So this is probably going to be the last "searching for the Nijizuishou" chapters.
Enjoy!
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A soft yellow glow lightened up the tiny bedroom and the small girl who was holding it.
Holding? No, it was floating above her hand. The light compacted back to the crystal, and then expanded out again.
Like a little heartbeat.
"I knew these crystals were powerful, but I never imagined this. It's so beautiful."
Once again, Usagi's loyal cat wasn't around to lecture her about her "improper" use of the Nijizuishou even though it had saved their lives.
"She's probably worried. I can see that, but this power is great! I have no regrets on how I used it. I mean, really, the others shouldn't have been so horrified. I saved us all. They should be grateful," she thought fiercely as she remembered the day's earlier events…
(That morning)
It started at school when the midterm exam grades were posted.
Usagi stood on the stairs while some of her classmates were astonished that instead of being at the bottom, she had the 27th highest score in their year.
Of course, since she had become friends with the now second highest performer, they assumed that she either had special tutoring or found a new way to cheat.
Despite her blank face, Usagi was hurt by their whispers. "Honestly, is it really that big of a deal? Did they truly believe that I had some kind of learning disability or something?"
"Good job, Usagi-chan. I knew if you hit the books you would do fine," said the voice of her fellow Senshi Ami, Makoto right next to her.
The blonde smiled but decided to change the subject. "What about you Ami-chan? You're second to that Urawa Ryo. Who is he anyway?"
The resident genius explained that he just transferred to Juuban Municipal Junior High and was in her class.
They had been getting a lot of transfer students lately.
Just then, a small boy with beautiful dark blue eyes came into view.
Usagi's own eyes widen as she felt that pulling feeling toward the boy.
"That's him," Ami told her friends. Hearing her soft voice, the boy turned around blushing then ran down the hall. "He's a little strange," the brain said densely.
"He is a carrier. I'm sure of it. But the others won't believe me. I better keep a very close eye on him and avoid the others in case…" but she refused to finish the thought.
Usagi quickly excused herself and followed this Urawa to the roof. She saw he was reading an old newspaper article when Ami was ranked first in the nation.
"So, Urawa-kun, you do like Ami-chan!"
"Perfect. I can say I'm going to help him capture Ami-chan's heart. It's a great cover and it might actually work!"
What she didn't expect was Urawa to jump back, his eyes as wide as they could be. "Stay away from me."
He then took off and was hit by a bucket of water. He didn't seem to notice as he rushed down the steps, leaving the girl very confused.
"What was that about? Ami-chan was right, he is strange. Still I have to follow him. I missed the last two crystals. I will get this one, no matter what."
She stayed close to the boy for the rest of the day, following him to a small restaurant after school was finished.
"Usagi-chan! What are you doing?" said the voice of her very annoyed guardian cat.
Instead of answering, the leader pulled out the pink wand that was making that irritating sound.
"A crystal carrier is nearby! We need to tell the others. Why haven't you called them?" Luna cried out. "And here I thought she was becoming more responsible!"
The blue-eyed girl continued to stare straight ahead as she answered. "Because it just started going off and I don't know who it's reacting to. Am I supposed to check every person in the restaurant to see who it is? Yeah, that's really inconspicuous."
The black cat stared at her ward in surprise. "Not only did she know the word 'inconspicuous' but that is a well-reasoned answer. Come to think of it, since she started doing her homework and passing her tests, she hasn't been crying or eating excessively. That's a good thing, but her bubbly personality isn't really there. I wanted her to mature… but now I'm concerned. And this all started when the Nijizuishou were first discovered..." Luna remembered all too well when Usagi had those two seizures.
She hadn't asked if there had been another.
The detector then began to pick up speed as Urawa Ryo came out of the door.
He took one look at Usagi and ran in the opposite direction. Luna looked up and was surprised to see this fierce look of determination on the soldier's face. Without a word, she began to chase the carrier with the cat on her tail.
"Ah, Usagi-chan, what are you doing here? Decided to try cram school?"
The leader turned around to the familiar blue-haired girl, realizing her search had led her to one of Ami's many cram schools.
How many did she go to again? Four, five… twenty?
"Ami-chan, we found the next carrier," the talking cat explained.
"Found the next carrier? I wonder who it could be. And…what is that look on Usagi-chan's face? It's so hard… and cold."
"We'll need to contact the others. Ami-chan, Usagi-chan, get out your communicators and... Usagi-chan!" Luna cried out as the girl became deathly pale and hurried to a deserted alley, the other two following closely behind.
Once covered in shadow, she began hyperventilating, tears streaking down her face. Ami's eyes expanded in shock but a part of her mind, the one that had read countless medical books, assessed the situation.
"She's having some sort of seizure! I'll call an ambulance. In the meantime…" the rest of her words were cut off by her friend's choked sobs.
The rabbit began to wither on the ground, clearly in absolute agony.
Luna yelled her name while Ami attempted to hold her in place. It was a sight she could never forget.
Usagi began to foam at the mouth like some diseased animal. Her tears were actually blood that stained her cheeks… and her eyes…
"They're yellow."
Ami didn't know what was happening to her friend; she had never seen anything like this and had no idea what to do.
Her body suddenly stopped thrashing thought she continued to twitch for a few more seconds.
Still shaking, Usagi managed to stand up. "We need to go. Zoisite's removed the yellow crystal from Urawa Ryo, and do not give me that look Luna! We're leaving now!"
And with that, the blonde ran out of the alleyway, her cheeks still red.
"Urawa-kun's a carrier? And how did she know it was the yellow crystal? Her eyes were yellow for a moment. What is going on?"
"Ami-chan, I'm just as concerned, but we need to follow her. Transform now and call the others," Luna commanded.
She nodded and did as told. Ami, now Sailor Mercury, ran off after her leader and taking out her communicator.
Arriving at the same park where the first of the Nijizuishou battles had taken place the second was already underway.
The Youma looked like… well… what did it look like? A large lizard with two legs and white body armor with arms that looked like scissors was probably the closest thing to an accurate description.
Anyway, this "Bunbo" was currently chasing Sailor Moon around, though she didn't seem to be having any problem evading his attacks.
In fact, she managed to trick the Youma into colliding with Zoisite, and by doing do, he lost his grip on the crystal.
The yellow gem began to glow the moment it touched the Senshi's hand.
"So this is what it's like to hold a Nijizuishou. It's more powerful than I imagined. And this is just one of seven! And the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou… what could that power be like?"
So absorbed in her own thoughts, Sailor Moon failed to notice that the monster had reemerged and Zoisite was commanding it to retrieve the crystal from her.
Only when a cry of "Sailor Moon" from her teammate reached her ears was she able to snap out of her trance.
However, she wasn't the least bit afraid, the shining stone in her hand filling her with strength.
"BUNBO!" the monster cried out, the Senshi it was charging at looking up with utter disgust.
"Abomination..."
Sailor Moon simply lifted up the crystal to face the incoming beast. A thick beam of yellow light burst from the stone, engulfing the creature, its shrieks shaking the air itself.
Bunbo crumbled to the ground, his skin burning off and falling onto the concrete as his scissor arms disintegrated into nothing…
"Stop it Sailor Moon! You're killing him! He's still human!" screamed Sailor Mars who, along with Sailor Jupiter, had just arrived.
The ray of light vanished, though the crystal was still glowing.
Sailor Moon quickly healed Urawa who promptly collapsed but showed no signs of what he had just gone through. No one went to his side.
They were all staring numbly at one person.
"It seems Zoisite has taken off," the individual said, ending the awkward silence.
Jupiter stepped forward, saying what everyone else was thinking. "Sailor Moon, how did you do that? It was incredible, but you could have seriously hurt the boy."
"I don't exactly know what came over me. I guess I just got carried away," she said smiling apologetically, "How it happened, I can't say. From the moment I held the crystal… it just started reacting. That's got to be a good sign, right?"
The others weren't entirely convinced.
After finally checking on Urawa, Mercury wanted to look at the crystal using her supercomputer.
At first, it didn't look like Sailor Moon was going to give it to her, but then handed the stone over without a word.
The light vanished the moment the crystal left her hand. After Mercury failed to get any information, Mars and Jupiter also decided to hold the crystal to see if it would have the same response, completely forgetting that they were still in the middle of the park and were being closely monitored by a figure in the shadows.
After nothing happened, Sailor Moon took possession of the crystal once more and it immediately began to shimmer once more. "Well, I think that settles it. I'll keep the Nijizuishou with me in case I need it."
"Maybe that's not a good idea, Sailor Moon. You don't know how to control that kind of power," Luna reasoned.
A flash of anger crossed over her ward's face before she calmly replied. "That's exactly why I need it. I have to learn how to harness its potential. We can discuss this tomorrow. I think we all could use a good night's rest."
And with that she took off, faster than any of the others could follow.
"Stay… away… from… her," a cracked voice panted from behind.
"No, Urawa-kun! Stay where you are and…" but Mercury was cut off by the boy.
"She… will be… our doom. Please… listen to me. I was born with the ability to see the future. I already knew what I was, what was going to happen to me, and what I would become."
Looking directly at Mercury, he said "That's why I'm at the top of the class. But recently, my visions have become… blurry. Almost like a bad reception or something. I knew Zoisite was coming after me but… but the details were so... fuzzy. I did see a few things clearly though."
Suddenly looking at all of them, he quickly asked, "Does a star have any meaning to any of you? An eight pointed star?"
None of the Senshi or the cat had the slightest clue what he was talking about. "This star, it will be important. And I saw something else. Sailor Moon, she will be part of it. The Apocalypse is coming."
"Urawa-kun, don't worry about the Dark Kingdom. We can…"
"No! It's not the Dark Kingdom. It's much bigger than that. It's…" then he stopped. "It doesn't matter. None of you will believe me until it's too late. Even now you cannot comprehend, cannot possibly understand... I want to say that the rest of you should kill her but… I don't think you can now. Just… pray. Pray I'm wrong."
He stumbled away, leaving the group of girls speechless.
Wordless, they agreed to leave before anything else could happen.
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"So, the crystal itself nearly killed one of the Great Youma?" Kunzite skeptically asked Zoisite.
"Yes, it was… unlike anything I have ever seen. Sailor Moon is obviously growing more powerful, but… the sense of warning… of danger was so strong. The way the Nijizuishou responded… not even Queen Beryl had that reaction when she held the red crystal. All I'm saying is that we have to be careful, otherwise I'm not sure what will happen."
Kunzite nodded in response while they silently agreed not to tell their queen. She was going to be livid once she found out that a crystal had fallen into the Senshi's hands. This extra detail would only get them into more trouble.
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"And that's what happened," Luna stated to the computer.
"Well, let's think about this for a second. Sailor Moon is the leader of the Sailor Senshi. It only makes sense that she would be more powerful than the rest," the screen rationalized.
"Yes, but the crystal. Shouldn't the Princess be the only one who can tap into their power?"
"Perhaps it's her connection to the Moon that's allowing her to use the Nijizuishou. That would also explain why she can sense a carrier and the pain she feels before a crystal is removed," the machine reasoned.
Though it seemed plausible, Luna wasn't convinced. Something else was going on and they needed to find out what.
And fast.
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From the balcony, midnight blue eyes could gaze upon the entire city.
It appeared the same as always, but it felt like there was a darker force beneath it. Or maybe that was a reflection of his state of mind.
The black-haired man's only thoughts were on the battle that took place just an hour earlier. As he held the small orange crystal in his palm, he remembered the way the yellow one had blazed with power in Sailor Moon's hand.
It was absolutely amazing… and terrifying. In that moment, she wasn't the crying girl at Osa-P Jewelers anymore. She became a true warrior – strong, confident, and eager for battle.
But there was a darker side to her beautiful face, one of sadistic pleasure at the cries of her victim.
He shuddered.
No, he needed to think about retrieving the next Nijizuishou for the purpose of finding the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou, not about what kind of power Sailor Moon would possess if she held another.
"I shouldn't be thinking about her. I need to focus, but when I see those eyes…"
Shaking his head, Chiba Mamoru, also known as Tuxedo Kamen, went back into his apartment, praying for a dreamless night that he knew wouldn't come.
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The wall of fire seemed to burn with more intensity than usual, though that may have reflected the concentration of the one sitting in front of it.
Her dark eyes were closed in meditation; her black hair seemed to ripple in the presence of the flames.
"Stay… away… from her. She will… be… our doom. None of you will believe me until it's too late. Sailor Moon… she will be part of it. The Apocalypse is coming."
Urawa's words were running through Rei's mind, over and over again.
Before tonight, the idea that Tsukino Usagi - crybaby, clumsy, "I'll eat anything" - Usagi could be part of "The Apocalypse" was laughable.
But now...
The power the blonde wielded was indescribable… but there was something behind it. Around her body there was some sort of foreign energy.
It couldn't be described as either good or bad… it was just… out of place. And it seemed to… pulse? Was that the right word?
The fire remained silent.
Rei opened her violet orbs, the shadows underneath them becoming more pronounced.
"But recently, my visions have become… blurry. Almost like a bad reception or something. I knew Zoisite was coming after me… but the details were so fuzzy."
If Urawa had a bad connection, then the miko had lost her ability entirely.
"What's going on? Why can't I see anything?"
If she were being completely honest with herself, it seemed that something … or perhaps someone... was tampering with her sixth sense… but how?
"Does a star have any meaning to any of you? An eight pointed star?"
No, she knew nothing of an eight pointed star. Was it some sort of symbol? What did it mean?
"I want to say that the rest of you should kill her but… I don't think you can now…"
Kill Usagi…
No, Rei knew she could never do that. Her entire body recoiled at the thought. The practicing Shinto knew she could never take a life. Youma were one thing, they were monsters, soulless, that turned to dust when killed. A human life was out of the question.
Especially a fellow Senshi, her leader, her… friend…
As Phobos and Deimos landed beside her, one thing was abundantly clear...
"Things are going to get a lot worse."
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"They should be grateful," Usagi thought, tossing her long hair to the side in annoyance.
"And why did Luna even suggest that someone else should have the crystal? Isn't it obvious that it choose me?"
But beyond the thoughts there was something else. Holding the crystal, seeing it shine, made her feel safe, powerful… sane…
"Let the nightmares come. I'm ready now."
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What did you think? Figured out what's going on with Usagi yet?
Please comment!
Love from, EvanSol919!