Author's notes at bottom
----PLEASE READ THIS----
This story is a SERIES! That means that
if you are reading this without reading the
chapters before it - you will be confused.
This is a list of the series, in order;
DON'T LET ME GO: BROKEN PROMISES
DON'T LET ME GO: INSANITY
DON'T LET ME GO: ROSES
DON'T LET ME GO: APPARITIONS
Don't Let Me Go: Debauchery - which is
this set of Chapters.
~Bethany & Patch
__________________________
As a cat, sometimes I feel so useless.
With this enemy, I feel even more so. It's
so hard to watch the Senshi go into battle,
not knowing if they will come out.
But this is the worst thing - when they
are taken and we don't know where or if we
will ever see them again. Luna and I
are as clueless about this enemy as the
Senshi are - and this frightens me. More
than I can express.
Kami and Selene, help the Princess and
her court.
-Artemis.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't Let Me Go: Debauchery
Chapter: 2
By: Bethany and Patch
Edited by: Meara
Rated: PG 13 for violence
Please send us your comments,
suggestions, cheese cubes, Tiggers,
Scooby Doo and SM stuff to us
at Bethany212@aol.com and
Patchkhan1@hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dark wind whisped around the raven haired girl standing
on a roof's edge. Her hand came up to slowly trace her arm to
bring little warmth to the bare skin there. A tingle of dread
shot down her spine and she flinched. "What is going on?"
She could feel evil in the air, just like she had the day
she got sick. The flame was telling her something then, predicting
what was to come. Usagi was in danger.... but it was calling her.
Beckoning her to come to it, not to fight or she will be in pain.
"I don't understand this, what am I to do?"
In response to her questioning, two crows circled above her,
their familiar squaking bringing little comfort. "Pheobos...Deomos...
I don't understand what I'm suppose to do.." It was the last words
that left her mouth as she dissappeared into a ray of red light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ami looked back at the computer screen and sighed. She had
been up for a little over twenty-four hours and yet she still could
not understand the strange signal that was surrounding Tokyo.
It had been early yesterday morning when her computer had
picked up a trace of a sound - too high for the human hear to detect -
circling the city. It was faint to an extent, but it was growing
stronger at the moment.
Pluto appeared behind Ami and cleared her throat just as the
intensity of the signal rose.
Just as quickly as it had came - the sound stopped and the
signal dissappeared completely. Ami gave a puzzled look to the now
detransformed Senshi of Pluto. "What was that?"
Setsuna silently went up to the computer and slid a disk in
it's hard drive. Automatically a program started running, connecting
Ami's computer to a sub-corridor space. "What is that?"
"The moon's main computer, I'm installing central control's
files into your computer and in turn giving us access to the data I
need. There is something I need to check on..." her voice thinned out
as the program showed a giant moon symbol across the screen and a new
screen opened. Setsuna placed her hand on the screen and a solemn voice
came over the speakers. "Welcome Sailor Pluto, what do you wish?"
"Find 5131579832."
Ami watched transfixed as the computer pulled up a mile long list
of files, each marked with the symbol of Mars. The word searching came
up and then flashed brilliantly. "File number 5131579832 is no longer
in the Universe's realm, next search?"
Her large emerald eyes grew large and Setsuna exhaled softly.
"Find 8543215675."
After another few seconds and what seemed like millions of
miles of files later. A black folder with a white X appeared. "Found
one file, do you wish to continue?"
"Shimatta," Setsuna mumbled and closed the program. "We have
to hurry."
"Wait, Setsuna-chan, what's going on?" Ami asked, panic lacing
her voice. She turned to face the tall Senshi and craned her neck to
meet her gaze. "Tell me what's happening."
"Debauchery, pure evil."
"Nani? What are you trying to say?"
"There is a great evil approaching, but it is a stealthy predator,
not striking until the time is just right. We have to face it and
eliminate it at once or there will be disaster."
"I don't understand. Where is this evil from? What is its source?"
Setsuna closed her eyes and when she opened them, they were
clouded with fear and anxiety. "We have a new enemy. I think this is
it, Ami-chan... I think this is it."
A sudden beeping noise from the computer caused them to turn
their heads sharply.
"What is it?" Ami whispered.
The screen had gone black and a symbol was flashing on it. Bright
gold, it included a circle at its head, which was at the bottom, a line
from the circle and then two more lines, connected to the first line.
And in just a few seconds, it had stopped flashing and disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Haruka brought Michiru closer to her as they strolled through
the park. It was late, but the moon was out and the weather was
just right, making it perfect for a walk.
"Mmm, this is wonderful," Michiru sighed, resting her head on
Haruka's shoulder. "We just have to do this more often."
"I agree. Now that our Princess has her Prince back, we get
more time to ourselves."
"What?" she asked, in mock horror. "You would rather spend time
with me than worry about our Princess?"
"Must I answer that?" Haruka asked, wrapping an arm around
Michiru's waist and bringing her closer.
"Well..." Michiru began, giggling.
But she never got to finish, when a tingling of dread crawled
up her spine.
"Haruka... we're not alone," she whispered.
Haruka stiffened but then she relaxed. "Just play along,"
she replied and smiled.
Michiru nodded but before she could say anything more, she
felt Haruka's grip on her waist slacken. She watched in horror as
Haruka fell to the ground on one knee.
"Haruka!" she fell to her knees beside the other woman. "Haruka?
What's wrong? What happened?" She asked, panic rising in her voice.
"It's...it's nothing...just a slight pai-" she gasped suddenly,
clutching her waist. She began to breathe heavily, as sweat formed on
her face. The pain inside of her was so great, but she had to fight
it, for Michiru's sake.
"Haruka! Please tell me what's wrong!" Michiru's voice had become
shrill as she watched her companion begin to look feverish.
"Kami, I'm...I'm feeling evil, Michiru, I can...feel it. Run...
transform, save...yourself."
"No! Don't you dare tell me that! C'mon, we have to get you
someplace better than this," she tried to pull Haruka up, but to no
avail. "Come on Haruka, get up! Onegai!"
"Michiru, I can't...leave me. Go...now!" Haruka bit out.
"Iie!" she knelt down again and cupped Haruka's face. Tears were
beginning to fall from her eyes, as she pushed back some bangs from the
blonde's face. "Haruka..." she whispered. "You'll be alright. I'm sure
it's just a cramp or something because it's your time. We're...we're
women remember? It's probably something natural, ne?"
Haruka smiled slightly. "Hai, just a cramp. It'll pass. Don't...
don't worry about me."
"Aishiteru Haruka, I'm going to stay right here with you."
"Ai-" But she was never able to finish, for at that moment, a
bright light engulfed her and in a twinkling of an eye, she was there
no more.
"Nani?" At first she couldn't comprehend what had happened. It
wasn't possible, it couldn't be possible! But it sunk in; Haruka wasn't
with her anymore.
A low moaning sound came from her, and then she began to scream.
And scream...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The darkness was some how a comfort for her burning eyes. It wasn't
a night darkness however, this was man made and man controled - and that
scared her.
The last thing Reika remembered was pushing Motoki's apartment
door open and facing the last thing she expected.
My God! she thought. His face, arms and every visible part of him
was covered in bruises; deep purple and blue blotches and .... she cried
at the visual her mind provided.
What had they done to him? And even more than that...who were "they"
and what did "they" want?
Pushing the thoughts from her mind, the brunette tried to find a
way out of her prison. Her hands slid over concrete, puddles and wood.
Nothing resembled a door handle or other means of escape. Angry tears
of frusteration built up in her eyes before her hand slid across fabric.
Carefully she felt more until skin brushed her finger tips. A low moan
left who ever it was and Reika jerked her hand back sharply.
"Wh... who are.. you?" she whispered, ready to run; but she knew
not to where.
"Ah... oh my head..." the deep voice mumbled, sounding as if
it's owner was attempting to sit up.
If a light had penetrated the room at that very moment, they
would have seen an unusal sight. Reika was cold, hungry and scared to
death; but she smiled when she heard that voice. "Motoki?! Is that you?!"
The air seemed thick in the room, but one voice; sweet, innocent
and full of emotions broke through to his mind. "Re..Rei...ka?" The
words no more left his throat and a warm hand was touching his chest,
working it's way up to his face.
When at last Reika could feel the rough bristles that covered
Motoki's bruised face, she let out a sound of relief and wrapped her
arms around his neck. "Motoki... where are we? Are you okay? Who are
these people?" she sobbed.
Motoki pulled his sore arms around her as tightly as he could.
How could he reassure her when he knew they were going to kill him..
and probably her? What ever this 10th ring was, he was sure they
would get it and kill anyone who stood in their way. And to them,
he was in their way.
He pressed his dry, cracked lips to her forehead and whispered
as soothingly as possible. "It's okay, we'll get out of this."
He felt her tears on his skin and inwardly cursed the man
that had sold Mamoru that ring. Mamoru; his best friend was killed
because of this... and now he and Reika were next. "They killed
Mamoru, Reika. That man killed him."
It seemed like an eternity of silence before Reika spoke,
and when finally she found her voice, it was nothing more than a
horse whisper. "He's alive."
"Nani?!"
"He's alive, Mamoru is alive. He came back right after you
dissappeared. I don't know how.. but he is." Motoki listened to
her confession in silent joy. At least he wasn't responsciable for
two deaths. Now, to get Reika out of here and fast.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The night's air whipped around the house, making howling
noises that would wake the dead. The moonless night called to her;
and she obeyed. I must fight this, she thought as her foot steps
lead her beyond Tokyo's city limits and towards the ocean. The
force was strong, and demanding. She knew she could not fight it.
But she is the senshi of Protection, she must fight - if not
for herself than for her Princess.
Makoto willed her feet to stay firmly rooted on the ground,
not to walk towards the single silver light that beckoned her.
The pain tore and lashed at her body, bloody welts forming on her
skin from the unseen force that was ripping her apart.
"No!" she yelled, her arms holding her waist as she doubled
over. Her knees hit the ground roughly as she let out a final howl
of agony. Anyone close enough that night would have heard her last
words clearly before she dissappeared.
"I'm sorry Usagi-chan."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Birds sang and the sun shined merrily in the morning sky. But
for Tsukino Usagi the world was as drab as it had been the day she
found out Mamoru was "dead."
A call early that Saturday morning had given her and Mamoru
a rude awakening. Makoto, Haruka and Rei; gone.
Setsuna was frantic, and this scared Usagi even more. The
Senshi of Time *never* lost her cool the way she was now. It was
as if the entire universe depended on what would happen next.
From what Setsuna knew, the time corridor was frantic, the
Moon's main computers down and what evil had been lurking outside
of the Universe's realm was now advancing.
Usagi fearfully watched as Ami cursed the computer that stayed
down and Setsuna paced. Michiru sat in the corner, almost in a fetal
position; eyes dry and unseeing. Hotaru had her knees drawn up to her
chest and was staring out the window. Minako sat in the floor beside
Luna and Artemis, playing with a strand of her hair and humming
something under her breath.
Mamoru broke the silence of the apartment by handing Usagi a
cup of coffee and clearing his throat. "Setsuna-chan, what time did
this begin and why didn't we know more?"
Before the Senshi of time could speak, another presence entered
the living room, her cat in tow. "At 3:34 this morning a strange light
was coming from the sky towards the east coast. That is when I called
Ami-chan and Setsuna-san," Mika informed, going towards the kitchen.
"Approximately fifteen minutes later," Ami began, her fingers
once more flying over her mini-lap top. "The same sound that we
detected when Rei and Haruka dissappeared filled the air."
"So, are you saying that if this signal starts back up, we can
expect someone to dissappear?" Luna asked from her place on Minako's
lap.
"It seems that way, yes," Setsuna answered, looking over Ami's
shoulder at the figures. "It is too high for the human ear to hear,
but the computer can pick up the reading right before it strikes."
"Is there a pattern? Do we know why they are doing this?" Usagi
asked. "And, are they alive? Can we get them back?" The more she talked
the louder and shriller her voice became.
Mamoru laid a hand gently on her shoulder, and she turned to
bury her face in his arms. "Why can't we have peace?"
Setsuna stood up to her full hieght and summoned her time staff.
"I want to show you something, and then you can see just how serious
this is."
A portal to the Time Gate opened and everyone filed through.
The wind howled around each of them, pulling at their clothes
and threatening to take them into the chaos that was the Timegate,
never to be found again. A thick, black fog filled the space and the
time door was glowing bright red.
"I discovered this after Mika called me this morning!" Setsuna
yelled over the howling wind. "This is a time storm - whatever or
whoever this is as a grip on time and space; and could very well be
more powerful than me!"
Quickly she ushered everyone back into Mamoru's apartment and
sealed the time portal. "The time gate has pulled a protective
shield over itself so that not even I can travel through time
anymore. The last thing we need at this point is for the Black
Moon Family of the future to come through and make more trouble
for us."
"I'm afraid this is it!" Ami called, her voice thick and
worry etching her words. "The signal is up again."
Silence penetrated the room. Usagi held onto Mamoru's hand
tightly and kept her eyes on everyone in the room. The mini-lap top
beeped louder in Ami's hands as the second ticked by. The wind
outside rose and fell in bursts, howling by the balcony door.
Minako looked down at her hands and gasped. A strange yellow
light penetrated through her skin as if a flash light were being
held under her hand. It called her, she felt it. She stood up,
now glowing brightly and faced Usagi. "I won't give in Usagi-chan,
I'll always protect you. And no matter what happens after this,
know that I love you, my best friend;" The room shone brightly with
her glow. "My Princess," she whispered and bowed before dissappearing
from the room.
Ami's computer came to a shrill beep before silencing. Leaving
one less Senshi in the room.
The next sound was Usagi letting a howl of pure distress from
her mouth before fainting in Mamoru's arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We have got two of them, Master. Their energy levels are
incredible."
"Excellent. Prepare them for the Orthic Chambers," Chronos said
quietly. His hands gripped the edge of the cauldron as his sightless
eyes gazed into the fire. The flames licked at his face but he didn't
notice them as they did him no harm. His knuckles turned white
suddenly but then they relaxed. All was going well, that much he could
tell so far.
He had yet to receive the 10th Ring from that boy. He could wait.
They boy was scared out of his wits and would do anything necessary to
save his 'love.'
Chronos snorted as he went back to his throne. Love...the being
that created that foolish notion should have been drawn and quartered,
he thought.
He settled himself on the marble seat and closed his eyes. Soon...
soon everything would fall together and soon they would rise, rise to
rule and conquer.
He thought back to the days of the Silver Millennium, when they
had come so close... so close to achieving absolute power until the
Terrans had struck them down, destroying their plans and forcing the
Organization to hide like cowards.
The flames grew larger and higher in response to his growing anger.
He would not allow such a failure as the first time.
The 10th Ring, he needed it now. No more waiting, if the boy did
not have it, then may the heavens have mercy on his soul. All who came
into his path would die. He would make sure of it. Motoki was no
exception.
"Jethro?"
"Yes Master?"
"Pay our mortal friend a visit. He needs some motivation, I believe
he is not taking his job seriously. I want the ring - don't come to me
without it."
"Yes, Your Greatness."
The flames dwindled down to their normal size and his body relaxed
from its stiffened state.
He would get the Earth Prince and then no one would stop them. No
one would be able to stop them. The Earth Prince... his strength, his
power...yes, he would make a great ally.
The fire slowly dwindled to its original size. A smile appeared on
Chronos' pale face, a smile so malicious... it foretold of the events to
come...
_______________
End Chapter 2
Yes, these are chapters now, not substories. These are way too long
to be considered small sub-stories now ^^
I really hope everyone is enjoying this series - this gets more in
dept before it's over - we haven't begun to get into the real purpose
yet ^_~
As always, to everyone who writes us - we can't thank you enough! ***HUGS***
Especially Celia (I hope I spelt that right) thank you girl for writing
me every week *hugs* You help me pull through writer's block by staying
fateful to my stories ^_^ And to Megs, Tanya, Tiffany and everyone else-
huge thanks for keeping with me even after I killed Mamo-chan ^^;;;
GIGANTIC THANKS to our editor, Meara - your the best! *hugs*
Insert usual disclaimer that no one reads here.....
See you all next week with chapters 3 and 4 ^_^
Email! Email!! Email!!! Email!!!! Email!!!!!!
Love ya'll!
Bethany - Bethany212@aol.com
Patch - Patchkhan1@hotmail.com
Moon Bunny's Closet - http://anime.at/bethsere
Owned and operated by Bethany & Serenity Raye - Come visit us!
----PLEASE READ THIS----
This story is a SERIES! That means that
if you are reading this without reading the
chapters before it - you will be confused.
This is a list of the series, in order;
DON'T LET ME GO: BROKEN PROMISES
DON'T LET ME GO: INSANITY
DON'T LET ME GO: ROSES
DON'T LET ME GO: APPARITIONS
Don't Let Me Go: Debauchery - which is
this set of Chapters.
~Bethany & Patch
__________________________
As a cat, sometimes I feel so useless.
With this enemy, I feel even more so. It's
so hard to watch the Senshi go into battle,
not knowing if they will come out.
But this is the worst thing - when they
are taken and we don't know where or if we
will ever see them again. Luna and I
are as clueless about this enemy as the
Senshi are - and this frightens me. More
than I can express.
Kami and Selene, help the Princess and
her court.
-Artemis.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't Let Me Go: Debauchery
Chapter: 2
By: Bethany and Patch
Edited by: Meara
Rated: PG 13 for violence
Please send us your comments,
suggestions, cheese cubes, Tiggers,
Scooby Doo and SM stuff to us
at Bethany212@aol.com and
Patchkhan1@hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dark wind whisped around the raven haired girl standing
on a roof's edge. Her hand came up to slowly trace her arm to
bring little warmth to the bare skin there. A tingle of dread
shot down her spine and she flinched. "What is going on?"
She could feel evil in the air, just like she had the day
she got sick. The flame was telling her something then, predicting
what was to come. Usagi was in danger.... but it was calling her.
Beckoning her to come to it, not to fight or she will be in pain.
"I don't understand this, what am I to do?"
In response to her questioning, two crows circled above her,
their familiar squaking bringing little comfort. "Pheobos...Deomos...
I don't understand what I'm suppose to do.." It was the last words
that left her mouth as she dissappeared into a ray of red light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ami looked back at the computer screen and sighed. She had
been up for a little over twenty-four hours and yet she still could
not understand the strange signal that was surrounding Tokyo.
It had been early yesterday morning when her computer had
picked up a trace of a sound - too high for the human hear to detect -
circling the city. It was faint to an extent, but it was growing
stronger at the moment.
Pluto appeared behind Ami and cleared her throat just as the
intensity of the signal rose.
Just as quickly as it had came - the sound stopped and the
signal dissappeared completely. Ami gave a puzzled look to the now
detransformed Senshi of Pluto. "What was that?"
Setsuna silently went up to the computer and slid a disk in
it's hard drive. Automatically a program started running, connecting
Ami's computer to a sub-corridor space. "What is that?"
"The moon's main computer, I'm installing central control's
files into your computer and in turn giving us access to the data I
need. There is something I need to check on..." her voice thinned out
as the program showed a giant moon symbol across the screen and a new
screen opened. Setsuna placed her hand on the screen and a solemn voice
came over the speakers. "Welcome Sailor Pluto, what do you wish?"
"Find 5131579832."
Ami watched transfixed as the computer pulled up a mile long list
of files, each marked with the symbol of Mars. The word searching came
up and then flashed brilliantly. "File number 5131579832 is no longer
in the Universe's realm, next search?"
Her large emerald eyes grew large and Setsuna exhaled softly.
"Find 8543215675."
After another few seconds and what seemed like millions of
miles of files later. A black folder with a white X appeared. "Found
one file, do you wish to continue?"
"Shimatta," Setsuna mumbled and closed the program. "We have
to hurry."
"Wait, Setsuna-chan, what's going on?" Ami asked, panic lacing
her voice. She turned to face the tall Senshi and craned her neck to
meet her gaze. "Tell me what's happening."
"Debauchery, pure evil."
"Nani? What are you trying to say?"
"There is a great evil approaching, but it is a stealthy predator,
not striking until the time is just right. We have to face it and
eliminate it at once or there will be disaster."
"I don't understand. Where is this evil from? What is its source?"
Setsuna closed her eyes and when she opened them, they were
clouded with fear and anxiety. "We have a new enemy. I think this is
it, Ami-chan... I think this is it."
A sudden beeping noise from the computer caused them to turn
their heads sharply.
"What is it?" Ami whispered.
The screen had gone black and a symbol was flashing on it. Bright
gold, it included a circle at its head, which was at the bottom, a line
from the circle and then two more lines, connected to the first line.
And in just a few seconds, it had stopped flashing and disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Haruka brought Michiru closer to her as they strolled through
the park. It was late, but the moon was out and the weather was
just right, making it perfect for a walk.
"Mmm, this is wonderful," Michiru sighed, resting her head on
Haruka's shoulder. "We just have to do this more often."
"I agree. Now that our Princess has her Prince back, we get
more time to ourselves."
"What?" she asked, in mock horror. "You would rather spend time
with me than worry about our Princess?"
"Must I answer that?" Haruka asked, wrapping an arm around
Michiru's waist and bringing her closer.
"Well..." Michiru began, giggling.
But she never got to finish, when a tingling of dread crawled
up her spine.
"Haruka... we're not alone," she whispered.
Haruka stiffened but then she relaxed. "Just play along,"
she replied and smiled.
Michiru nodded but before she could say anything more, she
felt Haruka's grip on her waist slacken. She watched in horror as
Haruka fell to the ground on one knee.
"Haruka!" she fell to her knees beside the other woman. "Haruka?
What's wrong? What happened?" She asked, panic rising in her voice.
"It's...it's nothing...just a slight pai-" she gasped suddenly,
clutching her waist. She began to breathe heavily, as sweat formed on
her face. The pain inside of her was so great, but she had to fight
it, for Michiru's sake.
"Haruka! Please tell me what's wrong!" Michiru's voice had become
shrill as she watched her companion begin to look feverish.
"Kami, I'm...I'm feeling evil, Michiru, I can...feel it. Run...
transform, save...yourself."
"No! Don't you dare tell me that! C'mon, we have to get you
someplace better than this," she tried to pull Haruka up, but to no
avail. "Come on Haruka, get up! Onegai!"
"Michiru, I can't...leave me. Go...now!" Haruka bit out.
"Iie!" she knelt down again and cupped Haruka's face. Tears were
beginning to fall from her eyes, as she pushed back some bangs from the
blonde's face. "Haruka..." she whispered. "You'll be alright. I'm sure
it's just a cramp or something because it's your time. We're...we're
women remember? It's probably something natural, ne?"
Haruka smiled slightly. "Hai, just a cramp. It'll pass. Don't...
don't worry about me."
"Aishiteru Haruka, I'm going to stay right here with you."
"Ai-" But she was never able to finish, for at that moment, a
bright light engulfed her and in a twinkling of an eye, she was there
no more.
"Nani?" At first she couldn't comprehend what had happened. It
wasn't possible, it couldn't be possible! But it sunk in; Haruka wasn't
with her anymore.
A low moaning sound came from her, and then she began to scream.
And scream...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The darkness was some how a comfort for her burning eyes. It wasn't
a night darkness however, this was man made and man controled - and that
scared her.
The last thing Reika remembered was pushing Motoki's apartment
door open and facing the last thing she expected.
My God! she thought. His face, arms and every visible part of him
was covered in bruises; deep purple and blue blotches and .... she cried
at the visual her mind provided.
What had they done to him? And even more than that...who were "they"
and what did "they" want?
Pushing the thoughts from her mind, the brunette tried to find a
way out of her prison. Her hands slid over concrete, puddles and wood.
Nothing resembled a door handle or other means of escape. Angry tears
of frusteration built up in her eyes before her hand slid across fabric.
Carefully she felt more until skin brushed her finger tips. A low moan
left who ever it was and Reika jerked her hand back sharply.
"Wh... who are.. you?" she whispered, ready to run; but she knew
not to where.
"Ah... oh my head..." the deep voice mumbled, sounding as if
it's owner was attempting to sit up.
If a light had penetrated the room at that very moment, they
would have seen an unusal sight. Reika was cold, hungry and scared to
death; but she smiled when she heard that voice. "Motoki?! Is that you?!"
The air seemed thick in the room, but one voice; sweet, innocent
and full of emotions broke through to his mind. "Re..Rei...ka?" The
words no more left his throat and a warm hand was touching his chest,
working it's way up to his face.
When at last Reika could feel the rough bristles that covered
Motoki's bruised face, she let out a sound of relief and wrapped her
arms around his neck. "Motoki... where are we? Are you okay? Who are
these people?" she sobbed.
Motoki pulled his sore arms around her as tightly as he could.
How could he reassure her when he knew they were going to kill him..
and probably her? What ever this 10th ring was, he was sure they
would get it and kill anyone who stood in their way. And to them,
he was in their way.
He pressed his dry, cracked lips to her forehead and whispered
as soothingly as possible. "It's okay, we'll get out of this."
He felt her tears on his skin and inwardly cursed the man
that had sold Mamoru that ring. Mamoru; his best friend was killed
because of this... and now he and Reika were next. "They killed
Mamoru, Reika. That man killed him."
It seemed like an eternity of silence before Reika spoke,
and when finally she found her voice, it was nothing more than a
horse whisper. "He's alive."
"Nani?!"
"He's alive, Mamoru is alive. He came back right after you
dissappeared. I don't know how.. but he is." Motoki listened to
her confession in silent joy. At least he wasn't responsciable for
two deaths. Now, to get Reika out of here and fast.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The night's air whipped around the house, making howling
noises that would wake the dead. The moonless night called to her;
and she obeyed. I must fight this, she thought as her foot steps
lead her beyond Tokyo's city limits and towards the ocean. The
force was strong, and demanding. She knew she could not fight it.
But she is the senshi of Protection, she must fight - if not
for herself than for her Princess.
Makoto willed her feet to stay firmly rooted on the ground,
not to walk towards the single silver light that beckoned her.
The pain tore and lashed at her body, bloody welts forming on her
skin from the unseen force that was ripping her apart.
"No!" she yelled, her arms holding her waist as she doubled
over. Her knees hit the ground roughly as she let out a final howl
of agony. Anyone close enough that night would have heard her last
words clearly before she dissappeared.
"I'm sorry Usagi-chan."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Birds sang and the sun shined merrily in the morning sky. But
for Tsukino Usagi the world was as drab as it had been the day she
found out Mamoru was "dead."
A call early that Saturday morning had given her and Mamoru
a rude awakening. Makoto, Haruka and Rei; gone.
Setsuna was frantic, and this scared Usagi even more. The
Senshi of Time *never* lost her cool the way she was now. It was
as if the entire universe depended on what would happen next.
From what Setsuna knew, the time corridor was frantic, the
Moon's main computers down and what evil had been lurking outside
of the Universe's realm was now advancing.
Usagi fearfully watched as Ami cursed the computer that stayed
down and Setsuna paced. Michiru sat in the corner, almost in a fetal
position; eyes dry and unseeing. Hotaru had her knees drawn up to her
chest and was staring out the window. Minako sat in the floor beside
Luna and Artemis, playing with a strand of her hair and humming
something under her breath.
Mamoru broke the silence of the apartment by handing Usagi a
cup of coffee and clearing his throat. "Setsuna-chan, what time did
this begin and why didn't we know more?"
Before the Senshi of time could speak, another presence entered
the living room, her cat in tow. "At 3:34 this morning a strange light
was coming from the sky towards the east coast. That is when I called
Ami-chan and Setsuna-san," Mika informed, going towards the kitchen.
"Approximately fifteen minutes later," Ami began, her fingers
once more flying over her mini-lap top. "The same sound that we
detected when Rei and Haruka dissappeared filled the air."
"So, are you saying that if this signal starts back up, we can
expect someone to dissappear?" Luna asked from her place on Minako's
lap.
"It seems that way, yes," Setsuna answered, looking over Ami's
shoulder at the figures. "It is too high for the human ear to hear,
but the computer can pick up the reading right before it strikes."
"Is there a pattern? Do we know why they are doing this?" Usagi
asked. "And, are they alive? Can we get them back?" The more she talked
the louder and shriller her voice became.
Mamoru laid a hand gently on her shoulder, and she turned to
bury her face in his arms. "Why can't we have peace?"
Setsuna stood up to her full hieght and summoned her time staff.
"I want to show you something, and then you can see just how serious
this is."
A portal to the Time Gate opened and everyone filed through.
The wind howled around each of them, pulling at their clothes
and threatening to take them into the chaos that was the Timegate,
never to be found again. A thick, black fog filled the space and the
time door was glowing bright red.
"I discovered this after Mika called me this morning!" Setsuna
yelled over the howling wind. "This is a time storm - whatever or
whoever this is as a grip on time and space; and could very well be
more powerful than me!"
Quickly she ushered everyone back into Mamoru's apartment and
sealed the time portal. "The time gate has pulled a protective
shield over itself so that not even I can travel through time
anymore. The last thing we need at this point is for the Black
Moon Family of the future to come through and make more trouble
for us."
"I'm afraid this is it!" Ami called, her voice thick and
worry etching her words. "The signal is up again."
Silence penetrated the room. Usagi held onto Mamoru's hand
tightly and kept her eyes on everyone in the room. The mini-lap top
beeped louder in Ami's hands as the second ticked by. The wind
outside rose and fell in bursts, howling by the balcony door.
Minako looked down at her hands and gasped. A strange yellow
light penetrated through her skin as if a flash light were being
held under her hand. It called her, she felt it. She stood up,
now glowing brightly and faced Usagi. "I won't give in Usagi-chan,
I'll always protect you. And no matter what happens after this,
know that I love you, my best friend;" The room shone brightly with
her glow. "My Princess," she whispered and bowed before dissappearing
from the room.
Ami's computer came to a shrill beep before silencing. Leaving
one less Senshi in the room.
The next sound was Usagi letting a howl of pure distress from
her mouth before fainting in Mamoru's arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We have got two of them, Master. Their energy levels are
incredible."
"Excellent. Prepare them for the Orthic Chambers," Chronos said
quietly. His hands gripped the edge of the cauldron as his sightless
eyes gazed into the fire. The flames licked at his face but he didn't
notice them as they did him no harm. His knuckles turned white
suddenly but then they relaxed. All was going well, that much he could
tell so far.
He had yet to receive the 10th Ring from that boy. He could wait.
They boy was scared out of his wits and would do anything necessary to
save his 'love.'
Chronos snorted as he went back to his throne. Love...the being
that created that foolish notion should have been drawn and quartered,
he thought.
He settled himself on the marble seat and closed his eyes. Soon...
soon everything would fall together and soon they would rise, rise to
rule and conquer.
He thought back to the days of the Silver Millennium, when they
had come so close... so close to achieving absolute power until the
Terrans had struck them down, destroying their plans and forcing the
Organization to hide like cowards.
The flames grew larger and higher in response to his growing anger.
He would not allow such a failure as the first time.
The 10th Ring, he needed it now. No more waiting, if the boy did
not have it, then may the heavens have mercy on his soul. All who came
into his path would die. He would make sure of it. Motoki was no
exception.
"Jethro?"
"Yes Master?"
"Pay our mortal friend a visit. He needs some motivation, I believe
he is not taking his job seriously. I want the ring - don't come to me
without it."
"Yes, Your Greatness."
The flames dwindled down to their normal size and his body relaxed
from its stiffened state.
He would get the Earth Prince and then no one would stop them. No
one would be able to stop them. The Earth Prince... his strength, his
power...yes, he would make a great ally.
The fire slowly dwindled to its original size. A smile appeared on
Chronos' pale face, a smile so malicious... it foretold of the events to
come...
_______________
End Chapter 2
Yes, these are chapters now, not substories. These are way too long
to be considered small sub-stories now ^^
I really hope everyone is enjoying this series - this gets more in
dept before it's over - we haven't begun to get into the real purpose
yet ^_~
As always, to everyone who writes us - we can't thank you enough! ***HUGS***
Especially Celia (I hope I spelt that right) thank you girl for writing
me every week *hugs* You help me pull through writer's block by staying
fateful to my stories ^_^ And to Megs, Tanya, Tiffany and everyone else-
huge thanks for keeping with me even after I killed Mamo-chan ^^;;;
GIGANTIC THANKS to our editor, Meara - your the best! *hugs*
Insert usual disclaimer that no one reads here.....
See you all next week with chapters 3 and 4 ^_^
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