Author's Note: It previously came to my attention that I was spelling Kurai's name as Karui instead of Kurai. My apologies, I will fix it later however. Anyways here is chapter 14 and I hope you enjoy it. Sorry for taking to long to update!!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
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~*It's A Far Better Thing*~
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~*The God of Thunder pt. 2*~
Serena and Darien whirled around. It was obvious to both of them. Something was wrong. The clouds darkened immediately, and thunder started rumbling. Serena looked at Darien, whom looked back up to the clouds, as if waiting, waiting for a sign to tell if there was something really wrong.
'Of course there is. The sky can't just darken that quickly.' He said as the thunder crashed once more. People standing around them, shrieked as a crack of lightening hit the ground, sparking a building on fire. Serena jumped back into Darien's arms, before the thunder roared above them, sending another flash of lightening crackling down to the ground.
The wind began to blow furiously around them, causing Serena to slide back a few feet. Darien reached out to her and held her tightly against his chest. He looked around, not able to hear the people around him screaming. That was when he noticed it, there were no more people in the street.
Lightening flashed dangerously around them, as if daring them to stay out there longer. Darien pulled Serena back against him even tighter, and quickly dunked inside of his apartment building.
The fire down the street grew threateningly, and Darien wondered how long it would take for firemen to come and put it out. But who would come out in this weather?
But it was just irregular. There were never harsh lightening storms in Japan, let alone Tokyo. (I don't know if this is necessarily true, but I am talking about lightening that strikes the ground, just so you people know.) Darien and Serena entered his apartment building and immediately Serena left the safety of his arms, and rushed up to his apartment.
She got to his door within 2 minutes, picked up the gifts that were still amazingly sitting in front of his door and entered his apartment, before throwing everything on the ground, and dashing to his balcony. She slid open his sliding glass door and walked to the railing. She leaned over it, glancing around as the lightening hurtled down to earth, creating tiny craters wherever they hit. Serena shook her head. Something was definitely wrong. The weather was abnormally harsh, and lightening never usually created craters on the pavement.
Darien walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump in surprise. She looked back at him, her eyes showing fear and remorse. Darien smiled at her, and pulled her protectively into his arms. Serena turned back around, as she felt his head rest lightly on hers and watch the thunder that was almost beautiful.
Darien scanned everything, looking for something that would give them a sign, and yet there was nothing. Just lightening. His arms wrapped tighter around Serena's waist, his eyes still looking for an answer, there had to be someway to be able to tell what was going on.
"Darien, look." Serena murmured as she pointed off in the direction of the park. Lightening crashed down magnificently, lighting the darkened sky with a purple haze. A green burst of energy had fired off in the distant, and thunder roared all around it. Darien watched, amazed at how the lightening danced around the giant green energy beam, as if it something delicate that shouldn't be broken.
Serena looked even harder, noticing something else. There was magic exactly like the green one, only it was red. Did that mean that it was filled with negative energy? Serena closed her eyes tightly; she had to figure out what was going on. She felt Darien's arms tighten around her, and a small gasp escaped him. Serena lightly shrugged it off, thinking that the roaring fire, and the sparks of lighting that crashed down to Tokyo only entranced him. So far, only one building had been damaged, but if that lightening kept coming down to earth like that, then there would be many more.
Serena placed her head in her hands, wondering if she would even be able to help them, it just looked so risky, and with that amount of danger out there right now; but the people, the people who didn't seek shelter would surely be killed.
"Oh gods, please don't do this to me." She said quietly. She gave a sharp intake of breath as she felt something begin to burn on her forehead. Suddenly she stumbled back, shrieking as she felt that same hot sickening burn on her forehead. Darien caught her, and looked at her, wondering what was going on, surely there couldn't be something causing pain to Serena now could there?
Darien ran his hands over her face, frowning slightly at the crescent moon that had indented itself into her beautiful features. But something was wrong with this one; something was definitely wrong. Serena writhed in his grasp, flailing her arms around, trying to get away from his burning grasp.
"Serena calm down." Darien said as he pulled her tightly against his body. Something was off. The crescent moon on her head was glowing a deadly blood red, and every time he touched her, he seemed to burn her. As soon as Serena's body made contact with his chest, she screamed out in pain, feeling that same burning feeling, this time deeply in the back of her mind.
'What's happening to me?!' Serena thought as she felt Darien's burning hands rub her back gently. Tears flowed down her face, soaking Darien's shirt in a matter of minutes.
'It's so cold. It's almost refreshing.' Serena thought, as the red haze in her mind seemed to disperse. Her vision blurred slightly, as the tears kept falling, quicker and with more undying passion to soothe her. She felt something warm, something reaching out to her as a stubborn cold caught her, and tried to drown her in it.
As long as she could grasp it, then she would be fine. Her mind went completely blank, and all she was able to see was darkness. She closed her eyes and opened them, trying to see if anything around her changed, it did not. She shivered slightly, as she felt that warm tingly feeling come closer to her. Her body began to shake, with unwanted intensity. She saw sparks of light, and flames flying up everywhere, and then death, the death of many innocent people.
She saw the source of the light, a small circular shape, and all the power that only she was able to feel was emitting off of it. She saw a ghostly figure floating behind it, behind Lita. It looked old and wise beyond its years, and Lita resembled it terribly. She could see its long flowing beard, and strangely, its bright green eyes.
Serena gasped and pulled away from Darien, turning her body so that she could look at the battle raging between the two energies. Serena's eyes narrowed.
"Darien, I know who it is who is making Lita fight like that." Serena stated as she leaned over the rail and looked down beneath her. Darien placed his hands on her shoulders, and her hand went up and touched it gently. She felt the skin on her forehead curve and she knew what she had to do. Though it pained her so, she couldn't let those who were not involved in this battle die, the innocent people of Tokyo were going to die, and if she let it stay this way, then the whole world might in fact die. She herself could die if she took any part in this battle, but it was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
Her friends could take over from here if need be, so she wasn't going to let anything stop her, not even Darien. She turned around and looked at him, his eyes narrowing at the crescent moon that was on her forehead.
"Serena……." He muttered as his hand went up to touch her forehead. She recoiled slightly, her body hitting the railing and she pushed him back.
"You have to let me do this Darien." She stated as she gripped the railing and jumped over it suddenly. Darien's eyes widened as he watched her fall over the railing. His mind fell blank, and his pupils dilated. His skin went a deadly pale color, as if all pigment was lost. He wanted to say something, and yet, he couldn't think, all that he could see were tears, amongst all the chaos around him, all he was able to see were the tears forming in his eyes.
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Serena plummeted towards the Earth, wondering if it would catch her. He had allowed her to see him, so of course he wouldn't just let her die would he? She felt the gust of wind and that tight white cloth surround her body. She looked down and noticed the long white flowing gown surround her body as she was wisped away, like a whimsical cloud toward the battleground.
She landed on the ground gently, and walked as gracefully as ever towards the two converging energies. She stopped dead in her tracks, after seeing him. She curtsied gracefully as she watched his spirit do battle with whatever evil he was apposing.
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Suddenly a blinding silvery light engulfed Serena as she took one step towards the battleground, binding her to the spot. She closed her eyes, as she felt hot burning cords wrap around her body, bending her without mercy. Serena desperately wanted to fight back, but she could not. It was bending her will, forcing her to do what it wanted without trepidation of her powers.
Soon Serena realized that she was curled into a fetal position, warmth all around her. She was surrounded by white, and it was blinding. She heard footsteps come her way, and although she wished to move to be able to see, those invisible cords held her still, as if not wanting her to be aware of the person that approached her.
Something gentle landed on the moon princess's shoulder, and all feeling of being held captive was diminished. Serena looked up immediately ready to attack the one who had held her within those painful bonds, however shock had over come her first. Serena stared wide-eyed at the two women before her, stilled amazed at this encounter that they were having.
Was this even at all possible? The youngest looking woman curtsied to Serena and then to the eldest of the three women. Then the eldest women curtsied to Serena and then to the youngest woman. They both looked at Serena knowing, as if waiting for her to show the same sign of respect, but she too shocked to even do anything.
The elder woman smiled touching Serena's face with her gentle fingertips.
"It seems as though you are at a lost for words, not to mention actions, Serenity, Holder of the Moon Crystal of the Present Day." The elder woman said as she turned away from her. Serena shook her head, finally able to speak as her initial shock simmered down to nothing. She curtsied finally to both women, noticing a look of mockery upon their faces, but they still bowed their heads in recognition.
"I-I don't understand. You two are…me. I was supposed to go and help Lita." Serena stated as took in their warm smiles. The younger woman nodded slowly before turning away from the girl and taking a few strides into the empty white void.
"Princess Jupiter was always strong. It seems that her father was able to hear her plea for help. However it seems that he had extracted her main force of power from her body in doing so. Serenity, Holder of the Moon Crystal of the Future, what is it that has been taken from her body?" The princess of the past asked the queen of the future. The eldest woman looked towards the two younger women, a look of pure sadness on her face. It was almost as if she wished not to talk about it. However, that would not at all be possible.
Serena watched her sad blue eyes strengthen as she spoke, adamant on getting her point across in short simple terms. "It is a spirit seed. It was learned in the future that everyone has one. A spirit seed hold a persons entire being within it. Their heart, their soul, their emotions, and even the source of nihility."
"Queen Serenity?" Serena asked her future self. Queen Serenity eyed the child with dissatisfaction before realizing what she was asking. She however did not wish to say anymore. Motioning to the youngest of the girls, Queen Serenity turned away from the Present and the Past and took a couple strides away from them, so that she could think of what to explain to them next.
"Nihility is the state of nothingness. When someone falls to the nihility within their spirit seed their energies turn negative and filled with hate and malice. Those are the enemies that you have fought to protect those you love. The Nihility, they know nothing but hate, malice and vengeance. It is sorrowful really." The Past commented. Serena nodded slowly before turning towards the eldest of her figures. She had more questions that she wanted to ask, like about the enemy, and more importantly, how they were able to speak with each other like this.
The Future seemed to notice Serena's condescension, so she slowly turned around and grabbed the Presents hand. She led her away from the Past knowing that it would be better to discuss this with her alone, since it was happening in Serena's time and not theirs.
"Serenity, Holder of the Moon Crystal of the Present Day, somehow our sorrow seemed to have connected through the dimensions of time, allowing us all to meet here. When we feel a certain emotion at the same time, it creates a rift in time, and we connect. Princess Serenity, heir to the Moon Crystal of the Past was feeling the sorrow of losing her beloved Prince, you were feeling the sorrow of losing your friends, and I was feeling the sorrow of my… but yes, we were all feeling the exact same emotion, which allowed us to meet here in this dimension."
Serena nodded in comprehension, suspicion rising within her as she noticed The Future trail off with slight uncertainty in her voice. Somehow she did not find it at all promising. Serena folded her arms over her chest, and then motioned for the Past to come over to her. The Past did so obediently. Serena looked at her two beings, chewing on her lip as she thought about what Serenity of the Future had said.
Serena was not filled with sorrow when her body was being tortured. In fact she had not even stopped to consider her friends in the situation that she was bringing herself in. She was concerned about the lives of all of those that she had to protect, but then when she was approaching the battlefield, another feeling had entered her being. Fear. She was afraid to die. She knew that she had to die sometime, but she was just afraid to leave all of her friends this way. She was afraid to lose Darien. So did that mean that her other two beings were being engulfed by fear? If that was the case, then was something that she was doing corrupting the past and the future at the same time?
Serena shook her head slightly as she looked towards her future self.
"Do you know who the enemy is?" Serena asked? The future shook her head. However Serena was in that very moment, able to know how both the girls were feeling. She was with her past and her future, so their emotions were channeling through her. They were her past and her future but she was now. She could tell that her future self was lying, but her past was not.
Serena stepped away from both of the women and slowly walked away from them. She turned around and faced them both, determination clear within her expression. She placed her hands against her bosom before looking at the two girls fully for the first time since they were in the endless white void of nothingness.
"I don't appreciate being lied to. I am the present, you are my future, you are my past, but I am still stronger than both of you. I realize that I have just aged beyond my years after being here with you two. The information that you have given me was invaluable, although I thank you Serenity of the Past, for making me realize something important. The only reasons that my loved ones were taken were because they fell to the nihility within themselves. "
"But there is something that the two of you do not see. We all feared something, and in order to escape it, we too fell to the nihility. That is all I have to say. I shall take my leave now." Both women stared at Serena dumbfounded. The words that were registering in their minds were completely and utterly true. They had fallen to the nihility, and that just was not something that they could stand for. Serenity of the Future nodded to the young woman next to her, before they both watched the present stand before them determined.
Serena was of course the only way they would be able to escape the nihility, after all, she is who connected them, because without the present, there would be a past or a feature, there would only be now. The Future and the Past linked hands as they motioned for the Present to leave the nihility once and for all. Serena nodded in contemplation as the two women closed their eyes waiting for the Present's words.
"MOON CRYSTAL POWER!" Serena yelled as the moon crystal was suddenly extracted from her body. Serena raised her hands above her head as her white gown swirled around her, dust suddenly surrounding her body as the white void around them disappeared, along with her Past and her Future. Serena closed her eyes slowly, lowering the crystal as her body weakened. She noticed that everything around her was starting to take shape. She smiled warmly as she clasped her hands around the silver crystal and drew it back down towards her body, pressing it against her chest. Slowly but surely the crystal sunk into her body, filling her with warmth and energy.
And with that, Serena's body crumpled to a weakened heap on the ground.
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Serena sat up suddenly, aware of the barrier that had suddenly surrounded her. She blinked solemnly before standing up straight and dusting her white gown off. She had just escaped from the nihility that was within her word spirit seed, but then, what was it exactly? Her past and her future had not told her of any form or shape that it was able to take on. But she knew that when she would enter the crashing energies she would be able to see it. Closing her eyes and taking a step forward, her barrier fell around her. The she dropped to her knees and looked at the sparkling green energy that battled fiercely with the dark blood red one. Serena's heart grew heavy.
"Father Jupiter… please don't make Lita suffer, she is of kin to you, please don't use her spirit to do your battles." She asked quietly as lightening crashed all around her, causing her silken gown to flutter in all directions. She clasped her hands in front of her, her pleas going unheard the great spirit of Jupiter, wondering why he even bothered to bring her here in the first place. Or, had he wanted her to help him?
Serena lifted herself up and stepped forward, lightening crashing just behind her, threatening to strike if she made another step towards battle. She closed her eyes and curtsied once more before taking another step towards the giant energy mass. Her dress hung over the edge of the giant crater, and flames suddenly sprung up all around her. Serena closed her eyes, she was encased in this battle, it was now or never.
She let a breath of relief escape her, knowing that there was only one way to cause this destruction to stop. She slid down into the crater, her hair and gown flying about her magically and stood up straight, dusting all the dirt from off her silk gown. She stepped through the green energy mass, lightening crashing next to her, but her own energy creating yet another shield. She walked closer, walking through fire, using her own moon energy to protect her from Jupiter's own power.
She stepped into the threshold, where the energy withheld such intensity; she could feel her gown burst into flames. She crouched back, knowing that she was going to have to deal with it. Quickly she doused it with her moon energy and stood up straight. Sweat quickly formed on her body, and her arms were turning black quickly. She lifted her arms into the air and closed her eyes, focusing her mind on the cause of all this destruction.
"Father Jupiter, please stop this, I don't want to hurt her." She muttered, as the moon crystal appeared floating above her. It floated down neatly into the crook of her hands, as she once against focused on the spirit energy. It was that tiny object that she had seen.
"Please lend me your power to protect those on this planet. Please help me to stop Jupiter's Destruction." Serena asked the crystal serenely. It was a chain reaction, as soon as the crystal started powering up; Jupiter attacked the princess, causing her to fly back, dropping the crystal to the ground. Serena gasped and looked back towards his spirit, and saw him looming over her.
His long beard flowed around him gracefully, and Serena could see the outlines of his long robes, flowing needlessly behind him. She tried to straighten herself up, but found herself powerless under his gaze. She closed her eyes and looked away, dreading this moment.
"Lita, please help me, don't let him overwhelm you. If you do, you may never get to see those that you love again." Tears flowed from her eyes, cleansing her blackened skin.
Suddenly a beam of light sprouted out from her teardrop, breaking through the great energy mass. The tall spirit gazed around, and looked down at the princess, his green eyes gazing into hers. How was a simple teardrop able to penetrate his powers? She after all was merely a princess, one weaker than he, the God of Lightening and Thunder. His eyes narrowed slowly as more tears broke through his barrier, causing his own embodiment to disperse, slowly disappearing.
Suddenly a blinding white light surrounded them, only allowing Serena to see his piercing green eyes. She gasped as she felt any and all pain lift from her body. What was it that was allowing her to move again? She scrambled to her feet and summoned the moon crystal to her. She lifted her hands in the air once more, calling upon its powers, and soon, that blinding light turned to that of silver, and she left her energy draining from her body quickly.
"Serenity, Princess of the Moon, you shall soon pay for your interference." He said as his body and spirit was sucked into the small circular object. Serena glanced around, noticing that the two energies were still battling each other as the lightening around them suddenly stopped crashing down to earth. Serena glanced around frantically before drawing the moon crystal back into her body and darting forward.
She wrapped her burnt fingers around the small circular object that was floating in front of her friend's semiconscious body and yanked on it hard, pulling it close to her body. The green energies disappeared as Lita's body fell to the earth in a crumpled heap. Serena ran to her friend immediately, still holding the object in her hand, as the red energy grew bigger. Suddenly, Serena felt the earth rumble beneath her, and she quickly wrapped an arm around her friend, pulling her close to her body. Serena glanced frantically around her, before her eyes widened in shock. The red energy mass was shooting towards her! It would only be a matter of seconds before it hit her.
That's when death flashed in front of her eyes. Serena squeezed her eyes tightly burying her face in Lita shoulder, waiting for her death and Lita's destruction. Waiting for the negative burning sensation to engulf her entire body and mar her skin without any remorse. She waited for the smell of burning flesh to reach her nostrils; she waited to feel Lita's body shrivel up in her arms. However it never came.
Serena blinked slowly and turned to where the giant energy mass was being shot at her. It wasn't there. Standing in it's place however was a man, with long silvery hair, and dark cold icy blue eyes. He wore a black cape, and black clothing encircled his entire body. Next to him sat a huge black beast with long dark fur covering its entire body. Fangs protruded from its mouth and long talons appeared from his feet. Wings protruded from its back, black blood dripping from them, but the wings were neatly folded downward. But that symbol that was burned in its chest would forever be etched in Serena's mind. A dark, blood red star burned brightly among the beast.
Serena pulled Lita closer to her body, and clutched the spirit seed within her hand even tighter. She felt it quiver slightly, as if ready to break. She quickly opened her palm and looked down at the fragile looking bulb. The man's eyebrow twitched slightly as the spirit seed lifted from Serena's hand and floated over to him. He enclosed his hand around it, slowly drawing it into his body. Serena's eyes widened suddenly.
This was the man who was taking all of her loved ones away from her. This was the man who had caused her so much hurt and pain. This was the man whom she hated with her entire being. Serena clutched Lita to her body possessively, glaring at the man in front of her. A small smile graced his handsome features.
"It seems that you have figured out who I am then. It's a pity that you had to lose one more friend over you incompetence to listen Bunny." Serena's eyes narrowed dangerously as she went to clutch Lita to her body. However Serena felt nothing. Serena looked down at her arms, a confused expression on her face. 'Where could she have gone?' Serena asked herself as she gazed around frantically, her eyes narrowing slightly as she saw the man drop Lita's unconscious body on the back of that beast. Serena jumped up quickly and went to grab Lita, however something pulled her away from her destination, throwing her into something cold and warm alike.
It took Serena a moment to register where she was, being realizing that she was being held gently against the enemies body. She glared as she looked up at him, staring into two cold blue eyes, and yet somehow, she noticed a sort of kindness behind them. Pursing her lips she looked away from him as he pulled her closer to him. Why did his eyes look so familiar? Serena was snagged out of her thoughts as his thick masculine voice reached her ears.
"How I've longed to hold you like this once again." He murmured as he buried his face in her hair. Serena closed her eyes slowly being drawn in by his warmth that radiated off of his body.
"I don't even know your name." Serena murmured as she suddenly felt his warmth turn to emptiness. She tired to pull away, but she couldn't. She heard him inhale, his face still buried in her golden locks. Serena was suddenly disgusted. She didn't want to be around him anymore, she wanted to be out of his arms. She wanted Darien, but Darien was nowhere to be found.
"How very forgetful of me. You would not know me in this time now would you? Kurai is this man's name. Now tell me my Precious Serenity, will you still not leave him?" Serena jerked away from him, a glare darkening her features. How dare he ask her that question. Of course she would not leave Darien.
"I don't know how long it will take before you get it through your head that I want nothing to do with you, but hopefully you will realize this. I love Darien and I do not love you. Darien understand?" Serena asked. The man nodded slightly before turning around and walking towards his pet.
"It makes me wonder, if you are that selfish enough to risk the lives of what little friends you have left over one simple man." He stated coldly. Serena gasped and clenched her fists at her sides.
"You wouldn't." She stated dangerously. He whipped around quickly, his dark eyes focusing on her, before a wicked smile played at his lips. He took a couple steps towards her before stopping completely and gazing into her bright blue eyes, hoping to penetrate her being with trepidation.
"Try me. You are risking your friends over something that could be solved so easily by just leaving Darien you know."
"I love Darien! There is no way that I could ever leave him!" Serena yelled. She gasped, almost losing her balance as he appeared in front of her suddenly, causing her to topple over. He snaked a strong arm around her waist and held her steady before pulling her close to him once more. He wished that he would be able to hold her like this forever, to be able to indulge in the most satisfying thing that he would ever be able to stand in this very moment, but he did not. He would wait until she came around. He placed his hand firmly under her chin and titled it upwards, so that he could look down into her bright blue eyes once more.
"No matter, I will have what is rightfully mine in due to time." He stated as he noticed her glare darkened. He smiled slowly, before crushing his lips against hers in a bruising kiss. Serena's body went limp as she lost all coherent thought. His lips brushed against her with gentleness, and yet with unyielding ferocity. Serena slumped against his body, unsure of what to do, but obviously her lips were working of their own accord. Her lips worked against for a fleeting moment, before she felt him smile against her lips. He pulled away slowly, setting her on the ground gently before turning around and walking towards his pet. He patted the defiled creature before a portal opened above them and sucked them into it.
Serena placed her hands against her lips as her white gown slowly disappeared. She was now in the clothes she had wore when she left her house, but her lips tingled with intensity. Why had she kissed him? How was he able to do what he did? Tears came to Serena's eyes as she thought about what had just happened. She was supposed to hate this man, but all she was able to do was fall into him like a love struck little girl. Her eyes narrowed as her hate for him rose. It was in that moment, that she vowed she would kill him with her own hands, and she would not regret a single moment of it.
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Author's Note: Well I finally have it posted and I hope that you guys like it. It took forever to write this because of writers block and because of family issues. Well I don't have much to say except I hope you enjoyed it and REVIEW!
~*Neko-Sama*~