Chapter 7: A Woman in the Shadows? Little Brothers to the Rescue!
Emerald's entire body stiffened, hatred and malice flooding thru her veins as she watched from her shadowy perch within the great and darkened hall. Brooding and boiling in a stew of her own dark emotions, the jade general stood silently as a tearful Usagi tore out of Diamond's room and down the passage, until her trembling image was finally swallowed into nothingness.
"Horrid little wretch." The woman snarled after the princess' wailing figure, her normally soprano tone saturated with emotion gravel. "You cloud my Diamond's eyes from the truth-from me! I won't forgive you for that.ever."
"Are you *still* here Emerald?" A fiery masculine voice drawled from behind the startled general with an obviously bored sigh. "You're like a vulture, the way you constantly hover around the Princes' room!" Like an angered snake, Emerald's head whipped around, spraying her sea foam colored hair about her as if it was the open hood of a king cobra. Her venomous hiss was low and dangerous.
"Rubius! What are you doing here?!"
The tall, gently tanned man flashed a pearl white smile, his deep violet eyes dancing in the muted illumination given off by one of the many highly ornate crystal lamps lining the halls. He chuckled as his wild flame colored hair bounced faintly, the look he gave Emerald one of great amusement.
"I believe I asked you that question first, more or less." He grinned insanely, leaning up against the wall next to her, arms akimbo. "Aren't you happy to see lil' ol' me?"
"No."
Although that was exactly the answer he was expecting, Rubius' smile quickly melted into the perfect child-liked pout.
"Why, Emerald dear! I thought we were friends! After all, we have been working together for-how many years has it been now?" He frowned, calculating the passed time in his head before stating absentmindedly. "Four? Five?"
"Seven, Rubius. It's been seven hellish years that I've spent near you, all of them wasted!" She spat, her pine green eyes glittering maliciously as she watched him, filling the air between them with a heavyset tension. She scowled as she saw that even if her fellow general noticed the moods emanating from her, he sure as hell didn't let it show, let alone bother him.
"Seven is it?" The fiery redhead replied, a look of realization spreading across his grinning face like a starving wildfire devouring drought stricken grasslands. "Well I'll be! Time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it Emerald?"
Emerald's answer was far less than chipper, as she stood with her back towards him, staring intently into the darkness of the hall, a crackling fire of her own burning within her jealousy engulfed gaze.
"Speak for yourself, you flaming idiot."
Rubius frowned, as it was obvious to him that a certain someone was in a very bad mood.
"What's the matter Emerald?" He cooed tauntingly, scooting around to catch her grassy glare. "PMS? Menopause?"
His concern was rewarded with silence as he watched her quivering back, and that wasn't the result he was prodding her for. 'What do I have to do to get a rise out of her?' Rubius conspired within his mind, determined to cause some mischief. It was then that he followed Emerald's flat and intent look down the passage with his own deep and striking violet one.
He blinked and stared. Then, cocking his head to one side as if that could somehow make him see what he could not, he stared and blinked yet again. There was nothing. Emerald, one of the most respected and well- trained Generals of the entire Black Moon Kingdom was glaring at the dark. 'Oh my!' The man giggled insanely to himself, like the Mad Hatter at his bizarre tea parties. 'Emerald dear has gone stark raving mad-what fun!' Gaining a hold of his runaway thoughts though, Rubius pulled the frayed ends of his amused psyche together, lastly mumbling, "Well, I might as well give the old girl the benefit of the doubt."
The general was beginning to loose his patience with this green- haired woman as they both stared into nothingness. He stood there, trying not to fidget out of sheer boredom, but unfortunately, boredom seemed to be winning. Then suddenly and unexpectedly, Rubius heard something, and by the way Emerald twitched when the sound hit them, he was clear that she had heard it as well. Leaning a flame colored head closer to the source, he listened intently as the waves rolled over him again.
It was the very last echoes of a pitiful wail from the Princess that their Prince was so enthralled with. Usagi, to Rubius, clearly sounded despaired, but that was beside the point. Emerald, the old girl, was jealous!
A sly, trickster grin spreading across his face, Rubius took one large step, planting himself in front of a wrathful lady, her anger giving her the air of a seething dragon, fangs gnashing and flame shooting out her nostrils.
"You're jealous, aren't you?" He stated with quiet excitement, as if he were nine-year-old just told that he was going to the amusement park. "You're jealous of Usagi because you're in love with Diamond, and he doesn't want you! He wants *her*!"
"Still your tongue, Rubius, or you may just find it tacked to the nearest marble pillar." Emerald growled warningly, her sharp pine green glare snapping and fixing upon him instantly.
"Oh, honestly Emerald! Don't get testy with me just because you're 'green' with envy!" As soon as those words left his very lips, the red General broke into wild fits of laughter, his mad peals of jollity rebounding and echoing down the empty halls. "'Green' with envy? Get it?" He snorted, trying to regain his composure, but only ending up laughing harder than ever. Rubius leaned against the cool wall, his bare chest heaving and jerking with every gasp for breath he sucked in, a pleasant smile curled coyly on his flustered face. "Hoo-boy, I just crack myself up.whoo."
"Me? Jealous of *that* girl?"
"Yes, Emerald dear, that's what I said. Are you going deaf now, too?"
The jade clad woman stood firmly, her entire body now trembling and livid with hatred and spite for all those who stood in her way.
"You, Rubius, will die." She snarled and snapped, inching her red tinged face closer, and dangerously closer to the man's cheerily plastered own. "You will die a terrible death, burning in the fiery pits of the seven hells!"
"Ooooh, sorry!" Rubius replied mockingly, looking the proverbial gift horse in the mouth. "Been there, done that! And if I remember correctly, it was *you*" He poked her lightly powered nose with a lengthy and elegantly tanned finger. "Who did it, and left me there to die!"
For 'Miss Emerald', that was the last straw.
"Why you-!!" She shrieked madly as she swung at him, her attempts at landing a blow upon Rubius' fair toned body failing miserably. He slipped and stepped back gracefully, dodging and dancing out of the way, the same Cheshire cat grin strewn carelessly across his face. He obviously did not have any fears of a sudden and overtly painful death.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, little Miss Emerald!" He cried, as she paused to catch her breath from all the frantic and unsuccessful attacking she had just partaken in. "You've become slow! No wonder the Prince has no interest in you!" Rubius laughed as he dug his hands into his pockets and swiveled around on his black booted heal. Turning his head just once more to make sure he caught the seething lady's eye, he winked as he commented with a cackle, "You've gotten old, Dearie!"
Just as the realization of been called an old maid dawned on Emerald, her eyes flashing irately, lightning sparking and striking in her glance, the Ruby General had vanished. The only evidence of his presence was his wild and insane laughter, which rung and rattled, still hanging in the thick and heavy atmosphere.
"You'll be sorry, all of you." The grip on the woman's pink- feathered fan grew tight enough to pierce her skin, thin trails of dark blood staining her deep Amazon colored gloves like maroon veins. "I will conquer that petty wench they call the Princess of the Moon, and become Diamond's true queen.then we'll see you begging for mercy, Rubius.my mercy."
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"Hey Ami?" Rei's voice emerged through the static of the communicator, sounding tired, but determined. Another two weeks had gone by, and the search by the police had been thankfully, given up. The Sailor Senshi could now work freely, undaunted and hindered by the useless and cumbersome police force of Tokyo.
"Hmmmm?"
"Have you found anything yet? Anything at all?"
Ami shook her head stiffly, her short blue tresses bouncing in rhythm to her response. She watched the tiny image of Hino Rei sag on the screen, her aqua blue eyes deeply intent and set with one goal-to find Usagi-chan.
"No, I'm sorry Rei. Not a thing yet. What about you and the others? Anything at the library?"
It was Rei's turn to disappoint now. The Soldier of Mars was at a library 30 miles away, looking for anything they could find that could lead them back to their stolen princess. All of the resources in Juuban and the nearby districts had been thoroughly exhausted, including the human resources that had to be paid under the table just so that they would relinquish any false leads that they had.
"No, and I've already talked to the others. They haven't found any leads either. We'll just have to keep looking, I guess."
"Right."
An awkward silence spanned for a moment, both Ami and Rei knowing that hope for them was growing dimmer and dimmer with each passing day. Diamond had hidden Usagi far too well.
"Um, Rei-chan?" Ami's hesitant voice cracked and broke away at the absence of sound. "What is Mamoru do-um, how is he holding up?"
The raven-haired girl sighed and shrugged simultaneously. "He's taken it pretty hard Ami, you know that.he seems lost in a different world." She sighed. "I can't explain it."
"Okay, alright. I understand." Sailor Mercury nodded knowingly. "Well Rei, I had better get back to work, see if something turns up."
Ami turned up towards the heavens, the birds singing merrily and the sun shinning as bright as ever. She frowned up at it all, as she shielded her eyes from the strong light with an open hand. 'Don't you know your Princess is gone?' She thought achingly. 'How can you all be so happy when everything in the galaxy is so wrong?'
But nothing in the universe suddenly stopped. The birds kept on belting out their tunes to the world around, and the sun just seemed to glare right back at her. Ami sighed aloud as she turned back to the snowy image of Rei.
"Yeah, I'll get back to doing what needs to be done too. Oh, and-uh, Ami?"
"What?"
"Good luck, and, um. Gods speed. If there is anyone out us who can find what we need, it's you."
The Soldier of Mercury smiled at her dear friend half-heartedly, but it was as warmly as she could.
"Thanks Rei-chan, the same to you. Good-bye."
"Bye."
*Click* TRANSMISSION ENDED *Bleep* SEARCH MODE RESUMED *Blip*
The princess of Mercury sat all alone on a dull and weathered red park bench, hunched over her tiny blue computer with the symbol of Mercury emblazed on its gentle blue and glossy cover. The breeze blew softly around her, the wind whispering and gossiping among the branches and leaves of the trees. Ami glared sternly at the screen, tapping away like mad, trying to make heads and tails of all the fractured facts and blatant lies everyone had collected, and so far, she was having no luck.
"Why can't I find you?" Ami questioned aloud, completely unaware of the dark-haired stranger that had somehow come up and sat down beside her. It was almost as if this woman had just appeared where she had, for there was no sound of footsteps or twigs cracking, nothing.
"Looking for something, Miss?"
The Soldier of Mercury's head snapped up with a wicked start, her widened blue eyes flying to the source of the voice.
"What?!" She cried in a startled alarm, quickly pressing and covering her computer screen against her chest, attempting to hide its contents from the world. Then Ami turned to confront the person so rude as to sneak up on her like that, but froze. "Oh." Was all she could murmur as she stared at the young woman who made all of her intuitions call out in panic, pleading for the body to run.
Black hair, the color of the empty depths of space, cropped short and gently flipped up at the ends, framed the pale crème features of her face. The sweep of her hairstyle caused one eye to be near completely covered.like the famously beautiful and equally dangerous female spies of movies from so long ago. But it wasn't the stranger's unusual whitish face that made the senses in the Soldier of Mercury so uneasy; it was the eyes. The woman's eyes were red.a deep fathomless crimson that whispered of untold secrets, deadly games of insanity. and worst of all, a primordial fear.
"Miss? Are you looking for something?" The girl repeated again, her waxy pink lips pulled into a childishly sweet grin, as her scarlet gaze seemed to penetrate Ami's own. The dark-haired woman's smile spanned even larger when she noticed Mercury's computer.
"You seem to be playing a game." The question floated into the space between them, where it hung alone for a few seconds. "I like to play games.I like them very much." Her ruby eyes flashed a teasing glance. "Are you stuck?"
"Um." Ami's mind snapped back into reality quickly as she stuttered, "Uh, yeah.I-I-I guess I am."
"Perhaps I could help you." She reached out a long finger, and in a fluid gesture pointed to the box in Sailor Mercury's white-knuckled clutch. "May I see?"
Ami didn't know what to do. Something told her that it was most unwise to let this person see the map of the galaxy, important senshi information spread out all over.but something deeper inside also seemed to undertone that it may be more dangerous yet if she *didn't* give this lady what she wanted. Forcing a smile, the blue-haired girl shifted over towards the other teenager, and pulled the computer back into a comfortable position on her lap.
"It's a treasure hunting game, you see." Ami chattered mindlessly, trying to pass herself off as a foolish teenager, with nothing but fluff, boys and fun on the brain. "You have to find a secret treasure, but it's hidden somewhere in the galaxy. The legend and clues for the location originated on the moon, but I'm not sure where the treasure itself could be!"
The mysterious young woman nodded knowingly as she listened to Ami's explanation, only breaking into a mocking look, as if she knew the great secret and was surprised and smug that the little blue-haired genius next to her hadn't discovered it yet.
"Have you looked everywhere?" She giggled, the sound itself immature and young, like a child trapped in a twenty-one year-olds body.
"Yes. I've looked everywhere, from the planet Mercury, all the way to the moon of Pluto!"
"Are you sure? What about the moon of earth itself?"
"Of course I looked there! That was the first place I checked." Ami snapped tightly, instantly regretting the tone of voice she had just used on the mystifying lady. The stranger didn't seem to mind, or even notice for that matter as she continued.
"What about the dark side of the moon?"
"The dark side of the moon? But-but nothing can live there!"
The girl cocked a black eyebrow at Ami, and tilted her head, causing the sun to reflect in those dark red eyes.
"You don't think I'm right? Why don't you just look, hmmm?"
As if controlled by something that was not herself, Ami turned to the little screen and began typing away again.
*Bleep bleep blip!* ENTER SEARCH LOCATION.MOON; DARK REALM.
*click, whurrrr* SEARCHING.SEARCHING.
The princess of Mercury held her breath tightly as she waited for the result.maybe this would finally be it.
*Beep beep beep!* The computer appeared to scream frantically, if technology could even do such a thing. The tension around Ami was growing so quickly and strongly, you could cut it with a knife. She shut her eyes, plunging her world into darkness, waiting, just waiting for everything to end. 'Why can't this damn thing work faster!?' Her mental voice screamed.
*SEARCH COMPLETED. SIGNAL FOUND.LOCATION: DARK MOON*
"YES! IT WORKED!" Mercury jumped up, shouting and crying out with joy, her aqua locks bouncing into a wild and mussed mess. Feeling tears well up within her and slowly stream down her face, she took her sleeve and hurriedly brushed them away. Usagi was coming home!
"I don't know who you are, but thank y-." Ami muscles froze as she turned to the lady she was near, her body becoming as still and as stiff as a wooden plank. Regaining control of her limbs, she spun around frantically, looking for any signs of another person. Nobody was there. The mysterious young woman had vanished as quickly and silently as she came, not leaving behind any trace of existence. 'You can't think of that now!' Ami's mind barked at her. 'Call the others, we need to get Usagi back as soon as possible!'
Reaching for her communicator, Mercury entered her code, waiting for the transmission to go through.
"Minako here. What's the matter Ami-chan? You look really upset."
"Never mind that Minako, just get everyone together as soon as you can. I think I've found Usagi."
The jaw on the tiny image of Minako dropped, her gawk wide with a mixture of disbelief and joy. "What?! You did? Okay, I'll have everyone at the temple, ASAP. I'll see you there."
"Right! Mercury, over and out."
*Click* Pocketing her device, Ami began to pack everything she had dragged out with her, her hands moving in a trembling blur. 'That's not all I found.' She thought to herself anxiously, for she had the sinking feeling that this wasn't the last time she would come face to face with the dark-haired woman. In fact, quite on the contrary.Ami's stomach dropped, the sensation of ice forming furiously within her chest, for this, she knew, was only the beginning.
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"I just d-d-don't understand-" Usagi sniffled loudly, the bags under her eyes uncharacteristically puffy and a dull shade of pink. She leaned back into the large royal purple chair she was in, wishing with every fiber of her being that she could merely meld away into the silken fabric. For days now, the depressed Soldier of the Moon had been seeking refuge, hiding from the world around her, and the only place that seemed to hold the most silence and comforting airs was the palace library. 'No wonder Ami always spent so much time in places like these.' She thought absently as she took in her surroundings, a heavy pang of misery and pain striking her heart all over again at the mention of her lost friend' s name. 'I miss everyone so much.'
Usagi felt tears begin to well up within her once again, and she hung her tawny head down into her open hands. Over and out she let them spill, letting the tiny droplets travel their salty journeys along her face. 'I hate Diamond." The girl spoke silently; bitterness and resentment poured into her every word. 'I hate him, I hate him, I HATE HIM!'
Pausing as he pulled a dusty book from its nest upon the antique mahogany shelf, Sapphire gazed at it with bright and curious eyes, wiping its leather bound skin with a tender hand. He turned with a wide grin towards the doors; anxious that he had finally found the volume of the book series he had been looking for, when he stopped dead in his tracks. Wafting from the other side of the ancient room, he heard a soft muffled sound.it seemed like the soft crying of someone, but who, he had no idea.
"What's this-?" He asked softly of no one as he followed the sound around shelves and shelves of dusty old books. Sapphire griped his book protectively as he carefully crept around the corner and into the area where his favorite armchair sat, occupied. There in his velvet violet chair sat Usagi, her shoulders shaking as she once again, cried her heart out. Sapphire watched for a moment, his heart softening at the sound of such despair. How could someone so lovely be so sad?
Pulling a handkerchief from his dark satin pocket, the young prince of the dark moon walked over and without letting himself be seen, reached a hand around the armchairs side. He let the little square of cloth hang invitingly.
"Tissue, Miss?"
Usagi's head came up instantly, her gaze coming across the outstretched arm in front of her. She just stared at the offered tissue for a moment, and for some reason, she wasn't alarmed. The voice was young, bright and cheerful, like the gentle waters of a bubbling spring during the summer. 'It isn't Diamond' her mind said soothingly and with a sigh of relief, she lifted a dainty hand to accept the much-needed gift.
"Thanks." She sniffled and pressed her lips into a tiny smile. "Is it.are you Sapphire?"
"The one and only, at your service my fair lady." Sapphire walked into view, his deep blue eyes sparkled with light and merriment as he took her hand in his, and gently kissed it. "Do you mind if I-?" He paused and made a gesture towards the empty seat across from her.
Usagi dabbed gingerly at her eyes with a tissue, trying to make herself seem somewhat presentable. "Oh no! Please, go ahead." She stuttered as Sapphire took his place facing her.
"So, you must be the lovely princess that my brother is so enthralled with, am I right?" He chuckled as he leaned forward in his seat, setting his book down on the dark wooden table between them. Sapphire stopped a moment, and seemed to look the Princess of the Moon over from head to toe, examining her every move. The young blue prince finally smiled sweetly and added, "I can see why.he has excellent tastes."
The Soldier of the Moon could only clumsily blush thirty-one different shades of red in response. She sniffled loudly at the mention of Diamond, her eyes beginning to water all over again.
'Shoot!' Sapphire thought to himself as he watched the girl's face go from embarrassedly pleased to downright miserable again. 'I'm supposed to be making her happy, not making her cry once more! Good going, genius!'
"Hey, hey! What are all those tears for? Puffy eyes and a tear- stained face doesn't become a lovely lady such as yourself!" The young man cried hastily. "Come on! There has to be a reason as to why you are crying so much! Why don't you tell me?"
"I can't!" Usagi whimpered, looking at him with a sullen glance. "It's all Diamond's fault.you are his brother.I just can't tell you."
Sapphire's muscles relaxed, his tension slowly disappearing. His brother was easy territory; he knew practically everything there was to know about the oldest Prince of the Dark Moon family.
"So, that's it, is it? What has the numbskull done now?" He spoke calmly and comfortingly, as if it was Diamond's purpose in the universe to do stupid things all the time.
"Well." The princess paused, watching the blue prince's expectant face. She looked down nervously and began to fumble with the folds in the lap of her royal burgundy dress. "Hemumblemumblesleptwithmemumblemuble."
"Pardon?"
"He slept with me."
"WHAT!?" Sapphire yelped, practically falling out of his chair. "He did *what*? When did this happen?"
"About five days ago." Usagi murmured, then furiously added, "But I don't remember a thing! He says I slept with him when all I remember is passing out and waking up next to him!"
Growing more livid by the minute as she thought about the whole situation, Sailor Moon began to spill the entire story to Sapphire, from the time she accidentally ran into Diamond's room, to the point where she woke up next to him in a rather compromising situation and fled in tears. The young man just sat in silence, showing shock in the appropriate places, and nodding sagely in others. ".and that's what happened! I don't know whether to believe him, kill him or throw myself off the nearest cliff!" Usagi wailed miserably, a definite edge of fury still evident in her tone. "I just want to go home."
"I see your predicament Lady Usagi.and I must admit that my brother has sunken to an all time low." The Azure Prince tented his fingers and let them rest against his chin thoughtfully. His face had taken on an entirely new look that was no longer light and happy, but darkened with deep thought, irritation and disbelief. Within the recesses of his mind, feelings were running amuck, but one main voice told him what he believed in most. 'How could he tell her something like this? Both Diamond and I know he would never do something as cruel as to tell a girl that she has just lost her chastity to someone she despises, and then tell her that her lover wouldn't want her.that's just not him.I know it.'
"Well, Lady Usagi," Sapphire, after minutes of silent brooding at long last turned to the blonde princess, a weak smile drawn tightly across his face. "If it is any consolation at all, my brother Diamond has not slept with you, nor would he ever *completely* force himself on you. Not only is it not in his character, but if my memory serves me correctly, he was with me that entire night until mid morning in this very library, pacing up and down, muttering to himself. He was quite distraught."
Usagi eyes rose quickly and met with Sapphires own cerulean gaze. She stared at him, looking for some sign, something that would tell her that he was lying to her. She was unpleasantly shocked when she could find nothing. The young prince was completely open to her searching look, and showed no signs of hiding. The Princess of the Moon gulped, and in a quivering voice asked "Wha? Why?"
"Unfortunately, I have no proof, so you'll just have to trust me on that one. However, I can perhaps help to explain why he does what he does." With a sigh, Sapphire leaned back into his chair, the past flooding back into the mind's eye. "You see, ever since we were both little, Diamond has had a hard time when he does not get what he wants, when he wants it. You could say that was the only part of him that never really grew up." The younger prince chuckled lightly at fond memories of two mischievous boys, never quite satisfied to stay still and behave.
"It's that very challenge that seems to have him at his wits end now. He is so in love with you, Lady Usagi, but you constantly rebuke and refuse him. He doesn't know what to do anymore, so I believe he thought the only way to get you to finally give him a chance was to trick you into thinking that you had no other choices."
The Moon Princess snorted in an irritated and sarcastic fashion as she muttered, "Gee, I refuse him because? Lets think about it."
"Yes, I can see where you come off saying that," He responded coolly. "Nevertheless, I believe that you should at least give him one chance to prove himself. As a concerned brother, that is all I ask of you, Lady Usagi. Perhaps only you can show Diamond there is always a tiny sparkle of hope, no matter how dark the future may seem. Isn't that, after all, the motto of the Sailor Senshi? To never give up, so long as there is some shred of hope remaining?" Sapphire eyes danced the winter blue of the glaciers in the light, wisdom beyond his years enveloped with his own modest glimmer of triumph and concern.
"You really care for Diamond, don't you?" Usagi sighed, her fortress of anger and disdain defeated.
"More than you'll ever know, My Lady. More than you'll ever know."
"Then I suppose I could give him one chance, for your sake. However," She said, displaying the first genuine grin she had missed for days. "I expect a *really* good apology from him.I mean phenomenally good."
The young prince laughed, rising to his feet. "So it's agreed then?"
"Sapphire, you have yourself a deal!"
"Excellent! Now, if you'll excuse me, My Lady" Sapphire picked up his book from the table, and bowed to kiss Usagi's hand once more. "It seems that my brother and I have much to discuss. Goodbye then." And with that, Sapphire vanished from the Library.
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"Sapphire?" Diamond stormed into his younger brother's room, his strong complexion an ashen color, circles of fatigue rimming his gas- flame eyes. "Where are you?"
The younger prince strewn about in a fireside chair, his legs hanging over the upholstered arm, looked up lazily from his book. "I'm right here Diamond, you have no need to shout."
"I need to talk to you! It's terrible!" The older man cried letting himself collapse into the chair across from is brother, ignoring the boy's apparent annoyance. The Silver Prince moaned as he let his head drop into his hands.
"It's Usagi, Sapphire! She refuses to talk to me, to look at me- she won't even remain in the same room as me! It's been five days already and I'm at the end of my rope! What have I done?" He muttered in despair. "What have I done?"
"Good question, dear brother. Just what *have* you done, hmmm?" Sapphire queried stiffly, his hard stare growing ever colder, like the frozen surface of an angry sea. Slamming his book shut, he tossed it onto the table and righted himself where he sat. If he was going to do this properly, he had to look imposing-imposing enough to knock some sense into his distressed sibling. "Destroyed the hope of a young girl just to get your way, perhaps?"
"You know about Usagi?" Diamond looked up cautiously above pale, shaking fingers. Worriedly, he rose to stand, only to fall back into his seat. "Did she say anything to you? Is she alright?"
"Diamond, she's crushed! What do you think?" The Azure Prince snapped lividly. "You annihilated her dreams, her trust in you, everything!"
Sapphire watched as his older brother buried his head into his hands once again. "I know, I know. But what else was I supposed to do? Usagi hated me from the beginning, no matter how kind I was to her!"
"Oh, come on! Did you really ever try *without* making a pass at her?"
Diamond was silent.
"That's what I thought."
"You aren't helping any, Sapphire."
"I don't think I want to help you, especially when you act the way you've been acting as of late." The young prince snorted as he turned away, waiting for his brother's reaction.
"No! Sapphire, please! You have to help me!" The heir to the Dark Moon Kingdom choked frantically, hysteria bubbling and cracking through his rich, deep tone. "I need you to talk to Usagi, anything! I just want a second chance, that's all!"
The Azure Prince smiled mentally. Finally, things were going his way.
"Diamond, how can I believe you?!" Sapphire shouted as he whirled around, shaking a livid finger in his brother's face. "Do you swear to never, ever try anything like that again? Do you?!"
"Of course I do! I swear it with my life! My very soul, if that's what it takes!!" The Silver Prince looked downwards forlornly, his voice dropping to something just barely above a whisper. "I love her Sapphire.I need her more than the lost man in the desert craves water. I would gladly die if it meant that she would desire me the way that I yearn for her."
For the first time in a long while, Diamond no longer looked like a mighty prince, but rather a simple man, a brother, whose heart was being torn apart by a love unreturned. Sapphire's heart ached to see Diamond like this, and his anger softened as he spoke.
"I knew you would feel this way, brother." He smiled as he placed a gentle hand on Diamond's shoulder. "That is why I have already spoken to the Princess, and she has agreed to give you one, but only one last chance."
The face of the Silver Prince snapped up immediately, disbelief and an unparalleled joy written into every feature. "Really?" He whispered, gazing at the younger prince warily. "Another chance? Usagi has forgiven me?"
"Well, I'm not too sure she has forgiven you completely, you'll have to find that out and remedy it on your own but-oh, goddess, Diamond! Don't screw this one up, I don't think I'll be able pull you out of the fire again!"
"Don't worry, Sapphire!" Diamond murmured as he grabbed his brother in a fierce embrace, hiding the silent tears of joy and relief as they streamed down his face. "I swear to you I will not throw away the second chance at love-no, at life-that you have given me." The eldest of the two pulled away, and rested his head against his brother's for just a brief moment, their eyes connecting in an unspoken bond. "And I will not ever, ever forget what you have done for me today. Not ever! Words cannot express how thankful I am to you."
With a laugh and another brotherly gesture of love, Sapphire pulled back from Diamond and slapped him on the back. "I wouldn't thank me now, if I were you Diamond! I'll call in a favor later, rest assured! Besides," He grinned broadly, his pearl teeth flashing in the light as he made a gesture towards the door. "Your princess awaits. Don't you think you should go, and not keep her waiting any longer?"
"You are right Sapphire." The future king of the Dark Moon sighed as he turned and began to walk towards the exit. "As usual. I'll see you later then?"
"Later it is! Good luck brother, and please, try not to botch this one up too badly, alright?"
"I'll try," A deep, familiar laughter rang down the halls and echoed into Sapphire's chambers. "I'll try!"
The Cerulean Prince waited silently in anticipation until he no longer felt the presence of his brother. Diamond was happy again, and perhaps, just perhaps, Usagi would be happy too.
"Diamond, Diamond, Diamond." Sapphire chuckled to himself as he returned to his seat and his book. "What would you do with out me?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So Emerald, how are things going on your side?" A child-like voice flitted from the shadows as a young, pale hand gently stroked the ornate chess pieces that lined the bored in front of it. "Good, I trust?"
Emerald sat tensely, watching the woman in front of her with a pine green gaze. She felt uneasy, afraid.like prey just waiting for the predator to pounce, but never knowing when.
"Everything is going according to plan, My Lady. Diamond is preoccupied with his chase of the Princess, and the entire rank of generals suspects nothing."
"Excellent! How perfectly wonderful!" The voice giggled excitedly, sending cold shivers up Emerald's spine. "And the Sailor Senshi should be on their way soon!" The lady in darkness waved her hand in the air with one fluid, animate motion, and four little crystal pawns moved themselves across the playing bored.
The Green General of the Dark Moon Kingdom looked down to further investigate the unique shape of the pawns, and with a startled gasp, realized that they were miniature crystal versions of the Sailor Senshi. Eyes wide with apprehension and horror, she realized that the Senshi weren't the only ones in the game, but that on the opposite side stood tiny crystal figures of the Dark Moon family. It was strange, looking in to your own face embedded within a small stone.
"Oho ho ho, don't you like my pretty little chess pieces, Emerald dear? I have one for everybody!" She smiled sinisterly, ruby red eyes reflecting in the dim light like blood jewels. "Even for me!"
The lady then proceeded to pick up what would be the King's piece on the Dark Moon's half of the bored, and playfully made it jump across the bored all the way to the side of the senshi, and placed it next to the king. In the space on that side stood a tiny white crystal Usagi.
"Check."
"You remember your half of the deal, don't you? I want Diamond for myself.I want him to love me instead of-of *her*!" Emeralds spat as she tossed a hateful glance towards the little princess, as if it would solve all her problems and send the man she so coveted running into her arms.
"Yes, yes. I remember our deal. You want to become Diamond's queen, is that right?" The voice of the woman replied mockingly as she picked up the tiny Emerald figurine and set it next to the tiny figure of Prince Diamond, watching the greedy glaze come over the general's eyes. "And do you remember what I want?"
"Princess Usagi." Emerald responded inattentively, wishing it was the true, life-sized prince that she could be with, and not some little rock carving. A coy smile flickered across the shadow girl's pale face.
"Exactly. Now that we've cleared up any discrepancies, I trust you have things to do?"
"Uh.um," The sea foam haired woman snapped back to attention, and quickly understood that this was her dismissal. "Yes, My Lady, I have much to do." She quivered, rising to her feet within seconds. "I will report again.soon."
"Very well, Emerald dear. Until then!" As the general of the Dark Moon vanished, a child-like giggling and laughter filled the dark room. Once again the young woman with red eyes picked up her own playing piece, and knocking it very gently into the one of the Princess she called out, "Checkmate.I win, with you as my prize Usagi." Her eyes narrowed and glinted maliciously. "I'll have you soon, my dear.Soon we'll play games together and no one will be able to touch you but me.no one."
Finis Chapter Sept *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Authoress' Rants and Raves of Complete and Utter Nonsense:
Xelloss: Hello everyone! Today, I'll be filling in for Leci in the Authors section. She has requested me to tell you that things have not been going well for her lately (parents seem to be getting divorced, very hard on her), so chapters might become even scarcer than they already are, which I know, is rather hard to imagine. ^-^
Marron: *clears throat and stares at Xelloss expectantly* Ahem.Xelloss? Aren't you forgetting something?
Xelloss: Oh yes! Marron Glace *gestures towards the tall, dark haired man standing next to him* will be assisting me today, as well as announcing the contest. Leci, against our advice, refused to hold the contest because she promised you all, and is looking forward to the feedback that she gets. ^-^
Marron: Precisely. Further more, Xel-*stops suddenly as Leci comes storming in*
Leci: What is the matter with you guys? I ask you to take care of one little thing for me, and you make it sound like world's most boring edition of Masterpiece Theatre or something!! Geez!!
Xelloss: But Leci dear, you made me promise not to cause trouble and you know Marron! He's as boring as they come!!
Marron: Hey! I heard that!
Leci: *Proceeds to thwack Xelloss upside the head* Shut up Mazoku boy! Why don't both of you just go away for now, okay? I'll handle things all by myself!
Xelloss and Marron: *both sulking as they walk away* Alright.
Leci: Oy vey 0.o;; ..Yeah..anyhoo folks, as Xel probably already told you if you hadn't fallen asleep yet, my parents are discussing means of divorce, so as you've already been able to tell, I am not a happy camper. But ya know what? Just knowing all of you guys are out there waiting for the next chapter makes me feel better! ^-^
First off, I don't want to disappoint those of you who prefer Mamoru/Usagi fics, but this isn't one of them. Please don't be mad at me and please keep reading and reviewing! You guys are what keep me going, each and every one of you! Any author knows that even the littlest 'That was great' goes a long way and could possibly be exactly what an authoress needs to get going.
Okay, so where was I? Oh yeah! That's right! Thanks to my Reviewers!!
*waits until a huge blue neon sign that says "Reviewer Appreciation and Question Answering Time" falls from the ceiling. Only instead of landing where it was supposed to, it lands on Leci*
HURK! Ouchies.* lifts sign off of herself and stands up* Dammit!! Note to self: Get sign fixed. -.-;;
To Cat's Meow and Beckoning Siren: ROTFLMAO!! I loved your review you guys, I couldn't stop laughing! Poor Mamo-chan, even I feel a little sorry for him now!! Lol. And here! *hands Beckoning Siren tons of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream* So even if Cat's Meow does eat the last Twinkie, you still have all the Ben and Jerry's! And don't worry CM, I haven't forgotten you! *hand CM a ball gag, whip, wintergreen oil and other fun and kinky stuff* Xelloss: *sees all the stuff and thinks that its our set* Hey!! Is that set ours? I thought you had fun with me!! Leci: *blushes profusely* Of course I do, and this isn't our set, it's a brand new one for CM, So quit your bitch'n! Anyhoo CM, go knock yourself out.or knock Mamo-chan out.whichever comes first. *grins mischievously* Can't wait until I see your next review you guys!! ^-^
To Blue Angel: *tackles and huggles you* Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou for all the reviews you have left me! Please tell me this chapter is better than the last, I worked so hard on it!! And it's a heck of a lot longer than the last one too! And why I am saying all of this? I don't know..I'm so strange, I can confuse myself! Go me! Lol! I can't wait to hear from you again! ^.~
To Carolin Rocha: No worries, Miss Rocha! Diamond would never do a thing like rape Usagi! He loves her waaaay to much! Please don't hate me for killing Mamoru off and not pairing Usagi with him. *hands you lots of candy and cakes and good things to eat* I wuv you? ^-^
Captive Blonde: YAY!! You're still here!! I thought you wouldn't be able to get a computer during the summer, and I was sad because one of my favorite and bestest reviewers was going to be gone! ::weeps:: But you're here now and Leci-chan is happy!! Thank you for all your reviews, I really appreciate it!
Sailor Venya: Domo arigato! Your words of encouragement and opinions are just so much fun! *is still very happy to know she did a sucky chapter with 'finesse'* Whoo hoo! Xelloss: You need to get over yourself. -.-;; Leci: *hits him upside the head* Shut-up, Jellyfish no baka!! Xelloss: *inches closer and purrs* I love it when you hit me. Leci: Meep!! Freak.. 0.o Anyhoo, thanks again, and please review soon!
To dearfrenz: I'm sorry, but it's not going to be a Mamoru/Usagi fic, I've seen way to many of those, and not enough good Diamond/Usagi fics! Why doesn't anybody like my Prince Diamond? He's just misunderstood and needs a hug!! Lol.and about those sweets you offered.don't mind if I do! Yoink! *grabs the sweets and begins to run off, laughing insanely* WHOOHAHAHAHAHAH OHO HOHOHO OHO- Xelloss: *smiles simply as he reaches out his staff and trips her* ^-^ Leci: ACK! *lands on the ground with a thud* Noooooo!! My candy!! Need sugar.*starts mourning loss of sugary things* Xelloss: Don't worry, she'll be fine! Thank you again for your review and support! Leci is very thankful and happy that you'll read this to the end, no matter how crazy it gets! Leci: Yeah! He's right!! *turns back to crying over candy* Sugar..Waaaaaaaah!! Xelloss: Oh dear me..o.0;;
And because I still have to talk about the contest, I need to cut this short. To everyone else who reviewed, I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! I luv you even more than Xelly-bean!!
Xelloss: WHAT? O.O
Leci: Yup!! And you guys are the bestest people EVER!!! Okay, now for the contest. *Leci proceeds to put on a hardhat this time as yet another sign comes down from the heavens and stays gracefully in mid-air, where it belongs* Ha! I learned my lesson last time!! *takes off hardhat* Now, where was I?
Xelloss: *whistles nonchalantly as he thwacks Leci over the head with his staff* ^-^
Leci: OWOWOWOW! *rubs sore head and glares at Xelloss* What was that for?
Xelloss: *smiles* No reason.^.^
Leci: Fine. *grumbles under her breath* Just wait until tonight.I'll make sure you get yours.ohohoho oho ho ho.Anyhoo, about the contest! Okay, the aim of the game is to guess the correct answers to the two questions that I am going to ask.
Question number one:
1. I just had my birthday (August 21st! Whoo hoo!) .how old am I?
Number Two:
2. What are my two favorite colors? (Hint: They are both in this very story multiple times, and they can be found in the descriptions of one person!)
Xelloss, tell them what they win if they get both of the questions correct!
Xelloss: Do I have to? I sound like Bob Barker.
Leci: Shut-up and do it or a certain Mazoku who shall remain nameless is sleeping all ALONE on the COUCH tonight.
Xelloss: Meep! Yes Ma'am. You could win one of three things. Thing number one:
1. A short story just for you!! Work with Leci and get an original story all for you and no one else! Decide on characters and make up your own! Decide what kind of story you want it to be, what kinda plot you want and help Leci make it the way you want it!
Thing number two:
2. Be an important side character in any one of my fics! I have three more coming soon! They are:
"Insert Self Insert Here" , the crazy story of me traveling to various worlds and causing trouble thru the infamous Coke Machine of DOOM!! * Queues the scary suspense music that has to be played every time someone says that name. "DUN DUN DUUUUUUN!!"*
"Of Most Unfortunate Events"- A crazy story about when Legolas goes hunting Mary Sues and makes a wish changing the way people look at him! What?! Women are after Gimli now? The fellowship has confused Legolas for a dark Lord? What is going on? Can Legolas learn to love Mary Sues and set things strait?
"No Title Yet"- Seriously, I have no title yet. It is going to be an original romance story about a handsome Pirate Prince named Sage and a haughty, loveable Princess named Lillian ( I think Leci might change Lillian's name soon.). She is trying to save her people by looking for a great treasure, he is looking for this treasure for unknown reasons.watch silliness, love and adventure ensue in this brand new tale!
And Number Three:
BE A BETA READER! You can see any of the chapters before anybody else, and give Leci your opinion!
Leci: Thank you Xelloss! Now, for the rules. You can enter as many times as you want by either leaving it in your review or e-mailing me. No cheating. If you ask me, I will not tell you the answers. That is cheating. Leci dislikes cheating and cheaters. Other than that, almost anything goes! ^-^ So enter away!! Um..oh yeah, the contest ends on October 5th, to give you plenty of time and if there is a tie, the person will be randomly picked out of a hat by my younger siblings.
Xelloss: Okaaaay..0.o;; I think that's about it.
Leci: I think you are right.okay, well I best be goin' then! I luv you all, and demand many reviews!! And Xelloss.
Xelloss: *looks up* Yes?
Leci: *grins evily and then switches to Dominatrix mode, cracking her whip* Run.I'll give you a head start..
Xelloss: *panics* Meep!! Well, I guess that's it for now, see you next chapter!! *yelps as Leci's whip comes into contact* Yiek!!
Leci: OHOHO OHOOHO OHOHOHO HO HO OHOHO!!! (Leci's way of saying goodbye for now!)
Disclaimer: I own nothing. You no sue. Good? Good. Disclaimer be done.
Emerald's entire body stiffened, hatred and malice flooding thru her veins as she watched from her shadowy perch within the great and darkened hall. Brooding and boiling in a stew of her own dark emotions, the jade general stood silently as a tearful Usagi tore out of Diamond's room and down the passage, until her trembling image was finally swallowed into nothingness.
"Horrid little wretch." The woman snarled after the princess' wailing figure, her normally soprano tone saturated with emotion gravel. "You cloud my Diamond's eyes from the truth-from me! I won't forgive you for that.ever."
"Are you *still* here Emerald?" A fiery masculine voice drawled from behind the startled general with an obviously bored sigh. "You're like a vulture, the way you constantly hover around the Princes' room!" Like an angered snake, Emerald's head whipped around, spraying her sea foam colored hair about her as if it was the open hood of a king cobra. Her venomous hiss was low and dangerous.
"Rubius! What are you doing here?!"
The tall, gently tanned man flashed a pearl white smile, his deep violet eyes dancing in the muted illumination given off by one of the many highly ornate crystal lamps lining the halls. He chuckled as his wild flame colored hair bounced faintly, the look he gave Emerald one of great amusement.
"I believe I asked you that question first, more or less." He grinned insanely, leaning up against the wall next to her, arms akimbo. "Aren't you happy to see lil' ol' me?"
"No."
Although that was exactly the answer he was expecting, Rubius' smile quickly melted into the perfect child-liked pout.
"Why, Emerald dear! I thought we were friends! After all, we have been working together for-how many years has it been now?" He frowned, calculating the passed time in his head before stating absentmindedly. "Four? Five?"
"Seven, Rubius. It's been seven hellish years that I've spent near you, all of them wasted!" She spat, her pine green eyes glittering maliciously as she watched him, filling the air between them with a heavyset tension. She scowled as she saw that even if her fellow general noticed the moods emanating from her, he sure as hell didn't let it show, let alone bother him.
"Seven is it?" The fiery redhead replied, a look of realization spreading across his grinning face like a starving wildfire devouring drought stricken grasslands. "Well I'll be! Time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it Emerald?"
Emerald's answer was far less than chipper, as she stood with her back towards him, staring intently into the darkness of the hall, a crackling fire of her own burning within her jealousy engulfed gaze.
"Speak for yourself, you flaming idiot."
Rubius frowned, as it was obvious to him that a certain someone was in a very bad mood.
"What's the matter Emerald?" He cooed tauntingly, scooting around to catch her grassy glare. "PMS? Menopause?"
His concern was rewarded with silence as he watched her quivering back, and that wasn't the result he was prodding her for. 'What do I have to do to get a rise out of her?' Rubius conspired within his mind, determined to cause some mischief. It was then that he followed Emerald's flat and intent look down the passage with his own deep and striking violet one.
He blinked and stared. Then, cocking his head to one side as if that could somehow make him see what he could not, he stared and blinked yet again. There was nothing. Emerald, one of the most respected and well- trained Generals of the entire Black Moon Kingdom was glaring at the dark. 'Oh my!' The man giggled insanely to himself, like the Mad Hatter at his bizarre tea parties. 'Emerald dear has gone stark raving mad-what fun!' Gaining a hold of his runaway thoughts though, Rubius pulled the frayed ends of his amused psyche together, lastly mumbling, "Well, I might as well give the old girl the benefit of the doubt."
The general was beginning to loose his patience with this green- haired woman as they both stared into nothingness. He stood there, trying not to fidget out of sheer boredom, but unfortunately, boredom seemed to be winning. Then suddenly and unexpectedly, Rubius heard something, and by the way Emerald twitched when the sound hit them, he was clear that she had heard it as well. Leaning a flame colored head closer to the source, he listened intently as the waves rolled over him again.
It was the very last echoes of a pitiful wail from the Princess that their Prince was so enthralled with. Usagi, to Rubius, clearly sounded despaired, but that was beside the point. Emerald, the old girl, was jealous!
A sly, trickster grin spreading across his face, Rubius took one large step, planting himself in front of a wrathful lady, her anger giving her the air of a seething dragon, fangs gnashing and flame shooting out her nostrils.
"You're jealous, aren't you?" He stated with quiet excitement, as if he were nine-year-old just told that he was going to the amusement park. "You're jealous of Usagi because you're in love with Diamond, and he doesn't want you! He wants *her*!"
"Still your tongue, Rubius, or you may just find it tacked to the nearest marble pillar." Emerald growled warningly, her sharp pine green glare snapping and fixing upon him instantly.
"Oh, honestly Emerald! Don't get testy with me just because you're 'green' with envy!" As soon as those words left his very lips, the red General broke into wild fits of laughter, his mad peals of jollity rebounding and echoing down the empty halls. "'Green' with envy? Get it?" He snorted, trying to regain his composure, but only ending up laughing harder than ever. Rubius leaned against the cool wall, his bare chest heaving and jerking with every gasp for breath he sucked in, a pleasant smile curled coyly on his flustered face. "Hoo-boy, I just crack myself up.whoo."
"Me? Jealous of *that* girl?"
"Yes, Emerald dear, that's what I said. Are you going deaf now, too?"
The jade clad woman stood firmly, her entire body now trembling and livid with hatred and spite for all those who stood in her way.
"You, Rubius, will die." She snarled and snapped, inching her red tinged face closer, and dangerously closer to the man's cheerily plastered own. "You will die a terrible death, burning in the fiery pits of the seven hells!"
"Ooooh, sorry!" Rubius replied mockingly, looking the proverbial gift horse in the mouth. "Been there, done that! And if I remember correctly, it was *you*" He poked her lightly powered nose with a lengthy and elegantly tanned finger. "Who did it, and left me there to die!"
For 'Miss Emerald', that was the last straw.
"Why you-!!" She shrieked madly as she swung at him, her attempts at landing a blow upon Rubius' fair toned body failing miserably. He slipped and stepped back gracefully, dodging and dancing out of the way, the same Cheshire cat grin strewn carelessly across his face. He obviously did not have any fears of a sudden and overtly painful death.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, little Miss Emerald!" He cried, as she paused to catch her breath from all the frantic and unsuccessful attacking she had just partaken in. "You've become slow! No wonder the Prince has no interest in you!" Rubius laughed as he dug his hands into his pockets and swiveled around on his black booted heal. Turning his head just once more to make sure he caught the seething lady's eye, he winked as he commented with a cackle, "You've gotten old, Dearie!"
Just as the realization of been called an old maid dawned on Emerald, her eyes flashing irately, lightning sparking and striking in her glance, the Ruby General had vanished. The only evidence of his presence was his wild and insane laughter, which rung and rattled, still hanging in the thick and heavy atmosphere.
"You'll be sorry, all of you." The grip on the woman's pink- feathered fan grew tight enough to pierce her skin, thin trails of dark blood staining her deep Amazon colored gloves like maroon veins. "I will conquer that petty wench they call the Princess of the Moon, and become Diamond's true queen.then we'll see you begging for mercy, Rubius.my mercy."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey Ami?" Rei's voice emerged through the static of the communicator, sounding tired, but determined. Another two weeks had gone by, and the search by the police had been thankfully, given up. The Sailor Senshi could now work freely, undaunted and hindered by the useless and cumbersome police force of Tokyo.
"Hmmmm?"
"Have you found anything yet? Anything at all?"
Ami shook her head stiffly, her short blue tresses bouncing in rhythm to her response. She watched the tiny image of Hino Rei sag on the screen, her aqua blue eyes deeply intent and set with one goal-to find Usagi-chan.
"No, I'm sorry Rei. Not a thing yet. What about you and the others? Anything at the library?"
It was Rei's turn to disappoint now. The Soldier of Mars was at a library 30 miles away, looking for anything they could find that could lead them back to their stolen princess. All of the resources in Juuban and the nearby districts had been thoroughly exhausted, including the human resources that had to be paid under the table just so that they would relinquish any false leads that they had.
"No, and I've already talked to the others. They haven't found any leads either. We'll just have to keep looking, I guess."
"Right."
An awkward silence spanned for a moment, both Ami and Rei knowing that hope for them was growing dimmer and dimmer with each passing day. Diamond had hidden Usagi far too well.
"Um, Rei-chan?" Ami's hesitant voice cracked and broke away at the absence of sound. "What is Mamoru do-um, how is he holding up?"
The raven-haired girl sighed and shrugged simultaneously. "He's taken it pretty hard Ami, you know that.he seems lost in a different world." She sighed. "I can't explain it."
"Okay, alright. I understand." Sailor Mercury nodded knowingly. "Well Rei, I had better get back to work, see if something turns up."
Ami turned up towards the heavens, the birds singing merrily and the sun shinning as bright as ever. She frowned up at it all, as she shielded her eyes from the strong light with an open hand. 'Don't you know your Princess is gone?' She thought achingly. 'How can you all be so happy when everything in the galaxy is so wrong?'
But nothing in the universe suddenly stopped. The birds kept on belting out their tunes to the world around, and the sun just seemed to glare right back at her. Ami sighed aloud as she turned back to the snowy image of Rei.
"Yeah, I'll get back to doing what needs to be done too. Oh, and-uh, Ami?"
"What?"
"Good luck, and, um. Gods speed. If there is anyone out us who can find what we need, it's you."
The Soldier of Mercury smiled at her dear friend half-heartedly, but it was as warmly as she could.
"Thanks Rei-chan, the same to you. Good-bye."
"Bye."
*Click* TRANSMISSION ENDED *Bleep* SEARCH MODE RESUMED *Blip*
The princess of Mercury sat all alone on a dull and weathered red park bench, hunched over her tiny blue computer with the symbol of Mercury emblazed on its gentle blue and glossy cover. The breeze blew softly around her, the wind whispering and gossiping among the branches and leaves of the trees. Ami glared sternly at the screen, tapping away like mad, trying to make heads and tails of all the fractured facts and blatant lies everyone had collected, and so far, she was having no luck.
"Why can't I find you?" Ami questioned aloud, completely unaware of the dark-haired stranger that had somehow come up and sat down beside her. It was almost as if this woman had just appeared where she had, for there was no sound of footsteps or twigs cracking, nothing.
"Looking for something, Miss?"
The Soldier of Mercury's head snapped up with a wicked start, her widened blue eyes flying to the source of the voice.
"What?!" She cried in a startled alarm, quickly pressing and covering her computer screen against her chest, attempting to hide its contents from the world. Then Ami turned to confront the person so rude as to sneak up on her like that, but froze. "Oh." Was all she could murmur as she stared at the young woman who made all of her intuitions call out in panic, pleading for the body to run.
Black hair, the color of the empty depths of space, cropped short and gently flipped up at the ends, framed the pale crème features of her face. The sweep of her hairstyle caused one eye to be near completely covered.like the famously beautiful and equally dangerous female spies of movies from so long ago. But it wasn't the stranger's unusual whitish face that made the senses in the Soldier of Mercury so uneasy; it was the eyes. The woman's eyes were red.a deep fathomless crimson that whispered of untold secrets, deadly games of insanity. and worst of all, a primordial fear.
"Miss? Are you looking for something?" The girl repeated again, her waxy pink lips pulled into a childishly sweet grin, as her scarlet gaze seemed to penetrate Ami's own. The dark-haired woman's smile spanned even larger when she noticed Mercury's computer.
"You seem to be playing a game." The question floated into the space between them, where it hung alone for a few seconds. "I like to play games.I like them very much." Her ruby eyes flashed a teasing glance. "Are you stuck?"
"Um." Ami's mind snapped back into reality quickly as she stuttered, "Uh, yeah.I-I-I guess I am."
"Perhaps I could help you." She reached out a long finger, and in a fluid gesture pointed to the box in Sailor Mercury's white-knuckled clutch. "May I see?"
Ami didn't know what to do. Something told her that it was most unwise to let this person see the map of the galaxy, important senshi information spread out all over.but something deeper inside also seemed to undertone that it may be more dangerous yet if she *didn't* give this lady what she wanted. Forcing a smile, the blue-haired girl shifted over towards the other teenager, and pulled the computer back into a comfortable position on her lap.
"It's a treasure hunting game, you see." Ami chattered mindlessly, trying to pass herself off as a foolish teenager, with nothing but fluff, boys and fun on the brain. "You have to find a secret treasure, but it's hidden somewhere in the galaxy. The legend and clues for the location originated on the moon, but I'm not sure where the treasure itself could be!"
The mysterious young woman nodded knowingly as she listened to Ami's explanation, only breaking into a mocking look, as if she knew the great secret and was surprised and smug that the little blue-haired genius next to her hadn't discovered it yet.
"Have you looked everywhere?" She giggled, the sound itself immature and young, like a child trapped in a twenty-one year-olds body.
"Yes. I've looked everywhere, from the planet Mercury, all the way to the moon of Pluto!"
"Are you sure? What about the moon of earth itself?"
"Of course I looked there! That was the first place I checked." Ami snapped tightly, instantly regretting the tone of voice she had just used on the mystifying lady. The stranger didn't seem to mind, or even notice for that matter as she continued.
"What about the dark side of the moon?"
"The dark side of the moon? But-but nothing can live there!"
The girl cocked a black eyebrow at Ami, and tilted her head, causing the sun to reflect in those dark red eyes.
"You don't think I'm right? Why don't you just look, hmmm?"
As if controlled by something that was not herself, Ami turned to the little screen and began typing away again.
*Bleep bleep blip!* ENTER SEARCH LOCATION.MOON; DARK REALM.
*click, whurrrr* SEARCHING.SEARCHING.
The princess of Mercury held her breath tightly as she waited for the result.maybe this would finally be it.
*Beep beep beep!* The computer appeared to scream frantically, if technology could even do such a thing. The tension around Ami was growing so quickly and strongly, you could cut it with a knife. She shut her eyes, plunging her world into darkness, waiting, just waiting for everything to end. 'Why can't this damn thing work faster!?' Her mental voice screamed.
*SEARCH COMPLETED. SIGNAL FOUND.LOCATION: DARK MOON*
"YES! IT WORKED!" Mercury jumped up, shouting and crying out with joy, her aqua locks bouncing into a wild and mussed mess. Feeling tears well up within her and slowly stream down her face, she took her sleeve and hurriedly brushed them away. Usagi was coming home!
"I don't know who you are, but thank y-." Ami muscles froze as she turned to the lady she was near, her body becoming as still and as stiff as a wooden plank. Regaining control of her limbs, she spun around frantically, looking for any signs of another person. Nobody was there. The mysterious young woman had vanished as quickly and silently as she came, not leaving behind any trace of existence. 'You can't think of that now!' Ami's mind barked at her. 'Call the others, we need to get Usagi back as soon as possible!'
Reaching for her communicator, Mercury entered her code, waiting for the transmission to go through.
"Minako here. What's the matter Ami-chan? You look really upset."
"Never mind that Minako, just get everyone together as soon as you can. I think I've found Usagi."
The jaw on the tiny image of Minako dropped, her gawk wide with a mixture of disbelief and joy. "What?! You did? Okay, I'll have everyone at the temple, ASAP. I'll see you there."
"Right! Mercury, over and out."
*Click* Pocketing her device, Ami began to pack everything she had dragged out with her, her hands moving in a trembling blur. 'That's not all I found.' She thought to herself anxiously, for she had the sinking feeling that this wasn't the last time she would come face to face with the dark-haired woman. In fact, quite on the contrary.Ami's stomach dropped, the sensation of ice forming furiously within her chest, for this, she knew, was only the beginning.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I just d-d-don't understand-" Usagi sniffled loudly, the bags under her eyes uncharacteristically puffy and a dull shade of pink. She leaned back into the large royal purple chair she was in, wishing with every fiber of her being that she could merely meld away into the silken fabric. For days now, the depressed Soldier of the Moon had been seeking refuge, hiding from the world around her, and the only place that seemed to hold the most silence and comforting airs was the palace library. 'No wonder Ami always spent so much time in places like these.' She thought absently as she took in her surroundings, a heavy pang of misery and pain striking her heart all over again at the mention of her lost friend' s name. 'I miss everyone so much.'
Usagi felt tears begin to well up within her once again, and she hung her tawny head down into her open hands. Over and out she let them spill, letting the tiny droplets travel their salty journeys along her face. 'I hate Diamond." The girl spoke silently; bitterness and resentment poured into her every word. 'I hate him, I hate him, I HATE HIM!'
Pausing as he pulled a dusty book from its nest upon the antique mahogany shelf, Sapphire gazed at it with bright and curious eyes, wiping its leather bound skin with a tender hand. He turned with a wide grin towards the doors; anxious that he had finally found the volume of the book series he had been looking for, when he stopped dead in his tracks. Wafting from the other side of the ancient room, he heard a soft muffled sound.it seemed like the soft crying of someone, but who, he had no idea.
"What's this-?" He asked softly of no one as he followed the sound around shelves and shelves of dusty old books. Sapphire griped his book protectively as he carefully crept around the corner and into the area where his favorite armchair sat, occupied. There in his velvet violet chair sat Usagi, her shoulders shaking as she once again, cried her heart out. Sapphire watched for a moment, his heart softening at the sound of such despair. How could someone so lovely be so sad?
Pulling a handkerchief from his dark satin pocket, the young prince of the dark moon walked over and without letting himself be seen, reached a hand around the armchairs side. He let the little square of cloth hang invitingly.
"Tissue, Miss?"
Usagi's head came up instantly, her gaze coming across the outstretched arm in front of her. She just stared at the offered tissue for a moment, and for some reason, she wasn't alarmed. The voice was young, bright and cheerful, like the gentle waters of a bubbling spring during the summer. 'It isn't Diamond' her mind said soothingly and with a sigh of relief, she lifted a dainty hand to accept the much-needed gift.
"Thanks." She sniffled and pressed her lips into a tiny smile. "Is it.are you Sapphire?"
"The one and only, at your service my fair lady." Sapphire walked into view, his deep blue eyes sparkled with light and merriment as he took her hand in his, and gently kissed it. "Do you mind if I-?" He paused and made a gesture towards the empty seat across from her.
Usagi dabbed gingerly at her eyes with a tissue, trying to make herself seem somewhat presentable. "Oh no! Please, go ahead." She stuttered as Sapphire took his place facing her.
"So, you must be the lovely princess that my brother is so enthralled with, am I right?" He chuckled as he leaned forward in his seat, setting his book down on the dark wooden table between them. Sapphire stopped a moment, and seemed to look the Princess of the Moon over from head to toe, examining her every move. The young blue prince finally smiled sweetly and added, "I can see why.he has excellent tastes."
The Soldier of the Moon could only clumsily blush thirty-one different shades of red in response. She sniffled loudly at the mention of Diamond, her eyes beginning to water all over again.
'Shoot!' Sapphire thought to himself as he watched the girl's face go from embarrassedly pleased to downright miserable again. 'I'm supposed to be making her happy, not making her cry once more! Good going, genius!'
"Hey, hey! What are all those tears for? Puffy eyes and a tear- stained face doesn't become a lovely lady such as yourself!" The young man cried hastily. "Come on! There has to be a reason as to why you are crying so much! Why don't you tell me?"
"I can't!" Usagi whimpered, looking at him with a sullen glance. "It's all Diamond's fault.you are his brother.I just can't tell you."
Sapphire's muscles relaxed, his tension slowly disappearing. His brother was easy territory; he knew practically everything there was to know about the oldest Prince of the Dark Moon family.
"So, that's it, is it? What has the numbskull done now?" He spoke calmly and comfortingly, as if it was Diamond's purpose in the universe to do stupid things all the time.
"Well." The princess paused, watching the blue prince's expectant face. She looked down nervously and began to fumble with the folds in the lap of her royal burgundy dress. "Hemumblemumblesleptwithmemumblemuble."
"Pardon?"
"He slept with me."
"WHAT!?" Sapphire yelped, practically falling out of his chair. "He did *what*? When did this happen?"
"About five days ago." Usagi murmured, then furiously added, "But I don't remember a thing! He says I slept with him when all I remember is passing out and waking up next to him!"
Growing more livid by the minute as she thought about the whole situation, Sailor Moon began to spill the entire story to Sapphire, from the time she accidentally ran into Diamond's room, to the point where she woke up next to him in a rather compromising situation and fled in tears. The young man just sat in silence, showing shock in the appropriate places, and nodding sagely in others. ".and that's what happened! I don't know whether to believe him, kill him or throw myself off the nearest cliff!" Usagi wailed miserably, a definite edge of fury still evident in her tone. "I just want to go home."
"I see your predicament Lady Usagi.and I must admit that my brother has sunken to an all time low." The Azure Prince tented his fingers and let them rest against his chin thoughtfully. His face had taken on an entirely new look that was no longer light and happy, but darkened with deep thought, irritation and disbelief. Within the recesses of his mind, feelings were running amuck, but one main voice told him what he believed in most. 'How could he tell her something like this? Both Diamond and I know he would never do something as cruel as to tell a girl that she has just lost her chastity to someone she despises, and then tell her that her lover wouldn't want her.that's just not him.I know it.'
"Well, Lady Usagi," Sapphire, after minutes of silent brooding at long last turned to the blonde princess, a weak smile drawn tightly across his face. "If it is any consolation at all, my brother Diamond has not slept with you, nor would he ever *completely* force himself on you. Not only is it not in his character, but if my memory serves me correctly, he was with me that entire night until mid morning in this very library, pacing up and down, muttering to himself. He was quite distraught."
Usagi eyes rose quickly and met with Sapphires own cerulean gaze. She stared at him, looking for some sign, something that would tell her that he was lying to her. She was unpleasantly shocked when she could find nothing. The young prince was completely open to her searching look, and showed no signs of hiding. The Princess of the Moon gulped, and in a quivering voice asked "Wha? Why?"
"Unfortunately, I have no proof, so you'll just have to trust me on that one. However, I can perhaps help to explain why he does what he does." With a sigh, Sapphire leaned back into his chair, the past flooding back into the mind's eye. "You see, ever since we were both little, Diamond has had a hard time when he does not get what he wants, when he wants it. You could say that was the only part of him that never really grew up." The younger prince chuckled lightly at fond memories of two mischievous boys, never quite satisfied to stay still and behave.
"It's that very challenge that seems to have him at his wits end now. He is so in love with you, Lady Usagi, but you constantly rebuke and refuse him. He doesn't know what to do anymore, so I believe he thought the only way to get you to finally give him a chance was to trick you into thinking that you had no other choices."
The Moon Princess snorted in an irritated and sarcastic fashion as she muttered, "Gee, I refuse him because? Lets think about it."
"Yes, I can see where you come off saying that," He responded coolly. "Nevertheless, I believe that you should at least give him one chance to prove himself. As a concerned brother, that is all I ask of you, Lady Usagi. Perhaps only you can show Diamond there is always a tiny sparkle of hope, no matter how dark the future may seem. Isn't that, after all, the motto of the Sailor Senshi? To never give up, so long as there is some shred of hope remaining?" Sapphire eyes danced the winter blue of the glaciers in the light, wisdom beyond his years enveloped with his own modest glimmer of triumph and concern.
"You really care for Diamond, don't you?" Usagi sighed, her fortress of anger and disdain defeated.
"More than you'll ever know, My Lady. More than you'll ever know."
"Then I suppose I could give him one chance, for your sake. However," She said, displaying the first genuine grin she had missed for days. "I expect a *really* good apology from him.I mean phenomenally good."
The young prince laughed, rising to his feet. "So it's agreed then?"
"Sapphire, you have yourself a deal!"
"Excellent! Now, if you'll excuse me, My Lady" Sapphire picked up his book from the table, and bowed to kiss Usagi's hand once more. "It seems that my brother and I have much to discuss. Goodbye then." And with that, Sapphire vanished from the Library.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Sapphire?" Diamond stormed into his younger brother's room, his strong complexion an ashen color, circles of fatigue rimming his gas- flame eyes. "Where are you?"
The younger prince strewn about in a fireside chair, his legs hanging over the upholstered arm, looked up lazily from his book. "I'm right here Diamond, you have no need to shout."
"I need to talk to you! It's terrible!" The older man cried letting himself collapse into the chair across from is brother, ignoring the boy's apparent annoyance. The Silver Prince moaned as he let his head drop into his hands.
"It's Usagi, Sapphire! She refuses to talk to me, to look at me- she won't even remain in the same room as me! It's been five days already and I'm at the end of my rope! What have I done?" He muttered in despair. "What have I done?"
"Good question, dear brother. Just what *have* you done, hmmm?" Sapphire queried stiffly, his hard stare growing ever colder, like the frozen surface of an angry sea. Slamming his book shut, he tossed it onto the table and righted himself where he sat. If he was going to do this properly, he had to look imposing-imposing enough to knock some sense into his distressed sibling. "Destroyed the hope of a young girl just to get your way, perhaps?"
"You know about Usagi?" Diamond looked up cautiously above pale, shaking fingers. Worriedly, he rose to stand, only to fall back into his seat. "Did she say anything to you? Is she alright?"
"Diamond, she's crushed! What do you think?" The Azure Prince snapped lividly. "You annihilated her dreams, her trust in you, everything!"
Sapphire watched as his older brother buried his head into his hands once again. "I know, I know. But what else was I supposed to do? Usagi hated me from the beginning, no matter how kind I was to her!"
"Oh, come on! Did you really ever try *without* making a pass at her?"
Diamond was silent.
"That's what I thought."
"You aren't helping any, Sapphire."
"I don't think I want to help you, especially when you act the way you've been acting as of late." The young prince snorted as he turned away, waiting for his brother's reaction.
"No! Sapphire, please! You have to help me!" The heir to the Dark Moon Kingdom choked frantically, hysteria bubbling and cracking through his rich, deep tone. "I need you to talk to Usagi, anything! I just want a second chance, that's all!"
The Azure Prince smiled mentally. Finally, things were going his way.
"Diamond, how can I believe you?!" Sapphire shouted as he whirled around, shaking a livid finger in his brother's face. "Do you swear to never, ever try anything like that again? Do you?!"
"Of course I do! I swear it with my life! My very soul, if that's what it takes!!" The Silver Prince looked downwards forlornly, his voice dropping to something just barely above a whisper. "I love her Sapphire.I need her more than the lost man in the desert craves water. I would gladly die if it meant that she would desire me the way that I yearn for her."
For the first time in a long while, Diamond no longer looked like a mighty prince, but rather a simple man, a brother, whose heart was being torn apart by a love unreturned. Sapphire's heart ached to see Diamond like this, and his anger softened as he spoke.
"I knew you would feel this way, brother." He smiled as he placed a gentle hand on Diamond's shoulder. "That is why I have already spoken to the Princess, and she has agreed to give you one, but only one last chance."
The face of the Silver Prince snapped up immediately, disbelief and an unparalleled joy written into every feature. "Really?" He whispered, gazing at the younger prince warily. "Another chance? Usagi has forgiven me?"
"Well, I'm not too sure she has forgiven you completely, you'll have to find that out and remedy it on your own but-oh, goddess, Diamond! Don't screw this one up, I don't think I'll be able pull you out of the fire again!"
"Don't worry, Sapphire!" Diamond murmured as he grabbed his brother in a fierce embrace, hiding the silent tears of joy and relief as they streamed down his face. "I swear to you I will not throw away the second chance at love-no, at life-that you have given me." The eldest of the two pulled away, and rested his head against his brother's for just a brief moment, their eyes connecting in an unspoken bond. "And I will not ever, ever forget what you have done for me today. Not ever! Words cannot express how thankful I am to you."
With a laugh and another brotherly gesture of love, Sapphire pulled back from Diamond and slapped him on the back. "I wouldn't thank me now, if I were you Diamond! I'll call in a favor later, rest assured! Besides," He grinned broadly, his pearl teeth flashing in the light as he made a gesture towards the door. "Your princess awaits. Don't you think you should go, and not keep her waiting any longer?"
"You are right Sapphire." The future king of the Dark Moon sighed as he turned and began to walk towards the exit. "As usual. I'll see you later then?"
"Later it is! Good luck brother, and please, try not to botch this one up too badly, alright?"
"I'll try," A deep, familiar laughter rang down the halls and echoed into Sapphire's chambers. "I'll try!"
The Cerulean Prince waited silently in anticipation until he no longer felt the presence of his brother. Diamond was happy again, and perhaps, just perhaps, Usagi would be happy too.
"Diamond, Diamond, Diamond." Sapphire chuckled to himself as he returned to his seat and his book. "What would you do with out me?"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So Emerald, how are things going on your side?" A child-like voice flitted from the shadows as a young, pale hand gently stroked the ornate chess pieces that lined the bored in front of it. "Good, I trust?"
Emerald sat tensely, watching the woman in front of her with a pine green gaze. She felt uneasy, afraid.like prey just waiting for the predator to pounce, but never knowing when.
"Everything is going according to plan, My Lady. Diamond is preoccupied with his chase of the Princess, and the entire rank of generals suspects nothing."
"Excellent! How perfectly wonderful!" The voice giggled excitedly, sending cold shivers up Emerald's spine. "And the Sailor Senshi should be on their way soon!" The lady in darkness waved her hand in the air with one fluid, animate motion, and four little crystal pawns moved themselves across the playing bored.
The Green General of the Dark Moon Kingdom looked down to further investigate the unique shape of the pawns, and with a startled gasp, realized that they were miniature crystal versions of the Sailor Senshi. Eyes wide with apprehension and horror, she realized that the Senshi weren't the only ones in the game, but that on the opposite side stood tiny crystal figures of the Dark Moon family. It was strange, looking in to your own face embedded within a small stone.
"Oho ho ho, don't you like my pretty little chess pieces, Emerald dear? I have one for everybody!" She smiled sinisterly, ruby red eyes reflecting in the dim light like blood jewels. "Even for me!"
The lady then proceeded to pick up what would be the King's piece on the Dark Moon's half of the bored, and playfully made it jump across the bored all the way to the side of the senshi, and placed it next to the king. In the space on that side stood a tiny white crystal Usagi.
"Check."
"You remember your half of the deal, don't you? I want Diamond for myself.I want him to love me instead of-of *her*!" Emeralds spat as she tossed a hateful glance towards the little princess, as if it would solve all her problems and send the man she so coveted running into her arms.
"Yes, yes. I remember our deal. You want to become Diamond's queen, is that right?" The voice of the woman replied mockingly as she picked up the tiny Emerald figurine and set it next to the tiny figure of Prince Diamond, watching the greedy glaze come over the general's eyes. "And do you remember what I want?"
"Princess Usagi." Emerald responded inattentively, wishing it was the true, life-sized prince that she could be with, and not some little rock carving. A coy smile flickered across the shadow girl's pale face.
"Exactly. Now that we've cleared up any discrepancies, I trust you have things to do?"
"Uh.um," The sea foam haired woman snapped back to attention, and quickly understood that this was her dismissal. "Yes, My Lady, I have much to do." She quivered, rising to her feet within seconds. "I will report again.soon."
"Very well, Emerald dear. Until then!" As the general of the Dark Moon vanished, a child-like giggling and laughter filled the dark room. Once again the young woman with red eyes picked up her own playing piece, and knocking it very gently into the one of the Princess she called out, "Checkmate.I win, with you as my prize Usagi." Her eyes narrowed and glinted maliciously. "I'll have you soon, my dear.Soon we'll play games together and no one will be able to touch you but me.no one."
Finis Chapter Sept *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Authoress' Rants and Raves of Complete and Utter Nonsense:
Xelloss: Hello everyone! Today, I'll be filling in for Leci in the Authors section. She has requested me to tell you that things have not been going well for her lately (parents seem to be getting divorced, very hard on her), so chapters might become even scarcer than they already are, which I know, is rather hard to imagine. ^-^
Marron: *clears throat and stares at Xelloss expectantly* Ahem.Xelloss? Aren't you forgetting something?
Xelloss: Oh yes! Marron Glace *gestures towards the tall, dark haired man standing next to him* will be assisting me today, as well as announcing the contest. Leci, against our advice, refused to hold the contest because she promised you all, and is looking forward to the feedback that she gets. ^-^
Marron: Precisely. Further more, Xel-*stops suddenly as Leci comes storming in*
Leci: What is the matter with you guys? I ask you to take care of one little thing for me, and you make it sound like world's most boring edition of Masterpiece Theatre or something!! Geez!!
Xelloss: But Leci dear, you made me promise not to cause trouble and you know Marron! He's as boring as they come!!
Marron: Hey! I heard that!
Leci: *Proceeds to thwack Xelloss upside the head* Shut up Mazoku boy! Why don't both of you just go away for now, okay? I'll handle things all by myself!
Xelloss and Marron: *both sulking as they walk away* Alright.
Leci: Oy vey 0.o;; ..Yeah..anyhoo folks, as Xel probably already told you if you hadn't fallen asleep yet, my parents are discussing means of divorce, so as you've already been able to tell, I am not a happy camper. But ya know what? Just knowing all of you guys are out there waiting for the next chapter makes me feel better! ^-^
First off, I don't want to disappoint those of you who prefer Mamoru/Usagi fics, but this isn't one of them. Please don't be mad at me and please keep reading and reviewing! You guys are what keep me going, each and every one of you! Any author knows that even the littlest 'That was great' goes a long way and could possibly be exactly what an authoress needs to get going.
Okay, so where was I? Oh yeah! That's right! Thanks to my Reviewers!!
*waits until a huge blue neon sign that says "Reviewer Appreciation and Question Answering Time" falls from the ceiling. Only instead of landing where it was supposed to, it lands on Leci*
HURK! Ouchies.* lifts sign off of herself and stands up* Dammit!! Note to self: Get sign fixed. -.-;;
To Cat's Meow and Beckoning Siren: ROTFLMAO!! I loved your review you guys, I couldn't stop laughing! Poor Mamo-chan, even I feel a little sorry for him now!! Lol. And here! *hands Beckoning Siren tons of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream* So even if Cat's Meow does eat the last Twinkie, you still have all the Ben and Jerry's! And don't worry CM, I haven't forgotten you! *hand CM a ball gag, whip, wintergreen oil and other fun and kinky stuff* Xelloss: *sees all the stuff and thinks that its our set* Hey!! Is that set ours? I thought you had fun with me!! Leci: *blushes profusely* Of course I do, and this isn't our set, it's a brand new one for CM, So quit your bitch'n! Anyhoo CM, go knock yourself out.or knock Mamo-chan out.whichever comes first. *grins mischievously* Can't wait until I see your next review you guys!! ^-^
To Blue Angel: *tackles and huggles you* Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou for all the reviews you have left me! Please tell me this chapter is better than the last, I worked so hard on it!! And it's a heck of a lot longer than the last one too! And why I am saying all of this? I don't know..I'm so strange, I can confuse myself! Go me! Lol! I can't wait to hear from you again! ^.~
To Carolin Rocha: No worries, Miss Rocha! Diamond would never do a thing like rape Usagi! He loves her waaaay to much! Please don't hate me for killing Mamoru off and not pairing Usagi with him. *hands you lots of candy and cakes and good things to eat* I wuv you? ^-^
Captive Blonde: YAY!! You're still here!! I thought you wouldn't be able to get a computer during the summer, and I was sad because one of my favorite and bestest reviewers was going to be gone! ::weeps:: But you're here now and Leci-chan is happy!! Thank you for all your reviews, I really appreciate it!
Sailor Venya: Domo arigato! Your words of encouragement and opinions are just so much fun! *is still very happy to know she did a sucky chapter with 'finesse'* Whoo hoo! Xelloss: You need to get over yourself. -.-;; Leci: *hits him upside the head* Shut-up, Jellyfish no baka!! Xelloss: *inches closer and purrs* I love it when you hit me. Leci: Meep!! Freak.. 0.o Anyhoo, thanks again, and please review soon!
To dearfrenz: I'm sorry, but it's not going to be a Mamoru/Usagi fic, I've seen way to many of those, and not enough good Diamond/Usagi fics! Why doesn't anybody like my Prince Diamond? He's just misunderstood and needs a hug!! Lol.and about those sweets you offered.don't mind if I do! Yoink! *grabs the sweets and begins to run off, laughing insanely* WHOOHAHAHAHAHAH OHO HOHOHO OHO- Xelloss: *smiles simply as he reaches out his staff and trips her* ^-^ Leci: ACK! *lands on the ground with a thud* Noooooo!! My candy!! Need sugar.*starts mourning loss of sugary things* Xelloss: Don't worry, she'll be fine! Thank you again for your review and support! Leci is very thankful and happy that you'll read this to the end, no matter how crazy it gets! Leci: Yeah! He's right!! *turns back to crying over candy* Sugar..Waaaaaaaah!! Xelloss: Oh dear me..o.0;;
And because I still have to talk about the contest, I need to cut this short. To everyone else who reviewed, I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! I luv you even more than Xelly-bean!!
Xelloss: WHAT? O.O
Leci: Yup!! And you guys are the bestest people EVER!!! Okay, now for the contest. *Leci proceeds to put on a hardhat this time as yet another sign comes down from the heavens and stays gracefully in mid-air, where it belongs* Ha! I learned my lesson last time!! *takes off hardhat* Now, where was I?
Xelloss: *whistles nonchalantly as he thwacks Leci over the head with his staff* ^-^
Leci: OWOWOWOW! *rubs sore head and glares at Xelloss* What was that for?
Xelloss: *smiles* No reason.^.^
Leci: Fine. *grumbles under her breath* Just wait until tonight.I'll make sure you get yours.ohohoho oho ho ho.Anyhoo, about the contest! Okay, the aim of the game is to guess the correct answers to the two questions that I am going to ask.
Question number one:
1. I just had my birthday (August 21st! Whoo hoo!) .how old am I?
Number Two:
2. What are my two favorite colors? (Hint: They are both in this very story multiple times, and they can be found in the descriptions of one person!)
Xelloss, tell them what they win if they get both of the questions correct!
Xelloss: Do I have to? I sound like Bob Barker.
Leci: Shut-up and do it or a certain Mazoku who shall remain nameless is sleeping all ALONE on the COUCH tonight.
Xelloss: Meep! Yes Ma'am. You could win one of three things. Thing number one:
1. A short story just for you!! Work with Leci and get an original story all for you and no one else! Decide on characters and make up your own! Decide what kind of story you want it to be, what kinda plot you want and help Leci make it the way you want it!
Thing number two:
2. Be an important side character in any one of my fics! I have three more coming soon! They are:
"Insert Self Insert Here" , the crazy story of me traveling to various worlds and causing trouble thru the infamous Coke Machine of DOOM!! * Queues the scary suspense music that has to be played every time someone says that name. "DUN DUN DUUUUUUN!!"*
"Of Most Unfortunate Events"- A crazy story about when Legolas goes hunting Mary Sues and makes a wish changing the way people look at him! What?! Women are after Gimli now? The fellowship has confused Legolas for a dark Lord? What is going on? Can Legolas learn to love Mary Sues and set things strait?
"No Title Yet"- Seriously, I have no title yet. It is going to be an original romance story about a handsome Pirate Prince named Sage and a haughty, loveable Princess named Lillian ( I think Leci might change Lillian's name soon.). She is trying to save her people by looking for a great treasure, he is looking for this treasure for unknown reasons.watch silliness, love and adventure ensue in this brand new tale!
And Number Three:
BE A BETA READER! You can see any of the chapters before anybody else, and give Leci your opinion!
Leci: Thank you Xelloss! Now, for the rules. You can enter as many times as you want by either leaving it in your review or e-mailing me. No cheating. If you ask me, I will not tell you the answers. That is cheating. Leci dislikes cheating and cheaters. Other than that, almost anything goes! ^-^ So enter away!! Um..oh yeah, the contest ends on October 5th, to give you plenty of time and if there is a tie, the person will be randomly picked out of a hat by my younger siblings.
Xelloss: Okaaaay..0.o;; I think that's about it.
Leci: I think you are right.okay, well I best be goin' then! I luv you all, and demand many reviews!! And Xelloss.
Xelloss: *looks up* Yes?
Leci: *grins evily and then switches to Dominatrix mode, cracking her whip* Run.I'll give you a head start..
Xelloss: *panics* Meep!! Well, I guess that's it for now, see you next chapter!! *yelps as Leci's whip comes into contact* Yiek!!
Leci: OHOHO OHOOHO OHOHOHO HO HO OHOHO!!! (Leci's way of saying goodbye for now!)
Disclaimer: I own nothing. You no sue. Good? Good. Disclaimer be done.