Disclaimer: I own nothing blah blah blah.
The only good thing she could find about the battle that had waged in Mamoru's apartment less than an hour before was the fact that no one had thought to come and guard this corridor into hell.
Sailor Venus pushed her hair away from her face, staring down into the alley. She saw nothing, but she felt it, deep inside there, rumbling just below the human hearing rage. It was hungry, and it wanted to eat her whole.
"That would be nice," she whispered, smiling down into the Abyss wistfully. "But it won't help the world, will it?"
She turned, standing on the roof of the apartment building, and looked out over Tokyo.
"So many people. So many souls, crying out for love, with no one to help them, no one to hold them through the night. Millions are aching tonight for love."
She tipped her head back, and smiled up at the moon.
"Queen Serenity! Can you see us down here?"
For a moment, she caught the lightest scent of roses, the same smell she remembered long ago, and raised her hands as thought to catch the silver orb.
"Are you there, my queen? Do you see me? Please don't be angry. I think, in the end, this will be for the best."
Her gloved hands fell to her sides, and she turned back to look down into the alley.
"I know you're down there. I know you can hear me. Listen, please."
"WE ARE LISTENING."
The voices of the Abyss made Venus shiver, but she stood strong.
"I love this world. I love the people in it. I know you don't understand love, but you understand destruction."
"YES, PRETTY ONE. WE UNDERSTAD DESTRUCTION INTIMATELY."
"If I release you, that is what I want from you."
Something like a laugh shook the building under her feet.
"WE WILL DO THAT FOR YOU."
"But I do not want this world to suffer."
The ground trembled again as the Abyss made an almost thoughtful noise.
"THEN WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO, PRETTY ONE?"
Venus smiled gently. "I want you to obliterate this world. End it all in one strike. Rip it to rubble, and release all these poor souls. That is what I want from you."
"LET US FREE, AND WE WILL LEAVE NOTHING OF THIS WORLD TO FEEL ANYTHING EVER AGAIN. WE PROMISE YOU THAT, PRETTY!"
"Very well."
She started down the ladder on the outside of the building, down into the ally. The Abyss tugged at her hair and her skirt, but did not draw her into itself. Instead it waited, somewhat impatiently, as she reached the bottom. Her heels hit asphalt, and she slowly turned towards nothingness.
"I feel…empty. I only want what is best for this world, and in the end, this world gives nothing. It only takes from us all, just like the Abyss. At least you are honest about your nature."
"WE DO NOT LIE, PRETTY ONE. BUT WE HUNGER. HELP US, AND WE WILL DETROY YOUR SWEET WORLD, JUST AS YOU LIKE."
"Hai," she whispered. "I know what it is to hunger."
"Venus!"
She spun, shocked, to see Kunzite check himself violently on the threshold, staring at her in wonder.
"What are you doing?" he demanded. "How… Why aren't you being pulled into the Abyss?"
"Kunzite, please stay where you are," Venus ordered, holding her palm out to stop him.
"Venus, come out of there!"
"I can't."
"PRETTY, REMEMBER OUR DEAL."
"What in the hell?" Kunzite jumped at the voices. "What was that? What deal?"
"It's for the best," she told him. "This world is so lonely. Everyone in it is alone, and it's cruel to make every human being go on in this way. So I'm going to stop it."
He edged a little closer, eyeing the place where realities meshed nervously. "What are you planning, Venus?"
"An end to all this suffering. Kunzite, don't you feel it! Don't you see it, everywhere around you! This world is a pit of despair, a raging wound of agony! And there is no way to fill it, no way to heal it!"
"Don't be ridiculous," he snapped. "There is love, and hope."
Venus shook her head at him. "That is why Earth is so much crueler than the Abyss, Kunzite. Earth tortures us with hope, with love. The Abyss does not offer these lies. It gives no love, no hope. It is nothing." She closed her eyes, and sighed. "Doesn't that sound peaceful?"
"Iie! That sounds terrible!"
Her big blue eyes flew open, and caught his silver stare.
"Venus, please," he begged. "Come away from there."
"I can't. I need to do this, Kunzite."
"Don't!"
She turned her back on him, and nodded towards the Abyss.
"Are you ready?"
"FEED US, AND WE WILL DO AS YOU ASK!"
"Venus!"
Raising her hands up to the moon, she called on the powers granted her by Queen Serenity and her own guardian, twinkling silver overhead.
"VENUS CRESCENT BEAM SHOWER!"
Golden light swirled, then disappeared into the dark.
"STOP IT!"
A black wind shrieked, flying up into the sky. Then it twisted like some terrible bird, and shot off to the south.
"MORE! GIVE US MORE!"
Venus staggered under its demands, and gasped for breath. She heard Kunzite throw caution to the netherworld, and begin running to her.
"QUICKLY, PRETTY ONE!"
Her heart thundered as she closed her eyes, imagining the veiled, beautiful surface of her home world.
"Hai. I know what you want, you evil beast. This should slake even your thirst."
White gloved hands stretched out in front of her, and she felt her lips begin to move.
"VENUS," she shouted, opening her eyes as her hands began to shine gold, "HEART," the gold light flared into a ball, growing bigger and bigger, "RENDING," the ball swallowed her whole body, and she glowed, her hair streaming straight back, her eyes gold, "PASSION!"
The light exploded out, just as she felt hands grab her shoulders and drag her backwards, out of the alley. The Abyss roared with pleasure, and drank deep of her loving power. But instead of darkening, the light brightened as she felt herself spun around.
"Minako!"
Lips caught hers, and her back arched in a gasp. Then her arms were around his neck, and she kissed him back, desperate for the taste of him, for the feel of him. As much as the Abyss devoured, the long kiss produced a light twice as brilliant.
"YES, PRETTY ONE!"
Sailor Venus felt her toes touch the ground, and realized belatedly that he had swept her off her feet. Their lips parted, and she looked up at him with a tiny smile as the light slowly dimmed.
"Do you still believe love is a lie?" he breathed against her mouth.
"Kunzite…"
"HAHAHAHA! THANK YOU, PRETTY ONE!"
An explosion of darkness raced out from the Abyss. It flattened the lovers, and raced off across the city, wailing with triumph.
Minako levered herself up onto her elbows, and met Kunzite's horrified stare with one of her own.
"Sweet goddess of love, what have I done?"