I do not own Sailor Moon. This is my property--enjoy...yeah. ^__^

Falling Stars

Chapter 6

Hinotama grabbed Usagi by the wrist, roughly ripping her back into the safety of the alley shadows. The sisters glanced at one another, the blonde bewildered and the brunette entirely focused.  It was already late and the two girls had begun their assaults upon the hellworld, at least trying to teach Usagi the ins and outs of street battle.  Street battle that is, in Hinotama's world. Usagi, meanwhile glared at her sister with a face that went unnoticed in the dark. The blonde merely knelt, rubbing her wrist and trying to shake off the severity of her sister's grasp.  "Did you have to do that?" Usagi hissed just above a whisper, clutching her arm.

Holding up a hand, the brunette motioned out towards the street, where a pod of Scorpia were now passing by.  There were about six, each walking on all fours in a large spherical formation. Hinotama was right about the connection between their namesake and appearance--they truly resembled scorpions in both their build and their stance. "This is a golden opportunity.  On five you take that small one over there," Hinotama instructed, her eyes locked on the pod.

"Why the smaller ones?  Am I so inexperienced?" Usagi quipped, a bit insulted. Their bright gazes locked.  Hinotama just ran a hand through her long hair and shook her head.

"Do you want to die today, Usagi?"  Her voice was quiet, intense, and sincerely dark; the blonde acquiesced and immediately settled into preparation under her orders. Crouching in cat-like stances, they eyed their prey carefully, awaiting the moment of onslaught. The air was silent with the exception of the low growls emitted by the passing pod. It was then that the two girls, cloaked in shadows, darted out from their haven and launched their attack. The spirited young Hinotama quickly dove into the center of the action and flipped onto the back of a larger Scorpia, quickly impaling it with a knife along its spine. In a ferocious outbreak of surprise, the pod spread out as the remaining creatures prepared to defend themselves. Hinotama leapt off of the back of the fallen demon and spun around to face two of its oncoming kin. With a cry the brunette launched herself at them and swiftly took them down with her skillful Ninjutsu.

Usagi meanwhile took on her aforementioned orders and circled around one of the younger demons carefully.  Its eyes glowed brightly as it studied her, and without warning, the four-legged beast leapt forth and slammed its head into her side, knocking the normally-odangoed young woman to the cold, dirty ground. "HINO!" she screamed in alarm, desperately trying to push the lunging mass away as it hung above her.  The Scorpia dangled its claws over her face and snarled viciously as its tail swung wildly in the air. All the time Usagi could hear a high pitched screech resonating from its mangled mouth, one that was delicately aligned with razor teeth.  With a desperate kick, Usagi managed to force the scorpian-like enigma off of her and to its side; the blonde immediately flipped up onto her feet.  Just regaining her composure, Usagi gulped and staggered back, only to witness another spectacle. Out of nowhere, a flash of movement zoomed past her and into the demon. It seemed that within a span of seconds the demon was no more than a deadened shell. A cloud of dust had been kicked up in the struggle, and as it cleared, Usagi's breath caught in her throat.  

"You have to be more careful, Usa!  You could have gotten hurt!" Hinotama scolded, her eyes narrowed and her expression serious.

"It was an accident, it's not my fault!" the young woman countered, clearly upset. Her blonde hair was a mess now as errant locks streamed out of her tight bun and around her bangs.

"You have to be accountable for your actions--they decide whether or not you live!" Hinotama snapped, walked towards her sister. A filthy wind picked up and rustled her chestnut tresses that fell around her mid-back.

"Don't tell me what to do!"  Usagi exclaimed, eyes flickering as she threw her stake onto the ground. The pod had spread out now, for most of them lay dead on the crumbled pavement--others fled into the eternal night to regroup.  Now only the girls remained in the midst of the obliterated street.

"You don't know this place, Usagi!  You could have very well died!  You are no match for these creatures without your Moon powers; now you must master my skills.  We have no choice but to fight and to destroy these pitiful excuse for a dynasty.  Or else our universe is lost!" Hinotama shot back, her body still and disciplined.

"Everything is about your world, isn't it?" Usagi replied, clenching her fists. "All you talk about is how my actions affect my life--how one wrong step could end my life. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were making this up just to keep me here--so you wouldn't have to suffer alone!" Hinotama stared at her and laughed.

"Oh, why, yes, Usagi! Of course, I've concocted this entire hell before us," Hinotama spat, motioning to the world around them. "I condemned my friends and family--including the world--just so I could have a playmate. God! Do you ever think for one minute about anyone but yourself?"

"You treat me like a child--

"That's all you are here! A child--a spoiled, sheltered child that spends her time thinking about boys and clothing. I can't believe I thought you be of any help--"

"You'd never understand what I've been through. No one possibly could, I can't believe I expected that you of all people would," Usagi stammered, now faltering. "Will you just back off, I was the Moon Princess.  I will become a Neo-

Suddenly Hinotama averted her gaze. "No, Usa," she interrupted, her voice low as her eyes purposely avoided Usagi's.  "You will never become Neo-Queen Selenity.  Not in this world, never here.  Usagi, you will not live the life you were destined to fulfill.  This is your destiny now.  I am willing to die for this miserable planet...I don't even know if I can even call it that.  But you have to stop pushing around your old life, because here...it doesn't amount to anything." Hinotama's wide eyes closed for a moment, and it seemed she was holding back tears. But Usagi, however, who had remained silent, could no longer contain fury.

"How dare you?  You arrogant, backstabbing Princess!  You ripped me from my happy life, and stick me in this hell hole, expecting me to let go of my dreams and my friends!  Then you lecture my about how self-centered and cruel I am!  Your heart is empty and cold...your life revolves around a world that is no longer. You are most certainly NOT my sister!" Usagi closed her eyes, and folded her arms indignantly.  

Within seconds, a flash of pain radiated throughout her left cheek, and touching a hand to it, Usagi realized she'd just been slapped.  "Tsukino Usagi, you are still the same selfish, sheltered, and hopeless Princess you were known to be in the Silver Millennium.  And do NOT tell me how I ripped you away from your friends and family!  Be thankful your friends are alive!  My friends, my family, my mother...my siblings...my boyfriend...everyone I have ever loved is dead.  I can thank the overlords for that.  But do not claim to be so pious and completely self-righteous.  You understand peril and pain and suffering--like I. But how can you say such things, when I know for a fact that you were planning to leave the Sailor Senshi to head out on your own in another country?!" Hinotama screamed, ignoring the fact that her yells made them more vulnerable to attack.  Her brilliant eyes were smoldering, her lips frozen in their enraged snarl.  

"I--Usagi stopped short, utterly stunned. Words would not form upon her trembling lips, for she had nothing to say; her statement about leaving the Senshi was true...her motives...her claims...all made for herself.  The blonde gingerly touched her cheek and hung her head.  Tears welled up within her wide blue eyes and shamefully she lifted her guilt and sincerity-filled gaze. Her lips parted to speak, but her words were quelled as a sudden, horrified scream escaped her sister's lips.

"USA!  Look out!" she shrieked, eyes like saucers. In what seemed like a nano-second, a demonic monstrosity rose behind Usagi, it's scorpion-tail poised and about to plunge through her back. Instantaneously, Hinotama shot forwards and latched her arms around Usagi's waist, ripping her to the ground and knocking her to the side.

The rabbit let out a high-pitched cry as she tumbled through the rubble, sliding this way and that from the force of her sister's momentous toss. The blonde landed on her side against a large, overturned rock, her arms outstretched and her legs curled behind her. The air was silent, and Usagi could hear nothing but the furious pounding of her heart.

"Hinotama?" she inquired in a desperately soft call. No reply. With her stomach against the rock, Usagi lifted her torso up with her arms. "Hino-chan!  Hinotama, onegai! Where are you!" Again, no reply came. Immediately filled with worry, the young woman flipped onto her back and slid down off of the rock and onto the ground. She scanned the massive rubble for any sign of her sister, and her eyes settled on the large crumpled corpse of the fallen demon.  Its life had faded with the aid of Hinotama's reactions and lightening quick attacks. Usagi took a few cautious steps through the rocks, her eyes narrowing in frustration. "Hinotama?" The blonde's blue eyes finally fell upon another form, one that was curled on its side, and completely silent. "HINO!"   

In a burst of speed, Usagi went to her sister's side and flung herself onto her knees. She gripped Hinotama by the shoulders and shook her gently. "Wake up, please wake up!" Usagi begged, her voice strained.

But it was to no avail.  The filthy air whipped Hinotama's hair about, settling errant strands over her closed eyes. The trembling young woman gently pushed them away, all the while desperately shaking Hinotama in an attempt to wake her.  A now crying Usagi moved Hinotama's rich hair to the side and slid her arm around the fallen girl's waist, hoping to hoist her injured sister in sitting position.  Suddenly Usagi's hand was engulfed in a strange warmth. She let out a terrified scream, realizing that her hand was covered in a red, sticky substance.  Eyes wide, body shaking, and her screams echoing on the dry, musty air, Usagi discovered that it was not her own blood...but her sister's.  


Chapter 6 revised as of 1/21/2002.