A Moon Never Clasped
By: Danni Lynn
Chapter 10: The Hopelessness of the Broken
~+!Lita!+~
Perched upon the edge of the school roof, sat a tall brunette, who stared blankly at the sky. She laid her face against the cold railing, and invited its coolness as a warm breeze of the fading summer swept by. The wind blocked out all sounds, leaving the young teenager alone with her thoughts. Depression flickered in the depths of her irises, as a frown tugged gently at the corners of her mouth.
Suddenly, tears began to roll down her cheeks, as she felt her heart ache in silent agony. She felt her throat constrict in reaction to the pain in her chest. As memories began to flint through her mind, the stinging in her heart grew stronger. Without realizing it, the youth was openly sobbing as she placed both hands in her face to hide her pained expression. "Oh why? Why did you leave me behind?!" The brunette cried out into the open air, wishing to scream to the heavens her sorrow. As her body shook with the force of her crying, she was given no answer by the gods for her pain.
Despite the heat from the sun and the noises of the city below, nothing could invade the female's private world and soothe her, for what she so desperately wanted was not in existence anymore. She fought so hard to evade the reality before her, but time and again, did it hit her that what had been done was the final product.
As the realization began to sink in, a soft voice called from behind, "Lita-san, is that you?" From the sound of her name, the youth froze, not wanting anyone to see the agony etched into her face. "Go away!" Lita hissed as she wrapped her hands around the railing, her grip, knuckle-white. The pounding of approaching footsteps stopped mid-way, not far from where Lita sat. "Lita-san, are you okay?" Came a quiet reply, concern laced in the depth of the response.
"Why are you here?" Lita barked as she glared intently at the sky, angered that she had been caught at her weakness moment. Cursing more so to herself, than to the person that stood behind her. "I come up here to think." The voice drew closer, as the person came and sat next to Lita, only a foot in distance. Lita turned her head away, not wanting the person to see the drying tears on her cheeks. "Who are you?" Lita asked, as she watched a flock of birds fly towards the northern mountains.
"- -, at your service. So tell me, Lita-san, are you up here to think as well?" The person inquired, as it could be made out to be a female's voice. Lita felt her stomach twist as she remembered the entire reason she was crying. "- ~san, what do you think about death?" Lita softly spoke out to the visitor, as the brunette could feel the memories of time long past begin to enter her mind, once more. There came a soft sigh, and the sound of rustling clothes before Lita's answer came. "Death? Well, I guess, its a cycle. Cannot die without living, first. Its a sad thing, indeed."
Lita was struck with the sudden notion that she had, had this conversation somewhere, from a long time ago, but the sensation went away as soon as it had come. Blinking slowly, Lita absorbed the other girl's words, letting it roll around her head before saying her next sentence. " Ya know, this is the three year anniversary of my parents death. They died in a plane crash somewhere in the pacific." There was a long, drawn out silence that left the atmosphere seem cackling with tension, or so Lita thought.
The other girl bounced to her feet and spun Lita around forcefully. "Instead of crying over their death, why not celebrate the memories you shared with them? So you can relish what you guys had together as a family. Hows that sound, Lita-san?" The strange idea took a little bit to sink in, because Lita was too awe-struck by the beauty of the girl before her. Her radiant smile was too intoxicating, drawing Lita to her, like a moth to a flame.
Too busy reveling in the youth's beauty, Lita dumbly nodded her head once and then again when she really thought about the suggestion, liking it more and more as it really settled in. "Yeah, I think I can do that, or at least try. How do I enjoy their life without being sad over their death, -~san?" The brunette asked, not knowing of where to begin. The beauty grinned in reaction. "How about we go grab some ice cream and talk about all the happy things you shared with them? That will be a great first step, Lita-san."
Lita smiled for the first time that day, attracted to the suggestion. "Ya, ice cream sounds good."
Opening her eyes to beige, white walls, Lita lamely stared at the ceiling, already knowing where she was and what had happened. Yet, Lita couldn't understand why upon awakening, tears had crept down her face and her heart had ached. She only vaguely recalled her dream, knowing that it wasn't a sad dream at all, she could still feel the warmth of it battling away all her bitterness and filling her with a sense of ease.
So then, why was she still crying?
Why was there a deep gnawing in the recesses of her soul?
Why did it feel like something was missing?
Not wanting to dwell too long in her own head, Lita drew herself out of her wanderings, only then realizing how much pain her injury was causing her. Grunting with the effort, Lita pulled herself in a sitting position, just beginning to wonder the conditions of the other scouts, if they were faring better than she was. Ready to pull herself out of the hospital bed and find the answers to her questions, she stopped when there came a light chuckle from the far side of the room, where, Lita suspected the door way was.
Turning around to see who it was, Lita could not hide her surprise when she saw Amara leaning against the door. The Outer senshi rarely ever conversed in the well-fare of the Inner senshi. Instantly, Lita knew something serious had happened and her expression darkened. Seeing the reaction her presence brought, Amara sadly smiled before she came and sat in the visitor chair next to the bed. "Glad your awake. How do you feel?" Amara attempted at light conversation but Lita simply shook her head and frowned. "Dead as a door nail. Now can the crap Amara, What's going on?" She deadpanned, ending any exchanging of pleasantries.
Amara sighed and leaned forward in her chair, resting her elbows on her legs with her head cupped in her hands. "Sailor Cosmos, or whatever her name is, kidnapped Ami." Lita blinked, unable to process the information, but as it began to sink in, did a blinding rage envelope the brunette. Throwing off the thin blanket that laid upon her, Lita struggled to her feet, startling Amara. "Lita, what are you doing? Your injured!" The older woman scolded as she the pushed her chair away to stand. Before Lita could bark out a retort, she crumpled in pain, but before she hit the ground, Amara caught her, a furious glint in the older female's eyes.
"Let me go! I can stand! I have to save Ami!" Lita whined as she scrambled to get her footing, Amara only shoved the youth back on to the bed before scowling down at her. "And what can you do, Lita? You can't even stand!" Amara exclaimed, agitation roiling out of her in waves. "But I have to do something!" Lita cried out, her anger giving way. Amara softened and placed her hand on the brunette's shoulder, hoping in someway this would comfort the younger girl. "Your injured, Lita. We'll get Ami back, but right now, you need to rest and heal up. We're going to need you soon." With that being said, Amara took her leave.
Lita laid back down, her mind wondering to Ami, hoping that she wasn't dead or dying. Hoping in some irrational sense, Cosmos took Ami out to go have a cup of coffee and some cookies.
Why would Cosmos kidnap Ami?
Lita simply couldn't understand. Feeling exhausted and fatigued, Lita succumbed to sleep. She could think about that later. She just wanted Ami safe.
~+!Sam Tsukino!+~
The sky blazed an array of azure, orange, and magenta, meshing together in a brilliant display of colors, but the teenage boy that walked solemnly down the street was not at all awed. For his head was hung and his feet dragged against the aged road, his uniform represented the middle school he attends but it was scuffed up in dirt and in some places, blood. His jacket was ripped at the sleeve, and revealing a bare arm full of bruises and lacerations. Not a single mark was upon his face.
Turning towards the entrance of his house, the adolescent trudged forward as if his feet were attached to cinder blocks. He held his backpack by one strap and dragged it uselessly against the ground, it too, was splayed in blood. He was drenched in sweat, it ran off his brow in beads as his chest heaved for oxygen. Today, he had killed someone.
This single thought ran around and around his head, driving him mad; driving him insane. It wasn't his fault. It wasn't his fault. He repeated to himself, hoping in someway, it would unwind what he had done.
When he reached the doorstep of his house, he felt an overwhelming impression that something awaited him inside the confides of his home. Shaking his head, he blew it off as paranoia. Yeah, that's right, only his imagination. With a shaking hand, did he turn the key and open the lock. Slowly pushing the door open, he heard the hinges groan in response, which only fed to his anxiety.
It wasn't his fault.
Wearily, he stepped into the house, forgetting to take his shoes off at the entrance and simply kept walking, heading for the kitchen. For he suddenly remembered he was hungry. Dropping his backpack in the middle of the hallway, he stumbled into the kitchen in a daze. Yet, as he made his way to the refrigerator, he caught sight of an old family photo, taken from his last year of elementary school and he stopped.
Suddenly, he felt propelled to touch the frame, and in doing so, he remembered...everything was so happy back then, he couldn't recall what it was that made them so happy but he just knew that it filled his parents and him full of life. He studied the wide grin of his father, Ken Tsukino, that was the last time he ever saw his dad smile. Not much longer that, did his father succumb to his chronic depression and let alcohol become answer to his problems. With a grimace, the boy recalled the sting of his parents divorce and how his father had completely fallen apart soon after.
Traveling his eyes to his mother's soft smile, did he fondly recollect the days his mother would make dinner for the family and was always there for him in every way possible, but now she wasn't there for him in anyway possible. Sometimes, he forgot his mother even lived there with him. Once they divorced, Ikuko Tsukino, picked up her career where it left off back in her youth and landed the job as the secretary of some fashion bigwig. He never saw her anymore. She probably only ever saw him as a burden.
Then he came face to face, with himself, or at least the younger version of himself in the photo. He hardly recognized the kid in the picture, for the boy, Sam Tsukino, had changed ten fold since the days of when his family began to fall apart. He didn't know what or why it had happened, it just did, as if all the happiness had disappeared.
Two years it has been.
Two years since he had even felt an inkling of happiness.
Two years since he had a real family.
Two, long, years since the light of his life had been taken away in one quick flash.
Now, he was alone. And a murder.
Oh, he killed someone today.
Sam Tsukino was not one to be blamed, since his family fell apart, he became recluse and drew from any social contact. In doing so, was he targeted for isolation by kids his age and became a target for severe bullying that happened day in and day out. He had been hiding his abuse underneath the thick clothing of his uniform, hoping nobody would raise questions and bother his mother. He was already a burden enough for her as it was.
Today, a big group of high school kids had decided to pick on him, and he had finally snapped. While underneath the foot of the ringleader, did he chuck a rock at the other boy's head and hit just enough Sam was released, but Sam didn't stop, he picked up said rock and kept hitting, again and again and again. Then before he realized it...the boy was dead.
Sam blocked his thoughts and tried to focus on his hunger. To feed himself was an easy task, he should be able to do just that. Opening the refrigerator, did he find leftovers of food three nights ago, with not much thought, did he pen the container and start eating the already rotting food. He tasted nothing, feeling as if he was eating cardboard.
Not caring, Sam made his way to the kitchen table and sat down, still eating. His mind moving around like sludge. He was a murder after all.
Then out of nowhere, comes a voluminous, tall, red haired woman that wore gold clothing. The boy didn't even blink in acknowledgment. He just kept eating even when the stranger sat down in the chair in front of him and stared at him smiling. "You don't seem surprised to see me." The woman, Galaxia, commented, watching Sam with amusement. Again, the boy showed no reaction.
Laughing, Galaxia grins even wider and leans back in her chair. "You know boy, I'm going to kill you." She matter-of-factually states, her yellow eyes flashing at him dangerously. Sam shrugged and stopped eating, pushing the half empty container away from him. "Go ahead. I'm a murder, you know. The quicker I die, the easier my mother will live." He blankly replied, before he too, leaned back in his chair and looked at Galaxia.
Galaxia raised an eyebrow in interest, her grin twisting in a malevolent smile. "Oh? Is that so?" She chuckled, observing him as if he was her prey. He nodded his head. "Yep."
It wasn't his fault, but he knew punishment had to served for what he'd done. He was no fool.
He was murder, that had it coming to him.
Roaring with laughter. Galaxia burst from her seat and latched onto Sam's shoulder. "Your going to be so fun to kill in front of you sister. Wait until she hears what you have done!" She gleefully giggled. Sam paused and looked at her, but suddenly, his vision began to fade and he began to feel very heavy. "My...sister?" He mumbled before he fell unconscious and Galaxia took him away to her palace.
Alright, it is 4:00 clock in the morning, when I finished this. I hope you guys like this chapter, I've put a lot of time into it and setting up the stage for the rising climax. Read it and review!
-Danni