On the morning of the fifth day in September, I awoke with a start. My breathing was rugged and unnatural so much so that my husband had awoken too with concern. I assured him I was fine even though a menacing sense clued me to believe that something was or would be a rye soon. After convincing him to go back to sleep, I threw my legs over the edge of the bed and took a moment to breathe as I rubbed my head of its throbbing ache. Not quite relieved of my anxiety, I walked to the bathroom and stared for hours trying to decipher the inexplicable sensation of danger.
For years my third eye had been at rest, never rearing its supernatural power while in the presence of my life away from the duties that had relied heavily on this trait. So, for it to appear so suddenly, I was immediately alert. My hand wanted to reach out to a certain device countless times, but my stubbornness often hindered me, as my mind kept recalling the fact that one call to them would mean the return to a kingdom that I was not yet ready to inhabit. So, in a selfishly motivated decision, I stifled any instinct to contact Crystal Tokyo as well as the appearance of my dormant third eye.
But, in response to my stubbornness, another force decided to be just as unmoving. The flames in our kitchen stove were erratic, blazing wildly in recompense for my refusal to comply. Even the heat seemed to swelter as though deeply disappointed by my actions and willing to inflict punishment on those around me. Unfortunately, much more had to happen in order to get me to finally give in.
I took my only son to the beach that day, feeling that if I ignored my element long enough, it would just leave me be. Time passed as fun continued and I almost felt the disturbance within me disappear completely until a sharp tug ripped at the very pit of my heart. A sleek surfboard crafted with a sharp design of rippling red-orange flames floated mutely onto shore, the body that should have been attached by the ankle not accompanying it in its return. My throat immediately dried; panic shredding my insides as frantic movements cloud my memory to this day. I was devastated and yelling, watching on the wayside helpless as lifeguards scoured the sea for my son.
My anger was flaring, frustration and anxiety swelling, especially when I saw them pull his limp body from the water. My mind veered to the worse, my heart breaking into millions of unperceivable pieces. Everything I was, everything that I had were nothing in comparison to him, and I found myself pleading that he would survive. I even swore to return to Crystal Tokyo if it would mean his life being spared.
At that single promise, precisely after it was made, the water expulsed itself from his lungs, his body heaving itself up in response. I clung to him tighter than I had ever done before, my heart weak at the near loss of my child. We returned home afterwards and my communicator was the first thing I retrieved.
In my first call, I was received by the solemn face of Queen Serenity. I was confused but not for long as a long subdued ability had filled in the blanks. I sank to the ground stunned, my heart quivering in tormenting regret. I then understood exactly why the events at the beach had taken place. It was not to punish me, but to warn me of the consequences of my actions. My son was not lost in the denial of my innate sense to foretell danger with the potential to stop it, no, it was Makoto's son.
Shame cannot begin to describe what I feel when faced with that day, when faced with Makoto. She does not know it but in the deep confines of her mind I'm certain she has contemplated it. I returned to Crystal Tokyo the same day Ami had but without the same call. Serenity wisely decided that it would be best to withhold the decision behind my return as a call from me to Serenity is far different from a call from her to me.
On that day I had only caught a small glimpse of Makoto's pain and it had nearly left me broken and empty. So I can only imagine the full amount of pain that my friend now bares daily.
"Mars," Serenity replied in surprise. "Has your grandfather recovered already?"
The raven-haired beauty so flawless and regal shook her head in disconfirmation.
"He's still very ill," she replied. "But I'm afraid something more…pressing has occurred."
Serenity's head lowered slightly, a frown present though she tried hard not to appear so downtrodden. She had just received startling news from Venus and the arrival of Mars in stern expression was not a comforting sign.
"I know," she sighed, casting her eyes to the floor.
More details were unnecessary as Mars found a consolatory hand reaching to be placed on her Queen's shoulder. Ridden with optimistic hope, Rei quietly attempted to sooth Serenity's nerves.
"I will go," she stated, "And do my best to bring everyone back safely."
A large burden was encompassed in her statement, the difficulty deriding mostly from the question of whether she'd be able to bring back Makoto after a door to her secluded pain had raucously been thrust open. But her stubbornness reigned in immediately, her mind set on bringing her back.
Usagi was aghast while Hotaru solemnly took the information without surprise. Venus was much less put-together than usual, but it could only be expected. Her regretful blue eyes glimmered with guilt, as though she had let them all down by allowing Makoto to give in to her silent desires.
The pilots who had been in a frantic search for their missing friend were also alerted, their burdens intensified by the idea of the enemy having one of the senshi in their flanks. Nonetheless, the pilots' primary concern was with their own, so they departed from the senshi allowing them to remain in their quarters until their mission was complete. Grimly, the groups tried to stay optimistic though each of them knew better than most, that the two subjects of their thoughts were hardly ones to venture "mildly". Meaning, they never did anything without giving it their all.
Minako felt the warm surge of Mars' presence, her mind easing slightly that it was not Serenity. It meant the senshi still had faith in Jupiter to do the right thing. She stood expectantly, watching as Rei entered the room ready to take action.
"We have a vague idea of where we can find her," Minako stated in fatigue, "Hotaru was able to trace Jupiter through her communicator, but we think she might have ditched it before reaching her destination."
Rei nodded.
"That won't be a problem," she said, "I should be able to figure out her coordinates when we get close to her last location."
"I figured," Minako sighed, running a slow hand through her tousled mane. "The four of us should get moving quickly before any more time elapses."
Her three comrades nodded in agreement, momentarily silencing their questions about whether or not Minako should take time to rest. With haste they rushed out, clinging desperately to hope that Makoto was still within reasoning.
The hospital sirens seemed to catch the eyes of each pilot, their curiosity hungry as they tried to find him. However, intercepted radio transmissions were of various descriptions that were far from Trowa, and so their search gruelingly continued on.
Heavy Arms was far off their radar, while clues to where they should look were dismal. Anxiety nestled in the hearts of their chests as they felt the cold truth rushing through their veins. Though they had each tried to persuade themselves that Trowa was okay, they kept feeling an urging that told them otherwise.
Their first hint didn't come until nightfall. A strange glint in the sky blinked ominously, Quatre being the first to notice. He couldn't explain it exactly, but he felt the need to follow it as though it would lead him to where he needed to be. Without hesitation, he made a sharp u-turn, pressing heavily on the gas as he kept his gaze steady on the star.
The others were quick to follow, wordlessly turning around after Quatre's example. That's when they also noticed the light, wondering suspiciously where it could be coming from. Their vehicles pulled to an abandoned old beach front where a crumbling military base now resided.
The nearest city was an hour out, this area clearly desolate as lights were sparse and decayed. They watched curiously as the guiding star seemed to sink behind a jagged cliff, their stalled legs hesitant to follow after it. Wufei had arrived on his bike and bravely rode past them to look. His bike hummed to a low pur, his helmeted head staring monotonously to the side. He dismounted his bike to peer directly below the edge.
The other three knew what he saw. Regaining the valor in their veins, Heero and Quatre hastily rushed down to the beach, spotting Heavy Arms well hidden in a rusted hangar on the way. Quatre's eyes stung with fervor, his body shaky as he saw the brunette's body floating weightlessly in the water. Heero's reaction was much less drastic, but clearly pained as his speed increased and he carelessly threw himself into the water to get his friend as soon as possible.
He pulled the taller man from the water, a car screeching down from the road to pull up in reverse. Duo winced at seeing him, rashly looking away as his hands gripped tightly around the wheel for his knuckles to turn stark white. As soon as he heard both doors shut, he propelled out of the sand, screeching back onto the road and zooming through the streets. Wufei was close behind him, the light of his bike aiding in seeing their direction.
And in that moment they prayed that Trowa would survive, an unseen passenger also hoping the same as his mahogany tresses wisped with the wind.
Silver Ame Tsukino: Thank you kindly for your review. It is always nice to have feedback =)
Alas, this story is coming close to the end and I'm pretty excited about that. The next update will be pretty soon if it doesn't happen today. So, with that said, thank you for reading and of course all comments and suggestions are always welcomed!
4Shame