AN: Happy New Year, everyone.

Never Gone

Chapter Thirteen:

Never Too Late

Ryo did not hesitate. As Makoto watched in horror, shock slowing her movements, he stabbed the syringe into Tanzanite's leg. The red liquid disappeared into his bloodstream.

And Tamaki arched into a silent scream that ripped through every soul that could hear him.

Seiya grabbed his head, stumbling into the wall in shock.

Ami awoke from a turbulent sleep, her heart racing, her body trembling, and white hot tears streaming from her eyes as that tortured scream echoed in her mind.

And across the world, Kyouya cried out in response to his brother's pain.

Ryo grinned. His job was done. He pushed past Makoto.

"Wait!" The brunette chased after him, but a thick mist rose up, blocking her view.

As he disappeared into the mists, Ryo could not help the thrill running through his veins. This was it; his ultimate victory! That damned Terrian would be dead in mere minutes, his bond-brothers soon to follow. The mist would work its magic on Jupiter's mind. She would never remember him. And Ami would finally be his. It was all coming together according to his superior Mercurian planning. His grin widened.

Crack!

An explosion of pain ripped the grin from his face. He tumbled backward in shock. Hot blood spewed from his nostrils as his attacker appeared from the shadows. Ryo's eyes widened in shock and then fear as those familiar eyes, still shielded by thin-rimmed glasses, focused their eternal hatred solely on him. Anawin pulled his fist back and struck again.

Ryo's concentration broken, the mists fell away, no longer under his command.

Anawin's fists flew with a vengeance. Each blow landed with a satisfying crunch as flesh met yielding flesh. Soon, his murderer of old was on the ground, staring up at him, a plea of mercy already upon his lips. Anawin stood over him, fists clenched and raised and dripping with blood as he heaved hot breath through his clenched teeth. "Hello, Loki," he spat.

"Hardizen," Loki gasped by means of a reply. "So, you're back."

Anawin stooped down and lifted the fallen scientist by his lapels and snarled, "With a vengeance."

"Anawin, enough," Nephrite ordered.

"But," Anawin protested, taking his eyes off his enemy for only a moment.

A moment was all Loki needed. He brought his hand up, summoning his magic, ready to counterattack.

Invisible bonds trapped his wrist, pulling it back. Similar chains trapped his other limbs, pinning him to the floor.

Seiya stood with Makoto's help, his eyes narrowed in concentration, his hand raised. "I said enough."

"How?" Ryo spat, struggling against the magic holding him down. "You should be no better off than him!" He jerked his head to Tamaki, lying deathly still on the hospital bed.

Seiya leaned into Makoto's embrace. The warrior of Jupiter tightened her hold on him, both supporting and taking support as she watched the man she had once trusted with the heart of her friend with confusion and betrayal.

Umino stepped over his foe, hissing as he went, "You never understood the powers of the bonds."

Ryo laughed. "Neither do you, you magicless wretch!"

Umino stopped; his spine stiffening at the insult even as pain rippled through his eyes. He nearly turned back had his master not spoken.

"See to Tanzanite," Nephrite said, his voice soft with understanding yet firm with authority.

Umino closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and released the anger. When he opened his eyes, Anawin was ready to work. He hurried to Tanzanite's bedside, CDT already forming to aid him.

"You won't save him," Loki cackled from the floor.

"Be silent," Nephrite said. With a wave of his hand, he bound Loki's tongue. The captive scientist was hoisted into the air, his arms twisting behind his back and his legs locking. He hovered behind as Nephrite and Jupiter joined Anawin in the glassed in room.

"How is he?" Nephrite asked.

Anawin was typing furiously on the crystal keyboard; his brow frowned in concentration; and desperation on his face. "Not good," he said. "Whatever that bastard did made it worse. I…I…" He looked up gravely. "I don't know what this is."

Loki's frame bounced as he chuckled against his gag.

Anawin glared at his nemesis. Memories of days gone by when the Mercurian ambassadors scrutinized Terra's sciences surfaced in his mind. He recalled the hubris of each as they looked down their long noses at his life's work, picking it apart as if it were childish to even think that Terrains could comprehend the mysteries of the universe. The frustration and anger he felt then was fresh in his mind even now as he was faced with the same situation: a battle of Terrian Intelligence against Mercurian Intelligence. But this time, lives were on the line. And he felt just as lost now as he had then.

"Anawin." Anawin blinked out of his memories. The heat of his emotions was evident in his eyes.

Nephrite captured his young ward's gaze. Patient to hold his focus, the great warrior of the west gripped Anawin's shoulder firmly. "Focus," he said. "You can do this."

Anawin lifted his glasses and rubbed a hand over his face. "The poison is of a different blend," he said. "It is of a higher concentration of chemicals. I can figure it out, but it will take time."

"How much time?"

Anawin turned pained eyes onto Tanzanite, the dreamer who had motivated the scientist so many times. When he had sworn it was impossible, Lord Tanzanite would convince him otherwise. He could not fail here. Yet, the truth could not be withheld. Voice seeping through in barely a whisper, he said, "More time than we have."

"We can make time," Nephrite assured.

"How?"

"Mercury," Nephrite said simply.

The truth of the revelation brought a rush of hope to the trio. "Sailor Mercury. Of course!" Anawin leapt into action. "She can anchor his soul to earth while I work. Perfect!" He immediately began searching the draws around the bed and under the machinery for syringes while using his cell phone—still linked to CDT—to scan Tanzanite's body, taking X-Rays, readings, etc…

Jupiter lowered her voice so that only Nephrite could hear. "Where is Ami?"

Nephrite spread his senses, searching for the Mercurian guardian. To his shock, she was not in the hospital.

And Loki was laughing again.

Jupiter spun around, her temper flaring. "What's so funny?"

Loki simply smirked.

Jupiter's eyes widened as the horrible truth sunk deep. Then, her eyes sharpened like daggers as she grabbed him by the collar and hissed, "What did you do to her?"

"Makoto," Nephrite cautioned.

Jupiter turned, her fist still twisted in his shirt, and said, "Ami isn't here. That doesn't make sense. If she remembered like the rest of us, she would be here, but she's not! Meaning only one thing." Glare returning to the grinning traitor, she hissed, "He did something!"

Nephrite covered Jupiter's fist, urging her to relinquish her hold. She submitted to his will. She stepped back, allowing him to take command. This was, after all, a Terrian matter. Nephrite "eyed" Loki over for a long moment before speaking. "I do not suppose you will tell us what you have done."

Loki sneered at him.

Nephrite sighed heavily and shook his head. "Thought as much." He placed his hand over Loki's eyes and, with a burst of power, invaded his mind. His search was swift, made easy through the shock of his captive and driven by necessity. The more he used his magic, the quicker the poison would regain control. Thankfully, the information was easy to attain, and he soon retreated back into his own mind and the safety of his soul-bond.

The new twist of information swirled through his mind. Loki's plan, in full detail, was imprinted in his brain forever. It was sinister, cruel, truly… "Barbaric," he whispered.

"What?" Jupiter asked.

"The bio-weapon is attacking Tanzanite's bond with Sailor Mercury," Nephrite said. Grey eyes—physically dead yet soulfully alive—swayed with dread as he said, "She is forgetting him."

Jupiter's eyes widened slowly. That could not be true. How could it? Could something really do so much damage? Anger shot through her veins. "No!" she snapped. Turning on her heel, she stormed down the corridor.

"Jupiter!" Nephrite called after her. "Where are you going?"

Jupiter turned, her eyes hot with fury. "I'm going to make Ami remember."

THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE! THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE!

Back in Japan, Minako was holding Kunzite, shaken by his sudden and unexpected relapse. Even as he insisted he was alright, that it was just a moment, she refused to let go of him.

Mamoru was pacing the length of the living room, his eyes dark and brooding as he processed all that had been revealed. Ami's boyfriend, a man they had trusted, was the cause of all of this. He had destroyed the Terrian defenses in the past and was now assassinating the Shittenou one by one. And Ami was not answering her phone.

He stopped by the open window. The night was clear; he could see the moon shining. It was almost full. One more week. He narrowed his eyes. He would make sure his men saw the full moon. Turning sharply, his countenance changed. Endymion captured the attention of the room with one commanding gaze. "We are leaving."

"My lord?" Jadeite asked.

"Kunzite," Endymion addressed his shield barrier. "Can you teleport us?"

Kunzite nodded and stood. He could feel Minako's worried eyes following him. He took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly before walking to the center of the room to begin his spell. They would need room for this.

"Jadeite."

"Yes sir?" Jadeite was eager for his orders, ready to prove himself.

"Go back to the Temple."

His face fell.

"That's an order," Endymion said

Jadeite's disappointment was palatable.

"Endymion." It was Serenity. She walked up to him and took his hand. "Where are you going?"

"To England," Endymion said. "I am going to put a stop to this."

"But Anawin said," Serenity began.

"We know who we are fighting now," Endymion said. "There is no reason for me not to intervene now. And I refuse to sit by and wait for my men to die." He looked up at Kunzite, his words holding a regret that ran deeper then the present situation. "Not this time."

Serenity nodded in understanding. Squeezing his hand, she said, "I'm coming with you."

Endymion looked to protest but thought better of it. He simply nodded and smiled, squeezing her hand in return.

"Nani?" Jadeite exclaimed.

"If Serenity is going, so am I," Venus said firmly. She joined the group in the middle of the room. Kunzite cocked an eyebrow at her. "I have to protect her," Venus said by way of an explanation; they both knew that was not entirely true. But Kunzite would not argue with her.

"Unbelievable," Jadeite grumbled and crossed his arms in indignation.

"Ano." Naru stood on the outskirts of the group, feeling a little out of place. Even with her memories, she knew she was not fully one of them. They were powerful warriors with great magic. She was simply a lesser noble who loved their loyal servant. Still, she could not imagine being left behind, not when her beloved was fighting so hard. "May I come to?" she asked timidly. "I wish to help Anawin, if I can."

Endymion yielded the decision to Kunzite. "I see no harm," the silver General said.

Endymion nodded, and Naru, the Lady Nekocha, hurried to join the group.

"Ok, that's just not fair," Jadeite said firmly.

"Oh, stop whining, little brother," Endymion teased.

"I am not the little brother!" Jadeite protested heatedly.

Endymion laughed to himself. Even in the most dire of circumstances, his brothers would lighten his heart. How he had missed this. "Indeed, you are not," he said as the shadows began to swirl around their feet. Kunzite's spell was nearly complete, reminding him of what they were about to face. "It is our little brother that we are going to save."

"Then why must I remain?" the blond warrior asked.

Endymion's eyes softened. "I just got you back. I will not risk you being so far from the Sacred Flame so soon. Return to the Temple, rest, and," He paused, a new concern rising in his mind. "Prepare Kuzon."

Those words hung heavily between them. Jadeite nodded and said no more. He would follow orders.

The shadows churned beneath them. It was time. Endymion braced himself, his fingers laced with his wife's and his eyes on his brother. Kunzite's eyes were closed in concentration. The use of his magic still pained him, Endymion could see it, but he would not relent. That was his High General; steel. He would never relent. Kunzite raised his arms. The floor disappeared into a vortex of shadows that surged up to consume them. And they were gone.

THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE! THIS IS A BREAK IN THE SCENE!

Ami's head hurt. Her body was shaking. Her mind spun. And her ears rang with the echoes of…oh….such a horrible cry. As if someone had just lost everything and was now dying alone and forgotten. A cold sweat broke over her body at the thought as her heart whispered, That is exactly what is happening. And it is your fault.

Ami sat up. It was dark and quiet. Haruhi had left early for a weekend trip to Dover with some of the other English majors, leaving Ami alone in their cold dorm room, alone with her thoughts; thoughts that tormented her with faces half-remembered and words half-whispered. Every time she tried to capture the truth, the images slipped away, being replaced by a hallow pain and the echo of something lost.

She needed a mirror.

She needed to sleep. But she knew that would be impossible. She looked at the clock and sighed. It was not late enough to give up. Lying back on her pillow, she pulled her covers up to her neck and sighed heavily. It was going to be a long night.

She closed her eyes.

White walls trapped her, suffocated her, pulled her down into darkness where the only sound was the steady rhythm of beep, beep, beep ticking away her life.

Distant figures hovered above her. A green light desperately reached out for her, calling…calling…calling… "—zanite!"

Hot red mist blocked the light.

And she fell.

"ATHENA!"

Ami shot open her eyes, her breath heavy with fear. She sat up again, the trembling worse now as her heart pumped adrenaline-fueled blood through her veins. Her head throbbed with each beat.

She needed to find a mirror.

No! she protested. It's just a dream. Just a dream!

Green eyes filled with laughter blurred and faded in her mind's eye.

He was trapped in the mirror. There was fire and death all around him. Their hands ached to meet; separated forever by a barrier of glass.

The fires morphed into white walls; his bloodied uniform into school clothes; yet, his eyes still pleaded. "Don't you recognize me at all?"

A sword drove into his back.

"Ami…"

"Ami!"

Ami jolted up.

Standing over her was Sailor Jupiter.

AN: If all goes according to plan, I will finish this today.