Eyes of sapphire blinked wearily, as the halls of the castle echoed with the howls of ghosts long since passed. As Neo-Queen, the souls of the forgotten shouldn't bother her, but she was still Usagi at heart. So, no matter how foolish the fear was, she was anxious to leave and find one of her sister-friends. Guilt also followed the fear rising with the moment as she breathed in the stale air. Stretching her fingers upward, they struck the metal that composed her crown, and she flinched. She had forgotten about the symbol of power that still resided upon her skull. Lifting it off, she tucked it away in her dusty space pocket. Though as her fingers slipped in, they bumped a few random objects.
Sighing she pulled one object out and stared sadly at it. Photographic memories stared out at her as she glanced over the small square. A wedding picture, specifically one of her own wedding pictures. Included in the picture was herself of course, her Neo-King, and her human family. Being as she was the bride, she was foremost in the picture on the right. Neo-King Endymion, or he was Mamoru at that time stood to her left. Behind them was her blue-haired human mother crying silent tears of happiness while smiling. She, her mother, was leaning up against her brunette haired father that was resting a proud hand on both newlyweds. Her young brother, sandy-haired Shingo was in front of their parents with his red-headed girlfriend Mika. Who in the end became his wife as well, a charming couple they were. Shingo had married about twenty years into her reign, and the wedding was grand for the young duke. Reminiscing brought a terrible pain in her chest where her heart resided. Then she placed the photograph away, as it brought up feelings of sadness and failure. Her fingers played within her space pocket as if musing the fact that she failed the crown she wore. Knowing the other objects were frozen memories in pictures she did not retrieve them. Finally her fingers struck her old weapons and she sighed sadly, but gained an iota of courage to continue. At last she faced the hollowed halls of the demolished castle and began to search for signs of her family.
"Luna, Artemis?" She ventured, because they were never far from her. Her eyes traveled the room, and in essence they were still not far from her. Forever eternal guardians watching over her, she took a shaky step forward.
There laid the burnt corpses of three meta-humans with cat tails. One still had it's white pantsuit, which denoted it to be Artemis, whose body was still kneeling protectively in front of his wife and child. Walking closer she gazed at him in sorrow, when she approached, she said a small prayer for him, and moved on to the other two. Anxiously she checked the next body, hoping fruitlessly for life, as Luna was the closest thing to a constant mother to her. Yet, even as she looked on, Luna hugged another to her, but no life passed through her lips. Her eyes fell on the young girl in Luna's arms, and shook her head, there was no life in any of them. Sorrowed she kneeled before them, and cried tears above them giving small prayers for their passed souls. However, her wandering eyes landed upon two other corpses that she sorrowed for.
Laying on either side of her broken crystal prison was a male body. One with bluish-white hair, and strong aged-lines, still remarkably unblemished for his age. His eyelids were half open, as if pleading for forgiveness for his actions. She reached over and slid his eyelids closed, gently brushing his dark crescent. Serenity shook her head as she laid a forgiving hand on his brow. "I can only hope you find peace in the afterlife." She wished kindly, and then turned to the one who held her heart.
His face was still as youthful as the day she fell in love with him. Except for the age lines around his eyes and jaw that defined who he was. Raven hair with navy blue tints and lavender shading rested lightly against his skin. The lavender suit and cape he wore was torn in various places, but not enough to uncover vast spots of his toned body. All in all he looked as if he was only resting after a spar with the Senshi Uranus and Jupiter. Laying an ivory hand on his cheek, the image of resting was shattered by the ice cold aftermath of death. In his hand was the sword that he always carried by his side, and the one that slain any who rose against him. The Neo-Queen moved her hand to his eyelids then, and slid them over the empty, but accusing glare of the navy storm eyes of her love. "Forgive me my love, for I could not wake in time to save you." She whispered to him, and then rose. Closing her eyes she focused on trying to find one of her friends. For now she ached for companionship and comfort before whatever she must do afterwards. Her senses touched a faint instance of a burning flame and she smiled. "Mars." She spoke. A flash, then she was a vanished memory, and the last spirit of the fallen millennium was gone.
Kikyo groaned in protest to the light picking at her eyelids. Fearing her protest was useless, she awoke, and was surprised by bemused golden orbs. She smiled kindly at him, and snuggled deeper into his arms. Her mind settling on whatever happened last night, and then she sat up in surprise. InuYasha glanced down at her in shock, and wrapped a caring arm around her. "What?" He inquired.
"Last night, I cannot remember it!" She yelped, and InuYasha smiled soothingly while he searched his own memories. His expression became a mirror of hers, as his also remained oddly blank and foggy. Then he shrugged, he had his love, who still had the Shikon, so he was not worried.
"Mmm, don't worry, it seems nothing bad happened." InuYasha consoled. Kikyo nodded and settled back into his arms with a small smile. Her memory might be foggy at best, but she knew that she was with the one she loved. The charming moment was split apart as a flash of white and silver appeared before them. Hastily they fell into fighting positions, only for they to drop them in shock a second later.
"It's her, the Queen!" Kikyo stammered out in shock, as the light solidified and centered on an upturn golden crescent moon.
"Mars, how good to see you again." Was the serene voice that curled over them. During the night, Kikyo's bands had fallen out of her hair, giving vast resemblance to her ancestor.
"I'm sorry my liege, but I am not Mars, she was my ancestor though." Kikyo spoke up, the light cleared away then, and they were greeted by the glory known as the 'Sleeping Queen.'
"Oh, forgive me, I am dreadfully sorry." The Queen spoke. "Oh, and none of that 'liege,' stuff, I always hated it." She added. Kikyo blushed and looked down while InuYasha stared on in amazement.
"Then what should I call you, majesty?" Kikyo inquired.
"Ah, Serenity if you please, or no, how about Usagi?" The Queen answered. "Just not Odango Atama like your predecessor." She muttered. Let it be known that InuYasha could be mischievous at times, and he found this to be a mighty good time.
"Odango?" InuYasha snickered out, and Kikyo joined. Usagi groaned at the pair before sighing.
"I should have known." She remarked. "So you are Rei-chan's descendant." Usagi commented. "You look a lot like her, except for the brown eyes." She mused. "Oh, and you're a priestess too!" Usagi yelped excitedly. Kikyo blushed at the joy that brimmed from the queen.
"Forgive me for saying this, but you sure do not act like a queen." Kikyo commented.
"Ara, Rei use to say the same thing, just without the forgive me." Usagi stated. "None the less, show me the world that has bypassed me in my sleep." She ordered. Kikyo and InuYasha nodded before he was struck by inspiration.
"Yo, change your clothes." InuYasha muttered. Usagi looked aghast while Kikyo sighed and then lightly slapped him.
"What he means is that you stand out a bit." Kikyo clarified. Usagi nodded while waving a hand over her body, her clothes melted into a white kimono. The only marking upon it, was on her right breast, which was a golden crescent moon entwined with a long stem red rose. In the old days of her reign it was the mark of the royal family. Kikyo glanced at it in wonder if any would remember such a brand.
"Um, first could we visit Rei-chan's grave, I wish to say hello to my best friend." Usagi requested. While ignoring InuYasha's comment about, 'if she starts speaking to the dead I'm out of here,' Kikyo nodded. Gesturing for the queen to follow, she led her up a narrow path, bypassed a large, grand graveyard to a much smaller cemetery. For awhile the Queen merely stood there as if wondering what she should say.
"Oi, Rei-chan, what's with this small unmarked grave with nothing but your symbol?" The Queen questioned, then she smiled gently. "Then again you always enjoyed the simple things." She mused. InuYasha and Kikyo stayed quiet as they remembered the senshis sacrifice. "Though didn't you know Rei-chan, you always deserved better, you all did." With that said, she waved her hand again, and the stone shuttered before sprouting upward. The bones surfaced and returned to a flawless body of ivory skin, raven locks with violet highlights, and peruse violet orbs. A clear coffin made of see-through ruby encased the woman, as her red dress of status appeared. The last was a crown of gold encased with multiple rubies and the symbol of Mars in the center, along with said symbol also appearing on her brow.
However, the trio was surprised by a ghostly figure resembling the body laying in the coffin appearing before them. "Hey, Odango Atama, still late as always." The ghost chided, and the Queen pouted. "Now, now, I'll be back someday, after all senshi's never say die." The spirit reminded and then handed over a glowing jewel. "Do me a favor though, Odango, find the rest of this ruby please?" Mas pleaded and Usagi nodded. "Oh, and Odango, there is something you need to hear, would you other two please excuse us." She stated, and Kikyo hauled InuYasha out of the graveyard while scolding the curious Inu.
"Sleeping Queen of the White Moon who has risen, behold your fallen empire and your King not beside you. Sorrow not, for the Kinshou has found the soul companion of yours once more. The only clue to his identity, is that the crystal is reflected in the eyes he has. Beware though, as though the clue may be as misleading as his personality. Search out the Lavender Crescent, and may all be restored..." Mars's spirit dictated before fading out. Usagi quickly tossed a pale hand out, grasping at the fading image.
"Please Rei-chan, you can't leave me again!" Usagi cried out, and the spirit merely smiled as her dark locks vanished into thin air. "No, not again." She murmured, and was clasped from behind by warm arms.
"I may not know a lot of personal details about my ancestor," Kikyo started, "I doubt though that Mars would agree to you morning like this." Kikyo informed her from behind. Usagi sighed and leaned a bit into the woman's embrace.
"True, but I tire of losing them again and again." Usagi marked.
"Remember though, she said she would be back." InuYasha bit out as he stood beside the two females. Usagi nodded, and then her ginzuishou flashed from her chest.
"You are right old friend, time to seek the others out." She spoke to the crystal. Usagi turned her attention to the pair behind her with a small smile. "By the way, how did you know that I needed some comfort when Rei-chan sent you away?" She inquired and met with an amusing sight. InuYasha had tilted his head down, ears flat and a small blush on his cheek, while Kikyo merely stared pointedly at him. Usagi laughed softly while giving them a peaceful smile. "Your love is very pure, please keep it that way please." She ordered, then stood up from Kikyo's hug. "Now, I must go, but if you should ever need me, call my name." Usagi stated and then her form was swept away by a warm wind.
"Wait, which name?" Kikyo called out, but no answer was returned.
"Hmph, don't worry, it'll come to us if we need it." InuYasha pointed out. Kikyo nodded, and they walked off leaving the body of Mars in her ruby coffin. No one noticed the flicker of her symbol for the faintest second or that her lips moved in one message.
"Evil comes..." She whispered.
Speaking of golden, eyes of gold flashed toward the Easter Land where his brother currently resided. "Hmm, InuYasha.." Sesshomaru murmured as the pull of power tingled his senses. He felt his lavender crescent warm on his forehead and he reached up to touch it. Soothing warmth entered his veins, but he ignored it, withdrawing his fingers from the mark. He needed no warmth, and he brushed his long silver hair backwards to escape his vision. For a moment a playful wind entered his domain and ruffled his long white tail upon his shoulder. Then the moment was over as he shut the window with a snap. To prove that he needed no warmth, he removed his armor and opened his kimono to the cold air with his room. Only the upper half, as he was still a lord, which means he must be prudent. His musings were cut short, if that is what they were, on the flash of power by an interruption by his most loyal, if not most annoying servant. "What is it Jaken?" He bit out, the sound of his voice made frost seem warm.
"Sesshomaru-sama, I am afraid that the Western Lands are under attack by Oyakata." Jaken reported.
"Hnn, the Cat tribe here to get revenge?" He muttered. "Ready the troops for battle, I must destroy Oyakata, like the InuTashio before me." Sesshomaru ordered.
"You mean your father?" Jaken asked, and was promptly kicked out by the young lord. "Sesshomaru-sama, has a nasty temper..." He mumbled as he walked toward the briefing area.
Sesshomaru stared out his window for a minute more, absently resting his fingers on the lavender birthmark. Slightly annoyed at the timing, he did not notice his golden eyes glow lightly. Without pause he was out the four-story window and in front of the allies. "This will be the last time the cat demon tribe attacks, I need Tetsusaiga." He murmured.
InuYasha frittered about, anxiously pacing back and forth. Today would be the day he would be the day he would wish to be human. Absently he rubbed his golden eyes in thought, lately his right eye had been bothering him. It had an irritating itch as if something was caught in his eye. Ignoring it, he turned back to waiting, an almost blinding smirk etching on his face. Unaware of the attentions of something vastly wicked that was coming...
Usagi sighed, as she stood in front of a vast lake, it sung with Neptune's grace, but she could not find anything about her friend. Bloodlust was spicing the air, and she turned in the direction it sifted from. As Queen and protector of the blue star, it was time she ended these wars again. Feeling with her heart, she vanished once more...and something broke through the surface of the lake.
Landing upon the blood soaked ground, she noticed something exceptionally interesting about the bodies. Each and everyone of them were demons, meaning this was a battle between demons. Eyeing them closely she noticed some had dog like features, and some had cat like features. 'I guess the age old proverb about 'fighting like cats and dogs,' is still true in this day and age.' She mused. A sound had her tensing and she made to turn, but she was greeted by a chop to the neck. Wincing she tried to shake it off, but the world went dark, but not before she heard four curious voices.
End it right here...okay, next is Naraku's appearance. Let me explain something, I know that Sesshomaru found out that InuYasha had been pinned to the tree during the panther/cat demon attack (in the manga it was only a cat tribe.) As such, it will take time to get to where InuYasha is, especially since it's Jaken. During that course of time, the story will evolve on it's own please review. WCB.