Manga: Chidaruma Tenshi (Angel covered in blood) by Tsukino Usagi
Excerpt:
I wonder why I started loving you. There were others to choose from.
a girl is lying on her bed, her room seems typical with posters hanging on the walls>
Was it because I was lonely? Because I needed something?
She sits up and looks out the window>
I should have died that day in the ocean.
She clasps a bottle in her hand marked "For restlessness">
But I couldn't let myself die. I was afraid, so very afraid. I was scared of dying. If it weren't for you I'd be stronger. If it weren't for you I'd have lived a happy life. If it weren't for you I would be alive tomorrow.
She lies down and a single tear makes its way down her cheek. She closes her eyes.>
"RUN" screamed Chibiusa. She was running down the road as trees and streetlights passed by in a blur. She could hear Hotaru a few steps behind her, occasionally attacking to keep them from being caught. Her brain raced with ideas. What should they do? They couldn't run forever. Hotaru wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. 'I have to think fast. I can't let anything happen to her. She can faint with a little overexertion. This could kill her.' Panting, Chibiusa slowed down as an idea came to her.
"Usagi! What are you doing? Run." screamed Hotaru pushing the smaller girl along.
"Wait. I have an idea. How far can you run without killing yourself?" asked Chibiusa with a grin on her face. It wouldn't do to think of the risk she was taking.
"Another ten minutes at this speed" replied Hotaru, her muscles already aching.
"I'll give you five. Double your speed. Run towards the Hikawa Jinja. Don't ask questions. Just do it." Nodding an affirmative, Hotaru took off in the opposite direction towards the shrine. 'She's safe' thought Chibiusa as she found that her plan worked and the youma had all followed her. Now she just had to defeat them somehow. Five minutes later she came to a dead end on the street. Turning around she faced what looked like seven youma but one could never tell with their misshapen figures. Three of them immediately attacked her. Going on the defensive, she warded off most of the attacks thrown her way but one of them got a solid shot at her. 'I can't win. I'm not strong enough. I want to be stronger' Her eyes flared and she attacked two of the youma, severing limbs and leaving them immobile. 'I have to become stronger. To protect someone you need strength. I have someone to protect. Now I need the courage to do it' She managed to kill another youma but was badly injured by then. She was sure she had broken a rib and her left arm had been twisted till she couldn't use it anymore. Just then the four remaining youma gathered around her. 'I'm dead' But as fate would have it, that wasn't the case. A blaze shot through two of the youma, killing instantly.
"Keeping out of trouble?" asked a woman in a red sailor fuku. The only thing brighter than the flames around the youma were the flames reflected in the miko's eyes.
"Rei-san!" said a surprised Chibiusa, whirling around. Rei fried the remaining two youma with relative ease.
"Wait. You're not Rei-san." said Chibiusa, her eyes widening as a realization hit her. Rei was good but she wasn't this good. "You're Mars!" The woman put her fingers on her lips indicating a need for secrecy. "What are you doing here?" positively hissed the pink-haired girl. She knew there would never be a good reason for one of the inners to leave the Queen in battle.
"Chibiusa-chan you must not let anyone know I'm here. Is that clear? I'm here on a mission but the timeline must not be disturbed at any cost. Do you understand me? Only you and I must know. Not even Setsuna-san. I countered her security measures for the time gate. Its vital that no one know I'm here." Chibiusa stared at the woman in front of her. Mars. She was so unlike Rei-san and yet they were alike. The life spent in Crystal Tokyo had been good to Mars. Her aging had stopped a long time ago but her mind developed while her body stopped. Experience through sheer brutality had made the fire in her eyes a clear and icy blue. When Rei was in battle her emotions controlled her actions. When Mars was in battle, serenity controlled her actions. Her movements calm and precise almost as though she were dancing. Chibiusa knew she should hate this version of the miko. She knew what was going on between Mars and the Queen. The fire bird had always held a huge piece of the Queen's heart and now she possessed even the little corner saved for her daughter. Yes. She should hate this woman.
"I don't take orders from you Mars." said the future queen with as much chill in her voice as she could command. "You're a senshi and I'm the princess. I'm the one who commands you not the other way around." Mars' eyes glittered with something akin to amusement.
"Alright Your Highness. Could you command me to inform you of the fact that if anyone were to find out I'm here, the enemy would have an advantage and destroy Crystal Tokyo quicker than you can say 'I'm sorry'. Besides, Chibiusa-chan" she said purposefully ignoring the title of Small Lady, "I will never, not now, not ever, be under your command. I am loyal to The Neo-Queen Serenity and that is all. You are her daughter and as such I respect and cherish your happiness and safety but never mistake my respect for obedience. I might love your little soul but I will never bear its weight on my shoulders." With that said she smiled and ruffled Chibiusa's hair.
"Ow don't do that Mars" whined the young woman as she struggled to straighten her odangos. As soon as she tried to stand up, she collapsed on the concrete. "I don't think I can move" she said a little tearfully, embarrassed to be seen at her weakest against whom she had to fight for her mother's love. Mars only smiled and picked up the shorter girl in her arms.
"Come. Lets go to the jinja. Saturn, I mean, Hotaru-san is waiting there. I crossed her path while coming your way and she was in a spot of trouble with some stray youma but she got away alright. She told me which way you went and so I found you. She thought I was Rei" giggled the woman as they passed by a couple who looked at them strangely. They had already detransformed but Chibiusa's tattered clothing was apparent. Mars was dressed in black clothes that were concealed by her coat but something gleamed around her neck. Chibiusa faked weakness as she leaned closer to see what a senshi of mars would wear to battle no matter how impractical. It had to be something important. Suddenly she noticed that they were slowing down. Chibiusa quickly looked up to see Mars looking at her with a smile.
"Chibiusa-chan, we're here" she said softly and firmed her grip on the young woman. 'She is Usagi's daughter. A painful reminder of him. I could hate her so easily.' She eased the young woman onto the floor and stood back up. The pale street lamp reflected the outline of her profile. Her nose somehow looked more regal than that of Rei even though they looked identical.
'I guess its all in the attitude' thought Chibiusa as they entered Rei's former room as quietly as possible with a limping eighteen year old. Hotaru was there, pacing the room anxiously. When she saw the pink-haired girl her eyes lit up and she crossed the room to fling her arms around the other girl.
"Usa" she said hoarsely, "I'm glad you're ok". Mars flinched noticeably. The memories in her old room were stronger than outside it. Hearing Hotaru whisper "Usa" only reminded her as to why she was here. It was the only reason she ever did anything. Usa. She didn't like Hotaru using that term. 'No. You're Rei. Not Mars. Not a bitter woman. You're Hino Rei. A woman who still looks forward to tomorrow, who wakes up everyday and smiles because she looks forward to the future. You're Rei. Rei loves Usagi. Rei wouldn't be cold to Hotaru or Chibiusa. It wouldn't do to tip off the senshi of silence about my identity. You're Rei. For now.' Mars smiled cordially at Hotaru as she disentangled herself from the other girl.
"Hotaru-san I hope you're both alright?" asked Mars with a very convincing look of worry.
"Yes. Thank you very much" said Hotaru formally, something about Rei-san bothered her tonight, besides her choice of clothing.
"Well, I guess I'd better go now. You two stay here today. Its too late to head home and your car isn't here anyway. I'll go back and tell Usako you're both alright." Hotaru looked quizzically at Rei while Chibiusa glared at 'Rei'. "Umm...I mean Usagi, I'll go now." She turned and left the room in a flurry of black.
"What was that all about?" asked a concerned Hotaru. Receiving no answer from Chibiusa she went and sat on the bed. Her first instinct on seeing the girl safe had been to bury her face in Chibiusa's hair. Her reaction disturbed her and she wanted anything but to be spending the night with the pink-haired girl. 'What's this feeling I get around her? A strange loneliness grips my heart. It used to be ok to be alone. I'm ok being alone. It suits me just fine but when she's close to me- I've always assumed I'd be alone like setsuna-mama but now even she has someone.' Her face fell as she remembered watching Pluto and Venus in that very room a week ago.
"Hotaru-chan? You can take the bed. I'll take the floor." said Chibiusa as she bundled a pillow and blanket underneath her arm. Hotaru looked up and nodded. They both fell asleep looking at the stars through the window.
Crystal Tokyo - Neptune
"A storm within five hours was just predicted by the satellite station Prisid VI which is currently on standby in the orbit of Uranus. Winds are approximated at 1,200 km/hr so get those storm doors shut on time! All non-essential areas will be cut off from main power supply as a precautionary measure. Remember to bolt the-"
"We are sorry to interrupt this program. A special news bulletin from the Queen has arrived."
A woman with green hair faced the millions who had dropped everything to hear her. She seemed paler than her pictures in the newspapers. Her eyes, however, held the same depth that made the ruler of Uranus fall in love with her.
"There has been an attack on Neshrel city and as we speak troops have been dispatched. We will have air and ground support from Uranus. Please evacuate to the designated areas behind the palace. Women and children shall be housed inside the courtyard and gardens. Under no circumstances must anyone leave the perimeter fence. Leave the fighting to those who were chosen to do it."
The screen went blank and the woman turned in her chair. She picked up the latest update of the armory and studied it intently. A figure walked up to her and handed her a steaming liquid in a cup. "Thank you." she said without raising her head.
"Michiru" whispered the blonde figure coming around and hugging her. "Don't worry. It'll be alright. I've sent back-up already. I'll be leaving shortly to give the customary sending off speech."
They didn't speak for a moment while both studied the charts in front of them. Suddenly Neptune sprang out of her chair and moved to a device that looked like it belonged in the junkyard and not in the private office of the Queen of Neptune. "Ruka, remember this?"
"Sure I remember it. We used it to communicate when I had to live on Uranus and you on Neptune. It took forever to delegate a system to keep us together without that beastly device. Why in the world do you still have that thing? Technology has advanced and now we can be anywhere and control affairs of the state."
"Sentimental reasons" said Neptune a little crossly. Uranus chuckled in the dim lights and moved toward the machine.
"So what's the plan?"
"Plan? What in the world are you talking about Haruka?" asked Neptune with an innocent smile. "You certainly don't think I plan on using this to send out a pulse and trick the enemy into thinking we're on Uranus do you? I would never think of such a thing!" She smiled and inputted her password in the machine which made a giant whirring noise and set to work. Uranus got to work tapping her communication array and concentrating all troops at the rendezvous point. The final preparations would take at least an hour. Before leaving to take charge of their various responsibilities, Uranus leaned down to kiss the green-haired mermaid.
"I love you."
"I love you too. Please don't die."
"I won't"
Crystal Tokyo - The Royal Palace
"Where the hell is she?" asked the very pissed off ruler of the moon. "What kind of security measures do you keep! I had guards posted, units assembled, the works! You couldn't keep one woman from harm what will you do as a General protecting my people." She leaned forward on her throne and tapped the arm of her chair impatiently. The man before her had his head bowed and made no move to answer. 'No choice. She's shut him up good. Damn her.' "At least tell me if she's safe Kaizo" pleaded the blonde whose hair had escaped her usual hairstyle and lay open around her shoulders.
"Her highness is safe. She left of her own will, my queen. I was ordered to keep the information of Her highnesses' departure from you. She thought" he hesitated but decided to tell the whole truth, "she thought you would interfere" He rose and left when Serenity waved her hand in a gesture of dismissal.
'Interfere. That's right. That's exactly what I will do. If I can find her that is.' Serenity rose and paced the length of the carpet surrounding the throne area. She glanced over at the empty seat beside her. Endymion. He had left for Earth that morning. He always seemed to be going there nowadays. Who could blame him. She wasn't exactly being the picture perfect wife either. She was too busy thinking of Mars or being with her. Now she was paying. The entire solar system might die because of her, because of what she'd done. 'I've been so foolish. Love. I thought it would conquer the universe. Now it just might destroy it. I wonder what Mars is thinking right now. What will she do? She's definitely gone back to the past to try to fix this. She's just as foolish as I am. This can't be fixed. It can't be fixed any more than she can deny being a senshi. It's our way. My destiny and hers. She might deny it saying that we make our own destiny but we know. We both know. In the end, she will succumb to it'
Thessaly, Greece
Sierra ran her hand along the scar running down Pluto's thigh. She smiled as she saw Pluto cringe and unconsiously move towards the battered figure chained to the wall. Medea was furiously typing away onto a device suspended in mid-air. The screen blinked and she relaxed back into her chair. Looking at the other occupants of the room she rose and stretched. She moved to give the injured woman on the wall some water but was quickly intercepted by Sierra.
"What do you think you're doing?" asked Medea coldly. If there was one thing she hated more than Martian slugs it would be Sierra. The woman annoyed her but was essential to the plan. Despite her immaturity she held the power of time that they needed. They didn't like each other but when you have a common enemy, you can even work with the devil.
"She doesn't get any water."
"Don't be stupid Sierra. We have to keep her alive. If any of them die the Neo-bitch will know. We cannot afford to have her mess this up. She's screwed up a lot of things already." said Medea grimacing as she remembered seeing Mars and Serenity kiss in the moonlight. It had broken her heart. What she remembered most was running as tears blinded her vision. She'd given up everything to be with Mars. Her family, her home - everything. Now there was nothing to live for, nothing to die for.
"You know, I think you've taken a liking to the Goddess of love" smirked Sierra as she watched Medea gaze at a spot close to Venus' head. "You can have her, she only annoys me"
"Shut up and get back to work. I'll give her some water and don't go near Pluto again. You're making me nauseous" snapped Mars' epouser. Sierra sulked away to another room where she gossiped with one of the youma in human form. Medea finished giving water to an unknowing Venus and returned to her desk. She thought of speaking to Pluto but the woman had just passed out. She resumed her work. Every so often she tugged at the collar of her shirt. It had a tiny emblem on the collar which seemed to irritate her. Meanwhile, Pluto drifted in and out of consciousness constantly. Once she looked at the collar and thought she saw the emblem. However, later she would chalk it up to hallucination. The emblem with an angel sewn in pure white with blood-spotted feathers was no longer used.
