It took a while… I didn't have anything to write about, a writer's block. And school's started. I know, that's a common excuse, but between drama contests, AP classes, and all kinds of things for church, you tend to run out of time. But this is not the end!
The line at the end of this chapter—the line Usagi thinks—is from Straylight Run's new song, "Hands in the Sky (Big Shot)". I've fallen in love with this song and just can't listen to it enough. I felt that line fit in very well.
Someone reviewed commenting about the names. I'll give a little history on these. Eisley is the name of a band. I'm not sure if it's a human's name or anything, but it sounds just lovely. Xandra is from a book I read called I Can't Tell You. The girl's full name was Alexandra. And Acadia is from the film Elephant, a film about a school shooting. Acadia is one of the main characters.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, but Eisley, Xandra, and Acadia and the enemies are mine, as well as the storyline.
"07: Retreat"
Seiya sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at his hands. He was wearing just his red boxers; he had just gotten out of the shower. As soon as the Goddesses had left, Kakyuu rushed to heal him with an unusual power that instantly healed his wounds and damaged insides.
Something about Kakyuu seemed different now. He wasn't sure what, but there was something that was obviously plaguing her thoughts.
Seiya couldn't stop thinking about what had happened that afternoon. Something was terribly, terribly wrong. What hurt him the most was seeing his Odango in the arms of another man. An evil man. Not the physical attacks on him. It was the heartbreak and abandonment he felt.
She had to be corrupted, she just had to be. She was on the side of evil, resting with another man. His Odango was so pure and innocent; this certainly couldn't be her will. Either way, the thought pained him.
The door to his bedroom slowly opened and he saw his princess peer around the door. She had her hat off and was wearing a simple red dress that one of the other girls had donated to her. She smiled at him, and when she saw that she could come in, she ventured in a little farther and closed the door. She walked to Seiya and sat down on the bed with him.
"This is not your fault."
Seiya had tried his hardest not to cry, but he found this to be an impossible task and began to weep openly. He leaned into Kakyuu's shoulder, who pulled him closer to her. She stroked his damp hair, rocking back and forth like a mother would care for a frightened child.
After several minutes, she pulled away. She had been crying, too.
"Seiya, my Fighter," she said, her eyes reddened. "Love and longing has taken its grip on you, has it not? I can see this. I know precisely how you feel. You have lost the one you love. I sympathize with this," Kakyuu forced a soothing smile and pressed on, seriousness in her voice. "Will you listen to something? I have not told anyone yet, because I know how everyone would react. It is lying heavily on my conscience now."
"Oh, Princess," Seiya said. "You can tell me anything."
Kakyuu shook her head, hiding her face, her attitude suddenly changed. "No, no… I cannot. Not now…"
Seiya nodded. He was confused but hid it for the comfort of his princess. He smiled at her, hoping that she wouldn't see through it. "Oh, Seiya, I am so sorry that I am unable to fix all your dilemmas. It must be so frustrating…"
"You're not in charge of making me feel better or trying to make my life completely flawless, my princess. I'm supposed to do that, because I'm your protector," Seiya said.
Kakyuu frowned and stood up. "You try to comfort me, when you have a broken heart. That is all the protection I need right now," Kakyuu held her hand out to him, and smiled. "Come out of your bedroom, please. We are lonely."
Seiya stood up, his heart heavier than before. Kakyuu led him out of his bedroom and into the main area of the apartment. Taiki was in the kitchen, preparing something to eat. Yaten was lying across the couch, watching the television, blearily.
"Look who has joined us!" Kakyuu said.
Taiki and Yaten looked over at Seiya and their hearts instantly ached. Taiki did a small wave and Yaten smiled, and returned his eyes back to the television. Seiya walked in and sat in the white recliner. Kakyuu sat across from him and watched the television.
The heavy sigh of Taiki broke the speaking silence and the clatter of pans and the like and soon he was standing in front of the couch pushing Yaten's legs over and sat down.
"Seiya," said Taiki after a long silence.
Seiya looked up at him. "Hmm?"
"We're going to get her back. For you."
× × × × × ×
"Game plan. We need one," said Haruka.
Everyone (by now, you should know who "everyone" is referring to) sat in the main room of Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna's country home. Taiki, Acadia, Eisley, and Xandra sat on the floor.
"How are we supposed to have one if we don't even understand what's going on?" Minako quietly asked. Lately, a sad ghoul had reverberated in Minako's typically upbeat eyes, pulling her into the shadows of sadness.
"Then let's deal with what we already know," said Acadia. "We know that she was taken by the Goddesses. We know she is not on our side anymore; she is on the enemy's. Most likely unwillingly. But who that man is, is the biggest question."
"That man," Ami cautiously began. "Is an old enemy we faced a few years ago.
"There was a family, the Negamoon Family from the tenth planet, Nemesis. They were led by a man named Prince Demando—the one who has returned. He had a brother Safir, who was his advisor and right hand man, so to speak. Then there was Esmeraude and Rubeus, who were appointed by the Prince to attack our planet. Then there were four sisters that Rubeus was in charge of. They were under the control of Wiseman, a phantom like enemy who was using Prince Demando and the clan to get the Silver Imperium Crystal.
"Prince Demando was an incredibly controlling man that thought he could get anything he wanted. He fell in love with Neo-Queen Serenity as an object. Like someone would with money. He tried everything he could to get his hands on her and make her his queen. He kidnapped her twice, but we managed to get her back before things got too bad.
"Wiseman became angry and killed him, and he died in Sailor Moon's arms," Ami spoke wistfully, recalling their second enemy to face. Each name she mentioned, she saw their faces and heard their voices. "It was unfortunate, because at the time, he had been reformed and wanted to change his ways."
Seiya felt sick to his stomach suddenly and his face showed it; he had clearly ignored the last part of Ami's story. "So," he began, trying to pull the pieces together. "He's probably already claimed her as his queen?"
The stark silence answered his question.
"What are we going to do?" Seiya asked frantically. "We have to do something."
"We can't do anything right now," said Rei, tears in her eyes. "Because we… don't know… where she is…"
Setsuna sighed, looking at the floor. "This cannot be the end…"
"It's not because they still want to fight. And if they want to fight, then so be it," said Makoto. "Even if it means going against our own princess. It's for her own good."
"What if we hurt her?" Michiru's delicate voice rang an alarm.
Haruka nodded confidently. "If the situation arises, we will have to. If she attacks one of us, we attack back. At all costs."
"What if she dies, Haruka?" Seiya shouted. "What are you going to do then? He stood to his feet, angry tears stinging his eyes.
"If she dies," said Haruka, challengingly. "Then we will try all that we can to bring her back to life. If we can't, then…"
"If we cannot, we will find a way," Kakyuu said reassuringly. "I will summon all help I can. And so will you. If something like that is to happen, we need not worry."
The last words Kakyuu spoke began to echo around their heads, swirling around them, stinging their heads. As the words floated around their heads, the room they were sitting in disappeared, becoming a black void. Those on the couch fell to the ground with a thud and everyone knew that the worst was coming.
There was the sound of thunder and then a flash exploded from the ground, like invisible lightning had struck it.
Standing in the place was Eternal Sailor Moon, the sword from the previous fight was in her gloved hands, anew. They noticed that where the sword had gashed into her skin was a red stained patch on her uniform.
Those with their henshin sticks stood and transformed, ready for whatever lie ahead.
Sailor Moon held the sword in her hand firmly and maliciously smiled at them. The Black Moon family insignia glowed against her porcelain face. "My dear friends," she began coldly. "Do you insist on fighting? We didn't bring you here to fight but to—"
"World… Shaking!"
The attack blew Sailor Moon off of her feet, the blade falling to the floor.
"You know," said Uranus. "Even as a noble enemy, you still are completely unprepared." Sailor Moon stood up and glared at them. The intensity of hate burned in her once soft eyes, setting her friends and protectors on heartbreak's edge. She picked up the blade and held it in her hands, and charged at Sailor Uranus, the blade held at one side with both her hands, in slash position.
Uranus pulled out her talisman and managed to protect herself from the blade sinking into her stomach just as she brought her weapon down. This confrontation gave Sailor Pluto the opportunity to unleash her attack.
"Dead Scream!"
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
"Silver Moon Crystal—"
Sailor Moon's attack, however was interrupted by Sailor Mercury…then Sailor Neptune… then Sailor Mars… over and over…
Seiya stepped back in confusion, away from everyone. He watched as the attacks of each of the Senshi threw his angel down, her body becoming battered and torn.
"Isn't it lovely?"
Seiya felt the cold touch of a hand on his shoulder and neck, the voice breathing snow. He spun around and saw Prince Demando smiling at him. "Lovely?"
"I think it is," the Prince said victoriously. "Aren't you enjoying watching your 'Odango' being ripped apart by those she trusted most? Isn't it fabulous to see her in the arms of another man?"
Seiya stared at him, bewildered.
"Life's hard for you, isn't it?" asked Demando, leaning back from being in Seiya's face. "What happened first… oh, yes! You lost your planet. To Sailor Galaxia. She completely devastated it, didn't she? Not only that, but you also lost your princess and were bound and determined to find her. And, the worst of all, you fall in love with someone you just couldn't have," Demando recited from memory. He smiled victoriously at the last. "But what is this?" He looked down, as if he'd stumbled upon a gift. "You come back and you find her heartbroken. It must be your job to remedy that! But things are only worsened when she falls down, down, down and nearly dies. And then is taken," Demando crosses his arms, his ice eyes studying him. "By whom, Seiya? By whom?"
"By you."
"By me. That's right. I'm glad you recognize that I'm the one to really take care of her," Prince Demando said, twisting Seiya's words right in his face. "What are you going to do about it? Don't you love her?"
"I do. I love her. With all of my heart."
Prince Demando smirked, holding Seiya's chin in his hand. "Are you sure?"
"I am," said Seiya. "It's just you that I'm worried about."
Demando threw Seiya to the ground. Everyone looked behind them. "I love her. I love Serenity with every fiber of my being, Seiya!"
Sailor Moon was on the ground, her wings and uniform ripped and her hair loosened and tangled. She had red scrapes, cuts growing fresher with time, and green and yellow bruises on her. Unconsciousness was creeping into her body slowly. She looked at Seiya through her darkening and sparking vision and something inside her seemed to catch fire.
Demando held his hand at his side, and the sword Sailor Moon had formulated from the floor to his hands and he stared down at Seiya. "I'm going to remove you. You are my biggest obstacle!" He held the sword in the air and as he was about to bring it down, Sailor Moon was suddenly underneath the aim of the sword, her damaged arms held up in defense. The sword fell out Prince Demando's hands as he saw Sailor Moon guarding this man…
"Serenity!" he screeched, his voice making Sailor Moon wince. "What are you doing?"
Sailor Moon looked up at him. "I'm protecting the one I love from dying!" She stood up, her body swaying and weak. "I'm... not going to stand this… anymore…! Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!"
As much as everyone had hoped, the attack played no effect of Demando. He stood, angered even more, coughing slightly. He grabbed Sailor Moon by the shoulders violently, pulling her up. The rod dropping limply from her hands. "Who do you think you are!" He drew her closer to him, his face inches from her. A wild look exploded in his eyes, stinging Sailor Moon. His words seethed and boiled. "You are carrying my child!"
A thick silence ensued and everyone simply stared. Prince Demando and Eternal Sailor Moon stared, his gaze pleased and angered, hers frightened and bewildered.
Sailor Moon began to writhe and cry uncontrollably. "I'm not! I'm not! You're a liar!"
Prince Demando pulled her against him, violently stroking her hair. She screamed and tried to pull away, but it was of no use. "It is a bit of a surprise, isn't it? It was to me!"
"Glowing Flesh Fermentation!"
Sailor Graphic Skin's attack separated the two with green, Sailor Moon landing on Seiya and Prince Demando to the side. He lifted his head. "I'm leaving, but this is not the end. You must face the child inside of you, my queen! Do not forsake our child!"
A light erupted and he was gone, leaving the Senshi in main room of the house.
Seiya held an unconscious Sailor Moon in his arms. Sailor Pluto knelt down and placed her hand on the battered brooch, spoke something, and Usagi was in a simple white dress.
The Black Moon remained on her forehead.
Seiya lifted Usagi into his arms gingerly, and cradled her. He watched her chest as it rose and fell gently, praying it would remain at that same pace. All the other Senshi gathered around and wondered what to do next with their fallen princess…
× × × × × ×
"What happened, Usagi?"
Usagi laid in the guestroom of Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna's apartment, conscious now. She was lying on her side, staring at the heavily purple draped window, her eyes blank. Seiya sat on the edge of the bed, facing her back. He had been in the room with her, trying to get her to talk to him for the past thirty minutes. All he got was a small whimper or a sigh in response.
"Please, Odango," he pleaded. "What happened? Why won't you tell me?"
A silence.
"I don't understand why you can't tell me."
Usagi's body moved slightly, rearranging herself under the blanket. She pulled herself into a balled up position. "It's not that I can't," she said quietly. "It's that… I don't want to."
"Why not, Odango?" he leaned down to her, and stroked her head. He was careful not to touch the bruise on her hairline. "Are you ashamed of something?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"Don't think that," Seiya said, gently. He had gotten her to speak and he didn't want her to retreat back into herself. "No matter how awful. What happened while you were with Prince Demando?"
Usagi pulled the blanket over her head quickly, whimpering loudly like a hurt dog. "Please go, Seiya. I just need some time to myself."
Seiya sighed and stood. "If you want me to, Odango. I love you." There was no response to that, but a sniffle. He sighed once more, only quietly. He made his way to the door.
"I love you, too, Seiya."
Seiya looked over his shoulder. At first he thought that he was hearing things because she was still in her position under the blankets. He decided that he actually heard her say that; it was a lot more comforting.
Seiya walked down the elegant hallways, filled with paintings by Michiru of all kinds of things, ranging from a rose to a crashing ocean. He walked into the main room and saw everyone sitting, speaking.
"He said she was carrying his child," said Ami. "What does that mean?"
"What do you think it means, Ami-chan? You're the genius," Rei spat.
Ami blushed. "I don't know. He's a strange man, I'm never too sure."
"It's going to be a mess if she is pregnant with the enemy's child," said Michiru. "That will cause her to make irrational decisions. Like returning with him or feeling pity on him."
No one noticed Seiya had entered the room until he sat down on the floor. "Did she say anything to you?" asked Xandra.
"Yeah," Seiya said. "She did."
"Well, what did she say?" asked Xandra, almost impatiently.
Seiya took a breath and took a moment to remember what had been said. At the time it happened, their conversation had been heartbreaking and painful; as he retold it, however, he felt hopeful and certain of… of, well, everything.
"We need to find out somehow if she really is pregnant," said Setsuna.
"I agree." Said Makoto.
Yaten sighed. He felt almost out of place in this conversation, but his one question bothered him enough to ask. "What if she is? What are you going to do? How are you going to cover it?"
Oh, what a wonderful question. No one had thought that far into the future.
"There's no… guarantee… we don't know."
Yaten laughed snidely. "That's not what I'm saying, Eisley. Not at all. What are we planning to do if she is?" His cruelty was getting the best of him already… "Seiya, how do you feel that she possibly slept with another man?"
No one said a word.
"If she did, I understand it wasn't under her control."
The sound of a door opening echoed down the corners of the hallway. Everyone looked in that direction and heard the sounds of bare feet on the wooden floor. They saw Usagi peek around the corner at them, the corridor slightly behind the sofa and chair arrangement. She looked at them, her gold hair around her. Her pale legs were beat up horribly, and her arms looked weaker than usual.
Usagi smiled at her friends.
"Usagi, come and join us, please," Kakyuu invited. "We'll make room." She looked at Taiki next to her and signaled him to move to the floor for her, which he did gladly.
Usagi walked slowly to them, her head hanging down. She sat between Yaten and Kakyuu, strangely enough.
"What brought you out to the open with us?" asked Kakyuu, putting her arm around her shoulders. She pulled her close to her and kissed her forehead.
"I missed you guys."
"And we missed you, too," said Hotaru.
"Are you ready to tell us what happened, my Serenity?" Kakyuu asked, pulling Usagi in an embrace as if it were just the two of them.
Usagi brushed back wavy strands from her face and faintly nodded. "Yes.
"I had been in a dreamland of all kinds of things, it's hard to explain," The words fell from Usagi's lips like light feathers. "At first, I thought my sweet dreams had gone bad because I woke up to Prince Demando in my face. The last thing I remember before anything else happened was asking where I was and then the next thing I know I think he's the most wonderful person I've ever met."
"Usagi, we need to know," said Setsuna, grimly. "Did you sleep with Prince Demando?"
Usagi's face fell a little bit, to a blank expression. She gazed past everyone's head, in a daze. Kakyuu reached down and held her hand, looking up at her. "You guys aren't going to like my answer."
"We may not," Taiki relented. "But if it's what happened, then it happened and there is no denying that. We will protect you."
Usagi sighed, closing her eyes. She opened them, opening her mouth to say something. Kakyuu knew what she was thinking and met Usagi half way as she fell into her arms, crying. Through her sobs, she said, "Yes, I did."
A wave of silent washed over them and the only noise was the outside noises of birds and cars. They watched as she cried, ashamed of what she had done, into Kakyuu's arms. Kakyuu was the first to speak. "We understand that this was not out of her will, correct?"
Everyone nodded.
"That is wonderful. We must finalize if she is pregnant or not. And if she is, then we must devise something to tell those who do not understand. A lie," said Kakyuu, almost guiltily.
"She was raped," said Xandra, picking at the carpet. "That would be the only one that I can think of that wouldn't get her in trouble with her family. It's also basically what happened."
Everyone chewed this over, considering it. It seemed the only explanation.
"What do you say," said Kakyuu, a thought in her mind. "That you come to Kinmoku for a while? For those nine months of pregnancy. All of you Senshi could."
"That doesn't make sense, Kakyuu," said Minako. "There is nothing we could say that could put up a story for that."
"Actually," said Michiru. "You could say you are going to a different school. Not a public school, a private school. Where you stay there for the year. It would work."
"Is there even a place like that near here?" asked Makoto.
"Yes," said Michiru, smiling. "There is. It's a considerable distance away, which would support our little story."
"So, are we back from vacation?" asked Rei.
"We are." Said Usagi.
× × × × × ×
"Open your eyes. We are here."
The Inner Senshi, Outers, Starlights, and Intangibles opened their eyes to be greeted by the beauty of Kinmoku. Before them was the palace of Princess Kakyuu and the three Starlights. The palace was a deep red pink color. It looked almost translucent, only it couldn't be, they couldn't see within the walls. All around them were gentle winding red dirt roads, all colors of flowers, and graceful trees with limbs that swayed with the breeze scented with fragrant olives and lavender.
No one said anything for a moment, absorbing the sight before them that was so different from Earth.
Seiya reached for Usagi's hand and held it tightly. She returned the grip, staring at the sky like a child does to a giant.
"Are… are we staying there?" Rei asked as she caught her breath.
Kakyuu giggled and smiled. "Of course! Where else would you reside? You ladies are our guests. Come, let us go inside."
Kakyuu led the group towards the castle across the green grass and up a large set of beige stairs that led to the front entrance. Standing at the doors were four guards, dressed in red robes with tall golden rods. Their red hair, the color of Kakyuu's, was tied back from their face, their complexion perfect and clear.
"Princess," said one, kneeling down. "You have returned. With guests?"
The Princess touched his head with her fingertips. "Yes, I have. Bid me entrance to my palace? The guests will be here for some time."
The guard stood and bowed his head in understanding. He turned from her, and looked up at a tower with a man identical to him standing. He made a gesture with his hands, and after a few moments, the doors began to slide into the walls, opening for the people.
× × × × × ×
Ami and Taiki were walking through the garden in the back of the palace. A grey stone path led the way through the garden. The two suns, one yellow, one red, were slowly beginning their descent into the horizon, casting orange and, somehow, purple. Stars began to twinkle in the sky above them.
"I must say," said Ami. "It is lovely here. I have never seen anything like this."
Taiki nodded. "It is very different from Earth." There was a pause and Taiki looked over at her. "What was the Moon Kingdom like?"
"Most of it was white. All around. It kind of frightens me to think of it, but all around us was darkness, like it was eternal—with the exception of the Earth, of course. The oceans and lakes were so beautiful. The water was crystal clear; you could always see what was underneath the water. What else? At the time, we could see Earth perfectly, it was so beautiful. You could almost always see the entire colors of it, hardly any clouds."
"And Princess Serenity?"
Ami thought. Was this a trick? "Think Usagi, only toned down a lot. She was still the same person, honestly. But not the silly and irresponsible one everyone thinks they know. She always snuck off to see Endymion."
Taiki nodded, laughing lightly. "I can imagine."
"Do you still think we're the same bad people you, Yaten, and Seiya thought us to be?" Ami asked this with no hesitation. She stopped and searched his violet eyes.
Taiki kind of tilted his head. He looked around and sat down on a bench that was nearby. Ami sat down next to him.
"Seiya always liked you, as the Sailor Senshi. Almost an admiration," Taiki said. He felt Ami's stare on him and saw that that wasn't the answer she wanted. He sighed. "No, Ami, we don't think you and everyone are bad. If we did, we wouldn't have come back to Earth to visit everyone."
"You three came because Seiya missed Usagi."
Taiki was silent and looked ahead. He let out a heavy sighed. "Yeah. That's true."
Ami looked at him, smiling and reached for his hands. She took them in hers. "Well, even if it was to make Seiya feel better, I'm still glad you returned."
Taiki looked at her, slightly confused by this. He moved an arm, almost subconsciously, and placed it around Ami's shoulders and pulled her close. She leaned her head on his shoulder as they watched the two suns set and leave them in a glowing twilight.
× × × × × ×
Usagi sat in her room, lying under the blankets. Sitting by her bedside was a small misting fountain that released fragrances she was unfamiliar to, watching the mist change colors and swirling up into the air, dissipating. Something about it made her forget all that was wrong. Usagi hugged the pillow closer to her body.
One of the double doors opened slightly, allowing a sliver of golden light inside. She looked up and saw Seiya peeking in.
"May I come in, Odango?"
"Of course."
Seiya opened the door a little and slipped into the room, closing the door behind him. Usagi followed him with her eyes as he pulled a stool next to the bed and sat on it. Seiya looked into her eyes and brushed loose strands from her eyes. His hand grazed her forehead, tracing her features with his soft fingers.
"Oh, Odango," he whispered. "I wish I was able to protect you better."
Usagi made no reply, only staring off.
"Come down with us and have dinner," Seiya said, playing with the tails of her hair, running his fingers through the hair, pulling the hair over her shoulder. "Don't always be so sad."
Usagi closed her eyes and for a moment, Seiya didn't think she would open them. When he was about to stand up and leave, she opened her eyes and placed her hand in Seiya's and stood up.
"I will," Usagi said. "But first I need to re-do my hair. It probably looks awful with all the moping I've been doing," She turned around to a small vanity desk and began to restyle her hair with careful fingers. Seiya stood in the doorway, watching Usagi concentrate, her fingers sliding over one another, the hair fitting perfectly in place. She brushed the hanging hair and then stood up and turned toward Seiya. She was still in the white dress.
"Are you ready, my lady?" asked Seiya, sticking his arm out to link their arms, and laughed at his own joke.
Usagi smiled and threw her arms around his waist, pulling him close. "Yes."
Seiya didn't know what she meant by that. Was she ready for what was to come? Or was it just a simple response to his question? He put his arm around her and held her closer to him and kissed her on the forehead.
The two walked down the halls and staircases to the dining room where everyone was. Usagi looked at all the paintings and the mirrors that hung on the walls. The carpet beneath her naked feet was the colors of a sunset with many intricate designs and lines.
As she walked down the halls, she thought to herself, I wonder when they'll come get me…
Yeah, that would be it!
Love, Storm
