Chapter 12
Akutenshi completely froze up as the screaming of some ravage, wild animal echoed throughout the skies of the forest. "That sounds big and scary..." she murmured to herself, shaking with complete nervousness. Her eyes darted around the surrounding area, a bit freaked out. "Where'd Jadeite go...? He must be around here somewhere..."
The scream echoed again and Akutenshi's body became ridged and stiff. With a large gulp, the words Jadeite had said echoed in her mind... 'Trouble...' she thought. 'Idiot...' And with that, her body surged forward towards the sound of the scream. And as she ran, her hand reached down to her skirt, searching her pocket like flap for the object she needed most. She cringed as she found it still gone.
"Damn it..." she cursed. "My transformation stick thing-a-ma-bobber is still missing..." A small grumble. "Oh well... I'll have to fight without it this time..."
Her heart skipped a beat as she heard the beast roar again and this time accompanied by a familiar yell of anger. Moments later, the girl skidded into an opening in the forest only to have her eyes bug out of her head in surprise. There, before her stood a huge beast, standing on four legs with claws that dug into the ground beneath it. It's muscles tensed as it breathed heavy breaths, it's deep crimson eyes staring straight towards the ex-general before him.
Without thinking, Akutenshi reached down, scooped up a rock and hurled it towards the beast, hitting the thing in the back of the head. It dawned on her, after the beast tilted it's head to glare at her, that she had just made one of the biggest mistakes of her life...
The beast swerved around with a loud, deafening scream and began to charge the girl. Wide eyed, Akutenshi's body froze, unknowing of what to do.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Jediete's yell almost didn't reach her ears, but when it did, she was yanked out of her frozen state and jumped to one side. What she didn't count on, was the beast's head to swerve in the same direction, hitting her in the back with one of it's horns and sending her flying to the dirt. As the beast recoiled, turning it's large body around, shrieking as it did so, Akutenshi sat woozily up, holding her head tightly and trying to regain full balance.
"So the Amazon Queen finally decided to join the party..."
The dizziness faded as she arched her head to the side, sending a glare up at the ex-general who stood a few feet away, making no motion to help the girl up. "What the hell were you thinking, picking a fight with that!?" she screamed, pointing a finger at the still turning beast.
"What makes you think that it didn't attack me?"
"Cause you're you..."
Both their eyes were brought back to the beast as it gave another loud scream, eyes watching the two for any quick movements. "We won't be able to out-run it..." she said, almost in a whisper. "The only chance we've got is to fight it... out-smart it some how..." A groan escaped her lips. "Which means we're going to die..."
Something plopped down in the sand beside her and when her eyes traveled downwards, she saw the pink stick with the golden symbol of Jupiter shinning on the top. Her gaze turned upwards, towards the general, who stood glaring at her, unmoving.
"Go ahead... use it..." he encouraged, though voice icy cold. "Prove to me that you are one of my eternal enemies..."
Akutenshi watched him skeptically, her gaze unsure of what he was saying.
"Use it, and become my enemy..." he said, ice blue eyes seeming even colder than usual as he watched her. "Don't use it and we both die... You're choice... senshi..."
As the beast screamed again, taking a few steps forward, Akutenshi's eyes jerked towards it, taking a tight hold of her transformation wand, though still sitting. Jediete's eyes never wandered from the girl. Cautiously, Akutenshi stood, tight hold still strong, her eyes never leaving the beast.
"If I use this... I become your enemy..." she said to the general. "But hear me when I say this... you are not my enemy... And never will be..."
Jadeite took a step back, expression unchanging as Akutenshi raised her transformation wand to the sky.
"Jupiter X Crystal Power... MAKE UP!!!"
The electricity sparked and melded across her body, forming the pink and green fuku of Jupiter. As her feet touched the sandy ground again, the beast surged forward. Her survival instincts that came with being a Senshi kicked in, and she raised her hands once more to the sky. "Jupiter X Thunder Streak Electrify!"
The power sparked from her hands and as she pointed back down towards the monster, the thunder sprouted from her hands and hit the beast dead on, causing it to be pushed back several dozen feet. Smiling, Jupiter X summoned the power again. It felt good to be in Senshi form again.
"Jupiter X Thunder Streak Electrify!"
The power hit the beast again, this time reducing the brutal creature to dust. With a sigh of relief, the Senshi of Jupiter X plopped down on the sand, smiling proudly to herself. She tilted her head upwards and her smile faded as she realized the ex-general still did not smile, watching her with the same cold eyes as before.
Without a word he turned around abruptly, and began to walk towards their 'camp' stiffly. And without objection to the silence, Akutenshi de-transformed to her normal state and followed.
« Z «
"ISIS!"
The scream of Queen Malfeasance echoed throughout the hallways of the dark palace. At once, the brown haired girl appeared at the Queen's bidding, kneeling before her majesty. "Yes my queen?" Isis asked, head remaining bowed.
Malfeasance flipped some of her crimson hair over her shoulder and stood, the skirt of her black dress ripping downwards with it's new freedom. "You have failed once again..."
"I apologize my queen... the senshi are strong, even without the aid of their missing friend..."
"And what do you plan to do about it...?"
"I have yet to decide my queen..."
"You don't want to share the same fate as the Dark Quadret... do you?"
"Of course not my queen..." Only now did Isis raise her head, her pale blue eyes flashing with anger and sworn revenge. "I will find a way to bring the senshi down..."
"Yes, well... While you figure that out... I'm changing you're orders..." the queen smirked as she spoke, producing a pink glass orb. "I borrowed this one... Hope you don't mind..."
"Of course not my queen... What did you use it for...?" Isis asked, curiosity crossing her face. With quiet grace, the orb floated from the Queen's hand and into Isis'. The blue eyed gaze turned down into the orb. "Who's in my orb?"
"You're latest mission..." the queen replied. "I shall send out a youma tomorrow and try to find the weakness of the sailor senshi the old fashion way... You shall attempt to find it through her..."
Isis smirked. "May I play with her?"
"Do what you wish... just don't forget you're orders..."
"I won't my queen..."
"Dismissed!"
« Z «
Both parties seemed especially quiet, and the fire seemed especially cold. Night had arrived, though neither Jadeite or Akutenshi gave any indication of sleeping. Jadeite sat on a fallen log, poking a long stick into the fire that burned, while Akutenshi sat opposite of the fire on the sand, her former skirt wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
"Why...?"
The single word was spoken by Jediete, and it seemed to shatter the delicate silence. Akutenshi looked at him oddly.
"Why what...?" Her voice seemed cracked from hours of no use.
"Why did you save me...? Twice...?" Akutenshi's gaze turned downwards, and the general continued, his eyes still cold. "I have a right to know, senshi..."
"You're right, you do..." was the girl's reply, as she looked back up. "And I'll tell you... right when I figure it out myself..."
"You don't know...?"
"Well I do..." she paused, searching for the right words. "But even with that reason, I don't understand why I'm helping you..."
Another odd silence fell, creating a feeling of discomfort. Akutenshi decided it best to continue, because even as cold-hearted as he seemed, he was nicer than the silence... "Why haven't you killed me...?" she asked, now getting an odd look from the ex-general. "You've had plenty of chances, and I am your enemy..."
Jadeite made no reply.
"Fine... be in sociable... see if I care..." the girl muttered, wrapping the cloak tighter around her.
"Now is not the time for fighting..." he said at last. "First we get off this island... then I think about killing you and avenging the Negaverse..."
"Why did you join the Negaverse anyway...?" Akutenshi asked, though not looking at him.
"None of your business..."
"...Fine... then I guess when I do figure out why I saved your ass, I won't tell you..." She received a glare for that one. She only glared right back. "I'm just trying to make conversation... so please... humor me..."
For a moment, Jadeite stayed silent, and his eyes turned back to the fire. "Because of what happened when I was a member of the Royal Court during the Silver Millennium..."
Akutenshi's gaze softened as she watched, eager as a child to hear his story.
"I, and the three other generals of the Negaverse, were formerly guardians of Prince Endymion, as you probably know... and under his command, I did something rather foolish..."
A pause. "What did you do...?" Akutenshi urged.
"I fell in love..."
The girl's eyes practically bugged out of her head. "With who...?" she asked.
"I don't remember her name... She was royalty though..." he replied. "A Princess I believe... But for a general as myself to fall in love with a member of royalty was unspeakable..."
"What was she like...?"
"She was beautiful... Kinder than most people, and kinder than royalty should really be... She had a giving personality, though, if I remember correctly... Could be quite a smart ass at times..."
Akutenshi laughed. "I could name a few people like that..." she murmured. "But continue... Did she love you back?"
"I never got the chance to find out..." His voice choked with his words, and his body tensed up. Akutenshi's gaze turned worried as she watched him.
"Why not...?" the question was almost reluctant to come from her lips.
"There was an accident during her training... One of the knights fought a little too harshly against her... And when she tried to dodge, she fumbled... And was killed..."
Another odd silence. "I'm sorry..." Akutenshi whispered. Jediete shook his head, closing his eyes momentarily.
"Don't concern yourself with it... What's done is done..."
"...so to get back at the knight... you joined the Negaverse...?"
"...You could say that..."
"Interesting..."
"So why do you fight as a senshi?" the ex-general asked, looking up from the fire. "Why didn't you just turn it down?" Akutenshi gave a small laugh.
"I never really thought about it..." she admitted. "I guess its because I like to see people smile... Happiness is something to treasure... And, no offense, but the Negaverse does not allow happiness to exist... They take away that happiness... So I fight to preserve it..."
"Do you enjoy being a senshi?"
"When my teammates act like idiots I do..."
And for the first time that evening, Jediete smirked. Akutenshi smiled as well, but as a cold wind picked up, she hugged the cloth tightly around her. Jediete frowned curiously.
"Are you cold...?"
"Yes..."
Without a word, Jediete began to unfasten the jacket of his uniform. Akutenshi blinked curiously, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. The ex-general stood to his feet, sliding off the jacket and walking over to Akutenshi, swinging it around her shoulders. Akutenshi blinked.
"N-no! It's okay, I'm fine..." she stuttered, blushing deeply. "And anyway, you need it..."
"I don't feel the cold... Keep it till I get more fire wood..."
"B-b-but..."
She was left to her stuttering as Jediete began to walk away from the campfire, now only wearing a loose sky blue shirt that exposed the full length of his arms. As she watched him, Akutenshi felt a smile creep onto her face, but she immediately wiped it away and turned back to the fire.
'No you don't!' her mind scolded. 'Don't you go smiling about him... Think happy thoughts... happy thoughts... happy... thoughts...'
Slowly, her gaze turned back to Jediete as his figure began to disappear into the darkness. 'Happy thoughts...' her mind thought wistfully. 'Walking right over there...'
« Z «
The fist hit the punching bag swiftly and rapidly. The senshi of Jupiter, now in her human form, slammed her fists into the bag. Makoto did this often now a-days... Always on sleepless nights she would set up the old punching bag in the living room of the apartment and punch away. She imagined that the worn, nearly broken thing was the faceless enemy who held her sister captive.
Why was this happening? Why couldn't her sister fight it? Was she even captured by the negaverse? And if so... Did she do change sides willingly...?
The last thought made her pause, hand arched back, ready to swing. Her emerald eyes widened slightly. That was something she never considered... What if Akutenshi had wanted to join...? Anger filled Makoto again and she slammed her fist one last time into the punching bag.
Panting, Makoto slid off her gloves, tossing them onto the counter as she slumped into the couch.
No that wasn't right, her mind considered. Her hand wandered to the side table and opened the letter Akutenshi had left. Makoto read it over again, as she had done many times before after destroying the punching bag. She said she was doing something important... making up for her mistakes... What mistake was that...? She was always a jovial, happy-go-lucky kind of person who always made up for things right away... What was it that Akutenshi needed to fix...?
Makoto gave a half hearted smile, remembering what ChibiUsa and Aairo had suggested. 'Lost love...' she thought, shaking her head as she heaved herself up. 'Who knows... the little tikes might be right...' Sluggishly, the brown haired senshi began to walk towards her room to try and sleep once more.
On the way, she paused at the closed door with the tiny sign that read 'Akutenshi's Room! ^__^' . Makoto frowned and fought back tears. Her hands traced over the puff paint lettering, remembering when her sister had made it in one of her art classes, exclaiming how 'kawaii' it was and how she'd make one just for Makoto.
That was about a week before she disappeared. Makoto knew that laying on Akutenshi's desk was the unfinished sign for Makoto's door. With one last sigh, Makoto heaved herself to her own room and tumbled into bed.
Akutenshi completely froze up as the screaming of some ravage, wild animal echoed throughout the skies of the forest. "That sounds big and scary..." she murmured to herself, shaking with complete nervousness. Her eyes darted around the surrounding area, a bit freaked out. "Where'd Jadeite go...? He must be around here somewhere..."
The scream echoed again and Akutenshi's body became ridged and stiff. With a large gulp, the words Jadeite had said echoed in her mind... 'Trouble...' she thought. 'Idiot...' And with that, her body surged forward towards the sound of the scream. And as she ran, her hand reached down to her skirt, searching her pocket like flap for the object she needed most. She cringed as she found it still gone.
"Damn it..." she cursed. "My transformation stick thing-a-ma-bobber is still missing..." A small grumble. "Oh well... I'll have to fight without it this time..."
Her heart skipped a beat as she heard the beast roar again and this time accompanied by a familiar yell of anger. Moments later, the girl skidded into an opening in the forest only to have her eyes bug out of her head in surprise. There, before her stood a huge beast, standing on four legs with claws that dug into the ground beneath it. It's muscles tensed as it breathed heavy breaths, it's deep crimson eyes staring straight towards the ex-general before him.
Without thinking, Akutenshi reached down, scooped up a rock and hurled it towards the beast, hitting the thing in the back of the head. It dawned on her, after the beast tilted it's head to glare at her, that she had just made one of the biggest mistakes of her life...
The beast swerved around with a loud, deafening scream and began to charge the girl. Wide eyed, Akutenshi's body froze, unknowing of what to do.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Jediete's yell almost didn't reach her ears, but when it did, she was yanked out of her frozen state and jumped to one side. What she didn't count on, was the beast's head to swerve in the same direction, hitting her in the back with one of it's horns and sending her flying to the dirt. As the beast recoiled, turning it's large body around, shrieking as it did so, Akutenshi sat woozily up, holding her head tightly and trying to regain full balance.
"So the Amazon Queen finally decided to join the party..."
The dizziness faded as she arched her head to the side, sending a glare up at the ex-general who stood a few feet away, making no motion to help the girl up. "What the hell were you thinking, picking a fight with that!?" she screamed, pointing a finger at the still turning beast.
"What makes you think that it didn't attack me?"
"Cause you're you..."
Both their eyes were brought back to the beast as it gave another loud scream, eyes watching the two for any quick movements. "We won't be able to out-run it..." she said, almost in a whisper. "The only chance we've got is to fight it... out-smart it some how..." A groan escaped her lips. "Which means we're going to die..."
Something plopped down in the sand beside her and when her eyes traveled downwards, she saw the pink stick with the golden symbol of Jupiter shinning on the top. Her gaze turned upwards, towards the general, who stood glaring at her, unmoving.
"Go ahead... use it..." he encouraged, though voice icy cold. "Prove to me that you are one of my eternal enemies..."
Akutenshi watched him skeptically, her gaze unsure of what he was saying.
"Use it, and become my enemy..." he said, ice blue eyes seeming even colder than usual as he watched her. "Don't use it and we both die... You're choice... senshi..."
As the beast screamed again, taking a few steps forward, Akutenshi's eyes jerked towards it, taking a tight hold of her transformation wand, though still sitting. Jediete's eyes never wandered from the girl. Cautiously, Akutenshi stood, tight hold still strong, her eyes never leaving the beast.
"If I use this... I become your enemy..." she said to the general. "But hear me when I say this... you are not my enemy... And never will be..."
Jadeite took a step back, expression unchanging as Akutenshi raised her transformation wand to the sky.
"Jupiter X Crystal Power... MAKE UP!!!"
The electricity sparked and melded across her body, forming the pink and green fuku of Jupiter. As her feet touched the sandy ground again, the beast surged forward. Her survival instincts that came with being a Senshi kicked in, and she raised her hands once more to the sky. "Jupiter X Thunder Streak Electrify!"
The power sparked from her hands and as she pointed back down towards the monster, the thunder sprouted from her hands and hit the beast dead on, causing it to be pushed back several dozen feet. Smiling, Jupiter X summoned the power again. It felt good to be in Senshi form again.
"Jupiter X Thunder Streak Electrify!"
The power hit the beast again, this time reducing the brutal creature to dust. With a sigh of relief, the Senshi of Jupiter X plopped down on the sand, smiling proudly to herself. She tilted her head upwards and her smile faded as she realized the ex-general still did not smile, watching her with the same cold eyes as before.
Without a word he turned around abruptly, and began to walk towards their 'camp' stiffly. And without objection to the silence, Akutenshi de-transformed to her normal state and followed.
« Z «
"ISIS!"
The scream of Queen Malfeasance echoed throughout the hallways of the dark palace. At once, the brown haired girl appeared at the Queen's bidding, kneeling before her majesty. "Yes my queen?" Isis asked, head remaining bowed.
Malfeasance flipped some of her crimson hair over her shoulder and stood, the skirt of her black dress ripping downwards with it's new freedom. "You have failed once again..."
"I apologize my queen... the senshi are strong, even without the aid of their missing friend..."
"And what do you plan to do about it...?"
"I have yet to decide my queen..."
"You don't want to share the same fate as the Dark Quadret... do you?"
"Of course not my queen..." Only now did Isis raise her head, her pale blue eyes flashing with anger and sworn revenge. "I will find a way to bring the senshi down..."
"Yes, well... While you figure that out... I'm changing you're orders..." the queen smirked as she spoke, producing a pink glass orb. "I borrowed this one... Hope you don't mind..."
"Of course not my queen... What did you use it for...?" Isis asked, curiosity crossing her face. With quiet grace, the orb floated from the Queen's hand and into Isis'. The blue eyed gaze turned down into the orb. "Who's in my orb?"
"You're latest mission..." the queen replied. "I shall send out a youma tomorrow and try to find the weakness of the sailor senshi the old fashion way... You shall attempt to find it through her..."
Isis smirked. "May I play with her?"
"Do what you wish... just don't forget you're orders..."
"I won't my queen..."
"Dismissed!"
« Z «
Both parties seemed especially quiet, and the fire seemed especially cold. Night had arrived, though neither Jadeite or Akutenshi gave any indication of sleeping. Jadeite sat on a fallen log, poking a long stick into the fire that burned, while Akutenshi sat opposite of the fire on the sand, her former skirt wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
"Why...?"
The single word was spoken by Jediete, and it seemed to shatter the delicate silence. Akutenshi looked at him oddly.
"Why what...?" Her voice seemed cracked from hours of no use.
"Why did you save me...? Twice...?" Akutenshi's gaze turned downwards, and the general continued, his eyes still cold. "I have a right to know, senshi..."
"You're right, you do..." was the girl's reply, as she looked back up. "And I'll tell you... right when I figure it out myself..."
"You don't know...?"
"Well I do..." she paused, searching for the right words. "But even with that reason, I don't understand why I'm helping you..."
Another odd silence fell, creating a feeling of discomfort. Akutenshi decided it best to continue, because even as cold-hearted as he seemed, he was nicer than the silence... "Why haven't you killed me...?" she asked, now getting an odd look from the ex-general. "You've had plenty of chances, and I am your enemy..."
Jadeite made no reply.
"Fine... be in sociable... see if I care..." the girl muttered, wrapping the cloak tighter around her.
"Now is not the time for fighting..." he said at last. "First we get off this island... then I think about killing you and avenging the Negaverse..."
"Why did you join the Negaverse anyway...?" Akutenshi asked, though not looking at him.
"None of your business..."
"...Fine... then I guess when I do figure out why I saved your ass, I won't tell you..." She received a glare for that one. She only glared right back. "I'm just trying to make conversation... so please... humor me..."
For a moment, Jadeite stayed silent, and his eyes turned back to the fire. "Because of what happened when I was a member of the Royal Court during the Silver Millennium..."
Akutenshi's gaze softened as she watched, eager as a child to hear his story.
"I, and the three other generals of the Negaverse, were formerly guardians of Prince Endymion, as you probably know... and under his command, I did something rather foolish..."
A pause. "What did you do...?" Akutenshi urged.
"I fell in love..."
The girl's eyes practically bugged out of her head. "With who...?" she asked.
"I don't remember her name... She was royalty though..." he replied. "A Princess I believe... But for a general as myself to fall in love with a member of royalty was unspeakable..."
"What was she like...?"
"She was beautiful... Kinder than most people, and kinder than royalty should really be... She had a giving personality, though, if I remember correctly... Could be quite a smart ass at times..."
Akutenshi laughed. "I could name a few people like that..." she murmured. "But continue... Did she love you back?"
"I never got the chance to find out..." His voice choked with his words, and his body tensed up. Akutenshi's gaze turned worried as she watched him.
"Why not...?" the question was almost reluctant to come from her lips.
"There was an accident during her training... One of the knights fought a little too harshly against her... And when she tried to dodge, she fumbled... And was killed..."
Another odd silence. "I'm sorry..." Akutenshi whispered. Jediete shook his head, closing his eyes momentarily.
"Don't concern yourself with it... What's done is done..."
"...so to get back at the knight... you joined the Negaverse...?"
"...You could say that..."
"Interesting..."
"So why do you fight as a senshi?" the ex-general asked, looking up from the fire. "Why didn't you just turn it down?" Akutenshi gave a small laugh.
"I never really thought about it..." she admitted. "I guess its because I like to see people smile... Happiness is something to treasure... And, no offense, but the Negaverse does not allow happiness to exist... They take away that happiness... So I fight to preserve it..."
"Do you enjoy being a senshi?"
"When my teammates act like idiots I do..."
And for the first time that evening, Jediete smirked. Akutenshi smiled as well, but as a cold wind picked up, she hugged the cloth tightly around her. Jediete frowned curiously.
"Are you cold...?"
"Yes..."
Without a word, Jediete began to unfasten the jacket of his uniform. Akutenshi blinked curiously, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. The ex-general stood to his feet, sliding off the jacket and walking over to Akutenshi, swinging it around her shoulders. Akutenshi blinked.
"N-no! It's okay, I'm fine..." she stuttered, blushing deeply. "And anyway, you need it..."
"I don't feel the cold... Keep it till I get more fire wood..."
"B-b-but..."
She was left to her stuttering as Jediete began to walk away from the campfire, now only wearing a loose sky blue shirt that exposed the full length of his arms. As she watched him, Akutenshi felt a smile creep onto her face, but she immediately wiped it away and turned back to the fire.
'No you don't!' her mind scolded. 'Don't you go smiling about him... Think happy thoughts... happy thoughts... happy... thoughts...'
Slowly, her gaze turned back to Jediete as his figure began to disappear into the darkness. 'Happy thoughts...' her mind thought wistfully. 'Walking right over there...'
« Z «
The fist hit the punching bag swiftly and rapidly. The senshi of Jupiter, now in her human form, slammed her fists into the bag. Makoto did this often now a-days... Always on sleepless nights she would set up the old punching bag in the living room of the apartment and punch away. She imagined that the worn, nearly broken thing was the faceless enemy who held her sister captive.
Why was this happening? Why couldn't her sister fight it? Was she even captured by the negaverse? And if so... Did she do change sides willingly...?
The last thought made her pause, hand arched back, ready to swing. Her emerald eyes widened slightly. That was something she never considered... What if Akutenshi had wanted to join...? Anger filled Makoto again and she slammed her fist one last time into the punching bag.
Panting, Makoto slid off her gloves, tossing them onto the counter as she slumped into the couch.
No that wasn't right, her mind considered. Her hand wandered to the side table and opened the letter Akutenshi had left. Makoto read it over again, as she had done many times before after destroying the punching bag. She said she was doing something important... making up for her mistakes... What mistake was that...? She was always a jovial, happy-go-lucky kind of person who always made up for things right away... What was it that Akutenshi needed to fix...?
Makoto gave a half hearted smile, remembering what ChibiUsa and Aairo had suggested. 'Lost love...' she thought, shaking her head as she heaved herself up. 'Who knows... the little tikes might be right...' Sluggishly, the brown haired senshi began to walk towards her room to try and sleep once more.
On the way, she paused at the closed door with the tiny sign that read 'Akutenshi's Room! ^__^' . Makoto frowned and fought back tears. Her hands traced over the puff paint lettering, remembering when her sister had made it in one of her art classes, exclaiming how 'kawaii' it was and how she'd make one just for Makoto.
That was about a week before she disappeared. Makoto knew that laying on Akutenshi's desk was the unfinished sign for Makoto's door. With one last sigh, Makoto heaved herself to her own room and tumbled into bed.