A Second Chance
By: Ryu Niiyama
Chapter 10
Disclaimer: Still working on that lottery angle…so until I buy the rights out from under Naoko Takeuchi she and all of her partners still own the Sailor Moon franchise…and as always, Pluto is a planet damnit!
Soundtrack of the moment…Dream Within by Lara Fabian in addition to various tracks from Utada Hikaru …including Flavor of Life. Which by the way has to be the most depressing love song ever written. So this may come out more with angst than I'd originally planned…
One more thing… Diana's last name is the Greek word for archer, I figured given that all of the Mau have Latinized Greek names having to do with the lunar huntress then their last names shouldn't be Japanese and I would think that Luna took on Artemis' last name...eventually. Given who both Diana and Artemis are named after I figured the last name was apt.
Slight language warning…
On with the madness!
Usagi paused for a moment, her crystalline eyes drifting to the name placard beneath the room number. Minako had mentioned before they parted just who was occupying the hospital room, but seeing the name in bold ink struck the blonde like a hammer to the chest.
Kou, Seiya
Taking a deep breath to steel herself, Usagi reached out to grasp the doorknob and turned it quietly entering the room and shutting the door behind her. Crystalline blue eyes blinked rapidly to adjust to the muted lighting of the hospital room she drifted slowly towards the solitary bed occupying the room. Usagi gasped as her eyes alighted upon the slumbering form of Seiya Kou. His right arm was in a cast and his lightly bronzed skin was ruddy with fading bruises. His beautiful, pained features twitched in phantom terror, his mind likely trapped in a nightmare. Usagi reached out a hesitant hand to brush his bangs from his eyes; when her cool fingers brushed across his fevered brow a gasp was torn from her throat as she felt a powerful force grip her and hold her captive.
"Are you paying attention?"
Delicate fingers brushed dark shaggy bangs from sapphire blue eyes before slender hands readjusted their grip on twin broadswords. "Hmm? Yes, I heard you…" Fighter staggered back as her opponent suddenly appeared before her, belatedly bringing up her swords for a block. Silver hair flashed before her vision as one blade was hammered against her guard, the strength of the attack making her grunt in pain. While the blow didn't break her guard, it did stagger her enough for her opponent to drop low and thrust a kick into her abdomen before sweeping her. Years of training kept the dark haired woman from releasing her grip on her weapons even as the impact to the ground forced the air from her lungs and caused blackness to edge across her vision.
The light faded overhead as she felt the warm weight of her opponent straddling her. Sapphire eyes squinted in a haze of pain as a pristine white feather drifted to the ground near her face. Fighter registered the sound of her opponent's swords clattering to the ground, and she hissed in pain as strong hands snaked out and clasped her wrists, slamming her hands against the ground to disarm her as well. A hand both delicate and deadly moved to her throat, the gentle pinprick of talon like nails against her pulse point forcing her heart to instantly increase its pace. The hand drifted to her clavicle caressing her gently, the bone exposed from her battle robes parting slightly from the force of her impact. Fighter shook her head slightly forcing her vision to clear even as she locked eyes with her opponent, the blue orbs as clear as a summer day's sky.
Fighter's breath hitched as her opponent shifted her weight, leaning forward to nuzzle her face against Fighter's neck, a purring growl emanating from her throat even as she moved the hand still pining Fighter upwards, lacing their fingers. "I will fight it Shiva… I swear this to you." Shiva turned away and fought back a flinch as she felt the warm body embracing her tense slightly. The hand that was grazing her clavicle moved to her chin, grasping it gently but without yielding to Shiva's attempts to resist the soft touch. Differently hued blue eyes met once again and that delicate, strong hand stroked the side of the dark haired woman's face. Silver hair curtained Shiva's vision as her opponent moved forward until their lips were mere centimeters apart. "You are the one I love, Shiva. None other." Shiva moaned as the declaration was punctuated with a kiss that very nearly stole all of her reason, the gentle hand moving to tangle in dark silk. When the need to breathe over came the need for affection they pulled away and Shiva sat up, forcing her lover to shift her weight to her knees. The dark haired woman embraced her beloved, strong fingers digging into her spine coaxing forth a languid moan and forcing white wings to cloak about them. Shiva nuzzled her face into long silver tresses and prayed that the thick length hid the presence of her tears.
"I know Serenity….I know…"
Days later Shiva found herself wandering the corridors of the palace of the moon in search of the Lunar heir. The princess of Fighter pulled up short when she heard the hushed dulcet tones of her beloved determining the echoes to have originated from the nearby gardens. By the time the dark haired woman located the fair haired princess she found herself fervently wishing she hadn't. There in the center of the garden Serenity stood in her customary form, engulfed in the embrace of Endyminion. The Earth prince's face was buried in the crook of Serenity's neck, his arms around her waist and back, even as Serenity's hands tangled in his short dark locks. Bitterness and dark hollow betrayal seeped coldly into Shiva's veins, as she pulled her body quietly into the shadows, before turning and running in the opposite direction. Somehow, the princess of Fighter blindly made her way to her chambers barely able to close the massive oak doors before stumbling to the floor, tortured sobs lurching from her throat. Hours later she sat hunched in the dark corners of her chamber gazing at the Earth as it hung suspended in the sky. Her anger had cooled, leaving only hollow, broken acceptance.
"I know what I must do…"
Usagi blinked, her sense of perception distorted as she returned to herself. The images of the vision sliding into the inky darkness of fading memory where it whispered and clawed at her soul determined to be felt and heard; determined to exist once again. Usagi couldn't understand how she'd been pulled into the vision considering she had not called forth her power, though she was certain that it was a memory of the slumbering man before her. Her mind revisited the specter that had come to her earlier, and she reconciled the dark angel with the raven haired princess Shiva. The implications of that revelation made the blonde woman's soul quake in longing and fear even as confusion threatened to drown her in its intensity.
Forcing her mind to clear Usagi glanced down at the slumbering idol singer. It was strange...Usagi had always seen Seiya as a male, steadfastly refusing to acknowledge his female form beyond Fighter. For if she did, if she allowed herself to see beyond the cocky, blunt idol singer she would be forced to acknowledge the vibrant woman that lived behind that mask. The vibrant woman that had fallen in love with her. Acknowledging that vibrant woman would mean that in time she would have to ask herself why did she ever let Seiya Kou get so close...why did this person who should have annoyed her as a man and repulsed her as a woman occupy a place in her heart? Usagi wasn't willing to call it love, problems with Mamoru notwithstanding, but it was something... perhaps something deeper than it had a right to be.
"Another time, another place..." Even as the speculative whisper left her lips Usagi remembered the vision of Shiva, draped in silken robes as she strode towards the overloading Lunar heir. Usagi's fingers ghosted over lips that tingled in memory of the raven haired woman's kiss. Gritting her teeth, the blonde forced that memory into the darkness where it belonged. Instead she turned kind blue eyes to Seiya's slumbering form. Hesitantly Usagi leaned down and allowed her lips to buss the starlight's cheek. "Sleep well Seiya. I'll get to the bottom of this...I promise you that." Nodding to herself in conformation of the quiet promise, the daughter of Serenity moved to the door. Casting one final glance toward the room's occupant, Usagi slipped into the hall and carefully, quietly left the hospital.
Had she stayed only a moment longer she would have heard the a sleepy murmur waft from the idol singer's prone form.
"...Usagi..."
The wind howled and sighed as it engulfed Diana's form. The Mau had offered to excuse herself from her lady's presence knowing that even if Lady Usagi would not admit it, she wished to be alone with the senshi of Saturn. The ashen haired woman threw her athletic form into a graceful somersault, landing upon the roof of a building and skidding to a halt. Striding softly to the edge of the building, Diana sat down and allowed her legs to dangle off the edge. Her tail twitched as she uncoiled it from her waist and the young Mau waggled the appendage a little to loosen any kinks. Letting out an exaggerated sigh, Diana cast her amber eyes to the streets below watching the ancient city that would one day become the seat of power of the Sol system. She was in the middle of mentally listing off the various landmarks of Old Tokyo and their relative importance to the future when she noticed a violet haired woman locking up a shop down below. She had seen many people come and go since she made her perch upon this building but there was something about the woman that drew Diana'a attention. Something familiar. Narrowing her amber eyes, she attempted to determine the woman's identity when the appearance of a man in black startled them both.
The darkly garbed man pushed the woman against the door she had just locked, a switchblade appearing in his hand. "Open the door nice and slow, bitch." A loud growl rumbled from Diana's chest as she realized the woman was being robbed. Standing up swiftly and quietly, she leapt to the building across from her and shifted her body back into the shadows. Diana could smell the fear of the woman as she tried to force her trembling hands to open the lock and the thug's mounting agitation. Diana dropped down the fire escape, keeping her body shrouded in darkness as she assessed her prey. "Open it bitch, hurry!"
"Don't you know to never call a lady that?"
The thug turned nervously, blade angled towards the darkness as his beady eyes shifted around nervously. Before the thug could move, Diana impacted him heavily, her feet thudding into his chest. The woman screamed as the thug fell backwards, and Diana tucked her body into a roll bleeding off momentum. The gray haired woman uncoiled her body from its roll skidding to a stop crouched on all fours like a large feline. The thug had begun to pick himself up off the ground and Diana launched herself at him, using her limbs as a springboard to bridge the gap and then running forward to connect to his jaw with a punishing right hook. She buried her left fist deep into his solar plexus and grabbed him by his shirt and threw him against the nearby wall.
The thug slid down with a painful groan and Diana moved forward to apprehend him. She let out a hiss of pain and shock as the thug pulled another knife and slashed at her hand, and then quickly delivered a booted foot to her right shoulder. Diana was a trained warrior and the majority of her weight consisted of muscle so the blow wasn't enough to stagger her, but it did move her back enough that the thug scrambled to his feet and ran. Diana clenched her teeth, an angry growl rumbling deep in her chest as she prepared to follow. She could smell her own blood and it ignited a feral rage within her, yet before she could move she felt the small hand of the woman she'd helped gripping her shoulder. With a growling sigh she turned around and looked into familiar coffee hued eyes. Her ashen brows furrowed in confusion as she hazarded a cautious sniff of the surrounding air, Chinese food greeting her senses.
"Momoko-san?"
Minutes later Diana found herself seated in a chair within the Momohara family restaurant and she tried not to wince at the feel of the cold antiseptic rinsing her wound. "Sorry about that" Momoko whispered as she tended to her savior's wounded hand, forcing her mind upon the task at hand. If she allowed her mind to drift she would begin to ask questions she knew she had no answers to. 'Like what was the gray thing streaming from her lower back…or what were those noises she made….' Carefully, the lilac haired woman wrapped her savior's hand in a bandage, marveling at the softness that belied the obvious power she wielded. "All done." Momoko moved back and gathered her supplies before returning them to the nearby first aid cabinet.
"Thank you…" Diana mumbled softly, her large frame hunched over meekly in the chair. Despite her size and strength, the young Mau was naturally shy and introverted, not prone to speaking to many outside of royal assembly. Moreover the young Mau wanted to do damage control, she'd spoken to Momoko without thinking, forgetting that the other woman had no idea Diana had met her as a kitten. Unlike her charge, Diana wanted to limit as many temporal incursions as possible, while Chibi-usa tended to rampage through the time line leaving luck and Pluto to fix the rest. "So we've met before apparently…you'll have to forgive me for seeming a little skeptical after you saved me an all but…who are you?" Diana frowned softly, still not meeting Momoko's eyes as she attempted to come up with a suitable answer.
"Well, you have met me…I mean I've heard about you from a mutual friend…that you've met…" The ashen haired Mau tried not to fidget under the weight of Momoko's stare as she knew her tail would start to twitch. Another thing she positively loathed was lack of control, it made her uncertain and increased her chance for making mistakes. "I mean you remember Usagi Chiba right?" Diana hazarded a glance towards the other woman whose face had now lit up in surprise. "Chibi-Usa-chan?" Diana nodded at the lilac haired woman's question. "Yes, my name is Diana Toxotes…"
"Diana? She has a cat named Diana…adorable little thing." Momoko jumped in, puzzling over the blush that instantly flared upon the ashen haired woman's face.
"Uh adorable...? Um I mean yeah, I'm named after her cat…Uh! I mean the cat is named…after…me…heh…" Diana resisted the powerful urge to either slap her own forehead or melt into the floor in mortification. Though she knew it was impossible for Momoko to ignore her inane prater, the Mau hoped at least the other woman would spare her further embarrassment by commenting on it.
Momoko said nothing, intrigued by the complete change from the assertive warrior that saved her life to the almost painfully shy and gentle woman before her. Momoko couldn't shake the feeling that she'd met this ashen haired contradiction but she was sure if she had she would have remembered. 'Diana…Toxotes…' Chocolate hued eyes took in silver grey hair and brightly hued amber eyes, the color unusual and striking, yet for some reason the image of Chibi-Usa's kitten kept pushing itself to the forefront of her mind. Before the young woman could ponder it anymore, Diana's head shot up, an expression of chagrin and surprise contorting her features.
"Oh no! I have to go…I have to meet Small….um Chibi-Usa-sama! I'm sorry Momoko-san!"
"Wait!" Momoko's startled plea fell upon deaf ears as the empty shop bore witness to the sudden departure of her ashen haired savior.
Hotaru kept her dark head bowed, her delicate hands fidgeting in her lap as she listened to the sounds of the heir of Crystal Tokyo dressing in the nearby bathroom. The dark haired woman fought down the blush as her mind briefly flashed upon the feel of the 'young' woman in her arms as they reconciled. Chibi-Usa and Diana had offered little explanation to their sudden arrival; the pink haired woman and her guardian had spent more time trying to avoid Setsuna and her piercing yet coolly assessing gaze. The youngest senshi's stomach knotted into a mass of nerves at the thought of the grey haired Mau; it had surprised Hotaru and she suspected Setsuna as well to see the daughter of Luna and Artemis all grown up, but there could be no denying her identity. The tail had been a dead giveaway. Diana had gone out to "check the perimeter", which Hotaru saw it for the thinly veiled attempt to leave Chibi-Usa to her own devices that it was.
The senshi of Saturn had been so lost in thought that she'd never noticed the bathroom door opening and the future heir of Earth stepping out and striding towards her. It was only when the pink haired woman bent down into Hotaru's personal space, their faces mere centimeters apart and Chibi-usa's arms braced against the bed on either side of the dark haired woman that she showed any awareness. "You always did think too much Hotaru-chan…" Hotaru's eyes snapped up behind her glasses as Chibi-Usa's beautiful face swam rapidly into view and the usually calm and reserved senshi screamed in shock and attempted to backpedal away from the other woman. Mid motion, her limbs became caught in the comforter adorning her bed and Hotaru sprawled backwards; Chibi-Usa's attempts to grasp her friend to quiet her in conjunction to her own shock merely resulted in her falling forward and landing on top of Hotaru.
Usagi Serenity Chiba could literally hear the blood roaring in her veins as it rushed towards her face, lighting her up like a fireworks display. Any attempts to extricate herself from the woman beneath her only further tangled their limbs and bed sheets. Moments later they both stilled their efforts, and Chibi-Usa found herself partially leveraged on one arm while her other hand was wedged between them, their torsos and lower bodies still entwined. The heir of Crystal Tokyo found it nearly impossible to breathe normally as she panted softly and a feeling very much like intoxication stole over her. Hotaru lay beneath her, dark hair fanned out around her like a halo; her lithe form so strong yet softly yielding, pressing intimately against the future heir of Earth. Arousal thrummed hard and unchecked through her system and Chibi-Usa found herself wishing she'd thought more about the consequences of seeing Hotaru in person again. Longing beat at her soul, stealing all reason and for one brief moment all of the reasons and barriers that barred Chibi-Usa from the woman beneath her dissipated.
Hotaru blinked up at her friend, her glasses having been knocked off by their impact. Even with the details blurred slightly by her astigmatism she could easily read the embarrassment that suffused Chibi Usa's features. The lunar heir's face was flushed and she was panting softly, most likely trying to come up with a suitable apology. Chibi-Usa's obvious discomfort made Hotaru strangely sad for some reason, though she couldn't fathom the reason for such a reaction. There was something …comfortable about the press of Chibi-Usa's body against her own, and Hotaru found herself wanting to pull the pink haired woman even tighter to her if it were possible. Confusion beat at her soul, stealing all reason and for one brief moment Hotaru saw her friend not just for the girl she had been but also for the woman she had become. Chibi-Usa blinked rapidly and took a deep shuddering breath before gingerly extracting herself from the tangle of their limbs. Hotaru groped blindly for her glasses, only to pull up short as she realized Chibi-Usa held them out to her from within the grasp of her delicate hands.
"Thank you, Chibi-chan." Hotaru reached out to grasp the frames, the action causing their fingers to brush against each other briefly. Hotaru gasped softly as a jolt of an unidentifiable emotion shot through her, fierce and white hot. She fumbled briefly with her glasses, before settling them back on their perch. The dark haired woman swallowed convulsively, her throat suddenly dry.
Chibi-Usa did not look at the dark haired girl next to her, her entire face now redder than her uniquely hued eyes. She forced her slight panting to abate, and she wrung her hands nervously, willing the burning from the accidental contact with Hotaru to dissipate.
"How is the Pegasus?" Hotaru blinked rapidly, the urge to slap herself across the forehead rising swift and strong within her. She hadn't meant to ask about the dream lord, in fact she had no idea where the words came from, yet she couldn't help wondering how the relationship between the Chibi-Usa and the Pegasus had progressed. Again, that sickening dread rose from the pit of her stomach and aside from a desire to retch, a brief unquenchable burst of anger flared within her before the dark haired woman beat it into nothingness.
Chibi-Usa flinched at the question; she knew Hotaru was merely trying to catch up with her but to the crystal heir it sounded like an accusation… and a condemnation. She knew what was expected of her, and to hear Hotaru silently confirm that expectation nearly brought tears to her eyes. "Elios-sama? I wouldn't know…it's been some time since I've spoken to him as of late. Time passes differently between his realm and ours." Not to mention Elios had been scarce on purpose…perhaps out of respect, fear or revulsion; Chibi-Usa didn't know which nor did she particularly care. She knew that Elios protected the dreams of all mortals and gods, and that he would have been as privy to hers as anyone else's… There had been a sadness and a quiet understanding within the dream lord the last time he had spoken to her. She hadn't understood it at the time, but now she was sure that he knew then what she knows now.
Her dream had not been for him.
Serenity's heir smiled softly at Hotaru, but she could feel that the expression came out crooked. Hotaru noticed too as her eyes darkened in concern and she placed a hand over that of her best friend, squeezing it gently. Usagi sniffed slightly and ducked her head embarrassed, before plump tears began to leak from her lashes and splash against Hotaru's hand. No her dream may not have been for Elios, but it had been for someone equally if not more so unattainable. She chuckled darkly at this. She was the heir of the Silvilthanus, the line of Serenity and keepers of the ginzuishou. She stood to one day inherit the powers of a god made flesh but even with this knowledge and power she was helpless to change the future… Usagi sighed, she felt 900 again… a woman-child conflicted and confused but more than that utterly powerless. She remembered the real fear of wondering if she had truly been the daughter of Serenity as she had not possessed the strength of the ginzuishou until the conclusion of the mess with the dark moon family. Chibi-Usa floundered in her despair barely noticing the dark haired girl moving her free hand palm side up to catch the crystal heir's falling tears.
"Chibi-chan…please don't cry."
Hotaru gently tugged on Chibi-Usa's arm attempting to coax the pink haired woman into her embrace. The heir of Serenity resisted for a moment before succumbing to Hotaru's gentle insistence. The raven haired young woman pulled Chibi-Usa against her body, passing strong arms about the lithe form to hold her close. She rested her cheek upon the cotton candy hued head, grateful that Chibi-Usa had undone the ridiculous rabbit ears she customarily wore. "It's ok Chibi-chan, it's ok…"
Chibi-Usa let out a mixture of a sob and groan as she felt the warmth of Hotaru's body. How long had she craved this moment? How many times had she used her time key to watch over Hotaru as she slept, wishing that she could slip beneath the covers and hold the other woman close as she had when they were children? How long had her heart burned in desire, both for innocent friendship and blissful ecstasy? How had it tormented and comforted her to know that her greatest friend and greatest desire lay within the same source? The same glorious, beautiful, strong yet wholly unattainable woman?
How easy would it be to pull Hotaru close and shut out the rest of the world. To go against destiny itself and claim that which she had long desired? How easy would it be to partake of that sweet mouth and possess the dark haired woman utterly? The pink haired woman trembled and pulled Hotaru closer, her cheeks flushing red with shame. No matter how she wished things could be different this was still her best friend… not a possession or object upon which she could vent her desires. No, even if destiny tore them apart if Hotaru would but call to her willingly just once. If she could know the truth of the other woman's heart for only a moment, she would be satisfied. She wasn't a child anymore…it was time to let go of childish dreams…
A brief knock on the door forced Chibi-Usa from Hotaru's embrace. The pink haired woman was so distracted she never noticed the frown that marred Hotaru's face at her actions. Setsuna opened the door and stepped into the room, her usually sharp ruby eyes somewhat distant. "Hotaru-chan, Small Lady. A senshi meeting has been called; Diana is already in the car…be ready to go in ten minutes." Just as swiftly as she entered, the senshi of time moved from the room, softly shutting the door behind her.
A roar of pure rage echoed in the expansive chambers as a dark taloned fist slammed into the armrest of the ornate jade throne. "No…not yet!" The dark Emperor's voice snarled as he surged from his seat to the nearby antechamber. A wave of his hand conjured the images that merely served to validate what he'd already known. He growled softly his mind lost in thought of how to rectify the situation. How he hated loose ends, and to make matters worse attempting to tie them could cost him a puppet string. Perhaps he could move forward plans in spite of this but he would need information first and foremost.
Closing his eyes, the dark emperor established a mental connection with his first source of information. 'There has been a new development. You may want to stop sulking and come down here.' As soon as the final word left his mind, the air distorted and the one he summoned appeared before him. Cobalt eyes gleaming sharply even under the thick cloak that obscured his features.
"What's wrong?"
The dark emperor turned to his guest and tilted his head in sadistic amusement. "I should be asking you that. You look....agitated. Where have you been? Spying on your prize again?"
Lips thinned into a firm line, and the Emperor had strain to keep himself from cackling in disturbing glee. With jarring abruptness, the dark haired man instantly sobered and waved his hand, conjuring images of the source of his current problem.
"We have guests."
The dark Emperor forced himself not to roll his eyes at the gasp that instantly and quite predictably in his opinion, issued from the cloaked figure's lips. "How...?" The image winked out of existence and the emperor did indulge in an eye roll this time. "How do you think? I thought that you said you'd take care of this. I can't be expected to fulfill my end of the bargain if you can't even handle so simple a task." The Emperor sneered out in obvious disdain.
"I can't be everywhere at once damnit! Why not ask the Guardian to intervene? Besides you have no right to chastise me! You've yet to fulfill your end..." The cloaked man's tirade died listlessly as the emperor burst into hard biting laughter.
"I've captured a Balance have I not? And I'll have the rest soon enough. You called upon me for help because you COULDN'T maintain your precious, perfect future. And I told you to give you what you want I need power, complete power. I need the Balancers for that. As for the Guardian you fool, there is only so far she is willing to... compromise her duty. And lest you forget, she is quite fond of our little problem."
"Then what would you have me do?" The cloaked man huffed out in irritation.
"End it of course."
"What? No! Even if I abide by what you say, we still must use caution, restraint, there must be some compassion or we are no better than those who would seek the destruction of Earth, of Her city for their own gain!"
"Compassion? Had it ever occurred to you that it is your compassion that damns you? The future must be wholly yours, the timeline wholly yours…the heir wholly yours, my King." While his words were sincere, the Emperor's gaze was aloof and assessing...wholly indifferent to the King's plight.
"I can only change so much… and that part of the timeline is integral…to change it now would destroy too much!"
And to do nothing will destroy everything! Don't you see? Unless you make all of destiny yield to you the timeline will change! How many times have you done this? How many times have you attempted to craft the perfect ending only to have it turn into a cacophony of mistakes? Do not let your pride or your love stay your hand… you are weakening and have no more time left for failure! If you do nothing, nothing will change…"
"Perhaps I have done enough…perhaps every thing has righted itself…"
"...Do you truly think so…then look at what is "right"…"
The dark lord called forth the kinzuishou in his right hand and in his left he conjured the form of Sailor moon. The golden crystal did not react to her presence at all. Endyminion turned his eyes to the King. Pained, burdened cobalt held poignant, arrogant cobalt for a moment before the King turned away, bitter tears leaking from his eyes. "You failed. But it need not be this way… there is still time… time to end it."
"I can't… just kill in cold blood…"
"This is vengeance… this is righteousness… this is JUSTICE! If you are not willing to act you might as well reveal yourself to Her. What will you do when Her heart darkens? Hmm? Tell me, what will you do when she turns her back on you for your...replacement? A very successful replacement so far..."
The King flinched at the dark one's words but did not move, sighing softly the Emperor shook his head.
"Then do nothing… watch and wait… and let all that you hold dear slip through your fingers…" His words ringing with certain finality. The Emperor did not note when his guest finally departed from the chamber, his mind already focused upon his plans. A dark smile lit his face as he opened a portal and seized an anchor; piercing howling screams filled the chamber as he did his work, the sounds filling him with perverse ecstasy and glee. When he finished he stroked a loving hand across the massive creature's cheek before the images of the creature's prey appeared in his opposite hand.
" These are your targets; kill anyone else with them save this one. This one is under my protection. Stray from this and your fate will be far worse than that of your brother's….Now go." The creature whimpered at the implied threat, but its cobalt gaze did not waver. The creature nodded, its form shimmering before it vanished entirely. Endyminon turned and strode out the chamber to the Hallowed Core. His hands grazed the ancient runes of the Core in affection and longing as the markings lit verdant, allowing him entrance. In his place at the East the Balancer lay resting, suspended by the power of the Core. "Awaken." Endyminion's voice echoed throughout the chamber, the timbres becoming dual toned for a few moments as his command released the Balancer from his slumber.
Emerald eyes snapped open as Zoisite headed the command of his master and his body floated to the floor. The blonde haired man rose and walked to his master, kneeling at the dark Emperor's feet. The dark garb of the balancer echoed his gray uniform as a shitenno, save the fabric was now onyx and a calf length boat cloak was attached to his shoulder by a clasp of polished zoisite. A polished circlet of jade and brilliant crystal reminiscent of the kinzuishou held his silver blonde curls at bay.
"I have a job for you little one…" The blonde shitenno's head remained bowed as he listened to the plans of his True Master and when his Lord finished, the shitenno of ice departed in a flurry of sakura petals.
After Zoisite had departed the dark emperor moved to the center of the chamber to gaze upon the sealed contents within. Silver blue eyes stared blankly back at him, their visage nearly blocked by the chains that formed the Seal. "Soon…very soon we shall know peace…we shall know vengeance…we shall know love…" Laughing in dark madness the Emperor vanished from the Core in a pulse of verdant light. It was time he did some hunting of his own.
Setsuna looked into the rear view mirror, glancing at the future heir of Crystal Tokyo and her Mau guardian. Small Lady's features were pensive and preoccupied and it looked as if the faint vestiges of a blush colored her cheeks. Diana was casting furtive glances towards her charge, though it seemed she spent most of her time trying to duck Hotaru's assessing gaze. The senshi of time struggled not to arch an eyebrow as she wondered if something had transpired between Small Lady and Hotaru that would have netted Diana such scrutiny. 'I suppose Hotaru-chan is used to having Small Lady to herself… she probably doesn't even know how to share her friend.' The verdant haired woman's attention was drawn back to the road when an odd sensation skittered along her senses. Acting on instinct, the senshi of time slammed on brakes and executed a turn that would have made Haruka proud. At the same moment the car skidded to a stop, a large blast obliterated much of the two lane highway before them.
"Everybody out! Now!"
Setsuna barked out the order and the other young women scurried to obey. All four women sprinted away from the vehicle, just as a piercing roar lit the heavens. The asphalt of the road groaned and shuddered as it gave way to the massive weight of their attacker. Each woman tucked and rolled to avoid being thrown by the aftershock, henshin sticks already sliding into open palms. Fluidly, each senshi leapt to her feet, transformation phrase bursting from her lips with authority and power.
Pluto star power…MAKE UP!
Saturn star power…MAKE UP!
Moon prism power…MAKE UP!
Diana did not call out a transformation phrase but in the space of a heartbeat the ashen hared Mau had transformed as well. Black tiger like stripes appeared upon her cheeks and her clothing changed into a royal blue sleeveless fighting robe, resembling the chunbaqbo of China. The long forgotten crest of Mau was emblazoned upon the front and back in silver, and a heavy belt with a silver buckle fashioned into a roaring tiger's head settled upon her hips. Her canines enlarged while the nails of her hands became sharp claws, silver and blue armored fingerless gauntlets sheathing her hands and forearms.
The four warriors formed up, getting a true look at their attacker. The creature bore a grotesque, muscular body, its towering form of about eight feet. The hulking beast bore only one large eye in the center of its disfigured face, and for a moment Sailor Moon found herself overcome by a sense of familiarity as she gazed into the cobalt depths. With a roar the creature leapt forward, its speed surprising all of the warriors present as they flipped and dodged out of the way.
"Suggestions?" Diana called out to anyone who would listen as she dodged a deadly swipe of the creature's massive fists. "None at present!" Pluto shouted back as she rushed forward and off to the side with the Time Key Staff gripped in front of her, the Garnet orb flaring brilliant crimson. Murmuring an ancient incantation under her breath, the senshi of time placed a temporal dilation field around the creature, forcing it to move at half its current speed.
Or rather that would have been the effect had it worked. Crimson eyes narrowed in unexpected confusion as the field was not only absorbed but the creature itself glowed with the power of Pluto. 'This is far more vexing without Mercury and her computer.' Pluto's mind was already running through numerous scenarios and calculations even as the creature turned towards her. Rather than retaliate for Pluto's failed attack, the creature let out a grunt of displeasure before turning back to the other three warriors. 'What in the name of Kronos…?Why doesn't it attack' Pluto moved to rejoin the others in their frontal assault, but the creature let out a roar and slammed its fist into the tarmac, the shockwave sending the Time senshi flying.
"Lunn above!" Sailor Moon swore as she dodged a chunk of the tarmac. The beast had grown weary of them dodging its physical blows and was now resorting to using the environment as a weapon. The pink haired senshi frowned as she noticed that the beast had been aiming for her in particular. 'Why is it after me so badly? And it only knocked Puu away…but I'd say it's a safe bet that thing is trying to kill the rest of us…' any further contemplation was halted as beast let out a roar and thick growths burst through the tarmac and attempted to grab the three senshi still intent on engaging it. Sailor Moon let out a scream as the mutated foliage wrapped around her in thick fragrant bands drowning out all sight and muffling most sound. 'Roses….these are vines of roses?' Having grown up in Crystal Tokyo among the many gardens of her parents, Sailor Moon could tell the difference in rose genera through smell alone, though the knowledge did not bring her any peace. The pink haired woman struggled as she felt the thick vines constrict a twist about her form, the pressure becoming strong enough to nearly snap bones. The vines covered her face and throat, robbing the crystal heir of precious oxygen, the sickly sweet fragrance of the rose blooms serving as harbingers of death. Darkness began to edge about the vision of ruby eyes and the struggling form began to go limp as oxygen starved lungs were bled of their energy. The sounds of a muffled groan reached Sailor Moon's ears and she surged from her lethargy as she placed the voice.
Sailor Saturn....Hotaru.
Despite her power the dark haired senshi was weaker physically than her peers, and she would die in the embrace of these roses... she would die never knowing that she was loved beyond life itself. She would die and Usagi Chiba would never have the chance to look into those beloved tanzanite eyes again, she would never tell Saturn how she felt. '….no...' Power, the power of a god and the strength of a god's passion surged within the pink haired woman setting her ablaze with indignant rage. '…no, I won't let you... I won't let you take her from me!' Sailor Moon was not even aware of the moment her transformation shattered as she let out a roar with enough power to make the heavens quake in fear while the lunar sigil pulsed with incredible power. This was not the diluted lunar beam of her youth that merely functioned as an unintentional beacon, rather this was pure power; focused and desperately deadly in its intent. The vines were either burned or ripped apart by the surge of energy and Usagi burst free with a roar of passionate fury.
Saturn's wrist burned as she used her Glaive to slice through the thick vines, the task made difficult by the positioning of her arms tight against her sighs. She was grateful that while she was not the most robust of the sailor senshi, she had long ago shed her perpetually sickly, fragile form, making her more resilient against the vines crushing force; though she was certain she was going to bruise terribly later. The senshi of Saturn was making significant progress when something that sounded like a muffled scream forced her to nearly loose her grip on her weapon. 'What the...' "...hell?" The muffled question was bared abruptly to the cold air as the vines were ripped forcibly apart and Saturn found herself staring into unfocused red eyes. Violet eyes flicked over the panting woman's form and Saturn noted with shock that Chibi-Usa, not Sailor Moon stood before her. Saturn forced herself not to do a double take even as she briefly wondered if her eyes finally failed her in her powered form as well.
Chibi-Usa's eyes were bright and wild as her sigil blazoned upon her brow. The Crystal heir's lush lips were parted as she panted harshly, and Hotaru caught the glimpse of what looked like fangs in her mouth. Every muscle was tense and the pink haired woman seemed unaware of the expansive wings that trembled in anticipation upon her back. "Chibi-cha..mpft!" Saturn's exclamation was cut of as she was abruptly pulled into the pink haired woman's strong arms, Chibi-Usa's fingers instantly spearing through raven silk and her nose dropping into the crook of Saturn's neck.
The red haze of fear and anger slowly began to release its grip upon the mind of Usagi Chiba, as she felt Saturn's intoxicating scent wash over her. Groaning softly, the Crystal heir tightened her grip and pressed their bodies lengthwise together, a blanket of warmth surrounding them both. Her mind did not want to focus upon anything other than the raven haired senshi, but she could vaguely hear the sounds of snapping vines. Thinking it was another threat, the pink haired woman lifted her head and bared her teeth.
Saturn also heard the noises and tapped into her senshi strength worm her hands between them and give Chiibi-Usa a push strong enough to break her grip. The moment confused ruby eyes snapped to her face, Saturn saw another batch of vines rip apart albeit in a more sedate fashion.
Diana tumbled to her knees and spit out a vine that she'd chewed through in order to give her enough leverage to use her claws. Snorting in disgust as she shook the remains of the thick rose vines from her hair the Mau glared at the other two women.
"I'm fine, really. Didn't need any help at all...."
The beast knew the moment the two senshi and the cat woman had broken free of their restraints, but it had more pressing matters. The creature lumbered towards the figure slumped against an abandoned car further down the interstate. Sailor Pluto had not lost her transformation, but her body looked liked it had taken quite the beating as the time senshi rested in the dent her impact had made. The creature's hideous features scrunched up in consternation as it realized that it had struck Pluto far harder than it had intended. Whimpering softly, the beast reached out to Pluto's still form hoping that it could do something to help.
"Don't touch her."
The beast flinched back as the stern voice of its master struck it like a physical blow. The dark Emperor strode up to his creation and placed a hand on the creature's shoulder. The beast moaned as its memories were searched, the Master stabbing into its mind like a spear. "Don't worry. I'm glad you didn't kill them. I was rash in that order. They'll do part of my job for me....so good boy." The beast relaxed slightly at the crooning voice of its Master. "However..." The beast howled in pain as its power was forcibly drained, leaving its weak true form. "I told you that this one was under my protection..." The anchor of the beast's form had no time to speak as the Emperor's taloned hand moved swiftly to a now thin neck and snapped it like a twig. "Weak." The Emperor's hand caught fire and the corpse in its clutches burst into flames before it was thrown aside to burn to ash.
The Emperor moved forward and knelt by the fallen Pluto's side reaching out a taloned hand to stroke her cheek tenderly. "Forgive me, though I know I'll have to cause you pain in the end...I never wanted you to suffer beyond what was necessary." The Emperor's form shimmered for a moment before returning to normal. With infinite tenderness the Emperor nuzzled his lips against Pluto's bleeding temple, before lazily snaking out his tongue to lap at the welling blood. Groaning softly the Emperor moved closer, wrapping an arm carefully around Pluto's waist. He closed his eyes at the sensation of holding the unconscious woman and forced his head to clear, knowing that Pluto's companion's would find her soon enough.
Carefully, gently he entered Pluto's mind searching to see if she held the answers he sought. She didn't, but he found something just as useful. "You truly are a Tabula Rasa aren't you? I should have known it wouldn't have been seamless. Yet I will inscribe upon you a beacon...that the Vessel must answer. And then....and then I shall end this farce. A sky blue rose appeared in the Emperor's hand and he pressed it into Pluto's palm. The rose burst into energy instantly and was absorbed into Pluto's body. The unconscious senshi's injuries healed in a matter of seconds and the Emperor moved forward and pressed his lips to Pluto's his eyes briefly fluttering closed. Never breaking the kiss, the dark Emperor vanished in a wave of verdant light.
Sailor Pluto groaned softly as she blinked her crimson eyes open, blearily blinking as the Saturn's bootfalls pounded in her direction.
"Pluto!" Saturn quickly moved to her foster mother's side and helped the taller woman rise to her feet. Leaning into Pluto's shoulder Saturn allowed Hotaru Tomoe's concern to shine through. "Setsuna-mama...are you alright? What happened?" The verdant haired senshi rode out a wave of vertigo before softly squeezing Saturn's shoulder and pushing off. "I'm fine Saturn. Just a little annoyed and a little confused. Where are Small Lady and Diana?" Seeing that her guardian was fine, Pluto's question slowly filtered into Saturn's mind. The raven haired woman let out a gasp and gripped Pluto's shoulders with a strength that forced the senshi of Time to wince.
"Setsuna—mama! Chibi-chan she....she's hurt!"
Makoto looked up from the doorway she was leaning against, her emerald eyes watching her lover carefully. All of the shitenno were understandably agitated; their master was missing and there was no news of Zoisite save Nephrite's daunting prediction. Kunzite looked as if he were on the verge of flying into a desperate rage, his normally calm features flushed and annoyed. Jadeite, always the most impetuous of the quartet, rushed forward, his hands clenching and unclenching in agitation. "We don't have time to waste on a meeting…we should be out looking for them!" Minako turned towards the blonde man, casting stern yet kind eyes towards the youngest shitenno. Jadeite-san, we need Mercury and Pluto to help us analyze the situation. We only know Mamoru-san's last known location and Ami-chan was the last person to see Zoisite-san. We can't rush out without a plan…we'd end up never finding them and perhaps playing right into the hands of our enemy."
"Then where are they?" The blonde man questioned, his words echoing the thoughts of most of those present. A moment later the entrance of Minako's apartment opened and all heads snapped to the small hallway. Ami strode into the room, her eyes a little haggard as she nodded to everyone in the room. "Forgive my tardiness everyone." Luna hopped from her perch near Artemis and moved to the nearby sofa before leaping upon Ami's shoulders. Ami smiled at the action, Luna tended to gravitate to either her or Usagi and the feline's familiar weight eased a little of the tension in her shoulders. Looking around, Ami took note of who was missing and turned to Minako.
Where are the others?"
Luna moved to answer the medical student's question when the front door slammed open and Usagi pounded down the hall, her silken hair wind blown into a tangled mess. "Sorry....every...one...I...missed the last...bus..." Everyone let out a collective sigh as the Lunar heir heaved and wheezed, gulping down precious air. After a moment or two Usagi's panting pattered off into normal breathing and the blonde woman looked around, taking a mental roll call like Ami before her.
"Hey where's Setsuna-san and Hotaru-chan?"
"Behind you princess." Every head moved as one as Setsuna and Hotaru stepped into the room, followed by two other women. One of them hauntingly familiar. The Inner Senshi all tensed as one and even Luna and Artemis' fur stood up on end as they gazed upon the one woman possessing pink hair in a familiar rabbit/odango style. Diana turned to her charge in shock as she noticed Makoto and Minako moving in front of Usagi, henshin sticks appearing in their hands instantly. The others didn't know what was going on but the reaction of the remainder of the Inners put them on high alert and they began to move into stance mimicking the Inners. Gasping Chibi-Usa moved past a bewildered Pluto and Saturn, her hands waving in front of her in warning.
"Hey guys! Whoa, whoa! I don't have a Black Moon symbol on my forehead! It's just me, Us...Chibi-Usa!" The pink haired heir realized belatedly that at her current maturity she looked more like her evil self, Black Lady, and knowing the Inners hadn't seen her clothes when she came in she'd wisely stepped forward before a fight could break out. Though to be honest the pink haired woman was mildly annoyed to see that her aunts and perhaps even her mother thought she'd be duped so easily again. 'I mean really...it's not like they hadn't seen me since then....and for senshi training no less!'
Everyone visibly relaxed except Usagi....who fainted dead away instantly. Chibi-Usa's mouth twisted into a frown of exasperation and she crossed her arms over her breasts with a ladylike snort.
"Well...damn."
Dr. Akane Mizuno gasped as she looked into the sleeping face of Mamoru Chiba…only he was now approximately a ten year old child. Mizuno recognized the boy easily as he had transferred to her care not long after the car accident that robbed him of his parents and much of his memory. Yet what she was seeing was impossible. Mamoru was a grown man, and while she was no longer his primary physician she had seen him exiting the general ward a few months ago for his routine physical. Even as Akane told herself this something about this boy imposed the identity of Mamoru Chiba upon her. 'Perhaps he's a cousin or something…' The rationalization rung hollow in the doctor's thoughts as she easily remembered that Mamoru had no living relatives. Sighing in frustrated confusion Akane reached out and brushed a few errant locks behind the boy's right ear, only to pull up short as her fingers grazed uneven skin signifying scar tissue.
"No…"
Licking suddenly dry lips Akane forced her hand to move, tracing a sickle shaped scar that spread into a jagged starburst from a puncture wound. The doctor's agile mind flashed back to one of the most heart wrenching moments of her career.
"Mizuno. Clean up, you're needed in room two."
The doctor turned at the voice , seamlessly receiving the clipboard from the other doctor. her agile green eyes scanning the medical chart as she shucked her lab coat and moved towards the operating ward. 'My word, concussion, broken clavicle, collapsed lung, shattered scaphoid, capitate and radius, ruptured spleen, snapped femur and a broken foot... and he's ten?! Poor boy...' Yet the doctor did not let her worry show as she shouted orders to her staff and moved to the prepping room. 'I will...I will save you, Mamoru Chiba.' That thought was the only one Dr. Mizuno had possessed as she worked on the boy's broken body.
That had been one of the hardest surgeries of Akane Mizuno's life, yet she had managed to ensure that the boy would recover 85 to 95 percent functionality. While most of Mamoru's scars had healed quite well, wicked puncture wound he'd received when the back windshield of his parents' car blew out had remained a white, uneven reminder of the night he was left alone in the world. "How...how can you have this scar? I stitched this myself...What is going on here?" Dr. Mizuno gripped the railing of the bed as she stared down into the child's slumbering face. The good doctor's questions were halted by a gentle knock at the door.
"Dr. Mizuno? You said you wanted to be notified when your ex-husband's plane touched down? He's on line two ma'am."
Akane turned towards the nurse and forced her face into a professional mask. "Yes, thank you Iwaya-kun. Please... check this patent's vitals and I'd like to be paged when he wakes up. Also locate the phone number for Mamoru Chiba and send it to my cell." The nurse nodded and stepped away from the door as Dr. Mizuno exited. Sighing softly the nurse bent down and picked up the clipboard Akane had dropped.
"How strange, Dr. Mizuno seemed off today... guess she is human after all."
Diana turned her face towards the ceiling and muttered in a voice that did not go entirely unheard. "Is this a trend or something?" Chibi-Usa blushed even as she moved to her mother's side. Pulling the blonde into her lap, the pink haired heir knew that her friend was referring to what had happened the moment she'd noticed Diana had broken free of her prison of vine and foliage. The pink haired woman had noticed that the 'blanket' she'd felt about her and Hotaru were in fact wings; even more startling they were hers. The shock of that and the loss of adrenaline as she'd registered that Hotaru was out of danger caused her to black out and apparently return to normal. It took ten minutes of complaining and a threat to hit the next person that questioned her health to appease Diana and the other senshi before they piled back into the car. Diana had not mentioned her charge's behavior and Hotaru was certain she'd just imagined it. Chibi-Usa herself had tried not to think about it for the moment, hoping that it was not indicative of anything.
"Mama, come on...wake up!" The pink haired woman lightly slapped her mother's cheek before confused blue eyes fluttered open. Sighing in relief, the pink haired rabbit pulled the blonde one to her feet. "Well that's one way to start a meeting huh? Oh hey and you are?" Minako gestured to Diana while she and the rest of the inners moved into a semi circle around the two Usagi and the rest of the group milled around in the general area.
"Oh forgive me Venus-sama. I'm Diana. Though you last saw me as a kitten..." A strangled sound issued from Ami's general direction, and it took everyone present a few moments to realize that the noise had come from Luna, who was still perched upon Ami's shoulders. On a nearby windowsill Artemis was blushing so badly the rose tint was visible through his pale fur. Diana closed her eyes and exhaled slowly through her nose at her parents' reactions. 'So nice to see they haven't worked through this yet...' The Mau thought bitterly.
Laughing sheepishly to break the tension, Usagi hazarded to speak. "Well at least everyone is here. No more surprises right?" The mood was so tense that no one caught the soft thuds of another pair of feet until they'd stopped at the doorway.
"Well you are missing a Shitenno...but I'm here now." Everyone turned to see Zoisite leaning against the door frame, his hair unbound and his trim form dressed in casual clothes. His face was slightly bruised but other than that he appeared fine. Again a noise was issued from Ami's general direction, yet no one wondered who'd uttered the sound. Ami's wide eyes betrayed her surprise.
"Zoisite?!" The shitenno in question arched an eyebrow as both Nephrite and Ami spoke the startled whisper simultaneously. "What? I'm fine! I'm sorry Artemis, I was in a bit of an altercation and was sleeping off some of the pain when you'd summoned us." Ami's eyes widened even further as she stared at her...well for lack of a more accurate definition, boyfriend. 'How...Taiki was in terrible shape! He did that.... to her? With barely any retaliation?'
"Everyone, while I'm certain we all have much to talk about we should get on with the meeting. Gawking at each other won't help matters."
Slowly everyone began to move to disperse among the room and took a seat. Chibi-Usa sat near her mother and Diana sat just to her charge's right and just slightly behind. The grey haired Mau considered reverting to her feline form but she suspected it would only serve to agitate Luna and Artemis even more, so the young woman resigned herself to beating her tail against her knees softy in anxiety.
Clearing his throat, Artemis moved to the center of the room, his sharp blue eyes glancing over everyone present. "I want to thank you all for coming as I know it was a little short notice. I believe at this point it is safe to say a new enemy has arrived. Mamoru-san has gone missing, and to be quite honest if Yuuchirou-kun's injuries are any indication, the prince is most likely either already injured or in danger. Rei-chan is also in the hospital, but we don't know what happened exactly. Jadeite-san, you were there...what attacked her?"
Jadeite scrubbed at his face with shaking hands, his violet eyes bloodshot and weary. "I...I'm not sure Artemis-san. I heard her scream and when I got there...there was some kind of energy or presence."
"Presence?" Kunzite leaned forward, the silver haired man's movements once more regal and precise, his natural calm serving as a counterbalance to Jadeite's agitation. The short haired blonde turned to his leader and nodded before scrunching his face in confusion. "It felt familiar...somehow, but evil and vile. It spoke to me...asked me to join it. I...I rejected it and I was able to get to Rei-san...but, by then she'd … she was..." Jadeite turned away and hunched over, his hands flying to his mouth to muffle his choking sobs. Zoisite was the first to move, and he pulled the younger man to him, moving his hands over Jadeite's shuddering back in soothing circles. Carefully, the youngest shitenno was lead over to his brothers in arms and no one begrudged the Fire Lord his grief.
Usagi looked at the broken Jadeite, wondering if she should come forward with her own insight to Rei's injuries, the image of the heartsick miko's bleeding form stabbing her psyche. Shaking her head minutely to herself, the Lunar heir decided that she did not know enough about their enemy to warrant making Rei's intimate thoughts public. Across the room Haruka stood abruptly, pounding a fist into her palm. "Those damned starlights are back, the last time they showed up, they brought Galaxia to our doorstep! This is probably another one of their problems!"
"Haruka..." Michiru moved forward to calm her beloved, but the sandy blonde woman gently shook off the effort. "No, Michi. You were there! You saw him! We found Fighter unconscious in the shopping district. The prince was with her." Agitate murmurs filled the room at Haruka's declaration and every shitenno's head snapped to the wind rider's direction.
"WHAT! Haruka-san, why didn't you say something sooner!" Nephrite roared even as he mentally questioned the validity of the statement. 'Impossible! I would have known, the stars...I would have felt something!'
"Wait everyone, please! Its true we found Seiya-san grievously wounded but, the prince...the boy that was with fighter was only a child! He looks like the prince but, it can't be him!" Michiru hastened to explain. She'd stared at that boy as he lay sleeping in a sterile hospital bed, begging her mind to give her some other answer than the one her eyes insisted upon presenting.
"A...child...?" Usagi's strained question instantly reminded everyone present that no matter the discord between Usagi and Mamoru they were still talking quite causally about the fate of her future husband. Haruka looked to her feet, her disdain towards the starlights seeping away. The racer felt her wife interlace their fingers and her features smoothed out to a contrite concern. "Forgive me, princess. I'm not sure exactly what I saw on that roof. But I do know that boy resembled the prince far too closely to be natural, and I think that he has something to do with this." Haruka sighed at Usagi's mute nod and allowed Michiru to lead them both back to their seats.
"So whatever we are dealing with, it attacks both mentally and judging by your report on StarFighter's condition, physically as well. With quite devastating results. Artemis, were any civilians injured in the attack in the shopping district?" Luna turned to her partner with her question, her dark eyes set firmly in the professional role of advisor. Artemis tried not to wilt under the stern gaze even as he scrambled to reply. "No, actually. At least nothing that wasn't collateral damage from the actual fight. No energy drainage, no one turned into mindless monsters...nothing."
"So it targeted Seiya-san directly?" Makoto had resumed her perch against the doorway and her leaf green eyes were pensive as she threw out her question, not addressing anyone directly."
"I would assume so. We were attacked by one of the creatures on the way here." Diana, Chibi-Usa, and Hotaru nodded, silently confirming Setsuna's statement. Minako sighed at the revelation. "So what does it or they want? Did it speak to you like it did Jadeite?" Each of the aforementioned women shook their heads in the negative.
"Then, we still do not know this enemy's intention."
The room became somber at Ami's statement, each person becoming lost in contemplation, none willing to admit that without a true lead they could do nothing but wait until the next attack. Furrowing her brow, Chibi-Usa gestured towards herself and her other three traveling companions. "I don't know the master plan, but that thing was trying to kill us tonight. It even withstood Puu's attacks!" Every head save those who'd been present for the last attack swiveled to Setsuna's direction. The somber senshi's face remained as neutral as ever, though internally she was unnerved by the scrutiny. The verdant haired woman hadn't wanted her weakness pointed out so soon, but she supposed there was nothing she could do about it now.
"Small Lady speaks the truth. I...I was quite ineffective." Setsuna hadn't given much thought to her failure in battle during the ride over, but she found the way she was so easily neutralized both mortifying and disturbing. She had no clue what had happened before Saturn found her, though she had been surprised to find no injuries on her person at all. Even the headache she'd been trying to stave off had dissipated.
Unwilling to hear her childhood guardian and friend recriminate herself the Crystal heir shook her head, needing to set the record straight. "Puu, we all were... After that thing knocked you away, the rest of us were nearly strangled to death by killer plants."
"Oh yay, another killer plant. So should we expect a "Alien" to show up in our classes tomorrow?"
"Minako-chan be serious, you know Eiru and En are good now. Besides they left and would have no reason to attack us. Usagi admonished her lieutenant softly. Though she appreciated the attempt to lighten the mood.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Again Makoto's question was directed at the room but it served to point out that they were going in circles with no course of action. Ami looked to the thunder senshi and shrugged helplessly. "Aside from Pluto-tachi only Figher has physically fought these creatures. Perhaps both she and the starlights can help us. They may be here on a mission." The senshi of Mercury squared her shoulders under the weight of a familiar verdant gaze from across the room. She knew that Zoisite would most assuredly confront her for her infidelity after the meeting and she would face him head on, though she felt that he was very much entitled to venting his wrath.
"Speaking of missions...Just why are you here, Chibi-Usa-chan? Not that I'm not happy to see you, and you've grown so much... Were you sent?... By me I mean." Usagi trailed off as she realized that she was beginning to ramble nervously. Chibi-Usa blushed under her mother's attention and she sat a little straighter wanting to prove herself to the woman who was both childhood hero and respected parent.
"Actually no. I...I came on my own." Diana watched as her princess paused and took a deep breath and saw kind eyes harden into that of a commander and future ruler. "Something is happening to the future. Times, events, people are changing. I've seen things wink out of existence only to return altered somehow."
"Altered?" Someone interjected but Chibi-Usa was too preoccupied to take note of who spoke. Instead, the Crystal heir hastened to answer.
"Yes, at first it was minor things. Stores going from blue to red or something similar. But now its affecting the people...events from the past are being rewritten, and even worse things like medical breakthroughs are being altered. When I left most of Australia had been devastated by an advanced form of polio. Cities and countries that enjoyed the peaceful safety of the future are being reverted to slums of disease and poverty. And war...the most virulent disease of all, that had been cured by your reign Mother...people are building weapons, fighting....squabbling over nothing .
"And the senshi of your time?" Setsuna asked, already possessing a strong hunch but still dreading the answer.
Chibi-Usa shook her head as if she were trying to make sense of the words she wanted to say. "That's just it! They act like its always been this way! I can't...I can't trust their memories... and perhaps not even my own. So I asked Diana to come with me...we have to find out what is happening before the Crystal Millennium descends into chaos! Mother, please! You must believe me, I wouldn't have left otherwise!" Usagi gasped as her future daughter gripped her hand in fingers not so different from her own, the pink haired woman's plea stabbing at her heart. In the past, Chibi-Usa had always maintained a distinction between Neo Queen Serenity and Usagi Tsukino and the "elder" Serenity could only respond to the impassioned plea.
"It's ok, Usagi, I believe you. And we will help you in any way that we can." Usagi the elder whispered, looking into her daughter's unique eyes.
The round of resulting nods and agreements brought tears of joy to the Crystal heir's deep crimson eyes.
"Jade...will you be alright getting home?"
Jadeite nodded stiffly as he moved away from Kunzite, the violet eyed lord began his slow lonely walk towards the shrine. The leader of the shitenno sighed and waved to the rest of his brethren before heading towards his car, knowing that Minako was still talking with Usagi and he would be of no use to her tonight.
The meeting had ended at an impasse of sorts; despite Chibi-Usa's presence they were no closer to figuring out the motives of their new enemy and they all agreed that there was little any of them could do but wait. Kunzite agreed to take Nephrite to the resort where Yuuchiro and Mamoru were attacked in hopes of finding some sign or hint of their master's wherabouts. Zoisite offered to stay behind to look after Jadeite and to see if they would be allowed to speak with the hospital staff of Tokyo General about the boy.
Chibi Usa and Diana refused Usagi's offer to stay with her opting instead to spend the night with the Outers until they could setup a civilian life and go apartment hunting in the morning. Usagi looked a little sad to see her daughter go but she respected the younger woman's wishes. The rest of the senshi slowly dispersed, most of them having classes in the morning and it had been a long day for all of them.
Ami stuffed her hands into her pockets and moved to head towards the parking lot of Minako's apartment complex when she noticed soft boot falls moving in step with her. "Let me take you home Ami-chan." Ami glanced over at Zoisite briefly, never slowing in her stride even as she shook her head minutely. "I brought my bike, Zoi-chan. Thank you though." The blue haired woman grimaced internally as she caught the nickname she used for the blonde. Yet they'd been dating exclusively for nearly three years, so she supposed she couldn't be faulted entirely for falling into an old habit.
Zoisite sighed and caught Ami's wrist, halting her and turning her to face him partially. "Please, Ami. We need to talk." Ami hung her head, and she did not step away when the ice lord moved closer and stroked her cheek with his free hand. Still not looking at him, Ami nodded haltingly and allowed the verdant eyed man to lead her to his car, knowing she could pick up her motorcycle in the morning.
Within Minako's apartment Artemis paced with the intensity of an expectant father, only to wince at the unintentional analogy. Diana. The fruit of his supposed future union with Luna...a union that seemed to be more likely a drunken tryst rather than a physical expression of love. The white furred Mau sat upon his haunches and let out a sound that was somewhere between a sob and a groan as his sigil flared upon his brow. In seconds his form shimmered and a young man with mid-thigh length white hair replaced the feline. Artemis pressed the palms of his hands into his eyes, grateful to be able to perform the motion.
"Luna."
His fellow advisor had departed not long after the meeting, telling Usagi she would meet her home. In her haste to get away from Diana...and him, she had not even waited for a response from her charge. It pained the Mau to think that the idea of being with him, of bearing his child distressed her so much she couldn't remain in his presence. The young advisor closed his cerulean eyes as he thought of his partner. Luna had always amazed him even back in the Silver Millennium. He still did not posses his full memories but, Luna he could never forget. She was so brilliant, and proud... so beautiful and by his claws so damn stubborn! Even in the past, Luna only ever thought of duty. Her father had been Queen Serenity's original advisor but he'd died on their homeworld of Mau when a earthquake collapsed the hotel he was staying in. Luna, who had only her father, her mother having died during childbirth, had been devastated.
The then thirteen year old Mau had thrown herself into her studies working tirelessly to increase knowledge that had already been at first apprentice level. Within a year she had been instated as the Queen's new advisor, in part because it would allow the Queen to look after her in addition to her being qualified for the role despite her age. Artemis, like Luna had been a bit of a prodigy though he remained apprenticed under his mother until he was sixteen, in service of the royal family of Venus. Artemis had met known Luna before he and his charge, the princess Ardwyn of Venus had been stationed on the moon, as he'd been required to spend two months of every year apprenticing under Luna's father and in turn Luna herself after her father passed.
A year her junior, the white Mau had been in awe of his fellow advisor, though he thought it wouldn't kill her to loosen up a bit. As he learned more about her he found that awe and respect slowing growing into something far deeper. But it had been entirely one sided on his part. Luna's love had been her work then, just as it was now.
Only...she could care for someone...just not him, never him and by the Huntress above that had hurt him so. He had remained steadfast and patient, believing that in time she would come to care; that she would let him soothe the wounds of her heart. He even had time on his side, a future daughter that was living proof that she would one day turn to him. Yet he watched her handle Diana's existence with increasing nervousness, though she was careful to keep her fears from the kitten, and he watched Kakerus and Yatens enter her heart...enter the place that should have been his.
The long haired man hunched over with a sniffle, his hands falling listlessly onto his feet, his lithe form collapsed upon itself. He wondered briefly if she resented him...if she hated him for not being a Kakeru or a Yaten. He wondered if she hated him for merely being Artemis...for being himself. Knowing that Minako would be in shortly, and not wanting to distress his beloved charge, the white haired Mau lumbered to his feet and stepped out to the balcony. Still in human form, Artemis vaulted his lanky frame over the railing and hit the grass, wandering out into the moonlight.
"Akane, really. There is no need for you to pick me up. It's late and I would like to get some rest. I'll just call a cab, really. Sure. When do you go in tomorrow? How about breakfast then? Alright, I'll see you tomorrow."
Kenneth Anderson closed his cell phone and raised his arm to hail a cab. After getting his luggage stowed and giving the cabbie the address the leaned back into the faux leather seat and tilted his head back thinking of the past. He had avoided Tokyo for years, the city still causing him pain even now. Yet he knew he would truly deny Akane nothing, and considering her request for his presence had been for the sake of the daughter he barely saw, he'd thought nothing of hopping the first flight out. Yet now, in the back of this dark, unpleasant smelling cab the reality of his return caused his stomach to churn. While it was true that he was quite tired, he'd begged off meeting his ex-wife because he couldn't face her, not yet. Not when he couldn't keep her gentle aqua gaze from breaking his heart.
With a quiet sigh, the artist leaned forward and pulled out his wallet. With practiced ease he flipped to the back of the leather case where a photo lay hidden. Pulling it out, he stroked his index finger over the last family portrait he'd taken with Akane and their daughter. Ami had been five years old, a large grin animating her normally shy visage as she sat on her mother's lap, while Akane herself sat close to her then husband with her head resting on his shoulder. Kenneth himself looked like he was the luckiest man on earth, the photo barely able to contain his energetic grin. Sniffling softly but refusing to give into tears, he replaced the photo in its hiding place and leaned back into the seat.
"You were the luckiest man in the world, you dumb bastard...until you threw it all away."
Usagi the younger lay on her back upon Hotaru's bed, the darkly draped furniture having been upgraded to a queen size years ago. She was waiting on her best friend to finish bathing so that they could both prepare for bed. Diana had assumed her feline form and was downstairs, snuggled deeply into a oversized pillow and blanket. The Crystal heir did not allow her thoughts to wander to the closed door, just beyond her range of vision as she instead focused on both the attack earlier as well as the following meeting. She grinned a little absently as she thought of the acceptance and trust she saw in her young mother's eyes as the future queen agreed to aid the wayward time travelers. Though she'd given her mother a hard time in the past, Usagi held her mother in high esteem, no matter her form and still possessed a great deal of hero worship for the reluctant heroine. While she'd been too immature and somewhat embarrassed to admit this before, she'd finally reached the maturity she'd so longed for in the past; no longer desiring to be her mother, but rather wishing to make the blonde Usagi proud of her on her own merit.
The pink haired woman was so lost in thought that she barely heard the light whimper trickle from the closed bathroom door. Frowning, the pink haired woman sat up and moved to the bathroom door, placing her hand against the wood. "Taru-chan? I'm coming in alright?" Carefully the time traveler moved into the lavatory, shutting the door softly behind her. "Oh, Hotaru-chan..." Chibi-Usa gasped softly as she noticed the dark haired woman seated on the closed toilet seat, her shirt ridden up to her shoulders. Hotaru sat there trembling in pain, the flesh Chibi-Usa could see was an angry black and blue. 'The vines...I knew she would bruise from them...' Slowly, Chibi-Usa moved to kneel in front of the other woman, her hands reaching out to gently grasp Hotaru's shaking ones.
"It's ok Taru-chan. Can you sit up a little for me?"
The dark haired teenager nodded slightly and moved as requested, gritting her teeth against the pain. Chibi-Usa made soothing noises as she reached around and replaced Hotaru's shirt. Looking into pain clouded violet eyes behind wire frames, Chibi-Usa moved her fingers to carefully grip Hotaru's collar. "I'll be careful Taru-chan, I promise." Hotaru nodded in response, and Chibi-Usa ripped the shirt down the center, calling forth some of her power to make it easier. Carefully, she helped the other woman out of the ruined clothing, shifting forward to unclasp her bra. After both articles of clothing were removed, Chibi-Usa coaxed the taller woman to her feet, returning to a kneeling position as she removed pants, underwear and socks. Finally, she removed Hotaru's glasses and placed them reverently on the nearby counter-top.
Stepping back, Chibi-Usa allowed her eyes to ghost over the dark haired woman's form stifling a stab of rage at the sight of Hotaru's beautiful pale form marred so. Moving to the shower, Chibi-Usa reached in and adjusted the water to a light warm spray and began to divest herself of her clothes. Once her clothes had joined Hotaru's on the floor, the ruby eyed woman took the injured woman's hand and led her into the shower. Chibi-Usa stepped in first, shielding Hotaru somewhat as she reached for a washcloth and body wash.
Slowly, with gentle worshipful caresses, Chibi-Usa washed Hotaru's pale form, infusing her hands with the power of the ginzuishou to aid in healing. Every bruise she soothed away, the pink haired woman ghosted with a brush of her lips murmuring comforting nonsensical words as she worked. When she finished lathering the dark haired woman's body, Chibi-Usa moved to wash her hair, the silken strands heaven to the touch. The rose haired princess forced her thoughts to remain clinical and objective, refusing to focus on how beautiful Hotaru was or how wonderful she smelled, only wanting to offer comfort to the woman she loved in secret.
Rinsing the inky strands of spun silk, Chibi Usa quickly washed herself and then shut off the water and moved them both out of the stall. Gently, she blot dried Hotaru to make sure she didn't miss any soap before scooping the taller woman into her arms and stepping into the bath water that Hotaru had drawn before she'd attempted to remove her clothes. The pink haired woman settled into the water with her precious cargo nestled in front of her and she began to hum slightly as she moved her hands to work the knots out of Hotaru's still aching muscles.
They sat in the pleasantly warm water, until Chibi-Usa noticed her patient was dozing off. Chuckling softly, the pink haired woman lifted her light burden into her arms and called forth the ginzuishou to dry them off. Normally, she wouldn't use her power in so frivolous a fashion but the ruby eyed woman didn't want to wake the lightly slumbering woman. The crystal heir placed her friend onto the bed gently and moved to find pajamas for them both. Chibi-Usa was larger in the bust than her more wiry friend but the two oversized shirts she'd gathered would do for the night. Dressing them both carefully, the Crystal heir snuggled against her beloved friend, intertwining their legs before she too drifted off to sleep.
Kaori Dayspring lay sprawled on her back in the branch of the strong oak tree that stood silent vigil over her family house doing her best imitation of a sloth. Despite her lethargic pose, the young musician's mind was restless returning constantly to the memory of the Kou siblings in the hospital. She was worried for all of them, though she felt her heartstrings pull for Taiki in particular. Yet she had no clue who or what would injure the three docile singers. Aside from the athleticism brought on from dance, and of course Seiya's interest in sports, Kaori was certain that none of them even knew how to fight, let alone possessing the inclination to pick a fight.
The honey hued woman sighed and tucked her wavy hair behind her right ear, her fingers unconsciously grazing the sickle shaped scar that spread into a jagged starburst along the tender flesh. Frowning, she rubbed at the scar which had been a remnant of the car wreck that had robbed her of her parents, only to snort in disgust and roll to a sitting position.
"I'll go see them tomorrow...maybe I can find out what's going on...anything is better that worrying myself into a knot." Nodding to herself at the decided course of action, the tall woman half dropped half leapt from the branch and strode into her home. Had she been paying attention, she would have noticed the sky blue rose petal that drifted from the branch in her wake.
Well first off thanks to everyone that has either left me a review or sent me an e-mail concerning this fic…though really, did you guys dig through the Sailor Moon section to find it? I will be doing a little bit of clean up over the next two weeks so if you see another update its not a new chapter. However chapter 11 is about 45% finished and seeing as you guys are actually reading this thing I'm a little more inclined to actually focus on it rather than pecking at it over months at a time. Well thanks again everyone.
Your Neighborhood Friendly Dragon,
R. Niiyama