Disclaimer: We do not own Sailor Moon or its characters. However, we do own the villains in this story.
A/N: Our original characters, the antagonists of the story, start to show up more in this chapter. Also there's some jumping around between characters because the Senshi are split into teams, but that's just for the time being.
Crystalline Nightmare
Chapter 2 - Encountering the Enemy
Everyone left rather quickly, as they didn't have much time to prepare for their departure. Rei immediately went to her room to gather her belongings. She knew she wouldn't take very long due to her lack of personal possessions. Most of her family's money was spent by her grandfather for stupid things for the sake of entertaining himself. She didn't really mind, as most of her time was spent in front of the fire, at school, or with her fellow Senshi. That was practically her whole life.
Usagi lingered, trying to swallow the sobs that were fighting their way up her throat. She rocked herself back and forth, her legs tightly held against her chest. This was all happening too fast. Tears leaked from her eyes and slowly rolled down her cheek.
"Usagi," came a surprisingly soft voice.
Usagi felt like she could have jumped out of her skin that moment. She clamped her eyes shut, expecting Rei to snap at her for not having already left. Instead she knelt beside her. A soft pair of fingers wiped her wet cheek. Usagi's sobbing dissolved as she stared at Rei in shock.
"I know, this is happening quickly, but as long as we have the others," she said kindly. "And each other, it'll be all right."
As usual, Rei was right. She always was. She was so strong, and beautiful, and sweet on rare occasions despite her fiery disposition. Usagi wanted so badly to be more like her. All she could do was nod in response.
Rei, not knowing what else to say, pulled the blonde into a hug. Not a forceful, overly happy Minako hug, but a tender loving hug. She didn't remember the last time she felt one of those. It was pure, warm bliss.
"Want me to go to your house with you to pack?" Rei whispered into her ear.
"I'd...I'd like that."
--
Usagi shook her slightly heavy backpack. It contained only the essentials; a few days worth of clothing, pictures of her family, and the like. She sighed, then reached over to gently scratch Luna behind her ears. The cat twitched, but didn't wake up.
"Bye Luna," Usagi whispered.
"Do you have any money?" Rei murmured.
"A good amount, surprisingly. Mom started it for college." The blonde sniffled, but didn't cry again. "How much do you have?"
"Eh," Rei shrugged. "About five hundred, at least. Not enough to live off of forever, but if we keep on a tight budget, maybe it could work."
"I wonder what we're going to ride in?" Usagi asked as they left the house to wait at the bus-stop. "I mean, if she's going to get us all a ride, this must be expensive on her. And," the blonde gasped. "How do we know the enemy isn't going to just kill our families while we're not here!?"
"No point," Rei replied. "We wouldn't know it happened. It wouldn't deliver the emotional blow they want in the end."
"Oh..." Usagi's face fell. "That's..."
--
Makoto was tidying up her home after she finishing her packing. The only consolation of living alone was not having to explain her sudden leaving to anyone. Still, she would have loved a hearty hug and an "I'll miss you! Take care of yourself!" in this case. She felt starved of affection.
A gentle knocking on the door interrupted Makoto's thoughts. She set down her duster to open the door. Ami was there with a backpack on her back.
"Oh, hi Ami-chan," Makoto greeted. "Come on in."
"Thank you," Ami wiped her shoes on the mat outside before entering Makoto's comfy home. She was amazed that Makoto managed to decorate and clean and everything all by herself. She had always been the independent type.
"I've already packed, but we can have some tea before leaving, if you'd like," Makoto offered.
Ami nodded and placed her bag on the couch while Makoto boiled water. She walked over to Makoto to keep her company. "Nice place you have here," Ami said nervously.
"Thanks. One of the few things I remember about my mother is that she loved doing little things to spruce up the house," Makoto replied wistfully.
That comment alone made Ami want to embrace the taller woman. Once she made that face, Ami lightly squeezed Makoto's stomach with her arms. Makoto blushed a little, though Ami couldn't tell since she was standing behind Makoto.
"Wh-What are you doing?" the brunette sputtered.
"Oh, sorry." Ami pulled a way a little. "I don't know what came over-"
"Don't stop," Makoto cut her off. She then turned around and linked her arms over Ami's neck. Makoto had forgotten how good the warmth of another human being had felt. Ami had too, seeing as how her parents weren't too affectionate. They both smiled.
The blaring whistle of the tea pot disrupted their hug. Makoto had a desperate urge to throw the pot out the window. She poured the water into two mugs occupied by tea bags. Steam rose towards the ceiling.
"Yes, I am. Did Setsuna-san tell us where to meet?"
"I'm assuming the temple again. After all, that is our little base of operations." The Senshi of Thunder chuckled. "Poor Rei though. She'll probably go insane without that big fire of hers." Though it was said as a joke, there was a strong possibility the other girl might suffer. After all, the miko was connected to the fire; there was something intimate about the connection, as if the fire was a kindred spirit or an old friend. Makoto sighed a bit, looking into the rippling surface of her tea. Her heart sank. Setsuna and Rei had to bear a heavy burden upon their shoulders, and for once, the guardian felt utterly useless. This wasn't something she could just beat up and force it back.
"I know the feeling," Ami smiled bitterly as she covered Makoto's hand with her own. "I think we all do."
--
It was around noon when the Senshi finally met up again. Surprisingly, Minako and Setsuna were late.
"That's something I would have expected from Usagi," Haruka commented with a small smirk.
"Yeah, but Rei-chan's a slave-driver." Usagi giggled. "She has too much stamina for her own good." Whether or not Usagi knew the second meaning behind those words or not, it didn't matter. The Uranian Senshi was already hollering with laughter, to the chagrin of Rei. The miko growled and kicked the sandy-haired tomboy in the shin. The sound of hurried footsteps reached their ears and Minako cleared the top step.
"Sorry we're late," Minako chirped. "Puu-chan spent forever in the bathroom."
"Oh no," Setsuna came up next, shaking her finger at the blonde. "You are not blaming this on me when you tried to bring a suitcase full of unnecessary items."
"She speaks nonsense!" The Goddess of Love replied smoothly.
"The pot calling the kettle black," Rei murmured to Usagi. The bun wearing girl promptly dissolved into a fit of giggles.
The laughter would have continued if it weren't for Ami stopping it. "So where are we going and how are we getting there?"
Rei pulled out a large map of Japan and examined it. "We are here," she said, pointing in the general area of Tokyo. "I say we all meet at a particular location but travel by different routes. I'm assuming it would be easier for the enemy to track us down if we split up than if we were all together."
"Luna gave me these," Usagi said, pulling out a handful of what appeared to be cell phones. She passed them out. Each device had the same color design of the respective Senshi's outfit along with their planet's symbol. Everyone studied her phone. "They're special communication devices. Each of us has a button that you press to contact another Senshi. It's also a tracking device and shows you the exact location of the other Senshi so long as she has hers with her. It can be used as a regular phone too."
By the time Usagi had finished describing their new phones, Rei had determined the exact route each duo would take to ultimately reach a remote town up north. Once the routes were assigned, everyone hugged one another, wished them luck, and in some cases, teased them about who they were stuck with.
"Try not to molest Usagi on the trip, okay?" Haruka murmured into Rei's ear when they hugged.
Rei scowled and stomped on Haruka's foot. She winced and limped to her car while Michiru chuckled.
--
Reluctantly Sui waited in her position. If she had her way she would have jumped out of hiding and attacked them viciously like a predator feeding on its prey. These so-called Senshi disgusted her. What made them so worthy of protecting the world? They didn't seem particularly special or smart.
Finally Moroi arrived with Yakedo by her side.
"Took long enough," spat Sui venomously.
Moroi said nothing while Yakedo grinned maniacally, as she usually did.
"Where's that filthy sloth Hibana?" Sui asked.
"She'll arrive soon enough," was all Moroi said.
"We should probably at least follow them now," Yakedo chirped. "This will be real fun. I can't wait to make these horrible creatures suffer!" She opened her mouth to let out a dark cackle but Moroi calmly covered her mouth with her hand.
"Not yet," Moroi replied. "That time will come. For now, we are playing the observer. That is the best way to learn about the enemy."
--
"What'cha doin'?"
Setsuna's eye twitched. "I am outlining the best defensive and offensive strategy. We don't know what the enemy is going to do."
"Okay."
There was silence, blissful, wonderful silence. Setsuna's pen scribbled on the paper in front of her, the bus' smooth ride hardly jarring her hand. Minako noticed that it was beautiful and elegant, just like the woman who controlled it.
"Are we there yet?" she couldn't help but chirp.
Setsuna's head hit the tablet. "No."
Minako squirmed in her seat. Sitting still wasn't exactly a hobby of hers. She wanted to talk with Setsuna but no conversation topic came to mind. Sighing, she gazed out the window. The sun was sinking into the horizon. All she saw were miles and miles of trees and mountains. Not much to look at. She frowned, wishing she'd brought a magazine or something to read.
Setsuna's writing hand came to a sudden stop. She set down her pen and fished around in her bag. The hand emerged from the bag with a rather large stack of magazines. Minako's eyes flashed with excitement.
"Here," Setsuna offered.
"I love you!" the blonde squealed. "She grabbed the magazines and groped Setsuna's arm before flipping through one.
Patience, Setsuna, patience, the Time Senshi thought repeatedly while scribbling notes on her paper.
--
"Take a left," Michiru ordered calmly.
"I know where we're going," Haruka snapped. That was a total lie; the Senshi of Wind found herself completely clueless. "I don't need directions."
"Left."
"I don't need them."
"Take a left or take the couch."
Haruka took a left.
"Good," Michiru said with a small grin.
Haruka grunted and glared at the road ahead of her. Tension was building up inside of her. If she had her way she would be wearing her racing gear. She'd slam her foot against the pedal, grip the steering wheel forcefully, and ride off as fast as the vehicle would take her. She had a need for speed, a very strong need. But she knew if she increased her driving speed even slightly Michiru would scold her about the speeding limit.
A hand crept onto Haruka's shoulder. It rubbed her shoulder affectionately, melting away some of Haruka's tension. Michiru could sense it when Haruka's muscles tensed up. All she had to do was massage her gently to calm her down.
--
"Snack?" Makoto offered with a smile, offering the younger girl a bag of pretzels, handmade, of course. Ami returned the smile and reached in, munching on the offered treat. The place ride was going to be quick and easy, according to the pilot, and it was coincidently close to the chosen meeting spot. Makoto wondered if Rei and Usagi were going to be late.
Ami munched on the pretzels. She didn't know a salty snack could taste so good. Perhaps the outcome of food had to do with more than the ingredients that went into it. Emotion had to be a key part of the cooking process. Ami made a mental note to ask Makoto if she could watch her cook sometime.
--
Usagi sneezed. Rei arched an elegant brow, but pulled out a tissue from the travel-sized packet in her pocket. Usagi muttered a thanks and blew her nose.
"How much you want to bet Minako-chan's talking about me?" the moon-hime muttered.
"None, actually," Rei replied, leaning her head on her hand. She wished the bus could be smoother on the road, but it was cheap and got them to their destination, so she couldn't complain. Much. Usagi gave a tiny yawn, similar to a tiny kitten, and rubbed her eyes. "Mmm...man I'm tired..."
"Then get some sleep," the miko huffed.
"But--ow!" Usagi winced as a particular bump caused the hard seat to hit her head. She blinked as an arm came around her shoulders, dragging her to a warm and admittedly comfortable shoulder.
"Get some sleep," Rei repeated, eyes closed. Usagi blushed and swore that there was a similar flush to the Senshi of Fire's cheeks, but she wasn't sure. "And if you drool on me, I'll show you how much a second-degree burn hurts."
Usagi's eyelids covered her blue eyes. Soon after a soft snoring sound followed. Rei couldn't help but simper at the other girl's sounds. She reach out to stroke one of her long golden pigtails. At least with Usagi around she'd never be bored.
Drowsiness came over Rei a while after Usagi had fallen asleep. She thought about sleeping but then remembered what she had last experienced when she went to sleep. The last thing she wanted to do was awake in a cold sweat covered in blood. It was traumatizing enough for her, but she couldn't bear to think of how much it would scare Usagi.
--
"Nnng, keep it down," a flat voice drawled from the branches. Kitanai Hibana dropped from the tree and landed gracefully on her feet. She studied her companions with a neutral, somewhat bored expression as she rubbed the back of her head. Raven black hair was messily fixed around her face, jade eyes dull. "No one can get any sleep with all that racket."
"How long have you been here?" Sui hissed, morbidly impressed that she hadn't even sensed the lazier girl at all.
Kitanai shrugged. "Eh. Long enough to see Yakedo do a number on that Mars chick."
Yakedo giggled. "Oh yes, I remember! She looked so frightened, like a stupid little pig!" She licked her lips. "What fun..."
Moroi's unseen eyes seemed to spark furiously from behind her glasses. "You attacked a Senshi?"
"I merely stopped her from getting close to the Master!" the red haired girl whined. She fiddled with her neon pink shirt. "You can understand that, right Moroi-chan?" Moroi frowned.
"Know your place Yakedo-san," the girl muttered coldly.
"Awww, Moroi-chan!" Yakedo wrapped her arms around the other girl and pouted. "What a meanie!"
Moroi sighed. She didn't enjoy being referred to as "Moroi-chan", nor did she like Yakedo getting physical with her. Expressionlessly she plucked Yakedo's arms off of her.
"How long we gonna be here anyway?" Kitanai asked, although she didn't care that much.
"We move out now," Moroi replied. She was the shortest, youngest looking of them all, but one of the deadliest. She came in close for that title with Sui. "The Master wants one of us to follow each of the teams."
"Hmmm," Yakedo scrunched up her nose in a childish manner. "Lesse...There's the Fire-lady and the Princess, the Racer and the Artist, the Idol and the Immortal, and the Pinkie and the Brain."
Sui scowled. "You mean the Soldiers of Thunder and Ice?"
"Yeah, them too. Oh, oh, can I follow the Fire-lady and the Princess!? I wanna see the look on her face!" the red haired girl squealed, jumping up and down. "Please Moroi-chan!?"
Moroi pinched her forehead. "Fine, Yakedo-san, you can follow them. But do not, I repeat, do not engage them in battle."
"Oh fine, you meanie."
"I guess I'll follow the Soliders of Time and Love," Kitanai sighed, as if that was the last thing she wanted to do. "At least it'll be easier to track them, since they've stopped moving."
"I shall follow the Soldiers of Thunder and Ice," Moroi whispered.
"That leaves the Wind and the Water." Sui grinned sadistically, not unlike Yakedo. "Goodie. I want a good fight."
"Sui-san," Moroi began in a warning tone.
"Only if I receive the order, of course," the blonde haired woman mocked, bowing. Moroi's lips twitched into what might have been a smile.
"Very good. Move out."
"Ugh," Kitanai moaned. "More work..."
In a swirl of cherry blossoms, they were gone.
--
"We're here!" Minako cheered, doing a rendition of a happy dance. Setsuna covered her face with her hand.
"Aino-san," she began, praying for patience. "People are staring."
"Well then they're perverts," Minako replied, still in the throes of her happy dance. Despite herself, Setsuna found her lips twitching. Something bubbled in her throat. Before she knew it, the immortal Senshi found herself giggling like a school-girl, helpless to the dancing styles of the eccentric blonde before her.
"Wow!" the idol-in-training gasped, stopping mid-pelvic thrust. "I got you to laugh! Yes! I've been trying to do that for ages!" Setsuna rolled her eyes as the giggles subsided, but then froze. Something prickled on the edges of her mind; an energy had appeared, not close enough to them, but it was there.
It was hostile.
"A youma," she murmured to herself, unconsciously moving her body in front of the younger woman's. "Or...the enemy?"
"What's the difference?" Minako sighed.
Behind them, in a grove of trees, flower petals swirled and a green-eyed demon studied them from the body of a girl.
"Found you," Kitanai whispered.
Stealthily Setsuna jumped behind a tree. Her clothes were replaced by her sailor fuku and she wielded a giant staff resembling a key. Her eyes glowed with determination, much like the orb atop the Garnet Rod.
Shortly after Pluto appeared Minako followed her example and jumped into a bush. Sailor Venus emerged and ran beside Pluto.
"Don't get so hostile," Kitanai said, monotone. "I'm not going to attack you just yet."
Despite this, Pluto and Venus both charged at Kitanai, who just stood there until the soldiers were inches away from her, when she moved out of their path. Simultaneously, Pluto and Venus collided with a tree and collapsed. Kitanai giggled.
"I told you so. My Master gave me orders to not attack you," Kitanai informed them. "...yet. I'll be back." A swirl of flower petals formed in the air. The girl disappeared, leaving the pink petals to fall to the ground.
Sailor Pluto dusted off the dirt that clung to her uniform. She lent a hand to Sailor Venus and pulled her from the ground. That was too bizarre. In spite of the enemy not battling with them, Pluto didn't feel any better about the situation. She knew for a fact that girl would be back eventually. All she and the Senshi of Love could do was be prepared. They couldn't afford to let their guard down.
--
"A...traffic jam." Haruka twitched. "On the bridge? Are you serious?"
"Calm down," Michiru soothed, rubbing gently at the nape of her partner's neck. "Just stay calm."
A few cars down, in a swirl of petals, Sui appeared next to a civilian's car. She calmly wrenched open the door and pulled the struggling woman out.
"Don't say anything," Sui muttered. "Or you will die."
"Oh God," the woman whimpered, shivering. "Oh God, Oh G--" She was cut off as Sui breathed into her face. A purple cloud flowed into the woman's lungs; she choked, grabbed at her throat as her eyes rolled into the back of her head.
"I told you," the blonde haired woman sighed, tossing the body over the edge of the bridge. "Not to say a word."
Haruka and Michiru gaped at the blonde in horror. So this was the cause of the traffic jam. A pang hit Haruka's stomach, causing her to emit a groan.
"Haruka," Michiru whispered sharply. She kept her voice low to avoid attracting the enemy. "Are you okay?"
Haruka didn't reply. She felt like something was inside here, tugging on her vocal chords. She was convinced they'd snap any minute. Her stomach formed itself into a knot and churned like a furnace. A few drops of sweat dripped down her forehead. All Michiru did was embrace her, as she was in too much panic to think.
Her heart palpitated even faster when Sui strolled down the bridge towards their car. Icy amber eyes peered through golden bangs at the Senshi of Water. Fear. She was afraid. Sui darkly cackled. The fear was so strong she could taste it. Regardless Michiru tried to hold herself together.
Sui flashed Michiru a razor-like grin before stalking off to another car. Slowly Michiru's heart returned to its normal beating pattern. The harsh pain in Haruka's body faded.
"That," she muttered bitterly. "Was our enemy. I can feel it."
Michiru only nodded and kissed Haruka's cheek.
--
The lavatory door rattled, and the smell of flowers overpowered the smell of disinfectant. Moroi pulled up the hood of her thick sweatshirt, arranged her scarf to cover the lower half of her face, and calmly walked out. As she passed by the Soldiers of Thunder and Ice, she made sure to keep her head down.
If the Ice one was the genius the Master proclaimed her to be, Moroi certainly didn't want to be recognized. If she was, that would require questions that should remain unanswered.
Ami frowned as a girl walked passed them. Was it her or did it suddenly just get colder?
"Did you turn on the air Makoto-chan?" Ami asked. Makoto was sound asleep. The bluenette's frown deepened as she looked back to the girl. The teenager sat down next to the window a few rows behind them, head bowed.
She looked familiar...but Ami couldn't place it. The doctor-to-be mentally shrugged and turned back, leaning against the seat, eyes closed. Now her nerves were bad; the enemy probably didn't know they were on the move so soon...right?
Moroi took a seat and spent the majority of the flight glaring at the two sleeping girls. Observe. That was all she could do now until the opportune time arrived. She, thankfully, had the patience to wait, as she knew the satisfaction of victory would make the waiting worthwhile. She wasn't sure about her partners, however. Especially that creep Chuusin. Sui Chuusin hated following orders of any kind. Why she even continued to associate herself with the other three remained a mystery.
Makoto's eyes fluttered open. She blinked a few times and noticed a weight on her shoulder. She glanced over to find Ami out cold. Smiling, Makoto played with her azure hair. A shiver made its way down her back. For some reason there was a drafty feeling in the air. Makoto couldn't pinpoint its source. She yanked a blanket from under her seat and place it over Ami and herself.
--
Rei sighed as she forced herself awake from her light doze. She'd have to remember to tell Setsuna that she would have to room with her; the Senshi of Time was the only one who knew about the nightmares and the realism involved. She reached up and traced the rapidly healing wounds idly. Thank god for her Senshi blood, she thought to herself. Something that smelled faintly like the cherry blossoms at the temple perfumed the air, and Rei sighed again as a wave of homesickness washed over her.
A giggle. That damned giggle, the one from her nightmare, the one that had been accompanied by a childish voice and fire sliced across her chest.
And it was near Usagi. It was near her Usagi.
Rei whirled to look behind her, a vicious snarl on her lips. Her eyes widened when she saw a young girl seated behind them, when she was sure that she hadn't been before. The girl was a like a walking seizure; bright, neon colors that actually hurt her eyes and rainbow fabric that made her twitch covered her torso, arms, and legs, while fire-engine red hair was pulled back into two ponytails at the sides of her head. But the figure in the fire had been blue; this child seemed to like too many colors all at once. They couldn't be the same people.
"Hiiiii!" the girl cooed as she waggled her fingers coyly at the Senshi of Fire. Rei had to suppress the urge to lash out.
"Hn," the miko grunted, turning back around. Now she was going insane; lack of sleep and the terrible dreams were taking a toll on her body already.
She never noticed the maniacal grin spread across the girl's lips, the insanity in her pink eyes, and the flower petals strewn around her seat.
Rei glared out the window and subconsciously pulled Usagi closer to her. Bright red veins were laced around her eyes. Her complexion was pale. Every time her eyes fought for some sleep Rei forced them open.
How cute, Yakedo thought, observing the duo in front of her. Too bad I'll have to break them up eventually. Oh who am I kidding, it will be delightful. She laughed, unaware of how loud she was being.
Rei twitched, desperately aching to clobber the nut case behind her.
Comments mean a lot to us, so please feel free to share your thoughts!
