¨Author's note:¨ I'm sorry about the amount of time that it took for me to update this.  Work and school took up a lot of my time.  At any rate, I hope that you enjoy the final few chapters of Quest for the Orbs

Orion Saga

Part 1

Quest for the Orbs

Chapter 22: Orion's Promise

            Zentora walks into the community center to see her instructor in the main hall with two other students.  The students are hanging a banner as he watches them.  He notices Zentora from the corner of his eye.  "Zentora-chan.  Hello."

            "Hello, Akiyama-san."  She looks at the banner and the room around them.  For the past two weeks, they had been decorating for the art show to take place that weekend. 

            He nods to one of the students on the ladder before speaking again.  "Everything id ready for Saturday."

            "You sound very excited about it."

            The man smiles.  "I am.  I've been looking forward to this for a long time.  This is a great chance for the community as well as the students.  I want to show everyone just how important art is and how it can tie us all together."

            Zentora nods solemnly at the words of this passionate man.  Instead of saying anything else, she glances around at a few of the paintings.

            Akiyama looks at her.  "Were you inviting anyone, Zentora-chan?  Your parents perhaps?"

            She shakes her head.  "They won't be able to make it.  Two of my other friends have agreed to come though.  I've already given their names to the office."

            "Good.  I'll see you on Saturday then."

¨~¨~¨~¨

 "It's really nice of you to have invited us to your exhibit, Zentora-chan.  Michiru is smiling at the younger girl when they enter the community center.

Zentora lowers her head.  "Arigatou.  But it it's a group showing.  I only have a few drawings and paintings here."

The soft voice answers, "Still, that's very good."  Michiru is holding Haruka's elbow in her own.  The tall blonde smirks at her girlfriend.  Both of them are dressed for a night on the town.  Michiru in a pale blue dress setting off her teal hair and Haruka in a pair of black pants and jacket with a white shirt underneath.

Zentora smoothes her own dress nervously.  It is a v-necked sleeveless in a purple so dark it is nearly black.  Watching intently, Haruka finally speaks.  "Were you going to show us around?"

Zentora looks up at her with red cheeks.  "Oh, sure.  Come on."  Michiru smiles as she and Haruka follow.

¨~¨~¨~¨

            "Isn't it nice to get out without Chibi-Usa once in a while?"  Usagi clings to Mamoru's arm.

            "It is relaxing for just the two of us to be together.  "We should do this more often."  He opens the door to the community center and Usagi walks in.

¨~¨~¨~¨

            Haruka and Michiru eventually make their way over to Zentora's work.  Silently, Zentora waits for their opinion. 

Michiru is the first to speak; yet it is barely above a whisper.  "They're beautiful…but they all seem so sad."   

            Haruka continues to mull over each piece in silence, unsure of what to say.  As the blue-gray eyes scan carefully over each of them, they spy a painting that makes them stop.  Gently, her long fingers reach out to Michiru to get her attention.  When the teal-haired young woman looks up, she covers her mouth.

            They are looking at a young girl in a cage on a star.  The colors of the painting swirl about her and her face is hidden.  Yet, it is obvious that to the viewers that the girl is lonely and desperate. 

            Haruka speaks almost to herself.  "It's incredible."

            The lucid eyes gaze at them both with patient worry.  She has been waiting for them to say something.  So far, they have only turned to each other occasionally to whisper.  She addresses them softly.  "Haruka-san, Michiru-san?"

 ¨~¨~¨~¨

As they turn around, they hear someone calling Zentora's name. 

Akiyama walks up to the three young women.  "Zentora-chan.  We're about to serve the refreshments.  Why don't you and your friends come out into the garden?"

"Yes, Akiyama-sensei."

            Lingering a little longer, Haruka looks up when one of the other instructors walks over to her.  "Very nice isn't it.  This young artist is one of our better students.  That's why Akiyama-san is so intent on this program.  To help other artists like her show their work.  It's a very special thing he's doing."

            Nodding, Haruka leaves to go to the others.

¨~¨~¨~¨

            A woman stands under a tree watching the proceedings.  Her fiery red hair is braided down her back.  She keeps her catlike nose hidden behind a glass of wine and listens as Akiyama prepares a toast.

¨~¨~¨~¨

            Mamoru stops in front of a painting.  Usagi joins him after a few moments with a small plate full of cookies.  Happily, she stands next to him munching them.  "Mamo-chan, they have great snacks here.  But I really don't get some of these paintings.  I mean, they're pretty and everything, but-"  When she sees that he isn't paying attention, she stops talking.  "Mamo-chan?  What's wrong?"

            "Look at the name plate on that painting, Usa-chan."

            She leans on his arm and looks at the painting.  "It's so pretty…the nameplate says Johnson Zentora."  She looks up at Mamoru.  "Is it our Zentora."

            "Johnson isn't a Japanese name.  It has to be." 

            Usagi looks at the painting with newfound interest.  Another surprise from the quiet girl.  She seems to be full of secrets.  But how dangerous would each one be when it surfaced?

            A scream from the garden pulls Usagi from her thoughts.  She looks at Mamoru.  "We should transform and see what's going on."

¨~¨~¨~¨

            Akiyama is in the middle of his toast when he calls for Zentora and another student to stand with him.  As he is toasting to their success as artists and the community's new art program, a youma appears knocking him to the ground.  The other student manages to get away, but Zentora is knocked down as well.  She watches from the ground as her mentor is slowly drained.  The circle that had been around them parts as people try to get away from the monster.  Zentora is staring in shock when she feels the strong hands on her arms pulling her up.  "Come on, Zentora-chan.  We need to change and help him."  Zentora looks at Haruka and nods.  The three of them take this chance to transform.

¨~¨~¨~¨

            Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen arrive outside to see Sailor Orion with Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune.  The planetary senshi are waiting to see what the star soldier will do.  Slowly, the third orb begins to show itself.  As Orion goes for it, the two outer soldiers destroy the monster.

            "Thank-you."  The silent senshi looks around for any sign of the youma's master or any others like it.  When she is sure that no one else is there, she kneels next to Akiyama and leans over him.  Gently kissing his cheek, she whispers, "I'm sorry."  Backing away from him, she cradles the orb one hand while lifting the other to her lips.

            Sailor Moon watches curiously and speaks for the first time, alerting the other three senshi of her presence.  "Orion, what are you doing?  He'll be alright won't he?"

            The star soldier ignores her and kisses her hand forming the star.  Tears begin to well up in the small eyes, but she will not let them fall.  "Orion…Star-shock…"

            "Orion!  No!!"

            The attack is not finished.  Sailor Orion finds herself pinned to the ground beneath Sailor Uranus and Tuxedo Kamen.

            Sailor Moon looks at them.  "Sailor Orion.  What are you-"

            "Let me go!  Before he wakes up!"  She struggles to break free.

            "But, Orion.  You can't."

            The purple clad senshi shakes her head.  Her voice begins to waver when she speaks.  "Let me kill him!  Please."

            Uranus looks at the man lying unconscious on the ground a few yards away.  Sailor Neptune speaks up.  "It'll be alright, Zentora-chan.  You said so yourself."

            When she speaks, everyone including Madame Chimera can clearly see the tears.  "Baka.  You don't understand.  It'd be better to let him die than to face what'll happen when he wakes up.  I'm begging you.  Please…let me go."

            Uranus closes her eyes as these words sink in.  Tuxedo Kamen looks at Sailor Moon.  The tiny leader looks at the hysterical senshi before her.  Neptune having taken the orb, when Orion was tackled, stands there silently.

            Sailor Moon's voice is soft when she speaks.  "I'm sorry.  But I can't let you do that.  I won't interfere with your mission, but I won't let you take an innocent life."  She walks away from them and over to the now semiconscious Akiyama-sensei.  "He's waking up.  Let's go."

            She allows the others to release Orion and the four of them walk into the building.  Tuxedo Kamen is helping Akiyama. 

            Sailor Orion remains outside with the orb, staring into space.  After a few moments, she stands to detransform and goes inside.

¨~¨~¨~¨

            Zentora solemnly makes her way home in silence when she hears her name.  She turns to see the tall racer jogging up to her.  "Zentora-chan."

            The younger girl looks away, ashamed of what had just happened.  "Haruka-san.  I apologize.  Please, tell Usagi that I-"

            The blue-gray eyes peer at the brown face, eyes hidden beneath the wall of hair.  Haruka listens to her as she stumbles, trying to find the right words to explain what she had tried to do.  Haruka is beginning to understand just how important the younger girl is to her as well as how important she is to Zentora.  She places a hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Zentora-chan, it's okay.  I think I'm beginning to understand.  I've been there too.  It's alright."

            The soft brown eyes are now on her.  "But I didn't mean to-"

            "Baka."  Haruka pulls the girl into a hug and their lips meet.

¨~¨~¨~¨

            Zentora is shocked at first, but she eventually relaxes in her friend's arms.  She is the first to break away, gently pulling her mouth from Haruka's.  She can feel herself beginning to blush as she looks at the ground.

            Haruka looks at her, suddenly realizing what she has just done.  "Zentora-chan.  Gomen ne, I-"

            The young woman looks up at her friend.  "It…it's okay.  I have to go now."

            Haruka watches her as she walks down the street.