@------
Forever More
Chapter 6 -- Battles over, time for war
By: Bethany
Editor: Meara
Rated: PG
@------
I ran up the many stairs to the temple as fast as my legs would
carry me. There was a stitch in my side that was sending sharp pains
through out my stomach and chest, but still I ran. Even before we
turned the corner to start up to the temple, we could see the smoke in
the air. Thick, black smoke that told the tale of the devastation we
would find.
The fire trucks were parked on both the north and south streets,
some of their sirens still blaring out across the city. In the far
corner of the side lawn, sitting on the grass with her legs drawn up to
her chest, I found Rei. Next to her was Yuuichirou, silent tears
falling down his face, though he wiped at them in vain. He looked lost;
his eyes falling down on the Priestess as if longing to hold her, but
too frightened to move. I felt the stinging in my eyes long before I
reached her, falling to my knees and wrapping my arms around her
tightly. "Oh Rei-chan..."
Rei sat stiff in my hold for several seconds, dry sobs rising in
her throat that kept tears at bay. Her slim fingers dug painfully into
my arms that held her, her eye lids shut tightly over her violet eyes.
For several minutes I said nothing more, not daring to move, almost
fearful of seeing Rei in such pain. I sensed, rather than saw Mamo-chan
come up behind me, though he said nothing. I could feel my heart
breaking beneath my breast.
An hour later found us sitting side by side, our backs against a
tree trunk, watching as the firemen assured themselves that the fire
was indeed out. Mamo-chan and Yuuichirou were speaking with a couple of
firemen while Makoto, Ami, Rei, Minako and I stared at the smoldering
ashes of the once great temple in shock. Vaguely I remembered seeing
Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna somewhere, but I had paid them little
attention. Hotaru was watching my children.
The sun drifted further behind the city's horizon, time beyond
the walls of the temple moving on despite how it may have seemed frozen
for us. Hazily I could see Mamo-chan motioning for me to come to him
and I stood, saying nothing, no one asking questions as I walked up to
my husband. "Mamo-chan?"
"The police suspect arson," he deadpanned, wrapping both his arms
around me tightly, as if it pained him as much as it did me to see the
ruins. I couldn't even bring myself to feel properly stunned at his
words, though somehow I had found it easier to deal with thinking it
was an accident. My eyes wondered over to Rei, her eyes now dry, but
the pain still evident there. "They'll begin an investigation right
away."
I nodded, biting my bottom lip. "Do you think... Rei-chan..?"
"If she wants to stay at our house, that's fine. But I would
think she would want to stay at Mako's, it's quieter there," he added
as an afterthought. I had to agree with him there. Wearily we started
over to where everyone else sat under the tree.
"Rei-chan, you can stay at our--"
Before I could finish, however, Rei waved her hand impatiently in
the air. "No, thanks," she said faintly. "I'm just going to take care
of a few things, then get a motel room or something."
"Do you want us to go with you?" Minako asked, her blue eyes
looking as troubled and as lost as I felt. How do you comfort someone
who just lost their only parent figure and the only home they've known
in one fatal blow? I couldn't recall anything anyone ever said to me to
make the pain of my own personal losses any less, let alone think of
anything to say now.
"No, I'll be ok," Rei insisted, some of her usual fire bleeding
into her voice, leaving no room for argument. With a heavy heart I
allowed Mamo-chan to lead me to our car, taking one last longing look
back towards Rei. She was still staring at the ruins in quiet
disbelief.
When we got back home, Minako retired to her room almost
immediately. Mamo-chan looked in on the girls, both of which Hotaru had
put to sleep with no problem. Chibi-Usa had woken barely five minutes
after we left, and Hotaru had done her best to keep both my girls
occupied while they waited for our return. She left and Mamo-chan got
in the shower, leaving me to sit in the living room, pondering my
thoughts. They weren't happy ones.
I couldn't help but turn over the events of the last twenty four
hours over and over in my head. Had we learned anything useful, or were
there now more pieces to a puzzle that didn't fit together? Chibi-Usa
had been acting strangely, the Priest of Ellison was harboring in my
daughter's pure dream, this same Priest had somehow used the power of
his "prayers" to restore Mamo-chan's health, if only for a while, there
was four strange girls running around town, and Rei's temple suddenly
erupts into flames, taking her grandfather down with them. Nothing fit
together and my head was beginning to ache from the thoughts.
"Usagi-chan?"
I snapped my head back, my heart jumping in my chest at the sound
of the new voice. Luna was sitting across from me, Artemis beside her,
both looking extremely worried. I paused to catch my breath, one hand
gripping the edge of the seat tightly. "You scared me," I said finally,
not knowing exactly why I was so jumpy this evening. Of course, take a
look at what had happened in the last day...
"Gomen," Luna replied quickly. "Is Rei-chan ok?"
"As can be expected, I suppose," I replied, another stab of pain
puncturing my heart.
"What about you?" Luna said as she came closer to look up into my
face. I felt the sting of tears in my eyes.
"I'll be ok," I told her gently. "This is just a lot, you know?
And nothing fits together, there's no pattern. Everything is just
there, without explanation." I shook my head. I wasn't making any sense
and I knew it, though Luna nodded as if she understood. Sighing, I got
to my feet. "I'm going to go lay down."
I walked quietly to my room, checking first on Keri, who was
sleeping, and then Chibi-Usa who was laying in her bed watching
television. The shower was still running in the bathroom my husband and
I shared as I laid down. I tried to keep my mind blank as I laid there,
but couldn't. Minutes later I heard the shower cut off and Mamo-chan
came out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist. "You ok?" he asked
quietly as I opened my eyes and looked up at him.
"Sure," I lied, watching a droplet of water fall from one shining
black strain of hair to slide down his chest. I shivered despite
myself. There he stood, looking for all the world as if nothing was
wrong with him, when just a few short hours ago he could barely breath
without pain.
Just something else that didn't add up in the mystery that was my
life.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Two days later I stood next to Rei as the final words were said
and a fire lit under her grandfather's body. As the flames licked his
skin and the surrounding leaves, blocking him almost completely from
view, Rei finally broke down. I fell to my knees beside her as she
sobbed into her hands, her entire body shaking madly. I felt my own
tears, so well trapped for days, break forth and fall. As I watched the
flames rise higher in the sky, I vowed to find out who done this and
make them pay.
Many more people than I would have thought possible came to the
funeral. They lined the stairs that lead to the smoldering ruins of the
temple, they crowded along the sidewalks, leaving small tokens of
flowers or candles as a sign they had came. I was shocked to see people
I didn't know crying silently beside us.
The gathering afterwards seemed to last for hours on end. People
kept showing up, and not enough people left. Faces began to mingle
together, becoming blurry as they sought out Rei to touch her hand or
offer a kind word. Over the years of tourist, it seemed Rei's
grandfather had touched a lot of people's heart. So much so that I
don't think even Rei realized it.
Finally they started to diminish. I put my arm soothingly around
Rei, guiding her towards her car. She needed rest so badly her eyes
seemed to be shutting of their own accord. But like so many things of
late, it wouldn't be so easy. We had barely made it to the bottom of
the stairs when a long, slick black limousine pulled up to the curb. I
felt Rei stiffen beside me as she caught sight.
"Usagi, go on without me," Rei said faintly, her voice cracking
like she had long ago forgotten how to use it properly. Despite her
quivering voice, her hands balled into fists and a little spark of her
familiar fire came into her eyes.
"Is that your father?" I asked, not moving.
Rei nodded slowly, stepping away from my embrace. "I'll join you
in a moment," she said, more sternly this time. Unsure, I backed away,
keeping my eyes on the car as a man in a suite and tie emerged from the
driver's seat and went to the back of the vehicle to open the door.
Rei stood stiffly as the door opened and one shiny black shoe
emerged, followed by the man I presumed to be Rei's father. He was tall
with jet black hair that matched his suite and tie perfectly. His body
language suggested he was strictly professional as he walked up to Rei
and held his arms out. He dropped them quickly in embarrassment when
she stayed where she was.
"Rei!" he greeted, ignoring the way she stared at him. "Look how
beautiful you've grown. You look just like your mother," he beamed,
though I could see from where I stood that his words were nothing more
than that: words.
Rei scoffed, crossing her arms. "How dare you speak of my mother
when her father just died? How dare you have the guts to turn up today,
knowing you are four hours too late?"
"Now Rei, business--"
"Damn your business, Hino," she said coldly, her violet eyes
flashing with rage like I had only seen during a fight. Her waist
length black hair fanned around her as the wind blew. "And damn you. If
you step one foot on this holy ground, may the Gods strike you dead."
And with that she turned on her heel.
I felt my jaw drop just as Mamo-chan let out a low whistle to my
right. I blinked, making sure I wasn't seeing things. Nope, he was
still there and Rei was still walking away from him and towards her
car. Mamo-chan put his hand to the small of my back and urged me
forward. "Come on, let's go get the girls and follow her."
"I'm coming, too," Makoto mumbled beside me. She and I walked
over to get Keri and Chibi-Usa from Hotaru and went from there to the
car. I faintly heard Yuuichirou ask if he could get a ride with Haruka
to follow Rei. She must have agreed, because he followed her.
Rei's father tried to catch our eyes as we passed, but I fiercely
ignored him. He smiled down at Chibi-Usa, looking as if he would say
something to her, but I pulled her closer and walked faster. Looking
confused, she followed.
The darkening clouds over the sea line that had been edging
closer all morning now shadowed out the rays of the sun as I strapped
Keri and Chibi-Usa into the car and got in. Makoto got in her car,
parked behind ours, with Ami and Minako jumping in. We followed Rei,
thinking she would go to the hotel room she had been staying in. To my
surprise, she headed towards my house.
By the time we pulled into the drive the wind was blowing
something terrible. The clouds above looked angrier, threatening rain.
Pushing my hair out of my face, I unbuckled Keri and picked her up as
Mamo-chan helped Chibi-Usa out of her car seat. I watched as he heaved
Chibi-Usa up and noted with worry that he looked tired for doing so.
We had barely all gotten into the house when the clouds broke and
the rain started pouring. With a whimper Keri cuddled further into my
arms; Chibi-Usa's arms tightly encircling Mamo-chan's neck.
The storm continued to rage on as we all sat in my living room.
For a while no one spoke, causing the tension in the room to be so
thick you could nearly cut it with a knife. Finally Michiru spoke,
obliviously deciding our normal conversation was a safe bet. "Has your
computer picked up any strange activity, Ami-chan?"
The blue haired genius looked startled at being addressed before
shaking her head no. "Your mirror?" she questioned back.
"Actually, yes." Both Mamo-chan and I jerked our head up as she
continued. "Just this morning, to be precise. I'm not sure what it
means, though. It's nothing I can discern from the dark energy that has
been hovering over the city since the eclipse."
Keri picked up an ad from the paper and began flipping through it
idly. "Then how do you know it's different?" Mako-chan asked.
"It's... more subtle. The energy that has been lingering about is
actually stronger than this. But if the enemy thinks they are going to
do a sneak attack now; well, it's a little late, isn't it?" Michiru
practically mumbled the last part to herself. "We already know their
base is in the Black Moon Circus. What more information could their
be?"
"Much more, I'm afraid," Minako mumbled, pushing both her hands
through her long blonde hair and sighing deeply. "Someone those girls
called Nephelienia. Do you think she could be the master mind behind
all of this?"
"Did you say Nephelienia?" Artemis asked from the kitchen
doorway, Luna at his side. His blue eyes were intense and serious as he
walked forward.
"Yeah, why?" Minako asked.
The two cats sat down, looking gravely serious about something.
Chibi-Usa looked up curiously from where she sat wedged between Mamo-
chan and I. "Nephelienia was banned from this universe over two
thousand years ago, by Queen Serenity herself," Luna began. "She led a
group of rebels of the Silver Millieum that called themselves the Dark
Moon or something like that. They tried to cast shadows over the Moon
by blocking out the sun. Queen Serenity used the Silver Crystal and
banned her and her gang to the far ends of the universe where they
hadn't been heard of since."
"Until now, that is, by what you're saying," Luna continued. "If
this truly is Nephelienia, we are facing a huge threat to mankind."
"Again," Makoto mumbled under her breath so that only a few of us
heard her. "So, how did Queen Serenity defeat her last time? Can't we
just duplicate that process?"
"We could," Luna agreed. "If Usagi could tap into the true power
of the ginzuishou and not use all of her live force to do so."
"Any other options?" Mamo-chan asked, dismissing the last
suggestion as if it were never said.
"Find a weak spot in her power, perhaps," Artemis replied. He
didn't look to convinced this idea would work.
"What about the golden crystal and Helios?" Chibi-Usa mumbled,
looking scared as the adults of the room sought out ways to dismember
another enemy.
Mamo-chan moved Chibi-Usa up on his lap, brushing a piece of
strawberry blonde hair away from her face. "Chibi-Usa, do you know
anything that could help us?"
Her blue eyes huge, my daughter bit her lip, but didn't respond.
I reached over, taking her hand in mine. "It's ok sweetie, we only want
to help him, you know that. You can tell us."
"But I promised Mama, and you told me not to make a promise I
can't keep."
That was good and all, and a part of me was thrilled she had been
listening to me, but the larger part was wondering how to explain that
it was ok to break a promise this time. The outlook didn't bode well on
this one. Thank God her father thought to step in.
"Chibi-Usa, if someone was planning on hurting me or your Mama,
and made you promise not to tell, would you tell?"
I could see Chibi-Usa's mind working as she bit her bottom lip
and thought about this. She nodded her head yes, sending pink curls
bouncing around. "Yes, because that would mean you would be hurt and I
could have stopped it."
I grinned, but Mamo-chan gave me a pointed look and brought
Chibi-Usa's attention back to him. "Now, whatever Helios told you could
help us stop that evil lady from hurting everyone on Earth. So it's ok
to break this promise, you see?"
After a silent moment that I sincerely thought might go on
forever, Chibi-Usa nodded slowly, still gnawing on her bottom lip.
"Helios told me that the evil lady in the circus has his body trapped
because she wants the, eh, what was that rock again Mama?"
"The golden crystal," I supplied helpfully and she nodded.
"She wants to use it and make shadows here like in Helios'
home." Done, Chibi-Usa burrowed back in Mamo-chan's arms, looking cross
between happy she had been help and upset she had broke a promise.
Unfortunately, the only thing she knew was what we already knew,
except the part about where Helios' body was being kept. Hotaru got up,
coming to kneel before Mamo-chan and I so that she was on Chibi-Usa's
level. "Chibi-Usa-chan, I haven't seen your room since your Mama fixed
it up. Would you show it to me?"
"Go on," I told her when she looked at me with a hopeful
expression. I couldn't blame her for wanting to get out of this
stressful room; not to mention I didn't want her hearing what we had to
discuss now. Chibi-Usa got down, taking Hotaru's hand and the two
disappeared down the hall.
I readjusted Keri on my lap and she sat, staring intently at the
paper in her hand while sucking on her pacifier. Mamo-chan stared hard
at the two of us for a moment, looking thoughtful.
"Obviously, the enemies headquarters is in this Dark Moon
Circus," Setsuna said, coming further into the room and taking the seat
that Hotaru had just abandoned. She crossed her legs, idly swinging her
foot a little. "So that would be the reasonable place to start. We need
to plan a way to get in--" She was cut sharply off by the beeping of
Ami's computer.
Looking alarmed, Ami pulled her handheld computer out of her
purse and flipped it open. At the same moment I noticed Mamo-chan reach
up and grab his chest, trying not to let me see the intense pain on his
face.
"Looks like that might have been taken care of for us," Ami said
urgently, typing on her computer. "We're being sent a message from
Nephelienia as we speak."
She typed intensely for a moment, all the while Mamo-chan
glimpsed and rubbed his chest. I chewed on my bottom lip, waiting
impatiently. For a few tense moments Ami said nothing until Minako
finally said what I was getting ready to: "Well? What's going on?"
"She wants the Sailor Senshi to come outside."
Puzzled, I glanced out the window, but it was dark. Too dark, in
my opinion, since it was roughly five in the afternoon. I put Keri down
on the couch and went to the window. There seemed to be a film covering
the glass, blocking out the sun. "What's going on?"
"I don't know, but I say we go find out," Makoto said, jumping to
her feet and pulling out her heshion stick.
"It's a trap," Mamo-chan told us weakly, bending over slightly.
"It's a trap to lure you out." He glimpsed, nearly doubling over.
A silent battle began to go on in my heart, whether I should stay
here or walk into what was without a doubt a trap. I meet Mamo-chan's
steel blue eyes and knew instantly what had to be done. Pulling out my
crystal, I mouthed 'I love you' to my husband. "Moon-Crystal Power --
Make-UP!"
@------
I stood in my foyer for a moment, trying to clear my mind.
Distantly in the house I could still hear Keri crying for me, and
Chibi-Usa trying to console her. With one last look back into the
darkness where my husband and children were, I swallowed and nodded my
head to the eight Senshi that stood around me.
"Ready?"
I received eight nods as I reached for the door handle. As soon
as the door opened a gust of icy cold wind burst into the house. We
pushed our way out, shutting and locking the door behind us.
The city was completely black, not even the street lamps could
penetrate the darkness. I could faintly hear Mercury behind me, typing
on her computer as we walked. She jogged a little to catch up with me,
nodding towards my mailbox as we past. "Spider webs," she said simply,
running her finger across the top of it. "It's nothing more than thick
spider webs covering everything, blocking out the light."
"Except for that," Saturn interrupted, pointing towards town.
Sure enough there was a dim light shining into the sky where the
Dark Moon circus tent resided, making everything around it turn a dull
gray color. "Guess that's where we're headed, eh?" Jupiter mumbled.
We took to the roof tops in a run, heading for the center of
town. As we drew nearer the muffled sound of humming reached our ears.
In the center of the city, leading to the large ship, was lines of the
strangest looking circus creatures I had ever seen. They hummed a quick
tune as we drew closer, as if showing us the way we were to go.
Jumping back down to the Earth, we walked along the path, drawing
nearer and nearer to the ship. With my fists drawn, I determinedly kept
in pace with the other Senshi until we reached the end of the line, and
thus the entrance to the circus tent. Hanging from swings that were
hanging from thin air as far as I could see, were the four girls Minako
and I had seen at the circus not even a week ago.
"Welcome Sailor Senshi," CereCere said politely, giggling a
little. "Our Queen awaits you, as does hell."
--End Chapter 6.
Whew!! Thought I'd never get that done. Hope everyone liked it, this
story is almost done. The next, and last, story in the series has
already been started and if I can pull off what I'm thinking of
writing, it should be an ok read ^^;
Usual disclaimer entered here. If you read, please review! I love
hearing thoughts, suggestions and other such stuff. :)
3 Bethany
04.06.03
Forever More
Chapter 6 -- Battles over, time for war
By: Bethany
Editor: Meara
Rated: PG
@------
I ran up the many stairs to the temple as fast as my legs would
carry me. There was a stitch in my side that was sending sharp pains
through out my stomach and chest, but still I ran. Even before we
turned the corner to start up to the temple, we could see the smoke in
the air. Thick, black smoke that told the tale of the devastation we
would find.
The fire trucks were parked on both the north and south streets,
some of their sirens still blaring out across the city. In the far
corner of the side lawn, sitting on the grass with her legs drawn up to
her chest, I found Rei. Next to her was Yuuichirou, silent tears
falling down his face, though he wiped at them in vain. He looked lost;
his eyes falling down on the Priestess as if longing to hold her, but
too frightened to move. I felt the stinging in my eyes long before I
reached her, falling to my knees and wrapping my arms around her
tightly. "Oh Rei-chan..."
Rei sat stiff in my hold for several seconds, dry sobs rising in
her throat that kept tears at bay. Her slim fingers dug painfully into
my arms that held her, her eye lids shut tightly over her violet eyes.
For several minutes I said nothing more, not daring to move, almost
fearful of seeing Rei in such pain. I sensed, rather than saw Mamo-chan
come up behind me, though he said nothing. I could feel my heart
breaking beneath my breast.
An hour later found us sitting side by side, our backs against a
tree trunk, watching as the firemen assured themselves that the fire
was indeed out. Mamo-chan and Yuuichirou were speaking with a couple of
firemen while Makoto, Ami, Rei, Minako and I stared at the smoldering
ashes of the once great temple in shock. Vaguely I remembered seeing
Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna somewhere, but I had paid them little
attention. Hotaru was watching my children.
The sun drifted further behind the city's horizon, time beyond
the walls of the temple moving on despite how it may have seemed frozen
for us. Hazily I could see Mamo-chan motioning for me to come to him
and I stood, saying nothing, no one asking questions as I walked up to
my husband. "Mamo-chan?"
"The police suspect arson," he deadpanned, wrapping both his arms
around me tightly, as if it pained him as much as it did me to see the
ruins. I couldn't even bring myself to feel properly stunned at his
words, though somehow I had found it easier to deal with thinking it
was an accident. My eyes wondered over to Rei, her eyes now dry, but
the pain still evident there. "They'll begin an investigation right
away."
I nodded, biting my bottom lip. "Do you think... Rei-chan..?"
"If she wants to stay at our house, that's fine. But I would
think she would want to stay at Mako's, it's quieter there," he added
as an afterthought. I had to agree with him there. Wearily we started
over to where everyone else sat under the tree.
"Rei-chan, you can stay at our--"
Before I could finish, however, Rei waved her hand impatiently in
the air. "No, thanks," she said faintly. "I'm just going to take care
of a few things, then get a motel room or something."
"Do you want us to go with you?" Minako asked, her blue eyes
looking as troubled and as lost as I felt. How do you comfort someone
who just lost their only parent figure and the only home they've known
in one fatal blow? I couldn't recall anything anyone ever said to me to
make the pain of my own personal losses any less, let alone think of
anything to say now.
"No, I'll be ok," Rei insisted, some of her usual fire bleeding
into her voice, leaving no room for argument. With a heavy heart I
allowed Mamo-chan to lead me to our car, taking one last longing look
back towards Rei. She was still staring at the ruins in quiet
disbelief.
When we got back home, Minako retired to her room almost
immediately. Mamo-chan looked in on the girls, both of which Hotaru had
put to sleep with no problem. Chibi-Usa had woken barely five minutes
after we left, and Hotaru had done her best to keep both my girls
occupied while they waited for our return. She left and Mamo-chan got
in the shower, leaving me to sit in the living room, pondering my
thoughts. They weren't happy ones.
I couldn't help but turn over the events of the last twenty four
hours over and over in my head. Had we learned anything useful, or were
there now more pieces to a puzzle that didn't fit together? Chibi-Usa
had been acting strangely, the Priest of Ellison was harboring in my
daughter's pure dream, this same Priest had somehow used the power of
his "prayers" to restore Mamo-chan's health, if only for a while, there
was four strange girls running around town, and Rei's temple suddenly
erupts into flames, taking her grandfather down with them. Nothing fit
together and my head was beginning to ache from the thoughts.
"Usagi-chan?"
I snapped my head back, my heart jumping in my chest at the sound
of the new voice. Luna was sitting across from me, Artemis beside her,
both looking extremely worried. I paused to catch my breath, one hand
gripping the edge of the seat tightly. "You scared me," I said finally,
not knowing exactly why I was so jumpy this evening. Of course, take a
look at what had happened in the last day...
"Gomen," Luna replied quickly. "Is Rei-chan ok?"
"As can be expected, I suppose," I replied, another stab of pain
puncturing my heart.
"What about you?" Luna said as she came closer to look up into my
face. I felt the sting of tears in my eyes.
"I'll be ok," I told her gently. "This is just a lot, you know?
And nothing fits together, there's no pattern. Everything is just
there, without explanation." I shook my head. I wasn't making any sense
and I knew it, though Luna nodded as if she understood. Sighing, I got
to my feet. "I'm going to go lay down."
I walked quietly to my room, checking first on Keri, who was
sleeping, and then Chibi-Usa who was laying in her bed watching
television. The shower was still running in the bathroom my husband and
I shared as I laid down. I tried to keep my mind blank as I laid there,
but couldn't. Minutes later I heard the shower cut off and Mamo-chan
came out of the bathroom, a towel around his waist. "You ok?" he asked
quietly as I opened my eyes and looked up at him.
"Sure," I lied, watching a droplet of water fall from one shining
black strain of hair to slide down his chest. I shivered despite
myself. There he stood, looking for all the world as if nothing was
wrong with him, when just a few short hours ago he could barely breath
without pain.
Just something else that didn't add up in the mystery that was my
life.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Two days later I stood next to Rei as the final words were said
and a fire lit under her grandfather's body. As the flames licked his
skin and the surrounding leaves, blocking him almost completely from
view, Rei finally broke down. I fell to my knees beside her as she
sobbed into her hands, her entire body shaking madly. I felt my own
tears, so well trapped for days, break forth and fall. As I watched the
flames rise higher in the sky, I vowed to find out who done this and
make them pay.
Many more people than I would have thought possible came to the
funeral. They lined the stairs that lead to the smoldering ruins of the
temple, they crowded along the sidewalks, leaving small tokens of
flowers or candles as a sign they had came. I was shocked to see people
I didn't know crying silently beside us.
The gathering afterwards seemed to last for hours on end. People
kept showing up, and not enough people left. Faces began to mingle
together, becoming blurry as they sought out Rei to touch her hand or
offer a kind word. Over the years of tourist, it seemed Rei's
grandfather had touched a lot of people's heart. So much so that I
don't think even Rei realized it.
Finally they started to diminish. I put my arm soothingly around
Rei, guiding her towards her car. She needed rest so badly her eyes
seemed to be shutting of their own accord. But like so many things of
late, it wouldn't be so easy. We had barely made it to the bottom of
the stairs when a long, slick black limousine pulled up to the curb. I
felt Rei stiffen beside me as she caught sight.
"Usagi, go on without me," Rei said faintly, her voice cracking
like she had long ago forgotten how to use it properly. Despite her
quivering voice, her hands balled into fists and a little spark of her
familiar fire came into her eyes.
"Is that your father?" I asked, not moving.
Rei nodded slowly, stepping away from my embrace. "I'll join you
in a moment," she said, more sternly this time. Unsure, I backed away,
keeping my eyes on the car as a man in a suite and tie emerged from the
driver's seat and went to the back of the vehicle to open the door.
Rei stood stiffly as the door opened and one shiny black shoe
emerged, followed by the man I presumed to be Rei's father. He was tall
with jet black hair that matched his suite and tie perfectly. His body
language suggested he was strictly professional as he walked up to Rei
and held his arms out. He dropped them quickly in embarrassment when
she stayed where she was.
"Rei!" he greeted, ignoring the way she stared at him. "Look how
beautiful you've grown. You look just like your mother," he beamed,
though I could see from where I stood that his words were nothing more
than that: words.
Rei scoffed, crossing her arms. "How dare you speak of my mother
when her father just died? How dare you have the guts to turn up today,
knowing you are four hours too late?"
"Now Rei, business--"
"Damn your business, Hino," she said coldly, her violet eyes
flashing with rage like I had only seen during a fight. Her waist
length black hair fanned around her as the wind blew. "And damn you. If
you step one foot on this holy ground, may the Gods strike you dead."
And with that she turned on her heel.
I felt my jaw drop just as Mamo-chan let out a low whistle to my
right. I blinked, making sure I wasn't seeing things. Nope, he was
still there and Rei was still walking away from him and towards her
car. Mamo-chan put his hand to the small of my back and urged me
forward. "Come on, let's go get the girls and follow her."
"I'm coming, too," Makoto mumbled beside me. She and I walked
over to get Keri and Chibi-Usa from Hotaru and went from there to the
car. I faintly heard Yuuichirou ask if he could get a ride with Haruka
to follow Rei. She must have agreed, because he followed her.
Rei's father tried to catch our eyes as we passed, but I fiercely
ignored him. He smiled down at Chibi-Usa, looking as if he would say
something to her, but I pulled her closer and walked faster. Looking
confused, she followed.
The darkening clouds over the sea line that had been edging
closer all morning now shadowed out the rays of the sun as I strapped
Keri and Chibi-Usa into the car and got in. Makoto got in her car,
parked behind ours, with Ami and Minako jumping in. We followed Rei,
thinking she would go to the hotel room she had been staying in. To my
surprise, she headed towards my house.
By the time we pulled into the drive the wind was blowing
something terrible. The clouds above looked angrier, threatening rain.
Pushing my hair out of my face, I unbuckled Keri and picked her up as
Mamo-chan helped Chibi-Usa out of her car seat. I watched as he heaved
Chibi-Usa up and noted with worry that he looked tired for doing so.
We had barely all gotten into the house when the clouds broke and
the rain started pouring. With a whimper Keri cuddled further into my
arms; Chibi-Usa's arms tightly encircling Mamo-chan's neck.
The storm continued to rage on as we all sat in my living room.
For a while no one spoke, causing the tension in the room to be so
thick you could nearly cut it with a knife. Finally Michiru spoke,
obliviously deciding our normal conversation was a safe bet. "Has your
computer picked up any strange activity, Ami-chan?"
The blue haired genius looked startled at being addressed before
shaking her head no. "Your mirror?" she questioned back.
"Actually, yes." Both Mamo-chan and I jerked our head up as she
continued. "Just this morning, to be precise. I'm not sure what it
means, though. It's nothing I can discern from the dark energy that has
been hovering over the city since the eclipse."
Keri picked up an ad from the paper and began flipping through it
idly. "Then how do you know it's different?" Mako-chan asked.
"It's... more subtle. The energy that has been lingering about is
actually stronger than this. But if the enemy thinks they are going to
do a sneak attack now; well, it's a little late, isn't it?" Michiru
practically mumbled the last part to herself. "We already know their
base is in the Black Moon Circus. What more information could their
be?"
"Much more, I'm afraid," Minako mumbled, pushing both her hands
through her long blonde hair and sighing deeply. "Someone those girls
called Nephelienia. Do you think she could be the master mind behind
all of this?"
"Did you say Nephelienia?" Artemis asked from the kitchen
doorway, Luna at his side. His blue eyes were intense and serious as he
walked forward.
"Yeah, why?" Minako asked.
The two cats sat down, looking gravely serious about something.
Chibi-Usa looked up curiously from where she sat wedged between Mamo-
chan and I. "Nephelienia was banned from this universe over two
thousand years ago, by Queen Serenity herself," Luna began. "She led a
group of rebels of the Silver Millieum that called themselves the Dark
Moon or something like that. They tried to cast shadows over the Moon
by blocking out the sun. Queen Serenity used the Silver Crystal and
banned her and her gang to the far ends of the universe where they
hadn't been heard of since."
"Until now, that is, by what you're saying," Luna continued. "If
this truly is Nephelienia, we are facing a huge threat to mankind."
"Again," Makoto mumbled under her breath so that only a few of us
heard her. "So, how did Queen Serenity defeat her last time? Can't we
just duplicate that process?"
"We could," Luna agreed. "If Usagi could tap into the true power
of the ginzuishou and not use all of her live force to do so."
"Any other options?" Mamo-chan asked, dismissing the last
suggestion as if it were never said.
"Find a weak spot in her power, perhaps," Artemis replied. He
didn't look to convinced this idea would work.
"What about the golden crystal and Helios?" Chibi-Usa mumbled,
looking scared as the adults of the room sought out ways to dismember
another enemy.
Mamo-chan moved Chibi-Usa up on his lap, brushing a piece of
strawberry blonde hair away from her face. "Chibi-Usa, do you know
anything that could help us?"
Her blue eyes huge, my daughter bit her lip, but didn't respond.
I reached over, taking her hand in mine. "It's ok sweetie, we only want
to help him, you know that. You can tell us."
"But I promised Mama, and you told me not to make a promise I
can't keep."
That was good and all, and a part of me was thrilled she had been
listening to me, but the larger part was wondering how to explain that
it was ok to break a promise this time. The outlook didn't bode well on
this one. Thank God her father thought to step in.
"Chibi-Usa, if someone was planning on hurting me or your Mama,
and made you promise not to tell, would you tell?"
I could see Chibi-Usa's mind working as she bit her bottom lip
and thought about this. She nodded her head yes, sending pink curls
bouncing around. "Yes, because that would mean you would be hurt and I
could have stopped it."
I grinned, but Mamo-chan gave me a pointed look and brought
Chibi-Usa's attention back to him. "Now, whatever Helios told you could
help us stop that evil lady from hurting everyone on Earth. So it's ok
to break this promise, you see?"
After a silent moment that I sincerely thought might go on
forever, Chibi-Usa nodded slowly, still gnawing on her bottom lip.
"Helios told me that the evil lady in the circus has his body trapped
because she wants the, eh, what was that rock again Mama?"
"The golden crystal," I supplied helpfully and she nodded.
"She wants to use it and make shadows here like in Helios'
home." Done, Chibi-Usa burrowed back in Mamo-chan's arms, looking cross
between happy she had been help and upset she had broke a promise.
Unfortunately, the only thing she knew was what we already knew,
except the part about where Helios' body was being kept. Hotaru got up,
coming to kneel before Mamo-chan and I so that she was on Chibi-Usa's
level. "Chibi-Usa-chan, I haven't seen your room since your Mama fixed
it up. Would you show it to me?"
"Go on," I told her when she looked at me with a hopeful
expression. I couldn't blame her for wanting to get out of this
stressful room; not to mention I didn't want her hearing what we had to
discuss now. Chibi-Usa got down, taking Hotaru's hand and the two
disappeared down the hall.
I readjusted Keri on my lap and she sat, staring intently at the
paper in her hand while sucking on her pacifier. Mamo-chan stared hard
at the two of us for a moment, looking thoughtful.
"Obviously, the enemies headquarters is in this Dark Moon
Circus," Setsuna said, coming further into the room and taking the seat
that Hotaru had just abandoned. She crossed her legs, idly swinging her
foot a little. "So that would be the reasonable place to start. We need
to plan a way to get in--" She was cut sharply off by the beeping of
Ami's computer.
Looking alarmed, Ami pulled her handheld computer out of her
purse and flipped it open. At the same moment I noticed Mamo-chan reach
up and grab his chest, trying not to let me see the intense pain on his
face.
"Looks like that might have been taken care of for us," Ami said
urgently, typing on her computer. "We're being sent a message from
Nephelienia as we speak."
She typed intensely for a moment, all the while Mamo-chan
glimpsed and rubbed his chest. I chewed on my bottom lip, waiting
impatiently. For a few tense moments Ami said nothing until Minako
finally said what I was getting ready to: "Well? What's going on?"
"She wants the Sailor Senshi to come outside."
Puzzled, I glanced out the window, but it was dark. Too dark, in
my opinion, since it was roughly five in the afternoon. I put Keri down
on the couch and went to the window. There seemed to be a film covering
the glass, blocking out the sun. "What's going on?"
"I don't know, but I say we go find out," Makoto said, jumping to
her feet and pulling out her heshion stick.
"It's a trap," Mamo-chan told us weakly, bending over slightly.
"It's a trap to lure you out." He glimpsed, nearly doubling over.
A silent battle began to go on in my heart, whether I should stay
here or walk into what was without a doubt a trap. I meet Mamo-chan's
steel blue eyes and knew instantly what had to be done. Pulling out my
crystal, I mouthed 'I love you' to my husband. "Moon-Crystal Power --
Make-UP!"
@------
I stood in my foyer for a moment, trying to clear my mind.
Distantly in the house I could still hear Keri crying for me, and
Chibi-Usa trying to console her. With one last look back into the
darkness where my husband and children were, I swallowed and nodded my
head to the eight Senshi that stood around me.
"Ready?"
I received eight nods as I reached for the door handle. As soon
as the door opened a gust of icy cold wind burst into the house. We
pushed our way out, shutting and locking the door behind us.
The city was completely black, not even the street lamps could
penetrate the darkness. I could faintly hear Mercury behind me, typing
on her computer as we walked. She jogged a little to catch up with me,
nodding towards my mailbox as we past. "Spider webs," she said simply,
running her finger across the top of it. "It's nothing more than thick
spider webs covering everything, blocking out the light."
"Except for that," Saturn interrupted, pointing towards town.
Sure enough there was a dim light shining into the sky where the
Dark Moon circus tent resided, making everything around it turn a dull
gray color. "Guess that's where we're headed, eh?" Jupiter mumbled.
We took to the roof tops in a run, heading for the center of
town. As we drew nearer the muffled sound of humming reached our ears.
In the center of the city, leading to the large ship, was lines of the
strangest looking circus creatures I had ever seen. They hummed a quick
tune as we drew closer, as if showing us the way we were to go.
Jumping back down to the Earth, we walked along the path, drawing
nearer and nearer to the ship. With my fists drawn, I determinedly kept
in pace with the other Senshi until we reached the end of the line, and
thus the entrance to the circus tent. Hanging from swings that were
hanging from thin air as far as I could see, were the four girls Minako
and I had seen at the circus not even a week ago.
"Welcome Sailor Senshi," CereCere said politely, giggling a
little. "Our Queen awaits you, as does hell."
--End Chapter 6.
Whew!! Thought I'd never get that done. Hope everyone liked it, this
story is almost done. The next, and last, story in the series has
already been started and if I can pull off what I'm thinking of
writing, it should be an ok read ^^;
Usual disclaimer entered here. If you read, please review! I love
hearing thoughts, suggestions and other such stuff. :)
3 Bethany
04.06.03