Yesterday's ending was unexpected, wasn't it? I started writing it as a part of today's chapter and I was like "No, let's leave it as a cliffie!" so I did. Ain't I evil like that?...:evil, creepy sounding voice:...Toshio...(sorry, I watched Ju-on (The Grudge) on Friday and it amused me; I laughed through it)
Thanks to amnesia nymph, Ten'ousai, X00001, moonqueen, aquaxeyes, LectorAnonimus, Soleil-Lune, SithLibrarian, iluvboys for reviewing last chapter! And I've just noticed amnesia nymph has been the first person to review for every chapter so far. Will that streak continue? We'll see, won't we?
Moving right along...
IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!...sorry...had to get that out. As such, I expect every reader to review this chapter. If not, no plot birthday cake for you!
There is a bit of a graphic scene near the end of the chapter as Hogosha attacks Michiru. Just a warning so you all will be prepared, and Haruka swears after getting shot...well I won't say where but yeah...I'm a good author like that...even though I leave evil cliffies...:giggles evilly:
I do not own Sailor Moon, the Crow, or anything from either including, characters, recognizable quotes, blah blah blah...think they'd give me the rights since it's my birthday?...yeah...I didn't think so either...
People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead.
But sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can't rest.
Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right.
Mika looked up at Haruka. "Daddy, why are you crying?"
"Because I've missed you," Haruka whispered, kneeling down.
"I missed you too. Where did you go?"
"Haruka, who are you talking to?" Michiru asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Mommy!" Mika yelled and hugged her mother, but the woman didn't seem to notice the small girl.
"You can't see her?" Haruka asked.
"See who?" Michiru demanded.
"Daddy, why is Mommy ignoring me?" Mika questioned, looking at the blonde.
Haruka sat down, leaning against the balcony railing. She drew her knees up to her chest and rested her elbows on her knees, holding her head in her hands. "Haruka, what's wrong?"
Haruka pointed next to Michiru. "Mika," she whispered.
"Nani?"
"I can see Mika. She's standing right next to you," Haruka said softly. She looked up into Michiru's eyes and the Sea Senshi could see that the blonde was telling the truth. Michiru looked down at her side but saw nothing.
"I don't see her…"
"Why can't Mommy see me?" Mika demanded.
Haruka bowed her head. "Because…you died…a year ago…" she whispered.
"N…no! That can't be true!" Mika shouted.
"Mika…" Haruka began.
"I'm not dead!" she shouted and ran away.
"Haruka?"
"She didn't know," Haruka said, rising to her feet. She walked into the room and changed into a black shirt. She grabbed her duster and pulled it on.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to find her," Haruka replied. "Explain to her what happened."
"Haruka…"
"She needs help Michiru. If she doesn't move on she'll never be reborn," Haruka returned, picking up her boots. She walked out to the balcony and pulled the boots on.
"Let me come with you," Michiru said.
"No," Haruka returned. "This is something I have to do."
"Demo…" she fell silent knowing how stubborn Haruka could be. "How is it that you could see her and I couldn't?" she asked instead.
Haruka rested her hands on Michiru's shoulders. "I'm the Crow Michiru. I'm neither dead nor living. I walk between worlds."
Michiru nodded, her head bowed. "I just wish…I want to hold her one last time…" she whispered.
Haruka gently lifted Michiru's head. "I'll be back, I promise." Michiru nodded and Haruka ran off, landing on the ground.
- - - - - - - - - -
Haruka saw Mika sitting on a swing. The blonde walked over to her and sat down on the adjacent swing. "How'd you know I'd be here?" Mika whispered.
"This is your favorite park. And you do love to swing," Haruka replied.
"I'm really dead…aren't I?" she asked.
"We both are," Haruka answered.
"Demo…Mommy saw you."
"Do you remember what happened before you died?" Haruka asked.
"Those mean men took us."
Haruka nodded. "That's right. They took us into that warehouse and killed us both. A few days ago I was brought back to help Mommy and the others save the world."
"What do I do now?" Mika asked softly.
"You need to move on," Haruka returned. "If you don't, you can't be reborn."
"I don't wanna leave without you though," Mika said. "I'm scared."
Haruka smiled softly. "I don't want you to go either, but you need to."
Mika sniffed. "Okay…" she whispered.
Haruka pulled her daughter off of the swing and held her close. "I promise when I'm done here I'll find you on the other side."
"And we'll be together?" Mika asked hopefully.
"We're always together musume. You were born from the love between me and Mommy. We're a part of you just like you're a part of us." Haruka kissed the top of her daughter's head. "All of our blood flows together, making each of us strong whether we stand alone or not." Haruka smiled as she held the small girl close. "Some day, when your spirit is reborn, you will become a powerful Senshi and protect everyone who can't protect themselves."
"Like Mommy and you?"
"Hai. Like Mommy and me." A bright light suddenly lit the ground near them and they looked at it. "Are you ready to go?"
Mika bravely nodded. "I'll miss you Daddy."
"I'll be with you soon, I promise," Haruka whispered. The small girl nodded and made her way to the light. She stepped into it and looked back at the blonde. She waved goodbye and stepped through. The crow landed on Haruka's shoulder and she smiled grimly. She turned from the light and began walking away.
- - - - - - - - - -
"We need to tell the police what happened!" Rei shouted, slamming her fist on the table for emphasis. "This guy nearly killed Setsuna-san!"
"And how do we prove it Rei-chan?" Makoto asked. "I doubt the word of a fully healed Setsuna-san will convince the cops."
"Haruka-san could tell them," Minako suggested.
"Then I'd have to explain how I came back from the dead," Haruka said from the doorway. A scream sounded and they watched as Seiya fell to the ground. Haruka arched an amused brow.
"Don't sneak up on people Ten'ou!" he shouted.
"I wasn't sneaking," Haruka replied. "Trust me, you'd know if I was sneaking." The others shifted uncomfortably at her words. "Are the kids safe?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Hai. Helios took them to Elysian…" Ami answered.
Haruka's eyes narrowed. "What aren't you telling me?" she demanded. The six Senshi and three Starlights shifted uncomfortably again under her intense stare.
"A…ano…" Usagi began. Haruka blinked as she saw Michiru's house from a bird's eye view. Three familiar figures were being roughly hauled out of the house before it was set on fire. The Senshi shrank back slightly from Haruka as the blonde's face and eyes hardened. She spun around and ran outside. She hurried down the steps and leapt onto her black motorcycle. She gunned the engine and tore out of the city, the black duster streaming behind her in the wind.
She soon reached the burning house and stared at it, the fire reflecting off of her eyes. Haruka got off the bike and took a few steps towards the house before falling to her knees. She threw her head back and screamed in rage at the sky. The crow watched from the stone fence it was perched on as Haruka slammed her fists into the ground. Haruka rose to her feet and walked into the house, the heat of the flames not bothering her in the least. She went up the weakening stairs and walked into the master bedroom. She grabbed a few things and exited the house. As she walked to the black motorcycle, the house collapsed behind her. She ignored it. Instead, she got back on the bike and drove back into the city, the crow flying overhead.
- - - - - - - - - -
Michiru blinked as the hood was pulled off of her head. She looked around the elegant room, recognizing it from Hogosha's building. She turned her head as the door opened and saw Hogosha walk in. She glared at him as he walked over to her. "So nice to see you again Michiru," he said pleasantly.
"You damn rat faced, son of a…!" she began when he backhanded her.
"Language my dear. You shouldn't swear in front of small children," he said. He moved and Michiru saw Kaze and Hotaru tied up.
"You harm one hair on their heads and you will die," she snarled.
"Who's going to kill me, you?" Hogosha asked.
"Someone worse," she returned. "Damien," she added.
His eyes narrowed. "So you know my name. But I don't think you really know who I am," he replied.
"I don't care," she snapped. "You killed two very important people to me. Now you're trying to end the world. Justice will find you."
"And who, pray tell, will hand this justice out? One of your precious Senshi friends?" he smirked. "It doesn't matter," he went on. "I will soon rule this world and have everything I have ever wanted," he said, his eyes roving over Michiru.
"I'll never love you," she returned.
"You will learn to love me. You loved my little sister after all."
"Nani?"
"The one you called Ten'ou Haruka. Your precious Uranus. She was my little sister in the Silver Millennium. Before I was banished. Before I was denied my throne."
"So what? You had her killed because you have a pathetic grudge against her?" Michiru demanded, hiding her surprise that Haruka had a brother.
"I was the eldest! The throne belonged to me!" he shouted, slamming his fist into Michiru's face. She fell to the ground and glared up at him. "She took everything from me. I'm just taking it back."
"So you killed her along with my daughter?"
"The children of the Senshi must be sacrificed for Hell to come to this world." He looked at her, a cold smile on his face. "The death of your daughter started the process," he informed her.
"The other children are safe from you Damien. You'll never get them!" Michiru smirked as she stared into his dark jade eyes.
"We shall see," he returned. He began walking out of the room and paused at the door. "Don't even think about trying to escape or transform. I've thought of everything that you could possibly do." He left the room.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Haruka-san…where did you go?" Usagi asked.
"He has them," the blonde answered. "Tell Helios to seal the way until he knows it's safe." She dropped several things on the floor and knelt down.
"What are you doing?" Taiki asked as Haruka picked up a bottle.
"Preparing for battle," Haruka replied, spreading the white face paint all over her face. When she was finished she picked up the black liner and put it on her face.
"We can stop this guy…" Usagi began.
"He has my family," Haruka cut her off. "He killed my daughter. He killed me. It's time I return the favor," she said. She dropped the pen to the ground and rose to her feet. She looked down at them, death in her teal eyes. "Come if you want, but I will stop Damien. One way or another," she said. She turned and walked away.
- - - - - - - - - -
Michiru stared out of the window, praying that Haruka or one of the Senshi would find them before it was too late. The door opened behind her and she turned as Damien came into the room. "Where are my children?" she demanded.
"They no longer matter," he returned, taking a sip of wine from the glass in his hand. He smiled and backed Michiru into a corner. He held up another glass and offered it to her. She glared into his eyes and was about to knock it away when a strange feeling overcame her. Her body stopped obeying her command and she took the wine. Damien smiled in triumph.
"What did you do to me?" Michiru demanded.
"I'm about to make you mine," he returned with a grin.
He's put me in a trance! Michiru realized. Tears formed in her eyes as Damien pressed his lips against hers.
He smiled at her. "I'm actually a very good lover Princess Neptune," he said softly. "Allow me to show you."
"Yamette…onegai…" Michiru whispered as the tears slid down her face.
He snapped his fingers and the glasses of wine vanished. He pushed the straps of her dress off, exposing her chest to the air and his eyes. He moved his kisses down to her neck and she closed her eyes, furious and helpless as she felt her body respond to his touch. He pushed the dress down the rest of the way and it fell to the floor. His rough hands began sliding up and down Michiru's body as she struggled for control. Damien pushed Michiru onto the bed and climbed on top of her. He waved his hand and his clothes vanished.
"Yamette…yamette…" Michiru pleaded.
He stared at her, his hands holding her wrists to the side. "The more you struggle the more this will hurt," he grinned. "Just relax and enjoy. This will be one experience you will never forget."
"Don't…onegai…let me go!" Michiru cried as he licked her from her abdomen to her chest. He positioned himself above her and grinned cruelly. Her eyes widened in fear and she weakly shook her head. With a cold laugh he plunged into her viciously. "IIE!" she screamed, her eyes shut tightly. She tried to fight him off as he moved in and out of her, but her body still would not follow her orders. She bit back a cry of pain as it felt like her insides were being torn apart.
He felt himself come and grinned as he lay on Michiru for several moments, a faint sheen of sweat gleaming on his skin. "Was it good for you my lover?" he asked as he rolled off. She sobbed in reply and he laughed. "We'll have another go soon my dear," he whispered, fondling her chest. He smiled and rose to his feet, releasing her from the trance. Michiru curled up into ball, sobbing uncontrollably.
Dark sounding music suddenly began playing and Damien whirled around, staring at the stereo system, a dark shape near it. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.
A figure dressed in black came into partial view. "The winged avenger," the figure said in a low, dangerous voice.
"How did you get in here? I had guards!"
The figure laughed slightly. "We played tag together. They lost." The figure tossed several bloodied ID badges on the ground.
Damien grabbed a gun from a nightstand and emptied the clip into the figure. The evil man stared in shock as the figure laughed. "Those were hollow point…" Damien whispered in disbelief.
"You took something very precious from this woman Damien," the figure said.
Damien grabbed another clip and began reloading. When he looked up the figure was gone. "What the…"
"You're not paying attention," the figure said, hanging from the top of the bed. "I said you took something precious from this woman." The figure slammed their fist into Damien's face and he fell to the ground hard. "You defiled her, trying to force her to love you…but she'll never love you."
"Is that so bastard?" he demanded.
"Real love is forever," the figure whispered.
Damien snapped his fingers and a pair of jeans appeared on his body. He scrambled to his feet and turned on the lights. He looked around and saw that Michiru was gone. "Where did…"
"She's safe from your evil," the figure said from behind.
Damien whirled around. His dark eyes narrowed. "You."
Haruka grinned, kicking Damien in the stomach, sending him flying across the room. "Me. Did you think me dead?"
"You are dead!" he snarled, firing a shot into her head. She fell to the ground but rose to her feet. Damien stared in shock.
"You know, I'm getting fucking tired of people shooting me in the head!" she snapped, grabbing the bottle of wine. She looked at the label. "Heavenly Sin," she read, shaking her head. She looked up at Damien. "You'll be dying now," she said, hurling the bottle into the fireplace, the glass shattering.
"I know what you are," Damien grinned. He began laughing. "You're the Crow! The one sent back to make the wrong things right!"
"Is there something funny?" Haruka demanded.
"I've met a Crow before. Stared into his eyes before I sent him to Hell."
"Then you'll be seeing him again," Haruka whispered.
"Oh no. You'll be seeing our dear father first!" Damien laughed. Haruka frowned in confusion. A crow cawed and Damien grinned cruelly. "Say goodbye to your immortality," he said softly and pulled the trigger. Haruka's eyes widened in shock as pain flooded her body. She fell to her knees, her arms wrapped around her middle. She looked up as Damien loomed over her. "Now…you're bait." He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her out of the room.
Japanese Word Guide:
Musume: Daughter.
Hai: Yes.
Ano: Uh/um.
Yamette: Stop/Stop it.
Onegai: Please.
Uh oh Billy! Things seem to be going from bad to good to bad again in this fic. Drop a review to find out what happens in the final chapter! And you better review since it's my birthday!
And I have to say I'm surprised no one guessed who Damien really was last chapter. Damien did have that line where he said, "My little sister has already paid the price." I thought it was obvious but that just could've been me. Oh well. Leave reviews! Now!