Sailor Moon
"Reflections of a Red Rose"
Rated: PG-13
By: NeoMoon
Chapter Thirty-Eight:
Yoshi had closed the station three hours ago, and now sat quietly behind the cashier's counter, his feet resting on the register, and a small bottle of vodka rested gently in his large dirty hands.
The station was in darkness, the only light the soft glow of the small television that Yoshi watched intently. It was the same on every station, even the foreign ones. The same thing that had been on for the last three days. Scenes of Tokyo from the sky, from a mile away on ground level, from the ocean. The earthquake that had struck the city had only been the beginning, soon after the mysterious invisible wall appeared, forbidding any from entering, or leaving the city. Fires still raged, making the night sky over the Tokyo bay seem as if day and explosions from gas mains, and stations like Yoshi's appeared but never were heard.
In three days time, almost every resource Japan had to offer was exhausted, and even now the small news ticker at the bottom of the screen reported that surviving Japanese officials were in talks with representatives of the United States hoping their military could find a solution.
Needless to say Yoshi was worried, he had family in Tokyo, hell he wouldn't have been surprised if everyone in Japan had at least on family member in the Capital. But still his fear stemmed from something deeper then just his missing family, no the Americans were involved, and Yoshi, as young as he was knew the stories the old timers told of the Americans and couldn't help but shiver.
Lost in his thoughts and fears, Yoshi failed to notice the bright lights of a car coming toward the station until they were pulling in, and the light of the head lights was illuminating the small interior of his station.
Yoshi almost fell over as he pushed off his chair and quickly hid the Vodka. The boss didn't like it when the employees stayed after closing, or his employees drinking for that matter. Question was why would the boss be coming in this late, the store had been closed for . . .
"Help!" The scream tore Yoshi out of his fearful thoughts and he rushed to the door, pulling it open with a painful snap of his shoulder.
Outside a tall thin man, obviously a foreigner, stood shadowed in the light coming from his car, in his arms he held someone the Yoshi couldn't make out. "Help please," the foreigner pleaded in lousy Japanese. "I found her on the road."
Yoshi stood there blankly for a moment, the ushered the man inside, flicking on the interior lights as the man struggled forward, and holding the door open for him as he entered the small station.
Placing the woman on the floor Yoshi looked her over. She was older, maybe middle forties, but still beautiful. She had short black, almost blue hair, and she was dressed very well.
The other man was searching through the woman's purse near the counter; Yoshi assumed he was looking for identification. A second later the man appeared beside Yoshi, hunched down, holding out the woman's driver's license. "I'm sorry I can't read it."
Yoshi shook his head, and sighed at Gaijin's stupidity and took the card. "She a doctor." He said, pointing to the card. "Mizuno, Natsume." He looked over again at the foreigner. "You know her?"
The man shook his head. "No, I'm a geologist; I was making my way to Tokyo when I saw her lying in the road." He looked down at the woman, then back at Yoshi. "Before that though I saw a car about ten miles south of where I saw her. I think she was trying to walk somewhere."
Yoshi nodded. "Probably Tokyo, a lot of people have family there." He looked at the away from the man towards the phone, then back at the man. "My boss is gonna kill me." He sighed, and with a groan, and the sound of bones popping back into place stood up. "I'll call an ambulance. I'm Yoshi by the way."
"Joshua. Joshua Michaels."
Michael Ross sat alone in the research tent looking over the newest printouts. He was tired, he hadn't slept since arriving at the camp, and worst yet this newest batch of information further confirmed his worst fear. The energy field could not be dissolved. He was out of ideas, and only six hours remained till the Special Defense Force took over, and he had heard the news reports the Americans had agreed to help. That meant one thing to Ross, lots of bombs.
Throwing down the papers he stumbled over to the coffee maker and poured the thick brunt drink into his mug, and took a sip, shivering in disgust as it hit his throat and burned its way into his stomach. "I'll never understand how the Americans can drink this." He hissed, as he placed the mug on the table and looked back over at the computer screens. He was running the same analysis again, trying to figure out what the field was composed of, and he knew just as with the last twenty scans he would receive the same answer; unknown.
In mere hours Japan's capitol, or at least what was left of it was going to be bombed for the first time in over sixty years, and Ross could not help feeling as if it was his fault. He was the leader in his field, and yet he couldn't even put a dent in this bugger. Burying his head in his hands he began to pray.
"Sir?"
Ross looked up, and saw Miaka Kamasaki, a young Japanese scientist that had been the shining star of his hastily put together team, stood at the tent's entrance, holding the flap back with her forearm since her hand was supporting a rather large mug of what Ross figured was the same pungent coffee he was drinking.
"Yes?" He said quietly, raising an eye brow, and truly wishing she would just leave him alone.
Even shadowed Ross could tell Kamasaki was smiling. "Sir they've arrived."
Ross's eye grew large as her words hit him. It was a long shot he knew, but science had failed here, and as he quickly got up, tripping over his chair as he rushed toward the door he prayed, that the two men he had sent for could find away.
Ross squinted as he walked out of the tent, he didn't even know the day had come. Holding his coffee in one hand he used the other to shield his eyes from the sun and looked around the camp from their two guests.
The camp had grown quite large he noticed since first being set up with in hours of the earthquake, a food tent had been put up, and he could see the small pillar of smoke that rose from it, making Ross wonder which meal the cooks inside were cooking.
Kamasaki led him toward the food tent, and soon he found himself standing in front of a long folding table face two men who could have easily been called ancient. Both were very short, and very thin. Neither had any hair and their eyes were almost closed, finding even the dim lighting in the tent to be two bright. It didn't seem however that the two had lost their appetites with age. Both had piled empty paper plates around them and still seemed to be eating.
Ross opened his mouth to speak, but before even one sound was uttered the one of the old men raised a hand silencing hand. "We will begin soon child, be patient."
With a sigh both Ross and Kamasaki flopped down onto the closest bench and sipped at their brunt coffee.
Shinneri lit his cigarette, and stared at the bent and twisted remains of the Tokyo Tower. Until last night the Tower had been fine, miraculously being saved from the ravages of the earthquake that destroyed the capitol. The tidal wave that appeared from nowhere and the small earthquake that had followed showed the large tower no mercy.
Leaning back against the pile of wet rubble that served as his seat Shinneri looked away from the Tower and over at his guest, or baggage, but he preferred to call the dead body left in his charge his guest who he was currently giving a free tour of the city to. "That beautiful." He said, pointing to the tower with his cigarette. "Is the Tokyo Tower. Now I won't bore you with the facts, but I'll just let you know its bigger then that queer tower in France." He sat up and smiled, at the woman's body then disgusted threw the cigarette down and jumped to his feet. "Look at me, talking to a goddamned corpse."
"Better then talking to yourself," whispered a soft feminine voice over his shoulder.
Shinneri jumped and quickly turned to face the speaker, who turned out to be a tall woman covered in a deep black cloak. "Don – Don't hurt me!" He screamed in fear and quickly stumbled backwards away from the black cloaked woman, falling over the pile off rubble and sliding to the ground.
The cloaked woman shook her head, "I will not." She said calmly, as she walked by him, and over to the body that lay only feet away. "The body seems to be in good shape." The woman whispered. "I thank you for looking after it." She looked back up at Shinneri. "You should only be burdened for a few more hours." With that the woman turned away from both Shinneri and the body and began walking toward the Tower. Shinneri didn't know if he blinked but a few moments later the woman was gone, leaving Shinneri shivering despite the warm day that the still burning fires allowed.
"You mind telling me what's up?" Makoto asked as she stepped beside Usa who stared absently out at the bay. "Because we really need you to be in the game." She looked at her friend smiled warmly. "After all you are the Captain."
"I didn't ask to be." Usa whispered her voice unusually somber. She reached into the folds of her clothes and pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes and quickly lit on. "Father sent me back to save someone. That's all I know." She looked over at Makoto, her eyes heavy with fatigue, hopelessness, and fear. "This," She said waving her hand to indicate the ruined city. "None of this is in the histories of the past." She took a heavy drag of the cigarette. "I mean at first it followed along perfectly but . . ."
"Now you don't have a guide to tell how to solve the puzzle." Makoto said quietly. "I've watched Usagi play enough video games to know you should never trust too much in the guide book." She rested her hand on Usa's shoulder and pulled the girl into a tight half hug. "Now you gonna tell me what's really wrong with you, are do I have to beat it outta you?"
Usa sighed, and seemed to shrink into herself. "One of the Senshi will die tonight, and one will be born anew." Usa said, repeating the words that Death had spoken earlier, her body quivering more with each passing word. "Setsuna will be reborn tonight; I know that she has to be." She said, tears streaming down her dirty face. "I'm the one who's going to die."
Makoto stood, frozen, holding the young girl from the future in her arms, letting her cry out her fears, as new fears took over Makoto. After along time, what seemed like a forever in itself, Usa backed away from Makoto. "Are – Are you sure?" Makoto whispered, her voice hitching with suppressed tears.
Usa nodded. "Set – Death confirmed it earlier. I've had my suspicions though. I'm the only one not mentioned in any of the histories after the battle against the Dark Moon Circus."
Makoto nodded. Even before her transformation into Death, Setsuna had always been right in her tellings, her accuracy was only challenged by Rei, and that was to be expected. "I won't let it happen." Makoto whispered quietly, trying to force herself to believe the lie, and knowing that it wasn't working.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Minako asked, as she leaned against Rei's borrowed bike.
Rei shrugged. "Who knows, this is stressful on all of us, but she's been forced into a new role by fate. Not surprising how she's reacted." Rei laughed. "Although I must say she's handling it much better then her mother did."
"We have larger problems then our leader's crisis of faith." Haruka said gruffly as she walked over, followed closely by Micheru, who nodded her agreement.
Minako arched an eyebrow questioningly. "How so, Ami's still missing, but I'm sure she'll be here soon enough."
"That isn't what I mean, and you should know that." Haruka sighed, and looked over at Usa. "With the exception of her and Usagi, I haven't seen any of summon our powers. And I know for a fact that mine and Micheru's are fading." She looked over at Rei. "Can't you feel it, your connection with your element fading? The wind hasn't spoken to me in weeks!"
Rei bite her lip. "I – I thought it was because of the enemy, that she was causing something."
Haruka shook her head. "No, I wish that was it. But I worked with Lillith, and she knows nothing of our powers failing." She sighed, and slammed her hand down against the front of the bike. "Its Earth Senshi, she's awoken. I know it!"
Both younger girls looked at her, surprised and questioning at the same time. Ignoring their looks Haruka explained her fears. "Our powers draw from the elements. You Rei from Fire, Micheru and Ami from different aspects of water, Makoto from Lighting, and myself from wind." She looked away from them, lost in the tale she told. "Once when the planets were alive, sustained by the holy power of the Crystal we drew from them. Enabling us to draw from a near limitless source. Those days are gone now, and instead we all draw on the same source the Earth." She looked back over at the two. "But now the Earth's mistress has returned. A Senshi only told of in legend."
"A new Senshi," Rei whispered. "Who?"
Haruka laughed bitterly. "The obvious choice is the current sister of the Prince, but the obvious choice is never the right one."
"Actually," spoke a new voice from behind the small group. "The obvious answer in this case is the correct one."
Turning the group saw the last of their friends, leaning heavily on Chi, with a large smile on her face. "Come on guys." Ami said, her voice slurred. "I've known this for weeks."
"Endymion."
"Don't you dare call me that." Mamoru hissed, struggling to move his head from were it rested against the soft bed. "You have no right!"
Lillith appeared from the darkness. No not Lillith, only Lillith in mind, the body still belonged to Usako, and in the last hours he had seen the fight raging between the two souls that now inhabited that body.
Lillith crawled slowly, seductively up the bed, and straddled Mamoru, bringing her face, her lips within centimeters of his own. "Oh, and what would you wish I call you? Adam? Bergelmir? Izanagi? Cipactonal? Or How about Guinevere?" Lillith laughed. "All of these are your names my love. All of them."
Mamoru looked at her, his eyes wide in amazement and fear.
"Throughout history and legend unknown I have followed you. Waiting for the day you would return to me. I have worn many faces, as have you. And I have done many, many things and yet, still you scorn me. Still you refuse my love!"
Lillith's hand flashed in front of him, and a second later Mamoru could feel a burning pain across his face, and liquid dripping down his cheek. "I offered you companionship. I offered you love, and understanding. I offered you eternal life!" She was hissing, her eyes narrowed in hatred and anger. "And all you had to do was submit to me!"
Lillith pushed away from him, and started to pace the room. "But no, never. All you thought of was her. All you wanted was her! I was there when she scorned you; I was there when she died on you. I was there as your children killed her! And still you would not take me as yours! You would not accept me!" Lillith laughed bitterly, and stopped in front of the large bed, and looked at him through large almost crazed eyes. "But time is up my love. The end is here, for I will not allow the future that should be come to pass." She closed her eyes, and shook her head. Wrapping her arms around her small fragile body, Usako's body. "I cast the bones so many times, each time hoping they would tell me something different. Anything different. And yet the answer was always the same." She looked at him through silted eyes. "And yet," she hissed. "I always saw the two of you together happy for the rest of eternity!"
Lillith started to pace again, her hands moving wildly as she spoke. "But no, not this time. I'll make sure it won't happen this time!" Again she stopped at the front of the bed, her hands clenching tightly around the post, her body leaning in towards Mamoru. "I wasn't brave enough before, but now – Now I don't care! I will unmake everything! As long as it ensures you and she will never be together again!"
Michael Ross looked at his watch, then at the army of Scientist, and rescue works that hurried around the camp. "Move it people!" He yelled, his hands cupped around his mouth. "We have three hours!"
"Those who hurry fail." Koji, one of the two old men said from beside him. "There is plenty of time."
Ross sighed. This little old creep was worse then that Yoda thing. "Look, if we don't break that field in three hours . . ."
"Yes, yes, yes." Koji said waving his hand as if to display he brushing aside Ross's concern. "The JSDF and the Americans will drop bombs and try to blow the field up." The old man gave Ross a knowing smile. "But that work." The old man laughed. "Tell me has my companion made it to the other side yet?"
Ross laughed. Right! Traverse the radius of Tokyo in just two hours. "Your friend and Ms. Kamasaki should be arriving shortly."
"Good!" Koji said patting his stomach. "Let's go have more of that grits stuff why we wait!"
Usa and Makoto walked silently towards the group of Senshi that had gathered around Rei's borrowed bike. Usa was glad that both Ami and Chi had been able to make it. Though she didn't know what role that her future aunt played in this game.
"I hate to say this." Usa said as she stopped in front of the group. "But I'm lost." She gave them all a weak smile, but it didn't help their confused and fearful faces. "According to the histories, the battle should have been hours ago, but here we are."
"Could the histories be wrong?" Rei asked as she pushed off the bike.
Usa shrugged. "There have been a few minor flaws in the past. But they've always been trustworthy."
The group seemed to nod as one.
"Now though we wait and we plan. For what though I don't know." Usa said as she fished out another cigarette and quickly lit it.
"There's another problem." Haruka said, then without waiting told Usa everything she knew about the Senshi losing there powers and the truth about Chi.
When the tale was done Usa stared blankly at the group here cigarette hung loosely in her mouth, and then dropped to the ground in a pile of ash.
End Chapter: Thirty-Eight
Author's notes:
Almost a whole year has passed since chapter thirty-seven was written and it was published on the internet. I honestly can not believe so much time has passed. Because of this I want to thank each and every one of who has stuck with me, who has kept this story close to them, and has enjoyed a great and heart felt thank you.
Fours ago I set out on an accidentally journey to create this would be epic of a Sailor Moon story. What started out as a failed attempt to spark the imagination of a newsgroup into writing a tale as a community turned into a personal quest to tell a great personal story.
It amazes me too; that despite the route my life has taken me, despite the writers block that has plagued me for the last nine months that I still want to tell this story. I tell you I have spent night just staring at my laptop's screen, letting its soft glow be the only light in the room, and the music of greats like Sarah Brightman and Sarah MaCluclin (I spelled that wrong) be the only sound I hear.
I remember beating the crap outta myself because I would write an entire chapter sometimes two or three in my mind as I walked along the lake near where I lived, or went on a long drive searching for the only store that was open only to forget it all when I found my way to any sort of writing equipment.
So once more thank you for sticking with me for so long, and thank you most of all for reading.
NeoMoon
Chapter Thirty-Eight:
Yoshi had closed the station three hours ago, and now sat quietly behind the cashier's counter, his feet resting on the register, and a small bottle of vodka rested gently in his large dirty hands.
The station was in darkness, the only light the soft glow of the small television that Yoshi watched intently. It was the same on every station, even the foreign ones. The same thing that had been on for the last three days. Scenes of Tokyo from the sky, from a mile away on ground level, from the ocean. The earthquake that had struck the city had only been the beginning, soon after the mysterious invisible wall appeared, forbidding any from entering, or leaving the city. Fires still raged, making the night sky over the Tokyo bay seem as if day and explosions from gas mains, and stations like Yoshi's appeared but never were heard.
In three days time, almost every resource Japan had to offer was exhausted, and even now the small news ticker at the bottom of the screen reported that surviving Japanese officials were in talks with representatives of the United States hoping their military could find a solution.
Needless to say Yoshi was worried, he had family in Tokyo, hell he wouldn't have been surprised if everyone in Japan had at least on family member in the Capital. But still his fear stemmed from something deeper then just his missing family, no the Americans were involved, and Yoshi, as young as he was knew the stories the old timers told of the Americans and couldn't help but shiver.
Lost in his thoughts and fears, Yoshi failed to notice the bright lights of a car coming toward the station until they were pulling in, and the light of the head lights was illuminating the small interior of his station.
Yoshi almost fell over as he pushed off his chair and quickly hid the Vodka. The boss didn't like it when the employees stayed after closing, or his employees drinking for that matter. Question was why would the boss be coming in this late, the store had been closed for . . .
"Help!" The scream tore Yoshi out of his fearful thoughts and he rushed to the door, pulling it open with a painful snap of his shoulder.
Outside a tall thin man, obviously a foreigner, stood shadowed in the light coming from his car, in his arms he held someone the Yoshi couldn't make out. "Help please," the foreigner pleaded in lousy Japanese. "I found her on the road."
Yoshi stood there blankly for a moment, the ushered the man inside, flicking on the interior lights as the man struggled forward, and holding the door open for him as he entered the small station.
Placing the woman on the floor Yoshi looked her over. She was older, maybe middle forties, but still beautiful. She had short black, almost blue hair, and she was dressed very well.
The other man was searching through the woman's purse near the counter; Yoshi assumed he was looking for identification. A second later the man appeared beside Yoshi, hunched down, holding out the woman's driver's license. "I'm sorry I can't read it."
Yoshi shook his head, and sighed at Gaijin's stupidity and took the card. "She a doctor." He said, pointing to the card. "Mizuno, Natsume." He looked over again at the foreigner. "You know her?"
The man shook his head. "No, I'm a geologist; I was making my way to Tokyo when I saw her lying in the road." He looked down at the woman, then back at Yoshi. "Before that though I saw a car about ten miles south of where I saw her. I think she was trying to walk somewhere."
Yoshi nodded. "Probably Tokyo, a lot of people have family there." He looked at the away from the man towards the phone, then back at the man. "My boss is gonna kill me." He sighed, and with a groan, and the sound of bones popping back into place stood up. "I'll call an ambulance. I'm Yoshi by the way."
"Joshua. Joshua Michaels."
Michael Ross sat alone in the research tent looking over the newest printouts. He was tired, he hadn't slept since arriving at the camp, and worst yet this newest batch of information further confirmed his worst fear. The energy field could not be dissolved. He was out of ideas, and only six hours remained till the Special Defense Force took over, and he had heard the news reports the Americans had agreed to help. That meant one thing to Ross, lots of bombs.
Throwing down the papers he stumbled over to the coffee maker and poured the thick brunt drink into his mug, and took a sip, shivering in disgust as it hit his throat and burned its way into his stomach. "I'll never understand how the Americans can drink this." He hissed, as he placed the mug on the table and looked back over at the computer screens. He was running the same analysis again, trying to figure out what the field was composed of, and he knew just as with the last twenty scans he would receive the same answer; unknown.
In mere hours Japan's capitol, or at least what was left of it was going to be bombed for the first time in over sixty years, and Ross could not help feeling as if it was his fault. He was the leader in his field, and yet he couldn't even put a dent in this bugger. Burying his head in his hands he began to pray.
"Sir?"
Ross looked up, and saw Miaka Kamasaki, a young Japanese scientist that had been the shining star of his hastily put together team, stood at the tent's entrance, holding the flap back with her forearm since her hand was supporting a rather large mug of what Ross figured was the same pungent coffee he was drinking.
"Yes?" He said quietly, raising an eye brow, and truly wishing she would just leave him alone.
Even shadowed Ross could tell Kamasaki was smiling. "Sir they've arrived."
Ross's eye grew large as her words hit him. It was a long shot he knew, but science had failed here, and as he quickly got up, tripping over his chair as he rushed toward the door he prayed, that the two men he had sent for could find away.
Ross squinted as he walked out of the tent, he didn't even know the day had come. Holding his coffee in one hand he used the other to shield his eyes from the sun and looked around the camp from their two guests.
The camp had grown quite large he noticed since first being set up with in hours of the earthquake, a food tent had been put up, and he could see the small pillar of smoke that rose from it, making Ross wonder which meal the cooks inside were cooking.
Kamasaki led him toward the food tent, and soon he found himself standing in front of a long folding table face two men who could have easily been called ancient. Both were very short, and very thin. Neither had any hair and their eyes were almost closed, finding even the dim lighting in the tent to be two bright. It didn't seem however that the two had lost their appetites with age. Both had piled empty paper plates around them and still seemed to be eating.
Ross opened his mouth to speak, but before even one sound was uttered the one of the old men raised a hand silencing hand. "We will begin soon child, be patient."
With a sigh both Ross and Kamasaki flopped down onto the closest bench and sipped at their brunt coffee.
Shinneri lit his cigarette, and stared at the bent and twisted remains of the Tokyo Tower. Until last night the Tower had been fine, miraculously being saved from the ravages of the earthquake that destroyed the capitol. The tidal wave that appeared from nowhere and the small earthquake that had followed showed the large tower no mercy.
Leaning back against the pile of wet rubble that served as his seat Shinneri looked away from the Tower and over at his guest, or baggage, but he preferred to call the dead body left in his charge his guest who he was currently giving a free tour of the city to. "That beautiful." He said, pointing to the tower with his cigarette. "Is the Tokyo Tower. Now I won't bore you with the facts, but I'll just let you know its bigger then that queer tower in France." He sat up and smiled, at the woman's body then disgusted threw the cigarette down and jumped to his feet. "Look at me, talking to a goddamned corpse."
"Better then talking to yourself," whispered a soft feminine voice over his shoulder.
Shinneri jumped and quickly turned to face the speaker, who turned out to be a tall woman covered in a deep black cloak. "Don – Don't hurt me!" He screamed in fear and quickly stumbled backwards away from the black cloaked woman, falling over the pile off rubble and sliding to the ground.
The cloaked woman shook her head, "I will not." She said calmly, as she walked by him, and over to the body that lay only feet away. "The body seems to be in good shape." The woman whispered. "I thank you for looking after it." She looked back up at Shinneri. "You should only be burdened for a few more hours." With that the woman turned away from both Shinneri and the body and began walking toward the Tower. Shinneri didn't know if he blinked but a few moments later the woman was gone, leaving Shinneri shivering despite the warm day that the still burning fires allowed.
"You mind telling me what's up?" Makoto asked as she stepped beside Usa who stared absently out at the bay. "Because we really need you to be in the game." She looked at her friend smiled warmly. "After all you are the Captain."
"I didn't ask to be." Usa whispered her voice unusually somber. She reached into the folds of her clothes and pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes and quickly lit on. "Father sent me back to save someone. That's all I know." She looked over at Makoto, her eyes heavy with fatigue, hopelessness, and fear. "This," She said waving her hand to indicate the ruined city. "None of this is in the histories of the past." She took a heavy drag of the cigarette. "I mean at first it followed along perfectly but . . ."
"Now you don't have a guide to tell how to solve the puzzle." Makoto said quietly. "I've watched Usagi play enough video games to know you should never trust too much in the guide book." She rested her hand on Usa's shoulder and pulled the girl into a tight half hug. "Now you gonna tell me what's really wrong with you, are do I have to beat it outta you?"
Usa sighed, and seemed to shrink into herself. "One of the Senshi will die tonight, and one will be born anew." Usa said, repeating the words that Death had spoken earlier, her body quivering more with each passing word. "Setsuna will be reborn tonight; I know that she has to be." She said, tears streaming down her dirty face. "I'm the one who's going to die."
Makoto stood, frozen, holding the young girl from the future in her arms, letting her cry out her fears, as new fears took over Makoto. After along time, what seemed like a forever in itself, Usa backed away from Makoto. "Are – Are you sure?" Makoto whispered, her voice hitching with suppressed tears.
Usa nodded. "Set – Death confirmed it earlier. I've had my suspicions though. I'm the only one not mentioned in any of the histories after the battle against the Dark Moon Circus."
Makoto nodded. Even before her transformation into Death, Setsuna had always been right in her tellings, her accuracy was only challenged by Rei, and that was to be expected. "I won't let it happen." Makoto whispered quietly, trying to force herself to believe the lie, and knowing that it wasn't working.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Minako asked, as she leaned against Rei's borrowed bike.
Rei shrugged. "Who knows, this is stressful on all of us, but she's been forced into a new role by fate. Not surprising how she's reacted." Rei laughed. "Although I must say she's handling it much better then her mother did."
"We have larger problems then our leader's crisis of faith." Haruka said gruffly as she walked over, followed closely by Micheru, who nodded her agreement.
Minako arched an eyebrow questioningly. "How so, Ami's still missing, but I'm sure she'll be here soon enough."
"That isn't what I mean, and you should know that." Haruka sighed, and looked over at Usa. "With the exception of her and Usagi, I haven't seen any of summon our powers. And I know for a fact that mine and Micheru's are fading." She looked over at Rei. "Can't you feel it, your connection with your element fading? The wind hasn't spoken to me in weeks!"
Rei bite her lip. "I – I thought it was because of the enemy, that she was causing something."
Haruka shook her head. "No, I wish that was it. But I worked with Lillith, and she knows nothing of our powers failing." She sighed, and slammed her hand down against the front of the bike. "Its Earth Senshi, she's awoken. I know it!"
Both younger girls looked at her, surprised and questioning at the same time. Ignoring their looks Haruka explained her fears. "Our powers draw from the elements. You Rei from Fire, Micheru and Ami from different aspects of water, Makoto from Lighting, and myself from wind." She looked away from them, lost in the tale she told. "Once when the planets were alive, sustained by the holy power of the Crystal we drew from them. Enabling us to draw from a near limitless source. Those days are gone now, and instead we all draw on the same source the Earth." She looked back over at the two. "But now the Earth's mistress has returned. A Senshi only told of in legend."
"A new Senshi," Rei whispered. "Who?"
Haruka laughed bitterly. "The obvious choice is the current sister of the Prince, but the obvious choice is never the right one."
"Actually," spoke a new voice from behind the small group. "The obvious answer in this case is the correct one."
Turning the group saw the last of their friends, leaning heavily on Chi, with a large smile on her face. "Come on guys." Ami said, her voice slurred. "I've known this for weeks."
"Endymion."
"Don't you dare call me that." Mamoru hissed, struggling to move his head from were it rested against the soft bed. "You have no right!"
Lillith appeared from the darkness. No not Lillith, only Lillith in mind, the body still belonged to Usako, and in the last hours he had seen the fight raging between the two souls that now inhabited that body.
Lillith crawled slowly, seductively up the bed, and straddled Mamoru, bringing her face, her lips within centimeters of his own. "Oh, and what would you wish I call you? Adam? Bergelmir? Izanagi? Cipactonal? Or How about Guinevere?" Lillith laughed. "All of these are your names my love. All of them."
Mamoru looked at her, his eyes wide in amazement and fear.
"Throughout history and legend unknown I have followed you. Waiting for the day you would return to me. I have worn many faces, as have you. And I have done many, many things and yet, still you scorn me. Still you refuse my love!"
Lillith's hand flashed in front of him, and a second later Mamoru could feel a burning pain across his face, and liquid dripping down his cheek. "I offered you companionship. I offered you love, and understanding. I offered you eternal life!" She was hissing, her eyes narrowed in hatred and anger. "And all you had to do was submit to me!"
Lillith pushed away from him, and started to pace the room. "But no, never. All you thought of was her. All you wanted was her! I was there when she scorned you; I was there when she died on you. I was there as your children killed her! And still you would not take me as yours! You would not accept me!" Lillith laughed bitterly, and stopped in front of the large bed, and looked at him through large almost crazed eyes. "But time is up my love. The end is here, for I will not allow the future that should be come to pass." She closed her eyes, and shook her head. Wrapping her arms around her small fragile body, Usako's body. "I cast the bones so many times, each time hoping they would tell me something different. Anything different. And yet the answer was always the same." She looked at him through silted eyes. "And yet," she hissed. "I always saw the two of you together happy for the rest of eternity!"
Lillith started to pace again, her hands moving wildly as she spoke. "But no, not this time. I'll make sure it won't happen this time!" Again she stopped at the front of the bed, her hands clenching tightly around the post, her body leaning in towards Mamoru. "I wasn't brave enough before, but now – Now I don't care! I will unmake everything! As long as it ensures you and she will never be together again!"
Michael Ross looked at his watch, then at the army of Scientist, and rescue works that hurried around the camp. "Move it people!" He yelled, his hands cupped around his mouth. "We have three hours!"
"Those who hurry fail." Koji, one of the two old men said from beside him. "There is plenty of time."
Ross sighed. This little old creep was worse then that Yoda thing. "Look, if we don't break that field in three hours . . ."
"Yes, yes, yes." Koji said waving his hand as if to display he brushing aside Ross's concern. "The JSDF and the Americans will drop bombs and try to blow the field up." The old man gave Ross a knowing smile. "But that work." The old man laughed. "Tell me has my companion made it to the other side yet?"
Ross laughed. Right! Traverse the radius of Tokyo in just two hours. "Your friend and Ms. Kamasaki should be arriving shortly."
"Good!" Koji said patting his stomach. "Let's go have more of that grits stuff why we wait!"
Usa and Makoto walked silently towards the group of Senshi that had gathered around Rei's borrowed bike. Usa was glad that both Ami and Chi had been able to make it. Though she didn't know what role that her future aunt played in this game.
"I hate to say this." Usa said as she stopped in front of the group. "But I'm lost." She gave them all a weak smile, but it didn't help their confused and fearful faces. "According to the histories, the battle should have been hours ago, but here we are."
"Could the histories be wrong?" Rei asked as she pushed off the bike.
Usa shrugged. "There have been a few minor flaws in the past. But they've always been trustworthy."
The group seemed to nod as one.
"Now though we wait and we plan. For what though I don't know." Usa said as she fished out another cigarette and quickly lit it.
"There's another problem." Haruka said, then without waiting told Usa everything she knew about the Senshi losing there powers and the truth about Chi.
When the tale was done Usa stared blankly at the group here cigarette hung loosely in her mouth, and then dropped to the ground in a pile of ash.
End Chapter: Thirty-Eight
Author's notes:
Almost a whole year has passed since chapter thirty-seven was written and it was published on the internet. I honestly can not believe so much time has passed. Because of this I want to thank each and every one of who has stuck with me, who has kept this story close to them, and has enjoyed a great and heart felt thank you.
Fours ago I set out on an accidentally journey to create this would be epic of a Sailor Moon story. What started out as a failed attempt to spark the imagination of a newsgroup into writing a tale as a community turned into a personal quest to tell a great personal story.
It amazes me too; that despite the route my life has taken me, despite the writers block that has plagued me for the last nine months that I still want to tell this story. I tell you I have spent night just staring at my laptop's screen, letting its soft glow be the only light in the room, and the music of greats like Sarah Brightman and Sarah MaCluclin (I spelled that wrong) be the only sound I hear.
I remember beating the crap outta myself because I would write an entire chapter sometimes two or three in my mind as I walked along the lake near where I lived, or went on a long drive searching for the only store that was open only to forget it all when I found my way to any sort of writing equipment.
So once more thank you for sticking with me for so long, and thank you most of all for reading.
NeoMoon