Here's Chapter 4, coming at ya:
Sailor Moon ain't mine.
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Fall From Grace
By: Emporess
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The sky is deep, the sky is dark.
The light of stars is so damn stark.
When I look up, I fill with fear.
If all we have is what lies here,
this lonely world, this troubled place,
the cold dead stars and empty space...
Well, I see no reason to preserve,
no reason to laugh or shed a tear,
no reason to sleep or ever to wake,
no promises to keep, and none to make.
And so at night I still raise my eyes
to study the clear but mysterious skies
that arch above us, as cold as stone.
Are you there God? Are we alone?
-Dean Koontz
The Book of Counted Sorrows
Chapter 4:
Enigma
Makoto sighed in relief as she saw the bottom of the box.
After placing the last of the Damania on the shelf she took a
step back and admired her work. All day she had been unpacking
the new shipments that had arrived. It'd been a battle, but
now all the herbs were placed neatly on the rows. She put
her arms above her head and stretched, stifling a yawn.
"Looks good," came a voice behind her.
She turned around and smiled. "Thanks, Aradia."
The woman was short, Makoto towering over her. She
was petite, with delicate features. Her eyes were ice blue,
oval shaped. Her hair was long and a brilliant shade of red
cascading almost to her feet. She wore a flowing green dress
of soft silk, with a lighter green smock. Her jewelry was
a emerald bracelet, jade earrings, and a silver necklace
from which hung a green rock. Aradia had informed her it
was a bloodstone. The only thing she wore that was not
green was the pink moonstone on her left ring finger.
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Makoto." Her
hands were crossed in front of her as she took in the rows.
"It would have taken me days to get the full shipment up,
but you do it in one!"
"It was nothing," Makoto said blushing. Aradia always
heaped praise on her for any task she did. She was the
strangest boss Makoto had ever worked for. And the nicest.
"Your always saying that." Aradia teased her. "Why
don't you go take off that apron and head home."
"Are you sure?" She asked, maybe a bit too eagerly.
Aradia laughed. "Hai. Go out and have a good time.
Its Friday night." Makoto thanked her profusely and went
into the back to hang up the smock. It didn't surprise her
too much that her boss let her leave. She was always doing
things that she found off-the-wall.
For starters, Aradia always wore everything the same
color. Mondays were always white. Tuesdays were always red.
Wednesdays were orange. Thursdays were blue or purple.
Fridays were green, Saturdays black, and Sundays yellow.
It never varied. She had smocks and matching jewelry for
each day. The only thing she always wore was her favorite
ring. When Makoto had asked her about it, she said it
was, "Better for all concerned." Soon after that, she
learned not to ask anymore questions unless she wanted
half-answers.
Besides the clothes, she also refused to use
honorifics. She wouldn't allow anyone to call her anything
but Aradia, period. Makoto didn't even know her last name.
She also refused to use them on anyone else. She even
referred to customers by their first name. It had taken some
getting used to.
The hours she kept the shop open were crazy too. Some
days she'd be open only a few hours, on occasion she'd stay
open all night. When Makoto had taken the job, she'd been
told to say when she wanted to work or when she didn't. Aradia
never called her in, never asked her to stay. In fact, she'd
often close the shop when Makoto was set to work and still
pay her for the hours she had missed! It was insane!
She hadn't specified to her friend's where exactly
the shop was. Several times they'd wanted to come see but
she always told them it wasn't a good idea. They assumed
the manager was the problem, but the truth was she was
embarrassed to be working there. The store wasn't really
a 'garden store'. It sold herbs, yes, but thats where the
similarities ended. Aradia called it a 'Gateway to
Perceptions'. Makoto classified it as an occult store.
Besides the herbs it had incense, candles, amulets,
bells, crystals, oils, you name it. There were books in
all kinds of languages, old to new. The name of the place
was a mouthful: ARIANRHOD. She still had trouble getting
the word out of her mouth. Makoto asked her what the name
meant and she had only smiled mysteriously. She often
mused on introducing her to Setsuna. What a pair they'd
make!
She walked out of the back, going through all the
things she had to do when she got home. The first Senshi
meeting with the Outers since the last battle was tonight
and she was nervous. The Inner Senshi had met the very
next day and talked over all the things that had happened.
Excluding Haruka and Michiru hadn't been intentional in the
beginning. As the meeting had worn on it began to dawn on
them that for the first time they had power that the Outers
did not. They had memories which the other Senshi didn't
share. The end of that meeting had been devoted to coming
up with carefully edited versions of their stories to feed
to them.
Only Usagi had objected to this. "You guys, I thought
we were all going to work with them as a team. It doesn't
seem right to horde information like-"
"Like they do?" asked Rei, bitterness dripping from her
voice.
"Rei-chan-" Usagi began.
"No! Rei-chan's right." Minako interrupted her protests.
"We still have no idea where Setsuna-san is. Hotaru-chan is
missing too. Haruka-san and Michiru-san refused to tell us if
they were even in the city! All they did was warn us about
talking to Sensei, despite the fact they admitted they don't have
a clue who she is or was!"
"They could be right about that one, Minako-chan." Artemis
couldn't help but add in. During the meeting the cats had been
very interested in their descriptions of their ex-teacher.
After filling them in, both Luna and Artemis had dim memories
resurface. "The only thing we know is that you all did have
a teacher during the Silver Millennium, and this person also
was the bodyguard of Queen Serenity." He tactfully avoided
mentioning she was her lover as well. "Even if she IS
that woman in silver, we don't know if she acts the same.
She could be dangerous."
All of them had chorused in their denials at that one.
Makoto's memories of her were confined to just that one
practice session, yet she and the others still felt an
overwhelming loyalty towards her. The hidden memories of
Sensei seemed buried under water, like she could barely
glimpse them from the surface. No matter how hard they tried,
they still couldn't remember any more.
Only Mamoru sided with the cats and the Outers. He
didn't know who the girl's were talking about, though surely
he had seen her at one of the many inter-planetary balls.
He too had racked his brain, but without any real description
of what she looked like, nothing occurred to him. He seemed
uneasy with the whole topic of her all-together. "Settle
down," He pleaded to them as they jumped to the unknown's
defense. "No ones asking us to attack her on site. All
Artemis is saying is just be cautious."
Usagi looked unhappy with his prognosis. In fact, Makoto
reflected, she hadn't really agreed with anything anyone said.
At first, she thought Usagi was still embarrassed to have such
revealing memories of her Mother from the past. Instead she
just didn't seem to like the direction any of them were
taking. They were closing ranks, keeping out anyone who
could even prove slightly threatening. It was Usagi's way
to forgive, to love everyone no matter what. No one was
unredeemable in Usagi's eyes.
Makoto was so lost in these thoughts that she didn't
hear Aradia calling out to her. "Makoto! Hey, Makoto!"
She walked over to the cash register. "Sorry, I kinda
spaced out there for a minute didn't I?"
Aradia grinned at her. "Don't apologize. Nothing wrong
with a little meditation, no matter where you do it!" Makoto
wisely chose not to comment. "I didn't mean to interrupt, but
I wanted to give this to you before you left." She reached
below the register and pulled out a simple necklace made out
of tan suede. Hanging from it was a honey-brown stone with
banded gold tints.
Makoto shook her head stubbornly. "Aradia, I can't
take that." The stone was smooth, and obviously of high
quality. It looked a lot nicer than even the ones she'd
seen in the shop here. Ever since she had worked there,
her boss was always passing on little things for her to
take home. Special teas, different herbs, it seemed like
her boss always knew what she needed to feel better,
stronger. This was the first time she'd tried to give
her jewelry, and Makoto couldn't accept it.
"Nonsense," She said, standing on tip toe to place
it around her neck. "It'll being you luck!" She winked
at her and made little shooing motions as she ignored
her protests. "Go on now. I'll see you next Monday."
Makoto impulsively pulled her in for a quick embrace.
Aradia stiffened but then hugged her back. She waved
and headed for the door, almost bumping into the customer
coming in.
"Gomen," came the man's voice even as she retreated
backwards a step to avoid a collision. "I wasn't watching
where I was going-"
"No, its my fault-" She said apologetically before
glancing up at him and then gasping.
"Its you!" They both said in unison, surprised.
"Oh you two know each other?" asked Aradia, her voice
carrying over from the register.
"H-hai," Makoto stuttered. For some reason she felt
uneasy about seeing him again. "How have you been,
Spar-san?"
He smiled, relaxing from his original shock. "Fine,
just fine, Kino-san. I didn't expect to see you here though."
"I work here," She replied, gazing at him. Something
about him, something important. It was a nagging little
feeling at the bottom of her stomach. "Do you come here often?"
"Michael is one of our regular customers," Aradia called,
still not moving over to them. "I'm surprised you've never seen
him here before."
"Is that Tiger eye?" He asked, pointing to the little
stone hanging from her neck.
"Um, I don't know-" She felt silly. How could she have
forgotten to ask Aradia what the stone was? She glanced at
her employer, but she had moved to the other side of the
store, out of hearing range.
Michael took the opportunity to examine it closer.
"Hai, its Tiger eye all right. A very nice one, too. Where
did you get it?"
"Aradia gave it to me..." Was it her imagination, or
did he seem to blanch at that information? If he did it was
only a flicker across his face before it was gone and
replaced with his normal friendly grin.
"Did you know that Tiger eye is known for its truth
discerning capabilities?"
"No, I didn't..." Her heart pounded a stataco beat.
Maybe that was why she was feeling so uncomfortable around
him. She felt like he was radiating negativity. Well maybe
that was too strong. Something was just wrong, something
ODD. That was the best word for it. Odd.
He tried to make his voice sound light and airy but
it didn't seem that way to Makoto. "Wouldn't want to play
poker with you wearing that!"
His comment made her think about the meeting. Perhaps
it would come in handy with Haruka and Michiru. She glanced
at her watch and gasped. If she didn't hurry, she'd never
have the food ready in time. "Oh! I've got to go! Good-bye
Aradia! Bye Spar-san!" She waved, pushing past him and
letting the door close behind her.
"That was cute." Michael sent a blistering glare
at Aradia. "You couldn't have warned me ahead of time
she'd be here?"
Aradia smirked at him as she came over, reaching
behind him to turn the sign on the door to 'CLOSED'
before locking it. "What fun would there be in that?"
"Oh yes, we'd hate to cut out on the fun." He
sighed and followed her into the back room marked
"PRIVATE" that led to her personal apartment. "And
I suppose giving her that necklace was just for
more kicks as well?"
"Shes going to a meeting that those liars will
be attending. You had to have read that from her. Shes been
projecting that thought all day."
He snorted. "Hardly. With that Tiger eye around
her neck I'm surprised she didn't just jump at me and
begin a round of 20 questions. Shes suspicious enough
of me already."
She paused in front of one of the doors leading
from the main hallway. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have
been so callous."
He finally gave her a solid smile, tugging at
a strand of her long hair. She made a little twirl
of her finger and the hair plated itself into
lots of tiny braids, sweeping back from her face,
revealing her pointed ears. "Must be the elf inside
you, bursting to get out."
She grinned back. "Hey, I gotta be me. Any word?"
"Nope, nothing. Shes appearing all over the place.
I can feel those little spastic bursts you taught me
to look for. Shes jumping in and out of this continuum."
Aradia nodded sadly. "Thats what I've been getting
too. I can't begin to pinpoint a location when she only
stays there a few seconds." They were still standing
outside the room. "When do you want to go to them?"
His expression became cold. "I don't want to go
at all."
"OK, it doesn't matter to me." Her voice was calm
and level. "I don't owe elegiance to anyone really. You
know who I want to speak to."
"When I find Celeste, you'll find Pluto."
She nodded but couldn't resist adding, "But at
what cost to you? I know its killing you not to
see him."
"I don't owe him anything in this life." He spoke
through clenched teeth. His hand balled up into a fist
as he tried to control his temper. "The Silver Millennium
is over, Aradia."
"Hai," She sighed, her voice sounding wistful. "And
the day I really believe you've given all that up, is the
day I sell everything I own and join a nudist colony."
He laughed, relieved to find her easing the tension.
"Too late, you did that once already."
She laughed too. "Opps." She turned the knob on the
door and began to walk in. She stopped again and without
turning around said in a more somber tone. "I mean it, Mikel.
Your going to destroy yourself. Think about it, ne?"
"Hai." That one syllable was full of bitter resentment
as he followed her inside.
The front of the auditorium was crowded with the
summer drama group. All of the students were paired off into
small cliques rehearsing lines, reading scripts, or just
chattering on about things that had nothing to do with the
play. The one exception was the pretty young lady with pale
blonde hair near the back of the stage. She sat alone,
staring intently at her own script, ignoring the people
around her.
'Correction,' thought Valka bitterly. 'Not people.
Morons.'
He was seated in the very back of the place, making
himself nearly invisible with the shadows. The fact that
he was dressed in his customary black didn't hurt either.
He topped off his ensemble with a pair of stylish raybans,
which hid most of his features, particularly his swollen left
eye.
"Asshole," he muttered under his breath, cursing
Dagon.
It'd been difficult for him to even get away from
the tyrant. Ever since helping Sailor Moon that night,
Dagon had been a pain in the neck. He constantly harped
about the pressure they were under to find The Gatekeeper,
and fast. As far as he could see, Toro-sama hadn't made
any ultimatums. As long as they trailed her energy force,
they'd eventually be able to pick her up.
The eye was from mentioning this to Dagon one too
many times. "Damn you," Dagon had hissed at Valka, glowering
over him as he held his wounded eye. "Because of you, not
only did we miss her the first time, but we didn't eliminate
those Senshi, either!" He leaned in closer till he was at
eye level with him. "Valka-CHAN, don't you ever cross me
again, understand?"
Valka had stood up and angrily pushed him backwards,
trying not to show the tremors he was feeling inside. "Quit
calling me that! I'm not as nieve as I once was." He walked
away briskly, suppressing the urge to run.
He could hear the evil lilt to his voice even as
he walked away. "Hai, but its not about whether you want it or
not, ne Valka-CHAN?!"
"Asshole," he hissed again, pressing his teeth together
so hard his jaw ached. He was cursed, cursed to a life of
bitter memories and broken dreams. It seemed like he would
never be able to find even a moment of peace.
He watched Minako pretend to read her lines for probably
the 100th time. If she heard the snickering or the taunting
from the people around her she certainly didn't act like it.
She continued reading as if nothing was amiss.
From the other mind's onstage he learned what happened.
The little chaos energy had obviously caused a ruckus in
Minako's behavior. At first, he'd been afraid the other
thespians were right, that Minako had lost control and done
just what Kiro had told everyone he was going to get from
her.
However, reading the little fink's thoughts he could
tell he was lying. Telepathy and mind reading were never
truly an exact science. He couldn't know for sure what
other people were thinking, but he could get an idea. Kiro
was going on and on about what a sexpot Minako was, but inside
his brain waves were erratic, doing an intricate little dance
which screamed out 'BULLSHIT!'.
Minako was behaving admirably for someone so shunned. He
barely scanned her, for with her Senshi abilities, she could
pick up on formal probes easily. The Senshi were unaware of this
talent, often comparing it to feeling butterflies in their
stomachs, or a tingling on their neck. Minako didn't sense a thing,
she was so caught up in appearing non-chalet. He didn't need to
read her mind to tell she was miserable. He felt bad, considering
it was his fault she was infected to begin with.
Kiro was really living it up with his friends. Valka's
superior hearing could pick up every word he said. His cronies
egged him on to embellishing more and more. Soon he'd be saying
they'd done it on top of the Tokyo Tower while hanging upside
down over the railing. Valka snorted in disgust.
At that moment Kiro excused himself from the group, heading
for the stairs at the end of the stage. He passed by Minako,
leering without stopping. She took no notice. He was soon moving
up the aisle, right past Valka. He exited the auditorium.
Valka's smiled maliciously as he stood to follow him.
Juno looked down at the sidewalk below. She watched as
Ami, still dressed in her white coat went through the double
doors at the front of the apartments. Seconds later, Pallas
appeared next to her on the ledge of the building. "Hi, Juno!"
she greeted as she took a seat.
"Yo," Juno replied sullenly. She was bored out of her mind.
Par Chibi-Usa's orders, they'd each been staking out one of the
Senshi. In the past few days she'd followed Makoto to school,
to work, shopping. The only thing that had perked her interest
at all was the dojo she attended. Juno tried to follow her in
but was turned away at the door. Seemed to be a very exclusive
place, which infuriated her.
The rest of them shared her frustrations. The Asteroid
Senshi liked it back in the past. Here, they weren't known.
They didn't have to worry about being recognized as Princess
Usagi's court. With out official duties to perform, they were
free to come and go as they pleased.
Or they would have been if Chibi-Usa hadn't been so
stubborn. Juno didn't even know why they were bothering
spying on the girls. Chibi-Usa decided to tail Usagi,
Saturn got both the Outers, Ceres Minako, and Vesta had Rei.
"Pallas wants to go have fun!" The smallest of the 4
complained.
"Me too." They didn't have much for attention spans,
neither in the future or the past. The fact they had stuck to
their mission as long as they did was a miracle in itself.
"ARGH I can't take it anymore." Announced a voice
to their left. They turned and were surprised to see Vesta
next to them. "Mars is just as boring here as she is in
Crystal Tokyo!"
"You left your post?" asked Juno.
She grumbled. "I couldn't help it. If I had to watch
her rake those damn leaves one more time-"
"Girls," called a mellow voice. Ceres was sitting
daintily on a lamp post a few stories below them. It seemed
she too had got fed up with waiting for Minako. She filed
her fingernails and smiled at them. "As leader of Princess
Usagi's court, I say-" They all braced themselves for what
they figured would be one of her lame pep talks. "to HELL
with watching them! Lets go to the Arcade!"
"HAI!" They all called out, raising their hands in
agreement.
They jumped several stories to the ground, startling
some people standing around waiting for a bus. "What are you
looking at?" Vesta asked the stunned faces. Wisely the
passengers turned their heads, pretending they saw nothing.
The citizens of Tokyo were used to ignoring the bizarre.
Pallas skipped ahead, eager to get there. She was
brought to a sudden halt by an arrow swishing through the
air, landing inches from her nose. She jumped back letting
out a little shriek. A little white note with a person's
name written on it popped off the stem and unscrolled
itself.
*SHINOBU!*
"Nani?!" exclaimed the 3 girls.
"Pallas hates arrows!" Pallas squealed.
"Whose Shinobu?" Ceres wondered aloud.
"That would be me," came a faint voice.
"Who said that?" Juno looked around suspiciously.
"Me." They all looked down and saw a young man with
lavender hair laying flat on his stomach. He gave them a
small wave which only Pallas returned. "Sorry about that."
"Incoming!" warned Vesta. They all hit the dirt
as three more arrows whooshed through the air where they
had been.
"SHINOBU!!!!" Someone yelled from far away.
"Who in the hell is that?" growled Juno.
"My sister Nagisa. Shes a little... disturbed."
"Your sister is trying to kill you?" asked Ceres
incredulously.
"Yea, seems that way." He seemed pretty calm about
the whole thing.
"Why?" demanded Juno.
"Because she hates me."
By this time 20 arrows were imbedded in the concrete
above their heads. All had little scribblings hanging down
from them. "OK, this has gone on long enough." Ceres stood
and yelled at the direction the arrows were coming from. "I
am the Pretty Sailor Senshi, Sailor Ceres! I won't let you
shoot arrows at us and ruin our trip to the Arcade! In the
name of video game players everywhere, I will punish you!"
She finished by posing, but had to fall back to the ground
as another arrow almost tagged her. The message attached
was like a slap in the face.
*OH YEA? YOU AND WHAT ARMY?!*
It was followed by a rapid succession of sharp
instruments, from knives to ninja stars being thrown
at them. Little pieces of wall rained down on them as
it was chipped away. Pallas held her arms above her
head. "Pallas doesn't like this!" She screeched. "Pallas
is PISSED!"
"Thats it!" Juno crawled over the ground below
the line of fire. She beckoned the others to follow her.
"Shinobu-san, your taking us to her place. I wanna have
a little chat with her." She cracked her knuckles.
He shrugged. "I was headed there anyway."
Kiro flicked his cigarette, watching it fall
into the bushes. His fingers moved through his hair,
smoothing down any stay strands. "I hope you enjoyed that
cigarette."
Kiro turned around and stared at the stranger who
had addressed him. The man was a few inches shorter then
him. He could have stepped off a fashion billboard. He was
dressed to kill, from his Italian shoes to his diamond
cuff links. "Pardon?" Kiro asked, sure he'd misunderstood
him.
"Since it will be your last smoke, I let you finish
it." The man's voice was light, as if he was discussing
the weather. He tilted his head towards him. "Did you
enjoy it?"
"What the hell are you babbling about?" He asked,
taking a step towards him. He thought his superior height
gave him an advantage.
The man moved a hand up in front of him, a beam of
purple energy flying from his extended fingertips. It hit
Kiro squarely in the chest, knocking him off his feet. "No
need to get vulgar. I had hoped to keep these proceedings
as civil as possible."
Kiro's eyes widened in terror as he watched the man's skin
take on a yellow pallor. His hair seemed to be darkening as well.
"W-what are y-y-you?" It was even more frightening not being able
to see the creature's eyes.
The man gave him a gross facsimile of a smile. "Call me a
good Samaritan. I'm here to give you some friendly advice." He
went to where he could stare into his face. "Little boys who
talk shit, are shit. Understand?"
"N-nani?" his voice had gone 10 octaves above normal.
So fast he didn't even have time to react, the man picked
him up by the lapels of his jacket and slammed him against the
outside of the auditorium. He felt like his back would break
from the force. "I'm losing my patience with you." He was
now inches from his face.
"I-I-I-I" Kiro was stuttering, all reason forgotten
in his terror. Up close, he could see the man's skin. It
was waxy, no dents or blemishes. He couldn't even spot
any pores!
"You," the being hissed, almost spitting on him it
was in such a rage. "You are going into that auditorium
and telling all of your little buddies what really
happened last night with that girl."
"G-girl....?"
"Thats right! Minako-chan!" He was nose to nose with
him now. "Your going to tell everyone the truth. Your
going to get down on your knees and beg that girl to forgive
you. In front of all of them. Because if you don't..." He
paused dramatically.
"....if I don't?" He questioned timidly.
Kiro screamed as he was tossed off the stairs, landing
face first into the sidewalk. "If you don't, I'll take you
up to the very top of Tokyo Tower and see if you can fly."
Kiro scrambled to his feet, wiping the trickle of
blood away from his lower lip. "Hai! HAI!" He brushed past
his tormentor he was in such haste to do as he commanded.
"MINA-CHAN! MINA-CHAN! I'M SORRY! MMMINNAAKKOO!" he
shouted as he rushed through the double doors.
Valka smiled as he trailed after Kiro. No way he was
going to miss this.
Mamoru moved around his apartment, straightening up
magazines, taking dishes to the sink. Usagi's clothes and
jewelry were flung all over his couch. Her CDs were
laying out of their cases in front of his stereo. The
bathroom counter was covered in her cosmetics.
'She ought to just move in,' he thought to himself.
'I doubt she has anything left in her room at home.' A half
hour later he had gotten the room back into order, Usagi's
stuff all neatly folded or stashed in her overnight bags.
He glanced at his wall clock, reminding himself he had to
wake up Usagi soon if they were going to make the Senshi
meeting.
He peeked into the bedroom, smiling at her appearance.
She was turned sideways on the bed, one leg dangling down
to the floor. In between her snores she mumbled images from
her dream, "Ice Cream .... ZZZZ .... With chocolate ...."
It sounded like she was enjoying herself. Earlier she
had complained of a massive headache. After assuring him she
was just tired from classes, she laid down to take a nap.
".... ZZZZZ .... Mamo-chan, get the butterscotch... ZZZ ..."
Laughing softly he went near the side of the bed and
kneeled down. It seemed a shame to wake her up from her happy
dream. He had to start soon though. It would take atleast
15 minutes of conjoling to make her wake up. She never had
the problems he had with sleeping.
'Except that one time,' he remembered sadly. It'd been
about a year ago. He woke up in the middle of the night,
as he often did. It took him a moment to realize what was
missing: Usagi wasn't sleeping next to him.
He bolted upright in bed. "Usako!"
"Mamo-chan." Her voice was faint, coming from the
balcony. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and
went to her. He paused just before stepping out the
double doors, gasping at the site of her.
Her white night-gown that trailed to her feet had
become transparent under the moonlight. Through
it he could see the outline of her body. She turned her
head over her shoulder to look at him. Her bangs seemed
to cause a shadow over all her features below her nose.
Her eyes were a vibrant blue, shining with unshed tears.
She looked achingly beautiful, the spitting image of
the Moon Princess that had taunted his dreams when he
was younger, before he had found her. "Mamo-chan."
"Usako..." He went forward and took her in his
strong arms, as she nestled her head into his shoulder.
He felt the tears that fell from her eyes and trailed
down his chest. "Daijobu, Usako. I'm here. Tell me
what has upset you so."
Her voice was muffled as she clung to him. "I turn
18 in 3 months."
Mamoru thought she was trying to change the subject.
They both knew when her birthday was. He had thought of
little else lately. When she turned 18 he could finally
go to her parents and explain their engagement. The wedding
would follow soon after. "Usako-"
"Shhh." She admonished, stepping back from his arms
and wiping some of the tears off her cheeks. "I have to
say this." He did as she asked, looking at her expectantly.
"Mamo-chan," She began. "What would you say if I
told you I didn't want to have the wedding."
Mamoru's heart skipped a beat. The color drained
from his face. His voice came out twisted, disbelieving.
"Nani?!"
She rushed to him, cupping his face. "No! Oh, no,
Mamo-chan, don't look like that! I didn't mean it that
way! I'm not breaking up with you!"
A little bit of the light that had gone out in his
eyes returned as he stuttered, "W-well what did you mean?"
She sighed, dropping her hands from his face and
placing them demurely at her sides. "I mean... What would
you say if I said I wanted to wait a little while to get
married?"
He was as stiff as concrete. Something seemed to
ache in his chest, a melancholy longing. "I'd probably
want to know why. We've waited two lifetimes for this."
She nodded sadly, more tears now sliding down her
face. "I know... its just..." She turned her back to him
and let out a little noise of frustration. "Mamo-chan,
I'm sorry I'm so selfish! I just don't want all of this
to end!"
"All of what?"
She whirled around, holding her arms out, gesturing.
"This! All of this! You! Me! The last year has been so
wonderful, so perfect! I don't want anything to change!"
Mamoru could only stare at her passionate outburst.
"Mamo-chan, theres nothing in this world I want more then
to spend the rest of my life with you." Her voice got lower.
"But I'm so afraid. We know one day we'll ascend the
throne, be the rulers of Crystal Tokyo." The undertones
in her voice became desperate. "I'm scared that if we
get married, we'll just be moving that much closer to it!
And I'm not ready for that! I'm not that graceful woman
enclosed in crystal yet! I'M NOT!"
Her crying verged on becoming hysterical. He was
ashamed of himself for not talking this over with her
sooner. It was ignorant of him to think Usagi wouldn't
have the same concerns he had. Like the Senshi, he
often took it for granted that Usagi was usually all
sunshine and glee. They all forgot that Usagi could
have worries too, even if she was better at hiding
them.
He gently shook her by the shoulders until
she looked at him. "Usako." Her eyes were two
little pools of the purest blue sky. "Daijobu. We
don't need a wedding to know how we feel about
each other." Her expression was a mixture of relief
and gratitude as she melted into his embrace. "I can
wait until your ready for that step, as long as your
with me."
Her gaze locked on to his. Even with her eyes
red and her cheeks puffy from crying she was breath taking.
"I'll always be with you, Mamo-chan." His head tilted down
to hers, and their lips met. Whenever they kissed, the
Earth itself moved for Mamoru. He lost himself in her,
his soulmate. He could wait an infinity if thats what
she needed. His arms reached underneath her, lifting
her off the ground and carrying her back to bed.
Since that night he'd made peace with the fact
that she wasn't ready. Mamoru often forgot just how
young Usagi really was. They both knew they'd be around
for a long time. There was no reason to rush into things.
As long as they stuck together, it would all turn out
all right.
From outside he heard the wind beat across the windows.
It seemed particularly fierce, almost hungry. In his mind's
eye he imagined the wind as a creature, a ravenous beast
determined to get inside and satisfy its appetite with
them.
He got up from his position on the floor and
stretched out protectfully against Usagi. For some reason
in his agitated state he thought the howling wind would see
her radiance and want her more then him. ".... ZZZ ...
Rei-chan, get your own.... This sundaes mine.... ZZZ..."
Mamoru kissed her forehead as she murmured dreamily.
"Sleep a little longer, Usako. I won't let the wind take you
from me." He refused to wake her up for the meeting until he
was sure the wind had moved on.
Pluto glared at her opponent. She was sitting in a
chair that was floating high above a chess board. Below
her pawn, Queen, and King faced off against the other sides
rook and King. She'd followed the Gatekeeper this far, but
she'd slipped through her fingers. Now she couldn't leave
unless she could win this game.
"Pawn move forward," she called out.
Her pawn stepped forward to where she motioned.
"Rook, move forward." Her challenger proclaimed.
The rook moved ahead, slapping the pawn which was in
the shape of a naked girl across the face. The little pawn
cried out as the rook grinned.
Pluto smiled herself. "Queen, move forward."
Her Queen triumphantly moved in on the rook, using its
whip to knock it aside. It glared at the King which had no
where to go. "Checkmate."
The woman seated across from her sighed as she went to
remove her fuku. She unpinned her long green hair and let it
fall to the floor. Pluto's mirror image floated down to the
board, all the chess pieces waiting for her. "Another game?"
called a voice above her.
Pluto turned and stared at the Mistress of Mirror Land
and shook her head. She readied her time staff for the next
jump. "Pluto-chan?"
Pluto paused and glanced at her.
"We will see you Tuesday at the usual time, ne?"
The Guardian of Time's lips turned up at the corners,
her face set with amusement. "Hai." With that she
disappeared.
The Mistress grinned at where she had stood. She
snapped her fingers, shedding her own garments as she
joined the gratuitous female orgy below.
Minako was one of the last to leave the Auditorium
the day. Many of her fellow thespians had stopped her
on her way out to say how very sorry they were about how
they had treated her the past week. Minako took their
apologies benevolently, forgiving them when she probably
shouldn't have.
She still didn't understand what had made Kiro tell
everyone the truth. He had ran in the auditorium so fast
you would have thought the hounds of hell were chasing him.
Before everyone's shocked eyes he'd gotten down on his knees
and begged for her forgiveness. Glancing around he had
proclaimed just how wrong he was, how stupid and insecure
he must have been to have to make up vicious rumors about
such a beautiful woman like her.
Speechless, she couldn't even reply to him. Her stare
seemed to cut into him like a razor, for he winced as if
someone was hurting him. "Please Mina-chan! I beg you to
forgive me!"
Dumbly she nodded, forcing a "OK..." from her mouth.
Overjoyed he leaped to his feet, babbling the whole time
about how wrong he was, what a liar he could be. He mentioned
something about quitting acting and going into treatment
somewhere before rushing out the doors.
The first real grin in a week donned her face as she
thought of the justice that had prevailed. Aino Minako,
champion of love and beauty, had triumphed once more! She
was so busy patting herself on the back that she didn't
notice his presence till he put his hand over her mouth.
"I would suggest against struggling right now."
Before she could even think of getting away a bright
purple light eclipsed her and the man behind her. When
next her eyes opened, she found herself in what appeared
to be a cavern. It had rock walls, any movements they
made echoing around them. She got herself out of his arms
and reached for her henshin stick.
"Don't." Valka pleaded gently. She hesitated. "I'm
sorry I had to bring you here this way, but I'm short on
time. If I had tried to get you to agree to come here
it would have taken me hours to explain."
"Send me back!" She cried out defiantly at him.
"A few moments of your time, thats all I ask! Please!"
She glared at him, and then her watch. She had an hour
till the meeting. "Speak."
He relaxed, smiling gratefully at her. "Thank you." He
looked different when he smiled, the sharp lines in his face
relaxed. Looking at him she couldn't help but admire him.
He was just as handsome as when she had first saw him in
battle.
For a few seconds they did nothing but stare at
each other. Valka was spell bound by seeing her up close.
Her golden hair cascaded down her back, her body shining
with an inner radiance. She looked so out of place in
these caverns. "Where are we?"
"This," he began. "is where I was reborn into the
life I now lead." His shoulders tensed under the fabric of his
expensive shirt. "I thought it was an appropriate place for my
confession."
"Confession?" asked Minako confused.
"Hai," he murmured. "Minako-chan..." he let the name
roll off his tongue. "Minako-chan... I..."
"Yes?" she encouraged him.
"Minako-chan... I'm in love with you."
"NANI?!" she screeched. It echoed through the entire
cave, bouncing off the walls. Valka had to put his hands
to his ears.
"Its true," he began hesitantly. "I wasn't sure at
first, but this last week-"
"Your why Kiro acted the way he did!" She gasped,
putting a hand up to her mouth to hide her shock. He was
the reason Kiro had apologized!
"Hai."
"But why? You don't even know me! I have all these
annoying habits! I snore! I drool in my sleep! I bite
my fingernails! I have dry patches of skin on my elbows!
I-"
Minako broke off her rant as he pressed his lips to
hers. She'd never been kissed like that. It was feather
light, a demure kiss that held the promise of becoming
bolder if she let it. He broke from her lips and gazed
down at her, ignoring the little hearts in her eyes.
"Sugoi..." They both whispered.
This lovely moment was brought to an end by a
shrill hissing coming from Valka's wrist. He cursed as
he looked at it. "Daijobu?" Minako asked worriedly.
"I've got to get you back." He said angrily.
She started to protest, but he silenced her with
another kiss, this one hotter, more demanding. "I
wish we could stay here and talk about this all
night. Theres so many things I need to tell you."
One of his fingers reached up and caressed her cheek.
"Its too dangerous to stay here when hes looking for
me. I'm sorry-"
This time it was she who interrupted him by
pressing her lips to his. "I don't even know you,"
she murmured out loud. "Your my enemy."
They were standing so close to each other you
couldn't have fit a toothpick in between them. "I'll
explain it all to you, I swear. I'd do it now if it
wouldn't be putting you in danger. I can't allow that
to happen."
She nearly swooned at his words. Suddenly, she
reached up and removed his sunglasses. She wanted to
see why he was hiding his eyes. Her mouth opened as
she took in a sharp breath. "Oh, Kami-sama."
The right side of his face was swollen to an angry
purple. He could only open that eye up to a slit. Smiling,
he wiped away the tears that welled up in her eyes. "Are
you crying for me, Mina-chan? Don't do that. I don't like
seeing you cry for any reason."
She was so caught up in staring at him she didn't even
think it was odd he knew her non-Senshi name. "Tell me your
not my enemy. Swear to me you've given them up and come
here to help me and my friends."
She thought she caught hesitation in his eyes. "Theres
things you don't know, things I've done-"
"You can tell me. I'll understand." Her eyes shined with
complete trust and faith. "Usagi-chan will understand." Minako
knew she would. Usagi could forgive anyone. "We'll fight with
you."
"I won't fight you, I promise." His clutched her tighter
to him as the purple light gathered around them. "Gomen,
Minako-chan, for leaving you in such a way. I will come
back and help you and your friends if thats what you want.
I'll tell them everything."
Her eyes closed as she inhaled his scent, wanting to
remember it. 'Insane,' she thought softly, as his body slipped
from her fingers. 'I wonder if this is how Usagi-chan felt
when she fell in love Tuxedo Kamen-sama.' Strange how
comforting the unknown arms of a stranger could be.
When she opened her eyes again she was alone, in front
of the Auditorium. In her hand she clutched his sunglasses.
Without a thought she put them over eyes and headed towards
the meeting.
It would help hide her tears.
Valka watched her go with regret, taking pride in the
way she held her chin high. She was so strong, so stoic. It
gave him hope. If her other friends were even half the woman
she was, maybe they could stop Dagon and Toro-sama.
"In your dreams, Valka-chan."
The crook of Dagon's arm wedged underneath his neck,
painfully tight. The air in his lungs caught. He winced
as Dagon moved his other hand underneath his shirt, raking
his fingernails across his chest. "So foolish of you to
meet there, in that place. Did you think I'd forgotten it?"
He tongue reached out and flicked Valka's earlobe. "I
warned you no good could come from your obsession with that
girl. A pity you didn't listen.
Black spots swam into his vision. "Dagon... please,"
he said weakly. "You can have the Gatekeeper. Leave Minako-chan
alone." He hissed as the grip on his windpipe tightened.
"I'll let them get her for me. When they do, I'll
take them all out at once." Valka's eyes were beginning to
flutter. "Until then you and I will have fun together,
ne Val-ka-chan?" he sang the syllables.
Purple light flared, and they were gone.
"Hotaru-chan!" greeted Chibi-Usa, waving at her.
"Ohaiyo, Chibi-Usa-chan!" Haruka and Michiru had
just pulled up at the Senshi's apartment. Chibi-Usa
was staked out in the parking lot, too far away for
anyone to see her. "Have you been waiting long?"
"No, Mamo-chan and Usagi-chan just arrived a
few minutes ago. Did you find out anything?"
Hotaru shook her head sadly. "No. They didn't
leave our house today until they came here."
Chibi-Usa sighed. "I'm about to give up this
stake-out. We've been here a week and nothing else
has happened."
"Don't give up! Maybe the others found out
something today."
"The others," murmured Chibi-Usa, looking around.
"Where are they anyway? I saw Minako get here a second
ago."
"Lets try looking up there," Hotaru pointed to
the apartment building. "Thats where they were yesterday."
Glancing around to make sure no one was watching
they transformed. They leaped from ledge to ledge
lightening quick till they were at the top. Both their
faces dropped to the floor as they took in the sight.
The Asteroid Senshi were all stretched out on
massage tables. Men in dark suits with sunglasses on
massaged their limbs. Two of the men had bandages wrapped
around their heads. They seemed anxious, eager to please.
The girls ignored them, talking as if they weren't there.
"Have you ever seen a woman so afraid of her brother
before?" asked Vesta.
Ceres shook her head letting out a little contented
sigh. "It was priceless. The look on her face when
Shinobu-san pulled out that fake gun. I think she wet
herself."
They all cracked up.
"What is going on here?!" both Chibi-Usa and Hotaru
asked.
"Ohaiyo, Sailor Moon, Sailor Saturn!" They called in
unison, unperturbed by their shock.
"Who are these guys?!" Saturn asked.
"Their our prisoners." called out Juno.
"Prisoners?! How did you get prisoners?" They started
to explain but Chibi-Usa stopped them. "Wait, nevermind. I
don't want to know. Send them back! We have Senshi business
to discuss."
"Oh, Sailor Moon, don't be a stick in the mud.
Come here." She got up as did Vesta. They both took one of
the stunned new comers and had them lay down on the table.
"Relax, ease your tensions. These guys like giving rubdowns,
don't you fellas?"
Ceres fixed them with a hard glare. All of them shook
their heads enthusiastically, scared to death they'd attack
again. The men had learned not to cross them. "Hai!"
"Guys, I don't think...." She stopped with her protests
as the man rubbed her back. "Mmmm.... Hey... This DOES
feel pretty good, ne Saturn?"
"Mmmm hmmm," she murmured, her eyes closed.
"Okay, maybe we can break for a while." All thoughts of
Senshi business washed from her mind. Ceres tossed the other
Senshi a thumbs up sign. "They can survive without us one
night, right?"
Michael watched Aradia light the last of her candles.
She stood in the middle of a circle of salt, a plain green
tunic adorning her petite frame. She began to murmur ancient
incantations as she threw pieces of root into a gray cauldron
in front of her. "I can't believe you do all this
mumbo-jumbo."
She paused in her reciting to answer him. "This
'mumbo-jumbo' as you call it is going to find our target. If
I didn't use it, you wouldn't even have the memories you have
now. Remember that." Her voice rose again as she continued.
Her body began to glow with a white light. Before her
a hazy image seemed to unfold in the smoke rising out of the
cauldron. Michael had to restrain himself from stepping
closer to look. She had warned him that entering the confines
of the circle could be dangerous.
"The park," she whispered. The image intensified. It
was a bench, the same one she had disappeared from a week
ago. They had just missed that time. "She'll appear
there...and she'll have company..." She opened her eyes
and the picture in the smoke vanished. "Seta!"
He stood up from his position on the floor.
"C'mon. If Pluto gets there before we do-"
"We'll get there," Aradia assured him. She watched
in fascination as he transformed, his clothes turning
black, a large hat shadowing much of his face. He'd
never transformed in front of her before. "Michael-"
she faltered. "She might not be who you think, anymore."
He grabbed her hand, rushing out the door with
her faster then a normal human could run. "I'm prepared
for that." He said in a tight voice that clearly stated
he wasn't.
"Are you also prepared for the others? Mercury's
computer will probably sense her as well."
She thought he would ignore her comment until he
whispered, "Like a knife twisting in my heart. The blood
pulsing through it. For duty, for honor, for love-" his
voice broke at the ancient oath he had uttered once
long ago.
They ran on in silence.
================================================================
Questions? Comments? Arrows?
Angst88@aol.com
http://www.geocities.com/emporess888/
-Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.
=================================================================
Sailor Moon ain't mine.
================================================================
Fall From Grace
By: Emporess
================================================================
The sky is deep, the sky is dark.
The light of stars is so damn stark.
When I look up, I fill with fear.
If all we have is what lies here,
this lonely world, this troubled place,
the cold dead stars and empty space...
Well, I see no reason to preserve,
no reason to laugh or shed a tear,
no reason to sleep or ever to wake,
no promises to keep, and none to make.
And so at night I still raise my eyes
to study the clear but mysterious skies
that arch above us, as cold as stone.
Are you there God? Are we alone?
-Dean Koontz
The Book of Counted Sorrows
Chapter 4:
Enigma
Makoto sighed in relief as she saw the bottom of the box.
After placing the last of the Damania on the shelf she took a
step back and admired her work. All day she had been unpacking
the new shipments that had arrived. It'd been a battle, but
now all the herbs were placed neatly on the rows. She put
her arms above her head and stretched, stifling a yawn.
"Looks good," came a voice behind her.
She turned around and smiled. "Thanks, Aradia."
The woman was short, Makoto towering over her. She
was petite, with delicate features. Her eyes were ice blue,
oval shaped. Her hair was long and a brilliant shade of red
cascading almost to her feet. She wore a flowing green dress
of soft silk, with a lighter green smock. Her jewelry was
a emerald bracelet, jade earrings, and a silver necklace
from which hung a green rock. Aradia had informed her it
was a bloodstone. The only thing she wore that was not
green was the pink moonstone on her left ring finger.
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Makoto." Her
hands were crossed in front of her as she took in the rows.
"It would have taken me days to get the full shipment up,
but you do it in one!"
"It was nothing," Makoto said blushing. Aradia always
heaped praise on her for any task she did. She was the
strangest boss Makoto had ever worked for. And the nicest.
"Your always saying that." Aradia teased her. "Why
don't you go take off that apron and head home."
"Are you sure?" She asked, maybe a bit too eagerly.
Aradia laughed. "Hai. Go out and have a good time.
Its Friday night." Makoto thanked her profusely and went
into the back to hang up the smock. It didn't surprise her
too much that her boss let her leave. She was always doing
things that she found off-the-wall.
For starters, Aradia always wore everything the same
color. Mondays were always white. Tuesdays were always red.
Wednesdays were orange. Thursdays were blue or purple.
Fridays were green, Saturdays black, and Sundays yellow.
It never varied. She had smocks and matching jewelry for
each day. The only thing she always wore was her favorite
ring. When Makoto had asked her about it, she said it
was, "Better for all concerned." Soon after that, she
learned not to ask anymore questions unless she wanted
half-answers.
Besides the clothes, she also refused to use
honorifics. She wouldn't allow anyone to call her anything
but Aradia, period. Makoto didn't even know her last name.
She also refused to use them on anyone else. She even
referred to customers by their first name. It had taken some
getting used to.
The hours she kept the shop open were crazy too. Some
days she'd be open only a few hours, on occasion she'd stay
open all night. When Makoto had taken the job, she'd been
told to say when she wanted to work or when she didn't. Aradia
never called her in, never asked her to stay. In fact, she'd
often close the shop when Makoto was set to work and still
pay her for the hours she had missed! It was insane!
She hadn't specified to her friend's where exactly
the shop was. Several times they'd wanted to come see but
she always told them it wasn't a good idea. They assumed
the manager was the problem, but the truth was she was
embarrassed to be working there. The store wasn't really
a 'garden store'. It sold herbs, yes, but thats where the
similarities ended. Aradia called it a 'Gateway to
Perceptions'. Makoto classified it as an occult store.
Besides the herbs it had incense, candles, amulets,
bells, crystals, oils, you name it. There were books in
all kinds of languages, old to new. The name of the place
was a mouthful: ARIANRHOD. She still had trouble getting
the word out of her mouth. Makoto asked her what the name
meant and she had only smiled mysteriously. She often
mused on introducing her to Setsuna. What a pair they'd
make!
She walked out of the back, going through all the
things she had to do when she got home. The first Senshi
meeting with the Outers since the last battle was tonight
and she was nervous. The Inner Senshi had met the very
next day and talked over all the things that had happened.
Excluding Haruka and Michiru hadn't been intentional in the
beginning. As the meeting had worn on it began to dawn on
them that for the first time they had power that the Outers
did not. They had memories which the other Senshi didn't
share. The end of that meeting had been devoted to coming
up with carefully edited versions of their stories to feed
to them.
Only Usagi had objected to this. "You guys, I thought
we were all going to work with them as a team. It doesn't
seem right to horde information like-"
"Like they do?" asked Rei, bitterness dripping from her
voice.
"Rei-chan-" Usagi began.
"No! Rei-chan's right." Minako interrupted her protests.
"We still have no idea where Setsuna-san is. Hotaru-chan is
missing too. Haruka-san and Michiru-san refused to tell us if
they were even in the city! All they did was warn us about
talking to Sensei, despite the fact they admitted they don't have
a clue who she is or was!"
"They could be right about that one, Minako-chan." Artemis
couldn't help but add in. During the meeting the cats had been
very interested in their descriptions of their ex-teacher.
After filling them in, both Luna and Artemis had dim memories
resurface. "The only thing we know is that you all did have
a teacher during the Silver Millennium, and this person also
was the bodyguard of Queen Serenity." He tactfully avoided
mentioning she was her lover as well. "Even if she IS
that woman in silver, we don't know if she acts the same.
She could be dangerous."
All of them had chorused in their denials at that one.
Makoto's memories of her were confined to just that one
practice session, yet she and the others still felt an
overwhelming loyalty towards her. The hidden memories of
Sensei seemed buried under water, like she could barely
glimpse them from the surface. No matter how hard they tried,
they still couldn't remember any more.
Only Mamoru sided with the cats and the Outers. He
didn't know who the girl's were talking about, though surely
he had seen her at one of the many inter-planetary balls.
He too had racked his brain, but without any real description
of what she looked like, nothing occurred to him. He seemed
uneasy with the whole topic of her all-together. "Settle
down," He pleaded to them as they jumped to the unknown's
defense. "No ones asking us to attack her on site. All
Artemis is saying is just be cautious."
Usagi looked unhappy with his prognosis. In fact, Makoto
reflected, she hadn't really agreed with anything anyone said.
At first, she thought Usagi was still embarrassed to have such
revealing memories of her Mother from the past. Instead she
just didn't seem to like the direction any of them were
taking. They were closing ranks, keeping out anyone who
could even prove slightly threatening. It was Usagi's way
to forgive, to love everyone no matter what. No one was
unredeemable in Usagi's eyes.
Makoto was so lost in these thoughts that she didn't
hear Aradia calling out to her. "Makoto! Hey, Makoto!"
She walked over to the cash register. "Sorry, I kinda
spaced out there for a minute didn't I?"
Aradia grinned at her. "Don't apologize. Nothing wrong
with a little meditation, no matter where you do it!" Makoto
wisely chose not to comment. "I didn't mean to interrupt, but
I wanted to give this to you before you left." She reached
below the register and pulled out a simple necklace made out
of tan suede. Hanging from it was a honey-brown stone with
banded gold tints.
Makoto shook her head stubbornly. "Aradia, I can't
take that." The stone was smooth, and obviously of high
quality. It looked a lot nicer than even the ones she'd
seen in the shop here. Ever since she had worked there,
her boss was always passing on little things for her to
take home. Special teas, different herbs, it seemed like
her boss always knew what she needed to feel better,
stronger. This was the first time she'd tried to give
her jewelry, and Makoto couldn't accept it.
"Nonsense," She said, standing on tip toe to place
it around her neck. "It'll being you luck!" She winked
at her and made little shooing motions as she ignored
her protests. "Go on now. I'll see you next Monday."
Makoto impulsively pulled her in for a quick embrace.
Aradia stiffened but then hugged her back. She waved
and headed for the door, almost bumping into the customer
coming in.
"Gomen," came the man's voice even as she retreated
backwards a step to avoid a collision. "I wasn't watching
where I was going-"
"No, its my fault-" She said apologetically before
glancing up at him and then gasping.
"Its you!" They both said in unison, surprised.
"Oh you two know each other?" asked Aradia, her voice
carrying over from the register.
"H-hai," Makoto stuttered. For some reason she felt
uneasy about seeing him again. "How have you been,
Spar-san?"
He smiled, relaxing from his original shock. "Fine,
just fine, Kino-san. I didn't expect to see you here though."
"I work here," She replied, gazing at him. Something
about him, something important. It was a nagging little
feeling at the bottom of her stomach. "Do you come here often?"
"Michael is one of our regular customers," Aradia called,
still not moving over to them. "I'm surprised you've never seen
him here before."
"Is that Tiger eye?" He asked, pointing to the little
stone hanging from her neck.
"Um, I don't know-" She felt silly. How could she have
forgotten to ask Aradia what the stone was? She glanced at
her employer, but she had moved to the other side of the
store, out of hearing range.
Michael took the opportunity to examine it closer.
"Hai, its Tiger eye all right. A very nice one, too. Where
did you get it?"
"Aradia gave it to me..." Was it her imagination, or
did he seem to blanch at that information? If he did it was
only a flicker across his face before it was gone and
replaced with his normal friendly grin.
"Did you know that Tiger eye is known for its truth
discerning capabilities?"
"No, I didn't..." Her heart pounded a stataco beat.
Maybe that was why she was feeling so uncomfortable around
him. She felt like he was radiating negativity. Well maybe
that was too strong. Something was just wrong, something
ODD. That was the best word for it. Odd.
He tried to make his voice sound light and airy but
it didn't seem that way to Makoto. "Wouldn't want to play
poker with you wearing that!"
His comment made her think about the meeting. Perhaps
it would come in handy with Haruka and Michiru. She glanced
at her watch and gasped. If she didn't hurry, she'd never
have the food ready in time. "Oh! I've got to go! Good-bye
Aradia! Bye Spar-san!" She waved, pushing past him and
letting the door close behind her.
"That was cute." Michael sent a blistering glare
at Aradia. "You couldn't have warned me ahead of time
she'd be here?"
Aradia smirked at him as she came over, reaching
behind him to turn the sign on the door to 'CLOSED'
before locking it. "What fun would there be in that?"
"Oh yes, we'd hate to cut out on the fun." He
sighed and followed her into the back room marked
"PRIVATE" that led to her personal apartment. "And
I suppose giving her that necklace was just for
more kicks as well?"
"Shes going to a meeting that those liars will
be attending. You had to have read that from her. Shes been
projecting that thought all day."
He snorted. "Hardly. With that Tiger eye around
her neck I'm surprised she didn't just jump at me and
begin a round of 20 questions. Shes suspicious enough
of me already."
She paused in front of one of the doors leading
from the main hallway. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have
been so callous."
He finally gave her a solid smile, tugging at
a strand of her long hair. She made a little twirl
of her finger and the hair plated itself into
lots of tiny braids, sweeping back from her face,
revealing her pointed ears. "Must be the elf inside
you, bursting to get out."
She grinned back. "Hey, I gotta be me. Any word?"
"Nope, nothing. Shes appearing all over the place.
I can feel those little spastic bursts you taught me
to look for. Shes jumping in and out of this continuum."
Aradia nodded sadly. "Thats what I've been getting
too. I can't begin to pinpoint a location when she only
stays there a few seconds." They were still standing
outside the room. "When do you want to go to them?"
His expression became cold. "I don't want to go
at all."
"OK, it doesn't matter to me." Her voice was calm
and level. "I don't owe elegiance to anyone really. You
know who I want to speak to."
"When I find Celeste, you'll find Pluto."
She nodded but couldn't resist adding, "But at
what cost to you? I know its killing you not to
see him."
"I don't owe him anything in this life." He spoke
through clenched teeth. His hand balled up into a fist
as he tried to control his temper. "The Silver Millennium
is over, Aradia."
"Hai," She sighed, her voice sounding wistful. "And
the day I really believe you've given all that up, is the
day I sell everything I own and join a nudist colony."
He laughed, relieved to find her easing the tension.
"Too late, you did that once already."
She laughed too. "Opps." She turned the knob on the
door and began to walk in. She stopped again and without
turning around said in a more somber tone. "I mean it, Mikel.
Your going to destroy yourself. Think about it, ne?"
"Hai." That one syllable was full of bitter resentment
as he followed her inside.
The front of the auditorium was crowded with the
summer drama group. All of the students were paired off into
small cliques rehearsing lines, reading scripts, or just
chattering on about things that had nothing to do with the
play. The one exception was the pretty young lady with pale
blonde hair near the back of the stage. She sat alone,
staring intently at her own script, ignoring the people
around her.
'Correction,' thought Valka bitterly. 'Not people.
Morons.'
He was seated in the very back of the place, making
himself nearly invisible with the shadows. The fact that
he was dressed in his customary black didn't hurt either.
He topped off his ensemble with a pair of stylish raybans,
which hid most of his features, particularly his swollen left
eye.
"Asshole," he muttered under his breath, cursing
Dagon.
It'd been difficult for him to even get away from
the tyrant. Ever since helping Sailor Moon that night,
Dagon had been a pain in the neck. He constantly harped
about the pressure they were under to find The Gatekeeper,
and fast. As far as he could see, Toro-sama hadn't made
any ultimatums. As long as they trailed her energy force,
they'd eventually be able to pick her up.
The eye was from mentioning this to Dagon one too
many times. "Damn you," Dagon had hissed at Valka, glowering
over him as he held his wounded eye. "Because of you, not
only did we miss her the first time, but we didn't eliminate
those Senshi, either!" He leaned in closer till he was at
eye level with him. "Valka-CHAN, don't you ever cross me
again, understand?"
Valka had stood up and angrily pushed him backwards,
trying not to show the tremors he was feeling inside. "Quit
calling me that! I'm not as nieve as I once was." He walked
away briskly, suppressing the urge to run.
He could hear the evil lilt to his voice even as
he walked away. "Hai, but its not about whether you want it or
not, ne Valka-CHAN?!"
"Asshole," he hissed again, pressing his teeth together
so hard his jaw ached. He was cursed, cursed to a life of
bitter memories and broken dreams. It seemed like he would
never be able to find even a moment of peace.
He watched Minako pretend to read her lines for probably
the 100th time. If she heard the snickering or the taunting
from the people around her she certainly didn't act like it.
She continued reading as if nothing was amiss.
From the other mind's onstage he learned what happened.
The little chaos energy had obviously caused a ruckus in
Minako's behavior. At first, he'd been afraid the other
thespians were right, that Minako had lost control and done
just what Kiro had told everyone he was going to get from
her.
However, reading the little fink's thoughts he could
tell he was lying. Telepathy and mind reading were never
truly an exact science. He couldn't know for sure what
other people were thinking, but he could get an idea. Kiro
was going on and on about what a sexpot Minako was, but inside
his brain waves were erratic, doing an intricate little dance
which screamed out 'BULLSHIT!'.
Minako was behaving admirably for someone so shunned. He
barely scanned her, for with her Senshi abilities, she could
pick up on formal probes easily. The Senshi were unaware of this
talent, often comparing it to feeling butterflies in their
stomachs, or a tingling on their neck. Minako didn't sense a thing,
she was so caught up in appearing non-chalet. He didn't need to
read her mind to tell she was miserable. He felt bad, considering
it was his fault she was infected to begin with.
Kiro was really living it up with his friends. Valka's
superior hearing could pick up every word he said. His cronies
egged him on to embellishing more and more. Soon he'd be saying
they'd done it on top of the Tokyo Tower while hanging upside
down over the railing. Valka snorted in disgust.
At that moment Kiro excused himself from the group, heading
for the stairs at the end of the stage. He passed by Minako,
leering without stopping. She took no notice. He was soon moving
up the aisle, right past Valka. He exited the auditorium.
Valka's smiled maliciously as he stood to follow him.
Juno looked down at the sidewalk below. She watched as
Ami, still dressed in her white coat went through the double
doors at the front of the apartments. Seconds later, Pallas
appeared next to her on the ledge of the building. "Hi, Juno!"
she greeted as she took a seat.
"Yo," Juno replied sullenly. She was bored out of her mind.
Par Chibi-Usa's orders, they'd each been staking out one of the
Senshi. In the past few days she'd followed Makoto to school,
to work, shopping. The only thing that had perked her interest
at all was the dojo she attended. Juno tried to follow her in
but was turned away at the door. Seemed to be a very exclusive
place, which infuriated her.
The rest of them shared her frustrations. The Asteroid
Senshi liked it back in the past. Here, they weren't known.
They didn't have to worry about being recognized as Princess
Usagi's court. With out official duties to perform, they were
free to come and go as they pleased.
Or they would have been if Chibi-Usa hadn't been so
stubborn. Juno didn't even know why they were bothering
spying on the girls. Chibi-Usa decided to tail Usagi,
Saturn got both the Outers, Ceres Minako, and Vesta had Rei.
"Pallas wants to go have fun!" The smallest of the 4
complained.
"Me too." They didn't have much for attention spans,
neither in the future or the past. The fact they had stuck to
their mission as long as they did was a miracle in itself.
"ARGH I can't take it anymore." Announced a voice
to their left. They turned and were surprised to see Vesta
next to them. "Mars is just as boring here as she is in
Crystal Tokyo!"
"You left your post?" asked Juno.
She grumbled. "I couldn't help it. If I had to watch
her rake those damn leaves one more time-"
"Girls," called a mellow voice. Ceres was sitting
daintily on a lamp post a few stories below them. It seemed
she too had got fed up with waiting for Minako. She filed
her fingernails and smiled at them. "As leader of Princess
Usagi's court, I say-" They all braced themselves for what
they figured would be one of her lame pep talks. "to HELL
with watching them! Lets go to the Arcade!"
"HAI!" They all called out, raising their hands in
agreement.
They jumped several stories to the ground, startling
some people standing around waiting for a bus. "What are you
looking at?" Vesta asked the stunned faces. Wisely the
passengers turned their heads, pretending they saw nothing.
The citizens of Tokyo were used to ignoring the bizarre.
Pallas skipped ahead, eager to get there. She was
brought to a sudden halt by an arrow swishing through the
air, landing inches from her nose. She jumped back letting
out a little shriek. A little white note with a person's
name written on it popped off the stem and unscrolled
itself.
*SHINOBU!*
"Nani?!" exclaimed the 3 girls.
"Pallas hates arrows!" Pallas squealed.
"Whose Shinobu?" Ceres wondered aloud.
"That would be me," came a faint voice.
"Who said that?" Juno looked around suspiciously.
"Me." They all looked down and saw a young man with
lavender hair laying flat on his stomach. He gave them a
small wave which only Pallas returned. "Sorry about that."
"Incoming!" warned Vesta. They all hit the dirt
as three more arrows whooshed through the air where they
had been.
"SHINOBU!!!!" Someone yelled from far away.
"Who in the hell is that?" growled Juno.
"My sister Nagisa. Shes a little... disturbed."
"Your sister is trying to kill you?" asked Ceres
incredulously.
"Yea, seems that way." He seemed pretty calm about
the whole thing.
"Why?" demanded Juno.
"Because she hates me."
By this time 20 arrows were imbedded in the concrete
above their heads. All had little scribblings hanging down
from them. "OK, this has gone on long enough." Ceres stood
and yelled at the direction the arrows were coming from. "I
am the Pretty Sailor Senshi, Sailor Ceres! I won't let you
shoot arrows at us and ruin our trip to the Arcade! In the
name of video game players everywhere, I will punish you!"
She finished by posing, but had to fall back to the ground
as another arrow almost tagged her. The message attached
was like a slap in the face.
*OH YEA? YOU AND WHAT ARMY?!*
It was followed by a rapid succession of sharp
instruments, from knives to ninja stars being thrown
at them. Little pieces of wall rained down on them as
it was chipped away. Pallas held her arms above her
head. "Pallas doesn't like this!" She screeched. "Pallas
is PISSED!"
"Thats it!" Juno crawled over the ground below
the line of fire. She beckoned the others to follow her.
"Shinobu-san, your taking us to her place. I wanna have
a little chat with her." She cracked her knuckles.
He shrugged. "I was headed there anyway."
Kiro flicked his cigarette, watching it fall
into the bushes. His fingers moved through his hair,
smoothing down any stay strands. "I hope you enjoyed that
cigarette."
Kiro turned around and stared at the stranger who
had addressed him. The man was a few inches shorter then
him. He could have stepped off a fashion billboard. He was
dressed to kill, from his Italian shoes to his diamond
cuff links. "Pardon?" Kiro asked, sure he'd misunderstood
him.
"Since it will be your last smoke, I let you finish
it." The man's voice was light, as if he was discussing
the weather. He tilted his head towards him. "Did you
enjoy it?"
"What the hell are you babbling about?" He asked,
taking a step towards him. He thought his superior height
gave him an advantage.
The man moved a hand up in front of him, a beam of
purple energy flying from his extended fingertips. It hit
Kiro squarely in the chest, knocking him off his feet. "No
need to get vulgar. I had hoped to keep these proceedings
as civil as possible."
Kiro's eyes widened in terror as he watched the man's skin
take on a yellow pallor. His hair seemed to be darkening as well.
"W-what are y-y-you?" It was even more frightening not being able
to see the creature's eyes.
The man gave him a gross facsimile of a smile. "Call me a
good Samaritan. I'm here to give you some friendly advice." He
went to where he could stare into his face. "Little boys who
talk shit, are shit. Understand?"
"N-nani?" his voice had gone 10 octaves above normal.
So fast he didn't even have time to react, the man picked
him up by the lapels of his jacket and slammed him against the
outside of the auditorium. He felt like his back would break
from the force. "I'm losing my patience with you." He was
now inches from his face.
"I-I-I-I" Kiro was stuttering, all reason forgotten
in his terror. Up close, he could see the man's skin. It
was waxy, no dents or blemishes. He couldn't even spot
any pores!
"You," the being hissed, almost spitting on him it
was in such a rage. "You are going into that auditorium
and telling all of your little buddies what really
happened last night with that girl."
"G-girl....?"
"Thats right! Minako-chan!" He was nose to nose with
him now. "Your going to tell everyone the truth. Your
going to get down on your knees and beg that girl to forgive
you. In front of all of them. Because if you don't..." He
paused dramatically.
"....if I don't?" He questioned timidly.
Kiro screamed as he was tossed off the stairs, landing
face first into the sidewalk. "If you don't, I'll take you
up to the very top of Tokyo Tower and see if you can fly."
Kiro scrambled to his feet, wiping the trickle of
blood away from his lower lip. "Hai! HAI!" He brushed past
his tormentor he was in such haste to do as he commanded.
"MINA-CHAN! MINA-CHAN! I'M SORRY! MMMINNAAKKOO!" he
shouted as he rushed through the double doors.
Valka smiled as he trailed after Kiro. No way he was
going to miss this.
Mamoru moved around his apartment, straightening up
magazines, taking dishes to the sink. Usagi's clothes and
jewelry were flung all over his couch. Her CDs were
laying out of their cases in front of his stereo. The
bathroom counter was covered in her cosmetics.
'She ought to just move in,' he thought to himself.
'I doubt she has anything left in her room at home.' A half
hour later he had gotten the room back into order, Usagi's
stuff all neatly folded or stashed in her overnight bags.
He glanced at his wall clock, reminding himself he had to
wake up Usagi soon if they were going to make the Senshi
meeting.
He peeked into the bedroom, smiling at her appearance.
She was turned sideways on the bed, one leg dangling down
to the floor. In between her snores she mumbled images from
her dream, "Ice Cream .... ZZZZ .... With chocolate ...."
It sounded like she was enjoying herself. Earlier she
had complained of a massive headache. After assuring him she
was just tired from classes, she laid down to take a nap.
".... ZZZZZ .... Mamo-chan, get the butterscotch... ZZZ ..."
Laughing softly he went near the side of the bed and
kneeled down. It seemed a shame to wake her up from her happy
dream. He had to start soon though. It would take atleast
15 minutes of conjoling to make her wake up. She never had
the problems he had with sleeping.
'Except that one time,' he remembered sadly. It'd been
about a year ago. He woke up in the middle of the night,
as he often did. It took him a moment to realize what was
missing: Usagi wasn't sleeping next to him.
He bolted upright in bed. "Usako!"
"Mamo-chan." Her voice was faint, coming from the
balcony. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and
went to her. He paused just before stepping out the
double doors, gasping at the site of her.
Her white night-gown that trailed to her feet had
become transparent under the moonlight. Through
it he could see the outline of her body. She turned her
head over her shoulder to look at him. Her bangs seemed
to cause a shadow over all her features below her nose.
Her eyes were a vibrant blue, shining with unshed tears.
She looked achingly beautiful, the spitting image of
the Moon Princess that had taunted his dreams when he
was younger, before he had found her. "Mamo-chan."
"Usako..." He went forward and took her in his
strong arms, as she nestled her head into his shoulder.
He felt the tears that fell from her eyes and trailed
down his chest. "Daijobu, Usako. I'm here. Tell me
what has upset you so."
Her voice was muffled as she clung to him. "I turn
18 in 3 months."
Mamoru thought she was trying to change the subject.
They both knew when her birthday was. He had thought of
little else lately. When she turned 18 he could finally
go to her parents and explain their engagement. The wedding
would follow soon after. "Usako-"
"Shhh." She admonished, stepping back from his arms
and wiping some of the tears off her cheeks. "I have to
say this." He did as she asked, looking at her expectantly.
"Mamo-chan," She began. "What would you say if I
told you I didn't want to have the wedding."
Mamoru's heart skipped a beat. The color drained
from his face. His voice came out twisted, disbelieving.
"Nani?!"
She rushed to him, cupping his face. "No! Oh, no,
Mamo-chan, don't look like that! I didn't mean it that
way! I'm not breaking up with you!"
A little bit of the light that had gone out in his
eyes returned as he stuttered, "W-well what did you mean?"
She sighed, dropping her hands from his face and
placing them demurely at her sides. "I mean... What would
you say if I said I wanted to wait a little while to get
married?"
He was as stiff as concrete. Something seemed to
ache in his chest, a melancholy longing. "I'd probably
want to know why. We've waited two lifetimes for this."
She nodded sadly, more tears now sliding down her
face. "I know... its just..." She turned her back to him
and let out a little noise of frustration. "Mamo-chan,
I'm sorry I'm so selfish! I just don't want all of this
to end!"
"All of what?"
She whirled around, holding her arms out, gesturing.
"This! All of this! You! Me! The last year has been so
wonderful, so perfect! I don't want anything to change!"
Mamoru could only stare at her passionate outburst.
"Mamo-chan, theres nothing in this world I want more then
to spend the rest of my life with you." Her voice got lower.
"But I'm so afraid. We know one day we'll ascend the
throne, be the rulers of Crystal Tokyo." The undertones
in her voice became desperate. "I'm scared that if we
get married, we'll just be moving that much closer to it!
And I'm not ready for that! I'm not that graceful woman
enclosed in crystal yet! I'M NOT!"
Her crying verged on becoming hysterical. He was
ashamed of himself for not talking this over with her
sooner. It was ignorant of him to think Usagi wouldn't
have the same concerns he had. Like the Senshi, he
often took it for granted that Usagi was usually all
sunshine and glee. They all forgot that Usagi could
have worries too, even if she was better at hiding
them.
He gently shook her by the shoulders until
she looked at him. "Usako." Her eyes were two
little pools of the purest blue sky. "Daijobu. We
don't need a wedding to know how we feel about
each other." Her expression was a mixture of relief
and gratitude as she melted into his embrace. "I can
wait until your ready for that step, as long as your
with me."
Her gaze locked on to his. Even with her eyes
red and her cheeks puffy from crying she was breath taking.
"I'll always be with you, Mamo-chan." His head tilted down
to hers, and their lips met. Whenever they kissed, the
Earth itself moved for Mamoru. He lost himself in her,
his soulmate. He could wait an infinity if thats what
she needed. His arms reached underneath her, lifting
her off the ground and carrying her back to bed.
Since that night he'd made peace with the fact
that she wasn't ready. Mamoru often forgot just how
young Usagi really was. They both knew they'd be around
for a long time. There was no reason to rush into things.
As long as they stuck together, it would all turn out
all right.
From outside he heard the wind beat across the windows.
It seemed particularly fierce, almost hungry. In his mind's
eye he imagined the wind as a creature, a ravenous beast
determined to get inside and satisfy its appetite with
them.
He got up from his position on the floor and
stretched out protectfully against Usagi. For some reason
in his agitated state he thought the howling wind would see
her radiance and want her more then him. ".... ZZZ ...
Rei-chan, get your own.... This sundaes mine.... ZZZ..."
Mamoru kissed her forehead as she murmured dreamily.
"Sleep a little longer, Usako. I won't let the wind take you
from me." He refused to wake her up for the meeting until he
was sure the wind had moved on.
Pluto glared at her opponent. She was sitting in a
chair that was floating high above a chess board. Below
her pawn, Queen, and King faced off against the other sides
rook and King. She'd followed the Gatekeeper this far, but
she'd slipped through her fingers. Now she couldn't leave
unless she could win this game.
"Pawn move forward," she called out.
Her pawn stepped forward to where she motioned.
"Rook, move forward." Her challenger proclaimed.
The rook moved ahead, slapping the pawn which was in
the shape of a naked girl across the face. The little pawn
cried out as the rook grinned.
Pluto smiled herself. "Queen, move forward."
Her Queen triumphantly moved in on the rook, using its
whip to knock it aside. It glared at the King which had no
where to go. "Checkmate."
The woman seated across from her sighed as she went to
remove her fuku. She unpinned her long green hair and let it
fall to the floor. Pluto's mirror image floated down to the
board, all the chess pieces waiting for her. "Another game?"
called a voice above her.
Pluto turned and stared at the Mistress of Mirror Land
and shook her head. She readied her time staff for the next
jump. "Pluto-chan?"
Pluto paused and glanced at her.
"We will see you Tuesday at the usual time, ne?"
The Guardian of Time's lips turned up at the corners,
her face set with amusement. "Hai." With that she
disappeared.
The Mistress grinned at where she had stood. She
snapped her fingers, shedding her own garments as she
joined the gratuitous female orgy below.
Minako was one of the last to leave the Auditorium
the day. Many of her fellow thespians had stopped her
on her way out to say how very sorry they were about how
they had treated her the past week. Minako took their
apologies benevolently, forgiving them when she probably
shouldn't have.
She still didn't understand what had made Kiro tell
everyone the truth. He had ran in the auditorium so fast
you would have thought the hounds of hell were chasing him.
Before everyone's shocked eyes he'd gotten down on his knees
and begged for her forgiveness. Glancing around he had
proclaimed just how wrong he was, how stupid and insecure
he must have been to have to make up vicious rumors about
such a beautiful woman like her.
Speechless, she couldn't even reply to him. Her stare
seemed to cut into him like a razor, for he winced as if
someone was hurting him. "Please Mina-chan! I beg you to
forgive me!"
Dumbly she nodded, forcing a "OK..." from her mouth.
Overjoyed he leaped to his feet, babbling the whole time
about how wrong he was, what a liar he could be. He mentioned
something about quitting acting and going into treatment
somewhere before rushing out the doors.
The first real grin in a week donned her face as she
thought of the justice that had prevailed. Aino Minako,
champion of love and beauty, had triumphed once more! She
was so busy patting herself on the back that she didn't
notice his presence till he put his hand over her mouth.
"I would suggest against struggling right now."
Before she could even think of getting away a bright
purple light eclipsed her and the man behind her. When
next her eyes opened, she found herself in what appeared
to be a cavern. It had rock walls, any movements they
made echoing around them. She got herself out of his arms
and reached for her henshin stick.
"Don't." Valka pleaded gently. She hesitated. "I'm
sorry I had to bring you here this way, but I'm short on
time. If I had tried to get you to agree to come here
it would have taken me hours to explain."
"Send me back!" She cried out defiantly at him.
"A few moments of your time, thats all I ask! Please!"
She glared at him, and then her watch. She had an hour
till the meeting. "Speak."
He relaxed, smiling gratefully at her. "Thank you." He
looked different when he smiled, the sharp lines in his face
relaxed. Looking at him she couldn't help but admire him.
He was just as handsome as when she had first saw him in
battle.
For a few seconds they did nothing but stare at
each other. Valka was spell bound by seeing her up close.
Her golden hair cascaded down her back, her body shining
with an inner radiance. She looked so out of place in
these caverns. "Where are we?"
"This," he began. "is where I was reborn into the
life I now lead." His shoulders tensed under the fabric of his
expensive shirt. "I thought it was an appropriate place for my
confession."
"Confession?" asked Minako confused.
"Hai," he murmured. "Minako-chan..." he let the name
roll off his tongue. "Minako-chan... I..."
"Yes?" she encouraged him.
"Minako-chan... I'm in love with you."
"NANI?!" she screeched. It echoed through the entire
cave, bouncing off the walls. Valka had to put his hands
to his ears.
"Its true," he began hesitantly. "I wasn't sure at
first, but this last week-"
"Your why Kiro acted the way he did!" She gasped,
putting a hand up to her mouth to hide her shock. He was
the reason Kiro had apologized!
"Hai."
"But why? You don't even know me! I have all these
annoying habits! I snore! I drool in my sleep! I bite
my fingernails! I have dry patches of skin on my elbows!
I-"
Minako broke off her rant as he pressed his lips to
hers. She'd never been kissed like that. It was feather
light, a demure kiss that held the promise of becoming
bolder if she let it. He broke from her lips and gazed
down at her, ignoring the little hearts in her eyes.
"Sugoi..." They both whispered.
This lovely moment was brought to an end by a
shrill hissing coming from Valka's wrist. He cursed as
he looked at it. "Daijobu?" Minako asked worriedly.
"I've got to get you back." He said angrily.
She started to protest, but he silenced her with
another kiss, this one hotter, more demanding. "I
wish we could stay here and talk about this all
night. Theres so many things I need to tell you."
One of his fingers reached up and caressed her cheek.
"Its too dangerous to stay here when hes looking for
me. I'm sorry-"
This time it was she who interrupted him by
pressing her lips to his. "I don't even know you,"
she murmured out loud. "Your my enemy."
They were standing so close to each other you
couldn't have fit a toothpick in between them. "I'll
explain it all to you, I swear. I'd do it now if it
wouldn't be putting you in danger. I can't allow that
to happen."
She nearly swooned at his words. Suddenly, she
reached up and removed his sunglasses. She wanted to
see why he was hiding his eyes. Her mouth opened as
she took in a sharp breath. "Oh, Kami-sama."
The right side of his face was swollen to an angry
purple. He could only open that eye up to a slit. Smiling,
he wiped away the tears that welled up in her eyes. "Are
you crying for me, Mina-chan? Don't do that. I don't like
seeing you cry for any reason."
She was so caught up in staring at him she didn't even
think it was odd he knew her non-Senshi name. "Tell me your
not my enemy. Swear to me you've given them up and come
here to help me and my friends."
She thought she caught hesitation in his eyes. "Theres
things you don't know, things I've done-"
"You can tell me. I'll understand." Her eyes shined with
complete trust and faith. "Usagi-chan will understand." Minako
knew she would. Usagi could forgive anyone. "We'll fight with
you."
"I won't fight you, I promise." His clutched her tighter
to him as the purple light gathered around them. "Gomen,
Minako-chan, for leaving you in such a way. I will come
back and help you and your friends if thats what you want.
I'll tell them everything."
Her eyes closed as she inhaled his scent, wanting to
remember it. 'Insane,' she thought softly, as his body slipped
from her fingers. 'I wonder if this is how Usagi-chan felt
when she fell in love Tuxedo Kamen-sama.' Strange how
comforting the unknown arms of a stranger could be.
When she opened her eyes again she was alone, in front
of the Auditorium. In her hand she clutched his sunglasses.
Without a thought she put them over eyes and headed towards
the meeting.
It would help hide her tears.
Valka watched her go with regret, taking pride in the
way she held her chin high. She was so strong, so stoic. It
gave him hope. If her other friends were even half the woman
she was, maybe they could stop Dagon and Toro-sama.
"In your dreams, Valka-chan."
The crook of Dagon's arm wedged underneath his neck,
painfully tight. The air in his lungs caught. He winced
as Dagon moved his other hand underneath his shirt, raking
his fingernails across his chest. "So foolish of you to
meet there, in that place. Did you think I'd forgotten it?"
He tongue reached out and flicked Valka's earlobe. "I
warned you no good could come from your obsession with that
girl. A pity you didn't listen.
Black spots swam into his vision. "Dagon... please,"
he said weakly. "You can have the Gatekeeper. Leave Minako-chan
alone." He hissed as the grip on his windpipe tightened.
"I'll let them get her for me. When they do, I'll
take them all out at once." Valka's eyes were beginning to
flutter. "Until then you and I will have fun together,
ne Val-ka-chan?" he sang the syllables.
Purple light flared, and they were gone.
"Hotaru-chan!" greeted Chibi-Usa, waving at her.
"Ohaiyo, Chibi-Usa-chan!" Haruka and Michiru had
just pulled up at the Senshi's apartment. Chibi-Usa
was staked out in the parking lot, too far away for
anyone to see her. "Have you been waiting long?"
"No, Mamo-chan and Usagi-chan just arrived a
few minutes ago. Did you find out anything?"
Hotaru shook her head sadly. "No. They didn't
leave our house today until they came here."
Chibi-Usa sighed. "I'm about to give up this
stake-out. We've been here a week and nothing else
has happened."
"Don't give up! Maybe the others found out
something today."
"The others," murmured Chibi-Usa, looking around.
"Where are they anyway? I saw Minako get here a second
ago."
"Lets try looking up there," Hotaru pointed to
the apartment building. "Thats where they were yesterday."
Glancing around to make sure no one was watching
they transformed. They leaped from ledge to ledge
lightening quick till they were at the top. Both their
faces dropped to the floor as they took in the sight.
The Asteroid Senshi were all stretched out on
massage tables. Men in dark suits with sunglasses on
massaged their limbs. Two of the men had bandages wrapped
around their heads. They seemed anxious, eager to please.
The girls ignored them, talking as if they weren't there.
"Have you ever seen a woman so afraid of her brother
before?" asked Vesta.
Ceres shook her head letting out a little contented
sigh. "It was priceless. The look on her face when
Shinobu-san pulled out that fake gun. I think she wet
herself."
They all cracked up.
"What is going on here?!" both Chibi-Usa and Hotaru
asked.
"Ohaiyo, Sailor Moon, Sailor Saturn!" They called in
unison, unperturbed by their shock.
"Who are these guys?!" Saturn asked.
"Their our prisoners." called out Juno.
"Prisoners?! How did you get prisoners?" They started
to explain but Chibi-Usa stopped them. "Wait, nevermind. I
don't want to know. Send them back! We have Senshi business
to discuss."
"Oh, Sailor Moon, don't be a stick in the mud.
Come here." She got up as did Vesta. They both took one of
the stunned new comers and had them lay down on the table.
"Relax, ease your tensions. These guys like giving rubdowns,
don't you fellas?"
Ceres fixed them with a hard glare. All of them shook
their heads enthusiastically, scared to death they'd attack
again. The men had learned not to cross them. "Hai!"
"Guys, I don't think...." She stopped with her protests
as the man rubbed her back. "Mmmm.... Hey... This DOES
feel pretty good, ne Saturn?"
"Mmmm hmmm," she murmured, her eyes closed.
"Okay, maybe we can break for a while." All thoughts of
Senshi business washed from her mind. Ceres tossed the other
Senshi a thumbs up sign. "They can survive without us one
night, right?"
Michael watched Aradia light the last of her candles.
She stood in the middle of a circle of salt, a plain green
tunic adorning her petite frame. She began to murmur ancient
incantations as she threw pieces of root into a gray cauldron
in front of her. "I can't believe you do all this
mumbo-jumbo."
She paused in her reciting to answer him. "This
'mumbo-jumbo' as you call it is going to find our target. If
I didn't use it, you wouldn't even have the memories you have
now. Remember that." Her voice rose again as she continued.
Her body began to glow with a white light. Before her
a hazy image seemed to unfold in the smoke rising out of the
cauldron. Michael had to restrain himself from stepping
closer to look. She had warned him that entering the confines
of the circle could be dangerous.
"The park," she whispered. The image intensified. It
was a bench, the same one she had disappeared from a week
ago. They had just missed that time. "She'll appear
there...and she'll have company..." She opened her eyes
and the picture in the smoke vanished. "Seta!"
He stood up from his position on the floor.
"C'mon. If Pluto gets there before we do-"
"We'll get there," Aradia assured him. She watched
in fascination as he transformed, his clothes turning
black, a large hat shadowing much of his face. He'd
never transformed in front of her before. "Michael-"
she faltered. "She might not be who you think, anymore."
He grabbed her hand, rushing out the door with
her faster then a normal human could run. "I'm prepared
for that." He said in a tight voice that clearly stated
he wasn't.
"Are you also prepared for the others? Mercury's
computer will probably sense her as well."
She thought he would ignore her comment until he
whispered, "Like a knife twisting in my heart. The blood
pulsing through it. For duty, for honor, for love-" his
voice broke at the ancient oath he had uttered once
long ago.
They ran on in silence.
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Questions? Comments? Arrows?
Angst88@aol.com
http://www.geocities.com/emporess888/
-Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.
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