A/n: Warning, foul language at play in this chapter.
Chapter Four: The Search
In the days that followed Healer's abduction, Fighter was listless. Maker took over her's and Healer's duties in the castle, knowing all too well the pain that plagued Fighter's heart. Kakyuu would often watch Fighter stare up at the sky, knowing she was reliving the moment everything was taken from her.
"Fighter..you can't keep torturing yourself. Once the council approves of you to leave, you can go after her." Maker said, trying not to sound harsh.
But Fighter wasn't having it. She slammed her fists down on the library table, whirling on her teammate. "What do you know of it? You've never loved something with all your being and had it ripped from you!"
Maker stared blankly at Fighter. "Maybe I do. You're not the same leader I've always looked up to."
Fighter turned away angrily, not having much of a retort. Her mind was swimming with regrets, as she wondered if there was something she could've said to Healer, so that she wouldn't have run off like that into the clutches of that damn bitch who stole her. Someone would definitely pay for this. Fighter often fantasized about just how she'd rip that woman limb from limb, or how wondrous and sweet it'd be to hold Healer in her arms again. But deep inside, there was always that soft nagging feeling, that told her, there was a chance she'd be too late.
It was a whole two weeks before Fighter finally got the approval to leave Kinmoku. Maker wanted to help her find Healer, but had to stay to assure Kakyuu's safety.
"I know you'll bring her back safe." Maker said, giving her comrade an encouraging hug. Fighter merely nodded, disappearing in a ray of light. There was not a moment to waste. She'd already wasted two miserable weeks...
Before she'd left, Kakyuu had given Fighter a map, a royal treasure. It was not a map of paper, but a magical device that when used, allowed the user to envision the majority of the universe, with a unique ability to hone in on certain planets. As Fighter streaked across the universe, she was able to eliminate most of the planets, immediately deciding they weren't inhabitable by any life forms. By the time she reached her first target, she'd narrowed it down to three planets.
It didn't take Fighter long to realize there was no way Healer was on this planet. Although there were life forms, this planet was still in a very early age, with no sentient beings that Fighter could distinguish. Fighter left immediately. She checked her map, realizing that one of the planets on this map had been destroyed some time ago with the explosion of a star, a supernova, leaving nothing behind.
Fighter landed on the next planet, a place very much like Kinmoku. She was almost immediately greeted by a committee of sorts, and taken to see some headfigure.
"Welcome to our planet. I'm in charge here, and I ask you outsider, what is it that you want here?" Fighter looked at the headfigure..who looked so...feline-like, it was hard for her not to giggle.
"I'm searching...a comrade of mine was captured and brought to one of these outside planets, by another Sailor Senshi. They wish to summon the holy grail."
Fighter decided the quickest way to get what she wanted was to be sincere. They seemed nice enough, long as they weren't the ones secretly holding Healer.
The headfigure looked thoughtful for a long moment. "Sailor Senshi you say? The only sailor senshi I am aware of reside in the Milky Way Galaxy..." the headfigure motioned for one of her attendants to bring forth a map, where her clawed hand pointed out a small whirl of planets and stars. "There are nine planets that revolve around the sun in this solar system, and each planet has it's own guardian. I would check there."
Fighter checked her own map, realizing that this galaxy was not recorded on it. After adding in its location, she bid her farewells.
Nine sailor senshi on one planet? What kind of Galaxy needed that much protection? Perhaps multiple rulers? Her own existence was to protect Kakyuu alone. Well, that and keep outsiders from invading. Looks like she failed on that account. She raced, as fast as she could, towards this small hidden Galaxy, her last hope.
Healer..please be here...please be safe..
On Earth, Healer wasn't sure how much longer she'd hold out. Every day was a struggle to survive. Uranus was a tyrant, beating her, playing mind games. Her only respite came when the butch blond would get bored and leave. That's when the other would come in, Neptune was her name. She had such a calmness, and gentleness to her. She was the polar opposite of Uranus...kind of like herself and Fighter..but she began to appreciate just how much attention Fighter had always paid her. Neptune often confided how lonely Uranus made her feel.
Yet, Fighter wasn't here. But Neptune was...sometimes, the aqua haired woman would secretly tend to Healer's injuries, bruises and cuts dealt by Uranus. Or Neptune would sneak her extra food, or comb the tangles out of her hair. In this dark world of isolation, Neptune was an angel. It boggled Healer's mind why this woman was so gentle towards her, when Neptune wanted the same ends as Uranus.
Today was the day, either she found those talismans, or they'd surely kill her. She thought of Fighter- why hadn't she come? Was she not able to trace her down, from so far away?
Had something happened on Kinmoku? Healer was growing worried, with her gone, had some other force invaded, and Fighter overcome, having not had enough warning?
Once again, she was being strapped to some form of machine, an amplifier.
"Find those talismans!" Uranus demanded. Healer sighed heavily, and out of curiosity, searched for a heart so pure that it could summon the holy grail. Her brows furrowed, all she could sense was great power, surrounding her. Her captors?..she clarified her mind, only the purest of hearts...and in her minds eye, could see glowing orbs before her, where her captors were standing. It was then she understood...someone willing to taint themselves, to do things that will surely damn them, to assure that no on else gets their filthy hands on the holy grail..someone with so much to sacrifice, and sacrificing it without batting an eyelash...that is the purest heart of all. Yet, deep down, she wondered if they truly were deserving of such an honor.
Healer slowly opened her eyes. "The Talismans are within you two."
Uranus looked furious, before bursting out laughing. "Nice try." she said with a snort. "I'm not shooting myself or my partner with this heart gun, to let you escape. That's the oldest trick in the book!" She then pounded her fist down on the table. "Stop playing games. Find those talismans, or we'll see if your heart has one!" she threatened, exiting the room. Neptune watched her silently, her soft expression full of questions. She turned to Healer.
"The Talismans..are they really inside of..us?"
Healer nodded solemnly. "If you really want those Talismans, you'll die."
"I...see." Neptune said, nodding slightly. "For your sake, I'd suggest giving Uranus a lead, false or not. She's getting restless."
Healer didn't reply, just stared silently at the amplifier as she felt a strong surge of power approaching. So familiar...
"Fighter.." she breathed, both in shock and relief. A stricken look passed her face as Neptune turned, overhearing her. Surprisingly, she smiled.
"It'll all be over soon." she assured, striding out.
Healer desperately hoped Neptune wouldn't warn Uranus. The last thing she wanted was for Fighter to be ambushed.
Healer glanced to the sky, certain that a shooting star was none other than Fighter. "I hope so.." she thought, closing her eyes, desperate for rest.
Fighter landed on the strange planet, taking several moments to adjust to the lack of gravity. Well, there was some. But Kinmoku, being larger, had a much stronger pull. She felt weightless, like she could just leap to the stars without any effort. She closed her eyes, trying to picture just where her comrade was. It was obvious this planet was heavily inhabited, she didn't want to make a mess. She just wanted Healer back.
Unfortunately, she felt nothing. She wandered the streets, the dark of night making it easy for her to lean against buildings and not be seen. It amazed her how much the species of this planet resembled her own. Even the society was similar, though this society seemed a bit more advanced in their contraptions. Fighter wracked her brain, where could Healer be? She was tempted to figure out the location of the castle, or other official building. Was it the governing body of this place that had wanted the holy grail? Many governments are power hungry, even on Kinmoku. Well, in the past, before the gentle Princess Kakyuu had become head of the Tankei Kingdom, united all of Kinmoku for the first time in thousands of years. She prided herself on having assisted her princess every step of the way. Along with Healer and Maker, of course..
Uranus immediately felt it, the presence of an intruder. Her expression hardened. "There's someone unwelcome here.." she muttered. Neptune followed Uranus silently, already knowing whom it was.
It wasn't long before Fighter found herself stuck in a dark alley, a dead end. She frowned, turning around. Two figures dropped down from the sky before her, dressed in foreign Sailor uniforms.
"What have we here?" Uranus said with a smirk, "Took you long enough." Fighter ground her teeth, "Where's Healer?"
"Oh don't worry, your little girlfriends safe, for now. It's amazing how hard she tried to keep us from finding you, and you came to us!" Uranus said with a laugh, preparing an attack. Before it even left her hand Fighter had cleared the distance between them, landing just behind her, dealing a sharp blow to her back, causing her to crash forward ontop of her attack, the earth energy impacting herself, knocking the wind from her. Neptune swirled around, ready to charge Fighter. But again, the Kinmoku senshi was gone. She looked around for several moments, before bending down to assist her lover.
"Are you alright?" She asked, gently helping her sit up.
"Damnit Neptune, you let her escape!" Uranus hissed. Neptune narrowed her eyes, "Well, I'm sorry for being concerned about you!" She said, her voice breaking. "Every day I sit and wonder, what happened to us? What happened to love? What happened to us being in this together, instead of you taking over and treating me as badly as our Captive! Where did your love for me go?" But she already knew the answer. She didn't wait for a response, just ran off, in search of Fighter, who was more important to Uranus than herself. Uranus laughed bitterly, "In the end, the mission will always be more important, won't it?" she spoke to herself, hauling herself to her feet, chasing off after Neptune.
Fighter scouted around the area a bit, doing her best not to be seen. She could see Neptune looking around, trying to find her. Had she wanted to, she could attack Neptune with deadly force, and never even be seen. She watched as Neptune reluctantly met up with Uranus, entering a large abandoned building. That must be their hideout. Fighter ran across the rooftop of the next building over, leaping through the window on the top floor with a crash. She came out relatively unscathed, a few minor cuts on her arms. Fighter raced through the large building in disrepair. If Healer was anywhere, it was here..
"Healer!" Fighter's voice rang out through the dimly lit corridors. She stopped short, nearly falling down in her heels when she heard a hoarse whisper.
"..Fighter?"
Fighter rushed to Healer's side, setting her free. Healer collapsed into Fighter's arms, too weak to hold herself up. Fighter felt her heart break at the sight of her.
"I thought..I'd never see you again.." Healer whimpered, clinging to Fighter. Fighter stroked Healer's cheek gently. "I'm sorry I chased you off.." she said gently, amazed at the smoothness of Healer's skin, as she always was.
"No, it's my fault. I was being foolish, you were just protecting me.."
Fighter pressed her lips to Healer's to silence her. Desite her disarrayed state, the kiss was as sweet as ever to Fighter, it was all she had dreamed and hoped for and more. "It doesn't matter now.."
"You're right, it doesn't." Uranus said, suddenly behind them. Fighter released Healer, standing between the two defensively.
"Don't even think of touching her!" Fighter shouted angrily, taking an offensive stance.
"I'll touch her any way I like. I'll just kill you first." Uranus said, casually brushing her hair back. Fighter's eyes narrowed. "Go ahead and try."
Uranus prepared her attack, and Fighter crossed her arms in front of herself, preparing to just block it. Healer's eyes widened, realizing suddenly that Uranus had hooked the amplifier up to herself...
"FIGHTER!" She shrieked, trying to pull her aside. It was impulsive, and a bit foolish...but the realization that Fighter would get badly injured..it was too much! Healer watched Fighter's shocked, then horrified face as she felt an overwhelming wave of heat, her legs giving out. She reached out to her, trying to catch herself. Fighter's strong arms wrapped around her, she was safe. It was okay now. Everything was okay. She was home. She inhaled Fighter's scent deeply...
"H-healer..." Fighter whispered as her comrade went limp in her arms. She was shaking with grief and rage, burning tears streaking down her face. She whipped her head around to a stupefied Uranus.
"You. Will. Pay." She seethed. Still holding Healer with one arm, her right came up over her head. "STAR SERIOUS LASER!" Fighter poured everything into her attack. All her rage, all her frustration, and all her love for Healer..
With a ray of brilliant light, Uranus was thrown across the room, hitting the wall, slumped over. Neptune soon entered from the shadows, and that's when Fighter realized her mistake. For Neptune wore the same heartbroken expression she knew she had on her face. Woodenly, Neptune made her way to her lover, dropping to the ground before her.
"An eye for an eye." Fighter said cruelly, calling her laser again, blasting the amplifier that had so tortured Healer to smithereens, before taking off in a ray of light.
A/N: Hope this doesn't seem too rushed, but this story really doesn't have a whole lot to it.