A/N: A quick note again. This chapter is a little less "dark" than the few previous chapters. Also, a large part of it is very different from the other chapters you've read. Once again, I hope you trust me and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
CHAPTER 12 - The Search Commences
The scouts had no idea how long they had been sitting idle for. The only sound was Mars's crying that echoed throughout the room.
"There's gotta be some way...it can't...it can't end like this." A grief-stricken Sailor Jupiter managed to choke out.
"We were supposed to protect the princess and we failed." Sailor Venus said in a hushed tone as she hung her head.
Sailor Mercury said nothing and simply kept close to Sailor Moon, her hand not moving as it lay on top of Sailor Moon's.
Sailor Mars continued to bawl knowing that the one thing that could console her would be to see Sailor Moon alive and well. Sadly, that was not the case as of this moment. She studied the Imperium Silver Crystal once more with unbelief that it had lost its powers. How could it just go out like a light? Did it simply run out of power? She suddenly remembered the bright beam of light that seemed to appear while they were fighting Diamond. It was unmistakable that the Imperium Silver Crystal was used in that battle. Had Sailor Moon sent them her power?
She gasped causing all the other scouts to snap their heads in her direction. They all stared at each other for a few minutes, scared but eager to know what Mars had just discovered.
"Remember when we were fighting Diamond?" She asked looking at all of them. They nodded in reply still unsure of what she was getting at. "That bright light that appeared, that was Sailor Moon's power helping us."
Jupiter and Venus nodded in realization while Mercury nodded in a way that said she already knew.
"That explains why I felt stronger. I felt some sort of pure power enter me." Venus contributed. She looked around at the rest of the scouts who seemed to agree that they felt exactly the same thing.
Without wasting any more time, Sailor Mars continued her explanation. "She gave us her power!" Sailor Mars threw her hands up expecting all the other scouts to do the same and stand up, but to her dismay, no one moved. They only continued to look at her as they waited for her to keep explaining.
She groaned. "Her power is inside of us! We just have to give it back to her!" She yelled happily, a flame of hope igniting within. That same flame of hope ignited in all the other Sailor Scouts too as they scrambled to huddle around Sailor Moon.
They glanced at each other, seeing the hope on each other's faces. "We're not going home without her." Sailor Mars said with determination. All the other scouts agreed and prepared themselves for what was about to take place. They held hands, closed their eyes and focused on delivering their power to Sailor Moon's Imperium Silver Crystal.
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She awoke slowly to unfamiliar and foreign surroundings. The darkness was absent and in its place pure light was present, so pure in fact that it seemed darkness would be ashamed to be anywhere near this place. It was if the light in this place was so bright that it should be blinding, yet for some reason she was still able to see clearly without having to squint her eyes.
She rubbed her forehead and sat up in an attempt to reacquaint herself with recent events.What happened? How did I get here? She asked herself as she further observed her surroundings. She seemed to be in some sort of waiting room she soon concluded. There were a few chairs against the walls, white of course adorned with white lace that flowed down to the floor. The floors themselves were made of exquisite white marble tile, cool beneath her body. The walls were draped with flawless white silk sheets, hanging off the walls in an elegant manner.
There, at the far end of the room, was a lone white door. Instantly, she wondered where that door led to.
She picked herself off the floor and suddenly found that she felt very light. She felt almost half her original weight. It was as if gravity was limited in this room and she almost stumbled as she over estimated her movements using too much force to push herself upright. When she finally gained her balance, she was surprised to find that she was dressed in a luxurious white satin robe. It was tied in place around her waist by a white sash while the satin fabric cascaded down her legs and stopped right above her ankles.
Her gaze fell upon the single door and she began to make her way towards it. She quickened her pace, eager to see what was beyond this room. When she stood in front of it, she rested her hand on the door knob ready to turn and push, but before she could turn it, it began to turn itself!
Before she knew it, the door flung open and she was faced with someone's chest. A chest that belonged to someone who was wearing an impeccable and spotless white formal suit. The neck tie was white silk, the vest was white, and the jacket was...you guessed it, white. What is up with the color white in this place?
She slowly and hesitantly raised her eyes to the face that wore this white suit. Her eyes met with ones that were calm, unthreatening, and a very light blue in color. His hair was of a very very light blond, that seemed as if it were almost white. However, the almost white hair did nothing to age his youthful face in any way.
For a few moments, they looked at each other, neither one moving or making a sound.
"Miss Serena Tsukino." The man with light blue eyes greeted her with a small bow.
She didn't know quite what to say. She was quite simply stunned that he knew her name as if he was expecting her. She dropped her eyes wondering what to say in return and trying to make sense of what was going on.
"Please, have a seat." The mysterious man said as he motioned for her to sit down in one of the white chairs against the wall. She didn't seem to have any other choice and followed him to the chairs. She followed his lead and lowered herself onto the very expensive looking chair.
Her mind flooded itself with a thousand thoughts and questions not quite knowing what action to take or what words to form. She simply stared at the man who sat and turned to face her.
"My name is Hael." He paused as he peered into her face. "Do you remember what happened?" He asked quietly and patiently waited. It was at this time that they usually started to remember.
Serena blinked twice as a sudden rush of memories overwhelmed her. Various images, multiple sounds and scenarios filled her mind and fit themselves together like a finished puzzle. Her eyes widened at the memories of her love's death and the thought of leaving her sailor scouts. She grasped her hands together tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"You're probably wondering what's going on." Hael interrupted her thoughts. She nodded in return not able to bring words out of her mouth.
Hael searched her face before continuing. "You died...Serena. You died and now you're here. This place we're in right now is where the souls of heroes and people with good hearts come to after death. I'm here to guide you around this realm and ensure you live peacefully for the rest of eternity."
Serena attempted to absorb all this information, her head still reeling from the sudden recollection of her memories. "And the bad souls?" She asked curiously. "What happens to them?"
Hael calmly answered her question, but his eyes stiffened. "They go to a different realm, one that cannot be reached from here. A great chasm separates us from that place. I, myself have never seen it."
Hael continued. "You do remember, don't you Serena? You actually...chose to die. You didn't hang on even though you could have."
Serena nodded, still certain of her goal. "I have to find him." She meekly stated. Her eyes were full of determination that did not waver.
Hael raised his eyebrows questioningly. As a guide for good souls, he been faced with this situation quite a few times. Lovers wanting to be with each other after death was not uncommon. It was usually a happy eternity if both lovers were in the realm of good souls. He couldn't help but shiver at the memory of one good soul finding out that her lover was located in the realm of bad souls. He could still hear her piercing cry of despair when she realized she would spend the rest of eternity without him.
He returned from his inner thoughts only to find Serena staring at him pleadingly. She repeated her last statement. "I have to find him." This time she spoke with more authority and clarity.
He gruffly nodded. "Yes, you want to spend eternity with him?" She nodded as well. It looked as if she was about to say something else, but she remained silent.
"Come then." He said standing up and leading her towards the door, but before they reached it, he spun around causing her to nearly topple him over as she smashed into him. "One more thing. I cannot make any promises, but I'll do my best to find him for you."
Her eyes brightened considerably despite the fact that he said he could not make any promises. He continued to lead them both to the door and swung it open.
When he opened the door, Serena's breath caught in her throat. Right before her was a magnificent town filled with tall buildings made of white brick and the roads and sidewalks paved with white concrete. Magnificent white horses pulled carriages along the streets as several townsfolk dressed in white clambered about the town. It was incredibly bright out, but Serena noticed that there was no sun. In fact, there weren't even any street lamps yet there was light everywhere.
Hael watched, amused at her bewildered and amazed facial expressions as her eyes moved in different directions scanning the scene around her. He knew what she was thinking. It was a common question he had answered many many times. "There is no such thing as night here. It is always daytime. As simple as it may seem, the source of light is from everyone's pure hearts."
Serena only continued to eyeball her surroundings. She was surprised when a few townsfolk waved hello and another gentleman tipped his hat. She smiled back politely.
"Let's continue on Serena." Hael said as he stepped forward with long strides. Serena nearly had to power walk to keep up with him.
"Where are we going?" She asked a little breathlessly after a few moments of walking in silence.
"We're going to the Hall of Registry. You want to find your lover don't you?" She nodded with certainty, but her eyes were questioning and asking for more of an explanation. "It's where we keep the records of everyone who lives here. We'll find out where he is." Her eyes brightened once again, excitement fluttering inside her.
"Would you like a piece of fruit Miss?" Serena glanced over to where the voice had come from. A vendor on the side of the street was holding out a neatly sliced piece of pineapple to her. She smiled politely and said, "Thank you for your offer, but I have no money." With that, she walked away to catch up to Hael and didn't notice the peculiar look the vendor gave her.
Hael let out a merry laugh. "What?" She asked surprised at his sudden burst of laughter and curious as to what it was that was so funny.
He shook his head lightly. "I forgot to to mention to you that everything here is free. No need to pay for anything. The people here don't sell or give to make money. They simply give because they please to."
Serena blushed a little. "Yes, you did forget to mention that to me." As if on cue, her stomach began to grumble. She hoped that Hael hadn't heard it, but he laughed obviously having heard her stomach's pleading to be filled.
"We're almost at the Registry Hall. You can have something to eat after we find your lover. Sound good?" Serena nodded enthusiastically. As much as she loved food, she wanted so badly to find Darien first.
They finally reached a tall and large, but elegant building. Two large pillars stood on either side of the door way. As soon as they entered, Serena was amazed at the several cabinet files and book shelves that were lined up against the walls. There were stairs to their right leading up to the second floor where there were only more cabinets and book shelves. It was larger than any library she had ever been to...not that she went to libraries very often.
Hael made his way to the front desk where a receptionist with white framed glasses sat in front of a computer. "Hello Leila." He greeted the receptionist with a kind smile which was returned.
"Hello Hael. Here to reunite two lovers again?" She giggled. She thought his job was so romantic.
"Yes Leila. Serena? Can you tell us his name?" He motioned for her to step forward.
Serena frantically made her way over to the receptionist with anticipation and leaned up against the desk as she stood on her toes. "Darien Chiba."
The receptionist nodded and she typed his name into her computer. She waited a few moments for the search results. To Serena it seemed like they were waiting for a year.
"Hmm..." Leila finally said in a way that did not sound good.
Hael instantly paled. If he wasn't found in the records...that means he doesn't live here...which means...he's somewhere else...and the only other realm after death is...
Leila spoke breaking him out of his nervous thoughts. "You said Damien Sheba?" Hael let out a sigh of relief as Serena shook her head with frenzy, relief washing over her as well.
"No, DARE - EE- EN CH - EE - BAH." Serena said annunciating every single syllable. Leila began to type on her keyboard again and pressed enter. Once again they waited and Hael held his breath while Serena clenched her fists so hard, her nails were digging into her palms.
"Ummm..." Leila said again after a few moments with the same tone she used the first time. Serena and Hael both looked at her, eager yet frightened to hear what she had to say.
"Darien Chiba as in D-A-R-I-E-N C-H-E-E-B-A?" Leila asked hoping that she had spelled wrong. To her relief, the blond girl with the long hair shook her head again.
"OK, let me type it in again, how do you spell it?" Leila asked, positioning her fingers over the keyboard.
Serena scowled, her patience beginning to wear out, but she cooperated anyhow. "D - A -R - I - E - N C - H - I - B - A" She was trying her best not to let her voice show any trace of frustration.
Leila for the third time began to type into her computer and they yet again waited for the search results to appear.
Leila looked up from her screen and said, "Uh..."
Hael felt he couldn't take it anymore. "For crying out loud!!!" He yelled out indignantly. He stopped himelf as he saw a startled Serena who held her hand to her chest, her eyes wide with surprise as she stared at him in silence.
He composed himself and faced Leila. "Go on."
She smiled mischievously. "Just kidding! Here, you'll find his records on the top floor. I'll write down the section number for you." Leila grabbed a scrap piece of paper and scribbled down a number and letters. Serena let out a sigh of relief and anticipation and glanced at the sheet of paper as Leila handed it to Hael. She knew that she had to leave the rest to him. The dewy decimal system was not her specialty.
They made their way upstairs and Hael expertly guided them through a maze of cabinets. She wondered exactly how many times he had been to this place. "So is this what you do everyday?" She asked bored with walking.
Hael made a left turn with Serena right on his heels. "You mean find lovers for people? Not everyday. If someone requests it like you did. Sometimes I'll find family members if one would desire it."
Serena continued to trudge along still curious about his duty. "So what exactly do you do as a 'guide for good souls'?"
Hael glanced back at her seeing that she really was interested in finding out. "Well, I am one of many actually. Us guides fetch you good souls that appear in the waiting chamber which was the room you woke up in. Usually, we have to remind you people what happened because most people don't exactly know they've died or rather, many just don't remember. When that fact sinks in, we tell you all about our realm and you then choose a place to reside in and we help you get settled."
He was met with no reply as Serena took in the information she had just received. A somewhat seemingly forbidden question suddenly formed in her mind, but she knew she had to ask. "So...has anyone ever...not...stay--" She was cut off when Hael abruptly stopped in front of one of the cabinets.
"Here it is!" He said triumphantly as he brought out a key and unlocked the cabinet. He pulled the handle and out slid a drawer crammed with folders. His fingers dove in and sorted through them.
"Chiah, Chiaza, Chiazy..." He murmured as he fingered through the tops of the folders. "Aha! Chiba!" He said as pulled the folder out, actually more like yanked it out. The drawer was so crammed with folders that it wouldn't budge without force.
Her question forgotten, Serena cheerfully clapped her hands. "Yay!" She reached for the folder, but to her disappointment, it was pulled out of her reach.
"Nah uh uh, there's a rule here. Only us guides can read personal information." Hael said with a wag of his finger. Serena pouted and crossed her arms, anxious to find Darien.
"Well can we get to it then?" She asked, surprised at the rudeness that crept into her voice. She calmed herself and said, "I'm sorry. I just really want to find him."
Hael chuckled. "No need to apologize. I understand." He made his way over to a seating area in the middle of the top floor with a low coffee table made of white granite. He plopped onto the couch and opened the folder, his eyes scanning the pages from left to right.
Serena quietly sat herself down across from him although she badly wanted creep up behind him to look over his shoulder and read. She watched him closely, and tried to read his facial expressions, but he only kept one of concentration on his face.
"Ah, he died in an attack. You were there so you already know this." Serena nodded while holding her breath. The memories of the last moments she saw him alive made her gut wrench.
"Interesting. Tuxedo Mask huh?" Hael said, his eyes lighting up in interest as he turned to the next page. "Hmm...White Meadows. Searched for...oh." Hael's voice trailed off. Serena's eyes widened in curiosity at his last words.
She waited for him to explain, but he only continued to leaf through more pages. "What? What is it?" She asked afraid that something was wrong.
"Hold on a second." Hael mumbled as he continued to pour over the pages. Serena clutched the arm rest of the sofa in a death grip in an attempt to keep herself from clobbering Hael.
He noticed she was about to tear the arm rest off and said, "Well, according to the records..." He was relieved to find that her hand had relaxed somewhat. "He is here. He's in an area near the center of the realm called White Meadows."
He braced himself before telling her the rest. "And the records also indicate that he requested to search for someone." Serena's eye brows shot up to the top of her forehead and the death grip on the arm rest reocured. Hael winced. He was glad that the arm rest wasn't him.
"Who?" She asked wondering who Darien could have wanted to look for.
Hael lowered his eyes. "The records don't say a specific name. Those types of things aren't written down. But...it is indicated that he searched for..." Serena leaned in closer awaiting the answer, a hole beginning to form in the pit of her stomach.
"He requested to search for a woman." Hael said quietly.
Serena's heart stopped beating for a few moments and lump formed in her throat. Who could he have possibly wanted to search for? Did he think that she was dead and wanted to look for her? No, he knew she was still alive when he died...but...then why? Who? Was there something she had missed? Was that the reason he broke up with her? Because he had found another woman? Did he lie when he said he loved her?
Hael noticed her despair and in an attempt to calm he down said, "You never know, that could've been a sister or a friend...a relative?..." He gave up when he swore he could see steam coming out of her ears and nose.
Through gritted teeth she managed to say, "He doesn't have any sisters and I know all of his friends. Relatives? He doesn't have any relatives that he knows of." She bit the inside of her cheek furiously thinking of who it was he could have been searching for.
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"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Mars fumed. "Why isn't working??"
The scouts looked on in despair as the Imperium Silver Crystal remained powerless even after the scouts had delivered their powers to it.
Sailor Mercury examined Sailor Moon, knowing from her medical textbooks that the first signs of a decaying body were beginning to appear. Her cold body, her blue lips and pale color. She shook her head and let out a long sigh.
They were all at a loss for what to do. That sinking feeling they didn't want to feel was creeping up on them and they couldn't push it away. It was that dreaded feeling that tried to tell them that she really was gone.
A/N: Different right? Yeah, I know. Very alternate universe/reality. Well, I want to thank you all again for your reviews and your faithfulness in reading my story and my updates. Honestly, when I first started writing this story, I had absolutely no idea it was going to be this long and that it was going to turn out this way. Just to tell you, there's a little bit of a spoiler at the very bottom of the page. Read if you like, it's just a little blurb on Serena's plan in the realm of good souls.
Lady Sylver: Aw, thanks so much for your support and kind words. I may be cruel, but I'm not that cruel! I'll make it up to you readers for the torture you've gone through reading this. hehehe.
MoonPrincessMagic: Aw, I'm glad you thought the chapter was good. You're right, we always want Serena and Darien to be together whether in life or in death.You may want to read the little spoiler at the bottom.
SerenityDeath: Aw, don't worry I don't take any offense with reviews. It's an honor that people actually take the time to write them so I can't complain. Thanks for faithfully reading!
raven-the-dark-princess: I'm glad you got to catch the movie! Hehe, all your questions will be answered soon enough. Thank you very muchos for reviewing my recent chapters. I really do truly appreciate the time you've put into that.
Emerald124: It means a lot to me that you say you trust me! (wipes a tear) I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
Tori Kay: Thank you for saying that you trust me! For that, I'll promise you an ending that's better than "semi-pleasant". Thanks for your enthusiasm to read my next updates.
serenity11287: Your wish is my command.
markus777: I agree with you, tragedy sucks if there's no hope! Thanks for reading once again and don't worry, your questions will be answered soon enough!
empty-spaces: I'm really glad you liked the previous chapter! Thanks for your compliments, you really flattered me! I'm so grateful for that you take the time to review, I really am.
Unknown reader: Aw, I'm so sorry for breaking your heart 3 times! But I am glad that you felt emotion with my story. Thanks for expressing your disagreement with Diamond's character. I understand and I agree with you, but I needed a bad guy. Thanks for reviewing, it was great detail and I love those kinds of reviews.
Princess Usako Chiba: I know, I'm so cruel! I apologize! Thank you so much though for loving it and letting me know! I hope you continue to read.
UF GATOR: I update when I can. I really am trying to finish this story and I don't want to lollylag. Thanks for loving the previous chapter. Most people feel the opposite heheheh. Um...the climax? It did seem like it huh. But now I'm thinking because...there's more to happen.
SPOILER - Read only if you want to: (Serena's plan in the realm of good souls is to find Darien and bring both of them back to the world of the living. That's not going to be easy though because the realm is pretty strict about insiders and outsiders, and now that she found out that there's another woman in the picture, will it change everything? You'll have to find out...)
