Linear
II
Tuesday
~Tokyo Rabbit
=====*=====
Clock: 10:17 AM
Countdown: 85: 43: 06
POV: Usagi
-
Haruda-san might have well as told me I failed the course with the way I was feeling as I listened to her remind us about our Math test tomorrow-- yet another something for me to fail miserably at. I'd rather be stuck in a telephone booth with a seven-foot youma than take this test!
That reminded me.... Walking home from the Rei-chan's shrine last night, I actually got a chance to look up at the sky, and just as the others had said, thousands of silver lines streaked the sky. They gave me mixed feelings; was it something unnatural, planned by the enemy, or did it mark the mysterious anniversary that Luna had mentioned? Either way, I made a wish. Hee, can't tell you. It won't come true!
But as I walked home with Luna, I felt two eyes upon me. I quickened my pace, and kept a wary eye out for some skirt chaser or worse yet, a youma as I walked through the Azabu park. Sure enough, without warning a big, hairy, drooling, fanged, clawed monster jumped out from the shade of night at me.
It tackled me to the dirt path, but as I hit the side of my head on a stupid rock, I placed my feet underneath the monster and hurled him over me. Slightly dazed from the already swollen bump, I transformed quickly, "Moon Prism Power, Make-Up!"
In a single flash of light, I was instantly morphed into the Soldier of Love and Justice, Sailor Moon. Good thing too because the youma had gotten back to its feet and was charging again, claws drawn.
I was ready with my Moon Frisbee in hand-- when I take my golden tiara off, it transforms into a razor sharp ring of destruction!! Haha!
"Frisbee Action!" I shouted and aiming carefully I threw it with speed at my foe.
Bingo! The youma was engulfed in a strange, glittering fire, but something out of the ordinary was going on. Instead of screaming in pain, like the others did, it was laughing a low, calculating laugh, making me shiver. It's eyes burned bright through the fire as it's body began to crumble away, "She sends you a message: The Judgment is coming, and with it, so does your death."
"What?! Who? What's the Judgment?" It was too late; the fire had done it's job and my frisbee gently returned to my hand. I looked at the now disappearing pile of ash with a racing heart.
I felt sick just thinking about it. It hadn't intended to win with me the night before, that's why the youma didn't have others with it and why I defeated it so quickly. It was sent as a messenger after me on a suicide mission. When Luna (who seemed thoughtful all the way) and I got home, I called the other girls on my silver watch/communicator and asked if something similar had happened to them. It hadn't.
My pencil snapped in half from holding it tightly, causing some of my classmates to look at me in wonderment. I was scared. Really, really scared, and this stupid Math test wasn't helping me either!!
-Later....
Clock: 3:00 PM
Countdown: 81: 60: 45
-
In routine, I walked into the Crown Arcade for 'therapy.' My heart beating in agony, weighed down by worry and fear caused my chest to ache and I needed to clear my head badly. Furu-chan (the CUTE arcade guy who's family owned the arcade and the Crown Fruit Parlor) must have sensed that I was down because as soon as I sat at the small snack counter, he had a milk shake ready for me.
"Thanks," I sighed and took to it.
"Something going on?" He asked, smiling kindly.
I let out a snort of laughter. Something? Try tons of something's, but I really couldn't take it out on him. He was just asking. "Yeah, you could say that."
"Well, what is it? Maybe I can help?"
"Not unless you're nothing short of a miracle worker," I said, but regretted it as soon as it came from my mouth. My lack of sleep lately must be making me slightly crabby, or maybe it was my current death threat. Geez.... "I have a Math test tomorrow, and I'm totally unprepared for it."
The blonde dreamboat cringed and smiled apologetically, "Sorry, Usagi-chan. I'm not too good at math either, or I'd help you."
My heart sunk. Didn't think so, "That's okay. You offered."
"I, on the other hand, am a whiz at math. I could help you Dumpling," a voice that sounded like distant thunderstorms rolling over the hills said from behind me.
I risked a glance at the figure that sat down next to me, "That's all I need-- You making fun of my marks, Mamoru. Jerk."
"What? You don't believe I can help?" He smirked handsomely.
"No."
"That just might be the ticket, Usagi-chan! Mamoru-kun is top of his class, and don't you go to an elite private school?" Furu-chan asked, perking up.
Ug, don't give him an alibi! That's the last thing I need to do, spend the few free hours I have between school and youma fighting with my mortal enemy who so happened to have the ability to make my knees go weak!
"Yes," he said nonchalant, taking a sip of his coffee that his best friend had placed before him.
"That seems to be your best bet," Furuhata said, smiling.
My jaw dropped. No way! There seemed no getting out of this one.
"So I'll see you in an hour?" Mamoru asked, smirking and before I could refuse STRONGLY, he got up, leaving money for my drink and his (plus tip), and called over his shoulder, "Tomoeda Apartment building, apt. 175E. See you later."
I just stared after him in exasperation as he walked through the sliding doors. The nerve of that guy! But it looked like I was stuck with it....
*=====
Clock: 3:30 PM
Countdown: 80: 30: 56
POV: Mamoru
-
In my apartment, I laid on my couch thinking of what I had done earlier. Perhaps I was a fool for inviting that girl over to my home, but there was no turning back now. Why was I second-guessing myself? I had no real idea, but I had clues as to why. Tsukino Usagi seemed to be a normal teenage girl just tying to get through junior high and into a good high school. On the contrary, she was a force to be reckoned with.
Silken hair of a lusty cream color with hints of spun gold, skin that seemed to mirror the Moon's light, a face of nothing less than an angel sent from above, and a body that molded perfectly into my embrace (knowing that from having to rescue her countless times from youmas). Her personality was a complex puzzle that I couldn't get a hold of and solve with her sweetness towards all those she knew, innocence of the world, compassion for those who she didn't know, sense of justice and determination, and her fiery quickness to get angry at me.... But her eyes were what blew me away. They were like crystal pools of water that beckoned me to drown in them, shining through them ultimate truths. She drove me nuts with emotions I didn't know how to express or what to call. That was my reason for my second-guessing and perhaps even why I was so cruel to her every time we met.
Thinking of her, I drifted into an easy slumber. I saw her standing in a field of roses looking ever so lovely with blue sky as the backdrop. She turned to me and smiled brilliantly, something I've longed for her to do at me.
"Mamoru," she laughed, beckoning me to her.
Without thought, I complied, smiling as well. I swept her into my arms and felt her own wrap around me. Her golden laughed trickled into my ears and her breath was hot in my hair as we embraced sweetly.
"I love you, Mamoru," she said jovially.
My heart swelled and as I pulled back to look at her and reply, the scene changed drastically. Not in a field of roses were we standing now, but in a barren waist land with skies so red and smoke pouring from the ground. Explosions rang in the distance as I looked down to see that I was now on my knees holding a bloody and battered Sailor Moon in my arms.
Her lower lip quavered as she tried to smile at me, tears brimming. She reached up a blood-soaked hand and I quickly grasped onto it, shocked and frightened at what I saw.
"M-my Mamoru," she whispered, her face paling.
"W-what happened, Usagi?" I stammered, becoming frantic.
"It was my destiny to die today," her eyelids began to slit shut.
Shaking her I said, "What?! No, stay awake! What do you mean?"
"It's the anniversary, the Judgment day," she said with great labor.
"But why?!"
She smiled up at me with such weakness and sadness that I could have died just then, "Because I am Sailor Moon...."
"What...?!" I shouted, "Usagi, are you listening to me?"
Again her eyes began to close, "T-then the war came... but it's o-okay.... I-I'll always love you... M-Mamoru...."
Then her body grew limp like a rag doll with one last shudder of life. My eyes were wide with shock, "It can't be.... IT CAN'T BE!!"
*Ding-dong!*
My eyes darted around me and I was back into the real world, in my apartment. Sitting up I shook my head, trying to rid my thoughts of that horrific dream. Again my doorbell rang.
"Hi, Dumpling," I said almost breathlessly as I opened my door to see Usagi standing there.
She looked me over and frowned slightly, "You don't look so good."
I didn't feel so good.
"Well," she laughed nervously, "If you're sick, you should get some rest. I'll be going now, feel better."
My heart wrenched as she turned to go and without thought my hand shot out and grabbed onto her wrist saying a little more frantically than I would have liked, "No, stay."
She turned to look at me, confusion in her eyes. I snatched my hand away and tried to smile, "Come in."
If she was having her doubts, she didn't voice them but followed me inside. I heard her breath catch as she took a look around.
"It's so clean...." She said as she walked around and set her book bag on my coffee table.
"Do you like the Moon?" She asked, her voice sounding strange, pointing to a framed picture of the satellite with every crater, sea, and landmark labeled by name.
"Yes, it fascinates me," I said, looking at her.
*=====
Clock: 3:56 PM
Countdown: 80: 04: 15
POV: Usagi
-
"Yes, it fascinates me," he said. It wasn't what he said that made my face grow red, but the way he said it; as if there were a double meaning. But no, he couldn't be thinking anything like that.... Could he?
I cursed the unexpected hopeful feeling in my heart.
"Would you like some tea?" He asked and walked into his kitchen.
"Sure," I replied, still looking around.
A smile came upon my lips as I found a picture of Mamoru when he was younger with two adults, "Are these your parents?"
He emerged from the kitchen with a tray of tea and set it down on his coffee table, "Yes."
A thought crossed my mind. What if they walked in on us and suspected something was going on? Ug, that was the last thing I needed, "Are they here?"
He sat down on the couch, watching me, "They died when I was eight."
My jaw dropped and my eyes began to fill with tears, "I-- I had no idea, I'm sorry...."
"It's all right. You didn't know."
Tears still threatening to pour down my face, I sat on the couch next to him, "I really am sorry. You must be lonely."
His eyes swung in my direction and for a moment or two, I saw a pained expression in them, "I don't remember anything about them. In the wreck that killed them, I gained amnesia, so it's hard to say if I miss them or if I'm lonely or not."
"I shouldn't be asking all of this!" I tasted salt.
Through my blurry vision, I could almost swear Mamoru looked shocked. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, then offered it to me. I accepted, sobbing.
"It's all right I said. You didn't know," he whispered sincerely then briskly added, "Besides, we need you to pass this math test, right? Shall we get started?"
I smiled weakly at him, nodding. I was being an idiot. It was probably painful for him to talk about and here I was blubbering on about it, crying.
As he tutored me I made light conversation in between lessons, trying my best to cheer him up and was reward by a few genuine smiles. What surprised me the most was I was also smiling... having fun... with math! WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?!
I told him that and he chuckled a most handsome laugh, causing my heart to do flip flops.
As we studied on, my eyes wondered around his apartment. It did make since that he should be the only one to live in it because it seemed to only have one bedroom, but I think what got me the most was his dinning room table. It was a wooden western style table and it came standard with four chairs, three of which he could not fill with his mother and father or even a sibling like I could with my family. It broke my heart, seeing it sitting there alone and cold, begging to have a real family to sit at it.
When the sun began to drop below the horizon, we decided it was time for me to go, but something was still yet to be done, "Thank you Mamoru. I think I actually stand a chance tomorrow!"
"Your welcome. That's good to hear," he smiled the smile that I began to grow fond of in these few hours.
I must have looked nervous because he asked me what was the matter.
Here we go, "Um, would you mind... I mean, if you want.... Would you like to eat dinner with my family and... me?"
Mamoru's midnight blue eyes grew round in surprise, "I--"
I waited anxiously for his answer.
"I appreciate the offer, but I don't think that's a good idea," he said kindly.
"Oh, okay...." I don't know why my heart fell the way it did.
"How about this? If you pass tomorrow's test, I'll take you out for dinner?" He asked, looking almost as anxious as I was a moment before.
I smiled, "Really? Okay, it's a deal!"
"Okay then. Come, I'll drive you home."
Again, as if it were the most natural thing in the whole world, we fell into wonderful conversation as he drove me in his red sports car (I couldn't tell you the name because I was just like a typical girl and didn't know a thing about cars). We talked about anything and everything, both of us smiling. It was so strange, for me at least, to be laughing and carrying on like this with my mortal enemy. Hopefully it would stay like this between us because I definitely liked it better than fighting.
We came to my house and my hand reached for the car door handle.
"Uh, Usagi-chan?" Hearing him call me by name was pleasantly strange, "About my family...."
I understood, "I won't tell anyone."
He smiled, looking relieved, "Thank you and good luck tomorrow."
I returned his smile and stepped out of the car and closed the door behind me. He didn't drive off until I was safely in my home. Walking up to my room, my heart felt like if I didn't place my hands on my chest, it would flutter off into the night sky. It swelled with compassion that he would trust his secret with me.
After dinner I went in my room. I began to take out my books and notes again (SURPRISE!) to study but more than that, to see Mamoru's neat handwriting next to my awful scratches.
"Usagi!" A voice yelled and I turned to see Luna in the tree outside of my window.
"Luna? What is it?" I stood as she leapt inside.
"Quick! Another youma attack! The others are already there!"
*=====
Clock: 8: 25 PM
Countdown: 75: 35: 09
POV: Nephrite
-
From above, I watched, unnoticed, the battle below. All of the Sailor Soldiers were fighting off the masses of youmas with all their might. I smirked. Did they really think they could succeed? If so, they thought so in vain.
Not only were they fighting against the Queen, but also against time and destiny. If they didn't fulfill the fabled 'seal' then we won. I doubt that they even had that much in mind, so it was almost a done deal.
Seeing that the last of my forces were destroyed, I decided to make my presence known to them. So I faded and reappeared before them, "Well done, Sailor Soldiers, but all of your efforts will be pointless in the end."
Sailor Moon, their leader, stepped forward, "Who are you?!"
I laughed at their angry faces, "I am Nephrite, the third General in command, but that's unimportant."
Jadeite was the fourth General in our flanks, but a few nights before the Sailor Soldiers had destroyed him. His fall was only something more to fuel my ambition and will to succeed in killing these... children.
"What is important, is how I'm going to finish you all off," I said with such coldness that I saw a ripple go through their bodies. Extending my hand outwards, I sent an invisible blast of my dark energy towards them, which sent them flying back a good couple of yards.
Again I sent my attack, but unfortunate for me, they were ready this time; they jumped up into the foliage of the trees, hiding themselves. That was no matter. I would just wait until they made their move and then make mine.
As if on cue, from four corners came four different attacks. Instead of bothering with it, I just fazed out and back in behind one of them on a branch. She gasped and began to turn around but I wrapped my arms around her and jumped to the ground below, "Surrender or lose your comrade!"
The other three leapt down from their hiding places, "Sailor Jupiter!"
"Don't give in, Ah!" Having one arm behind her back, I pulled on it and tightened my hold on her, threatening to break her arm if she kept on.
"What are we going to do, Mercury?" I heard Sailor Mars ask.
"I don't know...."
My attention was taken away for a few moments by a few blood red petals of some flower flutter by. Strange....
Unfortunately for me, I didn't notice my prisoner building up her energy. She pushed it out, creating a barrier of electricity, electrocuting me and throwing me back from her.
Before I could recognize what was going on, a halo of light came hurtling towards me and engulfed me in a searing fire. My whole body fell into extreme pain and I felt myself crumble away. Is this how death feels? Did Jadeite feel this when he was defeated?
Strangely enough, my last thoughts were of a face I didn't recognize. Someone dear to me, someone I was suppose to protect....
*=====
Clock: 9:02 PM
Countdown: 74: 58: 33
POV: Tuxedo Kamen
-
My simple distraction was enough for Sailor Jupiter to escape. Good. Up in the trees, I watched Sailor Moon intently. My earlier dream was still on my mind, giving me fearful thoughts. I would protect her with my life, I vowed, but I don't think that that would be enough....
'Because I am Sailor Moon....' Her broken voice echoed in my mind.
I would have to convince her to stop being Sailor Moon all together before this 'Judgment Day' came. That seemed to be the only way.
"So be it," I said and disappeared into the night.
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That's the bad thing about formatting your stories in html. You sometimes miss a tag or too. U.U;;
11-11-02 (unedited)