Rated PG
By Wyvern *^-^*
Kon'wa minna! Hey hey, I got another one of these cranked out! Yaaaaaaay!
So, thanks again to Usa-chan, and to ylewis for sending me their support. (AND Tame-chan, ya little suck. *^-^*) *sniff* Love you guys!
*********Standard disclaimer. All of the following characters are copyright Noako Tekuchi and Kondasha Industries. Huzzah for them! Hip hip! HUZZAH!!! (Sorry, too much Renaissance fair. ^_^;)******
And now, our feature presentation. *grin*
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Minako sighed as she closed the door behind her. Slipping her shoes off and replacing them for her comfy slippers, she walked up the two stairs to the rest of the house. Why hadn't anyone called back? "Hello? Mom? Dad? Artemis?" With no reply, she shrugged. 'They probably went out.'
She moved into the kitchen and headed right for the fridge, then noticed the note on the freezer door. ~Hi Minako! You're dad and I went to a movie. Dinner is in the fridge, we'll be back later! Mom~ Sighing again, Minako shook her head and took out a pitcher of juice, then a cup from the cupboard. 'It figures.' Stretching out, she plunked two feet down on a chair in front of her and poured her drink. 'However, now I have the house to myself!' she thought cheerily, taking a gulp of juice. 'To......' she sweat-dropped, 'drink juice.'
The *idea* of doing anything any more fun was even draining. 'School was such a pain. Bah...I really wish there wasn't school right now. What with Usagi gone and youma fights here and there,' she yawned, 'I'm pooped!'
She'd actually been home a little late because Ami had stopped her on the way home. Instead of doing a whole big meeting, she figured that a four-way on the communicator was enough. So, ducking into an alley, Minako had listened to the blue-haired wonder explain what SHE had been experiencing at Juuban Middle School.
~ "I thought I should explore all of the variables-as in the students-before I gave a full report, minna, that's why this comes so late."
"So?" Rei barked.
"Not so loud, Rei-chan," Makoto grumbled.
Before any bickering could manifest, Ami continued. "Look, since Usagi left, it's been just like it was at her house, at Juuban! None of the teachers remember her, none of the kids even recollect knowing her, and so things have changed a bit."
"Like...?" Minako asked.
"Well, like Naru and Umino. They are much closer. Almost... chummy."
"So what you're saying is, that just like what happened at Usagi's house, the Ginzuishou has erased any knowledge of her from the school?" Rei summed up.
Ami nodded. "Hai."
"But....why?" This wasn't making sense to Makoto. "Couldn't they just assume that she was away sick, or on a vacation or something?" "Yeah," Minako chimed in, "why should the Ginzuishou go to all of the trouble to change their realities?"
"Ooo! Good word play Minako!" Makoto said brightly. Minako smiled.
"Arigato!"
"Probably it 'changed their realities' as Minako said, because can you imagine the confusion if they called her house to check? Remember, if the school isn't given enough notice, they call home to make sure that the parents know about the student's dissapearance," Ami explained.
"Right," Rei said, "and if the Tsukino's claimed that they didn't know any 'Usagi', that could cause some trouble."
Minako chewed on her bottom lip. "Point taken."
"Alright girls, that's all I wanted to say," Ami concluded.
"Fine. I would like to have a meeting tonight though," Rei said.
Makoto sighed. "At the temple?"
"Hai. This is important."
"Well why didn't we do it on the WEEK-END?!" Makoto barked out, showing her own signs of frazzle.
"BECAUSE," Rei shot back just as sharply, "we needed to get Mamoru settled in, the temple was a mad-house with charm sales, and I figured that since we're all so tired two extra days couldn't hurt."
"Rei-chan!" Ami said, sounding shocked. "I'm surprised at you! You know that right now we need to stay on top of things! Anything important regarding Usagi should be adressed immediately!"
Rei stuttered for a few moments, gasping and sputtering as she attempted a recovery. Smiling Minako said, "Daijobu, Rei-chan. I understand why you did it." Taking in a breath, she said, "No worries! So tonight, at the temple, say....nine o'clock?"
Makoto nodded. "Sounds like a plan. I'll be there."
"Me too," Ami said.
"Good. See you tonight, minna," Rei said, then dissapeared from the link.
"Ja guys!" Makoto left, then Ami. Turning off her communicator, Minako replaced it in her bag and left the alley.~
So that was where she stood, so to speak. A meeting tonight at Rei's, about what she suspected they had both felt in the car the other day. Stifling a groan, Minako rubbed her fore-head with one and lifted her glass with the other. 'I wonder where Artemis is,' she suddenly thought. Setting her glass down, she unconciously began to spin it on the smooth surface. 'He sure has been broody lately. Why do cats always have to be so broody? *I* want to get to be broody!'
Minako was tired. And Minako was grumpy. And Minako was about ready to kick some kitty toosh. Slamming the fist that had been twirling the glass down onto the surface, she jumped up, ignoring the juice that was now making a lovely pool on the table and slowly the floor, and headed for the stairs. 'I'm sick of working while he sleeps like a log and sulks! That's IT! I'm going to give that feline a piece of my mind!' And she started up for her room.
~*~*~
Metallia had grown silent. Beryl had first come into her great rulers' presence with the simple task of an update on their situation. Hematite was coming along nicely. She was becoming the perfect example of a Nega-soldier. Full of hate and anger and revenge, with perhaps more sorrow than usual but that would only serve as fuel for the others.
But then Metallia had asked a question of Beryl that had surprised the Queen. "What of Kunzite?" Such a question was unexpected, and sent the Queen down a spiral of internal scoldings. She had been so wrapped up in monitering every movement of Hematite, that one of her other strongest soldiers had been left almost completely alone! This did not bode well.
Upon admitting her misgrievience to Metallia, the great force had cut off communication. Beryl was afraid that her Mistress was so displeased that she might stop giving her great knowledge and advice to the Queen altogether! She had to try what she could to make that sure that did not happen.
Therefore, for approximately the last 48 hours, she had knelt before the great swirling mass, waiting for some whisper of acknowledgement. She didn't hope for much, just a sign that the great power was still with her.
So trained was she that she did not feel any kind of pain nor discomfort. Any average person would have been in all kinds of suffering for staying in the same position for such a long time, without having gone into some kind of trance. But Beryl stayed at full alert, her mind open to her ruler.
Finally, after those many hours, Metallia spoke. "He has not strayed, Beryl. Be grateful of your luck."
Hiding her relief and yet her shock, Beryl bowed her head an inch lower and asked, "Oh great Metallia, would you inform to me what that lowly servant to you has been doing in the time that I let him slip from our grasp?"
"From YOUR grasp, Beryl," Metallia snapped, making the Queen flinch. "He has been by the side of his beloved, Zoisite."
This didn't make any sense. Knowing Kunzite, and that was something Beryl DID, he would have figured that the Ginzuishou could have the chance of healing Zoisite long ago, and yet he hadn't made an even an attempt to find it?
Now that it was missing, there should have been at least some signs that Kunzite desired it. Yet he had never come to Beryl, asking for permission to take out a youma and attack the Senshi, nor had he NOT asked permission. She may not have been monitering him, but if he had tried to go out on his own she would have known almost immediately. The other youma would have been mumbling about it for hours.
"Don't be stupid, Beryl. It's obvious why he would rather stay by Zoisite's side instead of wasting energy," Metallia scolded. Beryl almost flushed in embaressment, dismayed that the reasoning could *not* come to her.
"Metallia, my wisdom is not nearly as wide as yours, my knowledge does not span the same lengths as your might does. Please, bestow upon me this answer which eludes my feeble mind." Beryl waited. She bowed a little lower, her nose just scraping the black floor. More time passed, and still no reply. Giving an inward sigh, Beryl prepared once more for the long wait.
~*~*~
Luna teleported to Hematite's room, and yawned outside the door before slowly pushing it open. Poking her head in, her mistress had fallen back asleep, and to her delight, seemed to be resting in peace. Letting out a slow breath of air, she tip-toed her way over to the bed, and carefully crawled into her spot. Curling up, she tucked her head into her arms and closed her eyes.
'This will be perfect,' she thought happily. 'I'll have a little nap, and then when I wake up, I can tell Hema-chan about Mamoru! She'll probably go to him right away, and then be happy!' She gave a little sigh. 'No more bad dreams. Then we can just get the Ginzuishou and kill the Senshi with nothing more to worry about!'
And so thinking these happy (AN: And I use the term lightly *ahem*) thoughts, Luna drifted off into a sleep unencumbered by the worries she had felt since the last.
~*~*~
Minako stomped up the stairs. She was sure that you could see steam coming out of her ears, she was so upset. She burst into her room and slammed the door shut behind her. "Alright Artemis we--"
-blink-
'Oooookay. There is....a guy....on my bed.'
Suppressing a squeal, Minako backed into her dresser, heaving through clenched teeth.
Her hand began to search through every item in the nearest vincinity, and it fell upon her vanity mirror. Picking it up by the thin metal handle, she clenched the weapon with white knuckles, a lump sliding down her throat.
'Wai....wait a minute...why isn't he doing anything?' Stretching her neck out, Minako peered a little more closely at the man. 'NANI?!' "YOU'RE SLEEPING?!" she shouted suddenly. It was so loud in fact, that the guy jumped about two feet off of the bed with a shout of alarm and landed with a loud THUMP on the other side, all this mixed in with Minako's hearty scream.
Getting into a attack pose, she stood with wide eyes, waiting for him to jump at her. But he didn't. She heard muffled grumbling, in fact what sounded like "this is getting ridiculous," underneath his breath.
Swallowing again, Minako said in a loud voice, "COME OUT! I-I'VE CALLED THE POLICE!"
"Nani?!" The man then did jump, but only up onto his feet. "Minako, NO!" He slammed large palms against his chest. "It's ME!"
Lowering her mirror slightly, Minako gave him an odd look, her curiousity effectively piqued. "Nani? Who?"
"Minako, it's me, Artemis."
What.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The shrill scream almost brought Artemis to his knees, and he clutched the sides of his head. When it stopped and he looked back over he saw Minako---coming right for him.
She leapt at him, landing on his chest and bringing the mirror up for a swift hit. "MINA!" Artemis shouted in a last ditch attempt to save his skull.
"What did you do to Artemis?!" she screamed. When he stared at her blankly, she rose it higher.
"I AM Artemis, Minako!"
"He's a CAT you LIAR!!" This time she was going to strike him. He'd seen that look in her eyes before. He squeezed his eyes shut and waited for it.
But a glint of gold caught Minako's eye. Stopping right before she was going to hit him, she stared at the golden crescent moon that was winking in the light reflected from the mirror and the window. She took another look at him. The man was dressed in almost complete white, all except for another crescent moon that hung as a pendent on a necklace. Almost stranger still, his hair was white, and a long cascade of it that was now spread out beneath him.
When the blow never arrived, Artemis cracked an eye open, then fully opened them both. Minako took in a breath of air. They were silver blue. Artemis' silver blue! "Artemis?" she whispered.
He nodded ardently, a small smile creeping onto his lips. "W-what happened?" she asked quietly.
"Well...I was sleeping on the bed, when...well basically," he sighed, "Luna paid a visit."
"Luna?! What did she want? Why did she come?"
Against the barrage of questions, all with a rather heavy looking mirror still imposing a threat, plus a touch of oxygen deprivation, Artemis said, "Mina---onegai...get off!"
Giving him an odd look, she didn't move for a moment. When he took another gasp of air, making her lift a little up and down, she actually grinned. "Kay!" Quickly standing and moving off, he soon pushed himself up off the floor. 'Mo, he's tall when he's human,' she thought as he came to tower a full extra foot over her smaller frame. "I think we should go to a meeting," she said with a half-smile.
Self-conciously rubbing the back on his head with a hand, his cheeks coloured a little. "Uh.....hai. I think so too."
Suppressing a giggle, Minako moved around the bed and out towards the door. Opening it, after only a moments struggle with the lock that had jammed shut when she'd slammed it, she took one step out before realizing that Artemis was not behind her. "Hmm?" Looking back inside the room, Minako rose an eye-brow. Artemis hadn't moved more than a step, now staring rather blankly at the carpet.
"Artemis? What's wrong?"
His eyes blinked a few times, and he slowly rose his gaze to meet hers. Swallowing, he visibly lifted on a strained smile. Minako was startled at how shadowed his eyes had become. "Nothing," he replied. He moved to go past her and out the door, but she shut it with another slam and pushed him back with the other hand.
"Alright, mister. I don't appreciate being lied to." He stared at her, watching as she placed a hand on her hip and pointed an accussing finger. Like a wave, the anger that had sent her on the search for him in the first place rose up again, and this time there wasn't anything there to stop her from letting out her frustrations. (AN: Hee hee hee....) Yet.
"I am so TIRED of watching while you mope, Artemis! First it was Luna who sulked, and that was alright at first. I like to think myself and gracious person, but after a few WEEKS it gets just a *little* grating on the nerves! Especially when it's one of my best," she gave him a bit of a push on the chest, "freakin'" another, and he plopped down onto the bed, still staring at her, "FRIENDS!!"
Heavy breaths escaped from Minako's lungs, and as if a fog was lifted off her brain, she felt even a little appalled at her own actions. Pride made her bite her lip, keeping the apologies from spilling out, but soon pride had to take a second position to shame.
Artemis wasn't looking at her anymore. Now he was staring at his open palms. Minako flushed slightly when she thought of how cruel her words must have sounded, even though she had *meant* for them to be in all good intentions.
She thought of every kind of apology. The stutter. The wail. Even the beg. But....she was just...so...tired. With a sigh, Minako slumped, then flopped down onto the floor in a cross-legged position. Staring up into Artemis' face, she was dismayed to find that his eyes were hidden behind the curtain of pale bangs.
Instead she looked to his hands. Slowly, she placed one her small hands in his large one, then covered them both with her other. "Art--" she cleared her throat, her voice sounding scratchy after the yelling, "Artemis, I--" 'I'm sorry?' "I just don't want to lose you."
When something small and cold fell onto her fingers, Minako's eyes widened. "Gomen."
"Nan...nani?" she asked, completely taken aback.
After a few moments of silence, he placed his other hand over their little tower, and met her eyes. His shone with a brightness that could only mean tears danced behind them. "Gomen, Minako. I haven't been a very good mentor lately," he smiled weakly, "ne?" She couldn't think to say anything, so just kept on staring. He took in a deep breath, then chuckled lightly. "To tell you the truth, I've known that for a little while now. I guess that I just...." he trailed off. Minako watched the trail of tears fall down his cheeks with her eyes, progressing their way until they too went into free-fall, then landed, this time on his hand.
"A-Artemis...."
He pat her hand in an almost fatherly way, then stood up. He started to go for the door, but in a fast move whose speed was probably attributed to years of training, Minako caught onto Artemis' wrist and tugged him towards her, all while getting quickly to her feet. Her arms wrapped protectively around his torso, effectively embracing him in a hug. Burrowing her head in his shirt, she fought back her own tears and said, "Artemis, I don't want my mentor back. I want my best friend back."
Slowly, ever so slowly, she felt this rather large person that she clung to so dearly, relax and slump into her arms. His arms came around to return the hug, and his head lowered into her hair. When she felt him suddenly jerk in a sob, Minako only hugged him closer.
She now felt like the mentor. The person upon which to offer a shoulder to cry on. And apparently, Artemis wasn't about to dissagree.
~*~*~
Luna yawned. Stretching her mouth wide open, giving her toungue of bit of air and then chewing on it, she looked around in her surroundings. With a start of excitement, she remembered the news she had to give to Hematite. "Hema-chan!" Scrambling off the sheets, she looked for her mistress, who was not there. "Hema-chan?"
She made a quick sweep of the Dark Kingdom, but couldn't find her anywhere. Luna decided to venture out of the Kingdom, and into the other world. Preparing for the bright blast of light that usually accompanied with that DAMNED sun. However, Luna was grateful to fight that Tokyo was in twilight, meaning that it was more like the throne room in light comparison.
Where had she arrived? There were so many exits from the Kingdom, that it was sometimes rather difficult to figure out where you were at first glance. But Luna was able to this time, and rather quickly. 'The Starlight Tower? Huh, that's a coincidence.'
Though, when she thought about it, maybe not so much. After that first incident there, such a huge portal had been opened close by to it that it would definetly increase the chance of landing there.
This wasn't what Luna had come for, however. She turned towards the city, and cast out a rather large 'searching net' over it. If Hematite was anywhere within it's range, she would find her.
And yes! There she was! Docile, a fair distance away from the Starlight Tower. Luna took a detailed look as to where she was, and was actually surprised. "There?" Doing a quick teleport, she landed beside Hematite and sat down on the roof. 'Why would she be at the Tsukino residence?'
"Hema-chan? Why are you here?"
"I don't know. I just felt like coming here for some reason."
Luna didn't know what to say to that, so instead she asked a different question. "Daijobu?"
The silence that pursued was not something that Luna was very comfortable with. Hematite just stared out past her knees, which were pulled up protectively up to her nose. Her blond hair played with the wind, well the bangs that weren't stuck beneath the black ribbon did.
"I can't see his face."
The murmur startled the cat, pulling her out of her reverie. "Nani?"
Hematite rose her head off her arms and turned to look at Luna in the eyes. Her blue ones were angry, and hinted with sorrow. Not a sight that Luna wasn't used to. But this time...they also looked questioning. "In my dream. I realized that I never see his face."
"Your love's?"
Did Hematite....wince? "Hai. He...I can feel him, and I can hear him, but I never see his face."
"Even when you're facing him?" Luna asked, slightly perplexed.
"Un! That's just it! He...he's stabbed, then he's burned, and when he's burned he's facing me....but I just realized that I never see his face. It's all a dark blur." She sighed and limply set her head down on her knees again. "I'm just so sick of all the hurting, Luna." A tear traced it out from the corner of her eye and dissapeared in a lock of hair.
"I know," Luna said softly. Perhaps Hematite wasn't ready for him. But...it couldn't hurt to try, could it? "Hema-chan? Do you remember that guy from the hospital? The one that all of the Senshi are trying to protect?" Her interest caught, Hematite rose her head again and gave Luna a questioning look. Feeling more confident, Luna smiled brightly and turned to face her friend. "Well, how would you like to go visit him?"
Luna could swear that she saw a small spark of light return to Hematite's eyes at those words, and she did sit up straighter. "You know where he is?"
With a sly grin, Luna said, "Yup, well, I did a little asking around."
Hematite gave her a coy look. "I bet you did. So? Can we go?"
Delighted at the positive reaction her news had brought, Luna stood up quickly and grabbed Hematite's hand. Quickly they both teleported over to the address that Artemis had 'given' Luna, leaving only the echo of a giggle behind.
"So...this is it?"
"Well, this is his apartment. If my sources were correct. I'll show you where it is."
"NO! I mean---I'd rather you just tell me. I would like to go alone."
Luna blinked back her startlement at Hematite's snap, but pushed back the hurt and nodded. "A-alright. It's that building," she pointed to a rather tall one that appeared to be residence to a number of rooms, "on level 11, room 1008."
Hematite watched the building for a moment, seeking it out in the dark-ness that had now fallen. She turned and gave Luna a hug, saying, "Arigato, Luna," before dissapearing from her friend's arms.
Wrapping her arms around her own self, Luna looked over longingly at the building, rather sadly. "I just hope this makes you happy, Hema-chan."
~*~*~
'06...07....1008!' Walking through the door, Hematite looked around in the apartment. It was dark, but she was still able to tell that it was *very* clean and neat. There was a small hallway in front of her that appeared to lead to a living room. Branching off to the left was another small corridor that led to two closed doors, and to the right was a small kitchen.
Everything was so in order. There wasn't a single magazine out of place. Even the shoes at the door were pressed up neatly against the wall. A quirky smile tugged at Hematite's lips. 'This is nuts!' she thought rather amusedly. But she really didn't mind. In fact, the idea that this guy was handsome *and* a neat-nik rather hit her as being cute.
'So, since all the lights are out, I'm guessing he's not in the kitchen. And he's not sleeping on the couch, so he must be in the,' she grinned wickedly, 'BEDROOM!'
Making her way down the corridor, she opened one door and.... 'that's the bathroom. Which leaves door number 2!' Instead of opening this one though, she pulled the same trick that she had on the way into the apartment and simply walked through the door.
A large window was set into the back wall, over-looking the city-scape. The moon-light shone in through it, illuminating a bed where a sleeping figure lay. Smiling, Hematite floated over to the bed and knelt down beside it.
'It's him,' she thought, feeling slightly relieved. It had been a small doubt, but a little worry had arisen when Luna had told she'd found him. Although it wouldn't have been a *huge* problem (Hey, a cute guy is a cute guy), she wanted THIS one. Something drew her to him. She didn't care what, all she knew was that it was best to succumb to it.
She had thought that once she arrived, she would play with him for a little while, have some fun. But....as she watched him sleep, that idea actually made her feel a little repulsed.
That black hair, the same ebony shade she had seen the last two times, was now ruffled and falling into his eyes in such a way that she bit her lip. He was sleeping on his side, his face turned towards hers. If he opened his eyes now, she would be staring right into them. 'Ne...I wonder what his eyes look like?' she thought.
Why not wake him? Well....she didn't want to. She rather liked being able to just sit with him. The thought of him being afraid of her...it didn't appeal.
She brushed a few locks of the hair off his fore-head, remarking at how soft it was. "I've been looking for you," she whispered. Following a high cheek-bone with a finger, her eyes etched every detail of his face into her memory. She smiled. "You're very handsome."
Blushing slightly, she murmured, "but I bet you already knew that." He stirred slighty, and she snapped her hand away in panic. But when all he did was move his arm off the mattress, she settled back down.
It was nice. Being able to do something that was all to herself. Only Luna knew about him. Hematite often felt like she didn't get to be her own person when she was in her room, or even with Beryl-momma anymore. 'Besides,' she thought rather bitterly, 'it's not as if she talks to me anymore.' All the times since the dreams had first started, Beryl had just pushed Hematite away. And now she had dissapeared into Metallia's company for the past little while.
Not even Luna was something Hematite could call her own. As soon as she had brought the cat home, Beryl had asked her who she was, and only after making an assessment of what she could do had she 'permitted' Luna to stay.
"But you...." Hematite said softly, taking hold of his one free hand in both of hers and lifting it to her cheek. "You're mine."
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Dun dun DUN!!!!
Well! I don't think I used anything startling and new JP words this time around, so I won't explain any of them. 'Member, if you don't remember what some of them mean, just check the other chapters!
Suki da yo!
Ja ne,
Wyvern