Act IV
Illness
Of all the things I never wanted to see when opening the door to my apartment this most definitely topped the list as I met Haruka's furious gaze, Michiru at her side seeming torn between holding her back or helping Haruka and Setsuna who had a very deep frown on her face. "Mamoru," Setsuna was the one to speak though Haruka quickly interrupted. "Give me one reason, one good reason why I shouldn't hurt you," she said. "Haruka," Michiru whispered as I sighed. "I don't have one," I said thinking of Usagi's face in the moment I broke up with her the sadness within her eyes; whatever these three had planed for me I deserved every bit of it. And before I could blink I felt a stinging pain in my jaw as myself, Haruka and Michiru looked in shock at Setsuna. "That was for Usagi; for breaking her heart, don't you ever…." but here Setsuna could not continue as she broke into tears and Michiru quickly was at her side.
"Stay away from her Chiba, she may forgive you….but we will never forget," Haruka said going over to the emotional guardian of time who I heard whispering, "I actually hit him, I….I can't believe," through her tears as the two guardians of the outer sol system led her down the hallway the rest of anything she said lost to my ears. "I deserved that Setsuna, and so much more, please don't blame yourself," I thought to myself closing the door to my apartment, I was going to have to check the peep hole any other time I answered the door today; if Setsuna was actually willing to strike me in order to defend Usagi, I could only imagine what Ami, Rei, Makoto or Minako; perhaps even all four would do to him if they came too his apartment today.
~ Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon ~
When I had first learned about what Haruka-tachi had done, Sets-chan thought I would be angry not only for what they had all said to Mamo….ru but what she had done to him. "No," I had told her as I hugged her; surprising her. "I just….arigato for….everything," I had replied stepping away from her and leaving her to her own thoughts just as I was lost within my own memories. But with this strange new illness spreading throughout the city affecting everyone it seemed but us girls we were starting to suspect our strange new enemy had something to do with the sickness that had begun to take lives; I worried about Chibiusa but so far the illness could not touch her either, and I thanked whatever deity may be responsible that that was true.
Still their was something about this strange incurable illness that grew more deadly with time that seemed very unnatural to all of us, so Ami-chan and Shirai had begun looking into to it and with the resident genius' of the senshi and Shitennou working together the two quickly came up with a strange pattern. "It is called the Full Moon Clinic," Ami-chan had told us. "It seems that those who visit this new clinic grow sick; the illness seems to be originating from this building from all the data we have collected," Shirai had added. So we need to investigate this clinic then," Minako-chan had said as Hirose nodded in agreement. "But who should go," I asked wishing that Sets-chan could be here to provide her thoughts on the matter but she was busy keeping Chibiusa busy by letting the child help her in the kitchen.
Minako, Hirose and Haruka shared a look the three leaders shared the three seeming to communicate silently. "We will go hime," Haruka said to me taking Michiru's hand the senshi of the sea simply rolling her eyes at the taller girls antics. "The new enemy seems to know who we are," Minako-chan said. "Which means they could know us as well," Hirose added. "So we are the wild card so to speak," Michiru stated more than asked causing Haruka to laugh as I smiled. "True enough," Haruka replied humor still in her voice. "Okay, I agree, but….only if we can keep an eye on things from a distance," I said as Haruka took my hands in her own causing me to blush when she gently kissed the back of my knuckles. "Such a big heart hime, but I will not argue with you, very well," she said as Michiru rolled her eyes but still had a knowing smile on her face.
"Come on Sets-chan, hurry up," we heard Chibiusa say with a laugh ending our conversation, and I saw Rei walk over to a corner with Haruka and Michiru without so much as a word, and I was unable to hear what they say as Chibiusa was at my side speaking of the cookies she and Sets-chan had baked in the oven. ["Arigato," Rei said to Haruka. "For what," the taller girl asked. "Cheering her up like that; she will not admit it but what Mamoru did…." "We know," Michiru said as Rei took a deep breath to get her temper under control. "I am glad that Chibiusa came into her life, that little girl….she keeps Usagi-chan going," Rei barely whispered though the Haruka and Michiru heard her. "We are going to head over to the clinic," "I understand, but she is going to notice," Rei said with a soft smile. "We know," Haruka and Michiru said slipping into the hallway and as I had thought Usagi's eyes where following the two of them.]
Seeing Haruka and Michiru leave the room, I quickly looked over towards Minako who nodded and whispered something to Hirose who quickly gathered the other Shitennou and after telling Chibiusa they needed to go left the room as well, me and the other girls wouldn't be able to get away from Chibiusa quite so easily but that would seem to be what Haruka and Michiru's plan had been all along and sharing a look with Sets-chan I saw her nod her head confirming my thoughts. I hoped the two would be okay, I would not could not lose anyone else, not after….he had left me.
~ Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon ~
Myself and Michiru felt bad about tricking the princess in the way that we had, we were sure that someone would be following; most likely the Shitennou as they could more easily slip away than any of the girls. Chibiusa liked them, but she just was not as close to them as she was Usagi-tachi. "Thinking about Usagi again ne, Ruka," Michiru said taking my hand in her own. "You know me to well Michi," was my reply causing her to giggle as she leaned her self into my side her warmth spreading throughout my side and causing me to smile as I unwound our joined hands and instead wrapped my arm over her shoulder. The vibe at the clinic was, dark to say the least, it made goose bumps rise on my skin and sharing a look with Michiru I could tell she felt the same darkness hovering over this place that I did. Going inside we were greeted by a young nurse.
She was beautiful in her own way, pale porcelain like skin, jade green lipstick, short styled black hair and a pair of black earrings, that where shaped like crystal prisms; familiar earrings that we had seen before on Beruche and after asking Rei about it she had seen on Cooan as well. "Hello, I am Petz, welcome," she said her emerald like eyes sparkling with malice as her white lab coat moved to reveal a very tight one piece green ensemble before it was covered once again. "Drop the act, there is something very wrong about this place," Michiru said surprising me causing Petz to laugh though it was slightly maniacal. "I thought you two seemed very sensitive, alas I guess we do this the hard way. Droids," she said as the rest of the staff of the hospital shifted until they revealed the same mechanical automatons that had been in the park. "Yes the hard way…." Michiru said as the both of us revealed our bracelets. "Uranus Planet Power," "Neptune Planet Power," "Make-Up," the two of us yelled out as one our henshins wrapping around our bodies.
"You…." Petz yelled out before composing herself. "Attack," she screamed out only for weapons to pierce through the Droids around us. And their they were Jadeite with her rapier, Zoicite with his staff, Kunzite with his broadsword and Nephrite with his daggers. "Even his protectors; are here….ironic," Petz said realizing she was alone as she looked towards myself and Michiru. "Finish me, I wish to meet my end at the hands of her guardians, not his," she asked of us and I nodded realizing for her it was a sense of honor; she was excepting her end but only at our hand. "You know so much about us….how," Michiru asked as Petz turned towards her. "I will say nothing," she said with such finality that both myself and Michiru realized no matter what we may do to her she would not be broken.
"Then….sayonara," I said raising my hand in the air as Michiru brought hers closer to her chest. "World," "Deep," "Shaking," "Submerge," the two of us yelled out at the same time as the golden and ocean blue balls of energy collided with Petz who simply smiled as her body was reduced to fine silver ash just as all of those of the Black Moon had been so far. "I do not like that this new enemy seems to know so much about us," Jadeite spoke up as Kunzite nodded in agreement. "They did not exist during the Silver Millennium we would remember them," Zoicite said as Nephrite laughed. "But somehow they know us, know who we are; who we serve," he said looking between his fellow Shitennou. "It is….disturbing," Michiru said pausing for a moment in order to find the right word.
"So I think we should do what it is our duty to do," she added. "Protect them," Kunzite said as Michiru nodded and I smiled. "So what are your thoughts on what he did, to Usagi," Michiru dared to ask as the four Shitennou shared a look. "That he is a fool," Jadeite said as Kunzite sighed, "Jadeite," he said in warning and the only female of the group hung her head in submission but it was clear what her thoughts where on the matter, she was not the biggest fan of her prince at the moment it would seem. "She has a point Kunzite," Nephrite said as Zoicite nodded but spoke, "yet he is our master," which seemed to ease the tension between the four. "What Mamoru did," Kunzite said at last. "Could have been handled in a better manor, but we stand at his side, just as you do Usagi's. Though if Setsuna-san had not punched him….I think I would have," he said causing me to actually laugh at his honesty.
"Arigato, it was….an honor to actually fight at your side," Michiru said speaking for both me and her, my loves thanks being for so many things that they could not all be expressed in words though what she had said seemed to work as Kunzite nodded. "Indeed, but we should depart, I am sure Usagi-sama grows worried," he said and we all agreed with that statement, knowing that sooner or later Usagi would manage to get away from Chibiusa and come looking for us if we didn't return to her first, something that made my lips quiver but this time I kept my amusement to myself and did not laugh.
Note 4
First, I wish to apologize for how long it took me to present this act to you my loyal readers. Second, I want to say that there is something about this act that just does not set well with me; though I honestly can not say why. It is often said that you are your own greatest critic so I hope that is the case this time and you will enjoy reading it more than I did writing it. Finally I just want to thank you all for your support, it truly helps keeps me going, especially in times like these when I doubt my own work. But I digress, so I shall simply wrap this up before it grows to a ridiculous length, or begins to sound even more morbid than it already is.
So until next act;
I humbly remain a . . . .
KuRSeofTime