Author's Notes: Well here ya go two chapters in the same day! Haha I'm trying to make up for the long period of time that I haven't updated. So I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
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(MAKE SURE YOU READ CHAPTER 24! I UPLOADED IT TODAY AS WELL!)
Devastation. The small group stared in disbelief at the once magnificent mansion was burning to the ground, barely anything left. Tears of sorrow began to pour from Minako's eyes as Makato gritted her teeth to try and withhold them.
"This can't be! It's just not possible!" Makato breathed, her voice ragged.
"No!" Minako shouted as she ran towards her home. Her long blonde hair whipping behind her, tossing in the gentle breeze. Kunzite took a step forward to pursue her but felt a restraining hand on his arm. He turned his head sharply to see who had dared made him pause but saw the look in Endymion's eyes and just nodded his head.
Nephrite turned towards the brunette who was trying so hard to keep the tears inside and reached out to cup her face. She smacked his hand away, hurt shining in his eyes.
"Makato.."
"Don't…just…just leave me alone." Came her hoarse reply as she too approached the ashes that was once her home.
Nephrite looked towards Endymion who was staring blankly at the deceased house. His eyes were glazed over and images of Serenity weeping continued you flash before him, nearly tearing his heart in two. He ran a hand through his silken locks and turned towards his generals.
"I want you to perform a perimeter check and then let's start looking for any survivors. Although I doubt there will be considering the stench of those wolves still lingers within the air. Fucking mutts." He cursed.
It took nearly five minutes for Kunzite and Nephrite to return back to their leader's side. "They are no longer here, however, we did locate a trail and it leads to the north. Should we..?" Kunzite asked.
"Later. Right now we need to deal with this." Came the stony reply as the raven haired god stepped toward the rubble. As he grew closer the images of Serenity became more blinding and a few times he had to stop just so he could catch his breath. What was he going to tell Serenity? That they had failed? That they had come too late and everything she knew and loved was destroyed? What was he supposed to do? All these questions kept leaping into his thoughts as he continued to strenuously push huge rocks out of the way.
They had already found several bodies and had respectfully removed them several yards away from the house. Each person found, heart wrenching sobs escaped from Minako as she recognized their faces and the memories they shared. The team worked for nearly an hour removing the rubble and trying to find at least some semblance of life in the destruction. It was then when Makato had pushed aside what used to be a bookcase that she found Motoki.
"Guys! Over here! I've found him!" she shouted, immediately falling to her knees and gently resting his head on her lap. His once blonde curls were covered with dirt and dried blood that it nearly matched Makato's rich brown hair. Tears finally began to seep from her eyes as she saw the man slightly twitch and then open his eyes. Blood covered his entire body and his clothes were practically rags. Evidence of bite marks were visible on his arms and neck which made Makato cry even more.
"Makato?" he coughed, blood slightly spewing forth and dotting his lips.
"Yes…it's me…Minako is here as well…" she whispered, gently pushing strands of hair out of his eyes.
"Ser…Sere…"
"She's fine Motoki…she's back at Endymion's home…"
Motoki nodded, the pain evident in his eyes. "Oh Motoki!" came the shrill voice of Minako who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and was kneeling beside him. She gave him a watery smile, which he attempted to return but with no luck.
"You're going to be fine…we'll get you treated and everything will be better…I promise." She choked, as more tears seemed to emit from her puffy, red eyes.
Motoki chuckled slightly and shook his head. "Always so optimistic…" he gently whispered and then turned his head to look back at Makato.
"Serenity…"
"Shh…you shouldn't be talking. It'll just make you worse."
"Let's face it…I've been bitten...and...and there's nothing you or anyone...else can do for me…besides it's my time to go…"
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK LIKE THAT MOTOKI! DON'T YOU DO IT! YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR! THINK ABOUT US! AND AMI AND REI! AND WHAT ABOUT SERENITY?!" she practically shouted although her words were slightly mangled by her crying and the occasional hiccup.
"Serenity…is a great leader…but…I want you to give her a message for me…"
"STOP IT!" Minako bawled, her hands going to her ears.
Makato looked at her friend, her heart seeming to break then and there. "Motoki…please stop talking like this. You can tell Serenity your message yourself. You're going to be okay!"
Motoki opened his mouth to say something but a series of chest heaving coughs interrupted him. Blood protruding fiercely now and slightly spattering Makato's face. She didn't move an inch, but continued to stare into his eyes.
Neither girls seemed to realize that the three men had silently joined their group standing a bit behind them watching the distressing scene. Kunzite closed his eyes in grief at his love's distress, Nephrite kept inching forward to give Makato some form of stability, and all Endymion could do was stare at this man lying before him in the arms of Serenity's friend and wonder what message he so insistently wanted Makato to give to her.
"Shhh…calm down…what's this message?" Makato managed to choke out, her throat seeming to constrict with every second that passed.
Motoki looked at her with a small smile, "Tell her I'm sorry…"
"But you didn't do anything wrong!" Minako said angrily. "What have you to be sorry for!"
"I failed in protecting our home…everyone's dead…they were all slaughtered in the fight…the…the lycans…they killed everyone! I…I watched them attack our children as if it was some sport to them…they actually laughed!" he murmured angrily, his eyebrows coming together.
"Don't be ridiculous, Motoki! You did everything as best you could! Serenity would be proud of you!" Makato said sharply, not liking the way her friend was talking.
"Just listen…tell her I'm sorry about everything and that I…" he choked.
"That you what?" Minako asked, receiving silence for an answer. "No! Motoki, wake up! Stay with us!"
Motoki's eyes were starting to slowly close welcoming the death he knew was soon to come. "Tell her I…I lo…."
"What is it Motoki?!" both girls seemed to plead, tears running faster down their cheeks. "Wake up!"
"MOTOKI!!! WAKE UP!!!" Minako screamed, slightly shaking his near limp body. "YOU CAN'T DIE!! YOU CAN'T!" she slumped over his body, her figure shaking fiercely from the sobs that were emitting from her body. "Wake up…" came her final plea as she finally saw his eyes close shut and his hand fall lightly into her lap.
Endymion felt like he was in a different world. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as he saw this man that Serenity so admired die before his eyes. Kunzite silently approached his mate and knelt down beside her taking her into his arms.
"We don't even know what he wanted to say!" she coughed, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck, her face buried deep within his shoulder.
Makato gently laid his head back down and slowly stood, her shoulders shaking and hunched forward. Nephrite stepped up beside her and took her hand in his, squeezing ever so gently. She looked up at him, a small smile tugging at the end of her lips. He returned it silently and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her tight against him.
"We should bury them…they all deserve a respectful parting place." Minako finally managed to say, trying to hold back a new flow of tears.
Everyone nodded in agreement and Endymion approached Motoki's lifeless body and gently lifted him from the ground with the help of Nephrite. Together they walked to where the other bodies were laying at the moment and softly set him down on the grass. All five of them set out to digging the graves silently, each thinking differently but all thinking about Serenity.
It seemed hours that they had been digging the burial places but finally everyone had been put to rest and it was now time to put Motoki in his final resting place. Endymion carefully lowered him into the grave and just as he was about to lift himself up he gently whispered something in his ear. "She loved you too…more than anyone…I'll take good care of her…I promise."
He nodded his head and silently lifted himself out of the hole. Together, they all began to pile the dirt on and once finished they all stared at it in near silence. Minako picked a wildflower from the edge of the woods and gently laid it upon the mound.
"We'll miss you…" she whispered as she straightened up. Makato took hold of her friend's hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze. Minako returned the kind gesture and then wiped her eyes.
"I think…I think it's time for us to go home…" she sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.
Endymion nodded his head and turned into the direction of Raven's Spire. The biggest thing on everyone's mind was how to break the news to Serenity.