Author's Notes at bottom - Enjoy!
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Part IV ~ Mamoru's love
Rating: PG (language)
Written by: Bethany ^_^
Editor: Meara
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Usagi was walking through the streets of Tokyo.
"Where is everyone?" A cold blast blew against her skin, causing
the fabric of Mamoru's shirt to become plastered against her skin. "Oh no,
not this dream again!"
A shining object flashed before her. "Come on, I have to wake up!"
she screamed, but to no avail. She tried pinching herself. "Ouch! Does that
mean I'm not dreaming? Mamo-chan! Please, please help me!" she cried.
A light flashed, but instead of the knife that Usagi usually seen,
the light was replaced by Mamoru. "Mamo-chan!" Usagi cried, running toward
him. Just feet before she got to him, she noticed another woman with him.
"Who's... who's this?"
Mamoru smirked. "Baka Usagi, you have no idea, do you?"
"Na... nani?" Usagi stumbled back, grabbing for something to keep
her upright.
She watched in horror as Mamoru kissed a tall green haired woman.
"Setsuna-chan?"
The woman laughed. "Baka Usagi, a crybaby, klutz and a horrible
leader. Ha! You think Mamoru loves you? He used you to become king,
but now he no longer needs you. Especially since he has me!" Again she
leaned over to kiss Mamoru.
"NO! Mamoru loves me! He does!"
"I never loved you, but your innocence allowed me to use you, and
now... lose you. Remember all of those times we went to the time gate?
Remember how you used to be so jealous of me and Rei-chan? It worked out
perfectly, never once did you think that I didn't care for you at all!"
Usagi let out a scream of horror and ran down the street as fast as
she could. "No! Mamoru loves me... he has to love me!" But the images of him
kissing Setsuna rushed in her mind. All of those times that she had seen
him talking to the guardian of the time gate, now it made sense. He wasn't
discussing the time line, or the future. But was actually discussing how he
would leave her once he was king.
"Noooo. . ." she cried one last time before coming to the edge of a
cliff.
"Without him, I am nothing. I have nothing..." As she prepared to
jump an arm caught her.
"Mom?"
Usagi turned around to see a small girl who looked remarkably like
herself, with pink hair up in pointed buns and ponytails; she reminded
Usagi of a bunny.
"Chibi-Usa?"
"Mom, please don't jump, I need you," the young girl cried.
"Oh Chibi-Usa..." Usagi turned from the cliff to hug her daughter.
"Mamo-chan doesn't love me, what am I going to do?"
"Mom, you can't let him do this to you. Get rid of him, you deserve
better."
"How can you say that about your father?" Usagi asked in wonder.
Chibi-Usa smiled. "It doesn't matter, Mamoru; he can't do that to
you."
*****
Chibi-Usa helped Usagi back to her apartment and told her to get
some sleep.
Once out of sight, Lady transformed to her true self. Her red hair
flowing back away from her face, she sruntched up her nose, brown slits
of color watching the the living room where Mamoru and Chibi-Usa were
trying to revive Usagi.
"Being trapped in a twelve year olds body is horrible!" she said
to herself. "Now to make sure that she leaves him." Rubbing her hands
together she pulled back all of the negative energy that had kept Usagi
asleep, and retreated to the Negaverse to watch the show that would play out.
*****
"Ohh, my head..." Usagi mumbled, waking up. Slowly she recognized
that she was being held by Mamoru. Memories came seeping back into her mind.
"Get away from me!" she screamed at him.
Mamoru's eyes flashed hurt as he let go of her. "Usako, doushita no?"
Usagi hardened her eyes. "Get away from me! Leave this minute!"
"Nani?" Mamoru stood back.
"I said leave, and you too!" she cried, pointing to Sailor Pluto.
"I will no longer stand your betraying presence, leave!"
Both Mamoru and Sailor Pluto, too stunned at her hard words to move,
stood and they just stared at her.
"Fine, don't leave - I will." Usagi stood up on slightly wobbly legs
and grabbed both her and Chibi-Usa's jackets. "Come Small Lady, I will not
stay here one minute longer."
"Matte!" Mamoru shouted, "Small Lady is my daughter also, I will
not let you take her. You need to rest!" he begged.
Her eyes glared into his. "Try and stop me. You have already betrayed
me, I will not let you take my daughter as well. I hope you and Pluto are
happy," she spit, turning on her heel and leaving.
Mamoru fell to his knees and put his head in his hands. "What did I
do?" he asked, but no one had an answer for him.
Mars stood up. "Well we can't leave her unprotected, let's go!"
"Sou!" All the Inners followed Usagi to the door.
Ikuko and Kenji had sat through the whole scene in utter silence.
Mamoru stood up and ran to the door. "Usako!" he called. She marched
to the elevator, Chibi-Usa beside her. Her head stayed up defiantly until
the doors almost completely closed. That's when Mamoru saw her fall to her
knees, and begin to cry uncontrollably.
"Usako!" he started to go after her, but a strong hand held him
back.
"No Mamoru-san," Jupiter said. "Let us, we'll get to the bottom of
this."
Mamoru looked wistfully at the elevator before being guided back
in by the Lights. "Come on," Seiya suggested. "You need to lie down, using
all that energy has drained you."
Mamoru nodded, still looking at the elevator as he followed
Seiya back in.
*****
"Mom?" Chibi-Usa asked. Usagi was hugging the younger girl tightly.
Chibi-Usa hugged her back, confused, but determined to be there when her
mother needed her.
"Oh Chibi-Usa, he doesn't love me! He never loved me! He loves
Setsuna!"
Chibi-Usa furrowed her eye brows together in the same fashion that
Usagi had seen Mamoru do countless times. "Mama, of course he loves you."
"Iie, iie he doesn't. He told me. He was using me to become king,"
she cried, still holding on to the small body.
The elevator doors opened. On the other side was the inner senshi,
looking worriedly toward their princess. "Usagi-chan, what happened?" Makoto
asked, helping her up.
Usagi leaned on her for support. "Can I stay with you for a couple of
days Mako-chan?"
"Of course," Makoto answered. "But Usagi-chan, why? What happened?"
Usagi remained quiet until they reached Makoto's apartment. They went
inside and Usagi laid down on the sofa. She saw her guardians talking softly
at the table.
"Minna?"
Everyone looked up. "Hai?"
"Don't tell Mamoru where I am. Promise you won't."
All of them reluctantly promised.
*****
"Excellent! Absolutely wonderful!" Beryl laughed in triumph. "It
is almost time to act, you have done well Lady."
"Thank you my queen."
Beryl again looked into her crystal ball. "Not long now, not long
at all. You may take the night off. I think things will go on their own
from here for a while."
Lady stood up from where she had been bowing. "Thank you."
*****
Haruka slowly stood up and walked out to the balcony. The night
air was rather crisp, howling through the night and whipping around
trees and through the streets of Tokyo. The moon played peak a boo
with the clouds, barely shining on the city for a moment before
dissappearing again.
Off to the left, Mamoru sat in a chair, staring at a picture in
his hand. His shoulders sagged and his breath was just warm enough in
contrast to the cold air that one could barely see it. Mamoru made no
movement to indicate he knew Haruka was beside him. "Mamoru-san, daijobu?"
Without looking up, or acknowlding her presence, Mamoru sighed
and slumped down further. "I thought there would be a time without
all of this nonsence, without enemies. Just me and Usako, together."
Haruka bit her left thumb nail and pulled her legs up to
her chest. "I don't know," she began, leaning her head on her legs
and looking out over the city. "Something just doesn't seem right.
It's like someone put those ideas in Usagi's head. It's not like her
to be so impulsive. She always wants to see the good in people."
For the first time since Haruka had came out, Mamoru looked up
from the picture in his hand. "You think someone is messing with her
mind?"
"I don't know," Haruka replied, getting up and opening the slidding
glass door. "But it's a thought, anyways."
"Matte."
Haruka turned. "Hai?"
"Please tell me where Usako is," Mamoru asked, on the verge of
pleading.
"I can't."
"Onegai!"
Haruka shook her head. "I can't, I promised Usagi and I can't go
back on my word. All I can tell you is she is safe."
Mamoru looked up at the sky as the glass door shut behind Haruka.
Buring his head in his hands, he sighed deeply.
*****
Seiya walked down the hallway and stopped at apartment four-b.
Scratching his head, he read the name tag. "Kino Makoto, must be it."
Softly, he knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" a female voice called.
"Seiya."
Slowly the door cracked opened and Makoto stuck her head out
and looked down both sides of the hall. "Are you alone?"
Seiya, looking rather confused, shook his head. "Hai."
Makoto rushed him in the door and shut and locked behind
him.
Smiling at Makoto's odd sence of secretacy, Seiya disgarded
his shoes and came further in. "How's Usagi?"
Makoto looked down in dismay. "She is still convinced that Mamoru-san
and Setsuna-san are having an affair. I don't know where she got such
a silly idea, honestly."
"I guess that means you're still as clueless as everyone else
as to why she is doing this, ne?" Seiya asked.
"No clue... How's Mamoru?" Makoto asked, going into the kitchen.
Seiya followed her into the kitchen and jumped up on the edge
of the counter next to Artemis, and began scratching the back of the
white cat's ear. "He's still on the balcony."
"Still?" Makoto looked up, surprised.
"Yep."
Makoto shook her head sadly. "Does he say anything?"
"Only to Haruka, and then not much. He looks bad, real bad,
Mako-chan. I think this is the first time I've seen Mamoru so torn up.
He just sits and stares at a picture of him and Usagi. He looks like
he watched his life flash before his eyes and he's not sure the
meaning of it all. I had Ami-chan come and take a look at him, it's
not good for him to be outside constantly in the cold like this.
But she didn't have good news..."
"Nani?" came a new voice.
Both of them looked up to see Usagi standing in the kitchen
doorway, her eyes filled with fresh tears. Neither had known she was
listening.
Seiya swallowed hard. "Well, I can tell you that he's caught a
cold, on top of the fact that it's like he *needs* Usagi there." Seiya
looked at the Princess standing in the door and took a deep breath
before choosing his words. "I don't know, maybe it's just me. I've
always seen Mamoru as a strong man, and this kinda...scares me."
"He said he doesn't love me," Usagi explained.
Makoto stood up. "Usagi-chan, he loves you more than anything, how
can you say that? And," Makoto pointed out the little fact that had bothered
her for a week. "I was there. He never left your side, when did this happen?"
"No, he only loves Setsuna... but why is he doing this? Why when
he has her?" It was painfully obvious that Usagi was confused about
Mamoru doing this. She really believes in this, Makoto thought sullenly,
how do we convince her otherwise?
*****
"Lady!" Beryl called, demanding the general come forth.
"Yes," she replied. Again bowing to the queen, again taking orders,
again wishing she had never joined this stupid force. Too late, your in
and you will die before she lets you go, the woman thought bitterly.
Beryl didn't respond for quite a few minutes. When finally she
looked up, she smiled evilly. "So, she left him?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
"Staying with one of the inner senshi, majesty."
A glare came from the back of the room, silver eyes watching and
listening intently to what was going to happen.
"So what are you going to do now, Lady? Kill her? Or perhaps you
should tourture her for a while first? I don't know, I think I'd like to
see her cry and beg for mercy..."
Lady thought for a long moment on the question. "Kill her first,"
she answered, hoping she had guessed correctly and wouldn't get blasted
into nothingness.
"Very well, proceed."
As Lady left the room, so did another figure. He followed her.
She has to fail, I can't let her near them, his mind repeated over
and over as he watched the evil general dissappear back to Earth.
*****
"Why Luna? Why is this happening? I don't understand anything
anymore," Usagi cried into her pillow.
Luna sat on the dresser, watching with sad eyes. "I don't know
what to tell you Usagi-chan."
"Tell me what to do! Please, please, tell me how to find out the
truth. You've always known what to do, but now... please tell me..."
Usagi begged, sitting up to face Luna.
Luna jumped down from the dresser. "Usagi-chan, I just don't
know what to tell you. This is something you must decide within your
heart, and I'm sorry - that's not something I know much about."
Usagi watched Luna go out the door. She looked around at the
small room, suddenly feeling like the walls were closing in on her.
"I need some air.." she mumbled, transforming.
Looking back to be sure she wasn't being watched, Usagi jumped
from the window and gracefully landed on the fire escape outside
the window. Climbing down, she looked around before de-transforming
and walking down the street.
The night air was rather cool, but Usagi welcomed the breeze,
and breathed in deeply as it whipped her hair around her face and
allowed it to dance in the air behind her. Closing her eyes, Usagi
walked around a corner and onto fifth street. A display of televisions
in the window caught her interest. Slowly she walked over to them
and watched the sence on the colored screen.
"Tokyo General Hospital was astonished yesterday to find Sailor
Moon missing from her room just hours after Tuxedo Kamen brought her
in for treatment. The doctors say they still have no idea what was
wrong with her, but before her dissappearance she was doing better.
Cops are baffled as they search the city for any trace of the hero,
but find none. Fortage from Wednesday show Tuxedo Kamen's state after
bringing the hero in."
The screen faded and a video began to run. On the screen showed
Tuxedo Kamen pacing back and forth, looking more worried and nervous
than he looked the day he asked Usagi to marry him. Usagi placed her
hand and forehead on the glass of the shop as she watched.
"How old is she? About sixteen or seventeen? You could still
get in trouble about things like that." The woman kept on, obviously
having fun provoking the Caped Hero's fury.
Tuxedo Kamen tried pulling away from the men holding him, to the
point that all eight senshi and three men were holding him back. "Let's
get something straight," Tux said through his teeth. "I love her and
nothing else matters..."
Usagi bit her bottom lip to try and contain the tears that once
more flooded her eyes, but it was no use. The words kept repeating
in her head over and over, like a broken record. "I love her and nothing
else matters.... I love her and nothing else matters..."
*****
Mamoru pulled out a picture that he had looked at over and over
again in the last week. Usagi was smiling happily, on their wedding day.
"Usako, god how I miss you. How I love you." Water splattered on the picture,
but he couldn't tell what was tears or what was the cold rain.
"Mamoru, please come in, you'll catch your death out here," Ikuko
pleaded from inside the apartment. Worriedly, she watched as Mamoru ignored
her again. "Please Mamoru, dying wouldn't help matters any," she tried to
reason.
Mamoru looked up sadly to her, his haunted face would forever engrave
it's self in Ikuko's mind. "What's in there for me? Not Usako.." mumbling
the last of the sentence to where Ikuko barely heard, Mamoru slumped down
again and resorted back to staring at the picture.
Ikuko sighed and went back inside. "I don't know what to do."
Hotaru looked up briefly from her manga and watched the cold
drizzle out the glass door of the living room. Dark, forbidding clouds
surfaced, causing occasional lighting and thunder to rumbled across the
land.
"At least you tried," Michiru told her reassuringly, finally breaking
the uncomfortable silence.
Suddenly the balcony doors flew open and Mamoru ran in them and out
the front door, a paniked look covering his features.
*****
Lady could feel it. That strange feeling that you were being followed.
The hair on the back of her neck stood up and goose bumps lined her arms.
But as far as she could tell, the area was empty and she was alone.
Below her, through a window on a large bed, was the Moon Princess
and her daughter. Lady drew a knife out of thin air and held it tightly
clutched in her hand.
Inside another window, just left to the one holding the image of
the sleeping future queen, was all the inner senshi, a lady, a man and two
cats. With the right amount of patience, she knew she would be undetected
as she rid the world of the two bothersome Sailor Moons. Sliding the window
open, she stood in complete silence, waiting for any noise to indicate she was
found. None came.
In one swift movement, Lady grabbed Chibi-Usa and raised the knife
to slash Usagi. Just as quickly, someone grabbed her from behind, causing
her to miss her target of Usagi's chest and hit her arm. At the same time
Mamoru grabbed onto Chibi-Usa.
*****
---
1 minute before
---
Someone knocked frantically on Makoto's door. Before she had a chance
to open it, Mamoru busted through and looked around like a mad man.
"Where is she?! TELL ME!!" The feeling, of fear and forbidding was
clutching his chest, Usagi was in danger and he knew it.
Seiya and Makoto tried restraining Mamoru, but he would have none of
that. Everyone was surprised when he easily removed himself from their grip
and raced into the bedroom.
"WHAT THE HE-" Makoto was cut short by a shrill scream. Everyone
immediately got to their feet and in seconds were in the bedroom. Now only
occupied by a sobbing Usagi.
"What happened?" Ami asked, running over to Usagi's side, seeing she
was covered in blood.
"I... he took... Mamo... and... Chibi-Usa... my arm... where
are they Ami-chan? Where are they?" Usagi said between gasps and sobs.
Ami brought out her transformation pen. "Mercury Eterenal Make-Up!"
Within seconds Sailor Mercury was standing beside Usagi, scanning her wound
over.
"Don't worry about me. WHERE IS MAMO-CHAN AND CHIBI-USA?!" Usagi
screamed at the woman trying to wrap up her arm.
"Usagi, fighting me, and screaming is NOT helping. We WILL find them,
now HOLD STILL!" Ami said in a loud tone that left no room for argument.
Usagi shrank back from the screaming Mercury and watched quietly as
she was bandaged up.
Hotaru, as silent as a kitten, came in the room. "Could I help?" she
asked in a small voice.
Mercury looked up, not even realizing that the rest of the senshi and
Lights had followed Mamoru. "I don't see why not. For that matter I don't
see why I didn't think of that sooner." She smiled at the child.
Hotaru went over to Usagi and laid her hand on the older woman's arm.
It started to grow warm until the wound completely disappeared.
Usagi hugged her. "Thank you Hotaru-chan, it feels one hundred
percent better."
Hotaru gave a small smile.
"Now," Minako asked gently to avoid another hysterical attack from
Usagi. "What happened?"
Usagi sniffed back some tears and looked sadly over at the now empty
bed, where just a few minutes before Chibi-Usa had been laying peacefully.
"This woman came threw the window and grabbed Chibi-Usa... and when Mamoru
tried to grab her, she took Chibi-Usa and Mamo-chan! Both of them!" she
cried. "My husband and my daughter are gone!"
Minako hugged her. "Don't worry, we'll get them back."
Sailor Pluto watched with worry as Minako and Mercury tried, and was
unsuccessful at calming Usagi down. The longer Usagi had to think about
what had happened, the worse she grew. Pluto, seeing no way to avoid it,
bent down to whisper something in Hotaru's ear.
Slowly the child walked up to the bed, arms reaching infront of her.
Usagi quieted slightly, feeling a strange energy surround her.
Mercury stood back and nodded at Hotaru, senceing what she was about
to do.
"Now sleep, Princess."
Usagi closed her eyes and relaxed back onto the pillows.
*****
"Your just as incompetent as my last set of generals!"
Lady knew that was bad. Beryl's last set of four generals were all
killed by the sailor senshi. Lucky me, I won't get to die in battle, I'm
probably toast right now. "Please my queen, give me one last chance, I
will not fail you again."
Beryl smirked at the woman before her. "You should have thought of
that before you failed me the first time. I tell you to kill Princess
Serenity, but no! Instead you let yourself be seen, and then bring back that
damned daughter of hers...I will not allow you to make a mistake again." As
the words left her throat a blast of energy hit Lady full blown, killing her
instantly.
"Never liked her to begin with. Now that that is done with; who
would like to try their luck at the sailor brats next?" she asked to a
room full of on lookers.
Silence stretched on. "Well?" Beryl demanded.
A man-around six-four, shoulder length sandy blonde hair and evil green
eyes-stepped forward. "I would my queen."
Beryl studied him. He was a strong warrior, and long time follower
of the Dark Kingdom. "Then you know what to do, General Korntz?"
The man bowed. "Yes, my queen."
In the back of the room, unnoticed as always, silver eyes watched
the scene unfold.
*****
Mamoru lifted his head and groaned. It felt like it weighed a
thousand pounds.
Even though his eyes were now open all he could see was a dim light
coming from an open window far above him. The moon light provided enough
of a glow for Mamoru to noticed that he was in a cell, barred doors in front
of him and three walls of cement surrounding on the other sides.
"How did I get here?" he tried to clear his mind. The memories came
back to him, Chibi-Usa being taken, then him. Looking back and seeing Usagi
on the bed crying after them.
"Chibi-Usa?" he called in a loud whisper.
Nothing.
"Chibi-Usa?" he repeated louder.
"It's no use," came a voice devoid of feelings.
Mamoru squinted his eyes to make out a figure standing on the outside
of the cell. "Who are you? Where are we? What have you done with my daughter?"
he demanded.
"My, my prince of Earth, so many questions. But all will be answered
soon enough," the man replied, closing the door behind him, leaving Mamoru
alone.
Mamoru sat down on the small bed provided in the cell. Now what? On
the bed was a small piece of paper. He recognized the small pretty writing.
"Usako," he whispered, opening the paper to full size.
Dear Mamoru,
I am sorry it has to be this way. Please believe me when I say I love
you, but no longer want to spend my life with you. I know this is a
little excessive, but you and Chibi-Usa will be fine.
The bottom had a small picture of a bunny, the way that Usagi
signed her name.
Mamoru felt the tears coming and made no attempt to stop them.
"Why?" he asked to the empty room. He remembered how happy she had been
before all of this happened, but just couldn't believe this was the truth.
But there was no mistaking this letter. It was her writing, and no one could
draw those little bunnies like Usagi could.
"Why?" he repeated in a small voice. It didn't make sense, not
after everything they had been through in the last week, now this?
*****
Usagi sat up and rubbed her eyes. Her head felt heavy, like dead
weight. The room was lightened only by the soft glow of the moon. She
could hear voices outside. The guardians no doubt. Beside her was Mamoru's
empty pillow. On it was a single piece of paper and a rose.
Confused, Usagi sat up and opened the paper. It was written in that
small but easy to read handwriting that Mamoru had.
Dear Usagi,
I know this is hard for you, but you will be fine. I had to take Chibi-Usa,
she is after all my daughter. Please believe me, I used to love you, but
now I only feel resentment. I know this is a little excessive, but you will
be fine.
The bottom was sighed in his unmistakable writing. Usagi felt herself
whither. "Why?" she cried, not loud enough for anyone to hear her. "Why?"
she repeated in a small voice. It couldn't be true...it couldn't...she refused
to completly give into this. Something wasn't right.
*****
The living room of the apartment was filled with soft voices. Everyone
still somewhat in shock from the swiftness of the events leading up to
Usagi still in the room, crying for Mamoru and Chibi-Usa.
"What you got Ami-chan?" Rei asked, coming over and looking over her
shoulder at the small computer screen.
Luna and Artemis was in the other room on the big computer that
was linked to the moon's sub-computer system.
"Well I can detect a portal, it was in the bedroom about two hours
ago."
"Can we get it reopened?" Makoto asked, popping her knuckles.
Ami shook her head. "I don't believe I have enough energy with my
computer, we'll have to combine powers."
"Let's do it then!" Haruka said, jumping up.
Michiru went in the bedroom to wake Usagi. She came out a moment
later with two letters, the ginzuishou and a rose. "Shimatta!" she said
through clenched teeth.
"Nani?" Haruka asked, taking a second look at the articles in her
hands, her eyes widening at the sight of the ginzuishou.
"Usagi's gone," she dead panned.
"She's what?!" the group started.
"Gone, there's a letter from Mamoru saying he didn't love Usagi and
there is one from Usagi telling us goodbye and leaving the ginzuishou for
Chibi-Usa when we find her."
"But... that don't make any sense! We all know for a fact that he
loves her!" Minako pounded her leg with her fist. "Who is doing all of
this? We know it's not Mamoru and Usagi!"
"Well we have to find Usagi, we can't take a chance that the
Dark Kingdom will get to her," Rei stated, feeling like she could scream
at all the trouble they had been having with the Dark Kingdom, again.
*****
Usagi walked down the streets of Tokyo silently. She wore one of
Mamoru's jackets over her simple summer dress and she was quite cold.
She started to go into the park, but decided against it. Too many
memories of her and Mamoru laying in the grass at night, watching the stars.
The same stars that now shined down on her crying form. The wind blew harder
and Usagi tucked the jacket tighter around her, again cursing the fact that
she didn't bring a heavier coat, or had worn jeans instead.
Usagi reached in her lunar space pocket before remembering she had
left her crystal for Chibi-Usa. "Great, that's no help."
A light shinned in front of her and she stepped back. "What's the
matter Rabbit? Has your husband and friends left you?"
Usagi looked up at the man floating above her. "Who... who are you?"
she squinted her eyes and covering the top of them with the palm of one
hand looked up, wishing more than anything that she had the crystal with her.
"Why, I am General Korntz, I understand that you are all alone
princess."
"I'm not alone!" Usagi said, despite the fact that she was obviously
alone. "My friends will be here any minute!"
Korntz shook his head in mock sadness. "Dear sweet princess, if
your friends really cared, wouldn't they had already been here?"
Usagi never stopped to think about it. "Of course they care!"
Korntz's face turned angry. "Fine Rabbit, you want to do this the
hard way? So be it." He grabbed her arm, and before she could scream
a sound of protest, they disappeared.
*****
Mamoru sat up when he heard voices.
"You let me go you evil thing! That is no way to treat a princess,
BAKA!"
Mamoru recognized that voice, it was Usako; hot as a spit fire.
A man stepped in the room, opened the cell door and pushed her in
roughly. Usagi landed on her bottom and glared at the man.
"Now shut up brat, or Queen Beryl will kill you."
Usagi stood up defiantly. "You tell Queen Beryl that I will kill
her with my bare hands and she won't come back to life this time!"
"Whatever," he spit and closed the door. As soon as he was out of
sight, Usagi fell to her knees, crying.
Mamoru stared at her, not believing what he just witnessed. Usagi
turned around and looked at him briefly. Mamoru misunderstood her look of
hurt for anger and looked away.
Usagi moved over in the corner of the cell, pulled her knees up and
cried herself to sleep.
Mamoru watched for a while until he was completely sure she was asleep
before going over and gently lifting her. He placed her on the bed and
gently covered her up with the blanket provided.
"Usako," he mouthed.
Usagi opened her eyes to look at Mamoru. "What are you doing?"
"Sleeping on the floor." He shrugged.
"No, your not."
"Yes I am, please don't argue with me, your not sleeping on the
floor, so I am." Mamoru laid on his back with his hands behind his head
and looked up at her.
Usagi stood up. "If your sleeping on the floor, then so am I."
Mamoru looked up, angrily, "No. Lay down and stop arguing with me."
"There's enough room for both of us on the bed, I'll stay on my
side," she spit, crossing her arms over her chest.
He sighed, knowing there was no way he was changing her mind. "Fine,"
he gave in and laid down on the cot, as far away from Usagi as he could, so
as to not anger her more.
Usagi watched him make sure he wasn't too near her. She turned over
and faced the wall.
The silence was interrupted by a small sob that Usagi tried to hide.
Mamoru watched her shoulders shaking and felt his heart break and
crumble in his chest. "Usagi?"
Usagi winced at the sound of Mamoru using her full name and started
crying harder. Suddenly she felt a hand slowly touch her shoulder and she
turned over to see his concerned face. On complete impulse she buried herself
in his chest.
"Mamoru, I know you hate me, but please, please just hold me. Just for
tonight, I'm so scared! Even if you don't love me, do this for me one more time.
After that I'll never ask for another thing from you, I promise," she sobbed.
Mamoru looked at her, confused, wondering why she thought he hated
her. Deciding she was too upset to question it tonight, he wrapped his
arms around her and pulled her as close to him as he could manage without
squeezing her small body too tightly.
He ran his hands through her hair and kissed her head. "Usako, my
sweet Usako, please don't cry," he cooed, pressing himself closer to her.
*****
"Ami-chan, have you found her?" Rei asked over the communicator.
"Iie, are any of you having any luck?"
"No," came back eight voices.
"Damn it, where is she?" Minako suddenly screamed.
"Matte! I've got something!" Mercury started, then began typing on
her lap top. "About a fourth mile north of Tokyo park, there was a portal
opened here about a half hour ago. Get over here minna!"
"SOU!"
Mercury typed faster on her computer. "Almost... come on you baka..."
Pluto was surprised at Mercury's loss of control. It showed the
stress they all were under at the moment. "Slow down Mercury, your only
going to make more mistakes if you hurry too much," Pluto warned her. "Just
take a deep breath and concentrate on whatever it is your trying to do."
Mercury stopped and did as Pluto said, then started typing again.
Within minutes all of the sailor senshi and lights had gathered around,
waiting not so patiently for Mercury to tell them their next move.
*****
Usagi was dreaming about that days events. The note from Mamoru,
then she was on the street, except in her nightmare, the guy didn't kidnap
her, he killed her.
She let out a fierce, fear filled scream.
"What the hell?" Mamoru jumped up, bringing Usagi with him, and in
doing so, woke her up from the nightmare she was having.
She calmed down a bit when she remembered where she was, but pulled
back slightly from Mamoru's embrace. "Gomen, I was having that dream
again," she explained, hoping that he wouldn't get disgusted with her and
let her go.
Mamoru done the exact opposite, pulling her closer and kissing her
forehead. "It's okay, I'm with you, nothing or no one will hurt you, I
promise."
Usagi swallowed her confusion and gratefully laid her head up
against his chest. "Mamoru-san?" she asked uncertainly.
Mamoru tightened his grip. "Hai?"
"I have to know Mamoru, please, tell me..." she trailed off, hoping
just to leave it there. Not really sure why she had risked making him angry
to ask why he was being nice.
But she had his full attention. "Know what?"
"Nothing."
"No, tell me," he insisted.
She swallowed hard. "I... it's just that, well. I didn't expect
you to be so nice to me, and I was wondering why... but you don't have
to answer. I'm just happy that you are holding me, even though you hate me
and all..." she left the sentence hanging, trying to hold back the flood
of tears that were threatening.
Mamoru tried to work through that statement. Not understanding one
bit, but determined to, he pulled back from Usagi's warm body to tilt her
head up to him. "Usa, what do you mean? You know, I hope, that I could NEVER
hate you. I love you more than anything in this world."
Usagi's eyes went wide, feeling as if she were dreaming, she tried
to explain her situation. "Mamoru... but... your letter said that you hated
me, I thought..." she went quiet as she considered what might have happened.
"Did you get a letter from me?"
His puzzled eyes meet hers. "Yes," he whispered. Now you blew it baka!
he thought as she looked up at him, but he was surprised by the tears in them.
"Mamo-chan, I love you so much!" she squealed, hugging him hard.
Mamoru was taken by surprise by her affection, but wasn't about to turn
it down.
"Usa, I don't understand, what happened?"
"The letter wasn't from me Mamo-chan, and the letter I got wasn't
from you... I hope," she added, looking up frightened at him.
"What letter?" he inquired.
That was all Usagi needed to hear. "Oh Mamo-chan!" She hugged him again.
"Someone is trying to break us up, and to think it almost worked!"
Mamoru again tried to work through that slur of words. "The letter
wasn't from you?" he asked in disbelief.
"Iie! I would never! Hell I don't even know what it said, but I
wouldn't anyway!" she cried. "What did it say?"
Mamoru brought the letter out of his back pocket and handed it to
her. In the moon light that was seeping through, she read it and gasped.
"Mamo-chan, it looks just like my handwriting!"
"Don't I know it," he replied, took the paper, shredded it and kissed
Usagi gently.
Slowly the slight glow of the moon coming through the barrced window
found two people, content in each others arms.
*****
"What the hell happened? Damn that moon brat!" Beryl cursed.
Korntz knew that from the love scene he had silently witnessed,
they would never be broken by Beryl. However, he knew better than to
utter those words. Instead he watched as Beryl blew her top, again, over
the prince's love for the moon rabbit.
"I put them in the same cell to fight! Not to make up! DAMN HER!"
She spit, looking in her crystal ball at the two sleeping figures. "Get
her out of there!"
"Yes, my queen," Korntz replied, disappearing into nothingness.
He reappeared outside the cell doors and looked at the cot holding
the earth prince and moon princess. He scanned the area to be sure that
Beryl was not watching him. Satisfied that she was not, he opened the bar
door. "Prince of Earth," he said in a loud whisper.
Mamoru looked up and pulled Usagi closer. "Nani?"
"Come here."
Mamoru glared at him. Korntz looked around nervously. "Look prince,
do you want to get out of here alive?"
That got Mamoru's attention and carefully he left Usagi's side. As
soon as she no longer felt his body heat, Usagi woke up. "Mamo-chan, where
are you going?" she asked sleepily.
He leaned down and kissed her lips lightly. "Don't worry, I'll be
right back, ne?"
Usagi pulled the covers closer to her and closed her eyes once more.
Relieved that she didn't turn over to see the general standing in the cell,
Mamoru carefully approached the man.
In a whisper the general began explaining to Mamoru what Beryl was
planning. "She is going to use the small rabbit as bait for you and the moon
rabbit. I want to help you to escape."
"Why?" Mamoru asked cautiously.
Korntz shook his head. "You are smart, Prince of Earth, to question
help, especially from the enemy. I have to admit to you I am not all I seem
to be, I have feelings, unlike the other brainless windbags running around
here. I also used to... know... the princess, on the moon. Just listen
carefully."
Mamoru nodded, reluctantly agreeing that this man was the only hope
they had. "The small child is being held in Beryl's chambers. I can tell
you how to get there, but actually freeing yourself from this cell will be
your problem." Quickly he explained how to get to the place where Chibi-Usa
was being held. He walked forward in the cell. "Now I must take the rabbit."
"No!" Mamoru growled.
"I will help you, but I will NOT lose my own life in the process.
Beryl commanded me to take the princess from you, and I must," he explained.
He went over to pick Usagi up. Mamoru picked up a rock and hit him
in the back of the head with it. "Gomen, I appreciate your help, but I
will not let you take her."
Usagi woke up and started to scream before Mamoru's hand came over
her mouth. "Don't say a word, just listen, ne?"
She nodded her head and Mamoru moved his hand away. "I know where
Chibi-Usa is, we have to hurry. We don't have long before Beryl figures
we have escaped."
Usagi stood and grabbed his hand and the two hurried out of the
cell and out the door.
A lone figure emerged from the shadows and watched them leave,
a smile playing on his full lips.
*****
Mercury focused her computer on the exact spot that the portal
had opened earlier. "Ok, we need to combine powers to open it and keep
it open long enough for all of us to go through. Just in case we don't
all make it, Luna knows how to open it from the control room."
"Then why don't we just use the portal from the control room?"
Venus asked.
Mercury glanced up. "Because it doesn't open in the same place as
this one does. From here we have a better chance of finding Usagi-chan."
"Oh," Minako mumbled, almost understanding.
Luna came up with a locket in her mouth and gave it to Pluto.
"Make sure to give this to Usagi-chan as soon as possible."
Pluto nodded and tucked it away in her lunar space pocket.
"Let's do this!" Minako shouted and everyone joined hands around
the spot where the Dark Kingdom portal would open.
"VENUS PLANET POWER!"
"MARS PLANET POWER!"
"JUPITER PLANET POWER.." in order of the circle, all the senshi
activated their powers and concentrated on opening the portal.
A black circle slowly formed and grew larger until it was about
as large as a vehicle. "NOW!" Mercury screamed, jumping through the
portal.
Everyone else followed.
---End Chapter 4.
*sighs* this is taking a little bit longer than planned, but ya'll won't
know cuz I'm putting them out at the same time ;)
Emails! They are a girl's bestfriend!
3 Bethany
Bethany212@aol.com
03-19-01
************************
Part IV ~ Mamoru's love
Rating: PG (language)
Written by: Bethany ^_^
Editor: Meara
************************
Usagi was walking through the streets of Tokyo.
"Where is everyone?" A cold blast blew against her skin, causing
the fabric of Mamoru's shirt to become plastered against her skin. "Oh no,
not this dream again!"
A shining object flashed before her. "Come on, I have to wake up!"
she screamed, but to no avail. She tried pinching herself. "Ouch! Does that
mean I'm not dreaming? Mamo-chan! Please, please help me!" she cried.
A light flashed, but instead of the knife that Usagi usually seen,
the light was replaced by Mamoru. "Mamo-chan!" Usagi cried, running toward
him. Just feet before she got to him, she noticed another woman with him.
"Who's... who's this?"
Mamoru smirked. "Baka Usagi, you have no idea, do you?"
"Na... nani?" Usagi stumbled back, grabbing for something to keep
her upright.
She watched in horror as Mamoru kissed a tall green haired woman.
"Setsuna-chan?"
The woman laughed. "Baka Usagi, a crybaby, klutz and a horrible
leader. Ha! You think Mamoru loves you? He used you to become king,
but now he no longer needs you. Especially since he has me!" Again she
leaned over to kiss Mamoru.
"NO! Mamoru loves me! He does!"
"I never loved you, but your innocence allowed me to use you, and
now... lose you. Remember all of those times we went to the time gate?
Remember how you used to be so jealous of me and Rei-chan? It worked out
perfectly, never once did you think that I didn't care for you at all!"
Usagi let out a scream of horror and ran down the street as fast as
she could. "No! Mamoru loves me... he has to love me!" But the images of him
kissing Setsuna rushed in her mind. All of those times that she had seen
him talking to the guardian of the time gate, now it made sense. He wasn't
discussing the time line, or the future. But was actually discussing how he
would leave her once he was king.
"Noooo. . ." she cried one last time before coming to the edge of a
cliff.
"Without him, I am nothing. I have nothing..." As she prepared to
jump an arm caught her.
"Mom?"
Usagi turned around to see a small girl who looked remarkably like
herself, with pink hair up in pointed buns and ponytails; she reminded
Usagi of a bunny.
"Chibi-Usa?"
"Mom, please don't jump, I need you," the young girl cried.
"Oh Chibi-Usa..." Usagi turned from the cliff to hug her daughter.
"Mamo-chan doesn't love me, what am I going to do?"
"Mom, you can't let him do this to you. Get rid of him, you deserve
better."
"How can you say that about your father?" Usagi asked in wonder.
Chibi-Usa smiled. "It doesn't matter, Mamoru; he can't do that to
you."
*****
Chibi-Usa helped Usagi back to her apartment and told her to get
some sleep.
Once out of sight, Lady transformed to her true self. Her red hair
flowing back away from her face, she sruntched up her nose, brown slits
of color watching the the living room where Mamoru and Chibi-Usa were
trying to revive Usagi.
"Being trapped in a twelve year olds body is horrible!" she said
to herself. "Now to make sure that she leaves him." Rubbing her hands
together she pulled back all of the negative energy that had kept Usagi
asleep, and retreated to the Negaverse to watch the show that would play out.
*****
"Ohh, my head..." Usagi mumbled, waking up. Slowly she recognized
that she was being held by Mamoru. Memories came seeping back into her mind.
"Get away from me!" she screamed at him.
Mamoru's eyes flashed hurt as he let go of her. "Usako, doushita no?"
Usagi hardened her eyes. "Get away from me! Leave this minute!"
"Nani?" Mamoru stood back.
"I said leave, and you too!" she cried, pointing to Sailor Pluto.
"I will no longer stand your betraying presence, leave!"
Both Mamoru and Sailor Pluto, too stunned at her hard words to move,
stood and they just stared at her.
"Fine, don't leave - I will." Usagi stood up on slightly wobbly legs
and grabbed both her and Chibi-Usa's jackets. "Come Small Lady, I will not
stay here one minute longer."
"Matte!" Mamoru shouted, "Small Lady is my daughter also, I will
not let you take her. You need to rest!" he begged.
Her eyes glared into his. "Try and stop me. You have already betrayed
me, I will not let you take my daughter as well. I hope you and Pluto are
happy," she spit, turning on her heel and leaving.
Mamoru fell to his knees and put his head in his hands. "What did I
do?" he asked, but no one had an answer for him.
Mars stood up. "Well we can't leave her unprotected, let's go!"
"Sou!" All the Inners followed Usagi to the door.
Ikuko and Kenji had sat through the whole scene in utter silence.
Mamoru stood up and ran to the door. "Usako!" he called. She marched
to the elevator, Chibi-Usa beside her. Her head stayed up defiantly until
the doors almost completely closed. That's when Mamoru saw her fall to her
knees, and begin to cry uncontrollably.
"Usako!" he started to go after her, but a strong hand held him
back.
"No Mamoru-san," Jupiter said. "Let us, we'll get to the bottom of
this."
Mamoru looked wistfully at the elevator before being guided back
in by the Lights. "Come on," Seiya suggested. "You need to lie down, using
all that energy has drained you."
Mamoru nodded, still looking at the elevator as he followed
Seiya back in.
*****
"Mom?" Chibi-Usa asked. Usagi was hugging the younger girl tightly.
Chibi-Usa hugged her back, confused, but determined to be there when her
mother needed her.
"Oh Chibi-Usa, he doesn't love me! He never loved me! He loves
Setsuna!"
Chibi-Usa furrowed her eye brows together in the same fashion that
Usagi had seen Mamoru do countless times. "Mama, of course he loves you."
"Iie, iie he doesn't. He told me. He was using me to become king,"
she cried, still holding on to the small body.
The elevator doors opened. On the other side was the inner senshi,
looking worriedly toward their princess. "Usagi-chan, what happened?" Makoto
asked, helping her up.
Usagi leaned on her for support. "Can I stay with you for a couple of
days Mako-chan?"
"Of course," Makoto answered. "But Usagi-chan, why? What happened?"
Usagi remained quiet until they reached Makoto's apartment. They went
inside and Usagi laid down on the sofa. She saw her guardians talking softly
at the table.
"Minna?"
Everyone looked up. "Hai?"
"Don't tell Mamoru where I am. Promise you won't."
All of them reluctantly promised.
*****
"Excellent! Absolutely wonderful!" Beryl laughed in triumph. "It
is almost time to act, you have done well Lady."
"Thank you my queen."
Beryl again looked into her crystal ball. "Not long now, not long
at all. You may take the night off. I think things will go on their own
from here for a while."
Lady stood up from where she had been bowing. "Thank you."
*****
Haruka slowly stood up and walked out to the balcony. The night
air was rather crisp, howling through the night and whipping around
trees and through the streets of Tokyo. The moon played peak a boo
with the clouds, barely shining on the city for a moment before
dissappearing again.
Off to the left, Mamoru sat in a chair, staring at a picture in
his hand. His shoulders sagged and his breath was just warm enough in
contrast to the cold air that one could barely see it. Mamoru made no
movement to indicate he knew Haruka was beside him. "Mamoru-san, daijobu?"
Without looking up, or acknowlding her presence, Mamoru sighed
and slumped down further. "I thought there would be a time without
all of this nonsence, without enemies. Just me and Usako, together."
Haruka bit her left thumb nail and pulled her legs up to
her chest. "I don't know," she began, leaning her head on her legs
and looking out over the city. "Something just doesn't seem right.
It's like someone put those ideas in Usagi's head. It's not like her
to be so impulsive. She always wants to see the good in people."
For the first time since Haruka had came out, Mamoru looked up
from the picture in his hand. "You think someone is messing with her
mind?"
"I don't know," Haruka replied, getting up and opening the slidding
glass door. "But it's a thought, anyways."
"Matte."
Haruka turned. "Hai?"
"Please tell me where Usako is," Mamoru asked, on the verge of
pleading.
"I can't."
"Onegai!"
Haruka shook her head. "I can't, I promised Usagi and I can't go
back on my word. All I can tell you is she is safe."
Mamoru looked up at the sky as the glass door shut behind Haruka.
Buring his head in his hands, he sighed deeply.
*****
Seiya walked down the hallway and stopped at apartment four-b.
Scratching his head, he read the name tag. "Kino Makoto, must be it."
Softly, he knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" a female voice called.
"Seiya."
Slowly the door cracked opened and Makoto stuck her head out
and looked down both sides of the hall. "Are you alone?"
Seiya, looking rather confused, shook his head. "Hai."
Makoto rushed him in the door and shut and locked behind
him.
Smiling at Makoto's odd sence of secretacy, Seiya disgarded
his shoes and came further in. "How's Usagi?"
Makoto looked down in dismay. "She is still convinced that Mamoru-san
and Setsuna-san are having an affair. I don't know where she got such
a silly idea, honestly."
"I guess that means you're still as clueless as everyone else
as to why she is doing this, ne?" Seiya asked.
"No clue... How's Mamoru?" Makoto asked, going into the kitchen.
Seiya followed her into the kitchen and jumped up on the edge
of the counter next to Artemis, and began scratching the back of the
white cat's ear. "He's still on the balcony."
"Still?" Makoto looked up, surprised.
"Yep."
Makoto shook her head sadly. "Does he say anything?"
"Only to Haruka, and then not much. He looks bad, real bad,
Mako-chan. I think this is the first time I've seen Mamoru so torn up.
He just sits and stares at a picture of him and Usagi. He looks like
he watched his life flash before his eyes and he's not sure the
meaning of it all. I had Ami-chan come and take a look at him, it's
not good for him to be outside constantly in the cold like this.
But she didn't have good news..."
"Nani?" came a new voice.
Both of them looked up to see Usagi standing in the kitchen
doorway, her eyes filled with fresh tears. Neither had known she was
listening.
Seiya swallowed hard. "Well, I can tell you that he's caught a
cold, on top of the fact that it's like he *needs* Usagi there." Seiya
looked at the Princess standing in the door and took a deep breath
before choosing his words. "I don't know, maybe it's just me. I've
always seen Mamoru as a strong man, and this kinda...scares me."
"He said he doesn't love me," Usagi explained.
Makoto stood up. "Usagi-chan, he loves you more than anything, how
can you say that? And," Makoto pointed out the little fact that had bothered
her for a week. "I was there. He never left your side, when did this happen?"
"No, he only loves Setsuna... but why is he doing this? Why when
he has her?" It was painfully obvious that Usagi was confused about
Mamoru doing this. She really believes in this, Makoto thought sullenly,
how do we convince her otherwise?
*****
"Lady!" Beryl called, demanding the general come forth.
"Yes," she replied. Again bowing to the queen, again taking orders,
again wishing she had never joined this stupid force. Too late, your in
and you will die before she lets you go, the woman thought bitterly.
Beryl didn't respond for quite a few minutes. When finally she
looked up, she smiled evilly. "So, she left him?"
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
"Staying with one of the inner senshi, majesty."
A glare came from the back of the room, silver eyes watching and
listening intently to what was going to happen.
"So what are you going to do now, Lady? Kill her? Or perhaps you
should tourture her for a while first? I don't know, I think I'd like to
see her cry and beg for mercy..."
Lady thought for a long moment on the question. "Kill her first,"
she answered, hoping she had guessed correctly and wouldn't get blasted
into nothingness.
"Very well, proceed."
As Lady left the room, so did another figure. He followed her.
She has to fail, I can't let her near them, his mind repeated over
and over as he watched the evil general dissappear back to Earth.
*****
"Why Luna? Why is this happening? I don't understand anything
anymore," Usagi cried into her pillow.
Luna sat on the dresser, watching with sad eyes. "I don't know
what to tell you Usagi-chan."
"Tell me what to do! Please, please, tell me how to find out the
truth. You've always known what to do, but now... please tell me..."
Usagi begged, sitting up to face Luna.
Luna jumped down from the dresser. "Usagi-chan, I just don't
know what to tell you. This is something you must decide within your
heart, and I'm sorry - that's not something I know much about."
Usagi watched Luna go out the door. She looked around at the
small room, suddenly feeling like the walls were closing in on her.
"I need some air.." she mumbled, transforming.
Looking back to be sure she wasn't being watched, Usagi jumped
from the window and gracefully landed on the fire escape outside
the window. Climbing down, she looked around before de-transforming
and walking down the street.
The night air was rather cool, but Usagi welcomed the breeze,
and breathed in deeply as it whipped her hair around her face and
allowed it to dance in the air behind her. Closing her eyes, Usagi
walked around a corner and onto fifth street. A display of televisions
in the window caught her interest. Slowly she walked over to them
and watched the sence on the colored screen.
"Tokyo General Hospital was astonished yesterday to find Sailor
Moon missing from her room just hours after Tuxedo Kamen brought her
in for treatment. The doctors say they still have no idea what was
wrong with her, but before her dissappearance she was doing better.
Cops are baffled as they search the city for any trace of the hero,
but find none. Fortage from Wednesday show Tuxedo Kamen's state after
bringing the hero in."
The screen faded and a video began to run. On the screen showed
Tuxedo Kamen pacing back and forth, looking more worried and nervous
than he looked the day he asked Usagi to marry him. Usagi placed her
hand and forehead on the glass of the shop as she watched.
"How old is she? About sixteen or seventeen? You could still
get in trouble about things like that." The woman kept on, obviously
having fun provoking the Caped Hero's fury.
Tuxedo Kamen tried pulling away from the men holding him, to the
point that all eight senshi and three men were holding him back. "Let's
get something straight," Tux said through his teeth. "I love her and
nothing else matters..."
Usagi bit her bottom lip to try and contain the tears that once
more flooded her eyes, but it was no use. The words kept repeating
in her head over and over, like a broken record. "I love her and nothing
else matters.... I love her and nothing else matters..."
*****
Mamoru pulled out a picture that he had looked at over and over
again in the last week. Usagi was smiling happily, on their wedding day.
"Usako, god how I miss you. How I love you." Water splattered on the picture,
but he couldn't tell what was tears or what was the cold rain.
"Mamoru, please come in, you'll catch your death out here," Ikuko
pleaded from inside the apartment. Worriedly, she watched as Mamoru ignored
her again. "Please Mamoru, dying wouldn't help matters any," she tried to
reason.
Mamoru looked up sadly to her, his haunted face would forever engrave
it's self in Ikuko's mind. "What's in there for me? Not Usako.." mumbling
the last of the sentence to where Ikuko barely heard, Mamoru slumped down
again and resorted back to staring at the picture.
Ikuko sighed and went back inside. "I don't know what to do."
Hotaru looked up briefly from her manga and watched the cold
drizzle out the glass door of the living room. Dark, forbidding clouds
surfaced, causing occasional lighting and thunder to rumbled across the
land.
"At least you tried," Michiru told her reassuringly, finally breaking
the uncomfortable silence.
Suddenly the balcony doors flew open and Mamoru ran in them and out
the front door, a paniked look covering his features.
*****
Lady could feel it. That strange feeling that you were being followed.
The hair on the back of her neck stood up and goose bumps lined her arms.
But as far as she could tell, the area was empty and she was alone.
Below her, through a window on a large bed, was the Moon Princess
and her daughter. Lady drew a knife out of thin air and held it tightly
clutched in her hand.
Inside another window, just left to the one holding the image of
the sleeping future queen, was all the inner senshi, a lady, a man and two
cats. With the right amount of patience, she knew she would be undetected
as she rid the world of the two bothersome Sailor Moons. Sliding the window
open, she stood in complete silence, waiting for any noise to indicate she was
found. None came.
In one swift movement, Lady grabbed Chibi-Usa and raised the knife
to slash Usagi. Just as quickly, someone grabbed her from behind, causing
her to miss her target of Usagi's chest and hit her arm. At the same time
Mamoru grabbed onto Chibi-Usa.
*****
---
1 minute before
---
Someone knocked frantically on Makoto's door. Before she had a chance
to open it, Mamoru busted through and looked around like a mad man.
"Where is she?! TELL ME!!" The feeling, of fear and forbidding was
clutching his chest, Usagi was in danger and he knew it.
Seiya and Makoto tried restraining Mamoru, but he would have none of
that. Everyone was surprised when he easily removed himself from their grip
and raced into the bedroom.
"WHAT THE HE-" Makoto was cut short by a shrill scream. Everyone
immediately got to their feet and in seconds were in the bedroom. Now only
occupied by a sobbing Usagi.
"What happened?" Ami asked, running over to Usagi's side, seeing she
was covered in blood.
"I... he took... Mamo... and... Chibi-Usa... my arm... where
are they Ami-chan? Where are they?" Usagi said between gasps and sobs.
Ami brought out her transformation pen. "Mercury Eterenal Make-Up!"
Within seconds Sailor Mercury was standing beside Usagi, scanning her wound
over.
"Don't worry about me. WHERE IS MAMO-CHAN AND CHIBI-USA?!" Usagi
screamed at the woman trying to wrap up her arm.
"Usagi, fighting me, and screaming is NOT helping. We WILL find them,
now HOLD STILL!" Ami said in a loud tone that left no room for argument.
Usagi shrank back from the screaming Mercury and watched quietly as
she was bandaged up.
Hotaru, as silent as a kitten, came in the room. "Could I help?" she
asked in a small voice.
Mercury looked up, not even realizing that the rest of the senshi and
Lights had followed Mamoru. "I don't see why not. For that matter I don't
see why I didn't think of that sooner." She smiled at the child.
Hotaru went over to Usagi and laid her hand on the older woman's arm.
It started to grow warm until the wound completely disappeared.
Usagi hugged her. "Thank you Hotaru-chan, it feels one hundred
percent better."
Hotaru gave a small smile.
"Now," Minako asked gently to avoid another hysterical attack from
Usagi. "What happened?"
Usagi sniffed back some tears and looked sadly over at the now empty
bed, where just a few minutes before Chibi-Usa had been laying peacefully.
"This woman came threw the window and grabbed Chibi-Usa... and when Mamoru
tried to grab her, she took Chibi-Usa and Mamo-chan! Both of them!" she
cried. "My husband and my daughter are gone!"
Minako hugged her. "Don't worry, we'll get them back."
Sailor Pluto watched with worry as Minako and Mercury tried, and was
unsuccessful at calming Usagi down. The longer Usagi had to think about
what had happened, the worse she grew. Pluto, seeing no way to avoid it,
bent down to whisper something in Hotaru's ear.
Slowly the child walked up to the bed, arms reaching infront of her.
Usagi quieted slightly, feeling a strange energy surround her.
Mercury stood back and nodded at Hotaru, senceing what she was about
to do.
"Now sleep, Princess."
Usagi closed her eyes and relaxed back onto the pillows.
*****
"Your just as incompetent as my last set of generals!"
Lady knew that was bad. Beryl's last set of four generals were all
killed by the sailor senshi. Lucky me, I won't get to die in battle, I'm
probably toast right now. "Please my queen, give me one last chance, I
will not fail you again."
Beryl smirked at the woman before her. "You should have thought of
that before you failed me the first time. I tell you to kill Princess
Serenity, but no! Instead you let yourself be seen, and then bring back that
damned daughter of hers...I will not allow you to make a mistake again." As
the words left her throat a blast of energy hit Lady full blown, killing her
instantly.
"Never liked her to begin with. Now that that is done with; who
would like to try their luck at the sailor brats next?" she asked to a
room full of on lookers.
Silence stretched on. "Well?" Beryl demanded.
A man-around six-four, shoulder length sandy blonde hair and evil green
eyes-stepped forward. "I would my queen."
Beryl studied him. He was a strong warrior, and long time follower
of the Dark Kingdom. "Then you know what to do, General Korntz?"
The man bowed. "Yes, my queen."
In the back of the room, unnoticed as always, silver eyes watched
the scene unfold.
*****
Mamoru lifted his head and groaned. It felt like it weighed a
thousand pounds.
Even though his eyes were now open all he could see was a dim light
coming from an open window far above him. The moon light provided enough
of a glow for Mamoru to noticed that he was in a cell, barred doors in front
of him and three walls of cement surrounding on the other sides.
"How did I get here?" he tried to clear his mind. The memories came
back to him, Chibi-Usa being taken, then him. Looking back and seeing Usagi
on the bed crying after them.
"Chibi-Usa?" he called in a loud whisper.
Nothing.
"Chibi-Usa?" he repeated louder.
"It's no use," came a voice devoid of feelings.
Mamoru squinted his eyes to make out a figure standing on the outside
of the cell. "Who are you? Where are we? What have you done with my daughter?"
he demanded.
"My, my prince of Earth, so many questions. But all will be answered
soon enough," the man replied, closing the door behind him, leaving Mamoru
alone.
Mamoru sat down on the small bed provided in the cell. Now what? On
the bed was a small piece of paper. He recognized the small pretty writing.
"Usako," he whispered, opening the paper to full size.
Dear Mamoru,
I am sorry it has to be this way. Please believe me when I say I love
you, but no longer want to spend my life with you. I know this is a
little excessive, but you and Chibi-Usa will be fine.
The bottom had a small picture of a bunny, the way that Usagi
signed her name.
Mamoru felt the tears coming and made no attempt to stop them.
"Why?" he asked to the empty room. He remembered how happy she had been
before all of this happened, but just couldn't believe this was the truth.
But there was no mistaking this letter. It was her writing, and no one could
draw those little bunnies like Usagi could.
"Why?" he repeated in a small voice. It didn't make sense, not
after everything they had been through in the last week, now this?
*****
Usagi sat up and rubbed her eyes. Her head felt heavy, like dead
weight. The room was lightened only by the soft glow of the moon. She
could hear voices outside. The guardians no doubt. Beside her was Mamoru's
empty pillow. On it was a single piece of paper and a rose.
Confused, Usagi sat up and opened the paper. It was written in that
small but easy to read handwriting that Mamoru had.
Dear Usagi,
I know this is hard for you, but you will be fine. I had to take Chibi-Usa,
she is after all my daughter. Please believe me, I used to love you, but
now I only feel resentment. I know this is a little excessive, but you will
be fine.
The bottom was sighed in his unmistakable writing. Usagi felt herself
whither. "Why?" she cried, not loud enough for anyone to hear her. "Why?"
she repeated in a small voice. It couldn't be true...it couldn't...she refused
to completly give into this. Something wasn't right.
*****
The living room of the apartment was filled with soft voices. Everyone
still somewhat in shock from the swiftness of the events leading up to
Usagi still in the room, crying for Mamoru and Chibi-Usa.
"What you got Ami-chan?" Rei asked, coming over and looking over her
shoulder at the small computer screen.
Luna and Artemis was in the other room on the big computer that
was linked to the moon's sub-computer system.
"Well I can detect a portal, it was in the bedroom about two hours
ago."
"Can we get it reopened?" Makoto asked, popping her knuckles.
Ami shook her head. "I don't believe I have enough energy with my
computer, we'll have to combine powers."
"Let's do it then!" Haruka said, jumping up.
Michiru went in the bedroom to wake Usagi. She came out a moment
later with two letters, the ginzuishou and a rose. "Shimatta!" she said
through clenched teeth.
"Nani?" Haruka asked, taking a second look at the articles in her
hands, her eyes widening at the sight of the ginzuishou.
"Usagi's gone," she dead panned.
"She's what?!" the group started.
"Gone, there's a letter from Mamoru saying he didn't love Usagi and
there is one from Usagi telling us goodbye and leaving the ginzuishou for
Chibi-Usa when we find her."
"But... that don't make any sense! We all know for a fact that he
loves her!" Minako pounded her leg with her fist. "Who is doing all of
this? We know it's not Mamoru and Usagi!"
"Well we have to find Usagi, we can't take a chance that the
Dark Kingdom will get to her," Rei stated, feeling like she could scream
at all the trouble they had been having with the Dark Kingdom, again.
*****
Usagi walked down the streets of Tokyo silently. She wore one of
Mamoru's jackets over her simple summer dress and she was quite cold.
She started to go into the park, but decided against it. Too many
memories of her and Mamoru laying in the grass at night, watching the stars.
The same stars that now shined down on her crying form. The wind blew harder
and Usagi tucked the jacket tighter around her, again cursing the fact that
she didn't bring a heavier coat, or had worn jeans instead.
Usagi reached in her lunar space pocket before remembering she had
left her crystal for Chibi-Usa. "Great, that's no help."
A light shinned in front of her and she stepped back. "What's the
matter Rabbit? Has your husband and friends left you?"
Usagi looked up at the man floating above her. "Who... who are you?"
she squinted her eyes and covering the top of them with the palm of one
hand looked up, wishing more than anything that she had the crystal with her.
"Why, I am General Korntz, I understand that you are all alone
princess."
"I'm not alone!" Usagi said, despite the fact that she was obviously
alone. "My friends will be here any minute!"
Korntz shook his head in mock sadness. "Dear sweet princess, if
your friends really cared, wouldn't they had already been here?"
Usagi never stopped to think about it. "Of course they care!"
Korntz's face turned angry. "Fine Rabbit, you want to do this the
hard way? So be it." He grabbed her arm, and before she could scream
a sound of protest, they disappeared.
*****
Mamoru sat up when he heard voices.
"You let me go you evil thing! That is no way to treat a princess,
BAKA!"
Mamoru recognized that voice, it was Usako; hot as a spit fire.
A man stepped in the room, opened the cell door and pushed her in
roughly. Usagi landed on her bottom and glared at the man.
"Now shut up brat, or Queen Beryl will kill you."
Usagi stood up defiantly. "You tell Queen Beryl that I will kill
her with my bare hands and she won't come back to life this time!"
"Whatever," he spit and closed the door. As soon as he was out of
sight, Usagi fell to her knees, crying.
Mamoru stared at her, not believing what he just witnessed. Usagi
turned around and looked at him briefly. Mamoru misunderstood her look of
hurt for anger and looked away.
Usagi moved over in the corner of the cell, pulled her knees up and
cried herself to sleep.
Mamoru watched for a while until he was completely sure she was asleep
before going over and gently lifting her. He placed her on the bed and
gently covered her up with the blanket provided.
"Usako," he mouthed.
Usagi opened her eyes to look at Mamoru. "What are you doing?"
"Sleeping on the floor." He shrugged.
"No, your not."
"Yes I am, please don't argue with me, your not sleeping on the
floor, so I am." Mamoru laid on his back with his hands behind his head
and looked up at her.
Usagi stood up. "If your sleeping on the floor, then so am I."
Mamoru looked up, angrily, "No. Lay down and stop arguing with me."
"There's enough room for both of us on the bed, I'll stay on my
side," she spit, crossing her arms over her chest.
He sighed, knowing there was no way he was changing her mind. "Fine,"
he gave in and laid down on the cot, as far away from Usagi as he could, so
as to not anger her more.
Usagi watched him make sure he wasn't too near her. She turned over
and faced the wall.
The silence was interrupted by a small sob that Usagi tried to hide.
Mamoru watched her shoulders shaking and felt his heart break and
crumble in his chest. "Usagi?"
Usagi winced at the sound of Mamoru using her full name and started
crying harder. Suddenly she felt a hand slowly touch her shoulder and she
turned over to see his concerned face. On complete impulse she buried herself
in his chest.
"Mamoru, I know you hate me, but please, please just hold me. Just for
tonight, I'm so scared! Even if you don't love me, do this for me one more time.
After that I'll never ask for another thing from you, I promise," she sobbed.
Mamoru looked at her, confused, wondering why she thought he hated
her. Deciding she was too upset to question it tonight, he wrapped his
arms around her and pulled her as close to him as he could manage without
squeezing her small body too tightly.
He ran his hands through her hair and kissed her head. "Usako, my
sweet Usako, please don't cry," he cooed, pressing himself closer to her.
*****
"Ami-chan, have you found her?" Rei asked over the communicator.
"Iie, are any of you having any luck?"
"No," came back eight voices.
"Damn it, where is she?" Minako suddenly screamed.
"Matte! I've got something!" Mercury started, then began typing on
her lap top. "About a fourth mile north of Tokyo park, there was a portal
opened here about a half hour ago. Get over here minna!"
"SOU!"
Mercury typed faster on her computer. "Almost... come on you baka..."
Pluto was surprised at Mercury's loss of control. It showed the
stress they all were under at the moment. "Slow down Mercury, your only
going to make more mistakes if you hurry too much," Pluto warned her. "Just
take a deep breath and concentrate on whatever it is your trying to do."
Mercury stopped and did as Pluto said, then started typing again.
Within minutes all of the sailor senshi and lights had gathered around,
waiting not so patiently for Mercury to tell them their next move.
*****
Usagi was dreaming about that days events. The note from Mamoru,
then she was on the street, except in her nightmare, the guy didn't kidnap
her, he killed her.
She let out a fierce, fear filled scream.
"What the hell?" Mamoru jumped up, bringing Usagi with him, and in
doing so, woke her up from the nightmare she was having.
She calmed down a bit when she remembered where she was, but pulled
back slightly from Mamoru's embrace. "Gomen, I was having that dream
again," she explained, hoping that he wouldn't get disgusted with her and
let her go.
Mamoru done the exact opposite, pulling her closer and kissing her
forehead. "It's okay, I'm with you, nothing or no one will hurt you, I
promise."
Usagi swallowed her confusion and gratefully laid her head up
against his chest. "Mamoru-san?" she asked uncertainly.
Mamoru tightened his grip. "Hai?"
"I have to know Mamoru, please, tell me..." she trailed off, hoping
just to leave it there. Not really sure why she had risked making him angry
to ask why he was being nice.
But she had his full attention. "Know what?"
"Nothing."
"No, tell me," he insisted.
She swallowed hard. "I... it's just that, well. I didn't expect
you to be so nice to me, and I was wondering why... but you don't have
to answer. I'm just happy that you are holding me, even though you hate me
and all..." she left the sentence hanging, trying to hold back the flood
of tears that were threatening.
Mamoru tried to work through that statement. Not understanding one
bit, but determined to, he pulled back from Usagi's warm body to tilt her
head up to him. "Usa, what do you mean? You know, I hope, that I could NEVER
hate you. I love you more than anything in this world."
Usagi's eyes went wide, feeling as if she were dreaming, she tried
to explain her situation. "Mamoru... but... your letter said that you hated
me, I thought..." she went quiet as she considered what might have happened.
"Did you get a letter from me?"
His puzzled eyes meet hers. "Yes," he whispered. Now you blew it baka!
he thought as she looked up at him, but he was surprised by the tears in them.
"Mamo-chan, I love you so much!" she squealed, hugging him hard.
Mamoru was taken by surprise by her affection, but wasn't about to turn
it down.
"Usa, I don't understand, what happened?"
"The letter wasn't from me Mamo-chan, and the letter I got wasn't
from you... I hope," she added, looking up frightened at him.
"What letter?" he inquired.
That was all Usagi needed to hear. "Oh Mamo-chan!" She hugged him again.
"Someone is trying to break us up, and to think it almost worked!"
Mamoru again tried to work through that slur of words. "The letter
wasn't from you?" he asked in disbelief.
"Iie! I would never! Hell I don't even know what it said, but I
wouldn't anyway!" she cried. "What did it say?"
Mamoru brought the letter out of his back pocket and handed it to
her. In the moon light that was seeping through, she read it and gasped.
"Mamo-chan, it looks just like my handwriting!"
"Don't I know it," he replied, took the paper, shredded it and kissed
Usagi gently.
Slowly the slight glow of the moon coming through the barrced window
found two people, content in each others arms.
*****
"What the hell happened? Damn that moon brat!" Beryl cursed.
Korntz knew that from the love scene he had silently witnessed,
they would never be broken by Beryl. However, he knew better than to
utter those words. Instead he watched as Beryl blew her top, again, over
the prince's love for the moon rabbit.
"I put them in the same cell to fight! Not to make up! DAMN HER!"
She spit, looking in her crystal ball at the two sleeping figures. "Get
her out of there!"
"Yes, my queen," Korntz replied, disappearing into nothingness.
He reappeared outside the cell doors and looked at the cot holding
the earth prince and moon princess. He scanned the area to be sure that
Beryl was not watching him. Satisfied that she was not, he opened the bar
door. "Prince of Earth," he said in a loud whisper.
Mamoru looked up and pulled Usagi closer. "Nani?"
"Come here."
Mamoru glared at him. Korntz looked around nervously. "Look prince,
do you want to get out of here alive?"
That got Mamoru's attention and carefully he left Usagi's side. As
soon as she no longer felt his body heat, Usagi woke up. "Mamo-chan, where
are you going?" she asked sleepily.
He leaned down and kissed her lips lightly. "Don't worry, I'll be
right back, ne?"
Usagi pulled the covers closer to her and closed her eyes once more.
Relieved that she didn't turn over to see the general standing in the cell,
Mamoru carefully approached the man.
In a whisper the general began explaining to Mamoru what Beryl was
planning. "She is going to use the small rabbit as bait for you and the moon
rabbit. I want to help you to escape."
"Why?" Mamoru asked cautiously.
Korntz shook his head. "You are smart, Prince of Earth, to question
help, especially from the enemy. I have to admit to you I am not all I seem
to be, I have feelings, unlike the other brainless windbags running around
here. I also used to... know... the princess, on the moon. Just listen
carefully."
Mamoru nodded, reluctantly agreeing that this man was the only hope
they had. "The small child is being held in Beryl's chambers. I can tell
you how to get there, but actually freeing yourself from this cell will be
your problem." Quickly he explained how to get to the place where Chibi-Usa
was being held. He walked forward in the cell. "Now I must take the rabbit."
"No!" Mamoru growled.
"I will help you, but I will NOT lose my own life in the process.
Beryl commanded me to take the princess from you, and I must," he explained.
He went over to pick Usagi up. Mamoru picked up a rock and hit him
in the back of the head with it. "Gomen, I appreciate your help, but I
will not let you take her."
Usagi woke up and started to scream before Mamoru's hand came over
her mouth. "Don't say a word, just listen, ne?"
She nodded her head and Mamoru moved his hand away. "I know where
Chibi-Usa is, we have to hurry. We don't have long before Beryl figures
we have escaped."
Usagi stood and grabbed his hand and the two hurried out of the
cell and out the door.
A lone figure emerged from the shadows and watched them leave,
a smile playing on his full lips.
*****
Mercury focused her computer on the exact spot that the portal
had opened earlier. "Ok, we need to combine powers to open it and keep
it open long enough for all of us to go through. Just in case we don't
all make it, Luna knows how to open it from the control room."
"Then why don't we just use the portal from the control room?"
Venus asked.
Mercury glanced up. "Because it doesn't open in the same place as
this one does. From here we have a better chance of finding Usagi-chan."
"Oh," Minako mumbled, almost understanding.
Luna came up with a locket in her mouth and gave it to Pluto.
"Make sure to give this to Usagi-chan as soon as possible."
Pluto nodded and tucked it away in her lunar space pocket.
"Let's do this!" Minako shouted and everyone joined hands around
the spot where the Dark Kingdom portal would open.
"VENUS PLANET POWER!"
"MARS PLANET POWER!"
"JUPITER PLANET POWER.." in order of the circle, all the senshi
activated their powers and concentrated on opening the portal.
A black circle slowly formed and grew larger until it was about
as large as a vehicle. "NOW!" Mercury screamed, jumping through the
portal.
Everyone else followed.
---End Chapter 4.
*sighs* this is taking a little bit longer than planned, but ya'll won't
know cuz I'm putting them out at the same time ;)
Emails! They are a girl's bestfriend!
3 Bethany
Bethany212@aol.com
03-19-01