Well, this one was a lot slower, but it's finally up. Sorry that it took so long. You know me by now, I'm a VERY slow updater. I get random ideas along the way. Thanks a bunch for all those people who reviewed, I'm really grateful!
Disclaimer: Still not owning any of Sailor Moon…
"Quietly, now. There are still some guards around." Kai led Michiru down the hall, getting closer to the dungeon. It was nighttime and the palace was dark, but several dim lamps lit up every corridor. Kai had promised to lead Michiru to Haruka, and they had set out after preparing a careful plan. Michiru had been worried about the security around the dungeon, but Kai had shooed it away and said she had it worked out. Michiru believed her, how could she not? Kai had been a relieving help through everything and Michiru trusted her.
"Come on, we're almost there." They had reached a dark, looming staircase and Kai was pulling Michiru along. It was too dark, too gloomy. Shadows seemed to lurk at every twist and turn of each stair. But there was no time for fear. That had to be pushed down and the courage had to be pulled up. Down, down they went. Further into the deepest depths of the castle. Finally, a set of wooden doors came into view. Taking a deep breath, Michiru grasped the cold handle and pulled firmly. The door creaked open slowly and Michiru slipped through. Kai followed, gently pushing the door closed. She lifted the lamp and immediately started to walk again. Michiru ran to keep up while quickly glancing around. The place seemed to be just like another long hall, but smaller. Soon, they reached an open area, and Michiru saw that there were many doors lined up on the walls. Not a single guard was around. Kai stepped forward and scanned the door. Michiru noticed that on each door, a number was crudely engraved near the handle. "Look for twelve," Kai whispered. Michiru nodded and wandered around, glancing at the different numbers. After a few doors, she came upon it. "It's here! Look!" She cried excitedly.
Kai rushed over. "Shhh…please be quiet, Miss Michiru. I doubt that there is anyone around, but it's best to be on the safe side at this kind of time." She looked at the door and nodded. "Yes, this is the one…" She took out a rusty gray key and stuck it in the keyhole. Her hand slowly twisted to the right and the lock clicked open. Michiru held her breath as she watched Kai turn the handle…as she pushed open the door… It was pitch black. Nothing was visible at first, but slowly, as her eyes adjusted to the dimness, Michiru saw the outline of a figure lying on the floor, motionless. She gasped and stumbled over to the person. "Oh, Haruka," Michiru whispered. Her eyes widened as she saw the deep gash on Haruka's head. Just then, she heard a soft groan and Haruka's eyes fluttered opened. "Michiru…" Haruka mumbled. She sat up slowly with some help. "What…what are you doing here? How did you find me?"
"You have to come with me," Michiru said calmly. "We have to bandage up that wound of yours."
"Miss?" Kai stepped in. "Is everything all right?"
Haruka glanced over and a little confusion rose into her eyes. She looked at Michiru questioningly. "Who's that?"
Michiru slowly pulled Haruka up to a standing position. "She's Kai, a friend of ours. She's also here to help us. But don't speak and waste your strength. You've lost a lot of blood. Come on, we have to go." She started to guide Haruka out. Kai followed, closing and locking the door. "This way."
"Oh, gently now," Michiru whispered as she helped Haruka lie down on the bed. With Kai's help, she had cleaned up Haruka's wound and was now forcing the blonde to rest, despite the weak protest she got. "Miss Michiru? May I speak with you for a moment?" Kai asked quietly. "It's rather urgent…"
"Why, sure. What is it?" Michiru walked over.
"I received this from Rena. You'll know what to do with it when the time comes." Kai gently pulled out a small bag from the folds of her dress and handed it to Michiru. "Keep it safe."
Michiru pulled the strings of the bag and peered inside. "Ohhh…" She took out a glimmering silver necklace with a pendant attached. The pendant was silver as well, in the shape of a single raindrop. Michiru was marveling at the exquisite detail and beauty of the necklace when suddenly, it vanished in her hands. She gasped and waved her hands around in panic. "Oh, no! What have I done? This is terrible…where has the necklace gone?"
Kai laughed and placed a hand on Michiru's shoulder. "Don't worry, Miss. As I said before, you will know what to do with the necklace when the right time comes. You needn't worry about it anytime before then. Now, may I suggest you take some rest like Haruka, for you, too, look very weary and tired." Michiru opened her mouth to protest, but Kai guided her firmly to the bed. "You must take some rest, for the battle you eventually will have to fight is long and strenuous." Michiru gave in, and climbed into bed, next to Haruka. Kai straightened out the covers around the two and then took her lamp. "I will stay outside the room for the night. If there is any danger approaching, I will alert you." She walked out and closed the door gently behind her. Michiru sighed and stared up at the ceiling. So many different thoughts were running wildly through her head. And she didn't know which one to trust. It was nice, though, finally being safely together with Haruka again. She smiled and pushed the worry out of her mind. Everything was okay…for now.
"Haruka…Haruka…"
"Go away…leave me alone!" Haruka mumbled, not wanting to get up from her comfy and secure bed. Wait…this wasn't her bed! She jerked awake and shot up, forgetting momentarily about the throbbing pain in her head. But quickly, the dull ache came back and Haruka regretted sitting up so fast. She realized someone was standing next to her, pulling on her arm. "Michiru? What's wrong? What's happening?" Haruka asked in confusion.
"Oh, good, you're awake. And you don't appear to be delirious…how's the head?" Michiru asked with worry.
Haruka smiled, glad that she was with Michiru again. "I'm all right. Has my head stopped bleeding?" She reached up and touched the bandage gingerly.
"Thankfully, yes it has. But does it hurt much?"
"Well, it's nothing I can't bear. Don't worry about me." Haruka stood up felt no other pains in her body. "So what is going on?" She didn't have a chance to hear Michiru's answer, because all of a sudden, the door burst open and a black-haired girl rushed in. "Miss Michiru, the king is coming!!" Haruka frowned with worry. But before she could say anything, the girl threw something at her. "Hold this, don't drop it, and keep quiet! Miss, come with me!" She and Michiru hurried out the door. Haruka caught the object and saw that it was a stone. It was opaque and seemed to be glowing. At that moment, Kuyou strode in the room. Haruka looked up in panic. She readied herself to face the king, but Kuyou simply stood in the middle of room and looked around. "Michiru, you seem to be all right. What have you been doing?"
Michiru and the girl followed through the doors. "Well, I-I-have been resting, Kuyou, and not much else…"
Haruka slowly walked toward Michiru, wondering if she should just grab her and bolt out the door. Kuyou didn't seem to be paying any attention to her movements. The girl looked up and made a little noise and signaled Haruka to stop. She shook her head slightly and stared at the floor. Haruka frowned, but obediently stopped where she was.
"That's good, Michiru. Well, I should be going. I was just checking up on how you were doing. And, by the way, join me for dinner tonight. I have a little surprise for you." With that, he started out the door. Halfway there, he stopped and turned around. "And…you know to stay out of the dungeons, am I correct? Don't go wandering into dangerous places…where you may come upon dangerous situations." Kuyou suddenly turned away and looked around the room. He frowned and stared at the bed. "Has…has anyone been here recently?" He asked suspiciously. Haruka held her breath.
"Why, no, Kuyou, of course not. There hardly seems to be any people around anyways." Michiru answered steadily.
Kuyou's eyes flickered around the room slowly. "Then, no servants or workers have come to visit?"
"No, Kuyou. No one. I don't see other people much. Unless, you'd prefer me to be more social and go see the people around the castle." Michiru smiled unemotionally. Haruka nearly cheered out loud. Michiru had turned much braver within these few days. Kuyou glanced at Michiru and laughed. "My, my, Michiru, you certainly amuse me. Well, I'll leave you to yourself then. Oh, yes. Dinner will be served promptly at six o'clock. Be sure to dress nicely and appropriately. There will be guests tonight." With that, he left the room. Michiru sighed in relief. Haruka walked over to them. "Well, that was a nice meeting."
Michiru laughed quietly. "I was so scared, Haruka! Kuyou is such an intimidating person. I can hardly bear it."
"You did very well. There was certainly no sign of fear on your face. Oh, yes, I do wonder about something. What was your name again?" Haruka asked the black haired girl.
"My name is Kai," the girl replied simply.
Haruka widened her eyes in realization. "You're the one who was with Michiru last night! And, you saved me. Thank you for your help."
Kai looked down in embarrassment. "It was nothing at all. Besides, Miss Michiru did much more than I."
"Oh, but I thank you anyways. And, yes, I have a question. How did Kuyou not see me in the room? I was right there, and I don't suppose I disappeared or anything?" Haruka asked.
"You didn't disappear, but you were not visible to King Kuyou. The stone I gave to you did that. It is a Pure Stone, which means only people who have absolutely no darkness in their hearts can hold it and not be seen by those who do," Kai replied.
"But how did you know that I had no darkness at all?" Haruka wondered.
"Simply throwing you the stone gave me my answer. The Pure Stone looks like an ordinary stone when people with any evil in their minds hold it. To the others, it is a clear, glowing rock. When you held it, I knew for sure if it was to work or not. I really didn't have any doubts," Kai explained.
"Genius…" Haruka smiled. "So, what do we do now?"
"I haven't heard much news from Rena. All I know is that she is running, and she is most likely in danger. It seems like Kuyou has sent out men to track her down and bring her back to the castle. Of course, Rena would be able to hold them back for a while. But I don't know how long she can fight. I suggest you look for her first, and once you meet up with her, she will give you further instructions," Kai said. She took out two bundles and handed them to Michiru and Haruka. "These packs contain some food and drink, plus some a few other traveling items. I am sure Haruka has not eaten in a long time, so this will help. Now, you must go quickly."
Haruka frowned. "But what about Kuyou? I'm not going to leave here and just forget about him!! I want to kick his royal-"
"Calm down, calm down," Kai interrupted. She grinned, a smile that lit up her delicate face. "I do know how much you want to get to him. But not now. He has more power now than you would expect. So by the time you actually track down Rena, he will have already come out and attacked. But it will give you more of a chance when you're with Rena. So be patient, you will get a chance soon enough. Come, there is not much time." Kai guided Haruka and Michiru out the door.
"But…what about you? What if Kuyou suspects you? We can't leave you in danger!" Michiru asked worriedly.
"Do not think about it. Just hurry along, I'll be fine," Kai replied. "Go!"
Haruka and Michiru ran through the corridor swiftly. They had gotten down a few steps of the stairs, when suddenly, a blast of black light hit them and blew them back up the stairs. Haruka hit her already wounded head on the wall and nearly screamed when the jolts of pain shot around her head. She touched the bandage and realized the cut had started bleeding again. She saw Michiru slumped on the floor, and rushed over. "Michiru! Michiru!! Are you all right?" But before Haruka could hear the answer, someone walked up the steps. She looked up and grimaced. There, standing tall and confident was Kuyou. He walked over to Haruka and smiled coolly. "It seems like the king always wins," he said.
Haruka shot up and ran at Kuyou with a yell. But before she could hit him good and hard in the face, her hand met a barrier and stopped. Suddenly, Kuyou shoved his arm out and a bolt of black light knocked Haruka to the floor. She groaned in pain, but stood up shakily again. Kuyou looked at his hand lazily. "Your attempts are nothing. But I did always enjoy beating the weak opponents." It was a taunt, an insult. And Haruka was steaming with anger. But she already knew that her efforts were not much. Like Kai had said, once they found Rena, they would have more of a chance. It was a hard choice to make, but Haruka knew she and Michiru had to escape. But how? Kuyou was only a few feet away, and there was no way to run around him. Besides, he could've killed them right then and there. Suddenly, Haruka heard someone calling to her. "Haruka! Haruka!!" She looked down the hall and saw Kai standing there, waving furiously at her. "Open one of the bundles!! Find anything that is colored white!" Haruka rushed over to the two packs and tore hers apart. She rummaged through it hurriedly. With a glance at Kuyou, she saw that he had of course heard Kai as well and was frowning. "Some…light magic, eh? Well, I'll put an end to this!" He had slowly started for Haruka. She quickly fumbled around, and found some clean bandages. She held them up and yelled back to Kai. "What do I do?!"
"Just hold them!! Don't let go! And get Michiru!!" Kai shouted back. Haruka crawled to the still motionless girl and held her close. She looked up and saw Kuyou standing right above her. He glared at her and held up his arms. Black waves of energy started to gather over his head. "Now it will end…for you!!" Haruka closed her eyes in fear as Kuyou thrust his arms down toward her and the black surf of power plummeted down…