The Guardian, Part 14
Loss
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.
As Asami lay on the couch, her communicator went off. Kensaku motioned for her to stay there, and checked it himself.
"What is it?" she asked hoarsely.
Kensaku frowned. "It sounds like there's a big fight going on. Kado has finally shown himself."
Asami tried to sit up, alarmed. "We've got to go, then!"
"No, Wyna!" Kensaku replied. Seeing her nervous, crestfallen look, he sighed. "I'll go try to help them out, if you promise to stay here."
Asami sighed and took a deep breath. Knowing this was too important to give up, she lied. "I won't go."
Kensaku nodded, relieved, and ran out the door, transforming on the way.
A minute after he had left, Asami sat up slowly and frowned. Knowing she was too weak in her present status, she drew some superficial strength from her Staff--enough to move around and throw attacks.
I can't sit out of any more fights, she thought determinedly, starting on her way.
Asami transformed on the way. When Sailor Taerir arrived, Moon had just added an attack. The situation was degenerating quickly, and there were too many civilians in the way. Kado was laughing angrily and preparing to attack the senshi.
Arianrhod Knight stepped to the forefront and threw his own attack as well. Kado growled in shock as a dagger buried itself in his shoulder, but didn't back down. Slowly concentrating power, Kado sent an attack hurtling toward Arianrhod Knight, and Sailor Taerir realized with shock that her counterpart would not be able to dodge the attack. She called her Staff to her, calling more energy to her than she had ever channeled before.
Arianrhod Knight looked shocked as she jumped in front of him. "Taerir Psychic Blast!" she yelled, getting hit as soon as she threw the attack. Kado struggled backward, greatly weakened, but so did she.
"Someone get him!" she tried to yell weakly as she fell to the ground.
Another stupid move, she thought bitterly. And that was it.
Kensaku was immediately by her side, leaving it to the senshi to distract Kado for the moment. Tears filled his eyes.
"This is it, Keelan...But I had to do it," she said, knowing she had just done herself in.
"Wyna, no," Kensaku protested desperately. "We'll get you help."
Taerir just smiled, tears in her eyes. She reached a gentle hand to his face. "I love you." Then the world went blank.
Kensaku held her body for a while longer, looking at the sky. "Why?" he said, already crying. "WHY?"
Kensaku continued to sit where he had been holding Asami. He knew the others were fighting, but he had no will to help, and wouldn't be able to do much if he tried. When Asami died, his heart had been ripped out. He stood slowly and turned his disgusted gaze to Kado. The enemy was as yet unrecovered from Sailor Taerir's attack, and stood cringing weakly. He would not survive this fight.
"You're going to pay," Kensaku said darkly, once again in his Arianrhod Knight form. "She didn't deserve to die. Especially not for my sake, again."
With a sob-wracked cry, Kensaku rushed Kado and ran his sword through the man's stomach. Kado doubled over and cried out.
The other senshi, sorrow filling their eyes, stepped forward. Silently, they clasped hands.
Sailor Mercury stared at the spot where Sailor Taerir had just been. A cold, detached feeling grew over her as she gazed at Kado. She struggled to regain control of herself, suddenly infuriated. Looking at the others in determination, she called to her all the power she could muster. They did the same.
"For Asa-chan..." Sailor Moon whispered. Full of remembered strength from her fallen friend, Sailor Moon felt a light glow surround her that coalesced until she stood before Kado as Princess Serenity.
"I hope you find peace in the otherworld," Princess Serenity murmered.
With a brilliant flash, five auras joined and crashed upon Kado, who went silently and proudly to his death with the only sign of suffering flashing in his blue eyes, and then faded away.