Torn Apart Chapter 7, a sailor moon fanfic

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Usagi entered her sweetheart's flat. Inside was dark, no lights were on. She groped her way, rubbing her hands against the walls.

"Mamo-chan? Where are you?" she called quietly.

"I'm here" the husky voice replied from the bedroom. She walked inside with cold, slippery feeling squeezing her stomach. Mamoru was sitting on the floor, the half-empty bottle in front of him. He didn't even turn his face to her.

"What is it?" he asked and burped, "I'm busy."
"Mamo-chan!" she darted towards him, her voice trembling and her chest tightening painfully, "What is wrong? What is it? Please, tell me!"

She knelt down and clasped his inert head, sniffing.

"If it's my fault, I'm sorry!"

"Why don't you love me?" he growled, "Why? What happened?"

"But what are you saying? I told you I loved you more than ever! I want to be with you forever! I can do everything you want me to do! I'll do anything for you! Anything!"

"You are just playing! The perfect play including perfect love, a perfect couple, a perfect marriage, the perfect future."

"I don't understand! How can I prove I love you and only you?"

There was no response. Mamoru fell down and snored. She shook his arm, but he only smacked his lips and breathed deeply. Tears poured down Usagi's cheeks and she leapt up. She left the building and ran down the street, heading towards Minako's place. There was some distance to cross but she didn't want to catch the bus, to stand curious looks and whispers. Blinded by tears, she reached her destination and rang the doorbell.

"Minako, please, open it!" she wept and hit the door with her fist. After a few long minutes the door set ajar and Minako's face appeared in the gap. Her eyelids were red and swollen, her cheeks wet. When she saw Usagi's pitiful condition, she just opened the door wider with no questions. Her friend dashed inside and embraced her, crying.

Some hours before Minako was joyful and content. What happened then? She was spying on Taiki and Seiya, still unbelieving that Yaten wasn't with them. Then they separated and Taiki went to the park. He met Healer there and unfortunately Minako was the witness of their conversation. It was a very short conversation, but long enough to break her heart and bury all her hopes.

"I'm sorry you came here for nothing," Taiki started, "I repeat: we're not coming back. It was very difficult to do what we had done but it is the only way for us. The one and only way."

"I know why Seiya is here, but you? Firstly I thought you followed him to stop him. Then I found you joined him. Why?" Healer couldn't hide the change in her voice and Minako didn't like it because it sounded... strange. She froze in her hideout and wanted to block her ears, but she couldn't. She was listening to every word.

"Mizuno Ami is the reason," Taiki looked straight into Healer's eyes, "I love her."

The statement shot Minako's mind even if she noticed earlier that Ami and Taiki liked each other a lot.

"I... I see," the fair-haired Senshi stepped back, her lower lip and chin trembling uncontrollably. Minako's chest tightened painfully. She could see Healer's eyes and she understood.

"S-so there is r-really no hope of... of you... coming back," Healer could barely speak.

Taiki nodded and his eyes softened.

"I'm so sorry..." he whispered warmly and Healer blushed, lowering her head. She didn't confess anything but whoever looked at her he would know. The single tear streaked down her face and Taiki wiped it with his thumb. Then Healer threw herself in his arms and kissed him. He held his breath and turned his head quickly, escaping the kiss, but didn't push Healer away. The girl began to weep and Minako moved back, stunned. She felt just like being shot straight into her heart. The numb feeling overwhelmed her body, when she was listening to Yaten sobbing into Taiki's chest.

No, not Yaten. The girl admitting to love Kou Taiki wasn't Yaten at all and Minako fell to her knees when she realized that in fact Yaten didn't exist any longer.

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Princess Kakyuu was walking down the garden, pondering.

Why is it, Fighter? Why her? She is an ordinary girl, even if she was thePrincess in her previous life! I'm nobler than her, more beautiful, just better.

Love has strange ways sometimes.

My heart is frozen. If I only realized earlier how much you mean to me it would never end this way. You would think only of me. At least I believe it would be so.

The course of Kakyuu's thoughts was stopped. She received telepathic message from one of her senshi who was coming back from the long journey. She made for her chambers and turned away all servants. No matter what news Healer was bringing, Princess didn't want anybody to eavesdrop. She sat down and sunk in her dreams again.

Fighter, Fighter, her velvety raven hair, her flawless hips, her slim legs, her sweet, sapphire eyes... If only I could have her one time, just one time...

What if she already learned thatSailor Moon is beyond her reach? What if she collapsed and her heart is broken? What if she needs me?

The heels clicked just behind the door. The Princess got up and prepared for Sailor Star Healer's entering.

The senshi went inside and halted near the door. She didn't look into Kakyuu's eyes, her feet shuffled towards the carpet.

"I couldn't bring them back," she whispered, "I swear I tried."

"Is Fighter... with Sailor Moon?" Kakyuu asked, her eyelids tightened.

"As far as I know Tsukino Usagi didn't meet Seiya yet. The Earth senshi are watching her. And there is also her fiancé, Chiba Mamoru."

Two tiny tears escaped Princess' eyes.

"Does Fighter suffer much?"

Healer hung her head lower.

"I believe Seiya begins to understand he can't have Usagi. It must cause much pain," she answered sadly.

Seiya, Kakyuu thought, Healer talks of her as Seiya, not Fighter. It went so far already.

"And what's with Maker?"

"Maker met the destiny she wanted. Seems her heart found the peace," Healer answered bravely, even if her voice was almost breaking. Kakyuu attributed that to Healer's weariness.

"Thank you very much, Healer. I appreciate your effort. I know you did everything you could. Go now and rest. You must be exhausted."

Fair-haired warrior nodded in silence and retired. In fact she was exhausted to the highest rate. Something died within her and there was no funeral yet. Her heart was like an empty grave waiting for the corpse of all her hopes to be buried.

She never had much hope of Taiki being with her, but she told herself she could be satisfied only with seeing him from time to time. But since his heart had pointed at Sailor Mercury, everything was ruined completely. She was ruined, her entire soul was ruined. With that thought Healer shut the door of her room and fainted.

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Taiki went in Seiya's room and pulled the curtains. The sunlight stroked sleeping face and Seiya grimaced, hiding under the cover and grumbling.

"Whaz it, huh...? Whaz da time?"

"It's midday already! Aren't you going to get up today?"

"Dunno."

Taiki sighed and sat down on the bed, tugging the cover gently.

"Seiya..."

The hand appeared from under the crumpled cover and waved suddenly as if Taiki was the persistent fly.

"Leave me alone!"

Taiki mused for a while, observing the moving hillock on his friend's bed.

"You can't stay here forever. You must get up and face the reality," he stated.

"I don't have to do anything."

"What's wrong with you, Seiya? I can't recognize you. Why did you give up?"

"Because."

"Come, let me help you."

"How? Did you declare your feelings already?" Seiya's tousled head emerged from under the cover. Taiki coughed.

"Well..."

"So, Mister Helpful, help yourself firstly, okay?" Seiya scoffed.

He's right, Taiki thought, I'm a coward. How long it will last until Ami finds someone else? She can't wait forever. I have to gather my courage and finish it. God, I'm so scared! It was easier on Kinmoku than here. When I only think of it, my heart almost aches from racing. I'm the same as Seiya...

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Rei and Makoto were walking in silence.

"Happy Ami-chan," Makoto sighed with slightly envying voice, "I think she finally has her prince."

"That's right," Rei nodded absent-mindedly, "She deserves that."

Makoto crossed her arms at the back of her head.

"And what about us, Rei? Will we ever find someone to fall in love with?"

"I think we will. We just have to wait patiently," Rei answered with an absolutely steady face. Makoto glanced at her.

"Patience is an unwelcome word when I feel lonely," she commented.

Rei didn't respond.

"Usagi-chan could share, don't you think so? She has too many admirers, ne?" Makoto smiled faintly, "Rei, are you listening to me?"

"Partly", Rei admitted, "I'm sorry, but there are so many things engaging my mind..."

"For instance?"

"Never mind, Makoto," Rei waved her hand, "You know, sometimes I feel lonely too..."

The Thunder Warrior lowered her head in reply.

Usagi could share... Rei thought, rubbing her chin, Yes, that's THE idea.

They reached Hikawa Shrine and climbed upstairs. The trees were rustling and the silence embraced them. Makoto slowed down and looked around.

"Don't you regret you turned Yuuichirou away?" she asked.

Rei shook her dark head.

"He was too much troublesome, always hanging around."

"There was a time I thought you liked him."

Rei's eyes widened a bit.

"Really? I liked him but not in the way you mean."

"There is someone else, right?" Makoto risked, her eyes scanning Rei's face searchingly, looking for traces she found a bit later – the gentle blush, the almost imperceptible trembling of Rei's lips. Anyway Rei didn't seem to be ready to confess anything.

"See who's there," Makoto changed the topic and Rei rose her head.

"Minako?"

The blonde goddess got up and slowly started towards them. They realized at once that something was wrong. Rei took Minako's hand and let her inside.

"What is it?" she inquired softly, drawing the strand of hair from her friend's face.

"Usagi... is about to collapse," Minako stuttered, "Yesterday she came to Mamoru and he was drunk."

"Oh my God!" Makoto pressed her mouth with her hand, "Poor Usagi-chan!!"

"She ran to me and told me everything."

"Didn't she try to talk with him?" Rei exclaimed.

"She tried, but he went to sleep."

"I don't understand...", Makoto clasped her hands, "What makes him act like that? I would never think he could decline in such way!"

"There is a thing that caused all of this," Rei uttered slowly and they watched her with interest, leaning towards her, "But it's a very touchy problem..."

"Yes?" Makoto encouraged her.

"I managed to draw some words out from Mamoru. It comes out that Usagi doesn't love him anymore."
Makoto burst out with laughter.

"Usagi doesn't love him? You must be kidding."
Rei remained serious.

"Don't forget there are many kinds of love. She loves him, yes, but only as the elder brother."

"How can you know?"

"Judging from... some traces... it becomes evident."

"What traces you mean?" Makoto demanded, narrowing her eyes distrustfully.

"Do I have to explain it in details?!" Rei screamed angrily, her cheeks beet-red. All the girls flushed at once and averted their eyes, not knowing what to say.

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Sailor Pluto stood in front of the Gate Of Time. She aimed at it with her Time Key and declaimed secret words, but the Gate remained shut. Pluto turned back and looked at Uranus and Neptune.

"Since when?" Uranus asked shortly.

"Since two weeks," Pluto replied.

"What does it mean?"

"Something changes."

"Something?"

Pluto's serene eyes filled with pain. She clasped to the cold stone and hit it with her fist.

"Small Lady!" she wept without tears, "I can hear her voice calling me!"

Uranus opened her eyes widely, her body quivered terribly.

"Tell me, Pluto!! What is it?!"

"Future is changing..." Pluto fell down to her knees, grabbing Garnet Orb tightly.

"But why the Gate didn't open?" Neptune moved nearer.

Then the waves of time ruffled up and they felt something – the gentlest breeze, the softest touch. The distant echo of the song reached them.

"It is him..." Uranus mouthed and Pluto gazed at her with teary sad eyes.

"It's the only power that can change destiny," she stated simply, "Love."

"There is one thing stronger than love," Uranus replied harshly, "Death."