Part III. Glad you lived this long. And the last chapter was a bunch of fluff, I know, get over it! " that fluff is very important to the story, just wait, ok? Now, enjoy.
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, Kaumi is a real person please don't use this portrayal of him without asking me, and I don't own Bon Jovi. The story idea is mine, however. Please don't sue, it's not worth it.
It's My Life
WildRose04
Three days had passed since Darius first appeared at the palace. So far, everything was ahead of schedule thanks to him. Makoto was dead beat with three more days to go and still no sign of trouble. She was beginning to think that perhaps it was just paranoia and not truth about the peace going; perhaps the peace would last. Perhaps Usagi was right, that there was nothing to worry about. Perhaps...
Makoto woke with a start. She had fallen asleep at her worktable set up in the throne room. Darius was standing over her, and it was him speaking that had woken the slumbering senshi. "We are done decorating in here, Admiral, and are ready to move on to the dining hall. Are your sketches complete?" Makoto handed him the pad silently, looking up into his young face. Funny, but she had never noticed those silver flecks in his eyes. Makoto didn't have long to look, though, before he bowed and left, smiling slightly at her. The smile sent chills down Makoto's spine, exciting the warrior and frightening her at the same time. It seemed so familiar, yet the exact source of that familiarity seemed out of grasp.
It was the night before the ball, the countdown had begun. With 24 hours to go exactly, several things had suddenly gone wrong. The fireworks had not come yet, half the cooks were threatening to quit over the delay in the arrival of their supplies, and most of the china was missing. Tomorrow Makoto was supposed to go with Kaumi and help him find something "suitable," though she saw nothing wrong with his Marines dress uniform. As Chief Commander of the Imperial Army, Makoto had no choice but to wear either her fuku or the dress uniform of her rank. Most likely, Hotaru and Michiru would drag her out tomorrow to hunt down a dress anyway though, something Makoto wasn't looking forward to. But right now, it looked like nothing of the sort would happen and she would be stuck in the palace all day sifting through every nook and cranny looking for the missing china or yelling off the ear of some poor grocery over the phone because he can't find the manager, just like every year. And once again, it seemed that she would run home, shower, and change into her uniform an hour before to make sure everything was ready after pulling an all nighter and being there all day, just like every year.
It was 9:00 in the morning, and they were finally done. Makoto went home to take a shower and try to get some sleep. She had been napping for maybe two hours when Michiru and Hotaru burst in with a traumatized-looking Haruka and gaggle of Asteroids in tow. The next six hours were spent dragging a half-dead Makoto around, trying on dress after dress, and getting a headache from the younger four's chattering. Finally, they found something Makoto didn't absolutely hate. It was a silver silk Cheong Sam with a green dragon embroidered following the side up the front, wrapping around the collar to end on the opposite side with the head. The slit on both sides stopped just at the hip. Worn under it was a green silk bodysuit. Silver ivy embroidery wrapped around the entire suit, circling the arms and legs. "With slippers and your scabbard belt, you'll kill Mako-san." Makoto didn't care. She just wanted to go home and sleep.
That night, Makoto made her entrance. Instead of being early, she walked in "fashionably late" on the arm of Kaumi, her best friend and date. Garbed in her outfit with a silver circlet disappearing into her hair, which Michiru had in some French twisty thingy that was driving Makoto nuts, and wielding the everpresent katana, covered by her red velvet cloak, people wondered if Makoto had gone completely insane.
Everything appeared normal in the palace, but something wasn't quite right. Makoto could sense it. Glancing to the left, she could see the outline of a young man. It was Darius, and he was grinning. The supposed gaurd was up to something, and it wasn't good.
Time passed quickly for awhile. Everyone danced and laughed, without a single worry. Everyone but Makoto. Darius would not leave her alone. If he wasn't asking her to dance, he was hovering nearby, waiting for another chance to ask. Finally, Makoto agreed, hoping the young man would leave her alone afterwards. How wrong she was.
Darius led the senshi onto the floor, a small smile on his lips. He was pale and his hair seemed dark purple instead of the black she had thought. His eyes glowed the same peculiar shade with silver flecks in them. He was strong, but not built. Makoto could feel the power surging in his blood the moment Darius touched her. It was not subtle, making its presence known immediately. It burned her, and took all of the senshi's strength not to cry out. Darius stopped and turned to Makoto, bowing and gently taking her into his arms as the music began. He wore a devilish grin at her obvious discomfort, holding her tighter and closer each measure. Time acted as if it were slowing down. It hurt, oh it hurt so bad. Makoto wished only for the music to stop and this demon to let her go. But it seemed as if the music only got slower and he held her tighter. A tingling pain ran up Makoto's spine into her brain, as if someone were raping her mind. Makoto's head began to swim, images flashing in front of her. The people around were freezing, turning dim and dull. Oh, it hurt. Don't focus on them, just keep your head. Keep your head...
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Sailorjupiter picked her way through the rubble, trying to find the other two. She knew that Setsuna and Hotaru were here somewhere, still alive. She could feel it, down in her deepest core. A rock shifted behind her and Sailorjupiter froze. She knew who it was and what they wanted. She turned slowly, wishing it was someone else. But it was Darius. He stood there, looking at the young soldier in her tattered fuku. "You look beautiful no matter what, love. One of the reasons I chose you." The young man in armor of dark purple grinned, then threw his head back in laughter. He had been after her for years. When she turned him away, he pledged himself to Chaos. Now he had come back to get her. "You won't win, Darius. Not now and not ever. I will fight you no matter how many times I die doing it." This only brought more laughter from the young man. "Don't be ridiculous, Piknast. You need me, admit it. Now stop this foolishness and come with me." Darius offered his hand to the broken warrior, getting only a reaction of her spit in his face. "Dirty little whore, I'll teach you to turn me down." He raised his intricately made sword, intending to kill Sailorjupiter. His effort was stopped by her own weapon, a simple katana. Darius fell back, his chest slashed dangerously close to the throat. "Next time I won't grant mercy. Now be gone, demon. Be gone from this sacred place and go back to the hellfires from which you were spawned." With this, Makoto turned and walked away, continuing her search for the only other two survivors of the massacre.
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Makoto screamed. The pain was too great, his presence overwhelming. The musicians stopped as people turned and stared at the senshi. This was too much, she had to get out. They looked so much like his victims. All those people she couldn't save. She shoved Darius away and ran. Out the giant doors. Through the courtyard. Out the gates. Everywhere she ran, there they were. Staring at Makoto with blank eyes. Pointing accusing fingers. "Why didn't you save us." they seemed to say. "Why." Through neighborhoods she ran. Running until she reached home. With fumbling hands, Makoto opened the door and slammed it shut behind her. Back against the door, she slid down it until she sat on the cool tile floor of the apartment's small front hallway. Somewhere, a clocktower rang twelve times. Midnight. The thousand years were over, and she wasn't ready to fight. Darius had gotten her off gaurd, and thought he would win. Well, not this time.
Author's Notes
Makoto's pre-pledge name. The party the night of the attack was Mako's pledging ceremony. At least, to me. I really have no clue, I just liked the idea. And I know the Queen sent the Senshi to the future with the Princess, but this works better with the storyline. Just mentally place this after the main part of the battle, but before she sent them.