up at Michiru.
"We
wouldn't want her to die, would we?" Michiru replied, with a casual air that
made Haruka want to stand up and scream.
And who
would she turn to? Not Usagi. The one time she actually needed the girl to be
her support, the one time she wouldn't have been to proud for the love of her
princess, she would be turned away.
Dorian must
have been spreading it around that I'm a traitor, Haruka spat out at him in
her mind as he lifted her to take to his car. Damn bastard.
She
didn't know what she'd do if they began to try and kill her, but she didn't
want to be alone and hunted, not like Mamoru. She didn't even want to go
against her fellow senshi like he did, and she still might be shunned for it.
If she had
the strength, she would have killed Dorian then.
"I'm not a
traitor," she whispered in the car, wondering if Michiru could even hear her
from the back seat. Instead of sitting with her love's head in her lap, making
sure she was all right, Michiru was in the front seat, not even caring if
Haruka bled to death from her lip.
"What's
happening with us?" Haruka whispered, realizing that neither Michiru nor Dorian
could hear her. "Months ago, you would have screamed at the sight of me passed
out outside our door. Three weeks ago you were still crying because of Hotaru's
disappearance."
You're
the traitor.
Haruka
almost gasped audibly as she grabbed the sides of her head and purged this
thought from her mind.
Michiru
would never be a traitor. She must have been acting strangely because she
missed Hotaru and Setsuna, maybe even regretted having to kill traitor Mamoru.
Haruka would have to allow for that. To do anything else would be wrong.
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
"Usako!"
Mamoru woke up screaming. "Usako!"
"Mamoru!"
Motoki ran into his room, placing a hand over his friend's mouth. He still
appeared blurry to Mamoru. "You wanna tell the whole world you're here?"
"Let them
kill me," he shouted, "just let them!"
"Now
Mamoru," Motoki hugged his friend, trying to make him feel better, "we'll get
through this. You're the world's only hope against the senshi, anyway."
"Oh come
on," Mamoru wiped his eyes, "one of them has the power to destroy the world in
a single blow, one has the power to stop time, and Usako was the most powerful
of all! I don't do anything except distract and motivate!"
"Then
you'll motivate them," Motoki announced sagaciously. "You might not be able to
kick their asses, but you can bring them back."
"Or die
trying," Mamoru sniffled bitterly.
"We'll all
die trying," Motoki released Mamoru from his grip. "It's all we can do.
Besides, if they could have destroyed the world already, why haven't they?"
"I don't
know," Mamoru sank into his pillow, "I haven't seen Hotaru or Setsuna, maybe
they're saving them up."
"Well, it's
four o'clock, anyway," Motoki changed the subject, "you've been napping
forever. Let's go get some ice cream and cheer you up."
"If I don't
get killed on the way," Mamoru flippantly redressed, shrugging and closing his
eyes as he stepped out of bed, rubbing his eyes softly to try and get them to
focus correctly again. Would Ami one day feel bad for worsening his vision?
Mamoru felt
groggy from having slept too long, and dressed as slowly as was humanly
possible. Motoki was already ready, but he waited patiently.
"I'll get
the paper," Motoki suddenly remembered, and ran to the door from where he was
sitting on the couch, as if Mamoru were going to be ready soon anyway.
Motoki
opened the door and reached down for the afternoon paper which was delivered
outside his door only to find a cat sprawled in the hallway. Motoki cautiously
walked over to it, and touched it with a finger. There was a small blue case
fallen near its mouth and between its paws, and there was a yellow crescent
moon on its forehead, almost a bejeweled tattoo.
"Mamo--" it
turned its head, saw Motoki and nearly freaked, "I mean, uh, dammit, mrow?"
"Mamoru!"
Motoki yelled behind him, lifting the cat in his arms. It meowed in discomfort,
and was slack in Motoki's arms. "I think this is something you need to see!"
"Huh?"
Mamoru poked his head out of the bedroom he was in, only half-dressed. His
shirtlessness didn't matter after he recognized the cat in Motoki's arms.
"Artemis!"
he shouted, and dashed over to where Motoki was, relieving him of the feline
burden. "Speak to me!"
"I heard it
talk," Motoki scratched his head, "I thought you being Tuxedo Kamen was weird.
But a talking cat--"
"He knows
you're Tuxedo Kamen?" Artemis asked weakly.
Mamoru
nodded. "He knows everything, except about you and Luna. Aren't you one
of--them?"
"Was,"
Artemis convulsed suddenly, and Mamoru gingerly laid him on the couch.
"He had
this with him," Motoki announced, handing Mamoru Artemis' package.
"You stole
this?" Mamoru's eyes widened.
"I didn't
want them to be able to find your motorcycle anymore," Artemis frowned, "that's
how they kept tracking you. But I guess it doesn't matter, now."
"You stole
Mercury's computer for nothing," Mamoru whispered, mostly to himself.
"No,"
Artemis disagreed, "not for nothing. It will make things harder for them."
"Why'd you
turn away?" Mamoru winced.
"I snapped
out of it," Artemis shrugged. "Minako said something, something--I don't even
remember, and I suddenly wondered who this person was. She wasn't my
Minako. Luna wasn't my Luna anymore."
"So you
will be able to save them, Mamoru!" Motoki's eyes lit up.
"Whoever did
this underestimated me," Artemis closed his eyes. "Whoever it is won't
anymore."
"So you're
under mind control?" Mamoru tilted his head.
"I was,"
he began to find breathing more difficult, "and Luna was, but I think everyone
else's minds have been altered. They tried to kill me when I tried to tell them
that they were under mind control, I thought they could snap out of it like I
did. They figured out that it was me who hid Mercury's computer, and I had to
get out of there. Now I know what it's felt like for you, my best friends
trying to kill me all the sudden--"
"But they
couldn't," Mamoru's mood dampened.
"N--"
Artemis convulsed again.
"Don't
talk," Mamoru suddenly became animate, "just rest."
Artemis
nodded, and fell asleep almost immediately.
"Talking
cats," Motoki stated, emotionless.
"This one
was Minako's guide," Mamoru sighed, speaking mostly to himself.
"You need
to take your life back," Motoki looked up at Mamoru, his somber eyes lifting
with the sagaciousness of someone who'd lived a thousand lives. "You can't live
without being Tuxedo Kamen for the senshi, can you?"
"I used to
shun it," Mamoru turned away. "I used to hate the fact that I had to do this,
but now that it's gone--"
"You never
realize it until it's gone," Motoki nodded. "Do you think we ought to get this
cat to a vet?"
"I don't
know," Mamoru shook his head, "I don't know what happened to him. I don't know
what a vet could do if he just got beat up on."
"Well,"
Motoki reached over to the sofa, gently petting Artemis as he slept, then
reaching to the table and pocketing Mercury's computer. "I have more experience
with technology, anyway--"
"I don't
think we can actually use that computer," Mamoru protested as Motoki flipped it
open and turned it on, "part of it is Mercury's visor, what if it alerts her--"
But he
found himself speechless as Motoki himself wore the visor as soon as the
computer was switched on.
"You be
Tuxedo Kamen," Motoki began fiddling with the computer as if he were a child
who had just received a toy for his birthday, "and I'll be your techno-dweeb
slash taser expert, all right?"
"I don't
want to drag you into this," Mamoru coughed, sidestepping until he was right
next to Motoki, where he looked over his shoulder at the computer screen. "I
don't know what I'd do if I got you killed."
"Oh,"
Motoki nearly drooled as he became familiar with the computer, using it to scan
for all sorts of things, "trust me, I'll be all right. And look, this thing
keeps perfect track of all the senshi. We can find them whenever we want."
"Or at
least make sure they don't find us," Mamoru sighed. "Artemis will be able to
help you with that a lot when he wakes up."
"Sure
sure," Motoki shined him on, "I want to know all I can about it."
"Can I use
your phone?" Mamoru asked Motoki before sitting down.
"Heck
yeah," Motoki replied, too engrossed in the computer to be truly paying
attention.
Mamoru
shook his head, both in disbelief from actually having a partner to help him
reclaim his life and in gentle disapproval of Motoki's lack of seriousness in
light of the situation. He sat at the edge of the sofa, careful not to wake
Artemis, and then he picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
the person on the other end answered.
"Is Naru
there?" Mamoru asked.
"This is
her," Naru replied.
"Hey,"
Mamoru relaxed into his seat, "this is Mamoru, I'm returning your phone call."
"Oh," Naru
seemed relieved, "hey Mamo-kun!"
There was
an uncomfortable silence for a moment as Naru didn't know how to ask Mamoru
what she was dying to ask before making small talk, but she was too stunned to
make small talk.
"Naru-chan,"
Mamoru softly broke the silence, "tell me, how has Usagi been acting strangely
lately?"
"You
haven't noticed?" Naru became a chatterbox once again, "she doesn't even care anymore when her grades are so
awful. She skips school all the time, and Mako-chan and, and even Ami-chan
have been doing it too, and I'm really worried, I haven't seen you in forever,
are they all into drugs? Because I mean it sure seems like it."
"They're
into something," Mamoru held his forehead with the hand not holding the phone,
"and I don't want to talk about it or be involved in it. But--"
He tried to
choke something out, but couldn't bring himself to do it. So silence ensued.
"But what?"
Naru pried gently.
"If you
ever see her," Mamoru gulped, "please tell her I love her, and that I'd do
anything to have her back. I'll always believe in her, no matter how bad things
get."
"You're a
good guy, Mamoru," Naru nearly whispered, "I hope she realizes it and goes back
to you."
"I'm a
horrible guy," Mamoru slighted himself, "and I never deserved her, but yes, I
do hope she comes back to me."
"Don't say
things like that," Naru softly replied again, "it's not true." Her voice
suddenly became louder, and perkiness returned to her. "But, hey, I think that
everything always works out for the best in the end if you don't give up! If
you ever need anything, I'm here for you! Are you sure you don't want to tell
me what they're doing? Because I'll give Usagi the bruisin' she needs if--"
"I can't,"
Mamoru lowered his head, barely able to speak anymore.
"I
understand," Naru replied demurely, "I won't press it."
"Thank
you," Mamoru stated sincerely.
"I'll let
you go now, but if you ever need me, call. Please."
"I will."
"Ja ne!"
Naru's uplifting smile could almost be seen through her voice, and Mamoru
couldn't help but feel a little better.
"Ja na," he
replied in kind, then pressed the off button on the phone.
Mamoru
placed his head back on the sofa, the sweltering confines of the hell he lived
dissipating from his mind as he closed his eyes.
Mamo-chan!
I made you cookies!
Cookies?
I loved
those cookies. They tasted like love, if you ask me.
I will
take back my life, Mamoru clenched his fist. I will have you back, Usako!
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
"The
Entity," Eternal Sailor Moon curtseyed to the best of her ability, "what is it
you wish of us now, my lady?"
"Take this,
Usagi," The Entity replied, and a small, obsidian-black, peanut sized vile
appeared in the air before her hands. "Place it where a great deal of people
meet, and let them be silenced."
"Their
deaths shall be my responsibility," Usagi stood, taking the capsule as she did
so.
The Entity
disappeared, and the door behind Usagi opened, and her senshi poured in, single
file.
Usagi
relayed the battle plan to them, acting as their one and only leader to obey.
"We shall
not fail you," all the senshi said at once, though when Uranus said it, it was
a little too shaky for her liking.
"And all
traitors shall be murdered," Sailor Moon boomed, her warning indirectly aimed
at Uranus, who nearly fell off her knee as she curtseyed.
"All
traitors shall be murdered," they all repeated, then Sailor Moon turned around,
and they all stood before her as one.
Sailor Moon
walked over to Uranus, lifting her chin. Moon was on her toes as she did this,
since Uranus was so much taller, and for the first time in Tsukino Usagi's
life, she was more foreboding than Tenoh Haruka.
Uranus'
eyes filled with shock as Moon looked into them coldly, her lips bent into a
thin seriousness that Uranus had never seen before The Revolution. The
isolation of the dome-shaped room seemed to hit Uranus in all directions at
that moment, and she gulped as Sailor Moon continued to stare without speaking.
Sailor Moon
let Uranus' chin down roughly, then pranced out of the room, her head held
high.
I truly
am alone, Uranus sobbed inwardly, gazing ahead with steel otherwise. But
I'll prove myself to them, I swear it.
