Alone
She turned the tea with her spoon, watching the waves form and beat against the side of the porcelain cup. Her mothers old cups. She'd gotten them in when her father had died. She remembered how much her mother had loved them. They'd spend hours drinking from them, learning good demeanor and manners.
She smiled sadly as the feeling of great power washed over her, humbling her with it's power and authority. With its strength.
"The silence approaches closer. I fear our time is running out."
Surges of tides rushed from her and she felt weak. Standing beside her was Haruka, she to worn from the odd battle they'd faced just yesterday. They could not take these hits for much longer. They would not last till the coming of the silence.
"How much longer?"
"Months? Weeks? I have no assurance, only the chills of the sea and the churning of my soul. The tides are deviating from their patterns and the creatures of the waters cry out with aching. Can you not feel it?"
"I do, the whispers of the wind are not foreign to me. But... But they speak of hope, of a light that will outshine the darkened future we behold."
"The seas, I fear, do not share such beliefs. The lights of our princess may not be strong enough this time."
Their conversation was interrupted by the loud ding of the door bell.
"I'll get it!" screamed the energetic girl from downstairs. They each took a moment to smile before standing. Visitors were uncommon to their home, and those that did come were normally important.
Walking out of the room, they found themselves facing a pair of policemen, the first a short stubby little man, and the second a tall skinny man who looked like he'd fall over should the wind blow him away. Michiru traded a look with Haruka.
"Are you Tenoh Haruka?"
"Yes, how may I help you?"
She squeezed Haruka's hand, remembering at once her dislike for authoritative members. They would be alright, what could happen now? Besides, they were Senshi, they'd be fine.
"I'll have to ask you to come with me, your under arrest."
Large eyes greeted this proposal. What was this man talking about!
"For what?"
"Kidnapping and endangerment of Tsukino Usagi. There is also restraining order against you from Tsukino-san."
She blanched. What was going on?
"You've got to be kidding!"
"I'm afraid not. Now please step outside with me peacefully or will we have to use force?"
Michiru felt her blood go cold. This wasn't suppose to happen! How had this happened?
"Please stop!" yelled Usagi, pushing past the officers to grab hold of Haruka. Michiru felt hope come to her. They hadn't done any of what they said. Haruka would be fine.
"Please move miss."
"NO! I won't let you take Ruka-chan..."
"Koneko," whispered Ruka, her eyes shut in pain, Michiru felt pity for her best friend. "Please..."
Tears running from the blue eyes, she separated herself reluctantly and ran out the door. Michiru yelled for her to come back and Haruka bowed her head in defeat before following the policemen into the police car.
She stopped one before he left.
"Sir, if you don't mind. Who is pressing these charges?"
The shortest officer looked at her for a moment with a hungry look in his eyes, ravaging her legs with his eyes. He did so with the same appetite as a hyena stares at the leg of its dinner. She felt suddenly sick.
She cleared her throat and he looked with an annoyed fashion back at her face.
"Some guy by the name of Chiba Mamoru."
Artemis pressed his white fur against the bubblegum pink walls. Wishing it would just swallow him up and take him away. Why even death was better than this!
"Now now..."
The words were lost and he stuttered incoherently.
"O Artemis," smiled the warrior of love, her voice sickly sweet, " did you really think we wouldn't find out?"
He made a guttural sound and looked around at the faces staring at him for pity or some form of the emotion. He found none.
"I-I-"
"You know what we do to traitors," said the fiery priestess a terrible smirk on her face. Artemis felt hot flashes of fear swell within him. They wouldn't... They couldn't...
He looked into his soul mate, his true love's eyes and knew at once:
He was doomed...
"Come here snuckums,"
With a terrified scream, he made for the door. But it was to late. They'd caught him. Had him held down.
"Mako-chan! Get the nail polish!" screamed Minako her fingers holding down the sly cat. "Ami-chan, grab the bows! Rei-chan close that door!"
Looking into those beautiful red eyes of his lover, he watched on in a stupor as the black cat kissed him on the forehead before prancing out the door. But not before whispering amusedly in his ear. Tickling the fine hairs.
"Have fun Artemis-koi."
Hotaru walked silently from her house, her mind on the rising darkness within her. She didn't know why it was acting like it was, but it scared her greatly.
What if it came out and hurt someone?
She shut the door silently and walked down the street, wishing Usagi-san was with her. Usagi-san could always make the shadows dull, could always fill the voids in her heart.
She wished she was their now, her guardian angel.
A flash of gold caught her eyes, and felt hot liquid splash against her face.
She felt something well within her instantly.
"Usagi-san?"
The woman turned instantly at the name, red puffy eyes looking on in shock at her before launching at the tiny girl.
Hotaru felt the darkness rise up and she knew true terror. But then, as though blinded suddenly, it disappeared. She sighed and held the woman in her arms tighter. Happy to know that someone cared for her still.
"Usagi-san, why are you crying?"
The woman shook her head and let the buns atop her head fall out. A great wave of gold falling atop them. Hotaru giggled at the sight and saw the small smile playing on Usagi-sans face. She liked the smile.
"You think that's funny so you?"
She nodded with a huge grin before long fingers began to crawl across her small form. Tickling her mercilessly.
She screamed and giggled with glee her laughs echoing through the hollow darkness.
"Mercy! Mercy!"
Usagi stopped her tickling before grabbing her hand and running quickly. Hotaru ran with her before they ended up at a small arcade shop.
Running through the door, Hotaru felt Usagi grab her and haul her in her arms. Just like her mother had once done. But this time. This time it was different, this woman didn't hold the same sadness that her mother had. This woman was so bright. So beautiful...
"Usagi-chan?"
"Motoki!"
"Usagi, who's your friend?"
"Motoki, this is Hotaru-chan! Hotaru-chan, this is Furuhata Motoki!"
"Nice to meet you..." she gasped, her face red from the run and blushing. The man was very handsome, with his golden hair and green eyes. He looked kind of like Usagi-chan.
"Well, what might I get you two? How 'bout two of my Usagi specials?"
"Yes please!"
The blond man scurried around in the background and Usagi dragged her off to play a game. Sailor V.
"It's the most awesome game in the world!" cried out the teenager, and Hotaru couldn't help but laugh. Taking hold of the controllers, they played the game together, laughing every time Usagi would go crazy over the monsters.
"Two double chocolate, triple scoop vanilla, strawberry milkshakes coming up!" called the blonde and they headed back towards the counter. Eating the delicious ice cream that was almost as big as her arm.
Usagi gobbled hers down with a passion, causing little flecks of ice cream to fly out towards the customers.
Hotaru laughed until tears crawled from her eyes.
However, the fun could last for only so long before they parted from each other, and Hotaru needed to get home. Usagi walked her there and they parted with a smile.
However, Hotaru was not foolish enough to think that it was real. The blue eyed angel that lit her darkness was worried, and it dimmed her light. Her beautiful light.
Still, there was little she could do about it, so she watched from a window as those blonde curls disappeared in the sunset. And with her, left the light.
She fell to the ground and clutched her chest.
The darkness was getting stronger. So much stronger.
