The Pulse

Chapter 12 (I remembered. ^ ^)

Author: Nyneve

Okay, here's the battle/romance chappie everyone's been waiting for. I hope you all feel lucky because I have been inspired enough that I might actually be able to finish the ficcie (cross your fingers)! A note to all of those who have been arguing that Venus would be stronger than the others. She has been drained emotionally in being rejected by Heero, so that's why she's not as strong. Amy and Raye both got their guys, and Lita doesn't really care, so that's why Mina's not as strong. Got it? Good. Don't own the anime, as of yet (I'm saving up money. I have approx. $9.42).

-Nyneve

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"I think the attacks will become more rapid now."

"How can you tell?"

"I had a vision of Night ordering Nemesis to kill Jupiter."

"But how do you know it is anything more than a vision?"

"I can just tell."

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Mina was running. Whether she was running towards something or after something, she wasn't sure. She guessed that she was running because she couldn't stand to be at Quatre's with Amy and Raye anymore. Only Lita stayed, insisting that someone needed to make sure no one tried to attack the house.

Then something inside of her made her realize that she wasn't alone. There was the sound of more footsteps behind her. Someone was running, and by the sound of it, they were catching up quickly.

Under normal circumstances, Mina would've slowed down to see who it was. Or at least, she'd pause to glance behind her. But in this case, she just ignored them and quickened her pace.

Up ahead, she saw an intersection. Straight ahead of her led into a grove of trees, to the right was a steep hill, and to the left was the same level, grassy land she was running on.

Now, she chose to peek behind her. It was a short, slender person, and they were too far away to tell the gender. Mina tried to relax, convinced that the person couldn't see exactly who she was, and they didn't look to threatening. Just in case though, she chose to go straight ahead, where the forest would provide her with trees to hide behind in case cover was necessary.

She continued to jog through the shady trees. It was kind of nice in there. The birds were singing, the wind was blowing gently, and the sun wasn't as direct as it had been. Mina even thought she saw a deer skitter away as she ran.

It wouldn't be completely impossible to see how someone could forget they were being followed. And it wouldn't be difficult at all for Mina to forget during the peace (AN: Ow! That was a mean remark.). That is, she forgot until she stopped to rest alongside the road, and felt something against her back.

"What are you doing out here?" A monotone voice asked. She screamed, and spun around, trying to kick her attacker in the head as she did. She missed his head, but managed to knock whatever it was that had been against her back. To her horror, it was a gun. And the person was Heero.

"Heero! Are you trying to give me a heart attack!" Mina cried, both happy and a little nervous to see him. She had never quite "gotten over him". It had been a shock when he had turned down Relena, but if he would why would he care about her?

"What are you doing out here?" he repeated. Now, a normal person would get indignant if someone were asking what we were doing running down a public road for our own enjoyment. But Mina was still half-arguing with herself, so her answer was plain and simple, free of sarcasm.

"I was jogging," she answered.

"Hn." Was the only reply she got.

"What were you doing?" she asked curiously. It would seem strange that he would definitely be following her. Unless, maybe he liked her?

"I was looking for you. Quatre said to make sure none of you go out alone. At this rate, those demons could kill you," he answered. Mina blinked back her surprise. Then again, it would make sense that she didn't go out by herself. After what happened to Raye and Amy…

"Oh. Okay," Mina replied. "Well then, should I come back or do you want to stay?"

"Hn," was yet again Heero's answer.

Oh yeah Heero. That makes it so much clearer what you want Mina said silently to herself.

"Well then if that's what you want," she smirked, then whirled around and took off at an alarmingly fast pace, though not as fast as she ran when she was late for school.

Now it was Heero's turn to be surprised. But the rare look passed as he picked up his gun and followed her.

Anyone watching would've assumed that the two were racing, and to the runners, it was a race. If Mina got to the finish (which they hadn't exactly figured out the location of) first, she would be able to prove she was a little better than Relena in the sense that she didn't necessarily need Heero, but it still gave off the idea that she wanted him. But if Heero finished first, all that would happen would be that he would move even farther out of Mina's reach.

They left the forest and were back into the fields again. Deciding to throw a twist at Heero, Mina left the road and darted into a meadow, then dropped to the ground. The grass was so tall, that it was impossible to see her. Heero paused, then headed toward the approximate area where she had disappeared.

A little ways to his left, he noticed a flock of birds fly up. He quietly walked over, then tripped over something. He didn't realize he was falling until his face was an inch from the ground. It was pure luck that he didn't land on Mina, who was now laughing hysterically. Heero rolled his eyes and stood up.

"Are you ready to go yet?" he asked. Mina stopped laughing and nodded.

"Yes," she paused, pondering her words. "But first, I have to ask you something."

"What?" Heero asked.

"Why did you follow me out all this way?" she stared him straight in the eye.

"I was asked to," he answered plainly.

"So? You know perfectly well I can take care of myself. Why did you really follow me?"

Heero never got a chance to respond. An arrow shot past his face.

"You can take care of yourself, eh Venus? I'd like to test that little theory," said a voice. The two looked over to see the last of the Furies, Tisiphone, her bow in hand.

Mina gasped at first, but before she could respond another arrow went past her and lodged itself in a rabbit that had popped its head up. It let out a small cry, then fell over dead, pus oozing from its wound, which had turned dark green.

"The arrows are rubbed with poison. Primitive, but effective. Now, that was a demonstration. This time," she grinned and put another deadly arrow to her bow. "I shoot to kill."

Before she could let it fly, a shot rang out through the meadow. Heero had fired on her. Tisiphone winced in pain as the arrow made contact in her arm, then grinned.

"No more painful than a bee sting. You'll have to try better than that, boy," she remarked, then let the arrow go. Mina quickly dropped to her knees again, just as the arrow brushed her hair, leaving small portion of it smoldering. She glared at Tisiphone.

"Do not mess with the Goddess of Love's hair!" she yelled, the pulled out her pen. "VENUS CRYSTAL POWER! MAKE-UP!"

Gold light surrounded her as she transformed. When she stood fully transformed, Tisiphone gasped in sarcastic shock.

"Oh my. Sailor Venus is here. I am terrified," She remarked sarcastically.

"You should be," Mina murmured, then raised her arm. "Venus Crescent Beam! Smash!"

The beam shot forward and singed Tisiphone's hand, making her drop the bow. Impulsively, Heero ran forward and grabbed it. However, as he did, he felt a vice-like grip hold his arm and pull him to a standing position. Tisiphone was holding one of her arrows dangerously close to his neck.

"Give me the bow, boy," she ordered.

"Hn," was the remark, as Heero pulled out his gun and pointed it to Tisiphone's chest.

Mina bit her lip as she watched the stalemate. If either of them moved, the other would be either shot or poisoned.

"Heero…" she murmured hopelessly. At this, Tisiphone grinned.

"I see. You have feelings for this boy, Venus? Well then," she shoved him to the ground and put her foot on his chest, just as the gun went off again, but the bullet disappeared into the sky.

"I'm not here for him. Not yet. I'm here to kill you, Venus. If you don't surrender to me," she held the poisoned arrow above him. "I'll kill him."

"Don't be an idiot Mina. She's playing with you," Heero remarked, trying to move from beneath the demon.

"I won't let you die Heero!" Mina cried, then glared angrily at Tisiphone as she approached. "Let him go."

"If she kills you who's going to be left to help Lita and Trista?" Heero asked.

Mina didn't answer. She stood forlornly in front of the demon. "You win," she muttered.

"I knew you'd come to your senses," Tisiphone smiled, then moved her foot. Heero instantly jumped up, yanked the arrow out of her hand, and plunged it into the demon's side. She screamed in pain, pushed him over to the side, then glared at Mina.

"I won't fail you Mother!" she cried, then grabbed Mina's wrist, pulled the arrow out of her own body, and stabbed it into Mina's arm.

The senshi screamed and fell to the ground next to the demon, whose side was smoldering and burning away.

"Heero," she called out, and motioned for him to come over. She grabbed his hand, teleported both of them, then collapsed on the floor of Quatre's mansion.

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"Not her too!"

"Silence! We have no time for grief. It is up to you and I now Nemesis. Venus will most certainly die of Tisiphone's wound, but that leave Jupiter and Pluto. We have to eliminate them now."

"Mother, please…"

"Do as I say! Your sisters have put the responsibility on you, and you will accept it. Now go."

"Yes mother."

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"They are after Jupiter then."

"I was sure of it."

"When should we help them?"

"After Pluto. The boys will need someone to explain things to them."

"And that will be us?"

"Yes. We must prepare for our journey now."

"Of course."

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Well, that's all folks! Sorry Mina fans, for all of the vicious remarks. I couldn't help myself. She's the only ditzy blond left, since I'm not using Serena (for which the insults would be much, much worse).