After Death's Breath

By Great-Xscape

Disclaimer: SM belongs to the lovely people who thought her up. The story itself came to visit my head but writing make me not richer, materially at least.

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The funeral service was beautiful. No one could say it wasn't.

Hundreds of white roses, fresh from the flower shops of Tokyo, lined the pathway her coffin was to be walked through. Family and friends- of which there were many- attended, shrouded in black. Others attended as well, who had absolutely no connection to the girl. They were strangers to the family.

A pair of foreigners, through it wasn't clear exactly where they came from, showed up on the day of the funeral and brought with them something that resembled a crystal tear. They were close like lovers but clung to each other such as siblings do. The boy was recognized as a student who had mysteriously moved away. The girl, the same. Ann and Alan. Beautiful, especially in the black they dressed in and the red eyes that watched the coffin slowly trail to its final resting place. Neither said a word. The family didn't care who they were- the sorrow the pair showed was more then enough.

Four sisters with outrageous rumors and reputations wailed loudly and trembled at the sight of the coffin. The first had thick, purple hair that fell down to her waist except for the strands done up in two cat-like pony tails on top her head. The second, frail and ashamed, eyes startlingly swollen with tears. Her hair was the color of ice and trailed down her back in a single braid. Beside her stood another sister, proudly holding her red haired head high in respect for the dead. Her flame colored hair was done up in a bun and held up with a bow. The last of the sisters, the oldest, stood to the side, emotionless with her short dark green hair shadowing her eyes. The sisters were beautiful. They crumbled as the coffin sat still in the sunlight.

Three strange siblings held off in a corner by themselves, afraid and alone. They were unusual, to put it kindly. The first was a female, long aquamarine hair falling down in a pony tail to her hips and one stray bang always in her eyes. On her forehead was a weird red dot against pale, pale skin. The others were men. The first had wild hair like fire, held back from his face by a red bandana. It was almost as long as his sister's. The other had bright pink hair, spiking up his head like a mountain. The three cried unashamedly as the sermon began.

Four other women hid high in the shadows of the tree, not willing to shed their tears in public. The gripped their weapons tight, wearing the Amazon clothing they always did, and said not a word as others lifted their sobs to an uncaring sky.

Of course, family from everywhere came as support. Aunts and uncles from as far as America, who before only lived in old portraits and Christmas pictures, came alive with support and sympathy. Sammy had never known that such a loving unit of people existed. Grandparents he never saw before because they were to sick to come to Tokyo threw away their cares and made the journey. Each member had been touched by Serena, even if it had been over a decade since they'd seen her last.

Friends came too. The most obvious being the girls Serena spent her days with. Raye Hino, the forlorn priestess, sat up close and mouthed her own temple's blessing on Serena's spirit. Amy Anderson, the doctor in practice, gazed through visionless eyes and her mind seemed somewhere else where there was no pain. Lita Kino, strong even now, clenched her fists even as tears streamed past her cheeks. Mina Aino absently pet her white cat's ears, staring straight ahead with a blank mind. They would respond if spoken to but otherwise seemed better when left alone to come to terms with the pain.

Four others came as well, people Serena had become good friends with in the short time they had together. Amara Tenoh, the world famous car racer, placed a single yellow rose on the casket. Michelle Kaioh left a startlingly blue daisy beside the yellow rose and then placed a single bow string to be laid to rest with her friend. Hotaru Tomoe, daughter of the late Dr. Tomoe, somehow had a connection with Serena and left behind a violet carnation, the tips dyed black with tears. The silent Trista Meiou, standing by herself but with the others as well, merely touched the casket, all her grief transferred in that single contact, before she moved away.

Friends from school stood silently; nearly everyone from school was there. From her strict but now uncontrollably weeping teachers to her best friends Molly and Melvin, students who never talked to her but merely chanced upon her in the halls. All were present and solemn at the occasion, some even shedding tears for the girl they had seen during lunch but never spoken to.

The casket bearers were odd to most who attended. Only five men, two on each side and one leading. The four carrying were a mystery to the family. One had short but wild blond hair. One had long, silver strands. Another long reddish brown colored roots and the last yellow hair as the color of the sun. All dressed in full military uniform even though the outfits weren't from any organization around.

The man leading was the silent and distant Darien Shields, an arrangement only few truly appreciated. His head was bowed low with mourning yet the entire time he did not lose his mask of composure. Darien walked like the living dead but his manner was so aloof it was almost disconcerting. His eyes strained with unshed tears and he was one of the first to leave when the casket was lowered, the four generals- as people believed them- to be following him loyally.

When the last bit of dirt was padded down and every person gone, a single black cat crawled and laid down on the newly dug grave and did not move from its spot again.

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The moon shimmered and cried a silent tear.

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"Darien…"

Ray grabbed his hand and tugged him towards her, away from the moon's condemning image reflected on the lake surface. The image looked as dead as…Ray tugged more insistently.

Darien finally gave into her and, with a bowed head, turned away from the moon's dim light. He wore nothing but black, an emblem of the pain he still felt. The pain they all felt.

What day was it? She didn't try for a number or even a name from a calendar. 'Twelve days,' she whispered to herself. 'It's been twelve days.' Time was no longer managed by dates but by how long it had been since-

She led Darien away from the sheltered dock, back towards his car. She had walked here, to the park, after the Holy Fire had informed her of Darien's midnight stroll. It wasn't far from the temple, not really.

Darien drove away, leaving a disheartened Ray behind. How was she expected to deal with Serena's death if not even he could manage to speak about it?

She walked back to the small shrine, careful not to let the gates squeak as she sneaked back in. Grandpa had become worried with her depression-like state and now would stand over her shoulder all the time. Chad had cooled off some, something Ray was at first grateful for but now she only wished for someone to talk to who hadn't known Serena, someone Ray could cry to who wouldn't base Ray's sorrow only on the fact that the Princess was gone. Serena was the princess, true. But she was also Ray's best friend, almost like a sister. The others wouldn't see that.

Ray's mind absently went over everyone's locations, walking towards her bedroom. Mina hadn't stayed for the funeral, leaving just eight short days ago. Artemis, of course, had gone with her but he had been rather reluctant, especially after Luna's disappearance. The female guardian had yet to be found. Lita was withdrawing again, despite Ray's efforts to keep the girl alive in the sense she had been before. Lita had already announced her plans to leave, reminding them that she had traveled from family to family long enough to know what she was in for when Ray had protested. Amy and her mother had talked and it was decided that Amy's chance to see her father again had come. The blue-haired warrior of ice had left without a word, becoming as cold as the element she reigned. Her mother had told them of Amy's plans to go on her put-off scholarship to the choice schools of both England and America. Rini had disappeared, unsurprisingly.

As for the Outers, Hotaru was a complete mess. The three older women had been forced to stay in the city as Hotaru wouldn't budge, never speaking. The girl's eyes, always holding some ancient knowledge, now almost glowed with her barely restrained power. Amara and Michelle were holding up their emotionless images but the mirrors were cracking under the strain. Trista visited from time to time but not even grief could hold her job away from long.

Seeing many of their old enemies at the funeral was a shock. Most had dropped in, said their apologies, and left without a word. Others had given a hint, or an outright report of their recent activities, asking for the Scouts to talk to them and to let them help the girls through this hard time.

Alan and Ann were gone, the energy fading from their bones.

The four sisters had left as well but boasted, in their own way, of the new perfume shop they were opening in Tokyo. They left obvious hints that they wanted to help.

The Amazon Trio had vanished, Helios' gift of bodies only lasting the day of the funeral. Helios himself had come, talking with Darien until late in the night and giving the girls his comfort. His subtle questions of Rini's whereabouts left the girls feeling no better.

The Amazon Quartet had gone as well, each leaving the girls their own Ray of hope. Ever since the funeral, no one had experienced nightmares.

Darien, however, was completely communicable. And by choice. The generals, who he had summoned back to life to serve him, stopped any and all visitors. All four handled the job carefully, like a toy they didn't want but couldn't break.

Jadeite visited the temple often. Ray didn't know what to make of the sweet comforts he left her.

Nephrite's bellowed arguments, almost fights, demanding Jupiter's staying came off to no avail. He sulked now, almost as darkly as his Prince.

Zoisite had gently approached Amy's mother but, when he heard of her absence, he disappeared two days before resurfacing, forlorn and cold.

Malachite had tried to reason with the Scouts' leader, Mina, but she didn't near him. He continued, though, calling her up almost every day. Mina no longer answered the phone, letting weary Artemis deal with the pain.

Seeing the four generals brought back memories from the fight with Beryl but also memories from the Moon Kingdom. The memories contradicted each other, pointing out obvious differences- like the fact that Zoisite use to be a girl. None of it mattered, anymore. Ray, the last of Tokyo's Scouts, was too tired to care.

The good thing about the generals' appearances was the way the four handled most of the problems. There was nothing truly big, like alien invaders trying to suck up earth's energy, but no Ray didn't have to worry about the little things. Tokyo had almost completely forgotten about the Scouts. Something that angered Ray to no ends.

"Ray?"

Chad stuck his head through her half-opened door. Normally, he would get the screaming of his life but Ray just sighed and motioned him in.

"Ray. I, uh. That is…" The wanna-be rock star scratched his head tragically. Chad settled for pulling Ray close to him as he sat down on her bed. "What's wrong?"

"Wrong?" Ray echoed, voice dead. "Nothing-"

"Shh," He pulled her closer, stroking her black hair softly. "If you don't want to talk, we can just sit here."

Ray nodded and closed her eyes. Pretending the memories away. Pretending that all that mattered was Chad, sitting here and now, helping her go to sleep.

-

~Hello?~ she walked the paths alone and scared. She never was one to be brave. ~Is anyone here?~

-

Hotaru shook her head. 'I can't do it!'

'So you'd rather have the Princess die?" her subconscious shot back at her viciously. 'What's worse? You've seen the future and you see the present. What one do you like?'

'But I can't!' she wailed. 'I can't- I'd be condemned.'

'Condemn yourself, or condemn the world. It's your choice' her subconscious replied tartly, sliding away.

'But I can't,' Hotaru whispered to herself. 'I can't resurrect the dead.'

Death and Rebirth. The powers of Saturn. The powers she held. Which was worse? Giving Serena another chance at life would mean that she, the princess of Saturn, would be condemned to live the rest of Serena's unnatural life in the hell meant for the resurrected moon princess. A life for a soul. Was the price worth it?

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~Hello?~ she tried again, ignoring the ominous way her voice echoed across the dark plains. How long had she been walking? Much too long, especially since she had yet to see another person. Ot thing, for that matter. ~Please answer~

~We're here~ four shadows clutched at her feet. ~We're always here~

~What!~ She screamed as the shadows started to crawl on her. ~Get away! Get away from me!~ She turned and ran, trying to throw the evil things off. Something wasn't right about this place…

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