AN: Here we go.
Never Gone
Chapter Twelve:
Slipped Away
"Pardon me."
Anawin was startled out of his focus by a sweet voice that inspired all sorts of mischief in his heart. He looked up and his breath caught—though he knew that to be scientifically impossible.
And yet the vision of loveliness—a tortuous vixen he would have to expel from his thoughts immediately for she was wrecking havoc on his logic—looked at him with a blush as red as her hair and said with all the elegance of nobility, "Forgive the intrusion, my lord, but I fear I have lost my way. Could you direct me to Lord Nephrite's lecture hall?"
He would later ponder the night away on his next course of action. But, in that moment of weakness, he set aside his experiment, straightened his glass, and said, "Of course. Allow me to escort you, least you misplace your way once more."
Her smile lit the dim laboratory, and Anawin knew he was in danger of being lost forever. "You are most gracious, my lord."
"Please," he said with a regal bow, "I am not a lord. I am Dr. Anawin Hardizen of the King's Scientists."
"A pleasure, doctor." She dipped into a low curtsy. "I am Lady Nekocha of Everbrin."
Straightening, she took his arm, and the fates smiled at their success.
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Naru stood outside Usagi's apartment, trying to muster the courage to enter. She had thought—or, more had hoped—her anger would fuel her, but as she drew near the apartment of her once closest friend, she could not stop the fires of rage from dwindling into uncertainty and fear. She had not spoken to Usagi since that day so long ago; that dreadful night when she had chased Usagi almost to the heart of town to beg her not to fight. But, when she had caught up to the girl she had thought she knew, she saw something that astonished her. Strength. Resolve. And determination. This was not the Tsukino Usagi she had grown up with. The woman standing in front of her was something more; something ancient and powerful and so beyond her comprehension that Naru could not help feeling insignificant before her. It was in that moment that Naru had realized that Usagi was now far beyond her reach.
The next day, she had gracefully bowed out of their friendship and watched from afar as Usagi moved on with her friends—the Senshi—into mystery and fantasy, leaving her in reality. She had been alright. After all, she had Umino. He had been so strong during those times. The bumbling, fumbling fool who chased after her and Usagi's attention during Junior High was replaced by a young man with responsibilities. He worked hard to make her happy; to prove that he could compete with a lost friendship that still made her sad; and that he could do far more to protect her than Sailor Moon—and, he would recall with vehemence and a flush of embarrassment, Tuxedo Umino—ever could. He knew the man he needed to become, and slowly, bit by bit, as High School disappeared into University, he became that man.
But now, that man was being swallowed up by the same cloud that took away her best friend. She did not know how, she did not know why, but she did know. And she would not stand for it. Not this time.
Gripping her cell phone, she reached up to knock on the door.
"Excuse me."
Naru stopped abruptly, her knuckles barely brushing the wood.
A young man with unruly blond hair stood next to her with an apologetic smile. The apology faded into surprise then astonishment before settling on delight.
For Naru's part, she was caught up in a sudden rush of déjà vu. He was so familiar. She was certain she had seen him somewhere before. This in itself was strange, for, except Usagi and her friends, there were not many blonds in Japan. Thus knowing she had seen him more than once in the country of dark hair was a rare occurrence indeed.
But blond hair was not so rare in the Golden Halls, she reminded herself.
Then she blinked in confusion. Golden Halls? Where had that come from?
And where had she seen him before?
The door opened. "Ryu, what are you—Naru!" Mamoru's rebuking tone melted away in surprise and was quickly replaced with formal invitation. "Good evening. Won't you come in?"
"Hai," Naru answered weakly and quickly walked in.
Over her head, Mamoru hissed, "You should be resting."
Ryu threw his hands up in defense, insisting, "I'm fine." He brushed past Naru into the apartment, asking, "Where is everyone?"
"Not here," Mamoru answered cryptically.
"Why not?" Ryu asked, suddenly concerned.
"I'll tell you in a minute," Mamoru replied. "Usagi!"
"Hai!" Usagi called from the kitchen.
"Naru's here!"
There was a clanking of some pots, followed by the swish of house shoes against the tile. Usagi appeared from around the corner, a bright smile on her face and a dish towel in her hands. "Naru!" she greeted cheerfully. "Welcome! Come in! Would you like some tea?"
"Where's Umino!" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. The apartment fell silent at the sudden declaration. Naru flushed; that had been very rude of her, but she could not help it. The déjà vu man, Mamoru's hospitality, and Usagi greeting her like they were still as close as ever—it was all too familiar! Her nerve was slipping away. She needed to remember why she was here. Her soul mate was disappearing into Usagi's secret world, and she needed to stop it. Thus, in a dire effort to save her cause, she had spoken.
And she could not stop, not until her case was heard. She opened her cell phone and held it up, Umino's text displayed for all to see. "He never stays out without telling me first," she said, her eyes flashing as the anger returned. "But this time, he said one thing. 'Go ask Usagi.' Now why would he tell me that if his disappearance didn't have something to do with Sailor Moon?"
Usagi opened her mouth to speak, but Naru held up her hand, cutting her off. "Yes, I know you're Sailor Moon. I've known since Junior High. I mean, how could I not? You were always running off whenever there was danger and showing up to school tired and…and hurt! And disappearing into your mysterious new life, and I was fine with that! It made you happy! I was scared and worried but proud! And perfectly ok with it! Until you dragged Umino into this!" Her voice grew louder, the hurt of years of wondering—wondering why Usagi had to be the one to fight, why so many people were trying to kill her, why she didn't trust their friendship enough to tell her!—building in her heart. "That's where I draw the line! I refuse to lose him too! So give him back!"
And then, she cried. Hot tears broke from her eyes and streaked down her face. She scrubbed violently at them, more embarrassed than she could ever be, but she had spoken, and the words could not be taken back. She would never take them back. She sniffled back her sobs and squared her shoulders, determined to see this through. Looking Usagi in the eyes, she said, "Please, just tell me where he is."
"He's doing his duty."
Kyouya leaned against the hallway, Minako behind him, her hands up in an 'I give up' manner. "Sorry, Mamoru," she said.
"Does no one listen to me?" Mamoru sighed.
"Of course not," Kyouya said. He turned his intense silver eyes onto Naru. He had little patience for nonsense. It was evident in his tone. "Umino is doing is duty," he reiterated as he pushed off the wall. "And if you love him, as you claim, you would let him."
"Duty?" Naru gapped. "What duty?" Turning to Usagi, she pleaded, "He's just a scientist."
"He's more than that," Kyouya said.
"Kyouya," Mamoru cautioned.
"She's here," Kyouya said. "She might as well know."
"Kunzite, please," Usagi intervened. But it wasn't Usagi. Though she looked the same, Naru knew that the person speaking was that ancient mysticism that had replaced her friend. "We will handle this."
The mysticism seemed to be in all of them, for Kyouya stood straighter and bowed—he bowed—his head in acknowledgment and acceptance of the command.
The ancient and powerful Usagi turned to the grieving, confused girl and said, "Let's have some tea." She shared a meaningful look with Mamoru. He understood her intention and his role in it. Taking Naru's hand, Usagi led her into the kitchen, Mamoru following close behind.
Naru sank into a chair, numb and a little cold.
Mamoru lingered in the doorway behind her.
Usagi began to prepare the tea. "Kyouya is right," she said a few minutes later as she placed the pot of hot water on the table. She returned a moment later with two cups. "You do deserve to know what's going on." She poured Naru a cup.
Naru let the tea steep for a moment. It smelled wonderful. A grin tugged at the corner of her lips as she remembered the Usagi of old who could burn water. Now, she was a proficient host. How things had changed. "I don't want to know," she said. "I just want him back."
Usagi sighed heavily. "That is the difficulty," she confessed.
Mamoru quietly came up behind Naru.
"Umino's duty is wrapped very tightly in the details."
"What do you mean?" Naru asked, looking up from the tea cup.
Usagi closed her eyes. She had never wanted this to happen, and yet…She looked up at her old friend. And yet, she somehow knew it was inevitable. "It's better if we show you."
Mamoru placed both his hands over Naru's eyes. Naru gasped in shock as the golden glow of Mamoru's magic washed over her mind.
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The hospital was in full swing. The doctors and nurses rushed about, taking care of patience coming and going, looking after those in residency, and praying for those who may not leave at all. The Intensive Care Unit was especially tense this evening. Dean Yukino was still sitting in the waiting area, desperate for a change—any change—in his son's condition. The doctors were at a loss as to what was wrong. He was not responding to any treatment, and his vitals were steadily declining. If they did not figure it out soon, he would die. But none of them had the heart to tell the Dean.
In the midst of all of this, no one noticed the thin vapor misting through the ventilation. No one thought it strange that an epidemic of fatigue suddenly took the staff. And no one complained as one-by-one the doctors and nurses, patience and visitors dropped into a deep sleep.
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Umino leaned against the balcony railing, breathing deep the chilly evening air.
It was time.
He turned away from the city.
Makoto and Seiya stood in the doorway, watching him.
"Ready?" Seiya asked.
Umino nodded. "Let's go save Lord Tanzanite."
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The apartment was quiet, as if holding its breath in anticipation. Minako cuddled with Kyouya on the couch. Ryu stood in the kitchen doorway, watching. Mamoru and Usagi sat at the table, holding hands and waiting, as Naru processed the new information rushing through her brain.
She cradled her head between her hands and groaned. "Wow," she said, blinking back into reality. "That was…" She shook her head and blinked again. "Wow."
"Are you ok, Naru?" Usagi asked uncertainly.
"I am perfectly fine, Princess," Naru said offhandedly. Then, her eyes widened and she clamped her hands over her mouth, looking at Usagi and Mamoru as if for the first time, the realization of the moment sinking in fully. "You!" she said before covering her mouth again. "You're a princess!"
Usagi smiled and nodded.
"And you're a prince!" Naru said in astonishment. "The Prince of Terra. Of Earth! Ah! My Prince!" She jumped up and bowed. "Your majesty! Um…wait, no…oh, this is so weird!" And then, she laughed.
And Usagi laughed.
They laughed together like they had as children. It was a laughter that brought the promise of healing and the restoration of their friendship.
Usagi led Naru into the living room, where Naru was reintroduced to the men she had once known so well, giving hugs to both and nearly-but-catching-herself-just-in-time-because-it-was-not-proper-now bowing to Minako. Minako laughed, and they hugged. Then, once Naru was settled onto the couch, Usagi began to fill in the gaps, explaining what was going on now and why awakening her memories so was essential to her understanding fully the necessity of having Umino with them. When the once and future monarch was done, she waited for Naru's reaction.
"So, Lord Tanzanite is in trouble?" Naru asked for the sake of clarification.
Usagi nodded. "He has been infected."
"With what?" Naru asked. "Certainly nothing of this era could cause such harm."
"That's just it," Mamoru said. "It's not of this era."
"You don't mean," Naru trailed off, unable to say it just yet. She was still not used to being part of a generation of reborn nobility privy to knowledge unknown to millions. It was both exhilarating and unnerving at the same time.
"Something of the Silver Millennium is causing this," Minako confirmed.
"Do you know what?" Naru asked.
"A Mercurian Bio-Weapon," Kyouya growled. "Developed to attack Terrian magic."
"A bio-weapon," she whispered, her eyes suddenly growing wide. Something was triggered within her newly awakened memories. A moment later, she gasped. "Loki!"
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Loki smirked as he watched the mortals fall. They would not remember sleeping. It would be as if the day passed in a blur. Nothing truly new. They would all return to their homes and continue the mundane routine of their existence, none the wiser to his intervention. That was the beauty of his trickery. It was undetectable.
He waited for the vapor to fade before walking into the ICU, his eyes intent on his target.
Tanzanite lay helpless on the hospital bed. Loki growled when he saw him, the determination of his soul like a grating upon the evil scientist's nerves. Foolish Terrian, he scoffed. You should just accept your fate and die.
Tanzanite grimaced and rolled his head back, fighting even now, calling….calling….calling to the one soul that could hear him.
Loki's anger spiked. "She can't hear you!" he spat in Tanzanite's face, his hot breath puffing like steam. Slowly, he straightened, reigning in his anger with the thought of victory. "She will never hear you. Not after this." He removed a syringe from his pocket. It was filled with a red liquid that hissed even within its confines of metal and glass. Loki savored the moment, the crux of his conquest over his enemy. Looking down at the prone warrior, he gloated, "Now, my Lord Tanzanite, time to die." He raised the syringe over his head.
"Hey!"
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"Loki?" Ryu repeated. In looking around the room, he seemed the only one unfamiliar with that name. He looked to his liege for answers. "Who—"
"Usagi!" Naru cut him off. "Our Junior High Year Book. Do you have it?"
"Hai. In my room."
Naru jumped up and hurried down the hall, Usagi following close behind. They located the it on the bottom of the bookshelf. Naru opened the book onto and hurriedly flipped through its pages, muttering, "Where? Where? Where?"
"Who are you looking for?"
"Loki!" Naru said. "He went to school with us."
"Nani?" Usagi gasped in disbelief. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Naru said. She stopped and stared at the page, haunted by the face staring back at her. "I will never forget his face." The face that leered at her right before killing her. She stood and handed the book to Usagi, pointing, "He was always there."
Usagi's eyes went wide. "No."
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Makoto leapt into motion even as the strange assailant lunging for Tanzanite halted his assault. She burst through the glass door, fist raised, but stumbled to a halt at the face that greeted her. "Ryo?"
AN: Yes. Another cliff hanger. Mwhahahaha! Wrapping it Up. Two, maybe three chapters left. Reviews are love.