Part Seven: Chibiusa's bond of friendship! Saturn makes another appearance
Tsukino Chibiusa stared out of
the living room window absently, her mind a million miles away. I wonder
how Hotaru is doing. A butterfly flitted past the bushes, lighting delicately
on the petal of one of Ikuko-mommy's large red peonies. Chibiusa smiled a
bit at the sight. Hotaru was like that light and fragile her
name even means 'firefly'! I really miss her. I wonder if I'll get to see
her again soon. But she's a baby now, and Chibiusa sighed deeply.
Sailor Saturn came to us after Sailor Orion first appeared, and I got
to see her for just a minute. But it's not the same. I want things back the
way they used to be, visiting her house, playing games in her bedroom, walking
her home from school; I have other friends now, but none of them quite like
Hotaru
"Chibiusa-chan! Chibiusa-chan!
Shinzui-san is here for your piano lesson!" Usagi announced brightly, coming
into the living room. She caught sight of her future daughter staring blanky
out the window, a far-away expression in her eyes. Usagi could guess what
the child was thinking about. "Chibiusa-chan" she breathed softly,
and then went to sit next to the pink-haired little girl. She put her hand
on Chibiusa's shoulder tenderly. "You still miss her, don't you?"
Chibiusa looked up, startled
from her reverie by Usagi's touch. Her russet eyes met Usagi's understanding
blue ones for a moment, and she nodded. "I'm never going to find another
friend like Hotaru, Usagi-chan. And even though she's a baby now I
don't get to see her. I mean, what am I supposed to do, march up to Tomoe-san
and say 'hey, I was your daughter's best friend before the evil Messiah of
Silence took over her body and the whole world was nearly destroyed, and
now I'd like to spend some time with her'?" The unhappy girl shook her head.
"He'd just think I'm crazy. I mean, the whole idea of someone who used to
be almost six years older than me now being reborn as a baby? Sometimes"
her gaze returned to the butterfly as it left the flower petals and floated
across the lawn and out of sight. "Sometimes I think I must be crazy."
"You are not," Usagi declared
firmly, placing both hands on Chibiusa's shoulders now and turning her future
daughter to face her. "Listen, Chibiusa-chan. You and Hotaru were very special
friends. It doesn't matter how old you are, that friendship is never going
to go away. You told me yourself that the last time you saw Hotaru, she reached
out for you and giggled and seemed to recognize you, baby or not. And didn't
Sailor Saturn tell you herself that she would never forget you, and that
she'd be waiting for you?" Usagi ruffled the pink bangs in a rare moment
of maternal instinct. "You're friends, Chibiusa, always. And you'll be together
again. Wait and see."
Chibiusa looked up at her
future mother's face, and her expression once again filled with hope.
"Arigatou, Usagi-chan," she whispered, and then hugged Usagi so tightly
that Usagi could barely breathe.
"You're welcome, Small
Lady," Usagi replied gently as she returned the hug. She had never called
her child that before, but it seemed appropriate now. Then she pulled back.
"Well, Shinzui-san is waiting for you. Ready for your lesson yet?"
Chibiusa nodded, and leapt
to her feet with a grin to greet her music teacher in the hall. "Shinzui-san!"
she cried with delight, wrapping her little arms around one of the young
blind woman's legs, and gazing up at her adoringly. Then she turned to pet
the golden retriever's soft fur. "Hi, Centauri."
Usagi had to shake her
head as she watched. Chibiusa was such a puzzle, even for her, the girl's
future mother. One minute she was speaking disturbingly like a grownup, sounding
even more mature than any of the other Scouts, and the next she was back
to being a little kid. Usagi just couldn't figure her out. Maybe it had something
to do with her royal upbringing in the future Crystal Tokyo; Usagi made a
mental note to pay attention, when she became Neo-Queen Serenity, to exactly
how it was she was raising her daughter.
"I've been practicing
every day, just like you said," Chibiusa informed her teacher.
"That's very good, Chibiusa,"
Shinzui responded with a smile. "Come on, then, let's see how you're doing."
She followed the little girl into the living room.
"I'll be back in a little
while," Usagi called towards them, heading for the front door.
Chibiusa turned to stare
at her future mother in surprise. "You're not staying? But I thought"
Then she shook her head. If Usagi wanted to go, that was more than all right
with her. After all, that meant she would get to have her lesson without
her future mother's interference. "Uh where are you going?"
Usagi's eyes clouded for
a minute. "There's just there's someone I need to talk to." Deliberately
she regained her composure and put on a pleasant smile. "Have fun with your
lesson, Chibiusa-chan. See you later!" With that she opened the door and
skipped down the walk and out the front gate.
Chibiusa shrugged. At
least Usagi wouldn't bother them this time. She turned back to Shinzui. "Wanna
hear me play the song you told me to practice?" She pulled out her sheet
music and turned her attention to the piano.
Shinzui was silent for
a minute, her head still inclined in the direction Usagi had disappeared.
She had caught a strange note in Usagi's voice, and she knew that something
was going on. I wonder But she had no time to finish the
thought as Chibiusa tugged sharply on her sleeve. She looked down at her
young pupil and refocused on the lesson. She'd have to puzzle over Usagi's
actions later.
Michiru answered the door, her
hair pulled back into a casual ponytail. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt,
very uncharacteristic clothing for the normally fashion-concious Elegant
Soldier. A look of surprise crossed her face. "Usagi-chan! Is everything
all right?"
"I was hoping you could
tell me," Usagi responded. The expression on the usually cheerful Sailor
leader's face was so serious that Michiru knew everything was not all
right.
"Please, come in," she
invited her, escorting Usagi into the small apartment that she shared with
Haruka. "Haruka's not here. She left early this morning to go driving somewhere."
"I know. I saw her pass
my street this morning." Usagi took a seat in the window, and Michiru couldn't
help blinking in surprise. That was Haruka's favorite spot, right there in
the corner of the window seat, where she could look down into the street
and watch the cars going by.
Shaking her head slightly,
Michiru sat on the window seat next to Usagi. "What is it, Usagi-chan?" she
inquired, her aqua eyes apprehensive.
"Michiru-san, I need you
to tell me what's going on with Haruka-san." Usagi fastened her gaze to Michiru
with such clarity that the older girl was surprised at the sudden impulse
that possessed her , telling her to bow before the dumpling-haired girl.
She really is going to
make a great queen, Michiru thought to herself. But still, she tried to avoid
the question, not knowing if Haruka would appreciate her telling Usagi everything
that had been going on. "What do you mean, Usagi-chan? Nothing's going on."
Usagi didn't say a word.
She just kept those incredible crystalline eyes locked on Michiru's face,
and she waited. Finally Michiru sighed, knowing that like it or not, she
was going to have to tell her the truth. "You're talking about what happened
at the Scout meeting." Usagi inclined her head in a regal nod, and waited
for Michiru to continue.
Michiru took a deep breath.
"All right, Usagi-chan. I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to say
anything to Haruka about this. She's having a hard enough time already."
Again that regal nod. Michiru paused for a minute, trying to figure out where
the best place was to start. "Haruka's been experiencing some disturbing
feelings lately. First, it was about that blind girl, Giseino Shinzui. Even
though we scarcely know her, every time Haruka comes into contact with her,
she gets these inexplicable feelings of hatred for her."
Usagi's eyes widened.
"For Shinzui-san?" She shook her head. "But Shinzui-san's never done
anything That doesn't sound like Haruka at all."
Michiru nodded. "That's
exactly it, Usagi-chan. There's no reason for Haruka to dislike her, and
Haruka knows it. But she can't get rid of the negative feelings, every time
we get anywhere near Shinzui. Not only that, but now now she's experiencing
those same feelings every time we see Sailor Orion."
Usagi pondered this for
a minute. "Well that would explain why she reacted the way she did at the
Sailor Scout meeting. And is that why she's been so quiet lately? She hardly
talks to any of us now."
Michiru's aquamarine eyes
filled with worry. "I think she's scared, Usagi-chan."
"Scared? Haruka?" Usagi
shook her head, trying to picture something that could frighten the impervious
athlete. She couldn't think of anything.
But Michiru nodded again.
"I know. I didn't think anything would be able to scare her either. But"
Michiru sighed. "Haruka has always had this dark side to her. This part of
her that is cold. Sadistic, even. She'd never tell you this herself, but
she actually enjoys fighting. She enjoys inflicting pain on her enemies.
And I think she struggles with her internal demons even more than she lets
me know." The teal-haired girl shook her head. "It's like there's this part
of her she won't even let me see. And I think she's afraid that this dark
side is where these powerful feelings of hate are coming from." Her aqua
gaze met Usagi's again. "I think she's afraid that maybe her darker feelings
are taking over. That she might start hurting those she loves."
Usagi stared at Michiru
in horror. "No wonder she wouldn't tell me about it." Then she took on a
determined expression. "So, what do we do?"
Michiru's eyes darkened.
"I don't know. Haruka's even starting to shut me out, too. I'm worried for
her, Usagi-chan. I think she's starting to believe she's crazy." The girl
looked down at the floor. "Haruka is my best friend, Usagi-chan. More than
a best friend; she's like a sister, a soul-mate. I love her with all my heart,
and I'd do anything for her. But this I don't know how to fight this.
And neither does she."
Usagi put her hand on
Michiru's shoulder. "Don't worry, Michiru-san." Her voice was full of quiet
conviction, and Michiru met her crystal blue eyes again. "Haruka is our friend,
and a fellow Sailor Soldier. We won't let anyone or anything take her from
us."
Michiru stared at the
Sailor Leader. For a moment, despite the school uniform and dumplings, Michiru
could see, not Tsukino Usagi, but the form of their future queen looking
back at her, regarding her with resolute determination. "I believe you,"
Michiru nodded, covering Usagi's fingers with her own. Then she rose to her
feet. "Well, Haruka's not here and I was starting to get lonely. Would you
like a cup of tea and some hotcakes?"
Usagi's eyes lit up as
her old personality reasserted itself. "Would I?!" she exclaimed eagerly.
Michiru grinned at her and went to the kitchen to boil water for the tea.
Spending some time alone with Usagi might be good for both of them; they
rarely had such opportunities to just sit and get to know one another. Humming
quietly, Michiru put the teakettle on the stove.
"That's enough for today, I think,"
Shinzui finally decided, laying a hand on Chibiusa's shoulder with concern.
The girl had seemed unusually distracted today, and Shinzui could sense that
something was bothering her.
"Chibiusa-chan. How would
you like me to take you to the park this afternoon?"
Chibiusa looked up at
her music teacher in surprise. "But you don't have the time, do you?"
Shinzui smiled at the
child. "Sure I do. And both Centauri and I could use a little fresh air.
What do you say?"
Chibiusa's reaction was
not as enthusiastic as usual, but the little girl nodded. "All right. But
wait-I have to leave a note for Ikuko-mommy and Usagi, in case they come
home and wonder where I am."
Shinzui nodded. "Yes,
that would be a good idea," she agreed. Chibiusa ran to fetch some paper
and a pencil, and scribbled a quick message on it, which she then taped to
the refrigerator.
"That way Usagi's sure
to see it," Chibiusa explained mischievously, and Shinzui smiled at her,
already aware of Usagi's infamous eating habits. Then Chibiusa took Shinzui's
hand, and the two of them, plus the large guide dog, left the house and made
their way down the street towards the park.
Shinzui felt Chibiusa
stop suddenly, and she tugged on Centauri's harness. The retriever also stopped
then, and turned expectantly to wait for his mistress. "Chibiusa, is something
wrong?" Shinzui knew exactly where they were; they were about half-way to
the park, and she could tell by the sounds of children's laughter that they
were standing right outside the chain-link fence that surrounded the playground
of the Sunshine Daycare Center. Shinzui knelt down, and could tell by the
position of Chibiusa's body that the child was staring through the fence
at someone or something on the playground. "Chibiusa?" she inquired again,
quietly.
There was still no response
as Chibiusa gazed at the playground. There, sitting in the sandbox waving
a little plastic shovel, was a dark-haired, violet-eyed baby that Chibiusa
knew all too well. "Hotaru-chan" the pink headed girl breathed.
The baby heard her name and looked up. As soon as she caught sight
of Chibiusa, baby Hotaru cooed and giggled, and began to crawl on her hands
and knees towards the fence. The baby wrapped her short, chubby fingers around
the chain links, and Chibiusa reached out, almost mesmerized, to touch Hotaru's
hand.
Shinzui, sensing the baby's
approach, also reached out to touch the little fingers that stretched towards
them. As soon as she made contact with the baby's hand, understanding filled
her and a smile appeared on her face. Well, what do you know? They
always told me the Soldier of Destruction was close to the Princess' daughter.
No wonder Chibiusa stopped for her. Shinzui turned to Centauri,
whom she knew also recognized the infant, and she smiled at him. Centauri
leaned forward and licked baby Hotaru's hand, and was awarded with a giggle
from the child.
"Hotaru! Hotaru, come
away from the fence!" One of the daycare workers approached them, and picked
the baby up. Hotaru fussed and stretched her hands toward Chibiusa. The woman
frowned down at the pink-haired, dumpling-headed little girl on the other
side of the fence. "I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to interact with the
children."
Shinzui rose to her feet,
and for a moment the child care worker stared at the six foot tall blind
girl with an open mouth. "It's all right," Shinzui said gently to the woman.
"I'm Giseino Shinzui. The director of your center is a good friend of
mine."
The worker cocked her
head, but her face took on a slightly more friendly expression. "Well, if
that's true, then I suppose it's okay. Why don't you two come inside and
talk to the director? If he says it's all right, then maybe we could let
you play with Hotaru for a little while. Her father usually doesn't come
to pick her up until around five-thirty, after his physical therapy."
Chibiusa looked up at
Shinzui with pleading eyes. "Please, Shinzui-san? Can we?"
Shinzui smiled at her.
"Sure we can, Chibiusa." She looked up at the woman holding Hotaru. The baby
was still reaching for Chibiusa and fussing at being held away from her.
"We'll be right in," she said. Taking Chibiusa's hand in one of her own and
holding Centauri's harness with the other, Shinzui led them all around to
the front of the builing and in the front door.
No sooner had they stepped
inside than Shinzui was greeted by a very tall man, even taller than Shinzui
herself, who was dressed in a simple white suit with a brilliant red gemstone
pinned to his lapel. His hair was white, like snow, and Chibiusa found herself
staring with awe at this man, who seemed imposing and yet whose ruby eyes
glowed with kindness. He looked about forty or so, but the more Chibiusa
looked at him, the harder it was to tell. He seemed ageless, in a way.
The man spoke, and his majestic voice sounded like a waterfall, full of strength
and power.
"Shinzui-chan. It is a
pleasure to see you again." He reached out to her and planted a kiss on her
forehead.
"Hello, Neophilus. How
are things going for you?"
"Slowly." The tall man
fastened his ruby eyes upon Shinzui, and it seemed to Chibiusa that there
might be some sort of double meaning to his words. She looked from one to
the other, feeling a bit confused.
Shinzui indicated the child
standing next to her. "Neophilus, this is a student of mine and also a friend.
Her name is Chibiusa."
The man named Neophilus
knelt down where he could look at the little girl face to face. "Hello, Chibiusa.
It's nice to meet you." He held out his hand, and Chibiusa reached out to
shake it. At her touch, recognition filled his eyes, and he looked up at
Shinzui for a moment, then over at Centauri. The dog nodded almost imperceptibly.
Yes. It is the Princess' daughter. Neophilus smiled and
straightened again. "I assume you are here to visit Tomoe Hotaru," he said
to them, and Chibiusa stared at him in shock.
"How did you know that?"
she wanted to know.
Neophilus turned his smile
upon her again. "Magic," he responded mysteriously, and his ruby eyes twinkled
so that Chibiusa had to giggle.
"Only if it's all right,
Neophilus," Shinzui affirmed quietly. "We don't want to disturb your classes."
"Nonsense," the man with
the rumbling voice replied cheerfully. "You never disturb us, Shinzui-chan.
Though I daresay the children will not let you leave until you've sung for
them."
Shinzui smiled back. "Thank
you, Neophilus."
"Come now," Neophilus
declared, offering an arm to Shinzui and a hand to Chibiusa. "I know Hotaru
will be delighted to see you." Chibiusa looked up at him again curiously,
and the big man just winked at her before leading them all down the hall
towards the playground.
The ground surrounding the black
monument trembled as a scream of fury exploded from the hole in space above
it.
"Those meddlesome Sailor
brats stopped me AGAIN!!!" Lord Narcissus did not sound very pleased, and
even the smooth stone of the monument shook with the force of his rage. "I've
had it! I want to kill them! Every last one! I want them dead, dead, DEAD!!!
Especially little Miss Orion. I'll get even with all of them if it's the
last thing I do!" There was silence for a moment as the Negaverse admiral
regained his breath. "But first first I have to find that Dagger. Otherwise
the Avatar may not let me live long enough to take my revenge. Jaki,
where are you? Come out now!"
The oily, black substance
oozing around the edges of the slowly expanding tear responded to the command
by gathering into a droplet that fell, sizzling, onto the black stone below.
Expanding and swelling, the liquid solidified onto a definite, monstrous
shape, an evil spirit possessing three pairs of black wings, one on its back
and one on each of its ankles. The jaki rose to its feet, hissing
menacingly.
"Jaki here."
"Listen to me," Narcissus'
disembodied, icy voice emanated from the other side of the hole. "I want
that Silver Dagger, and I want it now. But the larger humans are proving
to be difficult to catch and drain. I want you to target the little humans.
The ones who aren't as strong and can't get away as fast. You should be able
to drain several at a time, and we'll be able to find the Dagger much
faster."
The monster nodded and
licked its swollen lips. "Little human juice," it gurgled with anticipation.
"I go now."
"Yes, go. And
jaki--" The dark creature turned back. "Make sure you don't fail
me."
The evil spirit nodded,
and flew up into the sky, flapping its great black wings. Rolling into a
ball in midair, the jaki fell back to earth and bounced three times.
On the final bounce, the glistening, greasy-looking ball soared towards the
clouds, tracing an arched path through the heavens on its way to the city
skyline.
Chibiusa giggled as the baby on
her lap waved her chubby fingers and tried to stick her entire fist in her
mouth at once. "No, no, silly. Fingers aren't for eating." Gently she moved
baby Hotaru's hand away and redirected it towards a stuffed animal instead.
Hotaru seized the soft fur of the pink and purple stuffed rabbit and proceeded
to direct one of the toy's ears into her mouth. Chibiusa giggled again.
Shinzui smiled at the
contented, gleeful sounds coming from the two girls in the corner. "They
really do seem to be close, don't they?" she commented to the giant man standing
behind her.
Neophilus nodded. "Indeed
they are. Those two have been best friends for millenia."
A faraway expression entered
the blind woman's face. "I wish I wish I could have seen it. This the
first time I've ever even met her."
Neophilus laid a hand
on Shinzui's shoulder. "I know. But one day, child-one day you will be able
to spend all the time you want with her. With all of them."
Shinzui shook her head.
"I believe that, Neophilus. I do. But sometimes" she paused for a moment,
listening as another happy chuckle came from the girls' direction. "Sometimes
it's so hard to be patient."
The big man with ruby
eyes squeezed Shinzui's shoulder gently in sympathy. She reached up to take
his hand, and smiled softly. At that moment, however, her sweet smile dissolved
into an expression of worry, and the blind woman's entire body stiffened
noticeably. Centauri rose to his feet in alarm.
"Shinzui, what?"
Neophilus began, but he didn't have to finish as he recognized the look on
her face. "They're coming, aren't they?"
Shinzui nodded, and turned
towards him. "Quickly, Neophilus. We must get the children away from here."
Neophilus looked over
at the pink-haired girl and the infant in her lap. "What about them?"
"The others first.
Chibiusa-chan can take care of Hotaru. I'll come back for them." Shinzui
rose, gripping Centauri's harness. "Come, Centauri. We don't have much
time."
With another uncertain
glance backward towards the two girls playing in the corner, Neophilus followed
the young blind woman out of the room. After all, she'd been in this sort
of situation more times than he could count, and he trusted her judgement
completely.
Chibiusa looked up as
the two adults left. That's strange. I wonder where they're going? Then
she looked down at Hotaru, who grinned back up at her happily and kicked
her little baby feet, and she smiled back, forgetting about the grown-ups
in her pleasure at being reunited with her best friend. "I've missed you,
Hotaru-chan," she said to the infant, tickling the tiny nose.
"Put him down! What are
you AAAAHHHH!! Somebody, help, please!"
Chibiusa looked up as
the shrieks of terror sounded from the hallway. The dumpling-headed girl
frowned and stood up, balancing Hotaru on one hip. She started towards the
door to investigate, but she only took about two steps before she discovered
the source of the disturbance. A jaki, carrying two small children,
poked its head into the room. When it caught sight of Chibiusa and baby Hotaru,
an ugly grin spread across its face.
"Human juice!" the thing
hissed eagerly, and it dropped the motionless bodies of the three-year-olds
it had just drained.
For a moment, Chibiusa
stood frozen by the sight of the helpless babies lying lifeless on the floor.
Then she realized that the monster intended to do the same thing to Hotaru,
and that caused her to snap out of it and take action. Still holding the
baby, Chibiusa clutched at her little transformation brooch.
"Moon Prism Power!" she
called out.
For a moment time seemed
to stand still as the pink beams of power swirled around the littlest senshi,
shimmering into place as her sugar-pink and white fuku appeared. Sailor
ChibiMoon's Moon Stick materialized in her hand, and she held it out
defensively.
The jaki had paused for
a moment, a bit confused. It hadn't expected a human so small to be one of
the Sailor Soldiers. Still, it wanted the baby that this Sailor Scout was
holding, and it took another step forward.
"Pink Sugar Heart Attack!"
Sailor ChibiMoon cried. Please, Moon Stick. Please work this time
Hotaru-chan needs you. Her rather unreliable Moon Stick could be tempermental
at times, and ChibiMoon was afraid it might do the same now. But she needn't
have worried; the Stick seemed to sense the danger of the situation, and
it responded immediately, sending out its stream of little pink hearts that
began to bop the creature in the face continuously.
The jaki snarled and waved
the hearts away like so many irritating gnats. It opened its mouth and sent
a bolt of black lighting towards Sailor ChibiMoon and the baby.
ChibiMoon ducked, cradling
Hotaru against her, and rolled into a somersault to avoid the attack. The
negative energy crashed into the bulletin board behind them, and instantly
dissolved a series of children's watercolor paintings that had been posted
there for display. Desparate, Sailor ChibiMoon switched on her wrist
communicator.
"Usagi, are you there?
Usagi?!!"
A second later, Usagi's
cheerful face crackled into view on the little screen. "Hey, Chibiusa-chan!
Is your piano lesson done already?"
"Shut up and listen," Sailor
ChibiMoon snapped, causing her future mother's expression to darken. But
Usagi didn't get the chance to retaliate, because ChibiMoon continued in
a rush of words. "There's a jaki at the Sunshine Daycare Center. It's
draining the children, and right now it's after Hotaru. Get over here now!"
Sailor ChibiMoon switched the communicator off, not even waiting for a reply,
and then dodged again as another dark burst of power came towards them.
"Ouch!" she cried as she
banged her head on the edge of the tray beneath the chalkboard. She looked
down to check on the baby. "Are you all right, Hotaru-chan?"
The infant looked back
up at her, violet eyes wide. Then Hotaru screamed indignantly as the
jaki's long, dark arm reached for her. She had decided she didn't like
this ugly winged thing that was attacking her friend, and her deep purple
eyes began to glow with a strange power. As the creature stretched its clawed
hand towards the baby, a burst of positive energy radiated from her. It enveloped
the evil spirit, lifting it off the floor and tossing it backwards against
the wall with a force that left ChibiMoon staring wide-eyed at her tiny friend.
"Hotaru-chan! How did you
do that?" she gasped in surprise. Baby Hotaru just giggled back at her. "Come
on. Let's get out of here." Sailor ChibiMoon turned towards the door.
"LOOK OUT!!" Suddenly ChibiMoon
felt herself carried off the floor, and for a minute the whole world turned
upside down as Sailor Orion appeared out of nowhere and rolled both of the
smaller girls out of the way.
"What on earth?"
ChibiMoon began, twisting around to look at Sailor Orion.
At that moment, a ball
of sparkling lavender energy struck the peach and black senshi in the back,
and Sailor Orion grunted with the pain. Her entire body went numb, as the
negative energy invaded her muscles and slowly, painfully began to drain
her energy, little by little.
Sailor ChibiMoon could
hear cold laughter behind them. Lord Narcissus! she realized, recognizing
the sound. He must have taken the jaki's body when I turned around!
"Sailor Orion! Are you all right?" she inquired with concern.
Orion shook her head. "Don't
worry about me," she managed to gasp out as the paralyzing negative
energy made it difficult to breathe. "You must get Hotaru away. Go."
The musical-voiced senshi struggled to her feet, putting herself between
Sailor ChibiMoon and Narcissus.
ChibiMoon shook her head.
"We can't just leave you here alone. You're hurt."
Sailor Orion, still doubled
over with the pain, looked up at her. "You must, Sailor ChibiMoon. I'll
be fine. Get her out."
"But" ChibiMoon began
to protest.
"GO!!!" Orion barked harshly,
with as much strength as she could muster. ChibiMoon's russet eyes widened
with surprise, and she turned to run towards the door. But just as she reached
it, the door slammed shut in her face. Sailor ChibiMoon tried the handle,
but it wouldn't budge. She spun around to face Lord Narcissus, who smiled
mockingly at the two Sailor Soldiers.
"Nice try, Miss Orion.
But I want that baby." His lavender gaze flicked over to Hotaru. "She has
some unsusal abilities I think she may be what we're looking
for."
Orion grimaced again as another
wave of pain ran through her, but she straightened up as much as she could,
and again put herself between Narcissus and the infant Hotaru. "I'm not going
to let you touch her, Narcissus. You're going to have to kill me first."
Narcissus cocked a pale
purple eyebrow. "If you say so." He raised his fist, and another ball of
lavender lightning struck Sailor Orion in the abdomen, causing the colassal
soldier to crumple to the floor.
The pain was terrible,
but she'd endured worse. Forcing herself to remain concious-that was the
key. She couldn't allow herself to black out, not until she could be sure
that the baby and the Princess' future daughter were safe. And the best way
to ensure that she didn't pass out was to focus on the pain. Grunting again,
Orion opened her eyes to see Lord Narcissus heading towards ChibiMoon and
the baby.
"I don't
think so," she hissed deliberately, and again rose to her feet, forcing
her body to obey her, and concentrating on feeling every single nuance of
the pain that ripped through her arms and legs as she made them move.
Narcissus stared at her
with something akin to surprise. "Well, I'll say this for you, Miss Orion.
You sure are persistent. You ought to be dead by now."
Sailor Orion sneered at
him, even through the pain. "I already told you once, Narcissus. I'm not
that easy to kill." She took up as much of a defensive stance as she could
manage. Closing her eyes and concentrating, she attempted to summon her Music
Sphere; but it was as she feared. She did not have enough energy to call
on its power. Lord Narcissus' attacks had taken too great a toll.
Narcissus shook his head
condescendingly. "What's the matter? Having a little trouble summoning that
noisemaker of yours? My power is sapping your strength little by little;
you'll never be able to defeat me this time. Which reminds me I owe
you something." He raised his hand, and struck Orion across the face, hard.
This caused her to lose the tenous balance she'd been fighting to maintain,
and the Sailor Senshi fell to her knees.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Sailor
ChibiMoon wailed, watching helplessly as the other girl took all the blows
and attacks for her and the baby.
Narcissus looked up at
the little pink-headed scout and grinned cruelly. "Oh, don't worry, Sailor
brat. Your turn is coming. But first" he glared down at the kneeling
Sailor Orion. "I have a score to settle with this one." His arm went up
again.
"Please, stop," Sailor
ChibiMoon whispered, squeezing her eyes shut. She'd never seen a Sailor Soldier
die before, and she didn't want to watch it now. But she couldn't help opening
her eyes, just a little, to check on Hotaru. The baby's eyes were disturbingly
vacant. "Hotaru-chan, are you all right? Hotaru?!!" The infant didn't respond.
But a very familiar voice
suddenly echoed through the classroom. "Death Reborn Revolution!"
The power that could destroy
planets-the ultimate power of destruction-sent straight at the menacing Negaverse
admiral as he prepared to deliver the final blow to Sailor Orion. Lord Narcissus
looked up just one instant before Sailor Saturn's Silence Glaive directed
this attack at him. His form shimmered as he quickly abandoned the body of
the jaki, letting his mindless servant take the blow for him.
The evil spirit didn't
even have time to howl in pain. One minute it was standing there, flapping
its three sets of wings threateningly, and the next it wasn't. The
jaki was gone, just like that. And so was Lord Narcissus-he had managed
to escape, yet again. All that remained was a black puddle of oily liquid
that absorbed into the carpet of the classroom in a matter of moments.
Sailor Orion didn't have
the strength to contemplate the loss of the admiral; as soon as she was certain
Sailor ChibiMoon and Hotaru were safe, she gave in to the blessed darkness
that had been pleading with her to embrace it. She had used up every last
bit of her energy and then some; and the exertion was enough to almost kill
her. The pain finally numbed as everything went black.
"Sailor Orion!" Sailor
ChibiMoon cried as the pale haired senshi collapsed.
"It's all right,
Chibiusa-chan." ChibiMoon's head snapped up. There in front of the chalkboard,
stood the transluscent apparition of the Soldier of Destruction.
"Sailor Saturn," Sailor
ChibiMoon breathed in amazement.
The delicate violet Sailor
Scout glided over to Sailor Orion's side, and she knelt beside the collapsed
soldier. Taking Orion's head onto her lap, Sailor Saturn placed one pale
hand over the injured Sailor's heart, and the other on her forehead. Closing
her eyes, Saturn began to concentrate. A warm, healing glow emanated from
her fingertips and spread through Sailor Orion's body, restoring her strength
and energy, and cleansing the effects of the negative attacks. After a few
seconds, Orion began to breathe again, at first raggedly, but then gradually
it became smoother. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Sailor Saturn," she whispered
softly as the gentle Scout's face came into focus above her. Then her silvery
eyes took on determination again as she realized that the fragile Soldier
was expending her own limited energy to heal her. Orion knew how much energy
it was costing the small Sailor to just manifest herself without a body;
she didn't even want to think about how much Saturn was using up on her account.
"Enough," Orion stated. When Sailor Saturn, ignoring her protests, continued
to pour her healing powers into her, Sailor Orion took the smaller senshi's
hands gently and pulled them off of her, breaking the connection. "Enough,"
she repeated firmly.
Saturn's violet eyes opened.
"But you're still weak," she observed with sweet concern.
Sailor Orion grimaced as
she sat up. "I'll be fine. With a little rest, I can regain the rest of my
strength on my own. But you shouldn't exhaust yourself on my account." The
Soldier of Sacrifice glanced up towards Sailor ChibiMoon, still clutching
the baby's inanimate form, and she smiled. "Your time with us is limited,
Sailor Saturn and before all your energy is gone, there's someone else
who would like to say hello."
Sailor Saturn turned to
see Sailor ChibiMoon staring at her. A sweet smile spread over her face.
"Sailor ChibiMoon," she said, standing up and going over to her.
Orion struggled to stand as the
two other girls began to quietly converse together. Her legs were still weak;
she could scarcely control them. But she was standing. Sailor Orion began
to wonder if maybe she shouldn't have stopped Saturn from completely healing
her; she knew from lifetimes of experience that it was going to take quite
a while before her full strength would return. But as she watched the two
overjoyed friends talk together in the corner, she knew she'd done the right
thing. Orion's gaze then fell to the bodies of the two unconcious children,
and her heart sank.
I don't have the strength
to heal them, she realized, tears springing to her eyes. But
I have to try. She stumbled over to them, and fell to her knees next
to their tiny forms. She closed her eyes and concentrated as hard as she
could. Please, Music Sphere. Please help me help them. But the Orion
Sphere would not come. She couldn't summon it; she was too weak. Stubbornly,
Sailor Orion squeezed her eyes even tighter and tried again. "Please, please,"
she whispered, pleading with her own powers to respond.
Just then, Sailor Moon
and Sailor Neptune burst through the door, closely followed by Neophilus.
Sailor Moon stopped short when she saw the tears on Sailor Orion's face as
she tried again, desparately, to summon the power she needed to heal the
children.
"Sailor Orion!" she exclaimed,
going over to her immediately, with Neophilus right behind her. "What's the
matter?"
"I can't do it," came
the response, so quiet that Sailor Moon could barely hear her. "I don't have
enough strength." The anguish in her melodical voice tore at Sailor Moon's
heart.
"It'll be all right," Sailor Moon tried
to comfort her. "I can help"
Orion shook her head,
her pale hair dancing and her starry eyes glistening with tears. "No. Not
even your Healing Escalation can bring life back to these children. I have
to do it. I have to."
At that moment, Neophilus
came up behind Sailor Orion, and laid both of his huge hands on her shoulders.
"Orion," he said, and Sailor Moon stared up at the giant man, startled at
the majestic power of his voice. Sailor Orion stared at the floor despondently,
and could not bring herself to look into those ruby eyes, compassionate though
they were. Neophilus leaned forward and spoke softly so that only she could
hear. "Have you forgotten, my child? Strength is my specialty."
With that statement, Orion
suddenly felt power pouring from his hands, filling her, restoring her. Her
blood began to warm and her heart began to sing again as the energy she so
desparately needed flowed, rich and strong, through her veins. Neophilus
straightened up now, and spoke in a voice loud enough for the others to
hear.
"Sailor Orion, I believe
you have the power to help these children. Have faith. Try again."
Orion gazed up at him
for a moment, gratitude written all over her tear-streaked face. Then she
looked down at the two tiny bodies in front of her. She closed her eyes,
and summoned her Sphere.
"Heavenly Symphony!"
Orion's sweet melody swelled
through the room, and as it did, everyone present began to feel the energy
and envigoration that the music of the spheres invariably brought with it.
Color began to return to the little white faces and hands of the drained
babies. Sailor Orion closed her eyes and breathed deeply in relief as her
song worked its magic. The energy Neophilus had given her was almost entirely
used up with the effort it took to summon the Orion Music Sphere, and she
was just as weak now as she had been a few minutes ago; but she didn't mind.
Everything would be all right now.
It was only then that Sailor
Moon and Sailor Neptune looked up and noticed the ghostlike apparition of
Sailor Saturn, who was conversing quietly with Sailor ChibiMoon in the
corner.
"Sailor Saturn!" Sailor
Moon gasped in surprise, going over to them. "How on earth?" She looked
down at the vacant-eyed baby in Sailor ChibiMoon's arms. "But that's
Hotaru-chan that's you! How can you be two places at
once?"
Sailor Saturn smiled in that sweet,
melancholic way. "I'm not exactly sure, myself. I think I think I may
be the projection that Tomoe Hotaru has manifested in order to protect her
friends."
Sailor Moon cocked her
head thoughtfully. "I suppose Like when Mamo-chan lost his memories
and projected the Moonlight Knight to protect me and the other Sailor Scouts."
She nodded, satisfied with this explanation. "But what happened?" she wanted
to know. "ChibiMoon said there was a jaki."
"The jaki is gone
now," Saturn said softly. "I was able to destroy it. But if it had not been
for Sailor Orion's courage, I would not have been able to appear. She took
the attacks meant for Sailor ChibiMoon and Tomoe Hotaru, and neither would
be alive if it were not for her. She nearly died for our sakes."
Sailor Moon turned to
look at the barely revived Sailor Soldier, who had been helped to her feet
by Neophilus and was now leaning heavily on the huge man's arms.
"Forgive me, Princess,"
Sailor Orion apologized, looking at the floor.
"Forgive you? What on
earth for?"
"I I do not have
the strength to bow before you this day." Sailor Orion looked up then, meeting
Sailor Moon's blue eyes with her own achingly honest gaze.
Sailor Moon's mouth fell open.
"You save my daughter's life, and Hotaru's life too; you nearly get yourself
killed in the process; and you apologize to me? Sailor Orion, I've never
asked you to bow to me, and after what you did today, if you never bow to
me again that's perfectly fine as far as I'm concerned."
Sailor Orion shook her
head, and her smile was mysterious. "I will always bow to you, Princess.
Always. No matter what I do for you, no matter how many times I risk my life
or even give up my life for you and your family, I could never hope to repay
you for everything you've given me. If it weren't for you" Then she
paused as she realized she was saying too much. She looked up to meet Neophilus'
ruby eyes, and a smile touched her lips. She raised her bracelet to leave.
"I'm sorry. I should go now."
"Wait." Sailor Moon placed
a gloved hand on Orion's wrist, and met her eyes searchingly. "Please, finish
what you were going to say. What did I ever do to deserve the loyalty you
show me?"
Sailor Orion debated,
for a moment, whether or not she should say any more. But the expression
on her beloved Princess' face was so earnest, she could not refuse this time.
Her silver-gray eyes softened, and her smile grew even more gentle. "You
gave me life, Princess Serenity. You gave me part of your own life." Her
response, so sweet and musical, was still mysterious to Sailor Moon.
"I don't remember," Sailor
Moon mused.
"That's all right." Sailor
Orion met her eyes with another mysterious smile. "I can remember for both
of us." She inclined her head towards Sailor Moon, the closest thing to a
bow that she could muster in her weakened condition. "Until next time, Princess."
Sailor Orion depressed the stone in her bracelet, and was gone.
"I'm afraid I, too, must
leave," Sailor Saturn said quietly, turning to Sailor ChibiMoon. "I do not
have enough energy to remain in this form much longer."
Sailor ChibiMoon nodded,
though her russet eyes were bright with tears. "I will see you again," she
stated, although it sounded more like a question than something she was sure
of .
"Yes, you will. And
thank you. For coming to see me today." Saturn looked down meaningfully at
the baby ChibiMoon still held. Her smile was sweet. "I hope you will come
again."
ChibiMoon nodded determinedly.
"I'll come all the time, I promise."
Saturn's eyes lit. "Then,
good-bye. For now." Her faint form began to fade even more, and in a moment,
she was gone. After a few seconds, baby Hotaru's clouded eyes cleared and
focused again, and the infant giggled as she realized who was holding
her.
ChibiMoon touched the baby's face
tenderly. "Welcome back, Hotaru-chan." Then she looked up as Neophilus came
up to her, and carefully took Hotaru from her.
The giant man smiled down
at the littlest of the scouts. "It's time for me to feed her," he explained
quietly. "And those two as well." He indicated the three-year-olds, now
completely recovered, thanks to Sailor Orion's efforts. "By the way, if you
happen to see Shinzui's little friend Chibiusa anywhere--" Sailor ChibiMoon's
eyes widened, "--would you please let her know that Shinzui was feeling rather
ill and had to go home?"
Sailor ChibiMoon nodded
numbly, and Neophilus winked a ruby eye at her. Then he turned to the two
older scouts. "And if you do happen to find Chibiusa, would the two of you
mind making sure she gets home safely?"
Both Sailor Moon and Sailor
Neptune nodded as well. Neptune eyed the daycare director curiously. "You
and Sailor Orion seemed to know each other," she observed.
Neophilus raised one white
eyebrow amusedly. "Oh, we've been friends for millenia." Sailor Moon frowned,
uncertain whether or not he was teasing them. The big man turned to the small
children. "All right, kids. Let's go." He and his three tiny charges left
the room.
"What do you think?" Sailor
Neptune asked of Sailor Moon as they watched him go.
"I'm not sure, but"
Sailor Moon began to reply, but was interrupted when her stomach growled
rather testily. She giggled. "But I do know that I'm hungry! How about you,
Chibiusa-chan?"
Sailor ChibiMoon nodded
eagerly. "Wanna go home and see if Ikuko-mommy made one of her lemon pies
this afternoon? She said she was going to."
Sailor Moon's eyes lit up. "That's right!" She turned to Sailor Neptune.
"Why don't you come with us?"
Neptune shook her head,
and smiled. "No, that's all right, Sailor Moon. I need to get home before
Haruka does. If she gets there first and I'm gone, she's going to get worried
and come looking for me."
Sailor Moon nodded. "All
right, then." She took Sailor ChibiMoon's hand, and for a moment both mother
and daughter's forms shimmered as they powered down and their Sailor fukus
disappeared. But before they left, Usagi turned back around.
"It's going to be all
right, Michiru-san," she assured the older girl quietly. "You and me-we'll
take care of Haruka-san together."
Sailor Neptune nodded
back, without responding; but the sudden tears that sprang to her eyes said
it all for her. With a smile and a final nod, Usagi and Chibiusa were gone.
Neptune sighed, but it was not entirely a sad sound. It's good to have
friends, she thought to herself as she resumed her normal form. And
I'm going to protect them with everything I've got. A gentle smile curved
her lips as she thought about her tough, tomboyish best friend. Whether
or not they think they need it. With that last mental note, Keioh Michiru
started on her way home.
Back
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Six
On to Part
Eight
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