Farewell by Amethyst Serenity

AN: Thanks to all who read and review my venture into angst land [AngelicMoonDJ (my beta!), Maddy, Serena, Min Hee Ha, H4L, Kitty, Watercolor Tears, Strawberry Kisses, A Reader, Cris, Hematite 9, L.V. Scarlette, Queen Serenity of the Dark Universe, Sailor Sol, ScorpioNight Shadow, Tina Telford]! Your support means a lot to me! ^_^ For the time being, I'll be posting a chapter or two a week.

Disclaimer: Contrary to popular belief, I am not insane enough to believe I own Sailor Moon (but maybe my evil twin does!).

Chapter 3- Search

The Senshi started to rush after Usagi when a man in a black tuxedo, top hat and white domino mask leaped onto the scene. Four pairs of eyes dripping with icy disdain glared at him. Mercury frowned and crossed her arms. Gritting her teeth, Jupiter ominously cracked her knuckles. Mars played with a flame, idly tossing it from one hand to the other. Venus watched him with narrowed sky-blue eyes, fingering the golden chain wrapped around her waist and orange skirt. Sensing their hostility, Tuxedo Kamen eyed the girls, nervously tugged at his collar and backed a step or two away from them.

"What's going on? I felt Usagi transform hours ago but I couldn't find her."

"What do you mean *hours* ago? Our fight was over in a half-hour," Mars grumbled. The anger in her eyes burned hotter than the dancing flames in her hands.

"How could you DO it?" Mercury shouted. She shook a dainty fist in Tuxedo Kamen's face. Her normally soft, silver-flecked blue eyes were dark with contempt.

"What are you talking about, Ami?" Tuxedo Kamen asked, slowly inching away.

"You *kissed* another girl! She's devastated! How could you *betray* her like that?"

"WHAT? HE DID WHAT? WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON HIM!" Jupiter bellowed.

"YOU CREEP! I'LL BURN YOU ALIVE!" Mars screamed. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, Tuxedo Kamen narrowly avoided a fireball barrage and beat a hasty retreat. Suppressing similar desires to beat him into a pulp, Mercury and Venus tried to restrain an enraged, frothing Jupiter. Unhampered, Mars screeched curses and aimed a few more flames in his direction until he disappeared. In the distance, police sirens sounded alarmingly close. Quickly, the Senshi snapped out of their homicidal rages and agreed to meet at the temple before scattering in different directions to confuse the authorities. Forgotten by all, the abandoned moon scepter crumbled into dust. After getting away, the pretty soldiers turned back into civilians and headed straight to the Hikawa Shrine. They had to help Usagi. When Makoto arrived, Rei was pacing in front of the temple. Ami tapped the keys of her minicomputer. Minako was last to get there since she stopped by her house to pick up Artemis. Ami called Luna but received no response.

"We should rearrange Mamoru's face for hurting Usagi! How could he? They've been together forever! The break up was hard enough to believe but *this*… this calls for action! He broke her heart and then stomped on it! He should pay! No one messes with our Princess, not even him!" Makoto spoke angrily. Her forest-green eyes crackled with electricity.

"Hold on Makoto! I agree but Usagi comes first. We can always make him suffer later. Kami, if I'd only *known*! I was so hard on her. Oh Kami, what have I *done*?" Rei lamented. Her shoulders slumped unnaturally with guilt. Sitting next to her, Minako slipped a comforting arm around her.

"You were your usual self and Usagi'll forgive you like always," she said.

"The important thing is to *find* her. We should be with her right now. She's in shock and had way too much time alone after what happened," Ami declared.

"What exactly *did* happen, Ami?" Makoto inquired.

"I heard about it from Motoki right before the youma attacked. Mamoru was in the Crown Fruit Parlor with some girl. When Usagi saw them through the window, he… kissed the girl and Usagi ran away."

"That… that BASTARD. He knows Usagi goes there after school almost every day!"

"When we get through with him, he'll *beg* for death! I'LL TOAST HIS BUTT!"

"Guys! Usagi, remember? Focus on Usagi! She needs us *now*! Revenge *later*!"

"Right, Mina! I'll call her house," Ami said. She vanished into the temple while the other girls indulged in revenge fantasies. Minutes later, Ami rushed out and stated Usagi's phone was disconnected. Plus, she still couldn't reach Luna. Exchanging worried looks, the Senshi fanned out to look for her, intent on finding Usagi as quickly as possible. Ami headed to Usagi's house (forty minutes away on foot). Minako volunteered to check out the Crown Fruit Parlor (and console Motoki). After Rei smacked her on the head, she dejectedly switched to Mamoru's place since letting Rei or Makoto near Mamoru was an entertaining but foolish idea. Rei went to the Crown Fruit Parlor. Makoto figured the park was a good place to look. She scoured the park in twenty minutes but found no trace of her. Rei took one look at the remains of the Crown Fruit Parlor and a shell-shocked Motoki before heading to the mall and continuing the search. Minako found no one at Mamoru's apartment or Naru's house. When Ami finally reached Usagi's home, she saw several policemen and the flashing lights of police cars surrounding it. Two body bags were being carried to a waiting ambulance. Trying to suppress her tears, she activated her communicator with a shaky hand. The little communicator screen split into three as the other Senshi appeared on the screen.

"It's… it's much, much worse than we thought."

Interlude 2

Far away, two shadowed figures conversed in soft whispers. The light of the crystal globe outlined the figures of two tall women.

"They failed. The Senshi… the prince… failed her. Others must protect her."

"It is not their time."

"Our first duty is to her. She must be guarded above all else."

"The Senshi search for her even as we speak."

"The princess will not forgive them easily."

"With her loving heart, she will forgive them once she sees their remorse."

"She must have time away from them… to grow strong."

"It is cruel."

"Necessary."

"You are cold."

"Necessity is my taskmaster, as it is yours."