By: Wyvern (Hi hi! *^-^*)
Chapter Rating: PG 13 I'm afraid.
Hey minna! Okay, I (finally) got around to putting out part 5! Sorry it took so long. I'll try to get the lead out for the next one, promise! *sigh* I'm just digging myself into another hole. Ah well.
Thanks to all my buds, as always. Can't forget to put that in here!
********All standard disclaimers apply. I don't own 'em, no matter what I might say while hyper. Dangit! Naoko Tekuchi, the lucky little....bah...she does! Okay? Fantastico!***********
Now! On with the story!
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"Why is the door shut?"
Makoto shrugged and placed a hand on the door handle. "I don't know," she replied. "Did you shut it?"
Rei shook her head and followed her friend into the room. She stopped and rose her nose into the air. "Ne, does it smell smokey in here to you?"
Makoto looked at her strangely, but sniffed the air. "Hey, you're right! It does. Weird." She moved over to the bed, seemingly forgetting Rei, who stood stock still from where she had first come in. A thread of that same dark energy had been here. It was what she had thought she'd sensed in the cafeteria. A hint of familiarity, but completely evil. What was it?
"REI-CHAN!" Makoto's shout snapped her out of her thoughts and brought her to the bed side in a rush.
"Na-" her eyes followed Makoto's gaze down to the bed. Mamoru's eyes were cracked open. It appeared he was trying to look around the room. "Mam-Mamoru-san?"
Gathering her wits about her, Makoto reached over and pressed the alert button to summon a nurse. Within just a few moments, a harried looking woman burst into the room. Rushing over to the bed, she smiled and took Mamoru's wrist, timing it with her watch. "My my! Look who finally woke up," she said warmly. Mamoru blinked at her, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Is...is he all right?" Rei asked.
"Hai! He's seems to be just fine!" Dropping his wrist with a nod, she walked over to the end of the bed. "His last scan was...yesterday. And at that time there didn't seem to be any damage internally at all."
Makoto breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the hospital wall. "Thank goodness. And about time too!"
Rei gave her a look, then turned her attentions towards the figure on the bed. "Mamoru-san? Daijobu?"
His gaze locked with hers. He opened his mouth to say something, but his voice was too unused, and his throat too dry. All he succeeded in was mouthing the word. Rei closed her eyes and shook her head.
"We don't know," she whispered.
Makoto suddenly popped her head into Mamoru's field of vision. "Hi there!"
Rei sweat-dropped. "Mako-chan! You're still hyper from the caffeine."
"And what if I AM?" Makoto shot back with a pout.
"Eh....sumimasen, but I'm afraid it would be best for you two to leave Chiba-kun for just a little while," the nurse interjected. Rei turned and bowed slightly to her.
"Hai. Arigato." Makoto waved and walked out the door, soon followed by her friend.
"Oi!" Makoto slapped her fore-head. "We should call the others and let them know!"
"You're right. Communicator or phone?"
"Eh...com-"
"Mako-chan!" Makoto was interrupted by a shout from down the hall. "Rei-chan!" The two girls turned to see Ami running down the corridor, with Minako limping behind her.
"Ami-chan! Minako-chan! What happened?" Rei burst, rushing over to Minako's side.
"Usa--gi!" Ami panted.
"NANI?!!" Makoto and Rei both shouted at the same time, earning a few odd looks from passers by.
"We....Usagi was at..my house!" Ami breathed.
"Demo, it WASN'T Usagi!" Minako added.
Makoto shook her head. "Ok, I'm getting confused. Usagi was there, but she wasn't?"
"Hai!" Minako chirpped.
"Well...sort of," Ami said. "We need to have a meeting."
Rei nodded. "Hai, we'll have it at the shrine." For a moment, the girls just stood there until Makoto clapped her hands together.
"What are we waiting for?! Let's GO!"
~*~*~
Beryl was sitting at her throne, eyes closed, when Hematite's presence appeared in the kingdom. She opened her eyes, and stared into two crystal blue eyes. An inch away from her face, Hematite smiled. "Oi, Beryl-momma!" she said happily.
Beryl narrowed her eyes and waved a hand. Hematite didn't look too surprised when she floated back-wards against her own will to stand a nice comfortable distance away from the Queen. "Hematite, what have you to report?"
"Oh! Well, I couldn't find the GinzuishoudemoI DID find-" she added quickly, "a really, really kawaii guy!"
The Queen rose an eye-brow. "Nani?" Hematite squealed and rushed up to the throne where she threw herself down at the woman's skirts and hugged into them.
"Oooohhhh....he's just so kirei!" she gushed. Beryl sighed and sweat-dropped.
"Really," she said dryly. "What does he look like?"
"He has this wonderful thick black hair, and great skin! And a GREAT body!" Hematite was so enthralled with the memory that she didn't notice the woman above her stiffen during the description.
"What was his name?" she asked carefully.
"I don't know," Hematite shrugged. "He was at the hospital with some kind of wound to his stomach or something. I saw him in the room while investigating the Ginzuishou." Beryl scowled, one hand tightening into a fist. "About that," Hematite continued, "it was totally strange how you were wrong about the Ginzuishou! I mean, there was a kind of high power there, but it wasn't the crystal."
"Where did you think it was coming from?" Beryl asked.
"Actually, it came from the hunk!" Hematite replied with a smile.
Beryl removed the hand she had placed on the girl's head and placed it in her lap, staring straight ahead. The blond looked up and blinked in question. "What's wrong?" She stood to show her worry.
After a few moments, Beryl locked her red eyes with the blue. "Hematite," she began coldly, "You will not see that man anymore."
"Nani?!" Hematite shrieked. "Demo...demo doushite?" "Because I said no," Beryl answered, not skipping a beat.
"De-"
"Iie!" Hematite flinched slightly at the harsh-ness to her Queen's voice. Her lip began to tremple, her eyes misting over. "Have you forgotton your mission? Why it is that you even EXIST?!" Beryl shouted.
"I..iie." Taking a deep breath, Hematite bowed stiffly and teleported out. Behind her, Beryl licked her lips in thought. Hematite had found him. This could be a problem. Surely, if they were to discover each other, her memories would be at the very distinct risk of being jarred.
So, what was going to be the solution? Tapping one manicured nail on the arm-rest of her throne, she silently looked over all of her options. Well, she really only had one. A new mission for her. Instead of discovering the location of the Ginzuishou, she would be assigned something new.
Tonight would be the night to start it. The process couldn't take any more than a few hours, and that was what Beryl wanted. She was beginning to become impatient. So much waiting had already been done for this precious crystal, and it was time for the plan to come to fruition.
Tonight, would be a dreaming night. Dreams of pain, and sorrow, and new memories. Tonight was the step that brought the end into sight.
~*~*~
"Okay, so....you saw Usagi, but it....wasn't Usagi?" Rei asked. Minako nodded empathetically.
"UN! She was there..." she waved her hands to try and help, "but...not." Ami sighed and bit her lip.
"What we mean is that, it WAS Usagi, but she didn't seem to know us, her own name, and was obviously working for the Nega-verse."
"EXACTLY!" Minako agreed, slapping her hand on the table. Artemis jumped, then turned and gave her a dirty look. He and Luna sat on the table, curled beside each- other.
"Then, what are we going to do?" Rei asked. The table fell into silence as none of them could answer.
"Find Usagi," Makoto suggested, "and BEAT some sense into her." Her voice was low and strained, and angry. Rei looked over where she held her head, staring at the table, and she smirked.
"Ha ha, Mako-chan," she mocked. "You've come down from your little caffeine high, haven't you." She peered in closer and waggled a finger in the girl's face. "I TOLD you you'd feel the effects." Makoto grumbled and rubbed her temples.
"Quiet you."
"Eh..." Ami interrupted, "could we maybe get back on topic?"
"HEY!" Minako slammed a fist into a palm, a look of epiphany on her face. "I just remembered something!"
"Well?!" Rei snapped, practically jumping over the table to sit next to her.
"Just before Usagi..or whoever, left, she seemed to be talking to somebody." Ami suddenly brightened and she nodded.
"That's right! Minako, you're a genious!" Minako blushed and grinned. "She said....um...what was it... well she called them 'mommy.'"
"Hai! And she seemed to be taking orders from them, 'cause she left right after that."
Makoto looked up from her hands. "Who could this 'mommy' be?"
Minako sucked in a breath. "You don't think....Queen Selenity?"
"Yamate!" The four girls started at Artemis' outburst. He stood standing defiantly above Luna, giving them all cold looks. "It would *never* be Queen Selenity!She would not in her entire existence condone such behaviour!" Minako held up her hands in surrender.
"Kya, Artemis, calm down...it was just a suggestion."
"Well if it wasn't Selenity," Rei wondered aloud, "then who else?"
"I have a feeling, that if we find that out," Ami began, "then we'll have a much better idea on how to deal with Usagi."
~*~*~
~Everything was so beautiful. The light shone around her like a halo, illuminating the gardens below her. Never before had she beheld such a perfect night. Looking up to the sky, she could see the moon smiling down on her, offering a wonderful finishing touch to the scenery.
She pulled up a few of her skirts and stepped delicate feet down the white cobble-stone steps. She knew these gardens almost as well as she knew her own. Rose bushes crowded in off the path, sending a fragrent welcome as she walked.
Finally, the fountain came into view. It was her favourite. A marble Selene leaning down to kiss her love. A lowly sheppard in a field, but so wonderful as to have earned the affection of a Goddess. Although set in one position, it showed all of the emotion she felt. Serenity could understand every feeling one could read off of the statue's face, and perhaps that was why she liked it so much.
Crystal water laughed down from one of Selene's out-stretched hands, falling to a circle pool below where fish glittered in the twilight. The scene was like a dream, one that she hoped would always stay with her.
Then, two gentle arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Soft lips brushed her ear, producing a tingle down her spine. "My love," she giggled. She could feel him smile, then rest his head against her shoulder.
She rose a hand and buried it in the thick hair that was as soft as silk, revelling in the feeling. She turned around in his arms and buried her head against his chest. So warm, and strong, and caring. She loved him so much, and knew that he felt the same.
"Aishiteru," he whispered, pressing his lips to the top of her head, pulling her in closer. A sigh of pure happiness escaped as they stood together, so still that she began to wonder if their love would be captured in the same way as the statue.
Suddenly, he pulled away from her. Startled, she looked up. Her love was choking, eyes wide. A sword was driven through his stomach, covered in his blood. Serenity gasped, her hands fluttering to her mouth. Tears sprang to her eyes, a quiet cry building in her throat.
The scream erupted and pierced the silence with a vengeance. Her love choked once more, glancing into her eyes only for an instant before he was engulfed in flames. He burned away until there was nothing left. Serenity stood still, her body shaking, but denying her request to shut down and let her release into unconciousness.
Instead, her eyes trailed down, and fell upon the sword. Two white gloved hands held the hilt. Part of the uniform of Sailor Venus. She smiled at Serenity, then stepped back to stand with the other Senshi. Sailor Mars stared right into Serenity's eyes, then rose her pointer finger like a gun, and blew on the tip.
Sailor Mercury and Jupiter smirked, arms crossed. Then Venus giggled, soon bursting into full laughter. The other Senshi joined her, laughing at her pain. They laughed.... laughed after what they had done. They....killed...laughed... killed him....pain....laughed.....pay.
She would make them pay. Serenity's white dress shed away to reveal her black one. Her hair escaped from the buns and fell down her back like a golden river, weaving itself into a braid. Black ribbons tied themselves around her wrists and interwove into her hair.
Her eyes shone with a glorious darkness, her face a mirror of her anger. Lifting one of her hands, she opened it and sent all of the Senshi flying back into cobble-stone steps. Opening another hand, she bathed in the sound of their screams as she slowly ripped away at them. This was what needed to be done, they deserved it.
Looking on at the dead Senshi, no sense of completion came as it should. She wasn't finished. These were dream Senshi. She had to make the Senshi of the real world feel her pain.~
Hematite's eyes snapped open, a new look of determination in the blue crystals. Sitting up in her bed, she swung her legs over the side and stood. Snapping her fingers together, moments later a youma appeared beside her.
Serenity could do nothing. It was Hematite's turn. And she would make the Sailor Senshi pay with their lives for her loss. Play-time was over.
~*~*~
~ "Ne, Mako-chan!" a tiny Minako called. Makoto looked town from her position in a tree and smiled. Her tiny legs dangled in the air, swinging back and forth.
"What?" she called down. Chibi Minako stamped her foot.
"Come DOWN!"
"Doushite?"
"BeCAUSE!" Chibi-Makoto shrugged and slid off the branch. The fall was longer than she had thought, but she landed square on her feet with no problem.
"What is it?" Minako smiled and put her hands on her hips.
"I have to go pee," she replied matter-of-factly. Makoto gave her an odd look. "Then why don't you go?"
"Where?" Minako asked incredulously.
Makoto looked behind her friend and pointed. "Just go in the cafeteria." Minako spun around to look. Sure enough, there was the hospital cafteria. Minako sighed and groaned, producing a cute little pout.
"But it's so faaaar!"
Makoto sighed. "THEN GO IN A BUSH!" she shouted. Suddenly, a chocolate cake replaced Minako's head. Makoto squealed in delight. "Cake!" She ran over to the cake and took a big bite out of it.
"HEY!" Minako yelled. Two layers of the cake were were flapping together like a mouth. "That's my HEAD!" Makoto licked around her mouth and dove into it again. "Beep...beep...beep..." Makoto blinked.
Suddenly Rei appeared behind her and screamed, "SHE'S GONNA BLOW!" Makoto looked up, and the cake had a tiny red button on the side was blinking at her.
"Oh! A cake explosion!" Makoto smiled and opened her mouth wide.......~
And woke up. She fluttered her eyes open. In her arms was one of her pillows, held tightly in her arms, feathers strewn about. Makoto coughed, producing more feathers. She groaned. "Never again, will I eat so much cake," she vowed.
"Beep....beep....beep..." Wait a minute, the beeping was still...the communicator! Leaping up out of bed she fished around in her pile of dicarded clothes on the floor until she found what she was looking for. "I'm here!" she said.
"About time," Rei snarked.
"Who called?" Minako asked groggily.
"I did," Rei replied.
"What's wrong?" Ami inqured.
"Outside the temple....Usagi is here!"
"NANI?!" three voice chorused. "What do you mean?" Makoto asked.
"She's....she's just standing outside in the court- yard," Rei's voice was becoming slightly panicked.
"Have you tried talking to her?" Ami asked.
"Hai, I did, but she wouldn't answer. I didn't want to push my luck."
"All right, we're on the way," Minako affirmed.
"Hang on Rei-chan!" Makoto said, then turned off the communicator. Quickly changing into the closest clothes she could find, which happened to be school uniform, she slammed the door behind her and set out at a dead run for Hikawa Shrine.
~*~*~
Rei looked outside through one of the windows. Usagi still stood there, arms crossed, an angry look on her face. She looked so different. Her hair was no longer in the famous style, her dress was the exact invert of that of Serenity. Black was a definite theme. Now Rei was getting a much better idea of what Minako and Ami had been talking about when they said that it WAS Usagi, but NOT at the same time.
The priestess pulled the sash at her waist tighter, and decided to go out. Now that the other Senshi would arrive soon, she figured she should try talking to her friend again.
Stepping outside, she walked down the steps, stopping about ten feet away from where Usagi stood. "Usagi, what are you doing here?" she asked. No reply. "The others are coming." This time, Usagi cocked an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Usagi!" Makoto had arrived, moments later joined by first Ami, then Minako. Turning, Usagi looked them over.
"So, now the whole gang is here, ne? No wait," she said, pressing a finger to her lips. "Not everyone. Hope you don't mind but," snapping her fingers together, a youma suddenly materialized beside her, "I brought a friend."
Each of the girls gasped in horror. Usagi had brought a youma down upon them? "Usagi-chan, yamete!" Ami yelled.
Hematite narrowed her eyes, an hatred that neith Ami nor Minako remembered seeing the last time they had met. Something had changed, and now matters were even worse. Much, much worse.
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Okay, okay, I know this was rather short. Gomen nasai! Right now, I'm in the midst of re-writing another fic, which has rather captured my attention, and test after test have just been SWARMING around lately. I'll try my best to get the next part out for next week, since they should be calmer. If not, then next week I'll have at least the first two parts or so up of my re-write.
BTW, thanks so much to Ty Thai for sending me a short but sweet little e-mail about this story! I treasure it to this day. Please people, do NOT feel hindered in writing me! I welcome ALL feed-back. Oh, but flames are only appreciated if they are entertaining. *~_^*
Yamete = Stop!/Stop it!
~Wyvern