*Edit: fixed some spelling issues in the chapter.
And it's… chapter 2! It seems like I'm the only one who's actively updating a Demando/Usagi story. But then again, I supposed that would make sense, since the show hasn't been on air since about… 7 years? It's kind of sad, really, because when I started watching it, I was only 5 and far too young to ever write anything about it. Ah well, enough with the little tangent I'm having.
Erte-Girl: Thank you so much for the nomination! I've officially received notice from the contest, and I'm really glad that you liked my story enough to choose it as the story of the month. I appreciate knowing that there's someone who thinks it at least has enough potential to become a decent and interesting story. Thanks for being so encouraging =)
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"When you're miserable, you need something that's even more miserable than yourself."
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"We'll need some way to isolate her from the other senshi," Demando said to his brother. There was nothing to do now but go on with his mission, and if he delayed any longer his minions might even begin to resent him. Rubeus had already complained about the long journey and requested somewhat timidly, though not nearly timidly enough, that the Prince start acting out on his revenge plan. Sighing, Demando told Safir, "I'll order the Akayashi sisters to create a diversion. The girl known as Usagi Tsukino will most likely be too upset by the loss of that boy to go with them… and then taking her away will be simple."
"Okay," Safir said, not wanting to argue with his older brother despite his doubts. "Should I go give them your orders now then, since undoubtedly you are busy preparing for the encounter?"
"Go ahead," Demando said carelessly. "The main point is to find this 'Sailor Moon', the younger incarnation of Neo Queen Serenity, and use her silver crystal to our advantage. These diversions are simply necessary to achieve that goal, as I'm sure you know, Safir."
Safir nodded and walked out, pushing aside the heavy silver doors of Demando's chamber.
--
Makoto looked outside her window and sighed. It was depressing not being able to talk to Usagi, who usually brightened the spirits of the entire group with her cheeriness and humorous antics. She was the glue that tied them together, and kept them through the hard times. But now it was Usagi herself who was going through those phases of depression and sorrow that were so uncharacteristic of her, and nobody knew how to return things to normal. Even though she hadn't known Mamoru well enough to miss him the way Usagi did, she felt a portion of her friend's pain. She was sure that all the Sailor senshi were going through their own troubled times now. It seemed as if depression had become the normal atmosphere around them since Mamoru's death.
The sky, she noted, was a light gray, and the light of the sun escaped through the clouds, although the sun itself was obscured from view. She decided to let in a small breeze, since the effects of being cooped up in her own room were starting to show. As the wind swept her face with gentle pressure, she heard the faint strains of yelling.
"Help! Please, someone save us! There are monsters everywhere!" A shrill voice shouted, breaking into Makoto's previous peace. More screams seemed to follow, echoing through the air.
"I've got to help," Makoto said, eyes wide open in surprise. "Something is definitely going on down there, and maybe I'm the only one who's heard it."
She ran down the stairs and through the screen door, her feet barely touching the pavement. "Oh my…"
There were four of them. Their forms immediately gave the fact that they were not human away, and they were attacking people left and right. Buildings were being decimated by their strange powers.
Makoto looked around, wishing that her friends were around. Could she handle these four on her own? Most likely not. But she acted quickly and decisively, knowing that she was the only one here to help these people. "Jupiter Star Power!"
She quickly transformed into Sailor Jupiter, wondering whether she could hold off the enemies without her friends. She couldn't waste time signaling them for help, but… In her indecision, she froze for a second.
It was just at this moment that she heard the sound of pattering feet behind her, and turned with hope. There, standing behind her, were the three other inner senshi- Mercury, Mars, and Venus. It looked as if she'd be able to get the help she needed after all.
"Time to beat these monsters!" Makoto shouted, aware of Usagi's absence, but understanding that the only thing to do now, whether Usagi could manage to make it or not, was to fight.
"Let's go!" The Sailor senshi shouted together.
And so the battle began.
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Usagi quietly opened her bedroom door and walked out. For the past few days, she'd been avoiding everyone as much as possible, and today was no different. She timidly stepped down the stairs and went into the kitchen to get her first meal of the day, despite the fact that it was already 2:00 in the afternoon. She was a mess, she knew. But she didn't want to go back to the outside world now. She knew she wasn't ready to face that world, a world full of children and smiling faces and laughter.
It wasn't that she was trying to be selfish; she wasn't. She had no desire to deprive anyone of happiness, no matter what state she was in herself. But she could not bring herself to go back to that place where Mamoru had lived, that open world full of those who could never understand her sorrow. While everyone else's lives were going on, her life was halted in this one moment, clouded by her incapability to see how she could possibly live in a world without Mamoru. It wasn't that she didn't want to see other people happy, exactly. It was more that their happiness reminded her of her own sadness, and she knew that nothing would be able to help her restrain her tears if she saw friends laughing together, or families enjoying themselves, or starry-eyed lovers holding hands. It was simply too much to bear, knowing that you existed in a whole different world from that place of happiness.
"Mamoru," she spoke the name softly, and felt a heightening despair within her. "How could you die? I loved you so much… and now…"
The tears began spilling once more, and she hurriedly wiped them. She looked at the food her mother had left her before she went to work. She took a tiny bite from a sandwich, and could not taste anything at all.
Her arms grew weak as she stared at the gloomy interior of her kitchen. Her eyes were swollen and her face was uncomfortably warm and wet from her rampant flow of tears earlier on. She closed her eyes and put her head down, willing herself not to think about anything anymore.
"Usagi Tsukino." The deep, resonating sound of a man's voice rang through her kitchen.
In her surprise, Usagi snapped up. "Who's there?" Whirling around, she saw a tall figure dressed in clothes of purest white, with royal blue embroidery on both sides of his shirt. Staring in shock, Usagi managed to say weakly, "How… how did you get in here?"
He smiled, a hint of satisfaction showing through in his features. For some reason, Usagi was inexplicably struck by this man's eyes. To begin with, they were an enigmatic shade of faded violet, and slightly arched in a sad way. They were filled with a dark energy, and though Usagi could seen no light in his eyes, there was something hidden in them that gave Usagi an indescribable feeling. There was so much contained in his glance… she could feel it, but could not understand what it was that shone through in his eyes. Half mesmerized, Usagi stared at him despite her rising fear. He was thin and pale, yet had an extraordinarily handsome visage in spite of the fact that there was an apparent lack of warmth in his hard features. His brilliant white hair was the color of purest snow, and she could make out the mark of an inverted moon on his forehead.
"How I got here is unimportant," the young man said softly. "You know as well as I do that it'd be impossible to get in without you noticing, at least not by physical means…"
"So you…" She paused in wonderment. "What are you, then?"
"That's a little rude of you," Demando said, a half smile forming on his lips as he looked upon the object of his greatest desires. "If you want an introduction, perhaps you should start by asking me who I am."
"Wh…" Usagi looked at him in surprise. Then she grew angry at the audacity of this man, to break into her house and call her rude after everything that had happened in her life. Why couldn't everyone just leave her alone? "You're in no position to be calling me rude, when you're the one who barged into my house! Why are you here and what do you want with me?"
Prince Demando's lifetime of training in regards to retaining his composure at all times allowed him to brush these words off without betraying any hint of emotion, though he felt a certain anxiousness inside. "I suppose you're right about that. Allow me to explain, please."
Usagi looked at him with anger and suspicion. What was he trying to do? If he tried anything… she grimaced. Well, if he tried anything, she'd have to defend herself by changing into Sailor Moon. Things could get out of hand then, but there was no other option. She decided she would rather stall, but keep herself on guard for an attack. "Fine. Go ahead and explain."
"Good," Demando said, satisfied. "I suppose I should start at the beginning. I am Prince Demando, leader of the Black Moon Clan, a race that was banished from Earth by your royal family to live in the barren, distant planet of Nemesis. A group of us have now returned to Earth generations later for the purpose of exacting our revenge on the planet of people who left us to die, stranded on a far region of the universe, away from the beauties of life here. And in order to do so, I require your powers and the Silver Crystal in your possession, since you are the past incarnation of Neo Queen Serenity herself."
Usagi was taken aback by his blunt words, but sensed the complete sincerity with which he spoke them. She said testily, "If your plan is to avenge yourselves of the wrongdoings Earth has committed to you… then why are you telling me all this? I hope you've realized, since you seem to know so much about me, that whatever you try to do against our planet, I will do my best to stop you?"
"Ah, but you don't understand," Demando said, his face darkening with desire. He stared longingly at her face, a face of pure and unmatched beauty, and his eyes glinted as he spoke. "I see that I'll have trouble convincing you to come over to our side. But I want you to be by my side as queen, Usagi. Or rather, Neo Queen Serenity, should I say?"
Usagi stared at him in shock as the clear lust registered on his features. Looking up into his face, she suddenly saw a trace of Mamoru's image hovering above the intruder, sadly fading away. The illusion created from the overwhelming strength of her own emotions shocked her. With all her force of will, she looked straight into his eyes and said passionately, "Never. As long as I live, I will never betray Mamoru's love for the likes of people such as you."
Those eyes again, he thought bitterly. They were so beautiful, so blazingly clear, and yet full of repulsion and antipathy towards him. With an uncontrolled scowl on his previously placid face, he advanced towards her. Ready for this anticipated move, Usagi quickly took an ornately designed circular object from her pocket and raised it over her head, sweeping her hands over the surface. "Moon Crystal Power!"
Demando was startled by her sudden action. He activated the power of his third eye, and a sickly yellowish glow flooded the entire room. This will keep her at bay for now.
Uttering a low moan, Usagi fell to the ground in a state of pitiable exhaustion. She felt too weak… Unable to move, she struggled to get up and escape him.
"All the same, you will come to me," Demando said in a triumphant, though slightly conflicted tone. Carefully reaching to lift her up, making sure not to damage any part of her lovely, delicate form, he placed her limp body over his shoulders, and rose into the air. Usagi made a sudden movement, attempting to remove herself from his arms.
"Let…me…go," Usagi pleaded, her voice hoarse as she struggled with the dizziness induced by the sudden drain of energy.
Demando looked down at the beautiful girl he was holding, and was tempted to listen to her, to lie and tell his people that he had failed in his mission. Something about the sad way in which she spoke those words stirred a powerful emotion in him for a moment; it made him feel as if he were taking something away that could never be replaced.
He wanted her so much, but at the same time he almost wanted to let her go. How he wished that he could make her happy, that he could give her everything she ever needed, and fill to the brim the hole in her heart that had been left by her deceased love. Taking her in this way, snatching her from her life on Earth against her will, instilled in him a feeling of discontent, of emptiness.
But there was no choice. He had been the one who campaigned for this revenge, the one who had initiated this plan of revenge on Earth. There was still a deep hatred in him for what mankind had done to his clan, and nothing, he thought, could change that. It was his duty to take this young princess and use her powers for the benefit of his entire race. Whatever he felt at this moment was of no importance, and he convinced himself that taking her was only necessary; after all, as Prince, the most important thing was to look out for the good of Nemesis and its people. Besides, if he let her go now, how would he ever get another chance? In his heart of hearts, he still wanted to believe that he could find a way to make her love him.
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I think I'll leave it at that for now. The next chapter will begin the development of their relationship with each other. And please review so I know what you think of it so far! I'd really like some suggestions or comments to help me improve my writing, and it'll probably help give me some ideas, too. Thanks!