Sorry I didn't tell all you faithful readers!!!! *Crickets chirp* -_-;; Or maybe I don't have any faithful readers... I didn't like some things about this story, so I'm revising it. ^_^ I hope it turns out better this time... But as you can see not many things have changed in this chapter. Sorry I've taken so long to update, but school work calls. Luckily it's my spring break here in Florida, so I plan to write more while I'm off. And now on with the story.. Enjoy!
"...." Speaking.... Speaking telepathically, which will appear much later
'....' Thoughts (AN) Author's notes
* After a word means the translation is at the end of the chapter
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
'When did the youma start getting so tough?' I thought to myself as I dodged another one of the youma's attacks. At the moment three inners were down and Tuxedo Kamen was trying to weaken the youma with the help of Jupiter.
"Tuxedo Kamen!!" I found myself yelling as he narrowly missed the youma's sword. I sighed in relief, momentarily forgetting about the battle, but it didn't last long. My eyes snapped open as I heard someone scream my name only to see the youma rushing towards me with it's sword in hand. I suddenly felt like a deer caught in the headlights, my legs seemed to be frozen in place as I closed my eyes tightly, waiting for the pain. I felt something, but it wasn't the pain I expected, instead I felt myself being pushed out of the way by Tuxedo Kamen. My eyes opened just in time to see the youma's sword being plunged through Tuxedo Kamen's chest.
"TUXEDO KAMEN, IIE!!!!" I screamed again, only this time my voice was choked with tears as I rushed to his side. I looked up at the youma icily, bringing out my scepter.
"Honey Moon Therapy Kiss!" The youma turned to dust and I saw Jupiter collapse to her knees from exhaustion. I could feel the hot tears flowing down my cheeks and I sat down, cradling Tuxedo Kamen's head in my lap.
"It wasn't supposed to end like this, Tuxedo Kamen... Mamo-chan... We were supposed to rule Crystal Tokyo together... We were supposed to be together forever... Gomen, gomen nasai I wasn't there to save you like you've always done for me. Aishiteru, Mamo-chan, I'll never stop loving you... Gomen nasai I couldn't save you..." I whispered tearfully, combing my hands soothingly through his hair. (AN ~ ..... Did I just write that...? *Asks herself how she managed to stomach that*) My head suddenly snapped up to the new evil presence I sensed above me. I barely had time to register the blast that came flying towards me before it hit me, the force sending me back several feet. The darkness threatened to consume me as I faded between consciousness and unconsciousness. I felt a strangely cold hand grab my arm roughly grab my arm and opened my eyes to see a face I thought I'd never have to see again.
'...Emerald...?' Was my last thought before I was surrounded by the darkness.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I awoke to the feeling of cold metal clamps around my already sore wrists. I opened my eyes to look around the strange room I found myself in. The walls were made of cold stone bricks and I saw several strange objects that looked like some sort of torture devices.
"She's awake, my oujo." A feminine voice interrupted my train of thought. My eyes snapped in the direction of the voice, 'I thought Emerald was dead... but if that's so how is she standing here in front of me?' Emerald's attire hadn't changed at all, she was still the same woman she thought she'd destroyed so long ago. She smiled coldly at me as another figure entered the room.
"Finally awake my tenshi? You remember me don't you..." He asked as he stepped into the light and began walking towards me. I couldn't mask my surprise, here was Demando standing before me when I thought he was dead. How could this be..? I could only stare at him as he grabbed my chin and moved my face into the beam of light coming from a small, barred window.
"You're just as I remember, my tenshi, still as beautiful as ever. Soon you will be beautiful and more powerful than you could imagine...." He said silkily, caressing the side of my face.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I choked out, which was difficult considering my dry mouth.
"You need not know my tenshi. Since we last met I've become the Oujo no Kurayami.* And one day, my little Hikari no Tenshi,* will one day rule beside me as my queen, the Hime no Kurayami* as well as my own personal Shinimegami.*" He ended with an unnerving cold smile.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, glaring all the while.
"It means you'll be mine, and only mine. Not yet of course, I want to break your spirit first. Then you'll be mine... completely. But that can wait until later." He laughed coldly, staring icily at me as he grabbed a whip from a nearby table. I shut my eyes tightly and waited for the pain to come....
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What should we do? The enemy has Usagi now..." Minako said, chewing on her lip in worry
"I've pinpointed Usagi's position..." Ami said quietly, looking at minna's faces.
"Then why are we still sitting here!? Let's go!" Makoto's fist came down on the small table, shaking it slightly.
"Are you sure we should go in?" Minako shifted her questioning gaze to Machete, then to Rei who would give the okay.
Rei stared solemnly at the floor, "Iie." All eyes turned to her, silently questioning why they shouldn't save their hime.
"We can't risk leaving Tokyo unprotected to go find Usagi. We are Tokyo's only defense against youma's and we can't risk loosing innocent lives because we went to find her. Usagi's going to have to learn to take care of herself this time. The world's depending on us... We can't die trying to save someone who's already lost to us." Rei ended softly, wiping the tears that brimmed her eyes. This was the hardest decision she'd ever made... It saddened her to know that she'd never see Usagi again, but Tokyo couldn't be left unprotected. One by one all of the senshi slowly agreed, and Ami closed her mini computer.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the sound of footsteps that signaled Demando's daily visit I stubbornly raised my head and tried to lean less on the chains that held me up. I refused to let them know how bad off I really was. No matter how much pain I was in, I wouldn't myself die, not here any ways. How long have I been here? More than a month at the very least. Through all the beatings I still stubbornly held onto my pride, I'd finally grown a backbone, but at what costs?
Demando stood at the doorway with his arms crossed, chuckling lightly, "I admire you tenshi, you know that don't you? You've survived everything so far and that makes you worthy..." I couldn't help but look at him in surprise as he strode towards me, reaching out to cup my chin. My face was the one part of my body that he hadn't allowed anyone to harm through all the beatings.
"Yes... You're worthy..." He mumbled before a shock of dark energy burst from his fingertips into me. Only my screams of pain could be heard throughout the fortress.
"It may be painful, my tenshi, and it could take some time, but when it's all over you will truly be perfection." He whispered in her ear when her screams had momentarily stopped. He laughed and redoubled his magic efforts.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I could hear their voices, but I refused to acknowledge them, let them think I was still asleep.
Too weak to be able to escape anyway, they'd finally, after what I considered to be half a year, unchained me and given me a dungeon cell, not that it made matters any better. Because of the added "comfort" Owas now beat harder and more often.
And that didn't count Demando's daily infusing me with some strange, dark magic.
"Time to wake up, sunshine!" Emerald laughed, yanking me to my feet by my dirty, tangled hair.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Deep in the dark the solitude got to I the worst. My senshi still hadn't come for me after what had to have been at least a year. My hope was gone. My happiness, gone.
But I still had her pride. I was the only living Lunarian left, my mother had died just to let me be reborn. And I was determined to live-- at least until I was free once more. Besides my pride, I also had the secret power I could sense steadily growing within me. Someday, when I was more sure of myself, I would use it. I would get away, and die free.
*****
"Do you know how long you've been here, my tenshi?" Demando asked from the doorway of my cell. I slowly, and painfully, stood and raised my chin, refusing to answer. I had stopped talking a long while ago. "You've been here for five years." He answered, despite the silence. "Five years, and for most of that time I've been using just the right spells to change you, tenshi. So tell me why you are still the same!" His voice grew angry and dangerous. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "Why haven't my spells worked on you?"
'They have', I thought, boldly smirking at him, 'Only I've been able to control them.' When my silence ensued, Demando slapped me with as much force as he could.
"What good are you?" He demanded. "If my powers won't work on you, then what good are you? If I can't break you this way, my tenshi, then your usefulness to me is gone. Prove to me that I shouldn't kill you." He lowered his head. Just as his lips brushed against mine, I gathered energy in my hands and blasted him across the room.
"My body may be weak, and I may be in pain." I spat, "But my powers are enough to get me out of here!" When first captured, my body had automatically absorbed the silver crystal to protect it. Now concentrating on it, I made my wish.
"Take me away." I whispered.
A light shot across the sky, crossing over the Black Forest, passing Capsule Corporation, and zipping past Satan City. The light began to slow, and landed with a bright flash inside a section of wooded area far away from any form of civilization.
I began to laugh, rolling onto my back in the warm grass and finally feeling the sun once more on my pale face. I took a deep breath of fresh, pure air and listened to the sounds of birds chirping with joy.
Free.
I was finally free again.
Yes, I'd used a lot of power. And the will to survive, to not let my enemies have the satisfaction of killing me, was forgotten. My wounds were... horrible, many had reopened. I would probably die in a day or two.
But I was free.
I giggled to myself and picked a flower that was nearby, holding it up to my nose for a moment, then weakly dropping my hand.
I would gladly let myself die now, free.
At least then I could get some rest.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Notes : So what did ya think? Better or worse? Even though there aren't many changes in this chp I know. Seems like I've had this chp forever... But my editor lost her internet, so don't get mad at me because there are mistakes in here!! ^_^ Hope you liked it!
**Ouji no Kurayami - Prince of Darknees
**Hikari no Tenshi - Angel of Light
**Hime no Kurayami - Princess of Darkness
**Shinimegami - Goddess of Death
"...." Speaking.... Speaking telepathically, which will appear much later
'....' Thoughts (AN) Author's notes
* After a word means the translation is at the end of the chapter
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
'When did the youma start getting so tough?' I thought to myself as I dodged another one of the youma's attacks. At the moment three inners were down and Tuxedo Kamen was trying to weaken the youma with the help of Jupiter.
"Tuxedo Kamen!!" I found myself yelling as he narrowly missed the youma's sword. I sighed in relief, momentarily forgetting about the battle, but it didn't last long. My eyes snapped open as I heard someone scream my name only to see the youma rushing towards me with it's sword in hand. I suddenly felt like a deer caught in the headlights, my legs seemed to be frozen in place as I closed my eyes tightly, waiting for the pain. I felt something, but it wasn't the pain I expected, instead I felt myself being pushed out of the way by Tuxedo Kamen. My eyes opened just in time to see the youma's sword being plunged through Tuxedo Kamen's chest.
"TUXEDO KAMEN, IIE!!!!" I screamed again, only this time my voice was choked with tears as I rushed to his side. I looked up at the youma icily, bringing out my scepter.
"Honey Moon Therapy Kiss!" The youma turned to dust and I saw Jupiter collapse to her knees from exhaustion. I could feel the hot tears flowing down my cheeks and I sat down, cradling Tuxedo Kamen's head in my lap.
"It wasn't supposed to end like this, Tuxedo Kamen... Mamo-chan... We were supposed to rule Crystal Tokyo together... We were supposed to be together forever... Gomen, gomen nasai I wasn't there to save you like you've always done for me. Aishiteru, Mamo-chan, I'll never stop loving you... Gomen nasai I couldn't save you..." I whispered tearfully, combing my hands soothingly through his hair. (AN ~ ..... Did I just write that...? *Asks herself how she managed to stomach that*) My head suddenly snapped up to the new evil presence I sensed above me. I barely had time to register the blast that came flying towards me before it hit me, the force sending me back several feet. The darkness threatened to consume me as I faded between consciousness and unconsciousness. I felt a strangely cold hand grab my arm roughly grab my arm and opened my eyes to see a face I thought I'd never have to see again.
'...Emerald...?' Was my last thought before I was surrounded by the darkness.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I awoke to the feeling of cold metal clamps around my already sore wrists. I opened my eyes to look around the strange room I found myself in. The walls were made of cold stone bricks and I saw several strange objects that looked like some sort of torture devices.
"She's awake, my oujo." A feminine voice interrupted my train of thought. My eyes snapped in the direction of the voice, 'I thought Emerald was dead... but if that's so how is she standing here in front of me?' Emerald's attire hadn't changed at all, she was still the same woman she thought she'd destroyed so long ago. She smiled coldly at me as another figure entered the room.
"Finally awake my tenshi? You remember me don't you..." He asked as he stepped into the light and began walking towards me. I couldn't mask my surprise, here was Demando standing before me when I thought he was dead. How could this be..? I could only stare at him as he grabbed my chin and moved my face into the beam of light coming from a small, barred window.
"You're just as I remember, my tenshi, still as beautiful as ever. Soon you will be beautiful and more powerful than you could imagine...." He said silkily, caressing the side of my face.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I choked out, which was difficult considering my dry mouth.
"You need not know my tenshi. Since we last met I've become the Oujo no Kurayami.* And one day, my little Hikari no Tenshi,* will one day rule beside me as my queen, the Hime no Kurayami* as well as my own personal Shinimegami.*" He ended with an unnerving cold smile.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, glaring all the while.
"It means you'll be mine, and only mine. Not yet of course, I want to break your spirit first. Then you'll be mine... completely. But that can wait until later." He laughed coldly, staring icily at me as he grabbed a whip from a nearby table. I shut my eyes tightly and waited for the pain to come....
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What should we do? The enemy has Usagi now..." Minako said, chewing on her lip in worry
"I've pinpointed Usagi's position..." Ami said quietly, looking at minna's faces.
"Then why are we still sitting here!? Let's go!" Makoto's fist came down on the small table, shaking it slightly.
"Are you sure we should go in?" Minako shifted her questioning gaze to Machete, then to Rei who would give the okay.
Rei stared solemnly at the floor, "Iie." All eyes turned to her, silently questioning why they shouldn't save their hime.
"We can't risk leaving Tokyo unprotected to go find Usagi. We are Tokyo's only defense against youma's and we can't risk loosing innocent lives because we went to find her. Usagi's going to have to learn to take care of herself this time. The world's depending on us... We can't die trying to save someone who's already lost to us." Rei ended softly, wiping the tears that brimmed her eyes. This was the hardest decision she'd ever made... It saddened her to know that she'd never see Usagi again, but Tokyo couldn't be left unprotected. One by one all of the senshi slowly agreed, and Ami closed her mini computer.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the sound of footsteps that signaled Demando's daily visit I stubbornly raised my head and tried to lean less on the chains that held me up. I refused to let them know how bad off I really was. No matter how much pain I was in, I wouldn't myself die, not here any ways. How long have I been here? More than a month at the very least. Through all the beatings I still stubbornly held onto my pride, I'd finally grown a backbone, but at what costs?
Demando stood at the doorway with his arms crossed, chuckling lightly, "I admire you tenshi, you know that don't you? You've survived everything so far and that makes you worthy..." I couldn't help but look at him in surprise as he strode towards me, reaching out to cup my chin. My face was the one part of my body that he hadn't allowed anyone to harm through all the beatings.
"Yes... You're worthy..." He mumbled before a shock of dark energy burst from his fingertips into me. Only my screams of pain could be heard throughout the fortress.
"It may be painful, my tenshi, and it could take some time, but when it's all over you will truly be perfection." He whispered in her ear when her screams had momentarily stopped. He laughed and redoubled his magic efforts.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I could hear their voices, but I refused to acknowledge them, let them think I was still asleep.
Too weak to be able to escape anyway, they'd finally, after what I considered to be half a year, unchained me and given me a dungeon cell, not that it made matters any better. Because of the added "comfort" Owas now beat harder and more often.
And that didn't count Demando's daily infusing me with some strange, dark magic.
"Time to wake up, sunshine!" Emerald laughed, yanking me to my feet by my dirty, tangled hair.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Deep in the dark the solitude got to I the worst. My senshi still hadn't come for me after what had to have been at least a year. My hope was gone. My happiness, gone.
But I still had her pride. I was the only living Lunarian left, my mother had died just to let me be reborn. And I was determined to live-- at least until I was free once more. Besides my pride, I also had the secret power I could sense steadily growing within me. Someday, when I was more sure of myself, I would use it. I would get away, and die free.
*****
"Do you know how long you've been here, my tenshi?" Demando asked from the doorway of my cell. I slowly, and painfully, stood and raised my chin, refusing to answer. I had stopped talking a long while ago. "You've been here for five years." He answered, despite the silence. "Five years, and for most of that time I've been using just the right spells to change you, tenshi. So tell me why you are still the same!" His voice grew angry and dangerous. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "Why haven't my spells worked on you?"
'They have', I thought, boldly smirking at him, 'Only I've been able to control them.' When my silence ensued, Demando slapped me with as much force as he could.
"What good are you?" He demanded. "If my powers won't work on you, then what good are you? If I can't break you this way, my tenshi, then your usefulness to me is gone. Prove to me that I shouldn't kill you." He lowered his head. Just as his lips brushed against mine, I gathered energy in my hands and blasted him across the room.
"My body may be weak, and I may be in pain." I spat, "But my powers are enough to get me out of here!" When first captured, my body had automatically absorbed the silver crystal to protect it. Now concentrating on it, I made my wish.
"Take me away." I whispered.
A light shot across the sky, crossing over the Black Forest, passing Capsule Corporation, and zipping past Satan City. The light began to slow, and landed with a bright flash inside a section of wooded area far away from any form of civilization.
I began to laugh, rolling onto my back in the warm grass and finally feeling the sun once more on my pale face. I took a deep breath of fresh, pure air and listened to the sounds of birds chirping with joy.
Free.
I was finally free again.
Yes, I'd used a lot of power. And the will to survive, to not let my enemies have the satisfaction of killing me, was forgotten. My wounds were... horrible, many had reopened. I would probably die in a day or two.
But I was free.
I giggled to myself and picked a flower that was nearby, holding it up to my nose for a moment, then weakly dropping my hand.
I would gladly let myself die now, free.
At least then I could get some rest.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Notes : So what did ya think? Better or worse? Even though there aren't many changes in this chp I know. Seems like I've had this chp forever... But my editor lost her internet, so don't get mad at me because there are mistakes in here!! ^_^ Hope you liked it!
**Ouji no Kurayami - Prince of Darknees
**Hikari no Tenshi - Angel of Light
**Hime no Kurayami - Princess of Darkness
**Shinimegami - Goddess of Death