Disclaimer: I own nothing! I own nothing! (Sing along!)
A/N: Yes, it's not much for the length of time it took. But more is on the way, I promise! In the meantime, enjoy this little bit. My thanks this time go out to carcaptor eternity (uh, guileless means open, honest, not sneaky…well, that's not the exact definition, but pretty close) FadeEclipse (sorry to make people stare at you at work, but that did seem to be everyone's favorite line, hehe!) Lysia Croft (I live to keep you in suspense,) and SailorKagome, (SATs? You have my sympathy!) Don't freak out, IssaLee! Not only do you get a thank you, you get a special thank you! Because in this chapter I unveil Inanna's Lullaby to the rest of the world! Well, the world that reads this fic, anyway. So if you love this song as much as I do, everyone send their compliments over to IssaLee! It's beautiful, and perfect. Enjoy!
Uranus watched her princess with some concern. Usagi looked terribly alone, standing under the broken streetlamp and peering into the darkness. Her Senshi were too far away from her to give her the support she needed in this moment.
"You're on my toe!"
But they were plenty close to each other.
Usagi traveled ahead of her guardians, hoping to draw the Creature to her. The others stayed at a distance so as not to alarm the Beast, but within eyesight in case Usagi should need them. All were transformed into their more formidable forms, the women in Sailor fuku, Mamoru as Tuxedo Mask, and even the Shitennou in their gray uniforms. Everyone was ready for battle.
Except, of course, her. She is hoping for peace, as usual. Uranus shook her head slowly with concern. I don't trust this Creature at all.
"Ano… Haruka-papa, could you move over a bit?"
"Ah! Gomen!"
Unfortunately, to stay out of sight of the Creature, but within a safe distance of Usagi, was no simple task, especially for twelve people. The Scouts, Shitennou, and Tuxedo Mask were smashed into a huddle, hiding on a rooftop, all ducking under the ledge but peering over to watch their princess. Elbows kept bumping, and Venus lost her balance into Kunzite, both tumbling over in a tangle.
"Ow!" came a muffled chorus.
"SH!" the rest hissed.
"Gomen!"
Uranus sighed, leaning a little to her left so her arm no longer hit Saturn in the nose. Her daughter nodded her thanks, then levered herself up to glance over the edge.
"Maybe this isn't going to work," Saturn whispered uncertainly.
"It has to," Mars muttered. "Zoisite, you are still on my foot!"
"I'm trying to move, but Nephrite-"
"Don't blame me!"
"Will you all shut up!" Kunzite snapped.
Zoisite turned to his leader, affronted, but Mercury put a hand over his mouth, raising the other to signal for quiet. "We are trying to be sneaky, you know."
Her lover fell into sullen silence, scuttling sideways into Nephrite to give Mars room. The fire Senshi grumbled half hearted thanks. Silence fell once again.
Uranus watched as Usagi looked up and down the street uncertainly. She heard her call out softly.
"Are you around here? Star-creature-lady?"
Nothing stirred, and there was no answer.
Usagi looked down, fiddling with her communicator. Her voice came softly from all the Senshi's wrists.
"Uh, guys? I don't think this is working. I'm going to have to walk further on."
Uranus closed her eyes, stifling a groan. Twelve people hiding while still was bad enough. Twelve people hiding while moving would be a disaster waiting to happen.
"Hang on," Venus whispered into her communicator. "Um, this could be a bit of a problem."
Kunzite leaned in over her shoulder. "Half of us can hop over to the next roof, one at a time, and keep ahead of her. Then she can move, and the rest can bring up the rear."
"Good idea." Venus beamed up at him. "Alright, um, Nephrite, Jupiter, Jadeite, Ma-"
"What is that?"
Everyone stopped, looking at the communicator nearest to them.
"What is what?" Neptune whispered.
From under them, Usagi turned, looking all around her. "That singing. Can't you hear it?"
"I don't hear anything," Pluto muttered.
Saturn stood up suddenly. "I hear it."
"Get down!" Uranus snapped, grabbing her arm.
"But can't you hear her? She's so…sad."
Usagi spun and darted down the street.
"What is she doing?" Mars managed to half whisper, half shriek as she also leapt up. "Baka!"
"Come on!" Completely throwing caution to the wind, Venus shot to her feet and raced across the roof. A powerful leap put her onto the next building, and she turned to shout again, "Come on!"
Snarling with frustration, Uranus followed the group, bounding across the tops of apartment buildings. A flicker of golden hair appeared across the street, and disappeared around the corner.
"Where is she going?" Mercury gasped, clutching her side.
Saturn leapt off the building, landing lightly on the pavement below, her knees bending to absorb some of the weight. She froze in a crouch for a moment, then flew off in the direction Usagi had taken.
"And where is she going?" Zoisite added in a strangled, frustrated voice.
"I don't know, but wherever it is, that's where we're going!" Jadeite grinned, grabbed Mars by the hand, and leapt off the roof. They hit the ground together, Mars nimble on her deadly red heels, and ran, side by side, after Saturn.
"All for one, and one for all," Venus agreed. "Let's go!"
They all sprang down, only Mercury stumbling, and Zoisite quickly catching her. Mars paused to wave at them, and they hurried after. Jadeite ran on ahead, keeping Saturn in sight.
Through a maze of streets and buildings, sudden turns and dead ends they ran. Uranus had never seen half of the buildings and streets they took, and it struck her again how huge Tokyo was. The Creature, whatever It, or she, was, could hide anywhere. This desperate race was taking up time Tokyo did not have.
And it hit her.
"I close my eyes and hear you crying…"
She stumbled, a hand going to her chest.
Sadness. Infinite sadness, and a sweetness that made her shiver. It was like an attack of pure, raw emotion. The pain hit them like a wall, and all the Senshi staggered to a halt.
Gods above, what is this?
"In my tortured mind I see you dying."
"Oh," Neptune sighed, her knees buckling. She landed on the pavement, her hands over her ears. "Oh, no! I can't listen! It hurts!"
Mars whimpered, holding onto Jadeite. They both hid their faces in each other's shoulders, shaking with sobs. Venus clung to Kunzite's arm, tears streaming like rain down her face. Zoisite slumped on the ground, his arms around Mercury, his face in her stomach as she wept. Nephrite held Jupiter, one arm around her waist, the other over his own face. Tuxedo Mask held his face in his hands, trembling. Ahead of them, Saturn lay sprawled on the sidewalk, her face resting in her arms.
Uranus dropped beside Neptune, both arms around her shoulders, hugging her strong, fragile frame to support her, and to lean on her.
"I yearn to hold out my hands and comfort you. My beautiful children, Mama's here to help you."
Beyond Saturn, standing straight and strong as a queen, Usagi looked down at something huddled in the darkness. Beautiful tears sparkled like diamonds on her lashes, but she smiled gently.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there when the darkness threatened. And when the stars burst, your feet, they were deadened."
Uranus watched through eyes cloudy with her own tears. Usagi looked more beautiful in that moment then she could ever remember. She stood there in a pool of silvery light, shining like some star. Even the vague recollections of a lost Palace on the moon, and the lovely princess there, could not compare with the shining moon beam bending over a lost, lightless star.
The voice faltered, and a pale parody of Usagi's lovely face peered up at her, uncertain.
"Go on," the delicate angel whispered. "Please. Finish your song."
"Why?" the Creature asked in a broken voice.
She smiled. "Because I would very much like to hear about your children."
It…she turned her face away. "It does not matter anymore. They are dead."
Usagi reached out and took a delicate hand, identical to her own. "When you sing, they live again. Please. I would like to see them. I would like to know them, the way you did. Please."
Dark lips trembled. The Creature faltered, and suddenly, she was not terrible at all. She seemed very small, and very alone.
She rose up to her knees, and Usagi bent down to hold her face. "Sing for me? Please."
"In a brilliant shower of dark and light," her voice shook, but deepened, not Usagi's voice anymore, but that of a woman much older, "you were stolen away from me. And now I must pay for my sins, and I only hope that you'll forgive me."
Uranus gasped, clutching Neptune's arm fiercely. Her partner raised her head, and started in surprise.
As she sang, the Creature slowly began to glow. Golden light, brilliant and beautiful as the sun, surrounded her. The tears that rolled down her cheeks were white, shining like drops of liquid alabaster. She clung to Usagi's wrists, her body shaking with her sobs and song.
"I yearn to hold out my hands and comfort you. My beautiful children, Mama's here to help you."
Usagi bent her head so that their foreheads were touching. Everything shimmered, and the air seemed alive with the strange being's sweet torment.
"I wish for a field of flowers in which I may hold you tight. I wish on a star shining for hours, and for you to be with me as I cry."
The long dress, a soft gray now instead of black, fluttered around her as she rose to her feet and changed her grip to Usagi's face. Her fingers held on so tight they would leave bruises, but Usagi did not even flinch.
"I wish for a moment today to wipe away all of your tears. To tell you everything will be okay, and to fight away all of your fears."
Staring with her dark eyes into the ever forgiving blue of Usagi's gaze, the Creature shook weakly.
"I yearn to hold out my hands and comfort you. My beautiful children," she closed her eyes, "Mama's here to help you."
They stood there, two beautiful, powerful creatures, glowing gold and silver, glorious hair cascading around them. Then Usagi wiped those white tears away and kissed her once, gently, on the lips.
The Creature, the Star, opened her eyes, looking lost and afraid. "Who are you?"
"You can call me Serenity. Who are you?"
"You can call me Inanna."
Usagi smiled. "Inanna. We need your help."