AN: Hello folks, I apologize about my hiatus from this work, but here is the latest installment in the story. Big thanks to Wishfull-star and Jaslena (I really like your name! Also, was the wow in that review a good or bad one :P?) and to everyone who has my story on their radar! I am surprised that I did not get a pissed off review about the ending of that last chapter! Also I will add POV's for the chapter, so let me know how you guys feel about that!

Also, if someone wants to act as a beta reader, that would be great!

I do not claim any form of ownership of Sailor Moon!

The Shadow Of Darkness

Chapter 15

( Usagi's POV)

I look down at my feet, staring at the headless body of Naru, as the reality of what I had just done started to sink in for me. My reckless abandon had just costed someone her life. I just stand there, frozen on the spot, completely unmoving. Nearly as lifeless as the body that presently lies at my feet.

Comprehension of what had just happened comes to me ever so slowly. In my rage, I had blindly charged ahead without any form of care of concern. Now someone else would have to pay the exact same price that I had to pay when I lost my brother. For just as bad of a reason. Only this time, I knew that I also was to blame for this. A threat had been presented which I had not taken seriously. The consequences of my choice lay at my feet.

A pool of blood has formed by my feet. But nothing like the artistic portrayals that I have seen elsewhere. Gruesome and grotesque are the only ways to describe it. There is nothing beautiful or serene about the end that Naru had faced.

I feel tears pooling in my eyes, ready to come out. But they can't. Instead I am gripped by pure desperation. My mission to avenge my brother was intended to be simple. I find the perpetrator, and get revenge. There was never supposed to be anyone or anything else to get involved. But that was never going to happen and even though I would never admit it, I had also realized this to be the reality of the situation. The reality of just how behemoth of a task I have set out for myself starts to set in. And I am nowhere near sure that I will be able to do it.

These feelings, these thoughts, are overwhelming me. I glance over at Makoto, and turn to run off as I always have when presented with these situations when Makoto stops me, grabbing my arm.

Frantically I turn around, hoping that she would let me go. Instead she stares at directly in my eyes, her emerald eyes burning with an emotion I can't even begin to identify in my frantic state.

"No more running," she said, enunciating every word. Her eyes continue you to gleam. Something about it finally breaks through to me. I don't know whether it be her words, the look in her eyes or just everything finally catching up to me. But it finally snaps. For the first time in as long as I can remember someone other than my brother witnesses my tears. I bury my face in her chest I lament everything that has happened.

She gently holds me for a few moments, until she gently helps me to my full height and gently wipes away the tears on my cheeks. In spite of everything that has happened, I lightly flinch, which does not go unnoticed.

"Usagi-chan, we can figure this out later. For now, let's just get out of here, okay? This is really not a scene that I would want anyone to stumble into with our presence. Come back to my place and then we can talk there.

Nodding numbly, I just let her drag me along while I continue to struggle with my own thoughts. Even though I cried, there was no metaphorical weight that had been lifted off my shoulders. The feelings were still there. Just not as strong as they had been before.

My mind tries to drag me back to the scene that I had been at before, but instead my focus is increasingly on Makoto. I am now trying to figure out the emotion that had been in her eyes. Passion is the only way that I can think of that describes what she had in her eyes. The look that she had given me had somehow managed to touch me in a way that no words or looks had before. It was just a nudge, but over all of the barriers that I had created within myself. In that moment there was only one way to describe Makoto Kino. Breathtakingly beautiful.

It extended beyond looks that one may find attractive. Looking in her eyes and at her face, I had seen such pure emotion that I could that these were the expressions that artists attempted to capture in paintings. Her expression was so clear, that it in turn cleared out all of the clout in my own expression, and lulled me into showing my true feelings. I had to respond. All of this leaves me to wonder, just what does this mean?

I just wonder how it is that I can be so affected by her, compared to everyone else. Many people have found me mysterious and have made lazy attempts to try and figure me out or get me to divulge my true nature. but I had never indulged any of them. Instead I mentally lashed out at everyone who had attempted to do so. On the outside, what the all say was a '"psychopath just about to snap.

I felt like they were trying to rub salt on a very open wound. I knew that it was not the intent, but that was the way that it always came across. Eventually everyone learned to leave me alone. Everyone other than Naru. The frantic need to run starts to settle back in. A picture of Naru being killed by myself enters my head, and I cannot shake it out no matter how much I try. Another image enters my mind. Shingo, also being killed by me. By my hand, though indirectly, both deaths lay.

I jolt, ready to run off again, to try and escape, when I feel Makoto's grip holding me in place. Anchoring me to the spot I was. Then it comes back to me 'No more running.' along with the expression that had been on Makoto's face at the time. I look at the very same face that now looks at me earnestly, with a look that begs for me to stay with her. In that moment I make a decision.

"Makoto-san, no more running away." I mumble, echoing her earlier statement.

Understanding, she offers me one of the one of the more heartfelt smiles that I have ever seen, along with an enthusiastic nod. Another expression that becomes ingrained in my mind. She then leads me into a building nearby and up a few flights of stairs, until we stop at a door and she lets me in. A rather quaint apartment. To the immediate left I notice a kitchen and forward I notice a living room as well as a hall way.

She offers an apologetic glance and says, "I know it is not extravagant, but it is what I have to offer."

I shift awkward on the spot trying to find words. Too much has happened today. I cannot even find the basic words to respond. She patiently waits for me to respond, but when it becomes clear that no response is forthcoming she decides to relieve me of the pressure. Reassuringly she says, "We don't have to talk about anything right now. Your words to me before mean much more to me than I think you realize. But for now, you may rest here for the evening. The first door in the hallway is my room. Why don't you go lie down and get some rest? I will make us something to eat. I will wake you when the food is ready."

Nodding, I follow her to the room and walk in after she opens the door. Following me in she indicates towards the bed and I go to lie down. Offering me another smile, she leaves and I hear rustling in the kitchen. But everything that has happened today is starting to catch up to me, and I feel myself lulled into sleep very quickly.

Shortly after, I am awoken by Makoto and she leads me into the kitchen to eat. We eat in relative peace, and after we finish I still silently help her do dishes.

After we finish she asks, "Is there anywhere you need to get to to be home for the night? I wouldn't want to keep you from home."

At the mention of this I remember Artemis and how I had left him. I still hadn't interacted with him since the night when I ran out on him. Now that I have the direct death of person on my hands I know that my return would not be pretty. He had warned me about the reality that lives would depend on me, but I had scoffed at that and ignored what he had said. I was only interested in revenge. But he had been right. I know he will be disgusted by what I have done. I also know that I could not handle that right now. I can't go back to that right now.

I know that Makoto has seen the panic return to my eyes so I plead, "Makoto, please do not make me go back there! I can't… I just can't."

I stare her right in the eye, worried that she will throw my earlier promise back in my face. But the expected rebuke doesn't come, instead she just nods in acceptance and gently say, "If you wish you can stay here for the night. Are you tired? I know I am."

"Yes, I am Makoto-san. Would you mind if I take the couch for the night then?" I say as I try to stifle a yawn.

She shakes her head and mumbles something that I couldn't hear, so I ask her to repeat it. Almost inaudibly she says, "Usagi-san, after the day we had I really don't want to be alone. Would you mind staying in my room with me? I'll take the floor no problem! I just don't want to be alone right now…"

I had felt that way the whole time, but I had been far too nervous to voice these feelings. I eagerly nod, and make my way towards her bed. She start to set up a makeshift bed when I tap the bed, and gesture for her to come. She seems hesitant, until I start gesturing more vigorously. Accepting my non-vocal request,she lies down on the bed, staring into my eyes, and I stare back into hers. Something about her eyes calms me, and I forget everything else and we are both gently lulled into a peaceful sleep

AN: I hope you enjoyed this! I really liked writing this one. I hope you enjoy Usagi's and Makoto's budding friendship!