Warning: Chapter 12 is going to be late. Later than this one. This one was late because my computer was getting repaired. Chapter 12 is going to be late because it's not done yet...and will be very hard to write. Hopefully I'll get it up before Christmas (just joking...I think).
Author's notes: On one hand...I hate this chapter because I had to rewrite it. The first time through it sucked so I had to start all over again. But on the other hand, I love this chapter because the new version is so much better than the old version. It makes me happy. I guess the happiness makes up for the...unhappiness.
Anyway...a lot of things have led up to this, and in some ways it's a climax, in some ways it's an anticlimax. Chew on that for a while and see what you get. And by no means is it the only climax in the story.
To my reviewers of chapter 10:
Chibi Ame – Wow, thanks so much! I hope you like this chapter as well. It's good to know that I can write tension...every time I read over that I chapter (and this one for that matter),I kept thinking that I can't write any sort of action whatsoever...and that made me nervous. So thanks for your comments! Ah, and the mystery of the void will be solved in this chapter...ehehe, just letting you know.
nb – thanks!
Raya Light – Nice to see you've read! Wow, nice, long review, and you've brought up many excellent points. And now I will try and make excellent excuses...ehehe... Usagi's reaction to the whole Mamoru thing is quite...yes, I admit it's a bit overdone, but now she's cheered up a bit. At the beginning Haruka mentioned that it had been a year since they were last in...action, and the comfort level increases with time. With that addition, it's a bit of a shocker, it happened kind of quickly and on the second attack. Yes, her coping mechanisms should be a bit better. As to the reason that Ami is fanatical, I really didn't know how to write that, and I guess this is what I ended up with. I don't believe this has ever happened to them before, a non-Senshi trying to join them, who wouldn't be paranoid? When it was other Senshi (e.g. Neptune and Uranus), their history and loyalty didn't really need to be questioned, but now that someone else is offering to help them (someone so innocent and sweet, and trying quite hard as well), it's a bit suspicious. So she may have overreacted as well (I seem to be doing that with all of my characters), but it was sorta justified. Haruka's character is just fun to write as stubborn and overprotective to rival Touya. And yes, they can finally relax now. Hehe, did I say Mamoru could go back? I also remember saying that it was yet to be seen when he would. Interesting turn of events in this chapter actually, concerning Mamoru. Haha, I am evil...I will make you suffer. Ah well, suspense makes a story better in my opinion, just like it did with your story. Aiko-sama's intentions? Hehe, no telling as of yet. That will be revealed in time. Lots of time. (Whoa, that was the longest response to a review I've ever written)
Chapter 11"This is the place?"
Michiru nodded, squinting at the house. Makoto and Minako sat in the back, licking their lips nervously. The night before, Ami had called everyone in a panic, saying that Kinomoto Sakura had found the place where Mamoru might have been. They had made plans within ten minutes and now here they were, driving up to the creepy old mansion that seemed to be bending over them with the wind. There were two cars out front already, one belonging to Ami and one to Kinomoto Touya. Muffled voices arose from both cars and were blown away, as if each one held a heated debate, but the only person outside in the violent wind was Chibi-Usa, who had her head in the Kinomoto's window.
When they had pulled up, Michiru got out and walked up to Ami's car. Just before she reached it, Usagi burst out of the car and started toward the house, saying, "They're here! We can go now!" only to be stopped by Ami and Rei.
"Usagi, we just can't go in without knowing what could be in there!" Rei said through clenched teeth as her friend struggled to get out of her grip.
"Mamoru's in there! We have to go," Usagi replied, her eyes set on the doors. Chibi-Usa looked up at them, a worried look on her face.
"You don't even know what could happen in there! Just wait..." Rei said.
Haruka got out of the car. "Rei-chan's right," she said, "just wait. We can't go in until we're completely ready." She walked up to the Kinomoto's car as Usagi took a deep breath and calmed down. She looked in the driver's seat window and exchanged glares with Touya – which was only natural – before speaking.
"You people are the only ones who know what's in there," she said, before she noticed what had been holding Chibi-Usa's attention in the backseat. Sakura sat there, her face in her hands and tears spilling from her eyes. Tomoyo was hugging her and saying meaningless reassurances, while Chibi-Usa did the same from outside the car. Yukito had twisted around in the passenger's seat to watch her with concern. Haruka turned back to Touya.
"What's wrong?" she asked, sounding like she was slightly worried.
Touya only glared at her more before turning his gaze away. "She's afraid of the spirits," he said.
"Spirits? Like ghosts?" Haruka said, surprised.
Touya rounded on her fiercely. "Yes," he said, his voice as cool as ice compared to the look in his eyes, "but they're not there anymore."
"Rika-chan and Chiharu-chan told me what happened to them in there, you can't deny that it's dangerous," Sakura said in a small voice. "And you and Tomoyo almost got trapped in there."
"Sakura-chan, if Touya-san says they're gone, then they're most likely gone. He wouldn't lie to you," Tomoyo said. "And if they're gone, than it can't be dangerous to go in."
Sakura only whimpered and shook her head.
Michiru, who had been standing behind Haruka, sighed and got into the back seat next to Sakura, drawing a growl from Touya. Michiru took Sakura's hand and the younger girl looked at her, her tear-filled eyes also holding curiosity.
"You must have courage to win this battle," Michiru said, "and that means facing things you don't want to face. It can be dangerous, yes. But if the cause is great enough, the risk shouldn't matter anymore."
Sakura nodded and made an attempt to stop crying. Michiru got out of the car and saw Haruka waiting for her.
"You softie."
"One of us has to be."
Michiru giggled as Sakura stepped out of the car, closely followed by her companions and Kero, who had been sitting on Yukito's shoulder. Sakura smiled at Usagi and Chibi-Usa, both of whom nodded and returned the smile.
All of the Senshi transformed, taking this as a signal, and they all walked into the house together, Tomoyo in the lead. Despite herself, when they walked into the room, Tomoyo winced and turned away from the void, as if it would hurt her.
"I can't believe I'm here again," she whispered to herself. Sailor Moon stepped through the void without fear, and the Senshi followed her dutifully. But when Sakura's staff touched the void, she fell to the ground, unconscious.
/MoOn/
/AnD/
/StArS/
Sailor Moon continued to walk and walk, even if she couldn't see anything ahead. She knew that he was there somewhere, so she just continued. Her teammates were watching the surroundings warily; ready to protect their princess if anything happened.
They stopped for a moment, when Sailor Moon spotted it. Sitting atop a throne made of polished marble, a girl with black hair and electric blue eyes gazed at them expectantly. Sailor Moon glared at her and marched up to the throne.
"Give back Tuxedo Kamen," she demanded. The girl just looked at her boredly, then suddenly smiled.
"What makes you think I have him?" she asked.
"Give him back!"
The girl laughed. "Pathetic," she said, "I've waited so long to face you, and this is what I get?" She laughed again. "Pathetic!"
"Don't talk to her like that!" Sailor Mars exclaimed. "Mars Flame Sniper!" Drawing a fiery arrow, she aimed it at the girl and let it go, glaring. She only saw it a moment before it hit her; the same arrow she had just shot hit her square in he stomach and knocked her to the ground.
"Go ahead," the girl said, as if it was a challenge, "just try and attack me."
Sailor Uranus set her jaw stubbornly and prepared to attack. "World Shaking!" She exclaimed angrily. The girl only laughed wickedly as Sailor Uranus flew backwards, the wind knocked out of her. Sailor Neptune ran to her side, her eyes full of concern.
"Give him back," Sailor Moon said, sounding more vulnerable.
The evil laughter got louder. "Pathetic!" the girl said. "I do not have him, Sailor Moon, give up."
Sailor Moon blinked back tears. "He's alive! I know it!" She shouted passionately. "Give him back!"
"If I did have him, why on Earth would I give him back to you?" she asked.
Sailor Moon almost fell to her knees. "Please, we need him back.."
"Enough of this," Sailor Uranus growled. "Give him up right now or I'll..."
"You'll what?" the girl said, raising her eyebrows. "You'll try and attack me again only to hurt yourself in the process? I doubt it. I would have expected that even fools like you would only make a mistake once."
The Senshi glared in uncertainty. There had to be a way around this, but they couldn't see it.
/MoOn/
/AnD/
/StArS/
Sakura blinked as she breathed deeply, trying to calm herself down. She saw her brother watching her worriedly, while the others huddled behind him and watched with just as much concern.
"What..." Sakura sat up and saw the void. "What happened?"
"You fainted before you went through," Yukito said. "We didn't know what to do."
Sakura stared at them all in confusion for a moment. "We have to go through!" she said, starting to get up.
Touya pushed her back down. "You don't have to go if you don't want to," he said, "you can stay here until you're ready."
"Ready?" Sakura asked. "I'm ready. I'm not afraid anymore."
Touya examined her, and then his features relaxed as if he had come to a decision. "Okay, let's go."
Sakura smiled a reassuring smile and said, "okay."
Standing up slowly, she picked up her staff and started toward the void, while Yue, Cerberus, Tomoyo – her camera close at hand, of course – and Touya followed. Secretly, Sakura took a deep breath and bit her lip just before stepping through. She felt drowsy as she experienced the sudden change of temperature, the only sign that they had, in fact, traveled into another dimension.
/MoOn/
/AnD/
/StArS/
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!"
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter screamed as they were hit by each other's attacks after trying to get out of the way.
"I never knew how much that hurt, Jupiter," Sailor Venus said, trying to sound unhurt while staggering to her feet. Her companion only groaned in response.
"We have to get bast that barrier somehow," Sailor Mars said, still holding the burn on her stomach.
"And how do you propose we do that?" Sailor Uranus asked, clearly irritated. Sailor Neptune stood beside her, staring at the girl in the throne.
"Do you just expect me to sit by and wait for you to destroy yourselves?" the girl asked. All of the Senshi turned toward her. "I guess I'll just go on the offensive."
Eight daggers flew away from her, each aiming for one of the Senshi. Six of them hit.
Sailor Neptune smirked as Mercury stood beside her. "Water is surprisingly evasive," she said. She turned to Uranus who had her hand on the handle of the dagger in her arm.
"It won't come out," Sailor Uranus said.
Sailor Neptune gave a start. "It...won't?"
Sailor Uranus tugged at the dagger. "My arm is going numb."
The girl laughed as the other Senshi came to the same realizations. "Looks like you won't be trying to attack anymore, will you?" she said.
/MoOn/
/AnD/
/StArS/
Evil laughter filled the group's ears as the advanced forward. Groans floated across the blackness and they quickened their pace, until Touya gasped.
"What? What is it?" Tomoyo asked.
He shook his head. "It's nothing, let's continue," he said.
And they did, they continued their march until they could see the Senshi in the distance. Sakura sped up, taking out her cards.
At the same time that the girl gasped and Sakura ran into the group, the daggers disappeared, not even leaving a scratch.
"What?" The girl asked, panicked. "What's going-."
"Wood!" Sakura called. Suddenly, large branches burst out of the marble throne and bound the girl, suspended in the air. The Senshi watched in awe. Why could Sakura attack when they couldn't?
"His aura...it's in her chest!" Sakura exclaimed in surprise.
"Tuxedo Kamen's aura!" Sailor Moon asked.
"Windy!" Sakura called, summoning her very first card. The girls' clothes started flapping with he wind as a crystal hanging on a string rose out from under her shirt. The string broke as the crystal hovered away from her and the girl's brows furrowed.
"I'm not done yet!" she screamed. The glowing jewel was flung to the side.
"His aura is coming from the crystal!" Sakura shouted, pointing to it. Hearing this, Sailor Moon made a dive for it, and both she and the crystal fell into a void that opened beneath them. Sailor Chibi Moon vanished in the same instant and the girl laughed maniacally.
"Sailor Moon!" Sailor Mars exclaimed in surprise. Sailor Uranus rounded on the girl furiously.
"Bring her back right now!" she yelled. A hint of fear came into the young girl's eyes. Uranus' talisman appeared before her and she took hold of it, eyes filled with animosity as she charged at he girl, the Space Sword pointing dangerously at the young girl.
The girl closed her eyes in fear, and as Sailor Uranus came within a foot of her, a void appeared between them and Uranus disappeared into it. Sailor Neptune gasped in shock and made a move toward the void, but Mercury stopped her.
"Where did you send her!" Sailor Venus shouted.
The girl glared at her, her chest moving up and down with each hard breath. "Back where she belongs!" she replied. "Back to where you people came from! I suggest you follow, it won't be open long!"
Sailor Neptune dashed toward the void and went through, desperate to get to her comrade. The remaining Senshi watched it with uncertainty, while Sakura and the others stayed steadfast.
"Where's Sailor Moon?" Jupiter called. The girl's lips curled into a smile.
"Falling. She's still falling," she said. The smile transformed into an insane grin and she laughed. "There's almost no chance of getting her back now."
"Bring her back, please!" Sakura said.
"I can't-." The girl ran out of breath as a void appeared behind the group, and Sailor Moon toppled through, holding the crystal tightly to her chest. The girl stared at her in shock as Sailor Chibi Moon suddenly appeared, making everyone jump.
"Fine! Fine! Go back to where you came from! You got what you wanted, now leave me be!" the girl screamed, twisting to try and free herself of the tree branches.
Sailor Jupiter walked up to the void that still swirled in midair in front of the throne. She walked through, quickly followed by Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury. Sakura gave the girl a sympathetic look before allowing the tree branches to let her fall to the ground. The girl stared at the ground miserably while rubbing her arms.
The rest of the group stepped through he void, Chibi-Usa helping her mother-to-be walk. They found the rest of the group waiting on the other side; Haruka was pacing and cursing while the others stood up to greet them. The void disappeared behind them and everyone seemed to sigh with relief.
"Sailor Moon, what happened there?" Sailor Mars asked immediately.
Sailor Moon looked up at her wearily. "I just...fell. Nothing happened," she said. She looked down at the crystal. "He's locked in here. I can't get him out."
"What?" Sailor Venus asked as she walked up to them. "You can't?"
Sailor Moon shook her head. Everyone gave her a sympathetic look as she started toward the door of the room.
"We'll find a way, don't worry," Sailor Mars said.
/MoOn/
/AnD/
/StArS/
Aiko stared at the ground, the fire in her eyes not subsiding as the void closed and she was left alone in the shadowed dimension. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened, it didn't seem to make any sense.
Finally standing up, she looked around, waiting for an answer. Her glare alone was enough to draw it out from the blackness, but no answer came.
"What happened!" she screeched. "Why did you leave me? All of you, every last one of you, agreed to obey me! Why did you stop!
For a moment, she had no reply, but then a male voice whispered through the silence.
"There was another, more powerful than us, who told us to stop."
"Who?" Aiko asked, curiosity beginning to replace anger, "a spirit?"
"Yes, he is more powerful than all of us combined, and he demanded that we stop," the voice continued.
"Who was he? Is he gone?"
"Yes, he is gone, but Mistress, I do not think-," the voice started.
"Who was he!" Aiko demanded, her anger returning.
"His name was Clow Reed. He is somehow linked with the Card Mistress," the voice said, sounding defeated.
Aiko set her jaw decisively. "I will find him."
"Mistress, he is very powerful."
"I don't care," Aiko said, "I'll find him. Where is he from?"
"His reincarnation currently resides in England," a female voice said slyly.
"Reincarnation?" Aiko asked. "Is it still possible...?"
"Of course it is."
"Well then, I'll tell Yin and Yang that we're leaving. I'm going to England."
/MoOn/
/AnD/
/StArS/
And the plot thickens...
Well, that was one of my longest chapters yet, I believe. It's a little more chopped up than I would have wanted it to be, but I think it still turned out okay. So, does anyone want to analyze anything? I love it when people do. Let me know in a review what you thought ;).
Oh, and just to let you know, this is that 'something big' I was talking about a few chapters ago.
Now, does anyone see why Chapter 12 is going to be suicide to write? Aaaah...
Word Count: 2,512