Author's notes:
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for your support and comments, it's been fantastic! Enjoy this new chapter-another one will be up very soon! And, as usual, if you haven't already, make sure to check out the important notes from the Prologue. Enjoy!
Chapter Seven
A nightmare, she thought, floating amongst the darkness of her unconscious mind, this is my nightmare.
Their beautiful amber sky was tainted with swirling, inky storm clouds, angry with boiling rain and deafening thunder. She stood outside their devastated palace, torn and broken, and rage consumed her as she took in the destruction that lay before her. "What do you want?!" She screamed, raising her arms to the sky in desperation.
Her mother was gone, just like the others, taken in a vicious massacre that left no bodies and stole no starseeds. She hadn't witnessed the brutal attack; hadn't been there to defend her—instead, she was fulfilling her duty, protecting her princess and their homeland. It was what I had to do.
A figure emerged from the pouring rain, limping and skidding toward her in the mud. "Fighter!" She heard her father yell. "Fighter, get back!"
She willed her body to move, but it was simply too late. Two discs of bright light collided into him and he cried out in pain, and she watched as his life force burst forth from his forehead. "No!"
His starseed glimmered in the air before them, a stunning sapphire with the sharpest edges, but it wasn't its beauty that caught her eye. She let out a soundless scream as a thick blade emerged from the haze and pierced through his chest, his body crashing to the red rock. As she wound him up in her arms, held him like he had held her, she knew there was nothing she could do that would save him.
"Papa," she choked, taking his hand, slippery with blood, in hers, and holding it to her heart. She felt the sob wrack her body—she couldn't control it; she couldn't be strong, not when he was like this. "I'm sorry…"
He spluttered and looked up at her, his midnight blue eyes so strong in spite of all they had suffered. She cried as she felt his wound gush a warm pool of fresh blood in her lap, knowing that he had only moments of life left. He fought against her hold on his hand—God he was always fighting, until the very end—to reach up and caress her face. "Seiya," he said, his voice coarse and broken, "fight for your future."
When he closed his eyes, she knew he was gone.
Why does this affect me so?
Rini watched through tear-blurred vision as Princess Kakyuu bowed her head to her faithful soldiers, each knelt before her on the russet cliff-face in the twilight of the morning. The princess glided between Maker and Healer, kissing them softly on the forehead, and once on the lips. The ritual was mesmerising against the giant rising sun enflaming the ocean. "My Starlights," the princess said quietly, squeezing their hands. "Travel safely."
Rini looked to Seiya, who seemed unable to gaze upon her princess as her she approached her—instead, her eyes were trained on the ground, jaw tight as wet spots stained the dust. Rini swallowed the knot in her throat, wondering again why the sight before her brought on such a tirade of intense emotion for people she hardly knew.
"Fighter," Princess Kakyuu spoke softly, kneeling down to her and drawing her chin up with a single finger. She smiled kindly, opening her mouth to speak, and then seemed to reconsider her words. "Be safe."
Her pretty pink lips skimmed Seiya's forehead and lips and she rose, her back to them as she walked toward the calm sea. "You know the realm through which you must pass to find your way to Earth, and you know of the challenges that may lie ahead," she spoke, and turned back to look at them. "Journey with care and respect the power of your surroundings."
The Starlights stood and nodded to their princess. Seiya cast her eye back to Rini, beckoning them over. "It's time to go, kid," she said, her husky voice laced with emotion. "Come on."
Rini approached them, watching in awe as vivid colours surrounded each soldier's body as their hands connected. She glanced over at Helios, who held Chibi's hand tightly, and then to Yaten, who had bent down to extend her own gloved palm to the toddler. She gave her a smile. "Want to come on an adventure, Chibi?"
The little girl gleefully snatched her hand. "Adventure, adventure!"
"Rini."
Seiya held out her hand to her, sapphire eyes watching closely as Rini tentatively reached out to connect their fingertips. A tiny spark of light cracked between them, but Seiya grasped it before she could pull away. "It's okay," she said. "You can't hurt me."
She nodded slowly, looking out over the bloodshot sunrise and to the lovely princess framed by its glory. The thick, hot air skimmed her skin and she closed her eyes. I'll come back here, one day, I just know it.
The last thing she felt before being sucked into the depths of their universe was Helios' fingers threading through hers, fitting in between like they were her own.
It was unlike Mamoru to feel tired, but as he sat in the huge lecture hall surrounded by his classmates and tried to take notes, he had to admit that felt positively wretched.
The projected image on the wall in front of him was fuzzy and making his head throb, and he sighed as he shifted in his hard seat in an attempt to get more comfortable. He had slept poorly the night before, plagued by strange dreams and horror-fuelled nightmares that made no sense. His morning had followed on in the same vein—he felt off, plain and simple.
"As an introduction to the Warburg effect, I recommend reading over chapters nineteen and twenty of the prescribed text. Next week we will be examining PET scans to better visualise this process…"
The lecturer paced the floor as she spoke, a textbook in one hand and her laser pointer in the other. She moved it about the projection of a glycolytic pathway, and as Mamoru tried to follow the green light, he began to feel nauseated. That's enough for today, he thought, frustrated as he packed up his things and quietly exited the lecture hall.
The warm sunlight hit his skin as he left the building, crossing the grounds toward his dormitory. Every step felt like lead; his body exhausted by the simple movement. He hiked his satchel bag tighter onto his shoulder and raced up the stairwell, fumbling for the keys in his pocket as he tried to unlock the door. Finally, he made it inside the small room and leant heavily against the back of the door. Everything spun and his vision began to blacken.
"Mamoru…"
He gripped his head in his hands, his belongings crashing to the linoleum floor as he groaned, desperately trying to look around for the voice that had once again called his name. He knew that voice, but he could never seem to place it, no matter how hard he tried. "Who are you?" He managed weakly as he slid to the floor.
There was no response. Dizziness overtook him and he felt like he was being sucked into the ground—like he was being thrown about wildly even though he was perfectly still. His head burned with pain and his fingernails bit into his palm hard enough to draw blood. The beige walls of his dorm room flittered from his vision and everything grew clouded and dark. What is this?
He squeezed his eyes closed to hide away from the cold and the pain, waiting for the bizarre episode to fade away. After what felt like hours—but may have been mere seconds—the gentle spring sun thawed his cool skin, and he let himself slip into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Ice-cold air rushed into Seiya's lungs, catching her breath as she came to. She could feel a smaller body tucked against her chest, her arms wrapped around the person protectively. She grunted as she opened her eyes, faced with a murky, misty darkness lit only by the pulsing energy emitting from between herself and the person in her grip. "Rini," she said, her voice hoarse. She shook the girl lightly. "Rini, wake up."
The girl groaned, furrowing her brow as she moved what Seiya was certain was a sore, tired body. Something had gone wrong during their journey into the realm of Space-Time, and it seemed they had been separated from the group. "Five more minutes," she mumbled, burrowing into her embrace.
Seiya snorted lightly at the adolescent, pushing away the strange, warm sensation of holding her and the electric charge that came with it. "No can do," she said, casting her eye around the fog cautiously. "We need to move."
"Seiya?" Rini said, sitting upright and looking disoriented. She rubbed at her eyes. "What happened? Where are the others?"
Seiya stood and pulled Rini up with her. "I don't know," she replied, her stance at the ready for attack. Something felt wrong. "We must have been separated from them during the teleport."
Rini looked around, taking in their surroundings. "This is definitely Space-Time," she said, and then frowned, shaking her head. "But something doesn't feel right…it's so cold…"
Seiya cocked her head at her. "You've been here before?"
The pink-haired girl said nothing, instead letting go of Seiya's hand and moving forward into the cloud. The instant the connection was lost, they were plunged into darkness. "Rini!" Seiya said, squinting to see her. "Give me your hand—it's the only way we're going to be able to see anything!"
Rini turned back to her—she was still close enough that she could see her blood-red eyes and bobbing pigtails. "Just stay close," Rini said, looking impatient. "If it's dark, we might be able to see Helios' horn glowing."
Seiya huffed and nodded, agreeing with her suggestion. She followed after her. "You're very bossy…"
"Says you," Rini replied.
Seiya watched her spin slowly in a circle, examining every inch of the space with little apprehension or fear, her head held high. "None of this is new to you, is it?"
She caught Rini stealing a glance at her. "What do you mean?"
"Don't give me that crap," Seiya said, narrowing her eyes at the back of her as they walked. "None of this," she waved her gloved hands about the cool air to emphasise her point, "is new to you—not only have you been here before, but you're not afraid."
"Of course I'm not afraid."
"That's not what I meant," Seiya sighed, stopping and putting her hands on her hips. "Regular civilians aren't nearly as courageous."
Rini reluctantly came to a halt and looked at her. In the dark, Seiya could see her cheeks glowing pink. "So what if I ama 'regular civilian'," she said defensively. "I don't have to be a senshi to be brave and strong."
"Sure," Seiya said, and then tilted her head at her with a smirk. "But I don't believe a word you're saying."
"I'm telling the truth!"
"You're not."
"I am!"
Seiya rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say…"
Rini let out an exasperated growl and turned to continue walking into the foggy, edgeless realm. "You're impossible…"
"Yep," Seiya said, grinning as she jogged to catch up with her. She fell in to step alongside the girl. "Don't think I'm going to let up on this—I told you I wanted to know more about you."
Rini looked at her oddly. "Why do you care so much?" She asked. "Why does who I am mean so much to you?"
The question surprised Seiya, and she fumbled for an answer. "Anyone who means something to Odango means something to me," she settled on finally.
"Odango," Rini repeated, her lips twitching in a smile. There was a curious expression on her face—one Seiya couldn't quite decipher.
"Yeah, Odango. You know, like—"
"A dumpling," Rini finished, and grinned. "Yeah, I know."
They were silent a moment, Rini's strange expression lingering on her pretty features. Seiya took the opportunity to bop her on one of the cone-shaped buns atop her head. "You kind of have them, too," she teased. "Maybe I'll call you Chibi Odango."
Rini stopped abruptly, eyes wide as she stared at Seiya. The Starlight frowned at her. "What…?"
"Nothing," Rini replied in a breath. Suddenly her stare shifted to something behind Seiya. "Could it be…?"
Seiya turned to see where her eyes were trained, to find a dim red light shimmering in the distance, circled by purplish haze. "What is that…?"
"Pluto," Rini said, and then her voice rose. "Pluto!"
The light swished and Rini lurched past Seiya into the endless night in a run. "Rini!" She yelled, chasing after her. "Wait!"
"Puu!" Rini called, and Seiya cursed as her voice grew further away. Something was certainly amiss in this realm—there was no way the petite young girl could have been faster than Seiya, yet she was getting away on her easily. "Pluto, it's me, Small Lady!"
Who the hell is Small Lady? Seiya wondered briefly, before catching a glimpse of a second, deep red light, hanging close by to the first. The nerves at the base of her spine clawed at her and she knew it was something malevolent. "Rini, stop!"
Seiya heard her gasp and she came to a halt, mere feet from a tall, black mass that was hidden in the shrouded world, hanging in waiting. Rini's breath puffed visibly in front of her as the temperature dropped further, and Seiya inched forward to step in front of her. The dark shadow moved jerkily, its red eyes glowing as it summed them up. Its long limbs twisted and dislocated grotesquely as it approached, moving in eerie silence. "Get back," Seiya hissed at Rini, hovering her hand at her side and collecting her power in her palm. "Stay behind me."
The shadowed figure let out an inhuman shriek before it began to softly speak. "Destroy," it breathed, through a mouth that wasn't there, "heir."
Seiya let the blue energy course up the length of her arm, feeling different and powerful just as it had been that day on the arid flats of Kinmoku. "Star, serious—" She swept her arm out in an arc, ready to launch everything she had at the enemy, when she felt Rini's fingertips graze the middle of her bare back. "Laser!"
Suddenly the intense cobalt energy surged from within her, exploding in a sphere far and wide from her body and obliterating the looming evil. The sphere hung frozen in the fog momentarily, lighting the realm in hypnotic, flickering blue, and then rushed back into her body as rapidly as it escaped. She let out a pant, dizzy from the power.
"Seiya, there's more of them!"
She whirled her weak body around to where more blackened forms were emerging at an alarming rate from the darkness. "Come on, we have to move," she said, grasping Rini's hand and tugging her away. They darted between the masses of vicious energy until they were cornered, back-to-back and with nowhere to go. "Damn!"
Rini puffed hard behind her. "Think you can use that power of yours again?"
"I can try," Seiya said, assessing her enemy and how much power it would take to force them back. She summoned everything she had left within her and gathered her hands together in front of her chest. "Star, serious—"
"Star, sensitive, inferno!"
A crackling bolt shot between the shadows, igniting them in fluorescent green lightning. "Fighter, Rini, get down!"
Yaten wasn't quick enough—from the side, one of the figures sprung forth and took Rini down with it, cloaking her in blackness. "Rini!"
Seiya couldn't get to her fast enough, but somebody else did. A fierce amber glow emanated out from between the young girl and her attacker, and the mass backed away as though it had been burned. Helios rose to his feet in front of Rini, his golden horn alight and the gemstone upon his forehead shining brightly. Blood seeped from the stone down his nose, but the boy looked nothing short of strong and glorious.
"Helios," Rini breathed, watching him in wonder.
Maker was suddenly at Seiya's side, Chibi Chibi in her arms. "It's here," she said, pointing toward a tall set of marble doors, outlined intricately with the phases of the moon. "Let's go."
Seiya rushed to Rini, helping her to her feet alongside Helios, and the group raced toward the open gates desperately. The intense, wicked energy was fast approaching as they sprinted, but as they leapt over the threshold, the heavy stone doors slammed shut, thrusting them into the depths of time and space.
"Can I please get one of your amazing chocolate milkshakes, with all of the trimmings from the—"
"Cookies and cream thick shake, with extra fudge sauce? Sure, Usagi," Motoki said as he swiped a cloth across the countertop at Crown Fruit Parlour. He smirked at her as her cheeks reddened and gave her a wink. "You know I know your regular order—you don't even have to ask."
She grinned back at him. "Thanks, Motoki," she said, heading back to their booth, when suddenly she remembered that she really needed a snack. "And also—"
"Large fries, got it!"
"Make that two!" Makoto called, giving him a beaming smile. "Usagi will eat one all to herself…"
Usagi slid into her spot and smirked as she watched the two exchange coy looks. "Why don't the two of you get a room, already?" She teased.
Minako elbowed her brunette friend in the ribs as she moved her gaze to the ceiling, her face flushing red. "It's about time you asked him out, Mako…"
"Shh, you guys…" Makoto hushed, her eye darting across to the counter and back again. "I will…eventually…"
Usagi snuck a glance at Rei, who was looking distractedly out the window. "If you do," she said slyly, "then Rei will have someone to go on double dates with when she goes out with Yuuichirou!"
Rei looked over, startled, and blinked at Usagi. "Sorry?"
Frowning, Usagi cocked her head, disappointed that her taunting hadn't achieved its intended effect. "Are you okay, Rei?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine!" She said quickly, plastering a smile across her face. "Did you say something about Yuuichirou?"
"I did, yeah," Usagi replied, no longer interested in stirring up the dark-haired beauty. Rei had been quiet since they'd met after school, and the more she thought about it, the more Usagi realised that all of her friends had been a little strange that afternoon. She looked around at them curiously. "Is everything—"
"Here ya go," Motoki's voice interrupted, sliding Usagi's monstrous milkshake in front of her alongside two mountains of hot chips. He gave them a smile as Minako and Rei dove in for the fries. "Enjoy!"
"We will!" Minako sang as he walked away. "Especially Mako…"
"Shut it, Mina…"
Usagi giggled and took a sip of the rich drink. The group had suddenly grown conversational, and she briefly wondered whether they were hiding something from her. She had just been about to ask them what was going on, but it seemed she had lost her opportunity.
"Afternoon, ladies."
Usagi pursed her lips around the straw mid-sip and tilted her head to look at Rafu, who had strolled in alone. He dragged a chair across to their table and swung it backward, straddling it and stealing a French fry. "Raf," she said in greeting.
Minako inched the basket of hot chips away from him and poked out her tongue. "You flying solo today?"
"Yeah," he sighed, folding his arms over the back of the chair and resting his chin on his forearms. He cast a sideward glance at Usagi. "When Usa here didn't show up to class I was concerned…thought I'd better check in and make sure she was okay."
Usagi rolled her eyes and scooped up the cookie crumbled into a scoop of ice cream inelegantly. "Thanks for your concern," she said sarcastically. "I was sick so I had the day off."
She wasn't lying—she had spent the bulk of her day at the outer scouts' home and gone to meet her friends once they'd finished school. Regardless, Rafu quirked an eyebrow at her. "So sick that you're here at Crown sipping milkshakes and being social?"
"Yep," she replied, slurping at her drink loudly. "Not that it's any of your business."
"Hey!" He cried, feigning hurt. "I was genuinely worried about you—after what happened yesterday at school, it was a bit weird that you didn't show up!"
Makoto sighed at him. "Yesterday was nothing, Raf—the announcement said it was just a false alarm."
"Mmm, yeah right—a false alarm where one of the members of the softball team gets injured," he said, hazel eyes narrowed. "You know, there are rumours going 'round that there was some guy on the field—that he was the one who hurt that girl."
Usagi glanced nervously across to her girlfriends, who all busied themselves with their food. She let out a forced laugh. "You're just trying to scare us, Raf."
"Nah, I'm serious," he said. He smirked and pushed up the sleeves of his school shirt, showing off his muscular, tanned arms. "But if you are scared, I'm alwayshere to make it all better…"
"Shut up, Raf…"
Ami shifted uncomfortably beside her, pocketing her reading glasses and slipping her textbook into her bag. "They're only rumours, Rafu," she said sensibly. "There's no way the school would have allowed something like that to occur."
"Whatever you say," he said, reaching a long arm across the table to steal more chips. "By the way, Ami, I could really do with your help for my chemistry mid-term coming up…"
Usagi stuck her neck out to shield her friend and glared at him. "You're such a sleaze—I know you passed the last test with no problems!"
He scoffed at her, looking genuinely offended. "Ouch, that's cold," he said, and the words felt like a close-held memory that made her stomach twist uncomfortably. She immediately felt guilty.
"It's fine, Usagi—I did actually help him pass his last exam, and he did great," Ami said with a smile. She looked over at Rafu. "Let me know what you need help with and we'll organise a time to meet at the library."
"Thanks, Ami," he said, and then glared playfully at Usagi. "At least some people are nice…"
She huffed in reply. "Sorry…"
"No," he said dramatically, standing up and slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Now I'm just going to have to go home and cry myself to sleep, I'm so hurt."
The thought of the six-foot, broad-shouldered teen snivelling into his pillow made Usagi snigger. "And let me guess," she said with a smirk, "you'll need someone to come and make it all better."
He grinned devilishly. "Of course."
"Shit," Rei suddenly swore under her breath, gathering up her things from the seat beside her. "We've got to go—we're going to be late for train—to meet someone."
"You're right," Minako said as she checked her watch. "Oh, she's going to kill us…"
The group launched into action, filing out of the booth and leaving Usagi sitting there by herself. She frowned at the handful of French fries still sitting in their basket and downed the last of her drink. "Hey, wait for me!" She called as her friends hurried out the door. "Or not…"
She moved to rush after them when a hand grasped her wrist, and she looked up to an unusually serious expression written on Rafu's face. "Usagi," he said, "are you really okay?"
She pulled a face at him, confused by his strange behaviour. "Yes…why?"
"Well, there was another rumour going around," he said, releasing her wrist and looking at her closely. "Some people were saying that they saw you being carried off by some guy, and that you didn't exactly look too great."
Haruka, she thought. She must have carried me after I passed out. "Oh, Raf," she said, reaching up to pat his shoulder. "I wasn't even nearby—what a silly rumour!"
Something crossed his dark features as he looked at her, but he let it go all the same. "Alright," he said. "So long as you're sure—I am here for you, if you need it."
"Yeah, I know, I know," she laughed with a wink, "but it'll cost me."
"I'm serious, Usa," he said, and then shrugged awkwardly. "If you need it."
She looked back at him, cocking her head at the sudden change of tone between them. "Okay," she nodded. "Thanks, Raf."
"Usagi, come on!" Rei's voice screeched from the doorway. "Now!"
"Okay, okay, I'm coming, jeez..." She grumbled, racing after her. She waved to Rafu. "See you tomorrow, Raf!"
She caught up to Rei in the street, who looked at her apprehensively. "What was that all about?"
Usagi looked back over her shoulder. "I have absolutely no idea."
They were falling. A slow, caressing free-fall.
From out of the veiled blackness hidden behind the Space-Time Door, they had stumbled into a blinding white world with an altered gravity, and Rini knew that they were falling, even though it felt as though they were floating. She shielded her eyes and glared into the bright light to where she could see the outlines of the three Kinmokian senshi. "Hey!" She called, but it seemed they were in a peaceful sleep. "Hey!"
It was no use—the guardians rested serenely, and she felt panic begin to take a hold of her. Be brave, she willed to herself, be courageous like Seiya said you were.
She looked around for Helios and Chibi, but they were nowhere to be seen. "Helios? Chibi Chibi?"
The eerie tranquillity of the strange place gripped Rini with loneliness, and she wondered if perhaps they were no longer living—perhaps they were in limbo; a transition to a final resting place, rather than home to Earth. She whimpered and felt tears begin to well in her eyes—she wanted to be strong, but those past days were the first she hadn't felt alone in so long. She didn't want to lose that, not when she had so suddenly found it. Not now that they were so close. "Helios…Chibi…"
"Chibi Chibi!"
The little girl's singsong voice giggled and Rini swivelled about, searching for her in the brightness. "Chibi Chibi, where are you?"
Suddenly she was enveloped by a set of arms and curled tightly into a warm embrace. The tears she had been holding back escaped as she looked up at Helios, who was holding Chibi Chibi between them. "Rini," he said with a beautiful smile. "We found you."
Everything about his being glowed—his alabaster skin, his amber eyes, his golden horn. He was alight with power, and it was magnificent. "Helios," she said, burying her face into the soft linen around his neck. She breathed a sigh of relief, and then remembered their slow plummet. "Helios, we're falling—you have to transform into Pegasus, it's the only way we can stop!"
He shook his head, holding her closer. "I tried and I cannot," he said. "I'm sorry, Rini."
She breathed shakily and gave him a smile. "It's okay," she said softly, and then reached across to cup Chibi's plump cheek. Please don't let this be the end.
Within seconds, their floating descent broke as though their strings had been cut, and they went careening toward an invisible ground. Helios wrapped them in his arms, and she curled herself inward, holding on to Chibi and the memory of them both in her grasp. The air whooshed past them and she squeezed her eyes closed, reaching for the brooch that had been tucked away in her blouse and clutching so tightly that she could feel its heart-shaped crystal cut into her palm. "Take me to Usagi," she whispered. From behind her closed eyes, a rich, garnet light burst forth and enveloped them, warm and brilliant and hopeful. "Take me to my mother."
Usagi hit the grass as she dove beneath Makoto's swooping kick, stabilising herself on her haunches and calculating her next move. "Good work, Usa!" Makoto said proudly, drawing her fists up to her face. "You're doing a great job today!"
"Thanks," she said with a grin, jumping up and moving lightly on the balls of her feet. She may have had the day off, but she hadn't really needed it—in fact, ever since she had woken after their last battle, she felt as though she had plenty of caged energy, ready and waiting to explode from her body. She hopped sideward around her taller friend. "Come on, let's go!"
"Easy, kitten," she heard Haruka chuckle from the sidelines. She could feel her teal eyes watching her intently. "We don't want you expending that pent up energy all at once."
She ducked under another jab of Makoto's fist and responded with one of her own, which only narrowly missed her ribcage. "But I feel great!" She called over her shoulder. "I could go all day!"
"That's what worries me," Haruka muttered in reply.
The inner scouts—after receiving a stern talking-to from Haruka for their lateness—had been split into pairs on the open field for a rotating round of hand-to-hand combat, with Hotaru stepping in as a sixth participant. Usually the fast-paced activity, pressure of battling her gifted friends, and the critical eye of the outer soldiers would have sent Usagi into a tailspin, but she remained focused and held her ground through each opponent. If I can't become Sailor Moon, she thought, then I will be strongest form of Usagi I can be.
Makoto's fist swung toward her with a whoosh and she blocked it with her forearm, and suddenly she knew what was coming next: her other hand would punch low, aiming for her ribs, giving Usagi the chance to grasp it and cease the fight.
She was right.
The blow skimmed her body as she turned ninety degrees, snatched Makoto's wrist and struck down on her open elbow joint with her free arm. Had she truly been in danger, she would have been able to twist the enemy's arm over and dislocate their elbow joint, without problem. Makoto stumbled back, looking at her with a surprised grin. "Usagi, that was awesome!"
She stood up tall as she panted, smiling broadly. "Haruka, did you see?!" She called, looking over at the tall senshi, who was watching her with an approving look on her face as she leant casually against a nearby tree. "Did you see that?"
"I did," she replied, giving her a nod. She unfolded her arms and pushed away from her spot. "You can all stop now—go grab a drink and we'll meet back in five minutes."
Usagi pouted at her as she approached them, headed toward the temple doors. "That's it?" She complained, still somewhat breathless from her successful efforts. "That's all I get?"
Haruka stopped right alongside her, so close that she could feel her breath on her bare shoulder. "No, that's not all you get," she said lowly, smirking at her, "now you get to fight me."
She stalked off and Usagi groaned, certain that would be the end of her winning streak. "Great…"
"Don't worry, Usa," Hotaru said as she jogged over to her. She gave her a warm smile. "Haruka-papa will go easy on you, I'm sure!"
"Yeah I don't know about that, Taru," she mumbled, following the group as they weaved their way inside. "She's going to kick my ass…"
They filed in to the kitchen, where Rei fished out a jug of water and poured them each a cool drink. She took it gratefully and sipped away, narrowing her eyes at Rei as the raven-haired guardian looked at her smugly. "What…?"
Rei leant her hip against the bench top and folded her arms over her chest. "Oh, nothing," she said. "Just wondering whether you were going to update everyone on your little conversation with Rafu at Crown's before."
"What conversation?" Minako asked, eyebrows raised at her.
Makoto growled. "Don't tell me he's giving you more trouble…"
And finally, to top off the conversation, Haruka added: "Who the hell is Rafu?"
Usagi let out a long sigh and slid her behind up onto the counter, earning her a reproving look from Ami. "It was nothing, Rei," she said, glaring at her. "He was just worried about me, after yesterday…he said there were rumours going around that I was carried off after all the commotion, and wanted to check I was okay."
"Rafu?" Makoto checked, looking confused. "Rafu wanted to make sure you were okay?"
"Yeah, it was weird," Usagi shrugged. "He seemed really…genuine."
"Sure he did, Usa," Minako said, rolling her eyes. "He would act genuine if it earned him the opportunity to get in your pants."
Usagi huffed. "Okay, firstly—I have a boyfriend, and secondly, maybe we should stop assuming that he's like that, it's not very fair—"
"I'm going to ask again," Haruka interrupted, her expression intimidating, "who is Rafu?"
"A guy from school," Makoto told her, refilling her cup and smirking at Usagi. "With an enormous crush on Usagi."
"Oh, God, he does not have a crush on me—"
"I'll put an end to his enormous crush…" Haruka groused. "Where do I find this boy?"
"I think we may be overlooking something far more important than Rafu's concern for Usagi," Ami commented suddenly. "We were extremely careful in masking our identities in the aftermath of the attack—how is it that there are now reports of Usagi being seen injured and carried away?"
Usagi chewed her lip, mulling it over. "Rafu also said that some people saw a man on the softball pitch—that it was him who hurt that girl," she said. "Normally we have no problem covering our tracks—most people seem to just forget what happened, but this time something was different…"
"This time something was different," Michiru chimed in, arriving through the doorway with her handbag over her shoulder. "This time we didn't have the power of Sailor Moon, and our enemy was considerably stronger."
Haruka nodded. "That's right," she agreed. "Maybe the imbalance in power has disabled our ability to shield civilians from the reality of an attack?"
"We don't fully understand how that ability works, but it is a possibility," Ami said, and then looked over at Usagi. "Perhaps we need to take extra precautions, until you're able to transform again."
Usagi shook her head, frustrated. "We can't just wait for another attack," she said. "Isn't there some way we can predict their next move? We can risk losing innocent people."
"We can't save everyone, Usagi," Rei said quietly, her stare trained out the window. She looked back at her, her expression fierce. "And we can't risk losing you—there's too much at stake."
"But that's not our job," Usagi argued. "Our job is to protect this planet—there has to be something we can do."
"By protecting you, we are protecting our planet," Michiru said quietly. "It's too dangerous right now—we can't just chase blindly after the enemy."
Haruka shifted, crossing her arms over her chest. "That's not necessarily true," she said, looking over at Ami. "Ami, are you able to analyse the specific weather conditions that accompany these attacks?"
"I believe I can, yes," Ami replied, fishing her tiny computer from her pocket and flipping it open. "I also may have further information from the scans I performed on the shadowed figures."
"Good, there may be something we can use to find out more about them—we'll go over it together later," Haruka replied. She looked over at her girlfriend. "Usagi is right—we can't just wait around for another attack."
Michiru nodded slowly. "Alright," she said.
"For now," Haruka continued, pushing away from the counter and tossing her cup into the sink, "kitten has something to prove by beating me, I believe."
"Trying to beat you," Usagi corrected as she followed her back outside. "No guarantees."
Haruka placed her hands on her hips as they came to a stop in the middle of the field. "Where's all that confidence gone?" She shook her head. "Focus, Usagi."
Letting out a puff of air, Usagi readied her stance. This was her time—she had to try, and she had to win. She drew her hands up to her face and Haruka grinned, stripping off her denim vest and throwing it aside. Usagi scowled at her. You know that's distracting, don't you, Haruka?
"Let's go," Haruka said, and before she could even process it, she'd darted around her and taken a swing at her, and another, and then another. Usagi dodged her attacks as best she could, but Haruka was too quick—she couldn't get a punch of her own in. Haruka's agile, long limbs swept her around the grounds as she swung and kicked with grace and precision.
Usagi ducked backward and fumbled, cursing the Uranian soldier. "You could at least go a little easy on me, Haruka," she breathed, trying desperately to take a swipe.
Haruka chuckled as she bent her abdomen around Usagi's attempt, swerving behind her. "I don't think so, Usa," she teased, her deep voice at her ear.
Usagi spun around as fast as she could but it wasn't enough—Haruka stole the opportunity to immobilise her, and within seconds she had her in an awkward, loose stranglehold, their faces inches apart. Haruka's was smug. "I'd like to see you get out of this one, my little kitten."
Usagi looked down at Haruka's wiry arms constricting her, the way her t-shirt gaped open to reveal the swell of her chest beneath her sports bra, and felt the tension rise rapidly between them. Michiru's words suddenly came flooding back to her. It's about time you used some of that power you wield.
She licked her lower lip, nerves running rampant, and looked Haruka dead in the eye. "I'm sure that's not the only thing you'd like to see me get out of," she said softly, mustering her best flirtatious smile. "Is it, Ruka?"
Haruka's composure cracked for just a second, her eyes widening and her lips parting, and Usagi knew she had her. In one swift motion, she kicked Haruka's legs out from beneath her and they both went crashing to the dirt. Usagi had her pinned to the grass and was sitting squarely across her lap, staring down at her in surprise. "I did it," she said quietly, and then proceeded to grin madly. She hauled herself up from the ground and spun to look at her friends. "I did it! Did you see, I—"
She couldn't breathe.
There, appearing over the crest of the hill against the fading sun, were two cotton candy pink pigtails and a set of ruby eyes gazing back at her.
"Rini?"
