Alone
Michiru screamed as she saw the strange machine cocked against Haruka's chest. Knowing instantaneously what the red headed woman wished to do. She was going to blow out Haruka's heart.
She was going to steal Haruka's heart.
And with it, took her life.
"NO!" She shouted, above the roar that rushed against her ears.
She'd almost lost Haruka before. She would not allow it to happen again. She would not... Could not...
The bonds fell from her wrist, her feet trampled against the ground, against the stone floor. Clicks of her heels echoed around her.
She watched the red headed woman turn towards her. Watched the gun swing at her and take aim. She released a trail of tears as the energy shot towards her.
Not a second to dodge, not a moment to move. Just to take the hit, her eyes leaking the waters of the seas. She looked at Haruka as she fell.
And she watched her as she could no longer see to see no more.
Usagi noticed, suddenly, that they had taken a wrong turn.
She yanked on Mamoru's jacket to tell him so, only to find no response, but the humming of the engine and the roaring of the wind.
She figured he didn't notice, and tried once more, harder.
Still though, she received no reply except his speeding up.
Se narrowed her eyes.
"MAMORU!" she yelled over the elements around her.
He ignored her, as he'd done before. This time though, she noticed a slight wince.
Anger raced through her. And she released his midsection completely, sailing on the wind and her eyes narrowed.
This, it appeared, got his attention, for he quickly jerked to the side of the road long enough to scream at her.
She took her opportunity to roll off the side of the bike and rush off in the distance. Mamoru's blue eyes wide eyed in her wake.
Eugeal looked at the crystal and smiled as it transformed. She had done it. She had found them. Now to get the next one...
A large ball of golden light knocked her away, and she quickly jumped to the roof. Just in time to see the doors swing open and a blonde woman rush in.
"Damn it," she swore before hiding in the shadows. She would wait for her opportunity to steal the talismans and take it.
Looking down at the girls. She knew her wait would not be long.
Not long at all.
Haruka felt her eyes widen even more at her koneko's appearance, if indeed possible. Worry overloading her instantly.
How had she gotten free?
How had she gotten here?
How had-
"Ruka!" screamed the girl, her eyes puffy and red from the tears draining down her cheek. "Ruka, you stupid, pig-headed, dumb... you idiot!"
She watched, stupefied, as the girl flung herself into her arms. Her hands reaching around her and holding her tight.
But she didn't really notice. Only that Michiru had the first talisman wrung through her mind. Only that her closest friend would die tonight...
Then another thought hit her.
If Michiru had one... Then that meant...
She looked past the golden sunlight streaming from those odangos. Further to the discarded gun lying still on the floor.
The weapon that would remove her of her heart. Of her life. Of her love.
She watched as images flashed before her eyes.
Images of her past, of her present, of her silence.
She knew what would happen if she died. She could prevent the silence. She could save the world. Save Usagi...
"Koneko," she said, her voice raspy as she strained for the words she needed, "listen. I need your help..."
A large block was swelling in her throat. Trying to prevent was she wished to say. What she needed to say.
"Ruka?"
"The three talismans, unite them and find the one who can save us all. Find the one to stop the silence."
The argument was coming, she knew it. And so she did the only thing she could. She kissed her. Kissed her hard with every emotion within her. With every fiber. With all of her soul.
She knew it would be her last, and she tried to make it wort it.
"Forgive me,"
She pushed the younger girl hard. Watching her skid across the ground out of reach to stop her. And then she pulled the gun to her chest. Wrapping a calloused finger across the trigger.
She shut her eyes and squeezed.
A scream drowned out the gunshot.
Ami raced towards the building, Rei and Minako at her side.
They all stopped dead in their tracks when the shot rang through the air. Uneasy looks passing between the three.
The scream that pierced their hearts made them run all the faster though. And Ami felt her heart race with fear. Fear for her loved one. For Usagi.
Makoto appeared from the side, running quickly with them. On her shoulder Artemis hung tightly, his claws breaking through the fabric. They each nodded silently before pressing against the closed doors.
The sight that greeted them made Ami want to turn back and leave.
For their, lying on the ground with her hands fisted in Sailor Uranus's uniform, lye Usagi. Tears running down those smooth cheeks and sobs breaking the silence.
The woman in her arms barely breathing, and each small gasp becoming shorter and hollower.
The woman before her was dying...
Ami felt fear swell in her heart. And her soul shatter with each sob. Each sob she could not prevent. Each begging word she could not comfort.
"No, Ruka! How do I get it back in! Why won't it go back!"
"No..."
"NO! Ruka I won't loose you! I can't..."
"Forgive me,"
"I can't if you won't live! Ruka I love you!"
The gasping woman's eyes were slowly falling shut, and her breaths were slowly fading. The woman was dying quickly... So very quickly...
"Kon... ko... I... lo..." the words faded and the head rolled to the side. Usagi's scream broke through what was left of her soul. Shattering it indefinitely.
"NO! RUKA NO!"
A loud cackle got their attention, and she turned to see a red head sweep down from the ceiling and steal the talismans. The sword and the mirror.
She ran after her as her princess struggled to stand. Feeling her alter ego swim beside her. Their forces joined together for a single purpose. Revenge.
Usagi pulled herself from the ground. Grabbing the broach from Sailor Uranus's pocket.
Blue eyes lifted skyward and she called out the transformation phrase that had become so familiar to her in these last few months. Since the defeat of Beryl.
The swirling ribbons wrapped around her, only this time with a warmth about them. A warmth she'd almost forgotten.
They whispered to her, whispered protection and safety. Oddly enough, the voice sounded like her mother's. Like that of Tsukino Ikuko.
The warmth died away and with it left those thoughts. Instead, she focused on her mission. The retrieval of the two talismans. The retreival of her friend's hearts.
She would not let another die. Not another.
An image of Shingo passed her eyes. Those terrible eyes with their bleeding tears. The same blankeness that stared back at her then stared back at her now. In the form of her lover. And she felt alone.
Utterly alone.
