Chapter Five

A New Enemy

Your heart began to be scorched, and there was a smell of it.

It was the end of your dream, and the start of everything…

-Moments by Ayumi Hamasaki

Rei's breath left her mouth in puffs of hot vapor, it was all she could see in front of her eyes. There was nothing but black around, behind and before her; nothing but a thick, endless darkness that seemed intent on swallowing her up. Where was she? Was she dreaming?

She took a cautious step forward and, held her hand out in front of her, trying to feel for anything that might be there. Her arms moved to her sides, stretching out, searching. But there was nothing, no matter which way she staggered Rei couldn't find anything that might indicate to her where she was.

"What is this?" Her voice echoed endlessly through the vast nothingness but, she received no answer. "Hello, is anyone here?" She called and, almost as soon as she did, the screaming began.

It was an earsplitting shriek that rang throughout the area, coming from no where and yet, it was everywhere. It pierced Rei so sharply it rocked her to her very core and, turned the blood in her veins icy. She clamped both hands over her ears, coiling away from the noise but, she moved forward more quickly.

"Who's there!" She shouted, her voice barely audible over the awful sound. The screams grew louder, broken by pants of labor and sobs of suffering. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as Rei forced her head up and took her hands from her ears. That cry, that awful wail, she knew it all too well. "Usagi-chan!"

A rounded light appeared far off in the distance, the cry of her princess mounted and, Rei began to run. Her limbs quivered violently, but the raven haired beauty ran faster then she had ever run in her life, faster then she ever thought she could. But that distant light did not grow closer, even as Usagi's calls of distress grew more dire.

"Usagi-chan! Usagi!" Rei was sobbing too, choking on the name as she gasped for air, the light before her deformed by her tears. She had to get to Usagi, she had to save her princess. Rei didn't know where she was, she didn't understand what was happening but, somewhere inside her she knew she had to make it to Usagi. Something was telling her that if she couldn't make it... if she was just a moment too late...

Suddenly light rushed toward Rei and, was all around her. It bore upon her, it's brightness blinding her but, there was no warmth to be had in that light. It was cold and lifeless. Rei shielded her eyes with an arm, surprised and confused to find that the screaming had stopped, leaving behind the endless silence to fill her ears once more. Where was Usagi?

"U-Usagi-Usagi-chan where are you?" Rei squinted through the dimming light, her eyes rising to find the source; the surface of the moon hovering over her. It was so close she was sure that if she got a running start she could jump up and touch it. She'd never seen the moon so close to the earth.

She looked around her to find nothing but rock walls. She was in a cavern, cast deeply into shadow by the moon that loomed down upon her—dark and foreboding—from an opening at the top. She was freezing, out of fear or out of climate she could not say. But the cold that took hold of her body was the fiercest Rei had ever felt.

Once again a crying surrounded her but, these sobs were faint and sharp. They were the helpless calls of a baby. There was no threat in them, no telling of distress but, they hallowed Rei's body and made her heart pound in her ears. She was scared, horrified and she didn't know why. Where was her princess?

"Usa-Usagi-chan." She whispered the name and felt her throat close as something wet hit her cheek. It was warm but, it was not the tears that trickled from her eyes and ran cold rivers down her cheeks. It was too thick.

Slowly, her trembling hands forming fists at her sides, Rei drew her eyes up. Back they traveled to that moon that cast her in it's mournful light and, there they rested, agape in horror. Thin rivers of red stained the moon's pale surface, dipping into its porcelain craters as it ran a path down the moon's face. The baby cried louder and, Rei began to sob in anguish. A powerful despair seized her heart and squeezed it until she felt that she would die under it's hold. She reached up to tangle her fingers into her hair and fell to her knees as she let out a horrible scream.

"Usagi!"

"Rei, Rei-chan!"

Rei shot up and jerked to the side, nearly tumbling out of her bed but, Minako's arms drew in tightly around her torso to keep her level. Her body was trembling violently and lay covered in a cold sweat that made Minako's arms slip along her skin as Rei teetered about. The dark haired miko twisted her head back and forth, searching through the darkness of the room, recoiling from the memory of her dream.

"Rei-chan, Rei-chan what's the matter?" Minako asked both utterly bewildered and fearful for her friend. After Makoto and the others had left, Minako had stayed behind with Rei; neither girl had wanted to be alone. They hadn't talked much; after Rei gave Minako a pair of pajamas to sleep, in they had both crawled into Rei's bed and gone to sleep. They were emotionally exhausted due to the events of the day.

Rei didn't answer Minako, only continued to look around her as if searching for some impending danger. She was clinging to Minako, pushing the blonde into the corner of the wall were Rei's bed rested. It seemed to Minako like Rei was trying to shield her from something, but there was nothing there.

"Rei-chan please tell me what's wrong. You're scaring me!" Minako tried to be firm, but there was a frantic edge to her voice. "What did you see Rei?" She demanded, reaching up a hand to clasp the raven haired beauty's chin between her fingers. Minako forced Rei to look at her and saw that the girl's eyes still darted in the darkness. "You were screaming Rei-chan. You were screaming for Usagi."

Rei's eyes finally found Minako's as if something had dawned upon the panicked girl. She blinked rapidly, adjusting her eyes to the darkness and, Minako drew in a shaky breath.

"Usagi-chan." Rei whispered and Minako nodded.

"Yes, you were screaming her name."

"Usagi-chan!" Suddenly Rei wrenched herself from Minako's grasp and jumped from the bed. She tripped and staggered but managed to stay on her feet. "We have to find her." She mumbled absentmindedly, kicking through the pile of clothes she and Minako had left carelessly on her floor, as she headed for her closet.

"Wait what?" The confused blonde questioned as she crawled out of bed and stood, dumbfounded as she watched Rei tug a black hooded sweatshirt over her head. "Wait Rei-chan just-just tell me what's happening."

Minako moved forward and caught Rei by the wrist as the other girl moved for her bedroom door. She turned upon Minako, who's blood ran cold at the expression of tortured concern on Rei's normally serene face. To see any of her friends in such a state of distress was sure to put Minako on edge. The fact that it was Rei—who was so well known for her calm demeanor and sensible attitude—made the soldier of love that much more uneasy.

"I don't know." Rei's voice was shaky and, Minako could see the tears welling in her eyes. "I don't know what it is Mina-chan. But something-something's happening. I don't know I-I just know something awful-it's so awful, this feeling." Rei pressed a hand into her chest to clutch the fabric of her sweatshirt and bowed her head to let the tears drip from her chin. Minako could feel her eyes welling up and reached out to grasp Rei's shoulders comfortingly. "We have to go to Usagi-chan"

Minako nodded quickly. "Yes, yes of course."

Her heart was hammering in her chest as Minako slipped one of Rei's extra sweaters over her head. Her hands trembled as she went outside to meet Rei, who stood on the shrine's pathway on anxious feet. Minako still wasn't sure what exactly was going on but, with Rei practically sprinting down the shrine steps she knew deep down that something terrible was coming.

The night was brisk; a cool wind drifted through the air to rustle the leaves on the trees that grew all around the park. It didn't bother Haruka too much though. The long sleeves of her button down shirt stretched warmly down her arms, the collar left popped open to expose a bit of her pale flesh to the refreshing breeze. Thankfully it had stopped raining before they left the diner.

"Is that better Princess?" She looked to her side, where Usagi walked in stride with her, her shoulders covered by Haruka's leather jacket. She nodded, taking another lap at her ice cream cone.

After they'd eaten, Usagi had decided they should go on a walk; which was perfectly fine with Haruka. But then she had complained that she was cold and, ever the gentlewoman, Haruka had offered her jacket. The wind, no matter how cold, never really bothered Haruka anyway, so she didn't mind too much.

"You know, you'd probably be warmer if you stopped eating that ice cream." Haruka teased and Usagi looked up at her coyly.

"Your jacket is doing the job just fine Haruka-san." Haruka laughed.

"Of course. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite happy you've got your appetite back. So much for not wanting to eat eh?"

Usagi shrugged. "I guess..." She faltered, drawing her icy treat away from her lips to stare at it's pale whiteness that glowed under the light of the moon. "I guess I just figure that laying in my bed and waiting to die really won't solve anything." Her voice was grim and, it made Haruka's heart feel heavy. She could see the pain beginning to cloud Usagi's blue eyes.

Without thought Haruka's long arm outstretched toward Usagi and, came to rest along the young woman's shoulders over her jacket. Usagi blushed and looked up at Haruka—who was a bit embarrassed herself but offered a soft smile regardless—the fog dissipating from her mind almost instantly. Banished by the sudden gust of a calming wind.

"It'll be alright Princess." Usagi drew in a deep breath, taken aback by the beautiful serenity of Haruka's face. She hadn't even noticed that they'd stopped walking the moment Haruka wrapped her in an arm.

She stared at her soldier and, the tall woman stared right back, a slight tilt of her head given as if in question. But Usagi gave no answer, she didn't have one. She couldn't explain what it was; the feeling that spread through her body in that moment. All she knew was that around Haruka, it was hard for her to lose herself in her misery. By her soldier's side, Usagi felt an odd sense of peace even when troubled by the looming uncertainty of what her future held.

Would she be able to create Crystal Tokyo and know the peace it's reign promised? Would she ever understand why Mamoru had betrayed her so dearly? Would she ever hold her daughter in her arms again? Such questions had played over and over in her mind since the previous night. But, when she was with Haruka they were drowned out by a hopeful hum. When Haruka looked at her and smiled Usagi knew it would all be okay. She just knew it.

"Usagi." The young girl blinked rapidly, consciousness returning as she looked up at Haruka. The older woman extended a hand, drawing her finger along the back of Usagi's hand where trails of ice cream made her skin sticky. "Your ice cream is melting."

Usagi blushed as Haruka drew her finger back up to her lips and sucked the cold treat from it's tip. "Oopsie..." She said cutely, forcing a small laugh as she went back to eating her ice cream. She really needed to stop losing herself in her thoughts.

Haruka laughed as well and began to lead her princess back along the path but, she stopped suddenly once again and turned her head. She watched through curiously slitted eyes as the light at the top of the light-post that lit the path behind them flickered. It blinked quickly at first but, gradually slowed down before it finally died to cast them into shadow. Haruka's lips pursed and she turned her head straight; there were about ten different light posts in front of them, lighting the way through the park and—same as the first—their lights were flickering ominously.

"Haruka-san..." Usagi's started when Haruka's hand gripped her shoulder tightly, shivering in the air that was suddenly so cold she could see the breath leaving her lips.

"Do you feel it Princess?" Her tone was quiet but firm and, it sent a chill down Usagi's spine as she nodded.

The lights went out in unison and all was still. The quiet of the park filled their ears, the only sound to be heard being Usagi's shaky breath and—perhaps—the erratic thump of Haruka's heart. The rustle of a bush sounded on their right, closest to Usagi and, the young woman felt herself swiftly pulled into Haruka's chest. Her ice cream fell to the concrete as Usagi buried her face their above Haruka's breasts. She asked no questions, only listened as Haruka stared into the trees over Usagi's head.

But there was nothing but shadow. Endless, foreboding shadow that seemed to breath as if it had life. The darkness tricked Haruka's eyes; making her think it had a shape. The jagged uneven shape of a demon; taller then any man with spiked arms, hooked legs and a massive head that sprout horns that spiraled past it's ears. Haruka stared at the strange shape the darkness created, her body so cold it felt like she were surrounded by snow. She stayed perfectly still, unsure of why she felt so uneasy. It was just a shadow, a trick of the light or, lack there of. But she couldn't move, she couldn't even speak.

The same couldn't be said for Usagi. "Haruka-san..." She lifted her head and twisted her torso to peer backward. "What are you-" Her words were broken by her cry of terror that stabbed Haruka's ears and shot through her joints.

The shadow sprang as Haruka spun with Usagi in her arms. She carried her princess further down the path, backing away from the strange creature made of darkness, never taking her widened eyes off of it. It stood straight and tall from the crouch it sat in where they had stood just moments before. It turned to face them but did not instantly make to attack them. It was just looking at them as if waiting for something.

"Usagi..." Her breath left her in an unsteady whisper and, she heard the dark beast purr a quiet growl. "Transform."

Usagi was still twisted around in Haruka's arms; she too was staring at the formless thing that threatened them, her mouth agape, her limbs shaking. "Usagi..." Haruka whispered again but the young woman only shook her head and whimpered. The monster crouched and charged at them.

A fierce cry left Haruka's lips as, once again she dodged the creature's attack, shouting out her transformation in unison with Usagi's. Again the shadow moved in for an attack but, it's size made it slow and, Haruka easily pulled Usagi to safety behind a tree. She pressed her princess protectively into the trunk, peering from behind to watch as the monster huffed and growled, stomping along the path and swiping at air. It seemed to be looking for them. Apparently it was blind.

"Haruka-san..." Usagi's trembling whisper snapped Haruka's eyes back to her young ward, a baffled expression overtaking the worry that clouded her face. "My powers Haruka, they won't come."

It was true, Usagi was still in her normal clothes, the broach she had pulled from her pocket in hand. Haruka held onto her shoulders, looking over her body before finally finding her eyes. They were wide and filled with terror. Haruka gritted her teeth to still the tremble in her palm as she brought it forth to cup Usagi's cheek.

"I will protect you Princess." Her whisper carried through the wind to calm Usagi's breath. "Stay hidden, make no sounds."

There was no time to ponder over why Usagi's transformation wouldn't work, it was irrelevant in that moment. Haruka instead focused on the task at hand; defeating her enemy as swiftly as possible so as not to endanger her princess any longer. If the creature was truly blind, it shouldn't be hard. Haruka knew that but, as she stepped silently from behind the tree and drew forth her signature attack, she could not shake the doubt that churned her stomach.

"World shaking!" She slammed her fist to the ground and, the ball of yellow energy that shot forth illuminated the night brilliantly. The sudden brightness blinded Haruka briefly but, she saw the attack hit the monster square in it's back.

So she was dumbfounded as the light faded and the monster turned on her, completely unharmed.

She gulped and the monster charged once more, pouncing into the stone ground were she once stood. It's attacks were easy enough for Haruka to doge but, she found that as soon as the click of her heals sounded on the pavement the monster turned and came at her once more. It was a dangerous dance, one Haruka could not prolong. Another jump, another charge and Haruka tuck-rolled off the paved path to find her way into the forestry that lined it.

The monster was confused, once again swiping viciously at the empty air around it, howling ferociously at the night. It was a sound the likes of which Haruka had never heard; like a thousand pain-filled shrieks that rang from the darkest pits of hell. It inspired utter horror in the very pit of her stomach but, she pushed it away. She had to end this.

Soundlessly she moved through the grass and, calling forth her sword, she threw another attack at the monster, this time straight into it's chest.

"Space sword blaster!" She yelled and the surge of blue energy sliced across the monster's abdomen. It bellowed it's animalistic roar and staggered but, the creature did not fall.

Haruka grimaced; how was it so strong? She turned and made to serpentine through the trees as the monster ran toward her. She could hear it crashing behind her, throwing limbs and snapping trunks, chasing her blindly through the forestry.

This was bad, all she could do was run from it. How was she ever going to defeat the damn thing? Her mind distracted by distress and, her eyes not well adjusted to the night, Haruka found her foot caught upon a large rock that protruded riskily from the ground.

"Shit!" She hissed, twisting to try and catch herself but, the movement only caused her to fall painfully onto her ankle. Hot pain shot through her leg but Haruka hardly noticed. She lifted her head to find her enemy barreling right toward her.

Without thought she lifted her sword in a last ditch defense, her entire body rigid with fear and adrenaline. Her scream of defiant terror laced with the roar of the demon and the desperate wail of her princess.

"Haruka-san!" Usagi's scream seemed to vibrate the trees around her and—to Haruka's horror—the monster suddenly veered off toward it, just moments before it could have had Haruka in it's jowls.

"Princess!" Haruka shouted and staggered onto her feet, ignoring the debilitating pain as she ran, slicing her sword through the air to send another attack into the back of her enemy. But it was completely undeterred.

She could see Usagi standing defenselessly on the pathway; her eyes bulged, her body frozen in fear as the monster closed in on her. "Princess run!" But Usagi didn't move. "Usagi!" The monster lunged into the air in front of her.

"Mars flame sniper!" From somewhere in the shadows an arrow of flame shot forth to slam into the side of the creature's head. It flew off to the side, opening a path for Haruka, who ran at her princess to tackle her back into the shelter of the trees.

They hit the ground hard and, Haruka braced a hand into the ground beside Usagi's head to push herself up slightly from where she lay on top of her. She stared at her princess; at that pretty face, so pasty and sickly laced in a cold sweat. She looked toward the blue depths of the young woman's eyes and, what Haruka saw there made her own sting with tears. There was no hope inside them, the light that had once made them twinkle so brightly had completely gone out. All that was left was the hallowed out shell of a beautiful girl who, despite all her future still promised her, could find no reason to live.

Haruka's gloved hand gripped the grass, watching through blurred vision as her tears fell to slide across her princess' cheeks. Usagi's face twisted in shame but, she did not look away from Haruka.

"You idiot." Haruka choked and Usagi lifted a hand toward her flushed face but, the soldier swatted it away and pushed back onto her feet. She swiped at her eyes and turned back to the battle just in time to see Venus wrap her lighted chain around the roaring monster's neck.

"What the hell is this thing?" She heard the girl yell, twisting her chain in her fists and digging her feet into the ground to try and hold the creature steady as Mars shot one attack after the other into it's torso.

The only affect they had though, was on the monster's patience. It's massive hands gripped at the end of Venus' chain and, in a show of force used it to send the girl flying through the air in Mars' direction. The fire-wielding soldier stopped her attacks then and, instead positioned herself to catch Venus. Both girls hit the ground, Venus in Mars' lap; they watched the monster tear at the chain, bellowing in rage as the shadows around it lifted. Haruka rose her gaze to the top of the trees. Light had painting the edge of the sky, morning was coming, the shadows were lifting.

"It's getting away!" Mars shouted as she and Venus hurriedly picked themselves up from the ground. The creature was backing away, moving back into the darkness of the trees. The two soldiers advanced but, they found nothing but the receding darkness as they approached the bushes. "It-it's gone." Mars blinked, utterly bewildered.

Haruka moved forward as well. "Strange..." She looked back up toward the sky, hardly noticing as Mars and Venus rushed past her to crouch at Usagi's side.

"Usagi-chan, are you hurt?" Mars asked, gripping consolingly at the girl's hand as she sat there on the ground. Usagi shook her head.

"What happened?" She looked at Venus and shook her head again.

"I-I don't know." She admitted weakly, her eyes straying toward Haruka. The tall soldier kept her back to her. "We were attacked and, for some reason I couldn't transform."

Venus and Mars' concern showed clearly on their faces as Mars helped Usagi back onto her feet. She seemed especially concerned for Usagi's well-being and, this confused Usagi.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" The dark haired girl questioned, looking Usagi over as if to examine her.

"I-I'm fine Rei-chan, geez." The young girl forced a little laugh.

Mars frowned. "Yes well I'm taking you home right now."

"But, I was with Haruka-san." She looked toward the blonde who still would not meet her eyes.

"Haruka doesn't mind." Mars sniped motherly and drew her own gaze toward the other soldier. "Do you?"

Haruka shrugged. "Not at all." Usagi bit her lip.

"Right!" Venus interjected, if only just to be part of the conversation. "Mars, you go with Usagi-chan to her house. Uranus, you go take care of that injured ankle. I'll survey the scene and see if there's anything that might give some insight to our enemy. We'll meet up at Ami-chan's place tomorrow sometime. Agreed? I think for today we should all just rest, try to gather ourselves." Her eyes shifted briefly to Rei who was still fussing over Usagi. "I'll inform the others of what's happened and let them in on the plan.

Nobody had any objections but, when Haruka broke her transformation and began to head in the opposite direction of the way Usagi and Rei were going, the young girl stopped. She excused herself from her friend, who seemed reluctant to let her go but, agreed and moved to speak privately with Minako. Usagi ran over to Haruka.

"Haruka-san wait!" The older woman didn't stop but, with her limp breaking her stride Usagi easily caught up to her. "Haruka please." Usagi's voice cracked with a desperate squeak as she gripped her soldier's shoulder, forcing her to stop and look at her.

Usagi had never seen such a cold, hard stare in Haruka's gaze. At least, not when staring at her. She faltered under that disgruntled expression and chewed nervously at her lip. In the end she diverted her eyes to the ground and didn't say anything.

"Don't you ever do anything so stupid again." It was Haruka who spoke and, her frigid tone made Usagi flinch. "Promise me." Usagi sniffled and nodded but, Haruka was unsatisfied. She reached out and pulled Usagi's hand off of her shoulder to wrap it in a firm grip. "Promise!"

"I... I promise." Tears trickled off of Usagi's chin. She was so ashamed.

Haruka nodded and released her hand before she turned to face Usagi. The young blonde kept her head down and cried quietly, sniffling and hiccuping like a child as Haruka fastened the zipper of her jacket around her princess.

"You shouldn't be so eager to die Princess." Haruka's voice was softer as she said that and, Usagi lifted her head to find the woman's face lingering down close to hers. Her eyes were filled with an unspeakable pain that made the pieces of Usagi's shattered heart ache. "Not when there are still things worth living for." She rose a hand and touched Usagi's moistened cheek warmly, making the young girl's stomach flutter. "We'll find them together alright?"

Usagi nodded and, Haruka forced a little smile before she stepped away from the girl and turned her back on her once again. The young woman watched her soldier's back until it disappeared around the curve of the path through the park, all the while feeling a strange sense of nostalgia. She felt short of breath but, once again she felt oddly at peace.

"Thank you Haruka."

"H-hello?" A groggy voice huffed from the earpiece of Haruka's phone.

"We have a problem."

"Yeah we do—you woke me up."

Haruka chuckled into the receiver. "Isn't it six o'clock at night there?"

"I had a long night." The female voice yawned.

"I need you to come here." The girl laughed. "I'm serious."

"What the hell is so urgent that I have to come to Japan?"

"It involves the princess."

She scoffed. "Last time I checked the princess and I had very little to do with one another."

"Not when Michiru is out of the picture." Haruka stated gravely.

There was a long pause before the voice replied, far less sleepily. "Something's happened to Michi?"

"Something like that. Will you come?"

Haruka heard what sounded like the thoughtful click of a tongue against teeth. "Well why not? It's been a while since I've seen Tokyo."

"Take the next flight you can, I need you here by tonight."

"You always were very bossy." The woman simpered and Haruka sighed.

"And you never were very serious."

"Guilty. I'll be there." Another long pause. "Haruka; is it bad?"

The blonde pursed her lips. "I'm not sure. But it's certainly not good."

If I could flow like the wind I would reach you.

If I could shine like a moon I would keep shining on you.

I'll be anything if it can stop you from being seized with fear.

-Moments by Ayumi Hamasaki

Hello all my beautiful readers! Did you miss me? Yes I know this chapter was a little late but it's not my fault. My roommate went and spilled vodka (yes vodka!) all over the keyboard of my laptop and ruined it. So I had to get a whole new one. Thankfully my dad was nice enough to buy me one as a Christmas present. So I'm good to go!

Anyway I hope you liked this chapter. Enough drama and mystery for you? I certainly hope so. Tell me what you think in a review alright?