Title: If Dreams Came True: Chapter 3
Author: Lady Hesperide
Address: ladyhesp@hotmail.com
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all its characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi, not me, I don't have any claim to them. Also, this work of fanfiction is written purely for my own pleasure and that of others, I'm making no money here, so no one should have a problem. The story is fully mine, and the rights to that are mine as well, use the story for anything but enjoyment without my permission, I'll hunt you down and... You get the idea, it will not be pretty.
Note: Hope you enjoy, and please send me all comments,
Lady Hesperide
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Sailor Pluto got back to her own gates badly battered and worn out. The battle of the future had raged on for over ten hours straight before the Senshi would allow themselves to admit that they might not come out as the victors. Without the Crystal, Neo Queen Serenity was almost powerless to protect her subjects and friends. Finally, as a last resort, the Inner Senshi formed a circle of protection about the palace and all who were in it. Their hope was to buy time so that the Crystal would be found, giving the Queen back her power to fight. However the Queen fell into a deep sleep within an hour of the erection of the power circle. No one was able to awaken her from the sleep. Endyminion had asked her to allow for ChibiUsa to pass into the distant past and retrieve the Crystal from Sailor Moon of that time.
Setsuna, of course, could not agree, that was up to her future self who had to defend the gate and therefore could not have joined the battle- time paradoxes were so confusing, even to the one who saw them from outside they made no sense. As it happened Small Lady was sent back to a time right after the defeat of Ain and Ann. Unfortunately five of the Black Moon were able to follow her, probably to capture both the Princess and her newly acquired crystal. Now her problems with Michiru and the coming of the Silence would have to take second place to the threat of the Black Moon family.
Then again, she thought, wearily transforming back to her more casual self, if ChibiUsa did not succeed, if the Black Moon got what it wanted, she would not have to worry about the Silence. Once the world was ruled by one evil what's the difference if another evil rose up to fight it. Who knows, maybe the two would just kill each other out and everyone could go back to living a normal life. Setsuna indulged in this thought while she transported to her palace, once in her chambers she sank into a plush dark red divan with a sigh. In truth there was no question of what had to be done. This was a bad time to fall prey to daydreams or fall apart. The responsibility was left to her both by Chronos and Serenity. She'll deal, as she had done before, and doubtless will have to do in the future.
With another pained huff Setsuna pulled herself out of the comfortable seat. No matter what else, first she had to get herself patched up and in order. A Keeper of Time who could not stand straight was no good in any situation to anyone.
Setsuna went to tend to her many wounds, while trying to think up of a way to both protect Small Lady and help Michiru in her search for Uranus.
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Daniel awoke with a start. He had once more been dreaming of the deaths of his pack. The deaths that only he could prevent by bringing wind and sea together. It could have been much better for everyone concerned if the one sending him these dreams would also tell him what the hell that meant.
As far as he knew there was no way to fulfill the prophesy, rather the part of it where they survive. He felt, rather then knew, that Tokyo and his voyage to the city held the answers he was seeking. It was once more asked of him to go faith alone.
Well, at least now he was not alone on this tedious metro. There was the mysterious Kaiou Michiru. Daniel could not believe his stroke of luck on finding the girl. Not only was she a great conversationalist, but she made him feel like no other human ever had. There were the occasional stirrings from the other lycanthropes, yet never a human.
Maybe she wasn't just human, he considered remembering the musicians strong aura of Power. There was no way for him to know if she had any marks put on her. And if she was anything else she hid it very well, for he usually was able to tell those creatures by smell or their Power.
All of this was racing through his mind as he prepared to pick the subject of his thoughts up for their breakfast. Giving himself a last once over he had to laugh. When was the last time he had ever been so concerned for what a girl thought of him? In truth it was usually the other way around, women chased him. Even the females of his pack would sometimes become too pushy.
With that he strode from the small room to make his way across the cart.
Michiru was in no better state of mind then Daniel himself. That is she was confused and with a bad night's sleep behind her. The morning did not bring any new insight, only more puzzles. The wolf, the witch, and a deep feeling of foreboding.
Knowing that Daniel would be along in a few minutes she hurried through her morning routines. In record time she was dressed in a short sleeved white blouse and a flowery skirt, and ready. For breakfast at least.
Michiru almost jumped when she heard the soft knock at her door. Taking a quick breath she went to open it.
"Good morning, milady." He said brightly, 'May I escort you to the breakfast room?" he gallantly presented her with his arm.
Michiru assumed the most serious expression she could manage. "With pleasure, dear sir." She gave a little curtsey and laid her hand over his arm. They walked down the hall laughing.
The day flew by, and so did the next, and the one after that. Their nights might still have been haunted by dreams of destruction and nightmares of self-loathing, but all of that was forgotten once they were together. The train was their own little world, where they walked from front cart to last. All of their meals were taken together, they were inseparable.
It was the fifth day that they were on the metro, the train would enter Tokyo within the next two hours. Michiru had not heard from Setsuna since their first meeting and was glad of it. The other woman could have only sent her on a mile long guilt trip about Daniel. As it was he had turned a dreaded task into a pleasant trip. A soft smile melted her features as she recalled the last few days. He was simply wonderful! They always had something to talk about and when the conversation ran out the silence was a comfortable one. There was no rush to say more or start doing something. Yet even after all he had told her of himself St. John remained an enigma. She knew that he was hiding something, something he kept very close to his heart under lock and key. Michiru did not want to pry, yet her sixth sense screamed for an explanation. There was also a Power that surrounded him- now it had lessened slightly from the level at which it was when they first met- she suspected that he hid it well from others, but she could always tell.
Also unexplained went her dream of the blond wolf. She was now sure that the creature represented St. John, but what sort of omen was that? The wolf never attacked her, it seemed to have wanted for her to follow it. She never did. Michiru was afraid that if she went after him she would fulfill her original dream, where she was sure that destruction came because of her delay for a personal matter. Between the two recurring dreams she could not figure a thing out.
Her bag was packed, she had double checked that she didn't leave anything behind. All that remained now was to wait for the stop.
Michiru reached for a sketch book she kept at hand and opened it to a new page.
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Setsuna peeled off the last of her bandages. It had taken her longer to heal then she had expected, at least there would be no scars. She grimaces looking around. During her recuperation the equivalent of four days passed. She was behind schedule and off track as far as ChibiUsa's quest was concerned. She was not looking forward to checking up on Michiru, so she blocked the thought of Neptune for the moment. Setsuna walked over to one of the time streams. This one she had willed to follow Small Lady, too much of a bother to tune it up every time she wanted to see what the pink haired bundle was doing. Thankfully Small Lady was in the care of the Tsukino family. Setsuna had to smile at the way the child had wiggled her way into the household, hypnosis was the perfect method. Leave it to Usagi's own daughter to pull the wool over her eyes.
That taken care of she moved to the stream that should show Michiru. The young woman was almost at Tokyo. That was good, once she got to the big city she would be able to start her search for Uranus in earnest.
Setsuna wondered if she should tell her about the tracer on the Uranus transformation stick. Then again, she had interfered enough, she only could direct them lightly, no direct road was allowed to be shown. Very well, I'll leave her for another day to herself, allow her to get her feet under before she picks up with her travels again.
She turned away from the streams. They can do for themselves for another day, she had a man to research. She had not yet forgotten about Daniel St. John. He was not lucky enough to escape the attention of Sailor Pluto in so short a time.
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"Professor!" Mistress9 called to her servant's mind. A few minutes went by before the door to her darkness opened to let in a slight figure.
"You called, Mistress?" The Professor asked bowing to the shadows on the thrown that represented her being.
"Yes, I have a special assignment for one of your creations. I want the heart of this man." She put forth her hand- a shadow stretched- and a wavering picture appeared before the professor. He studied the face of the man presented to him, nodding when he had memorized each feature and there was no worry of him forgetting.
"It will be as you wish Mistress, by tomorrow his life will be yours."
"Good, I want you make sure that it is, otherwise..." She let the sentence hang unfinished. The threat thick in the air.
The Professor bowed out of the room, closing the portal behind him. He hurried down the hall to his basement. By now the Professor knew better then to question his mistress' wishes. Anyone who disobeyed her was discarded like so much useless debris into the dark realm of her origin. He had seen what had happened to his predecessor, and he was not about to follow in the man's footsteps.
Down in his laboratory the Professor went to work on his next daimon. He would have to try to enhance this one, there must be no question of success. True enough all of his previous creations had served their purpose well, but one could never be too careful, and the Professor wanted to be very careful with the Mistress' 'special assignment'.
Lastly he inputted the description of the man Mistress9 was looking for. He did not even leave out the silver wolf pendant the man wore around his neck. All set in place, the Professor released his daimon into the city, let him find the man.
"May the gods help me if this doesn't work." He murmured to himself watching after the daimon as it sped away from his house.
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Chapter 4
The train drew to a reluctant stop at the final, Tokyo, station. Outside of her door Michiru could hear the people rushing to get off the train and on their way. She held back, reluctant to step away from the last of the familiar and into the full unknown. Undecided, Michiru sat pensively on the edge of her cot, her portfolio in hand, duffel over her shoulder. She would have probably sat in one spot until the conductor came around checking the cabins, if a knock had not stirred her.
Dumping her things into the corner she got up to answer. She knew who it was even before she opened the door. "Daniel." She said by way of greeting. He must have come to say good-bye, after all who else but her did not know where they were going.
"Michiru... are you getting off?" he asked, only half joking as he took in her packed belongings just sitting in the corner by her bed.
"Yes, I suppose I am." She answered laughing a little to cover up her hesitation, she really did not want to part with him just yet.
"Hhhmmm..." he looked around, Michiru sure was in no hurry. "I was wondering where you were going to stay. I have a day to kill before I go on tomorrow. Thought maybe we'll stay in the same place." He drifted off at the end, feeling a little foolish for trying to prolong their time together.
Michiru brightened at the idea instantly. "I don't really have any plans just yet. I was hoping to spend the nigh at a near by inn or hotel."
"Let's go then. We still have to find our bags in the chaos outside." He grabbed Michiru's duffel and disappeared through the door. Leaving Michiru no other choice then to follow in his wake.
Finding their luggage was no easy task. Because they had left the train so late everything that was left over had already been cleared off to the sides to make room for the cargo and bags of the new incoming trains. Michiru tried to use her strong sixth sense to locate her belongings but failed. The ability obviously did not stretch to searching for inanimate objects.
Two and a half hours later the pair of weary travelers stood in front of a neat little inn nestled into the corner of a street. The inn was four stories high with cheery white window frames. There were a few long pots of flowers decorating the sills of the first floor, the flowers matching those that stood in stone pots by the door. All in all the hotel looked very out of place on the industrialized street of toll concrete and stone buildings.
"Nice place, reminds me of home." Daniel murmured as they entered through a thickly carved wooden door.
"May I help you?" a young woman at the reception desk asked them in heavily accented English. Michiru looked up at Daniel surprise widening her eyes. He shrugged, "She must have recognized me as an Englishman."
"Yes, miss," Michiru spoke up in Japanese once they were at the desk, there was no reason for the woman to have to torture herself with another language when they could all speak her own tongue. "We would like rooms for the night."
"Separate?" She asked trying not to sound too surprised or hopeful, but the look she sent in Daniel's direction gave away her thoughts.
"If it's possible." Daniel sounded annoyed, making his words all the more mispronounced.
The small woman blushed under the two reproachful looks and concentrated on her computer screen.
"We have two rooms available next to each other on the second floor."
"That will be fine." Daniel said, he was impatient to be on his way.
"All right then, one night, two rooms, that will be..." she checked her computer again and named a reasonable price.
"We pay separately." They both hurried to assure the woman.
They paid for the rooms and hurried on to a circular staircase that led up to the second floor. Both were all too eager to once more be able to spread themselves out in their living quarters. After days in the cramped metro the not so large rooms of the hotel were heavenly and spacious.
Michiru wanted to take a long bath before she did anything else so she and Daniel agreed to meet in the lobby at seven for dinner.
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Fangfare moved through the city unseen by the people mulling about him. Only those with heightened psychic ability noticed the passing of an evil shadow. They had no way of knowing the danger they were in due to his very presence.
The scent of flesh was ripe in his nostrils, the hunger rose to seethe just below the surface. He wanted to tear the humans apart. To dig for their hearts, not extract them without a scratch. The only thing that held him back from ravaging all around him was the careful programming of the Professor. He had made sure that Fangfare searched for one in particular, without stopping for anyone else. He could already smell him. Not his true scent, there was no way for Fangfare could know that just yet. For now he could only sense the presence of a clean pure heart in which was etched the description he had of his victim.
He came to a train station, here the scent was sure and true. The man had been here. Not that long ago. He now had a sure trail to follow.
Fangfare did not know how far his query had gone. He did not care. The lengthening shadows did not bother him in the least, the sun dipping lower over the horizon only better served his purpose. His bloodlust drove him on relentlessly. He broke into a fast trot, soon he will be able to feast.
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Michiru, dressed in a conveniently hotel provided terry robe, ruffled through her portfolio case. Where the devil were those stupid things? She wondered for the fifth time.
For the last ten minutes she had searched her pockets and bags for the two transformation sticks Setsuna had given her. Now that she had arrived at the big city she felt a need for the protection her stick would offer her. And for some reason she just wanted to see the Uranus stick again.
Finally her fingers came in contact with two smooth round cylindrical objects. With a little joyous cry Michiru pulled out the two ornaments. As soon as the stick of Neptune came into contact with her skin Michiru felt the tingle of Power that marked the object as more then a pretty pen. But this time she paid her own charm no heed, her eyes were focused with full attention on that of Uranus.
The sign of Uranus that was engraved in the ball atop the pen was now dully flashing. Before the sign was of the same color as the ball, dark orange. Now it seemed to pulse, as if with some sort of inner heat. The sign flared to a brighter shade of orange for just a second and then was once more dull, normal. Over, and over again, with about two seconds in between each flash, the sign lit up.
What could this possibly mean? Could the stick be reacting to the presence of another Power? But if that was true then her stick should be behaving in the same manner, no?
Michiru sat down on the bed and studied the two transformation units carefully. The sticks were of basically of the same size. Color varied for obvious reasons, and Neptune's was a slightly different shape. Other then that... of course!
She could have kicked herself for her lack of attention. The sign of Neptune shone relatively bright in comparison to the ball on which it was inscribed. The Uranus sign must be reacting to Sailor Uranus herself. Was she close? Is that it?
Michiru closed her eyes and mentally reached out to probe the magical items she held. Indeed she found that there were locators combined into the general spell surrounding them. The one of Neptune was safely locked on to her, but the one of Uranus was acting up, it wanted to be united with its rightful owner. Yes, wanted, that was the only way to describe it. The thing practically reached out to the girl who would control it.
This makes life a hell of a lot easier for me, Michiru thought with a broad smile. Now she could follow the way the spell was reaching straight to Sailor Uranus. Perhaps it would not quite lead her, but she'll know if she is searching in the right place at least.
She put both sticks into her purse. Better safe then sorry, her mother used to always say. It would not hurt to have them with her, and who knew, maybe Uranus was closer then she could imagine.
The image of the small woman downstairs came to her mind. Michiru went back to the bathroom to dry her hair chuckling to herself. That would be the day for sure.
Her mind eased by the knowledge that Uranus was not inaccessible, her thoughts wondered to the dinner ahead. Tonight would be her last chance to dine with a regular guy and not worry about a thing. After this night, she promised herself, I get cracking on finding Uranus and the three talismans that hold the key to our survival. But for tonight she wanted to pretend that the Earth was not under the threat of destruction, that se was an ordinary girl having dinner with someone she found fascinating. This would be the last night for that.
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Daniel and Michiru seated themselves in the cozy café. They chose a corner table for optimal privacy. The lights were low, soft music filled the air, and savory aromas filled wafted in from the double doors of the kitchen. It was the perfect place to have their last dinner. After all, didn't their short relationship begin in almost the same setting?
All these thoughts swirled through Michiru's mind as she took everything in. Needless to say they did nothing to brighten her mood. Reflections such as these served only to blacken the burst of gaiety she had gotten from her afternoon discovery.
Daniel was not blind to her low spirit. And he could well guess what brought it on. He too was reluctant to part so soon. He had allowed himself to entertain the thoughts of a future relationship with the girl, but now saw that it was impossible.
Just as he had been washing the road dust off of himself a thought had struck him. Elsa Gray. She was a runner at Mugen Gakuen High School, and he remembered how she once told him of a competitor of hers. The reason the memory had surfaced now was because she had compared this competitor to none other then the wind. "She is like the wind." Were her exact words.
It had then occurred to him that he might be looking in all the wrong places. Perhaps the wind and sea of his dreams were symbolic of people. Somebody who for some reason or another could be said to be like the wind and like the sea. That idea stuck with him even now. He had to get to Mugen Gakuen and speak with Elsa. Ask her to introduce him to this Wind character, perhaps she knew what the dream was all about.
"Your order please." A cultured voice spoke from above them.
Both were startled from their thoughts too abruptly to properly know what happened. At their startled expressions the waiter smiled understandingly, "I'll give you more time." He left politely.
"Umm..." Michiru searched for something at least polite- intelligent was out of the question- to say. "So, what are you going to have?" She settled on that as being the best choice for conversation.
Daniel did not have a chance to answer as the doors to the kitchen burst open, chefs and utensils flying out into the dinning hall. Those who could were up and running with the screams of "Monster! Monster!".
The people were jumping up from their tables scared and curious at the same time. Those who came near the kitchen double doors soon regretted their curiosity as a raging shriek reverberated through the whole restaurant. The doors were pulled off of their hinges as a great bulk pushed itself through them.
Michiru and Daniel were on their feet, ready for action, neither caring much if they were seen in their true forms. Both forgetting about the other.
The bulk came fully out reveling itself as a great mismatched animal. There was no way to know what it was, the only sure thing to be said was that it was angry. Perhaps even hungry.
Another shriek came out of the great maw as the thing started to shred everything in sight with teeth and claws. Soon the area by the kitchen doors was no more, and it started to progress towards the exit. Strait to the place where Michiru and Daniel still stood frozen with surprise bordered on terror.
Michiru was the first to snap out of it. She dived out of sight behind an overturned table. Transformation stick already in hand. What ever that thing was, or how it came to be no longer mattered. It was evil, she could feel that as surely as she felt that she was still alive. And as a Senshi it was up to her to put a stop to its rampage before it claimed any more lives.
"Neptune Planet Power, make up!" She called.
Instantly the power of Neptune and the sea infused her. The waters had a great potential for destruction, and it was time that she try them out.
Sailor Neptune jumped out of her hiding place and charged at the monster.
She was about to deliver a high double kick, but the thing was faster and threw her across the room like a fly. She lay there for a second letting her vision come back into focus. Then she was up on her feet.
She charged again. The monster caught her by the throat before she was able to so much as jump. It brought her closer to its bloodied face. She could smell the blood of others and it sickened her beyond belief.
Just as she thought that she was done for another body attached itself to the arm that was holding her.
The monster screeched in pain, a dark red goo running down the injured limb. It dropped her in exchange for the thing that was now attacking it.
Sailor Neptune had a minute to see the light brown fur of her rescuer. The new creature bit into the monster even harder, but it was obvious that it was no match for the evil that it was fighting.
Sailor Neptune collected herself and stood up. There was another way, something in her whispered. Let the power help you, it said. Yes, the power of Neptune. She closed her eyes and concentrated on that small voice. Words of power crossed her mind, and in her mind's eye she saw what would happen if she was to utter those words.
Her eyes flew open. That was sit!
Raising her hands up above her head she yelled "Deep Submerge!". The power of Neptune gathered and aiming she released it, straight at the head of the monster who was getting ready to snap its attacker in two.
The water surrounded both creatures, but it seemed to affect only the monster. It dropped the smaller thing and with an anguished scream started to melt away. Its image flickered in the green haze of water and was no more. Michiru paid no attention to this, she did not care.
She knelt down by the one that saved her. It was the form of a wolf. Just much larger, and its hind quarters were still covered with black denim. The light brown fur was matted with blood in places, thankfully none of it seemed to belong to the creature itself.
After she made sure that it was alive and only in shock, the fact that it was... clothed finally sank in.
She slowly shifted its position, trying to inspect its neck, already dreading what she would find there. Sure enough, a thin black thread was tied at its neck, the small wolf pendant sparkling slightly in the fur.
With a small sound of horror Sailor Neptune stumbled back from the thing at her feet.
She watched as it opened its yellow slitted eyes, blinking at her. She moved farther back as it got to its feet and started to shift back into its human form.
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Well, that's that. I'd appreciate all comments and suggestions for the future. Oh, and it seems that St. John is not completely mine. The creature that he has evolved to is based on the description of a 'werewolf' as seen in Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series. Who knows, maybe I'll use some other of her non humans (:
Lady Hesperide