Chapter Four: The Choice
It was awhile before she woke. She was in her own bed
at the moment with Nao, Kyoko, Yuriko and Ryo standing near
her. She couldn't believe what had just happened.
"Good, you're awake," Nao said. "The Zettaishi are on
the verge of attacking. We must be prepared to fight. If you
truly have healing power, you should come with me to the
healing building."
Nao, Kyoko, Yuriko and Ryo walked out. Hotaru removed
the pendant from inside her shirt. She put it near her face
and began to cry.
"I've been responsible for the deaths of millions, but
when it's not my fault I can't help but cry," Hotaru said.
"What's wrong with me?"
The picture of Enzeru appeared. "Don't cry, child. It's
not your fault and you shouldn't feel any responsibility for
her death."
"Nao told me you are about to attack," Hotaru said.
"Yes, we are about to attack the Eienko for the last
attempt to destroy Nao."
"No, there must be another way," Hotaru said.
"There is no other way. She killed another innocent
person tonight. She must not be allowed to kill anymore,"
Enzeru said. She disappeared.
Hotaru got off her bed and walked out of the room. A
transport carriage was waiting for her. She got inside of it
and was wisked to the healing center where new wounded already
lay in the stalls. Hotaru knew she would be very weak before
this was over, but she got up her strength and began to start
healing those in need.
Hotaru collapsed before she could finish her final
child. She was too weak to do anymore, but the news that was
to come would be even more devastating.
When Hotaru woke, Nao was standing by her bed. With an
eye full of tears, she began, "Ryo and Kyoko were killed."
Hotaru felt her stomach drop. "There was nothing that could be
done."
"Where are their bodies?" Nao lead Hotaru over to a
table where Kyoko lay, a gash through her stomach and in her
neck. Ryo was no where to be found.
"Ryo's body was taken by the Zettaishi. We don't know
what they've done with it," Nao said. Hotaru realised Yuriko
was holding onto Nao's hand and crying. Hotaru accepted the
fact that she would never see Ryo again. She almost felt like
screaming.
"Well I guess..." But Hotaru couldn't say anything
comforting. She was too heartbroken.
* * *
Nearly two weeks passed and Crescent Tide was beginning
again. Hotaru was still hurting inside over Ryo's death. She
had not talked to Enzeru since the attack, but she figured she
should.
"Child," Enzeru said. "It has been a long time."
"Where is Ryo?" she asked sternly. Enzeru smiled
happily.
"He is recovering nicely. Do not worry about him. He
was never seriously hurt," Enzeru explained.
"Why did you take him?"
"Listen, child, Nao is going to use you as the
Chooser. You are going to have to choose one of the prisoners
to die at Crescent Tide. One of them is a key figure in our
plan. Ryo, some others and I are going to sneak in and take
him back tonight. You must keep Nao from the room." Enzeru
disappeared and the sword went back to it's pendant size.
Hotaru concealed it, but not well enough. Nao had seen
her talking with Enzeru.
* * *
Hotaru sat on her bed waiting for Nao to come to get
her, but Nao didn't show up all night. Then Hotaru realised
what had happened. She got of the bed and ran to the holding
cell. Nao was standing there with Masahito, Kuroi and Asa who
were holding Ryo and two others. Yuriko was also there next
to Nao.
"How did you know?" Hotaru said.
"I was lucky enough to see your conversation with the
girl. What a shame she didn't have the guts to come and face
her death with the others. Ryo will take her place this
Crescent Tide. You were such a traitor you know?" Nao said to
Ryo. Yuriko looked at her brother with a look of disgust and
hatred.
"I thought you were going to have me chose who would
die!" Hotaru said. Nao smiled and shook her head.
"I planned on it and I came over, but you were talking
to the leader of the Zettaishi through something," Nao
laughed. "So instead I chose that she would be the one to
die."
"Then you picked the right one," Ryo said. Nao looked
at him. On his belt was a small pack. He clicked it and the
face of Enzeru appeared over his own. Nao just laughed more.
"So that explains a lot," Nao said. "That explains why
you would always disappear on me for no particular reason. It
explains what that little thing is."
"Why did you do it?" Hotaru asked.
"The girl, Enzeru, was my mother..." Ryo said as
Masahito took him away. Hotaru turned to Nao.
"Why did you do that? He's just fighting for what he
believes is right," Hotaru spoke harshly. Nao's expression
didn't change.
"Crescent Tide is tomorrow night. You are my new
Chooser and you must be there, dressed in the same gown as
Kyoko. It will be transported to your home," Nao said. She
felt no pity.
* * *
Hotaru had cried herself to sleep that night. Ryo
would die tomorrow and it would be her fault. She had felt for
him unlike she had ever felt toward anyone, even Haruka and
Michiru. She knew she had to try and reason with Nao or two
people would die tomorrow.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes had aged
and her hair was much longer now. She was tired and her tear-
stained face was all that kept her from crying more. More than
anything she wanted to be near Ryo. But she soon realised that
she would be able to talk to him being the Chooser.
She dressed in a new outfit, provided by the sword and
walked out of the hotel. She ventured around town to see where
Ryo was. She was allowed a few minutes of privacy by the
guards.
"I'm sorry I got you into this mess, Ryo," Hotaru
apologised, holding his hands through the bars. "I didn't
mean to..."
"It's all right. I should have known Nao would be
watching me and you," he responded. "You still have the
pendant, right?"
"Hai," Hotaru said. "Ryo, you said Enzeru was your
mother."
"Her name was Enzeru Kitazen. She was sacrificed at
Crescent Tide when she was the Chooser. She gave up her own
life to save her sister's to repay a debt. She never told
anyone about us but before she was sacrificed she gave the
pendant to me, telling me to let it find the Senshi who
could set everyone free. My aunt has one too, but this it
the real thing."
"I guess I..."
"Don't worry about it. You must find some way to escape
and awaken the Senshi before it is too late," Ryo said. Then he
whispered, "I love you, and would do anything to protect you."
Masahito came in and dragged Hotaru from the room.
Hotaru found small ways to pass the time until
Crescent Tide. She got dressed up in the purple dress and
red headdress and walked toward the ceremony. She didn't
feel like joining the ceremony so instead she went to the
place where the sacrifice was soon to occur. When the
clock hit twelve, everything stopped. Masahito and Kuroi
led Ryo to the stage area.
"Ryo, you have been convicted of being a traitor," Nao
began. "You have abused the meaning of being an Eienko. Do you
understand?"
"Hai," Ryo said, emotionlessly.
"Do you completely understand your punishment?"
"Hai," Ryo again spoke.
"You understand your sacrifice will insure the youth of
the rest of us?"
"Hai," Ryo spoke.
"Is there anyone willing to take the place of this
man?" Nao asked. At that moment, Hotaru realised Nao's
intentions, and decided she would go right along with it.
"I will," Hotaru said. Heads turned to see Hotaru walk
up to the cross. "I will take the place of this man. He was
fighting for the planet, not for any group imparticular." Nao
smiled.
"Do you understand what this means?" Hotaru was asked.
Hotaru simply nodded.
"No Hotaru don't!" he said as they began to string her
to the cross. She smiled at him.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," Hotaru said,
though she had no idea of what she was going to do. Hotaru's
arms and legs were tied to the metal cross. She was then
strung up into the sky. Nao looked to the sky and began to
speak the ceremonial words.
"Kaminari, inabikari, kuru. I am your master. Obey my
words and strike the cross with all of your might," she said.
But Hotaru fidgeted and somehow got her henshin wand
into her hand. She spoke to herself, "Power of my Guardian
Star of Death and Rebirth. Give me power outside my
transformation. Give me the strength to use it." She screamed
then, right before the lighting struck the cross, "Silent
Wall!"
The lighting struck down and tried to hit the cross
several times. Each time Hotaru's defensive attack held up to
the force. As they began to lower the cross Hotaru she said
silently, "Saturn Planet Power, Make-up!" Purple light blinded
everyone and when they looked again, a figure cloaked in a
purple cape and hood stood atop the cross. In her hand was the
blade that could destroy an entire planet if necessary.
Her name was Sailorsaturn.
It was awhile before she woke. She was in her own bed
at the moment with Nao, Kyoko, Yuriko and Ryo standing near
her. She couldn't believe what had just happened.
"Good, you're awake," Nao said. "The Zettaishi are on
the verge of attacking. We must be prepared to fight. If you
truly have healing power, you should come with me to the
healing building."
Nao, Kyoko, Yuriko and Ryo walked out. Hotaru removed
the pendant from inside her shirt. She put it near her face
and began to cry.
"I've been responsible for the deaths of millions, but
when it's not my fault I can't help but cry," Hotaru said.
"What's wrong with me?"
The picture of Enzeru appeared. "Don't cry, child. It's
not your fault and you shouldn't feel any responsibility for
her death."
"Nao told me you are about to attack," Hotaru said.
"Yes, we are about to attack the Eienko for the last
attempt to destroy Nao."
"No, there must be another way," Hotaru said.
"There is no other way. She killed another innocent
person tonight. She must not be allowed to kill anymore,"
Enzeru said. She disappeared.
Hotaru got off her bed and walked out of the room. A
transport carriage was waiting for her. She got inside of it
and was wisked to the healing center where new wounded already
lay in the stalls. Hotaru knew she would be very weak before
this was over, but she got up her strength and began to start
healing those in need.
Hotaru collapsed before she could finish her final
child. She was too weak to do anymore, but the news that was
to come would be even more devastating.
When Hotaru woke, Nao was standing by her bed. With an
eye full of tears, she began, "Ryo and Kyoko were killed."
Hotaru felt her stomach drop. "There was nothing that could be
done."
"Where are their bodies?" Nao lead Hotaru over to a
table where Kyoko lay, a gash through her stomach and in her
neck. Ryo was no where to be found.
"Ryo's body was taken by the Zettaishi. We don't know
what they've done with it," Nao said. Hotaru realised Yuriko
was holding onto Nao's hand and crying. Hotaru accepted the
fact that she would never see Ryo again. She almost felt like
screaming.
"Well I guess..." But Hotaru couldn't say anything
comforting. She was too heartbroken.
* * *
Nearly two weeks passed and Crescent Tide was beginning
again. Hotaru was still hurting inside over Ryo's death. She
had not talked to Enzeru since the attack, but she figured she
should.
"Child," Enzeru said. "It has been a long time."
"Where is Ryo?" she asked sternly. Enzeru smiled
happily.
"He is recovering nicely. Do not worry about him. He
was never seriously hurt," Enzeru explained.
"Why did you take him?"
"Listen, child, Nao is going to use you as the
Chooser. You are going to have to choose one of the prisoners
to die at Crescent Tide. One of them is a key figure in our
plan. Ryo, some others and I are going to sneak in and take
him back tonight. You must keep Nao from the room." Enzeru
disappeared and the sword went back to it's pendant size.
Hotaru concealed it, but not well enough. Nao had seen
her talking with Enzeru.
* * *
Hotaru sat on her bed waiting for Nao to come to get
her, but Nao didn't show up all night. Then Hotaru realised
what had happened. She got of the bed and ran to the holding
cell. Nao was standing there with Masahito, Kuroi and Asa who
were holding Ryo and two others. Yuriko was also there next
to Nao.
"How did you know?" Hotaru said.
"I was lucky enough to see your conversation with the
girl. What a shame she didn't have the guts to come and face
her death with the others. Ryo will take her place this
Crescent Tide. You were such a traitor you know?" Nao said to
Ryo. Yuriko looked at her brother with a look of disgust and
hatred.
"I thought you were going to have me chose who would
die!" Hotaru said. Nao smiled and shook her head.
"I planned on it and I came over, but you were talking
to the leader of the Zettaishi through something," Nao
laughed. "So instead I chose that she would be the one to
die."
"Then you picked the right one," Ryo said. Nao looked
at him. On his belt was a small pack. He clicked it and the
face of Enzeru appeared over his own. Nao just laughed more.
"So that explains a lot," Nao said. "That explains why
you would always disappear on me for no particular reason. It
explains what that little thing is."
"Why did you do it?" Hotaru asked.
"The girl, Enzeru, was my mother..." Ryo said as
Masahito took him away. Hotaru turned to Nao.
"Why did you do that? He's just fighting for what he
believes is right," Hotaru spoke harshly. Nao's expression
didn't change.
"Crescent Tide is tomorrow night. You are my new
Chooser and you must be there, dressed in the same gown as
Kyoko. It will be transported to your home," Nao said. She
felt no pity.
* * *
Hotaru had cried herself to sleep that night. Ryo
would die tomorrow and it would be her fault. She had felt for
him unlike she had ever felt toward anyone, even Haruka and
Michiru. She knew she had to try and reason with Nao or two
people would die tomorrow.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes had aged
and her hair was much longer now. She was tired and her tear-
stained face was all that kept her from crying more. More than
anything she wanted to be near Ryo. But she soon realised that
she would be able to talk to him being the Chooser.
She dressed in a new outfit, provided by the sword and
walked out of the hotel. She ventured around town to see where
Ryo was. She was allowed a few minutes of privacy by the
guards.
"I'm sorry I got you into this mess, Ryo," Hotaru
apologised, holding his hands through the bars. "I didn't
mean to..."
"It's all right. I should have known Nao would be
watching me and you," he responded. "You still have the
pendant, right?"
"Hai," Hotaru said. "Ryo, you said Enzeru was your
mother."
"Her name was Enzeru Kitazen. She was sacrificed at
Crescent Tide when she was the Chooser. She gave up her own
life to save her sister's to repay a debt. She never told
anyone about us but before she was sacrificed she gave the
pendant to me, telling me to let it find the Senshi who
could set everyone free. My aunt has one too, but this it
the real thing."
"I guess I..."
"Don't worry about it. You must find some way to escape
and awaken the Senshi before it is too late," Ryo said. Then he
whispered, "I love you, and would do anything to protect you."
Masahito came in and dragged Hotaru from the room.
Hotaru found small ways to pass the time until
Crescent Tide. She got dressed up in the purple dress and
red headdress and walked toward the ceremony. She didn't
feel like joining the ceremony so instead she went to the
place where the sacrifice was soon to occur. When the
clock hit twelve, everything stopped. Masahito and Kuroi
led Ryo to the stage area.
"Ryo, you have been convicted of being a traitor," Nao
began. "You have abused the meaning of being an Eienko. Do you
understand?"
"Hai," Ryo said, emotionlessly.
"Do you completely understand your punishment?"
"Hai," Ryo again spoke.
"You understand your sacrifice will insure the youth of
the rest of us?"
"Hai," Ryo spoke.
"Is there anyone willing to take the place of this
man?" Nao asked. At that moment, Hotaru realised Nao's
intentions, and decided she would go right along with it.
"I will," Hotaru said. Heads turned to see Hotaru walk
up to the cross. "I will take the place of this man. He was
fighting for the planet, not for any group imparticular." Nao
smiled.
"Do you understand what this means?" Hotaru was asked.
Hotaru simply nodded.
"No Hotaru don't!" he said as they began to string her
to the cross. She smiled at him.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," Hotaru said,
though she had no idea of what she was going to do. Hotaru's
arms and legs were tied to the metal cross. She was then
strung up into the sky. Nao looked to the sky and began to
speak the ceremonial words.
"Kaminari, inabikari, kuru. I am your master. Obey my
words and strike the cross with all of your might," she said.
But Hotaru fidgeted and somehow got her henshin wand
into her hand. She spoke to herself, "Power of my Guardian
Star of Death and Rebirth. Give me power outside my
transformation. Give me the strength to use it." She screamed
then, right before the lighting struck the cross, "Silent
Wall!"
The lighting struck down and tried to hit the cross
several times. Each time Hotaru's defensive attack held up to
the force. As they began to lower the cross Hotaru she said
silently, "Saturn Planet Power, Make-up!" Purple light blinded
everyone and when they looked again, a figure cloaked in a
purple cape and hood stood atop the cross. In her hand was the
blade that could destroy an entire planet if necessary.
Her name was Sailorsaturn.