Minna!!!!! I'm back! =^________^= Gomen nasai for the long wait…^^;;
Authoress*Crest- lol, I'm glad you liked it!=^^= I figured it would be nice to make Serenity a bit….unpredictable? Okay, not the best word, but I can't think of any other way to explain it ^^;;
Kage-Shadow-of-Darkness- I'm glad you liked the bonding ^^;; I had no idea whether it was any good or not ^^;;
Suzan aka Sammie- Lol—I do have a couple*I haven't decided if there will be more couples entering the story yet* in mind….I'm glad this fic made you laugh!
Reihn MidNite- Aww! I made you review!!!! *is beaming* lol…yeah…poor Youji..I ought to be nicer to the poor man…^^;;
Usagi_1313- O.O…I didn't even know that! Thanks for letting me know!
Dee-Chan- lol…I agree, poor Youji…o.O..wow….remind me never to get in a car you're driving….then again…I'd probably drive the same way..^^;;
Black Aura-Sama- *slowly backing away from the maniac that's wielding a pitchfork and waving it around* hello, nice men in the white coats? I've got someone who needs a padded room….^~
Usagi Asia Maxwell- *beams* I'm glad you think so! Hmm…do you ever get the feeling I might be picking on Youji too much…yeah, I didn't think so neither ^~
Cheska- Well, it's always the ones you would never think of….^~
Tenshi no Yuki- I'm glad you like! =^^=
Glitterz*- lol, yes, Usagi will be paired up *at least, I'm planning on it..who knows, the story might decide differently ^^;;*
Kimeno-Pebols- lol….gomen, but you'll have to wait and see what happens like everyone else *yes, including me…-sigh- muses…they never let me know until I'm writing it ^^;;*
Burning Shaedows-=^____^= I'm glad you think this is original! Lol…
BayDen- Bay-chan!!!! =^____^= lol, there is no such thing as a late review…only late updates *looks at floor, ashamed* heheh ^^;; I know…*sniffles* I feel bad making her out so sick…
Park Ji Jun- *beams* ARIGATOU!!
Lady Light- erm…you're welcome…..now….erm..*looking embarrassed, and whispers to Lady Light* for what? ^^;; gomen..
Celestial DreamBlaze- lol…ahh…but a "crazed…dingbat" of a sky senshi is SO much more amusing than a composed one…less threatening, too…well, sort of ^^;;
Magic Cat- I'm glad you're liking this story! Lol…O.O..you know, I never even thought of the fact that Usagi would be his god-daughter….oh how the wheels are turning in my mind…^^;;
Bunny-Butler, Callisto Star- I'm so glad you like the story! =^^= Thanks for reviewing *glomps* Lol…
Kalika55- Hehe, the inners WILL be appearing in this fic *I'm voting for soon, but we'll have to see* As for Umino…well, the original version of this chapter *before my comp crashed on me* had this part explained…I really don't know whether or not I'll mention it…^^;; the story tends to write itself out and I'm surprised half the time…^^;;
Minna- *glomps* ahem….now that I've taken up a little over a page with my thanks, let's get to the story, ne? ^^;; Again, arigatou minna, gomen for the long wait and *glomps and huggles* for everyone! =^^= Lol, anyways, this chapter will begin to focus a bit more with other characters to the story -^^-V And since it took me so long, I made the chapter a bit longer=^^=
Disclaimer- Don't own either show, though I wish I do ^^;;
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Chapter Five
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She had run. What else was she supposed to do? Her princess, her beloved princess, had been so…weak, so helpless.
Dammit, she wasn't a coward! She couldn't be! After all those battles she had fought in, how could one call her a coward?
'Because you abandoned your princess when she needed you most,' her mind answered for her.
"Shuttup," she growled at loud, earning strange glances from the people around her. She sent them a withering glare, and when they all diverted their gaze, she smiled, satisfied by their reaction. She felt happier at the thought of instilling fear with just a glare—it was an invigorating mix, that feeling. A feeling of pride and power—it was control, and it came in a neat little package, if only for a moment. She needed that feeling—heavens only knew when the last time she had felt powerful—in control and proud of herself, had been. Her smile faded, as she remembered the reason why she was so ashamed of herself.
'I've always been there for her before—hell, I've given my energy, my life, for her! So she could live!' She thought vehemently, but it was no use.
'But where were you that day, hm? She needed you so very badly that day, and you weren't there! The Senshi of Protection, you claim to be?! What sort of protector allows the one she claims to love and protect above all else to be hurt?!' Her mind cruelly retorted, and she could think of no more justifications.
"Oh Usagi-chan," she murmered to herself, "Forgive me, forgive us, for we have committed the greatest sin possible." Tears fought with her own will, attempting to escape from their prison within her emerald eyes, but to no avail. Not a single tear fell.
"Forgive us, Usagi-chan," She murmered once more, clutching what appeared to be some sort of stick, with a symbol crowning its top, tightly in her fist. "But dammit, Usagi, we couldn't take it anymore."
She got up, throwing crumbled bills onto the table.
As she left, Motoki looked up, a worried frown marring his face.
"Usagi, I'll watch over them as much as I can for you, but please, get better soon." He whispered, watching the brunette through the windows. "Onegai, Usagi-chan…" His gaze fell to the corner, and his eyes darkened, "Makoto needs you, and so does the rest of them…especially Mamoru."
He absentmindedly continued to wipe the counter, his eyes still on the ebony-haired man hunched studiously over his work at a corner table.
"Onegai, Usagi."
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Mamoru bit back a yawn. No, he was not tired, he couldn't be. To be tired would mean he required sleep, and to sleep was to be thrown into a world of the most agonizing joy. A world where he was truly strong, a valiant hero—a world that was so unlike the truth he called reality. It was a beautiful world, the world of Dreams, but alas, reality makes itself known, and the pain would grow tenfold.
"I miss you, Usako," he whispered to himself hoarsely, his eyes clouding over for a fleeting moment. And it was just that—a fleeting moment, for not seconds later, his eyes once again grew into the detached coldness that it had grown accustomed to as of late, and he squared his shoulders.
He would not think of her, he could not. He would not revisit that pain.
'Would it truly be more painful to remember her than to forget her?' His mind asked him.
'Yes.' He thought back, 'it would.'
'Do you really want to forget her? Forget everything she has done for you, all your times together?'
Darien swore he could feel, if not see, his mind smile, as he could not answer the question truthfully—or at least, he refused to.
"Kuso," he silently swore to himself, "Now I'm having conversations with myself!"
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The life of a nurse behind a desk was meant as cruel form of torture using the ancient tactic of boredom, Minako concluded. And bored, she certainly was. Scratch that—Minako was beyond bored. She was utterly and despairingly—hey, did a cute guy just walk in?
She double-checked the doors. Yup, cute guy, heading her way, at 12 O'Clock. Oh….look at that body. And that face! Wait, why did he look so familiar?
Shaking the thoughts out of her head, Minako quickly straightened up in her seat and attempted to make herself look busy, her eyes now warily watching the familiar man as he came closer to her.
"Hey cutie," he greeted her, flashing her a dashing smile.
"May I help you, sir?" Minako asked, fighting back the hearts that dared try and invade her eyes.
"Yes, I'm here to pick up my sister."
"Oh, well, what's her name," Minako asked distractingly, trying to place where she could have perhaps seen this man before.
"Tsukino Usagi."
Suddenly, she remembered, and before she knew what she was doing, Minako was screaming at the top of her lungs, her finger urgently pressing the emergency button on her communicator in a harsh manner, seemingly on it's own accord.
People paused what they were doing, staring at her and the man, whispering amongst themselves. Several people stopped, confused and debating whether or not they should help the nurse hysterically screaming, but Minako saw none of this.
All she saw was the man in front of her, that sickening horrifying man in front of her.
Faintly, she noted that security was quickly making their way towards her.
And still, she screamed.
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"What do you think, Phobos, Deimos?"
The two birds cawed once, and flapped their wings agitatedly.
"I agree…Yuichiro and grandpa aren't going to like this." The violet-eyed priestess looked at the charred remains of bed sheets that she had been washing just moments ago.
"I don't get it…why can't I concentrate?!" she cried out, frustrated, glaring accusingly at the smoldering pile of bed sheets.
"I bet it's because Yuichiro has been keeping me up with his incessant singing! Argh, that boy needs to learn he can't sing!" Rei shook her head sadly, seemingly ignoring the cries of disapproval that seemed to escape from the beaks of her birds.
"I'm not hiding anything, Phobos, Deimos. It's Yuichiro's fault—I swear, he's been trying to butt into my business even more ever since—" Rei came to an abrupt stop, glaring at the birds.
"Dammit, I am not weak! She is! She's the weak one, for leaving us like that! She doesn't deserve the life she has!" She nearly snarled out towards the two birds, her eyes a blazing inferno. An awkward silence followed, an occasional cooing from the two crows startling the tuneless melody of silence. Rei's eyes were still ablaze, her white knuckles evidence of just how tightly she had fisted her hands. "She deserves better," she whispered brokenly.
A shrill beeping broke the strange silence that followed, and Rei immediately ran towards it, glad for an escape.
For two birds, Phobos and Deimos were pretty smart—her scowl darkened—unfortunately, this included affairs that concerned her as well.
A shrill scream harshly greeted her ears when she answered her communicator.
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She looked at herself in the mirror for the first time in what seemed to be an empty eternity.
Deep sunken eyes, the graying color of a mourning ocean, greeted her first. Then her hallowed cheeks bid her welcome, and she could not help but wonder if she had always been that pale. Her eyes trailed down, and as she noticed the frown her colorless lips seemed so comfortable in, she deepened the frown.
When had this happened? When had she transformed into a mere shadow. Why, if she saw her now, she'd be horrified!
She almost smiled—almost, as she heard in her head how she would be chastised for failing to keep up her health—after all, how was she to take care of others, when she could not take care of herself? What sort of doctor would she be then?
Then, the frown came back, threefold. It furthered, as she heard a distant beeping coming from another room. She left the room, following the sound, down the hall, pass the bathroom and guestroom, stopping in front of the door.
Shaking hands, tense and erratic, moved towards the doorknob, only to fall short, dropping just a breath away.
"I can't," she whispered to herself, falling onto the floor. "I can't, not yet." And she wept, arms wrapped around herself, in front of the door.
"Oh gomen, gomen-nasai," she sobbed, "I'm a terrible person, but I can't, I just can't."
The beeping continued, mingling with the sound of the broken woman's weeping.
"Forgive me, please, forgive me…but not yet, I'm not ready yet." She whispered brokenly.
"You'll just have to wait longer, just a little bit longer."
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"Are you sure she's at the hospital, Mars?"
"What do you mean am I sure?! Where else would she be at this time?!"
"Okay, but what could be such an emergency at the hospital—" Sailor Jupiter broke off, her eyes flashing first with fright, then with a possessive anger.
"Dammit," Sailor Mars swore, her eyes ablaze with her fear and sense of duty, "If they think they can take Usagi then they've got another thing coming! C'mon, let's hurry!"
With a newfound burst of energy, the two senshi dashed towards the hospital.
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"Aino-san, Aino-san!" One of the security guards—most likely new to the job as he was still quite young, still appearing to be in his twenties— shook Minako gently by her shoulders. "Aino-san, it's okay, it's okay! Everything's alright!"
Still, she screamed.
"Aino-san, you must stop—you're scaring the patients!" He implored her, but to no avail. He looked over at another guard, this one older than him, who stood next to the man that was the cause of this scream—after all, if what he heard was true, then it was this man who made Aino-san scream.
The man was currently staring at Minako, and though his facial expression suggested bewilderment, his eyes suggested fury, though at what could not be sure. For though the man was staring at Minakohe was talking to the older security guard, pausing every now and then to point towards Minako and shrug his shoulders.
Minako abruptly ended her screaming, her eyes still wide, though now another emotion—a mixture of raw fear and rage—seemed to be setting in.
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"Dammit!" Haruka cursed, sucking her index finger.
"I told you to watch the thorns, Haruka." Michiru smiled amusedly at her lover's back.
"But Michi," Haruka whined, "It wasn't supposed to hurt me!"
Michiru sighed, shaking her head sadly, a gentle smile curving her face. "Oh Ruka, what am I going to do with you?" She murmured to herself.
"You could sell her to one of the girls outside," Hotaru entered the backroom of the flower shop, her eyes twinkling with laughter. "I'm sure Ruka-papa would fetch a very nice price," Hotaru teased. Haruka blanched, and Michiru laughed quietly.
"Minna," Setsuna poked her head through the door. "Let's hurry up—as soon as this order is done, we can close the shop."
"Setsuna-mama! Where's Usagi-hime and Serenity-sama?" Hotaru greeted the older woman, who smiled down at her.
"Usagi-hime is upstairs, Hotaru-chan, and Serenity-sama is across the street, with the gentlemen."
"What?! The queen is out there with those guys?!" Haruka shouted, spinning to face Setsuna. "I don't trust them!" She declared importantly.
"We know, Ruka-koi," Michiru played with the hair at the nape of Haruka's neck, and Haruka visibly calmed down, "But Serenity-sama can care for herself. Hime-chan, why don't you go across the street and get Serenity-sama?"
"But Michiru-mama, can't Haruka-papa do that? She won't hurt herself that way—going!" Hotaru giggled and left the room, Haruka's warning glance mixed with annoyance following her.
"Haruka, let's get back to work—and this time, don't hurt yourself." Setsuna shook her head, and left as well.
Haruka turned back to Michiru. "So Michi, aren't you going to kiss my boo-boo?"
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Serenity was not amused. She had been seated at the counter comfortably enough, much to the envy of the younger girls around her. She would have much preferred to be with Setsuna and the Outer Senshi, but all those leering eyes of the boys surround that store—it was degrading. Why, if they were on the Moon, her own Senshi would have sent those boys running home personally. Her eyes grew sad.
But they were not on the Moon—the Silver Millenium had fallen—and her Senshi were not with her today—they lived now in the realm of Hades, with their ancestors and friends, while she lingered on in this life.
"Hey, why so sad gorgeous?" She looked up at the sound of the boy's—Youji, she remembered, voice. He was a kind soul—a womanizer, perhaps, but underneath it all, he did have a good heart—a bit bruised and hurt, perhaps, but good, nonetheless. Why, he was the one of offered her the seat she now sat upon, even if an invitation for a night in town accompanied it.
Red caught her attention—ah yes, the redhead, Aya was his name. He cried out for love, even if he did not know it, and she held such sympathy for him. It was this sympathy that prevented her from feeling slighted every time he would tell her to leave, as she bought nothing. Such a sad soul—her Serenity could help him, she knew it.
She looked around the workers in the room—yes, they each held such pain in their soul. Her heart and sympathy went out to all of them, and already, she could feel her maternal instincts kicking into gear, switching into overdrive. Her Serenity could help them, she knew it—her Serenity was just that sort of person.
"Tsukino-san?" She looked up, surprised to see that the store was empty, and only the workers remained.
"Hai, Tsukiyono-san?" Her lavender eyes bore into his, and he looked away, cheeks painted a soft pink.
"Erm…we're closing now."
"Serenity-sama!" The door jingled, and an exuberant Hotaru entered the shop, her eyes bright, lips smiling.
"Hotaru," Serenity stood up, "Is it time to go?"
"Hai, Serenity-sama," Hotaru giggled, "Haruka-papa will throw a fit if we don't get back soon. I'm sure Usagi is waiting for us by now."
"Usagi…" the elder Serenity smiled, her eyes soft. "I wanted to see her today…has she already awaken?"
"Hai, now c'mon, let's go—erm, I mean, perhaps we should go now, Serenity-sama." Hotaru blushed abashedly, her head hung in embarrassment. Serenity laughed, her eyes bright.
"Then let us go, Amaya." Serenity took Hotaru's hand and led the younger girl away, calling out a good bye to the four males in the shop.
"Amaya? I haven't been called that in so long…" Hotaru murmered.
"There is seriously something strange about those people," Youji remarked, "Did you find anything, Omi?"
"I thought I told you to leave Tsukino alone." Aya's eyes caught both Omi's and Youji's, the former dropping his eyes to the ground, ashamed.
"I did find something," He stated softly, and upon noticing the curious gaze he elicited from Youji, continued in a stronger voice.
"Tsukino Usagi is the dead daughter of Tsukino Kenji and his wife, Tsukino Ikuko."
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Hotaru and Serenity entered the door, greeting Setsuna with a smile.
"Koban-wa, Setsuna," Serenity greeted her.
"Your majesty," Setsuna bowed her head in respect, before turning to Hotaru, "Haruka and Michiru are still in the back. Could you go get them while I close up?"
"Hai, Setsuna-mama!" Hotaru bounced to the backroom.
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She fingered the long chain around her neck, smiling sadly as she rubbed each symbol hanging from the simple chain, her mind reliving the past.
"Minna, I miss you…come visit me soon, minna." She whispered softly. "Then I can finally thank you for the flowers."
She sighed, her eyes finding the simple engagement ring that adorned her ring finger. "Mamo-chan…" she breathed out, a sad, yet hopeful smile gracing her lips. "Mamo-chan, come see me soon…" she paused, drawing a breath, "I miss you Mamo-chan," a cough escaped her lips and her eyebrows furrowed as she felt the pain shoot up her legs, then up her spine. She closed her eyes, biting back the tears.
She couldn't tell the others, not when they were so kind to her, and they were so hopeful, so optimistic—no, she couldn't tell the others, not when they believed that she was doing so much better.
She would not, could not, tell her beloved Senshi, her beloved friends—her soul sisters, the truth.
She could not tell them that she was tired, so very tired. So tired that if not for the Senshi, her darling Senshi, and her family, and of course, her beloved Mamo-chan, then she would have surely welcomed Death's arrival with open arms. How could she tell them that, if not for them, then she would have succumbed to the want, the need, of the eternal rest her soul so painfully longed for.
A glimmer caught the corner of her eyes, and she smiled, despite the pain that was slowly traveling through her body—in the back of her mind, she dimly noted that this attack was much slower than the ones prior to it had been. One hand went up to her mouth, and she placed a soft kiss on the diamond ring, her greatest joy and hope. She would get through this, if not for herself, then for her Mamo-chan.
For to her, her Mamo-chan symbolized what she wanted most—a loving peace. And if she would not get better for her family, for her Senshi, or for herself, then she would get better for him.
The pain reached it's greatest peak, and she bit her lip in attempt to hold back the scream that threatened to escape from within the confines of her mouth.
Oh heavens, it was horrible! A thousand bullets quickly shooting up her bones, from her legs to her spine, then back down again, skimming here, delving deeper there, and burying itself wherever it pleased.
A thousand knives twisting, cutting, tearing, scarring her oh so fragile nerves and tissues, sinking themselves in deep and carving all sort of strange designs, while her limbs seemed to grow so much weaker, nearly numb, yet painfully sensitive to the pain. How heavy her limbs felts, how numbingly chilly in its leaden state—for it was in a leaden state, and no matter how much she may believed it shook and felt like jelly, when she looked at it, it was not shaking. She coughed, and this time, it came out in a harsh hacking sound, grating the back of her throat. Her breathing was labored by now, coming out in sharp short intakes of breath, followed by a quick release of the air. She squeeze her eyes shut, tears escaping this time, and slowly, painfully, clenched her fingers into a fist.
The cool contact of metal against sweaty palms made her open her eyes, and once again, her gaze was drawn to her ring.
'Mamo-chan…'
She would get better, she would do her best to. Setsuna had said it herself—the rest of the Senshi, and her family, would come see her soon. They were busy, that was all. She would get better, if not for them, then for her Mamo-chan and their future together.
She would not be able to bear it if she would not have her Mamo-chan in her future…
Oh gods! Did the pain just get worse?! Impossible! It had never exceeded the pain she was just in—a strangled gasp escaped her throat.
What sort of pain was this, this numbingly burning feeling that was spreading so quickly up and down her body, that made her body convulse?! What sort of pain was this that was stabbing her heart, her very soul?! What sort of pain was this that made her double over in pain, unable to move?!
She could take it silence no longer, the pain was too great—too unbearable.
As a new wave of pain hit her, her body convulsing violently, Usagi let loose her pain in a hauntingly soul-wrenching scream.
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"What do you mean Tsukino-san is dead?!" Ken demanded, his eyes on Omi, who shifted uncomfortably from side to side on his feet.
"They filled out a death certificate for her—she's dead…well, at least, she's supposed to be." Omi answered, his eyes not meeting Ken's.
"But why?" Youji wondered out loud.
"Well…" Omi shot Aya a worried glance—"There's some more things…" he took the silence as a sign to continue.
"One week before they signed the death certificate of Tsukino-san, they adopted a boy her age—one Tsukino Umino, heir to the Tsukino Industry fortune—"
"This just keeps getting more and more interesting," Youji muttered.
"Well, there's just one final part that might be interesting," Omi turned to look at Aya, "A couple of weeks before the Tsukino family adopted Umino, they met with one Takatori Reiji, the godfather of Tsukino Umino and uncle of Tsukino Ikuko."
Silence greeted Omi as the others digested this information, and Aya seethed silently.
The silence was shattered with a piercing scream that sent shivers down their spine with its raw pain.
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So what did you guys all think? Lol, next chapter will enter the Tsukino family, and hopefully explain more. Hoped you all like it, and do review—my muses could use the extra inspiration *lol, we're busy scrimmaging up work for a portfolio* Lol, besides, reviews make the fanfiction world go round. ^~
