"Should I call a doctor? Maybe there's an antidote." At this point, even the equanimous pilot was sounding a little bit panicked.
Rei put a hand up over her eyes, and gave a painful sigh before responding.
"It's no use. It's magic, this poison. There's...nothing we can do. It's hopeless."
"You're sure? Nothing? None of your magic?"
Duo noticed Rei looked carefully at Usagi for an almost imperceptible moment before shaking her head, one hand still held to her face to hide her grief.
"Then we should at least bring him inside."
It did end up taking both Rei and Duo to carry Hiiro's limp and fevered form to what served as his bedroom, for the fighter's wiry form carried surprising weight. Once they had him arranged comfortably, Serena nudged Duo, and they moved out the doorway to a spot somewhere not far down the hall.
"I've never seen her grieve like that. She just doesn't accept things like that. It's not normal."
"Hiiro's not like this either. You're sure, then, there isn't anything to be done."
"You really do care about him, don't you?"
"Don't try answering my question with another. No one can avoid death."
"Once there was time, when I think, I think I could. But I'm sure, I can't do it anymore."
"Sure?"
"Completely sure. I just don't have the power anymore. Without my guardians, there's no chance."
"Well, I tried."
"I'm sorry, Duo."
"I understand."
Rei knelt next to the bed, and lay her head next to his.
"Hiiro, maybe you can hear me, but maybe you can't. I never meant for this to happen. It. . .it should've been me, and, oh, Hiiro, if I were stronger, this never would've happened. I should've been able to defeat all of the demons myself. If I were stronger. . .if I were stronger, Usagi would be able to heal you. But I would give all my strength...just to see that icy glare one more time...just open your eyes, Hiiro, please."
The stirring in Hiiro's body was almost imperceptible, but that, combined with that all too familiar stirring in her own ESP was enough to bring Rei to her feet. Hiiro's eyes flew open, more startlingly sharp than Rei had even remembered. He gestured towards the door, and before Rei had time to start running, Usagi's scream was heard as she raced down the hall, passing the doorway, quickly followed by a flying creature, whose wingspan only barely fit into the dimensions, of the 4ft wide space. Rei shot out quickly after them, nearly running into Duo who was hot on the chase, but managed to maneuver herself in front of him. Usagi screamed her name, and Rei was motivated to an extra spurt of speed, and ended with a flight-like leap which brought her down on top of Usagi's pursuer. She had it by the neck, but lost her grip, when she was startled by the morphing of long, sharp- edged black feathers into short, but still sharp, metallic scales. It took advantage of her moment of weakness, and as its taloned legs transformed into hands with dangerous looking nails, it turned her over and grabbed her arms. Rei shrieked as its curved beak turned into a mouth filled with blades. it wasted no time before sinking it's foot-long teeth into Rei's shoulder. Everyone in the room screamed: Rei who grabbed her shoulder as the shapeshifter pulled it's teeth out for the killing blow, Usagi who had stopped dead in her tracks and turned to look when Rei had tackled the demon, Duo who had, like Usagi, stopped short at Rei's sudden predatorial action, and Hiiro who had somehow managed to stagger to the door. Both men acted, Hiiro charging with his sword, giving a nearly deadly hit after Duo's bullet hit the creature in the head. Aggravated, it rose, torn between its two attackers. It lunged forward, but before either could tell which way it was heading, a stream of ice hit it, enveloping the thing in a hard shell.
All eyes turned toward two figures, newly arrived. Both wore utilitarian, and somewhat futuristic uniforms, collared shirts and slacks, one in blue, and one in burgundy. One carried an alien-looking pistol at the waist, and the other, a metallic pack slung over the shoulder. Both had mirrored visors covering their eyes, the one dressed in blue with her hand outstretched, obviously having launched the attack that had saved Rei's life.
"Ami?" Usagi's whisper could hardly be heard.
"Amy, Serenity, Amy." But still, the girl dressed in blue leaned forward eagerly to recieve the blonde's embrace. After a few seconds, Usagi turned to the other woman, hesitating.
"You may still call me Setsuna, Serenity." The woman, flung back her long green hair, and she too hugged the girl. The three were brought back to reality by a harsh scream coming from Rei's direction, where Hiiro was leaning over her, having barely been able to stumble to her side.
Both of the newly arrived came briskly to Rei, and while their eyes were wide in worry, they didn't seem panicked. Setsuna reached in Amy's pack and removed a silvered wand, with a crescent shape at the end, handing it to Usagi."
"Serenity, I think this might be useful."
"Ami...Amy...I don't know."
"With me and Pluto here, I think it'll work."
"Alright, Mercury, Pluto, "and with a nod to her fellow senshi, she gave it her best, "moon healing activation. . . !"
An incredible light blasted the length of the hallway, Rei's spasms of pain ceased, and Hiiro passed out on top of her as the poison was burned from his body. Rei quickly recovered and maneuvered herself into a sitting position, with Hiiro supportedagainst her body. Both Amy and Setsuna grinned.
"Greetings, Raye."
"It's Rei, Mercury."
They exchanged smiles, while Duo nearly exploded. "What's the difference!"
The four reunited senshi merely smiled at each other knowingly.
A/N: Well, we have our romance, action, and drama. I liked this chapter. Not to mention it's long, for me, anyways. Life is good. And UK beat IU,
Thanks for all the reviews. I'll have time to write some more over break, but at least bthis time I wasn't too late. I will have more explanations on the entire thing next time, but the entire thing is about multiple dimensions and plains. And btw, the dire wolf is an extrememly large wolf which existed in prehistoric Ireland. ( I think...)