Night was falling as Damon scoured the streets hesitantly. He had used his
powers to fly above and search the streets-but she hadn't been near her
house, but not near the park either. It was confusing, and he didn't like
it.
A scream from an abandoned lot caught his attention. He landed outside in
the shadows, human disguise still intact.
As he turned the corner, Jedin's blond head popped up from where he and
Spike where standing. "Hey, you!" He called happily, waving a hand.
"Spike, look! Our little buddy's come to join us!"
"What's going on?" Damon asked guardedly as he approached them. He could
see someone behind his two comrades-but most of him was hidden.
Spike smiled at him. "We got one of the brats that apparently annoyed
Jedin the first day. Tough little witch, but we're going to at least get
some revenge on Diamond. She'll never know what hit them. A human will
just suddenly be found dead."
A small whimper escaped from the person behind Spike. Damon shoved him out
of the way, a horrible clenching in his gut. He knew that whimper, as
instinctively as he knew his own soul.
Angie's terrified lapis lazuli eyes looked up at him. She was pressed up
against the wall, limbs quivering and betraying her state of fear. "Alan!"
She gasped, relief flooding her. "Oh, thank God-"
Damon stared down at her, dark eyes unreadable. "Angie? Oh lord." He
turned around to glare at Spike. "This human is my friend, Spike. Can't
you choose another?"
Spike shook his head. "No way, mate. This one's mocked us. Besides,
we're too low on energy. She's perfect. Full of life, full of spirit-"
He licked his lips hungrily.
Angie watched the two, eyes wide and terrified. Damon looked at her, then
drew Spike aside and growled. "Spike, man, you're my friend, right? Do me
this favor! Choose another, please! She-she means something to me.
Something deep." He touched his chest for emphasis.
Spike's eyes narrowed. "Another one, Damon? Here, you're becoming a
regular softie." He shook his head. "One more reason to kill her. You
must destroy any and all weaknesses. It's how you grow strong. In fact-"
He smiled savagely. "Perhaps you should do the honors. Quench the
weakness quickly."
Angie's frightened eyes darted from Spike to Alan as they turned back from
their conversation. "Alan?" She asked unsurely, seeing the dark look in
his eyes. "What's going on?"
Damon looked down, heart as cold as ice again. "I'm sorry." He muttered
roughly, rubbing his eyes with one hand.
Angie stared at him. He wouldn't leave her here, would he?!
Damon closed his eyes, locking out the look of betrayal in his bird's eyes.
Angie watched in horror as Alan's face changed. Bluish hair became inky
black like the night sky above, light blue eyes changed to cerulean depths.
His stance went to the aggressiveness she had seen so many times before,
lean body becoming covered with black leather pants, a black turtleneck,
and a black trench coat.
Damon looked down at the trembling girl from his height. His eyes were
hidden in shadows. "I guess I should formally introduce myself now." He
said quietly. "My name's Damon."
Angie gaped up at him, mind completely exploding with thoughts and
emotions. "You-you- " She stuttered. "You-and them-evil-trying to kill
us-I fight- "
Damon looked down at her, something like regret in his eyes. Jedin and
Spike moved like fire to grab her arms and hold her still. Angie shrieked
and struggled slightly. "Let me go!" She cried pleadingly. "Alan-Damon-
please- "
Damon bent low to look at her. "I have to." He murmured.
Angie stared at him, eyes filled with tears.
Damon jumped back slightly as Angie suddenly yanked her arm out of Spike
grip to swing at him. She turned the swing into a punch at Jedin. He let
go in surprise and fell back a few feet. Angie leaned back and kicked
Spike in his abdomen, causing him to stagger back, staring at the blond.
Damon stared at her. "Angie- "
Angie laughed suddenly even as her eyes overflowed. "I guess we all have
our secrets, don't we?" She asked Damon, sapphire eyes meeting his
squarely. "And I guess it's time you knew mine."
The generals stared at her. A funny sensation was prickling at the back of
Damon's mind.
Angie gently removed the bracelet that had been hidden underneath the folds
of her long-sleeved shirt. She raised it to the sky, giving Damon a tender
smile.
"DIAMOND STAR POWER-MAKE UP!!!!!!!!!"
Golden and white light erupted in the lot. Damon did not shield his eyes
this time. He merely stared, transfixed.
Angie's clothes disappeared as the light swirled around her. Her bracelet
changed from an accessory to a large golden charm that implanted itself in
the middle of her chest. White light swarmed out from it, forming a
leotard that clung close to her skin. Angie raised her arms and gold light
raced up them, forming elbow gloves. The same light flew down to her feet,
forming boots that raised to the middle of her thighs. A golden skirt
swirled around her hips as the remaining power swirled up to form a golden
tiara on her forehead and a large white diamond on her right glove. Angie
placed her hands on her hips as the transformation ended.
Damon did not even blink. He merely stared at her, eyes narrowed in shock.
Sailor Diamond dusted herself off slightly and smiled at the other two
generals, who were looking somewhat shell-shocked. "Surprise?" She asked
softly, in that voice that Damon knew he should have recognized. He almost
couldn't believe it, though it was a half-curse, half-blessing. He didn't
have to worry about breaking anyone's heart-but they knew who she was, now-
but she could defend herself-he almost smiled as he admired Diamond's
stance. She was afraid, but she wouldn't ever show it, not in a million
years.
Diamond studied them all a moment more, then quickly back flipped over the
wall behind her and took off into the night.
Spike and Jedin began roaring in synchronism. Damon ignored them. He
stared at where she had been, a smile still on his face. It made sense,
now.the two were so similar.same golden hair..same light skin..same
beautiful eyes. His mind began taking him back through all the memories he
had of her, both Diamond and Angie. The angry look on Diamond's face when
he first saw her, the look that had quickly melted into shock-her scent, so
full of life-the way she glared at him as he made to attack her-the way she
had looked emerging from Katrina's Unum-the fierce look on her face when he
had trapped her inside his shield on the top of the structure-the pain as
she was hit by the shield's energy-her smile as he brushed her hair-the
terror on Angie's face after he had saved her-Diamond's mysterious smile as
they had danced-her face bathed in moonlight-thousands of images were
swarming through his mind, each one twisting his heart slightly more.
"Right!" Spike snapped, jerking Damon out of his thoughts. "Let's get her!
She can't have gone far! Let's move it!" He pointed over the wall.
"I'll head that way. Jedin-" He gestured to the right. "Head out onto the
streets. Damon-" He gave Damon a suspicious look before pointing to the
left. "That way."
Damon nodded his assent, fury nearly choking him. Spike had given him the
way that she would have been least likely to go in. He turned, muttering
blackly.
A blaze of gold streaking over a building in his direction made him leap
into the air. Diamond was there! In a flash he was in hunting mode, eyes
fastened on the golden girl flying away across the concrete jungle.
* * * Diamond tore away across the city towards the park, tears flying out of her eyes. Her brain was commanding her to flee as fast as she could, as quick as a deer from a wolf. Her heart was screaming at her to turn around and find Damon again. She understood now how she could have cared for them both. all this time, her heart had been showing her the truth, that it was truly only one that she was in love with, for they were the same. And she was in love. Completely, totally, madly, blindly, head-over-her-damn-heels in love. Damn you, Damon. She whispered in her head. Damn you for making me fall in love with you. She almost smiled as she saw her destination in mind. The park. There were enough hiding places there for her to be safe. She'd just wait until a few hours had passed and this had blown over, and then she'd go home- Home. But Damon knew who she was. He knew where she lived. He knew every god-damned bit of her. Home would no longer be a sanctuary. A sob retched out of her throat; she bit it down angrily. She would not cry now. Crying would come when this was all over. She leapt down into the park and immediately hid in some large bushes. Underneath they were practically hollow. Moonlight from the full moon streamed in through the branches. Diamond quickly scanned the sky and the world around her, then breathed a sigh of relief-and regret. No one had followed her. She could stay hidden, for now at least. The moon really is pretty, tonight, she reflected dreamily, staring up at the huge moon in the sky above. Almost like a diamond itself. All alone up there.like me...like Diamond.. She choked back a bitter laugh. God, she was such a philosophical idiot. She was alone, and she would remain alone. If she was alone, no one could hurt her. But she would never have her safe loneliness again. Her heart had been split into pieces and shelled out to her parents, her brother, her school friends, her best friends and sisters-Mary, Lacie, Rachelle, Elisha, Malorie, and Marisa-Lune and Demetri, who were like second parents now, and-
And Damon. She sighed as tears drifted down her face, then turned back into the shadowy den of her hiding place. She had not gone a step before she suddenly hit something tall, warm, and hard. Diamond fell back against the wall surrounding the park, heart beating so fast she felt it would pop right out of her chest. She knew who she had run into in the dark, as easily as she knew she own name. Azure eyes flashed in the darkness. "Hello, Diamond." Diamond breathed in deeply and quickly. "Hello, Damon." She whispered. In the shadows, the two stared at each other. "Look." Diamond said finally. "I'm not going to let you hurt me. I-I don't care if you're Alan or what, Damon, I'm not about t-to let you hurt me!" Her voice quavered more and more as her protests got louder. "I-I-I won't! I-I may c-care for you, b-but I'm not g-going to let m-myself get injured. You've already b-broken my heart, can't you just leave me-" Damon had been listening to this tirade with some interest. Now he moved forward to gently place a finger on her lips. "You're way too noisy, you know that, right?" He whispered to his captured cat. Diamond opened her mouth to protest-and found she was unable to. Because Damon's mouth was covering her mouth, his lips finally on hers. Her eyes opened wide and she gasped into the kiss. The warmth from before came back full blast, and she half-moaned. She felt full of fire, heat swarming up from the pit of her stomach, drawn up by Damon. She trembled, filled with a feeling so achingly pure. Damon sighed into the kiss. She was as sweet as he had imagined, like honey, like roses. Intoxicated, he delved into her mouth, listening to her small whimpers. The full force of what he had pent up inside him ever since he had first met her was let loose in a raging wave. His hands entwined around her waist, holding her close. He felt her arms run up his sides to clamp around his neck. As the kiss deepened, Diamond's knees buckled. She had never imagined it could feel like this, this raging heat scorching her limbs, her heart soaring up into pure bliss. Damon was exploring her lightly, and she let him, feeling as if he were drawing the fire out of her with every movement. I'm in love. She thought giddily as her knees gave way. Damon, sensing this weakness, carefully leaned her back, softening his advances to gentle butterfly kisses. Finally he pulled away, smiling down at the gasping golden girl in his arms. "God, was that worth it." He whispered, gently running a finger up and down her cheek. "Little cat.my angel..." "Damon." She whispered, hands still interlaced behind his neck. "Why." She closed her eyes and snuggled into his chest, strength returning to her legs. Fire was still coursing through her body, wanting something she couldn't describe or name. Damon half-groaned as she pressed up against him. "Easy, love." He whispered, embracing her tightly. "It's okay now." "They know." Diamond whispered, tears falling as realization hit her. "They know who I am. They know that you know me." "Shhh." Damon murmured, gently placing his lips on her hair. "It'll be all right, love. Everything's going to be all right." "No." Diamond replied softly. "It'll never be all right." She looked up at him, shaking her head. "Nothing will ever be the same again." A shout from overhead made Damon look up, eyes instantly black and protective. Diamond squeaked in fear and buried into his shirt. He patted her head gently. "Don't worry." "But- " She began. He gently placed a finger on her lips, a wicked smile on his face. "I'll try and draw them away." He whispered. "Then you run for it. But- " He sighed. "You might not want to go home for a while." Diamond understood his meaning. She nodded seriously, then timidly smiled up at him. "Thank you." Damon grinned, then swiftly kissed her again before leaping up out of the bushes and taking off into the night. Diamond sighed and leaned against the wall, a slow smile covering her face as she gently touched her lips. "I suppose you're very proud of yourself." A nasty voice said from close beside her. Diamond turned and opened her mouth to shriek. A hand clamped down, and a prickle at her throat held her still. "One sound, and it'll be your last." Spike said softly. "Did you see?" Diamond whispered, fists clenched. "By the look on your face, I can guess." Spike replied softly, gently running the blade up and down her neck. "So Damon finally kissed the girl. Huh, too bad he'll never get what he wants." "What are you talking about?" Diamond muttered, eyes narrowing. "Do you honestly think he loves you?" Spike snorted. "Hah. We can't love, my dear. It's impossible. A general's heart is as frozen as ice. Damon doesn't want your heart, pet. He wants-something else." "Liar." Diamond whispered, tears prickling. "Don't you wish, love." Spike laughed softly. He grabbed her neck and threw her out of the bushes onto the ground. Diamond stared up at the menacing silhouette, terrified. Spike laughed as he yanked her to her feet. "We're going to have some fun." He muttered in her ear. "It's been a long time since I tortured a Sailor Soldier." Diamond gritted her teeth, tears and hatred prickling in her eyes. "Bastard." Spike chuckled before he turned his head up to the sky. "Hey, Damon! Jedin! Lookee what I found!" Two dark shapes up in the sky turned to stare down at them. Spike grabbed Diamond's wrist and raised it high, half-pulling her off the ground. "It's Miss Scout of the Year!" He said, with a laugh. There was a sharp intake of air from someplace above. Diamond didn't hear it. The war was back in her heart, Spike's words repeating themselves over and over. It was beginning to drive her mad. Jedin whooped and flew down, glee coming over his evil face. "About time!! Hah! Finally!" He grabbed Diamond's chin and roughly pulled her head up to look at him. He smiled at her, triumph deep in every line on his face. Diamond glared at him, and then spat in his eye. Spike chuckled as Jedin swore and wiped his countenance. He backhanded Diamond's face with a slap that echoed across the park. Diamond's head twisted around at the force of that blow. She winced as she gingerly touched her cheek. "Someone ate his vegetables when he was a little boy." She murmured to herself. "Knock her out." Jedin instructed Spike quietly. Spike nodded. The last thing Diamond remembered was something warm covering her mouth and nose, a funny smell, and then darkness.
* * * Five blocks away, a silver-haired man stirred in his sleep. Deep in Neo's mind, something was calling to him, warning him of something. But his weariness was too much to heed the call, and he sank back into oblivion. But he was not alone. Across town, more people moved in restlessness. Mary half-awoke from a pleasant dream, blinked, realized it wasn't her turn to patrol yet, and went back to sleep, ignoring the uncomfortable prickle in the back of her mind. The same went for Rachelle and Marisa, also enjoying the few hours of sleep they would get before patrol. On the streets, Amethyst, Topaz, and Sapphire patrolled, wondering somewhat uneasily why they had not seen Diamond yet, concern surfacing in their minds between the destruction of demons. But none of them heeded the call, and none noticed the golden girl dragged across town to the Sunset Tower and locked inside.
* * * Diamond woke up to a stinging pain on her left cheek. She yelped and tried to move her hand up to touch the sore spot. She couldn't. Her eyes opened and she looked down, then yelled in anger and disbelief. She was chained! Large, heavy iron chains bound her hands and legs to the wall, the metal rusty and scratching her skin. Along the chain links she saw flashes of black lightning, indicating that these were magic. She sighed and hung her head, memories of what had happened flying back to her. She had transformed in front of the generals-Spike had caught her- drugged her-but before that he had laughed at her-why- Her eyes went wide as she remembered what had happened between her and Damon. She blushed and wet her lips with her tongue, heart racing, conflict swooping back into her head. Spike had implied that Damon only wanted her for her body, that he didn't love her. A small smirk played on Diamond's lips. "You think he could have chosen someone better." She muttered to herself. "So, the Sleeping Beauty decides to join us." A British-accented voice said. Spike came out of the shadows on her left, a cruel smile on his face. "Try the knocked-out beauty." Diamond retorted, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin. "Jeez, use a drug when before all you had to do was knock me upside the head. You're getting more creative." Spike's next smile was actually almost gentle, and the evilness behind it was enough to make her teeth begin dancing away in her mouth. "Oh, dear." Spike murmured softly. "Poor little child. You really have no idea what's going to happen to you, do you?" He gently ran a fingernail up and down her cheek. Diamond jerked her head away. "Get off me!" "Perhaps you'd rather spend some quality time with someone else." Spike said with a smirk as another shape came out of the shadows. Diamond's breath caught so fast in her throat she almost choked. "Damon." She whispered, voice inaudible, barely above silence. "Yeah." Spike said, seeing her lips move. "Damon. Your favorite little general." He smirked at Damon. "You got five minutes, buddy." He growled, acting like a bad actor playing a policeman. He punched Damon's shoulder, then vanished back into the dark shadows. Damon rubbed his head, looking down at the ground. "You didn't exactly lead them away." Diamond said finally, glaring at him. "Do you believe the poison Spike was dripping in your ear?" Damon asked softly. "What poison?" She replied innocently, wishing she could burn a hole through this man with her eyes. "About us not being able to love." Damon quietly stated. Diamond shrugged. "It's true, isn't it?" "No." Damon answered firmly. "No, it's not." Diamond laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Hah. Yeah, right." She glared at Damon, who was starting to look slightly mad. "You expect me to believe that? The all-high bad guys of our dimension can love?" She spat on the ground in disgust. The anger in Damon's dark eyes was much more acute now. "So you believe him, but not me." He growled. "Yes, I do!" Diamond yelled. "Maybe he's right! Maybe you do just want me for my body!" "I love you." Damon snarled, looking at that moment like he truly hated her. Diamond laughed again. "How do you know you love me?! I bet you don't even know what love is!" "If it means- " Damon began to roar. His voice suddenly softened. "That you're the only thing that I think about, the one thing that's always pushing me. If love means that you're the first thing behind my eyelids when I wake in the morning, the thought that accompanies me throughout the day, the last image that I see before sleep overtakes me, and the one dream that always will haunt me, then yes, I do." Diamond did not say anything. She merely stared at Damon, looking pole- axed. Damon continued, a mixture of anger and soft affection in his tone. "If it means that you make me want to kill you one minute and kiss the living daylights out of you the next, then yes, I do. If it means that I'd risk every particle of myself if it meant saving your life, then I do. If love has anything to do with the fact that ever since I saw you my heart has been one jumble of pain and feelings and emotions, then I love you with every fiber of my being, and I honestly believe that this feeling is going to go on for a very, very long time." He sighed and ran a hand across his eyes, looking at Diamond. "Is that good enough for you, or do I need to continue? I love you, Sailor Diamond, Angie Pirko, whoever you are. I love you." Diamond suddenly realized she had stopped breathing. She gasped in air, filling empty lungs, heart flying away in her chest, unable to speak or move. "Time's up, children!" Spike sang, coming out of the shadows suddenly. Damon drew away from where Diamond was chained and walked away into the shadows, dark eyes unreadable. Diamond watched him go, trying to make her voice and movement come back. "Torture time, now, isn't it, pet?" A singsong voice murmured. Ivy wound her way out of the shadows as the room began to be illuminated. Diamond stared at her for a moment in fear before glancing around her prison. The Sunset Tower lobby. She thought desperately. But-why here? What's so special about the Sunset Tower to these creeps? "We have waited too long for this day." Uther said quietly from where he was standing, the shadows disappearing from his face as the room brightened. "Today is the day another Sailor will leave the ranks of the living defenders of justice, and go join the Divinity." "The death of a Sailor Scout always empowers us." Katrina murmured, for once not sounding too stoned. She looked calmly at Diamond from her place across the room. "The torture of a Senshi strengthens us even more." "Her energy will be harvested, and used to feed our Lady." Xavier said in his monotone voice, gray eyes like those of a dead man's as he looked at Diamond. "Our darkness will be complete, and our shadow will spread across the world." "Oooh, wishful thinking on your part, pal." Diamond said, sighing in relief as her speech and strength came back. "The energy of a Scout is incredibly strong." Spike said with a smile at Diamond. "And the Lady Rubian needs only a few more drops. Yours will do fine." "Who says I'm gonna give it?" Diamond inquired, glaring at all the generals assembled before her. Spike smiled, looking for all the world like an angelic Satan. "Black Arrow." Diamond cried out as a bolt of black lightning hit her side. She glared at Spike. "Creep! Won't even untie me-fight me one on one!" "No chances are to be taken, Miss Diamond." Jedin said with a smirk. "Darkness Hail!" Bolts lashed against her body. Diamond let out a small shriek as her body was flung back and forth. She could not dodge, could not get away from the horrible pain that cut her arms and legs and tore at her fuku. Blood began to drip from the wounds on her limbs and face. "Shadows Destruct!" "Nightflash Disembowelment!" Cries began to fill the room. Diamond flung herself against the chains, tears mixing with the blood on her face. Her golden fuku was now sodden with redness, and her skin was marked and injured in a thousand places. The metallic smell of blood filled the air, along with the smell (that only the generals could detect) of fear and pain. In Damon's mind a war was brimming. He knew that if he interrupted the torture, it would finally reveal him as a traitor, and they would kill him. But every cry that reached his ears tore at his heart and made his chest ache. He couldn't bear the sight of the puddle of blood beginning to form underneath Diamond, nor the liquid streaming out of her. Diamond was wailing, crying, pleading for relief in wordless shrieks. Finally, the shots ended. Diamond looked up, spirit almost broken, pain lashing her like she had never before known. Her wounds covered every possible inch of her body, and her life's blood was draining away onto the floor beneath her. Hazy blue eyes looked up to find cerulean ones. Damon's eyes showed such concern and worry-her strength and spirit returned, and she worked her lips up into a small smile. Damon's heart twisted. Spike yawned. "This is boring." He announced, cupping his hands together. "DARK TITANIC DESTRUCTION!!!" As the huge bolt zoomed towards Diamond, she seemed to barely notice it. She was looking instead at Damon, eyes smiling, kindness in them. Damon fought for air. He stared at her pleadingly. "I love you." He mouthed. Diamond's mouth opened. "I know." Then the bomb exploded. Diamond's body was yanked back and forth like a kite in a hurricane. She screamed and screamed-why weren't the walls coming down?! The pain was incredible. Smashed in the head with a two-by-four repeatedly, drilling a tooth without Novocain, surgery without anesthesia. She cried and cried as the darkness pounded her, and pounded her, and pounded her- Twelve blocks away, Rachelle sat up in bed with a start, pain screaming in her own chest. She blindly grabbed her charm and transformed, knowing automatically what was happening across the city. She saw Mary leap out of bed and jump out of her window without even being transformed, bracelet dangling on her wrist. Marisa ran out her front door and flew down the street, transforming as she did so. Neo leapt off his balcony, transforming into Tuxedo Onyx on the way down. Oz, who had been up late preparing an end-of-term paper, started and knocked several of his papers off his desk as he grabbed an orange rose that had been sitting in a small vase. Andrew, who had been sleeping, fell out of bed, eyes wide, not even noticing the pain. Lance, doing late night work at the library, yelled out loud and ran out the door, making the librarian who was there late frown at him. Amethyst, Sapphire, and Topaz all stopped dead in the middle of their separate struggles-Topaz actually had half a stake in a vampire-and took off at the same time to a point, a certain place in the town. Even Kyle and Chase woke up sweating, clamoring for something they couldn't hear or see. Because each person with connections to the ancient powers, whether receivers of or merely close to, had felt in their hearts Diamond's pleading scream, and each knew instinctively that they had to protect their leader. Back at the Sunset Tower, the blast finally ended. Diamond's whole body was shuddering. She was more dead than alive, and life was slowing draining out of her. Her eyes looked up pleadingly as Spike came up, a small smile on his face, a ball of black energy in his fist. One more would finish her. She stared up at it, eyes filling with tears, as Spike lowered his hand. BAM!! A red whirlwind suddenly flew at Spike from out of nowhere. It hurled him across the room and flung him against the wall. Spike choked as the blur stopped to reveal Garnet's furious face. "BASTARD!!!!" She screamed at him, shaking him furiously. "YOU JERK!!!!" Multicolor flashes began flying into the room from high windows. The Jewel Senshi and their Guardians had arrived, each with a look of fuming hatred on their face. Amethyst's crescent attack cut Diamond's bonds clean through. She swayed for a moment, then collapsed in a pool of her blood. The battle raged as it had never before. Generals found themselves fighting for their lives as the heated warriors attacked. Obsidian and Tuxedo Onyx tore at Xavier with their attacks, alternately blasting him and scorching his skin. Topaz and Sapphire bloodied Spike's face, bruising his cheeks and temples with their fists. Amethyst blasted Jedin with her attack, numbed loathing on her face. Emerald and Bullet took on Katrina, both flinging their rose assaults. Uther found himself defending his life from Storm's and Thunder's violence. Garnet, after tackling Spike for a moment, ran to Diamond's side and forced her to sit up. "Angie! Angie!" She cried, trying to wipe the blood away from her friend's nose and mouth. "They know." Diamond whispered to Garnet. "They know who I am. They know who we are. God, Shell, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." "It doesn't matter!" Garnet said fiercely, clinging onto her friend's hand. "It doesn't matter, Diamond-please- " "Diamond, heal yourself!" A voice said on Garnet's right. Garnet swung around in time to see Damon take her other hand. He glared at her fiercely, ignoring Garnet. "Come on, do it!" Garnet hesitated, wondering if she was being mocked. Diamond opened her eyes to look up at Damon. She half-smiled, then whispered so only he could hear, "I love you, too." She took a deep breath. "Everlasting Love Purify." A cry forced its way out of her throat as the light entered her. The thousands of cuts healed in an instant, like someone had merely zippered them shut. Diamond cried out again as the light worked inside her, healing the internal damage in her organs and head and bones. It reached an agonizing peak, then vanished, leaving her feeling wonderfully peaceful and healed. She opened her eyes and smiled up at Damon. Garnet saw the look in Damon's and Diamond's eyes as they looked at each other. Hesitantly, she reached out with her power, trying to feel their emotions. A gasp fell out of her mouth as she stared at them, eyes bugging out. No- no, it couldn't be- Diamond hesitantly rose to her feet, glancing down ruefully at her still- bloody uniform. "I wonder if this thing needs dry cleaning?" She said, looking over at Garnet's shell-shocked face. She frowned and waved her hand energetically up and down in front of Garnet's red eyes. "Hey? Hello! What's wrong?" Garnet started, then smiled up at Diamond. "N-nothing. I don't know, maybe the magic does that." Diamond laughed, then turned a bright smile on Damon, who gazed at her with dark eyes, the hint of a smile passing over his face. Garnet watched this exchange, eyes wide and interested. Diamond suddenly noticed Garnet's frank look, and blushed and stammered. "Um- " Garnet held up a hand. "Explanations later-from both of you." She looked sharply at Damon, who meekly nodded, eyes dancing. "Oh, Shellie-" Diamond began pleadingly. "And don't you use the Look on me, Pirko!" Garnet growled. "You didn't hear that." She added to Damon. "He already knew." Diamond said quietly. "He-already-knew?" Garnet said jerkily, the full blast of these words finally hitting her. "And-the others?" "I transformed in front of Spike, Jedin, and Damon." Diamond murmured. "We're in a lot of trouble." Garnet sighed, rubbing her forehead. Diamond and Damon promptly nodded their heads before grinning at each other. None of this had escaped the attention of Jedin, who, despite his fight with Amethyst, had been very close by. He had seen all. And a conviction was growing in his mind. Traitor. "BEAUTY ROSES BLAST!!!" "BLACK FEAR SWARM!!!!" "DEATH CRESCENTS DESTROY!!!!" "BRIGHT WHIRLWIND GUST!!!!!" "ICY GLACIER FREEZE!!!!!" "Come on!" Garnet called, turning around to face the fight. "SCORCHING FLAMEBALLS FIRE!!!!" Diamond hesitated, then shot a look at Damon. He slowly raised a hand, palm facing her. She raised her hand and placed it against his, entwining their fingers. "We have to play enemies for a little while longer, Cat." Damon whispered. Diamond nodded with a sigh. "I know. I-I won't let them hurt you, though." "I wish I had enough guts to have interrupted the torture." Damon said savagely, self-loathing rising. He smiled at Diamond. "I don't really deserve you, little one." Diamond calmly stood up on her tiptoes to place her lips on Damon's cheek. Damon closed his eyes as soft rosebuds touched his face for the briefest instant. Then the sensation was gone, and Diamond was smiling warmly up at him. "I wouldn't have chosen anyone else." Generals and Senshi and Guardians alike were staring at the couple-the general and the Sailor Scout. Neither of them noticed. They were too lost in their own world. The only faces not too surprised were Garnet's and Jedin's. On Garnet's there was calm resignation, and even a hint of amusement and happiness. On Jedin's there was cold nothingness. He was carefully concealing his feelings under a mask of flesh. No one could say for sure which side was more astonished-the light or the dark. Both sides roughly resembled gaping fish. Diamond turned around, a dreamy expression on her face. She stopped short as she noticed the stares of the others. For a moment, fear and panic launched themselves across her face before she frowned and stuck out her lip. "What the devil are you lot staring at? Come on, move it along, nothing to see here!" A lot of mouths snapped shut. Damon chuckled, feeling slightly insane. Oh, he was definitely going to get it, all right. Mm-hmm. Diamond's demeanor was changing. She seemed to grow taller as she glared at the generals. "You put me through hell, tonight." She growled, voice angry. "You didn't fight honorably, not that we expected you to, but the thought of this torture was well beyond me." She placed her hands on her hips as her speech reached its peak. "Tomorrow, this is over." "It's time for a showdown." The Senshi stared at her before abruptly nodding. "She's right." Amethyst proclaimed. "You've gone too far, you lot. It's payback time." "Uh-huh." Emerald agreed. "This is low, even for slime like you lot." "Hasta la vista, pretty boys!" Obsidian snarled. Spike growled his assent. "So be it. Be here tomorrow at-" "No!" Diamond interjected. "We will choose the time. You no longer govern us." She gave Spike a final glare before turning to walk out. Spitefully, Spike aimed a last blow at Diamond. It flew towards her back, making the Senshi cry out in warning. Diamond turned- And then Damon was in front of her. A black shield formed, disintegrating the shot. He was breathing heavily, glaring at Spike. "Now, that's not nice, is it?" He asked calmly. "Not nice to attack after the challenge has been issued." "Damon." Diamond whispered. "Thank you-but now they know-" "They knew anyway, love." Damon murmured to her, putting the shield down. He turned his head to wink at her. "Don't worry about me. I can handle my own." Diamond bit her lip before nodding and exiting the lobby, her Scouts and Guardians following. Damon smiled as she disappeared into the night, then turned to face the onslaught. Spike's cold black eyes glittered. "Well, well, well. What have we here."
* * * Diamond tore away across the city towards the park, tears flying out of her eyes. Her brain was commanding her to flee as fast as she could, as quick as a deer from a wolf. Her heart was screaming at her to turn around and find Damon again. She understood now how she could have cared for them both. all this time, her heart had been showing her the truth, that it was truly only one that she was in love with, for they were the same. And she was in love. Completely, totally, madly, blindly, head-over-her-damn-heels in love. Damn you, Damon. She whispered in her head. Damn you for making me fall in love with you. She almost smiled as she saw her destination in mind. The park. There were enough hiding places there for her to be safe. She'd just wait until a few hours had passed and this had blown over, and then she'd go home- Home. But Damon knew who she was. He knew where she lived. He knew every god-damned bit of her. Home would no longer be a sanctuary. A sob retched out of her throat; she bit it down angrily. She would not cry now. Crying would come when this was all over. She leapt down into the park and immediately hid in some large bushes. Underneath they were practically hollow. Moonlight from the full moon streamed in through the branches. Diamond quickly scanned the sky and the world around her, then breathed a sigh of relief-and regret. No one had followed her. She could stay hidden, for now at least. The moon really is pretty, tonight, she reflected dreamily, staring up at the huge moon in the sky above. Almost like a diamond itself. All alone up there.like me...like Diamond.. She choked back a bitter laugh. God, she was such a philosophical idiot. She was alone, and she would remain alone. If she was alone, no one could hurt her. But she would never have her safe loneliness again. Her heart had been split into pieces and shelled out to her parents, her brother, her school friends, her best friends and sisters-Mary, Lacie, Rachelle, Elisha, Malorie, and Marisa-Lune and Demetri, who were like second parents now, and-
And Damon. She sighed as tears drifted down her face, then turned back into the shadowy den of her hiding place. She had not gone a step before she suddenly hit something tall, warm, and hard. Diamond fell back against the wall surrounding the park, heart beating so fast she felt it would pop right out of her chest. She knew who she had run into in the dark, as easily as she knew she own name. Azure eyes flashed in the darkness. "Hello, Diamond." Diamond breathed in deeply and quickly. "Hello, Damon." She whispered. In the shadows, the two stared at each other. "Look." Diamond said finally. "I'm not going to let you hurt me. I-I don't care if you're Alan or what, Damon, I'm not about t-to let you hurt me!" Her voice quavered more and more as her protests got louder. "I-I-I won't! I-I may c-care for you, b-but I'm not g-going to let m-myself get injured. You've already b-broken my heart, can't you just leave me-" Damon had been listening to this tirade with some interest. Now he moved forward to gently place a finger on her lips. "You're way too noisy, you know that, right?" He whispered to his captured cat. Diamond opened her mouth to protest-and found she was unable to. Because Damon's mouth was covering her mouth, his lips finally on hers. Her eyes opened wide and she gasped into the kiss. The warmth from before came back full blast, and she half-moaned. She felt full of fire, heat swarming up from the pit of her stomach, drawn up by Damon. She trembled, filled with a feeling so achingly pure. Damon sighed into the kiss. She was as sweet as he had imagined, like honey, like roses. Intoxicated, he delved into her mouth, listening to her small whimpers. The full force of what he had pent up inside him ever since he had first met her was let loose in a raging wave. His hands entwined around her waist, holding her close. He felt her arms run up his sides to clamp around his neck. As the kiss deepened, Diamond's knees buckled. She had never imagined it could feel like this, this raging heat scorching her limbs, her heart soaring up into pure bliss. Damon was exploring her lightly, and she let him, feeling as if he were drawing the fire out of her with every movement. I'm in love. She thought giddily as her knees gave way. Damon, sensing this weakness, carefully leaned her back, softening his advances to gentle butterfly kisses. Finally he pulled away, smiling down at the gasping golden girl in his arms. "God, was that worth it." He whispered, gently running a finger up and down her cheek. "Little cat.my angel..." "Damon." She whispered, hands still interlaced behind his neck. "Why." She closed her eyes and snuggled into his chest, strength returning to her legs. Fire was still coursing through her body, wanting something she couldn't describe or name. Damon half-groaned as she pressed up against him. "Easy, love." He whispered, embracing her tightly. "It's okay now." "They know." Diamond whispered, tears falling as realization hit her. "They know who I am. They know that you know me." "Shhh." Damon murmured, gently placing his lips on her hair. "It'll be all right, love. Everything's going to be all right." "No." Diamond replied softly. "It'll never be all right." She looked up at him, shaking her head. "Nothing will ever be the same again." A shout from overhead made Damon look up, eyes instantly black and protective. Diamond squeaked in fear and buried into his shirt. He patted her head gently. "Don't worry." "But- " She began. He gently placed a finger on her lips, a wicked smile on his face. "I'll try and draw them away." He whispered. "Then you run for it. But- " He sighed. "You might not want to go home for a while." Diamond understood his meaning. She nodded seriously, then timidly smiled up at him. "Thank you." Damon grinned, then swiftly kissed her again before leaping up out of the bushes and taking off into the night. Diamond sighed and leaned against the wall, a slow smile covering her face as she gently touched her lips. "I suppose you're very proud of yourself." A nasty voice said from close beside her. Diamond turned and opened her mouth to shriek. A hand clamped down, and a prickle at her throat held her still. "One sound, and it'll be your last." Spike said softly. "Did you see?" Diamond whispered, fists clenched. "By the look on your face, I can guess." Spike replied softly, gently running the blade up and down her neck. "So Damon finally kissed the girl. Huh, too bad he'll never get what he wants." "What are you talking about?" Diamond muttered, eyes narrowing. "Do you honestly think he loves you?" Spike snorted. "Hah. We can't love, my dear. It's impossible. A general's heart is as frozen as ice. Damon doesn't want your heart, pet. He wants-something else." "Liar." Diamond whispered, tears prickling. "Don't you wish, love." Spike laughed softly. He grabbed her neck and threw her out of the bushes onto the ground. Diamond stared up at the menacing silhouette, terrified. Spike laughed as he yanked her to her feet. "We're going to have some fun." He muttered in her ear. "It's been a long time since I tortured a Sailor Soldier." Diamond gritted her teeth, tears and hatred prickling in her eyes. "Bastard." Spike chuckled before he turned his head up to the sky. "Hey, Damon! Jedin! Lookee what I found!" Two dark shapes up in the sky turned to stare down at them. Spike grabbed Diamond's wrist and raised it high, half-pulling her off the ground. "It's Miss Scout of the Year!" He said, with a laugh. There was a sharp intake of air from someplace above. Diamond didn't hear it. The war was back in her heart, Spike's words repeating themselves over and over. It was beginning to drive her mad. Jedin whooped and flew down, glee coming over his evil face. "About time!! Hah! Finally!" He grabbed Diamond's chin and roughly pulled her head up to look at him. He smiled at her, triumph deep in every line on his face. Diamond glared at him, and then spat in his eye. Spike chuckled as Jedin swore and wiped his countenance. He backhanded Diamond's face with a slap that echoed across the park. Diamond's head twisted around at the force of that blow. She winced as she gingerly touched her cheek. "Someone ate his vegetables when he was a little boy." She murmured to herself. "Knock her out." Jedin instructed Spike quietly. Spike nodded. The last thing Diamond remembered was something warm covering her mouth and nose, a funny smell, and then darkness.
* * * Five blocks away, a silver-haired man stirred in his sleep. Deep in Neo's mind, something was calling to him, warning him of something. But his weariness was too much to heed the call, and he sank back into oblivion. But he was not alone. Across town, more people moved in restlessness. Mary half-awoke from a pleasant dream, blinked, realized it wasn't her turn to patrol yet, and went back to sleep, ignoring the uncomfortable prickle in the back of her mind. The same went for Rachelle and Marisa, also enjoying the few hours of sleep they would get before patrol. On the streets, Amethyst, Topaz, and Sapphire patrolled, wondering somewhat uneasily why they had not seen Diamond yet, concern surfacing in their minds between the destruction of demons. But none of them heeded the call, and none noticed the golden girl dragged across town to the Sunset Tower and locked inside.
* * * Diamond woke up to a stinging pain on her left cheek. She yelped and tried to move her hand up to touch the sore spot. She couldn't. Her eyes opened and she looked down, then yelled in anger and disbelief. She was chained! Large, heavy iron chains bound her hands and legs to the wall, the metal rusty and scratching her skin. Along the chain links she saw flashes of black lightning, indicating that these were magic. She sighed and hung her head, memories of what had happened flying back to her. She had transformed in front of the generals-Spike had caught her- drugged her-but before that he had laughed at her-why- Her eyes went wide as she remembered what had happened between her and Damon. She blushed and wet her lips with her tongue, heart racing, conflict swooping back into her head. Spike had implied that Damon only wanted her for her body, that he didn't love her. A small smirk played on Diamond's lips. "You think he could have chosen someone better." She muttered to herself. "So, the Sleeping Beauty decides to join us." A British-accented voice said. Spike came out of the shadows on her left, a cruel smile on his face. "Try the knocked-out beauty." Diamond retorted, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin. "Jeez, use a drug when before all you had to do was knock me upside the head. You're getting more creative." Spike's next smile was actually almost gentle, and the evilness behind it was enough to make her teeth begin dancing away in her mouth. "Oh, dear." Spike murmured softly. "Poor little child. You really have no idea what's going to happen to you, do you?" He gently ran a fingernail up and down her cheek. Diamond jerked her head away. "Get off me!" "Perhaps you'd rather spend some quality time with someone else." Spike said with a smirk as another shape came out of the shadows. Diamond's breath caught so fast in her throat she almost choked. "Damon." She whispered, voice inaudible, barely above silence. "Yeah." Spike said, seeing her lips move. "Damon. Your favorite little general." He smirked at Damon. "You got five minutes, buddy." He growled, acting like a bad actor playing a policeman. He punched Damon's shoulder, then vanished back into the dark shadows. Damon rubbed his head, looking down at the ground. "You didn't exactly lead them away." Diamond said finally, glaring at him. "Do you believe the poison Spike was dripping in your ear?" Damon asked softly. "What poison?" She replied innocently, wishing she could burn a hole through this man with her eyes. "About us not being able to love." Damon quietly stated. Diamond shrugged. "It's true, isn't it?" "No." Damon answered firmly. "No, it's not." Diamond laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Hah. Yeah, right." She glared at Damon, who was starting to look slightly mad. "You expect me to believe that? The all-high bad guys of our dimension can love?" She spat on the ground in disgust. The anger in Damon's dark eyes was much more acute now. "So you believe him, but not me." He growled. "Yes, I do!" Diamond yelled. "Maybe he's right! Maybe you do just want me for my body!" "I love you." Damon snarled, looking at that moment like he truly hated her. Diamond laughed again. "How do you know you love me?! I bet you don't even know what love is!" "If it means- " Damon began to roar. His voice suddenly softened. "That you're the only thing that I think about, the one thing that's always pushing me. If love means that you're the first thing behind my eyelids when I wake in the morning, the thought that accompanies me throughout the day, the last image that I see before sleep overtakes me, and the one dream that always will haunt me, then yes, I do." Diamond did not say anything. She merely stared at Damon, looking pole- axed. Damon continued, a mixture of anger and soft affection in his tone. "If it means that you make me want to kill you one minute and kiss the living daylights out of you the next, then yes, I do. If it means that I'd risk every particle of myself if it meant saving your life, then I do. If love has anything to do with the fact that ever since I saw you my heart has been one jumble of pain and feelings and emotions, then I love you with every fiber of my being, and I honestly believe that this feeling is going to go on for a very, very long time." He sighed and ran a hand across his eyes, looking at Diamond. "Is that good enough for you, or do I need to continue? I love you, Sailor Diamond, Angie Pirko, whoever you are. I love you." Diamond suddenly realized she had stopped breathing. She gasped in air, filling empty lungs, heart flying away in her chest, unable to speak or move. "Time's up, children!" Spike sang, coming out of the shadows suddenly. Damon drew away from where Diamond was chained and walked away into the shadows, dark eyes unreadable. Diamond watched him go, trying to make her voice and movement come back. "Torture time, now, isn't it, pet?" A singsong voice murmured. Ivy wound her way out of the shadows as the room began to be illuminated. Diamond stared at her for a moment in fear before glancing around her prison. The Sunset Tower lobby. She thought desperately. But-why here? What's so special about the Sunset Tower to these creeps? "We have waited too long for this day." Uther said quietly from where he was standing, the shadows disappearing from his face as the room brightened. "Today is the day another Sailor will leave the ranks of the living defenders of justice, and go join the Divinity." "The death of a Sailor Scout always empowers us." Katrina murmured, for once not sounding too stoned. She looked calmly at Diamond from her place across the room. "The torture of a Senshi strengthens us even more." "Her energy will be harvested, and used to feed our Lady." Xavier said in his monotone voice, gray eyes like those of a dead man's as he looked at Diamond. "Our darkness will be complete, and our shadow will spread across the world." "Oooh, wishful thinking on your part, pal." Diamond said, sighing in relief as her speech and strength came back. "The energy of a Scout is incredibly strong." Spike said with a smile at Diamond. "And the Lady Rubian needs only a few more drops. Yours will do fine." "Who says I'm gonna give it?" Diamond inquired, glaring at all the generals assembled before her. Spike smiled, looking for all the world like an angelic Satan. "Black Arrow." Diamond cried out as a bolt of black lightning hit her side. She glared at Spike. "Creep! Won't even untie me-fight me one on one!" "No chances are to be taken, Miss Diamond." Jedin said with a smirk. "Darkness Hail!" Bolts lashed against her body. Diamond let out a small shriek as her body was flung back and forth. She could not dodge, could not get away from the horrible pain that cut her arms and legs and tore at her fuku. Blood began to drip from the wounds on her limbs and face. "Shadows Destruct!" "Nightflash Disembowelment!" Cries began to fill the room. Diamond flung herself against the chains, tears mixing with the blood on her face. Her golden fuku was now sodden with redness, and her skin was marked and injured in a thousand places. The metallic smell of blood filled the air, along with the smell (that only the generals could detect) of fear and pain. In Damon's mind a war was brimming. He knew that if he interrupted the torture, it would finally reveal him as a traitor, and they would kill him. But every cry that reached his ears tore at his heart and made his chest ache. He couldn't bear the sight of the puddle of blood beginning to form underneath Diamond, nor the liquid streaming out of her. Diamond was wailing, crying, pleading for relief in wordless shrieks. Finally, the shots ended. Diamond looked up, spirit almost broken, pain lashing her like she had never before known. Her wounds covered every possible inch of her body, and her life's blood was draining away onto the floor beneath her. Hazy blue eyes looked up to find cerulean ones. Damon's eyes showed such concern and worry-her strength and spirit returned, and she worked her lips up into a small smile. Damon's heart twisted. Spike yawned. "This is boring." He announced, cupping his hands together. "DARK TITANIC DESTRUCTION!!!" As the huge bolt zoomed towards Diamond, she seemed to barely notice it. She was looking instead at Damon, eyes smiling, kindness in them. Damon fought for air. He stared at her pleadingly. "I love you." He mouthed. Diamond's mouth opened. "I know." Then the bomb exploded. Diamond's body was yanked back and forth like a kite in a hurricane. She screamed and screamed-why weren't the walls coming down?! The pain was incredible. Smashed in the head with a two-by-four repeatedly, drilling a tooth without Novocain, surgery without anesthesia. She cried and cried as the darkness pounded her, and pounded her, and pounded her- Twelve blocks away, Rachelle sat up in bed with a start, pain screaming in her own chest. She blindly grabbed her charm and transformed, knowing automatically what was happening across the city. She saw Mary leap out of bed and jump out of her window without even being transformed, bracelet dangling on her wrist. Marisa ran out her front door and flew down the street, transforming as she did so. Neo leapt off his balcony, transforming into Tuxedo Onyx on the way down. Oz, who had been up late preparing an end-of-term paper, started and knocked several of his papers off his desk as he grabbed an orange rose that had been sitting in a small vase. Andrew, who had been sleeping, fell out of bed, eyes wide, not even noticing the pain. Lance, doing late night work at the library, yelled out loud and ran out the door, making the librarian who was there late frown at him. Amethyst, Sapphire, and Topaz all stopped dead in the middle of their separate struggles-Topaz actually had half a stake in a vampire-and took off at the same time to a point, a certain place in the town. Even Kyle and Chase woke up sweating, clamoring for something they couldn't hear or see. Because each person with connections to the ancient powers, whether receivers of or merely close to, had felt in their hearts Diamond's pleading scream, and each knew instinctively that they had to protect their leader. Back at the Sunset Tower, the blast finally ended. Diamond's whole body was shuddering. She was more dead than alive, and life was slowing draining out of her. Her eyes looked up pleadingly as Spike came up, a small smile on his face, a ball of black energy in his fist. One more would finish her. She stared up at it, eyes filling with tears, as Spike lowered his hand. BAM!! A red whirlwind suddenly flew at Spike from out of nowhere. It hurled him across the room and flung him against the wall. Spike choked as the blur stopped to reveal Garnet's furious face. "BASTARD!!!!" She screamed at him, shaking him furiously. "YOU JERK!!!!" Multicolor flashes began flying into the room from high windows. The Jewel Senshi and their Guardians had arrived, each with a look of fuming hatred on their face. Amethyst's crescent attack cut Diamond's bonds clean through. She swayed for a moment, then collapsed in a pool of her blood. The battle raged as it had never before. Generals found themselves fighting for their lives as the heated warriors attacked. Obsidian and Tuxedo Onyx tore at Xavier with their attacks, alternately blasting him and scorching his skin. Topaz and Sapphire bloodied Spike's face, bruising his cheeks and temples with their fists. Amethyst blasted Jedin with her attack, numbed loathing on her face. Emerald and Bullet took on Katrina, both flinging their rose assaults. Uther found himself defending his life from Storm's and Thunder's violence. Garnet, after tackling Spike for a moment, ran to Diamond's side and forced her to sit up. "Angie! Angie!" She cried, trying to wipe the blood away from her friend's nose and mouth. "They know." Diamond whispered to Garnet. "They know who I am. They know who we are. God, Shell, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." "It doesn't matter!" Garnet said fiercely, clinging onto her friend's hand. "It doesn't matter, Diamond-please- " "Diamond, heal yourself!" A voice said on Garnet's right. Garnet swung around in time to see Damon take her other hand. He glared at her fiercely, ignoring Garnet. "Come on, do it!" Garnet hesitated, wondering if she was being mocked. Diamond opened her eyes to look up at Damon. She half-smiled, then whispered so only he could hear, "I love you, too." She took a deep breath. "Everlasting Love Purify." A cry forced its way out of her throat as the light entered her. The thousands of cuts healed in an instant, like someone had merely zippered them shut. Diamond cried out again as the light worked inside her, healing the internal damage in her organs and head and bones. It reached an agonizing peak, then vanished, leaving her feeling wonderfully peaceful and healed. She opened her eyes and smiled up at Damon. Garnet saw the look in Damon's and Diamond's eyes as they looked at each other. Hesitantly, she reached out with her power, trying to feel their emotions. A gasp fell out of her mouth as she stared at them, eyes bugging out. No- no, it couldn't be- Diamond hesitantly rose to her feet, glancing down ruefully at her still- bloody uniform. "I wonder if this thing needs dry cleaning?" She said, looking over at Garnet's shell-shocked face. She frowned and waved her hand energetically up and down in front of Garnet's red eyes. "Hey? Hello! What's wrong?" Garnet started, then smiled up at Diamond. "N-nothing. I don't know, maybe the magic does that." Diamond laughed, then turned a bright smile on Damon, who gazed at her with dark eyes, the hint of a smile passing over his face. Garnet watched this exchange, eyes wide and interested. Diamond suddenly noticed Garnet's frank look, and blushed and stammered. "Um- " Garnet held up a hand. "Explanations later-from both of you." She looked sharply at Damon, who meekly nodded, eyes dancing. "Oh, Shellie-" Diamond began pleadingly. "And don't you use the Look on me, Pirko!" Garnet growled. "You didn't hear that." She added to Damon. "He already knew." Diamond said quietly. "He-already-knew?" Garnet said jerkily, the full blast of these words finally hitting her. "And-the others?" "I transformed in front of Spike, Jedin, and Damon." Diamond murmured. "We're in a lot of trouble." Garnet sighed, rubbing her forehead. Diamond and Damon promptly nodded their heads before grinning at each other. None of this had escaped the attention of Jedin, who, despite his fight with Amethyst, had been very close by. He had seen all. And a conviction was growing in his mind. Traitor. "BEAUTY ROSES BLAST!!!" "BLACK FEAR SWARM!!!!" "DEATH CRESCENTS DESTROY!!!!" "BRIGHT WHIRLWIND GUST!!!!!" "ICY GLACIER FREEZE!!!!!" "Come on!" Garnet called, turning around to face the fight. "SCORCHING FLAMEBALLS FIRE!!!!" Diamond hesitated, then shot a look at Damon. He slowly raised a hand, palm facing her. She raised her hand and placed it against his, entwining their fingers. "We have to play enemies for a little while longer, Cat." Damon whispered. Diamond nodded with a sigh. "I know. I-I won't let them hurt you, though." "I wish I had enough guts to have interrupted the torture." Damon said savagely, self-loathing rising. He smiled at Diamond. "I don't really deserve you, little one." Diamond calmly stood up on her tiptoes to place her lips on Damon's cheek. Damon closed his eyes as soft rosebuds touched his face for the briefest instant. Then the sensation was gone, and Diamond was smiling warmly up at him. "I wouldn't have chosen anyone else." Generals and Senshi and Guardians alike were staring at the couple-the general and the Sailor Scout. Neither of them noticed. They were too lost in their own world. The only faces not too surprised were Garnet's and Jedin's. On Garnet's there was calm resignation, and even a hint of amusement and happiness. On Jedin's there was cold nothingness. He was carefully concealing his feelings under a mask of flesh. No one could say for sure which side was more astonished-the light or the dark. Both sides roughly resembled gaping fish. Diamond turned around, a dreamy expression on her face. She stopped short as she noticed the stares of the others. For a moment, fear and panic launched themselves across her face before she frowned and stuck out her lip. "What the devil are you lot staring at? Come on, move it along, nothing to see here!" A lot of mouths snapped shut. Damon chuckled, feeling slightly insane. Oh, he was definitely going to get it, all right. Mm-hmm. Diamond's demeanor was changing. She seemed to grow taller as she glared at the generals. "You put me through hell, tonight." She growled, voice angry. "You didn't fight honorably, not that we expected you to, but the thought of this torture was well beyond me." She placed her hands on her hips as her speech reached its peak. "Tomorrow, this is over." "It's time for a showdown." The Senshi stared at her before abruptly nodding. "She's right." Amethyst proclaimed. "You've gone too far, you lot. It's payback time." "Uh-huh." Emerald agreed. "This is low, even for slime like you lot." "Hasta la vista, pretty boys!" Obsidian snarled. Spike growled his assent. "So be it. Be here tomorrow at-" "No!" Diamond interjected. "We will choose the time. You no longer govern us." She gave Spike a final glare before turning to walk out. Spitefully, Spike aimed a last blow at Diamond. It flew towards her back, making the Senshi cry out in warning. Diamond turned- And then Damon was in front of her. A black shield formed, disintegrating the shot. He was breathing heavily, glaring at Spike. "Now, that's not nice, is it?" He asked calmly. "Not nice to attack after the challenge has been issued." "Damon." Diamond whispered. "Thank you-but now they know-" "They knew anyway, love." Damon murmured to her, putting the shield down. He turned his head to wink at her. "Don't worry about me. I can handle my own." Diamond bit her lip before nodding and exiting the lobby, her Scouts and Guardians following. Damon smiled as she disappeared into the night, then turned to face the onslaught. Spike's cold black eyes glittered. "Well, well, well. What have we here."