1 o'clock by: Transcendent.
A.N.: Wow. Four long months since an update! I'm SO fucking sorry that it's not even funny! What was I thinking in not updating in FOUR months? I'm not sure...but I know I was really lacking any inspiration for this story for a very long time.
Well, anyways. Here it is! It's not long...at all. I'm sorry for that, but my inspiration is STILL running on dry. So, you'll have to make do with what you've been given! I'll try to update again in the next week or two.
Ashleigh-Kaiba: Oh? REALLY? I'll be looking forward to that fic! ^__^ And yeah, you were right! Her internet was fucked up. Thanks for you review!
Optical Illusions: Where have you gone off to? ;_;
SilverCaladan: Hey, love! You didn't get to edit this one! *CRIES* But Alma did it for me. So, I'm good. School has been evil to us both. But alas, you're on vacation but you are online less? It doesn't seem fair. Well, here's the chapter, love! Hope you enjoy it.
Wishful Thinking2: Hi buddy. I'm not too keen on Wufei, so maybe all that blabber you produced was just me trying to make him SEEM mean and all that shit, even though that's....how he is..... *cough* But, I will tell you that your review left me thinking about another odd twist in this already oddly twisted story of mine. Nice job. I'd go on and continue my reply to you, but I'm cold and I want to get this over with! Love you anyways (because you're Sil's friend!)
SVZ: HI ANGEL! *HUGS* You do realize I left clues as to Ami/Wufei? But that's alright...you're dense. We can leave it at that ^__~ Remember that I'm experimenting with couples and some of them may not remain. Ami/Wufei will not always be. Maybe Ami/Duo or Ami/Heero. Minako/Heero, maybe. Minako/Trowa, maybe. Minako/Duo, maybe. There are too many couples out there to just choose one. Plus, Makoto is still out there! Can't forget her... :|
AznxAngel: *makes gurgly baby noises back* I miss you... *tear*
Venus Of Love: YES! MY GOD PEOPLE! I *HAVE* UPDATED! I've been hearing this a lot. It's like everyone is telling me this beforehand...and...yeah. Well, I continued. Do I get a cookie?
Tsubasa-chan: WTF?! WHERE IS YOUR NICE NEW CHAPTER THAT I HAVE BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR? I updated, so you must update. You hear me? YOU HEAR ME? Oh, and I guess you'll find out the stalker some other time...because Rei doesn't even make an appearance in this chapter. SO SAD. But she will! I promise ^__^
Heirel: Hey buddy. Get off your ass and finish reading my story! *kicks*
Venus Smurf: My, oh-my! I've gotten an approval review from VS. I feel so delighted. Actually, you should've seen my face when I found about 10 reviews in my inbox all from you. Well, I can't wait for your next updates! Thanks for reviewing (everything).
Dedication: The good buddy SilverCaladan because I'm not sure there are any chapters in here which I haven't dedicated anything to. But I guess I'll dedicate this shit to FairDrea, Almaseti and dear li'l SVZ because I can.
ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY. IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED, SEEK THERAPY.
Chapter Six: Already There
In the darkness of his office he watched as another body was found. Was this what he wanted? To play along with the game until he had complete control of his pawn?
Yes, that is what he wanted. But not all of it. Time, that's all he needed…time.
The man smiled sadistically. He was used to getting what he wanted; almost too used to it. But soon enough, his most lustful dreams would be complete. The goddess would be his.
He would be complete.
But complete as in how? Some would have thought he would be mourning over her death, the death of one he loved. But the others weren't crying.
The only woman that had been as close to her as he had who would be crying at this moment would be the reticent, clever Mizuno Ami. The only woman to, maybe, match him intellectually. He liked that, of course. That's why at one point he had got her. He played her well, but discarded her as soon as another, more inanimate woman showed up.
He wanted a woman equal to him in wits, but not wisdom. Ami was too smart to be played fully. That card would have to burn.
The ill-tempered, yet well-natured news spokeswoman, Hino Rei wasn't what he wanted either. She was clever, but too cynical. She wouldn't give her life over to the one she loved unless she knew she loved them. For a fact, she would never know love if it hit her on her pretty little head.
But what irritated him the most was that he had been caught in her seductive trap. Her extreme arrogance had caught him off guard; he was sure she didn't want him, so he went after her. He had caught on quickly, but he'd never forget.
That was the only time he was played.
The man's grin vanished. His tan skin darkened as shadows enveloped his face.
The dark haired priestess would pay for that.
The stoic, gregarious bartender, Makoto, had never been part of his game. He knew she had fawned over him for quite some time, but after the first week or two, she moved on. That's how it had always been with her. Besides, she wasn't feminine enough for him. Despite her well-developed body, luscious curves and ample-breasts, she had nothing. She couldn't give him anything at all.
But that didn't mean she couldn't be played now. He had to remember all of these ladies were connected and would lead them right to his main target.
He leaned back in his oversized leather chair and kicked his feet on the desk. He couldn't wait for the final puzzle pieces to be put in place to join the pieces already there.
His secretary came through on the loud speakers, "Mr. A-"
"Send it through." His steely voice cut her weaker one off before she could finish.
His large hand touched the telephone and picked it up. He dismissed his earlier thoughts as a ominous smile replaced his last.
"Good evening." It was a withered and weakened voice almost full of anxiety and turmoil.
He repressed his laughter to respond, "Good evening, my fellow man. How are you this pleasant late afternoon?"
People started clearing out of the Hikawa shrine; it was well past midnight and day two after the body had been found. For some reason, Minako didn't want to leave like the others. She wanted to stay with her friend, perhaps one of the few that actually understood her situation.
"Minako, go home," sympathy soaked through the words and almost stilted Minako's mind.
She looked up from the once accompanied tree to her comrade. "I think I'll stay a bit longer, thanks."
Trowa's eyes softened, but only for a moment. He shrugged and turned on his heal without another thought. He didn't even try to coax her further…
Minako took a hand from her pocket, almost to stop him from leaving her. But she held back; she had remembered her purpose for staying here.
"Drive safely, Barton." She sided with a warm warning.
He lifted a hand up in response, casually dismissing her warning. "I know, Aino."
For a fleeting moment she wanted to smile at his all-knowing demeanor. But she couldn't force the smile; her mouth was stuck on neutral.
Minako turned her attention back to the lonely willow tree when she heard the sirens finally fade into the still calmness of the shrine. She leaned back on her feet, hoping to ease the aching pain her pumps produced. Her hands grabbed her jacket around her tighter as her eyes hovered over the blood soaked snow.
Her head slowly rolled forward. Minako wanted to break down but she had to stay "the strong one" for her friends. She knew Rei was having her own problems, as was Makoto. Mamoru was most likely bawling on the floor of his lavished home that he and Usagi had once shared before the first murder. Minako knew Ami didn't know yet, but if she had her night would've been ruined. Just like the Tsukino's lives, all five of the inseparable friends would change.
Minako solemnly wished that she had stayed in England. Maybe she would've up and killed herself before her father would even think of harming her friends.
"Why did he have to go and kill Usagi?" she whispered to herself. The quietness and even tones from her voice eased her further into the darkest recesses of her once alive and active mind. She wanted to drown in the darkness of her inner mind and to just wallow in the pain she was feeling. But she had to stay strong for herself and for the others. She had to stay strong for Usagi.
"He's been doing this for so long that I'm afraid he'll never get to me." Minako's eyes closed while she let herself submit to the holy sanctuary. "It hurts more to imagine what he could've done to all these girls then to have it done to myself."
Slowly, Minako turned her back on the death site of her blonde companion. She remembered all the times that they had shared sundae's together and gone on double dates with whoever Minako was dating at the time. All of the sleepovers and gossip switching, the scary stories and the embarrassing ones. She remembered high school and college with the little bunny always ready to try new things while everyone else was tired and ill-mannered from their hasty lives. Minako remembered Mamoru and Usagi's marriage and the birth of little Chibi-Usa and she remembered the funeral of Rei's Grandpa were Usagi cried her tender heart out on Mamoru's shoulder.
Her heart stiffened and she could no longer control her tears. "I'm already there, Dad. I'm already dead, thanks to you."
A.N.: Is there anything anyone wants to see in this fic? I'm almost glad to do it...almost. If you provide a nice, fresh idea, I'll use it and credit you (of course). If not, then pfft, you'll get shit.
Anyways, I was reading this earlier to try to get an idea of my mindset in writing this all (since it's been a LONG time) and I looked at one of the last chapters. It read, at the bottom: "15 today, Oct. 11". It made me realize that I was once 14! I had completely forgotten that I was young (and still am) and all that good stuff. It was almost a shock. But I'm fine with that. It just shows that I've been improving and that I haven't stayed at some constant. It also shows that I've learned new things with age...so *shrugs* I am fine with it.
I guess that's it, folks. See you next chapter.
Transcendent, the almost-mighty.