Disclaimer:

I don't own Sailor Moon or anything in this story associated with that franchise. I do, however, own this story and any additional characters that I have thrown in to cause more mayhem in the not so peaceful city of Tokyo. Seriously though, how come all the bad stuff does happen there? Well, stick with me, kids, cause the story is just startin! That's right! This may be the last chapter of Faith and Dreams, but the sequel, Tangible Destinies, is already being written as we speak. And remember, Reviews are sought after with a lustful intensity that would put any man to shame! Well, maybe not THAT lustful, but they're still very nice to get. HINT HINT! ANYWAY, here it is, the final thing. And there was much rejoicing.

Chapter 18 "The Day that Changed two Worlds", pt. 2

Jonathan walked over to where the gang all gathered, rallying his jumbled thoughts.

I really hope that I know what I'm doing. He looked over at his new love and saw the pure heart she held behind those amazing sapphire crystals some call eyes.

Oh yeah. I can do this. If anything, for her. He quickly closed the circle formed by his new friends and motioned for a huddle.

"Okay guys. I think I can take this jerk." Jay said with enthusiasm.

"NO WAY! I won't let you do that! What would you do?" Mina yelled and latched on to his arm like a human vice.

The rest of the girls and Darien all started to protest, but Jonathan quickly silenced their speeches.

"Uh uh. You guys can't stop me. I've made up my mind. This is how it's got to be. I made a promise, not just to Mina, but also for the rest of you. I remember that you all have suffered so much for those that you love. Well, for once, will you let some one who loves you fight for you? I couldn't stand to watch if you guys get hurt, and knowing that I couldn't do anything. I just couldn't take it. You have no idea how much you guys mean to me, especially you, Mina." She blushed a deep red and looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. He started again before she could speak.

"Now I don't know why, but I think that I just might have a chance. He didn't brush me off like some pest, so there must be a reason why he would fight me." That seemed to get their attention, and Ami, being the smart one, spoke up next.

"But what would you use to fight him with? I think that he has, wait... yeah, I knew that he has a magic blade that he has yet to use. Who knows what else he has up his sleeves?" The bluenette made a gesture to express her dislike of Jonathan's rash idea.

"I will not take any other suggestions. I won't sit buy and watch my best friends get slaughtered while I sat and did nothing! We will continue this conversation once the duel is over." He was about to turn around when they all heard a slimy voice call out, "You do not get any more time! Come and face your doom!"

Jonathan turned then and said, "Hold On, I'm commin. Keep your robe on." He flashed the gang a toothy grin and pulled Mina into a tight embrace.

"I love you," he said, looking down into her eyes, which had ceased to hold back the tears long ago. She looked up at him and replied, "I love you too." They then closed the gap between their lips as one, almost as if connected in thought and action by their own love. When they met, even while it was brief, the love shared between them carried out from the circle of friends like a wave, washing over the torn and broken Tokyo streets. Beelzebub was far from pleased. In fact, he almost looked as if he were in pain from the intensity of the kiss.

He finally screamed, "Enough!" and Jonathan and Mina broke their intimate connection.

"We'll finish that thought in a sec," he said, and walked toward his adversary. He closed the distance slowly, so as not to startle his prey, and he pulled one of his .45's with his left hand.

"Ha! You are seriously mistaken if you believe that you can hurt me with that, boy!" 'Bub' (AN: I got tired of writing out his name) pointed at his gun with a lanky finger.

"Just shut up and let's dance already." Jay said as he lined up a shot. Bub took one look at the black abyss at the end of the gun, and thought better about standing his ground. He wasn't feeling cowardly today, just not very keen on having to pick lead out of his flesh. He'd not missed out on what that weapon did to his minions.

Jay squeezed off a round that whizzed by the red-head who started to run toward him at a frightening pace.

How the heck can he... oh. duh, demon. He cut himself off from that stupid thought before it got him killed.

Bub raised his right hand, and in a flash of red light, a gleaming onyx blade appeared in his grip. Jonathan fired twice more at the approaching demon, but the rounds flew wide, allowing the red head in close. When they finally met, Bub brought his evil blade down in a fast arc that would have bisected Jay, had he not used the gun to block the swing. The screech of metal on anti-metal was horrendous, causing a brief flare of sparks before the onyx blade absorbed them. Bub grinned a sadistic grin at his quarry from behind his black blade, sensing he was getting the upper hand. Jonathan couldn't hold out much longer, having to fight off a demon with other-worldly strength after having most of his sucked from him earlier. Instead of letting his blade slice through his head, Jonathan pushed up with a swift burst of energy and rolled tot he right out from under the blade. He wasn't fast enough. The hellish blade bit into the flesh of Jonathan's shoulder, cutting a two inch deep incision. The pain was tremendous, and Jonathan let out a howl of rage-filled pain.

"OH YOU LITTLE SON OF A BITCH! NOW YOU'RE GONNA GET IT!" When he finished his rolling spin, he brought the heavy pistol up in line with the form of Bub, who was following his movement to the right, however a little slower from the shock of the tongue-lashing he just received. He pulled hard on the trigger another four times, until he heard the distinctive click announcing an empty chamber. Growling with disgust, he threw the empty pistol at his adversary, causing him to duck further back, and giving Jay time to pull his second gun with his right hand. The two of the four shots actually hit Bub, one impacting his right side, where a kidney would be on a human, and the other hitting his left shoulder.

"Ah, I see an eye for and eye, is it? Not very becoming of you," Bub taunted as he shrugged off the pain, letting the blue-grey blood run freely down from his wounds. Jonathan looked up through determined eyes while holding his injured shoulder.

"Go back to Hell." He said as he raised his last weapon at his adversary.

"Go ahead. Try me." Bub said, lifting his arms out to the side, inviting the pain to come.

Jonathan needed no further persuasion. He let fly, pulling off round after round, sending .45 caliber rounds slamming into demon flesh and muscle, shredding the tissue and flesh before ripping free of the cage of skin and exiting in an even more violent manner than entering. Beelzebub shook from the impact of seven large slugs shredding his torso, and the amount of matter leaving his body would have sent even the most conditioned killing machine to meet his maker. When Jonathan finished his rage-induced trance, the click of the hammer striking air and the low laughing assaulted his ears.

"Ha ha ha ha ha HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! Has the mighty Avenger lost his will to battle? Come now, Where is the sting of the first shots? How come I am not a pile of ashes like so many of my followers? You've lost your edge. Now, you will lose your life."

Beelzebub approached the kneeling Jonathan with a raised blade, ready to deliver a killing blow, when they were both interrupted.

"DON"T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM YOU BASTARD!" Mina screamed as she prepared her meteor shower.

"Ah the children. Oh, I just had a thought," Bub said as he looked down at a stern-faced Jonathan.

"I think that I shall make you watch them die!" As he turned to move toward the gang, Jonathan reached out and grabbed on to the edge of Bub's robe.At the touch, bub swung around and brought his blade to bear on Jonathan's chest. The feeling of metal sliding in between ribs and piercing his left lung was nothing compared to the hate he felt for the demon who had threatened his dream. Suddenly, It all made sense. Kneeling there, with an un-holy blade piercing straight through him, and an empty .45 pressed against Bub's heart, he finally figured it out. He was living his dream, and He would not let his purpose slip away along with his life.

"They are my purpose!" he breathed, causing a look of annoyance mixed with confusion to bloom on Beelzebub's face. He felt the tingling sensation once again, but this time, he felt that it would not stop accumulating. The power must have also bled over to Bub, for eh was staring at Jonathan with a look of shock replacing his annoyance. Jonathan felt more power coming from the blade that protruded from his torso, flowing from his enemy.

"You can't do this! Stop!" Bub cried in terror at the realization of what his prey was doing to him. Jonathan felt the energy reach a peak level, and looked up at Beelzebub through his hair that fell in his eyes, and smiled a genuine smile.

"Don't worry. You can have it back. Bang." he whispered, and the energy that was collecting inside his body exploded out from the empty pistol, coring a hole the size of a soft-ball in Bub's chest cavity. The resulting force blew Beelzebub away from Jonathan, wrenching his evil blade from Jay's body, carrying with it a trail of his crimson blood. Screaming as he fell, his entire body began to dissolve into golden fired ashes, scattering in the cold, December evening.

After the shock of the violence passed, Jonathan was becoming aware of the intense burning in his chest every time he drew a ragged breath. From his kneeling position he fell back onto his back. The gang shook themselves out of their stupor at seeing that carnage, and rushed to his aid. Mina arrived first, gently raising his head to rest in her lap. She bent over his head and stroked his hair to try and ease both of their pain. He opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw, were two beautiful blue eyes looking down at him with love and sadness. He reached up to wipe one of her tears away, and then couldn't keep his hand aloft, for he was too weak. She gasped at his touch, and then began to cry. The speakers were playing a familiar tune, and Jonathan couldn't help but smile in ironic humor.

All around me are familiar faces,

Worn out places, worn out faces.

Bright and early for the daily races,

Going nowhere, going nowhere.

Their tears are filling up their glasses,

No expression, no expression.

Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow,

No tomorrow, no tomorrow.

And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad,

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had.

I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take,

When people run in circles it's a very very,

Mad World.

Mad World.

Jonathan began to speak, but found that the breath that he needed to do so would only come at a very high price. With every intake of breath, his chest would hiss and burble from the injury. He prepared himself for on deep breath, and then tried again.

"Mina," he managed with difficulty, "You're warm." He smiled, then his face turned serious, "I want you... to know, thu, tha,... that I , realized something, just now."

She tried to shush him, "Don't speak. Serena is going to heal you..."

She didn't get to finish. Jonathan continued, "I just discovered, why I am here. I was meant... to save you. And I have finished my job. I want you... t, to," He drew in another hissing breath, "know, that I have always thought you were the... the most beautiful person I have met. I t has been such an honor. Please, promise, promise you will not forget me."

Mina couldn't contain herself any longer. The dam stopping her tears exploded and she sobbed with full force, holding onto his body like he was the only thing in the world.

"I promise, I promise, but you are going to be... you're gonna, be fine." She managed between sobs.

He actually managed a chuckle, "He he liar. Stick, to... humor. It's what you're good at." He lifted a finger to her lips. "Now, let's see that space-warming smile of yours, please." She tried her best, which was good enough for him. He lowered his finger and sighed. Mina would not let him go, and she lowered her head to his. They kissed the most passionate kiss both of them could have dreamed of; him letting her lips claim his for the last time.

Serena managed to heal his internal bleeding and his deeper cuts, but her energy claimed her consciousness, and she collapsed into Darien's arms.

Lita, Ami and Rei looked at their leader and scoffed, saying "Not again." when they were interrupted by Mina's sudden startled cry. A huge wall of white was approaching them from the east, engulfing all of the terrain in it's path.

Darien managed a, "What the..." before the gang was encased in bright, pure white light.

It only lasted a second, but the effect was like a 12 hour long sleep. The scouts and Darien all felt very rested and refreshed. Then Mina noticed the absence of a comfortable warmth that she had a few moments ago.

The next few hours were a daze for her. She moved through the wreckage of Darien's apartment with a glazed acceptance. Mina took his things, his clothes and his weapons, and went home. Later, she read out of his journal that he kept during his stay with them, and wept. She didn't notice that his cell phone had turned on, and was waiting for its next call, one that would bring about a new chapter in the lives of her and her friends.

The end. I know, it's not a very good ending, but I have the sequel to supplement this work. I couldn't just leave them there! I have been working on my style, and I have changed a few things in the sequel. Let me know how you liked it, and look for the rest of the saga to continue with "Tangible Destinies"! Thank you's go out to Alicia Blade for her superior editing skills, my cousin Lauren, for reading this stuff for me and providing feedback, and the many countless authors on Your stories give me ideas about style and diction, and I thank you all for that.