Chapter 19 - War

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The girl hadn't moved, since the first image of her had appeared before him, and he could see her still. She stood motionless like a small statue, her dark hair framing her stern, child-like face. Only she was no longer a shadowy figure, as she stretched out her hand, he could touch it.

"I've come to guide you, Prince Endymion-sama," she said. "It seemed like you had lost your way."

"You're right, I was lost indeed. But I'm not anymore. You don't need to worry about me." Now that she was here, it was even harder to believe, that he had ever doubted the fate of the Sailor Senshi. It all seemed so natural to him now.

She was still holding his hand; he noticed there was no injury on it. It was then, he realized, he had left his physical body behind, but he resisted the temptation to turn around and look down.

Around him, was the grass and the sky, it didn't look any different than before. What had changed were the sounds, there was a strange whisper in the grass and in the air. But the strangest thing was that he could clearly hear his own heartbeat, going slower and slower. That scared him; he wanted to leave as fast as possible.

"I must wait," she said, as if she had guessed his thoughts, "There is another reason why I came here." Her almond eyes darkened with sorrow. "Someone else will join us on the path of shadows."

Was he only imagining something, or was there really a trace of sadness in her voice? It would be so completely unlike her. She, who was so indifferent towards life and death. She, who had to be! But this time it wasn't simply the reflection of the stars glittering in her eyes. Just who might she talking about? He couldn't think of anyone.

The next thing he heard was an incredibly loud and unpleasant screeching, the brakes of a car. Only a moment later he realized, the sound had actually brought him back to consciousness, he saw everything through his own eyes again. Up on the highway the braking Ferrari spun around, sliding towards the Porsche.

Mamoru flinched, and one moment later he was wondering, if this was really the right time to worry about his car. Nevertheless he gave a sigh of relief as the Ferrari finally came to a stop, being only inches away from the Porsche.

Haruka! He had forgotten about her completely, and hadn't told Michiru either. Well, he wouldn't have to put up with her after all. There really wasn't much she could do to him anymore. Except maybe wreck his car.

He sensed the aura of energy as she transformed, and there she came running down the hill, yelling at Neptune.

"Traitor!" she screamed. "You promised you would leave him to me!" Light formed between her fingers. "I'll kill him anyway, no matter what!"

"Don't be ridiculous, leave him alone! He is dead already." But Uranus was far too upset to listen to her partner's words. Neptune grabbed her shoulders and shook her. The light between Uranus fingers fizzled, as she finally started to calm down. But her arms were still raised in attack position.

"Uranus! Neptune! You'll die for that!" The eyes of Sailor Mars widened in horror.

Another car screeched on the highway, its noise drowning the first shouts of the four Inner Senshi racing towards them from the other direction. As Jupiter's Oak Evolution hit the ground, Uranus jumped aside, aborting her attack. So after all, their war would continue, there was no one to make them stop.

His death wouldn't change anything at all.

Somebody rushed out from the third car, a young woman with her long hair trailing behind her. Her appearance caused quite a stir; the Senshi looked at each other in surprise, as she transformed. "Stop this, all of you!" Pluto shouted, but no one was listening to her. "Join our side or be gone!" was Uranus' only answer.

The Inner Senshi didn't worry about Pluto's words anyway, naturally, they assumed her to join side with the Outers, and didn't trust anything she would say, at all. The fact that they were now three on four, the Outers most likely being the stronger party, caused an even bigger panic among the Inners. Attacks gleamed and crashed everywhere around him, and battle cries mingled with cries of pain.

The only person, who didn't seem to care about all the fighting going on around her stood motionless by his side, her eyes half-closed as if she was deeply hidden inside her thoughts. Since she was no more than a spirit of her physical form, who probably lived a peaceful life somewhere else, there was nothing she could do. But she seemed to know exactly how this would end. He hadn't been wrong, her eyes were glittering. Never had he seen tears in those eyes before.

If Usako watched this, she would cry, too. He hoped with all his heart that she did not.

Someone yelled his name. Usako's voice! But that couldn't be possible! Was he dreaming, or was she calling him from beyond? Was his mind playing a trick on him? He couldn't think clearly anymore, everything around him seemed as unreal as a dream. What was going on?

"Mamo-chan!" This time it was closer. He thought he heard her scream, but again he couldn't be sure, the noise was simply too loud.

The girl screamed again, as another one of the attacks hit her, who could tell which one it was, but nevertheless she ran on. She ran all the way down the hill, until she reached him, and still he didn't know if she was real.

But she was. As her small body collapsed onto his chest, he knew, she was.