I still do not own Sailor Moon. And I am still not happy about this fact.
(Ok, we left off in a not so nice place...I wish I could tell you that we're going to a better place right now, but we're not. I did warn everyone! ^_^ I want to thank everyone again for reading, reviewing, and subscribing. I love seeing the response to my story. I will be bringing us further into the world and some liberties will be taken. I know that's part of what fanfiction is about but I wanted to let that be known. This chapter marks a rather large liberty I take on the road to the finish line. I hope you all enjoy. Thank you again for everything.)
Sometimes You Just Need to Believe Chapter 17
Setsuna had taken several shortcuts through alleyways while running to Mamoru's apartment. The entire journey she prayed Serenity would not cross her path. It seemed that her prayers were answered quite positively when she knocked on Mamoru's door.
"Setsuna-san, come on in," Mamoru said as he opened the door. "Coffee is ready. Two spoons, right?" He closed the door behind his guest.
"Yes, Mamoru-san. Thank you." Setsuna made her way to the living room and sat on the end of the couch. She was trembling slightly.
Mamoru brought two coffee cups with him to his living room and handed one to Setsuna before he sat down at the end of the love-seat adjacent to her. He did not know Setsuna all that well, but to see her in this state trembling with fear only added to his own nervousness.
"I'm sorry Mamoru-san. I should have told you this long before. I just thought that you would be tempted to tell Usagi-chan and we could not force her to know this truth. She could never have handled it. Do you know what happened after Serenity's destructive outburst?"
"Endymion said that Saturn visited him. Is Hotaru-chan in danger?"
"More than anyone realizes…Anyone other than she and myself that is. The senshi…All of us…We sealed the two of them. The Starlights and Kakyuu too. The core of Saturn is what comprises this seal. Serenity needs to eliminate Saturn's essence to destroy it completely. Her only other option is to have Hotaru-chan remove it willingly, which I know she would not do. We need Endymion in the same time to maintain the princess' contentment. It helps keep the barrier strong. He is not being punished for her crimes and I know he was made aware of that."
"So Serenity is going to try and Kill Hotaru-chan?" Mamoru sounded scared and protective. Hotaru had been HER best friend.
"I'm not sure it would be a death you could comprehend." Setsuna looked Mamoru square in his eyes. "This is ultimate death, Mamoru-san. There is no resurrection or reincarnation from what Serenity means to do. And with every senshi who gains their memories, Serenity will grow stronger. She will turn on all of us when she finds out it was we who sealed her away."
"so how do we get her back again?"
"I'm not even sure myself how she got free in the first place. Rei and Taiki both said they saw her assume a spirit form. And Rei said that Usagi seemed to be arguing with no one visible the night of the reunion concert."
"And talking to Usako about it is no option? If it has already started we need her, right?"
"Mamoru-san, if Usagi-chan fights…Serenity will target her. What you need to understand is that we senshi are bound to Serenity. I want to keep Usagi-chan as removed from all of this as possible. It is for her own safety. We all love her so much. She was the answer to our hopes and prayers all those years ago. She was supposed to be the one to help our princess…Perhaps it was too much to ask of such a good soul."
"It was a lot to ask, but I think none would be better suited to such a job. For all her faults, I still believe in Usako."
"I do too, but once the senshi are fully awakened…None of us will have any choice, Mamoru-san. It took almost all of my strength to save Saturn from the binds of duty. We won't have a choice!" Setsuna was crying. She lifted her talisman. "And look at just what she will do if we fail."
Gazing into the orb within the holy relic, Mamoru winced as he saw serenity lay waste to crystal Tokyo. Chibi-Usa vanished before his eyes. One-by-one the senshi were all struck down. Serenity smiled the entire time of destruction. When the dust finally settled, Earth lay as a barren wasteland. Then and only then, did Serenity show remorse, for in her wake Endymion had been struck down. Standing over her kingdom of rubble and ruin, Serenity held out her hand as a grand sword materialized out of thin air. She took one final look at all she had done, the bodies surrounding her, and looking at her prince she whispered "I love you," before running herself through.
"Take it away, Setsuna-san, please." Mamoru was trying not to let the tears slip, but after seeing Chibi-Usa he was reminded that he would never see her again. "I thought…I thought when I broke up with Usako there would be no Chibi-usa. How is Serenity the one to destroy her?"
"Because she is not technically your daughter."
"But when I was trapped in Nehelania's curse she disappeared."
"Because Usagi-chan had given up. Her body was still going and part of her wanted to believe, but she had too much doubt in her heart and mind."
"So Chibi-Usa is Usagi's and not mine." Mamoru appeared even sadder. He loved that little girl.
"Not at all, Mamoru-san. Chibi-Usa is Usagi's grand-daughter."
"What?"
"Usagi-chan cannot become queen, yet somehow her daughter can. It has never been clear. Some things even I do not get to see. But all of this means nothing unless we can stop serenity."
Mamoru's phone rang. Seeing as it was well after ten o'clock he was surprised to hear Rei's voice on the other end of the line.
"Mamoru-san?"
"Rei-chan?"
Setsuna sat up and placed her finger to her lips.
Mamoru acknowledged the gesture and kept her presence a secret. "Its late."
"I'm sorry, Mamoru-san, but this is very important. Its about Setsuna-san. We think she is trying to use Saturn against Usagi-chan. Its pretty bad. We're having an emergency meeting tomorrow."
"Ok, what time? I'll see you at the temple then."
"No, we can't meet here. She's blocked Michiru-san's mirror so we've been relying on my fire reading. Michiru-san has been teaching me to control it better so I can stretch further. If we all show up here she may figure it out and then she'll try to take Hotaru-chan back."
"What do you mean take Hotaru-chan back?"
Setsuna tensed in fear. Her eyes widened and the rate at which she blinked decreased significantly.
"When Michiru-san and Haruka-san saw Setsuna-san leave home holding her talisman out in the open without care they decided it was time to get Hotaru as far away from her as possible. Haruka-san refuses to allow Hotaru-chan to be just another sacrifice to Setsuna-san's plans."
"I see. Well then, where do we meet?"
"You know that international hotel in the shopping district?"
"Yeah, The really tall building with the insanely overpriced restaurant on the first floor?"
"Yep, that's the one. We're meeting in room 314 at five o'clock. They said room service would be on them."
"Is Usako coming?"
"Yes. How are you doing? She said you guys broke up, but that you were a part of us so I should make sure I invited you."
"I'm doing fine. We still care for each other its just not like that. I'm glad she still wants my help. How is she?"
"She's the same as always. She was very happy she didn't hurt you. She said she had been afraid of that. She's also happy you understood about her feelings for Seiya."
"Yeah, I have a couple of things I have to tell that guy." Mamoru chuckled softly remembering Seiya's order on the rooftop. 'I need to return the favor.' "I'm going to go to bed now. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night, and Mamoru-san…"Rei's voice trailed off.
"Yes?"
"Stay safe."
"You too, Rei-chan." Mamoru hung up the phone. He did not have to look at Setsuna long before the generally stoic senshi broke down into tears. This was not the soft crying from before. Mamoru was at a loss. He reached over and pried the talisman from her hands and placed it on the coffee table. He gingerly offered a hand to Setsuna who gratefully took it. "I'll pull Hotaru aside and find out if she has a plan. If not I will bring you any message she may have."
"Thank you, Mamoru-san," Setsuna said through her tears.
Serenity had spent most of the night wandering. She had no money and no place to go. The sun had once again come up and in her wanderings she had made her first decision. Mercury would be her first senshi to regain her loyalty. Venus was the leader, that much was true, but Mercury was a better strategist. With Mercury's planning she would have them all brought back soon enough. She made her way to the water senshi's home. She had learned a few things from that brainless twit after all. She knew where each one of them lived. She had to hurry so that she could make it before Mercury left for school.
Ami had been awake for a while now. She had showered and dressed, read the message her mom had left on the board in the kitchen, and completed reading the chapter of her physics book that she was so sure the teacher would be covering today. She had just begun to make herself breakfast when there was a knock at the door. 'There's no way that could be Usagi or Minako. Neither would be up this early and besides, Minako's house is after mine on the way to school. We haven't been walking together much recently on top of all that,' Ami thought as she walked towards the door.
When time came, Usagi and Seiya joined everyone for a change. There was a significant absence among their friends though. Mizuno Ami had never shown up for school today, nor was she answering her communicator.
"Do you think she's sick," Yayen suggested.
"She'd still answer us on her communicator then," Makoto said.
"Do any of you guys have a cell phone?" Usagi had not even opened her lunch yet and they had been sitting for over five minutes.
"What are you thinking, Odango?" Seiya wrapped his arm around Usagi.
"Well, we could try asking Mamo-chan to go check on her. He doesn't have work until after the meeting tonight. Plus he's still got some time before the summer term starts for his college." Usagi placed her hand on Seiya's hanging one at her shoulder.
"Yeah, I mean Haruka-san and Michiru-san are trying to lay low with Hotaru-chan so it would be a bad idea to ask them to go," Minako concluded.
"You can use mine," Taiki said handing Makoto his phone as he stood up. 'Why can't I just tell them? I know I promised, but they can't fight this if they're at each other's throats. Besides, Hotaru needs to get as far away from them as possible and the safest place for her to be is WITH Setsuna-san right now.' Taiki walked off and buried his nose in a textbook.
Usagi started to get up, but Seiya held her closer and shook his head. "He's probably just upset about Ami-chan, Odango. You know how much he likes her."
Usagi smiled and nodded in agreement. She turned her attention to Makoto who was calling Mamoru.
"Mamoru-san?"
"Mako-chan? Aren't you at school?"
"Yes, but we're all at lunch now."
"Oh."
"Mamoru-san, Ami-chan never showed up for class today. We're hoping she's just sick but…She's not answering on her communicator."
"I'll be on my way soon. I'll come by the school gate when class lets out for the day and let you know what happens."
"Thanks."
Mamoru hung up the phone and sat up on the sofa. He had to wake up now. He had slept longer than he wanted. His only consolation was that he worked the night shift after the meeting and he'd be grateful as his night went on. It just made him feel lazy to sleep so late in the day. He stood up and folded the blanket and then laid it across the back of his sofa decoratively. He fluffed his pillow and set it to one end of the couch. Then he began to move towards his bedroom and tapped lightly on the door. He heard a groan and the rustling of sheets, but got no answer. He knocked again a bit louder this time.
"Alright, I'm up," Setsuna said through the door.
Mamoru entered his room and went right to his closet. He chose a pair of brown slacks and an olive green button down shirt before moving on to his dresser to fetch the rest of his clothing needs. As he gathered his clothes he explained Ami's absence to Setsuna. He went to the bathroom to take his shower without even noticing the eyes entranced by and fixed on him. They had been filled with longing and shame.
The knocking had finally stopped. Mercury had been sitting painfully quiet prepared to attack should the unwelcome guest decide to try and force entry. Her princess was resting and would not be disturbed. Tonight she will act the spy to see who had remembered the truth. The princess said there were others. More importantly, she would summon Saturn to Princess Serenity's side. It is her essence that binds the princess. She must cast off the remaining bindings and set her free before begging forgiveness. Tears streamed down her face. Ami did not want to do this but Serenity was Mercury's mistress and must be obeyed. She had become powerless to stop it. Deep within her heart Ami, the true Ami, she believed in Usagi. She could stop it. She had to. She would never let her friends be taken this way. Ami continued her prayer within. So far it had not been detected by the princess. Ami vowed to keep praying until Usagi saved her from this nightmare.
(I got the idea in my head for two heads to turn at the chance of Mamoru and went with them. I know I made Setsuna more obvious than Rei, but she will become more bold. I know also I made this one a bit shorter again, but I felt this was the best place to end it. I have already started the next chapter so it should not take too long. I will warn everyone that I had a slight fever today and I am still stuck with a sore throat so if for some reason I take a few days at some point I will be sure to at least have my notebook in bed with me so all I need to do is type when I feel better. The romance will come back into focus as well. I will also bring about the playfulness of Yaten more. Its so much fun to write him (her) that way. Thanks again for reading!)