Standard disclaimers apply..........do you have any idea how sick of repeating this I am? lol enjoy!



Falling Stars

Chapter 17


Usagi felt the chain-link fence dig into her back upon impact, and with a painful cry she slumped to the ground, blonde hair sweeping into her eyes as her head hung forward. Apparently the Viperion's tail-lash was stronger than she had expected. When it slammed into her abdomen, she flew backwards a considerable amount and was tossed against a rusty old gating that protruded from amongst the rubble. "Cody, look out!" she screamed suddenly, her eyes flashing wide open as she noticed a stray flicker of movement to the left of their position.

The golden-haired young man turned on his heel just in time to duck beneath an oncoming, airborne assault. His bright green eyes flashed relief as he rolled away from the Viperion, simultaneously whipping out and prepping a large rifle. With two effortless shots, Cody watched in slight satisfaction as the snake-demon sagged to the ground, its eyes bulging. "Usagi!" he exclaimed, rushing to her side and pulling her to her feet, the rifle dropping to the ground. "Are you all right?"

She forced a nod, shaking away another wave of dizziness. 'Hinotama...'

"A little help here!" Jerrid's voice echoed in a near growl as he struggled beneath a Morpha. The cat arched its back and drove its jaws down into the ground, narrowly missing Jerrid's throat. With a might shout, he threw a few forceful punches that gouged the cat in the eyes and landed conveniently beneath its jaw. With a high-pitched shriek it backed away, yelping.

Usagi, seeing this window of opportunity, seized it. She launched herself away from Cody's supporting arm and slid into a fluid flip, her feet coming down upon the cat's back. Immediately as the cat sensed her presence, its head swiveled about, desperately trying to snap at her. Usagi on the other hand, landed perfectly, holding her balance. The two men watched in amazement as she kept her stance over the enormous beast, and prepared to aid her at any time.

"Usagi! Look out!" Jerrid shouted, pounding his fist against a rock. He couldn't let everyone he cared for die...especially not Hinotama. If anything happened to her he'd--

"Hino!" Usagi screamed in rage, and tore the lengthy, silver blade from her boot. With a cry, she lifted it above her head and then drove it down into the creature's spine. Cody and Jerrid watched from the ground in near horror, viewing the golden haired angel not as a savior---not the Messiah---but a hateful overlord, much like the ones they fought. She'd never done something with such vengeance...spilled blood with such rage--hate. Usagi was nearly ashamed as she rolled away from the slumping beast, the blade back in her grip once again. She sat for a moment, staring out at nothing with her reddened eyes. Cross-legged, she sat and lifted the blade to her eye-level, gazing at it despondently. Tilting her head back and forth, messy ponytail swinging side to side, Usagi could feel her heart burning again. Within moments her sanity faded and the light left her soul. In the name of her love for family and friends, the life within her died. The good fight she once upheld had become a bloody battle for survival. Ethics, morality, and darkness melded together into one blurry vision that obscured the very light her soul once bore with truth and hope. What hope--what truth? Just then she could no longer blame Hinotama for being so bloodthirsty, wild, but ever-passionate. "I can't do this."

"What?" Cody and Jerrid went to her side, each taking a gentle hold of her upper arms. They attempted to lift her to her feet, but rather than complying, Usagi remained stubborn and kept herself firmly in place. "Usagi-san, we have to keep going."

Her cerulean gaze lifted to Cody's and a sad glint filled her eyes. Usagi simply shook her head, then resembling a lost and bewildered psych-war patient. She wrapped her arms around her self and turned her stare away from the boys. "I can't."

"You have to," Jerrid spat suddenly, kneeling before her. "You don't have a choice." His tone was cold and hard, and immediately the other two individuals realized what an impact it had. Usagi reverted from her strong, forthright attitude back to one of pain, fear, and self-consciousness.

"I've always been Fate's puppet..." she replied, repeating her statement from earlier. A gleam of pain suddenly flickered in her eyes as her chest gave in to the intense burning once again. Cody sensed it and reached out to support her. "I can't save you---I don't know how. They taught me that hate would only bring more darkness...and I fear that the apocalypse will be a product of my own emotions."

"You can't give in, Usagi. That's what they want...they need for you to give up--let go of what is true. We love you, and Hinotama needs you. Don't lose sight of that...don't lose sight of those you left back home. They need you as much as we do...because if we fail here, the rest of the universe will suffer our plight as well. Please, Usagi-hime, Lady of the Moon. Messiah, as they call you. If not for us, then for them," Cody insisted, his brilliant green gaze burning holes in Usagi.

He was right and Usagi knew it. How could she be so selfish? What ever would Mother think of her? A daughter of royalty tossing away her gift, her beliefs. Why? Because she was afraid of change, afraid to truly instill hope? Hadn't she spent her years trying to do just that?

The blonde faltered for a moment, dragging in a deep breath and releasing it through a soft sigh. She glanced at the blade and suddenly flung it away into the rubble with a sad expression. The blood...how could she have drawn blood? "Mamoru..." she whispered, her gaze on the very rubble she sat upon, eyes suddenly welling up with tears. "Rei, Ami, Makoto...Minako. Hinotama..."

"Your beloved...and your senshi?" Cody inquired, his voice all-knowing but comforting. Usagi nodded and she glanced down at herself, disgusted. Blood stained her black pants and her solid-hued tank-top was torn at one of the hems.

"They don't know that I'm gone..." she murmured, her thoughts immediately leaving behind the present scenario. She watched herself reappear within the arms of her dear Mamo-chan, the girls gathered around them smiling. She found herself in a world where hate did no exist. There was no pain. There wasn't any sorrow. Life was simple and perfect. Suffering was something they had long-forgotten, something they deserved to allow their minds to lose entirely. Usagi nearly began to hate Hinotama just then, furious that she was no suffering again. Her entire life was shrouded in anger, immersed in pain. Hadn't she suffered enough already? "I don't want to lose them again. Not like this," she continued, shaking her head vigorously as she returned to reality. The men before her were a bit bewildered as her gaze suddenly trailed up to Jerrid, locking on him with a hateful stare. "Why couldn't you just tell her?"

"What?" he stammered, brow furrowed.

"Why couldn't you just tell her that you love her?" Usagi shouted, jumping to her feet and launching herself at Jerrid. Eyes wide with fright, the men flew backwards as the golden-haired princess tore him to the ground. Her raging blue gaze radiated of hatred, jealousy, fear, and shame. "She's going to die and she'll never know how much you love her! I've lost everyone I've ever loved a thousand times over...and I don't want her to endure the same fate! Not again!"

Jerrid beneath her just stared at her, his amber eyes wide and his mouth gaping as she continued on her tangent. Straddling him against the ground, Usagi drew back a fist and prepared to rocket it forth against the silent man's cheek--until Cody grabbed her by the waist and pulled her away. "Snap out of it, Usagi! You can't go crazy on us--not now!" Cody demanded, his tone losing its comforting appeal. His touch rough and harsh now, he spun her around to face him, eyes blazing. "You cannot do this to us! Usagi! What is wrong with you? Look at me!"

But she wouldn't--couldn't. Her eyes had gone blank and were filled with a dark, sinking emptiness. The blonde-haired young man could merely stare at her, his lips slightly parted as she shook her gently. The Messiah's eyes were wide open, but completely empty. Where life and love had flourished moments before, a cold and penetrating dull ice now resided.

"Cody?" Jerrid murmured, sitting up and still slightly shaken. He ran a hand through his unruly midnight night and blinked his eyes as if adjusting to an abrupt, brilliant flash of light.

"Something's wrong with her--it's like she's not even here," the other man replied hurriedly, his tone full of concern and worry as he glanced back over his shoulder. With a grunt, Jerrid bolted over towards the young woman and took a firm grip on her shoulders.

"Usagi! Wake up!" he shouted, eyes narrowed and angry. He couldn't let her leave, not his beloved's sister. Usagi, though impulsive and often times finding herself in an opposing position to Jerrid, had struck a connection and forged a friendly bond with him. She was one of the few friends he still had--left alive. What would happen to Hino if her sister lost her life? It would drive her insane, that's what--if she hadn't already lost her mind. "Don't leave her to die!"

Cody placed an arm on Jerrid's shoulder suddenly, and the dark-haired man's calls slowly ceased. Jerrid's eyes of sharp amber bore into Cody's emerald, which were now soft, quiet and sad. "Jerrid--

"What's wrong with you? We can't just leave her like this!" Jerrid spat, glaring at him. He moved away from the other man's hand, rolling it off of his shoulder.

The blonde's brilliant eyes flickered as they fell on Usagi and he shook his head ruefully. She looks like a beautiful porcelain doll who sat forlornly upon a darkened shelf. "Jerrid...Usagi isn't here." Jerrid's eyes could only widen like saucers and glance back and forth between the two individuals before him. In a state of quiet delirium, the midnight-haired man gently sat back and away from the girl, watching her intently.

Sitting somewhat Indian-style, hair flying everywhere, Usagi gazed darkly out into nothingness, leaning slightly forwards. "She's like a shell," Jerrid remarked, lowering his head. He'd by now been moved to tears as he watched the golden-haired Princess crumble. Her stare was so empty, so lost--and there was nothing there. Only her flawless, beautiful body remained. Where the lively, bubbling soul had gone to, however, neither man could tell.

Both young men glanced at one another, their eyes dark and ringed with sleep. "I've always been Fate's puppet..." Jerrid said quietly, averting his teary stare from Cody. At this moment he felt like the biggest fool in the world.

"What are you talking about?" the blonde inquired, confusion evident from his expression.

"She keeps repeating that phrase," Jerrid replied, now meeting Cody's eyes, voice nearly hysterical. "And every time she does, it's like her entire facade of hope and strength literally melts away and reveals a shaking, faithless child lost in the unforgiving cold. Her voice can open you up and expose your every wound and force them under the light whether or not you want to. All she has to do is blink her eyes and your entire world crumbles. She's the Messiah...she's what we've hoped for. She truly is our savior's sister. And she's right about me...about all of us."

"All of us?"

"I love Hinotama, and I could never bring myself to tell her...because I'm a coward. And this girl knew it all from that start. Damn you, Usagi," Jerrid said with a lopsided smile, smirking at the despondent princess.

"She's never been just a girl. Usagi had to grow up faster than she should have...just like us. We were all exposed to things teenagers should never know, never feel, never have to understand. Look at you and me, Jerrid. Military leaders. Hunters. Killers. We're all lost and wandering around this barren wasteland we call life. Don't you see, it's Hinotama and Usagi that wear our wounds, that carry our shame. They are the true beings...they live for our salvation. We don't have purpose without them to defend and to care for. They are life's light. The two young women who bear the weight of the worlds on their shoulders without complaint, who defend their friends and family to the death--selflessly. Twin flames dancing amongst the dark rubble of hell...they are hope of the universe." Cody fell silent for a moment, both men watching Usagi intently.

"Where...where do you think she is?" Jerrid said in a hushed tone after a few minutes, clearing his choked voice. Their gazes returned to the beautiful young princess who sat before them. She remained completely still and so still that she nearly seemed to stopped breathing altogether. Usagi truly was a shell without a soul, silent and empty. Her brilliant blue eyes had faded to a dull sapphire, the light and the life truly absent. Pale, nearly sheet white, she sat motionless and gazing out at nothing. Cody had by now pulled her into his arms, gently resting her head back against his leg as his arm supported her back. Her expression was blank--much like her eyes--and conveyed a loss so grave that not even words or time itself could describe. Both men knew that Usagi was somewhere else, visiting another time and place perhaps.

But wherever she was...

"I really wish I knew," Cody murmured forlornly, his eyes rising to meet the churning, bloody skies above.

...time seemed to slow with her leave.


*~*~*

The delicate tinkling of chimes soon began to the fill the air of the tranquil, pastel-hued bedroom. It was immense in size, bathed in lively colors such as coral, baby blue, sea-foam green, and sunshine yellow save for the pure white bedspread and the matching curtains that draped to the floor from the three gallery windows. The walls, as equally white, seemed to glow in the warmth of the summer mid-afternoon. Through such windows that graced three of the four bedroom walls, a view far more spectacular than any majestic wonder could be viewed. A gentle, softly salted breeze danced in through the mahogany-framed doorway whose actual door was left wide open, oscillating with the movement of air. It was at this moment that such a strange scent tickled Usagi's nose, drawing her back to the world of the waking.

A ray of brilliant sunshine had fallen onto her flawless, tanned face and her crystal clear eyes blinked at the light adjustment. Blonde hair rolled up perfectly into her trademark odangoes and sweeping pigtails slung over her body, Usagi glanced about herself in confusion and slowly sat up. Her eyes fell upon the gallery window directly across from the enormous, feather-soft white bed and immediately her breath caught in her throat.

She had never seen such a beautiful thing before in her entire life. Miles and miles of glistening, Prussian ocean waters reached back to the horizon where the glorious summer sun beat down upon the waves--evoking a shine of diamonds. Glittering white sand stretched parallel to the glistening beauty, the waters lapping against its shores. Like a ball of hopeful light breathing life into every object its rays caressed, the sun shone with a magnificence that a mortal should never have the privilege of knowing. As if her ability to speak had been stolen, Usagi swung her legs over the side of great bed, allowing her wide eyes to scan the entire room. It soon became evident to her that she had awaken in Paradise.

The room in which she had risen resembled a small beach house rather than a bedroom. An enormous gallery window graced the north, east, and west walls of the room--based upon Usagi's position on the bed. Two doors, both framed with a gorgeous mahogany luster, were situated opposite one another, one at the west wall, and the other at the east. A large white fan, adorned with brass fixtures, spun on the ceiling above, circulating the intoxicating scent of the ocean. No longer did the burning of Usagi's heart impose itself and she soon came to realize that she was truly in heaven, in paradise...and for the first time in quite a while, she truly felt alive.

Sliding down from the bed, the moon rabbit padded across the wood-paneled floor, pleasantly surprised to find it creak-free. Upon reaching the north window, she placed a finger to the smooth, perfect panes and sighed. A few swaying palm trees graced that stretch of sand, but not a thing she could see in such a place could compare to the splendorous ocean before her. Another flash of sunlight blinded her for a moment, and in that instant her reflection was caught in the panes. A wondrous glow warmed her cheeks and her eyes had never been so bright. No longer was she clothed in darkness, but rather in a silken, lavender paisley sundress. Usagi immediately tore her fingertips from the panes and stepped back, whirling around to study her surroundings further. The bed was literally covered in pastel-colored pillows, those of sunny yellows catching her attention the most. Everything was so bright and happy; nothing could darken such a heavenly place.

The feeling of being alone suddenly crept up and jumped at Usagi, slightly unnerving her. The warmth of the sunlight on her back as it poured through the window behind her, however, beckoned for her to rejoin the safe, glistening haven. Her focus turned from the literally dreamlike bedroom, and she stepped out of the house through the west door, carefully guiding herself down to the shining sand. A look of euphoria resided in Usagi's expression as her toes sunk into the sand. Reveling in the strange, but welcomed sensation, Usagi continued away from the house, journeying beneath the shade of a tall palm towards the shores. The sweet scent of salt again rushed up to meet her and immediately her senses were enlightened. Within the vast expanse of ocean before her, each wave grumbled with a hushed, carefree roar as it raced towards the sands, suddenly breaking with a whisper upon reaching the desired destination. The blonde again sighed and leaned back against rough bark of the palm tree.

She closed her cerulean eyes for a moment and allowed a joyous smile to dance upon her full pink lips. Another breeze played with the knee-length hems of her sundress, twirling also about her ankles. The somehow-familiar, twinkling of chimes suddenly became to fill her ears, and Usagi's eyes flickered open once again. A brilliant, almost blinding light had appeared upon the sand beneath the gleaming sun and for a moment that's all the young woman thought it to be. As her eyes studied such an appearance longer, Usagi soon began to realize that it was not the sand, but a form...a figure. A person. Her thoughts reeled and Mamoru came to mind. As if for the first time finding her voice, Usagi cried out and ventured forth with a brief sprint, only to stop short to realize that it was not her beloved but someone--or perhaps something--else. The brilliant gleam that had once filled her eyes quickly faded as she realized Mamoru was to be found. At precisely that moment, however, the blinding glow of the form too began to fade, and in its place remained a woman, most likely a few years older than Usagi herself.

She did not speak, but merely smiled at a bewildered Usagi, still nearly glowing beneath the intense sunshine. A gown of pale peach draped around her slim, lithe form and was cut just above her knees exposing her long, tanned legs. Her feet, bare even against the scorching sand that was not in the shade, seemed to suffer far less than Usagi's. Wincing, the blonde kept her eyes locked on the form, who still did not speak.

"This is Paradise, is it not?" Usagi questioned both herself and the form suddenly. Another, stronger wind kicked up and whipped Usagi's golden streams all about.

The form merely smiled once again and blinked her large, but gorgeous sapphire eyes that were highlighted by distinct, sparkling crimson slits. Her rich auburn hair fell to her mid-back, and the top was twisted up into an intricate braid. Strands of thin, sparkling gold material were woven into her tresses, reflecting the light from above. The rest of her luxurious locks hung loose and swayed on the ocean breeze. "Paradise...yes. But life is not a Paradise...therefore we cannot truly live," the woman finally spoke with a little laugh.

"For a moment I was afraid you were mute," Usagi quipped cutely, nearly taken aback.

The woman shook her head and laughed again. "A firecracker...like your sister Hinotama I see."

Usagi stopped cold. "My sister. Hinotama." The blonde's thoughts of peace and happiness immediately faded and were tossed into the hellish flames of reality. She wasn't truly living this joy...it was another dream. Another apparition. "How do you know her? Why am I here?"

The woman suddenly grew quiet and she motioned towards the ocean and the beauty that surrounded them by sweeping her arm out to her side. "This is what she loved---what she knew before the Dark Ones penetrated the happiness on which she had built this world," she explained, multihued eyes flickering. "This is what they stole...and this is what Hino-hime fights to restore for her people."

Usagi gasped and put a hand to her mouth. Hinotama truly had experienced Paradise...no wonder she was so kamikaze about destroying the Dark Lords. "I'm so ashamed...I awoke in this beautiful world and tried to suppress my obligation to her. No--not an obligation, my desire to help my sister and her friends. They're like family to me...and I saw this haven and just wanted to forget...forget everything."

The woman shook her head and stepped towards Usagi, eyes dancing. "It is not your fault Princess Selenity. Tsukino Usagi. The circumstances are great...no one with a heart can be expected to truly endure such a pain-filled world. After all, the weak will merely lose their minds and fall to the darkness."

"What about Hinotama?" the blonde suddenly exclaimed, enraged at this strange woman. "She's going crazy trying to endure, trying to understand, and trying to fight back. Her beloved, her senshi, her friends...they all died. All she wants is to save what she has left and to rebuild! She is set on giving her life to save those left alive...including me and my world. I've been so selfish and nothing I do can ever compare to what she has. I came here hating my own sister, loathing her for the fact that she had to drag me out of my own happy life. Which in the meantime was already troubled and brimming with anger. I hated my duties...I hated my life and my purpose. And I wanted to dismiss those who had once filled with me light and gave my spirit wings. But Hinotama's heart is one of pure, genuine gold. And she wants nothing more than to defeat the darkness and selflessly she will even sacrifice herself alone to do it! And I will be damned if I stand by and allow you to slander my sister!"

Clearly impressed and wearing a pleased smile, the woman bent down one knee, eyes sparkling, and bowed to Usagi--who meanwhile remained entirely confused and befuddled. "Princess Selenity, Messiah of the Moon...my name is Kasumi. I serve Princess Hinotama of the Sun."

The name struck a cord within Usagi and immediately she remembered. "Kasumi...Hino's lost senshi," she breathed, completely humiliated. "I had no idea, I'm so sorry...I--

"Usagi-san. Please do not trouble yourself. Your love for your sister is a great thing and has established a deep bond, and it will be the source of your strength. But now, she needs you more than anything else. Without her, light cannot exist. The both of you maintain the balance of the universe, and if one half is fallen...the worlds will crumble. Hinotama was like a sister to all of us, the other senshi and myself. We're watching over her, every moment. But we cannot help her anymore...as much as we love her...she needs her true sister."

"Tell me how to help, Kasumi-san. Tell me how to save my sister," Usagi replied quickly, her eyes wide and tone serious as she pressed a fist to her chest. Her heavenly state abandoned for a reality within sur-reality, Usagi knew that the time had come. But she would gladly give up such a luxury if it meant saving her sister...her celestial twin. They needed her...Hino needed her. And this time, nothing would stand in her way.