The Guardian, Part 11
Close Call
By Taerir

All Sailor Moon references are the property of their respective owners. Any concepts, characters, world names, plotlines, and so on not found in the Sailormoon television series or manga are the sole property of the author, Taerir, copyright 1999. No duplication is permitted without written permission from the author.

Kensaku, still seeing the look on her face, reacted quickly. Since her back was turned, he rushed to her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her away from the railing. Roughly, he pulled her into his arms, even though she tried to struggle away.

"Why the hell did you think you could do that, Wyna?" he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I almost lost you!"

Asami stopped struggling and sagged into his arms. "Gods, please, I wanted..." she said tearfully, her voice anguished. "I can't...I don't..." After all, she didn't know what to say.

"Sshhhh," he said quietly, stroking her hair. He reverted to Enyddan, the language of Taerir. "Promise you won't do that again, love... I just found you, and I don't want to lose you again. I just want to help you be happy..."

Sudden guilt plagued Asami. Once again, she hadn't been thinking of him and how he would feel. She stared up at him; he still looked unsure of himself. She softened. Considering suicide was a stupid whim, and one she shouldn't even have considered. Still, the pain reached up and enveloped her.

"You're right, I..." Asami started, swallowing hard before continuing. "I shouldn't have done it. No, I won't do it again." Her voice cracked as she finished, and she began to cry again. "But I don't think it's possible for me to be happy, Keelan. I just don't know what to do anymore..."

The world spun around her, and she felt herself begin to fall to the ground before everything turned black. Then she knew no more.

Kensaku caught Asami and looked down in concerned surprise as she fainted. Seeing her peaceful face, he knew that she had just been overwhelmed.

"Well, lass, we'll have to get you to bed," he said mostly to himself, smiling tenderly. "Maybe you'll feel better in the morning."

"And maybe she won't live to see the morning."

Kensaku glanced around him. He narrowed his eyes as the woman who had attacked him earlier that day stepped out of the shadows, flanked by a youma.

He backed away slowly and set Asami's limp form down a few paces away. Hastily, he knelt by her side and pulled a communicator from her pocket, having no idea how he had known it was there.

"This is Kensaku, from earlier today," he sent hastily. "Asami and I are in trouble; we might need some help. I hope you get this... We're on the roof of our apartment building."

Ending the message, Kensaku stood up and stepped in front of Asami. Surprisingly, Midori had not sent her youma to attack yet. She apparently had some sense of a fair fight... Or maybe not, since she was trying to take advantage of Asami's current weakness.

"You're not going to kill her on my watch," he informed Midori angrily. "Not after what your lord did to her before. Tell me; were you present in the past, too?"

Midori crossed her arms, peeved. "No, I wasn't. But I will serve Kado however I must." She cast a sideward glance to her youma. "Kill him."

Kensaku began to back away once again before remembering the pen he had found on his nightstand earlier. Since then, he had been carrying the artifact in his pocket. Thoughtfully, he pulled it out and gripped it tightly. A warm feeling filled him, and when the light cleared, he stood in armor as a warrior of Taerir... Arianrhod Knight, protector of the Guardian of the Staff.

He drew his sword and smiled grimly. "Try me."

With a bloodcurdling laugh, the youma obliged, and Kensaku fought off its attacks.

Midori laughed softly. With Arianrhod Knight's talents employed elsewhere, it would be quite easy to just plunge a dagger between Asami's ribs...

"Oops," she giggled, but gasped as the dagger was kicked out of her hand. Looking up, she found herself staring at Sailor Jupiter.

"We hear you have it in for one of our friends," the tall senshi said angrily. "We won't let you finish with this little plan of yours."

Midori cursed. Beside Jupiter stood the other inner senshi, ready for battle. Midori still wasn't recovered from the earlier fight.

"Some other day, then," she spat, and disappeared.

"Coward," Jupiter muttered, and knelt by Asami, feeling her forehead.

The inner senshi jumped as they heard a howl nearby, and sighed with relief as Arianrhod Knight finished off the youma.

Sailor Venus frowned as Arianrhod approached. Sudden comprehension dawned on her face. "Kensaku!" She gestured to Asami. "What happened?"

Dropping his transformation even as the senshi did, Kensaku hesitated. He knew it would be Asami's choice when and if she told the others about her past, and he couldn't explain her near suicide attempt without explaining about that as well.

"I think it's Asami's choice to tell you," he said quietly. "I don't want to do something that's going to overstep my bounds."

The girls nodded in understanding. Ami frowned thoughtfully, slightly more doubtful and worried about Asami, but left with the rest of her friends.

Alone with the unconscious Asami once again, Kensaku gently lifted the girl and carried her back down to their floor. He entered Asami's apartment and placed her on her bed, knowing the only thing he could do would be to let her sleep it off. Grudgingly, he returned to his own apartment and hoped everything would be alright.