I do not own Sailor Moon.  But I own Hinotama.  Hah!  Stupid lawyers!  lol, please enjoy and as always R & R!!!

Falling Stars


Chapter 2

Usagi's already saucer-like gaze widened slightly, and she had to take a step backwards to keep her balance from collapsing to the floor out of shock. Her long golden streams, hanging behind her, swung wildly as she spun around and turned her back to Hinotama. Usagi leaned forwards slightly, remembering the technique that placing your head between your knees often helped in reducing nausea. Placing a hand upon either knee, her chest heaved as she struggled to regain her composure--which ultimately failed. For as she finally straightened her stance, in a moment of sheer delirium, Usagi unharnessed a wild, ear-splitting scream from her banshee-like vocals. Cheeks reddened, heart pounding, and feeling rather dizzy, Usagi thought distantly in the back of her mind that Rei would be proud.

"Well, now that my ears are bleeding, perhaps we could talk?" Hinotama suggested after a moment, her calm voice slicing through the silent tension. Usagi, however, remained in shock and couldn't move, though her mind was racing and reeling, swirling with unthinkable thoughts.  This girl...this stranger...family? It could not be! Throughout the Silver Millennium, Selenity of the Moon was an only child, raised under the wise hand of her mother, the Queen. It was also foretold that someday, Chibi-Usa would the off-spring of both she and Mamoru. The thought of another family member had never risen...

Usagi at once decided that this young woman was clearly insane. Hinotama, the Sun Princess, her sister?  None of this made sense…but something deep within the Odango Atama told her it might be a sign of sorts--perhaps the wielding of a new strength that would be coming their way? Then again, why should she care? It's not as if her "duties" were a priority at this point--nor did she need anymore unecessary distractions. Right off the bat, Usagi was ready to tell this fruitcake to pack it up and book it.

"Talk," Usagi said plainly once she had regained her composure, her eyes flickering with disbelief at this girl's audacity. "You want to...talk?"

The still faintly glowing young woman nodded blatantly, and gave a little sigh as her aura faded and her form returned to normal. "Either that or we could be on our way." Usagi nearly fell onto the floor in total shock after the utterance of such a statement.

"On our way? Well, let me tell you something...honey. I can tell you right now that your way is of the single variety...in which you walk out that door and intend never to return. Ever," Usagi snapped, enunciating the last syllable. Seeing that her words were apparently lost, or otherwise ignored, the blonde allowed her posture to slouch and her arms hung lazily at her sides as an attitude of defeat set in. All she could do was stare and wonder how she could deny such a possibility--especially when the girl had revealed her true form. At least she wasn't an enemy, yet anyway.

"Why are you staring?" Hinotama taunted. "It's nothing you haven't seen before, Usagi-san--Sister."  

"You do realize that you are insane, right? I mean, you're crazy! I don't believe this is happening!  You waltz in and claim to be my sister…this is ridiculous!" Usagi stammered, eyes bulging. "It's utterly impossible."

"So once was 'Moon Prism Power, Makeup.'"

"I'm convinced! You're a sociopath and a spy." The nearly-comical situation quickly died as Hinotama's entrancing, mysterious mood changed to one of sheer business.

"Please, Usagi," she spat, coolly dismissing the jeer. "If I must go through all the formalities then so be it.  My name is Hinotama Taiyou.  In other words, falling fire star of the sun. Therefore, I bear the emblem and energy of the sun. As I have been trying to say, I come from a world plagued with evil so dense and infinite it is almost impossible for them to be stopped--

'I knew I was going to end up on another quest...' Usagi thought bitterly as the words entered her ears.

"--I have come back searching for my other half, namely you, Usagi, my sister, to help me defeat the darkness that has already devoured my world and will be coming for your own."  Hinotama took Usagi's hands in hers and gave a slight smile, "Usagi.  I have shown you who I am.  I know in your heart that you believe it to be true!"  

"I..." she trailed off, realizing that her snippy, disgusted attitude was futile. Immediately, the old, warm-hearted Usagi began to burn through, and rambling with an almost glassy gleam in her eyes, she confessed her worries to the stranger. "Hinotama-san, I apologize for the way I've treated you. But you must realize how very strange all of this is...how unnerving and intruding." The blonde stepped back and closed her eyes for a moment, "I just don't understand.  It's happening too fast!  I've fought most of my adolescence--not against hormones and homwork--but against evil, as we call it. I feel like this is the first time I'm coming full circle from all of my selflessness...surfacing to finally take a breath." She paused, choosing her words. "As soon as I saw you standing beside me, I felt like I was suffocating again."

"I tried to explain that I understood. Usagi, your battle has been just the same my entire life. But it seems that that is where we differ. I have no choice but to press on. You may think being selfish and taking your powers for granted is fun, Miss Tsukino, but thousands will die on account of you if this is your outlook!" Hinotama returned, glancing away.

A fire suddenly flickered within Usagi as she felt the dark, insulting connotation of Hinotama's words. "This isn't fair!  I am sick of helping people!  How dare you step in and expect that I heed to your demands!"  Usagi glared at her angrily.   

"How dare I give you a well-deserved wake-up call?" The brunette balled her fists and finally displayed her first true emotion since she'd arrived. "How dare you walk away from family."  A long silence followed Hinotama's reply and Usagi was stunned. She stopped and turned again, walking towards the sliding glass door that looked out at her lush, flower-filled backyard. The blonde wrapped one arm around her waist and rested the other upon its elbow, chewing a nail both thoughtfully and nervously as her golden streams hung behind her.

'Do I really believe this girl? Trust her words about a coming darkness? Thousands dying? How can I possibly hope to deny her, especially after seeing the truth? Even if she isn't a Princess of the solar variety...she still wields some kind of power. She hasn't made an attempt on my life, and despite her oddities and quirks...I almost feel as if I've known her forever.' Usagi stopped herself, blinking in realization. 'If she really is my sister…and people truly are suffering, I cannot let them die!'  Usagi whirled around to face a placid-looking Hinotama, whose gaze had wandered to the family portrait hanging on the wall. She placed a hand on Hinotama's tanned shoulder, and as if awakening from a strange dream, Hinotama's eyes fell upon her.

"Hai?"

"If what you say is true…then show me."  

Hinotama allowed a thin smile to cross her lips and took a small crystal out of her pocket.  "This, my sister, is much like your Silver Crystal.  It is called the Sunfire Crystal.  Like yours, it emits a strong and beautiful light…but without one another they are weak compared to their combined power."  

"Well, let's combine them and get this fiasco over--

"I'm afraid it's not that terribly simple, Usagi. There is a great fight ahead of us…touch the crystal, Usagi.  And then you will see the utter terror that has befallen my world."  Hinotama held out the crystal that now radiated with a strong and pure orange light. It's nearly tropical glow cast dancing shadows of colored light upon the girl's faces.  

"If I do this, Hinotama…I lose everything," Usagi murmured apprehensively, meeting Hinotama's eyes.

"If you don't do this…we lose everything." With that, the odangoed girl knew there was no alternative. Duties or not, her other half needed her help and now she must willingly give it, or all would suffer.  Usagi reached out and softly pressed her fingertips to the Sunfire Crystal's smooth form.  In seconds, a brilliant orange light enveloped the two girls.  After a moment, all that was left behind in the recently-vacated living space were their echoing screams as they hurtled throughout time and space.

*~*~*    

It was so utterly dark…incredibly and inconceivably dark.  It seemed that the world had caved in and died a thousand times over. And the silence--the silence was so thick it seemed to press down on Usagi as she scrambled around furiously searching for light.  Feverishly searching for aid, her nails dug into what might have been the hard, cold, ground. Her nails were splintering beneath the pressure she exerted, trying to claw her way out. It was then, however, that the first human interaction occured.  A hand suddenly latched around her wrist and the blonde let out a blood-curdling scream.  "Shut up or they'll hear you!" Hinotama hissed as she clamped a mouth over her sister's mouth. At that moment Usagi's heart skipped a beat, and she recoiled, though relieved to know that she was not alone.
 
"Hinotama?" Usagi whispered as the girl's hand moved from her lips. Her breathing was shallow and soft, and Usagi shivered. It was rather chilly out...  

"Yes, now be quiet…" came Hinotama's hushed reply, though impatient.

"Where are we?" Usagi exclaimed, that familiar shrill tone entering her statement.

"Are you trying to get us killed?!" Hinotama hissed harder and gave the girl a small slap on the arm.  Usagi shot her a dirty glance that went unnoticed in the pitch black. "You have to be quiet.  We're in my world now…the darkness makes living--much less surviving nearly impossible.  I know you're not used to it, but you have to be absolutely silent until I give you the word...or we're dead!"  

Usagi nearly began to cry, but she bit down upon her lips firmly, suppressing the urge. She was stronger than this.  But it was just so dark and her world was crumbling around her.  This was so awful, and there was nothing she could possibly do to help Hinotama. How could she afterall, in a place where there was no light? There wasn't a single hint of it in this place and the only sound that could be heard was their breathing.  

"Hinotama…I don't like it here," Usagi commented quietly, kneeling and leaning against her sister. "It's horrid."

Usagi felt Hinotama shift uneasily. "This place used to be beautiful, and now it remains little more than a shadowed wasteland.  Be quiet, I hear something coming."  As Hinotama's voice silenced, a clicking sound echoed down the alleyway in which they in. It was hollow, foreboding, and dreadful as it drew closer to them. The sound continued to grow louder as it advanced, bouncing off of the rough alley walls.  Usagi sensed Hinotama moving up and away from her.

"Where are you going?" she inquired softly but shrilly. She balled her hands into fists, tight enough so that she could feel the strain upon her knuckles; it was all she could do to keep from screaming.

"Stay here, I'm going to kill it."  Usagi was about to reply when a roar and then a slow bubbling cry cut off her voice.  There was complete quiet for it seemed an eternity until a tiny flicker of light appeared in Hinotama's hand and cast a slight glow upon them, the dead monstrosity lying on the cold pavement beside her.  

"What did you do?!" Usagi squealed in disgust, hands held before her mouth as she hopped to her feet.

"Saved your life," Hinotama sighed dropping a small stick shaped object to the ground.  The clinking echoed in the alley and slowly faded as it hit the pavement.

"Hinotama-san, what is this?  What was that?!  What is this world?!" Usagi exclaimed, only now becoming painfully aware of the high-pitched ring to her sobs. It was then that she realized just how dire and incredibly hopeless the situation appeared.  A world of infinite darkness…a pitch black accompanied by creatures the likes Usagi had never seen.  It was the dark incarnate of hell.  

Hinotama watched as the lighter in her hand flickered out and she teased at it for a moment, coaxing back its light-filled refuge.  "Usagi, I'm sorry.  But we can stop them; we just have to stay strong.  I know that you wanted a simple life. I know you just wanted to be normal. Yet, you and I have a higher destiny than the one you were prophesied.  Trust me sister, I beg of you," Hinotama whispered as she glanced back at Usagi, her bright eyes like glittering gems before the flame of the lighter.

Usagi nodded silently, and maintaining equilibrium, padded over to her sister and remained close as she peered innocently over Hinotama's shoulder at the fallen creature. "What is that?" she asked quietly. Usagi cursed herself mentally as she fought to steady her shaking limbs.

"The weakest of the demonic inhabitants of this world.  Its name is Scorpia and there are hundreds…possibly thousands like it here.  Too many of my people fell victim to its scorpion-like tail and vicious claws. I feel sick inside when I lay eyes upon one of these things..."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know--

"Ignorance is bliss, Usagi. At least for a time," Hinotama replied quickly, her expression serious.

Another silence ensued and the two could do little more than stare at the fallen monster. It's neck was contorted in a terrible manner and it's stumpy, though claw-endowed legs and feet were stiff. Usagi's eyes drifted and fell upon Hinotama who was glaring daggers at the demon.

"Are there more like them?" Usagi whispered in her characteristic curiosity.

Hinotama nodded. "These demons are very strong and many can only be destroyed by attacking their weakest points. The Scorpia are well-fortified…but in comparison to others…they are the underlings to the supreme demons that have overrun this world.  There are so many types and with so many powers.  I sometimes felt like giving up…but I refuse to lose my world and yours."  Usagi hung her head and blinked away a small tear.  This place was hideous and compared to her own world, Hinotama was right.  Hers was like a walk in the park, but here…it was hell.  

Usagi looked upon it with sullen eyes, observing its immense bodily structure and strong looking limbs.  It was clad in black and shadows and its ruby eyes, that remained opened, had once before glowed--making it a slightly simple target.  The odangoed young woman noticed with wide cerulean eyes its claw-adorned feet that reminded her of enormous, black devil horns.  "How did you kill it?  Why didn't you use your powers?"

"Well," she began simply, that confident air reentering her voice. "I could. But then again, by using my powers--which naturally omit light--I would and will draw other demonic creatures to us and could possibly be responsible for killing the both of us.  I learned quickly while a novice that using my powers would much rather kill me...my worlds last hope...rather than save it."

"So technically using my gift as a senshi would endanger the both of us? You called me out here to tell me that my one power is actually useless?" the blonde responded, now steaming.

"I was lucky the first time I made a mistake, but like us, the demons learn and make good on their lessons. And I refuse to bear the deaths of any more friends on my shoulders," Hinotama spat, whirling about to face her. "If you wish to go home and hide in wait of this hell, be my guest. But I will not risk the lives of those I hold dear to cater to your needs."

"I despise you, you wretched, incompetent drama queen!" Usagi growled, hair waving wildly about behind her. A cold air swept through and tickled her bare legs.

"How many drama queens do you know that slay hell demons?" Hinotama answered simply, a delightful smile on her face. Usagi cringed again, and within she was tearing out her hair while screaming.

'How can she be so ridiculously, furisouly insane?!' Usagi folded her arms and pouted. "I hate you, you do realize that."  

Hinotama nodded solemnly and took Usagi's hand, her expression placid. "I expected you would...after all, I can't imagine how compromising this must be...to have me waltz into your life and drag you here." The blonde was stricken with the serious, compassionate tone of Hinotama's words. Perhaps she wasn't insane, or crazy...maybe Hinotama was simply desperate to save her home world. "I can't force you stay here, but I honestly do not know what will happen if you and I do not unify to end this reign of terror. I sought you out because I knew I could count on you--sister."

Usagi lowered her eyes, ashamed once again. 'Why is it that I can loathe her so much, but be incapable of denying her sincerity?' The blonde finally relented and nodded. "I won't abandon you, or our worlds. But you cannot expect me to fully understand all of this. I want--I mean, I want to know how we defeat them. How do we stop them?  How did you kill that Scorpia thing?" Usagi replied after a bit. Her questions seemed innocent enough.

"Shh, be quiet.  They usually travel together.  More are sure to come.  But I used a special stake, much like the ones people used on vampires way back when.  They thought vampires were bad…they wouldn't last five minutes here."  Hinotama took Usagi's wrist and began to lead her blindly through the darkness to a secluded building that was infested with silence.  A few small hisses echoed from inside.  "Don't be afraid.  I won't let anything happen to you…Sister."  

"Then it is true.  We're sisters," Usagi replied in a hushed whisper as they entered the building and locked the door behind them noiselessly. As far as the quiet Odango Atama could gather, the building they had entered was most likely an old apartment edifice of some sort, possibly a business center. Two blackened halls branched off from their current location, and without hesitation, Hinotama led Usagi through the area in a weave-like fashion.

"This is what I called home for months before I learned about the ways of the creatures and how to fight them. "  Hinotama led Usagi deeper inside the building and down to a basement, deep beneath the surface.  The girls stopped in front of a tarnished steel door, adorned with numerous locks and latches which were most likely manipulated from the inside. "Usagi, I know it's nothing like your home, but its safe here," Hinotama sighed as she waved a hand over the door and commanded the door open as each individual lock unlocked itself with a resonating click. With a dancer's grace and precision, the bright-eyed girl quickly shut the immense door behind them upon their entrance and swiftly relocked it.  

Usagi lifted a hand to her eyes and blinked several times before her eyes could adjust to the intense lighting within the room.  'For once, there are lights in this place,' she thought bitterly.  She continued to scan the room in silence, running a nervous hand through one of her gold streams.  Hinotama meanwhile stood calmly by the door lost in thought.  The blonde took in the area and noticed two uncomfortable looking cots built in on the north wall and a few tables lined up against the east.  They were covered in papers that were in turn covered in text and prints, pictures, and even a few, seemingly archaic books.  On the west wall sat cupboards with food stacked inside and beneath them.  Finally on the south wall was a small wash area with a petite shower hidden behind a large hanging tarp.  The room was decorated in basic grays and a few dashes of blue or slate here and there.  

"Not the Ritz, I know," Hinotama laughed slightly, almost apologetically.  "But it serves its purpose."

Usagi turned and force a smile. "Its fine, Hinotama.  I'm just so sorry that I didn't believe you.  I shouldn't have been so selfish," Usagi answered shamefully.  

"There was a time long ago when I, too, hated who I was.  I wanted nothing to do with helping people or ruling over crowds of naïve and seemingly hateful humans.  They had no idea how hard I worked to make sure they were safe.  Like I said," she went on with a wink, "I know what it's like. So do not be sorry. I just miss the sunlight with everything in my body. I used to thrive in it; I was happy just feeling its warmth upon my face. After all, it was mine," she continued with a small smile.  Hinotama made her way to the nearest cot and slowly sat down.  Her eyes were bright despite the circumstances and they continued to hold that same confident and independent glint.  Her hair was slightly mussed from the previous conflict, but Usagi's sister was beautiful.  Her long wavy hair draped around her in an angelic fashion, softening her strong and fierce personality.  

"Hinotama-san, do you wish you weren't the Princess of the Sun?"

"Do you wish you weren't the Princess of the Moon?"  

The blonde hung her head and flopped down onto the opposite cot, sighing. "Sometimes I thought of it as a curse, until I realized all the good that I could do.  And I hope, Hinotama, that you and I can save our worlds…in the name of our sisterhood."



Chapter 2 revised as of 1/19/2002.