Author's notes: Okay, so, I managed to finish the back-story in just two chapters('stead of three, as I originally guessed).
Warnings: No warnings. Nothing more than kissing happens in this chapter.
Let's continue the fic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------------------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 17: The Present...
~Aftermath~
An undetermined amount of time has passed... Ryoma finally wakes up and uses a nearby tree-stump to pull herself to her feet, bracing her weight on it. Breathing heavily, She starts walking away from the stump, albeit unsteadily, and soon finds herself bracing again, leaning with her left hand against a tree.
"I haven't gotten back enough of my strength, yet." She says, aloud yet to herself. She tries, again, to start walking but, the world blurs and she falls down onto the ground, face-first. However, She manages to catch herself on her hands and knees.
'Naomi...' the crimson-haired woman thinks 'Please, be alright...' she passes out again, falling on down to the ground.
~Hospital~
The doctor walks out of the emergency room and into the waiting room, where Haruka and Michiru are.
"How is she?" Michiru asks him.
"Your friend will be fine..." The doctor replies.
"That's a relief." Haruka says, before he can finish, "I'd hate to be the one to have to tell Ryoma, if something bad had happened to Naomi. She'd have our heads." she says the last part with a hint of joking in her voice.
"... However," The doctor says, regaining the two's attention, "She appears to be in a coma-like state. I don't know when she'll wake up. What happened to her?"
'Coma...? She couldn't have been hurt *that* bad, against that youma.' Haruka thinks 'Something else must be wrong.'
"Um... We don't exactly know." Michiru responds, quickly thinking up a good story, "We were on our way to visit her, when we found her like that and brought her here."
"I see." the doctor says, "Well, I think you should probably find your other friend, and tell her what happened."
Haruka nods, "I'll go." she says, then turns to the aqua-haired woman next to her, "Michi, Maybe you should stay and watch over her, in case she wakes up." Michiru agrees and Haruka leaves the hospital.
~Outside~
'It's getting late.' Haruka thinks, glancing up at the darkening sky, 'I need to get back to Ryoma, before it gets any later. Maybe, She'll have some idea what's wrong with Naomi.'
She runs her hand through her short sandy-blonde hair and starts back to the site where she, and Michiru, left Ryoma after the battle.
~Hospital-room~
"No!" Naomi says, in her sleep, "You can't go! If you do, You're sure to die!" tears begin to run from the corners of her unopened eyes, down the sides of her face "I won't..." she continues, clutching the sheets under her, "I won't let this happen... I can't!... my friends..." her eyes continue to remain shut.
She calms down and her breathing returns to normal, "Ryoma... where are you?..." she falls back into peaceful slumber.
~Hikawa Shrine~
"Ahhhh!" Rei screams out, as she sits up on her futon, her right hand automatically shooting out infront of her and her eyes opening. As well, She's covered in a cold sweat and her breaths coming in rapid pants.
"Rei?" Serena asks, sitting up next to the right side of the raven-haired girl, "Are you alright? Did you have a nightmare?" a trace of worry in her voice.
Rei forces her breathing to normal, "Huh? Serena?" she responds, as she lowers her arm and allows her hand to rest on the futon beside her, "No, no. Not a nightmare, Just old dreams... nothing to worry yourself about, my love."
Serena leans closer to Rei and wraps her arms loosely around her friend's waist. She lays her head on Rei's right shoulder. "You know, Rei..." the princess says, nuzzling into the raven-haired girl's neck, "You can't lie to me. Your body's covered in cold sweat and you sounded completely out of breath. Something's wrong, I want you to tell me what." she places a kiss on the priestess' right cheek.
"Serena...--" Rei starts but, is interrupted by the blonde.
"You're not alone anymore, Rei." Serena says, smiling, "You don't have to bear your burdens, by yourself, any longer. You should know that, by now. Besides, I don't like secrets. Especially between us."
Rei smiles warmly, also. "I know, Sere." she says, "I'm just not used to having someone to share my problems with. But, There *are* some things that I have to keep hidden... for now..." she looks away from her love, momentarily, glancing into a mirror lying next to her futon and her eyes flash onyx-black for a moment then back to normal.
"But..." Serena says.
Rei turns in Serena's embrace and places her hands on the princess' shoulders. She looks into the other girl's eyes, "Don't worry, Serena. One day, There won't be *any* secrets between us, I promise." the raven-haired girl tells her, "Just, for now, Trust me. Okay?"
Serena is disappointed but, nods her head understandingly. Rei leans in, placing a warm kiss on the blonde princess' lips. Serena returns the kiss and after a few moments, they break apart. Both lie back down, sharing some more light kisses.
After a few more moments, Serena asks, "Rei? Why do you love me?"
Rei's lavender eyes widen, slightly, at the question, "What d'you mean, My Princess?" she asks.
"Well..." the blonde princess replies, "You're sooo beautiful, and you could have probably gotten any guy --or, girl-- that you would've wanted. But, You chose me. Why?"
The raven-haired priestess blinks a few times... Here, the most beautiful angel in the world, to Rei, was calling *her* beautiful...
After a few quiet moments, "Does there have to be a *reason*?" Rei replies, with a question. "I love you." she says, simply, "Isn't *that* enough?"
"Yeah, but..." Serena responds, "It's not like I'm special, or anything. I mean, If I weren't Sailor Moon, I wouldn't even be unique..." she gains a somewhat sad expression and looks away from Rei, up at the ceiling.
"Enough of that." Rei states, turning the princess' face back toward her, "You *are* special! You have something that draws people to you, that makes them happy. Everything about you demands people to love you."
"Is that why *you* love me?" asks Serena.
"Of course not." the raven-haired girl replies. "But, Since you asked." she adds, "I didn't *choose* you... Ever since I met you, I knew I had found my heart and, my soul. You are everything I'm not, everything I want, and everything I need." she smiles, "That's why I love you."
Serena smiles back, with traces of tears in her eyes, "I feel the same way." she says, pulling herself in tightly against Rei, "When I finally let myself believe it, I realized that when I met you, I had met my other half. You are the true reflection of my soul, Rei. The only person I ever want to be with, for my entire life... and beyond. I love you." Rei tightens her embrace on Serena, slightly.
"And, I love you, My Princess."
Outside, It begins raining a steady rain. The rain begins lightly pecking against the window of Rei's room.
~Office-building Rooftop~
Somewhere deep within Tokyo... Shawn is standing on the rooftop of an office-building, near the edge, with his arms folded. His hair and clothes are wet, cause of the rain currently pouring from the sky. He's in his *knight* outfit and looking out over the city, like a Sentinel(of sorts). A shadowy feminine figure walks up behind him, without making a sound.
Shawn closes his eyes and, without turning around, says, "Kyoko."
"I'm a bit surprised." she responds, in a no-nonsense tone, "You're very perceptive." her hair and Senshi-Uniform are in a similar state to Shawn's hair and clothing.
Shawn half-grins and opens his eyes, "The shadows are my domain." he says.
"Of course." Kyoko says, "I sometimes forget just *who* you are... Diablos."
Shawn smirks at the name, then says, "You should talk, Zora."
Kyoko walks up beside him and she, too, looks out over the city.
"You sense it drawing closer, don't you, Shawn?" she asks, "The coming Apocalypse..."
"Yes..." Shawn replies, looking up toward the sky, "The time is drawing near. Soon, It will be up to *them* to decide the fate of this Universe... whether it will end in an apocalyptic fire, or continue on the path to a peaceful future."
"I know." Kyoko says, lowering her head, "And, Once the *true* battle starts... no one, not the Senshi or even half-demon warriors like the two of us, will be able to interfere with or influence the outcome."
"I just hope they are strong enough."
"Don't worry." Kyoko says, "They are. I am sure of it."
Shawn nods, "... I have a favor to ask of you, Kyoko."
"What is it?" asks Kyoko.
Shawn unfolds his arms and looks at the open palm of his right hand, "I haven't recovered enough from the battle with Chaos, three years ago, to use my demon-power." he grips his hand into a fist, "If I am to be of any use in the upcoming battle... I have to regain that ability..." he stops.
"You have to re-new, and intensify, your training." Kyoko says.
"Correct." Shawn says, looking back out over the city, "I should only need one week to accomplish it."
Shawn then re-focuses his eyes on his right hand, and he clenches his hand into a tight fist. Kyoko looks at him and is, for the slightest of moments, shocked at what she sees... a reddish-black aura enshrouds Shawn and his hair and clothing dry, also the falling rain begins evaporating as it comes close to the fire-like shroud encircling him.
"So," Kyoko asks, still looking at him, (though, the slight surprise is gone... to Kyoko, nothing is *too* surprising for long), "What is this favor, you wanted to ask of me?"
"Yes, of course." he replies, turning to face the *elder* Death-Senshi, "During my training, I will not be here in Tokyo. So, I want *you* to watch over Rei and Serena in my place." he turns and starts walking away from the edge of the roof, "They both have power that they, themselves, are not yet aware of."
"I understand." Kyoko says, she looks back out over the city, "But, You should know... I already made *that* particular promise to someone else... over a thousand years ago."
"Of course I know." Shawn says, simply, as he continues walking, "Someone you *loved*..." then whispers, "A... beautiful woman..."
"!?" Kyoko is surprised at the words, as she spins around and looks toward where Shawn's voice came from. However, She finds him not there, nor anywhere on the roof. 'It's as if he just *vanished*?' she thinks 'hmmm... Disappeared into the shadows.' Then, after a few moments, she adds in her mind 'How is it possible that he knows about she and I? No one knew about us!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To Be Continued... (regardless of whether FF.Net allows it, or not. Because, I will be moving this fic to mediaminer.org)
Warnings: No warnings. Nothing more than kissing happens in this chapter.
Let's continue the fic.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------------------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 17: The Present...
~Aftermath~
An undetermined amount of time has passed... Ryoma finally wakes up and uses a nearby tree-stump to pull herself to her feet, bracing her weight on it. Breathing heavily, She starts walking away from the stump, albeit unsteadily, and soon finds herself bracing again, leaning with her left hand against a tree.
"I haven't gotten back enough of my strength, yet." She says, aloud yet to herself. She tries, again, to start walking but, the world blurs and she falls down onto the ground, face-first. However, She manages to catch herself on her hands and knees.
'Naomi...' the crimson-haired woman thinks 'Please, be alright...' she passes out again, falling on down to the ground.
~Hospital~
The doctor walks out of the emergency room and into the waiting room, where Haruka and Michiru are.
"How is she?" Michiru asks him.
"Your friend will be fine..." The doctor replies.
"That's a relief." Haruka says, before he can finish, "I'd hate to be the one to have to tell Ryoma, if something bad had happened to Naomi. She'd have our heads." she says the last part with a hint of joking in her voice.
"... However," The doctor says, regaining the two's attention, "She appears to be in a coma-like state. I don't know when she'll wake up. What happened to her?"
'Coma...? She couldn't have been hurt *that* bad, against that youma.' Haruka thinks 'Something else must be wrong.'
"Um... We don't exactly know." Michiru responds, quickly thinking up a good story, "We were on our way to visit her, when we found her like that and brought her here."
"I see." the doctor says, "Well, I think you should probably find your other friend, and tell her what happened."
Haruka nods, "I'll go." she says, then turns to the aqua-haired woman next to her, "Michi, Maybe you should stay and watch over her, in case she wakes up." Michiru agrees and Haruka leaves the hospital.
~Outside~
'It's getting late.' Haruka thinks, glancing up at the darkening sky, 'I need to get back to Ryoma, before it gets any later. Maybe, She'll have some idea what's wrong with Naomi.'
She runs her hand through her short sandy-blonde hair and starts back to the site where she, and Michiru, left Ryoma after the battle.
~Hospital-room~
"No!" Naomi says, in her sleep, "You can't go! If you do, You're sure to die!" tears begin to run from the corners of her unopened eyes, down the sides of her face "I won't..." she continues, clutching the sheets under her, "I won't let this happen... I can't!... my friends..." her eyes continue to remain shut.
She calms down and her breathing returns to normal, "Ryoma... where are you?..." she falls back into peaceful slumber.
~Hikawa Shrine~
"Ahhhh!" Rei screams out, as she sits up on her futon, her right hand automatically shooting out infront of her and her eyes opening. As well, She's covered in a cold sweat and her breaths coming in rapid pants.
"Rei?" Serena asks, sitting up next to the right side of the raven-haired girl, "Are you alright? Did you have a nightmare?" a trace of worry in her voice.
Rei forces her breathing to normal, "Huh? Serena?" she responds, as she lowers her arm and allows her hand to rest on the futon beside her, "No, no. Not a nightmare, Just old dreams... nothing to worry yourself about, my love."
Serena leans closer to Rei and wraps her arms loosely around her friend's waist. She lays her head on Rei's right shoulder. "You know, Rei..." the princess says, nuzzling into the raven-haired girl's neck, "You can't lie to me. Your body's covered in cold sweat and you sounded completely out of breath. Something's wrong, I want you to tell me what." she places a kiss on the priestess' right cheek.
"Serena...--" Rei starts but, is interrupted by the blonde.
"You're not alone anymore, Rei." Serena says, smiling, "You don't have to bear your burdens, by yourself, any longer. You should know that, by now. Besides, I don't like secrets. Especially between us."
Rei smiles warmly, also. "I know, Sere." she says, "I'm just not used to having someone to share my problems with. But, There *are* some things that I have to keep hidden... for now..." she looks away from her love, momentarily, glancing into a mirror lying next to her futon and her eyes flash onyx-black for a moment then back to normal.
"But..." Serena says.
Rei turns in Serena's embrace and places her hands on the princess' shoulders. She looks into the other girl's eyes, "Don't worry, Serena. One day, There won't be *any* secrets between us, I promise." the raven-haired girl tells her, "Just, for now, Trust me. Okay?"
Serena is disappointed but, nods her head understandingly. Rei leans in, placing a warm kiss on the blonde princess' lips. Serena returns the kiss and after a few moments, they break apart. Both lie back down, sharing some more light kisses.
After a few more moments, Serena asks, "Rei? Why do you love me?"
Rei's lavender eyes widen, slightly, at the question, "What d'you mean, My Princess?" she asks.
"Well..." the blonde princess replies, "You're sooo beautiful, and you could have probably gotten any guy --or, girl-- that you would've wanted. But, You chose me. Why?"
The raven-haired priestess blinks a few times... Here, the most beautiful angel in the world, to Rei, was calling *her* beautiful...
After a few quiet moments, "Does there have to be a *reason*?" Rei replies, with a question. "I love you." she says, simply, "Isn't *that* enough?"
"Yeah, but..." Serena responds, "It's not like I'm special, or anything. I mean, If I weren't Sailor Moon, I wouldn't even be unique..." she gains a somewhat sad expression and looks away from Rei, up at the ceiling.
"Enough of that." Rei states, turning the princess' face back toward her, "You *are* special! You have something that draws people to you, that makes them happy. Everything about you demands people to love you."
"Is that why *you* love me?" asks Serena.
"Of course not." the raven-haired girl replies. "But, Since you asked." she adds, "I didn't *choose* you... Ever since I met you, I knew I had found my heart and, my soul. You are everything I'm not, everything I want, and everything I need." she smiles, "That's why I love you."
Serena smiles back, with traces of tears in her eyes, "I feel the same way." she says, pulling herself in tightly against Rei, "When I finally let myself believe it, I realized that when I met you, I had met my other half. You are the true reflection of my soul, Rei. The only person I ever want to be with, for my entire life... and beyond. I love you." Rei tightens her embrace on Serena, slightly.
"And, I love you, My Princess."
Outside, It begins raining a steady rain. The rain begins lightly pecking against the window of Rei's room.
~Office-building Rooftop~
Somewhere deep within Tokyo... Shawn is standing on the rooftop of an office-building, near the edge, with his arms folded. His hair and clothes are wet, cause of the rain currently pouring from the sky. He's in his *knight* outfit and looking out over the city, like a Sentinel(of sorts). A shadowy feminine figure walks up behind him, without making a sound.
Shawn closes his eyes and, without turning around, says, "Kyoko."
"I'm a bit surprised." she responds, in a no-nonsense tone, "You're very perceptive." her hair and Senshi-Uniform are in a similar state to Shawn's hair and clothing.
Shawn half-grins and opens his eyes, "The shadows are my domain." he says.
"Of course." Kyoko says, "I sometimes forget just *who* you are... Diablos."
Shawn smirks at the name, then says, "You should talk, Zora."
Kyoko walks up beside him and she, too, looks out over the city.
"You sense it drawing closer, don't you, Shawn?" she asks, "The coming Apocalypse..."
"Yes..." Shawn replies, looking up toward the sky, "The time is drawing near. Soon, It will be up to *them* to decide the fate of this Universe... whether it will end in an apocalyptic fire, or continue on the path to a peaceful future."
"I know." Kyoko says, lowering her head, "And, Once the *true* battle starts... no one, not the Senshi or even half-demon warriors like the two of us, will be able to interfere with or influence the outcome."
"I just hope they are strong enough."
"Don't worry." Kyoko says, "They are. I am sure of it."
Shawn nods, "... I have a favor to ask of you, Kyoko."
"What is it?" asks Kyoko.
Shawn unfolds his arms and looks at the open palm of his right hand, "I haven't recovered enough from the battle with Chaos, three years ago, to use my demon-power." he grips his hand into a fist, "If I am to be of any use in the upcoming battle... I have to regain that ability..." he stops.
"You have to re-new, and intensify, your training." Kyoko says.
"Correct." Shawn says, looking back out over the city, "I should only need one week to accomplish it."
Shawn then re-focuses his eyes on his right hand, and he clenches his hand into a tight fist. Kyoko looks at him and is, for the slightest of moments, shocked at what she sees... a reddish-black aura enshrouds Shawn and his hair and clothing dry, also the falling rain begins evaporating as it comes close to the fire-like shroud encircling him.
"So," Kyoko asks, still looking at him, (though, the slight surprise is gone... to Kyoko, nothing is *too* surprising for long), "What is this favor, you wanted to ask of me?"
"Yes, of course." he replies, turning to face the *elder* Death-Senshi, "During my training, I will not be here in Tokyo. So, I want *you* to watch over Rei and Serena in my place." he turns and starts walking away from the edge of the roof, "They both have power that they, themselves, are not yet aware of."
"I understand." Kyoko says, she looks back out over the city, "But, You should know... I already made *that* particular promise to someone else... over a thousand years ago."
"Of course I know." Shawn says, simply, as he continues walking, "Someone you *loved*..." then whispers, "A... beautiful woman..."
"!?" Kyoko is surprised at the words, as she spins around and looks toward where Shawn's voice came from. However, She finds him not there, nor anywhere on the roof. 'It's as if he just *vanished*?' she thinks 'hmmm... Disappeared into the shadows.' Then, after a few moments, she adds in her mind 'How is it possible that he knows about she and I? No one knew about us!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To Be Continued... (regardless of whether FF.Net allows it, or not. Because, I will be moving this fic to mediaminer.org)
