Disclaimer : I don't own the characters.
Hi everyone! Yes yes I know it's been a long time since I updated. To be honest I've been too focussed on my other stories that I kind of forgot about this one but here I am with a fresh new update! I hope you'll still like this story even though its progress is going super slow.
This chapter is dedicated to aquarius89 for not giving up on this story and reminding me that there are still people who are waiting for an update,
Chapter 15 : I'd rather make you suffer
Rei and Minako were running as fast as they could through the dark forest. It seemed that the harder they run the slower they went.''This isn't working!'' Minako yelled. The other stopped running as well.''We've been here before...look that's the place where my dress got tore apart by that damn cactus thing.'' She added. The raven haired girl turned around, looking at the plant that was surrounded by thorns. It looked like a cactus but it certainly wasn't one.
''I can feel a strange aura coming off that plant.'' Rei whispered, glaring over at the green plant.''I think we should be watching our backs carefully from now on. Someone might be following us and since we can't transform we won't stand much of a chance against an enemy like Hattori.''
Minako nodded in agreement.''What should we do then? We've been running for over half an hour through this forest and so far we've not reached anything but scratches from the trees, bushes and thorns around us.''
''Like I've said before, we have to find our way back through the portal we've come through in the first place but...I can't find it nor feel its energy.'' Came the reply as Rei suddenly fell to her knees. A few seconds ago she had felt so strong but all of a sudden all her strenght had seemed to be sucked out of her. On her cheeks she could feel hot tears find their way down.
''Rei are you ok?'' Minako asked concerned, bending down to face the other girl.
''I can't believe this is happening Minako. I can't think clear anymore, all I can see is Usagi's face...'' The raven haired girl cried. This was the first time Minako had ever seen her friend act like this. Rei was the closed type of girl most of the time. The type not to speak out loud what they were feeling but this time, this time was different.
''It'll be ok.'' Minako reassured her friend as she pulled her into a comforting hug.''I am sure that the fact Mamoru wasn't who he claimed to be all the time won't change Usagi's feeling for you. I've seen you two together, smiling. She was happy. I haven't seen her that happy in a long while. Not even when she was with the real Mamoru. I am certain she won't abandon you.''
''She will...She has a mission Minako, like all of us. She is our future queen and a queen needs a King...Mamoru fits the profile.'' Came the reply.
'Oh Rei...' Minako thought as she tightened the grip around her friend.''Listen I don't know why you think that Usagi needs Mamoru for that future to happen. Queen Serenity never had a husband and she ruled the silver millenium perfect.''
''Chibi-Usa...'' Rei sobbed.
''Chibi-Usa isn't important right now Rei. All that we care about is that Usagi is happy and if that is with you, so be it. Everyone has seen it coming. Haruka knew. I knew and even Setsuna told me the future changed. But even though the future changed, no one ever mentioned anything about Chibi-Usa not being born. Don't worry. We're the good guys, everything will fall to place eventually.''
Finally Rei pulled back, wiping away her own tears as she stood up.''I don't know wheter you're right or not Minako but I do know that I have to stay strong, It's my mission to protect her and I'll keep doing that. If she loves me, so be it. If she picks Mamoru, then that's her choice.''
''Rei...'' Minako started but was cut off by the raven haired girl.
''No Minako. I've made my decision. I leave it all up to Usagi. Now let's go. We have to find the others and find a way to escape before that Hattori creep takes over the whole world including our future. I can't mess the future up by loving Usagi when there won't be future anyway ne?'' Minako knew Rei meant every word of what she had said even though Rei had made is sound like a sarcastic statement. After all, she was the goddess of love.
---
''Michiru I am tired. Can we place take a break?'' Usagi asked the other senshi. They had been running for place to place for quite some time now without taking a break.''I know you might find me a weak little girl for being tired already but...''
''We'll take a break.'' Michiru interrupted the other, sitting down in the high grass. Usagi gave the aqua haired girl a greatful look as she sat down as well.''Now tell me Usagi, have you thought about what we've discussed earlier.''
''You mean about Mamoru and Rei?'' Usagi questioned. Michiru simply nodded.''I've thought about it. Part of me loves Mamoru. But I only think it's the connection of the past that makes me feel that love for him. It's more like...I can't explain it but...Rei is different. I love her and the thought of her being hurt hurts me as well.''
''So when this is over you'll put an end to your relationship with the prince?'' Michiru asked.
''I guess...'' Usagi whispered.''I never knew life would be this hard you know. When Luna told me I was sailor moon...well my first thoughts about having a mission was : Cool' but now...I wish I'd never took that broche in the first place. Sometimes I have the feeling that I am indeed the weakest link of our team. I know it might sound selfish but...''
''I know what you mean.'' Michiru stated, interrupting the other once more.''You and I have a lot in common Usagi. Don't tell Haruka I said that or else I'd be in too deep for giving you a boost of...I don't know what she called it anymore but...It's true Usagi. After I accepted my destiny as sailor Neptune I never thought my life would be this hard either. I know how it feels to make a choice every day between love and your mission, your friends and the youma's we have to fight.''
Usagi didn't reply to that. It was true what Michiru said but it didn't only count for the three of them. All the senshi had to go through these feelings.''Very touching.'' Suddenly a voice said, causing both girls to jump up and turn around, facing a pink haired girl. Her skin was green, her lips were a deep shade of red and in her hands she held a sharp looking item. A sword.
''Usagi...Run.'' Michiru whispered, standing in front of the blonde girl.
''No way, I am staying!'' Usagi replied, looking up at the pink haired girl. ''Who are you?''
''I am Sakura, the fifth devil of the five elements. I am ordered to kill the princess. So step aside senshi, the princess is who I want now. Not you.'' The girl replied. Michiru coudl see how the devil tightened her grip around the sword. It was obvious she was about to attack them.
---
''Haruka...Haruka...Wake up.'' Haruka could hear a voice whisper her name. The closer she listened the faster she figured out that the person's voice was coming from above her. Slowly she opened her eyes. At first her sight was kind of blurry but after blinking a couple of times she had fully regained her sight. In shock she sat up, knocking the person who had tried to wake her up over.
''You're awake, that's good.'' Setsuna said as she got up.''You've been out ever since we came here.''
''How long ago was that?'' The blonde senshi asked.
''I don't know.'' Setsuna replied, helping the tomboy up.
Haruka laughed.''Now that's irony. The senshi of time doesn't know how long we've been here.''
''Stop joking Tenoh, this is no time for jokes.'' Setsuna hissed, letting go of the blonde's hand again. As she did so Haurka fell back to the ground.
''What was that for?'' Haruka wondered out loud.
''Because I blame you for us being stuck here.'' The green haired senshi replied.
''Where is here?'' Haruka asked, standing up once more as she looked around. They seemed to be stuck in some kind of old building. The walls around them were made of stone and besides them there was nothing else in the room.
''According to my calculations we're stuck in an alternative universum. I don't know where exactly. I woke up here as well. I recall Hattori attacking us back at the ball but besides that...As you may have figured out, it gets a tad cloudy.''
''You woke up cold.'' Haruka stated, noticing Setsuna's strange behaviour. She wasn't as reserved as she always was anymore, instead of that she looked a bit like she was imitating Haruka's behaviour.
''No I woke up concerned. I have got no idea where the others are nor where we exactly are and...''
''You know, you're kind of attractive when you're acting so damn mean.'' Haruka cut the other off, joking.
''Oh I give up!'' Setsuna yelled, sitting down on the cold ground again.
''Bingo.'' The tomboy laughed but her laughter died off the moment she heard someone moan.''Do you hear that?''
''It sounds like...'' Setsuna started.
Haruka finished her sentence.''Like someone is having sex.''
The green haired woman sweatdropped.''I wanted to say : it sounds like someone is tied up.''
''That works too.'' Haruka said, helping her friend up before scanning the room.''But where does it come from?'' Setsuna also looked around, trying to find out where the noise came from. Finally she found the spot where the noise came from.
''Here!'' She yelled, pointing at the wall.''It's coming from behind this wall.''
''Start hiting that wall and maybe it falls apart.'' Haruka commented as she walked up to the place Setsuna was standing. For a moment she didn't do anything but just let her eyes scan the black wall.
''What are you looking for?''
''A stone...'' Came the reply.
'This whole wall is covered with stones, be precise Tenoh.' Setsuna murmered to herself as she leaned against the wall, waiting for Haruka to find her stone. But the moment her back made contact with the wall the ground started shaking a bit. Shocked she stepped away from the wall and stared at it.
''Good find.'' Haruka commented her friend as they watched the wall fall apart. In front of them on the ground was sitting Mamoru. His mouth was covered with tape and his hands and feet seemed to be tied with thick ropes.''Or atleast I thought, can we put that wall back in?'' Haruka added when she saw the man.
''Ha-ha, very funny.'' Setsuna hissed. With that said she walked over to the black haired man and started to untie the ropes around his hands and feet. After she finished that she pulled off the tape that covered his mouth without any warning.
''OUCH!'' Mamoru yelled.
''Put that tape back on.'' Haruka told her green haired friend.''I liked him more when he couldn't talk.''
''A bit more repect to your prince!'' Setsuna yelled, helping the man to his feet. Haruka knew that Setsuna wouldn't want anything else but to put that tape on his mouth again and just leave him there but she was a bit more loyal to the man that Haruka was.
''Is Usagi ok?'' Was the first thing Mamoru asked.
''We don't know. We got seperated.'' Setsuna replied. She wanted to say something else but stopped when Haruka suddenly walked over to Mamoru and stared at him with an intense yet questioning look on her face.
''What are you doing?'' He asked.
''Making sure you're not Hattori, oh and I've decided that you really are Mamoru...Now I have a question for you. We've been fooled for months, don't tell me you've been locked up behind that wall ever since, without food, something to drink and in the same clothes.''
''Don't even reply her, she woke up on the wrong side of the bed.'' Setsuna said, brushing off the dust on Mamoru's jacket.
----
''Look there!'' Minako yelled. After they had gotten some rest they decided to go on with their search. Rei stopped and turned around. Her eyes followed the line Minako was pointing at. When she looked closely she could see a black palace through the trees.
''Maybe the others are there. It's a risk but I think we should take it.'' Minako added as she stood next to Rei who seemed to be focussed on something else.''Rei is everything ok, you seem a bit pale?''
''It's Usagi...I felt her...I mean...her power...and then.'' It was obvious that Rei was having a hard time explaining herself.''What I mean is that...Usagi is in danger. I think she's hurt..'' She whispered.
''I am sure she's fi.,...''
''No she isn't, she's hurt.'' Rei interrupted her friend.''You go to that palace to see if the others are there, I am going back to the place we woke up.''
''But...'' Minako didn't even get the chance to speak because before she could Rei had already run off, back to where they had come from.
To be continued..
Let me know what you think! And ofcourse I want to thank everyone who reviewed the previous chapters. You guys really keep me going!