Author's Note: How angry are you, really? I know I left you a major cliffhanger, but here is the update. This one is going to be relatively short, I think. At this point I have four chapters planned, though you know these things tend to grow when I let them get away from me.
Reader's Note: The Amanojaku will be making an appearance in this story. This is a sort of divergence as the next enemy appears and the Senshi have to face something they never expected. Themselves.
If you haven't already read the other books in the series, you may want to. There is a lot of information that leads up to this point. The other books are:
1. Sanctuary: A Christmas Story
2. Resolve: A New Year's Story
3. Devotion: A Valentine's Story
4. Reverence: An Easter Story
5. Devotion: A Mother's and Father's Day Story
6. Festivity: An August Vacation Story
Music Selection:
Ruelle - I Get to Love You
REM - It's The End of the World As We Know It
Transformation: A Halloween Story
Holiday Series: Book Seven
Prologue
Can Anybody Hear Me?
***Bane(New Life Knight)'s POV***
It wasn't the easiest task, keeping up with Grandfather Hino. The older man was far more spry than he looked. He could be flirting with a young woman one moment, gardening the next, and only a few minutes later be in the midst of a serious and important ritual. Bane had to take a step back and stare in awe. He had been sent to help the man prepare himself for a vision and Bane wondered how to keep up with the ancient priest.
In the distance, beyond the trees, Bane caught the occasional light in the corner of his eye. Makoto and Nephrite were sparring with Rei and Jadeite. Nephrite firmly believed that Rei would be better able to access her visions if she got out of her head and did some hard physical activity. Since there was little to be done around the neatly kept jinja, Makoto had offered to spar. Bane hoped it worked, but he thought they'd already been given enough information.
Grandfather Hino put down a piece of inscribed wood and before Bane could blink he was hurrying inside to the Great Fire. As quickly as he could, Bane followed after him. "What is it?" he asked, running to keep up.
"I don't know," the old man frowned and reached up to take a battered old bowl from a shelf. He settled the piece on a pillow and covered it over with a blanket. "There," he said after a moment staring at the ancient crockery. "It should be safe enough."
"From what?" Bane asked.
His answer came in the rumbling of the earth under his feet. The shaking continued to grow more violent. Grandfather Hino tugged on his arm and pulled Bane out of the building. A crash came, just as they passed through the door, and Bane shuddered when he noticed the shelf the bowl had been sitting on was nothing more than kindling beneath a piece of the roof.
"Grandfather!" Rei's hoarse shout came from the practice field.
Bane shuddered again. Everything was happening all at once. He tried to remember what Mamoru had told him to do, but panic threatened to overwhelm him. Then he felt a strange pain in his forehead, as though he had been hit hard with something, though nothing was near him. It took a moment for him to recognize that the pain wasn't his own. Even without reforging the bond with Calaveras, he could feel her. She was hurt!
"Calaveras," Bane called out, unsure if she was alright. He closed his eyes and thought of the one he had already begun to love.
***Dimande(White Warrior)'s POV***
The shaking had started while Dimande and Esmeraude were hanging a shelf. At first the shaking wasn't too bad and Dimande was able to steady Esmeraude, who was standing next to him on a long bench they had installed for customers to sit on when they tried on the shoes. "Get down," he said, worried the earthquake would grow worse.
"Here," Calaveras said, reaching up to take the shelf. As Esmeraude turned to hand it to her the bench overturned, knocking Dimande and his soulmate to the ground. Calaveras cried out in obvious pain and Dimande realized the shelf had hit her in the head when they had fallen.
"Callie?" Esmeraude called. There was only a small moan in reply.
Dimande and Esmeraude scurried to the other woman. She was awake, but her eyes were distant and unfocused. "I think this is bad,"
"Calaveras!" Bane's voice echoed in the room. He had appeared from nowhere. Obviously he was feeling her injury, and probably knew better than anyone how bad it was.
The ground under their feet was still shaking, but the building itself seemed to be holding. Still, Dimande knew they needed to get outside and away from the house. As Bane fell to his knees next to Calaveras, Dimande grabbed his arm. "Grab her and get her out," he ordered. Bane nodded and grabbed Calaveras, hurrying for the door.
"Where are the others?" Esmeraude asked. "They should have been in the store room."
Dimande shook his head. "I don't know. You get out and I'll go get them."
"No," Esmeraude answered, her voice firm and her eyes hard. "We go together or not at all."
It took an eternity to decide. Finally, Dimande nodded. "Stay close," he ordered.
"Hai."
Together they made their way to the room on the left side of the main salesfloor. The store room was nearly empty. None of the shelves had been installed yet, only the two desk facing each other. The others weren't in the store room at all. Dimande wondered if they had simply teleported out. Looking down at his communicator, he saw the signals for Petz and Saphir. They were safely outside. So where were Koan and Agate?
***Koan(Fire Warrior)'s POV***
"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" Koan yelled, throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. Agate glared at her, but didn't respond. Agitation wanted to overwhelm her, yet again. He was driving her insane. "Just tell me!"
Agate paced across the room, glaring at her, the walls, the windows, and everything else that came under his eye. He ran both hands through his long hair, which had come loose from it's tail at his neck and was longer by far than Koan had realized. She realized she wanted to fist her hands in his hair and shake him.
"It can't be that bad," Koan cajoled, trying to get some answers as to why he had been acting so strangely all day. Bane had admitted to hearing Agate scream out her name when he'd woken up. There had to be something bothering him. Why wouldn't he just tell her?
"It is," Agate choked out, spinning around to face her. Just as quickly he turned away again. "It was my sister. She was going crazy, killing people." He swallowed and sat heavily on the end of Koan's bed. "She killed you and..." his voice trailed away and he turned his head, not looking at her.
"What is it Agate?" Koan asked, settling onto her knees in front of him. She rested her hands on his jean-clad thighs and stared up into his eyes. He was doing his best not to cry, that much was clear. What had he dreamed? Would losing her hurt him so badly? Did he love her then? What did any of this mean? Her mind wanted to fly to heights she hadn't let it go before. She knew he had not been quite ready for her yet.
"Our son. She killed our unborn son." Agate swallowed audibly, a single tear slipping past his guard.
Moved beyond words, Koan reached up and wiped away the droplet on his cheek, then lifted up and wrapped her arms around his neck. "We won't let that happen," she said softly. "Remember, Usagi says she can heal her completely. She will be reborn, with no memory of her lives, and no one who remembers her."
Agate nodded, but his eyes had traveled to her lips and Koan saw him lick his own. She nearly moaned at the sight. His nearness, overwhelmed by his emotions before, was beginning to affect her more strongly. The woodsy scent he always carried made her want to rub herself against him. She wanted more than anything to be his completely, but she wouldn't push him. Not yet.
"I want children," Agate blurted. "A lot of them."
Blushing now, Koan looked down, then nearly swallowed her tongue when she realized she was staring at his crotch. She closed her eyes and rocked backward and forward, wishing she didn't already know how aroused he was. It would be more difficult than ever not to press for more. She wanted him more than her next breath. But she also knew he was dealing with some heavy emotions regarding his sister. He would also be missing Heliodor very much.
Koan didn't look at him when she finally replied. "I want kids too." She blushed harder, frustrated that her words had come out sounding squeaky and ridiculous.
Agate suddenly reached under her arms and lifted Koan to her feet. She gasped, startled, and looked at him. His eyes didn't have the watery look anymore. They were hot and fierce and trained on her with the intensity of a predator watching prey. A shiver went up Koan's spine and she found herself leaning in toward him.
"I'm going to marry you," Agate said, standing up so suddenly that Koan had to cling to his shoulders to avoid falling. He was pressed right up against her, his hard abdomen against her soft belly. She could feel his need straining in his pants. She nearly reached for it, but felt Agate's fingers lifting her chin and sank into the depths of his red eyes. "I will marry you," he said.
"I know," she croaked.
"Soon," he continued.
"Okay," Koan had to swallow around the lump forming in her throat. She was trapped by his gaze.
"Tomorrow," Agate growled.
"T-to-tomorrow?" Koan asked, confused now. They hadn't even had a date yet. All they had done was yell at each other. And he still hadn't finished telling her about the dream. "Aga-"
She was cut off as Agate's lips crashed into her own. Without thought her legs lifted, wrapping around his waist as her fingers tightened in his long, thick hair. "Agate," she moaned as his lips lifted, moving to her neck where he nipped at her gently. "What are you doing? You need time to heal," she said, pulling back slightly.
"I'm healed," Agate argued. "I need you. Now. I need to be connected, completely. I need to know you're safe."
"But," Koan shook her head, trying to make her brain work again. She would give anything to let go and be with him completely, but she wasn't sure he was ready for the complete commitment.
"But nothing," Agate said, his lips trailing down her neck to her shoulder.
Koan struggled to think. "Wait a second," she urged.
Agate was nearly hyperventilating as he stared at her, his eyes filled with tumultuous emotions she couldn't completely read. "What?" he asked, obviously trying to bring himself back under control. "Did I hurt you?"
"No," Koan panted, trying to regain some semblance of control. "I just don't want you to do this if you aren't ready," she explained. "You still miss Heliodor and the other kids. You haven't dealt with what your sister did to you and the others yet. I don't want you going too fast and then regretting it. Regretting me."
"Is that what you think?" Agate asked, pulling her away to set her back on her feet.
"Yes. No. I don't know." Frustrated, Koan turned to stare up at her soulmate. "I just know I don't want you to change your mind after."
"Koan..." Agate's eyes had darkened and his fists were clenched. "I would give anything to go back and destroy Wiseman all over again," he growled. "You think because of what that creature did you are somehow less? If you are, then so am I!"
Koan stared up at him, struggling not to cry.
"I love you, dummy!" Agate growled, pacing away from her. Then he swung back. "Don't you get it?" he asked, looking more angry than she had ever seen him. "Don't you know that you are everything? Don't you see what we could have? I belong to you."
"But I thought..." Koan shook her head. She wasn't entirely sure what she had thought. Maybe that he was waiting because he wasn't better, any more than she was. She could never completely forgive herself for what she had done. "I'm not..."
"Not what?" Agate asked, pressing up into her space until she was pressed against the wall, staring up into his wild red eyes.
"Good," Koan choked out. "I'm not good."
"Yes you are," Agate argued. "You are good. You are pure. Usagi made you so, and that's what you are."
She felt tears falling as she stared into his defiant face. "Do you really think so?" she asked, not daring to hope. "Do you think I can really be a hero?"
"You already are," Agate said, his big hands coming up to press against her wet cheeks. "You are a hero. The moment you agreed to keep the people of Earth safe, you chose who you are. And that is a hero."
"I'm not good," Koan argued. "Not like Usagi."
Agate snorted. "If everyone was like Usagi, there would be no need for heroes," he countered. "You are you, not her. The world only needs one Usagi. But it also needs a Koan. Someone who isn't perfect, but keeps on trying anyway. Someone who loves with her whole heart and never gives up. Someone who can yell and scream at an idiot who doesn't want to listen," he added, grinning.
Koan sniffled, but a smile peeked out. "You really love me?" she asked.
"Yes. More than I knew was possible to love. More than my own life." Agate pressed a gentle kiss to Koan's forehead. "Now, say you'll marry me."
"I will," Koan agreed, giggling now.
"Tomorrow," he pressed.
"Okay," Koan nodded.
With victory in his eyes, Agate leaned in and took her mouth in a heated kiss that made Koan feel she might explode. Again her trembling hands found their way into his hair and she felt his palms as he ran them over her hips to cup her bottom. He gripped the underside of her thigh and lifted, wrapping Koan's leg up around his hip. Then he rocked into her, pressing his erection into the sensitive crook between her legs.
"Agate," she whimpered in protest when he pulled his mouth away. "More kisses."
He chuckled. "In a minute," he whispered hoarsely. "I think I want to show you just how much I want you."
"That's teasing," she argued, mock-glaring at him. That earned a chuckle and a harder thrust against her pelvis, making her groan with need. Spearing her fingers through his hair, Koan pulled him back to her mouth for a kiss. She wasn't about to let him do everything.
Agate pressed harder against Koan and she could feel the solid wall behind her back, his fingers on her bottom, squeezing gently, and his other hand, still on her cheek. His thumb rubbed gently along the outer edge of Koan's ear, making her moan even as the kiss deepened.
"I want you," Koan murmured, overheated and more ready than she had ever been.
"I want you too," Agate groaned and she felt him press his nose against her neck before he opened his mouth and bit her, not the gentle love bites he had been giving earlier, but an intense bite that made her entire body go taut as the pleasure-pain overwhelmed her sense. The whole world shook as the feelings swamped Koan, threatening to wash her away.
"Koan," the shock and fear in Agate's voice brought Koan back to reality and she realized the world really was shaking. Plaster cracked over their heads and Koan instinctively ducked even as Agate turned with her in his arms, taking the brunt of the falling debris as they rained down over them.
"Agate!" she cried out, afraid.
"I'm alright," he answered as the world became black around them. Koan realized he had teleported with her in his arms. Neither of them were transformed and she prayed they wouldn't find themselves in view of anyone. Before the thought had time to finish she could hear the sound of birdsong. Looking around, Koan sighed in relief. They were in Elysion.
"We have work to do," Koan said as Agate lowered her to the ground. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"Hai. We have to get back to Tokyo. No one knew we'd left. They'll be looking for us and the communicators don't work here."
***Kenji's POV***
In the hour after the earthquake, Kenji found himself double and triple checking to make sure everyone was alright. He breathed a sigh of relief when Mamoru sent a message that Ikuko and Shingo were safe. He cheered aloud when Mamoru sent a second message, telling everyone he had Usagi and Natsume. He nearly wept with relief when Seijoru and Tomatsu checked in to say Akane had been protected by Mother during the earthquake.
One by one everyone checked in, letting him know they were safe. He had a hard time letting go of Ikuko to head to his office, but it had to be done. He hugged her close and made her promise to stay with someone who could protect her, then climbed into the car and turned the ignition. It had been an intense afternoon and it wasn't over. There were people trapped and hurt all over Tokyo and the surrounding area. Rescue workers were out in full force, and the Senshi and other fighters were already pulling people out of the rubble. He had a moment to be thankful his daughter had been able to save so many.
When his cell started to ring, Kenji sighed. The lines had all been overwhelmed and he hadn't been sure he would get a call back. "Moshi," he said, raising his voice over the rushing sound in the background.
"Kenji-san, thank goodness. I wanted to make sure you're on your way. The fire department is here, and they say they can't get access to the basement."
"Why would they need access to the basement?" Kenji asked, confused. "Everyone should be outside by now."
"I don't know. Something about a burst pipe I think. It's leaking through the wall and into other areas where they have utility access."
"I'll be there in about twenty minutes," Kenji said. "The spare key should be in the drawer at the guard station. The one with the red cord on it. Grab it and give it to the firefighters. I want everyone out of the building until they say it's safe."
"Yes Tsukino-san." The phone line disappeared abruptly, without a sound. Throwing his phone back into the console between the seats, Kenji focused on where he was going. There were dozens of other cars driving along the streets, going just as slowly as he was.
Kenji turned on the radio, hoping to hear some good news about rescue efforts.
"... changed to an imminent warning only twenty minutes before the earthquake hit," the reporter was saying. "According to the owner, one of the Senshi gave the warning, though he claims not to even know which one it was that brought the information. And now we're hearing from Aoto of the Saturday news hour, who was in a stairwell when the quakes hit and was among those rescued by the Senshi and their friends. Aoto, can you hear me?"
"I hear you loud and clear," a second man's voice rang out through the speakers in the car. "How are things at that end of the city?"
"Not good," the news anchor said, his voice low. "We had about a dozen buildings collapse near the warehouse district. And where you are?"
"The damage wasn't so bad here. Already there are groups out there setting up aid stations. We do have three places that anyone can go if they are unable to safely return home. The Azabu-Juuban district has a station set up where people can get hot food, clean water, and warm blankets. The schools have been turned into shelters and will stay closed so long as they are needed. A note, please avoid driving anywhere near the Shibuya area as it appears a series of sinkholes have been opening near the road."
Kenji clutched the steering wheel tighter and peered out the windshield toward the sides of the road. Sure enough there were places where the ground had crumpled away, causing things to fall into them. He took a deep breath and began steering the car towards a side road that would get him out of the area. He turned on the blinker, and was just about to turn into an alley when he saw a woman standing outside of a car that was titled drunkenly over the edge of a sinkhole. She was tugging on the door handle. Even with the windows up, Kenji could hear her screaming for her baby, who was obviously trapped in the car.
Without a second thought, Kenji stopped the car and leaped out. He reached the woman in seconds. She was still pounding on the window with one hand, tugging at the door handle with the other. "Move over," Kenji ordered, pushing her to the side so he could open the front door of the car. He found the unlock button and pressed it, sighing in relief when he heard the rolling click sound. "You can open it now," he said, reaching for the back door. He pulled the handle and the woman threw herself into the car, scrabbling at the buckles for a moment before he heard them open.
"I've got you baby," the woman murmured, clutching a toddler with blonde hair to her chest. She turned to Kenji. "Domo Arigato," she murmured. "There are no words to thank you enough."
Shaking his head, Kenji reached out and brushed his hand over the blonde curls. "I have children too," was all he said. "There are more of these sink holes opening up all through the area," he added, warning her of the danger. "We'd better get out of here. I'll give you a ride."
"Arigato," the woman said again.
"There is a car seat in the trunk, but if you'd feel better holding on to her, I don't think anyone would be upset."
"Hai," the woman agreed, climbing into the passenger seat.
"Where do you live?" Kenji asked.
"Back there. My husband is in Africa. How am I supposed to tell him what happened? Our entire building is rubble. We barely made it out in time."
"I don't know," Kenji said, wondering how much damage his own house had taken. Mamoru hadn't said anything, so he assumed it wasn't badly damaged. In fact, their area wasn't nearly as hard-hit as areas near the water, which also had flood damage. He steered through the alley, his eyes aloft as he worried if the buildings would crumple.
They had just pulled out of the alley when the wheel jerked in Kenji's hands and he felt the nose of the car drop what had to be a foot. The toddler let out a scream and the woman holding her wrapped both arms around the girl's head. "We're going to die!" she shrieked.
Kenji had only a second to agree before the car sank again, and then a third time. They were in the center of a sinkhole, trapped in the car. There was no way out.
Current Character List:
Royals:
Tsukino Usagi (Sailor Moon)
Chiba Mamoru (Tuxedo Kamen)
Inner Senshi:
Mizuno Ami (Sailor Mercury
Hino Rei (Sailor Mars)
Kino Makoto (Sailor Jupiter)
Aino Minako (Sailor Venus)
Shitennou:
Sasake Zoicite (South)
Sasake Jadeite (West)
Yoshida Nephrite (East)
Ine Kunzite(North)
Outer Senshi:
Kaiou Michiru (Sailor Neptune)
Ten'ou Haruka (Sailor Uranus)
Meiou Setsuna (Sailor Pluto)
Tomae Hotaru (Sailor Saturn)
Hogosha:
Tsukino Shingo (Blue Moon Knight)
Kazuo Haruki (Sun Knight)
Veronica Hartman - Ronnie (Pegasia Warrior) - NEW FOR THIS STORY
De'Shaun Allen (Metallurgy Knight) - NEW FOR THIS STORY
Kaji Agate (Pure Light Knight)
Paden Maclean (Animalis Knight)
Bane Jameson (New Life Knight)
Children of the Makai:
Natsume (An)
Seijoru (Ail)
Tomatsu (Fiore)
Dark of the Moon Descendants: (for more info on Dark of the Moon, read Silver Tears)
'Prince' Gem Dimande (White Warrior)
Esmeraude (Green Warrior)
Saphir (Blue Warrior)
Rubeus (Red Warrior)
Koan (Fire Warrior)
Berthier (Rain Warrior)
Calaveras (Light Warrior)
Petz (Thunder Warrior)
Children: NOT FEATURED IN THIS STORY
Chiba Usagi - Chibi Usa (Chibi Moon)
Chiba Mamoru - Chibi Mamo (Chibi Kamen)
Chiba Tentomushi (Sailor Ladybug)
Kaneko Takeo (Golden Warrior)
Miyamoto Yuzuki (Far Moon Warrior)
Kazuo Heliodor (Sailor Sunrise)
Ine Minto-Asahi (Morning Light Knight)
Yoshida Mako (Chibi Jupiter)
Helios (Future priest of Elysion)
Tsukino ne' Gem Angharad (Sailor Titan)
Tsukino Zita-Kurai (Sailor Purple Moon)
Guardians/Guides:
Luna - Usagi's Guardian/Guide - Cat from Mau
Artemis - Minako's Guardian/Guide - Cat from Mau
Phobos - Deimos - Rei/Jadeite's Spirit guides
Supporting Characters: (Much more in-depth list in my profile page, which still needs to be updated)
Tsukino Ikuko - Usagi's Mom
Tsukino Kenji -Usagi's Dad
Akane - baby (formerly a teenager) taken in by Ail, An, and Fiore
Grandfather Hino - Runs Hikawah Shrine, Rei's Grandfather
Mizuno Saeko - Ami's Mother, doctor
Osaka Nozomi - Naru's mother
Haruna Sakurada - Usagi's favorite teacher
*Judge Saichirou Kei - Judge and family friend of the Tsukino's
*Officer Takahashi - Male cop; promises to keep secret
*Officer Sato - Female cop; promises to keep secret